Sunday, September 28, 2008

And when it is all said and done. . .

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Hue Test

Hue TEST

Go ahead and try it, and let me know what you scored!!

Monday, September 22, 2008

What makes sacred music, sacred?



1. The lyrics?

2. The music?

3. The composer?

4. The performer?

Sunday, September 21, 2008

It's Football Day!

Today I took almost 1000 shots over a course of 4 games (972, to be exact).

I'm tired.

From today. . .








Obligatory Trav shot. . . .

Friday, September 19, 2008

Field Trip!!!!

One of the great things about homeschooling is that you can go on field trips more than once or twice a year. (The last year I was a PS teacher, we were "allowed" two educational field trips, and no "fun" trips).

Today, we went with some other homeschoolers to Balsam Mtn. Preserve to study aquatic life. The kids splashed in the creek and looked for bugs and salamanders and stuff. Kristi wanted me to help her, and let me say -- that water was freakin' cold. My feet are still numb, and the nails on one foot are blue.

Oh, wait a minute, that is nail polish. Nevermind, but it was cold!!! (The other foot is pink, in case you are wondering).



Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Awwwwww



His name is "BAMA" and he belongs to the mom of one of the little guys on Trav's team.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Bill, This is For You!

In response to the most recent video that Bill, the Cycleguy felt the need to post, I have decided to post one in honor of him.

Enjoy, Bill.

Rules for Playing on the Internet

(at least these are the ones I try to go by)

1. Assume good faith. (Lifted directly from dpchallenge.com).
Whenever I read something someone has written, I try to remember that I do not have their body language or voice inflections to tell me if it is sarcastic, a joke, or serious. I also try to remember that most people don't set out to deliberately offend me. So, assuming good faith means that I am simply going to give you the benefit of the doubt if you are a complete and total jerk online.

2. If you wouldn't say it to their face, don't say it to your keyboard.
People will post much differently online than they would act in "real life." This can be good, but more often than not, it is used for *evil.* When you are posting something, try to remember that the person reading the resultant pixels are someone's daughter/father/grandmother/uncle/best friend (hopefully not all at once).

3. It is JUST the Internet.
You don't have to be right. AND, you don't have to prove that you are right. Rather than argue about the semantics of the definition of "is," walk away, hug your kids and cook a pork roast or something. It really isn't worth getting your blood pressure up because someone you have never met disagrees with you.

4. Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold.
If you must argue, don't call people (even in broad sweeping brushstrokes) names -- that just makes you look beligerent and unintelligent, know what you are talking about (let google be your friend), and KNOW WHEN TO SHUT UP!!!!! And, when it is time to shut up, SHUT UP! If the "discussion" has come to the point where you are calling someone names, or someone is calling you names, you have passed the point of SHUT UP!, and you probably deserve to be jack-slapped.

5. Know to whom you are speaking.
What I find hilarious could be mildly (or mostly) offensive or even perverse to others. Keep this in mind. If you are on the recieving end of it, refer to rule number 1.


(It may also be noted that PMS nullifies all the of the above.)

Monday, September 15, 2008

Saturday's Football Game

It was HOT. Very hot. Sweltering, even. From 9:30 to 3:30, I walked up and down the turf shooting. My niece asked me an interesting question tonight. She asked, "Do you still love it, or is it work, yet?"

I would have to say I still love it. There are certain elements that I don't particularly just jump for joy about, but I do enjoy what I do.

Here's some of the shots from the game:

Obligatory Trav (66) shot. :)








Before the game. This one has a bit more post-processing than I would normally do on the football shots.



Trav's team got annihilated, but the other three teams won. It was a big victory, because Asheville traditionally has one of the strongest teams in the league. Beating them always earns respect.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

One Hour and Counting

You've just been told you MUST evacuate your house because it is going to be submerged, blown up, evaporated, or destroyed.

You have one hour.

What do you pack?

Me? Laptop, camera, Bible (both of my favorites and my grandmothers), wedding/photo albums/pictures, favorite clothes, stuff in 'the drawer' (there is a drawer in the headboard of the bed where I have sentimental things -- ring from my grandmother, Travis's first hair clippings, etc.), my small cookie sheet, quilts my grandmother and Nard's grandmother made, woodcarvings my dad made..

The rest of the time, I would probably pack as much as the kids' stuff as possible.

Nard can get his own stuff. :P


Oh yea, today was day 10 of the 112 day challenge. I've lost three pounds. :)

Friday, September 12, 2008

Does God Really Use Glue Sticks?



Kristi: God did a good job gluing my head on.
Ninaw: What?
Kristi: God did a good job of gluing my head on. See (tries to pull head off). It's stuck.
Ninaw: That is good. If you didn't have a head, you couldn't eat, or talk or anything.
Kristi: Yea, He glued it good.
Me: How did he glue it?
Kristi: (with that "duh" tone in her voice) a glue stick.
Me: Purple?
Kristi: maybe, but maybe a white one. It won't come off, see?



And just cause I think he's cute. See all the stuff on his shirt. That's oil. He's trying to figure out why the Jeep doesn't go, anymore. This was just after he took the fuel pump out.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Come Again????

. . .or so it would seem.

I'm not a big reader of the LA Times. There are probably numerous reasons, but just suffice it to say, I'm not. Nor, do I frequent their blogs. However, this writing on their website caught my attention.

Headline: Canadian doctor warns Sarah Palin's decision to have Down baby could reduce abortions

Awesome! The premise being that when people see a successful woman/family with a DS baby, they will reconsider before aborting when the test comes back positive for DS.

But, apparently, to this doctor, it is BAD news because it means that fewer families will opt to abort the baby.

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!


Regardless of your opinion of Palin, it does encourage me that someone in a very visible position shows that a person with downs can be loved, is lovable, and plays a valuable role in society.

I'll stop short of drawing a parallel between this Canadian's doctor's views and that of some of the doctor's in Nazi Germany, but the thought did cross my mind.

Oh yea, you can read it here --

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/09/sarah-palin-dow.html

There are comments there, but I tend to avoid those as they just turn into slingfests.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

The End of the World???

Hadron Collider

Regardless of your views on science or religion, or the combination of the two, this is an amazing project. Follow some of the links on that page, and just look at the pictures of that thing.

(Of course, since Switzerland/France is 6 or 8 hours ahead of me, and it is 8:20 am right now, that would be a pretty good indication that we didn't get sucked up, yet).

This quote in a thread at dpchallenge amused me,
For decades (at least) pundits have been complaining that European wars and religious strife has been causing untold misery for people. Wouldn't it be ironic if this time all those high-minded scientists did us all in?


I don't know their intentions, motivations, or belief systems, but the brains of those high-minded scientists completely overwhelms and awes me.

But, in case you need a more specific, timely answer, check HERE

Sunday, September 07, 2008

5/112

It's Sunday, so I don't count nor quabble* on this day.

I AM, however, feeling yesterday. Did I mention we went to the NC Mountain State Fair yesterday morning?

I won two red ribbons.

Professional Class -- Black and White Portrait


and Professional Class -- Color Sports/Action


and from the games --

Obligatory Trav shot -- notice he is actually tackling the guy with the ball. THAT was a big deal to him. He got his name called out several times for doing this. :) They got pounded (long, long, long story), but they hung in there and really tried hard.


My nephew, Sawyer. He doesn't get to carry the ball much, so I was excited about getting this shot.


And, I love to watch #17 run. He is just fun to watch.




*quabble -- verb. Worrying about the caloric intake of what you are eating vs. the caloric expenditure of what you are doing. To not quabble would be to not care. :P

Saturday, September 06, 2008

4/112

Just keeping up with my numbers. :)

Took almost 600 shots at four football games today. By my calculations that is over 800 calories burned for 4 hours.

And, my feet are feeling it. I gotta get some new shoes. ouch! Pictures coming. :)

Friday, September 05, 2008

3/112

Walked almost 1/4 mile

Almost made it without chocolate, but had a small (at least that is what I ordered -- size at this particular establishment is always iffy) chocolate/vanilla swirl softserve ice cream. :)

Tomorrow is my "sweat day." I'll be walking up and down the football field, taking pictures, for like 6 hours. That's gotta count for something!!!!

Have a great weekend, all!

Thursday, September 04, 2008

2/112

(I promise this won't be my only posts between now and Christmas -- it's just the best way for me to keep track of it all).

No chocolate (2 days).
No red meat.

Walked 1/4 mile.
Ran up and down our steps (14 of them) 3 times.

and so it goes. . . .

1/112

No chocolate for me today (well, yesterday, since I didn't post).

Also did an initial weigh-in, and thar ain't no way I'ma postin' that in public!

Since lowering my cholesterol is one of the mandatory goals, I'm also putting serious restriction on how much red meat I eat. The cows are happy.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

112 Day Challenge

It is 113 days until Christmas (I know this because there is a counter at All Toes in the Water.)

A while back, I was doing a 100 day challenge to lose weight and get healthier, overall. Not long after that, we had the GREAT SHUFORD SCALE SNAFU.

Needless to say, I was so discouraged, I just quit. Seriously. I still almost cry when I think about it. (Actually, I think I'm just hormonal or something lately. I cry all the time. I was watching a rap video on youtube and cried. I read a letter from an inmate in a "money request" we got from and organization and cried. So, be nice to me, or you may make me cry, as well.)

But, lack of battery juice is no excuse to die early of heart disease, so back at it again.

I was going to start today, by giving up chocolate. Then, Bernard told me he had chosen to stop smoking. So, I decided that since alcohol and smoking were much more destructive and unhealthy than chocolate, I would give them up first. Good idea, don't you think?

So, on day -1 of my 112 day challenge, I am hereby swearing off cigarettes and drinking alcohol. I feel healthier already.

If all goes as planned, on Christmas day, I should weigh anywhere from 32 to 48 pounds less than I do now. (that is 2 - 3 pounds a week for those of you wondering).


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(Just so you know, neither Bernard or I drink alcohol of any kind or smoke anything.)

Yea, Okay

Happy Birthday, Steve, WHENEVER it is -- I just don't want you feeling left out. So, mark this post and on your birthday, come back and look at it.

Monday, September 01, 2008

Did you Know???

(Disclaimor -- I do not know if these laws ever existed, or exist now. I happened upon this site while looking for something else, and they just amused me.)

Dumb Laws (make sure to read below the advertisements -- there are some pretty good city ordinances there, as well.)

Dumb Laws in Florida
My favorite from Florida:
It is considered an offense to shower naked.


My favorite from TN
You can’t shoot any game other than whales from a moving automobile.


West Virginia certainly doesn't disappoint

Our Neighbor to the south
It is illegal to display a confederate flag on a courthouse.
But, the capital building is okay.

From Oregon Did you know it was illegal to carry babies on the running boards of cars??

And, finally, in North Carolina