Yikees! Look how long it's been. That means that no one bothers to check this blog anymore. You, dear reader, just happened here on a lark, right?

My mother was here for a week and that displaced all blog time. I drove to get her and drove her back- all in day trips. Then on the way here we had to get her dog to the kennel. My home is sure death for that dog. If he doesn't run out on the road, my huge dog would no doubt do him damage. Or else ...being a min. schnauzer he would just start to run and keep on running. And there are miles to cover before we would know where to look. Nightmare, absolute nightmare. So I am glad my mom wanted her doggie safe in a kennel for the week.

Things with the visit went well. Another surprise. Usually we have "tiffs", but not this time. I suppose because I did not lose my temper when she did the "weeding" of my pinks and moss phlox. I got over that sort of thing years ago after she proudly rooted out all my campanula cochlearfolia. That was the last my garden had of that. Only one scare this time: she wanted to "prune" my mugho pine. You cut that baby back to old growth and it is gone! So I am glad she asked me. Other than that, she did a good job cleaning out the areas I had sanctioned. Looks much, much neater; and I would never have found the time to do that ( wasn't on the agenda).

My mother likes to weed in the garden... and cut the bangs on child's hair; but that is another story. She will also groom your dog, if it is one of those little dogs like my sister's Shih Tzu.

Then it was on to executor work. I should be finishing up this coming month. Hopefully.

Next week my Uncle is coming for an overnight stay. My Dad's youngest brother, so I'll see if he wants to look through any of my Dad's family stuff or not. My Dad saved all sorts of letters and Christmas cards, etc. Not that there was lots of quantity, but it goes back a long ways.

My garden got a little work put into it, but then I got waylaid. I am in the midst of probably 100 irons in the fire. You think I surely exaggerate. I'll let you think that.

It's crazy how I live sometimes. Makes no real sense. Gots to go...maybe I will sneak in another audioblog.....

I was going to audioblog last night, but then just didn't feel like it. I don't like the phone very much. People who know me well know this fact... and now you!

I posted some more serious stuff on truegrit. I amnot a funny person normally... only by the occasional accidental "Wow-I was kinda funny". Mostly I am serious and that makes me sort of an Eeyore wet-blanket dead serious type. Good in a pinch though.

I had a long rambling post up in my thoughts, but my life is calling to me to do all the hardcore work that I have to do. Common laborer stuff.

You know what would make a funny post? If I used the replace all option on the spell-check and you got the machines version of what I write. But maybe funny only to me...just gobbled idiocy to you......oh....wait.....

You can always tell when a blog is made by someone who is technologically proficient AND organized. Which in my mind are synonymous characteristics, but probably aren't.

Those sorts of blogs are usually minimalist in styling, but highly pleasing in aesthetics. They have all these neat and tidy categories that help you navigate through the posts and topics.

Then you have the distractable types like me... trying desperately to pull things together and using all sorts of styles and gizmos to get it all to work.

There are those who transport their love of websites to blog form... but these always seem more like a website than a blog. Yes, there is a large difference in my opinion. That doesn't make it official by any means. (See how humble I can be when talking about something I have no real grasp of?) ( See how I will ignore those who feel that is my usual modus operandi and that it cloaks an enormous ego?).

I don't mean to have a treatise on blogging... I just was admiring the exceptional organizational traits that some people exhibit through their blog structure and design.

Go ahead and pop my bubble and tell me that software could have done all this for me too!

Well, folks, that was another rather sad audio from me. I have had some truly head-shaking reality checks of late. How I go blank on tape, what I look like in a digital pic.... I don't know if I want this much reality all at once.

My next audio will address people I know. That is my plan to try to get more comfortable with recording. The problem is that I have absolutely no idea where I want those audio posts to go. I don't do well with filling up purposeless space with meaningless fluff.

...or maybe I do and ..... help me! My written is about as bad as my recorded post at this point.

I just looked at a "Klingon" blog.

I am sorry. I didn't get the point.

It is sort of like when you are a kid and you want a secret language for you and your friends... before you discover how hard it is for people to really understand each other anyway, and that secrets aren't power, but communication is....

Just blew steam.

Are you ready? I will soon make another audio blog.

Alright. So the first was disappointing, th egirl has just got to hit her grooove. Yeah, baby.

( and no, you will not catch me talking like that AUDIBLY; I save that for the online interactions of my inner mind;)

And speaking-sort of- about that, I hardly ever wink. But you have to do that all the time with those little emoticons.

Lately I am full of dreams... the kind where you are planning something, not the sleeping kind. But I don't have any idea what will do with them. They are very difficult to accomplish and I have a constricted amount of time to work with.

What a let-down. I tried and tried to contact audioblog, but they were down for maintenance... and then I did the famous 'put my back out". This time very badly. Couldn't crawl without pain. I cried from the frustration. It made me think of people who face that type of debility every day.

I can't imagine.

I will try to call again...although I started to think, maybe it will cost a fortune in long distance??? Well, I plan to learn the hard way. When I get the bill. heh.

Now I am back on the computer after my brief 'sick leave'. OK, that's it, I don't feel like any depth today. Going to peruse the old blogroll.

I was too distracted and didn't settle down to compose myself for the first audio. Yes, I am like that.

Ever clean a toilet? Think about this nightmare.

I mean who thinks up these things? The new rococo .... good grief.

I am going to tryout the free audioblogger on this page. The idea of making a fool of myself scares me a bit... but I will get over it. Whether with self fulfilled prophecy or with unfounded fears shall be seen. Or heard.

I almost did last night, but two things put me off: I wasn't sure I wanted the sound of the fan in the background, and it was late at night... tempting me to late night confessional. Not good for tentaive posting.

I'd like to do just one or two to hear my own voice. It always sounds different than you think it will. Bon Chance to me. And no, I probably will not show off my horrid French pronunciation.

Also, I'm changing the page a bit. Just tweaks for now.

I learned a new word today, "colophon". I don't know why, but there are very few new words that I learn anymore. It is not like I know them all... it is more that it is highly unusual for people to use a more imaginative vocabulary.

I'm guilty of late, aussi.

Anyway here is what that word means:

An inscription, monogram, or cipher, containing the place and date of publication, printer's name, etc., formerly placed on the last page of a book.


col·o·phon ( P ) Pronunciation Key (kl-fn, -fn)
n.
An inscription placed usually at the end of a book, giving facts about its publication.
A publisher's emblem or trademark placed

thanks to dictionary.com.... my online dictionary of choice.

I saw it on someone's label for the usual blogging props.

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I have noticed a correlation:

When I am on the computer alot, I snack alot. I don't know why -but it makes me voraciously hungry. And nothing short of a day of swimming and sunning could possibly make me that hungry.

I think this is why I gained weight this past year. Well, and the stress. Can't forget that contribution... but it used to be that I didn't eat when I was stressed......

I think I am more calm now maybe. I don't get that "stomach tied in knots" thingy anymore. I eat and be happy instead. Not good for the cholesterol levels...or anything else really.

I need to find other coping mechanisms. My husband suggests sex. I just laugh him off ;)

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Again, I am blogging too much. No reason really, just sort of got in the flow and it swept me away. Maybe I just don't want to get back into my obligatory stuff. That is probably part of it.

Maybe it's the weather. Yes, that's it. I'll blame the weather.

I am a little put out by the rainyness and otherwise oppressive dampness, but underneath is some of the sun-instilled optimism of my vacation respite. Not quite ready to break out in a rendition of "I feeeeel GOOD!" but still buoyed.

I am more aware of how the little nastiness of life and people's dogged attempts at creating mindless trouble are the sources of lots of general depression. I must learn to dismiss that... and not to indulge in it myself. I think that is the only way to stay afloat in a more positive frame of mind.

This is my post for now... I'll add to it later....maybe. I just have lots I am doing on the computer. Virus-busting for instance.

Hidey-Ho! I am back from vacation. I posted in truegrit ( twice ;)..... and now forgot what I was going say here. Oops.

Um, I think it was about how hot it is here, hot and humid. And about the herbal pro-biotic that my sister recommended. I found it while at a great health food place in South Carolina, Earth Fare. It's called Primal Defense. Hopefully it helps me; even though it was 25% off it costs quite a bit. I'm not even sure what all it is s'posed to do, but she recommended it and I thought I would give it a whirl.

I walked the beach alot, and baked in the sun, although baking is something I don't usually do. I just figured the sunshine and sea air would improve me. It did. I think I needed two more weeks though. South Carolina is a bit hot at this time of year- I prefer Apr-May.

We spent a day at Middleton Gardens, but it was not so much a garden as a historical site. Magnolia Gardens -which we visited last time we were in Charleston was a more satisfactory garden.

I woke up with a terrible sore throat today. The family has been going through a lousy sort of cold virus and now it is my turn. So far, I still breathe. heh.

While I still feel good enough I am going to eat some cheescake..... not just any kind, but one made with lemon mascarpone mousse filling. And I will enjoy every calorie laden bite.

I have been sleeping better and that is a good thing. Well... the cheescake calls!

I keep putting the spiceytea posts in other blogs...bad me. It is spring and I am working everything like crazy. Everything...all at the same time. Let me tell you, this does not feel good to do. But it makes headway into the obligations. I have lots I want to post in truegrit, but get bogged down by either emotions or demands on my time. This is a good thing, it keeps me from blathering about silliness. By the time I put together something, hopefully it will have thought behind it. Always best for putting something in th epublic review. Ha!

Besides, I want to say really awful things about some of my relatives sometimes. Can't do that. Major regrets if I do.

The humidity makes me feel sloggy, too. that is sluggish and bloated, and was meant to be shorthand, but I just now didactically ruined it. I have no finesse. Truth.

Want to know who I used to want to look like ( in my early teens)? Marianne Faithfull. I used to want to look like her and sing like her. At that time she was my favorite female rock star.

I just came across some site that mentioned her and then did a look-up to see what happened as the years ensued. Wild. While she not much regretful, it is a sad story to read. But she seems to have come out OK -free from heroin addiction and doing new things in her career. Good for her. Check out the history on some of your own favs: swinginchicks of the sixties

The days have been good. And today, with lovely warm weather, I enjoyed homemade bread with butter, excellent coffee, and I felt really great. Things are going better than usual... and when it is like that I fully enjoy it, but I also have thoughts about those who are having a hard time. I don't know why my mind works that way. I am not feeling guilty or anything, but I think about the young men and women in Iraq, and how much they must miss their homes and how difficult their circumstances are,,, not even mentioning that their lives are at risk each day and they must, in war circumstances, be seeing heart wrenching things. Things that most of us here in the States cannot even imagine. Even with media coverage.

I think about Christians who are being horribly persecuted and minorities who are srtuggling in countries where their lives are persecuted in the most terrible ways.

I send up prayer dart to the Lord to help and bless these people. And I realize that for myself within my peace and comfort I am just grateful.

And I hope better things for them.

Thanks to Blogger, I now have a GMail account. I am pretty happy with it...just from looking through. I haven't actually tried using it yet, simply because I decided to keep it for particular purposes. I have no idea how it handles spam, so I am reticent to put it out in public on blogs and in sign-ups. I used to use a Netscape mail, but that was so awful due to no control of incoming messages. It is a cesspool of spam. I retain it for the sake that it is an email for some of the website services I signed up for.

But I hate cleaning out all the spam. Yahoo has been pretty good and I use hotmail for sure spam sources. I figure that it will be the spam filter for me, I just delete 98% of the mail that goes to that address.

It would be more efficient to have the internet control the spammers, but until then.....
multiple email accounts. But keeping all those passwords.... yowie.