08/03/007 - Skipper!

Here she is, at the mercy of my tickling finders. Skipper's first time at the dog park was very successful!

She made friends and ran like the wind. Here is her Flickr set. She is eating like a dog, so soon will look much more like a Husky than a lean hungry wolf.

She is our honored guest for the next 12 months. I adore her.

07/07/007 - Nonce

What the haps. Kwik-E-Mart.

Have my stitches healed enough to begin lifting and painting and vacuuming again, after remove nasty lipoma clinging to my shoulder blade?

Waiting and wondering and hoping...where will they move my office?

How many diet pepsies does it take to get me off my butt?

06/22/007 - In-N-Out Burger: Special Menu

My daughter introduced me to the INO Special menu a couple years ago in summer when we got addicted to Neapolitan Shakes. Vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry swirled in one cup.

Then recently I've been treating myself once a week to a double double with grilled onions. Really the perfect burger.

But...I am now on a low carb diet and I've trying to cut the carbs further and further back. I discovered my favorite burger can be ordered as a lettuce wrap..." Protein Style" with grilled onions. Messy but still so delicious and bun-less. Once each week, usually on Fri, I carefully consume one of these and I feel so good; it is a reward, and a tasty, tasty treat.

(My reward for walking by the table of donuts or bagels that appears once each week at the office.)

04/07/007 - Obit, ten years old

001264 Carls - Patrick James Carls, A Former Clergyman With The United Federation Of Metropolitan Community Churches, Died Monday At Project Lazarus Of Complications From Aids. He Was 43.
Mr. Carls Was Born In Allegany, N.Y., And Lived In New Orleans For Many Years.He Received A Nursing Degree From State University Of New York At Albany And Studied For A Master's Degree At Loyola Institute School Of Ministry. He Was A Former Systems Analyst At L'chaim Group Home And Worked With The People With Aids
Coalition And Darrell Hamby Food Bank.He Was A Member Of The Board Of Directors And The Choir At The
Vieux Carre Metropolitan Community Church.Survivors Include His Companion, Charles Midura; His
Parents, James R. And Orma Carls Of Allegany; Three Sisters, Pamela Carls Of Sunnyvale, Calif.,
Virginia Carls Of Olean, N.Y., And Elizabeth Carls Crissafuli Of Fort Worth, Texas; And Three Brothers,
Richard L. Carls Of Allegany, John J. Carls Of Sarasota, Fla., And Timothy F. Carls. A Memorial Service Will Be Held Tuesday At 7 P.M. At The Vieux Carre Metropolitan Community Church, 1128 St. Roch Ave.
Burial Will Be In Allegany.

04-12-1997 Times Picayune

01/28/007 - Jones Girls

Party down last night, with the Jones Girls. I be the DD; well just one of the DDs. I wrenched the car away from my daughter. Tank was empty. Could not see out any of the windows. I figured my passengers would understand if I was a bit late from waiting on a Sat night gas line and hitting the Windex inside and out.

First scrambled up to Redwood city which has changed since my last visit but found my destination and hit more Windex. Rain slick streets and slimy wiper action. Then back down to Palo Alto and my second rider. Off we all went down 101 to 237 and then up and over to 880,680 and 580.Tassajara X.
2 hours later. We are there.

Mystery gifts in hand and pot-luck food contributions prepared. Party games en route and lots of champagne. That is what we are all about; food, drink, gifts, games and laughter.

There are 10 of us. 10 little Indians. 4 Jones girls, and 6 wannabes.

After food and dessert and more dessert and more food (and bubble water for me). We played the board game. and drew numbers for picking gifts.

I went last. I only got one token from the game board and that was a gimme. However, this is a strategically good position; a couple wrapped gifts left and all the rest open to be stolen. I went for the unwrapped gift, it was calling to me. A dragon incense burner, sits his butt down over a burning incense cone and the smoke comes out his face. He sits like a drunk coyote howling at the moon. Yes!

Passed up a marble top plant stand, a spice rack fully loaded, hand knit scarf and my favorite the Beatles remaster album, just released. OK, that was a struggle to let go. Candles, wine glasses and OMG wine!

I love my dragon.

I passed on all the gifts in addition to all the alcohol. Did my DD thing and made it home at 1:30AM. That is a very late night for me. It was fun to drive around on Sat night after midnight. Before the 2 AM scramble. Just quiet dark streets; I'm driving fast through familiar territory but blessedly free from traffic. Party down and out for the night. Thought ahead and made my little bed up with fresh clean linen. Gotta love it. Life is good, with the Jones Girls.

1/1/007 Happy New Year! Resolved

Y2K? Why not.
An image, a list, a link.

My wedding anniversary.
I Vow:
Write everyday
Exercise everyday

More photos, less carbs.

Clear the decks. Simplify my life so I can move on.

Las Vegas Ladies

Back from my first trip to Las Vegas. Something to say about the people who stand along the sidewalk in groups, and snap cards, slapping them against the huge pile in one hand, offering a naughty naked lady card to passersby. The first group I walked past did not offer me any; why would they, no-one was taking the cards. Then I got the idea that it would be a generous gesture to take some of their cards. That way they could get rid of them, which is the point, I think. And I would keep them long enough to put into the recycle bin at home. Free stuff, free fun...a good deed.

Someone pays them to hand them out. No foul there, everybody has to make a living. So next group I passed I stuck my hand out and took as many as they could shove at me, saying thank you, thank you, and lastly, thank you very much. I did this a couple more times as I passed other groups of men and women holding enormous piles of these cards. Naughty, half naked ladies; Las Vegas Ladies for various prices. Introductions guaranteed.

I heard a little sniff and a comment behind me one of these times, so I just turned and said I thought I'd help them out and take a few. Lady behind me did not get it. Oh well. Maybe I'm a lesbo. Or maybe I feel sorry of the maybenotlegal immigrants and the tedious job of pressing these cards into the hands of passersby. It was amusing.

When I got home I had collected 60-70 cards with very few duplicates. The prices on the back of each card included a price for 1, 2, or 3 girls. One card said "Lydia - she is a real girl" Not sure what the others could be. And strangely enough they all had little twinkling stars in strategic places. Word!

Las Tres Amigas

So much to say and then really nothing that can be said about this brief moment. Rave came back for a few hours; just long enough to get cleaned up and loved up. Then she got watered, well fed and was sleeping all sprawled out on the floor. Just as sweet and innocent as when she left.

So why is she digging out of her new yard? The new owner does not seem to be able to keep track of her and won't let her in the house. We were called to come get her by someone who found her running loose. So we did and checked her out and called the new owner and said to call us because we had Rave and she had run away again, and we wanted to talk about placing her somewhere else.

Later that night the Sunnyvale cops banged on our door. They banged loudly and rang the bell like they do when they think you are a criminal. They took Rave away from us and gave her back to her new owner, who had somehow convinced them that WE HAD STOLEN RAVE FROM HER YARD!

Unfortunate. Unbearably sad for us. We wanted Rave to have a good new home and it seemed that we had found someone who really wanted a dog for her son and had a big fenced in yard.

But now, we want her back. I'm sick about the whole affair. I even offered a couple hundred dollars to buy Rave back. Even if it seemed like ransom. The new owner gave my daughter a few dollars and we gave her Rave and all the expensive doggy equipment to take care of her. Because we just wanted her to have a good loving home and the attention she needs.

Now, I just want another chance to place her with someone who will take better care of her. I fear for her safety. The breeder also wants her back. We pray that Rave will dig out again soon and somehow be found by someone who will get back in touch with us or the breeder so we can find her a better home. Since her new owner cannot be reasoned with, I depend on Rave to do her thing. She is smart and she will find her way to a better home one way or another.

We are looking for her at shelters and on Craigslist. The cops told us we cannot go anywhere near her new home, since they believe we are trying to steal her. I believe everyone will get what they deserve in the end. Just a matter of time, so hang on Rave and dig out soon! Run away Rave and we will come find you.

Horse Therapy

"Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy" at Taylor Made Farms, San Martin, CA, just south of Morgan Hill. I'll be there one day each week for the foreseeable future. Horse Therapy flickr set.

See: NAHRA - "North American Riding for the Handicapped Association"

EFMHA - "Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association"

For lonely horses. For CASA volunteers.

The pumpkin patches are therapeutic, the cornfields are therapeutic, the boarding stable with 100+ horses is therapeutic. Everything except the commute back home in rush-hour traffic is therapeutic, for me.

This is part of my life now, so in a real sense, it is all about me. But I wonder how much am I getting into MBP syndrome?

I will ask Dr. Low.

Stay tuned.

Yes - I said Vegas!

I've got a room at the SAHARA for 4 nights in November. Next conference to support the Webmaster business model. PUBCON, sponsored by WebMasterWorld.

All organic, mostly green...emphasis on coding and content. The geeky side of an industry that has been taken over by Sales and Marketeers. Bless their pointy little heads. They have brought the mega bucks into E-commerce.

Started gambling early; let PriceLine find me a *** hotel. I booked so late...just a week ago, not much left close to the convention center. It will be an adventure. And my version of continuing education. And not the least draw...home of CSI. The original and some say the only CSI.

CSI - Las Vegas

CSI LasVegas weekend.

Not me; C went with friends. No job for her yet. I have a job.

All I got from her trip was this crummy coffee mug, and a screen saver.

So I will savor the sights until my trip to Las Vegas, planned for November.

Actually, I love the mug. And C as well, living outside the box.

Moving on out, to a shared house in San Jose.

LLUXE! - My new Etsy store for Spa therapy products

Circumstances permitting, I plan to sell my house and move to the Oregon coast. One of the legs supporting this move is my newly developed product line of handmade Lavender Luxury Spa Products for hot/cold therapy and aromatherapy. "LLUXE!"

I set up an Etsy shop: LLUXE! - Lavender Luxury Spa Therapy by IrisDragon

All made from sensuous silk-blend brocade fabrics in various weights.
Here is a Flickr set of product shots: LLUXE!

So far, I've given away many samples to friends, and they in turn have helped me make refinements and enhancements. I'm ready to sell the established line of products, if anyone wants to buy them. I started pricing them very low, almost at cost. I sold one on EBAY, but the profit margin was just one dollar. They are expensive to ship because the rice is heavy.

I have many fabrics and colors; many sewed and ready to fill to order. I purchased incredibly fragrant bulk lavender flowers from Watsonville. Is there a business model here? I'm pushing the price higher and higher. Looking for folks with disposable income and mega$$$ who enjoy luxury and appreciate unique, handmade, sensuous products. Where are you Oprah?
Stay tuned!

8ULL$H!7

This is what the video Ipod was made for:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=penn+and+teller


Penn and Teller

Question Authority!

Sleeping with my clothes on

In order to remain sane. I have taken on PJs. Not my preferred flimsy gowns or diaphanous negligees, but substantial cotton lounging pants and sport weight T shirts. There are two reasons.

One: The dog often needs to get walked between 12-1 AM, when I am in my deepest sleep. It seems I am capable of rolling out of bed, creeping downstairs, and exploding out the front door with the dog in tow, or the dog towing me.

But only if I am already dressed and ready for public viewing.

Two: my daughter's boyfriend is sleeping over most nights and I should not be sprawled on the bed with my door open...which is my usual sleeping scenario.

Now I sprawl with a light cover, and fall into bed as if I were camping. Only time I used to sleep in my clothes was camping, enabling me to crawl out of the tent and stumble through the dark to the designated tree or nearby loo.

Website Usability Review and SEO Audit

*:-:¦:-·:*Website Usability Review and SEO Audit*:-:¦:-·:*

posted on Craigslist:

"Does your Website need attention? I'll audit your site first for Usability issues, and then for Search Engine Optimization. I'll examine your site's Information Architecture and coding. The product you will receive is a report with general advice and specific recommendations.

I charge $50/hour, minimum $100.00 per site. We can talk SEM in general terms. I'm building a portfolio of successfully transformed customer sites, so my rate is low right now. My audit is neutral, objective, and based on the most current info and established best practices. I take a very green, natural, thoughtful approach.

Why hire me? I am an experienced "bug magnet"! I have no agenda other than improving your Web presence. I'll review your meta tags, examine your copy, and be all over your navigation. If I cannot find anything to improve, I'll tell you that. I'm happy to share a sample report, so you can preview what you might expect.

Prelim evaluation and estimate provided."

The question is, is this a business model that could sustain me if I move to Oregon?
hummmm

Driftwood horse

Munch, munch, no wonder I'm so skinny and dried up. Only one meager weed is within my reach. I have many brothers and sisters around the world. Funny, it must be genetic; skinny, bony, looks like driftwood that has been turned to bronze for sculptures that last.

Echoes of August. Hot, dry, clear blue sky after Marine layer burns off in California. Long summer working for that hourly wage. Not clear why any more. A say, "get as much as you can from this gig", who knows what is next. Could be worse. Could be a bronze cast of a driftwood horse. I so relate to the site, the sight, driving out the back way from the hourly gig...hot dry August, in California. I love it. Days get shorter. Evenings are cool. We all feel like moving around again.