lilacs 2008 05-10 03, photo by Ray-48.

Wikipedia says that Syringa (Lilac) is a genus of about 20–25 species of deciduous shrubs or small trees in the olive family (Oleaceae), native to Europe and Asia.

Although lilacs in Michigan typically bloom in mid to late May in most locations, it's not until June that Mackinac Island holds their annual Mackinac Island Lilac Festival:

Celebrating Mackinac's lilac collection began in 1949 after a conversation with Evangilene “Ling” Horn, Nurse Stella King and Mackinac Island Carriage Tours veterinarian Dr. Bill Chambers. The idea was to bring people to the Island to enjoy a great horse drawn parade amidst the lovely lilacs that fragrance the Island in June. What began as a one day event called the Mackinac Island Lilac Day has blossomed into a ten day festival.

2008 is the 59th annual Lilac Festival and it takes place June 6-15. You can go to mackinacislandlilacfestival.com to learn much more about the festivities which include parades, coronation of the Lilac Queen and lots of lilac walks and talks, concerts and even a dog and pony show (I thought that was just a figure of speech).

Also be sure to read about the unique character of the lilacs of Mackinac Island.

if you've seen my house [my room to be exact] you know that i have no fucking windows [not even one!] and that the only way for air to come into my room is through the door...which is almost always closed because i value my privacy. so it's fucking hot in hurr...i mean H-O-T.

i haven't checked my xfire account in quite a while and i was surprised by my gaming stats [hours to be more precise]:
- Warcraft 3: Frozen Throne --  2,818 hours (mostly DotA)
- Cabal -- 408 (wow!)
- FlyFF -- 340
- GunZ -- 208
- Warcraft 3 -- 80
- FreeCell -- 46!

Overall total [including other games i didn't mention] -- 3,956 hours!

Wow! that's about 164.8 days lol. what's more surprising is that i spent 46 hours playing microsoft freecell. that's right, the other solitaire game that people don't play. seriously though, that game is so addicting, i'd start one game when i get bored and before i know it, i've been playing for an hour or 2. it's different than solitaire in that every game is winnable, it's just how you play, your strategy. every card is displayed so you know where everything is, you just have to move the cards correctly. and there's more than one way of beating each game! krazeee!

also, i'm really really surprised that i passed the 400 hour mark for Cabal already. i haven't even done anything significant. i still don't have a guild or a lvl 95+ character and therefore, no country picked. and to think that i've accomplished more in that game than any other mmo i've played, pretty shocking to me.

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so yeah...this weather would've been perfection if i just had at least one window. i'd be able to sleep comfortably and get actual rest.

*sigh*

This pineapple plant takes two years for the first fruit to show up. They are so very sweet. When we went to Hawaii we saw huge crops of them. They told us if you add salt to your bite it is actually makes it sweeter. I have had several plants. When you buy one just cut off the top and plant it. It grows just like that.No muss no fuss.

Even though I can be a bossy pony I know you all still love me anyway.  After all, who could resist my cute good looks? As many of you know I don't sweat so the summer gets soooooo hot for me! Many of my buddies out here tell me they are hot too.  Especially Titan since he can't sweat either. On hot summer days the only way all of us can get comfortable is to have two fans on us since we don't have air conditioning (I'm thinking we should have air conditioning, what's up with that?).  Unfortunately almost all of the fans from last summer are either broken or almost broken so we need some help.  Is there anyone who could help us by bringing us some fans?  It sure would be COOL! :-)

See you next time you are out!

Marigold and all her Freedom Ride horse pals

As some of you may know, I have a soft spot in my heart for horses. If you check out my Freedom Ride page you find out more about an organization that has also won my heart. The above staement is a plea for fans for the horses there. Florida summers can be extremely rough and these animals can only do so much for themselves. If you can find it in your heart to maybe send them a donation for the purpose of buying fans, I would be forever grateful to your kindness and compassion.

Thank you for stopping by and God Bless!!

From reading a lot of good comments on this anime and knowing that it was only 13 episodes i've figured that i had to give it a try. Elfen Lied as I expected was not your ordinary anime. Not only did it have a thrilling and addictive plot it didn't hesitate to tear body parts and shower blood on those cute and innocent characters. The energy was there from the very first episode and never degraded up to the very end. I was amused by how much creativity they put on the violent scenes. Also the concept of the vectors were very different from the normal. Don't get me wrong, the violence wasn't the entertainment on the series (in fact i didn't like bodies blowing, or hearts removed or heads cut off!!!) But the fact that they made this just how it would be really like in reality made it a great series. The transition on every episode was well done considering that I can't help to think 'OMG, what will happen next???'. The secrets revealed had the right timing although i have suspected of some. Also the last episode (not the bonus episode) was incredible. The different scenes that meant for closure gave me jitters and was heartbreaking. I can't help feeling for the characters. Although it did leave unanswered questions, maybe it was meant to be a mystery letting the viewers use their imaginations to answer it.It never occured to me that it should have been extended since the story was just right for a number of episodes. Overall the mixture of the characters, the violence, the plot and the sidestories were effective.

As for the bonus episode, which i thought could answer all of my questions only answered a nimble of it. Like how Lucy was ever captured to the research laboratory and why Lucy never tried to kill Kurama. But it never answered what happened next.It was lighter than usual considering the comedy with Lucy and Nana. But as a bonus episode it was really dissapointing.

If you want to escape for the normal Anime. Elfen Lied is the best recommendation. Watch this.

P.S. I can't help thinking that those in their heads look more like cat ears than horns. oh well...

JUNE

14 ITALY, Milano - San Siro - TICKETS
27 UK, London - Hyde Park (Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday) - TICKETS
28 THE NETHERLANDS, Utrecht - Vredenburg Leidsche Rijn - TICKETS
29 BELGIUM, Brussels - Couleur Cafe Festival - TICKETS

JULY

05 SPAIN, Madrid - Rock in Rio - TICKETS
06 UK, Guilford - Guilfest - TICKETS
08 FRANCE, Saint Malo du Bois - Festival le Poupet
12 MAROCCO, Chefchaouen - Alegria Festival
15 FRANCE, Montelimar - Stade Tropenas - TICKETS

AUGUST

12 SWITZERLAND, Avenches - Rock Oz'Arenes - TICKETS

Why do I have to wear a jacket in May? I never had to wear a jacket in May before. It's not like it's too cold, just not warm enough without a jacket. That and it's always cloudy. UH, how do you people stand it out here? No wonder why there are so many suicides. Its really depressing sometimes. But when the sun is out, I'm reminded of why I love it here.

I found a new park today. It's called the freeway park. Never new it existed. Its kinda cool, a lot of steps though. So, what are you going to do tomorrow and Saturday?

Your self esteem can grow, you will see everything being wonderful.

One thing you shouldn't forget is that happiness comes from the inside, for those people you ever made you feel bad about yourself, they aren't, and shouldn't be your friends 100 pounds lighter. Confidence comes from self beauty not a smaller booty.

having no homework is beautiful. having only one more final is beautiful. having only one more day of school is by far the most beautiful of them all.

can't wait for seattle next weekend, the beach after that, and then an adventure of unknown destination with hannah. and kids camp. and san francisco (woohoo!), and redmond, and wildhorse canyon.

god, i love my life!

summer is fantastic. i feel like a kid all over again. i absolutely cannot wait to kick back, relax, and have some fun.

in the sun, of course.

In the dark, the paved lanes glisten lines of light in rippling pools.

From far, a cricketing, then gone to calm murmur.

Small orange suns cast cones of dappled gloom on shining metal steeds.

A light of distant dull gray drapes its arms atop the trees.

In staggered groups, drops, distinct splashes of sound in the constant conversation, add effect to the script of misty evening. Pause. Suspense. And then a rolling wave of shaken leaves as breeze arrives.

Leaves in shadows one and two play upon the layered glass—a flattened forest in reach, upon the layered glass.

In the chair, across from open screen, bathed in the scent of rain, there, at last, is sleep.

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XOXO

Whisper

Just over 2 weeks ago, there was still snow in my backyard. Today, the temperature hit 27 degrees Celsius (that's about 81 degrees Fahrenheit, you adorable little Americans). We get whiplash just watching the seasons change here (Spring? Oh, we did away with that back in '04. Didn't really seem to need it.  And no one missed it...) As I was trying not to sweat excessively, I put together a wee “to-do” list, to help cope with this feet-first jump into Summer.

1. Install the window air conditioner; try to ignore glares from “green” neighbors. I'm sure your inflated sense of self-righteousness will be a comfort to you as you repeatedly flip your pillow over at night, vainly trying to find the cool spot. Mwwwaaahaaahaa!

2. Buy a 5 gallon drum of 10,000 SPF sunscreen. Judging by the pinkness of my children's skin after exactly 5 minutes exposure to the sun, we have all the UV tolerance of someone's secret Austrian basement family.

3. Nod in agreement when the neighbors talk of spring cleaning/garage sale plans; make mental note to just shove shit further into closets (Sub-item 3(b): Look into buying bigger house. We're running out of closets.)

4. Look at bedding plants at the home improvement stores; leave them on the shelves because I just can't handle that kind of responsibility. (Thank Christ the kids don't require watering, weeding or mowing. Little buggers never would have made it through their first summer.)

5. Train for 5K. That fucking Dickie Dee guy thinks he can rip down my street without stopping this year, he's got another think coming.

(Pic from here.)

Working at Wal-Mart this summer has turned into something that I didn't imagine it would. The atmosphere is something that you wouldn't find at the your Bartlesville Wal-Mart. The Customer Service Managers are exceptional and they are quite friendly. So far I have received the best shifts I could ask for, not having to work past 6pm on any occasion unless switching with another co-worker. I don't know any of the Asst. Managers so I can't rate them on how they are, although I did run into one today and she was nice. I would rate this store an 8 on a 10-scale, however I have only worked there for a total of 4 days.

Over the last few days I have gone over Will's house and started watching movies, which so far all of them have been great. Untraceable is a great movie and everyone should watch it. Micheal Clayton was an alright movie, I didn't follow it for the first part, but by the end I finally understood what was going on all along. Then we watched Where the Red Fern Grows, which was a good movie (and book!).

It's summertime, I'm trying to make the most of it, who knows what will happen!

Make a wish

.

.

Keep it safe

]]> http://poniday.wordpress.com/?p=1436 Fri, 16 May 2008 02:19:35 +0000 poniday http://poniday.wordpress.com/?p=1436 Stop the clocks, cover the mirrors, it's official. School is out for the summer. Andrew will be a junior next year and Alec will be a freshman. The boys brought home their practice football jerseys and gear. I knew they brought it not only because of the boyish stench but the sheer towering effect all that stuff makes when piled in our entryway. Not only football stuff but their baseball stuff. Could I just say one thing? HELP I'm not ready. I sat down tonight and wrote out the schedule of events for this summer. In June alone, between football camps, basketball club, baseball games and weightlifting we have, ahem...drum roll please...5 days with nothing but weights at 6:15 am. wow 5 days that have barely anything written on them. The rest of the months are INSANE. Games or camps in Gothenberg, Aurora, Holdridge, and Hastings, to mention a few of the towns. These are several hours away from us. Andrew is also working as a life guard. Alec is supposed to be mowing his grandmas lawn at least weekly and it takes 3-4 hours of steady mowing to do some of it.

It's gonna be a busy one.

I would have loved to spend my day soaking up the sun, but I had too much running to do... volunteer at school, grocery store, Target, etc., etc. But, I FINALLY got to go watch Kacey play softball. It was the first game I got to see and the last game of the season for the freshman team. They were playing for first place in their conference. Kacey did a great job catching, had a couple of good hits and took a pitch in the back (OUCH!) They ended up losing the game and the season is over. The summer softball season gets underway..... on SATURDAY when the girls play their first tournament of the season. Guess what I'll be doing ALL DAY on Saturday? And most of Sunday too, I guess.

Friday night, the high school is holding their annual Relay for Life fundraiser. It's an amazing event and the school is usually one of the top fundraisers in the country. Jake and Kacey have both joined teams and will spend all night on the high school football field, taking turns walking the track with their teammates, raising money to support cancer research. They have to be there at 4:30 Friday night and don't leave the field to come home until 7:00 am Saturday. Brad was asked to work security for the event too, which means all three kids will be out of the house for a whole night!

Oh... and remember the softball tournament that starts on Saturday? The girls have to be there at 8:30 am. Most of the players will have been up all night at Relay for Life. It could be a LONG day.

Entertainment Tonight recently ran a preview of this summer's forthcoming Mamma Mia film and even though it looks like it has the potential to be a trainwreck it's got a few things going for it right off the bat — ABBA, Meryl Streep singing, and the tasty Dominic Cooper.

Yet, despite all of those fears of insects, I still manage to sit on my backporch after school and look at the sky and write and draw with my pastels. I guess it sounds lame but I really like it. Its really relaxing and sometimes if I can get away for awhile I go watch the sun go down. Its calming and its like every worry or thing that weighed heavily on your mind just goes away. I like to lay on top of the old picnic table in the middle of the backyard when sitting on the porch gets boring. You can see the sky better. ;)

Thats why I really like sunshine. It makes me happy and at the end of the day its always nice to sit outside with a cold drink, journal & pen or a sketchbook and pastels. Sometimes I just lay outside and talk on the phone or just close my eyes and lay there. I don't do it all the time but sometimes when I need an escape its one of the places or things I do. I guess its summer since I'm starting to break out my shorts, tanks and go outside. And also get bit by ants...which sucks!! But I'm glad summer is here/is coming...its my favorite season because the weather and how I can do whatever I want...well almost.