Filed under Cork Art, Creativity
Filed under Creativity, snow people
“Dove” – Paul Militaru Photography
“Sleeping” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Amazing Animals, Paul Militaru Photography
Jack Kerouac via Lisa Bearnes Richey
So MANY controversies – so little time.
On 60 Minutes last night, Lesley Stahl spoke with Margarita Simonyan — the head of Russia’s state-owned news network. At one point, Margarita Simonyan said (paraphrased) “The U.S. prides itself on allowing freedom of speech. What happened to it? What has happened to the United States?”
She raises a very good point. I never remember such discord before in our country. I don’t remember many instances of not allowing someone to speak, although I do remember instances where the Ku Klux Klan announced they would be in a location and protesters coming. A good yell was had by all. No one listened to anyone who disagreed with them, but I don’t remember property damage or bloodshed. My memory may be faulty.
My point is that it seems that –
One example – Women – particularly in Hollywood – are speaking up about sexual abuse they have suffered in the past, insisting that things change and that the men responsible be punished. I think this has been a long time coming and that powerful men should be learning that, along with increased power comes greater responsibility to be respectful of those around them or be ready to lose it all.
Some women, though, have accused men of abuse and rape, only to be proven liars – sometimes years later. They have ruined men’s reputation and lives. If/when it is known that they accused falsely, though, nothing seems to happen to them! I can’t believe that a woman merely has to accuse someone in order to ruin them. Now THAT is power! People who falsely accuse should be sent to prison with THEIR reputation in ruins, or something equivalent – maybe some way of trying to make it up to the person they wronged.
People who are abused should feel free to speak up about the wrong and get help with making the abusers pay for their crime. Falsely accusing someone should come with STIFF penalties. Otherwise, it will get to the point where no smart man will EVER consent to being alone with a female for any reason, fearing their lives could be ruined.
Our country is divided on too many issues to count. The people holding different views are really hostile, some threatening to end the lives of people who oppose their views. This is NUTS!
May 2018 bring awareness, of what we’re losing, bigger brains and ears, and more tolerance.
Filed under Attitude, Challenges, Changes, Encouragement, Favorite Quotes
Hedgehog-GeethaKaarthikeyan.com
Mr. Riu-www.boredpanda.com
Filed under Creativity, paper art
animalpicturebeautifulanimals.blogspot.com
loveartabc.blogspot.com
Filed under Creativity, Oil Paintings I Love
“Willy” – Allison-Baer-www.planetcustodian.com
Chinese-cconzemius.blogspot.com
Filed under Cork Art, Creativity
Amber will be 10 months old tomorrow. She is still basically a ‘bull-in-a-china-shop,’ lumbering around, knocking things over, running over Molly, messing with the cats, and knocking US down if we’re not paying proper attention. We’re told by people in the know that she will continue ‘puppy-hood’ for another 14 months, until she’s two. Oh, joy.
We ARE making distinct progress in several areas, though, and she is adapting to life in the Lewis household better and better. Molly and Amber now will sleep on the same dog bed in the living room in the evenings – unless Amber sits on top of Molly. The cats no longer freak out and disappear if Amber is in the house, although there is hissing and spitting from time to time if Amber tries to pick up a cat with her nose.
I told you recently that we’re trying to get Amber to bark at the door when she’s ready to come in from being outside. We actually had to start with getting her to bark at ALL. Now we may have created a monster.
This morning she came and responded to my, ‘do you want to go “OUT?” We went to the door, she smacked her mouth soundlessly a few times and then finally barked. She actually barked to come in, though it was a pretty pathetic bark. I opened the door, told her “GOOD GIRL!” and gave her a cookie. A few minutes later, she came and sat beside me, looking at me expectantly. I said, “SAY IT!” and she smacked her mouth again soundlessly, finally barking and getting to go out. A couple of minutes later (it seemed) we heard a bark, let her in, praised her, and gave her a cookie.
A couple of minutes ago I was concentrating on the computer. Suddenly a huge “WOOOF!!!!” errupted from the dog, who was sitting beside me.
I jumped straight up about two feet out of my chair, tried to say “Good Dog!” on the way down. I let her out, and sat down again, only to hear a loud “WOOOOFFFFF!” from outside the door. I let her in, gave her a cookie and sat down again.
When she said, “WOOOOOFFFF!” 30 seconds later, I finally began to see that she was definitely enjoying a power trip, working the system in order to get another treat. I got her a chew toy, told her it was too soon to go out again, and told her to get into her “PLACE!”
So far, this is working. What does a person DO when her dog is smarter than SHE?
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
curiousphotos.blogspot.com
Elsa-Mora-www.thiscolossal.com
Filed under Creativity, paper art
“Portrait of a Seagull-1” – Paul Militaru Photography
“Portrait of a Seagull-2” – Paul Militaru Photography
“Portrait of a Seagull-3” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Paul Militaru Photography
123RF.com
I’m already a lucky woman – but I would LOVE to be a gazillionaire who could change lives. To that end, I bought –
I’m also entering the PCH Sweepstakes regularly….
If I could win one, two, or all three of them I would smile my face right off the front of my head. :0)
These things are so large now that I HAD to participate. They say the odds of getting hit by a meteorite are much better than winning either of these games, and are probably the same for the PCH sweepstakes. But I know my chances of winning are “0” if I don’t enter.
The drawing for the MegaMillions is tonight.
The drawing for the PowerBall is tomorrow night.
The PCH contest winner will be announced Feb. 23rd.
And – while the winners have not been chosen or announced, I have a little bitty pinpoint of hope that “I” might be the one!!!!!!!
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement
Niagara Falls – Frozen Solid – CTV News via Robin Gras, LinkedIn
Filed under Mother Nature
“Honestly, if you were any slower, you’d be going backward.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
tpkorean.wordpress.com
Warning: These three conditions – stupidity, doofosity, and obtusity – are contagious. Read on at your own peril. –
I know this personally, as I committed an act of doofosity just the other day. Instead of making SURE I knew to which account a money transfer site was linked, I ASSUMED I knew and transferred money. The Vice President of our local bank was kind enough to call me, letting me know that the account that the money was supposed to come out of didn’t have the required funds. When I figured out what I had done, I was really embarrassed. Rozanne was very tactful about my doofosity, saying she would transfer the money from where it was to where it should be so that the transaction could occur…
I don’t think I’m alone in committing acts like this. I do know that I commit more of them as I ‘mature.’ But, as George Carlin said, “Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” I, at least, have the excuse of diminishing brain cells, but I wonder about all the other people who can’t use that excuse?
I read or listen to the news and am amazed (and depressed) by so many things I’m overwhelmed. My age might also be causing me to have less patience, and I know for a fact that there is no lower limit on ‘dumb,’ but so many people are WORKING at it! Every once in awhile I hear someone discuss a topic using a well-reasoned argument citing facts to support it. That’s becoming rarer than hen’s teeth (to coin a phrase.)
I’ll stop my rant (my mom always told me – “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all,” but I’ll leave you with this thought –
“Beauty fades, dumb is forever.”
― Judy Sheindlin, Beauty Fades, Dumb is Forever
Filed under Attitude, Favorite Quotes, Pet Peeves
I thought I had tried everything, trying to get Amber, our almost 10-month-old yellow lab to quit digging in the planters where we dug out old rose bushes and just left dirt for planting in the spring. This was a daily problem, almost as if she made the rounds, thinking that it was her DUTY to leave dirt everywhere for me to come clean up.
Mary Lou, my sister-in-law from Charlotte, said that what she and my brother-in-law do to discourage their dogs from digging in the yard was distribute their poop where digging was off-limits.
Before the big freeze around here, I gathered a goodly amount of samples with a dustpan and put some in each of the planters. I then put some leaves in the planters so they would look like the other planters we had mulched around the yard. This was about 3 weeks ago.
SO FAR, SO GOOD! No digging in the planters! Even though it has been really cold around here, Amber loves to be outside. She has had several opportunities each day to do her digging. Hats off to Mary Lou for the wonderful suggestion!!!!!
Filed under Amazing Animals, Gardening
sunnystreets.blogspot.com
Me again. Patting myself on the head. Sorry if this is aggravating, but it’s such a NEW THING for me to be actually getting ahead of some things, rather than always having to run the bulldozer and wear a dust mask.
My husband is already getting tired of my saying, “Let’s talk about my desk again!” After at least 20 years of stuffing and ignoring the problem, my desk is as clean as if we just set it up, moving in to a new house. \
I love my desk. As you can see in this picture, there is a roll top with a key that I close, if needed or desired, though I usually leave it up. There are 6 small drawers – 3 on each side, with a larger drawer underneath. In the center are 7 slots and two pencil/pen holders in the opening between.
This is a closeup of the roll top part with the key.
On the right you can see one of the guides for the roll top to come down. There are 7 drawers under the flat part of the desk – two filing cabinet type drawers and two smaller ones above, plus the center drawer.
This shows you the pull outs on each side that give you more writing space, or a place to hold stuff to the side while you’re working in the middle.
My husband thought I would go for a more modern desk 35 years ago, such as the ones made for computers, printers, etc. He gave me the option again when we moved here about 30 years ago, and again, when we changed the office around to face the desk in a different direction. I loved my choice then and still treasure my desk now. I’ve always loved lots of cubbies, nooks, crannies, and maybe a secret spot or two…
15 drawers gives you a LOT of space to stash things. It takes many years to finally get to the point you can no longer find things, and it seems like a treasure hunt when you finally go through everything, empty each drawer, and clean things.
I found some good things I can donate to others. I now have things organized so I can actually FIND things again, plus I’ll have a great bag of extra trash to put out the next time the wonderful trash people come and will whisk it away. :0)
smile and shine via stephanie youmans wilson
I think Amber and this sweet fellow are having a contest. This guy definitely wins the “most-sticks-in-the-mouth-at-once” category, but Amber wins the “longest stick” category at 12 feet.
Filed under Amazing Animals
“Birds and Stars on Blue” – Paul Militaru Photography
“Two Beauties” – Paul Militaru Photography
“Water and Ducks” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Paul Militaru Photography
“Wind of Hope” -Leonid Afrenov-afrenov.com
Filed under Creativity, water paintings
pearlsofpromiseministries.com
I know that this title was one of the episodes of Breaking Bad on TV, but my parents were using the term when I was growing up in the dark ages, so I think the TV folks borrowed it. My parents used it to describe frenzied behavior of any type, and I use it here in the same way.
I have definitely been ‘bit by a dead bee,” in that I’ve done more cleaning out and re-organizing around my house than I’ve done in years. I don’t know WHICH dead bee bit me, but I’m thinking of marking this period of behavior totally unlike me on my calendar. it’s so rare.
It started before Thanksgiving, when I was running the bulldozer trying to get the house at least marginally presentable for our friend Nora to come share Thanksgiving dinner with us. I cleaned off the usual really piled up areas, and then I was ‘bit.’ I have been feeling the need to get rid of ‘stuff,’ either by donating it, throwing it away, or deciding where it should live. In each step MORE things that have been sorely neglected pop up to say, “And what have you done for ME lately?”
For the past day or two, the focus has been on my desk. I have a roll top wooden desk that we bought 35 years or so ago. Since having this house built in 1987, I have put things INTO the drawers, but then they get lost in the shuffle, never to be seen again – until now.
I love my desk. It has a nice flat space for working with a tray type center drawer underneath and then three drawers on either side. Two of the drawers on the sides are small and two are file cabinet type drawers. At the top of each side, right under the flat part of the desk, are two pull-out pieces for extra writing space. Above the flat part of the desk there are two reasonable-sizes drawers, one on each side. Above each of these are three small drawers then between them, going across the desk are slots. Above that, is the roll top which I can pull down, if I’d like. (Usually, there is so much ‘stuff’, it isn’t possible to close it. I just love the roll top for its looks.)
So – 7 drawers under the flat part of the desk, 8 above the flat part, 2 shelves, and 7 slots. That’s a LOT of space for someone like me to squirrel away goodies and stuff for a long time, ignoring the buildup.
I have finished cleaning out the drawers now and am concentrating on the flat part of the desk which has received stuff I’d like to keep, but either put away in the now clean drawers, move somewhere else, or give away. I’ve filled a big trash can, too.
I think it was definitely due some attention. I’ll take pics when it’s finished.
“Ice Skating” – Paul Militaru Photography
“Ice, Snow and Birds” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Paul Militaru Photography
creativeartworksblog 
When ‘Favorite Thing’ Meets ‘Pet Peeve’
Matthew Stockman, Getty Images
I LOVE to watch figure skating. It’s one of my favorite things in life. My husband found that the contest for who would go to the Winter Olympics in figure skating was on television Friday and Saturday nights. I was in Heaven. The ladies skated on Friday and the men on Saturday. Seeing so much dedication and talent in one place is awe-inspiring.
Matthew Stockman, Getty Images
The women were all very talented, but it seemed to me that the contest wasn’t as close as the men’s. I have to say I’m really pleased to live on the same planet as these talented people.
The reason I titled this post “When ‘Favorite Thing’ Meets ‘Pet Peeve'” is the people who ‘help’ me watch the performance. Yes, they’re professionals. Yes, they know better than anyone how well the people skate. They’ve watched these folks in practice. They have been where these young people are and know what they’re feeling and how nervous they are.
My pet peeve is that I don’t want to listen to them! I want to watch the ice skating. I want to listen to the music they’ve chosen. Even “I” who can’t tell the difference between a ‘quad,’ and a ‘triple lutz’ (spelling?) can SEE when someone does a brilliant job of skating. I can tell if they almost fell or actually fell on their butts. I don’t care what the name is of the thing they’re about to do. I don’t want to know how nervous they are or that they had trouble in practice. I JUST WANT TO WATCH THEM SKATE AND LISTEN TO THE MUSIC. The commentators can talk in-between performances, even showing ‘where-little-Johnny-fell-on-his-butt’ over and over again, if they would like.
The result of this pet peeve is that once the skater begins, it’s about 4 seconds before one of the commentators HAS to tell me what is coming up and how important it is that little Johnny doesn’t fall on his butt this time. I mute the sound and watch, then unmute to see if I can hear at least a few seconds of the music before another commentator HAS to break in to tell me that little Johnny said that this performance was really important to him tonight. Well, DUH!
So, the performances are largely done in silence in the Lewis household. Amazingly, even without listening to the commentators, we can tell who did a good job and who didn’t. We realize all the years each of these talented people have practiced. We have an idea of what they’ve given up to get to this place. We want them to do well.
I just WISH we didn’t have to appreciate them in silence…
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Filed under Delightful Surprises, Encouragement, Favorite Things, Pet Peeves
Tagged as commentators in figure skaing, when favorite thing meets pet peeve