Here's an awesome video of the Milky Way as seen from the plains of South Dakota. If you've spent your whole life in the city, you don't know what you're missing when it comes to stargazing in the middle of nowhere. This will give you an idea. Watch it in HD, fullscreen, in a dark room if you can.
Plains Milky Way from Randy Halverson on Vimeo.
If you're curious, click through to Vimeo, where Randy Halverson gives some details on how he shot the video.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
New Blog: Creativity for Happy Endings
"How will this blog present creativity? Hopefully in a fun and delightful way. I'm gonna start out with a creative alphabet--words and concepts to define, describe and encourage creativity in all of us. And, no, just because I'm an author, it doesn't mean that's the only kind of creativity we'll talk about. I'll have guest bloggers with their own creative outlooks. I'll ask questions and… if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask! If I don't have a clue, we'll find the answers together. (If you build it, he will come.)"*lizzie is a great cheerleader who helps keep our local group of writers motivated. Check out the new blog and cheer her on!
Check out Christina Dodd's private stone circle
Author Christina Dodd has a STONE CIRCLE in her backyard. I'm so jealous!
Check out her Facebook fan page for photos & the story behind it.
Happy Solstice!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Amanda Huginkiss sighting at Seekerville
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| Paparazzi photo of Amanda Huginkiss |
I was privileged to meet Ms. Huginkiss a couple times, and let me tell you, she was fab-u-lous!! I'm so glad Sherri got the honor to be interviewed by her!! It must have been an amazing experience!!!
Did I use enough exclamation points? I don't know...WWAHD? (What would Amanda Huginkiss do?)
Monday, June 13, 2011
A Charm-ing Group!
I know I've mentioned before that I belong to a writers group full of awesome, supportive ladies. It certainly bears repeating.
Rainbow Rowell just did a lovely column about our group which ran in yesterday's Omaha World Herald, focusing on some of the ways we support and encourage each other. One of the more tangible signs of support are our charms. The column features Sherri Shackleford's charm bracelet and talks about how we earn charms (mine isn't nearly as full as Sherri's, which tells me I need to get my rear in gear), but the charms are just one of many ways the group inspires me.
At our meeting this weekend, our "Goals Guru" *lizzie starr handed out these little inspirational cards. I've gone mine planted firmly between my keyboard and monitor where I will see it (Where I NEED to see it):
It's not all just trinkets and feel-good stuff. Our members (and sometimes guest speakers) give programs each month on craft, the business of writing, or critiques and brainstorming help. We discuss issues ranging from changes the publishing industry is facing to challenges in just getting our "button" the chair.
Sometimes life really does get in the way and I genuinely can't make it to a meeting. But there are often meeting days that I wake up feeling blah, tired, and worn down, and don't really want to leave the house (like any other Saturday morning). I consider not going, for maybe half a second, but I always always make myself make the effort to go, no matter how low I feel, because I know that I will come home inspired, energized and ready to burn up the keyboard. Heartland Writers Group is a drug like no other for me. These ladies get me and they never fail to encourage me.
Check out the World-Herald story, and HWG's blog and website! If you're a writer looking for a supportive group, check us out!
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Make music with Google's Les Paul doodle today!
Check out today's Google Doodle in honor of Les Paul's birthday (try it at google.com)
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| (This is just a screenshot, to play go to google.com) |
Update: The doodle has its own dedicated home page now.
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Today in Random Songs That Pop Into My Head:
I haven't heard this one in years, but like a bolt out of the blue, there it was. Stuck. In. My. Head. Thought I'd share the earworm...
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Awesome tiny apartment
My friend Cheryl St.John posted a video on her blog recently about a family of three living in a 350 square foot house. It reminded me of this video I found via PC Weenies a couple weeks ago:
I love the idea of small-space living, and although I doubt I'll ever go to the extremes the people in these videos have, I always find an idea or two I can take away from them to use in my life.
I love the idea of small-space living, and although I doubt I'll ever go to the extremes the people in these videos have, I always find an idea or two I can take away from them to use in my life.
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Peonies of Doooom!
A week after I planted my peony plant in 2008, we had a horrible storm here in Omaha which tore the plant up so badly I was sure it would die.
Luckily, it came back nicely the next spring, but about a day after it opened its single bloom, we had a hailstorm which tore it to shreds again.
The next year it put out two or three blooms and within a day or two, a storm. Flowers, gone.
This year the plant produced four blooms. They've been opening one by one throughout the past week.
The last one bloomed earlier today...
Batten down the hatches.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Angry bird?
He looks more "pouty" to me. I'm guessing from all the pinfeathers that he's just out of the nest & not too happy about it. We seem to get a lot of those on our deck. Last week it was a young sparrow of some sort, obviously in an awkward "adolescent" phase.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Superbusyday
I had the day off today. What did I do? Let's see...
It's a good thing I didn't expect my day off to be relaxing because it reaallly wasn't.
Tomorrow I'm going back to work so I can rest a little.
- We started off with LilGirl's graduation from 5th grade. I can't believe she'll be in middle school in the fall!
- We went out to lunch because, well, graduation!
- We went to Lowes and bought plants.
- Then to Menards for more plants and some blocks and dirt for the front flower bed.
- We swung through Scooters for a little energy boost (mmmm, blended iced coffee!)
- We built up the flower bed and planted the new plants (geraniums, daisies, a climby plant I can't remember the name of and a yellow rose bush)
- We loaded the two dead TVs (which have been in the garage forever) into hubby's truck and he took them to Best Buy for recycling.
- While he was gone, I cleaned the garage to make room for the dead refrigerator.
- I scrubbed every inch of the dead refrigerator.
- I called my dad with a stupid question on how to unhook the water supply from the dead refrigerator.
- I scrubbed all the shelves and drawers from the dead refrigerator.
- I had a burger from Runza for dinner.
- More scrubbing...
- I showered and now I'm going to bed.
It's a good thing I didn't expect my day off to be relaxing because it reaallly wasn't.
Tomorrow I'm going back to work so I can rest a little.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Twitter throwing a wrench in my workflow?
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| logo via TEIA MG |
This might put a hitch in the way I use favorites on Twitter. I tend to favorite things in less of an "I like this" and more of a "I want to read this later" manner. I send an RSS feed of my favorites to Google Reader which lets me look at things later on so I don't "lose" them in my twitter stream. I may have to re-think that practice as I don't want to unnecessarily contribute to full inboxes...
Do you use favorites (or any other Twitter features) in an unusual manner? Please share!
logo via TEIA MG
Monday, May 23, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
How good is your gadget history?
There's an extra joke here, though you may need to be of a certain age to catch it. Do you see it?
Update: Scroll down for the answer:
The schools are both named for an early PDA, the Apple Newton.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Milestone
So, this happened on the way home yesterday:
Photo link
Would have posted earlier, but Blogger was down :(
Photo link
Would have posted earlier, but Blogger was down :(
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
It's A Book!
I picked up the mail Saturday and discovered my brother & his family had sent me a package. Inside was the most awesome. book. ever: It's A Book by Lane Smith.
Here's the book trailer (containing most of the text...hey, it is a children's book*)
Video link
I found a great post on Lane Smith's blog about the evolution of It's A Book.
*Just a note: Even though it is a children's book, it does have the work jackass in it. I notice they left that out of the video. (Maybe they thought that might hurt sales?) It does add to the hilarity of the last line, in my opinion. But then, the book isn't for my kid, it's for me. Your mileage may vary. :)
Here's the book trailer (containing most of the text...hey, it is a children's book*)
Video link
I found a great post on Lane Smith's blog about the evolution of It's A Book.
*Just a note: Even though it is a children's book, it does have the work jackass in it. I notice they left that out of the video. (Maybe they thought that might hurt sales?) It does add to the hilarity of the last line, in my opinion. But then, the book isn't for my kid, it's for me. Your mileage may vary. :)
Thursday, May 05, 2011
The other great tragedy of 1912
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| Photo by Great Beyond |
Mexicans were crazy about the stuff.
The Mexican people were eagerly awaiting delivery and were disconsolate at the loss. So much so that they declared a national day of mourning which they still observe today.
It is known, of course, as...
Sinko de Mayo
(Yes, it's a groaner)
This joke is all over the internet, but I found this particular telling at Urban Dictionary.
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