<center>Mousie's Page ~ welcome! <center>I do tend to ramble on about my man hermit *flirt!* If you can put up with that, feel free to wander round at will... :)</center></center><center><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/dismaibaybees128621870756028776.jpg"> <center><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/demshisfeetz128621872071256008.jpg"></center> <center>"Take my hand I give it to you, Now you own me, all I am... You said you would never leave me, I believe you, I believe. I can feel you all around me, thickening the air I'm breathing... Holding on to what I'm feeling, Savouring this heart that's healed."</center></center>

<center>Mousie's Page ~ welcome! <center>I do tend to ramble on about my man hermit *flirt!* If you can put up with that, feel free to wander round at will... :)</center></center><center><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/dismaibaybees128621870756028776.jpg"> <center><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/demshisfeetz128621872071256008.jpg"></center> <center>"Take my hand I give it to you, Now you own me, all I am... You said you would never leave me, I believe you, I believe. I can feel you all around me, thickening the air I'm breathing... Holding on to what I'm feeling, Savouring this heart that's healed."</center></center> http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/ <center><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/bits%20n%20bobs/mailed001.jpg"></center> <marquee><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/bits%20n%20bobs/thkisses.gif"></marquee> <center>My man :)</center> <center>"Let the truth of Love be lighted, let the love of Truth shine clear. Sensibility, armed with sense and liberty, with the Heart and Mind united in a single perfect sphere." Rush.</center> <center><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/shaneplay1.jpg"></center> <marquee>~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~peace~*~love~*~joy~*~</marquee> <center><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/bits%20n%20bobs/albert-einstein-mechanics-1.jpg"></center> <center>"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity."</center> <center>Cool dude, that Einstein. :)</center> <center><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/bits%20n%20bobs/07theme_quote_darwin.gif"></center> <center><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/darwin.jpg"></center> <center>And another cool dude, that Darwin. :)</center> <center><div><embed allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://widget-52.slide.com/widgets/slidemap.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=mp&il=1&channel=1369094286731838290&site=widget-52.slide.com" style="width: 550px;height: 425px;" name="flashticker" align="middle'/"><div style="width: 550px;text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=mp&at=un&id=1369094286731838290&map=5" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-52.slide.com/c1/1369094286731838290/mp_t001_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide11.gif" ismap="ismap' /" border="0"></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=mp&at=un&id=1369094286731838290&map=6" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-52.slide.com/c2/1369094286731838290/mp_t001_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide6.gif" ismap="ismap' /" border="0"></a></div></div></center> <center><div style="text-align: center;margin-left: auto;visibility: visible;margin-right: auto;width: 450px;"><embed allowscriptaccess="never" style="width: 435px;visibility: visible;height: 270px;" src="http://www.musicplaylist.us/mc/mp3player-othersite.swf?config=http://www.musicplaylist.us/mc/config/config_regular_noautostart_shuffle.xml&mywidth=435&myheight=270&playlist_url=http://www.musicplaylist.us/loadplaylist.php?playlist=4717285" menu="false" quality="high" name="mp3player" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="435" border="0" height="270"> <a href="http://www.musicplaylist.us"><img src="http://www.musicplaylist.us/mc/images/create_regular.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.musicplaylist.us/standalone/4717285" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.musicplaylist.us/mc/images/launch_regular.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.musicplaylist.us/download/4717285"><img src="http://www.musicplaylist.us/mc/images/get_regular.jpg" border="0"></a> </div></center> <center><center sv="start" height="207"><img src="http://www.snapvine.com/images/gadget/vp_top.gif" style="display: block;" border="0"><embed allowscriptaccess="never" style="display: inline;width: 355px;height: 160px;" src="http://embed.snapvine.com/flash/snap.swf?forum=embed.snapvine.com/profile/AV8Qhxhk9H4PjiLRkMonExNwsczdQf2w/gadget_ms&skinid=61&hv=3" quality="high" name="snap" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" wmode="transparent" scale="noscale" salign="tl'/" width="355" height="160"> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.snapvine.com/signup?reason=ms&ref=AV8Qhxhk9H4PjiLRkMonExNwsczdQf2w&skin_id=61&appclsid=60"><img src="http://www.snapvine.com/images/gadget/getone.gif%27/" border="0"></a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.snapvine.com/profile/AV8Qhxhk9H4PjiLRkMonExNwsczdQf2w/manage"><img src="http://www.snapvine.com/images/gadget/signin.gif%27/" border="0"></a></center> <center><embed allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://www.commentyou.com/Generators/Custom-Clocks/clock.swf?s=131&h=1&u=http://www.commentyou.com&i=5&b=0xCC9999" quality="high" wmode="transparent" name="Custom Clock" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' /" width="177" align="middle" height="177"> <a href="http://www.commentyou.com">CommentYou.com</a></center> <center><embed allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://www.pagepaint.com/countdown/swf/countdown.swf" loop="false" flashvars="incomingTimecode=1220747400&myTxtClr=0x000000&myBGclr=0xFF44CC&myStrText=Big metal bird touches down in Columbus Ohio. YAYYYY!!" menu="false" quality="high" wmode="transparent" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="countdown_001" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' /" width="295" align="middle" height="175"></center> <center><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/bits%20n%20bobs/bca_badge_bestblogginghost.gif"></center></center> <center>Hahahaha!! <img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/bits%20n%20bobs/3111.gif"></center> Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:20:34 -0000 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:35:25 -0000 <center>Mousie's Page ~ welcome! <center>I do tend to ramble on about my man hermit *flirt!* If you can put up with that, feel free to wander round at will... :)</center></center><center><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/dismaibaybees128621870756028776.jpg"> <center><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/demshisfeetz128621872071256008.jpg"></center> <center>"Take my hand I give it to you, Now you own me, all I am... You said you would never leave me, I believe you, I believe. I can feel you all around me, thickening the air I'm breathing... Holding on to what I'm feeling, Savouring this heart that's healed."</center></center> http://images.mousepotato66.multiply.com/logo http://mousepotato66.multiply.com 100 100 Sapporo Teppanyaki I went for a meal at Sapporo's last night with Shari and Sandy, a couple of girls from work. It was Shari's choice of restaurant, and she couldn't have picked better! A great evening for big groups, birthdays or celebrations of any kind. The Japanese style food is breathtaking, and the service is unique, the highly trained chefs perform tricks with knives and food! It makes for an entertaining meal as they cook it right in front of you. Our chef was obviously having almost as much fun as we were, too, and didn't seem to be 'putting it on' either. The food is well worth the money; a constant flow of rice and noodles and your choice of meat or fish. This was one of the best meals out I've had in a long time! Great for kids too, with the entertainment factor ~ Sandy's going to try her two little girls there before long. The food is a bit pricey ~ it cost us £101 between us, including the tip and a beer each, but it was well worth it for all the fun that goes with the meal. The porti... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/reviews/item/40 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:35:25 -0000 MonoMondayPlus ~ #6 <a href="http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SKk8HwoKCoUAAAMaeb01"><img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.mousepotato66.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SKk8HwoKCoUAAAMaeb01/MMmouse.jpg?et=%2CgmGCS%2CjfBGoDNPnU5uGMw&nmid=0" border="0"></a>I can't believe it's Monday again already! But it is, and that means it's time for <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://jgaryhillstudio.multiply.com/journal/item/207/Mono_Monday_Plus_6_MM20">Gary the Gator's MonoMonday brigade</a> to show what they've been up to since last time.<img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/smile.png"> I had a lot of fun again with <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.gimp.org/">GIMP</a> this week ~ still can't get my head around transparent layering, but other than that I'm loving the program! Here's my offering for MMPlus #6, and yes, I've cheated by using an image taken from the internet as my base picture ~ but the idea I had was too good to miss! I think you'll see what I mean.<img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/wink.png"> Here's the original photo I took during the week, strolling through the city center with Geoff ~ <img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/monomonday/068.jpg"> And here's my stolen image ~ you can see what's coming, huh?!<img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/teeth.png"><img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/monomonday/girder.jpg"> After opening both in GIMP, it was a simple cut and paste with the lasso tool to superimpose the Liverpool workmen onto the girder ~ I was chuffed with how the size of my cut out fitted so well onto the background! <img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/monomonday/girder1.jpg"> But I wasn't quite happy with it ~ they looked a bit wishy~washy, and also looked like they were sitting on the laps o... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/journal/item/205/MonoMondayPlus_6 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:08:00 -0000 Saturday Seven ~ Sue's Seventies Singles. :) <img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.mousepotato66.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SKbO7woKCoUAAEdVW2c1/totp.jpg?et=hkRxeOrr%2CkiWdk%2C1XadEdA&nmid=0" border="0"> <img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/smile.png">Hi Guys!<img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/smile.png"> Well, Geoff's headed off back home after having a good root through all my old vinyl collection last night, and promising to provide them with a good home. He decided to take the whole lot ~ and who can blame him when my taste in music is so spectacular?! Hehehe.<img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/wink.png"> Going through the old 45's was a bit of a trip down memory lane, and a fair bit of dust was blown off. Here's a few of the sounds that Geoff's taken away with him ~ enjoy! "Car 67" ~ Driver 67 "The Number One Song in Heaven" ~ Sparks "There Ain't Half Been Some Clever B***ards" ~ Ian Dury & The Blockheads "Sunday Girl" ~ Blondie "Simon Templar" ~ Splodgenessabounds "The Day The World Turned Dayglo" ~ X~Ray Specs. (This was on bright orange vinyl, and my pride and joy for YEARS) :) And last but not least, the first single I ever bought. It was "Don't Give Up On Us Baby" by David Soul, but after buying it I was SO much more impressed with the B~side... "Black Bean Soup" This has been a fun blog to put together! Hope you g... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/journal/item/204/Saturday_Seven_Sues_Seventies_Singles._ Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:49:00 -0000 A Last Day Out with My Bro. :) Well, the day didn't go quite as planned, as we found that the Yellow DuckMarine was practically fully booked up all afternoon! But never mind, Geoff bought me a tiny rubber ducky for my bath to compensate. :) After mooching round the Docks for an hour or so, we headed back through town and grabbed the car, driving up to the upper end of the city center. We spent another hour looking round the Roman Catholic Cathedral, then the Anglican, too. It was fun ~ a day of just meandering at our leisure and just enjoying not having to do anything! He goes back tomorrow, but I won't miss him yet ~ he's coming back on Sept 5th so he can see me off at the airport the next day. :) http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/photos/album/44/A_Last_Day_Out_with_My_Bro._ Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:12:05 -0000 Don't believe all you read. <a href="http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SKVJkAoKCoUAAB10t241"><img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.mousepotato66.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SKVJkAoKCoUAAB10t241/redarrows3.jpg?et=XZ8Nj9FJA7yd8tu3t85NXQ&nmid=0" border="0"></a> <img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/smile.png">Hi Guys!<img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/smile.png"> A few days ago I received the following email from two friends, who were quite rightly very indignant at the news they'd read within it. So was I!<img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/angry.png"> SUBJECT: Red Arrows - London Olympics 2012 - Do Not ignore..... Please do this Please forward this to as many people as possible! (British Citizens) The world-famous Red Arrows have been banned from appearing at the 2012 London Olympics because they are deemed 'too British'. Organisers of the event say that the Red Arrows military background might be 'offensive' to other countries taking part in the Games. The display team have performed at more than 4000 events worldwide, but the Department of Media, Culture and Sport have deemed the display team "too militaristically British". Red Arrows pilots are said to be "outraged" as they had hoped to put on a truly world-class display for the Games, something which had never been seen before. Being axed from a British-based event for being 'too British' is an insult - the Arrows are a s... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/journal/item/203/Dont_believe_all_you_read. Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:03:00 -0000 Geoff practising his macro photography. I'm still planning on kidnapping his camera before he leaves! :D Here's the fruits of his labour. :) ~ <a href="http://ted6211.multiply.com/photos/album/8/Macro_Photography#">http://ted6211.multiply.com/photos/album/8/Macro_Photography#</a> http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/photos/album/42/Geoff_practising_his_macro_photography. Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:14:29 -0000 Stolen from Kerry who stole it from someone else who stole it from someone else who stole it from someone else ad infinitum.... <a href="http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SKR0VgoKCoUAAAFlaBs1"><img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.mousepotato66.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SKR0VgoKCoUAAAFlaBs1/020.JPG?et=9cYWI1z3Vo3qLEfHPfhHxg&nmid=0" border="0"></a> 1) Do you like blue cheese? I've never understood what's so tasty about mould. *Shudders* 2) Have you ever smoked heroin? No, never, not ever. I know the damage it causes. 3) Do you own guns? No. 4) What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? What's Sonic? 5) Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Only once, when I found that lump last year. I'm now grateful for my cysts. :) 6) What do you think of hot dogs? Me and Geoff had one each in town yesterday ~ crispy onions and cheese on top. Delicious! It was the first one I'd had in years. 7) Favorite Christmas song? "Merry Christmas" by Slade. :) 8) What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee, followed by more coffee.  9) Can you do push ups? To quote Kerry ~ "hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!" 10) Can you do a chin up? You have got to be kidding! 11) What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My engagement ring. After that, my eyebrow stud. 12) Favorite hobby? I was going to say 'Multiply', but tha... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/journal/item/202/Stolen_from_Kerry_who_stole_it_from_someone_else_who_stole_it_from_someone_else_who_stole_it_from_someone_else_ad_infinitum.... Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:22:00 -0000 A day out with my loony brother. :) Me and Geoff disappeared out for a drive to Southport today, after a bit of shopping in Liverpool city center. Not much else to add, really! We had fun messing about with our cameras ~ I'm so jealous of Geoff's, you wouldn't believe! (But I guess it would be good for £500! :) We were going to go and see Dark Knight this evening, but after a few hours driving Geoff's back is playing up and he didn't fancy a cinema seat for 2 1/2 hours so we're going tomorrow instead. He's sat next to me reading this as I type and laughing at my photos. I'm going to kick him in a minute. http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/photos/album/41/A_day_out_with_my_loony_brother._ Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:31:55 -0000 Practising layers. This is bloody hard. I can't remember what the hell I did. Album to be added to as and when ~ don't hold your breath! Not necessarily for comments ~ just somewhere for me to save stuff. http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/photos/album/40/Practising_layers. Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:16:58 -0000 The Free Thinker Would Okay, this is a bit of a mini~blog, almost. I'm chatting with Shane on Skype, and have been discussing the photo~editing I'm currently WELL into! Hehehe. Anyways, he's come up with an idea that he wants me to try and put together, revolving around Rodin's "The Thinker". So, while chatting, I've been Googling images of The Thinker, and came across THIS. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! <img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/663921-4-the-free-thinker.jpg"> It's from a site called RedBubble, and deserves the link to be added here. <a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/micmac/art/663921-4-the-free-thinker">http://www.redbubble.com/people/micmac/art/663921-4-the-free-thinker</a> If you open it, there's a link within to the following poem, which I think immediately ranks among my favourite poems, EVER ~ The Free Thinker Would And so we rest the mind. Be whole with equilibrium’s water. Gather up the sky and stand upon the roots of gravity. And so we breathe the becoming moments and let them go. Grow to the size of a seed’s dream come true. And honestly embrace our own mortal ends gift. And so we tend to time an... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/reviews/item/39 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:29:20 -0000 MonoMondayPlus #5 ~ "FireDragon" <img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/smile.png">Hi Guys!<img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/smile.png"> Like a few other peeps who take a regular part in <a href="http://jgaryhillstudio.multiply.com/journal/item/202">Gary the Gator's MonoMonday</a>, my offering is less of the Mono and more of the Plus, and what a load of fun I've had! Sort of by accident, too. Early yesterday morning, I took a few photos of the day waking up out of the office window here at work, and one in particular I really liked ~   <img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/011-10.jpg">   I'd already titled it 'Fire in the Sky', and it gave me an idea for MonoPlus. I've got a favourite piece of art that I'm taking to the States with me, a dragon on a crystal base, and I decided to combine that with the sky photo in some way. Here's the original dragon photo ~   <img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/001-14.jpg">   I started off by opening both photos in <a href="http://www.gimp.org/">GIMP</a>, then flipped the dragon around horizontally, used the 'lasso' tool to cut out his head, then copied & pasted it onto the sky. Using the same 'smudge' tool as I did for Rodin's 'Kiss' last week, I blurred the dragon's edges a little, and tried to make it look like the fiery sky was being shot out ... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/journal/item/201/MonoMondayPlus_5_FireDragon Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:32:00 -0000 Watching the sky waking up.... 6am, having a sneaky smoke out of the office window and watching the day dawn. :) http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/photos/album/39/Watching_the_sky_waking_up.... Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:22:31 -0000 Bernie Mac dies at age 50. :( Press Assoc. Press Assoc. - 2 hours 18 minutes ago Bernie Mac, the actor and comedian who teamed up in the casino heist caper Ocean's Eleven and gained a prestigious Peabody Award for his sitcom The Bernie Mac Show, has died aged 50. "Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away ... from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital," his publicist, Danica Smith, said in a statement from Los Angeles. She said no other details were available and asked that his family's privacy be respected. The comedian suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body's organs, but the condition went into remission in 2005. He was recently hospitalised and treated for pneumonia, which his publicist said was not related to the disease. Recently, Mac's brand of comedy caught him flack when he was heckled during a surprise appearance at a July fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate and fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama. Towa... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/reviews/item/38 Sat, 9 Aug 2008 18:15:47 -0000 Geoff coming to visit ~ yayyyy!! Another bit of time to spend with my bro before I leave the UK. http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/calendar/item/10012/Geoff_coming_to_visit_yayyyy Sat, 9 Aug 2008 16:48:50 -0000 Rockstar Scots Guards ~ GO, GUYS!! The Scots Guards in Iraq, taking a bit of time to tell us what they really want! Superb! (Stolen from Dudge, who stole it from his own Facebook page... if such a thing is possible http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/video/item/15/Rockstar_Scots_Guards_GO_GUYS Sat, 9 Aug 2008 16:32:11 -0000 Armadillo, what else?! For when Guy et al come for dinner... ;) PREPARING ARMADILLO The armadillo is edible and very tasty. These mammals weigh from 8 to 17 pounds. You should skin and dress an armadillo as soon as possible. The easiest method is to skin from the underside to split the skin from the neck most the way down to the tail, best be careful not to puncture the abdominal cavity. You'll need a sharp knife. Peel the animal out as you would a squirrel or rabbit. Remove all fat from under the front and back legs and wash meat thoroughly. After meat is cleaned completely, cut into quarters. ~*~ Dave's Mexican Armadillo Casserole Submitted by Dan Jones. ~ 1 lb ground armadillo ~ 1 medium onion, chopped ~ 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro ~ 1 tsp cumin ~ 2 tbsp ground chili pepper ~ 2 cans diced green chilies ~ 1 can diced tomatoes ~ 1 can corn, drained ~ 1 cup diced zucchini ~ 2 cups shredded pepper-jack cheese ~ 1 box Jiffy cornbread mix In a skillet, add the meat, onions and cilantro. Season with the cumin and chili pe... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/recipes/item/8/Armadillo_what_else_For_when_Guy_et_al_come_for_dinner..._ Fri, 8 Aug 2008 16:38:36 -0000 It seems I have an unexpected houseguest... <a href="http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SJwLmQoKCoUAAG6uOBc1"><img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.mousepotato66.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SJwLmQoKCoUAAG6uOBc1/bw-three-rats-carrying-egg.gif?et=uYzPWPCyTbUXLkoSWxjfCA&nmid=0" border="0"></a> I just got in from my night shift half an hour ago, and found a potato on the kitchen floor. <img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/005-12.jpg"> My first thought was, "Oh, I've got a potato on my kitchen floor". It took a minute for this half asleep brain of mine to digest this information and think "I wonder where it came from?!" I had a quick look up at the windows, just to make sure they were still in one piece and that the local angels hadn't decided to lob it through last night because there were no bricks available and nothing on the telly to keep them otherwise amused. (I guess the lack of glass all over the floor would have made that an obvious incorrect answer, but there you go!) Then I registered the little nibbled bits near to the potato, and thought "Oh, there's little nibbled bits too. Odd". I had a glance around, and my eyes went to the bag of spuds I bought a couple of days ago, which has a hole in it. <img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/004-10.jpg"> I just sort of looked at it blankly for a minute, gradually taking in the fact that it wasn't a hole, like an ordinary hol... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/journal/item/200/It_seems_I_have_an_unexpected_houseguest... Fri, 8 Aug 2008 09:01:00 -0000 Will I make it to Thirty Thoughts for Thursday? <a href="http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SJo1ogoKCoUAAHna2Tk1"><img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.mousepotato66.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SJo1ogoKCoUAAHna2Tk1/thinker.jpg?et=i%2B7ca2zjbr1Sip%2CgWbB%2C%2BQ&nmid=0" border="0"></a> 1) The title is a thought in itself ~ good start! 2) I was looking for an image to go with the blog, and like that one up there (even if I can't see the colours properly on this computer in the office! It's been on the blink for as long as I've been here, nearly 10 years. I hope it's not some garish bright purple and lime green).  <a href="http://zerealism.com/gallery/thinker/">Here's the link</a> for the site I found it on... there's some veeeery interesting stuff there. ;)  3) I also hope I just highlighted 'here's the link' in red. ALL my links are in red ~ I'm a bit anal about that. 4) There's such a good atmosphere here at work tonight! Last night the heat was an absolute nightmare ~ we all wanted to kill each other, were all snappy and bickering and just melting. You know that horrible feeling when all your clothes are sticking to you? That was us last night ~ bleugh! It seems there was some fault with the heating system, which was fixed today ~ yayyy! It's cool, and comfortable, and we're all happy bunnies again. :) ... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/journal/item/199/Will_I_make_it_to_Thirty_Thoughts_for_Thursday_ Wed, 6 Aug 2008 23:35:00 -0000 MonoMondayPlus ~ #4 <img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/smile.png">Hi Guys!<img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/smile.png"> Well, over the last two or three days I've been having a proper nosey around <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family: comic sans ms;" href="http://www.picnik.com/">Picnik</a> and <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family: comic sans ms;" href="http://www.gimp.org/">GIMP</a>, two photo~editing programs which I've installed lately. After seeing <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family: comic sans ms;" href="http://naarta.multiply.com/journal/item/360">Rita's entry for this week</a> and reading the instructions on how she achieved it very carefully, I figured I was about ready to get to grips with layering one photo onto another. And I think I did okay! I started off with a pretty wishy~washy sunset photo which I took a week or so ago on the way home from work. Nothing special... quite bland and boring ~ <img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/monomonday/simple.jpg"> I opened it up in Picnik, and started to play. With the premium edition which I have, there's a tool for making your photo B&W, with just a selected area kept colour. So I did that first, then deepened the saturation of the coloured area and 'fanned' it out (I think that was using the 'curves' tool ~ one of these days I really will jot it down as I go along!) ~ <img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/monomonday/simple4jpg.jpg"> I then opened up that photo in GIMP, plus another; the statue of Rodin's "The Kiss", which is currently... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/journal/item/198/MonoMondayPlus_4 Mon, 4 Aug 2008 17:11:00 -0000 Trade?! <a href="http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SJTUQAoKCoUAAFZPHwo1"><img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.mousepotato66.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SJTUQAoKCoUAAFZPHwo1/monketta.JPG?et=FzAznEBVR3BVyP9KnhlziA&nmid=0" border="0"></a><img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/smile.png">Hi Guys!<img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/smile.png"> Have any of you read <a style="font-family: comic sans ms;color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/">"One Red Paperclip"</a> by Kyle MacDonald? (Click the red bit to read all about it). Basically, it's the true story of how Kyle started with a red paperclip, and traded it for something else, then something else, and so on and so on, until he eventually got himself a HOUSE. (No kidding!). Brilliant book, which I read last year while I was stuck in Philadelphia Airport waiting for my connection to Ohio. Anyways, I've just had a great idea! Meet Monketta up there in the pic. Originally, she was one of a pair, the other being Monkey, a boy. When me and the ex split up, he figured that Monkey and Monketta should go their separate ways too, so she moved here with me. Hand knitted by me, and now genuinely one of a limited edition of two because after writing the pattern down as I knitted her and saving it on my old PC, it's been lost when the PC crashed.<img src="http://images.multiply.com/common/smiles/sad.png"> I don't plan on taking her with me to the States, she's really part and parcel of my old life with the ex. So... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/journal/item/197/Trade Sat, 2 Aug 2008 21:39:00 -0000 Exploratorium: Total Solar Eclipse 2008 Live from China Too cool! The video is an hour long, the eclipse about half way along. :) Thanks to Navarro for posting it so I could steal http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/links/item/26/Exploratorium_Total_Solar_Eclipse_2008_Live_from_China Fri, 1 Aug 2008 22:31:15 -0000 The Harmacy. - The Harmatastic Summer Movie Title Challenge! Win Big Now! A little something for all you movie buffs... this should really get the grey matter working! Go visit Matt and see what you can do. http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/links/item/25/The_Harmacy._-_The_Harmatastic_Summer_Movie_Title_Challenge_Win_Big_Now Fri, 1 Aug 2008 08:19:33 -0000 'I'll Show You Mine If....' ~ A Gator Challenge. :) <img src="http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/mousepotato66/bits%20n%20bobs/7d07re2.jpg"> My entry for Gary the Gator's challenge for this week! It took a while to find a photo fitting the theme, even though it's just loosely based on 'animals' or 'critters'. When I re~read Gary's suggestion that it could be a 'human animal', then this popped straight into my head! The cat is Sweep, one of five who owned me at the time, some years back. She was a little devil for sneaking under that sunbed when my back was turned! I know cats like warm places to chill out in (if that's not a contradiction in terms, hehe), but good grief! :D Here's the link back to The Swamp, if you want to go see. :) <a href="http://jgaryhillstudio.multiply.com/journal/item/191/Ill_Show_You_Mine_If">http://jgaryhillstudio.multiply.com/journal/item/191/Ill_Show_You_Mine_If</a> http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/reviews/item/37 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:50:56 -0000 Facebook Anthem Quite simply one of the BEST videos on YouTube! I first saw this over on Dudge's page some time ago and thought it was hilarious, and still do. I used the URL as my 'status' once. :) Talking to Sherry reminded me of it. http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/video/item/14/Facebook_Anthem Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:58:50 -0000 No Guts, No Glory! The Crush Test. A bit of a giggle, stolen from my sorority sister Sherry. :) Let's play "No Guts, No Glory!" The rules are simple. 1. If you want to date the person who posted this, send a Personal Message, not a reply to this post, "Coffee?" " 2. If you have a crush on the person who posted this, send a Personal Message saying "You're hot!" 3. If you just want to sleep with them & stay friends, send them a message that says "Nice shoes!" 4. If you simply just want to kiss the person who posted this, send a Personal Message saying, "I do!" SCARED? The only rule is that, you must not make anyone who sends you a personal message feel stupid for feeling that way about you. Acknowledge. Say thank you. Move on. IF YOU'VE READ THIS, YOU HAVE TO REPOST THIS, EVEN IF YOU'RE TAKEN & see who replies. SO... re-post this as "No Guts, No Glory", as it doesn't matter if you're married, in a relationship, or single. You opened it so you HAVE to repost it! A test of your bravery.. ... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/reviews/item/36 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:06:45 -0000 Stolen from a Welsh guy with a funny taste in music and nice tea. (Thanks Doug!) <a href="http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SI@gawoKCoUAABE23zY1"><img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.mousepotato66.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SI@gawoKCoUAABE23zY1/home-sweet-home-sign.jpg?et=7Ow1ydA0iVri9Pygr31Exw&nmid=0" border="0"></a> If you came to my house: You'd wonder how on earth I've managed to put up with living here for over two years! It's no secret that I'm living in one of Liverpool's 'Holes from Hell', i.e. cheap, in an area so rough it'd make the hairs on my chest curl if I had any, and with some of the most undesirable neighbours in the World. Even they tell me they don't know how I do it! You would see: That my own flat is a little oasis in the storm. I'm quite fond of it, and will be leaving it in a much better condition that it was in when I arrived. It's looking a little less cluttered now, but it's still definitely mine. (For the next five weeks and four days, anyway. ;) I’d probably feed you: Mince and mash! Or a veggie chilli. Or a cheese and ham toastie. Or maybe something from the chippy round the corner ~ their fish is second to none, and their liver dinner is pretty special, too. And offer you this to drink: Apologies to my American friends, but it'll have to be instant coffee. I was goin... http://mousepotato66.multiply.com/journal/item/196/Stolen_from_a_Welsh_guy_with_a_funny_taste_in_music_and_nice_tea._Thanks_Doug Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:55:00 -0000