An Eerie Coincidence?

Please check out the story on my other blog, bizzymissliz.

If you have the time, maybe you could refer me to a tutorial that would show me how to combine these two blogs under one name....thanks!

Weekend Reflections, D.C. Style

This is your typical tourist "point and shoot" photo that was taken in Washington, D.C, the day after Michael Jackson passed away. This particular Newspaper stand has hundreds of front pages of newspapers from all over the USA. It is an incredible sight. If you look closely towards the right side of the picture you can see the beginnings of the trees, and at the end of the picture is a woman who, I think, is a great example of a tourist.

Each weekend Newtown Area Photo hosts a meme post for photographers (and non-photographers) to share pictures which show reflections of any kind. It's a great place to visit and you can spend hours clicking on other blogs to see their pictures of reflections. It's a wonderful journey into the world of photography that I love to take each weekend. There are some amazing artists out there!

I hope you all are enjoying this holiday weekend. My best wishes to you for the New Year.

Sundays in My City

Have you heard of Unknown Mami? She has a delightful blog where she shares photos of her city on Sundays. She invites the rest of us to link up with her and share some of our own city's photos. Click on the logo to visit Mami's Sundays in My City!

I live in St. Louis, Missouri. Welcome to my city!

These beautiful creatures are a pride and joy of St. Louis. The Clydesdale horses are a symbol of the Anhauser-Busch era. They are still very representative of the former company, as well as, the city of St. Louis.

I took another picture of my Snowpumpkin on my front porch. I thought you might be amused to see the before and after pictures. From the few freezes that we have had, the pumpkin is now a big ball of mush. I tapped it with my foot and nearly went through the whole pumpkin.




Hmmmmm...it reminds me of the saggy things on me!!!!

Have a great Sunday!

Random Dozen

This is a fun meme that I found at Linda's blog, 2nd Cup of Coffee. She's changed it up a little with a Christmasy Theme. Please stop by and share a cup with her. She'll be the bright spot of your day!

Well, here goes:

1. Gingerbread: For or against? Discuss. For, until I watched the "Brothers Grimm" movie with Matt Damon and Heath Ledger. A blob of black goop turned into an evil Gingerbread Man and I just can't eat it anymore!

2. Is it important to you to always stay (live) close to family? It hasn't been that important, however, recent events in my life have made me want to live closer to family.

3. Which holiday pretend character do you wish really existed? Certainly not the Gingerbread Man!

4. Which holiday movie best represents how you feel about Christmas or life? "A Christmas Carol." We get so caught up in money stuff and stuff for us, that we lose sight of the real celebration. The movie also shows how old dogs can change and learn new tricks or ways of living.

5. Is there a particular Christmas song that you're enjoying now? Any that you're tired of? I never get tired of Christmas songs. My favorite song is the Carpenter's "Merry Christmas, Darling." You may already know this, but they wrote it for a college professor of theirs whose wife had passed away and he was going to have to spend Christmas without her. I think their gift was a perfect example of the Christmas Spirit, and I get teary-eyed thinking of him listening to the song for the first time.

6. What is your favorite way to remember those less fortunate at Christmastime? At my work, we have needy families who give us wish lists. All of the items are written on snowflakes and everyone picks out a few. The gifts are returned to the school. Then we deliver the gifts to the families.

7. Does it upset you to see "Xmas" instead of Christmas? How about "Happy Holidays" etc., instead of "Merry Christmas?" "Xmas" doesn't bother me, but the politically correct crap does.

8. How many Christmas programs are you attending this month? None so far. We plan to attend a program that our neighbors are performing in.

9. Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Any chance of that dream becoming a reality? I'm from California. I've been dreaming of a white Christmas my entire life! I have had a couple since we moved to the Midwest. I don't think we will have one this year, but we may get a dusting.

10. Tell me about a Christmas present you received as a child. Pics are always nice. I received a baby doll that moved its arms and legs when you wound it up. (You need to remember that I received this doll during the dinosaur era when they were just beginning to experiment with movable limbs.)

11. How many Christmas parties are you attending this month? I am attending our office luncheon tomorrow and that will be it!

12. How do you keep yourself centered on the significance of Christmas? I get out of my selfcentered persona and concentrate on the joy and happiness of others. And, I sing "Happy Birthday Jesus" Please check out YouTube - Avery Winter-Happy Birthday, Jesus (Cactus Theater) url - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=claKP84h9EE&feature=related

Thanks for humoring me by reading this! I wish everyone the best holiday celebration ever!

I Heart Faces - Pets Week

Please stop over and say hi at I Heart Faces, a Photography Blog. They always have the most amazing photos to share! It's also a great way to get to know a lot of the contributors!

This is our pet, Tootsie. She is not a guy trying to be a girl, but rather looked like a tootsie roll when we adopted her.



Thanks, and have a great day!

Sundays in My City - Recycled Pumpkins

Have you heard of Unknown Mami? She has a delightful blog where she shares photos of her city on Sundays. She invites the rest of us to link up with her and share some of our own city's photos. Click on the logo to visit Mami's Sundays in My City!

I live in St. Louis, Missouri. Welcome to my city!


A few weeks ago, I began my holiday decorating. Yeah, got the tree, santas, snowmen and manger done! I'm good!

The day after Thanksgiving, I decided to drive around the neighborhood and ask the (nice) neighbors if I could have their pumpkins when they were done with them. I wanted to paint them and use them as centerpieces for our staff luncheon last week. I was amazed at how many calls I received saying, "sure, come on by and take them!"


In the main office!

My original plan was to paint them to look like presents, but then I realized it might be hard work...and I just wasn't up for it! Katya suggested I paint them to look like snowman heads. Wow! Who knew? Here are a few of the 25 pumpkins turned snowmen!


In the Library at school!


In the Drama room with Tom!

Some of these may last for another week or so, but I'm not placing any bets! Thanks for stopping by my city! Hope you have a great week!

Surf's Up.....in Heaven!

My head has been in another place this week. I have wanted to post on several occasions, but everytime I tried, I hit a brick wall.

Last April, I wrote my first tribute to my brother, Pete. To read it, click here. The above picture is the result of Rick Green's incredible talents.

Then last week, I wrote once again after he was admitted to the hospital.

This past Monday, December 7, 2009, the Lord brought my brother into his kindgdom. My head has been in a fog all week, partly in denial, and partly accepting the reality of it all. I will never see him again...on earth.

I've been in contact with my sister-in-law throughout the week and have been told some really amazing things about Pete that I did not know. He's worked at his job for the past 20-30 years and has become friends with many of the employees. Once or twice a month, many of them would go out to a local restaurant for Happy Hour. When the company learned of his passing, they called in grief counselors for the employees. This has only been done once before, and it was after 9/11.

On Thursday of this week, the entire company shut down for one minute to pay tribute to my brother. And, as of Thursday night, the Happy Hour roster scheduled for Friday night had grown to 70 people. They were all going to meet, grab a Budweiser, and celebrate his life. I would love to have been there!

Pete was a gentle person. He was never loud or angry. He was the one that was first in line when they passed out common sense. (I think I was hiding behind the door!)He could hold a conversation with a Ph.D. and a five year old at the same time.

He touched everyone with whom he came in contact. He could find sunshine in the darkest of days. When we would visit, I never wanted it to end. We spent a day with him this past summer when the family went to California. That day is fixed in my memory with warm and loving thoughts.

So, I imagine him surfing some really narly waves in heaven right now. He is pain free, energized, and probably has a really nasty tan! Keep those boards waxed bro!

Weekend Reflections Week #11

This is a pool at the Missouri Botanical Gardens here in St. Louis, where several interesting items are reflected. You can see the clouds, the adjoining trees, visitors standing along side the pool, colorful bulbs and skinny looking human statues atop some skinny poles. Did I miss anything?

Each weekend Newtown Area Photo hosts a meme post for photographers (and non-photographers) to share pictures which show reflections of any kind. It's a great place to visit and you can spend hours clicking on other blogs to see their pictures of reflections. It's a wonderful journey into the world of photography that I love to take each weekend. There are some amazing artists out there!

I hope your weekend is colorful, sunny and filled with wonder!

P.S. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, to all my fellow bloggers who have sent words of support and prayers for my brother. They are working. I found out that he is now conscious and will soon breathe on his own. God Bless you all!

My Big Brother

Life began with an intestinal hernia. He was much better after the surgery.
He always had a smile on his face.
Codeine made him see little green men.
He was a happy kid up, full of adventure and full of mischief.
A little on the short side, but cute as a button.
As a teen, girls couldn’t leave him alone.
He loved to surf and smoke cigarettes.
After high school graduation, he grew three inches.
He was happy.

He started college, but the draft interrupted.
He volunteered since his lottery number was 12.
He married a girl who was also cute as a button.
He went to Nam and made it back.
The marriage didn’t work out. Not so happy, but he could still smile.

He met and married his soul mate.
She had a young boy from a previous marriage.
Together they had a little girl.
Life was good and he was very happy.

He wanted to donate a kidney to a friend,
But couldn't because they found a tumor in his body.
Treatment was started to shrink the tumor so they could remove it.
After surgery, treatment continued and successfully killed the cancer.
Through it all, he had a smile on his face.

Six months later, x-rays showed spots on lungs.
Treatment began again and some of the spots disappeared.
Time to quit smoking.
Short breaths, can’t breathe, off to the hospital. Pray.
Blood pressure high, heart rate high, still can’t breathe. Maybe it’s pneumonia.Pray.
Sedate and ventilate.
Blood pressure down, heart rate down and breathing is a little easier.
Praise God.
Organs begin to shut down. Pray.
Organs began working again, color is good, and vitals are good.
Praise God.

Now they think it’s in the blood. Blast of antibiotics. Pray
Maybe the ventilator will come out today.
Praise God.

Please pray for my brother. He will give away his daughter in marriage (to the friend who needed the kidney) next spring at Dodger Stadium.

Thank you and God Bless.