Category Archives: Flickr

Wii bowling at the retirement home

Posted on by
2
Flickr

Today being the third Saturday of the month, some of us from the “nurturing” team at Holy Moly/St Nicholas were at Asbury Park for the ecumenical service we do. On my way in, I spotted this on the schedule board for the day: there we are at 10:30, in direct competition with the Wii Bowling.

And let me say, the Wii virtual bowlers were kicking ass and having a great time, from the sound of it.

We had a pretty good time too – Tim from choir showed up, so we “made a choir” and stood together. Finished with “Amazing Grace,” which I folked up a little when I heard Mary play a “blue note” on the digital organ in the intro. Tim sang the tenor part and we made a pretty good duet of it. One very dignified black lady almost whooped and hollered when Father Paul announced the hymn, it’s apparently a favorite of hers. So as we helped her out afterwards, she told us she loved it and looked forward to our monthly services so much. Really, it’s just a little thing, but the residents seem to appreciate our efforts so much – Mary was there on the electric piano, and this time we noticed that the heavy instrument had been moved and positioned so it had a great view of the front of the chapel. That was thoughtful, whoever did that. We’ve tried to move it, and it’s incredibly heavy.

We saw Richard, the guy who’s writing the kids’ story about a mousemonaut, and also the usual assortment of vintage ladies who seem to get a big kick out of our modest efforts.

I held the little silver doodad that holds the oil for anointing ( think it’s called chrism?) and was really moved by the first two, who held each other up in the most loving way as they approached. I couldn’t help but wonder if our attendance was down because of the nice spring weather we’re finally having, and whether the folks that were there got many visitors. A lot of the prayers and collects that Fr. Paul uses in putting together the short liturgy mention the lonely and the ill, along with the poor and the oppressed.

It’s always humbling to assist, and we make a point of going to where people are sitting in the chapel if they can’t come forward. Most of the residents get around pretty well, but a few people like to settle in one place. Before we started one of our regulars told me she’d like us to serve her at her chair; I chuckled and said “Don’t worry, we deliver.” But then she was able to get up and come forward, rather than wait. Really touching.

I always get charged up at these deals, and today was no exception. Next month, we have to do something different as Fr. Paul can’t be there.
Via: Flickr Title: Wii bowling at the retirement home By: GinnyRED57
Originally uploaded: 19 Apr ’08, 5.23pm CDT PST

The Gifts of a Unicorn, and Life

Posted on by
Reply
Flickr

Choirmistress Mary does a lot for us, and frequently pays out of pocket for new music and things she thinks we need in order to look and sound like a seasoned choir, and not a ragtag group that formed a little over a year ago. So one of our members found a Christmas ornament that mirrored a unicorn print that Mary has in her home and we presented it to her last night.

We also had a wonderful surprise from another choir member who’s been battling brain cancer; she got amazing news from her oncologist. Let’s not say “miracle” yet, but it’s thrillingly good news. I knew something was up when I saw her hop out of her husband’s truck and walk with a bounce in her step (and no cane) to the door. She’s kicking cancer’s ass

It was a really, really good practice last night. We’ll be working on some challenging music over the summer, but also we’ll do a couple of things during the “slow” season of single services and twice-monthly practices instead of weekly practices. We’re working on a Hebrew piece called “Oseh Shalom” that we’ll segue into “Let There Be Peace On Earth” for a service sometime in July with a peace and justice theme.

Via: Flickr Title: Fwd: Gift By: GinnyRED57
Originally uploaded: 17 Apr ’08, 7.47am CDT PST

Dude herez ur hibrid in my space

Posted on by
Reply

UPDATE: Posted via Flickr so that my husband David could find his car where I parked it, as his flight schedule was changed and we decided he’d taxi to where I work, pick up his car which I drove in, and he’d get me at the end of the day. This was so he’d have a ride to and from work, and so on.

The logistics of married people are not fascinating, but they do take a lot of work. It all worked out satisfactorily at the end of the day: so very nice to see my hubby when he picked me up!

Flickr

Ginny
I can has iPhone?

Via: Flickr Title: Dude herez ur hibrid in my space By: GinnyRED57
Originally uploaded: 4 Apr ’08, 9.27am CDT PST

Ginny
I can has iPhone?

++Katharine: Building Bridges

Posted on by
Reply

Episcopal Life Online – NEWS

elo_PBGoodFriday_md.jpg

Our Bishop ++Katharine has been in Israel living out Holy Week with an ecumenical group, walking the walk and talking the talk. The linked article tells more about the Good Friday pilgrimage along the Via Dolorosa, and how the group negotiated traffic, curious and incurious people on the street, and even an angry person who spat at them.

But ++Katharine is also building bridges – there were two photos near the top of the photo that said “Click for more information,” and with this one, the text is:

ELO photo/Matthew Davies
Following the March 21 Good Friday liturgy at St. George’s College in Jerusalem, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori was greeted by the Rev. Gideon Uzomechina, an Anglican priest from the Diocese of Niger in the Church of Nigeria, who is visiting the Holy Land with more than 200 pilgrims from the Christian Association of Nigeria.

This simple greeting between clergypersons of two very different national churches in the Anglican communion, in Jerusalem, speaks directly to the heart; let our divisions cease.

It will be interesting to see the contrast between this invited and warmly welcomed visit, and a later one best described as unannounced and problematic.

Also, I hope this genial young priest doesn’t get in trouble with his Bishop and Archbishop for not remembering that the Americans are evil gay Satan worshipers, and that their leader is a heretic girl that likes to dress up, a thought expressed by a local Traditionalist Catholic gentleman on one of my Flickr photos.

One of my photos on Schmap! Yay me!

Posted on by
Reply

One of my Flickr photos got selected for the current Schmap online guide – they use photos to illustrate points of interest in their web-based city travel guides. It just goes to show you that it’s a good idea to tag your photos effectively on Flickr, as this is the second time something like this has happened.

The other one requires me to fill out some kind of form, need to get on that this weekend. I might actually get a small fee for use of another of my photos.

The No Name Saloon, Park City

Salt Lake City – Theme Bars

The decor is as interesting as the club’s name. Baby buggies, motorcycles, and antler lamps hang from beamed ceilings above an eclectic mix of collectibles and a western copper bar.

[tags]Flickr, NoNameSaloon[/tags]

I Ruthed Myself

Posted on by
1
Ruthed.jpg

Ruthed

adj. A conditional identity one may encounter while traveling between realms in Second Life usually resulting in auburn dome hair, abnormal ugliness, sexual androgeny, and an overall confused sense of self.

A little earlier tonight (on the 3rd of November), I attended the gallery show and dance at the closing of the Ruthed! photo exhibition, which was of images of people who had messed themselves up horribly. And here I did it to myself later that same night, because I tried logging in via Movable Life, which removes all the textures and clothes and things.

At least I’ve got hair.

Previous excapades include wearing an anti-grav car that I was given a gift, not knowing that I was supposed to “touch” and “sit” in it. Ooopsie. Same with a shopping cart and numerous boxes of virtual “clothes” that have to be dragged to the virtual ground and “opened” in order to unpack their contents.

At least no one was there those times to witness my ignominy, and I hadn’t figured out the “snapshot” technology. But I have now, to some extent, and will use up my alternate photoblog, Razzberry Vinaigrette, to receive posts from within Second Life.

Here I am, snuggling with my partner/husband, in the Lost Gardens of Apollo. I finally get him to agree to come to this romantic beauty spot and there I am in my pink-and-purple checkerboard glory. Oh, well.

Visit Apollo (198, 225, 25)

The Live Turntable DJs and The Electronic Music Events within Second Life: Sunday October 14th – RUTHED! & Other SL Mishaps – Opening Gala 1pm-3pm (slt)

[tags]Second Life, Ruthed, Flickr[/tags]

welcome to maui

Posted on by
Reply
Flickr

Yeah, yeah, hate us because we’re in Maui, AGAIN. This time our karma must not have been good, as we had a series of mishaps as soon as we landed at Kahului. The door to the plane was stuck or the jetway wouldn’t extend, so we were stuck for about half an hour in the aisle. Then the car rental went really smooth, except that Avis gave us a bigger SUV than we’d hoped for, although their Preferred Express service is AWEsome. I couldn’t reach anyone at the condo who could tell us what our unit number was – I did the booking through Expedia, and that’ll be the last time I do that; I never received anything about what unit number we had, or what the after hours checkin procedure was. Turns out the office here closes REALLY early, so I wasted a lot of time listening to Expedia’s annoying “dotCOMMMMMM” greeting while I tried to reach someone that knew something.  It took at least half an hour or more to get in touch with the local island-based rep, who worked from home.

Finally got the instructions for opening the keybox, and walked in to find a cold, air conditioned unit…. that had unmade beds, packages of uneaten snacks on the counter, and a refrigerator that still contained food. Also, bags of trash on the counter as an extra treat. Oddly, only the twin beds in the back bedroom were unmade, the master bed was made up.

Called the rep, who promised to get the housekeeper. Waiting. More waiting. Called the rep, who at first didn’t remember that I was her problem child in a dirty unit. She couldn’t locate the housekeeper, and after some more waiting, she told us to go to another unit, on the 6th floor and much more in the area of the building that I originally wanted – farther from the street, ocean front. We walked in, and realized – it wasn’t air conditioned, but was very clean and recently updated. More palaver. Meanwhile, we had a lot of food in the car and had already brought up the most perishable stuff to stick in the first fridge, and  now in the second fridge.  We called again and I laughed with the rep rather than decide to be an “irate” and say things like “this is unacceptable, we paid a lot of money yadda yadda.” She offered us yet another unit and admitted that there had been some sort of problem with our unit, and someone had decided to move us, but had failed to advise her. The “new” unit was another older unit in the noisy, streetside end of the condo building, and there’s a lot of traffic noise here. So we passed on it and are in the “second” unit.

We decided to stay in the new hotness instead of the cold and busted.

We enjoyed a fine repast of Hawaiian deli items like ahi poke, lomi salmon, poi, the works. Yes, we actually like this stuff, and Safeway’s deli has it all. It’s our favorite way to settle in the first night, since we’re usually tired and don’t want to go out, and don’t want to cook. The last few times we’ve been here (and what a luxury and even a blessing to be able to say that) we’ve stayed mostly in the Kihei area, so we stop off at the big Safeway up on Pi’ilani Highway.

We’ve got some more revelers arriving in a few days, so Monday morning first thing I’ll be talking to the “regular business hours” property rep to make sure the second condo is right the first time.

Whew, that beer and my meal is kicking in… must… sleep… now…..Zzzzzz

Via: Flickr Title: welcome to maui By: GinnyRED57
Originally uploaded: 15 Sep ’07, 9.59pm CDT PST

Egg Burrito In A Bag, With Olive

Posted on by
Reply
Flickr

Right, so this was the result. The bags came out of the saucepans full of boiling water, and were distributed via a pair of tongs and some scissors, because the bags tended to melt at the top if they came into contact with the hot edge of the pans. Melissa’s and Gloria’s bags were completely fused at the top and my mother-in-law was struggling to separate them until the scissors were brought to the table. She noted as how it would be more convenient if they had sat next to each other… but soon enough the Siamese twin bag omelets were successfully separated.

It wasn’t bad – it needed more seasoning. I didn’t use enough of the “extra ingredients” because there were a number of people behind me in the line to load up the bags. If I do it some time, I’d use bags designed for boiling, too – these were ordinary quart Ziploc bags. Also, I’d have salsa, ham cubes, crumbled ham, and chunks of breakfast sausage.

This would be an awesome thing for a camping breakfast, though, assuming you could pack in enough eggs and keep them fresh.

Basically, you get your pans of water boiling as you prepare all the ingredients for jazzing up your bag omelets, such as white onion, green onion, grated cheeses, diced tomatoes, diced red and/or green peppers, and herbs and spices. Then you line up, put your empty bag in a bowl to contain it, crack at least 2 eggs into the bag, moosh the contents until well mixed, and then add all the extras. Moosh gently again to mix, then squeeze out the remaining air in the bag before sealing the top. I don’t know if you’d leave an opening for steam to escape or not.

Place bags in boiling water and boil until egg “burritos” are done. Today they timed it for 13 minutes but let them go an extra 2 minutes, and mine was perfectly cooked. It would take a lot longer at a higher altitude, though.

Via: Flickr Title: 09-08-07_1258.jpg By: GinnyRED57
Originally uploaded: 8 Sep ’07, 1.00pm CDT PST

BBC ON THIS DAY | 7 | 2005: Bomb attacks on London

Posted on by
Reply

BBC ON THIS DAY | 7 | 2005: Bomb attacks on London

2005: Bomb attacks on London
A series of bomb attacks on London’s transport network has killed more than 30 people and injured about 700 others.

Three explosions on the Underground left 35 dead and two died in a blast on a double decker bus.

It was two years ago today that London suffered the devastating suicide bomber attacks on the Underground and on a bus. I was horrified, and set up a quick photo of a funny little mug that I bought on a trip to London many years ago that said it all for me and uploaded it to Flickr:

London

Flickr became very important to me then, because participating in the “London Bomb Blasts Community” after this picture was uploaded allowed me to show my support for Londoners in a direct and personal way. It was humbling watching the photostream for the group because so many people were out in the crowds, uploading pictures as fast as they could. Some photos got picked up by news services, and once again Flickr became part of the news reporting process – a raw stream of images, maybe, but there were a lot of effective pictures that came out of 7/7/2005 and its aftermath that really told the story.
[tags]Flickr, London, 7/7, bomb blasts[/tags]