Archive for July, 2008

After everything was ready for the Condo Warming party on Saturday, Leanne took us to the Dallas Aquarium. We’d only been one other time (with Diane and Jonathan when they still lived in the town she liked to call “Louisville”).

It was super-crowded and full of children whose adults don’t parent them, but we still had a great time.

There are a lot of bad photos (curved glass, people bumping into me, reflections, etc.), but there are a few gems in the group, too. And, we’d never seen so much porn in one day!

Monkey Porn!

Actually, they are Pygmie-sized something other than monkeys, but Monkey Porn is funnier. And yes, those are his privates on display for all.

Look how fast this guy was moving!

Even I found it hard to be a ‘Gator Hater when they are curled up and cuddling….

I really cranked the settings to the extreme to get any shot at all of the bats….

We watched these turtles for a long time. The smaller one “bottomed out” on the log and was stuck there flapping his legs and tail trying to get enough leverage to move back into the water. Like most critters, the bigger one decided he wanted to be there, so he came along and “rescued” the smaller one back into the water. The whole scene was quite comical. (And, as we were leaving, a third, even larger turtle was headed up the log.)

These seahorses were amazing to watch (and ridiculously difficult to photograph!)

Animated Anemone

I have an entire series I’m calling Animated Anemone. As soon as I figure out how to animate the image series, I’ll put that online, too.

Turtle Porn!

Turtle porn wasn’t nearly as “interesting” as Monkey Porn.

We are leaving town at 5pm to head back to Dallas. This time, we get to spend the weekend with Leanne and attend her Condo Warming!

yippie!

If you are even remotely interested in a summer fitness boot camp, I highly recommend
Train With Charlie.

While I can not vouch for the program from personal experience, I have heard great testimonials from some who have attended. More importantly, Charlie is a wonderful and caring person who believes in the person inside each of us.

If you doubt me, read his own top ten list.

Once again in the same week, I’m compelled to support the writings—and in this case a quote from another source—of Lynn Gaertner-Johnston of Syntax Training in Seattle, Washington:

Get a second opinion before you send an email that is very important or intended for a large audience.

I agree with Lynn (and not her student). I’ve learned it takes ELEVEN proofreaders to ensure any copy is ready. While I know that modern technology may have made this number less, with regard to automated grammar, spelling, and punctuation corrections, how often do these tools fail us? Furthermore, how often do we need someone else to read the copy for tone to ensure that the message we MEANT is the one that comes across? (Personally, I use Emil for this barometer in any situation that is AT ALL questionable whether it be personal or professional.)

So, before you hit send, don’t just think…..consider, too, who else might help you ensure that the message is truly the one you want to send.

Else, you might end up like the local KBTX TV station:

BRYAN-A cereal burglar sits in Brazos County Jail today after being arrested and charged with burglary and possession of drug paraphernalia yesterday afternoon.

(They meant a SERIAL ROBBER, but got both nouns mixed up!)

TexAgs.com, in true fashion, made fun of them:

http://texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?forum_id=12&topic_id=1195328

In our fast-paced world, we sometimes forget to slow down.

Lynn Gaertner-Johnston found this on her recent vacation and cites examples of this in professional settings. Here is the one I see the most often.

Although they know a proposal deadline is coming, they delay working on it, then scream to the finish. They make others fly around at the last minute, supplying data for them.

So, take a moment to “zen”. Relax. Breathe. Stop and smell the proverbial roses. Those around you will love you all the more for it!

Now, let’s hope those who have projects with me will understand if I need to take a little longer than I originally thought.

As some of you know, we all have four names. As of today, Turtleor has earned the last piece that makes her name complete.

Turtleor Testudines Houdini Luza

She’s become quite the little escape artist—and those nose dives from the kitchen window to the sink can’t be fun!—so we are seeking a larger space for her.

And for those who haven’t seen her, she’s growing quickly.

And no, we did not withhold food to get her to act like this….she is really that excited to see us.

Check out this über cool birthday celebration!

Yep. Tomorrow, July 10, 2008, is my fiftieth birthday. Last year I had a huge social media birthday. It was really cool. But don’t do it again. Instead, let me suggest what I’d like for my birthday.

1. If you know someone who can’t afford to go out to lunch with your office group, slip them a $10 anonymously. Bring them into community. (If you don’t know someone, send something to the local rescue mission.)

2. If you know someone who is fighting cancer or Alzheimer’s or panic attacks or depression, sit with them, listen to them.

3. If you know someone who locked up for something they didn’t do–or even something they did–send them a note. If you can, visit them. Talk to them. The people I know who have been on “ankle bracelets� could use someone being kind.

4. There are people who go shopping at Goodwill and Salvation Army. They can’t afford more than the $2 for a pair of slacks. So pack a bag and drop it off.

5. Sometimes people get to demand your time (bosses in particular). Throw one of those people off-balance by offering to help on the next part of the project.

6. Shake hands with someone who no one else will touch. Or at least look them in the eye and talk to them.

7. Tell God that you can’t figure everything out yourself.

8. Find a little kid–a niece, a neighbor, your own–and listen for how they talk about what they believe. Listen to their trust.

That’s it. Do one of those things for me. Tell them Jon sent you.

(It will be easier to explain an internet friend than explain that Jesus said these things, too.)