The Mind of WebbWoman

My Punkin Carvin' Odyssey

2011-10-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

Seems every year for the past few I've been challenged to carve a pumpkin. Now I've never claimed sculptor as one of my talents add to that my natural clumsiness and you've got double trouble. Well this year Big Dave, the leader of an artist group to which I belong announced "We gotta have a pumpkin carving contest" and that's all it took to make me go punkin shoppin'. Since this is my first pumpkin I opted for a small one hoping it wouldn't be as big of a mess. Now what to carve on it?

I'm quoting some bad Shakespeare....trying to get to know my punkin.....I named him Gordon for the time being

From this angle he looks like an Angry Bird. Thought about rigging up a catapult and seeing if I can aim him at a pig shaped pumpkin and see what happened.

I bought a pumpkin carving kit and read the instructions..... cut the bottom out and scoop out the insides. Tape a template of the design you want to use on your pumpkin and carve away. Well they add a few more tips but they make it sound so easy. Pumpkins have a HARD exterior!

Finally done!

Now to carve the picture on the side. My first thought was to do a Peter Pumpkin Eater kind of house design but good sense lost out and I chose instead to put Snevel on the side.

Wasn't easy. The tools in the pumpkin carving contest were apparently designed for carving really soft pumpkins or maybe a peeled apple. I finally improvised and started using a good old fashioned steak knife and the point on my compass. I'm lucky to still be typing with my original ten fingers and I'm happy to report that none of them are sporting Band-Aids.

Finally the finished product......rather crude but it sort of looks like a snail....

I looked all over the place for a votive candle to see what it looked like lit up and there's not one in the house. So in the spirit of the old saying, "Poor folks have poor ways" I improvised yet again with my trusty flash light.

This was pretty fun I guess and I'm glad I did it to appease my curiosity but I doubt there will be another carved pumpkin in my future. Not this year anyway.

Good Golly Miss Molly!

2011-08-25T17:16:00.000-07:00

Webb's Hill has been dog free for a number of years following the passing of the Late Great Pete and Hunter the dog went to Doggie Heaven not too long afterward.

We'd discussed going to the Animal Shelter and adopting a dog but never got around to it. Then last Friday, August 19,we looked out the back door and saw this:

She was was very skinny, I was wondering how long it had been since she'd had a meal. Her backbone and ribs were sticking out. She looked so bad it broke my heart.

She was also as starved for affection as for food. She seemed to be starved for human contact. She couldn't get enough of being rubbed and scratched. I believe someone could scratch her 24/7 and she wouldn't object.

I posted her pics on my facebook page hoping someone would recognize her. One of my friends told me about one of our neighbors flagging her down asking if anyone had seen her very friendly bulldog. My first thought was "How long had she been missing? She's skin and bones!"

Then a fellow at church the following Sunday told me a story about how he and his buddies were fishing in a community about five to seven miles away from our home when he heard a lady shouting "It's a pit bull! Someone please come shoot it! It's going to kill us all!" (That was a dramatization, not a direct quote) Well he and his buddies loaded up in search of this dangerous beast that was terrorizing the whole village. When they got there the above dog met them and nearly licked them to death. There was no way this was a dangerous dog. They loaded her up and drove around the area asking people if they were missing a dog. Nobody claimed her so they did like any bunch of good-ole-boys would do: they dropped her off in the woods nearby us. (why they didn't take her to the Animal Shelter I have no idea)

Well I was in a quandary....if she was dropped off here by the Fishermen Three, how could she belong to my neighbor? We visited the neighbor a few times and never found her at home.

Meanwhile she was happily living here with us, savoring all the love and attention she could get from us. Try as I might, I couldn't help but get attached.

Well this morning we were able to solve most of the mystery. We were able to speak with our neighbor and discovered the dog she was missing was an English Bulldog. Our girl appears to be an American Bulldog. (lots of difference in height not to mention all other appearance) Her dog has been missing about two weeks and she fears the dog had been stolen. Hers was very friendly as well.

We brought her to a nearby veterinarian who weighed and looked at her. She does not have a microchip implanted. She did not recognize her. (The trip to the Vet would make a humorous post in itself)

Anyway looks like we've got us a dog. We named her Molly B. AKA Miss Molly.

Latest Digi Doodles

2011-07-14T17:38:00.000-07:00

Been playing around with Photo Shop and thought I'd share a collection of various "Digi-Dooles" This medium is kind of addictive.

Christmas Without Mom

2010-12-25T18:53:00.000-08:00

This was our first Christmas without Mom. Mama Webb, as she was known to most of the community, loved to cook and she loved to garden. She always said that if you’re feeling depressed, go out and dig in the dirt. Plant something, pull weeds… just dig around. You’re bound to be in a better frame of mind.

She was like that about cooking as well. She cooked when she was happy, when she was worried, when she was sad. That was her job and she was a proud cook. For years when we suggested we eat out for dinner she’d take it as a slam against her cooking. “Why go out to eat steak when we have steak in the freezer?” When I moved out into my own place she was insulted when I mentioned I was going to cook my own meals. “What, you don’t like my cooking?”

So it was through the years we’d stand back, let her cook and we’d clean up the kitchen after the meal. Sure, sometimes I’d fix something, like when I learned how to make chicken and dumplings or when I did some Bar B Que ribs she’d allow me to add my contribution to the table, but for the most part the only time she’d let us do the cooking was if she was really sick.

It worried me last Christmas when she let sis and I cook Christmas dinner. And off and on over the past year she’d be too sick and I’d cook supper. I would know when she was getting better when she would come stand over my shoulder and tell me how to boil eggs, or something equally simple. Come July and August I was really wishing she’d run me out of her kitchen again.

Then in September she passed. She was ready to go. Actually, she was growing impatient to go. She went peacefully.

So today was sis and my second time to make Christmas dinner. We had ham, green beans, potato salad, rolls and candied sweet potatoes. Maybe not a super big feast but it was lots more than the three of us could hold and I see plenty of left overs in our future. It wasn’t the same without Mom being there but the three of us had fun collaborating on the meal and hanging out and getting in each other’s way. Maybe we’re starting a new tradition.

Baking Time!

2010-11-06T14:33:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year, the weather is getting cooler and it's time to stoke up the old oven for some home made goodies for the holidays. (I like to get a jump start to make sure I have plenty) Well I'm gonna share my favorit holiday recipes here for anyone inerested:

Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups Quaker Oats
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees
2. Beat together butter and sugars until creamy
3. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well
4. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon; mix well
5. Stir in oats, raisins and nuts; mix well
6. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet
7. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown
8. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire rack

Choco-Chip Mini Kisses Cookies*
1 ½ cup (3 sticks) butter, softened
1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
1 ¼ cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla and butternut flavoring
2 eggs
4 cups self-rising flour
1 cup Hershey’s real milk chocolate mini kisses*
1 Cup Nestlé’s semi-sweet morsels
2 cups chopped English walnuts

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix butter, sugars, flavoring and eggs in a large bowl. Stir in flour. Stir in both kinds of chocolate chips and nuts. Use a strong spoon, this dough is stiff. Using a small ice cream scoop or a serving spoon, drop on cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with a fork. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until light brown (centers will be soft). Cool slightly; remove from chookie sheet. Cool on wire rack. Makes around 4 dozen cookies.

*This recipe came about when it was possible to find a package of Hershey's Mini Kisses. When I cannot find them I substitue with either a cup of milk chocolate chips of milk chocolate chunks

Old-fashioned Gingersnaps
2 ¾ cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon cloves
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
¾ cup butter
1 egg
¼ cup molasses

Combine first 5 ingredients and set aside. Cream sugars, butter, beat in egg and molasses until fluffy. Stir in flour mixture until just blended. Chill thoroughly (usually overnight). Shape into balls, about the size if a tablespoon and roll in granulated sugar. Place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Flatten with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

I Have A New Website!

2010-03-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

Yep, I bit the bullet and got my own website to show off my artwork and possibly sell some items featuring said artwork. (Mostly Mr Extreme Snail himself, Snevel)

Well anyone interested in checking out the new digs can go to http://snevelandco.com and thanks in advance for checking out the site.

For the Benefit of Our Friends in the Frozen North...

2010-01-26T08:57:00.000-08:00

If you look up and see this in the sky, don't panic.

There is no need to call Project Bluebook and report a UFO. It's the SUN. It's not going to hurt you, it's perfectly natural to be up in the sky like that. If you take the time and dig through your memory I'm sure something about a big warm light in the sky giving off heat and maybe even causing a sunburn. Yep, it's supposed to be there.

Anyway we've been blessed with some nice sunny days here in Dixie and I thought I'd bring my camera along with me on my morning jaunt so I could share it with those still frozen.Hope you enjoy.

Some of the woods behind my house:

Mom & Dad's pond...

Finally, my humble abode.

Global Warming...pffft!

2009-12-05T18:03:00.000-08:00

Last year Mississippi had snow in December for the first time in recorded history. We called it a fluke and figured it would be another decade or so before we saw it again, as per our usual weather patterns. But it’s been true that the weather is one of those things you cannot predict. Yep folks, we got snow again. Sure it was only maybe an inch at the most where I live but it’s big enough of a novelty for me to get out and snap some pictures before it melted.

Doop doop doooo looking out my back door (about 11 o’clock last night)

This morning:

Most of the snow was up in the trees and didn’t make it to the ground so in the woods I had to walk around to clearings so I could take some pics of snow

Where’s all the snow???

Oh there it is!

My humble abode...from the edge of the woods

Around Here This Afternoon

2009-11-15T13:38:00.000-08:00

Took a stroll behind my house this afternoon and brought my camera along with me. The trees are starting to turn. Not nearly as brilliant as up north, I suppose because we haven't had a really hard frost yet. Looks like some of the leaves just got tired of being green and decided to turn.

Was telling a friend about long leaf pines and their cones so I snapped a couple of shots...

Part of the tree:

The cones:

Please Skip Down to Next Post

2009-09-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

Hi.

This isn't really a blog post...well it is and isn't. Ya see I'm just posting something to bump the blog I posted last night down so the pictures aren't hidden by the text and stuff that's along the right side of the screen. I'm really not web site savvy enough to fix that problem the proper way so I'll do it "the cowboy way" or whatever you want to call it.

What??? You're still reading? Okay since I have your interest I'll put a couple of funny pics here to amuse you, but the real blog post is below this one. Please let me know what you think of THOSE pictures. :-)

The 5 Rulz (in 6 pics)

2009-09-24T21:25:00.000-07:00

My sister has taught Sunday school since Moses was a baby...well maybe not THAT long... but she was in her teens when she started. Anyway over the years she has developed a set of hard and fast rules for classroom behavior that she has stuck to. First it was three but recently she added a couple more.

Anyway, at the beginning of this month she had a handful of newbies promote up into her class and decided it was time to reiterate her rules for them. Being the ever helpful sister I am *ahem* I offered to illustrate her BIG FIVE rules for her.

Here goes:

RULE 1: Bring your Bible (a no brainer since it's Sunday School)

RULE 2: No Tattling (She says this is her biggest problem she has with them)

RULE 3: Treat other people the way you want to be treated (AKA Golden Rule)

RULE 4: No Candy or Gum (This was originally "If you have candy or gum make sure you have enough for everybody or else keep it in your pocket" but she changed it up on me)

RULE 5: No Toys (This one was thrown in on me at the last moment. We both had different ideas of what would make a good pic. I drew both and she can choose which one she likes the best)

Her idea:

My idea:

I scanned them into my puter and emailed them to her so she can get a spiffy little poster printed up. She seems happy with them and it got me to get up off my duff and start drawing again. It's been a while and it feels good.

Baby Pines

2009-09-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

Went out for my morning stroll in the woods behind my house and as is my wont, I brought along my camera. Sadly it’s overcast and the morning sun wasn’t out to create any really cool effects among the trees but it was an enjoyable walk all the same.

Even though I didn’t get to see any dramatic scenes I got a few pics. Was looking at all the baby pine trees around. I’ve often thought that if I were to leave my property and no other human would show up, that within a decade you’d be hard pressed to see my house for the trees (within two decades for sure!)

This little guy is now about three inches tall....

It’s growing near the base of this mighty pine. Not sure how tall it is but it’s got to be more than 5 foot around at the base (didn’t think to bring my tape measure)

Had to back off to attempt to get a shot of the top of the tree:

I counted around two dozen baby pines in this shot. Granted they’re all too close together for each one to grow up to their full size.

I kinda wish I could have gotten a shot of some of the wildlife around here but they’re too fast for me. I stepped out the back door and a big gray squirrel scampered up the hickory tree next to the house but he was too well hidden in the branches to get a good pic of him. I think he and some of his buddies may be having war. I’ve been hearing hickory nuts banging against my sister’s house next door since last night. If I can hear them in my house I KNOW she’s getting an ear full.

Around Here This Morning

2009-08-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

Been doing some much needed yard work and was on my way over to my parents’ house to borrow my Dad’s weed eater and caught the sight of the early morning sun peeking through the trees.

I know it’s more of the same old pics of the same old place but I love looking at the world as it’s first waking up in the morning. (and I’m not even a morning person)

Meanwhile the pear trees are full..no partridges but plenty of pears (gotta be careful though, yellow jackets are all over the half eaten ones on the ground (courtesy of the local deer)

The flowering crab apple tree that’s planted way too close to the house. Wish I could transplant it out into the yard without killing it.

Finally here’s my beautiful mug after doing some actual work (I’m used to working inside and the heat gets to me fast)

How Original Are Our Original Ideas?

2009-07-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who was recently engaged with and surrounded by "Trolls" on Twitter. For those two or three who haven't encountered a troll on the internet it is "a person who posts outrageous message to bait people to answer. Forum Troll delights in sowing discord on the forums. A troll is someone who inspires flaming rhetoric, someone who is purposely provoking and pulling people into flaming discussion. Flaming discussions usually end with name calling and a flame war." (http://curezone.com/forums/troll.asp)

Anyway I decided to draw a big hairy troll scarfing down Purina Troll Chow for his amusement. I was disappointed because he just wouldn't cooperate when I tried to draw a big hairy brute but I learned long ago to let the character develop naturally rather than fighting.

When I showed the pic to my sister she asked, "Where have I seen this troll before?" I replied that I didn't know, that I had just drawn it. But I got to thinking, pondering, wondering..... Had I seen someone else's troll and had he somehow buried himself inside my subconscious mind to be manifested onto my drawing pad when I decided to draw my own troll?

I posted him in a couple of groups I belong to on here and one member cleared up the whole mystery. Here's my troll and the photo the other member posted.....

Now I have never been ashamed to admit that I'm a huge fan of Star Trek and have always been and here's proof! Also clears up the reason I couldn't draw him more "trollish" looking. Nelix was a gentleman and would never go out unless well groomed.

The likeness is better than if I had tried to dress Nelix in summer casual attire and give him a bag of Troll Mix but he and Star Trek were the farthest from my mind when I drew the above picture. Which brings me to another question:

How much stuff (artwork, music, written stories, etc) that we create is really from our own imagination and how much comes from other stuff we take in? Or is it all melded together in the wacky world of our imagination?

There has been in the news countless times over the years where someone sued a song writer for stealing their song, cord progression, lyrics..... and the defendant says they didn't steal anything "I woke up with the tune in my head" I can see both sides there...I wake up with a tune in my head all the time but I know I have absolutely no song writing ability and therefore know there's no way that can be MY song!

But at the same time I don't believe the accused artist meant to steal anyone else's work any more than I meant to draw Nelix when I set out to draw a big hairy brute (he was supposed to wear high top Converse sneakers but Nelix refused)

I don't have any real answers here....just worrying a thread that's been hanging around in my mind and also wanted to show off my troll (AKA Malibu Nelix)

To Those Who Served

2009-05-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

This weekend we honor those brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our country's freedom.

I'm posting this in honor of them along with those who were able to come home. For the risk was just as great for the veterans who returned safely as it was for those who didn't. You are my heroes and I salute you.

MMMMMMMM SMELL THEM CRAWFISH!

2009-05-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my church's spring picnic and crawfish boil. I ate till my belly was full and snapped photos till my heart was content.

I thought I'd go ahead and post some photos of the day's events.

Putting out the crawfish....

The eating begins...

This pickup turns out to be a favorite spot during just about every church function (brings a whole new meaning to "tail gating"

After you get your belly full it's time to sit back and say "AHHH"

Mama & Papa Webb (my parents) taking it easy

And to work off all the food there was a rousing game of Calvin Ball (for lack of a better word)

I took several more pics, mostly of little kids being cute but this blog would be about twice as long. I'm already looking forward to the Fall Festival sometime in October.

The Bane to My Existence!

2009-05-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

The Bane to My Existence!
(at least in spring/summer)

These innocent looking bushes grow wild all over South Mississippi and I'm sure other places as well. My mom calls them "Wild Agustrums" some of the old timers just call them "Wild Shrubs" but they are taking over!

And by the way...that weird explosive sound you hear is me sneezing.

These bushes look pretty enough when trimmed up (as they are often trimmed in people's yards and along the road sides and in the medians of city streets. (The photos I have of them were taken around in the woods behind my house and are NOT trimmed...and I'm wondering if Roundup will get rid of 'em!) But they emit a stong, sickenly sweet scent that, in the warm humid air of Southern Mississippi, is not unlike being shut up in a stuffy room with someone wearing way too much cologne.

It may not be too easy to see here as they blooms were out of my reach but they often grow along with honeysuckle and the scent is pretty similar to that vine. (I LOVED honeysuckle when I was a kid...now... AHHHH CHEEW!!!)

I know some people who told me that they actually paid money for these bushes to put in their yards. Talk about a waste of money! I mean if you want them in your yard, just find a spot and stop mowing for a bit. They'll magically plant themselves there as these two did in my back yard! (now I get to dig 'em up...hoooray!)

Okay this is probably my rant of the week (unless something else buggs me) I realize there is so much more to complain about than this wreched bit of vegetation but I'm just gonna hobble off with my box of Kleenex. It may be time to invest in a Neti pot.....

The Devil's Beating His Wife

2009-04-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

"The Devil is beating his wife" is usually the observation made when it's raining while the sun is shining. It's also supposed to mean that it's going to rain again this time tomorrow.

Anyway I thought the effect of the sun peeking out here and there shining brightly in some areas and not others was kinda cool. Here are some pics of "around here this evening" I thought I'd share. Did I say I LOVE living in the country?

And here's a couple where I went all artsy-fartsy with a couple of pine trees in my front yard

Around Here Today

2009-04-17T14:26:00.000-07:00

I was pulling weeds in my MUCH NEGLECTED flower bed and saw a treasure....

DEWBERRIES! They are almost exactly like blackberries and may be the same thing as they both grow on a brier (careful picking them, their thorns will scratch you like an angry cat) and look and taste pretty much the same. The difference is dewberries are bigger, juicer and ripen about a month before blackberries. But I use both to make jelly (when I make it) and they are my favorite berry:

Only a handfull were ripe so I put them in the freezer to add to as more ripen (if birds don’t get to them first) I may just make myself some jelly some time this summer! :-)

But I can’t let the briers go as they will soon take over my house otherwise....they are already peeking some heads up through my porch!

And you know you need to get out the old nippers when you see a mimosa tree growing under your porch...

Here are a few more taken around her this afternoon

These photos were taken about a month ago at my parents house. It's a sycamore tree that was uprooted by Hurricane Katrina almost 4 years ago. I was amazed it was still holding to life.

The root ball stands up a couple of feet taller than me. Apparently there are enough roots left to provide nourishment to the tree though.

New leaves budding out

I posted all those to show some updated ones I took this afternoon.

Spring!!!

2009-03-21T07:06:00.000-07:00

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood and I stepped outside with my camera this morning.

Yep more Azalea pics...

My humble abode (behind the Azaleas)

Pear Tree by the house (no partridge though)

Can’t forget the Wisteria

I love going to the beach and playing in the water and stuff I love living in the woods just as much

Winter Wonderland (Wondering what's that white stuff?)

2008-12-11T13:48:00.000-08:00

I stepped out this morning and nearly died of fright....

.....this funny looking white stuff was coming down from the sky...

It was covering my car......

It was wet, and slushy. And coming down like crazy! I figured it was some substance commonly called "snow" but it’s a rare sight here. And unheard of in December! Sis and I ventured forth into the falling white stuff to make our way to work. Once I got there I received a call that the office was closed that day so I went to my sis’s office and hung out till she could get off.

The way there...(not while driving, mind you, while stopped at various stop signs and stuff)

View from her window:

And finally, "You may be a redneck if...."

The Truth is Up There

2008-11-09T13:09:00.002-08:00

United Socialist States of Amerika?

2008-10-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

I know that I’m not posting any breaking news but I just had to get this off my chest. I normally don’t go putting forth my political views because people get so excited when you say something that goes contrary to their belief and even though I’ve had CPR training, I have never been called upon to put it into use and I’d like to keep it that way.

Why the title of my blog you may ask? Well it seems that certain of the more liberal political view seem to want to change our nation to a socialist nation. First, the "Fairness Doctrine" that has been recently pushed by the Left Wing Socialists in congress in order to squelch broadcasting that doesn’t agree with them. (I can call them "Left Wing Socialists" because they feel free to call folks like me right wing extremists...or even fundamentalists) Seems the "Fairness Doctrine" wasn’t necessary as long as all the news media and other outlets pushed their agenda but as soon as conservatives took over talk radio they thought something had to be done.

Then when Barack Obama got caught on camera telling "Joe the Plumber" that he wanted to "spread the wealth around" Everyone has seen that video and the controversy that ensued afterwords. Some even attacked poor Joe the plumber by saying he owed back taxes then OOPS! That’s part of what he was talking about....too high taxes!

One thing Obama doesn’t seem to realize is that the best way to spread the wealth around is by letting the small business grow so they can give jobs to people. They can’t do that if they are taxed and regulated to death.

Then when a news reporter asked Joe Biden about all this he gets his panties in a wad and the station is banned from talking to anyone on the Obama ticket. She didn’t attack him, only asked the very questions that have been playing on the minds of a good many Americans. It’s okay for the news reporters to go on and on about how much Palin’s wardrobe cost but don’t ask about actual policies of the number one candidate on a certain liberal ticket! NEVER!

hen they pull out the race card when we have the nerve to not favor Obama. It reminds me of the story "The Emperor’s New Clothes" "If you don’t vote for Barack Obama you are a racist" Well nobody wants to be a racist so they have to vote for him!

Well guess what...I’m not voting for him anyway. And if I’m a racist, please explain why I voted for Alan Keyes every time I got the chance? It’s not the skin color, it’s the Content of the Character (sound familiar?) So please put away the race cards and at least accept that some people don’t want the "change" that Barack Obama will bring to this nation.

And I’ll leave you with this little video that says more eloquently what I have just said as well as my one and only political cartoon:

When he said he was taking me to dinner I thought...

2008-10-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

Snevel's plans for a romantic evening were cut short when he and his sweetie saw the menu

Artistic Snevel

2008-10-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

Snevel visits the Museum of Mollusk Art

Who's Your Favoite Team?

2008-08-24T19:51:00.000-07:00

This past week it was announced where I work that we would start having "Football Fridays" where we’d wear a T-shirt representing our favorite team. Now like any Mississippian, I enjoy a good football game but I suddenly realized that I wasn’t a total fan of any one team. I choose between the two that are playing as to whom I root for.

Now let me say here for the benifit of the readers who aren’t living in the Deep South: Here football, especially college football, is almost a religion. People take it seriously. If I were to stand up and admit that I don’t give a hang about LSU at least four people who never went to school in Louisiana, much less their state university, will start foaming at the mouth and start yacking endlessly about stuff that doesn’t interest me. I read somewhere that only in the South will you find people who will fight to the death over a college they never attended and I think it’s nearly true. We’ll attend one school because it may be closer, less expensive or have the best school of whateverology but will loyally support the football team of another school entirely. It’s sort of like separation of church and state....only separation of education and football. Kinda...

Well I’ve been trying to figure out what team I should support. I live within 60 miles of New Orleans but I haven’t been a fan of the Saints since Morton Anderson and Bobby Hebert left.....most of my family is in or from Texas so I tend to have loyalties to the Cowboys (I like the color of Cowboy Blue anyway) And every Thanksgiving I root for the Longhorns against the Aggies. So I’ve been casually shopping around for a Longhorn T-shirt, or possibly Cowboys. I mean only a Steeler fan wouldn’t love the Cowboys!

In the meantime I remembered I had a USM (University of Southern Mississippi) shirt somewhere and was looking for it to wear till I decided exactly who I wanted to represent. In the process I found a shirt I completely forgot I had:

It says "Confused State: Where nothing makes sense and the keys of knowlege have been lost forever" The "school motto" is "What was the question?" I bought it way back sometime in the 80’s because I thought it was funny and I had more money back then to buy silly stuff like that. It had crossed my mind to wear that on Fridays but decided against it as mine is the first face one sees when walking into the office. (doesn’t give a good impression) Well last Friday I just dug around in a box of junk from high school and located a "ventage" Blue Devils pin and wore that on my scrubs. That’ll do till better comes along and I actually went to that school...and attended all the football games (when I was a student anyway)

Now I’m sure some smarty pants will say I should put the Blue Devil’s pin on the Confused State shirt and I’d be good to go but I refuse to listen to that kinda talk. (Especially from somebody from a certain school that I shall not mention whose color is maroon....)

So anybody got any suggestions on a good shirt? Who is your favorite team? "Who ya gonna represent?"

The Great Watermelon Massacre

2008-07-05T15:56:00.000-07:00

This being July 4th weekend and all got me to reminiscing about summer time when I was a small child. Ms Polly was a very good friend of the family who lived next door to us. I looked to her as my second mom. Actually I felt sorry for her because she and Mr. Wayne, her husband, had no children. I therefore volunteered my services as their honorary kid. I never bothered to ask if they were in need of a preschooler hanging around imparting wisdom or not, I just assumed as much. I remember her putting her hands on her hips, looking at me and saying, “Nanny [her nickname for me] I love you but I just can’t stand you!” and bursting out laughing.

The summer I was six years old her nephew came down for a visit. His name was Mark, and we shared a birthday, I remember he was exactly two years younger than me. He may have been small but he was big enough to have a macho attitude. Boys were better than girls, ‘nuff said. Girls can’t do anything. They can’t run, they can’t play ball, they can’t hunt, why girls aren’t good for anything! I listened to this politely for a while because I was told you had to be nice to company but I finally got enough and brought all my finely honed debating skills down upon him. I looked him in the eye and said, “NU UH!!!!”

Meanwhile Miss Polly had nine little icebox watermelons lined in a row along back yard fence. These are rather small watermelons, usually solid green and about the size of a soccer ball, give or take some. As the great debate raged on, (“ARE TOO!” “ARE NOT!”) Mark looked down and pointed to the line of watermelons. Why I bet you can’t even pick up one of these watermelons!

Well there was no way I was going to let that challenge slip by me so I reached down and picked up one of them and lifted it up over my head. (I don’t really remember but I’m sure I probably stuck my tongue out at him while doing so) I eased it back down carefully. Well Mark couldn’t be outdone by a girl (even if the girl was bigger than him) so he picked up one that he perceived to be bigger and so it went. The watermelon weight lifting contest ensued. That is till one of us, (I can’t remember exactly who) put one of the watermelons back down less carefully than before and it burst open. Now if you have ever heard a ripe watermelon busting open you will agree with me that it is one of the best sounds in the world. It sounded so good that we went down the line bursting all nine of them just to hear it.

About that time Miss Polly came out of the house waving her arms in the air and shouting at us. She let us have it. She told us that our punishment was that we’d have to sit outside and eat every one of those watermelons. We exchanged a look that said “That’s punishment???” We dug in happily till we were through with maybe one of the smaller ones. The joy was soon gone and we looked at all the watermelons still waiting to be eaten. We were covered with a mixture of dirt and watermelon juice so we weren’t allowed inside the house. We’d stand at the door and call to my sister who was sitting inside watching TV. “Hey Sis,” We’d call “Come out here and help us eat some of this watermelon …PLEASE!!!!!” She’d come out with a teaspoon and take one bite, rub her stomach and say “OH! I’m full! I can’t eat another bite!”

United by a common enemy we plotted revenge the rest of the day. Sadly Mark went back home before our plans could be carried out and I haven’t seen him since. I can’t remember exactly what happened to the watermelon we weren’t able to eat. I’m sure the rest of the family had some, and we probably gave the rest to the cows (cows just love watermelon by the way) You’d think after that experience I’d hate watermelon but I love it as much today as back then. However I now know my limits. And I have since learned to overlook super macho types who go around saying “girls can’t do anything!” Those kinda guys can get a girl in trouble!

The Star Spangled Banner

2008-07-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

I realize this is more audio than video, but it's the touching story behind the Star Spangled Banner, in a lot more detail than the story we heard in history class. Told by David C. Gibbs of the Christian Law Association, it brings to life the great price paid for our freedom.

Honoring One of Our Country's Heros

2008-05-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

Eddie Dean Hollandworth
Septenber 25,1946 - December 17, 1966

Eddie Dean Hollandsworth was my uncle on my mother's side. He began his tour in Vietnam on July 7, 1966. He was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, First Cavalry Division. He was killed by small arms fire December 17, 1966 during a vicious battle near Bong Son in the Binh Dinh Province. Twenty-nine soldiers, seventeen of Company D which included Eddie died that day.

He is just one of the brave men and women who have given their lives to insure our freedom. Let us honor them on this weekend as well as every day, and never take lightly the price they paid.

Snevel's Trek: A Collaboration

2008-03-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

My good friend Glenn is not only handy with a pencil for drawing but he also has a way with words. Recently he waxed poetical about my favorite snail I have been busy illustrating his poem. Well here it is for your approval.... SNEVEL’S TREK:

Interesting Observation

2008-03-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me well knows I'm pretty much of an internet junkie. When hurricane Katrina did her thing back in 2005 and cut me and everyone else in South Mississippi off from all outside contact the internet was No. 2 on the list of things I really missed. No. 1 was lights and running water of course.

Well part of my online time is spent taking funny little quizzes and tests on several different sites around. I'm sure you've visited some of the sites as well. One of these sites that offers interesting little quizzes doubles as a dating site. I'm really not interested in finding a cyber sweetie but I do enjoy visiting the site. So when I filled out my profile and uploaded a profile pic I chose the photo of myself that's the farthest from sexy and and "come and get me" as I could find. Ironically I have received so many messages from guys who say they were browsing profiles and was transfixed when they saw my photo. Well folks, for you viewing pleasure I present my profile pic:

Who knew there were so many men who were attracted to women who wore bug bushy fake mustaches? Or perhaps they are hoping it's not fake? Now that's a head scratcher for ya. And to think of all the money women spend going to places like Glamor Shots to get a really sexy photo to get the attention they so desire when they just need to go to Dollar World and buy some Groucho glasses and take a quick snap shot.

It's kinda funny when you think about it. I'm sure the guys who message me are more amused by the pic than anything else and just want to say "hi there" before moving on. And they amuse me in return by their messages. Many of them are pretty humorous and one even said "Marry me Groucho!" And I do hope the ladies with the sexy poses find the love they're looking for.

Right to Peaceful Assembly?

2008-01-20T13:39:00.000-08:00

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

When I studied this in junior high civics class I took it to mean that we had the right to gather together peacefully and worship God however we chose without fear of government interference. Not so much, as some main stream media folks would put it, the church should stay out of government, but rather government should stay out of church.

Well it seems the township of Freehold, New Jersey doesn't seem to read this the same way I do. Seems they've taken issue with the fact that Rabbi Avraham Bernstein has been having people in his home for Shabbat services. There's no traffic congestion as the people don't drive on Shabbat, he's not asking for a tax break on his property because people are praying, he's not playing loud, head banging music that makes the windows in his neighbors' houses rattle (sorry I had to throw in a personal grievance there) he and his friends are praying. The powers that be in the Freehold (ironic name if you ask me) even mounted a camera across the street so they can monitor how many people enter his house on a weekend.

Now this isn't taking place in Soviet Russia during the Cold War, or in China, North Korea, or even the Arab countries who have been Israel's sworn enemies since Biblical times, but the United States of America. The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. The country that has the above section as the First Amendment to the Constitution so its citizens would be protected from a government that doesn't have their best interest at heart. Last I heard he's suing the township for his right to assemble peacefully as listed in the above mentioned First Amendment. Obviously I'm pulling for him.

It makes me wonder though. Can people gather together to have a Super Bowl party? A back yard Bar-B-Que? Play bridge? I can almost hear the township leaders. "Now ya'll can go ahead and have yer Bar-B-Ques and her Super Bowl parties...but don't ya go a-prayin' ya hear me?" Yeah, I doubt they talk like that in New Jersey but I'm in Mississippi and that's how we talk here.

The church I belong to on occasion has "prayer fellowships" in the home of one of our members. We gather together and pray, fellowship (hence the name) and, being good Baptists, we eat and sometimes break out into song. So, even though I don't live in New Jersey, if Rabbi Burnstein loses his case will that eventually mean Baptists won't be able to get together to pray and eat fried chicken and potato salad? Talk about a slippery slope!

All kidding aside we need to remember and to remind our government officials that the United States has a "government of the people, by the people and for the people" not the other way around.

International Picture of the Year/Blue Fridays

2007-11-29T17:16:00.000-08:00

International Picture of the Year. Here are two very touching photos honored at this year:

First Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.

During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at the Denver Intrnational Airport, Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: 'See the people in the windows? They sat right there on that plane watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds - knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home for the last time. They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should'.

Second Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. 'I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,' she said. 'I think that's what he would have wanted.'

'No arsenal, no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.'
-- Ronald Reagan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blue Fridays.
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing blue every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority' We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that ... every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something blue. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of blue much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in BLUE and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is ...'We need your support and your prayers.' Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something blue every Friday.

Let's Say Thanks!

2007-11-03T10:58:00.000-07:00

Something cool that Xerox is doing. If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com
(or click on the link below)

You can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site.

Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them...
Let's Say Thanks!

Misc. Molluscan Mirth

2007-10-12T12:04:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of Snevel and Company

Robots...Fairies...Robosnails.....OH MY!

2007-09-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

Robosapian Romance

First Contact

The Fairy Godfather

Revenge of the Snails

What the Tooth Fairy REALLY does with all those teeth

On Top of the Ceiling...

2007-09-17T18:20:00.001-07:00

While I'm in the artistic mood I thought I'd post some of the stuff I've done at the office where I work.

This is my very first mural. It's on the ceiling of one of the operatories. "Penguins on the Beach, done Memorial Day weekend, 2004:

The sun is smiling down on the patient. (The dark shades were inspired by ZZTop)

A skydiving penguin floats to the earth.

These next three are side by side along the "bottom" or near the far wall (going left to right):

Surfer penguins and one sun worshiper

Hula Couple:

Playing in the sand and watching skiers behind a boat:

Here's a color pencil drawing of a couple of goats drawn sometime 2004 (It's a running joke and a long story)

Ladybug Room. This was done Memorial Day, 2005. Actually it took two days start to finish to do:

And here's some flowers and butterflies on part of the wall in the hallway, done the week prior to the Ladybug Room: (Sorry about the blurry photo):

WebbWoman's Artistic Archives

2007-09-17T17:52:00.000-07:00

Here's some of my older artwork for everyone's approval...or disapproval, whichever may apply.

These are a few oils on canvas that I did back in 1986. I was mostly playing around with the paint and seeing what I could do but I don't think they were too bad for someone who didn't really know what she was doing.

This is my favorite of everything I've done. It's more of a happy mistake as it was supposed to be your classic sunset. I was going to put a tiny bit of Prussian Blue along the top and work my way down with purples, oranges, yellows...etc But I got distracted by the color of the blue. That shade is my favorite color and I was mesmerized by it. Before I knew it over half my canvas was covered with the blue paint. I opted for a night scene over the water. Sorry for the glare, my flash kept reflecting off the canvas.

This one I was doing the sky mostly. Spent lots of time with the clouds and ended up painting over them for the most part. All three of these I'm just working from my imagination rather than life or photo so I was just building it as it went. I never felt this one was finished but I never could think what I should add. Now, over 20 years later I'm used to it. :)

Here I was trying to work on depth. Making the road inviting so you'd want to walk down it to see what's beyond the horizon.

Here's a couple of watercolors:

1985:

1997. This was done from life. It's the dining room window of my Mom's house. I was watching the birds at her feeder and thought it would make a good painting. It had been a while since I had painted anything and was out of practice. As you can see from the bad perspective:

Here's another watercolor, done sometime around 1977-1979. My highschool art teacher would often say that you needed a table or something to set objects down on...that they couldn't just float around in space. This planted a seed in my mind as to whether you could use light and shadows to give the impression of objects sitting on a surface without actually putting the surface in.

I played around with the idea and this is what I came up with. It's still my Mom's favorite. She'd say, "I like that 'un with the big red bowl" :)

This was also done in the late 70's. It's done on cheap paper and that explains the wrinkles. I was playing around with a bottle of India ink that came with a calligraphy set. (I detest doing calligraphy)

Love (BUGS) Are in the Air...

2007-09-14T16:33:00.000-07:00

…and on my car…

…on me…

Anyone who lives in the Gulf Coastal region knows about love bugs. And no, I’m not talking about Herby, the cute little VW with a mind of its own. I’m talking about these little black bugs that swarm up at least once (usually twice) a year and get all over and into everything.

I have no idea exactly what their purpose is, other than to destroy the paint jobs on people’s cars, or maybe to insure some of us clean out the usually neglected nooks and crannies on a regular basis. They fly around in mating pairs looking like conjoined twins, joined at the rump. They can cover a car in no time and the hot sun will bake the bug goo to a rock like substance that will permanently harm your paint job if allowed to stay on there.

Many theories are out there as to the best method for removing the bug goo: Some say that you shake up a Coke (that’s Coca Cola, not just any soft drink) and spray it all over your car. Supposedly the acid will remove the goo. Unfortunately the acid will also remove your paint if you’re not careful. Another idea is to cover your car with paste wax and not wipe it off. It seems the bugs get stuck on the wax and come off when you remove it. But I have my doubts as to how wise it is to drive around with paste wax all over your car. (It looks bad anyway) I’ve tried several methods, including products like “Bug Gone” and “But and Tar Remover” but I find the best way is to get a bucket of hot, soapy water and use plenty of elbow grease.

There are almost as many theories about where love bugs came from as theories on how to get them off your car. Some people maintain they were created by the University of Florida. You’d think a place that invented Gatorade would have enough sense to stay away from this sort of thing. But that’s just me. Others subscribe to the government conspiracy theory….They were developed by NASA for some unknown reason. Or the Army did it for some weird form of warfare. (Maybe they took the 60’s credo to heart and started trying to make love, not war) I’ve heard some old timers say, “We ain’t never had none of them thangs till they started shootin’ them rockets into space.” Which opens another question: Could they be aliens bent on taking over the earth?

One thing I know is when I got home this afternoon it seemed they were taking over my house.

I often joke about my house decorating itself for Halloween but I had no idea it was so ensconced in cobwebs till today! Looks like I’m gonna need a WHOLE LOT of elbow grease this weekend!

New Artwork: Hope for Kids

2007-03-31T13:07:00.000-07:00

My friends, Bro. Dave and Susan Butts are missionaries to Romania. Along with their regular mission they founded Hope for Kids when they saw all the children begging in the street for food.

One of the tragic realities in Romania is the plight of thousands of street children that beg on the street corners and dig through garbage cans for something to eat every day. Many of these children do not go to school because their stomachs are empty and they must go out begging for food to survive. The result is an ongoing cycle of poverty among these very poor children. Because they are not in school they will not get jobs later on. Instead by the age of 12 or 13 these children are stealing to stay alive. Then by the age of 15 or 16 many of them are already in prison.

In January 2001, Bro. David and Susan Butts began Hope for Kids. We worked with the director of the schools where the poorest children live and should have been going to school. The program is to feed the children a sandwich lunch in their classrooms. This way the children must come to school to receive their lunch. If they are in school they can get jobs later on and not have to go to a life of stealing.

We began with about 200 children in the 1st through 4th grades. After they began Hope for Kids the children began coming back to school. They could either go out and beg for something to eat or they could go to school and be given lunch. The children began coming back to school! And by the end of that first year they were feeding 550 children. School attendance in these two schools doubled after we started Hope for Kids. Last year they were able to add the 5th -8th grades and they are now feeding over 1,100 children daily in their classroom.

A couple of years ago our church had the privilege to send hats, coats and gloves (along with Christmas presents) to these kids. We were able to help 1,000 kids. This year we are getting together hats, gloves and school supplies.

Anyway I wanted to do something that would reflect their work in Romania so I took photograps of several of the children and put them all together in a drawing:

I also thought it would be cool to do a slide show of the work in progress:

And here's one more of a little girl eating her sandwich:

I know people tend to be wary of charities because of the potential for corruption. But I personally vouch for these people as being on the up and up. It only takes $5.00 to help a hungry child for 1 month. They have no overhead as this is a branch of their other ministry and all the money goes to food and containers. If you’d like to support them you can send me a message and I can get you the contact info.

Another Post-Katrina Rant...sorry folks

2007-03-11T19:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know everyone’s tired of people talking about Hurricane Katrina and the ongoing clean-up. Heck, I’m tired of it myself and want to get back to as close to normal as possible, but I heard some news today that really got the ole blood to boiling. It seems State Farm’s CEO got an 82% pay raise!!!

Now I’m not against anyone getting a pay raise if they earn it. Tell you the truth I’d like one myself. But this is the CEO of a company who recently looked into the faces of 8 to 12 hundred people whose homes were reduced to slabs and told them that they didn’t qualify for funds to rebuild because they weren’t sure if it was wind or water damage. Now I ask you kind folks to look at the photos below and tell me does it even matter? It was a category 5 hurricane for Pete’s sake!

Wind or water damage? Hummmmmmmmmm……..

Yep…this used to be someone’s home.

Here’s a little snippet of a full article in The Vicksburg Post:

03/06/07] State Farm Insurance's leader received an 82 percent raise after the company posted a record profit last year, a statement from the insurer said Monday.

The increase comes less than a month after the insurance giant said it would suspend writing new homeowners and commercial insurance policies in the state.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ed Rust Jr. got a $5.26 million raise. He received $11.66 million in 2006 with a base salary of $1.77 million and results-based bonus of $9.89 million, said the statement from the Bloomington, Ind., office. Rust made $6.4 million in 2005 and $5.5 million in 2004.
(For the complete article, go to http://www.vicksburgpost.com/articles/2007/03/06/news/news02.txt)

Now I have my home and my car insured with State Farm, mostly because my parents dealt with this company as far back as I remember and when I grew up I just went there. But Friday, when I went to pay my car insurance I was struck with the irony that the office had moved to its brand spanking new building, all pretty and shiny, a countless less than an hour’s drive still have slabs where their homes once stood and this fine company refused help. And I know, State Farm isn’t the only culprit here but they were mostly in the news here.

First, when they refused to honor the policies that residents paid faithfully for years,

Second when they claimed that they weren’t going to write new policies in Mississippi

And then I see on the news where they agreed to reopen 8-12 thousand Slab Cases No doubt after all the bad press and lawsuits.

I’m just plain ticked off at these suits who came down here, taking money from good, hardworking people who paid their policies in good faith, believing that if something happened they would be covered. And when a category 5 hurricane targets you with a storm surge that reaches 5 miles inland there’s not much hope for anything to be left behind, and that was indeed the case.

I’ll end with a fantastic video that shows not only the damage of the Mississippi Gulf coast, but reflects the resilient spirit of our people here.

Hurricane Katrina Tribute

Add to My Profile | More Videos

You Won't See This On the Evening News (part 2)

2007-01-22T18:03:00.000-08:00

PRESS RELEASE DIRECTLY TO CBS, NBC, & ABC NETWORKS

This is documented proof that our G.I.'s torture the Iraqi children....

* * * Shocking Pictures * * *

Armed American Troops Force Iraqi's to See-Saw Until They Talk!

Iraqi Child Bites GI In Self Defense After Obvious Torture

GI Falls Asleep On Duty While Using Iraqi Child As Body Armor

GI Overheard to say .. "Talk or I'll tickle you till you pee!"

Soldier Attempts to Eat Iraqi Child

Clear Evidence of Forced Labor by Troops

Iraqi's Grateful That American Forces Did Not Open Fire During Soccer Game

Soldier Caught At "Tickle-Torture" To Extract Intelligence

GI Forces Iraqi Child To Hang By Finger

I Know this was done tongue in cheek, but it's amazing how you never see anything like this on the evening news. They can't wait to tell the negative, even if they have to stretch the truth to do it.

I'm letting everyone know that I support our troops 100% and am very proud of them. Theirs is a hard and thankless job and I'm sure sometimes they may want to give up. But they keep going and I thank them for it.

New Artwork-Live Nativity

2006-12-28T17:04:00.000-08:00

My plan was to post these before Christmas but it turned out to be a bigger project than I first thought. Then too, I kept seeing "something shiny" and put it down for a bit before coming back to it. But here it is...at long last!

These are sketches of photos taken at our church's live nativity at the nearby walking track/park.

Landon in Sheep's clothing:

Angel Laila:

Angel Princess:

God's Little Cheerleader.
I noticed that every time someone picked up a camera she would strike this pose...one hand on hip, the other in the air. I was wondering why she had started doing that and then I was told it was because "cheerleaders do that"

And what's a nativity without Mary and Jesus? Just like Lassie was always played by a male dog, our Jesus was an angry little girl:

RIP Pudd E. Cat (1993?-2006)

2006-10-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

Pudd E. Cat, also known as Puddy, El Pudd, Pusser, Puddinski, Prince Pudd, Mr. Pudd, and Schmoo Cat, went to the great litter box in the sky this week. He was a good cat who had the misfortune of adopting a dog person. But he patiently taught me how to respect cats for who they are. He will be greatly missed.

Panther Pudd

Peeping Tom

Wishing I'd put the camera away

Editor in Chief, Pudd E. Cat

Resting up for his afternoon nap

Give, and it shall be given.....

2005-11-23T14:24:00.000-08:00

"”But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
~~II John 3:17-18

After Katrina hit the Gulf, churches from all over sent gifts of money, food, gasoline and clothes to our church. We got together and made care packages to give to everyone in our community, then the outlying areas, and they still kept sending stuff. My pastor called his Bible distributer and ordered about 100 Bibles to put in the care packages. This man has a ministry providing Bibles at low cost for pastors and missionaries. He told his church about our order; meanwhile they had been praying about finding a way to be a blessing to Katrina victims. An elderly handicapped man gave a donation of $11.00 in pennies. His donation opened the flood gates and in the end this tiny church in Indiana sent our tiny church in Mississippi some 7,500 Bibles! At the same time, churches in Tennessee and Alabama sent donations of money that we used to purchase food, and food containers. Every week since October 3rd till Christmas, people from our church of about 50 faithful members have had the opportunity to go to the Gulf Coast towns of Bay St. Louis, Waveland and Long Beach, giving away hot meals and Bibles to anyone who wants them. It's like a vicious cycle: The more we give away the more we get to give! Right at Christmas we had been able to give away all the food and Bibles, but we've been told about a possible 1,000 more Bibles headed our way and more money might be donated. All these donations were freely given by people from all over. None were solicited.

The following pictures show just a tiny part of this ministry:

The first time we went, we set up in the yard of a co-worker of two of our menbers. We set up a grill and went door to door giving away meals of a hamburger or hotdog, cold soft drink, chips and a Bible.

The burgers and hotdogs were grilled on site.....

...and an assembly line was set up to put the burgers and dogs together.

We then loaded up an ice chest full of cold soft drinks in a wagon with some chips, burgers and/or hotdog meals and Bibles and set out door to door.

People were so excited to receive a burger that we thought "Why not give them a good hot meal instead?" It took some thought and some working to expand our recipes, but we’ve since perfected jambalaya, red beans and rice, potato salad and spaghetti for 500. Tuesdays we give away meals of jambalaya, Thursdays, spaghetti and Saturdays we give red beans and rice.

Each time we set up at another spot, trying to get at least one Bible to everyone in the area, and a good hot meal to anyone who wants one.

Our menu changed from day to day: Tuesdays, we'd make jambalia; Thursdays, spagetti; and Saturdays were red beans and rice. I had the privelage to go everytime the first two weeks went down there, then I had to go back to work. (gotta pay the bills) But I still got the chance to go down there on Saturdays.

The mornings we went to "feed" started early. Everything was cooked that morning. Of course onions, peppers, sausage, chicken, etc is chopped, sliced and prepared the night before, but the actual cooking takes place that morning.

Here, the two huge pots being stirred below are beans. (Enough to make around 500 meals) Once the beans (or jambalia, or spagetti) is done and has reached the proper temp, they are dipped into ice chests that are double lined with plastic bags that are tightly closed. This helps to keep the food hot enough till we have all the meals served. In both photos below you can see me doing a bad scene from McBeth:

Cleanup for the big pots took place outside. We’d put dish soap and hot water in the pots and scrub them out there because they were way too big to wash in the kitchen. Then we’d hose everything off.

Before leaving, we’d gather together for a time a prayer for God’s blessing on the day and that He’d get the glory in everything done.

We’d set up the food on tables in an assembly line preparing the meals in polystyrene containers.

We liked to have at least two crews on four wheelers pulling wagons of meals, soft drinks and Bibles into the neighborhoods delivering meals and Bibles door to door. The following are a few photos of our crews going door to door. Sadly, the hardest hit areas had no one living there because there was no place to stay. We would find one person here and another there, but the deeper we went there was nothing.

Both crews met at this house:

Our crew at an intersection. Notice all the brown trees in the background that's a pine forrest (evergreen). They reason they are all brown is because salt water flooded the whole area here:

Some of the homes they visited:

And here we see a part of one of our crews in a group photo with a lady and her son. This was a ministry that everyone in our church, no matter their age took part in. The kids loved going, they thought it was "unfair" that they had to go to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays instead of going to the coast.

We also were able to give away meals and Bibles at the set up stations. People driving by would see our church sign and stop. The sign was blown out by the storm so we took it with us and leaned it up where it could be seen by passers by.

Then too, we knew how to flag people down and let them know we were there. Poor Mom and Dad; they never thought their baby girl would end up standing on a street corner.

Here I have a little help.

And another sign crew.

We learned quickly to set up where cars can “drive through.” We’d ask how many meals, what kind of drinks and how many Bibles they wanted.

More curb side service:

The Red Cross drove by several times checking us out. At another location a couple of Red Cross guys stopped by and hung out awhile. They even ate some red beans. I thought they were pretty good fellows. Besides we’re all on the same team when you take the broad view.

We flagged down this fellow and he didn’t want any food, but when he got back to the station he was sent back to get some for the others. We usually made a delivery to the local police/fire station while there anyway.

A good many workers stopped by too. In the harder hit areas the most people we gave meals to those working in the clean up effort because, as I said before, no one was home.

More drive ups and walk ups:

This fellow came up and our littlest helper was there to serve him. (She took her duty serious! Her job was to give people a Bible and she made sure to do it)

These ladies were so sweet. They stayed and talked for a while. They were as excited about replacing the Bibles that they lost in the storm as they were about a hot meal.

And this is so funny. You can’t see here very well but the cab of that pickup is full of dogs. The fellows had lunch on the hood of the truck and they wanted to share really bad. You can see one fellow sticking his head out the window wondering if he could safely jump out.

When we went we set up in the parking lots of destroyed businesses, vacant lots, etc. People were more than willing to let us set up. One place was in the drive way of some people whose house was too damaged to stay in. They not only let us set up there, they helped deliver the meals. Here are the Ramseys, owners of a convenience store in Long Beach who let us set up in their parking lot while they were making repairs to their store. I’m sure we were in their way while we were there, but they were more than happy to let us set up.

I believe to date our tiny church had the opportunity to give away 11,500 hot meals and 7,500 Bibles. Each paid for by donations from people from all over the country. I couldn’t begin to name them all, mostly because I don’t know them, but God knows and he will greatly bless their generosity. I have no idea why God chose our tiny church to have the privilege of participating in this project but I’m glad he did, and I’m glad I had the chance to be a part of it.

Damage in Waveland & Bay St. Louis

2005-10-29T16:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry I’ve been so long in posting the pictures of Katrina’s damage to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. My phone service and internet service was out for quite a while and I’m just now getting my pictures up. When Katrina came ashore on August 29, 2005, it centered on Hancock County. Bay St. Louis, Waveland and Pass Christian got the brunt of the storm. I spoke to people who had as much as 10 feet of water in their homes. Some people only have slabs to show they even had a home. The pictures you’re about to see were taken in Waveland and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. To be honest, I’m not very sure where Waveland ends and Bay St. Louis starts so please accept my apology in not identifying the proper town.

These first pictures were taken going down highway 603 from Kiln toward highway 90 in Waveland.

First, this used to be a ministorage. It looks like a giant foot (ala Monty Python's Flying Circus) crushed it.

It'd be pretty hard to buy gas from this station...

And I wonder if these people will succeed in getting $310,000 for their property?

Following the storm the people in this neighborhood had to bring all their belongings out to the side of the street for pick up. By the time I made it down there it had been there a good three weeks since the storm. The refrigerators were taped shut by duct tape and had the words “spoiled meat” written on them. The stench was unbelievable. And you can see how close to the street the houses were. Most of the houses were uninhabitable but people were living in tents, and some lucky ones had received their FEMA travel trailers, set up in their yards. It’s hard to imagine having to live with this, but everyone I met, no matter their race or economic status had the same “we’re gonna get through this” attitude. My hat’s off to ‘em!

This building is in Bay St. Louis. It obviously has major structural damage...

These are pictures of what's left of highway 90's bridge over the Bay of St. Louis:
"End of the Road"

Straight on view:

It's hard to see, but this is the side view. All that's left are the supports:

The following used to be home sites near the Bay. The first two are of a place where the home owners lost everything except their sense of humor:

The sign says, "Pardon our dust while we remodel."

This is turning down the drive along the Bay. Remember, people used to live all along the left side of the road.

The next pictures were taken down in this area. Mostly just slabs where homes once were and others look like the house was washed out from under the roof.

When Katrina had passed and I went out to survey the damage around my place I knew I had been greatly blessed. Trees were down everywhere and roads blocked to the point that it took nearly two days working with chain saws just to get out. But there was no real damage to my house! I also was thinking "If things look like this where I live, about 40 miles inland, what does it look like on the Coast?" Well now we know.
Please keep the folks there in your prayers. People from all over are coming down and helping out; cleaning up and bringing aid, and I thank God for them.

Next I'm going to show you what I've had the opportunity to do on my visits to the Coast. In the meantime, God bless and keep you all!

Life After the Storm

2005-10-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

Click here to see how some guys from Oxford, Ms spent their Labor Day weekend.

People from all over came down here to help out. The day following the storm the National guard was out clearing the highway so more help could get here. To respond any faster, they would have to be out in the storm catching trees and stuff as it fell. On Wednesday they were starting to distribute water, ice and MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat). On Labor Day, September 5, 2005, our church got the opportunity to say "thank you" to some of the National guard fellows who came here to help us out by giving them an old fashioned "home cooked" meal. We all had freezers full of food that would ruin because we had no electricity anyway, so we had a pot luck dinner and invited them all to come eat.These were the first to arrive:

We showed them into the church fellowship hall and told them to "dig in." Here we see some of the guys line up for food:

Because there were no lights inside we set up tables under a metal shelter outside. (Miraculously, this little shelter weathered the storm without any damage at all.)

The guys standing behind the table to the right in the picture directly above were standing ready to refill glasses as the guys emptied them. They look ready to pounce.

When we found out that the truck drivers who brought in the water, ice and other supplies were camping at the same place with the soldiers we sent word for them to come eat too. We ended up feeding some 50 to 60 people, not counting ourselves, and had enough food left over to feed that many more. We were wishing we could get word to the work crews who came in to work on the power lines.

No joke, volunteers came from all over to help out. I met crews from as far away as Canada. They are all my heroes and I thank God for them.

In the mean time we carried on as best we could. My sister and I moved back in with our parents temperarily because they had a generator, and also to help them clean up around the house. Problem with the generator, was getting gas to run it. It's no fun living without lights and running water when you're used to it, but we did the best we could. Below, my sister and I take care of laundry the "old fashioned way." Sis is scrubbing and washing...

...and I'm rinsing, wringing and hanging out. After wringing out a pair of blue jeans we all agreed not to wear denim till we had a better way of washing.

The temp got up to as high as 100-f and we took to hanging out under the car port because it was cooler than being inside. A humming bird started coming by looking for food so we rounded up a feeder.

After a few days without lights or running water I started to get a little scruffy looking....ok, that's my normal look but I'm still blaming it on the storm! Actually I was out surveying the damage, or lack thereof to our houses, etc, and was struck by how blessed we were.

Next I'll post some pics from down on the coast. Till then be safe and happy.

I've Been Greatly Blessed

2005-10-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

I've been offline for a few weeks, (6 to be exact) and I thought I'd start posting some pictures of what I've been up to. There are lots of pics so I'm making several different posts, by category.

This first post are pictures of the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. I was greatly blessed that I had no real damage. Many people who live on the coast lost everything.

Above: This is a view from my parents' house, looking toward the road. Their cedar tree fell across the driveway and knocked down the power line to the house. We had to clear the way out with a chain saw. (All the roads were like that too)

Below: We're cutting up the cedar tree to clear the drive.

Trees in my parents' yard fell over like dominos, but nothing fell on their house.

Below: Dad lost the roof off his shed. I couldn't help but inform him that his roof was leaking. My sister came right behind me and told the same joke. He's a lucky man: two commedians in the family!

Unfortunately, when the roof flew off the shed it hit the green house (and the well but I don't have a picture of that)

Here's where the roof landed:

Before and after. Above: This picture was taken in November, 2004 in the woods behind my parents' house. Below: This was taken following the storm close to the same place. To line them up, look for the skinny, droopy looking tree in the center of the pic above; it's to the righ in the one below.

The two pictures below are of the south bound acess ramp onto I-59 in Poplarville, MS at exit 27. The trees were snapped off like match sticks. This scene can be found everywhere.

These two are views from my back porch. Above: This hickory tree is close enough to my house to do some real damage, but it only lost limbs. Below: This oak tree could also have done much damage had it fallen, but it only lost a couple of limbs.

Behind that oak tree was a bigger oak that was uprooted. And another hickory tree (below) had two trunks and only one broke off, falling away from my house.

The total damage to my house:

Yeah, I know my house needs a paint job, but I can't complain when the sum total of damage to my house needs about four screws to fix.

Oddly enough, the same storm that uprooted trees and nearly wiped away the whole Gulf Coast away wasn't able to dislodge this bird's nest in a little tree in front of my house. See how the leaves look like they were eaten away by bugs? That was wind damage.

There is so much I have to be thankful for: my home, my family, my friends.... In future posts, I'll show more about what we've been up to here. In the mean time, take care, all.

After Katrina (A personal rant)

2005-10-11T21:58:00.000-07:00

I’m really tired of the national news media and all their whining criticizing. If all you knew about the world was what they say you’d think New Orleans was the only place hit by Katrina and then Rita. Since the eye of Katrina passed over my house I thought I’d put in my two cents worth about the aftermath from hurricane Katrina and what the news media call the government’s “slow response.”

First, New Orleans didn’t get the full force of Katrina. The storm went to the east of New Orleans, taking a path up the Pearl River, centering on Hancock County, in Mississippi. For those who never heard of Mississippi, it’s that state to the east of Louisiana. Waveland, Pass Christian, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi were most heavily hit by the storm. The storm surge went about a mile inland and almost everything south of I-10 (about 5 miles inland) was flooded and/or destroyed. All the coastal cities were heavily hit, but Waveland bore the brunt of the storm. People there lost EVERYTHING.

I live in Pearl River County, directly north of Hancock County. We didn’t have flooding as bad as on the coast and Southern Louisiana, but we had LOTS of wind and tornado damage. Trees and power poles were snapped off like match sticks. Other trees were uprooted. We had to use chain saws to clear a way, first out our own drive ways, then just to get down the road. Power lines were down everywhere, lying across the roads and tangled up in fallen trees. We were totally cut off from the rest of the world. No power, no phones, all the cell phone towers were knocked down so we couldn’t even call out by cell for a week. Even the mail didn’t run for almost two weeks, and it took nearly a whole tank of gas just to get to a station to buy gas, then they may be sold out by the time you got there. It’s not fun having to do without electricity and running water, but I feel greatly blessed in that at the very worst, I was merely inconvenienced. As I said, some people lost everything. I had to laugh at myself though, because I started sleeping with my Mag-Lite like it was a Teddy bear.

Some things I saw following hurricane Katrina:

The storm hit Sunday night and went on all day Monday. On Tuesday morning, the National Guard was out clearing the interstate so help could get in to us. Yes, that was TUESDAY! The only way they could have responded faster would be to stand out there during the storm, catching the trees and stuff as it fell. The reason they weren’t in New Orleans quicker was because the governor and mayor thought they had it under control. Mississippi governor, Haley Barbour, requested assistance two days before Katrina so FEMA and MEMA had people in the state when it came ashore. Another reason they weren’t in New Orleans faster was the I-10 twin span across Lake Pontchartrain was destroyed. Now to be honest, I don’t know how I-10 was from Baton Rouge, but there was no way to get supplies in from north of the lake.

Wednesday those same National Guardsmen were setting up POD’s in our community distributing water, ice and MRE’s. I thank God for those guys! We don’t have community water where I live yet, so when you have no electricity, you don’t have water. It takes electricity to run a well.

Daily, helicopters and small airplanes were flying over surveying the damage. One funny story: Someone I know was out cleaning his yard and one of these helicopters flew over. He raised his hand to wave at them, and they landed in his yard. They got out and asked if he needed any help, and he said, “Naw, I was just sayin’ hi.” I couldn’t help but notice the difference between the people just across the state line. In New Orleans they’re actually firing on those coming to help and here we wave like they’re old friends.

Churches sent truck loads of food, water and gasoline. Gas was our biggest need. You needed gas to drive to the nearest POD for water and ice, and if you were blessed to have a generator, you needed gas to run it. My parents have a generator so my sister and I both moved back in till the lights came back on. About a week and a half after the storm we were able to fix the well and hook it up to the generator, thus giving us running water. WOO HOO!!! Our main goal became getting gas to run the generator so we could have water and keep Mom’s insulin cool in the fridge.

Work crews from EVERYWHERE came down to help clean up. I saw bucket trucks from electric companies in Ohio, Kansas, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Canada…I lost count. They didn’t have to, but they came down here and worked hard in the heat and humidity to get our lights back on. The day my lights came back on it got up to 100 degrees. The gentlemen who came and hooked us up were from New Hampshire. They said they thought Mississippi was pretty, but they hated the heat. I wish I had thought to tell them to come back in March. That’s the best time of the year to visit. It’s not so hot, and everything is in bloom.

At some point in the second week, (the days started to run together after awhile) Marines showed up at the house, wanting to know if there was anything we needed and if we were ok. And a few days after that, a truck from the Red Cross stopped by and gave us water and two boxes of MRE’s. That never happened before. I remember after hurricane Camille in 1969 we were pretty much left to take care of ourselves, and each other as a community.

I got really tired of hearing about New Orleans though. We lost power Sunday night during the storm and the only contact with the outside world was a battery operated radio that could only pick up WWL in New Orleans. From the time they learned that the storm would pass east of New Orleans and that they wouldn’t get the worst of it they stopped reporting on the storm, as to where and when it would come into land, wind speed, etc. All we could hear was them all excited that we were getting it and not them. Yeah, I know they are below sea level and in a bowl, blah blah blah… but their job was to report on the storm, not gloat that we were getting it instead of them.

Then after the storm all we heard was how New Orleans was flooded, that certain low-lifes were breaking in to hospitals, holding the staff at gunpoint and raping nurses. The National Guard had to escort nurses back and forth to work. Fire fighters were trapped in a building by snipers. Some fools even fired on rescue choppers as they arrived to help. I gotta say that those pilots were more charitable than I would have been. I would have told them to save their ammo for hunting their own food, because I wasn’t coming back.

Still, all the news reporters talk about is New Orleans when Katrina is mentioned. When hurricane Rita blew into the state line between Texas and Louisiana they still went on and on about New Orleans like it is the only place on the coast.

I’m also sick of the news media politicizing everything. They are so intolerant of anyone slightly conservative that they will do anything they can to vilify them, even if it means telling half truths and lies. Sure, President Bush was on vacation in Texas when Katrina hit, but he was aware of the storm approaching, he was in contact with our Governor Barbour, and I’m sure he spoke with Governor Blanco in Louisiana as well. He signed the paperwork declaring the coastal states federal disaster areas BEFORE the storm. He was down here, personally surveying the damage as soon as he could get here. And he had troops here immediately.

And New Orleans flooded because it is a city below sea level, surrounded by levies. The federal government has given money to improve the levy system there time and time again, but the money was often spent elsewhere. There was no vast plot to do away with the poor, elderly and sick. I have no idea why the city officials didn’t have them evacuated; the mayor had all the RTA busses and school busses at his disposal. Possibly he didn’t know where to take them. Truth is, I don’t know. And as far as the druggies and others causing all the violence there goes, I believe if they are able to cause all that trouble they were able to get themselves out of town. I may sound heartless but I’m not very troubled about their plight.

Another thing, I’m tired of the news media reporting on the underbelly of society and letting the true story go untold. I know the old saying, “If it bleeds it leads.” But why can’t they forget about ratings and report the truth for once? If those panty-waist reporters would step out of their air conditioned offices long enough to see the real world they would see people coming together to make the best of the situation. They go on about how we’re “neglected” etc. but I have yet to see a truck full of supplies from CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, or FOX. I suppose ‘twas ever thus: Some stand around griping and others do something about it.

I’m sorry about writing such a long, rambling, and sometimes redundant letter, but I’ve had four weeks to listen to the media tripe and had no outlet with which to give my point of view. I just started typing and couldn’t stop. But I don’t want to close out without saying a very big THANK YOU to everyone who came here and worked so hard to help us out. Everyone from the National Guardsmen, Red Cross and all other volunteers did (and are still doing) a great job and I want them all to know that they are greatly appreciated. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

Waning: These Photos May Be Too Graphic!

2005-07-10T19:40:00.000-07:00

The photos you are about to see are from Iraq.
I want to warn you that they may be too graphic for the more sensitive. They certainly are too graphic for the mainstream news media to show. If the photos weren’t sent to me, I would never have seen them because they aren't going to show photos like these on the evening news.

If you dare, scroll down and view these shocking photos, but be warned they aren’t for the weak of heart.

This soldier seems to be "oppressing" the innocent citizens of Iraq

Does this picture even need a caption?

Interrogation?

Letter from Home

Circle of Prayer

Kitty Patrol

You can see the people resent our presence there...

Handing out School Supplies

When, oh when will the cruelty stop???

I know that our presence in Iraq is pretty controversial, but let it be known that our troops aren’t murdering and otherwise oppressing the innocent citizens of Iraq. They are working to build schools, fix sewerage systems in towns that were destroyed by Saddam, training the

Iraq

army to be able to take up the job when they leave. No matter how you feel about why we are there, the fact iswe are there. It makes me proud that our troops are working to make life better for a people who have been oppressed for years.

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!

Movie Review: War of the Worlds

2005-07-04T18:54:00.000-07:00

Believe me, keep your money in your pocket and DON'T go see this flick!!!

This is the lamest bit of film and biggest waste of time I have seen in a long time. I was starting to hope one of the aliens would come off the screen and shoot me so I wouldn't have to watch the rest of the movie.

I kept checking my watch to see how much longer the movie would be. My friend that went with me was text messaging someone, and I was reading over his shoulder.

The movie starts with Tom Cruise getting off work, and meeting his ex-wife, her husband and his two kids. (Time for kid swap) Ex-wife has a very superior attitude and is criticizing everything about Tom Cruise's house and life. The son has a case of teenage-itis and hates his dad. He refuses to call him "dad" and calls him Ray instead. The daughter is a 10 year old whiner/screamer. And finally Tom Cruise is a selfish, self absorbed, dad who hasn’t spent enough time with his kids. I already don't like the family.

All hell breaks loose when storm clouds cover the city and lightning repeatedly strikes in the same place. At the site where the lightning hits, there is a rumbling and a huge three-legged machine comes up out of the ground, vaporizing people left and right. Tom rushes home and tries to get the kids safely to Boston where ex-wife and husband are visiting ex-wife's parents.

We slowly and painfully watch the whole world being destroyed and people being killed left and right…..except for Tom & kids. There’s no fighting these things, and they just keep trying to escape, and get to Boston. (What makes him think Boston is safe???)

If you ever heard the radio program or read the book you’ll know the aliens finally are conquered by microscopic germs they pick up here. (We have immunity to them) However the ending with the family is so stupid I’m not even describing it. Nuff said.

I'd suggest you use your money for something more enjoyable, like maybe a bikini wax.

Movie Review: Mr. & Mrs. Smith

2005-07-04T18:44:00.000-07:00

As the movie opens we see Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie playing John and Jane smith speaking to a marriage counselor. They look like your typical affluent suburban couple who’ve grown apart through the years.

Then we see how they met: In a bar in Bogotá, Colombia, during a revolution. Some leader was assassinated and there was a search for tourists traveling alone. Both are traveling alone and immediately join forces to avoid suspicion. As it turns out both are assassins, employed by competing agencies. However, each believes the other is a normal, suburban spouse and their respective identities are well kept secrets.

Jane says to the counselor, “There’s this wide space between us that keeps filling up with things we don’t say.” She has no idea how true she is.

Some how they are both sent to the same hit, and discover each other’s true identity. They each are given 48 hours to kill the other.

There’s obviously a lot of violence and gun play, which no doubt gives the movie a PG13 rating.
However, the story is told in a humorous way, and both Brad and Angelina play their rolls very well. (I must add, they both give plenty of eye candy for both sexes in the audience.) And the supporting cast does its share in putting together a very enjoyable movie. I'd say the movie is a cross between an action flick and a romantic comedy. If you aren't turned off by the violence you'll find this a fun movie. I had fun anyway.

World's Shortest Personality Test

2005-06-25T14:22:00.000-07:00

You are dependable, popular, and observant.
Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness.
In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do.

You are unique, creative, and expressive.
You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while.
And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Another Optical Illusion

2005-06-18T12:54:00.000-07:00

Study the picture below:

You saw a couple in an intimate pose, right? Interestingly, research has shown that young children cannot identify the intimate couple because they do not have prior memory associated with such a scenario.What they WILL see, however, are the nine dolphins in the picture!

So, I guess we've already proven you're not a young innocent child... now... If it's hard for you to find the dolphins in 6 seconds, your mind is indeed corrupted and you probably need help, you sicko!

Ok, here's help.... look at the space between her right arm and her head, the tail is on her neck, follow it up. Look at her left hip, follow the shaded part down, it's another one, and on his shoulder..... see them now?

Quick & Dirty IQ Test

2005-06-09T21:48:00.000-07:00

Who would have thunk it??? Well they said it wasn't an official IQ test, but it gives me the big head anyway.

Your IQ Is 130

Your Logical Intelligence is Exceptional
Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius
Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius
Your General Knowledge is Exceptional

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

Optical Illusion: Can You Spot the Dogs?

2005-05-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

Please Read Before Scrolling Down to See the Picture:

Thepicture below was shown to several groups of people who were asked to see how many dogs they could find. Amazingly, in general the men who looked at the photo were able to identify all the dogs at once, while the women seemed to take a little longer. Some as long as five minutes. I'm ashamed to say that I had to look at the picture for quite a while before I was able to see any dogs at all.

Before looking at the picture, I'll give you a hint: the dogs are white with black spots. Have fun, and see how long it takes you to "Spot the
Dogs"

Are You A Whizzy Wiz???

2005-04-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

WOW!! Two posts in one day!

I stumbled across this site and I couldn't help but share it with the world...at least the part of the world that reads my blog.

The heading proclaims:

Whizzy
for Women
Take a Stand!

Here's the idea and the product women have been looking for!

What is
a Whizzy?

Whizzy is a device that enables a woman to urinate from a standing position like a man. It is formed of heavy paper that slides virtually flat between your legs and opens to form a trough. Its unique and patented shape, angle and easy-grip handles make it very easy to use. It adjusts to each user's anatomy and stance. You stand naturally, with no bending or straddling necessary. It is disposable, and fits easily into purse, pocket or backpack.

Gee! I hope they don't mind me borrowing from their web page, but they described it much better than I ever could. Besides, I AM giving them free advertizment.

My question is, can that little thingie catch and divert all liquids??? And by the time I'm undressed enough to use that properly, I may as well drop 'em and go like normal. Another thing I wonder about is, how much time do you need to set the whole thing up? Sounds like if you wait too long it may just bee too late. But that's just me. And another thing, what about paper cuts??? (OUCH!)

Now I'm not one to scoff at something I haven't tried, so I'll let you dear readers be the judge.

Anyway, here's the site's address. Check it out and tell me what you think:

http://www.whizzy4you.com/

Do I act my age? NO!!!!

2005-04-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

I recently took this little quiz that asked what age I act. The results really didn't surprise me. I surely don't FEEL like a middle-aged woman, beaten down by life in general. ha ha ha

Well, here's my results, and if you want to find out if you act your age, check the site out yourself!

You Are 27 Years Old

20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart.
You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences.

Click on the link below and see if you act your age:

What Age Do You Act?

Observation: The Invention of the Weed-Eater

2005-03-04T13:35:00.000-08:00

The Weed-Eater Was Obviously Invented & Designed By A Man

I came to this realization today while trimming the grass along side the road in front of my Dad's house. "Why? What makes you so sure?" You may ask. It's simply due to the procedure of getting the silly thing started:

STEP 1: Slowly press the priming button 6 times.

STEP 2: Put it on "full choke".

STEP 3: While fully holding down the throttle, pull cord 6 times.

STEP 4: Put it on "half choke".

STEP 5: Pull cord until it starts, but no more than 6 times. (Heaven help you if you lose count!)

Now I believe had a woman developed the weed-eater, it would only require the push of a button to start, not all that choking and pulling. However, in fairness to the guys, at least this weed-eater came with starting instructions. A weed-eater designed by a woman would require you to get to know it well enough to "just know" how to get it started.

But then if you really knew your weed-eater, you wouldn't need instructions.

Movie Review: Shaun of the Dead

2005-02-26T20:10:00.000-08:00

"There comes a time in every man's life when he has to get off the couch...and kill some zombies." This line pretty much sums up the basic plot of this movie. Simon Pegg plays Shaun, an average schmoe living in

England

with a dead end job, and a freeloading flat mate named Ed (Nick Frost).
When Shaun is dumped by his girlfriend Liz, (Kate Ashfield) he thinks it's the end of the world. But little did he know that he was about to be the unlikely hero who fights zombies in an effort to save his friends and family from being zombie food. He and Ed set out to rescue Shaun's parents then to Liz's flat with the intention of rescuing her and her flat mates and taking them someplace "safe." However, as is always the case, things don't go exactly as planned. Our hapless crew have to fight zombies just to get to a "safe" place and try not to become zombies themselves.
There's an R rating, probably because of violence and language, but it’s fun and campy. It sort of reminded me of Monty Python’s shtick, and I must say I don’t think it would have been nearly as funny had it been made here in the States. Of course I’m a big fan of British humor. I still wouldn’t let children or old people see it (they rated it “R” for a reason) I guess on a scale of 1 to 10, I’d give it an 8 for campy humor.

Hello!

2005-02-25T10:37:00.000-08:00

This is new to me, but welcome!
I guess here is where I'm gonna post my observations, (I'm always making observations) and revewing any movies/TV shows I may happen to watch. And sometimes I may just vent. lol

WW