Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Pinterest friend or foe?

Are you familiar with Pinterest? 

According to the Pinterest website Help section: "Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. Pinterest allows you to organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. You can browse pinboards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.
People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and share their favorite recipes."  
I love it and "pinning" things I like to share has become a past time, one that replaced playing games on Facebook.  I encourage others to participate as well!  So I consider it friendly...HOWEVER, as with anything online, there are things to watch for...
First, you should be aware that there are pinterest users who post cool pictures of things like something yummy to eat but if you follow the link, to get to the "recipe" for example, you may face a virus.  I have a good virus protection program that is updated frequently and it has caught about 15 attempted virus attacks. If not a virus attack, sometimes I am sent to a blank page that says it requires cookies, which I ignore, or someone writes something like this "Isn't this cool, I found it while searching for MP3s"  or "Isn't this cool I found it while searching for something else". So you may end up on someone's MP3 page, which will have nothing to do with the original picture you liked and it's hard to tell what you may end up with if they say they found the pic you like while searching for something else.  If I think someone is sharing bogus pins, they seem to have this in common: when you click on their personal page and they may have a number of folders but will only one or two pins in each. Just be careful like you should with anything online. 
Feel free to comment on my blog and ask questions about what I have written. Remember there are some bad seeds out there but overall Pinterset is not a foe!  Have a great day and have fun pinning!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Knitting or "Knot"

My mother taught me how to crochet but I didn't have the patience to learn more than making a granny square or maybe she ran out of patience teaching me...maybe a combination of both...who knos anymore. Anyway, I tried to teach myself knitting, using knitting needles years later and gave away the supplies. Then one day I received a present...a Knifty Knitter. It was a pack of looms which I learned to use quickly and easily make knitted caps and scarves. When people saw my products, they often commented on my knitting skills but sice I hadn't used traditional knitting needles, I felt like i was cheating some how. Anyway, I was thrilled when I found out that "loom knitting" is a legitamet form of knitting! I have a great book now with some new projects for me to try as well.

Insomnia?

Sometimes I cannot sleep Tho I may be wary Many images do creep Thoughts of you fill my mind and what might have been So I grab anything I can find To help ease my mind and loosen this bind Ahh now I'm at peace Goodnight - Time to sleep

The Best Gift

Some people think that I pontificate however, by telling details of my life regarding abuse I have experienced, I always pray that I am able help others recognize abuse because I once was one of those who said, "well, he doesn't hit me so I just have to learn to be a better..." wife, mother, etc. always to no avail. I have said in the past that I felt things happened for a reason but that implies that everything is preordained. Then I realized that when I share what I have been through, I am, to put it simply, trying to make lemonade out of lemons. My poor choices cost me dearly so I learned many lessons the hard way. So, it is my goal to share in an effort to touch someone's life so that my pain will not have been in vain. Well, I received a glorious gift for Christmas from my cousin in Arizona. She told me something she had forgotten to share around my birthday in November. She told one of her clients about me and my birthday wish to help stop violence against women. My story was printed out and the woman read it verbatim to her daughter who was currently in an abusive relationship and it made a difference.

Blessed Be

Child born helpless, innocent Devalued often by parents That was perpetuated in school Loss of self and lonely...poor choices However, I was finally graced By my savior and was led To an open armed church Where I asked to be baptised It was honored and I blessed.

Who are your favorite male actors?

In my 30's most of my favorite male actors (based on looks, with or without great talent LOL) were as follows: Sean Connery, Kevin Costner, Richard Gere, Val Kilmer, Sam Eliot, Bruce Willis, Owen Wilson, Alec Baldwin, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Kiefer Southerland, John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Wesley Snipes, Will Smith, Jason Statham and Bruce Campbell. In my 40's my list has changed a lot. While I still like most of the actors from my 30's, I find myself smitton with a whole new list: Christian Kane, Simon Pegg, Vin Diesel, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Johnny Depp, Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Simon Baker, Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock), Tommy Lee Jones, Matthew Gray Gubler, Robert Downey Jr., Colin Ferral, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant. My lists are primarily based upon looks and aren't necessarily in order save for the first few in each list. There are extemely talented actors that I enjoy watching, that just didn't make these lists.

Daddy, Dad, Father

I wondered why You and I Always had a hard time speaking Didn’t you know I loved you so Daddy…Unconditionally Sometimes I Wondered why You stayed with HER unhappily For so long Just going along For peace at home, seemingly But then SHE passed Gone were the amassed Negative harbored feelings Then You and I Finally knew why We had had a hard time talking Mom was gone Now a shared a bond You and I had a new beginning We shared stories We made apologies Tho' we also spent time grieving It wasn’t too late It was really great Dad The two of us communicating Short lived sadly Chemotherapy Took its toll before your passing Facing your end No need to pretend We made our peace in reality So I let the past go Feeling as though Our precious time was a blessing We loved each other As Father and Daughter And that’s all that matters really

Communicating with me...

I relate to people by my own experiences so when someone brings up a subject that allows me to verbally share, not in an egotistical way but in an "I understand" way, that's what I do. My roommate and I have a deal, if she doesn't need to hear "a relating story" she lets me know by asking me to just listen. I prefer that people do that with me as picking up on social cues has been a life long challenge for me. Fortunately, if I am not sure what someone means these days, I try to ask for clarification, not because I am upset or needy or something, it is merely a way to keep communication flowing well. Some people seem to think and/or act like I am the one that should change or they assume I cannot change or that I should be psychic and KNOW what is meant, either way, it places the responsibility of communicatingeffectively all on me. It is said that "communication is a TWO way street" for a reason.

Adoption Issues from an adoptee

Being adopted certainly has had its ups and downs. I grew up knowing that my birth mother had three children before me then once I found her I found out she had 4 more after me. I was blessed with spending time with my birth mother before she passed. I was blessed with meeting several half siblings. Overall however, it hurt when I had to come to terms with reality. Just because I had the room and the time for them in my life (and love to share since I was raised as an only child), didn't mean I would be welcome or remain welcome in theirs. I was an outsider. Once I removed any expectations, it didn't bring me closer to them but I felt a little better.

Camera Dilemma

I know two women named Amanda They are both very handy with a camera So I asked for advice about what to buy Both wasted no time sending a reply Each uses exclusively different brands So I am still left throwing up my hands As the price differences seem astronomical They both offer great quality and are digital