Angels on the Christmas tree

I should have answered more questions!

Whoa! Now THAT is a surprise. Be wary, I guess!

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Quiz snagged from Kwizgiver.

Word Game

This site has a nifty little word-a-day game. Could be addictive.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Memorable :: Occasion
Resolution :: I need more willpower before I touch a resolution
Goal :: I might come up with a couple of goals for the new year
2008 :: The best is yet to be
Sensational :: Fantastic!
Popular demand :: Back by
Old :: New
Music :: soothes the savage beast
Intense :: Focused
2007 :: another good year

Your Favorite Tree Stories

I had a leeettttle problem with my tree this year. What is your favorite tree story from your past? Come on, I betcha got a good tale or two?!

Awww...thug with a heart

Awww...thug with a heart
Originally uploaded by wash52121

A truth. I missed getting back to the blog until now. For all of you celebrating the holiday, I hope it was magical and full of love. For those of you not celebrating, I hope your day had love in it also.

Whee!

Well, the snow from last weekend is ALL gone!!! Oh there are bits and pieces where it was plowed, or where it is in shade, but we are back to green. This is typical for mid-Michigan.

We have a huge south-west wind blowing today. Winds always agitate my girl cat. She's out on the porch. Then she wants to come in. Then she races around the house, literally climbing the walls in a couple of places.

I've been a little under-the-weather lately (typical for the holiday season, grrr). Doing better today.

And how are you?

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Health :: a good thing if you have it
Tacky :: Most of the presents I get for people! either tacky or . . . cheesy!
Heels :: High
Yay! :: Cheer
Model :: Airplane
Gather :: Together on Christmas Day
Best gift ever :: A toy spinning wheel
Clients :: Customers
Stomp :: A dance?
Clothing :: Need a lot this time of year

City Hall

Happy Holidays from my town to yours!

Whew! It's Wednesday

Woke up thinking it was Thursday. I am soooo happy that it is only Wednesday. Happy Hump Day!

Merry Christmas from Marlene

She's about 70 years old, and slated for a visit to the doll hospital in 2008.

A Little Bit of Snow Yesterday

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Interview:: New job
Army :: Air Force
Unwrap :: Presents
Evolve :: Entropy
Bus :: Stop
The real thing :: What is real? What is perception? What is?
Streak :: Run naked through the park
Gorge :: Canyon
Spicy :: Meatballs
Course :: Class

We're All This Way at Christmas, I think!

Your Holiday Personality is Caring

You like to reach out to people all year long, but you're especially giving during the holidays. Make those you love homemade presents (like cookies or scarves). Call someone who might be feeling a little down. Give to your favorite charity.

How Should You Spend the Holidays?

From the 2004 Archives . . . same result!

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas. Which is much more important to you than nifty presents.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

Christmas around the World

Click through for the links to the flickr photographers.

12 Days of Christmas

Check out Rebekka's here.

Technorati

Do you use technorati?

Technorati Profile

A new Tradition?

Seventeen years ago Mom had us plant Christmas trees out at the farm. They grew like Topsy, without much supervision. We're harvesting the giants little by little, and plans are underway to add new trees next spring.

Picture is of my niece and husband, with their baby's first Christmas tree!

Sunrise - Sunset

Tables can be found here.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Master:: and Commander
Tour :: Europe
Input :: Output
Downtown :: Uptown, Old Town, REO Town
Pricey :: Expensive
Acceptable :: Okay
Terrace :: Patio
Sunday :: Today is!
Payoff :: Winnings
Jack and Jill :: Went up that hill!

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful

While it still, technically, is fall, we've been experiencing very winter-like conditions. We haven't been able to get above freezing for five or six days now. Tomorrow we may have warmer temperatures, but the forecast also calls for snow, rain, AND sleet. The joys of living in Michigan!

Snowglobes

I love snowglobes. I have several. Roscoe found a really special one here.

Contact with the Amish

The next township southwest of me has a large group of Amish. I enjoy driving through the countryside, seeing their simpler processes for farming. Many of the roads in that township are dirt, which is good for horse-farming.

A couple of weeks ago I saw a sign that pointed to an Amish Gift Shop. I had to stop. I only looked that day, but came back this morning for some purchases, including a child-size rocker for the great-nephew and niece to use. The store is interesting. They do have a phone, as they need a line to do bankcard transactions. The lighting is via skylights. Many of the "gift" items are not made locally, and some are not even Amish-made. The pricing is extremely fair. Mark-ups must be much different in their culture.

Hat sizes for men appeared to stop at about 7 3/8. I wonder if large-headed men can special order the dark dress hats? There was an aisle of material for clothes-making, all plain colors with a lot of black. There were some hand-made baby items on consignment in that area, all adornment free, and nursing blankets that were very interesting looking.

The mother-daughter duo who waited on me were very cordial. I asked a few questions about the Amish and their Christmas customs (they do celebrate with gift-giving and a few simple decorations, no trees) and the mom was kind about answering them.

Cultures meet with commerce.

Perfect New Business in Town

Saturday I went to Old Town to shoot pictures of the "Dickens" Christmas. I also had another objective in mind: checking out Perspectives2, a photography studio site where you can rent the studios. I had heard about it from a couple of sources, and wanted to see it for myself. They are very friendly, took visitors for a tour, and the upshot is that I signed up for six months and attended a class on Monday night on how to digitally take pictures of old pictures. Two most helpful hints: 1) place old photograph on black surface (black velvet works best); 2) for shooting negatives, process in Photoshop and hit inverse. Magic. The instructor was pushing Picasa also as a great free tool.

Good Saturday Morning!

I've missed you! I'm in the middle of big projects at work: a mass mailing, complete physical inventory with adjustments to all trucks and warehouses, prep for end of year, all that good stuff! Long hours, lots of time looking at a computer screen, so when I get home, I tend to . . . crash! I've been peeking at everyone, but not having much time to comment or play. I'll try to catch up some this weekend!

Are we in the Christmas spirit yet???

But I LIKE Socks!

You Are Socks!

Cozy and warm... but easily lost. You make a good puppet.

What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

Snowball Fight

One of the great things about snow is . . . snowball fights. They can be memorable. Here you can play, no matter what your season. You will need shockwave.

Puzzle time

If you have a few minutes.

Christmas Carol in Old Town

Old Town is the oldest section of Lansing. It's a resurgent area, recently winning IKEA's small business contest. It's the home of many small shops and galleries. Saturday they staged a Victorian Christmas. One never knew who one might meet coming down the street.



Click through for links to individual pictures.

A Flickr Artist

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a special area. Flickr Artist Kim Foos captures it well here.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Music :: soothes the savage beast, soul
Insanity :: Nuts
Curtain :: Stage
Nickname :: Shirts
Container :: Package
Roast :: Turkey, Beef
Thong :: a very complex word
Purple :: Royal
Holidays :: Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving
Christmas tree :: Gonna be another fresh cut one this year

Happy December!

And tear another page from the calendar . . .

I was sick Wednesday early morning (2ish, wouldn't you know), so I called in at 7:00 and said I would be in at noon. I crawled back into bed for some quality sleep. Shortly I heard voices. Real voices. Outside my bedroom window. Huh?

Then I remembered. The split tree on the north side of the house was coming down. Mom had wanted to remove it when I first moved in. "It's picturesque," I argued. But it was also dying, and threatened not only the laundry room roof but the maple tree and the magnolia bush that Hann once told me she wanted to get married beneath. Well, geez, that wouldn't do.

Pictures make it easier to say good-bye.



However, tree removal meant bye-bye to any power restorative sleeping! Oh well.

Can It Be?

Thursday already? Wow.

And, sigh, once again I didn't do NANO. I guess the one time I finished was kind of a fluke. *sigh*

The Obligatory Orange Hat Shot

Once hunting season starts, the orange hat goes on whenever I'm working in the yard. Laugh all you want!!!!

Black Friday

I didn't think I was going to do it this year. I was a bit tired from the Thanksgiving preparations, and my leg is still bothering me from the fall. But brother Boo called Thursday and said, "are you going?" And niece Violet asked at the dinner if I was going. What can an old aunt do?

So Boo called at 3:37 a.m. Friday morning and we rolled out. Three cars converged from three different directions at the mall. We've never done mall stores first, but Jacques Penet was open at 4, so that was the first hit. It was so busy, with such long lines wending through the store, that Opal left her pile of stuff for later. We then got in line at Old Navy. They were giving MP3 players with $20 purchase. They finally came out and gave wristbands, which eased that line. Boo and two of the girls went to get in line for the Mall goodie bags. Violet and Glory got the best of that deal, with gift cards, freebies and other good stuff.

We left the mall about 7:30 a.m. and stopped for breakfast. Ruby had to work at the pharmacy at 9:00, so Boo dropped her off. We continued to Target, and found some more good deals. By then, old auntee was getting kind of pooped, so I bid the merry crew good-bye and came back for naps and clean-up before heading to my mother's for the evening's get-together. One of Boo's girls had been up for 24 hours before she quit. Yikes!

The economy, while nasty here in our one-state depression thingee, can't stop the shoppers. It looked to me as if the post Thanksgiving turn-out was strong. I suspect that's a good thing.

and so it was Thanksgiving!

This was my second year of hosting our family Thanksgiving dinner. I still need a LOT more practice. Martha Stewart I'm not. My mother I'm not. Dinner was 37 minutes late (dang potatoes) but my dear family puts up with old aunt Owwee, and I do believe a good time was had by all. I hope yours went well.

We had two babies at this celebration. One was 4 weeks old, the other ten months. Don't you think babies add a lot to a party?? Caleb, the ten months, got on very well with my Snuzzles cat, even using him as a pillow for a little while.

Great memories.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Filthy :: dirty rotten
Therapist :: analyst
Duck :: Goose
Slant :: handwriting
Artist :: creator
Lease :: rent
Wish :: list
Doormat :: Welcome
Global :: Warming
Apartment :: complex

Things are starting to slow down a bit now . . .

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Just popping in to wish all of you who celebrate a Happy Thanksgiving, and those who don't have a great day! I've got two birds in the oven, gotta finish cleaning and then start peeling spuds. Thirteen adults and two babies coming. Yay!!!

Do you Apron?

Some Vintage ones here. Do you use them?

I don't know who this is?

Sets to Visit on Flickr

The creativity and skill shown on flickr impresses the heck out of me. Three of my flickr friends are doing one object/one day projects.

VFM4's Ele the Elephant Set is here.

Phone sex

Phone sex
Originally uploaded by jsarcadia

And another must see set is the adventures of Julie's phone.

Gallagher

Gallagher
Originally uploaded by dianeofarcadia

The Delightful Gallagher files are a must-see when you visit flickr.

Another Silver Bells in The City!

c

Touchdown, MSU!!!!

New Year. New Coach. New WINNNING season! I was at the game. Penn State v Michigan State, two venerable old land-grant colleges. Always a great game, always cool to see old JoePa pacing the sidelines. Penn State has great fans, fun fans, and one year, the dude ahead of us was funny and looked like Mel Gibson. (My nephew doesn't remember that, but I shirley do.) We were down for most of the game, but came back in the end to win it.

Look out next year Big 10!

I am hoarse today.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Toasty :: warm
Allegations :: charges
Herb :: Uncle, spices
Bacon :: breakfast, bring home the
Neck to neck:: close
Simon :: says
Heels :: shoes
Fundamentals :: basics
Middle :: of-the-road
Seasonings :: spices

Watch Those Steps

Public Service Announcement:

With the cold temperatures, watch those steps! There could be ice or slippery stuff on them.

Tuesday morning was cold here. I stepped out onto the back steps. I smelled a whiff of skunk, ick, so I did a visual check to make sure the critter wasn't around. Seeing no sign of the critter, I took a step and found myself sitting down, my left leg caught underneath me. The steps were slick with frost. Having been recently painted *sigh* didn't help their slippery factor.

Ended up with what I'm calling a pulled muscle in my leg. Caned it around work on Tuesday, rested it Tuesday night, and we're doing fairly well now. Have to, because tonight is Silver Bells in the City and tomorrow is the Penn State football game, for which we have tickets. Oh yeah. Better put those in my purse now.

Be careful!

Burnished Autumn

Going to Market

There is a large Amish settlement in the township southwest of me. Saturday I was out driving, and I found an Amish farmer working a field with a team of six, but I got bashful about taking the horses' pictures. *sigh* So I had to settle for this horse. The intersection of M-43 and M-66 is a busy corner, and all through the summer and early fall there is an Amish baked-goods stand here. Yummy. I bought some molasses cookies. Old fashioned, soft, just right.

The Bread Box

The breadbox belonged to Grandma, and she passed it down to her grandkids the year we lived with her on the farm. We used it in our clubhouse, which was the milkhouse.

My brother had kept the breadbox, but brought it back to the farm earlier this year. I think it fits well in our newer clubhouse, the chicken coop.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Treadmill :: Exercise, rat race
Stroke :: Swim
Exclusively :: Only
Lash :: Tie-up
Red carpet:: Treatment
Credit card :: Too handy
Points :: Finger jab
Domestic :: Goddess
21 :: 18
Inject :: Give a shot

Can I be first???

Susan found a lot of Lolinator Stuff!

From susan-on-the-other-side-of-the-world I snagged the Lolinator, which looks at your blog and, well, this is how my heading would look:

i moved 2 country . . . where grass iz green… snow iz whiet… coyotez howl… soil iz rich… wind always blows. come along wit me as i settle in2 paradise.

Go check out susan's place for the links!

Tien Made Me!

List out your top 5 birthday presents you wish for:
1. Grandpa's Tractor (It's down the road a mile.)
2. New Camera DSLR
3. Outdoor camera with sensor so I can get night shots of the critters at my apples
4. A puppy (and someone to train it)
5. Money!

The person who tagged you is?
Tien, Legend of Miracles

Your relationship with him is?
Blogging buddy for a good many years now.

Your 5 impressions of him:
1. Smart
2. Creative
3. Caring
4. Great Writer
5. Egalitarian

The most memorable thing he had done for you?
Sent me a Christmas card last year. And I didn't get mine out!

The most memorable words he had said to you
a poem he wrote after another blog friend passed away

If he becomes your lover, you will?
be long distance, and December - May

If he becomes your lover, things he would have to improve on will be?
teleportation?

If he becomes your enemy, you will?
That would never happen

If he becomes your enemy, the reason will be?
That he had a complete personality change

The most desired thing you want to do for him now is?
Send fond wishes that he will do very well on his exams.

Your overall impression of him is?
Kind, caring, funny, a writer, talented

How you think people around you would feel about you?
uhhhhhh. uhhhhh. What's she gonna come up with next?

The character I love most about myself is?
I like people

On the contrary, the character you hate of yourself is?
I get my feelings hurt too easily

The most ideal person you want to be is?
a farmer. I guess I'll have to settle for a wannabe

For people that care and like you, say something to them:
Come visit me at the farm!!!

For people whom I’ve hurt:
I'm sorry.

Pass this quiz to 10 people whom you wish to know how they feel bout you:(In no Order of Merit)

Can't do Susan-on-the-other-side of the world, because Tien also tagged her. Hmm.
1. Diane
2. Julie
3. Susan in NC
4. Roscoe
5. Kim
6. Patti
7. Kathryn
8. Cindy
9. Bryn
10. Frank

1.Who is no.6 having a relationship with?
Her Wonderful Husband Buck

2.Is no.9 a male or female?
Female

3.If no. 7 and 10 are together, would it be a good thing?
They would make a good match.

4. How bout no. 8 and 5?
They both have wonderful artistic eyes, so I would say yes.

5.What is no.2 studying about?
She studies everything. And she reads everything. And she teaches.

6.When was the last time you had a chat with no.3?
We check blogs back and forth several times a week!

7.What kind of music band does no.8 likes?
you know, I don't know. I do know she likes Dancing with the Stars!

8.Does no. 1 has any siblings?
Yes

9.Will you woo no.3?
as a good friend!

10.How bout no.7?
Same answer.

11. Is no.4 single?
Yes. The way he likes it *smile*

12.What is the surname of no.5?
Walker

13.What is the nickname of no.10?
I do not know.

14. What is the hobby of no.4?
Chess, Comic Books, Photography, Writing

15. Do no.5 and 9 get along well?
Unless they have telepathy, no.

16.Where is no.2 working at?
The best bookstore in the world!

17. Talk something casually bout no.1?
Super-Mom to five, amazing photographic and writing skills, big heart, still hurting, but getting stronger every day

18.Have you tried developing feelings for no.8?
Yea, it’s call friendship

19.Where does no. 9 lives?
Nova Scotia

20.What color does no.4 likes?
Black

21.Are no.5 and 1 best friends?
Not best, but they are good friends

22.Does no.7 like no. 2?
Yep!

23.How did you get to know no. 2?
The Kevin Costner Yahoo Group *grin*

24.Does no.1 has any pets?
cats

25.Is no.7 the most sexiest person in the world?
Why sure!

Okay, this was quite the quiz, Tien. But I'm up!

The Legend Lives on

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they called 'Gitche Gumee'
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty.
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early.

The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
With a crew and good captain well seasoned
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ship's bell rang
Could it be the north wind they'd been feelin'?
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the captain did too,
T'was the witch of November come stealin'.
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the Gales of November came slashin'.
When afternoon came it was freezin' rain
In the face of a hurricane west wind.

When suppertime came, the old cook came on deck sayin'.
Fellas, it's too rough to feed ya.
At Seven P.M. a main hatchway caved in, he said
Fellas, it's been good t'know ya
The captain wired in he had water comin' in
And the good ship and crew was in peril.
And later that night when his lights went outta sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Does any one know where the love of God goes
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?
The searches all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
If they'd put fifteen more miles behind her.
They might have split up or they might have capsized;
May have broke deep and took water.
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters.

Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion.
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams;
The islands and bays are for sportsmen.
And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her,
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the Gales of November remembered.

In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed,
In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral.
The church bell chimed till it rang twenty-nine times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call 'Gitche Gumee'.
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early!

Gordon Lightfoot's The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Green Up Your Sex Life????

From the Boomer Chronicles, we follow a link to How To Green Up Your Sex Life.

Gives new meaning to "Go Green!"

November Depression

I have a little trouble with November Depression. This is a lifelong thing. I remember the first episode when I was twelve and decided to give up reading because I thought it was making me depressed. (That didn't last, hahahahaha.) When I was sixteen, my folks dosed me with geritol because I was lethargic in November. (Do they still make Geritol? Why, yes they do! And as I follow those links, did you know that Geritol had been touted in the rumor world as an aid to fertility? I saw it in some of the google listings, but GlaxoSmith specifically denies that rumor here.) As an adult I still get shades of it. Nothing serious, just lethargy. I visited y'all, but I was just too pooped to comment much or to post here. But it appears it is fading now, so here I am!!!

I googled November Depression, and found this delightful blog, which isn't being updated much, but still gave me a smile.

I'm off to visit you, and if my silly dial-up will allow, make comments. Susan, I am so jealous of you!!!!

A Bit of New England in Michigan

Sigh. I'll Never Get Rich!

My blog is worth $9,597.18.
How much is your blog worth?

And I Hope I Can Find the Holiday Jones Sodas!

You Are Smoked Salmon Pate Soda

Tasting like fish ain't so bad!

What Jones Holiday Soda Are You?

And For Thanksgiving:

You Are Mashed Potatoes

Oridnary, comforting, and more than a little predictable You're the glue that holds everyone together.

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

What Part of Fall I Am

You Are Changing Leaves

Pretty, but soon dead.

What Part of Fall Are You?

Country Church/School

Kingdomality

Your distinct personality, The Discoverer, might be found in most of the thriving kingdoms of the time. Your overriding goal is to go where no one else has ever gone before. Regardless of the number of available natural problems to be solved, it is not unusual for you to continually challenge yourself with new situations or obstacles that you have created. You are an insatiable explorer of people, places, things and ideas. You thrive on constant change and anything new or different. On the positive side, you can be creatively rational as well as open minded and just. On the negative side, you might be an impractical and indecisive procrastinator. Interestingly, your preference is just as applicable in today's corporate kingdoms.

This was a cool little personality test, found by way of Kwizgiver.

My Little Town

I was tagged by Julie: of course there are rules: answer the questions, tag 5 people and then go off on your travels to their hometowns. The hardest part is that you can only give one answer for each of the questions. No ties, which sucks.

At first I was going to do Lansing, MI, but then I thought, no, let's do Grand Ledge:

Best place to eat. Sweet Linda's Cafe. Sit in the window and watch Main Street, or sit at a table and admire the photography.

Best shopping mall. Lansing Mall is the closest. Part of it was originally the farm where my grandpa grew up, so it is the sentimental favorite.

Famous Landmark. The Ledges on the Grand River, for which the town was named.

Best tourism attraction. The Ledges and the three parks that showcase it: Fitzgerald, Climbers Ridge, and the Islands.

Best place for kids. Fitzgerald Park's Skate ramp.

Popular outdoor activity. Farming. What can I say?

Breathtaking view. The big tractors out in the field harvesting!

Let's see. Tag five, eh? I would like to tag Roscoe and Kathryn and Kim and Tien and Ali!

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Assets :: Bank
Concern :: Care
Over the top :: Exuberant
Supplies :: Office
Mustache :: Facial Hair
Doug :: my cousin
Coach :: Football, Mark Dantonio
Bleachers :: Football
Stripes :: Helmets. Oh. I think I'm stuck on Football here. MSU lost to UofM yesterday. *sigh*
Assortment :: Halloween Candy

Saturday Morning

I spent Friday night at Mom's for our every other week old movie night. This week was The Call of the Wild. Sad movie.

I headed home about 10:00 am this morning. Gorgeous fall day, so did some sight-seeing.

On Line for Caroline

Caroline Kennedy was in town Friday at the Schuler Book Store to sign copies of her new book, a collection of Christmas stories. She was there from 11:00 to 2:00. I really wanted to see her. Hmmm. How could I pull this off? And then it hit. I exchange gifts with the boss's wife. (I used to housesit for them, and we got in the habit.) Last year she gave me Kennedy's collection on Freedom. I would get this for her for Christmas, if the boss would let me go. And of course he did say go! In fact, when I hadn't left by 10:25, he said . . . get out of here.

So I got to the bookstore at about 10:45. Ohmygoodnessgracioussakesalive. The line was out the door. It went to the corner of the store. It went along the east side of the building, to the end, and snaked around the back. What had I got myself into?

What indeed. It turned out to be a wonderful time on line. The mother-daughter behind me were a lively pair. The daughter had been named Jacqueline, after Jackie Kennedy. She was born in 1964. I could relate. My brother Dan, born in 1965, would have been Jacqueline if he had been a girl. We spent a lot of time chatting about the powerful visual images of those awful days in November 1963, and about the strength Jackie conveyed.

We were told that there were already 250 people INSIDE the store. Oh my. I called my boss, but he said, have fun! And as my line companions were so interesting, I stayed the course.

There was a couple ahead of us. The man would bring his wife Starbucks, would go check on the line, things like that. He came back sheepishly after one excursion. He had sat down on a bench outside the front of the store. Security approached him. What are you doing? Um, sitting on the bench, isn't that what they are for, he returned. Security wasn't amused. Apparently there had been threats against Caroline. They asked him what was in his pocket (he had a sweatshirt with a front pocket) and he had to slowly remove his cell phone. Yikes!

The bookstore staff plied the line with cookies and mulled cider from "The Kennedy Cookbook". The question came up: do you think Jackie baked cookies with the kids?

It was 1:20 before we entered the store. The doorwatchers said we were 35-45 minutes away. Would we make it? We had been told she had a fixed 2:00 p.m. quitting time as she had a plane to catch. I hadn't purchased my book yet (you had to get them there) but we were told they were up by where Caroline was signing. The bad news: as they were trying to push the most people through, those of us who had not purhased a book could only get one. Oh well, that's all I really needed. However, the wonderful mom/daughter duo actually offered to GIVE me one of theirs. See what sweeties I had met? And Jackie did invite me to her cookie exchange.

Caroline looks very fragile and frail, though I'm sure she is not. She was very gracious, even though we were among the last to get our books signed.

And coincidentally, "Camelot" had just opened at the Wharton Center in East Lansing.

Okay, this was way too much, but I wanted to mark the moment.

See ya!

Today's Word

Your word for the day is jentacular (jen-TAK-yuh-luhr) adjective.

What does it mean?

Only One More Day

Whack a Wolverine

Just what I needed to satisfy my football depression.

The Question Has Been Raised

What do you do with your pumpkins after Halloween?

Autumn

Cookies!

swiped from Kwizgiver.

A Great Vocabulary Quiz

Like words? Think your vocabulary is pretty good? then head here, where your playing will bring contributions of rice to starving countries. Go ahead. . .

Yes. I am.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Inaugural :: Address
Pledge :: Allegiance
String :: Instruments
Trot :: Fox
Fitness :: Physical
Cinder :: Block
Edge :: of Night
31 :: Baskin-Robbins
Blue :: Lagoon
Leather :: Jacket

Go Green!

And at the half it is Michigan State University 17, Iowa 3. We do need this win.

Edit: Oh gosh, I really wish I hadn't said that. It's the end of the third now, and 17-17.

Edit II: Drat. Lost in double over-time, 34-27. We still are lousy closers.

now THAT's Different

What Rose Is Your Soul Bound To?

Your soul is bound to the Rose Petals: The Wronged."'ve come undone and all hopes of mending me are gone because the pain took my soul. Can't you see? The only one who can put me back together again is me."The Rose Petals are associated with sorrow, reflection, and wisdom. They are governed by the goddess Persephone and their sign is The Teardrop, or Broken Love.As a Rose Petal, you are always self-reflective and may be hard on yourself. You probably have been hurt in the past by other people and can sometimes distance yourself, as a result. You don't usually let other get too close to you, but you are very good at mending your spirits back together by yourself.
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Thursday Thirteen on Saturday

13 words I like that begin with Z:

1. zoos (well, I waffle on them, but my niece has worked at ours for the last three years, so I'm glad for that)
2. zinnias
3. Zorro (the guy williams version. well, antonio wasn't bad either)
4. zest (for life)
5. zest (lemon, in cookies)
6. zaniness
7. zippers *smile*
8. zig
9. zag
10. Zeeland, Michigan
11. zone (end zone, with Spartan football players in it with a touchdown)
12. zero (a very important number)
13. zilch (it just sounds cool)

Balancing act

Balancing act
Originally uploaded by jsarcadia

Julie caught the moon.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Introducing our new CJ

Great-niece Charli JoAnn joins great-nephew Caleb Jeffrey.

Public Service Announcement

Two months until Christmas.

Fall Wall Garden

The fall wall garden is starting to slowdown, except for the sedum and that monster nasturtium in the back! I had no clue how big they grew.

Another nice side benefit of living here: Mom keeps filling me in more on my grands and great grands. Apparently Grandma Bea loved to grow nasturtiums. I never knew that!

Need some snowballs?

Play here.

A Blank Slate, that is Me.

I am: a stack of blank CD-R discs The most cost-effective way to store and deliver large amounts of data.

Which office supply are you?

Two Years Ago I was a D+

I simply MUST become more aware!

Your Observation Skills Get A C

You tend to notice the big things in life... But the details aren't exactly your forte

How Observant Are You?

Fall Gardening

My sister is such a sweetie. Not only did she give me canna bulbs, she came over Sunday and dug them for me! I think she knows I need a little nudge sometimes. That did inspire me, so after she left I dug the glad bulbs out and started spading a larger area in that bed. I have iris from my mother to plant, and as I can't use the old iris bed just yet(due to the poison ivy problem) the iris and the glads will be sharing a bed this year. I got half the iris planted too!

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Las Vegas :: Tom Selleck. But I fell asleep during that show Friday night.
Linus :: Pauling, Charlie Brown
Struck :: Moon
Movie :: Cinema
Anxious :: Nervous
Bandit :: Robber
Picks :: Guitar
Lasso :: Rope, outWest
Dinner :: Supper
Bargain :: Sale

Flickr Photographers

Once a month I like to share some of the pictures I've really liked on flickr. This is by no means ALL of the pictures I have faved, just the last 36.

Orionids Tonight

Meteor shower should peak tonight.

Thanks!

Thanks for the good wishes. I'm feeling better today. I had signed up for a lifetime ed class at MSU on grant-finding. I thought my friend Deb wanted to take it; she thought I wanted to take it. Fortunately, it was very interesting and we both got a lot out of it. If you know a non-profit looking for a grant in the U.S., or an individual looking for one, there is a great resource here.

Dropped by the Nature Center to see how the Apple Butter Festival was going, then did a little grocery shopping and came home to watch Michigan State give Ohio a little bit of a worry before losing 24-17. (Ohio State is the school to beat this year.) Our showing there should scare the heck out of UofM. It was good to just relax with the kitties. (They're getting used to me hollering during the games now.)

When I cough I hurt. I think I strained some muscles the other night.

The weather was perfect fall today, and wonderful sunlight. The same expected for tomorrow.

And how is your Saturday?

Here I am

Last night I had dinner at the R Club with a friend. Every time we eat there we have nasty windy weather. I got home, lay on the couch watching TV, and the storm reports started showing on TV. Yikes. Tornados and high winds, two separate batches passing over us.

I dozed off, and woke about 11, not feeling well. Oh great. The next two-and-a-half hours were spent in and out of the bathroom. The tornado warnings were still sounding, but if one were to hit during that period, I guess the toilet and I would have blown away. Yuck.

So I didn't go to work today. But I'm up now. I've had some diet rootbeer as I'm out of Vernors. (If you're from Michigan, you probably know someone who believes in Vernors Ginger Ale as the cure-all for all tummy problems.) I've had some stale potato chips, as I'm out of crackers. And I think I'll survive.

I had one big branch down in the backyard, with more broken but stuck in the tree. I think I need to get the tree-cutters here. Sierra has been on the back porch for an hour-and-a-half, watching the leaves be tossed about by the remnants of the wind. Snuzzles says that is too boring for him, but my little warrior girl cat would love to be stalking today.

And the tornado did touch down on the other side of Lansing. I am so sorry. A couple were killed when their modular home was tossed into a man-made pond. It was their first night in their new home. How terrible.

Thursday Thirteen (on Friday)

Thirteen Y words I like.

1. You!
2. yellow
3. yelling at football games
4. yesterday
5. Yule
6. Yellowstone National Park
7. Yoopers
8. yes
9. yarn (that you knit with)
10. yarn (a good tale)
11. Yucca plants
12. yawns
13. youth

Just a couple quick thoughts

1. I just cleaned my purse out. Wow! I feel so organized. I should do that once a week.

2. Did you know what FWB stands for? I just found out.

3. Have a good day

Happy Birthday, Trykemom!

My oldest longest running friend, Sheryl, tried blogging for awhile, but then found flickr! It's her birthday today, so why not treat yourself to a visit to her wonderful photo stream, and wish her happy birthday!

Have a Good Day

Lansing has too many road projects going this year. It is very hard to get from one place to another without seeing the great orange signs.

But Have a Nice Day!