An Award- Over the Top

Darlene, who writes the very good blog Darlene's Hodgepodge gave me an award. The title of the award is Over The Top. The deal is: you have to answer the questions with one word and then pass on the award to three other blogs.

Okay, here goes.

1. Where is your cell phone? in my pocket

2. Your hair? gray

3. Your mother? dead

4. Your father? dead

5. Your favorite food? mashed potatoes

6. Your dream last night? can't remember any

7. Your favorite drink? coffee

8. Your dream/goal? longevity (that's a good answer, Darlene, so I'll keep it)

9. What room are you in? office/bonus room

10. Your hobby? blogging

11. Your fear? blindness

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? alive and well

13. Where were you last night? home

14. Something you aren’t? athletic (another good one!)

15. Muffins? lemon poppyseed

16. Wish list item? a new computer

17. Where did you grow up? West Virginia

18. Last thing you did? read blogs

19. What are you wearing? black pants and t-shirt

20. Your TV? watching Oprah, and Adam Lambert

21. Your pet(s)? two black cats

22. Your friends? great!

23. Your life? quiet

24. Your mood? okay

25. Missing someone? yes

26. Vehicle? mini-van

27. Something you’re not wearing? jewelry

28. Your favorite store? TJMaxx

29. Your favorite color? green

30. When was the last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? Thursday

32. Your best friend? Cam

33. One place that I go over and over? grocery

34. One person who emails me regularly? Sandra

35. Favorite place to eat? any seafood place

And there you have it. I pass this award on to:

1. Patti, who writes The New Sixty. If you are not aware of Patti's blog, do yourself a favor and go comb through her archives. A master storyteller, that one!!

2. Goldendaze-Ginnie is another good storyteller; a blogger whom I have met and enjoyed very much. She is "under read", in my opinion, and needs encouragement to write more often.

3. I decided to stop at two. There are so many others to whom I might give this award, that I can't decide who deserves it most.


Stop the presses!! At 11pm, I discovered that I had also received this award from Maria, of Silver Fox Whispers. Thanks, Maria!! I hope you don't mind sharing the thanks with Darlene.

Free Medal ~ Yours for the Taking

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Work takes precedence this week (and all the way to the middle of December), so visiting may be sparse for a while. I may be reading, but not commenting.

an award + an afternoon party

John, of John Abuzz, gave me a Kreativ Blogger award, and I am grateful for it. Coming from another creative person, it is very appreciated. The award is also a meme, but the rules are simple. If you accept it, you are supposed to list seven of your favorite things and nominate seven blogs that deserve this award. And of course copy the award to your site and link back to this post or my blog. I told John I wouldn't nominate anyone this time around, since I have already done this one - but - I am pleased to mention seven things that tickle my fancy! And here they are:

1. My family and friends, of course - and may they both prosper and increase! (Blog friends are included in that!)
2. Fresh flowers, in abundance or by the single stem. Nothing pleases me more than to be in a room or garden full of flowers!
3. A frosty cold beer at the end of the day is a boon for whatever has ailed me and sends me off to serene slumbers.
4. Travel to faraway places. I love broadening my horizons and seeing new places; reveling in history and other cultures.

5. Security pleases me. I love the feeling that tells me everything is well and even if something bad happens I have the resources to take care of it.
6. Using my creativity pleases me no end. I love creating anything; be it art, music, good food or serenity for others.
7. Photographs on the computer; especially those from places I will most probably never see. If you know where to look, the computer is the doorway to any place you can imagine - even outer space. I'd be lost without mine.

Thanks again, John.

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An old friend of mine had an Arb*nne Facial Spa party today at her home. Arb*nne products range from skin care to practically anything you can imagine for the body. I knew when I accepted the invitation (and told the hostess) that I would not buy anything, and if that was okay with her, I would come. Another friend and I drove together, about 20 miles from here. She served a buffet lunch, and as she is legendary as a good cook, I was looking forward to the spread. I was not disappointed; devilled eggs, ham and rolls, orzo salad with mint and pine nuts, chicken salad, and various desserts, including a fruit tart were all wonderful. I helped her make sangria, and she also served iced tea.

I enjoyed seeing some old friends and coworkers, but I have to say that the woman who put on the party seemed more interested in getting people to sell the products than she did selling any herself. We heard much too much (IMO) about becoming a salesperson, and not as much about the products themselves. I already have some of those products. My daughter gave them to me for Christmas two years ago. They are really good - when I remember to use them - but they are so expensive that I would not buy them for myself. The saleswoman talked about how you could get 80% off the cost of the products if only you would agree to give an in-home party. I had better sense than to agree to that!! How do you handle stuff like that? Do you go and buy things you may not want? Or do you not buy (and feel guilty?) Or do you stay at home?

An Award; Received and Bestowed

Arkansas Patti was kind enough to give me this award. She got it from a blog friend in Finland who is called Blue. Don't you love how blogging can bring together such diverse people and make friends of us all? I surely do. If Patti and I understand it correctly, it means "the blog friend" award - called the Tunnustus award. I am proud to call Patti my blog friend, and I welcome her gift to me.

I am supposed to pass it on to two other people. Since I still have to pass on another award to fifteen others, this is a tall order for me. I am working a lot more than I had been earlier this spring, and I have less time to spend on this machine. I will start with passing this award to the following, and as time permits, I will get busy on the list for the other awards.

One of my earliest blog friends was Naomi, who writes at Here in the Hills. Naomi is a person of eclectic talents: she has been a Broadway actress, an artist, a singer, a songwriter, a playwright and now she is a writer. She doesn't post as often as I'd like - but her detailed posts are worth waiting for, since her life has been more exciting that any three or four of us put together. Her current series on her summer in France is wonderful to read, and illustrated with good photos of the people and places she saw then. I recommend, if you don't already know Naomi, that you go and read that series, if nothing else. It might make a convert of you!

A blog friend I met through Naomi's comments is Shephard, who writes at Shephard's Alley. He is colorful, intelligent, amazingly well-rounded for a younger person, and I love his outlook on life, which is always kind and gentle. He makes very astute observations about himself, as well as others, and he is a cat lover - as is Naomi. That seems to be a prerequisite for me.....LOL. Shephard is traveling a lot lately, and also doesn't post often, but when he does - the photos are usually great and the commentary colorful. Check them out - you'll be glad you did.

You like me......you really like me!!

From the wonderful Buzzardbilly comes this new blessing.....called the Bella Award. I am not sure whether 'bella' refers to the photos or the writing, but I'd like to think it is a little of each. Thank you, BB, I consider this award high praise, coming from one of the most articulate bloggers I know about - and you are able to do it with humor, too! I shall try to remain worthy of this designation, and to pass it on to those who are also worthy. You chose 3-4 bloggers that I would also have chosen, so I'll try to come up with 15 different ones - a tall order.

The Bella Rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

To be continued.....

An Award

I've just received an award from Star, who got it from Leanne.

Star says:

“The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken-

excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a

zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so

remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens
just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned

award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy

bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely
or not choosing at all…”



I thank you, Star, for giving me this award and while I do not always pass awards on to others, this time I dare not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens......a horrible thought, which might just be more horrible than I'd be able to imagine!! This humble blogger is not certain she fits into the categories listed above but she knows a few who do. They are:

Tiff, of No Accent Yet, who makes me laugh both on the web and in person.


Vicki, of A Mark on My Wall, whom I admire for many things; not the least of which is that she's a terrific scrabble player.

Mahala, of Hidden Mahala, whose post titles can make me burst out laughing, and keep me laughing when I read further.

Shephard, of Schubert Alley Shephard, who is AWOL from blogland lately, but whose posts and photos are wonderful when he is around. Also, I think he'll really appreciate the Zombie Chicken thing.

and Patti, of the New Sixty. If you don't know Patti, you should visit there immediately. She has had a very interesting life and she writes about it very well. I never miss her posts!

All of the above are possessed of grace, persistence and excellence in their blogging - and I suspect - in their lives at large. I hope you''ll check them out, and while you're at it, check out Star and Leanne as well. Good bloggers need to be not only awarded, but READ!

Post # 850~ Odds and Ends (some odder than others)

This came in an email today. The photographer got there at the right time, didn't he? I've never seen my cats do that, or I'd be all over them with the camera.

This is why I seldom eat there!

Awarded from Arkansas Patti, whom I admire greatly for her amusing stories, told with well-written wit and obvious smarts!! You owe it to yourself to go there and poke around a bit. Thanks, Patti. I will have to study whom to pass it to next.

Don't pass this one by - study it a while - LOL
Click to embiggen. (stolen from Dark Roasted Blend)

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Have you ever had a severe bottom of the right foot itch while driving down the road in heavy traffic; praying for a red light so you can scratch, but not getting even one? That's my life these days.

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We found out tonight that our favorite cafeteria is closing. Only 3 miles from our house, that place has fed us almost once per week for about fifteen years; maybe more. The food wasn't anything a gourmet would care for, but it was decent, filling and inexpensive. Best of all - I didn't have to cook it or clean up after it. When the children lived at home, it was a good place to go and fill up a hollow leg (my son's). The same owner has two more cafeterias in the city, but they are off our beaten paths and it is not worth driving 10-12 miles, one way. For some odd reason, the food we ate there tonight was more tasty than anything we've had there in the last 2 years. After that, I'll miss it even more.

I've Been Given.....

an AWARD by Joy, writer of The Joy of Six, who got it from Small Reflections who got it from Idaho Photo. THANKS, Joy!

I stole this part from Joy:

Inspiration of the Van Gogh's Ear Award

"You may know the story of Vincent Van Gogh a well known artist in history. Although a brilliant painter in his later years , he went quite insane and received the nickname of fou roux ("the redheaded madman"). The most bizarre of Vincent's behavior is when he cut off the lower part of his own left ear lobe, which he wrapped in newspaper and gave to a prostitute named Rachel in the local brothel, asking her to "keep this object carefully."After this he suffered recurrent bouts of mental illness, which led to his suicide July 29, 1890, when he was 37 years old. His works of art are priceless."

The point of this award

"We are all artists in our own way be it art, photography, writing, philosophy, comedy, blogging and we all go a little crazy sometimes."

Joy chose six people/blogs that I would probably have also picked for this award. I've thought carefully about who I'd like to give it to - and I've already decided to cap the list at five people. They are:

Naomi, Lois, Jamie Dawn, Brenda and Rosemary. Read them and enjoy! and thanks again to Joy!

An Award!

The Marie Antoinette Award was given to me by the lovely Pagan Sphinx, because in her words:

"She's no B/S'er and she tells it like it is!"

"That is mostly true" (kenju says, laughing.) My blog's name is, after all, Imagine What I Am Leaving Out! There are many things I would like to say, and can't, due either to some of the people who read here or .......fear of embarrassing myself. So, as I leave this post, I simply say, "Let 'em eat cake!"

I'm supposed to pass this award out - and I will - as soon as I have had time to think about who deserves it most!

Now, please scroll down to see today's post!

Kay, at Kay's Thinking Cap has given me a wonderful award, which originated in Spain, I think. I'll have to post it here, since I don't know how to get the code for it, and if I did, I probably could not get it into the sidebar where I wanted it. . I will have to give some thought about who I should pass it on to; and I'll do that, as soon as I get all my computer troubles resolved. Meanwhile, thank you, Kay, for the award!


My new 19" LCD flat-screen monitor sure makes everything look GOOOOOOOD!! I guess I'm making the government happy by spending their giveaway money on this, instead of paying bills as I intended. We went to an office supply store, where I had seen a good sale on monitors. As luck would have it, they were already sold out, but another store had two of them, according to the clerk. We took his directions on how best to get to the other store - and that was a big mistake! What should have taken 10 minutes took about 30, through countryside we'd never seen before. It was a pretty drive, but at today's gas prices I'd rather have not done it.

It was hooked up and running in about 10 minutes. In fact, I had a harder time getting the old cables out of the computer tower than I did installing the new one. But can anyone explain why deciphering the directions on how to adjust a monitor has to be so difficult? It has 5 buttons to push, but there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the sequence and the booklet is not much help. Oh, well. Like Vivian Leigh, I'll think about that tomorrow!

1979

My son, age 18 months and age 13.

My sweet sonny boy was 12 when he wrote this, in response to the quote at the top of the green page. He won his 7th grade Language Arts Medal with this one.

Shortly after I found this while I was cleaning out a closet, he called. I read it to him and he said it is somewhat ironic now, since he doesn't really like his chosen profession. I wish he could instantly change to something he'd enjoy. Last time I checked, however, beachcombing didn't pay well enough to support a family!


EDIT: When I posted this, I forgot that Carmi's theme was "kids" this week. Go over there to see the other people who participated in it.

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When I posted my wedding dress yesterday, I should have mentioned that I still have the dress. I wore it to parties several times after the wedding, since it was fairly casual. At some point, I spilled coffee on the sleeve, and it would not come out. Finally, in desperation, I dyed the dress brown to cover the stain, and I wore it several more times after that. I look at it now, and I cannot believe I ever fit into it!

Vestiges of Summer Camp ~ The Sharpshooter

Here are some things I found when I cleaned out a closet - the badges I won for Riflery. I won the Sharpshooter badge when I was ten; shooting prone at a 45 degree angle. I can still conjure up the smell of the spent bullets (22 gauge) and the loudness of the rounds. Hmmm....maybe that's something that contributed to my deafness. We never wore ear plugs back then.


Go here to read all about it and see the target.

Money, Money, Money..........Money!

Do you ever feel like you might as well do this with your money? Pretty soon, this may be all it is good for!


MONEY.......used in new and artfully wondrous ways! Go see. REALLY! GO SEE!

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While watching the Emmy's tonight, I was struck by how many awards were won by 30 Rock and the people on it. I guess I ought to start watching it, huh? I have never seen it, nor did I ever watch CSI or Law and Order or West Wing. It's a good thing I don't have a DVR because if I recorded all the shows I'd like to see, there'd be no time for anything else.

What are your favorites, and what do you plan to watch in the new Fall season?

Odds and Ends

I got these two awards recently. I have the most annoying habit; I save the award, but sometimes I forget to note who gave it to me!! Kay gave me the top one.......THANKS, Kay!!

But I have no idea who gave me this one and I'm saying how sorry I am to that person. Obviously, I am not sharing much love now. :-/

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You MUST go here and see this most amazing place on Earth!!

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When you are typing the word verification on some blogs, does it bother you to see a Q without a U following? I can hardly stand it!!

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Are you as sick of politics as I am? I can't wait to get to November and the vote and have it all over and done!! I just hope we don't have hanging chads or malfunctioning voting machines or mass hysteria again.

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I'll be back tomorrow with some more photos from the tabletop competition.

Bobbie, at Almost There has given me these nice awards. It's wonderful to know that you make somebody smile and/or are considered a super commenter. Thanks, Bobbie, I really appreciate them! Bobbie is deserving of a visit, if you don't already know her blog. She posts very good photos and usually teaches us some history and geography nearly every day.

I just discovered that Bob-kat has awarded me as well. Thanks, Bob-kat!!

I am not going to award anyone this week, but I will do so in the future. Got to keep you all guessing, don't I?

Biiiiiig Lips and Other Musings

(I stole this photo from g*ogle images)

Jacklyn Zeman gets my nomination for the 2008 Lisa Rinna Award for the Biggest Collagen Lips on TV!! Good Lord, woman. You've been on General Hospital since time immemorial so no one expects you to look like a teenager anymore.

The photos in the link show her a few years ago. I was watching the show yesterday and it seemed as if she could barely talk for trying to navigate around those big, floppy lips. Why some women think this is a good thing to do is beyond me. I've seldom seen a collagen application that appeared normal-looking afterward. Of course, I might have seen some and not realized it, but most of them stand out like a sore thumb - and are just about as attractive!

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When you want to open your deck or patio umbrella for the first time of the year, don't just stick your hand in there all willy-nilly without checking first (like I did). A wasp stung my finger today and it hurts! :-/ It could easily have been a brown recluse or some other spider, so I was really stupid not to check it first. After the shock of the sting wore off, I got my trusty can of R*id for flying insects and squirted it up into the bottom of the umbrella (and ran back into the house as fast as my feet could move me)! I did that three times, and I saw 3-4 wasps fly out of there, and a larva or two fell out onto the table. After a while, Mr. Kenju and I took the umbrella out of the table, laid it on the deck and opened it slowly by hand. It was clear of wasps, and I quickly knocked the nest off the pole. That will be the last time I stick my hand in something without knowing for certain what I will find.....LOL

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Bo Diddley died yesterday. I wish he knew how much pleasure I got from his music over the years. He played a club in Norfolk, VA back in the mid 60's, and I got to see him live! It was great! Rest in Peace, Bo!

Odds and Ends & an Award

More old flowers. Would you believe these hydrangeas are 18 days old? And they are not dried, they are still fresh. These were bought from the wholesaler on January 16th, used in the wedding on the 19th, picked up from the club on the 20th and they have been here in my kitchen ever since. There is no preservative in the water, but I have re-cut the stems each day and changed the water. All the other wedding flowers were donated to the Flower Shuttle for redistribution to people in hospitals and nursing homes. I suspect they are long gone by now.

One of my cigar boxes. I have had this one since sometime in the 70's and it has held my children's crayons ever since. New ones are added as needed, of course. Nowadays, my grandchildren prefer markers and chalk, so the crayons languish in the box most of the time.

A dusty stack of wooden cigar boxes - awaiting contents - next to a bubble bowl half-full of matchbooks, most of which you saw before on Just Ask Judy.

If you want to see the rest of the matchbooks, search on that blog for 'matchless memorabilia'.

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When I awoke this morning, the first thing I saw on the computer was an award from Diane Mandy of Martinis for Two.

It is the "Make My Day" award - and I think that is one of the nicest I've had! Thanks, Diane, I hope we continue to make each other's day for years to come. Instead of passing it on to any set number of people, I'm giving it to all of you who stop here, read and comment. You truly do make my days - and you deserve an award for it!!

Will Wonders Never Cease?

I hope not. The wonderful Bob-kat has awarded me the designation above - and I am pleased, honored and humbled by it. Two awards in as many days means it is getting harder and harder to pass them on. This one requires me to pass it along to ten others, some of whom have already received the award from someone else. I will just have to choose - and previous awards be damned - the chosen can do what they wish with it. Here are my picks, in no particular order:

Here in the Hills

Shephards Alley

No Accent Yet

A Mark on My Wall

Weekly Scheiss

Present Simple

Everyday Stranger

Jamie's Mindless Blather

Open Book

Kill the Goat

All of these are in my blogroll, so go there for the links, please.

I could name at least 10 more tht I think are excellent in some way, but I'll stop here. I tried to get this logo into my sidebar, but it isn't going to happen in this lifetime, apparently! Thanks again, Bob-kat, I appreciate your largess!

W.W.W.

I am most honored to receive this award from Awareness, a blogger who is thoughtful, intelligent, insightful and a very good writer! If you are not familiar with her posts, you should check them out soon. I would like to pass this award on to two women bloggers I am fortunate to know of and read everyday. First, Mamacita and then Vicki , both of whom are delightful, eclectic in their choice of subject matter and extremely smart (which I am prone to worship, in case you haven't noticed). Please visit them and see what I mean.

The Empress of Planet Brenda has awarded me a very nice plaque! I am less than certain that I deserve "powerful words", but I admit to being shameless much of the time, and I do write something everyday (even if it is only a grocery list) so perhaps it fits.

"How does it work? Above are copies of the award that we can each distribute to those people who have blogs we love, can't live without, where we think the writing is good and powerful. I thought interested members could kick things off by publishing the award on their own blog, naming five people they would like to give it to (members or non-members), and accompany the image with three things they believe are necessary to make writing good and powerful. The recipients then do the same, passing it on to five other people, and so on."

Several that might have been on my list have already received the award, so I will choose carefully and hope that they will pass the award on to deserving writers.

Badaunt, who is originally from New Zealand and now teaches English in Japan, is one of my favorites. Many of her posts are photographs of ducks and other animals, with the most interesting and humorous captions and stories. Others tell of students who have hopelessly misunderstood the language or failed to take it seriously. Interspersed are tips for teachers and rants about administrators, done with clarity and compassion.

Mamacita, another teacher from my blogroll, is the teacher we all want for ourselves and for our children. When she writes about teaching, students and administrators, we see the depth of her passion. Intelligence, wit, compassion and guidance shine powerfully through all her posts. We are left wishing that we had quality teachers like her; we want to meet her, have pizza with her and trade cookie recipes at Christmas! And above all, we await her next post.

Pat of Past Imperfect, has written the most interesting stories about her life and times in England, her love story and her fascinating career as a model, illustrated by photos. I enjoy reading her "asides" as much as the continuing stories; written with humor and spirit.

Poopie, of Keeping the Faith, writes with a definite Tennessee-flavored voice, but the humor (there's that word again!) and gratitude and yes, faith, are central to the subject. She can get right to the heart of any matter as easily and quickly as anyone I've had the privilege to read. We're hoping that 2008 will bring her Prince Charming, and I have no doubt she will write just as eloquently about him as she does the pecan trees on her farm or her Baby Girl.

Shephard, of Shubert Alley combines all the best things there are to like about a blog. He writes well, he takes wonderful photos and he captions them with great wit. His essays on Medicine Monday (a past series) always provided food for thought.

That concludes my list, in the interest of brevity - never my strong suit. I could point out several more who wold be prefect for the list, but I'll save them for another time.

Three things that constitute good and powerful writing? First: Humor or wit, without which little interest is built. Second: Grammar, which means following the rules for acceptable language and syntax. For me this also precludes most curse words, for as my mother taught me, those are used by people who have no vocabulary. Third: intimate knowledge of your subject matter is of prime importance. It will be readily apparent if you don't know what you are writing about. Unfortunately, that doesn't stop some people.