You had no idea you wanted to know, did you?
1. What is your occupation right now? Account Executive
2. What color are your socks right now? What socks?
3. What are you listening to right now? The hum of the chiller pad underneath the laptop and Gypsy playing with her string toys.
4. What was the last thing that you ate? Roast chicken and mixed vegetables
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yep.
6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Dad
7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes
8. How old are you today? Younger than I've felt in months.
9. What happened to number 9? It went to go visit Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street and got mistaken for a cookie.
10. What is your favorite drink? It's a toss-up: Italian flip martini, oreo milkshake or a half-caf vanilla latte.
11. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yep, just not necessarily a color that would make you think it was dyed.
12. Favorite food? You mean right this second? Hmmm. Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Therapy. Later, it might be something else.
13. What is the last movie you watched? The Return of Zorro
14. Favorite holiday? Christmas
15. How do you vent anger? I cuss. Like a sailor. Loudly. Or frown and stalk off.
16. What was your favorite toy as a child? We had toys? Really? Seriously, I don't know the answer to this one.
17. What is your favorite season? SUMMER!
18. Cherries or Blueberries? Cherries
19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? Nope. I want them to reply to the tag I put on their blog and respond to the meme.
20. Who is the most likely to respond? Alli
21. Who is least likely to respond? Perhaps this question should be least likely to be the first to respond . . .
22. Living arrangements? A fab little craftsman with the world's best deck with a hot tub in a historic neighborhood that's not stuffy at all.
23. When was the last time you cried? When I woke up crying during the wee hours last Monday morning
25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? Jess ;)
26. What did you do last night? Cook jambalya and watch too much television. (For a girl who basically canceled her cable, that's quite a feat.)
27. What inspires you? Art; beauty; challenge; faith; friends; profundity.
28. What are you most afraid of? Snakes. The drain at the bottom of the pool, especially if it's painted black. (If you remember that I spent 5 years as a lifeguard at the city pools and that I LOVE to swim, this is pretty ironic.)
29. Plain cheese or spicy hamburgers? What?
30. Favorite dog breed? Siberian Husky or Greyhound or Border Collie.
31. Favorite day of the week? Friday (even though I normally work late on Fridays)
32. How many states have you lived in? 2
33. Last book you read? My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult
6.27.2008
Yummy
I love me some Antonio Banderas.
Especially opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Especially when I wouldn't mind being Catherine, at all.
Especially opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Especially when I wouldn't mind being Catherine, at all.
Oh, and since I did decide to watch The Mask of Zorro tonight, really, could they have made Catherine any more sexy while she is SWORD FIGHTING IN A STABLE????
6.26.2008
Money, Money, Money
So, Jess introduced me to this fabulous little tool back in November which tracks your Networth. You don't enter account numbers or anything; you just list your account positions and it tracks them over time for you. All that to say, I just finished my June update (I hadn't done one since December '07) and I'm glad to say my net worth is now positive. Yeah! 'Course, that's mainly because my house value went up, my car value (odd, I know) went up, and my retirement went up (some). Up is definitely a good direction.
Here's the site, in case you're interested.
And no, my profile isn't public. Sorry.
Here's the site, in case you're interested.
And no, my profile isn't public. Sorry.
6.23.2008
The Goodwill Ambassador of Dogs
Quissu, which is Catalonian for "puppy," wasn't the first pet that I've had die during my lifetime, but she was my first dog. Being part of a "cat family" I grew up quite afraid of dogs. I'd been knocked over by an overzealous dog when I was much younger and it scared me quite a bit. Dogs were not a part of my growing up experience - and I was happy to keep it that way.
In 1999, I met Quissu. While she was a very energetic dog, an 8-year-old black Siberian Husky with beautiful blue eyes, she was also the "goodwill ambassador of dogs"--a rarity for huskies, I now know. She charmed me with the way she'd kiss you or the way she behaved with the cat. She made me laugh with her quizzical expressions and her boundless energy to chase squirrels--that she could never catch. She could shift her eyebrows and work her "puppy dog eyes" like none other.
And she didn't just have that effect on me. My entire "cat family" soon came to know and love Quissu as well. Although she was mischievous (she once got "arrested" by the city police for being in the park a half-mile from my house exploring all by herself and meeting new people after jumping over the fence), she won all of our hearts.
Unfortunately, as she grew older, the genetics of being a pure-bred dog caught up with her. She developed a localized cancer on her front left paw that kept returning. After having the tumor removed four times, at the suggestion of the vet I finally had her leg amputated. At 13, she had to learn how to walk all over again, with only three legs. She did quite well, although I had to buy a number of throw rugs for the house as she now slid around on my hardwood floors.
As she aged, her health began to deteriorate even faster. Late last year, she developed idiopathic old dog vestibular disease: basically, she was dizzy and the vets didn't know why. She couldn't stand because she couldn't figure out which way was up. Luckily, it turned out to be short-term as it lasted only a week.
Quissu just died about a month ago. While it was definitely expected, I hadn't realized how much she meant to me.
Quissu's ashes are now buried under a St. Francis of Assisi statue in my backyard. It carries on my family's tradition: we've always asked St. Francis to look over our animals, even after their death.
My friends, family and especially my vet - Abri Veterinary Hospital - were all very helpful to me. My mother left work to come be with me for a while and cried with me. My father helped me take Quissu's body to the vet for cremation. My vet encouraged me to cry when I called; I hadn't known what to do with her body. "We've got all the time in the world, honey. Take your time," they said.
I received cards from my family and my sister came into town to stay with me. She helped me decide what to do with Quissu's stuff and how to share the news with someone who loved her deeply. I also received a very special card from the vet: because of Quissu's illness over the years, their staff had all come to know her quite well. The entire staff had signed the card, complete with kind memories of Quissu in it.
Dear Quissu, rest in peace. Yours was a long, wonderful life filled with love and joy. I know you're now being the Goodwill Ambassador of Dogs to all the angels now. And chasing squirrels that you just can't catch.
Love always, me & Gypsy
In 1999, I met Quissu. While she was a very energetic dog, an 8-year-old black Siberian Husky with beautiful blue eyes, she was also the "goodwill ambassador of dogs"--a rarity for huskies, I now know. She charmed me with the way she'd kiss you or the way she behaved with the cat. She made me laugh with her quizzical expressions and her boundless energy to chase squirrels--that she could never catch. She could shift her eyebrows and work her "puppy dog eyes" like none other.
And she didn't just have that effect on me. My entire "cat family" soon came to know and love Quissu as well. Although she was mischievous (she once got "arrested" by the city police for being in the park a half-mile from my house exploring all by herself and meeting new people after jumping over the fence), she won all of our hearts.
Unfortunately, as she grew older, the genetics of being a pure-bred dog caught up with her. She developed a localized cancer on her front left paw that kept returning. After having the tumor removed four times, at the suggestion of the vet I finally had her leg amputated. At 13, she had to learn how to walk all over again, with only three legs. She did quite well, although I had to buy a number of throw rugs for the house as she now slid around on my hardwood floors.
As she aged, her health began to deteriorate even faster. Late last year, she developed idiopathic old dog vestibular disease: basically, she was dizzy and the vets didn't know why. She couldn't stand because she couldn't figure out which way was up. Luckily, it turned out to be short-term as it lasted only a week.
Quissu just died about a month ago. While it was definitely expected, I hadn't realized how much she meant to me.
Quissu's ashes are now buried under a St. Francis of Assisi statue in my backyard. It carries on my family's tradition: we've always asked St. Francis to look over our animals, even after their death.
My friends, family and especially my vet - Abri Veterinary Hospital - were all very helpful to me. My mother left work to come be with me for a while and cried with me. My father helped me take Quissu's body to the vet for cremation. My vet encouraged me to cry when I called; I hadn't known what to do with her body. "We've got all the time in the world, honey. Take your time," they said.
I received cards from my family and my sister came into town to stay with me. She helped me decide what to do with Quissu's stuff and how to share the news with someone who loved her deeply. I also received a very special card from the vet: because of Quissu's illness over the years, their staff had all come to know her quite well. The entire staff had signed the card, complete with kind memories of Quissu in it.
Dear Quissu, rest in peace. Yours was a long, wonderful life filled with love and joy. I know you're now being the Goodwill Ambassador of Dogs to all the angels now. And chasing squirrels that you just can't catch.Love always, me & Gypsy
6.22.2008
6.18.2008
The Blessing of Patience
March 16, 1999
Nothing is so set that it will never change. We should never give in to challenges that throw us off center.
Wait a while. Something may be working that we don't know about.
Don't accept everything as it appears. It can change in a minute and swing our way.
Some of our best decisions are based on standing still until we can get the big picture. When life is easy, complex patterns of life can develop.
Peace,
Tawanka
Nothing is so set that it will never change. We should never give in to challenges that throw us off center.
Wait a while. Something may be working that we don't know about.
Don't accept everything as it appears. It can change in a minute and swing our way.
Some of our best decisions are based on standing still until we can get the big picture. When life is easy, complex patterns of life can develop.
Peace,
Tawanka
6.17.2008
Bragging Rights, Round 2
Not too long ago, I posted about my sister winning an international grant writing competition. Well, today, I get to brag on the other sister: she's just been published--AGAIN.
It's her second paper on nanotechnology - you know, that fairly new scientific study of, well, tiny, tiny, tiny particulate matter? (Click here for a more robust definition, provided by Wikipedia.)
Very basically, they studied whether you could inhale nanoparticles that you'd made if you used standard lab equipment. That's what air quality environmental engineers do. They wanna know what the air quality is like.
And really, who'd want to inhale a fullerene (a.k.a., a buckyball in some instances) or a carbon nanotube? So you have some idea, here's a fullerene:
And here's a carbon nanotube:
If you're interested, you can read said article in the May 14 issue of Environmental Science Technology, published by the American Chemical Society.
Congrats, little sis!
It's her second paper on nanotechnology - you know, that fairly new scientific study of, well, tiny, tiny, tiny particulate matter? (Click here for a more robust definition, provided by Wikipedia.)
Very basically, they studied whether you could inhale nanoparticles that you'd made if you used standard lab equipment. That's what air quality environmental engineers do. They wanna know what the air quality is like.
And really, who'd want to inhale a fullerene (a.k.a., a buckyball in some instances) or a carbon nanotube? So you have some idea, here's a fullerene:
And here's a carbon nanotube:
If you're interested, you can read said article in the May 14 issue of Environmental Science Technology, published by the American Chemical Society.Congrats, little sis!
6.14.2008
Three for Today
Today's a big day for me. I'm getting together with the girls (even got some coming in from out of town) and we're gonna celebrate. It's been a while and by all accounts, I deserve it. Yeah, this one's all about me--but sometimes, it has to be all about you.
So here are my three for today:
- My horoscope from last Wednesday, which was definitely appropriate for that day and is just as appropriate for today:
- Today's word of the day, courtesy of Dictionary.com:
- Dawn Revisted, (c) Rita Dove.
So here are my three for today:
- My horoscope from last Wednesday, which was definitely appropriate for that day and is just as appropriate for today:
Your sensory awareness is turned up. The smell of the newspaper, the feel of a warm cup in your hand--it's an invitation to engage the world. It's like life itself is asking you to dance.
- Today's word of the day, courtesy of Dictionary.com:
prink \PRINGK\, transitive verb:
1. To dress up; to deck for show.
2. To dress or arrange oneself for show; to primp
- Dawn Revisted, (c) Rita Dove.
Imagine you wake up
with a second chance: The blue jay
hawks his pretty wares
and the oak still stands, spreading
glorious shade. If you don't look back,
the future never happens.
How good to rise in sunlight,
in the prodigal smell of biscuits-
eggs and sausage on the grill.
The whole sky is yours
to write on, blown open
to a blank page. Come on,
shake a leg! You'll never know
who's down there, frying those eggs,
if you don't get up and see.
with a second chance: The blue jay
hawks his pretty wares
and the oak still stands, spreading
glorious shade. If you don't look back,
the future never happens.
How good to rise in sunlight,
in the prodigal smell of biscuits-
eggs and sausage on the grill.
The whole sky is yours
to write on, blown open
to a blank page. Come on,
shake a leg! You'll never know
who's down there, frying those eggs,
if you don't get up and see.
6.11.2008
6.09.2008
You Need Yoda
I recently visited the Oak Hollow Market, on the corner of Hwy. 68 and Hwy. 311 in High Point to pick up a St. Francis for my yard. I've known about this place for years, from my time when I worked at the college and would drive by every single day. Never did take the time to stop in, but I finally did this past week.
I'm glad I did. It's such a fabulous place that I now wonder why people don't have more cool statuary in their yards. They've got tiny stuff (little turtles and frogs) to fountains to religious icons to gargoyles to the standard lions to great big angels and forest nymphs.
Just a fabulous collection.
And everyone needs a Yoda.
Or a jolly buddha.
I'm glad I did. It's such a fabulous place that I now wonder why people don't have more cool statuary in their yards. They've got tiny stuff (little turtles and frogs) to fountains to religious icons to gargoyles to the standard lions to great big angels and forest nymphs.
Just a fabulous collection.
And everyone needs a Yoda.
Or a jolly buddha.
6.03.2008
Why Yoga Makes Me Cry . . .
I'm intrigued because I've heard that it's not so unusual and I'm doing a good bit of crying in yoga myself these days.
And, since I'm on the subject: I absolutely love the Beginner's Yoga class at the Central Y, taught by Teresa. I'm not such a beginner and it's still pretty challenging.
Three favorite poses:
courtesy www.harmoniousliving.co.za
Child's pose
Some days my bum actually gets to my heels. Some days not. But something about resting your head gently against the ground just feels good, safe, restful and complete.
And, since I'm on the subject: I absolutely love the Beginner's Yoga class at the Central Y, taught by Teresa. I'm not such a beginner and it's still pretty challenging.
Three favorite poses:
courtesy www.harmoniousliving.co.zaChild's pose
Some days my bum actually gets to my heels. Some days not. But something about resting your head gently against the ground just feels good, safe, restful and complete.
courtesy mangO.netTree pose
My balance is so bad that I never thought I'd be able to do this. Granted, I still wobble a bit, but I love that I can get my foot to my inner thigh without falling.
courtesy yoga-ology.comWarrior 2
They're not kidding when they say that this one fills you with feelings of strength and confidence. I'm never gonna turn down an opportunity to get more of those feelings.
6.01.2008
Pefect for a Sunday (Or, Proof)
Or any day, really.
*******************************************************
(March 11, 1999)
Can you see the wind? Can you see the fragrance of flowers floating on the breezes? Can we see thought or what it is that changes a tree from bare limbs and brown leaves to plush green? Can you see love or joy or peace?
We can only see evidence of these invisible things, and it's enough to make us know they do exist. The substance of life is so evident, so real and beautiful. Why is it we ever question the existence of our Creator who set everything in motion?
We see the changes of day and night . . . the seasons, the stars, the moon, the sun. Anyone must know it is the work of someone more powerful than man.
Peace,
Tawanka
*******************************************************
(March 11, 1999)
Can you see the wind? Can you see the fragrance of flowers floating on the breezes? Can we see thought or what it is that changes a tree from bare limbs and brown leaves to plush green? Can you see love or joy or peace?
We can only see evidence of these invisible things, and it's enough to make us know they do exist. The substance of life is so evident, so real and beautiful. Why is it we ever question the existence of our Creator who set everything in motion?
We see the changes of day and night . . . the seasons, the stars, the moon, the sun. Anyone must know it is the work of someone more powerful than man.
Peace,
Tawanka
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