Library find!

No Impact Man

I found Colin Beavan's blog, No Impact Man, several weeks ago and bookmarked it for future pursuing. There was a lot to read and I just haven't taken time to sit and go through it all. I did take the time to add his book to my Amazon.com wish list.

Went to the library on Monday for a round of 'shelf diving' and for some reason decided to have a look through the "new book" section. I hardly ever look there for anything - mostly 'cause I find an armload in the regular shelves and just can't carry anything else!

Anyway, I'm standing there, head hanging to the side in that goofy, library shelf-looking way and noticed an odd title in blue letters on the red spine of a book. Eh? Could it really be? I set my armload of books on the floor and pulled it from the shelf. Yep, indeed. No Impact Man. I laughed and said, "Well, yee ha!" out loud. Yeah, the library ladies gave me a look, but they know me.

So I slapped it on the stack with the rest and headed to the checkout counter. Plan to start reading it right after I finish the one I'm currently reading. While I almost always have several books I'm reading going at the same time I thought I would like to give this one my undivided attention.

While I was gathering images to put with this post I discovered it's been made into a movie as well ...

No Impact Man DVD

Guess this means a trip to the video store sometime in the near future - that is, unless they have it at the library!

Namaste, y'all ...

Momma Nature and Old Man Winter ... it's a tag-team effort.

Call me crazy. Call me a person swimming in wishful thinking and vain hope. Call in an order for a large White pizza from Roma's Italian Restaurant and have it delivered. Call Momma Nature and Old Man Winter and tell them the party is over and this is the final call from the bar. I'm ready for warm weather now, thank you very much.

I've been eye-ballin' the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraton page for my location and watching as the nasty stuff crept closer and closer all week. We got dumped on Monday with a foot of snow. We got another couple of inches of sleety/snowy/freezy stuff last night. Been steadily drizzling more of the same all day. Calling for more of it tomorrow. Did I already tell you I'm really, really ready for warm weather?

This is what I woke up to this morning ...

I will be the first to admit it is beautiful ...

But despite the beauty, I look out my window and see how the weight of it makes the pines lean over like hump-back old men. I can't quite get the "this stuff makes trees fall down really close to my house" thoughts out of my head. Living in a house surrounded by trees it nice, but it does have it's down side at times.

So, the furry vermin and I found parking spots and enjoyed ourselves ...

I chose the sofa with a hot cup of Earl Gray and a book ...

Tuck got comfy on my side of the bed ...

Zipper got his blankie at the foot of the bed ...

And we had a good day.

Namaste, y'all ...

I have been hereby summoned ... duly noted. I'll bring my knitting.

Back in November of last year I had to renew my driver's license (got a terrible photo, by the way). When the assisting officer asked if I wanted to register to vote I thought, "What the heck!" and told him okay, sure, why not?

Now, some people out there might blow a gasket at my stating the fact that I don't vote. Let me go on record right now and tell you I've heard all the arguments, all the opinions - both reasonable and dumb-ass - from people over the years about voting and non-voting. I stand firmly by my own opinion that if, on that ballot, there isn't a single person I feel worthy of giving my vote to then I'm not voting. It's like being given a choice between being snake-bit by a copperhead or a rattle snake ... I'm supposed to choose between the lessor of two evils? I prefer not being bitten at all, thank you very much.

But there's another side to being a registered voter I'd completely forgotten about. Jury duty. Needless to say, getting a summons for duty in the mail the other day was, well, a surprise. And ya' know what? I'm not complaining. I'm kinda' thinking it might be cool.

Years ago I lived in a small town in South Carolina. It was 1992 and the only year I have ever registered to vote. I got summoned that year, too. Only that time I was called for jury duty in Superior court and would have had to serve for the entire year. Somehow, they had too many people and ended up throwing everybody's name in a hat, pulled twelve names and two alternates. My name didn't get pulled and that was that. Never served, life moved along. Didn't give it anymore thought.

Thanks to that officer at the DMV I've been offered (okay, summoned) a second change. While I know for some serving on jury duty is a big hassle and everybody always gripes about it I'm oddly looking forward it. It's not out of any feeling of civic duty or other such stuff as that. It's about having a new experience. Who knows what might happen?

No, I'm not looking for drama of a murder trail or tangled intrigue of illegal mayhem. Surprisingly, for being relatively small, this county has had it's share of such doings. But I'm not sure I'd want someone's future in my hands ... to be part of a panel of people that could put someone in jail for the rest of their life, or worse. Doesn't sound like something anyone would find enjoyable unless you were nuts. It's simply the process of it all. Learning about the system (which, I know - I know, is flawed) and what all goes on when you serve on jury duty. What kind of cases do you hear? Etc, etc, etc.

So, on February 23rd I'll be at the courthouse in my Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes and see what's what. I'll stuff a book and some knitting in a bag in case they make me wait around. Who knows, they, too, might just send me back home.

Namaste, y'all ...

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day ...

... when it's cold outside I've got the month of May ...

It starts with this very pretty Fancy Sparkle Organdy from Hancock Fabrics (color is Sunny Jasmine) ...

Which, naturally, must be inspected very closely ...

Because being creative is tiring you have to take a breather ...

But then you get busy and make some cute little pleats ...

Add some rings ...

Measure up a nice big hem ...

Which, naturally, must pass another inspection for accuracy ...

You get to hang this lovely bit of sunshine and sparkle on your window ...

And admire your handiwork ... or sniff it, depending on your preference ...

Namaste, y'all ...