SWIM, BIKE, and RUN FOR THE GOLD

My son, Brent, ran in his first triathalon in Austin last weekend. He had a very impressive time and we were all very proud of him. WAY TO GO BRENT!!!! These three pictures were taken by a service that followed the race.

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN

Now that my computer is back from having a hard drive crash, I am able to share some photos from our fabulous vacation in Utah and Colorado. We spent one night in Moab, Utah and went on a long horseback ride. I rode as a child almost every day of my life. But to ride as an adult is a different story. Your legs and butt get tired after a while. The scenery was gorgeous but the day in the desert was hot-hot-hot!!! WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE ON A HORSE?

MAMA MIA

This is a picture of my adorable great niece named Mia. She was celebrating her second birthday when this picture was taken. Isn't she adorable?

She is about to become a big sister next week. Her parents are expecting their second child!!!!

Mia may experience a range of emotions, from jealousy to excitement and even resentment. Younger toddlers are unable to verbalize their feelings, and their behaviors may regress after the new child is born. They might suck their thumb, drink from a bottle, forget their recent potty training skills, and communicate using baby talk in an effort to get your attention. I know when I was born my big sister didn't want me around. It took about 40 years before she accepted having a little sister. Ha...

WALKING THE DOG

This image is hysterical. It isn't exactly what one thinks about when you are suppose to walk your dog. I do get up every morning and walk Zoey as far as I can get her to go. In our heat and humidity it is sometimes a challenge to get her to go far. We walk with my good friend Debby and her Doberman named KING. We make a funny pair walking through the neighborhoods. So if you have a dog...make sure you give them exercise EVERY DAY!!! It is your obligation as a dog owner to give them a walk.

COFFEE IS GOD

Caffeine Addict's Quiz

Do you want to know if you suffer from "Alertness Deficit Disorder" (ADD)? Then just take this simple quiz. These questions will help us to determine whether or not you suffer from this terrible affliction; the only known cure for which is caffeine. If you suffer from this disease, missing just one trip to Starbucks could be FATAL.

The following series of Yes/No questions will allow us to determine your Addiction Factor(TM). Keep track of the number of Yes and No answers you get and chart yourself at the end. Remember: Prevention is the best medicine. Or was it laughter? Either way, read on.

1. Do you use coffee to escape from your problems?

2. Do you eat spoonfuls of instant coffee because it's easier?

3. Have you ever woken up in a puddle of your own coffee?

4. Do you find that it's easier to drink more coffee than go tosleep?

5. a) Have you ever drunk cold coffee? b) Right out of the pot?

6. Do you spend more than 20% of your income on coffee and/or coffee related products?

7. Does your coffee cup resemble a beer stein?

8. Has anyone ever told you that you "have a problem"?

9. Do you need coffee: a) to get up in the morning? b) to get out of bed? to be injected intravenously to stimulate blood-flow?

10. Do you own a "Coffee Helmet"? (For the culturally ignorant, a coffee-helmet is a hat with coffee-cups attached to it and a straw coming out of each cup leading to the mouth, used for hands-free drinking.)

11. Do Native North American Aboriginal Indian Peoples call you "Ona mac towanda" (Smells-like-coffee)?

12. Does your doctor measure your heartbeat on the Richter scale as well as by its frequency?

13. Have you ever sold personal or other people's possessions just to get your fix for the day?

14. Does the phrase "Swiss water decaffeinated" strike terror into your heart?

15. a) Do you have a coffee maker in more than one room of your house? b) ...in more than five? c) ...in your bathroom?

16. a) Do the people at Second Cup refuse do give you free coffee cards anymore? b) ...because you're wearing out their hole-punch? c) ...and it's bad for the environment?

17. Do you grind your own coffee?

18. Do you grow your own coffee?

19. Have you ever been fired from a job because you're "drinking their profits"?

20. a) Do you know Juan Valdez? b) ...and his donkey? c) ...intimately?

21. Do you salivate uncontrollably whenever you hear dripping water?

22. a) Is sleep a hobby of yours? b) ...that you don't like? c) ...because it's too frustrating

24. Response Ratio		Addiction Factor(TM) Analysis
    Yes	No
    20-22	0-2	You are a well-rounded member of society with a love for life and you are very wise.
    17-19	3-5	You are a slightly jagged member of society, life's okay but it could be better and you are relatively naive.
    0-16	6-22	What are you, some kinda nature-freak tree-hugger!? Coffee's not good enough for you, huh? Here, have some more TOFU! How about some ALFALFA TEA?!?

NEW RULES

I can't begin to express how upset I am about my computer crashing the night we returned from our vacation. I went to turn it on and the screen just went blank. Apple will replace it for free since I have the extended warranty on it but it doesn't make up for the loss of all my documents that I had. The only saving grace was that I had backed up all my photos on an external hard drive. I started doing that years ago when I realized that I was taking lots and lots of photos and I thought they were slowing up my computer. WHY COULDN'T I HAVE DONE THAT WITH MY other things????? Please, all my friends that are reading this...go buy an external hard drive and back up all your important things today!!! When I get my computer back I will share photos from our fabulous trip. Until then, here are the NEW RULES for you to laugh through. I really need a laugh today!!! New Rule: Stop giving me that pop-up ad for classmates.com! There's a reason you don't talk to people for 25 years. Because you don't particularly like them!? Besides, I already know what the captain of the football team is doing these days--mowing my lawn. New Rule: Don't eat anything that's served to you out a window unless you're a seagull. People are acting all shocked that a human finger was found in a bowl of Wendy's chili. Hey, it cost less than a dollar. What did you expect it to contain?? Trout? New Rule: Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here's how much men care about your eyebrows: do you have two of them? Okay, we're done. New Rule: There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket, water, but without that watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water. New Rule: Stop screwing with old people. Target is introducing a redesigned pill bottle that's square, with a bigger label. And the top is now the bottom. And by the time grandpa figures out how to open it, his ass will be in the morgue. Congratulations, Target, you just solved the Social Security crisis. New Rule: The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the asshole. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a "decaf grande half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice, with one sweet-n'-Low, and one NutraSweet," ooh, you're a huge asshole. New Rule: I'm not the cashier! By the time I look up from sliding my card, entering my PIN number, pressing "Enter," verifying the amount, deciding no, I don't want cash back, and pressing "Enter" again, the kid who is supposed to be ringing me up is standing there eating my Almond Joy. New Rule: Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't make you spiritual. It's right above the crack of your ass. And it translates to "beef with broccoli." The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant. You're not spiritual. You're just high. New Rule: Competitive eating isn't a sport. It's one of the seven deadly sins. ESPN recently televised the U.S. Open of Competitive Eating, because watching those athletes at the poker table was just too damned exciting. What's next, competitive farting??? Oh wait!? They're already doing that. It's called "The Howard Stern Show."

ZIPPING ALONG

This morning Avery and I rode on an alpine coaster up the mountain and then went speeding down the track to the bottom. It was so fast and lots of fun. You are actually on a track like a roller coaster with the two bars. The sled somehow grips the track and you just pray it doesn't come off!!! It was a much cooler day here and the weather was somewhat overcast. We decided to go to the movies. We saw Chuck and Larry. It was what we expected...very silly humor.

MOUNTAIN WOMAN

I have to admit that I am now a "MOUNTAIN WOMAN" since arriving in Colorado on Wednesday. We spent a few days in Boulder sight seeing and enjoying the mountains. Now we are in Deer Valley. I am not into the roughing it mode (like BEAR) but more into the pampered visit. We have had our fill of time in the car getting here. We spent over eight hours driving to Moab, Utah for a one night visit from Boulder, Colorado. Moab is the most awesome place I have ever been to in my life. Then we hit the car ride again from Moab to Deer Vally. That was only 7 hours of together time. We are driving a crappy Dodge Caravan (mini van). The only nice thing about it is both kids get their own seat to spread out on. We are staying in a fabulous home while we are here. We each had our pick of where to sleep. There are three floors. The top is the master bedroom and another smaller room. The second floor is the kitchen and living areas with a big bedroom off of it. The bottom level has two bedrooms and a utility room. You could sleep in a different bed each night!!! Since we are away on vacation my blog isn't getting updated as much. Just know that we are having a fabulous time in the mountain air, hiking, fly fishing, and horseback riding. I am taking hundreds of photos and will have my work cut out for me when I get home editing all of them. Hope your summer days are going well...

DAY FOR THE DOGS

Sunday was the dog show at Reliant Center here in Houston, Texas. I went armed with my camera and tripod ready to take loads of pictures!! Here are just a few of the dogs I found: BASSETT HOUND ************************************************************************************ CHINESE SHAR-PEI ************************************************************************************ AFGHAN HOUND ************************************************************************************* TIBETAN SPANIEL ************************************************************************************ GREAT DANE ************************************************************************************* DANDIE DINMONT TERRIER ************************************************************************************* BULLDOG ************************************************************************************* BOUVIER DES FLANDRES ************************************************************************************ SAMOYED ************************************************************************************ COLLIE ************************************************************************************* I THINK ZOEY WOULD GET A LITTLE JEALOUS IF I BROUGHT THEM ALL HOME, DON'T YOU?

CLOWNING AROUND

Yesterday I went to Texas Children's Hospital to clown with my friend HI LO. We had a great time visiting one of the floors and cheering up the patients. We also attended a Hawaiian party they were hosting on the Radio Lollipop floor. Radio Lollipop is the radio station that the patients can listen to in their hospital rooms and call in for requests. When we finished playing I dropped by my great niece's house to surprise her. She had never seen or met a clown before. Her parents and I weren't sure how she would react. I rang the doorbell and she just stared at me for a while. I think she loved the bright colors and the butterflies on my head. As you can tell from the picture she LOVED TIC TOC and wasn't afraid at all!

SURFING IN TEXAS

This is about the speed of being able to surf in Texas. NO, just kidding. We do have Galveston and Surf Side. We have had sooooooooooooooo much rain lately that you will be able to paddle through the streets in Downtown Houston soon on your surfboard. Ha... ************************************************************************************* Today my blog is dedicated to some of my photography of Avery surfing in Texas.

RULES OF LIVING IN THE HOUSTON AREA

Rules of Houston , H-Town, 3rd Coast, Bayou City , The Dirty 3rd, or whatever you wanna call it. 1. You must learn to pronounce the city name. It is "Hue-stun," not "Ewe-stun", or "house-tun" Oh yea, the street is pronounced "San Phil-ee-pay, " not" San Phil-eep" ( San Felipe). Enunciate, you idiots! 2. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Houston has its own version of traffic rules...Hold on and pray. There is no such thing as a dangerous high-speed chase in Houston . We all drive like that. 3. All directions start with, "Go down to Loop 610".... which has no beginning and no end. 4. The Chamber of Commerce calls getting through traffic... a " Scenic Drive ." 5. The morning rush hour is from 6:00AM to 10:00AM. The evening rush hour is from 3:00PM to 7:00PM. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning. 6. If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear-ended, cussed out and possibly shot. When you are the first one off the starting line, count to five when the light turns green before going, to avoid getting into any cross-traffic' s way. 7. Kuykendahl Road can ONLY be pronounced by a native Houstonian. 8. Construction on I-10, I-45, US 59 and Loop 610 is a way of life and a permanent form of entertainment. 9. All unexplained smells are explained by the phrases, "Oh, we must be in Pasadena !" or "God, I hate Baytown !" or "Mmm, smell that Texas City !" 10. If someone actually has their turn signal on, it is probably a factory defect. 11. All old ladies with blue hair in a pink Cadillac have total right-of-way. 12. The minimum acceptable speed on Loop 610 is 85 mph. Anything less is considered downright sissy. In turn, the minimum speed on Westheimer is at least 45mph. 13. The wrought iron on windows in east Houston is NOT ornamental. 14. Never stare at the driver of the car with the bumper sticker that says, "Keep honking, I'm reloading." In fact, don't honk at anyone. 15. If you are in the left lane, and only going 70 mph in a 60 mph zone, people are not waving when they go by. 16. The Sam Houston Toll road is our daily version of NASCAR. 17. If it's 100 degrees, Thanksgiving must be next weekend. 18. When in doubt, remember that all unmarked exits lead to Louisiana . 19. If you live in Katy and I live on the south side of Houston we'll never hang out.

ELEVATOR MUSIC

Yesterday I was riding in an elevator and everyone was WAY TOO QUIET in there. Talk about uncomfortable...we have all been there before. Why do people stop talking, face the front doors and just stare at the numbers as they go up or down? Haven't you ever questioned your behavior in an elevator before? It brought back memories of how silly one can be when dressed in clown. We ride the elevator on our hospital visits at Texas Childrens Hospital and joke that we want the TOYS, COSMETICS, or the LINGERIE floor please! People laugh or play along with us. But why does it take a clown to change things????? ************************************************************************************** NOW THIS IS ELEVATOR MUSIC and they aren't even clowning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE6QnPvVFmc&mode=related&search=

AT A SNAILS PACE

Tonight was suppose to be a class in macro photography. But the club forgot to reserve the building!!! We all showed up and the doors were locked. I wasn't about to waste an opportunity to take a few shots of some flowers and snails that someone brought to photograph. I actually got some great shots even in the worst of lighting thanks to my 60mm 2.8 lens.Here are a few pics that I took: ************************************************************************************* *************************************************************************************

RACING SNAIL JOKE There was this snail who wanted to be a Formula One racing driver. He went along to the track and asked if he could drive. The racing team manager said, 'Yes, but you can't have a number on your car, you can only have an 'S' because you are a snail.' The Snail was OK about this is so he entered the race. The race started and the snail's car was at the back...but suddenly he sped to the front, over-taking all the cars and won!! As the spectators saw the Snail speed past them, they yelled 'WOW! LOOK AT THAT S-CAR GO!!'

MANIAC MONDAY

Today was our switchover day from DSL service to the new COMCAST internet. What a hassle it was getting it all set up. Instead of being a 30 minutes appointment it took over 3 hours!!! I wouldn't let the workman leave until it was set on each computer. I know how they operate. They tell you it will correct itself when they leave. Just do this and do that. Well I wasn't buying it for a minute. Finally one man stayed behind until he got it all worked out. He said that ever since ROADRUNNER was bought out by COMCAST they have had nothing but trouble. I am just glad to be online again. My tie quilt is coming along nicely. I am winging it and trying different things. I just hope it can all come together. I won't show pictures of it yet. Instead I will share a few images I took for my father in laws 80th birthday. ************************************************************************************* Barry, Marc, and Perry with Gene. Blow baby blow!!! ************************************************************************************* Lane, Avery, and Brent

MY FIRST PHOTO FIELD TRIP

This morning was my first field trip with my photography club. We didn't have the greatest weather. It was raining off and on and the humidity was TERRIBLE!!! We went to NELSON'S WATER GARDENS out in Katy. I still got a few really great shots. Our August assignment is "water lilies". I will share a few of the photos I took but not anything I will use in our competition. I want to keep those a secret! There were wonderful statues and sculptures to take pictures of too. ************************************************************************************* This afternoon is my father in laws 80th birthday celebration. We are hosting the whole family for dinner. I need to go clean up and get the house ready for company.

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH?????

Joe Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6am. While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG). He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE)! and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet(MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO)to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) filled it with GAS from (Saudi Arabia) and continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB. At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his Computer (Made In Malaysia), Joe decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV(MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job in.. AMERICA.....

PAWPARAZZI

I entered this photo contest for pets some time ago and totally forgot about it until today. Someone told me that they saw me in the local Lifestyle Magazine. There is also a picture of my friend, Debby, with her Doberman named King. I took that picture and entered it without her knowledge. I guess someone liked it!!!

IF YOU SEE IT, SHOOT IT

Today I am talking about photography. Photography is something I discovered a few years ago and now I have fell in love with it. I don't understand how some people never feel the urge to snap a picture! I can't be without my camera in my hands for more than a few hours. I have learned that you shouldn't spend all of your time and energy trying to get the one perfect shot. If you see something that strikes you, photograph it because you might not see it again. This is what is so wonderful about using a digital SLR camera. You can take pictures and delete the ones you don't like. There is so much to learn about using my Nikon D80. I just joined a camera club and hope to take part in their monthly challenges. My goal this year is to use more of my photography in my quilts. Here are a few of the latest images I have captured with my camera. This was taken at clown school during a makeup demonstration. Jamie and Avery sitting under the water fall in our pool. Avery surfing in Surfside, Texas.

WHAT JOB DO YOU WANT?

I love being able to claim that I am a full time artist now. I don't miss having a "real" teaching job anymore. The politics in the schools has made teaching a chore with all the paper work and documenting that goes on. I will be satisfied with teaching religious school on Sundays from now on. Hopefully one day soon I can find a studio and teach my mosaic making to others. ONCE A TEACHER ALWAYS A TEACHER! ************************************************************************************* I Was busy from the time I got up this morning till I went to bed. My old neighbor and friend, Teri, who is now living in Shanghai, came in for the summer. It was so nice to have a couple of days to catch up and visit before she is off to another town. I was able to show off all my quilts and art work that I had done this year since her last visit. It made me feel like I had accomplished so much when sometimes I feel I move at a snails pace. ************************************************************************************ You know that tie challenge that I am suppose to be working on? Well I will start it tomorrow. ************************************************************************************* Speaking of jobs, how would you like this job? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOFqNVmCtGo&mode=related&search=

ARE YOU A DOG LOVER?

How many dogs does it take to......

These are the answers from dogs when asked "How many dogs does it take to put in a light bulb?"

1. Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned-out light bulb?
2. Border Collie: Just one. And I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.
3. Dachshund: I can't reach the stupid lamp!
4. Toy Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.
5. Rottweiler: Go Ahead! Make me!
6. Shi-tzu: Puh-leeze, dah-ling. Let the servants. . . .
7. Malamute: Let the Border collie do it. You can feed me while he's busy.
8. Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.
9. Doberman Pinscher: While it's dark, I'm going to sleep on the couch.
10. Mastiff: Mastiffs are NOT afraid of the dark.
11. Hound Dog: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
12. Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb.
13. Irish Wolfhound: Can somebody else do it? I've got a hangover.
14. Pointer: I see it, there it is, right there...
15. Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?
16. Australian Shepherd: Put all the light bulbs in a little circle...
17. Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? Light bulb? That thing I just ate was a light bulb?

A WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday Avery and I decided to join the Houston Camera Club. We submitted some photos for competition last night. I entered the following photo and it won the most points in the category of Photo Journalism!!! They are going to put it in their monthly flier for August. That decision made me feel very good since I was starting to feel like a "struggling artist". Ha... I call this photo "SLIP N SLIDE". It was taken at a middle school football game when the players saw an inviting mud puddle. I was standing in the right place at the right time. *************************************************************************************

AN AMAZING PAINT JOB

I ran across the wonderful ad for Sony Bravia TVs. Be patient and watch it. http://www.bravia-advert.com/paint/thead/

Their latest TV ad - featuring massive paint explosions - took 10 days and 250 people to film. Huge quantities of paint were needed to accomplish this, which had to be delivered in 1 ton trucks and mixed on-site by 20 people.

The effect was stunning, but afterwards a major clean-up operation was required to clear away all that paint!

The cleaning took 5 days and 60 people. Thankfully, the use of a special water-based paint made it easy to scrape-up once the water had evaporated.

Keeping everyone safe was also an important factor. A special kind of non-toxic paint was used that is safe enough to drink (it contains the same thickeners that are sometimes used in soups). It was also completely harmless to the skin.

FIREWORKS WERE A DUD

THIS YEAR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION CANCELED OUR FIREWORKS SHOW DUE TO WET GROUNDS. IT WAS SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT NOT TO BE ABLE TO GO WATCH THEM LIVE. WE HAD TO DO WITH WATCHING THEM ON TV. I THINK IT WAS A FIRST IN ALMOST 20 YEARS! ************************************************************************************* This would make a fabulous quilt top!!!! ************************************************************************************* Fireworks originated in China some 2,000 years ago. The most prevalent legend has it that fireworks were discovered or invented by accident by a Chinese cook working in a field kitchen who happened to mix charcoal, sulphur and saltpeter (all commonly found in the kitchen in those days). The mixture burned and when compressed in an enclosure (a bamboo tube), the mixture exploded. ************************************************************************************* FIREWORKS TRIVIA:

• Settlers brought fireworks to the U.S. during 1600s.
• The first Independence Day fireworks celebration was in 1776, and was memorialized by then future President John Adams as follows: "The day (Independence Day) will be the most memorable in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival...it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade...bonfires and illuminations (fireworks) from one end of this continent to the other, from this day forward forevermore."
• Static electricity in synthetic clothing can ignite fireworks. Those who make fireworks wear cotton all the way down to their underwear.
• In today's public display shows, computers are used to control the launching of the fireworks and the synchronization of the aerial bursts with music.
• 30 years ago professional fireworks shows lasted on average over an hour, in comparison to today's shows which last approximately 20 minutes.