Thursday, March 30, 2006
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Friday, March 24, 2006
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Friday, March 17, 2006
stacie 8
Dear Magic 8 Ball,
All of my co-workers are gone for the day. I'm trying hard to concentrate.
Would it be okay to get a second latte?
Sincerly,
Emdot
Thursday, March 16, 2006
couch
a year ago today
i took this photo. and was having an extended sojourn behind the orange curtain.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Shadow art
from jenn
Jill is hosting a Karate Kid marathon this Friday night starting with
a japanese dinner (not sure what this is going to look like, maybe
just rice??) at 7:30. There will be a crane contest, so start
practicing. If your serious about anything, you'll wear your
headband. Depending on the mood we might watch all four movies. See
you then.
Monday, March 06, 2006
the little things
i think i must be l.'s only gmail chat person because this morning when i fired up ye olde gmail, his status was set to "good morning em-skaya." that is a great way to start a day. it's the little things.
this message has been brought to you by emdot's proud sponsor for the past 30+years, Stating the Obvious, Ltd.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
DISCLAIMER: this post more for me and just keeping track of the crystal ball. A way of recognizing the oh shit of the looming future. And/or distraction. Take your pick.
drats
Yeah. I already know I am too direct. Too plain-spoken (with liberal metaphors). Oh, to be a finesser.... From a horoscope (astro.com) with the note that I will be under this influence for 11 months. Eleven frickin' months. Argh.How you say it
Valid during many months: During this time your determination, your motivation and your ability to assert yourself, but also your inner drives and needs are stronger than is usually the case, and perhaps also particularly tense. You actually have great energy at your disposal, and you will proceed resolutely and single-mindedly.
This, of course, brings with it the danger of confounding or overwhelming others as you are far too direct and plain-spoken. If you want to provoke or challenge people now, you could be very hurtful indeed, without actually wanting to be. If you want to experience this quality of time in a positive way you should, every now and then, quite deliberately use your capacity for understanding, your empathy, and imagine yourself in your counterpart's position. In order to avoid an unwanted lack of consideration you can only try to understand your fellow man better.
and another rzzl frzzl
this one supposedly valid feb through dec. please. shoot me now.The forces at work
Valid during many months: During this time you will have to withstand severe challenges to your way of life as it is set up now. As we grow up, we structure our lives to a certain degree, and we come to depend upon this structure for predictability and order. Sometimes, however, the structure is repressive rather than expressive of our true selves. But if it is safe, we tend to keep it regardless of whether we are happy with it. Nevertheless, at some point in our lives the internal energies of this arrangement of our world must evolve or be totally destroyed. Now is such a time in your life. You must adapt to the forces at work during this period for your own sake! You may feel like the victim of some massive external force beyond your control that is forcing you to move, but actually the dynamics for change are inherent in your own life structure.
During this time some circumstance or situation will create forces that seem to push against you. You may feel very pressured to do something that you don't want to do at all, and you will probably put up tremendous resistance. If your life structure is a valid expression of who you are, your efforts to resist will probably be successful. Otherwise you will be forced to change. In either case this period will be characterized by enormous expenditure of energy. If you handle it successfully, you will be able to strive forward and reach new heights as an individual.
As this influence begins, you may find that certain resources financial, material or otherwise are no longer available and that you are forced more and more to fall back upon your own devices. This is part of the test of this time. It is not usually a good time to expand your operations in any field of activity, especially business. Nor is it a good time to spend your energies making everything around you as solid and safe as possible. The best course, which you will be least inclined to take, is to openly and honestly examine all aspects of your life and voluntarily give up whatever you don't really need those things that make you feel secure but do not aid your personal evolution.
semi silver lining
Silver or just shiny gray? Tin lining? Tin roof lining? It's a lining dammit and I'll take it. With a side of rzzl and a layer of frzzl as this one says "intense," too. Jan 06 through Oct 07. Why oh why do I buy into this astrlogoy crap?Your creative energies will be aroused and if you are in any way artistic, you will be able to put deep, feeling energy into your creations as never before. Others will recognize the intensity that has gone into your work, for which you may very well receive considerable recognition.
Art and love will have one element in common during this time; that is, the experience of them will transport you out of the commonplace into the extraordinary, for that is what you are seeking. Art and love should have a considerable impact on your life now and affect your future for many years to come.
Monday, February 20, 2006
mantra's a word we hear a lot, but do you really know what a mantra is? i am here to share...
A meditation technique used a great deal in Tibetan Buddhism is uniting the mind with the sound of a mantra. The definition of mantra is “that which protects the mind.” That which protects the mind from negativity, or which protects you from your own mind, is mantra.
When you are nervous, disoriented, or emotionally fragile, inspired chanting or reciting of a mantra can change the state of your mind completely, by transforming its energy and atmosphere. How is this possible? Mantra is the essence of sound, the embodiment of the truth in the form of sound. Each syllable is impregnated with spiritual power, condenses a deep spiritual truth, and vibrates with the blessing of the speech of the buddhas. It is also said that the mind rides on the subtle energy of the breath, the prana, which moves through and purifies the subtle channels of the body. So when you chant a mantra, you are charging your breath and energy with the energy of the mantra, and so working directly on your mind and your subtle body.
— Sogyal Rinpoche
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
damn you rob brezny
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Happy Valentine Daze, Virgo! To begin our meditation on romance, let's consider psychologist Carl Jung's words: "People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own soul." Do you fit that description? Have you ever employed tortured logic to explain to yourself why you're not following your heart's promptings? In the past year, did you take a detour that has led you further and further away from your true home? Are you engaging in evasive measures in order to keep yourself from seeing the open secret about love that's right in front of you? I'm just asking, Virgo, not accusing. Only you know the correct answers.
Also today (snipped from email to friend):
today is the anniversary of the beheading of mary queen of scots. beheaded for what? well, the english will tell you for plotting to kill her cousin, elizabeth the first. but i will tell you for being a catholic and the real heir to henry the eighth. i think eliz turned out to be a better queen, but i still feel for poor mary. she was a bit like britney speers -- too young and powerful and making stupid decisions for all to see. or maybe she was like jennifer lopez, tho there is no official word on the shape of her backside.
it is also the birthday of kate chopin. i never did read the awakening, but i'm thinking i might check it out today. and also born today? elizabeth browning. you gotta love the successful poets, whether you enjoy their work or not.
how do i know these things? writer's almanac. garrison keilor is my little friend who reads things outloud to me. :)
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Thursday, February 02, 2006
napkin_08-23-01
amen.
digihuman is a new contact of mine and only today did i find his napkin set. check it out. read what he says about the set. look at the photos. then go back and read the set-comments people have left for him.
wow. love is a big, big thing.
utata pays homage
Utata Pays Homage
I am very proud to be a part of this project. Actually, all of the Utata projects. But there is something really special about this one.
We were asked to make a photograph in homage to a photography master.
I chose two photographers: James Turrell for photos I already had in my stream. And Patrick Tosani as a modern-day master who makes the ordinary extraordinary.
Please go and check out the project. I hope you enjoy it.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
$10 for groceries
$10 for groceries
Yesterday I went grocery shopping after work.Inside I noticed a homeless guy with a shopping cart. We passed each other several times and I noticed how slowly he was going down the aisles -- picking everything up. Looking at the ingredients, the cost, the brands.
He was very dirty and fairly stinky, but come on, you can't hold it against him. The only thing he had in his cart was a very worn out and worked over backpack that looked like it had seen its fair share of years on the street. And though I know he was in there for at least 20 minutes and I passed him in at least four different aisles, he didn't put anything else into his cart the whole time.
My heart broke. I wondered if he was just trying to go through the motions of living like he had a house, a kitchen, a fridge. I wondered if he spent so much time examining each item because it felt good to be warm, out of the wind, and just going through the motions of living like other people.
I had to gulp past tears.
I got in line but found that I kept thinking about him.
So, I backed my cart out of line, I found a $10 bill in my purse and gathered up my courage to offer the homeless guy money for some groceries. I wanted him to be able to put something in his cart, not just look at the food and put it back on the shelf.
"Excuse me," I said, as I walked up to him on Aisle Whatever Number It Was, "I hope I'm not overstepping, but I'd like to give you ten dollars so you can buy some groceries."
He looked up at me. We were on the shampoo aisle, I remember now. He had a bottle of shampoo in his hand. Nothing in his cart but his ratty old backpack. And he smelled of urine and dirt and grease and B.O. He looked up at me and he said,
"Give it to someone who needs it! I'm not homeless!"
My mind reeled. WHAT?!
"But you haven't put anything in your cart," I said as all other words and thoughts and sounds began to crumble inside my brain and spill out around my feet. I stood in a pile of good intentions, marinated in shock, horror, and utter embarrassment.
"I'm not a bum," the guy said to me, his ratty beard bobbing as he spoke, "I know I look like one...."
"No, no, no you don't," I said when yes yes yes he did. I died a million deaths, turned my cart around and tried to get back in line as soon as possible.
Ten minutes later I was home and on the phone, telling my story to KB. Telling her how my heart broke for the homeless guy and how I wanted to help buy him some groceries...
"Are you getting your period?" she asked, "cuz it sounds like you have a heavy dose of PMS."
Moral of the story: When the stinky, dirty guy in the grocery store makes you weepy, pick up a bottle of Motrin and keep your $10 to yourself.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
branding as experience
Today I read the following on Caterina Fake's women's business blog, Bizwerk:"You can no longer tell people about your brand; you have to let them experience it."
- Esther Dyson
Perfect timing. I gave a presentation today where I said that branding was so much more than graphic design and consistency across product. Specifically, I was talking about consistency of branding on a web site and how a web site is an extension of your company. By using consistent messaging, you reinforce your brand. For my organization's purposes, I believe that messaging is five-fold:
- Resourceful
People are able to find what they are looking for
Reinforces the purpose of our organization - Knowledgeable
We are able to help people find what they need when they don't know where to look
Reinforces the service we provide - Available
Not only is the site up, but it is easy to use, to get to, and to access
Reinforcing that they can turn to us 24/7 to get help with their projects - Reliable
Our results are meaningful and helpful to our users
Reinforces that we are a source they can always turn to - Accessible
Site is built to ADA standards
We are a resource for everyone
Read the post here and get to the main Bizwerk site here.
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