Hey MahoganyMama!

I just wanna say

It's your birthday

I just wanna say

It is today

I hope it's a good one

Even if you don't see the sun

I hope you have fun

When it's all said and done

Nope it's not here either

Don't even look in the freezer

I can't pretend

This will come to an end

At some point or other

I'd much rather drother

Be there right now

I'd give you a bow

To show some love

As tight as a glove

That goes on a hand

As sure as you stand

New Designs

I love working with the software I use to create my designs. It is older software and I recently purchased an upgraded version of the software. Honestly?....I like the older one better. But, saving the file in a format other than that strictly for the software, renders the printed copy jagged around the edges...fonts included.


I have copies printed in the format from the software and thought I could scan them, upload them and save them in different formats to see what I get.


One problem...after upgrading to Windows 7 Home Premium, my scanner is dead in the sea. I even tried compatibility mode under several different flavors without success. 


I tried copying the clip art from the old to the new before editing but after performing even the smallest re-size, it starts to distort. I'm messing around with designing another logo with the newer software, but I'm not happy with the arrow selection and the fact that I can't edit the color as with the older one. Using the newer software, I lose the question mark from this design.


What makes this design unique in my eyes IS the question mark. The ability to edit the arrows is a very big plus.


I have a few more ideas but it requires the use of a scanner.


Hmmmmm.....

WhatrUWorkinOn-Friday Set 5

Welcome back! This is 1 of 2 designs for the meme with more to come.

Well, let's get right to it....

Me

Investing can be tricky business...even if you are simply investing in yourself. Whether it involves money or time. It can also be very rewarding. With all I have been going through lately, deciding to put time and money into me is something I feel good about and find it necessary. 

Working for someone else is done by millions everyday. The companies that employ us expect something in return for their "investment"....as well they should....but, they don't own us. 

Nowadays, many companies , with the economy in turmoil use scare tactics to get employees to "shape up". In some cases it works and in others, some don't fall for it. Bottom line is it can be stressful to say the least.

So I have decided to invest in myself and throw in a few scare tactics of my own. I keep telling myself that my current situation will be the status quo if I choose to do nothing but what I have done for a very long time. I have a lot to be thankful for and a lot to look forward to and a lot to work for. Don't get me wrong....I have been investing in me for some time...like my whole life, but the sense of urgency has kicked in. 

I have never really been satisfied with "the way things are". I believe I have always striven to be better than what I am but not sure if I have invested in myself the way I see it today. Ever since my brother passed away, I have been searching deep within and see the need to be more than what I am. Even if I am not successful in my endeavors, I would have to say that my investment was well spent and time used wisely. 

I believe in me and in what I can do. I believe that my efforts pay off in some form, shape and fashion. 

So as I have said before, I am designing and hope that my products will be pleasing to many. I know it won't be easy and I know that failure is an option (although I hate to say it) but I'm not afraid to try. 

It won't be long before I have a few items ready but I'm still trying to get some of my previous stuff off of my defunct hard drive...but in the mean time, new stuff is rolling off the presses.

That's it for now...

#whatruworkinon 

Why?

The past few days I have been doing some T-shirt designs and I have come to realize that I like my older software more that I like the new. What I miss more is the artwork. The new one is good and loaded with clip art. 

~~~~~~~~~~

 I'm not gonna get this finished....

When I got home from work, DaddyCharles was on his way to the hospital with Ava because of her breathing. A friend of MahoganyMama not long ago, came  by to take her and Kiah and Samuel because they too were having trouble breathing. 

It takes me back to when Darcel (MahoganyMama) was their age and TheWife and I did what they are now doing. I'm sure they wish the Grands could have been spared the anguish they go through, but they know the important thing is to see that they get the treatments needed.

It's gonna be a long night for them.... 

WhatrUWorkinOn-Friday Set 4

Yes it's that time again....Link-in with your project.

Looking Up From Here

I know I haven't been steady and on time with the meme, but I am staying committed to making a run of this. I'm still clearing my plate of unwanted and unneeded this and that. 


I'm going to design a meme header...maybe that's something I can do this rainy weekend. 


Speaking of designs...I'm definitely getting back into that and have a real good shot at getting my product line on the market. I'm still looking into the details, but all looks promising. I'll be posting some items that will be on the website and I'll be getting back into some giveaways. 


It's been awhile since I've written poetry and with what I'm going to be doing, that just may get me back into it.


Reflecting back....I still know that I have a ways to go, but feeling the way I do now is a welcomed addition. 

Off The Cuff

Hey!...did I tell ya how much I like my new template? I'm sure you've seen it around, it took me awhile to change because I liked the lighthouse on the other template, but I was limited with what I could edit so it was time for a new look. 


I'll probably mess around with the fonts and see what may catch my eye.


What else...I had something but turned to catch the news for a minute and blew the thought away...don't you hate when that happens?


So now I'm sitting here trying to remember and making it worse....don't you hate when THAT happens?


OK...I'm done with that one. 


I'm off this weekend and not sure what I'm gonna be doing other than catching up and finishing up and opening new doors. I'm starting to have fun again....I remember!...I was gonna say it has been too long since I had done a post on TheGrands, so be looking for that soon....they keep me young.


Well I'm getting tired and I'm gonna just start to babble...by the way...

thanks for stopping in

Moving Forward

Where do I go from here? 


Which door should I open? 


Are new goals in order?


Answering the first question, I say that I stay the path that I have planned thus far. I will soon be back on the path to designing and hopefully have products up for sale soon. Sweet!


The answer to the second question spans across the uncertainty of life itself. I would have to say that to know which door will be opened is to know the future. Predictions can be fun and it is a guess as to what is going to happen at any given moment. Life.


New goals are definitely on the horizon. I have ideas that are popping like corn in a kettle over an open flame. Yummy!


When was the last time I told you that I'm lovin' life.


Ooooh yeeeeah!!

Remembering 9/11

The 10th Anniversary of September 11th is this coming Sunday. I want to dedicate this to the men and women who lost and sacrificed their lives on that fateful day. To the families who lost those dear to them, the friends who also suffered loss...never to hear that laugh or see that smile. To a country brought to disbelief and anger. 

On that day, September 11, 2001 I was working and the manager called me on the radio and said that a plane just flew into one of the Twin Towers at The World Trade Center. I remember asking him in disbelief what it was he had said and he repeated...a plane (American Airlines Flight 11) just flew into one of the Twin Towers in New York. I asked him was it a big plane or a little plane? He said that he didn't know...he would guess that it was a small commuter plane. I thought to myself, yeah who would fly a jetliner into a building on purpose. 

I go back to work and he calls me back and said a second plane (United Airlines Flight 175) flew into the other Tower.

I was in total shock because now I know this is not an accident. So I turned on the radio and they are broadcasting the unfolding events. I remember them saying they don't know if more planes were involved. By the time the third plane had struck the Pentagon, I was driving and I said out loud...what in the world is going on? 

The radio reports didn't give me vision and I so badly wanted to see what I was hearing so much about. I don't remember what time I finally got home but the first thing I did was turn on the TV. I switched channels until settling on CNN. 

The reason I chose this picture is because of this:

While watching the broadcast, the camera was zoomed in on the Twin Towers and I was glued to the screen. The broadcasters had stated before showing the clip that it would be graphic....out of nowhere, as if flying over my head into view was the second plane to strike. It was as if I was sitting in the plane myself when the plane struck its target. I was absolutely horrified by what I just saw. It was at that moment it all seemed to hit home for me. It was an incredible sight...not as in awesome, but as in the devastation that was taking place on our homeland...here in America.

         

Image Courtesy of Photobucket

Image Courtesy of Photobucket

My heart was heavy for the victims and bitterly angry toward those responsible.

Image Courtesy of Google Images

I thought the sight of the second Tower being hit was enough to make me sick, but when the Towers came down.... 

Image Courtesy of Photobucket

The Pentagon where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed.

Image Courtesy of Photobucket

And those of United Airlines Flight 93 and their heroic deed
which brought them to Shanksville, PA.

September 11, 2001

A day never to forget. 

Come And Sit A Spell

Image Courtesy of Photobucket

If Betty Boop can stop in for a spell, I'm sure you can too.

Oh Yeah...

I forgot to mention in my previous post (that should have been published Sunday night but I fell asleep on it) that I changed my blog template...in case you hadn't noticed. 


I like the new look. I changed the font color on the title, description and dates. Slightly narrowed the sidebar and added a new comment box from Intense Debate....at least that is what I'm hoping when this one posts. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TheWife had to work today. She has gotten back into crochet and will have something for sale soon....no I can't show pictures until it's finished. She has four different patterns she likes to use and also does the square pattern. She loves doing baby afghans...those will be wool...the sizes will vary. I don't want to give it all away yet. 


Just a couple of things to mention....


.......how is everyone's Labor Day?  

Life's Changes

Endurance is different for everyone, in many different situations spanning so many astounding lifestyles. Someone could look at my current goings on and say this is a cake walk. Then there is that one who looks and has understanding and wonder how hard it really can be....simply by the change in the flow of things on my blog.


Endurance plays a key role in how any given moment, be it short or long standing has affects on....gosh, where do I begin?....this can go as deep as the soul of a person or as shallow as a mosquito's touch. 


For me I did endure, and I'm not out of the woods, but it was/is a real struggle this time around. I did learn a few things along the way and that is always a good thing....right?....of course it is. I'm in the process of learning how to adjust to the escalated stress level. Cutting out a few things from my daily work eating habits helped a lot. I was having an affair with sweet pastry....and it was very good, but nearly eliminating that portion of the day was very helpful. 


When you're dealing with all aspects of life such as work, home, romance or the lack thereof, emotions strewn together like spaghetti except it seems there is no end. That makes for an emotional roller coaster equipped with all the "fun" surprises that help to make these rides even more exciting!

~~~a nice peaceful sigh~~~

Then there's the moment I find out that it isn't really my 200th blog post. What I do find out is that the drafts count as posts.....albeit not published, something I didn't pay any attention to. In the same post where I proudly announced my 200th blog post, I also mentioned I was about to do something I thought was somewhat down the road. Well I guess it is still down the road because I was going to write a poem on a theme and for various reasons, that didn't happen. 

So life does tick tick tick away filled with its surprises.

I'm Beside Myself

I have missed two consecutive weeks of not posting my WhatrUWorkinOn meme. I have pretty much destroyed my 30 day blog challenge. I'm in, I'm out. I'm hot, I'm cold. 


I'm driving myself crazy trying to stay consistent, or to even come close to resembling someone who means what he says. At times I feel as if I have given up...but I'm not a quitter. 


I want to bury my head in the sand to avoid whatever it is that hangs over me. I want to soak up the sunshine and walk in cool grass as the blades slice between my toes.


I want to take my fists and pound them into a wall until it begins to crumble before me or until my hands are bloodied or broken. I want to hear the sound of the sea's waves washing onto the beach or splashing against the rocks.


This is such a sad state to be in...I'm tired of it and I'm sure you are not enjoying this yourself....what to do...what to do.


I guess I'll have to keep plugging away and striving forward...I mean, this can't last much longer...could it?


Anybody out there want to do a trade off? Just kidding....I wouldn't wish this on anyone. 


It's not ALL bad. I do have continued chances to turn this around....I wake up everyday and I'm thankful for that.