Thoughts from the edge

It is that time again... Another photo challenge

2012-01-20T10:25:00.000-05:00

So Allison Lehman is doing another photo challenge for February. An iPhone (or phone camera) photo challenge. It is similar to NOPHO, in that it is a weekly challenge, with a set theme, and a judge and a neat prize at the end for the winner.

I am in! I love these little challenges. As an extra challenge to myself, I plan to write a poem a week, to go with my photos or somehow is related to the theme, or ideally both.

The challenge is open to anyone, you must submit all 4 weeks to be eligible for the prize and these have to be phone pics! It really is that easy and Allie has a button on her blog side bar, for easy uploading.

Go check out the challenge.

Looking Back...

2012-01-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

Two days ago, I revamped my blog a bit. I believe this is the third time I have changed it around, updated the lay out, changed the colors. (The third time I have made a major tweak.) I like it.

As part of this process, I reread some of my early entries. I started this blog in December 2006. This was my first post; I am the queen of creative titles let me tell you. It was shocking to see myself talking about my 4 year old. (Yikes she is now 9.) Also I was cleaning away clutter back then. (I am still struggling with clutter, today.)

In 2006 my MIL had recently passed away, in 2011 my mother passed away. My MIL never read my blog, my mother read it often. During December 2006, H and I were cleaning out his mother's house and preparing it for sale. In December 2011, H and I (and my brother) have been cleaning out my mother's house, preparing it for my brother to move in.

I only wrote a few entries in 2006, but in 2007 I wrote alot. I wrote about missing my MIL, about my miscarriage in 2004, the kiddos and I adventure to Germany for Easter, how JFK actually stands for Just Freakin' Klueless, I wrote about sex (more than once), I wrote some book reviews like this one, I came down hard on the barbaric practice of FGM, I blogged about my first rejection, I talk about my mother's rediagnosis with thyroid cancer, I blogged about my food issues, it occurred to me I might be too old to read Cosmo, I come to terms that my "baby" is becoming a "little dude", and I mention Iceland on my blog.

That was all in the first year of blogging. It was great fun wandering around the archives of my blog. I have been writing for a long time. Honestly, in 2010, I almost gave up the blog all together, but last year, with the help of the photo contests, I keep it alive, even though I was very busy, stretched very thin and emotionally exhausted the latter part of 2011.

I am committed to another year of blogging in 2012. I do enjoy it, even if not that many people are reading my posts. I still haven't decided if I am going post regular features or go with the flow. For now we wait and see.

Silent all these...Stop SOPA & PIPA

2012-01-17T23:52:00.001-05:00

I am going silent - to join in the January 18th BLACK OUT... there was no easy way to black out my blog on the blogger platform - so I am posting these guys to remind everyone that the 1st Amendment protects our right to speak up, speak out, to read, to seek out, and to listen to what we deem appropriate.

Piracy of copy written material is horrible, it hurts artists and authors and those who work to bring those works into the market place - but these proposed laws - they hurt us more.

I will not be online tomorrow. I am going silent, in protest of this pending legislation, written by people who obviously have no clue how the Internet works and who are so beholden to special interests they will throw together a bill that basically shreds the 1st Amendment.

As a writer, I own my work - until I sell it.
As an American - it is my right to read, speak and write my conscious - until Congress takes that away.

We must all be silent tomorrow - to prove our point - the information superhighway must come to a grinding halt.

To learn more -- visit Stop American Censorship. Let your voice be heard - the silence is deafening.

rockibot - Nerd Herder Gadget Wallet

2012-01-16T09:00:00.002-05:00

No one answered my Facebook poll, so I guess that means people either like what I post, don't particularly care or dislike polls. Anyway, too bad, ship has sailed and I will write about what I want to write about. I have decided to write more posts, which deal with cool things I discover and like and use all the time.

A few years back, at the urging of my good friend and college roomie, SS, I joined Facebook. Reluctantly, I might add. I was not sold on social media, at all. I hardly used my cell phone, couldn't text a word. Fast forward to 2012 and I have embraced social media, love my Iphone, rarely talk on the phone but text like there is no tomorrow. Now I hang out regularly on Twitter, update my Facebook, tried google+ and decided it was for the birds. Then along came Pinterest. At first I ignored the rumbles and praise of the online bulletin board. Then I joined, thanks to an invite from a Twitter pal and I have been pinning ever since.

I think most guys don't get Pinterest. In fact it was a topic at my NYE party and the men close to me, just look at me when I have spoken about it. "You pin stuff", "it is like a bulletin board you share?"

"Can you buy stuff?" Well yes and no!

My new nerd herder gadget wallet is an example of something someone pinned, I followed the link to the rockibot etsy site and I ordered it, along with the wristet. I loved the concept. A wallet, which controls your smart phone, ear buds, has a place to tuck a few bucks, your flash memory and off you go. Easy to keep track of in my purse and makes for an easy transfer from purse, to writing bag, less to carry when I run out to pick the kiddos, perfect for trips to the park.

Also as L pointed out, I will hopefully now, stop yelling in exasperation, "Where IS MY PHONE." as I root through my purse, bag or coat pockets. I have been using it all week and I love it. I even carry it up to my room in the evening, effectively keeping the ear buds and audio playing device always together. No more frantically searching for ear buds when I want to listen to my audio book or music after the kiddos have gone to bed.

I also have to give kudos to rockibot, not only do they make a great little gadget herder, they have exceptional customer service. First of all I got an email letting me know my item had shipped, shipping was quick, and my nerd herder came all wrapped up in this pretty package.

I loved the little present. It felt decadent to unwrap it, even though I knew what I was opening. I also thought the little card and pencil were very cute.

On Twitter the other day I chimed in on a Twitter conversation about buying local and American made. That is my goal for 2012, to support local artisans and shop owners but to also put more energy into searching out and supporting small artisans, hand making beautiful items in the United States and around the world. Corporations have lost touch with their customers and perhaps it is time to show those corporations we just don't need then as much as they think we do. Also as a creative person, I enjoy supporting other creative people.

Friday Fun Day - Mission Hedge Hog

2012-01-13T11:12:00.001-05:00

L learned about claymation this summer during her art camp at The David Myers Gallery in Uptown Westerville.

This fall she applied the concept using some of her Japanese erasures. She has H's old old digital camera, which makes uploading the photos challenging, but we managed it this morning and found free software to allow us to share the slide show with you. This "video" contains over 90 still shots. Make sure enable the sound, because her choice of music is perfect.

Enjoy Mission Hedge Hog...

Mission Hedge Hog - free slideshow

Getting Organized

2012-01-10T17:49:00.000-05:00

I got a great organizer from Thirty-One Gifts for Christmas. I have been considering how best to get a bit more organized in the new year. I feel like I am drowning in the kids papers. It is a full time job, just keeping their schedules organized and sorting and storing their important papers, never mind keeping coupons and grocery lists organized.

I have a kitchen desk area, but it just keeps getting cluttered. I know what the experts say - go vertical, but there isn't much space.

This is where the door to the basement came in. Door to basement, meet the Thirty-One Gifts wall organizer. Perfect really, but how to get them together without wrecking the hallow wood door?

At first I thought, over the door hooks. Which frankly would have been an amazing solutions, had I been able to find any plain, over the door hooks. Sadly three stores later, all I had were an amazing array of "decor" hooks. Not helpful.

I am the first to say, do not believe everything (anything) you see on TV. I simply do not believe that you can clean your grout - your entire shower and the neighbor's shower with a container of grout goat, when the container is 4 oz and turns white grout purple... Sorry, I think there is something fishy. I am also not sure about hooks for hanging things, heavy things, that adhere to the wall.

However, I was out of options and decided to gamble on the 3M Command strips and hooks. Honestly the two pack was less than $5. I decided it was worth a try. The organizer isn't that heavy and if by chance the paint on the door is impacted, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Step 1 Prep the Door. According to the package, you should clean the surface with rubbing alcohol and allow to dry.

While I was waiting I opened the package and assembled the hooks and applied the adhesive pads/stickers.

Then you stick it to the surface, hold it there and remove the hook and allow the the adhesive to bond for 1 hour. I timed this with the kitchen timer.

Then I reattached the hooks to the adhesive mounts and hung the organizer. It really was that easy and a full 24 hours later, I am happy to say, the organizer and the hooks are holding firm.

What I really like and what I doubt I could have achieved with over the door the hooks, is the organizer hangs flush with the door. This is very nice.

I still don't think I would hang pictures or anything heavy or weight bearing with these hooks, but so far, they are working out perfectly. So maybe I can believe some of what I see on television after all.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T10:56:00.000-05:00

This is a short post. No time to write the longer year in review post I had hoped to post today. I still plan to do that. I do it every year, I look back and I look forward. I have been thinking about these things and planning, but it isn't in a neat and organized format just yet. In short, it isn't sharable, yet!

This year, er maybe next year, which is actually tomorrow, I will take time to organize and collate and post something (once the kiddos are back to school.)

So for now I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Eve! Stay safe and may your New Year be full of love and laughter.

12 Days of Christmas - The Final Wrap Up

2011-12-26T10:11:00.000-05:00

So I missed a few days. I was busy making Christmas happen... no time to write when one is knee deep in cookie dough, planning a very last minute 1st grade Holiday Party, and spending time with friends, which for me has grown increasingly more important. I enjoy spending time with my peeps.
So to spare us all the pain of dragging this out, I will do the final quickie countdown...

Nine ladies dancing

One of the best parts of this holiday season, which frankly was challenging but was less so was L's commitment to do the Nutcracker with her dance school. It was an amazing production. The girls started rehearsing the minute the Halloween show was over and it included extra practices on Sundays. The show was amazing. I was so proud of them all and most especially my Diva, who has an amazing mega watt smile. They reprised the show at the local community theater and then her group used the same costume and morphed into elves for the Community Center's special Polar Express movie night. It was a huge effort on her part to learn the dances, tackle homework backstage and squeeze in the sleep she needs to function. On my part, it is make up, clothing, packed lunches and hair prep.
That said, she rarely fights me too hard on make up and hair, in fact she can do more and more of it herself. Never once did she fight me about going to practice or the extra effort. It was truly a labor of love.

Ten lords a-leaping

Since H requested time off to see her show, he has been leaping ever since. Working a ton this month. He did a Christmas pass through. Arrive home in time for dinner Christmas Eve and was up at 4 am to leave to be back to work Christmas Day. This is typical some months. The airline and their scheduling madness keep us on our toes.

Eleven pipers piping & Twelve drummers drumming

As for pipers and drummers, I got nothing. I can say E loves the drummers in marching bands. Neither of the kiddos is that excited by bagpipes. I can say the beat of time is marching past me quickly. There is so much to be done between now and the end of the year. I am trying to spend some time gathering my thoughts, making a plan for the coming year. Some responsibilities have melted away and for the first time in a long time, I seem to have a blank slate. There is the temptation to fill the empty space, but I am not going to hurry through the process. I am going to take it slow and I am going to focus on me for a little while.I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, if you celebrate and today is Boxing Day for our British chums. I hope to post again before the New Year, but if I don't I wish every one a safe and happy New Year. For goodness sakes if you go out and you drink DO NOT DRIVE. Take a cab, a bus, hire a driver, whatever, but no drinking and driving. I would miss you in the New Year.

12 Days of Christmas - Eight Maids a Milking

2011-12-19T12:12:00.002-05:00

So I had thought to do a whole bit on geese and the golden eggs and link that to a lengthy discussion on CEO pay and why I think that is one of the biggest reasons for business stagnation and is just as responsible for the economic woes we are experiencing.

Life got in the way.

So we can shift the conversation and talk about milking the system. I think there is milking of the system on all levels. There are families or communities who have gotten caught up in the system of publicly funded social services, services designed to lend a helping hand short term have been co-oped and turned into a way of life. This is problematic. The solution to this is much more complex and I don't see any quick fix. It now goes back generations.

On the upper end of the spectrum, we have a culture, particularly in business and I am speaking about large corporations, publicly traded companies specifically. I am not a US Senator or Representative, who will talk about small family owned businesses but mean their biggest campaign contributor - ie a large multinational corporation. I am not talking about the small company that is family owned and privately held.

I am talking about AMR (parent company of American Airlines), GE, Merrill Lynch, Chase Bank just to name a few. I am talking about companies where the upper most tier of management make a salary, are almost always guaranteed a bonus (who reading this is guaranteed a bonus???), who gets an annual grant of stock options which is valued in the millions, who has a golden parachute, who gets grants of restricted stock, privately held preferred stock, pays no health care premiums or next to none, is guaranteed a free flight on the corporate jet, in many cases gets a housing allowance, has a huge insurance policy on his/her life, no premium... I could go on but I won't.

All of these perks and at a time when the rank and file employee likely has increasing insurance premiums, is being told to work longer hours with no raise or conversely is being told they have to cut back their hours, as there is not enough money in the "budget" for overtime. Worse yet, companies are laying off again quietly, right before the holidays. Happened right here in CMH. Well known education publisher, over 500 hundred jobs nationwide. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

So let's look at the numbers. I will say McGraw Hill does pay a dividend. As an aside, I only purchase and hold companies in my modest investment account, that pay a dividend. We can discuss this at a later date and I will say this example of McGraw Hill would be worse had they nixed the dividend.

So the CEO of McGraw Hill made in fiscal year 2010 - $9,591,916, his annual salary was $1,390,500.

Most of his other earnings in fiscal year 2010 are connected to grants of stock, both restricted stock and stock options. One its face it seems ok. He has been with the company for since 1980. Clearly I think it is fair to say he paid his dues.

But wait a minute. How do we measure performance. His role is to lead the company, make strategic choices and make money for the shareholders. Looking at these charts, I wouldn't say he hit it out of the park, but nor did he lead McGraw Hill to financial ruin either. Is his leadership worth $ 9 million? I don't know. Is he putting in the hours to earn his nearly $1.4 million in salary. Maybe?

Let's look at AMR. A company that is in bankruptcy, something I think we can all agree is approaching financial ruin. Or at the best is an undesirable outcome. Here is some salary information on AMR's retired CEO Gerard Arpey. I was heartened to see that he did not take a bonus last year. News reports indicate he did not get severance when he left. (I am not sure if he walked away nothing or not and if he did they did not call it severance.) Most of his compensation was tied up in stock and frankly the stock is about worthless at the moment. That said, he was the CEO for a long time. His management decisions can be credited with landing the company in bankruptcy. There is no shareholder value. Is he really entitled to anything? This is crux of the problem. Is he entitled to any compensation for running the business to the ground?

Furthermore let's think this through. So often airlines or other businesses want to squeeze the rank and file employees paycheck but then think nothing of adding in more perks to executive compensation. For ever concession he squeezed out of the pilots and flight attendants, did he take a similar one? Did he takes his lumps. After all, when he was squeeze the schedulers, mechanics, pilots and flight attendants, was he adding shareholder value or adding to his own personal bottom line? Did he take an equivalent squeeze? I would say it is doubtful.

I think the business community needs to look at themselves in the mirror and think long an hard about what we define as valuable. Who is adding shareholder value, I mean who is really adding it? The amount of over inflated incentive compensation at the executive level is crazy. The sense of entitlement. At a rate of 2.5 to 3 million per year, 2-5 regular people jobs could be saved if the average executive commitment employee took a modest ($300,00 to $400,000 pay cut.)

While we are speaking about entitlement, let's talk about the notion that we must pay these over inflated salaries in order to attract and retain the "best." I am not buying it. I will tell you why. Most entrepreneurs, true visionaries don't do it for the money. They like the big idea pay off. They like the hunt, the design and the coup of creating or cornering a market. Look at Steve Jobs, he left Apple - dabbled with Pixar and then came back to Apple, only to unveil a string of revolutionary products. I would argue he liked the creation process and not so much the stewardship of business process. Managing a mature business was not his goal. Did he get crazy rich in the process yes... but bilking or milking the company for all it was worth was not his motivation. I don't think there is anyone who can argue that he did not add value. Was he perfect no.

So how do we define value? How do we define leadership? Does it really make sense to have the executive committee making millions in salary, even if the company is losing money left and right? How is it that Corporate Boards are endorsing contracts where bonuses are guaranteed? (that is the big one in banking folks, a guaranteed bonus??? Talk about NO SKIN in the game.)

I don't agree with most of Occupy Wall Street. I also don't agree with much of what Wall Street is doing. The conversation we need to be having is multifaceted and complicated. I am a firm believer in the free market. Which we don't have. Not by a long shot.

I will also say this. The average person is so disenfranchised at the moment. We are seeing declining wages or frozen wages. Unemployment levels at record numbers in some states. We see banks who make all the rules, don't know their own rules, who are paying HUGE executive comp and foreclosing on people left and right, so that houses can sit empty. This is not good corporate citizenship. We the consumer have no rights. We are faced with agreement documents so loaded with double talk and company protection, binding arbitration and gotcha moments, it has become in many cases protected grand larceny on the part of the business.

This is what we should be protesting. This is what we should be upset about. We have fixated on taxation and the wealthy who don't pay their fair share. Perhaps this is one avenue. I suggest shifting our focus and have the value conversation. Why is there the huge disparity in wages? Why is the cog worth so very little to those controlling the wheel? Why are we willing to work for so little when the executive committee on one hand cries poor, ladles the gravy onto their plates and mismanages the company to boot. I don't understand this and folks, I have an MBA.

I would humbly submit however that the milking or the bilking of the economy, the decimation of the middle class is not solely occurring at the IRS. It is occurring when companies are REWARDED for moving jobs to China. When companies choose to freeze salaries and benefits or cut benefits all while still paying the executive committee over inflated wages and bonus. I am of a mind that the CEO should be paid last, not first. His job is to inspire and lead. His job is to make the company money. In any year that he has to lay off workers - he should forgo his bonus. A good leader worries about those under him, not as a number, but as people. It is never a success, when you have to lay off entire departments and trim the workforce. It does not add value when you "save" the amount of your bonus through laying others off.

It is milking the system. The business community, specifically those in positions of leadership have grown soft. They have very little skin in the game. I used to think stock options and restricted stock were enough incentive. They aren't, obviously. If they were, people like Stan O'Neil and Gerard Arpey would have done the right thing, worked like a dog to solve the problems facing the companies they ran, made those companies profitable instead of running them into ground and then sailing off in to the sunset, whistling all the way to their banks. They failed and yet they do not face financial ruin, they are on easy street, all the while the employees who came to work day in and day out are told, to do more with less and tighten their belts and that my friend is the true inequity. When the rank and file have more skin in the game and more to lose than the CEO. Think about Lehman Bros. The actions of a few, killed an entire company. I ask you, did all that executive comp - did it get the best. I really don't think so...

12 Days of Christmas - Seven Swans a Swimming

2011-12-18T20:05:00.000-05:00

Anyone who has watched Wild Kingdom knows that nature is both wild, beautiful and dangerous. Swans are not just beautiful, majestic swimmers. I know this for certain.

We have been zoo members since L was a baby. We live near the zoo and love to go. When L was little we would go and treat the zoo like a park, just go for a bit to enjoy a short walk. One day L and I went and decided to loop through North America. We stopped by the swans for a snack. L was munching crackers and watching the swans and the ducks. She really liked ducks as a toddler.

Apparently one of the mallard ducks offended one of the swans because he/she charged over to the duck, picked the duck up by the neck with his/her beak and proceeded to viciously shake the duck back and forth and then with great force slam the duck repeatedly into the the dirt and rocks at the edge of pond.

L was watching and then yelling, "No, no, no... stop that big duck."

As the water fowl assault intensified, I quickly hurried L back into the stroller and took off. In part not wanting to see what happened after the swan tired of the duck slam and a tiny bit worried the swan might charge L and try to give her the offensive duck treatment.

I knew swans could be territorial and aggressive. The ones at the pond I liked to study near in college could get mouthy and mean. Charging the picnic tables and just generally putting up a fuss. Sometimes biting and pecking at your shoes. H would say they were "fresh."

This swan however, she/he was obviously trying out for swan version of the WWE Au natureal version or something similar. Even today, I tend to walk quickly past those swans at the zoo. They scare me more than the big polar bears.

So honestly, I am not sure I want seven swans doing anything near me, at all, ever. My true love can keep them... at his house.

12 Days of Christmas - Six Geese a Laying

2011-12-18T19:44:00.000-05:00

I know I am a day late. I have been celebrating. A very special Birthday and with the ladies in my book club.

Not just laying about, eating bon bons and watching television.

So I will say this, taking time for myself seems like such an indulgence. I used to think that I might never get any time for me. I think mothers of young children often feel this way. I remember a time when I thought, I might never get to shower or use the toilet alone ever again. E was my little shadow. It is better now, but it has taken time, lots of it.

So if you are struggling with some last minute gift ideas. Consider offering a helping hand. If someone on your list is the mother of school age or younger kiddos, consider a gift card for a massage and the offer to babysit while she goes. This goes for dads too, or young couples with kids. Sometimes the best gift you can give them is a chance to get out minus their wee ones.

Down time is precious. Priceless really.

12 Days of Christmas - Five Gold Rings

2011-12-16T08:00:00.001-05:00

I like gold. I like rings. I could be down with this one. This is the first practical gift the song has the true love giving his beloved. Gold has monetary value, at the moment investment value, although between you and me the price at the moment is on the high side, and gold has decorative value.

Instead of gold rings, I want to talk about CORE values, the values that define you as a person. I think these are very important. Having clearly defined CORE values will mean that you have a compass of sorts to guide you.

I will admit, I sometimes watch The Millionaire Matchmaker. I rarely can make it all the way through an episode, but in the bits and pieces I have caught, Patti often asks the bachelors or bachelorettes to come up with a list of five non-negotiables. What are the five qualities the person you want to date must possess. I have no opinion as to whether this is prudent dating advice or not, but it did get me thinking.

I think we should all have such a list - but about OURSELVES and our lives.

I think we should all have a list which reflects the 5 guiding principals in our lives. I dislike the phrase "moral compass" but that is what I am suggesting. I think it would be time well spent, for all of us to devote some time and energy into developing our list of 5 non-negotiables. What are our five golden rings, points of lights, whatever you choose to call to them.

At the New Year, I think many people take a few moments and assess the previous year and look towards the new one. This year, perhaps taking a few moments to think about what are your non-negotiables, be they in love, with your family, your career, or all of the above. What can't you do with out, what are the things that define you.

I humbly submit that most of the social and political problems we have today are rooted in a lack of leadership and a lack of convictions. I suspect very few people have a list of 5 non-negotiable.

It might be the best and most rewarding gift you give yourself.

12 Days of Christmas - Four calling birds

2011-12-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Don't call me. I am on the do not call list, I do not want to talk on the phone. For 10 years, in my former job, the phone was my life, I was on the phone nonstop, if I was in the office, I was on the phone. I dislike the phone greatly.

There are a few people, I can count them on both hands with fingers to spare, who I want to talk to and that is it. These are people I actually know or the parents of kids my kids know. These kinds of calls I am more than ok with, but people calling to waste my time with things I am not going to buy, no thank you.

While we are talking about phone pet peeves, I shall list mine in no particular order:

Businesses who ask for your phone number when they ring you up. I always say no.
Automated "thank you for your business calls" - If my business was truly valuable, you would call me in person to thank me.
Political calls by a human annoy me, political calls by a computer make me nuts. I am on the do not call list and I think that should include everyone. Unless I have given you my number personally, DO NOT CALL ME.
Doctor's offices who have an automated reminder call, but who stipulate you must cancel this appointment 48 hours (business days only) prior or incur a missed appointment fee. They call you on a Saturday morning for a Monday morning appointment. This makes them look stupid and sloppy and honestly, I am not sure I want to go to a doctor who is sloppy or stupid.
Solicitations of any kind, honestly I am a woman of the 21st Century. If you have even done an ok job of establishing a web presences I will find you. No phones needed.
Inappropriate cell phone use. In general, no one wants to hear your conversation with your BFF about your UTI, which you think you got cuz you shagged some guy you met in a bar, while you browse the shoes section at Macy's. I don't and my kids sure don't.

And while on the topic of phones, I think we should abolish the phone book. I have tried repeatedly to stop the delivery of the phone book with very mixed results. It is soon to be 2012, I have no need for the phone book. First of all I have a smart phone and second of all, I avoid using the phone as much as possible. I shouldn't have to opt out, I think people should have to opt in, if you want the phone book, pick up the phone and call them and request it.

If the calling birds are homing pigeons, that could open up the topic of junk mail, but that is another post for another day.

Why it is wrong...

2011-12-14T13:18:00.001-05:00

so I have been fired up. I try to avoid the news. I really do, but sometimes things are just so glaringly wrong, that they have to be talked about. Or researched. And I have spent the last two days doing both.

I also want to say that this is a free country, we have the first amendment and it is an important one.

So there is a show on TLC about Muslims living in Dearborn. I suspect the point of the show is to show Americans what it is like being an American and Muslim. I watched the bits of the show I could find on Hulu, YouTube and the TLC website. I gotta tell ya, it is pretty normal stuff. Some wedding stuff, some baby stuff, some I want a baby stuff, some work and life balance stuff. Might I even say that it was approaching boring stuff...

Which I think was the point. These are Americans, in many cases first, second and third generation Americans. (As an aside, my husband is a 1st generation American. You guessed it, my husband's parents were not both American citizens at the time of his birth. They both emigrated from Germany. Right after WWII for his father and the early 70s for his mother. They spoke no English in the house until H went to school.)

No big deal right? Another reality show, on a channel devoted to reality shows.

The FFA didn't think so. They felt that because the show only showed normal boring stuff that they were covering up the Islamic agenda. So let me get this straight, if the show had been about my husband and his family and it showed them going to Catholic mass, work, school, and out to dinner, speaking German and so forth, then that show would be somehow covering up the insidious German Catholic agenda. All Germans back then were Nazi's right? How could they make a show that did not reflect that stereotype?

Or are Muslims somehow special?

The entire point of the show is to say - hey look, it isn't all that exciting, we do what you do. We eat lunch out, we have babies or we are trying to have a baby, we have interfaith weddings, and we struggle for family life balance. We struggle with our faith. We make choices about god, and god's place in our lives.

And understand, I support FFA's right to write letters, to maintain a website and they certainly are entitled to their opinion. That is part of the first amendment. And I did something many people who are upset probably didn't do, I actually read their website. It was hard. I think they are off base on 99% of what they have posted, but that is the beauty of a free country, I am free to disagree. I will say, in their slightly marginal defense, if what they have posted is true about a possible honor killing in Tampa, which is not being prosecuted, then that is the issue they should be focused on. As much as I value religious freedoms, no one, is free to kill their daughter in the name of "religious" and cultural traditions. Not in the US for sure. That said, it is hard to take them seriously on this very serious issue, when they have so much other noise going on.

So what is so wrong. I will tell what is so wrong. Both Lowe's and KAYAK have confirmed that out of the 27 businesses targeted, they pulled their ads from the show. Based on the opinions and letters of a few, these companies choose to break their ad contracts with a given show, because in the minds of a few, the show is not fitting their stereotype of what a Muslim is.

Update: This evening it appears that perhaps FFA duped Lowes into believing more companies were on the bandwagon. That is even more disturbing to me. I also think that someone should be looking into FFA's use of trademarked logos on their site without permission.

And certainly, had either Lowe's or KAYAK cited that the show did not have enough viewers or some other verifiable business reason (note: data, real verifiable data makes it easier to make a case that there was a business purpose and not bigotry involved), this would be a none event. In fact the show, averages an average viewership. It is scheduled to be 8 episodes. I suspect the viewership has gone up slightly now... the other advertisers thank you Lowe's and Kayak. Instead Lowe's links to the letters from FFA and their supporters, offers a lamely written excuse and then hides. They have all but retreated from their social media sites.

That is what is not ok. Television is about a certain perceptive. Docudrama is a genre all its own. It isn't designed to be taken a gospel or fact. Reality television is rarely grounded in 100% reality. I find many other shows on TLC much more offensive. Much.

For Lowe's and KAYAK to bow down to single opinion of a fringe extremist group, which is what FFA is, is discriminatory and it is insulting. To us ALL. We live in a free democratic society and with that freedom comes great responsibility. We are free to hold our own thoughts and beliefs, we are free to write about those beliefs, make shows about those beliefs, hold public meetings about those beliefs, make purchasing decisions taking into account those beliefs, what we are not free to do is impose those beliefs on others. We are not free to assume that others must believe what we believe. What happens in your own home and your place of worship is up to you, what happens on the public street, on the public airwaves, is printed in the media, that must be held to a community standard and the community standard must take into account all parties involved and not just the loudest and best funded few. Religious preferences of any persuasion cannot be the only basis for that standard. Stereotypes held by a few cannot be the basis for that standard. The standards must be grounded in verifiable facts, not religious texts and teachings, not stereotypes, not bigotry, but verifiable fact. Furthermore, these standards should be such that they are not exclusionary, but rather inclusive and sensative to the needs of others. We are all free to then limit what we expose ourselves and our children to, but we cannot do that by legislating, we have to own our convictions and be honest about our convictions with our children, families and friends.

A company committed to reflecting that standard does not pull its ads from a show that fails to paint a certain group in the stereotypically way a certain other group believes to be true.

Democracy cannot work that way.

12 Days of Christmas - Three French Hens

2011-12-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Three French Hens. Whether you are a fan of French cuisine or not, one has to admit, the French eat a very rich diet, lots of carbs, lots of rich sauces and butter, oh my the butter. That said, the French eat fresh food, artisan food, gourmet food, on smaller plates and they share their meals with friends. Did I mention wine. They have small family farms, not commercial enterprises.

The French do not have the market cornered either. I would argue that the Germans and Italians eat a very rich diet, with lots of carbs, lots of rich sauces and butter, oh my the butter.

So why are American's the ones with the increasing incidents of food allergies and obesity? Don't believe me, based off this study America is first with nearly 31% of adults falling in the obese range, compared to Germany at 12.9% and France at 9.4%. The pasta loving Italians? They are the lowest of the four, barely tipping the scale at 8.5%. (Oh my, all that pasta and all that cheese!)

I humbly submit that the European diet is largely pure, local and seasonal. There are no frozen convenience foods - engineered and full of salt and fake ingredients - taking center stage on their plates day in and day out. In fact the EU has some of the most stringent rules about labeling, disclosure and prohibits genetically modified foods. Most Europeans use fresh, seasonal ingredients in their cooking and a farmers market is fairly standard in most towns and cities.

I do most of my own cooking. I use whole food ingredients and given all my issues, I cannot eat loads of processed items. I know this helps with my weight management.

I also think portion size is an issue. Go to Europe and you will be surprised how much smaller EVERYTHING is. 250 ml of Coke is the size of a juice glass. Dinner plates look like salad plates here. Salads are small affairs, not massive bowls loaded with bacon, cheese and dressing. Europeans have never heard of an all you can eat buffet.

The Europeans eat meals. Not on the go, not quick fast food. They sit down to a meal, with friends, colleagues, with family. They have a drink with their meal - commonly wine. They laugh and they eat and they feel fuller, because they have made eating a sensual pleasure. They eat lots of fruits and veggies. They eat smaller servings of meat (trust me, meat in Europe is expensive.) Also I have observed that Europeans are always eating. They snack and drink often. They spead the calories out over the day.

I also think that most Europeans do more physical activity than the average American, they walk to the bus stop or the subway station, they have outdoor shopping areas where cars are prohibited. They bike, everywhere.

I find the excess of the holiday season sad and scary. We drink too much and we eat too much and all in the guise of being "merry and bright." Why not make every day a celebration of food. Why not celebrate the bounty of the earth that we get every single day. Why not respect ourselves and what we are putting in our mouths and bodies?

Three French Hens win over one over processed warehoused American hen, any day of the week.

12 Days of Christmas - Two turle doves

2011-12-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

These little guys - or likely a guy and a gal are turtle doves, best I can tell. Doves are traditionally a symbol of peace. The dove sees its origins as a symbol of peace in ancient Christianity (although one has to wonder when a dove was often a sacrificial bird. Which I think serves to muddy the waters just a tad.)

My mother wanted this song played at her funeral. I think more than anything, we need to live this every day. We could end so much if we tried to imagine every day to be just like Christmas day. Think before you say something mean. Approaching life's problems with not only wanton self interest but with compassion, empathy and love.

I had planned and partially wrote a very angry post for today and then I stopped. We are surrounded by hate, mean spiritness and countless examples of people (businesses) putting wanton self interest above the good of humanity.

This past week I have watch my neighbors bicker and be passive aggressive (if not aggressive) with each other on our neighborhood google group, mildly entertaining, but it is a symptom of the over all problems facing our culture today. The art of being nice has been lost.

So in a season of "good cheer" I suggest that perhaps we should practice the art of kindness year round and not just as Christmas.

Good tiding of peace... Two turtle doves.

12 Days of Christmas - a partridge in a pear tree

2011-12-12T11:30:00.002-05:00

Instead of a partridge in a pear tree let's consider a chicken in every pot. And I don't mean in the classic sense, like what Hoover promised.

It wasn't just chicken. During the presidential campaign of 1928, a circular published by the Republican Party claimed that if Herbert Hoover won there would be "a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage."

Read more: Promising a Chicken in Every Pot — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/askeds/promising-chicken-every-pot.html#ixzz1fuYMEvVW

What I mean is as a nation we all need to come together to combat hunger. We need to take real steps to ensure that not a single child goes to bed hungry. We need to as a nation allocate resources to ensure schools are providing healthy meals. No more pizza as a veggie. No more french fries as a veggie. Many children depend on their school lunch as their principal source of nutrition. Do we want them eating empty calories or getting solid, brain building nutrients.

Furthermore how can we expect working Americans to work at their optimal best when they are food insecure. Worrying about paying their bills and literally putting food on the table. What about parents who forgo their own nutritional needs to ensure there is more for their children to eat.

Understand I am not advocating for welfare or another government program - the Bickerson aka all of Washington can take a long cruise for all I care, they are useless and would only argue about it and then try to scam off the top. I am talking about small grassroots efforts. Stop hunger in YOUR community. Act locally. Work to change laws and ordinances which take food out of the mouths of the poor. Did you know in many areas it is illegal for restaurants to give food away? What about surplus from groceries... the food is in our communities, it is getting it to those who need it that is the challenge.

Food Insecurity and Very Low Food Security [2]
In 2010, 48.8 million Americans lived in food insecure households, 32.6 million adults and 16.2 million children.
In 2010, 14.5 percent of households (17.2 million households) were food insecure.
In 2010, 5.4 percent of households (6.4 million households) experienced very low food security.
In 2010, households with children reported food insecurity at a significantly higher rate than those without children, 20.2 percent compared to 11.7 percent.
In 2010, households that had higher rates of food insecurity than the national average included households with children (20.2 percent), especially households with children headed by single women (35.1 percent) or single men (25.4 percent), Black non-Hispanic households (25.1 percent) and Hispanic households (26.2 percent).
In 2009, 8.0 percent of seniors living alone (925,000 households) were food insecure.
Food insecurity exists in every county in America, ranging from a low of 5 percent in Steele County, ND to a high of 38 percent in Wilcox County, AL.[3]
Nine states exhibited statistically significant higher household food insecurity rates than the U.S. national average 2008-2010:¹
United States                    14.6%
Mississippi                          19.4%
Texas                                    18.8%
Arkansas                              18.6%
Alabama                              17.3%
Georgia                                  16.9%
Ohio                                      16.4%
Florida                                  16.1%
California                             15.9%
North Carolina                   15.7%

(http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/hunger-and-poverty-statistics.aspx)

What is food insecurity you say? It is not knowing if you can afford your meds and food. It is not being able to afford the barest and I mean the barest minimum as outlined by the USDA to meet nutritional needs.

It is having a budget so tight that anything unexpected means the next weeks meals are in question. A school yard accident, a car or truck that breaks down, a cold or flu or other illness that means you can't work for a few days and your employer has no sick pay policy - because it is cheaper that way. A sick child, who cannot go to day care and you cannot work.

This is not rocket science. This isn't a case of famine, crop failure, warlords looting and misdirecting aid. This is simply a case of all of us failing to do enough 365. I am also guilty of this. I need to be more proactive about giving food to the food pantry.

I can hear my detractors, the poor deserve to be poor, they made bad choices, they make poor choices at the grocery, the seniors should have saved more, spent less, and planned ahead, the poor choose to do drugs, or they have too many children.

And maybe that is all true, BUT we cannot solve all of the causes of poverty overnight. We can, I believe end hunger. We could end hunger in the United States right now, this year if we decided that is what we are going to do.

One of my pet peeves about the Christmas season is that we over hype this one day or in fairness two days and there is a crush to show support for some many causes. What about the other 364 or 363 days. What about a rainy day in March and the cupboard is bare? Christmas a distance memory.

To answer L's questions about my beef with "Christmas" and what I think will likely be the over arching theme in my 12 days series - is why is it so important that "those people" have a "good Thanksgiving" or "a good Christmas" when "those people" are hungry every other day of the year.

Among members of Feeding America, 74 percent of pantries, 65 percent of kitchens, and 54 percent of shelters reported that there had been an increase since 2006 in the number of clients who come to their emergency food program sites.⁴

This is not acceptable in my opinion. There is no reason that this number is increasing. We live in a land where food is abundant. This is not communist Russia in the 80s and it is not sub-Saharan Africa, this is the United States and we have ample food. No one and I mean no one should be going hungry. In my opinion no one should be eating a processed food diet either, but this year, I will be happy if we all make the pledge to do what we can to end hunger.

That is the Partridge in THE PEAR TREE this holiday season.

12 Days of Christmas

2011-12-06T22:20:00.002-05:00

So today, as L and I hung window clings, cute little penguins and snow flakes, she started singing Christmas songs and I cut her off, saying not yet... It is a rule of mine, no Christmas music until 12 days before Christmas.

She said, "What is it with you, why don't you like Christmas."

It isn't so much that I dislike Christmas, I dislike the insanity. I fail to see why we need to start selling Christmas crap at Halloween. Why must we be tortured with Christmas music starting November 1? Why must we only remember poor people at Christmas time? Why must we have loads of special parties and dinners, now at Christmas time. Why must we only show our appreciation for our hair stylist, bus driver and bank teller only on Christmas? Why can't we be kind to people all year round?

I could on, but I won't.

So what I thought I would do, is to take apart the song, the 12 Days of Christmas, and try to talk about a timely related subject, hopefully pointing out opportunities to be kind year round, to live the "Christmas spirit" 24/7. I have no idea if this will be fun and jolly or dark and dreary. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

So be on the look out. No promises, but here goes nothing.

On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!

Music Monday - Dave Koz, Eight Candles

2011-12-05T08:28:00.002-05:00

In years past, H and I have made it to Dave Koz and Friends Smooth Jazz Christmas special. The first time we went, I was pregnant with E. A few years ago we went, it was very chilly that night.

This year we couldn't make it, as H would be overnighting in Denver Saturday night, a destination it is near impossible to fly home and back in a 24 hour period. Had he been in New York or DC, I suspect we would have made it again this year.

Friday night we went to the Columbus Symphony's Holiday Pops and had a wonderful time. It wasn't Dave Coz and it wasn't my favorite way to experience the songs of the season (not that I am a huge fan of the songs of the season anyway) but it is always a joy to experience artists, creative people, using their talents and gifts and obviously having a wonderful time. There truly was something for everyone last night and it was so worth it. Also it was at the Ohio Theater, which isn't shabby.

As I sat there, listening to some very old carols, I could not help but think that fashionably dressed women and men, for centuries have been experiencing, embracing and more importantly supporting the performing arts. Chamber music, orchestras, quartets, choirs, singers and dancers. Before television and the motion pictures, peoples entertainment monies went to live performances. Be they in a private home, well ok a palace or manor house or in a theater.

L is a working dancer at 9. Her Youth Company makes money for their studio through three annual productions per year. Is it alot of money, not really, but the girls get a taste of performance for money.

I also think that it is important to support the local arts scene. It is valuable. Some of these musical traditions have been handed down through the ages and some like Dave Koz's Eight Candles are a modern interpretation. It all has value. It is all important to our collective experience.

Just as preserving our historical theaters has value. There is history in those stage floors and the plush velvet chairs. The walls have absorbed millions of notes.

NOPHO Week 4 - Negative Space, The Runners Up

2011-12-01T08:00:00.002-05:00

Again this week, I took multiple pictures, edited multiple pictures and then had to weigh my options. I had three I really liked... L wanted to pick one of the runners up and H helped me make my final decision.

These two seemed too special not to share.

L's favorite

and this one was the one I was most hung up on. It reminds me of my grated street light shot from the September challenge.

I hear that there will be a January challenge and I am toying with perhaps setting up a challenge of my own for 2013. Music Monday as worked out well for 2012 but I think perhaps it is time to change things up. What do you think? Anything you are dying to have me write about, anything you just cannot live without hearing my opinion on?

NOPHO Week 4 - Negative Space

2011-11-30T14:00:00.000-05:00

I had such fun shooting this weeks photos. The kids and I went to the Franklin Park Conservatory - one of my favorite places around town and I went to town with my camera.

Having no photography background and my artistic background is limited to one Art History class in college, I will admit I had to do some research on the topic of negative space. I think I captured it. At least I hope so.

Again, I have to thank Allie for another wonderful challenge. I have learned so much. First of all, I have learned about my camera and editing digital photographs. I have struggled with temperamental models. I played with a concept, until I got something that really worked. And this week I expanded my knowledge base, in terms of photograph as an artistic medium.

On top of all of that, I had a great time.

Music Monday: MUSE SuperMassive Black Hole

2011-11-28T22:54:00.000-05:00

I really like this song. I really like MUSE. For today, that is all...

NOPHO Week 3 - Elegant - Runner Up

2011-11-25T10:02:00.000-05:00

And finally - -

This one, while beautiful, feels stark...

NOPHO Week 3 - Elegant - Runner Up

2011-11-24T10:00:00.004-05:00

More artistic than elegant I think...

NOPHO Week 3 - Elegant

2011-11-23T14:00:00.001-05:00

From dictionary.com

el·e·gant
[el-i-guhnt] Show IPA
adjective
1.
tastefully fine or luxurious in dress, style, design, etc.: elegant furnishings.
2.
gracefully refined and dignified, as in tastes, habits, or literary style: an elegant young gentleman; an elegant prosodist.
3.
graceful in form or movement: an elegant wave of the hand.
4.
appropriate to refined taste: a man devoted to elegant pursuits.

5.
excellent; fine; superior: an absolutely elegant wine.

Between you and me I elegant is like porn, you know it when you see it. Otherwise it is hard to define. Sometimes elegant is bordering on regal. Sometimes it is the opposite of trashy, ostentatious, or too much. Sometimes it borders on austere.

It is subjective and really a matter of sensibility and taste. Or in terms of art, ascetic.

L, wrinkling up her nose, asked me what elegant was exactly and it took me a bit to explain it. She snorts and says, "you mean boring." L's tastes skirt or dive into ostentatious, depending on the day. She hasn't met a pattern she couldn't live without or mix and match with... She thinks black and white as a design scheme is in a word, BORING. (She also gave each photo in last weeks wrap up a thoughtful and very critical critique. She knows what she likes and she has, even at her young age a very fierce and well defined aesthetic.)

I struggled with this photo this week. At first I had planned an outing for myself and I had an idea of what I wanted to shoot. Somehow I never made it there. Then I set up a shot in my kitchen and while I like and it is very sensual, it just wasn't exactly what I wanted.

I took a shot of the cat and well elegant it isn't, but regal, we nailed regal.

On a lark I took my camera with me Saturday as we hit the park and I hoped something would speak to me. The park is new and the season at a rather stark point, but I decided to be free and just take pictures.

As I edited the photos, I realized I had a few wonderful shots. And then finally, in the last three, I saw my picture! Simple, strong, and elegant.

(I posted the runners up on Monday and Tuesday and will finish up on Thursday and Friday. A week of photos this week.)

Don't you agree?

NOPHO Week 3 - Elegant - Runner Up

2011-11-22T10:00:00.001-05:00

My set up shot... the one I almost went with...

NOPHO Week 3 - Elegant - Runner Up

2011-11-21T10:00:00.001-05:00

I think this reads more regal than elegant.

She is a beauty and she knows it. Her color is pink with skeleton's on it. She is a goth cat, our Snickers. This picture shows off her amazing stripes and lovely caramel colors. It also shows her eye, which isn't exactly right. Much better after her surgery. She is perched on H's car, which was warm, I had just come back from being out to lunch and running errands. She sits on the cars alot, she likes to be up. She can also see into the house from this vantage point.

This will be our second winter with Snicker's I think. We have tricked out her winter abode and she has a very plushy bed. This is the time of year where she stays closer to home and eats alot of cat food.

What can I say - she is Queen of the Garage. And wants every body to know it.

Music Monday: LIVE - Lightning Crashes

2011-11-21T08:00:00.009-05:00

It's been a month. A month since we walked away from a hole in the ground, leaving her behind. In the freezing rain and puddles of mud.

It is the circle, I know it is, we are born, we live and we die. Sometimes in a matter of hours, sometimes in a matter of weeks, and sometimes that time stretches into years. We are dying the minute we take that first breath... it is the first, until it is our last... Only what if we are ready for it to be our last or her last...

Going through her jewelry, I found last night the scrabble tiles the kids picked out for her, on the pretty pink chain. Only a year ago... it seems like forever and yesterday all at once.

oh now feel it comin' back again
like a rollin' thunder chasing the wind
forces pullin' from the center of the earth again
I can feel it.

(H took me to see LIVE in 1994, I think you could say it was one of our first dates, only I did not know it at the time. I had never heard of LIVE before he invited me to the concert. I am not sorry I went... They remain one of my favorite groups.)

NOPHO Week 2 - Comfy Cozy

2011-11-16T22:30:00.000-05:00

So this week, I took and edited two pictures because, I had to learn a bit of a lesson about digital photography and frankly my helpers like to push random buttons.

The long and short of it is, my camera was set incorrectly, therefore I was taking pictures at a low resolution. Allie is a dear and emailed me that again, same as last week, my pictures was an incorrect number of pixels. Thanks to H and a friend, I have been set straight and they tried not to make me feel too dumb in the process, even if I did sense some head shaking and muttering under their breath.

What did I learn - you cannot in photoshop resize a picture that is 400 px to one that 700 px. What you have to do is reshoot. Which is big fun when you use models. L and E were each paid two pieces of candy for their collective time investment of 10 minutes, 5 minutes or so on Friday afternoon and again 5 minutes or so on Sunday late morning. I will say laying under a blanket is hard work and they probably deserved more pay than two pieces of candy, but I am working with a budget.

The idea for this week's picture came from my childhood, I always liked to hide under the covers. I would read, play with my dolls and color, all while hiding in my bed under a pile of blankets. Also, E is a tornado in the bed, he is all over the place. So many mornings, when I peek in at him, all you see is a huge pile of balled up covers with his little feet sticking out. It is so adorable.

And as they say a picture was born.

What you can't see is their arms are sticking out and they are each holding two of their favorite stuffed animals. We experimented with some longer shots - to show hands and feet, but for some reason, their feet won out.

It was a fun shoot, even if my models were a tad surly and cranky and frankly, bossy. Talent these days, what's a girl to do?

A Holiday Story -- Santa Gets Thanked by L

2011-11-15T20:55:00.000-05:00

L had to write a story for class and frankly, it is pretty good and it proves my point, a writer writes and a writers personality and sensibilities shine through, even in works of fiction. She asked me if I thought it was good enough for my blog and I told her it was absolutely good enough for my blog.

So here is her story!

**********************************************************************************

Santa Gets Thanked

by L

It was the night of Christmas Eve Seema and Percha were hoping to get all they wanted. Seema and Percha were sisters. The two sisters were sitting on the to rusty metal chairs on the deck. “Mom said we have to get to bed early if we want Santa to come,” said Percha.

“I know,” said Seema “but I want to see what Santa looks like."

“Well,” said Percha “Santa has a fluffy white beard and a red cloak”.

“I know that,” said Seema “but I also want to thank him for last years gifts”.

“Girls,” called mom “time for bed.”

Seema and Percha quickly got up, ran inside, got on their PJ's, and went to bed. I really want to see Santa thought Seema. Seema had a hard time gong to sleep but when she did, she woke to a very loud sound. Seema jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs. When Seema got down stairs she saw me. Seema carefully crept up to me. I finally looked at Seema and said “Hi are you Seema?”

“Yeee...sss,” Seema said very scared.

“Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho!” I said, “there is no need to be scared.”

“I came to say thank you for last years gifts,” Seema said.

“You are welcome,” I said and with that I was gone.

Seema sat on the chair and softy touched the wrapping paper. Seema looked at the clock, it was 6:00 am, one hour before her sister got up. So she waited and waited. Her sister was up half an hour later. Seema and Percha opened the gifts. Seema got two stuffed animals, a craft and a movie. Percha got the same. Both of them had the best Chrismas ever.

Bench 'em All, Sack 'em All - Their season is over

2011-11-10T10:59:00.002-05:00

I will be the first admit, I am not a sports nut. I like the occasional baseball game, I love Wimbledon, most especially the cut outs to the little British cultural bits and the fashion. Venus and Serena Williams have made women's tennis wear fun and high fashion.

I loathed youth soccer, but the little boys loved it. In fact I think sports are healthy for kids in moderation. Being a part of something larger than yourself, learning discipline, team work, driving hard towards a common goal. Those are all very important and impactful lessons.

Over the last few days my Twitter stream (which by the way is my source for news. If the tweeps are talking about it, it is probably something I so at least take a gander at. I also follow the AP news wire.) At first I ignored the Penn State news. Football, coaches, blah, blah, blah - just not on my radar. I blame the Buckeyes, no really I do. One cannot move around this city and not get blasted with some flavor of Buckeye Fever and so I have developed a finely honed protective anti-football talk filter.

This is until the posts in my timeline made it clear that this was sexual abuse or the attempted sexual abuse of children, young boys. Um, what? For years. With witnesses. What? On what planet does someone see a child being assaulted by an adult and does not call the police, scream stop, break it up, jump up and down, yell, all of the above or something equally impactful. Run over and grab the child out of the abusers clutches? There are dozens and dozens of better responses than the doing nothing...

What is wrong with people? I mean we are talking about possible life long physiological scars, which sex abuse and attempted sex abuse leave, verses possibly offending a coach of a football team.

If the graduate student saw a coach, in a locker room, with a 10 year boy and the adult's mouth is on the child's genitals, or worse yet there is the adults fingers, mouth or genitals are in or near the child's anus, I think some immediate action to stop that is in order. Do not pass go, do not go for coffee, do not even take 5 minutes to pee, stop the behavior, yell - scream - do something for the love of mike. That behavior is illegal. Period. Beyond that the sexual abuse of a child is immoral. There are somethings which just are not allowed to happen, under any circumstances and the sexual abuse of a child is one of them. Period. If the kid had his pants down and there was some question, is the coach looking at a possible injury, well then, I think the witnesses should have made themselves known and at least asked a question, "Um, what's the issue? Should we get the team trainer or doctor?"

(UPDATE: After rereading the grand jury indictment a janitor saw something similar two years prior and reported it to his supervisor. Nothing was done. Seriously people, did it not occur to you to intervene and aid the child?)

Instead they go to the head football coach's house to discuss this. What is there to discuss? This is illegal. If you saw it in a mall bathroom, you call security and or the police. In a public park, you call the police, in a train station, you call the police. Is anyone seeing a pattern here?

My eyes about popped out of my head as I read multiple news reports where the lawyers are playing legal semantics. The statute of limitations, the burden of this, the burden of that, the following of internal protocol. We have a strong defense.

Newsflash - you have no defense. You are morally bankrupt. Every single person, who knew what was happening and DID NOTHING has no defense.

Now hear this the lot of you. You are horrible, vile excuses for human beings. Anything short of benching and sacking and throwing the book at everyone and anyone who knew about the abuse of children is unconscionable and speaks to how devoid of common decency we as a society have become. They should all be hung in public stocks and pelted with rotten fruit for days for starters.

These 8 to 10 children had something very important and sacred stolen from them and then they were violated again when other influential people, who were in a position to help them and furthermore prevent the possible abuse of another child, decided that protocol, chain of command, and unbelievably FOOTBALL was more important.

What play book are we working from? What has happened to our society that this was even allowed to become such an issue? Is a National Title really worth that???

Crafty: Canisters

2011-11-10T08:00:00.002-05:00

So I have been slowly, very slowly working to achieve a Zen pantry. I crave organized spaces, not that I ever really seem to achieve them, I crave them all the same. I have slowly thru the acquisition of a number of wonderful IKEA containers, slowly gotten a handle of a number of our loose odds and ends in the pantry.

I struggled with canisters. I don't have just regular AP flour to worry about. I have besan, and sweet white rice, and sorghum and the list goes on and on. The joys of being gluten free.

Early this summer I spied these glass jars with screw top lids at the Wasserstrom stall at the North Market for a buck a piece. I know totally cheap! The problem is with so many flours, I need to be able to label the jars.

Chalkboard paint.

Right - chalk board paint. I can change the label when I need to, it is cheap and easy.

While I couldn't find the paint in a can that I could paint on with a paint brush, I did find spray paint and I decided to give it a try.

So I used painters tape to tape out a rectangle on each jar. I will be the first to admit, I totally eyeballed it. I didn't measure and I wasn't consistent. The last two were the best, and if these guys were going to occupy a place of prominence on the counter, I would have gone back and reworked the others, but they aren't. These jars will be in my pantry and the only person who is going to see them is me.

Monday afternoon I went outside and painted these guys as the evening was calm and warm enough that the paint would work properly.

I used paper to cradle the jars and an old shirt to cover the lid and top portion of the jar.

Following the paint can instructions, I shook the paint well and worked in controlled overlapping rows, re-shaking every time I moved onto the next jar.

The paint goes on very shiny but dries to a dull black. As per the can's instructions I allowed the first coat to dry for an hour and then did another one.

Yesterday I carefully removed the tape and lucky for me there was very little stray paint. It removed easily with some finger nail scrapping or paint remover.

All I have to do now and condition the surface, which means coloring it with chalk and then wiping it off.

I am pleased with the results. They are serviceable and will be easy to use, now that I can label them and change the labels as needed. If I were to try this project again, I would make a template out of bendable cardboard I think.

All in, I think this project cost me about $10.

NOPHO: Week 1 Arranged

2011-11-09T14:00:00.001-05:00

On and off this fall I have been taking pictures of my dahlias. Mostly outside. These are the last of them. These guys sort of survived the frost. Since the word or the week was arranged, I contemplated arranged marriage, given my mom's passing, I thought about arrangements, as in final arrangements. Then again - flowers are often arranged.

I spied these old medicine bottles arranged on the shelf in my living room, considered furniture arrangements and then decided - no flowers in bottles. Dying flowers in bottles.

I shot about 30 pictures - playing with light, experimenting with a black light (which really did not accomplish much), futzing with the camera and the flash settings. (Yes a smart girls would have written down what she did, but I never claimed smart. Clever and creative yes, smart and organized, not always.)

I then decided on this one (number 28) and I cropped and experimented with edits in iPhoto.

Other than the shadow, which I could not seem to get rid of, I think I accomplished what I set out to accomplish. I like the effect in the photo and I think the bottles are very beautiful...

Music Monday: Brick Songs

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today I am thinking about bricks - not the kind that require mortar though, today I am thinking about Lego Bricks.

(photo from the UK Guardian)

Yesterday I took the kids to the Lego KidsFest in Cleveland. You really haven't lived until you watch your kids sit in a pile of 40,000 plus lego bricks and build like crazy. How about monochrome building stations? Giant lego murals.

Insane - totally insane.

Yesterday I learned that legos do in fact come in pretty pink and that both of my children have fantastic imaginations and can build a wide variety of things if given the chance. I joined in the fun also, it really was an event designed to spark your creativity.

So today I offer three songs about bricks.

First a snazzy remix of the Pink Floyd Classic Another Brick in the Wall.

I also particularly like this one...

Arctic Monkeys - Brick by Brick

And finally another classic... It seems fitting - considering I saw all manner of inspiring brick art and brick houses or more correctly house like structures....

The Commodores - Brick House

November Photo Challenge

2011-11-02T08:00:00.004-04:00

Allie is doing it again and I am going to give it a go, once again.

This time the photo challenge is a bit more challenging as to subject matter and equipment - but easier in terms of time commitment. Four photos this time, instead of 30! Regular camera instead of cell phone camera. I will be using my handy dandy Canon Power Shot SD 780 Digital ELPH. This is what I used to shoot my pictures in Iceland and I love it. H gave it to me as a gift a few years ago. It might be little, but it sure is mighty.

Want to participate, there is still time. This weeks photo isn't due until Sunday.

Get all the details on her blog - show + tell.

I will also be posting my photos on my blog the Wednesday they hit her blog. I plan to tell you alittle about what I trying to accomplish and how I achieved the photo I did.

The other night, H sighed and said, "if you keep this up there are photography lessons and a fancy camera in our future, right?"

I just smiled. I am not sure, but for now this is holding my creative in focus.

Music Monday: Halloween

2011-10-31T13:24:00.002-04:00

The werewolves danced to this during L's Spooktacular.

L's group were Mad Scientists! It was fun!!!

Devils, zombies and grave diggers - OH my!!!

Be careful out there! It is a zombie jungle out there!

What Can I Do...

2011-10-25T21:33:00.000-04:00

I haven't written about my mother's battle with cancer for some time. I kept starting and then I would stop, then start and then stop. Two weeks ago, I started and stopped.

Today I decided I should finish, only I can't. If you are a Tweep or a Facebook Friend you know that last week my mother lost her battle with thyroid cancer. It was a long and very brave battle!

When L was 5 months old, mom had her thyroid removed and underwent radioactive iodine treatment. Twice.

We thought that was it. Hormone replacement for life and all was well.

Until she underwent pre-op testing for a cervical corpectomy about 5 years ago and a routine chest x-ray turned up some strange spots. A PET scan, an MRI and a lung biospy, and countless doctor visits later we knew... thyroid cancer... again.

After specialized radio-iodine failed to achieve the results we hoped for, we were out of options. Mom had always said she wouldn't do a clinical trial. She had seen patients who had been subjected to all sorts of experimental drugs. A good friend had participated in a few studies for breast cancer and had cautioned mom on the trials of a clinical trial. She had always said she wouldn't be a lab rat. It just wasn't what she wanted.

My mother changed her mind.

I know what or rather who swayed her. She was a 2 years old blondie with screaming blue eyes and she ran over to us in the waiting room at the super Endo's office one morning and squatted down, covered her eyes, and yelled "peek a boo!" and then burst into a riot of giggles. Her mother came over to collect her, a healing surgery scar and a worn out look in her eyes.

In that moment, I knew my mother was going to try the experimental chemo. People don't go see the super Endo, when their cancer is under-control. My mom was seeing visions of that happy little girl growing up without her mama. Mom was also very worried about L and I... and my brother - altho thyroid cancer affects men less frequently - in fact she was worried about us in the last days of her life. Some thyroid cancers are genetic. I already have autoimmune issues and while L is still young, mom worried.

The chemo was tough, but it worked for awhile. The side effects became too much and the effectiveness questionable.

The cancer had won. We all knew it and we set about enjoying the last weeks and months. The end came sooner than we expected. We knew we were driving down a tunnel with no light at the end, but neither my brother or I knew how close to impact we were.

So now we are sitting quietly, thinking, assessing and figuring out how one goes on.

I have to say my friends and loved ones - my family - has been amazing. We have been well loved, well fed, we are basking in all the energy people have sent our way.

That said - I do want something. I have an answer to the question - "Is there anything I can do?" Today during YOGA it came to me - this is what everyone can do for me. Learn about your thyroid. Learn about the signs of thyroid cancer. Don't ignore feelings of fatigue, a persistent sore throat, sudden weight changes and changes to your skin and hair.

If you feel off - see your doctor. Ask about a thyroid check. There is no way to know what the outcome would have been had my mother not taken the "oh it is early menopause" as an explanation early on...

So that is what you can all do... promise me you will take care of your thyroids. Women are more likely to develop thyroid cancer but it does occur in men. In fact the men in the clinical trial were showing wonderful results on the study drug... the women, not as much.

Sure we all burn the candle at both ends sometimes. Sometimes we drink too much, sleep too little, say "NO" too infrequently - but being tired is very different than feeling fatigued or so exhausted you can't move.

The down side of all of this is some problems with the thyroid are largely asymptomatic. So next time you have a physical, visit your doctor, or have blood work done, ask your doctor to tack on a thyroid panel. It can't hurt.

At least have the conversation - because that is what you all can do for me!

Music Monday: Jean Elan - Where's Your Head At

2011-10-24T08:55:00.000-04:00

Now picture my Little Diva, in my bed room aka the house ballroom and dance studio, with a purple plastic trick or treat jack o lantern dancing. Yep that is what most days are like around here.

She is dancing and planning and organizing her own Halloween show! I suggested jokingly about a week ago, she should do her best Ichabod Crane and this song and the trick or treat buckets would be a great prop.

All I can say is be careful what you suggest!

This past week has been a challenging one and my Little Diva made a very adult decision to still dance with the Youth Company at her dance school in the annual Halloween Spooktacular! Having made that choice, she danced her heart out and I couldn't be prouder of her. This week she will perform at the annual trick or treat alternative event at the recreation center and tomorrow she misses school, to go perform in a few inner city schools and a nursing home. Her Youth Company brings dance and Halloween Cheer to those who might not otherwise experience it.

The arts do matter. They enrich our communities and just as communities are better for the support of the arts, I think artists, when they give back or pay it forward, they make our communities so much better.

So I have no doubts where Little Diva's heart or head is at...

Around the house...

2011-10-15T08:00:00.004-04:00

H and I have been making some changes around the house. When we bought our house, we both fell in love with some aspects and others we knew we would some day change. It has been a long process, filled with babies, new jobs and a busy life. The kitchen and master bath came first. Then I tackled the mudroom this spring and summer (and the hallway that connects the mudroom and the kitchen.) Then we moved immediately into the family room. We were couchless for much of the process. This amazed and confused the children's friends. L's BFF asked repeatedly, "when are you getting a new couch?" E's new school buddy asked, "Where do we sit?" E explained that is why the room had a floor. I know we are quirky. No way was I painting the room with new furniture.

About a month ago we moved in these guys from IKEA. It seems strange to unpack your couch from a box and then assemble it, but we did it and I think it was more than worth it. I love that in a few years, if I get bored, I can change slip covers and much more cost effectively than buying a brand new couch. (The current slip cover is dry cleanable also! A decided bonus in my opinion.)

I would also be remiss - not mentioning I finally have a chaise. I have wanted one forever... we did put the chair and chaise together for a unconventional love seat.

As I mentioned, this summer we focused on the family room. It had been a yellowish cream and we changed it to a warm, rich light brown. I love the color. H isn't in love with it, even though he picked it. We also got a new sofa and love seat chaise combo. The biggest change is we replaced the drafty, cheap and poorly installed faux french doors with a beautiful, energy efficient window. I love the change. Another coat of paint and it will be time to buy blinds, curtains and lamps.

And no we did not forget to remove the stickers, the kids and I have been decorating for Halloween. We love window clings.

For anyone who has visited us, it is noticeable that there is very little art on the walls. H and I have different and I mean radically different taste in art. We also put it off, because we were always going to "redo the family room." Knowing he favors pasture scenes with cows and dogs and I am more into impressionism and modern art, I decided, why not photographs, better yet, why not our OWN photographs. Better yet, why not photographs of one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, Iceland. So when Living Social did an offer for Image Canvas I jumped on it. It really was a good deal and the results are very nice. Exactly what I wanted.

While nothing can be done about the awful cold air return, we have done our best and I love the photos. Also, the service from Image Canvas was wonderful. Reasonable turn around time and reasonable shipping costs.

And while H was hanging pictures, a task he relishes with the utmost joy, I asked him to hang these two as well. I bought these, almost 4 years ago, while in NYC. I stumbled upon a market or flea or something at University Circle (or is it a square) and I really liked them. Just this summer, I finally, had them framed. They are vodka bottles with flowers, so I decided we should hang them over the bar.

The pumpkins my mom gave us and the owls are my most recent obsession. They stay, the jack-o-lanterns will be with us through Halloween. The tape - that is caution tape and I have plans for that, just wait. We are going all out this Halloween.

Remember those squash vines I blogged about all summer. Well they yielded three pumpkins, two possible squash and about three dozen gourds. The kids' teachers got gourds, neighbors have gotten gourds and my BFF got some too... I arranged these guys on our mantel. Again, the paint color really sets them off nicely.

I think the kids have rearranged them about a dozen times but they are all from our yarden. A few of them night be squash but I am not sure, so I am going to refrain from eating them.

We really love Halloween and this weekend is apple picking and pumpkin gathering. Some of the most fun things to do in the fall. I cannot declare the family finished until I tackle window treatments and lighting, but it feels good to get cozy on the new sofa or chaise and blog!

Flowers in the Yarden

2011-10-13T10:48:00.000-04:00

Yes, you read that right, I am still getting flowers in the yarden. I am as shocked as you, but my Dahlias are going strong. I planted these bulbs on a whim. I bought glads and dahlias bulbs in the spring at the Andersons. I thought, why not. I put the Diahials in a spot in the front side yard, where NOTHING grows. I have tried on and off for 9 years to get something to grow in this spot.

In July when nothing has sprouted, I decided I have been thwarted again. Then in late August we had greenery and then in September we had blooms.

First these two

and then a few smaller ones and I thought, well that will be that.

I was wrong. We have a fresh crop of buds and some opening. After all this rain and then a few days of sun, I picked these three today. Decided to bring some color into the house.

I am very excited for one bud to hurry up and open as it looks orange and yellow and just perfect for fall.

You can't have it both ways...

2011-10-05T20:04:00.001-04:00

I know - I should avoid topics of religion and politics, but this one bugs me... Blame H, he brought the USA Today home.

I read Thomas S. Kidd's "Time for government to butt out piece" in the October 3, 20011 edition of the USA Today and I have to say he is both right and wrong. I should preface this with I am probably as close to agnostic as I have ever been and that I left the governing body of my former church very angry and very disillusioned. I also am not a tax accountant nor a lawyer. What I am is a tax payer who is tied of subsidizing companies - like BIG BANKS and Religious Organizations who want to cry separate when they break laws - like say equal opportunity clauses. (Beyond the fact that I find it - as a non practicing former/reformed/confused/angry Christian MORALLY REPUGNANT - that a religious organization would summarily dismiss, likely without an offer of disability, a teacher who developed a medical disability. This, this is their idea of walking as Christ walks and offering charity.)

Here's my take on the situation - if religious groups take any sort of governmental funding up to and including the 503c tax exemptions, then they are SUBJECT to limited governmental oversight. In my mind it really is that simple. If you accept grants from the federal or state government, you are subject to said oversight. If you don't pay taxes, because you seek a "special" exemption - thereby availing yourselves of all sorts of perks - like clean roads, bridges which carry your folk to and from the church, prime real estate at little or no property taxes, emergency services, police, fire, EMS, all without paying your fair share - then YES, you are subject to some federal, state and local oversight. While we are on it - religious institutions pay no sales tax. They take from the local economy every single day.

If this school avails itself of busing provided by the home school distract, it is subject to oversight.

If religious groups want to be SEPARATE, then no feeding off the federal, state and local trough. Hospitals, which take medicare funds, are subject to oversight. Many hospitals are 503c entities, too.

I agree government should have no say in the ministry of particular religious groups. We do not have a state religion - that said - if these groups want to be 100% government free - pay up. Pay your taxes, don't look for hand outs, don't ask for government funds to shore up your programing. Don't look for busing to your schools and don't avail yourself of services you aren't paying for. When your church is on fire or under attack - deal with it... otherwise, be like every other business and make no mistake there isn't a religious group out there that isn't a business, and pay your fair share.

And to Kidd's point -

One cannot imagine a more obvious feature of an establishment of religion, or a clearer violation of free exercise, than the government dictating to a church that it must rehire a religious teacher, especially a person who has violated church teachings or behavioral codes. The Justice Department's position, if vindicated, raises the possibility that courts and bureaucrats may, in the name of contemporary norms of fairness, begin requiring religious organizations to hire any number of candidates who do not accept that faith's tenets. One could easily imagine future decisions forcing churches, synagogues, or mosques to hire employees who do not adhere to the tradition's norms of sexual behavior, for example.
Religious liberty will be severely damaged if faith groups cannot hire and fire according to their beliefs. That's why leaders from such an impressive range of religions are united by the threat of a government clearly overstepping its well-defined boundaries.

I think there is a huge difference between firing someone who becomes disabled and hiring someone who's lifestyle choices are incompatible with a given religious groups viewpoint. Either way - if you take government funds -- you march to Yankee Doodle's tune. If you want to be separate, pay up and Uncle Sam will shut up.

Music Monday: Jim Croce Photographs and Memories

2011-10-03T10:50:00.000-04:00

L is so sad the 30 Day Photo Challenge is over... I think she enjoyed it as much as I did. In truth she takes her own pictures. She has H's old digital camera. It takes photos and video. She films her stuffed animals and takes pictures all the time.

She wanted to start the challenge over this month and I told her I was ready for a break. Then she insisted we think about doing a "special" picture once a week for my blog. I think I might aim towards that goal.

It is funny we went to visit friends this weekend and I did not take a single picture. I go through spells like that, where I take thousands of photos and then sometimes I go weeks without taking any. On vacation in Iceland, I took over 400.

H and I have photo albums and for a time, I did alot of scrapbooking. Anymore, I store my photos online and only develop them as gifts or if the kids need them. I recently bought a groupon, to make the kids a memory book of the trip to Iceland. I think they will like that.

Now that we have digital technology, I store things online more and more.

So what did I learn during the challenge?

I learned that having a goal in mind makes some photos easier to take and others harder. I learned that my iPhone takes a great picture. I learned how to play with photo editing, both in Instigram (which is way cool) and Photobooth. I learned that sometimes the best photo is the one you snap quickly without thinking it through and sometimes it takes many, many tries to get just the effect you are looking for!

I urge you to go check out all the participants pictures. Allie faithfully posted them. She is going to post a recap on Wednesday which I think would be worth checking out.

In college, I spent a long time studying an old house and trying to learn what I could about the man who build that house. I sifted through tax records, parish records, the sheriff sale account record. In 1850 there weren't pictures. Now we can document every meal we eat, every outfit we wear, every move we make. I know there are photo blogs where people do a self portrait a day. Friends post endless pictures of their new baby on facebook. I felt like I got to experience a bit of a friends recent wedding and honeymoon, based on the lovely pictures which popped up in my facebook time line.

As with so many creative projects this 30 day challenge was as much about the output - the photos as it was the process. For me it was a great process... I think in November I may try the National Novel Writing Month, it all depends on the other things happening in my life...

I should mention the music. I love Jim Croce. All of his songs are playful, thought provoking, intense and they are stories... I have to think he understood - Art is a process...

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 30 - Me a Month Later

2011-09-30T09:03:00.002-04:00

It's me, 30 days later. Same spot in are yarden and H snapped this one as he headed back to work. He flew home from Detroit last night, to help our babysitter with the kids, so I could go to a concert. What can I say, he loves his job and he loves me and sometimes it takes alot of juggling to make all the parts fit.

I have loved this challenge. It was fun, inspiring and it sometimes made me work hard.

While I am not going to try and repeat this challenge in October, I am toying with the idea of doing a picture a week or something... it gives the day focus, something to point my creativity towards.

I need to look back through my photos - I am not sure I have a favorite. How about you? Which photo is your favorite?

30 Day Photo Challage - Day 29 Clouds

2011-09-29T08:00:00.002-04:00

I tried to get cloud pictures today. They either did not come out well or were full on overcast and wait, pouring down rain!

So for those of you who have been waiting for Iceland pictures. I am going with a fantastic picture of Gullfoss. The approach and the parking area are underwhelming but then, then you hear the rush of water and feel the mist and then you see views like this...

Th clouds are amazing. You can view the falls from three levels and this is mid range. I remember thinking the clouds were very low, but they weren't, we were just climbing higher and higher.

I love these kinds of clouds, followed by the angry gray violet ones you see in the spring. When I was younger I used to lay in the grass and watch the clouds and think about what they looked like. Or I would swing on the swings trying to go as high as possible, hoping to touch the clouds. One of the best things about H learning to fly a small plane, when we were first married, is the clouds. I finally got to be up close and personal with the clouds.

While everything might seem legit...

2011-09-28T10:02:00.001-04:00

H and I were busy today, minding our business and tackling house projects, planning a nice lunch out, when bang, bang, bang - this horrible noise shook the pipes in the basement.

I was downstairs hanging laundry and yelled up at him to go see what was causing that banging outside. It was a random guy. This random guy told H he was surveying the gas lines.

H came in to call the gas company.

I marched outside and told the guy he cannot be on my property without first knocking on the door and introducing himself and telling he plans to bang the shit out of my gas meter.

He informed me if he had to knock on everyone's door he wouldn't get anything done.

I told him he had no right to be assaulting my property with my permission and he needed to move it along.

At no point in time did he offer to show either H or I his ID or his work orders. His truck is basically a beater with stick on signs.

No PUCO permit numbers, no phone number... not helpful in the verification process at all.

H held with Columbia I am a Pain in the Ass, oops I mean Gas Company for a bit but when he found out it was going to be a 30 minute wait and the guy had left, he hung up. I posted the above photo to the Homeowner's Association Facebook page and tried to google his company. I contacted a company from Fairfield, Ohio who while they have the same name ARE a different company, as they sent a guy out to check on us. He also saw this truck in the neighborhood and assured me my random guy was not with them. This is a good company folks - they were genuinely worried one of their employees had gone rogue... They get an A+ in customer service from me, and let's face it, I seldom hand those out.

This made me feel worse NOT better.

I tried again to find a number for the "Premier Utility Services", who visited my house today. No luck. I nosed around the BBB, PUCO and Columbia Gas's website. Nothing. No mention of a project in this area, nothing.

As I left the development to run errands, I spot the truck and I stop and take more photos. (I love my iPhone. It's camera is powerful.)

Then at my mom's, I try yet again to locate a phone number for this company. Nada.

I then called the police and file a report. What other resources did I have. He was behaving in a suspicious manner. He offered no ID, no work orders and no project specs and fled when I ordered him off my property. You hear about these scams all the time. People posing as utility workers, who aren't. The PUCO did a public service campaign urging people to only allow people with IDs into their homes and onto their properties.

Just tonight a Facebook friend posted that her neighbor's A/C unit was ripped off their house, leaving all sorts of exposed and live wires. Who is to say this guy was not casing my gas meter, with designs on stealing it for its metal content.

It really would have been so much easier had this guy been polite, knocked on our door, warned us he was going to be making some noise as he surveyed the gas lines. (Maybe he could have explained why and how one surveys gas lines. Please if you know, the comments are open.)

I am not holding my breath, that I will ever really know if this guy was legit or not. I have alerted the authorities. I am sharing my story in order to alert other people near and dear to me, I have photos. Should the PUCO, Columbia Gas, or the police contact me, I will gladly share my photos.

If my gas meter malfunctions, I have proof that it was not H or I who messed with it, I can prove that I attempted to verify with the proper people, who was messing with my meter. Columbia, I am a Pain in the Ass, I mean Gas Company cannot pin this on us.

It just isn't good business to enter someone's property and then do stuff with their gas meter - without telling them first. On so many levels this guy was raising suspicions and making it appear that he was not legit. So it is one of two things - he is legit but very poorly trained, employed by a company with zero interest in customer care OR he is not legit and I hope he gets caught, before he hurts himself or someone else.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 28 - Incorporate Motion

2011-09-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

L has been chomping at the bit for this one.
Her BFF has a trampoline. They bounce endlessly. Sometimes they include E.

I told L, we would use the trampoline as part of today's picture. It took some doing, as I had to get them to line up and then start jumping at the same time. After taking a number of shots, I called time. L's BFF is still confused as to what exactly we were up to, E was upset, his feet were cold and together L and her BFF selected today's picture. Notice they are the ones in motion.

A fun, if not soggy and slightly maddening exercise.

Again, both kids were excited to be part of the challenge and fun. I cannot believe we only have 2 more pictures to go... time flies...

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 27 - Natural Light

2011-09-27T08:00:00.001-04:00

This is one of those once in a lifetime photos! I saw a Monarch butterfly while watching the kids play in the Kinderplatz at Oktoberfest and followed it. Then I watched and waited. I got lucky!

Full on midday sun doesn't get more natural than that.

Bonus Music Monday: Shiny Toy Guns - Rainy Monday

2011-09-26T10:04:00.000-04:00

a bonus track - for this rainy, rainy Monday!

Music Monday: California Dreaming, The Mama's & The Papa's

2011-09-26T09:08:00.001-04:00

The Autumnal Equinox was Friday. I happen to love fall. I love the crisp mornings, beautiful changing leaves, apples, pumpkins, bonfires. You name it.

As we walked to school Thursday morning, E holding my hand and chattering, he says: "Man I just don't like fall."

I asked him why and told him how I loved fall.

"I don't like fall, because it just means we are a few months closer to winter. And I really don't like winter."

He pauses.

And adds - "You don't like winter either."

And he is right, I am not a fan of Old Man Winter.

But I sure do like fall.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 26 - Playing with Shadows

2011-09-26T08:00:00.001-04:00

I took this shot the same day I took Day 4. It was early evening and the sun was too our backs. It makes us appear larger than life.

I tried to take our pictures yesterday, but it was middle of the day and the sun was right overhead, not a shadow to be found.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 25 - Anything I want

2011-09-25T08:00:00.001-04:00

I didn't take a picture today, it was a rainy soccer game and then a long day of errands and cooking. So I asked H - creepy or pretty and H went with creepy. Actually, this one is pretty to in its own way. I snapped this one a few weeks ago. This guy was busy building an amazing web. I like spiders. They don't bother me at all. They prey on other insects, which do bother me more.

H loves Halloween. Actually we all do! We are Halloween crazy here. H and I dress up for trick - r - treat! Not sure what I will do this year, but I am currently considering my options.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 24 - Color Scheme

2011-09-24T08:00:00.002-04:00

L is the color queen of our house. She can mix patterns and colors and create amazing outfits that no one else would ever think of, me included.

So tonight, I mentioned I was stumped again. I really don't have a favorite or signature color and most of our house trends towards neutrals, as H is not at all into bold color.

When I was working, it was very conservative. I had a closet full of very nice, very tailored and very boring suits. Navy, black, brown, grey, navy, black, did I mention black? I could have moonlighted as an undertaker without a problem.

Now though, I can experiment with colors. I have gone a little crazy with colors lately too. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

All of these items were in my closet and while I can assure you, I would never wear them all together, I am equally confident that L would totally pull off the combination flawlessly.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 23 - Childhood Memory

2011-09-23T08:00:00.001-04:00

This one stumped me. Last week I thought about paying my hometown a visit. Surly I could find a memory or two there. Last week came and went and no trip.

Tonight on the way to dance lessons I was talking to L about tomorrow's challenge and how I thought I might have to sit it out. She says, "Oh come on Mom, you have lots of stuff from your childhood. Wait, remember that strange pink doll, I have that. See even I have a piece of your childhood."

Later I was cleaning up the kitchen and the kids were snacking and L says, "So how you gonna stage today's picture?" (Stage? my 9 year old used the word stage...)

I said I hadn't decided. E volunteers, "I think it would be cool if you did it like an I Spy picture."

Bingo!

So after bed time, I rounded up some items and staged and I Spy type photo. Can you guess which items are which???

Recycled quilt, a new life to something old before even recycle was a hot shot buzz word.
Souvenir from my 1st trip to Germany
Statue from the site of a bit of France, right here in Ohio.
A high school honor
L's bit of my childhood
A weird memento with an even weirder tag
A knotty endeavour
Something made by my great-grandfather
Pink memories - Snaps before digital

I bet if I was willing to hunt and dig out more, I have more items I could have put in this picture but I think this is a good sampling and representative of a number of years of my childhood.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 22 Somebunny I love...

2011-09-22T08:00:00.002-04:00

I tweeted a few days ago:

I must confess, I am in love with His Royal Hoppiness.

That is what I call Truffles. Well among other terms of endearment anyway. He really is a great little guy. Good company, relatively easy to get along with. L does a great job of caring for him. She reads to him, carefully picking "good fit books" for him. Nothing scary, no books with dogs or attack cats. She brought home a book about rabbits from the library just for him.

When Miss T gave him up, she sent all his stuff. His brushes, blankets, treats, house, play structure and his sweaters. Yes, His Royal Hoppiness's has sweaters. It has been too warm for him to get all decked out, but as the air gets chillier, L has been dying to play dress up.

This morning, she dressed him in the better fitting sweater. While Truffles will sit still as a stone and let her dress him, between you and me, he is not a fan of his sweater. I think he thinks it is old fashioned and not nearly trendy enough for him. He is a metro kind of guy. Furthermore, his coat, is exceptionally soft and plush. He already has the pimp daddy of coats, so is a knit sweater really what he needs, probably not.

But around here, the rule is, if you have it, you need to wear it. I make L wear a dress and a skirt once a week and I guess that means His Royal Hoppiness better get used to his sweater sessions.

He is handsome, don't you think?

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 21 Sunset

2011-09-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

Last week there was a lovely sunset, did I take a photo, oh no, I was committed to shooting my photos in the 24 hour period. (Sometimes I have the best the ideas...)

So tonight, as we finished up dinner on the deck, I shot some pictures. It isn't sunset in the classic sense - but it will have to do. We are down hill and behind trees and it was as close to sunset as I was going to get on this partly to mostly cloudy day.

I like the effect, but I would have liked a real sunset, rich with pinks and oranges, but this challenge is about being in the moment. Here is my moment from last night.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 20 Anything I want

2011-09-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

Having given myself permission to break my own rules, today I am featuring a picture I took last week at the farmers market. I drive by the cemetery and I see this riot of beautiful yellow flowers. It was rainy and overcast and this burst of color was unexpected.

I often wonder why do we associate flowers with death? Or is it that flowers at funerals or in cemeteries are there to remind us of life?

Music Monday: Porno for Pyros

2011-09-19T21:34:00.000-04:00

In college I did not like this song at all.

Last week when it came on the radio I listened all the way through.

I am not sure this has any great meaning or was a cosmic sign, I did however catch myself thinking: "back in the day, you would have switched the station right away." I guess maybe it made me think of the summer, I spent sitting night time bell desk, the long days with the kids I adored, lazy, hazy Sundays spent in the library or coffee house to get some relief from sultry summer.

Maybe it is because we have two incredible pets, which make us all very happy.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 19 Landscape

2011-09-19T08:00:00.001-04:00

One would think on a road trip I might have been able to capture a decent landscape shot, but in my defense it was a road trip with friends, all together we were 3 adults, 4 kids under the age of 10 and two vehicles. Work in a power shopping trip to IKEA. So you know, it is what it is. I have a great shot of some pillows and one slobbery baby. Landscapes, not so much.

I took a few shots when we stopped at a rest area, but they are not post worthy.

So I am breaking my rule and posting something I shot this summer, when I first had the iPhone. I love this shot. I took this picture after a meeting in German Village. I took it just because. I saw something and I took a picture. I do this alot.

As much as I love a good field, a rural landscape or even a forested one, I am always drawn to the urban green space, the edge where man made messes with natural world.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 18 Depicting Emotion

2011-09-18T08:00:00.001-04:00

I enlisted a friend to take some shots. You tell me - what am I feeling?

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 16 Street Lights

2011-09-17T08:00:00.002-04:00

This one was a challenge. All the power lines are buried here in the burb. Our neighborhood relies on porch lights instead of street lights. If I had planned this one a little better, I could have taken a walk downtown or something but I didn't.

I was pondering my choices when as I walked home from taking the kids to school, I noticed the lights in the under the road bike tunnel. They are kinda cool. They have a cage around them and I think they are on most of the day.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 16 Experimenting with light

2011-09-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

Unlike some of the challenge days, when it turned out to be a sunny day, I knew exactly where I wanted to take today's picture. We have a large ash tree in our side yard. The kids and I sit under it alot. For picnics, to read, to rest after a long bike ride.

I knew this afternoon the light would be interesting. I was right. The sky is so blue, the leaves so green to green black and the late afternoon sun making rainbow halos.

(for those wondering, I lay down in the cool grass to get the shot I wanted.)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 15 Anything I want

2011-09-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

Let me start by saying these seem to be the hardest days. Anything I want. It is so daunting.

This is a dahlia from my yarden. I planted these bulbs this spring when I planted the glads. I planted them in a part of the yarden, where nothing and I mean nothing will grow. The bulbs weren't that expensive and I would like something to grow there, really I would. It took some time and I had the greens, but no buds. Then just this week - boom! We have buds and blossoms. Yeah! One last splash of summer color before fall.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 14 Focusing on eyes

2011-09-14T08:00:00.002-04:00

(I took this picture using PhotoBooth on my MacAir - I did not photoshop this one at all...)

Today I have tired eyes and I took a rather long afternoon nap and now it is bed time, which is always a hectic time. I had thought about having H take some pictures of me, focusing on my eyes, but it didn't happen.

Then E reminded me I have a camera on my laptop. We took some photos of his eyes and then I decided to take some of my own.

H has dark brown eyes, as does my mother, and L and E. E's are the lightest of the brown eyes, with maybe a hint of hazel, which he gets from me. It is funny sometimes, my kids and H starring at me and it is spooky, the same brown eyes. My kiddos really do look like their father.

My eyes are well, colorful. Sometimes a grey blue, sometimes more greenish, sometimes hazel and sometimes an amazing variety of colors. They change with my mood.

Today my mood has been somber with a touch of sleepy.

I also like how this picture captures my nose ring. I love my nose ring. This picture also indicates that it is time for me to once again go have my eyebrows threaded.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 13 Photo Edit I Like

2011-09-13T08:00:00.004-04:00

Unlike many of the folks in the challenge, I am not a photographer. I do not own a camera with changeable lens or one that requires film. Nor do I claim to have any photoshop skills whatsoever. None.

That said I do have an ascetic. I actually love photography as a medium. At the museum, I might well skip some classical painting in favor of some solid and artistic photography.

This is a squash/pumpkin blossom from my yarden. I just fired up the photoshop features on my new MacAir and played with it, until I liked it. Earlier to day I did the same on Instigram. I went with my photoshop picture.

I think, perhaps when the kids are older, I might well invest in a fancier camera and some photography classes. For now, I will stick with my digital point and shoot!

I love how the blue tone sets off the water and the edges and tips of the blossoms. (I must like blue, because for a time my Twitter Avatar was a picture of me with a blue wash to it. I had likewise manipulated the photo with photoshop to create an effect, which pleased me.)

Music Monday AC/DC - Highway to Hell (bonus track - Muppets, Movin' Right Along)

2011-09-12T10:54:00.002-04:00

My weekend was busy. Friday was the beginning of some fantastic running around in circles. On paper anyway. Friday morning I go out to my car and um, well, nothing doing. Just this clicking noise.

Thankfully, my mom was feeling up to a short drive and drove over in her car to my house. We hung out and then took the long way back to her house in her car.

H was out of town, so after a few voice-mails, we connected and decided I should try to jump the car.

Right, me, I should jump the car. Now I am not unable to do these tasks and I have jumped a car, years ago and I should also mention my current car is the first automatic I have driven. When one has a manual transmission, these issues are easier to deal with, I would have rolled down the driveway and bam - I would be off to the races.

So I did what I normally do - I did some research. I have long maintained that there is nothing you can't find on You Tube. I have learned to make a french seam, give myself weekly sub Q injections, make a Gnatt Chart, can and now jump a car, all by watching a variety of You Tube videos.

Then I googled, hoping for a nice blog post. Sometimes I do well watching how-to videos and sometimes it is more helpful to read through some well written instructions.

Lucky for me I found a decent blog post and then I went out to tackle the task.

First of all, the car is in the garage. I had to get it out of the garage. So I put her in neutral and pushed backwards gently. I also thankfully remembered to shut the door as we rolled back slowly, then less slowly and then I tapped the brakes as I eased us in to the grass.

Pulled my mom's car into position and followed the directions.

It didn't work.

I think the starter is kaput.

I was also done. I had already lost a huge chunk of my day to this process and I had other things to accomplish, during the precious hours the kids are in school. My mom was cool with me keeping her car for the weekend and I had exhausted my car maintenance skills.

On Friday afternoon, there is no point in rushing to a garage, no one can help, or it would have to wait until the next day. Plus I have no idea what is wrong and I know H will have some plan or idea what he wants to do. It can wait.

H called back and I told him what I was up to and that the car could stay where it was until he was back on Tuesday.

"The car is in the grass? You are going to leave the car in the grass for the whole weekend?"

Yes, yes I am. (And truly that is where the car sits as I type this.)

"H, grass is a weed, it will grow back. I am not worried."

Well H was worried.

"What will the neighbors think? I don't think they will be ok with this plan."

"Which neighbors Sweetie? The one who has the endless parade of bagsters in their driveway or the ones currently building an outdoor hockey rink in their back yard??"

Curiously he couldn't come back with much after this. This fact however did not stop him from trying!

Later in the day he calls back, he had a plan. I should enlisted my neighbors to help me push the car back into the garage.

No.

Then it got really crazy.

"When the babysitter comes over, you should have him sit in your car, put it in neutral, and then you should pull your mom's car behind your car and push it into the garage."

Um, hell no.

So I replied, "Sweetie, the car stays in the grass until your ass is back in town."

So for now, I am happily on the road in my mom's car and I am confident, that in a day or so I will be once again, happily moving right along in my car.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 12 Same picture different light

2011-09-12T08:00:00.002-04:00

It was an overcast day and this is Mr. Owlie in the late afternoon. He was cranky, cuz I woke him up but that is just the way it is.

And here he is after hours and ready to party. He was not pleased he had to wait for the evening photo opt. But again, that is just the way it is buddy.

30 day photo: Day 11 Black and White

2011-09-11T08:00:00.002-04:00

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 10 Anything I want

2011-09-10T08:00:00.005-04:00

We are gearing up for a very busy weekend. I was thinking about what I could photograph today. More pictures of my volunteer squash, gourds and pumpkins? Maybe something else still blooming in the yarden.

I had thought about trying to sneak a picture of my mom today. She and I had planned to run some errands. She hates having her picture taken.

Long story short, I got back from walking the kids to school and took care of some tidying and jumped in the car. Nada! Nothing. Wouldn't start more correctly it wouldn't turn over, there was power - cuz the radio came on. So I called my mom and she drove over. She isn't driving much these days and the drive over was taxing, so we were relaxing in the morning room, because I still don't have new family room furniture, when I looked out the window and saw this.

All this chaos this morning and here, sunning his wings on my deck is a beautiful butterfly.

I had to wait a bit, to catch him with his wings open. Even through the window, we can see how pretty he is. To think he is migrating south. Such a long distance those beautifully fragile wing are about to fly.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 7 From a Distance

2011-09-09T08:00:00.001-04:00

This was harder with my iPhone. In case I haven't mentioned it, I am taking all my photos with my iPhone. (Unless I say differently. Later in the challenge I may try photo booth on my new Mac! But for now I am using my iPhone.) I have a great little Cannon Sure Shot, which I love - but I decided this month, I would shoot my challenge pictures with my iPhone.

While I got a couple really interesting shots today, I am going with the one I set out to do... I think the effect is kinda cool and it is a place I go often.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 7 Close Up

2011-09-08T08:00:00.001-04:00

I had a meeting in German Village yesterday and snapped this picture. Amazing the bright colors that lead us into fall.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 7 Silhouette

2011-09-07T08:00:00.005-04:00

This one was hard. The kids wanted to help and they really want their pictures on my blog. In general, I am very careful about posting their pictures anywhere, I cannot control who sees it. Call me crazy or worse but that is how I roll.

My little people however are big hams. They love - LOVE - LOVE to have their pictures taken. L routinely poses and E will sometimes coyly pose for snapshots.

I told them tonight before bed they had to help me with this. Finding a good spot, with the correct back lighting was challenging. This picture was their idea, I have a few others which are ok, but this one is the cutest and the tightest shot I got. They decided to link arms and make a "W" or a "M" or as E put it, pretend to be a spider, see, he explained, we have eight legs...

This is a time where I think I needed more time to plan and experiment and perhaps have another adult on hand to help with the staging of my photo, but on the other hand this challenge is about capturing the here and now and here today, right now, it is bed time and it is the little people, me and my iPhone.

I give you the Silhouette Spider.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 6 from a low angle

2011-09-06T08:00:00.003-04:00

This has intrigued me since they built it this summer. I missed the dedication, so I have no idea exactly what it is or what is going on.

Any guesses where or what it is? I will let everyone know tonight, via comment!

(also for any doubters out there, I laid on the ground for this one! Have the leaves in my hair to prove it. And I had hoped for some better light, but just like I tell the kids - you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.)

Music Monday: Vampire Weekend Oxford Comma

2011-09-05T10:30:00.003-04:00

I think commas get the short end of the grammatical stick.

Case in point the Oxford Comma, also known as the serial comma, is a topic of much debate among writers, editors and the like. As a typist, I tend to skip the Oxford Comma in favor of less key strokes, but when I write long hand, I include it, it is more elegant.

I think it is useful when making a long list, let's face readers are not superheros and they do need a breath from time to time. Our story, its essence, its substance should leave them breathless, not our grammatical choices or omissions.

I had to laugh the other night as L's teacher spoke to us at the open house. The school distract has adopted a new word study program and one of its chief goals and to teach parts of speach and word usage.

Duh!

L struggles with Mad Libs, because they teach writing and reading and spelling in an "organic" way that things like grammar and language arts gets lost somewhere. This makes me sad. As a poet I enjoy knowing the rules - SO I CAN BREAK THEM. Furthermore, I am a lousy editor, but I do know the rules. I spent much of my school years diagramming sentences in more than one language. I enjoyed that practice.

Never mind that as my junior year English teacher blabbered on about "comma splices" and and the "eternal run on" it went over me head, I do hear him still today. Knowing the rules has value. Language is often just a set of generally adhered to conventions. It changes over time, commas come and commas go.

Last night I was looking at the old typesets in a vintage store and marveling, that used to be someone's job - to look at a text and painstakingly prepare a mirror image. Can you imagine? Now I often don't even bother with a paper draft, I just take it from my head to the screen. No editor, typesetter, copy editor, nothing.

On one hand that ups the intimacy, there are less filters. It also increases the chances for misplaced or omitted commas.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 5, anything I want

2011-09-05T08:00:00.001-04:00

I thought about using something I already had but then decided, no, this challenge is about the here and now. I will only use, pictures I have taken within the 24 hours prior to posting.

This personal limitation made it a bit challenging, but it forced me to think outside the box and take some pictures and be creative while wandering Gallery Hop.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 4 From a high angle

2011-09-04T08:00:00.001-04:00

Scioto Mile, Columbus Ohio

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 3 Favorite place to be

2011-09-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 2 What I wore today

2011-09-02T08:00:00.003-04:00

Olive capris, black French Connection Blouse (one of my summer favs), new chinese Zodiac bracelet (L has a matching one), earrings from Iceland, the necklace I made with my book club and my wedding ring.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 1 Me

2011-09-01T08:00:00.002-04:00

This is the first of 30! If you want to play along, go visit Allie's blog.

I took some poetic license. H and I had just biked back from a meeting at the kids school, the early evening light seemed perfect and he was here, which is rare. It is rare to have him available to take a picture of me. As we got started Snicker's showed up. She really wanted in on the game, so I included her.

For Day 1, I give you Me, with Snickers.

Naked Sunfish - Iceland

2011-08-30T21:43:00.000-04:00

I promise to return to my Iceland series later this week. I haven't forgotten about it, just been busy, in part writing this travel piece.

If you didn't know I wrote for the Naked Sunfish (cuz you haven't been following me on Twitter or Facebook) I do.

This round I did a travel piece and not my regular Hopscotch.

I cannot say enough good things about the Naked Sunfish. It is a labor of love and every issue is better than the previous. It is an honor.

So - go check out Iceland - A Beautiful Study in Ambiguity and Irony

Music Monday: Don McLean American Pie

2011-08-29T11:33:00.000-04:00

This weekend felt more like fall than summer. Autumn is in the air. The kids and I went to a large farmer's market on Saturday. I love this market, it is big, with so much fantastic local produce. Lots to choose from, but it is crowded. If it were just crowded that would be one thing, but it is crowded with some of the rudest people I have ever run into. Three old ladies nearly ran the kids and I down, clamoring for melons. One older lady hit E in the head with a bag of produce, she was completely self absorbed. I am not sure how I feel about the families who come to this crowded market with their double stroller and two large dogs. Really? I am all for family time, but the sidewalks are so crowded and the dogs the size of ponies.

It wasn't all bad. We ran into some friendly dogs and we listened to some great live music. L was taken with the man singing and playing the guitar. We loaded up on the items I needed and and wanted. It was wonderful.

Now is the time of year when berries are a thing of the past and the first apples are appearing in our CSA. We are seeing less lettuce and more root veggies.

I think there is something decidedly American about apple pie.

As we all know, I eat a gluten free diet, among other things. Pie for me flew out the window about 6 years ago. This is a pity, I grew up eating my grandmother's fantastic fruit pies. All summer long we had a variety of wonderful pies. H's mom made decent fruit pies also.

Since giving up working for the man, I have taught myself to make pie crust from scratch and experimented with various fruit fillings. I even made a pecan pie using some coconut nectar a friend gave me. None of this I can eat. Not even a tiny taste.

While I have perfected some decent gluten free baked items, many of which I have shared here, for the most part gluten, I have decided, is part of what makes most baked goods good. It is integral to their character.

But those apples.

Beautiful late summer apples. They are so good. So good and pretty that I hated to just default to apple sauce or make yet another gluten free apple crisp. I wanted an apple pie. So when I saw one of my Tweeps was experimenting, I thought I would try too.

The key I decided is in the flour mix. You cannot go straight rice flour or sorghum flour. It has to be a blend. Recently I bought a bag of Namaste Flour Blend.

This blend contains sweet brown rice flour, tapioca flour, arrowroot flour, sorghum flour and

xanthan gum.

My first try I uses my standard double crust recipe and subbed the 2 cups of flour for two cups of this blend and proceeded normally. I then rolled out the crust and made no pan crust on the pizza stone, folded up the sides partially covering some apples sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and away we went.

It was too much crust, but it tasted good.

Yesterday, I decided for book club, I would try making a tart or as one of the very astute ladies in the book club pointed out, a galette. Again using the same plan as before, I made my normal pie crust using 2 cups of the Namaste flour blend and one stick of organic butter and adding 2 tablespoons of sugar. Then using the food processor, I add water by tablespoons until the dough begins to ball up. (about 6-7 tablespoons of ice water.)

I rolled this out on wax paper, carefully formed it in the tart pan and then popped in the fridge over night.

The hard part is rolling. This dough has no stretch. I normally get a double crust from this recipe when I use normal flour, but this same version using the gluten free flour blend is only going to yield one single crust. Gluten equals stretch.

Sliced apples the next day, layered them in the pan, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and dotted that with butter.

It looked so pretty.

Here is a before shot, just as I popped it in the oven.

and the after

The apples held up nicely, but released their juices, which blended with the sugar and cinnamon and butter to make a moist filling and the crust is perfect. The ladies at book club loved it and I thought it worked beautifully. My next step is to try for a real pie. I think I can do it. This flour blend seems to have what I need to make a short crust, which isn't crumbly.

So while you dream about apple tarts and apple pies and crisp, short satisfying gluten free pie crust, why not listen to American Pie by Don McLean. While this song is sad and wistful, I have always liked it. The gentleman at the market was singing it and L was dancing and that I think is the test of a classic, can it reach beyond the generation who created it? Does the music still resonate? Do we still think about it, even after he who created it faded from existence?

Kinda like apple pie??

30-Day Photo Challenge

2011-08-25T14:57:00.000-04:00

I am doing something fun and creative this September. A Photo Challenge. I know I am a writer, not a photographer but I love the idea and I need something to jump start my creativity! (Maybe I will write some poems to go with the photos. Who knows.)

Allison over at Show &Tell is sponsoring/hosting the challenge.

I will be posting daily photos on this blog. She also has a open flikr set up, the 411 on that route is here.

So hang on and let the clicking begin.

Music Monday: We Speak No Americano

2011-08-22T10:04:00.002-04:00

This week we are feeling light-hearted here on the Edge! Saturday night H and I went to L's Summer Showcase at her dance studio. It was out in the park at the amphitheater. If mosquitoes were fleshing eating bugs, my legs would resemble Swiss Cheese. Instead I look like I am having a repeat of the chicken pox.

The girls got to act as dancers and choreographers for this show. So much talent. These young women have talent and passion for their art.

A group of the older girls choose this new to me song and then they danced the hell out of it. The dance was well executed, fun and flirty.

I think this song is great and the various videos on You Tube are funny too.

Enjoy!

Yolanda Be Cool and DCup - We Speak No Americano

What's in a name?

2011-08-17T13:34:00.000-04:00

I recently discovered that others, who feel the same way about protecting their online identities and exercising their right to choose, how much, when, to whom and under what circumstances they will allow online intimacy to occur have started a new website to share their stories.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about my relationship with what has become known as pseudonymity. I referenced the Ting-Ting's songs - That's Not My Name. That post by the way was one of my most read posts in the history of this blog.

I urge you to go check out the website My Name is Me. There are some amazing stories being told. It is important for all of us to have the right to choose, when and how we choose to build intimacy in our day to day lives, both in person and online. Our world is very different now and it is not impossible to have a friend across the globe you have never met before. It is not impossible to build virtual communities.

For some people letting it all hang out makes sense to them, to others, like me, we are cautious for a variety of reasons. As I said before, it really is up to the person disclosing, where they choose to draw the line.

Music Monday: End of Summer

2011-08-16T14:47:00.000-04:00

I cannot believe summer is over already. Time flies. It was a good summer. E had some fantastic field trips with his Explorers group. He has looked forward to this for YEARS! Since his sister did it a few years ago.

L has done some camps and relaxed this summer. She is fun to have around the house. We have not gone swimming as much as she would have liked and we have not done ALL the fun stuff she wanted, but we did have some good times and it was truly the relaxed summer I wanted for her. The pressures of school are alot for little ones and I think having a time to relax and do what she wants to do, was very important.

So while on one hand I am looking forward to school and the regular schedule, I have to say, I am going to miss having the kids around...

So as summer fades to fall - all I can say is it has been a cool summer...

Music Monday: REM and Scropions and the tanking market

2011-08-08T16:56:00.001-04:00

REM - It's the End of the World as We Know It.

Scorpions - Winds of Change

I held off writing today, I was watching the stock market. Something I used to do all the time. Now I am a casual observer.

I hope everyone is happy now. Today most of you lost somewhere close to 6.6 % of your 401K's value (if you took an investment advisers advice and bought the Index fund - or buy the market), give or take a few basis points. (basis points, look it up, it is how bankers talk percentages.)

How many of you dear readers vote? How do you make that selection? With your mind or your heart. Is the financial solvency of this country as important to you as bullshit social issues that have no business being part of the legislative agenda? Is your family's financial solvency as important as those social issues. By my unscientific estimation more legislative energy goes into meddling in our bedrooms than into actually solving the very real financial problems staring us in the face.

The fact of the matter is as a nation we spend way more than we take in. It is simple as that. We exempt businesses from paying taxes, which I think is silly and frankly we must be one of the only countries doing that. making money in the US means paying your fair share. (Um, hello GE I am talking to you!)

Our nation's economy looks alot like the room featured in the REM video and I am willing to bet you that half of the Congress people couldn't find Gorky Park on a map and better than 3/4 quarters of Americans have no clue where it is either. (But I bet they can find the Jersey Shore and tell you the names of the whiny women on Desperate Housewives.) We are a nation of lazy, greedy, short sighted, individualists. No one wants to take responsibility for anything - and the Congress actually thought it would be ok going on vacation when they left the FAA unfunded. (And FYI the airlines had given themselves a 7.5% untaxed raise while collecting those un-legislatively collectable taxes) WTF? Vacation is a perk most of us have to earn, not an entitlement people. What happened to working harder there guys?

The debt crisis and the credit downgrade is no laughing matter people. We are a huge international player and we used to be the gold investment standard. Nothing was better than US treasuries. NOTHING. It has been a long time since I would have considered buying a US government debt instrument, for a lot of reasons.

I hope this sucker punch to your 401K accounts wakes you up. When you vote in November I hope you know who had your back when it came to minding the federal checkbook.

The Winds of Change are blowing indeed... I am thinking moving up wind or up North might be in everyone's best interest or better yet shit canning most of Washington, their bullshit and their obvious self interests... they serve at our pleasure and right now, I am 16 kinds of displeased.

Iceland Inspired: Traveling with Kids and the beauty of a guesthouse

2011-08-02T08:00:00.001-04:00

I know you want pictures, but it is my series and I am writing as things bubble forth, it will be worth the wait, I promise.

So L is almost 9 and E is 6. We have not stopped traveling but traveling is harder with young children. They have sleep schedules, nap times, grumpy times and short attention spans. There are limitations in terms of how much walking, looking, trekking and the like they are willing and frankly capable of in any given day. H and I spent many an afternoon in our hotel bathroom when we went to Germany the first time with L in tow, when she was 20 months old, in an effort to get her to take a nap. It was not fun, it made H very grumpy.

I will admit kids have crimped H and I's wanderlust just a bit. Or so I had thought. This trip, we all traveled well, managed to be sweet and even tempered and we had a great time. Part of this is the kids are older and I have learned how to manage them a bit better. One has to be realistic.

I knew I was in trouble on our honeymoon, when after weeks of stress, a long ass flight, lost luggage and some wacky timezone insomnia, we sit down by the pool, for a day of relaxation and tranquility pool side, H, five minutes in says to me, "I am going to go check out the other pool." Then 5 minutes later, "Maybe I will go for a swim." Five minutes later, "Are you really going to sit here all morning? Don't you want to go for a walk on the beach?" I finally said, "Do you want to go for a drive." That was the last time, the entire trip we sat by the pool. H is not a sitter. He is a doer. He likes to trek.

H treks with the strength and determination of a bull. This is a great thing really. One of the things I really love about him. Give him a map, point him in a direction and he can find anything. He is ready and willing to adventure. We did this on our first trip to Europe. We had some beginning points and end points and we made up the rest as we went along. We ask locals what they like, what do they think is worth seeing. We look through the guidebooks and free local papers. We are urban adventurers.

Little kids can make this sort of wandering harder. They want to eat at certain times, sleep at certain times and can be picky about food, sleeping conditions and the like.

For a while this was a confounding muddle, now I think I have worked some of the kinks, again some of it is the natural aging process and some of it is proper planning.

Sleep, I have found is the key ingredient to happy and manageable, agreeable children.

Behold the power of a suite. Sleep is also the key ingredient to happy and patient and unfrazzled parents.

My advice, spring for a suite.

(Also, I have to say, for me, given my food issues, a kitchen or access to a kitchen is a must. I jut cannot eat in a restaurant night after night, playing roulette with my tummy. Also I find that the kiddos do better with lunch out and dinner in.)

In Iceland, I found a Guest house with an apartment, which was like a suite. I found this by letting google do the searching. It was a total score.

Butterfly Guesthouse, centrally located, clean and breakfast is included. It was exactly what we needed and the owners were super friendly and helpful. There was absolutely nothing we did not like about this guesthouse. I would happily stay there again in a heart beat.

(this is from their website, in all 405 pictures I took, it never occurred to me to photograph the Guesthouse.)

I had a feeling going in, that this would be the best bet. Why you say? Because I got a good vibe from the email exchanges and the telephone call. I went with my gut and it was right on. It helps that H and I have stayed in many European guesthouses and we know what to expect.

I really cannot say enough nice things about Thuridur and Jon's charming guesthouse. It was super clean, there advice was top notch and they have a car available for rental also.

The kids felt at home and comfortable and it really was worth every penny.

We arrived late Monday night and their son met us, guided us upstairs and to my surprise and delight, there was milk in the fridge, a selection of cereals and teas. Perfect. The kids needed something in their tummies before we crashed after a long day of travel. This had been my concern about arriving late, but it turned out well.

We took Tuesday easy, allowing the kids to "sleep in" and then just had an unstructured day of grocery shopping and wandering. We were early to bed Tuesday night, thus getting ourselves easily on Iceland time. Sure we "lost" a day of trekking time, BUT the kids were manageable because they were well rested for the balance of the trip. H chaffs at this notion. He wants to see it all. With kids however - one must balance seeing it all with enjoying that which you do see. At least I think so.

Next Up - How we spent our amazing Wednesday!

Music Monday: Death Cab for Cutie LIVE

2011-08-01T09:18:00.002-04:00

This week I am featuring a band, who I have discussed before in one of my first Music Monday posts. I am re-featuring them, because last week I went to their concert. It was a last minute decision and I am so glad I made the choice to go, even though it might not have been the best thing to do before heading out on a 7 hour road trip. But then, it is about living life and not always doing the best thing.

If you want a professional type concert review, might I suggest you check this post out, which a tweep of mine wrote. (Casey's review is totally worth clicking thru, just sayin! You know you want to.)

For me, the tone deaf, musically clueless, it is less about the music and more about my own senses. I like music that makes me feel. If I am really honest, I am into the lyrics... what the song makes me feel. The musicality is secondary. That said, sometimes a collection of guitar rifs and thumping drums, do make my bones rattles and give me chills, but in general, I am no judge of musicality.

Therefore I have often had a love hate relationship with Death Cab. Musically I think they are great, lyrically, they often grab me by the heart and shake me. As I stood outside, on a relatively comfortable late July night, it hit me. Not only do I generally like their sound, appreciating the musical variety, I am in awe sometimes of the precision of their lyrics. I think their music is precise too, I think they are inclined to be musically perfect, but it is the overall economy of words and the precision of each word that keeps me coming back. This is not poetry of the ambiguous. This is pointed, sometimes sharp and sometimes sentimental. Always moving. This is music with a profound message, if you are willing to really listen. Sure sometimes there is a catchy tune, but that is just the hook, for those on auto-pilot, it makes for charming mood music, but if you listen with your heart as well as your ear, I think you will find an unexpected depth and soul.

I do anyway.

I found these clips on you tube! I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed last week's show.

And one of my favs.

The show made me think and I think there will be more poetry, more things to explore. What is music after, if not poetry brought to life.

Iceland Inspired: The one thing I did not like

2011-07-29T08:31:00.008-04:00

I decided you might think I was completely in love and that might make you think I was wearing rose colored glasses, if I only talked about how wonderful Iceland was, so I will get out of the way the one thing I did not like and actually, I feel this way about so many places I go.

Trinkets.

I try to shop locally when in my hometown, this desire does not go on hiatus when I travel. I can get cheap Chinese manufactured crap here at home. When I travel and want a souvenir, I want it to not just say the name of a particular place, I actually prefer it to be made there. I do not want a magnet made by Chinese children in a sweat shop embossed with the gold shiny words "Iceland." I understand that some people collect this sort of refrigerator liter, I am not one of them.

L and E do not really enjoy this about me, as they are attracted to the glitter snow globes with the lopsided gold words Iceland and they are mad about stuffed animals, but I feel strongly it is my job to raise discerning consumers and one cannot start this too early. While they protested a bit, I do think they are much happier now with their locally manufactured choices than yet another stuffed animal with the tag - "made in China" attached.

Sadly the bulk of what we saw in the tourist shops and the quasi-touristy shops fell into this category. Even the famous Icelandic woolens, if one is not careful are actually made in Nepal. One has to be very discerning. Ask questions too. I found that the sales people and shop keepers were willing to be honest about the place origin for the goods they were selling and buyer beware, much of the merchandise did not have a "made in ..." label, so you have to ask, if you want to know. It further seems to me and I am not certain this is the case, the shops which seem to be full of the tourist trap made elsewhere goods are also the shops which offer an automatic tax rebate, which is significant given the VAT is rather staggering verses American sales tax. I think this is probably based on volume, but the reality is government tax practices and tariffs or incentives encourages or discourages the type of behavior government wants to see and if you want to support local crafts people, stop offering the rebate on imported items. It really is that easy. (Just my free advise - oh Icelandic Parliament.)

I am pleased to report that at the weekend flee market, Kolaportið Flea Market, in downtown Reykjavík, does have some booths, which feature local Icelandic crafts people. L got a wonderful glass wall hanging which has actual soot and ash from the volcano inside. It is very cool.

I got a very nice pair of artisan made earrings, with polished lava stones.

The flea market had some vendors selling cheap plastic trinkets imported from everyone's favorite sweatshop and certainly some booths resembles someone yard sale. If you are willing to shop, you might be able to score a great Iceland woolen sweater or other hand knit item at a really reasonable price. As always, it is buyer beware.

Also check out one of the Red Cross shops or the Salvation Army resale shop. One can find a nice Iceland knit item there from time to time, we were told. There is also a children's charity woolen shop, which seemed to be closed more often than not and therefore we could not check it out, but our free tour guide suggested it.

As I took a walk one evening, I lucked out and found the nice little shop - Níu heimar / Nine Worlds. This shop features hand made items by local artists. Many of the items are tied to Norse mythology and Iceland's pagan past and present. I bought a few small items here. It is a joy to support local crafts people. Their hours are sporadic, so shop early and often, is my advice. I found them open on Saturday afternoon, which was our last day in Iceland. It was fortuitous indeed.

There were other little shops, off the main drag which we checked out and might have browsed a bit more, but this trip was not about shopping. I am mentioning this, so if you do fall in love Iceland as you read my series, and decide to pay Iceland a visit, you too can shop locally. I really think it is worth the extra money, if you choose to shop, to buy local. Supporting the local crafts people and artisans is invaluable.

Next week - My thoughts on traveling with older children and finding a place to stay.

New Series: Iceland Inspired

2011-07-26T12:30:00.004-04:00

I took so many pictures in Iceland. I was well and truly inspired. On so many levels. To do the trip justice, I am not going to be able to just write one quick post, the experience was more complex than that. The country, the scenery, the experience more complex than that.

I am not an inexperienced traveler, I have been all over German speaking Europe. I have been to the Caribbean. I have been to another volcanic island, Hawaii. I have been up and down the East coast of the US, all around Florida and many other interesting and beautiful places. Napa Valley, SanFran, NYC, Sleepy Bear Dunes in MI.

There was something very exotic and very exciting about Iceland. There was something magical about this being the first family vacation, where the kids really could experience it and could do more. No strollers and no naps to think about.

The experience has taken some processing, me thinking about how best to share it, how best to talk about the experience in a detached travel blogger sort of way and then how to explain and share how the experience touched me, changed me, inspired me. I feel energized as a writer after Iceland (maybe it was the act of taking a vacation, I don't know, I can't say.)

So I am going to do a multi-part series. I will tag it Iceland for ease of searching in the future. Please ask questions, understanding that I am writing this series as I go, based on an outline and will likely write some of it on the fly as the mood strikes me.

For now - look at one of my favorite pictures. I think it answers the question - Why Iceland?

Music Monday: The Ting Tings That's Not My Name

2011-07-25T11:17:00.003-04:00

The Ting Ting's That's Not My Name

As a matter of full disclosure, I have not and likely am not going to be checking out Google+ anytime soon. I am social media saturated and I tend to let others feel these new things out, before I invest too much time in these beta testing matters. If anyone has a compelling reason why I must hurry up and jump on the Google+ wagon, please do leave me a comment.

I absolutely love A V Flox's writing. She is a wonderfully insightful blogger on all sorts of topics. Put simply she could write about sock lint and I would eagerly read it many times over because she is a good writer. I also follow her on Twitter. This weekend she put a post up about Google+ suspending her account because it is not her real name. Shockingly she, like so many other writers, artists and performers uses a pseudonym. She is such a trend setter. Mark Twain was Samuel Clemons people. O'Henry was not his real name. Many of our favorite movie stars and television personalities are not using the name on their birth certificate. I don't use my real name on many of the things I have written and published elsewhere. Much of my very best work, is published under the name I picked for myself. I self published my poems under that name.

Here is the deal many writers and artists pick a name that reflects the person they feel they are when writing. They also do it to protect themselves, their families and that fragile creative kernel, from a variety of people. As A V Flox says, she started writing using another name to protect herself from her family's scorn. I renamed myself early in my writing career to keep things separate, to protect my kids, to separate out my writing into categories, which various people close to me might want to be reading. Not all of my writing is political, about my yarden or women in business topics. My poetry can get edgy. My writing can get dark or steamy or ranty. I am a multi-faceted diamond and my various personas separate the art, the creative work product accordingly.

I have written about this before but I think it bears repeating. Writing is incredibly intimate sometimes. Being an artist, a writer can be very tricky. I have had instances where "fans" or "followers" or "creepy stalker types" think they know the totality of me based solely on a piece of writing I have done or a small segment of my writing. They don't. You see what I am willing to share, in some respects it is highly, highly edited. BY ME. I decide what I am willing to share.

For me writing is mental exhibitionism. I actually do enjoy sharing with my readers what I am thinking and sometimes what I am feeling. I enjoy pushing certain buttons in my readers. I enjoy the feedback, I like that I can make you think, squirm, make you smile. Make no mistake, a good writer, someone devoted to their craft wants to form a relationship with their readers, but in the narrowly defined space of the written word. At the end of the day, however, I control what part or parts of me you get to see. Just because I am willing to write a post about same sex marriage or my yarden for that matter, does not mean you, my reader have the right to trample my privacy. My writing something you enjoy is simply that, an exchange, I enjoy sharing, you enjoy receiving and we go on about our day. Just because I write a poem, which is about romantic love, sex or something very titillating and moving, does not mean I am inviting you over. Even if you are an intimate or close friend, that poem may or may no be about you. It is a work of fiction, it is a creation, it is something I have done, either for the sheer desire to create, in reaction to some stimulus. It might well be a combination of many, many things, some past and some present.

For me, picking a pen name, was my way of controlling the levels of personal intimacy. This is very important to me. I have been, in my online creative world, more than once a bit scared and totally relieved that the creepy admirer knew only my writing persona.

So while on one hand I can see why Google+ would want people to use their "real names." The problem is 15 plus years into the Internet age, is my writing persona any different than the "real me" many of you know? Is Fern Micheal's any less a real writer, a real person, because the name on her birth certificate is different than one who has sold hundreds of thousands if not millions of beach reading paper backs.

At a certain point the writing persona, the artist persona, it is as much a "brand" as it is a name. Seeing something written or produced or designed or whatever the creative output is, there is a "branding" effect. When I think of Picasso I think of cubist reality and when I think of Monet, I think of soft colors and pretty flowers.

So to answer a tweet I saw last night, "What's the big deal about Google+ insisting on real names."

Well for some of us, in certain areas of our lives - That's not my name...

Music Monday: Bjork - Army of Me

2011-07-18T07:00:00.001-04:00

Bjork - Army of Me

It is safe to say - that many of you knew where we went on vacation. For those still in the dark (actually we went to where it is light nearly all day, everyday in the summer) Those in the know follow me on facebook and twitter. (hint, hint)

We went and stayed in Bjork's stomping grounds. Right - Iceland. Why Iceland, because I have have wanted to go there since I was about L's age and I fell in love with the pictures of Iceland in the National Geographic Our World coffee table book. They were so amazingly beautiful.

So when I learned the flight is just over 4 hours from NYC. I was sold.

As I believe in truth in writing, I am writing this post before our trip and scheduling it. Right now we are likely still in bed, as we got back very late last night. I am pre-writing. Later this week, I will upload pictures and give you all the scoop. I am hopeful that we loved the place as much as everyone says we will and that it is as beautiful as it looks online and in coffee table books. Hawaii was, when H and I went there on our honeymoon many, many moons ago. I think volcanic islands have that in common.

Stay tuned. But for now, amuse yourselves with another Bjork hit!

The Yarden in July

2011-07-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

It is the dog days of summer. Whew. Hot and humid city. The deer have mad a feast of our yarden of late. I told Snickers she is sleeping on the job, an accusation she vehemently denies. She might be right, she is more interested in the feathered friends, who visit our yarden.

Currently she has her eye on the brave little bird who has taken up residence in L's colorful tree house. H and I decided this little bird has brass ones or just likes to fly on the edge.

She has a beautiful little song, while we are happy to have her, I think next year we should add a sign that says "Nest at your own risk."

My glads are going to bloom and I bet I miss them...

I also have to say that despite the change from monsoons to hot, hot, hot, full sun for nearly 12 hours, our porch boxes look great...

We have an amazing display of cone flowers. So pretty. The bumble bees are happy too...

Speaking of bees, they really love this flower too... I got this one because the man at the garden center swore deer won't touch it and they don't. Take that deer. If Snicker's won't run you off, I just might cover the yard in foul tasting plants.

We also have an early blooming sunflower. I think this another of E's seedlings. He has a green thumb.

The day lilies are also beautiful this year. All over our community and in our yarden too. I thought this one was especially lovely.

We also have lots of volunteer squash and pumpkins. (We eat alot of squash people... and that means lots of seeds into the compose pile in the fall.)

Some blossoms but no fruit yet. Maybe in a few weeks...

The deer love sunflowers...

But seem to not like this one, so I think I am investing in some of this for around the garden for next year...

Or perhaps some of the hostas, which even though we split them last fall, have over grown again...

So there we are a lush garden and yarden this year... I cannot wait for the later summer flowers and perhaps some slightly less humid conditions...

And H could do without the abundance of this as well. His ankles and shins are covered, poor guy.

Music Monday: B is for Birthdays and C is Cookie

2011-07-11T12:00:00.002-04:00

Cookie Monster - C is for Cookie

It is my Birthday Week! Yeah Me! I love birthdays, your birthday, the kids birthdays, H's birthday (even though he refuses to celebrate) and just the idea of Birthdays! I really love my birthday...

So this week kicks off my birthday week! (Well two weeks really, as I have lots of loved ones who want to celebrate with me and I am not going to be around this year for my actual birthday... more about that in a moment.)

As a mostly gluten free vegan, who eats meat and noshes on goat and sheep's milk cheese, birthday cake is mostly, in my opinion, out of the question, as it resembles a mealy rock and it just don't taste like the cake I remember as a child.

I had all but given up on baked goods, at least baked goods that tasted like anything, until I met Carl, the owner of Rogue Bakery. Carl bakes cookies. I can't eat most of Carl's cookies - but you can and you should, he will drop them off at your house, crazy I know, but so crazy it is perfect. There is nothing like a fresh baked, hand delivered cookie, trust me. His cookie are creative and yummy!

Carl's birthday was this past weekend. Cool people have July birthdays. (Happy Birthday Carl!!!)

So - when I first met Carl he was carrying a large tray of amazing cookies. Cookies I couldn't eat. Carl and I were sad. Very sad.

So Carl decided to perfect the perfect me friendly chocolate cookie. It took some trial and error, but he prevailed.

Hello Chocolate Liberator!

(He also makes a spicy peanut butter cookie which is amazing. I mean super amazing.)

I can eat cookies again, really really good cookies. Gourmet, melt in your mouth, do not crumble, homemade cookies. Just like everyone else. In fact other people eat these cookies and like them and do not smile sympathetically and say things like, "well I guess it is ok, for bein gluten free..."

The Chocolate Liberator was liberating.

On Twitter I created the hashtag, #CisforCookie

And it is!

Now hold your horses, if and I am not being presumptuous, I am not asking you or even hinting that you surf on over to the website and order me birthday cookies. Although that is exactly what I did for E's friend birthday party, I ordered 3 dozen cookies, because they are way less messy than cupcakes, but that is a different matter all together. But back to me and my birthday, if you were to be so motivated, to order me some yummy, yummy Rogue Bakery cookies, I would be hard pressed to refuse them and likely would send you an electronic or hand written thank you note, but said cookies should not arrive until middle of next week. (like after the 18th...)

My birthday is always hot. Mid-July in Ohio is always warm to over warm. One year, when I was L's age my mother made me a cake and it melted, the frosting just plain melted and the top layer of the cake slide clean off the lower layer.

When I turned 17, in Germany, it was very cool. We ate cake and celebrated on my host family's terrace. It was lovely. I think I might have actually worn long pants. We ate a gooseberry and strawberry short cake. Yumm-o!

That year Germany was in the World Cup for Soccer. The final match was played around the 4th of July. I remember being in Bavaria on a trip and we were eating Chinese, in Germany, on the 4th of July and given the win, there were fireworks. It made me less homesick. My brother still has the T-shirt I got him commemorating the win.

Now why, you might be asking yourself is she talking about birthdays and cookies and then goes off on a tangent, about birthdays overseas. Has she lost her mind? (And no I am not that old yet!)

Long and short of it, the reason there will be about two weeks of my birthday this year, is I will be away, we take vacation when the airline says we can and it happens to be the week of my birthday. (Last year it was the week of L's birthday, what can I say, the airline has no regard for our birthdays.)

If you want to know where we went, check back next week for the big reveal. Until then, I highly suggest you go check out the Rogue Bakery website - because Cookie Monster is right - C is for Cookie that is good for me!!!

Music Monday: Beatles - Birthday

2011-07-04T08:05:00.000-04:00

I know - I wasn't here last week and this week is a drive by! Happy 4th of July! Stay safe while you and your neighbors try to blow each other up with explosives. I mean really roman candles are fun and all, but perhaps you should opt for the more traditional cake and candles. Beer and fire never mix, ba ba baoom...

I will spare you the civics lesson, but I will remind everyone, as a nation, a culture we are barely hitting our teens. As with all teenagers we are prone to an inflated sense of importance and are generally self absorbed.

That said tip your hat to those men and women, who have given their lives for your freedom. They have believed enough in freedom and the American way of life, to go to war and die. They fought for our freedoms, including my right to speak my mind on this blog.

Attention elected officials - get a clue - you are in service to the people at the peoples pleasure - it is high time you remember that... because on this great day, there are a great many of you, who I do not salute, who I think need a kick in the ass and so many of you make us as Americans look bad. While I am proud to be an American, I am ashamed to have you representing me in any way.

So go out, eat, drink and be merry! A birthday is a celebration of another year coming to pass and to all the future years yet to come. Today we will hit our communities parade and go to one of our favorite parks to see the fireworks.

Green, Green Yarden

2011-06-23T15:14:00.000-04:00

We are in the season, where the spring flowers have faded, died off, been cleared away. Now we are in what I call the green season. The bright summer flowers aren't quiet ready to appear and the abundance of rain we have had, has left us with lush, lush greenness. I suppose this is why annuals are so popular. They give you color through the entire season, but then summer is over, they are gone. It is a trade off, but I like steady dependability of perennials, so that is what we mostly plant. There are some bursts of color in the sea of green. Their bright colors make me happy, even on a cloudy day.

We seem to have suffered some deer damage, so I am posting this picture of our fierce attack cat, who apparently is sleeping on the job...

Snickers is such a dog. No really, she follows you around the yard, she will stand guard as you do whatever it is you are doing, she really is very friendly. She is partial to L, but very friendly with all of us. She is a great addition to the family.

We moved this from our other house, it is spreading nicely, and stays yellow until late July. I have no idea what it is called. The bees also love it.

These daisies volunteered. I planed some on the other side of the flower bed and the dear at them roots and all last year, but these appeared this year. Daisies are my favorite, I think their cheery yellow faces.

Our hostas are ready to bloom. H split them last year and I think they need split again. If you are local and want some, let me know, when we split them in the fall, they are all yours.

We have a lovely bunch of squash and pumpkins growing in the garden and in the compost pile. Some years we get fruit and others we don't but the leaves are great cover for all the kitchen waste.

Hopefully soon, we have blooms... and listen up deer, our cat has some made hunting skills, munchers beware...

Music Monday: Beatie Boys Intergalactic

2011-06-20T09:06:00.002-04:00

Beastie Boys - Intergalactic

You have to watch this video. It is completely campy and crazy.

But I think therein lies what I want to talk about. Being creative, being silly, being willing to enjoy something for the sake of enjoying it. Being willing to imagine, push the envelope. This video is a spoof on all the B-movies, which envision aliens and there is a bit of a Godzilla vibe. Imagination. We credit imagination as being childish or for those certain select few, the artists, the poets, the others. Imagination is not grown up (unless we call it innovation and then it is a 50-50 shot, is it grown up imagination or bullshit dressed up.) I say those who think imagination is only for children are those who are trapped and unwilling to push, unwilling to try. There is no age limit on imagination.

For those who know me, I am not a fan of the mindless film or slapstick or anything which resembles MTV's series Jackass, but that does not mean I am serious all the time. There is a time to be serious and there is a time to be lighthearted. What I am not lacking is imagination.

There is also a time to step outside of ourselves and challenge our notions. I have all but tuned out most traditional news outlets, in part because it makes me sad and angry. All this news is filled with hate and violence and there is no love or compassion. There is no willingness on the part of people, to take a deep breath and say, "wow, that is different from how I see it, but let's explore that..." there is no willingness on the part of other people to say, "wow that is how I thought we always did it, but look there are X number of people doing something else successfully, let's explore how that is possible." Let's explore and LEARN.

Instead of hiding behind notions of "that is HOW we have always done it" or "that is how GOD/ALLAH/JEHOVAH has said we must do it" let's consider that Galileo was told repeatedly the world couldn't possibly be round, because everyone knew it wasn't.

Looks round to me...

What if in the 50s and 60s, those scientists had defaulted to "oh, we could never land on the moon, humans have never been to the moon and that is just how it is suppose be."

(OK I will give you it is hard to tell in the space suits, but my guess is the guys dancing there, they are humans.)

The reality is we have to as people stop letting our prejudices and fears get in the way of seeing that we are all on this planet together, that there are real problems which must be addressed and when everyone is telling you that "is how we have always done it" it is because that person fears change or they fear the inevitable loss of power. Chains of power are both reassuring and choking.

Let's consider what some people more famous than I have said:

If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.
George S. Patton

People who lean on logic and philosophy and rational exposition end by starving the best part of the mind.
William Butler Yeats

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only at night.
Edgar Allan Poe

We imagine that we want to escape our selfish and commonplace existence, but we cling desperately to our chains.
Anne Sullivan Macy

My challenge to you is to take a minute and examine your beliefs? Are they yours or are they the ones someone else told you, you should have? Are you dreaming only at night. Have you given up on imagination? Are you too serious or important to imagine?

Is Patton right, is someone not thinking???

The answer, I doubt is Intergalactic Plan-a-tery.

An Inside Job - A look at how broken Wall Street is...

2011-06-15T09:33:00.001-04:00

H picked this movie and we watched it Sunday night. If you follow my Twitter Stream, you likely know I was pretty fired up. For those of you new to the blog, I worked for Merrill Lynch. I held a series 7 license (which is issued by the NASD - a self regulatory body) and I now have an MBA.

I have been critical of Wall Street and US corporate practices for years. Even though I used to read the Wall Street Journal and Barron's cover to cover, I had no idea, until I watched this movie, that many of the key players and architects of the 2008 Wall Street Meltdown, are now serving in President Obama's cabinet or on various economic counsels. They aren't in jail, which is where they should be, they are now, currently making money, writing rules or more correctly prohibiting rules from being written, which could realistically prohibit this kind of criminal conduct from happening again.

I remember listening to this interview with Obama during the blooming crisis and thinking, yes that is what we need. Finally, someone who is going to limit the fox guarding the hen house practices. I was wrong. He did nothing, actually he did worse than nothing, not only has our President not pushed for targeted reform, he has put in positions of power some of the key players, who either should have done more to prevent this implosion or who were active participants in the implosion, those who profited from the implosion, into key power posts.

Furthermore - one of the reasons this should be unacceptable to all of us, is WALL STREET is a rigged game. I will tell you how Lehman and Merrill and AIG, ended up with investment grade credit ratings of AAA and A2, it is because it is a secret society based on the you scratch my back, I will scratch your back. The regulators are FRIENDS with the heads of these investment banks, as the film points out, the cycle of regulator, to BIG NAME BANK POWER BROOKER, to BUSINESS SCHOOL PROF is a vicious cycle, throw in board member or two and you have profitable cycle for these clowns.

Just as the narrator in this clip points out, it was not true that the regulators were aware of this mess, they weren't aware because they weren't looking. They trusted their friendships and likely were grooming those friends for future personal gains, like jobs and board appointments when their stint as a public servant was complete. What was good for the US tax payer and investor was the last thing on their minds.

Now I am sure you are all wondering - what is a CDO or a CDS and why is Susan all upset that they were being rated AAA and why is this such a big deal.

I will tell you, or more correctly I will let this movie clip sum it up for you...

I used to work with some debt and here is the deal AAA is the best rating, CREDIT RATING (think credit score) a company or in the debt world - Issuer can get. Government securities are AAA. Investment grade paper is in the A ranges. Anything less than that and it gets riskier. Anything much less than a B, and it is junk... Not as in no one should buy it, but junk as in, it is low rated paper, HIGH SPECULATIVE. You might get rich with junk bonds, but you might also lose the entire investment. Junk Bonds are not for pension funds or little old ladies. Junk Bonds are alot like the roulette table in Vegas.

These credit swaps - were less than junk. They are crap. As the clip points out - the underlying mortgages were high risk mortgages, made to people, who were likely not going to be able to make the payments and with no equity in the house, it was like renting and they would just walk away. This is what happened. This is not a AAA rated recipe for investment success.

The entire movie made me hopping mad, but I honestly think this is one part that really made me crazy.

Credit ratings are NOT just OPINIONS. They are a basis for entire system of investment. They define what is salable to certain segments of the investing public. More than once I or one of my colleagues got called on the carpet for selling someone a bond, with a questionable credit rating, based on some industry agreed upon conventions. I mean in the manager's office, defending my choice. Once, the sale was voided and the lose in price from day one to day two came out of my paycheck. I have known brokers who have been fined or lose their jobs for selling customers securities, which were deemed unsuitable, based on credit ratings. They are not just opinions.

It is my opinion that these lying sacks of shit, should all be on a garbage barge in the North Atlantic. These Credit Swaps were a HUGE ponzi scheme and we threw Madoff in jail for life and in the grad scheme of things he was but a bank robber in a sea of what amounts to full on, systemic and planned fraud. Not one of the architects of this mass implosion, which was felt around the world, has gone to jail, gone to trial. Likely they are all still working on Wall Street in some capacity.

This is wrong. The feds took down Eliot Spitzer, I think, in part to shut him up. What he did was wrong, no doubt, but no different from what Wall Street power brokers have done for years. Is it really any surprise to anyone, that the defacto "red light distract" of NYC is so bloody close to Wall Street? The issue is Mr. Spitzer burned through his cache of power, while the Wall Street hot rods still hold all the power, up to and including the President of the United States of America.

Something must be done to prohibit regulators from moving into business schools, to corporate boards and high level investment bank positions, people who once held high level positions in investment houses have no business being regulators. It is a fraternity (with a few woman thrown in), with secret handshakes and armies of lawyers, who do not have the public's good at heart, they want to enrich themselves.

And we the tax payers - gave them more money to play with...

Music Monday: DJ Tiesto - Summer Jam

2011-06-13T08:23:00.003-04:00

DJ Tiesto, Summer Jam

DJ Tiesto is nka Tiesto. He is one of my favorite remixers. I am very much into House music and trance and electronica. H and I have built a couple very nice Pandora stations using Tiesto and Armin van Buuern as our spring board.

Summer is upon us, although the weather has shifted in the last 24 hours and is now very pleasant. We were experiencing high summer last week. It was nearly unbearable. I am not at all into hot and humid weather. It wears on me. We took the kids swimming on Thursday and I was exhausted after that. The sun leeches the get up and go out of me fast.

The kids finished up with the school year prior to the Memorial Day holiday and I was totally unprepared for this. I find the transition from school to summer very challenging. I am a creature of habit and now the schedule is different. L has opted to not do very many formal camps or activities and that means she is home during the day, which I both like and loathe. On one hand I enjoy having her around and on the other, I feel like I cannot get anything done. She looks to me to entertain her when her buddies are not around.

E has opted to do camp 3 days a week, which is good on one hand, but limiting on the other.

We have a pretty full summer. Both L and I celebrate birthdays in the summer. We are taking a family vacation to Iceland and the kids and I will be taking our first really long car trip to Washington DC. I plan to take the kids to Cincinnati, because IKEA and Jungle Jim's is calling my name.

We plan days at the pool at my mom's condo and hopefully some other fun stuff. The laundry still needs to be done and there will be days, as I told L last week, where it is not all fun and games. Groceries must be bought and bathrooms must be cleaned.

Some chores are simply more fun than others. We enjoy early morning trips to the big farmers market and Wednesday afternoons exploring our local farmer's market and CSA pick up. We enjoy trips to the library on our bikes.

I also hope to finish painting some shelves, getting the Laundry Room/Mud Room project officially finished and I want to recover the dining room chairs. I also have some sewing projects, I very much want to start and finish this summer. L and I also have some Mommy and me craft ideas lined up.

For me, it is about finding a balance. Getting the work accomplished and still having the time and the energy to enjoy the dog days of summer. All too soon, it will be back to school.

We are going to try to jam as much as we can... into our summer and not go crazy.

Shh... Yummy Peanut Butter Cups...

2011-06-08T14:50:00.001-04:00

So I am conflicted. I want to share this information with you because these peanut butter cups are really that good, but on the other hand, they are so hard to find and they have quickly become a favorite of mine, that if you all run out and buy them and eat them, there won't be any when I want them. (A solution to this is YOU buy some for yourself and some for me. As a gift, for me sharing this tip with you.)

So here they are:

Justin's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

They are yummy and completely me friendly. No tree nuts (which I am avoiding due to high Omega 6 levels), no dairy, no gluten, and no corn starch or corn syrup.

These babies are what a treat should be, simple, rich, sweet and delicious. I can honestly say, one is enough to satisfy a dessert craving. E loves them also, so I have to hide the opened package, if I realistically want to eat the other one later.

I can get these sporadically at Whole Foods. Justin's entire line of nut butters and peanut butter are pricey but so worth it.

(I have received no compensation for this review - but if anyone is motivated to send me dark chocolate peanut butter cups - I would not turn them down...)

Music Monday: Paramore - Decode (Unplugged)

2011-06-06T08:13:00.002-04:00

Paramore - Decode (Unplugged)

and as a bonus, here is

Paramore - Misery Business (Unplugged)

First of all the music. I especially like Paramore. I would like to see them, if ever they come to town again. All weekend I have been racking my brain trying to think about a song, which talks about unplugging and then it hit me, unplugged, more correctly, MTV Unplugged. I remember it from years ago and apparently they are still doing it. There is something so very intimate about a small stage, a small crowd and the nakedness of no musical tricks, big amps and mixers.

I got a new shiny sparkly iPhone this week. The white one. I also got a smart black and white checkered case for it. I have decided after much hemming and hawing that I am an Apple girl. I have tried PCs, both by choice and because that is what the brokerage house had on my desk and honestly, Apple is better. It just is. I think they make a better laptop to be sure. I also think they make gadgets for the end user who wants to go and not have to over think it.

I am a tech girl. I am not afraid of tech, I like it. I have been embracing new technology most of my adult life but only if it enhances my life. In college, during the summers I stayed in Oxford, I kept in touch with H and a few other friends via email. The old fashion way. I had to go to the computer lab in the basement of the science library. It was dark and loud, dot matrix printers printing furiously.It was mainframe based and a total pain. It was also faster than snail mail from a small town.

My host brother and I stopped faxing at this point, which had seemed very techie and way faster than international mail. Email made the world faster and smaller.

As we approached our senior year of college, the Internet was taking root and I was emailing from an apple desktop unit and I had traded in my typewriter for a computer. I had a cute case for the 3 inches hard disks. I wrote my senior honors project on H's computer, only back then there wasn't enough memory to handle the photos, so I had to do it the old fashion way. Now, I seldom, if ever print pictures. My snapshots all collated on a flash drive, as jPeg files.

Imagine my surprise, when I went to temp at the brokerage firm, only to see it was a huge step back. They did not have email - at all. They had IBM 240 or some such old fashioned machines, with crazy bad graphics and green screens. Nothing like the beautiful Apple 2e H had at home. I wrote rejection letters and other letters on a typewriter. It was sad. It was a few years before this changed.The change was a big deal and honestly, it was a nice upgrade, but still way behind anything I was doing at home on our Apple.

When Palm Pilots became the thing, I gladly traded in my bulky Franklin Planner. The sleek Palm was way easier to haul around. After my first over sized cell phone, I went for a flip phone and loved it. It actually fit in my pocket. Then I combined the Palm Pilot and the phone and had the dual Palm/Phone combo.

H and I tried Vonage and aside from some spotty service, we loved the VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol.) Our cable is currently bundled with our phone service. We are wireless and I have a PC laptop, but when it dies I am returning to the world of Apple. I think the PC is clunky and as much as I love technology I love it to work. I do not want to massage it. I am happy having someone else decide how it should work. I feel no need to customize. I want to plug in, work, be done and go. I want technology to work for me and NOT the other way around. I am, at the end of the day, an end user.

So image how sad I was last week. I was bouncy happy as we left Verizon, my brand new iPhone in hand. Only to discover my business email, the one that is through my website, just would not work on the iPhone, no matter how I tried to stand on my head. I spent 1.5 hours on the phone with tech support and then made a special trip back to Verizon on Friday. As we left the store, L said: " Oh Mom, just get a new email address already and be done with it." Rolling her eyes in complete exasperation.

At first I thought, no I want this to work. Later in the day, I decided she was right. Really, I want my friends to be able to find me, but with the advent of Facebook and the related apps, Twitter and the related apps and text, is email really that important. I have my personal email on the phone and it functioned just fine. My business is purposefully slow at the moment, why was I hung up on adding an email addy, to my new phone, which basically collects twitter and facebook notices. I have apps for that.

That got me thinking about all the SPAM and then the email clutter I get. None of it is important. I don't read it, I spend so much time trashing this virtual crap. Why not just be done with it. Unplug as my friend K joked as we took a bike ride the other day.

Is it really necessary to be so plugged in?

Was I working for technology or was technology working for me.

H texted last night and asked me what the verdict was on my iPhone - and I told him I was keeping it. I love it and I do. Why wouldn't I? I love my iPod touch. I have learned the system, I know about the apps, I have my music, my phone, and everything all in one. I am on the VZ network, no more looking and hoping to find free wi-fi. The iPhone loads faster than my Blackberry. Has a way better functionality. Does more and links up to the Apple desktop.

So while Paramore is singing about a man, I think this transition from my crackberry to iPhone has helped me decode, what it is I need or want in terms of connectedness and my ability to interact with the world around me. As I commented on a friend's blog post, sometimes we have to clean our virtual closets in the same way we clean our regular closets. It is easy to get overwhelmed by information and various information delivery systems. Some days I feel over-saturated with information.

I also think that technology can be Misery Business. Just as in the song, it can "hook us by the mouth" and keep us "right where it wants us." It is easy to drown in the sea of information around us. So powerful the Internet and also so uncontrollable if we lose sight of the fact that it is up to us to control it and use that information on our own terms. We are the brain behind the smart phone.

So for a while last week, I felt that my smart phone had in fact made me dumb, however today, I realize it might have been the kick in the pants I needed. I had been drowning in useless information, which I ultimately control. My smart phone is a tool, it works for me, not the other way around.