The Elaine Report

Today's items of interest, variously posted, and now here all in one place for your browsing pleasure.

• Digital Product Placement and the Rise of MiriAd
New fields to furrow and brows to burrow.
• 21 Tips to Keep Your Shit Together ...
Ways to lift your spirits and other suggestions on how to suck it up.
• Chowder Clam knitting pattern Cuteness break.
• Severe Weather Forecast for Topeka
Wondering wether I have time to walk to the library this morning without getting sucked up by a tornado. Answer: yes, I do.
• Saudi Arabia Denies Paralysis Punishment
Keeping an eye on the tiny changes that happen in a country ruled by Islam.
• Gulf of Mexico Deep Cleans Itself
But for how long? And does that mean we can use it as a dump? I think not and neither does Professor Hazen.
• Easy-to-make tasty frozen drink. Just in time for summer!

And a late addition: How to Really Manage Creative People. 

Temporarily Off Grid

There hasn't been a Flower-A-Day for five days, so far. I've been off-grid in Yogaville. And my phone died. If I had thought about making photos of the lovely flowering plants at the ashram, I couldn't have anyway. The Yogaville phone system was also offline and I didn't inquire about using the internet as I was totally offline myself, deep in spiritual experiences and in recovery from clearing out and leaving my home. I plan to post today's flower later and continue this fun and inspiring daily series.

up again

Current Fads
Listening. Where or When, Lena Horne and Romance Unlimited (unpublished playlist); ringing in ears
Watching. When Harry Met Sally (1989); House Calls (1978)
Activity. burning tapes to CD; keeping the shrubs alive
Gadget. iPhone
News Source. Google News
Reading. In the Last Analysis - Amanda Cross; Dem Herzen nahe - Jörg Zink; Kissing Christmas Goodbye - M. C. Beaton
Writing. morning pages
Song of the Day: Just Like Heaven, Katie Melua

rain making me morose

Lessons learned from Shrek:

1. When you are ugly, have a good roar, and can run fast you never have to fight.

2. Unusual creatures make the best friends.

3. True love makes you beautiful, not the other way around.

4. You don't have to look for opportunities to be a hero. They will be thrust upon you.

5. Be open minded. Not everyone is lucky enough to be an ogre.

Current Fads
Listening. Goodbye to Love (personal playlist – see below); the beating of my heart
Watching. Shrek (2001)
Activity. discovering Chocolates by Kelly
Gadget. my head
News Source. news?
Reading. Vision of Murder - Victoria Laurie (yes, it is taking me along time to get through this detective mystery. i only read it before going to bed)
Writing. this post

maudlin

Current Fads
Listening. The Velvet Underground and Nico and Most of the Time, Bob Dylan; that echo in my head
Watching. High Fidelity (2000)
Activity. trimming the hedge
Gadget. iMic
News Source. the news feeds in Safari
Reading. Refuse to Choose - Barbara Sher; The Craft - Dorothy Morrison; Trail of the Dragon - Susan Kelly
Writing. nothing and feeling very guilty about it, although I did get this idea for a really good story and jotted down a quick couple of notes
Song of the Day: Most of the Time, Bob Dylan

Everybody's Gone for the Weekend

... and maybe longer. The depletion of humans has been going on for days now. I first noticed it two days ago when I quickly found a spot in the sun at Ellwood Thompsons to have my lunch. Now Richmond is practically a ghost town! This is great! The weather is lovely and I get all the hot spots to myself. No worry about dog crowding down at the river. Lots of space to roam in the parks. I can eat al fresco anywhere in all the best spots of any location. Few cars on the street (although the percentage of idiots seems to have mysteriously risen – guys on cell phones, old people asleep at the wheel, those who apparently live in their cars and don't feel the need to actually drive when on a road, etc.) Aside from that one little glitch it's great. I'm going to thoroughly enjoy my time alone in peace and quiet. No need to go anywhere. I have this lovely resort town all to myself in the fabulous Memorial Day Weekend weather. woo hoo! (Did I mention I'm happy to be alone here for a few days?)
Current Fads slacking
Listening. recently purchased tunes (unpublished); hedge trimmer and dogs barking (the hired help are doing a big number next door and she's not even there!)
Watching. Shrek (2001)
Activity. reading
Gadget. cell phone
News Source. Google News
Reading. The Haunted Abbot - Peter Tremayne; Real Energy - Phaedra and Isaac Bonewits; A Free Course in Making Your Own Talisman - Karl Hans Welz
Writing. not writing (except journaling and well, here)
Actually, it would be totally perfect if you were here, too.

Richmond Cold Snap - Are your pipes frozen?

It may be too late to prevent a frozen pipe and if your backyard is full of frozen water then stop reading and call an emergency plumber now! On the other hand, if, like me, only your hot water is down to a trickle then there's some hope. For a straight forward, step-by-step approach try e-how's list. I combined their suggestions with the more definitive American Red Cross Prepare site which warns against using open flame to thaw a pipe. I'm no sooner going to use open flame on my pipes than I am to get acrobatic in the crawl space when (like now) it's 6 degrees outside. Nah-ah. I'm waiting until it gets up to freezing and then I'm going to get more wood from the shed and build a very hot fire in the fireplace.

While I was writing this, I successfully unfroze my hot water pipe by following the simple directions culled from both sites. I have learned. I will also follow closely the directions from Prepare so I can sleep soundly in the coming week when the night temperature will only be around 20.

My Name on the Moon

Yep! My name is going to be on the moon! Woo hoo! And so can yours! Sign up now! It's FREE!

overheard at lunch

"You can definitely backspace in life." Young man to young woman while "renegotiating" their relationship. So that's what they call it now. What about rebooting?

extremes

This time of year and then that other time, like the depths of winter, say right around Christmas until, oh, March, I get antsy. And I do silly stuff like update my lame Yahoo! Avatar. Here she is!

I also browse the Personals. And accidentally activated my profile. I had 27 views within days. And seven messages. Since I haven't subscribed I can't do anything other than send a canned message. So I just didn't go back. But I kept getting emails about how many views I had and how many new messages I've been sent, so I turned my profile off.

I'm a bit concerned about my use of the word "so." What would be better? I don't feel like rewriting to eliminate it. How about "ergo" or "ipsit facto" or "therefore"? All worse choices, I believe. Guess I'll just have to lean on "so" for awhile.

I hope you're doing better than I am! Keep cool.

shameless commerce

Since it's all Harry Potter time and all, I thought I'd promote a couple of things that I designed. These are quality items. I know. I've bought some of them myself.

"I see thestrals." Black T-Shirt
by
Elaine Greywalker

Get this custom shirt at Zazzle

Here's another big seller.

I know how it ends button
by
Elaine Greywalker

Get this custom button at Zazzle

Here's one no one has purchased yet. You could be the first!

I know how it ends. (button)
by
Elaine Greywalker

Get this custom button at Zazzle

other

some days I need something other than this. this is one of those days.