Cutie Pie

This awesome artwork is my Facebook friend Susan's user picture. She lives in China.

I Need A Notebook

Bye Bye Fear

A Good Feeling

Cuteness

Sunday Humor

Innocence Lost

This is my class picture of me in the 2nd grade at Franklin Elementary School. I was 9 years old and life seemed so sweet and innocent back in 1963. About a month after this picture was taken President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I heard the new from our principal who came into our classroom and told use our President had died. Then he told us all to go home. No details about how he dead or how it happened. It was the first time I ever experienced such loss and sadness in my life. When I got home my mother and father were watching the shooting and never discussed his death, even though they showed the murder - over and over again. I always found it strange that my parents didn't take the time to talk to me about the event. It was so upsetting. It was my first real encounter with death. We didn't even have a discussion at school. It's like my great-grandmother Hicks said, "Children should be seen, but not heard." That's truly the way kids were treated back in the early 1960s. How sad is that? I continued to watch the television footage for the next few days crying silently to myself, and listening to the only voice that seemed to try to help me understand, Walter Cronkite, CBS newscaster. That man truly was "the voice of America" back then. He was the only one who took the time to try and explain this tragedy to me.

After awhile we learned what happened on that horrible day, or at least what "they" wanted us to believe. There have been so many theories (some crazy, some that made you think) but honestly, I don't think we'll ever know why my favorite president was gunned down.

My innocence died on November 22, 1963, and that was just a preview to future assassinations and shocking murders to assault my young mind before the 1970s began.

Greetings from France

This wonderful "Happy Easter" picture was drawn for me by sweet little Max, my dear friend Celine's son. See the pretty Easter eggs at the top of the page? And him in the right corner?

They live in Picardie, France. I can't wait to visit my European family someday.

Snail Mail

POSTCARD ARRIVES IN OHIO -47 YEARS LATE

HUDSON, Ohio - A woman's postcard bearing greetings from Montana has finally arrived in northeastern Ohio — 47 years later.

Insurance agent Dave Conn opened his post office box in the community of Hudson last week and found the mailing sent from Helena, Mont., in 1962.

It was sent to Marion White, the previous renter of the box, who had died in 1988. The writer signed the postcard "Fran" and mentioned having "had a marvelous time in Montana."

After asking around, Conn says he determined the card must have come from White's well-traveled friend Frances Murphey, a longtime reporter at the Akron Beacon Journal. She died in 1998 at age 75.

U.S. Postal Service spokesman Victor Dubina says the postcard may have been stuck in equipment or lost behind a mail chute.

Source: Yahoo! News

Down Below

Here's another painting that intrigues me. I often wonder what's going on underneath my feet. I felt this way as a child. Even more these days as an adult. Having some X-ray vision would be fun. Oh wait, I might not want to see what's actually lurking around down there. (I wish I knew who painted this.)

Karma

My Photography

I took these pictures of a screen printing demonstration at The Youth CineMedia Hip Hop Summit. The summit was held on February 10, 2007, at the University of California's MultiCultural Center in Santa Barbara, California. It offered the public a hands-on exploration of hip hop through music/video production, graffiti/stencil art and t-shirt printing. My nephew Michael aka DoSiA, also performed later that day in a hiphop "battle". He won, of course. Yeah, he's that good.

Youth CineMedia (YCM) gives at-risk kids hope, provides real-world technical training businesses are looking for in future employees, Reduces crime, violence and graffiti, and pulls kids out of the juvenile justice system. YCM is funded through grants, individual, corporate donations and client services. For more information about Youth CineMedia, please visit the website. (Somehow this turned into a public service announcement.)

Earth Day, Part Two

Love Our Mother

April 22nd is Earth Day - Remember to be kind to our Mother.

I'm posting this early since it's already Tuesday in Japan and France - two of my favorite countries. I think everyday should be Earth Day.

Pop Art Fun

Relax

Music = Life

While sitting here in Starbucks a familiar tune came floating over the airwaves, Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude No. 1 In C, by Johann Sebastian Bach. This is is one of my favorite pieces of music. I happily soak in the soothing melody since classical music is rarely played here. As the music ends I wait to hear what comes up next. Much to my surprise the second track from this CD comes on, "Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude No. 9 In E". Wow, I'm in heaven! I end up savoring 6 more of wonderful tracks.

Bach for Book Lovers is one of my favorites CDs. I purchased it back in 1998. Back then I spent most of my time reading or writing stories at coffeehouses. I didn't own a laptop yet. I'll admit, I spent too much time online. I need to find that balance between the Internet and holding a real book in my hands again. It's time to slow down and stimulate my mind - without the harsh glare from my computer screen. Hearing the lovely, relaxing sounds of Bach was just the nudge I needed. Thanks, Johann.

Help Mother Earth

Stairway to Heaven

I wish I knew who took this picture, and where it was taken. Maybe somewhere in Europe? What a peaceful spot. I'd sit on those steps in the early morning, listening to the birds while sipping my coffee. What a marvelous way to begin the day.

My Baseball God

I was happy to see my favorite baseball player on the cover of ESPN magazine. I still wish he was wearing his old "24" Red Sox jersey. That team will never be the same without Mr. Ramirez. Oh well, it's their loss.

Organic Orange

Taken outside an organic coffeehouse on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, on a warm July morning.

Photo: Adrian Denegar

The Devil Made Me Do It

ARLINGTON, Wash. – A woman accused of taking more than $73,000 from the Arlington church where she was an administrative assistant blames the devil. Papers filed with a theft charge Wednesday in Snohomish County Superior Court say the 62-year-old Arlington woman told detectives "Satan had a big part in the theft."

The Everett Herald reported the woman was accused of forging the pastor's signature on 80 checks from the Arlington Free Methodist church. She was fired in February 2008.

She told detectives she used the money to cover household expenses because she couldn't stand the thought of losing her home.

Source: The Herald

Shoes are Funny

Happy Easter

Jolly Monkey

Artist: emi (esty.com)

My Photography

Pretty flowers at the grocery store. (cell phone)

Aquamarine Bliss

I discovered this amazing TV commercial a couple of weeks. I was watching a show I'd taped on the DVR. Unlike most people I don't fast forward through the commercials. I always find a little treasure like this. I was blown away. Visually stunning. I grew up in the 1960s listening to The Moody Blues, and "Tuesday Afternoon" is a favorite of mine. This will definitely will be winning many advertising awards in 2009.

Peeping Tom

(Click on picture if you have trouble reading the white card.)

In Awe

I don't know who this snowboarder is, or where on Earth this amazing shot was taken. All I know is that this photograph blows me away.

Wonder vs. Belief

Opening Day

Some people live for Spring Break or Mardi Gras. Others can't wait for Halloween or the Super Bowl. Maybe it's the Betty Crocker Bake-off, the Grand Prix, WWE SmackDown, or the summer issue of Sports Illustrated that does it for you. In my case it's baseball. Today is opening day! It's time to play ball!

I'm a die-head Red Sox fan. I have been for years, even though I grew up in California. My favorite baseball player of all time is Manny Ramirez. I love him with a passion. I died the day the Red Sox traded him. I had to remove the "24" bracelet I'd been wearing for years. I cried when as I packed away my number "24" jersey. I wore it proudly for several years when the Red Sox came to California to play the Angels. I'd drive down to Los Angeles and spend 4 glorious days surrounded by other Sox fans. We always had a marvelous time.

Although I'll be cheering for the Red Sox this season, it will be never the same without my baseball god. My heart will be 90 minutes south from here in Los Angeles with Manny. I'll never forgive them for trading him. He's not the devil the media and management made him out to be. He'll have the last laugh when he's inducted into the Hall-of-Fame. I'm looking forward to that glorious day.

My Drug of Choice

Artist: Nayro (on deviantART)

This is dedicated to my favorite coffee baristas and good friends, Johnny and Charlie at Starbucks Coffee on Victoria Street. Thanks for helping to feed my caffeine addiction, and taking such good care of me.

Subconscious and Collective Memories

Artist: Mark Ryden

"Viewers are initially drawn in by the comforting beauty of Ryden’s pop-culture references, then challenged by their circumstances, and finally transported to the artist’s final intent – a world where creatures speak from a place of childlike honesty about the state of mankind and our relationships with ourselves, each other and our past."

To learn more about this artist, visit his mind blowing website.

Study Time

The camera bug stuck me while trying to do a bit of review before my Case Management class. My major is Alcohol and Drug Counseling. My classmates make fun of me for being so neat and organized. What can I say? I'm a nerd enjoying college later in life.

(Photo taken on September 4, 2007)

Bible Chicks of the 1960s

This album cover creeps me out. I grew up in the 1960s and yes, women wore these lovely hairstyles. They look a little too manly for me. Jesus, keep hiding!

Cool Graffiti

Funny Pic of the Week