Ms Genevieve’s Neighborhood

and he will probably have a fit about me posting this pic but... i no care. *lol*

)o(Idadi)o(

My dog is an escapist. He loves to get out of the house and run around the neighborhood. It hasn't happened in a while, since we have kept a tight reign on him and finally taught the Kid that it is NOT okay to just open the door while the dog is running loose in the house.

This morning, however, I put his leash on him and sent him outside like I usually do. Something told me to look out the window and check on him. His entire choke collar was off, and he was standing there looking up for the dogs that live above us. Why didn't he run? I calmly opened the door and called him back in. Normally, he would say "haha screw you!" and take off. Today, he just excitedly came back in and sat down with me. I pulled his leash back in, put it back on, and sent him out again. The dog seemed never the wiser about what had just occurred. I have to wonder if he knew and just didn't care to run away, or did he not even notice. Either way, he is still outside sitting in his favorite spot enjoying nature going by and I am here not having to worry about whether or not he will eat someone else's pet.

Today I have 2 test sessions at my place haha.. so small but thank god the lights fit im hoping we can make some good stuff, and right after I'll be heading to calumet with the tshirt site owner to find out some rentals about the hassy and also to familiarize myself with it.. never even held a medium format camera before! and the one we are planning to rent the sensor is over 2 times bigger than even the top of the line canon camera so that-= amazing pics! and if you shoot products in studio it has this multiple exposer thing that creates the most  jaw dropping product shots@!! oo cant wait! then for the next two weeks I'll be dreaming about shooting with it

Elle l'a annoncé très humblement, mais moi j'ai couru en kiosque l'acheter (bon, ok, le kiosque était sur mon chemin^^):

Il y a tout plein de recettes de blogueuses DONT NOTRE VIOLETTE A NOUS DE VOX que je félicite de tout mon coeur pour sa sélection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

en page 49:

The fog that delayed all those flights in Auckland on Friday didn’t seem too bad in the morning. A view from my apartment there:

   I only really noticed it when heading out west for the Ford Focus photo shoot. On the way, I spotted this lovely Ford Consul Mk II:    I couldn’t see any rust on this car: it was beautifully maintained. And no, I have no idea why this place is called Koala Auto Services since koalas are not native to this country.

Australians won’t find this as cool since they’ve had this model for a few months, but it was a treat for me to see the E241 Ford Falcon (or FG series) prior to its official New Zealand launch. These are at Manukau, Ford Motor Co.’s New Zealand HQ, along with a classic Model A in its reception area.
   The models are the top-of-the-line G6E luxury model and the performance hero, the XR8.
   In the metal, they look nice but not that big, especially as the CD345 Mondeo has grown considerably. The slab sides make for a less aggressive look, which I don’t think is that good an idea in 2008, but such gentler shapes will probably be perfectly timed for 2010. The Ford family look is very apparent, as well as VW–Audiesque touches such as the rising feature line in the doors’ lower sills.
   It will have its loyal fans and the cabbies will love the LPG versions, even if the Japanese are moving into that market like crazy.
   I can’t wait to drive it as I hear Ford is on to a winner and dynamically, the Falcon is better than its chief rival, the Holden Commodore. And it’s certainly better than any Ford sedan available in the Americas.
   But if it were my money, and I had to get a Ford, the Mondeo makes more sense considering it’s basically now the same size. I don’t need a big four-litre six or a V8 under the bonnet and while I prefer rear-wheel drive, I’m willing to sacrifice that for the better fuel economy of the Mondeo.

   Finally, a step in to the past:

Paul brought an azure grackle with him when he came last night. It had been hit by a car. It has a droopy wing, but doesn't seem in any pain - it just can't fly. I am judging the pain on the fact that it doesn't try to peck me or even struggle when I move the wing to examine it. We have the number of a bird person here who can take it on Monday.

We were supposed to go to Vermont last night to pick up Pauls car. I got tomorrow off of work so that I could do it, and I love having two days in a row off. We didn't go, though. Paul did his usual angst-ridden dithering about when we should go, and then there is the whole issue with the grackle. I was having the period from hell last night, and so I said I would stay home and take care of the bird.

This morning the sun is out and it's shaping up to be a beautiful day. I wonder if I should change my mind and pass the bird off to Paul's housemates as originally planned, and just go have this overnighter. Last night I was feeling a bit depressed about it, I know the guys often do things efficiently, and I was worried we would go up this morning, stay a couple of hours and come home in the dark. It doesn't look as if it will be that way, though. I think they will stay overnight. I look out at the glorious morning here, and think that sheesh, if tomorrow morning is at all like that, I will regret not being out on a kayak in the middle of a lake for the dawn tomorrow.

Alright. Decided. We've got to swing by and pick Paul up anyhow - I'll call him first so he can arrange for his housemates to take care of the bird. I have half an hour to get ready. Eeeeeek!

Not liking it here, you go traveling over there; not liking it there, you come touring back here. That's all there is to it, following your noses everywhere. You don't have to do a lot of traveling around; just stay here and develop the practice, learn it in detail. Make an effort, all of you.

~ Ajahn Chah in Food For the Heart

Awareness cannot be practiced. There has been some confusion between awareness and mindfulness. They are related, but distinct. Sati, or mindfulness, implies there is action of the mind. We purposely set ourselves to pay attention to our minds. We exert effort. Awareness is different. Awareness is devoid of any action. The mind simply "awares." There is no action here, only a collected and spontaneous awareness that just "sees." Here, mindfulness is the cause, and awareness is the effect. You cannot practice or train the effect. You can only practice something that will cause it. We have to start with mindfulness so that awareness may arise in us.

~ Thynn Thynn, in Living Meditation, Living Insight

Modern culture would have us worship before the altar of the thinking mind, with its endless capacity to produce ideas, fantasies, and formulas. We are taught that the thinking mind is the possessor of all wisdom, and we dedicate much of our lives to the pursuit of knowledge and information. Seeing the world and ourselves through the filter of all the information we have accumulated, we can be imprisoned by the very ideas and images we have so ardently pursued. Often we think that we know ourselves, when what we know is only what we think about ourselves. When we think we know the world around us, our static images bar us from seeing the mystery held within each changing moment. What is an image if not just a description of the world that is bound to the past?

~ Christina Feldman and Jack Kornfield, Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart