I'm not obsessed, I just wasn't sure exactly what flavor the coveted Shamrock Shakes actually are. (to answer (e:leetee) ) Shamrock? ;) Mint? Kinda, but not really.. So I decided to do a little research.

This article cracked me up. This guy was on the search for the shake, and his commentary of his adventures were humorous to read, along with the pictures and commercials of McDonalds ads from long ago.

Whatever happened to Grimace, the Fry Guys and that Hamburgler???

and so, I read on.. laughing.. and now sharing. The link to the site/article is below, if you have a few minutes.

I don't even like McDs. Other than the fries, an occasional shake, and the yearly Shamrock Shake- just because.

"There is a significant Irish population in my town. There is a significant number of McDonald's restaurants in my town. Yet, there are no Shamrock Shakes. Not even during March. It's a fact that haunts me year after year, and a fact that doesn't process as such because, year after year, I hit every McDonald's in the whole damn city...just to be safe. As you might guess, this whole thing has become more than a simple pining for a good milkshake. It's a war. It's a life goal. It isn't so much about finding and devouring a Shamrock Shake and it is about just finding a Shamrock Shake,..."

Florida is sounding really good to me right now and not just because of the arctic deep freeze we have been experiencing for the past month (brrrrrr!!); although it certainly bolsters my desire!!

I just keep hearing about Florida.. family.. friends..epeeps. travel.. all these things that have been planting a travel seed in my mind; of course, not just Florida, but for some reason I am feeling drawn to it. Been there, done that, but would certainly do it again. Perhaps a little trip to the Keys, hmmmm ?

pack my backpack of essentials (book, undies, lipgloss), pack my camera and I am off to explore.

Lets see what develops..

I'm working on getting my passport as well :)

and while all that figures itself out, I am doing some local day travels, camera in hand- cold ass weather and all. Simply heading wherever I feel drawn.. life is good!

PS- Shamrock Shake time!

a few shots taken while cross country skiing.

There are some water ones that I am holding off on, for now :)
































Wherever there is shadow, there is light..

I can act out in my sleep, although most of the time I stay still. Last night I decided to sleep on my couch, not often do I do that- even though my couch is AWESOME. Its pretty deep, if you take off the cushions, not that I did that either. I just piled any extra toss pillows on the back of the couch.

Sometime in the night, I dreampt that I was sleeping on my couch and my dog was sleeping on the back of the couch (not that I have one). I reached up and scratched the furry pooch under the chin. In my dream and in reality, I moved my hand up and gave a good scratch. In my dream, it was to the dog under his chin. In reality, I gave the fringy toss pillow above me a good scratch on its 'chin'- which was the corner of the pillow. I woke to that and laughed. How could I not? Let me report, it is really bizarre to 'scratch a pillow under its chin'.

unless of course, I had (e:twisted) 's 'pooch/pillow'- :) then it would totally be reasonable !!

I'm at the zoo! I bought a membership. I want to cuddle with the grizzly bears!!
Its hailing now..time to buy my 'i love elephants' (i really do!) support bracelet and be on my way.
thanks for the incentive, lee :)

somehow, I end up like this anytime I encounter even the tiniest slope while XC skiing.




I still don't know how to get up after a fall. But now I am quicker at unlocking the boots from the binding :)

from yesterdays post:

ok. I'm feeling it (going outside to play), even if just for a few minutes. I can catch up on sleep later.

I fulfilled both 'tasks' as evidenced by a few pictures of some of the time spent outside. It really was nice to go out and not be frozen! Afterward trudging through knee deep snow, I spent the remaining moments of daylight looking out the bay window for a view of the side and part of the back yard. Joey joins me in watching the snowflakes fall before succumbing to my lap followed by my succumbing to his purring. I was only up for less than a few more hours before I fully fell asleep- straight through the morning. Weird yet enjoyable dreams were had.


















































these pics are so much cooler big, some of the details are lost at this size.

I am looking for bamboo ('lucky bamboo'), the kind that I can purchase by itself. I do not want to buy it already shoved into a vase and pebbles. I have my own. I killed my last bamboo. Any idea where to buy single bamboo??

It is really pretty outside. This is the ideal part of winter that I like. The temps are above freezing, the air is still and the snow sticks to everything but the streets. It's quite pleasant to be outside.

Which I would like to do now. I am debating on whether I am 'feeling it' or not.

I slept hard last night. I am generally a light sleeper and despite that, i am normally well rested. I spent several hours on the floor of my room listening to Moby, sipping Poland Spring sparkly water and smooshing together charcoal and chalk art medium. I was very intent on the messy renderings; lost and comfortable in my own little world.

Afterwards I began a new book. I lost track of time and I am not sure what time I finally fell asleep, but I noticed that I got through more than half the book in one sitting. My dreams picked up on thoughts pertaining to the book and the prior art session. I was in a deep sleep that I was aware of while I was sleeping. I was plunged deep into the swirls of dreams and when I wanted to wake up, it took longer to come to the surface. I pulled myself out of the dream state, not that there was anything bad happening, it was just so weird to be that deeply removed from the world. After that, I tossed and turned and was a bit physical in my sleep. I thought I heard things in the house and this warped my perception of reality and dreaming. At some point I wacked my bed side clock on the floor and knocked a bunch of other stuff over. Although I am a light sleeper, I rarely move much during that time. This was a strange night- not sue how much sleep I actually got.

But I woke with energy and got moving on the day.

A haircut and a few errands later, I return home feeling ready to cozy up with a blanket and pillow.

But I look outside and wish to go back out into the fat snowflakes.

ok. I'm feeling it, even if just for a few minutes. I can catch up on sleep later. Look at all the big fat snowflakes! (If it was freezing out, my ass would be buried under that blanket already!)

"Cherish your visions. Cherish your ideals. Cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all heavenly environment; of these, if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built." ~James Allen (1855-1942)

It was just a matter of time, but this has been circulating. (e:pyrcedgrrl) sent me the link to the rest of the picture.. (e:paul,4879)

real? fake??? can't tell..

who cares :X

though i do wonder.

feels so scandalous posting this pic..