I miss my sister.

After a three year absence, I saw her today. She pulled into the driveway right after I returned from a garden shopping excursionn (I love my jungle-garden).

I hugged her and didn't want to let go.

No time to really talk, as my bro in law, two other nieces and his parents werent far behind (admittedly a bit overwhelming) but thats fine for now.. I think her and I will be ok, from here on out...

((we seem to be ready to work on being sisters))

I hope my mom and sister can work things out. I am not sure if my mom will be around this evening to see any of them. My mom is terribly stubborn. She is awesome, intelligent, capable of fixing and building anything, but stubborn.

Anyhow, I hope to get a few pics before my sister leaves. We will meet up this evening at Art Park for the graduation of my oldest neice, Ashley. Then they are heading back to NC; wish they could stay longer. I plan to visit for a weekend in the fall-- after school is over for me.

Yep, gonna keep positive about this..

Just finished watching C-Span's coverage of the US-European Union Summit (held at Hofburg Palace in Vienna Austria). On the agenda: Irans nuclear program.
I am not sure what I enjoy more- the answers or the questions. I am fascinated with Presidnet Bush, Chancellor Shussel and President Barrosso's responses and reactions to audience questioning; both verbal and non-verbal.

And I will leave it at that, for now.

well, and this..

Check out the Summit in written form:


Wolfgang Shussel:

Chancellor of Austria, President of European Council

Jose Manuel Barosso:

President of European Commision

You know the other guy, the Bushmeister:



hehe, now my mental voice has a french accent. My spoken words have an accent and I am interjecting a few french words. Monsieur Shussel brings out the french in moi. I could listen to him for hours.

So, I must brush up on my foreign languages. A true Marquis will have a better grasp of the french language. I have been slacking severely on this.. I miss conversing in (broken) french and polish.

a bientot, mon amies!

I just viewed a ritualistic animal sacrifice...

I wasn't expecting to see it, and now I feel ill. Not sure what to make of the lump in my throat.

I understand plenty..I am not ignorant to the various world religion rituals and practices--but I didn't expect them to *show* it-- the horse being held on the ground.. blinking its eyes, looking around. The sharpening of the blade..

I spare you the rest.

You can see it for yourself on the History Channel, Voodoo Secrets

Show description:

A cult of magic spells, diabolical curses, satanic worship, human sacrifice, zombies, and dolls stuck with pins? Experts explain how, over the past few centuries, the ancient religion of Voodoo has been systematically maligned, persecuted, and nearly wiped out. To uncover the truth behind Voodoo, we travel to where it began at least 5,000 years ago on the central west coast of Africa. In the tiny nation of Benin, Voodoo is practiced today as it has been for thousands of years. Our cameras captured a rarely-seen event--an African Voodoo ceremony with animal sacrifice. We also investigate grisly events blamed on Voodoo, such as: the sinking of a ferry in Haiti that killed 200 people and was blamed on a Voodoo curse; death of Robert Tallant, author of the 1947 bestseller Voodoo in New Orleans; and how Marie Laveau, the "Queen of Voodoo" in New Orleans, saved two men from the gallows in 1850. Could these tales be true? Michael Dorn narrates

I had it in my head to make mojitos today. I havent had a drink in quite some time, as it hasn't been of interest to me in the least for a few months now. I am not much of a drinker, but I have had my fair share this year, and that isn't like me.

However, a refreshing mojito sounded nice. I invited (e:pyrcedgrrl) to come over and have one with me.

I made sure that I had everything I needed: Bacardi, limes, sugar, club soda, ice and mint.

I grow mint in my garden, so ofcourse I choose to use those fresh leaves instead of a store bought variety ( or syrup, gasp!)

As I am mashing the mint, I begin to wonder if my sense of smell is off today. It smells minty.. yet it doesn't.

Asking (e:pyrcedgrrl) what she thinks is not fruitful, as she is just coming off a cold and can't smell much.

So I proceed to make the drink and everything appears fine. It even tastes fine.. but not quite like the mojitos I made in the past.

Then I wonder what exactly I picked from my garden...

and I wonder.. did I make a mojito using spearamint?

or catnip??? hahaha

It still tasted good whatever it was I used.

I haven't seen this before as a weather alert in my Yahoo! weather (or that annoying aol weather bug)

Anyway, be careful of breathing during the hours of 5am and 11pm tomorrow..

btw, I missed An Unconvenient Truth (e:theecarey,166) it slipped my mind, then I dozed off.. Anyone get out to see it?
I think the Buffalo Zoo field trip may have kicked my butt?? The day was very enjoyable-- gorgeous weather, noted progress in my autistic student ("Care, was it the grisly bear or the polar bear he tried to join last year?" heh, the bear may be ferocious, but my money is on the kid!) -- oh, and lots of fun with my co worker/friends.

I am still groggy from my nap. I have residual effects of the dream that I had. It was so real... whats going on?

Now the moment you have been waiting for: onto the official lung pollution report..

...AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM TO 11 PM
EDT SATURDAY...

AN AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM TO 11 PM
SATURDAY.

MONROE...WAYNE...OSWEGO...JEFFERSON...ONTARIO...LIVINGSTON...
ALLEGANY...CATTARAUGUS...CHAUTAUQUA...WYOMING...ERIE...GENESEE...
ORLEANS... NIAGARA AND CAYUGA

AIR QUALITY LEVELS IN OUTDOOR AIR ARE PREDICTED TO BE GREATER
THAN AN AIR QUALITY INDEX VALUE OF 100. THE AIR QUALITY INDEX...
OR AQI...WAS CREATED AS AN EASY WAY TO CORRELATE LEVELS OF
DIFFERENT POLLUTANTS TO ONE SCALE. THE HIGHER THE AQI VALUE...
THE GREATER THE HEALTH CONCERN.

WHEN POLLUTION LEVELS ARE ELEVATED...THE NEW YORK STATE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RECOMMENDS THAT INDIVIDUALS CONSIDER
LIMITING STRENUOUS OUTDOOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO REDUCE THE RISK
OF ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS. PEOPLE WHO MAY BE ESPECIALLY SENSITIVE
TO THE EFFECTS OF ELEVATED LEVELS OF POLLUTANTS INCLUDE THE VERY
YOUNG... AND THOSE WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS SUCH AS ASTHMA OR
HEART DISEASE.

A TOLL FREE AIR QUALITY HOTLINE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED SO NEW YORK
RESIDENTS CAN STAY INFORMED ON THE AIR QUALITY SITUATION.

THE TOLL FREE NUMBER IS: 1 800 5 3 5 1 3 4 5.

Have a great night. Breathe now while you can!