IT'S FOR YOU!

Remember the old dial phones that everyone used to have? I can still feel the small holes where you put your one finger and turned the dial to make a call. I decided to make a journal page about it last night.

MI SHEBEIRBACH FOR HAITI

A PRAYER FOR HEALING BY DEBBIE FRIEDMAN: Added to Quicklist 1:54 MAY THE SOURCE OF STRENGTH, WHO BLESS THE ONES BEFORE US, HELP US FIND THE COURAGE, TO MAKE OUR LIVES A BLESSING AND LET US SAY, AMEN. BLESS THOSE IN NEED OF HEALING, RENEWAL OF BODIES, RENEWAL OF SPIRIT, AND LET US SAY, AMEN!

RHYTHM

This was a journal entry that I drew. I am thinking about Spring and wishing that all the green that we lost in the big freeze, would return. Lately I have seen pairs of Cardinals flying around my back yard. They have a special chirp that I have learned to recognize. So go outside and really listen to the rhythm of the birds!

PHOTOGRAPHING TRAGEDY

What do you think? Where do you draw the line between art and news? Does there have to be a distinction? Isn't art, fundamentally, a tool to stir the soul? Can news photographs be both factual and beautiful -- even if tragic? Visit the link below and tell me what YOU think! http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2010/01/photographing_tragedy_the_line.html

COULD YOU LIVE HERE?

A friend sent me an e-mail about celebrity homes and how much the taxes must be on these huge estates! We are house shopping and I can tell you that there is NOTHING like this in Houston!

Billy Joel's home:

Oprah's home:

Halle Berry's home:

John Travolta's home:

Tiger Wood's home (for now)

HADASSAH IS HELPING HAITI

I am a life member of a group called Hadassah. Israel was among the first responders to the crisis in Haiti last week, sending IDF rescue troops and medical personnel from Hadassah and other hospitals within days of the devastating earthquake. Because of Israel’s long experience with bombs and terror attacks, the army and medical community are expert at handling emergency rescue and medical crises. Hadassah is proud that doctors and an OR nurse from Hadassah Medical Organization are among the personnel that, in short order, set up a tent hospital that includes surgical and medical departments, two operating rooms, an intensive care unit, an emergency room and a maternity ward. Translators accompanied the Israeli contingent to aid doctors. The hospital is set on a soccer field in Port-au-Prince. Doctor Shir Dar delivered the first baby born at the Israeli field hospital--a joyful sign of life amid so much death and destruction. The grateful mother said she will name her son Israel. If you would like to donate click on the link: https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donorcustom.asp?c=9fLKJSOuHpE&b=386923&auid=5838865&kntaw5855=C2276175791644D2A5A49839BFB1901C

ANIMATION ART

http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs13/f/2007/077/2/e/Animator_vs__Animation_by_alanbecker.swf This is a fabulous animation example from Alan Becker. I love how creative someone can be. (they must have a lot of time on their hands)

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

A message every adult should read because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking'

HEY MOMMA

Added to Quic Added to Quicklist

All you MOMMA'S out there, get up and "DO IT" and then "DO IT AGAIN!" Gotta love the Black Eyed Peas. I just discovered how much I enjoy their music.

SEXISM OR SEX APPEAL

If you go to an auto show in Geneva or Paris or Tokyo, sometimes it is hard to see the flashy new cars through the stick thin fashion models striking poses in front of them. They had been banned from American auto shows but now they are returning! Since Italy's Fiat is running Chrysler the fashion models are posing right in front of all the new models of cars. Beautiful cars and beautiful models... WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Where are the male models to "STRIKE -A- POSE"? Does this signal sexism is back in the auto industry?

THE POWER AND DANGER OF ICONOGRAPHY

IS IT A CULT? Watch this video and decide for yourself.

Added to Quicklist8:09

WEED TAKES ROOT

Marijuana's steady creep toward legalization nationwide is a bit scary! Never has there been such a concerted thrust to legalize the drug nationwide — for medical purposes, for the plain old joy of getting stoned and for a gold mine in profits to be reaped by those who control the multi-pronged industry. I was reading an article about this and wanted to share.

CNBC has run and rerun its recent documentary Inside America's Pot Industry, exposing the booming pot trade and the sordid side of California's largest cash crop — the shootings, thefts and arson fires. Have you seen it?

Ah, Obama. Many attribute a good share of the present impetus to Obama, the third president in a row to acknowledge smoking weed. Bill Clinton famously claimed he never inhaled. George Bush fessed up only after a private admission was secretly recorded and leaked to ABC News. Obama won the everlasting affection of the pro-pot crowd when he addressed the matter of inhaling and asked, "Isn't that the point?"

Together with a rapidly shifting public attitude toward pot and a White House willing to accept state medical-marijuana laws, legalization seems as inevitable today as it was unthinkable a generation ago.

ODOSKETCH

http://sketch.odopod.com/ Odosketch is a website that plays back the artwork allowing you to see the art-making process. You can make art and share it with others, too. Check it out!

THE ANNE FRANK DIARY

Dutch Woman Who Found Anne Frank Diary, Dies at 100

A friend sent this link to me this morning about a Dutch woman named Miep Gies, who helped Anne Frank and her family hide from the Nazi's in Amsterdam. She discovered Anne's diary and was able to save it. She wanted to give it back to the young girl but after having learned that she died in the concentration camp called Bergen-Belsen, Gies gave the diary to the only surviving family member, Otto Frank, Anne's dad. I visited this place in Amsterdam and was VERY overwhelmed by the size of their "hidden" quarters! To imagine my family having to go into hiding is just beyond my comprehension!

Please follow the link and read this powerful article:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-11/miep-gies-dutch-woman-who-found-anne-frank-diary-dies-at-100.html

MEDICAL CLOWNS

Dream Doctor's Project sounds like a wonderful way to treat young patients who are in the hospital. Although I am a hospital clown, I am not a trained medical doctor who can do procedures and work along with the nurses. But we both can motivate and cheer up the patients. I love what I do but this video is really worth watching. These doctors are currently practicing in Israel at children's hospitals.

BLOWING LEAVES

How simple is it to take a blower and get busy on those pesky leaves on the ground? I saw our neighbor doing just that and decided to grab my camera and take some shots. I thought it would make an interesting shot but most important I was inspired to pick up my camera and shoot again. Since my foot surgery I have been in a funk and haven't taken one shot in two weeks. I think laying around has filled me with a depression that I need to crawl out of. I am soooo bored!!!!

When I walk along through autumn leaves That must have fallen last night It seems the leaves are tears that I cried last night.

By Bunyan, Jennifer Vashti

TIGER, FIND YOUR SOUL!

Added to Quicklist0:54

Brit Hume turned evangelist on Fox New Sunday, in a segment with panelists predicting the future for Tiger Woods after Woods' notable "transgressions" , believes he should turn his faith to Christ. Hume forecasts Woods will recover as a golfer but whether he can recover as a person depends on "his faith. Tiger is said to be a Buddhist. I don't think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith. So my message to Tiger would be, "Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world."

And Jews have advice, too. Rabbi Irwin Kula told the Jewish Journal that the Nike spokesman -- and the rest of us -- should learn from the patriarchs that you can't "just do it" when "it" is wrong. The Torah teaches us that real change takes time and effort, and there’s no quick fix. The only way to make it happen is through patience, belief, dedication and hard work. And after we do our part, we have to pray that He does His part in making the things we want to happen…happen.

Does Tiger Woods have to have a faith -- any faith or just your faith -- to be seen as good again?

GREAT PRANK

I ran across this while reading the news this morning. I didn't even know there was a "BIZARRE" section of the news! Ha... What a great prank!

CHICAGO, IL -- A Chicago man could be unwrapping the hundreds of Christmas gifts spread around his apartment for days, even weeks.

Trouble is, they aren't really presents. They're his own belongings meticulously wrapped by friends as a prank while he was out of town.

His friend Adal Rifai masterminded the scheme after Saunders gave him a spare key. It took 16 people, 35 rolls of wrapping paper and eight hours to finish the job. Louie Saunders' packages contain everything from couch cushions to the beer in his refrigerator. Saunders tells the Chicago Sun-Times he's only been able to unwrap about 10 percent of the packages. He jokes that the upside is that, with each package he unwraps, he finds something inside that's just what he needs.

CLEAN HOUSE

Watch this video by clicking on it: Cleaning up my house doesn't look so bad after watching this video. I bitch about having to keep it straight while they are showing it since we have it up for sale. Guess I will keep my mouth shut now! Ha... One of my art groups that I belong to is asking everyone to pick a word to describe what their year in art will be like. I should choose the word "CLUTTER". I will try hard to keep my house and mind clean and clutter free. I am a pack rat and love to look for those treasures that one can find at garage sales and resale shops. But when you start bringing them into your home it can clutter up your well being. (only people that also enjoy this form of entertainment understand what I am saying) So it really is hard for me to live a clutter free life. Maybe we will look for a modern home where the decor is minimalistic.