Determined...

My mood on myspace is listed as 'determined'.
That's the best thing that I can say about my attitude toward this transformation of mine.

Do I want to do it? Nope
Do I need to do it? Yep
Will I do it? Yes - but I don't have to like it!

Thankfully, Fire is now working out with me at least once, if not twice, a week. I think this is something that I needed desperately as I was getting into a rut of working out by myself all of the time.

Namaste.

Hmmm...

I have realized that this blog really doesn't have a constant theme. I write about whatever is on my mind at the time - which some days, may be boring to some and interesting to others.

Overall, my head is focused in two areas right now: Bengals (heading to training camp this week!!!) and Transformation (not so excited about this one). I am determined that both areas are going to be successful!!!

Namaste.

Changing Again?

Yep - I did it again. . .I changed the hair (it had been eight weeks after all!!).

I have a different highlight color.
It is just a bit shorter.
I have long bangs that aren't quite long enough to be tucked behind my ear.

Once I got my hands on my super-duper hairspray, I decided that I like it.
We'll see how I feel about it tomorrow.

Namaste.

Christmas in July

WOW. . .I packed a lot of activities into celebrating my birthday!
I saw lots of loved ones, made lots of memories, took lots of pictures.
I would have to write a book to share all of the details!
Let me sum it all up with: I am blessed to have family who are friends and friends who are family!

The one thing from all of the activities that I thought may be of interest to the blog world was my Christmas present.

Yes, you read that correctly - I received my Christmas present in July (just kinda worked out that it was on my birthday): Dinner at a Top 25 restaurant (per Cincinnati Magazine) of my choice.

The 2007 Choice: Jean-Robert at Pigall's

• #1 Ranked
• Amazing Food
• Unique Atmosphere
• Wonderful Waitstaff
• Surprising Ending

My Menu of Choice (Absolutely Delicious!):
Fromage de chèvre chaud de la région en croûte dorée, cebettes et haricots verts aux amandes
Indiana Warm Goat Cheese in a Golden Crust with Scallions, French Green Beans, Almonds and Currants

Médaillon de veau, fondue de poireaux et crème de champignon miatake, légumes de printemps
Veal Medallion with Thyme Bordelaise, Creamy Leeks, (substitution for mushrooms - don't know details),
Fondue of Seasonal Vegetables

Mousse à la rhubarbe, frangipane aux pistaches, glace au chèvre et miel
Rhubarb Mousse with Pistachio Frangipane and Goat Cheese-Honey Ice Cream

As well as all the little extras that they throw in. . .
If my memory serves me correctly, three other deliveries (four if you count the mini-loaf treat that you get to take home).

My favorite by far was the dessert!
The mousse didn't have much taste to me (both of my friends had it and loved it), but the Frangipane and Ice Cream were unbelievable (I should probably tell you that I'm not a fan of Pistachios)! The ingredients sounded horrible together (which is one of the reasons that I decided to try it), but the combination was oh-so good!

So, what was the surprising ending?
My dessert arrived with a candle.
I just sat there staring at the flame.

It may not seem like much, but it was so unexpected to me. . .I can't even begin to describe to you what I was feeling. The best that I can come up with is the quote:
"Life isn't about the number of breathes you take, but the number of breathes that were taken away."

This was one of those breathes that was taken away.

Namaste.

Random Things To Celebrate My Birthday!

In celebration of my 33rd birthday (officially at 10:16am today - hence, the forced post time... hehe), I decided to follow Ginger's lead and post that many random things about myself.

I tend to "borrow" blog ideas from Ginger every now and then. . .
I don't feel too guilty as she is a friend of my sister's! :)

1. My first car was a Silver Renault. I didn't have it long as there was a lady who "found" the car keys her family had hid from her. She decided that her brand new New Yorker should have right-of-way no matter where she was.
   The only thing that she said to me? "Your car looks better than mine!"
   That was my one and only ride in an ambulance.
   Not sure if it was her one and only ticket.
   
   
2. I know a lot of useless things like: There is a statue in Washington D.C. that no other statue can be taller than, more of a traditional think than law (Know what it is??? lol).
   The problem is that I don't remember where I heard most of the things that I know, so I spend lots of time with my friend Google in order to back up my useless knowledge.
   


3. The #1 song on the day I was born was "Annie's Song" by John Denver.
   Don't think that I have ever heard it.
   


4. I've been told that I look like Julia Louise Dreyfus - especially when my hair is curly and I am wearing my contacts.
   
   
5. The songs that make me crank up the volume knob are "Come On Eileen" and "Paradise by the Dashboard Light". One makes me wanna try to sing along, the other makes me wanna dance - Can you tell me which is which? :)
   


6. I have allergies...Not the normal grass / pet allergies that seem to be common around here. I'm allergic to mushrooms, aspirin, orange juice, floral perfumes, some lotions and bar soap.
   Yes, I have just a few allergies.
   No, I never claimed to be normal.
   


7. I don't have any pets right now - but I absolutely love the Lion Fish. Did a report in grade school called "Dangers of the Sea" and it has been a favorite of mine ever since. Would love to own one, but it is endangered (code for very expensive) and is very dangerous AND I don't want the hassle of a salt water tank!
   


8. I got tall pretty fast back in the 80s. I think I was 5'6" by the time I was in Jr. High. Then the lady found the keys (see #1) and now, I am 5'5".
   Yes, my spine went into a "S" shape from side to side as a result of the accident...
   I was shorter, but the chiropractor helped me get some of it back.
   


9. I hate Lima Beans and I despise mushrooms (see #6) - neither are allowed in the condo!



10. I like coconut milk, but can't stand the coconut strands that seem to be on everything. Love the taste. Hate the texture! I never got to have any of Luke's birthday cake as his favorite is German Chocolate - yes, the one that has those pesky strands in the icing.
    


11. MommyMarie decided that my initials were SMR before I was born. If I was a boy, my name would have been Steven Michael instead of Sassy Marie.
    


12. I like my name - the one on my birth certificate. I like my nickname - Sassy. I do not like it when people shorten my name - especially people who I don't know very well or I just met.
    


13. I have the complete discography of Westlife, Prince (less the several that sucked when he forgot his name), Karen Taylor-Good, David Ault, Greg Tamblyn and David Roth (no, not Dave Lee Roth).
    I'm sure that I have a few more artists that could be added to this listed - you know, the ones with the one-hit-wonders on their one and only CD.
    
    
14. I do not like the color yellow. Hate it. The only time you will see it in the condo is when it is on a food container or a book jacket. This does not carry over to the color gold. I like gold - wear it all the time and even painted walls in my condo a color called "Bagel".
    No Nickey, my walls are not yellow!
    


15. I had two favorite stuffed animals when I was little. The first was a teddy bear named "Buddy". Buddy experienced some rough times through the years...He even lost one of his eyes part way through our journey together. Yes, we are still on the journey together.
    The other was a yellow monkey named George. Yes, he was yellow... No, I don't still have him. I believe that he hit the road right about the time that I decided that yellow wasn't a good thing (see #14)...
    


16. One of my 'comfort foods' is MommyMarie's grilled cheese and chili. I'll never forget one year - GrandmaMarie's entire family was sitting around a huge table (OK, it was really a pool table with plywood on it) for Thanksgiving (or was it Christmas?) and we mentioned that MommyMarie made grilled cheese the night before. Every family member who was related by blood did a "yum" while every person related by marriage did a "yuck"...
    Yes, my family eats grilled cheese with the pickles grilled into the sandwich.
    


17. I have seen "Sixteen Candles" probably over a thousand times. Luke used to hide the TV Guide from me so that I wouldn't know when a random station would be showing it again. One time, I saw a version with some extra scenes - bought the DVD to get those extra extras - but no dice, just the plain old version. I am still on the look-out for the extras, there is always hope that one day...
    


18. I am not afraid of heights, but I hate being on shaky ground...
    I can get on the "A" frame ladders, but those shaky extension ladders? Forget it!
    Scaffolding? Never again!
    Coming down the high curve of the St. Louis Arch? That was about the death of me (for some reason going up the curve didn't bother me).



19. I was a yearbook editor for almost four years. Now that I scrapbook, I find myself still following those pesky yearbook rules that we learned in case we ever entered a competition - like no trapped white space (I think I might drive Nickey crazy with this one!).
    
    
20. I sleep with a dog bone. No, not the treat that Handy would give his dog! It is a long narrow pillow that is shaped like a dog bone. If I sleep without it, my neck lets me know that it isn't happy with me. Not a pleasant experience!
    


21. When I am at home, I cannot go to sleep without checking my email. Not sure why - but I will toss and turn until I get out of bed and boot up the computer.
    


22. In a span of 13 months, I moved 9 times. The site of a cardboard box started to make me feel nauseous. The tape residue would not come off of my fingers no matter how hard I scrubbed. So, I decided after move number eight that enough was enough. Move number nine was into my condo - the one that I bought and have now lived in for almost 11 years.
    


23. I have seven piercings. . .Four in my left ear and three in my right ear. The thought of getting a piercing anywhere else on my body just makes me cringe. Can't do it!
    


24. Every time I get gas, I write down all of the information into a log book. I can tell you at any moment what kind of gas mileage my car gets or what happens when I am in need of an oil change. :)
    


25. I tried to sew one time when I was younger: five minutes using GrandmaMarie's sewing machine resulted in about 30 minutes to get it working again. I became a master of hand sewing!
    A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to start making quilts. Egypt taught me how to use the machine by sewing a straight stitch on an old wash clothe and off I went.
    Can I sew today? Nope! Can I make a mean quilt using a sewing machine? Yep!
    


26. Most people will buy small things or accessories to go with larger things. By now, you have probably realized that I am far from normal - never claimed to be.
    I bet that you have a bed for which you bought a comforter in the appropriate size? Not me. I found a comforter that I liked and had to buy a new King Size bed to fit the comforter. The comforter and I have since parted ways (see #25), but I do like my big bed.
    


27. I have started wearing funny t-shirts to the gym. The one that has gotten the most comments is "Girls just wanna have fun". My current favorite is "I want everything...Is that a problem?". The one that I wear when I don't want to do what Sadillac tells me: a penguin with its flippers over his ears and says "Not listening". Gotta love Steve and Barry's!
    


28. My mom made all my clothes when I was in Kindergarten and 1st grade.
    No, I don't make my clothes now (see #25).
    


29. I used to have a "shoes off at the door" rule when there was carpet all through the condo - I didn't want all of those chemicals buried in the carpet. Now that the 1st and 2nd floors are carpet free, I don't have the rule anymore.
    I still have two shelving units by the front door that all of my shoes go on.
    Yep, my shoes still come off at the door 99% of the time.



30. My college roommate was always cold and I was always hot. Winter time found me in shorts and a tank top with her in a sweatsuit and the thermostat set so that the she wouldn't freeze. Now that I live with 'Me, Myself & I' and electric rates have trending up, I no longer wear shorts in the winter. Have I mentioned that I love my 7-day programmable thermostat (that is until I am home on a work day and forget to turn the furnace/air on)!
    


31. Egypt and I each created "My Want List - Great and Small". It is a list of things we want to do in our lifetimes: from making bread from scratch to finding a cure for cancer. I try to check at least two things off the list every year - some years I do more, some I do less.
    There are lots of places to visit on the list, but the only ones that are listed as 'musts' are Alaska, Ireland, Hawaii and Australia. I'm 50% done as Alaska and Ireland have been checked off.
    


32. By the time I was 33, I thought I would have figured what I want to be when I grow up and what I want to do with my life. Wow, was I wrong!
    


33. I was surprised to learn recently that coming up with 33 random things about myself was very difficult! It was a huge undertaking that took me just under a month - I don't know how Ginger did it!
    

There! Now, you know a bit of the oddity that makes me, me.
If you think of something else that would have fit in the list above - feel free to throw it into a comment. :)

Namaste.

My Reality

I will be turning 33 tomorrow, but I am NOT celebrating my 33rd birthday.

There were about six years (could be more - I'm good at blocking those years out) that I chose to not celebrate July 24th. This may be my 33rd year on this planet, but it is celebration number 27...

Happy 27th Birthday to me!!!
Like my logic? I do!

I really didn't have the typical "18 - 25" year-old's life. I bought my condo at 22 and was busting ass to reach my goal of making it on my own and learning from some experiences unique to my journey. I didn't go to all of the spring break places or hang out in the clubs meeting people. Don't get me wrong - I have some great memories and I would not change any event. . .Those things made me who I am today. AND I never want to relive those years again!

Having said all that - I feel like my 30s are everyone elses' 20s.
I am so enjoying meeting new people, hanging out in the dating scene and just doing what I want, when I want - all while benefiting from the experiences and maturity that comes with being 33. I don't want a do-over of the 1990s, but that doesn't mean that I can't enjoy that life-style now!

Namaste.

Needs...

I am so stealing this blog idea from Emily at Stamping & Stuff. . .
Mainly because I was curious as to what would come up and was hopeful that it would provide some comedy.

You type your name and the word 'needs' into the Google search bar and then write down the top 10 things. I did it twice - first with my real first name and second with Sassy:

"S" needs (first list). . .

• some help (look at those pants!).
• cash-fast-but times are tough, and soon she's force to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family.
• input!
• to get whats coming to her.
• Midole?
• a strong manly should to lean on (preferably an alpha one).
• to get the women together in an allience (of course).
• to sneeze.
• to shut up now and let it take it's course.
• a myspace posse.

Sassy needs (second list). . .

• a good home.
• to have answers to all the questions.
• a loving family.
• someone who can give her kind, caring & a loving environment.
• to be re-cast.
• to recall this item and make some adjustments.
• fascinating internet inside old thought fecund.
• a place to stay.
• you.
• to be finished before the Nantucket trip at the beginning of September.

Namaste.

Not Easy

I've been trying to write a testimonial for Sadillac. This is not an easy task!

You see, Sadillac is amazing...Okay, that is my opinion and hasn't been documented as the fact that I know it is. The problem is that Sadillac IS amazing - IF you want to listen to him, IF you want to do what he recommends, IF you aren't afraid of some hard work.

I can hear you ask now: If he's so amazing, why is it so hard to write a testimonial?

Well - because he is so amazing. If I write what I want to write - most people out there will think that he is the "easy way" to lose weight and get into shape. If you think that - YOU WOULD BE WRONG. I worked with Sadillac for about two years without doing what he said. I was throwing my money away and was using him as my excuse to make it to the gym the one time a week that I did get there.

On December 19, 2005, I decided to finally start listening. I decided to do what I was being told to do. I decided to start busting my ass. I began to realize what a great resource Sadillac was. I started to see results.

So, if you want that "easy solution". . .
Keep looking.

But if you aren't afraid of hard work, blood, sweat and even tears. . .
Let me know and I'll put you in touch with an amazing trainer!

Now, how to put all of that in a professional, realistic testimonial?
Still working on it with some help from Handy and Fire!

Namaste.

It's a Fav!

There is a restaurant in Northern Kentucky that is a fav of mine - Knotty Pine on the Bayou. It's a quaint, family-owned restaurant off the beaten path - a 50+ year old house that overlooks a river. I have felt like I was going up a slight hill as I walk across the room (yeah - I think there is a good reason that they don't serve peas!). Most of the time, I can sit on the Mardi Gra decorated porch to enjoy the scenery while experiencing some awesome Cajun food.

It has been awhile sine I have been able to partake in my favorite place as I have been focusing on my transformation. But, I am quick to recommend it to anyone that is looking for a new restaurant - I even have the phone number programmed into my cell phone.

I decided to meet some co-workers there for dinner last night. One was visiting from Japan and the other hadn't had the opportunity to visit Knotty Pine previously. Unfortunately, we did not get to sit outside, but the atmosphere inside is enjoyable too.

The verdict:
They both enjoyed dinner (and saved room for dessert - also enjoyed!).
YES. . .It is still my favorite restaurant!

Namaste.

I was Impressed

I had the opportunity to spend some time with Rudi Johnson of the Bengals.

He participated in the kick-off of a charity drive in my office. I listed to him talk about his foundation. I saw him interact with some kids who attended the event. I watched him react as two highly-energetic lads tried to tackle him.

We had a photo / autograph session to help raise some addition $$ for the charity. At the end of the hour, the man was still as nice and polite to my co-workers as he was at the beginning of the hour.

Can I just say that I am impressed?
(For those of you who can get to myspace - some new pics have been uploaded!)

Namaste.

Relationships

As I grow older, I find myself being more cautious. . .Especially in regards to relationships.

Before, it was all about me and what I wanted.
Now, I find myself thinking about the other people in the relationship as well.
My decisions are guided by what I want and what won't hurt others (I hope anyway).

Is this good? In a way. . .When I can do both.
Is this bad? In a way. . .When I can't do both. lol

It is becoming more and more complicated as the number of relationships I have grows. . .
But I guess that is what makes life so interesting!

Namaste.

Other Hobbies

I have lots of hobbies. . .
Some have even made appearances on this blog.
Remodeling and Bengals Football are two that are mentioned so often - they even have their own categories!

I have another hobby that is bigger than both remodeling and football.
What is it you ask?
Preserving my memories and trying to make memories for others.
Yes, I'm talking about scrapbooking and card making.

I'm not quite sure why I don't blog about them more as they are such a big part of my life. . .
I guess that I think of the events being preserved more than the act of preserving them. It could be that the focus is more on the "sister time", the "cousin time" (etc) that is occuring while I'm working on the scrapbooks. It is also difficult to share my creations here as I do not post pictures of people or share names on this site.

Card making is a bit different.
I spend time making cards for people and the events in their life.
I usually have more difficulty creating one card than I do make a double-page scrapbook lay-out. The scrapbook is for me.
The card is a gift.
It may end up in the trash, but for a brief moment in time - I have a chance to affect someones life: with a smile, a thought, maybe even a tear.

I don't know that I will blog more about this particular hobby of mine. . .
But for those of you who will on occasion receive a card from me, please know that a lot of determination and creativity went into its creation. You were the focus of my world while it was being created and I hope that you feel the love that is being sent with it, even if the words are not said or written.

Namaste.

There's Hope

I bought a new CD yesterday. Or should I say I got birthday present from Best Buy - Gotta love free things from reward programs!

There is a song on the CD that I absolutely love call "There's Hope". I've been cranking the volume as I zoom down the road. Unfortunately, the artist did not put lyrics in the CD liner, so I had to go search the internet for the info (yeah, I have such a tough life!)...

There's Hope
(Verse 1):
Back when I had a little
I thought that I needed a lot
A little was over rated,
But a lot was a little too complicated
You see-
Zero didn't satisfy me
A million didn't make me happy
That's when I learned a lesson
That it's all about your perception
Hey, are you a pauper or a superstar
So you act, so you feel, so you are
It ain't about the size of your car
It's about the size of the faith in your heart

(Chorus):
There's hope
It doesn't cost a thing to smile
You don't have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that
There's hope
It doesn't cost a thing to smile
You don't have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that
There's hope

(Verse 2):
Off in the back country of Brazil
A met a young brotha that made me feel
That I could accomplish anything
You see just like me he wanted to sing
He had no windows and no doors
He lived a simple life and was extremely poor
On top of all of that he had no eye sight,
But that didn't keep him from seein' the light
He said, what's it like in the USA?
And all I did was complain
He said, Living here is Paradise
He taught me paradise in in your mind
You know that

(Chorus)

(Bridge):
Every time I turn on the T.V. (There's Hope)
Somebody's acting crazy (There's Hope)
If you let it, it will drive you crazy (There's Hope)
But I'm takin' back my power today (There's Hope)
Gas prices they just keep on rising (There's Hope)
The government they keep on lying
But we gotta keep on surviving
Keep living our truth and do the best we can do

(Chorus)

Stand up for your rights (echo)
Keep shining your light (echo)
And show the world your smile (echo)
Stand up for your rights (echo)
Keep shining your light (echo)
And show the world your smile (echo)

(Chorus)
. . . . . . . . .By India.Arie, Tony Harrington, Branden Burch

Namaste.

Did I or Didn't I?

Ever had one of those moments when you can't remember if you did something or not?

And then it bugs you to the point that you can't focus on anything else, because you can't remember if you did that something or not?

Yep! I had one of those moments today. In fact, the moment stretched to three hours before I finally gave in, took an EARLY lunch and drove home to see if I did, in fact, do something or not.

So did I? Yep, I did.
I can work now. Heck, I can breathe now!

Namaste.

The 7 New Wonders?

Ladies and Gents - We now have the Seven New Wonders of the World (Click here for Source Info).

There is one that I have climbed, one that is on my "To See" list, three that I have heard about and three that I have no knowledge about! So, I did some google-ing to increase and improve the file cabinet that I call my brain.

"Why did you refer to eight?" you may ask. Because the pyramids of Giza is the only one remaining from the original 7 wonders and maintained their "wonder" status. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and the Pharos lighthouse of Alexandria have all vanished.


Mexico's Chichen Itza pyramid:
Chichen Itza ("At the mouth of the well of the Itza") was built by the Maya civilization located in the northern center of the Yucatan Peninsula in present-day Mexico.

I started to include additional information (you can see it all by using the link above), but none of it felt right to me. This is the one that I have climbed - both the interior pyramid and the exterior. It was amazing! I have pictures that I took personally, but I do not have them digitally to share. :(

The Great Wall of China:

The Great Wall is the world's longest human-made structure, stretching over approximately 4,000 miles along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia.


This is the one on my "To See" list.






Rome's Colosseum:

Originally capable of seating around 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. Although it is now in a severely ruined condition due to damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum has long been seen as an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome and is one of the finest surviving examples of Roman architecture.





India's Taj Mahal:
The Taj Mahal (sometimes called "the Taj") is generally considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements of Persian, Turkish, Indian and Islamic architectural styles. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar part of the monument, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures.










Peru's Machu Picchu:
Machu Picchu is probably the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire. Often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas". It is thought that the site was chosen for its unique location and geological features. It is said that the silhouette of the mountain range behind Machu Picchu represents the face of the Inca looking upward towards the sky, with the largest peak representing his pierced nose.














Jordan's Petra:
Petra is an archaeological site in Jordan, lying in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah, the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. It is famous for having many stone structures carved into the rock.

Brazil's Statue of Christ Redeemer:
Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The statue stands 105 feet tall, weighs 700 tons and is located at the peak of the Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park, overlooking the city.

The Pyramids of Giza:
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and the largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now Cairo, Egypt in Africa. The oldest and only remaining member of the Seven Wonders of the World, it is believed to have been constructed over a 20 year period concluding around 2560 BC.




*All info and pictures came from Wikipedia. Please see that site (Click on the name of the wonder to link to the appropriate site) for picture credits.

Namaste.

Some of my Favorite Things

My mind doesn't want to come up with any nifty blog ramblings, so I thought that I'd throw out some of my favorite things.

• 80's Movie: Sixteen Candles
• Movie: Tie - True Lies, Demolition Man
• Actress: Sandra Bullock
• Author: Major Tie - JDRobb, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon
• TV Show: Biggest Loser (when it is on)
• Band: Westlife
• Singer: Prince
• Poem: Prayer for Protection
• Word: Razgovalleyvalley (it's Russian...past tense of we conversed – I think)
• Guilty Pleasure: Ice Cream
• Food: Ice Cream
• Ice Cream Flavor: Peanut Butter varieties
• Breakfast: French Toast
• Restaurant: Knotty Pine on the Bayou
• Fast Food Joint: Subway (is that fast food?)
• Work Lunch: Lean Cuisine Paninis
• Wine: Riesling
• Cookie: Gooey Chocolate Chip – Oatmeal
• Color: Depends on the subject, but overall - Black
• Style of underwear: Still exploring new styles with the new figure! :)
• Clothing: Anything that fits (not an easy thing to find right now)
• Amusement Park Ride: Top Gun
• Board Game: Drunkin' Bolderdash
• Online Game: Text Twist
• Sport: American Football
• Team: Bengals (Of course...Have you read any of this blog?)
• Flower: Stargazer Lilies
• Smell: Sugar Cookie Candle
• Location: West coast of Ireland
• Pizza: Chicken & Pineapple (Don't knock it til you've tried it!)
• Thing: Men
• Guy's Cologne: Domain from Mary Kay
• Collectible: Angels / Fairies

I'm sure that people have different favorites and many of you will not agree with mine. Should make for some interesting comments / emails!

Namaste.

America and 4th of July Tidbits...

Capital: Washington D.C.
Motto: "In God We Trust"
National Anthem: "The Star Spangled Banner"
National Bird: Bald Eagle
National Flower: Rose



Independence Day commemorates the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
In 1781, Massachusetts was the first legislature to recognize the Fourth of July.
In 1941, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day a federal paid holiday.
The residents of Vicksburg, Mississippi celebrated the Fourth of July in 1941 for the first time in 78 years (since the Siege of Vicksburg ended with a Union victory during the Civil War on July 4, 1863).

In a remarkable series of coincidences, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two founding fathers of the U.S. (and the only two men who signed the Declaration of Independence and became President) died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the United States' 50th anniversary.

The "Star-Spangled Banner" is set to the tune of an English drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven".

The words "Under God" were added in 1954 to the Pledge of Allegiance.

Betsy Ross sewed it, but Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, actually designed the first U.S. flag.

The stars on the flag were in a circle so that no one colony would be viewed above another. It is reported that George Washington said, "Let the 13 stars in a circle stand as a new constellation in the heavens."

The flag has 13 stripes representing the original 13 colonies (7 red and 6 white).

Namaste.

The sites with the info listed above:
http://www.geocities.com/starchaser-m/fourthofjuly/funstuff.html
http://encarta.msn.com/list_fourthofjuly/10_Surprising_Facts_About_the_Fourth_of_July.html
http://oldeducator.com/july4factsandtrivia.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)

Pictures

I love to take pictures! Anyone who knows me will agree with that statement.

I have three canon cameras - one 35mm and two digitals... No, I'm not going to get rid of any of them anytime soon! My cameras and the presentation of my pictures is the one area of my life that I do not cut corners (OK, I may round the corners of the pictures, but not the quality!!).

I do tend to go overboard every now and then...OKAY - Maybe I tend to take LOTS of pictures all of the time! Tonight, I even heard, "Nickey, make her stop!"

However, I've started to notice something...
I have found that I take pictures in a trend. It becomes humorous at times when I upload the pictures and "see" the trend...The one I wasn't even aware of while I was taking all of the pictures!

What is the trend you ask?
When I get into picture taking mode, I end up taking large amounts of ONE subject.
I guess my subconscious knows how picky I can be...
When I see something / someone that appeals to me I start documenting.

I guess I really liked what I saw tonight!
Made it real difficult to pick out the best ones to keep...
**SIGH** Toughest decision I had to make all day.

Namaste.