BEEN TO OHIO, BUT FIRST A WORD ABOUT MY MANZANITA...

This is for my seester who is my muse when I am in Ohio and who makes me think I can somehow create art. I cannot. But she causes me to look at nature through her artist's eye. I have been collecting manzanita wood for sometime now. I sneak up on the side of the Santa Rosa Mountains as I travel to Emily's house and I snatch a few limbs and branches here and there. I never cut it off of a live shrub or bush...I don't have a comfort level doing that but I do pick it up beautiful pieces off the ground. So, I have quite a bit that I want to use to construct a grid or arbor to put morning glories on outside my bedroom window, as that has become a rather sacred spot to me since I've been home and having something pretty out my window is important...and the fact that it would be portable is very important as I would be able to take it with me.

So, Stephanie, my muse, I am inserting pics of manzanita wood. It is beautiful. It is mahogany red and wavy. I am copying the following text from Wikipedia. Enjoy *hug*

"Manzanita branches are popular as decoration, due to their unique shape, color, and strength when dried.

Manzanita bark: The wood is notoriously hard to cure, mostly due to cracking against the grain, giving it few uses as timber. The slow growth rate and many branchings further decrease the sizes available. Some furniture and art employ whole round branches, which reduces cracking and preserves the deep red color.

The dead wood decays slowly and can last for many years, on and off the plant. Sunlight smooths and bleaches manzanita to light grey or white, rendering it superficially akin to animal bones. Because of this and the stunted growth of many species, manzanita is often collected in its more unusual shapes, giving it the nickname mountain driftwood.

Manzanita wood is also used as perches for parrots and other large pet birds. The branches of the larger species are extremely long-lasting for this purpose."

MY DREAM HOUSE....AND A CAT NAMED VINCENT

Your home is a Philanthropic Muse's Mansion Your kitchen is someplace you never go, because you "have people for that." There's a Chocolatessen, which is rapidly becoming your favorite room of the house. Having one is also becoming a trend among your wealthy neighbors. Your master bedroom has a bedside table with a pad for writing down late-night inspirations. Your study has hardback editions of every classic ever written, plus a special edition of Rich Dad, Poor Dad with the parts you ghost-authored highlighted. One of your garages holds your collection of ferraris, and is measured in acreage. Your home also includes a gallery of your favorite works -- the originals, of course. Your guests enjoy your animatronic replica of the cantina at Mos Eisley. Outside is your hedge maze and gardens, meticulously tended by a team of world-class botanists. And, you have a pet -- a cat named "Vincent". Below is a snippet of the blueprints:

Find YOUR Dream Home!

A meme stolen from Eric...with love...

MEMEMEMEMEMEMMEMEMEMEMEME


1. If I were a doll, the accessories packaged with me would be:
A WAND, VOLUMINOUS TULLE SKIRTS AND BILLOWY BLOUSES, GLASSES, BOOKS, AND OF COURSE, A ROCKING CHAIR WITH WINGS ON IT, HA!!!...THE DEBBIE ACTION FIGURE.

2. I have an irrational fear of:
HOMOPHOBES, FUNDAMENTALIST ANYTHINGS, WITCH HUNTS, NAZIS, SUPERIVISORS.

3. What type of food do you eat at your grandparents house?
MY GRANDMAS HOUSE ALWAYS SMELLED LIKE BEANS AND COFFEE...THOSE SMELLS WILL ALWAYS TAKE ME BACK.
4. What weight were you when you were born?
10lbs, 7 1/2 ounces... BUT I DIDN'T SWEAT MUCH FOR A FAT GIRL

5. What would you do if you were stranded on an island with the person you hate?
MAKE FRIENDS OR LEARN HOW TO SWIM

6. What would you do if you found out you had been cheated on?
CRY, SCREAM, BLAME, BEAT, CRY, SCREAM, PRAY, REPENT, CRY, BEAT, PRAY, REPENT, FORGIVE, CRY, BEAT, FORGIVE, CRY, FORGIVE, FORGIVE FORGIVE.

7. Do you stalk anyone on myspace?
NO, I DO ALL MY STALKING ON FACEBOOK

8. I find the thought of childbirth:
RIDICULOUS AT MY AGE

9. Next door to my house is:
ARE OTHER NONDESCRIPT LITTLE METAL MODULAR OVEN/HOMES THAT BAKE OTHER LITTLE WHITE HAIRED WOMEN LIKE MYSELF. WE SHOULD BE "DONE" BY THE END OF OCTOBER.

10. My feet are:
ALWAYS BARE

11. Are the Tigers going to make it to the playoffs this year?
LET ME ASK SOMEONE WHO CARES...

12. Why is your #1 your #1?
BECAUSE WE'RE "CELESTIALIZING" EACH OTHER.

13. Do you know how to cook?
I'M RE-LEARNING...IT'S A JOURNEY

14. I am annoyed with:
MY FACE'S CONSTANTLY LOSING BATTLE WITH MEAN MR. GRAVITY

15. What is the worst way you were dumped?
THERE'S A "WORST"???....OH PLEASE SPARE ME

16. What child-related smell do you like?
TOBACCO AND WHISKEY...MY DAD

17. What sea creature scares you?
I DON'T WANT TO GET MY TOES PINCHED BY A CRAB IN THE SAND...OUCHY.

18. What forest creature scares you?
BEAR BEAR BEAR BEAR BEAR BEAR BEAR BEAR BEAR BEAR BEAR BEAR

19. What object have you broken most recently?
IT'S NOT THAT I BREAK THEM ACTIVELY...THEY BREAK "OFF" ME OR "AROUND" ME...MY FAVORITE BRACELET JUST FELL OFF MY WRIST IN A HUNDRED PIECES....SO WEIRD.
20. Name one of the Spice Girls?
OLD
21. What was the last thing to make you cry?
OH. SATURDAY NIGHT, THE HUBBY AND I WENT TO THE TEMPLE AND ON THE WAY HOME WE GRABBED A BITE TO EAT AND HE WAS SO WONDERFUL...MAN!...SO, TEARS OF GRATITUDE COUNT RIGHT?..OH, AND AN ONION.

22. What are the stems on wine glasses for:
ERIC SAID "PRETENTIOUSNESS", WHICH IS A FUNNY ANSWER AND I LIKE IT VERY MUCH

23. My favorite shoes are:
NOT ON MY FEET BUT THEY ARE VERY VERY HIGH HEELS AND MAKE MY LEGS LOOK REALLY GOOD.

24. Can you use chopsticks?
YEA, I CAN USE THEM TO STAB PEOPLE WITH...TOO VIOLENT?...

25. Do you prefer beaches or forests?
FORESTS FORESTS FORESTS FORESTS FORESTS

26. What serial killer do you find most disturbing?
REALLY?...THERE'S A "LESS" DISTURBING SERIAL KILLER OVER ANOTHER?..AN "ACCEPTABLE" SERIAL KILLER?...ONE I WOULD TAKE TO LUNCH OVER ANOTHER?..THERE'S A SCENARIO WHERE ME AND KILLER ONE WOULD GO TO LUNCH AND GOSSIP AND SNICKER ABOUT KILLER TWO...HMMMM...IF THE WORD "KILLER" IS IN THE NAME, I'LL PROBABLY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE PROFESSION..PERIOD..WAIT, WHAT ABOUT SERIAL KILLERS THAT JUST KILL SERIAL KILLERS...I'LL HAVE TO THINK.

27. Who knows a secret or two about you?
UM....I'M A CONVERT....I'LL TAKE THE FIFTH ON THIS

29. Who is probably talking a load of crap about you right now?
ICK...HOPEFULLY NO ONE.

30. Who is your hero(s)?
I'LL PICK A SHEROE....SUSAN B ANTHONY AND ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, THE LADIES WHO TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO BEGIN THE SUFFRAGETTE MOVEMENT...DESPITE THE ODDS, THE HORRIBLE TREATMENT, IMPRISONMENT, ETC. THEY WERE POLAR OPPOSITES AND BEST FRIENDS.

39. Where is your sister right now?
WITH OUR MOM IN C-BUS KEEPING THE FLOCK TOGETHER AND DOING HER OUTRAGEOUSLY COOL POTTERY. THE OTHER IS IN THE BRONX/MANHATTEN AREA OR INDIA OR JAPAN OR WHEREVER PFIZER IS SENDING HER. WHERE IS SHE STEPH? CURING CANCER WHILE WE'RE BURNING COOKIES?

40. Do you believe in things that last forever?
ONLY RELATIONSHIPS.

43. Are you married?
YES, BUT ONLY FOR ETERNITY.

44. Does anyone regularly tell you they love you?
THAT'S A BIG Y-E-S

45. What's the most confusing to you?
HUMAN BEHAVIOR

46. Do you have any bad habits?
WELL, MAYBE THEY'RE NOT "BAD" HABITS AS SUCH...PERHAPS THEY'RE JUST "MISUNDERSTOOD" HABITS....

47. Have you ever wanted to be a teacher?
OH SNAP!!!! ON THE WAY!!!

48. What is one thing you've learned about life?
REALITY IS OFTEN KINDER THAN THE STORIES WE TELL ABOUT IT.

49. Whats your favorite color?
DRAWN TO THE COLOR GREEN AS OF LATE BUT IT'S NOT STATIC, THIS WILL CHANGE, AS IT OFTEN DOES. I GO IN CYCLES...YEA, EVERYONE WANTED TO KNOW THAT I'M CERTAIN.

50. Ever been stuck in an elevator?
ONLY BRIEFLY...BUT THE ELEVATOR SAW IT DIFFERENTLY

51. What does your dad call you?
IT WAS "DEBBIE DOLL"

52. Has anyone told you that they like you more than a friend?
I DON'T THINK ANYONE EVER SAID THAT TO ME

53. What are you looking forward to?
EVERYTHING

54. How are you today?
DOING WELL....GOT FOUR NEW TIRES AND I'M LISTENING TO PINK AND CHRISTINA SO THAT'S GOOD, RIGHT?

"How do ya like them apples?"

Here are some examples of apples I promised to post for a close friend of mine...Remember, you can draw and customize these on a separate piece of paper, or take a laptap in and a good artist can do them from your specifications.

Are you going to show the seeds (?), are you going to go with the halved apple? the full apple? both? the leaf?

Have fun. Be creative. Go nuts. Be inspired...

I LOVE IRONY

Ahhh, I just love my life. The irony is wonderful and makes me smile...BIG OPEN MOUTH SMILES, a lot!!!.

Here I am taking a gay/lesbian literature course. As I stated previously, it was listed as a LGBT LIT course. I had absolutely no idea what that was; (not that it would have stopped me) however, it was a literature course that gave me 3 credits, which I needed, it met in the evenings, which I needed, and it was literature, which I craved. Poifect! So, I was a little surprised at the content (the BT is bisexual, trans-sexual or transgender).

So, the class meets (way) off campus at Palm Springs High School on Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00. It's a very very small class. All the men are gay. I, of course, was adopted by the two most flaming, Don and Jeffrey. They are companions. Jeffrey is very British and LOVES vampires. Last night when we left and as we're walking through the gorgeous campus that is Palm Springs High School, he pulls me over and says, "Deborah, have you noticed the absolutely obscene number of bats that fly through here" *insert deep evil chuckle*. "And did you know Shelly's wife wrote Frankenstein?". I replied, "Well Jeffrey, apparently, all men are beasts." to which he said, "Oh yes, I'm afraid you're correct, men are rather beastly." I don't think he counted himself in that number. But I digress....

So, at 8:30 or so we take a break and here, on this far off-campus site, at this rather late hour, in this particular part of the this particular campus, I look at the classroom RIGHT NEXT DOOR and a sister from the relief society is teaching an English course...AT THE SAME TIME. And, sadly, it's not like this sister and I are friends. She does NOT like me. She NEVER has. EVER. I don't know what I've ever done to her but I've stopped over-trying, do you know what I mean? Some people just have their own issues and there is nothing one can do to "fix" it except be who you are. Plenty of other people care about me so it's not, apparently, me. But, sure enough, here she is walking past my classroom seeing me clown around with my two new gays and discussing gay literature. Oh, this should be interesting.....and frankly, fun.

JOHN "Paise the Lord" SUMMER BREEZE

Today at Church, there was a man wearing very casual clothes, long white hair with a very long white beard. Very different from our usual suspects. I was immediately intrigued. Since I am a ward missionary and he was new, I asked my husband, the ward mission leader, who he was. Peter, who is extraordinary kind and tactful tried to explain him to me. The fact that Peter attempted to "explain" him to me was enough...I was on top of it. I couldn't get to him quick enough. I walked over to him and threw my hand into his and said, "Hey! My name is Debbie Leighton. What's yours?" Well, the flood gates opened. The preaching commenced. And I was hooked.

We went on a ride that started with Ruben buying horses that they had to ride 30 miles from where they bought them, which is where your back faces the city of fallen angels to the hiils west of there and now he's here, PRAISE THE LORD, and the president of Korea was trying to kill but he's forgiven him, PRAISE THE LORD, and the mark of Venus *insert convoluted astrological and astronomical datum* PRAISE THE LORD, and that's how they're communicating with us, through the vagus nerve, PRAISE THE NERVE. And it just went on and on and it was way too bad that Peter and I had to go to the class we/he have to conduct because I would have just sat and listened to John Summer Breeze all afternoon. I guess I'm in the right field of study because I love people like John Summer Breeze. I love them. Love.

THE "GANG"...

These are Eli's groomsmen at his wedding 3 years ago. This comprises "the gang". There are three sets of brothers, the Bowmans (Eric and Eli), the Gaskills (Ryan and Dar)and the Currens (Dave and Simon), as well as Oliver, Saif, and Bryan. Most of these guys have been best friends since first grade. That is amazing to us, their parents. They have maintained their friendships through childhood, adolescence, and now young adulthood and always, they have loved each other unconditionally. The best stories, to me, are their "bonfire" stories. Ever since they were little boys, they have sat around the bonfire in the Gaskills' backyard and discussed very deep issues. These kids are bright. They are pilots, math wizards, politicians, engineers, logistics business majors, scientists, I think there's a physicist in there somewhere. They stay connected even tho a couple of them are scattered between Boston, LA and Chicago. A couple are married (the girls are called "Gang girls") and one couple is expecting (the babies will be called "ganglets").

This is just a BIG SHOUT OUT to the gang and the power of love and friendship between young men that transcend time, distance, and faiths. All hail the Gang!!!

NOTE TO SELF...

Next Thursday, in Phiiosophy class, sit in a different place. Do NOT sit in the chair next to the young Gothy girl who comes in late, slams her stuff down, has pretty big body odor issues, begins to paint her nails (black), which is actually a blessing as it masks the aforementioned odor issues, develops hinge-head before she falls asleep and then begins to breathe very very loudly, wakes up, removes her shoes (for some unknown reason) which totally caps off the stinkfest happening, which brings us to the end of our third hour of lecture and we are then dismissed. Meanwhile, during all of this, the teacher has the habit of looking at me A LOT of the time...and I wonder, "Does he think I'm the one that smells?...is that why he's looking at me?...or does he think I'm insightful/attractive?"...these are vastly different perspectives and can make the ponderer quite crazy...like crazy is even remotely new to me...DANG, I hate philosophy/Aristotle/Plato/the Church/Geocentric vs heliocentric/Copernicus/Descarte.

THIS IS NUTS!!!!!! "MARRYOURDAUGHTER.COM"

The above pictures are actual "brides" for sale...they are TEENAGE GIRLS!!!!!

I found this post on a friend's LJ and was just flabbergasted...it's crazy...and I have no idea how they come up with their "bride prices"...it's like, the girls who are the most "wild" seem to be the most expensive, hmmmmmm, but the ones who are more settled, "cost" less...did I read that right?

Anyway, I can't begin to imagine what my price would have been at age 15...I couldn't cook, could barely clean, didn't know the difference between a checking account and a gas bill (true story-I once went to a department store to pay a gas bill, which you could do in 1976, and tried to CASH it...I tried to CASH the gas bill...the lady actually looked at the gas bill, then at me and said slowly, "Honey, you're supposed to PAY these"...yeesh, I just walked my big pregnant butt back home to German Village). So, here, in 2007, we're still selling our sisters for bride money. Thanks internet, we've come a long way baby.

http://marryourdaughter.org/index.php

9/11...WE REMEMBER...

All joking aside, I'm taking a moment to remember the citizens of the world (several countries were represented in the World Trade Centers-300 from Great Britain alone) who died physically that day on September 11, 2001, who continue to die secondary to the gas and smoke and pollutants they inhaled, the suicides that have been committed, the death of dreams, the creation of orphans and the global psychic violence that we were all victims of (hopefully temporarily). This is what happens when fundamentalist religion of any kind rears its ugly ugly head.

We can render justice in whatever form we wish, but there is a court, much "higher" than any the world can invent, that those involved with this crime and others like it will have to appear, and in a Christian world, in a Christian order of thinking, my friends and loved ones, those whose lives were taken may indeed be the ones pleading for their murderers' forgiveness.

But that's just my opinion...what's yours?

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!!!

Peter make a joke about nose hair...in my direction...no bueno...so, in an attempt to vainly preserve what looks I may have, I applied Nair Hair Remover to the inside of my nose...NAIR HAIR REMOVER...

Don't do this. There are flames shooting out of my nostrils as I speak...the seared and blistered flesh around my "snots" as Jette used to call them, is so red, it looks like I tried to eat stewed tomatoes without using my hands.

no bueno...me out.

OUCH AND WOW

On Saturday, our Church had a stake youth trip to Oceanside Beach...they have it every year. This is the 2nd time I've gone and OUCH...that sunburn isn't mine but it's waaaayyyyy too close for comfort. Hurty, ouchy, firey.

The day was beautiful and the waves were magnificent. It was great to spend the day by the water, especially just watching the hubster unwind. He loves the ocean and will need to live near it one day...he's from Maine and has saltwater in his veins. He actually grew up on a little island in a house his father (a lobsterman) built next to a light house...which sounds very very charming but was actually a little isolated apparently. He wants to move to Maine, I want to be closer to my family in Ohio, if I have to leave California at all...it's a mess but we'll figure it all out.

Meanwhile, we get this beautiful ocean stuff to ponder by...love to all.

Some Artwork: Lady of Shalott

http://homepage.mac.com/mseffie/assignments/shalott/art/waterhouse1.html

The Lady of Shalott (1888) by John William Waterhouse

"This is the first version of the Lady of Shalott painted by Waterhouse. This is the most Pre-Raphaelite of his paintings, set out in the open air with a typically English landscape illuminated by natural early evening light and with close attention to the autumn leaves, the reed choked river's edge and medieval details.

This lady is far younger than the Edwardian woman of his later painting. She is no more than a girl with the wistful, tragic quality of so many of Waterhouse's dreamy heroines. The scene shows the doomed Lady of Shalott setting off on her final voyage along the river to Camelot. The tapestry she has spent her life creating, trails behind her in the water and there is a lantern, candles and a crucifix on the prow of the boat, like a small alter. She looks very innocent in her white dress and loose hair, very definitely the cursed princess. The atmosphere is dreamy and magical, thanks to the mist on the water, the darkness of the forest and the approaching dusk, like a scene from a fairytale."
Painted in 1896, the original is in London's Tate Gallery.

The top picture of her going over a waterfall is photo-shopped...is that a word?...by some talented computer person that I found on www.worth1000.com.

I have this in my bathroom, big and framed. She's over my bathtub so when I soak I can look right at her. I love Waterhouse and the Victorian artists. Sir Leighton is another favorite, perhaps I will post some of his later. I love what he does with the female form. I love our curviness. Emmy and I were speaking about this the other day...how Clarkie can feel the difference between her and his Dad and perhaps even women and men generally and we speculated that perhaps it was due to the softness and the curves and the way we kind of absorb infants into our arms and breasts and hold them "within us" as opposed to "on us". Any thoughts?

STEPHEN COBERT: HOW HOT WE KNEWETH NOT

Stephen Cobert. His show follows Jon Stewart's. The Colbert Report (the "T"s are silent in both words)is hysterical and bonus***HE'S A PhD!!!*** Strongly drenched in satire, his tongue is so far in his cheek he can lick his own ear but he's adorable to watch. This is his stud shot...who knew?...I have come to love his dorky nerd persona, which is the upper, smaller picture, if this loaded correctly. Anyway, you can go to www.cobertnation.com and catch the goofiness that is stephen. I like his right ear that sticks out (which apparently got air brushed out). It makes him cuter more than studly...I'm too old for studly. Cute I can handle. So, there you are.

http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_colbert_report/index.jhtml

GOOD PIC OF THE HUBBY

He surprised me with this incredible find of a waterfall in the desert...it was spring and the mountains were melting and it caused this. The noise was deafening but oh-so-beautiful. I'm happy the film was black and white, it just made it that much better.

THE NOSTALGIA CLOCK...WOW...

Unless you were a "high techy" back in the 70s, this may mean nothing to you but this was a tad intriguing to me because I actually had the original pong game on my TV when my baby girls were babies...Em was a fetus actually...and we thought we rocked the block...and we did...



The Nostalgia Clock

Bored at work? Clock-watching just got a lot more interesting.

Dutch design team Buro Vormkrijgers have recently developed a prototype of a Pong clock. While this game of pong randomly plays, the so called players score the time. The left player scores the hours, and the right player scores the minutes.

For those who can’t wait for the release of the final version of the clock, the screensaver version is available from the team’s website.

Silly Quiz

http://www.okcupid.com/tests/17565214125862764376/3-Variable-Funny

Your Score: the Ham

(28% dark, 50% spontaneous, 10% vulgar)

your humor style:
CLEAN | SPONTANEOUS | LIGHT

Your style's goofy, innocent and feel-good. Perfect for parties and for the dads who chaperone them. You can actually get away with corny jokes, and I bet your sense of humor is a guilty pleasure for your friends. People of your type are often the most approachable and popular people in their circle. Your simple & silly good-naturedness is immediately recognizable, and it sets you apart in this sarcastic world.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Will Ferrell - Will Smith

IN HONOR OF LABOR DAY

In honor of Labor Day and the labor force and all that has transpired in this country for the betterment (word?) of the community and family, I found a quote from Paulo Coelho (Brazilian novelist born 1947), that I felt was rather poignant regarding the struggle between unions/nonunion/equal pay for equal work/the whole shebang...everything that is the American workplace...it is this:

"There is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for."

here, here...can I get a witness?

NEW QUIZ-I'm a non-nerd!!!