Trying to catch up on your lives. I began with (e:news) and went from there. Before I continue with reading, a few things first:

First: I hate missing (e:strip) parties. As always, it looked to be a fun gathering. Again, happy Birthday (e:terry) and (e:mike)! As many of you know, it is great to interact with those that you have been reading a little bit about over time. I've been to plenty of generic parties all over the place; generally amusing but bland over all. (E:strip).org parties are another breed. You have shared history, established familiarity and diversity...various levels of debauchery and a slew of other elements that add to the fabulousness that it is. But the main thing? It is the "epeeps" that really make these parties ones to remember. And when you miss one or two in a row, the sense of feeling out of the loop, missing everyone in general, and some in specific, really hits. *FEEL THE LOVE!* AND there are new faces, new lives, new peeps I've yet to meet. Anyway, I hope to do some major catching up with (e:peeps) soon.

Second: (e:paul), you are fantastic! Your talents and dedication continue to impress me. I know (e:peeps) agree; they wouldn't be here if not for your continued effort on this site, right?! :) While it is a symbiotic relationship, and everyone contributes to its success, it still comes back to *you*. To think that it began as a Masters project! And you didn't even have to do that, because, remember, you invented the internet, haha. Thank you. The statistics and user status labels are fun! Nice bronze medal, (e:jim)! and a shout out to our prolific writer/commenter, (e:metalpeter)!

Third: This weekend was *a lot* of fun. The things I learned about myself! I can't even begin to describe what it was all about. I camped at a private campground this weekend out towards Springville. This is a large event that takes place every Labor Day weekend. Bands, food, drink, various sorts of entertainment, dirt bike/4 wheeler trails, contests, and lots and lots of people and nature. I declined last year, for several reasons, but was keen on making it this year. The much anticipated weekend finally arrived and I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew but just a couple of people and there were hundreds. The tag line of this event is, "More fun than allowed by law"
yeh, I'd say; and I was pleased to take part in it.
I brought my camera but didn't use it.. Thinking back, maybe that was a good thing. hmmm, but I imagine someone took a few..

Although the best thing about going away is coming home, the worst part about coming home is unpacking and cleaning up. I'll do that later. I have some blogs to read!

Hope everyone had a fun-safe-happy-peaceful Labor Day Weekend!

ooh, I still have time to hunt down a fried dough at the local field days, if I get myself motivated to head back out the door. The nice thing is that it is just down the street from me. hmmmm fried dough, its been a couple of years since my last! yum!

Mike and Terry,

Party it up like I know you can!

and I expect to see the obligatory de-pantsing pics and other original "Mike Visco" party stories.



:)

I totally stole these from Live Journal group, Cat Macros

I love the pics and captions..

but hatehatehate people talking in that lingo for real. OK, occasional witty comment, but as acceptable (and standard) grammar? NO! I know you feel me, (e:lizabeth)! haha

Ok, onto some cute shite







(I love the arrow!)





..and just because:


How bad is it that I now look at my cat and want to plaster a caption above him? must.stop.looking.at.catmacros. damn the lolcats!


OK.. (e:pyrcedgrrl) pointed this out to me, and I would really sport this. I love this site anyways, so anything is fair game for showering gifts upon Thee. hehe



more groovy stuff at Fred & Friends:


ok, need to finish gathering all that is needed for camping trip! Sorry to miss the Terry-Mike B-day bash. Have at least three jello shots for me, please :)

• Oooh, if you like Kashi products, check out this link for an easy, free snack. Kashi is having a "snack drive", encouraging people to trade in their regular snack for a "nutritious Kashi alternative"

http://www.kashi.com/outreach/snack_drive

• Camping trip this weekend. It has been planned since last year. I am not quite sure where it is that I am going; all I know is that my friends know where to go and I am pretty much tagging along. I have yet to pack, although most of my gear is ready to go. It should be a good weekend, weather wise, and I look forward to this adventure.

• However, I will miss out on Youngstown Labor Day Field Days, which means I will miss out on the one time of year that I buy fried dough. Its so good and makes me feel gross, but its tradition. I may have to go the following weekend to the Lewiston Peach Festival, where I am sure they will have fried dough, if I feel the need to have it. Then again, if I am back early enough on Monday, I might just be able to grab one yet. yay!

• August is really just about over. That kind of freaks me out. I went swimming most days this week just because I know that there really aren't too many days left to do so. It being like 90 yesterday and today was perfect. There wasnt a cloud in the sky today; just sun. A gorgeous summer day. As I always end up saying, but don't follow through, I need to get a swim membership somewhere for the winter months. I really like swimming, even if I pretty much stink at it.

• Anyone know if cabins are available at camp parks in the middle of winter?

• I've been told now by several friends that I need to have one of my famous bonfire-gatherings. I figure I will try to plan something come late summer/early fall, maybe around my b-day.

EDIT: original blog is located below, simply titled, Reagan Diaries. I added, "Conversations with Self pt1" originally written 8/29/07 and posted at www.myspace.com/marquiscut
I add it here for prosperity.

Conversations with Self pt1

"If the extent of my knowledge was limited strictly to formal education, than I would really know nothing at all". ~Carey, 1998


The thought came to me today, "(You) will go on a sabbatical".

But haven't I, essentially, been on one?

"Over the course of your life and more specifically in the past year, you have been to a lot of places, but it has been a few months since you have really pushed out the edges of your mind. And that is really where you want to go; that is where the experience is. Your initial sabbatical presented your freedom, this one, will reinforce it."

Well, what of these past few months, were they for naught?

"Everything serves to enhance your experience. There are no coincidences; there is a reason. There is no 'lost time'; not when you have been listening, observant, asking questions, feeling and knowing. Continue to probe deeply into subjects that intrigue you, bring you into your element; it is there that you will see yourself."

What's that last part about?

"Everyone has a picture in their head of who they are. They can see what they look like, what they are doing, what their surroundings look and feel like and generally what their life is like and how they would like it to be. That picture is a snap shot of something very real, yet how often is it far from what IS, today? Choices made bring people further or closer to that picture. However, you are there, but now seeking to go further, yes?"

Yes. Gratefully, yes.

"So go beyond what that picture is, and you will find your Self. Contemplate what your wants and needs are; enlist your five senses to assist you in seeing all that is you and all that you want it to Be. What you come up with is your new picture. That is what this is all about."

So, I need quiet time to reflect, gather information, and figure out my next "picture"?

"Yes, you've got it. Now what are you going to do with it, Carey??"

I'm going to listen carefully and allow myself to bring forth all that is me. Eek! There is so much to learn, to see, to experience! I have questions that I must not be afraid to ask. I need to figure out why I know and feel the things I do. How is it that I have known things, seen the connections, when I have yet to encounter the material, the experiences? And when I have, nothing feels novel, exactly. So much has made sense to me for a long time now; over three decades, really.

Now I sit here and think about my earliest remembered experiences.

"Ah very good, you know what this is, yes?"

I thought to say, this is the transition to my sabbatical, but there is more to it than that. This is.. everything..

"yes.."

---

More and more I probe deeper, searching for new beacons of information and connection. I seek to expand my current schema. To actively pursue the understanding of how people are just beginning to gravitate towards certain subjects yet I have felt has been a deep part of me.. always. I intend to one day be able to articulate those "things" as originally as possible as I hold no desire to "regurgitate" what is currently available to readers, yet I also know for certain that no words are needed; that is just how it is. However, as with people before me, I too, will try to share all that is.

I would like to find a physically quiet spot to engage in some concentrated thinking, researching, reading, writing, learning and unlearning. My home is quiet, clean and peaceful, however, a change in environment would be beneficial, creatively speaking. I'm not particular on where, as long as I can concentrate. I prefer somewhere that I can both stretch my legs and my mind. If trails or a swimming spot are readily available, then that would be ideal. Oh, and a Hot Spot for laptop-internet use. My mind is just swirling with thoughts and ideas; its imperative that I clarify some of it.

That may have seemed an odd style to write a blog. Have you ever asked yourself a question then quietly an answer comes to mind? For those that have experienced this, it shows that you are comfortable in asking those questions. Sometimes we don't want to know the answers, so we never ask the question. Yet when you listen carefully, you will provide your own insight to the questions and concerns you may have. For those that have never heard the feedback, just practice listening real close. Its there...

Read to write, write to seek, seek to understand.

---

original blog, "Reagan Diaries"

Keeping it simple.



An excerpt*from Ronald Reagan's recently published diaries:

"A moment I've been dreading. George(Bush senior) brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the political one(Jeb) who lives in Florida. The one who hangs around here all the time looking shiftless. This so-called kid is already almost 40 and has never had a real job. Maybe I'll call Kinsley over at The New Republic and see if they'll hire him as a contributing editor or something. That looks like easy work."

• This is floating around. Anyone see it? I havent checked for source yet.