Another Desktop Dazzler!

          

With summer winding down, I thought it would be nice to feature this marigold, in all it's beautiful detail as a "desktop dazzler".  I haven't been dazzled or posted a DD for a while, it seems. ;<)

 For many years, I was not a fan of marigolds; now I just love them.

I hope you enjoy this orange dazzler; great as a desktop background too!

Hopefully all the brilliant fall colors will be here soon. 

Some much-needed rain would be nice too! Still not a drop here but in the forecast.

I've Been Posting Up a Storm!!!

I've been on a posting "binge" today. Actually wrote 6 posts in total. I think that's my record for one day! LOL

Here are the ones I've already posted:


Down & Dirty (book review) at: My Real Life Reviews (it's a gardening book btw, LOL)

Amber Alert! This time a happy ending at: My Poetic Path

On the Menu Last Night: Easy Vegetable Curry at: Veggies, Yarns & Tails


The others are scheduled for later. Now I'm off to work on my novel.

Speaking of storms, we've got rain on the way today, yippeee!!! We need it so much.

Happy Tuesday  :<)

Word of the Week: Integrity

                            

It's people with true integrity who have always been my heroes. The kind of people who stand by their personal beliefs and ethics, even when it's not the easy or popular route to take.

On a personal note, I think of myself as a person striving to live a life of integrity. Getting it right, not always, but most of the time. I have been challenged several times over the years in this respect. Two employment situations in particular come to mind. I stood up for people when it was not the "popular" or easy choice at the time.

It made for some very tough sailing for me, at one place in particular.. They fired a person who had worked there for years and who had been an exemplary employee but not one who was part of the "in" crowd.

Carol (name changed) ran the main office. She was very conscientious about her work. Not a person to allow all the staff on their own whims to go through personal or financial information (which many of them seemed to think was their right) and ran a tight ship in terms of keeping the books balanced etc....From where I was watching, Carol was the key person who kept this organization viable and progressing.

But as is too often the case, she ended up having the tables turned on her and the majority of staff rallying against her. A gang mentality continued to build. It was frightening to watch.

After several weeks of this internal back-stabbing a board meeting was called. All the other hands went up around the table in favor of firing her, including a "born again Christian" who was supposedly Carol's friend and loved to sing hymns throughout the day. Looking rather sheepish and embarrassed as I remember.

My hand stayed down. My convictions remained unchanged. I was not about to be a part of this nasty and uncalled-for dismissal. And as expected, after Carol was gone, the "guns" turned on me, making it difficult to continue to work there, in spite of the fact that I loved my job and needed it financially too.

But whatever challenges I faced after that episode, I felt good about what was the only choice I could make.

As it turned out, the "excellent" replacement employee who was hired after Carol, went on to bilk this organization out of thousands of dollars and was finally arrested. I saw it on the local TV news, years later. A little smile came to my face as I remember. In the long run, they did not come out ahead by getting rid of an honest, hard-working person. But rather, brought this organization to the brink of closure and cast a bad light on how it's operations were then perceived, throughout the community.

Another example that comes to mind when I think of the word integrity. Sealing a contract/agreement with a handshake.I don't know if that ever happens anymore but when I was very young I often remember my dad shaking hands with someone and it was "a deal" with no paperwork required. It was a given then, that was enough. "My word is my bond". I don't remember any of these transactions falling through either.

 It's not always easy to take the high road, to stand up for what's right, to speak up for the "underdog". But time after time (and sometimes it can take a very long time)  it is "always the right time to do the right thing".

***

To my readers in the U. S. A. 

Your Canadian friends stand with you today.

We will never forget.

                              

                       

in·teg·ri·ty

n.

1. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.

2. The state of being unimpaired; soundness.

3. The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.

Definition source: The Free Dictionary

Photo courtesy of: Flickr

The Gifts of All Artists Will Live On

                                                                               
Recently, Cathy from: The Voice Within posted a YouTube video featuring The Carpenters.

It still brings tears to my eyes, seeing the lovely Karen and her dashing brother Richard. Thinking about the circumstances that ended her life much too early and the loss to her family and all the world.

I also thought about the gifts that this brother and sister shared that will live on forever. Their timeless melodies, romantic and thoughtful lyrics and most of all, Karen's hauntingly beautiful voice.

How many married lives began to the strains of this classic: For All We Know

No matter what tragedies that may come into the life of any artist; the gifts that they bring to the world will remain. It's something that makes the sadness a little easier to think about. There will be joy along with the tears. Hope along with the sadness. A legacy that no one can take away.

And for generations to come: the song, the book, the painting,the poem, the words...they will never die. And in the case of Karen Carpenter; a personal, very tragic story that will probably continue to save many young lives, being re-told again and again.

Rest well dear Karen. You will never be forgotten.

Taking the Time to Say: Thank You!

Recently I was having yet another bout of insomnia at around 1 in the morning (that happens quite a bit) and decided to get up and do some browsing on the Web.

While on Google, I "happened" to find my way to a Doctors Review site. It got me thinking about a doctor I had met many years ago when I ended up in the emergency ward at 5 AM with what I thought at the time was either a heart attack or stroke (it was neither, just a lot of stress-related physical symptoms...long story).

Back to the "thank you" theme of this post. After finding this doctor's name on the review site and reading many glowing (they really were) reviews (and not one negative one!) from patients he had treated and cared for over the years, I decided to try to locate an email address for him. I wanted to send a note of thanks for his kindness and compassion on that very difficult night, so many years ago.



My email:

Many years ago, I ended up at the ..... Hospital emergency room at around 5AM, suffering from what I thought at the time was either a heart attack or stroke (it was neither, just way too much stress in my life). I had the good fortune to have you as the emergency room doctor who attended to me that night.

I was reading some reviews of doctors and came across your name. I vividly remember you and that night. You were so kind, professional and reassuring, I never forgot it. It appears from the reviews I was reading tonight, that I am not the only one who has been impressed by how you conduct yourself as a doctor. If I didn’t thank you that night (Oct. 1998) I just wanted to say that now. My sincere thanks to you for helping me so much on what was probably the most difficult night of my life. I lived to tell the tale though! I’m so glad you were there.

And the Dr.'s reply:

Thank you so much for your kind words! You made my day Geraldine. I will speaking to my Dad later today (both of my folks are well) and I will pass on your greetings.
Take care. R....


I've left out the names for confidentiality. Coincidentally,  I happened to know his parents, wonderful people.

It left me with such a good feeling to have been able to reconnect and to express my sincere appreciation, after all these years. I needed the care of a truly compassionate and professional doctor that night and that's exactly what happened.

If there's someone who you've always wanted to say thanks to and it got forgotten along the way for whatever reason, it really is worth the time and small effort to write a note, email or make a phone call. I'm so glad that I did....

Word of the Week: Weeds

Life’s garden of weeds.
Sometimes the stalks grow high.
The leaves unruly and untamed.
Crowding out our vision, view and desire to renew.

              
On (too) many a day.
So hard to see above and beyond.
But weeds have a lesson to teach;
unique and of themselves.

                               
They remind us that what we see is not always…
what we get.
What we perceive often hides,
the true picture and final story.

                              
Searching for the serenity and beauty to be found.
In the access and opportunities denied.
Perhaps, the road not travelled.


It is there, although at times,
hard to understand.
Often seen as trials.
Some days, impossible to bear.

                   
Life’s garden of weeds.
Futilely, we pull, strain and tug.
Instead of finding the patience required to,
wait out the storm.

                   
Once again,
to bask in the glorious sunshine.
A re-awakening required.

                          
There are no mistakes that cannot be healed.
Soaking up the seeds of growth.
To reappear as the most beautiful of blooms.
Sharing their timely and timeless wisdom.

***

GHH 2008, revised 2011

Also submitted for the OSI prompt: weed

PS: I think weeds (in all forms and senses of the word) can be blessings in disguise. :<)

By Way of (Two) Updates

** Prizes in the Happiness Is...contest:

I have finally got all of the prizes ready to mail. My apologies for the delay in getting these sent. First, I was waiting for quite a while to get all the addresses. Then I had a number of delays here including a two-week heat wave that really left me drained. When the temps rise, my energy levels sag, big time. But cooler temps have returned, I'm even sleeping better, hooray. So, all prizes will be in the mail next week. And do let me know if you don't receive yours in the next few weeks.

It may take a quite a while for mail to the U.S. and Europe which is getting slower and slower and that, I can't control.

** My ??? re: Word 2010:

Remember this post with my question re: Sub-folders/ Chapters?

Well yesterday I made up my mind I was going to figure this out and I finally did. The sub-folders as I had thought of them that show up in the Navigation pane (automatically for Chapter 1) when using the Word 2010 Book Manuscript template are actually considered just headings.

If you type in headings into the Help field, it is explained, kinda sorta....enough that I could figure it out and continue with my Chapters....yipeee! I love when I can figure out a techie question 'cause I am not a techie person.

I've said it a million times, I'll say it again: Microsoft needs some average, non-techie people working for them.

Simplify the basics. Don't get into so much detail about functions that are only used on a limited basis or not at all by a lot of users. And include "mini"help reference guides for a template's specific add-ons. Just 3 of many things, I'd recommend, if I happen to be one of those non-techie MS employees that they really need LOL!!!

I asked a lot of people about this folder/chapter ??? and no one could figure it out either. They tried. I hope in turn that my discovery will help someone else. Bill Gates....are you listening??


PS: And a couple of new posts at my other blogs you might also enjoy:


Veggies, Yarns & Tails: Craving a Trip to Caketown

My Poetic Path: Welcome September!


If you are travelling this long weekend, have a fun and safe journey! :<)

Brain Training CAN Be Fun....

              
....who'd a thunk it?

Read my full review at: My Real Life Reviews: Lumosity.com

It's been such fun and very helpful too!

Life Plan: A Thought-Provoking Quote

                                                     
"The shoe that fits one person pinches another. There is no recipe for living that suits all cases. Each of us carries our own life-plan, which cannot be superseded by any other."

                   

C.G. Jung

What do you think?

Are we all given one plan, one destiny for our lives when we are born? And then to spend the rest of our lives trying to ensure we have found the right plan/path/journey we are suppose to follow. I don't know if it is that simple or succinct.

On a completely different topic, this was the scene from our back porch last night.

You can see all of  the color and shape progressions of the sky that appeared in a period of only 5 minutes over at: My Poetic Path.

                        

I'm just glad I got my camera out pronto!  :<)

Word of the Week: Gems

I love what thoughts and possibilities the word: GEMS can conjure up!

Every day is a new opportunity to find hidden and unexpected "gems" in our lives. And in all the forms a real gem can take.

For me, some of my favorite gems are:

•  a treasured keepsake that brings wonderful memories to mind
• honest, kind people who are there when you really need them
• walking in a soft rain: the sound, the sight and the scent of the freshened air afterwards
• finding a long, lost beloved item again that seemed to be lost and gone forever 
• and as for "gem- gems": aquamarine, garnet, emeralds, peridot

to name but a few....

What comes to mind when you think of a  gem in your life right now?

I hope your week is filled with special and memorable gems of all kinds.

And maybe a great surprise or two! :<)

You never know where they might turn up!

***Photo courtesy of: Flickr. And speaking of finding gems, click over to this photo's Flickr page to read about the diamond shown here. Now that's my kind of freebie!

***

PS: And two new posts at my other blogs you might also enjoy:

Veggies, Yarns & Tails: Carrots: Can't Get Enough of Them (with soup recipe)

My Poetic Path: Haiku Reflections: Another Daisy Haiku

Free Box Finds. Oh What Fun!

I must admit, for a long, long time I was rather a snob when it came to books that I would own/read. I wanted shiny brand new ones or in a pinch, I would borrow for the library as a last resort. But buy, buy, buy...that was my book mantra for many years.

Well, I've changed in that respect and not just about books. Now, I get a real kick out of finding a thrift store "gem" of any kind, including books, clothes, jewelry...and it has a lot to do with thinking about the history of any particular item, especially when it comes to books. I love reading the inscriptions in books, consider the time that older books were written and the social "norms" of that era.What influenced the author to write the book that they did.So much to ponder and consider, over and above the book content itself.

The pile of books in the photo above is what I recently dug out of our library free bin. I hit book-gold that day!

And yes, I do add books/clothes to free boxes myself and on a regular basis. Love to do that.I hope my "discards" go on to be read and worn again and again too.

                       

Everything old can be new again! After a thorough airing in the sun for books. A wash and mend for clothing, natch!!

Giving a new life to usable items and yet another read to a great book. It's all good!


And some recent posts at my other blogs you might also enjoy:


My Real Life Reviews: Live Clean Argan Oil Hair Mask (product review)

Veggies, Yarns & Tails: A New Knitting Book to Check Out!

My Poetic Path: Haiku Reflections: Autumn In The Air

Word of the Week: Potential

                        

Potential! Such a positive word.

I particularly like the second definition below: having possibility, capability or power.

When I stand and look at a scene like the one above, that's what comes to mind. Potential. Anything seems possible when you can stand and "drink in" the beauty and majesty of nature, the mountains, the waterways, the plants and flowers....

We should all strive to reach our full potential in life. It's something that I don't think anyone should ever give up on, whatever the circumstances, obstacles or detours along the way. Gifts and talents give us the potential to do so much.

 I've been paying a lot more attention to these thoughts in the past few years. Trying to speed up the process of getting some long sought after goals either in progress or completed. It is a life long pursuit isn't it? But one that needs to be kept in mind. Time flies....and so quickly. 

po·ten·tial
adj.

1. Capable of being but not yet in existence; latent: a potential problem.

2. Having possibility, capability, or power.

3. Grammar Of, relating to, or being a verbal construction with auxiliaries such as may or can; for example, it may snow.

n.

1. The inherent ability or capacity for growth, development, or coming into being.

2. Something possessing the capacity for growth or development.

3. Grammar A potential verb form.

4. Physics The work required to move a unit of positive charge, a magnetic pole, or an amount of mass from a reference point to a designated point in a static electric, magnetic, or gravitational field; potential energy.

Definition: the Free Dictionary
                         

PS: And some recent posts at my other blogs you might also enjoy:

My Poetic Path: Obsessions (for OSI)
          
Veggies,Yarns & Tails: Mr. Cheddar Stops In to Say...

My (Happy) Novel Update and a ?? too

You may remember this previous post from July about my long-time wish/goal to write a novel. And the progress I had made up to that point, working on this book every week day.

I am happy to share that I now have over 120 pages completed! And what's even better, since I started typing the hand-written pages I have so far, it appears that the typed page counts are more than I had anticipated they would be. I had been guesstimating  about 2 written pages would equal 1 typed page. Well, the reality is, the pages are almost equal, given margins and double-spacing in the manuscript format I am using. I am thrilled with the amount (and not to brag, quality) of work I've accomplished so far! And oh what fun it's been...with the story is unfolding in unexpected ways (don't they always) as I continue to write. The process of working on this long-time book goal is even more gratifying, now that I have decided to continue on the computer instead of writing in long hand.

My question: I am using Word 2010 for the manuscript right now. I have chosen a book manuscript template, which has margins set appropriately etc. What I don't know how to do (and haven't been able to find out) is how to put each chapter into a separate folder?

The first chapter came up after the title page but beyond that, I don't know how to go about setting up each chapter of my book so that I can access them by clicking on a particular chapter/sub folder tab. The first chapter automatically showed up as a sub folder on the left side of the screen. I'm fairly well versed in all things Word, but I can't seem to figure this one out.

Any ideas/suggestions? I have searched online and on Microsoft help and tutorial pages, to no avail. If you can help, it would be most appreciated.

Happy Writing! :<)

Daisy Haiku: Smiling Flower Faces!

I came upon this group of "smiling faces" :<) at the park recently.

Daisies really do make me smile!


 I hope this photo/haiku brings a smile to your day too.

***

PS: And two new posts at my other blogs you might also enjoy:

Discover the Gift (book review) at My Real Life Reviews

Chicory: Basking In the Sun at My Poetic Path