"The man who doesn't relax and hoot a few hoots voluntarily, now and then, is in great danger of hooting hoots and standing on his head for the edification of the pathologist and trained nurse a little later on."
How do I de-stress? Well, Valium works pretty well! LOL. Nah, I can't even take a whole one, I have to cut mine in quarters. I am a little bit allergic you see, and not only do I become the mouthiest person on the planet, but I also become the most honest, which lets face it, only leads to additional stress when the pill wears off. LOL. Now I ask you... who needs that?
My favorite way to de-stress is pretty simple actually, I like to take pictures!
But then I also have to give some de-stressing credits to my kitties, Dylan and Hendrix. They keep me laughing. Pets are so healthy to have around. I know I am as sane as I am because I have these little people to help keep me happy.
But, when all else fails, I have my love of cooking. I cook every day. I like making my own meals. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love a night out once in a while, and I am a junk food junkie, but I love getting in the kitchen with the goal of creating something amazing to eat. What you are seeing in the picture below is a simple dish, Vadalia Onion Chicken. Macaroni & Cheese, and Carrots in Orange/Ginger sauce. So easy, so delicious!
"It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want... oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"
-Mark Twain
It's raining. I love the rain, but I am so ready for winter to be over. Sigh. Oh well, I can sit around feeling blue, or I can focus on the yellow moments in life. If spring has an official color, I am pretty sure it's yellow.
"You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from passing over your head, but you can prevent their making a nest in your hair."
-Chinese Proverb
Lately, these pretty little birds have been visiting our yard. I haven't seen this particular type before, and after doing a little reading, I see that they are usually a shoreline bird, although during the winter they will take up residence in city parks and chaparrals. My cottage is on a nice piece of acreage, and I have often described it as a small park, so I guess the birds agree! Isn't it a pretty bird?
"Life is a train of moods like a string of beads; and as well pass through them they prove to be many colored lenses, which paint their own hue each shows us only what lies in it's own focus."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
I am in a purple mood. A little blue, but with just enough red to make me not completely hopeless. LOL.
How about you, if you could assign a color to your mood, what color are you right now? Share if you feel like doing so. I am curious to see what your response might be!
There are a couple new things to tell you about. Let's start with what I think is the good news. Beginning next Thursday, February 11th, I will be sharing co-hosting duties of the Weekend Assignment with Karen. We will be alternating weeks for at least the next few months, in order to bring Karen some much needed rest. She has hosted the project since John Scalzi handed her the reins of the Weekend Assignment in January 2007. I can't blame her for wanting a little respite, from time to time, and for wanting to be able to participate. I know how much she enjoyed the Weekend Assignment when John was hosting. Hopefully, this will give her the break she needs, and perhaps we can gain a some new participants. It would mean a lot to me to do well with this project, so, it goes without saying that I would really appreciate your participation. Please consider joining us for the fun!
:)
Now for the not so good news...
:(
I have decided to activate the Comment Moderation option on my blog. I know, I know... it's a pain wondering if your comment has gotten through. I am not especially happy with having to do it, but there have been a lot of SPAM and unwanted comments getting through lately. Sigh. I hope you understand. I watch my email pretty closely, so unless I am out, your comment should appear pretty soon after you leave it. In any case, it will appear by the end of the day you post it. Hopefully the unwanted emails and comment SPAM will stop soon.
Okay, that's just about it. I would enjoy hearing your thoughts about my doing the Weekend Assignment with Karen. Feel free to leave your thoughts about that, or anything you see or read on my blog. :)
"If we want a free and peaceful world, if we want to make the deserts bloom and man grow to greater dignity as a human being, we can do it."
-Eleanor Roosevelt
EMPS #75: PEACEFUL PLACES NOW CLOSED! Let's enjoy a photography assignment this week that celebrates the PEACEFUL PLACES in our lives. Parks, libraries, any place you would be able to experience some peace and quite will do nicely for the assignment. Archived photos are fine for the assignment.
Extra Credit: Show me your favorite way to experience PEACE AND QUIET.
**PLEASE READ** This Monday Photo Shoot assignment closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. You have until then to get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with the direct link back to it. Please remember, your link must go back to an entry which is specific to this week's assignment, a general link to your entry will not work. NO HYPERLINKS ACCEPTED. Also, please include a link back to this assignment so your readers will be able to find the assignment and play along with us.
Well done! You guys continue to amaze me with your talent. I saw some really beautiful examples of this week's assignment! You guys ROCK! See you next Monday, with an all new assignment! :)
"All architecture is shelter, all great architecture is the design of spacethat contains, cuddles, exalts, or stimulates the persons in that space."
-Phillip Johnson
Isn't it beautiful? That is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Oakland Temple, in Oakland hills. I have been looking at that church since I was a very little girl. :) When I was a child, I imagined it was a castle, and inside was a beautiful princess waiting for her prince. You can probably imagine how big I smiled yesterday, when I went to the temple to photograph it, and saw a bride and groom posing for their photos. If you look really close, you can see them right in front of the temple. :) Perfect timing.
This gives you a nice look facing back towards San Francisco, and Oakland which is in the forefront.
"I believe that water is the only drink for a wise man."
-Henry David Thoreau
RRC: Water Suggested By, Angela, of the blog, Chocolate Syrup For The Soul, (Private)
I just had to smile when Karen posted the announcement entry for our current topic. You see, it has rained, here in the Bay Area, almost nonstop since the beginning of January, and so I know a little something about water! LOL. I didn't get out to get the photos I had planned to, arthritis doesn't do well in cold, wet weather, but in the archives I had some photos which haven't been posted for a while, as well as one photo taken recently, which I hadn't had a chance to post. Enjoy!
The Round Robin Photo Challenges has some awesome photographers participating, be sure to go and see what everyone else came up with! Just follow the links below...
Remember, there is still time to play along, see the official Round Robin blog for all the details! And don't forget to check back tomorrow, to find out what our next challenge will be!
-Carly
PS: If you like the Round Robin Challenges, why not give our other projects a try?
Monday Photo Shoot: This week's assignment is "Houses of Worship" Closes Sunday night at 9:00 PM ET
"Did you ever see an unhappy horse? Did you ever see a bird that had the blues? One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses."
The rain has lifted a bit here in the Bay Area, so I spend a little bit of time in the backyard, photographing the beautiful birds. My yard has just been filled with them lately, it's a very nice indication that soon spring will be here! I spotted a Robin couple to photograph. Very cute. I wish their nest was in my yard so I can see the babies, but alas I think they are building it in the next yard, way up in the Poplar tree. Is there anything cuter then a baby bird?
Ok, I admit it. When I first heard about Twitter I had to wonder what the big deal was. Ok, so you can find out in real time that "Henry" in Boise, has just milked his cow. Or maybe you could find out within a matter of seconds that "Simone" in Fairbanks has just finished her breakfast, but really, why would I care? Ok, it did intrigue me that someone famous could share their day, I mean that would be pretty glamorous right? I mean, it's going straight to the source, without all those pesky tabloids to make it all up, or airbrush the heck out of it. So, ok, I could see that as fun. Hmmm, I thought, maybe there was something to it.
So, one day last summer, in a fit of absolute boredom, I decided to check things out on Twitter. I created an account and took a look around. I found a couple friends, such as Karen, had an account, so I "followed" her. Then I found a couple other folks that I knew and I "followed" them, and then, just for fun, looked around to see who else was on Twitter. Anderson Cooper... cool! Regis and Kelly... cool! Oooh... maybe there are Soap Opera stars on here!
Yep. I found a couple soap stars. I am currently following a left leaning diva, and a right leaning diva, and to my profound surprise, enjoying both sides very much. I even had an small interaction with the left leaning diva, which was really pleasant, because she actually asked my opinion on something to do with the state we both reside in. She asked... my... opinion. It was nice to feel of value for a moment to someone I have admired for so many years. Just nice. You know? It was like standing in line at the grocery store, or at Starbuck's, except better, because should I turn around while in line at either of those two places, and see a soap diva, I don't think I would be likely to speak my mind. Believe it or not, I am basically a shy girl, but I do try to overcome it. Every time I step out on the ledge, and the ledge doesn't come crashing to the earth, means I have grown a little bit.
So I guess what I am saying is, what began as an experiment has become yet another way to reach out and experience life. Like being on the Internet in general. People are just people, but we humans do tend to put up lots of walls. I know about walls, but allowing myself new experiences proves my insecurities wrong, and that feels good. Does that make sense?
So to answer your question Karen, YES. I TWEET.
Extra Credit: I follow 151 and I have 41 followers.
"There are three forms of visual art. Painting is art to look at, Sculpture is art you can walk around, and Architecture is art you can walk through."
-Dan Rice
EMPS #74: HOUSES OF WORSHIP NOW CLOSED! The art of Architecture fascinates me, and some of the most beautiful examples of that art seem to be HOUSES OF WORSHIP. So, for this week's assignment, please show me the HOUSES OF WORSHIP in your area. From simple country churches, to big city cathedrals, to mosques, or temples ... it's all good. And yes, feel free to show me an archived photo this week, but please make sure it's one you haven't previously displayed in at least 6 months or so.
Extra Credit: Show me a Stained Glass Window.
**PLEASE READ**This Monday Photo Shoot assignment closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. So, you have until then to submit your photo for the assignment by uploading it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with the link back to it. Please remember, the link you leave in the comment thread, must be a link which goes back to an entry which is specific to this week's assignment. NO HYPERLINKS ACCEPTED! Also, please add a link back to this assignment in your entry, so other folks can find the assignment and play along with us.
**Please Note: I am continuing to have a lot of difficulty with my computer. Ugg! I hope to have the problems resolved soon, but until I can get it fixed things remain tentative. If you don't see your name on the Linking List, it's because of my computer woes and I apologize. I have scheduled the next several Monday Photo Shoot assignments in case I have to temporarily leave the Internet. So, if I am not here, no worries, an assignment will be here! Just play amongst yourselves, and I will be back as soon as possible. I promise. :)
**There is a Round Robin coming up this Saturday, and I have some things going on this week so Saturday is probably the day I will be by to see your Monday Photo Shoot entries. I promise I will be by, barring any computer problems! :)
Good job everyone! See you next Monday with an all new Monday Photo Shoot assignment.
-Carly
**If you enjoyed the Monday Photo Shoot, be sure to check out...
Cats sleep anywhere, any table, any chair Top of piano, window-ledge, in the middle, on the edge. Open draw, empty shoe, anybody's lap will do. Fitted in a cardboard box, in the cupboard with your frocks. Anywhere! They don't care! Cats sleep anywhere.
It's such a calming sight. My boy, who had been watching the pouring rain out the window not 5 minutes earlier, is now sleeping quietly, while standing up. He seems a bit fluffier in these moments, and my heart just feels happy watching him. All is right with the world.
"We'd all like to vote for the best man, but he's never a candidate."
-Frank McKinney Hubbard
Have you noticed it too? The surreal feel in the air as events take place which by all accounts shouldn't? We in America went through a big of a political shake-up last Tuesday when the unthinkable happened... Ted Kennedy's political seat was turned over to... a republican. Senator Kennedy served the people of Massachusetts for 46 years. I grew up learning about what he accomplished not just for his state, but for this country as well. I learned a lot about the man while he was alive, but I learned even more about him after his passing this last summer. He was a good man. He worked hard for what he believed in and he didn't deserved what happened last Tuesday. It's infuriating to me that he was let down so profoundly. Who let him down? Well, that's been debated a good bit since Tuesday, and as always in these situations, it depends on who you ask.
Was it the White House? Yes, you could say that. Let's face it, the Obama administration did very little to see to it that we held onto that all important seat. Sure, Obama showed up a couple week's ago and stumped for the democratic candidate Martha Coakley, but not until it was already too late to do much good. Thanks a lot prez.
Was it the candidate herself? Yes, you could say that. Martha Coakley was, at best, phoning in her candidacy. I mean, who takes a vacation during a crucial time in one's campaign? Who doesn't know key players on their state's major league ball teams? Ok, that point does seem a bit trivial... and yet... it would have made her seem much more relatable to the voters if she would have demonstrated that she cared about the lighthearted things as well.
Could it have been the best person won? Gulp... well... yes. Let's face it, Scott Brown got out and spoke to the voters. He showed up, and as Woody Allen once said, "80% of success is showing up." Jeepers Woody, you couldn't be more right!
So have we democrats learned anything?
I hope so.
But only time will tell.
Here is what I have learned. I am sick of the talking points that overrule folks thinking for themselves, and that includes politicians. Ask a republican what happened, and you will hear these darling old gems... "Folks are just tired of business as usual." "Well, it's the economy stupid!" LOL. I have been hearing that since I was 3! What do they actually mean? Expand on those thoughts please! But you never get an explanation, because the talking point sounds so good and besides, then those who repeat them don't have to come up with an original thought all on their own. I have learned to think for myself. And as we move toward the midterms I will be paying very close attention to what goes on. When I think about what drives others it comes down to the basic...
"It's the economy stupid!" Yeah... I don't buy that. Yes, the nation's economy is in the toilet. Our personal finances are D.O.A... and? Look, the economy fell as a direct result of the failed policies of the Bush administration. Period. Bush and company held things together just long enough to finish his term in office, so everything could be blamed on Obama. We are in deep financial pain, we are crying out for help and it just doesn't seem to be coming. WHO CAN I BLAME? It's the human way, and who is in the forefront? OBAMA. Let's BLAME HIM! Then we will feel better... WAAAAAWAAAAAWAAA... but at least we got to blame someone!
By all accounts, Obama did the right thing by us when it came to the economy, however, I said it at the time that if we were going to be handing the big banks money, some oversight had to come with it. Neither Bush, nor Obama did enough in regards to oversight, and now the banks are thumbing their nose at us. The economic pain inflicted on us by the Bush administration's bad policies cannot be reversed overnight, or even next week, and if you think putting the same, or even new republicans back into office wills somehow fix it all in a heartbeat you are naive and unrealistic and just plain delusional. Don't want hear that we are going to be in this mess for a long time, do you? Neither do I, but in it we are, and we just need to stop bitching and figure out how we manage our lives better while we wait it out. There... that's my fix. Deal with it!
I don't know. Sometimes I find the most surreal part about everything that's happening in America's political climate, is the blatant back-assward approach to everything the democrats do. Phoning in one's campaign... as if deep down the candidate doesn't want to win. Our president attempting time and again to reach out the republicans in an effort of bi-partisanship, which never works and only ends up delaying things if we are lucky or flat out losing our side like we just did in Massachusetts. What's the definition of insanity again? Oh yeah, it's doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome!
So, is Obama and the rest of the democrats crazy, or has something more sinister happened? Is he actually a ringer for the republican party? Does he secretly want to be a republican? Is that why he caves to them every single time? Is that why he does very little to see other democrats make it to office? No, probably not. I mean that would be too much to believe... even I am not that paranoid, but it does make one think, doesn't it?
I suppose it could be a case, such as in the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Perhaps all the democrats, at least the ones with a backbone, have been stolen away by evil republicans, only to be replaced a few at a time until we are all replaced with a likeness of ourselves, but who are, in fact, made up of narrow mindedness, lack of compassion, and the inability to grasp reality. Oh, and rudeness, let's not forget that! Imagine that! One day we will all be replaced until nothing but pod people remain to carry out the agenda of the right. When you think about it, it sure does explain Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck... doesn't it? I mean, who else would give these two the time of day, if they hadn't been turned into a mindless pod person, incapable of thinking for themselves?
And by the way, Scott Brown pretty much pimped out his daughters during his acceptance speech Tuesday night. Where's the outrage from the right about that? What was the difference between that and the joke David Letterman told last summer about Sarah Palin's daughter? But then again what else can you expect from a man who claims to be about "Family Values" and then explains his posing nearly nude in his youth, by saying he, "needed money."
Hmmm... Levi Johnston has a bright political future ahead! :)
Maybe INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS really does explain it all!
"Slowly, while you are asleep, they absorb your mind and your memories."
-Invasion of the Body Snatchers
You won't take me! I WILL NEVER GIVE UP!
-Carly
One last thought... With today's Supreme Court decision to roll back campaign finance restrictions, we better all pay very, very close attention to who backs who. America is for sale to the highest bidder... or contributor.
It was pouring down rain yesterday, but I didn't let it stop me... I went to Whole Foods on a quest for Blood Oranges and no little bit of rain, thunder or blowing wind was going to stop me. As it turned out, I had a pretty good time shopping. I found these lovely oranges, and I also bought some pretty little Pink Lady apples. DELICIOUS! I can't wait to make my Spicy Blood Orange Chicken later in the week!
"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape... the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show."
-Andrew Wyeth
EMPS # 73: WINTER LANDSCAPES. It's occurs to me that we haven't given WINTER a proper welcome. Let's fix that by getting outside and taking some WINTER LANDSCAPE photos. I know we did a similar assignment a couple weeks ago, but that was a generalized look at WEATHER, this time around I want to see something a little more refined. I want to see some WINTER LANDSCAPE photos that really shows WINTER at it's most beautiful and raw.
Extra Credit: Show me a WINTER activity, such as Ice Skating.
EMPS # 73A. BEAUTIFUL BUT COLD. If you don't happen to live in the Northern Hemisphere, and therefore aren't in the season of WINTER, please take on this alternate assignment and show me something BEAUTIFUL BUT COLD! Ice Cream. Mountains. Iced Tea. It's all good!
Extra Credit: Show me someone engaging in a WARM weather activity. Surfing. Water Skiing, Picnicking... anything WARM weather related.
**PLEASE READ** The deadline for this assignment is next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. Please submit your entries by that time. All you have to do is get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and then comeback here with the direct link back to it. PLEASE REMEMBER... the link you leave must go back to an entry which is specific to this week's photo shoot assignment. A general link to your site won't work, and NO HYPERLINKS ARE ACCEPTED. Also, please include a link back here in your entry so others can find the photo shoot assignment and play along with us.
Well done everyone! Thanks so much for playing, the awesome turnouts lately have really made me smile. Your photography has just been outstanding! See you next week with an all new assignment.
"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness is never decreases by being shared."
-Buddha
RRC: Candlelight Suggested by, ME :)
Here is my Candlelight gallery. I enjoyed my adventures with the candles. From my Andy Warhol inspired one at the top, to the "Candle in a Storm" it was a great experiment for me. Who knows... maybe we will try this one again later this year! If not for the Round Robins then maybe for my Monday Photo Shoot. For now, enjoy my gallery...
There's still time to play! Just visit the official RR blog for all the details. And don't forget to check on Sunday for the announcement of what our next challenge will be!
-Carly
If you enjoyed playing the RRC, then check out our other memes!
"A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain."
-Robert Frost
Warning: This Post Is Rated PG-13
The other day I heard Ariana Huffington's plea, on MSMBC's Countdown With Keith Olbermann, for we Americans to take our money out of the big banks and put it into a smaller local bank or credit unions. I remember thinking about how monumental that task seemed. When you have direct deposit, and you have automatically scheduled payments, it can be a lot of work to make any new changes. Still, she had a point. The large (TOO BIG TO FAIL) banks are recording not just profits but record profits and they are continuing to reward their "BEST PEOPLE" with huge bonuses. I have never seen a more blatant FUCK YOU! Have you? And just today, as I logged onto my account with JP Morgan Chase to check my balance, I found that some sort of "GLITCH" has caused my account to overdraw by $278! Fine. Great. I had money in my account, but now I don't. I get promises to fix it... but no indication about how long it will take. It is affecting folks nationwide, so I guess I am supposed to take some comfort in that fact.
I think I am ready to put up with the inconvenience of changing banks. As soon as I can I am changing to a smaller bank or credit union. I have had enough of putting money in the pockets of the very same people who nearly bankrupted this country, and I hope others will join me. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I wish I could do it today, but alas the last time I checked what little money I did have in my account is tied up in limbo while CHASE figures out it's "GLITCH." I can't even access enough to buy milk, and I suppose that is the mess a lot of folks are facing today. If you have an account with Chase, you better go check your balance and then hope for the best.
I LOVE to cook. I LOVE to take photographs. I can't always do both. But when I can combine my two great loves, I am in 7th Heaven! Pink Peppercorns are delicious and therefore fantastic to work with in my culinary pursuits. Have you ever tried them? They have a slight citrus flavor, which means they taste wonderful on fish or chicken, but sometimes I sprinkle them on fruit salads as well. Tasty.
One of my goals this year, is to do more with photographing food and ingredients. It's one of the most accessible subjects, especially during the winter when it is sometimes just too cold for me to get outside with my camera. I think I will do a whole series on spices and herbs. If you want to join me, let me know and I will try to coordinate something. Leave me your thoughts in the comment thread. If we get enough interest in the subject, perhaps we will do a special Photo Shoot Assignment specifically for the spices and herbs.
-Carly
PS Don't forget tomorrow's Round Robin Challenge: Candlelight. There is still plenty of time to play, just pay a visit to the RR blog to learn all the details.
"I do not have three thousand pairs of shoes, I had one thousand and sixty."
-Imelda Marcos
EMPS #72: PAIRS.NOW CLOSED! 2's company this week! Grab your cameras and photograph the wonderful world of PAIRS! Pants, windows, sneakers, trees, eyes, twin humans, eye glasses... heck... just for fun I will even accept a photograph of a PAIR of PEARS! Use your imagination and have fun!
Extra Credit: Show me both a color and a black and white version of your subject!
**PLEASE READ** As always, this Monday Photo Shoot assignment closes promptly at 9:00 PM ET next Sunday evening. PLEASE submit your entry by getting your photo, uploading it to your blog, journal or website, and then comeback here with the direct link back to it. PLEASE REMEMBER the link you leave, must go back to an entry which is specific to this week's photo shoot assignment. A general link to your blog won't be accepted or added to the Linking List. Also, please include a link back to this assignment in your entry, so others can play along with us.
"There is no such thing as an omen. Destiny does not send us heralds. She is to wise or too cruel for that."
-Oscar Wilde
Have you heard about the strange case of the missing sea lions? Pier 39 in San Francisco usually has hundreds of them along the wharf area, but since the end of last October they have been mysteriously disappearing... at an alarming rate! In fact it all occurred virtually overnight! I am so glad I got to go to Pier 39 in March of last year, and was able to capture this picture of them while they were still there. Who knew that in less then a year, they would be mostly gone. :( Local marine biologists have been investigating what might have happened, but so far the situation has them stumped. Earlier today I saw on my local news about a sudden influx on California sea lions found in Oregon, which is good news because at least they are safe, but still one has to wonder... why did they leave San Francisco, and at such a fast rate? :(
Personally, I find the whole thing rather spooky. I wonder if they had some sense of something bad coming our way? And the moderate earthquake we had this morning really isn't helping my mood or my nerves! The 4.1 quake was centered a few miles north of Milpitas, and it was a good jolt to us here in the East Bay. As always, the news reminds us not to be worried, but they also never fail to mention that someday we will be facing the BIG ONE. Fine. Thanks for reminding me. :(
Will 2010 be the year that all of California's woes were erased by the BIG ONE? That's one way to fix California's budget problems I guess... LOL... ROCKING AND ROLLING and SLIDING into the Pacific Ocean in a matter of moments! WEEE! Hey, living here means occasionally the earth will move under your feet. That's just the way it is, but as for the sea lions, well, until someone can give me a simple scientific explanation I think I will lean just the least little bit toward the superstitious side of my reasoning and do a little praying. I just hope it's not too late. I know one thing, a 4.1 quake isn't enough to drive the sea lions away.
