Monday, May 05, 2008
Starbucks Spider Incident
The car pulls up, and I'm next to it now, and it is at least the size of my fist, if not more. At one point, it runs down to the sidewalk and towards my car, so I think it must be making a break for the bushes on the other side of the driveway. Hoping I don't run over it, I pull forward.
My window keeps getting stuck down lately, so I pull up to the window and open my door to hand the girl my card. Next thing I know, there the spider is, about a foot away from the window! So I say to her, "Um, you might wanna close your window a minute, because there is a HUGE spider out here." Of course, nobody really understands what you mean by huge until they look themselves, so she pokes her head out and screams, running into the center of her spot, away from the open window. Each barista takes a turn at the window, looking and squealing, and of course the whole line of cars is full of people pointing and covering their mouths.
At this point, we're all a little hysterical with laughter and creepiness, and as she finishes my order, the spider comes EVEN CLOSER, all the way to the edge of the window, with me going, "UM!!! UM!!! SOMEONE SHOULD CLOSE THE WINDOW!!!!"
The barista looks at me and says, "Are you ready?" So I say, "Yes!" and she tosses my drink and scone to me and I speed off. $10 bucks says the thing made it inside. I'm pretty sure it was a male wolf spider.
You know you want to see:
Labels: photos
Starbucks Spider Incident
The car pulls up, and I'm next to it now, and it is at least the size of my fist, if not more. At one point, it runs down to the sidewalk and towards my car, so I think it must be making a break for the bushes on the other side of the driveway. Hoping I don't run over it, I pull forward.
My window keeps getting stuck down lately, so I pull up to the window and open my door to hand the girl my card. Next thing I know, there the spider is, about a foot away from the window! So I say to her, "Um, you might wanna close your window a minute, because there is a HUGE spider out here." Of course, nobody really understands what you mean by huge until they look themselves, so she pokes her head out and screams, running into the center of her spot, away from the open window. Each barista takes a turn at the window, looking and squealing, and of course the whole line of cars is full of people pointing and covering their mouths.
At this point, we're all a little hysterical with laughter and creepiness, and as she finishes my order, the spider comes EVEN CLOSER, all the way to the edge of the window, with me going, "UM!!! UM!!! SOMEONE SHOULD CLOSE THE WINDOW!!!!"
The barista looks at me and says, "Are you ready?" So I say, "Yes!" and she tosses my drink and scone to me and I speed off. $10 bucks says the thing made it inside. I'm pretty sure it was a male wolf spider.
You know you want to see:
Labels: photos
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Healing Scriptures, 2nd ed.
Healing Scriptures, 2nd ed.
Great news! After 2 years in the production phase, Healing Scriptures has arrived in its glossy paperback format. Mom and I first put this book together 7 years ago from all the scriptures she collected on health and healing as my brother and I were growing up. The original book was in workbook format, printed at a local printer with a color copy cover, featuring a sunset photo taken here in Jacksonville. We comb-bound every book by hand and sold them at a couple very small church book stores and online at our site, HealingScriptures.com.
Soon, the comb bindings started turning--so attractive--and we ran out of copies. Reprinting them at OfficeMax, which we did several times, was hardly worth the expense. We finally decided to re-design it one last time, like a real book, and my good friend Robby Rhoden offered to do it for free.
Then life intervened, from every direction. His wife had their second child, and he struck out on his own in graphic design. Our other business demanded holiday attention. We couldn't find the right printer. The costs of reprinting were skyrocketing. Copyediting within our family of editors added months. Figuring out how to apply for an ISBN number... The list goes on. In fact, I completed the website re-design to reflect the book over a year and a half ago! In the meantime, all we had to offer our site visitors was an e-book of the old version.
Finally, things settled down and the book took shape. After requesting estimate after estimate from a few harried printers each time the page count changed, expecting to pay several thousand dollars for books that would resemble programs and have stapled spines, we stumbled on BookMasters. Not only were their prices infinitely better, but the product was exactly what we wanted--a soft-cover, bound book.
After a few more hoops, the book is here and we're so proud. Another improvement--we used to send out little black-and-white, laser-printed bookmarks, cut by hand by yours truly, with each book. Yesterday, our new Moo MiniCards arrived in 7 designs, each one of the sunset designs from our site, with a scripture on the back. 
Here are all of our super vendors, to whom I'm so grateful:
Robby Rhoden
BookMasters.com
Moo.com
If you do have a small book project, BookMasters is definitely worth checking out. I'll be using them at least twice more this year for a family cookbook and for a freelance editing client who is printing a book of his poetry and prose for his 50th birthday.
Labels: business, editing, photos
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Blackout
Blackout
As charming as it was to clean fishtanks and sort junkmail by candle light, I'm getting a little tired of these storms...
Labels: photos
Thursday, July 26, 2007
It's a Grrrl
Lex meets Lolly
So I go to PetSmart to get Livingston, my male betta, some more water conditioner, and oops! Look what happened...
Yes, I've adopted a female crowntail betta, Lolly. Is it my fault that they put the new bettas right under the betta supplies? Can I help it that she wiggled and danced and insisted she come home with me right away?
Clearly not.
Of course I can't have the two of them together (there's a reason they're called Siamese fighting fish) so $2.50 turned into $25 and...you know how it goes.
The boys like her. Well, to be exact, Livingston was outraged that there was this thing! this OTHER FISH! on his counter for the love of cod! "Mummah, did you see that!?! I will save you!!! ROAR!" *fluffs self up*
But, that was to be expected from a species that kills its own kind and eats its young, and, hey, why else would I put a fish by the front door if not to guard from tiny iridescent intruders. At least it gave him a break from his boredom for a few minutes before I placed them in opposite corners. And I got the added benefit of watching him prance around the rest of the night after "scaring her away", The Winnah, his flowing blue locks floofed in a particularly Bob-Marleyesque arrangement.
Then I put Lolly down on the bench to introduce her to Lex. Lex is mostly the sit-and-observe type, but after she rushed the wall, he had to get a closer look. He leaned over the top (it's screened) to check her out... and she splashed him. Then she was like, "Oh yeah?! OH YEAH?!?!?!?!" and kept threatening him every time he moved. Hilarious!
She is a feisty one.
Eventually she'll have to learn to stay still for the camera...
Labels: Lex the Cat, Livingston the Fish, photos
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Mayo in Bloom
Male Sago Palm
Female Sago Palm
Sago Palm Leaf
Curls
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Couch Potatoes
Couch Potatoes
Who knew cats liked the History Channel? Since I wouldn't let Lex perch on my stomach while I recovered from a headache, he struck my pose next to me instead.
Also, I started a Flickr account this morning so I can keep all my online photos in one place without chewing up space here. There are some other nice ones of my flowers, etc. on there as well, and you can subscribe to the feed to keep up with the latest ones. Comment if you like them, and enjoy!
Labels: Lex the Cat, photos
Friday, March 02, 2007
Even Rainier Morning
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Rainy Spring Morning
Monday, February 19, 2007
I Got the Baby
Greetings, Earthlings. I am Mardi Gras Baby, reincarnated Lord Xenu, and I have come to reclaim the wandering Thetan souls from their Earthly prisons and subject them to yet more torture re: endless loops of Tom Cruise movies. I'm sure you thought you were partaking in a harmless annual ritual of debauchery, but haHA, I and my troops have entered your homes via your disgusting confectionaries. Though you cannot see, I am sporting a soul-sucked hole straight through my brain, not unlike you will soon have. Enjoy your cakes, children. BUAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
And, now, to cleanse your palate from the horror, as if that's possible, some pretty Valentine Tulips from Adam:
Finally, Livingston wanted you to know he has a lovely, lovely tail. What a showoff.
Labels: Livingston the Fish, photos
