Sunflower Halved Hypersaturated

Sunflower Halved Hypersaturated
Yes this is a real sunflower I took this shot a couple of summers ago in the garden outside my work window

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Hero in a Half-Shell...

On the way home from the salon last week, we spotted this little guy in the road. He had made significant progress in getting from one side of our unusually large road to the other, but in fear that he may get crushed...I picked him up and placed him at his destination. He wasn't scared at all...he stayed out of the shell the entire time and even appeared to be posing for the camera!! Of course me without my camera, luckily Squirt had hers nearby!





Saturday, May 30, 2009

This was really cute! The So You Think You Can Dance judge, Adam Shankman, got on stage with a contestant to perform the Lindy Hop the other night. He did really well, which should be expected since he is a choreographer!

Friday, May 29, 2009

Below is my lovely epi cactus and apparently some of my co-workers believe it resembles Audrey II from the Little Shop of Horrors, but I don't think so. This plant I grew from 5 leaf clippings with a little help from the sun and Miracle Grow Moisture Control Soil...it has blossomed quite well. I've had it for about 3 years now and last year was the first time it had flowers...about eleven of them...but I never witnessed the flowers fully opened. Well let me explain that, the blooms on this cactus only open at night and only for one day. Yep that's right people....you wait for 2-3 weeks for the flower to grow to it's full size...and then it's on its way out in the morning. Messed up, I know, but my luck has finally changed! This morning when I arrived to work surprisingly the flower was still open!!! I was sooo excited because I thought it was going to open while I was out of the office last week, but it didn't....and then I thought it was going to open a couple of days ago when I kept forgetting my camera, but as you can see it didn't! I am content to have finally seen the flower open in person instead of just online from other owners recounts.

The Plant...



The Bloom...


The Future Blooms...

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Justice for All

Who is Sonia Sotomayor? According to President Obama:

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Empty...

If you take the last tissue out of the box, does it pain you that badly to toss it out? Did you feel bad for taking the last tissue that I bought out of my box? Why leave the box behind? I would know that the tissue was gone...probably not until I needed one, but seriously people I don't need the box for decoration...you used it, it's gone...just throw it out. Geesh it's not a hard concept.

I often wonder with so many suffering from poor office etiquette and manners, what does your house look like? Do you leave trash about until you "feel" like tossing it out? I don't get it!

Happy Rainy Tuesday...

I ♥ This Commercial

So this is not quite the commercial, but a brief story about the participants in the commercial...I do LOVE these commercials though, they are quite entertaining!

Monday, May 25, 2009

Remembering...


Those that fought and gave their life, so that I may have the one I know today...

Thank You...

cartoon courtesy coxandforkum

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Back to Life...

So I'm back from the one day road trip to Rhode Island...

The ride up wasn't bad at all of course there was traffic on the Jersey Turnpike and then there was TRAFFIC in NY coming up to the GW Bridge...

Connecticut or Connect-I-Cut as I like to call it...was pleasant...it just looked like the air was so fresh and clean, at least up state CT did....

It took the whole 7 hours Mustang Sally (the GPS system) predicted thanks to the traffic hold ups, we got there around 1p...

Spent about 5 hours in the Island and definitely came to the conclusion that people with the RI license plates truly cannot drive...I thought it was bad around here...hmmm not even close...

I forgot my camera :-( and of course I didn't think about it until I had already been driving for 30 minutes...there was plenty I saw that I would have liked to take a picture of, but I guess the saying is true...the greatest pictures always occur when you're without the camera...

I made excellent time coming back to MD...we left Providence at 6p and I hit the MD line at 11p...don't ask me how I did it ;-) there was TRAFFIC of course again in NY coming up to the GW bridge and then there was traffic in MD because 2 of the 3 lanes were closed...

Yesterday I slept like a baby...I went to sleep around 2:30a and woke up at 8a...then sleep again at 10a and woke up at 2p and then sleep again at 7p rising at 7a this morning...I'd say that's pretty good shut eye!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

On the Road Again...

On my way to the Island....Rhode Island that is...

Fooled a lot of people with that line :-)

I'll have words when I return (and maybe some pictures too)

Til then...

Toodles Noodles!!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Happy Tuesday!

In regards to the current economic times, the stay-cation is the new summer "IT" thing to do! I'm all for supporting local events so click on a state (some of these websites are really excellent) to begin...

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virgina, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the District of Columbia

I ♥ This Commercial!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Reality Bytes

I have a guilty pleasure of watching more than my fair share of reality television. It's not all hogwash though...on MTV there was a show, Taking the Stage, (finale was last week) that featured five high school students at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, OH and we basically got to look into the window of their lives as they pursue their respective passions. They are all very talented, but Mia the singer/songwriter is really amazing. Hopefully we will be seeing her soon!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Woodrow Wilson Bridge

Although it seems as though it took forever for the bridge to finally be finished, I find it to be architecturally pleasing, especially at night.

I have been bitten by the Procrastination Fairy...I didn't even know I was infected until I had a brief think back this morning about various items on my to do list. I always make a list and for one reason or another I never quite complete everything I have listed.

It's actually pretty bad that I know I am procrastinating and still haven't done anything about it, so today is my day to tie up loose ends.

Wish me luck!!!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

How do you...

know it's time to let the onions go???


Definitely, when they look like they need to be in the ground lol!!

I ♥ This Commercial!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Vote 4 Art

I'm not sure how many of you noticed the Doodle 4 Google contest a couple of months ago, but it is now time for the online voting segment. I encourage you to take five to ten minutes and check it out. The contest was open to school aged children from K-12, and the art work is truly amazing from K all the way to 12th grade! It's awesome that Google encourages the creativeness of today's youth.

Enjoy! <- the link

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day

Whether this is your first, twentieth, or to be Mother's Day...I wish you the best!!

A little history from http://www.mothersdaycelebration.com/mothers-day-history.html...

Origin of Mother's Day goes back to the era of ancient Greek and Romans. But the roots of Mother's Day history can also be traced in UK where a Mothering Sunday was celebrated much before the festival saw the light of the day in US. However, the celebration of the festival as it is seen today is a recent phenomenon and not even a hundred years old. Thanks to the hard work of the pioneering women of their times, Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis that the day came into existence. Today the festival of Mothers day is celebrated across 46 countries (though on different dates) and is a hugely popular affair. Millions of people across the globe take the day as an opportunity to honor their mothers, thank them for their efforts in giving them life, raising them and being their constant support and well wisher.

The earliest history of Mothers Day dates back to the ancient annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to maternal goddesses. The Greeks used the occasion to honor Rhea, wife of Cronus and the mother of many deities of Greek mythology. Ancient Romans, too, celebrated a spring festival, called Hilaria dedicated to Cybele, a mother goddess. It may be noted that ceremonies in honour of Cybele began some 250 years before Christ was born. The celebration made on the Ides of March by making offerings in the temple of Cybele lasted for three days and included parades, games and masquerades. The celebrations were notorious enough that followers of Cybele were banished from Rome. Early Christians celebrated a Mother's Day of sorts during the festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent in honor of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ. In England the holiday was expanded to include all mothers. It was then called Mothering Sunday.

The more recent history of Mothers Day dates back to 1600s in England. Here a Mothering Sunday was celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter) to honor mothers. After a prayer service in church to honor Virgin Mary, children brought gifts and flowers to pay tribute to their own mothers. On the occasion, servants, apprentices and other employees staying away from their homes were encouraged by their employers to visit their mothers and honor them. Traditionally children brought with them gifts and a special fruit cake or fruit-filled pastry called a simnel. Yugoslavs and people in other nations have observed similar days. Custom of celebrating Mothering Sunday died out almost completely by the 19th century. However, the day came to be celebrated again after World War II, when American servicemen brought the custom and commercial enterprises used it as an occasion for sales.

The idea of official celebration of Mothers day in US was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1872. An activist, writer and poet Julia shot to fame with her famous Civil War song, "Battle Hymn of the Republic". Julia Ward Howe suggested that June 2 be annually celebrated as Mothers Day and should be dedicated to peace. She wrote a passionate appeal to women and urged them to rise against war in her famous Mothers Day Proclamation, written in Boston in 1870. She also initiated a Mothers' Peace Day observance on the second Sunday in June in Boston and held the meeting for a number of years. Julia tirelessly championed the cause of official celebration of Mothers Day and declaration of official holiday on the day. Her idea spread but was later replaced by the Mothers' Day holiday now celebrated in May.

Anna Jarvis is recognised as the Founder of Mothers Day in US. Though Anna Jarvis never married and never had kids, she is also known as the Mother of Mothers Day, an apt title for the lady who worked hard to bestow honor on all mothers.Anna Jarvis got the inspiration of celebrating Mothers Day from her own mother Mrs Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis in her childhood. An activist and social worker, Mrs Jarvis used to express her desire that someday someone must honor all mothers, living and dead, and pay tribute to the contributions made by them. A loving daughter, Anna never forgot her mothers word and when her mother died in 1905, she resolved to fulfill her mothers desire of having a mothers day. Growing negligent attitude of adult Americans towards their mothers and a desire to honor her mothers soared her ambitions.To begin with Anna, send Carnations in the church service in Grafton, West Virginia to honor her mother. Carnations were her mothers favorite flower and Anna felt that they symbolised a mothers pure love. Later Anna along with her supporters wrote letters to people in positions of power lobbying for the official declaration of Mothers Day holiday. The hard work paid off. By 1911, Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state in the Union and on May 8, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

Today Mothers Day is celebrated in several countries including US, UK, India, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Mexico, Canada, China, Japan and Belgium. People take the day as an opportunity to pay tribute to their mothers and thank them for all their love and support. The day has become hugely popular and in several countries phone lines witness maximum traffic. There is also a tradition of gifting flowers, cards and others gift to mothers on the Mothers Day. The festival has become commercialised to a great extent. Florists, card manufacturers and gift sellers see huge business potential in the day and make good money through a rigorous advertising campaign. It is unfortunate to note that Ms Anna Jarvis, who devoted her life for the declaration of Mothers Day holiday was deeply hurt to note the huge commercialisation of the day.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

A Rant...of sorts...

I am totally convinced that Wreck-less Wednesday has to be reinstated. People cannot drive on Wednesday, the commute has not been that bad for a few weeks and even yesterday the commute was not the problem. I don't know...maybe because it's the middle of the week, or maybe it's because people are really just getting into the swing of the work week, whatever the reason is....I WISH IT COULD BE FIXED.

For the sake of length and the fact that I am really busy today, I will just state that the incident happened in a shopping center, by a soccer mom vehicle driver, and she clearly doesn't know that we drive on the right side of the road in America. If she had hit my car, I probably would be sitting in jail somewhere for assault not because I have an anger problem per say, but because I hate and I do mean HATE when people do idiotic things and just keep going about their day like they are in the right....WRONG!!!

With that said...I hope you have a wonderful Thursday! Is it supposed to rain today?!?

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

It's Here It's Here!!!!!

The much anticipated 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is here!!! American muscle cars have been making a come back and it is only fitting that the Camaro joined the ranks of old, but new again! It's a little bitter sweet I'm sure for General Motors since they have decided to dissolve the Pontiac brand and along with that goes the much loved GTO. Maybe in the future after rebounding, Pontiac may return who knows, but in the meanwhile...the Camaro is back ;-)

photo: motortrend.com

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

05.05.2009


Myspace Graphics

I ♥ These Commercials!

I am going to commercialize Tuesdays...every Tuesday I will have a new commercial that I like...they may be old or new considering DVR, I enjoy the luxury of watching or not. Guess you'll just have to wait and see!!!







Monday, May 4, 2009

Material Monday

Well I originally started writing this post on Friday and somehow I got lost in translation sooo I am starting fresh this rainy Monday and with that said....Happy Monday and Happy May!!

I attended the open house for the Center for Digital Imaging and Arts at Boston University on Saturday which was completely more than I expected. I enjoyed learning about their photography program and the fact that it's not school all over again (i.e. history of soap lol) which is something I didn't like about Corcoran. It's 18-months if you go part-time, (which I would be doing), and although it's a little pricey, I believe it's totally worth it. So that is one step into a direction I am excited to travel towards.

I did want to highlight some things that were of interest to me...

~I had a subscription to Oprah's magazine for my mother and along with that I now get emails from them...most of which I ignore, but this particular one sparked my interest so I thought I would share. On Oprah's sister site, thedailygreen.com, they have an article on the cleanest 15 foods that you do not have to buy organic due to their low exposure to pests, which means little to no pesticides. They also have a list of the dirtiest 12 foods that you should buy organic due to their high pest likability, and high pesticide exposure. Surely I'm not the only one bombarded by organic this and organic that everywhere you turn. It's nice to know that I don't have to pay 50% more for every single thing in the store.

~~As much as I am against touch screen technology...Dell has a new all-in-one touch screen desktop. Admittedly it is pretty hot!

~~~I'm six days late but Happy 100 Days in Office President Obama!!! Here's what he had to say...



Well enjoy the rain....Seattle anyone?!?