UM#44 - CC#48 - Morning Musings

Make Time for Small Reflections
Scroll down for
Camera Critters and Unconscious Mutterings

Click for FaveFive & Today's Flowers

1. After a hazy day yesterday, we had drizzles overnight with more rain predicted for tomorrow, but at the moment it's dry out. Looks like there might be showers tonight in Hollywood for the Oscars after all.

2. My sister and I attended another Ritz camera class Saturday ... enjoyed a tasty lunch at the Olive Garden ... then took a photo walk at the beach. She purchased the Nikon 18-2oomm lens and wanted to compare her results with photos taken with my Tamron 28-300 lens. Below are a few 'surfer' shots I captured from the pier.

Click to embiggen for better viewing

3. Time Warner Cable installed my new Sony LCD flat screen HDTV on Friday afternoon and it's very 'kewl' ... not only is the picture amazingly better than on my 20+ year old television but the sound is much improved as well.

While here, the Cable Guy discovered that the 'grounding wires' need to be redone to meet current standards so they're returning next Saturday to fix that issue. At that time they'll also trade out my old DVR for a new updated one, so that gives me time to watch some of what's recorded between now & then.

4. I neglected to remember to put my birthday countdown in my sidebar this month, but tomorrow is my 64th birthday so I hope you'll drop by and help me celebrate! You can see my 63rd birthday celebration here and here.

5. If you missed the Birth of a Masai giraffe video clip, let me encourage you to check it out as time permits. It's quite amazing ;--)

This is my 48thMisty Dawn started the meme and explains the rules here.

I snapped these photos
while walking on a pier with
my sister this week

and used Photoshop
Elements to create the
collage just below.

Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in Camera Critters this week.

This is the 317th issue of ...

I'm participating for the 44th time today
How about you?

What comes to YOUR mind?
If you'd like to play here, copy and paste the clues in comments along with your responses ... or post on your blog and let me know so I can visit ;--)

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Carpet :: Magic
   
2. William :: Macy
   
3. Oh! :: my gosh ...
   
4. Board game :: Scrabble
   
5. Sunlight :: helps my garden grow
   
6. Delay :: put off for a while
   
7. Winner :: Lottery - Golden Globe - Oscar
   
8. Concubine :: 'The Russian Concubine' by Kate Furnivall
9. Comatose :: unconscious & unable to wake up
   
10. Satisfy :: fulfill or gratify
    

Your turn: I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Carpet ::
2. William ::
3. Oh! ::
4. Board game ::
5. Sunlight ::
6. Delay ::
7. Winner ::
8. Concubine ::
9. Comatose ::
10. Satisfy ::

Click for others muttering this week.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"Seagulls... slim yachts of the element." Robinson Jeffers

Camera Critters #39 - Molly on the Move ...

Make Time for Small Reflections
Click below for Haiku Sky Watch Friday posts
at Happily Retired Gal & Sacred Ruminations
This is my 39thMisty Dawn started the meme and explains the rules here.

4-year old Molly
(Labrador Retriever) loves
to chase tennis balls

on the sidewalk out
in front of our house at the
beach. See how she runs ...

Click to embiggen

within a 5 house
span ... two lots on either side
where other labs live ...

fur-friends all, they play
joyously together when-
ever time permits

but today those dogs
were not home so Molly played
fetch the ball with me.

Click for others participating in Camera Critters
and for my 40th CameraCritters post at Happily Retired Gal.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"Labradors [are] lousy watchdogs. They usually bark when there is a stranger about, but it is an expression of unmitigated joy at the chance to meet somebody new, not a warning." Norman Strung

I'm busy writing notes in Christmas Cards ...

... that I created & printed yesterday (while catching up on laundry). You can read about the process in yesterday's post
at Sacred Ruminations and see a facsimile in this morning's
post at Happily Retired Gal.

I apologize for not visiting anyone yesterday and won't be dropping by today until I'm finished with this task because
if I don't get them in the mail today ... they have no chance
of arriving at their destination before Christmas Day.

If you're caught up with everything and have time to play,
I'm just a little jealous. There's lots of Christmas 'stuph' here
to explore ... including games for kids of all ages. Check
the sidebar for links.

Several of you have asked how to add 'snow' to your blogs.
I explained how to do it for Blogger & WordPress platforms
in Haiku Friday #96 at Sacred Ruminations.

You'll find Christmas music & more holiday related stuph at
Blog Rolls, Bling, & Blurbs.

Finally ... I created two new awards for my bloggy friends to express my gratitude to all who have visited & left comments on any or all of my blogs during this busy holiday season during December. You'll find them here and here. Please snag, enjoy, and pass them along to friends as you choose as my holiday gift to each of you.

I hope you're enjoying the holiday season!

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thoughts for Today
"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." Desmond Tutu

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one."
Jane Howard

"A family is a unit composed not only of children but of men, women, an occasional animal, and the common cold."
Ogden Nash

Haiku Friday #97 - Look at the Moon Tonight!

Make Time for Small Reflections
Haiku Friday Sky Watch is at Happily Retired Gal
Haiku Friday #96 is at Sacred Ruminations

Almost six o'clock ...
dark outside & fur-friends fed ...
ready to relax

after busily
running errands ... pulling weeds ...
cleaning the kitchen

visiting a few
'bloggy friends' & commenting
... dealing with email.

Time now to shift gears!
No rain yet ... but cloudy skies
obscure the full moon.

This is sad because
the moon is in 'perigee'
making it appear

larger than it does
usually ... if you have
clear skies, don't miss this!

Click for others participating in Haiku Friday this week.

Additional facts about this evening's event:

"If the full moon tonight looks unusually large, it is not your imagination – it is the biggest and brightest full moon to be seen for 15 years.

Each month the Moon makes a full orbit around the Earth in a slightly oval-shaped path, and tonight it will swing by the Earth at its closest distance, or perigee. It will pass by 356,613km (221,595 miles) away, which is about 28,000km closer than average.

The unusual feature of tonight is that the perigee also coincides with a full moon, which will make it appear 14 per cent bigger and some 30 per cent brighter than most full moons this year – so long as the clouds hold off from blocking the view.

The next closest encounter with a full moon this large will not be until November 14, 2016.

In addition to this lunar flypast, much of Britain may also be treated to a strange phenomenon known as the moon illusion. As the Moon rises in the late afternoon, it will appear even larger as it lies close to the horizon. Psychologists have tried to explain this as a trick of the eye, as the landscape on the horizon appears to make the Moon loom much larger, an effect that disappears as the Moon rises above the horizon, although viewing it through a tube, such as a toilet roll, can make it look large again.

With the Moon approaching so close to the Earth, its gravity will pull a slightly higher tide than normal for a full moon. This so-called perigeal tide adds about 0.5m (1.6ft) to the high-water mark, and with freshening southwesterly winds forecast, this may cause some flooding, especially along parts of the South West coast.

Tonight’s full moon is also notable for rising to its greatest height in the night sky for the entire year, lying almost overhead at midnight. This is because we are approaching the winter solstice, on December 21, and thanks to the tilt of the Earth the Moon appears at its highest, as the Sun is at its lowest.

Another astronomical treat that could be seen tonight and for the next two nights is the annual Geminid meteor shower, one of the year’s best displays of shooting stars. Up to 100 meteors an hour can fly across the sky. The meteors, which are easy to spot with the naked eye, appear to shoot out from the constellation Gemini, hence their name, but they can be seen all over the sky. However, with a full moon so bright, the best place to look is away from the Moon.

Meteor showers happen when the Earth passes through clouds of debris shed from comets. As the tiny fragments smash into the Earth’s upper atmosphere at about 100,000mph, they burn up in streaks of light.

For reasons that are not understood, the Geminid meteor showers are tending to grow stronger each year."

Source: Times Online
Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Hot Update from the North Pole
"Santa’s Chief Elf, Ingner Torkut, has informed NORAD that the elves are working hard to create 20 million dolls of many varieties, and 30 million different kinds of building and construction blocks. More than ten metric tons of wax have been turned into crayons in every color of the rainbow."

Thought for Today
"There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls." George Carlin, Brain Droppings, 1997

Thursday's Thoughts, a Thank You, and more ...

Make Time for Small Reflections

NaBloPoMo-Day27

Hooray ... my comment visibility problem at WordPress is resolved!!! I appreciate those of you who responded to my pleas for assistance. Your suggestions made a huge difference. I'm also grateful to friends who have checked out my new Happily Retired Storyteller blog, leaving me words of supportive encouragement there. I've left a 'thank you' there for each of you ;--)

I know it's cRaZy for me to be starting yet another blog, but I'm fascinated with the possibilities and love the challenge of learning new things ... so for the moment, my compulsions have kicked in making me even farther behind on everything else. Such is the story of my life it seems.

Yesterday I was away from home from about 10am until almost 5pm ... running errands ... picking Satsuma tangerines from my sister's backyard tree & delivering 'gifts' to friends ... getting my hair cut & styled ... visiting the dentist to get my permanent crown & final old filling replaced. I did manage to visit a few blogs and keep up with NaBloPoMo here & at Sacred Ruminations with Wellness Wednesday in addition to sharing some advice about How to Remain Young at WordPress.

Sandee at Comedy Plus shared all these lovely awards (some of which I've shared already) yesterday ...
and I want to pass these awards on to all my regulars too!

Here's wishing everyone who's celebrating, the Happiest of Thanksgiving Days ... and to those who aren't, I hope you have a delightful day doing whatever you choose.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back
In addition to my gratitude list in the sidebar here,
I'll be creating & publishing another at Sacred Ruminations soon.

Thought for Today
"Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence." Erma Bombeck

WhimsicalWednesday#10, voting info & more ...

Make Time for Small Reflections
Scroll down for :
Voting info & Election Night Blog Party Info
Thanks from & general update about me
Blog Blast for Peace info & links
Wonderful story link
Jack-o-Lantern Blogthing

I've voted ... have you?

Here in California we had 'early voting' from October 19th-28th ... so I went to the polls at the local City Hall yesterday afternoon to cast my ballot. It feels good to have done this early, and if you have that option where YOU live ... (and you've decided how to cast your votes on all the candidates & ballot measures) ... I encourage you to do so. I feel so relieved on a personal level. Now my only remaining challenge is to remain calm in the face of all that is beyond my control ;--)

If you're still undecided on candidates or ballot measures & need additional information, here are some links to assist.

• League of Women Voters
• Project Vote Smart
• Vote 411.org Election Information

Once you've cast your ballot, go to Mommy Wizdom's and sign the Mr. Linky there to participate in the Election Night Blog Party 2008! Click for details.

To my bloggy friends
who dropped by and left
words of encouragement ...

Thanks again for the well-wishes. The weather is changing so I'm hoping my symptoms will fade with onshore breezes helping to raise humidity levels to a more normal level. I've been listening to foghorns since awakening and can't see the houses across the street yet but I'm not complaining ... in fact I'm hoping the rain will reach us all the way down in Southern California rather than run out of steam north of here as have previous storm systems. We need rain so much!

Unfortunately, in just a few days of 'resting' to recover from what ails me, my 'reader' has 1000+ unread posts once again (even though I had it down to less than 700 over the weekend) and there are 571 unread emails. I'm hoping to make a dent in both today. I posted (almost) Wordless Wednesday #52 at Sacred Ruminations earlier and figure I'll 'ramble' here a bit to see what shows up on the page ... just because.

I made it through my PSE6 class yesterday ... finished my 2nd Caribbean Cruise Video ... converted them both to WMV format ... but didn't get them both transferred to a DVD yet. Hopefully I'll be able to do that on Thursday. We'll be creating DVD 'jackets' and 'labels' during the remaining 3 sessions of this 'Organizer' class ... something I've done previously with my Taos Slideshows/Videos. The 2nd Caribbean video contains a few videoclips of on-board entertainment ... so it's much longer than my previous projects.

Reminder about the upcoming 5th Blog Blast for Peace!
Have you created YOUR Peace Globe yet?
As Mimi Lenox says ...
"If words are powerful ... then this matters."
Clicking on the logo above (or at the top of my sidebar) will take you to information about how to get YOUR Peace Globe to decorate & share between now and November 6th in the 5th Launch of Dona Nobis Pacem. We're counting down ...

My new Peace Globes for November's Blog Blast post (#4, 5, & 6) are in my sidebar along with my first two (previously published in June) and I've sent them to Mimi to publish as well. If you need help adding 'text' to the graphics available from Mimi's blog, I'm willing to assist as time permits. I invite everyone to participate and to visit others too.

Click Peace Globe Gallery graphic below
to see Globes others have created.

And now ... a little Halloween fun. I hope you'll share your results in comments or leave a link if you share them on your blog ;--)

What Your Jack-o-Lantern Says

You are a gleeful, exuberant person. You enjoy a good party, and you even enjoy a good brawl. This Halloween, there is no question what you should be... a pirate! The candy you should give out: peanut butter cups

The Jack-o-Lantern Quiz

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

9:16am Addendum

I just happened on a wonderful story at Sylvia's and wanted to leave a link here ... so if you have time and want to 'be moved' ... take a moment to click & read Sack Lunches ...

Thought for Today
"Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story." Mason Cooley

An brief update and (belated) Fun Monday #22

Make Time for Small Reflections

It's about 11:30am in Southern California and I'm finally turning my attention to Fun Monday. Today's hostess is Rayne at Crunchy Bits. She writes:

"Almost everyone I know keeps things that others would consider junk ... twist ties, used wrapping paper, etc. What things do you hang on to and why? Or, if you are one of those super organized and practical people and don't hang on to things like that, do you have a collection that you would like to share with us?"

She also invites anyone to participate ... even those who have never played previously. I apologize for missing last week entirely and being 'late to the party' today. I'm hoping I'll get this published soon and do some blog visiting soon. I have already published at Sacred Ruminations earlier and 'responded' to comments on posts here at Small Reflections. It's evident I'm not the only one experiencing challenges with 'customer support' ... for listening to the gals on The View talk about their own frustrations with such things a little while ago reminded me this issue is wide-spread.

The first thing that comes to mind is Hula Girl's Fun Monday prompt (my 11th) in which we shared 'collections of this sort' ... ah there's the phone again!

Okay ... now it's 12:30pm. I've finished catching up with a friend (traveling currently with her husband in their RV) and I'm thinking about things I tend to hang on to ...
1. I've got TONS of Tupperware and baking dishes in my kitchen cupboards that I seldom (if ever) use any longer.
2. I own 4 sets of dishes ... but almost never entertain these days.
3. I save aluminum cans to recycle ... and the pull tabs separately (for a class at the school where I used to teach).
4. I've got FILES full of 'stuph' in the real world (and on my computers).
5. I save old cards and letters from friends and family ... though infrequently look at them.
6. My closets contain clothes, shoes & purses I seldom use now that I'm happily retired.
7. I've got shows saved on my DVR I'll likely never watch.
8. I've got DUST BUNNIES everywhere thanks to Molly's incessant shedding.
9. Books surround me ... everywhere you look throughout my house.

Rather than take time to photograph any of these things, I'm going to stop here and publish this before it gets any later.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And now that's it's out there ... I find myself thinking about serendipity. This morning's Daily OM for Pisces seems related to today's Fun Monday topic and my continuing 'clutter' issues.

"... One good way to free yourself from burdensome situations today is by spending time purging the unnecessary from your life. Perhaps you feel tied to activities you no longer enjoy, or your budget could use a clearing and organizing session to better serve your long-term goals. Clearing away these old situations will make you feel lighthearted and free to attract what you truly want. By clearing out stagnant situations that no longer contribute positively to our lives, we create an opening for better circumstances to enter. ... If you make an effort to clear away the old in all aspects of your life today, you will be making room for new and exciting circumstances to enter. "

Pretty fascinating, eh? I love it when the Universe presents information like this ... and just maybe I'll be able to focus my energies & make continued progress with my efforts to 'simplify' my surroundings.

Addendum after reading Rayne's Fun Monday post:
Okay ... so I clearly missed the mark on this one ... and I apologize once again, but I do have a rather extensive collection of long-playing phonograph records and 'sheet music' that belonged to my mother. Perhaps THAT's what I could have started with ... if I hadn't been 'distracted' by other things today.

Click for others participating in Fun Monday today.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today

"Nature abhors a vacuum. And so do I." Anne Gibbons

Unconscious Mutterings #22 and more ...

Make Time for Small Reflections

Camera Critters, PhotoHunt, Smiley Saturday, Weekend Whimsies and Awards are is yesterday's post. Sunrise-Sunset #2 (with labeled Photoshop variations) is at Sacred Ruminations and BYBS#18 will be there in a little while.

I'm participating for the 22nd time today.
How about you?

What comes to YOUR mind?

If you'd like to play here, copy and paste the clues in comments along with your responses ... or post on your blog and let me know so I can visit ;--)

Here are MY responses: I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Cut the crap :: focus on 'the issues' and 'what matters' rather than 'distractions' & 'finger-pointing'
   
2. Scent :: of a Woman - wonderful film!
   
3. Vanishing :: act
   
4. Wetness :: puppy kisses came to mind first ... and then we need rain in Southern California ... seriously!
   
5. Cheap :: shots irritate me ... consistently
   
6. Badges :: identification
   
7. Puppy :: cute 'fur-friend'
   
8. Problem solver :: Stephen Covey's methods
   
9. Gambling :: Laughlin, Las Vegas, and Reno
   
10. Sophia :: wisdom
    

Your turn: I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Cut the crap ::
2. Scent ::
3. Vanishing ::
4. Wetness ::
5. Cheap ::
6. Badges ::
7. Puppy ::
8. Problem solver ::
9. Gambling ::
10. Sophia ::

As an 'incentive' ... I offer any of the 'awards' posted yesterday to 'snag' and share with others.

As I mentioned yesterday and in my Haiku Friday #73, after finding 'followers' listed in my 'Dashboard' ... I've added the new 'Follow' widget from Blogger in my sidebar (under my profile) and imported some of my 'daily reads' from Google Reader into this new feature to see how that works. I don't fully understand any of it, but I'm willing to give it a go ... just because. If you'd like to 'follow' any (or all) of my blogs, just click on the link to the right in my sidebar (under My Profile and above the 'avatars' already there) to add yours. This could be fun ;--)

I'm moving S L O W L Y this morning ... didn't sleep well the last few days ... have a nasty headache and feel 'marginal' this weekend, as if I might be coming down with something. That shared ... in talking with my 'writing buddy' on the phone this morning, I realize I'm 'worried unconsciously' about a variety of real issues over which I have no control ... (including but not limited to) the damage & destruction wrought by recent hurricanes ... the 'Metro-Link' disaster in Chatsworth ...and the direction taken by the 'political' campaigns in the last few weeks ... the climate of 'negativity' ... 'distraction' ... 'fear-mongering ... 'devisiveness' rather than 'a respectfully meaningful dialogue' & conversational exchange of ideas without the 'intention' to change one another's opinions, but rather to clarify and refine our own as we each attempt to gain a clearer understanding of the issues challenging our nation now & in the future.

Listening to Dr. Oz on a recent Oprah show reminds me that 'stress' is a major cause of a myriad of health problems ... that we can't really get rid of bad habits until we choose to (and take steps to) replace them with more mindful choices & behaviors. That's why I've opted NOT to use either of my blogs as a 'political forum' ... and I've attempted to avoid getting 'drawn into' political discussions in the Blogosphere, though I do 'lurk' in an attempt to inform myself in balanced ways. Holly (at Anglophile Football Fanatic) expressed herself eloquently (giving voice to some of my own concerns) then created and shared the following logo:

... and I've decided to share it today ... just because. In addition, I plan to put 'regular meditation & journaling' back in my morning routine before turning on the computer because methinks I need to take time to 'center' myself (a practice I used regularly before becoming a blogger) as a way to begin my day again.

And that reminds me ... it seems Mimi Lenox (Queen of Memes) is organizing a 5th Blog Blast for Peace on November 6th.
I plan to participate ... and perhaps I'll take a few minutes after pressing publish to revisit my own 'previous peace posts' here and here ... then visit those created & shared by others too ... just because.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thoughts for Today ...
"An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind." Mahatma Gandhi

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other." Mother Teresa

"Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding." Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The pacifist's task today is to find a method of helping and healing which provides a revolutionary constructive substitute for war." Vera Brittain, 1964

"We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace." William Ewart Gladstone

Whimsical Wednesday #4 ... just because ;--)

Make Time for Small Reflections

So ... it's already after noon and I've not created & published something for this blog. I did generate and share an 'Almost Wordless Wednesday' post at Sacred Ruminations earlier this morning ... after experimenting a bit more with 'adjustment layers' and 'photo filters' to alter the 'hue & saturation' of a single 'desert' photo. I'm sorely tempted to do something similar here ... but the experimentations are quite time-consuming and I'd like to do some 'catch up blog visiting' today ... so methinks I'll forgo that for today. Perhaps I'll create something for tomorrow's T-13 ... or not.

Since this is my 4th Whimsical Wednesday, I decided I'd create another 'logo of my own' using one of the photos from this 'whimsical incident' with the 'curious bird' at my kitchen window ... shared a while back for Camera Critters.

One of the errands I ran yesterday was to Staples where I broke down an purchased an 'external mouse' ...(I've always used the mousepad built into my laptops, but I've grown accustomed to using a mouse with a scroll bar in my PSE6 class)... so I opted for this nifty 'V450 Nano cordless Laser mouse' created especially for Notebooks by Logitech. It's very 'kewl' and, naturally, I needed a 'mouse pad' ... so I bought one 'on clearance' with 4 cute Golden puppies just because.

You See the World Through Blue Colored Glasses

You live your life with tranquility. You have faith that things will work themselves out with time. This seems fairly accurate to me, though it was not always true of me. You judge all your interactions through the lens of hope. You try to get all the facts before forming your opinion. True again ... (this is getting a bit spooky however). You face challenges with wisdom. You know that all bad things pass, and you have the confidence to see problems through. I'd say I rely on my rather considerable life experience ... as I pray for wisdom & guidance. You see love as the utmost expression of trust. Your relationships tend to be peaceful and stable. For the most part ... this is true as well. At your worst, you can be cool, melancholy, and detached. You sometimes have to step back from emotionally charged situations. I'm seldom 'cool' or 'detached' ... but once upon a time I experienced 'melancholy' often ... not so much any longer though. You are at your happiest when you are able to reflect and relax. Yup ... this is definitely true of me.

What Color Glasses Do You See the World Through?

If you'd like to play along, feel free to leave your results in comments below or share on your own blog, leaving a link here so I can visit. As an incentive, here's an award I received recently from Tammy at Mom Knows Everything (also, A Little Girl Talk) ... and should you decide to 'play along' ... it's yours to enjoy and share with others too.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight." Kahlil Gibran

Whimsical Wednesday #3 - Blog Comment Survey and additional awards to acknowledge & share

Make Time for Small Reflections

I found this set of questions at Tammy's of Mom Knows Everything a couple of weeks ago and saved it in my 'drafts' folder' thinking it might make a fun and interesting post. Today seems like a good day to combine the survey with some awards ... just because. I hope at least some of you passing by will decide to share your thoughts either here (in comments) or on your own blog ... (leaving a link here so I can read you answers) ... and invite others to join the conversation as well. It reminds me of Rebecca's question a while back, encouraging others to share Why I Blog.

Tammy wrote: "My blogging buddy Melinda was wondering about blog comments and how we respond to them and she asked the following questions."

1. How many blogs do you comment on each week?
It varies depending on what's happening in my life, but I've got 330 'categorized' blogs and 2 'mega feeds' (Blog 365 and One Single Impression) in my 'reader' ... so I usually have 350-700 new posts listed daily. I do most of my reading within the reader itself to maximize the use of my time ... and for the most part, those who include the entire post there (as I do) definitely get my attention over those who list just a title or an 'abbreviated' tidbit (because it takes me less time to catch up) unless you've become a 'Virtual friend' and therefore a 'daily read' as time permits.

2. Do you comment on the same blogs routinely?
Not necessarily ... (see #3).

3. Do you comment just to comment are do you comment with the expectations that the blog owner will visit your blog as well? Generally, I comment when I have something to say ... and I often leave a single comment about several posts at a time ... especially when crunched for time. Of course it's nice to receive a visit in return, but that's not my primary motivation for commenting. I simply enjoy the 'virtual interaction' ... yet with that said, when participating in a 'Weekly Activity' like HoTs, WW, T-13, HF, PH, SWF, OSI, CC, UM etc ... I try to remember to let folks know on which of my 3 blogs I've participated so that potential visitors won't need to spend time searching posts out ... and I appreciate it when those with multiple linked blogs like me to direct ME in this way too.

4. How would you like the blog owner to respond to your comment, if at all? However they choose. My email is available on my Blogger Profile, and I always check the little box to receive follow-up comments in email when it's available. Interestingly, those who have made the Blogger change (like Hootin' Anni) to put the comments 'in line' don't HAVE a little box TO check any longer. I just don't have time to check back on previous posts because I've been seriously behind for months now.

5. How many comments would you say you got (on average) in your last 5 posts? It depends ... varying greatly (from 20-45 or 6-15) ... depending perhaps on whether or not I've joined a 'Weekly Activity' (see #3 above) or am simply posting as I am today ... sharing whatever I choose.

6. Do you respond to your comments?
Yes. I prefer to leave 'individual' responses to all who comment here ... but when crunched for time I occasionally leave 'group responses' as time permits.

7. How do you respond, within that post or via email or some other way? If someone asks a specific question and/or I have something specific to say ... (and their email is available) ... I send messages directly in email as time permits ... sometimes quite belatedly when I fall behind. When questions are asked w/o making email available, I do my best to leave the answer in a comment on the other person's blog ... but I know that some things fall through the cracks occasionally.

8. [If you don't respond to comments] Why not? N/A

Your turn: I would be interested in seeing how you respond to these questions ... either here in comments or leave me a link when you share on your own blog. Just to make it easier I've included a set of questions w/o answers for your use, and I've added an incentive below.

1. How many blogs do you comment on each week?
2. Do you comment on the same blogs routinely?
3. Do you comment just to comment are do you comment with the expectations that the blog owner will visit your blog as well?
4. How would you like the blog owner to respond to your comment, if at all?
5. How many comments would you say you got (on average) in your last 5 posts?
6. Do you respond to your comments?
7. How do you respond, within that post or via email or some other way?
8. [If you don't respond to comments] Why not?

I'd like to acknowledge, accept, and share
the following awards with gratitude.

Thanks to Ivanhoe
for this colorful award.
I offer it as an incentive to anyone who decides to
participate in the Blog Comment Survey
either here or on their own blog.

Ivanhoe also blessed Small Reflections with this one
and Mike Golch presented it to Sacred Ruminations
where I shared it mid-July.

I'd like to share it (and the ones below)
with everyone on any of my Blogrolls
and all those I visit regularly

(Come on ... you know who you are)

Mary (of Mary's Writing Nook) bestowed
this 'friendship award' to storyteller (that's me)

but I've forgotten who gave me this one ...

so please help me remember so I can add a link.
Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
Another 'repeat' ... but I couldn't resist for some reason.
"God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used
one to say 'thank you' ...?" William A. Ward

Fun Monday #21 - My blogging spaces ...

Make Time for Small Reflections

Gattina of Writer Cramps
is hosting Fun Monday this week and writes:

"As I am a very curious person, I just want you to show us a picture of your blogging place ... your room or bed or whatever space(s) or places(s) you have to write your posts."

My favorite 'blogging space' is outside on my patio ... in the company of Ms. Kitty OR Molly (if you look closely at the large photo you'll see her head next to the chair closest to the open door), but never both since they don't really enjoy the company of one another. I blog here in the early morning (before the sun overtakes the patio and creates too much glare to read the screen) ... and in the late afternoon/early evening when shade returns. Notice my lime tree providing the shade has tons of ripened fruit. Fortunately there's an electrical outlet just behind the blue chairs for when I need a 'charge' ...

My 'inside space' looks much like this (though a bit more cluttered at the moment) ... with two major changes ... my new (more comfortable) black office chair (shown lower right) ... and my Dell Inspiron 1720 (running Vista) that now sits to the right of the older Dell Inspiron 9100 (running XP) because I use both currently.

Once I 'declutter & simplify' my workspace, I plan to replace the three folding tables with 'real' office furniture with storage space. Until then, the plastic and cardboard file containers will have to suffice. Of course, a pillow for Molly at my feet will remain (see top left photo of lower collage ... it's almost the same color as the floor, but it's there).

Click for others participating in Fun Monday today.
Next week's host is Woodlandmama.

Thought for Today
"There's nothing like staying at home for real comfort." Jane Austen

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Hooray for Misty May & Kerry Walsh winning GOLD again! ... and What's YOUR name's HIDDEN meaning?

Take Time for Small Reflections

Yez ... I know it's Thursday, but ...

I found this at Grandy's a while back ... decided to share today ... to give myself a 'break' and allow myself to catch up a bit. I've got TONS of emails, too many unread blog posts in my 'reader' ... and comments on my blogs crying out for 'responses' from me. Of course, I'm also watching the Olympic events this morning I couldn't stay awake for last night ... just because. I'll share more later on this too.

What Storyteller Means

You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. What's your name's hidden meaning?

Hmmm ... most of this seems 'right on' ... though it's 'off' in places, so perhaps I'll add 'comments' later.

For now I'm watching Misty May & Kerry Walsh play against the young Chinese team for Gold in the rain because I was just too tired last night to stay up for this beach volleyball match and didn't want to miss anything. They've taken the first game 21-18 and are TIED at 13-13 the second ... so it's all very exciting. I'm taking a quick break to post this and get a coffee refill ... then I'll savor the rest. Hope YOU'RE all having a delightful day!

10:15am Addendum - I can't resist celebrating!!!
This was Kerry's 100th win and Misty's 103rd ... and together they're the ONLY beach volleyball team to win consecutive Olympic Gold Medals. I went a little overboard with the collages, but there were just so many wonderful photos of this at Yahoo Sports that I couldn't decide which to skip.

Imagine That!!!

What do you think of my new pictorial 'header' here and at Sacred Ruminations? I realized I've got little 'glitches' in the HTML coding of my 'templates' ... but overall I'm happy to have figured out how to make these changes on my own. I've been wanting to do this (and experimenting periodically without much success until now) for months!

Smile Reflections, Smile Back

Thought for Today
"Every time you don't follow your inner guidance, you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness." Shakti Gawain