Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Akiane Kramarik

WOW is all I can say about this little girl. I haven't heard of her but maybe you all have. She is a very gifted artist.

http://www.artakiane.com/home.htm

Be sure and look at

http://www.artakiane.com/akiane_art.htm

When you click on a thumbnail, it opens a window and tells about the painting, why she painted it or what it means or a poem. Absolutely fascinating. An Indigo child, I am sure! It looks like she was in one of the documentaries about indigo children.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Happy Holidays!



click picture for larger view

Friday, December 22, 2006

Indigo Girls New Album

I am a bad IG fan. I didn't even know they HAD new album. It is Despite Our Differences. I've added it to my wish list but I suppose it's too late for that for Christmas. I'll buy it after though.

One review says it's their best since Come On Now Social in 1999 so I am very anxious to hear it. I don't love any of their albums from that point on (I like them, but I rarely listen to them, and prefer their older stuff -- which I adore).

Monday, December 18, 2006

Big & Rich

"BIG & RICH...AUTHORS?
Yup! Big & Rich are planning to release their third album, as well as a book, on May 15th. Big Kenny Alphin and John Rich have recorded about half of the songs so far for the yet-to-be-titled follow-up CD to 2005's "Comin' To Your City." The book, an idea of Warner Books, is more of a celebration of the duo rather than a biography. It will chronicle when and how they came together in 1998, how the records came about, and the Muzik mafia family. Kenny is also working on other projects, including a musical called "Code Name Rock Star" and "Milk And Beer: Pirate Songs For Sons And Fathers," which he plans to start as a film and then adapt into a stage musical."

source: http://www.mywesttexasblogs.com/blog2/index.php?blog=13&title=monday_moanin_59&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

Friday, December 15, 2006

Christmas Activities

Yesterday we had a staff luncheon at Embassy Suites. This wasn't a firm-sponsored lunch. The staff draws names and we go out to lunch at our expense and exchange gifts. Embassy Suites has a wonderful buffet, and it's such a nice atmosphere in the atrium. Like having lunch in a jungle.



After work I attended the Lakewood Elementary School Christmas program which wa sheld at St. Albans High School. My niece, Maddie, was in the older group who performed The Incredible Reindeer, wherein a group of superhero reindeer save earth (and therefore Christmas) from the asteroid hurtling toward it on Christmas eve. Maddie played one of the four superhero reindeer, "Laser Squint". She is so adorable. And it was a great program. The pre-schoolers sang songs, and the other group of younger kids did The Littlest Christmas Tree. It was so enjoyable, and really helped get me in the holiday mood.



TGIF!

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

We are Marshall

The premiere of the movie We Are Marshall is tonight in Huntington, West Virginia.

The movie is about the 1970 plane crash that killed most of the football team and how the team and community struggled to overcome the tragedy.

I am a graduate of Marshall University. But I was not a resident of Huntington and didn't really know about the plane crash until I went to school there (I was only 7 when it happened). I knew there was a memorial fountain that mentioned it. I heard that the reason our football team never won any games at that time was because of the "curse" after the plane crash. Football games were not a big deal then, at least to me and my friends, because we really didn't have a good team while I was there. I come from a blue collar working class family from a coal mining town. They didn't go to college, must less college football games. As a student I went to an occasional game, but it was only for the drinking and we always left at half time.

I had one acquaintance who lost both of his parents in the crash. He was a friend of a friend. He was financially set for life; I don't know if it was from the life insurance or a lawsuit. He was my age or maybe a little younger, so he was a child when he lost them. He didn't have to work and had money to do pretty much what he wanted. But he seemed a little lost. He didn't have any direction in his life.

One of my current close friends has a brother-in-law with a connection. He is being portrayed in the movie but I don't remember his name. He caught the winning touchdown in the big game after the crash. He was living in Columbus when the movie was filmed and they had to track him down to get his okay to use his name in the film. Unfortunately, he died a few weeks after that and he'll never get to see the movie.

Anyway, that's all I know about it. I have friends who are from Huntington who are much closer to the story than I am. Some of them may be in the movie as extras, as it was filmed in Huntington. A couple of my friends were at the premiere last night.

So go see the movie. I probably won't until after Christmas but I'm anxious to see it.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

10 Gadgets that Changed the World

"The wheel. The plow. The gun. The electric light. The radio. The chip. The untidy march of human ingenuity and innovation has led you here, to our list of the 10 most life-altering devices of the modern era."

http://blog.wired.com/wiredphotos6/2006/12/1_rca_model_630.html

Going through the list, the first one I was aware of as being something new that I didn't take for granted was the microwave oven. I don't recall them being widely used among people I knew until the early 80's, but maybe it was the late 70's.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Life: Your Perfect Teacher

"I acknowledge and honor the teacher that is my life. May I be wise enough to recognize the teachers and lessons that I encounter today and may I be open to receiving their wisdom."

from: http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2006/5643.html

Isabella

This catalog has such beautiful items. They have some wonderful inspriational calendars.

http://www.isabellacatalog.com/index.cfm

My Work Neighborhood

I have a new camera phone and am obsessively taking pictures with it. It will wear off. In the meantime, I'll post some here. They aren't as good as my other camera, but decent for a camera phone.

The street where I work -- Capitol Street, Charleston, West Virginia. It has a lot of beautiful old building that have been restored. The one I work in was built in the late 1800's.

 

The Kanawha County Public Library, from my Boss' window. I love that library. I remember how awed I was it as a child (we went to the book mobile every week but occasionally got to go downtown to the "big library"). I worked there one summer and fell in love with it. I still kind of wish I'd become a librarian.

 

A shop window near my office (The Coffee Bean)
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Monday, December 04, 2006

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Helvetia Cheese

Last spring I posted about our visit to Helvetia, West Virginia. Today there's an article in the paper about the people who re-opened the Cheese Haus. I need to go back and buy some cheese!

Bees and cheese: Honey store operator, librarian enjoy wheel life in Helvetia

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Or at least you who are Americans :). I hope you all had a good day surrounded by family with lots of good food to eat.

When I think of my blessings I can hardly count them all. I am so grateful for my husband, my babies/kitties, my family, my friends, my job, my home, my health, and everything in my life.

I am thankful for the bad, as well as the good, because sometimes the lessons I have to learn require me to go through some tough times. The bad times also help me appreciate the good times.

Peace and love,

Jamie

"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." -- Meister Eckhart"

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Showcase West Virginia

I do not have any connection to this; I just think it's a great thing and a great place to buy Christmas gifts!

From the site:

"The Center for Economic Options (CEO) is a nonprofit organization working throughout the mountains of beautiful West Virginia to help small-scale manufacturers and artists reach markets for their products and become economically self reliant.

That's why we created Showcase West Virginia in 2000. Through this social purpose enterprise, CEO is serving over 300 business owners by operating a retail store that features locally made products. Through Showcase West Virginia, shoppers can choose local over global, hand made over mass-made, sustainable over exploitative and quality over commodity.

But you don't have to visit the store to find great hand-made, really cool products. Click here to shop, to be involved in the mountain economy, and to find gifts with a human touch."

http://showcasewestvirginia.com/

Friday, November 17, 2006

Perception/Optimism

"The universe is often an unpredictable and chaotic place, and the human tendency is to focus on the negative and assume the positive will care for itself. But life can be no more or no less than what you make of it. If you are working in a job you dislike, you can concentrate on the positive aspects of the position and approach your work with gusto. What can you do with this job that can turn it around so you do love it. When faced with the prospect of undertaking a task you fear, you can view it as an opportunity to discover what you are truly capable of doing. Similarly, unexpected events, when viewed as surprises, can add flavor to your existence. By choosing to love life no matter what crosses your path, you can create an atmosphere of jubilance that is wonderfully infectious. A change in perspective is all it takes to change your world, but you must be willing to adopt an optimistic, hopeful mind-set."

More here: http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2006/5350.html

Hammer time

Yay for Emmitt for winning Dancing with the Stars!

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Sims2 Pets for GBA!

"The Sims 2 Pets Now Available on Handheld!

Rush to your nearest retailer because The Sims 2 Pets is now available on the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance! Pamper, preen, and nurse the neighborhood pets as you grow your business. Create and customize your own pets or choose from popular designer cat and dog breeds. Teach your pet cool and amazing tricks and show them off in stylish pet accessories!"

Black Friday Ads/Deals

I don't shop on Black Friday (it would be like a punishment for me if I had to) but if you do, you might want to check out this site, which has some of the deals and ad scans for that day:

http://bfads.net/

Monday, November 13, 2006

Stories

"Stories are medicine, small doses of what matters, and it is the telling that releases the medicine, the telling that soothes our pain and shares our joy."

-- Mark Nepo in The Exquisite Risk

Jeanne K: "DJ Couple Shares Story"

I meant to post this before. It's such a touching story, and Ric and Jeanne are amazing people. I am honored to be acquainted with them. She has been fighting breast cancer and is currently cancer free, but in my constant prayers.

DJ Couple Shares Story

Sweet Monkey Love

"The Kissing Prank"

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Arts & Crafts Fair

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Come to St. Albans High School and do some Christmas Shopping at the show choir's Third Annual Fall Auction and Arts & Crafts Fair!

Arts & Crafts from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Auction from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
(items donated by vendors and area businesses)

St. Albans High School's show choir, "The Classix", is the reigning State Champion show choir. They will perform at 11:30, 12:00 and 12:30.

(I will be there selling jewelry such as that found on www.yellowrosegifts.com)

A woman should be anything she wants

"A woman should be anything she wants, no matter how much it annoys her husband."

-- Lisa Douglas, Green Acres

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Faith Hill

Faith Hill doesn't look too happy that Carrie Underwood won Female Vocalist of the Year hehe

Paula Poundstone

OMG Paula Poundstone has a comedy special on tonight!!!

"10-11PM Paula Poundstone: Look What the Cat Dragged In (Bravo, TV-MA) Poundstone's sober and her delivery's as dry as ever in this long-awaited stand-up special. ''I often wish that I had a degenerative disease,'' she says, reclining on stage. ''I'm tired and achy all the time anyways.... If I had a degenerative disease, the exact same behavior I have now would be considered courageous.'' B+"
Source: http://www.ew.com/ew/listing/tv/wtw/0,6115,tue_3__,00.html

Her website: http://www.paulapoundstone.com/

I was a huge fan of Paula's back in the late 80's/early 90's. I watched her comedy specials, I read her column in Mother Jones magazine (weird, just last night I thought about MJ Mag and Paula). Then she had a short-lived show on ABC. When it wasn't getting good ratings I wrote to the network (the only time I've ever written to a tv network or to save a show. She had a horrible time slot and I was sure if they moved it everyone would love the show and it would succeed. Of course, they ignored my advice.

I wrote my one and only fan letter to Paula at the same time. I've never written to any other celebrity before or since. And she answered my letter! She sent me a postcard that had a picture of her cats on it, and she wrote me a little note referencing what I'd said in my letter so I know she actually read it, and she thanked me for my support.

That made me an even bigger fan. She has had some troubles, but haven't we all? I hope her life is better and I can't wait to see her special.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Horse Whisperer

"It'd be easy to dismiss this guy with his pocket-sized dowsing pendulum and his see-through model horse. It'd be easy to reject outright his "talking" to horses -- whether in person or from a remote locale -- to have them tell him where it hurts.

It'd be downright better, sanity-wise, to skip altogether this foolishness where the horse is said to answer in good ol' American English any question Bill Northern asks in his dulcet Virginia tongue.

And yet there are believers among us, those who do not dismiss or reject but tell long, complicated stories about how their horses explained to Northern that their right leg/stomach/liver was irritated and every vet known to man had missed it but, on more careful study, lo, the reason for the aggravation emerged. And right there where Northern said it would."

Fascinating article! Lots more here: He just knows - Virginian says all he does is 'listen' to horses to learn what's wrong with them, and one is in the Breeders' Cup

His Website: Bill Northern's Website

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Famous Dave's

Yay! Famous Dave's is in Charleston!

 
 

We were in Nashville several years ago and were looking for someplace to have lunch. I said "I wish we knew where we could get some good ribs." I looked up and there was a billboard for Famous Dave's that said something like "Nashville's #1 ribs." It was a sign! So we went, and we tasted, and it was gooooood.

We had lunch at the new Charleston restaurant today and it was excellent! Posted by Picasa

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Freakapalooza!

I am VERY disappointed that this show is in the UK instead of here:

"Channel 4 is to unveil a shocking menagerie of genetically modified animals in a new show revealing the frightening leaps technology has taken. Among the bizarre engineered creatures from around the world is a giant cow, three times the size of ordinary cattle, reared without fat to produce gallons of milk.

But the so-called Belgian Blue - pictured here - is perhaps the least disturbing of the creatures to be shown in the three-part series Channel 4 Farm this winter. There are also glow-inthedark pigs and goats which produce spider's silk.

TV scientist Olivia Judson and journalist Giles Coren travel the world to visit the places where these animals are now being reared. There is even a genuine "allotment" of growing human noses."

More here, including 1 pic:

Supercow and pigs that glow at night - an average day on the GM farm

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Spreading Your Light: How You Affect Others Daily

I think this is so incredibly important!! If we could all just remember it and remind ourselves of it all the time. I am going to try to read this frequently to remind me.

"November 1, 2006
Spreading Your Light
How You Affect Others Daily

As the pace and fullness of modern life serve to isolate us from one another, the contact we do share becomes vastly more significant. We unconsciously absorb each other's energy, adopting the temperament of those with whom we share close quarters, and find ourselves changed after the briefest encounters. Everything we do or say has the potential to affect not only the individuals we live, work, and play with but also those we've just met. Though we may never know the impact we have had or the scope of our influence, accepting and understanding that our attitudes and choices will affect others can help us remember to conduct ourselves with grace at all times. When we seek always to be friendly, helpful, and responsive, we effortlessly create an atmosphere around ourselves that is both uplifting and inspiring.

Most people rarely give thought to the effect they have had or will have on others. When we take a few moments to contemplate how our individual modes of being affect the people we spend time with each day, we come one step closer to seeing ourselves through the eyes of others. By asking ourselves whether those we encounter walk away feeling appreciated, respected, and liked, we can heighten our awareness of the effect we ultimately have. Something as simple as a smile given freely can temporarily brighten a person's entire world. Our value-driven conduct may inspire others to consider whether their own lives are reflective of their values. A word of advice can help others see life in an entirely new fashion. And small gestures of kindness can even prove to those embittered by the world that goodness still exists. By simply being ourselves, we influence other's lives in both subtle and life-altering ways.

To ensure that the effect we have is positive, we must strive to stay true to ourselves while realizing that it is the demeanor we project and not the quality of our wondrous inner landscapes that people see. Thus, as we interact with others, how we behave can be as important as who we are. If we project our passion for life, our warmth, and our tolerance in our facial features, voice, and choice of words, every person who enters our circle of influence will leave our presence feeling at peace with themselves and with us. You never know whose life you are affecting, big or small. Try to remember this as you go out into the world each day. "

www.dailyom.com

Ghosts of Halloween Present

My niece, Maddie




My nephew, Nick!

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Ghosts of Halloweens Past

When I worked at MHM, we had an annual Halloween contest and trick or treating for the kids. Last year I was at JK and of course no one dressed up there (it's more of a fancy schmancy law firm). This year it's not so fancy schmancy, but they don't dress up there either. On top of that, we never have trick or treaters at my house, so it was just an ordinary day.

But here are the costumes from the 3 years I dressed up at MHM. Maybe next year I can rally some folks to dress up with me.

Monster who was raised chained up in the basement with this doll as its only friend 2001




Scary Bag Lady 2002




Vampire 2004







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Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! This spooky car ad gave me goosebumps!!

This is how the story was told to me. A director was looking for video of cars driving along a country road for a documentary he was making. He came across this bit of video, which had some weird notes with it.

Apparently they were filming this piece for a car advertisement. Halfway through, just as the car was passing some trees, there appears to be a kind of mist in front of the car. Then it gets really freaky. It's really hard to see at first. I had to look at it 3 times before I could make it out. It seems to be the shape of a person directly in front of the car, crossing the road. But the car passes right thru it.

Yeah.

If you listen very carefully you can hear the cameraman say, "What the heck is that?"

The ad was never shown. Apparently, this stretch of road is a notorious accident magnet, and after seeing this thing they thought it better to can the whole thing.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT5YuvsSAZ0

Monday, October 30, 2006

The Power To Choose

"MAKING CHOICES IS YOUR GREATEST POWER

While your character is formed by your circumstances,
your desires can shape those circumstances.
The one thing over which you have absolute control is your own thoughts.
It is this that puts you in a position to control your own destiny.

Nature is constantly at work around you.
Character and destiny are her handiwork.
She gives you love and hate, jealousy and reverence.
You have the power to choose which impulse you follow.

At any time you can decide to alter the course of your life.
No one can ever take that away from you.
You can do what you want to do and be who you want to be.

Your greatest power is the power to choose.

- THE DAILY GURU"

http://www.thedailyguru.com

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Artist: Joe Boylard

A friend passed along an article about a gentleman I worked with at Jackson Kelly (he and I have both since moved on to other jobs) who is also an artist. His work is so beautiful I wanted to link to his website.

http://www.joebolyard.com/

The article says his specialty is "repousse" which is a type of metal work. He also paints.

Saturday, October 28, 2006

Arts & Craft Fair Jewelry

I am selling jewelry at my first Arts & Craft Show at St. Albans High School on November 11.

I uploaded pics of the jewelry I have made so far for the show. I was surprised at how much I have already. I inventoried it today and took it out to see how it would look on the display stuff I've bought. I've got one more black velvet tray coming. The crystals really look good on it so I may put them on the new tray. I need more of some items. I have arranged by type first, then type of bead, and within the bead types I will organize by color and/or price range. For the bracelets, anyway. I'm so excited! I'm having so much fun with this and it's so new for me. It's 2 weeks from today and I am happy with where I am.

I ordered an antique white table cloth today (some things will be placed on the table cloth) and bought some silk yellow roses today to decorate with. I still have to make little signs for the table, price everything, make labels with the prices & descriptions, and a bunch of other stuff! Click on the pic below to view the web album if you'd like to see the jewelry.

Friday, October 27, 2006

General Hospital

Wow, has it really been 25 years since Luke & Laura were married? I watched it in a dorm room at Marshall with my friends.

"'General' Admissions

25 years later: Genie Francis on Luke-and-Laura mania. The actress, who recently returned to ''General Hospital,'' remembers growing up on the set

by Abby West"

http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,1551176_3_0_,00.html

Evolution of Dance

This is a fun six minutes

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Soccer Playoffs

My nephew's team, Hayes Middle School, made the playoffs but lost to Charleston Catholic in the first round. They play again Friday for 3rd or 4th place. Go Hornets!

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A rose from my sweetie

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Graziano's make-a da besta pizza

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When I was in junior high/high school they gave away Graziano's pizza on FM-105 and to win you had to call and say "Graziano's make-a da besta pizza", in a pseudo Italian accent. I won one once. What better prize is there than pizza? Especially from my favorite pizza place ever?!?

Verizon

I hate Verizon! I got a letter saying they were going to change our telephone directory listing to match the 911 records UNLESS I CALL THEM to tell them not to. I specifically set up our phone to show only our town, because Dave is in the public eye and we don't want crazy people showing up at our house.

So far I have called 4 times. First of all, they have a horrible voice activated automation system. You can't just press 1 or 0, you have to speak to it. And if you don't say the words it wants to hear, it says "sorry, I didn't get that". I have learned to just say OPERATOR and they put you through.

The first lady refused to help me because I didn't have my account number (the letter I rcvd didn't say I needed it and didn't include it). The second guy sent me to a dept where you order phone directories which wasn't open. The third time the automated system sent me to the place. The fourth time a lady explained I needed to call the billing department, which closes at 5:00, even though the letter said to call the number I called between 8:00 and 6:00.

ARGH! I hate dealing with companies like that! I really would like to just say forget it, cancel my acct. WE already use our cell phones as our primary phones, but we like to keep the land line for emergency purposes and to have a number to give businesses so we don't get calls on our cell phones that we don't want. We might just have to reconsider that though.

Oh and it reminds me of when we had Verizon DSL, and how they continued charging us for months and months after we cancelled and we had to jump through hoops to get that solved. Why am I still doing business with this company? As a matter of fact, they said on the recording that we can choose who our local carrier is. I am going to look into that as soon as I have time.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Morning Scene

Every morning, an elderly man walks east up Quarrier Street toward the library with a little bag.  As he crosses Summers Street, the horde of pigeons waiting on top of the building fly down to greet him.  He dumps a bag of bread crumbs (I think - could be seeds?) and they feast.  He is there every morning, at the same time, to feed his friends.  But he doesn't stick around to visit.  He just serves them breakfast and turns around to go back the way he came. 
 
I love little slices of life like that.  And for some reason I find this scene touching.  And I wonder about the man and his life.

Monday, October 23, 2006

West Virginia Record

I stumbled across this free newspaper in Graziano's one day. It is geared toward the legal community, I think, but I think non-legal people would find it interesting as well. Since I have worked in the legal community for over 22 years, I find it quite interesting.

What they say about themselves:

"OUR GOAL at the West Virginia Record is to cover West Virginia's legal system in a way that enables you, our readers, to make the public business your business.

As the state’s first and only legal journal, The Record will focus upon civil actions in our courts. Torts- as they’re known-- are too often ignored by the prevailing media, yet their progress has a profound impact on the people of our state.

We aim to protect the public’s interest by reporting on West Virginia’s civil justice system thoroughly and vigorously.

To be sure, whether one agrees or disagrees with the happenings at all of our courthouses, no one should believe that what happens at them is the norm. West Virginia’s courts regularly rank among the most litigious in the land."

You can find them online here: The West Virginia Record

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Love

"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it."

-- Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, Beloved Persian Poet

Autumn Leaves

 

This must be a sugar maple.

This article from the USDA has good info:

Why Leaves Change Colors Posted by Picasa

Twiggy the Piggy

My Niece's guinea pig

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Foggy Soccer Morning

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Thursday, October 19, 2006

Dinnertime at the Harmans

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Autumn Colors

It's very dreary today so these aren't great, but I was so entranced by all the color on the way home I had to grab the camera when I got here.

 
 
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I love beads

I'm cleaning off the camera.... these are just some beads I love. The jewelry is for sale, but I'm gearing up for my first arts & crafts fair (a small one).

Purple Apache Jasper

 


Fire Opal Swarovski Crystals
 


Cafe au Lait Onyx
 
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Wednesday, October 18, 2006

20 top tips for surviving life in the workplace

This article is hilarious (click title of the entry for the link). It's from the UK, so some of the terms are a little different than ours, but its applicable nonetheless.

I was going to put the whole thing here but it's awfully long. I'll just put the first few to give you a taste.

Guy Browning offers 20 top tips for surviving life in the workplace
Wednesday October 18, 2006
The Guardian

1 Never offer to make coffee

In an open plan office there is a ritual where everyone waits hours for the first person to say: "Who wants a coffee?" That person then finds themselves in the kitchen for the rest of the day working as a junior catering manager. Also remember that nobody ever gets to the top of an organisation by drinking stinky teas. No one wants to have a serious meeting in a room that smells of peppermint/rhubarb/aloe vera.


2 Ignore all emails

Working in the post room is not generally a career choice for most people. Yet with the epidemic of email most people spend half their working lives slaving away in their own personal computer post room. Most emails are biodegradable, however. If you let them sink to the bottom of the pile and go unanswered they will eventually become irrelevant. To some people, doing this might seem like just about the most daring and suicidal thing you could possibly do in an office but, if something really matters, the person who sent it will eventually call you to ask you about it.

3 Get yourself noticed

Getting ahead in business means getting noticed, but working hard makes you almost invisible. Therefore it's a lot better to work hard at getting yourself noticed. What senior management likes more than anything else is junior managers who show signs of initiative and volunteer to do things. Most of the reason for this is that the more junior managers volunteer to do, the less senior managers will have to do themselves. Of course, volunteering for things and doing things are two different matters. Once you have got the credit for volunteering for a project, it's best to get as far away as possible from the project before the work kicks in. The best way to do that is to volunteer for another project.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1924681,00.html

Thursday, September 21, 2006

HCD site updated

Finally getting to work on my OWN business sites! Tonight I updated HCD's site:

www.hcdwv.com

Sunday, September 17, 2006

TV

I'm depressed that Big Brother season is over but I love it when the fall tv season starts!

The only new show I've seen so far is Men in Trees, which I like, even though I keep expecting Northern Exposure characters to pop up, and it makes me miss them. I wish someone was playing the re-runs. I did find one NE clip on YouTube, and it's a Chris clip. I was so in love with Chris. And I wanted to move to Cicely.



Goethe's final words: "More light." Ever since we crawled out of that primordial slime, that's been our unifying cry: "More light." Sunlight. Torchlight. Candlight. Neon. Incandescent. Lights that banish the darkness from our caves, to illuminate our roads, the insides of our refrigerators. Big floods for the night games at Soldier's field. Little tiny flashlight for those books we read under the covers when we're supposed to be asleep. Light is more than watts and footcandles. Light is metaphor. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom Lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home- Lead Thou me on! Arise, shine, for thy light has come. Light is knowledge. Light is life. Light is light.

There are some more clips on there, but they all appear to be in Spanish!

Well anyway, back to the here and now, this week Wife Swap, Two and a Half Men, Boston Legal, The Office, and My Name is Earl are back! I can barely contain my excitement! Oh yeah, Grey's Anatomy is also starting. I did watch it for part of the season last year, and it is a great show, but it's not high on my list of priorities to watch and I found that I wanted to see other shows more and had a hard time fitting it in, so for the moment I'm not going to watch it.

Other new shows I may watch include Jericho, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,
Ugly Betty and Six Degrees.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

HoppyPod = Buddha

We found out yesterday that HoppyPod the 3-legged cat's real name is Buddha! His real home is up the street, but for some reason he likes to hang out at ours instead.

Happy Birthday

Today I celebrate the day two of the most important people in my life were born. My husband and my brother, born 25 years apart!

Happy Birthday, Dave and Shawn!!

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Personal Touch Photo Art

Check out the website of my newest client, photoartist Marisa Ruane:

http://www.personaltouchphotoart.com/

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

New jewelry

Finally after what seemed like a very long time, I am back to making jewelry! I was working on a website for a new client and had to take a break from the jewelry. But now I have lots of lovely beads stocked up and hope to be adding lots of pieces in the coming months, gearing up for the Christmas season! Speaking of Christmas, if you want to order any custom jewelry, the earlier, the better!

I still have more to upload but here are a few things:




WVU gold & blue Swarovski bracelet & earring set



azurite memory wire bracelet



goldstone bracelet & earring set