That Grrl

Moved to thegrrl.com

2010-09-29T12:46:00.003-04:00

I have moved this blog to WordPress on thegrrl.com

How to Write With Style by Kurt Vonnegut

2010-09-20T23:34:00.000-04:00

How to Write With Style by Kurt Vonnegut

Newspaper reporters and technical writers are trained to reveal almost nothing about themselves in their writings. This makes them freaks in the world of writers, since almost all of the other ink-stained wretches in that world reveal a lot about themselves to readers. We call these revelations, accidental and intentional, elements of style.

These revelations tell us as readers what sort of person it is with whom we are spending time. Does the writer sound ignorant or informed, stupid or bright, crooked or honest, humorless or playful --- ? And on and on.

Why should you examine your writing style with the idea of improving it? Do so as a mark of respect for your readers, whatever you're writing. If you scribble your thoughts any which way, your readers will surely feel that you care nothing about them. They will mark you down as an egomaniac or a chowderhead --- or, worse, they will stop reading you.

The most damning revelation you can make about yourself is that you do not know what is interesting and what is not. Don't you yourself like or dislike writers mainly for what they choose to show you or make you think about? Did you ever admire an emptyheaded writer for his or her mastery of the language? No.

So your own winning style must begin with ideas in your head.

1. Find a subject you care about
Find a subject you care about and which you in your heart feel others should care about. It is this genuine caring, and not your games with language, which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style.
I am not urging you to write a novel, by the way --- although I would not be sorry if you wrote one, provided you genuinely cared about something. A petition to the mayor about a pothole in front of your house or a love letter to the girl next door will do.

2. Do not ramble, though
I won't ramble on about that.

3. Keep it simple
As for your use of language: Remember that two great masters of language, William Shakespeare and James Joyce, wrote sentences which were almost childlike when their subjects were most profound. "To be or not to be?" asks Shakespeare's Hamlet. The longest word is three letters long. Joyce, when he was frisky, could put together a sentence as intricate and as glittering as a necklace for Cleopatra, but my favorite sentence in his short story "Eveline" is this one: "She was tired." At that point in the story, no other words could break the heart of a reader as those three words do.
Simplicity of language is not only reputable, but perhaps even sacred. The Bible opens with a sentence well within the writing skills of a lively fourteen-year-old: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

4. Have guts to cut
It may be that you, too, are capable of making necklaces for Cleopatra, so to speak. But your eloquence should be the servant of the ideas in your head. Your rule might be this: If a sentence, no matter how excellent, does not illuminate your subject in some new and useful way, scratch it out.

5. Sound like yourself
The writing style which is most natural for you is bound to echo the speech you heard when a child. English was Conrad's third language, and much that seems piquant in his use of English was no doubt colored by his first language, which was Polish. And lucky indeed is the writer who has grown up in Ireland, for the English spoken there is so amusing and musical. I myself grew up in Indianapolis, where common speech sounds like a band saw cutting galvanized tin, and employs a vocabulary as unornamental as a monkey wrench.
In some of the more remote hollows of Appalachia, children still grow up hearing songs and locutions of Elizabethan times. Yes, and many Americans grow up hearing a language other than English, or an English dialect a majority of Americans cannot understand.
All these varieties of speech are beautiful, just as the varieties of butterflies are beautiful. No matter what your first language, you should treasure it all your life. If it happens to not be standard English, and if it shows itself when your write standard English, the result is usually delightful, like a very pretty girl with one eye that is green and one that is blue.
I myself find that I trust my own writing most, and others seem to trust it most, too, when I sound most like a person from Indianapolis, which is what I am. What alternatives do I have? The one most vehemently recommended by teachers has no doubt been pressed on you, as well: to write like cultivated Englishmen of a century or more ago.

6. Say what you mean
I used to be exasperated by such teachers, but am no more. I understand now that all those antique essays and stories with which I was to compare my own work were not magnificent for their datedness or foreignness, but for saying precisely what their authors meant them to say. My teachers wished me to write accurately, always selecting the most effective words, and relating the words to one another unambiguously, rigidly, like parts of a machine. The teachers did not want to turn me into an Englishman after all. They hoped that I would become understandable --- and therefore understood. And there went my dream of doing with words what Pablo Picasso did with paint or what any number of jazz idols did with music. If I broke all the rules of punctuation, had words mean whatever I wanted them to mean, and strung them together higgledy-piggledy, I would simply not be understood. So you, too, had better avoid Picasso-style or jazz-style writing, if you have something worth saying and wish to be understood.
Readers want our pages to look very much like pages they have seen before. Why? This is because they themselves have a tough job to do, and they need all the help they can get from us.

7. Pity the readers
They have to identify thousands of little marks on paper, and make sense of them immediately. They have to read, an art so difficult that most people don't really master it even after having studied it all through grade school and high school --- twelve long years.
So this discussion must finally acknowledge that our stylistic options as writers are neither numerous nor glamorous, since our readers are bound to be such imperfect artists. Our audience requires us to be sympathetic and patient readers, ever willing to simplify and clarify --- whereas we would rather soar high above the crowd, singing like nightingales.
That is the bad news. The good news is that we Americans are governed under a unique Constitution, which allows us to write whatever we please without fear of punishment. So the most meaningful aspect of our styles, which is what we choose to write about, is utterly unlimited.

Found through StumbleUpon from the site by Peter Stekel

Colorstrology

2010-09-20T23:11:00.002-04:00

Colorstrology:

Dec. 19th - Lagoon - Regal - Expressive - Determined

You are capable of achieving many of your aspirations through pure determination and will. Some of this strength comes from the challenges that you may have faced while growing up. Once you make up your mind to do something, you have the necessary stamina to accomplish your aims. You may end up being in the public eye. Your personal colour reminds you to infuse you life with optimism and enthusiasm. Wearing, meditating or surrounding yourself wtih the colour Lagoon helps you live life in a balanced and wondrous way.

Transitions Posted for Red Room

2010-09-15T21:03:00.000-04:00

I made my first post to the weekly blog prompt at Red Room. The topic is transitions:

Transitions, the word makes me feel on edge, a little desperate. Too many moves from town to town and one country to another. Too many changes from one job to another. Too many people met and missed. I'd like some stability. Something I can count on to be steady and reliable.

I don't mind change, I cope with it. I deal with it. But I'm not getting used to it. I'm both older and wiser due to change and transition. In that way it's not a bad thing.

This month I will be starting a new job. I will be meeting a new set of co-workers. I will be getting to know the policies of a new company. New changes bring new ideas, new inspiration and new choices.

Transitions are the road signs along our road trip through life. We read the signs and then leave them behind until the next sign comes along. Each transition lasts a blink of an eye but has the lasting impact of forever.

My Shabby Streamside Studio

2010-09-12T21:25:00.000-04:00

My Shabby Streamside Studio

Hunting cabin transformed into cottage

2010-09-12T20:57:00.000-04:00

Hunting cabin transformed into cottage

Personal Blogging

2010-09-12T00:23:00.000-04:00

My personal blog was never secret. I’ve never had to worry about who reads it as so few of the people who know me were interested in anything I was doing. The only time it became an issue was when I lived in the same apartment with my husband as we were getting divorced. He said he wouldn’t read it which was good as it became my only outlet at the time. I’ve always written everything that comes into my head in my personal blog. Personal interests, slutty stuff, rants about people, things and places. It all goes in there along with what I really think about myself and my life. In some part of my mind I just don’t care as long as I have that outlet. In person I am very quiet and I seldom tell anyone what I am thinking or feeling. It used to annoy my husband when we were married. But, to be honest, I wasn’t thinking about anything important most of the time.

Comment I left on Ben's Weekly Blogging, a post about personal blogging being like a secret diary.

What Kind of Artist are you?

2010-09-07T15:40:00.000-04:00

You Are a Thoughtful Artist

You may be creative, but there's nothing messy about your approach to art.

All of your art is well thought out and planned. You art ends up being close to how you initially imagined it.

Your work tends to be quite deep and complex. You know how to produce something that appeals on many levels.

Your art may take a long time to create, but your patient. And as a result, you tend to love everything you make.

What Type of Artist Are You?

Blogthings: Waste Time at Work!

Your Creative Power is Your Logic

You're the type of person who is great at execution. You don't just dream about ideas - you make them happen!

You are idealistic and determined, but you are also a realist. You only undertake projects you're pretty sure you can finish.

You are a natural problem solver, and you actually think better when you're being challenged.

You do best when you work by yourself or when you're in charge. You ideas are big, dramatic, and the best.

What's Your Creative Power?

Blogthings: Free Quizzes for Everyone

Garden Bloggers

2010-09-06T21:08:00.000-04:00

blotanical - where garden blogs bloom ...

What's Your Sign?

2010-09-04T17:17:00.000-04:00

You Attract an Aquarius

When wacky, eccentric, independent Aquarius meet you, they've met their match.

You're just as unique and outspoken as any Aquarius, and as a result, they feel instantly connected to you.

And while you know you and your Aquarius are meant to be, you always allow for space in your relationship.

The last thing your Aquarius wants is to feel fenced in. You know that in this case, absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

What Sign Do You Attract?

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

Your True Love Is an Aries

Why you'll love an Aries:

An Aries has the red-hot seduction skills to woo you

Never boring, an Aries will give you the romantic challenge you crave!

Why an Aries will love you:

You have the intensity and energy to go head to head with your Aries...

And the undying passion to keep an Aries coming back for more.

What Sign Is Your True Love?

Blogthings: We Have a Quiz for Almost Everything

Alone on Twitter

2010-09-04T03:26:00.000-04:00

Twitter is missing all my replies to Tweets. It seems to be a known issue. But I feel so ignored, forgotten, alone in the world!

Hope it is fixed soon.

Does anyone know about Cory Doctorow?

2010-09-03T23:10:00.000-04:00

The first piece of writing I put into this I was told I write like Stephen King. But it was a short bit I wrote as a writing prompt and an odd style. An off style for me. My second try at it came back:

I write like
Cory Doctorow

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

I've heard the name Cory Doctorow but don't know a thing about him or his writing.

How successful writers keep up their confidence | Red Room

2010-09-01T22:00:00.000-04:00

How successful writers keep up their confidence | Red Room

Gone from Sherbourne

2010-08-29T10:24:00.001-04:00

SHERBOURNE
Originally uploaded by southofbloor

Mermaid or Whale

2010-08-29T10:09:00.000-04:00

From something forwarded to me in email this morning:

Recently, in a large city in Australia, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said, "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern,
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans.) They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia. Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Just look at them ... where is IT? Therefore, they don't have kids either. Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me: I want to be a whale.

P..S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends.

With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, ¨Good grief, look how smart I am!¨

About Writing

2010-08-28T14:57:00.001-04:00

Sometimes it comes easy, usually those are the times when you have a lot to say and can hardly keep up with yourself. It's good to have nimble fingers. I don't know how the one fingered typists do it!

Other times it is an exercise in patience when you have interruptions and have to keep yourself getting back to it no matter how far away it gets as the day and the interruptions go on.

Other times, not so often, I just feel there is nothing I have to say, nothing I want to say and the world is a nasty, dark and horrible place. Why should I talk to anyone? Why should I even let them know a bit of me just so they can knock me on my butt again, nasty bugger that they are. Those days I give myself the day off, or I write it all down, DAMN THE LOT OF THEM!

Originally posted as a comment in Ken's blog. Sometimes I want to remember what I wrote, sometimes it helps keep me grounded in an odd way.

I tried acting when I was a kid. The school wanted me to do it. So my Mother had me join an acting group for kids. We put on a play about fish and a pricness and so on. I might still have the script. I did get a fairly big part. I did manage to do it all and didn't forget what I was supposed to say. But, I'm not a natural performer in person. I have trained myself not to say "ummm" and other stalling things people do in speech. But, I perform much better on paper, in every way. I like the mystery of making the words up as I go along. I also like having the control of being the only one speaking. People who interrupt when I am talking make me want to do bad things.

I'd forgotten about that old thing, the few months of that acting group. Funny how your life can have so much in it when you look back at where you have been. Maybe I just don't look back enough and think only about looking ahead so I miss myself.

Stage of Development

2010-08-28T14:47:00.001-04:00

You Are In Stage I

Even though you are far from being an actual infant, you are in the infant stage of development.

You are still figuring out the world around you, and you are still developing trust.

For whatever reason, you don't have a lot of consistency in your life. It's sometimes hard for you to cope.

If you're not careful you can withdraw from the world. What you need is more people to love and more hope in your life.

What Stage of Development Are You In?

Blogthings: Our Quizzes Weren't Written By Bored 12 Year Olds

Expressions in Old Stone

2010-08-13T00:24:00.000-04:00

I can't resist weathered stone, especially something that once was man made.

Cromley explores Tokyo.

The main walk also features 500 year old Stone Statues of Rakan in various stages of weathering. Here is what that placard had to say:

Work of 16th century. The stone statues are carved in the image of Buddhism priest. They removed here from temples in Kyoto and Toba.

Adorable Me

2010-08-08T20:10:00.000-04:00

"Adorable, in a wicked, modest way that only the ego-maniacal can pull off", says Gracie.

I've been looking for this quote for ages. I knew I had to have it kept somewhere. This was a description of me from an online friend I worked with at BackWash.com.

Ending Anonymous Comment Spam

2010-08-03T16:07:00.000-04:00

At one point, not so long ago, I had comments turned off on this blog. Friends asked me to turn them on. Here we are, a few years later, and I'm thinking to turn them off again. Or, just shut down all the Anonymous comments at least. However, if I take off Anonymous then people who don't have a blog at Google/ Blogger have to make an account in order to comment with their website being listed with their name. Unless Google/ Blogger has changed that since I last looked.

Anyway, I am tired of the time wasted on moderating comments versus any real people who leave a note. They have bots to spam my comments, I just have myself to moderate all the craptastic mess. So I am going for the middle road and just shutting off the Anonymous comments. If you don't like it, thank the comment spammers.

Watching Anne of Green Gables

2010-08-01T14:10:00.000-04:00

Watching one of the Anne of Green Gables movies, closer to the end of the series. She just walked back into Green Gables (the house) long after Matthew and Marilla have died and the house was empty for a long time. Made me cry along with her. I wish they could make more Anne movies, with Megan as the star.

a beautiful revolution: blog

2010-07-28T02:30:00.000-04:00

a beautiful revolution: blog

eHarmony has a lot to say

2010-07-27T22:17:00.000-04:00

Agreeableness:

You are best described as:
TAKING CARE OF OTHERS AND TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF

Words that describe you:
Fair
Considered
Collaborative
Responsive
Sensible
Diplomatic
Contemplative
Indulgent
Rational

A General Description of How You Interact with Others
You are important. So are other people, especially if they are in trouble. You have a tender heart, but you know how to establish and keep personal boundaries. You are empathetic and compassionate, but you also believe that it's best if people solve their own problems and learn to take care of themselves, if they are able.

You are deeply moved by the needs of others, but you know that if you don't take good care of yourself, you'll wind up being of no use to anyone. So yours is a thoughtful compassion. You strive to be fair and sensible, taking care of others while also taking care of yourself.

When someone really is in trouble, you like to collaborate with them toward a solution; they do their part, you do yours. You consider carefully, and respond in a sensible way; they do their part, and together you move through the difficulty.

You seldom act impulsively; rather, when a problem arises, you take your time to think through the situation. This contemplative quality usually means that you'll arrive at a diplomatic solution, one that's fair for the other person and also fair to you. It's frequently a win/win situation.

Negative Reactions Others May Have Toward You
For people who are ruled by tender-hearted compassion, your more diplomatic response to problems might seem too cool, too focused on fairness and not filled enough with sympathy and selflessness.

For them, when someone's life is on fire, what is needed is not collaboration but rescue. And the person who experiences their life on fire may resent the time you take to contemplate. "I need you, and I need you NOW! This isn't about fairness, it's about the fire." "All deliberate speed" may seem too deliberate and not fast enough, either to the more compassionate or to people in genuine trouble.

At the other end of the spectrum of compassion, those who believe people should take care of themselves may find even your thoughtful sympathies too soft. They expect people, themselves included, to work their own way out of trouble. They are convinced that the helping hand you lend just fosters dependence and is not good for the development of character, either in you or in the person you assist.

Positive Responses Others May Have Toward You
Many people, perhaps the majority, will come to appreciate your balance as a compassionate person. The more they get to know you, the more they will admire your thoughtful compassion for others and its compliment in the sensible ways you take good care of yourself.

Those whom you help will appreciate the way you leave them with their dignity by expecting them to collaborate in their own rescue. Those who are more tender-hearted will find in you a balance they lack; when they've run out of energy because they fail to take good care of themselves, you will still have enough compassion left to lift others out of trouble.

Even the tough-hearted, those who believe people should solve their own problems, might come to admire your tenderness which they don't find in themselves. So the people you help will be grateful, and the people who see your balance between self and others will admire you. Certainly, balanced is not bad at all as a way to be known among your friends.

Openness:

On the Openness Dimension you are:
SOMETIMES CURIOUS, SOMETIMES CONTENT

Words that describe you:
Accepting
Flexible
Educated
Self-aware
Middle-of-the-road
Proper
Distinctive
Indecisive
Adaptable

A General Description of How You Approach New Information and Experiences
Like someone who can sleep comfortably on either side of the bed, you are equally at home with ideas and beliefs that you have held for a long time and with new ways of thinking and believing that grow out of your intellectual curiosity.

Your sense of who you are and what your place is in the world around you rests on values and principles that are the solid ground you walk upon. You've tested them, they work for you, and much of the time you are content to trust them, that is, until some provocative new idea slips in from a conversation, book or some flight of your active imagination. "Hmmmm. What's this. Never thought of it before." And off you go, exploring.

Since you love to learn, you've always been teachable; you absorb new information, which means you are well-educated in things that matter to you. Sometimes your intellectual exploring will lead you back to where you started; the "next new thing" proves too shallow or impractical to you. But once in a while a new idea or belief will dislodge you from the ground you've stood upon; it is so compelling and persuasive that you step away from the tried-and-true and embrace this notion that is brand new to you.

Because you hold both solid beliefs and are open to new ideas, you are accepting of other people and other ways of thinking and believing. You are flexible enough to listen to something new and different, or something outside of your comfort zone; if it works for you, you'll take it in, and if not, you'll let it go. In this sense, you know who you are: you are neither closed-minded nor wildly open-minded, but walk somewhere near the middle of the intellectual road.

Negative Reactions Others May Have Toward Your Style of Thinking
Not everyone will be thrilled by your flexible, middle-of-the-road ways of thinking and believing. A few people are so taken with flights of imagination into whatever is new that they might find your commitment to long-standing values and beliefs too confining, if not too boring. Oh well; so be it. They'll just have to be in free-flight without you.

Others are content with the ideas that have served them and their culture well; they're not excited by the prospect of moving on. And some people are afraid of new ways of thinking because they are somewhat fragile; they have trouble maintaining their current worlds and don't want someone like you, for instance pushing out the edges of their intellectual cosmos. So don't be surprised if your solid values sometimes make people distrust you as an explorer, or if your flexible and open mind sometimes gets you criticized by people who walk away from the very same explorations that you find refreshing.

Positive Responses Others May Have Toward You
Many others will find you trustworthy and therefore an attractive companion on the intellectual journey. They will appreciate the combination in you of open-mindedness and a commitment to the tried-and-true. In an intellectual climate sometimes dominated by the extremes of either wild innovation or dug-in traditionalism, your moderate views and your proper acceptance of a wide range of possibilities will be a distinctive and refreshing quality. Because you join your curiosity to strong foundational ideas and beliefs and practical solutions to problems, people will trust your occasional explorations into new territories to be reliable, and not "something new for newness sake".

You are accepting of others, flexible in your own intellectual commitments, well-informed in areas that matter to you, and comfortably aware of who you are and where you stand. This combination will make you a desirable companion on the intellectual journey for many, many people.

Emotional Stability:

On Emotional Stability you are:
SOMETIMES STEADY, SOMETIMES RESPONSIVE

Words that describe you:
Adaptable
Engaged
Able to Cope
Passionate
Perceptive
Flexible
Receptive
Aware
Avid

A General Description of Your Reactivity
In some ways, you've got the best of emotional worlds. When emotions rise up from inside you or are brought forth from a conversation by a friend, you know how to engage them. You deal with sadness, fear, joy, anger - whatever comes up - in ways that are perceptive and flexible. You can adapt to whatever level of emotion is appropriate to the moment. At other times, you are able to cope with your emotions in a more reserved manner. Because you are aware of what does and does not make emotional sense in a particular situation, you will decide when it is an appropriate time to express your emotions and when it would be best to keep them to yourself.

All of this gives you a rich emotional life. You are free to express your passions about certain subjects with appropriate people. But you are also emotionally adaptable; if the conversation needs to be more cerebral, you'll keep it "in your head" and talk calmly through whatever issue is on the table. This emotional awareness serves you well. You seldom get in over your head, either by opening up to the wrong person or by triggering in someone else's emotions they may not be able to deal with.

Negative Reactions Others May Have Toward You
When it comes to dealing with emotions we all meet some people with whom we don't match well. You bring a balanced approach to your emotional life. As such, those who are at the extremes are most likely to have a negative reaction to you. Those who live in their emotions may feel you tend to "live in your head" while those who go through life as an emotional rock may feel that you are a bit too "touchy feely" for their approach.

And of course it is always possible that because you do balance your emotional approach to life you may misread others - we all do at times. So there have undoubtedly been those times when you have misread cues and stayed in your head with someone who hoped for a more open emotional approach or you may have opened up emotionally with someone who keeps their emotions bottled up. But these things happen and since you do have a good balance of being in touch with your emotions and not being overly impacted by emotional swings, you undoubtedly are able to adapt.

Another potential problem is that as people get to know you well, they will discover that you have a great balance between emotional expression and emotional control. If they don't have this balance they may wind up envying you. They can't express feelings as well as you, or they are too often out of emotional control and resent you for your ability to cope so well with the very emotions that may trip them up.

Positive Responses Others May Have Toward You
Many people will be grateful to find a friend like you who can stay in control when emotions verge on chaos, but who can also go into the tangle of emotions when it is safe and appropriate to do so. Because of your ability to engage them at whatever level they are comfortable, to adapt to whatever changes in emotion emerge in the conversation, and to cope so well with all of it - well, they'll be very glad they found a person like you. You may, in fact, wind up as something of an emotional mentor. Your awareness of the emotional temperature of a situation, your ability to adapt to either heat or cold, and your ability to cope with whatever winds up happening in the conversation could be models for them to follow as they come to terms with their own emotional worlds.

Conscientiousness:

Your approach toward your obligations is:
FOCUSED AND FLEXIBLE

Words that describe you:
Casual
Informal
Compliant
Reliable
Organized
Solid
Dependable
Uncommitted
Genuine

A General Description of How You Interact with Others
When you take on a task at work or at home, you are reliable; you get the job done. In an organized way, you define the goal, lay out a plan, figure how long the task will take, and get to work "solid and dependable you".

But and this is important you're not a slave to the plan. You're committed to it, but not chained to it; the connection is more casual and informal. You know that sometimes "the best laid plans" fall off the tracks; when this happens, you clean up the train wreck and start over, undeterred.

Though not happening often, when plans change, you're okay with it. In fact, sometimes you change the plan. It's too nice of a Saturday to finish organizing the garage. Let's go for a bike ride instead. True, the next rainy Saturday will likely find you back in the garage, but for now the work can wait.

What an interesting combination of qualities in you're organized, but casual; solid, but compliant; and dependable, but informal. At home and at work, people know they can rely on you. You take great satisfaction in knowing that people think of you as disciplined and responsible, but you also know that you have something of a free spirit in you, and when this spirit moves you, off you go, following the impulse of the moment. You are rightly proud of your work ethic, but you also enjoy your willingness to lay the tools down, crank up the music and play like a child.

Negative Reactions Others May Have Toward You
Some people live like Marines: duty-bound, disciplined and driven. To these people you might seem uncommitted; where they would never leave work for play or change plans in the middle of their life's forced march, you let the circumstance sway you and move in a different direction, and they don't understand.

Others live like kites on a string, attached by thin threads to the solid ground of responsibility and are blown about by every gust of impulse or imagination. To these people you might seem too cowardly, like you'll flirt with your impulses but never give in fully, play on a Saturday but never blow of the entire work-week to "follow your bliss".

While these Marines and kite-flyers might look down on you for your combination of focus and flexibility, others might be envious. They can't free themselves from a sense that they're not doing enough, or from the equally frustrating feeling that they're not free enough.

And here you are with your accomplishments and your pleasures, getting the job done but also getting your hair blown back as you run with the wind. As far as these people are concerned, you're lucky you've got the best of both of the worlds in which they feel they fail.

Positive Responses Others May Have Toward You
What a great life you have, and a great attitude to boot. You know when to buckle down and push ahead to get the job done, and you do it well. You know when to lay the tools of your trade aside, grab your kite and head for the meadow where you can run with the wind. Many people will see and admire in you this lovely combination of a person who can focus, but who is flexible enough to know when to let the spirit move you in some new and livelier direction.

It's a life they aspire to, and they delight in seeing it played out in your life. They may ask your advice and turn you into a mentor of the full and balanced experience. They will want to know how you do it, what the costs are, and if you get frightened that you're not working hard enough or playing often enough. They may make you think about your own life more than you have, so you can share it with those who want to emulate this balance between flexibility and focus. They may be correct lucky you!

Extraversion:

When it comes to Extraversion you are:
OUTGOING

Words that describe you:
Friendly
Gregarious
Full of Life
Unreserved
Kindhearted
Talkative
Emotional
Spontaneous
Vigorous

A General Description of How You Interact with Others
People light you up. In conversations, planning meetings or almost any social situation, you bring your energy and your friendly, outgoing personality into these engagements with other people, and you come away pumped up. You can hardly wait for the next event, as long as other people will be there. And you're good at it.

You know how to communicate. You listen well, the first rule of good communication, and then, when it's your turn, you talk vigorously and with animation; in your uninhibited way you give all that you've got to the encounter.

In situations where you feel very safe, when you know and trust the people you're with, you can be very kindhearted and unrestrained. You let your affection for and pleasure in being with others flow freely. You're wide open And when you get back this same kind of unrestrained warmth, you are deeply satisfied. Because you are so friendly and full of life, these are among your favorite moments.

Negative Reactions Others May Have Toward You
As much as you like being with other people, not everyone will like being with you. Hard to believe, but your gregarious and warm manner is not everyone's cup of tea. Some people are more cautious than you in personal encounters; others think the work place should be more formal, more impersonal than is comfortable for you. Still others, who may want more of the spotlight, will find you too much to compete with once you get your lively and outgoing self in motion.

Here's another word of caution. You've been at this warm and open way of relating for a while, but for some people it's a brand new experience. They may be protecting something inside themselves, some fear or guilt or shame, or some private part of their story that they're not yet ready to share. Your openness might threaten them, and they'll take a step back and be reluctant the next time to engage you in the kind of exchange you find so easy and satisfying but they find so dangerous.

Positive Responses Others May Have Toward You
Many people, most probably, will be glad to be in the room you're in. At work you make the environment livelier and the banter more interesting, so the time moves swiftly and the experience is a happier one. At home you keep everyone connected because you engage each of them in the conversational action, and as a result they are more connected as well with one another. You make home a warmer and more interesting place for everyone who lives there.

You might also be helpful to some people. There are those who need to talk but aren't very good at it. They don't know how to begin the kind of conversation that would allow them to share whatever is in their personal stories that they'd like or need to talk about. You could make that easier for them with your way with words. Some people just need an example and a little encouragement to come out of their shell and get into the greater fun and personal connectedness that will make their lives so much more satisfying. Again, you might be just the right person to make that happen for them.

So almost everyone will be glad to be with you, you make life more interesting for those you live and work with, and you could help some of your friends who need just a little encouragement to open up and find in themselves the kinds of energetic and warm connections that you thrive on. Not that you are a pushover; in fact, you are often quite assertive. In taking care of yourself you also make sure that others are engaged and energized.

Still Working on Headway

2010-07-23T11:08:00.000-04:00

I'm pulling things together with Headway, the WordPress theme. I have found where a lot of things are. One interesting thing is the stronger line between Headway and WordPress. I find Thesis blurs the boundary more, so that I could edit the blog almost using Thesis rather than WordPress. Maybe Thesis will become a stand alone blog platform someday. It would probably be a good one.

At one point I made a list of things to get done on the blog, Word Grrls. I will post it to Word Grrls over the weekend if I am here (not babysitting). Some of it was stuff I changed through WordPress. Some of it I am still working on. But, quite a bit I have worked out one way or another through Headway itself. I am starting to like it.

Today I have had about four hours of sleep, my face is really itchy for some reason and we are going out to run errands most of the day. I could just put the TV on and nap in front of it.

Hillsdale, Mill Street

2010-07-20T22:37:00.002-04:00

Hillsdale, Mill Street
Originally uploaded by That Canadian Grrl

We drove by this building today and I noticed a website is now up for a group trying to save it.

http://www.hillsdalesimcoehouse.com/

Learning Every Day

2010-07-20T11:43:00.001-04:00

Life is a learning experience. I am working on the WordGrrls blog, changing to a new theme. It was great to have a new premium theme from Matt at WordPress.

I have nothing bad to say about Thesis, the WP theme. I still like it and may yet return to using it. One thing, it is quite simple to use and uncomplicated once you get the hang of where to find everything.

Now I am using Headway and finding it has too many options for fiddling with little things, overkill. I am still trying to work out the footer and I need to make the body of content fluid but have not found an option for that. Two fairly essential things. There isn't a lot of documentation (other than videos which I just don't want to deal with). But I have found some help from Headway Beginner.

One Word Drawings

2010-07-14T21:46:00.000-04:00

One Word Drawings

Dust Mote In A Jar: for people who hate noisy pets.

Lined-spiral

2010-07-10T21:22:00.001-04:00

Lined-spiral
Originally uploaded by escher...(back)

Going Without Shampoo?

2010-07-10T15:11:00.021-04:00

Keeping your hair clean without shampoo. Would you try it?

The Boston Phoenix: The No Poo Do
Natural Family Online: Why You Should Go No 'Poo
The Carousing Classist: Taking the Hippy Dippy Plunge
The Daily Mail, UK: Could you Survive without Shampoo?
Simply Living Lightly on the Earth: The No Poo Movement

Family Events and Druggy Kids

2010-07-09T12:13:00.000-04:00

It's my sister's 40th birthday today. We are packing up and heading down there for spaghetti dinner, salad, (which we haven't made yet) and wine (my brother is bringing that). After dinner she likes to play Canasta, a card game. We will see what is left of her Canasta cards (2 fancy decks made just for that game). She has been letting her two girls play with them. The two girls who have been trained to never lift a finger to do anything, including putting away cards. I am sure there will be missing cards. I know there are actually. Last time we tried to play cards were missing from one deck.

Anyway, I am going because it's a birthday and my sister never forgets my own birthday. But, I know it will be another day of babysitting, cleaning her house and cooking for them all. Family get togethers are never the way they look in the movies.

I will see Zack. Maybe find out what drugs they are putting him on. I doubt the "sleeping pills" are actually sleeping pills. It is so strange that we went through all those years of anti drug campaigns and now people are all putting their kids on drugs. I think it is an easier way to deal with behaviour problems. Just drug them up instead. Keep them quiet and well behaved by doping them up. Where does it end? How will it end? No one really knows. I wonder what kind of people they are making this way. Likely, they will all be drug addicts, used to coping with anything by taking drugs rather than relying on themselves or getting any other kind of help.

From Doctor Who

2010-07-09T12:04:00.000-04:00

Elton says this at the very end of the Love and Monsters episode.

When you're a kid, they tell you it's all... grow up. Get a job. Get married. Get a house. Have a kid, and that's it. But the truth is, the world is so much stranger than that. It's so much darker. And so much madder. And so much better.

little city farm

2010-07-08T01:08:00.000-04:00

little city farm - We are an urban homesteading family trying to live simply and sustainably in a mid-sized city in southwestern Ontario. We aim to provide many of our basic needs (food, water, shelter, energy, transportation) while reducing our impact on the environment.

Foraging for Wild Food

2010-07-04T13:43:00.001-04:00

ForageSF was conceived of by Iso Rabins in early 2008, with the mission to connect Bay Area dwellers with the wild food that is all around them. Through a monthly box of all wild foraged foods, which we call a CSF, we deliver fresh, sustainably harvest wild food to city dwellers. From wild mushrooms to acorn flour, there is a wealth of edible forage just outside our doors that few people know about, and still fewer ever consume. Our goal is to push people out of the supermarket, to get them trying new foods harvested sustainably and fairly by their neighbors. As part of our community focused philosophy, 50% of the profit from the sale of any product we purchase from a forager goes straight to that individual . That is, to the person who collected it.

Blue Jays Remind Me

2010-07-03T20:45:00.000-04:00

This blue jay comes from a game application on Facebook. But blue jays always make me think of my Grandfather, who was a bird watcher and gardener. Also, the house I grew up in where we always had blue jays calling each other from the backyard which ended in a steep ravine behind our house.

Home | Yahoo! Style Guide

2010-06-28T12:29:00.000-04:00

Home | Yahoo! Style Guide

Spicy Warm Pineapple Watermelon Salad Recipe : Robert Irvine : Food Network

2010-06-28T03:02:00.000-04:00

Spicy Warm Pineapple Watermelon Salad Recipe : Robert Irvine : Food Network

Ingredients
1 red onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon sugar
2 cups diced pineapple
1/2 cup medium watermelon chunks
1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
Salt
Chopped fresh mint leaves, for serving
Crumbled goat cheese, for serving
Directions
Saute the onion and garlic together over low heat, in a medium saucepan, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the sugar and let it dissolve until almost caramelized. Stir in the pineapple, watermelon, and vinegar and allow to cook until the fruit is coated with the liquid in the pan, about 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt, to taste, and serve with chopped mint and goat cheese.

I just saw this being made on the show. There were strawberries in it on the show. Maybe strawberries were substituted for pineapple. Too bad they don't mention that. Anyway, it sounded good. I wouldn't make it spicy but that's my taste.

Cryptozoology Online: Daily News

2010-06-24T19:00:00.000-04:00

Cryptozoology Online: Daily News

Your Day at the Beach?

2010-06-23T21:09:00.000-04:00

You Are Exceedingly Passionate

You are a loner, and you're fine with that. You find the most fulfillment in solitude. And you never feel more lonely than when you're in a crowd.

You have cold feet when it comes to love. You have a lot of uncertainty until you convince yourself to dive right in.

You are an amazingly passionate person. You are passionate about almost everything, and your passion definitely gets you in trouble!

Your sense of humor is very physical. Your facial expressions or spot on imitations of people are hilarious.

The Beach Test

Blogthings: A Fine Line Between Insight and Stupidity

You Take the Road No One Travels

You see romantic love as what's most important in life. A deep connection with someone else is the primary thing you crave.

You live a life of leisure. You take your time in every aspect of life and enjoy it to the fullest.

You are all about risk and randomness in your life. You travel off the beaten path... in fact, you're often the one carving the way!

You are able to find a fairly healthy balance between work and play. You work when you need to, but you never let yourself burn out.

You could have owned an indie bookstore or boutique in another life.

The Road Trip Test

Blogthings: Our Quizzes Weren't Written By Bored 12 Year Olds

Bling-Ness

2010-06-23T21:01:00.000-04:00

My Mother is planning a Bling Party for the Winter. She puts on a party once a year when she is down in the retirement community in Florida. I forget how we got the bling idea. But it is in progress now. It's a lot of fun. She is going to be Her Royal Bling-ness and Zack is King Possibling.

Facebook Horoscope for Today

2010-06-21T17:48:00.000-04:00

Laura,
You are thinking about the deep mysteries of life, the world, and everything. You may be turning to the older members of your family or community for advice and insight, because you are feeling confused about your personal, social or cultural values.

Even the Facebook application knows I am wandering through the deep, thick woods of my own brain these days. I have become entangled in Facebook games, far too many of them and far too many hours spent there. Although, half of the time spent is just waiting for the games to load or move from one screen to the next (which is also loading in the technical sense).

This is what I wrote in my Facebook status just now:

It's a bit gross how much of these Facebook games I am playing lately. I used to see real stuff on my profile here. Now it is all game spam. I need a change. I need a break. I need a lot of things and the only one who can do anything about it is me.

Yet, I will be there tomorrow, feeding the llamas, picking the cherries, scaring the bear, etc. I need a new obsession.

AdWords Certification

2010-06-18T21:17:00.000-04:00

AdWords Help - This Learning Center contains all the information you'll need in order to pass the New AdWords Certification Program Exams. Each of the sections to the right contains a series of text lessons related to each topic area. Feel free to learn at your own pace, and return to continue your studies at any time.

Lazy Phishermen

2010-06-17T18:23:00.000-04:00

Phishers getting kind of lazy... I captured both of these from my web mail account this month. Are they getting so many phish they can afford to be this lazy? Hope not.

Facebook | FaceBook Women Gamers SocialPlus

2010-06-17T00:19:00.000-04:00

Facebook | FaceBook Women Gamers SocialPlus: "Description:
A group for all women who play games on FaceBook. Most of the games require you to invite others to your guild/ crew/ alliance. I'd rather invite other women players. So here is the group for women who like to do the same.

Post to the forum with the games you usually play on FaceBook and others can make you a friend and join your groups. If you invite someone from this group make sure you add a note that you came from this group and include which games you play."

Twitter Awards

2010-06-16T23:44:00.000-04:00

The Shorty Awards - unique awards for the Twitter community, by the Twitter community. Online voting is public and democratic, culminating in an awards ceremony that recognizes the winners in 26 official categories as well as those in crowd-sourced ones.

Shorty Awards on Twitter.

Thoughtful Artist

2010-06-10T12:52:00.002-04:00

Today I am too tired to be complex or deep.

You Are a Thoughtful Artist

What Type of Artist Are You?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes and 3 Stupid Ones

Life Would be Easier as a Psychotic Bitch

2010-06-08T17:10:00.000-04:00

My brother has been after me to call Revenue Canada for ages. I did today. I am on the phone with the woman trying to identify myself (who can remember half the old stuff they ask you?) and he is yelling and swearing at me to get a supervisor on the line instead. First of all, I was handling things and in spite of all his mouth, I did get it sorted out. Secondly, I really did not think it was at all ok for him to be saying "fuck off" and such while I am trying to hear what the woman is saying. I was really upset. I really don't know why he has to do that. He does it to me almost every time I am on the phone. He does not have the excuse of Tourettes or anything like that. He just seems to think it is ok to curse and swear and talk in his normal to yelling voice, directing me in what to do and say. I hate making any kind of phone calls when he is around. It is a miserable experience. Of course, in the end I am the bad guy because I got really fed up, gave him the finger and took the phone to finish the call in my bedroom. He is upset that I gave him the finger. My Mother even mentioned it, "Graham said you gave him the finger." It is ironic that he told me several times to fuck off and that doesn't seem to matter at all. That is something I have never figured out. I should have started life out being a complete bitch, it would make everything so much easier to be a selfish, psychotic bitch.

What Does Ice Cream Say About You?

2010-06-08T17:00:00.001-04:00

Your Ice Cream Personality:

You like to think of yourself as a fairly modest person. And it's true that you don't talk yourself up... but you're also pretty happy with who you are.

You are the type of person who likes to throw caution to the wind. You only live once, so you're going to live as large as possible. You are definitely a wild one!

You are a fairly open minded person with a wide range of tastes. You are quite accepting of unusual ideas and people.

You tend to have a one track mind. You prefer not to multitask.

You can be a big dramatic and over the top sometimes. You are bold in every way

The Ice Cream Personality Test

Blogthings: Cheaper Than a Therapist

You Are Having a Crazy Day

You feel a bit overwhelmed by the changes doing on in your life right now. You don't have a good anchor.

You are an energetic person. You tend to tackle your problems head on - but you also worry about them too.

You are prioritizing love right now. Whether you've just fallen for someone or are renewing a spark, you are all about the romance.

Deep down you crave freedom. You feel at peace when you are able to do what you want.

The Sailboat Test

Blogthings: Learn Something Surprising About Yourself

TwitVance - Dashboard

2010-06-08T15:18:00.000-04:00

TwitVance - Dashboard

Martha Stewart Not in Canada

2010-06-08T15:06:00.000-04:00

Did you know Martha Stewart's show isn't on in Canada any more? Why! I really liked her show. She has information about things beyond cooking and pets and such, no one else has all that Martha does.

From Facebook:

Unfortunately, "The Martha Stewart Show" no longer airs in Canada. You can watch full episodes from previous seasons online though: http://www.marthastewart.com/show-archive

Departure

2010-06-04T21:35:00.000-04:00

This was in an email sent to my Mom. This picture stood out from them all. Gave me a tear when I looked at it. This is the real reason the war must end. A little boy should not have to cry for his Father or Mother in this way.

Every House has a Story

2010-06-03T09:27:00.000-04:00

Not a photo of mine, not a photo at all, just an illustration I found on an abandoned website. Couldn't resist keeping it. Every house has a story, usually a lot more than just one.

What Will your Life be Like in Ten Years?

2010-05-30T13:50:00.000-04:00

Your Life Will Be Calm in Ten Years

You're the type of person who takes things as they come, and you do your best not to worry.

You know that there's a lot in this world that you can't change - and you're not about to try to change it.

You are confident and content. You don't feel like you need to push too hard.

Try to break out of your comfort zone every now and then, though. Have an adventure! You are risking complacency.

What Will Your Life Be Like in Ten Years?

Blogthings: Learn Something Surprising About Yourself

Never Going to be the Polished Professional Type

2010-05-30T13:44:00.000-04:00

Slept in for Sunday. Or least didn't get up in any hurry. Read awhile. Played cards with my Mom for about an hour, still haven't gotten dressed and it is already after noon. The Queen would not approve.

Now I have K.D. Lang on the CD player. Mom says none of the US people in the Florida trailer park would believe K.D. Lang wasn't a man when they saw her at the Olympics this year. Maybe she sounds like a very young boy but she sounds much more like a woman, however she dresses.

Not much else going on today. I have mystery allergies. Resisting taking any allergy pills. Surely it will go away, any hour now.

I want to work on my directory today. Should also login at BOTW and add links I have found for that one too. Need to write for the network with Deanna, I am a couple of months behind on that one.

Zack wants to hear the web radio show I did with Bev for Elemental Musings. At least I don't think I said anything I wouldn't want him to hear. I am never going to be the polished professional type though.

TW1TT3R ART (thatgrrl) on Twitter

2010-05-21T00:23:00.000-04:00

TW1TT3R ART (thatgrrl) on Twitter

This is ASCII art in 140 characters for Twitter. I think it's great. I've missed ASCII art and now it has a new forum!

Twitter Artist blog.

It's not all ASCII art actually. Some is what we would have called ANSI art, text art using more than the standard keyboard characters.

Do you Have Imagination?

2010-05-12T23:43:00.000-04:00

You Have an Extremely Active Imagination

Your mind is vivid, lively, and colorful. There is a lot going on in your head.

You have the ability to make pictures and movies in your mind. You are extremely visual.

Your creativity knows no bounds. You don't put restrictions or limits on your thoughts.

You have a gift that other people wish they had. So exercise that imagination as much as you want!

How Active is Your Imagination?

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

Chocolate Cream Pots from Laura Calder

2010-05-10T15:18:00.001-04:00

Chocolate Cream Pots

Ingredients
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate
6 egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar (optional)

Directions
Heat the oven to 325ºF/160°C. Heat the cream, milk, and vanilla. Melt the chocolate over a bain-marie. Whisk the melted chocolate into the yolks in a bowl, then whisk in milk. Strain. Pour into 6 ramekins and bake in a bain-marie until set at the edges, but slightly jiggly still in the centre, 20 minutes. Remove. Cool. Wrap and refrigerate several hours before serving.

This comes from the Food Network site for Laura Calder's French Food at Home TV series. She has stick figure grrl drawings on her site too. I don't know if she draws them herself or not.

How's Your Day Going?

2010-05-08T15:35:00.000-04:00

I'm writing a post about building and maintaining your own web directory on my Word Grrls blog. I started my own web directory, which I had been wanting to do for ages. Took me quite awhile to find software that I could get to work myself. I am still not 100% with it but it is up there and I have begun adding my sites to it.

I still haven't met the guy from Toronto. But we still talk online about once a month. I think I am feeling discouraged about it but not quite giving up. I had considered going downtown to Toronto myself this month but after paying the bills I don't really have enough left that I could afford the travel fare for the local bus (TTC) and the GO bus from here to Newmarket and then Toronto. It would be about $20 each way. Then more for a lunch, or at least a coffee or two. I'd be too poor for groceries the rest of this month.

My nephew, Zack, and I went to see a movie last week. It was one Zack wanted to see and I had seen the commercial and thought it would be fun. It wasn't what I had expected at all, very violent. Shocked me and I considered walking out and getting my ticket refunded so I could see something else. But, Zack had wanted to see it and knew it was going to be... what it was. At least I guess he did. He's 14, an age when they want to see stuff like that. I'm 45, an age when I'd rather think better of the world and it's peoples.

I'm having a bleh day today. Lacking in ambition and I'm cold. I just turned the heat on in the house. I have it set at 20 C. I don't know what most people keep their heat set at but 20 is what I got used to over the winter. It was down to 18 C. I wouldn't think 2 degrees would really make such a difference in how it feels.

I Want Paper Coffee Cups

2010-04-15T23:11:00.000-04:00

I have one of those tiny flies buzzing around me tonight. It's too fast for me to kill. I must need more coffee if I am this slow.

Today you could have gotten a free coffee at Starbucks if you brought in a travel mug. I have a travel mug but it makes the coffee taste like plastic and it doesn't fit in my purse. So it is really not very practical at all. I wonder if they would have served my coffee in the regular paper cup if I showed them the plastic travel mug first. Likely not as the whole point was to encourage people to bring their own cups versus continuing to use paper cups.

However, how green is it to bring your own mug really?

First, people don't always wash their travel mugs in between coffee stops. The barista at the coffee shop usually rinses out the travel mug with a squirt of hot water. But, is that really enough to make it safe from bacteria and whatever else could be lurking in there? While being sick may turn you a shade of green it is not a good thing for the environment, in many ways.

A paper cup is easily recycled. At worst it will decompose in your compost if it doesn't make it into the recycling bin with the other paper. A plastic cup can not be recycled, it will not compost and it will not go out with your recycling but will have to be put out with the unredeemable garbage.

If I have to haul a travel mug around with me I will need a bigger purse. Likely I need a bigger purse already as I am also expected to carry my own grocery/ shopping bags too. I don't have a car to be my second purse or my socially and environmentally conscious beast of burden. I have to carry whatever I need with me on my shoulder all day, while running around from place to place and bus to bus. It may be good for the environment but it is not good for me. I don't like hauling around cargo.

Stick Figure Comics by Natalie Dee

2010-04-10T22:16:00.000-04:00

www.nataliedee.com

I'm a Purple Cupcake

2010-04-04T16:39:00.001-04:00

You're Gorgeous Cute

People find you cute, but they also find you to be attractive and charming. You carry yourself well.

You are well spoken, and you always know what to say to smooth over a situation. You are clearly well bred.

At times, you can be a bit of a snob. You can't help it... you have a lot to be snobby about.

You operate on a higher plane, and many people envy you for it. Your exclusivity just makes you more appealing.

The Cutsie Cupcake Test

Blogthings: Learn Something Surprising About Yourself

Ruins in New York

2010-03-07T01:55:00.000-05:00

As seen on a post in Design Corner: One misty morning while in New York City, take a cab uptown to West 64th Street in Manhattan. When you reach the Riverside park, observe a dark undulating skeleton sticking out of the Hudson River. The twisted metallic construction that stimulates comparisons with Frank Gehry’s architecture has been there since 37 years ago. Before Pier D was consumed by raging fire in 1971, it was a part of the New York Central Railroad Yard. Today Pier D is the kind of design form that quite literally follows the function – chronologically leaving its original practicalities behind in the smoke of Manhattan’s industrial past. Back then, Pier D’s utility was to be used as a deck for longshoremen to unload bulk cargo. Now Pier D is all about emotional significance – it serves no purpose other than the aesthetic one. However, the official confirmation of the site’s new aesthetic status was issued no earlier than in 2003 – through a timely gesture of Adrian Benepe, the parks commissioner who has been known for his protective stances vis-à-vis the city’s natural and historic beauty. He was called on the phone one day to be put on notice that a crane had begun dismantling the pier – according to approved plans deliberated and finalized in Benepe’s absence. The commissioner rushed to the site and ordered to stop the demolition.Accidental landscape design… In the opinion of a nearby dweller, since the arrival of Trump Place “everything looks so new here, […] we need a reminder of what it was like 80 years ago.”

What Makes you Smile?

2010-03-04T23:34:00.002-05:00

You Have Your Life to Smile About

It's funny to ask you what you have to smile about, because you always have something that's making you happy.

You are a naturally smiley person, and you are happy with your life. You feel like you have to be.

You see happiness as something under your control. You don't think there are any big secrets to being happy.

If something isn't going well, you fix it. You're proactive in making sure that you're living the best life possible.

What Do You Have To Smile About?

Blogthings: Our Quizzes Weren't Written By Bored 12 Year Olds

Blogger Tricks and Widget Help

2010-03-03T00:24:00.000-05:00

Blogger Tricks

Blogger Widgets

Found these two sites today while looking for a widget to use on WordPress, oddly enough.

BlogThings for St. Patrick's Day

2010-02-27T22:12:00.000-05:00

You Are A Fig Tree

You are very independent and strong minded.

A hard worker when you want to be, you play hard too.

You are honest and loyal. You hate contradiction or arguments.

You love life, and you live for your friends, children, and animals.

A great sense of humor, artistic talent, and intelligence are all gifts you possess.

What's Your Celtic Horoscope?

Blogthings: If Quizzes Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Take Quizzes

Your Shamrock Says You Are Alert

You have a logical mind, and you pay a lot of attention to details. You are very organized.

Sometimes you find thinking creatively to be a challenge. You prefer to deal with the facts at hand.

You don't really consider yourself a lucky person. In your view, people create their own luck.

You are traditional, easy going, and appreciative of the simple things in life.

The Shamrock Personality Test

Blogthings: Free Quizzes for Everyone

You Are Teal Green

You are a one of a kind, original person. There's no one even close to being like you.

Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible.

While you are a bit offbeat, you don't scare people away with your quirks.

Your warm personality nicely counteracts and strange habits you may have.

What Color Green Are You?

Blogthings: Cheaper Than a Therapist

You Are the Dragon

2010-02-27T21:59:00.000-05:00

This is especially interesting cause my sign actually is the dragon. Just asked three questions and still came out Dragon. Kind of odd in a good way.

You Are the Dragon

Like a dragon, you are fiery and short-tempered. When you need to get something off your chest, you really roar.

You are a very unique creature, and you don't relate too anyone. You feel a little lonely in your life.

If someone takes the time to get to know you, they realize you are brave, strong, and even sensitive.

You are a much better creature than anyone ever gives you credit for. You could destroy the world if you wanted to... but you don't.

What's Your Chinese Zodiac Animal?

Blogthings: Cheaper Than a Therapist

What Power is in Your Name?

2010-02-27T21:52:00.002-05:00

Your Name's Power is Perception

Your name's power is that it helps you be perceptive.

Your name conveys both wholeness and wisdom.

People who meet you can't help but think you are enlightened.

You try to live your life with flexibility and insight.

What's Your Name's Power?

Blogthings: Our Quizzes Weren't Written By Bored 12 Year Olds

You Have Your Ideas to Smile About

The thing that makes you happiest is your own little inner world. You always have a new thought that delights you.

All you need in this life is your imagination. You can never be too bored or too depressed.

People make think you are a bit of a flake or that you have your head in the clouds.

They truly don't understand what makes you tick and why you're smiling. If people could read your mind, they would be truly amazed!

What Do You Have To Smile About?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

Dragon Zodiac Sign

2010-02-27T21:30:00.001-05:00

The Dragon

The Dragon personality The Dragon is a creature of myth and legend. A symbol of good fortune and sign of intense power, the Oriental Dragon is regarded as a divine beast - the reverse of the malicious monster that Westerners felt necessary to find and slay. In Eastern philosophy, the Dragon is said to be a deliverer of good fortune and a master of authority. Therefore, those people born in Dragon years are to be honored and respected.

Years of the Dragon
Fifth in the cycle, Dragon Years follow the Rabbit and recur every twelfth year. The Chinese New Year does not fall on a specific date, so it is essential to check the calendar to find the exact date on which each Dragon Year actually begins
1904 * 1916 * 1928 * 1940 * 1952 * 1964 * 1976 * 1988 * 2000
THE SIGN OF THE DRAGON
The key to the Dragon personality is that Dragons are the free spirits of the Zodiac. Conformation is a Dragon's curse. Rules and regulations are made for other people. Restrictions blow out the creative spark that is ready to flame into life. Dragons must be free and uninhibited. The Dragon is a beautiful creature, colorful and flamboyant. An extroverted bundle of energy, gifted and utterly irrepressible, everything Dragons do is on a grand scale - big ideas, ornate gestures, extreme ambitions. However, this behavior is natural and isn't meant for show. Because they are confident, fearless in the face of challenge, they are almost inevitably successful. Dragons usually make it to the top. However, Dragon people be aware of their natures. Too much enthusiasm can leave them tired and unfulfilled. Even though they are willing to aid when necessary, their pride can often impede them from accepting the same kind of help from others. Dragons' generous personalities give them the ability to attract friends, but they can be rather solitary people at heart. A Dragon's self-sufficiency can mean that he or she has no need for close bonds with other people.
DRAGON FACTS:
People born in the Year of the Dragon share certain characteristics. The Dragon sign is an abbreviated way of characterizing that individual's personality. Following are features associated with the sign of the Dragon.
Fifth in order, Chinese name-LONG, sign of luckHour-7am-8:59 a.m. Month-AprilWestern Counterpart-Aries
CHARACTERISTICS

Innovative
Enterprising
Flexible
Self-assured
Brave
Passionate
Conceited
Tactless
Scrutinizing
Unanticipated
Quick-tempered

IN YOUR ELEMENT

The characteristics of the Dragon Sign are tempered by one of the five Chinese elements of Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth overlaying a 5-year cycle of characteristics on the original 12-year cycle.

THE METAL DRAGON 1940 AND 2000

Truthful but extreme, courageous but unyielding, Metal Dragons have a strength similar to the Dragon fire. Metal Dragons succeed through determination. They are mighty and respect people who stand up to them. In troubled times, these Dragons make great allies, but become ferocious challengers. Metal Dragons can often calm others through their forceful personalities. They seek action, and things are never better than when they are defending a thought or belief about which they have complete faith. Metal Dragons like to lead, and have an affect that makes others want to follow them. Yet even if they attract no support they will fight alone.

THE WATER DRAGON 1952 AND 2012

Water has a calming effect on the Dragon's fearless temperament. Water allows the Dragon to re-direct its enthusiasm, and makes him more perceptive of others. These Dragons are better equipped to take a step back to re-evaluate a situation because they understand the art of patience and do not desire the spotlight like other Dragons. Therefore, they make smart decisions and are able to see eye-to-eye with other people. However, their actions can go wrong if they do not research or if they do not finish one project before starting another.

THE WOOD DRAGON 1904 AND 1964

Wood has a modifying influence and brings creativity to this sign. Questioning and liberal, Wood Dragons enjoy talking about original ideas and are open to other points of view. They are innovative, imaginative practical and appreciate art in each of its forms. Generally less pretentious than other Dragons, Wood Dragons have an ability to get along with other people. They have the essentials to build a prosperous and happy life for themselves. Still, Wood Dragons are outspoken and at times a bit pushy to quell everyone, even in the most friendly quarrel.

THE FIRE DRAGON 1916 AND 1976

The Fire Dragon is a powerful force to be reckoned with. This is a Dragon doubled! The Fire Dragon can move from calm and collected to combustible in a matter of seconds. In some ways the Fire Dragon is his or her own worst enemy. These Dragons cannot help feeling they are valuable and all-knowing. When they are right their vehemence and vigor is an asset to the cause, and though they value objectivity, they do not always employ the best decision-making measures, and sometimes jump to the wrong conclusion. They also suffer from recklessness and quick tempers. Yet, when they do keep their temper, emotions, and rivaling spirit under control, they emanate a commanding influence on other people.

THE EARTH DRAGON 1928 AND 1988

Earth Dragons make great managers because they are practical, levelheaded and demonstrate a knack for organizing. They still have the need to dictate and be admired, but they are affable, congenial and supportive. Compared to other Dragons, Earth Dragons are less likely to breathe fire at the least irritation. They will work diligently to complete their life goals. The Earth element adds a greater portion of self-control to the Dragon's personality and usually the Earth Dragon is deserving of the respect he or she desires. These Dragons take their life and romantic responsibilities quite seriously.

HEALTH AND HOME

HEALTH
Dragons take thrilling risks and burn the candle at both ends so they are fortunate to be blessed with good health. Among the most hearty of the Animal signs, they can suffer bad health as a result of stress. Symptoms of their personalities often stem from emotional outbursts and can range from tension headaches to depression to hypertension. Dragons can remedy these problems by maintaining their cool, implementing a routine in their daily lives, and utilizing exercises such as yoga or tai kwon do that soothe the mind and spirit as well as tone the body.
AT HOME WITH THE DRAGON
Not the most domesticated of the Animal signs, Dragons and may be more content out and about rather than at home. Nevertheless, with their imagination and artistic sense, they can enjoy decorating their home or anywhere else where their extravagance can be expressed.. A Dragon's home should be as large and majestic as his personality, providing space for the fiery temperament or emotional eruptions that accompany their character.
CAREER AND FINANCE
THE DRAGON AT WORK
The Dragon's originality is the most impressive and outstanding of all his characteristics. The Dragon is quite imaginative and always able to see new paths where others may run into brick walls. Dragons are very adaptable and are fit for various occupations, especially if those occupations allow him to take the limelight. In any of these occupational situations, the Dragons will take a radical approach. Dragons work hard, but would rather give orders than receive them. They should avoid jobs that encompass too much routine, and should move toward jobs in which their self-reliance can be an asset.
FINANCE AND THE DRAGON
Dragons like to spend money and are charitable themselves as well as with others. They do not know the meaning of the word "accumulate," and making money does not intrigue them as it may others. Many Dragons will take big chances with their finances, sometimes betting on their shirt and losing it right off of their backs. Yet, they were born with the Midas Touch, and it very rare that a Dragon remains poor for long. Dragons will always be straightforward in financial dealings and can always be trusted.
DRAGON CAREERS
Those born in the Year of the Dragon also share the same kinds of goals and objectives in life. The occupations best suited for the Dragon are listed below:
DRAGONS MAKE EXCELLENT:

Computer analysts
Inventors
Engineers
Architects
Lawyers
Philosophers
Psychoanalysts
Brokers
Managers
Salepeople
PR People
Advertising agents
Officers in the armed forces
Campaigners
Politicians

CONGENIAL BUSINESS PARTNERS

Whether Dragons are compatible with their business partners depends on whether their signs are harmonious or antagonistic to each that of their partners. Considering the congruity of the components of their own characters and the characters of their business colleagues can also be very useful.
Dogs Ruled by: Benefit from: Are Antagonistic to:
Metal Earth Snakes Fire Tigers
Water Metal Monkeys Earth Sheep
Wood Water Roosters Metal Oxen
Fire Wood Rats Water Rabbits
Earth Fire Dragons Wood HorsesLeisurely activities and pleasures

LIKES AND DISLIKES

Since Dragons are born under the same Animal sign, they often share likes and dislikes. Following are similar likes and dislikes of the Dragon personality:
Color Preference: Greenish-Blue
Gems and Stones: Opal, Sapphire, Amber
Suitable Gifts: Tarot cards, camera, a copy of the I Ching, mirror, a family crest, mobile phone
Hobbies and Pastimes: Computer programming, public speaking, fossil hunting, astrology
Dragons Dislike: Taking orders, unnecessary bureaucracy, discounted ideas, people who don't give 100%

THE DRAGON ON VACATION

Dragons are attracted by the bizarre. No self-respecting Dragon desires to walk in a tourist's footsteps. Instead, they take a lot of gratification in finding hidden destinations, or, closer to home, locations off the beaten track. But Dragons also need thrills, which they might find by taking an unplanned winter break to go skiing or a spontaneous rock climbing trip in the spring. They may even test their bravery by daring to ride the highest roller coaster in the world. Dragons are also sentimental at heart, so conquering their childhood haunts, or taking a second honeymoon would bring immense pleasure too.

FRIENDS AND ENEMIES

Dragons are usually popular people, but because of their personalities, they seem to gather as much criticism as they do esteem. Due to their tumultuous temperaments, Dragons are not the most sensitive friends to those in need of a shoulder to cry on. Those who truly know the Dragon know he is a loving soul who will become your best ally in times of need. Once the dynamic Dragon has given his friendship, he will not let his friends down and will never falter in his allegiance to his companions. To a Dragon, a friend is a friend for a lifetime. Incredibly honest, Dragons are known for sincerity and are trusting souls. Because of this honesty, Dragons don't realize others may not demonstrate or uphold the same codes of ethics. Making the discovery that they placed their trust in someone who is dishonest makes the Dragon person quite sad, yet much more perceptive for future encounters.
Compatible Friends
Best Friends: Rats and Monkeys
Mortal Enemy: Dogs

DRAGON PARENTS AND BABIES
Because people born in the year of the Dragon are so working on furthering their careers, they usually Put off having and raising children until later than many of the other Chinese horoscope signs. Parenting doesn't come very naturally easily to the Dragon. However, when Dragons do become parents, they approach it with the same enthusiasm as other endeavors. They are proud parents and tend to boast about the accomplishments and good looks of their children.
DRAGON INFANT AND CHILD
Dog children are creative, able to entertain themselves for hours on end. They don’t mind playing by themselves, often inventing games and puzzles while doing so. They are responsible children who love to take on and complete as many tasks as possible for it gives them a sense of accomplishment.

Dragons, noted for their benevolence, tend to shower their children with toys and spending money. It has been remarked that they substitute material things for quality time with their children. Even so, Dragons take parenting seriously and are quite protective of their children's welfare. Should anything upset them, or should anyone wrong them, the Dragon will prepare to fight and avenge the people who have hurt or belittled their offspring.
DRAGON PARENT/CHILD KINSHIPS
Like their adult counterparts, children born in the Year of the Dragon have vivid personalities and are independent from birth. Noisy and active, parents should stimulate their imaginations as soon as possible. Their imagination and inquisitive natures can be troublesome for the Dragon child and can often land them in a heap of trouble at school which can cause teachers and other parents to deem them troublemakers or naughty. Sometimes Dragon children are loners who daydream and drift to into their own world of make-believe. Either way, Dragon children demand careful attention and special handling in order to bring out the best in them. Their creativity and talents must be encouraged, even if it means spending extra time in certain school subjects in order to help them master the subject. .
DRAGON PARENT/CHILD RELATIONSHIPS
Some parents immediately click with their children and others find they will never have a close relationship, no matter how hard they try to make it happen. Following are the compatibility ratings between Dragon parents and their children.

Dragons with	Under the same roof	Compatibility Rating
Rat	take pride in each other	****
Ox	not much understanding	*
Tiger	Many Thrills	***
Rabbit	Contesting Viewpoints	*
Dragon	Like Mother like Daughter	****
Snake	Little problems	****
Horse	Different Attitudes	**
Sheep	To Delicate	*
Monkey	Mutually Satisfying	****
Rooster	few clashes of temperament	***
Dog	Problems arise	*
Pig	get along, but hard work	**
* Uphill Struggle **Some Complications	*easy bonding **on the same wavelength

LOVERS AND SPOUSES

Negatively, Dragons are egotistical and love to be the center of attention. Modesty is not one of his assets. Add to that the Dragon temper and you have a bossy, dominating and authoritative being. They hate solicited advice and can be hopelessly tactless and insensitive to their lovers.

THE DRAGON IN LOVE

IRRESISTIBLE ATTRACTION
People love Dragons so much because they are generous, charismatic, irresistible, and so brave that standing beside them banishes fear. They generate excitement and turn heads anywhere they go. They are free-spirited and impulsive and can help others achieve their dreams. Others love to be around Dragons because they have a way of making people feel better. Dragons are quick to fall in love, but do not surrender their independence easily leaving most of them to live life by themselves. Yet, an smart, witty, and funny companion may intrigue the Dragon long enough to make him want to get married. And once the Dragon becomes committed, he is unlikely to ever leave.

THE DRAGON LOVE PARTNER
It takes someone with thick skin who is easygoing to be a Dragon's partner, because, despite their sentimental characters, they can be moody, and insensitive. Many people will want to run when the Dragon's temper is provoked. Chinese horoscopes are very specific about which partnerships have the potential to be successful in love and in business. Yet, though destiny can point us in the right direction, we must still make all efforts to maintain loving relationships. Following is a brief description of how a Dragon will affect a relationship with other Animal signs.
PARTNERS IN LOVE
Dragon*Rat
A brilliant relationship-plenty of love, mental sensitivity and understanding. Tipped for happiness.
Dragon*Ox
When it comes to being obstinate, Dragons have met their match in the Ox. The give and take essential for a happy marriage is lacking in this partnership
Dragon*Tiger
A gutsy combination full of gusto to fuel passions
Dragon*Rabbit
Your obstacles will either unite or divide you
Dragon*Dragon
If you learn to share the spotlight, you can accomplish anything together
Dragon*Snake
Clever, crafty and quick-witted-you fit together like pieces of a puzzle.
Dragon*Horse
You share a powerful sexual chemistry.
Dragon*Sheep
Despite the sexual attraction, eventually you'll find too many differences to overcome.
Dragon*Monkey
You share opinions and goals that destine you for happiness.
Dragon*Dog
A truly tumultuous affair-not recommended for peace of mind.
Dragon*Pig
A caring and deeply affectionate relationship.
Dragon*Rooster
You make a beautiful couple, but your egotism blinds you.

EAST MEETS WEST

ARIES DRAGON
Aries Dragons tend to have good luck. With a passionate drive they fill their days to the brim with activity. They are upwardly mobile people so they usually get what they want.

LIBRAN DRAGON
The Libran Dragon is a chic creature, quite cultured and cultivated. Charm is this Dragon's greatest asset and is a magnetic force that causes people to flock to him. The Libran Dragon fair person and is a champion of the people.

TAUREAN DRAGON
Taurus brings the Dragon back down from the clouds and adds a purposeful strength to his character. Taurean Dragons will work consistently to achieve material comforts and high standards of living essential to their well-being.

SCORPIO DRAGON
Eccentric and exotic, Scorpio Dragons are mighty people with legendary zest and enthusiasm, and incredibly passionate emotions. They throw themselves into everything they do. When they fall in love it is completely and exclusively and they expect the same treatment of their partners.

GEMINI DRAGON
These are life's performers, taking pleasure in the company of others. Gemini Dragons can accomplish several tasks at once and are able to juggle many conversations successfully. However, taking on anything in depth is not really their style.

SAGITARRIAN DRAGON
Open and straightforward, the Sagittarian Dragon's honor is well-intentioned, although it can sometimes be insensitive. Extemporaneous and careless, this Dragon's abundant fervor sweeps everyone along. They have a charming outlook on life.

CANCERIAN DRAGON
Cancer Dragons have polished tastes and are generally an artist of some sort. Their homes act as show- cases of these artistic talents. These are less self-indulged characters and are caring, tender, individuals. For them a tight-knit relationship and established home are necessary for happiness.

CAPRICORN DRAGON
These Dragons are pragmatic, determined and modest, with a driving craving for achievement. They will work long hours to make a slow climb to the top. For them, passion and romance come second, but once committed, they are responsible partners.

LEONINE DRAGON
The Lion is King of the Western zodiac and the Dragon is the sign of the Emperor. Leo Dragons have an innate sense of royalty; thus they are born leaders. They are flashy and like to show-off, but their kindness and zest for life make them fascinating.

AQUARIAN DRAGON
Impractical and atypical, these Dragons are intrigued by the shock of the new. Most importantly, they are intellectuals, very individualistic and original, born ahead of their time. Receptive and open-minded, they are held in high regard by all.

VIRGO DRAGON
Status and title matter a lot to the Virgo Dragon, and he is prepared to work diligently to achieve them. These organized and productive people carefully plan each aspect of their lives and leave nothing to chance. The Dragon's capricious characteristics are calmed and the Virgo Dragon has a streamlined, efficient outlook on life.

PISCEAN DRAGON
With Piscean tenderness added to Dragon brashness, these individuals are still vivid and impassioned, but. less self-involved and more responsive to the needs of others. However, the Dragon motivation is still there, hidden underneath that seemingly tranquil surface.

Is Scorpio Compatible?

2010-02-27T21:28:00.001-05:00

Scorpio Pig and Sagittarius Dragon?

A love match between Scorpio and a Sagittarius should move forward slowly, they need time getting to know each other on a deep, significant level or else they run the risk of jumping in too far, too fast. This relationship could be over before either partner even realises it's started if they're not careful! Their patience will be very richly rewarded. Sagittarius thrives on change, on the new and the exciting and on the power of positive thought. Scorpio loves intimacy and always seeks to strengthen emotional ties. Early in the relationship, Sagittarius could feel hemmed in by Scorpio's rapt attention and high expectations for love. If Scorpio can control their emotions, these two are in for satisfaction and excitement.

Both Scorpio and Sagittarius see each day as an adventure (or in Scorpio's case, a compelling mystery) and as an endless opportunity to explore, to probe and to learn. While Sagittarius may get fed up with Scorpio's stubbornness and inflexibility, Scorpio could be thinking their Sagittarian lover is just a little too hot-headed. They'll enjoy learning together, and travel could be very beneficial for this pair. Their relationship is one of movement and action.

Pluto and Mars rule Scorpio, and Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter. Mars is the God of War, opening the door to Scorpio's determined, courageous character. Mars, when combined with Pluto, represents rebirth and renewal. Jupiter focuses on philosophy, optimism, luck and travel. These planetary attributes - of growth, expansion and masculine energy - can combine to create a sustainable relationship of mutual admiration.

Scorpio is a Water Sign, and Sagittarius is a Fire Sign. Sagittarius is the spontaneous partner, heading wherever their whim leads them, while Scorpio's motives are more subdued, less easy to read. Even if they do misinterpret each other's motivations, crisis can be averted. If these love mates agree that their relationship is significant, their devotion and affection will see them through.

Scorpio is a Fixed Sign, and Sagittarius is a Mutable Sign. Sagittarius gets the urge to jump around from project to project, so Scorpio's stamina is vital for the realisation of any task undertaken by this pair. Lucky for this Scorpion partner, Sagittarius notices all the work their mates put in - and they definitely show their appreciation when they know it's needed. Scorpio can be stubborn, exacting and demanding, so this mate needs to give their Sagittarius love their personal space if this relationship is to succeed.

What's the best thing about the Scorpio-Sagittarius relationship? The security and flexibility they can give one another. Once they open up and learn to appreciate their different philosophies on love and life, these two have the potential for steamy relations, deep connections and heartfelt respect. As long as they communicate and celebrate their differences, this will be a passionate relationship.

Chinese sign profile: Dragon

The Dragon is one of the most powerful signs in the Chinese Zodiac. Lucky as well. Dragons are giving, intelligent, tenacious and know exactly what they want and are determined to get it. Further, they can easily influence their peers and often find themselves the centre of attention in social situations. As if all this wasn't enough, Lady Love is the Dragon's best friend. The rest of the Dragon's friends are always keen to hear what their Dragon pal has to say, and when it comes to dispensing advice, the Dragon is the best one to do it.

It's ego that can get the Dragon into trouble, but even so, this larger-than-life creature has an ability for initiating projects and keeping everyone motivated. According to Dragons, it's their natural born right to lead the way. As luck would have it, Dragons are likely to achieve considerable material wealth during their lifetime, although they aren't motivated by the pursuit of money. That said, Dragons are quite the opportunists, forever searching for ways in which to consolidate their considerable power. And power it must be, for a weakened Dragon is a sad sight, a creature that refuses to take defeat with even a modicum of grace. Question authority? That's what the Dragon does best!

The role of leader is the only one the Dragon wants, a better position to give orders and be king of the hill. They are good leaders, too, knowing instinctively what needs to be done to succeed. Crossing the Dragon is never a good idea -- the Dragon's flame can burn! A valuable life lesson for this clever creature would be to absorb the principles of flexibility, compassion and tolerance. Being high and mighty can serve to inspire others, but it also keeps Dragons from living their life to the fullest. If Dragons can learn to balance their quest for results with an appreciation for the little things, their life will be more than worthwhile.

The most compatible match for a Dragon is a Monkey or Rat.

Chinese Zodiac Compatibility : Pig and Dragon

Very Good
This is a good match and has great potential. The Dragon will be taken in by the friendly Pig and in turn the Pig will find the Dragon's energy to be scintillating. Both enjoy social outing and share a certain confidence and understanding in the relationship.

Pig Personality
Pigs are very peaceful, caring, tolerant individuals who live life to the fullest. If they don’t have anything interesting to do Pigs will immerse themselves in household chores and do it to perfection. Pigs are very peace loving individuals and they will do anything for the sake of family and friends.

Pigs are big time money spenders. They love good food, clothes, jewelry and stylish homes. They will do good in any profession that demands creativity. They are very enthusiastic when it comes to taking on responsibility and will also jump in to give a helping hand to colleagues.

Pigs are very strong companions. They make very warm and caring lovers but back off when their partner gets too opinionated. Pigs are very warm individuals but they may come across as reserved in public. Pigs have a great thirst for knowledge. Because of this nature they make never become easily bored with life.

Dragon Personality
The Dragons are free spirits and are a bundle of energy. Conformance to a rule does not stick well with the Dragon. They are energetic, enthusiastic people who can also be pretty aggressive. The Dragon can see the route in a situation when others see only blind spots. Because of this Dragons can be very good leaders. Going after what they want is part of their nature and they will find ways to overcome obstacles and win in any situation.

Dragons love to do things on a grand scale. They love good food, big gestures, big ideas and live “a la mode”. They love nature and spending time outdoors. They are not big time on home-related activities but they respect and protect their home and family.

Dragons are emotionally very self-sufficient people because of which they are often not disappointed people. Friends and family love them.

Passion Sign?

2010-02-27T21:09:00.000-05:00

What's your passion sign?

Your passion sign: Virgo

If your Mars is in Virgo you are down-to-earth, logical and disciplined. You probably have a great ability for weeding out all the annoyance of needless pomp and circumstance. If your Mars is in Virgo, you're definitely not into playing games. When you find a worthy cause, you attack it with an enthusiasm that cannot be matched. Your efforts are tireless; you possess great mental skills that enable you to focus and excel at whatever you do. You may be restless and need constant activity or thought to satiate your mind. Lovers may not compare to the ideal, but you are more than willing to expend some of your energy understanding the details of a real relationship.You offer support to your lovers and are happiest when others' intentions are made clear.

Toadstool for Doodle Week

2010-02-27T15:37:00.000-05:00

Toadstools for Doodle Week.

May try Cinnamon Buns for the Party on Thursday

2010-02-23T23:50:00.002-05:00

Quick Cinnamon Buns
By The Canadian Living Test Kitchen

Servings: 16

Ingredients:

3 cups (750 mL) all-purpose flour
2 tbsp (25 mL) granulated sugar
1 tbsp (15 mL) baking powder
3/4 tsp (4 mL) salt
1/2 tsp (2 mL) baking soda
2/3 cup (150 mL) cold butter, cubed
1-1/4 cups (300 mL) buttermilk
1 egg

Cinnamon Filling:

3 tbsp (50 mL) butter, softened
1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped pecans
1/3 cup (75 mL) packed brown sugar
2 tsp (10 mL) cinnamon

Preparation:

Line 12-inch (30 cm) pizza pan with parchment paper or dust lightly with flour; set aside.

In large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. With pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In separate bowl, whisk buttermilk with egg; pour over dry ingredients and stir with fork to make soft dough.

With floured hands, press dough into ball. On lightly floured surface, knead gently 10 times. Roll out to 16- x 11-inch (40 x 28 cm) rectangle .

Cinnamon Filling: Spread butter over dough, leaving 1/2-inch (1 cm) border along 1 long edge. Sprinkle butter with pecans, sugar and cinnamon. Starting at side opposite border, roll up evenly into log; pinch seam to seal.

Using serrated knife, cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) thick slices; arrange on pizza pan. Bake in centre of 400°F (200°C) oven until golden, about 15 minutes. (Make-ahead: Let cool; set aside for up to 2 hours.)
--

Chef Michael Smith's Cinnamon Buns

Survivors

2010-02-23T22:23:00.003-05:00

I'm watching Survivors again. Based on a book by Terry Nation (which I can't find at Chapters). The author is deceased, awhile ago. Was sad to read that. He is also known for creating the Daleks in Doctor Who.

From Wikipedia: Survivors is a British television series devised by Terry Nation and produced by Terence Dudley at the BBC from 1975 to 1977. It concerns the plight of a group of people who have survived an accidentally released plague that kills nearly the entire population of the planet. The programme is usually described as falling into the science fiction genre, and fits into the sub-genre of apocalyptic fiction. It was remade in 2008.

Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, from Wikipedia. I still think of it as armageddon, but that's from playing Carmageddon until it merged with my brain cells.

Apocalyptic fiction is a sub-genre of science fiction that is concerned with the end of civilization either through nuclear war, plague, or some other general disaster. Post-apocalyptic fiction is set in a world or civilization after such a disaster. The time frame may be immediately after the catastrophe, focusing on the travails or psychology of survivors, or considerably later, often including the theme that the existence of pre-catastrophe civilization has been forgotten (or mythologized). Post-apocalyptic stories often take place in an agrarian, non-technological future world, or a world where only scattered elements of technology remain. There is a considerable degree of blurring between this form of science fiction and that which deals with false utopias or dystopic societies.
The genres gained in popularity after World War II, when the possibility of global annihilation by nuclear weapons entered the public consciousness. However, recognizable apocalyptic novels existed at least since the first quarter of the 19th century, when Mary Shelley's The Last Man was published. Additionally, the subgenres draw on a body of apocalyptic literature, tropes, and interpretations that are millennia old.

I am a Blizzard

2010-02-05T14:28:00.000-05:00

You Are a Blizzard

You are both dangerous but beautiful. People both welcome you and fear you.

You can cause a lot of trouble and even destruction. Some would argue that you're worth it though!

You tend to overtake people and change everything. You aren't subtle, but you are sometimes hard to see through.

There is a quiet and stillness that you sometimes bring. Some find you to be quite peaceful.

What Kind of Storm Are You?

Blogthings: We'll Tell You The Truth... Someone Has To!

The Old Car Test

2010-01-31T18:21:00.002-05:00

You Are Totally Stylish

If you were a car, you'd be sparkling clean and shiny. You always look good!

When it comes to the road of life, you like it when all eyes are on you. You're the most polished car on the road.

You may get irritated while driving, but you always remain cool. You could never imagine honking at another driver.

You are the epitome of manners and grace. You like to hold your head up high.

The Old Car Test

Blogthings: If Quizzes Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Take Quizzes

Doodle Week, January 23 - 24th.

2010-01-25T09:44:00.000-05:00

Doodle Week - this week the theme is stick figure women.

Castle in a Tea Cup

2010-01-15T21:37:00.000-05:00

Doodle Week, January 16 - 17th. Try drawing a tiny world in a teacup this week.

Changing Him

2010-01-13T20:05:00.000-05:00

From The Kay Way:

As I spend time with my younger female friends and hear of their relationships, it occurs to me that generation after generation we fall in love with who we think our mates could be rather than the real man who is standing in front of us. What a shame.

My comment: Very well said. In my case I married a man who said he was in love with me. I did change him. He had been agoraphobic but together we built a life where he was out at a job (which he still has and likes) we had our own apartment, I moved to the US so we could be married all legal and proper for the government. I wanted to be married too but it was not a romantic wedding for sure. After we married he kept changing. He began picking on me and alienating me. We had been friends a long time before he decided he was in love with me. When we divorced it was because he no longer wanted to be married, just over a year after the wedding. He is grateful to me for getting him out of his rut. However, I can’t say things turned out that well from my side of things. I moved back to Ontario with nothing and I felt like nothing too.

Sometimes in a comment on someone's blog you make a post that gives you some new perspective. I like to save those.

My family still think our marriage could have been saved. I don't. First, it does take two people to make a marriage work. Second, I never felt so alone as I did when I was living in that one bedroom apartment with him every day. I miss being married, doing things with someone and having fun. But, I'm glad to be out of that too. I felt dead inside when I came back to Ontario again. Everything I had felt happy about being married, working together with him on building our lives and all the pride I had in doing all those things was left in ashes.

It would be nice to say I did the phoenix thing and arose from those ashes. But, I have not. Over ten years later and I am still working on it. Time has helped. Distance, in time and space, has given me perspective.

I wouldn't say I feel bitter or even angry any longer. I don't think it's a regret. Though all the good things are deep in the muck of all the unhappy things. It's hard to remember them without looking through the glass with all the negative tinting the view.

I don't do the blame thing very much. I made choices and put myself there. I made choices and took myself out of there too.

I've learned more about men from those days and the days after. I'm never going to be a dating diva. But, I do know there are far more important things in picking a man than the shape of his behind or a winning smile or even how well he talks about himself. Those are good things to have learned. It's a shame learning takes so much time when our time is finite.

Doodle Dolly

2010-01-10T17:47:00.000-05:00

A dolly drawn for Doodle Week.

tiny world house 7

2010-01-09T18:54:00.001-05:00

tiny world house 7
Originally uploaded by Mimi K

A lot of small, detailed work to create these. Lovely.

Found an Old List of Links

2010-01-07T04:11:00.004-05:00

I had this at Blogrolling and had forgotten about it when they were down for ages and ages before. I will eventually go through and check the links. Eventually... Someday...

The Under Achievement of Niceness

2010-01-05T15:38:00.003-05:00

I feel like I'm a bitch every time I'm not nice. Not even nasty, or mean or anything like that. Just not nice. The under achievement of niceness.

It's pretty silly living in my head. I wish I could get out sometimes, just a little vacation would be nice.

Doodle Week is Back!

2010-01-02T14:56:00.000-05:00

Doodle Week is back. Join in on U3!

Merry New Year

2010-01-01T17:57:00.000-05:00

Merry Happy New Year!

Hope everyone who reads here (and all the others who don't know I exist) have a great year for 2010.

To all our Flickr Friends and Contacts

2009-12-31T13:33:00.001-05:00

To all our Flickr Friends and Contacts
Originally uploaded by RickandKathy-Flickr'n Fools :)

Poinsettia Christmas tree. Beautiful. The while flowers look like snow.

Russian Matryoshka amigurumi babushka Dolls Crochet Pattern

2009-12-30T23:27:00.001-05:00

Russian Matryoshka amigurumi babushka Dolls Crochet Pattern
Originally uploaded by HandmadeKitty=^_^=

These are so cute!

There are Days When...

2009-12-29T12:29:00.000-05:00

Getting back to this personal blog again. Which means I will need to fix it. I have a bunch of broken links from the last time I moved things on my web host. I should also give it a change from the Spring daisy look, considering how much snow there is outside today.

But, today I already have a fairly good work load and don't feel like doing much other than hiding indoors taking care of myself. I've got one of those shingle things again. Making me feel all over yucky and my eye is sore. I really need to get out to deliver paperwork and buy milk at the grocery store. I wish it was a short trip to one spot for both. But no. That would be too nice.

I am trying to think how I can accomplish everything in one place anyway, cheating in a kind of, sort of, way. I could mail the paperwork though it would arrive late. I could skip getting a coffee while I am out (though I have not had a bite of anything all day and I am getting hungry even though I don't feel like eating). I could just go to the grocery store which is right on the bus route. If I rush the shopping I can meet the bus as it comes back on the next lap of the route and then I don't need to pay an extra bus fare to get home.

But, it's cold outside and I'd have to rush into my coat and boots to catch the bus now. Well, really, I have about 15 minutes, give or take due to snow and ice on the roads. So, really I do have enough time to catch the bus. I should stop being such a lemming and get out there and do it. I'm not even standing up yet though.

There are days when having a personal slave sounds like a really good idea.

The Lover Style Profile Test

2009-12-29T00:53:00.000-05:00

Your result for The Lover Style Profile Test...

The Classic Lover

41% partner focus, 38% aggressiveness, 50% adventurousness

Based on the results of this test, it is highly likely that:

You prefer your romance and love to be traditional rather than daring or out-of-the-ordinary, you would rather be pursued than do the pursuing and, when it comes to physical love, you concentrate more on enjoying the experience rather than worrying about your performance.

This places you in the Lover Style of: The Classic Lover.

The Classic Lover is a wonderful Lover Style, and is the closest it comes to the classic images of the princess in the tower, or the romantic and chivalrous knight, or the hero/heroine from a Disney film. The Classic Lover is a treasure to find, though it can be difficult to do so because they sometimes tend to be shy and/or difficult to successfully court.

In terms of physical love, the Classic Lover again can be shy, and often needs more in terms of emotional security to feel comfortable than some of the other Types. Given the right setting, and the right lover, the Classic Lover can be a delight in bed.

Best Compatibility can probably be found with: The Romantic Lover (most of all) or the Devoted Lover, or the Liberated Lover.

Congratulations!

Thanks Again! -- THE LOVER STYLE PROFILE TEST

Take The Lover Style Profile Test at HelloQuizzy

Inherited Values

2009-12-29T00:09:00.001-05:00

A Quiet Afterwards Kind of Day

2009-12-28T12:38:00.000-05:00

Garbage is getting picked up today. I didn't think it would so I didn't put it out. Not that I have a lot anyway. For Christmas I wasn't home so all that wrapping isn't in my recycling bins.

The best Christmas present I got were new warm socks. The kind that have rubber nubbins at the bottom so you can walk around the house with warm feet that don't slip on the floors. A good thing here with all the hardwood. I also had two boxes of chocolates which I ate while being lazy playing computer games.

My brother may be over later today. I could get a lift to the grocery store to pick up some more milk. I'm almost out of it. But, I need to go out tomorrow anyway so I can always grab some then.

Not much else going on today.

Cute Little Devil

2009-12-27T22:41:00.000-05:00

Watching Alice (again). Filmed in Vancouver with a lot of Canadian, US and British actors. Andrew-Lee Potts is one of the Brits. I've seen him before in Primeval. Charming smile. He wears a lot of eye make up in Alice, I don't think he needed that much.

Merry Yule Tidings!

2009-12-24T08:16:00.000-05:00

Making Gingerbread Men Tonight

2009-12-23T23:06:00.001-05:00

Storybook Gingerbread Men

Ingredients

    * 1/2 cup shortening
    * 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
    * 3 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
    * 1 teaspoon salt
    * 1 teaspoon baking soda
    * 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    * 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
    * 3/4 cup molasses
    * 1/4 cup water

Directions

   1. Cream shortening and sugar. Sift flour with salt, soda and spices. Blend flour mixture into creamed mixture alternately with molasses and water. Chill at least 1 hour.
   2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
   3. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut with large 6-8 inch gingerbreadmen cookie cutters. Lift onto lightly greased cookie sheet with broad spatula.
   4. Bake above oven center for about 12 minutes or until cookies spring back lightly in center. Do not overcook, they won't stay soft. Remove from sheets. Cool on wire racks. Makes 10 men 6-8 inches tall.

The batter seemed too dry so I added water. Might be too much now. They are in the fridge, will see how they look in the morning when I get set to roll them out. I have a cookie cutter for gingerbreadmen and a Xmas tree. I plan to use a knife to cut out a pattern for a couple of gingerbread house cookies too.

Brittany Murphy Died On Sunday

2009-12-22T11:42:00.000-05:00

Brittany Murphy was in Uptown Girl among other movies. It is Uptown Girl that I remember most. She brought life and energy to the screen. It was really sad to hear she had died on Sunday. Sounds like it was complications with her diabetes and anorexia. Shame on Hollywood for losing another wonderful women to to stick figure mentality.

Christmas Tree by Personality

2009-12-18T14:40:00.000-05:00

You Are Blissfully Content

During the holidays, you have a lot to be thankful for. And even if you are having a hard time, you do your best to express gratitude.

You are a glass half full type of person. You try to see life as a gift.

You believe that it's important to stay positive and peaceful. Not just for your own mental health, but for also for the mental health of those around you.

The gift of optimism is the best thing you could possibly give. And you give it well.

The Christmas Tree Test

Blogthings: If Quizzes Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Take Quizzes

Vector_winter_illustration_ViewIllustrator_1017

2009-12-17T16:03:00.001-05:00

Vector_winter_illustration_ViewIllustrator_1017
Originally uploaded by bachlonghoaianh

Vector_winter_illustration_ViewIllustrator_1005

2009-12-17T16:00:00.001-05:00

Vector_winter_illustration_ViewIllustrator_1005
Originally uploaded by bachlonghoaianh

Christmas tree

2009-12-06T22:07:00.001-05:00

Christmas tree
Originally uploaded by felt_fairy

Innisfil House

2009-12-01T19:33:00.001-05:00

Innisfil House
Originally uploaded by That Canadian Grrl

What Kind of City Dweller are You?

2009-11-30T18:38:00.001-05:00

You Are a Hip and Artsy City Dweller

You love that the city is always changing, and you're always on top of the latest trends.

You don't try to deliberately keep up, you're just naturally curious. And because of your curiosity, you discover hidden gems just before they get popular.

You truly love the city, and you're inspired by the urban landscape every day. Living in the middle of the hustle and bustle keeps you creative.

Even if you aren't an artist, you can't help but take pictures, write, make art, or play music. All of the energy around you is contagious!

What Kind of City Dweller Are You?

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

You Belong in Paris

You enjoy all that life has to offer, and you can appreciate the fine tastes and sites of Paris.

You're the perfect person to wander the streets of Paris aimlessly, enjoying architecture and a crepe.

What European City Do You Belong In?

Blogthings: Learn Something Surprising About Yourself

You Are Shy and Silent

You are thoughtful and contemplative. You enjoy spending time alone with your thoughts.

You are very introverted. You generally prefer quiet time by yourself to most social interactions.

Money is very important to you. You like to have lots of nice things... and you don't care if you're being greedy.

You are curious about ideas. If you had the means, you'd like to explore the whole world.

The City Walk Personality Test

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

Your City is Moscow

You are fast moving and quick changing. You aren't exactly sure who you are right now or who you'll end up being.

You have a rich, complicated past, and an exotic appeal that takes a person's breath away.

You are naturally stylish and classy, even if it's a bit of an illusion. You crave true wealth, power, and glamour.

You love adventure and risk. You are a natural gambler and charmer. You are often very lucky, but sometimes your luck does run out.

What's Your City?

Blogthings: If Quizzes Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Take Quizzes

You Are the Suburbs

You've got a bad rap, but you think people are just jealous of how good you've got it.

You prefer to live somewhere that's clean, safe, and cheap. What could be wrong with that? You're not going to apologize for liking chain restaurants and good schools.

While you may not be as sophisticated as the city, you're content with your life. Plus, there's more to do in the suburbs than people think.

Besides, you can visit the city anytime you'd like. And when your fun in town is done, you have a comfy suburban house to come home to.

Are You the Suburbs or the City?

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

You Are Downtown

You're a funky spirit that requires freedom to live.

You need adventure, diversity, and great ethnic food.

You don't like anything stuffy. You prefer wacky and eclectic stuff.

You'll take a cheap slice of pizza over a four star restaurant any day!

Are You Uptown or Downtown?

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

Part of my Charm

2009-11-30T18:21:00.000-05:00

Here I am, soon to be 45 and I can't decide if I'm a witchy wise woman, a courtesan or a 1600's era virgin, possible nun. I don't know if I still blush but I feel self conscious and guilty every time I share my naughty thoughts, ideas and stories. As if that's not something I should be doing. I would think at this age, after having been married, I would be beyond that. I guess not. Maybe it's all just part of my charm.