new thing on my wish list from Archie McPhee Toys

Vincent van Gogh Action Figure

Vincent van Gogh is truly the epitome of posthumous fame and notoriety. He experienced very little success in his life, yet today countless posters of his paintings hang in homes throughout the world. This 5-1/4" tall, hard vinyl figure has two interchangeable heads and comes with a paintbrush, a palette, an easel, a frame and some mini masterpieces to display.

Van Gogh Action Figure
item 11630
$8.95 ea.

Hell yeah, I want this! Never too old for action figures, never ever.
There is a a special place in my heart for tacky, yes indeed.

Anderson Cooper, be still my heart!

I love Anderson Cooper. Apparently someone else loves him more than me.

GOTTA READ THIS

heroes

these people get together once a month, sometimes alone, sometimes with a room full, to bring bridges between the black and white community in our town.

they are an inspiration to many, especially to me.

laugh

Genesis 2:16 -
And Sarah said, "God has made me to laugh,

so that all who hears will laugh with me."

Is that not the best quote from the Bible that you've seen in a long time? I remember years ago when I was doing my soul searching of "why are we here", and "what is the true path?" and "which religion do I truly fit in with?"... each time I picked up a Bible to read a good message, I would invariably open up to a "She begot whatever", battles and pain. So, I studied all religions. Even took a Tibetan Buddhism class on meditation. ( in an upstairs suite over a Ben & Jerry's, no less ) For a while, I felt Buddhist. For a while, I even felt Hindu. Jewish. Sufi. Native American. Animist. Goddess/Sacred Feminine. All that, and I am full circle reading the works of Jesus, and finding that his parables speak to me like no other. I think he was a radical, a peacemaker, a non-conformist in every way possible. I think that if he were here today, he would be helping in an AIDS hospice, or serving in a soup kitchen. He'd be sitting with the homeless people holding court. He'd be everywhere except in big huge grand cathedrals, or in fancy halls of $500 tickets. He would be just as he was when he was on earth, in the middle of the lowest of low, showing in his love and teaching us to open our hearts. And minds.

And, he'd be laughing heartily. Because, life is too short and we need to loosen up and laugh more.... and invite others to join along.

Mother's Little Helper

wow, this is sick. I found it by mistake, wish it wasn't true but this is a real deal truth. According to this advertising site,

"A "spoon full of sugar" wasn't nearly as successful helping the medicine go down as a friendly, colorful, three-dimensional pal. The Ritalin Man, from the CIBA/GEIGY Corporation, helped hyperactive and depressed children take the medicine that would make them all better. He appeared in various incarnations, from gleeful and dancing, to depressed and confused, to help troubled young children relate to him more easily.

Here, this friendly fellow is dancing and happy, waving his yellow straw hat in the air. He is also hollow, and can be used as a pen/pencil stand."

Oh My God. How can that be true??? Just think of the bright, creative children that were squelched from the drug that was so cleverly packaged in this atrocity.

Lemonade and Chris Rice

Life gave me lemonade and I can’t imagine why
Born on a sunny day, beneath a tangerine sky
I live life without pretending
I’m a sucker for happy endings
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade!

While listening to the radio last night on the way home from meeting Shawn & Julia half-way with the kids (they graduate with their MBA's today), I heard this great GREAT song, "When Did You Fall in Love With Me" by Chris Rice... I do a websearch today for the lyrics since I heard it again this morning.. and find out that this guy is actually a Christian singer and has a MySpace site. You can hear the song for free! I then fell in love with the "Lemonade" song, quote above.

I read more about him on this site, and found out why his music hits me pretty hard... guy is an introvert too. Yay for Introverts! WE ROCK! In one of his interviews, he says,

"Yeah, I'm pretty introverted. That doesn't mean I don't love to be around people, it just means I have to manage how much time I spend around a lot of people. Friends are not an issue. Strangers are harder to manage."

I love that.

It is also refreshing to know that there are more positive people out there that kids and youth can listen to on the radio. Although I am amused as an adult at the stupid stuff on the radio, such as my strange love of the "Let Me See Your Grill" and the "My Humps", I am a MOM and I am now a Director of Children, Youth & Young Adults at a United Methodist Church and it BOTHERS ME VERY MUCH that our culture has robbed many kids of being kids.

Yes, I was a kid of the '80's, and listened to Prince's "Purple Rain" music over and over, and the not-so-subtle lyrics on that album were well understood.. but, I also had the GoGo's. Kids need to be kids. This world is hard enough. We are hit on all sides, sex, drugs, "this is the end of days", it is rare for a kid to have parents still married to eachother, they watch the family friendly "Extreme Home Makeover" on ABC followed by Andrew sleeping with his mother Bree's alcoholism counselor on "Desperate Housewives".

Maybe I am a Pollyanna, that is okay by me. But I firmly agree that you can choose to be positive, you can choose half-full over half-empty, and you can bet that if you play some sweet silly music more often than music with questionable messages you are gonna make people sing along.

thanks for the lemonade.

The Four Agreements

Don Miguel Ruiz is known as a nagual, or shaman, of the Toltec tradition. The Toltecs were an ancient group of scientists and artists that was formed to explore and preserve the practices and spiritual knowledge of the ancient ones. It is not a religion, but a way of life that embraces spirit and honors all the spiritual masters who have taught on the earth. Toltec wisdom arises from the same essential unity of truth as other sacred esoteric traditions that are found all over the world.

The Four Agreements are very simple, but very profound. To embrace and live each of the Four Agreements is to find yourself experiencing personal freedom--possibly as never before. The Four Agreements are:

Be Impeccable With Your Words
Don't Take Anything Personally
Don't Make Assumptions
Always Do Your Best

From the cover of the book:

Be Impeccable With Your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Don't Take Anything Personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

Don't Make Assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Always Do Your Best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

celebrity recognition

Going to www.myheritage.com and putting in this photo

got me this:
and THIS!:














But, another photo of me:
got me this:

and this:








I won't even post the last ones, but let's just say that Dolph Lundgren and I are twins. Damn that strong jawline of mine!

Meant to do

What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do. When we do what we are meant to do, money comes to us, doors open for us, we feel useful, and the work we do feels like play to us.

Julia Cameron

Believe in this. Now in my 38th year of living, I can attest that this is not only true, it is essential. When you work doing what you fell most comfortable doing, what brings you the most satisfaction, and what makes the "time go by quickly", you bring a light into the world that others respond to as well. When I worked a job that I was not well suited for, I was tired, sad, and didn't have the energy to be myself ......for my family nor my friends. I withdrew from hobbies I loved for lack of energy, I was grumpy towards my kids, and I made bad decisions in relationships. Now, I am working 3 part time jobs~ a triune!~ and that makes all sides of me equally strong.
I had a college professor tell the students in our class that we shouldn't beat ourselves up if we have to work a job that we don't love that pays well for a few years just to do what needs to be done, get to another goal, take care of the family, etc. we need to make sure that some of the extra $$ is spent doing things that does bring joy, love and light. sooooooo, if that is you , you'd better take heed. Then, keep holding out hope that that aforementioned dream job/s will come your way if you visualize and pray for it/them.

Football picture

Yeah, that is pretty much been sent around the US today,or at least by friends like mine. Comments like "Brokeback Football" abound. But, I tell you, I have always thought that football is a pretty homosexual nuanced sport. I am not passing judgement here, either, because I have many gay and lesbian friends and I love them like family. I just think that the tight clothes, the full contact-ness of it, really bespeaks of another era of the Greek Olympiads who we know were famous for having lovers-close-as-brothers. So, here is my humble opinion of the gayest sports: #1 Wrestling ... that's a given
#2 Football
#3 Swimming
Politically correct? No. Just another reason why blogs are really all about saying stuff that you really think in your head and just are narcissistic enough to want to see the crap you think actually on a screen in front of you in a font you chose yourself.

so, what does this opinion get you? e-mails like this:

Letter to Jana: "Not football, there is no grabbing, it is just hitting and running into
each other. I find this particulary hard to believe since I do not have
a gay gene anywhere in my body."

palm reading on a random Thursday

Jana, the shape of your hand reveals that you are especially good at Exploring your psychic ability

Based on the signs in your palm, you have much to gain by getting familiar with your paranormal gifts. By putting directed energy toward your ability to think outside the physical realm, your efforts will be returned multi-fold.

Tickle- look for the hand analysis

Louis Rukeyser

Louis Rukeyser, a best-selling author, columnist, lecturer and television host who delivered pun-filled, commonsense commentary on complicated business and economic news, died Tuesday. He was 73. Read more. I always had such a mad crush on him, so witty and wise.

Nighttime at the Rooster

Do you know what your kids are singing?

NELLY (f/ Paul Wall, Ali, Gipp) LYRICS

Grillz


Rob the jewelry store and tell 'em make me a grill.
Dirrty, R&B.
Add da whole top diamond and the bottom Row's gold.

[J.D.]
Yo we bout to start a epidemic wit dis one
Ya'll know what dis is... So So Def

[Nelly]
Got 30 down at the bottom, 30 mo at the top
All invisible set in little ice cube blocks
If I could call it a drink, call it a smile on da rocks
If I could call out a price, let's say I call out a lot
I got like platinum and white gold, traditional gold
I'm changin grillz errday, like Jay change clothes,
I might be grilled out nicely (oh) In my white tee (oh),
On South beach (oh) in my wife beat.
V V and studded you can tell when they cut it
Ya see my granmama hate it, but my lil mama love it
Cuz when I...

[Woman]
Open up ya mouth, ya grill gleamin (say what)
Eyes stay low from da cheifin'

[Nelly]
I got a grill I call penny candy you know what that means,
It look like Now n Laters, gum drops, jelly beans
I wouldn't leave it for nothin only a crazy man would
So if you catch me in ya city, somewhere out in ya hood just say

[Chorus:]
Smile fo me daddy
(What you lookin at)
Let me see ya grill
(Let you see my what)
Ya, ya grill ya, ya, ya grill
(Rob da jewelry store and tell 'em make me a grill)
Smile fo me daddy
(What you lookin at)
I want to see your grill
(You wanna see my what)
Ya, ya grill ya, ya, ya grill
(Had a whole top diamonds and da bottom Row's gold)

[Paul Wall]
What it do baby
It's da ice man Paul Wall
I got my mouth lookin somethin like a disco ball
I got da diamonds and da ice all hand set
I might cause a cold front if I take a deep breath
My teeth gleaming like I'm chewin on aluminum foil
Smilein showin off my diamonds sippin on some Pinot Noir
I put my money where my mouth is and bought a grill
20 carrots 30 stacks let 'em know im so fo real
My motivation is them 30 pointers V VS the furniture my mouth
Piece simply symbolize success
I got da wrist wear and neck wear dats captivatin
But it's my smile dats got these on-lookers spectatin
My mouth piece simply certified a total package
Open up my mouth and you see mo carrots than a salad
My teeth are mind blowin givin everybody chillz
Call me George Foreman cuz I'm sellin everybody grillz

[Chorus]

[Gipp]
Gipp got dem yellows, got dem purples, got dem reds
Lights gon hit ya and make you woozie in ya head
You can catch me in my 2 short drop
Mouth got colors like a fruit loop box

[Ali]
Dis what it do when da lou
Ice grill Country Grammar
Where da hustlas move bricks
and da gangsta's bang hamma's
Where I got em you can spot them
On da top in da bottom
Gotta bill in my mouth like im Hillary Rodham

[Gipp]
I ain't dissin no body but lets bring it to da lite
Gipp was da first wit my mouth bright white
Yeah deez hos can't focus cuz they eyesight blurry
Tippin on some 4's you can see my mouth jewelry

[Ali]
I got fo different sets its a fabolous thang
1 white, 1 yellow, like Fabolous chain
and da otha set is same got my name in da mold

(Had a whole top diamonds and da bottom Row's gold)

[Chorus]

[Woman]
Boy how you get grill that way and
How much did you pay
Every time I see you
Tha first thing I'm gon' say hey.....

[Chorus]

Kid #2

This is Dylan, my middle child. He turned 15 on April 24, and is known for his cool long hair and his quiet charm. I look at these big blue eyes, and those broad shoulders... and I remember a sweet baby that that used to giggle his way to sleep. A baby that was so easy to care for, smiled all the time, could figure out how everything worked and fit together after careful study, and like his brother could speak in complete sentences and knew his alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes and many songs before he was 2 years old. He has always been quiet around others but uproariously funny with his family, laughs until his eyes water and falls off the chair, can somehow get all of us to wait on him, can do anything with a computer, has impeccable taste in music and loves life.

Beautiful morning outside my living room window

I gave up looking for the big woodpecker that has been hanging around the front dogwood tree... here's a little glimpse of a sunny SC morning.

You have to see this art!

I really love this woman's artwork: http://www.elisetomlinson.com/

Her paintings are so BEAUTIFUL! So vivid, strong, gorgeous.
She is probably my favorite living artist I have ever adored.

I love this stuff almost as much as chocolate.

Shalimar

Guerlain's most successful and enduring fragrance was created by Jacques Guerlain at a time when fascination with the orient was sweeping Europe. Inspired by the love of an Indian Emperor for his magnificent wife, Mumtaz-Mahal - for whom the Taj Mahal was built - Shalimar is named after "The Gardens of Shalimar," where their love grew.

A deliciously fresh flight becomes hazy and sensual when the vanilla and powdery notes of its sweet, sensual base are discovered.


Notes:
Bergamot, Lemon, Jasmine, Rose, Iris, Incense, Opopanax, Tonka Bean, Vanilla .
Style:
Voluptuous, warm, embracing, sensual, the perfume of temptation.

Zorach sculpture, Spirit of the Sea

This is one of my favorite things in my hometown, The Spirit of the Sea. She is best seen in the summer, with the water in the fountain flowing over her. In February, 1959 – The Bath Garden Club invited William Zorach to design and sculpt a fountain for Bath’s City Park. He offers to donate his work provided that the Club assumes the cost of casting in bronze, the granite pedestal and base, and the plumbing. She was restored and back in place Sunday, August 7, 2005.

I grew up just loving her, her beautiful pose and mermaid-esque self. In high school, I joined the ranks of pranksters from ages of Morse High Shipbuilders and climbed through the pond and muck to put a bra on her, the Lady. Now, as an adult native who lives away, it is a treat to gaze upon this lovely Lady and marvel in the fact that we actually have a Zorach to enjoy.

This is by an artist in my home town, Bryce Muir. I love how he captured the movement of the water, and the playfulness of the park, gazebo and Lady.

If you have time, and want to read about a pretty neat guy, see this site. This is an excerpt, plain and simple, of his demise, as posted on the site:

Bryce Leigh Muir
died on December 14, 2005.
He drowned after
falling through the ice while skating
on the Cathance River.

This artist truly LIVED life. I wish I could have known him in person.

Funny find!

HousewivesTarot