Runnin through the alphabet

I'm indifferent about things like this. I think I need to be in the mood to completely fill them out. It was a nice diversion to reflect ... and consider things.

A - Attached or Single? single

B - Best Friend? Tonnnnnnnnnja is my girl, but so is Baer and there are lots of other male and female friends; love them all

C- Cake or Pie? gimme a pie! I like apple, peach cobbler, and sweet potato

D- Drink of Choice? water!! (w/lemon, please?)

E - Essential Item? the radio

F - Favorite Color? I really like red

G - Gummi Bears or Worms? how about NO gummi bears

H - Hometown? akron, Ohio

I - Indulgence? pedicures

J - January or February? february because winter is closer to being over...

K - Kiss or hug? both, and make it plural!

L - Life is incomplete without? books

M - Make dinner regularly or eat out/take out? I try to make something to eat at home, even if it is a microwave dinner; it's is just too costly to eat out on a regular basis

N - Number of Siblings? two, one older and one younger

O - Oranges or Apples? apples, especially Fuji and Braeburn

P - Phobias/Fears: I don't like cats (and they don't like me either)

Q - Favorite Quote: Too Many to pick from!!

R - Reasons to smile? happy and blessed to be here!

S - Season? Fall; I like to see the leaves change colors

T- Travel abroad or in the U.S.? I like the U.S. because there is sooo much to see (besides I don't have a passport, but for no good reason)

U - Unknown Fact About Me? I don't like voicemail and I don't check it (yes, that means that people leave msgs that I never even listen to ...)

V - Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals? not fully a vegan, but I don't eat beef or pork

W - Worst Habit? picking at my nails!!

X - X-rays or Ultrasounds? no preference

Y - Your Favorite Foods? french fries, potato chips, popcorn

Z- Zodiac: leo

More Mosaics

Love, love, love this! I produced one of these a few weeks back. I think that I am addicted.

I'm feeling green these days; as in environmentally friendly; as in I should be rollin in the dough; and green w/envy at those who are rollin in the dough - do you feel me?

**photos from Flickr

Party Plates

... okay, so no one is having a party. When I say 'party plates', I am talking about the license plates that are issued in Ohio for those convicted of drunk driving.

This is a really old topic, but one that I have been meaning to research for some time now. What's interesting to me is that I see them alot in my neck of the woods (and I wonder why...).

The 'party plates' are a canary yellow background w/bright red letters/numbers. They are issued to at least two-time DUI offenders and they have them for six months.

It is certainly a 'red' flag. When I see them on cars, I want to get away from that vehicle because the plates already say something about the driver; it says that they have more than one offense of drunk driving on their record and that they could be more responsible.

As I understand it, when you have those plates you are supposed to be driving to or from work. Funny (or not so funny) I recently saw a truck at a convenience store w/the party plates. I then noticed a guy headed to the truck w/a six pack. What gives ...

Having those plates is truly the modern day scarlet letter.

Radiogirl does video

okay ... this is very consumer brand. Actually, it is below awful. I was going to remove it, but what the heck. I recommend that you mute the sound.

I used my digital camera; a HP E317 that has the capacity to shot video. You can't zoom in and the video seems a bit grainy, but I had to try it out to see how it looks.

I did use Windows Movie Maker (which to me is movie making for dummies) to add music (though you obviously can not hear it; if I have time, I'll go back in and try to tackle the problem w/the audio) and a title page.

This is an experiment ... so have fun checking it out (you'll have to really use your imagination). It's a little more than 2 minutes, but after the first 30 seconds you will probably bail and I'll understand why.

Another Farewell ...

Wow, that's just about all I can say right now. Sometimes I think that I can deal w/my emotions without an issue. But I am soooo sentimental. And that emotion gets the best of me.

My grandfather's first wife passed away and the funeral was today. I thought that I was okay, until the time came for the memorial service. And it is just a tough time all together. I am trying to get my head around the fact that my grandfather and his first wife died w/in three months of each other (and both of their birthdays were in June). I don't know that there is much to read into that ... I guess it is what it is.

Summer Shoes

Okay, so my feet aren't ready and the weather is hot! It was a no brainer for me, though I am somewhat self-conscious. I just wear whatever shoes I want despite the status of my feet. A pedicure is on the horizon though. I nice pedicure in the near future.

So I don't need any new shoes, but what do I do ... ? I go out and pick up two new pairs of flip flops. Yep. I pulled out out of my summer footwear and I have way too much. Some of them will definitely be getting a new address in the near future.

But I like wearing sandals and open-toed shoes. Actually, I wear open-toed shoes year around. It drives my sister and my girlfriend crazy because I live in a cold climate and they think I should be wearing duck boots or some other non-sexy shoe. Whatever, I'm gonna do what I wanna; I'm not wading in the snow in my open-toed pumps or anything crazy ... just enjoying my life is all.

So I got my sandals and flip flops and I have some options this summer (much like last summer) that don't hurt my feet and they look good. Gotta love that!

**photo courtesy of Stuck in Customs

Too much time on my hands ...

I was surfing a forum and came across a link for a mosaic. Oh, boy, do I love these.

So, here is the one that I made; bright and cheery, eh?

Eeeeew, what's that smell?

I think that in some cases, certain smells are expected. Say you are out in farm country, well, the smell of say cows and manure would be ordinary. And so, too, is the smell at a gym or a work out facility. Sometimes it smells funky; I get that. But how and why is it that the thick aroma of perfume saturates a gym?

So here is my story ... I am working out at the YMCA, a new facility in my town. And it is nice: lots of new machines; a wide variety of classes, etc. So I'm on the Eliptical machine doing my thing with my music goin and an occasional glance at the television. People come and go past the machine I am on; no problem. Then two women walk by and I damn near fall off of the machine from the after-smell of someone's perfume. I don't know that I would feel better if it were my fav fragrance or not? Probably not, just too much of a good thing. This perfume reeked! It was like old lady stinky and floral perfume. Shameful.

The issues here are numerous:

• why do people slather on perfume before coming to the gym to work out? Will I be more offended by your true body funk than the overdose of fragance that you poured on ... ?


• Is there any consideration for those who might be allergic to fragrances?


• Could you use less of the perfume? And could it be a more aromatic fragrance ... ?

There is no way that I can get healthy in that kind of environment. Or just imagine that someone says to the fragrance offender: "You look good, but you stink?" Now, that wouldn't be nice and neither is the OD on the perfume.

**photo courtsey michelleannlincoln