It Shouldn't Hurt To Be A Child

http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/preventionmonth/

http://www.preventchildabuse.org/index.shtml

What you can do...
Reach Out

Raise the Issue

Remember the Risk Factors

Recognize the Warning Signs

Report Suspected Abuse or Neglect

I Am

a quick layout I did today

I haven't had much creative mojo lately when it comes to 12 X 12 layouts. I have been doing more art journaling though. Not too crazy with how this page came out, but at least I got my scrap on today.

journaling reads:

complicated & simple

home loving & outgoing

often stagnant & always moving

the beesknees & pretty ordinary

serious & zany

organized & random

a connector & a divider

prone to despair & filled with joy

a walking contradiction.

I am me & nobody else

Quotable Women

"Those who do not know how to weep with their whole heart don't know how to laugh either."

-Golda Meir (1898-1978) Israeli Prime Minister

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"One test of the correctness of educational procedure is the happiness of the child."

-Maria Montessori (1870-1952) Italian educator

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"Educate a woman and you educate a family."

-Jovita Idar (1885-1946) Mexican-American journalist, activist, and teacher

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"She was the archetypal selfless mother: living only for her children, sheltering them from the consequences of their actions - and in the end doing them irreparable harm."

-Marcia Muller American author

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"I have a simple philosophy. Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. Scratch where it itches."

-Alice Roosevelt Longworth (1884-1980) American hostess

You Can Never Go Home

What a cliche'. Really it is and for good reason. It is so well worn. It is so very true. I mean of course you can physically go home... to that physical spot on the map... the town or childhood home. But going home isn't about a physical place. Going home is about what you remember. And luckily memories travel with you. Going home is about what is packed inside your heart. Packed away for safe keeping and for sharing with the next generation when the time is right.

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My mom, Evan and I visited an old family homestead earlier this week. The old farmhouse that belonged to my mom's paternal grandparents and a decent chunk of the family farm are still in our family. Nature is slowly, but methodically reclaiming the structures built long ago and erasing the roads leading to them. It is sad and yet oddly reassuring... that whole cycle of life thing I guess... I can't really pinpoint it. I can identify the importance of passing on our "going home" places to our children and their children which is about passing on our memories and stories even if not a single physical ingredient of those memories remain.

***

looking out the kitchen window of the old farmhouse

It's nothing new to admit that I have a thing for photographing old doors. I'm also drawn to old windows. And even quotes about doors and windows ; )

i.e. "Maturity is that time when the mirrors in our mind turn to windows and instead of seeing the reflection of ourselves we see others." - author unknown

looking in from the outside

Evan checking out the creek

My brother and I spent countless hours traveling the creek bed that weaves throughout the family land. We would disappear into it for what seemed like entire days at a time only to pop up in our 'secret spots' that led to the orchard or neighboring land or when we were called by the grownups. It was (is) a prime place to cultivate a child's imagination.

Hi, Blog. It's me, Danica.

Nope. I haven't been washed away in all the Spring storms. It's been a busy week and my blog has been neglected. I plan to reconnect with it this evening... hopefully.

Spring Has Sprung

The flowers are blooming. The grass is greening up (mostly weeds though). The days are getting longer and the weather warmer. The graffiti is sprouting up all over our neighborhood : / What's that? The last thing doesn't belong in your typical Spring list? I don't think it belongs either. I frankly think it sucks hind tit! Technically what is popping up in our neighborhood is more accurately described as tagging. (graffiti terminology) And it is coming from a group of goofy junior high and high school boys that live around here and some of their buddies. I feel pretty darn certain we aren't dealing with hardcore gang activity. We have hormonal, common sense challenged, likely bored and under-supervised wannabe badasses who have targeted fences and asphalt. And apparently this display of juvenille angst is going to cost one set of parents a clean up bill from the city.

People can debate all day long about whether graffiti is art. Many will say that the only (albeit big) difference between graffiti and art is permission. I for one do find some graffiti beautiful or inspiring. I've been known to stop to photograph it. Graffiti can also be a powerful form of expression or a middle finger to all that is askew in society. I however find no value or inspiration in tagging.

The overall consensus of my research boils down to this:

Observe. Report. Remove.
Graffiti decreases the quality of life for our neighborhoods not to mention property values. Reducing the amount of time graffiti remains visible is very important. Citizens should first report the graffiti to police and then remove the graffiti within 72 hours.

Here's a brochure I distributed throughout the neighborhood. Luckily several neighbors are being proactive and getting involved. Neighborhood watch signs have been ordered to post around the 'hood.

Graffiti is Everybody's Problem brochure - ncpc.org

don't know how accurate this diagram is, but I thought it might be worth a quick look

(click image to enlarge)

Hangin' with My Homegirl

Okay, so I practically invited myself over to my friend (and fellow scrapper) Linda's place last night. She hasn't scrapped in awhile and it was time for an intervention ; ) I brought my art journal to work on and created the following two pages. We had some good laughs about things that probably only scrap addicts like ourselves find funny. Therefore I won't attempt to explain our layering or cluster humor here ; )

"Linda Time"

"The Unknown"
photo of stairs in a local historic building. photo taken looking through the door.

Doing Our Part to Stimulate the Economy

Introducing our new ride!

A 2009 GMC Acadia SLT

This baby does it all... well maybe except doing the driving for you. I have never seen so many bells and whistles packed into one car before.

We traded in Markas' Chevy pickup so we still have Ole' Blue our tried and true Explorer. I will add for the record that I am none too thrilled with the big 3 U.S. automakers and their so-called leaders right now. Sadly I wonder if there really is such a thing as an American car anymore. Markas said at least we got an assembled in the U.S. car. We have been looking around for a new vehicle for a year and a half. I have always liked the Acadias. And we got a good deal on this one... partly because it was a demo (with only 5K miles on it) and I suspect partly because car dealerships like GM are desperate to sale their newer vehicles.

Anyway, we are happy. And how can we go wrong with the color... GO SOONERS!

Use At Own Risk. No Lifeguard On Duty.

I'm running on empty. Taking a short break. It's a gloomy, rainy day... perfect go-crawl-back-in-bed morning. Please peruse my blog. Revisit older postings or check out some of my links to other blogs and websites.

all signs can be found here

Going Green - random musings

The Meaning of Lucky... to me
Evan was standing on the bed getting dressed in his green gear before school this morning. His St. Patrick's Day shirt this year says "I'm not lucky. I am good." I should have snapped a shot of him in it, but didn't... Anyway, we were chatting about the holiday and about what luck of the Irish means and about what's up with the whole pinching thing (and we practiced soft pinching). I mentioned to Evan that he is part Irish from my side of the family... from long, long ago. He takes this all in. Then he pats his mid-section and chest and basically looks himself over pretty good and says (to his body)...

"How do I fit all of my parts in here?" I have a chuckle at this, but he remains more serious. "Mom, I have a lot more parts to fit in me than you do." Evan goes on to try to count his various cultural origins on his fingers, however he quickly stops, lets out a deep sigh and proclaims a dismissive "whatever".

Poor Evan. He is just our cute little Patches. All little of this and a little of that all stitched together with love.

***

Feelin' Lucky. Will Travel.

Doesn't a photo like this make you want to jump on a plane bound for Ireland?

camera phone picture from early this morning

I wanted to capture the sun coming up over the dewy fog. Doesn't translate as well via camera phone, but trust me it was quite a site to see.

***

Getting Lucky?

While driving back from the grocery store this morning, I passed a company truck. The sign on the door said Quick-Lay Pipe Services. I kid you not. I can't make this stuff up. All kinds of things go through my mind (out of the gutter, people!). Like why would a company name themselves that? Who would actually want to do business with them? Sadly, I must admit a certain level of brilliance on the part of this company because here I am blogging about them clearly remembering their name. And there is no doubt in my mind that plenty of folks around here would be happy to utilize this business' services... one way or another... ; P

Sunday Shorts

Pooling My Efforts

I am on the hunt for an indoor pool to use for exercising and relaxing. Problem is there aren't any fitness centers in our town with a pool much less an indoor pool. My options are to join 1 of 2 gyms in a nearby town and pay out the wazoo for gym membership in addition to the cost for pool time. Or come up with a more inventive option... to locate an indoor pool that isn't a part of a gym... ie indoor hotel pools. (For a reasonable usage fee.) We have 2 or 3 such pools locally. When I personally went to inquire at one such establishment today, the employee didn't laugh me out of the place (and she gladly took my info for the manager), but she did say it was one of the weirdest requests she has gotten since working there. I didn't think it was that weird. Maybe she had only been employed there like 20 minutes or something ; ) I mean I'm not asking for much really (see my example picture below). LOL ***

The ABCs and 123s of Star Wars

Evan has insisted recently (last week or two) that I am confused about which of these guys are which. No matter how I have tried to assure him that R2-D2 was the white dome-head dude and C-3PO was the walking, talking gold dude, he wasn't buying it.
"Mom, you don't understand. I know more about Stars Wars. I have more experience. You don't even play Lego Star Wars (Wii game)."
Finally, enough was enough today. I had to break it down for him 'Oh, I know you didn't!' style. I let him know in no uncertain terms that Star Wars comes from my kid days. I grew up with the originals. Well he still wanted the final word from Markas : / Markas set him straight and they are now watching the original Star Wars movie on VHS as I type this.
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"Safety Never Takes a Holiday"
More often than not, catching a movie is a Markas-Evan thing. But Evan and I went to see a matinee viewing of Paul Blart Mall Cop today. Not the most appropriate kid movie ever, but still enjoyable for what it is... which is an anemic version of Die Hard combined with Police Academy wrapped up in plenty of 'fat guy funny' (channeling a la Chris Farley or John Candy). And despite it's predictability, I got more funny out of it than I thought I would and Evan thought it was pretty cool too.
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Evan-ism
I still haven't reset the clock in my car for the spring forward Daylight Savings thing... because after owning this car for seven years, I still can't change the clock in it. I was explaining as much to Evan yesterday while coming back from visiting my parents' place after he noticed the still incorrect time.
Here is Evan's take on things: "Instead of calling it Daylight Savings, I'm just going to call it messed up clock day."
Amen to that ; )

The Smackdown

Oh, it was a thing of beauty. And actually quite unexpected. I expected a chummier exchange where proclaimed financial expert Jim Cramer and Jon Stewart vollied a few zingers back and forth and then called it a day.

But as I witnessed this spectacular beatdown unfold, a quote came to mind from the great Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, "I'm going to lay the smackdown on your candy ass!"

Washington Post article

The Daily Show - episode videos

The Daily Show on Comedy Central may be labeled a fake news show. A spoof, if you will. And in all honesty it is known for making fun of politics and for leaning to the left. Its host, Jon Stewart, is indeed a comedian (and sometimes not-so-great actor), yet I am hard pressed to find another sole on any of the 'real' news shows that can so completely nail the financial meltdown (along with a large assortment of other complicated political issues). No need for all of those 24 hour news channels rambling on and on. Squeezing every last drop out of the tiniest morsel of information. Just let Stewart take a 20 minute stab at it. I promise it will make more sense... and save you from watching 23 hours and 40 minutes of pure minutia.

Photo Booth Layouts

Got both of these done today. The one with Evan and me took awhile... just kept getting stuck. So it has sat on my scrap table for many days in different stages of noncompletion until I finally finished it today. But the one with the guys I knocked out in no time flat (maybe 30 or 40 minutes). I have a more difficult time when I try to make 'girlier' layouts. Likely due to the fact that I have years of experience with 'boy' layouts : )

Wednesday Wrap Up

Keeping my blog time short and simple until my brain unclogs and my body re-energizes. uugghh.

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I will mention that I have a lunch date with a sweet, handsome, and much younger guy tomorrow. And cafeteria trays will be involved which is neat even if the food on them isn't : /

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My mom sent this picture of my guys riding the tractor (my dad's new toy) during their visit to my parents' place last weekend. Markas & Evan had serious man time while I bonded with my home girls in Branson.

More Flippin'

Small excerpt from a video of Evan that I took tonight. I asked him questions that came from a Facebook questionnaire for kids to answer about their moms. Evan thought being 'interviewed' on camera was really cool.

***pause the playlist (on the left) to hear the video audio uninterrupted***

Flippin' It

Got my ebay Flip video camera in the mail today. This is a short test run to see if the camera works and to see if I could figure out how to download and post the videos.

My first impression: very cool and very easy to use gadget. couldn't believe how easy it was to download and save a video to my computer. and it even takes you through the steps to post the video online.

(video of my scrap table and current layout in progress)

Branson, Baby!

A short list of thoughts and happenings from my weekend

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1. Good arch support is key to a successful outlet shopping experience.

2. I think my friend Darla and I might be engaged ; )

3. Jumping into a swimming pool fully clothed is good for the soul.

4. 2 words: Krispy. Kremes.

5. I enjoyed Sunday brunch and my first Mimosa. Orange juice + champagne = bubbly yet nutritious goodness

6. I took advantage of being able to curse more.

7. I refuse to try on any more clothes until all the stores fix their mirrors. (more on that in a future post)

8. Missed out on riding go-karts and seeing an Elvis impersonator, but did discover plenty of photographic inspiration on the drive to and from Branson. (Will have to venture back with my camera one of these days.)

9. I came home with a single burning question... Is there a reason to hang hundreds of empty milk jugs and metal cans from the trees and fence in your yard? Seriously, if anyone knows please share.

10. Uncontrolled fits of giggling keep you young at heart.

A Nutritious Serving of...

***
My Hubby Did Good
I was telling Markas about a dream I had last night. In the dream I was at Evan's school to discuss some concerns I was having. Let's just say it didn't go well and my always perfectly calm and cool demeanor (yeah right!) cracked.
Then (in real life) Markas asked what I was upset about in the dream. I told him that I was irked at how the school was handling things and what they were teaching the kids.
Without missing a beat, Markas responded...
"What... were they teaching them Reagan-nomics or something?"
I was so proud of him. Spoken like a true wise ass.
***

Branson Bound
Heading to Branson, MO tomorrow for some outlet shopping. All though I can't think of anything that I need right now, I'm sure when I get there I will find stuff I 'need'. I am a little worried because I have been feeling more rundown than usual the past month. However I have been informed that you can rent power scooters and Segways at the Outlets now. So maybe I can have fun laying down some rubber, while conserving my energy and getting my shop on.
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Flippin on Ebay

Yesterday I bid and won one of these! The Flip video camera. I got a new one (white) for $50. Hopefully it will be a smooth transaction and my new toy will arrive in mint condition and quickly. The only video camera we have is practically prehistoric (still uses video tapes and it super big and bulky) and therefore never used anymore. The Flip is the size of a small digital camera (or big cell phone) and the videos can be downloaded directly to the computer.
Okay, now if I can find a really fantastic deal on a Wii fit, I would be beyond thrilled. Probably shouldn't push my luck too much though...

Smile!

For those days when you just aren't feeling it ; )

Pieces of My Wholeness

my latest art journal page

Wow, my scrap area is trashed now! I'd take a picture and post it, but it wouldn't convey the mess in all it's real life glory! ; )
I am noticing a difference between when I am working on a 'regular' layout and when I am creating an art journal layout. It must be that I approach my art journal with less thought and planning and more reckless abandon. No formulated concept. I simply go where the process takes me. Kinda cool that way because I am always surprised with the outcome... almost as if it was made by someone else.

Longing for the Old Days; Simpler Times...

and window cranks in my car!

Or at least some kind of emergency manual window opening (or more importantly in my case closing) device. I can't remember the last time I had to crack a car window open or closed. Evan didn't even realize there was such a thing as manual windows until fairly recently. Yesterday while utilizing the pharmacy drive-thru, I put my driver's side window down. And so it remains.... down. Old Blue just didn't have it in her for one more 'up'. That's all I needed. One more.

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So I spent the rest of my driving around time yesterday with my window down, trying to look cool enough to pull such a thing off on a windy 45 degree day. All the while having the heater and stereo cranked up. And to add insult to injury, I couldn't even call my husband (or anyone else for that matter) to commiserate because my AT & T cell phone service chose to go wonky at the same time.

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I felt betrayed by the crutch of modern technology. I mentally sorted through lessons from TV shows on how to survive in the wild. I pondered "What would MacGyver do?" LOL

Now the hunt begins for a replacement part which will undoubtedly be equivalent to finding a Wii game console at Christmas time.

My Family

Art by Evan

Dad (left), Evan (middle), Mom (right)

Kindergarten - February 2009

three more little things that make me happy for no apparent reason

1. cola flavored icees - yes, those cold slushy concoctions that mysteriously come out of special machines with spouts
2. cafeteria style trays - maybe the organized part of me likes the idea of the separate compartments, but really I don't mind if my food touches each other
3. clumps of yellow daffodils - they seem woven into my childhood memories

Please Welcome My Blog Guest (aka my dad)

I asked my dad, Richard, to answer some questions for my blog and he agreed to play along. Thanks for being a good sport, Dad! Anyone who knows both of us well (namely my mom) will be glad to expound upon the many ways that my dad and I are similar. We share a number of personality traits. Yet Dad insists I didn't get my artistic/musical/creative tendencies from him (of course my mom doesn't claim passing those things onto me either... it came from somewhere my dear parents!). My dad has a musical side and I suspect an artistic side as well. I doubt either of my parents were afforded chances to really explore their creative sides as it would have been considered a luxury in their youth and into adulthood. I have been fortunate to have parents who allowed and encouraged me to follow and indulge my interests. So even if they deny responsibility for some of my right-brained endeavors, I hope they know they can't deny the opportunities they provided for me to cultivate my own interests and the value they placed in those interests... not as luxuries, but as necessities.

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1. What is your favorite word? I don't think I have a favorite word. I like many words, especially when they are strung together into well constructed sentences and paragraphs which convey a worthwhile fact, intelligent thought or good story. I like the sentences and paragraphs more than any individual word. But a couple of very useful words are "yes" and "no." Sometimes they are the best and most direct way to express what you need to say. Begin "yes" or "no” with a capital letter and end with a period and they make a complete sentence
2. What is your least favorite word? I have a least favorite word and it is "strive." It's only one syllable, but it thoroughly irritates me. Don't even think about using it in past tense. I prefer to use "try" or "work" or "attempt" instead.
3. What turns me on creatively, emotionally or spiritually? Several things come to mind including well chosen and well spoken words; small, friendly dogs; new activities and new challenges; certain types of music with quality vocals and/or instrumentals; high mountains, sunsets and the sound of the ocean and the loss of a good friend or loyal pet.
4. What turns you off creatively, emotionally or spiritually? I find that ignorant, closed-minded people who have no sense of responsibility and fair play choke me in every way. It's okay for people to make mistakes, but I have little patience for those who won't learn from their mistakes or who think that their particular problem must be someone else's fault. Other turn offs include the opposite of that which turns me on - poor control of language, bad music, mean dogs and routine activities
5. What sound or noise do you love? This answer might be off-beat. When I take a nap on a cold, winter day, I love to hear the sounds of my wife in the other room. The sound of her footsteps, sewing machine, kitchen activities or computer keyboard remind me that she is present and I find those sounds very reassuring.
6. What sound or noise do you hate? I hate the sounds of a big mess being made. While quiet activities in the kitchen are good, the sound of pans and plates hitting the floor is not.
7. What is your favorite curse word? I really don't like this question because it highlights a character flaw. It's sometimes a significant flaw in my case. I use something starting with sh*t or ending with it most often, but when I really get wired up the word begins with the letter "f". Pretty bad.....
8. What are three little things that make you happy for no apparent reason? Touching a small dog's cold, wet nose, cleaning or organizing my "stuff" and watching a friend catch a fish.
9. What are three things that most people would not know about you? Until I was 32 years old, I bit my fingernails. I still miss my mother. I cry at the loss of a good friend or loyal dog
10. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I have always been interested in the weather and its effects on people and their activities. In recent years, there is also the issue of climate change. So if I were coming out of high school now, I would give serious consideration to a career in meteorology.
11. What profession would you not like to do? I could not be a plumber. Seems like you're always working in tight places to find and repair a leak. And some of the stuff that leaks is dangerous and/or unpleasant.
12. What is the quality you most admire in a man? Do I have to pick just one? I usually have to see two or three qualities together before admiration sets in. I admire men who have a strong sense of responsibility and fair play combined with some useful set of skills.
13. What is the quality you most admire in a woman? Do I have to pick just one? (See #12) I admire women who are confident, competent and outgoing.
14. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? I wouldn't want to label any virtue as overrated. Virtues are good or they wouldn't be virtues - just personal characteristics. I do believe that virtues can be put to bad uses such as using your creativity to develop a new way to steal someone's identity
15. Describe your life/yourself in six words. Ponder and appreciate, but keep moving.
16. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "I'm going to overlook some of the messes you made because you kept trying."

And yes, Mom, your turn at 'the questions' will come. Aren't you thrilled? ; )