Mother of Invention

I'm not a shopper. Its not my forte. And add to that the desire to be quick, you can see how it could happen. I grabbed the wrong product while grocery shopping a couple of weeks ago. I grabbed whole bean coffee instead of ground. And I discovered it after I had opened the package... so now I have beans with no grinder. As I do not plan on purchasing more beans I can't not justify buying a grinder. What to do?

Well, the first thing I did was go buy some ground coffee. I didn't want to wait on coffee while trying to come up with a solution. I don't like time pressure. (Its probably why I waste so much time. Please don't hate me because I'm late. You thought I was going to say beautiful, huh.)

Today was the day when I needed a solution... I had run out of ground coffee. And I came up with one, but its one for emergencies only. That's because its labor intensive.

The only thing a grinder does is break up the beans. Well I can do that. After thinking of several ways to do this I decided to try the ole pliers method. I broke up a small handful of beans.... one at a time. I couldn't call it 'fine' grind, but 'barely broke' works. Naw, I'm kidding... they are smaller pieces than 'barely broke', but not by too much.

Then I changed plans and made half a pot instead of a whole one. I am now sitting here with my second delicous Cup O Joe.


*"FEED THAT WOMAN!" Maybe Naomi Campbell needs to eat something. It might help with anger management.
*Biased Reporting. That would be NBC's National news program. They had a piece about a study done on the effects of prayer on healing. The study did not show it had an effect. The parting comment from the news anchor clearly outlined his personal opinions on the study. I found it an interesting example of the subtlities of influencing others. Mass hypnosis in a way.
*Reading the same blogs over time you get an idea of the kind of person that is on the other end. At least those who are a bit more comfortable and honest in their blog. There are some that I would not like to have as a neighbor....critical of others. And since I believe we are our own best teachers, perhaps I should apply that comment to me, too. Interesting.

It was soooo beautiful here, weather wise. Earlier I was debating whether to run an errand today or wait until Monday. I have a tendency to always wait, but after going outside for a few minutes, I decided today was the day. White billowy clouds, sunshine, birds singing, trees blossoming.... yes, today was the day. It was a good day.

What a difference a day makes...

...twenty four little hours. Actually, today the lyrics should be what a difference a dollar makes....

Today is my youngest daughter's 25th birthday. This morning she called with 'well, where's your memory...no phone call today or anything?', meaning I haven't called her to say Happy Birthday. (she got her present earlier in the month...$$ fits all sizes) Not so fast there, little missy.... I told her to go check her email. Her ecard was there.

She was very happy. Today her 'special friend' received a large check. (They think its a back payment, but they're not sure.) What a difference a buck can make when you are flat broke. She said the day started out lousy and crappy.... but everything is bright in their future now. (I did point out that it wasn't her money and she needs to respect it... don't go making plans to spend it all without mutual agreement, or at least asking first.)

They are on their way to purchase a $500 car from a friend. I only hope its a half way decent one... with two small kids, they really need a car. This may be the only lump sum they (he) will get so even a running $500 car is better than wasted dinners out or something.

I'm happy for them... and it couldn't have come on a better day.

Running Errands

One of my daughters ('mom') called and asked if I would take her on a few errands. It was gorgeous outside so that's what I did today.

When I got to her apartment and walked through the door there was the "wee one" in his diapers running around, falling, giggling and then jumping back up to run some more. This is the first time I've really got to see his walking skills. He was enjoying it to no end... thoroughly pleased to fall and have the chance to get back up and do it again. A lot like life, doncha think? His first birthday is in April.

Anyway, my guy Darius came with 'mom' and me... the wee one stayed with mom's special friend Darius displays such a macho attitude... Mr. Football Player in his walk, trying to talk so he can tell you what to do, but still a sweetie. I look at him and can see how many paths are available for him to take at this stage and its scary. Its his day-to-day world that is shaping his outlook on things and its scary to see how easily it is to step amiss without even knowing it. How easily he picks up a toy gun and points it at someone.... its just scary for me. 'Scary' is too strong a word. 'Concern' is a better description. Don't need no fear around here!

We completed the errands quickly and then I dropped them off at a friends. It was a nice ride back home... sun out, warm, birds and blossoms out... a very nice day, all in all.

Vocabulary word

Brobdingnagian

Pronunciation: "bräb-di[ng]-'na-gE-&n, -dig-'na-
Function: adjective
Etymology: Brobdingnag, imaginary land of giants in Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift
: marked by tremendous size
- Brobdingnagian noun

Bob's wife turned away screaming, "If you don't stop taking that damn Viagra, I'm leaving you!!"

Nuthin' Much.... you?

If you've noticed several repeats of "eye candy" its because I've been told by photobucket.com that I'm reaching the end of my free space on their site, so I haven't been uploading anything. Their email could have simply been regular advertisement, but since I've got 15 'pages' of photos I figure the free time is about gone.

When you don't have a specific subject matter for an entry, its kind of difficult to come up with a title for it.

I was contemplating whether to take a morning nap, take a shower, or simply continue surfing the web. My answer has come in a form of a phone call from someone who will be coming over to repay a loan. I shall straighten up first... shouldn't take long... and then shower. After that, I can see if I can sqeeze in a nap. Does it sound like I'm napping all the time? Well, I try. Please remember, crones don't necessarily get in an eight-hour stretch of sleep... its more like four or five hours of interrupted repose injected between trips to the bathroom. But I think its more natural to follow the promptings of the body, rather than trying to make it fit into certain schedules. Schedules created by commerce...gotta sleep eight hours so you can work eight-plus hours, etc.. It should be more like how a cat does it. Only without the tail. I'm getting the fur thing down good, though.... in the form of inappropriate hair growth. I'm just having some trouble with that grooming activity. My legs and back won't bend that much. Any more. (I'm such a tease sometimes.)

I was checking my stats details and it seems like most of my blog visits are coming from automated software searching. Anyway, that's my guess since the visits don't even register length of time (0 seconds) and it has something to do with "WhoIs". ??? Maybe its a software that searches to see if a user name has already been snagged by someone. If that's the case, then I have very few real visitors... and that's okay cause I'm not promoting my blog. Oh... and lurkers shouldn't be concerned because the stats do not show me enough details to determine who is checking it out. Honest...really.

Dontcha hate it when people do that... say one thing but make it seem like something else so that you don't know whether or not to believe them. I remember back in my thirties that I did not want to lie to my significant other but the truth would have hurt their over-sensitive feelers and I might have gotten my ass kicked... and we didn't want that.... So I told them the truth but made it seem like I was lying. And they swallowed it. And it got me off the hook as well. I can't even remember what it was about, either.

Well, I gotta go straighten up the place. Enjoy this day cause its the only time that this particular day will exist.

ooops... almost forgot our vocabulary word for the day:

pastiche

Used in a sentence: Telling [Jackson] Pollock's story had become somewhat of an obsession for [Ed] Harris, so it was important to balance the fine line between accurate storytelling, homage and pastiche.

Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Italian pasticcio
1 : a literary, artistic, musical, or architectural work that imitates the style of previous work; also : such stylistic imitation
2 a : a musical, literary, or artistic composition made up of selections from different works : POTPOURRI b : HODGEPODGE

Words of Wisdom

1. No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.

2. When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.

3. If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.

4. Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.

5. You can't trust dogs to watch your food.

6. Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.

7. Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.

8. You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

9. Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.

10. The best place to be when you're sad is Grandma's lap.

What Kind of Writer are You?

You Should Be a Film Writer

You don't just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind. You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life. Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling. And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen!

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

Nuthin' in Particular

I'm tempted to just leave the illustration... no text. That's because there really isn't anything to discuss.

*As evidence of how mild the winter has been, my current electric bill is $27. Its all in the layering.

*I discovered Safeway carried a product I had thought only Albertson's carried. Holy Crap, Batman... the price difference is staggering. Its $4.59 at Albertson's (which, I think, is way over-priced anyway) and $4.89 at Safeway. That's a $0.30 difference. That's big!

*Yes... I did buy it, but only one. Any future purchase of said product will have to be as a reward for saving someone's life.

*(Sigh)Yes... I did exaggerate above item, but only by a little.

*The cursor has been blinking on this item for about 30 minutes now. That's my cue to shut it down for the day. Smiley faces to ya.

The Big Tease - Spring

Not much going on here, as evidenced by the subject line... Spring. You know its all over when you start talking about the weather... and older folks seem to talk about it more than younger ones. I call that an 'active symbol' for been there, done that.

We're getting a few hours of partly sunny weather then the rain is suppose to move in again. 'Partly Sunny' sounds so much more hopeful than 'Partly Cloudy'. But... I digress from what I really want to point out.

I want to point out my appreciation for the crocus... I hope I spelled that right. What a brave little ball of sunshine they are...poking up out of cold ground when its still winter. Such bravery. And such a sweet message they bring....don't dispare, spring is coming again this year. shhhh... its just around the corner, hold on...don't give up. Spring is coming.

I heard their name first. Crocus. Cro-cus. Its winter and my grandmother is saying 'the crocus are coming up' as though it was something important. I couldn't imagine what a crocus would look like...what could it possibly look like with a name like that. Cro-CUS. Was it anything like cactus? What else ended in 'cus'? Crocus, to my sixteen yr old mind the word felt like distaste and distain. (But that's how sixteen yr olds are suppose to be, right?)

Anyway... now that I'm as old as dirt, I occasionally pay attention to the mundane and pedestrian.... and I am usually always thoroughly intriqued by all I've been missing. And the beauty of crocus is one of them. I've finally connected the name to the actual growth and now I, too, get excited over the crocus acomin'.

But its still a little like calling a Playboy Bunny by the name of Bertha. It just don't fit.

Bullshit Litigation

Greedy people are copyrighting common word usages and then suing small home-businesses for using it. Here's an article I just read on ebsqart's website. Its like Trump saying (or trying to say it) no one can use the phrase You're Fired. Pulease. And the lawyers are going after small businesses who don't have financial resourses to stand firm. Is the word 'extortion' familiar to you?

Now here is where I would typically put in a sarcastic comment, that may or may not be understood (or even humorous), however I am attempting to be mindful of the energy I put out into the Universe... so I will say perhaps this is what is needed to fine-tune existing laws and to clarify things. And besides, I don't know anything more about it than what is in this article. There is always, no matter how dim, two sides to every situation. It still stinks.

Yawn

As I begin this entry it is going on 5am. I've been up since around 3am because Dyer's program, that I mentioned yesterday, is being repeated. It started at 2am and it will be repeated several more times this month. Lucky for me because I feel like I may be falling asleep soon, but with the repeats still to come I may be able to see the whole thing.

Dyer is so easy to listen to... plain language for us plain folks. If you have an opportunity to see/listen to it I encourage you to do so. Even with the 10-15 minute pledge breaks there are still treasures to be had if you choose to pick them up.

Edit: I managed to make it through the whole thing... and it was worth it.

Inspiration

Public Domain Photos

Inspiration... got any? I sure could use some.

I'm feeling blessed and a little bummed out because of OPB's fund-raising time. They put on some great programs during their continuous appeal for funding. (damn government should repeal the cutbacks...its just a drop in the bucket, fer gawd sake. But since they're cutting back on Medicaid, education, anything to do with people, what more can be expected. However, let me not get political cause I don't know that much about politics ...except its all crooked and I AIN'T VOTING REPUBLICAN. 'Course that isn't a change.) Since pros and cons are contained in everything, OPBs great programs are totally disrupted while they ask for donations. Its hard to follow a program when the train of thought completely derails all the time.

Wayne Dyer has another program/conference out for OPB on "Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling".

Here's the write-up from their TV guide listing:
In his newest special, Dr. Wayne Dyer assures us that inspiration is not something that comes and goes. It's not something that you have one moment and then, in the next moment, it disappears. This program is a whole new look at inspiration. Dr. Dyer will engage the viewer through laughter, spirituality, and great emotion.

I don't think the synopsis is good...misses the point. Dyer breaks down the word to mean In-Spirit and explains how inspiration comes when you are in harmony with your Being and the Life processes. And I'm sure there's more, but I was only able to watch a little of it. I simply could not hang with all the interruptions and I fell asleep. (Now isn't that symbolic.) I woke up at the end of the program when they were playing a minute of his conference bookcased with 30 minutes of pleading.

If there is any billionaire out there reading this, please donate a trust fund to OPB so they can return to full programming. Thank you in advance. (Notice how a millionaire isn't enough any more?) Oh... and if you don't want the "gift" they give out for a $365 donation, you can send it to me, k?

Stupid Broad!

Bubba and Ray (Tennessee mechanical engineers) were standing at the base of a flagpole, looking up.

A woman walked by and asked what they were doing.

"We're supposed to find the height of the flagpole," said Bubba, "but we don't have a ladder."

The woman took a wrench from her purse, loosened a few bolts, and laid the pole down. Then she took a tape measure from her pocket, took a measurement, announced "Eighteen feet, six inches," and walked away.

Ray shook his head and laughed. "Ain't that just like a blonde! We ask for the height and she gives us the length!"

Chit Chat

Daffodils have been out for a few days. Actually, I don't know how long they've been out... I only noticed them from my window a few days ago. What a wonderful spate of color against the wet, dark mud.

Shadows can be seen today. Another good omen for the day... gotta dig out the ole sun glasses. You remember what they are, don't you?

One of my daughters (I refer to her in the written word as 'mom') borrowed my camera for a few days. Her family unit was going to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry). I haven't seen all the pictures taken on that day, but here's a couple:

"Can You Hear Me Now?"


Here's the latest picture of the 'wee one' who will be one years old next month... look at those cheeks!!


The brothers seem to have developed a strong bond right from the get-go, although the wee one hasn't been very vocal about it yet. I figure the wee one is here to help Mr. Sparks keep balanced... to bring some "calm" into his world. And Mr. Sparks is here to protect the wee one from bullies. "Bruddar" was one of Mr. Sparks' first words... that and "NO!"

I was checking out one of my favorite blogs (those that I read every day religiously) and he had mentioned that he received a notification from the advertisers on his site... there have been too many "clicks" on their ads which indicates some padding was going on. He has a large audience and I guess some of them just wanted to help out. I clicked on a blog ad once (not on his site), but I was actually interested in the subject... I just didn't have any money to purchase said subject. It wasn't high on my priorities. To be honest, I can't even remember what the subject was now.

I hope your day is as beautiful as mine. The one downside to sunshine is that it shows up all the dust and grit when you have the blinds wide open. "SHUT THOSE BLINDS!!"

This was too good to pass up... I don't usually get good marks!

You Are 60% Open Minded

You are a very open minded person, but you're also well grounded. Tolerant and flexible, you appreciate most lifestyles and viewpoints. But you also know where you stand firm, and you can draw that line. You're open to considering every possibility - but in the end, you stand true to yourself.

How Open Minded Are You?

Friday

Its going to be a dry day here... finally. And the sun should be seen once in a while, too. Yahoo Spring!

I signed up for email notification from Illustration Friday. This is a site where each Friday a topic is chosen and people have a week to do (or find) art work depicting the topic... any medium, etc. Then they post it on their web site and send a link to IF (Illustration Friday)... others can then take a look at it. Any work is acceptable... doodles, photos, full fledged paintings.... done currently or done prior. It makes no difference.

Since this is Friday I took a look at the site and there were already 80+ entries for this coming week. I wouldn't be surprised if sometimes the participants are a thousand or more. We'll see how it goes (meaning my discipline to get drawings done).

I also found out (because I'm just plain nosy) that the free service of uploading photos to the web using Photobucket has a size limitation. Go over it and you will need to buy the space at a minimal fee. If one was to post photos to their blog and have their blog for a long time, I could see this charge happening in my future. This will make me more careful about what I want to upload, but since I now have a monthly income, small tho it may be, this will not be a problem for me. And I have certainly been grateful for their free service... there'll be no bitching from me. Surprised?

Oh... and I came across this awesome site via a Live Journal user. Ashes and Snow. There are two options to chose from... enhanced experience and basic. If you have high speed access, then you'll get the full experience of it. (be sure your sound is turned on) You will also need a large monitor screen. Unfortunately, mine is small and it kept me from being able to access the 'portfolio' link (it was beyond my screen display). I hope you enjoy it.

That's it for now. May your day be blessed with gratitude.

Well, Where have I been?

I was just checking the date on my last entry.... I didn't think it had been as long as it has. Man, time flies when you are having fun. I can't imagine how fast that might be, cause its racing now.

Meet Mr. Clean's son....

I like my grandson's hair cut really really short... shows his features better... but being completely bald was not what I had in mind. And it wasn't what his mother had in mind either, but I guess it got good to her and she couldn't stop. The picture was taken a couple of weeks ago so he's now got some fuzz on his head, but not much.

I watched him yesterday so 'mom' could go shopping. She didn't get everything done so she wants to borrow the car to go today. Since my wiper blades are non-functional, it will have to be between showers. I'm waiting for her to show up to get the car now. I have a feeling it might be tomorrow, but I'll just have to wait and see.

'Mom' would like it if I could watch both kids, but I just don't have the energy for it. Here's the wee one who is only a month away from being a year old. He's such a sweetie, but he's got a REALLY LOUD SCREAM.

He's not walking yet, but is beginning to stand on his own.