The Truth in Our Hearts...

I miss you my Burton. You left me so suddenly today and I still can not believe you are gone. We spent every day together and suddenly you are no longer here. I am saddened beyond words. Such a little guy, you were always affectionate and sweet. Happy to hang out on my shoulders or in my hoody. Ever curious and always on the lookout for a delicious snack. You will always be in my heart my dearest Norbert. I love you.

Norbert passed away thus morning at ~6:30am. He rang his toy bell and I heard him cough/hack ( a nasty sound ) and he was half out of his hammock when I came and got him out and held him in my hands seconds later. I knew he was dying, I don't know why but I could tell he was going fast. He had just stopped breathing and I just held him petting him and letting my tears fall. At some point I lay him back in his bed until I could come to grips with what just happened and then make his funerary arrangements ( he will be cremated and his ashes returned to me ).... The day has been long and sad and I fear I am not done shedding tears for him. But he knows he was loved and is loved still. A rat among rats among humans.. he was a Good Boy!

Posted by Heart at 10:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

While this practice has been worsening for years, I am glad this post brought it to my attention.

Sadly ABC seems to have lost its soul and sense of, well, much of anything compassionately human. It just reminds me how our corporations and "big business" are really all about $$$ for a few really wealthy at the top. Otherwise, why wouldn't they do something GIVING and THOUGHTFUL like playing such classics commercial FREE and uncut as a sign of Good Will and Christmas Spirit? Don't tell me you can't afford it. And don't do anything to increase the quality of our lives if it costs You anything... like no trip to Paris for a long weekend over Christmas. Heaven forbid.

Sorry for my rant. ABC is certainly not the only corporate entity at fault. They are in good company. But couldn't the people 'at the top', who have the ability to effect change and help out the state of the world, stop being selfish pricks and actually do something? Set some examples for the rest of us besides, "look Ma, I got the most material goods and fucked over the most people, I win!"

Posted by Heart at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is just one sad sad example of a) how people are way too paranoid and take no responsibility for their own actions and b) how even the police fall prey to actions that only a MOMENT of THOUGHT could avoid - like realizing the complaints are unfounded and show an innate stupidity in the complainer.

How to get $8,000 for taking a photo of a woman "laying on her stomach with her skirt pulled up over her butt."

A similar thing happened to me this past fall when I was taking pictures at the Croton Dam in Northern Westchester County, NY, not far from the house where I grew up and my parents still live. While doing so I was approached by a very friendly Police Officer who said he had been asked to investigate reports of a "suspicious looking blond woman taking photos of the dam". What? "Do you mean Me?" I asked. Yes, he did. I laughed in disbelief. He then asked for my license which I told him was in my car. I was becoming concerned and one of my 'accomplices' (translate as 'fellow recreational photographer") stopped himself from interfering so that he wouldn't 'get me arrested' I later learned. The officer then asked if I would write down my name and address instead, which being in a good mood and KNOWING I was innocent of any sort of crime, I did. I now regret doing so as it WAS a violation of my own privacy and rights, but at the time I was just too surprised to react properly. It helped that one of my fellow photographers used to be a trial lawyer so I felt safe in the long run.

That was it. Sorry. Once I wrote my info down, which I could have made up but didn't, he went on his way and we parted with pleasantries. He was very nice and cordial the entire time, but it does not excuse the fact that some "paranoid idiot" thought to call the cops on me! Admittedly I was climbing around the dam to get decent angles and points of view, but I do not look like a terrorist unless 40 year old caucasian ladies with long blond hair and a Nikon camera look dangerous to you.

Here is one of the photos that got me in "trouble":

Posted by Heart at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

so I won't try.

"Reefer Madness".

Posted by Heart at 7:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We are the Eyes of God.

Posted by Heart at 12:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, tomorrow was not quite right. I didn't get most of the ornaments on until Sunday and the last trickled onto it Monday. Sadly my Tie Fighter and Defiant (Star Trek) ornaments do not fit in the new light sockets and I have yet to see about jury-rigging them. Otherwise the decorations and ornaments were a success!

The lack of tinsel, which I love, is due to our cats adoring all things glittery and we have enough trouble keeping Lana from knocking all the balls off the lower branches without enticing her to go higher on the tree.

Now if the slushy freezing rain will just change to snow, it might be a white Christmas. At least my parents home in NY seems to be getting a seanal coating of fluffy white :-).

Merry Pre-Christmas to ALL!!!!!

Posted by Heart at 6:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Finally!! It has several days since we put up our tree and set the star atop it. But the lights are always more problematic with bad bulbs and colors that don't light, etc. But tonight the deed is Done! I may tweak the light placement here and there and replace a few more bulbs though.

Tomorrow it is on to the decorations!!! Hooray! :-)

Posted by Heart at 9:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)