Let's start the weekend with a chuckle...

...but don't forget, voting is still going on at Sparrow's.

*UPDATE* Marriage...

more a state of mind
and commitment from the soul
than a legal bond.

* You have until 11 PM FRIDAY to VOTE for your favorite haiku. *

The topic is MARRIAGE and the deadline has been extended to
Thursday 9 AM because she is out of town for a few days.

Still, hurry on over there and get your entry in the contest.

Will be done...

if there
is one
I will
find it.

if there
is none
I will
make it.

a way
to
you.

Vampire 06 is home...

He completed his tour in Afghanistan.
Time for a big Welcome Home!

This quote makes me nod my head and smile...

"And those who were seen dancing were thought
to be insane by those who could not hear the music."

Friedrich Nietzsche

*UPDATE* Our time is now...

The topic for the the Haiku Challenge at All Atwitter is:

************************ TIME ***********************

TIME TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE BY 10 pm TONIGHT.


I don't want to know
how much might remain. I live
and love each breath now.

*

Time is on no one's
side. It exists whether you
do or not. Enjoy!

Plagiarism..

A very hot topic for any writer or wannabe.

Jane, over at , "How Publishing Really Works"
is devoting a whole day and a multitude of links
to information on the topic that sends chills up
the spines of all writers.

Jane is in the UK and her blog has been on my
sidebar for a long time. Always reading time well spent.

stop. dribbling. on. my. blog.

What you're looking for is not here. Get it??

After more than four years and 500+ posts, I get
a bad case of the creeps when I see which web searches
end up here most often. And which posts they find.

I posted about the horrible day my dog died.
I cannot imagine the disappointment of the freaks who
are looking for "m@m and b@ys". Almost all of those
sickos are from other countries. Almost all.

The top draw, however, is the post I wrote last November.
It was about a turtle, for shitssake! There are a large
variety of search words that land them here. Like:
"skinny p@nis", "dangling p@nis", "pencil in p@nis"
and on and on.
There is no pr0n here, dammit!
Classy erotica, at times, but NO pr0n!

Now, I'm curious...
what are some of the stranger web search words that
you folks have noticed landing on your blogs? Do tell.

Leaf me alone...

This week's topic for the Haiku Challenge at All Atwitter is

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TREES~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UPDATE: VOTE for your favorite before 11 pm Thursday.


the leaves applaud and
whisper "Encore!" as the breeze
rushes among them.

Blue is on the move...

Old Blue has volunteered for a second deployment
to Afghanistan.

He has also started a new blog to record his tour.
Afghan Quest is replacing Bill and Bob's.

Also, please take a moment to read Blackfive's
article about Tim Karcher. Tim is a much-loved
and highly respected officer who recently suffered
devastating injuries in an explosion on his THIRD
tour in Iraq.

You can read updates on Tim's progress from his
wife by going to Caring Bridge.

The earth is still spinning...

and it's keeping me dizzy.

I don't think the flea market will be my new home.
Time for Plan B. or, B 1/2. Maybe Plan C.

I know I keep saying I hope to have the new blog
with the on-line store completed soon. Shit happens.
Mostly my stupid shit. Still working on it in fits and
starts. Lots of fits.

Maybe progress will be made after the weekend is
done kicking my butt.
I shall return.

Bane are you watching?...

Bane grandspawn #2 has arrived.

Maiden gave birth to a healthy boy June 30!

the Haiku Lady is home...

Sparrow has returned from a partial world tour
and the Haiku Challenge is again.

You know I'm happy.

UPDATE: Remember to VOTE for your favorite by 11 pm Thursday.

The topic for this week: the Fourth of July.

The Haiku form is three lines of poetry; first line has
five syllables, second line has seven syllables, and
the third line has five syllables.

Deadline to submit your entry is 10 pm Wednesday.

Check out the prize Sparrow is sending for this week's winner.

Let's try this one...

oh say, can you see
where we've been and where we are
now? Happy with that?

or,

praise the lord and pass
the ammunition. We can
do that here. Or not.

maybe,

Have we forgotten
what the fireworks stand for?
Bombs bursting in air.

A new voice among us...

A wonderful poetess and so very, very young.
She calls her blog Remergence.

Welcome her to the 'sphere and then thank
Walking Man for pointing us her way.

Weekend #3 not a good finish...

I'm beginning to think that my time spent at the flea
market (we won't mention the money spent) is
going to be more of an education in networking,
marketing and public interests rather than earning
much in the way of dollars.
Not a bad thing exactly but, it was at least supposed
to bring in enough to pay the rent there.

I'm getting mixed reviews from other vendors.
Not about my products but about how well they will
be received by the typical clientele coming through
the market. All the vendors like my products.
Potential buyers are very complimentary.
Just not buying much at all. But, all the vendors are
complaining about the lack of money changing hands.
All the vendors say I picked the worst season to start
a business there. Summers are always slow and this one
is especially sucky. Well... thanksahelluvalot.

Most say if I can hang on until September, business
will pick up considerably. Really?
One or two have said I should add cheap chotchke to
draw interest. One other specifically said I will not see
enough people here who will appreciate what I have.

My biggest argument is that I do NOT want to sell
anything other than my own work. Period.
I do not want to compete with the other vendors who
mostly sell inexpensive doo-dads and gee-gaws.
(most, not all.)
More than one has suggested approaching places like
Starbucks and Hallmark stores. Those are now on my list.

One vendor is opening a store on the Boardwalk on the beach
with a Hawaiian/tropical theme. She likes what I have but
said if I can come up with ideas that go with the theme of
her new store, she will sell my products there.
I have two ideas on the drawing board.

There are a few of you reading who have experience working
for yourselves. My hat is off to you. Seriously.
There is no way to know about all the details and time
involved in starting a business until you dive in yourself.

I am not giving up. I am learning as I go. Sometimes, I am
overwhelmed with information and opinion.
I will figure this out if it kills me. (please don't kill me.)

I've started the process with PayPal. Waiting on their
confirmation of my banking info.

Recently posted some test photos at theponderingstore.
Go take a look, please, and let me know if they show the
products clearly. I'm still not sure how the final set-up
will be done.

Have I mentioned how much I appreciate all of you and
your encouragement, ideas (and orders)? No?
Damn me.
I do appreciate, very much. And I thank you.

Independence Day 2009...

independent *adj. 1 free from outside control;
not subject to another's authority. >(of a country)
self-governing. 2 not depending on another for
livelihood or subsistence. 3 not connected with another.









Hard-fought, earned and won with blood, sweat and tears.
Let's not forget it.
Let's not let it slip away.