Mom is right!!

Bobbins Were Flying!

2012-01-27T22:49:00.001-06:00

I have a confession to make and a little bit of bragging to do. I like to sew. I find it relaxing (usually) and it's a great outlet for my creative side- that's my confession. Now my bragging- this is a pic of a baby blanket I made for a friend who has a new baby. I thought it came out pretty good if I do say so.

My kids "helped", and I use that term very loosely. Squishy at one point had my sewing basket flying. Don't ask me how, I don't even know. Bobbins were flying everywhere- and so were straight pins. Umm, yeah, that was, well let's say- interesting. Yeah, we'll say that, instead of what I was actually ~~saying~~ yelling. I was wishing I had a really big magnet there for a little while.

So anyway here are a couple of pics:

Tell me what y'all think.

Holy freakin' trees and beavers!

2012-01-24T23:44:00.000-06:00

As many of you know I have been seeking gainful employment. Recently I took a test in hopes of obtaining said employment. In the weeks leading up to the test I thought to myself "seriously, how hard could it be." I mean I've seen these people who work at the job, albeit very briefly, but-seriously. Anyway so the night before the test I decided to look on the internet and see if there were any practice tests. I figured, why not. Yeah, that's all I needed to figure. So, I did a search for practice tests and found websites where other people were asking for practice tests. Well I never could find one, which you have to sign a nondisclosure agreement to take the test, so it's not too surprising. But I did find a bunch of sites where people were saying they failed it. So now I'm like "Oh, crap!" (I actually did say that by the way.) So now, of course, I start sweating it. I start worrying if I will pass, what if I don't pass and blah, blah, blah... I want this job, I need this job.

So test morning arrives and I get to the testing sight. Really nice lady there got me started and on with the test. You have a few hoops you have to jump through to start, and at one point it tells you, you will receive your pass or fail notice with in three to five days. So I go through the test. It is divided into two parts. Part one- I'm going through and I'm figuring this isn't so bad. One guy on one website had said it was a "weird" test. I didn't think there was anything really "weird" about it. Part two- it was a little more difficult for various reasons, but nothing particularly odd. So now I finish, I check out, and I do have to say the lady that proctored the exam was very nice. I collect my belongings from the lock box I had put them in before starting the test, and head to my car. I dug my phone out of where I had hidden it in the car and checked my email. I already had an answer on the results of the test. In the five to ten minutes that it took me to check out and get to my car, I had my answer. I was like- DAMN! It was on the computer, but still, Holy freakin' trees and beavers, I have an answer! So I look at the email and it was sent two minutes after I checked out. Wow! Anyhow I didn't have to sweat it for three to five days! That would have been torture.

Anyway, it's done! It's over! and I'm sure your sitting on the edge of your seat wondering - I passed!

It is what it is...

2012-01-03T00:59:00.000-06:00

Today was an odd day. I had a dream about my mom. It was weird. It wasn't sad, it wasn't particularly happy (other than the fact I got to see my mom alive- sort of). Which leads to my discussion today- dreams.

Dreams, not like visions of future accomplishments, I mean the kind you have while sleeping. I have weird, freakishly vivid, odd, dreams. My nightmares are even more vivid and actually terrifying. Sometime they get a little too real for my taste. I actually have a couple of stories I have written that are loosely baised on dreams that I have had. Which seems a little weird now that I actually write that out, but it is what it is.

I have had dreams where I can fly. One dream I had I could jump/bounce really high. I have done all kid of cool things in my dreams.

I know I'm a freak that thinks too much and has crazy dreams. Hmm, maybe I have crazy dreams BECAUSE I think too much. *sigh* I'll have to think about that....

So sorry and Happy New Year!!

2012-01-01T20:30:00.000-06:00

Hello all those out there in Blogger world. Sorry I have been absent for so long. I, for various reasons, haven't had the heart for it lately.

Christmas was great! I love Christmas! The anticipation, the excitement and wondering if everyone is going to enjoy their gifts. I love a real tree, though for years now I have had an artificial one. I love the smells, sounds and music. I have to confess though that I listen to Christmas music through out the year. It's just too good not to. Now though I have to wade through the toys, hmm, we need to clean tomorrow.

New Year's was, well uneventful, which is always a good thing. Our neighbors were popping fireworks until the coppers came and shut 'em down. It was fun to watch while it lasted.

School has been out for a while now, it's been fun having all of my kids home. I'm going to miss them when school starts back up.

I hope you all had a very blessed Christmas! I hope God continues to pour down His graces on you like a big tidal wave through out the new year!!

Turn off the TV and flip on the radio

2011-12-11T22:07:00.001-06:00

I have a little bragging to do. Tutu was in a riding competition this week end and she won first place!!! Yea!! I think I was more excited when they called her name than she was!!!

I got an iTunes gift card for my birthday. Yea!! So I have a lot of new music. I love music. It can set the scene in a movie and in life. I hate listening to the radio when something really bad happens because inevitably it will remind me of the bad thing. Conversely I love to listen to music when something good happens so I can remember it often.

It's funny how music does that. It can launch you to another time, make you feel like you haven't felt in years, and even jet propel you to a completely different place on earth. It's fantastic! The other day I heard a song that I haven't heard in YEARS, since high school actually. It was awesome! It brought back some serious memories, mostly good ones. I find it can even change my mood to a point.

Turn off the TV and flip on the radio for a while. Jam. If you need a tip on some good tunes, check out Jake Owen's "Barefoot Blue jean Night", or Jason Aldean's "Dirt Road Anthem". There are some other good groups, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, and The Band Perry. These singers always have a good song out. And just in case you haven't guessed I'm really into modern country.

So now get to Jammin'!!!

Child-like Anticipation

2011-12-02T11:30:00.001-06:00

Okay, Christmas is coming. I love Christmas, the time before and after. The "Christmas Season" is not, let me repeat that for emphasis, IS NOT the time before Christmas Day, it's after. Until the wise men arrive we are knee deep in the Christmas season. I love Christmas, and Advent. I think what I like most is the anticipation. The anticipation of fun, family, giving and of course the food. My very favorite thing you are, um, well, not asking? Midnight Mass. I LOVE Midnight Mass, the decorations, the incense, the singing and pageantry. I love all of it, the smells and sounds. It's the greatest time of year!

I love watching the kids after Santa has passed. Prying the toys from the box is always one of my favorite tasks as, of course, an insanely impatient child looks on. Stockings full of candy and small prizes. The little drummer boy playing in the back ground. Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Burl Ives, Johnny Mathis, and all of the oldies belting out the greatest of Christmas music.

Waiting with child-like anticipation for the birth of my Savior.

Ahhh... yes, I love Christmas! May it be white!!!

With Sprinkles On Top

2011-11-26T18:07:00.001-06:00

I have had a great birthday! Me and my kids decorated my cake, so it was interesting.
The Bear was in charge of the blue icing, Squishy was in charge of the letters, and Tu-tu was in charge of the sprinkles...

A work of art!!!

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!!! With sprinkles on top!

Four Decades

2011-11-25T20:58:00.001-06:00

Okay, so, tomorrow is my birthday. I AM GOING TO BE 40. 40!

I really don't feel old. It's just weird to think that I have been alive for 4 decades. I was talking with my mom last month and I made the statement that it was going to be weird to be 40, and she just couldn't believe it. Which brings up a painful thought. My mom won't be around for my birthday. It'll be hard. I know I have the love and support of my family, including a large extended family. But it will still be filled with a year of "this is the first _________ that mom wasn't around". She died suddenly, which makes it harder.

I was considering my four decades on Earth. I've seen a lot. I saw the advent of home video recording, whether it be recording home movies or the television, (Beta, remember that?) Home computers, this goes hand in hand with computers- the Internet, microwaves, cellphones, cordless phones, going to the moon, people living on the space station, home video games and a bunch of other things I can't think of. All things that my children will take for granted. I can remember going from Walkmans to portable CD players to MP3 players. Also, going from Beta, to VHS, to DVD recorders (pretty new actually) to DVRs. I really could go on and on.

I could only dream about what my kids will see. Hopefully they will be the ones creating the next great gadget.

Elastic

2011-11-22T13:11:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving week!! I love this time of year! I love the togetherness about it. My kids have the whole week off. *sigh*, um, I mean, Yea! Well they slept late (big yea!) and it's a rainy day (not so yea.) I was hoping to send them into the backyard and let them play themselves silly. But, alas, it is not to be. So it's a movie day in our house. I'm not crazy about a day spent in front of the TV but the house is clean and it's just a cozy movie watching day. I'm not anti-TV, but I'm not throwing them in front of the TV all day either. All things in moderation.

So, to all of my American readers, what do y'all do this week in preparation for Turkey day? It's going to be different this year for us, so we are actually celebrating tomorrow. I can't wait! We make dressing, which involves meats, veggies, rice and cornbread. Yummy!! If you ever get a chance to try a southern rice or cornbread dressing, you gotta, it's so yum! And then there are the staples, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes and some kind of roll. And the best part, everyone patiently sitting down for a meal together. Together. I love this time of year.

Have a great day y'all! Don't forget to wear elastic!

Prayerful people

2011-11-16T07:48:00.001-06:00

Through my life I have noticed something. There seem to be three different kind of prayerful people. There are those that pray, those that do (live/profess their faith through example and action), and those that do both. The prayers and the doers are not mutually exclusive, they are mutually dependant. They need each other. One can do what the other is not adept at.

I am Catholic so my examples will reflect as much. There are different kinds of nuns those that live a cloistered life (minimal contact with the world out side of their convent) they choose this life, to live in prayer. The Carmelite nuns are a good example of this. And there are nuns that live in the physical service of others. A fine example of this is Blessed Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity. They live openly in service to the poor and infirmed. I know there are many other worthy orders that I just can't think of right now.

These two types of prayerful people are not restricted to those in the religious life either. Lay people are exactly the same. Some are prodded by the Spirit to get out and speak, and live their faith through example, instruction and action. Dr. Scott Hahn is an excellent example of this kind of prayerful person. There are others who are called to spend the hour (or more) in front of the Blessed Sacrament in prayer weekly/daily.

One great example of someone who does both is St. Francis of Assisi. He lived a very deep prayer life and the little he did have he would give to the poor.

I'm not saying that one is better than the other or that one prays more than the other. We need all types of people to understand the workings of God.

We need to remember that we are mutually dependant. We need to remember that we all need each other. Prayer is love and we all love in different ways. It doesn't mean one is better than the other, it's just different. So let's all love in the way we are meant to.

Me? I'm a doer.

Hell no!

2011-11-15T07:56:00.001-06:00

I was thinking (a dangerous task for me) I desperately want a job right now. I particularly miss working on the road this time of year. Don't ask me why, I'm not really sure. I miss law enforcement so much, but it just doesn't pay enough for me to go back. I was making less than my baby sitter would charge. To be precise I was making $7.70 an hour, my baby sitter charges $8 an hour. Yeah, I know, I should go into babysitting. ~~So not my cup of tea~~ Hell no! If it was just me I would live out of a run down pull camper that is about to fall apart. I want better for my kids though. So I will have to find an episode of cops somewhere on TV just so I can get my fix.

One fight to break up? Please? Just one...

Uranus

2011-11-14T19:18:00.001-06:00

So, today I had a banking mistake and had to spend two hours at the bank. Yeah, you read that right, two freakin' hours! Most of this was spent on the phone, by the bank guy. I can't tell you how much this bank guy oozes of professionalism. Anyway, so evidently the person on the other end of the phone was either deaf or an idiot. So, the bank guy is trying to spell out things phonetically. For those of you who don't know what that means, to spell "day" phonetically it would be DOG APPLE YANKEE. The military has their own (which I like better). So anyway the bank guy came to a "u" and couldn't think of anything other than "Uranus". I'm sorry, the nine year old in me could not help itself and I just busted out laughing, which totally screwed up the bank guy's concentration. The frustration both of us had been through at that point kind of bubbled over in to a laughing fit, well, for me anyway. He stepped away to regain his composure.

That is my banking experiance for the day. I hope it wasn't too much of a location joke.

Seriously

2011-11-14T08:19:00.001-06:00

Not one freakin' bite. Nothing. Seriously! Okay, usually when I post something on my blog I get two hits almost immediately, meaning with in 15 minutes. How in the world did I get zero hits last night? Zero, the big goose egg, nada, nothing...seriously?

*sigh*

Seriously? Where are my two faithfuls? Not even one?

Not even one. And I was hoping for a 100 point skyrocket in my visitors tally...man.

I guess we'll discuss, so to speak (since no one will leave a comment!) whatever the heck I feel like. Unless of course you want to leave a comment or suggestion.

Men in Black Can Be Inserted Here

2011-11-13T22:31:00.001-06:00

Tonight I'm going to write about the NSA and the CIA. The last time I did I got about 100 hits on my blog, very literally, over night, so let's hope for a repeat.

What I know about the NSA, uh well, nothing. I've been to their website, in reference to a story I'm writing, but that's really about it. I know what everyone else knows, they are super secret and they collect intelligence. No big revelations there. I was searching on the Internet one day looking for stories about the NSA and came across this one site. It talked about how the NSA watches everyone in the US. So, I'm thinking, "aw, man this'll be good," um, yeah, not so much. I keep reading and it's every paranoid dillusionalists dream. It goes on to talk about how everyone has their own RF frequency and the NSA (men in black can be inserted here) follows people around tuning into the individuals frequency and makes them do their bidding. Okay. Yeah, that's what I said, too. I did find one web site that had the NSA handbook on it. That was interesting. It basically said what you think it would, "Shut up and don't talk about where you work."

On the CIA, don't know too much about them either. I do know they have an awesome cool sculpture on their grounds, that would be wicked cool to solve. Other than that, they collect intelligence, the hard way I will add, and analyse it all. That's what I know which, I'm reasonably certain, isn't jack crap. I looked into the CIA for the same reason I did the NSA, it's part of one of my stories.

We don't really know much about either agency, which is why I like putting them in my stories. All you need is a dash of truth, a pinch of perception and a heaping bowl full of imagination.

Oh, and of course there is always what we all learn about both from the movies/television. The only thing that I learned from either is that, evidently, you have to be a super model to work for either one. I'm also fairly certain that it's not quite as glamorous to work there as portrayed.

So there you go, you are probably no better off than where you were when you started reading this. I hope you still enjoyed it.

The greatest

2011-11-12T22:19:00.001-06:00

I'm back. I don't know if I will ever be the same. I know my life will never be the same. But it feels good to be back home and come Monday we will be back into a routine.

So now I'm ready to get back on track here.

I just have to say that I have the greatest friends ever. You know the kind of friends that would lay down in traffic for you if they thought it would help you in some kind of way. I always get thankful around this time of year. No, not because of thanksgiving, though that doesn't hurt, my birthday is coming up. I had a friend, who didn't really know my mother, who drove in three hours to be with me for my mom's funeral. Six hours in the car that day just to lend moral support. How awesome is that. I couldn't ask for better friends. I saw friends at my mom's funeral that I hadn't seen in over 10 years. One of them also sent flowers, which I happen to know is a small fortune. I have friends that are there to listen to me bitch and gripe, give me a shoulder, and a good laugh exactly when I need it.

All I can say is I have the greatest friends. Ever.

There just aren't any words...

2011-11-06T11:25:00.001-06:00

Soon I will bury my mother. There isn't anything that could prepare me for this. We were close and I have no regrets accept the fact that I'm having to do this too soon. The five year old in me wants to scream "NOT FAIR!!" Even as an adult that's how I feel. I wasn't ready yet. I still have a lot of questions. I thought I had another 20 years before this was even a consideration. I wasn't ready to say good bye. I feel like I should be demanding an encore, but the end came suddenly.

Now what do I do, she's not here to tell me everything will be okay. She won't be here to see all of her grandkids grow into young men and women.

I pray her time in purgatory is short. I hope that St. Peter gives her a robust welcome home and that the souls she prayed for in purgatory are there to greet her.

I love you Mom!

These works stir something in my soul

2011-11-02T11:33:00.000-05:00

I love art. I'm not one of these people who go to art openings for the wine and cheese. I love the beauty and the magnificence of art.

There is a very dear friend of mine that is an artist. No, he is a real artist. His stuff is absolutely breath taking. I can't copy and paste images here, it's copyrighted, but I will post some links to his artwork so you, too, can appreciate his talent.

These are some of my favorites:
Final tribute: http://elfournet.com/3/Image.asp?ImageID=19830&apid=1&gpid=1&ipid=1&AKey=dhv84p3q

Neil and Robby: http://elfournet.com/3/Image.asp?ImageID=19842&AKey=DHV84P3Q

S.W.A.T. Team 2 Step: http://elfournet.com/3/Image.asp?ImageID=19842&AKey=DHV84P3Q

Going Up!: http://elfournet.com/3/Image.asp?ImageID=489908&AKey=dhv84p3q

After Action: http://elfournet.com/3/Image.asp?ImageID=19818&AKey=DHV84P3Q

Left Wheel: http://elfournet.com/3/Image.asp?ImageID=19841&AKey=DHV84P3Q

War Horse: http://elfournet.com/3/Image.asp?ImageID=68106&apid=1&gpid=1&ipid=1&AKey=DHV84P3Q

What is even more fun for me is I know a lot of the subjects in the works. There are so many of his works that are awesome that I couldn't begin to tell you the beauty of. I could go on and on with his work, but the bonus of these links is you can see a lot of his other works and all of them are fantastic!!

I also love Salvador Dali. He was a surrealist. One of his more popular works is Persistence of Memory:

My absolute favorite of Dali's is Christ of St. John of the Cross:

Words cannot express how much I love this painting. It is absolutely beautiful and one day I will stand in awe in front of it.

What I love about art is that everyone can find someone or even one work that they appreciate.

I hope you all have enjoyed my headfirst dive into the art world. You have to check out EL Fournet's stuff. I find it moving to say the least. These works stir something in my soul.

Cue the Buglers

2011-11-01T14:46:00.001-05:00

I have some really sad news, my iPhone died. (Cue the buglers...) Normally this would not bother me, losing a gadget that is. I'm not one of these people that need the newest bit of technology as soon as it debuts on the market. Don't get me wrong, I would love a television from this century, but I will not implode if I don't get one. But my iPhone, I loved. I loved the "Notes" section, the music (*sigh* I'll miss that), checking e-mail, angry birds (yeah, I know you don't have to say it...), the alarm, etc. I had grown attached to my iPhone.

I actually got it second hand. A friend of mine got a new one and asked me if I wanted her old one. I jumped on that like white on rice, and loved it from the beginning. I didn't have the data plan, but everywhere under God's creation is a wi-fi hot spot, most everywhere anyway. Free wi-fi at that, so connecting to the Internet is pretty easy even if you don't have the data plan. Our cell service is ATT and the only thing that I have qualms about is the fact that now if you order your phone through ATT you are required to buy the data plan as long as you have a SIM card in the phone. Right now we are contract less with ATT. We still have service the contract ended and we just continued service without a contract. We are looking into other plans, but they all seem to be about the same, some are super expensive though.

Thank goodness I have a backup phone though, it's what most people would consider disposable. I paid $25 for it after my phone before that crapped out. But you know what, it's lasted me the longest.

Have a good one and tonight I might write and explain my long absence.

Just a hodge podge

2011-10-18T18:26:00.000-05:00

I want to think. I want to form a thought and bring it to some semblance of completion. I want to solve a problem (that doesn't involve someone crying because the other person looked at them.) I just want to think. I want a job that I have to go to and do work. I would love a job in law enforcement, though the idea of starting over in patrol it not inviting, it is much more inviting than working in a jail. Besides I miss patrol, I miss investigating, searching for the answers. One day... soon I hope.

Surprises, we all love a good surprise every now and then. Last week my mom and dad drove in (they live in another state) and surprised my kids at school. Their reaction was amusing to say the least. We spent the weekend at my grandma's house visiting, so it was nice.

I'm in a music mood today. I don't really want to watch TV, I'm just sick of it. I don't want complete silence. I just want my tunes, my computer and the ability to have the lack of distraction to work on my stories. I feel like jamming.

Well that's just a hodge podge of my thoughts for the day. Tomorrow I hope to cover motorcycles. Oh yeah...

You would be better off shoving toothpicks under my finger nails

2011-10-14T10:12:00.000-05:00

You know what really grates every last nerve in my body? When someone says "If I were you..." followed by whatever they think in their ~~lack of freakin' thought~~ infinite wisdom, you should actually do. And all of this is generally unsolicted advice. You would be much better off running your finger nails over a chalkboard. Hell, you would be better off shoving toothpicks under my finger nails. This phrase doesn't irritate me, it actually makes me angry- instantly. If you ever want to piss me off really, REALLY fast, all you have to do is say "If I were you". I will immediately desire nothing more than to scratch your eyes out. I will refrain from actually doing it, but it's not to say that I won't want to do it.

My first response is usually along the lines of, ~~screw you and whatever horse you rode in on,~~ You are not me! The way it has been said to me, the person is trying to say "I'm smarter than you and I know better how to run your life than you do". It's my life. I don't need someone that controlling around me. I'm a free soul and whenever anyone tries to cage me in like that, they have immediately lost me. I don't need someone telling me how they would run my life. And, in my experience, their life is more screwed up than mine. I figure they just want to feel better about themselves if they could convince themselves that everyone else is worse off than them. Or just make everyone else feel crappy, they would feel better, because they are happier than everyone else.

Don't get me wrong I'm all about advice, if I need it, give it to me, if I ask for it, dish it out, but don't ever tell me "If I were you...". Try getting your life in order and check your own baggage before you try digging through mine.

That's my rant for the day.

BTW have a great Friday!

Curb!!

2011-10-11T23:25:00.000-05:00

I have a new look, just felt like a change. Hope you all like it!

Anyway, I would like a short chat and a giggle about an article that was passed around Facebook. I'm going to post the image, which appears to be a clipping from a newspaper. I don't know what newspaper this is but it appears to be Georgia.

If you don't giggle a little after reading this, there is something wrong. I love Marines!

Because, like, they were so totally awesome!!!

2011-10-10T23:09:00.000-05:00

I know I've told you all I love to write (I know some of you are going "really?", but I assure you I have a fantastic editor who I probably don't pay nearly enough) but there is another side to this, I LOVE to read. Let me say it again, I absolutely LOVE to read! I love to read books. Old books, new books, in between books, fiction, non-fiction, love stories, action, sci-fi, not too crazy about romance, I just love to read.

This all got me thinking about a teacher I had in the 8th grade. I was a closet book lover in middle school and my English teacher found out. That was it. We had these book clubs in middle school where you read a book and you get your teacher or parent to sign a slip of paper saying you read it and the more books you read the more points you got and the more prizes you won, which were actually more books, which was awesome! (Yeah, I know run on sentence) She made me do it and I read like 20 something books that school year. I still love that teacher. Mrs. Rodriguez from TC Middle, you ROCK!! She was the coolest English teacher. EVER.

I was lucky I had a lot of amazing teachers over the years. They were all fantastic in different ways. I had a history teacher in college that made history absolutely fascinating. He was so excited about history that he made it contagious. I had great English teachers in high school Ms. Paget and Ms. Coryell. Oh, man, I also had this teacher Ms. Wendell that was just awesome. She taught a health care class, one of those classes that you learn medical terminology, like "-itis" means inflammation of, and stuff like that. I remember going to visit her about seven years or so after I graduated and she had some written on the same chalk board as when I was there. She quizzed me on them, and I ACTUALLY KNEW THEM!!! I was in a club with her class, the ones where you go to competitions and such. That year me and another student made it to nationals (yea!!) and we got to go to Orlando!! I was 18 and free in Orlando, in the middle of the summer!! I was such a science nerd too! I went to Kennedy Space Center!! I was in science heaven. I was soooooo mad though I missed a shuttle launch by a week!! Don't get me wrong I went to Disney World and Universal Studios, too (I wasn't a complete nerd), but the Kennedy Space Center, that was just fantastic!! I remember the teacher that was our chaperon, (she was way cool, too, Ms. Scible you rock too!), I wanted to go to the Hard Rock Cafe and the one in Orlando, for whatever reason, you had to be 21 to get into. I looked at her like "can we?!?!" which was immediately shot down by a firm "NO". Anyway I had a b-l-a-s-t!!!

So, like, now, I'm going to, like, leave here and, like, let you, like, think about those, like, teachers that were, like, wicked cool! Because, like, they were so totally awesome!! That was just for all of you valley girls out there, yeah you know I'm talking about YOU!!

A piece of that castle...

2011-10-07T16:52:00.000-05:00

Okay I'm going from tattoos to cakes. I like to decorate cakes. Tutu's birthday was this week and she wanted a castle cake. This is a picture of it...

These are some others I have done:

These are a few. Maybe you could COMMENT!!!

Maybe y'all could give me some tips on what to do to improve. Better yet maybe you could give me some ideas about what to make next.

I think I might go get a piece of that castle....

They usually involve drunken blackouts

2011-10-07T08:33:00.000-05:00

It's Friday. I have mixed emotions about Fridays. It means no homework, (yea!) but it also means my kids will be all wound up... not so good. And am I the only one, who during the week has to pry their kids out of bed, but on Saturdays they are up at the butt crack of dawn?!?! What is up with that? *sigh*

Today I want to talk about tattoos. Yep, you read that right - tattoos. I don't personally have any, though I did toy with the idea of getting one. It was a police one (duh, I know), 1*. What the hell, you ask? One asterisk, it's a play on words, and for those that still don't get it, one ass to risk. I still think that it's pretty clever. I don't know where I would put it. There is, I think, still kind of a stigma associated with tattoos, especially as far as women are concerned. I personally like them, if done in moderation like on the upper arm, back, and even the forearm and for women also on the ankle.

My personal favorites are military tattoos. There is ALWAYS a story behind them, and they usually involve drunken blackouts and, for the most part, in a foreign country. They always tell a story. I'm going to try and post a few pix I found on the internet. As you will see I'm a bit partial to the Marines, just 'cause.

This one is great! God, Country, Corps! Rock on dude! Rock on!!

This one is cool too!

I know I just posted a couple but if I have any fans of the ink out there you gotta send me some pics and I'll try and post them. Some of the guys I worked with had some wicked cool police tattoos I'll try and get some pics of them.

Hope y'all have a great weekend!! I'm almost done with my story, which was originally supposed to be a short story, but now I'm up to around 30,000 words. I guess it won't be short...

Have a great one y'all!!

All.Day.Long.

2011-09-23T20:19:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the week long absence. I started this blog, well, because I love to write, and at the same time I was having trouble writitng.Well it worked! I started a new story that is set in Rome. I have never left the good ol' US of A, so I have been doing a lot of internet research, needless to say, but it's been fun.

So, anyway, today was like any other day, except Squishy stayed home sick. Um, yeah. He was no sicker than my big toe. Yeah, so he stayed home and basically bounced off the walls. All. Day. Long.

I can see his biography now, "Why My Mom Didn't Home School." by Squishy Bear.

Tutu was thrilled about the idea of older brother staying home for the day, until about five minutes into it, when he broke one of her crayons. At this point I started debating if I shouldn't take him to school. It was so tempting... but I didn't and decided that in order for him to stay home again something better need to be amputated. Needless to say Tutu agreed with me.

Tutu walked up to me right around nap time, "Mommy, does Squishy have school tomorrow?" I need say no more.

Yeah, I'm a freak

2011-09-16T22:45:00.000-05:00

I'm up late tonight. Well not as late as usual, but still late. I like staying up late, and despite the fact that I'm a card carrying night person, it's the only time I can find silence in the house. I can actually form a thought and bring it to some semblance of completion. Which is not always a good thing. I think too much. I think about thinking...yeah, I'm a freak.

Lately I have really wanted to go back to work. You all know my trade of choice, which, for what ever reason, I miss more in the Fall than any other time of the year. I just feel the need to get in a foot pursuit. Anyway, needless to say I desperately want to go back to work. I miss work, I miss the guys/gals, and I just miss that whole extended family thing about it. It's in my blood and I can't shake it.

I'm also thinking of going back to school. I'd love to get my masters. The huge obstacle is the cost. You can't get grants for masters degrees, and just like most other people, we are struggling. "Scholarships" are somewhat plentiful, but (yeah, that's what I said, too. A freakin' but! Ugh!!) most of these "scholarships" are drawings, not some merit based system. On top of that it's really just fishing expeditions for information so you can get a gillion junk emails.

Anyway these are just some random thoughts about my thoughts for the night. Let me know what you think about that. A lot of thinking going on....

Watching the watchers watch us watching them watch

2011-09-16T09:01:00.000-05:00

I'm not crazy about writing about politics on here (I find that my"regular" life is far more fun and interesting), but there are justsome things that beg the conscious to speak. This is one of those occasions.

I'm sure you have all heard about the website. Yeah, that one. The one thepresident started, yeah that one where you report people for"Attacks" on the Obama Administration policies. The name of website? Attackwatch. Wow. Now the office of the POTUS has brought itself downto the level of ~~the gestapo~~ asking neighbors to report on neighbors. Don't get me wrong, Irealize that they are mainly focusing on journalists, but they are focusingon journalists. That in and of itself is shockingly shocking (I'm at a loss for words). Now factor in that still leaves that whole window open (a picture window atthat) for everyone else. I would think anyone with any iota of common sensewould find this seriously troubling (troubling- boy that just doesn't even come close to covering it). At least I would hope people are as troubled by this as me. If you don'thave any common sense (or in other words feel the need to defend this) pleaselocate common sense very quickly. I know it's in short supply these days, butyou need to consider the totality of this. I DON'T CARE if this has to do witha campaign or not. This is someone holding public office, and it's terrifying.

Charles C.W. Cooke of the National Review Online wrote this on Sept 14,2011, explaining what an attack is:

“Attacks” can ostensibly come in the form of TV interviews, publicstatements, forwarded e-mails, rumors, TV ads, video ads, robo-calls, websites,and blogs.

I guess, me, with my two followers, could actually fall in that lastcategory, blog (though I'm sure some of you consider that point debatable).

I find this similar to the whole Sarah Palin e-mail dump. Yeah, that one,the one where the media fought to have all of her official emails released forpublic view. Then the media asking the public to volunteer to go through theemails and find something- anything- that could be used against her. (I find it particularly amusing that not only did they find nothing disparaging, but what they did find made her look better and more human at that.) However,this situation is far more disturbing, this is the office of the President ofthe United States asking citizens to report other citizens. I'll say it again, campaign or not this is incrediblydisturbing.

This is a link to attack watch:
http://www.attackwatch.com/

This is a link to a better website and I think something awesomelyhilarious:
http://www.attackwatchwatch.com/Home.html

It's a parody. Watching the watchers watch us watching them watch. *Phew*that's a lot of watching.

There needs to be as little intrusion of the government in the affairs of it'scitizens as possible, and I know someone is going to get on the Internet (they probablyalready have) and defend the idea.
What happens if someone is reported? Yeah, I know they say they post aresponse to the information reported. But really what do they do with it?Yeah, no one really knows do they. Really...are they really that thin skinned? They are in politics for crying outloud! Politics!

Good bye my old friend, Bill of Rights, it was fun while it lasted.

S.H.I.T.

2011-09-15T09:34:00.000-05:00

It's Thursday. Some one once told me "So Happy It's Thursday!" (It happened to be a 4 day work week.) I'll let you figure out the acronym (check out the title...). Yeah, that's what I said, too.

Okay, we are considering getting a dog. Don't get me wrong, I think dogs ROCK, but...yeah, there is a "but"...I have four kids to look after, and the idea of having a dog around, is not nearly as appealing as it was when I was single and childless. I would love for the kids to have a dog around, and let them learn the responsibility of caring for a pet. I seem to be the only pragmatic one in the household, including my husband. My husband wants one for practical reasons (we think someone is stealing tools out of the shed out back). Okay I can understand that, I love a dog for "home security" purposes (which I needed a few times in my life). And inevitably the kids will want to bring the dog in the house. I'm not so excited about that, fleas (yeah, I know there is medicine for this), dog hair, mud, slobber, dirt, mud, and did I mention mud. Big brown eyes looking at you longingly as you take a bite of your food seeming to tell you "I haven't eaten in sooooo long. Please give me some." Even though you know the dog just (meaning 30 seconds prior to the look of pity) devoured a bowl of the latest scrumptious morsel. Even though you turn your back to him, he will give you a hint of a whine and you can practically hear the drool falling to the floor. Walking out of the back door to go to the garden and in a nano-second being turned into a wet-dog-smelling-mud-ball because doggy was just so excited you came to visit him because the last five minutes were just torture with out you. Yeah.

So next week, since I have successfully talked my self into it, when we are picking out a puppy or two at the animal shelter (I think we need two dogs, 'cause they just need a buddy) y'all will have to help me think of names (HINT! HINT! YOU NEED TO COMMENT!). If we get two, my vote is for "Smith" and "Wesson", 'cause I would just love to stand just outside the back door and yell "Smith & Wesson!" And who would want to screw with two dogs named Smith &Wesson? If we get one, I like "Cannon".

Commence the baby talk, 'cause wittew doggy woggies jus' wuv when we tawk to them that way!

WTF, they offered you a job!

2011-09-14T09:33:00.000-05:00

I so want a job. I have 10 years of experience and a college degree, and have been looking for over a year, but still can't find one. My most recent boss, told me that if I ever wanted a job, or a recommendation to please let them know.

I know what you're thinking, "WTF, they offered you a job!" Well that is a job paying $7.70 an hour. I have kids, and a baby sitter/daycare would cost more than that an hour. So it boils down to me paying someone (more than I was making) just so I could work. Which some days doesn't sound like a bad idea, but I digress.

Maybe I'm a little picky, but it's the kind of job I would love. I want to investigate, I love that. I love getting knee deep in the middle of an incident/task and finding out all of the information and piecing it all together. I love the analytical part of it, looking at the facts, evidence, statements and determining what happened. It's like a giant puzzle. I LOVE it. Sometimes it's an exercise in frustration. Most of the time people lie/embellish, that is just something you come to expect, but even when they lie there is a bit of truth in their statement, simply because it has to make sense based on the evidence present.

There are other reasons that I'm having such difficulty. I can't leave the state I live in (as much as I would like to), I have a child that receives certain services that are rare and can't be found in other states. Jellybean is in a great program and I don't want to risk taking her out of the program that we love so much. My husband would never move regardless (whole other story). So in essence I need to stay local, which sucks because it's not a largely populated area so choices are limited to begin with.

I thought about going back to school, get a second degree, or better, a masters, but that takes money. It takes a lot of money I don't have. Studying, research, writing, and all of that crap sounds great about right now.

I think the point of all this is, I want to think. I want to form a thought and see it through to completion. I want to get lost in thought on a particular topic, a very specific topic.

One day I'll find the job for me. It's out there somewhere, but, until then, I'll keep looking. So I leave today asking you to pray that I find a good job.

Thanks, I needed that!!!

2011-09-13T11:13:00.000-05:00

I take great stock in the fact that God loves me, and you. There was one day several years ago that I was having a REALLY bad day. Someone very close to me had said some very hateful things, several times over a period of a few weeks. They had said what they said in anger, and the first time, as hurtful as it was, I brushed it off as something stupid said in a fit of anger. Most of us have done that, whether we meant it or not, have said something we regretted just to be hurtful because we perceived someone was hurtful to us. Well this person said the same extremely hurtful thing, several times, over the few weeks I previously mentioned. At that point it becomes, "well they must really feel that way if they keep saying it." So I spent the morning of this bad day doing my daily tasks, questioning the validity of this relationship wondering if this person every truly loved me. So, as I continued through my day, I wandered into my son's room (Squishy at the time was about 18 mos. old) and he was playing with his little people. He had his "mommy", "Squishy" and "The Bear" people and they were "talking" to each other. As I put his clothes away the "Squishy" person tells the "mommy" person, and I quote, "But Mommy, God loves you. He loves you so much." I stopped dead in my tracks and started crying. I didn't hear, or rather I didn't notice, any of the "conversation" before or after that statement, but I figured I didn't need to. It was exactly what I need at exactly the right moment. God knew I needed that, and needed it desperately. It was like the old aftershave commercials, where the man gets slapped in the face with the aftershave and says "Thanks, I needed that!"I think that God speaks to us, not exactly like that, but He speaks to us. We just need to pay attention and not be so wrapped up in ourselves. We need to be considerate of others while still not pandering to them. Pandering doesn't do anyone justice. It's hard when someone who is close to you, someone who you would think would love you unconditionally, doesn't. I struggle with forgiveness (which I desperately need to work on). But I know, no matter how crappy people, things, or the times get, there is never a doubt any where in my mind if God loves me.He loves me "so much". Never forget, He loves YOU that much, too.

"God loves each of us as if there were onlyone of us."
St. Augustine

This is a test ...

2011-09-12T13:04:00.001-05:00

This is a test of the never an emergency iPhone blogging system. I finally was able to get my iPhone to accept my wifi signal!! Yea

Forever grateful

2011-09-11T21:25:00.000-05:00

We should all be grateful for all of the firefighters, police officers and paramedics that responded to the tragedies in New York and DC. Thank you to all!! You are the greatest.
Title: Never forgotten. Forever grateful.

I know this is a commercial, but I loved it. I hope you enjoy it.

On September 10

2011-09-10T11:38:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is Sept. 11. Ten years ago, on September 10th, that would have invoked a shrug, a look of confusion, and a "so what?", but now, ten years later, it takes on a very solemn meaning. It's, I imagine, how my grandparents generation felt about Dec 7. The only difference is they knew exactly who the bad guy was. It was very clear cut. This new bad guy hides in our own country, in caves and it's followers inhabit an entire subcontinent.

We need to return to God, instead we remove him from everything. We need to invite him into our homes and work places, and ask him to protect this country as he has done so many times. Maybe more than we will ever know.

Some people say that it's "our fault" that we were attacked. We have too much military presence around the world. We do, and you know, what would happen if we did pull our military out? Seriously, what would happen? If every military personnel was brought home (not that I would complain to have all of our countrymen home). What would happen to the world? Whether you want to admit it or not, that military presence is keeping most groups in check, and they surely will think twice before screwing with us or a "friendly" nation. The world probably wouldn't come to a grinding hault, but it would never be the same, and I don't mean that in a, "it would be better" kind of sense.

I could go on and on, but it boils down to a simple and undeniable fact (yes, I said FACT), they hate us simply because we exist. We wake-up in the morning and breath in and out and live as a CHRISTIAN NATION. We made it past 9/11, and we made it by becoming stronger. We remember our neighbors and friends, mostly strangers, and live on. We live on in faith, knowing that God will keep us close to his heart. I can't fathom the idea that any one of the victims of 9/11 would expect anything less from us.

I ~~love~~ LOVE my country. Yes, I LOVE my country. That , contrary to popular belief, does NOT make me arrogant because I'm from America, it means I love my country. When someone from Canada, France, Japan, or England says they love their country, no one begrudges them their patriotism. The why should I find shame in mine? I'll say it again, I LOVE MY COUNTRY. If someone doesn't like that then tough, I really don't give a flying crap. I live in the greatest country to ever exist. That is not arrogance it's truth.

God bless America!!!

Crazyness

2011-09-08T10:05:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the gap in posting, we have just had craziness here. Kids, weather and just plain life (which there is nothing really plain about that...).

I have the greatest kids. Ever. I have four kids, Jelly Bean, The Bear, Squishy, and Tu-tu. Bookend girls in case your wondering, an even split. It creates a nice balance in the house. Of course, Tu-tu, the youngest, does everything possible to keep up with The Bear and Squishy. I wish I could share one ounce of joy with everyone that I get from my kidlings. I will leave this post with a few Squishyisms (with the mind of a thinker, he can come up with some stuff).

Squishyisms:
Age 3: Lessons on counting: "1,2,3...13,14,15," moment of thought, "more teen."

Age 18 mo. I was trying to get the kids to talk (The Bear was a late talker)
Me:"Bear, Bear, Bear."
both boys: "Bear, Bear, Bear."
Me: "Squishy, Squishy, Squishy."
The Bear: "Squishy..."
Squishy: "Me, me, me."

Did I mention I love the fall

2011-09-08T09:38:00.000-05:00

I LOVE the fall! It is September, glorious September. There are so many wonderful things about the fall. The leaves changing, cooler weather, Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving!! And football. Good ol' American football. Which of course goes hand in hand with fantasy football. Back to fall. The unusual cooler temps at the beginning of September make me want to go outside and do some sculpting. Clay and water and a big mess. It just makes me want to go outside and do -something, anything. It's been so hot here and the only refuge from the heat has been the swimming pool or the a/c. I love the fall. School is in full swing. I'm hoping to get my kidlings into some kind of fall sport. I'm not sure what (we live in a rural area). Once it cools down the promise of Thanksgiving hangs in the air. I have always loved Thanksgiving. The smells that linger in the house- for days. The fall is just fantastic. So much anticipation of good things to come. I think part of me awakens in the fall. Did I mention I love the fall?

The smell of dirt in the air

2011-08-30T09:23:00.000-05:00

I love baseball! What an incredible game. Don't get me wrong, I think the pros get paid way too much to play a game, but fans are willing to pay the ticket prices, and the owners pay the saleries. So good luck to 'em.

I loved those days, as a kid/young adult, when you played all day. Whether it was an organized event or an all day affair in the neighborhood vacant lot, it was all the same. By the late afternoon there was a little bit of a sting on your skin from the sun, the smell of the dirt in the air, the leather in your glove, the cheers, the "pink" or crack of the bat, and the single desire to take a bath. That is baseball. The great play, the great hit. Cheering on your team in the moment that the game means so much, and in a week no one will remember. Swing the bat just right, hitting the ball right on the sweet spot, so much so you barely know you even hit the ball. Rounding third when you just know there will be a close play at home, and beating the throw by the skin of your teeth to score that winning run. The elation of winning the game, and the heartbreak of the loss, both hanging heavy in the air. Next week, just wait until next week. And it starts all over. What a game. What a fantastic game.

Fly to the Moon!

2011-08-29T11:30:00.000-05:00

I have always loved the space program. Growing up in the Houston area it was almost a requirement.
I even wavered, for one year, from my dream of being in law enforcement to dreaming of being an astronaut. I dare to think that every child dreams at some point in their lives of flying to the moon.
So, the other day I showed my kids one of the Apollo missions fly to the moon (well at least get on their way there) and a space shuttle launch on YouTube. They loved it. It is a fantastic spectacular thing to see, even on video. I hope one day we can see something similar. Even if it is with private industry.

Here are a couple of videos for you viewing pleasure.

I remember when both were in action. I don't remember the Apollo missions as well, but I remember the beginning of the shuttle missions. How fantastic is it to watch a space ship launch!! I hope you all enjoy these videos as much as I do!

2011-08-28T13:37:00.000-05:00

I'm going to have a busy day ahead of me, so I probably won't get back here unitl monday afternoon. It's going to be a good, happy busy (just 'cause I know you are all sooo concerned!). I hope everyone has a great sunday and a fantastic start to the week!

I'll leave you with another suprise homecoming video with soldiers (who just ROCK!)!

"I really don't know what to call this one yet"

2011-08-27T23:31:00.000-05:00

I'm going out on a limb here, I have decided to post one page of a short story I'm working on. PLEASE keep in mind it is still a work in progress (It doesn't even have a title yet...). So, feel free to comment!! (Really, how many times do I have to hint?)

Here goes: Page 1 of "I really don't know what to call this one yet"

Gemma walked to her vehicle parked on the street dressed in scrubs, hoping to unwind from a long night at work. She climbed into her dark colored SUV with her fresh gourmet coffee in hand, an indulgence she rarely obtained. She thought about the day ahead as she sipped her coffee. The kids were at summer camp for the next three weeks and her shift was over for a few days. Her night shift at the hospital was busy, but not a killer.

After taking a sip of coffee she placed the cup in the holder next to her. She put her keys in the ignition ready to head home for some rest.

She was suddenly alarmed as a loud thud echoed from her rear passenger side fender. The backdoor of her SUV flew open. Two large men in suits shoved a third man in. A fourth man climbed in the front passenger seat. Guns in hand the men stared at her, all of them seeming confused.

One of the men in the back seat put his gun in her face. “Drive!” He told her gruffly.

“Who-” She attempted to question.

“He said drive!” The man in the front seat yelled at her as he brought his gun to her head.

She fired up the engine as shots rang out. Bullets hit the right front fender with a “thunk”.

“Hold on!” Yelling, she threw the vehicle in reverse. One of the men in the back seat threw himself over one of the other men. The third man in the back seat broke a side window and began shooting at the assailants. He hit two of them as they began to scatter for cover.

Gemma sped down the street backwards, bumping a few cars. She knew she was coming to an open area and wanted to turn the vehicle around. “Hold on I’m going to turn around!” She screamed over the gunfire. They all grabbed on to something just as the vehicle began to spin. She slammed on the breaks and turned the steering wheel putting the SUV into a spin. She very carefully and methodically shifted the car into drive as she released the breaks. She continued driving, now forward. She looked in her side mirror as a vehicle approached quickly. She glanced in the rear view mirror to see what the others were doing when she caught a glimpse of one of the men. She stared in the mirror not believing who she was seeing.

“That’s right,” the man in the front seat told her as she continued to dodge cars on her mission to get to the interstate. “It’s the vice president.” She now realized the three men with the vice president were secret service attempting to get the VP to safety.

She was now terrified while the adrenalin continued to surge through her veins.

She glanced again in her side mirror as the vehicle shortened the distance between them. She looked to see a nondescript black van approaching quickly behind her. A man sat in the window of the van and quickly pulled out a rifle he took aim. She kept her mind on driving as bullets began to riddle her car. She suddenly and inexplicably turned right down an ally.

“Where are you going?” The man in the front questioned her.

“I’m trying to lose them.” She stated as she evaded the dumpsters at eighty miles per hour. She glanced in the side mirror to see the man in the van pull out what looked like some kind of rocket launcher. “Is that a rocket launcher?” She screamed at the man in the front seat.

He turned in his seat to look through the back window. “Yes!”

Okay so that is page one. I know it gets pretty crazy pretty quick, but keep in mind it's a short. Once again tell me what you think!

Dogs and Fishing

2011-08-27T18:36:00.000-05:00

I love to go fishing, even if all you do is drown a worm. I used to go fishing alone, well sorta, my faithful dogs, Magnum and Winchester, came along. There was a state park not far from my house that I just loved to go to. It had this pier that had a pavilion of sorts at the end of it. When it was hot Magnum would dump out her water and then lay down in it, the goofy dog.

Magnum was a straight up mutt, and Winchester was a lab. Winchester was scared of the water, and Magnum loved it. Yeah, Winchester was a little messed up, but he was one of the coolest dogs. EVER. Keeping this in mind, after we went fishing at the pier we would walk over to the beach (not much of one, it was on the edge of a marsh and the state actually trucked in the sand). I would put the dogs on their lead leashes and let them roam a bit. Magnum went straight for the water, Winchester would stand on the sand and do this yelp barking at her. It made him visibly nervous when she went in the water. But she loved it, so I let her swim for a little while and then called her out before Winchester had a complete melt down. We would run along the beach until the mosquitoes got unbearable and then we would hop in the car and head home, usually early in the evening. I, well we, would have a great day for about 20 bucks (the cost of the bait and the gas to get there).

Well, there ya go, random thoughts about my dogs. It’s nothing too Earth shattering. This is just a little bit about a day with two of the coolest dogs ever- and fishing. Dogs and fishing...it was great.

My next dogs? Well I want to get two and name them Smith & Wesson.

2011-08-26T21:06:00.000-05:00

I'm just throwing this out there 'cause I just ~~love~~ LOVE them. I cry every time I watch them.

Grab some tissue (consider yourself warned!)

When you stop laughing hysterically...

2011-08-26T13:00:00.000-05:00

Okay, I know I said I would talk about thinking, but my ADD is rearing its ugly head today, so I’ll get back to that soon.

Now this is a topic that I love to discuss, hopefully this won’t be a one sided discussion (Hint! Hint! Tell me what you think).

The topic? Kryptos. It’s a sculpture located on CIA grounds, placed there in 1990, which contains an encrypted message. And I LOVE IT!! Something to think about!!

I ~~am not,~~ by no stretch of the imagination, am an expert about cryptography. In fact, what I do know, I learned from the Internet, my local public library, and what I could glean while perusing the books at the book store. So, knowing all this about me, I’ll give you my theory, and when you stop laughing hysterically, you could give me your thoughts. (Hint, Hint again!)

My Theory:

Start:

OBKR
UOXOGHULBSOLIFBBWFLRVQQPRNGKSSO
TWTQSJQSSEKZZWATJKLUDIAWINFBNYP
VTTMZFPKWGDKZXTJCDIGKUHUAUEKCAR

Upside down: it’s a flag and you turn it Upside down to show distress “SOS”

VTTMZFPKWGDKZXTJCDIGKUHUAUEKCAR TWTQSJQSSEKZZWATJKLUDIAWINFBNYP
UOXOGHULBSOLIFBBWFLRVQQPRNGKSSO
OBKR

Reversed: because “RQ” is in the reverse order as it appears in the alphabet.

RACKEUAUHUKGIDCJTXZKDGWKPFZMTTV

PYNBFNIWAIDULKJTAWZZKESSQJSQTWT

OSSKGNRPQQVRLFWBBFILOSBLUHGOXOU

RKBO

For the “RACK” at the beginning I racked it like you would on a pool table:

ACK

EUAUH

UKGIDCJ

TXZKDGWKP

FZMTTVPYNBF

NIWAIDULKJTAW

ZZKESSQJSQTWTOS

SKGNRPQQVRLFWBBFI

LOSBLUHGOXOURKBO

Then we add the END of the Y,A & R lines from the table side of the sculpture: RPQ are the end of those lines (also the obvious resemblance to a pyramid is neat!)

ACK

EUAUH

UKGIDCJ

TXZKDGWKP

FZMTTVPYNBF

NIWAIDULKJTAW

ZZKESSQJSQTWTOS

SKGNRPQQVRLFWBBFI

LOSBLUHGOXOURKBORPQIf you look where I have highlighted you can see “QJSQ”. This is the approximate location of the Queen’s burial chamber in a pyramid.

Pealing it off layer by layer starting with the L at the bottom left and “pealing” it by column:

LSOZ

KSNZGBFIKNLTZWERUUXMASPHEKZTISQ

GAUGKTDQQORCAIDVUJVXKUDGPLSROHC

WYKQLUJKNJTFRPBTWWKFATBBWOBOSFRIPQ

I thought the end of this was interesting in that it ends RIPQ- rest in peace Q?

Now here is where I stop and I’m not sure where to go from here.

When you flip and reverse the text, on the table side, converting the reversed Z line to A , etc., the L and M lines become identical because of the extra L. This could possibly be an indication to use the polybius square like playfair or bifid and these would be the two letters to share a square.

That about sums it up. Tell me what you think!

Just a few tips if you are without electricity

2011-08-26T12:21:00.000-05:00

First of all I would like to send off prayers to everyone about to be affected by the hurricane. I hope you all can emerge unscathed.

Just a few tips if you are without electricity.

1) If the hurricane hits during the day, the night after will be fantastically cool! Open windows and let the cool breeze blow through!

2) If you have kids, make/get snacks before the hurricane hits. Something that went over really well in our house was popcorn. We had a billion bags of microwave popcorn, so I kept throwing them in the Microwave and (after they had cooled) put them in the big freezer bag zip locks.

3) Find things that entertain you that don’t involve electricity. Deck of cards, dominoes, board games and the such are great.

4) The days after the hurricane goes through are going to be hot. Let me say that again, the days after the hurricane are going to be HOT!! If you are without lights it will be miserable. If you can, get a generator and a window unit a/c. Put it in a smaller room that you can close off and at least sleep comfortably. Get one of those kiddy pools that are about a foot and a half to two feet deep and find a shady spot for it. You’ll thank yourself later.

5) Don’t for get the bar-b-que pit! Get propane, charcoal, or buy a little hibachi. You won’t heat up the house but you can still eat a good meal.

6) If you can get a butt load of ice! Fill ice chests, freezers and what ever else you can think of that will keep it from melting. Hook up the fridge and freezers to a generator (obviously) if you can.

7) Make sure you have a HAND CAN OPENER!!

8) If you have red ants where you are, get some ant spray!

9) Don’t forget the obvious: Water (some of those one shot drink mixes, if you like that), meds for a week, a weeks worth of canned/dried goods, battery operated radio, fuel for the generators and your car, a little cash and that kind of stuff.

This is all I could think of today. I pray you all fair well!!

A sci-fi twist

2011-08-25T21:40:00.000-05:00

I love to write, fiction. Seriously. I have one story that I have completed. It's a love story. Yeah, sorry guys the one that is finished is what I would consider chick lit. It does have some action, a little suspense and a sci-fi twist, with Christian influence. You'll have to read it some day. Though, guys, I do have a second story that is a bit grittier. Some parts are down right nasty and involve gunfire.

One thing all of my stories involve are law enforcement, and yes they are the good guys. Well for the most part. I have another short story that I love and I'm debating whether or not to make it in to a full length book or just keep it short. It works short so I might enter it into a contest as a short. Maybe one day I will post it. Not on here, it's longer than that short, but maybe I'll create a website and post it there, or little tid-bits.

If someone posts a comment I'll give you a tidbit here!! I promise!
Comment Please!

please, please, please!!!!

I know I promised not to bore you to tears, it seems I may have unintentionally mislead you.

Tomorrow I will write about thinking...

$4400

2011-08-25T15:35:00.000-05:00

Today, up to now, has been a busy day. Not that everyday isn't, today it was just outside the house. We even got a special treat! Subway! Yummy! (I got a 6" cold cut sandwich, 'casue I just KNOW y'all were dying to know that). Well that Subway is in the Wal-Mart we went to. We got what we needed and, because our central a/c went out, we decided to go look at the window units. (The central a/c will cost us $4400 to replace, inside and outside units. yeah...$4400.) So to the window a/c's we go, only Wal-Mart, in the MIDDLE OF AUGUST, decided to take them off the shelves for the season. IT'S AUGUST! Okay, Wal-Mart-people-who-decide-this-crap (you can still see my affection for the hyphen), you need to understand, just 'cause it's 32 in ALASKA, doesn't mean it is everywhere else. It's still in the 100's for heat index here!! Leave the A/C's on the shelf at least until Thanksgiving!!!

It's so hot...

On a side note, Wal-mart loss prevention (who I seem to be able to pick out a mile away. Is it just me or is that kinda a universal thing?) Anyway, they are getting hi-tech! They were wearing the little ear piece things where they can hear the guy watching the cameras, or at least that's who I would guess they are listening to. I saw two guys wearing them. I would love to do that, loss prevention that is. The loss prevention guys for all the big box stores, in the town where I worked, were so cool. They were really good guys, and they could write a great statement. I just think it would be fun. Just a little morsel that falls from the table of law enforcement.

Well that is the long and short of my morning, early afternoon. I know, I know, I'll try not to bore you to tears tonight. And remember Wal-Mart big brother is watching!!!

3 Point Bonus!

2011-08-24T22:52:00.000-05:00

You know what I love? Stupid criminals. Fortunately for us, there is a plethora. Today we will talk about bank robbery fails.

A professor of mine, who had been a police officer, said one time there was an occasion that a man walked into a bank (sounds like the beginning of a bad joke). Anyway, he walks in and decides not to go to the teller (the person who actually has the money. Genius point #1). He walks over to the receptionist and says he wants to talk to someone. She asks him if he has an account, to which he responds "no", and hands him some forms to fill out. He then dutifully sits down and begins to write. Soon another bank employee comes to greet him at which time he informs them of his intention to rob the bank. They give him money and he leaves. Enter Law Enforcement. They interview witnesses and soon locate the paperwork the man was filling out. Guessed what he did yet? Yeah, that's right, genius filled out the form with his correct information!(genius point #2, with a 3 point bonus for extra stupidity!) He was located quickly, and the cherry on top was that the criminal was baffled that he was located so quickly.

Next one, This criminal chooses one of those main branch high rise type buildings. The idiot picked a bank where the FBI has offices on one of the upper floors. Yeah, he picked the bank WHERE THE FBI IS IN THE SAME BUILDING! To add stupid to moronic, the sheriff's office is like two blocks away. The jackass got like two or three blocks away before he was caught.

I hope you have enjoyed today's summery. I look forward to sharing stories of job security for the local, and in this case federal, LEO's.

Good work guys!!

Nine

2011-08-24T16:52:00.000-05:00

Okay, here goes, yesterday morning, nine people had viewed my blog. Nine. I suspect some of them (if not all) were me coming back to write something on it. Over night (very literally), blog views skyrocketed to 107 views! I would love to think it's my whit, charm and fantastic writing abilities, but I suspect it's not.
So, I conclude(this paragraph anyway) with a resounding WELCOME!

Please feel free to comment! They are appreciated!

Come to think of it, the hits went up after I did that entry on NSA trigger words. Maybe if I put NSA as a tag, they will come visit everyday! *wave* Hi NSA-people-who-read-blogs-because-crapheads-post-stuff-on-the-internet-the-NSA-really-needs-to-read! *big inhale* Maybe that was more than a little over use of the whole dash thing, but I think it made my point. There are crapheads in the world. Wow. That is the understatement of the century...

Whoever it is visiting my blog, I hope you enjoy it! Read on!!

UPDATE: I'm up to 122!! Now come on y'all!! Comment!!!

God Help us!!

2011-08-24T10:27:00.000-05:00

I mean that very literally. Yesterday there was and earthquake in DC. Yeah, you read that right, Washington, DC. The same general vicinity is going to be hit by a hurricane soon, too. I think it's time for us to start praying for our country. I truly believe God is trying to give us a wake up call. I do think the country is being chastised (God help us!). We need to turn back to God. Not with violence, but with prayer, humility, and understanding. Pray with true humility in our hearts. Love our neighbors (albeit some from a distance). God asked us to love our neighbors as ourselves. He meant we need to pray for one another. Prayer is the greatest way to show love for someone. Sometimes it is difficult to love someone, especially when they are cruel, but none the less, they still, and most especially need our prayers.
Our country is still great. There are fantastic, brave, humble people out there everyday in the local, state and federal governments.The ones that get up everyday, go to work and do their best for the betterment of this nation and our communities. (This is where I give a shout out to my brothers and sisters in blue! Love y'all!) Most of these men and women we will never know or what they do, and for the most part, a great majority of people, wouldn't want their jobs. But they do it anyway to make this country great again. We need to tip our hat to them and give them the respect they deserve. It would be a disservice to the memory of those that have gone before us not to pray for this country, our states, and our communities.
Pray, pray with love and respect, and take comfort in knowing that God is listening and that he will take us where we need to be. Know that he has a great and wonderful plan for each of our lives and that it is the perfect plan. I'll say it again, pray. PRAY! God loves you and he can't wait to hear from you!

This is one of my favorite quotes:

"My concern is not whether God is on our side; my great concern is to be on God's side." ~ Abraham Lincoln

I'm so (sooooooo) far from perfect, but all God asks of us is to do our absolute best everyday with what he has given us. I just hope, when my time comes, when I go beyond the world for my reward, I'm greeted by St. Peter with a warm embrace, a welcome home, and the reassurance of a job well done.

Pray! (Just so you don't forget...)

Quote fer the day!

2011-08-23T13:07:00.000-05:00

"If God can work through me, he can work through anyone. "
St.Francis of Assisi

Jus' 'cause I love St. Francis. He's one of my saint crew. One day I'll list all of my crew. You already know one, St. Michael!

Have a good one!

Hmmm...

2011-08-23T12:51:00.000-05:00

I've just read a blog that said there are certain "keywords" that certain government organizations pick-up on or search for with their super-duper computers. Some of them make sense (like DUH! Of course "NSA, CIA, etc. would be.), others, not so much. I'm fairly sure no one reads my blog, but if anyone, at anytime, should come across this, please explain some of these to me. Please! With sugar on top, if that helps.

This is the list:

Waihopai, INFOSEC, Information Security, Information Warfare, IW, IS, Privacy, Information Terrorism, Terrorism Defensive Information, Defense Information Warfare, Offensive Information, Offensive Information Warfare, National Information Infrastructure, InfoSec, Reno, Compsec, Computer Terrorism, Firewalls, Secure Internet Connections, ISS, Passwords, DefCon V, Hackers, Encryption, Espionage, USDOJ, NSA, CIA, S/Key, SSL, FBI, Secret Service, USSS, DefCon, Military, White House, Undercover, NCCS, Mayfly, PGP, PEM, RSA, Perl-RSA, MSNBC, bet, AOL, AOL TOS, CIS, CBOT, AIMSX, STARLAN, 3B2, BITNET, COSMOS, DATTA, E911, FCIC, HTCIA, IACIS, UT/RUS, JANET, JICC, ReMOB, LEETAC, UTU, VNET, BRLO, BZ, CANSLO, CBNRC, CIDA, JAVA, Active X, Compsec 97, LLC, DERA, Mavricks, Meta-hackers, ^?, Steve Case, Tools, Telex, Military Intelligence, Scully, Flame, Infowar, Bubba, Freeh, Archives, Sundevil, jack, Investigation, ISACA, NCSA, spook words, Verisign, Secure, ASIO, Lebed, ICE, NRO, Lexis-Nexis, NSCT, SCIF, FLiR, Lacrosse, Flashbangs, HRT, DIA, USCOI, CID, BOP, FINCEN, FLETC, NIJ, ACC, AFSPC, BMDO, NAVWAN, NRL, RL, NAVWCWPNS, NSWC, USAFA, AHPCRC, ARPA, LABLINK, USACIL, USCG, NRC, ~, CDC, DOE, FMS, HPCC, NTIS, SEL, USCODE, CISE, SIRC, CIM, ISN, DJC, SGC, UNCPCJ, CFC, DREO, CDA, DRA, SHAPE, SACLANT, BECCA, DCJFTF, HALO, HAHO, FKS, 868, GCHQ, DITSA, SORT, AMEMB, NSG, HIC, EDI, SAS, SBS, UDT, GOE, DOE, GEO, Masuda, Forte, AT, GIGN, Exxon Shell, CQB, CONUS, CTU, RCMP, GRU, SASR, GSG-9, 22nd SAS, GEOS, EADA, BBE, STEP, Echelon, Dictionary, MD2, MD4, MDA, MYK, 747,777, 767, MI5, 737, MI6, 757, Kh-11, Shayet-13, SADMS, Spetznaz, Recce, 707, CIO, NOCS, Halcyon, Duress, RAID, Psyops, grom, D-11, SERT, VIP, ARC, S.E.T. Team, MP5k, DREC, DEVGRP, DF, DSD, FDM, GRU, LRTS, SIGDEV, NACSI, PSAC, PTT, RFI, SIGDASYS, TDM. SUKLO, SUSLO, TELINT, TEXTA. ELF, LF, MF, VHF, UHF, SHF, SASP, WANK, Colonel, domestic disruption, smuggle, 15kg, nitrate, Pretoria, M-14, enigma, Bletchley Park, Clandestine, nkvd, argus, afsatcom, CQB, NVD, Counter Terrorism Security, Rapid Reaction, Corporate Security, Police, sniper, PPS, ASIS, ASLET, TSCM, Security Consulting, High Security, Security Evaluation, Electronic Surveillance, MI-17, Counterterrorism, spies, eavesdropping, debugging, interception, COCOT, rhost, rhosts, SETA, Amherst, Broadside, Capricorn, Gamma, Gorizont, Guppy, Ionosphere, Mole, Keyhole, Kilderkin, Artichoke, Badger, Cornflower, Daisy, Egret, Iris, Hollyhock, Jasmine, Juile, Vinnell, B.D.M.,Sphinx, Stephanie, Reflection, Spoke, Talent, Trump, FX, FXR, IMF, POCSAG, Covert Video, Intiso, r00t, lock picking, Beyond Hope, csystems, passwd, 2600 Magazine, Competitor, EO, Chan, Alouette,executive, Event Security, Mace, Cap-Stun, stakeout, ninja, ASIS, ISA, EOD, Oscor, Merlin, NTT, SL-1, Rolm, TIE, Tie-fighter, PBX, SLI, NTT, MSCJ, MIT, 69, RIT, Time, MSEE, Cable & Wireless, CSE, Embassy, ETA, Porno, Fax, finks, Fax encryption, white noise, pink noise, CRA, M.P.R.I., top secret, Mossberg, 50BMG, Macintosh Security, Macintosh Internet Security, Macintosh Firewalls, Unix Security, VIP Protection, SIG, sweep, Medco, TRD, TDR, sweeping, TELINT, Audiotel, Harvard, 1080H, SWS, Asset, Satellite imagery, force, Cypherpunks, Coderpunks, TRW, remailers, replay, redheads, RX-7, explicit, FLAME, Pornstars, AVN, Playboy, Anonymous, Sex, chaining, codes, Nuclear, 20, subversives, SLIP, toad, fish, data havens, unix, c, a, b, d, the, Elvis, quiche, DES, 1*, NATIA, NATOA, sneakers, counterintelligence, industrial espionage, PI, TSCI, industrial intelligence, H.N.P., Juiliett Class Submarine, Locks, loch, Ingram Mac-10, sigvoice, ssa, E.O.D., SEMTEX, penrep, racal, OTP, OSS, Blowpipe, CCS, GSA, Kilo Class, squib, primacord, RSP, Becker, Nerd, fangs, Austin, Comirex, GPMG, Speakeasy, humint, GEODSS, SORO, M5, ANC, zone, SBI, DSS, S.A.I.C., Minox, Keyhole, SAR, Rand Corporation, Wackenhutt, EO, Wackendude, mol, Hillal, GGL, CTU, botux, Virii, CCC, Blacklisted 411, Internet Underground, XS4ALL, Retinal Fetish, Fetish, Yobie, CTP, CATO, Phon-e, Chicago Posse, l0ck, spook keywords, PLA, TDYC, W3, CUD, CdC, Weekly World News, Zen, World Domination, Dead, GRU, M72750, Salsa, 7, Blowfish, Gorelick, Glock, Ft. Meade, press-release, Indigo, wire transfer, e-cash, Bubba the Love Sponge, Digicash, zip, SWAT, Ortega, PPP, crypto-anarchy, AT&T, SGI, SUN, MCI, Blacknet, Middleman, KLM, Blackbird, plutonium, Texas, jihad, SDI, Uzi, Fort Meade, supercomputer, bullion, 3, Blackmednet, Propaganda, ABC, Satellite phones, Planet-1, cryptanalysis, nuclear, FBI, Panama, fissionable, Sears Tower, NORAD, Delta Force, SEAL, virtual, Dolch, secure shell, screws, Black-Ops, Area51, SABC, basement, data-haven, black-bag, TEMPSET, Goodwin, rebels, ID, MD5, IDEA, garbage, market, beef, Stego, unclassified, utopia, orthodox, Alica, SHA, Global, gorilla, Bob, Pseudonyms, MITM, Gray Data, VLSI, mega, Leitrim, Yakima, Sugar Grove, Cowboy, Gist, 8182, Gatt, Platform, 1911, Geraldton, UKUSA, veggie, 3848, Morwenstow, Consul, Oratory, Pine Gap, Menwith, Mantis, DSD, BVD, 1984, Flintlock, cybercash, government, hate, speedbump, illuminati, president, freedom, cocaine, $, Roswell, ESN, COS, E.T., credit card, b9, fraud, assasinate, virus, anarchy, rogue, mailbomb, 888, Chelsea, 1997, Whitewater, MOD, York, plutonium, William Gates, clone, BATF, SGDN, Nike, Atlas, Delta, TWA, Kiwi, PGP 2.6.2., PGP 5.0i, PGP 5.1, siliconpimp, Lynch, 414, Face, Pixar, IRIDF, eternity server, Skytel, Yukon, Templeton, LUK, Cohiba, Soros, Standford, niche, 51, H&K, USP, ^, sardine, bank, EUB, USP, PCS, NRO, Red Cell, Glock 26, snuffle, Patel, package, ISI, INR, INS, IRS, GRU, RUOP, GSS, NSP, SRI, Ronco, Armani, BOSS, Chobetsu, FBIS, BND, SISDE, FSB, BfV, IB, froglegs, JITEM, SADF, advise, TUSA, HoHoCon, SISMI, FIS, MSW, Spyderco, UOP, SSCI, NIMA, MOIS, SVR, SIN, advisors, SAP, OAU, PFS, Aladdin, chameleon man, Hutsul, CESID, Bess, rail gun, Peering, 17, 312, NB, CBM, CTP, Sardine, SBIRS, SGDN, ADIU, DEADBEEF, IDP, IDF, Halibut, SONANGOL, Flu, &, Loin, PGP 5.53, EG&G, AIEWS, AMW, WORM, MP5K-SD, 1071, WINGS, cdi, DynCorp, UXO, Ti, THAAD, package, chosen, PRIME, SURVIAC,UFO.

I have taken the liberty of highlighting some of the words that make me go hmmm...Y'all just let me know what you think, if someone should ever read this. For the most part a great majority of these words kick in the "Duh!" reflex, but some of them, Sardine? UFO (really?!?!)? Alicia? market, beef??

Okay I have one concession, Nike (in Latin I think) means to conquer, but still leaves me wondering a little.

Some I don't even know what they mean, like the number combinations. 1071? 1911(other than it's close to 9/11)?

I know this other blog was basically posting this (more than likely anyway) to thumb their nose at the "evil nosey gov" types. But this is merely an attempt to understand. This other blogger may have even added a few just for giggles, but you never know.

"Bob"? really?!?!"Bubba the love sponge"? Who would even type that, well, other than me?

UPDATE: 24082011
Just to let you know, Bubba the love sponge is a DJ. He must be an edgy one at that...what do you do to get on the gov radar? Just sayin'...

Living the Dream

2011-08-20T11:27:00.000-05:00

I have to tell y'all, I was able to work at my dream job for 10 years. 10 years! I loved it! The craziness, the excitement, the purity of exhilaration. It was fantastic. I was just shy of living, breathing and eating it. Don't get me wrong I wasn't jumping up out of bed everyday all fired up about work. I ~~loved~~ LOVED the job, some of my co-workers I wouldn't have thought twice about throwing out of the fifth floor window, but the job- fantastic! What job you ask? I was a police officer.

Blood. Sweat. Tears. And I will forever cherish every last drop of each. You take a few licks, you chase, you catch, you fight, and you win. I have worked with some of the most craptastic people ( a hand full of co-workers), you expect to take the crap from the people you deal with on the streets, not your fellow officer. (You know who you are ya ~~BASTARDS~~ MORONS.) On the other hand my life has also been graced with some of the best human beings to ever walk this planet. These people ooze with professionalism and integrity. I made some great friends that I will keep for a lifetime. People that I will always love, some of whom I did arrest, mostly who I worked with. I lost a few friends threw the years (Howard, Chad, David M.,David L., Gene, and Ms. B .). I will forever cherish their memories- forever.

We all had a little bit of craziness in our blood, all LEOs do. We had to. We carried a gun to work and never gave it a second though.

Me and the officers I worked with, we did it and we did it right. We did it with honor and integrity. St. Michael would be proud.

One thing I know for sure, I will always bleed blue.

Happy Independence Day!!!

2011-07-04T07:14:00.000-05:00

July 4th!! I love July 4th. There is just something magical about it, serving an albeit distant second only to Christmas and Easter.
Neighbors coming together to have a big bar-b-q and kids running around, outside, all day. What a great day. And then capping off the day with fireworks. There always seemed to be one or two people in the neighborhood who would get the really good fireworks.
Take the time, I mean really take the time, to read the Declaration of Independence. I know, blada, blada, blada... no really we all need to read it. Those men took the time to go over that document using very specific wording. Every point made in it was very intentional.
Take the time, you won't regret it.

God and country

2011-07-03T11:42:00.000-05:00

I'm sure by the time anyone reads this it will be old news, but here we go anyway.

The National Cemetery in Houston, Tx., or I should more clearly state, the head honcho at the National Cemetery, decided that the word "God" and the name of Jesus, could not be mentioned at any service whether it be graveside or other wise. WHAT?!?! She further stated that all prayers must be submitted for government approval. What the - (I'm a good Christian and I won't drop the "F" bomb, I'm a good Christian and I won't drop the "F" bomb...) Government approval?!?!?! What country are we in again??? I will NEVER submit any religious article, doctrine, cannon, or other such material for government approval, much less a prayer. I would think it would extraordinarily difficult to get more personal than how you speak to God.

I don't remember the ladies name that is in charge of the cemetery in Houston,but, to whoever you are, you are an enemy of religion and you are an enemy of freedom. The good Lord tells us to pray for our enemies, which I plan to do, not out of a sense of obligation, but because He told us it is a work of mercy. And you, ma'am, are in desperate need of mercy.

Starting with a quote

2011-07-03T01:26:00.000-05:00

I love quotes! It seems like no one can say it better than someone else... well sometimes.

This is one of my personal favorites and seeing is how my first post is on July 3rd I just can't help myself.

"Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
and this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"

This is the last four lines of the Star Spangled Banner, as written by Francis Scott Key, during the war of 1812 while the battle of Baltimore raged on.

We all need to hold dear that motto. We need it now more than ever.