Lyndsey Rose Davis

Ten Steps to a Positive Summer Writing Experience

2011-08-02T19:32:00.000-07:00

Pen and Paper by Quisur at flickr
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Lyndsey Davis on writing: First, write it down, and then, get it right.

Easy to say. Harder to do. And now I’m in summer. What about August writing? The double entendre intended, am I simply writing in the month of August or writing with a profoundly erudite bent? This blog leans to the former, though I have had my learned moments.

With the summer’s heat and vacation time drawing family activities away from the normal work routines, August creates its own challenge for a writer. Acknowledging my dear friends down under, you can fill in your summer seasonal months where needed.

So what's a writer to do?

Read more

Smiley Options for forums

2011-08-01T16:36:00.000-07:00

I'm getting addicted to smilies on forums.

I found these sites which aid my ability to personalize a post.

http://www.clicksmilies.com/ (check out their smilie generator)

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php

No More Computer Woes for a Few Days

2011-07-15T10:56:00.001-07:00

As computer woes follow me--and have all of my life with a PC--I have emerged from my last series with my less than six months old computer. So they replaced a new hard drive and a new keyboard and speakers.

One would think I use the computer for a battering ram or taken a hammer to it instead of sitting in my zero gravity chair with it on my specially designed laptop table to allow cool circulation.

But the hard drive is in place. Thank God for my external back up drive, cuz the dropbox and Mozy and Norton didn't work. Yes, I used all of them because I've been through this before.

I am learning that the deeper my files, the longer the path and the hard drive won't copy a long path. My inane way of creating relational sub-files is not helpful when it comes to hard drives. So I am trying to find back ups of my files I can'thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif locate. Yes, I backed up some to disk and some to an obscure email address. It's like hide and seek for adults.

In the meantime, I have also been participating in SavvyAuthor's bootcamp and revision hell, cranking out the word count. Did more than my NaNo last year. Wrote 14,546 words in one day--my all time high. Of course, it was down right silly, when I went back to edit those last sentences written at the end of the day. Gobbledegook I believe is the word for it. :D

I was borrowing laptops and computers where I could. Hit and miss and lacking continuity for signing in. I didn't have all my sign in passwords. I've changed that, too. Prepare for the mishaps. I should've been a boyscout.

Well, I hope this finds you well, and for those that write, may your words slide through your fingertips onto the page in brilliant style. I am sure I won't have any computer woes at least for a few days. LOL

I did it! I WON Script Frenzy

2011-04-27T23:39:00.001-07:00

I put my inner editor on hold and wrote frenetically. 100 pages, 30 days.

I'm not alone. Many others have been successful at it. Congrats to them all.

Now the editing comes into play...but put it aside for awhile. Then the edits begin.

Script Frenzy and National Poetry Month

2011-04-17T13:36:00.001-07:00

While I'm working on a YA novel (WIP) and taking off time to enter my first Script Frenzy,

I was challenged to write a poem a day for National Poetry Month 2011.

I like poetry. Silly stuff. Good stuff. Rhymes and rhythms. Irregular and regular. So, I started (late to the party of course) but decided to blend my interests. et Voila!

A combination of Script Frenzy with National Poetry Month 2011

Script Frenzy Virtual Write-In

At a virtual write-in for my script
My fingers across the keyboard skipped.
The pages mounted, literally ripped
From my mind and to the page they zipped.
I hadn’t meant my first draft to encrypt
But at first read I should be closed-lipped.
Or dare I say, the fluff needs to be chipped
Away so all but the kernel is stripped.
In future, I hope to be better equipped
And someday good champagne will be sipped
When producers, directors, and actors are gripped
By the emotions, the action--the thrill of my script.

20 Best Positions in Bed

2011-04-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

1.

So I was eating lunch, and it hit me like a ton of dry cat food.

2.

Belly rub time.

3.

They said it would never work.

4.

I just felt like hanging around.

5.

Salad, anyone?

6.

I saw the other baby doing it.

7.

Life is better in twos.

8.

Nobody messes with my baby, but me.

9.

If I lie on the floor, they think I'm a rug, so I move up high.

10.

I am pooped.

11.

Just testing your shoes for ya. Close fit, but comfy.

12.

This yoga position is called ...zzzzzz

13.

I hope I'm not double parked.

14.

So, how long am I supposed to play dead?

15.

Mom said, "Adapt. You're big. You have to adapt."

16.

I was going to rest my head for just a minute.

17.

It's fun to wrap oneself up with a bow, but the wait can...zzzz

18.

It plumb tuckered me out, but I got my mouse.

19.

Cuddle time

20.

Don't let anyone tell you different, power naps work.

A friend e-mailed me the photos, I wrote the captions. Hope you enjoyed and it brought a smile and maybe a chuckle or two.

Please leave your suggestions for a caption.

Script Frenzy Off and Running

2011-04-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

I am writing my first script, ever. I've read the books, listened to the forums of script writers and plotted my story.

Now, it's time to write. Script Frenzy is 30 days in April, to write 100 pages or more of script. That equates to 3.33 pages a day.

I'm too nervous to wait, so I've written ahead. I'm at 43 pages, only 57 to go, on day four.

So I was excited to read on the Script Frenzy Website the following info about writers who get ahead of the curve:

"The physics of this technique are not completely understood, but it's a scientifically proven fact that writers who manage to get ahead of the page-count curve by the end of the first week of any high-velocity, month-long challenge are 834% more likely to go on to win the event."

Moving on.

I read about Karen Weisner and her multiple year plan for writing, setting down the nuts and bolts in small manageable segments. It was linked from the SavvyAuthors.com site. Impressive. If I could do a fraction, I'd feel prolific.

Back to writing. The challenge is on.

Bath Festival celebrates King Jame Bible 400th Anniversary

2011-02-24T04:22:00.000-08:00

To honor the 400th anniversary of the King James Authorized Version of the Bible, the Bath Festival will celebrate by having round the clock readers over five days.

This version was King James' reaction to the Geneva Bible and others which did not support the monarchy (some of the margin notes promoted civil disobedience to a king when the scriptures suggested a contrary action to the king’s decree) and involved originally 54, but in actual fact, only 47 completed the translation.

The mandate was to create a readable version.

Translators interpolated and sought to enhance the reading experience by varying word selections when the original texts used the same word repetitively.

There is a lyrical quality to the KJV that has stood the test of time. Hence, despite the archaic way of writing, people will quote from it more often than contemporary versions.

E.g. Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want,” reads more lyrically than saying, “The Lord is my shepherd and he makes certain I don’t need anything.”

It is not known for certain, but it is suspected that the lyrical quality and unity of style throughout the 66 books came from a single editor, who polished the final version.

Once again, it points to the importance of a great editor.

Grieve O My Soul

2011-02-05T20:13:00.001-08:00

When I read about Amanda Holden and Chris Hughes' loss of their unborn child, it reminded me of the thousands of grieving people across the world who have lost a precious loved one. This is for each of you.

American Hero Sargent Shriver Dies

2011-01-19T16:30:00.000-08:00

Sargent Shriver -- November 1915 - January 2011

Sargent Shriver passed away Tuesday, January 18, 2011. As a political force behind the scenes, former Ambassador to France, and Founder of the Peace Corps, calling him heroic is an understatement.

Whether one supports Shriver's politics or not, it is impossible not to acknowledge the profound contribution to the world this patriarch of the Shriver-Kennedy family made.

Sergeant Shriver started the Peace Corps, which provides talented youth a chance to give something to the underprivileged around the world. In addition, among his many contributions to the less advantaged, the more well known are the Job Corps,

Head Start, VISTA and Upward Bound. He served tirelessly to improve the situations of people of color--African Americans and Native Americans, especially.

He married into the famous and political Kennedy family, contributing his clout and influence significantly to the election campaigns of the Kennedys.

His wife was the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver (sister to Jack, Bobby and Ted; mother of Maria Shriver), who started the Special Olympics.

He is also known because his daughter Maria Shriver married Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former body builder-action hero and former governor of California. The Republican governor complimented his father-in-law's great contributions in a testament to the respect carried across party lines.

Sadly, he contracted Alzheimer's in the 1990s, but his phenomenal legacy remains for posterity. He changed American life and impacted the world.

He will be missed by family, friends and the countless nameless citizens of the world whose lives he profoundly affected by his generosity of spirit and high moral character.

May Sargent Shriver rest in peace, alongside his wife of over fifty years who passed away two years earlier. May those loved ones who suffer the loss of this great American hero be comforted.

Twitter Hoax Proclaims Death of Statesman

2011-01-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

Nelson Mandela is the latest to be 'killed off' by a fast spreading rumor inaccurately told and re-tweeted by uninformed tweeters.

The truth? Nelson Mandela is alive and fit as is reported by http://bit.ly/fgH8Zb.

Stopping the viral nature of tweeting such items is a bit like spitting into the wind. It blows in your face and is difficult to combat.

It does beg the question about the caliber of retweets. Do people think before retweeting? Even if a best friend tweets something, does it automatically make it true?

Do we as bloggers and tweeters bear any responsibility for accuracy in our tweets?

The Internet has opened the door for all of us to be journalists. This is a good thing. News can be instant and fresh. Our information updated within seconds of an event offers real time knowledge to the world.

But good journalists we've admired and followed over the years such as Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, Woodward and Bernstein demonstrated the difference in reporting a balanced view.

The skewed view often relayed in the news of today's networks vying for top spot on the TV viewing polls reeks of slanted propaganda--depending which side of the political world you prefer.

So, do we as tweeters wish to follow in the inflammatory and inaccurate portrayal or do we want to hold ourselves to a higher standard?

When I tweet, I seek at least two corroborating sources of repute, not some nameless RT source.

I love to tweet as much as little as the next person, but I vow to keep integrity in my tweets.

Now, I follow people whose views I disagree with. But I want to hear the opposite perspective from the horse's mouth, as it were. It doesn't threaten me to listen to someone with different views.

It offers balance.

Tweet this if you want your tweets to have integrity and honesty. Follow me if you want balance in reporting. I listen to both sides of the issue. I'll report both.

NASA Notes DIBs in Triangulum Galaxy 3 Million Light Years Away

2011-01-13T07:46:00.000-08:00

NASA snaps a photo of the Triangulum Galaxy, which is approximately 3 million light years away from earth. It’s about as far as our ‘observable’ tools can take us.

They recorded DIBs or Diffuse Interstellar Bands which have been a mystery since 1922 when Mary Lea Heger discovered the absorption features that did not fit the known patterns.

They are much “broader than the normal absorption lines seen in stellar spectra” among the ultraviolet, visible and infrared wavelengths.

While the mystery continues, nearly 100 years later, new clues related to the discovery of Carbon 60 (C60) brings some hope for identifying the mystery molecules.
Check out Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry, Sir Harry Kroto, on the relationship of C60 to explaining DIBs.

If you really want to delve into the astronomical study of DIBs take an hour plus seminar with Dr. Farid Salama of NASA Ames and see how the study of these molecules can help us understand the origins of life and the universe. He suggests that there are more carrier molecules than one type (C60) and the debate goes on.

Why is this important? Because it's there. No, seriously, every time scientists discover something that doesn't 'fit' the normal patterns, we learn a little more about who we are and how God brought us into being. God created the Big Bang, but expects us to study creation so we have a clue how much greater God is than we are.

The Creator, who stumps us, time and again, with infinitesimal particles and the infinite expansion of the universe, wants us to know that we are loved and cared for. We can rest in the good hands of One, who hangs the stars in the sky--the Old Testament simplistic explanation of the Big Bang. If God manages the universe, or multiverse, as it may be, and we can't fully understand it, how much easier is it to help us in our every day life?

NASA and improved technology help science narrow the possibilities even as it expands its capabilities of observation.

As a P.S. I loved reading about Mary Lea Heger Shane, the founder of the Lick Observatory, who did her doctorate in 1924...a leader of woman going quietly about her business transforming the world through diligent work.

Lebanon’s Government Falls as Hezbollah Walks Out

2011-01-12T15:38:00.000-08:00

The Lebanese government under the leadership of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the son of the assassinated Rafik Hariri, lost its coalition as the Hezbollah walked out. The latter fear the U. N. Tribunal will name names from the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah, even though no indictments have been made.

Lebanon, with its two mountain ranges,

Cedars of Lebanon, verdant valleys and exquisite Mediterranean beaches,

is populated with a mix of Sunni, Shia and Christian (anyone non-Muslim).

It struggles to regain stability after a civil war (1975-1990) and Syrian control (1976-2005) undermined its ability to become the shining star of the Middle East it could be.

After the Syrians left, the assassination of Hariri--a Sunni, who found support from the Christians in his attempts to reduce the Syrian influence in their country--stunned the country. Accused of being behind the assassination, Syria has denied culpability, though the prevailing opinion has supported the claim of its being responsible for the leader’s mysterious suicide bombing death.

The walk-out of the Hezbollah, today, smacks of a temper tantrum and the desire to cripple the fragile peace in Lebanon.

With the U.N. tribunal having investigated the death of Hariri and nearing the time to release their findings, this preemptive strike on the part of Hezbollah is a way to unsettle the country before their community is shown to have orchestrated the killing of Lebanon’s cherished minister.

Lebanon deserves a chance to be its own power, untainted by the Syrian and Iranian influences. For centuries, the Lebanese have demonstrated political savvy and attracted businesses to invest in their country.

Since the civil war, the travel and tourist trade had been increasing, despite the political issues which are fueled by a few who would see Lebanon undermined instead of becoming a strong country with a diversity of people.

Pray for their leaders. Keep them safe from harm’s way. May God guide them to do right. Pray for the U.N. Tribunal that they might discern the truth and not give in to pressures by interest groups. Pray for the Middle East.

What Values Does the US Celebrate?

2011-01-10T06:24:00.000-08:00

In the wake of the assassination attempt of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the killing of six and the wounding of eight others, I ask, what are our country's (USA) values?

The sides come out trying to affix blame. Liberals point to Palin's encouragement of her followers to 'reload' in the face of the tea party candidate's defeat in the election. The right wing distances themselves from the shooting by finding ways to show the accused gunman is not one of them.

The reality? The gunman was an American. He's one of us all. A product of our country where a severely disturbed man cannot get the kind of treatment he needs in health care, but has no difficulty getting guns to shoot another human being. So what are our values?

This is our country. We make the laws by voting for the people to legislate our beliefs. Even though we are polarized to the extremes and a great many people fall somewhere in the middle, we must all own responsibility in the blame for not taking care of our own. So what are our values?

In Christian Scriptures (I Corinthians 12), it speaks of being one body in Christ. Within that body full of extremely different parts it states "If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?" (King James Version used for copyright purposes, more contemporary link above.)

I submit we are one country. One nation under God (just because it doesn't say it anymore doesn't make it not true), indivisible, i.e. one body.

I stand accountable. I grieve for the loved ones of the six who lost their lives.

John Roll, 63 years old, who was a federal district court judge. Gabriel Zimmerman, 30 years old, who was Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' director of community outreach.
Christina Green, 9 years old, who had just been elected to Student council at Mesa Verde Elementary. Dorwan Stoddard, 76 years old, a pastor at Mountain Ave. Church of Christ. Dorothy Morris, 76 years old and Phyllis Schneck, 79 years old. Their photos can be seen here at EastValleyTribune.com.

I pray for the full and what will, no doubt, have to be a miraculous recovery of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

The question I pose to myself and others. What can you and I do to make a difference? How do we stop mentally ill people from running loose on the streets and gaining access to guns? What must be done to change the way the US manages its priorities?

Or do we think that since it doesn't happen very often and only to a few, we don't have to change? Is one life worth it? A thousand? One hundred thousand?

As a Christian, my standing orders are: a good shepherd leaves the safe and secured 99 sheep and goes after the one in danger.

On all sides of the political scene, let's stop pointing the fingers and investigate what we can do to make a difference.

Stand up for the value of a single human life. Let it not matter whether from this country or across the world, whether following my beliefs or something else, whether sick or well, whether murdered by the drug cartels in Mexico or shot by the Taliban or a sick young man on the streets of the United States of America.

Let our value of each human life celebrate our decency and respect of God's creation. Let's make our values stand up and be counted.

Thanks to flickr friends who share their beautiful photos.

Happy Epiphany Sunday

2011-01-09T08:57:00.000-08:00

Today we celebrate Epiphany. For some the word conjures confusion. What is the point of it? The moment the light bulb of understanding hits, one has an epiphany.

For Christians around the world, Epiphany celebrates the recognition of the Christ child by Simeon and Anna in the temple and the visit of the Magi.

The revelation that Jesus, even though a baby, was the son of God and the king, by people of great importance--spiritual leaders, the wise scientists of the east and feared by Herod. He knew Jesus posed no simple threat. His scholars and wise men confirmed the visit of the Magi and he slaughtered all children under two years of age out of the real fear.

The irony of Christ's humble beginnings stirring such awareness in his parents, the temple leaders, the scientists of the age and the government, cannot be lost. When was the last time a child of no apparent importance drew the attention of the religious leaders, the scientific community on the cutting edge and the highest echelons of government? All recognized in the "infant" something so powerful that the prophet Simeon spoke the immortal words from Luke 2: (King James is used for copyright reasons. Check here for easier translation.)

29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Simeon had an epiphany.

Anna, a widow, who served and worshiped in the temple, also had an epiphany.

Luke 2: 38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

The Magi had an epiphany. They packed up and traveled hundreds of miles by caravan through ancient paths that didn't have a convenience store or hotel in sight. Yet, they persisted, having recognized the scientific findings were valid. Science and faith at work.

Herod had an epiphany. He called for his minions, his wise men, his scholars, his cabinet--as it were--to identify who this child was. The results of their findings sent him into a panic. Governments were not of the people, by the people, and for the people. He knew this infant child put his government at risk. He did a terrible thing and slaughtered the infants.

Violence reigns in hearts that fear.

Peace comes from Christ, who casts out fear.

Love comes from God who accepts us as we are, warts and all, filled with grace to cover our inadequacies.

Blessed be this New Year.

Thanks for photos: to wiki creative commons, LawrenceOP, Mararie at flickr.com Great work.

Creation's Big Bang in Art - An Epiphany

2011-01-08T08:57:00.000-08:00

Does art come before reality? Or does reality inspire art? The old chicken and the egg question raised to high brow status. Sometimes art reveals the artistic side within reality. The Big Bang of Creation brings art and reality into sharp focus.

The following YouTube short combines the beauty of art with the function of science and the faith of religion in one exquisite production. Judy Rey Wasserman's brilliant piece speaks for itself.

Listen to the music, read the words, follow the path she paints and be prepared for the Epiphany.

Her paintings move the spirit, her words touch the soul, and the music unites the heart.

Happy Sabbath / Glorious Sunday. May this be an Epiphany for you.

God loves us. So, in the beginning, God created. God sends the Messiah to save us. Believe and we are saved.

Christmas Eve: Celebrate Jesus' Birth

2010-12-24T01:47:00.000-08:00

As a Christian, this is a joyous time of year, when I honor the birthday of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (even though I'm pretty certain the day is not the actual date of his birth) and the world joins in.

This night offers great power to those without power, hope to those without hope, love to those who are unloved and faith for those without faith.

Hear Il Divo and chorus crescendo into the profound moment of "O Holy Night."

The story of Joseph and Mary arriving in the night, her ready to give birth and no place but the humble manger--the feeding trough for the stinky animals--was available for the event that changed the world, regardless of what faith one has.

A humble child, in the harshest of circumstances survived the cold night, and lived to bring a message of love and peace.

For the powerless, a story of power.

Angels announced the birth to the humblest of people, to shepherds, who were stuck guarding the sheep in the fields. They didn't have the luxury of a pen or shed to keep their watch easy. No, these were on the bottom rung of the career ladder.

The Angel spoke to them. First words: "Fear not."

I love it when angels appear in unexpected places. The shock individuals experience seeing them forces the first statement to be: "Don't be afraid" or "Fear not" because if an angel appeared to me, I might be scared witless, too.

For the hopeless, a message of hope.

Hear Libera Boys Choir sing "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night"

The next thing these poor, down trodden shepherds learn is that the extreme event means "Good News" and not bad news. "Great Joy" is mentioned, so the presentation is upbeat and positive. They are so overcome, they lug their flocks to the stable to see the young child and discover it is just as the angel said, and later as the chorus of angels sang.

A transforming moment. For the faithless, a reason to believe, enough that the faith is born out.

Whatever hostilities that occur between people of different faiths, countries of rivaling agendas and enemies of common ground, this moment in each year brings a goodness to everyone.

All people (regardless of faith) seem kinder, gentler, more understanding and willing to forgive or at least put up with the ones they don't like. Even the bah humbug-gers will say it with a smile.

Of course, exceptions to every statement above exist, but in general, I believe the goodness that each individual has within them shines during this season.

For the unloved, Christmas is a message of love. God loves you, so much he gave his only son, Jesus, to be born on earth to save us from our sins.

"Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" The ancient melody and words sing: "to show God's love aright, she bore to us a Savior."

Greater love hath no one than they give up their life for a friend.

Be a friend of Jesus and feel the love.

As the year draws to an end, I wish you well and thank you for reading my musings. May you find your way to truth and discover the blessings of God for you and yours.

These three abide: faith, hope and love. The greatest of these is love.

Every Child is Important at Christmas

2010-12-22T21:17:00.000-08:00

When a child, I loved this song because it empowered me to believe I could bring something important to life and to the God of my faith.

As Advent draws to a close, I share the beautiful voices of Celtic Woman with their unique take on the classic,

and for those who like a light show with their music:

Parents of Teens are Clueless?

2010-12-22T01:10:00.000-08:00

Are we parents fighting a losing battle out there to protect our children from those who would deliberately harm them? With carriers flaunting keeping us out of the loop?

Cell Phone and Computer Etiquette for Teens

2010-12-21T23:26:00.000-08:00

I'm having an ongoing debate (euphemism for all out war) with my teenagers about their cell phone ('mobile' to UK types) usage and computer usage. They say I am clueless and old fashioned.

When we got the phones, we explained they were for business (we own our own and sometimes need to communicate when we are in different locations) but that they were welcome to use them for personal calls.

Then came the change in behaviors. When the children struggled to wake up each morning, saying they hadn't slept well, I checked the phone logs and computer logs. Sure enough. Texting and playing on facebook all night long. I don't care whether Mark Zuckerberg is Time Magazine's Person of the Year, teenagers texting and using facebook all hours of the night deprives them of well needed sleep.

I set the rule based on my own refined breeding when I was young. Don't call anyone after 9 p.m. and not before 9 a.m. (on weekends 10 a.m.) except in extreme emergencies. Chatting did not and does not constitute an emergency, no matter how critical it is to keep in touch with friends. I made an exception and opened up my eldest's phone when he was talking with someone expressing suicidal ideation. He assured me, that all was well when they hung up. That was months ago and the individual is undergoing counseling.

Many articles on sleep deprivation call attention to the constant stimulus we have in society from TV, film, DVD, VCR, cell phones, computers and the like.

I use my computer in the wee hours. With the medications I take, I'm up at night and unable to return to sleep. I try for the eight hours sleep. The children's doctor suggested good regenerative rest was needed.

But they insist that I am outdated. My 'good manners' don't apply to the modern world. My children say 'all of their friends are allowed to text all night' or go on their computers all night.

They accuse me of being a control freak. I am adamant about their getting sleep and learning good manners. I put turn off times on both cells and computers. Cell phones turn off at 9 p.m. despite the fact they say their friends don't have any restrictions. Computers turn off later, but I block facebook/IM etc. at 10 p.m. and turn them off at 11 p.m.

Am I alone in this? Are all other parents out there allowing unrestricted usage for their children and cellphones/computers? What are your cut off times or do you think the 9 p.m. rule is outmoded or outdated? If I am THE LONE VOICE proclaiming the need for teenagers and people, for that matter, to have a time that electronics shut off, please let me know.

I googled cell phone restrictions and teen usage of cell phones, but found most issues surround not using them in public, movie houses, restaurants and speaking of personal things too loudly. Next to nothing spoke with authority on the mores of society in regard to the hours of cellphone use, especially for teens.

Please tell me I am not The Lone Voice for courtesy and manners.

Goodbye My Sweet Jaz

2010-12-19T20:47:00.000-08:00

The twilight was cold and raining, but dear sweet Jaz, who was holding her own, though resistant to being force fed thyroid medicine, stood up and indicated she was going to leap from the secure spot I had for her next to me.

It was her sign to me, "I need to go do my business. Privately. I don't like a crowd when I eat or use the sandbox outside." So I gently lifted her and carried her to the door. She paused at the rain for a split second, but moved forward with determination on wobbly legs.

I stood at the door for a while. Sometimes she will take an hour before she whines at my window and calls for me to open the door to her, so I returned to my chair and kept an ear attuned to the raindrops, hoping for a telltale whine.

It never came. I searched. My family searched. Each day we searched all her familiar hideouts. Four days later, and I no longer believe she will return. The cold and her weakened condition left her vulnerable.

I kick myself for letting her out, even though it was our routine. My children blame me too.

She was the most beautiful of all cats. From the day I saw her in the pound, when we were shopping for a dog, I left only to dream about her that night. We returned the next day and adopted her. A dainty princess, she rarely caused me worry. Her cry so sweet, we wished she would 'talk' more. The life she lived here was queen of the roost. All adored her and she was highly selective to whom she deigned to give her attention.

I loved her more than all the other cats, even though I typically don't have favorites. Animals appeal to me at all levels. She touched my soul in a way that no other cat has.

Goodbye, my sweet, sweet Jaz. You hold a place in my heart and mind forever. Your spirit encouraged me when I felt pain. Your beauty awed me when life was bleak. Your gentleness and patience taught me I needed to cultivate those traits. I pray your last moments were peaceful.

My computer crashed with all my photos of her. I hope to get them off the hard drive transfer. But I listened to this song and thought of her. She did raise me up...or at least my spirits soared whenever she was around.

Goodbye, my love.

I Thought My Darling Cat Was Dying

2010-12-12T11:54:00.000-08:00

I can't remember a time I recommended a particular product in its own article. I've rated things, but rarely paused to comment. However, I thought my darling twenty-one year old cat was dying. After all, old age and dying are normal. Of all my pets, she is the light of my life, both beautiful and the sweetest, most temperate pet I’ve had.

A week ago, she yowled as if she were dying. The out-of-character behavior alerted me to watch her. I tracked and observed her heaving and throwing up. The vomiting continued until each time she did so, it was no longer food, but bile.

She cried, whimpered and yowled. I grabbed the old dog bed, and covered it with a plush towel, insuring my smell on it, and set it beside me at my desk. I placed water and her favorite food beside her. She lay curled up on the towel, but turned away from food and water with disdain. Cats eat related to scent and stomach cravings, as well as stress free/settled environment.

Long story short, she refused food, water and wasted away in front of my eyes. The vet cost $245 with a certainty of more fees for subsequent shot-visits to deal with her hyperthyroidism.

Her eyes seeped and her listlessness distressed me. I stroked her and she barely moved her head towards my hand in affection.

I searched the web daily for other’s experience with her condition. I discovered http://www.petwellbeing.com after five days. I’d seen my sweet Jaz waste away to nearly nothing, continuing to refuse food, although I saw her lick some water from the small bowl I kept by her. She kept losing weight. A cat losing weight has little reserves. I needed to find a way to nourish her.

On petwellbeing.com, I discovered Resthyro as a treatment for hyperthyroidism. Reading reviews of pet lovers, convinced me to risk trying it on Jaz. When the box arrived, I force fed two drops of Resthyro. She was too weak to resist my opening her mouth. She barely swallowed and curled into a ball and slept. Tempting her several times a day with food over the last week, to no avail, so I force fed a special mix of emulsified fresh liver and water, vitamins, and tissue salts. Earlier attempts had resulted in her throwing up everything I gave her. After one day of taking Resthyro, her stomach settled. No vomiting.

This is the third day of giving her two drops of Resthyro twice daily. When I forced fed her she scratched me—a joyous moment—because she’s been too listless to resist until now. I see her life returning. Her weakness is reduced. She is resting comfortably. The crying and yowling has stopped. Just now, she sat up, drank water, jumped down off my desk and walked outside to do her business.

I didn’t expect such results for three weeks. Natural remedies often take longer, but this change is stunning. I emulsified fresh liver with a cup of water and have been feeding her with a syringe. She hasn’t thrown up and is growing stronger. Holding her head up, she is resting comfortably and looking around her.

I can’t recommend http://www.petwellbeing.com and Resthyro enough for a cat with hyperthyroidism. The quality of life for my sweet Jaz is looking up. I have not written a review such as this. To have observed so drastic a change in her behavior and demeanor brings me joy. The prospects for her quality of life in three weeks and more are encouraging.

I couldn't get my pictures to work, so I used flickr and pictures that are close to looking like my Jaz. These sickly cats resemble her, the first photo, taken on its last day. My condolences on their loss.

Tis the Season for Listening to Music

2010-12-09T14:12:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite things about the holidays is listening to music. The resounding beats and trills of familiar songs makes my toe tap, involuntarily and ups the beating of my heart. (I wonder, 'Could it be considered aerobic exercise if my heart rate goes up?' LOL)

Doing the routine maintenance of the house is better with the upbeat sounds of Christmas, whether it's a crooner singing popular music or orchestra's soothing symphonies of Christmas classics, hymns and instrumental arrangements.

I love this music, and I am going to share some of my favorites with you.

Manheim Steamroller's versions of the standard carols particularly lighten the load of housework with its contemporary flavor to old songs. Since I'm in the process of decorating, I submit a favorite: "Deck the Halls" produced and presented with the extra light show enjoyment: http://www.neverenoughlights.com.

Gets your heart beating and foot tapping, doesn't it? Mine do.

Stay tuned to this spot for more.

Who Owns Your Internet Access? Net Neutrality?

2010-12-08T14:21:00.001-08:00

In the ever changing internet and electronic scene, the roles of corporations and the public welfare are confusing and uncertain. Can we trust that corporations who are vying for control of the internet and electronic access have the public's interest at heart?

Read the article, The Game of Monopoly, in Publishers Weekly about Tim Wu's new book, The Master Switch . It delves into the past history of technology companies and how they started with innovation, but once gaining the upper hand or monopoly, turned and stifled inventions and access.

Comcast, who bought out NBC, is asking for the right to have vertical tiers of internet access. Public and Premium. Google and Verizon have joined forces to gain control. What is net neutrality?

Doesn't that mean that they become the filter through which all information is processed? Do you want Comcast to decide what news you can read about on the internet? What programs you can see? Is it a form of censorship? Do you want Comcast to be your censor?

Did you know that AT&T's monopoly of the phone service prevented the answering machine from development for many years, wanting the public to use their phone booths to communicate?

Why is this important? We all need to be responsible for what we encourage the government to allow. Read up. Be aware and contact your representative with your views.

Check out Senator Franken, speaking on "Net Neutrality" which he says is a first amendment issue.

Should there be a public and premium internet access?

What are the upsides?

What are the downsides?

Elizabeth Edwards dies; Remember her Political Savvy

2010-12-07T18:10:00.000-08:00

James Fallows writes a great article at The Atlantic...challenging us to remember the greatness about Elizabeth Edwards on her death. Yes, it is a tragedy that cancer takes so many. She left a legacy for politics, for women, for survivors of cancer and parenting.

Rest in Peace, Elizabeth. We will miss you.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/12/elizabeth-edwards/67668/

Pearl Harbor Day. We Remember Dec. 7th

2010-12-07T16:24:00.000-08:00

Military and civilian alike remember the bombing of Pearl Harbor, HI on December 7, 1941, if not from the day itself, then from the stories told. A day that will live in infamy has been recounted in books, in film and ceremonies. Today, Pearl recognizes 120 survivors who journey to share their experiences, remembered as if it were yesterday.

The stacks of the Arizona are an eerie reminder of the 2400 souls that perished on December 7th. The Arizona Memorial rises above and honors the sailors with an etched wall commemorating each, who sacrificed all in defense of country. It brings a knot to the throat and moisture to the eye to think of those, whose families would never grow old together. The loss is so profound that it is palpable when you stand there quietly.

Having conducted ceremonies on the Memorial, I can attest to the troubled aura that pervades the open viewing area. Loss leaves its lingering imprint, years after.

A loss of such magnitude should serve to remind us of the preciousness of life. We have a duty to ourselves to reconcile what we can and do our best to bring honor and truth to every day.

Chaplain Kennedy writes additional experiences of the Navy at the Memorial and aboard the carriers.

Be good to yourself and those you love. You never know if it will be your last day.

Write a Romance Novel? Easy Peasy.

2010-12-06T17:28:00.000-08:00

A friend, who writes romance novels, is getting published, and another, I believe will join that group soon.

So, I am focused on critiquing and reading romance novels for a writer's group, wishing for them every success.

Finding this video puts all in perspective. Maybe I, too, could write romance.

Chapters 1 - 3

Chapters 4-10

Chapters 11-15

Chapters 16-20

I'm excited now. Romance, here I come.

Ah, it should be easy peasy after that. What do you think?

100 Top Books You Have Read or Not

2010-12-04T21:54:00.000-08:00

The Classics are always worth a little extra viewing time.

Following on from Sandra's Blog, I am duplicating the list of books of which the BBC reckons most people have only read 6 out of the hundred. If you want to accept the challenge, copy and paste this list into your blog and link back to here.

Instructions:

• Copy this list.
• Bold those books you’ve read in their entirety.
• Italicize the ones you started but didn’t finish or read only an excerpt.

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
Harry Potter series – JK Rowling
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
The King James Bible - (yes, really!)
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
Nineteen Eighty Four (1984) – George Orwell
His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman
Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
Little Women – Louisa M Alcott
Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
Catch 22 – Joseph Heller
Complete Works of Shakespeare
Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien
Birdsong – Sebastian Faulk
Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger
The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
Middlemarch – George Eliot
Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell
The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh
Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis
Emma - Jane Austen
Persuasion – Jane Austen
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – CS Lewis
The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis De Bernieres
Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
Winnie the Pooh – A.A. Milne
Animal Farm – George Orwell
The DaVinci Code – Dan Brown
One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving
The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins
Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery
Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy
The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
Lord of the Flies – William Golding
Atonement – Ian McEwan
Life of Pi – Yann Martel
Dune – Frank Herbert
Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons
Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth
The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens
Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
The Secret History – Donna Tartt
The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas
On The Road – Jack Kerouac
Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy
Bridget Jones’s Diary – Helen Fielding
Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
Moby Dick – Herman Melville
Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens
Dracula – Bram Stoker
The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson
Ulysses – James Joyce
The Inferno – Dante
Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome
Germinal – Emile Zola
Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray
Possession – AS Byatt
Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
The Color Purple – Alice Walker
The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert
A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White
The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton
Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery
The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks
Watership Down – Richard Adams
A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute
The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas
Hamlet – William Shakespeare
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
Les Miserables – Victor Hugo

*Last book is missing. My suggestion for book #100: Holes - Louis Sachar
Book #101 The Cat in the Hat - Dr. Seuss (actually, most of them)
Book #103 Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - Judith Viorst
Because there should be children's books on the list, too and I would place these three children's books higher on the list than some of the ones above.

What book would you suggest?

So that gives me a total of 59 plus 11 started. If you include various works of Shakespeare, it would jump some more. Hmm...not bad. Better than 6 anyway!

How did you score?

Humor at Christmas Avoid the Rush

2010-12-04T14:48:00.000-08:00

Holiday fun or Holiday stress?

Some days the car won't start on the subzero temperature day and you left your gloves at home; you are standing at the cashier of the line you waited in for thirty minutes and you discover you left your wallet in the other pants/purse/jacket; or your credit card is stuck in the machine from the gum your kid dropped in your wallet after you told him not-to-be-rude-and-drop-ABC-gum-on-the-floor-but-put-it-in-your-purse-instead, and for a change he obeyed you. So gum is on the corner of the checkbook, the zipper of your wallet coin purse, the tissue packet that he opened at the wrong end, so now the Kleenex are all freed of plastic confinement, ostensibly to wrap around the gum. Ah yes, there is a fragment of gum attached to a corner of a tissue.

So, how is your day?

With the flurry of activity at the holidays, and the meaning of Christmas getting lost in the shuffle of gift buying, packaging and mailing, parties and obligations, the holidays can stress people to the nth degree. Santa is no exception.

One of my favorite editors tells this glimpse into the stress of the North Pole at this time of year.

Warning: the subject is a little known fact and a little risque. Venture at your own risk of rolling on the floor laughing...

Behler Blog

Ah yes, the angel atop the tree brings a smile to your face. Have a happy holidays and try a little humor to de-stress your life.

Love Those Dog Tricks

2010-12-03T21:07:00.001-08:00

If it could be true that a dog would take over the daily chores, we would all want a terrier. Housework would be a thing of the past.

This is one of the cutest videos of a dog:

What is your favorite dog trick story? Tell me in the comments below.

Do You Enter Contests?

2010-12-02T13:09:00.000-08:00

I do. Especially if it means the chance to receive a book. I love to read and my interests are diversified. I'll read anything, my interests are so comprehensive. Okay, eclectic. Okay, okay, I'm picky.

But I do like to enter a contest if there is a chance at winning a book. This cool author has developed a brilliant method. She reads a book and passes along the book in a contest. It's a gift that keeps on giving.

Check out her contest here at Stephanie Reads. Click on the link at the upper right column of her blog where it says Win a Copy of

Matched by Ally Condie.

Have fun. I'm thinking I just might do the same thing. What do you think? Should I have a give away of some of my books?

When Tragedy Strikes at the Holidays, Grief Comes

2010-11-28T00:52:00.000-08:00

I heard bad news. A friend woke early Thanksgiving (American holiday) to discover her husband had passed away in the night.

It makes you stop and think. If tragedy hits on a holiday when all plans are for celebration, the passing becomes more difficult.

Each person processes through grief stages in his/her own way when learning of death. But even if there are similarities such as Elizabeth Kubler-Ross wrote in her book, On Death and Dying about the five stages of grief, grief is unique to the individual.

So what are you to do, if tragedy has struck you? Amid the shock, the anger, the denial--trust yourself to know what is best for you. Be free to process as you see fit, especially if others feel obliged to tell you that you 'should' be/do/feel something you do not. Of course, here I am telling you what to feel, so you are welcome to ignore me as well. I don't wish to add to your burden, but encourage you as you go through this difficult time.

The body is remarkable in its ability to assess needs and adapt to what it requires.

Grief may take much longer than society is willing to give. After a few months, people move on and no longer seem to remember that your heart is in pain.

It used to be society required mourners to wear black for seven years. Black bows graced houses. In the past, many found this constricting, but it did something for the grieving loved ones left behind.

It informed society to be gentle because you were grieving. Remember Gone with the Wind? The heroine had to wear widows weeds—no color--and yet she broke tradition to wear the red dress.

Society doesn't have those markers anymore and people can be indifferent, not intentionally, mind you. Because distractions and life cause their focus to shift away, they forget. You don’t, however, so be good to yourself. Trust that you have needs and be willing to let people know. They’ll be a good source of help if you remind them you are still struggling with the loss.

For the rest of us, let us be thankful for yet another aspect of life. Friends, loved ones, family, associates, neighbors, online acquaintances…are still alive and we can communicate with them.

So, let me say, I’m thankful for you. Be good to yourself and love each day life gives you a gift --the present.

The Novel Approach to Success

2010-11-27T14:02:00.000-08:00

As NaNoWriMo draws to an end, thoughts move forward to editing and the prospects of turning the first draft into a viable novel. For some, writing is easier than others.

For example, this clever video says it well: So You Want to Write a Novel

So, what do you think? What is your novel approach to success? Are you feeling up to writing the great novel?

Can't resist the cuties

2010-11-26T00:57:00.000-08:00

Don't bother me, I'm sleeping. Don't make me open my eyes with that flashing light on the camera.

Of course, if there is food...

I might be willing to take a peep if and when I see the bowl hit the floor. Then it's time for my baby blues to open wide.

:D

What to be thankful for

2010-11-26T00:22:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for faith, which sustains me when things are not going well.

I am thankful for children, whose job description is to keep me humble.

I am thankful for a husband, who stuck with me through my disability.

I am thankful for a table full of scrumptious food.

I am thankful for my animals, who never fail to provide me amusement daily.

I am thankful for an online community of friends, who share insights, joys and miseries across the world.

I am thankful for you, because you are reading this.

What are you thankful for?

Winter Comes With Frost and Delight

2010-11-23T09:06:00.000-08:00

Winter has arrived, but the temperate climate of California doesn't match my east coast recollections. Some people might have winter blues, but for a moment I transport myself back to being seven years old in the mountains. Ah, childhood memories.

Winters resembled fairyland worlds, where the week's snowfall would pile high in drifts against the garage. The eye-squinting bright sun would warm the daylight air and melt the snow's upper layer.

The morrow promised the best of it, for the night's frost would have crusted the slushy snow into a slick skating surface. Thus, while we were waiting at the school bus stop in our great coats, caps and mittens, we could run across the street to the sapling forest.

Like sparkling diamonds littered across the surface, the crust reflected the sunlight. The smooth shell supported our weight and we could grab a leafless sapling and sling-shot our selves around it skidding on the icy surface, seizing the next tree and repeating the action.

The bite of the crisp winter air, rosy cheeks, giggles and playful delight made the November day a thing of beauty.

Happy International Men's Day Nov 19

2010-11-19T13:38:00.000-08:00

There is an International Men's Day, which originated in Tobago and Trinidad, to celebrate men and boys issues. So Happy IMD, on this November 19th.

UNESCO's Director of Women and Culture of Peace, Ingeborg Breines said that it brought balance to the gender issues, according to a Wikipedia article on IMD.

There is always the humorous look at the position of men in the world. The Milt Show puts on 'The Man' cleverly in this video. I've heard there is a comparable one for women. :)

To Censor or Not To Censor, that is the question

2010-11-14T21:10:00.000-08:00

Amazon faced a bruhaha the last few days after allowing a self-published book teaching pedophiles how to treat children and if caught, get a 'liter' (spelling mistake is the author of said self published book) criminal sentence. Should a company censor the books it distributes or publishes? Is Amazon liable for not censoring a book extolling criminal behavior? To censor or not to censor, that is the question.

People called for Amazon to remove it. Amazon took the position that they don't involve themselves in censorship. They don't judge the contents. Sounds laudable on the one hand, because we value freedom of speech. But should not society censor things that bring harm to innocent victims? Should we eschew books that promote the violation of children and criminal acts?

Should we not, as a society, require ourselves to uphold the law and not expound the benefits of being a criminal? Yes, there are books that talk about murder, but should Amazon be allowed to promote a book that honors the murderer and gives ways to get a lighter sentence?

Are not pedophiles murdering the lives of innocent children, by destroying their self images, their sense of security and their ability to have normal relationships?

Sadly, I know of no study that suggests that pedophiles are curable.

I've spoken with those, who admit the wrong and wish they had control over their own desires instead of the desires controlling them. I've also met and talked with individuals, whose amoral positions had me at an utter loss for words.

How do you appeal to a mind that has no common denominator in what is right or wrong?

Regardless of which kind these perpetrators are, society has an obligation--an imperative--to protect children.

We have failed miserably as a global society.

It calls to mind a statement of Jesus that is quoted in three books in the NT.

"And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea." (quoting from the King James Version for copyright issue. Another contemporary version here.)

For a very long time, society has failed to protect children, who until 1964, were considered property without legal rights. The first civil law protecting children from abuse was enacted. (Perhaps you, of other countries, know of some law that my sociology book did not know when it made the statement.)

It's a sad commentary that there were no protections until 1964. It's a sadder commentary that a protection is required.

Reminds me of the European couple visiting New York who parked their pram with a sleeping baby outside a cafe and went inside to eat. They were arrested for child neglect.

They were shocked that there were such laws since in their country, leaving the pram outside for the duration was not considered neglect. There, no one kidnapped babies there for horrible crimes against the innocent. If a baby cried in their country, some stranger would have assumed the parents were eating inside and would have popped their head in and notified them.

Obviously from a kinder gentler nation than the USA where crime abounds.

Amazon removed the book.

Not from any moral high ground, but because of the sheer number of protesters boycotting its site. While I am grateful they took if off, I am distressed that they didn't until the groundswell of consumers impacted their sales.

I too will think before I buy from Amazon again. If I can buy a book elsewhere, I will try to do so. I don't want to give my business to a company who cannot make the right choice until it hits it in the pocketbook.

Humor on Medical White Papers National Health Service Cuts

2010-11-14T01:24:00.001-08:00

The following is being circulated anonymously, though the originator should stand up and take credit.

On the British National Health Service cuts:

The British Medical Association has weighed in on the new Prime Minister David Cameron's health care proposals.

The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.

The Gastroenterologists had a sort of a gut feeling about it, but the neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.

The Obstetricians felt they were all labouring under a misconception.

Ophthalmologists considered the idea short-sighted.

Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Paediatricians said, "Oh, Grow up!"

The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.

The Surgeons were fed up with the cuts and decided to wash their hands of the whole thing. The ENT specialists wouldn’t hear of it.

The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter...."

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.

The Anaesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the ar*eholes in London .

Have a cuppa Java and Write a Novel

2010-11-02T15:11:00.000-07:00

NaNoWriMo started off with a bang. Thousands of words poured on the page as my fingers typed furiously.

Of course, along with coffee, tea or favorite beverage, music and humor must stimulate the soul.

Enjoy the brilliant singing of EElumir in the youtube, I am the very model of a WriMo Individual.

What are Angels

2010-11-01T01:13:00.001-07:00

Angels are spiritual and physical beings created by God. While there is a limited amount of information from the Christian Scriptures, it does give a glimpse into who they are.

They are shape shifters and able to appear and disappear at will, serving God as messengers and managers of the universe.

Check out my website http://lyndseyrosedavis.weebly.com for more information and tell me what you think of angels in my All About Angels Forum.

The The Impotence of Proof Reading

2010-10-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

Ah yes, the endless proofreading of one's writing. Some times it is difficult to catch the little mistakes that can become big mistakes as this comedian shows in his video:

Bon Mot!

Stairway to Heaven

2010-10-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

Having been writing The Chronicles of Luc and the Book of Days, a tween story about an angel growing up and being confronted by two camps--those of the evil one and the Most High. He makes choices and rises to challenges despite his youth.

Discovered the video of Stairway to Heaven and thought the symphony fit the story.

Hubble's 20th Anniversary Photo of the Universe Fornation

2010-06-12T01:37:00.000-07:00

Since the dawn of creation, we have needed to hear the story of the universe passed down by description. The last twenty years of the Hubble Telescope transforms our understanding by giving us front row seats.

Saw an incredible video of the history of the Hubble space telescope. Our lives have not been the same since the namesake, Hubble discovered the expanding universe. With the orbiting telescope that has captured deep space photos, shots of stars forming and the like, we are treated to a mind expanding, brain boggling show. The Hubble 20th Anniversary shot is amazing as stars shoot out streams atop pillars and mountains of space dust in spiralling towers. Breath-taking.

Thanks God, for creating something that will tantalize our interest and intoxicate our spirits with unfolding drama and discovery. Thanks for the incredible genuises that have worked tirelessly to reveal it to us all.

What are humans that God is mindful of them?

When You Feel Bad, Let a Dog In

2010-06-09T23:16:00.001-07:00

I discovered this wonderful site of funny animal photos with captions.
On those days when you feel bad, take a small dose of pick-me-up.

see more dog and puppy pictures

Stargate Universe Season One

2010-05-19T23:58:00.001-07:00

When I first saw the pilot of Stargate Universe, I didn't have the reaction I'd had when I watched the first episodes of SG-1 and Atlantis. I fell in love with them from the first start. They were light-hearted fun and the characters sassy and heroic.

SGU offered dark sets. My aging eyes found it hard to adjust to it, especially as I watch more often than not on my computer. Not everyone in the family is such a sci-fi lover as I am. I don't hog the TV.

The characters were a bit reserved, with the exception of Dr. Nicholas Rush (Robert Carlyle) whose 'pure scientist' attitude revealed an in-your-face type Machiavellian ego-centric leader of the scientist cadre. Colonel Everett Young (Louis Ferreira a.k.a. Justin Louis in Amazon.com's IMDb)seemed like he could be heroic, but he was injured and reticent. The leader of the military took a back seat, hardly a Colonel/ General Jack O'Neill type, or Major/Colonel John Shepherd type. They jumped off the screen. Young receded into it. Still his military leadership shone through and he looked the hero.

Eli Wallace (David Blue) stole the show for me. His natural humor and brilliant mind that states the obvious, was the closest to Jack O'Neill that I grew to love. Never take oneself too seriously. LTS, was Richard Dean Anderson's phrase. Life's Too Short. He has the potential to be as funny as Rodney (David Hewlett) but he's taking it slow.

Chloe Armstrong (Elyse Levesque) is a beauty, but they didn't give her much of a role except to look pretty. Her father, Senator Alan Armstrong (Christopher McDonald) was much more heroic than anyone, although he started out a little full of himself.

I reserved judgment. I kept watching through the first half. "Justice" nearly made me quit. When they had Col. Young beat up Dr. Rush and leave him for dead on the deserted planet, I felt I was ready to pull out the old DVDs and watch SG-1 and Atlantis episodes for the hundredth time. Reading the blogs, it seemed that the writers and producers were listening to the anger of the fans.

One the the key things that the fans asked for was more spaceship battles and genuine aliens, not the blurry things of the first episodes.

The second half of the season has been much better. "Space" offered bona fide aliens in blue suits and greyish tones. They were an upgrade on the Aasgard alien and they wore clothing. The space battle was true Stargate franchise. Great CGI and fun encounters that border on near anihilation...until the last moment, when they are saved by the bell. It was a definite improvement.
"Human" was a touching intro into Dr. Rush's mind and his past. "Faith" dealt with issues of 'faith vs. science' in a wonderfully thoughtful manner. I like the dribbles and drabbles of information that we are retrieving. There is not always time to extract it all or go back for it. The constraints give the story arcs a greater time.

I love that Daniel Jackson and Jack O'Neill visit. I'm looking forward to the Lucien Alliance antagonist, Robert Knepper in Season Two.

I wonder how they will deal with TJ and Alaina Huffman's pregnancy. Will she be killed off, like they did Frasier in SG-1 (I cried at that loss) and Beckett on Atlantis (come to think of it, I cried when he died, too)? The doc is always the one character that people love that they can kill without killing a primary character.

If so, who will take the place of the doctor? Will Chloe, who has been studying Dr. Jackson's works (How they get her reading his stuff, is amazing in itself. We know he's never been one to organize well.) be the one to take over? Will they incorporate a healing person extracted from an alien civilization like Teyla and Tealc' joined with the teams? It remains to be seen. I'll read up and check out the scuttlebutt around the water cooler. Anyway, here's a great CGI explosion for a space battle to leave you with.

Meanwhile, keep watching and have a starcrazed day.

Lyn

P.S. Follow me. :)
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Thanks to MGM.com and the Stargate photos.

Stargate Universe Season One

2010-05-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

The Pastor's Wife

2010-05-14T19:33:00.000-07:00

A young pastor fell in love and proposed to the love of his life. She didn't initially accept.

"Please," he said. "What can I do to persuade you?"

"I will marry you, on two conditions. Never look in the box on my table and never ask me about it," she replied.

He thought it was weird, but he agreed and they were married.

Twenty-five years later and they were about to celebrate their wedding anniversary. They were getting ready to go out for dinner and he went to their bedroom to get his jacket.

Her box on the table caught his eye. He'd never looked in it or asked her about it, but his curiosity overwhelmed him and he opened it. Inside were three eggs and a stack of money. He counted 7,000 bills.

Putting it back, he felt ashamed, went to his wife and confessed immediately that he'd broken his promise to her.

She didn't seem too concerned, so he ventured, "May I ask about it?"

"It's okay."

"What are the eggs for?" he wondered.

"Every time you preached a lousy sermon, I put an egg in the box," she replied.

He thought, three eggs in twenty-five years, that's not too bad.

"What's the money for?" he continued.

"Well, every time I collected a dozen eggs, I sold them." she replied.

Short story contest winner--who done it?

2010-05-12T23:21:00.000-07:00

I hate it when I read something funny or interesting and forget to make a retrievable note of where it was found.

Does anyone know where the short story contest came from that gave three guidelines for their shortest story rules?
It had to include Religion, Sex and Mystery.

The winner was:

"Oh God, I'm pregnant. I wonder who the father is?"

Please post a comment and let me know who to give the credit to.

Humourous Look at European Union Selection of English as Lingua Franca

2010-04-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

Found this hysterical commentary on the European Union selection of English as its primary working language...lingua franca at Euro-English">slinkycity.com

The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.

As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5- year phase-in plan that would become known as 'Euro-English'.

In the first year, 's' will replace the soft 'c'. Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard 'c' will be dropped in favour of 'k'. This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter. There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome 'ph' will be replaced with 'f'. This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter..

In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.

Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.

Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent 'e' in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.

By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing 'th' with 'z' and 'w' with 'v'.

During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary 'o' kan be dropd from vords kontaining 'ou' and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensibl riten styl.

Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.

Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas.

Death Startles Us

2010-02-02T13:43:00.000-08:00

Death is not a subject that is easy to broach. Most people strive to stave off the encroachment of aging and the demise that is sure to afflict all of us.

A dear loved one is in a precarious state and all the concerns surrounding death are forced to the foreground.

I would prefer not thinking about death. I tried for a year to woo my mother back from eighteen strokes (some large, some TIAs--or transient ischemic attacks--mini strokes) and finally accepted that she was ready to move on, even if I wasn't ready to let her go. She died that afternoon, four hours after I accepted that I had to allow her to be at peace and acknowledged to God that I didn't want her to suffer for my sake--i.e. my desire to keep her here.

The quality of life has much to do with holding on or letting go. I would not wish pain and incapacity on anyone for any length of time. While pain is good for a moment; it teaches us to withdraw our fingers from the fire, to be suffering endless days of pain is not to be wished upon anyone. Functionality is important. Most people desire to feel necessary and profitable in this life. To lack capability to do anything productive or to feel unnecessary is to deny a critical aspect of what makes life worth living...leads us to feel dead even if we are not yet in the grave.

So for my loved one, I pray and commit to God the best outcome even if it does not meet my hopes of a continued vital relationship. On the one hand is loss. On the other hand is potentially a less than optimum existence, and like John Milton who wrote On His Blindness about losing that part (eyesight) which is death to hide, but lodged with him useless, we hope for more. 'Though my soul more bent to serve therewith my Maker and present my true account' I come to the resolution just as he did:'they also serve who only stand and wait.'

I feel the impotence of impending death. On the otherhand, miracles happen every day, and the rejuevenated soul is a powerful one. Life and death in the balance can be unsettling, but hope prevails against the odds. Being a 'glass half full' person, I unerringly aim for the good news and hope beyond hope.

Review of The Writer's Essential Tackle Box

2010-01-23T05:23:00.000-08:00

With the abundance of how-to-write blogs or books on the market, Lynn Price, of Behler Publications, tackles the issue from a fresh perspective in The Writer’s Essential Tackle Box. It’s not a fish story. She deals with essential issues; some, that others do not cover.

The process can be daunting for a published author, re-entering the game, or the newbie, bursting with story ideas. Ms. Price gives an insider’s view of the industry using a Question and Answer format, interviewing the Who’s Who of the publishing world. Ms. Price’s experts tell what works. Her pithy remarks corroborate, while engaging the reader with humor.

Navigating the book is easy. The four sections: The Interviews-Casting the flyrod, “Forget the bait, pass me the Maalox”: The Submission Process, “Chumming the Waters,” and “The Writer’s Survival Style Guide” have subheadings, which direct the reader to specific topics—no need to use the index. However, the latter avails a quick search.

Section 1: The Interviews offers over 200 pages packed with pragmatic approaches from the Who’s Who of agents, editors, reviewers, publishers both big and small, book shepherds, and vanity presses. Information on tours and bookstore signings, illustrators and cover design, distribution, and warehousing are included, as well as connecting with the cyber world and internet resources. Why authors need publicists and public relations specialists is explained and website creation is no longer the elusive fish. Ms. Price hooks the reader with her introductions to those interviewed and summaries.

Section 2: “Forget the bait, pass me the Maalox”: The Submission Process provides the prospective author with a step-by-step, hilarious approach to the often painful journey. Here, the pragmatic lessons begin: busting the myths that are foisted on anxious writers, enumerating instructions on The Log Line, the Pitch, the Author’s Bio, query letters, synopses, and the fateful rejection. However, this section ends on a high note with the Promotion plan.

Section 3: “Chumming the Waters” distinguishes types of publishers and vanity presses, addressing Print-on-Demand. Ms. Price itemizes the nitty-gritty issues in succinct nibbles: cash flow, print runs, pricing, reviews, marketing, sales force, disclosure so the author can make informed choices.

Section 4: “The Writer’s Survival Style Guide” is packed, like sardines, with the ‘worst and best examples’ of writing. A writer learns to recognize a ‘sick’ Submission and give it a proper four-part autopsy. A worthy submission may emerge after the surgery on the fluffitis, backstoryosis, dialog tagococcal, pointofviewicemia and overloaded descriptions with a heavy emphasis on telling instead of showing. Though she doesn’t insure a resurrection is possible, her examples offer hope that a story may recover from a case of dullitis.

Ms. Price anticipates questions that writers, navigating the industry, might have. She presents a lexicon with clear examples showing how it should be done. This book serves all levels of writers with the sage reminders, profound insights, and recommendations, to say nothing of her omnipresent wit.

Some books lend themselves to becoming dog-eared—no doubt supported by her infamous margarita-making-beagle. Thumbed pages and bent corners reflect its usefulness. This book meets that criterion because it satisfies a need in every writer. For the price of one book, anyone may have a single comprehensive reference on the industry. Ms. Price has removed any excuse for someone not to tackle writing and editing. The Writer’s Essential Tackle Box is available from Behler Publications, your local bookseller and online.

List price: $19.95
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Behler Publications (November 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1933016345
ISBN-13: 978-1933016344

Happy New Year 2010

2010-01-01T20:57:00.000-08:00

The year started inauspiciously with us hosting a group of my son's friends having a low key (you're not going to stick around, are you, Mom?) 'teenage' night out/sleep-over-without-sleeping New Year's Eve party 2009.

We missed the midnight transfer since they were raptly attentive to the large screen video game played into the night. Who cares about leaving one year behind when there is Blazing Angels to play, simulating the World War II aircraft and battles?

Still, they were safe, well behaved and ate moderate amounts of snacks in between the air-raids.

Not really a bad start to the year.

Happy children are now zonked out sleeping children as the first day wanes. Their smiling faces and joyful shouts when someone achieved the desired results warmed this parent's heart.

2010 started off well.
photo courtesy of http://www.istockphoto.com/user_view.php?id=762810

Computer woes? I rise above.

2009-10-22T17:56:00.000-07:00

After a couple of months of computer woes, I refuse to stay down since I live with my computer--even more so since it has been on the fritz. No, not putting on the ritz, quite the contrary.

My dear cpu does things that no one can explain. It is refusing to upload Microsoft critical updates. I've been contacting them for a week. I've deleted files the easy way and the hard way, typing in the lengthy computer codes and downloading third party files which Microsoft says I need, but will not guarantee that they will work or do the job properly. Why can't MS fix their own mistakes?

It's been almost 36 hours since I posted the last, 'It's not working.'

I was trying to update another program, but alas, it too won't work.

Yes, I have checked for viruses and malware etc. My anti virus program that has had fits and spurts of wear says I have too many anti-virus programs, residually on the computer. I asked how to get rid of the extras, since I technically had uninstalled all the others. But I have to contact the company whose site is gumming up my works that I left because it allowed a worm and a virus to destroy my Christmas season and the new year 5 years back and when I said I'd get another competent program, their response was to leave their little piece in my computer, draining resources.

Enough whining. I'm going to get some cheese for that 'whine' LOL. Just deal with it, Lyn. C'est la vie ou le guerre.

See ya,
L.

2009-07-06T22:41:00.000-07:00

I could have sworn you said there was going to be plenty of room to share. Share. I thought that meant 50/50. So, what percentages did you understand 'share' to be?
Leelu and Razzle (the dog who they said couldn't get along with cats) -- boy, did we prove them wrong!

2009-07-06T22:39:00.000-07:00

"Meow, meow. Didn't I tell you to keep that camera out of my face? It's not that I'm doing anything wrong. My paw is not pulling the food towards me; it's resting on the bowl. Meow, meow, yes, yes, that's it! It's resting on the bowl! Get that camera outta my face, meow, meow. I have five sisters--now That's a sister act!

2009-07-06T22:33:00.000-07:00

One of Leelu's kittens was caught in the act of pulling the food bowl towards her--akin to the hand in the cookie jar. :)

The Loss of a Pet Brings Grief, but God has a Plan

2009-05-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

I lost my beloved dog of 13 years last week. He had shown no sign other than old age. Suddenly he hovered near me one night. I could tell something was wrong. I picked him up and held him for several hours–I stroked him, wondering what was wrong. He twisted–his way of saying, “I want to get down.” so I put him gently on the floor. He crawled under my chair and curled up. I heard him whimper and breathe irregularly. He died in the night and I found his little body curled as if asleep. We buried him that day and planted a tree over him in our garden. I miss him profoundly.

I understand my grief and the grief of others in this situation and wish each who has lost their dearly loved pet will find in the coming days that there are glimpses of peace and comfort. I am a Christian, a chaplain and I believe in the afterlife.

My God loves beautiful things as the creator of the infinite universe, galaxies, dimensions and quantum tachyons and our little world we call earth. My God is love. God does not waste precious resources.

I believe that the animal friends we are entrusted with during their short lives are one of God’s gifts to us to reflect unconditional love that God offers us. Humans struggle with unconditional love. Animals don’t seem to have difficulty with it at all.

My God of love who doesn’t waste creation has a plan for the well being of everything. Matthew speaks to God looking after the sparrows and flowers, saying that King Solomon was not arrayed as these. The God who loves us enough to care for flowers and sparrows, loves yours and my cat and/or dog. God has a plan.

God’s plans are often unfathomable. They are always loving, always wise and have our best at heart.

The Kittens are Squeaking and Rolling around

2009-05-28T16:55:00.000-07:00

The kittens are squeaking, much to the consternation of our mutt, Razzle (who maybe should be named Rascal) because she is part Pit bull and Doberman. Since both of those breeds are hunters, Razzle sees a squeaky animal is much better than a squeaky toy because they move. We have the kitten zone barricaded, but we are trying to introduce the pale squeakers to Razzle gently.

They need to interact safely and we give them both little doses of each other's scents. A basket full of kitties on the bed gives Razzle a chance to stick her nose at the edge and the little ones to reach up with their teeny paws and scratch her nose. Their little claws snag more than scratch; tickle more than hurt.

Their round faces have blue eyes with one exception--one has a pink eye and is pure white. Though they are nearly all white, faint markings are beginning to show. Since their parentage is a cross between Persian, Himalayan and Tabby, it will be interesting to see what emerges.

Leelu feeds and licks them well, so they are very clean and plump. Their teeny tiny paws don't sustain their plentiful bellies and round heads, so they mostly drag or roll around. Their bed is in a stack of soft towels, but they snuggle and pile on like a football game tackle rather than lie in a row like sardines. The hair is finally showing on their tails. When they're full grown, they'll have fluffy raccoon tails like Leelu's.

A source of pleasure to all, everyone traipses through the bedroom to peak in the closet drawer--the location which Leelu continues to insist is the best spot. Such is our daily routine, along with constantly replenishing mom's bowl of food and washing an amazing number of towels every day to keep pace with the six charmers whose main goal in life is to eat, poop & pee and, then sleep.

My job is going to increase as they grow bigger and I will need to scoop the litter box and catch the escapees as they go exploring. I take that back. That's what kids are for, right? LOL

Lyn

Unimaginable pain

2009-05-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

I usually don't write about pain. Life exists with pain. I try to be upbeat and positive. But I had a set back in my road to recovery from five back surgeries (1 major, 4 minor) in addition to the pain that remains from the surgeries they couldn't do because the prognosis was not a good one.

A simple action, bending, reversed the enormous progress I had made. Now I am crawling to locations. If I can get up, it is to walk with painful slowness, inching my way from my zero gravity chair (which takes pressure off the disk compression) to the bathroom and back. No amount of heavy drugs which the doctor has prescribed take it away. And I hate them because they make me feel dizzy and sleepy. My alertness disappears and stupidity reigns.

No position: sitting, lying, walking or standing/leaning puts me into a relaxed mode. Some positions cause more internal screaming than the others, but all remind me to be grateful for those days of lesser pain which allow movement without grunting. I'm not certain why some pain evokes an audible response, but I have discovered they do. This is one of those days. May it pass like a dream at the waking.

Lyn

Leelu and the kittens - motherhood

2009-05-16T12:55:00.000-07:00

I can't help seeing how similar Leelu's entrance into motherhood paralleled mine.

Leelu explored anywhere and everywhere, outside and inside; on the go and attractive to those she encountered.

I explored many lands and locations; researched diligently outside and inside and people I met indicated they appreciated my attention.

Motherhood descended upon Leelu and she spends her time nurturing her suckling little ones; remanded to the box I created for her.

Motherhood descended upon me and I nurture my little ones who, as they grow older, increase their demands on my time and energies. (Some days they seem to 'suck' the life out of me. LOL) Do I feel stuck? Honestly, somedays, yes. Most of the time, no. For the rewards outweigh the challenges.

Leelu creeps out of her box for short excursions while bugling-tummy-kitties doze in the plush towels bunched together to keep warm.

I creep out, through the net, while my little ones doze or are otherwise occupied--as long as they are satisfied.

Leelu returns to snuggle and comfort her precious charges the moment they whimper.

I turn to my precious charges when requested and give comfort and hugs when they let me.

Motherhood is motherhood...regardless of the species.

Lyn

Brain fuel and rejeuvenation

2009-05-15T15:52:00.001-07:00

I read that if I try something new each day; test myself a little that my brain will continue to 'grow' not as a child's brain grows, but with fresh transmitters. So I spend a little time each day on my own blog, playing Scrabble and Hangman. Silly, huh? But I'm testing and growing my brain while having some fun. I call it a win-win.

2009-05-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

Welcome! Some days are challenging. Others are like walking across a misty bridge in solitary reflection; rolling so fast down a freshly mown grassy slope that reality is a blur; or waging war tossing armfuls of leaves in dying colors of orange, red, yellow and brown after raking them into piles or maybe, sliding down a snow covered slope on a sled with polished rails with the wind roughing your cheeks and hair wisping out the back from under a knit cap–an exercise in bliss. Whatever your day is like, I hope you will find encouragement, humor, solace, thought-provoking ideas and support from what you read here or the interaction you encounter.

Leelu and her Kittens

2009-05-14T22:03:00.000-07:00

Leelu was barely a kitten when she slept with the wrong sort, the ugly gray cat down the block with the smashed face. Now she has six tiny babies with rat-like tails and translucent skin and fuzzy fur.

They haven't opened their eyes but that doesn't stop them from finding their place to suckle of mom's bounty. Seeing the gray hued fur on five of them, one standing out with pure white fur, lined up like sardines in a row; some suckling, others hanging on with their mouths, but asleep touches me with a sense of peace. All is right with the world.

Their pug faces are a tribute to the gray cat down the block. Mom has beautiful markings on her white fur. Her blue eyes stare with unflinching stance, taking in all activity around her. Aware always of the needs of her little ones--she knows when to relax and when to fight.

Speaking of fighting, two of the little ones vie for the same spot and blindly strike at each other with scrawny claws. Humorous to behold. It brings a smile to my day and I hope to yours.

Is Jesus Real and did the resurrection happen?

2009-05-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

When faced with a query about the truth of Jesus and the resurrection, I submitted the following to the man who opened his blog for others to comment:

First, I would say that any belief starts from faith. For Christian faith, I believe God calls us and we respond to the love that distinguishes Christianity from other religions. This is an intangible, but no less valid that recognizing any expression of love.

Next, I submit that you ask God, directly, in the form of a prayer for guidance the exact question you seek. For example, “If I am to believe in the resurrection, can you not direct me to the answer?”

I trust that God meets us where we are and leads us step by step. God’s word is a light for our path Psalm 119 and shines on the path enough for us to take the next step.

On the idea of the veracity of the resurrection, I submit the following:

Jesus showed himself to witnesses: first the women, then Peter and John, then two on the road to Emmaus, then the eleven (including Thomas who touched his wounds for proof), and then to the 500 and then he was with the disciples again when he went to heaven. All of these instances are told in the gospels and Acts.

Jesus claimed to be the son of man and the Son of God able to forgive sins (Mark 4-no one can forgive save God alone)and John the baptizer witnessed the spirit descending on Jesus like a dove and the voice from heaven calling Jesus his son (with whom he was very pleased.)

Other historians (e.g. Josephus) corroborate Jesus’ real existence and the Quran references the prophet Jesus. Most historians accept the circumstance that there was a real person named Jesus about whom all these things are written.

I submit that claiming to be the son of God is a claim to made by either the true Son of God or by a crazy person. If I were to claim to be God’s only son, I would be escorted to a psychiatrist for abnormal behavior. This is because I am not that person and my behavior is aberrant if I claim I am. Would the Quran call me a prophet? I don’t think so. Would historians call me a prophet, a sage or someone to be revered? Yet, he is, consistently, called a prophet by others and not a “crazy person.”

Either Christ is crazy or he is who he says he is. Christ claims that they would kill him and in three days, he would rise again.(Matt 20) Either this is true or he is a false prophet.

Josephus, a Jew, and the writers of the Quran—two sources from faith groups that deny that Jesus is the son of God, speak of Jesus as the Christ, a prophet. They don’t speak of him as that crazy idiot who claimed foolishly that he was a prophet.

Proving something to be true, doesn’t make a believer, just as not being certain of what to believe make one an unbeliever. Fortunately, I am not God, the judge nor am I applying for the position. The truth of belief that people seem so ardently challenging you to follow is ultimately a question that only you and God can answer.

I applaud your search. Paul commended the Bereans as people who studied diligently. It is only in the constant study and examination that we will truly find the truth. The truth can set us free. Free to be more Christ-like, gentle with sinners and critical of arrogance.

I hope that I was of some benefit in your search.

I pray for the living when someone has died

2009-05-05T01:54:00.000-07:00

I pray for the living when someone has died

For the living must go on when they want to hide

I pray for the living when someone has died

The love goes on, but no longer is there pride

For there is much to do and so little time

And yet the time seems to crawl by

As conflicting feelings well up and pry

Open all the pain and joy that no longer is mine.

I pray for the living when someone has died

For the living must go on when they want to hide.

The AP reported the world news: In Turkey masked gunman killed 44 at a wedding including the bride and groom, but two girls survived when their slain friends fell on top of them. I cried for people I don’t know. How could a day that is supposed to be filled with such hope and joy be destroyed.

The AP reported that 5 were killed in Pakistan by a suicide bomber; lives laid waste by false beliefs that the God of love would honor people who destroy themselves and others. Tears well up for the families of those who won’t see their loved ones coming home.

The number of dead from the swine flu is diminishing. The world took the pandemic fears seriously. I read a blog of someone who claimed the swine flu was overrated. Sometimes damned if you do or don’t. Because people took the CDC seriously and prevented exposure and washed thoroughly and we didn’t lose 200,000 people as in the early 1900s then we are overreacting? I don’t think so. We escaped a disaster of staggering proportions. And for everyone who died there is a family or group of friends left behind.

When I was nine I lost my dad and I began a poem that I finished when I was older. Still the parts of pain that a 9 year old understood amaze me today. Profound.

Words of Wisdom

2009-05-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

Solomon wrote that there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes) Others have expressed it as 'everything old is new again.' Perhaps this is why truisms have such a long life. They start as simple truths. Others recognize it and glom on to using the phrases.

There are some people whose words may be directed at a specific audience e.g. writers, but whose words are transcendent because one can substitute other nouns e.g. any trade, within the sentence and the thought remains true.

The Http://Behlerblog.Wordpress.com is like that. Lynn writes with such honesty and clarity that her blog consistently rises to the top of worthwhile reads.

Her blog today addresses publishers that seem too good to be true. As is true in all walks of life, be wary of those things which seem too good to be true, they probably are.

My mother used to quote the adage, "Things are seldom as they seem, for skim milk masquerades as cream."

Lynn writes five points: Beware of doing business with one who:
Says Looky me! versus working and building relationships within industry.
Is more Arrogance than confidence (where is their real focus?)
Has an Agenda of their own (which may be to your detriment)
Deals with you in an abusive way, expecting you to save them
P.O. or burn bridges with contacts and resources.

She expresses it better. It's worth checking out her full article...she cites specifics to support her claims. While it's directed at the publishing industry, its value is far beyond one industry. Her words are priceless to those of us who follow her.

COPIED THIS POST FROM MARK TWAIN

2009-04-29T15:51:00.000-07:00

It still is fascinating how universal good writers are:
Came across this today from Mark Twain.

"Whenever I am about to publish a book, I feel an impatient desire to know what kind of a book it is. Of course I can find this out only by waiting until the critics shall have printed their reviews. I do know, beforehand, what the verdict of the general public will be, because I have a sure and simple method of ascertaining that. Which is this -- if you care to know. I always read the manuscript to a private group of friends, composed as follows:
Man and woman with no sense of humor.
Man and woman with medium sense of humor.
Man and woman with prodigious sense of humor.
An intensely practical person.
A sentimental person.
Person who must have a moral in, and a purpose.
Hypercritical person -- natural flaw-picker and fault-finder.
Enthusiast -- person who enjoys anything and everything, almost.
Person who watches the others, and applauds or condemns with the majority.
Half a dozen bright young girls and boys, unclassified.
Person who relishes slang and familiar flippancy.
Person who detests them.
Person of evenly balanced judicial mind.
Man who always goes to sleep.

These people accurately represent the general public."

Recommended by @MaraBG

2009-04-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

After reading my post below, @MaraBG led me to this song--truly appropos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysgAbwKub7Y

Wishcrafting on Twitter: Isolation is the killer of Dreams

2009-04-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

My friend @MaraBG on Twitter organized a book party @#booktweet. It was around Barbara Sher's book, Wishcraft, released as a e-book on her website as a 30 year birthday celebration. I downloaded the PDF format to my Adobe and saved it on disk. Then proceeded to read the first several chapters. If you haven't already read it, I recommend it. It's an easy read; not a full-of-herself type of self-help. I should say it is not a self help but rather an others help others book. Her premise is that we cannot do it alone: "Isolation is the killer of dreams." If we look in the front of every book published--at all the acknowledgements, we can see the tip of the iceberg of how it takes a village maybe even a world to get something done. The book provides a step by step series of exercises to do by yourself and then with others who are on the journey to making dreams be fulfilled. Numerous anecdotal moments both saddened and delighted me. The road to success is full of potholes, after all. Sometimes, when we get stuck, we need a towtruck, or a passer by's timely arrival. Those moments create the magic so that dreams become fulfilled.
BTW, if you're interested in being someone's towtruck or that Good Samaritan passer by, let me share how one did it: my true story of when my car broke down one night many years ago in a bedroom town on the outskirts of L.A.
The streets were vacant and dark. My friends and I called a friend that I knew lived in that town (I lived quite a bit farther away) and asked if he knew where an open service station would be. He knew of only one; he asked me where I was and said he'd be over. He came; pushed the car gently to the nearest station and after talking with the owner for a bit, told me that the attendant would work on my car as soon as they finished the one on the lift. I was ready to go into the station to sit on those hard plastic chairs smudged with grease stains, but he called me over to his car and unlocked the trunk. In it, he had a picnic basket full of tasty finger food treats and a bottle of wine with glasses, water bottles and a thermos of coffee. (He says he always has a basket ready at any time.) We all sat and sipped and nibbled and chatted--he'd brought enough for all four of us to enjoy over the next two hours waiting for my car to be fixed. We followed up with water and coffee (no drinking and driving for us) and I went home that night with a smile. A bad evening evolved into a wonderful time and I got by with a little help from my friends. I think Barbara Sher (and the Beatles) would have approved. :)

After a friend noted That Anonymous Poet wrote tons of bad poetry

2009-04-06T22:19:00.000-07:00

Indeed, anonymous wrote much.
It really was a crutch
To speak of such and such.
Though often out of touch
Using too big words such
As forasmuch
Or inasmuch
Yet in the attempt to clutch
At fame, anonymous stretched overmuch
To arrive at silly poems; nonesuch
Earned as much
As a penny or such.

by Anonymous (unless you like it, then I wrote it :D)

Leelu My Cat Plays Paw and Pat

2009-04-05T15:53:00.000-07:00

I present my foray into children's poetry

Leelu, my cat
Walks into my flat
Her tail in the air
As she smells here and there.
I smile and tap
Upon my lap.

She jumps
And bumps
And nuzzles my nose
To tell me
That she's glad she chose
To play
With me
This day.

Leelu, my cat
Says meow in our chats

She eats
Cat treats

And plays Paw and Pat

It’s a game we play.
And we like to say
That We made
It up so we show
How it’s played.

Others, I know
Play it too,
So it must be
They copied
My sweet Leelu.....

Let me know if you want to see the rest of the poem :)

LEELU EXPLORES

2009-03-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

Leelu head buts me over the covers. I squint with one eye as her second attack moves in to remind me that IT's TIME TO FEED ME. So I stumble from under the covers tripping and stubbing my toes on whatever the animals have played with overnight that now litter the floor and head to the bathroom where a private dining area has been erected for her eating pleasure. She leaps from tile floor to toilet to her counter top where she whines while waiting for the pop and kawhoosh of the lid of cat food.

The kawoosh of a can lid screams the siren call to all animals--the dogs and cats line up for the licking (akin to kids getting to lick the spoon, bowl and spatula of the remaining chocolate icing.) Plop and scrape; the whining grows insistant.

I use a cat food spatula--tiny enough to scoop every morsel from under the rim, although nothing beats the camel-like-tongue of our doberman mutt; she can sniff a microscopic morsel from 200 yards and beat everyone off the line to get it. She shows a "gimme" attitude for when she arrives on any scene, if another animal beats her to the morsel, she'll wiggle her large behind to insure she gets more than her share. It's hard to argue with the biggest butt around.

Meanwhile, Leelu, impatient, bounds off the counter, skimming the toilet seat (it's important to keep it closed for her access as well as keeping the dogs from using it as an alternate water bowl) and tangling my legs until I bang the dish on her counter alerting her to her breakfast pleasure.

Ah pleasure; she mews her 'thank yous' intermittently between bites. Chomp. Mew *thank you," chomp, Mew "thank you", chomp, Mew "this tastes great", chomp, Mew "thank you," chomp, "I love you." chomp, Mew "thank you" and so on until she's done. She's a social buterfly. I think she keeps up the conversation so I won't leave her to eat alone. Now, Jaz is anther story. Jaz, the cat, loves her privacy. But that's another day.

DISCOVERING TWITTER

2009-03-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

Writing a short phrase was never my strong suit. Perhaps that is why Twitter fascinates me. With the limitations of characters, it forces me to be precise and concise in my Tweets. It's also a quick fix into networking. Since the points of contact are short and sweet, perusing them is fast and furious. Suddenly, I'm at the doorstep of extraordinary people around the world that I can tune into with a click of my mouse. Blogs, however, offer me the chance to delve further into what others are doing and present more of myself.

Leelu Explores

2009-03-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

Leelu, @(-.-)@, our new kitten, from a neighbor's batch of 'oops, my Siamese purebred met the wrong kind and now we have eight', provides better entertainment than TV. She leaps upon fuzz balls--I let my housekeeping go just so she can find playtoys naturally (heh heh)--and everything is a source of joyful discovery. Her ice blue eyes darken when she is suspicious of sounds, but when she's finished her morning aerobics she bounds upon my lap, spins three times before curling into a fluff ball--blue eyes focussed on me, until my hand begins to stroke her long white fur, mottled with the colors of her birth father. Her head rests on her paw and purrs grow louder with each minute, occassionally interrupted by an immediate need to lick a paw or other part of her body.

LYNN E. HAZEN AND SUSAN TAYLOR BROWN'S SOCIAL MEDIA ADVENTURE

2009-03-21T17:18:00.000-07:00

Two outstanding authors entertained the SCBWI Bay Area group with some insightful tips on websites and blogging to the novices and published authors. Discovered the hows and whys of Twitter and a plethora of other sites. Networked among those in the same boat of confusion. I have that dazed look of a soaked sponge ...not the alertness of Sponge Bob but the glazed over version. Fortunately, they provided oodles of handouts with everything I ever wanted to know and more. This was my first visit to an SCBWI event. Well worth the jog. As a result, hope to improve my blog.

Things have a way of working out...according to Somerset Maugham

2009-02-16T11:46:00.000-08:00

Listening to the news of the economy, people losing jobs and looking at the diminishing pay when one is on commission...all these things are ripe to ruin a good day. But I believe in the idea that all things work together for our good.

I like to reference Somerset Maugham in his short story, 'The Tobacconist' in which the aging janitor is fired for not being able to read; in his depression he takes a walk and looks for a tobacco shop to buy some smokes. When he cannot find a shop, he decides (along with his wife) to take his savings and open a cubbyhole tobacco shop--it is successful and he repeats the pattern 10 times. Sitting with his accountant reviewing his books, his accountant reports his amazement at the fact of his multimillionaire success and that he is unable to read or write. "Just think where you'd be if you could read or write!" his accountant notes, to which the man replies. "If I could read or write, I'd be a janitor."

To that end, I believe things will work for our good. Have a great day and keep hope alive. :)

CAPTAIN AMERICA...IS LEAVING

2009-02-15T12:42:00.000-08:00

While serving on the USS America, my colleague was training a new sailor on how to announce over the P.A. system that the ship’s Captain was leaving. The protocol involves broadcasting the name of the ship (synonymous with the Captain) followed by the words, ‘departing’. In anticipation, the officer required the sailor to practice the singsong formula: "America, …Departing"; "America, …Departing" until the Captain was ready to leave and his aide called to say that he was on his way. My colleague whispered, “The captain is leaving” to the sailor who in turn announced: "CAPTAIN ... AMERICA ... IS LEAVING."

Finding myself

2009-02-15T12:32:00.000-08:00

Visiting at the First Presbyterian Church, Monterey CA with its baby boomer congregation; we encouraged our preschoolers to sit around Pastor Jay when he gathered the young around him to hear the weekly “children’s sermon”. He emphasized our need to worship together each week—that it was something we couldn’t do alone and used the analogy of playing ‘Hide and Go Seek’. Encouraging children to think for themselves, he asked. “Can you play ‘Hide and Go Seek’ by yourself? What would happen if you did?” My four year old son, piped up clearly for all those former hippies to hear, “Well, I’d have to go hide,” and after a thought-filled pause, finished, “…and then go find myself.”

Where Lonely Socks Go

2009-02-15T12:14:00.000-08:00

Holding up my dirty sock, and smelling the stinky toe, I stop. It drops. I think it winks at me!

“Where is your other sock?” my mom asks for the third time tonight.

“Dunno.” Looking down at the one in my hand and then at the floor for the match. No, it’s not there.

“Do you know where my other sock is?” I whisper to the sock in my hand. I hope that no one knows I’m talking to my sock.

The sock says nothing but sags down low, looks sort of sad; not bad exactly, more twisting its toe—or is it a head—in a shrug? I let go and it falls to the rug.

I lean down low and creep up close, bending my head till I scrunch my nose and eyes and ask again. “Can you tell me where lonely socks go?” Wrinkling my nose from the smell of its toe, I’m not sure if it’s friend or foe. I wait for more, but it chooses not to say; so, I’m stuck with a puzzle. Can I learn today, the secret place where lonely socks go?

Perhaps, some sock can explain how lone socks know to start on a journey and go where they go. There must be one who’s been there and back who will tell its tale; I just have to find it and follow its trail; back to the place where lonely socks go.

So many of mine have gone away that I am certain there must be a special space that lonely socks gather to meet up with others as they travel the world or search the earth; a place where they might need my help to come home.

I seek the one that’s been there and back but I mix up whose’s whose and which’s which, so I’m not certain I’ll track which of my socks has come back from that space where lonely socks go. ...

There's more to the story, it's plain to see, each has lost a sock, maybe two or three. For this explorer the where is revealed yet a question remains though the solution is found. A conundrum exists in the story, as in life. The fun's in the journey more than solving the plight.

“

With God, Nothing is Impossible

2009-01-27T10:14:00.000-08:00

“Lieutenant, that baby is dying.” The obstetrician’s condescending voice increased in volume with every sentence. “That baby has less than a five percent chance of being born.

The normally bustling Labor and Delivery unit at the Naval Hospital was quiet, watching the Commander dress me down. “The sonogram and ultrasound have shown no evidence of lungs. The heart is not fully formed, despite the fact that she’s full term. If that baby survives birthing, it…will…die. “

With shoulders squared—her epaulet designations clearly outranking me; she gave me no opportunity to speak. “You were called up here to talk some sense into her. You shouldn’t be giving her any false hope. Don’t use religion to prolong everyone’s trauma. No one needs to be put through this. That baby will die

Beeping monitors provided the backdrop for her continued diatribe, “You can’t change the reality with prayer.” Her pause gave me an opening.

“Eye-to-eye, I said softly with deliberation, “Doctor, …whether… that baby… lives or dies… is not up to… you …or me. Only God decides who lives and dies. If God wants that baby to live, it will live.”

The details of the story are engaging; the end result amazing.

It taught me with God, nothing is impossible.