tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64189128701939363102024-03-13T22:33:06.085-04:00Pretty ByrdJournal writer meets photographer who likes to dabble in a bit of this and that.bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-18301278347532776062015-08-10T02:40:00.000-04:002015-08-10T11:41:36.431-04:00Genetic Kinetics <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When we had our first child in the delivery room I heard her cry and take her first breath. I was in awe that we would see a human being from her very beginning breath of life through so many firsts to come. No one would know of her life's narration like us. I've had no closer connection than parent and child. It is a force.<br />
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Last November I began getting irregular heart beats. My heart was beating out of my chest especially when I laid down at night. I could feel the adrenaline involuntarily flowing as my body tried to regulate the pace. I wondered if I would wake up the next morning. I had the emergency plan discussed with my partner if I couldn't speak or breath he knew what it was and what to do. I imagined myself pointing to my throat frantically unable to speak.<br />
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I thought I shocked my heart out of rhythm with the sudden cardio bursts when I used a trial gym membership and jogged for the first time in 'a while'. That's when I began to notice the arrhythmia, around Thanksgiving. "This old marathon heart has hung up her sneakers it has been too long, Little Mama". It continued into December so I attributed it to the stress of getting ready for an out of town trip that month.<br />
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When I got back the arrhythmia was still present so I addressed it.<br />
My heart put on a show for the Primary and she sent me to the ER after the EKG. The show continued at the ER and even they were impressed, my heart beat was 110 then down then up and down. I was never faint it was more of a nuisance. After the cardiologist stress test and a 48 hour heart monitor on New Years eve, it turned out to be premature atrial and ventricle contractions. Not life threatening. I could take heart meds or deal with it on my own. <br />
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A relative had similar issues months before me and was diagnosed with anxiety.<br />
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What was my heart telling me? I felt bad that I was so out of touch with myself that my heart had to go nuts to get me to listen. Yes, my mom's cancer was becoming more ever-present. I'll say we liked to just think she didn't feel well not that she was actually dying. She always felt bad then got better but the level to which "better" was starting from began to be pretty low around the same time as my heart issues began.<br />
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Instead of heart pills I turned to <a href="http://www.reiki.org/faq/whatisreiki.html" target="_blank">Reiki</a> in February. Therapy without speaking. I didn't want to speak. My mom passed away in March. When she died I thought my heart has never beat without her in this world. Maybe the issue wasn't stress or loss. Maybe our energy connection was changing as she was getting closer to death and it made my heart out of sync. Now it has to rejigger, like I do, with the lost connection.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBW4T6QpKUAsNm5ZVZCASRvNu_rojOZrkQL2vSESWWz5Gb1Id5bAPwGmisIBbbluyLjHtaBkzhOjgYG8hG9KSnIfYUBgP9EBEtZ7ILhS2bb51-Pg5tpLK6zkgbzSqJtdkTz9ikuJNLKA/s1600/20150316_154357%252520%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBW4T6QpKUAsNm5ZVZCASRvNu_rojOZrkQL2vSESWWz5Gb1Id5bAPwGmisIBbbluyLjHtaBkzhOjgYG8hG9KSnIfYUBgP9EBEtZ7ILhS2bb51-Pg5tpLK6zkgbzSqJtdkTz9ikuJNLKA/s400/20150316_154357%252520%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heart next to my mom's safety deposit box I shared with her. I'd never seen it until I went to get some papers the day before she passed away. Who put that there? <3 </td></tr>
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***Note: Since I've been getting Reiki my heart is much more regulated with few episodes of premature contractions.<br />
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-27689872318620073122015-05-26T23:11:00.000-04:002015-05-26T23:19:41.848-04:00Sometimes Crazy Smells Good<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZx9xjlP_bvTZFzH4tkrLyjkKUAbYpVT-Vj29OYpW8wEpkjrLifzzSj0p2vE7royNX6bCeOn3zmz88CNMl65MFwhQ3UXTfeR222JzlkKLmzaswx1z0bQS3eXL6HS3ZJc5EaBg3bHkFcE/s1600/liberty+van.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZx9xjlP_bvTZFzH4tkrLyjkKUAbYpVT-Vj29OYpW8wEpkjrLifzzSj0p2vE7royNX6bCeOn3zmz88CNMl65MFwhQ3UXTfeR222JzlkKLmzaswx1z0bQS3eXL6HS3ZJc5EaBg3bHkFcE/s400/liberty+van.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liberty Van</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We've all seen this kind of sight a time or two in life. I use to pass a similar car parked in front of a shabby-ish house on my way home in Takoma Park, MD. It's where art meets well, words and a little crazed obsession. Heck, my favorite museum is dedicated to this kind of art; the<a href="http://www.avam.org/"> American Visionary Art Museum</a> in Baltimore, Maryland. It's self taught artists "whose works arise from an innate personal vision that revels foremost in the creative act itself".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">I was reminded of this today when I bought my favorite soap Dr. Bronner's. That "personal vision" writing is all over this product. But the ingredients are great, not animal tested and it's fair trade. So rant on Dr. Bronner, I support you.</span></div>
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-56418073642133197992014-11-24T01:52:00.001-05:002014-11-24T10:37:01.964-05:00I Think I Found Bill Cosby's Monster<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In my job I play a detective. Trying to solve the mysteries of a person's source of muscular or body pain. Usually it is obvious, excessive computer use and sitting. Sometimes it's old whiplash. Every now and then I'm stumped. As we go on I ask more questions. I start to visualize myself in their body doing what they do for a living. As a teacher who stands in front of the class I feel where my arms and legs would be in order for one side of my body to be extremely tight (favors a leg). As a sales person often in the car why would my right arm be stiff (excessive texting). To solve the mystery I temporarily become them.<br />
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The past week I began to do this with Bill Cosby. The victims' stories are mind blowing so I have been compelled to make sense of it. How could such mysteriously bad behavior come from someone who acts like everyone's father? Why would anyone sane do these cowardly acts? It has made me feel tainted. If it is possible for him to fail at doing the right thing how close are any of us from becoming a monster? I had to imagined myself as him to find the source I think to make sure we were different...enough.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://michellebritton.com/</td></tr>
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I nixed the theory that it was a need for control; drugging someone into oblivion so you can have your way - there doesn't seem like anyone to control if they are unconscious. Too easy.<br />
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Why would someone want their rape victim knocked out...<br />
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So often the girls were 19 or close to it. Legally of age but still young enough to be unsure of themselves.<br />
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They were extra-ordinarily beautiful girls. So there is something about this age and beauty.<br />
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Today I got it.<br />
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My current theory goes something like this; when he was a young lad (pre famous) he was sexually shamed or sexually rejected by a beautiful girl who was aprox 19. Someone with whom he had strong feelings for. It was a pivotal moment that haunts him. It cripples him intimately.<br />
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<b>He is intensely afraid of rejection and intimacy. </b><br />
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As his fame grew getting beautiful women interested became easy but dealing with his fear of being sexually ridiculed/rejected was still there. With the fame came the partying and he began to see what the use of Quaaludes did via himself and the company he kept. Eventually he realized he could bypass the fear of rejection totally with whomever he was attracted to by getting them high. It became the norm to get them high before sex. I suppose fame played with his mind and he also began to feel entitled. He seemed to think if he helped them get a job or gave them a contact he was owed. Maybe it was 'they're using me I'll return the favor'. After all he was Bill Cosby. And it worked. Young girls are gullible and trusting (except of themselves). He found a rape loophole where everything lined up to work in his favor so he didn't get busted. He might have rationalized it as unspoken trade agreement.<br />
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Once he found his formula he eventually got so brazen as to create not one but two TV shows with a steady flow of 19 year olds streaming in. Think of the Cosby show and how Mr. Huxtable had 4 daughters all with staggered ages. He could keep the extras & understudies at around age 19 for 10 years if the show kept going. It did for 8 years. And then he created A Different World staring guess what? College freshmen girls*** 19 year olds!!*** I think there could be 100's of victims.<br />
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<b>This is all a theory on an innocent man.</b> But as a mature woman I am going to trust my instincts on this one.<br />
P.S. Now I am thinking there could be an unresolved dad issue that caused self loathing too...<br />
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-31380534474381245832014-10-23T23:59:00.000-04:002014-10-24T08:29:37.742-04:00My Lessons When Someone Else Bares It All<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I'm away from massage on my few days off I feel a little strange coming back into it. Touching mostly nude people with MY hands. These hands that use to type 30 plus emails a day and answer phones at my old job now know something more therapeutic. I have to reassure myself this is happening and I know what to do. I can help melt knots and tight muscles, aide in a person's health and healing if they allow it.<br />
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With this job I have to deal with many personality types, like in life, but here I have learned to put up my protective shield to stop the unwanted energy/responsibility. I had one client who complained of a constant headache from a bad eye surgery. The first half we were talking about many ways she had tried to fix the pain but with no relief and how no doctor wanted to get involved. I found myself feeling ill with empathy from her dead end situation. I needed to put up the wall and do my work. I just tried to use the information to lead my hands. <b>I felt relief when I let myself be o.k. with no responsibility to fix her </b>but I did offer her some avenues for <b>her journey</b>.<br />
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In this business I could take a class on techniques every week for five years and still have not learned everything. I am an infant in massage. That's why now when I get a client who is picky, angry, or judgmental I handle it better than I did in the past. I used to battle intimidation by these types but in massage I'm more relaxed. I'm aware that<b> I can't be anything other than who I currently am.</b> I offer good intention and all the tools that I have. One can choose to receive that or not I can only do my part. One client told me at the end of a massage that it was "beautiful...like a blessing". That made me so happy because she received my message/massage :).<br />
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Therapists can take it personally when a client doesn't relax. I am getting great at separating someone else's STUFF from mine. I had a client whom I could tell was very protective and untrusting when she would scarcely fill out the intake form. On the table she was stiff and kept her bra on, her arms clutched under her chest, her eyes open, she wouldn't use the headrest and she had her phone with her on the table like a Teddy Bear. She lay on the table contorted. This was a massage I was tempted to stop because I felt like we were wasting our time. She was not even relaxing so what was the point. But I kept on and told myself, "this is her massage <b>it's not about me"</b>. <b>I figured out her fear came in with her as we just met.</b> It's never from me. I wondered what experiences she might have had that made her so uncomfortable. When I lifted the sheet to massage her leg her purse lay there under the sheet with her. I had to laugh to myself. I began to empathize and figured this was probably a big step in trust for her so I was glad to be a part of it. She was finicky during the massage; don't touch this or that and can you put the lotion on this way. I obliged her requests because I felt like she <b>wanted me to give up on her</b>. She really put up a fight when someone was being nice to her and I doubt many people had stuck it out with her. She even said the massage was good when we ended. Wow, you just never know what someone has been through!<br />
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Peace!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QrSw2PIGvt_PLTugU8jLbVi22qkZEZr9YTeiz5CLf0kQ2JiZ6UgHXy9iTa96PrfBJTlc5QMkh0pNkGsgsULiTFlTdkoyapwJAgEcvZc1Kf2p7hz0khB4SUdesmWMDySXO5SEWhWWWGw/s1600/sunset_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QrSw2PIGvt_PLTugU8jLbVi22qkZEZr9YTeiz5CLf0kQ2JiZ6UgHXy9iTa96PrfBJTlc5QMkh0pNkGsgsULiTFlTdkoyapwJAgEcvZc1Kf2p7hz0khB4SUdesmWMDySXO5SEWhWWWGw/s1600/sunset_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-35157751803177599712014-05-04T17:52:00.001-04:002014-05-04T17:52:59.638-04:00Quickest Beet Salad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
READY SET GO!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1o5GHAQ1MZrLzbfE7iF8eYlSc0Vc5ZrbQgUlxfqt20QapSl-K76xdh6z-hdJPyL48_Wode36PoYFxkg9ULFXKqvHRGwlwiWVgyqqwOFHqVREMS7bzxm75l1vFXd0Z-JRG33V4OA1CMQ/s1600/beet+salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1o5GHAQ1MZrLzbfE7iF8eYlSc0Vc5ZrbQgUlxfqt20QapSl-K76xdh6z-hdJPyL48_Wode36PoYFxkg9ULFXKqvHRGwlwiWVgyqqwOFHqVREMS7bzxm75l1vFXd0Z-JRG33V4OA1CMQ/s1600/beet+salad.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Drain canned beets<br />
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Add 1/2 pack crumbled Feta<br />
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Drizzle balsamic vinegar<br />
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DONE<br />
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optional:<br />
add chopped walnut<br />
add sliced onion<br />
add to a salad<br />
add spinach<br />
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Dance in circles with joy!<br />
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-62190398604298288302014-04-26T10:31:00.000-04:002014-04-26T10:31:59.140-04:00Happy Things<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sometimes in my world what makes me happy are things. Time and time again these items boost me up and make my insides smile whether I need it or not.<br />
Good smelling soap. Meyer's for the hands and <a href="https://www.google.com/shopping/product/1871169703895717402?q=dr+bronner%27s&rlz=1C1GGGE___US518US518&es_sm=93&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.65397613,d.cWc,pv.xjs.s.en_US.Cf9mlb6I5DA.O&biw=1093&bih=480&dpr=1.25&tch=1&ech=1&psi=A79bU_2VKZG_sQSSw4CoCA.1398521584776.3&ei=D79bU7yiBPLhsATa5oC4Bg&ved=0CJUBEKYrMAE">Doctor Bronner's Magic Soaps for the shower</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZQguRm66klI1ZxL6WKoGCH1Cx09eKJ81FK9W94-QL7eJtlV-6Ara2kZqL_ItkBSfjBWRMZXxUCeyFzAPRNEDBCb0J-_MI0UHljUVtFRQ0jbmv0dlzYt55yXlmVi0ZkbVsO-wWd99yUc/s1600/soap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZQguRm66klI1ZxL6WKoGCH1Cx09eKJ81FK9W94-QL7eJtlV-6Ara2kZqL_ItkBSfjBWRMZXxUCeyFzAPRNEDBCb0J-_MI0UHljUVtFRQ0jbmv0dlzYt55yXlmVi0ZkbVsO-wWd99yUc/s1600/soap.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meyer's Basil</td></tr>
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French wine that lists what grapes are in the bottle. 'Bout time! Hallelujah!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1NmrPaCOpOEDc0I74dgjzbS1rXBphEEU2oXDJCKi7IpOXj28FmKfXz9EH65yLSKLend9JUsNh7Oam2TLPT93O7wKpxWyb_N5BdB7YVrW3AGeSzahAaMLkwXEiRYpoMfJHlkUTvn3aCo/s1600/french+wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1NmrPaCOpOEDc0I74dgjzbS1rXBphEEU2oXDJCKi7IpOXj28FmKfXz9EH65yLSKLend9JUsNh7Oam2TLPT93O7wKpxWyb_N5BdB7YVrW3AGeSzahAaMLkwXEiRYpoMfJHlkUTvn3aCo/s1600/french+wine.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Coffee with body (I had a bad run for a few weeks).<br />
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Snacks that are flavorful without guilt (unless you eat the whole bag).<br />
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Our surprise new kid goat, Chuckie.</div>
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So happy spring from me to you. I hope you find things to make you smile in the daily madness of life. Peace!</div>
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-81159098295596502042014-02-14T23:58:00.000-05:002014-02-15T20:31:36.164-05:00A Year And The Removal Of My Siamese Twin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Almost a year ago in March we went to Las Vegas for a 4 day vacation and my life changed. I had a massage at the Golden Nugget for about $120.00. Now massages for me are sacred and infrequent so when this high dollar rub down was unimpressive I had to wonder if I could make a better living doing massage then my tired corporate 9:00-5:00. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Spending 13 years in the same department I had many fantasies of other careers but nothing moved me enough to make any big changes. There was always something missing. I was as comfortable and as stuck as I could be. What started out a great opportunity with excitement and prestige became a job gnawing at my soul. The need for a change was a thorn in my side like in the movie Basket Case:</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">A young man carrying a big basket that contains his deformed Siamese-twin brother seeks vengeance on the doctors who separated them against their will.</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, you get what I mean.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKDdaQqgRuBfyPPoo8yTYWZMquhHUZqXZOKbxUKaNbFTC-Nt1aqQOdwbFQ4u7FzLnuD0tae6xM99DaCNmazCwe-zxer668uIS8z6wjyxm8o0rUIAZ6mnnqiGZc2QtX6FhcANQ3wFEbbo/s1600/basket+case+twins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKDdaQqgRuBfyPPoo8yTYWZMquhHUZqXZOKbxUKaNbFTC-Nt1aqQOdwbFQ4u7FzLnuD0tae6xM99DaCNmazCwe-zxer668uIS8z6wjyxm8o0rUIAZ6mnnqiGZc2QtX6FhcANQ3wFEbbo/s1600/basket+case+twins.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basket Case 1982<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">When I got home from Las Vegas I was going to get the ball rolling but I got back into my routine and forgot about it. In May I said "oh yeah!" and decided to really pursue massage therapy and never stopped. I began school full time while working full time and was a mommy too. I knew it would be a rough 6 months but I was determined to make the career change. Massage hit all of the buttons I was looking for. Today I passed my national exam for my license. The last step in making this urge a reality. There are many adjustments to this world of freedom outside of the corporation's "embrace" but I feel much more like myself.<br /> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">“Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last.”</span><span style="color: #382110; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.3;">Martin Luther King Jr.</span></h1>
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-72370393633258054512013-12-20T01:21:00.005-05:002013-12-20T01:28:58.720-05:00Don't Worry Be...Something Other Than Worried<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
First off, I have graduated Massage Therapy School with a 100%! Woot woot!<br />
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Without going into <i>everything</i> I'm trying a new approach to Christmas this year; no friggen worries! No, I'm not smoking anything. So far I'm less freaked out about everything happening ON TIME and perfectly than in the past and it's nice. Christmas Dinner has become our host night for extended family. We will have guests before Christmas too. Do I know what I'm cooking yet? NO. Do I have everyone's gifts ready? Pretty sure. Not. Once again this year's Christmas card has someone chopped off in one of the chosen images. If you've used one of those sites you know the cropping ordeal. Now it kinda cracks me up because that's who I am, well intentioned but imperfect and honestly I was over it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaWgMQJcbbOB8EXwQu0SioNlQXUVw4rzdp9NADeO1M_cHeUjeheapTzA3YBfdZ-4KM8E9D8a5eNDOnOohNAy2y0srpk8xkM_boVw8KxE7DklKhxteBi7YyB4ztkmZr2kgw-g0et2cDno/s1600/holiday+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaWgMQJcbbOB8EXwQu0SioNlQXUVw4rzdp9NADeO1M_cHeUjeheapTzA3YBfdZ-4KM8E9D8a5eNDOnOohNAy2y0srpk8xkM_boVw8KxE7DklKhxteBi7YyB4ztkmZr2kgw-g0et2cDno/s400/holiday+2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I don't understand how I have been cooking for so many years now yet I still think I don't know how to cook anything (but awesome nachos and burgers). I actually have never made a turkey. This years right of passage will be TURKEY. Last year it was a <a href="http://bellebyrd.blogspot.com/2012_12_01_archive.html"><span style="color: red;">roast which took a degree in beef</span></a>. Maybe this is me being in denial but I'd like to think it's me trusting that the universe supports me and my winging it. There will be good food and good times.<br />
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In massage therapy class the first rule of thumb was don't judge your classmates...and if you do keep it to yourself. After all, you are vulnerable being undressed in front of strangers. That taught me a lot about my own judgements and need to express them. Would I want someone looking at my body on the table with judgement good or bad? In hopes that we each looked past the individuals' flaws or assets we instead found the studied muscles and bones that we all have. Our commonality.<br />
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Somehow that is part of my new relaxed perspective. I guess the less judging you do of others the less you do to yourself.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Holidays, Ya'll!!</span></b><br />
P.S. This<a href="http://southernfood.about.com/od/pumpkins/r/r71015g.htm"><span style="color: red;"> pumpkin cake</span></a> with brown butter frosting is pretty yummy and easy.</div>
bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-20925015269634709922013-11-26T00:40:00.001-05:002013-11-26T00:50:01.688-05:00There Are Many Roads To Detroit, Man<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Qi translated is "breath" or "life force" in Chinese. Other ancient cultures have a name for it too; chi, prana, mana, lung, and ruah. In other words the concept and recognition of this -thing- has been around a really really long time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo from hawthorncenter.com</td></tr>
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After more than 5 months in massage class where we have focused on physical massage this past week we turned outward to explore energy massage. This has had the whole class bouncing. Even the teachers seemed less guarded. Stories were told about bad spirits getting into open people, chakras were cleared, polarity balancing was done, Reiki was explored, a zero balancing experience was told where an ankle walked across the room and back. We tried to see each others <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aura_(paranormal)">auras</a> and feel them too. People felt mine. I have one, BTW.<br />
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In class I've had that tummy buzz feeling like back when I'd be at a slumber party where we played the Ouija board and our hands slid and pointed words out mysteriously. Or when we chanted "light as a feather stiff as a board" surrounding our friend in her pajamas lifting her up to the ceiling with only two fingers on each of our hands.<br />
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I half believe the magic of energy and want it to be true but I half think there is a reasonable explanation to dismantle the nonsense. I'm more of an observer and less of a subscriber to everything because I hate to be wrong.<br />
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The teacher, who is a Reiki master, was explaining how Reiki is tuning in and channeling the universal energy that already exists into someone to heal what needs it. She said it can be done over the phone or by thinking about them. A leery student began to talk about what she does in her prayer group and the teacher said, "There are many roads to Detroit". I thought that was beautiful. If you want to send someone positive energy, prayer, white light, love, it's all same, man! It's all good.<br />
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I'm a little excited to shake hands with something that is accessible and non denominational. After all one of the main reasons I want to do massage is to give healing through touch. If it's my energy or the available universal energy I'm cool with that.<br />
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-58906276879705548482013-10-27T09:51:00.001-04:002013-11-05T12:58:52.343-05:00Halloween Flashback<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1983 Macon Chronicle (Macon, Missouri) </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One September in 1983 newly into the school year and near my 14th birthday, a young boy my age named Danny Joe Eberle went missing while on his paper route in Bellevue. Days later his body was found a few miles away outside town on a rocky road near the Base.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By this time women's lib was in full effect and there were no stay at home moms within my group of friends. We were all latch-key kids so af</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ter school my girlfriends often favored hanging out at one friend's house. That mom went a little nuts because we ate all of their food, annoyed her sons and probably made a mess. Another of the mothers was more strict and wouldn't tolerate our food invasions at her house plus she had a lot of 'house rules'. A few of us just lived further away so hanging out at other houses was out of the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once this murder occurred the moms got together and it was decided we needed to have a designated home to go to after school so we weren't roaming the streets to get snatched up by the boogyman. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was excited that all of the mothers were going to meet and talk about us. The idea was that w</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">e were to take turns at everyone's house so there was a share in our protection (and finally the food consumption). The moms were going to come home early from work on their day to watch us. Logistically it never got off the ground and we all ended up back in the Jeanettas' cupboards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was also a time when we watched slasher movies for fun like Friday the 13th and Halloween I,2,3, Terror Train, My Bloody Valentine and The Funhouse. I would be going home at night after watching a scary movie where 20 people got cut up in the woods and end up running all of the way. That year Halloween had an extra scary dimension knowing someone was really out there snatching up kids. I'm sure all of the parents were more afraid than we were. The line between fact and film was blurry for us but we still had the cloak of parental protection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For further reading on subject check out </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Need-Kill-True-Crime-Nebraskas-Notorious/dp/0988928310/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382878852&sr=1-1&keywords=joubert+john" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A Need To Kill</a>.</div>
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-30075426524935804432013-09-27T00:41:00.001-04:002013-11-12T12:47:03.193-05:00Coffee In The Dark<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Around here the sun makes a sudden shift when the seasons change. The same day the weather changes the sunlight takes on it's new angle. In the flip of a flip-flop you need to change out your wardrobe. In this case to sweaters and long pants. Didn't I just get my shorts out? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I start craving syrupy flavors added in my coffee. Pumpkin and allspice taste better now, not too heavy like in the warmer months. (But five seconds after Thanksgiving my tastes buds are done with PUMPKIN!) I want to lay down more rugs. Tone down the accent colors. Cook more and have plenty stocked in the cupboards. I dye my hair red instead of blonde. Cooler weather means long dog walks are tolerable but now we have to watch the clock so the sun doesn't go down while we're out. </span><br />
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Photo credit <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: start;">Susan Weiner </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I w</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ash the down comforters.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Get the coats and scarves ready. The mittens matched up. We have coats but here they're more for fashion. Not hardly needed until February.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Nebraska I don't recall the sudden shift around the equinox of a season. It was more like a bipolar episode going between high and low temps until you were in the belly of it. And then it was dark for 6 months. You got snow tires and changed to a winter antifreeze or your car wouldn't start. And you were so very cold. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There would be spurts of sneaky warm days in March. We would layout in our shorts if it was 50 or 60 degrees desperate for sun, color and vitamin D. And then it would go back to sub zero and freezing at least until April, bipolaring until it was 98% humidity and 100 degrees. No wonder it's a very tornado friendly place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm getting very sleepy...it's time for a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://blogs.app.com/food/2012/10/16/pumpkin-lattes/">pumpkin latte.</a></span></div>
bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-74422762685280259912013-09-02T00:16:00.000-04:002013-09-02T00:17:09.953-04:00Flavor Of Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">You'd think I had an affair with all of the freedom of the night the newness of the setting and the lust for the flavors of something more delicate than thawed meat.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Many things have taken the back burner the last few years. Going to artsy movies and well, o.k. creativity in general have all shriveled from disregard. Energy and brain power seems to be used up in </span><span style="font-size: large;">time management of kid meals</span><span style="font-size: large;">, kid entertaining and kid needs among other must-get-done things. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Gone are the days of paging through gourmet fish recipes and taking my time in the kitchen to prepare them. Food prep has to be quick and interrupted. As for eating out - that has to be quick too. The few times we've attempted it Mountain Man says, "This is the last time we take them out until they're in high school."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For my birthday we were invited to go out to eat and I jumped on it like a cat in heat. The prospect of a meal with adults and no kids, even if it was at IHOP, was a sublime gift.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine Map by Tuscaroa Mill</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I poured over the choices. Where to go, where to go!! My creative juices although rusty turned on. Should we go to D.C. to a happening place or Middleburg steeped in history and texture or Bethesda where finding parking takes an extra 45 minutes. I settled on Leesburg. We are so close but I have little food knowledge of the area.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We went to <a href="http://www.tuskies.com/">Tuscarora Mill</a>. I had often passed by the windows going to and from yoga. The patrons inside were enjoying holiday meals and after work </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, arial, verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">tête-à-têtes</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">. It always looked like a nice time, the reviews were decent and it has easy parking!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What a beautiful time. I took the lead and we started with a really good local wine with the help of the sommelier, a 2011 <a href="http://www.notavivavineyards.com/">Verano</a></span><span style="font-size: large;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried pork belly which the chefs on t.v. often rave about. The meal was great. The company and conversation spectacular, I'm still soaking it in a week later with n</span><span style="font-size: large;">o regrets. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The beauty of age.</span><br />
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-91085968923317460842013-08-19T00:26:00.003-04:002013-08-19T00:42:46.784-04:00Steam Trains Dream Trains <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For months my two year old has been obsessively into steam trains. Every night I ask her what she is going to dream about and she says, "Choo-choo trains!" We rode the Metro but that just seemed like such a cheap substitute for the real thing. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I found her a surprise and we went over the mountains to Cass, West Virginia to ride a true blue steam train. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Meadows Lodge</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The route from our place was scenic as navigated by Mountain Man. We started on Skyline Drive a lovely road along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> National Park. We stopped for sunset and a bite at the old Blue Meadows Lodge built in 1939. It had the same vibe as a Yellowstone lodge, timeless and nostalgic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I already want to go back (without the sick kids next time).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We stopped for the night in Staunton, Virginia and did a quick a.m. tour of the attractive old town which was a decent size. I even forgot it was a weekday since we found parking during "morning rush hour". My kind of town. We left for Cass and went over 3 mountains arriving in less than two hours. The ears were popping a lot. Oh and near Frost, WV we stopped for gas justincasewewerestuckinthewoodslater. I went in for snacks and, shut the front door right now, I heard something frying at the cash register. Sure enough it was fried chicken!! The lady was jiving gossip, selling lotto and making buckets o chicken.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Cass we had our choice of a 2 hour ride or a 4 hour ride and went with the shorter option with the little kiddies in tow, g</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ood move. The trains were big, steamy, loud and so cool. The cars are open so check the weather. </span><a href="http://www.cassrailroad.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is their link for info.</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the ride we were on our way to stay in a cabin in <a href="http://www.watoga.com/">Watoga State Park </a> for a few days. Looking for a place to stay that night we started in Snowshoe Village a</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> huge summit </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">complex/town built around a ski</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mountain. It was so </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">deserted it was like we stepped into</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The Shining </i>summer version. So we opted for another town down the road and stayed in a pre -civil war cabin in Marlinton, WV called <a href="http://www.jericobb.com/">Jerico cabins</a>. Our cabin was romantic and next to a babbling brook. We had to leave in the middle of the night for a sick baby and cut our trip short. But I hope to go back over the mountains and explore WV parks more in the near future where the state motto is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mountaineers Are Always Free" .</span><br />
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-23859694819006086692013-08-11T21:38:00.001-04:002013-08-12T09:52:05.393-04:00Demolition Derby Date<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;">Got us a dirt track date</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;">Demolition derby figure eight</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;">Eat my dinner off a paper plate</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;">Eliminations start at 8</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Friday night I had a hot date with Mountain Man at the county fair. We attended the Demolition Derby on the fairs opening night. It was $2.00 extra for the grand stand event. I called ahead of time to make sure we didn't have to worry about the event selling out. There was silence on the other end of the line. "You can come get tickets the night of the event and it won't be sold out. It's never sold out." I felt like I had stumbled upon a best kept secret. The greatest $2.00 I've ever spent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The crowd was good for people watching and second hand smoke inhalation. We were near the front row to try and take some decent photos. But the entire fire department crew and every other visual obstacle parked right in front of us. We saw the 8 cylinders in 2 heats and then a final championship heat. The contestants' car paint and names were quite creative. Hood Bros., Derby Dogs, 666, Wild and Crazy, True Blue Heat, etc. It was a straight dirt track and winner was last car standing. Tricks like driving in reverse, double & triple teaming and escaping on the bank, were used. Such strategy, who knew?<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1452777671"> </a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llJkMHR0sms&feature=em-upload_owner">Here are my videos of the event</a> & <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1V-RR9_b0E&feature=em-upload_owner">here.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The announcer was lively and the waiting was minimal. The dirt and exhaust were nonexistent (except on the bleacher and my light seersucker pants). They announced that Wednesday there is a minivan demolition derby - words can't describe the beauty in the thought of one of the ugliest vehicles created being smashed into scraps where it should remain. (We have one.) I wonder if there are female drivers in that one. It's kind of their advantage. </span><br />
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-87857315676287664122013-07-25T13:50:00.000-04:002013-07-25T13:55:02.063-04:00Wearing My Upcycle Goggles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">O.K. now this type of suitcase is something I have seen turned into tables so I'm going to attempt to do this as one of my projects. Combining thrifting with creativity and I'm in. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So I'm going to cut the legs off of that Craig's List table and attach them to the below thrifted suitcase.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It doesn't hurt that I have a brilliant carpenter side kick, a.k.a. Mountain Man to help my ideas come to life. Failure I have learned is part of success. So what if it ends up sucking, I'll re-donate it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_A5bcQGmgjBZwbMsKAWqXCUmCkA3CBgNk9sbuGP3kFIOK3mCPEQGfFjlLXFTnivLyoLqCu6D2dSMa3XAExieeET88TPFW1_fO2R8pFWz-n1ITFdlDLZ59wqKXL07V3k5ea1gFVhMwj8/s1600/20130725_114943+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_A5bcQGmgjBZwbMsKAWqXCUmCkA3CBgNk9sbuGP3kFIOK3mCPEQGfFjlLXFTnivLyoLqCu6D2dSMa3XAExieeET88TPFW1_fO2R8pFWz-n1ITFdlDLZ59wqKXL07V3k5ea1gFVhMwj8/s400/20130725_114943+(1).jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Also saw this today and we have plenty of down trees so I want to make some of these, natural and useful!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDqhRtn43Gxy4HsGYMCijBPREKH-WfISrMwVqUjXasH1eobfZXCunUUNdvHk9D1BJt1PD_lThnhJs2mUUP06L0kTS4HAKYTyWMXGeCff3EeRZXL-mhNVFzF38oos8k-NLeX888Wz2Gl0/s1600/20130725_104842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDqhRtn43Gxy4HsGYMCijBPREKH-WfISrMwVqUjXasH1eobfZXCunUUNdvHk9D1BJt1PD_lThnhJs2mUUP06L0kTS4HAKYTyWMXGeCff3EeRZXL-mhNVFzF38oos8k-NLeX888Wz2Gl0/s320/20130725_104842.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have some more things waiting in the wings so hopefully I'll have something to show shortly.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> PEACE!</span></div>
bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-7270096587033290572013-07-17T23:46:00.002-04:002013-07-18T06:58:44.732-04:00Putting The Horse Back In Front<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3vFZwPIHPCISvGmubjzFlqFC6_OI_YFbC-sJTNJaeoNKDB36XyCfDyvugCVA3EWwqK4DjFpafUHLfxkPOwwH5oHUGzrtQ8qtOOSkNssjbc2rDQSk3JBi3yK3bTuKr70Hn1kY-jpgdj4/s1600/putting_the_cart_before_the_horse_ii_ordey138312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3vFZwPIHPCISvGmubjzFlqFC6_OI_YFbC-sJTNJaeoNKDB36XyCfDyvugCVA3EWwqK4DjFpafUHLfxkPOwwH5oHUGzrtQ8qtOOSkNssjbc2rDQSk3JBi3yK3bTuKr70Hn1kY-jpgdj4/s400/putting_the_cart_before_the_horse_ii_ordey138312.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="artistB" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 14px; text-transform: uppercase;">ROBERT DEYBER</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Varela, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 14px;">, </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Varela, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 14px;">Putting the Cart Before the Horse </em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week finds me unemployed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luckily that hasn't happened since 1991.The beginnings of a new perspective are emerging but so far I'm still searching for a good natural deodorant. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've gotten to think about what I really want to do with my time and my first thought was make furniture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had time to do my hair (I haven't blown it dry nor flat ironed the wave out in months).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I noticed without the guaranteed paycheck coming in I have had to get off the gerbil wheel where I am constantly thinking,"what can I buy next". Just days prior I thought what if I could see I don't NEED anything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cancelled my subscriptions to the sites that send me daily sale notices.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lost 5 pounds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had time to study for my test on a weekday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got to swing and dance with my daughter on a weekday. And read my son a book.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I asked myself how was I doing everything before?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took a nap.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put my laundry away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got an "A" on a test.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's only Wednesday.</span></div>
bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-79843897681868406982013-07-08T16:18:00.001-04:002013-07-09T10:32:42.031-04:00Sexual Assult Is Everyone's Issue<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here is a TED talk from a man who calls the violence against women a men's issue. YES!<br />
<a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/jackson_katz_violence_against_women_it_s_a_men_s_issue.html"><span style="color: red;">http://www.ted.com/talks/jackson_katz_violence_against_women_it_s_a_men_s_issue.html</span></a><br />
There seemed to be a lot of interest in the blog about <a href="http://bellebyrd.blogspot.com/2013/05/massage-often-reveals-my-junk.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">my first massage</span></a> and I have to think it was because I talked some about overcoming sexual abuse. A long time ago I heard a statistic that 1 in 4 women will be a victim of sexual assault. When I heard that I was in a large auditorium full of students and I looked around the room and thought how many of us were in the same boat like it or not. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="272" src="http://genderuniversity.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dsc_0208.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One in four college women report being sexually assaulted <a href="http://genderuniversity.com/">http://genderuniversity.com</a></td></tr>
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My abuse was from a trusted person, as most abuses are. He was my gym teacher when I was about 6 years old. It took me many years to realize there was abuse because um, I was a baby! Back then I thought of him as a favorite teacher and I was sad when he left our elementary school. Years later in Jr. High I ran into him in the hallway as a dean at my new school and my fond memories evolved into, "Hey wait a second!" I was cold to him (as a 12-14 year old) through the years there. He seemed to be confined to the boys' gym activities at that school anyway so our encounters were few. I warned my little sister of him once she attended but that's the only person I felt the need to tell at the time.<br />
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In college I wrote about the abuse in a creative writing class. Still just seeing it as a previous incident. In the papers grade notes the professor suggested<em> I might speak to a professional about the matter.</em> That didn't register because I always saw it as something "in the past". There was nothing to it anymore as far as I knew. <br />
<br />
In discussing the college paper with my parents I got some more information about what happened. My mother said she went to the principle at one point because I cried over a report card where Mr. _ gave me a "C". She said I was extremely upset. I told her he promised me an "A" (if I did what he asked). Hopefully that red flag had something to do with why he got moved to Jr. High teaching boys. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3i6xc1o1ePmBqUkJYHvWw8mW5f0grjG-N6kGGH_sEs889Bsn_cfANH0fYdLkA3T_vsGoSuYoFHY4DtVRwfvngw2gII6iG4BoboDO3uJTsdm-WNcQmbo_Bt2bp2BkwhyBST-FkqKxd1k/s1600/SexualAbuse2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3i6xc1o1ePmBqUkJYHvWw8mW5f0grjG-N6kGGH_sEs889Bsn_cfANH0fYdLkA3T_vsGoSuYoFHY4DtVRwfvngw2gII6iG4BoboDO3uJTsdm-WNcQmbo_Bt2bp2BkwhyBST-FkqKxd1k/s320/SexualAbuse2.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/sexinfo/">http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/sexinfo/</a></td></tr>
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Fast forward to my first massage at age 24 where I came to the realization the abuse was not confined to the past but still with me. I discovered there was still distrust in my body revealed in the very spot he would sit near. After the massage it was more clear to me how in my daily life I was putting myself in similar uncomfortable situations but allowing it because it was what someone else wanted. What I wanted was secondary and unfamiliar. I realized I had been repeating that same situation over and over and over up to the present day. Still experiencing that discomfort and having no voice it was as if I had been 6 all of those years. I became very sad. I was diagnosed with PTSD in therapy and was prescribed pills for a year.<br />
But I also broke the cycle.<br />
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Yes, this is personal information. It's boiled down but there is no shame just one of my life's many victories. <br />
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-20825236244407950022013-06-21T13:48:00.004-04:002013-06-22T14:10:28.128-04:00A View Of Mimi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Periodically I'd like to introduce you to some creative people so we can;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Voyeur into other interesting peoples lives</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Show how creativity can be people's passion and a career, hobby, gift or lifestyle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My first guest is Mimi who recently made a huge leap and left a career to pursue her writing aspirations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><em><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where do you live? How did you end up
there?<o:p></o:p></span></strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I live in Cocoa, Florida across the
Indian River from Kennedy Space Center. From our house there’s great view of
the VAB (Vehicular Assembly Building) where they used to work on the Shuttles.
I’m a space freak, so this is awesome for me (cue I Dream of Jeannie music). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grew up in New Smyrna Beach a little further
north.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few years ago, I reconnected
with a childhood friend, who’s now an aerospace engineer, and we got married.</span> </span><br />
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</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbOkbamgh0nk1E0kZOLyue5xoObhasM7Q7pyxyVFwql-aMNubCBjcSzIF2aGx37P0wAipqx9Ik4twM7qVQ0_iXObA1x18-Dsmb_y-5O0s9qLblPF4XIKPtVIZ6koH7SgkVf8dPtkDMmQ/s1600/heron+haven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNbOkbamgh0nk1E0kZOLyue5xoObhasM7Q7pyxyVFwql-aMNubCBjcSzIF2aGx37P0wAipqx9Ik4twM7qVQ0_iXObA1x18-Dsmb_y-5O0s9qLblPF4XIKPtVIZ6koH7SgkVf8dPtkDMmQ/s400/heron+haven.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Heron Haven, Mimi's masterpiece</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><strong>What do you do for a living or to pass
your days?</strong></em> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m a recovering librarian. I quit my job to pursue </span><a href="http://pinterest.com/modmimi/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pinterest</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> full time. Sometimes I blog at </span></span><a href="http://mimsywords.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://mimsywords.wordpress.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not have any kids to interfere with my
selfish life, but I do have four crazy dogs who are total
pain-in-the-asses. I’ve been decorating
and renovating a house that I share with my husband and in-laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and I lied about kids: I have a great
stepson who lives with us part time. We
try not to interrupt his X-Box schedule. We call him the teen yeti because I go
into his room every 48 hours or so to collect his pizza crusts, meat bones, and
soda cans.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><em><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do you like to do creatively?<o:p></o:p></span></strong></em></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting
dressed is my most creative act of the day – it’s the only consistently
creative thing I do, too, because I am ADD and lazy as hell. It is a complete
miracle that I have two master’s degrees, and I <span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";">guess that’s because I’m a good academic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anything is hard, I quit, cause I can’t
handle failure. I have a vast vintage
clothing collection. I love art,and I
read nearly every minute of the day when I’m not on Pinterest, and I go to a
lot of thrift stores. I would love to
learn to sew.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><em>Please Attach a picture of something you have made or that you like!!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Am
just obsessed with anything colorful, Southern, or folk arty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out the Work of Wayne White. Then again, I’m an Anglophile and love to read anything about
aristocratic Brits like the Mitfords. Oh, also I love jazz. And cars.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And architecture. And museums. And
movies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Masterpiece Theater.</span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"> Honey Boo. It’s all good.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2YqgP7NHDYbmiQYm-vsNb6EdkT_nKuYovLiDsny9LMPXMganr7E71kMdfML8u3vhbV7G4W5EMAhFkSQv5A2zprlHRT1vcG2eGOQlYuHjJK_CJ7eJKMT9TaOmvzUUsvaOn4rLg1b2UOs/s400/lsd.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Wayne White</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><em>What is your favorite place you have visited? Why?</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New Orleans and Savannah – fun, jaw
dropping beauty, musical, arty,history all over the damn place, great
cocktails,grits,tacky and sophisticated at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><em><strong>What floats your boat right now? Attach
any photos of this!</strong></em></span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m having a Walker Evans summer.He’s the photographer who did all those shots
of people on the subway,and I think he’s pretty much the first person who
started treating American road signs and billboards seriously.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixz7aIQJCUMLmQOjCiREdkSERni08VgGnrMmfW-trjXFWW_D3PGdCt05O9h49sv-D4mmQD6-xymjo_zZR4p4VgsjhHeqKE4P7FU0fh8xLmE127OUgyOVexmv0IGb_1I218qaSkGhS0IOU/s400/walker+evans.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Walker Evans </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><em><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please show us a photo of your favorite
spot in your house and tell us why it is so.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><em><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Console"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Console";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s where I read, write, do Pinterest, and sleep, within easy cuddling
reach of my dogs and easy view of the river. Here I am with pugs Tater Tot,
Sammy, and a recent “Are You Saved?” piece I bought in North Carolina. Oh, and
a piece of driftwood that I rescued from an insane dude</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
who was going to carve it into a fucking dragon (not that I am averse to
dragons – I love me some Game of Thrones, too.)</span> </span></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-EMdprmMSxsSFJJtOPk4P93MJ9jhjB7BdRYrnbteXqfIIULsqhVxebiXgfvYe8_SSGg3leJ60LIlHUpPmJAanx7SRXLqotHQXRB13DbT7BSESGzQpYCvcKGf3gjVHDGXfxAvz-l2Ce0/s1600/mimi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-EMdprmMSxsSFJJtOPk4P93MJ9jhjB7BdRYrnbteXqfIIULsqhVxebiXgfvYe8_SSGg3leJ60LIlHUpPmJAanx7SRXLqotHQXRB13DbT7BSESGzQpYCvcKGf3gjVHDGXfxAvz-l2Ce0/s400/mimi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mimi @ home</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you, Mimi! I hope you enjoyed one of my favorite creative people. xoxo</span></div>
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-48900358816446835372013-06-13T11:32:00.001-04:002013-06-17T13:28:44.178-04:00Night Market Philly Is A Food Truck Party<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Night Markets are a common destination in Asian Cities. They are open air casual markets with live food preparation, fresh local cuisine and something to solidify a perhaps otherwise liquid evening. Now add the U.S. and food trucks. OH YES!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGg2EFFf7sOA2D2cq2EaPPsWlaxB9ZlJxqImkd5kDFQi81boE1wu1RmorEnRRf_EEW4egxc-s5SqgUvAC4jv-Ynn58aa_Wi6XJUCGwDmmQJCrW5XEvUSVFFYd8eBAamYm9aZXFnlIMZQ/s1600/night+market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGg2EFFf7sOA2D2cq2EaPPsWlaxB9ZlJxqImkd5kDFQi81boE1wu1RmorEnRRf_EEW4egxc-s5SqgUvAC4jv-Ynn58aa_Wi6XJUCGwDmmQJCrW5XEvUSVFFYd8eBAamYm9aZXFnlIMZQ/s400/night+market.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Miaokou Night Market, Taiwan photograph by Neil Wade <em>My Shot</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am drooling literally. I have a big love for food trucks, festivals and travel so this Philadelphia roving Night Market makes me giddy. I'm excited for the vendors who get to feature their goods and the lucky patrons who will have access to unique eats all in one place. I hope this catches on to more cities around the U.S.A.</span><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/460716504022678/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philadelphia Night Market June 20, 2013 6-10 p.m.</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is a video about the Philadelphia Night Market which travels to different neighborhoods and has live music! From what I can gather it's only once a year right now. Bon appetit!</span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqlA_7oSwY8Pa"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqlA_7oSwY8<em>Pa</em></span></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGu8JQSOUA-1SFF8WaLXFAUqIbGYsEPjH6I9ncWXURf68vx-iZpopz9vmtXjK6ppkE8aHyADIlW7PJQw5MijRm5dUUuBxGJAU5RIQvJ5PgY4YZISFx5BEPEWk2VrdSTqijOKPgtjB8VJI/s1600/night+market+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGu8JQSOUA-1SFF8WaLXFAUqIbGYsEPjH6I9ncWXURf68vx-iZpopz9vmtXjK6ppkE8aHyADIlW7PJQw5MijRm5dUUuBxGJAU5RIQvJ5PgY4YZISFx5BEPEWk2VrdSTqijOKPgtjB8VJI/s400/night+market+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Michaelangelo Ilagan for The Food Trust</td></tr>
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</div>
bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-87699970423926587562013-06-12T13:47:00.000-04:002013-06-17T13:29:04.741-04:00Clearing Chakras For Grandma<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://decording.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/chakra1.jpg?w=1024&h=855" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-44" height="332" src="http://decording.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/chakra1.jpg?w=1024&h=855" title="Chakra" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://decording.wordpress.com/">http://decording.wordpress.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">I want to talk about
massage and changing generational habits. A while ago I understood the concept that we can
stop, redirect or change behaviors in ourselves that have been going on in our
family line for generation after generation which was so empowering to me. If I could
change myself I could stop dysfunction for future generations. The buck could
stop here? That is amazing to think about. Each of us has so much power for
change that effects not only ourselves and our future family’s behavior but
might I say the world.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">That concept came up recently again
when I got a massage for lower back pain where there is so much tightness in my
hip area. My sister said, "We (our family) inherited tight muscles
there".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">After the massage I had a
lot more emotions surfacing and I looked up what the energy gurus say is
contained in that region. I thought what if it's not the tight muscles my family inherited but the way we process or don't process our emotions that we
pass on and on. As a result we end up with tight hips and back pain. That's kinda
what I've been thinking about. And the fact I sit way too much.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Do you have any family
traits or behaviors that you can identify?</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Above is one of several
chakra charts out there. I find it interesting to note what could be going on
where there is pain or tightness.</span></span><br />
<strong>Sacral Chakra </strong>– The sacral chakra located about two inches below the belly button. It is associated with emotions, sex, manifestation, trusting the universe, and feeling enough. When the chakra is closed, a person will try to control everything in their reality and not be open to assistance. They will often feel inferior and unworthy. When the chakra is opened and balanced, they will be flowing in alignment with the universe and working with it. <a href="http://www.youaretrulyloved.com/enlightenment/vocabulary/#C">http://www.youaretrulyloved.com/enlightenment/vocabulary/#C</a></div>
bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-26178165188431344922013-05-31T15:33:00.002-04:002013-07-28T13:37:01.915-04:00Massage Often Reveals My Junk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMJUtC6AFYL53LnywP-O_HMOuRPyr56ih2aaV_rlo-v5HsyKmNM9xIlWU00Vo5JIgW96wIGzn6pcFVF6N87_wpkoM0Gd07Ls09AtyvCphaTQtxj9951xDdzW_8j-6uzlPmE7XbRMid0Y/s1600/swedish-holistic-+jpg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMJUtC6AFYL53LnywP-O_HMOuRPyr56ih2aaV_rlo-v5HsyKmNM9xIlWU00Vo5JIgW96wIGzn6pcFVF6N87_wpkoM0Gd07Ls09AtyvCphaTQtxj9951xDdzW_8j-6uzlPmE7XbRMid0Y/s400/swedish-holistic-+jpg.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://www.mastermassagetables.com/blog"><span class="textlogo">Daily Cup of Massage</span></a></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My first massage was not my idea. I was in my mid 20's and had a friend who was getting into spiritual stuff and healing. She did the research and always found Cat psychics, Priests who told your fortune, Mormon housewife healers, Psychiatrists and Doctors who would treat her for free. She swore by this energy massage guy</span><a href="http://www.blueberrygardens.org/robert-true.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> <span style="color: blue;">Robert True</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> and thought I should go for some healing myself. I just wanted someone to rub my tight neck.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I went alone to a regular house in an upper class neighborhood and parked around back where the basement studio was one evening. Robert was nice but it wasn't a traditional Swedish Massage. He did strange breathing </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">exhaling</span> and I told myself I'm not falling for this stuff. I hadn't really heard of foot reflexology at the time but I recall the footwork and the pain he found in the arch of my feet. OMG!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Near the end I was lying face down when he was moving up from my feet and stopped at my mid back. His hands just hovered there for what seemed like many minutes. Doing nothing. I went from questioning him to anger for wasting massage time to utter deep sadness. He revealed to me the lack of trust I carried from abuse done by a teacher who would sit close to that very spot when I was just six. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I wept as I got dressed. I couldn't explain it at the time and I never expected anything like that to happen. But that massage changed my life in a positive way. It started an avalanche of events toward my healing from a trauma I hadn't realize was still with me.</span></div>
bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-36131994647629879672013-05-20T14:59:00.005-04:002013-05-23T10:07:36.812-04:00Tonics and Trailers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNtVDdKsqPmflevp7aAfMunMkdkq5F1I-6ukPywf-M5U5g_nTcuKvrJh3ga1LB71icD99JIhfi3btWe0dQUKFBywlAq5awrZSszEqpcCIQ-IyPN2YfWzKgxZS4YuZRXDfd-o0BVLNscs/s400/airstream+flamingos.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the HiddenList.com</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNtVDdKsqPmflevp7aAfMunMkdkq5F1I-6ukPywf-M5U5g_nTcuKvrJh3ga1LB71icD99JIhfi3btWe0dQUKFBywlAq5awrZSszEqpcCIQ-IyPN2YfWzKgxZS4YuZRXDfd-o0BVLNscs/s1600/airstream+flamingos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNtVDdKsqPmflevp7aAfMunMkdkq5F1I-6ukPywf-M5U5g_nTcuKvrJh3ga1LB71icD99JIhfi3btWe0dQUKFBywlAq5awrZSszEqpcCIQ-IyPN2YfWzKgxZS4YuZRXDfd-o0BVLNscs/s1600/airstream+flamingos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNtVDdKsqPmflevp7aAfMunMkdkq5F1I-6ukPywf-M5U5g_nTcuKvrJh3ga1LB71icD99JIhfi3btWe0dQUKFBywlAq5awrZSszEqpcCIQ-IyPN2YfWzKgxZS4YuZRXDfd-o0BVLNscs/s1600/airstream+flamingos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNtVDdKsqPmflevp7aAfMunMkdkq5F1I-6ukPywf-M5U5g_nTcuKvrJh3ga1LB71icD99JIhfi3btWe0dQUKFBywlAq5awrZSszEqpcCIQ-IyPN2YfWzKgxZS4YuZRXDfd-o0BVLNscs/s1600/airstream+flamingos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNtVDdKsqPmflevp7aAfMunMkdkq5F1I-6ukPywf-M5U5g_nTcuKvrJh3ga1LB71icD99JIhfi3btWe0dQUKFBywlAq5awrZSszEqpcCIQ-IyPN2YfWzKgxZS4YuZRXDfd-o0BVLNscs/s1600/airstream+flamingos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</a>Pre summer goings ons;<br />
<br />
The <span style="color: #e06666;">Party Deck</span> is near completion. Rain, dog fight & two sick kids prevented the concrete bench seat from being poured this weekend. Got a good deal on Craigslist patio chairs but darn-it-all they are another project.<br />
<br />
Made <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/amish-noodles-223730"><span style="color: #e06666;">Amish Noodles</span></a> and they were dang good. Both kids liked them too & so easy. Noodles, butter, chicken bouillon and chicken broth. BAM!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/38280665555602687/"><span style="color: #e06666;">Pink Bikinis</span></a> (Pink Puds @ my house) are back on the cocktail menu and are most excellent.<br />
3 ingredients = delish!<br />
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Going to try this <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/veggie-wash-163807"><span style="color: #e06666;">veggie wash</span></a> to get my summer produce clean! The grapefruit extract is throwing me off and I need a cute spray bottle.<br />
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<a href="http://greek.food.com/recipe/gingery-marinated-chickpeas-196899?ic1=obnetwork"><span style="color: #e06666;">Marinated Chickpeas</span></a> - Ginger root. I keep buying it and not using so I've got this on the mental menu.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cassrailroad.com/"><span style="color: #e06666;">Cass Scenic Railroad</span></a> - Summer Vaca planning on tap involves steam trains, baby.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/peter_singer_the_why_and_how_of_effective_altruism.html?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_campaign=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_content=image__2013-05-20"><span style="color: #e06666;">TED talks</span></a> been listening to these almost daily. It's where I would like to be one day. Really knowledgeable about something helpful.<br />
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Daydream dominating is an Airstream guesthouse.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb_v5FXeMmeMVpFDN5DgI2QB9jLG03aTbr9r-3v0u5luMJmm5Lrds4RFA4eLNBDQE0IL1tjtAfMqQJXYvL49_CbQnHjPMOsT7nY2IRNLcVOHM0fbTdlZG6MlgJINWF_vV-WwoHm08oqw/s1600/airstream+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb_v5FXeMmeMVpFDN5DgI2QB9jLG03aTbr9r-3v0u5luMJmm5Lrds4RFA4eLNBDQE0IL1tjtAfMqQJXYvL49_CbQnHjPMOsT7nY2IRNLcVOHM0fbTdlZG6MlgJINWF_vV-WwoHm08oqw/s320/airstream+cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yelp</td></tr>
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I'm getting ready to start <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/38280665555602943/"><span style="color: #e06666;">massage therapy</span></a> classes so I'll post some blogs about health coming soon. Cheers!<br />
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-62182401721229192312013-05-13T17:42:00.000-04:002013-05-23T10:08:06.658-04:00Leaving California For Good<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AqxXgbL-UEaX-FCECXzcJdg2XtNZhkQO8EVXDTrgXPhnAvKDY_PctC1Oqn9qo3jL8rsk7aUZlApW3hhKAV4y17WQzmjEC5nTXHP2zdhyphenhyphenvMDpAXctPVhbVhMvfyUYGmtNzSpXhLoy9sI/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AqxXgbL-UEaX-FCECXzcJdg2XtNZhkQO8EVXDTrgXPhnAvKDY_PctC1Oqn9qo3jL8rsk7aUZlApW3hhKAV4y17WQzmjEC5nTXHP2zdhyphenhyphenvMDpAXctPVhbVhMvfyUYGmtNzSpXhLoy9sI/s400/1.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Mom at the beach early 60's</td></tr>
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Every moment is as unique as a snowflake and will not be repeated. <br />
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In the early 80's we were in San Diego, California one summer visiting my grandparents and cousins when I was 11. It was a trip full of family and new experiences like bonfires, beach volleyball, big Pacific waves, and the golden-warm sun of Southern California. People there camped on weekends all year round and took their family Christmas pictures in shorts. My feathered hair kept it's curl and we were told when playing outside not to go too far because of Mexican workers hiding in the fields behind my grandparent's house. The highway was 8 lanes wide, twice the size of Nebraska's highways.<br />
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I didn't know it then but it was one of the best trips of my young life. I realized this only upon reflection months and years later. I began to wonder why I didn't know how fabulous the trip was while I was on it. Why I appreciated it so much after it was over not while I was taking the evening walks on the beach. I wanted the chance to do it again so I could appreciate it more as it was happening.<br />
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This has been an experience I have weighed over the years. I've slowly been learning to breathe, taste and feel the life of a moment right when it happens. I know how to recognize better when they are going to happen. Like 10 years ago for my dad's 70th birthday all of my siblings and I gave him a surprise visit for a few days at his lake house. I told myself how special times like these are because they may never happen again. Even if they do it will never be just like this. I remind myself, <br />
This is it!<br />
Enjoy it now!<br />
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It's confusing a little because in the movies important moments are often made so grandiose and obvious. In life I have often tried to imitate art where I was sure it couldn't be a memorable time without a drunken night of shenanigans. It had to be crazy and loud to count. This is not the case but I had to figure that out s l o w l y. For years I also thought there will always be a Thanksgiving or another holiday together. I took a lot of time for granted because I thought things wouldn't ever change. Well my illusion that there is a perpetual suspension of time has tapped on my shoulder and said it's time to leave California. And as my parents (and everyone)get older I hope to feel the life in as many moments as I can. Isn't it beautiful!<br />
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-37338692594860280922013-05-10T15:23:00.001-04:002013-05-23T10:10:09.038-04:00Born That Way<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3L7Cx84im9IgFeAVnGmLOd_Ahhgb5Qe782KjFtQXgUPLfQDTNS5ighmE5PuOL6NrS1U20cUa1rXnh5Fu7XwIE3QvwYfumYTlpxGV3SehRuT43J1ORMzPhlaW0wb7eKtwnqDW_C1gZAo/s1600/babybump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3L7Cx84im9IgFeAVnGmLOd_Ahhgb5Qe782KjFtQXgUPLfQDTNS5ighmE5PuOL6NrS1U20cUa1rXnh5Fu7XwIE3QvwYfumYTlpxGV3SehRuT43J1ORMzPhlaW0wb7eKtwnqDW_C1gZAo/s400/babybump.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mummy tummy </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We woman are genetically made in a way that helps keep living things alive, nurtured and loved.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who knew those crazy characteristics I've always had would come in handy when I began to care for the life of a dog and then a baby or two. It's so cool to see how female traits have such good use. I've often felt like a nag and over reactive until I saw how perfectly my ways clicked when applied where appreciated and to things that they were meant for.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm talking about traits like;</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">planning, where are we going how long will be there what should I bring. This keeps baby from going naked, cold & hungry on outings. <strong>To men it's noise.</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The ability to remember/keep a list and ask to get things done so medicine gets taken & vegetables get eaten.<strong> LIST is pretty much a 4 letter word to men.</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Why loud noises are so irritating and we need to make them stop. Females are actually wired to go insane from baby crying whilst other genders don't even notice it. This one keeps humanity alive people! <strong>It lets men sleep in too so I think they're good with this one.</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Being emotional beings helps us connect, bond and empathize with babies and people. <strong>You might recall a time or two where the man in your life said, "Oh God she wants to talk again."</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Our inclination for baby talk helps children learn better. My girlfriends and I were doing this "in play" since middle-school. <strong>Men appreciate baby talk as long as it's directed at them once in a while.</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Craving details, where are you going when will you be back so we know when we need to start worrying. Or how long has there been a fever, crying, a rash so we know what our plan of action is. <strong>This comes over as NAG NAG NAG NAG and NAG!</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Multitasking! <strong>This impresses everyone!</strong></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things about myself seemed to make more sense once I began to use them as a mother. Even though I was that way before, using them in a less critical environment has made me more understanding of myself and those feminine characteristics which are wonderful for the world.</span><br />
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418912870193936310.post-1721731398375202042013-04-30T16:37:00.000-04:002013-05-01T17:13:26.791-04:00Party Deck In Progress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm use to the dark, rich, earthy soil of Nebraska. As a kid I would dig under our deck hoping I'd get to China or find a buried treasure box or historical artifact that would be my ticket to get out of town. I gave up rather quickly and made mud pies with poison berries from the bushes instead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This region is so rocky we have a pile of hundreds of field stone stacked high by the farmer who raised cattle on the land. Every time you dig you hit rock here but I hope to use the pile in a foundation, chimney or wall one day. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfo4CaMqUEa2fhGQwhTfV3kL09L8xEwyu5-UjqMMeZjyqrn8eZhNp15JkLB6BnXZOG7TPIS9yGbnFDUfw_VTiM0xEzbc8Q_MqtIkh0-8MRGNnjiH9_TUXSt9yCWCTRyBMAWBNuXkiaoA/s1600/deck+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfo4CaMqUEa2fhGQwhTfV3kL09L8xEwyu5-UjqMMeZjyqrn8eZhNp15JkLB6BnXZOG7TPIS9yGbnFDUfw_VTiM0xEzbc8Q_MqtIkh0-8MRGNnjiH9_TUXSt9yCWCTRyBMAWBNuXkiaoA/s400/deck+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ideas from my <a href="http://pinterest.com/bellebyrd/outside/">Pinterest Board</a> Maciejewski Landscaping Inc.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The latest project on the farm is what Mountain Man calls the party deck. As if we party! This is an attempt to tie two outbuildings together and begin a wall/fence for the new goat area. I just nod my head as he recounts his vision and I try to give some input when requested. Unless something is on paper it's hard for me to imagine when he describes angles and levels of earth and placement of imaginary steps. The good news is the deck is shaping up to have multiple textures and mixed material. I got really excited when he talked about using big slabs of rock for stairs to break up the wood of the deck. The garden center choices didn't pan out but he was able to scour our own land for boulders and use those as steps instead. It's looking really good! I might even have some wine out there.</span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTJSN3tgUamwvblht4tKbCIHML0LZaYNMXj5uMfGlg47dg-iWP6ufSxZ0cVLCNF6Kv1U4xor7F4CtY6AUmdEj6e-4AfkcwhUvLwCoz7dx5f7Jk-cnPYexeobsTOZ2xi6WEidTCP49uKM/s1600/IMG_0415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTJSN3tgUamwvblht4tKbCIHML0LZaYNMXj5uMfGlg47dg-iWP6ufSxZ0cVLCNF6Kv1U4xor7F4CtY6AUmdEj6e-4AfkcwhUvLwCoz7dx5f7Jk-cnPYexeobsTOZ2xi6WEidTCP49uKM/s400/IMG_0415.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Party Patio in progress</td></tr>
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bellebyrdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16512941345545015096noreply@blogger.com1