I love sending [and receiving] Christmas cards. It's almost December so...

If anyone wants a Christmas card from me...please send your address to:
lew404@gmal.com

My address [if you want] is:
Louise Wilson
3693 Martha Blvd
Bethpage NY 11714 USA

I haven't managed the screening yet.

Thanks.

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks. I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful holiday season.

Happy Birthday to petzipellepingo

Gatherer of news, fanfic, art and all sorts of wonderful stuff.

Wish you the best of everything today and the year to come.

Check it out!! jen_nsync_landl wrote a 5 drabble series involving Buffy, aspirin, 7-Eleven, Spike, and beer throughout their history [for my prompt].

The first drabble easily answered my prompt and the next four brilliantly expanded through the entire series and beyond!

jen_nsync_landl is offering a drabble for the best title for this series.

Read them at:
http://jen-nsync-landl.livejournal.com/59787.html?view=632203#t632203

Saw this meme and snagged it from slaymesoftly

#1. Your Fav Perfume: Used to be "Zen" but now it's usually any lavender scent.
#2. Your Fav Colour: Hot pink, fuschia - all shades of pinks and not into red or orange. I also like gem colors - emerald green and deep purple.
#3. Your Fav thing you love to buy: plants and cotton clothes - so soft.
#4. Your Fav male actor: JM, of course and Colin Firth and new from MadMen, Jon Hamm.
#5. Your Fav female singer: Joannie Mitchell and Diana Krall
#6. Your Fav Food: Shrimp Scampi
#7. Your Fav place to visit: Alaska is awesome. Jones Beach
#8. Your Fav flower: All flowers in all seasons. Bright yellow daffodils in spring are a sight after the long dark winter.
#9. Your Fav TV show: I am watching MadMen on DVD and Being Human on TIVO. Plus Masterpiece Mystery whenever they're on.
#10. A Fav Movies, those you've watched more than 10 times: "Casablanca" and "Gone with the Wind" and "It's a Wonderful Life" at Christmas. And "Lord of the Rings"

Today marks the the 91st anniversary of the cease fire agreement that ended the battles of World War One, officially reached on "the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
In USA, it is called Veterans Day and in Europe and elsewhere it is known as Armistice or Remembrance Day.

A doctor of medicine, McCrae saw his friend killed in WW1 while in charge of a field hospital and he wrote this poem the next day in 1915.

In Flanders Field by Captain John D. McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe!
To you from failing hands, we throw
The torch-Be yours to hold it high!
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though
poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Why the poppy? During the Napoleonic wars, it was observed that the fields were bright with colorful red poppies before a battle. Strangely enough, it was discovered that the bombardment of these fields helped the poppy to grow! John McCrae's poem became popular in 1915 and by 1918, Moina Michael began to weave poppies in remembrance of those who had died in WWI while working at the YMCA canteen.

Woe is me! I came down with an infection [probably UTI] and was so sick that I couldn't get out of bed for days - just slept and took Cipro. I'm feeling a little stronger finally but I feel like my body has been drained of all my energy [like in a bad science fiction movie.]

From my bed, I can look out into the back yard. This is what I see. The bright red leaves are on the blueberry bushes. When they fall, it will be very dull indeed.




Glad to be able to get back to reading on the computer. It's November already and I have to catch up with some Seasonal Spuffy and then Buffyverse Top 5 and then my flist pages.
[I think I'm getting tired again.]

Snagged this one from debris4spike
Do You Need Counselling?

If you get more than 30 I strongly recommend some counselling!
If you get more than 20 you’re paranoid.
If you get 10-20 then you are normal.
If you get 10 or less you’re fearless.
People who don’t have any, are full of it!

Put an X next to your fears, then count them up...
( Read more... )

A little gem rec by Shelfari:
Shaffer, Mary Ann & Annie Barrows "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" Written as a series of letters between an English author and the inhabitants of the recently freed islanders of Guernsey [1946]. A unique book club was formed as a subterfuge one evening in 1940 and continued for the 5 years of occupation. The story flashes back and forward in time with humor, sadness and honesty. A joy to read.

A favorite author of mine. I think I've read all of his books. This is his latest:
Francis, Dick "Even Money" Racing theme - Ned Talbot is a bookmaker. His supposedly dead father shows up and is murdered. Sympathetic people are in danger and right triumphs. Along the way, there is menace and a satisfying story.

Two lovely faerie books rec by Mary of Shelfari:
Taylor, Laini "Faeries of Dreamdark-Blackbringer" The faerie, Magpie Windwitch scouts the world looking for lost magic. She learns about the darkness, the Blackbringer who has escaped and is working to 'unmake' the world.
Taylor, Laini "Dreamdark:Silksinger" This book adds Whisper, the silksinger to the heroic fight against evil that would destroy the 'tapestry' of creation and all life. There is a bit of romance and powerful friendships. Great fun to enter this well-drawn world.

Two Three Pines mysteries rec by lilachigh:
Penny, Louise "A Rule Against Murder" Inspector Armand Gamache and his wife celebrate their anniversary at an isolated inn. A statue becomes a weapon of murder and a family is fractured.
Penny, Louise "The Brutal Telling" It is darker in tone than her other books as a stranger is found murdered and secrets of a member of the community are unfolded.

Three Tudor historical mysteries rec by lilachigh These books are jam-packed with details of life in the mid 1500's England.
Sansom, C.J. "Dissolution" A Reformer lawyer, Shardlake, is ordered by Cromwell to solve a murder and help with the dissolution of the monastery at Scarnsea.
Sansom, C.J. "Dark Fire" Shardlake is beset by the doubts and confusion. Brilliant description of the everyday sights and smells of 15th century London. There are 2 mysteries - a young girl accused of pushing her young cousin down a well - a new weapon - Greek Fire - which would burn enemies ships in the water.
Sansom C.J. "Sovereign" Shardlake is sent to York to help another lawyer and see to a rebellion prisoner. The dissolution of the Catholic Church continues and the effects are shown. A church is destroyed, rebels are captured and tortured and there is unrest even among Henry's family. I found the bit about Henry's right to the throne fascinating.
As an aside: After 500 years, The Catholic Church has this week invited members of the Anglican faith to rejoin the Church
A different time --
Sansom, C.J. "Winter in Madrid" Spain, mostly 1940. Hitler is on the rise and Franco controls much of Spain - corruption, cruelty and greed and a society that was in ruins. Grim, unforgiving tale of politics, war, intrigue and human nature.

A rec by jen_nsync_landl:
Perez-Reverte, Arturo "Captain Alatriste" Captain Alatriste is a weary swordsman/soldier of Spain in the 17th century. He fought in the wars and now is 'for hire' The book contains many allusions to the poetry and prose of Spain and the language [translated from Spanish] sways between formal and lyrical. More sequels available.

Best seller:
Gregory, Philippa "The White Queen" After the war of the Roses, the widow Elizabeth Woodville seeks the return of her dower lands from King Edward. It mixes history, romance and adds the myths of Mesulina the water goddess to the mystery of the death of the princes. A sort of dull book that was never as good as expected.

Pretty cover:
Berwin, Margot "Hot House Flower and the 9 plants of desire" Begins as a young woman becomes interested in plants but goes downhill fast. The best parts are the description of the flowers.

Seen everywhere today:

This is the compatibility between you and James Marsters based on biorhythms. You can also browse for another celebrity or view your best matches.

Match yourself with James Marsters

physical 99%
emotional 90%
intellectual 79%
total 89%

Your Best Trait is Persistence

You are strong willed and very stubborn. You don't give up, even when everyone else thinks you should. You are good at selecting a goal, figuring out how to achieve, and putting your nose to the grindstone until you've got it. You've got true grit. You may not be the richest or luckiest person you know, but you're definitely the toughest. You are independent and always do things your own way. If people question your tactics, it only makes you more determined.

Vote for Spike, pretty please?

http://paleycenter.org/tv-vampire-stakedown/

A birthday and a wedding...

Happy Birthday to dampersnspoons

and

A joyous wedding day to you and Chris!

May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also respect, patience, loyalty and understanding.

[Paraphrase of line by by James Dillet Freeman]

It's gone! Probably 6o years old, 70 feet tall and a circumference of 4 1/2 feet. It filled the sky of my back yard. Even in the winter. It's been ailing for a few years and when rot was found in a broken branch, it was decided, for safety sake, to cut it down. I took no photos of the cutting.

So fast. 60 years to grow and 120 minutes to cut.


The maple site now going to return to lawn.


But an amazing thing happened. Behind the maple we had a sycamore tree and it had been a forgotten 'poor relation'. Without the maple, now it stood so tall and stately. It had been growing probably as long as the maple and now was 70 foot tall.

The sycamore tree - with a gazing ball of about 3 feet below it for size.



We also had a small stone patio laid outside my french doors so I can bring my wheelchair out easily. The fountain [a birthday gift] has a beautiful water sound.



It is a gusty day today - up to 50 mph. I don't have to worry about my maple anymore.
:sigh:

I took this from hollydb. Is anyone watching?
Good news. But can I believe them?

You Are 12% Abnormal

You are at low risk for being a psychopath. It is unlikely that you have no soul. You are at low risk for having a borderline personality. It is unlikely that you are a chaotic mess. You are at low risk for having a narcissistic personality. It is unlikely that you are in love with your own reflection. You are at medium risk for having a social phobia. It is somewhat likely that you feel most comfortable in your mom's basement. You are at low risk for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is unlikely that you are addicted to hand sanitizer.

unbridled_b choose these six icons of mine.

Teatime by ruthenia_alba I do drink tea but this icon was meant to be used when I comment on "Business As Usual", the story of a tearoom run by Agnes the vampire written by lilachigh


( Read more... )

Happy Birthday to rebcake

Wish you fun and frolic today and a wonderful year to come.

Happy Bithday to sueworld2003

Happy Birthday to powerofthebook [9/18]

Happy Birthday to all_choseny [9/16]

Happy Birthday to xevildeadgirlx [9/14]

Wishes for health and happiness and a wonderful year to come.

sorry for the late but heartfelt wishes

Comment to this entry saying 'ICONS!' and I will pick 6 of your icons.

Make an entry in your own journal and talk about the icons I picked!

I do love my icons, and like knowing what is special about other people's choices.

Behind the cut are 6 icons that debris4spike chose for me.

( Read more... )

As BTVS writer nikilicious's health took a turn for the worse, the community heart_ov_gold was formed. It is a round robin writer project which took the first chapter of one of her WIPs (with her husband's permission) and is completing it for her. There are many volunteer writers and artists are contributing their talents.

I am so proud to be involved in a fandom that has come together to do this lovely thing.
So, try to read and leave a comment. Thank you.

In Memory.