#561...on the eve of the new year 2006

cause I can't say it any better -

 

"And amember as you dance until dawn

that WE have a whole 'nother Year 2 right the werld."

~slac

 

Happy 2006 my friends.

 

 

 

#560..here's what fark.com people are thinking..

a fark quote:

"As America Online turns more toward advertising dollars to offset the shrinking number of subscribers who pay a monthly fee, the company may be upsetting the longtime customers who have remained faithful over the years."

The lesson here? The best way to save a floundering business model is to alienate your remaining consumer base.

When your mass-marketing strategy for delivering 1025 free hours of AOL into the hands of every man, woman, child, orangutan and flying squirrel on the planet fails...DON'T think to update your marketing strategy. NEVER adapt. REFUSE to change -- all while the amorphous internet continually reshapes itself.

Cheers to you, AOL. If the Cretaceous era taught us anything, it's that adaptation is overrated."

http://beyondmediatv.com/

 

#559...newsflash: Intelligent life detected at AOL!

newsflash:  

intelligent life detected at aol:

http://www.calacanis.com/2005/11/26/on-the-aol-journals-advertising-mini-brouhaha/

my comment:

Thanks for this post Jason - I appreciate your ability to think through the issues and see the bigger picture.

For me, the ads were a wrong move, but the disreguard of customer loyalty, and their wishes and desires is even worse.  And AOL's blatant inability or lack of desire to communicate and negotiate is unforgiveable.

I've been through all the aol growing pains - all the way back to the days of paying by the minute.  I've earned the right to protest. And so I do.

It's unfortunate that the execs are ignorant to what the customers already know - which is that AOL is a train wreck happening in slow motion - obscenely fascinating, but at the same time, horrifying to watch.

Some of us are just here to mourn the death of something that was once good.

And some of us are just hanging around to see it finally crumple.

And the real shame is that the whole thing was/is totally preventable.

But they'll never learn that.

 

yah. go ahead  - you can comment too!

AntiJournalsAds

#558...on being un-"ad"-ulterated

 

un"ad"-ulterated posts continue here---->

http://journals.aol.co.uk/floralilia/FreelyFloraliliadoesEurope/

#557...and AOL can't count either.

"The decision to implement banner advertising on AOL Journals is consistent with our business and advertising practices," AOL spokeswoman Kathie Brockman said in an e-mail. The company, which hosts about 600,000 blogs, received several dozen complaints about the advertisements and is taking suggestions into consideration, she said."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/22/AR2005112201648.html?referrer=emailarticlepg

HEY AOL, try adding a few zeros' behind those complaint numbers..

several dozen my royal arse....

Tag: AntiJournalsAds

#556...Righto, I'm moving out of the Country.

Meet me under Big Ben...

http://journals.aol.co.uk/floralilia/FreelyFloraliliadoesEurope/

 

git yer ad-free plane ticket rightcheer:

http://edit.journals.aol.co.uk/_do/create_blog

 

need to find someone?  go here-->

http://journals.aol.com/pattboy92/TheGreatExodus/entries/802

 

Tag: AntiJournalsAds

#555...(or is that 666?)...on movie quotes and aolhell

                                       

Howard Beale: I don't have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It's AOL. Everybody's out of commission or scared of losing their journals. The dollar buys a nickel's worth of aol time, journals are going bust, journalkeepers keep a hidden alternate blog under the counter. AOLPunks are running wild in the street and there's nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there's no end to it. We know the air is unfit to breathe and our journal is unfit to read, and we sit watching our screens while some local aol hired blogger tells us that today we had fifteen outages and sixty-three violent crashes as if that's the way it's supposed to be. We know things are bad - worse than bad. They're crazy. It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the journals we've been writing in is getting smaller, and all we say is, 'Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and my steel-belted radials and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone.' Well, I'm not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad! I don't want you to protest. I don't want you to riot - I don't want you to write to your congressman because I wouldn't know what to tell you to write. I don't know what to do about the corporate greed and the ad banners and the programmers and the crime in the control room. All I know is that first you've got to get mad.
Howard Beale: [shouting] You've got to say, 'I'm a HUMAN BLOGGER, Goddamnit! My journal has VALUE!' So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell,
[shouting]
Howard Beale: 'I'M AS MAD AS HELL,AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!' I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell - 'I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Things have got to change. But first, you've gotta get mad!... You've got to say, 'I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Then we'll figure out what to do about the ad banners and the non working buttons and the slime lords. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it:
Howard Beale: [screaming at the top of his lungs] "I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

from now on, you can find me here:

http://floraliliahere.blogspot.com/

 

Tag: AntiJournalsAds

#554....Aol only thinks their shiza doesn't stink....

snifff....

 

i smell a stampede.

http://floraliliahere.blogspot.com/

oh, and guess how I had to post this....jump on at Explorer - go to aolmail.com, sign in - go to my journal - and then add an entry.

yah.

why would I think I should just be able to post here at aolhell...

oh, "they're working it. "

yeah. well work on this aol!

 

Tag: AntiJournalsAds

#553...Good morning, AOLHELL

Good morning aolhell.

Thanks for waking me up with yet another kick in the ass.

Thanks for whoring out my journal for me in the middle of the night when I wasn't looking.

Thanks for yet another day of customer UNappreciation. You really are king in that department. You must mistake me for a masochist. I'm not.

Thanks to the advertisers, who once again, found a way to jam their sh*t down my throat and any other dark orifice they can find...

For that service, you can most assuredly assume and damn well bet that I won't be visiting or patronizing ANY of your services. So continue wasting your money on useless ad campaigns like this if you like. Pissing off a potential customer is not a good way to do or make new business in case you didn't know. But you should have already learned that one if Marketing 101.

Perhaps you were distracted by your greed.

Thanks AOL for once again, giving me a chance to stretch out my legs over at BLOGSPOT a very pleasant, fully functioning, customer friendly, FREE journal community that even has prettier backgrounds than you do - I'm getting to like it there.

Thanks AOL.

Yah, Thanks for nothing.

TAKE THE ADS DOWN IMMEDIATELY

OR PAY ME

TO PROMOTE YOUR ADVERTISERS HERE.

update:  a reply to my complaint letter

Dear Andrea,

I understand from your recent e-mail that you are requesting for the advertisements to be removed from the AOL Journals.

Unfortunately, it is not possible at this time to resize or remove the advertisements on the window. I apologize for the inconvenience this may cause you.

We are sorry to receive your complaint, though we know that honest and constructive criticism is sometimes necessary to help us fix our mistakes. We are sharing our members' comments with the people who design, build and program the service. Your input is the key to helping us improve the AOL® service.

We know that AOL isn't perfect, and we're working every day to make it better. Though we don't like for our members to be dissatisfied, we're still grateful when they go out of their way to let us know what improvements are most important to them.

Thanks again for your comments. The more we hear from members, the more we know what you think works, what should be improved and what you'd like to see next. Please continue to share your thoughts on how we can make AOL an even better service for you.

Charlize
AOL Customer Care Consultant

hold it...

customer care consultant?

care?

oh, "you...wagging my finger,...you.  you're good."

 

 

Tag: AntiJournalsAds

#552...on cat primers and sleepy kitties.

                                   

See Lucy.
See Lucy sleep.
Sleep Lucy, sleep.
Sleepy kitties sleep in sunbeams.
Sunbeams make kitties sleep.
Sleeping is good.
Sleep Lucy, sleep.
Lucy sleeps in sunbeams when it's sunny.
Sunny sunbeams make Lucy sleepy.
Sunny sunbeams make me sleepy.
Sleeping kitties sleeping in sunbeams make me...... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

           

#551...on being tied up..no wait...

                             

...While waiting for the votes to be tallied, Queen Flora ponders the memories of the last few days of her having to defend the realm of 'Tudicity"....

                          

Which, if you remember, all started with a little nomination....  

that immediately turned into a little sparring with the Italian stallion of
Co-Grandiosity, Madam Glinka ...

                            

    that was then refereed by Andi, also known as the Official Court Biographer, 

                          

Which naturally turned into a little fun mudslinging (or maybe that was just lung mucous) over at Mortimer's Cafe...who then cleverly turned to the pity vote, by  attempting to disqualify himself from the running... 

                           

                     but upon hearing this news the natives grew restless...

                         

Until Sir Superfly B came to her rescue in a brilliant display of chivalry and undying support of the Queen.

(plus, we all know he always up for the chance to wear spandex.)

(and a cape.)

 

                    

then it was off to the realm of Sir Remo, which found Remo being, as usual....

 well, Remo...

               

 Until word got out that Albert developed a nervous case of flatulence -

         

          that seemed to thoroughly annoy the crochety ol' Yakvette to no end...

                      

   As Mortimer and Albert nursed their colds with a more than a few victuals...

                          

The lovely Flora and Mrs. L tastefully coordinated their formal VIVI attire and rehearsed their acceptance speeches...

                             

and incredibly - still there were some of you out there who just couldn't decide...
(or whose price had yet to been met...) 

 

                           ...but ultimately the votes were all counted...

                                          

                          and the final announcement was .......read.

             

                                        

                                            and then again..... re-read...

                          

                          and after a moment or two of contemplation...

 those two dirty little words finally sunk in.  "A tie."

                                 a tie?

               a tie?????!!!

 

                       

well, I suppose it makes for good entertainment....that is - if I were up for the best entertainment, which I wasn't.  You people better pay attention next year.

sheeze.

        

                  Congratulations to yet another evil Co-Queen in the realm,

                              Sir Mortimer the Co-Queen of 'Tudicity!

 

oh, and congratulations to uh...to me too, I guess.

for I dunno -  the best use of journal attitude or something...

                              

                                                        whatevah.

you people are crazy. 

                                                   (but thank you.)

#550...two things..

picked this up from Charley over at Courage

Two Names You Go By:

1. Flettera Floralilia, Queen of the Universe,

2. and, uh...Mom.

Two Parts of Your Heritage

1. my eyes,

2. and my hungarian hips.

Two Things That Scare You

1. tatphallasaurus's,

2. and Albert's eyebrows.

Two of Your Everyday Essentials

1. Coffee, 

2. and uh, coffee.

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now

1. slippers,

2. and a hair-net.

Two of Your Favorite Bands or Musical Artists (at
the moment)

1.  perfect circle , Tool

2. Enigma

Two of Your Favorite Songs (at the moment)

1.  A perfect circle -  counting bodies like sheep

2.  A perfect circle - imagine

Two Things You Want in a Relationship (other than
Real Love)

1. real estate,

2. and the husband's body hair cleaned up in the bathroom.

Two Truths (confessions)

1.  I'm not really blonde.

2.  I'm really harmless.

Two Physical Things that Appeal to You

1.  abundant synapses,

2.  and experience.

Two of Your Favorite Hobbies

1.  eating small children,

2.  and teasing kittens.

Two Things You Want Really Badly  (assuming this means material things...)

1.  a personal attendant,

2.  and a personal attendant.

Two Places You Want to go on Vacation

1.  the moon,

2.  and beyond.

Two Things You Want to Do Before You Die

1.  recover from whatever is making me die,

2.  and finish cleaning out the closets.

Two ways that you are stereotypically a Chick/Guy

1.  I can multitask,

2.  and make babies.

Two things you wouldn't normally admit

1.  I like old people.

2.  and hate babysitting.

 

#549....fair warning

#548...i'm addicted.

egad...

and I had to do this even before I finished my morning coffee...

oh, I can see, I'm not going to get anything done today...

check it out:  http://artpad.art.com/?ipaesq1i79u0

and another:  http://artpad.art.com/?ipbbqk1lkgc

 

 

 

#547...voila! c'est magnifique!

                                       "...In truth - we all can paint." ~sark.

Okay, so I originally intended this entry to be Halloween related, but instead I found myself stumbling onto Andi's entry, Surrender to creativity: Be an Artist for A Day  She discovered this cool site artpad.com -  where you can create a painting with a virtual paintbrush, paintbucket, or pencil - and scribble and dabble and spatter to your heart's content on the virtual canvas.

You can also tour the gallery and send your friends a link to your creation. The best part is that, afterward, you can watch your painting come to life with every stroke of your brush as you designed it.  Hmmm...kinda like ghost painting...

hey!

Now see, this is a halloween post after all - isn't it? 

Here are the links to a couple of my paintings - check them out here:   http://artpad.art.com/?ip9kvnqiv2s

and here:  http://artpad.art.com/?ip9rr0c4xs8

 Make one of your own and leave me a link!

 

#546...halloween carolers

Oh, dashing through the slime
in a big, black shiny hearse,
past witches casting spells
to place a nasty curse -

O'er the tombs we ride,
screeching with delight,
oh what fun it is to sing
a spooky song tonight!

Oh, Halloween...Halloween...
bats are overhead,
now's our chance to play
and dance with all of
the undead!

and after a weekend of 12 hour night shifts, you can bet I'm the Queen of the undead.

happy halloween!             

 

#545...meanwhile, over at the cafe...

Ah, so it appears that the limey green Mortimer is now going for the pity vote...

 

 

Touche M'lord! Touche!  You just got my vote!

#544...on subliminal messages..

vote for flora here....vote for flora here...vote for flora here...vote for flora here....

#543...'a-t&-"tüd, -"tyüd

Just so we're all clear on the meaning.

(Smacking the chalkboard with my pointer...)

All together now class:

Main Entry: at·ti·tude

Pronunciation: 'a-t&-"tüd, -"tyüd

Function: noun

Etymology: French, from Italian attitudine, literally, aptitude, from Late Latin aptitudin-, aptitudo fitness -- more at APTITUDE

1 : a position assumed for a specific purpose ( Flora) 
2 : a ballet position similar to the arabesque in which the raised leg is bent at the knee ( Albert)
3 a : a mental position with regard to a fact or state (Mortimer)
   b : a feeling or emotion toward a fact or state (Yakvette)
4 : an organismic state of readiness to respond in a characteristic way to a stimulus (as an object, concept, or situation) ( Mrs. L)
5 a : a negative or hostile state of mind (Remo)
   b : a cocky or arrogant manner (...uh, Remo)

Pronunciation Key

(hmm...maybe you all knew what you were doing afterall....)

The polls are officially open - now shoo!  <-----click

#542...The Official Floralilian Vivi-tude Proclamation

And the 2005 nominees for BEST USE OF ATTITUDE are:

Albert's World of Artsy Fun - lamove04
Do I Amuse You? - yakvette
Freely Floralilia,the official journal of pointless posting - floralilia
Mortimer's Cafe - luvmort
Mrs. Linklater's Guide to the Universe - jevanslink
Screamin' Remo - screaminremo303

uh... yeah. 

thanks.

a -lot.

Here Ye! Here Ye!

By order of the Co-Queen of Grandiosity, also known as Flettera Floralilia, the self proclaimed Queen of Pointless Posting, and author of the newly nominated FF- OJ -OPP, (my, but that does have a ring to it, eh?)

and also known as the wearer of the partially grown out gray roots and old lady slippers, doth hereby want it to be known to all that doth enter this said virtual premisis that:

A.  She is hereby accepting the nomination (and expects to win) the Best use of  Journal 'tude but only under the following conditions.

That I. The said Queen does NOT have to unnecessarily color her hair for this or any other co-nomination from this day forward.

That II. The said Queen does not have to get dressed in garments that unnecessarily constrict her breathing (specifically: underwire bras.) unless there be jogging, and so to avoid jiggling, that may be involved near the virtual finish line, if so needed.

That III. The same Queen does not need to wear fake eyelashes to bed (unlike Albert) in case she were to be awakened suddenly by hordes of uninvited paparazzi demanding a royal bedhead photo-op.

That IV.  That the infamous Mrs. L - promises to keep her voluminous vulvi properly covered at all times, even if she does wear mittens made from the hair of her husbands back, and cardboard boxes on her size 14 feet.

That V.  That the plebian Renee Russo poser, Yakvette, keeps her "giggity giggity" to a minimum whilst she routinely overindulges hers (and our) overactive imaginations.

That VI. The very lime green Mr. Mortimer Shagadelic swiftly and efficiently stage, in my honor, a royal jousting event between every tataphallasaurus left munching - uh no, strike that....for that would be just tooo ugly...

That VII.  That OFSR (Officer Friendly ScreaminRemo) return my stretching rack immediately. He can, however, keep the handcuffs but not the rack nor my cat-o-ninetails. The (sordid) details are none of your business. What.

Let it also be known beforehand that a special dispensation and pardon will be granted to all who enter the 'Tude Holy War of Nomination in the event that things get kinda ugly before this is all over.

For remember, my contemporary "O'tudies", not only do you have to deal with the Queen of 'Tudicity, moi - but also my Co-Queen, Albert the fair-y.  (And He's cranky even when he isn't on his rag.)

Therefore, you all have been justly and uniformly forewarned with extreme verbosity, in a manner that would please the most obfuscating sesquipedalian.

And so with that, let the games begin.

 

 

Oh, and an official PS:  aspecial thank you to all who wanted to see me join into this...this...circus.  A pox on your children I say.

#541....dammit.

Just when I thought it was safe to let my roots grow out -

somebody went ahead and nominated the OJ-OPP (the Official Journal of Pointless Posting) here for the 2005 VIVI awards.

             

 (and I was thisss close too...)  Dammit.

(sigh)

fine. have it your way.

but I'm tellin ya right now that I'm drawing the line at having to get dressed every day  - and you can damn well bet I'm going to continue to wear white socks with my flip flops too when I feel like it. (Because the weather isn't cooperating here either.)

Keep it up, and I might just be inclined to issue an Official Floralilian Proclamation...

hey, on second thought...

#540....on scary halloween pictures

Be afraid....be very afraid......

Scary...

 

Scarier...

  

        (^  Mr. b as "crispy burnt toast man.")

Scariest.

   

shivering.....

 

 

#539...on editing buttons.

   

Ah, the power of the fuzz button.

Almost as good as a big bottle of Botox I tell ya....

 

So I decided to do a little J-Land housecleaning.  Look, I painted and rearranged the furniture ...do you like the new digs?

 

#538....on living.

"I don't want to get to the end of my life

and find that I have just lived the length of it.

I want to have lived the width of it as well."

– Diane Ackerman

 

"Well, that esplains it Lucy"

 -  I'm busy living wide.

 

#537.....in case you were wondering...

okay, this is my brain before morning coffee: 

look at the chart and say out loud - the color of the word, not the word.

YELLOW     BLUE    ORANGE
BLACK       RED           GREEN
PURPLE    YELLOW    RED
ORANGE    GREEN   BLACK
BLUE           RED      PURPLE
GREEN      BLUE   YELLOW   **

sip....

and now, this is my brain exactly after my morning coffee:

YELLOW     BLUE    ORANGE
BLACK       RED           GREEN
PURPLE    YELLOW    RED
ORANGE    GREEN   BLACK
BLUE           RED      PURPLE
GREEN      BLUE   YELLOW

aahhh....

and I am infinitely more pleasant now too...

** it's a right/left brain kinda conflict thing....right side sees the color - left side insists on reading the word.  coffee - glues it together.

and that is my very unscientific, yet proven, opinion.

#536....whatevah.

 

http://www.sockheads.net/media/whatever.ram

#535...on rages of a different kind. The Choking Game.

Thanks to Sister Rose Pacatte, old ghosts came back to haunt me today.

And some ghosts, it seems, never learn to die...

And so, I thought I should do a little Ghostbusting of my own today, and hope you all will please join me with getting the word out - even if it's only in your own home, or own street, or school, or community.

for Ghostbusting you see, is really an easy task - real ghosts just hate it when we talk about them - it scares them away.

It switches the lights on.

It wakes the neighbors.

It opens the closet door on them for all to see.

and as an extra, extra, bonus - some kids will hate you for it -

for busting up their playtime - for being a kill joy - for "over-reacting" -

for being uncool.

for being a parent. (You know, exactly the kinda stuff we live for..)

Now gather closer peoples and listen up.  This alert just might save your child's life.  I'm not kidding.

Please read the story of Sister's nephew, Gabriel - who died accidentally while playing a very dangerous "game" - called the choking game.  Visit his mother's website - devoted to Gabriel, and who has worked herself to exhaustion trying to get the word out - so that he did not die in vain.

Yes, you heard right, the choking game.

Also called the Passing Out game, or Spacemonkeying, or The Dreaming Thing game... “suffocation game,” “blackout,” “funky chicken,” “space monkey,” “flatliner,” “tingling,” “suffocation roulette,” “space cowboy,” “knockout,” “gasp,” and “rising sun,” to name a few. (kids can be so creative.)

My own ghost, is now 11 years old.  I thought we were an isolated event.  I never realized how far reaching, how pervasive, and how persistent this children's game still is

today.

This game is in your own town, right around the next corner, the next block, or maybe even in your next room.

My ghost came into my house on a beautiful clear sunny day - when my daughter who wasjust 12 or so, came bounding into the house - laughing and giggling, eager to tell me about this cool game that her friend had just "done to her."  (Three words a mother never, evah, evah, evah, wants to hear...)

"Mom! - guess what (name intentionally omitted) just taught me - let me see if I can do it to you!..."  "It's really fun - it makes you feel like you're almost going to pass out and it makes you tingly all over!.."

Immediately, I felt my parental antennae go up...and a cold chill go down my spine.

My daughter - my vibrant, intelligent, honor student, beautiful, christianity awarded, innocent, young daughter - proceeded to then tell me and demonstrate how her friend applied pressure on either side of her neck - "right here" (over the carotid arteries)...

"...and Mom!  I almost passed out!"  "Everything went black and my ears were ringing.." "It was really funny..." "and afterward I got all tingly all over!"  "Joey even fell to the ground - hysterical laughing...and then he did it to the other kids and now they're all out there now trying learn how to do it."

WHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAATTT!!!!  I screamed..

At that point - complete horror turned to anger and every fiber of my being had to be held in check to not reach out and strangle my incredibly stupid innocent daughter for myself.  (That would be considered justifiable homicide, right?)

My daughter looked at me dumbfounded as I immediately grew my second head and ran outside to break up the little choking ring that was taking place right on my own front lawn. 

The other kids immediately noticed my two heads too, as I freaked out on all of them for being so stupid. (It's a parent thing)  Once I calmed down, I explained exactly what they were doing to each other physically, and asked them if they understood how dangerous and deadly this game is and could get. I asked them how they would feel if they accidently killed their friend - or themselves..with this game.

Upon hearing that - they were amazed that I now grew a third head - and honestly didn't believe that kind of thing could ever happen. "But it's only a game!"

In the end, all of the parents got called, as well as the school, and the pediatricians. I happened to sever a couple of my daughters friendships for her too, as a result.

Incredibly, some parents even thought I was "over-reacting". Ya know, making a mountain out of a mole-hill -   "It's just kids being kids..."

Unfortunately for them, I'm still waiting to lose sleep over that.

Please, talk to your kids. Familiarize yourself with the warning signs, find out which monsters are hiding out in their closets or under their beds.....

After all, when all is said and done - your kids and their friends will be around to hate you for it.

but that, we can all live with.

 

I'm curious - Anyone else out there have their own story? 

 

for more info: 

http://www.stilllovingmygabriel.com/

http://www.ksbitv.com/home/1839477.html?video=YLO

#534...because it's all the rage...

and...

it's pointless.

Take my Quiz   <------go ahead, I double dare ya.

 

#533...on getting old.

 I'm old. 

And I guess my memory just ain't what it used to be -

So many thanks to Conzo - for wishing me a Happy Journal Anniversary Birthday wish today. 

Without her reminder - It would have completely slipped through my head today, cause obviously there is no one up there minding the store lately - (and I suspect some of you already know this.)

yessireebob - I be two years old today.

And in journal years - that's ancient I tell ya.

And just like a toddler - little did I know what I was getting into then....or now...

So hat's off - and Happy birthday to... well, me.

And many heartfelt thanks to each one of you for sticking around me, and to me, and by me, after all these two years - in spite of my big old bad self.

thinking... we really are just one big extended fambly, eh?

cool.

 

 

 

#532...on crisp blue skies...

The sky is as blue today as it was four years ago - but the horror of that day is still no less horrific.

9-11 remembered - a personal pilgrimage.   Full moon. (Blue moon actually) November 30, 2001.
    
"So profoundly sad." 
    
     Three words that kept going through my mind and heart over and over.  Simply, I was not prepared to be as moved again as I was while watching the terror events unfold as they happened in the early morning hours of September 11. 

     We arrived at about 1 p.m., maybe it was 1:30 p.m., to a hauntingly quiet and devastated Ground Zero, now a huge gaping hole of twisted steel and pulvertized concrete; still surreal, so completely unbelievable.           

     People were scattered in pockets here and there, some quietly going about their work, other people simply there, as we were, to experience it.  To burn it into our memories, to notice the small and hideous details, to try in some small way to comprehend the incomprehensible. 

     All around me, and in every part of town, New Yorkers were in pain; yet bore their pain openly with strength, and dignity and quiet resolve.  Standing as sentinels over their lost children, over their lost structures, over their lost skyline.  And still, we (technically outsiders) were welcomed into their home and greeted with kindness and tolerance.  (I wondered if they realize we are as proud of their city as they are.)
  
     I looked closely at the blend of people around me.  Every face was different, every nationality was present, but together we shared a common feeling of loss, and tragedy, and pain.  
    
     Oh, there were other emotions too, embarrassing, ugly, and unwanted ones in this, now holy place.  It felt dirty and wrong to be feeling anything other than sadness here.  But the more I absorbed first hand, the hugeness of this obscenity before me and allowed the senselessness of this tragedy to seep into me; I couldn't help but become angry and crave immediate revenge.

     And justice. 

     And punishment.

     (Damn - you just do not use innocent people as guided missiles!)

     We walked around and saw an entire street covered with memorials to those lives lost, and as of yet, unidentified or recovered bodies some two and a half months later...so thorough was their destruction.

    Mountains of trinkets and teddy bears and photographs and prayers and candles and flowers and love notes...Oh God, and look, a child's desperate plea to the Virgin Mary, his carefully framed and documented hopes for the return of his lost young father - a calendar with the words "Said 200 Hail Mary's for Daddy" hand scribbled inside each and every day for the month of October.

     And policemen quietly standing guard.

     And the firemen continuing the recovery efforts.

     And workers clearing the rubble.

     And the people's tears.

     And the small choking gasps.

     And the held back sobs.

     And the overwhelming and heavy quiet that hung in the air.  As thick and heavy as the stench of the still smoldering fires and cement dust, and jet fuel, and probably dead bodies.
 
     I understand evilness today.  I believe now.
 
     An overcast day, mild in temperament, unusual for November, but then, nothing about this place is usual anymore.  Huge neighboring buildings were draped in shrouds of black netting, I suppose to contain the dust, but more importantly, to contain the souls and the battle scars of a nation at war.

     No warning.

     One building, mortally wounded, held as its shrapnel, a massive piece of the towers, a hundred or more foot section, all twisted and mangled.  Hideously jutting out of its side, halted only by the compacted debris as it literally tried to cleave the building in two.

     And the steam shovels droned on, and the cranes raked away debris.  And the quiet calmed and soothed us.

     Two men up over there to the right, on scaffolding some twenty stories high, intently power-washing a building, dressed in yellow slickers and yellow hard hats - easy to find against the black soot that covered the entire skyscraper...

     My husband's angered whisper:  "We should bring every one of those bastards here and say, "Here. Now clean it up. Clean every last damn bit of it up."  I watched as my daughter collected a long piece of yellow police tape that was blowing along the sidewalk.  I fought to hold my tears in check.

     Silently, respectfully, we watched the whole procession of the victim's families, a full city block long, four abreast in line, walk in complete silence, along and past the memorials and into the restricted site - an area reserved for "Authorized Personnel Only."
 
     "Your pain is our pain too,"  I told a grieving widow with my eyes.  Together we blinked our tears away.  And high above us all, draped from yet another wounded building, hung Old Glory - big and bright and strong; unashamed and unafraid - a huge comfort, actually.

     And there on the ground, under a bush, near a cobblestone curb, a fireman's wrench, still covered with terror dust.  We brought it home for safekeeping.  It felt wrong to leave it there, unattended and alone, open to the elements.  I wondered whose hands had once curled around it....

     I made my children take notice of every detail that day, and reminded them that this was their "Pearl Harbor," not yet sanitized and memorialized, as time would undoubtedly do.  But this, their Pearl Harbor, is open, and bleeding and dirty and new.

     And they did study, thoroughly and carefully, the sight before them.  I was almost afraid to meet their eyes, or answer their questions.  For somehow I felt that we, as a nation, had let all of our children down as their protectors, by not guarding our shores better.  Ashamed that this now, is part of their young lives.  And I grieved the loss of their  innocence, taken from them suddenly and without warning.

     Ashamed too, that as a nation, patriotism had somehow become unfashionable.

     That is not a good lesson to teach our children.

     Well, no more.  At least not in this house.

~floralilia
  11-30-01

 

#531...it's all in the pictures.

 

Yep.  Good ol' george is really ready to work now... see -

                      

                          

his sleeves are rolled up today.

 

               

 

#530...Okay, call me a Nancy Drew geek if you want.

                 

I knew all those hours reading Nancy Drew would pay off.  Oh yes, Flora here, did a little sleuthing of her own today to help the victims of Katrina.

So, I suppose, like more than a few of you - I found it a bit frustrating to get through to the American RedCross online to make a donation - I couldn't connect to the servers because (I thought) of the volume of hits. And calling them too - 1-800- HELP NOW connected me to only busy signals.

But persistance paid off today, and I finally got through online and via phone. Why both Flora? Well, folks, let me tell you. 

Why? Because I was UNABLE  to donate via their online site.  Yahoo donated a merchant account to the RedCross, to be able to handle the flood of donation, the Redcross, in turn designed and published a webpage to take donations, or so they thought...

what they designed was a virtual store, not a donation site.  So when you go to send a donation - it asks for shipping and billing information.   WHAT!?

So I call the 800 number a few times (busy again today) but I am a patient Queen and called called again, until I finally got through.  I spoke with a nice girl in Atlanta and made my donation (which, by the way, took infinitely longer than it would doing it online).  And then I told her about the problem with the website.  She was pleasant, but didn't know who to go to get it fixed.  She didn't seem to really understand the problem though either.

So back I go to the website and search for contact numbers for Redcross - I decide to call the Almighty Yahoo Geeks because they host and help me with my site too www.believablebalderdash.com (<----you just knew I'd get that in there somewhere, eh?)

- who verified the problem with the RedCross site - unfortunately - it was out of their hands because Yahoo only donated the account and does not create or manage the site itself. 

So back I go to get the National RedCross headquarters phone number in Washington, DC - cause dammit, I'm a woman on a mission now...

only to get, rather, not get connected to a filled voice mailbox.  Shoot.  Okay, this now calls for a fresh pot of coffee...

.....brewing.....

So - then the lightbulb goes off - (Amazing what wonders a good cuppastarbucksjoe can do..)

and I locate my local chapter of the RedCross - in Philly - and talked to a nice young gentleman named Gaylord (don't you just love that name?) that runs the Philly RedCross website. -

Gaylord was genuinely alarmed (because he is a geek and immediately understood the problem) and was very thankful that I persisted and brought it to his attention - and would try to get the info to the proper people at the RedCross website Headquarters - people which he didn't exactly know who they were was just yet...

but at least the ball is rolling now...

Here's the thing:  Gaylord and I both realize that this nation as a collective whole has the attention span of a teenage hummingbird on speed. People try once, twice, three times, to give away their hard-earned money - and then after that - well, they go out and buy a pair of  new shoes.

"We'll I tried...."  (Oh, come now - don't act surprised.  I'm guilty of it, too.)

You all know that in a week or two - we're all going to come down with a case of Hurricane Katrina Burnout - and become concerned with our own daily grind, and all the worries that come with that - as well as all the new worldwide crises that seem to change as quickly as the local diner's soup du jour.

People are horrified and want to help in big ways now, not later.  They dig deeper into their pockets today - not tommorrow. 

Which btw, can someone tell me why the rest of the globe is not rushing to our aid in this crisis - which, in my opinion is some ways worse - because we are dealing with misplaced and homeless LIVING people?  Don't get me wrong - but I feel the problems are infinitely more complicated with this disaster in the long run.

- but that is a whole other rant I'll save for another rainy day.

Anyway- (see I can write long long posts...when I feel moved to) - back to the task at hand today:

So the ball is rolling - my sleuthing paid off and I hope they fix it soon. Until then, they're losing millions.  Gaylord - assured me he will do what he can.  I also alerted CNN, MSNBC and the Associated Press. (Oh yes, I did.)

So to recap and for those of you who are lousy speedreaders: 

Skip the .org site, skip the busy 800 number -

Right now, you can easily donate through your local chapters of the RedCross - Here is a link to find your local chapter:  http://www.redcross.org/where/chapts.asp

and be sure to SPECIFY your donations to go to the Hurricane Relief fund. Gaylord told me they cannot co-mingle the funds. Once that Hurricane fund is exhausted - that's it. 

Righto - I'm probably at the 20k limit now - so I did what I could today - what are you going to do?

 

#529...on getting the paper.

This morning, I didn't have to crawl out of my roof to get the paper.

in fact, this morning - I still had a roof.

how bout you?

The RedCross servers are jammed.

call 1-800-Help-Now

that's 1-800-435-7669 to make your donation.

 

 

#528...On the word of the day:

 Say it, spell it, use it in a sentence, folks.

Unctuous.

 

unctuous \UNGK-choo-us\, adjective:
   1.  Of the nature or quality of an unguent or ointment; fatty;
   oily; greasy.
   2. Having a smooth, greasy feel, as certain minerals.
   3.  Insincerely or excessively suave or ingratiating in manner
   or   speech;   marked  by  a  false  or  smug  earnestness  or
   agreeableness.

         She recalled being offended by the "phoniness" that stemmed
     from  the contradiction between her President's charming, even
     unctuous public manner and her anger in private.
     --Floralilia, [2] Floralilia And the Making of 'The
     Presidential Mystique'

     He  approached  the public wearing a smile so unctuous it seemed
     about to slide right off his face.
     --Floralilia, [3]The Boy
     _________________________________________________________

   Unctuous  is from Medieval Latin unctuosus, from Latin unctus,
   "anointed, besmeared, greasy," past participle of unguere, "to
   anoint, to besmear."

 

#527...okay, this time -

I'm really back.

now as far as posting a few thoughts...

well, I'll get back to you on that one later.

except this...

What good are pumps to a breeched levee if you don't plan for downed electricity in the same event?  (This isn't monday morning quarterbacking - this is just plain ol disaster relief planning for a city that lives below sea, river, and lake level, logic...)

seems someone shoulda divided that long division problem out one step further...eh?

oh, and this one:

Thank you George, for cutting back your vacation at the Okay Corral - that was big of you - but as far as going back to Washington to supervise relief efforts - why don't  you have to fly over Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama first?...I'm just saying...

yah, your minions might have liked to see your support in person, not from San Diego, doncha think?

And speaking about ol George Dubya - I hereby vote him forever forward to be known as the "Bad Luck President" .  Wherever he is - disaster follows.

Think about it.

I'm convinced he's the curse of this nation.  Someone please call in the exorcists - double time.

 

In the meantime - Prayers to the vicitims of Hurricane Katrina.

 

#526....I'm Baaaaack!!!!

not.

hee.

 

#525...on happiness.

If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator.

-W. Beran Wolfe

 
and with that I am off to the beach for a few days - hold the fort down for me guys.  

be back soon............

xoxo 

 

(and thanks, cuzsnookie, for the quote!)  

#524...recalcitrant ramblings

"Oh come on, how long are we going to milk this entry?  
Comment from chasingmoksha - 8/11/05 12:11 AM "

(this, in response to my last crusty old entry....)

milking done, sheeze. 

Let's see what kind of inane dribble I can muster up for you this morning. Without my first morning coffee even.  So here we go - recalcitrant ramblings from a muffled mind....

okay, I'll bring you all up to speed on my life of late.  Call the Enquirer, wake the neighbors if you must.

I'm doing a speed update here and in no particualar order - so feel free to insert periods or commas where you think you might need to catch a breath....

big inhale....

So every once in a while we find ourselves in a predicament of uninvited intentions and unexpected events, and the Queen herself has found herself in just such a jam -  and in more than a few areas of her life of late. All of which has precluded her from posting frivilous flimflammery of late. Case in point:

The Queen has dutifully, yet unmindedly, volunteered her services as unit newsletter editor and unit council member at her place of employment for the last year or so (for even the reigning Queen of Pointlessness position doesn't pay well, doncha know) - and thereby unwittingly got sucked into the big void of employment underappreciation and uninvited free demands on her already limited free time. 

Now couple that with the fact that the Queen has also fallen into the deep dark well of addiction, with her drug of choice being little glass beads and baubles and shiny things all linked together on some little fine strings...and like all good addictions, the addiction has spread like wildfire (with some smaller circles having now dubbed it "Housewife Ecstacy") and so now more and more people want a piece of her fine talents and some even go so far as to call her the Beading Temptress from Hell.

Not that I mind that, mind you - it's good for business.  (Insert plug here: www.believablebalderdash.com) And chasingmokska up there, can attest to that now - can't you dahling?   

Now take that couple and couple that with the fact that the Queen has decided that there just might be something to this latest "fad" of exercising, and so - has been dutifully hitting the gym every single damn day for the last few weeks and has also been dragging her sorry assed stent inbedded husband against his stubborn will too - because she is still the reigning Queen and knows what's good for him.

Now take that triplet and couple it with the fact that we should all offer daily support (because there but for the grace of God go I ) to our Miss Pam, (and now my brother-in-law) -  in their struggle with the Beast of All Beasts,  the "terrorist extreme" of the medical field - the cruel and unjust - the one who seeks to destroys innocent hard working people - the unwanted houseguest who doesn't know when to leave - the parasitic seeker and wrecker of normalcy - the sleeping sleaze of sneakiness - (shall I go on? I could ya know..)  yep - you got it - the big C... 

Because she is a firm believer in keeping the strength of love and family to see them through.  And she also believes it's up to all of us to keep the candles lit along their path so that they can find their ways more easily out of the darkness...

Now take that quadruplet and couple it with the fact that summer fun is still summer fun and you know what that means - yep, gardening, cleaning, powerwashing decks, staining, garage sales, reading, barbie-q-ing, laughing, imbibing, catching fireflies, walking in thunderstorms, swatting mosquitoes, laying by the pool, and soon the ocean and the sand...has kept her a tad busy and guilty of the dreaded j-land lag...

So there you have it - forgive me.

Now can I have my coffee?

 

 

#523...because it's worth another entry..

                                               Desiderata

      Go placidly amid the noise and haste & remember what peace there may be in silence.  As far as possible be on good terms with all persons.  Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull & the ignorant, they too have their story.

     Avoid loud and agressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.  If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain & bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.  Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.  Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.  Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.  But let this not blind you to what virture there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.  Be yourself...

     Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity & disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.  Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.  Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.  But do not distress yourself with imaginings.  Many fears are born of fatigue and lonliness.  Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees or the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, the universe is unfolding as it should.

     Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be; and whatever your labors & aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life - keep peace with your soul.  With all of its slum, drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.  Be careful. Strive to be happy.

                                               ~Max Ehrmann

 

#522... ya know....

I should be posting something. But I actually have nothing to say.

 

except.  I'm having fun reading everyone else's journals.

 

carry on~

 

#521...carnivaol invite

 

plittle has started a new journal - and wants your submissions...run - shoo - submit!

 

                          carnivaol <-------------click there.

 

 

#520...the monday (now wednesday) photo shoot.

it's cool down time at the Floralilian compound!...

 

 

#519...on reminders

 

                         Succulent Wisdom <-------go there.

#518...on backpacks and bombs

An open note to the bombers in London -

 

That's right, leave your dirty little packages and run, run far away -

cowards.

There is no honor in what you do. 

You accomplish nothing except to kill innocent people. 

Except on good days, when you manage to take a few of yourselves with them.

 

 

#517......

 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....................snort..zzzzzzzzzzz........

 

 

#516...on firefly faeries

       By day, the woods behind my house are heavy with summer leaves, tall grasses and wildflowers, birds singing and flying to and from birdfeeders, stopping occasionally for a quick fluttery bath in a sun-warmed puddle, rabbits and gophers, chipmunks and wild geese seaching for food, or materials to reinforce their nests. Seasonal sounds too, surround me of clicking cicadas and busy bees hurrying from flower to flower - their legs heavy with pollen, and constant movement - butterflies gathering nectar fluttering on the wind - leaves and branches swaying to a gentle breeze, sunflowers following the setting sun...

But with the twighlight, the noises quiet and the landscape is changed slowly, slowly, as to slip by without wanting to be noticed. The breeze dies down, the birds settle in for the night, and wild creatures take their refuge - knowing the show is about to begin. 

And then as if on a whisper, comes the magic. One by one, the night sky begins to shimmer as soft glowing lights fill the trees and tall grasses, and rolling hills. It's a time where, in this mystical transformation, the smallest of the small, the seemingly insignificant and unnoticed take charge of the night and transfix the world. Transforming the landscape into a mystical realm, a surreal fantasyland of light and magic. 

Sssh - the firefly fairies have begun their dance.

#515...on smashing comets

 

Well, those wonderful Astronomy nerds over at NASA are at it again - this time, shooting 820 lb beer barrels at passing snowballs....

listen to the audio bits here -

 http://www.usatoday.com/tech/graphics/deep_impact/flash.htm

and here -

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/graphics/deep_impact/flash.htm

 

ya just gotta love men who reach for the stars...

 

 

 

#514...on the five most important words I heard today.

 "...i believe, flora...i believe."
                ~ pam.

 

and now my day is perfect.

                     ~atta girl, my leetle coconut...

 

#513...on live 8

 

 

                                                         

so, my daughter called me from the Live 8 concert in Philly - where she is but a mere drop in an ocean of people attending the free Live 8 Concert to raise awareness of the poverty in Africa.

To report about:

the huge traffic fight to get downtown,

her huge blisters on her flipflop footed feet from walking blocks upon blocks (what was she thinking?..),

her aching shoulders from carrying equipment, food, (beer) except of course, the forgotten sunblock..,

her temporarily lost boyfriend because he went to look for the group of friends they were to rondevouz with...,

her not being able to see the stage, but can hear the music...and can see some of the big screens...,

her hitting the jackpot on porta-potties (25 of them in a row behind her),

and her having a good time, in spite of it all...

I told her - "that's nice."

but that I'm watching it close up and globally from the comforts of my air-conditioned home, comfy chair, real toilets, ice cubed drinks, while bare-footed and blister free....

all via satellite feeds from AOL...

and these kids think we don't have a clue...

enjoy the "live" show you young whippersnappers.....

evil smile.

 

 

#512...on helping hands and lending ears...

and offering support.

 

Please take a moment and visit Pam of  Just One Girls Head Noise- she could really use you right now.

 

 

 

#511...oh yeah, we rock. Ernie is officially saved.

Thank you to everyone who heeded the call!  This just in:

In an unexpected move yesterday afternoon, the House of Representatives approved a measure to restore $100 million of funding for NPR, PBS and local public stations.1 Republican leaders were proposing to slash $200 million from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, but you helped stop them.

Everyone said it was impossible to reverse any of the House cuts with Republicans in control. Yesterday's Washington Post described the divide between Democrats and Republicans like this:

"[O]n Capitol Hill, it's hard to find a Republican with anything nice to say about National Public Radio or the Public Broadcasting Service. Instead, they denounce them as liberal and elitist, when they bother to talk about them at all."2

Public broadcasting shouldn't divide Republicans and Democrats. More Americans trust NPR and PBS for balanced news and children's programming than any commercial network.3 Yet many Republicans have been intent on either gagging or starving public broadcasting.

So why did 87 Republicans break with the majority of their party and vote to restore the funding? In large part, because over 1 million of you signed the petition calling on Congress to reverse course. And over 40,000 of you made phone calls to your elected representatives. There was a surge of public outrage that couldn't be ignored. This victory was possible because we were joined by Free Press, Common Cause and strong allies in the House—Representatives Markey, Obey, Lowey, Dingell, Hinchey, Watson, Schakowsky, Blumenauer, Eshoo, Slaughter, and Leach, a brave Republican.

Despite this incredible progress, the House Republicans did manage to cut over $100 million, including funding for children's programming like "Sesame Street." We'll take our fight to the Senate when it considers the budget later this summer. But yesterday's vote makes it much more likely we can restore every last cent for NPR and PBS by acting together.

Yesterday also brought darker news in the fight for public broadcasting. The Republican-dominated board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) hired a former Republican National Committee chair as the next president, injecting partisanship into the very organization designed to shield public broadcasting from political meddling.4 This is only the latest effort by White House allyand CPB board chair Kenneth Tomlinson to remake public broadcasting as a partisan mouthpiece. Tosave NPR and PBS, we'll need to take on Tomlinson, but today we showed that the public can and will defend public broadcasting from partisan attack.

For now, we have a lot to be thankful for. Our kids can keep learning from PBS' children's programming. We can keep enjoying public broadcasting's in-depth, trustworthy news and cultural offerings. Most of all, we can be thankful for the ability of ordinary people to band together and do extraordinary things.

Thank you, for all you do,

–Noah, Joan, Marika, Wes and the MoveOn.org Team
  Friday, June 24th, 2005

P.S. Your Congressman, Rep. Gerlach, voted the right way on NPR and PBS funding.5 You can call to thank him at 202-225-4315.

Please let us know if you call at:

http://www.moveon.org/call?tg=FHPA_06&cp_id=42&id=5703-6115103-adzUKNraipbvMTAn6m063A

Sources:
1. "House votes to keep most PBS funding intact," USA Today, June 23, 2005
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-06-23-pbs-funding_x.htm

2. "Opponents On Different Wavelengths," Washington Post, June 23, 2005
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/22/AR2005062202294.html

3. "CPB's 'Secrets and Lies': Why the CPB Board Hid its Polls Revealing Broad Public Support for PBS and NPR," Center for Digital Democracy, April 27, 2005
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=746

4. "Public Broadcasting Chief Is Named, Raising Concerns," New York Times, June 24, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/24/politics/24broadcast.html

5. Roll Call Vote in House of Representatives (An "aye" vote is the right vote.)
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll305.xml