Donors Choose!

K, so it's 1/2 way through the 2008 Donors Choose Blogger Challenge and I haven't posted anything yet. But, my favorite, favorite blogger, Sars, is incredibly close to her goal - and we are incredibly close to getting to see her dance in a tomato costume. But - I digress - this is not the most important reason for the contest! It's all about the kids, people!!

Here is info on the Tomato Nation contest: http://tomatonation.com/?page_id=2720

The Donors Choose general Web site - although you really should donate through the Tomato Nation link so that it goes to Sars' total: http://www.donorschoose.org/

Also - posting will be sporadic for the next little bit as life is crazy before Vegas and then - Vegas! Plus, playing at the pumpkin patch (hopefully) and going to Cooperstown... did I mention working at the Palace and finishing the church newsletter too? Oh, and taking care of the cat? Well, and of course - playing - we can't forget the playing!!!

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

It's Election Season people!

Time to begin going to rallies and listening to speeches... woo... but, I'm not here to express my opinions on who to vote for - more just to express my opinion about voting in general..

I love elections. I love the electoral processes, even with all it's flaws. I love having the RIGHT to vote - it really is one of our most important civil freedoms - so DO IT PEOPLE!!!

Voter Registration for the General Election NYS ends on October 10th! You still have plenty of time!

Here is some great info from Board of Elections: www.vote-ny.com.

Over the next few days, I'll post some information about the election. Here are today's things to remember:

*The General Election is on November 4th (36 days if you are counting).

*If you are voting in the 4th Judicial District please remember that you can and should vote for three candidates. The incumbents are:

*Hon. Vito C. Caruso

*Hon. Stephen A. Ferradino

*Hon. James P. Dawson

A quick Internet search came up with only one person running in opposition:
Bob Muller

I'm sure the other Judicial Districts have more than one spot on the ballot too - remember the check your ballot carefully and completely! Ask the lovely poll workers for help if you are confused! That's what they are there for! Don't miss your chance to cast a complete vote!

*snort*

more animals

More Web Site Love

Falling in love with Etsy: "Etsy is an online marketplace for buying & selling all things handmade. Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers. Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice:"Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade."

I really want a pincushion. I should say, I really NEED a pincushion - and I'd love a handmade one from one of the sellers here, but I just can't pick one and I can't bring myself to pay $2 shipping for a $3 pincushion. But I may indeed be finding a lot of Christmas gifts from here... and maybe then I'll tack on a pincushion and maybe the shipping will be less...

And, yes, I really NEED a pincushion - I keep losing my needles when working on the never-ending tree skirt project...

Y'arrr!!

Avast, ye mateys! How could I forget! It's

International Talk Like A Pirate Day

The basics

Pirate lingo is rich and complicated, sort of like a good stew. There are several other sites that offer glossaries that are pretty good, and you can find some of them on our links page.

But if you just want a quick fix, a surface gloss, a "pirate patina," if you will, here are the five basic words that you cannot live without. Master them, and you can face Talk Like a Pirate Day with a smile on your face and a parrot on your shoulder, if that's your thing.

Ahoy! - "Hello!"

Avast! - Stop and give attention. It can be used in a sense of surprise, "Whoa! Get a load of that!" which today makes it more of a "Check it out" or "No way!" or "Get off!"

Aye! - "Why yes, I agree most heartily with everything you just said or did."

Aye aye! - "I'll get right on that sir, as soon as my break is over."

Arrr! - This one is often confused with arrrgh, which is of course the sound you make when you sit on a belaying pin. "Arrr!" can mean, variously, "yes," "I agree," "I'm happy," "I'm enjoying this beer," "My team is going to win it all," "I saw that television show, it sucked!" and "That was a clever remark you or I just made." And those are just a few of the myriad possibilities of Arrr!

Something That Totally Consumed Me

I was stumbling around on the Internet at work the other day, checking my blogs. It's like a big game of dominoes with me and blogs - I start with one, which leads to another, which leads to 4 more and more and more amazing stories of human hope, courage, humor, sadness... I am amazed by this Internet community sometimes...

Well, anyway, I stumbled upon this story of Stephanie & Christian, parents of 4 who were in a terrible plan crash in Arizona about a month ago - they suffered terrible burns. You can read more about the accident and their recovery here: http://www.nierecovery.com/ - a blog written by Stephanie's sister.

There are so many amazing things about this story - the way their families have banded together to get through this, the way the Internet community - a large gathering of many people who don't know each other - has banded together to raise money for their recovery. But, I think what strikes me the most is how at peace with God and life this whole family seems in the face of such huge tragedy. I mean, I'm sure they are grieving and hurting and confused and all those normal human reactions, but they seem to have such an amazing grasp on their Morman faith that they are at peace with the situation. It is truly inspiring to me...