Hello Friday and VGNO!!

I am participating in Ann’s Virtual Girl’s Night Out tonight. Check it out!!

Have a wonderful evening and a great weekend!!

My most recent post is below!!  or here —> 8 Lots of 8 Things

8 Lots of 8 Things

8 TV shows I watch
1. Lost
2. Modern Family
3. 24
4. CSI
5. Amazing Race
6. NCIS
7. Survivor
8. House

8 favorite places to eat and drink
1. The Tap Room (craft beer and delicious stone baked pizzas).
2. At home.
3. Bisetti’s Italian Restaurant (local and yummy!).
4. There are so many really good places to eat and drink.
5. Too many to list.
6. My grandmother’s home. It wasn’t the food as much as it was her.
7. Backyard BBQs!
8. I have this memory from when I was 7 or 8. We were in Athens, eating at a sidewalk cafe. I had a Gyro or Souvlaki…I don’t remember…it was some kind of delicious meat, onions and tomato wrapped in a fresh warm pita. I loved it so much! 

8 things I look forward to:
1. Seeing Starr become, well, what ever she will become.
2. Grandchildren (just not yet).
3. Spring.
4. The next time I laugh until I cry.
5. Drum circle next Wednesday night.
6. Trying what ever is on tap next at The Tap Room.
7. Meeting new people.
8. Spending time with friends and family.

8 things I love about winter:
1. I
2. Love
3. That
4. Winter
5. Eventually
6. Ends!
7. Okay, I love warm fireplaces. I don’t have one.
8. I love sleeping in a cool bedroom.

8 things on my wish list:
1. I wish to avoid alzheimers.
2. …and cancer.
3. I wish for more understanding in the world.
4. I wish for my headaches to cease.
5. I wish for Starr to live her best life, always.
6. I wish to grow my current friendships into something really special.
7. I wish happiness, health and prosperity to all.
8. A new computer is also quite high on my wish list!

8 things I am passionate about
1. Equality.
2. My daughter.
3. Her siblings.
4. My nephew.
5. Love.
6. Quiet time.
7. Noisy fun.
8. Laughter.

8 things I have learned from the past
1. Friendship and trust are so very important.
2. Forgiveness is healthy.
3. Liars tend to continue lying.
4. True beauty is on the inside.
5. I am worthy.
6. To cherish the present.
7. That things are always changing…and that’s good.
8. I have a lot of learning left to do.

8 things I want/need

1. I want * **** *** ** ** ****!!!
2. I need to repair the leaking pipes under the guest bathroom.
3. I want a vehicle for Starr. (She thinks this is a need!)
4. I need to trust myself more often.
5. I want a Diet Coke.
6. I need a massage. Yeah, I said need!
7. I want some new clothes. (I know this to be a need…)
8. I need a hug.

Dinosaur Ballet

Found on Neatorama this morning:

Ross Butter’s Dinosaur Ballet

Butter says:

I got in touch with my inner child. He made me do this.

Kelly says: The stretching dinosaurs reminded me of this picture from Starr and Skye’s 5k last year:

Sookie and friend making me laugh, as usual.

I’m Sorry

…but I can’t help it. I love her so much! I just have to share this picture, although it isn’t nearly as cute as she was in real life.

Snuggled into the pillowcase! So flipping cozy.

Her eyes photograph oddly, I tried to fix them a little, it helped some, but they are still odd!! I blame the cell phone! I texted this picture to Starr as she was out partying Saturday night. She said it took all of her willpower not to show the picture around “look at my cat!” and “isn’t she the cutest?!?” She just didn’t want to be THAT girl!

Apparently I have no such willpower….or I am THAT girl!!

A Friday Mix

mp3: “Glorious” – A. Graham and The Moment Band
Heard this for the first time earlier today. Smiling, I’ve now listened to it at least six more times.
“Glorious/Triumphant/Optimistic/Transcendent”
Album: This Tyrant Is Free
A. Graham and the Moment Band @ Lawrence.com

mp3: “I Will Live On Islands” – Josh Rouse
I’m dreaming of life on the outside…
Album: El Tourista
Josh Rouse-Official Website

mp3: “From the Hips” – Cursive
From the hips. Maybe I should try living that way for a bit, my way isn’t working so well.
Album: Mama, I’m Swollen
Cursive-MySpace

Dragonfly’s Favorites: This Dispenser

For dish soap!!

When I was growing up, my mom had an oil dispenser that she kept by the sink filled with dish soap. Always accessible, and not really ugly like a plastic bottle.

I have had one just like it since leaving home, but I switched to this one about ten years ago. It HOLDS MORE SOAP!! You don’t have to fill it as often!

I’ve noticed in some friends homes that they keep the soap below the sink, you have to open the cabinet, reach down, pick it up, use it and return it every time you want to use soap. It never made sense to me. I use dish soap several times a day! All that bending, opening and putting away simply does not click with my natural laziness. I buy soap at the discount store in bulk, I just fill my oil bottle from time to time….love it!!

Revisiting Sunny’s Heart

I have her heart in my header and always will. I have it in my sidebar. Starr and Skye use it for their non-profit. I hold it in my heart and mind. I think Sunny might be embarrassed, but I know that she would understand why we chose it, why we are attached to it. The history of the heart has been told in the posts that I am copying here:

Sunny’s Heart (January 8, 2008):

I was doing dishes yesterday and looked to my left. I have two cards that Sunny gave me posted there on the side of my refrigerator. I had noticed before that she signed her name with a little heart, but just then I wondered if I could take that heart and make a logo with it.

It still needs work, but this is her signature heart. Starr is planning on starting a charitable foundation in Sunny’s name and memory, and we are thinking that this could be part of the logo.

We miss you dearly….

A Tattoo as Therapy (June 15, 2008):

Well, that’s how I see it. Starr might have a different story.

Starr has been wanting a tattoo for years, she has been talking about it since she was 15 years old or so. She had all kinds of ideas, but for the past year she has been trying to come up with an idea that pays tribute to Sunny.

She considered daisies, an idea that is still on the table, but she wasn’t sure exactly how she wanted them to look. Suddenly, Friday afternoon she came to me and said that she knew what she wanted, and that she was surprised that it hadn’t occurred to her before.

Sunny’s Heart.

The little heart that Sunny signed her name with that I scanned and cleaned up. The heart that is a part of The Glass Dragonfly header at the top of this page. The same heart that Starr and Skye have incorporated into the logo for their charitable foundation.

Below is the last birthday card that Sunny gave me, and the source of the heart. She liked to call me mom, I loved to hear it.

Once she had the idea, she couldn’t wait. She “needed” the tattoo…now. And she got it. The weird part for me was that I wasn’t needed, my permission wasn’t needed…for Starr…or for the tattoo parlor. Don’t they know that this is my “baby”??? That I still want to have control? Yeah, well.

As always…I miss you sweetie!! So very much. I love you!

I am a Meme Stealer

It’s true! This one was stolen from Lola’s Diner:

Do you get regular massages? I wish!!

Do you have an answering machine? Nope.

What cuss word do you use the most? Sh*t. : ) I’ve cursed in posts before, but it looks weird just sitting there, so I felt the need to censorize it!

Are you underweight or overweight? Excuse me?

Can you see your veins? Not all of them thank goodness!!

Favorite…

Soap? Dove Pink

Fruit? Strawberries

Kind of red meat? I like steak, but I love my hamburgers! I mean cheeseburgers!

Fish? I don’t like fish.

Candy bar? Snickers, but I haven’t had one since Halloween 2008. I’m not craving one either.

Have You Ever…

Eaten a whole bag of potato chips? At once? No. Over several days? Yup.

Eaten lobster? Oh, yes.

Climbed a mountain? No.

Been skydiving? Not a chance.

Been water skiing? Nope.

Do You…

Wish you could change something about your life? Absolutely.

Like your nose? Yes.

Like salt and vinegar chips? Yeah.

Eat salsa? A little.

Own a boat? No boat.

What Is…

A small thing that people let slide but that actually has dire consequences? Dire? I don’t know.

Your most macho trait? (this was Lola’s answer and it fits me too) I probably have more tools in my garage than your dad/husband. And I actually know how to use them.

The longest relationship you’ve ever had? With my parents, a whopping 45 years!! Sweet.

Your most embarrassing thoughts? I don’t have any of those. Ever.

Your most shameful moment? These either.

This/That…

Bath/Shower? I love a lovely hot bath, but my tub is the most uncomfortable thing ever, so until I move or get a new tub…Shower!

Markers/Crayons? Crayons.

Pens/Pencils? Depends on the job at hand.

Jelly/Cream Cheese? On what? It totally makes a difference.

Bagel/Toast? Bagel.

Finish…

My greatest weakness is…trusting too much.

I wish I was…pain free.

Three things I wouldn’t do for a million dollars are…kill or hurt someone, hurt myself.

The oddest thing I’ve ever put in my mouth is…well, as a rule I don’t put ODD things in my mouth!

Firsts…

Credit card you had? Sears.

Loan you got was for? School.

Paycheck was for how much? I have no idea.

Time you had stitches? Never.

Time you went to the hospital for something? Starr’s jaw surgery.

Lasts…

List everything you ate in the last 24 hours? I had leftover shrimp from Chili’s last night for dinner, they were officially Starr’s but they were in my refrigerator. I have dibs. This morning Starr brought me a breakfast sandwich from Starbucks and I had a Lean Cuisine pizza for lunch. There hasn’t been any cooking whatsoever here in the past 24 hours!

Last thing you used a credit card for? Starr uses it to fill the car, so….gas.

Last thing you celebrated? Celebrated? I guess I am not the celebrating type. I celebrated that Starr moved out on Sunday by rearranging the living room and cleaning house!

Last time you were at a sports bar? I was at a bar on Sunday afternoon,  there were TV’s showing the football game, does that count?

Remember, Celebrate, Act

“Remember, Celebrate, Act. A Day On Not A Day Off!” <— Visit this link to learn the importance of continuing his work, why and ways to celebrate, and history of the holiday itself.

Just a few Martin Luther King Jr. quotes for the day:

At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’

Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.

Let no man pull you low enough to hate him.

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

A This and That Thursday

…Oh dear, it’s Friday! I missed Thursday all together!!

Okay, I really didn’t miss it, I was just busy busy all day long.

Starr started moving home right around Thanksgiving. I have really enjoyed having her around, but I am also ready for a little privacy. She will be moving out (again!) this weekend!!

My friend, the one who sent me the Key Lime Pie, also sent me a gift card to PF Changs recently (he is great! And not just because he likes to send us things!!). Starr and I are going to use it for lunch today. This will be my first PF Changs experience.

I really need to work on not taking things so personally. Until I have mastered this skill…it just hurts. A lot.

I took a picture of the White Pizza I made the other day. I made a yeast dough with a mixture of white and whole wheat flour. It was good. Starr says that this is her favorite dinner, but she also said that about the Orange Glazed Pork Medallions I made the next night! She has a lot of favorites…and that makes me happy!

Haiti. *sigh* In addition to thoughts and prayers:

Haiti Earthquake: How to help, a list of charitable organizations active in the nation (from MSNBC)

and on a little more personal note…BRESMA Orphanage, where my friend adopted two wonderful children, needs help:

Facebook | Let’s Help Them Get Out of Haiti

Facebook | A Growing Flame – Send Help to Ali, Jamie and the Bresma Orphanage.