Where in the World is...

.....That's it.

Where in the World is.....

I've decided I'm going to add a new little feature to my sidebar.
My own version of the original Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego .
No, this is not an original idea, as I had initially posted a variation of this called The Gratitude Dance.
A fellow blogger, Billiam had been kind enough to tell me *that* version of what I had posted, was actually a take off from another version, called "Where the Hell is Matt?"

Anyway, If you recall, my twisted & demented friends had begun their own version of Where in the World is... except that time, it was B.O.B , as he had made an appearance in a few different places that fatefull evening in November, though I only posted the one with the Wall Candle Sconce. (There were a few others that are now in The Vault* .)


Last night, a bunch of us got together for our birthdays. Mine obviously was 2 days ago. J. and M. both share a birthday on 12/17, L. is today (Happy Birthday L!) and P.'s is on 1/3. R. did a bang up job organizing this. *MWAUW* Thanks Swee'Pea! Wiseguys, a local Comedy Club that used to be located in the Hotel Syracuse, and had been closed for the past 7 years, has now reopened where Roman's used to be on Franklin Street.
I'm always up for a laugh or two, so there we went. The show was great, you could hear T. and P.'s hysterical laughter through out, which made it seem all the more funnier.
When the show finished, we just went out to the bar and had a few there, when we noticed that Bruno Schirripa, the owner, still had a picture of "The Unknown Comic" hanging behind the bar. Who remembers The Unknown Comic from the Gong Show years ago???

**You will need to turn off Mr. Satriani on my sidebar if you would like to listen to the below video. (But, remember to turn him back on 'cause he's a Kick-Ass Guitar player.)

If you'd like a blast from your past, you can check out a youtube video here.

Anyway, if you'll recall, one of our dearest had moved to Florida recently and not in attendance.

Or was she????

The Bartender, Amy, was gracious enough to take the picture of The Unknown Comic down from the back bar so that we may photograph him with our very lovely C. ;)
Damn it! It was like the Ghost of Christmas Present. C. indeed was with us, if only in spirit!!
Of course, she too, was amazed at the Unknown Comic.
And couldn't keep her eyes off of him.

But her facination with brown paper bags, did not stop there.
The Unknown comic seemed to be popping up in other areas too.

(I *know* that those hands, do not go with any other body part that's in there.)**



Yes, that would be an upper body shot of me. And I can't believe I came home last night with my scarf...(T. insists it looks like a Boa)....still intact. (That's another story.)

*A safe (from prying eyes) spot, where all pictures which could be used against "Greeneyezz & Friends"® either in a court of law or if running for office.

**Editing complements of my good friend Fosterdad, who is amazing at this stuff.

C. - We love you!!


~ZZ

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Milestones

It's been almost two years since I first started this blog. I've noticed how it's evolved overtime.
My first post, the birth of this Blog: Saturday, March 18, 2006. (Really not much to read...as I thanked DisneyKid for introducing me to the Blogosphere and commented on S.U. losing their first game during March Madness.
I think my posts have definitely become more personal over time. I remember having a discussion with a few different people about this, As they each did not have a blog and wanted to know if I felt like my 'stuff' was just put out there? I remember saying that I tend to keep my more private thoughts.......private. While I still think that is true, I also think I have become more comfortable writing about things that are personally important to me.
I have also had discussions with others who have started a separate 'private' blog, for their eyes only. Kind of an uncensored, No Holds Barred kind of personal Web log and I like that idea as well. I already have a 'dummy' site, that I had created and used as the testing ground for when I updated this blogger and used this new template. I still use it as a testing spot as I continue to tweak this site. But when I finish, I may just deveop that one a bit, keep it 'private' and utilize that for a more pesonalized account of my life. (Just some ideas rumbling in my head for now.)

Mind you, I still like posting silly and frivilous Fluff too. I am a person who most definitly needs Fluff & Stuff.

Milestones:

~ March 18, 2006 - The birth of my blog.

~ December 28 - The birth of me. Yaay!

~ December 28 - I only know one other person that shares my birthday.

~I wish him a happy birthday.

Happy Birthday Dave. I hope it's a nice one for you.

~Greeneyezz

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World Peace! ;)

OK. I SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Wanted to post this in a forum I sometimes frequent.

However, I just *know* that if I did, I would very quickly be banned and would lose my current nickname!! (Yes, I've already been through that before, when posting a quote from Sex & the City.)
It's-a-once-bitten-twice-shy-kinda-thing.
So, with that being said, I really like Marianne Williamson's Answer to World Peace:


"Some men know that a light touch of the tongue, running from a woman's toes to her ears, lingering in the softest way possible in various places in between, given often enough and sincerely enough, would add immeasurably to world peace."

~Marianne Williamson

And she is often touted as an
"International Lecturer on Spiritual, Personal and Political Issues"
which I think makes her quote all the more Legit!! ;)~~

OK, I now return you to our regularly scheduled Programing!

~NaughtyZZ

(I Sooo Crack myself up!) ;)

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The Invitation

(This Speaks to My Soul.) ~ZZ

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love,
for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow,
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own,
without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own;
if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic,
remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty every day.
And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine,
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'Yes.'

It doesn't interest me to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair,
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what
or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

~ Oriah Mountain Dreamer

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"It came without Packages, Boxes or Bags!"

"...And the Grinch
with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?
It came without ribbons!
It came without tags!
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"
Well...in Who-ville they say
That the Grinch's small heart
Grew three sizes that day!
And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight,
He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light
And he brought back the toys!
And the food for the feast!
And he...
...HE HIMSELF...!
The Grinch carved the roast beast!"

~Dr. Seuss

This has always been my favorite 'childhood' Christmas Cartoon to watch.
What a wonderful way to let the true meaning of Christmas to come through.
As an adult, I still love this Christmas Classic, as well as another Classic...It's a Wonderful Life.
Two beautiful movies depicting the beautifulness behind giving to others.

I hope the True Spirit of Christmas is felt by each and everyone of you, and the New Year sees you warm, healthy, and loved.

Merry Christmas!

~Greeneyezz

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"The Amputation of a Friendship"

The Amputation of a Friendship, originally uploaded by Ilina S..

Wow

I was so struck by this, I wanted to post it here.
Her choice of title really grabs me. And the far off look in her eye is very telling.

I had been referred to this picture months ago, by someone in my past. The title "The Amputation of a Friendship" holds enough substance to stand all on its own.
Though, if I was to give it a sub-heading,

"A Study in Irony"

would be very fitting.

If you click on the picture, it'll take you to the original site where this is found on Flickr and roll your mouse over her picture, notes pop up.
I left one.

My Fingerprint.

~ ReflectingZZ

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Welcome to CNY..

And the 'Lighter Side' of living in a snow-belt.

We've been getting pretty hammered with the white stuff.
And it's not over yet.
Below is a picture looking down my street earlier today. That car that you see is mine, and unfortunately, would not start yesterday.
I got a ticket for being on the wrong side.
Damn.

And the price of a ticket goes up because it's wintertime.
Double Damn!
It ended up that I needed a new battery, that was all.
OK, I'm back down to a 'single' Damn again.


The above picture was taken at approximately 3 PM. The picture below, which was taken of the same view, but at street level, was taken at 5:30 PM. About 2 1/2 hours later and you can see the difference in height the snow banks are, made by the snow plow coming down.

No, that is not my car. I have since had the battery replaced and now on the correct side.
There continues to be a Winter Storm Warning in effect until noontime tomorrow. And we are not done yet; as we are expected to get 3-7 more inches by morning time.

Am I used to this? Oh hell yeah! Anyone living in this area, needs to be. We often get 'lake-effect snowfall', complements of Lake Ontario.
Do I typically complain about it?? Not usually until February, when everyone is sick of it. That seems to be about the time that I pull out the Sandy Beach, Cabana Boy and Palm trees, a la ZZ's Oasis at work.

It's kind of funny, I've heard of a local 'version' of Jeff Foxworthy's...

You might live in Upstate New York if...

~ If you can drive 75mph through 2 feet of snow during a blizzard without flinching, you may live in upstate New York.

~ If you have switched from heat to AC and back again in the same day, you may live in upstate New York.

~ If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in upstate New York.

~ If your kids Halloween costume is designed to fit over a snowsuit, you may live in upstate New York. (This one just kills me!! It's sooooo True!)

~ If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in upstate New York.

~ If you know all four seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you may live in upstate New York.

All very fitting for this area.

And one of my personal favorites, as it was sent to me via Text, by my niece.
*Disclaimer* This in no way implies that drinking while driving is condoned. It's more a commentary on Central New Yorkers' comfortableness with driving in the winter, as often times cities not used to a 'dusting' of snow are some how crippled.

Via Text: "98% of drivers say 'Oh Shit' when they hit ice. The other 2 % are from Central New York and say, 'Hold my beer & watch this shit!'

Yup, We can handle our own.

~ZZ

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Intention

“What is the quality of your intent?

Certain people have a way of saying things that shake us at the core.
Even when the words do not seem harsh or offensive, the impact is shattering.
What we could be experiencing is the intent behind the words.
When we intend to do good, we do.
When we intend to do harm, it happens.
What each of us must come to realize is that our intent always comes through.
We cannot sugarcoat the feelings in our heart of hearts.
The emotion is the energy that motivates.
We cannot ignore what we really want to create.
We should be honest and do it the way we feel it.
What we owe to ourselves and everyone around is to examine the reasons of our true intent.
My intent will be evident in the results.”

~Thurgood Marshall

Ok, I actually plan on posting more about this at some point. I had meant to hit 'save as draft', not realizing I had 'published' it already. oops.
Anyway, I'll leave this quote as is for now, though more on this topic, as it relates to my own personal experiences will be following after.

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Christmas in Iraq

While over at Go! Smell the Flowers, a wonderful site that tends to be often inspirational and upbeat, as well as informative and humorous; I found a post of theirs, which *actually* was referencing a post on another blog, Bitten and Bound. (Sound confusing??)

While I don't typically 'Steal some one's thunder', I think the message there is larger than life and something that really should be shared. You can read the story behind it here, but the main gist is a request for people to send Best Wishes, Holiday Greetings, or just a warm hello to the Marines that are stationed there this holiday season. The author's daughter's boyfriend is

LCPL Wiley Adams, the third Marine from the right, So this hits closer to home for this particular Blog Author.

Bitten and Bound is asking for messages to be sent to our Men & Women who are serving in Iraq this holiday season. They can be emails, photos, or even uploaded Youtube videos. They are dedicating a portion of their site specifically for this. Please email all correspondence to: Bitten and Bound by January 1, 2008, and they will make sure it will be posted on their site.

This will also work the other way around too. If you are a service member and are overseas, you can send your correspondence to your loved ones at that same email above, and Bitten and Bound will make sure it gets posted on their site. (Please read the original post at Bitten and Bound for any other details that I may have left out.) (And I want to thank Taylor who sometimes posts at Go! Smell the Flowers for posting this as well. She has a brother who will be taking off for Afganistan in August.)

Help make their Holiday a bit warmer and cared for, as each and every one of them is someone's daughter or son, father or mother, husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, or brother or sister.

~ZZ

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Sometimes...

Supervising an intern sucks.

Incredibly so.

I know I've talked in previous blogs about me supervising Master Level Interns. I generally like being a mentor for this and helping them to learn how to do what I do. It is much more work for me, but there's a personal satisfaction I get out of it. It's also a matter of professional pride, as they've decided to hire my intern from last year; out of how many applicants.
So yes, I generally enjoy this added responsibility.

This is not one of these times.

Without going into any detail, my intern is just not cut out to do this kind of work. And thankfully, he has saved me the uncomfortableness by coming to that realization himself.
I am grateful for this, as I would have had to do something, though would be the right thing to do, but a very difficult thing to do as well.

I would have had to fail him.

Critiquing someone's professional performance, I am ok doing.
Pointing out their strengths and skills as well as challenges and areas for improvement, I can handle.
Even giving a verbal warning, though I've never had to do, I know I'm capable of doing.

Telling an intern that I will not be passing them, knowing they spent thousands and thousands of educational dollars, to get to this point...

is really difficult to do.

Though I know, professionally speaking, it is the right thing to do, it doesn't feel good.
I don't think it ever will.

I believe he knew this too, and brought it up to me first. He let me know he will not be returning next semester, has decided to take some time off from school, and thinks he may be switching his major. He was supposed to graduate with a Master's in Social Work come May, 2008.
This is after how many years of college?? And how much money spent??
Ouch.

So, tomorrow, I meet with him and one of the professors at SU, his field internship liaison, to check progress and challenges. I believe it's going to be a difficult meeting, but one that needs to take place.
I've come across a couple professional colleagues over the years that has left me scratching my head, wondering how in the world did they get out of Grad school. I realize now, that it may be in part due to an intern supervisor who didn't want to get their hands dirty and muck around in the mud, to say what truly needed to be said.
To pass the buck onto someone else, without quite realizing, we *are* that last someone else.

Yup.

Sometimes supervising an intern

sucks.

~ZZ

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