tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9933358547843663882024-03-05T07:40:28.450-05:00Simone says...what the stuff inside my head sounds like out loud, sometimes with visuals.Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-25569177722635094592011-08-13T12:11:00.001-04:002013-09-04T15:52:17.561-04:00back heresomeone hacked into my bluehost account multiple times, and just didn't have the time or energy to keep up with security, so I killed it and all the content on it was lost.<br />
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I'm not blogging here much anymore, but you can visit my OTHER blog- <a href="http://bcimb.blogspot.com/">Breast Cancer is my BITCH,</a> to find out what is going on with me right now.<br />
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Hope to see you over there!<br />
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~simonePixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-30973177342124001942009-03-12T12:59:00.005-04:002013-09-04T15:53:01.435-04:00on the movehey! I've moved!<br />
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Come visit at www.kentstreetdesigns.com/simonesays<br />
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or check out my REAL website at www.kentstreetdesigns.com.<br />
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see ya!Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-27655896608332901222008-12-16T10:29:00.005-05:002008-12-16T11:10:51.111-05:00Easy come, easy goMaybe I have a genetic disposition to having a guilty conscience, but when I got an IM from my Executive-in-Charge late yesterday morning, I have to admit my heart skipped a few beats.<br /><br />Relax......I told myself. I haven't done anything to warrant any sort of bad meeting, even if I did walk in on his meeting by mistake this am.<br /><br />Maybe he just wants to talk about how the new Eloqua project is working out now that we are getting ready to get it going (2 months behind schedule and still not working as promised, but not my fault).<br /><br />Maybe he just wants to chat? last time one of my managers called me down to a conference room, he just wanted an evaluation on my other manager<br /><br />....breathe....<br /><br /><br />Unfortunately, my gut instinct was right this time.<br /><br /><br />Events that followed were sort of in slow motion and still not fully comprehended or digested...<br /><br />".......<em>company not meeting budget goals</em>.....<em>60 people are being cut</em>.......<em>no reflection on the work you've done.......you can leave right after this meeting</em>....<em>your stuff will be packed up and sent to your home</em>.... <em>please sign and return the severance agreement......"</em><br /><br /><br /><em></em><br />Less than an hour later, I was at home, and unemployed, nine days before Christmas.<br /><br /><em></em><br /><br /><em></em>Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-45131733653826843942008-12-02T19:20:00.004-05:002008-12-08T13:36:38.588-05:00I'm not dead...yet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UQfGUBJOHw4vdoGTh0uCoJMSvkQshKYRf54EKeLDhB7fF4q7LsgEQV6GdZxLg-ANEoKbYcYjiYaZl0ThDwqQVxaQ00IzhgLNX5Ev6MY4Js1hfNma8CZtqemfoALdGh4wHPj-tNazooXL/s1600-h/vampires+and+elvis.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275352661589408994" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UQfGUBJOHw4vdoGTh0uCoJMSvkQshKYRf54EKeLDhB7fF4q7LsgEQV6GdZxLg-ANEoKbYcYjiYaZl0ThDwqQVxaQ00IzhgLNX5Ev6MY4Js1hfNma8CZtqemfoALdGh4wHPj-tNazooXL/s400/vampires+and+elvis.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />well, just as I promised in my last post awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in September, it's been a crazy few months, and here I am, halloween a distant memory, Turkey day over with and staring Christmas in it's cold frosty face!<br /><br />I just wanted to check in for my faithful readers who despaired of ever hearing from me again on this blog to let y'all know, nope.....not dead yet!<br /><br />But...OH! it's been a wild ride! I'm still trying to figure out what I'm doing at my job, and trying not to have daily panic attacks. Things are calming down, but I think the days of frequent blogging are gone, but hopefully not forgotten. At some point, I hope to get things back in balance and have enough brain power at the end of the day to add a few quick words, start a website, make jewelry, all that jazz.<br /><br /><br />However, today is not THAT day.<br /><br />Tomorrow isn't looking so good either.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLBRsQCpAr7L9zqQWBlCrc1c8sNf0CVkK920FGHc0pqMB2ahl6krJs3yEgMMjU7zUqw2C8FXi8_13GQCD_5X-Z4URpeR2R13jHwyyLQ9fDXB7E3gA1iQek1F8hZum5JU5UvyqVZ6xrvYs/s1600-h/scary_h08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275352668167090562" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLBRsQCpAr7L9zqQWBlCrc1c8sNf0CVkK920FGHc0pqMB2ahl6krJs3yEgMMjU7zUqw2C8FXi8_13GQCD_5X-Z4URpeR2R13jHwyyLQ9fDXB7E3gA1iQek1F8hZum5JU5UvyqVZ6xrvYs/s400/scary_h08.jpg" border="0" /></a>Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-45225970133508013442008-09-20T09:30:00.007-04:002008-09-20T10:05:44.529-04:00a quick update and some new (old) photosThis week has been a little crazy, actually these past two weeks have just been a blur, from the Monday morning conversation with my boss..."umm...I quit" to my last day- yesterday, as a civil servant.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBFynpN_5Vqr1OR-9IZu2To54eylkMRqWfTci0U13Bi2UHZjlAai5UKuTis1uj3CeVInduA8o9I2efM5LWce5wCOMQyioTj57NJpH3GUUu35B2W9QMTCo6j7VUMYyQvIlQ-x2vDUWTOtk/s1600-h/whiteconeflower.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248096762957745762" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBFynpN_5Vqr1OR-9IZu2To54eylkMRqWfTci0U13Bi2UHZjlAai5UKuTis1uj3CeVInduA8o9I2efM5LWce5wCOMQyioTj57NJpH3GUUu35B2W9QMTCo6j7VUMYyQvIlQ-x2vDUWTOtk/s400/whiteconeflower.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In between, we got the kitten snipped and clipped (no more claw marks in my leg!), rescheduled a bazillion doctor's appointments (new insurance!) started soccer (for my little buddy) booked a hotel room and filled out all the new hire paperwork, got the car ready for the drive to Chicago and got sucked into a cool new computer game ("Spore").<br /><br />So I've kinda neglected my online friends and family completely and I thought before I get whisked away into the craziness that accompanies a new job, I'd pop in to give a quick update and post some old photos that I 'finessed' in photoshop recently. I'm working on some for my new office, since I ended up giving away all the pictures in my old one office to the people that helped keep me sane over the last few years. It was kind of cool that so many people were excited to get one of my photos (matted and framed no less) and funny that so many others asked..."have those been hanging in your office this whole time? " I ended up giving away a lot of my resources that I have collected from my numerous previous 'engagements' to people who I have hope will one day get to stretch their wings and fly away from there, too.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEitd9zXce29vZvTQtF_z80zBq-S23euXW1jyfiuGIOce6rSNq1-kYmiwz1dANCRfHoNxZ4_-cRXK8WycY9IhW8dr6UzvLl4jUBFqNckwgO8dGBB5g_n8OuJxTA0XaoeT9JdWuJJKza11T/s1600-h/monach_coneflower.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248096745885589634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEitd9zXce29vZvTQtF_z80zBq-S23euXW1jyfiuGIOce6rSNq1-kYmiwz1dANCRfHoNxZ4_-cRXK8WycY9IhW8dr6UzvLl4jUBFqNckwgO8dGBB5g_n8OuJxTA0XaoeT9JdWuJJKza11T/s400/monach_coneflower.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I don't really know for sure what my new job will entail. It's a newly created position, for a new cutting edge marketing software application that I will be responsible for developing and managing. I DO know that the position I was hired for was titled "Interactive Producer/Project Manager" on the Position Description, but not sure if that will be the title on my new business cards or what. I DO know that I'm hiring in at the manager level (which means coaching/leadership responsibilities-cool! ... scary!)<br /><br />AND I get a corporate credit card, a laptop and a trip to Chicago this Monday and Tuesday for new hire orientation. The company is a mid-sized auditing and consulting company right in downtown GR, and they believe in 'quality' of work, not just time spent in the office. They (we, now!) refer to employees as 'Talent" and promote an environment that supports work/life balance, offers extensive training and development opportunities and measures employee 'passion' as part of a formal talent development program.<br /><br />so, Yes...I'm totally stoked!<br />(to use an old so.cal term, in honor of my new boss, who works remotely from L.A.!)<br /><br />I also got a signing bonus (hee hee), which I'm planning to use some of to get a macro lens for my DSLR so I can start taking photos of my jewelry (Original Wearable Art) and hopefully get my online jewelry business up and running. (oh and DEFINITELY buying a couple pair of NEW shoes!)<br /><br />SOOOOOOOOOO.....<br /><br />I plan on being pretty busy this next few weeks, if not months, and I will probably not get to devote time this fall to getting the petition for CLUCK up and running (City of L.....Urban Chicken Keepers), so I'll wrap up this post with a photo in honor of the Kent Street FOUR....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoJl2lRJGV6kWQuOqdTdib-FWymBaEZ3bmtwYJY2wM1cBVgtdvlCZoqnvrxXo_8c7cCB3X5K3lhqqlZJ6KHLhvutzxhyphenhyphenZ7SVeUATP-86Ih5uCA2o-7bbK9bC-34jRqR4Er5aVKAUGlT6q/s1600-h/KentStreet4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248096756757416514" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoJl2lRJGV6kWQuOqdTdib-FWymBaEZ3bmtwYJY2wM1cBVgtdvlCZoqnvrxXo_8c7cCB3X5K3lhqqlZJ6KHLhvutzxhyphenhyphenZ7SVeUATP-86Ih5uCA2o-7bbK9bC-34jRqR4Er5aVKAUGlT6q/s400/KentStreet4.jpg" border="0" /></a>Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-73000947374915408782008-08-30T10:00:00.021-04:002008-08-30T11:16:27.133-04:00Why knitting and alcohol don't mix-a parable<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBhWCPf6y9PSmPR9o4kBMPTnaw6NT4OUJ3hrQcP8fGKo1Wi4_VocBqWAFHDJ5ZGkk91s_d_gZL1vPitNcKUNVumNDIKFs71X85a2nozPY69hc-d3QlWkxQD7vvAE0dq7OTTcrYzj40TV5/s1600-h/040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240326489305562594" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBhWCPf6y9PSmPR9o4kBMPTnaw6NT4OUJ3hrQcP8fGKo1Wi4_VocBqWAFHDJ5ZGkk91s_d_gZL1vPitNcKUNVumNDIKFs71X85a2nozPY69hc-d3QlWkxQD7vvAE0dq7OTTcrYzj40TV5/s400/040.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />My passion this past few months has been for knitting socks.<br /><br />Normally, summertime means letting all my indoor hobbies go (as well as indoor chores) and spending as much time as I can <a href="http://ksd-simonesays.blogspot.com/2008/08/baby-steps.html">torturing all my plants </a>by ripping them from one spot where they are peacefully and happily growing and moving them to another spot in my yard where I think they will look better.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this January a pesky ole' disk in my lower back decided to take a trip to other parts and effectively put the kabosh on heavy lifting and bending for the duration of the growing season. This of course made all my plants deliriously happy and they celebrated by taking over my yard and turning it into a<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hEFtZVkfBgM3_qzRPUB80_Pou7uo9fF0SqaSyjg8KJhAyJvj-yP75grXBYfjLS_v6-rC54K-xrHdu_E4e63pPfjZ5mH_thMeNEJ1eLS1-c9eMggiWD0iIHw-gYo6huV6z_LQZeY2pBqs/s1600-h/jungle.jpg"> nature reserve </a>for screech monkeys and errant woodchucks.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhSVYynOjsNAdwag18gtJpUrqDvGsGaalvb-qZw6QLSl_8y6jsai6ZPWFvPK6Bq3Zaq7xetEfx51ngswAQY0Q4r8a3TlLwKnR4ZH-RknDXUrbOySERiWmOmpccq3jNPKIMjETvjsdLqqJ/s1600-h/050.JPG"></a><br />But I digress....<br /><br />sooo...my need to play with brightly colored things was satisfied this summer by knitting socks. I knit 6 pairs for myself in probably as many weeks in a variety of <a href="http://ksd-simonesays.blogspot.com/2008/08/another-tuesday.html">obnoxious color combinations.</a> I have <em>no</em> problem making stuff just for myself. <em>I</em> say, what's the point of making something cool like handmade socks and never getting to enjoy them yourself? <br /><br />I was finishing up my latest pair of socks in a yummy stripey color combo of grey, vanilla and cocoa (<em>mmm..toasty</em>) when my dear <a href="http://ksd-simonesays.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-knight-in-shining-armor.html">KiSA </a>came over to admire them. His feet are not that much bigger than mine, and since these were cozy, chunky wool socks, and a little roomy, he pulled on a pair and said...ooooooo, I like <em>these. </em><br /><em></em><br />WHOA! (<em>sound of record scratching to a halt</em>) Back away from the socks, buddy!<br /><br />I realized in a split second that my beloved KiSA would have NO problem adopting these lovely socks as his own - the hot pink and blue heather footies were a little less to his liking - unless I bit the bullet and made him a pair of his own.<br /><br />So I did.<br /><br />And they turned out pretty cool, I think.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9EdcGNwmJD8DTnOeNX3DLs3bA_ya1xYpTSR3iawke2wOZnfK0cToaQECWfg6_-mqxxj4RqczcEV01t1YvL2zojy6ywwbRsebwxHx_7xjiINwew5qQ7ILFBKKnqpIQf0acwlP889yqbepV/s1600-h/026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240311724885567474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9EdcGNwmJD8DTnOeNX3DLs3bA_ya1xYpTSR3iawke2wOZnfK0cToaQECWfg6_-mqxxj4RqczcEV01t1YvL2zojy6ywwbRsebwxHx_7xjiINwew5qQ7ILFBKKnqpIQf0acwlP889yqbepV/s400/026.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Except for small thing...which I noticed right after I finished the first sock.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZrdq2g7cSCYofQbznjyrFFMJiUjHXwVuEeZmFwk6SFVsS-8TFasKUs3zyAYP9VffGV2qo_oT6ghmu5nGbNIkjq5R4ajli-iUWliqYQzh8JHSdcIAncB0FER7tWZk4VrGL5lP25ObECeR/s1600-h/027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240311179386137666" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZrdq2g7cSCYofQbznjyrFFMJiUjHXwVuEeZmFwk6SFVsS-8TFasKUs3zyAYP9VffGV2qo_oT6ghmu5nGbNIkjq5R4ajli-iUWliqYQzh8JHSdcIAncB0FER7tWZk4VrGL5lP25ObECeR/s400/027.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />What the heck is that bulge right there on the bottom of the heel?!?<br /><br />I finished up the first sock while visiting my favorite Sarnarian (what do you call a person from Sarnia?) and being good friends and good Canadians, they always provide great conversation and ample supplies of wine.<br /><br />Having just made SIX pairs of socks (for myself) I didn't feel the need to consult the pattern while I knitted, and chatted, and enjoyed a nice glass of wine together....or four.<br /><br />And it wasn't until I was all done and showing off my latest masterpiece to some fellow knitters that I had my answer.<br /><br />I had knit the ankle gussets on the <em>wrong</em> side of the needle...putting that nice big bump at the bottom of the sock instead of a nice little row of decreases along the ankle, where it's supposed to be, as shown here:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSH2ODgpaZ3-6sjl-5DPEN6pJ1TnZbaeUdz-pIlK6TCKL2xcPPkt0u2TfcqTOn_bksckNVpW3NJtwqfm1OXGstqoBr1KWs_sBF95n5a4_YEFfXRMQaZ3_dRazNCRhBcO0Uz6ugSvnR8UW/s1600-h/029.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240311186113402130" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSH2ODgpaZ3-6sjl-5DPEN6pJ1TnZbaeUdz-pIlK6TCKL2xcPPkt0u2TfcqTOn_bksckNVpW3NJtwqfm1OXGstqoBr1KWs_sBF95n5a4_YEFfXRMQaZ3_dRazNCRhBcO0Uz6ugSvnR8UW/s400/029.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My fellow knitters, members of the next Olympic competitive knitting team, asked me how the heck I managed NOT to notice this horrific, horrendous, bulbous protrusion at the time I was knitting it.<br /><br />Which leads back to the title of this post.<br /><br />In the manner of ALL good parables, I'll let you draw your own conclusions.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYN9MeainC-BYSQ_Z0AYZsN_gifLYTGfKcwU4tpLTcU6a7Ok4Uk-Wu4-Ca_Y3txh69JZ5_YQftFtMb1nMZBQV0z5ogmHGrXihQ9LvgE8bV2r8Hq1846wNdPZugPesKTHftZipj2bnn8dB/s1600-h/087.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240311768529765218" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYN9MeainC-BYSQ_Z0AYZsN_gifLYTGfKcwU4tpLTcU6a7Ok4Uk-Wu4-Ca_Y3txh69JZ5_YQftFtMb1nMZBQV0z5ogmHGrXihQ9LvgE8bV2r8Hq1846wNdPZugPesKTHftZipj2bnn8dB/s400/087.JPG" border="0" /></a>Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-63648143738898717832008-08-26T19:28:00.015-04:002008-08-30T11:33:44.486-04:00Wandering through the old hard drive<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nC1un_lL_u4tTUjDdcS3GnBzHn3GSkH2u5je4XRZRNRX29WmL0FHKLxJNQoRlUITlmJWxLF6e31WjyMFGWq4ZkSDkwcjhU47P_L1kEqy3_pXTEH1qC9TCwbRhhULGbYfWlF0TR65H-D8/s1600-h/P9100033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238978294458641634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nC1un_lL_u4tTUjDdcS3GnBzHn3GSkH2u5je4XRZRNRX29WmL0FHKLxJNQoRlUITlmJWxLF6e31WjyMFGWq4ZkSDkwcjhU47P_L1kEqy3_pXTEH1qC9TCwbRhhULGbYfWlF0TR65H-D8/s400/P9100033.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I don't know what it is about me, blogs and Tuesdays, but that just seems to be the day I get to thinking about the fact that I need to update the world on what's clanking around inside my brain.<br /><div><div><div></div><br /><div>When I started the blog, I had so much stuff rolling around up there, I had to take notes on stuff so I wouldn't forget that I wanted to blog about it.</div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>I still have a bunch of stuff up there, but since I have so little time right now to write, when I DO actually find some time to write, I have a hard time figuring out what to write about. The old Mark Twain problem of "I wanted to write you a short letter, but I didn't have time so I wrote you a long one instead". I feel like if I only get to throw something out into the ether once or twice a week, I'd like to make a stab at having it be worthwhile stuff. </div><div></div><div>THEN there is the problem of having photos to go along with it. actual, RELEVANT photos, I mean, that complement the theme of the blog.</div><br /><div>This is proving to be really difficult for me. I just haven't gotten comfortable with dragging my camera around with me everywhere to capture all my life's moments to share with y'all here.</div><div><br />There are a few reasons for this:</div><div></div><div>1. I'm still trying to figure out how to work that darn SLR that my KiSA was so generous to gift me a few birthdays ago. </div><br /><div></div><div>2. I already haul so much junk around I can't see how I can fit one more little thing (plus that other little thing that goes with it, AND the extra lens, AND the charger AND the manual-see reason#1 for why I still need to haul around the manual.) </div><div></div><br /><div>3. I may have to come to terms that a lot of my life's moments involve me sitting in a little grey cube, in a little grey box inside a bigger gray box in the middle of Michigan, staring at my computer and trying to figure out why the IT people keep sending me stupid duplicate help desk tickets. and </div><div></div>4. Who has time to take pictures (not to mention, EDIT them!) when I barely have time to write a blog?!<br /><div></div><br /><div>NOWWWWWWW......If I owned a knitting shop in Paris, and sipped lattes at the corner cafe on my lunch hour, I'm sure I'd have plenty of reason to tote my cute little hand-knit camera bag around to photograph all the latest designs and projects I was working on. Like these fabulous beauties!</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTfao0dM-GpQ50t1sQ3i-fvH_YlCfbxTiViPnxJrZNzkB62pSRumWywxYYljN-Q0H_U0-qn9YxSOw47_MUkl49_nfk1eL2amo2ARZj4VnJc7bE24T1SnEhmrAP2SxNYsd8bhp2XLFVhIf/s1600-h/054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238981924226764706" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTfao0dM-GpQ50t1sQ3i-fvH_YlCfbxTiViPnxJrZNzkB62pSRumWywxYYljN-Q0H_U0-qn9YxSOw47_MUkl49_nfk1eL2amo2ARZj4VnJc7bE24T1SnEhmrAP2SxNYsd8bhp2XLFVhIf/s320/054.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">(Ack! uhm..see REASON #1 to explain THIS picture)</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>but.... I don't.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If I owned my sheep, alpaca and chicken farm in a quaint remote region of Ireland, I could sling my camera over my shoulder as I rode my horse around taking photos of all the breathtaking panoramic views and the quaint old buildings on the farm ...</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FuS8rxSqIQkBfttyTI2k5N_0HcPROQ8uIrQcVIb3iNvG9u1vGvVqhwSl7MZX5_ynAR7gtX7tIRkccEwLanaQ1t98EpMJy_JQS9mAzAEvOnl7xSZKSfD-eO3LcBYx0MHUGgg73SqtnPXw/s1600-h/P6030098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238979214483434674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FuS8rxSqIQkBfttyTI2k5N_0HcPROQ8uIrQcVIb3iNvG9u1vGvVqhwSl7MZX5_ynAR7gtX7tIRkccEwLanaQ1t98EpMJy_JQS9mAzAEvOnl7xSZKSfD-eO3LcBYx0MHUGgg73SqtnPXw/s400/P6030098.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>but again..no. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>And while I work on a bunch of projects (though definitely NOT in Paris) I'm finding it's really hard to photograph them well (plus I'll need more equipment to haul around and another manual) </div><div></div><div></div><div>AND though I see lots of cool old quaint buildings and panoramic vistas on my way to work, you really shouldn't stop the car on the side of the interstate and wade through the weeds to take pictures of those quaint old buildings and panoramic views, nor attempt to photograph them with your camera phone while you are driving (for reference pics when you decide to finally learn how to paint in watercolor) Just trust me on how I know this, ok?</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Soooo, what I decided to do today (for my ADD self and all the rest of my faithful fan base who can't manage to get through a whole boring ole' blog without at least a FEW pictures) is go through a few of my OLD photos and use today's blog as an excuse to post them! Photos that, while cute, just didn't make the cut of "fabulous" and "breathtaking" etc. when I took them oh so many moons ago. </div><div><br /></div><div>This one is my buddy in the thick of one of his favorite things...heavy weapons re-creation fighting. Note the historically accurate use of duct tape on his garage-sale-swat-team-cum knight helmet.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAqSHmF4E-qmvBwrJ7Qu1fNDQ-uinp6qoRIJMiHjoQ0byK2ZJY2PGKM4nvMaRrwUSBjqF95nruiGLMztPcvZosIxNfCL__7cnozgTz-h85AfPnOOgBhZU_w5gImJfN5_T06Sm2hkwK1VC/s1600-h/P1150076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238979205302119634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAqSHmF4E-qmvBwrJ7Qu1fNDQ-uinp6qoRIJMiHjoQ0byK2ZJY2PGKM4nvMaRrwUSBjqF95nruiGLMztPcvZosIxNfCL__7cnozgTz-h85AfPnOOgBhZU_w5gImJfN5_T06Sm2hkwK1VC/s400/P1150076.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a friend's son and gi-normous mastiff puppy having a snooze together on a Saturday afternoon.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm05lNhR_YD7YJK5iEuMFVVHeyic91R8PwI4EQ7hGwfCc4qI8s2LTGt8CVgzRRPVoyaDWZnTeOVcyNCY3votmdegFzAKhqjV7XqDMf9mgoiMTO_AsZavJzcrYm4B4LYMbzOasZwzSI_adA/s1600-h/P6180036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238979216226882994" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm05lNhR_YD7YJK5iEuMFVVHeyic91R8PwI4EQ7hGwfCc4qI8s2LTGt8CVgzRRPVoyaDWZnTeOVcyNCY3votmdegFzAKhqjV7XqDMf9mgoiMTO_AsZavJzcrYm4B4LYMbzOasZwzSI_adA/s400/P6180036.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>My buddy at 'fair' a couple of years ago, with all the really important fair paraphenalia: a cowboy hat and a giant coke.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoM1H1Taii29oiX5gkt7UjSO_i5VT6PooqWaDmKIGNyCc2s3GGYVDif8BPtHr0XCcVePFQc_2u8MBUvW35-DpvftexaLGqVulDcUDfAi2glmKaj-a_5EFzKwIk6MK6tuu4S7TTE12e-WUu/s1600-h/P8080143.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238979220719801746" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoM1H1Taii29oiX5gkt7UjSO_i5VT6PooqWaDmKIGNyCc2s3GGYVDif8BPtHr0XCcVePFQc_2u8MBUvW35-DpvftexaLGqVulDcUDfAi2glmKaj-a_5EFzKwIk6MK6tuu4S7TTE12e-WUu/s400/P8080143.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Hope you aren't too disappointed with this little trip down my old harddrive.</div><div></div><div></div><div>I could just post more of this...</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJPPT1MMbGPnvS6z0VRo7fSjAhd246_HVsMoVmC4HGYcD5kJsqA1xeBbPPxz4ToBx4IyuUdTwUBbsyxHTaOkKZMTdF7tgolqlHhwlB7ZgkQttsp6tWY1EZHXXShDq7bleKwZ6k-NMlrw4/s1600-h/052.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238984961351305906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJPPT1MMbGPnvS6z0VRo7fSjAhd246_HVsMoVmC4HGYcD5kJsqA1xeBbPPxz4ToBx4IyuUdTwUBbsyxHTaOkKZMTdF7tgolqlHhwlB7ZgkQttsp6tWY1EZHXXShDq7bleKwZ6k-NMlrw4/s400/052.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>And none of us wants that, now...right?</div><div></div><div></div></div>Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-76578832300399558272008-08-22T19:04:00.010-04:002008-09-07T09:20:49.981-04:00Friday night and I'm feeling fine<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGFu7ay41R7XbKTsqVg8ecfsziSF28rT_Dg2lz9w0My9gnGmQs9uYqMnoMES8U_QPj11Y3cE7kdkj2cM0eOx4Ig_rj3xiiJ-u8bSMF5_HTlLGqVwYesyegdT4NZvnRxsaVl7kUZb9J5K1/s1600-h/P5220053.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237490844582368450" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGFu7ay41R7XbKTsqVg8ecfsziSF28rT_Dg2lz9w0My9gnGmQs9uYqMnoMES8U_QPj11Y3cE7kdkj2cM0eOx4Ig_rj3xiiJ-u8bSMF5_HTlLGqVwYesyegdT4NZvnRxsaVl7kUZb9J5K1/s400/P5220053.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>I think that's a song, but I'm not sure which one. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I have a lot of music and songs going through my head at any given moment, but I don't always know if it's actual songs. Does that make me crazy? I mean just that by itself, not taken in with all my other idiosyncracies.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Speaking of idiosyncracies. Here's some fun photos of my kids being weird.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I wonder where they get THAT from?<br /></div><br /><div>Isn't this a cute picture of Memsy? We made her halloween costume together. This was taken last year, but I just found it again and I had to share.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYDO2fOv93Bk6pmVUAiUOgclJkve0bg-qhMdBQ3SKKJjchedUSUIAQe3aBp9o8YLF8chlmK62l2HnSIlmVOLpLLlcFvnqYuwpCrnHR3md96BQK2Eup-N5QHRQR7zY2yNdEZ3oOL70RKVH/s1600-h/032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237487034351812738" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYDO2fOv93Bk6pmVUAiUOgclJkve0bg-qhMdBQ3SKKJjchedUSUIAQe3aBp9o8YLF8chlmK62l2HnSIlmVOLpLLlcFvnqYuwpCrnHR3md96BQK2Eup-N5QHRQR7zY2yNdEZ3oOL70RKVH/s400/032.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These are blackmail photos of my buddy for when he gets older.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dMsOzlYfJ378KUkH1V7J38E5waZP7oQSb34FJF9xf7fV6SQhqyWdmNLpYjxfLFBosvFwjdJabkN8Jgy38cDlicnG1IC0GmoB4LJIl2ggm3_uAv-FyvOiMZCzf1PZ3wikh-HoWqHGrgt-/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237487044919990722" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dMsOzlYfJ378KUkH1V7J38E5waZP7oQSb34FJF9xf7fV6SQhqyWdmNLpYjxfLFBosvFwjdJabkN8Jgy38cDlicnG1IC0GmoB4LJIl2ggm3_uAv-FyvOiMZCzf1PZ3wikh-HoWqHGrgt-/s400/008.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Why is the theme from Zoolander running through my head?</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_hdTOFkoKoa5n1kg7KLe_ZkzJkxH1sFvgt59IaFoV9FvseW13vmeamsEUkS-aWwE6h82IA-Gbk9asSQknJq99w0D-awwDLrEzeND-aazFMzpiHt_WzlM4gZmUafD6savlVifs5hyVIJi/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237489808702234066" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_hdTOFkoKoa5n1kg7KLe_ZkzJkxH1sFvgt59IaFoV9FvseW13vmeamsEUkS-aWwE6h82IA-Gbk9asSQknJq99w0D-awwDLrEzeND-aazFMzpiHt_WzlM4gZmUafD6savlVifs5hyVIJi/s400/005.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Is there a theme from the movie "Zoolander?"</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05cjCt90VPbLF6U_5MliMpI_NxQqZXJMLq7KvbRve6iYgSTfLXT4U9Hn33hfVzrRGcg0-ScRNpBQ2votenlq7xuFP2Bu-rehQ49AN67KrcwPehgsf0_szMz0PB78P2r7_xR2uaQ6qQZUI/s1600-h/057.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237489815322259954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05cjCt90VPbLF6U_5MliMpI_NxQqZXJMLq7KvbRve6iYgSTfLXT4U9Hn33hfVzrRGcg0-ScRNpBQ2votenlq7xuFP2Bu-rehQ49AN67KrcwPehgsf0_szMz0PB78P2r7_xR2uaQ6qQZUI/s400/057.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I didn't really try, but I've got one of those chains going...</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJeyJBX7NPum5AkXh3ANPs0HJMKxaLiYzatrHhcpcjYMwgxSsWKOdk9ANn4s5kimJNtqDvEzjhfMBnki7FVv8LKQTLWyJHcU6EOs64UuLP0dV4xfDEpfXMzjhjejrfiilk9M8huB3Fv7b/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237488895911867714" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJeyJBX7NPum5AkXh3ANPs0HJMKxaLiYzatrHhcpcjYMwgxSsWKOdk9ANn4s5kimJNtqDvEzjhfMBnki7FVv8LKQTLWyJHcU6EOs64UuLP0dV4xfDEpfXMzjhjejrfiilk9M8huB3Fv7b/s400/017.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>You know...use the last word in the first word of the next sentence?</div><br /><div>except it's a picture, and it's backwards.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>but...you get what I mean...right?</div><br /><div></div>Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-79647826031452406992008-08-19T20:36:00.009-04:002008-08-19T21:08:25.331-04:00Another Tuesday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0ojBwbPq7YRs8I-TYUavl9Rj4mbrOL7PKqhhGW2uwe6JnwSpQCO54iNzy1EebwITVz6IR5U4SknKVYJPE6zXukwjdMjMNCSfDi9-qW71ZPZ-ihQgQEmKnAcyxMPChvmm6Yl_TEJL-EzI/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236397409714205922" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0ojBwbPq7YRs8I-TYUavl9Rj4mbrOL7PKqhhGW2uwe6JnwSpQCO54iNzy1EebwITVz6IR5U4SknKVYJPE6zXukwjdMjMNCSfDi9-qW71ZPZ-ihQgQEmKnAcyxMPChvmm6Yl_TEJL-EzI/s320/017.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><div><div> </div><div>Wow - that last blog really threw me for a doozy.</div><div> </div><div>Here it is already 2 weeks later and I'm not quite sure what happened.</div><div> </div><div>Work has really gotten crazy and I seem to run out of hours once I get home to post anything.</div><div> </div><div>Not wanting to neglect my faithful following (ahahahahahah), and having too much to write but not much to say, I thought I'd post something quick for your viewivnccccg (<---Oscar just typed that) pleasure:</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>A small assortment of the socks I have made recently, since that is what I have been obsessing over lately:</div><div></div><div>The two on the outside are nice-n-cheap wool ease, the middle one is cascade 220 wool (purrrrrgrrrrrrrrrr) left-over from last year's xmas present to mom.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5JEjSDoNQlgBZcuFp1mdgHxUdFdi_ty7JhyphenhyphenAXL4VrrDKjv93kO-9e-noLYTfo09vPaH181C6d11cDkkXpzGDsN_e960pfiqJ4am267JzzH957YZBsMYA1gkgnh9OQ87_tOwsVogOfhyphenhyphenb/s1600-h/032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236395099110839826" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5JEjSDoNQlgBZcuFp1mdgHxUdFdi_ty7JhyphenhyphenAXL4VrrDKjv93kO-9e-noLYTfo09vPaH181C6d11cDkkXpzGDsN_e960pfiqJ4am267JzzH957YZBsMYA1gkgnh9OQ87_tOwsVogOfhyphenhyphenb/s400/032.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Oscar seems to really like my socks too:</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNPUOsb-FRmKymnGnKo8pp5YEyh8eGv8aDqnkcr9NNUcn6OrCMY4MNaOhZOb8aub0JiuVNNbfeVF7sbteyF8zvZIQjiD5vZyM3uNqJVIS-6gIpA62WAg4AfHBKGGHsF7fTH_A5rnfDwfG/s1600-h/oscar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236399531692056754" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNPUOsb-FRmKymnGnKo8pp5YEyh8eGv8aDqnkcr9NNUcn6OrCMY4MNaOhZOb8aub0JiuVNNbfeVF7sbteyF8zvZIQjiD5vZyM3uNqJVIS-6gIpA62WAg4AfHBKGGHsF7fTH_A5rnfDwfG/s400/oscar.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQl1X5haHSjeRoh2xW4jfoBupLhyphenhyphenC1iMMwT3zwqWMjiXS-9Aid6QTQm96GtfJ65yfRsFgC9dSlXCl_GK9nnucNAq6srMVmlbdbNH2l4DzL5M9HeLjsBb7w6gvPxqXY9YDep8RPVi02r7I/s1600-h/033.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div>uh...Oscar?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGP7VuY_8-U2hSqhV_H_oD0NFiQfTzWlt4K8_y05krvWyBlmcFbnSaG_KxlzVwu92_GXRch_ddMLDiEEwEjsabkL49hCQm-D0JgmZnnxlUhL-Y-C33xWf3dOhzgddbiKWccAIZrnUoYUp/s1600-h/036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236395112830301570" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGP7VuY_8-U2hSqhV_H_oD0NFiQfTzWlt4K8_y05krvWyBlmcFbnSaG_KxlzVwu92_GXRch_ddMLDiEEwEjsabkL49hCQm-D0JgmZnnxlUhL-Y-C33xWf3dOhzgddbiKWccAIZrnUoYUp/s400/036.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div>Can I have my sock back?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuz6aPyQfCGkyBoZnUeW5EF-TuUvWYbMB9zyVRD8QF0lU826Ea2NU-mGG6ccj-TI1DrdR5b_UgMfCHmB2jWkEMejF1tgK5K7C-El81PjnFREK1sPv-5_R5_aeIvtpZ0QCNDjcaYnITlN9/s1600-h/046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236395123222983778" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuz6aPyQfCGkyBoZnUeW5EF-TuUvWYbMB9zyVRD8QF0lU826Ea2NU-mGG6ccj-TI1DrdR5b_UgMfCHmB2jWkEMejF1tgK5K7C-El81PjnFREK1sPv-5_R5_aeIvtpZ0QCNDjcaYnITlN9/s400/046.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />too speedy to capture on film! (or...I need to figure out how to adjust the shutter speed)</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENR72SpF-vnjJtYsEl4qh4Y8gEH_SnNXuQM2mqpyHvK2JnY60oSEBwASvwpQUWIiAlcQs1ruBzHK7yJrNZI9T28my4c4za_coZfCipMc3hnQXsqjSD90y9pU2Zrop3Jsix2wcmjlgvQPs/s1600-h/045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236396297355440834" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENR72SpF-vnjJtYsEl4qh4Y8gEH_SnNXuQM2mqpyHvK2JnY60oSEBwASvwpQUWIiAlcQs1ruBzHK7yJrNZI9T28my4c4za_coZfCipMc3hnQXsqjSD90y9pU2Zrop3Jsix2wcmjlgvQPs/s400/045.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />with those claws, I think I need to make him a pair of little socks of his own<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwGc80I5DMbQX_Sxl0CSU8blqn68lnrNBOFgMYe0mSkGGZ7ytgcMJdfFgsD_sTeKYlSejB-ALlSx0H5clxdY15YLN2ZEuNqEq7rA_BuWYNrgJH9f_pWW1dpbiQDYjCz73J78FohJejfy1/s1600-h/051.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236396290716645650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwGc80I5DMbQX_Sxl0CSU8blqn68lnrNBOFgMYe0mSkGGZ7ytgcMJdfFgsD_sTeKYlSejB-ALlSx0H5clxdY15YLN2ZEuNqEq7rA_BuWYNrgJH9f_pWW1dpbiQDYjCz73J78FohJejfy1/s400/051.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Then he could be this happy all the time!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_-3kufTBsduzuuosFvK1Vy34zlB9dSNJypPxbGIrH1x19pCgW4bKo7RAu1tMtacrABoMOSH3kFY6LfvYxTHt7g8hlzFnJ3j-I7rOciLnz8m-vI1cwzC6iFnAnds1yruRIDdBb-rAEnxL/s1600-h/037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236396839105414850" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_-3kufTBsduzuuosFvK1Vy34zlB9dSNJypPxbGIrH1x19pCgW4bKo7RAu1tMtacrABoMOSH3kFY6LfvYxTHt7g8hlzFnJ3j-I7rOciLnz8m-vI1cwzC6iFnAnds1yruRIDdBb-rAEnxL/s400/037.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div><div><div>Peace out....</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div></div></div></div>Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-23575530564905847542008-08-05T13:57:00.008-04:002008-08-05T18:16:51.787-04:00Tuesday's blog or is it Monday, or Thursday?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Poo8fvbcrCxFzWsILDmSr5XLyPABH_3cxNk5e5PQ8BQ8Xr-w6yClis9xAO6bD29wg84fWHUQ1uJ6hzW7ogIc_amjHIsGYZY7cELaHwK5f-Xh_0qRp2eC-yRkXSZtQOSMGCjhFEHcaZMk/s1600-h/037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231160422248531714" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Poo8fvbcrCxFzWsILDmSr5XLyPABH_3cxNk5e5PQ8BQ8Xr-w6yClis9xAO6bD29wg84fWHUQ1uJ6hzW7ogIc_amjHIsGYZY7cELaHwK5f-Xh_0qRp2eC-yRkXSZtQOSMGCjhFEHcaZMk/s400/037.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Oscar says, "Try the socks, they are delicious"</div><div><br />I skipped out of work yesterday-let's just say I was having 'health issues' and leave it at that, which also allowed my buddy to stay home from summer camp due to an "extreme wii sports injury" he sustained at his uncle's this weekend. </div><div>I'm not sure how I feel about that right now, but I'm sure I'll have more to say on that another time. </div><div>Here's an action shot of him playing just boring ole' PS2.</div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuat75DTGCM1oMTff6B5_Iw-9uAbkgpN9GlTmydEOn3qV5lEnXi15rasuCtSQgHnKxrzh_7Xc1DpoecYhaE_3Txmg-JJQKxHh4kIu0FNdsNAR_lLG-gjJ6U2xQIOhC_sC38MKNpjlap12/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231157162932477186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuat75DTGCM1oMTff6B5_Iw-9uAbkgpN9GlTmydEOn3qV5lEnXi15rasuCtSQgHnKxrzh_7Xc1DpoecYhaE_3Txmg-JJQKxHh4kIu0FNdsNAR_lLG-gjJ6U2xQIOhC_sC38MKNpjlap12/s320/010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>So - today is my first day of the work week, technically, my Monday. But I have vacation Thursday and Friday, so tomorrow, while being Wednesday (Tuesday?) will actually be my Friday, so today is also Thursday. </div><div></div><br /><br /><div>No wonder I feel a little discombobulated today. </div></div></div>Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-56324332790599155792008-08-01T13:17:00.033-04:002008-08-30T11:10:34.411-04:00Baby Steps<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpGQLQ_X_KrzNxPXSfAl_dHm6zgIYSykUHeU5abhzdu6sdU2coJFf8EBmDJmjABS_SCMV1rQQP294GO5wc6XZOy98jV_4Wb7IH-MhXbtU8Go4SlB3Yju6vEyNCNiYKlGa5p3BYx4Z5QH1/s1600-h/cleome.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229624224790695970" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpGQLQ_X_KrzNxPXSfAl_dHm6zgIYSykUHeU5abhzdu6sdU2coJFf8EBmDJmjABS_SCMV1rQQP294GO5wc6XZOy98jV_4Wb7IH-MhXbtU8Go4SlB3Yju6vEyNCNiYKlGa5p3BYx4Z5QH1/s320/cleome.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div>I'm impatient by nature. I don't like to wait for anything. I'm also an idealist romantic with big dreams. When these two traits come together, they cause a lot of problems. I want great things to happen and I want them now! (stamps foot).</div><br /><div></div><div>Given unlimited time and money, this wouldn't be a problem, but, uhmm...well, THAT's a problem.</div><br /><div>Since my <a href="http://ksd-simonesays.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-knight-in-shining-armor.html">KiSA</a> and I seriously started our Yoga practice, one of the things that we are constantly struggling with is this concept: baby steps. You know, Rome wasn't built in a day, eat an elephant one piece at a time, blah blah blah and all that crap.</div><div></div><br /><div>I seem to have a harder time with this concept than KiSA does.</div><br /><div>I love to garden. When we bought this house back in 2003, there was a lot of lawn. The whole front yard, with the exception of the foundation shrubs, was lawn. Not a really nice one, either, since the house faces north and that muckin' huge maple tree out front basically hogs all the sun and moisture and nutrients. Here's a picture of it a few winters ago. If you want to see the house at all, you have to wait til winter, on account of the muckin' huge maple out front, but <em>that</em> is another topic altogether.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvPSZHjigaxDXj_2blvNPzwyKkVUmgIavn295mBlEbj5ZmkIs5fGRMZUngI3T-1fF82wTOr9-T3xG8TVVODw8LEixAjnCBi2L8mVKH3LjC8ro7LOLRlt3PoL_v2PJJ6RnNCYgjAT2IRm9/s1600-h/kentstreet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229605668158587682" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvPSZHjigaxDXj_2blvNPzwyKkVUmgIavn295mBlEbj5ZmkIs5fGRMZUngI3T-1fF82wTOr9-T3xG8TVVODw8LEixAjnCBi2L8mVKH3LjC8ro7LOLRlt3PoL_v2PJJ6RnNCYgjAT2IRm9/s320/kentstreet.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>The rest of the yard had more flowers than I had ever had in any other house I'd lived in, but it still had a lot of lawn. This was not a huge problem for me until that fateful day I actually MOWED the lawn. I did, too. I did! ...I mowed the lawn...<em>twice. </em><br /></div><div>Ok, twice in the 5 years we lived there, but that was more than enough for me to figure out we needed less lawn. That has since been my guiding principle for our yard...less lawn, more...other stuff. </div><br /><div>I came up with big plans. I started with the front yard. I sketched out a glorious plan with sweeping drifts of flowers, grasses and charming lawn ornaments. I dragged my KiSA out on a cold, rainy Mother's day weekend, the first spring we were in the house, and made him dig up sod, move hostas and cut through the roots of that muckin' huge maple tree so we could plant according to my master plan. It turned out FAB-U-LOUS. Exactly what I wanted and planned for. It was perfect. I wouldn't change a thing.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzy35iJkZe_0hR4iKoKk9BWl7QwncqVi60atsMf3QvKKiJKSTtnFYdlpRj9ZbbPgendv4IqgSMAAScMLX7evdM2B2dPYb-IkzOT1h6YMDdLcLicNlxAfOQWtRVxGvVLotg5sfURYGeOYL/s1600-h/kent2004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229614549755445874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzy35iJkZe_0hR4iKoKk9BWl7QwncqVi60atsMf3QvKKiJKSTtnFYdlpRj9ZbbPgendv4IqgSMAAScMLX7evdM2B2dPYb-IkzOT1h6YMDdLcLicNlxAfOQWtRVxGvVLotg5sfURYGeOYL/s320/kent2004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />ok, so about 3 months later, I found a few things to change...</div><br /><div></div><div>..and then the following spring a few more...and then the following fall, just one or two changes...</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqDCineNa5gzFjM6w6zk-5297xnGuV5kXR8gghzVl3UwLduRGxmEhhV6AfHYqcoM6EGTi3TIf35cga16mKYYc7mTF5aKZOHJmShXG_yrYbN06Jpsg9ahQtSKrmgRiUA2RSaMProFEa9ST/s1600-h/front+yard.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229614555547322242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqDCineNa5gzFjM6w6zk-5297xnGuV5kXR8gghzVl3UwLduRGxmEhhV6AfHYqcoM6EGTi3TIf35cga16mKYYc7mTF5aKZOHJmShXG_yrYbN06Jpsg9ahQtSKrmgRiUA2RSaMProFEa9ST/s320/front+yard.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>and then after that, I just added a few things, moved things around...</div><div><br />This is what my front yard looks like this summer.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxnMjQz96sT6rn-qoYpQ5PYkWfzSxRS0tIEyAlFv7zWPnXb2Ekd1D91YLv9s3Su52g8YgLUOX54mw1ODNxRNj4HfxZ47Pww-JAd60eSb8ig4ZaiMnG19Uu2_Tbhg-5y8IPXSg2Z5GVSgn/s1600-h/kent2008.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwD94DozhOQUcpr024ZVzpKtZFiNJdJ08esoTu0PbD9cYqGwJMbth4NmFAjq3r5cy-6x0jO-klLHXPGOYNgdbxRfHvkLykna-1YsJUOl_jHz9gZxFe6zAxhvkB7wmItNaLqNJngk1hylwM/s1600-h/frontyard.juneflat"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7h9L9BYXQobHNaFBGDBTZiOhI8LZZBWVuL6n02ucm1aB9OGLnE4zI5nK8LeY5qlRzJ4GMXJGrdEjxNV6DfiPti1dtax-SzlscZS21y7E6qGO_G2rQnbedORO_R4yx3bHwPk-GSc2nfT5F/s1600-h/frontyard.juneflat"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229893330809290946" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7h9L9BYXQobHNaFBGDBTZiOhI8LZZBWVuL6n02ucm1aB9OGLnE4zI5nK8LeY5qlRzJ4GMXJGrdEjxNV6DfiPti1dtax-SzlscZS21y7E6qGO_G2rQnbedORO_R4yx3bHwPk-GSc2nfT5F/s320/frontyard.juneflat" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />Actually, I've changed it since I took this picture in June. </div><br /><div>But, you get the idea....it didn't happen all at once, despite my grandiose plans....baby steps...<br /></div><div>So, as I was thinking about the subject of baby steps, and my garden, I thought it would be fun to look at some of the ways my garden has changed on account of all the baby steps I took along the way. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcewGsshQvE_-p41J_WvQtC4DGWvRy7xBuhLlj2qPHXAPmm7cYM-Y8Y_R9QjzM3XEN-LoLpZA16Uxsz_GaUpok7KzGKQ5ycz35EGXVFyexYhSaY7sOgWGPtzC-hWvFFdsYfKBbbX8DpPMp/s1600-h/yarrow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229616944441679154" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcewGsshQvE_-p41J_WvQtC4DGWvRy7xBuhLlj2qPHXAPmm7cYM-Y8Y_R9QjzM3XEN-LoLpZA16Uxsz_GaUpok7KzGKQ5ycz35EGXVFyexYhSaY7sOgWGPtzC-hWvFFdsYfKBbbX8DpPMp/s320/yarrow.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>Awww...look at my cute little buddy. That Coronation Gold yarrow was taller than he was at the time. I dig it out every year, move it to a new location around my yard and EVERY year I miss a little bit and it comes back. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9y4tpAkBW3C35LhHArY4L-z1cmwpXNPZtWMMOLSap8CQHeN2QL6bLm8gHCchHKhyphenhyphenRS2uZ3xjem0256NSzIQHfaCq7mpCbMksdFFZxqLjd_YdG2eTpd28CwmUJmFMY_P4v0DQ4R4gDYLn/s1600-h/sage+and+yarrow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229616942942664706" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9y4tpAkBW3C35LhHArY4L-z1cmwpXNPZtWMMOLSap8CQHeN2QL6bLm8gHCchHKhyphenhyphenRS2uZ3xjem0256NSzIQHfaCq7mpCbMksdFFZxqLjd_YdG2eTpd28CwmUJmFMY_P4v0DQ4R4gDYLn/s320/sage+and+yarrow.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>THIS year it looks perfect with the Russian sage. Exactly like I planned it that cold winter day way back in '02.</div><br /><div>This is the side garden on the west side of the house:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLkomtZ0QIU1DR_65l4Nt7uh2UKS1cRofkYpFzxChdAj_5xKxL7BWfTX4yJfrN9Vbf2Kd9EnCC3Gp7gUPW-Uz2mB961alPBydKA1gmAzAdOGuTflbcf_DZ-c2lckoerl4qZ8CBfIt5l20/s1600-h/lilybed.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihK1yh5odVbw6ujhtLvWfJCRHTdom3x_ADkQXXO0ob5CVoF4vOchb1hz3GDG2Ruec10-mgHIw1G_874XbJPym7YQg5KaoUM3YmIBu_H6ep7BpGetLUOJkNYnWdzv7vu4NgVukSF74OLRec/s1600-h/coneflower.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229612692896923554" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihK1yh5odVbw6ujhtLvWfJCRHTdom3x_ADkQXXO0ob5CVoF4vOchb1hz3GDG2Ruec10-mgHIw1G_874XbJPym7YQg5KaoUM3YmIBu_H6ep7BpGetLUOJkNYnWdzv7vu4NgVukSF74OLRec/s320/coneflower.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-I4LGAE-p9IapxoUrEsAROmP09Y38JjolG9if-rtOPuXTjU46XlKBRrphfIGtl9kSGMeyVyE0CBo98HhBcYFvRQxOCxgHBw-RUMDuFcRTVdyf1IFqzr7cIbktt1_uPfL5JMe9NBTz1zCn/s1600-h/garden.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229600353701278530" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-I4LGAE-p9IapxoUrEsAROmP09Y38JjolG9if-rtOPuXTjU46XlKBRrphfIGtl9kSGMeyVyE0CBo98HhBcYFvRQxOCxgHBw-RUMDuFcRTVdyf1IFqzr7cIbktt1_uPfL5JMe9NBTz1zCn/s320/garden.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>I love purple coneflower, I love it so much I turned it into the logo for Kent Street Designs, and they look fabulous this year. The monarchs and swallowtails love them, too. </div><br /><div></div><div>This is what we call the 'back forty' ....uhh...<em>feet</em>.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUJWVt-1-BJCIYOJvy6x3BEdvcT57-9tzaVWxYCawkPVV3syUxQuZzQxSXA8a0gi5J45a62kXimW5z_5iwihLSO8wsXqP05Y893eAs59bi_x99J5iARnT6cUihDL1TN1lPNxVxqtSrOv5/s1600-h/jefferson.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229612699050409122" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUJWVt-1-BJCIYOJvy6x3BEdvcT57-9tzaVWxYCawkPVV3syUxQuZzQxSXA8a0gi5J45a62kXimW5z_5iwihLSO8wsXqP05Y893eAs59bi_x99J5iARnT6cUihDL1TN1lPNxVxqtSrOv5/s320/jefferson.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>We had to buy this extra lot in order to get the pool house for the pool that we keep open for our crazy neighbor to use. (He's a teacher). That was WAY too much lawn to mow, so we put in a veggie garden, cuz that is so much less labor intensive (work with me here)</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDKpBiWj47WIkqP3cILqokBZY3ju98JRmZmX7NtBwUVyoo8MHgIi3rU9bzP_gpvmvh2JTH1hSUuZzxtAkeQ2ZnEtM2R1Zk35IZE4aArB8w-yDmuj-m4wapJZQnAcuRSGMqnR1VivfeuPG/s1600-h/jefferson2008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229600357321058834" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDKpBiWj47WIkqP3cILqokBZY3ju98JRmZmX7NtBwUVyoo8MHgIi3rU9bzP_gpvmvh2JTH1hSUuZzxtAkeQ2ZnEtM2R1Zk35IZE4aArB8w-yDmuj-m4wapJZQnAcuRSGMqnR1VivfeuPG/s320/jefferson2008.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>I'm currently plotting out how to get rid of that last little strip of grass without losing that nice kidney bean curve.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKFzmW8EUsORt12v3rvoczHbLlgZpko4ezVJrGPN8V25Ao4SjuSe1Jrxwq_gtjy3rQO_PPEvtfCuhKZRzXn-5tBHekxV9fYufqE1NeSSUvVgpypZfNarseI4f_qSDq88OnhshSCbAhuWa/s1600-h/jefferson2008.2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229619912742266514" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKFzmW8EUsORt12v3rvoczHbLlgZpko4ezVJrGPN8V25Ao4SjuSe1Jrxwq_gtjy3rQO_PPEvtfCuhKZRzXn-5tBHekxV9fYufqE1NeSSUvVgpypZfNarseI4f_qSDq88OnhshSCbAhuWa/s320/jefferson2008.2.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>Here's a shot of the west side of the back yard taken from the 3rd floor: </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbHeJGpHHuKgQ_VAf-p3g41sDHAKpnV2DZPg9O0olTKmOWjmSGscyLjpVU2Ize66mwXVS423_YqAjxEB3axjKZQ5MoIcfJBPr9ovLAghzGGdiY2QLTpFsv_-f6Y4iTzv0DGilhXPiQCHB/s1600-h/sidefrom+above2004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229612703864128770" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbHeJGpHHuKgQ_VAf-p3g41sDHAKpnV2DZPg9O0olTKmOWjmSGscyLjpVU2Ize66mwXVS423_YqAjxEB3axjKZQ5MoIcfJBPr9ovLAghzGGdiY2QLTpFsv_-f6Y4iTzv0DGilhXPiQCHB/s320/sidefrom+above2004.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIv0Y8khi_pV0-MzVIM5MuPSQmBMjULmKMYXmYHadNO6GhPIn861tsQUZXVKK8HcZSLgsBQJAuZqSi4ucPpVa0MuW19U0WO2R3o-8djpz5v6w0aaVwCGam0mqJrkjmOuNf-ZDze_LGHCl/s1600-h/side+from+above.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229611388156951010" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIv0Y8khi_pV0-MzVIM5MuPSQmBMjULmKMYXmYHadNO6GhPIn861tsQUZXVKK8HcZSLgsBQJAuZqSi4ucPpVa0MuW19U0WO2R3o-8djpz5v6w0aaVwCGam0mqJrkjmOuNf-ZDze_LGHCl/s320/side+from+above.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Doesn't it look so much better, now? KiSA & I made that bed last summer. We had to tear down the chicken coop, after the tragic eviction of the Kent Street Four (moment of silence) so I put in a new garden bed as a soothing balm for my aching heart. <em>snif.</em></div><br /><div>Here's a close up, then:</div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWRLUbyabXcLZ7vAxbzQpM1lDYRPd8iaasNQdwQP-QazcxNve1QXWThDweQLsY8XVcKnCEphZENsxd5-to0cD-w5T0wK62-B7FSB9wvuf8iK-Q3kFQMBsUZY83Tw3gZY_wFsFNHwNRlmo/s1600-h/junglebefore.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229600355399122578" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWRLUbyabXcLZ7vAxbzQpM1lDYRPd8iaasNQdwQP-QazcxNve1QXWThDweQLsY8XVcKnCEphZENsxd5-to0cD-w5T0wK62-B7FSB9wvuf8iK-Q3kFQMBsUZY83Tw3gZY_wFsFNHwNRlmo/s320/junglebefore.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div> </div><div>and now:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVpqwWHDxiPLbpXwQiJ3FtPPcA-bDF96-Fr0Dee12m3DCXBzW92rXNLh9N3z-e7QXMbLFlXuyNbipjcdAvvkLhN_1k_hxCjveRoXi1H5KPaWCsJyHu1go9Xpp8-UxU-cK3dNJp-nBV0y4/s1600-h/jungle2008+early.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229610042601531810" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVpqwWHDxiPLbpXwQiJ3FtPPcA-bDF96-Fr0Dee12m3DCXBzW92rXNLh9N3z-e7QXMbLFlXuyNbipjcdAvvkLhN_1k_hxCjveRoXi1H5KPaWCsJyHu1go9Xpp8-UxU-cK3dNJp-nBV0y4/s320/jungle2008+early.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I love that red chair. I found it, FREE. The trumpet vine really took off this year-the hummingbirds love it.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hEFtZVkfBgM3_qzRPUB80_Pou7uo9fF0SqaSyjg8KJhAyJvj-yP75grXBYfjLS_v6-rC54K-xrHdu_E4e63pPfjZ5mH_thMeNEJ1eLS1-c9eMggiWD0iIHw-gYo6huV6z_LQZeY2pBqs/s1600-h/jungle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229611392084947762" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hEFtZVkfBgM3_qzRPUB80_Pou7uo9fF0SqaSyjg8KJhAyJvj-yP75grXBYfjLS_v6-rC54K-xrHdu_E4e63pPfjZ5mH_thMeNEJ1eLS1-c9eMggiWD0iIHw-gYo6huV6z_LQZeY2pBqs/s320/jungle.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>oops! Ok, this might be a little out of control now.</div><br /><div>I gotta work on that....</div><div></div><br /><div>but for now....I'm practicing....baby steps.</div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-68228056440892505542008-07-31T11:49:00.013-04:002008-07-31T13:06:29.591-04:00Feeling Stressed?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHHnUOQvfRc9ni-ANWMLYMRtkE1TbAquUOjvJudfiBT_cTwDawpHEFawZOIMW2XbWRRO28pZWRQK-KhRyhz9Hnf2gn8ZNCyPKRWdqe0zxK0CbDViYdslqqxMgkZs02NGWxalKJ3aEwjCb/s1600-h/gabby.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229208274626379458" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHHnUOQvfRc9ni-ANWMLYMRtkE1TbAquUOjvJudfiBT_cTwDawpHEFawZOIMW2XbWRRO28pZWRQK-KhRyhz9Hnf2gn8ZNCyPKRWdqe0zxK0CbDViYdslqqxMgkZs02NGWxalKJ3aEwjCb/s320/gabby.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Today's Stress Reduction Moment is brought to you by:<br /><em>my pets</em>.<br /><br /><br /><br />Supposedly animals REDUCE stress levels.<br />Maybe they are talking about when you only have one?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6xGwiDKcX8uZw7d_tHa8r_S-sbOeOXm8tc8rhZhasTHtgVrh29v84aJdHK8voo_frU8ZdJgNaOSFqm-r7fMnyPWaC_uRqaRI9zyIEwwtkPob1kHmHMZqkDhqzOvl-YBzEpOwfkx8GG1X/s1600-h/chaos.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229208650992089906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6xGwiDKcX8uZw7d_tHa8r_S-sbOeOXm8tc8rhZhasTHtgVrh29v84aJdHK8voo_frU8ZdJgNaOSFqm-r7fMnyPWaC_uRqaRI9zyIEwwtkPob1kHmHMZqkDhqzOvl-YBzEpOwfkx8GG1X/s320/chaos.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I'm pretty sure my animals elevate my stress levels on a fairly regular basis - from trying to figure out which one ate what and then threw it up on the dining room hardwood, to the hissy fits and slobber fights, the whining, the fur tumbleweeds - I have a hard time appreciating my animals some days<br /><br />But then there are those times when they look so adorable...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjAJMOCgLYzYqJCTneMvj8R1cRcw6sEytw0guWFcAnvw7SxD5JsjmaVkEehqVv5g289q7q9DqXAC7QRoPFbvPX8VuGIjcAiTF4fUqMXKfadrJ69Vo94u7Dr7b74VdqbyGatTP4yOMAHzz/s1600-h/oscar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229210859600613602" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjAJMOCgLYzYqJCTneMvj8R1cRcw6sEytw0guWFcAnvw7SxD5JsjmaVkEehqVv5g289q7q9DqXAC7QRoPFbvPX8VuGIjcAiTF4fUqMXKfadrJ69Vo94u7Dr7b74VdqbyGatTP4yOMAHzz/s320/oscar.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSUQkJbuY3Xxq3jELdkzbK6Gakuu7PU4eoAC9Txw6cfGdHqiSr0RvkQyWP2tjVcV9pBJN3_mHWqlaYGREsEXG3f26l-xqjKC8ktS1uKiZsRVDIU8z256YRTls3VyJkLnRQAyPcE_jOOlA/s1600-h/buddies.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229211045131337266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSUQkJbuY3Xxq3jELdkzbK6Gakuu7PU4eoAC9Txw6cfGdHqiSr0RvkQyWP2tjVcV9pBJN3_mHWqlaYGREsEXG3f26l-xqjKC8ktS1uKiZsRVDIU8z256YRTls3VyJkLnRQAyPcE_jOOlA/s320/buddies.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />when they make us laugh by being so silly...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkxOmM5T7QR88MFViL6SLwazaY0Z0sSivCj01f1JZ4JolHntYRfDyKbbUv8EQ5rHyhRLvMvxP2h7nV-BYLIozZlvgr4ALzFXdbAuYKOQIi4ta86U6WTOksmlrS1eQ4cxS3GvQU1DmfCU4/s1600-h/maxpool.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229211342509865170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkxOmM5T7QR88MFViL6SLwazaY0Z0sSivCj01f1JZ4JolHntYRfDyKbbUv8EQ5rHyhRLvMvxP2h7nV-BYLIozZlvgr4ALzFXdbAuYKOQIi4ta86U6WTOksmlrS1eQ4cxS3GvQU1DmfCU4/s320/maxpool.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />or serious...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSf_YBk6RgoYtwwch4D2pwsavygMG4l0JucGGRtpx8U5oVHiZ2T1llCjCisFZCIZZGQ9WzO40dK4_vd1HrLeLFLxn-Kaz9Vw3qd31rfN4w3S7Bzg9dPMPKg4G0fz9oAD2VxVvUmFB5ptlf/s1600-h/roxie2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229212487171751826" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSf_YBk6RgoYtwwch4D2pwsavygMG4l0JucGGRtpx8U5oVHiZ2T1llCjCisFZCIZZGQ9WzO40dK4_vd1HrLeLFLxn-Kaz9Vw3qd31rfN4w3S7Bzg9dPMPKg4G0fz9oAD2VxVvUmFB5ptlf/s320/roxie2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I understand what they are talking about...<br /><br /><p>and it makes me glad I have them.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhpRU-vH7BS_Rp7K27JkmBAnre9MJgriF8UATDV71ZNC30ochxh_1WCb-fsMpnC8s8IcipB2OLoOPpeUvb97ZeC_bZRgStQkMCiRzFBeoURb78HeHo1gWlBZjdva2DpjtLHkMHdoRxhvS/s1600-h/gabby3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229225518385827074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhpRU-vH7BS_Rp7K27JkmBAnre9MJgriF8UATDV71ZNC30ochxh_1WCb-fsMpnC8s8IcipB2OLoOPpeUvb97ZeC_bZRgStQkMCiRzFBeoURb78HeHo1gWlBZjdva2DpjtLHkMHdoRxhvS/s320/gabby3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p>Now I need to go and clean up some puke....</p><br /><p>Have a great Thursday!</p></div>Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-33426688763979011822008-07-29T08:43:00.008-04:002008-07-31T15:57:48.265-04:00Tuesday Ten List<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDbvklShB3B4PFYEvB1DaoDvzPHZKMj86So7rRUGPufSQ56ax1nohfEx4afmeDO0M1CVkT-2qVgG_C9RmuUCBMC1ec5HlLBtlQ1vq10-Qez8v2c15LVFTEY866dBU4cs_vVlZqcz-i0vU/s1600-h/BellyUp.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228423383667178818" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDbvklShB3B4PFYEvB1DaoDvzPHZKMj86So7rRUGPufSQ56ax1nohfEx4afmeDO0M1CVkT-2qVgG_C9RmuUCBMC1ec5HlLBtlQ1vq10-Qez8v2c15LVFTEY866dBU4cs_vVlZqcz-i0vU/s320/BellyUp.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(photo courtesy of Marilyn)</span><br /><br />Whew! Yesterday's post was pretty intense, though it's nice to get that out of my head.<br /><br />Tuesday's a weird day for me. It isn't Monday but it's still really far away from Friday. I'm not sure if I really like Tuesday as a day at all. So I thought it would be a good day to have a ten list. My (undiagnosed) OCD likes making lists but my (unconfirmed) ADD can't really commit to picking one favorite thing over the other (or is it the fire nature of my chi?)<br />In any event, I like to make lists but I can't ever really pick an absolute favorite, it so depends on my mood on any given day (blame it on my moon-child astrology sign).<br /><br />Sooooooooo.....here is today's Tuesday Ten list (in no particular order):<br />Ten musicians/musical groups that I would generally consider my go-to's when I need a little lift. Brought to you by <a href="http://www.pandora.com/">http://www.pandora.com/</a>. (not really, but I really like Pandora, it is the best place ever-if you haven't found Pandora yet, go check it out, prepare to spend some time there-it's addictive).<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Sting</div><br /><div align="center">Ani DiFranco</div><br /><div align="center">Barenaked Ladies</div><br /><div align="center">Simon & Garfunkel (and Paul Simon)</div><br /><div align="center">Bob Dylan</div><br /><div align="center">Peter Gabriel (solo)</div><br /><div align="center">Sarah MacLachlan</div><br /><div align="center">Rodrigo y Gabriela</div><br /><div align="center">Indigo Girls</div><br /><div align="center">Dead Can Dance</div><br /><br />What are YOU listening to?Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-36733743104794061262008-07-28T20:18:00.010-04:002008-07-31T13:48:28.192-04:00My Medical Mystery Tour, Part OneTo the 27 people left in the world who HAVEN'T heard me gripe about some, if not all, my various and sundry maladies, I dedicate this post. If you don't want to know about all the gory details of my medical history, you may want to skip this post and instead check out all the latest cool, orthopedically friendly shoes that <a href="http://www.merrell.com/">Merrell </a>has to offer this season.<br /><br />These past seven years have been a whirlwind of medical mis-adventures for me, some more exciting than others, with the end result being that I STILL don't <em>really</em> know what is wrong with me.<br />The way I am today, the choices I have made in how I live my life, my relationships with my friend and family, have all been affected by these events.<br /><br />For those daring, never-say-die folks, willing to plunge into the quagmire of my health-challenged history, here is a quick recap of all the conditions I've been treated for over the past 7 years:<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong>. <strong>Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease:<br /></strong><br />This is the BIG one- the one that started it all.<br /><br />My first rheumatologist hit me with that diagnosis on the Wednesday before Turkey day <em>waaaay </em>back in 2001. Very scary sounding when I first heard it, but over the years I've had some amusement in throwing that one out to unsuspecting medical practitioners. It isn't even in Wikipedia or Google-I just checked.<br /><br />What it means is that "they" gave a name to a condition that doesn't fall into any of the other known connective tissue diseases. It's a catch-all fancy schmancy official sounding medical term that doctor's can lay on you when they can't give you a <em>real </em>fancy schmancy official sounding medical term for your condition.<br />My rheumie skated over that fact by telling me that since MY UCTD was acting like Rheumatoid Arthritis at the moment that he would treat it like RA from that day forward, forever and ever after. And BAM...there I was, no longer just a normal, regular person, I was now a person with "RA".<br /><br />And boy was I.<br /><br />I got that monster under control about 2 years later. It took a lot of trial and error with boodles of really potent and scary medications, many of which caused me throw up, lose my hair, get really bad sunburns, or all three at the same time. At the time, though, I didn't really have many other options, I couldn't function as I was. And when it was FINALLY under control, I felt great. I felt normal. I felt like a person who did not have RA.<br /><br />But I did have it, or something related to it that hadn't 'differentiated' itself yet.<br /><br />I looked like a perfectly healthy, normal person on the outside, I even felt normal, mostly. I started working out at the gym, I was in great shape, I felt great, I felt lucky that I had faced this monster and survived, coming out stronger on the other side, victory! I felt empowered, but...<br /><br />My doctors, all the pills I took twice daily, the twice weekly injections, frequently reminded me...it was there all the time, lying in wait to pounce whenever something out of the ordinary blipped on my radar screen. I had a label then, I had 'RA'. And usually the doctors used that label to excuse other problems that I brought to them. Problems like...<br /><br /><strong>2. Insomnia:<br /></strong><br />This was a fun one to experience with a toddler and a full time job. As exhausted as I was all day long fighting off my own body's immune system, I couldn't sleep the night through. (This may have been exacerbated a <em>teeny</em>, tiny bit with having my child not sleep through the night until he was three, but even when he did sleep all glorious night long, I couldn't consistently get a good night's sleep.) Not even with Darvoset or Tylenol 3 with codeine or Benedryl.<br /><br />Insomnia is not a new demon for me, I've battled with it since childhood. When you have a chronic condition, with side effects of crushing fatique, though, it takes on a new meaning. For anyone suffering from insomnia and sleep deprivation along with chronic pain (and a cranky child), the desperation that comes with it is indescribable. What wouldn't you do for a good night's sleep? The doctors I saw usually dismissed my complaints of fatigue and inability to sleep through the night, as something that wasn't really that important (<em>considering I had RA</em>) I'm not really sure why. And not wanting to be a pain or a nuisance, I trusted that they knew what was best for me. Can you believe I waited 5 years before I <em>finally</em> asked a doctor to give me a sleep aid so I could get a full night's sleep, I just couldn't take it anymore. And that led to....<br /><br /><strong>3. Depression and Anxiety:</strong><br />hmmmm... that's a shocker!<br /><br />Now we fall into the chicken and the egg riddle. Which came first? So many studies out there that show insomnia tied to chronic pain-chronic pain tied to depression-depression tied to insomnia. It's a vicious cycle. Treat one and you'll treat them all!<br /><em>Or</em> as it happened in my case, treat them all, and you'll treat none. The docs just kept piling on the meds. But I jumped on the Prozac bandwagon nonetheless...how could I refuse a treatment that might bring me some relief? I whispered the name to only my closest confidants. In addition to being an RA patient, now I was also officially someone with a mental disorder...<br /><br /><br />whew! Are we having fun yet? I sure wasn't. Chronic disease and mental deficiencies. And I wasn't even 33 yet. Not exactly the way I'd envisioned my life up to that point.<br /><br />I did say this would be quick-right? HA! well, I lied...and there is more, I'm really just getting started on this trip....but....<br /><br />I think I need to take a little mental health break and play with my new, cute, demon kitten, Oscar. They say pets help to ease anxiety and tension in people...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwCRMMwI0IR456r7sxA33d5mDyWVBSRrDqhiYLNxgq4Iyr6Q7ju9z_oCJ_ghYCjwNkrkCiU0fhyZ8jzG6JWZa8VU0NbZesFWEfZqsIokUFbYkcZ-zdT0qKQWe7hJ7vPa_2odGYTL8bPE1/s1600-h/031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228228109250131138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwCRMMwI0IR456r7sxA33d5mDyWVBSRrDqhiYLNxgq4Iyr6Q7ju9z_oCJ_ghYCjwNkrkCiU0fhyZ8jzG6JWZa8VU0NbZesFWEfZqsIokUFbYkcZ-zdT0qKQWe7hJ7vPa_2odGYTL8bPE1/s320/031.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlfHqIFSStaQww7vznTY4wIIbrCOpY8CAgLMgolox43vlWcTBL1nU2bxPPKy6xKau4MKswnlTcxFrqv5u3AVDnuiriUNGkhvRm_0my-QRdO1f_eJZ2ixj_UqBx2h80fVUCIjy2aftzGld/s1600-h/006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228228603590650002" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlfHqIFSStaQww7vznTY4wIIbrCOpY8CAgLMgolox43vlWcTBL1nU2bxPPKy6xKau4MKswnlTcxFrqv5u3AVDnuiriUNGkhvRm_0my-QRdO1f_eJZ2ixj_UqBx2h80fVUCIjy2aftzGld/s320/006.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />ahhh! that's better now, isn't it? Let's just call it a night, shall we?Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-58778644031617972252008-07-27T19:49:00.006-04:002008-07-27T20:07:52.445-04:00Do these stillettos come with removable footbeds?This has become, reluctantly, my new mantra...Not because I'm crazy about removable footbeds, but because I'm being forceably dragged into sensible, customizable footwear by my myriad doctors- kicking and screaming along the way.<br /><br />(heavy sigh)<br /><br />I LOVE cute shoes. love love love love LOVE them. I have always loved fashion footwear. Here's proof:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SYi9H4ouuX3eGRXoTdI4xQpefxpeiEDGo4prdlG1F5lFgpbF6yorzxj8xhrgFNwOnGxnBEax33Ug7Gt95HAY8XuuZcBd_qgkTOY8MjujrvUEKUMPkjdZc1-sXieUOqXz03esSSoSz3J_/s1600-h/fashion+boots3.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1OQD0aNEVztE3kryGF0TZwJxbNfvwf8EIsB3Ui8lsIvQaNC2hq_YRrtT8yWdZGvP1XISQeDvmhMVWpi5SC5oMJ4GHzzD-DsqueAhHu62Gcr-CJUffFqND9RsepWCi0OLsnJum2NGWMmK/s1600-h/fashion+boots3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227845933198965074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1OQD0aNEVztE3kryGF0TZwJxbNfvwf8EIsB3Ui8lsIvQaNC2hq_YRrtT8yWdZGvP1XISQeDvmhMVWpi5SC5oMJ4GHzzD-DsqueAhHu62Gcr-CJUffFqND9RsepWCi0OLsnJum2NGWMmK/s320/fashion+boots3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />However, due to circumstances that I can no longer avoid, deny or fanagle with, I was dragged out to the mall recently to try and find new shoes that could accomodate my forthcoming (dreaded) orthotic. When inquiring about the aforementioned shoes with removable footbeds, I was directed to THIS monstrosity (seriously!) by the well-meaning (more like mean-spirited) college punk who worked there:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMfG7W7QlCJ0U4aNovwTawDxlHiceORV0Pz2EveNIR8vEh-X1FrQOyNZefQ9w6q7dEtjB1fCbKj5g-CAeWNZBArUzgqepF35GF1LIQ2fIcuYU59oXn6wFsmAnKTHeoCESxrRkfJ_DdEP3/s1600-h/1284W_big.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWi4O2eMVTjc4sInl4llAe8Kqq3wv4bQD4wqXGgZlwhWk4dh5tPv085GGeCPPSGADiBQsh3DNagxdxAP88QQyPpgPS4itQIWq-9ZtzKfFDY-OZmGeJ1MyBYuyjFDnSZL0heDcmuPfhqA_/s1600-h/1284W_big.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227847305806161138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWi4O2eMVTjc4sInl4llAe8Kqq3wv4bQD4wqXGgZlwhWk4dh5tPv085GGeCPPSGADiBQsh3DNagxdxAP88QQyPpgPS4itQIWq-9ZtzKfFDY-OZmGeJ1MyBYuyjFDnSZL0heDcmuPfhqA_/s320/1284W_big.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />AHHHHHH!!!!<br /><br />I can't say it was THIS one specifically, but you get the idea. It was horrible.<br /><br />After a complete and utter breakdown in the middle of the mall, my <a href="http://ksd-simonesays.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-knight-in-shining-armor.html">Knight in Shining Armor </a>took me to a completely different store and a nice young lady who complemented me on my Original Wearable Art necklace showed me some other shoes that were a little more to my liking:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.merrell.com/Gallery/NZ/Womens-Casual-Footwear/Slip-Ons.aspx"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227847973555156674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4mpKmUZa1A4-3XCxSldHcbPXSgDLHXVYClteP3liHU7JTg8waeuaEXC1ECyOWIxfvuyp4RaJmV1t5MKL06r_cO1DBXI_AAneh-BCN5tRZz-fbY77vIvGytLE6G-8YnSjypMvNza0_KKZ/s320/merrells.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.merrell.com/Gallery/NZ/Womens-Casual-Footwear/Slip-Ons.aspx"></a><br />ahhh...Merrell...<br />I love you and your orthopedically friendly footwear. I'll be back next paycheck...wait for me.<br /><br />Now....would you consider making them in a stilletto option?Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-73224356444047714602008-07-25T13:53:00.007-04:002008-07-27T20:08:56.833-04:00today's horoscopeI haven't read them in awhile and I just thought this was perfect for my new blog:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">You are getting in the mood to socialize, and so are all of your favorite people!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Your ideas are pretty far out there today -- but that's exactly what's needed! Speak up and make sure that you keep trying new things, because one of them is going to make it all work out. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br />We are all very excited about this.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4c-ycCTiokfV798oOo8E2ASFhgCqdVxgM1jOHl-o3Gmx2ZEuVVbgh2E-tMaj0VcfgqrwcE3xesQzI_jwE7QY4-dXa0d3UdEkr9toEsb8cxsBCgTlrYJLorOju33Dco0EMHCmj_7qS5MlN/s1600-h/oscar2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227012065534114882" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4c-ycCTiokfV798oOo8E2ASFhgCqdVxgM1jOHl-o3Gmx2ZEuVVbgh2E-tMaj0VcfgqrwcE3xesQzI_jwE7QY4-dXa0d3UdEkr9toEsb8cxsBCgTlrYJLorOju33Dco0EMHCmj_7qS5MlN/s320/oscar2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-80287678247573603882008-07-25T12:29:00.013-04:002008-07-25T13:07:42.710-04:00My Knight in Shining Armor<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEz5uOtXx6bFVkhR6-pxBSSeRCcCkidsmELM_v0h8p6jCEAnNfs49zAmwy2Ni5g3zPcHSrKn6zRCDr3lOl_sOD8ZR7_wPTEAOzRiTfEzxU1WhwhcpX7TJnhPupCpinRvLoFtBX7L-NfCyX/s1600-h/Copy+of+phillipe+at+coucy-le-chateau2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226990158851314306" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEz5uOtXx6bFVkhR6-pxBSSeRCcCkidsmELM_v0h8p6jCEAnNfs49zAmwy2Ni5g3zPcHSrKn6zRCDr3lOl_sOD8ZR7_wPTEAOzRiTfEzxU1WhwhcpX7TJnhPupCpinRvLoFtBX7L-NfCyX/s320/Copy+of+phillipe+at+coucy-le-chateau2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I'm serious. He's a knight, and his armor is really shiny. Isn't that cool?<br /><br />Here's one of him looking mean:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmoLThYfzOjtFyihhWtw4-JsxF921Hn7BPtuNCu5U3O1K_zJ5_Bm-ZIg5YuGvyfan4L1ONhxSyjl6PwzBuKVSxzF9AUpdM6V9Qmbh7__OUwjr6xZ_oQjWFBYPFuSUUxRsNL2eNL4qZZZd/s1600-h/Copy+of+phillipe+norman+kit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226990714853406866" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmoLThYfzOjtFyihhWtw4-JsxF921Hn7BPtuNCu5U3O1K_zJ5_Bm-ZIg5YuGvyfan4L1ONhxSyjl6PwzBuKVSxzF9AUpdM6V9Qmbh7__OUwjr6xZ_oQjWFBYPFuSUUxRsNL2eNL4qZZZd/s320/Copy+of+phillipe+norman+kit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />He's getting ready to fight a lot of bad guys.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoDjQIElk0Os_CdU4NrNrgQy9U7NCeJEmo_JSjkSUSnZPwOomIAmr9URtwpTvWY6-3rMXpVAP90TAcou9bhluOF2-udQjUn7cI1Rnnazf3TSzd4IzSEZbfqSQfIGumQAsCqiEQgq6AecZ/s1600-h/pw-35-_753_.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226992308521993394" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoDjQIElk0Os_CdU4NrNrgQy9U7NCeJEmo_JSjkSUSnZPwOomIAmr9URtwpTvWY6-3rMXpVAP90TAcou9bhluOF2-udQjUn7cI1Rnnazf3TSzd4IzSEZbfqSQfIGumQAsCqiEQgq6AecZ/s320/pw-35-_753_.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />and there he goes! Isn't his outfit pretty? He made it all himself.<br /><br />It's important to look pretty when you go fight bad guys.<br /><br />That's my motto anyway.Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993335854784366388.post-84452367183357933152008-07-23T11:28:00.002-04:002008-07-23T13:35:38.882-04:00First things first<p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226264025848101170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UmpHZOBuFIowEWATriG3jHBJ0hpTHYMb0txazoWCVK6UDh4IN5vBNaA4WUNu5xXSfx6JRJ-YkbSQGSi500rd4TjFBHaA8IERWwKtL5nOsC86ZzsrlnhLKOYGV4lr7zAbbS47bevTm6dz/s320/me.jpg" border="0" /></p><div>S.C. reminded me of that today. I realize I'm never going to become a famous writer. At least not if I never get up enough motivation to actually START a blog. I don't even know if I want to be a famous writer. I've spent YEARS avoiding writing things down purposefully. I still have a letter I wrote to my parents when I was visiting my grandparents in 1979 and never finished.<br /><br />I've spent years with so much stuff in my head it comes out in ways I couldn't anticipate and usually it is acccompanied by the need for lots of kleenex. I've tried writing in a journal, but then I misplace the journal and the thought is lost, and I get writer's cramp when I use a pen for too long.<br /><br />so here it. The first post of my first (sort of) blog. Hopefully I won't misplace my computer. </div><br /><div></div>Pixie Bad-asshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895324835305081553noreply@blogger.com3