tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59229342024-03-07T18:10:20.771-05:00It's Only Life, After AllThe life and times of a West Virginia girlMsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.comBlogger647125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-90508132844118298632012-06-24T14:22:00.000-04:002012-06-24T14:22:21.756-04:00Life PurposeOprah & Caroline Myss are talking about Life Purpose today on Super Soul Sunday. Once several years ago when I was really focused on finding mine, I was meditating about it and got a very clear answer: "Just keep doing what you're going; the path will reveal itself to you." It's only been in the last year or so that I have really come to believe or understand that and have let go of earnestly seeking that "purpose". Instead, I focus my energy on improving myself - mentally, spiritually, physically - and trust the path will continue to reveal itself and I'll end up where I'm supposed to be. And while I travel the path, I can make a difference in the world every day in some small way where ever I am.MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-48826123971916786582009-12-26T21:23:00.001-05:002009-12-26T21:24:34.376-05:00Snoop loves Television<a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CW_8y8WdJuE_FgK2Q_H5hhVv4wnty96KW5d6ssn_AVUdiU7HUr527pf_ueydQ6hDkXU7IFEpiuBK-Sz0avxuklb1YWwCJoYZQoqrkqiDc4b6dqaP2MfNosRiI08XjbRsa-UXMg/s1600-h/P1040020.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CW_8y8WdJuE_FgK2Q_H5hhVv4wnty96KW5d6ssn_AVUdiU7HUr527pf_ueydQ6hDkXU7IFEpiuBK-Sz0avxuklb1YWwCJoYZQoqrkqiDc4b6dqaP2MfNosRiI08XjbRsa-UXMg/s320/P1040020.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><br /><br />especially animal showsMsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-59118181185941107872009-12-05T18:15:00.000-05:002009-12-05T18:15:57.709-05:00Pileated Woodpecker<a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzsTEppE6d9XemjmtgrFZgCcs4uoQFGspY3K69lprxPp2QEgHNYzPazn8Ib0r94agO3EAhK1LGjtQHTV6j9pV_ubFlWMoHR4zvYkuj4mr-PNzUvnC552t4FRRiiuNjMXOiWaslQ/s1600-h/P1030886.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzsTEppE6d9XemjmtgrFZgCcs4uoQFGspY3K69lprxPp2QEgHNYzPazn8Ib0r94agO3EAhK1LGjtQHTV6j9pV_ubFlWMoHR4zvYkuj4mr-PNzUvnC552t4FRRiiuNjMXOiWaslQ/s320/P1030886.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />We hear them all time and catch glimpses occasionally, but this is the first time I was able to get an actual photo of one<div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-63439722079497350152009-12-05T18:11:00.003-05:002009-12-05T18:14:39.888-05:00First snow of the season<a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSg85mRAd1i6XCuy9zgWjzOdcdJXFAAr81VZXKimqvEOWXBcNdEI1V4vyiw07hEkLSbZVEJMrhc81SXy5jnbFs7T_xbDZHLCG9uFGCvliwxTeXrzmMaxnRfj_ZGHwaalMCUYDtw/s1600-h/P1030844.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSg85mRAd1i6XCuy9zgWjzOdcdJXFAAr81VZXKimqvEOWXBcNdEI1V4vyiw07hEkLSbZVEJMrhc81SXy5jnbFs7T_xbDZHLCG9uFGCvliwxTeXrzmMaxnRfj_ZGHwaalMCUYDtw/s320/P1030844.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoHHyG5l-fz25PrZPVwz4D9X8AvXa9qSw47rFgURDuMfHUpac8U5D2DyYT3AMxzlfoyjmN_a6X9R5N4PI8gcPfpQPDRhBLOuKMRhIQZFHcSRHI5F2CEs-Fy45jGifYxT6P9jZ1w/s1600-h/P1030845.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoHHyG5l-fz25PrZPVwz4D9X8AvXa9qSw47rFgURDuMfHUpac8U5D2DyYT3AMxzlfoyjmN_a6X9R5N4PI8gcPfpQPDRhBLOuKMRhIQZFHcSRHI5F2CEs-Fy45jGifYxT6P9jZ1w/s320/P1030845.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88hfWrrgNjxRht-S6fMYADytiJzpC4XhoBzqTUbXURY5LEnQZAawbVIDFtgZwInvQpRJ1c2x1jFZJIUUga5AWwtMDlNG84liBwMqeU4oq5vZcJRgePOD0hN1kyYY0wvnGCqpSlA/s1600-h/P1030852.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88hfWrrgNjxRht-S6fMYADytiJzpC4XhoBzqTUbXURY5LEnQZAawbVIDFtgZwInvQpRJ1c2x1jFZJIUUga5AWwtMDlNG84liBwMqeU4oq5vZcJRgePOD0hN1kyYY0wvnGCqpSlA/s320/P1030852.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRNTeRE9EuObjKj0Dz59KdiyCzUNmDXVGFLGxxoawV46lftIrCE0otC7yomGR_ombDq7qxcXyT2RNOP9ic7YTBSYWydxoZNqbPCpcLhz_FjBebyFzMKxdNBtzemucL6RKYo9FPg/s1600-h/P1030857.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRNTeRE9EuObjKj0Dz59KdiyCzUNmDXVGFLGxxoawV46lftIrCE0otC7yomGR_ombDq7qxcXyT2RNOP9ic7YTBSYWydxoZNqbPCpcLhz_FjBebyFzMKxdNBtzemucL6RKYo9FPg/s320/P1030857.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a><br /><br /><a href='http://localhost:3479/f0319f3fcf315ebe38abdd580bff3761/image/d648f35f6f613304.jpg'><img src='http://localhost:3479/f0319f3fcf315ebe38abdd580bff3761/image/d648f35f6f613304.jpg?size=320' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='http://localhost:3479/f0319f3fcf315ebe38abdd580bff3761/image/230fd6aed75b9df9.jpg'><img src='http://localhost:3479/f0319f3fcf315ebe38abdd580bff3761/image/230fd6aed75b9df9.jpg?size=320' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='http://localhost:3479/f0319f3fcf315ebe38abdd580bff3761/image/af8a2999021f6ec.jpg'><img src='http://localhost:3479/f0319f3fcf315ebe38abdd580bff3761/image/af8a2999021f6ec.jpg?size=320' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='http://localhost:3479/f0319f3fcf315ebe38abdd580bff3761/image/4ac9186ca0c705b2.jpg'><img src='http://localhost:3479/f0319f3fcf315ebe38abdd580bff3761/image/4ac9186ca0c705b2.jpg?size=320' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br /><a href='http://localhost:3479/17dd34fed5d51f7d061aa9aceea673e2/image/dce3dc095fbbb70c.jpg'><img src='http://localhost:3479/17dd34fed5d51f7d061aa9aceea673e2/image/dce3dc095fbbb70c.jpg?size=320' border='0' alt='' /></a> MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-36368910626286139022009-12-05T18:07:00.001-05:002009-12-05T18:11:52.717-05:00Charleston Metro Band Christmas Concert<a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjfJJLiwZfCjAWZ_VtntuzwLIYR8sEs9ajHo0NFWMP4PO-65RF2HAgbmZjW778s1Lxf-DFu-apc9vdeXW0vBpAZLDyiQZGWnEm_5I5I1Np7Ey7Rt8BsS5Xe91vbVbrtn3dzk0PA/s1600-h/P1030839.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjfJJLiwZfCjAWZ_VtntuzwLIYR8sEs9ajHo0NFWMP4PO-65RF2HAgbmZjW778s1Lxf-DFu-apc9vdeXW0vBpAZLDyiQZGWnEm_5I5I1Np7Ey7Rt8BsS5Xe91vbVbrtn3dzk0PA/s320/P1030839.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br />The <a href="http://www.cmbands.org/">Charleston Metro Band</a> Christmas Concert, held at the <a href="http://albanartsandconferencecenter.art.officelive.com/default.aspx">Alban Arts & Conference Center</a> on December 4, 2009.<br /><br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9DUtNcKWyVsTL44JEgYbm0qVS9QfduywKgQ6jfNXQOixkHxxOqzk-XQIsZtxQYdzvaXOUPzNYltxu6pY98NiTAxjsJarN99VvoCpValoL9KM_ehOshekFcUX_cvdBXlflto4eQ/s1600-h/P1030838.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9DUtNcKWyVsTL44JEgYbm0qVS9QfduywKgQ6jfNXQOixkHxxOqzk-XQIsZtxQYdzvaXOUPzNYltxu6pY98NiTAxjsJarN99VvoCpValoL9KM_ehOshekFcUX_cvdBXlflto4eQ/s320/P1030838.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br />My brother Shawn on Tuba<div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-12817411557009921302009-10-17T17:24:00.001-04:002009-10-17T17:26:13.670-04:00Rock & Gem Show 2009Specifically, the Kanawha County Rock & Gem Club's 36th annual Gem, Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Show and Sale. I always enjoy this show. I didn't spend much money this year but enjoyed looking at everything.<br /><br /><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jamieannharman/RockGemShow2009?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_GbyWcwBNJo4/Sto09J1BikE/AAAAAAAAInc/COf-Cyi1Xi8/s160-c/RockGemShow2009.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jamieannharman/RockGemShow2009?feat=embedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Rock & Gem Show 2009</a></td></tr></table>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-21247520409762204582009-10-13T08:26:00.002-04:002009-10-13T08:29:42.383-04:00Chickens in the Road Party on the Farm 2009I was so happy to be able to go to the <a href="http://suzannemcminn.com/blog/2009/10/13/chickens-in-the-road-party-on-the-farm-2009/" target="new">Chickens in the Road Party on the Farm</a> and meet Suzanne and Coco and Clover and Nutmeg and Boomer and even Mean Rooster! <br /><br /><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jamieannharman/ChickensInTheRoadParty101109?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_GbyWcwBNJo4/StOR0WPivGE/AAAAAAAAIkI/Qh1Hby0z4VM/s160-c/ChickensInTheRoadParty101109.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jamieannharman/ChickensInTheRoadParty101109?feat=embedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Chickens in the Road Party 10-11-09</a></td></tr></table>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-65319895004421304272009-06-29T19:40:00.000-04:002009-06-29T19:41:10.802-04:00Chicago: An Adventure in the Big CityOkay it really wasn't that much of an adventure, I just like the way that sounds LOL.<br /><br />What it really was, was a trip to Chicago to attend training, specifically the Paralegal & Investigator Skills Workshop put on by the Office of Defender Services Training Branch. Since my husband had already scheduled to take this week off, I took a few extra days so we could turn it into a vacation of sorts. In order for us to be able to afford to do this, we drove instead of flying.<br /><br /><b>Tuesday: Indiana = Corn</b><br /><br />We started off our trip on Tuesday, taking most of the whole day to travel. We went up into Ohio where we had lunch in Chillicothe (Bob Evans). Then on to Indiana. I had never been to Indiana. There were fields of corn EVERYWHERE. It was a pretty long, boring drive, about 7 1/2 hours, I think.<br /><br />We had reserved a room at a Super 8 in Hammond, Indiana, just outside of Gary. I had wondered beforehand whether they had some kind of Jackson 5 museum, knowing they grew up there. I wish now that I had at least driven by the family home, which I saw on the news after Michael died. The hotel itself was okay, nothing fancy, but adequate for our needs. Best of all it was free thanks to our accumulated Wyndham rewards points. We had dinner at a restaurant next door, <a href="http://www.johnels.com/">Johnel's</a>. They had a huge menu with everything from sandwiches to steaks to seafood. It was a family type restaurant and the food was very good. It was a nice place to have a relaxing dinner after our long drive (approx. 7.5 hours?).<br /><br />The only problem with our hotel was location. It was the noisiest place we have ever stayed! It was right beside the interstate exit so we heard lots of trucks all night. But also heard sirens and people and I don't know what else. The cooling system wasn't the kind you could just turn the fan on and leave it on - that would have helped tremendously. Instead it went off and on all night. We didn't get a very good night's sleep. Since I use ear plugs I probably got the most sleep :)<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1CK9vfoiRxdF9RonIBBPeA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AVRPuGuz_lr5QMttmkwEuqH6d_UfQMVT3xH4HOy-PyuWPweWP-Y6R2yfl_Gr5SAxKlaSh4DkYr_vdMOtTydgNvcnO9upcJRKUtWO0QNK9uYoi1gQy-4_3Rzg2lNgXPQwliWxhA/s288/P1010690.JPG" /></a><br /><i>Hello from Indiana</i><br /><br /><b>Wednesday: On to Chi-town! Lincoln Park and the Shedd Aquarium</b><br /><br />We got up early on Wednesday. This was my only full day in Chicago so I wanted to make the most of it. Unfortunately, that meant we entered Chicago in the middle of morning rush hour! I am glad I don't have to drive that every day. <br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_x1MgP78H-dItcilKkvBWQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiUNjdPlMqC2mDH-49Km9OnA4SJsUfeVzZqkcp6GRXIBFxCz6i1K59Q2CRQscclLAm9Kw_pJWuKUExnBOtZHtgWbZ3xQe_pPStZcktVxCwkO-1GDCl-RV1ThjjyPERWn_ajAuBA/s288/P1010715.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I love zoos, so I thought a good place to start the day was Lincoln Park, which includes a FREE zoo, the <a href="http://www.lpzoo.org/">Lincoln Park Zoo</a>. We started at the Farm-in-the-Zoo section, since I love goats and cows and I knew they had some hands-on stuff. Unfortunately, everything I read said they opened at 9:00 a.m., and it was true that the GROUNDS open at 9:00 a.m. But most of the exhibits don't open until 10:00 a.m. So I was able to see the animals, but not pet the goats as I had hoped. Oh well.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oO5Qef61EoCiJxmZHuET7A?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXiLAFDVvrsrGQcUo9jie_x-em0o06aUEVWXZIuOetHSs2kg72_N6rthx-WZtaOuM8cZ-AJAct9ulJ5gcVhVVXPY4fk1iemRHyByfVu2MMTKWPo9jKB_uYIkJUaEyHWG8mEx4Zw/s288/P1010722.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I didn't get to see the apes because the exhibit wasn't open yet either. I intended to go back to it after we were done but by that time we were so hot and tired I skipped it. It was very hot that day, even though we started out early. The zoo was okay but not the best I've ever been to certainly (you do get what you pay for). But I liked it and appreciated that they try to keep it free so everyone has access. I especially enjoyed seeing the tiger have lunch, watching a crow sneaking in and eating the polar bear's food, seeing meerkats up close, etc.<br /><br />When we were watching the rhino, there was a zoo employee walking around with a rhino horn. He stopped and talked to us, let us feel the horn, told us what it was made of (it's like our fingernails) and answered some questions about the rhinos. I thought it was a great idea having employees wandering around like that to interact with visitors, although he was the only one I saw. The rhino was so cute too. She was a 4 year old female and will be old enough to breed in a few years (hopefully with their 26 year old male). She was so playful, running around her enclosure. She got in the mud then ran over and stopped in front of us to show off to the guy (I think his name was Gaylen).<br /><br />The zoo pictures:<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/d5S9wn4n4pzmcfEl6htrzA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylhDjUDRtEdJaFHGO4GoIyKcZOM479JtNxfb8B9rqzQfalQ8hQsNV0UtZHObTDi484nTZY03sU6zdC2iPOZqidNXoxnv0xoeCc_ujXFjRJkdT2VJugV0gVZxYa9zzqx1NVfROSg/s144/P1010732.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TjQWMnrzmYhgSCTN1xvwrw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwce6l4bXpcDAUVJbqExofNn2BZS_WmxT85dDqgbv9g4MikSw-5-dOMSrg3i0AGqsDSbj1bRZnUzWVp5g23uGJ-m4bZyph5r5L3A76wffOJzZwOg0wRprPkiYXbR7VjjeONWQRA/s144/P1010734.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HNyBpYmTcyC9eyy56VyYFA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSg3Qvjc6gIWaj8eL8jHmS3zUj778ychwSoyPt0FxPBZdElJAtLDDqTNjeytTGBWJARZRUDhk33t1c1oE9-QPTo0yv6xCxtjDar7gsxYSlFICYBPItLxupGry9eNsqJTg6f2yxA/s144/P1010741.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1a7hqcJ8tS8otXfSvCva3w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5PLytkqOkJYZPgpp3F0xDLcjq68QThMtIAMMt0AE5TO_Yn3LoozG56OaHGVsynGQ21jCF2NXvm7g5u7Q53YDFbTAglo7dbuOIVgptdgzXQ_lbGDC0V3Kscb9vnwZW5IR9SVesg/s144/P1010744.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ELdXty50usKxDwJMVhOnGw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIn6n5s5H8FFuRClGDHzve3ivDJCzvn0yvB7Bj4o5WANCGZuZdrY_qbiYut0AFKNfsZrwWSWKNjdi4e-XtP3u4dEhEQkaq-KIZcR-VrsZarGzK6yrzgyXyLUgFcEEC5iquHnhiFw/s144/P1010750.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0dJG3jjQ8QGWY9KZ0_Vf9w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtnvZlfNSwn7r1dfww20ksFJzpyEsCLl8enIf8irC89TUbL-uJzoVsjZkuXjIn5PdtrwdgEdJCeU6exwzLEg9e_prE52TvDLkVLFBBzcZ_njUyWgzkO2htGt5KNacyKVmljjlZA/s144/P1010753.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/b0uYOH-xn2Og8r_j7t6RhA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQp5lVeUG3bgwpWBibZocIxiO8tI67w-WwSq18WIbCltFeNkXckv-ApkhDY6VrsOcsYMUfBhS7mxDyZ6IPTo5Ndey0E3EtRG-wUidKKYF0NPoaTr2INnAlCbitghbUVFr8-xa-w/s144/P1010756.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/y2eiwvF-BT_eHfHwDLbT0Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfpuPdFZ2ei42_Jx2IBq_Dw_PEoLj1UxRDrbWjuvukzCrqOIZqVVYHYuejh5ZqMHLerXaOBFpP0xc9YEKQjjTAnmfc_gSlq4Te4l_GUQA6y5BapfRkraGxWbtklG5UYyrnUCx3g/s144/P1010758.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Mrb4PPCrn4w-SQxBeYOcZQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwLYgM3PTALExQlRf-HIh_kThTHwmLGbNcBaR32m-wofruaP7k4fEtVfDNWk3AF6SgZRv7oTfo70lly7RldqrABtZldpy6YElDXYIn_1X96aogCn2l8v5Fs5hy8elWtQm0CstZQ/s144/P1010759.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qA_oGB0NdpTuFU_-p8JmEQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GAxJXvQsrAjmxHD158BTQZ-CRDSF6GFh8u8JS9aVX7Yvj9ezyUri_atQTjGzew4RAXcwW6nHCBUZDbVPoPAvT1tuMQx4Ns_gTLRQTHtzP1KQxtx3iZcGNWHRyOG5E9IHV9Cftw/s144/P1010767.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uw5SwG20M942oSOlzvGPCA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4MxsFwDSjeGjbY-I8ZAbtxuheK1U2gCviohZNwTi0SUPWT4pxbe6ECMqiZCFZ1WsNVVviwVGH0-caK4_-F2r2hQyUOyphp1VhNgFv4EbO94vsfxcluNVpv4SejfBr7H7gjpHww/s144/P1010775.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ksELINHTCQFatgZaVwLUwA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAgMMBjmhzbeAZgBM9NVP6SE6P8uIhkdWUQn44eraM9D2yBaEnrSVnKUzz6Y4aPwNbtZSxc2mRkzGnE1oN6_UXDC1AWIWfGhE54bFIKX_lDIQkWJXXbcqoiBdoeVSALrHQXIcFg/s144/P1010780.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PryV7mIofn2ks0FNxOQHCg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7FfKw7mcwk7fxRHsLIW_PFHV-siJKKxb2XMzujGzTSmjvBVlXbBlnuYvOxx9sBzRUAPnEDOFPHV47LaKAfuC3almisLOyRNJXqk8Rb20PRfoB3Vk6cU3_zj7EjXoPaNWNXHNlA/s144/P1010782.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DuqGh6WGNSjcuHOnmXZr5w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmHEcOzOi8kOoez31RucDaXRMo3QEOj3BzOnu3FzG7rCSFuLk57OJMeB8bmf-JK1kYHtEBu5hFmvHhbZAeS1xzSs41CYWjQ6ntP2MqXxH2d8L9TZHmUgN8oINqOAzoLv6dexh-g/s144/P1010785.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tmYkv6IiPfFlmvcMNbeiPA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-ErvgyXuCuCfZhYYrzt2W4GDLsm6yRnqwNkkR-KhQMP2JjvCBN8VDgFK-rW-itVfldR6mwcMTBO9JKxotqXfPC6QLMADMKwchzDjqqAQb6TsVLfD-k5a6lKcYjNALsr6El_McQ/s144/P1010793.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/35zLP1zKA1lRqm7G-5aDiw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWdDrit8XZgZsDCJfFZ6mNaLWhzHnsqaNpQ7zR8q5uIz6SpVimmwh9kSMOvKvvpWPZ79LAF9yDP_-ndvUC-5braUOtHAoPdzFzkIxCmCj93YkRjIDohC0PLMT8B0r4MA6AWy9DA/s144/P1010799.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DPYFVfymOWW7PdQNH9a3Kw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhME8Nglgad8Ds0nEoectJIhQYeBP05sZbPx8FilxBcbZ8aYz_IsF95sUqwNASp9SfKz0CS7toVVkmdUIyhQoW2M0ZKaMgaoe9C2FQfkUppPENweQsMRnpLXUvKQExg-xH8iG3vcg/s144/P1010808.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qUBNV1tD-DfyiTKRnfa93w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllql8txOpOFBolxzr-qyYx0D6rbsjkrz5hrVBdtfCovWpXCYotVCugVkZkeFvWT1todGM9SMoYJgBeYG5u9Qs4Tldnu5u_qQwoBlLkNZtBOpHm6dCmLhiWnH2KKTlYO06CL5i2w/s144/P1010810.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Lincoln Park is a lovely place. It also has a conservatory, nature museum, beach and there was a farmer's market type thing there too. Unfortunately, by the time we were done with the zoo, as I mentioned before we were just so hot and tired all we wanted to do was get to the hotel, so we didn't visit anything else there.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OIFB-Z8LJUMYb4-Rscd9Og?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUHebgz9imtEAoC-pKCabo5fVpuiklLY0BZAISpkKRadivKhCnBe0yn7r4Rebp-jhkQEpueeleHojft59DBvt6YLqLNbMY0onBV4Zn3_1pgx31RhhJvL5q9tbZyMq_1w7cY1JHw/s288/P1010817.JPG" /></a><br /><i>Walking through Lincoln Park</i><br /><br />We stayed at the same hotel where the seminar was being held: The Hyatt Regency on East Wacker Drive. It's a nice hotel and pretty expensive. I was very happy we were able to check in even though it was several hours before official check in.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MFAuNVEfUz_wnv13bRY5Fw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmnynJE0KOEl4leWD6KlUcC8R2DZnAqjlqxT8uyZEXdccgbV-pj8s08VX_P7qA7bjsqIfBK28lfjYcQIzhtIcbtWqfiJwQv8XQtELiPts0gur6BSiOkit_3Pn3YUOA2H0eTQsfg/s288/P1010827.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The room was very nice. It had a very comfortable bed, a 37 inch flat screen and was very roomy. Our room was on the 4th floor and overlooked an intersection where a little grocery store is located. We turned one of the couches around and spent a lot of time looking out that window. <br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OK77jIjf26w0pRFXq9SPeA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cvSzP9toTMSnnXFSA-KeoJwFKKpOydFPvB9cpppLMDAh7rXkvZJhB3vH2xlMcCL0cRTIP4X6Uhj0KU0pleEg36P_P1X0NPee1rHJ5_mRCVCi7v6J4aYfdKGIKZxc2v9bFCIROw/s288/P1010825.JPG" /></a><br /><br />After we got settled in our room, we went downstairs and had lunch at the hotel in Bistro 151. Part of it is in the right of this picture - this is the lobby looking down from the floor where you check in.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oe9ZC9DSF8pR1SD_kb5eyw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWYKxQkcpRQDcjUmSom0yqedBnD1tKNWFzmNQWUeU0Ltmnlv5dYjpS62sOhPMgNBr1DlF-AGCmKVj_SnqSQjIT7eyXhCEBa5BO_ISl3ZcuHGUMNZ8qZDJ38wOsC-h7jtigXdYPg/s288/P1010830.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Our hotel was on the Chicago River, near where it empties into Lake Michigan. It's a lovely area!<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DHu35arDxjb2FvUE3CvAvw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDtffWhOpzWKwe2SwJzQZM_Vr7K7mVoyo2DshyphenhyphenGUN_qHIzGik5B8FZIsOCuCzoIo6YGzaAwUKZgv7Kbb_shDemhF6-sFKZlolK_fwULTMAEUMgJL2QVi2tGPkfF7zkcJxq2OGVw/s288/P1010898.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/D9bezYzpSjMubSE06cEDCA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpqFbZHvZ0u-A3SZOCJRF8JxL8b_Gvi5-e_zSl0wuuQGxJol7kCeGSER8Wa__HdTCcjz2MoIYoDJjMSyAT5jg3icbBXTRf0kKp_GByBBhxhjTtjKr3HSuFHmlQouHuG68sa-AnQ/s288/P1010900.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Regarding our hotel - although it was very nice, for the amount of money we paid some things were a disappointment. There was no bath tub, only a shower (and the way it was designed, most of the time you ended up with a big puddle of water on the floor directly in front of the toilet). There was a nice plasma tv, but not many channels to watch. And finally, I think it is outrageous that they charge almost $14 a day for internet access! Which of course we had to have. It helps so much in planning, finding your way around, reading restaurant reviews, etc. Not to mention checking email and Facebook :)<br /><br />After we had lunch, we set off for the museum campus. We decided to take a bus. The bus system is great - there are buses coming along every 15 minutes for the most popular runs (museum campus, sears tower, etc.) We stationed ourselves in front of the Wrigley Building and waited. It took longer than 15 minutes but eventually it got there. <br /><br />I couldn't decide between the aquarium and the museum of natural history. I really wanted to go to the museum more, but the aquarium was open later, and by the time we got over there (after waiting for the bus and traveling across town) we would have only had an hour and a half in the museum, so I opted for the <a href="http://www.sheddaquarium.org/">Shedd Aquarium</a>. It is right on the lake and it's such a nice area.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zRA3brDnlZzJavELZ1rekg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGi799rgEcfHQGpUBVSjG71T50T8FTJTL-qDQnhtySQIhPPf5I8XtcToB124Ahl7kENOtDbVkTX7nfSMguH9qPH5Z7-hMOZB5_Eic7jTqoBJSEEdqhFGbhpIwerDpUyLj7uumEA/s288/P1010850.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AcKVRv0eicRxLR-1Z1IeGw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEyZlwuE_NeZfZFDSZMIachTpt5LlkQAs5L2qb-grnQWP-LOJpyrSRSBQqfDIEYXFFgOEjaRg0NNNb96cOD8HgVkuzz4T5oKbhsFNTJTgno362_8Kr214HB5-4ZMof12M177dZQ/s288/P1010855.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The aquarium was a disappointment. It's nice, and they have a lot of exhibits, but it just wasn't as good as I thought it would be. The biggest disappointment for me was the dolphin area - you could see them from below, through a window looking into murky water, but you couldn't access the area above, where they would jump out of the water and you could really see them. I don't know why it was closed. I thought they also had some kind of shows with the dolphins and whales but never really saw information on them. From below, we could see the dolphins play. Sometimes they would swim down to the bottom then up as fast as they could and jump into the air. I would like to have seen that from above!<br /><br />We did get to see the beluga whales up top and they were my favorites. They are so pretty!! They swam around and would come up and spray. <br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/19c-QjcrnBtfPyv6VTGRdw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtrRLWEElBjNIL33aolpFQOYVWlyX9oQBhHQcwzEoDbMFtSthwkR7DLZKJZfo2ANT9QyTkExJiFZYbiGVgVt74nlBJZxJMURzCgwKmwCUuAmUM5vC4L7t9icIWIiquFnvRlgYEw/s288/P1010866-7.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Here's a short video of the whales. The people talking on it aren't us - they were standing beside us.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gnXADkHPwzs&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gnXADkHPwzs&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />We took the bus back to the room. We decided to get off before the place we'd gotten on, thinking it would save us time. Unfortunately, we didn't really know where we were and got off too soon then had a little trouble finding our hotel! Not a big deal, except we'd stopped at a 7-11 and gotten a case of water and some pepsi and were carrying that back to the room. I was soooo hot and tired by the time we found it! LOL! It is confusing with all those buildings that look alike!! Not to mention there are is another Wacker Drive (North Wacker? we were on East Wacker) and Wacker Place.<br /><br />Anyway. We decided to stay in the rest of the evening. I had a nice long cold shower and we settled in and watched TV and watched people outside. For dinner, we ordered pizza from <a href="http://www.giordanos.com/main.php">Giordano's</a>, which was close by. We decided to try their thin crust, thinking the deep dish might be too messy or get soggy on the way or something. It was GREAT pizza - one of the best I've had, and I've had a lot of pizza.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aQ6OE1gFMO6_WGgFXmb6yA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jbP9vXaaxeLnee8lN-wDXcBCQGdDo7Icbgnm1-zzdTYSU_vlaoEoqWuMEdtmE6TJ26ZNszlTRw1zFteMLP3_zq-ycQ3vYbw36eAYfnNa0HAZcSOyRnSg33brLEGQHte7NNO9rw/s288/P1010882.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><b>Thursday & Friday: Back to Work</b><br /><br />Thursday my seminar started. I left my room at 7:30 a.m. for registration and breakfast. The seminar started at 8:30 and went until 5:30. Over the next few days, I spent most of my time learning. The seminar was great. I learned a lot and it was very interesting. At lunch, we ate in the hotel again, then I went back early to read the big stack of papers we'd gotten just before lunch. During the course of the seminar, we worked on a sample case and were periodically given more information and documents. We listened to lectures some of the time, and some of the time worked in small groups talking about the case and practicing skills such as interviewing. In one session on Friday I learned to use Microsoft Viseo - I don't even know if I have that in the office but hope I do as I have some ideas as to how I could use it to benefit the attorneys I think. I met lots of interesting people. The neat thing is that the majority of them work in federal public defender offices. Some were in private practice, but all of us did the same kind of work, on the same kind of cases, and there were people from all over the country. I'm really glad I got to go.<br /><br />Thursday evening, by the time were were done, I still hadn't read all of the papers and I was tired! I didn't really feel like trying to figure out where to go or what we could do, and I didn't really want to fool with buses or cabs to get somewhere. We did walk around outside a little bit. We had dinner at Stetson's Chop House, a very nice restaurant in the hotel. I think it's the only time we've ever spent over $100 for a meal! And we only had water to drink! LOL. I had a very nice filet. The service was excellent and quite fancy (all one person did was refill drinks and sweep up the crumbs between courses). We even had sorbet between salad and main course. Not that I had salad. Dave had the price fix meal which included salad, an entree (he had salmon) and dessert. I chose the filet and a twice baked potato, and Dave shared his dessert with me (a marvelous chocolate torte with real whipped cream and raspberries). The kitchen was open so we could watch them cook. I wanted so badly to take pictures but was afraid that was too tacky!! LOL. At the end of the meal instead of mints we were presented with chocolate covered strawberries flash frozen with dry ice, the smoke from the dry ice swirling around them. I didn't think I liked chocolate covered strawberries but these were awesome!! I was glad we splurged and had such a nice meal, and even more glad we were able to just get on the elevator and go back to our room.<br /><br />Friday I was in training again all day. We had lunch at <a href="http://www.houlihans.com/">Houlihan's</a>, which was close by. The food was very good (it had Friday's type food only it was all freshly made in-house) but they had the a/c on so high it was freezing and that was uncomfortable. Friday evening we took a long walk, including down by the river on the River Walk. <br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LAA1UMUYssKpjtfxC0CtRg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdF7ZgoRLdWR2xZmVYITmDx15uLqIjZOpUXaTQWkojLTSyyoWXrqhqJ16YVbBBraGUuLRTcw8VEeMeI6APCZZM8gVHjkWztMEgfCNY9sBKkygakGCXT1H97MFhniFvLQmQF7_9Q/s288/P1010937.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The river is lovely but when you are down there beside it, it stinks soooo bad!! LOL Very strong fishy smell. So we didn't walk down there very long. While we were down there, this gentleman, whose name is Bela, stopped me and asked if I would take a picture of him in front of Trump Tower LOL. He was quite a character. I need to go email him the pictures.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sks3c_MK344kJMD-1aU-Tg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_v-pPPslfZ7FRquWJkV4pMZuoNImQSWR3JTxaaToRHyYk7Q0lyDtpdJtzXS61ipkronH9uWRWIHlcy3miepn4zwcppmHYIY_SIghv0gQX1lnChnoQyuQVLFvaJnS2aDild2y2Lg/s288/P1010940.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately I couldn't really get a good picture of Trump Tower with him, but here is the building:<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/41RsRrg3kk2j7F_nsVGy8g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYuIm3HA0vWXkWncHPF6C9zDBWmJQxC5cCnHsHCsZD8f0usRGUOd4yLG8HoA16IRQ7RC2X_UTOJj0ZE-KbRPB0BLh8gZ_Oyp1i2jaQrpjF_nVOv1ZyCfxoVmSPq34xArCRgzAAg/s288/P1010956.JPG" /></a><br /><br />And here's us sitting on a bench watching people:<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CBuNZQoYiWKegxdXP1FTVA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydf1ruN3ucXYkbKhZrxtc1tEmDOscxtEQZdKwkPaKsPhra2LcqYaaeXzq07MZgb9dGk2bi6QdR7uN6Sj13_EHrJ9GOqX75KQuStJHdswNGcENW5xwZ0P5S-AIhWIVxa58_uhH3g/s288/P1010958.JPG" /></a><br /><br />By the way, although I guess sea gulls are as common in Chicago as pigeons, I really liked them, since we don't have them around here.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3_hcsz2ZaEEymZN20YEdSg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPDnTH8zwiUTQNDBKi_gl6IR44aPdETgH-LSyxJ0zM6AgdoJYf3TN9OV19R8y6g3QcbrkgnnRzsPJwpTVinJR5Z-ovk6xlYOT2axbU6wurMcUiqEs993eRD84f1bRGGS3wLl0Og/s288/P1010927.JPG" /></a><br /><br />This is the view from our room at night. We don't have many (any?) hummer limos around here:<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vYSm7Vyl3-LiLYsBVOoGcQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__KObheKs6hm9tlUkgXwIiaCM6LJ5DT20V1V3cXc3JadWqMTvf7aOtNJ7qUWPESK17pzlsQZLQRfOi0bWRKxrFxVbqO4kX8BAVsNK1IwGX3hSLomWBaX8jT64CsTGKJmtwnWwIA/s288/P1010976.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eCAJOSsO-nZ52ZN4g25keg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxa09-LgYl-k9QkpD_GFB2MNQovGoAQutTcc6QsibjuMdTy3GBwT5CN8Mp3cWEqNsPJV7-_cAwbyJA6HdfeEDKJy0hFDYAdQcjC587Xxb20rfR4JcxkrBbm6pav7F7Ho2O2q19_Q/s288/P1010987.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Friday night, again I really didn't feel like going anywhere or even deciding where to go out of all of the places in Chicago, and we ended up ordering pizza from Giordano's again so I could try the stuffed crust pizza, which is kind of like deep dish only with an extra crust. It wasn't nearly as good as the other one.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jSBcGQC5BxHL-7hJvUY_Dg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJRB3bH-TT2yN69I72KeRhQKW4teXflkR_TKvBh67xF2o8N4NsbMMcOTTWj7zEAc9PxtKOKep6khpDO1V28efDRxsn6X4nwhYLutChTYYM7W_7L4HPWZJyM-PuhL3wNV8l3NDhg/s288/P1010991.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><b>Saturday: On the Road Again</b>:<br /><br />On Saturday the seminar ended and we were ready to go home. It took us awhile to find the interstate (they need more signs for goodness sake!) but that allowed us to see a little more of Chicago. Then we made the long trek back home.<br /><br />Overall I had a good time in Chicago. I hope someday I can go back when I don't have to work for most of the time, so that I can take in the many sites and museums I missed and try some of the restaurants. There are so many things to do it is overwhelming! I didn't make it to many of the things I wanted to see. I'd like to go to the navy pier, the beaches, Grant Park, the Field Museum of Natural History and Union Station to name just a few!! <br /><br />Chicago is a beautiful city. There is amazing architecture and so many things to see. The people were so nice - we weren't treated rudely by anyone, either on the street (which is a madhouse sometimes trying to cross streets and such) or in any of the shops or restaurants. It is also very clean, considering what a big place it is and how many people are walking and driving around. I look forward to returning some day.<br /><br />I'll leave you with pictures taken downtown as we walked and rode around:<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Lkyrej2lwyqfbLMmgsvp4A?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Gx2E3Z29Li3mgFgNcO72ymiWvCQxKaCOTO0vsjaUIz0dW68XztxV2sKra2IxSr4QCA4LGgeSUItKXkDMhMre3PQXlmfSRw75m9fQiAz9N7_MD9a6_50QMVybINubXI9Hef_FBA/s144/P1010838.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PzvUEYAFszHcccMolaLyEA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Zsjm6ffzvAAhpULf-78M3fU-kqVNfGF7HU0xJQ1EVlqJjWt4r6VZD4UiDTsZMdGduSPXPfxpktwYEUaxwmR1MsfJRET5CL3CubLLIAEG-EqFDfZBmPfbmvvBjxKHo_oeRHVyAg/s144/P1010840.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JyWB_Ab9mitPM4s8l4qeYQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHKuuXBpIrvLcRkVEAdtI0o9yZlfsNgQ-KioGobPjYa7HP6-U2UomkqkCqtvjs4tU46VDmhuqPlgQ-mSzHmQiJZ2_kC62pGG7IzLjy83z2ffapUjPFTPCZ_o_z-dkpyvMeCQCWQ/s144/P1010843.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SoHjlmrupfj19MMwUDyvMw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SfkIkcUjmXcGAinQKcfWtBcfqsjZXZN7lu0b16RPnRaQNg-fnD4Zlc0uvhfEsWSmA_CcesmIAjml36aXnjB9WaNW6oPwGxelMcXm1KeQKs5EgMB0TEtmybpzNzCWfpaRH81KNA/s144/P1010887.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rtJgeWvfFPOSoWb5btCRhA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyZuCb95hk6N4UUXm-kwhldHhqTRj1XQaYvsgrdnivJm1cSRw9O_-9fqgkggTWJzhTLjWFpyUZ-OFlGr7H3Hyriq_kZjPe7FlfQftFrH7oZEb1ebPQHC1MfKmohPDYUD76GM_9A/s144/P1010893.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/b16WdQK19WIxDsGtuzP5fw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SyO_HJ7L03OtfEeimKjLhnMKpQkitR4qIUJo10G6ZyS1V3hbQ0IMH6qUjhqgRSbGN7r1Yxbgh8_9ab38j5Pf_aGmd6TdkFpHpFO8DV3jXj1lDycw1So8H5tJ2-XJxcO11Hu0lg/s144/P1010903.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-c8XbaNM0gq277iZXjxdjA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ99HdaIWmawaZrhmLiho5Bp44rq_XkXNJo1OVv3y0Nv2upoci3i3mMaZSPYcnIuOabmb2dQXdfPRreZwtGFUg8cot6lHPXqW36Xuo31TuErigPtdwSQK1ZmEBcrp1tKJDhfBWw/s144/P1010911.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DtE6HHB8M9uBpLiDNkGuUA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KBMXGccVgzPhoCaomyjvwJdd6JyOK7Op5BuPBJuEW9ABI4QhH2zOdVMku3Fiu8xmynacvog1kLeutXGOYr8XJFGeI7uVm9PCq01o65usu_2HAOcnwoMvV5sMLSsTa-ympDed2Q/s144/P1010912.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KNvyeYSOYYDifp9r8PlYXg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtmSWh2W5kVKonWeHlL8-2nGWdKuLKhRvWB1v0O4cS2bIyvULpmCrpvHZ5mOKRaeWM77ITY6o1dgK9mVyuGRXiNyd6QiOdc03lXRPhiscKLBe7XkPPDWJrmW04vyPs7cQMFvb5w/s144/P1010921.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mrPqii4f1hHpVSzFNwWEqw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXM4rJPkG9sNE7CSuiG3WLZXj-SFwqU9Rk1l2HIr8z44lXsBfG6yzmjKQxvqKDMiX_EzWk4xREmk1GNdCuFsPf6yYbXD55NgOAhk6pejnOzMVaKzSj-tQGriFQfeqXSjqMsmB83g/s144/P1010935.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UWrocqWMrI_W7C6QLAWnCQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMt8hfFXrW1lu_oC0bz1TZ9iBVQ0UTdRm4lP_Iweeu07S0UEHApD6vy_jNACmrwHJBTgR7HjO52xCUF2vsdMsKbxERdhyFtTve32Mcu4yV1H2CxMYPn0rgnHc1PbN0ORloSiEvTQ/s144/P1010962.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qXIlk0MKSddWYtCYbeFkaA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHpFfVjxuY8Y2ntYg_SIq2j9oj5EGLgReimiSfS6zLlRpVdINqt9lJIikUo67cI1GxxCSPXcscgHLLs_NGKE7jrZNkA6zckSuyakXj6BRwQZiaeP528Kn4EdOhXQPAVo1wpyUBg/s144/P1010965.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KY46m8gyA8gIh-cdvYdE-w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uwZN9WSFM3Sf9pMHJFylxvIBGcn57OAY2Kn95E9gYCmZk3BAscndcriWMBff_ji2TGm9a2E4dsA8_MNC-ss5-ncr2CuzYCk_yr4lYctn7bSq5jz8PXnfUNSO-hroSxbykAM3fw/s144/P1020005.JPG" /></a>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-14972140900764266972009-06-11T18:54:00.000-04:002009-06-11T18:55:42.399-04:00More kitten pictures<a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMW3cbZieC9CqjjZ4D_vC4Qqln5P22ePJrm8SNl55PNE3p-2rKhofT88gF8RWaI1tMF88bLXRem0qibEYZsN5BKq5X5MmvcObtq5PlBy7xYofuV88kqeniV-oR4WvqYppb5Nq3g/s1600-h/P1010611.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMW3cbZieC9CqjjZ4D_vC4Qqln5P22ePJrm8SNl55PNE3p-2rKhofT88gF8RWaI1tMF88bLXRem0qibEYZsN5BKq5X5MmvcObtq5PlBy7xYofuV88kqeniV-oR4WvqYppb5Nq3g/s320/P1010611.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R5YIFvRdjH91f4dS-Aj-bMBw1tCzBrJGBFDqA2RIve1_uWZbr3G0AimzBxV1fD54JqRV_xq6XSJQM6dBLFn4RIrDgC0ccK0ZGdhCREIvSYyg14G1HsnfMrT-X9SqDsNkbkiLBg/s1600-h/P1010617.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R5YIFvRdjH91f4dS-Aj-bMBw1tCzBrJGBFDqA2RIve1_uWZbr3G0AimzBxV1fD54JqRV_xq6XSJQM6dBLFn4RIrDgC0ccK0ZGdhCREIvSYyg14G1HsnfMrT-X9SqDsNkbkiLBg/s320/P1010617.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7TUU5lga8LL16HFq_45I0QpmG_T1hbjVyDIgJ7kf1sj2TEou3Ot7IsWTxwZJ40F0ZV11L0wrNSgcWteetLfcSjh-oRq-QFH4uA3DZ1_bw89TxKfH57G3OWa5DrkdnZJbkXMHmg/s1600-h/P1010622.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7TUU5lga8LL16HFq_45I0QpmG_T1hbjVyDIgJ7kf1sj2TEou3Ot7IsWTxwZJ40F0ZV11L0wrNSgcWteetLfcSjh-oRq-QFH4uA3DZ1_bw89TxKfH57G3OWa5DrkdnZJbkXMHmg/s320/P1010622.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqPkjs0ydL3jkmG6CHBBTSiOL3B1JgK05KdN3rjuDFS8J3Q9d2Z9WtznxD4-3l1PwoNfn9Cn9009Hi7XY0kD5ja1HgxxgflAk0DpCXo0l8I0-NWcvIIer_zwcIh1XkaR0OQDhyphenhyphenQ/s1600-h/P1010623.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqPkjs0ydL3jkmG6CHBBTSiOL3B1JgK05KdN3rjuDFS8J3Q9d2Z9WtznxD4-3l1PwoNfn9Cn9009Hi7XY0kD5ja1HgxxgflAk0DpCXo0l8I0-NWcvIIer_zwcIh1XkaR0OQDhyphenhyphenQ/s320/P1010623.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />Hopefully have two people coming to see the kittens this weekend and am praying they will take some home with them.<div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-23641557880292728052009-06-10T18:57:00.000-04:002009-06-10T18:58:24.643-04:00Free Kittens! You know you want one!!<a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS8HvEfEcJFYYhL3aV4SDC3WAoT1MzAb1Nfiofdk9YhUnJhF1_tdRHhrvliYn0QQdTnSxHi6E4Xkl1RgjnIFdWJJCtvPTN2M_NN8qzLrM323zm7mdVjcJILDtXYjnhunHxd4FsQ/s1600-h/P1010586.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMS8HvEfEcJFYYhL3aV4SDC3WAoT1MzAb1Nfiofdk9YhUnJhF1_tdRHhrvliYn0QQdTnSxHi6E4Xkl1RgjnIFdWJJCtvPTN2M_NN8qzLrM323zm7mdVjcJILDtXYjnhunHxd4FsQ/s320/P1010586.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Q7gdWHqriQwlYECSPMEZv8gAP-c1wcub3MX4WrALYq6sPXkNMHmLRdoVBhGJXWi9m-081lt5b6V3HJN1U3uiaeVdkTxEFI8QffR3X25kVPSWxA1J9z9mKeUs1Ab89CJKUxlIVQ/s1600-h/P1010587.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Q7gdWHqriQwlYECSPMEZv8gAP-c1wcub3MX4WrALYq6sPXkNMHmLRdoVBhGJXWi9m-081lt5b6V3HJN1U3uiaeVdkTxEFI8QffR3X25kVPSWxA1J9z9mKeUs1Ab89CJKUxlIVQ/s320/P1010587.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiqjXuMeBAD7dsnkSX591Rna3IXfijA6-kvVDqPVaABdVe4QuNNCTOZFWDei9Av5xMqhS2t7LOgwPO90whnVBEPURUJ-9FhYZOHC1d0Pzss57MmWwuMyaBIRJkBGOiYU1SQZCfA/s1600-h/P1010590.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiqjXuMeBAD7dsnkSX591Rna3IXfijA6-kvVDqPVaABdVe4QuNNCTOZFWDei9Av5xMqhS2t7LOgwPO90whnVBEPURUJ-9FhYZOHC1d0Pzss57MmWwuMyaBIRJkBGOiYU1SQZCfA/s320/P1010590.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGt5koTQhTUQJDLwrMkMQdCAgsqCEte5cEZ_l97oQDh6Xdj4CitH2vHZwqBzKWFh1qOqgHsKRGnzPMHpQziRzpuJF6NzLO9QdvSbpFkGgADq2E9ULHInYKa6zMqnbWjdpCt1jSkA/s1600-h/P1010598.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGt5koTQhTUQJDLwrMkMQdCAgsqCEte5cEZ_l97oQDh6Xdj4CitH2vHZwqBzKWFh1qOqgHsKRGnzPMHpQziRzpuJF6NzLO9QdvSbpFkGgADq2E9ULHInYKa6zMqnbWjdpCt1jSkA/s320/P1010598.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br /><br />The mother of these kittens is a neighbor's cat who continues to bring her kittens down here to get them away from the children up there. We cannot take on any more cats. We (and the neighborhood) are over run! These poor little guys are going to the shelter unless I can find them home. The mother is about half feral, but if I start now I can get these kittens used to people and suitable for adoption. If you would like to take one, please contact me ASAP!!!!<div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-36384709593541200762009-06-07T13:41:00.000-04:002009-06-07T13:42:06.398-04:00OwlWe came across this guy when we were out for our Sunday drive, up in the mountains in the Campbell's Creek area.<br /><br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGWOgOn5HqfGe3K7JaNrjCavctxIKXDEv3_q_xU8uvl8dve_pFVa3_3OPoV2Y8wbHzDWgw335aOnCZBop41mPirnPnxYoOVIrZ9kka8xpAxcVF4aOtcm09gvV0grzbOuDKEgYtA/s1600-h/P1010574.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGWOgOn5HqfGe3K7JaNrjCavctxIKXDEv3_q_xU8uvl8dve_pFVa3_3OPoV2Y8wbHzDWgw335aOnCZBop41mPirnPnxYoOVIrZ9kka8xpAxcVF4aOtcm09gvV0grzbOuDKEgYtA/s320/P1010574.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />He turned around to get a better look at us.<br /><br /><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZa-fIp_IK8f8361dK5aTceHCpVpVI2GwdENxoF3p6cnq1IXpOhCZud_AXF271x-_fbJFiIsH0rW7m5MQV0FzV8XOTcNkCcd3qQ0rGlfMlBlSRymUB5pKyEPfNJw7AlpzKydakg/s1600-h/P1010579.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZa-fIp_IK8f8361dK5aTceHCpVpVI2GwdENxoF3p6cnq1IXpOhCZud_AXF271x-_fbJFiIsH0rW7m5MQV0FzV8XOTcNkCcd3qQ0rGlfMlBlSRymUB5pKyEPfNJw7AlpzKydakg/s320/P1010579.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />We could hear him calling to another owl, and the other answering him.<div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-87458810313566564092009-06-04T18:21:00.004-04:002011-03-13T14:11:01.202-04:00Sims 3 for iPod Touch (and iPhone)I am a huge Sims fan. The first time I saw the game, I KNEW it was the game for me. Create little people and control every aspect of their lives? It's like playing God! LOL I played the original Sims, Sims 2 and even Sims for the gameboy. And this week the newest Sims game, Sims 3, was released!!! Also released on the same day was the Sims 3 iPhone/iPod Touch application!! Since I had decided not to buy the desktop computer version just yet, I was thrilled to learn I could get one for my iPod Touch. And for only $9.99, it was a cheaper way to get my Sims fix.<br />
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Although it's certainly not the same as playing the full game, it is a scaled down version (unlike like the Gameboy game I have, which is really nothing like playing the Sims). The Sims look just like the Sims on your computer and can do a lot of the same things, with some limitations. For example, you are limited in how the Sim can look, what furniture you can get, etc. So let me tell you what I have learned about it so far (some things are unlocked as you go along and I haven't learned everything about it YET).<br />
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When you create your Sim, you can choose skin color, hair style/color and clothing but you don't have very many choices. You also choose the type of person they are, the choices being Jack of All Trades, Nice Guy, Jerk, Sleaze, Power Seeker and Maniac. You can further define their personality by also choose 5 personality traits (out of several) for them, such as good sense of humor, friendly, easily bored, conversationalist, slob, etc.<br />
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Your Sim starts out with a small home with the basic necessities and a little money. The only thing not included that I think is a necessity is the stove, which you can buy. Unfortunately, there's no cheaper alternative like the microwave in the old Sims game. You can't change the home at this level. <br />
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In order to cook, you need the stove but unlike past versions of the Sims, you also need to purchase recipes AND the ingredients for them. The cheapest recipe is grilled cheese, which requires buying only bread and cheese. Once you run out, you have to go back to the QuickMart and buy more ingredients before you can cook anymore. You can also get a quick snack from the fridge or buy a meal at the town's restaurant. <br />
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After buying the fishing kit (at the hobby store), you can fish in the town lake and catch fish to use in your meals. You can also grow your own vegetables, but you can't do that until you upgrade your house and I haven't gotten to that point yet.<br />
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Another purchase at the Hobby Store which I found to be important was the repair kit. I discovered that when my first Sim's refrigerator and tv both went out at the same time and I had limited money and had to sell a few things in order to buy the repair kit. That was the only way to fix the broken appliances (you can't hire a repairman!).<br />
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In order to make money, you must find a job. Jobs include working at the restaurant, the QuickMart, the town hall, the science lab, etc. Work places seem to be dangerous. My first Sim died from an attack from a lab monkey. However, I was able to load the saved game again and she was still alive. So don't despair when yours dies. I couldn't figure out how to get promoted at work and was just biding my time assuming it would happen after I gained skills or something. But then I noticed when talking to my Boss Sim that I could ask for a raise. I did and he gave me one. I don't know if it's always that easy. I had built up a good relationship with him beforehand.<br />
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You can meet other Sims in town or you can just go to a house and introduce yourself. You interact with them similarly to the old Sims, by choosing from available actions, sometime dependent on what kind of relationship you have. As you build your relationship, you go from acquaintance to friend to good friend. If you choose to be romantic, you can go from budding romance to date to partner. Those are all the levels I have seen so far. One note about interacting with other Sims - one thing I didn't realize right away is you have to scroll to see all the possible actions. Sometimes the other Sims will offer you money to do things, such as kicking another Sim's trash can, slapping another Sim or even bringing them some cheese. <br />
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The only real negative I have found so far is the fact that the game crashes regularly. But the beauty of the fact that it is an iTunes app means that the makers can push updates out for it whenever they want, so I hope this will be fixed soon. Most of the time it's not too aggravating, but the last time it happened for me I was trying to visit a particular house and every time I got there it crashed so I had to give up and do something else.<br />
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I haven't gotten very far in the game so I'm sure are other things to be discovered. So far I like it a lot and I think it will satisfy me at least for a little while. Eventually, however, I will have to buy the actual computer version.<br />
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EDIT: after posting this last night, I tried rebooting my ipod by powering it down and that seemed to help the crashing.<br />
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EDIT 03/13/11 - Comments to this post have become redundant - there's nothing more that can be said, so I am disabling comments.MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com151tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-76663570628238305872009-05-31T13:35:00.002-04:002009-05-31T13:46:20.583-04:00At the doctor's officeThe oral surgeon's office, to be exact. I broke an old dead tooth off recently and am going to have an implant. I went to the oral surgeon last week for an evaluation.<br /><br /><div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRXZ8o2OOhUzBsEPu0OkPFsBRw-duEs4buycbEJgTJtBecDxyUbU_16vp00Z2MOKEnjJaqU3XsVs3DZxtrUJsGRHJVIKEukV3twSSOCCtf5uXiC19ipXfxroUyqRwqu6q-wjupw/s1600-h/P1010492.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRXZ8o2OOhUzBsEPu0OkPFsBRw-duEs4buycbEJgTJtBecDxyUbU_16vp00Z2MOKEnjJaqU3XsVs3DZxtrUJsGRHJVIKEukV3twSSOCCtf5uXiC19ipXfxroUyqRwqu6q-wjupw/s320/P1010492.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><br /><br />I am fascinated by the 360 degree x-ray of my mouth. I thought it looked like I had a very odd jawbone until I realized it's my entire mouth, flattened out.<br /><br /><div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqqWPcNMQ8iPBCqU6EeFwLWZN8RKGp1Ily4G8ObEDLEumUTkeb3svT4CfIdP3jVBkQyQvFEPRN93ot-Wlxu-n8b8LulHTS0fOap_YtfvoEGUCTiUJpAwqQKlzAbhxnx6uRqwOng/s1600-h/P1010490.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqqWPcNMQ8iPBCqU6EeFwLWZN8RKGp1Ily4G8ObEDLEumUTkeb3svT4CfIdP3jVBkQyQvFEPRN93ot-Wlxu-n8b8LulHTS0fOap_YtfvoEGUCTiUJpAwqQKlzAbhxnx6uRqwOng/s320/P1010490.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div><br /><br />I love technology and how the x-rays appear immediately on the computer.<br /><br />I'll have the rest of the broken tooth extracted in about a month, along with a bone graft. I found it interesting on the consent forms that they use cadaver and bovine bone! I jokingly told them I wanted the bovine bone (I could be part cow!) but they use cadaver. Although the surgeon said he would do whatever I wanted :).<br /><br />After the extraction, I have to wait 6-8 weeks then a metal cylinder which will act as the tooth root is implanted. After that, I'll get an artificial tooth from my dentist. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dental-implant-surgery/MY00084">Dental Implant Surgery - MayoClinic.com</a>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-47873744496183029122009-05-17T18:38:00.000-04:002009-05-17T18:39:25.831-04:00Happy Mother's DayYeah I know I'm a week late. I spent the weekend with my family. Saturday Mom, Sis, Niece and I had a sleepover at Mom's. Sunday we picked up Nephew and Lil Bro and went to Diehl's for lunch. Later I went to visit Step-Mom. I am blessed.<br /><br /><div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5wUf0NUwnxZvu1LQWww-T4ld9vcJ9tGERrAKXsqgrXSLAhjZcqcy3hVTSq2DiCQWtIS-bZnpa6zMgpg-QEGgNFtoWOdhfigKrx8iyrXNeuBmZAJNUZm96zdEzu-Yu4jDLFBg8g/s1600-h/P1010412.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5wUf0NUwnxZvu1LQWww-T4ld9vcJ9tGERrAKXsqgrXSLAhjZcqcy3hVTSq2DiCQWtIS-bZnpa6zMgpg-QEGgNFtoWOdhfigKrx8iyrXNeuBmZAJNUZm96zdEzu-Yu4jDLFBg8g/s320/P1010412.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><br /><div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeuAjpYoQEdO13C96N9wWFdWd6Rb_kobrPhBaV_xJgUaKG3kQefzRqBq9nczWtXs-UfAWZjHm7iwJWQYkwTtX_J7LhQHXNgrG_dhxfDugiahK5Fp37_ISFPV4JJvC8cDvXTKu5Q/s1600-h/P1010417.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeuAjpYoQEdO13C96N9wWFdWd6Rb_kobrPhBaV_xJgUaKG3kQefzRqBq9nczWtXs-UfAWZjHm7iwJWQYkwTtX_J7LhQHXNgrG_dhxfDugiahK5Fp37_ISFPV4JJvC8cDvXTKu5Q/s320/P1010417.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-71894592706052549402009-05-02T15:33:00.000-04:002009-05-02T15:34:00.587-04:00Sleeping Kittens<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZpT6J2M0MWP7WkYN0YTjWw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa9tRUN9ze40hRjn0S2X4wcgIHQPHXz5QxiUB_ggabQPVpEM27KvaflxoKQyoDNSGJ14W6vL8Gnwlo0e3eX3TDnzGJJMNlc2D_umEOSOZC_7hkKv0hXieFtAgKX63D4BBUpOOzw/s288/P1010351.JPG" /></a><br /><i>Sleepy Snoopy</i><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BJ4orXwdjQldyFqdcKdzzA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXZz3vbZGF1UqRR9bdo7hTtv0cZWDC63ILm6m4VpZyYraGHYzQvMaspy38HT2IpmBNHnPyMQ94-Klb8HOmLXo7h_FVGD5feBo_g4lIOYaaZkdsUQ17Bxk4fUobytNy6Dl6GXY5Q/s288/P1010352.JPG" /></a><br /><i>Stubby wakes up enough to wonder what I'm doing</i><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oecq1IQgut7nrskegNeCUQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZYoUQ5iMA0yrGizG3w56rMtJdpiMgl68RF1mPLwhOymQioJnVeEd7tpjT8yGXJ4ex0jH77WB1N0mAv68MHpkSMU6K3iqMV5_3cNHuMbixyIPI-wjPbSXJNerQTbIHyALFWZWHQ/s288/P1010361.JPG" /></a><br /><i>Someone needs repotted</i>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-38739035840621911642009-05-02T15:20:00.005-04:002009-05-02T15:50:12.147-04:00Billy's Soho's at SouthridgeWe finally tried Billy's at Southridge today. I g uess it's actually called "Billy's Soho's at Southridge". <br /><br />Billy's is located in what used to be Smokey Bones, near the Red Lobster and Olive Garden at Southridge. The menu includes "home cooking" type food, seafood and pasta, basically. You can see the menu at Fork You's blog here:<br /><br /><a href="http://forkyou.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/billys-sohos-at-southridge-menu-and-update/">http://forkyou.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/billys-sohos-at-southridge-menu-and-update/</a><br /><br />Although I think the prices are a little high, the portions are large and the service was good. The decor is the same as when it was Smokey Bones, which is a lodge-type atmosphere with log paneling, a stone fireplace and lots of tv screens. The restaurant is large and has ample free parking. <br /><br />Overall we were pleased with our food. Husband got the meatloaf, which he said was "pretty good". He had his choice of mushroom gravy or brown gravy and chose the mushroom gravy. He chose the green beans as his side and said they were "very good." His meal also came with a salad and bread basket. The tomato came from my sandwich.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UFPF5YWYA5RgQoDRUCdylg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uvITJB4wg9jDzXiCQjTUi8uISEsZK-60Iwa8PyWjhStGvprZf83IjQMe-Y4PSD2w4UrLmtiLAF9RdaST3_sqM_dsZk-w0manPRLfiActgR_F8ZzXLRMhOEDRd_4jchsmnFDdMQ/s288/P1010373.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I had one of the specials - a prime rib sandwich. I ordered it with provolone cheese only, specifically said I wanted nothing else on it, but they still brought it with lettuce and tomato. No problem, since it was open faced and easily removed. I asked if it came au jus (the French Dip is my fav sandwich) and the waitress said it could if I wanted it to. I noted prime rib au jus on the menu so that should be easy enough. I envisioned thinly sliced, tender and juicy prime rib and the broth typically served with a French Dip. What I got, however, was thinly sliced hard and dry prime rib. They apparently grilled it after slicing it. The "jus" was gravy. <br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_PLBbQxdOK1nGfHZvXAaIw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj716jTiHWoq4Eo0IHeu_yLVr-jyZXl4EYyuGBiwBihq1lStnD5i-1rooj1OKJJDdCFhCIXmDkQcU0jHbyya4qsQqvMRpYv8KGGbOIEwsTwYe7Fz0AUKb6dMkVGuNLRaJyebu0B_w/s288/P1010376.JPG" /></a><br /><br />After hearing <a href="http://forkyou.wordpress.com/">Fork You's</a> raves about the onion rings, I chose them as my side and was not disappointed. They were delicious and among the best I've had.<br /><br />This is probably not a place we'll go often, but we will try it for a change now and then.MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-21405452163266369002009-04-19T10:23:00.001-04:002009-04-19T10:24:07.637-04:00Lucky Dog<div style='text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;'><a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ34hD_ASusTh7pEfZQGOLXazVGBDBmo-CeflQ0ZUP59BSI74p9vU4T69tqOLwSEmFaflOkeZ-sqwkvWqzb6xZwz6jdeRkV55rIR4EgNztuT-puk6QgLkKyig48MdHpLbRcCd7nQ/s1600-h/P1010206.JPG'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ34hD_ASusTh7pEfZQGOLXazVGBDBmo-CeflQ0ZUP59BSI74p9vU4T69tqOLwSEmFaflOkeZ-sqwkvWqzb6xZwz6jdeRkV55rIR4EgNztuT-puk6QgLkKyig48MdHpLbRcCd7nQ/s320/P1010206.JPG' border='0' alt='' /></a> </div><br />I spotted this dog riding around in Kanawha City. At the stoplight, he was barking at the cars that got too close to his car.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-26363526160239860002009-04-05T20:12:00.000-04:002009-04-05T20:13:07.528-04:00Man's Art Cannot Compare to Nature's<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dXGGmzaZkWACN-1nP2D4FA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyzsMpnjQ0NPIW5h8kgykQ37_qYTxw94KVWbXq0SrFWujDNdspCxqfuE60E6DAErsnPgQbe7f4VGMF_biu0TrPiZgetByZa8Fej9Zfzp0t4uz7F_et0QX2vVBSKzxdc-PYa9DOw/s400/P1010127.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Viola</span>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-80131315397918361062009-04-05T20:11:00.002-04:002009-04-05T20:12:27.470-04:00Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QdIVRwX9dkVOZwt5yH4oGA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRikg315zArDzlKo2fTrDxOgo_2uuQQ2yyraeLX-vC3gDb1kToGsJu4ZMk3wlYIN_m2vkwMDBR_ISyu2PYCVRLf2vQWdeACATb_ZTIyMsp4DOfdgyjgjfqvzZYp6vhdy2Fz7Hb8g/s400/P1010092.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Dandelion</span>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-69697207828981007962009-04-05T11:50:00.001-04:002009-04-05T11:50:52.755-04:00Gratuitous Cat Picture of the Day<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eSdF_-F-u_7JNt-HDsR7bg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAMbHbcvf3wTbf4p86ylolzQrHTkRVag9-EBn7I_oNmCLygUB1fG59oKAJxcKeSwZjewjO4B4CQrAGnknkeylchjT9fSp_Rq0ENsTVJIc5PfOMsa03FmjXoWKJZ6QYgetSzlpYg/s400/P1010106.JPG" /></a>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-12228887277951369072009-04-03T18:15:00.001-04:002009-04-03T18:17:08.680-04:00Sometimes I can hear this old earth shouting"Sometimes I can hear this old earth shouting<br />Through the trees as the wind blows<br />That’s when I climb up here on this mountain<br />To look through God’s window<br />Now I can’t fly ... <br />But I got two feet that get me high up here <br />above the noise and city streets<br />My worries disappear"<br /><br />- Arlos Smith<br /><br />Thanks to my husband for that wonderful quote (actually lyrics from a song). Apparently Smith says that he wrote that part of the song while he was on top of Seneca Rocks, looking out over this beautiful valley. <br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lQIrXOy0ek2dweDFrAE95g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvfczGmL7qiEc5ISTKjksVOb-fMYTeUI8ckD9D0GkgIUvofYPTJearJ2gu05-emhZOaPQ6Jd5iaLnlXXWBLWTaUguCmaQaCI3FiI9ZC7hGEYyRyBc03OTO4D1zWyaGmT4WqznOQ/s288/P8130028.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I can soooo relate<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XvNhwA3eeo1dM5_YuB5h-w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ95hkTe59b6SAR55Wn3k0aDATg79kNKf0DbePsujKhQ-mgBSpakB9NXHY4rTdCeictgao7d8YOnKCwy3S3J1vv7zZAUeAHr6P0xZ4Lc9DaS8zaFpY7RTdZVPbHdpma-vgDUlZQw/s288/P8130043.JPG" /></a>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-76684570320837399432009-03-29T10:19:00.002-04:002009-03-29T10:20:11.533-04:00Kitties<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jamieannharman/Cats2009?feat=embedwebsite#5318612977674598578"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdVxwPfEz4VtW3KCWuK4saHHQjAHIpMupYCMY6okVs9SDGTxitw7egCtVImhmVfYialYYUw8A3X1Fun1AcROLUvFlapssZ5DYzcJciIH40CdmrU7bjx_y_PWi9Jnt4D10Ay-etQ/s288/P1000988.JPG" /></a><br /><i>"I has a sleep"</i><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FLiPeH7qZksYv9l6P5SS_w?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eGMu_OuszlchTC6fcQDzC44K9d-BtRviRTwXzePjL0s8nOQ-CXHYPmBF0YM_AMFgw2MQL5F4ty6gj4Ve2NMLydLU5eElCe942El9F8O2vzoI4yge8zpDCVq0litMmOPSID3Zqg/s288/P1010002.JPG" /></a><br /><i>"I has a bench"</i><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/48fjdtA5GND7bL10goBMsA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39jg4paYd461v5_RFsB2nCKOIcvzKCxfJWe_vreFvw4Jx904PP1v-To0EAnPrsNOypd6e2gt_2ol6JleX5mFn_XmogqDIipc58ew9Epm5ygEm2LSDZu5dGweRfzcau8Khi12Wvw/s288/P1000999.JPG" /></a><br /><i>“Mommy, no look at Roscoe, look at MEEEE!”</i>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-10631442510787469982009-03-29T10:16:00.000-04:002009-03-29T10:17:09.017-04:00Pansies<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iSTHxpOPoPv_o_hq353QNA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGOHhNaCHXLJfSnA8iVBY0CPgx69dEGNd0FOaAzHp40mn8WftBBLI1s1zbTOTwAvH3EviXgdVxqV9ukP3gjRLy_W8hU3WzPypXMQKC0wJSz4okzwP9rkxX_xx1AnrkR-BuyPI1w/s288/P1000978.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><lj-cut><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SQltek1XIF-wYvzAH9nqtg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnttmENmC-wHeu7COAV_Ht6inxBbeGtC8PKfJejtUsQdgfohGP4vyvQm5XEYgFkhWu6LfOij9TOG9xdrRMNpxjl_-1QRfzx9bdIrYPYDSBgtOl614Ionuf22oeagdyBVd2CTi_g/s288/P1000980.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/T1TOKycmiJT5dS9rKxwktw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbf2WbrIdIiAOJkuZvikuN0bMiE1Qstxh2G9G6fWa1YVL8MuFwUYp57V5xoImyJgc8HV0fd2fUDeeZ8Jx2TQ_kRx9VaK02-AezvEp0irKa0dVQ_MAtBnHzGmOicelmFrI-divmsQ/s288/P1000983.JPG" /></a>MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-20518961332888067952009-03-27T08:24:00.001-04:002009-03-27T08:24:24.221-04:00Free Kolaimni Healing<div>Free kolaimni healing starting at 6:00 p.m. this evening at Mountain Mama's (702C Jefferson Road in South Charleston, West Virginia). Last sign in at 8:00 pm. </div> <div> </div> <div>I'll be there but you don't get to choose who works on you, you have to take whoever is available. But there are lots of great healers there if you want to come by!</div> <div> </div> <div><i>I think I need to post about kolaimni, don't I? It's a healing method similar to reiki that I am learning. More later.</i.</div> MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5922934.post-71626337594752065222009-03-25T19:42:00.001-04:002009-03-25T19:42:42.722-04:00Happy Birthday KittensFive years ago today, Stubby, Rascal & Junior were born. Take a walk down memory lane with me and see pictures from their first few months of life. They were such cute kittens!! And I love them so much. They have been a true blessing in my life.<br /><br /><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.comhttp://lh5.ggpht.com/s/v/47.13/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jamieannharman/MissBobbiTheKittensAprilJune2004?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_GbyWcwBNJo4/ScmbEA0pIeE/AAAAAAAAGNk/PigfF_TmjTQ/s160-c/MissBobbiTheKittensAprilJune2004.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jamieannharman/MissBobbiTheKittensAprilJune2004?feat=embedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Miss Bobbi & the Kittens: April-June 2004</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Unfortunately, Junior is no longer with us in "body", only in spirit. I miss you, my little sweetie!MsJamiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11232640354683889557noreply@blogger.com1