1. First name: Darla
2. Were you named after anyone? No...people assume it would be Darla Hood from the Little Rascals, but I wasn't named after anyone.
3. Do you wish on stars? No.
4. When did you last cry? Day before yesterday, from pregnancy hormones and I was tired. Maybe it would be better to ask me when I don't cry?!? LOL!
5. Do you like your own handwriting? Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. My handwriting changes depending on my mood.
6. What is your favorite lunch meat? I'm not a big fan of most of it, so I guess I'd say ham...mostly if I have lunchmeat it's in a sub sandwich, so it's a lunchmeat blend I guess!
7. What is your birth date? July something

8. What is your most embarrassing CD? Amadeus soundtrack

9. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you? Yes, but I'd avoid myself when I get whiny.

10. Are you a daredevil? Nope!

11. Who is your favorite cartoon character? Felix the Cat, I also have a fondness for Kimba the White Lion (favorite from childhood).

12. Do looks matter? Depends what it is we are talking about.

13. How do you release anger? hold it in then release a la nuclear holocaust. I have improved in recent years though.

14. Where is your second home? Savannah GA

15. Do you trust others easily? yes and no. Sometimes too much, sometimes not enough.

16. What was your favorite toy as a child? I had this neat doll that had a sort of 'programmable' car, very high tech for 1972/73.

17. What class in high school do you think was totally useless? Homeroom, if you could call it a class. Just a waste of time.

18. Do you have a journal? I have a blog at http://www.darligraphy.blogspot.com/

19. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Sometimes, but when I use sarcasm it's not in a mean way, but a humorous way.

20. What are your nicknames? Dar, Darster, Dar-Dar, "MOM!!!"

21. Would you bungee jump? Let's see...a high, sharp and jutting cliff, water at the bottom, only trusting a cord between me and certain death...hmmm. I think I will pass. (there is an example of my use of #19, sarcasm)

22. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Sometimes
23. Do you think that you are strong? I never really think about it, I don't work at it. Now that it's brought up, I'm worried LOL

24. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate

25. Shoe Size? 12M (dainty by Harlem Globetrotter standards)

26. Red or pink? Depends on my mood.
27. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? being slightly neurotic.

28. Who do you miss most? My Dad.

29. Do you want everyone you send this to, to send it back? I love to hear from people, but they don't have to do this.

30. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? Blue jean maternity shorts, not wearing shoes.

31. What are you listening to right now? My little guy playing with his Matchbox cars, he is rolling them on the edge of the bed and singing/talking. I also hear the fan humming.Now he is singing into the fan.

32. Last thing you ate? Wendy's double cheeseburger.

33. If you were a color what would you be? light blue

34. What is the weather like right now? overcast, humid
35. Last person you talked to on the phone? My husband

36. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex? eyes, smile, face, whether his diaper needs changing.

37. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes, she is probably the coolest person I know.

38. Favorite Drink? non-alcoholic-- hard to pick just one: Dr. Pepper, Sprite, orange juice

39. Favorite Sport? Billiards and/or bowling...but no time to do either for a long time.

40. Hair Color? Brown with lovely streaks of gray

41. Eye Color? Blue

42. Do you wear contacts? I wear glasses, I used to have contacts and might try them again since they should have improved by now!

43. Favorite Food? Pizza

44. Last Movie You Watched? The Ring, for the second time. It doesn't matter how many times I watch it, it's still dang scary.

45. Favorite Day of the Year? Any day I can sleep in. That could end up being any day of the year, but usually it's just one!

46. Scary Movies or Happy Endings? definitely happy endings.

47. Summer or Winter? Summer unless I'm pregnant, then winter is what I prefer!

48. Hugs or Kisses? both
49. What Is Your Favorite Dessert? chocolate pudding pie or pumpkin pie.

50. Who Is Most Likely To Respond? We will see

51. Who is Least Likely to Respond? We will find out

52. Living Arrangements? House with 1 Husband, 2 daughters, 1 son, another son on the way, Shetland Sheepdog, some ants by the front door.

53. What Books Are You Reading? I am between books right now, but considering reading "How To Raise 3-4 Kids and Have a Home Based Business and Not Totally Go Insane"

54. What's On Your Mouse Pad? Coca-Cola logo, bought it at World of Coca Cola

55. What Did You Watch Last night on TV? Austin Powers movie

56. Favorite Smells? Italian food cooking (can smell it from restaurants sometimes when driving!)

57. Favorite Flower? tulip

58. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Beatles - I have every CD, even Rarities...

59. What's the furthest you've been from home? Reno Nevada

I went to the Obstetrician and after I got home, we went to eat at On the Border (near Gwinnett Place Mall, it's good!) and then Toys R Us over there and Frys Electronics. We mainly just looked, but I did catch a good diaper sale at Toys R Us!

Diapers are no-tax this weekend, that was neat. I'm thinking about stocking up on some diapers during the weekend to take advantage of it. What diapers have to do with 'back to school, ' I have no idea!

By the way, I passed the glucose test...but they are advising me to watch out for carbs so I can keep from making the baby super big! Heard the heartbeat again today, it is very strong and very loud! About 135 beats (I guess that's per minute?) Anyway, they said that was good.
I am at 29 weeks. Just 10-11 easy weeks to go (haha)

My daughter's artwork on Artpad.art.com
http://artpad.art.com/gallery/?ik6xq1fmu9o
While you're there, make a work of art of your own! Very fun.

I have about 5 commissions I need to finish by the end of July, so I may not post again until August (unless eomething really exciting comes up!)

Well, I do have something exciting, but not sure if it can be shared here...yet.

I will be working some late nights, so I can get art done while the kids are sleeping. I can crank on some music and get a lot done. Last night the motivating music was ELO.

If you get bored, click on some of the links at the right LOL.

Your Linguistic Profile:

50% General American English

15% Dixie

15% Upper Midwestern

15% Yankee

5% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

I wasn't super surprised by this, my mother is from Oklahoma, and my father was from Texas. My family lived in Texas and Colorado when I was very small, then I grew up in Michigan in a suburb near Detroit, finished high school in Savannah Georgia, finally ending up living in Atlanta Georgia area! So my colloquial language is a big mix.

It is starting out to be a typical day for me. Woke up early (5:30 am) so I could get some work done. I am thrilled that I could actually get a shower before my toddler boy woke up! It is a little thing to most people, I suppose...but a big thing to me. Realization hit midshower that shaving legs takes entirely too much time (mainly because I'm pregnant and have to work around that big ole belly!) Sorry, that was too much information, huh?

The dog is barking rhythmically that he wants to go outside. This is a daily thing that we have down to a science. My daughters do a weekly trade off the responsibility of taking him out. The rhythmic barking is only intermittingly interrupted by DD1 or DD2 shouting at him to be quiet. Then I join the beat by shouting at the daughters to take the dog out. All I need to do now is have the toddler wake up and give him some castenets and we will have a band.

Today I must re-figure out how to use the digital camera. I used to know how to use it, but I guess I am just losing that ability...if I don't use it often, I forget. I have an artwork that is too big for the scanner. Time to get crackin.

I hope you have a great day! I know everyone says 'hey, have a great day!' and perhaps they aren't sincere, but I really mean it when I say, 'hey, have a great day!' so hey, have a great day!

Check out JoJo Tabares' books with my art on the covers!
CLICK HERE www.artofeloquence.com
My personal favorites are the ones of Jesus walking on water and Jesus with the children.

Darla
Pencil Portrait Drawing Artist
Drawings in graphite pencil
Book illustrations, art for book covers, custom drawn art
http://darladixon.com

I turned 40 last week. I am suddenly inundated with free samples in the mail of anti aging skin care anti-wrinkle products. I guess they think (or know) that when women turn 40, all of a sudden we become paranoid that we look old. It is a big money maker for that industry. That is an industry that feeds on women's insecurities...sick, sick, sick!

Can't wait until my order comes in (hahahah!)

Oh I don't know...yesterday I thought I was having allergic reaction to nuts...today I think I just have a cold. I felt flu-like symptoms last night. I have coughing and sniffling. Blechh! I think I will go back to bed and see if I can get 15 mins more of sleep.

I got some great news this morning! One of my previous clients, Karen and her husband John are the proud parents of a newborn baby boy. The baby came a bit early and is in NICU, but it looks like everything will be fine. They lost boy/girl twin babies a couple years ago, and I drew their babies. I am so happy for Karen and John. The baby is really adorable! I think he looks just like his dad.

Hazards of eating ice cream: Last night I bought some rocky road ice cream. Yum, it was delicious! But almost immediately after eating some, I started feeling congested, started coughing, and I have felt like my chest and throat have been tight ever since. I took some Benadryl, because I have been told by the obstetrician it is okay to take. I am pretty sure I had (and still am feeling the effects of) a food allergy to the almonds that were in the ice cream. I didn't think I was allergic to nuts, but I will be more careful in the future. Earlier in the day, I did have some peanuts in a mixed nut assortment that also included cashews. I remember that my brother is also allergic to cashews. So maybe by having those nuts and then the ice cream with nuts in it put me over the top, allergy-wise. Ugh, I feel like I am having asthma.

Hurricane Dennis Effects in Atlanta area:
My mom called and left a message on voice mail yesterday, and she emailed...the news reports had her all worried that we were flooded out here. We have received a LOT of rain, but we have had worse before. I think the scary news reports of flooding are mostly about Douglas County GA. My mom doesn't know the North Georgia counties. We are feeling a little cooped up here, but it's a blessing to not be flooded. Not going to complain.

Seems like I had more to write about, but my brain isn't working full throttle yet today.

This morning while I was doing the dishes that should have been done last night (and by DD1 to boot!) I was listening to the radio and started thinking about London and the attacks. On the radio they said the attacks 'killed dozens,' and I was thinking that by saying the word 'dozens' it sounds like a little over 12 people got killed. What I read on the Internet news was that at least FIFTY people were killed. Technically, saying they killed dozens is not incorrect, but I think it downsizes the severity of the attacks.

These attacks were evil, but Londoners are tough. Well, the British are tough. I respect them.
If terrorists really think they are going to get somewhere with this, they should think again. They are just appearing like toddlers having tantrums. The more like this they try, the less respect they are getting. The British have withstood the IRA attacks, they withstood and endured the Blitz, of something like 52 days of bombing. Londoners are tough and they will overcome these attacks and then the terrorists better watch their arses.

I did the most beautiful baby portrait yesterday! I am 95% done, just have some shading, touching up, and then to sign it. It is one of those I would love to keep, if I could, but it's a commission job!

I have a new item to add to my wish list (sigh)...this lady's blog: http://dooce.com/
shows the photographs she takes with a digital camera, the Nikon D70. Oh sweeeeet!
I want that camera! It is only $700-$1500 price range! LOL!!! I won't hold my breath...but it is nice to have a goal.

DD1 (hugging dog) and DD2 with our dog Laser on the 4th of July.
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Today my goal is to get all my ducks in a row, so to speak. I noticed that when my dad died (May 4, 2005), I had lots of papers and print outs of photographs that related to portrait art commissions I needed to do...and they kind of got strewn around in the CHAOS* that followed.

I really would be a great subject for the HGTV program Mission: Organization. I would LOVE it if one of the organizers came over here and slapped me around. I have even let emails from clients get into more than one email account, which adds to the confusion (at least I am noticing, learning, and I already put a stop to THAT error!)

Really, I could drive myself nuts sometimes. One time a friend asked me if I have ADD. Well, I have never been diagnosed, but I do definitely have to constantly refocus myself to stay on task, or what the goal is for the day. That is where keeping the blog really does help me.

When I write a 'to-do' list, I tend to lose the list. I practically need another list to remind me not to lose the first 'to-do' list. Today I am getting all the info together and sorting it by client and getting it (and all the needed information) into my manila folders and then I will work like a crazy woman to get caught up. I found out at my last Obstetrician appointment that my iron is low, and now I am on supplements and finally feeling my energy level perk up a bit. I also have the gestational diabetes and that is definitely not helping my situation. But I know if I stay focused today, I can do it.

*CHAOS = (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)

This is so frightening. I can't believe I am reading this - that this could happen in America! Who do we write about this?!? This is insane. They can take my house and property over my dead body (and probably, they would!) I think there are plenty of cities who would love to generate some extra tax revenue.

Thu Jun 23, 7:13 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Cities may bulldoze people's homes to make way for shopping malls or other private development, a divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday, giving local governments broad power to seize private property to generate tax revenue.

I just came upon an article about how Johnney Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory eerily resembles Michael Jackson. Here is the article. This is so funny, because my daughter and I were talking about this just the other day. My daughter is nearly 12 years old, and she was the one who pointed the similarities out to me! But she said that Johnney Depp is much better looking, if she had to choose one. So people might get them confused, so let me clear this up. Although they resemble the same freak, they are actually entirely separate freaks.

I'm glad I was here to clear that up.

------------
Wow, we had some really strong storms here last night. I stayed up until midnight so I could be the savior of our family, in case there was a tornado. There was (and is, I think until 4 pm today) a flash flood watch also. Parts of Atlanta were flooded. I think some parts of downtown Lawrenceville GA are still flooded as I write this. Gwinnett County had wind of up to 50 mph. Some trees were down on roads (I haven't seen this today, this is just what they said on the radio). My satellite TV reception was useless during the storm. We listened to AM 750 WSB Neal Boortz's show. We really need to move our satellite dish....either that, or this is just the nature of satellite TV? I'm not sure.

Agree or disagree, Neal is always an interesting character. Last night he enlightened his listeners about Public Schools, which he doesn't call Public Schools, he calls them Government Schools. He stressed how public school teachers are government employees - unionized, with the goals that most government workers have (cover their butts, hide from responsibility, etc). He thinks all parents should homeschool. I'll be thrilled to do that...I guess Neal will be sending me a check to help me do that...to pay for the homeschooling supplies AND my psychological therapy sessions? LOL!

I will tell ya, nothing makes you respect teachers more than to help your 11 year old daughter prepare for the CRCT using a computer program. You'd think the computer program would make it easy, and it does help, but man...it is not an easy row to hoe. Teaching requires huge amounts of patience. I probably learned more than my daughter did. I have learned that maybe homeschooling isn't for me, but parents certainly shouldn't be complacent and expect the public (gub'ment) school system to teach our children everything. I will need to supplement more at home in the future to make sure they are ready for the major tests.

Oops I got off topic again...the storms caused a lot of water to be in our backyard, which led to some new pregnancy dreams. In last night's dream installment, a lot of people and their kids were playing in the water in our backyard. Parents were letting their toddlers play in the water (which in the dream was pretty deep!)...the toddlers were wearing swim pants (that's how prepared these parents were!) I had to go out there and ask them not to do that (fear of snakes!)
and the parents acted like I was being a real party pooper, yet in my dream these same people would be the first ones to sue me if their kid was hurt out there in my yard! So one lady brings her toddler boy into my house, and she lets him stand on my kitchen table, while his swim diaper leaked in huge puddles all over my table and onto the floor. Of course, the dream mother acted like it was no big deal, and I was the one being unreasonable. I can't stand dream parents. LOL

You Are 76% American

You're as American as red meat and shooting ranges. Tough and independent, you think big. You love everything about the US, wrong or right. And anyone who criticizes your home better not do it in front of you!

How American Are You?

London has just been chosen as the site of the 2012 Olympic Games.

I remember when the Olympics were in Atlanta in the early 1990's. Residents left in swarms because they thought the traffic would be horrendous...but because so many residents left the city, the traffic situation was better than ever! Of course, the other reason some residents left town was so that they could rent out their home to Olympic visitors at exhorbitant rates.

I would love to go to London, but I think I would rather go when the city is 'normal,' ie no big event like the Olympics going on, so I could see the city as it usually is.

Happy 4th of July...here is a portrait of an eagle I drew in graphite pencil on September 11th, 2001. 100% Cotton, 8"x10" Art Prints are available, use the PayPal button below to order, or contact me for more information.
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$25

Your Slanguage Profile

Aussie Slang: 75%

New England Slang: 75%

Canadian Slang: 50%

Prison Slang: 50%

Southern Slang: 50%

British Slang: 25%

Victorian Slang: 25%

What Slanguage Do You Speak?

Still waiting to hear. C'mon John, I know you have the money. LOL
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Yesterday I had 2 doctor's appointments (trying to maximize my ability to travel on my husband's days off). I went to the obstetrician in the morning - I had the glucose test and failed it, but failed it with a low number (140 is the cutoff for high level of normal, and my number was 147). So, because I didn't fail it in a major way, they want me to go to the lab in about a week for a 3 hour test, so they can see if it is a serious enough case of gestational diabetes that I might need insulin or if diet will be enough to manage it. When I was pregnant the last time, the number I had was 160, so farrrrr off the chart that they knew I didn't need to have the 3 hour test that time. So the 147 is really nothing to worry about. I am actually supposed to eat a diet for 3-5 days that includes soft drinks (with sugar) and desserts! That is so that when I take the 3 hour test, they will know that my body isn't just spiking because it's not used to having sugar...so by having moderate amounts of sweets added in, it is to get my body used to having some. I know, it is confusing, isn't it?

I got home about lunchtime, was able to have a short nap, then I had to get some artwork ready to mail out, went to post office (boy was it HOT out there!) and then I went to yet another doctor's office (by the hospital) to have my ultrasound. The baby is estimated to be about 3 POUNDS already!!! He is at the 100th percentile, so he is going to be a big boy. The amniotic fluid level is less than it was, and it looks pretty good. I will probably not go back to this specialist unless it is needed for gestational diabetes, which we won't know until I have the 3 hour test.

I got verification again that it's a boy, he looks really cute in the ultrasound pictures. I'm going to see if they scan decently, and if so, I will post one or two here later.

The numbness I have been having in my arms is due to carpal tunnel syndrome! It's just temporary because of being pregnant and retaining water (oh joy!) But still, I was relieved to hear I wasn't having strokes!