Camera Critters #15 and Smiley Saturday #12

Take Time for Small Reflections

Scroll down for Smiley Saturday

This is my 15thMisty Dawn started the meme and explains the rules here:

Introductory Information
Clean & groomed after
two weeks of non-stop play with
'friends' at Camp Ilene Molly ... exhausted

happily rides home in the
Explorer with me.
More to follow tomorrow here in CC#17.
CC#16 is at Sacred Ruminations today ... Just too cute for wordz.
Click for others participating in Camera Critters this week.
~ ~ ~

I'm smiling today because ...
1. Although I'm hopelessly behind on just about everything, life (even when busy) is good.
2. I enjoyed spending yesterday afternoon with friends ... celebrating J's birthday at Duke's (enjoying my usual meal there), then meandering through a Craft Fair near the HB Pier.
3. If you're in need of some chuckles today, I suggest you visit Witty Wednesday at Ms Cellania for a good laugh or JibJab's latest mini-movie about the Presidential election campaign.
4. Lightening posted some funnies at the Smiley Saturday site too that made me laugh just now when I went there to add my link ;--)

Click for others participating in Smiley Saturday this week.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"You're never fully dressed without a smile." Martin Charnin

HF#57 - Cool Clips & Catching Up (or trying to)

Make Room for Small ReflectionsHave you seen the new
Jib Jab video about
the 2008

election campaign?
These brothers are certainly
clever. This time you

can put YOURSELF in
the video if you wish.
What might they do next?

If you have not viewed
earlier clips ... click this link
where you will find more

imaginative
creations to entertain
on many topics.
~ ~ ~

Life is busy these days and I'm doing what I can to keep up ... catching up on email and blog posts as time permits ... making progress gradually in a 'one step forward, two steps back' kind of way. I'm enjoying my new laptop & chair ... PSE6 classes and projects ... and trying to let whatever 'stress' I feel go ... doing what I can and trusting it's good enough. I do appreciate all my regular readers and those who drop by occasionally ... and would like to belatedly acknowledge and share the following award today.

I'd like to thank Betty of Betty's This and That for this Super Commenter Award that she received from Mercedes at Mercedes World and shared mid-June. I apologize to Betty for being so slow to pass it along, but I'm sure she understands because we all get way too busy from time to time ... and that's exactly what' I've been. I passed it along Wednesday at Sacred Ruminations and wish share here as well. So as not to overlook anyone, I offer it to all who visit Small Reflections 2-3 times per week (or more) and leave comments on my posts. You Make My Day and know who you are!

Please feel free to share the love and pass it along to others.

Small Reflections Smile Back!

~ ~ ~
Click for Haiku Friday #56 & Sky Watch #3

For others participating in Haiku Friday this week, go to A Mommy Story or Playgroups are no Place for Children. Click to see my previous Haikus here at Small Reflections and at Sacred Ruminations, or click the Haiku Friday link in the About Me section of my sidebar for a Directory to all my Haiku Friday posts with clickable links by topic.

Thought for Today

"Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of." Charles Richards

(Wordless) Thursday Thirteen #33 - Hawaii

Make Room for Small Reflections
Wordless Wednesday on Wednesday is the next post
13 Photos of Hawaii
from Flickzzz

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Wordless Wednesday on Thursday participants

For easy access, I’ve listed more T-13 links along with the Thursday Thirteen Blogroll at My Blog Rolls.
Thought for Today
"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religioins and avoid the people, you might better stay home." James Michener

Wordless Wednesday #36 More PSE6 results ...

Ah ... Small Reflections, Smile Back!
Almost

This is a CD 'Jacket' for a Slide Show/Movie
I created last week ... but that doesn't
transfer to the Blogging arena.

(visualize this folded in half & inserted in a jewel case)
and ...
two versions of larger DVD Jackets

Click for others participating in Wordless Wednesday today.

Thought for Today
"Eighty percent of success is showing up." Woody Allen

Make Room for Small Reflections

Heads or Tails # 15 - Say what?

If you're looking for Fun Monday, it's just below this one.Hosted by Skittles at Head or Tails

Click for info about how to play

This week's theme/prompt is:
HEADS - Joke

Disorder In The Court

Things people actually said in court, word for word:
Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July fifteenth.
Q: What year?
A: Every year.

Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?

A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.

Q: This myasthenia gravis-does it affect your memory at all?
A: Yes.
Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
A: I forget.
Q: You forget. Can you give us an example of something that you've forgotten?

Q: All your responses must be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
A: Oral.

Q: How old is your son-the one living with you?
A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
Q: How long has he lived with you?
A: Forty-five years.

Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke that morning?
A: He said, "where am I Cathy?"
Q: And why did that upset you?
A: My name is Susan.

Q: And where was the location of the accident?
A: Approximately milepost 499.
Q: And where is milepost 499?
A: Probably between milepost 498 and 500.

Q: Sir, what is your IQ?
A: Well I can see pretty well I think.

Q: Did you blow your horn or anything?
A: After the accident?
Q: Before the accident.
A: Sure, I played horn for ten years. I even went to school for it.

Q: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in the voodoo occult?
A: We both do.
Q: Voodoo?
A: We do.
Q: You do?
A: Yes, voodoo.

Q: Trooper, when you stopped the defendant, were your red and blue lights flashing?
A: Yes.
Q: Did the defendant say anything when she got out of her car?
A: Yes sir.
Q: What did she say?
A: What disco am I at?

Say What?

Q: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?

Q: The youngest son, the twenty-year old, how old is he?

Q: Were you present when your picture was taken?

Q: Was it you or your younger brother who was killed in the war?

Q: Did he kill you?

Q: How far apart were the vehicles at the time of the collision?

Q: You were there until the time you left, is that true?

Q: How many times have you committed suicide?

Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
A: Yes.
Q: And what were you doing at that time?

Q: She had three children, right?
A: Yes.
Q: How many were boys?
A: None.
Q: Were there any girls?

Q: You say the stairs went down to the basement?
A: Yes.
Q: And these stairs, do they go up also?

Q: Mr. Slatery, you went on a rather elaborate honeymoon, didn't you?
A: I went to Europe, sir.
Q: And you took your new wife?

Q: How was your first marriage terminated?
A: By death.
Q: And by whose death was it terminated?

Q: Can you describe the individual?
A: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Q: Was this a male or a female?

Q: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.

Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?
A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.

Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
A: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
Q: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time?
A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.

Click for others participating in HoTs this week.
Next week's theme/prompt is:
HEADS *OR* TAILS - Sit *OR* Stand

Thought for Today
"Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility."
James Thurber

Why I Blog ... and Fun Monday #14

Rebecca of Reba's Ramblings celebrated her Blogoversary yesterday by hosting a Blog Carnival with a giveaway. She asked visitors recently to address the eternal question ... specifically the issue of why we blog. I endeavored to respond yesterday with a post on my 3rd blog ...(yup that means I posted on all three blogs yesterday so just call me kRaZy or oBsEsSeD) ... however, while I'm working on today's Fun Monday post for today, perhaps you can click on over and read ...

Why I Blog

If you decide to participate yourself, write your own reasons for blogging and drop by Reba's to read the reasons why others blog too. Be sure to leave a comment or link here so I can read yours too ;--)

Penny at Dungarees Ablaze is today's host. She writes ...
"Let’s hear about your favorite “Birthday”, it needn’t be your actual birthday just a "birthday" celebration. You can use one you planned, one you attended, one you crashed, just a fun time for this FUN MONDAY. "

8am addendum: While constructing a comment on Penny's Fun Monday birthday post, a few thoughts popped into mine that I've decided to add here. Birthdays didn't get much attention in my family ever, and I have few memories of those occasions. There was usually a cake with candles and some practical gifts ... most often items of clothes & an occasional 'game' to be shared (like Sorry or Clue). I did have a boyfriend who when I turned 16 threw a lovely surprise party for me (crashed by a former boyfriend briefly creating a bit of chaos that fortunately didn't last long or ruin the event for me). When I turned 50, my friends wanted to wear black ... but I told them I saw that birthday as a 'Crone's Ceremony' and planned to wear RED! I encouraged them to celebrate in like manner with me and most did, though my family went with 'black' for whatever reason.

I've spent enough time looking for photos to scan to share a birthday celebration to remember without much success. Because I'd rather visit other participants this morning (before I head of to Retired Ladies Lunch), I've decided to use today's Fun Monday as an opportunity to revisit and share how I celebrated MY most recent birthday online ... since back then few, if any, of you knew about me or my blog:
Celebrating Life and What is Hula Pie? Come see and Celebrate!

Click for others participating in Fun Monday this week.

A few Birthday Thoughts for Today
"I'm sixty years of age. That's 16 Celsius." George Carlin, 'Brain Droppings', 1997
"Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional." Chili Davis
"Just remember, once you're over the hill you begin to pick up speed." Charles Schulz
"The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age." Lucille Ball
"Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest." Larry Lorenzoni
"Inside every older person is a young person wondering what happened." Jennifer Yane
"Wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself." Tom Wilson

UM#14 & Poetic Musings of my Mind

If you're looking for Camera Critters, it's in Saturday's post below.
Click for my post in response to Reba's Challenge: Why I Blog

I'm participating for the 14th 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. Intimidated :: something I seldom feel any more, but once upon a time experienced often
   
2. Brush :: watercolors (I've been meaning to sign up for a class)
   
3. Masquerade :: scene from Phantom of the Opera (click here to see it on YouTube now)
   
4. Procedure :: series of steps to accomplish something
   
5. Tattoos :: reminds me I've been meaning to get one just above my ankle with a Butterfly for decades, but haven't done so yet
   
6. Square :: the result of a number multiplied by itself (sorry ... once a teacher, always a teacher and today math came to mind)
   
7. Tuck :: Everlasting ... an intriguing children's book written by Natalie Babbitt about eternal life
   
8. Boyfriend :: teenage crushes
   
9. Badass:: something I'll never be ;--)
   
10. Thousand :: Splendid Suns, novel by Khaled Hosseini ... and 'Trails' - a 'membership group' for campers
    

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

1. Intimidated ::
2. Brush ::
3. Masquerade ::
4. Procedure ::
5. Tattoos ::
6. Square ::
7. Tuck ::
8. Boyfriend ::
9. Badass::
10. Thousand ::

Click for others muttering unconsciously today.
I'm at it again ... sharing some Sunday
Seems as if it's been a while
since my fingers played, but I'll
share what's on my mind today
as I let my 'digits' play.
(more to follow in a few minutes, but I'm on the phone ...)

Omygosh it's been
HOURS since I posted this!
After the phone call

I walked Molly then
watered & weeded the yard,
showered ... washed my hair ...

ate some breakfast too.
Methinks I have shifted from
free verse to Haiku.
(I'm shifting back now to free verse ... just because.)

Busy with a myriad
of new interests ... a candid
poem may be over-due.
What's in mind? I have a few

irons in the fire ... but
now that I've begun, just what
to type next (distracted by
Molly makes me question why

I began this silly rhyme)
then a phone call ... Seems that I'm
losing touch with inner peace.
Breathing allows thoughts to cease

then a sense of calm within
as I pause ... begin again.
Reba's asked us to explore
why we blog and I'll have more

to reveal on that when I
finish and publish on my
3rd blog. I'll provide a link
once it's done, but you might think

about joining in as well.
Read about it ... think & tell
why YOU blog. Read others too
in the Carnival. To view

Reba's reasons click right here

It's 2pm and I've finished today's post about Why I Blog at last.

Thought for Today

"Poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder, with a dash of the dictionary." Kahlil Gibran

Camera Critters #14 and Smiley Saturday #11

(Still experimenting with slogans)
Take Time for Small Reflections
Scroll down for Smiley Saturday
Click for Photo Hunt

This is my 14thMisty Dawn started the meme and explains the rules here:

Introductory Information

Merow ...is it almost dinner time?
Ms. Kitty 'hangs out' in the shade on the patio
looking longingly at empty
food dish.
Click for others participating in Camera Critters this week.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I'm smiling BIG TIME today because ...

First - My new office chair was delivered from Staples yesterday and I was able to assemble it all by myself ... completely without tools. I'm delighted to report it's quite comfortable to sit in while I blog (and do other computer tasks and/or work at my desk).


Can you tell which is my old chair and which is my new one?



Yup ... the new one's on the right. I don't know why it took me so long to replace the old orange one (given to me as a gift more than 25 years ago). It's still got lots of 'life' left in it so I'll donate it to a good cause, but I won't miss it ... no siree ;--)

Second - I'm grateful to Harry at Dell Tech Support for helping me work through the 'glitches' in my new laptop this week. Everything seems to be working fine as of this morning ... no more disappearing photos on my blogs or getting 'dumped' in from the Internet in the middle of tasks ... but I'm knocking on wood as I type this because a pop up message just said (in red no less ... 'Blogger couldn't be contacted so the post might not have saved' ... sigh! That does happen occasionally w/o creating problems, so I'm hoping for the best.

Third - I wasn't as fortunate with Paul at Wizetrade Tech Support ... who asked permission to 'access my old laptop remotely' (and I foolishly consented ... against my better judgment), because while he was doing whatever he was doing ... MSN 'encountered a problem and needed to shut down' causing him to lose control of my laptop w/o returning control to me. Whenever I tried to use the mouse, a yellow window popped up telling me 'Paul was in control' ... but on the phone, Paul insisted he didn't have control any longer.

As far as Tech Support guys go, he was pretty rude and frustrating. I'm hoping he was just having a bad day, but he certainly wasn't helpful. Basically he insisted there had something wrong with my laptop and I should take it in somewhere for evaluation and repair. He seemed unable to hear (or accept) my statement that it was working fine until he took control. I eventually ended the call after expressing my frustration and telling him I'd use an XP 'restore point' from the previous day and hope for the best. He, of course, insisted I should take it somewhere for repair (yet again) ... perhaps thinking I hadn't heard him say it at least 20 times previously.

This story DOES have a happy ending (as far as my old laptop is concerned) ... but it was 'iffy' for a while. After using a restore point from Thursday, my McAfee Security Software 'freaked out' and told me my computer wasn't protected, but when I clicked 'fix' it worked it's little heart out for about 90 minutes ... eventually deleting the old data, installing a new update, scanning the computer ... and finally giving me the message that all was well again. Rather than calling WT Tech Support again, I visited their Website ... logged in to download & reinstall the software myself ... and the happy ending is, all seems well at the moment. I do have some 'billing' questions for Customer Service and plan to register my concerns about my experience with Paul ... so I'll call them on Monday.

All's well that ends well ... and that's why I'm smiling today because I'm RELIEVED there's no lasting damage to the old Dell. It's a reminder to trust my intuition and just say no when someone wants to access my computer remotely. I follow directions well and am pretty computer savvy, so I don't need anyone to 'do it for me' ... ever!

Fourth - If you're in need of some chuckles, here are a few links that brightened my day this past week that you might enjoy:

Fun for Linguiphiles & the Rest of Us by LaVeda Mason
Redneck Tree Swing at Baba's Log/Night Owl
Bear in Tree story from Nekked Lizard Adventures
Red State Blue State humor at the Prytz Family
Witty Wednesday by Chris B at Ms Cellania

Fifth - For fun (when time permits) check out Wordle ... brought to my attention this past week at Lunar Musings. There you can generate 'kewl' word clouds like these (clicking on them will make them big enough to read):

All I did was enter my URL and it generated these images,
but you can enter whatever words you choose.
How fun is that?

5. If you haven't checked the way I begin each day, you might enjoy the sunrise in Sky Watch #2 at Sacred Ruminations.

Click for others participating in Smiley Saturday this week.

Thought for Today
"Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles." George Eliot

Small Reflections Smile Back