News From the Weird

Awards and memes, Blogtopia is rife with them both. I must admit I'm not much good at complying with their rules. Shame on me, but most of my aversion stems from the fact that rules call for including a few people while excluding many.

I'm a laid back kinda gal and feel more comfortable spinning parts of me out into cyberworld little by little rather than in big eBlasts. If you read my blog, you'll get to know me as I shed my skin, layer by layer, over time. But, as I read TechnoBabe's post the other day, she made the point that this is how we get to know each other in Blogtopia. Since she's honored me a couple of times on her righteous, little, hippie blog, I wanted her to know that I noticed and appreciated her kindness.

One award she gave me was the Blue Award. Blue reminds me of water, calmness and tranquility. It also reminds me of the throat chakra which is associated with the color blue, communication and speaking one's truth. And thus, is the perfect time to peel off another layer of my eclectic, esoteric self.

My work history is eclectic. I've been a fry cook in burger joints, a secretary, seamstress, upholsterer of both furniture and automotive, bartender, bowling center manager, semi-professional bowler, school cafeteria cook, medical back office manager, massage therapist, light worker, energy worker and ascension seeker.

I am also esoteric by nature. I've studied and worked with hypnosis since I was 12 years old. I have a transcript of every session I've ever done except a couple. And of course, they were the ones that most blew my mind. Past life regression and soul retreival are passionate interests of mine. Occasionally, a psychologist friend of mine calls me into her office to help her move a patient beyone a point where they've become stuck in their progress.

I am probably the most normal "different" person you will ever meet. Different is what people say when they try to sugar coat us oddballs. I used to try to hide it, but no more. Now, I embrace my lust for the unusual. As the card my neice gave me last year for my birthday read: Another year older, another year weirder. Who knew they had a card for such things?

I've given up worrying what others think of my esoteric practices. Hey, if I can figure out how to teleport myself from California to New York, as far as I'm concerned, so much the better. And when I do, I'll let you all ride along. Until then go check out TechnoBabe's groovy blog.

Scotty, beam me up. Wait...let me try doing it myself first!

Handiwork

Sample written with my chartreuse and teal Symbicort pen on computer paper

[Click to enlarge photo]

Styles of handwriting are as unique as snowflakes. Each person's is a combination of their physical, emotional and artistic make up. In this interesting meme passed to me by Leah of the blog Weather in the Streets, I find seeing a sample of each blogger's writing gives substance to their cyber-personality.

Here is a sample of mine. It is a quick and utilitarian style. I always wanted to have beautiful cursive like my friends: Jeanne, Cathy, and Julie. They all went to parochial school. The one thing I have noted over the years is that the nuns sure can turn out students whose cursive writing stands above the crowd. Like I said, I would love to write so beautifully but for that to become a reality, I would have to practice. Not gonna happen. I will never slow down long enough to spend that much time penning and really prefer the quickness of a keyboard these days. I'm getting old. Gotta maximize every minute.

If you would like to share a sample of your handwriting, just stop by and leave me a note that you've posted yours. I'll be right over for a peek. Curious as a cat, am I.

My Favorite Corner

Hi. My name is Ronda. I must confess, I am not much of a meme player. An Internet meme, pronounced meem, is an idea or a concept that passes from one person to another, like a story, list, or concept, via the Internet. I have all kinds of excuses, but probably the reason that comes closest to being truth is that I am always really busy, personally and professionally. Time seems to get away from me and, for the most part, by the time I get around to completing them, they are no longer relevant. I end up dispatching them to the cyberspace graveyard.

Every once in a while, I attempt a meme just for practice. This one was created by the lovely Leah, author of the introspective The Weather in the Streets blog . It is called "A Favorite Corner in Your House." This meme is one I can do, although, I do confess that, since she posted the meme on May 20, 2009, she probably has forgotten all about it by now. While, to me, it is a current event. That's how "on it" I am. Well, best get to crack-a-lackin.'

My husband and I bought our house two months before we got married in 1976. Since then, we have been on an endless round of remodels and renovations. Our house is probably on its fourth incarnation. It was originally built in the downtown area of Redding as a residential structure. When I worked in dialysis, I learned that my clinic administrator had spent many years in this house. Her best friend lived in it and they would often play together. Years later, it was used as a bank. And, in fact, my husband was one of their first 100 members. To this day, we retain a charter account with free checking. After the bank generated enough profit, our house was removed so a traditional, commercial bank building could be built.

Thank goodness they chose to move the house rather than have it demolished. It was moved approximately six miles from its original location into a quiet neighborhood. It appears to have been built in the early 1900's but when we purchased it, it had been renovated in the 1940's Mission style.

I have many favorite corners in my house. But today, I am going to focus on my ceilings. When I get tired of looking at all of the things we NEED to do and redo, I kick back, look up and get lost in the interesting and intricate, old style, high ceilings my husband crafted. They are one off creations treated with a variety of colors, textures, shapes and mediums.

The stained glass pictures are of our downstairs bathroom ceiling. The panes of glass were cut and leaded by my mother, Barbara. Originally, she made them to adorn our 70's style water bed headboard. Remember those? The large pane of glass was in the center where, usually, a mirror was inserted. The two outer panes were mounted in the side doors. When we finally decided to retire the chunky, dark, rustic, wood headboard, I told my husband that I wanted to save the stained glass panels. Maybe we could use them somewhere else in the house as a reminder of my mother. As she had Alzheimer's, I knew she would never do that kind of work again. A few years ago, for our anniversary, he surprised me. He had taken the panels to a glass artist, had them expanded, then he mounted them as a ceiling light cover in our bathroom.

Below is a photograph of our living and dining room ceiling. It has the styling of embossed, tin ceiling tiles and a light fixture enhanced with an art deco style medallion.

The photo below is of our bedroom ceiling. My husband is an upholsterer. We use the materials and skills that we have at hand whenever possible. Because, mainly, we have more skill and creativity than $$. He used thin, wood veneer door skins, padded with layers of foam cut into designs and relief patterns, and then covered them with fabric. He made numerous panels, butted them end-to-end, to cover the expanse of ceiling.

I just love my ceilings, light fixtures, and husband. Although, he was testing me tonight. He had an EBay project that he couldn't kill and didn't get off the computer until after 11:00. Usually, I can count on him to go to bed by no later than 10:00. So, as I got a late start tonight, I will have an even later finish. Someday I will show you my padded rooms. Yes, I have padded rooms. REALLY! Okay, cut the wisecracks...sheesh.

Oh, Happy Me!

Photo: Heather-L Flickr.com

Brian Miller, author of the insightful Waystation One blog, tagged me with this meme to list six unimportant things that make me happy. Those of you who know me, are aware that this is not a hard task. I am just one of those naturally happy, chipper individuals who drives others to restrain themselves from stuffing me into a burlap bag, tied and weighted with heavy stones, and tossing the bag into a deep, wide, swift running river. Mornings are usually the most dangerous time for me. I lurk on the fringes of society, literally out of arms reach, until the consumption of various brown, caffeinated joy juices by the general populous, reaches levels sufficient to allow the sparing of my life. Morning draws nigh. A quick urgency is applied to the creation of my list:

1. I love the way my dogs nuzzle and sniff my head after my hair is freshly washed. They especially like my new Enjoy shampoo and conditioner. Of course, by the time they finish canoodling and snorting their damp noses through my hair and over my scalp, I need to wash again, but it is worth the pleasure of our play.

2. I love the scent of the rich, creamy, Ecco Bella Vanilla Body Lotion I apply every morning after my shower. In groups, I feel like John Travolta as the angel in the movie Michael because I always smell like cookies. People are always asking where they are when near me.

3. I'm happy when Blogger actually lists what I have posted. Although my posts are displayed on my site, they often never appear on Google Reader or others Blog Rolls. Lost in Blog-Space, am I.

4. I am happy when ingesting endorphin elevating substances: salsa, wasabi, hot mustard and spicy peppers. Oh, sweaty yum.

5. I love the satisfaction of taking something that someone else would discard, restoring and giving it new life. Most of my reward is in seeing how much pleasure these restorations bring others as they evoke memories and generate stories from times gone by.

6. I love getting together with my friends for our Birthday Club luncheons. Our difference in age, spans more than 60 years. We share more than just the celebration of attaining another year, we share love, fears, and tears. We share life and not just the pretty parts.

Well, Blog Pals, here you have six unimportant facts about me. Thank you, Brian, for the challenge of, in a larger sense, opening up to the world and, in a smaller sense, exploring myself. By the rules, I am supposed to tag six other bloggers and post their links as well as the blogger who tagged me. But I will broaden the circle by inviting anyone who would like to play to join the game by posting "six unimportant things" about themselves.

Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Random Album

"To Overcome Desire is to Satisfy It"

by: Ophisternon

Here is a fun Random Album meme from Coffee Messiah. It is quick and fun to do!

And here's how to make yours:

1 - BAND NAME Go to "wikipedia." Hit “random article” or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random

The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - ALBUM TITLE Go to "Random quotations"or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3

The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - COVER ART Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days

Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

When you finish, go to his blog and let him know you posted your album.