Animal Lovers...

Someone had posted this elsewhere. When I saw it, I couldn't help but get sentimental and tear up about it.

You can read more about this amazing story and see some incredible photos of Christian, his owners and his 'den' here: The Hugging Lion. The interview of the two owners, on The Today Show and done this year, is wonderful to watch! You can watch it also on that site.
It's amazing!
*sniff*
Enjoy!!

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My Feed Reader has run Amok.

OK, I haven't dropped off the edge of the earth, in spite of what appears to be me MIA.
I've been busy with a few other things, among them, buying a new Bike! Yaaay!
I was very much in the market to get another. And while it isn't a "Trusty Schwinn" like this gentleman raves about, I am still quite pleased with it. It's a Raleigh and Can I just say......

I LOVE the fact it has a decent suspension system on it!!
It's much more comfortable when being on the Erie Canal or other trails.

I do however, want to make sure the Ceiling hook I've been using, is still very secure!


In addition to this, I've also been restructuring my photo blog a bit too.
I think most are aware of what Memes are, right? Anyway, I've found several photo sites that incorporate a daily meme theme to do. This kind of stuff is right up my alley, I enjoy trying to be creative with things like that.
So, check out a few of the changes I made to the photo blog, and even follow the links I've added to the respective site with the challenge posted. You'll find the link to it at the top of my site where the link bar is just below my header.

This post obviously is passing as a disclaimer, as I haven't been on any one's site in a while. OMG, my damn feed reader has run amok! There are some people who have 15, 16, 17 posts since the last time I was there! I think I need a 'panic button' like Karl has mentioned before, when one has neglected their blog-jumping.
I know that DisneyKid had mentioned something to me about a banana of some sort. (It sounded rather naughty if you ask me.) :)
I miss having 'coffee' with this gentleman and have been wonderin' how his wonderful garden is doing!!??
And Becky had commented on the Incinq poem that I had done, mentioning she was going to 'steal' it. Beck....Steal Away!!! I'm looking forward to seeing yours!
And I have no idea how Halloween Prep for the Party of the year, is coming along for this gentleman.
I also haven't been on Jen's site in a while and I've been missing the poignant and introspective posts of MissBritt.
And Studmuffin!!!?? Hey, my reader is saying 5 weeks again!! You're worse than me! :)
Gabe and Gwen, whom I've been reading for a long time, I'll stop by soon.

I know I also still owe this wonderful gentleman an email and a big warm Thank You to this gentleman for such a warm welcome in a writing group. (I've got a couple half-writen posts in my head about adding to your site!) I've obviously been into a few other things.
Anyway, I hope all is well with everyone and I'll catch up with you sooner or later. :)

~ZZ

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I've been invited to be a member

of The Society of the Midnight Wanderers, a site currently consisting of 34 other writers, whose goal is to provide "a medium where all of us can share our works, define ourselves as a society of writers, and to have fun while doing so."

This site's two founding authors, JD Beaudoin from The Supplicant and Mike J. Kannengieser from Mr. Grudge have established a wonderful place where writers can include their works among others who enjoy the art of the written word and spread their wings.
I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have even been considered, feeling like I am only just learning to fly. Though I am not very familar with Mike's works (yet!) or most of the other writers on that site, I am however, a big fan of JD's!
JD is a Professional/retired Military photographer, who is currently attending university for English and History and working towards his Master's in English. Aside from a simply wonderful poet and writer (he is currently in the process of writing a novel), he is also quite an accomplished artist in wood-carving and digital photography. I think his writing is wonderful, intimate, and demonstrates an incredible sensitivity to him that easily draws you in, wanting more.
Please read one of my favorites from him, The Gift, and you'll understand what I mean.

The Society's Badge, as seen above, will be on my sidebar. Just click on it to take you to that site, and discover a world where literary expressions and beautiful photos come together and, like a bird, take flight.

(JD, Thank you. I am very intimidated nervous honored you would consider me!) :)

~ZZ
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The Raven
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"- here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!" -
Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice:
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said, "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never - nevermore'."

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore:
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting -
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

~Edgar Allen Poe

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Of Birds, Humans and Broken Deals

"We have a deal" ...Said George Costanza of Seinfeld fame. (Pigeons are to move out of the way when humans approach, and humans will overlook the pigeons' statue defecation.)

(click on photo)

Apparently that deal, though George said the pigeons broke it, only applies to pigeons and not geese.
Brunetta and I had gone for a bike ride and boy...was it a hot, hot day!
We went along the Famed Erie Canal. The photo above was taken about 5 miles into our ride. Geese were all over the place, and like George's pigeons above, really did not move out of the way once approaching and passing them.
We ended up doing a 22.25 mile round trip ride, stopping at the Chittenango crossover for lunch that we had packed before turning around to make the ride back to the truck.
For those not familiar already, Chittenango is the home town of L. Frank Baum, the author of that wonderful childhood movie, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The quaint and tiny little village boasts yellow brick roads for their side walks and there is a yearly Oz Fest that includes a few of the remaining living munchkins from the original movie. (Shouldn't they be about 150 years old by now?!)
Anyway, please check my 'ZZ's Photos' link at the top of my page for a few updated floral pics that I took while on this bike ride. You'll also see a few older pics of Chittenango Falls in the wintertime, and mostly frozen.

***Edited 8:15 PM***
OMG!! I forgot to add a part to this post that my sister Brunetta had hilariously added on her post. You'll find it HERE! (It's good stuff, that's all I gotta say!) ;)

~ZZ

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Fata Morgana

Ghosts, originally uploaded by janika0.

I reach out.
My hand stretches to meet the warmth of yours.
I reach and my fingers are met with wisps of air,
intertwined, but you're not there.

An illusion.

That was all you wanted to be.

Fata Morgana.


© 2008 Greeneyezz

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I'm a Rocker Chick! :)

I had recently posted a comment in another forum about having some cyber-wine and chillin' out to some Satriani. I had even posted the link to my favorite song by him. I like this version much better than the one that was on my side bar, but I didn't like the idea of someone hitting on my site and for the first minute and a half, listening to someone talk to their audience.
Listen to this wonderful song, and watch him play. He definitely knows how to make that guitar sing.
Hmmmm...He'll be playing in Buffalo on Sunday, October 12th, and will be in NYC on Saturday October 18th. Something to think about.

Anyway, Once listening to it, I was called a 'Real Rocker Chick' by this wonderful gentleman, which tickled me pink and made me laugh! It's kinda funny, I think my music tastes run the gamut from Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Blues (Stevie Ray Vaughn Oh Yeah) to Jazz, to Dance, and even throw in some Bob Marley, Latin Rock, Sade, and Norah Jones. I pretty much like all music, though am not a fan of Rap (The closest would be some of Santana's newest music) and I'm alright with some Country, but not alot.
Sooo, imagine my surprise when I came across this Blogthing quiz!

You Are a Chick Rocker!

You're living proof that chicks can rock You're inspired by Joan Jett and the Donnas And when you rock, you rock hard (Plus, you get all the cute guy groupies you want!)

What Kind of Rocker Are You?

Sooooo, Rocker Chick I am!

However, the last part??? Where it states:
'you get all the cute guy groupies you want!'

OK, there are somethings that just do NOT translate,
no matter how hard you try!

Like....

Guys????

Don't even *Think* about taking off your underwear
and throwing it up to me!

Trust me, it won't work.

~RockerZZ

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I'm Voting Republican

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I'm InCinq!!

This is my Self-Portrait.
To see and read my accompanying 9 word Cinquain,
you'll have to visit InCinq

Please stop by there to see this and to read my Cinquain!

I would love to have you Reflect on it and leave your thoughts on *that* site!

InCinq

© 2008 Greeneyezz

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SpeedyGonZZalas

Ooops, I forgot to say, I had gone to Saratoga's Jazz Fest last weekend. I had a blast, even with the fact that it poured on us all day on Saturday. I somehow (??????) got quite drunk on Saturday. I mean. Bombed. I had a couple beers, which was nothing. But then I switched to my famous Frozen Wine Slushies and had shared quite a bit of these Jello Shots that I made for the weekend. Weekend???...They lasted one day! I made four batches total, 2 batches using Orange Jello with Vanilla Stoli Vodka, ahem, a Half-bottle's worth! Yummy Creamsicle! The other 2 batches were made with Raspberry Jello and a half-bottle of Blackberry Stoli Vodka. Oh my.
I was tossing them out to everyone, even to the people behind us that we didn't know.
My "only" rule???
You could only use your tongue to help slurp the jello out of the plastic ramekins. :)
Anyway, I know I must have been 'unusually' smashed that first night, cause everyone was asking how I was feeling on Sunday!
I actually felt pretty good, considering I offered to be a 'runner' for our designated spot on Sunday Morning. {Meaning: Once the gate opens, it's a free-for-all-stampede for everyone to Run as fast as they can to stake their claim on prime lawn acreage.} This is done by quickly unrolling a tarp. The size I carried??? It's large enough to fit about 16-18 people. Our spot is almost at the half-way mark of the length of the outdoor Ampitheatre. It's a little bit of a distance to run, but not too bad.
Can I just say, it's like the Running of the Bulls!! P. and I were at the gate at like 8:45 AM on Sunday. Not too bad, there were a few people ahead of us already, but really not too bad. But when the gates open at 11 AM, omg watch out! We were all crammed in there shoulder to shoulder. The group I was with has had the same exact spot for the last 22+ years! (Not too much pressure for me to keep the tradition going!)
What an adrenalin Rush! I've already said I wouldn't mind being the 'runner' next year (Sunday of course), as that gives me first pick of seating, which is always under the tree.
It was a nice time.

Oh, I almost forgot. Almost.
The photo above???
That's me. On the drive back to Syracuse on Monday, don't I get stopped about 15 miles from my exit, by a State Trooper who clocked me doing 91 MPH!!
Ouch! I knew I was going at least 85, but 91???
Anyway, he did write me a ticket, but for going 84 MPH instead, as he had been ever so kind to show me the break down of points and # of miles over the speed limit, along with saying that such-and-such amount over the speed limit wouldn't allow me to plea bargain down.
Damn!
Shit!
I hadn't had a speeding ticket in years!!

~SpeedyGonZZalas

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Uncertainty

par-a-dox ('par-&-"däks) noun: an apparently self-contradictory statement, the underlying meaning of which is revealed only by careful scrutiny. The purpose of a paradox is to arrest interest and provoke fresh thought. The statement "less is more" is an example.

You seek answers to those questions posed to me.
Look within yourself.
You'll find those answers there.
Within yourself.
They were there all along.

An echo you are not.

Reflections of Self


© 2008 Greeneyezz

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Wordless Wednesday - Against the Odds

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