Scam aimed at artists:

Today I received the following email that seemed kind of odd to me:
==================

From: Mary Wilson

Subject: Purchase of ART.

Hello Darla ,

My name is Mary Wilson from the United kingdom,I am interested in buying some of your art work,they are all beautiful.I want to use them as a decoratives in our new house in the Republic of Benin .I am interested in buying these paintings from you.

(1) Original Art Available
(2) prints

Kindly get back to me with the total price of the selected paintings excluding shippingcost,I have informed a shipping company that will be shipping some of our other house decors.

I will be glad to pay you with a US C- check or US Postal Money Order.Please let
me know the payment method you will prefer better.

I am looking forward to your response on how to proceed.

Best Regards,

Mary.

===================

I Googled the email address and found this <--Click it) that pretty much confirmed my suspicions

and then out of curiosity, I wondered where the heck the Republic of Benin is, and it's in Nigeria....so, scam. Watch out for this one. I will not even respond to it. Please pass this on to all your artist friends.

Darla

MEMORIAL DAY 2005

Big thanks to our servicepeople in Iraq. I pray you will be able to come home soon!
Love and thoughts to the families who lost loved ones. I'm sorry my words are so inadequate to describe my appreciation.

This story <--Click) moved me to tears when I saw Diego Rincon of Conyers GA featured on CNN. Not even a US Citizen (their family is from Colombia), but after 9-11 he felt he needed to do something. He died in Iraq at age 19. His father spoke so eloquently about his son. I was especially moved (ie broke down) when his father touched the flag he was presented for his son and described the freedom we have in America is not free, and the red stripes on the flag symbolize his sons' blood and the blood of other servicepeople who have died to work to keep our country free.

I am also remembering of course, my father who was in the Army and served on the island of Saipan in the South Pacific/Marianas Islands in WWII. My older brother also served valiantly in Vietnam as a medi-vac helicopter pilot. (he wouldn't say he was valiant, he would just say he was doing his job - so typical of most vets! Thank goodness, he is still living).

My uncle Ted Best had a tradition of putting flags on the gravesites of Veterans on Memorial Day. One time I went with him to do this. Now I have that special memory of my uncle Ted who died a couple years ago.

So have a happy and appreciative Memorial Day. I think sometimes that our society has turned Memorial Day into a day that stores have sales and we have cookouts.

Post a Comment: What does Memorial Day mean to you?

Weird Pregnancy Dreams

Night before last, I had a dream that our Sheltie dog came in and told me (yes, in a human voice!) that my daughter (human) was having puppies. I checked it out, and no, she wasn't having puppies (of course). Weird thing is, I didn't think it was strange that my dog was talking to me in my dream!

Last night I dreamed I was in the bathroom and this weird looking millipede sort of thing was crawling on the door. It was strangely shaped, with head larger than the rest of the body, with red marks in its body (not a good sign)...I called to my other daughter who likes insects and stuff, for her to come and look at it...and before I could get at it, it crawled into my bedroom and into one of my dresser drawers.

Ten best things to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk
Sent to me by Kathie of http://www.hittbiz.com/

10. "They told me at the blood bank this might happen."

9. "This is just a 15 minute power nap like they raved about in
that time management course you sent me to."

8. "Whew! Guess I left the top off the white out. You probably got
here just in time."

7. "I wasn't sleeping, I was meditating on the mission statement
and envisioning a new paradigm."

6. "I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance."

5. "I was doing a highly specific Yoga exercise to relieve
work-related stress. Do you discriminate against people who practice
Yoga?"

4. "Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out a solution
to our biggest problem."

3. "The coffee machine is broken."

2. "Someone must have put decaf in the wrong pot."

1. " ... in God's name, Amen."

free scrapbook project printables from HP
CLICK HERE

It's an overcast day here in Snellville GA. It is hard to get motivated to do much today.
I have two pencil portraits to do some final touch ups on. I also have some age regression portraits that will be in colored pencil, and I MUST start them ASAP! I also have a client I need to meet with (call first). I am happy that I am finally starting to get back into the art groove. I wish there was some way to jump-start myself, but I tell myself that I am a little dull because of my dad's death, and it's not going to be an instant bounce back.

DD2 is on a Girl Scouts camping trip, so it's weirdly quiet around here...no fighting among the twins! DD1 is quietly playing with Bratz dolls. She and I might go to a friend's Tupperware party later on today. Just to get out. Just to buy some Tupperware. LOL

The dog is acting buggy today. I don't think he is feeling well. He is very jumpy. I have been taking him outside a lot and giving him a lot of affection.

My site hits for my skin care and cosmetics site...pathetic! Good product, I signed up for the 35% discount, since it was only $29 to sign up - that is a good deal, but if you want to make a business of it, unless you can really work the business OFFLINE, don't sign up as a consultant. Sign up for personal use but don't get tempted to sell it unless you can really put in the time required.

Total visitors: 2716
Total today: 0
Total yesterday: 1
This month: 9
This year: 213
First visitor recorded was in July of 2003

For a change, I have so much to share in my blog that I think it will be a mess to try to discuss all of it, but here goes.

First of all, thank you to those who sent cards, emails, etc during my father's illness and due to his death. I really appreciate it. Many people were praying, and maybe I don't even know what you did, but believe me, I know it helped, I felt lifted up by love during that time and still...and I'm not a person who normally 'talks' this way, if you know what I mean :)
My mother is doing pretty well, but I think the time will come about a month or two from now, when it will get quiet and lonely for her. She will probably come here about the time I have the new baby, and she is looking forward to that (I am too!)

Workwise, I am still trying to play catch up. I am more than a little behind, and that can get me a bit stressed out. The kids have to be my first priority, but the artwork is and has always been my sanity saver! I was behind before my father's illness and death, and now I am even more behind. The last two-three days, I have been extremely tired. I think the funeral and trip etc have caught up to me, but also I think maybe the baby is going through a growth spurt. Add to that my active toddler, and that adds up to one tired momma!

Yesterday, I took my twin girls (5th graders) to the local park for a cookout that their grade is having for graduation from elementary school. The thing was supposed to start at 2 pm. I am not one of those parents who just drop off their kids though (thank goodness)...I didn't see anyone in charge or anyone setting up, so I didn't leave. Tons of kids showed up, but no PTA representatives, and no chaperones. No food, nada! We did have some rain earlier in the day, but to me, it didn't seem like enough to cancel the cookout. Well apparently it was, so the organizers knew it wouldn't happen, but nobody else did! It was a real let down for the kids. It was especially bad for the kids who got dropped off at 2pm, with their parents to pick them up three hours later. I was a little cheesed off, because I had to make some special arrangements to have transportation, and we picked up one of my daughter's friends to take her to the cookout too! So here I was with 3 disappointed fifth graders and my 21 month old boy along for the ride. We went to Bruster's Ice Cream. Yes, it was 'for the kids' but you know, I got my chocolate shake that I have been jonesin' for for a week now! Had to have that consolation prize, dontcha know!

Laser, our new Shetland Sheepdog, is doing great. He is doing a wonderful job now of letting me know when he wants to go outside, and I can read his signals pretty well. So I guess he has trained ME?!? LOL But that is okay. He has developed into quite a snuggler, DD1 has gotten him to climb onto her lap, and now he is trying to snuggle up to all of us (except DH)...he is having a real problem warming up to my husband, but he is working on it.

If you can use a good laugh, make sure you sign up for the Onion Weekly Dispatch at http://theonion.com/
Here is a good example of their fake news. I don't know about you, but I desperately needed some humor today!

Darla

--------------------------------------------

Senators Lured Back To Emergency Session By Promise Of Free Pizza
WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. senators from both parties, tired and eager to go home to their families after a hard day of legislation, were enticed back into the Senate chamber for an emergency budget session Tuesday by the promise of Little Caesars. "I know it's been a long day, but if you stay late, there's gonna be pizza," said Majority Whip Mitch McConnell at 9:30 p.m. "Don't tell [Senate Majority Leader Bill] Frist, but stick around, and I'll make sure you all get an extra order of Crazy Bread with sauce." The senators only relented when McConnell promised that if they hammered out the budget by 1 a.m., they could rent Glengarry Glen Ross and watch it in the hearing room.

This is so cute, it's from one of my work at home mom groups and I thought it was funny and I'd share it here. ~Darla
---

I just thought I'd share with everyone that after reading the posts on the
positive outcomes of the toll-free numbers, I acquired own toll-free number
through kall8

WITHIN 5 HOURS of adding the number to my website, I received my first call
and order! NOW, I set it up so my calls would be forwarded to my cell phone
so I would always be accessible. Guess who answered my cell phone when I
was in the shower? MY THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER!!! She comes to the bedroom
and says "Mommy, you have a phone call.and she said hello THREE times!!"
Thinking it was my husband and completely forgetting about the toll free
number, I said "Hey, what's up?" This customer proceeds to say "Yes, this
is ---- and I am calling about the shopping cart covers?" I nearly died!
My daughter has never answered the phone before, so you can imagine my
surprise. I explained what had happened, but I honestly think that unless
you actually have a toddler (versus a baby even!), you can't quite relate to
the "funny" part of it! Anyhow, good news is that she must have been
forgiving and I did receive an order from it, which paid for my toll free
number for the next 2 years! I highly recommend it to everyone!!!!

Michelle Smith

http://www.cartalongbaby.com

Toll Free 1-888-460-2933

Cart Along Baby provides complete coverage of weathered, germ covered,
unsanitary shopping carts and restaurant high chairs.

Things We Can Learn From A Puppy

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be Pure
Ecstacy.

When Loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

When it is in your own best interest, always practice obedience

Let Others Know when they have invaded your territory

Take naps and always stretch before rising.

Run, Romp, and Play Daily

Be Loyal

Never Pretend to be something your're not

If you want what lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close and nuzzle them.
 
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
 
On hot days, Drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you are happy, Dance around and wag your entire body.

Don't buy into the guilt thing and pout...
Run right back and make friends.

A friend sent this to me...some valid points. ~ Darla

Dear God:

Why didn't you save the school children at ?. .

Moses Lake, Washington 2/2/96

Bethel, Alaska 2/19/97

Pearl, Mississippi 10/1/97

West Paducah, Kentucky 12/1/97

Stamps, Arkansas 12/15/97

Jonesboro, Arkansas 3/24/98

Edinboro, Pennsylvania 4/24/98

Fayetteville, Tennessee 5/19/98

Springfield, Oregon 5/21/98

Richmond, Virginia 6/15/98
Littleton, Colorado 4/20/99

Taber, Alberta, Canada 5/28/99

Conyers, Georgia 5/20/99

Deming, New Mexico 11/19/99

Fort Gibson, Oklahoma 12/6/99

Santee, California 3/5/01 and

El Cajon, California 3/22/01?

Sincerely,

Concerned Student

-----------------------------------------------------

Reply:

Dear Concerned Student:

I am not allowed in schools.

Sincerely,

God

----------------------------------------------------------

How did this get started?...

-----------------

Let's see, I think i t started when Madeline Murray
O'Hare complained she didn't want any prayer in our
schools.

And we said, OK...

------------------

Then, someone said you better not read the Bible in
school, the Bible that says "thou shalt not kill,
thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbors as
yourself,"

And we said, OK...

-----------------

Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our
children when they misbehaved

because their little personalities would be warped and
we might damage their self-esteem.

And we said, an expert should know what he's talking
about so we won't spank them anymore..

------------------

Then someone said teachers and principals better not
discipline our children

when they misbehave. And the school administrators
said no faculty member in this school better touch a
student when they misbehave because we don't want any
bad publicity, and we surely don't want to be sued.

And we accepted their reasoning...

------------------

Then someone said, let's let our daughters have
abortions if they want, and they won't even have to
tell their parents.

And we said, that's a grand idea...

------------------

Then some wise school board member said, since boys
will be boys and they're

going to do it anyway, let's give our sons all the
condoms they want, so they can have all the fun they
desire, and we won't have to tell their parents they
got them at school.

And we said, that's another great idea...

------------------

Then some of our top elected officials said it doesn't
matter what we do in private as long as we do our
jobs.

And we said, it doesn't matter what anybody, including
the President, does in private as long as we have jobs
and the economy is good...

------------------

And someone else took that appreciation a step further
and published pictures of nude children and then
stepped further still by making them available on the
Internet.

And we said, everyone's entitled to free speech....

------------------

And the entertainment industry said, let's make TV
shows and movies that promote profanity, violence and
illicit sex... And let's record music that encourages
rape, drugs, murder, suicide, and satanic themes...

And we said, it's just entertainment and it has no
adverse effect and nobody takes it seriously anyway,
so go right ahead...

------------------

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no
conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and
why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers,
classmates or even themselves.

------------------

Undoubtedly, if we thought about it long and hard
enough, we could figure it out. I'm sure it has a
great deal to do with...

"WE REAP WHAT WE SOW"

We got back last night from our trip to Savannah for my father's funeral. The funeral was Saturday. I thought I could get through the service without crying, but I was wrong. As my cousin said after the service, "Boy, that part when they play 'Taps' will get you every time, won't it?!?"

My father was a veteran of WWII, so they played Taps and did the presentation of the flag. I couldn't look up during that part. I did finally look up when the serviceman presented the US flag to my mother. The serviceman's hand was shaking when he saluted - I could tell it was emotional for him, too. That must be a hard duty to perform.

The weirdest thing was seeing my father's name on the Order of Service program. It is very surreal. My eyes saw it but my brain said, 'hey, they have the wrong name there.'...like that name shouldn't be there, they made a mistake. That must be that stage of grief called denial, eh?

It did offset the pain to get to see all my brothers and sisters together. Because we live all over the country, it's been 20 years since we've all been together. I wish we could have spent more time.

My mother wanted us all to go to church with her on Mother's Day and we did. I enjoy getting to go back to church there, because it's the same church in which I was married.

Just wanted to let you all know, my father died yesterday in the early evening. I am not really up to writing more now. Thanks for your thoughts, messages, and prayers.

My father slipped into a coma yesterday, or it could have actually happened the night before. At first, they thought he was just sleeping a lot, but then it was realized to be a coma. Elderly patients who go into coma after stroke are not given a very good prognosis for survival. I have had my hard moments dealing with this, but because my father is 80, I have spent some time over the last two years or so thinking about the possibility of losing my parents. So I haven't been in denial.

I have always been pretty close to my Dad. We share a lot of personality traits, we understand each other. I know he wouldn't go on like this, and I know my Mom has made the right decision in letting nature take its course. When the Terri Schiavo case was in the news, Dad was vocal about his wishes if he were in that situation. He said he wouldn't want to go on that way. So the decision has been made by my mother to have the hospital keep him comfortable and care for him however they can, but to not take any measures to artificially sustain his life.

I have three brothers and three sisters. Because the coma situation could conceivably go on for weeks, what we are going to do is space out our visits, so we can give our mom the most help and support - not leaving her alone, but not overwhelming and stressing her out with too many visitors at once. Because I don't want my kids to miss a lot of school, I am waiting and we will probably go down to Savannah sometime this month. I try to call every day and get an update.

I have had my moments of breaking down, once even while typing this...but I have also told myself what my Dad would tell me - because I am pregnant, he wouldn't want me to get all devastated, but deal with it positively so I can have a healthy pregnancy and outcome. He'd also say that I need to hold myself together to take care of my family. I can hear his voice telling me that. One time when I was crying, I realized I was crying not just for him, but for myself...I have that little girl voice crying "I want my Daddy!" but I am 39 years old and my Dad taught me to stand on my own two feet, and I will. I have been blessed to have had my father long enough that he could impart his wisdom to me, and that I have been able to be old enough myself to listen.

pencil portrait of my Dad I did a few years ago.
Posted by Hello

Gotta love American Capitalism...check out the Jennifer Wilbanks runaway bride kit on Ebay
Click Here to see it
If I didn't care about anyone else's feelings, I could make more money LOL

Here is a colored pencil artwork I did last fall.
Posted by Hello

An update on my dad's condition: he is back in the hospital with pneumonia in one lung and has been running a fever. Family members seem worried about the fever, but I'm not...I'm actually relieved because it shows that his body is fighting the infection. A fever (when controlled) is just the body doing what it's supposed to do. At least in the hospital they have him on an IV drip so he won't get dehydrated. At the same time that I am relieved, I am also guarded - getting all my ducks in a row so to speak - arranging to have someone pet-sit the dog in case we need to go down to Savannah. My older brother from Dallas TX is going to Savannah today and staying until about Wednesday, then my other older brother from Michigan is going to go down there and stay about a week. Thank you for your continued prayers.

You went blogging and somehow ended up here. Tsk tsk, you are bound to be so disappointed. Guess what I found though? A list of top blogs in different categories. Kids, take an adult with you...but in general there is some interesting stuff here. CLICK HERE