Blog of the Day Awards for Tuesday August 29, 2006

"Blog of the Day Awards for Tuesday August 29, 2006The Blog of the Day Award Goes to The Bemused Muse Paleobiology - now that is a really cool topic for a blog. Mix that in with personal writing and a weekly blogger choice and it certainly chases away any bit of ennui (?) you might have been feeling. Check out this post about Pluto. This site was nominated by more people that any...

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Procrastination, and Mouse Romance Novels

My head aches today.It isn't the typical headache or migraine, but rather the dull ache of a brain that has spent the entire afternoon researching material that is needed for my novel (a written adaptation of a 3-Act play written by my mother.) Some of you are already aware of my current endeavor, although the actual material will (until publication) remain hidden. The play itself...

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To Love, Honor and Dismay ~ Bemused Muse's weekly Blogger choice

It is rare that I would suggest anyone ask for advice from an online forum, be it a chat room or blog. That was before I discovered a link to To Love, Honor and Dismay ~ Andrew McAllister, Ph.D. As he states, "Relationships are fascinating, aren’t they? The way we get along with our significant other dominates our conversations with friends, enriches our lives and stresses...

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Domain names, registration, and copyright

You may have noticed two changes to The Bemused Muse ("Really," you ask, "I swear you change the damn thing weekly! How much more schmutz can you pack into those side bars anyway, Autrice??!")Ahem -You may have noticed two changes THIS WEEK to The Bemused Muse. The first is the copyright symbol and text that has been built into my template. I had a rare situation where one of my...

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Sunday Scribblings #22 - The Monster

The Monster hurled his naked bulk down the hallway, his breath coming in ragged bursts and his lungs strained under the effort of providing oxygen to his heart while also supporting the wail coming from his mouth. He turned left, and finding his way blocked by a heavy door, he harnessed his rage and dug in.He would not give in. He would not be subjected to the whims of the Paladin...

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Pluto: the cold, icy... thing?

Much "kerfaffle" has been in the works this past few weeks, as Men With Large Degrees and Brains debate the classification of the tiny little planet, Pluto. Of course, Pluto is not longer a planet, and thus I will begin referring to it as Dwarf Planet - a new category of planets.Dwarf planet? Pluto? Shouldn't we rename it Doc, Sleepy or Bashful??I think a great amount of confusion...

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Oh, Angel! The BEST Cutesy Angel Email Ever!

Early mornings are not my favorite things. I enjoy them about as much as I would enjoy whiskers on kittens or brown paper packages tied up with string. I am not an "It's a Small World" or Tickle Me Elmo sort of person, nor do I find Barney amusing or think those obnoxious "Cutesy Angel Picture and Poem" emails are sweet. Hence, when I opened my email this morning and saw a forward...

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Maya Angelou Proverbs

There are a few contemporary authors, poets and public speakers out there who I admire greatly, not for their opinions on certain viewpoints, but rather for their ability to speak from the heart. Maya Angelou has written many phenomenal pieces, yet it was during an recent interview with Oprah that she said a few proverbs that all people would do well to live by. The following...

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Wordstar, Mount Doom, and Commas

I have just finished helping my mother proof read (and edit) a fifteen-page letter to a local (Steubenville) parish. She is writing it, I need to add! And, if we recall my earlier posts, she lives in Colorado. What else do you do on a Monday night, when long distance is free, and your mother is in grammatical distress?My Mum is the comma queen. She writes as she speaks, and her...

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Duirwaigh's Sunday Scribbling - To Tinkerbell

I enjoy Sunday Scribblings, and often I run across a story that literally shakes me emotionally. So today I share a Message from the Muse, Duirwaigh: To Tinkerbell. Words can not even begin to say how poignant her story is. I found myself on the edge of my seat, walking each step with her, which of course is the hallmark of an excellent author! Tink and Duirwaigh truly are inspirations for all of us to keep fighting, no matter how badly the odds are stacked against us.Her main blog link is Duirwaigh (http://messagefromthemuse.typepad.com/duirwaig...

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Greyhound's Voice - Sunday Scribbles #21

Gentle dream,... rocks flick up to smack against my belly... I run and run, the circle complete, and I stop, my breath in great puffs as they come for me to begin my cool down...But this is just a dream. A memory of the shadows of my past. I have many.My life began as all life does, with the smells of my family and the touch of my mother. And so I grew, long legged and strong,...

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The links list... late, but still great!

I have not forgotten the weekly list! I've been writing addresses down since the last was published, but have just not had the heart to update my own links list or post new ones here. Shame on me!So, please stop by and visit a few (if not ALL) of these places:Life is a Glorious Cycle of Song (http://cycleofsong.blogspot.com/) Lori and I share the same template creator (and also a mischievous passion for tinkering with it!) I think we also might share the same sense of humor. Hmm. A long lost twin?Good Deeds (http://gooddeedsforoursouls.blogspot.com/) oh, wowzers! This is a...

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Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium

I have had the most exasperating, asinine and anal week! It started off with a high note, and came to a bitter conclusion today.(By the way... the pictures here are best viewed at full screen.)To summarize: I was offered a job. Good. Teaching. Great. Kids. Fantastic! I spent the last three days toiling on lesson plans and gathering data for their age group. I stopped by the facility...

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A Bemused Sunday Scribbling

This was the perfect Sunday to "get out and about". I had stopped by the market after Mass, and picked up the basics for supper, and came home to find Jeff at the front door, eager to go on a our picnic (believe me, he made my morning!)We packed up some things we had at home, and stopped at Federicos for a few good deli items, then drove over to the local park - to find the picnic...

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Dr. Horner's lecture canceled.

I guess I'm not the only one having a bad week!Please keep Jack in your prayers as he recovers."A recent knee injury has caused the cancellation of the lecture by famed paleontologist Dr. Jack Horner on Sunday, August 13 at 3 p.m. at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. People holding tickets will automatically receive a refund through the Group Services Office (412-622-3291). The talk has not been reschedule...

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Catching up on stuff

I would like to say that I was detained from writing due to an overly exciting week. I would also like to say I am Heir to the Throne of some very exotic country. Neither are plausible. We did explore the local area a bit more. I had meant to write about that this week, but was sidelined by the "blahs". The following are some excerpts from an email to my Mum -"We drove up the 2...

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My (rather negative view) of the new Airport Restrictions

Pauline in the UK sent me an email earlier today, concerning the heightened airport security (she lives spitting distance of a major airport.) And so, she has asked for opinions on the new "restrictions" going into place. I obliged her with the following:Well, I used to travel a lot for my former employer... conventions mostly within the United States... so I can tell you some...

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Perseid Meteor Showers

(Sky & Telescope Aug. 7) - The Perseid meteor shower, an annual celestial event beloved by millions of skywatchers around the world, returns to the night sky this coming week. But moonlight will interfere somewhat with the view.Sky & Telescope magazine predicts that the Perseid shower will reach its peak late on Friday and Saturday nights, August 11-12 and 12-13 (for viewers...

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Taxonomic Quandary! What am I? Sphinx Moths!

AnnieElf, you just know that I thought of your butterfly post and Hazzbugs' website when I spotted this little fellow shuddering in the light breeze. I've never seen one of these moths before, and snapped up several pictures as he basked on the porch post.Anyway, if we have any entomologists out there, can you pinpoint this guy? Or am I way off in my classification?Sighted: August...

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