Yes, tweaks are in progress. I love how pretty this theme is, but I'm not sure that it's going to work with the existing articles. Some of the graphics are too wide for this format, and I've written to the theme creators to see if there's anything I can do in CSS to resolve this.
I'll keep working with it for a few days, to see if the design issues resolve. I'm crossing my fingers!
Also, the old site is still there... Click on the "old version" link at the top of any page and it leads to the original HTML version of the site.
Meanwhile: Reminder! Tomorrow (Saturday, July 11th) is Sketchcrawl day!
I'll be sketching starting at the Visitors' Ctr on Boston Common, and then following the Freedom Trail. Join me! Here are the details:
http://www.sketchcrawl.com/forum/viewtop
Check this free webinar, Grantseeking Basics for Individuals in the Arts. It's on Tuesday afternoon, July 7th, but I'll bet that they repeat this subject regularly.
You'll need:
Two boneless chicken breasts
About 1/2 cup of Italian salad dressing (I used a store brand... the smallest bottle is probably enough for two meals)
At least 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan or Romano cheese (I added fresh grated Asiago cheese, too.)
Four potatoes, peeled and cut into small wedges
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Italian seasoning (optional)
In a crockpot, start with the two boneless chicken breasts. Cover them with about half of the Italian salad dressing. Sprinkle them with about half of the cheese. Throw some onion powder and garlic powder on top. Italian spices are optional, if they're not already in the salad dressing.
The top layer is the potatoes, covered with the remaining salad dressing and cheese, and a little more onion powder, garlic powder and optional Italian spices.
Cook in the crockpot for six to eight hours on low. (I cheated and, after four hours, turned it on high for about 20 minutes to finish cooking the potatoes.)
Serve with a good salad (croutons are a nice touch, for crunch), garlic bread, and/or zucchini and onions in tomato sauce.
Yummmmmm!
Silent gratitude isn't very much use to anyone. - Gertrude Stein
It took me too long to figure out the importance of saying, "thank you." Sure, it was rote when I was growing up, and I was even criticized for it by a few misguided classmates. (When someone paid me a compliment, I said "thank you," and some envious girls insisted that I should say, "Oh, it's nothing; I don't deserve that.")
I deliberately broke the habit rather than stare down the critics.
I also went through a time of being embarrassed by gifts, even small treats, and really did feel that I didn't deserve them. (I got over that after a few years away from the ex-.)
Today, it's not just about saying thanks to people who give you things, though that's important.
Sure, the joy of the gift is in the giving. But, there's less joy when the recipient doesn't seem to care one way or the other. It's even more sad when my gift to that person reduced how much I could give to others who would enjoy their gifts.
After someone stops even acknowledging my gifts, I stop giving. Most people do, and I'm amazed when the recipient -- who said little or nothing about others' past generosity -- wails because the gifts stopped.
After someone stops even acknowledging my gifts, I stop giving. Most people do, and I'm amazed when the recipient -- who said little or nothing about others' past generosity -- wails because the gifts stopped.
This isn't a complaint. I'm hoping to explain this in a small context, leading to the bigger picture.
A lot of New Age and religious speakers/writers (all denominations and varieties) have talked about the importance of gratitude. I used to think that was saying, "Thank you - thank you - thank you, I am so undeserving and you are so generous and merciful... blah, blah."
Then I tried being grateful in a small way. For several days, I concluded each day with a list of ten things I had been thankful for, that day. My life seemed happier when I did that. It made it easier for me to remember (or push myself) to say thanks to others.
I also read about the "Academy Awards speech." In a nutshell, when something great happens, you publicly thank everyone who had even a small part in your success. Also, whenever there's a microphone in front of you, at least say thanks to someone.
Then I tried being grateful in a small way. For several days, I concluded each day with a list of ten things I had been thankful for, that day. My life seemed happier when I did that. It made it easier for me to remember (or push myself) to say thanks to others.
I also read about the "Academy Awards speech." In a nutshell, when something great happens, you publicly thank everyone who had even a small part in your success. Also, whenever there's a microphone in front of you, at least say thanks to someone.
From a purely marketing standpoint, this is important. Other people will use the mic to say thanks to someone... and that someone will remember and make a point of including that person in future projects. Likewise, if you omit the thanks, most people won't be offended... but they'll favor the people who do thank them.
When I've forgotten that, I've regretted it.
When I've forgotten that, I've regretted it.
We're all incredibly busy. Many people were stretched to the max financially, long before the economy started making the headlines. It's almost as hard to find time to say "thank you" as it is to be generous. Mostly, when people are generous -- with cash or in-kind -- they want to feel that it was worth it.
But, I want to talk about this from a larger perspective.
When the Universe is generous, and things go remarkably well... when we get a raise, win even a $2 lottery ticket, meet the right companion, receive a smile or someone holds the door... does it stop there? Does the flow of goodness -- gifts in and gratitude out -- come to a complete halt when the generosity reaches you?
But, I want to talk about this from a larger perspective.
When the Universe is generous, and things go remarkably well... when we get a raise, win even a $2 lottery ticket, meet the right companion, receive a smile or someone holds the door... does it stop there? Does the flow of goodness -- gifts in and gratitude out -- come to a complete halt when the generosity reaches you?
For years, I think my life was a black hole of generosity. I took whatever it was and hoarded it, as if... well, like in the Lord of the Rings, I felt that it was my precious... mine-mine-mine!
When I did have to part with something, I gave it up reluctantly. Thankfully (no pun intended), that time has passed and I take continuing joy in what people -- or the Universe -- send to me. (Right now, I'm still savoring the soap that Alicia sent. The munchies are a happy memory.) I try to pass the joy along -- in whatever form I can -- so that the flow continues. I know that, eventually, it will return to me.
When I did have to part with something, I gave it up reluctantly. Thankfully (no pun intended), that time has passed and I take continuing joy in what people -- or the Universe -- send to me. (Right now, I'm still savoring the soap that Alicia sent. The munchies are a happy memory.) I try to pass the joy along -- in whatever form I can -- so that the flow continues. I know that, eventually, it will return to me.
As artists, we sometimes talk about being in flow with our art. But, that's true in any field. There's an exhilaration when you're in that golden moment where your writing seems to take on a life of its own, where you pitch the ball brilliantly every time, where the research produces one great result after another, or the pennies never end up in the dimes section of the cash register drawer.
Today's quotation reminded me of the importance of being in flow with life and the generosity of people around us -- friends and strangers alike -- as well as keeping in flow with the Universe.
Being in flow isn't dragging creative ideas, kicking and screaming, out of some dark corner. (Okay, sometimes it is, but the next idea is usually easier, and then the next is more joyous.) It's also not about entitlement... playing the King or Queen of "poor me" and waiting for our loyal subjects to deliver gifts to the foot of the throne.
It's about doing as much as we can for ourselves, to step out of the needy zone that is dangerously close to "poor me." That's about attitude, not material wealth.
It's about stepping into the rhythms of life... the music that life is playing, all around us, and dancing to it. It's about giving and taking and then giving again, and savoring every moment of the joy, whether we're the recipient or the giver.
But, like spaceships in Star Trek, generosity avoids the black holes. Sure, it's more than just being grateful out loud, but that's a very good start to standing in the stream of generosity that the Universe can provide.
Like the very best moments in any endeavor, life is about being in flow. It's about accepting joyously and passing that joy along, whether as a gift, a thoughtful gesture, or a simple "thank you." Maybe that's forced at first, but it's amazing how quickly it becomes a habit... and then fun.
Today's quotation reminded me of the importance of being in flow with life and the generosity of people around us -- friends and strangers alike -- as well as keeping in flow with the Universe.
Being in flow isn't dragging creative ideas, kicking and screaming, out of some dark corner. (Okay, sometimes it is, but the next idea is usually easier, and then the next is more joyous.) It's also not about entitlement... playing the King or Queen of "poor me" and waiting for our loyal subjects to deliver gifts to the foot of the throne.
It's about doing as much as we can for ourselves, to step out of the needy zone that is dangerously close to "poor me." That's about attitude, not material wealth.
It's about stepping into the rhythms of life... the music that life is playing, all around us, and dancing to it. It's about giving and taking and then giving again, and savoring every moment of the joy, whether we're the recipient or the giver.
But, like spaceships in Star Trek, generosity avoids the black holes. Sure, it's more than just being grateful out loud, but that's a very good start to standing in the stream of generosity that the Universe can provide.
Like the very best moments in any endeavor, life is about being in flow. It's about accepting joyously and passing that joy along, whether as a gift, a thoughtful gesture, or a simple "thank you." Maybe that's forced at first, but it's amazing how quickly it becomes a habit... and then fun.
We've seen this message appear regularly, whether as "random acts of kindness" or "paying it forward," or any of several other popular themes.
So, on this gorgeous June morning, I want to make a point of saying thank you to everyone who is reading this. I appreciate everyone who cares enough to follow my life, here or at my websites. Thank you so much!
I am grateful for every treat, large or small, that has been sent to me, even when I didn't acknowledge it or say "thank you" very clearly. I am equally thankful for every opportunity that's been opened to me by others, and to everyone who made me look good by doing well when I opened a door for him or her.
I am living a charmed life. I live in a wonderful part of the country, where every day is beautiful. I share my life with a wonderful man, and three great children (now grown up and living on their own) who are each living their own charmed lives.
And, if you've been too busy or stressed to pause and notice what's good in your life and be grateful for it... it's time to step back into the flow of life, reap the rewards and share them with others.
It all starts with gratitude.
Thank you!
You can generate your own at SERPrank.
Or, you can alter my generic one, posted at Sites that Soar! (I got tired of changing the info for every one of my websites. My modifications to the SERPrank version are a little quirky, but I've never been thrilled about using ads on my websites. They're simply necessary to justify the expense of putting some of these sites online.)
For another alternative -- full-screen images only -- see Screengrab.
Also, I discovered another cool resource for free, stock photos: Morguefile I still prefer Stock.xchng because I don't have to resize their medium-sized photos for use online, but Morguefile has some truly lovely print-quality photos.
For me, the recipe that really leaps off the page is the Sugar-Salt-Dairy-Free Herb Bread. Really... no yeast! If you're someone who needs to reduce sugar or yeast or both... well, this recipe sounds amazingly simple. I may try it later today.
I also like the suggestions for lunch wraps. I needed some fresh lunch ideas... things that are nice and cool for the summer. These look good. The 2-minute dairy-free ice cream sounds intriguing, if it really works. There's a yeast-free pizza recipe, as well.
All in all, I'm excited about this free book, if only for the unusual and yummy-sounding recipes. Generally, the recipes involve ingredients that I already own, and the directions are fast and simple. I'm hoping that tonight's free seminar is as good as what I'm seeing in this book.
But whether or not you're interested in losing weight, I recommend this book. It is free, but you'll need to give them your email address. (Use a throwaway address, if you like. After you enter your email address and click, you're taken directly to the download page.)
Link: The Truth About Diets
Get out and draw!Saturday, June 6th is Drawing Day 2009. Draw something, and share it online!
For more info, click on the banner at left. Be part of the event, on your own or with friends.
If you're seriously considering completing online surveys or "get paid to click" offers to make a little extra money, here's a free manual that talks about those programs.The author, Stuart Stirling, is one of my favorite online writers. In No Brain Cash, he speaks from experience. For example, he tells you how much you'll really make completing online surveys. Then, he tells you the four companies that he thinks are the best in the survey field.
In the "get paid to click" and "get paid to read emails" fields, he talks about sign-up bonuses, and lists a few companies that offer extra incentives. And, as with surveys, he's honest about the pay. I like that.
Then, he talks about earning money with AdSense. For years, I've been earning money with AdSense on some of my websites. These days, you'll need a lot of ho-hum websites -- or a few big winners -- to support yourself with AdSense, but I know people who do that. (Tip: People who visit art-related websites rarely click on AdSense ads. However, they do click on some banner links, such as Dick Blick ads.)
Finally, Stuart offers a commission if you tell others about this free book, and they buy his next two books. I haven't read the other two, so I haven't a clue if they're good. But, if you're facing a cash crunch and you'll consider almost anything that's legal and not too awful, this free book is worth browsing.
I've been on Stuart's mailing list for over a year, and he shares some very good info. I've bought many of his reports & ebooks, and they've always been very helpful... and worth far more than I paid for them. (Generally, his ebooks are inexpensive anyway.)
So, I'm comfortable referring people this book, if they're in a financial pinch and need to know more about programs such as "complete surveys for cash" and "get paid to click" offers. Or, if you've always wondered what those programs are about, and if they're worth considering for spare-time income.
Hey, the book is free.... why not!
Link: No Brain Cash by Stuart Stirling
It's free. Just show up at the Visitors Ctr on Boston Common at 9 a.m., with your sketching supplies and really comfortable walking shoes. Pack a lunch (and/or dinner) if you like.
This is a rain-or-shine event, and it should be spectacular. It's the weekend of the Tall Ships, and it'll also be one of the feast day celebrations in the North End, which we'll be touring as part of our sketchcrawl.
So... is that a good day for a sketchcrawl in Portsmouth... or not? (Info on sketchcrawls: http://www.Sketchcrawl.com)
Pros: Wonderful food at booths, free entertainment, colorful people and scenes to sketch, and traffic-free downtown streets for anyone who's carrying a portable chair or something to sit on while sketching.
Cons: Crowds.
Thoughts...?
I suppose that's a practical move. Yahoo was never red-hot at managing Geocities; it looked like it was all about profits. From what I saw, they barely had the expertise to run it. (When Yahoo bought Geocities, I was a Geocities Community Leader and a liaison with Geocities' management. When I saw the changes that Yahoo had in mind, and the gaping holes in their security, I quit.)
Still, I have fond memories of the old Geocities, before Yahoo bought it.
It's where I had my first website in the mid-1990s and it's where I met lots of people who remain my friends today. Many of us used to chat in Geocities' SoHo chatroom at lunch each day. It was a golden era and -- like the late 1960s' and very early 70s' hippie era -- I'm glad that I was part of it.
I will be moving my website -- which had been serving as the SoHo chatters' reunion pages -- elsewhere.
But, if you have pages at Geocities, save them before the site vanishes.
... Google is shutting down Page Creator as well. Like Yahoo, they're doing their best to put an upbeat spin on it, but this is another "oops!" as the economy corrects itself.
A few editorial comments and predictions:( Read more... )
Meanwhile, here's a photo from a recent event. (I think this was taken at the event in Salem, MA, but it might have been at Tenney Gate House in Methuen, MA... it's a bit of a blur!) Left to right: Gavin Cromwell, John Zaffis, and me. (Photo courtesy of Gavin Cromwell.)
That's a good concept for me to consider, especially at this point in my career. See, almost everything that I do easily... well, I always seem to think that everyone can do whatever-it-is easily... if not right away, then certainly with just a little practice.
I tend to say, "All you have to do is this, and then this, and then this..," and a lot of people look at me as if I'm from another planet.
But, the idea that I do anything differently from others... it's still a challenge for me. I've never wanted to be famous or even stand out in the crowd. I've just wanted to share the cool stuff that I enjoy, and show others how easily they can do the same thing.
But... maybe it's not that easy for other people to do all that I do.
It's like... most people can sing, at least well enough so the tune is recognizable. Me...? I'm tone deaf and I "lose" the rhythm repeatedly. When I played violin, someone else had to tune it each time, and I relied on the conductor to keep me on the same page (literally) as everyone else. And... well, don't ask me to sing "Happy birthday" unless my voice can be disguised by others' singing.
Try and show me how "easy" it is to sing, and I'm miserable. I get very, very embarrassed when my lack of singing talents becomes obvious. Maybe I need to keep that in mind regarding some things that do seem easy to me.
I remember an arts-related workshop years ago, when the speaker said, "Put your hand up if you can remember when you realized that you were different from everyone else."
Most of us put our hands up.
He then advised us that, when he gave that same workshop in a non-arts setting, hardly anyone put their hand up. Among artists, almost everyone did. The response helped him decide how to present his material; he spoke differently to artists than to non-artists. (Maybe it was a right-brain v. left-brain thing. I never asked him.)
But, the differing responses to that question -- about realizing you're different -- totally amazed me.
Most of us put our hands up.
He then advised us that, when he gave that same workshop in a non-arts setting, hardly anyone put their hand up. Among artists, almost everyone did. The response helped him decide how to present his material; he spoke differently to artists than to non-artists. (Maybe it was a right-brain v. left-brain thing. I never asked him.)
But, the differing responses to that question -- about realizing you're different -- totally amazed me.
This past weekend sparked many fresh changes in how I organize my life, and -- to some degree -- how I think of myself. It was a very sleepless weekend, filled to the brim with networking opportunities, as well as positive and negative lessons. (The vast majority were very positive.) Having slept about 16 of the past 24 hours, I'm now feeling very pleased with the world, and ready to reprioritize many of my activities.
This continues the recent changes in my life, which started when I clearly saw how toxic an associate was, and closed that door. Since then, I've been on top of my to-do lists, asserting myself more, making stronger professional connections and strides, and stepping away from the contagion of self-pity.
Frankly, this is amazingly good.
I may be offline much of the coming week. I may actually skip a couple of events I'd planned to attend, because these core issues are so essential to my future successes.
I'm working on a foundation to further support recent accomplishments, and... well, get out of my own way.
"British scientists have developed the worlds first stem cell therapy to cure the most common cause of blindness. Surgeons predict it will become a routine, one-hour procedure that will be generally available in six or seven years time. The treatment involves replacing a layer of degenerated cells with new ones created from embryonic stem cells. It was pioneered by scientists and surgeons from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and Moorfields eye hospital."
That may sound like a lot of articles, but it's the tip of the iceberg. I've written lots & lots about art, over the past dozen+ years!
Until I've moved more articles to the new design, the relocated pages can only be accessed through http://aisling.net/sitemap/
I'm very pleased with my progress!
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