violetismycolor

what?

 

snow again?  NOOOOOO.....

So, Happy New Year to you, too, 2009!  You are already harassing me with snowy roads and icy walkways?  You're spoiling for a fight, are you?  Well, just back off because I am looking for a year with more peace, more harmony, more...good stuff...  Okay?  So just mellow out, 2009...please?

photo friday: the ordinary...

Seen at The Market, in downtown Cleveland.

I love photographing interesting things...

great way to learn a new language?

A CZECH speedway driver knocked unconscious in a crash stunned ambulance drivers when he woke up speaking perfect English.

18-year-old Matej Kus was out cold for 45 minutes after the crash, but when he woke up he conversed fluidly in English with paramedics, even speaking in an English accent.

The teenager had just begun to study the language and his skills were described by friends and team-mates as “basic at best”.

Wow...can I do that?  As long as the head trauma doesn't kill me!

Unfortunately, the guy doesn't remember anything about the accident or speaking English in proper British fashion...

Here's the whole article:

Czech crash victim wakes up speaking English

By staff writers

September 14, 2007 10:25am

A CZECH speedway driver knocked unconscious in a crash stunned ambulance drivers when he woke up speaking perfect English.

18-year-old Matej Kus was out cold for 45 minutes after the crash, but when he woke up he conversed fluidly in English with paramedics, even speaking in an English accent.

The teenager had just begun to study the language and his skills were described by friends and team-mates as “basic at best”.

Peter Waite, the promoter for Kus's team, the Berwick Bandits, told the Daily Mail: "I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"It was in a really clear English accent, no dialect or anything. Whatever happened in the crash must have rearranged things in his head.

"Before his crash Matej's use of the English language was broken, to put it mildly.

"He was only just making a start on improving it and struggled to be understood, but was keen to learn.

"Yet here we were at the ambulance door listening to Matej talking to the medical staff in perfect English.

"Matej didn't have a clue who or where he was when he came round. He didn't even know he was Czech.

"It was unbelievable to hear him talk in unbroken English."

Unfortunately, the speedway driver's new found skills didn’t last and he remembers nothing of the accident or the following two days. He is now keen pursue studies in English.

He told the Daily Mail, through an interpreter: "It's unbelievable that I was speaking English like that, especially without an accent.

"Hopefully I can pick English up over the winter for the start of next season so I'll be able to speak it without someone having to hit me over the head first.

"There must be plenty of the English language in my subconscious so hopefully I'll be able to pick it up quickly next time."

favorite bird? and would your wear it on your head?

I love bluebirds, hummingbirds, and cardinals:   American birds who are small, colorful, and charming. I might fashion a piece of headgear in their image (like this ibis-headgear) if I thought they might come up this close, I suppose.

The only one that we have here is the hummingbird. We have a few that hang out here in my garden.  A couple of days ago, I heard a buzzing sound and saw that one of them was only about 2 feet away from me.  Now, that was cool.

Cardinals aren't West Coast birds but I learned to appreciate them from my time on the East Coast.  And Bluebirds, just the cute round fuzziness of them makes you just have to love them.

Wouldn't it be awesome to have these red, green, and blue birds all in your garden at once?

coast sunshine and snow...

My dad having gone home, Ross, my sister Marita (in town from Spokane) and I headed to Cannon Beach. My cousin, Mary Ann, has a house there and invited us to come on over. Snow was falling on the drive over but there was no accumulation.

When we got to Cannon Beach, the sun was out and tempted us out onto the beach for a windy walk. Heaven!

Our evening was spent eating and chatting...especially telling family stories, which seemed to amuse Ross, who hadn't heard some of them before. Ross was a particularly charming conversationalist, sharing his views on religion, politics, and history. I was so proud to be his mom.

The drive home on Friday was not as uneventful as the one of the day before. It was cold and snowing and the snow was sticking on the road. Luckily, there weren't alot of folks going my direction and I could go 34 - 45 when the road got scary.

We have had the weirdest week...the Spring Break Snowstorm will long be remembered by all.

meanest mom in the world...

I thought this was a very funny article:

DES MOINES, Iowa (Jan. 9) - Jane Hambleton has dubbed herself the "meanest mom on the planet."

After finding alcohol in her son's car, she decided to sell the car and share her 19-year-old's misdeed with everyone - by placing an ad in the local newspaper.

The ad reads: "OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet."

Hambleton has heard from people besides interested buyers since recently placing the ad in The Des Moines Register.

The 48-year-old from Fort Dodge says she has fielded more than 70 telephone calls from emergency room technicians, nurses, school counselors and even a Georgia man who wanted to congratulate her.

"The ad cost a fortune, but you know what? I'm telling people what happened here," Hambleton says. "I'm not just gonna put the car for resale when there's nothing wrong with it, except the driver made a dumb decision.

"It's overwhelming the number of calls I've gotten from people saying 'Thank you, it's nice to see a responsible parent.' So far there are no calls from anyone saying, 'You're really strict. You're real overboard, lady."'

The only critic is her son, who Hambleton says is "very, very unhappy" with the ad and claims the alcohol was left by a passenger.

Hambleton believes her son but has decided mercy isn't the best policy in this case. She says she set two rules when she bought the car at Thanksgiving: No booze, and always keep it locked.

The car has been sold, but Hambleton says she will continue the ad for another week - just for the feedback.

spicy brown...

I have no idea how, but I found this cool site for t-shirts and such.  The art is very Japanese/anime. When I first saw their wares, I knew it would be perfect for my daughter, who loves all things Japanese.  She is thinking about teaching English in Japan for a year or so, after she graduates from Colgate next year.

Since I bought something at the site, of course I am now on their permanent mailing list.  Not that I mind.  I love to see the funky art that is displayed on their shirts/bags/etc.  It gives me ideas of my own for drawings.  I love the fact that the art is amusing.  I love 'amusing'.  I wish I were more amusing.  I wish the world were funnier, not so very serious and (let's face it) deadly, sometimes.

I mean, who couldn't laugh at these?

something funny...

Since my life has been totally boring lately, I thought I would post the "Best of Bonnie".  My daughter is an absolutely awesome writer...very funny and thoughtful.  Here are some excerpts:

1) I managed to almost set my bed on fire last night. Because, really, that's all the people in my dorm need--the fire alarm going off at 11pm during Finals Week because some girl's bed is on fire. I like play format, so I will describe the situation that way:

Me: *studying*
Part of lamp that is always periously close to bed: *lurking*
Comforter: *innocently going about its business of being sat on by me*
Me: *still studying*
Comforter: *now partly within cone of lamphead*
Lamp: Heh
Comforter: Hot! Hot!
Me: *oblivious*
Lamp: Burn, baby, burn!
Me: Hmm..smells a little smoky. Someone must have had trouble with popcorn in the microwave again...
Comforter: Help! Being burned here!
Lamp: Long have I awaited this moment!
Me: Still smells smoky...odd...
Comforter: I'm surrounded by idiots
Me: OMG MY COMFORTER IS IN MY LAMP!!!eleventyhundred!!! I ALMOST SUCCUMBED TO FIERY DOOM!!
Lamp: Damn

My comforter was actually smoking a little by the time I pulled it out. Brilliant, simply brilliant.

2) I believe in interactive studying. I talk out loud. I summarize information with plenty of salty language to keep it interesting. I make sarcastic comments. It is all fine and dandy when I'm in my own room. However, unfortunately my studying habits do NOT work when I am sitting in the dining hall eating breakfast and looking over my notes one last time before the final. This morning I managed to get out an entire half sentence of interaction with my worksheet before I realized that I was speaking out loud. This led to me looking around wildly to see if anyone had noticed and then promptly sliding down into my chair in humiliation.

3)  *(she was asked to videotape a hockey game)* Enthralled as I was in the game (/sarcasm) I often zoned out and forgot I was filming. Kind of like when I had my learner's permit and forgot I was driving. My mother was very not amused about that. The ditch I almost drove into was not very amused either.

4) The cover story of Newsweek this week is entitled “Sex & the Single Boomer: The New World of Midlife Romance.” This is ridiculous. As we all know, middle-aged people do not have sex. And nothing, not even logic, will persuade me to the contrary (and please, no comment on this topic).

5) For those of you who don't go to Colgate, you may not know about the Icicles of Death. These are the icicles that form every winter off the roof of every building, grow to be taller than me, and if they decide they don't like you, then you be dead. They also have a tendency to come thundering down when it heats up just enough for the ice to start melting.

As I was leaving the Cooley library, there was a sign on the door to the outside that read Stop. Wait. Listen. right above the one warning about icicles. However, this sign is pointless, for EVEN DOING THIS WILL NOT PREVENT YOUR QUICK & STABBITY DEMISE!1!11!. Icicles are awfully tricksy and if they want to get you, they will. Unless I am there to prevent it, of course.

6) I AM DOOMED TO LIVE ON THE STREET AND DESIGN HORRENDOUS SKATING COSTUMES FOR ICE PRINCESSES LIKE SASHA COHEN WHO WAS OBVIOUSLY DRESSED FOR HER SHORT PROGRAM BY A BLIND HOBO!!!!!!!

Now, who couldn't love someone who can describe her life with so much humor, wit, and verve...

party down...

John and I went to an 'event' dinner last night, called LIGHT A FIRE - A Celebration of Giving.

Here's how it was billed on the Portland Monthly (magazine) website:

Portland Monthly and the Oregon Community Foundation present an evening of food, fun and philanthropy to honor Portland’s not-for-profit community, as well as exceptional individuals from the business and political sectors who have demonstrated an tireless commitment to helping others.

It was inspiring...a great way to learn about so many organizations that make a difference here in Portland. AND, we sat at a very fun table, filled with interesting and friendly people (some of whom I knew and some I didn't).

One of the hosts was the publisher of the magazine. Normal. The interesting, though odd, thing was that the other host was a drag queen. At first I thought that there must be some special reason for this and I asked John about it, but he just shrugged. I surmise that maybe this is just a 'Portland' thing...a little bit out there, a little bit extreme.

It was a little wacky in other ways.

The first thing we did was toast all the 6000 area non-profits in the state with a cup of cold Golden Squash Soup. I used a spoon but apparently wasn't meant to. The drag-queen host/hostess pointed to a man near the stage and teased him for doing the same thing. We were meant to drink it, I guess.

The main course was couple of short sticks of teryiaki chicken, some zucchini, and pain-fried noodles. The centerpieces were beautiful little cakes, which we got to slice up and serve to ourselves, at the end of the meal. I was our table's official slicer but it's hard to slice a cake neatly when it is slightly raised on a platform and 3 feet in front of you. So, the slices were a little wanky.

There was beautiful music by a gospel choir and an opera singer, too. Overall, it was not one of those stuffy, you-always-get-served-the-same-thing kind of dinners. It was weird and wonderful. And, I brought home a huge slice of cake for Ross, using my program as a plate. I was inspired to think outside the box by the definitely outside-the-box event.

tagged...

Tagged by Monicalee:

5 locations I would like to run away to:

• Lago Orta, Italian Lakes
• London
• Upstate NY (to visit my dtr.)
• Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Victoria, BC

5 bad habits I have:

• leaving things till the last minute
• getting sidetracked on the internet
• talking too loudly (family curse)
• talking politics/religion with my family when I know better
• not updating my blog often enough

5 things I like doing:

• getting sidetracked on the internet
• having coffee with my friends every morning
• updating my blog
• reading good 18th and 19th century novels
• playing with Photoshop/Illustrator/Painter

5 things I would never wear:

• Pantyhose (have given them up for life)
• short skirts (knees are not my most attractive feature)
• pants with a tucked-in shirt
• plaids and stripes mixed together
• high heels (too much trouble and too painful...man, am I old!)

5 TV shows I like:

• Joan of Arcadia (I am so upset it wasn't renewed!)
• The Closer
• The 4400
• The Dead Zone
• My Hero (British sitcom on PBS)

5 favorite toys:

• my camera
• my computer
• my scanner
• my car
• Photoshop/Illustrator/Painter

5 biggest joys of the moment:

• my coffee girls and our morning rendezvous
• my husband
• my kids
• the beauty and warmth of summer
• my garden

I am not really comfortable doing the tagging but I do enjoy what I find out about myself when asked these sorts of questions and then come up with the answers without thinking really hard about it...

Ways to piss off Voldemort...

My son, Adam, sent this to me in an email and I just couldn't keep it to myself.  It's just too funny.

Here are the ways:

Ask him why he 'doesn't have such a cool scar?'

If you ever need to say 'Like taking candy from a baby', be sure to add 'Of course, SOME of us might find that harder than others.' Stare pointedly at him.

Call him 'The-man-who-let-the-boy-live'.

Ask why the Dark Mark couldn't look like something 'more socially acceptable?'

Taunt him about his middle name. 'Marvolo? Whats that, a washing detergent?'

Magic-marker Potter-style glasses on him while he sleeps.

Mock his choice of Quirrel as a 'host'.

Buy him a stress ball.

If you're feeling gutsy, call him Voldie-poo.

Say he 'looked better under the turban'.

Start drawing outlandish parallels between his life story and 'Star Wars'. Talk at great length.

'Imperius' his Death Eaters into a rousing chorus of 'All Things Bright And Beautiful'

Throw him a 'care-bears' themed birthday party.

Tell him what Snape's really up to.

Remind him that he isn't even really alive.

Tell him Wormtail has a crush on him.

Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with the prophecy."

Begin any question you ask him with 'Riddle me this!' Emphasis on Riddle.

Ask him why he's afraid of a frail old man with a beard the size of a beehive and can't fight babies.

Follow a few paces behind him, spraying everything he touches with a can of disinfectant.

Be Harry Potter. Be alive.

any Pisces out there???

All you Pisces out there...here is the Pisces banner!  If you didn't know, I bought a series of German antique postcards (on Ebay) that were signs of the zodiac and all done by one artist.  I  wish I knew more about these, like who the artist is/was, what year they were done, and what the little poem on each says (I can do some Dutch, but not German).  The only notation on these cards is: I. Lo. Steib, GmbH, Munchen, Printed in Western Germany.  I am assuming that this is the company that issued the cards. 

If anyone wants to help with the German translation, here is what the little poem about Pisces says:

• Fischmensen, Ihr, an Leibe reich,
• Hingenbungsvoll, besinnlich, weich
• Im Reich der Kunst und auch Musick
• Seid Ir erfahren, mog das Gluck
• Hinfort zu allen Zeiten
• Die Wege Euch bereiten!

Got that?  Total mystery to me...

and now for something to chuckle about...

Very, very funny website:

www.monkeehub.com

Just watching the site load is fun, but then there are the animations.

The three to watch are:

Microsoft Pants
How to buy a computer
Net Parents

These made me laugh out loud, one of my very favorite things to do.

Try it, you'll like it, too.

just love the comics...

Just how I feel...

Think this is hilarious (from last week's Sunday comics...click for a readable version)