Blue Feather Spikes

(Thanks, Jessica)

The Archaeology of World War II

 A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America.

Click on the logo for a series of articles about "Conflict Archaeology" and the study of World War II.

Sweet Nefertiti!

Harry Morgan died today at the age of 96. Although he had an active and varied career, I'll always remember him as the inimitable Colonel Sherman T. Potter of the 4077th M*A*S*H unit.

Harry Morgan, I remember you.

A Day of Infamy After 70 Years

 

Semper Fidelis

I continue to applaud the United States Marine Corps. My Uncle Robert, a retired career Marine, put into motion a wonderful gift for his brother-in-law, my Uncle Gordon, another retired career Marine. Uncle Gordon is 86 years old and spent 20 years as an active Marine and another 10 years as a Marine reservist. The Marine Corps League is replacing, at no cost to my Uncle Gordon, all his ribbons and medals that were lost over the years. This is a befitting homage to a wonderful man who spent his life serving his country, and it is a great privilege for his descendants.

Always faithful.

Shoe-Topia Steps Onward!

Found here.

About that High Horse...

Huh. All my life, in my lexicon, someone being on their "high horse" meant getting up on a soapbox with a little anger thrown in. So when I used the idiom in my posts on November 20 and November 30, that's exactly what I meant.

I just Stumbled Upon an idiom list on the internet that defines "high horse" as "arrogant and displaying moral superiority over others." Uh-oh. That wasn't what I intended at all! So I thought, I'd better look this up in Merriam-Webster!

And I did: "An arrogant or unyielding mood or attitude." Synonyms: "haughtiness, imperiousness, pretentiousness, self-importance..."

Oh meine Güte! (Oh my goodness...it just sounds more emphatic in German!). SOAPBOX, I meant SOAPBOX!

To use another idiom, sometimes I'm just not the brightest bulb in the chandelier! Sorry, folks.

Blindfolds Provided: The Occupy Movement

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." -Abraham Lincoln

Yes, it's time for my High Horse. This won't be a short post; I researched well.

Until November 17, I knew nothing about the Occupy Movement except that it was in cities all over America, started with Occupy Wall Street, and was a messy protest. That's it.

Then I was caught in downtown Portland at the end of a small riot, and I found myself moved along with the glut of protestors who were chanting "We. Are. the 99%." I came face to face, toe to toe with police in full riot gear. Now I wanted to know more.

I was meeting my niece that night, so I asked her what it was all about. She told me about the traditional solid economy, through history, as being 80/20: 80% of the people had 20% of the money, and 20% of the people had 80% of the money. But now the division was 1/99.

Based on her explanation, the protests made no sense to me. Who is going to pay for cleaning up the parks, with their devastation and litter and human feces? Who is going to pay for the revenue loss of all the small privately owned shops in the Protest Zone, some of which had already been forced out of business? Who is going to pay for the additional police presence, the extra work of city officials? It certainly isn't going to be the 1%. It will be the taxpayers. It will be the 99%. Then my niece said something very wise: "If they want to make a stand and make a difference, they should do it without leaving a footprint. THAT would make an impact." It certainly would.

Later I thought, if the economy is so bad, how can thousands of the 99% take 2-3 months off work (so far) to protest? It isn't the 1% they're hurting.

So I began to research. And wow, were my eyes opened. The 99% don't have a clue of the origin or implications of their protests. Nor it's end design. I'm going to lay out my research next. Try to follow, because it is convoluted!

The original call to Occupy Wall Street was made in a blog post by a Canadian magazine called Adbusters. Adbusters is not-for-profit, anti-advertisement, anti-consumerism, and pro-environment. They have often been accused of being anti-capitalism and of antisemitism.

This is the original Adbusters post, dated July 13, 2011, that began the Occupy Wall Street movement. Their subtitle is "A shift in revolutionary tactics: are YOU ready for a Tahrir moment?" They called for 20,000 people to Occupy Wall Street on September 17, 2011. "The spirit of this fresh tactic...a fusion of Tahrir and the acampadas of Spain..."

The protest received additional attention when the internet group Anonymous encouraged followers to take part in the protests, calling protesters to "flood lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, and Occupy Wall Street." They promoted the protest with a poster featuring a dancer atop Wall Street's iconic Charging Bull.

What is Anonymous? Anonymous is an internet hacking collective initiating active civil disobedience. They categorize themselves as hedonistic and uninhibited. A primary self-description will send chills down the backs of born-again Christians: "We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us."

Okay. What's a Tahrir moment?

Tahrir Square is a major public square in Cairo, Egypt. It was in Tahrir Square that the Egyptians revolted, on January 25, 2011, against then-president Hasni Mubarak. The protest, known as the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, lasted 18 days. In February, the Egyptian Armed Forces succeeded in removing Mubarak from office. Mubarak turned all his power over to the Egyptian Armed Forces. Just think about that for a minute.

Now let's go a step further. The "Tahrir moment" was a very small part of large movement known as the Arab Spring. The Arab Spring is a revolutionary wave in the Arab world that began in December of 2010. Per Wikipedia,  there have been revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt (Tahrir Square); a civil war in Libya resulting in the fall of its government; civil uprisings in Bahrain, Syria, and Yemen, the latter resulting in the resignation of Yemeni Prime Minister; major protests in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, and Oman; and minor protests in Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Western Sahara. Clashes at the borders of Israel (emphasis mine) in May 2011 were also inspired by the regional Arab Spring. Their major slogan is "The People want to bring down the regime." Reflect on this information for a moment.

Take note: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel addressed the Knesset during the Tahrir Square protest, saying that history would prove him right: the Arab Spring would result in an Islamic, anti-Western, anti-liberal, anti-Israeli and anti-democratic wave.

Next. What are the acampadas of Spain?

The word 'acampadas' simply means camping, but it's a reference to what is known as the 2011 Spanish Protests, the 15-M Movement, or the Indignants Movement. I won't go into great detail here, but it's a social economic protest about the high level of unemployment, and it is self-described as being inspired by the protests in Egypt and Tunisia (i.e., the Arab Spring).

Let's go back to Adbusters' original blog post for a minute. I read 7 very long pages of comments, dated from July 14 to July 29, 2011. Here are samples of the comments in chronological order. (Keep in mind that the original Adbusters post was made on July 13).

**"I suggest we demand the end of Capitalism, we all realize this is the over arching problem. If we are going to camp and demand change, why not demand real change. If we only demand change on a surface level we will be back where Egypt is now, again taking up the fight in Tahrir (liberty) square because their demand was not radical enough."

**" 'The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure.' THOMAS JEFFERSON, letter to William Stephens Smith, November 13, 1787."

**"Demand all new money be 'New Money.'"

**"I would suggest you use the advice given to Diogenes by the Oracle of Delphi: 'Falsify the Currency.'"

**"We either abolish the Federal Reserve and all its secrecy or we have done NOTHING."

**"... this pamphlet, created by Egyptian activists and entitled "How to Protest Intelligently" could provide a guide for our tactics and demands. Creating a similar document specific to this event is something we are working on."

**"Anything less than an anti-capitalist message is doomed to become a spectacle reminiscent of the new left of the 1960's."

**"...in Solidarity, please consider this a tactical request."

**" Solidarity alert, Comrade. Come on in!"

**" The Occupation Needs YOU!"

**"Expect us. Anonymous."

The comments included many calls for tactical assistance and references to Arab Spring through admirable mentions of Egypt and Tahrir Square. One comment, which was supported by others, was to drag the CEOs out into the streets, submit them to a trial by the people whereby they would be found guilty. (Can anyone say "French Revolution" and "guillotine"?).

(Photo property of KOIN Local 6, Portland, Oregon)

Now I want to talk about the Occupy Wall Street website. Their logo is a raised fist, and they describe themselves as follows: "Occupy Wall Street is a leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%. We are using the revolutionary Arab Spring (emphasis mine) tactic to achieve our ends and encourage the use of nonviolence to maximize the safety of all participants. This #ows movement empowers real people to create real change from the bottom up. We want to see a general assembly in every backyard, on every street corner because we don't need Wall Street and we don't need politicians to build a better society. The only Solution is World Revolution."

The whole world? I thought this was just America. Naive, naive. Occupied:

Australia: Canberra, Wollongong, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, smaller towns around the country
Belgium: Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Leuven.
Canada: Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal
Colombia: Universities
Cyprus: Nicosia
France: Paris, Nantes, Lyon, Grenoble, Perpignan
Germany: Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg
Hong Kong
Israel: Tel Aviv
Italy: Rome
Malaysia: Dataran, Penang, Kelantan
Mexico: Mexico City
Mongolia
New Zealand: Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Pomare
Norway: Oslo, Bergen
Republic of Ireland: Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford, Letterkenny, Athlone
South Korea: Seoul
Switzerland: Zurich
United Kingdom: London, Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Brighton, Bath, Bradford, Cardiff, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle upon Tyne, Plymouth, Exeter, Norwich, Belfast, Glasgow, Leicester
United States: Here we go! State (yes, all 50!), then number of cities Occupied.
Arizona 6
Alaska 7
Arizona 6
Arkansas 4
California 56
Colorado 7
Connecticut 4
Delaware 1
Florida 15
Georgia 8
Hawaii 5
Idaho 4
Illinois 10
Indiana 8
Iowa 6
Kansas 5
Kentucky 6
Louisiana 3
Maine 4
Maryland 2
Massachusetts 13
Michigan 9
Minnesota 3
Mississippi 2
Missouri 5
Montana 6
Nebraska 2
Nevada 3
New Hampshire 2
New Jersey 6
New Mexico 5
Ney York 13
North Carolina 10
North Dakota 2
Ohio 10
Oklahoma 3
Oregon 9
Pennsylvania 13
Rhode Island 1
South Carolina 3
South Dakota 4
Tennessee 7
Texas 18
Utah 5
Vermont 3
Virginia 7
Washington 23
West Virginia 7
Wisconsin 3
Wyoming 3
Puerto Rico 1
Washington, D.C.

And of course, Spain and all the Arab countries mentioned above.

So, like little lemmings, we have allowed ourselves to be manipulated and ultimately duped by Adbusters (anti-capitalists and anti-semites), Anonymous (hedonists who describe themselves as "Legion"), and the Arab Spring (revolution of the Arab world).

And the Occupy Movement is global.

Christians, brush up on your knowledge of the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Antichrist, the Apocalypse, and the Second Coming of Christ to rule the Millennium. Tell your family and friends about the salvation of Jesus through His death, resurrection, and ascension.

And Christians, if you're not already on your knees in prayer, the time is now. The showdown between the children of Isaac and the children of Ishmael approaches.

Ricochet!

I had an interesting adventure last night. I got up to go to the restroom, but I was still half asleep and lost my balance just as I got to my feet. I ricocheted through my bedroom, the hallway, and the bathroom, finally landing in the bathtub on top of my shower curtain. I hit my head against the back of the tub and my legs were hanging over the edge. Getting OUT of the bathtub was another adventure and took much longer than getting INTO it!

Define Yourself

My High Horse

Sometime this week, when I have the mental and emotional energy, I'm going to get on my high horse about the Occupy movement. I accidentally got caught in a demonstration at Occupy Portland last Thursday, and the experience resulted in my doing a little research. I was shocked and dismayed and terribly alarmed. So be forewarned!

Occupy Portland

11/17/2011

My Mandala

 

"Spiritual Faith"

Copyright 2011, 2009 Faith Louise

I Can So TOO Type!

Well. Thanks to my Mother (and author Mabel Nora Crain), I've been typing since I was 8 or 9 years old and at one time could type about 60 words per minute...on a MANUAL typewriter. Then in high school, I switched to electric and in college I peaked at about 115-120 words per minute.

Post-college, I never look at the keyboard and I never give any thought to what my fingers are doing. Yet I just had a mental blank about the keyboard location of the question mark! For about 7 seconds, I was looking everywhere for it. Now I'm frightened!

Published 1960.

(Our copy was hard bound and flipped open at the top.

I think both my older sisters learned to type using this book, too!)

Honoring our Veterans

Proof of Life

Article from Real Simple Simply Stated blog.

 

Is Your Clutter Your Proof of Life?

by Erin Doland

One of the reasons mental health professionals and social psychologists believe people struggle with clutter is because humans are always trying to be immortal. This explanation is referred to as terror management theory (TMT), and is certainly one of the reasons I struggle with parting with some of my clutter.

Have you ever thought about keeping an item, like a wedding dress, to give to your daughter one day? (Even though you don’t have a daughter or your daughter isn’t the same size as you are or the current style is nothing like it was in 1975 when you were married or your daughter doesn’t have plans to ever be married?) Are you keeping other mementos, not because you’re enjoying them, but because you want there to be proof of your life? Do you equate your stuff as being an extension of you?

A good question to ask yourself is if the people in your life will actually value the items you’re collecting, or if your things will create a burden for them. Boxes and boxes of mementos in a basement covered with dust will most likely look like trash to others instead of a valued collection. If you truly value something, it should be honored in a way that conveys that respect to others.

Do you keep clutter or extraneous possessions because of a desire to live on through your things? Is simply being aware of TMT helpful for you to keep in mind when sorting through your objects to decide what to keep and what to purge? Or, do you think the whole theory is bogus?

Llola Ankle Boots

Llola Ankle Boots

by Betsey Johnson

Love these boots!

Ruby Slippers

Ruby Slippers

www.niemanmarcus.com

Just Consider Cinderella!

Glam Spikes

Seen on Piccsy.

So me!

Spikey Spikes

Available at Nordstrom.

Halloween 1987

The only costume party I've ever attended...it was great fun!

As you can see, I got creative with the glitter make-up.

I was 27 years old.

Another Dimension

Copyright 2011, 2009 Reed Morgan

Patent Leather and Lace

Seen here.

Coin Toss

Naughty but Nice

Seen here.

Vanity

"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live." - Henry David Thoreau

Gangster Heels

Seen here.

Coco Agrees!

Pink Glove Dance

To raise awareness of breast cancer, two years ago Medline sponsored Providence St. Vincent's Medical Center in Portland, Oregon, to produce the original Pink Glove Dance. The response was overwhelming, and as of today the video on YouTube has had 13,302,214 views and has generated countless Pink Glove Dance events.

Last year a sequel was done, featuring health facilities from across the United States. The response has been so outstanding that Medline decided to host an online Pink Glove Dance Competition for the United States and Canada.

Approximately 135 organizations entered the contest. The top three winners will receive donations in their name to a breast cancer charity of their choice. The amounts of the donations are $10,000 for 1st place, $5,000 for 2nd place and $2,000 for 3rd place.

Voting began on October 3, and the winners will be announced on October 28.  To view the videos and vote, go to pinkglovedance.com.

Following is the video of the original Pink Glove Dance, as well as the entries of hospitals that have played a part in my life. Please vote!

Original Pink Glove Dance

Providence St. Vincent's Medical Center, Portland, OR

I was hospitalized here in 2007.

This video is not eligible for the Pink Glove Dance Contest.

Stillwater Medical Center, Stillwater, OK

I worked here in 1981 and 1982, in the Dietary Department.

Go here to cast your vote for this video!

Parkland Hospital, Dallas, TX

I received medical services here many times in the early 2000s.

Go here to cast your vote for this video!

Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX

I was born in this hospital in 1960 and was hospitalized here three times.

My mother was hospitalized here many times,

and she passed into Heaven from here in 2006.
The charity they're dancing for is The Bridge Breast Network,
who helped me when I had no money for medical services.

Go here to cast your vote for this video!

Eliminate Prostate Cancer Testing?

"The United States Preventative Services Task Force has prepared a recommendation against prostate cancer testing for ALL MEN.  Among the many problems with this rash action is the fact that many men are high-risk not just for diagnosis but to DIE from prostate cancer.  Such a recommendation threatens to put them into harms way by telling their doctors that they should not be tested for prostate cancer.

"Tell them they're wrong - write a letter to your editor today."

http://www.capwiz.com/zerocancer/issues/alert/?alertid=54317501&type=ME

"The United States Preventative Services Task Force has prepared a recommendation against testing for prostate cancer for ALL MEN.  This is a disservice to men - particularly men who are at highest risk of dying from prostate cancer.

 

"Please send a letter to your Representative and Senators today to bring their attention to this very harmful action and ask for their support to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and education about prostate cancer."

 

http://www.capwiz.com/zerocancer/issues/alert/?alertid=54315501&type=CO

Red Ankle Spikes

www.justfab.com

Kiwi Berries

Am I the only one who never heard of Kiwi Berries? I received some in my produce box today. You know what they taste like? Kiwis! And the skin isn't even fuzzy! I think they turn reddish when they're ripe. My, my!

I put a quarter in the photo for scale.

Belting a Child?

PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -

"A Portland dad faces charges of assault and criminal mistreatment, after police say Craig Hague admitted to hitting his daughter with a belt.

"Police say his daughter, 9, told her grandfather that, on September 19^th, her dad slapped her twice on the face and then took her into a bedroom where he struck her with a belt four to five times, causing bruising so painful she had trouble sitting at her desk in school, according to police.

"Child abuse detectives say the girl told her grandfather that her father was mad at her for taking some jewelry to school that belonged to the father's girlfriend.

"Police say Hague later admitted that he struck his daughter and caused injuries.  Detectives say she was examined on Sept. 26 by medical professionals who specialize in child abuse, who noted she still had bruising.

"Fox 12 looked into Craig Hague's criminal history and discovered a past conviction of assault from 2002.  The conditions of his probation following the conviction stated he required parenting classes, anger management, and barred him from physical discipline of any child.

"In a phone interview, Hague told FOX 12 that the incident has been devastating and he feels horrible. He said he never meant to hurt his daughter and now worries about losing custody of his children.  Friends of Hague described him as a great father."

Copyright 2011 KPTV. All rights reserved.

Wow. My Daddy would have been in jail 1000 times over. Before he belted us, he'd fold that belt in half and pop it; I'll never forget that. It was a belt used only for spanking and it hung in the utility room. We'd have to go get it for him. I remember many a school day when I would have to balance this way and that in my desk because my bottom was bruised.

Excitement Next Door

It was a dark and stormy evening. Ha! Not really. But it was very late (early?), about 2 a.m. maybe. Well over a month has passed now, but I still want to tell the story.

I was sitting at the computer, with my back up against the wall that I have all my crosses hung on...the wall I share with the next apartment. You can see the back of the chair on the left in the following photo:

August 2011

Suddenly I heard loud knocking. It was so loud that I thought at first it was at my door, and I tip-toed to the peephole. I saw nothing. The knocking continued; it was clearly on the door of the apartment next to me. (I've never seen anyone go in or come out of that apartment). The noise turned into banging. I have 21 crosses on that wall, and they were all trembling. Then it was banging and a man yelling, "Open the door! Open the door NOW!" One of the smaller crosses fell off the wall. I still could see nothing through the peephole, and I started to back away from my front door.

"Open the door NOW, or we'll kick it in!" Oh, sheesh, I thought. This is a drug deal gone bad! I ran for my cell phone (which was by my computer) and then ran to look out in the parking lot to make sure there was no police car: I'd feel really stupid calling 911 on the police! But no police car. Just as I dialed 911, someone started trying to kick the door in. Another small cross fell. The two large metal crosses were starting to clang against the wall. I was afraid to go near the computer.

While I listened to the recording ("if this is an emergency, push 1; if this is not an emergency, push 2"), the kicking on the door continued. It was clearly two men taking turns, and I could hear their heavy breathing. It seemed a very long time that they were kicking that door. Finally the 911 operator came on. I breathlessly tried to explain what was happening and she said, "Do you live at ___________," naming my apartment complex. I said, "Yes!" just as I heard the door give way and a man yelling, "Down on the floor! Do it now! Hands above your head!" The realization hit me just as the operator said, "That's the police kicking the door in; everything's under control."

Yep. I'd called the police on the police. I hung up the phone and looked out my window again. Very far away in the dark, no where near our building, I could barely make out the light bar on top of a car. Huh. The ol' stealth approach.

A few minutes later, I heard talking outside my door. I peeped again. There were two police officers there, one telling the other what had happened and why they had kicked down the door. He said, "One of the neighbors called, worried that someone was in danger. He was trying to keep her from opening the door. She was clearly in distress. Is there any way we can secure the door tonight?" Their voices faded as they walked away.

The next day when I left my apartment, inside of going down the stairs to my right, as usual, I la-la-la'd my way toward the stairs on my left. Sure enough, the neighbor's door was ajar and the door frame was in splinters. Late that day, I noticed that the frame had been repaired and the door was closed.

After about two weeks had passed, I opened my front door and the sickly-sweet smell of decomposition hit me in the face like a soggy dishrag. My heart dropped. (It's one of my fears that I'll die in this apartment alone and no one will find me until I start stinking up the place). I went to the door of the aforementioned apartment and sniffed all around, but the smell seemed no stronger there. So then I walked all around my building, checking underneath stairwells, walking through all the corridors on all three floors, checking under the bushes for a small dead animal, staring up at balconies that had open windows...all the while taking huge breaths in through my nose. The smell was everywhere, but I couldn't find its source.

So I called 911 non-emergency. I reminded them about the event here a couple of weeks before, and I said that I just wanted to make sure. I also said, "I probably watch too much TV." But the police operator said, "No, it's better to be certain; I'll send an officer out."

Several minutes later there was a knock on my door. It was a heavily tattooed female police officer. I opened my door...and there was hardly any smell at all! She was very nice, and she asked me where the smell seemed to be coming from. I explained how I'd tried to find its source, but no luck. She said she smelled it downstairs, but it was faint. Then she said, "I think it's just sour garbage, not decomp. Believe me, I KNOW the smell of decomp." Well, of course she did. But so do I, just to a lesser degree. This was no sour garbage.

So I apologized for overreacting, and I mentioned again the brou-ha-ha from next door a couple of weeks prior. She said, surprised, "Oh, is he back?" I said, "I don't know, I haven't seen anyone, it's just made me a little oversensitive, I guess."

After she left, I repeated my search around and through the building. I smelled NOTHING. (I've since come to the conclusion that someone had a small dead animal in their trash and had put the trash on their balcony, taking it to the dumpster when they saw me and/or the police "sniffing around").

I guess now I'll be flagged by the police as one of THOSE callers. But at least I know now that it's very difficult to kick in the front door, and I know there's no poor abandoned soul decomposing on the other side of my wall. I'll take my comfort in that.

High-Heeled Commando Boots

By Top End

Australia

Live in the Moment

Rainy Evening

 

I found this here.

My Kind of Decor

I found this here.

Peacock Spikes

Designer Unknown

Shoes seen at http://tc.ioffer.com/

180 Degrees

Wrappy Sandals

Either Pair!

Designer Unknown

New to My Blog?

Well,

it's

just

getting

interesting!

"Still Life with Mirror"

by M. E. Escher

I Saw a Pterodactyl

I saw a pterodactyl in the summer of 1985 in northern Illinois. I kid you not.

I was driving with my cousin Kathleen as my passenger, entering some freeway. The pterodactyl was standing in the ditch, facing the road, with its wings partly outstretched. I saw the long beak and the claws halfway down its wings. It was a leathery brown and had no feathers, and I could see the outline of bones in its wings.

I immediately hit the brakes and pulled over, putting the car in reverse. As I did, I realized my cousin was staring at me with her mouth hanging open, saying "Did you just..was that a...did you see...?" As I backed down the shoulder of the highway, I completed my cousin's sentence "...pterodactyl!" and she said "YES! One of those!" When we were still about 20 yards away, it flew off, directly away from the highway. It was huge. We watched it fly away and then just sat there with the car running, saying nothing, for a good five minutes.

I have since researched every North American species of bat, crane, and heron, and nothing comes even close to what we saw that day.

Tonight, just for fun, I Googled "I Saw a Pterodactyl." Wow. Was I surprised. The following video clip and the first three links are from search results. The last link is from a documentary that I watched on Netflix a few weeks ago and found very enlightening.

Check out the Civil War photos starting at 1:19.

"I Saw a Pterodactyl"  Sighting Testimonials

"I Swear I Saw a Pterodactyl"  Sighting Testimonials

Modern Dinosaur Sightings  A Christian View

Dragons or Dinosaurs  A Creationist View

My fellow eye-witness is in Heaven now. Kathleen, I remember you.

Day 30 - Bridge Over Troubled Water

"A cover of a song I like better than the original (post the cover)."

"Bridge Over Troubled Water"

by Clay Aiken

When you're weary 
Feeling small 
When tears are in 
Your eyes 
I will dry them all
I'm on your side
Oh when times get rough 
And friends just can't be found

Like a bridge 
Over troubled water 
I will lay me down

Sail on silver girl 
Sail on by 
Your time has come 
To shine 
All your dreams are on their way 
See how they shine 
If you need a friend
Look around I'm sailing 
Right behind

Like a bridge 
Over troubled water 
I will ease your mind 
Like a bridge 
Over troubled water 
I will ease your mi---nd 
Your mind 
Ease your mi----nd! 

To my mother, who was watching American Idol with me when Clay Aiken sang this song and who loved his voice. I remember you.

Portal to Shoe-topia

Those of you who knew me in my prime may remember that I had a love affair with shoes. I had nice long legs. My calves were perfect, my ankles sublime. My perfectly painted toes would lead the eye to my strappy, wrappy shoes with perhaps a sparkling ankle bracelet to tease the eye. And the spike of the heel, of course. They say that jewelery makes the outfit, but oh, no, my darlings, it's always been the shoes.

But, alas, in December of 1999 I devastated the bones in my right foot and ankle (a tale for another time, my dears), and after rods and pins and bone grafts I was told I could never wear high heels again. And as we all know, flats are, well, flat.

Then as I got older, I became quite, well, plump, shall we say. And my calves and ankles were no longer svelte. My right calf forever remained a shadow of its former self, and the corresponding ankle stayed swollen and misshapen. Occasionally I would disobey the physician and wear again a delightful pair of shoes that would make men turn their heads. But, to my woe, it was no longer admiration I saw in their eyes.

And then, then, I was aghast to discover that, one night while I was sleeping, the Fancy Feet Fairy had stolen my feet, only to replace them with Old Woman feet! No, NO, it could not be! Yellowed nails and crusty heels! Where, oh, where, had my youthful feet gone? Now even strappy flats and a golden toe ring could not bring back that echo of my former beauty! It was nothing less than a travesty! My love affair with shoes lie wounded in the corner, whimpering its last!

But before that love affair could take its last breath, the Sexy Shoe Sprite came to visit. With a PHOTO of a pair of sexy shoes! Photographs! I could still have beautiful feet and legs in sexy shoes, I just needed photographs of the shoes to tease my imagination!

And so, it begins. Periodically, I will post to my blog a photograph of shoes that I adore. They may be sexy spikes, or flat wraps, or basic boots, but they will all be ME. They will all be shoes that I would actually wear! And your job? All YOU have to do is imagine them on the seductive feet I formerly flourished at the end of my long svelte legs. (Okay, some of you will have to use a lot of imagination, but work with me here!)

Voilà! Feast your eyes then envisage my beauty!

by Alexander McQueen

Ankle Wraps & Cuffs

I JUST DISCOVERED ANKLE WRAPS! ALL BY THEIR OWN SELVES! OH, MY WORD!
Clicky, Clicky

Which Will I Do?

Day 29 - Breathe

"A song I hear on the radio."

"Breathe"

by Ryan Star

she's fine, most of the time
she takes her days with a smile
moves like a dancer in light
spinning around to the sound
but sometimes she falls down

breathe, just breathe
take the world off your shoulders
and put it on me
breathe, just breathe
let the life that you live
be all that you need

she likes New York at night
she dreams of running away
shine on, bright like the sun
when even the sky turns gray
i need you to hear me say

i need you to hear me say

breathe, just breathe
take the world off your shoulders
and put it on me
breathe, just breathe
let the life that you live
be all that you need

let go of the fear
let go of the doubt
let go of the ones
to try to put you down
you're gonna be fine
don't hold it inside
if you hurt right now
then let it all come out

breathe, just breathe
take the world off your shoulders
and put it on me
breathe, just breathe
let the life that you live
be all that you need

breathe, just breathe
take the world off your shoulders
and put it on me
breathe, just breathe
let the life that you live
be all that you need

let go of the fear
let go of the doubt

let the life that you live
be all that you need

let go of the fear
let go of the doubt

take the world off your shoulders
and put it on me

Thank you, Sarah. I remember you.

Quoth the Raven...

but those days are long gone.

Day 28 - All the Wild Horses

"A song from a band that's been around a long time

that I'm just finding out about."

"All the Wild Horses"
by Ray LaMontagne


All the wild horses
All the wild horses
Tethered with tears in their eyes
May no man's touch ever tame
May no man's reigns ever chain
And may no man's weight ever defray your soul
And as for the clouds
Just let them roll
Roll away
Roll away
As for the clouds
Just let them roll
Roll away
Roll away

(Per Merriam-Webster, "defray" from the Old French:
"damage by breaking").

This one's for you, Jessica. I remember you.

Day 27 - Barracuda

"A song I would have as my entrance music if I was a boxer, wrestler, etc."

"Barracuda"

by Gretchen Wilson and Alice in Chains

So this ain't the end - I saw you again today
Had to turn my heart away
You smiled like the
Sun - Kisses for everyone
And tales - it never fails!
You lying so low in the weeds
Bet you gonna ambush me
You'd have me down on my knees
Wouldn't you, Barracuda?
Back over
Time when we were all
Trying for free
Met up with porpoise and me
No right no wrong you're selling a
Song - A name whisper game.
If the real thing don't do the trick
You better make up something quick
You gonna burn it out to the wick
Aren't you, Barracuda?
"Sell me sell you" the porpoise said
Dive down deep to save my head
You...I think you got the blues too.
All that night and all the next
Swam without looking back
Made for the western pools - silly fools!

The Unnameable

Source: National Geographic.

Day 26 - One Drop of Blood

"A song that makes me excited."

This song gives me chills, knowing that my sins are covered

by the sacrificial blood of The Lamb.

"One Drop of Blood"

by Ray Boltz

Standing in the courtroom
When I heard, how do you plead?
The accuser of the brethren
Was staring at me
He said, we got your number
There is no escape
For here are your transgressions,
Your failures and mistakes

He pointed to the corner
Where the scales of justice stood
I saw so many failures there
There was nothing good
And in that very moment
When it seemed all hope was lost
I said, I plead the blood of Jesus
And His death upon the cross

One drop of blood
Fell to the scales
It covered my transgressions
And all the times I failed
The enemy was mighty
He came in like a flood
He was defeated by one drop of blood

I stood and watched in silence
As others were brought in
I saw them start to tremble
When they turned and faced their sin
They offered no excuses
They offered no alibis
The truth was overwhelming
And it would not be denied

Their righteousness like filthy rags
And nothing they could say
They bowed their heads in silence
As they were led away
But for the true believers
Each time it was the same
His glory shown around them
As they called upon His name

One drop of blood
Fell to the scales
It covered their transgressions
And all the times they failed
The enemy was mighty
He came in like a flood
He was defeated by one drop of blood

No greater sacrifice has any other made
Oh yes He paid the price
With every drop He gave

One drop of blood
Fell to the scales
It covered my transgressions
And all the times I failed
The enemy was mighty
He came in like a flood
He was defeated by one drop of blood

One drop of blood
Fell to the scales
It covered my transgressions
And all the times I failed
The enemy was mighty
He came in like a flood
He was defeated by one drop of blood!

What I've Never Had

Day 25 - Pick Me

"My least favorite song that's out right now."

"Pick Me"

by Justin Bieber

This song is so awful that I'm not even posting the lyrics, and unless you have something to really punish yourself for, don't listen to it, either!

Day 24 - Drift

"A song from an artist that's not well known."

"Drift"

by Emily Osment

I am
Just another number
Stack me up I'll crumble
And drift along

I am
Just another nothing
Light me up I'll fall in
And then be gone

Lalay lalay lalay
Oh
Lalay lalay lalay
Oh
Lalay lalay lalay
Oh

I am
Well suited for erasing
Fading into hazy
I'm sinking strong

Lalay lalay lalay
Oh
Lalay lalay lalay
Oh
Lalay lalay lalay
Oh

And then
It's all over and done

Lalay lalay lalay
Oh
Lalay lalay lalay
Oh
Lalay lalay lalay
Oh

Lalay lalay lalay
Oh

Well suited for erasing
Lalay lalay lalay
Oh
Fading into hazy
Lalay lalay lalay
Oh
I'm sinking strong

Power

Day 23 - Hero

"A song that describes the person closest to me."

 

"Hero"

by Mariah Carey

There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are

There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away

And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

It's a long road
When you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold

You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt
Will disappear

And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

Oh oh, Lord knows
Dreams are hard to follow
But don't let anyone
Tear them away, hey yeah

Just hold on
There will be tomorrow
And in time, you find the way, hey

Then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you

That a hero lies in you
Mmm, that a hero lies in you

Janae, you're my hero. You have strength, and courage, and spirit, and empathy, and laughter. When I grow up, I want to be just like you.

Day 22 - Mean

"A song from an artist I think is overrated."

(I first chose Lady GaGa, but all her songs and videos were too offensive. So then I went to Britney Spears and had the same problem, only to a lesser degree. I finally had to go to Taylor Swift).

 

"Mean"

by Taylor Swift

 You, with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me
You, have knocked me off my feet again got me feeling like I'm nothing
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard, calling me out when I'm wounded
You, pickin' on the weaker man

Well, you can take me down with just one single blow
But you don't know what you don't know

Someday I'll be living in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

You, with your switching sides and your walk-by lies and your humiliation
You, have pointed out my flaws again as if I don't already see them
I'll walk with my head down trying to block you out 'cause I'll never impress you
I just wanna feel okay again

I'll bet you got pushed around, somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now 'cause you can't lead me down that road
And you don't know what you don't know

Someday I'll be living in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

And I can see you years from now in a bar, talking over a football game
With that same big loud opinion but nobody's listening
Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things
Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing

But all you are is mean
All you are is mean and a liar and pathetic and alone in life
And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean

But someday I'll be living in a big old city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean, yeah
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

Someday, I'll be, living in a big old city
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

Day 21 - She's Gone

"A song from a band I used to love but now I hate."

 

"She's Gone"

by Hall and Oates

Whooo-oooo, mmm-hmmm

Whooo-oooo

 Everybody's high on consolation
Everybody's trying to tell me what is right for me, yeah
My daddy tried to bore me with a sermon
you know it's plain to see that they can't comfort me

Sorry Charlie for the imposition
But I believe I got the strength to carry on
I need a drink and a quick decision
Now it's up to me, ooh what will be

She's Gone, Oh I, Oh I,
  I better learn how to face it
She's Gone, and She's gone, Oh I, Oh I, Oh I

I'd pay the devil to replace her
She's Gone - what went wrong

Up in the morning look in the mirror, look in the mirror
I'm worn as her tooth brush hanging in the stand, in the stand, in the stand
my face ain't looking any younger
now I can see love's taken her toll on me

She's Gone, Oh I, Oh I, Oh I

I better learn how to face it
She's Gone, and she's gone, Oh I, Oh I,

I'd pay the devil to replace her
She's Gone - what went wrong

Think I'll spend eternity in the city
let the carbon and monoxide choke my thoughts away, yeah,
and pretty bodies help dissolve the memories

they might help
but they can never be what she was to me

She's Gone, Oh I, 

I better learn how to face it
She's Gone, She's gone, 

Can't believe that she's gone, Oh I

I'd pay the devil to replace her

I can't believe it

I gotta believe it

I gotta learn, I gotta learn

Day 20 - The Way I Am

"A song from a band I heard about before they were cool."

"The Way I Am"

by Ingrid Michaelson

(WARNING: Clowns in video)

If you were falling, then I would catch you
You need a light, I'd find a match

Cuz I love the way you say good morning
And you take me the way I am

If you are chilly, here take my sweater
Your head is aching; I'll make it better

Cuz I love the way you call me baby
And you take me the way I am

I'd buy you Rogaine when you start losing all your hair
Sew on patches to all you tear

Cuz I love you more than I could ever promise
And you take me the way I am
You take me the way I am
You take me the way I am

"We Climb Because They Climbed"

Only today did I become aware of the Dallas, Texas, 9/11 Memorial Climb. There were 343 firefighters participating, one to represent each member of the New York City Fire Department that died in the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Each of today's firefighters was given a badge with the name and biographical sketch of an FDNY firefighter who gave their life on September 11th.

I am proud to say that my cousin Dusty was one of the firefighters participating in the memorial today. These firefighters from Dallas and surrounding areas climbed, in full turn-out gear, 110 floors (55 floors twice) of the Renaissance Tower in Dallas.  What a fitting memorial! 

Worthy to note, however, is that today's climbers trained for months in preparation for the memorial climb. They weren't climbing against scores of panicked civilians trying to get down. There was no smoke, no fumes, no screaming, nothing blocking their way. No one was bleeding or injured. There was no hurry. There was no heart-locked knowledge of extreme danger. There was no threat to the lives of the firefighters or to anyone else.

The FDNY didn't have those advantages.

Knowledge of today's climb and seeing a video containing Dusty caused the American Eagle in my soul to raise its head a bit more. I am proud of being part of one nation, UNDER GOD. I am proud of the human spirit. I am an American!

Learn more at www.dallasstairclimb.com and LIKE their Facebook Page, Dallas 9/11 Memorial Climb.

FDNY, those who fell and those who still stand, and those who have joined the ranks since September 11, 2001, I remember you.

And Dusty, I remember you!