That Autumn Blog

From For Ellipsis

"Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter."

-Carol Bishop Hipps

We are beginning to see the first real signs of autumn here in the East Bay, but if you really want to see the autumn in all it's glorious splendor, you have to drive all the wayyyyy up into the hills. Plumas County is the place to go! With a little bit of luck, and some fingers and paws crossed, Alan and I will make the 5 1/2 hour drive up there sometime between October 15th and the 31st! That, according to the Plumas County Visitor's website, is the optimum time for viewing. But there are some things working against us going. Like the fact that the first major snow of the season is fore casted for early next week, and then there is the money we don't have courtesy of the governor's FORCED FURLOUGHS, and then there is my worry about leaving Dylan and Hendrix for 12 hours.

I know, I know... they aren't real children, they are cats, but you see, I am still their mommy, and they both still have a lot of kitten to them. Anything could happen from, ordering large quantities of catnip mice on the Internet, to the total destruction of our cottage from the exuberant flopping about that they are so fond of. YIKES! Then there is Dylan's favorite game... LETS-STAND-AT-THE-FRONT-DOOR-AND-WHINE-LIKE-HE'S-BEING-HELD-AGAINST-HIS-Will! LOL!

I really want to go, so I know all it will really take is the promise of Starbuck's for the road, and I will be good to go!

From For Ellipsis

By the way, the picture above is not of Plumas, it is of Susan's Spot, which sits in the Cisco Grove Park, on the California side of the Sierra. It's lovely there, and it's one of my favorite places on earth, but I long for the new sights and sounds of Plumas. Wish me luck... ok?

Check out Plumas County Visitor's Bureau Page. You wills see what I want to go there so badly!

:) And oh yeah... one last thing... what do you think of the new autumn look for my blog? Like it? Hate it? Sing out! Tell me what you think!

-Carly

Feline, Furball & Feathers Friday: Dylan v The Ball Of Yarn

From For Ellipsis

"The cat, is above all things, a dramatist."

-Margaret Benson

For this round of FF&F Friday, I bring you DYLAN THE BRAVE! Is there anything better when you are sick, then you have your pets not only volunteer to stay in bed with you, but bring you tissues, cold medicine, heating pads, warm fuzzy socks and hot Chicken soup? Ooops... that was Alan! LOL. But Dylan and Hendrix were darn cuddly and entertaining and that made being sick with the flu a little easier to take.

:)

From For Ellipsis

Be sure to hop on over to Theresa's blog for all the Feline, Furball and Feathers Friday fun. Friday is still the day for pets!



-Carly

Do You Know What Would Be Really Weird?

"Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude."

-William James

Know what would be really weird? What if Levi Johnston married Kate Gosselin?

Hey, I'm just saying...

Wink

-Carly

If I Ever Go Missing, You Can Find Me At The Zoo

From For Ellipsis

"Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts a lawsuit over their wills."

-Voltaire, letter to Count Schomber, 31 August 1769

Last week, Alan and I received free tickets to the Oakland Zoo, so we decided to get out of the house and have a little fun. It was a day before I felt any twangs of the flu,thank goodness, if we would have waited one more day to use them I couldn't have gone! Timing is everything I suppose. Anyway, sick or not, I could spend the whole day at the new Fruit Bat exhibit just talking to them. What wonderful, fascinating creatures they are. Beautiful animals.

Actually, all the animals were gorgeous, but I don't know which I enjoyed more, the bats or the chimpanzees. The bats reminded me of Dylan and Hendrix. Especially this one, who has a favorite stuffed animal, a rainbow colored bear. He actually cuddled with it, as he slept upside down. There is something kind of wonderful about that! The chimps were just darn cute, and pleasant to be around. It's a tough choice. If I go by the number of pictures taken, I suppose the bats win. LOL.

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

The Oakland Zoo has some terrific videos, click here to see their video page. Go have a look!

-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #58: Bridges And Walkways

"The only bad thing about burning your BRIDGES behind you is that the world is round."

-Unknown






**Folks, before we begin I want to let you know about a few things. Sometimes I get busy and can't visit your individual entries during the week. This past week was an extremely busy one for Alan and me, and therefore, I spent very little time on the Internet. Yesterday, was a Round Robin Challenge, and I try to do all my commenting for that project on the day of the challenge. I am on a very old, very slow computer as my usual one died a week ago, and on top of all of it, I have the flu, complete with runny nose, coughing and general malaise. PLEASE DON'T FEEL IGNORED IF I CAN'T GET BY TO COMMENT ON YOUR ENTRY DURING THE WEEK, I WILL COMMENT ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT THE LATEST. I am sorry but responsibilities in my REAL LIFE have to come first. I have never intentionally ignored anyone. OK? Now, on with the challenge...

EMPS #58: Bridges and Walkways. NOW CLOSED!
Let's go for a walk... shall we? Ok photographers, you know what to do, go out and find me some BRIDGES and WALKWAYS. Autumn, for most of us, is in full swing, so show me something like that, or feel free to dip into your archives and wow me with something you haven't displayed before. Lets cross the BRIDGE together... shall we?

Extra Credit: Show me a picture of YOU on that BRIDGE or WALKWAY!

**PLEASE READ**
This photo shoot closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. So, you have until that time to get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website and come back here with the direct link back to it. Please remember, it must be a link which goes back to an entry which is specific to this Monday Photo Shoot assignment. No HYPERLINKS ACCEPTED! Also, please include a link back here so other folks can play along with us.

Linking List for EMPS #57: Weeds o9/28/09

NOW CLOSED!

1. Suzanne

2. Jama

3. Liz

4. Greg

5. Karen

6. Mike


Thanks for playing everyone. See you next week with an all new photography assignment!

-Carly

Round Robin Challenge: In Motion

From For Ellipsis

"All motion is cyclic. It circulates to the limits of it's possibilities and then returns to it's starting point."

-Robert Collier

RRC: In Motion
Suggested by Vicki of the blog Maraca and by Terri of the blog, Ways I see The World.

This time around, it's all about motion! I have to admit, due to my computer woes, I had to dip into my archives in order to participate. It's been a heck of a year between breaking my digital camera getting broken on January 1st, and my computer's display driver going out last month, but I have to admit, I did enjoy looking back on some of my better motion shots from the last few years. Here, have a look...

A second look at Jellyfish from the Monterey Bay Aquarium...

From For Ellipsis

Dinner at Johnny Rockets...

From For Ellipsis

A man surfing under the Golden Gate Bridge, near Fort Point, San Francisco. It was taken the weekend of the famous Maverick's Surfing contest, perhaps he was training for that!

From For Ellipsis

There are so many Monarch butterflies in the Pacific Grove preserve that you can just aim your camera up to the sky and capture a multitude flying this way and that!

From For Ellipsis

I just had to show one more jellyfish...

From For Ellipsis

Ok, now you have seen my "In Motion" photographs, be sure to visit the other great photographers we have in the land. Just follow the links below...

Linking List

Vicki... Maraca
Posted!

Terri... Ways I see The World


Karen... Outpost Mavarin
Posted!

Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
Posted!

Carly... Ellipsis
Posted!

Linda... Mommy's Treasures


Nancy... Nancy Luvs Pix
Posted!

Suzanne R... SuzyQ421's Photo Blog
Posted!

Jama... Sweet Memories
Posted!

Carolyn... Ford Family Photos


boliyou... Endomental
Posted!

Lana G... Above The Clouds
Posted!

Margaret... Facts From A Fact Woman
Posted!

Ellen b... The Happy Wonderer
Posted!

Teena... It's all about me!
Posted!

Peggy... Holmespun Fun Memes and Themes
Posted!

Michelle Rambling Woods ~ Taking The Road Less Traveled
Posted!

Annie... Annie's Home
Posted!

Duane... Meanwhile
Posted!

Hip Chick...Hip Chick's Photos
Posted! 10/04/09

Maria...Maria Tradgardsblog- Garden With Love
Posted! 10/04/09

There is still time to play along with the challenge, but if you can't this time, be sure to check the official Round Robin blog on Sunday to learn the topic of our next Round Robin challenge. Hope to see you for our next challenge. :)

-Carly

Unscaring Myself: Meet The European Garden Spider

From For Ellipsis

"If you want to live and thrive, let the spider run alive."

-American Quaker Saying

I keep seeing this spider when I am on my walks in Tilden Park. It scares the wits out of me, but that's no big news in that I am arachnophobic! LOL. Anyway, I hate being afraid, I hate not understanding things that frighten me, so I decided to look up what kind of horribly scary, no doubt highly dangerous spider it might be. To my delight, I found out that it is a simple European Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus). Spooky looking to be sure, but about as harmless as my kitty Dylan. Whew! I feel much better now... but I hope I never find one inside the house!

:)

I guess it's always better to face your fears!

Carly

Ghosts...

From For Ellipsis

"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly at night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset."

-Crowfoot

I believe in ghosts, but I have never felt one in the little home I currently live in. Nothing spooky has happened here, well, accept for the night back in November of 2003 when Alan and I heard that strange high pitched noise in the back yard. On that night I am sure there was something other worldly close by. As we turned out all the lights inside, to get a better look out at the yard, Elvis got up onto the bed, looked toward the bedroom window, stood up on his back feet, and pointed with his right paw toward the direction the sound came from. It was an eerie sight. One I will never forget. I had not seem him do that before that night, and he never did it after that. It honestly looked like he could see something out in the yard, that Alan and I couldn't. We never heard that sound again.

In fact nothing remotely spooky has happened since, but the last couple days, as I was sitting at my computer, I could have sworn I saw a shadow cross the room behind me. A large, black shadow. Now I know that the sun casts a slightly different light in autumn, it's something that I look forward to, but this shadow seems a little different from the ones that I usually see. I am not afraid, but I am curious. I have always wanted to witness a full body apparition for myself, but in truth, if I actually did see one I think it might not be so much interesting as terrifying. LOL. It's one thing to investigate a haunted house, but to live in one, well, I don't think so! Well, maybe if it were a nice ghost, or maybe a protective one like Capt. Daniel Gregg from The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. I could live with that. Why I wouldn't even call Jason and Grant from Ghost Hunters. If that were the case.

I don't know... maybe it is my overactive imagination needing an outlet. Maybe it is because we are coming up on my very favorite holiday, Halloween, I don't know, it just feels like the big shadow isn't just a shadow. You know? In any case, I am beginning to get used to the shadow, so maybe I should be thinking about naming it. LOL. What do you call a shadow? Harry? Well that would never work if the shadow turns out to be a female shadow... that would just make it angry. Hmm... what to do, what to do... Maybe I will just stick with YOU for now, and wait until it either shows a feminine side or masculine side. YIKES... how would it be to find out it likes wearing my clothing... LOL. I could wake up one morning to find a disembodied spirit wearing my Spanx! Now there is a visual!

Opinions, opinions... do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever seen a shadow you couldn't explain? What happens after this life? Do we stay or do we go? Do you like TV shows about the paranormal? By the way, there is a nifty new show about ghosts on the Biography channel this week called, Celebrity Ghost Stories. I plan to pop a big bowl of popcorn, pour a Caramel Apple Cider, grab my kitties, and invite my shadow to join us for the show! LOL. Alan has to work, so I will be... yikes... all alone!

:)

-Carly

Fluttering About The Yard

From For Ellipsis

"We are like butterflies, we flutter or a day and think it's forever."

-Carl Sagan

Gulf Fritillary...

From For Ellipsis

I had lunch outside in the back yard yesterday, and while I was out there I was treated to not only watching Hendrix and Dylan playing kitten games, but also the presence of at least three different types of butterflies happily fluttering about. That makes for a good day!

Common White Checkered...

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

It looks like it will be a good autumn for butterflies, and that makes me smile, because in a few weeks we are going to see the Monarchs in Pacific Grove. I love visiting the preserve each year, who wouldn't love walking among thousands of butterflies with the Pacific ocean just a few short blocks away! Awww... paradise. I can't wait!

:)

-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #57: Weeds.

"A WEED is but an unloved flower."

-Ella Wilcox












EMPS# 57: WEEDS.
One of my favorite Round Robin topics ever was "WEEDS." Let's revisit that idea and make this week all about WEEDS. You know what to do, grab your cameras and show me the softer side of this misunderstood flower.

Extra Credit: Show me a WEED that would look nice in a flower arrangement!

**PLEASE READ**
You have until next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET to get your photo, and come back here with the direct link back to it. Please remember, it must be a link which goes back to an entry specific to this week's photo shoot assignment. A general link to your blog, journal or website won't do. NO HYPERLINKS ACCEPTED!

Linking List for EMPS #56: Welcome To Autumn (Leaves Or Flowers) 09/21/09

NOW CLOSED!

1. Vicki

2. Hip Chick

3. Suzanne

4. Jama

5. Greg

6. Liz

7. Mike

8. Karen


Thanks for playing everyone, and for your continued support of this project! See you next week with an all new photography assignment.

:)

-Carly

Coming To You Live... And Now In XP!

From For Ellipsis

"To err is human, but to really foul things up it takes a computer."

-Farmer's Almanac, 1978

In an entry earlier this week, I shared with you a little about my current computer woes. If you didn't get the chance to read that entry, I will give it to you in a nutshell... a main display driver has gone out on the computer I bought just about 18 months ago... ERRRRGGGG! As bad as it is to have your relatively new computer give out, it could be worse. On the positive side of things, I do have my old computer as a back up while I do some shopping around for a new one. That's a good thing. After all, my back-up... putt-putt... computer is running lovely, uncomplicated, Windows XP Premium Home Edition. God I miss that operating system! VISTA SUCKS! I hated it from day one, but I was willing to learn my way around, and did so with the purchase of the book, "The Complete Idiot's Guide To Windows Vista." I highly recommend that book, as it will save you lots and lots of gray hair! Honestly, there should be some kind of support group!

So I am back to the basics and I don't mind waiting until I can find the exact right computer for us. A ton of storage room for my digital photographs, and plenty of speed and gooey display goodness for the gamer that is Alan. Well, both of us like to play games on the computer. He likes the strategy games like Two Worlds and Total War, while I like to climb into the world of the SIMS. I have been wanting to get the new SIMS3, now it just means it will be on my Christmas wish list. Christmas is just around the corner... yikes... how did that happen?

I expect the next few months will go by quickly. I will be busy enough getting my files on this computer in shape, and transferring them to an external hard drive. In an odd way, I am finding most of this task not so much daunting as, well, relaxing. I have enjoyed visiting my archives and looking over photos that I either overlooked or disregarded for whatever reason. Then there are the ones that loved dearly, like the two I used for this entry. The one above brings with it a nice memory of standing on a little bridge in the middle of Reno, Nevada, and taking a photo of a beautiful stream that runs through the middle of town. It was a cold day in October, and yet the sun was really hot. A typical autumn day, and yet that moment was anything but typical. If you really love photography, you know the feeling you get when you know you have found a great subject and everything just comes together. :) That is a good feeling.

From For Ellipsis

The second photo took more then a little patience... and courage to get. I have had a lifelong fear of spiders. All spiders. So one day, while walking in Tilden Park, I came across this icky... yikes... spider. You would think I would have ran the other way, but instead I took his picture because as gruesome as it was, it was also so very photogenic. To this day I am not sure what kind of spider it might be, whether or not it is dangerous, I don't have the nerve to look it up, but I do admire it's strange beauty. I love photography, and I love using that artistry to overcome my fears. It's a good thing to face up to what frightens you. Strong is better. I like strong.

:)

Opinions, opinions...
I am anxiously awaiting the release of Mircrosoft's Windows 7 operating system. How about you? Will you upgrade to it? Did you like Vista? Did you downgrade to Windows XP like some folks did? Tell me about your computer experiences, have you ever had a computer die after a relatively short time? Tell me everything.

-Carly

So Happy I'm In Love With My Best Friend...

From For Ellipsis

"I love being married, It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life."

-Rita Rudner

True story... I fell for Alan all over again yesterday. Let me explain. You see, we have been having a lot of problems with our HP computer. It's less then 2 years old, but within the last month or so a major display driver has apparently stopped working. I have done everything I can think of to fix the problem, short of taking it to a qualified professional. That will be my next step, but in the mean time I am coming to you via my old, very slow, aged back up putt-putt computer I affectionately call "Meghan the 1st." Yesterday it became crystal clear that I needed to just shut down the HP and plug in the putt-putt, which is what I did. Alan, suggested that after I finished all the updates, downloads and uploads to Meghan the 1st, we go to Best Buy and do some computer shopping to see what's out there and available for when we are ready to make the purchase. It sounded like a great idea, so off we went.

I walked out the front door first, and Alan was right on my heals. I managed the 2 steps down, turned to ask him a question, when IT happened...

We both fell.

Well actually, Alan missed the last step, and fell into and then onto me!

OUCH!

OH MY ACHING BUTT!!

Damn... That was too funny!

There I sat, flat of my bum, on the cold funky cement, with a rather large man on top of me, and all I could think to do, even through the pain in my butt, shoulder, wrist, and knee, was to laugh. My sick sense of humor found it hysterical. LOL. Alan was scared to death that I had hurt myself, and as any excellent husband would do, repeated "Carly, are you ok?" over and over and over, but I couldn't answer him because I was laughing too hard! WEEBOLES WABBLE BUT ALAN DOESN'T!" ROFL! Even today, as I sit here telling you the story, I am completely laughing about the whole thing! My back hurts, my shoulder hurts, my bum really hurts... but it's still too funny!

So, opinions, opinions, am I just crazy or is there really some kind of sick humor in two grown people falling down? You know, Whoopie Goldberg once said that you can't have comedy without some kind of drama being involved. Take the case of someone slipping on a banana peel... to the person falling it's high drama, but to the person across the street it's slapstick humor! Gosh, I wish I could have seen us yesterday... I bet I would have laughed just as hard. And now Alan thinks I am the coolest wife ever because I didn't think him a silly oaf. :)

Have you ever been involved in a moment of spontaneous humor? Do you laugh at your own foibles? Tell me what you think.

Oh, and by the way, I am now off to do some nice safe new computer research from the comfort of my donut pillow, with my codeine by my side, at C-NET. Wish me luck!

-Carly

Feline Furball And Feathers Friday: Hendrix Discovers A New Perspective!

From For Ellipsis

"When your cat rubs the side of their face along your leg, it's affectionately marking you with it's scent, identifying you as it's private property, saying, in effect, 'You belong to me.'"


-Susan McDonough


Hendrix discovered the upside down world today. There is nothing like seeing the world through your cat's eyes.

:)



I love those times!

From For Ellipsis

And isn't he a handsome guy?


Friday's are the days for pets. Be sure to play along with Theresa's meme. It's fun! Visit her blog for all the details!



Feline, Furball, And Feathers Friday



-Carly

Happy Autumn 2009

From For Ellipsis

"Delicious autumn... my very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."

-George Eliot

Autumn begins today at 2:18 PM PT. Go out and enjoy it, and if possible take some photos and join in with this week's Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot. This week we are focusing on the LEAVES and FLOWERS of my favorite season. You can find all the details here. Hope you can join us!

HAPPY AUTUMN!

:)

-Carly

September 1972

"If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older."

-Tom Stoppard

As the new Fall 2009 television season begins, I find myself all nostalgic. I hated going back to school as a child, but lived for all the new TV in the Fall. Oh my, such mixed emotions! LOL. 1972 was a very good TV year by a child's standards, but then again how could you go wrong with such classics as The Odd Couple, The Brady Bunch and The Partridge Family?!

Hmmm... a lot of shows began with "THE" back then!? LOL.

Anyway, this season, I am looking forward to some returning shows, such as, Dancing With The Stars, Castle, and Desperate Housewives, but there are some new shows I am really excited about, like Eastwick, and Flash Forward. They both look like a lot of fun.

So tell me, do you have a favorite season for television? What returning shows are you looking forward to? How about the new shows... does anything stand out for you? And if you could bring one classic back, which one would it be? Tell me everything!!

-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #56: Welcome To Autumn (Leaves Or Flowers)

"Autumn Is A Second Spring When Every Leaf Is A Flower."

-Albert Camus







EMPS #56: Welcome To Autumn (LEAVES or FLOWERS) NOW CLOSED!
Tomorrow (Tuesday) we in the Northern Hemisphere will cross over to my favorite of all seasons... AUTUMN! In celebration of that fact, please grab your camera and photograph either the LEAVES or FLOWERS around where you live. Show me what's looking all autumny right now. NO ARCHIVES FOR THIS ONE! For FLOWERS, I want to see sunflowers, marigolds, you know... that type of thing. And as for the LEAVES, I know it's the beginning of the season, so simply show me what things look like as we begin AUTUMN. :)

Extra Credit: Show me a FLOWER or LEAF that came specifically from your own yard.

EMPS #55A: PHOTOGRAPHER'S CHOICE.
As always, if you don't happen to live in a part of the world where you see a significant difference in the change of seasons, please grab your cameras and photograph anything you want this week. You have complete freedom to express yourself, just keep in mind that this photo meme is FAMILY FRIENDLY, so lets be careful about what is submitted.

**PLEASE READ**
You have until next Sunday evening at 9:00 ET to get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with the direct link back to it. PLEASE REMEMBER... it must be a link that goes back to an entry specific to this week's photo shoot assignment. NO HYPERLINKS ACCEPTED. A general link to your site will not do, I must have the full link so I can add it to the Linking List posted with next week's assignment.

Linking List for EMPS #55: Bugs. 09/14/09

NOW CLOSED!

1. Greg

2. Jama

3. Wammy

4. Suzanne

5. Carolyn

6. Duane

7. Mike

8. Liz

9. Karen



Well done everyone! I will see you next Monday with assignment #57! Where does the time go?

:)

-Carly

Round Robin Challenge: Chickens

From For Ellipsis

"People who count their chickens before they are hatched, act very wisely, because chickens run about so absurdly that it is impossible to count them accurately."

-Oscar Wilde

RRC: Chickens (A Challenge Most Fowl)
Suggested by Sherrie, author of the blog, Sherrie's Stuff.

Bok, Bok, Bok... Sherrie is the one to thank for this FOWL challenge, which is wonderful because... Bok, Bok, Bok, Bok.... I LOVE chickens! When I was a little girl I raised several different kinds of chickens as pets and for the wonderful fresh eggs.Ahhh ... there's nothing like it. You might be surprised to find out what wonderful pets they make, I had a small bantam chicken that was my constant companion when I was about 4 years old. Cuddly and friendly. It's was a lot of fun, but a lot of work as well. Whenever I get nostalgic for those happy times in my childhood, I pay a visit to the Little Farm inTilden Park, where there are all kinds of wonderful animals to watch and interact with. Here are some photos from my recent visit there...

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

Bok, Bok, Bok, Bok, that's my entry, now go see what they other Robins have come up with for this foul assignment...

Linking List
WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS!

Sherrie... Sherrie's Stuff


Carly... Ellipsis
Posted!

Karen... Outpost Mavarin
Posted!

Linda... Mommy's Treasures
Posted!

Jenn... My Muskoka
Posted!

Lana G... Above The Clouds
Posted!

Nancy... Bondi Resort Blog


Maria Berg... Everything Is Green
Posted! 09/04/09

Boliyou... Endomental
Posted!

Molly Mavis... Visual Dialogues


Margaret... Facts From A Fact Woman


Suzanne R... SuzyQ421's Photo Blog
Posted!

Ruth... Scrabble Queen
Posted!

Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
Posted!

Ellen B... The Happy Wonderer
Posted!

Vicki... Sea Turtle Mom
Posted!

Hip Chick... Hip Chick's Photos
Posted!

Peggy... Holmespun Fun
Posted!

Teena... It's all about me!
Posted!

Please Note: I am having some difficulties with my computer, and I will do my best to get around to everyone, but I am not sure if I will be able to. If your name isn't on the above list, I apologize and I will add it on as soon as I can.

Be sure to check the official Round Robin blog tomorrow, to find out what our next challenge will be!

-Carly

(Insert Raspberry Noise Here) Is RUDE The New Polite?

From For Ellipsis

"Learn young about manners, and you'll be through the whole dirty mess and nicely dead again before you know it."

-F Scott Fitzgerald

The Following Is A True Story...

Dylan's Mommy: Dylan, don't stick your tongue out, someone will think you are a republican, and besides it's rude.

Carly's Cat Dylan: Mommy, don't you know it's rude to tell someone when they are being rude?

LOL. Ok, so I may have used a small amount of creative storytelling here, but I did so to make a bigger point... Is America Becoming Rude Or Are We All Just Constipated?

From For Ellipsis

True Story. Elvis was an exceedingly polite cat. More then on person had remarked about his polite mannerisms, which made me proud, because I spent a lot of time with him, and made the most of that time by teaching him simple, yet polite behaviors. He tapped you three times on the arm or leg if he needed or wanted your attention. Every night at 10:00 PM he gently reminded Alan and I that our bedtime was imminent, he always covered his uneaten food with a white napkin, that he insisted upon having new each morning, he always picked his toys up before he went to bed, and if he couldn't cover his own poo, for what ever reason, he came and told me immediately so I could. You see, he knew his poo smelled, unlike a lot of folks recently. And you know who you are, Joe Wilson, Serena Williams and Kanye West.

So tell me, if I was able to successfully train Elvis to live not only politely, but with self-respect, then what's up with all the yelling, screaming, finger pointing, upstaging, threatening, stomping, accusing, lying, and generally behaving badly? Is Rude new Polite?

Opinions. Opinions. What do you think? Does it take more effort then usual for you to remain civil? Are you just a dirty look away from going "ape-shit?"

By the way... Kudos to Beyonce Knowles for being such a class act! Now there is someone with manners and class! Shame on you Kanye West! Whoops... there I go again being RUDE!

:)

-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #55: Bugs

"We starve the rats, creosote the ticks, swat the flies, step on cockroaches, and poison scales, yet when these pests appear in human form we go paralytic."

-Martin H. Fischer








EMPS #55: BUGS. NOW CLOSED!
Ants, Cockroaches, Beetles, Sow Bugs, Earwigs, Pincher Bugs, Bees, Wasps, Fire Flies, Snails, Slugs, Banana Slugs, Spiders, Scorpions... no matter who you are, one of these things probably BUGS you. So, grab your cameras this week, and photograph the BUG and share it with us!

Extra Credit: Show us your BUG using the macro setting on your camera.

**PLEASE READ**
This Monday Photo Shoot assignment closes next Sunday, at 9:00 PM ET. So, you have until then to find your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and then come back here with the direct link back to it. Please remember, it must be a direct link back to the entry which is specific to this week's photo shoot assignment. A general link to your blog will not do. NO HYPERLINKS ACCEPTED!

Linking List for EMPS #54: Archived Photos. 09/07/09

NOW CLOSED!

1. Suzanne

2. Greg

3. Carly... Yep, I played too!

4. Jama

5. Duane

6. Liz

7. Patrick

8. Karen

Thanks so much to everyone who played. I really enjoyed all your photography this week. By the way, I am overdue to mention some of my favorite memes about the land. So, please consider playing along with the folks from my Meme List below...

Weekend Assignment (Karen) A New topic is posted each Friday.

Feline, Furball and Feathers Friday (Theresa) Friday is the day for pets!

Saturday Six (Patrick) A new topic each Saturday.

Sunday Seven (Patrick) A new topic each Sunday.

Color Carnival (Martha) A new round of color each week!

See you next Monday with all new photography assignment. :)

-Carly

Giggle, Giggle, Snort, Giggle... Jon and Kate + Hate

"More marriages might survive if the partners realized that sometimes the better comes after the worse."

-Doug Larson

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

Opinions, Opinions... isn't it about time that Jon and Kate... went away?! Who do you believe? Jon? Kate? Both? Neither? Do you really care?

;)

-Carly



By the way, if you just can't stand not seeing Kate Gosselin every day, she will be co-hosting ABC's The View, on Monday and Tuesday of next week! Oh boy! I think I will watch The Price Is Right instead! LOL