Deep In The Forrest

I often like to share cool links and articles that I find. So today I'm going to share something from an idea from a piece of Junk Mail I received this morning; yes I sometimes glean cool things from junk mail, although I don't actually click on the junk mail link for security reasons. I'll usually "GOOGLE" it and find out more. So kids, that's my reminder for you today always to be careful of what you click on, things that people send you, etc. If it looks odd, or seems like spam or a virus, just DELETE it. You should be able to tell. Anyway, this interesting piece came from something that was titled "The Photoletariat". I was intrigued, so I looked up the word and found http://thephotoletariat.com/ . One of their photos was from The Boryeong Mud Festival (Boryeong, South Korea) . I had never heard of this, but found it intriguing and there are more photos at the above link. I always enjoy reading about celebrations and ideas from other cultures. En...

Did not realize but today is National Milk Chocolate Day ! What a delicious sounding holiday! As far as the last few days goes, as you can see I fell off of my daily posting for NaBloPoMo, and I do regret it. But I just got really busy with other things and was unable to keep up over the weekend and through the start of this week. I should have known, but I thought it was at least worth the fun of trying. So it's too far gone and I am not going to back-track and try to cheat or anything by filling in lost posts. Besides, wouldn't be quality that way. Well, it's Hump Day, so hope all is well with you guys... Here's to the rest of the week! Rock it, & here's a head start. "Givin The Dog A Bone" - How appropriate for Hump Day. ;)

This is a blast from the past, just wondered if anybody else remembers? Happy Friday!

For those of us who are a slave to the grind, we've almost made it through another work week, that's a great blessing! For those of you who don't have to report to anyone for your paycheck, well it's another beautiful day, so enjoy! Richie went back to work today after Monday's oral surgery, still felt a bit loopy he said but all-in-all it has been a swift recovery. I'm glad... I did the best I could to take care of him. So the weekend is in sight, and I'm trying to think of fun things to do. It's so hot weather-wise, and I don't mean to complain but I hate feeling sweaty and smelly. I like being pleasantly fragrant and sassy. Nothing much to report otherwise, so I will let you go with a few cute graphics about the heat, one of which I stole from BBC's blog again (he always has the funniest cartoons). So there you go. Happy Thursday. v

This is a fun little gadget to entertain all of you readers out there who love to write! A coworker passed this along to me, and I thought I would share. Basically, what you do is simply input a few lines, paragraphs, or whatever--a sample of your writing and hit the "Analyze" button, and it will tell give you the name of an Author with whom you might share a common writing style. I tried with several different pieces of my writing, and got various authors, but the one that popped up more often than not was, Stephen King! Pretty cool. Anyway, hope you enjoy. I write like Stephen King I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software . Analyze your writing!

O.k., so I got a little caught up and missed a post. It's harder than it seems, but I'm not totally giving up. I'm still here, plugging away and trying to post each day, even if it is a little blurb about what I'm up to. This week, it is just work, and as I stated before I had to look out for Richie after having his Wisdom Teeth extracted. He's doing o.k. though, just another busy week. Will report more fun stuff as the week comes to a close. Happy Mid-week. Hope all of you are doing well.

Simply the fact that my "True Blood" show comes on tonight thrills me, is that so bad? I mean, I don't see any harm in wasting time especially on things that bring us joy. Today's motorcycle ride went well, I enjoyed it, everyone landed back home in one piece (as far as I know), and I know Richie and I did. I have photos from that, but won't get to put any of those up for a couple days. The ride was nice, scenic, sweaty and I was glad to get back home. The buffet was good too, so I have to put this day on the shelf as a perfect end to a really nice weekend. I'll update more later. Enjoy your Sunday evening. -AJ

Would've posted sooner but went to my Mom's house and then had to prepare for Sunday plans to go Motorcycle riding in Arkansas. So there, I have my excuse!!! :) Speaking of excuses, I wanted to post an example letter of excuse like a parent would write to their child's school to make a funny for this post, but it didn't quite work out. However, should I be upset at all that my blog is the first thing that pulls up when you type the words "please excuse jackie explosive diarrhea" into the search? It's funny, I'm gonna go ahead and laugh.

Though being sentimental is one of my good traits, it is also somewhat of a curse. I'm not quite a "Hoarder" like you see on those scary reality t.v. shows, but I do hold on to wayyy to much useless junk, and disposables. For instance, there are several blogs I have linked that have long moved on from the world of blogging, or have gone private, or even have simply deleted their blog. It is high time that I clean house, and stop wishing that these people would somehow miraculously reappear in the blogosphere. Besides, if they still read my blog, or care then I guess they will show up one day and leave me a comment. So I am cleaning up the link list and if you ever want to link with me, let me know. I'm always glad to make new acquaintances. I do the best I can to get around and visit and I try to leave comments when I have time. I LOVE receiving comments as well, but I don't get very many (much to my dismay). So, Here is a good funny that I saw shared over on BBC...

Saved from my Music Vault: My Sharona, originally done by "The Knack", but I happen to like this version recorded by Veruca Salt. They made it sound a bit edgier. To each his own, but enjoy: What's been happening the last couple of days you ask? Well just finishing up the work week, really, and Mr. J has gone and had his teeth xray'd in preparation of having his remaining wisdom teeth pulled. This will happen sometime on Monday. Sunday we are supposed to go on our ride to Crowley's Ridge with the guys, weather permitting and all. We've missed the last couple so I am raring to go. So looks like I'll be doing my preparations for that, seeing Mom, trying to clean, practicing and going on a bike trip all in one weekend. Busy one, me. But I have been trying to hold fast to the daily posting. Barely getting by on it but trying. :) Been a good week, I'm trying to stick with a more positive attitude and a better path. That's not easy some days, so wish me ...

Just wanted to share this. Kim let me borrow her copy, and it is really great. If you get a chance to watch this, do.

Quite a lesser known fact about July 13th is that today is National Embrace Your Geekiness Day . I wish I'd known earlier, but of course what I do in a day is geeky enough, so I guess I wouldn't have a need to go overboard. However, if you are reading this and still have time, feel free to let your geek flag fly. Helpful Geek Links: Geek according to Wikipedia Embrace Your Inner Geek Embrace Your Geekiness Day - How To Celebrate How To Tell The Difference Between Nerds and Geeks Anyway, I just thought that was fun to share. I heard it when I was listening to Doreen Virtue's Daily Oracle Card Reading , just something I enjoy that gives me a lift. Don't we all need a lift sometimes... and the answer to that is 'yes' for you 'Doubty McDoubtfires'. I think that's enough geek for one day, so I am signing out. Enjoy, and remember that any day is a good day to embrace the geek within.

Although I tend to hate the heat of a Memphis Summer now, if I take a break from the noisy buzz of the daily adult grind, and take a deep breath, I can remember some of the magic that Summer could conjure up as a child. Here are a few of the things that summer meant to me as a child growing up in the south. Catching Fireflies Going Barefoot (ah my soul)! Riding In Back Of The Old Pickup Truck The Smell of Freshly Cut Grass! Watermelon, and sometimes biting off more than one could chew... Oh Summer heat, still deliciously sweet if you can find just the right way of looking at it. I Miss My Childhood , Aunt Jackie (repeat from "I Miss My Childhood" -linked above)

Maybe I had a better night's sleep, despite the bad dream but I feel a little more energy today. The heat of summer seems to take most of my extra energy away. Fall and winter are just my cup of tea, although early spring will do nicely. No, I've never been a fan of the dog days of summer... especially not around Memphis. Just gotta sweat it out. I'm craving warm, flaky biscuits and gravy... I wish I had gone to Mom's last night and I could have eaten that for breakfast this morning. As it stands now, I haven't eaten anything yet, and I should... I've waited too long since awakening. Today I have plans to have coffee with Kim, and I know what you're thinking, 'You just finished bitching about how hot it was and how miserable you were with summer heat, but yet you will go for a coffee date?' Well, the answer is yes... Coffee does nicely any time of the year, it can cool you in the summer and warm you in winter. I got this from my Mother, and it rings...

Woke up wayyy too early, then we went to the grocery store and picked up a few essentials. Mostly low-carb since Richie is back on that kick again. After doing some dishes, and a few things around the house, I fell victim to quite a long nap. I guess I hadn't slept enough since I arose too early. Richie went to class, I played Wii a bit, then finished another load of dishes (yeah I had gotten quite behind this last week). Took a nice long soak too, which I am always up for. Had some supper and Richie's Brother and his wife came by after, so we watched a couple movies. Somewhere within the 2nd movie, sleep found me again. Ahhh Saturdays in the Summer heat, always looking for the cool on the other side of the pillow.

WHY is it that after I take a bubble bath, the tub is shiny and clean and perfect, but when my husband takes a bath, he leaves it looking like someone slaughtered a bear? So yes I have been trying my best to post daily, but it has been a challenge. That's why you are seeing short but sweet entries, which I hope are still enjoyable and entertaining. That's really it for today, except I will leave you with a Cat Funny... if you are married, or just like cats, you should get a giggle out of it. MEN!

Who doesn't love Bowie? I give you... "Thursday's Child".

It happened right on time for this guy!

Saved Commercials. Guess at one time, Colt .45 was more 'high brow'.

If you haven't heard "I Love You" enough lately, this is my gift2 you. I thought I was going to think this video was lame, but just hearing all those voices saying "I Love You" was kind of moving... it's a little infectious. And who can love us more than Animals?? Listen to Mishka the Husky say "I Love You". And you know that I love you all, right?? So you're very blessed ;) I'm sure the Negative Negatasons will have something to say now, right??

YOU are psychic! I bet you had no idea that it could be this easy, but it is. All you have to do is relax and listen closely, and raise your awareness. Find moments of quiet throughout each day to sit by yourself and just "BE". Have faith in yourself and your intuition. You hold every answer, all you have to do is apply within. Today I merely offer you this wonderful "Quote of the Day", if you had any doubts to your own potential: "The best way to predict the future is to create it." It's Right There In Your Hands! ;)

Peta's "Sexiest Vegetarian Alive"? Refuses to eat 'anything with parents' ? Two more reasons that Prince earns his name in my book! It's not an easy thing to do, but every step we take towards loving and protecting animals is a score! (Thanks Tamra for the wonderful link!) Peta agrees, " He's A Real Prince , siting his very words, "Compassion is an action word with no boundaries." Everyone could take a great lesson here. Thank you Prince! You really are "Revolutionary" ;)

As I was headed to work this morning, passing by all of the car dealerships, the memory of my favorite car flooded back to me. It was my 1994 Dark Green Mazda MX-6. When I bought the car, I was not close to being in the market. I was out driving around as I could often be found, in the current car I was driving, a little older black Mazda 626 GT, with Sun Roof, Stereo, 5-speed stick shift and all. It was a great car, and the only thing that was wrong with it was my Muffler had fallen off, and I needed a new one. For some odd reason, I got a wild hair up my ass that I needed to go car shopping. Usually, my Dad would go with me and make sure that I didn't get a bad deal, and co-sign, check everything out and all that. But this day I went out on my own, with head full of youth fever. I drove all the way out to Covington Pike Mazda (close to where I work now), and set out across the lot to take a look around. Of course one of the evil sharks was quick to fly over to his new-found prey ...

July seems like a good time for me to try my NaBloPoMo (daily posting) . I mean, half of the year has passed and I figure it might be a cool month to try. The theme for July blogging is "Saved", and that's whatever you make out of it, things we save or hang on to, saving lives, savings at stores, limitless possibilities. So yes, July is here, and the summer is in full swing of course and the thermostat in Memphis has been turned all the way up. It actually feels a little cooler today than it has in a while, but it has been a sweat fest. I'm just a fall/winter girl. Can't help it. Still, I can't believe that the year is half gone already... Yeah I know, time, shmime, right? What does it really mean? We are the ones who make ourselves a slave to the clock. Ok, so I am going to leave this post as is. I will make another official first post for "Saved", just letting everyone know that I'm trying for every day in July. Wish me luck, and leave no extra...