Since Mindmouth seems to be busy these days and she is the one who previously posted a Tell us About you diary, I decided to take up the mantle and put up a diary so that those of you who are new to this site (numbers are rising every day, I see) can tell us a little about yourselves. Also,tell us how you came to the site.
If you are not so new to the site update us or tell us how you feel or deal with the following or feel free to add your own subject:
How do you make ends meet with rising costs in so many areas, food, gas, health care, etc.
Do you have a garden to supplement your food supply?
Have any suggestions or hints you would like to share?
Why do you like political blogs and what are your favorite sites to find info or just to blog.
How do you cope with stress especially political stress?
How do you like Booman Tribune?
What features do you like best or worst about Booman Tribune or what type of articles do you like best.
I’ll start by saying that I love Booman Tribune because if feels like a family. I am constantly impressed by the intelligence of the members of this site, the well rounded educations, the excellent writing skills, and the willingness to share and teach and to poke a little fun or add a note of levity to enrich our days.
I have made some great friends on this site and I salute you all for the fine work you do everyday making these pages a great reading and participating site.
So it’s your turn now, talk.
I added the smoking question as a poll, because we had a good discussion about this yesterday.
And don’t forget to tip Booman for hosting this site.
I am going to ask Booman to post here so we can make this diary a tip jar for him, as a thank you for this great site. How about it Booman?
Hi Diane-
About me? I’m 35, married, no kids. I have a BA in philosophy from Western Michigan University. I also went to school at Santa Monica College, in Los Angeles for a while.
I grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, home of the university that brought us Bill Bradley, Donald Rumsfeld, George Schultz, and Jimmy Stewart. Bill Frist’s son goes there and recently got a DUI.
I once saw Brooke Shields throwing up in a trash can after losing at Blow-Pong. (Take the net off a ping-pong table, and try to blow the ball off the other end. Drink full beer if your opponent succeeds).
I used to live in West Chester, PA, former home of Jeff Gannon. I’ve lived in Maine too.
Uh, now I live in Philadelphia.
That should be enough for the creditors to find me 🙂
Well I am happy to finally know your age. Just yesterday I decided you must be 50+, don’t get mad, just from your comments you do appear to be older than 35.
Perhaps you could tell us how and why you decided to put up this site?
So you lived in Socal for awhile, why did you leave here.?
I take your age assessment as a compliment. If you said that after meeting me…that would be different.
I left So. Cal. for a few reasons. I broke up with my girlfriend and she moved back east. I had finished my coursework at SMC, I just knew that Rodney King’s beaters were going to be acquitted the next month…
I had a date with some friends in New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
I had no idea MSO was coming my way…
I was tired of being roped into seeing screenings of movies like, “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”.
As an East Coast person, I have trouble making friends with laid back people. My friends are more of the Armando type. As a Jersey boy, I like attitude…think Christopher from the Sopranos, or Jay and Silent Bob, or even better the main character (Jason Lee) in Mallrats.
That character fairly represents the makeup of a 35 year old Jersey boy, when he was 20.
“I had no idea MSO was coming my way”
D’oh, I took that to mean you’re married to Mary Scott O’Connor. (Didn’t make sense, so I had to reread four times before it sank in)
So, what was it that motivated you to start this site?
I spent 2004 managing voter registration and GOTV teams in Florida and Pennsylvania. When we lost, I needed a way to stay in the fight. Plus, I have a blog addiction. Do you?
As for MSO, we’re probably lucky we didn’t meet when we were young and irresponsible. Neither of us would have been a good influence on the other, I fear.
I still don’t get it. Please translate.
She moved to LA not long after I left.
She came from Michigan, I went to Michigan.
Well, that’s certainly a circumstance with interesting possibilities. I still don’t know what MSO stands for.
Mary Scott O’conner a blogger on DK and here.
In the context of Boo’s comment – it means “my significant other” (I was confused because many people refer to Mary Scott O’Connor as MSO.)
I read all those comments reg. MSO and after awhile I thought for sure he meant Mary Scott.
Thanks for explaining that.
I used to think lol was lots of love and in some instant chats I think I sent the wrong message when I replied to serious comments with lol, and I also could not understand why someone I barely knew was sending me lots of love in other cases.
lol!!!!!!
By the sounds of things, we’ve had similar learning curves with our blog usage. There’s one thing that’s helped my mindset with Internet shorthand. During my mid teens, when one of my sisters and I couldn’t stand each other, we limited our communications to acronyms – which went on for nearly a year. And when one of us was heading out the door feeling particularly good about the way we looked, the other would make sure to ruin it by saying “SIYG”. (suck in your gut)
It means Maryscott Oconnor, who has never been my significant other, unless we were both too drunk to remember.
I should have stepped out of this discussion long ago – before proliferating my personal misunderstanding. Oh wait – I didn’t proliferate, I instigated the effing conversation.
I thought your guess was good and it did make sense. I felt foolish because right after I asked, I thought: Maryscott! She’s so famous I’m embarrassed not to have made the obvious connection. My mind has been creeping along several hundred paces behind everyone else’s lately.
Have you ever pressed the post button and wished you hadn’t? I count three times in the last two days. My itchy trigger finger will get me in trouble yet. Reading these long, rambling, pointless comments of late – these wastes of space – have me cringing all over again.
You, my dear, are a fabulous blog comrade – always at the ready to excavate me from those deep trenches I dig myself into, and making me feel so much better after my public displays of stupidity.
Contrary to your statement, I have yet to see you waste any space. In fact, I look forward to your comments because they always come when I least expect them, and they always make me smile!
With that, I wish you (and the BT posters at large) a peaceful, prosperous weekend.
Thank you for your kind words. You have the generosity and grace of an Old Soul.
NEVER have I noticed you in any “trenches”; I love reading your comments. They’re always smart, insightful, and often whimsically funny.
Again,thank you for your charity and discernment 😉
I’m very glad you’re here.
Jane, I just finished a lengthy phone call with my mother in which I found out that my father has advanced Alzheimers. (He had several strokes over the past couple years so she hadn’t noticed the symptoms coming on until some very peculiar behavior in recent weeks.)
I’m so numb I didn’t know what to do, so I came to this site to immerse myself in words. Didn’t matter if they sank in or not – I just needed the diversion. And lo and behold, I was greeted by your thoughtful comments. I don’t think I’m even up to staring blankly at my computer screen right now, but I wanted to send you a thank you from the bottom of my heart. The timing of your comments really lifted my spirits. (Okay, lady – how’s that for an example of digging me out of a trench?) God bless you and good night.
I just saw your comment and I wanted to say how sorry I am to hear the news that youreceived today. I can imagine how you must feel.
I always find your comments to be sweet and kind and often humorous and welcome your many additions to this site as well.
Please continue to write as often as possible and maybe you would be up to a little cooking chat or something light like that. All the best to you and your family.
When you’re up to it, maybe we can talk. My father’s dead. My mother has Alzheimer’s. I’m an only “child.”
And it’s been a long three-year nightmare.
I’m thinking of you, be sure of that.
Jane, I am so very sorry about your circumstances. You’ve been on my mind all week. Your gracious outpouring of kindness touched my heart – particularly doing so in light of everything you’ve been through. Keep the strength, and please keep me smiling with your award-winning metaphors. Well, okay, the awards were just something I created for you in my mind. (The “Guest Towels in the Bathroom Tribute to Jane Award”.)
Thank you as well to Diane (bless you, my dear, for your thoughtfulness) and Librarylil (how kind of you to comment so shortly after delurking!) I’d prefer to write personal comments to each of you, but I’ve already run this thread over to the farthest reaches of the hinterland margins with my unintentional thread hijacking (hey – when I have a gift, I use it -over, and over, and over – sadly, my “gift” is hijacking threads.)
I just stopped by to type in a few comments before I call it a night. I likely won’t be in a position to visit for awhile, so I wish you all the best of everything. You folks are a real blessing.
And if, by some slim chance, Eleanora happens by this comment – I did it!! I beat out the big guys for the bid and wowed the company with my work. (But darn it, now I set a precedent for the content and quality of my future reports.:^)
Good night, and peace to all.
Lovely comment above, you are so amusing in your comments as well, why will you be gone from these pages, please say it isn’t so.
Best of luck to you whatever you are doing and hurry back ASAP. Bless you…
Dear A. I hope you’ll be checking in now and then to collect your fan mail and to let us know how you are doing.
Thanks for your thoughtful note. Now I see that I appear to be presenting you with my grief credentials. I don’t mean it that way — just wanted you to know how sad I felt about your news. If you reacted anything like I did, you’re probably still reeling from the shock.
I appreciate your good wishes; I return them a hundredfold. Please know that I think of you in this difficult time. And do please let us hear from you. Just a word or two.
All the best in the world to you. Jane
P.S. Don’t despise me for saying this: take care of yourself; it is so important.
I don’t know you but I feel for you.
If you smoke and want to quit, read my quit smoking rant.
the next episode of Thrills and Chills?
And I’m definitely reading your quit smoking rant.
I’ll try to post it between 3 and 4 p.m.
Only a bit earlier, early sixties. Bill’s high school basketball team from Crystal City met ours Mercy High at Washington University in St. Louis in play offs for the State Championship. Mercy High had a great balanced, complete team with three stars.
Bill Bradley won! I will not say single-handed, but as I recall the difference was a jump shot at the final buzzer. A great personality already at the time, withstanding all outside pressure as Mercy High considered it a home game and weren’t silenced until … the final buzzer.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
Better late than never. Been trying to sit down and do this for a day now. Lets see. 52-female-married. I have a 28 yr old daughter who is blessedly independent in every way. We have been busy going LEFT of each other for awhile now.
Born, school, college here in good old Fargo. Then set out for life in the Air Force with Hubby. Lived all over the South. Fun while we were young. Moved back beause all of our family was still here.
I must have linked here from dkos and been lurking both places for awhile.I’m interested in the financial diaries of Jerome and Bondad. I am endlessly amazed at people who can link to stories found elsewhere. And Pictures. Not sure of this ratings business either. Suppose I should just click and find out,huh?
My big worry about this world is that we will leave it
in way worse shape in every way.
BTW, I see several here, myself included with fibromyalgia. I’m thinkin’-political frustration.
i am chinese i never smoke i like internet welcome to my homepage 大海免费电影
good
Wow, what a surprise, to find your post here. I assume you are in China, can you tell us more about you and how you found this site.
I went to your site, of course I could not read it, but I sure am glad you found this site.
I hope you will post more comments.
of course I am a Patriot for Peace too.
i am surpise too,
you can see my comment.
but my english is so poor.
i search some key words in google,and fount this site.
my site is provide some free movie.
i like internet.
my name is Hui Xiong.
what is your name? and where are you come from??usa??
免费电影
音乐试听
免费论文
you can write a email to me,
i think we can make a friendship.
Yes I am from the USA and I live in California. I am so excited that we have someone from China on This site, we love to have all countries, and I think you are the first from China.
My name is Diane.
I sent you an email, let me know here if you get it.
I would love to be email pals with you.
You can also write me, my email is below.
Thanks again for joining this site.
We would love to know more about China and what is going on there politically.
Just checked your info, and you put you are from USA, could you change that to China. You are doing very well with your English.
.
I am from Holland – I offer you some flowers
– WELKOM – WELCOME – BIENVENU –
CHINA
WWF
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
Hi Diane, and thanks for starting this back up for our newer folks!
I am Mindmouth (most call me MM for short). I’m female, married, have a 9 year old daughter, and am from and live in Texas.
My birthday is next Tuesday and I’ll be 30. Oh Lord. I’m taking off work that day. I may stay inebriated all day long. We’ll see. LOL!
I work in the financial industry and have for almost 10 years. I’ve only had two jobs before this one: I worked for a veterinarian, and for a lawyer. I enjoy my job most of the time and love the people I work with. We’ve all worked together for so long that we’re all family.
I’ve got two dogs and a cat, live in a small community, have a fulfilling social life, and a wonderful family that keeps me going every day. My family lives across the state from me – Mom, Dad, aunt, cousin, and two brothers, both younger. One’s 27 and the other is 19. My oldest brother made me an aunt 3 years ago and I see my niece regularly. She is a doll and one of the lights of my life. Between she and my daughter, I do not see the need to have any more kids. The factory is closed. LOL!
Hubby’s 31 and is in sales. He’s my high school sweetheart and we’ve been together since we were 17.
I love Italian food, good vodka, traveling, visiting the beach, children, chocolate, and God…not necessarily in that order. 😉
Your turn!
Your birthday is next Tuesday, that would make you a Tarus, correct. I am a Tarus too, my birthday is May 17th. and I do not like to celebrate my birthdays much at all anymore.
Well 30 is sure a landmark birthday so I wish you the best and happiest year ever.
Sounds like you have a great family and extended family down there is Texas.
Do you have to work on your birthday?
Diane, you share a birthday with my dad! His is also May 17th. 😉
Yep, I’m a Taurus, and a true one at that. I’m lacking the beautiful voice we’re all supposed to have, but other than that, I am definitely a Bull through and through.
No ma’am, no working on the birthday! I will be at home, alone, that day. Hubby and daughter will be doing the normal school and work thing, then that night, we’ll probably go out to dinner. I’ll be celebrating proper next weekend. 30 is definitely landmark, but I feel like I am finally becoming an adult, you know what I mean? I actually feel grown now, and even with being married and having a child in my 20s, I didn’t really feel ‘adult’. I have a feeling that by the time I’m 40, I will have really grown in my mind, and will then become the nuttiest I’ve ever been. LOL!
Me: I grew up in the Yakima Valley and started the first Teenage Republican club in the state! Wow. I only knew one Democrat before I went to Stanford. Her name was Lylene Dickie and, when the principal came into our class to tell us that JFK had been shot and killed, she looked at me, the ardent Republican, like I’d killed him.
Thanks to high school debate, I did a lot of reading in high school and became more and more liberal. Within a year at Stanford, where I majored in Creative Writing and wrote for the school paper, I was in sit-ins against the Vietnam war. I didn’t graduate, short only 5 units, because I got suspended temporarily for being in another demonstration my senior year, and my furious mother would not pay one more cent. (Years later, living in Seattle, I picked up a BA at the Univ. of Washington.)
Everything in my world changed when I had my daughter at age 35. Elderly primapara, the docs called me. Her dad offered to marry me, but I was worried about him because it seemed that he, a veterinarian, was using drugs. (Years later, he lost his license.) Since I realized I didn’t know a damn thing about raising a child — really — I hit the libraries, and ended up at La Leche League meetings during my pregnancy. What a fabulous group, promoted by Princess Grace at that time. And, I couldn’t imagine daycare for MY baby, so I began a home business in 1982 with a KayPro II computer that had no hard drive and no child support (although my family helped sometimes). I’d type anything anyone brought me, with no ego about it because I was terrified I couldn’t make it and so I’d take any job I could. As my business grew, I got to do a lot of writing for my customers, and that was intellectually satisfying.
My daughter means the world to me, and she’s a great human being who cares so much about people around the world and about animals. We see each other almost every day, and e-mail each other constantly. She is Vice President of Marketing for Tom Bihn Inc.. Right now, we’re trying to capture a badly injured raccoon — who is too smart to go in the trap — and we’re tending a homeless cat who’s recovering from bad puncture wounds he got in a fight. My daughter came over at 6AM yesterday to help me give him his antibiotics! What a young woman.
I’m disabled because of my back, arthritis and, the doc just told me, fibromyalgia. I hurt all over all the time, and wake up almost every hour all night, but this HOMEY PLACE helps me forget the pain. I really am enjoying ALL of you so much. You’re a great, warm, thoughtful group of people.
One more quickie: My senior year at Stanford, I lived in Grove House, the first-ever coeducational living facility at any university. Naturally, it got a lot of controversial publicity. My housemates elected me to represent them on the Joe Pyne show, one of the first talk shows on TV, and I flew to L.A. and appeared opposite a Bible school student. Joe Pyne. Imagine a rabid Rush Limbaugh. It was terrifying. I never saw the show to see how I did, and am kind of glad.
” with a KayPro II computer that had no hard drive and no child support …”
And I’ve always needed an editor! :):) I’m laughing so hard.
Thanks for the giggle – I was feeling so much empathy for your computer. (Because I doubt there was legislation back then aimed at deadbeat CPUs.) Thanks for taking the time to write this. I’ve asked you to do so in the past and all ya gave me was the sound of chirping crickets :-).
So – what was your roadmap to writing high profile diaries on these here blogs?
My mom had me when she was 42 (she’s still kickin’ it, at 82). To be raised by older parents (she was 42, my father was 46), was the greatest gift they could have given me. By that time they had pretty much figured out how the world works (or at least put up a pretty good pretense — at 40, I’m still puzzling it out!), and seemed unhampered by BS neuroses that younger parents often fall prey to. I’m sure your daughter is a wonderful human being; being raised by an “older” mother I’ll bet had a lot to do with it.
Susan, you are officially my favourite Boomaniac after reading your breastfeeding story. Shame it didn’t get the attention here that it did on Kos! A lot of cool mamas and papas turned up over there–way more than I would have expected. (I think there are a lot of “crunchy” progressive parents out there, but I didn’t think many of them went to political blogs like dKos.) What would you think of emailing some of those who made the best comments and inviting them periodically to AP parenting oriented diaries? It’s not easy to just watch for such things, especially over there.
Anyway, I’m so sorry to hear about your pain. You definitely don’t deserve that. I’m guessing you’ve already tried alternative therapies like acupuncture…?
Alan
Maverick Leftist
hang out at political blogs like BooTrib. I just posted a breast feeding story under Susan’s story. I was late getting there because I’ve been too busy today trying to save the LGBT-parented foster families. And, oh yeah, my job. My non-biology majors got to run electrophoresis gels today to figure out whether this (hypothetical) person had inherited a defective p53 gene. (p53 protects against cancer – if defective, you have a high risk of getting cancer.) Last week they did a paternity test gel (hypothetical fathers, too). They love this stuff. It makes them feel like they’re on CSI.
And if any Texans are reading this, you have letters to write! Here’s the link to the vote on Talton’s heinous hate amendment that would take foster kids away from gay foster parents. If your rep voted “nay” give ’em an atta boy/girl. If they voted “aye” explain that their constituents won’t abide using vulnerable kids hostage to political pandering.
I was one also, at age 37. I was also unmarried and have a wonderful daughter.
And I’m very sorry to hear about your arthritis and fibromyalgia. I hope your hands aren’t affected too much, Susan, because your diaries I’ve read on Kos are so good and I hope you keep writing!
Guess I am the “elder” here..lol! I feel I am a very young 52(53 in June/cancer)grandmother of one, mother of one, sister to three and friend to many. I grew up in a tiny town in Illinois. I was a child bride at 17 had a baby right before my 18th bd. In my wilder, younger years I was a bartender that liked to drink as much as she sold. At 28 I went into treatment and got sober. Very life changing. I went back to school for a bit in my early 30s favoring psych and writing. at 34 i divorced and moved to Tucson and worked for an airline there for eight years. I used my last weeks vacation and flight benefits to move to Kauai where I also spent eight years. kauai is a mystical, magical place and I truly felt I had arrived home. After 9/11 I felt the need to be closer to my son and his family so back to the mainland. I am a resident manager of a beautiful coastal apartment complex where I also live so my commute is but 10 seconds down a flight of stairs to my office.
I am very interested in sports, music and politics. I love the ocean and cannot get enough of it. I also enjoy wakeboarding with the kids(my son has a Malibu boat). I just experienced a very magical evening at the U2 concert in Glendale last weekend. Best concert I have ever been to. We were on the floor and only six deep from the catwalk. I am still humming! You can take the girl off the rock but not the rock out of the girl. Bono started a great organization to help promote human rights throughout the world. You may find information about them a http://www.one.org. Enough about me. Love to the community and it is fun watching it grow. Yeah Booman!
I finally have figured out how to post pictures so I’m posting a staghorn fern pic, this isn’t mine, but I grow them and mine look just like this.
I am an elder also (61), divorced and live in Socal.
I love playing pool, but it’s hard for me now with my bad back, but I used to be a bit of a shark.
Gardening and blogging fill my days now as I like a very tranquil type lifestyle, I try anyway.
Aside from raising 5 kids I worked for a trust adminstration company when I was younger, then became an antique dealer with my own business and did that for about 15 years. I also do toll painting,( painting designs on furniture), and I enhanced many sad antiques with my designs and sold them.
I have lived in Pa., Kaneohe, Hawaii and all over Southern Ca.
Here are 2 of the many toll pieces I have painted.
Thanks, I saw your lovely pics of your work and I just had to put mine up too, those were they only ones I could find easily and they aren’t very clear pics.
I know Mt. Baldy pretty well, used to go there a lot in younger days. I love art of all kinds and I love the tranquil life as in the mountains. My ex and I pondered buying property in Big Bear or Forest Falls many times but never did. I wanted to so much live in the forest somewhere. Do you still live in the mountains?
I also had a house burn down, but it was in Costa Mesa, Ca. in 1997. We lost everything, except a few things that were in an outside storage area.
All of my 40 years of writing , except for one box, were lost. That included about 10 books, written but never tried to publish. Plus many of my painted articles and a ‘ton’ of antique jewelry I had acquired.
I empathize with you about picture quality. I felt guilty posting the ones I did, while cringing at the lack of clear detail……..but the originals were enormous. I do have to say there is a wonderful quality of softness to the ones you posted which enhance the mood of the pieces. Sort of like stepping back in time to a gentler era.
Ohhh, ouch, I can only imagine how heartbreaking that must have been! Geawd all that work! To pick up after something like that takes a lot of strength and will. Of which you have since you are here.
I forget the proper spelling ( could be right on or a slight shift ) Idyllwild is a gorgeous mountain area to live in. The people are simply wonderful, much like the old Mt Baldy Village folks. A community in the true sense of the word.
Where we live now isn’t forest or tree laden, although I do love it for it’s own qualities. That and the cats have survived. Back in the canyon I lost many to rattlesnakes, mountain lions, foxes, coyotes, and probably bears. Here they just terrorize rabbits, birds, rodents, and ponder the oddity of turtles for hours on end. Luckily they haven’t run into any of the big daddy snapping turtles!
Idylewild yes, that’s a wonderful place, I have been there but not recently. Didn’t they have some forest fires in that area last year. I don’t know the correct spelling either.
As to the house fire, we all saw it at the time as a blessing. We were sad to lose all of our things of course, but we had accumulated way too much and we all had wanted to move for some time. So it was a new beginning for us and we didn’t have to pack.
The writing and art loss were bad because you can’t replace that, along with pics, etc.
The fire happened right before Christmas and we were on the front page of the newspaper and receoved such an outpouring of donations, it was awesome. Within a week we had apt. complete furnishings, everything for a kitchen, towels, sheets, etc. everything a house needs, plus clothes, etc. We also received over $5000.00 in cash donations, a lot of it from my husbands tree service customers.
I love hearing about people being true to the nature of human spirit through kindness. To be cliche, it really is heart warming both to hear about stories like that and to participate. That was one big reason I loved the Dean campaign. It didn’t matter if your part was small or large, it was about people helping people, working together for a common good for all.
Thank you, Diane. A positive story on many levels to kick start an absolutely Gorgeous Friday morning! Soon to be whizzing fast forward into the Weekend!!
I’m truly impressed with the way in which you handled such an immense personal set back. I also think the outpouring from others is directly related to one’s karma – which speaks volumes about yours. I love your artwork, by the way! Did you use stencils, or is that freeform? In either event, the pieces are lovely, and I’d be blessed to have one iota of the artistic talent exhibited by you and Jade.
Jade – I’ve appreciated your comments about the Dean organization. It was the first time in politics that I felt like a member of a passionate community, and I loved that the meet up groups participated in programs such as environmental clean up and collecting donations for food shelves. Those actions speak to the heart of an organization. (Especially compared to meaningless drivel like W pounding a nail into a board during a photo op with Habitat for Humanity)
I learned long ago that material things do not a life make, since my first experience with losing all came in my 20’s due to a divorce and another losing all in my 40’s.
When I had my antique business my learning in that area (material possessions) was cemented in me. I used to sell antiques at quite a rate since I did antique shows in malls. So I had to use my house to store the furniture. Since I did one show a week, most weeks of the year, every Tues, we would load up almost the entire house, take it to a show, sell most of it. come home on Monday, buy more, fill up house again, and do it all over again. Everyone had a different bedroom set each week, different livingroom furniture each week, etc. I even used to take my plants and antique rugs with me to decorate my space at shows.
My outside area was filled to the brim also and as I did my own refinishing I had many work areas. I learned upholstery, so a work area for that, then one for painting tole on furniture, one for caning chairs, so my surroundings were filled with work.
I had one little child and 2 more babies while I kept up this frantic pace, and then with my last child at age 39 I finally had to quit and then collapsed.
Yes I paint freehand without any pattern, unless I am doing a formal type painting where both sides must match, then I will draw a pattern.
Actually tole painting is the easiest and fastest form of painting to master IMHO. Learn Basic strokes, and then practice, practice,practice; I painted at least a hundred roses before I was satisfied with how it came out. I don’t paint much now so I am little rusty.
I painted the desk above in about an hour and the cabinet in maybe 15 min. painting people or figures is a little more involved as it requires layering of paint. There are tricks with loading paint onto bushes that allows for shading in one stroke and it is sometimes called one stroke painting. I learned from a book and then 3 lessons, and by the 3rd lesson I was already selling my work.
BTW I spelled tole painting wrong in previous posting,(gasp) correct spelling is tole.
I love Jade M’s work as well, I love any handmade art, just love art period. Taurus trait, I think.
I once lived in a treehouse nestled high amongst the tops of oaks and cedar. Located in a magical canyon at the base of Mt Baldy where concrete jungles and suburbiavilles threatened to encroach upon our hidden retreat. Green reigned year in and out, everywhere. It was a slice of mystical paradise. I owned a small shop downtown which thrived for six years due to the free gift wrapping like this.
Somewhere along the way it was time to leave. A few years later after nearly eight decades of escaping fire after fire our little canyon was struck. Awash in flames, the little house Jack built was no more. The merry stream which once carried a volkswagon bug for miles during a flood, evaporated, filled with mud. 
Claims to fame and fortune are minor, but I did sell a painting once to Ben Harper’s grandfather.
the background gray fuzz 
I also did Ben’s astrological chart ( the old fashioned way before the internet made it a breeze ) He’s a Scorpio with a Libra ascendent. I told him he would be famous.
Sometimes I make little objects to hold small treasures:
Sometimes I make little objects with attitude:
I never knew about blogging until Howard Dean, from there is was downhill like the time I rode a borrowed bicycle at a farm. Merrily zipping down a dirt road that ended at the pig house. Half way I wondered where the brakes were. Everyone up the hill laughing, some doubled over with tears streaming down their cheeks. And oh how the howls increased as I crashed straight into mud, pigs, and glop. But I hopped right back on and despite all had a hilarious time.
The path to here originated from Daily Kos via Booman in a post of his. I like the closer knit aspect here and the slower pace. And I love the choice of Scoop! For political burn, I slowly ease away from the keyboard, occupying my hands with a project or doing something that involves lots of sun. Cats and my partner or books.
I love your art work.
Thanks for showing us that.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful art! Do you have a website? (If not, you’re doing yourself – and those of us who appreciate such wonderful talent – a great disservice)
Sounds like we shared similar blog paths. I was captivated by Dean’s speech to the DNC (?) and researched everything I could find about the man. Started at his Vermont website, moved on to DFA/BFA, linked over to Kos, (which was highly pro-Dean at the time) and finally linked over here to the land of Boo.
You’re too kind! I do have a website, but not for paintings and objects. After a very public life with the shop I needed time to recharge. Had it not been for Dean, I’d probably still be in semi recluse mode.
I too, read everything I could get my hands on thinking this guy is too good to be true…And so it was… too good for the wider American population brainwashed by media. sigh But, I am an optimist by nature and believe everything happens for a reason. Not to say I like it all the time.
Aside from the brainwashing, as soon as Dean made the comment comparing our representatives to cockroaches, I knew the party would find a way to make him go away. And that they did – at least for his run during the presidential race. (But with everything the media and the party did to undermine him, the man stood by his convictions and put his heart and soul behind Kerry.) I may not agree with him on everything (I have yet to find a candidate in which I do) and I realize this may sound sappy, but the guy really inspires me and gives me hope for the future of the party. (As does Barbara Boxer and a handful of others)
A while back, Welshman expressed concerns about the negativity on the blogs. Well, I for one feel good things coming our way. The DNC asking for and using our feedback, the efforts of DFA and the Delay billboards, meetups that didn’t go away after the election, people like us meeting over the Internet and taking action when called upon by the party, building our hopes and preparing to band together in 2006, receiving e-mails from the DNC and other organizations that don’t ask for contributions (!), the passion in the e-mails from Boxer, Kennedy, Kerry, MoveOn, et. al., and the convictions of many Senators and Congressman in finally standing up against this administration. It won’t happen overnight, but I do believe it’s happening. And we’ve being invited to participate in the revolution.
Gorgeous work, Jade! You have a wonderful talent!
Will you be blogging on Tuesday so we can all wish you a rousing Happy Birthday? Thirty is a great year. Just enough into the 1st Saturn return that lets you know you’ll make it through the eye of the needle, reaching that plateau of feeling comfortable in your own skin. It’s funny how the sense of being grounded gives a person an incredible sense of freedom.
You’re welcome, Jade (beautiful name – my daughter’s middle name, too)!
I’ll be online just so you all can wish me a Happy Birthday! LOL!
After I read your comment this morning about doing charts, I went to the link you posted and had mine done, partially. That thing had me pegged, almost to a tee! The one thing it said that doesn’t really pertain to me is that I’m supposed to have a love of fine and rich material things…but then again, that’s a Taurus trait we’re all supposed to have and I just don’t, and never have. Well, that and the beautiful voice. 😉
Jade is a name I’ve always loved, in character, stone, and word. I happily, in a good way, envy your daughter’s middle name.
LOL Yeah, those long held traits passed down from astrologer to astrologer over the centuries…I tell ya, someday there will be reform! I’m always fascinated with the meaning of words slowly changing, some to the complete opposite. I’ll have to look over what astro,com offers in terms of partial charts. Could be it missed a few major aspects or planetary placements. Aside from your Sun, Mercury is the only other planet in Taurus in your chart. Venus is in Gemini so you’d find beauty in forms of communication and social/intellectual interaction rather then physical..but which house Venus is in plays a significant part too.
To Tuesday! And all the days prior and after being ones of merriment.
Ps on voice…I’ve heard many a Texan speak. Aside from Delay, that Texan twang is pretty damn sexy.
I don’t mind my Texas twang, and I definitely have one, that’s for sure. Even I know I do – especially when talking with friends from other parts of the country.
As for Tom Delay, I live in his district – God help me.
I have several images of the open aspect goddess in my house, and my favorite necklace is the same image.
Thanks for posting those…a big smile to my day!
🙂
My husband, (slackerinc), pointed me to the breastfeeding post (one of my big feminist issues) and then told me to check out your artwork, jade monkey. Totally gorgeous!!!!!!! I try to do artsy stuff from home while i take care of the kids (i do alot of posters for women’s groups here in town and concerts–i used to paint furniture and resell it)…do you sell those statues? They are so beautiful! When my birthday rolls around, perhaps Alan (ahem, darling, reading this?) will remember your statues and snatch me one! 🙂
I’m a 53 year old drop out, of the corporate world. Just got tired of all the rhetoric, and back stabbing, underhanded deals, and basically said the hell with it.
I spent over 30yrs traveling all over, and finally decided to do something for myself. I started an environmental company, and so far, surviving, nothing high dollar, or fantastic, but it pays the bills, and leaves me time for my photography, fishing, riding the back roads in my Jeep.
For the past month, I’ve been totally consumed in building up my property that I bought, and getting it ready to live on. I bought 7 acres in the woods, and have built the road in, cleared the homesite, cleared the power right of way, garden spot, orchard spot, and now clearing around the lake, and ponds. The back of my property is nestled against a wildlife preserve, so that means that no one can build, or even rarely come close to me.
I’m going to move the motorhome in first of the month, and will live in that until I finish building the house. Going to build as I can afford, so when it’s done, it’s all payed for, NO BILLS. I don’t use credit cards, and only buy what I can pay for, property, vehicles, etc.
The first thing I will be building will the the outdoor cookhouse. Now I know that may sound strange to some of you, but it’s great. Pole building inclosed in screen, with the smoker,(for the wild pig, and gator tail) grill, propane cooker, (fish, crawfish, shrimp boils) picnic tables, and a bistro set, benches for setting, and a small bar, (for fun). It will have a tin roof, and on top of the roof, I’ll pump water from the pond onto it for cooling. When your in the cookhouse, it’s like setting on a tin roof porch in the rain. The water is pumped to the roof, and then into yard sprinklers, so it’s a constant effect of falling rain. The run off comes down around the edge, where you fill with water plants, and then the run off goes back into the pond/lake. It will drop the temp about 20 degress under the roof, and with the ceiling fans going, the mist from the side splash makes a natural cooler, much cheaper than conventional air conditioning, and a very fantastic way of enjoying the outdoors, while protected from insects. Very relaxing atmosphere.
Either side you look out, you’ll see water, pristine forest, pines, huge live oaks covered with spanish moss, all the native fauna, and watch the Osprey’s hunt, dive for fish, Eagles, Hawks, Owl’s, fish jumping, and Gator’s.. Tons of wildlife, wild pig, deer, turkey, fox, Racoon, Heron, Egrets, every type of native bird you can imagine. The land is situated between a chain of live ponds, and live lakes. (meaning they are spring fed, this is in the very heart of the Blue Spring Basin here in North Florida, one of the largest auqifer’s in the area)
I’m letting my hair down, so to speak, in that I’m letting it grow long again. (just about to pony tail length again) I think they (the corporate people) knew I was going the other direction when I would show up at a board of directors meeting in a flowered shirt, shorts, no shoes, and a pony tail) and tell them I did’nt have time for the bull-shit, and leave. I reverted once, and cut off the hair, and took on a more causual appearance, for a couple of years, and realized, it was’nt me. So now, I’m “coming home” so to speak, and being myself. Now, if they can’t take that, well just kiss my….. ; )
I’ve always been a rebel, and this is my last hurrah so to speak, but Bi-God, it’s mine. As the song says, “I did it My Way”
So if your ever passing this way, and you see an ol’ fart in a Jeep, with a pony tail, shorts, camera, and a good cigar, (on a back road) you’ve just witnessed some of the real “wild life” here in Florida. ; )
It’s been a real pleasure to get to know some of the fine people here in this “family” and may peace be with you always.
So keep the sun on your face, the wind at your back, the spirits with you, and follow your path, wherever it may take you, just make sure, it’s “Your” path.
The cookhouse sounds fantastic, Infidel! We’ve got something similar out in our backyard and we love it, and use it all the time.
I think your life sounds terrific, and very fulfilling. If I’m ever out in Florida and I do happen to see that ponytailed man in a Jeep, I’ll flag him down and ask if maybe we can share a smoke. 😉
It would be an absolute pleasure. ; )
Relatively new to the site; came from dKos. I’m 40, black, lesbian, lawyer, single, living in Brooklyn, NY (why is this sounding like a personal ad?). I grew up in the leafy suburbs of northern New Jersey, which is a wonderful place to be <u>from</u>. As they say, born and raised a progresive; though my family wasn’t into partisan politics per se, there was always discussion of current events, and my brother and I were raised with a profound sense of obligation to help those who can’t help themselves. My father was a businessman in Harlem and was active in a small local church there, Mom was a school teacher in the 60’s and 70’s in the Harlem public schools. With the two of them as role models, that’s probably why we were attuned to care about our community and those less fortunate.
As far as political blogging, I find I’m doing less of it now that Air America is up and running. My list of favorite sites is enormous, though. In addition to the usual suspects, I like MaxSpeak (Max Sawicky’s economics site) and NYCO’s blog on NY State issues. Occassionally I’ll surf on over to RedState to see what the enemy is thinking. For “educated snark,” nothing beats James Wolcott’s new blog (pity he doesn’t have a comment function.
But enough about me. Thanks, Boo!
I’m 49 years old and a lawyer no longer practicing due to a chronic illness. I have 2 kids, a boy 2 years from college taking all honors classes in school, a boy scout and varsity track athlete. We’re hopeful that he can get into an IVY League school. He’s taking Latin and teaching himself how to speak and write Japanese in his spare time in preparation for a trip to Japan this Summer.
I also have a daughter in 4th grade. She suffers from moderately severe asthma, which is essentially under control thanks to medication she takes. She also is diagnosed with ADHD. She is a budding musician and is currently learning to play 3 instruments: piano, cello and electric guitar. She started lessons on all of them about a year and a half ago.
My wife is nisei, i.e., first generation Japanese American to be born in America. Her parents moved here after the war. Her mother grew up in the Tokyo area and lived through the firebombings of that city. Her father is a recently retired physicist who worked at NOAA developing computer models of hurricane development.
My wife and I met in Law School. We started dating our second year and married the year after graduating. We lived and worked in Denver (both of us in major firms there) until she received an offer to go in house at a major corporation back east. Since she was pregnant with our first child and we didn’t foresee any opportunity for her at her firm in Denver (they weren’t known for the number of female partners they had, not to mention female and Asian).
I worked at a mid size regional firm in upstate NY and made partner before having to involuntarily retire in 1998. I won’t bore you with the details of my illness, but I’ve been hospitalized 4 or 5 times, had 2 surgeries and multiple diagnoses and tests. Incredibly enough I’ve been treated at the Mayo Clinic (incredible because we actually got my HMO to pay for it after a long fight with them) and the National Institutes of Health. So I probably fit into a small category of folks who can lay claim to that.
My family is primarily out West: Colorado (brother and sister), Nevada (brother), Arkansas (brother) and Arizona (Mother and Father). All my wife’s relatives live in our city now, plus we have been adopted for holiday purposes by my sister-in-law’s family. I miss Colorado very much, but I fear it has changed in many ways over the last 20 years that are not to my liking. Time and distance have made me an expatriate of sorts. As Thomas Wolfe said, you can’t go home again, and in the sense that he meant it, I agree.
I first got on the internet in late 1999 and became drawn to politics and philosophy bbs at yahoo and elsewhere. Later I developed a love of poetry and now read many of the online poetry zines (many of which I link to in my Monday poetry series) because 1) they’re free and 2) I find the quality of the work as good or better than most of what I read in established journals or published books.
I really discovered blogs last year when I came across Atrios. I still read him everyday, as well as a number of others. There are so many good blogs that I could fill up a blogroll of over one hundred probably if I cared to. I lurked at Kos occasionally last year, but only really got into it when I started posting diaries of my own this winter. I came to Booman at the invitation of SusanbHu.
A little bit more.
I was a psychology major in College and worked for about 3 years after graduation at various residential facilities for disturbed adolescents. After losing my last job due to contracting mononucleosis I was too burned out to go back to the helping professions (low pay, lots of competition at the time, lots of overtime but no overtime pay, dangerous working conditions, sleazy administrators, etc.)
Before going to law school I had a series of odd jobs including hospital pharmacy tech (basically a glorified gofer and stock person) and taxicab driver in Denver. That last was by far the most interesting job I’ve ever had.
I’ve always wanted to ask a taxi driver what their job was like and never had a chance, but now I do! What were some of the more interesting fares you had, Steven?
Male transvestite prostitute — I was convinced this was a woman until he told me what he did for a living.
Three hispanic gang members — stiffed me after a thirty dollar ride, but no way was I going into the bar after them for my money.
Drug dealer who paid my fair with coke. (I don’t use drugs anymore but I confess to youthful indiscretions).
Drunk Lady Lawyer who I picked up at a party who took me into her house and (fill in the blanks anyway you want). We dated for about a month after that.
Most boring fares: Business men going to or from the Airport.
Oooh! I bet that job was never boring, to say the least. I don’t blame you for not going after that $30 fare – I wouldn’t have either! The lady lawyer sounds like she was one of the more….ah…giving customers. 😉
I’m 36, and a monkey – that’s my Chinese horoscope. I’m a Capricorn in the other – but since I’m not a follower of astrology I’ll choose the monkey to represent me – a much more curious animal.
I’m the black sheep in my family, not politically fortunately, but I hate living up to social expectations. I’ve done the things I’ve wanted to do and no regrets. I spent my childhood in universities with my Professor relatives, in their classes, their board meetings and their parties and witnessed first hand the intellectual backstabbing among them – to be a fly on the wall. Knowing people had its perks however, since I spent a lot of time in my youth in the bowels of the British museum seeing things that will never be displayed. Though ancient history is my first love I studied art though I ultimately found little satisfaction in that.
My husband and I have our own business now and we’re doing well – I can sit at my computer, with a book on my lap, lots of news sites open on my computer, this site and some music at full blast in the background. I can have wine when I want it and I can run my day as I wish – the cutback is traveling less.
IMO, there never was a greater mind than Mozart, no one clearer of thought – finding the right interpreter/conductor is the challenge. The one strange quirk I have is that I enjoy sitting in an ancient cathedral in the middle of winter, with my back on the cold stone and my eyes closed, listening to a 15/16-century requiem. I am not religious, but for this, back then I would have been.
“I’ve done the things I’ve wanted to do and no regrets”
A Monkey statement through and through! I’ve always read the yearly element of Earth for our year is one that tempers the mischievous nature of the Monkey, but I am inclined to disagree.
I have noticed nearly every Earth Monkey including myself tends towards self employment.
Your strange quirk sounds like a window into a past life, a happy one as a monk perhaps.
Perhaps I turned to the cloth because I was running from the law? (Since I can’t fathom another reason that being a monk would make me happy.) LOL
Which ever it was it’s a neat image. Having something which you recognize as giving you peace is something everyone should have in these times.
I think many would be shocked at prior lives and the reverse if they could see into the future. Shocked perhaps isn’t the right word. It’s kind of hard to describe the feeling of delving into a less then respectable past life. It’s a mixture of relief, acceptance, understanding, disgust, and peace. It’s a lot like personality as clothing, only wearing two outfits at the same time.
Since I posted the last time, here is the link for my comment about who/what I am, incase anyone on this thread didn’t get tor ead it.
I’m 35, a lawyer, and the proud Poppa of a five year old boy and a three year old girl. The latter is the BooMan’s god-daughter. I live about a block and a half from Philadelphia’s Italian Market (of Rocky, and now Food TV, fame). I have the same (Americanized) name as Cicero.
I was allegedly found under a cabbage (albeit a union cabbage) in Berkeley, CA in the year 1969. My Dad was going to Cal for his PHD in math. (No, my Dad isn’t the Unabomber, he just went to school with him.)
I was raised in Princeton, NJ (where I met BooMan) and boarded at the Buxton School. Because I had no artistic talent, graphic or performing, I was forced to get good grades and go to Princeton University.
I majored in Near Eastern Studies and did the one thing you can do with an undergraduate degree in Near Eastern Studies, enrolled in a PhD program in… Near Eastern Studies. I wasn’t able to develop a workable dissertation topic and wasn’t keen on being a perma-adjunct professor, so I left with my MA and that myterious notation- ABD.
I went into finance and did some trading and eventually aquired an interest in a small manufaturer where I spent a couple years as an active director. But I’m nowhere near sufficiently mean and full of shit to make it in that sector, so I went to law school.
I spent the first few semesters of law school with my head up my ass (competing with 22 year olds required no concious thought on my part- sorry young people, but you really are stupid- I’m stupid too, but you’re stupiderer.) I decided to take it seriously and did pretty darned well. I got admitted last fall and right now I’m sole practicing and looking for a real job.
I blog a bit, less than I keep telling myself I should, and do a lot of on the ground politics- registering voters, circulating petitions and the like. I’ve done that since I was in college and I am pleased to see more and more folks taking up the good fight and duking out their politics on the ground.
I cook, can’t ever seem to get the house clean, and can’t think of anything else off the top of my head.
🙂
Thought for the day: What would someone who always loves you want you to do?
Hmm, late to see this but a little about me.
I’m another upstate New Yorker, live with my husband and too many cats, one jumbo dog and a cockatiel who can whistle the theme to xfiles.
I’m closing on 50, a factory worker who’s been down sized, right sized and kicked out when they turned the lights out. Working again at the moment and hanging on for dear life.
Interests range widely, or wildly, depending. I read as much as I can, found art later in life and love to indulge in drawing and painting, cg more lately.
I have to say this is my favorite blog, although I hit Americablog and Pam’s House Blend daily also.
Other than that, watching the river flow by and working up to a diary.
Long story (as they say) short:
1950’s childhood in Denver suburbs.
College at CU-Boulder in the bad old, good old late 60’s and early 70’s. Took part in the March on the Pentagon and many anti-war demos in Boulder. Tear-gassed several times. Somehow never arrested.
Grad school at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Degree in literature. Then teaching jobs in Iowa, North Carolina, and finally–thankfully–back in Colorado.
After <cough-cough-cough> years of teaching, a bit burned out, fed up with departmental and university politics, I did what academics never do: I resigned and left.
Did freelance writing in Denver for a while, then unpaid house and cabin renovation, and am now doing a bit of teaching (but no administration) at a small engineering school (which some folks here will be able to identify) not too far west of the city.
Jennifer and I got together somewhat late in life thanks to match.com. It’s us and Bart, the 105 pound Rottweiler mix with a Very Large Heart and a Rather Small Brain, and maybe in the near future a black lab puppy.
School of Mines?
Could be.
Interesting how many Colorado or Colorado-connected people there are here.
indeed…I once visited Colorado when I was a kid. Coincidence? I think not.
What about your bio, I sure we would all love to read it, so please write one. I have always been curious how you came up with your screen name or is it your real name.
Just kidding, I’m sure it’s not your real name. Whenever I see that name I always think of Frank Sinatra.
for your enjoyment and edification…
Johnny Gentle (Famouse Crooner) is the Reagan-esque U.S. president in David Foster Wallace’s “Infinite Jest.” He’s a former lounge singer whose fringe party swept into power on the promise to “clean up” America. (Literally–he was an extreme germophobe.) The pertinent part is that he’s pretty much useless…his top officer actualy runs the show, and basically acts as the president’s brain.
Seems apropos, no?
Wow.
I’m thinking.
Dope fiends, tennis academy, Quebec seperatists, tennis academy, Bob Hope, spooks in the Arizona desert, strange stores/front operations, the Dean and his family, the tunnels, Boston, the hills, alcoholics anonymous meetings, television/phones…but no Johnny Gentle in my recollection.
tsk, tsk…you’ve forgotten Gentle, Rod Tine, the CUSP Party, etc. Glad to know someone else is a fan of the book.
Glad to see ya here, Mr. Johnny. I’ve always been a fan of your humor, wit, and photoshop skills.
Yay! I’m glad to see you here, Johnny. I have always been an admirer!
52, married, no kids, 2 cats, a dog, and between ferrets. We had up to 4 ferrets at one time but our current residene is not set-up to corral the little animated slinkies.
Became politically active during the Viet Nam War and slowly burned-out over the next 15 years. My activity then caused me to support Senator Kerry as I felt a certain obligation to a leader of VVAW. Getting re-activated and hope to do some research and a little writing for Dems in NM in 2006.
A techno-hippie compu-geek, I’ve been writing software, doing some hardware engineering, building computers, & etc since 1971. Currently I, and a few friends, are working on an Artifical Intelligence project on our own dime. It looks like we’ve cracked the Natural Language problem – let everyone know by the end of the summer!
My primary interest and what I do all the live long day (doo-dah, doo-dah) is developing and tying a Formal Logic system to/from Chaos mathematics and Complexity Theory. This is where my interest in Finance stems as there is a tremendous amount of really crappy data floating around and emitting from the various markets.
Never finished my degree as I found people would pay me to learn computers, math, and geeky stuff instead of me having to pay.
Got fed up with SillyCon valley in 1987 when I realized my work was being used to build the systems that built the weapons systems that, even as we speak, are raining bombs on all & sundry. Singing a rousing chorus of “Take This Job and Shove It” …
We moved to Iowa City, Iowa. Mucked around Iowa until 7 years ago when we got fed up with -50 F winters and 104 F summers and moved to the Central Mountains of New Mexico.
My wife and I run our own business, since 1985, make a little money & have a lot of fun.
I loved your story as I love all the stories, such interesting people here.
I just wanted to ask you what asdf means as I see it a lot and can’t figure it out.
It’s a placeholder put in the ‘Subject’ line when the writer doesn’t want to have to think of something intelligible.
Look at the keys under your left hand and All Will Become Clear.
You will also see ‘n/t’ in the comment section of some posts. This means ‘no text’ and is used when the writer said everything in the ‘Subject’ line.
I’m 51, married for the third time (happily for a change), a practicing attorney and a semi practicing Pagan. We have two boys – a 15 year old smartass burgeoning computer geek/rap freak, and a precious pain in the ass 10 year old with Asperger’s Syndrome (similar to high functioning Autism).
I’m a male (at least in this lifetime and when I’m thinking straight). I have a bachelor’s degree in acting and a master of fine arts in directing. I spent a lot of time working in restaurants, drinking, and pursuing sex as a sport.
Now I’m old and fat. I’m 51 and bald by choice. The blood has long since cooled and I am much happy with my crazy wife. Man is she crazy! I can’t stand to drive her minivan because of all the crap I get about her bumperstickers. She’s more radical than I am and vocal as hell.
We were active with NARAL in the Richmond, VA area back before the state chapter shut down. Did some clinic defense. Met some good people.
I mostly defend people who have been accused of crimes (for the love of it) and I represent people who have been injured (for the money, mostly) and I do some family law (to keep the cash flow moving).
I love to fish and cook, but I never have time for either.
I am proud to say that I have always voted and I have never voted for a Republican in my life.
I like to break the rules, but I hate to get caught, so I’m a cautious nonconformist.
Aquarius, on the Capricorn cusp. Espresso drinker (I have two machines now). Smoke cigarettes for sanity and cigars for a treat.
I came here from dkos. I love the slower pace and family atmosphere here. The competition at dkos is maddening and intimidating to me. I’m working up the nerve to do a diary some day soon. All I can ever think of is sarcastic stuff, so I back off. Sarcasm is fun, but not all that productive. There’s enough around to meet the quota. I’m waitin’ for my shot.
I’ve done a lot of other stuff in my 51 years. Not all of it moral, healthy or legal. I love being a work in progress. If I died today, I’d have no regrets. Experiencing and learning is good for the soul and its what the Goddess wants me to do.
Pleasedtameetcha!
Baldmel8
Oh, and I’m secretly in love with Maryscott Oconner, who often gives me 4’s at dkos and who I admire for her style and her attitude.
I’m a 40 year old married man with three children. I grew up in Ohio and have split the next 20 years between Maryland and West Virginia.
I write horror stories for fun. Do I really believe in ghosts and vampires? Not really. I just have fun with my blog. I get ideas from the non-fiction stories abou them for my fiction. Of course, I do not not believe either. 🙂
If this were a high school year book, I’d probably be voted most eccentric.
I teach biology at a community college. Anatomy, physiology, cell and molecular, lately. I’ve also taught microbiology, organismal (you know, bugs, algae, ferns, mushrooms, lobsters, lichens – if it’s an organism, it’s in that course) and critical thinking.
I spent my 20’s being a good-for-nothing slacker hippie, rebelling against the world I grew up in in the 50’s – materialism, sexism, racism, homophobia, nationalism, war. I’m still rebelling against all of those.
After my daughter was born when I was 32, I figured I’d better get my work-type shit together so as to set a good example for her. Back to school. My BA was in English, but I ended up getting a Ph.D. in zoology, developmental biology (embryology) to be more precise. Did my graduate work on kidney development in chicken embryos, mainly trying to figure out how cells move and how they know where to go.
My best friend kept telling me that I ought to teach at the community college, “You’d love it!” but I kept resisting. Community college – ugh. Pure snobbery on my part. But she was right, I do love it. I love (most of) my students, and I love being able to teach all kinds of subjects. I get bored pretty easily, so when that happens, I just start teaching a new course. Couldn’t do that if I had followed the usual academic path.
infidelpig’s talking about growing his hair long again made me start thinking about reverting to hippie youth when old age is looming up ahead. A couple of years ago, I started growing my hair again, quit wearing makeup or shaving my legs. I’m in the “if you can’t deal with it, tough” stage of life. I also dance in public.
Yellow shirt, long gray hair, that’s me. Oh, and 56, single, one best-kid-in-the-world daughter, two dogs, three cats, and I smoke.
I love reading, writing, photography, opera, baseball, travel and my dogs, both of whom have excellent taste in political leaders:
Returned to my “natural habitat” 10 years ago after teaching remedial reading in South Texas for five years and various jobs over 20 years at a medical school in St. Louis. Free tuition there led to a master’s in communication and later, with free tuition by working, a master’s in adult ed in Arkansas. Education classes are usually pretty dim, but you get out what you put in.
I help my 85 y/o mama, who has dementia, live with her, and she supports me. (Fortunately, she’s sweet and has a great sense of humor!) Also have a small bookshop in my river-resort town, Cotter, Arkansas, “Trout Capital USA” (pop. 921). Wish I knew how to post a photo so you could see the beautiful view out my window. River, trees, six layers of ridges in these old hills. Every shade of green imaginable just now.
I’ve got 40 acres with a year-round spring and two creeks, have just had it surveyed, and plan to build a road soon. Someday, I’ll spend more time out there, move if I get up the courage.
Love to read blogs because I want to know what other people are thinking, and I’ve learned a lot. Around here, it’s hard to find someone who shares my political point of view, so reading blogs is excellent for me.
Thanks to everybody for telling about themselves. I’ve really enjoyed it!
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Your bio mentioned Ozarks, close enough to Créve Coeur, MO to check it out! Did on occasion visit the Ozarks, recall the boat rentals and the flight by sea plane starting and landing was … historic!
Internet is great to view the sights from behind the keyboard.
Welcome to Cotter
Southshore and Bull Shoales Dam
Historic — 1803 Louisiana Purchase Sealed Dismal Fate for Tribes in Arkansas
1824 Treaty ceded all Quapaw landsin Arkansas to United States
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
Gee, nice links, Oui! The bridge you posted is on three historic registers and was just rehabbed at a cost of $7 million!! It is beautiful, though, and they still study it in engineering schools. The dam is something my great-uncle lobbied for with his newspaper beginning in 1909! The lake it creates has brought many retirees and tourists — a mixed blessing — but I count myself lucky to live on the river.
There were many historic tribes of Native Americans here as they were pushed west by white settlers. Before that, this was Osage territory. Perhaps because Cotter is on a horseshoe bend in the river and has a large natural spring, even prehistoric groups lived here. Their stone artifacts are everywhere. Truly amazing. Sadly, the Trail of Tears crossed the river just about a half-mile upstream.
But Creve Coeur!! I lived in St. Louis (inner city, near south side) for about 20 years. Worked at St. Louis U. medical school. I played a lot of ACBL bridge then — often in Creve Coeur! And we used to go to a little lake there, idiot fat women paddling around an inflated boat. LOL. One couple from CC were special friends. She played violin in the St. Louis Symphony, and he played flute & had Ph.D.s in music and philosophy. Taught in community colleges around. He’s Buddist and she’s Jewish. They had a magical wedding ceremony at Wash U. Many happy memories.
I visited the Netherlands back in the early ’70s. Being from a small town, Amsterdam was overwhelming for me then. We went to a cheese market in a small town and enjoyed it hugely. I felt compelled to have the “national drink,” and someone told me it was gin with beer chaser. That was my breakfast! Glad I’m older now 😉
It must be exciting to live in such an international city as The Hague. How did you get so lucky?
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Loved the outdoors, the picnics in one of many beautiful parks, playing ball, or just enjoying the beauty of nature. Plenty of space around Creve Coeur city and Lake, Baylor Park and trips to Jesse James hideout, Meramec Caverns and the Ozarks where an artificial lake » water reservoir was build on top of a hill cq mountain top to provide electricity through generators.
Did indeed graduate from St. Louis U with BS in engineering and played varsity soccer during sophomore year – 12th player in a great team. Guys I played against during high school years: Pat McBride, Carl Gentile, Thomas Hennessey, Jack Kinealy, the twins Tim & Terry Knox and a great coach Bob Guelker. Team won all and many NCAA championships, as St. Louis had been the US soccer centre in those years. Bob Guelker was followed by another great soccer star and coach Harry Keough.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
Yes, that is the coolest bridge at Cotter! I remember when we had to cross it to go into Cotter to go on up to the lakes.
I live south and west of there, in the mountains of NW Arkansas. Fayetteville is a 2 hour drive or so, from us and the Buffalo River isn’t too far away. Great canoeing, and there are wild Elk that can be seen near Boxley on the River.
49 – male – single
Always wanted to get married but spent too much time in the Army, too much time in college, and in the end, too much time running around Paris, France.
Degree in music. Picked up a guitar when I was sixteen. Wanted to be a rock star but the practical won out.
Degree in electrical engineering. Was a software engineer doing a lot of R&D stuff right up to the dot com crash.
Think you’ll like this part Diane.
I also had a house burn down, but it was in Costa Mesa, Ca. in 1997
From Newport Beach, CA originally but lived in Costa Mesa. Graduated from OCC, and later from CSUF.
I know Mt. Baldy pretty well, used to go there a lot in younger days. I love art of all kinds and I love the tranquil life as in the mountains. My ex and I pondered buying property in Big Bear
Spent my twenties skiing on Baldy and Big Bear, CA. Live in Big Bear City, CA now. Teach skiing in the winter, do contract engineering in the summer, but am now more and more obsolete in the field. This was both a curse and a blessing. I had become my work.
Thought I would include these shots of Big Bear this winter. Taken from Ego Trip at Snow Summit.
As was said upthread, I will now just kick back and wait for the bill collectors knock ;-0
Nice to meet you. Wow what a coincidence! The house that burned down was on Newport Blvd., if you remember the firewood lot, it was on the same property. Eller’s Tree Service(my ex’s business), has worked the area of NB Costa Mesa, and orange county since 1972.
My kids all were born and went to school in Costa Mesa. Some are still going to OCC and Long Beach State.
My kids spend a lot of time in Big Bear, snowboarding and just relaxing. How lucky you are to live there, do you work there, or go down the mountain to work.
Were you touched by the fire last year? Was the damage bad, I haven’t been there for years. I started to go there in about 1968 or so, and what changes from then and now it is amazing.
How lucky you are to live there, do you work there, or go down the mountain to work.
In the winter I work for Snow Summit. I started teaching skiing at Bear Mountain in ’93, but was only doing it on the weekends, driving up every weekend. I teach kids, eight to twelve – love it. I now live up here full time, for the most part. Last year I worked in Santa Ana. I may just stay up here for the summer this year.
Were you touched by the fire last year?
No but we were all evacuated. It looked for a while like the fire was going to move into the valley but it did not.
Was the damage bad, I haven’t been there for years.
Last year down at the bottom of the 330, it looked like the surface of the moon; black. Not even a blade of grass. Much better this year though.
I started to go there in about 1968 or so, and what changes from then and now it is amazing
When I was a kid my family used to stay in Boulder Bay. It looks almost exactly the same as it did forty years ago.
I live in Santa Ana now, right off 1’st St. and near Grand.
This is what my son does in Big Bear:
I watched the fire last year non stop, I am so glad you and everyone were ok.
Is boulder bay a camp ground near the lake?
In case everyone does not know what he is doing in these pics above, it is rock crawling or off roading, in his built up, rigged up Blazor. Sticker on Blazor says Built not Bought, thousands of hours, thousands of dollars, and he has this machine. I am very proud of him for his mechanical skills. But I worry about this stuff. He says he is safely doing it all, so I can just pray. He is 25.
Is boulder bay a camp ground near the lake?
Boulder Bay is way over by the west side of the lake, by the dam. Boulder Bay is very cool ’cause a lot of the houses by the dam have been there for decades. Some of them look like the original 1800’s houses.
The best rock crawling I think is up in Holcomb Valley, which is by the way, home to the Southern California gold rush. Doble which is in the valley, missed out on being the San Bernadino county seat by two votes. It was a booming mining town a hundred years ago. Spent a lot of time up there last summer crawling around, but not in a truck. 🙂
Hi everyone, I just realized that I got Trusted User status here in the frog pond so I should probably stop procrastinating and write my bio.
I’m 24 years old, soon to be 25 in September (That makes me a Virgo AND a Monkey.) I graduated with a Bachelors in Religious Studies from the University of Arizona, minoring in Business Administration in 2003. I currently work at a non-profit agency here in Tucson who serves the Latino community of Southern Arizona and the copper mining communities of Gila and Pinal counties. Even though I’m in the business office processing payroll and employee benefits, I feel very connected to our work and enjoy knowing that we’re making a difference.
On the personal side, I’m a 7th Generation Arizonan with a blood mix of Mexican, Apache, Italian, French and Spanish. I’m an only child but have tons of cousins near my age that I consider siblings. I don’t have any kids but am the guardian of seven goldfish that give me plenty of well-spent Official Procrastination Hours.
Politically speaking, I consider myself Progressive with a center-left tilt. I reject one-issue voting campaigns and believe that we need to restore Debate and Dialogue in this country which has disintegrated under Bush’s dictatorial rule.
That’s about it, glad to be here!
Since you are no. 66, it is time, and you sound very interesting. Funny how I always think someone is older just from their screen name and they turn out to be way younger. I thought you must be about 85 from your name. LOL. I guess I always think people are older from the way they write too, a lot of the youngers write really well and I’m impressed, and at their knowledge.
No worries, I have friends who swear that I’m 85. 🙂
My user id is a word play off my real name as well as a hat tip to Tucson, home of Eegees. See you around the pond!
I’m flattered. Let me bask in the warm glow of the spotlight…jeebus, I think it’s giving me a sunburn.
Well, where to start? I’m eighteen human years of age, soon to be nineteen. I attend community college here in Maryland, and graduated high school last June. I joined Daily Kos in December for reasons I may never understand, but I do not regret that decision. Of course, most Kossacks haven’t the slightest notion of my existance over there, but too bad for them. I’m staying.
I joined Booman Tribune so that I could continue getting my unhealthy fix of political discussion. I can quit…really…anytime I want. Since the people here are fellow Kossacks, I know this site is full of people who use their brains. I really like the Recommended World Diaries section, because I like to know about affairs in other countries. I hate eggs. Despise them, I do.
So there’s an abbreviated description of me. Anything else?
Oh yeah, I don’t smoke. Never have, never will.
Since I seem to be doing welcoming today, I will say that we are very glad to have one of the younger generation here and kudos to you for being politically active and interested. I wonder if you are the youngest member so far and I think I might be the oldest.
To you and other newbies, check out the new comment section, if you haven’t already. That is the feature I like best on this site and its keeps us all up on wht is being said. On DK, it’s much harder to find new comments.
That is cool. Too bad DKos doesn’t have a New Comments thingie.
Do we have hotlists on Booman Tribune?
will come up on the right side if you click the plus sign.
And thanks for the welcome!
My kids are both home now so I can’t really write much of anything just that “I’m here”.
I’m a “Scorpion Goddess” LOL who should have ran away with the circus when she was 9 years old…
I’m a Washingtonian, freckle-faced blue-eyed woman with two kids who are my heros a mister and we are in an upheave, chaos, crisis due to special education, job stress BS and lack of healthcare for most here AND fixing our house here in CA so we can move up to the Northwest.
I LOVE hockey but the bastards are having a pout-a-thon. I love Peter Himmelman. I love art… the theatre where I’ve played several roles. My favorite – a suicidal southern belle who needed a lawyer to defend her from gutshooting her worthless husband… “Babe” from “Crimes of the Heart”. I’m not involved with any company right now so I’m reading at the public library to children. I’ve read for years at schools. I think I’ve read “Harvey Potter’s Balloon Farm” to at least 400 kids so far.
Former military brat and then navy wife. I’ve been around the block on that.
I want to get my kids settled in a good school so I can return to college. I’ve been “away” for a while.
My other goal is to get my kiddie short stories “OUT” of my head and all written down. My friends keep bashing me over the head about this but… it’s freaking scary, man!
I feel that I’m “healing”. It’s been great “meeting” so many others that aren’t …. Talibaptist, flag waving morons. After this election, I lost some friends. I lost my mind. I lost hope… for a bit. I wanted a place where I could heal, think, discuss, and find solutions – ideas – activism.
So much coming down the pike personally and politically… but I’m staying positive. I love the people I’ve met in these few short months at DailyKos (so many were so welcoming)
I was able to type after all. Kids are outside with Dad.
Oh -if you haven’t noticed – brevity isn’t an asset I have 🙂
I cuss. I’m a flibberty-jibbit (meaning I talk too much and about things that are too personal sometimes) I butcher song lyrics and don’t usually realize it. I use accents while telling stories. I have a witch voice down so well I merely have to start giggling with the voice and my kids will start hollering at me. “Stop! … do it again!!!!”
I delight in finding new ways to make daiquiries.
I love reading (mostly scary stories Carnacki sounds right up my alley) but right now I’m broadening my horizons — whore-izons, too. Something about turning thrity-wonderful (a few years back) can bring out the sexual love muffin in a woman 🙂
I have camp outs in my room with the kids when dad’s away, I play hot lava monster, I can’t throw away any bedsheet becase they make great forts. I cry when we get rid of stuffed animals…
oh .. and I really hate this Administration and I do all that I can to stop the insanity but there’s so much more I should be doing.
I wish I could have you all over for drinks and cheesecake and maybe a rousing game of pictionary (I kick ass in that)… but I look forward to getting to know many of you over the years to come.
I don’t have any degrees, nor do I have a “record”, I’m not published, I’m not much of anything really but my friends say that when I walk into a room – I glow and everyone assumes I’m someone famous… I think perhaps my friends been smoking too much organic matter.
I don’t have any tattoos or piercings, but if I did it would be different and functional… like a nipple ring that doubles as a bottle opener. 🙂
I tend to think outside the box and I color outside the lines. In more ways than one.
Hope this doesn’t end up sounding like a Dr. Evil “all about me” … Cause I haven’t finished growing up and still don’t know what I want to be.
And yes, my real name is Janet. Damnit. 🙂
So now…
while I was here and the mister was there my 12 yr old son who is autistic as some know – crashed on his bike outside.
SO now I’m racked with guilt. You know how that goes huh moms and dad??
So now I will have to take him to fire dept. because that’s his “thang” – fire men fix everything… he’s not hurt too badly. Might need some butterflies…
I’m here typing because “Mr. college hockey man once in the military” can deal with blood and this shit better than me. Then I’ll take over and do all the other tough shit.
Another regular day in chaos.
xoxoxo
Sorry about your son, I know the guilt feeling well and it won’t be the last for sure.
I had 5 kids and now grandkids, so let me tell you when you are done with your raising your kids (if it is ever done) there are the grand kids to go through all the same things again with.
Welcome to this site and I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks for the welcome.
Turns out the chin gash was pretty nasty. He’s home today. Shredded his jeans, trashed his bike and has road rash all over. He’ll be okay though.
As he said – he was “shaken AND stirred”. (He’s a HUGE Bond fan)
We’ve been loosening up the reigns on his riding. Allowing him to go a bit farther down the road without one of us “right there”.
thanks for asking! I’m happy to be here.
Maybe the most important thing to reveal on a political blog is that I’m Economic -7.38 and
Social -6.82 which makes me some kind of commie anarchist on the Political Compass. All my life I was the wacked-out hippie leftist until I moved to San Francisco where I was conservative compared to a lot of people around town then. And I’ve noticed I’m more Left than most — but by no means all — Kossacks. Yes I too came here from Kos, where I mostly lurk under the unoriginal moniker formed by my initials, dsb.
Growing up I was pretty wild and a late bloomer with a looooong protracted adolescence. Finally got a couple of college degrees recently.
I’m 50 (breathes). I’m a single parent of a smart, gorgeous-inside-and-out 13-year old. Librarian, San Francisco-born, navy brat, travelled a lot growing up and ended up back in home-sweet-home San Francisco 24 years ago.
I have a real love-hate relationship with this town. You know we live in our liberal bubble here in S.F. and I get to walk and bike to work and buy organic everything in my choice of worker-owned co-ops and have groovy friends who think like me and sometimes returning home after a trip I want to kiss the ground, but it’s increasingly for the rich only. The average cost of a home is over 650K and climbing fast. At the same time decent civic amenities for families, like good schools and safe parks and public bathrooms and reliable busses, are in short supply. As a result the population is only 14% children, less than any other “big” city in the nation. And 80% of white parents send their kids to private schools. And I’m one of ’em!
Oh, was I ranting? <cough, cough>
Smoked from age 15 to 36, quit when I was pregnant (it was easy then ’cause it made me really sick) started again at 48 when marriage broke up and quit about six times since then. No cigarettes in a couple of months now.
I was born a poor black child…Okay I lied, I wasn’t really poor, but I was black. In fact, I still am!
That was thirty-two years ago. I’ve lived in Los Angeles for the better part of my years. I used to make a very decent living. But like all good things, my career came to an end. More like a screeching halt! I was unemployed for over a year, blew through my savings and figured out that I hated where I was in life. That’s when I decided to return to school. So I moved north where the rent is free. (No, I do not live with my mother. Yes, I do live under her roof.)
I’m unmarried but I’ve had two pretty close calls. I have no kids, but I do have three gorgeous nephews and a niece who is the most beautiful child you’d ever lay eyes on. Need I say she looks just like her Aunt Smash?
Anyhoo, I’d always been pretty apathetic when it came to politics. (I did, however, help register voters on Clinton’s first campaign.) I was way to focused on my own shit to even think about anyone else. I would’ve voted for Gore if I hadn’t been too hungover to make it to the polls. I always figured all those things would be taken care of by everybody else.
After being laid off, I started watching the news. What else was I going to do while everyone was at work? That’s when I started paying attention and began to realize just how dismal the outlook was. Boy, that Bush Administration really does suck! (I literally said that to someone.)I’m very new to politics, but am fascinated.
Am I rambling?
Hi smash, nice to have you here, good luck on your school and everything.
I see you are a uid51 what took you so long to tell us about you, well good for you that you did.
What part of La did you live in and where did you move to. I am in Santa Ana, Ca. There seem to be a fair amount of Californian’s on this site, so you should feel at home.
Thanks for the welcome and good wishes. I lived in Pacific Palisades and then Santa Monica. Which is probably why I went broke so damn fast. I moved to Salinas just in time to start shutting down the libraries.
Oh, and I took so long to introduce myself in part because I’ve become terribly lazy in my old age. Plus, I don’t comment much but today decided to come out of my shell a bit.
I’m coming out of my shell too. Welcome to the frog pond. 🙂
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For your great and passionate effort on this welcome thread! At dKos we would say kudos, what term does BooMan use here at BooTrib?
Looked up some appropriate words:
bon ton, bon ami, booty, bene bene, came across sesame and open sesame.
[Never figured this was a real word, always something in fantasy of the tales of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves – or short for says me.]
Booty is defined as spoils of war or any valuable gain, prize. Perhaps we can use the short term BooT. « Diane lots of BooTs to you! »
ses.a.me n [alter. of earlier sesam, sesama, fr. L sesamum, sesama, fr. Gk sesamon, sesame, of Sem origin; akin to Akkadian samassamu sesame] (1682) 1: a widely cultivated chiefly tropical or subtropical annual erect herb (Sesamum indicum of the family Pedaliaceae); also: its small seeds used esp. as a source of oil and a flavoring agent.
Probably originating in Asia or East Africa, sesame is now found in most of the tropical, subtropical, and southern temperate areas of the world. Before the time of Moses, the Egyptians used the ground seed as grain flour. The Chinese used it 5,000 years ago, and for centuries they have burned the oil to make soot for the finest Chinese ink blocks. The Romans ground sesame seeds with cumin to make a pasty spread for bread. Once it was thought to have mystical powers.
© 2004 Merriam-Webster & Encyclopædia Britannica
It didn’t get me any further on quest for a complimentary term here on BT — any suggestions?
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
Okay, I wasn’t sure if I was going to delurk or not, but this does draw me outta my hole. Because, of course, I am Bon, aka Bonnie aka The Bonificent One. Okay, I rarely use that last one.
I come from over yonder on DKos, and a lot of you are familiar to me. Over there I am known as lulu57, but I rarely post because I have slow dial-up and the site takes forever to reload and I get frustrated and just quit most times.
I was born at a little 1500-watt radio station…no, wait. I was born in Portland, OR, the year the Russians launched Sputnik, so I’m older, but not the the oldest. My father was a lesser-known Beat writer and moved us to San Francisco in the early 60’s, where I lived until he sold his first novel in 1966 and we moved to Mill Valley. I was a teenage reprobate, scofflaw, and ne’er-do-well, and spent most of my time reading, watching old movies, and woolgathering. My mother got liberated in the early 70’s, tossed my dad out, and got her Master’s in Linguistics. She now teaches (at age 70) at Santa Rosa Junior College.
I worked for Field Research Corp. in SF for ten years (that’s the California Poll), then got tired of training college grads how to do a job that they got paid mucho bucks for while I was still an hourly peon, so after my daughter was born in 1982 and had a chance to grow a bit, I moved to Sonoma county and went to college. It took me six years to do my four-year degree and four years to finish my two-year degree, but I finally graduated in the mid-90’s with an MA in Literature and somewhat fuzzy plans for a future teaching composition. That didn’t last long.
I became an “antiques” dealer specializing in stuff that’s my age–i.e., mid-century modern pottery, furniture, and other assorted doodads. I finally met the love of my life in the mid-90’s, and after my daughter finished school, I left Wine Country and moved here to Maryland (waves to DHinMD) to get married, which we did in the fall of 2001. My husband works for NASA on the Hubble Space Telescope and has since its launch 15 years ago this past week. We are about done sending our combined three kids through college (only one left to go, woof). I have been a Dem all my life (my first vote was for Jimmy Carter when I was 18) and lean kinda far to the left, I guess. I am trying to get better acquainted with MD politics, too, but I do miss having Barbara Boxer as my very own <g> Now I have Barbara Mikulski, and I hear she’s mighty feisty.
I’m glad to be here, reading all of your smart and funny posts and keeping up with the news in this lovely circle of friends, and I thank Booman for opening the bar. Oh! I almost forgot to mention the obligatory pootie, Tallulah. She’s a Siamese/Himalayan cross with a nasty temper, yet very loving when she wants to be. And I have the scars to prove it.
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Bonnie great to have you over!
Between Sputnik and Hubble today, lies a great life’s story and a lot of wisdom gained. You got the best of West and East coast of the USofA. I believe you have sufficient peculiarities to fit well at BooTrib. I like the name of pootie, Tallulah. Will we get to meet her as well?
Is the Siamese/Himalayan cross and Bonnie somehow connected to Bon!
I found the pic at yahoo images yesterday, didn’t have a chance to visit the site in Tibet, so I am curious if you refer to this religion.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
Thanks for the welcome, Oui! My husband believes I have sufficient peculiarities as well. This is the first I have heard of the Bon religion. Since my name is Bonnie and most people call me “Bon,” I was just attracted to the graphic 🙂
My Tallulah, as far as I know, has no faith in anything other than her ability to train me to do her bidding. She was named after the actress, Tallulah Bankhead, who was quite the bitch in her day, but witty, you know?
Now I think I will go off and try to come up with the Tao of Tallulah. Heh. And as soon as I figure out how to post pics, I’ll foist La Tallulah on ya.
Hi and welcome,
I want to tell you how to post pics, as I just learned last week so I will post here for you and other newbies:
First you have to upload a pic to a picture hosting site, such as
http://www.picturetrail.com/ or other such as this
Once you do that and upload a pic to the site, you will be able to process a url(site address)
I have tried to put the code in here for pic, and it won’t come out right on the posting (shows the word image), so Oui or someone else could you please put the code here for her and others.
.
Hotlist info you want for quick reference. INFO in dKos DIARY I added to my Hotlist:
Click on [+] to add; Click on [-] to drop.
How to use HTML in a Diary by SF Bay
Creating a gray quote box:
«div class=”blockquote”>HERE ALL
THE TEXT INSIDE THE GRAY BOX«/div>
[Replace « by < ]
To post an image try this…
«img src=”here URL of Image“>
The easiest way to post your own picture is to upload picture to Photo Bucket
Excellent INFO in comment by sgilman.
#
GENERAL HTML TIPS —
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
Thanks for this Oui, would you mind to paste this into the newest diary so it will help others, I tried t put it into diary but it doesn’t come out right, so please paste it as a comment. thanks for all your help and for helping me with the greeting of people on this site and sharing all of your stories.
midthirties, poli-sci researcher (international affairs) mom of four, nondenominational, non-partisan, (however I do volunteer work for local Dems, and belong to several increasingly un-american organizations like the Audubon Society, Natural Resource Defense coucil, and so on.
I get cranky easily, have so far had a rich and exhausting life, a military brat, an independent thinker, and have had one foot in Dixie and the other in Northeast all of my life. My major interests used to be sustainable environmenal policy, but that has taken a back seat since the election of 2000. My current study is the decentralization process in Latin America, of which I have enthusiasm will help usher in an era of grassroots democratic reform. I believe the Democratic Party can utilize successful Latin models of decentralization to gain a foothold, and achieve goals at local, regional, and state levels. (Until the White House!)
The enemy of my enemy is not my friend, but I will share whatever I have, do whatever I can to lend a helping hand, just don’t pull out the slide projector.
I am forceful, thoughtful, (except when I get angry) and do not accept defeat. I am a strategic thinker, meaning I look for solutions, and I am not drawn to emotional pleas (unless it involves little cute things, AND I am in that kind of a mood).
I like travel, music, naps, good food, wine and beer, love seashore, mountains, and quiet when I can get it.
I rarely gossip, prefer to discuss ideas, and get frustrated by negativity. I like the scenic route, but I get carsick.
Uhm, that’s all.
.
French Burgundy, Enjoy Nature …
excellent qualities and love of living!
A touch of Italian Tuscany …
or perhaps French Burgundy …
Gulf coast of Mississippi – you must love some French cuisine in New Orleans, or is it Southern classic home cooking?
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
Exceptional creole, (I depart on the crawfish though) paired with a rich pinot noir.
However I plenty of aunts who can serve up the best
Southern Fried Chicken, hushpuppies and bread pudding!
YUM! That’s cruel to mention such great food & drink when I’m stuck in cubicle hell.