This was taken by astronaut Daniel Burbank in space shuttle Atlantis, from 220 miles above earth.
Mt. Rainier and Lenticular Clouds - Dec. 2008 copyright: JMM
October 11, 2006
Cape & Islands
This was taken by astronaut Daniel Burbank in space shuttle Atlantis, from 220 miles above earth.
October 10, 2006
These Eyes
"have seen a lot of loves, but they're never gonna see another woman like he has in ME!" With my apologies to the Guess Who.
Gecko project
My best sisterfriend, Michelle, in Maine, is an AMAZING artist. I've been telling her for years that she could make a great living at art if she devoted herself to it full time. This is an example of her work. She said that her local bead store provided the gecko pattern and make a bead project that incorporated it. Michelle has the patience for seed beads, which I all but completely phased out a few years ago because of the intense detail and length of time it takes to work with them.
October 9, 2006
October 7, 2006
Cool
This bit of creative computer art was made by one of my VDO blogging friends, Madi, in Spain. She's done some cool stuff on her blog and was kind enough to let me put this picture up. It's really cool; better than Warhol in my opinion!
Thanks Madi!!
October 5, 2006
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus
I got this joke from my hubby today....it cracked me up:
HER DIARY:
Sunday night I thought he was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a bar to have a drink. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment.
Conversation wasn't flowing so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk, he agreed but he kept quiet and absent. I asked him what was wrong - he said, "Nothing." I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said it had nothing to do with me and not toworry.
On the way home I told him that I loved him; he simply smiled and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior; I don't know why he didn't say, "I love you, too."
When we got home I felt as if I had lost him, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there and watched TV; he seemed distant and absent.
Finally I decided to go to bed. About 10 minutes later he came to bed and to my surprise he responded to my caress and we made love, but I still felt that he was distracted and his thoughts were somewhere else.
I decided that I could not take it anymore, so I decided to confront him with the situation but he had fallen asleep. I started crying and cried until I too fell asleep. I don't know what to do. I'm almost surethat his thoughts are with someone else.My life is a disaster.
HIS DIARY: Today the Seahwaks lost, but at least I got laid.
HER DIARY:
Sunday night I thought he was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a bar to have a drink. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment.
Conversation wasn't flowing so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk, he agreed but he kept quiet and absent. I asked him what was wrong - he said, "Nothing." I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said it had nothing to do with me and not toworry.
On the way home I told him that I loved him; he simply smiled and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior; I don't know why he didn't say, "I love you, too."
When we got home I felt as if I had lost him, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there and watched TV; he seemed distant and absent.
Finally I decided to go to bed. About 10 minutes later he came to bed and to my surprise he responded to my caress and we made love, but I still felt that he was distracted and his thoughts were somewhere else.
I decided that I could not take it anymore, so I decided to confront him with the situation but he had fallen asleep. I started crying and cried until I too fell asleep. I don't know what to do. I'm almost surethat his thoughts are with someone else.My life is a disaster.
HIS DIARY: Today the Seahwaks lost, but at least I got laid.
October 2, 2006
Jewelry II
More jewelry from the "Jo Collection". Both of these necklaces are in pink/purple colours with silver and crystal accent beads. The bracelet is made w/ swarovski crystal pieces with pink and crystal glass beads. 
Here are some other examples of bracelets I made. The 2 silver bracelets w/ the paw charms each say "Sagan" and "Pepper". I saw ones like this in a catalog selling for nearly $60!!! I went to the bead store and spent about $10 in materials to make my own. The 2nd bracelet of blue cube beads is a lot easier to make than it looks and I want to make some more in different colours. The 4th blue bracelet is made with bugle beads and crystals in the centers, with a beaded loop clasp that goes over a blue glass bead. Much more time consuming and I probably wouldn't make another like this unless someone requested me to make one for them.
Swarovski crystal beads in graduated sizes with small silver bead spacers & matching earrings.
This one is a really funky, groovy charm necklace. I don't wear it often, but it's a fun piece.
I made a ton of "Y" necklaces in the 90's when they were popular and I actually did sell a bunch one summer at a small store in Marin County, where we lived. The one at the top is in red "picasso" beads with garnet beads, and the bottom one has purple & crystal glass beads & a Celtic knot charm.
Here's another set made with lampwork beads from Austin Hamilton.
I bought a watch face at Michael's Crafts and made watchbands that I can coordinate with what I'm wearing.
These are 2 of my fave pieces. The choker is made from memory wire and the only kind of choker I can wear b/c it flexes with you and I don't feel like I'm being strangled. It's made with Bali silver with a Bali silver & turquoise pendant. The one on the right is made with silver & fresh water pearls, size 8 glass beads & Bali silver beads. The pendant is supposed to be a dragon I think, silver w/ turquoise cabochons (it was sold for Bead & Button magazine's 10th anniversary, but I still can't really tell what it is).
Here are some other examples of bracelets I made. The 2 silver bracelets w/ the paw charms each say "Sagan" and "Pepper". I saw ones like this in a catalog selling for nearly $60!!! I went to the bead store and spent about $10 in materials to make my own. The 2nd bracelet of blue cube beads is a lot easier to make than it looks and I want to make some more in different colours. The 4th blue bracelet is made with bugle beads and crystals in the centers, with a beaded loop clasp that goes over a blue glass bead. Much more time consuming and I probably wouldn't make another like this unless someone requested me to make one for them.
Swarovski crystal beads in graduated sizes with small silver bead spacers & matching earrings.
This one is a really funky, groovy charm necklace. I don't wear it often, but it's a fun piece.
I made a ton of "Y" necklaces in the 90's when they were popular and I actually did sell a bunch one summer at a small store in Marin County, where we lived. The one at the top is in red "picasso" beads with garnet beads, and the bottom one has purple & crystal glass beads & a Celtic knot charm.
Here's another set made with lampwork beads from Austin Hamilton.
I bought a watch face at Michael's Crafts and made watchbands that I can coordinate with what I'm wearing. 
These are 2 of my fave pieces. The choker is made from memory wire and the only kind of choker I can wear b/c it flexes with you and I don't feel like I'm being strangled. It's made with Bali silver with a Bali silver & turquoise pendant. The one on the right is made with silver & fresh water pearls, size 8 glass beads & Bali silver beads. The pendant is supposed to be a dragon I think, silver w/ turquoise cabochons (it was sold for Bead & Button magazine's 10th anniversary, but I still can't really tell what it is).
October 1, 2006
Jewelry I
I'm a little bummed about the way the pics came out. I took a class last year in "marketing your jewelry" and they said not to use flash, but to use a good light that mimics daylight, so I did, and they still came out too dark!! These are the first 8 of 24 total pictures I shot today. The first picture shows a light blue & lavendar necklace w/ matching earrings, and a "floating bead" necklace w/ matching earrings.
Picture 2 shows lampwork beads that I purchased from a fantastic website called Austin Hamilton, out of Vancouver BC. They have the best prices for lampwork beads and I love working with them.
I found the cutest paisley beads at a bead shop in Puyallup so I made the peace sign necklace & earrings. The set next to it are really pretty blue/purple beads w/ "pearls".
These are far too dark to show the pretty purple millefiori set on the left, w/ purple glass pendant and rutilated quartz & garnet w/ silver heart pendant on the right.
Oops, here's a better shot, I forgot I took 2 pics of them, and in the past when I've deleted one picture, the entire batch of pics deleted so I don't dare remove the above pic.
Necklace on the left is made with tourmaline and rose quartz w/ a quartz pendant. The one on the right are cool pink beads w/ black swirls & "pearls"
The double strand necklace is made of fluorite, one of my fave stones. The one on the right is fancy jasper (greens).
The necklace on the left is faux turquoise b/c the real stuff is out of my price range, but the turquoise pendant is real. The sent on the right is made from blue/crystal glass.
More pictures to come later!!
Picture 2 shows lampwork beads that I purchased from a fantastic website called Austin Hamilton, out of Vancouver BC. They have the best prices for lampwork beads and I love working with them.
I found the cutest paisley beads at a bead shop in Puyallup so I made the peace sign necklace & earrings. The set next to it are really pretty blue/purple beads w/ "pearls".
These are far too dark to show the pretty purple millefiori set on the left, w/ purple glass pendant and rutilated quartz & garnet w/ silver heart pendant on the right.
Oops, here's a better shot, I forgot I took 2 pics of them, and in the past when I've deleted one picture, the entire batch of pics deleted so I don't dare remove the above pic.
Necklace on the left is made with tourmaline and rose quartz w/ a quartz pendant. The one on the right are cool pink beads w/ black swirls & "pearls"
The double strand necklace is made of fluorite, one of my fave stones. The one on the right is fancy jasper (greens).
The necklace on the left is faux turquoise b/c the real stuff is out of my price range, but the turquoise pendant is real. The sent on the right is made from blue/crystal glass.
More pictures to come later!!
September 29, 2006
I WANT YOU! TO WANT ME!
I want you to want me....
I need you to need me....
I'd love you to love me.....
I'm begging you to beg me.....
I need you to need me....
I'd love you to love me.....
I'm begging you to beg me.....
Happy Friday!
I got these pictures in an email from one of my best friends. No idea who the baby is; I'm sure it's just one of those funny emails that makes the rounds from time to time. It had text with it, but I didn't copy it; you get the idea. Like Val, I'm not a huge fan of babies, however even I thought this series of pictures was adorable (mostly because of the big goofy dawg)! Have a great weekend everyone!
September 27, 2006
What is wrong with this picture?
It's the Pacific Northwest.....
It's September 27......
It's 82 degrees.
Anytime Ma Nature wants to kick in with the cold rain would be good! Until then, I hunker down in my centrally cooled home wearing flannel jammies and dream of last winter, one of the wettest on record.
It's September 27......
It's 82 degrees.
Anytime Ma Nature wants to kick in with the cold rain would be good! Until then, I hunker down in my centrally cooled home wearing flannel jammies and dream of last winter, one of the wettest on record.
September 26, 2006
An Exercise in Self-Loathing
Since mid-May of this year, I've been religiously working out at least 3 days a week for 30-45 minutes (equal cardio & weights), or doing yard work if I don't work out. I've been living on fruit, veggies, whole grains, yogurt, fat free frozen yogurt and cottage cheese. I started taking the appetite suppressant H57 Hoodia as well. So there I am, plugging away at the gym, a middle aged lady trying to keep my body from going south like the geese each winter, surrounded by spandex covered gym treats complaining about their "fat butts" and guys strutting and preening in front of the mirrors, and me silently cursing them all, "may the fleas of a thousand camels invade your armpits...."
Since scales are verboten in my house, I can only go by the way my clothes fit to know if I've shed any tonnage. To my delight, shirts that were once too tight now fit, and I also noticed more room in my pants & shorts. My t-shirts which once stopped at the top of my ass now hang down covering my ass, which ass my hubby tactlessly remarked one day "looked like [it] was smaller" (the look of horror on his face as he frantically tried to backpedal was priceless). Good news, yes?
So last week I decided to go get some clothes. I'm way too cheap to pay retail, so I go to my fave thrift shop, Value Village. I've gotten lots of great like-new stuff there. I go over to my size in the pants racks, and take a bunch into the dressing room, already thinking how stoked I'm going to be getting more clothes; maybe even a size down!!! However, to my utter astonishment, I couldn't get them past my knees. How can this be? I thought, when my old clothes, in that same size, are loose. I check the pants and they all have the correct size. OK, I go the next size up. I can't get those bastards on either!!!! So I have to go the next size up, and I'm completely mortified and embarrassed by this time, and those fit! I bought them b/c I desperately needed new pants, but why in the world do I have to buy 2 sizes higher when I've clearly lost weight? My already low self-esteem is in the gutter, and quite frankly, I've slacked off on going to the gym out of sheer frustration.
Can anyone out there explain to me what it is I'm doing wrong???? Are garments being outsourced to places like Macau and the Phillipines where everyone is teeny tiny? Is that why brands that once fit in one size only fit in larger sizes? The pants I buy are all brand name like you'd see in department stores. I give up! Screw it, pass the ice cream.
September 24, 2006
Help!
Can anyone tell me how I can use a photo, like this one, for my blog photo? I notice that a lot of you have photos, or change them frequently. Please let me know!
September 23, 2006
Chihuly Bridge of Glass
World renowned glass artist, Dale Chihuly, calls Puget Sound his home. Lucky for us!! Tacoma is in the process of revitalizing their downtown core with trendy restaurants and shops. The Bridge of Glass and Glass Museum were among the first new things to be built, in the past 5 years. The cone shaped building is the museum's hot shop, where advanced glass artists perform their art and where the public can watch. The two towers with the "blue bags" are on each side of the Bridge of Glass.
These next photos (above and below) are of art glass on the eastern side of the bridge, where the morning and early afternoon sun lights up the pieces. They are behind bullet proof glass and are highly alarmed.
These last three, below, are of the ceiling of the bridge. It's supposed to give the illusion of being underwater with all these colourful, exotic sea creatures floating above you. The wavy glass is a Chihuly signature, and once you see one, you can spot them anywhere. By the way, a Chihuly glass piece runs from the very high hundreds into the high thousands of dollars. Needless to say, living in earthquake country, I would never invest the money to own one. But they sure are pretty.
These next photos (above and below) are of art glass on the eastern side of the bridge, where the morning and early afternoon sun lights up the pieces. They are behind bullet proof glass and are highly alarmed. 
These last three, below, are of the ceiling of the bridge. It's supposed to give the illusion of being underwater with all these colourful, exotic sea creatures floating above you. The wavy glass is a Chihuly signature, and once you see one, you can spot them anywhere. By the way, a Chihuly glass piece runs from the very high hundreds into the high thousands of dollars. Needless to say, living in earthquake country, I would never invest the money to own one. But they sure are pretty.
September 20, 2006
September 18, 2006
The resemblance is uncanny....
The photo of the dog was with a cute email about "why dogs bite people" and there were various pictures of dogs dressed up for Halloween. I couldn't help but think of Nick Beggs from Kajagoogoo, circa 1983, when I saw the doggie. Don't get me wrong, I used to have a HUGE crush on Nick back in the 80's...but the hairdo was always too way out even for me.
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