tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247164782024-03-07T11:01:59.456-07:00Awesomely Plainawesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-64527349736983057202008-12-01T21:59:00.007-07:002008-12-02T07:23:20.328-07:00Umm.. Not Exactly 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'...<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">We are all Spirit & Flesh, and so we are all part of the Creation around us. As John Lennon wrote: 'I am he, as you are he, as you are me, and we are all together'. One of the things I like the most is looking at the sky. Here is a picture of a recent sky from a road trip...</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHUZ3S0_wtfhzfU5MN2ADdGe8sssj9ZSqvBoZY0J6JqGpTrMtj9bbyD3IgllkFVPn2XJGJ4ePwB9bngUpriK5Kni1h0vjazjAX-OSIIyBznfxxLTBs-D7W-oAPOw06bJTQ585/s1600-h/Im+In+The+Sky+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 379px; height: 395px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHUZ3S0_wtfhzfU5MN2ADdGe8sssj9ZSqvBoZY0J6JqGpTrMtj9bbyD3IgllkFVPn2XJGJ4ePwB9bngUpriK5Kni1h0vjazjAX-OSIIyBznfxxLTBs-D7W-oAPOw06bJTQ585/s400/Im+In+The+Sky+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275198080812041378" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /></span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />... Actually, this is a crop of a larger pic, focusing on a portion of the sky as viewed thru the car window. Did you notice the clouds? If you look close, you'll notice that a reflection is captured in the car window, almost blending perfectly with the image of the clouds.<br /><br />OK, so it isn't exactly 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'... tis I.<br /><br />I am the Walrus. Goo goo g joob.awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-10553123896635051362008-11-27T04:09:00.005-07:002008-11-27T04:14:23.175-07:00Thanksgiving 2008Happiness is... warm, sock monkey slippers!!<br /><br />Be thankful for all things, big & small.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Rl1iAqujNYAFdAoWoKddCogMqE3H98xTcp0U_CV9Twp7wJxnQzGzpWlKm5hIek_8HhlA7eBvpW0TGPxJmbsgU5VlcAG2zYdmQ0j0OblsLrqdKRDuodd5Y2Wa-DWubF5M-IZy/s1600-h/Sock+Monkey+Slippers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Rl1iAqujNYAFdAoWoKddCogMqE3H98xTcp0U_CV9Twp7wJxnQzGzpWlKm5hIek_8HhlA7eBvpW0TGPxJmbsgU5VlcAG2zYdmQ0j0OblsLrqdKRDuodd5Y2Wa-DWubF5M-IZy/s400/Sock+Monkey+Slippers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273293557418211138" border="0" /></a>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-35312537000383481292008-11-21T06:24:00.009-07:002008-11-21T06:52:33.965-07:00The Annoyance<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwQfncCg-JUDIR745xaiFCv4UWxf4H8mEduTHF2OaKmyYQ3dfyHXCRiF41rhl_tcrAUoi04Z5tMFt35c0JDjBYn6nFpJkDnqL4_vuoXbrfLIuVhwe_A-u6ckBQtebaDg3jczY/s1600-h/Mall+Walkway.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwQfncCg-JUDIR745xaiFCv4UWxf4H8mEduTHF2OaKmyYQ3dfyHXCRiF41rhl_tcrAUoi04Z5tMFt35c0JDjBYn6nFpJkDnqL4_vuoXbrfLIuVhwe_A-u6ckBQtebaDg3jczY/s400/Mall+Walkway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271104338104325650" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I was doing some Christmas shopping recently at the Mall, and within a few minutes of arriving there, I was reminded of my one, singular annoyance of Mall shopping.<br /><br />It's not the crowds.<br /><br />It's not the prices.<br /><br />It's those Scent/Nails vendors, who have booths set up in the middle of the walkways, and who try to coax you aside to sample their goods.<br /><br />"Excuse me, do you have a minute?? Sir? Sir???..."<br /><br />At least most of them are polite. But, still... it annoys me. If I wanted to be sprayed with cologne or body spray, or wanted to have my nails buffed, I'd go to the booth on my own. If I'm obviously not heading there -- and in fact, I'm purposely doing as wide a loop around the booth as I can, to avoid being pulled aside & interrupted from my shopping -- then don't follow me down the walkway with insistant invitations to try your stuff.<br /><br />Yes, I'm fully aware that they are just trying to make a living.<br /><br />Yes, I'm fully aware that it's their job to do this.<br /><br />Yes, I'm fully aware that a certain percentage of them probably realize that they may annoy some shoppers, but they have to do it anyway, to get the paycheck.<br /><br />But, still... please let me go about my business & my shopping. If I want to partake in your product, however fine and fragrant it may be, I'll go over there. Otherwise, just let me walk by in peace.<br /></span>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-8830117830333331322008-11-12T11:58:00.005-07:002008-11-12T12:02:02.262-07:00<span style="font-size:180%;">the loss...<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzyH4QAO6Ikt_LvyzTWVUlZTduknQsHCODXa_cqueOYErTqNaaFrC4LdaE2Nd4bCCQzdF75-P9eSC6ai5-Gi13dpn_XaXWiypq6uD4vZ8sXGPneWTfMGUPESQNnwYqcwayAKk/s1600-h/PICT+1487+BW.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzyH4QAO6Ikt_LvyzTWVUlZTduknQsHCODXa_cqueOYErTqNaaFrC4LdaE2Nd4bCCQzdF75-P9eSC6ai5-Gi13dpn_XaXWiypq6uD4vZ8sXGPneWTfMGUPESQNnwYqcwayAKk/s400/PICT+1487+BW.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267847536441222178" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br />i can’t remember,<br />just now,<br /> the curve of your face, or<br /> the bend of your smile.<br /> And, holding these shadows<br /> gives me<br /> no comfort at all.<br /><br /></span>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-15119699381550174252008-11-10T15:48:00.012-07:002008-11-12T03:02:01.748-07:00Ghosts In The Night<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyZFUXm49JEX0tP9xMeiw5xRRGNrZib6Hrbowx8uZ9wAMeoZZfeaxwdqi8ohvFVnOl9-huq9jEp6ggmkiJ8i-gzU873n-DolHJQ4ZBHa2Hh2mnZF0YF8YJqH7K1Bs5V-AsREi/s1600-h/PICT1610.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyZFUXm49JEX0tP9xMeiw5xRRGNrZib6Hrbowx8uZ9wAMeoZZfeaxwdqi8ohvFVnOl9-huq9jEp6ggmkiJ8i-gzU873n-DolHJQ4ZBHa2Hh2mnZF0YF8YJqH7K1Bs5V-AsREi/s400/PICT1610.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267169799166784434" border="0" /></a>At some point in the summer, I had my curtains & windows open, to let in the brilliant sunshine and a nice cross breeze. As a rain storm began to gather later in the day, I closed the windows, but kept the curtains open.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaQzLrmOI1dTzgivRJAtj6KmGAXUq2qt1CGuSEMVemEcFxtG4r5aQ0D5TOOSI6Mq_x-U7aerXSGly4Vc0kp4wrHhUlhQOUTs9T60FQVKWa982q-UbwYt-u0URcUhD2fKdb1Ov/s1600-h/PICT1611.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaQzLrmOI1dTzgivRJAtj6KmGAXUq2qt1CGuSEMVemEcFxtG4r5aQ0D5TOOSI6Mq_x-U7aerXSGly4Vc0kp4wrHhUlhQOUTs9T60FQVKWa982q-UbwYt-u0URcUhD2fKdb1Ov/s400/PICT1611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267169669920941394" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Later that evening, I was walking down the hallway, and was a bit startled to see these two, HUGE, ghostly shapes, casting ominous shadows on my windows. The earlier rain had cooled things down from the mid-day heat, and the resulting condensation between the seperate window panes had made the eery shapes seem even more other-worldly.<br /><br />It took me a minute to figure out that I wasn't being visited by Aliens from Mars... A powerful, outdoor flood light on a building across the way, was causing these spooky <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYp84D3RLu4rDeez4eJzX-i0-Au8XLRObaRB_wswJcKaJ5rXvV6M2F124dGh1Pxwgp0beOK9uQgctOikDcRHTRZfOVJbA9Xj-DbuyLCTSr1DrmSTjmXZLe0hACz6k1-ey7Qlu-/s1600-h/PICT1615.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYp84D3RLu4rDeez4eJzX-i0-Au8XLRObaRB_wswJcKaJ5rXvV6M2F124dGh1Pxwgp0beOK9uQgctOikDcRHTRZfOVJbA9Xj-DbuyLCTSr1DrmSTjmXZLe0hACz6k1-ey7Qlu-/s400/PICT1615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267169467183056946" border="0" /></a>shapes to peer into my window, by silhouetting electrical power transformers which were positioned between that building, and my window...<br /><br />The moral of the story: Things are usually not as dire as they may seem. Never take counsel of your fears.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1cqRwdY8kFRsbx2xQ4i9JnUIt1XvyE3o0T19z61iFYMXIsdLSru7e5MTrHTFMvfO_iMT0r-rcFCrLvlH8Ltr2nfSVhpCe_sgvQd8wtg2p_IPqYWutRfq8_eRfButHPckA6cQ/s1600-h/PICT1730.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1cqRwdY8kFRsbx2xQ4i9JnUIt1XvyE3o0T19z61iFYMXIsdLSru7e5MTrHTFMvfO_iMT0r-rcFCrLvlH8Ltr2nfSVhpCe_sgvQd8wtg2p_IPqYWutRfq8_eRfButHPckA6cQ/s400/PICT1730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267169278434023426" border="0" /></a>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-88037331633196519002008-11-09T08:27:00.003-07:002008-11-09T08:34:58.191-07:00WICKED COOL FROST --<br />11-09-08<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYuHSHszIRI5phs57I60SgUAWNXonozOUHwCUylGHY-z6MWvnU3zzh5KUPk_8KSZYvlq1dl8m8QG1ECfBqOn57Xgv0mUrthVgIQ2dv2msupnUD8OiB1RgG6eE5jb3WpoXU_2K/s1600-h/First+Frost+Nov.+2008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYuHSHszIRI5phs57I60SgUAWNXonozOUHwCUylGHY-z6MWvnU3zzh5KUPk_8KSZYvlq1dl8m8QG1ECfBqOn57Xgv0mUrthVgIQ2dv2msupnUD8OiB1RgG6eE5jb3WpoXU_2K/s400/First+Frost+Nov.+2008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266680106892081970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I thought that this windshield frost made for a far-out, other-worldly type of planetary sky...awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-33539836164198095052008-11-02T14:27:00.014-07:002008-11-13T11:07:32.286-07:00Sunrise .. All Souls Day, 2008<span style="font-family:verdana;">The promise of a new day... Enjoy! Click the pics to enlarge...<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fZO4DnC8wolUh9IR0iWT8lGarWcT-69gOyksUyjJopDWQLQEVRAiOTdqHdwNZIjTXko3rEnLNJXpEO3F8GTEvSwCQpYBj2vGztGEizm3-56iLnm4YZYxY-E4bq6n2H7KtWty/s1600-h/PICT1633.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fZO4DnC8wolUh9IR0iWT8lGarWcT-69gOyksUyjJopDWQLQEVRAiOTdqHdwNZIjTXko3rEnLNJXpEO3F8GTEvSwCQpYBj2vGztGEizm3-56iLnm4YZYxY-E4bq6n2H7KtWty/s400/PICT1633.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264175957586839602" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNI4JS50e1QrgfbpOs0RA0VWyRiUO4Zk4rIHG5QuypAll4Gg05ztgfOUbL__UtnhMG_i3U6kzap3KdVfQxE1aglD3wa6ycu4FAR3nRsqetL23OqRYAy6cCGQYwCSt_rfDY3Wt/s1600-h/PICT1642.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNI4JS50e1QrgfbpOs0RA0VWyRiUO4Zk4rIHG5QuypAll4Gg05ztgfOUbL__UtnhMG_i3U6kzap3KdVfQxE1aglD3wa6ycu4FAR3nRsqetL23OqRYAy6cCGQYwCSt_rfDY3Wt/s400/PICT1642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264177992843150322" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhSjTzotHAUQHOR7cdtjZeztTw72dy_n3-Tv6MIIKzyABcMTzw-byc3PVDzVagNeNG3ydWatGsmBdw_mEVkLeF16yVdJ2HS58ojm6fozIaC6ADH9RASCXQyiPvuTY62hWCaLA/s1600-h/PICT1651.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhSjTzotHAUQHOR7cdtjZeztTw72dy_n3-Tv6MIIKzyABcMTzw-byc3PVDzVagNeNG3ydWatGsmBdw_mEVkLeF16yVdJ2HS58ojm6fozIaC6ADH9RASCXQyiPvuTY62hWCaLA/s400/PICT1651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264177507191054514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1HllJjyqGoTYkU0r3tWZ18cEG98lH7OUXfN3t_f6NCfzobzD7WM-JC1Wo039BFFezqrcsQF4XrWOvUVrylymh8VPY88SVwxoDoKVKGpocDTv2z2QyNFUFwbiBkBkKwmQf57U/s1600-h/PICT1647.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1HllJjyqGoTYkU0r3tWZ18cEG98lH7OUXfN3t_f6NCfzobzD7WM-JC1Wo039BFFezqrcsQF4XrWOvUVrylymh8VPY88SVwxoDoKVKGpocDTv2z2QyNFUFwbiBkBkKwmQf57U/s400/PICT1647.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264178627393971042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMGVKdAJxVqOHYpY0xci9dvE4rnepzNsSWnI2E-Q3R6V6T6B3oO4TpKJGiGbcP5iR53tTPd91IRT7r7k2HwwBNw-jOqaSMi42Jp2uL8Y_TCaM-ECW-xx4eMe8o6xEutr3zdw-/s1600-h/PICT1639.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMGVKdAJxVqOHYpY0xci9dvE4rnepzNsSWnI2E-Q3R6V6T6B3oO4TpKJGiGbcP5iR53tTPd91IRT7r7k2HwwBNw-jOqaSMi42Jp2uL8Y_TCaM-ECW-xx4eMe8o6xEutr3zdw-/s400/PICT1639.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264176463668763522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsbnqPgFw6F-d6f6gI3WPwT947eIJ2J05VvqR8kpe3ONjPD5xaeQY00fxARqN7CveUXGEpR2GjAR8AkiM8-3apWGkeC1ErlvMC9ma7NplQtmxLs-Nfk4q5id99oZtk6DQ0Umb/s1600-h/PICT1641.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsbnqPgFw6F-d6f6gI3WPwT947eIJ2J05VvqR8kpe3ONjPD5xaeQY00fxARqN7CveUXGEpR2GjAR8AkiM8-3apWGkeC1ErlvMC9ma7NplQtmxLs-Nfk4q5id99oZtk6DQ0Umb/s400/PICT1641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264176839638959314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXYBZrs35iY7HksYQTMMSWUqio3853H5jZeSPvG8Ir_h5MmvOnn0qY-VHihM30IinX3CVwz1-Ch2AJtgvAlekq9WCu2eLrofSkufMH0gyMOZlo9qxdyg_9a-hA1hlqYmk6AGP/s1600-h/PICT1643.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXYBZrs35iY7HksYQTMMSWUqio3853H5jZeSPvG8Ir_h5MmvOnn0qY-VHihM30IinX3CVwz1-Ch2AJtgvAlekq9WCu2eLrofSkufMH0gyMOZlo9qxdyg_9a-hA1hlqYmk6AGP/s400/PICT1643.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264176987013222290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrR-OF4rKXCZRo_TzUely_TCKLb3ldrV_enUf5Wgif3pths2NwkN1muQ9DmUhvhl419jOXomEqpPrpY6j6uFeVxt8lLKIN9altatbZx27BgH8VhCSxeY0S_MllZRmwnjdBNPb/s1600-h/PICT1644.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrR-OF4rKXCZRo_TzUely_TCKLb3ldrV_enUf5Wgif3pths2NwkN1muQ9DmUhvhl419jOXomEqpPrpY6j6uFeVxt8lLKIN9altatbZx27BgH8VhCSxeY0S_MllZRmwnjdBNPb/s400/PICT1644.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264177111494260770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q-UyREYZkWazMpDFItATrbycYpqDB0YMeDbwyjf6boT1BJHWU7wpbACy0pnO_8pHE2BN1pBcy2OzNkK-3Ywjp1xUr5sjgbeSZcpUcFKrU4APUlduEsoZ0n7vy_vciVllPnSZ/s1600-h/PICT1646.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q-UyREYZkWazMpDFItATrbycYpqDB0YMeDbwyjf6boT1BJHWU7wpbACy0pnO_8pHE2BN1pBcy2OzNkK-3Ywjp1xUr5sjgbeSZcpUcFKrU4APUlduEsoZ0n7vy_vciVllPnSZ/s400/PICT1646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264177261246413250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAohpIRE2xqlvnwK3Pz7ndflA4NCd8wjyS_YCdJYaY1qid8fdlfpnw1-xVm3bV39s7gLs0Q3oaWQiswaKYsA5UHNeNSEK0VwLjWKdF3nmbPi3dey-IHWAjMmTSwX9TfvRwykK/s1600-h/PICT1648.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAohpIRE2xqlvnwK3Pz7ndflA4NCd8wjyS_YCdJYaY1qid8fdlfpnw1-xVm3bV39s7gLs0Q3oaWQiswaKYsA5UHNeNSEK0VwLjWKdF3nmbPi3dey-IHWAjMmTSwX9TfvRwykK/s400/PICT1648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264177389871432162" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPKzcgF7jats-O8XnI5WyRIIwDriA-_KUo5kpye59qghP6CXbRijCZ_Q_EUf1pkzf-AGJHUcRaxco3hZ470fkYP7AcosbQLAGR1boFc4go4zcR3JrTxnPlaYhMBNqlG_lwFtt/s1600-h/PICT1645.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPKzcgF7jats-O8XnI5WyRIIwDriA-_KUo5kpye59qghP6CXbRijCZ_Q_EUf1pkzf-AGJHUcRaxco3hZ470fkYP7AcosbQLAGR1boFc4go4zcR3JrTxnPlaYhMBNqlG_lwFtt/s400/PICT1645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264178254603830002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyFOWtxcCFpEfWllfNi5Y7k0huobFnmAtpCx7JoXCQSverov8ZHny4mTe5tu0uX6jVFZI2m3tzuiLdlTqTN4Q9Iar4Am3gSHjT6mczQp8_Tqp_vWjGnYEcvXCuX_CzKfdc1DF/s1600-h/PICT1637.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyFOWtxcCFpEfWllfNi5Y7k0huobFnmAtpCx7JoXCQSverov8ZHny4mTe5tu0uX6jVFZI2m3tzuiLdlTqTN4Q9Iar4Am3gSHjT6mczQp8_Tqp_vWjGnYEcvXCuX_CzKfdc1DF/s400/PICT1637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264176186844810162" border="0" /></a>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-28702054228563501752008-10-30T02:17:00.014-06:002008-10-30T11:05:48.734-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0AMqnDllAJqyywkithfhUuy7T_68MK09rGeyQYAZhpbTPQTErRbyNVpgsB4gh-yMgq_6r-mvxOh5VL_YI7y7ojOFvf739qjkB9nKtCqKJHL1mro6Ace6UjFU9GPKZozh6q7w/s1600-h/web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0AMqnDllAJqyywkithfhUuy7T_68MK09rGeyQYAZhpbTPQTErRbyNVpgsB4gh-yMgq_6r-mvxOh5VL_YI7y7ojOFvf739qjkB9nKtCqKJHL1mro6Ace6UjFU9GPKZozh6q7w/s320/web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262860661980820674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Blowing Off The Cobwebs....<br /></span><br />OK.. so the dryspell of which I spoke in my last blog entry.. ummm... March 25, 2007.. lasted for about 19 months!! I'm suddenly psyched to get back into the blogging thing, and give it another go!<br /><br />I hope that I won't run out of ideas... thanx for checking back, and sticking around!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7ipEGg-SUUFHdKLRS_D9WT3-N9_dtbHM3vBlxclhrgjb9M-gIotU0nnD5cUc7Xz6ESvHW461vZSu2iiusUzagaWgSnU82DVcqNd7b8nE-ELE7be-hjssAAUzw3kWjY0vUrNb/s1600-h/PICT1535.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7ipEGg-SUUFHdKLRS_D9WT3-N9_dtbHM3vBlxclhrgjb9M-gIotU0nnD5cUc7Xz6ESvHW461vZSu2iiusUzagaWgSnU82DVcqNd7b8nE-ELE7be-hjssAAUzw3kWjY0vUrNb/s200/PICT1535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262862166539729986" border="0" /></a> As with all pictures in my blogs, click on the pics to enlarge. This blog entry contains pictures I've taken of spider webs. The large intro pic was, of course, taken during summer. And the 3 smaller pics are spider webs taken during the winter months, after a fresh snow. It's amazing how much weight those things can carry... If you enlarge the pic farthest to the left, you will see a captured red ant, still dangling from the web's deadly ensnares!! He no doubt made a tastey winter morsal for some resourceful spider!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidB0Kvky50zE-ETK1Ldt8rOd9ATWi56-hH2r-VhSSPwy4mKmRnh9YUtLGVbf5iYmyyMBpQQJ8m6dsOHVIKFqwSQAsoUqFMbga5AW9XAXB598khQnUN6uo91hJ039wLoC5Wrdw5/s1600-h/PICT1524.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidB0Kvky50zE-ETK1Ldt8rOd9ATWi56-hH2r-VhSSPwy4mKmRnh9YUtLGVbf5iYmyyMBpQQJ8m6dsOHVIKFqwSQAsoUqFMbga5AW9XAXB598khQnUN6uo91hJ039wLoC5Wrdw5/s200/PICT1524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262861327948671314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJ-6fPUKtOktg5EdcaXQjO5SwsHLBP7NIxiN-sDJYEoTg28u65TDdmpQ9gj9NUjtiVdQ1Uo4twhaWTq0qzrWPtcxBGHT7P4REzpxlAC-CHrK5n0P0V0VnIQ3wsjAiiZ4aK-3a/s1600-h/PICT1531.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJ-6fPUKtOktg5EdcaXQjO5SwsHLBP7NIxiN-sDJYEoTg28u65TDdmpQ9gj9NUjtiVdQ1Uo4twhaWTq0qzrWPtcxBGHT7P4REzpxlAC-CHrK5n0P0V0VnIQ3wsjAiiZ4aK-3a/s200/PICT1531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262861956547531042" border="0" /></a>~Awesomely Plain :-)<br /><br />(Note to self: As of this date, exactly 2800 visitors).awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-19239420799214092042007-03-25T21:30:00.005-06:002008-11-13T02:20:45.138-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvYp_VTTlkHQpnO1hd5MjIjaAz18EeVdgd_ctyfQqoZBBg-KrSTcoeM-PzUkCPySZgGR8kA8pa7auZnpLVh8Q9Kf6BsDbw23MEe97a272K-0D4maOfTp8yqpIm3x_DtmVxBmR/s1600-h/Blog+1+Yr..jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvYp_VTTlkHQpnO1hd5MjIjaAz18EeVdgd_ctyfQqoZBBg-KrSTcoeM-PzUkCPySZgGR8kA8pa7auZnpLVh8Q9Kf6BsDbw23MEe97a272K-0D4maOfTp8yqpIm3x_DtmVxBmR/s400/Blog+1+Yr..jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046148330640466162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Happy Birthday...</span><br /></span><br />Today marks the 1 Year Anniversary of this blog....<br /><br />Having started out with alot of ideas, and alot of really good posts, this blog reached it's 1 year birthday with silence...<br /><br />Even tho I've had a dry-streak for inspiration as of late, I'm sure I'll again hit a creative streak, and begin posting relatively often, soon.<br /><br />I couldn't let this anniversary pass, without a HUGE thank you to the person who gave me the motivation to get Awesomely Plain off of the ground... the very first of this past year's 1783 visitors, and the only person who even knew of this blog for the first few posts...<br /><br />In fact, the entire 2nd blog, of March 27, 2006 ("<a href="http://awesomelyplain.blogspot.com/2006_03_27_archive.html">Blogs. Sitcoms. And Life...</a>") was inspired by this person, and a conversation we had: "...Being partially happy isn't really being happy at all, is it?". Check it out.. it's one of my better postings!<br /><br />For that awesomely-un-plain person, you can have the honors of blowing out the candle, and taking the first piece of cake... thanx for helping me get this thing going, and for all of your support & encouragement when I first started out with this experiment. I wouldn't have written any of the 57 posts of my first year if you hadn't encouraged me to just do it!<br /><br />And to all of my readers... THANK YOU! And, here's hoping that my dry-spell for inspiration ends soon!<br /><br /></span><span class="verifybox"><b><br /></b></span>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-87648865600309369682007-02-25T02:11:00.002-07:002008-10-30T11:01:20.451-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA9mykFZS25lv6L8VJ9UP390KA37B_3z7wIGnta65HERUZnCphbHuCnxANn3YyyWGSpfPRUurdNQksv1SH8I7n4rIWn8kXZdnPpcTWR2uIAVMtCm98E5JrbkMgEU8Biviv7fz/s1600-h/chocolate+bunny.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA9mykFZS25lv6L8VJ9UP390KA37B_3z7wIGnta65HERUZnCphbHuCnxANn3YyyWGSpfPRUurdNQksv1SH8I7n4rIWn8kXZdnPpcTWR2uIAVMtCm98E5JrbkMgEU8Biviv7fz/s400/chocolate+bunny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035395716278629746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Of Swords and Bunnies....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I came across an all-too-familiar occurance yesterday...</span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br />I was looking for a simple product -- one that you'd think would be easily available in some form or another during the middle of the winter. I wasn't looking for anything exotic or novelty, or rare.. just a freakin fire log to help start fires in a fireplace.<br /><br />Went to all of the places that might conceivably carry such a thing, and found NOTHING!<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >I was so upset that I did the only thing I could do at the time: I bought a handful of Hershey's Chocolate bars, and went home, and opened a jar of peanut butter & feasted</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZXnd_OWpojTIPijzOG-EvuX3KjTFgxdRESNL0lvvQWq3CpSZeDsAQ6RobbZk1SuxklGkEJIN9syQjr7c7KkQjq4etHvL7E42pu55rOF6r5JBCvzaeHkQAWcq3rrzXoTyh4Kg/s1600-h/chocolate+frustration.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZXnd_OWpojTIPijzOG-EvuX3KjTFgxdRESNL0lvvQWq3CpSZeDsAQ6RobbZk1SuxklGkEJIN9syQjr7c7KkQjq4etHvL7E42pu55rOF6r5JBCvzaeHkQAWcq3rrzXoTyh4Kg/s320/chocolate+frustration.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035395574544708962" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > away my frustrations.<br /><br />No joke.. instead of buying Hershey's Chocolate bars, I was this close --> <-- to buying a chocolate easter bunny or two, just so I could bite off their heads! Living in small town America has it's benefits -- mostly, it's quiet, and not nearly as stressful or hectic as large cities. But when it comes to shopping options, or wanting to find common things</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > (especially technology related), small towns are definitely a two-edged sword: you will either find nothing; or if you do find it, will pay an arm & a leg for it. Just thinking about it again as I type this is getting me upset, again...<br /><br />CHOCOLATE BUNNIES -- BEWARE!!!!</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyO6ZfhU3ccBhcYiGh1lmDv4JgpZ2WazDQepC_Q-T-jy6IexLQY1I93ereBbKi6VKy69tVmUwBDlfEbFH-air_hX9XQDCfaugqagn_PT3OtyH4iYMPobxLPU5NKwcYvuhUisd/s1600-h/chocolate+bars.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyO6ZfhU3ccBhcYiGh1lmDv4JgpZ2WazDQepC_Q-T-jy6IexLQY1I93ereBbKi6VKy69tVmUwBDlfEbFH-air_hX9XQDCfaugqagn_PT3OtyH4iYMPobxLPU5NKwcYvuhUisd/s400/chocolate+bars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035395325436605778" border="0" /></a>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-26126253895282785672007-02-04T03:26:00.001-07:002008-10-30T04:02:41.561-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XUyz6g_ffQUTL03zJTeSFiKofCdiQzdd6NVZnlVHlm5XEnFnwe6ucyXEKgGQ-hxw4Po8Sk0sYR-wcXfHiDfCJg2iMMr0jsOUnhjW56KGDTZkGgjVVYImqyq8C17EE0I4pX6D/s1600-h/Godzilla+pic+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XUyz6g_ffQUTL03zJTeSFiKofCdiQzdd6NVZnlVHlm5XEnFnwe6ucyXEKgGQ-hxw4Po8Sk0sYR-wcXfHiDfCJg2iMMr0jsOUnhjW56KGDTZkGgjVVYImqyq8C17EE0I4pX6D/s400/Godzilla+pic+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027610777077834290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Save Us, Godzilla!!...</span><br /><a href="http://www.archive.org/download/awesomelyplaingodzilladryer/Godzilla_0001.wmv" title="The Godzilla Dryer (WMV)" rel="enclosure" onclick="window.open('http://freevlog.org/popup/popup.php?url='+this.href,'video','width=360,height=305,top=20,left=20,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=yes,left=0,top=0');return false">The Godzilla Dryer (WMV)</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.archive.org/download/awesomelyplaingodzilladryerMOV/godzillaMOV.mov" title="The Godzilla Dryer (QuickTime)" rel="enclosure" onclick="window.open('http://freevlog.org/popup/popup.php?url='+this.href,'video','width=360,height=305,top=20,left=20,scrollbars=no,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=yes,left=0,top=0');return false">The Godzilla Dryer (QuickTime)</a><br /><br />Here is an example of how my little brain works....<br /><br />For some time now, I've noticed that whenever I pull the lint tray out of my dryer, the sound of the wire mesh against the metal of the dryer makes a sound that reminds me exactly of the sound that Godzilla makes, when he growls...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I finally had a chance to prove my theory yesterday, when a Godzilla movie was showing on the Sci-Fi channel. I took video of me taking out the lint tray from my dryer, and video of Godzilla doing his yelp. It's uncanny how alike they sound!<br /><br />Throw in some clips from the movie, add a snippet of the song "Animal", by Def Leppard, and you have this blog!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I'm looking forward to the comments on this one... :-)<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTO7v49HiFjdUneyBwGxZunYWZnAsFvxaDJnxbhWjLS9xX-YRI7uTsoxXSHSA3-NvkDy2oO3gS636LH0gW7PF8-bf2xRAynZcFJeLf8OzFvOBvZ8c38Wj2uGm0-u_ca3E56xE5/s1600-h/Godzilla+pic+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTO7v49HiFjdUneyBwGxZunYWZnAsFvxaDJnxbhWjLS9xX-YRI7uTsoxXSHSA3-NvkDy2oO3gS636LH0gW7PF8-bf2xRAynZcFJeLf8OzFvOBvZ8c38Wj2uGm0-u_ca3E56xE5/s400/Godzilla+pic+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027610613869077026" border="0" /></a>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-86532593087919619772007-01-22T14:26:00.002-07:002008-11-13T11:09:18.339-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmgKq4D0bhGAdaErEneZwB1f15s6kux8Ua-sevcLYB5_plOG7sravbhtUBKqiA6TuG6r3XYbWE1vAYRaS5HkCamsCEKuu22No5MXk7_Hfeo8fhXQicog5TYH_aZU26rHD4ZjY/s1600-h/15.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmgKq4D0bhGAdaErEneZwB1f15s6kux8Ua-sevcLYB5_plOG7sravbhtUBKqiA6TuG6r3XYbWE1vAYRaS5HkCamsCEKuu22No5MXk7_Hfeo8fhXQicog5TYH_aZU26rHD4ZjY/s400/15.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022968556408961746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;">The Fascination...</span><br /><br />I don't know why I have such a fascination with sunrises & sunsets, or the sky, in general? Maybe because it is never exactly the same? Maybe because the colors are always incredible? Maybe because it's an easy pic to take, that usually doesn't require me to put on shoes, or change into something besides comfy pjs?<br /><br />Anyway, I ran across these sunrise pics that I took way back in 2005. Yes, I take alot of </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">sunrise and sunset pics... definitely a fascination for me.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> always, click the p</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4YP0TpMtmdQG8-rKWLY31fr9wH-d_BXrWAQXZa1siPb364_pycSUCyGOXr-Qyhzl2IVVWwAex_41KX987y7qUtxi5RSAS5JFQeMXcqJFTuSvxvxCNL6Fg3PInw478seMtx4P/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4YP0TpMtmdQG8-rKWLY31fr9wH-d_BXrWAQXZa1siPb364_pycSUCyGOXr-Qyhzl2IVVWwAex_41KX987y7qUtxi5RSAS5JFQeMXcqJFTuSvxvxCNL6Fg3PInw478seMtx4P/s200/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022967869214194370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ics to</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsMGJB4JQxIX3r5Ze7J4dFYMhlmcZeOWWUujKyh9BdrlN5NsekLIVds1eTZamFCcH-O_sJAcdlqpxGJF09E8_HAxLkBRAd6JXClClywcZbilQn_VPStPEEjw6YbTIpQMvytO5/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsMGJB4JQxIX3r5Ze7J4dFYMhlmcZeOWWUujKyh9BdrlN5NsekLIVds1eTZamFCcH-O_sJAcdlqpxGJF09E8_HAxLkBRAd6JXClClywcZbilQn_VPStPEEjw6YbTIpQMvytO5/s200/4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022967779019881138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> enlarge</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj330ZEwDF5fUEX-u-f5QZXGBlQ5e2F5Res2t36POWsYIOEiI5mt8o03N5xuIRlb1f2lByjkeHV0GSGCsv5VcpSpGy_xlUQZveAb0uhDJQ67i3cLMu2FpfnCPUuSx4cSsv5DPJo/s1600-h/8.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj330ZEwDF5fUEX-u-f5QZXGBlQ5e2F5Res2t36POWsYIOEiI5mt8o03N5xuIRlb1f2lByjkeHV0GSGCsv5VcpSpGy_xlUQZveAb0uhDJQ67i3cLMu2FpfnCPUuSx4cSsv5DPJo/s200/8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022967598631254674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogZQ71VlbNj62g92wZnn2OBq1yUK-W64KsT3OP47NWtkBkYzODAI1np15-WNYtcW06MvMSkmorwaf8nOEovU7IWLsn9GWGVFfLWPVOm0CmsZztEu2xxROx56P_EERk3LKsptE/s1600-h/6.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogZQ71VlbNj62g92wZnn2OBq1yUK-W64KsT3OP47NWtkBkYzODAI1np15-WNYtcW06MvMSkmorwaf8nOEovU7IWLsn9GWGVFfLWPVOm0CmsZztEu2xxROx56P_EERk3LKsptE/s200/6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022967671645698722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSqvGuGxQ2P6M1JEhQZFowDG9QPPhNBmF9lBZqqfFaci5hT2Tsrdv7Meg7FxDOoA45_mKVJdCaMLHC5GJ9fBXnnoLQw0_MTdLLZbMHiFre1sQrjvgXFctXztC3qFoB3wyY9MD/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSqvGuGxQ2P6M1JEhQZFowDG9QPPhNBmF9lBZqqfFaci5hT2Tsrdv7Meg7FxDOoA45_mKVJdCaMLHC5GJ9fBXnnoLQw0_MTdLLZbMHiFre1sQrjvgXFctXztC3qFoB3wyY9MD/s200/11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022967517026876034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsyXaoe82-RgG1JSmO5DeeZBJwcPbDbJiUMAS8D62FKsJZTd_4rSHVSeY9Cg60HhUgnjgXlaBMCr0vYa-mTpPQocsT6hKhFrjEvrGaWhp60q-RMO5zmIYo6e4Y05DsbEKiQxg/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsyXaoe82-RgG1JSmO5DeeZBJwcPbDbJiUMAS8D62FKsJZTd_4rSHVSeY9Cg60HhUgnjgXlaBMCr0vYa-mTpPQocsT6hKhFrjEvrGaWhp60q-RMO5zmIYo6e4Y05DsbEKiQxg/s200/12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022967392472824434" border="0" /></a>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-53715787091315761102007-01-19T10:31:00.001-07:002008-10-30T13:23:11.226-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2XQx0vBbTPnntDKFdIQo76Uql2_cNGhcPLLW0bI_iY5glVXbBDg8O_ZadKHyoubmUr3osSq28RCrtDIP5gTeIpp3njRLhcCE0vBYnWHcNyyBqpsEco3y7MkrYLwQuM5nlggv/s1600-h/Ice+Patterns+-+Morning+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2XQx0vBbTPnntDKFdIQo76Uql2_cNGhcPLLW0bI_iY5glVXbBDg8O_ZadKHyoubmUr3osSq28RCrtDIP5gTeIpp3njRLhcCE0vBYnWHcNyyBqpsEco3y7MkrYLwQuM5nlggv/s400/Ice+Patterns+-+Morning+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021796447013520338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Ice Patterns At Morning & Midnite...<br /></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3xxQFjqWRW4bqxEhZTLPbb2_Hgzgu8Lm2s23GY_rsmUlRnesQS0fyHLFmDgrQWEBgFfQXf7V7CAKMMp7ram0l7IYdlEFu1SnCKDZqeFMlM2s2MCPJV1Q1vrpTPky8N9c4kbz/s1600-h/Ice+Pattern+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3xxQFjqWRW4bqxEhZTLPbb2_Hgzgu8Lm2s23GY_rsmUlRnesQS0fyHLFmDgrQWEBgFfQXf7V7CAKMMp7ram0l7IYdlEFu1SnCKDZqeFMlM2s2MCPJV1Q1vrpTPky8N9c4kbz/s200/Ice+Pattern+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021796979589465074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">With all of these intensely cold</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> nites, I've noticed that the ice</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> patterns on my windows</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> are pretty amazing...<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">These four pics were taken at different times during the course of the day.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The larger pics, at the top and bottom of this blog entry, </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">were taken around 10am. The </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9TGD1NXZUNRZ1bpWwpupOyZkoxP8FnscK5VGktR6p4AzsWWpoEBdE4JvS5VHVOCI9l-jRufMk_p55RC9mVLycZ-HhDmHmqC97b2OLudW08Ik7tH_4wmfqB590Lzil29lBisn/s1600-h/Ice+Pattern+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9TGD1NXZUNRZ1bpWwpupOyZkoxP8FnscK5VGktR6p4AzsWWpoEBdE4JvS5VHVOCI9l-jRufMk_p55RC9mVLycZ-HhDmHmqC97b2OLudW08Ik7tH_4wmfqB590Lzil29lBisn/s200/Ice+Pattern+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021796812085740514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">smaller, offset to the left pics, were taken a little bit after </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">midnite.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Enjoy winter's quiet, hidden beauty... As always -- click on the pics to enlarge.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkpmXOyUh0gIu5lLkCkXxvQAT-FHIElYwaQoQENztbsojkqSpcQFBLxP0Dt4L5tSBuUXMz68-e-M_JoMNWRMWxhUqS7fVSq7KqApBSP5SCLN6dLZ59xqa0nzFUBuL8zQPeQKn/s1600-h/Ice+Patterns+-+Morning+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkpmXOyUh0gIu5lLkCkXxvQAT-FHIElYwaQoQENztbsojkqSpcQFBLxP0Dt4L5tSBuUXMz68-e-M_JoMNWRMWxhUqS7fVSq7KqApBSP5SCLN6dLZ59xqa0nzFUBuL8zQPeQKn/s400/Ice+Patterns+-+Morning+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021792907960468386" border="0" /></a>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-40965406474269629732007-01-15T19:31:00.003-07:002008-11-13T11:12:52.341-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxwy8utgi2UBd5pH_KrTljsyivQ_74rHLqnjyxp99o8TC197sjcV-ZNN5XvXVaAzikfdEvVUA8DzjGfBR9YagIRdhRtn3V1vKaGjLbBzIfQzOcm0p4NiFRJ1yK1lVVOgRQung/s1600-h/ufo12.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxwy8utgi2UBd5pH_KrTljsyivQ_74rHLqnjyxp99o8TC197sjcV-ZNN5XvXVaAzikfdEvVUA8DzjGfBR9YagIRdhRtn3V1vKaGjLbBzIfQzOcm0p4NiFRJ1yK1lVVOgRQung/s400/ufo12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020441118543659810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;">On Second Thought...</span><br /><br />As some of you may remember, I wrote a '<a href="http://awesomelyplain.blogspot.com/2006/05/bigfoot-we-hardly-knew-ye-myths-and.html">Myths & Controversies Blog</a>' last yr, where I laid out my thoughts on some of the great urban myths of our time...<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">... But, I think I need to re-examine my opinions on at least one of those urban myths: UFOs.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The pic above, as well as the .Gif 'movie' (below) composed of 15 still pics that I, myself, took between 4:52am & 5:12am on September 8, 2004, from my front porch -- are pics of an unidentified object that I witnessed. Another person, on the other side of town, saw it for over an hour, also. I can't say what it was, but I can say what it wasn't: it wasn't a star, or a plane, or a comet, or a weather balloon. It changed posit</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ion in the sky -- forward, back, up, down. It was as brighter than the street lamp just across the street from me. And I watched it for over an hour before it disappeared.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Why do I bring this up now?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Yesterday, I was trying to find a phone number for a friend who I hadn't talked to in over a decade. I went thru my old phone bills to try to find the phone number (yes, I have all of my phone bills since 1991! This shouldn't surprise you, if you've read </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://awesomelyplain.blogspot.com/2006/12/use-it-up.html">this blog</a> that I wrote last December).<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anyway, I came across <span style="font-style: italic;">alot</span> of phone numbers to places that I have <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">NO FREAKIN'</span> idea who I knew who lived there!! We're talkin' <span style="font-style: italic;">absolutely NO recognition</span> of the cities or numbers that were on my phone bills. <span style="font-style: italic;">No idea</span> who I knew who lived there at the time.<br /><br />Blank. Nada. Zip. Totally <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">NO</span> clue.<br /><br />It was as if a 4 yr period of time from 1991 - 1995 was completely erased from my</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> memory...<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">... Suddenly, that "abducted by space aliens" theory started to look pretty good! </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />True story about the 'UFO' that I took pics of, and about the phone number search. I did find the number I was looking for -- it was a number I called in 1995 -- but it had been disconnected. Imagine that -- that person had moved in the past 11 yrs!.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1N2tQKsFCZmmAN7JyuQfCUi56IJOVpAhF1DjPupxQ-ADYZfIs7822R85Li2p6E283oKCNhyphenhyphenaTaDlH3-XYF2aEKuoQer7MTxdHyl6ieNvUAjYtja4HnLdew8RGl-fcPM50p_k/s1600-h/ufo+sept+8,2004.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1N2tQKsFCZmmAN7JyuQfCUi56IJOVpAhF1DjPupxQ-ADYZfIs7822R85Li2p6E283oKCNhyphenhyphenaTaDlH3-XYF2aEKuoQer7MTxdHyl6ieNvUAjYtja4HnLdew8RGl-fcPM50p_k/s320/ufo+sept+8,2004.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020449575334265650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">BTW, this is my very first .GIF 'movie' that I've made. I made it using the website, Media Convert, to convert my UFO .jpeg pics to .gif images, and then to the .GIF movie, above. Click on the pic above this paragraph to view the .GIF movie of the unidentified object that I witnessed.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-34148335675275396792007-01-13T01:14:00.003-07:002008-10-30T13:22:37.933-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtEH7ey0kRyCTCLpcvYxsYRRvi3WUOWTqPRSl8xxARQxLxYH8a8xwr7xX9zstRIiyfPTuVYHkhKRTLQly0Q7_i6PdyTNgYeiFCMbAZJRhy4udFHPou4g9Ffvk7Ilpou83GBGN/s1600-h/Zz1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtEH7ey0kRyCTCLpcvYxsYRRvi3WUOWTqPRSl8xxARQxLxYH8a8xwr7xX9zstRIiyfPTuVYHkhKRTLQly0Q7_i6PdyTNgYeiFCMbAZJRhy4udFHPou4g9Ffvk7Ilpou83GBGN/s400/Zz1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019423151164965602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Hearty Souls...</span><br /><br />This isn't the easiest place on the planet to live... as I'm writing this blog, it is (-)8*F..</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and with the wind chill, almost 20* <span style="font-style: italic;">below</span> zero (F). Is it any wonder why I practically live under my electric blanket for almost 7</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9ts47CLJGPhLi4618aV8go1gP6xJ2SZJVvbtKAbwBG6JuV3AIscG22xldFDRZxuV3B4YDh8CIIq8XlOuv5fKND6SStYdiruN6IaG7TkGVHFJ1UhxJKlmcsiYPf5P04Db6C5F/s1600-h/Zz4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9ts47CLJGPhLi4618aV8go1gP6xJ2SZJVvbtKAbwBG6JuV3AIscG22xldFDRZxuV3B4YDh8CIIq8XlOuv5fKND6SStYdiruN6IaG7TkGVHFJ1UhxJKlmcsiYPf5P04Db6C5F/s320/Zz4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019425238519071506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> months out of the yr?<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yes, this place is not for wimps, or the faint of heart. And tho it does have it's own</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> beauty about it, it does get very hard remembering </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">why anyone would willingly choose to live here... and just when we are about to forget why... our very brief, but excellent summer rolls around... all 10 wks of it!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It takes more than a hearty soul to endure these cold winters, and the biting wind... it takes having roots soo deep that you couldn't cut them with an axe.<br /><br />... And it takes a very, very good electric blanket.<br /><br />Stay warm, wherever you are. As always, click the pics to enlarge.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMsN3JjCvAck1xPZAfsOhnJ9VkKxWkEVaHGCPs0HESmIMbazivC_RNuaHSPvD-xAfAiI9YjBmF5-9zhcAehFeXIZsDJjYy4DRfmqdnZwtZHowb5VjvPctdPOrO_tIVJujqZKr/s1600-h/Zz2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMsN3JjCvAck1xPZAfsOhnJ9VkKxWkEVaHGCPs0HESmIMbazivC_RNuaHSPvD-xAfAiI9YjBmF5-9zhcAehFeXIZsDJjYy4DRfmqdnZwtZHowb5VjvPctdPOrO_tIVJujqZKr/s320/Zz2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5019422674423595730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-58243375879603945132007-01-04T02:16:00.002-07:002008-10-30T04:01:35.331-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.archive.org/download/awesomelyplainThunderRainSummer2006/thunder2.mp3"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpm-i5RvwxC2l19pRR4A68Q7MbiJzFw4CyOZrSYXTC7lB1xcbLrSdHIIEHfvKLv9FzQ9HP3uQvrQ2kQjbsgmsaGSjuOsoPBk3HBkLcYPJzN2sq5BTmcfmYHVYMgmOFe7PgHT1/s400/black+blog+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016100708754547458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;">The Black Blog...</span><br /></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77F0NAyrt4NymmKqMeMLjKh96CdI9agPTSDpPDjB-jSjikAxpedBY-Mzw2HeRtSTboK5Zj9zWfPqY9bJriUC1loCpqnGrvQvIoN0TQqcpS4PW7w6Yo5XSBuiy855-EQT7VkVQ/s1600-h/black+blog+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77F0NAyrt4NymmKqMeMLjKh96CdI9agPTSDpPDjB-jSjikAxpedBY-Mzw2HeRtSTboK5Zj9zWfPqY9bJriUC1loCpqnGrvQvIoN0TQqcpS4PW7w6Yo5XSBuiy855-EQT7VkVQ/s400/black+blog+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016097109571953378" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Come,</span><br /></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> and I shall show you</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> a sorrow</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> so</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">deep</span>,<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> a pain</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> so</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">vivid</span>,</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" > that you shall not<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> know it</span><br />until it is<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> shown</span><br />to you.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Revelation</span>.<br /><br />(click on the lightning pic)<br />(click <a href="http://www.hotget.com/videocode/Metallica-Nothing-Else-Matters,6068.html">here</a>, for a Metallica video that goes w this blog).<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoSn8fec9vQUVBgS4daMLYgYn3oXdlobwPt1NnCvxIaE9aincokYUFWQbIrzbrE9SDvnGItiMzlU790Hpe4YTNn80_C0EKdmLoC8_AvjTLeiOu8IXYrXo1488C-5U5RL0ISas/s1600-h/black+blog+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoSn8fec9vQUVBgS4daMLYgYn3oXdlobwPt1NnCvxIaE9aincokYUFWQbIrzbrE9SDvnGItiMzlU790Hpe4YTNn80_C0EKdmLoC8_AvjTLeiOu8IXYrXo1488C-5U5RL0ISas/s320/black+blog+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016101279985197842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKJSUhYw7UR7WuPWwVLMHRAfXIvJr61jFv9I6-JzFTf-z8BLAvrApCiBb9akMqGua-abLdeKZz-5UoAUKn0Muq_zDriYI8eV8IpO3gZOXvqkuabz6yHSDHL_S4p8Q3rO9rwIr/s1600-h/01-04-07+00%3B54%3B02001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 176.191px; height: 232.381px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKJSUhYw7UR7WuPWwVLMHRAfXIvJr61jFv9I6-JzFTf-z8BLAvrApCiBb9akMqGua-abLdeKZz-5UoAUKn0Muq_zDriYI8eV8IpO3gZOXvqkuabz6yHSDHL_S4p8Q3rO9rwIr/s400/01-04-07+00%3B54%3B02001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5016084130180784690" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span></span></span> </span></div>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-38354850288376883342006-12-30T07:46:00.003-07:002008-10-30T13:29:46.220-06:00<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >No Words...<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjJX4SAFPY4KObW3hyphenhyphen0or2JVGJ5i7EGo4QlL0PIUA2vqJs0LiTV33SpjbSU6yvuMFwtSrBqyrbq_WPlKDi_b7K9RvEw7nYyNJ3Xh-nZez5WdQkKbkVPTeEMiq7gbrnHbiW6iq/s1600-h/PICT0532.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjJX4SAFPY4KObW3hyphenhyphen0or2JVGJ5i7EGo4QlL0PIUA2vqJs0LiTV33SpjbSU6yvuMFwtSrBqyrbq_WPlKDi_b7K9RvEw7nYyNJ3Xh-nZez5WdQkKbkVPTeEMiq7gbrnHbiW6iq/s400/PICT0532.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014330921909971426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6wzES1pt0l-T603XLvNfR_4e6WYJDiHhwdW2Ppj1bknRqr8Z5gueNMjYZYsr1JXy9i6bY-U5M7kK8qs6E5cXLKYqdyXlY0U_0DptbaPie4TAvNEq3UBxHrVsTpkpBx95zeEo/s1600-h/PICT0534.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6wzES1pt0l-T603XLvNfR_4e6WYJDiHhwdW2Ppj1bknRqr8Z5gueNMjYZYsr1JXy9i6bY-U5M7kK8qs6E5cXLKYqdyXlY0U_0DptbaPie4TAvNEq3UBxHrVsTpkpBx95zeEo/s400/PICT0534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014330797355919826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxHMLA2rMG1LZk7MouyHwPGveKomZo4enVtfaNKTQofFScOzhArwWgunGACrNB_PTVx_r3jK8oDi_-ibnPCWFyAe6YjoTZQYGfeHXZDlZt9Lv3WsSgloAaQFeTaa2s0M9wPp2/s1600-h/PICT0535.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxHMLA2rMG1LZk7MouyHwPGveKomZo4enVtfaNKTQofFScOzhArwWgunGACrNB_PTVx_r3jK8oDi_-ibnPCWFyAe6YjoTZQYGfeHXZDlZt9Lv3WsSgloAaQFeTaa2s0M9wPp2/s400/PICT0535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014330599787424194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZ9mnEL-k0j-Y3tjrQSp9X8sbagSVcGaIHg6T-5wE-NMrNpJXiPGA8CKyTJgFi08XUQ8B0ls4aFgMNvOG-me6qYI-9Al6xaBwOdFH1Na9tKzjE_DhHoNe55CZ17_b2cQmPq-o/s1600-h/PICT0536.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZ9mnEL-k0j-Y3tjrQSp9X8sbagSVcGaIHg6T-5wE-NMrNpJXiPGA8CKyTJgFi08XUQ8B0ls4aFgMNvOG-me6qYI-9Al6xaBwOdFH1Na9tKzjE_DhHoNe55CZ17_b2cQmPq-o/s400/PICT0536.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014330470938405298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwTUGvHtqU6PZu6XgK-Z-B1w0bwhv2cxT3JgMfByZMr2hITCe88XNLqcqRMOJGO4YO9MzMPLLLbWiGQ8EIZdUZ12DSzdKKHYBRoI_e4Jskx21VVPqHB7sr9wp4sJjaHz7jORs/s1600-h/PICT0537.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwTUGvHtqU6PZu6XgK-Z-B1w0bwhv2cxT3JgMfByZMr2hITCe88XNLqcqRMOJGO4YO9MzMPLLLbWiGQ8EIZdUZ12DSzdKKHYBRoI_e4Jskx21VVPqHB7sr9wp4sJjaHz7jORs/s400/PICT0537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014330350679320994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJYEn6b57rb_OD7QJN8HRzyl8HTwZtIcALiuOMGBmC7x-g6RKcLy_6oTXhQBwWXLw-gyMHZCJP1sIaoqzm1IYb6NgR1QTxAEQcCyo3ox2sZUBG-wFmzfh4vsn4e6uEyoppEit/s1600-h/PICT0542.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; 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float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xeESxkDT76VvQQboOOD4JPMD4FIz2XAAMzhK3GaQqpDydxkUAFns18jCH_-7SyCDc4kLRMmBMNGpZ-sXcmEOecZkseJpgeEfNzJZ_x7lZ2vpVlsy_A0DocTmzDCtL2RZPmnR/s400/PICT0547.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014329830988278130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgU_5dwh-GzCvLLMtQ522-6Eukc_24nnKIp2yj7h3CLfAjNoskqu7QlegbiXgHOgov0vAXyaJR1pQVIBn9GhAowG83AS9LDJ5qZPvGgfmE2QW33TYp46ipg8bllhkOGfjZ1RT/s1600-h/PICT0548.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgU_5dwh-GzCvLLMtQ522-6Eukc_24nnKIp2yj7h3CLfAjNoskqu7QlegbiXgHOgov0vAXyaJR1pQVIBn9GhAowG83AS9LDJ5qZPvGgfmE2QW33TYp46ipg8bllhkOGfjZ1RT/s400/PICT0548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014329684959390050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Nyu6mGcmNPLHTqQMoYVxaUPMzYK4kXx4VmYuEoPg6CDcAOHH8iVM1y9A9mDuRC7UVxQTxIlDvPsDaNrOQPxkxoNvfG-Uyoz4aq5wIjrUbCvi7__rT-fTouQHGNc_yJRgBXNZ/s1600-h/PICT0551.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Nyu6mGcmNPLHTqQMoYVxaUPMzYK4kXx4VmYuEoPg6CDcAOHH8iVM1y9A9mDuRC7UVxQTxIlDvPsDaNrOQPxkxoNvfG-Uyoz4aq5wIjrUbCvi7__rT-fTouQHGNc_yJRgBXNZ/s400/PICT0551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014329521750632786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLUx7rkuJA3g0egMGFwF4R874dp8bTQ50AaRIdX3-MwiKpRnbHs2xIZg0-1RXtwGopULpCmbprORvUfMMISsqvLByVc1INCJM8qbSDtJAOMbHOGONurPxpm1aZxUMjDf7vxXS/s1600-h/PICT0552.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLUx7rkuJA3g0egMGFwF4R874dp8bTQ50AaRIdX3-MwiKpRnbHs2xIZg0-1RXtwGopULpCmbprORvUfMMISsqvLByVc1INCJM8qbSDtJAOMbHOGONurPxpm1aZxUMjDf7vxXS/s400/PICT0552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014329380016712002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN5lwVLknxHZ_cHf2g3MmW-0LVusGAKjZNB1u_sg5M5VC8vbP7HMTv1vrHjqoQiKzRs8AtD5zHNmOc7mNxsJA1j1zRF0e4QH_Sd9DRXVADgERzP0wafFkVVicUvE59KUcBvrf/s1600-h/PICT0553.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN5lwVLknxHZ_cHf2g3MmW-0LVusGAKjZNB1u_sg5M5VC8vbP7HMTv1vrHjqoQiKzRs8AtD5zHNmOc7mNxsJA1j1zRF0e4QH_Sd9DRXVADgERzP0wafFkVVicUvE59KUcBvrf/s400/PICT0553.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014329199628085554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VfkJtzt3disXXf97kQ6swMOTvgviNNDZ8KY8qvxLBYVDR0gGDoXr5KuKEw9eoerBFyEguv2Jwx36PkeHfnZ5BA_GuKtWvessdBSFoNqVwtiqbClZSrosCBQlYWh19LZiZBru/s1600-h/PICT0554.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VfkJtzt3disXXf97kQ6swMOTvgviNNDZ8KY8qvxLBYVDR0gGDoXr5KuKEw9eoerBFyEguv2Jwx36PkeHfnZ5BA_GuKtWvessdBSFoNqVwtiqbClZSrosCBQlYWh19LZiZBru/s400/PICT0554.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014329027829393698" border="0" /></a>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-14446008423698974012006-12-23T00:17:00.002-07:002008-10-30T11:10:52.950-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaK21rviNVThuSa7iclU3GEEhgrS9ELkn9yuZJBFdco_nPb6k87dIvdNOUbdbi0afAyPB0FIiRMlXzRlka8JJbykPg-TOxw5VI23X6ur47RvIHHxf2j5WC0cBSJDHkx6Vv9Ze/s1600-h/mall+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaK21rviNVThuSa7iclU3GEEhgrS9ELkn9yuZJBFdco_nPb6k87dIvdNOUbdbi0afAyPB0FIiRMlXzRlka8JJbykPg-TOxw5VI23X6ur47RvIHHxf2j5WC0cBSJDHkx6Vv9Ze/s400/mall+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5011617980047648978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">'</span></span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >Tis The Season...</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >'Tis the season for shopping, rushing around, beating mailing deadlines, placing orders, attending parties, and crowds & crowds of people...<br /><br />... but let's not forget the REAL reason for the season...<br /><br />Merry Christmas to all...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQr52xK_9EK93M3mrkiKDa_BM3TIcsvHn2uuLPRfliGc2K4Xfj3FwkJH6WudgB15cSyxLDhltOeI2HFnC3-19kZoIdrqza8q70pnat38bNR4FgekZH6rYfKYTe26dsHDznrL9a/s1600-h/nativity.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQr52xK_9EK93M3mrkiKDa_BM3TIcsvHn2uuLPRfliGc2K4Xfj3FwkJH6WudgB15cSyxLDhltOeI2HFnC3-19kZoIdrqza8q70pnat38bNR4FgekZH6rYfKYTe26dsHDznrL9a/s400/nativity.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5011617572025755842" border="0" /></a>~ AwesomelyPlain</span>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-55247799078943134892006-12-17T06:45:00.001-07:002008-10-30T03:59:40.177-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopQioSJkQJaXD2yxYr84wYc9dF2KiCTYIXJVqlmIrX0s-lfnDrBqHRvRZ10X475_4ums6nFzUjqLgJAqDC9dnU3Je_yPcp2BvPVWP0uUMEjz4I3WqFEX5XsYLdr93UMGFpe2O/s1600-h/Dec+17,+6.00+PM.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopQioSJkQJaXD2yxYr84wYc9dF2KiCTYIXJVqlmIrX0s-lfnDrBqHRvRZ10X475_4ums6nFzUjqLgJAqDC9dnU3Je_yPcp2BvPVWP0uUMEjz4I3WqFEX5XsYLdr93UMGFpe2O/s200/Dec+17,+6.00+PM.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5009674704914704562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccPLD4RB_sQX_zq1QhmXR0U-YxswDATbZMtFLmMdHEsZoaBdIcVN31QoVYb2Z4S7lWoWyfGYsLIxR0BB7MyfCmriujQa_PypERpA2H1iRLgmh43zMdxPp-GlQpHrFM-GHgBRG/s1600-h/Dec+17,+6.35+AM.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccPLD4RB_sQX_zq1QhmXR0U-YxswDATbZMtFLmMdHEsZoaBdIcVN31QoVYb2Z4S7lWoWyfGYsLIxR0BB7MyfCmriujQa_PypERpA2H1iRLgmh43zMdxPp-GlQpHrFM-GHgBRG/s200/Dec+17,+6.35+AM.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5009674601835489442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >(Updated: 6pm) A Whole Nother World.</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >...<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(I just took & added the opening top pic, on the right hand side, at 6pm tonite, Dec. 17th. The pic on the left was taken this morning at 6:35 a.m. It will give you an idea of how much additional snow we accumulated during the past 12 hrs -- the tracks in the snow from this morning were completely filled-in, and then more snow on top of that... And, it is STILL litely snowing!! Click on the pics to enlarge).</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Been snowing for the better part of two days... it's still snowing this morning.. and due for more snow tonite...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Good thing I'm stocked-up on Hot Chocolate, Totinos Pizza, & firewood.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMEDFTiJSQunaGnnlVPLFvYwJjdGZdbJ96taeJmgZ-Uz1DNQakA5_KmaWIUOxdRaKc9b-OC5V7nFPhGlIgYckatkcMFp-3fShBMTmJJ6AUg7d3f1jGlq_yUYA6tqgQjadJZeo/s1600-h/May+22,+2006+steps.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMEDFTiJSQunaGnnlVPLFvYwJjdGZdbJ96taeJmgZ-Uz1DNQakA5_KmaWIUOxdRaKc9b-OC5V7nFPhGlIgYckatkcMFp-3fShBMTmJJ6AUg7d3f1jGlq_yUYA6tqgQjadJZeo/s320/May+22,+2006+steps.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5009506170398009378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">These are pics of my porch, taken this year on May 22, Sept. 22, Oct. 17, and just now this morning, Dec. 17.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The winters up here are very long -- from about Halloween (end of October) to mid-May... If my electric blanket ever stopped working, I'd probably die!</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaGKIlzSbDdi0e88y1LkiLYKBT19glfZSa-JN0vfYPY7GbDm_ksf81DEhyphenhyphenx0ltZMmlm2AJHM2E2VNebhuNipWlj9bUfXUJq5QrNCuVR7d3J6iNwu4aJRwqp2GNBTDf47iEal-/s1600-h/Sept+22,+2006+steps.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaGKIlzSbDdi0e88y1LkiLYKBT19glfZSa-JN0vfYPY7GbDm_ksf81DEhyphenhyphenx0ltZMmlm2AJHM2E2VNebhuNipWlj9bUfXUJq5QrNCuVR7d3J6iNwu4aJRwqp2GNBTDf47iEal-/s200/Sept+22,+2006+steps.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5009505972829513746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Enjoy. As always -- click on the pics to enlarge.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6L8nqz4tkqf8c_C07O-Ry6T5rFvJpk2Wrwe94InjDKkmlTw1xFGpLjJ2lCYbwu45MJipunIK0qtBSI9bwI4Qoe0d8vlGvRvyCNGSLLGkgXRhas_zGntIx2HpsSpGEh-TuX39s/s1600-h/Oct+17,+2006+steps.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6L8nqz4tkqf8c_C07O-Ry6T5rFvJpk2Wrwe94InjDKkmlTw1xFGpLjJ2lCYbwu45MJipunIK0qtBSI9bwI4Qoe0d8vlGvRvyCNGSLLGkgXRhas_zGntIx2HpsSpGEh-TuX39s/s320/Oct+17,+2006+steps.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5009505405893830642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIk0Ces3NjSJLjiNUldds-qLNabWaHl1-CWYZH3Aa7HoZ59sIe2CiO3ocvuTvpVyzPs5VOiUnK5k6gGb6OUkQNB56uaxweYowV-ighOcdtvxOka4XZ4hcN3GvTksbzty7ri9y/s1600-h/Dec+17,+2006+steps.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIk0Ces3NjSJLjiNUldds-qLNabWaHl1-CWYZH3Aa7HoZ59sIe2CiO3ocvuTvpVyzPs5VOiUnK5k6gGb6OUkQNB56uaxweYowV-ighOcdtvxOka4XZ4hcN3GvTksbzty7ri9y/s320/Dec+17,+2006+steps.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5009505242685073378" border="0" /></a>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-1165564827660912872006-12-08T00:33:00.002-07:002008-11-01T11:40:52.503-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5531/2568/1600/156971/Retreads%201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5531/2568/400/342835/Retreads%201.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >Use It Up. Wear It Out. Make It Do!...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sorry about another looooong absence.. but thanx for checking back again!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've had this blog in 'the can' for months.. was reminded of it recently by a friend. I finally got around to taking the pics that I needed for the blog to make this thing work.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I am not exactly a 'saver' of things. Like everyone else, I accumulate 'stuff'. But, I'm pretty good at tossing things out with no remorse, if they die out, or no longer fit, or have no use.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Out with the old. In with the new.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But, I'm also a stickler for the 'keep what works' mantra. I guess it came from having <a href="http://awesomelyplain.blogspot.com/2006/08/he-was-man-taken-for-all-in-all.html">Great Depression Era parents</a>... and also those stories of making due w what you had during the Depression, and the shortages at home during World War II.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(Can't you just picture that Uncle Sam poster, with his work shirt sleeve all rolled up, and a solid bicep?).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If it still works, fits, runs, blinks, heats, or does what I need it to do, why pony up some $$ for a new one? I generally don't buy new things (especially clothing) unless it's completely necessary. I'm quite sure that if I had kept the same weight I was at 10 yrs ago, I'd still be wearing the same sweaters, pants, shirts that I wore then, as long as they were in decent shape. (In fact, I'm STILL wearing some nice sweaters that I've had for at least 15 yrs, if not longer!). Even when I do have to buy new, non-work pants, for example (due to ever growing waist line with middle age), I only buy what I need.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I only have 2 pairs of levis to my name, and about 4 or 5 pairs of sweats. That's good enough!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Not counting technology (where I am DEFINITELY a "gotta have the latest and greatest" techno junkie!), I still find a need for lots of older, day-to-day items in my life. Everything I have -- old or new -- works, or fits, or still does what it's supposed to do.... and when it stops working, THEN it gets pitched.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Why toss it if it still does the job?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thus, this blog....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Even tho I'm definitely a modern gadget junkie, I still have these blasts from the 'state of the art' electronics past...</span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5531/2568/1600/412725/Retreads%202.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5531/2568/400/505395/Retreads%202.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mattel Electronics Handheld Football and Basketball games. Yes, they still work. Yes, they are clunky and decidedly out of date. No graphics, just red LED dashes representing the players. No surround sound stereo cards with fancy sound effects. No internet connectivity, or multiplayer mode. And no way to view the games on the big screen TV.....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">... But, yknow -- these are still great games, and still provide lots of enjoyment. I couldnt even guess how old they are... 25 yrs? 30? 35? I still have them, and they work fine.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Similarly, I'm not a 'cologne' kinda guy. Yes, I'm always clean, and smell fresh. But, I've never gotten into the whole cologne thing. The bottle of Musk men's cologne in the pic is probably from about 1975... yes 1975!! It used to belong to one of my older brothers when he was in High School! He left it at home when he went to college, or moved, or whatever...it stayed there... I eventually ended up with it somehow, since it never got tossed or taken. Not being a cologne kinda guy, I don't use it very often at all.. maybe twice a year, if that. Probably only twice every 5 yrs!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But, yknow.. it still smells like a new bottle of Musk you'd sample at a fragrance counter. So, why toss it??</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Goes to show that just cuz something isn't modern or new, it can STILL have a happy existance in my ultra-technology driven little world.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Some valid advice in our decidedly disposable culture....</span>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-1154165170890007012006-11-01T13:40:00.001-07:002008-10-30T13:20:56.337-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/z6.3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/400/z6.3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >The Hollywood Minute...</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Most of us had a pet, or pets when we grew up. Cats. Dogs. Birds. Gerbils. Fish. We had a parakeet; a (grouchy) cocker spaniel mutt; a german shepherd; and a good little dachsund dog (The Beloved Doggy).<br /><br />I barely remember the bird -- he was around when I was really young - Chris Jingles was his name. Yes, birds get quirky names that any proud dog would<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/Hollywood%20Minute%20%28parakeet%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/320/Hollywood%20Minute%20%28parakeet%29.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> hang their head on, if they were so-named. Anyway, I really don't remember much about the bird, except that every time I let it sit on my finger, I was half thinking (and expecting) that it would either bite my finger... or worse (if you get my drift).<br /><br />About the only specific memory I have of our pet bird, was when we buried it. If I remember correctly, we buried him in an empty, semi-clear, yellow-orange colored, plastic .22 bullet container, which was put inside a cardboard box, or something. I don't know why it worked out this way... but now that I think of it, I was there for all of the burials (or putting to sleep) of all of the pets we had as a family --the bird & the 3 dogs (including The Beloved Doggy, last year).<br /><br />The first dog we had, I remember as always being slightly afraid of. He reminded me of a really cranky Richard Nixon... yes, I read way too much history & current events as a kid. I think he died on halloween night, and was discovered the next morning, in the backyard, laying on the frost covered grass where he finally fell asleep. Stiff as a board, he was. I remember that me and Dad took him someplace - but I don't have a specific memory if we buried him, or took him to the Vet for burial, or what we did. I was probably a little sad that he was gone, but not sad enough to shed any tears. Come to think of it, I never cried when Richard Nixon passed on, either.<br /><br />The 2nd dog we had was a big, friendly german shephard. A pretty dog, as far as dogs go. Not at all mean and sour like<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/Hollywood%20Minute%20%28treat%29.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/Hollywood%20Minute%20%28treat%29.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> I remember the first dog as being. This 2nd one was very friendly, always wagging her tail. The poor dog, was going blind, and getting old, and starting to suffer just from moving around. When it was decided that the humane thing to do was to take her to the Vet, and put her to sleep (the dog, not the Vet - hehe), it fell to me and Dad to do the deed. I still remember how she must've sensed that something bad was gonna happen. She dug in her paws like she was putting on her brakes, as me and Dad tried to get her to go into the back of the pickup truck. I rode with her in the open-aired back, all the way to the Vet's. When me and Dad dropped her off there, and it was agreed that her condition was not a good one for her to keep suffering thru, I remember Dad telling the Vet: "We don't have to stay around for it, do we?"<br /><br />Dad was an old softy... I remember seeing him getting all teared-up, doing his best to blink them back, so I wouldn't see.<br /><br />It was a quiet ride home.<br /><br />And about a yr and a half ago, me and Mom had to put to sleep The Beloved Doggy. The poor little doggy was old, losing his motor skills (couldn't walk -- would suddenly lose his back legs, and flop around on his back & sides). He was a sick little dog at the end. I took some video of him during that last week of his life, and on the morning we took him to the Vet to be put to sleep. Poor little dog. He was such a good puppy (he was 14 yrs old, but I still called him 'puppy').<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/Beloved%20Doggy%202.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/400/Beloved%20Doggy%202.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The Vet asked if either of us wanted to be present when The Beloved Doggy was put to sleep. I asked him how it would happen. Basically, he would be given a lethal injection, and everything would shut down. It would be painless, and not a suffering kind of death -- and it'd be less than a minute. Stupid me, I had this Hollywood image in my head of those movie inmates on Death Row. I figured it'd be like it was in those prison movies: he'd get the injection, and linger around for about a minute, and slowly close his eyes and go to 'sleep'. I knew that if I stayed during it all, it was a two edged sword: On one hand, I could be there to comfort and hold The Beloved Doggy in that last Hollywood minute, after he had the injection. But also, I would always have that memory of watching The Beloved Doggy die.<br /><br />I chose to stay for it. I knew The Beloved Doggy would be afraid (he always shaked like a little leaf at the Vet's, anyway). And, I figured I could at least hold him and pet him while the injection slowly took him away, during that final, Hollywood minute of his life.<br /><br />As it turned out, it happened so very fast -- less than 5 seconds -- that I didn't get to comfort or hold The Beloved Doggy at all. I was standing in front of him, so he could see me. I still remember him looking up at me with those brown eyes. The Vet was on one side of him, about to give the injection. The assistant was holding The Beloved Doggy in her arms, craddling him to keep him still. I figured I'd get to hold The Beloved Doggy once the injection was given. You know, for that final, dramatic Hollywood minute type of ending.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/z7a.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/320/z7a.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Previous to my re-entering the room, the Vet had stuck a tube into one of The Beloved Doggy's front paws, where the injection would be given. I remember standing in front of The Beloved Doggy, seeing him trying to wiggle out of the Assistant's arms, and looking directly at me, like: 'Help me'. I was telling him to hold still, in my most comforting voice. I took my eyes off of him while I watched the Vet insert the syringe into the tube on the front paw. I remember noticing just a little bit of blood from where the tube was stuck into the paw, and I remember thinking: "Awww, poor little doggie. I bet that hurt him & scared him". I watched the Vet do the injection. And suddenly, no more than 5 seconds after the injection (probably only about 3 seconds), I remember taking my eyes off of the paw and the syringe, and watching the Assistant lay The Beloved Doggy down.<br /><br />He was already gone.<br /><br />I felt awful that I hadn't had a chance to hold him. I figured I'd hold him after the injection, for that last Hollywood minute, which never came. I was glad that it was quick, and he didn't suffer. But I wasn't any help or comfort at all to the poor little Beloved Doggy -- not like I had wanted, or planned to be.<br /><br />I still feel bad about that.<br /><br />The last memory I have of The Beloved Doggy while he was alive was when he looked at me, wiggling in the Assistant's arms, expecting me to help him get outta there. He was afraid, and even tho I was in front of him (which, I guess, was some form of comfort to him), I wasn't even petting him or touching him when he passed away. Some help I was...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/Beloved%20Doggy%203.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/400/Beloved%20Doggy%203.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When the Assistant layed him down onto the table, at the time, I figured that he was just becoming knocked out -- this was going to be the Hollywood minute that I had planned on. I started petting The Beloved Doggy, and saying: "Gooood puppy... Goooood puppy...", thinking he was still alive. The vet put a stethoscope on him, & checked several places for signs of life. "He's already gone", he said. It was that quick. He was gone when the Assistant layed him down.<br /><br />I wasn't any help to The Beloved Doggy at all, except for standing in front of him, and letting him see me do nothing to help him. But, as terrible as I felt (feel) about that, I am glad that we took him home, and gave him a good burial. We buried him, and layed him down in his little doggy bed, and covered him with his stupid little towel/blanket.<br /><br />I still talk to The Beloved Doggy, every day. I still say the phrases in the 'dog voice' that I always said to him. At this point in the game, it's a safe bet that that little stinky dog was as close as I'll ever get to having a kid. Stupid dog -- he thought I was his Dad. Whenever he'd do something bad, I'd protect him or hold him, & I'd tell him: "You're lucky I'm your Patron, you stupid dog".<br /><br />The other day, I was watching the DVD I had made of The Beloved Doggy: It had a few photos of him, at various ages in his life (some of which are shown here in this blog). And, luckily, also some video clippings of him when he was still a frisky little dog, sniffing all over the yard for the elusive Squirrels (which he never could catch). It was good to see him healthy, happy, and spoiled. It was good to see him looking up at me, holding the camcorder, and wagging that stupid tail. It was good to see those puppy dog eyes, expectant of a treat & no care in the world... & not scared to death...<br /><br />Everytime I see the parts of the DVD that were filmed on the last morning of his life, and I see him losing his little legs, and flopping all over, and those open sores on his sides that he got from uncontrollably scratching himself over and over til he was raw -- I know that it was a good thing to put him to sleep as painlessly and quickly as it was...<br /><br />... But, even so, I wish I ha</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">d been given that Hollywood minute...</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/Beloved%20Doggy%204.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/400/Beloved%20Doggy%204.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-1162270553868092532006-10-30T21:49:00.002-07:002008-10-30T11:09:13.544-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0480.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/400/PICT0480.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >It May Be Winter-Time...</span><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><br />If you read my blog regularly, you'll hopefully notice that I try to keep the topics diverse. Variety is a good thing, right?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0482.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/320/PICT0482.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Well, you will have also noticed, no doubt, that even with 48 blog entries, there are some themes that get repeated. Most notably, I seem to find a way to work in something regarding the John Huston film classic, '<a href="http://www.mgm.com/title_title.do?title_star=MOBYDICK">Moby Dick</a>' every several blogs, or so. (What can I say? The more I watch it, the more I take something new away from it!).<br /><br />Another fairly common motif, especially with my own pictures, is the sunrise or sunset motif.<br /><br />This blog is showcasing one of the typically awesome winter-time sunrises that we see here. I luved the cloud shapes and the<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0483.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/320/PICT0483.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> colors, and had to snap off a few shots before they changed (wait 5 mins to drive to a clearer view of it, and the clouds and colors have already changed -- so these were taken from my front porch).<br /><br />Anyway, enjoy....<br /><br />As Capt. Ahab put it: 'Tis a mild, mild day, Starbuck -- a mild looking sky'.<br /><br />Sorry, couldn't resist. As always, click the pics to enlarge.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0485.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/400/PICT0485.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-1161294814409491632006-10-19T16:06:00.001-06:002008-10-30T11:09:42.698-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/1000th%20Visit%20%2810-17-06%2C%2011.15%20am%29.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/400/1000th%20Visit%20%2810-17-06%2C%2011.15%20am%29.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >The Milestone...</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://awesomelyplain.blogspot.com/2006_03_27_archive.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/2%20Blogs.%20Sitcoms.%20And%20Life%20a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Well, it took 205 days, 12 hrs, and 37 minutes, but the little blog visit counter at the bottom of the page finally reached 1,000 visitors at 11:15 a.m., on October 17, 2006.<br /><br />Thank you to those several of you who seem to visit regularly, and for your comments and guidance. I've enjoyed reading several of your blogs as well.<br /><br />I realize that blogs get more visitors, if they have something to read when they<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://awesomelyplain.blogspot.com/2006_03_28_archive.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/3%20The%20Rooster%20Cogburn%20Blog%20a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> get there.<br /><br />When I first started this blog, I didn't even let anyone know that I started it, except for one person. It took me a few entries before I let anyone else know that I had started this blog. In the beginning, I relied mostly on Clip Art to embellish my <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://awesomelyplain.blogspot.com/2006_04_13_archive.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/12%20Don%27t%20Drink%20Outta%20The%20Milk%20Carton..%20a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>blogs. I quickly found that to be cumbersome -- first, finding the appropriate clip art image, & then cutting and pasting the art to the blog.<br /><br />As time went by, I tried to only blog when I had my own pictures to post, instead of clip art. The positive side of this 'all my own photos' idea was that everything in my blogs were original, and unique. The downside of it was that when I had no new<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://awesomelyplain.blogspot.com/2006_04_17_archive.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/13%20Cherry%20Bomb%20a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> pictures to post, my blog entries became few and far between.<br /><br />This month, with my daily vacation postings (see archives, October 8 thru October 17, 2006), visits to the site increased dramatically. I took a TON of pics on vacation, with an eye on using some of them later on, when other new picture ideas/ blogs start to run scarce.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://awesomelyplain.blogspot.com/2006_04_27_archive.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/16%20My%20Trip%20To%20Chongqing%20Province%2C%20China%20%20a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>So, faithful readers, and new arrivals to Awesomely Plain, thank you for continuing to visit my blog. I hope to try to keep it interesting, and unique, so that when you visit, you will find something worth your time.<br /><br />As always, enjoy the archives -- alot of good entries, even from the start, if I say so myself. Some gems are in those first several postings, starting in March of this year.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://http//awesomelyplain.blogspot.com/2006_05_06_archive.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/18%20Let%20It%20Rain%20a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> The pics in this blog are 'blasts from the past' -- each one corresponding w a previous blog entry that I especially am proud of! Click on the pics in this blog posting, and you will be taken to the blog entry to which the picture corresponds. Enjoy these nuggets from past blogs!<br /><br />Here's to the next 1,000 visits... CHEERS!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://awesomelyplain.blogspot.com/2006_05_20_archive.html"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/400/20%20Without%20A%20Wind%2C%20We%27ll%20Lose%20Him%21%20a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-1161103877241882682006-10-17T11:11:00.003-06:002008-10-30T13:20:34.125-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0061.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/400/PICT0061.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >Random Thoughts From Vacation...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0196.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/PICT0196.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />For some reason, eating at a McDonald's inside an airport tastes better than a McDonald's outside the airport...<br /><br />The probability of a person needing to go to the bathroom on an airplane increases <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0283.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/PICT0283.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>by how crowded that row of seats are...<br /><br />If you can read lips pretty well, and have an active imagination, there is no need to<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/PICT0285.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> purchase those airline headphones to enjoy the in-flight movie...<br /><br />Customer Service is not dead...<br /><br />Always be nice to the natives...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0370.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/PICT0370.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Newport, RI is beautiful...<br /><br />Subways are the horizontal equivalent of elevators -- no one looks at anyone, or says a word...<br /><br />Big Cities offer everything I need... except for the essential quiet, simplicity & ease of<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0037.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/PICT0037.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> access of a small town...<br /><br />Even when it is windy, rainy and cold, Maine is absolutely beautiful...<br /><br />Country Buffet is delicious <span style="font-style: italic;">anywhere</span>!<br /><br />Travelling opens your mind, & your wallet...<br /><br />The best flight is the flight home...<br /><br />(Click the pics to enlarge)...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0046.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/400/PICT0046.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24716478.post-1160880201742080442006-10-14T23:15:00.002-06:002008-10-30T03:56:06.511-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0420.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/400/PICT0420.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >Fall Vacation: Day 7 (Connecticut)...<br /></span><br />On our last full day in New England, we started off by visiting <a href="http://www.marktwainhouse.org/">Mark Twain's house</a> in Hartford, CT. It was another excellent tour. Our guide, Jason, was top notch. And the house was very interesting -- both historically, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0413.1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/PICT0413.1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>and visually. As was the case with most of the tours we took, no pictures were allowed inside; but I did snap a few of the outside of Mark Twain's house. The accompanying museum was pretty good. I especially liked the way they had some of Mark Twain's quotes etched into the walls inside the museum hallways. Nice touch. The opening picture is one of the quotes, which I thought was appropriate at the end of a week of travelling.<br /><br />Next, our final touristy thing was a Steam Train ride along<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0415.1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/PICT0415.1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> part of the Connecticut River, followed by a boat trip along the same river. The train ride was a bit of a let down, honestly... it was too short -- only about 45 mins, round-trip. Actually, only about 20 mins of that counted, since the return trip was along the exact same strip of track, just going backwards -- so, no new scenery opportunities on the way back. And the scenery that was visible from the train, wasn't terribly helpful. Most of the trip had trees on either side of the tracks, blocking any real views. Much like you'd see driving on the interstate. It was pretty, but not quite what I thought it might be, scenery-wise.<br /><br />Next, we off-loaded from the train, and went onto a boat to get a river's-eye view of the<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0427.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/PICT0427.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> Connecticut River. This was better than the train, as far as scenery, even tho the colors hadn't peaked yet. Looks like we were either a week too late (up north), or a week too early (in southern New England). But, mother nature doesn't operate on a fixxed schedule.<br /><br />And, all in all, everything we saw and did was pretty much excellent. Everyone was helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable. The tours we went on were all very good, and our week in New <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0433.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/PICT0433.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>England was great.<br /><br />Lastly, and most important of all -- a HUGE thanks to my brother for putting it all together, and doing all the driving -- no way I could've planned it as well, or got us to where we needed to go w/o getting us hopelessly lost. He really did a GREAT job getting it all laid out & organized, which made it really effortless & relaxing for me. I had a really great wk -- saw alot of really awesome things that I will never see again, I'm sure. And, most of all, had a really great time all week long.<br /><br />Though travelling and seeing new things is always fun, and interesting, it is always nice to get home again. Which is what I'll be doing for most of the day on Sunday, October 15th. So, no blogs for tomorrow. But, I will try to post some final thoughts & impressions, and a few more assorted pictures of the trip, either on Monday or Tuesday.<br /><br />Feel free to check the archives (right hand side of the page), and take a gawk at each<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0444.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/200/PICT0444.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> day's entry. In addition to Saturday's posting, I also just finished posting our adventures of Friday, since I got in too late on Friday nite to have a chance to publish that entry. So, take a look. Anyway, each day is posted.<br /><br />I hope you all enjoyed sharing my vacation with me. It was a really good time, but I'll be glad to sleep in my own bed, under my toasty electric blanket again, on Sunday nite!<br /><br />Until my next posting... Peace. Out.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/1600/PICT0456.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5531/2568/400/PICT0456.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>awesomelyplainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16728497581896291535noreply@blogger.com2