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January 4, 2010

Norbert, my friend, my rat...

image113271097.jpgI 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 with iBlogger from my iPhone 3GS]


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

February 8, 2009

People are WAY TOO PARANOID. It makes them CRAZY.

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":


Croton Dam Fall 2008

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

February 3, 2009

I couldn't have said it better...

so I won't try.

"Reefer Madness".

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

December 19, 2008

My Christmas Tree - part 4

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 :-).

DSC_0017.jpg

Merry Pre-Christmas to ALL!!!!!

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

December 6, 2008

My Christmas Tree - part 1

image93890687.jpgIt is That time of year again :-). Christmas is only a few weeks away, it is the beginning of December, and we are out to get our tree.

This year, as we do every year, we will get our Christmas Tree at Pine Run Corners Nusery. Sadly I am told it may be the last year we can get our tree here, ending a decades long tradition for our house. Apparently the town has plans to tear all the buildings down and redevelope the lot, but this is new news to me...we'll see.

In any case, here is the tree we picked for Christmas 2008.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]


Posted by Heart at 12:41 PM | | Comments (0)

December 5, 2008

My first Tone-Mapped Photograph






DSC_0037_8_tonemapped, originally uploaded by Athtart.


A night shot of the Southeast Lighthouse on Block Island. It was a 30 sec exposure to get the star detail and we "light painted" the building itself to get the illuminated effect. Unlike my other photographs that night, I combine two using HDR (Photomatix) and then tone-mapped the result to get what you see here.



Interesting! ;-)


P.S. My Flickr Gallery seems to be my most current source of photographs these days, so check it often! :-)

Posted by Heart at 5:30 PM |

April 10, 2007

If I were a Car...

What kind of car would I be? Well, here is one answer:

I'm a Ferrari 360 Modena!

You've got it all. Power, passion, precision, and style. You're sensuous, exotic, and temperamental. Sure, you're expensive and high-maintenance, but you're worth it.

"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Posted by Heart at 5:57 PM |

December 23, 2006

Merry Christmas....

From my Heart to you All...

Peace...

And my Love....

Merry Christmas!

Posted by Heart at 10:07 PM |

October 14, 2006

Everyday...

I always try to appreciate each and every day I am alive. Consciously.

I always look to see something Beautiful and Wondrous in the World each day. Something Positive. Something that soothes my Soul, be it a ray of sunshine on a sunny afternoon being enjoyed by a snoozing feline, a happy smile on a child, a courteous gesture from a stranger, or even just a rainy afternoon. Some small thing that lifts us, maybe gives us hope or brings Life meaning... and I am never disappointed.

Always grateful.

If you don't know what I am talking about and think it nonsense... or if you can't find it, it is not because it is not there, but rather that you are being blinded by distractions... you are missing the Point.

Posted by Heart at 11:50 AM |

June 20, 2006

The sad, SAD, state of our ethics and morality as evidenced by people in NYC.

This story has been around for a couple weeks now and we are still waiting for some sort of closure, which I am beginning to doubt will be very satisfactory. That the NYC police can allow such a "run-a-round" to take place and to tacitly say that "finders keepers" applies is dumbfounding and more than a bit disturbing. It is further disturbing that the people who help lower the quality of being Human to "barely above a shit-slinging chimp" are now going to potentially try to sue the guy who tried to bring some semblance to justice to this story.

(sighs)

How not to Steal a Sidekick or "how much of a moron can we be"

Posted by Heart at 10:52 AM |

June 19, 2006

A healthy credo to grow up with and live by...

I spent several years of my youth involved with 4-H and I still think their credo is one to live by...

The 4-H Pledge

"I pledge my Head to clearer thinking,
my Heart to greater loyalty,
my Hands to larger service,
and my Health to better living
. . . for my Club, my community, my country and my world."

Sadly, I don't think a lot of people pay attention to the First part.... the world could seriously use some "clearer thinking" these days.

Posted by Heart at 5:07 PM |

May 11, 2006

Soul Renewal & Replenishment

I am here.South West Fog

And my soul is soothed..
By the earth and sky and sea.
By the souls that surround me.
And the grey skies that blanket me.

I feel the heart of us all.
And my soul reaches...
Stretches...
Encompasses and touches.
All.

I am
And was meant to Be.

I am here.

Posted by Heart at 7:48 PM |

March 16, 2006

Goodbye my Beautiful Darcie Marie...

Goodbye (deep racking sob) my Beautiful Darcie Marie, you will be in My Heart forever....

Posted by Heart at 11:57 PM |

March 14, 2006

Destiny...

I came across these words in someone's profile in "Second Life" and they touched me...

DESTINY...

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

How true....

Posted by Heart at 10:22 PM |

October 26, 2005

Unsuspecting...

Yes, I was.

Unsuspecting that a trip to a nearby Gallery (on Sunday October 23rd) would take my breath away.

I wasn't expecting that. Sure, I have been to Art Galleries and Art Shows before. In fact, I have been to most of the well known and famous galleries in NYC and the surrounding area. So when I had a chance to go see the Barnes Foundation Gallery I thought, "Great! I look forward to seeing some beautiful artwork again! It has been a while." I just wasn't expecting the impact that that particular Gallery would have on me.

It was AWESOME. Humbling. Breathtaking. To be in the presence of such Master painters... Wow. This was GREAT, no, Exquisite Art. Just Wow. And not just one or two Picasos or a Matisse and two Renoirs. No. How about 50 Renoirs? And 30 Picasos and as many Cezanne? And almost as many Rousseau, Monet, Matisse and Rubens and the list goes on. It was all so Beautiful!

And I think that one of the things that made it so impressive was how it was displayed. Dr. Barnes was correct in having his collection displayed exactly as he wanted it to be in his own home. Brilliant.

Posted by Heart at 12:49 AM |

October 20, 2005

Introspection 101

I have always tried to BE a "Good" person. Indeed, I have always strived to be the "best" person one could be.

Seriously.

In that pursuit I have constantly searched for the wisdom to "do the right thing" in everything I do, all things considered. And I mean ALL things and not just those personal conundrums found in everyone's day to day life complexities. It may be my most important task.

Posted by Heart at 8:51 PM |

October 15, 2005

Thank You.

Thank You God, Goddess, Creator of All, Is that IS, Essence of Us All...

Thank you for all that you have given me of Life.
Thank you for having any Life at all.
Thank you for all that I have seen, done, met, shared, experienced.
Thank you for the beings that surround me, that I love.

Thank you for this Day.

Thank You.

Posted by Heart at 10:56 PM |