Cat in the Hat

From an email I got today. Enjoy. 

Bad Boy

I SHALL SEEK AND FIND YOU..

I SHALL TAKE YOU TO BED

AND HAVE MY WAY WITH YOU.

I WILL MAKE YOU ACHE, SHAKE

AND SWEAT UNTIL YOU MOAN AND GROAN.

I WILL MAKE YOU BEG FOR MERCY...

BEG FOR ME TO STOP.
I WILL EXHAUST YOU TO THE POINT

THAT YOU WILL BE RELIEVED WHEN

I'M FINISHED WITH YOU.AND YOU WILL BE WEAK FOR DAYS...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~

ALL MY LOVE ,THE FLU

Now get your mind out of the gutter....

And get ready for the flu season!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This bad boy already came my way

last month and I was all too

happy to have him leave my bedside!

Spirit

Music: Bella, Santana

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...with a vibrant spirit,
happy heart,
and a passionate soul.
Maya Angelou
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Birthday wishes from
Mario.

Taking time today to give thanks for the gift
of life, love, family, and friendship.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BTW, 47 is the new 35! ;-)

Zima-fied

ZIMA

&

TGIF

McDreamy vs. McSteamy

A wonderful commentary about my

one of my favorite shows

Grey's Anatomy

and with names like

McDreamy & McSteamy

how you could resist!?

Seriously, it's the women

in this show that make

it stick!

Teacher's Day

I was reminded at work that today is

Confucius' birthday (9/28),

celebrated as Teacher's Day in Taiwan.

Here is a link for background information about this day

including the teaching philosophy of Confucius.

"Happy Teacher's Day to everyone who teaches

with passion, dedication, and joy!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Link provided by

J. C. Hsu, Ph. D.Dept Chair -

Psychology/Sociology/Anthropology

Class of 9/11

In Memoriam

~~~~~~~

West Point 9/11 Grad killed in Combat...

The academy's Class of 2005 is called the "Class of 9/11"

because the 2001 terrorist attacks occurred

just weeks into the students' freshman years.

~~~~~~~~~

Last night, I watch the new television series, "Heroes"

and while it grabbed my attention it certainly

did not bring a tear to my eye when reading

about this Hero: Emily Perez.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's another story about another hero:

Merideth Howard

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson's public statement regarding

being caught with a bag of Marijuana earlier this week:
"It's a good thing I had a bag of Marijuana

instead of a bag of spinach.

I'd be dead by now!"

.....gotta love Willie!

The man is older than heck but still kicking!

OMLE....

Happy Hump Day!

I just love him!
He's so cute! ;-)

Happy Hump Day!

Song of the Wind

Music: Song of the Wind, Santana
Mood: Thinking


Daily Libra Forecast...

Quickie: Let go of your expectations today ... accept the rate at which things are moving.

Overview: Are you subconsciously trying to fulfill someone else's expectations? You need to drop their script and figure out whom you are, what you want to do and how you want to live. It's time to be bold.

Hmm! How do the stars know?! Sometimes they can be so wrong and sometimes they can be so right!


Numbers: 25 is to 48 plus 25 and what would be 73

Wine Truck

You know you really have a problem
when you've been hit by the...

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^
...WINE TRUCK.......... '"
___. _..._..._______====___... ] -
"(@)'(@)"" "''"**(@)(@)*****''(@)


WHEN GIRLS DRINK TOO MUCH............

1. WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHERE OUR PURSE IS.
2. WE BELIEVE THAT DANCING WITH OUR ARMS OVERHEAD AND WIGGLING OUR BUTT WHILE YELLING "WOO-HOO!" IS TRULY THE SEXIEST DANCE MOVE AROUND.
3. WE'VE SUDDENLY DECIDED THAT WE WANT TO KICK SOMEONE'S ASS AND HONESTLY BELIEVE WE COULD DO IT TOO.
4. IN OUR LAST TRIP TO PEE, WE REALIZE THAT WE NOW LOOK MORE LIKE A HOMELESS HOOKER THAN THE GODDESS WE WERE JUST FOUR HOURS AGO
5. WE START CRYING AND TELLING EVERYONE WE SEE THAT WE LOVE THEM SOOOOO MUCH.
6. WE GET EXTREMELY EXCITED AND JUMP UP AND DOWN EVERY TIME A NEW SONG PLAY'S BECAUSE "OH MY GOD! I LOVE THIS SONG!"
7. WE'VE FOUND A DEEPER/SPIRITUAL SIDE TO THE GEEK SITTING NEXT TO US.
8. WE'VE SUDDENLY TAKEN UP SMOKING AND BECOME REALLY GOOD AT IT.
9. WE YELL AT THE BARTENDER, WHO WE BELIEVE CHEATED US BY GIVING US JUST LEMONADE, BUT THAT'S JUST BECAUSE WE CAN NO LONGER TASTE THE GIN.
10. WE THINK WE ARE IN BED, BUT OUR PILLOW FEELS STRANGELY LIKE THE KITCHEN FLOOR (or the mop?)
11. WE FAIL TO NOTICE THAT THE TOILET LID'S DOWN WHEN WE SIT ON IT.
12. WE TAKE OUR SHOES OFF BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT'S THEIR FAULT THAT WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS WALKING STRAIGHT.

...yes, on a few occassions I've been hit by the same truck. Numbers 1, 5, 6, & 7 hit close to home!

Solemn

Solemn,
originally uploaded by nieve44.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last week, I came across Junniper's Blog-"Five Years Later" and it got me thinking about that solemn day. In some ways, it feels like eons ago and in some ways it feels just like yesterday. I was watching "The Today Show" as I do every weekday morning and heard them break live to show photos of the towers. At that moment, I just thought another airplane accident had happened. There was a caller on the phone talking to the two hosts while they were showing live photos of the Tower 1 when I heard her say, "Oh my God, another plane hit" and you could actually see the object hitting the tower. The moment the towers collaspsed my knees began to shake so bad that I sat down on the edge of my bed. At that moment, I really believed the world was coming to an end! I immediately began thinking of my friends in New York and Jane (my current roomate) who was flying in from the West Coast. After a few tense hours and several calls, all were fine-thank goodness.

However, I worried about one special friend (former roomate)-Corinne for you see she is a Medical Examiner in NYC. She, like the rest in her field had the grim task of dealing with the aftermath. Her family was worried about her for she had been working non-stop for several days but Corinne being the professional that she is persevered.

Monday, will be a difficult day for all Americans but persevere we must. Each of us will have our own solemn way of remembering 9/11. I plan on stopping by a church and lighting a candle followed by prayers for faith, hope, love and peace.

BTW, ironically two weeks ago-Corinne's husband was shipped out to Germany as he is a reservist in the U.S. Army. My thanks to him and all those who have sacraficed by serving our country since that September day.

Numbers/Continuum...

...Continuum of numbers

9.5.2006

90

76

70

150

9

50

6

1.13.2007

4

47

35

1

1023

4029

4049

~~~~~~~~~~

Unfortunately, these were just a few of the numbers

that were running through my head last nite

in the midst of a stifling 90 degrees inside our apartment!

Over the weekend, the A/C went out but thankfully its fixed

and now I"m happy to say that 76 is the new 70

AND, I don't have to hear a fan blowing miserably hot wind.

Anyways, during my tossing and turning numbers

once again rolled in my head.

Finally, it's the 9th month--one of my favorite

as it heralds the end of summer and this evening

the north wind sure felt good on my skin.

One fifty is the new me--in about 6 months--I hope,

but not before 47 crosses my path next month,

YIKES--but hey 47 is the new 35!

Fifty is golden and a jubilee to celebrate on 1.13.2007

with just 4 months of pre-planning.

1 is the amazing new CD by Ottmar Liebert that kept me

calm when I thought I was lost this past weekend

in a drive through the countryside.

Thanks Mario for sharing your copy

and can't wait till I get mine!

The last three numbers are personal and so we'll just keep it at that--

besides if I tell you then I'd have to.....

Goodnight America

Aug 30th 2006,
originally uploaded by Padrone.

I'm standing at a traffic light somewhere in West LA

Waiting for the sign to change then I'll be on my way

The noise, the heat, the crush of cars

Just drives me up my nerve

And someone yells and blasts their horn

And pins me to the curb...

And I'm driving into Houston on a rain slick Texas road

Land so flat and skies so dark, I say a prayer to float

Should all at once the San Jacinto surge beyond its banks...

I'm a stranger here, no one you would know

I'm from somewhere else, but isn't everybody though

Don't know where I'll be when the sun comes up

Until then sweet dreams, and goodnight America

~~~~~~~~
...and goodnight August moon

I thank you for your nightly beauty

and the winks from above.

I look forward to the change in seasons

and the beauty of your Fall harvest moons.

~~~~~~

Song lyrics by Mary Chapin Carpenter

and yes, she actually did write about Houston

and when it rains the San Jacinto River

is known to surge beyond it banks in a matter of minutes!

Ciao to the month of August--my least favorite

as the heat here can be so brutal. Thankfully, the

winds from the south will be slowly replaced by the North winds.

Thanks to Padrone for his wonderful photo.

Between Here and Gone

Up above me,
Wayward angels,
A blur of wings and grace.
One for courage,
One for safety,
One for "just in case"

Tonight, the moon came out, it was nearly full.
Way down here on earth, I could feel it's pull...
is it the weight of gravity or just the lure of life

I thought a light went out, but now the candle shines.
I thought my tears wouldn't stop, then I dried my eyes.
And after all of this, the truth that holds me here,
Is that this emptiness is something not to fear.
Yeah, I'll keep wondering how we know where we belong,
After all the journeys made, and the journeys yet to come.
When I feel like giving up instead of going on,
Somewhere in between here and gone.

Lyrics by Mary Chapin Carpenter
and in memoriam of lives lost from Hurricane Katrina
and for those souls still living and trying to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of that terrible storm.

Linked photo by Lindac928

Hallmark Cards

...For when you care enough to send the very best!

~~~~~~~~~~

Heard your wife left you!

How upset you must be!

But don't fret about it! She moved in with me!

~~~~~~~~~

Looking back over the years that we've been together,

I can't help but wonder... "What the hell was I thinking?"

~~~~~~~~~

Congratulations on your wedding day!

Too bad no one likes your husband!

~~~~~~~~~~

How could two people as beautiful as you--

Have such an ugly baby?

~~~~~~~~~~

I've always wanted to have someone to hold, someone to love.

After having met you . I've changed my mind!

~~~~~~~~~~

I must admit, you brought Religion into my life.

I never believed in Hell until I met you!

~~~~~~~~~~

As the days go by, I think of how lucky I am...

That you're not here to ruin it for me!

~~~~~~~~~~

Congratulations on your promotion.

Before you go... Would you like to take this knife out of my back?

You'll probably need it again!

~~~~~~~~~~

Happy birthday! You look great for your age.

Almost Lifelike!

~~~~~~~~~~

When we were together, you always said you'd die for me.

Now that we've broken up,

I think it's time you kept your promise!

~~~~~~~~~~

Passion & Moleskines

One of my favorite websites to visit occasionally is Moleskinerie and just last week a contest was set into place and a question was asked, "What's your passion?" and here was my response:

MUSIC!

Music is my passion!

Music is a universal language

and one that can bring people together.

I attended an Ottmar Liebert concert last month

and not only was I charged by his music,

I was charged by the people in attendance.

People from all walks of life..old and young!

I have an ecclectic CD collection from Vivaldi to U2

to Mary Chapin-Carpenter to Shakira to Rahim AlHaj.

Music is all around me…at work, at home, at play and in the car.

I cannot imagine life without music!

My moleskine is full of song lyrics

and notes about future songs to listen to

and/or download on my iPod or to buy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Needless to say, I didn't win the contest but I really enjoyed reading all the posts about what each person's passion was. If you have some time be sure to check out the responses. My favorite was by Amy (3rd post) and as it turned out she won the contest. I'd be interested to hear about what your passion is as well.

Anniversarius

Word of the Day: Anniversarius (Latin)

Music: August Moon, Ottmar Liebert

Anniversarius

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The word for year and to turn meaning-

(re)turning yearly...is a day that commemorates

and/or celebrates a past event that occurred

on the same day of the year as the

initial event.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks as always to Boris who

was first to comment on my blog and

an even bigger "Thank You" to all others

who have commented in the past two years.

Nuevo Mexico (Part 1)

Nuevo Mexico(Luz)
Originally uploaded by mRio.

This had been about my third trip to New Mexcio and regretably each visit has been very short and this past trip/vacation was only about a 48 hour stay! Much too short! :-( However, we (Mario & I) packed a lot into our trip.

Friday morning 8/6, we flew into Albuquerque and rented a car for the drive up to Santa Fe, and Mario was my co-pilot providing me with directions the old fashioned way--map reading! NO GPS here! Instead it was an MPS! ;-)

We spend the early afternoon at the usual tourist locale in Santa Fe--the Plaza Square. The weather couldn't have been better! Cool, crisp, blue skies with intermittant clouds, rain and temps in the low 70's! AHHHH!!! No heat and humidity! We were both in heaven. We found a great little cafe to enjoy a wonderful cup of Cafe Amaretto and it just happened that our server was from Texas and wearing a UT cap. He was all to happy to chat with a fellow Texan. I would've loved to go back for another cup of coffee the day after and the day after that and so forth! As we walked the Plaza we accidently found the Santa Fe School of Cooking of which our fellow fanmenco Kym had always talked about. The aroama from that stairway was to die for and how I would've loved to take a walk through the school. Next time! So c'mon Kym, we'll be waiting for you to join us!

Maria's New Mexican Restaurant (voted Best in Santa Fe--11 years in a row) was our next stop for a late lunch! What a lunch and the restaurant boasts of the "Great Margarita List" with over 100 Margaritas to choose from! Decisions, decisions! I decided to try the Pomengranate Margarita, which is made with 100% fresh pomengranate juice and Cuervo Gold tequila which is blended to smooth perfection and frozen! As Kym would say, WOW! Maria's Margarita list, stated it was one of the healthiest margaritas to drink--so how could I resist! BTW, I conveniently brought the list home with me as a souvenir and will tuck it away in my LE box. If I lived in Santa Fe, I would be sure to go back every week and try a different margarita! Thanks for the recommendation, Ottmar!

Time Flies

.

Yes, Mario time does fly! It seems like just yesterday we took our whirlwind trip to New Mexico! A 48 hour whirlwind trip to be exact!

I'm still trying to recuperate and catch up with my sleep! Getting back to work today was a bit of a drag! I so wanted to be back in New Mexico! Thanks for posting such a wondeful picture. I will blog more about the trip in the next day or two.