This morning we are saddened by the sudden loss of our projection TV. This is the TV we had in the loft and was used primarily for gaming. I am not sure what we will do now that it has quit working, quite unexpectedly I might add. We can’t afford another large screen TV at the moment and I will not allow games to be played on the plasma downstairs. I guess we just won’t be playing any games for a while. Expect my kids to dress in black for at least the next week.

Fourth of July Night by Carl Sandburg

The little boat at anchor in black water sat murmuring to the tall black sky
A white sky bomb fizzed on a black line.
A rocket hissed it’s red signature into the west.
Now a shower of Chinese fire alphabets,
A cry of flower pots broken in flames,
A long curve to a purple spray, three violet balloons—
Drips of seaweed tangled in gold, shimmering symbols of mixed numbers,
Tremulous arrangements of cream gold folds of a bride’s wedding gown—
A few sky bombs spoke their pieces, then velvet dark.
The little boat at anchor in black water sat murmuring to the tall black sky.

Hope you have a wonderful 4th of July!!!!

I got a new Gary Fong Lightsphere II (cloudy) for my camara today.  So I decided to play around with it and see if it lived up to it’s reputation.  I have to say, it is awesome!!!!  Elle decided she wanted to pose for me.  Instead she insisted on jumping up in down.  Still, I think the pictures turned out pretty cute!

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend.
I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer.
Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog
and leave your link at An Island Life.
Don’t forget to visit the other participants!
It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

Today’s question is:
Who gave you your first kiss?

I got mine from Alphie in first grade.  He used to share his chocolate milk with me.

Summer’s Nook is having a birthday bash!  On June 27, 2008 she will have a day chock full of games, door prizes and giveaways featuring fantastic sponsors.

Details:
Finer details are still working themselves out so these are subject to modification:

• Giveaway and comment game posts will be put up every hour on the dot from 9am to 7pm.
• All giveaways and games end at midnight pacific time. Most winners will be chosen at random (unless post specifies otherwise) and announced Saturday morning.
• Games require comment participation and will include prizes.
• Eligibility details for giveaways will be provided in each post.

Be sure to visit Summer’s Birthday Bash on the 27th and good luck!!!!

I admit it, I have an overwhelming fear of escalators.  I can go up an escalator, but can not bring myself to go down.  I have been this way as long as I can remember.  Once when on a trip to Florida with my family, my Papaw tried to get me to go down the escalator.  I must have been around 9 years old.  After a struggle at the top and losing my flip-flop, he gave up and let me take the elevator.

A few weeks ago I got caught by my phobia.  My husband and I were in Barnes and Noble.  We went up the escalator to checkout the adult fiction only to discover that the elevator was broken.  I immediately went into panic mode.  How was I going to get down?

I tried to ignore my predicament and enjoy the books, but my heart was racing and I thought I was going to have a heart attack.  When my husband was finally ready to head back down, I was shaking and on the verge of tears.  I don’t think he had ever seen me like that.  He didn’t know what to do.

I tried giving myself a pep talk.  After all, they are just stairs - only they move a little, but it didn’t work.  I just couldn’t bring myself to step onto those moving stairs.  My dear sweet husband decided that he would try to force me onto the escalator.  Not physically mind you, but he sincerely thought if he just held my arm I would be able to do it. Nope, instead I ended up in tears. Everyone must have thought I was nuts.

I was on the verge of begging the staff to hit the stop button so I could walk down when a tiny little older lady came up to me. She asked me if I was scared to go down and I shook my head yes. She told me that she used to be scared too and that she would help get me down. She took my hand in hers and told me to just walk with her and look her in the eyes. She walked me onto the escalator and rode down with me. I couldn’t believe how easily she was able to help me down. My husband was left at the top flabbergasted that some stranger was able to talk me onto the escalator.

Once we were both down, my husband and I went and sat in the magazine section. It took me at least 15 minutes to stop shaking. I hope that is the last time I have to go down an escalator in a long time.

So do you have an phobias?  What are you afraid of?

I wish I was this good at paper mache! This is just amazing.

Gourmet Paper Mache Fishwichwich - video powered by Metacafe

Wal-Mart Recalls Additional Charm Key Chains Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

This is a neat Japanese stage performance using string to tell the story.

95 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Superior Take the test!

Man was I shocked. I never suspected I’d make a good old fashioned wife, LOL.