Photo Challenge : Ruby Red Macro

Red, Rouge, Rojo.

Can't get much redder than tomato ketchup.

This little view master type thingy is about the size of a quarter. I think the actual viewer is long lost but this was red so I shot it. :-)

Red crayon, red pencil, red marker, and the word RED.

It's that time again! Time to show off the fun we've been having with our cameras by doing the photo challenges. Click on the link to be carried over to view lots of other Red Macro challengers.

Oh yeah!

I love this!

Hahaha, good doggie.

CHARACTERISTICS of the NARCISSIST

Do you know someone with these characteristics? If you do, I feel for you cause they can often make your life a living hell.

Certain characteristics appear with stunning regularity among narcissists. Since narcissism is on a continuum, some will have more than others.

1. Self-centered. His/her needs are paramount.
2. No remorse for mistakes or misdeeds.
3. Unreliable, undependable.
4. Does not care about the consequences of his/her actions.
5. Projects faults on to others. High
blaming behavior; never his/her fault.
6. Little if any conscience.
7. Pretends concern but is really Insensitive to needs and feelings of others.
8. Has a good front (persona) to impress and exploit others.
9. Low stress tolerance. Easy to anger and rage.
10. People are to be manipulated for his/her needs.
11. Rationalizes easily. Twists conversation to his gain at other’s expense. If trapped, keeps
talking, changes the subject or gets angry.
12. Pathological lying.
13. Tremendous need to control situations, conversations, others.
14. No real values. Mostly situational.
15. Often perceived as caring and understanding and uses this to manipulate.
16. Angry, mercurial, moods.
17. Uses sex to control
18. Does not share true ideas, feelings, emotions.
19. Conversation controller. Must have the first and last word.
20. Is very slow to forgive others. Hangs onto resentment.
21. Secret life. Hides , friends, activities.
22. Likes annoying others. Likes to create chaos and disrupt for no reason.
23. Moody - switches from nice guy/girl to anger without much provocation.
24. Repeatedly fails to honor financial obligations.
25. Seldom expresses appreciation.
26. Grandiose. Convinced he/she knows more than others and is correct in all he does.
27. Lacks ability to see how he/she comes across to others. Defensive when confronted with his/her behavior. Never his/her fault.
28. Can get emotional, tearful. This is about show or frustration rather than sorrow.
29. He/she breaks spirits to keep them dependent.
30. Highly contradictory.
31. Convincing. Must convince people to side with him/her
32. Hides his/her real self. Always “on”
33. Kind only if he's/she's getting from you what he/she wants.
34. He/she has to win.
35. Does not discuss openly, has a hidden agenda.
36. Unilateral condition of, "I'm OK and justified so I don't need to hear your position or ideas".
37. Always feels misunderstood.
38. You can often feel miserable with this person because they drain you.
39. Does not listen because he/she does not care.
40. It's always about his/her feelings, noone else's.
41. Is not really interested in problem-solving.. wants the sympathy.
42. Very good at reading people, so he/she can manipulate them.

Moseying Through the Days

I've been so frustrated, depressed, and so very sad over the past few weeks that I just haven't been able to get my mind going in the direction it needed to in order to do a post worth reading or writing.

Beginning with my surgery. We were billed $33,143 for it initially. After meeting with the "man" in charge of taking every penny of your liquid assets, the bill was miraculously reduced to $11,300 since that was exactly what we had scrimped to save in an IRA. I could have paid the bill out in monthly installments but it would have been with no reduction and a longer than life monthly expense.

Another $3660 is owed for the surgeon, the this,,,the that,,,but we are paying that as much as we can monthly. When that's paid we can start saving again, maybe.

A financial aid rep came by my room when the word was passed down that we had no insurance,,,did you know that we'd have qualified for financial aid if we'd had a credit score below 600? WTH?

And sadly, my best yahoo trivia, blogger, facebook, boisterous, wise, sweet, loving Kat left us on June 7th. Every time my phone rings I expect to hear her gruff voice on the line, She had the most fabulous talent for knowing when a friend needed a laugh and she sure provided me with a load of those. I am so lucky to have known her and I miss her more than I know how to say. I can't imagine the hurt her loved ones are feeling without her.

So now Summer is here and zooming by too quickly. School will be starting in just a few weeks, Zach's already having to go to football practice 4 mornings a week. The days are getting shorter and I hate that. Before we know it, it'll be Winter again and I'll be whining for Spring.

A vicious cycle, isn't it?

Just Cause,,,

I thought you might need a smile today.

Telling it Like it IS.

My friend Nick sent the video clip to me. He feels, as I do, that those men sitting on that committee are enjoying the entertainment being provided but aren't seriously considering a single word he's saying.

It's all about big bucks folks.

Here's a look at how much members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee received in political contributions from oil and gas interests since the beginning of 2009. Contributions are from political action committees run by oil and gas companies and from individuals employed by those companies.

The oil and gas industry has contributed more than $7.5 million to members of the 111th Congress thus far in the 2010 election cycle.

It's just sad.

Hoppin' and Shoppin'

Some fine lookin' soybeans.

James, aka PopPop, kicking the dirt up to see if the late beans planted in the draw were coming up.

Well it wasn't me doing the hoppin' and I didn't do a whole lotta shoppin', but the check amount said I did so maybe it was so. Anyway, the summer trip to Sam's is outta the way and we probably won't need to go again until December. I hope.

If you click to enlarge the map up there, you can find the red dot over in the AR part of the map and see about where I live. Follow the red line that I've drawn and you can see that we did the tri-state circle during our shopping trip.

James wanted to visit President's Island to see how the soybeans and corn looked up there so we went to Memphis first to do that. Afterwards we drove over to Southhaven, Mississippi to do the shopping, had lunch, then headed home on hwy 61 in MS. It was a nice little trip and I was plumb tuckered out by the time we got back home.

I'm heading to bed now. I hope everyone had a great Monday and is looking forward to a productive and glorious week!

Where Were You?

Do you remember where you were the first time you heard these?

The Day After

It's July 5th, which is the day after the July 4th celebration around these parts. The fact that it's Monday makes the celebration part feel as though it was last week some time though, and not just a mere few hours ago. At least it's gonna be Tuesday in a couple of hours so that's all good.

I snapped a few pictures of the vittles we were having here yesterday but they're in the prep stage,,,I didn't get around to snapping the finished product. Could be cause we were all hungry and ready to dig in when those ribs came off the grill.

Those ribs as they were a'waitin' to be wrapped and put on the grill for tenderizing.

Alexis, Jillian, and their friend, Fallon.

Cooked taters waiting for some pickles, onions, mustard, and mayo.

My pasta salad that just needed a dollop of mayo.

We had a fine day, too much food, too much sun, too many skeeters after dark, but still a mighty fine day.

Photo Challenge - Freedom

Freedom to me has always meant being able to pick a road to wander down,,, or over,,, or around,,, to another place. Every road will lead somewhere, or maybe nowhere, but I feel fortunate to be able to travel down which ever ones I choose.

The freedom topic also put this song in mind. It's been wandering around in the hollow reaches of my noggin for two weeks now.

Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose,
Nothing don't mean nothing honey if it ain't free, now now.
And feeling good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues,
You know feeling good was good enough for me,
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.

Y'all can go on over to the Challenge Blog and click on the links to see all the rest of the wonderful participates for this challenge. It's been fun!