EARTH DAY 2008

HAPPY EARTH DAY! Sign HERE to remind Congress of their responsibilities to us and our children... And plant something, would ya!

R.I.P. Mr. Wasp

If there is one thing that I'm deathly afraid of it would be a wasp - ooh, they're so nasty! ...I killed one this weekend! My mommy-defense came out when one of these nasty creatures was flying around my baby's (stephen) head while he was swinging. Without even thinking, took of my shoe, swatted the thing and, while it was squirming around in the grass, I beat the life out of it. Wow, kids really do make you stronger.

The following characteristics are present in most wasps:
two pairs of wings (except wingless or brachypterous forms in all female Mutillidae, Bradynobaenidae, many male Agaonidae, many female Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Tiphiidae, Scelionidae, Rhopalosomatidae, Eupelmidae, and various other families).
An ovipositor, or stinger (which is only present in females because it derives from the ovipositor, a female sex organ).
Few or no hairs (in contrast to bees); except Mutillidae, Bradynobaenidae, Scoliidae.
Nearly all wasps are terrestrial; only a few specialized parasitic groups are aquatic.
Predators or parasitoids, mostly on other terrestrial insects; some species of Pompilidae, such as the tarantula hawk, specialize in using spiders as prey, and various parasitic wasps use spiders or other arachnids as reproductive hosts.
Wasps are critically important in natural biocontrol. Almost every pest insect species has a wasp species that is a predator or parasite upon it. Parasitic wasps are also increasingly used in agricultural pest control as they have little impact on crops. Wasps also constitute an important part of the food chain. (Wikipedia.com)

Goodbye Alliance...

We closed 'er down Friday and spent most of the day drowning our sorrows at a non-company sponsored, byob event. It was a hard week for us all - saying goodbye to each other and our home-away-from-home for so many years now. The hardest part for me walking through the building one last time. I was definitely flooded with some great memories.

Onto our futures - wherever they lie!!

STAGES OF PERSONAL POWER

STAGE 1: POWERLESSNESS: Secure and dependant, low in self-esteem, uninformed, helpless but not hopeless. Held back by fear.

STAGE 2: POWER BY ASSOCIATION: Learning the ropes, learning the culture, dependent on leader, new self awareness, stuck but moving. Held back by need for security.

STAGE 3: POWER BY SYMBOLS: Ego-centric, realistic, competitive, expert, ambitious, charismatic. Held back by confusion and not knowing they're stuck.

STAGE 4: POWER BY REFLECTION: Competent, reflective, strong, comfortable with personal style, skilled at mentoring, showing true leadership. Held back by ego control and not recognizing need for life purpose.

STAGE 5: POWER BY PURPOSE: Self-accepting, calm, visionary, humble, confident of life purpose, generous in empowering others, spiritual. Held back by lack of faith and having too much to lose.

STAGE 6: POWER BY GESTALT: Comfortable with paradox, unafraid of death, powerless, quiet in service, ethical, on the universal plane. Held back only by human constraints.

Gestalt psychology (also Gestalt of the Berlin School) is a theory of mind and brain that proposes that the operational principle of the brain is holistic, parallel, and analog, with self-organizing tendencies; or, that the whole is different than the sum of its parts. The classic Gestalt example is a soap bubble, whose spherical shape is not defined by a rigid template, or a mathematical formula, but rather it emerges spontaneously by the parallel action of surface tension acting at all points in the surface simultaneously. This is in contrast to the "atomistic" principle of operation of the digital computer, where every computation is broken down into a sequence of simple steps, each of which is computed independently of the problem as a whole. The Gestalt effect refers to the form-forming capability of our senses, particularly with respect to the visual recognition of figures and whole forms instead of just a collection of simple lines and curves.

I Heart Titans

I pledge to keep up with my beloved Titans this year and help them celebrate their 10th season! They will be wearing this logo as a patch on the left, front shoulder of their jerseys all season. Maybe... just maybe... they will finish their first decade as they started it -- in the Super Bowl!

Yay, Kansas!!

I won't fool anyone into believing I'm some big bball nut, but I did have $30 riding on Kansas in an office pool and a steak dinner bet with my hubby, so I'm thrilled with the Kansas win. I even watched part of the game and will say that it was perhaps the fastest bball game I've ever seen... wow!!

You Go, Midwestern Boys!!!

Tears for Dr. King

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the assasination of U.S. civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.

King was shot and killed in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968.

King led a non-violent campaign against segregation and discrimination against African Americans during the 1950's and 1960's. His efforts led to the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and at the age of 35, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

His assassination set off riots in more than 100 U.S. cities and ushered in a divisive and bitter chapter in race relations in the United States.

(voanews.com)

What's your body type?

In my depths of boredome (and shopping withdrawal) I've been doing some research on my body type in preparation for my next clothing spending spree. Turns out that all signs point to the fact that I am an apple (aka "Oval" Frame). My new goal is to dress to be comfy and accentuate my good traits. I may even take some courses on this topic...

A FRAME: Bottom Heavy, Small Bust, Carries weight in upper thights, Usually not thick in the waist.

Goal: to balance hips by widening shoulders with shoulder pads.

How To Dress: Add weight to shoulders, horizontal necklines, shoulder pads a must, epaulets, full sleave at shoulder, breast pockets (if small breasted), texture above waist, pattern above waist, no detail below waist, smooth, simple pants and skirts, minimum texture below waist, soft gathers in frotn of skirt, avoid crisp fabrics below the waist.

V FRAME: Shoulders 2 or more inches wider than hips, large bust, very narrow hips, thin legs.

Goal: Widen hips with fuller and heavier material.

How to Dress: vertical necklines, minimal shoulder padding, simple lines, minimal texture above waist, pockets at hips, full sleeve at wrist, texture/pattern below waist, borders at hem, longer length sweaters, tunic tops over slim skirts, tucked in blouses (if slim), belts (if slim), blouson tops.

H FRAME: Average to large waist, Athletic Build, Straight up and down shape, Shoulders are broader, not much of a derriere.

Goal: Give illusion of smaller waist. Avoid busy or skimpy lines and patterns.

How to Dress: narrow belts, matching wide belts (if slim), hip wrap tops, long over the hip sweaters, elongated lines in patter styles and accessories, straight lines; v-necks, smooth to nubby textures, never end jacket at waist, never wear small horizontal lines on top that are tucked in at waist, pants and skirts with minimal gathers, pressed down pleats.

8 FRAME: Average Height, Average Bust, Hips and Bust Same Size, Waist up to 10 inches smaller (I wish!), normally gains weight all over.

Goal: Emphasize figure 8. If large, keep dress simple and flowing.

How to Dress: soft curved shoulder pads, detail and interest above waist,simple waist emphasis, torso wraps, avoid straight darts, soft prints/designs, v and scoop necklines, no breast pockets, avoid clingy/too tight tops, no hard or stiff fabrics, avoid loose baggy tops, waist or hipbone length jackets, soft structure, shaped one-piece dressing.

OVAL FRAME: Short to average height, Large Bust, Waist area rounded, Normally gains weight in the middle area, Legs thin.

Goal: De-emphasize waistline.

How to Dress: create unbroken vertical line, nothing tight above tunic tops, oversized long tunic tops, long sweaters, tops over tapered pants/tights/leggings, tops always loose, long necklaces, vertical lines on top, match colors or tops and bottoms, avoid tucked in blouses, one color suits, avoid belts, dropped waistline dresses.