2009 « Journals of Journeys

18Nov/09Off

Made Your Pumpkin Pies Yet?

I just couldn't resist. A dear friend of mine forwarded this to me the other day and I simply had to share it.

How Pumpkin Pies Are Made

Filed under: 2009, Holiday, Journals, Just Wrong, Kathie, Thanksgiving, funny No Comments

27Oct/09Off

This blog, this website, will be undergoing some revisions and getting a new face over the next couple of months. It's time to revamp, upgrade, streamline and make some much needed improvements in preparation -- for what, you'll have to be patient and wait to see.

It's out with the old, in with the new. Maybe I'll get lucky enough to have it all ready for release on New Years Day. Wouldn't that be the bomb?

Periodically I might post here. Thoughts get caught up in my brain and need a way to come out. This has always been the perfect medium. It's just of late, well, there's enough going on that those thoughts can't be voiced in this type of forum. Please don't ask. It's personal. Very personal, and not something I'm willing to share, not even via email or any other route. I don't want to seem rude, but even pressed, it's not going to happen.

What will become of the posts up and till then? Probably archived and removed from the site. I haven't decided yet. Of course, if there's something you'd like to see transitioned onto the new site, leave me a comment. Having a link to the particular post or page would be even better. I won't make any promises, this is, after all, my site. But I do try to be accommodating.

The other blogs and pages? Yeah, revisions, remodeling, maybe even removed altogether. It's the website mid-life crisis!

So there you have it.

In case you were wondering.

See you on the flip side!

Filed under: 2009, General, Information, Journals, Kathie, Tech Problems, Thoughts, Warning, Writing No Comments

18Sep/09Off

Freaky Friday

I see dead people.

Actually I write about them. Maybe too much. You see, the other day I was doing some research on the fictitious town for my latest novel. I'd visited the intended site several months ago but still had to plot out the layout which Google Maps is really helpful in that way. As I added streets, placed markers for various locations, I added a few people icons to mark where dead bodies were located. Then, for kicks and giggles, I switched out to Google Map's street view and "drove" beside the first dead body.

And this is what I saw:

There in the white area (see me in the section below? The yellow figure, looking at the light blue figure, which is the dead body marker.) you might be able to pick out a face. Can't quite see it? Take a look at the image below where I traced it.

Freaky, huh?

So I did it again, just to see if I was imagining it.

The picture on the left highlights the face I saw with that white rectangle. The one on the right, because the tracing didn't work as well as the first one, I pointed to what I saw so maybe you can see it too. The big arrow points to what I call a "park ranger's hat". The line just below, to the eyes, then nose and finally lips. See it? Triple freaky!

So yeah. This is definitely a good place for a dead body. Don't you agree?

Until next week, have a freak-tabulous weekend, folks!

Filed under: 2009, Freaky Friday, Journals, Kathie, Novel Excerpt, Thoughts, Twisted, Writing, funny 1 Comment

16Sep/09Off

It Just Doesn’t Get More Clearer Than This

DRbye

Sometimes things are better left unsaid. Goodbye.

Filed under: 2009, Clouds In My Coffee, Here's Your Sign, Journals, Just Wrong, Kathie, Thoughts, Wishing No Comments

11Sep/09Off

I Will Remember You: Project 2,996

Where's your flag? Is it out today? Have you thought about the thousands of Americans who died just eight years ago, today? The thousands more who've died, been maimed, are struggling as they fight in a war for justice and to preserve your freedom? Those left behind? Those who work tirelessly on home soil to protect and preserve our freedom? Don't let the memories slip away. Don't forget to thank those who have worked to give you your freedom. Don't. Forget.

A few years ago the kidlets and I took part in a special tribute to the 2,996 victims of September 11, 2001. Author D. C. Roe had spearheaded, Never Forget. He vowed to never forget the 2,996 lives that had been taken from this planet that fateful day, their contributions and the families and loved ones they left behind. The boys and I were given five names to research, learn about and join D. C. Roe in vowing to remember them.

We are thinking of Ernest Alikako, Francis J. Nazario, Frederick Kuo Jr., Jimmy Audiffred and Juan Salas who were victims of 9-11. We will be thinking of their families. Of their contributions to this world, to our country before their untimely demise. We will be lifting them up, their families up. We challenge you to do the same. For more information about the project, to participate or read the tributes other bloggers have put together to never forget the other 2,991 victims, visit Roe's new website at: http://project2996.wordpress.com/