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Multipurpose code in Oracle and Oracle Forms

Author: Steve Callan,

When Oracle gave up the ghost on client-server Forms several years ago, one of the built-in's that went by the wayside was related to feeding parameters into an alert message function. If you handled errors or missing input (as you should), part of the Forms migration process involved changing the built-in from the 6i version to the 9i version. A complex application can have thousands of alert messages, and a major application (Forms, that is) change can require thousands of changes. Making a change like that was really bad form on Oracle's part.

On the other hand, as a DBA and developer using PL/SQL, how many times have you written DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('whatever')? Having to write or type DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE gets to be very tiresome, so wouldn't it be nice to have a shorter piece of code along the lines of a handy built-in? Maybe not so much as foresight, but due more to good luck or realizing the same thing had to be typed over and over, crafty Forms developers made their own built-in, in the form of a procedure used to generate an alert message. That same construct can be used in your everyday PL/SQL code. In fact, you can create a small message library to take care of many types of output messages. Let's take a look at some of these possibilities.

A Simple Alert Message Procedure

Just as the section heading says, this first method is quite simple. Suppose you have a frequent need to output the number of records updated by a procedure, function, or block of code. Let's say the number of rows updated was 46. A simple “am(46);” based on the procedure below generates the output you're looking for.

CREATE OR REPLACE procedure am (msg number) as
dbms_output.put_line('Records updated: '||msg);

An alternative version can handle strings, so a call to “ams('your message here');” significantly shortens your typing/number of keystrokes. When debugging or troubleshooting code/logic, having an easily accessible “built-in” is invaluable for outputting stubs or “where am I in the code” statements. Location reporting can confirm, for example, where you were branched in an IF-THEN-ELSE statement. If your problem code has lots of calls to other objects (procedures, functions, etc.), echoing out state information such as “calling function X” and “returned from function X” can confirm process flow. Finally, another use case involves reporting values. You can report or track how (and even where) a variable has its value changed.

Building an Alert Message Library

The degree of complexity or flexibility of your message library is, of course, entirely up to you. If your (output) messaging needs are simple, then keep the procedure simple. More precisely, keep the number of separate procedures to a minimum. Two simple ones, named ams and amn can be used to output messages based on string and numeric input.

If the text component of the output you want needs to vary based on what just took place, such as the outcome of a DML statement, then you may want to have a set of three built-ins (one for inserted, updated and deleted). Maybe you want to specify the type or reason of deletion. Let's say that one step in a batch processing job is to count the number of duplicate records. An output of “Records counted: 46” is useful, but then in that vein, “Duplicates counted: 46” would appear to be even more telling. So let's add two more built-ins.

Just like that, we're up to at least six separate procedures. Hints of manageability issues should be apparent now. We were looking for something simple, but at the same time, robust. There are at least two ways to re-simplify the desired functionality. One way is to make the alert message procedure accept two input parameters, and the other, which is what I'm leading up to, is to package the procedures.

Increase the number of input parameters

Again, if this simpler solution fulfills your needs, there is no need to go further. Create the procedure with two inputs, the first being the message text or base, the second being the outcome, location, state or value. The two input combinations of text/text and text/number can be boiled down to text/text if you (not Oracle) take care of the data type conversion. Do you **have** to do the conversion? No, but to be consistent in what you do, if you cast elsewhere, then cast here. Regardless, the following example shows the flexibility of this first approach.

CREATE OR REPLACE procedure am (msg1 varchar2, msg2 varchar2) as

After compilation, shown below is an example of its use.

SQL> set serveroutput on
SQL> exec am('Here I am',46);
Here I am46

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

Well, this output could look better (note the lack of a space between msg1 and msg2 in the output). Great, we're stuck with also having to format one or both message inputs to make the output look nice. However, if nicety is not a concern, then creating messages based on inputs like ('dupes ',46), where you take care of the spacing or formatting, is still pretty simple. Are there any pitfalls with this approach? That depends. What if all you need is msg1 and nothing for msg2? When creating the procedure, allow for msg2 to be null as needed. Obviously, this is not needed for msg1, right?

CREATE OR REPLACE procedure am
(msg1 varchar2, msg2 varchar2 default null) as

Procedure created.

SQL> exec am('Where am I?');
Where am I?

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

Increasing the robustness

What if your message is very long, or needs to fit on a page/line of spooled output? Ignoring word wrapping for the time being, a simple way to chop up the text is to substring it appropriately. This situation cries out for recursion, and of course, the best way to understand recursion is to first understand recursion (sorry, old joke). The chopping up process performs a length check, if the remaining string is longer than your cutoff value, make a call to the substring-ing step, and repeat as necessary.

What if the cut takes place in the middle of a word? Okay, remember, this is PL/SQL, not a word processing program/language. In a Forms environment, where the text is going into a text field, you generally get this formatting for free. You do get some formatting functionality via SQL*Plus, but be sure to pick the right type for your needs. Using a series of eight strings of A through J (and a space after J), and setting the linesize low (easier to see the difference between the word wrapping options), the output below is an example of what takes place.

set serveroutput on format word_wrapped
exec am(insert the 8 strings here);
abcdefghij abcdefghij
abcdefghij abcdefghij
abcdefghij abcdefghij
abcdefghij abcdefghij

set serveroutput on format wrapped
exec am(insert the 8 strings here);
abcdefghij abcdefghij abcdefgh
ij abcdefghij abcdefghij abcde
fghij abcdefghij abcdefghij

The object lesson in this example is to take advantage of what is already built in. No need to reinvent the wheel is there? If “FORMAT WORD_WRAPPED” were not available, how would you solve this? The second example shows the straightforward cut referenced by the recursion approach.

Packaging up your library

There's a good example of how to create a base library in O'Reilly's Oracle PL/SQL Developer's Workbook (by Steven Feuerstein, published in 2000), and it takes advantage of overloading. As you may recall from a previous article, overloading allows you to use the same name for a function or procedure (within a package), and Oracle knows which version you're referencing by evaluating the number and types of parameters.

A clever naming convention to use, particularly if you work with Java developers, is to name the package “prt” and the procedures “ln,” so the end result is “prt.ln('your message');.” Java's method of printing a line uses System.out.println(), so you can see why “prt.ln” seems fairly intuitive as to its purpose and function. The examples shown in the book handle text, numeric, date, and Boolean types of input.

CREATE or REPLACE package prt is
Procedure ln (msg in varchar2);
Procedure ln (msg in number);
Procedure ln (msg in date);
Procedure ln (msg in boolean);
END prt;

The procedures above can be expanded to include the other examples or cases mentioned earlier. You can still have output with boilerplate text already built in. Just add “Procedure dup(msg in number” to the package and package body, and a call such as “prt.dup(46);” can result in an output of “Duplicates counted: 46.”

In Closing

So what if Oracle Corporation were to one day change/deprecate the DBMS_OUTPUT built-in? How many places in your code base have you used this? The beauty of packaging up this functionality into your own library is that you would only need to update one body of code – that of what is in the package body. The Forms community spent thousands of hours having to update thousands, if not millions, of forms binary files because of how the alert message functionality/specification changed. For DBAs and developers, this should serve as a valuable lesson in learning how to take charge of what Oracle provides out of the box and making something better to suit your own purposes.


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Pino at Look Upstairs, MIDW 2014

Assemble co-director Pino Demaio has been keeping pretty busy. Also creative director of Assemble creative agency Local Peoples and not-for-profit NCDFREE, Pino was selected to present at the agIdeas Look Upstairs conference—a landmark forum curated by designer Ken Cato and … Continue reading

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IDEA 2013 Winner!

Wowee, last week was a biggie. We won ‘Best Workplace under 1000 sqm’ at the national Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) for our self-designed + built studio (guided by master builder Wez Old from Local Spaces). Thanks to Niche, (Inside) Magazine, our fellow practices and … Continue reading

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A studio visit from Ella Leoncio

Blogger Ella Leoncio from Pages from My Moleskine visited us recently for a tour of the studio over croissants. We want to thank Ella for taking the time to come meet us and also the praise (and gorgeous pictures) you … Continue reading

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Our studio in Gestalten’s Work Scape book

Pokey cubicle be gone! Gestalten recently released a book called ‘Work Scape’ that collates together forward-thinking examples of workspaces. Companies like Facebook, Youtube and Monocle some of the larger companies featured for creating new, more creative and collaborative environments to … Continue reading

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AP turns one!

Woo! Assemble Papers celebrate its first year in the making! We are so grateful for the opportunity to grace your screens with our slow and steady mix of words, images and ideas. Our editor Eugenia Lim reflects on what AP … Continue reading

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Meeting Jan Gehl

As you may already know, Melbourne is no stranger to the title of ‘Most Liveable City’ (third time in a row as of this year!) This is definitely no accident, as pointed out by renowned architect and urban consultant Jan Gehl, … Continue reading

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Introducing Fieldwork and Local Peoples

The Assemble HQ in Northcote, Melbourne is a bustling place. In addition to our systematic scouring of the city’s inner-north for the optimum site for Assemble’s first small footprint residential project, we’ve just launched a new architecture practice, Fieldwork. Fieldwork is … Continue reading

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Quino interviewed in AR!

Hola April! Our Joachim (Quino) Holland is interviewed alongside kindred-spirited veteran Graeme Gunn by guest editor Maitiu Ward of Architecture Review. The conversation covers the challenges and strategies in engaging with the private property development sector through quality design thinking … Continue reading

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The Social Studio shop (almost) complete

It’s been a little while since we updated you on Assemble news. That’s because we’ve been a bit too busy to write! It’s been an eventful year so far, continuing to publish our creativity and sustainability journal Assemble Papers while … Continue reading

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The Social Studio Indiegogo update

We are so chuffed to announce that The Social Studio’s crowdfunding campaign through Indiegogo was a roaring success!  $17,284 was raised over 3 weeks, just over the $16,500 needed to cover the construction and materials cost of the renovation. Assemble … Continue reading

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Founded in 1965, the California-based Dacor is a family-owned and operated US manufacturer of luxury kitchen appliances. Dedicated to quality, craftsmanship, and innovation, Dacor has integrated fashion, function, and technology to create unique kitchen products that are built to reflect the lifestyle and needs of the homeowner.

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Monday, April 04, 2005

Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter

Wouldn't you buy a tomato plant if it had this name?? Wouldn't you buy almost anything with this name??

I went to my favorite nursery the other day and picked up my summer veggies. Three tomato plants, 2 cukes, some sweet basil, and a pepper. (it's a very small garden).

While looking at the choices of tomatoes, I picked this one up. The story goes that a farmer was about to lose his farm. To get a little rapid cash, he sold the plants of his biggest and best tasting tomato. He ended up getting enough cash to pay off his mortgage.

My Dell laptop yesterday. I was planning on backing up all the files I had on it, as I knew it was dying. It sensed my fear, and it's eventual replacement and died early just to spite me. So I've lost passwords, bookmarks and lots of other stuff.

Today I bought a new laptop (a nice little HP model that set itself up so quickly!!) Now I have to start asking places to send me reminders of my passwords, and my log ins, etc.

But I've got the prospect of these 3# tomatoes in the summer to keep me happy.
 Posted by Hello

1 comment:

Scrapmaker said...

What a great name! Nothing like fresh tomatoes...we have had our early girls and big boys in for a month now. Can't wait to taste "real" tomatoes again. Scrapmaker Jen aka Lazy Gardener


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Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Stormy Screening...

Serious storm time here in the bay area. But it gives opportunities for some impressive and unusual photos. This was about an hour before sunset on Sunday night. First sign of the sun all day.

The weather, the stars or some deep mysterious factor is bringing back some weird energy. Unexpected mood swings are popping up occasionally, but I've found a good way to deal with them this week: work.

Not that I'm stitching anything or even have an "in progress" photo to share yet. Still.

Last summer I bought a SpeedBall Silk Screen kit which has been taking up space in my studio since then. I would read the pamphlet that came it with, then decide to not "risk" ruining anything and put it away. Not anymore.

When I head to Art Quilt Claremont in April, I hope to pack about 8 t-shirts all with new graphic designs on them. But I don't have any of the designs done yet. Hmm... I've got 2 months to get 8 shirts done... better get a move on.

This alone motivated me to start working on learning how to make a silk screen using the "classic" resist method. You draw the design onto the screen material, paint the part you wish to screen with drawing fluid, cover the screen with screen filler. Where the drawing fluid is, they claim the screen filler will not stick. So when it's all dry, you can rinse away the drawing fluid and screen filler creating a printable screen.

Yeah. We'll see.

Anyway, I could have... should have... chosen a simple design to start with. Instead I took a photo of "my tree" on the hill behind my house. I resized it, turned it into a black/white litho special effect photo and printed it out. Lots of fine line and detail. This is the original photo:

Anyway, I've spent 2 days just tracing the image onto the screen. Today I will paint in the drawing fluid, hopefully not getting things too mixed up. If it took 2 days to trace, it might take as long to paint. If I seriously mismark (mistaking negative space for positive space) and need to start over I am screwed.

What I'm liking about this process: it's slow, so it's meditative. It's progressive so even when there isn't a lot happening, it's still easy to see progress.

Fingers crossed I'll have a finished something to show in a couple days. Then a tutorial.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions where, yeah, I'm late with my Tale of the Scale.
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Saturday, February 24, 2007

Mighty, Wet Dragon...

Because it's time for Chinese New Year's...

First, I was remembering how I used to celebrate CNY. There were restaurants around us that would offer whole banquets; the more folks, the more dishes (up to about 12 people in a group). So we would gather a great group (maybe 15 or so...), make reservations for a weekend night and go have a huge party. They might serve us up to 20 different dishes!! We'd eat for hours, laugh and share and come away richer in mind, spirit and friendship.

I don't have folks to plan this kind of celebration anymore. Heck, we don't even have enough common friends to do a "kung-fu movie and Chinese Take Out" night. Sigh. Oh yeah, that movie and take out thing is a great party too.

While we're talking CNT, I thought I'd share a little about me in the Chinese zodiac. This is the year of the Pig/Boar. Little known fact: my maiden name (no, I'm not telling) is the German word for Boar.

But I am not a boar.

I am Dragon. Let me warm you (scare you?) with my fiery breath!!

According to the Chinese Zodiac Page, things are interesting for the dragon. I won't share the whole thing with you.. but there are some key points:

The Dragon is the mightiest of the signs. Dragons symbolize such character traits as dominance and ambition. Dragons prefer to live by their own rules and if left on their own, are usually successful.

While Dragons frequently help others, rarely will they ask for help. (Oh... this explains that!!!) Others are attracted to Dragons, especially their colorful personalities, but deep down, Dragons prefer to be alone. (First, I don't have a colorful personality... but, yep I prefer spend large chunks of time alone!)

Considering their hard-working nature, Dragons are healthy overall. They do get stressed and suffer from periodic tension/headaches, likely because they take so many risks. Dragons could benefit from incorporating mild activity into their lives. Yoga or walking would be good as these activities can work both their minds and their bodies.

Ok.. since when do I take risks?? This isn't me. Or if it is, I don't recognize the behaviour as risk-taking. OOHHH... maybe that's the point? Anyway, I enrolled in the church of walking as moving meditation decades ago.. so I guess this was a good decision.

Now each Sign also has an Element.. and mine (not surprisingly) is WATER! As my "regular" zodiac sign is also a water element (Cancer)! Guess when it comes to the stars, I'm all wet!

Water Dragons
Water calms the Dragon’s fire. Water Dragons are able to see things from other points of view. They don’t have the need to always be right. Their decisions, if well-researched, are usually better since they allow other’s to become involved.

Compatibility Dragons are compatible with the Monkey or Rat and incompatible with the Ox and Goat.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions

Friday, February 23, 2007

Spending Time with James Lipton

When I watch interview tv shows (Dave Letterman, Oprah, NOT Maury etc.) I always imagine that I have done some stunning thing that would result in my being there. And being brilliant, witty and oh-so charming! (hey it my fantasy... I can't be witty, why am I there??) I imagine going out for drinks with the other guests after the show. And maybe dancing. Who knows??

Anyway I'm assuming that everyone spends part of their life in a similar little fantasy, and so I was THRILLED when Swampgrrl posted the latest Getting To Know You questions on CAC. She decided to the use Bernard Pivot's questions with which James Lipton closes every interview portion of Inside The Actor's Studio! Know that in my head, James is asking these to me after flipping through about 4" of index cards with completely forgotten details of my life. (It's Forrest Elementary.. not Forest, James!!) I get to answer them, and I don't even have to emote!!

1. What is your favorite word? Giggle. It's such a bubbly, great word!

2. What is your least favorite word? Whatever! Ya know when people respond to you with that with word. It's so rude and dismissive. It hurts my heart whenever I hear it.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Creatively: line, texture and color. Spiritually: Pure emotions in other. Emotionally? I'm not sure.

4. What turns you off? Nasty words or inconsiderate actions.

5. What is your favorite curse word? Shit. Thanks, Mom.. you taught me well.

6. What sound or noise do you love? A soft breeze blowing.

7. What sound or noise do you hate? Crashing noises.. cars, weights, whatever.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Editor.

9. What profession would you not like to do? Waitress. Or Honey-dipper.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

That'll do, Deb. That'll do. (name the pop-culture reference).

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions

Taxing Issues...

I spent half of Thursday finishing up our taxes. All I can say it Thank Goodness for Turbo Tax, as it would have been a 3 day job easily with pencil and calculator. Add this, calculate that, find Box 4C and put 1/2 that figure onto line 942 and into worksheet 4760 on line 3. Whoever wrote the instructions for tax forms (or the tax laws) should not call themselves a writer!

We're getting small refunds, so the forms will be mailed soon. I need to check on one thing that doesn't seem right and make the deposit into my IRA account. Then, mail these monkeys in. Yippee!!

But there wasn't enough extra time to do all the work on my Eclipse-Oh! Oh, it's coming along fabulously... but it's not done yet. There is a lot of stitching yet to go. And still some layering of fused elements. Are you intrigued??

Today I have (another) appointment with the foot surgeon; he'll check to see how much I can bend my toe (not enough) and how the scar is healing (better). Hopefully this is the last visit until my other foot hurts too much to bear. After that I hit the gym, then home to work! One thing I'm doing is writing some stuff for a friend. I hope to have it finished up by this afternoon. I mentally work on the writing while I'm stitching, then write while I contemplate the next step in the stitching.

Sure makes me take my "writer/artist" line seriously! And I guess I will finally get my ArtShare piece mailed on Monday!! Yes, I'll take photos first and identify the recipients all.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

A dark ceiling of clouds can feel oppressive, but the that slice of bright hope near the horizon offers a moment of hope.

I am busy working. Wednesday a clear idea developed for the next piece in the group started at the Virtual Retreat: Eclipse-Oh. It will be a sister piece to Calypso. The work on that has begun and hopefully should be done on Thursday.

I also went out today to talk to the coordinator at the local Art Center about volunteering there. We talked a bit about the skills I have and those I need to polish; then she looked at where their needs are and suggested that I work with their exhibit coordinator. It sounds like one of the first tasks will be to perfect their press contact data-base, and then work with her on Public Relations. Plus when the current exhibits needs to be rotated (late March), get in there and physically work with the exhibits.

I've told them to plan on one afternoon a week for a minimum of 3 months. They are pleased, and so am I. This is another step in my plans for this year. It gets me out of the house and among real human beings!! (even if I'm working on computers part of the time).

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions

Monday, February 19, 2007

Weekend Wrap up

Had Good Mail this weekend:

First I received my brochure from Sonji. Very nice addition to my collection. Wednesday I will be visiting The Art Of Living Black Exhibit at The RAC, and hope to pick up something reciprical for her.

And see those two skeins of Wildefoot sock yarn?? The color is called "rock and roll"... perfect for me. Except I can't wear wool socks. So I will be making these for someone else.

Anyway, back in November I threw my name into the pot at I'm A Knitter and I Vote. The simple requirement: let them know you voted and three lucky winners would win yarn. There was RED yarn, BLUE yarn and "THE GLORIOUSLY DIVERSE MIDDLE" yarn (yes, that would be the Wildefoot). AND I WON!!

Thank you for those who commented on blogging and making connections. I'm reworking that post for a larger article at BlogHer.. and will be sure to include some of the ideas from your comments into the piece.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions for this week's Tale of the Scale.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Art Postponed...
Hat tip to ArtsyMama for pointing this out to us. I used the Catalog Card Generator to make up this card.

Isn't if fun in a kind of geeky old-school library way?? Unfortunately, overnight I've changed my plans for today so this card will have to be filed for another time.

Blogging And Connections...
Have you read Melanie McMullen's blog? I love when she posts her handwritten morning pages as her blog entry. Go read it now. I'll warm myself another cuppa coffee while you're gone. SO COME BACK.

When I've done TAW in the past, the morning pages were the worst part of the experience. I'd get up, sit at my desk, and start writing. By the time I was half-way down the first page my eyes were closed into the thinnest of slits, my head was almost on the surface of the desk, and my mind was fighting the process all the way.

It was sheer torture!!

Obviously I rarely connected in a meaningful way with the page.

Anyway, to the point. In her latest entry, Melanie is pondering ways to bring the connection of blogging to more women. Gee, a topic that I can get behind!!

When I first started my blog I did not know anything about blogging. I didn't know other blogs, read other blogs or feel part of a community. What I wrote ended up being only for me and I soon stopped using it. Then in January of 2005 Diane began the Artful Quilt Blogring. I was the eighth blog approved. How I still covet that single digit position. (rational? No. Merely timing. But with 229 blogs present now.. that single digit is important to me ). I am a nominally good participant.. regularly checking that the blogs just before and after mine are still there. They are... though Cheryl hasn't written anything in a few months. Does anyone what's up with her?? I am not a good participant... I rarely read through the entire list anymore or comment on the newer members blogs.

Anyway, joining a group began to build community. For a long time I would check each and every new blog entry in the ring. I'd comment on a lot of posts. I even made a few friends through the experience (Hi Gerry and the oft AWOL Gabrielle!!)

As I had spare time I would peruse other people's blogrolls and see who they were reading. I expanded my own sphere to include the likes of Grace Davis, Laurie at Crazy Aunt Purl, and Pam at Beancounters. I've commented on their blogs and come to meet them in real life.

I crashed at Grace's house during the first WoolfCamp and had Pam as a roomie at BlogHer. I drove to Sacramento to have lunch with Gabrielle, and to Santa Rosa for some fiber fun with Gerrie. Someday, I want to get winey drunk and giggly with Laurie!! I need an excuse to head down to SoCal to do so. (yeah, Del.. I hear ya!)

I've read people's lives online and then come to know them in real life.

All women.

I am a woman who has never had many female friends. Maybe one or three. I've spent hours listening to their break ups and work problems. Yet when I've had my own problems, they were usually busy with other things. Friends have not been there for me when I needed them most. I learned not to expect much friends.

After I moved to California, I managed to get invited to join the most significant group of women I've known in my life: My Pickle Pals. What a group of friends like this could have meant to me in my early years, but.. looking back isn't a game I'm playing today.

Since I've begun blogging, others have come to know me and I them. And I've found myself thinking that I have an ever-expanding passel of female friends. If I were to win the lottery, one thing I'd do is travel the world to meet you all in person.

Now after this sloppy-kiss salute to ya'll, comes the real question: I know that the blogging community is open, rich and supportive. What specific steps can we suggest to Melanie to help in her quest to get more women to understand the value of blogging? Often it's the old saw: Try It!! You'll Like It!! But what would you recommend to convince someone??

Let's have some conversation here!

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions where I discuss weird energy invasions.
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Nearly Native

Nine years ago today, I woke up at my friend's house in Cleveland Hts., ate a bowl of slow-cooked oatmeal, loaded my two dogs into their crates and had one of said friends (Jerry) drive us all to the airport. Jerry's wife, Charlie, cried deep and sad tears when we said goodbye. She always hated change.

At Hopkins, Jerry waited with me as we checked my baggage including the crates, and stood at a window making sure the crates made it into the belly of my airplane. Then I hugged him goodbye, boarded the plane and moved to California.

Nine years. I think when I reach the 10 year mark, I officially become a native.

I arrived at SFO about noon; it was cloudy and threatening to rain not unusual for winter time here. Especially since it was a significant El Nino year. The spouser met the plane (yeah.. remember before 9/11 when people could come to the gate? Truthfully, I like it a whole lot better now that they can't), laughed at my "stress-insanity" permanent (we won't go there!!) and we caught up while waiting for the luggage. Both dogs were happy to be back on the ground and thrilled to see the spouser after a 6 week separation.

We drove in the drizzle across the bridge and up the freeway to our new home. We closed on it Friday (my part was long-distance), the spouser moved his suitcases in on Saturday. It was empty except for 2 sleeping bags and so terribly white inside. Off white walls, off white carpeting. They would not be able to get our phone or cable installed for almost a week because the wet weather precluded working the outside wiring.

Monday the movers appeared with all with belongs.. and Sears showed up with our refrigerator. Things would eventually fall into a new normal. I'd find the grocery store, the freeway, and eventually make friends.

Happy anniversary to my new life!!

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions
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Sunday, February 11, 2007

The Redbrown Hen

Red Rooster. A "sibling" to last week's iguana.

While reading through my blogroll, I found this visual "playground" at the Tampa Government website: Interactive Art!! I had a lot of fun "painting" the image they provided.. and it gave me ideas for some work. It was listed as a resource in a post from El Cielo Studio.. where she was discussing a workshop that will examine text in art.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions for this week's Tale of the Scale.
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Thursday, February 08, 2007

Second One Done...

I've gotten the second piece from the Virtual Retreat finished.
The colors are bit darker than in real life.

I've learned something in the past week. Yeah, I wake up a little fuzzy brained, not completely clear-thinking. Yet when I go the gym and sweat hard on the elliptical, I am usually getting about 1 hour of clearer thinking for every 10 minutes I sweat. And then the weight training after that gives me energy that can last hours longer.

There is something good in that physical work that lets me get the other stuff done. How cool is that??

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Great Monday...on Wednesday...

I only belong to two fiber groups at the moment: SAQA and Valley Stitchers Art Guild. Valley Stitchers in a regional guild that promotes any and all kinds of fiber arts; we have knitters, weavers, paper artists, polymer clay artists, wearables and quilters. You name it... it's probably there. The guild has no show, great programs, and a reasonable annual dues: $25. At that it has about 175 members with over 100 attending each month's Monday morning meeting. (yeah, it's an older demographic. I think I'm one of the young ones.)

One way that the guild supports itself is to have "Little Shop" at each meeting. If there is something in your workroom that you no longer desire, members can donate it to the guild which then sells it very cheaply. They usually bring in about $100/month from the shop. Fabric is $1/yard.. books are $1 each...sewing baskets (filled with supplies) will be $2-3. You get the picture.

Very cheaply.

The photo above shows my finds for this month: A surface design book published in 1984 that reads like a textbook on the subject. I am loving this book. It cost me $1.

And that big bag of threads and yarns?? A quarter.

Our speaker this month was a designer/teacher from southern California: Nick Coman. He gave he a very nice talk about color theory; later in the day he held a workshop on tread painting (nope, I didn't attend).

Next month, we have Sandi Cummings talking about "thinking outside the block"... and in April Miriam Nathan-Roberts will give a talk on her evolution from a traditional quilter to an art quilter.
Thanks for the comments wanting more info on my camera.

It's a Canon Power S2. This camera has Image Stabilization (one of the main reasons I bought it), so slight photographer's/camera shake doesn't lead to a blurry photo. It also has a 12x optical zoom plus a 4x digital zoom (which ends up being a 48x total zoom) so you can get quite cozy up to things. Like the neighbor's iguana, or their roosters strutting all over the place). The nice LCD screen flips out, turns at angles, or sits in the camera. But you can close it up (which protects it from damage) and look through the viewfinder if you wish.

I used the viewfinder to take this picture the day I got the camera.I twisted the viewfinder around and used it to make sure everything was lined up right. No standing in front of a mirror required. (in fact, I was outside). Cool for me.

The newer version of this camera is the S3. Since that came out, the price has dropped a nicely on the S2, making it a more attractive deal for me!!
Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Time, Time, Time...

My neighbor's iguana sunning itself on the deck. Can I just say I LOVE the telephoto on my new camera!! That iguana was about 50' away from me.

Yesterday Judy asked about how we plan our days... when do we do our fiber work and when do we do our other life maintenance stuff? GREAT question!!

Lately I've been breaking my day up into three or four parts that might vary in actual length a little:

Early to mid-morning: This is when I email, read online articles and write. My normal goal is to work until I have two good things published (I write for 3 blogs plus BlogHer and I've invited to write for a fourth website). In past months, I could do that fairly easily; at the moment it's harder (I'll allow it's the anesthesia), and I often stop without reaching my goal. Time limit for this part of my day is roughly 10 am.

Mid-morning: This is a physical break in activity. This is when I walk the dogs, go to the gym, and run any errands that need to be run that day. It's a variable 2-4 time frame. I've discovered that I need the physical movement in order to focus enough to be creative next. Gym time runs from a fast 45 minutes of elliptical and stretching to 2 hours (elliptical, session with trainer, stretching, shower). Walking the dogs is another 20-45 minutes. Yes, I adapt the dog walk to the gym work so that the total time spent is about 1.5-2 hours.

This is also when I grocery shop, run other errands and do some housework.

Afternoon: This is when I'm physically creative. I've spent the hours just prior to this doing the mental planning, when I walk into the studio this is when I work. (plan for today: clean up the messes so I can find actually find things.) This time can then progress into the evening.

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Asking For A Little Help...

Somewhere around Wednesday of last week someone posted a quote on their blog. It was two lines about having a child and having a grandchild.

I wanted to remember it, but didn't tag it at that moment. I've just spent 2 hours searching my blogroll to find this and I can't.

If anyone knows what I'm talking about, would you please remind me where I read it??

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Well Crazy Aunt Purl is back in the groove! Horoscopes two months in a row!! Well, maybe groove is too strong a word, after reading this. I swear she promised me an extra-super special something for this month!!

CANCER (June 22 - July 22)
Oh crap. You got me again as your ASTROLOGER! Didn't you learn, last year, when I wanted us to start a gang called the Cancer Crips? All I can say about February is resist the temptation to ostrich! You may well want to bury your head in the sand, but truth is you're smarter and more pragmatic than anyone on Team Problem, so do not hide from your primary challenge this month. (It is hard for me to take my own advice, but I try.) The good news is that although we are prone to forget the past only when it suits us, truth is we are having a MUCH better year so far than we were having this time last year. If you need proof, just browse backward through your old diaries, old receipts, old memories. And for a Cancer, that is progress! Also, on an unrelated note: Perfect flawed Cancer, forget about this Valentine’s Day horsesh*t. Just enjoy the discount pink items on the 15th, remember that love does not get one designated day, and rise above any expectations of forced romance. Hallmark holidays are not for crabs. We prefer our maudlin romanticism on unexpected Tuesdays in June or October or March, thankyouverymuch.I
I have set a personal goal for this year: to get out of the house, make more friends, and find something worthwhile to do that makes me happy. Probably starting with volunteering, as I haven't worked is years, don't believe that I have anything to offer anyone, and cannot conceive of anyone paying me to do something more complicated than being a "greeter" in a big box store. (That job? Just shoot me, please).

So this acting like an Ostrich thing?? I completely understand that. And while it is true that I'm fabulous at problem solving.. and can deal better than most in those situations.. I wonder where to apply this.

My gut instinct is to look at a museum or art center somewhere. See how specific I am?? How focused and clear visioned?? I'm in trouble.

On other fronts:

I've given up on the second piece I started last week. I'm having no luck in "shaking it up" a bit at the moment. So it's placed away for another day. Maybe I will make some fabric beady-things for it or maybe I'll pack it for my class with Rayna in April.

I'm finishing up the first piece (tentatively called "Jig"), and I'm thinking about the next one. These artshare pieces will be mailed SOON. And Arlee, I STILL need your address!

This week I picked up the 2nd book in the "Inheritance" trilogy: Eldest. When I reserved it from the library I was the 23rd person on the waiting list (but we have a large county.. and only one copy available!!) Talk about pressure to finish it and pass it on to whoever is next!! I enjoyed the first book but have decided to Netflix the movie. I understand it's pretty bad.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Piece Three... First One Done

Ok.. so I ended up working out of sequence.. but this piece yelled at me yesterday that it wanted done. I actually worked on this until after 10 pm. last night... missing the first part of the Top Chef finale.. and not carrying at all.

When I got home from a very short workout at the gym, I continued the base stitching:
Calypso, halfway

Including putting whorls (or moon craters) on the circles:
Calypso, stitching close-up

In the evening, I added the orange triangles and stitched them in place with orange rayon thread and feather stitch:
Calypso, done

At which time the piece told it's name was Calypso! And that I need to make a sister piece to this which will be called "Eclipso"!!

Check out my other blog: Deb's Daily Distractions


text:
Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Dark Side

I wonder how anyone can possibly stay focused. There are so many dimensions to everything, and I wonder how people can fixate on one thing never admitting to themselves that there is more than what meets the eye. I liken it to when people thought the world was flat. How could these people never wonder what was on the bottom of the flat earth? Did they think there was no other side?

Being contrary by nature I find great joy in exposing the dark side, or the light side of things that often go unobserved. It's always there and you can't really understand what you are looking at or interacting with until you view it in its entirety. So sunshine and lollipops and also be seen as a major cause of skin cancer and a possible cause of diabetes and dental decay. Yin and Yang are fixed together through eternity. You can't have one without the other.

Blogger Donna said...

This sort of goes along with my wondering how people can ever be so sure of any theory without even admitting to the possibility that they could be wrong. I am never 100% sure of anything, unless it's something like night is dark and day is light. And I'm even willing to be admit that I could be wrong about that!

5:33 AM
Blogger darev2005 said...

It always boggles me when I run into the people with mental blinders on. I cannot comprehend how they can be content to see only down that narrow lane and nothing along the sides. My mind naturally wanders all over the place without my supervision. Not always with the best results, but it never gets boring in there. "Why shouldn't we keep the cows upstairs? They're bloody well in the way down here, so why not?" Seemed like a good idea at the time.. What is it like under there? What happens if we poke it with a stick? Oops. Okay. We shouldn't do that. Somebody fetch the hose!

6:11 AM
Anonymous Uncle Walt said...

Now I'm wondering: What DID they think was on the other side?

7:52 AM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Some thought that Earth floated on a vast ocean and some floating in the air like the other discs in the sky.

12:10 PM

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The Bologna observatory was established in 1712.  Its peculiar, roughly 45 degree rotated observation tower makes it easily recognized.

Bologna Observatory obverse

The set up of the Specola of Bologna thanks to Luigi Ferdinando Marsili and his family, who donated his scientific equipment to the city. The Bolognese Senate recognized the opportunity and promised that "a place would be found them that was big enough and suitable enough to house them; a chemical laboratory would be set up; there would be enough rooms for a sizeable library; an observatory tower would be put up; stipends put aside for the professors; funds provided for the purchase of books, and machines for physics experiments"1.

The consent and financial support of Pope Clement XI was also necessary to realise the Bologna observatory hátlapplan, and finally, on January 11, 1712, the notarial act was drawn up for the donation to launch the Istituto delle Scienze di Bologna. The place that was chosen to house it was the family mansion of the Poggi family which was at that time far enough out of the centre of the city to make its price reasonable and far enough away from the hills to get a good view of the sky for astronomic observations. The Academy and the Institute of Science were inaugurated on 13 March 1714 and soon became famous throughout Europe.

On the obverse the peculiar building of the Specola is visible. The 100 lire commemorative coin was made of silver and was issued in 1988. Legend around is: "ALMA MATER STUDIORUM SÆCULARIA NONA".

On the reverse a day-dreaming faced student of the university is visible. The name of the medalist can be seen under the desktop: "E. L. Frapiccini". Legend around is: "REPUBLICA ITALIANA".


text:
New Planet Forum

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New Planet Forum
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Posted By: Slayer of Cliffracers on: 09/21/2008 08:14:21 ET
Subject: RE: Sedna as the Demon projection, societies enemy figure

Message Detail:
Actually no. Sedna represents not Freedom, not the Rebel but the one who is able to see through the Lies of the Rebels and the Authorities alike. Sedna people (I am one) tend to be uneasy both with the Authorities and with the Rebels.

Sedna conjuncted the Sun when the Iraq abuse photos were released. Here we see the revealing of the dark side, the side that is part of society but which society rejects. Torture is actually a logical consequence of the actions to 'bring liberty and freedom to Iraq Aries style', but regardless we somehow expected this not to happen, enough that it was shocking when it is revealed.

To use an apt analogy, Sedna is Eris's toilet. If Sedna and Eris are in the sign, even more so if conjunct, Eris is forced to eat it's own shit basically.

Hitler's Sedna is in the 6th House cusp. At the time of WW2, Eris was transitting this point. However Hitler isn't important, since there are millions of people here, not just one, all with the same conjunction in their own chart. And Eris and Sedna are actually in the same sign remember also in actuality.

Hitler is not an isolated individual, no he is a product of the Collective's ideas, the logical result of the ideas that are current (Eris).

Now Aries is the sign that is all about Independance, Diversity, following your own Star. However what is the Sedna side of Aries? That is what is the dark side of Aries, that is present but against the entire ethos of Aries, thus must be purged?

It is conflict and violence, the clash between disparate individuals and groups. This threatens everything that Aries stands for, but also is undoubtably present.

So if Eris is conjunct Sedna in a chart, what this means is that Aries is unable to eliminate it's own waste, but also rejecting the opposite principle, the Libra principle of forging unity between groups.

The curious thing about Fascism, is that it doesn't seek to unify groups, but yet it seeks the domination of groups. That is to say, factional boundries between groups are reinforced, while the Fascistic group elevates itself and seeks to dominate or destroy all other groups utterly, without assimilating them. Doesn't that sound like the Toilet Analogy, Aries Eris forced to eat it's own Shit.

If Eris/Sedna had been in Libra, Hitler would have devoted his time to eliminating the cultural and religious identity of Judaism, to turn the Jews into proper 'Aryan Germans', indistinguishable from everyone else. But Hitler didn't want to do that, he was quite happy to mantain and indeed maximise the differences between races, even as he sought to expand Germany, he attempted to do so without turning non-Germans into Germans.

There is also of the Piscean attempt to unify Germans left, that is because remember Eris is still in Pisces for most people, however without the Sedna/Eris conjunction, there would only be Nationalism (Pisces) not Fascism. So Fascism is actually also partly about Pisces Eris and the attempt to mantain the trends of Pisces, against the present Eris Aries trends. This would explain the desperate nature of the drive to Nationalistic Unification. The human race sensed the 'wrongness' of Eris in Aries.

What must also be understood is that Eris/Sedna would logically be a brutally Intolerant combination, wherever it was located. Because it is a society that defines itself by rejection of people. As well as a society that is unable to reject it's own poisonous dark side, recall the Iraq abuse Astrology.

However, when Sedna went into Tauros and out of conjunction with people's Sedna, then Aries is able to 'expel' Fascism properly and express its more healthy qualities. However if you look closely, Fascism and particularly Hitler have become powerful symbols, they have a deep social power at enforcing conformity and crushing particular trends of thought. This power is expressed by the idea of 'Godwin's Law'.

This the basis of my understanding, Fascism is properly speaking actually a negative, it represents all that which Aries rejects, that is not Libra in origin, merged to the death-throes of Pisces Eris.

Out society actually rejects and fears both conflict and assimilation. The concept of a conflict for domination between races and groups is taboo, but so is the concept that they should all assimilate together into one unified culture also taboo. So we have the rejection both of Sedna accoring to Eris and also of Libra.

However Multi-Culturalism is opposed by Fanaticism and Extremism (Tauros). We are supposed to unite together to oppose Fanaticism and Extremism within Multi-Cultural Society. The Fanatic, the Extremist is the Sedna scapegoat figure, which gives the disrupter of harmony in disunity, a Tauros edge.

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Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Nonreligious "reasons" to be anti-choice

As the Nones rise, anti-choicers are changing strategies to try to include them. Besides Secular Anti-choice, even places like Lie Action News are getting on the bandwagon:

1. Science
To debate “personhood” is a spiritual, moral, or philosophical argument. There’s no data to define personhood. If the preborn can be denied personhood, what’s to stop personhood from being removed from other groups of people?"

This is why I NEVER use personhood arguments. Personhood is vaguely defined, highly philosophical, highly technical on brain development, and most everyone is not qualified to discuss it.

 "While “personhood” is an abstract argument, “life” is not. Undisputed science, from a host of sources, states that life begins at conception."

This point goes on to tell a bunch of facts about fetal development.  The thing is that just because something is alive doesn't mean much in the way of whether it's ok to kill it or not save it.

2. Pro-life Laws Improve Women’s Health

"If the fear is that abortion’s illegality would make the procedure more dangerous, then why object to laws that hold abortion clinics to higher standards and consequently protect women’s health?"
Because TRAP laws don't have anything to do with health.

"A Stanford University study shows lower rates of abortion complications for American states with those same types of laws."
I went and perused the study, and the association is small and doesn't take into account TRAVEL for abortions, especially 2nd-trimester ones, so it's worthless.

 3. The Constitution
Scott v. Sanford, Plessy v. Ferguson, Pace v. Alabama. The Supreme Court has gotten it wrong before.
“Abortion” is not mentioned in the Constitution. The procedure was legalized by determining that it fell under an implied right to privacy found within the Fourteenth Amendment. “Privacy” is not mentioned in the Constitution either.
The constitution can be wrong and women's equality should be in our laws, so I don't really care what you want to say about Roe.

 4. Slippery Slope
"If personhood can be removed from preborn lives, what’s to stop us from removing it from others?  We live in a world where “post-birth abortion”, the murder of newborns, is gaining popularity."
The slippery slope is a named fallacy...It's not always fallacious, but I would reconsider my titles here. This is one of the reasons why bodily autonomy is a better argument. It's very clear-cut about how we don't have to allow others to use our bodies. That doesn't lead to willy-nilly killing people.

So the reasons here are flimsy and have little to do with making abortion illegal.

1 comment:


text:
. Athena's Books: Ready to Graduate!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Ready to Graduate!

Folks, I am graduating! My thesis defense for a YA novel is this Friday...yikes! (On same day as my daughter's dance recital practice from 5 PM to who know when...I don't know what's worse...the defense or the practice...)

If you are wondering why I haven't poste anything since April 4, now you know why. And mixed into all this business of finishing (well, at least 91%)my novel manuscript, I've had projects for other classe, grading for the classes I teach, bunch of kid stuff like dance class, jazz band, play performances, baseball, basketball, afterschool stuff, and my son's 13th birthday...but I'm beginning to see the light.

May 14! Here I come!

Which sounds like one of my poem chapters in my novel, AWAKE...

Here it is...

August 22, Gypsy Make-over
This is it! Senior year!
Year I won’t be afraid. Ten months, English IV, bit of physics,
lots of art, gov./eco. Then gone.

Texas State U, here I come! (if I get all my paperwork in gear…)

What do I want to leave behind? I’m not talking legacy.
Just more than yearbook Alex--gray, plain.

Some random guy asking hey you know that girl? Sits in corner
drawing on her jeans, paper?

Yeah, Alex. I think. Into her or what?

Nah, just every time I look up, she’s like looking at me.
Never smiles. Just keeps drawing. Weird.

Yeah, Alex. That’s her. Her friend Lena weird too, but hot.

Yeah, Alex. That’s me--let my hair drape over face, a blanket,
brown, straight, dull. Brown eyes like everybody else.
Prominent nose (to say it nicely)? Not a ten at all.

The unkissed girl. The unaware girl. The under-radar girl.
My whole high school experience, pretzel bag in vending machine.

This is me.
carnival girl,
gypsy ribbon
hair whipping
under moon air,
spinning life
out of fire,
from core
of earth.
through my limbs,
gypsy boy
to me.

But more. Drawing colors out of me, embracing
my mother in scarves, reconstructing space, time, energy, chaos
theory of the heart, with butterflies in my hair.
Daddy a faded photograph with all bad gone good.

All good
in memory
files labeled
“Once I Knew” or “Better Times.”

Ten more months till I toss my graduation cap up high.
Guess I need to start with gypsy boy and one good kiss.

Majanka said...

Congratulations on graduating!

I'm a new GFC follower btw ;)
Kind regards,
I Heart Reading

minnie said...

thanks so much Majanka! working on my first query letter!


text:
Wednesday, 13 October 2010

Communicating the Church's Truth on Sexuality in a Hostile Culture

This is one of those really excellent talks that deserves to be as widely circulated as possible, so I'm doing my bit by quoting a little (below), and encouraging you all to take a little time to read the whole thing.

"Where can we begin to reverse the cultural tsunami of distortion of sexuality?
We must begin with CARITAS IN VERITATE. It is the answer of Christ, of His Mother and of the Church.
It is not love to allow your children to rampantly misbehave without correcting them.  Speaking as a father of seven children I will admit that it is often easier to turn the other way and purposely fail to notice misbehaviour.  But out of love parents must correct and discipline their children.
So too the Church, especially Her shepherds – the fathers of souls - must feed the flock, must teach the truths however difficult and politically incorrect.  That is true love."
 - John-Henry Westen, co-founder and editor of Lifesite news,  in a powerful and challenging talk to the Fifth Annual World Prayer Congress for Life in Rome.

Read the full text of J-H Westen's  talk here

Thanks to Lifesite news and Love Undefiled

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text:
At Home With The Hinsons

Monday, November 29, 2010

My Winter Uniform

Ok, so it's Monday.
You've survived a long weekend
and you're ready to tackle your to-do list.
But, first you need a laugh.
And being the thoughtful person I am,
I'm here to make that laugh be totally out loud.
I reveal to you what is sure to be my winter uniform...
well the one I wear at home of course.

Here are the top reasons this outfit
will be a season staple:
1. Nike Tempo shorts are the most comfortable shorts evah.
2. I get hot & sweaty when I clean house,
so I must stick with active wear.
3. I'm secretly still mourning the loss of summer.
4. Since it's cold outside, I need the boots to stay warm.
5. And probably the top reason this get up's a keeper...
Andy almost fell off the couch laughing
when I walked into the room this morning.

So there ya go,
your morning dose of silly fun.
Now, go tackle those bathrooms.
It's Monday ya know!
God's blessings,
Sarah :)

Thanksgiving 2010

Good morning all!
I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving.
We enjoyed a low key holiday.

Tuesday night we helped Nanny make dressing.
Hello Y-U-M-M-Y!

Andy had to work on Thanksgiving,
so we gobbled up two days of feasting!
Wednesday we had dinner with Franny & Frandaddy.

Then, Thursday we headed over to eat with
Nanny & Op, Nana & PaBill.

We devoured serving dishes loaded
full of delicious food.
Of course I made my infamous Green Bean Casserole.
Then while the cousins played outside
and the adults chatted,
Joseph & Alan snuck in a little game time.

We shared a Hinson only dinner
Thursday night.
Thanksgiving dinner leftovers
served Mama style, no less.
It was nice to avoid rushing from table to table.
We were able to savor our time with family,
thanking God for a year's worth of blessings.

I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with
the stuff memories are made of!
God's blessings, Sarah :)

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Laundry Room Update

Hi all!
I'm here to share my last project.
It's been completed for several weeks now.
You know, long enough to be messy again. ;)

Here's the only before shot I could find.
This was at our house blessing
when we moved in three years ago.
That's my mom & niece enjoying a smackerel.

Now here's my confession.
I chose to paint the kitchen & laundry room orange.
I really wanted my Auburn dishes to feel at home.
And they did.
For awhile I loved it.
But then??
Well, I got over it.
I decided my tiny laundry room
with zero natural light,
needed a mini-makeover.

For my paint color I picked
a shade lighter than my bathroom.
Good thing it's almost time to prep for Emily Margaret.
I'm gonna need to inject a some pink in this home.

After several days,
numerous paint colors
and what seemed like a bajillion coats of paint,
it all came together.
Mama was pleased!

Please look past the poor lighting
as you admire my impromptu hanging rod.
This adjustable rod makes the perfect
home for my extra hangers.

Check us out now b-a-b-y.
No more bags of cat/dog food to climb over.
Since we mix it all together I don't have to worry
when I pick up a different brand food on sale.

One day (soon I hope) this little nook
will house a set of Daddy made lockers.
But until then my dresser will
help us stash away clutter.

Last but not least I pulled this
bad boy from the garage.
It originally served us in our closet
at the old house.
It's new mission?
To house my sewing machine,
embroidery supplies and ever growing stash of fabric.

Sooooo, there ya go.
The last project I did before I placed myself on probation.
No more painting & beautifying until
everything is clean and organized.

It still needs some froofing,
but I'll get there.
Thanks for stopping by!
God's blessings, Sarah :D

Monday, November 22, 2010

James Hinson, CRNP Jr.

Good morning all!
Here's a quick peek at last week's fun.
East Elementary School does spirit week
before the Auburn/Alabama game.
They raise money for charity
and the kids get to dress up.
Now you know James is all about dressing up.
So what was a boy to do when
it's community service worker day??
Dress up as Daddy of course!
Here's James as a Nurse Practitioner. :)

He was absolutely adorable.
I'd let him take care of me anytime!
God's blessings on your day, Sarah :)

Saturday, November 20, 2010

In Memory of Buddy Cat

This week the Hinsons
lost a dear loved one.
His name was Buddy,
but we called him Buddy Cat.
I'm not sure when we started calling him that,
maybe it was once James started talking??
Anyway, this is his story.

When Joseph was 2 years old
we tried to teach him to sleep in his own bed.
Since he'd been wanting a dog,
I thought we'd bribe him with a pet.
I explained that we couldn't have a dog
(we lived in a little duplex apartment at the time),
but I thought a cat would be pur-fect.
We'd had a rabbit, Doby.
That ended with me carrying the rabbit,
cage and all his related accessories back to the pet store
and telling the owner to do whatever he wanted to with it!

So, a cat it was.
After a couple of nights in his own bed
it was time to seal the deal.
I headed to the animal shelter,
only to find that they were fresh out of kittens.
I checked the Vet's offices,
As a last chance option
I called Decatur's animal shelter.
I explained the situation
and the lady on the phone said they had ONE kitten left.
I told her I'd head her way,
to please hold the kitten for us.
She said it was against their policy to "hold" animals.
"Umh, I'll be right there" I said.
Joseph & I arrived in Decatur about 45 minutes later.
We introduced ourselves and said we were there for a kitten.
The nice lady replied, "Oh we don't have any kittens."
Needless to say I melted down
"But I just called and you said you had ONE left."
Once she realized who I was she went to the back and got him.
She was unofficially saving him for Joseph. :)
When she came from the back she brought
the cutest kitten I've ever seen.
Buddy Cat was tiny with long black hair.
It was love at first sight.
Long story short, Joseph never slept in his bed again.
He'd just bring Buddy Cat and pile up with us.

Now let me tell you, Buddy Cat was wild.
I remember him climbing up the door facings...
good thing he was cute AND Joseph adored him!
As soon as he was old enough we
had him neutered and his front claws removed.
I lovingly referred to him as our walking stuffed animal.

As the years went on,
he settled down.
Although he once attacked a stray dog
that was coming too close to Joseph.
He was known to run off any other cat
that we attempted to rescue.
When Tiger became ours,
 he thought Buddy Cat was his mother...
and Buddy Cat took him in.

He was the ultimate survivor.
Mama forgets to give you water?
Drink out of the fishbowl,
dripping faucet and yes, even the toilet.
Out of food??
Just wait till the boys finish eating dinner
and then eat their leftovers.
For years he didn't have a litter box.
He'd just meow at the door and go outside.

Every summer when we went on vacation,
we'd leave Buddy and a bag of cat food outside.
When we'd get home he come out of hiding.
He'd be beyond mad at us
but with a little coaxing,
he'd come back inside.

He never did anything except what he wanted to do.
On this day, he didn't
want to be in the Christmas card picture.

When we had company,
he'd hide.
Even if the company was there for days.
Occasionally he'd run through the house
and people would say
"When did ya'll get a cat?!"
And this cat shack?
He h-a-t-e-d it.
He only stayed in it long enough
for me to snap a picture.

He was loyal,
and he loved his boys.

This was were we'd find him
if James was sleeping.

Buddy Cat you were 12 years loved.
Once you were King of the Castle,
forever you'll be King of Our Hearts.

Friday, November 12, 2010

"Where I'm From" by Joseph Hinson

Earlier this week as a homework assignment for English,
Joseph had to write his own version of "Where I'm From".
Joseph explained that this poem was compiled of things
that only the writer and their family would know the meaning of.
Here's his sweet and simple poem,
that's no frill but all heart.

Where I’m From”

I am from Op’s old truck, the blanket and couch daddy laid me out on.
From Focalin, Adderall, and Stratera.
I am from the tall grass near the edge of my apartment.
From wooden spoons and switches.
I’m from I love you and stop singing becus’ you can’t.
From squares and tic-tac-toe.
I am from  the pages of “Winnie the Pooh” and “Franklin”.
From “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “Shoulder Lean”.

I’m from Noony and Booch,
From Op and Nanny.
I’m from “I love you too the moon and back” and “more than a hog loves slop”.
From Calm Down and You have to take a nap.
I’m from Get that phone Edith and Op’s mom dying when he was a child.
I’m from the Lord has risen, He has risen indeed.

I’m from thick hair and A.D.D.
From Chicken Helper and Ramen Noodles.
I’m from turkey dressing and Christmas ornaments.
I’m from the Bible and a cross.
From the importance of family, Aunt Pat ascending into the clouds, and popping fingers.
From the broken trash can and splintered light pole near the bridge.

In a pocket watch box full of Op’s army pictures, Auburn grass and a mouth piece.
I am from those memories—
Who made me who I am—
Who continue to shape me.

That child is precious
and I'm proud to be a part of where he's from!
God's blessings friends,
Sarah :)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Hinson Family Pics

Good morning all!
Today I'm here to share this year's family pics.
As you know, my baby sister is a blossoming photographer.
Since she's a professional and all,
I have to let her boss me around when it comes to photo sessions.
You see,
I hadn't even given Christmas card photos a thought.
That is until she said, you know we've gotta get this done.
So instead of hem-hawing around
I scheduled our session, pronto.

Here's how the conversation went...
Me: "I don't have the time or money to get our Christmas outfits."
Rach: "That's ok, wear what you have."
I like matchy-matchy, she prefers color coordinating.
Me: "I really don't want to do red again.
Can we do all white?"
Rach: In her very professional tone, "Well white is a color reflector."
Me: "What about black, can we do black??"
Rach: Same tone, "Well black is a color absorber."
Now I don't really know what all that has to do with
family photos but I got her gentle message, NO.

After several phone calls and assessing what we had
we decided to go with Auburn colors.
We're orange & blue through and through
and I really needed those colors on my photo wall.
My thought was,
we'll do the Christmas card in black & white if necessary.

So, I prepped the clothes and the peeps.
They complained,
I lectured.
"One day when I'm dead you'll be glad we had the pictures made!"
Way to throw out those rays, Mama Sunshine.

Rach likes to rotate her photo locations.
Her current fav is my mom's house.
That meant we had a place to change,
extra man-handlers
AND a hot meal after we were through.

We started out a tad uptight.

Until Rach instructed us to be silly.
Oh yeah, the Hinsons can do silly!

Next she had James stretch out across us.
This is an accurate picture of our family dynamics.

 That James, he's a laugh a minute!

Once we were over the sofa,
Uncle John decided we should shoot one Cosby-style.

And what about Mom & Dad?
Those lovebirds deserve an updated pic together. ;)

Now this photo started out just the boys,
until Mama said
"Wait, don't forget about me."
Short black sox and off centeredness considered
I think it's cute.

 Next it was time for wardrobe change.
But first, Daddy Hinson aka Cam Newton
needed to make an appearance.

As long as we were going with the Auburn colors,
why not bust the jersey's too?
I LOVE this picture of my boys!
Joseph looks so sweet and gentle with his gorgeous hair.
James' handsome grin looks like he's about to get into something.

Mama's AU outfit was the addition of a chunky Auburn necklace.
This was when the boys said
"Are we almost finished?? No more pictures, please!"

Here's those loyal Auburn fans, the Hinson four.
How hilarious is it that the boys insisted
I hold this football?!

 Now it was time for some candid shots.
Mama left the scene of the crime,
and the boys got a little c-r-a-z-y.

That's us, the Hinsons.
Laugh with us OR at us,
but you're certain to be laughing!

Thanks Aunt Rach for our greatest photo experience.
The clothes weren't perfect.
The session wasn't overly planned.
But the memories made WILL last a lifetime.
And that my friend,
is certainly a ray of sunshine!

God's blessings & love,
Mama Hinson :)

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Resting on the Sabbath

Hi all, happy Sunday!
Are you soaking up the Sabbath?
After a long week the Hinsons are
catching up on some much needed rest.
I think we worked/played so hard this week
that we were physically exhausted.
As in I actually thought I was sick yesterday.
But after a seriously long night's sleep,
I feel much better.
God knew exactly what He was doing
when He commanded us to rest.
I all too often skip over that instruction.
How about you?
Do you get so caught up in the doing
that you forget the being?
I'll be back with a recap from our week.
Enjoy your day and by all means,
ponder God's wonderful design. :)

Monday, November 1, 2010

Small Change, Big Impact

Hi all!
How was your Monday?
Mine was busy,
but so much better than last week.
Thank you Heavenly Father!
I've been working to finish
up several projects that I can't wait to share.

Now you know,
if there's one thing I love, it's organization.
I dream of things being fixed.
But my problem is always how to fix things.
I like my solutions to eliminate clutter,
not make it worse.
I try to think through the
short and long term goals and options.

So here's my current situation.
With the return of backpack & jacket season
my dining table has turned into a dumping ground.
I missed my clean table and had
given up on ever using it again.
That's when Andy came to my rescue!
Before starting back to work last Thursday,
he pulled out the drill and super duper
wall anchors and fixed me up.
Now I give you my minor update
that delivered BIG impact.

Hooray for my simple coat rack!
Joseph's backpack was too heavy so
it sits neatly in the corner.
Since I couldn't be outdone by the boys
I cleaned out the bottom left cabinet for my stuff.
Because a Mama's gotta have a place to put
her purse, planner, adoption binders & such.

Then this afternoon I decided my little coat rack
 was ready for the finishing touches.
I started by hanging our Ikea leash hook.
How cute is that little doggy tail
sticking out of the wall??

The cherry on top was that I finally
framed and hung our New House Blessing Picture.
Because I'm all about 3 year turnaround time.
The boys look like babies!

So now when the boys come busting in
I can usher them to the corner for our tidy drop-zone
Now spill it,
what project are you working on?
Come on inspire me,
and thanks for stopping by!

God's blessings friends,
Sarah :)


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Saturday, 27 April 2013

Create Every day Particular with Painters

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Thursday, 21 March 2013

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Inspiration for living a luxuriously and balanced life

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Spring is in the Air (or at least it is at the Market flower shop)

Welcome to Over a Cup of Tea with Celia M.

Though the calendar says spring is less than a week away ... I don't think the mountains of snow that still linger and the cold temps quite got the memo. Let's hope they get it soon. Thankfully the local flower market is filled with wonderful potted tulips, daffodils and SHAMROCKS !!! Nothing quite says spring like the color GREEN!

In honor of St. Patrick's Day and spring (even if it does not quite feel or look like it) I have chosen some Yogi Kombucha Green Tea.

And what better than some delish chocolate to accompany our tea...
don't worry the pieces are small bite size (ok ... maybe 2-3 bites size).

This little darling with shamrocks and petite roses is perfect to sip our tea.

There is even a little rose on the handle...

Aside from the fabulous tasty tea ... I always enjoy the messages Yogi tea share.

Today's message ~ is a good reminder to be kind to ourselves ...
I am beautiful, I am bountiful, I am blissful

After reading such wonderful affirmations - helps set a positive tone for the rest of the day.

I couldn't resist the dark chocolate and delicate raspberry ganache with rose petals and the white chocolate and pistachio praline, to accompany my cup of tea.

Which chocolate did you choose?

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all my wonderful Irish readers across the miles
and to all who are Irish for the day!!

Hugs and Blessings,

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  1. Oh thank you for inviting me to your chocolate party .... oops, I meant tea party. (Sure I did.) Seriously everything looks absolutely beautiful and yummy. I choose any (or every) piece of dark chocolate.

  2. I'll have the dark chocolate please! Always my favorite. Lovely! And your china is perfect and your photos are lovely! Hope you have lots more dark choc 'cuz it's going fast!

  3. Love dark chocolate but I guess I'll have one of each. YUMMY!

  4. lovely teatime!
    thank you for sharing - rosepetals chocolate for me & TY!
    more Irish Tea at FHC ~ Welcome!

  5. Dearest Celia,
    Lovely post and those tiny clover blossoms and leafs are darling!
    Which chocolate I choose? The dark ones but ALL of them.
    Hugs and Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and may spring soon warm up your area as well.
    We got rain and more to come the next two days.

  6. YUM, Chocolate is delish! And the tea sounds wonderful.. Happy St. Patrick's Day and enjoy your week ahead!

  7. I drink Yogi tea -- I think just for the message I'll get on the tea tag! :) White Chocolate sounds good. Love the Gracie china teacup ... such a delicate design and the clover make it just right for St. Patrick's Day. Happy Happy!

  8. Hi Celia,

    What a beautiful beautiful post!! Have a fabulous Spring!!

  9. Love the cute tea set. Very springy! I am really ready for Spring, instead we got 6" of snow last night! Hurry Spring and get here!

  10. Beautiful! And you had at me chocolate. I will take one of each of the same that you are having please! xox

  11. Hi Celia,
    What adorable teacups! That white chocolate and raspberry ganache sound good to me. Tea and chocolate; what a treat! Thank you for sharing and joining me for tea. Happy St. Patricks Day!

  12. I followed your link-up from A Delightsome Life.

    Oh, that china is gorgeous!!

    I would pick the milk chocolate with praline. Delicious!

  13. Love your tea cup and the chocolate looks amazing. I love it all. Have a wonderful week. Blessings, Martha

  14. Milk chocolate and melting caramel!! No! Dark chocolate and melting caramel. NO NO, milk chocolate and rich praline... oh forget it - I love all things chocolate. YUM. We had 24 and snow yesterday and are supposed to have 70 and sunshine this weekend. I'm so confused (hoho). SPRING IS COMING!

  15. I would chose the dark chocolate with raspberry thank you very much. Our snow is gone for now but the warmer temps have not yet arrived.

  16. Such beautiful china. So clean looking and the shape and texture on them is so inviitng. That is a great sentiment on the tea bag! Eveyone should hear that message!

  17. Oh yum! The dark chocolate sound wonderful! Your tea set so pretty and delicate!

  18. A pretty trio set for tea and I would choose the dark chocolate and caramel.

  19. Those dainty rose buds on the tea cups are delightful, and I like your choice of tea. All the chocolates look delicious.

  20. What a beautiful trio - so springy! Soon it will be spring outside as well as in our hearts. :)
    Hugs and blessings, Beth

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Inspiration for living a luxuriously and balanced life

Monday, March 28, 2016

After the Storm - Mother Nature Glistens

Toronto and surrounding areas were hit with a freezing rain storm this past week, and while most of the accumulation of ice disappeared in the city within 24 hours, the sight when I arrived at our country home for Easter weekend -was completely different and with a few surprises.

As you can see ... unfortunately we lost a few trees ... it was especially sad to see this huge one down.

I was surprised how warm the temperatures started to get while we were out surveying the damage.

And after every storm ... there is beauty to be found, and though these photos do not show it ... it was like a glistening wonderland when the sun popped out. The ice on the trees looked like strings of diamonds glistening on the branches.

Outfit Details: hooded winter coat - Michael Kors ; boots - Cole Haan; leggings -Urban Behavior; gypsy blouse - Stella Rosa; scarf-wrap - Ralph Lauren; sunglasses - Gucci.

You are the curator of your life so live it luxuriously ,

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  1. The trees really do look beautiful with the snow! I love the print of your top!

    Fizz and Frosting

  2. The scenes are truly beautiful! No snow for us in florida, so I always appreciate snowy pix. And you look lovely too, thanks for sharing, xo

  3. I know how a freezing rain can be damaging, but so beautiful as well. Loved the photos :-)

  4. LOVE LOVE LOVE those boots!
    We too have snow falling at the moment, I only wish ours was the pretty sparkling fairy land type, ours is a heavy wet snow which we need for our water levels this year.
    Sorry about the down tree, hope you can put its loss to a good use.
    Love the joy!

    1. Yes, we'll be cutting into firewood and sharing with neighbours ...wishing a great week!

  5. Oh look! There is a fairy sprite dancing in the iced woods! You look marvehlous, dalink!! I love ice enclosed branches but it sure hard on the trees. That is one huge tree that fell over - we had a couple like that during our last ice store a few years ago. None on house, thought (phew!). I love your scarf! Well, and the boots and blouse and leggings and... you look great! So relaxed and happy. Yay!

    1. Aw thank you Nan, your emails and words have been a great comfort... and I have re-read some of your relationship posts (always inspiring and make you pause and consider ALL sides) blessings my friend. xo

  6. Oh my! All the ice is really beautiful-it's too bad about the trees though. It's always sad when such large ones fall down. You look gorgeous out there in it with your fabulous boots and coat!

  7. Dearest Celia,
    That indeed was a big surprise to come home to.
    Love the blouse you were wearing as it looks so much like the iced tree branches that somehow turned into frozen lace work.
    Mother nature is full of surprises and it is also remarkable how quickly she restores the impact of such dramatic impacts.
    We had a soaking wat Easter and now it is full sun, yesterday already partly sunny.
    Trying to stay at my photo scanning... WANT to get rid of all my albums and enjoy them only digital.
    Sending you blessings,

  8. Wow, what an ice storm! I have heard several bloggers talk about it that live in Toronto. I have never seen that much ice and I live in St. Louis and we do get our fair share of winter weather. What gorgeous photos tho, and I love your shawl and patterned top!

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 AudioEvangelism.com - Defeat at Ai Defeat at Ai
"But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel" (Josh. 7:1).

The battle at Jericho had gone so well, or so it seemed! The city walls fell down flat, Rahab had been delivered as promised, and everything else had been utterly destroyed by Israel as the LORD had commanded. But, there was one exception that was unknown to the nation. Achan had secretly kept some of the items from Jericho that belonged to God (in other words, he had taken of the "accursed things") and had consequently brought himself and the whole nation under God's curse. That which was a secret to the nation was plainly known by Almighty God who is omniscient.

"Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, 'Go up and spy out the country.' So the men went up and spied out Ai. And they returned to Joshua and said to him, 'Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.' So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water" (Josh. 7:2-5).

The Israelite success at Jericho was just supposed to be the beginning of their conquering. Their next target was a nearby city, Ai. Spies are sent to gather information, and they return with a confident message. There were few people at Ai, so there was no need to send the whole army to fight. They believed sending a couple thousand would be sufficient, and they were probably right had Achan not sinned at Jericho. Nevertheless, because of Achan's wickedness God was not with the men who attacked Ai. The men of Ai defeated the Israelites and killed three dozen men as they fled. Suddenly, the confidence of Israel vanished into thin air; their courage evaporated!

"Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. And Joshua said, 'Alas, Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all--to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turns its back before its enemies? For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?' (Josh. 7:6-9).

This defeat devastated the nation. They had been on top of the mountain, so to speak, after destroying Jericho, and now they are deep in the valley of despair. If they couldn't take a small village like Ai, how could they succeed to take all the land of Canaan? Wouldn't their enemies learn about their failure and plot against them to surround them and annihilate them from the land? Joshua, with clothes torn in mourning and dust on his head, conveyed these sentiments to God, prostrated before the ark. He wishes they had stayed on the east side of the Jordan and simply settled there. He doesn't understand why God has allowed this to befall them! Although God will provide an answer in the next portion of text, it is unfortunate that Joshua's faith wavered on this occasion. God had promised them the land, and God is faithful! Instead of entertaining thoughts of doubt, Joshua should have been inquiring as to what they had done wrong so it could be corrected. Friends, there is a lesson here for us. Sometimes when we fail miserably it is because of our sins. May we never doubt God when adversity strikes, but let us first examine our own life to determine whether it is in order before the Lord.


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Tuesday, January 6, 2015

What Causes Insulin Resistance? Part I

Insulin is an ancient hormone that influences many processes in the body.  Its main role is to manage circulating concentrations of nutrients (principally glucose and fatty acids, the body's two main fuels), keeping them within a fairly narrow range*.  It does this by encouraging the transport of nutrients into cells from the circulation, and discouraging the export of nutrients out of storage sites, in response to an increase in circulating nutrients (glucose or fatty acids). It therefore operates a negative feedback loop that constrains circulating nutrient concentrations.  It also has many other functions that are tissue-specific.

Insulin resistance is a state in which cells lose sensitivity to the effects of insulin, eventually leading to a diminished ability to control circulating nutrients (glucose and fatty acids).  It is a major contributor to diabetes risk, and probably a contributor to the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and a number of other disorders.

Why is it important to manage the concentration of circulating nutrients to keep them within a narrow range?  The answer to that question is the crux of this post.

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Wednesday, February 4, 2015

An Interview with Dr. C. Vicky Beer, Paleo-friendly MD

As I was preparing my recent article on the Paleo diet (1), I interviewed a local Paleo-friendly MD named C. Vicky Beer.  I was only able to include a snippet of the interview in the article, but I thought WHS readers would be interested to read the rest of the interview with Dr. Beer:

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An extraordinary number and selection of replacement parts for boats
Posted on: September 16, 2017, by : admin

As the summer starts to slip away, cooler temperatures starting to creep into northern regions reminds us that fall is just around the corner. For boat owners in areas affected by the changes in season, temperatures dipping lower means getting out and enjoying times on their watercraft before that sad day, the day the boat must be pulled out for the season, gets here. Soon after that day arrives, boat owners that really care about their craft and want to ensure everything is in top working order in the spring will winterize their boat prior to storage.

Image result for An extraordinary number and selection of replacement parts for boats

During the winterizing process, owners can take this opportunity to take a close look at everything in the boat that looks to be worn down, perhaps broken, or otherwise could use replacement. And what with replacement marine parts sometimes a little more difficult to find, it would be in the boat owners best interest to find a company online that sells an extraordinary number and selection of replacement parts for boats in a wide variety of boat makes and models. This can be particularly important to consider for owners of Taiwan built boats, where the number of companies that specialize in selling parts and accessories is much fewer than other makes.

Leading, highly respected and experienced companies in the industry, like MMI Marine, feature hundreds of thousands of replacement parts, as well as accessories, on websites that offer photos, descriptions, and prices for each individual item. And in addition to all the replacement part offerings, premium marine companies also carry a great number of items that owners can look at to upgrade the boat in given areas. Whether the boat owner is looking for parts to make replacements to what they currently have to improve functionality and operational performance, to making the boat much more luxurious or safer with lighting and safety gear that abide by Coast Guard regulations, premier companies will have this all, and much more, in their inventory.

Owners of Taiwan built boats should search for an online company that specializes in this market. A company that sells only the highest quality hardware, appliances, equipment, electrical components, lighting, safety gear, and much more from top brand manufacturers can become the owners’ “one stop shop” for everything they need for their boat. Whether they get all they need now or have plans on making future purchases, customers really appreciate having one company they can go to for any marine need they may have.

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1 April 2008

Cemetery Angel Swap - Swap-bot

Swap-bot swap: Cemetery Angels
Do you love the cemetery angel statues?
Do you like to trade atc's?
Do you live in Australia?
Please feel free to join us - I have created a new group - "Aussie Swappers" over at Swap-bot. Clicking the link above will take you to the page to sign up/join.

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