I remember the house.....a long time ago it seems, but as fresh as yesterday.

I remember the place where my life changed. It was a place where my eyes were opened to a whole new world that I'd only merely peeked into before. It was a life unlike what I was used to, yet not afraid of, as those there had good hearts and open minds. I learned what it was like to be truly free - to be truly me. I also learned to see others for who they really are, and not to let it get in the way of my freedom.

There were many good nights in that house, and many funny stories to tell. We were told what it was like to hear sounds we didn't want to hear at the table, and how some tables could be turned in quite interesting ways, with humorous endings. It was a time when one could be ostercized for just being themselves without stepping one foot over the threshhold. It was a time when bonds that held life in one direction were suddenly severed and cast aside.

It was a house of change, of freedom, and of wonderment - even though some were blind to it.

I remember the smells, the sights, and the thoughts that occurred, many of which were new to me, but now as familiar as the oldest of friends from times long forgotten. The smells carry forward to this day, and can be found if one knows where to look.

Ah, Patchouli.....how I miss you.

The music and laughter that rang throughout the rooms at night reminded me of happy times, and I still remember them fondly. I remember surprising looks, and funny retorts. There were times of hardship and turmoil, although they never lasted, and the lives returned to the way they were. We were all normal people, for we knew how to live.

The house is gone now, but the trees in the front, and the ideas remain. The trees are a reminder - a gateway from the way life once was....to the way life became - what it was meant to be.

Ah the memories.....those times that truly set me free. How I will always cherish them.

Last night was pretty fabulous, once the rain died down - twice. It was the 100th year for the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department - which I suppose unless you read the paper every day, or LIVE in Laurel, you might not know this. I thought it was pretty amazing myself that any group stays volunteer that long, but these selfless people do it all the time! The fireworks show itself was awesome, but I think next year I'm going to take a real video camera.

I got the back yard mowed again, which if you saw our back yard, would know why it never takes long to mow - it's mainly weeds. I also need to figure out a nagging problem with my Subaru - it doesn't like the highway anymore, and I dread finding out what might be causing it, as the radiator is still full. If it's the thermostat, then I should be able to handle it....but if it's the water pump, I'm screwed, because I can't afford any more overhauls in the meantime. Same goes for the radiator. Maybe it'll be something simple, right?

Just once could I be right?

So now I've started my latest week in the mines, and dealt with my first ugly-ass troll, so I'm hoping against hope that it's not indicative of how the rest of my week is going to go.

I've been practicing my nail polish techniques for a while now (ever since my acrylic nail adventures), and I think I'm getting pretty good at it! Of course, if you use good quality products, it makes the process sooo much easier. Once upon a time, I didn't care so much about the end result, as I never wore it for very long, but now that I wear it more, I am a little (okay....a lot more) particular in how my nails turn out.

OK, so maybe it's my inner femme talking, but I think it's perfectly fine for guys to primp every bit as much as the ladies do - whether it be doing up your hair, skin care, cosmetics, nicer clothes...I've never.seen a problem with it.

Nowadays, I mainly use OPI nail polish, because I love the wide brush and it goes on sooo smooooth. I still suffer from "ugly feet syndrome", so I doubt I'll be doing a pedicure anytime soon. I guess this is why when I go shoe shopping, I stick to the closed-toe styles.

Oh yeah...that's another thing I've gotten better at....walking gracefully in my many pairs of heels. Well heck, I bought 'em, so no use letting them get dusty in the closet, right? Nowadays, 3-4" heels are nothing, so next it's conquering the 5"-ers! I still get the occasional question or stare, but I think many more people are grown-up enough to either say something nice, or not say anything at all.

I actually got a very nice compliment from the cashier at Wal-Mart on how well I do my own nails now. That felt wonderful! I guess confidence plus one's own sense of style can go a long way!

I started playing a couple of new games over the weekend that are just way addicting, and theraputic at the same time! For the longest time, I swore up and down I'd never get into any war or military games, but such as luck would have it, I was proven wrong...I was happy about it this time though! So here we go with my thoughts on each.

Black (Xbox) - This is a first-person secret-ops type of game where you have to navigate enemy installations, take out the enemy, destroy intel, and blow the crap ut of stuff. The enemy AI varies from being ruthless (How did they see me HERE?)..to being dumb as a brick (walk right up behind a dude and pop him in the brainpan). This game has good strategy elements, and has a good assortment of weaponry at your disposal. It forces you to think on the go, and to sometimes have eyes in the back of your head.

SQ's recommendation: good game-even better value used! Well worth the cost.

Red Faction:Guerrilla (I played the 360 version): Ah, mass-destruction...nothing says sweet love like a sledgehammer as you use it to whittle away buildings, or speed some enemy grunt to the hereafter. As it says in the headlines, you have a wide array of ways to smash, blow apart, or render inoperable stuff, and some good weapons in your arsenal to turn impressive structures into so much scrap! The maps are easy to read, and even give you beacons if you need them. The controls are spot-on, and it's just way too much fun to put down. I loved being able to fling some charges on the side of a tall smokestack, drive away, turn around, and enjoy the graphical beauty of my work.

SQ's recommendation; Get it....NOW! :-)

I've made a few journeys of self-discovery over the years, and I've realized that my tastes are my own, and don't fit most people's ideas of what might be considered "normal". I've since really stopped worrying about what other people think, and just concentrate on my own happiness. I've moderated my style choices down a peg or two, and no one seems to really mind. This is part of who I am, and that will never change. I am at harmony with my Yin and Yang sides as it were, and it feels very very right.

There have been friends who were not supportive, and that is their right, but it's also my right to distance myself from them. There have been a number in recent years who have been supportive and/or treat me no different than anyone else, and I am happy for that as well.

As Popeye once said...I am all that I am, and that's all that I am.

I've done average.
I've done punk/new wave.
I've done drag.
I've done all of them, and have come to one conclusion....style is a fruit salad that should be all mixed together, and enjoyed by all!

I did my first digital sketch in a long time - partially out of being lazy, and partially out of frustration with my tablet and Vista not getting along. It's finally working now, so here is my first test!



What do you think? :-)

I think one of the only things I regret was not saving many of my earlier Bryce workspaces, so I cannot re-render them in larger sizes. I guess it'll challenge me to re-make newer versions.

I'm sure I can do it though!

Oh how I adore my Fridays, as it allows me time away from my crazy, yet strangely entertaining work life, and gives my sanity some time to recover. Now to think about projects for this weekend. I may start uo on images for my 2010 calendar, which will have 12-13 original images in it. I may also dust off my Wacom tablet and do some more working with it, as long it behaves itself.

I want to try to find some new earrings as well, since my shoe shopping sources seem to have dried up for the moment, except the usual "hooker heels" which I already have plenty of. Time to check other stuff out!

This weekend will be a lot of room shuffling though, so we'll see how much time I have left over.

They say that it's not what's on the outside that counts. They've also said not to judge a book by its cover - yet people still do it.

We preach that we should be more tolerant and loving towards each other, yet we still are opposed to some because of what some of their nation has done, what their religion dictates, or because of how they choose to live their lives.

Back when I read my own Bible years ago, it talked about the "end times", and we really seem to be heading down that slow, downward spiral. I hope that someday we can truly embrace each other as one world culture, but that uphill climb just seems to be getting more vertical all the time.

A friend of the family told us a while back that they switched churches because the one they went to got a lesbian minister. They the said they did not switch because she was a lesbian, but because she put it "in their face" all the time.

Kinda sounds like the same thing they preach to us - telling us how we should be going to church and enrolling the kids in Sunday School. How is that not being "in our faces" about their position?

Pretty dumb double-standard if you ask me.....