More from Ralph Waldo Emerson (he has more than 500 quotes attributed to him; I'll not overly belabor you):

"All necessary truth is its own evidence."
"I didn't find my friends; the good Lord gave them to me."
"The greatest man in history was the poorest."
"Oh man! There is no planet, sun or star could hold you, if you but knew what you are."

E-mails from both sisters Thursday ???

The weather... rain Thursday night... sweet !!! I walked out into the warm "Seattle Sunshine" in the evening as one possessed (I'm really not, though) for a bit. Friday and Saturday and Sunday: back to sunny, with moderately warm temps. Allergies: single hanky days... just as well... I'm out of loratadine. I may try another med... the loratadine seems to provide little relief on bad allergy days... and especially since it's without a decongestant component.

Memorial Day... thank you to all that serve and have served.

" Death of the Unicorn "... "Cries echoing against forever..."

" Hummingbird's Flight "... Very few 'tiles' to work with. Other 'tiles' available included: waterfalls, mother, Snapshots, Jungles, dragon, chortle (always available), silky (always available), think, cannot, falcon's (I borrowed the " 's " to add to Hummingbird to create "Hummingbird's" by super-positioning), countless, delicious,and the usual single/double/triple letter 'tiles'... maybe 80 'tiles' in toto.

" HyperMaze "... a Haiku: A foggy wood pictured. A hypercube, being a four dimensional representation of a cube. A labyrinth of hypercubes, or tesseracts, used as a maze lattice, hence HyperMaze, in the guise of a wooded path, designed to deceive by otherworldly creatures... Færies in this case, ensnaring hapless three dimensional entities by providing a gateway to other dimensions or existences ( you can breathe now ). This idea of using hypercubes is used on occasion in SciFi, notoriously in "Hypercube: Cube 2". A bunch of hoo-ha for a three line poem... eh ?

" Harison's Yellow Rose "... a Haiku: Harison's Yellow Rose... photos... links ! (recht !)

" Fundy "... a Haiku: The B&W photo showed a boat high and dry next to a pier giving me pause to recall The Bay of Fundy... a link !

More from Pierre Auguste Renoir:

" The pain passes, but the beauty remains. "
" He ( Leonardo Da Vinci ) bores me. He ought to have stuck to his flying machine. "

Amusing to me: " c'est la vie... à bête noire !!! " one of my pet French phrases translates as " c'est life... with black animal !!! " using Babelfish. My understanding was: " That's life... something that rankles (me) ", or, "... a pet peeve ( of mine ) ". Guess I need a new/better phrase resource.

The weather's been absolutely marvelous... 70° to 80° Fahrenheit with light breezes... Allergies: down to one hanky a day... rain expected for the weekend ?... that would be nice !

New Message Board on G4 for/with the TechTv "Call For Help" Community Members... sweet !!! Added to the sidebar and re-labeled "Da Boards... TechTv" as being the "Archived Boards... TechTv" when the old message boards deactivate the 28th of May. Praise be for Pete Covell's, and many others, tireless energy and effort in getting many of the kinks out during the transition.

Watched "Finding Nemo" again, and again, on DSS 'Stars' channel. "Pirates of the Caribbean, The Curse of the Black Pearl" coming up soon on 'Stars' in June. I look forward to watching Johnny Depp, one of my current favorite actors. My favorite movie with Johnny Depp as lead is "The Seventh Gate", a smart light horror movie.

" Ces Noire Nuits " or These Black Nights... A close re-creation of what I had wished to enter on 5-24-2004 for consideration on 5/25/2004 ( my apologies to French speaking peoples ):

" Oneness "... a love poem.

" The Shadows "... another warm & fuzzy by Bobby Nichols.

" Don't Feed the Birds ! "... a Haiku: The picture for inspiration was that of a sparrow checking out the remnants of a sandwich on a wooden rail.

" Faerie's Stage "... a Haiku: I edit my entry sent from 'Leads' to 'Lead' to Faerie's plane ( of existence ). The photo consisting of a tree stump a few feet high festooned up and down with what appear to be oyster mushrooms about its periphery. I had thought to title "Faerie's Ring", but the ambiguity with: rings of power stories and other types of mushrooms that create what are actually called 'fairy rings' in nature... was too great.

More from William Congreve:

" Grief still treads upon the heels of pleasure. "
" Uncertainty and expectation are the joys of life. "
" Blessings ever wait on virtuous deeds, and though a late, a sure reward succeeds. "
" I find we are growing serious, and then we are in great danger of being dull. "

More from Josh Billings:... a link !!!

The 25th of May would have been my Father's 73'rd birthday... he passed in September of 1999. Some favorite memories:

Trips to the beach... thousands, seemingly.
Car rides with the family, Dad driving, to no place in particular.
Hot cocoa at a restaurant early in the a.m. on the way to Dad's many golf appointments... me caddying... Shirley Temples' and Roy Rogers' for me at the 19th hole.
Shish-ka-bob's on the bar-b-cue.
Dad's "glurg" or spiced wine on the stove.
Summer vacation in Seaside, Oregon... just Mom and Dad and Jim and I in a trailer, camping out.
Just Dad and Jim and I camping out under the stars at a beach south of Half Moon Bay, CA... freezing our rears off under blankets as the fog came in, even though we had a camp fire going.
Fishing at Green Lake in Seattle, WA... just Dad and I in a row boat. We never caught anything the few times we went out to fish, anywhere.
Me absolutely disgusting and frustrating Dad when he tried to teach me how to drive his MG Midget... me laughing my head off the whole time... getting nowhere... the clutch beyond my comprehension.
Going to the boat races in Seattle, WA or visiting his friend, Dick Brunos (sp?) at his home on the lake front. Dick raced hydroplane's, or speed boats, and loved to give us boat rides on the lake where he lived next to ( Lake Washington ? ) with his family boat-cruiser, we all taking turns at water-skiing... or trying to, sometimes from off Dick's pier. Dick tragically took his own life years later.
Trying to live up to Dad's "Do as I say and not as I do" lessons of life.
... bitter-sweet regrets of latter years... what might have beens...
Love you Dad... miss you...

I've installed this awesome ( Windows only ) web dictionary ap... only 24K in size, that just happens to use the same website I normally use for word mangle-ation. When surfing the web just highlight a word... then right click the mouse and an option appears to get the definition/encyclopedia entry of the word... SUPER COOL ! I was warned ahead of time that the ap does have the 'AvenueA' tracking spyware 'bot' on it... but I block the spyware with SpywareBlaster... I think. Even still, the 'bot' is benign in nature.

Wonderful meeting at the Stake Center in Cameron Park with all the new LDS members, from the last two years, in the stake in attendance. A bit of social anxiety to the extreme when it came to my turn to introduce myself. I barely remember what I blurted out... speech not my talent, nor sought out by me. Overheard in general assembly: "Those people in Georgetown (ward) have been really  busy !"... with regard to the number of new members presented. Yes they have been... they're wonderful and special people. I wouldn't be attending, perhaps, otherwise.

" Ces Noire Nuits  " or These Black Nights... What might have been: This poem was in French originally... I give the literal English, above, that I did write out... the French version sending another confirmation to the ether, I'll try to recreate. I normally would have transcribed the poem afterwords (sic). With luck I'll be able to copy as created when the poem is posted among all the the other entries after 9 a.m. PDT on Wednesday. AMENDED: No... the poem posted on the net 40 seconds late and will show up as only more gibberish... I thought I had a few minutes leeway... but no. Therefore: no entry will show for Wednesday... and the gibberish will be entered for Thursday... another SNAFU, or SNAFU#2 in this case. And no... my French is in tatters... I merely took the 'tiles', a preponderance of French words, and arranged them as best I could and then checked the sentences in Bablefish for a coarse translation, hence my tardiness... c'est la vie... à bête noire !!!

" Autumn's Effusion "... a Haiku: Autumn exults twice: first by the trees surrounding the river, the fall colours effusing forth... and then, secondly, by reflection in the mirrored 'face' of the river water.

" Lake's Landing "... a Haiku: I hadn't intended it thus, the poem created before reminiscing about Dad and Dick Brunos (sp?), but the picture for inspiration does evoke memories of trying to ski off Dick's pier in the summer in Seattle, WA... and not letting go of the tow rope after dumping... getting lake water up my nose... what fun !!! Not to mention that I have a slight memory of almost drowning near that same pier, Dick's daughter helping me out of the water... no fuss made.

More from C. S. Lewis:

" All that is not eternal is eternally out of date. "
" Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours. "
" God whispers in our pleasures, but shouts in our pain. "
" The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts. "
C. S. Lewis has so many good quotes I feel loathe to exclude any. I listed only a short sample for space and time.

Brief electrical storm Friday... came in like a tyrannical three-year old. I had warned my grandkids to get away from the window after I came inside the house from hurriedly feeding the mares, the storm not far away. Sure enough they tarried and were treated to a lightening bolt close by the house... couldn't have even counted to one between flash and thunder. They moved quickly enough after that. Gail and I prudently disconnected modems and electrical connections from both computers when we heard the first distant rumblings. Weather in the 70°'s Fahrenheit Friday and Saturday, with a light breeze. Allergies: Three hanky days.

Mom called Saturday. Her eye surgery date for cataracts is approaching. Otherwise, she's as well as she wishes the rest of the family to believe. I once fancied myself a wino... I mean wine conno'sour', I could never really afford good wines, and the subject of what a claret was... was broached... by me... hence another link. Mom had just found a bottle of "Shiraz" from Australia that was touted as being good with this and that... and Kangaroo steak. I asked Mom ( non-LDS ) to have a glass for me ( new-LDS )... or not.

Home repairs... ludicrous as usual. Can't get a 'bloody' bathroom fitting out for love nor money... well, maybe money if I have to resort to a plumber. I've been wrestling with the 'thing' off and on for months. Since this fitting regulates the hot water flow I'm getting a double whammy on the electrical bill with water heater and well pump... ouch !!!

Chrissy & Richard and family... Chrissy's 4X4 repaired by my nephew(s)... alternator brushes fouled... or something. Saturday service's for Richard's Aunt Kathy's youngest(?) child, a toddler, who passed recently of a viral infection of the liver/heart. Balloons with letters written, attached, were sent aloft by those in attendance according to my grandson, David.

Need to wake up early on Sunday. There is an opportunity for new LDS members to meet with a high level Church Authority ( one of the Seventy ) on a more personal level... cool ! Hitching a ride with Brother Martinez.

" Testimony  "... again, poetic/spiritual license taken. Remember, I'm choosing from a pool of perhaps 150 plus 'tiles' from which to create a poem/prose of twenty 'tiles' or less. This entry might be a good candidate for further edit in the future.

" Yellowstone's Bane "... a Haiku: The picture showed two trees, bare of leaf, encroached upon by a lake, surrounded by, otherwise, full-leafed fall-colored forest. Brought me to mind the telly program about a possible Super Volcano under Yellowstone Nat'l Park... a Google link: "super volcano" +yellowstone, the rising magma chamber convoluting a nearby lake's topography. I may have the compass settings askew... but the effect, and affect, remain clear.

" The Dragon "... a Haiku: O.k. ... I'm dyin' if I'm lyin'... but no sooner do I show Gail the inspirational photo ( a boy at dusk below a tree looking eerily like a dragon ) and then cut and paste this poem in my BLOG template on NoteTabLite ( before posting the poem )... but "Puff the Magic Dragon" comes on DSS music channel 825, "Solid Gold Oldies" ( Gail's choice )... followed, of course, by "I Want To Be Bobby's Girl"... go figger !!! Too weird... change the station to my fave... DSS music channel 838, "Atmospheres"... only to have to change it back ( I thought Gail had gone to bed... oops ! )

More from Cliff Fadiman:

"A good memory is one trained to forget the trivial."
"I think we must quote whenever we feel that the allusion is interesting or helpful or amusing."
"There are two kinds of writers; the great ones who can give you truths, and the lessor ones, who can only give you themselves."

The leading quotation is one I believe in whole heartedly. I have the enjoyable habit of rereading to excess certain books. I love to lose myself in the lands of Tolkien and L. Ron Hubbard and others. I further annoy my wife, Gail, when I watch the same movies on the telly over and over. How DOES one train one's memory to forget the trivial ?... I really wish to learn. Quote ?... mais certainment !!! I give you myself... you're welcome !!!

Weather in the upper 70°'s to low 80°'s Fahrenheit, with a light breeze... allergies: Five hanky day... only took three with me on my travels.

Gail's Arabian stud horse 'Saudi' got loose. Evidently just walked over a low part in the fence and took a stroll up the road. A distant neighbor's pony was given quite a scare... but Gail and one of our neighbors, Tamara, were able to handle the situation before anything got out of hand. This is only the first time in thirteen years that I know of that he has gone walkabout. He's now relocated in our eastern pasture which is most verdant ( in verdure ).

Library and books... I just had to ask: " Just what exactly did you remodel ? ". The changes from the renovation at the library were too subtle for me. New carpet, the top shelves' covers removed to allow more light in, some wood-graining enhancement, new counter-top at check-out, and some minor re-arranging of books.
Checked out: "The Writer's Digest Writing Clinic" edited by Kelly Nickell, and "Seven Pillars of Wisdom, a triumph" by T.E. Lawrence. Lord knows my writing needs help... and I also wish to attempt to get inside T.E. Lawrence's head, a journey I undertake with some trepidation.

LDS lesson tonite. Note to self: Do not become overwhelmed. The path, though narrow, should  be taken at one's own pace... our hearts and minds are open books to Him. Be diligent and do not falter.

E-mail from sister Peg Thursday... Cool !!! Also received two e-mails from my Mom, one with some cool animated .gifs for receiving/giving hugs... including Mickey Mouse all a'sparkle that I'll save, and another with pictures I'll have to get around to. Tried calling her the other day... perhaps too late in the day ? E-mail from sister Debi re: Mandy's post-wedding announcement from the 11th.

" Spiritual Bliss  "... I suppressed the urge to use the German 'ß' in favor of the English double 's' in 'bliss'. In fact, I had originally titled the poem "Bliss", which would have appeared as "Bliß"... too close to 'BliB'. I also correct a typo or " 'tile'po " : 'wondrous' instead of 'wonderous'... oops !

" Desert Yearnings End "... a Haiku: The third Haiku of my "Desert Yearnings" theme. The entry for Friday's first line was: 'Desert flower blooms', but I wish to edit for my collection as 'Desert flowers bloom'.

More from Thornton Wilder:

" It is only in appearance that time is a river. It is a vast landscape and it is the eye of the beholder that moves. "
" Where there is an unknowable, there is a promise. "
" Literature is the orchestration of platitudes. "

Weather still in the 70°'s Fahrenheit range, but windy... allergies still bad.

Space.com had an article about the planet Venus transiting in front of the sun on June 8, 2004 (just a few weeks )... which also happens to be the wed2ding an13niversary of Gail and I. This event apparently only occurs for we earthbound people every 122 years... though due to celestial mechanics another will occur in 8 years. Unfortunately both transits will not be visible in their entirety to most due to the earth's rotation and inclination, Venus and the Sun setting early in the sky, or even just bad weather... oh well. If one is lucky enough to view, be sure to take proper eye care precautions.
On another note, PBS will air/aired on "Nova" another celestial event of the real kind Tuesday, June 1, 2004 titled "death STAR". I noted this after creating my poem " ShockWave " when reading my email from TuDogs... celestial hazards abound !

Tony Randall passed away at the age of 84. I've always admired his craft of wit.

" ShockWave  "... again... possibly too much Sci-Fi reading, since cosmology is beyond my comprehension. I might envision a super-massive black-hole tearing through the fabric of space-time, as a rock thrown into a calm pool of water, sending ripples of force throughout the universe, dark-matter most discordantly strewn, turgid... then I might not.

" Parthian Angst  "... Twenty 'tiles' : twenty words. I thought the line structure: ( 2:2:1:3:4:3:1:2:2 ) lent something to the poem... perhaps a simple symmetry to feelings deeply, but simply, expressed. As for the title, such a simple poem deserves an obscure title, non ?, parthian... as in parting words, and angst... of a personal nature.

" Taffy-Doodles "... a Haiku: Just for fun ! Welllllllllllll... the picture for inspiration would not show on the Poetry.com website, and Taffy-Doodles has taken over my tummy-shelf and left arm, sooooooooo... And, as I nearly finish this explanation, he jumps off in hunt of a mosquito hawk ( big flying bug ), catches, and devours it... yuk !!! On going back, much later in the day, the photo was of a mammalian dolphin, as opposed to a dolphin fish.

" Coquette "... a Haiku: Coquette, an interesting creature as I recall from bygone days. The photo for inspiration was of a yellow many-petaled flower in the midst of thorny needles, perhaps a cactus flower.

More from Madame du Deffand: " What more would you have? He ( Voltaire ) has invented history. "

Jim & Pam, my brother and his significant other, were kind enough to pick me up in Garden Valley after they had flown into Sacramento Int'l. Airport and rented a car, a red convertible Mustang. My attempt to rent a car had been stymied, and until Jim's offer late Thursday afternoon to pick me up on Friday, I had resigned myself to taking a bus from Auburn to Modesto, a four hour trip. Had a nice visit with Jim and Pam during our traveling about. My return trip was most fortuitous as well... I arrived at the airport in Sacramento with Jim and Pam for their return flight and only had to wait an hour with them for my in-laws... who were dropping off my sister-in-law Glenda for her return to Arizona after spending Mother's Day, here, in Garden Valley.

Mandy's wedding !!! Absolutely wonderful ! Mandy looked like an Angel in her wedding dress, her husband looking dapper in his best which included a Disney tie. The site of the wedding was an 1890's school house out in the country... the wedding held outdoors on a cool breezy Spring day. I met people I hadn't seen in thirty years from Mandy's paternal family side. How my sister Debi, Mandy's mother, managed to pull everything together is most incomprehensible. Pictures ! Need to add to the _family website !

Peg & John & Sasha... I spent three glorious nights at my sister Peg's home. Peg and my brother-in-law John are in constant home-remodeling mode, renovation their early 1950's house to suit their more modern tastes. Sasha, my sixteen year old niece, a very sensitive and intelligent young lady, was a very gracious host(ess) in her own right.
Read a book that Peg had and recommended I read. Fast reading so I completed it easily. The title, " For the Love of God " was easier to remember in French, " Pour l'amour de' Dieu ", than in English, because the title was the last line of a French children's song ( " Au Clair De La Lune " ) I had learned as a child. Many insights into spirituality contributed by quite an eclectic group of personages including: The Dali Lama and Sister Teresa.
Guitar fantasy !!! Peg gave me my nephew's electric guitar ( surprise ! ). I've already purchased a low cost 'How-To' book and a cheap shoulder strap. Keeping my eyes open for a used LOW cost amplifier to hook the guitar up to.

Talked to Mom on Mother's Day. She sent me three shirts in a care package that fit great on my great girth... two warm weather fleece and a casual blue shirt... thanks Mom !!!

TechTv merger FAQ. Dropped by ' Da Boards ' for a look see, something I've been doing less and less, to read up on the goin's on. The merger will wreck a bit of havoc with programming that I like to watch, especially " Call For Help " which: gave me the basics to purchase this computer ( three years ago ) and maintain it, and direct me to freeware to get the applications I needed, and so many other things. I sincerely wish all the personalities well. I've grown to think of them as part of my extended family. Thank you TechTv !!! Changes to go into effect May 28th

The past week in a blur... King's basketball on the tube, as well as the other exciting playoff games. Allergies. Moderate Spring weather. Sci-Fi movies on the tube. Too much tube and not much else. I guess I'm a bit down on returning home after the visit with my brother and sisters and nieces and nephews at Mandy's wedding. Missed my brother Robin, who couldn't make it down for the wedding. My left foot arch still smarting... I've resigned myself to no walking until it feels better. Time out from poetry for a bit.

Gail's van pooped out on us in the middle of Sacramento this Thursday... $190.00 USD towing fee home... ruptured oil pan... again. Too much speed on a non-advertised dip in the road. The first two tow truck drivers, both a bit smarmy, left us high and dry... one upping his price $65.00 USD after Gail took a bit of time to make some calls to get parts quotes and figure out where we were going to get towed to, the other telling us on arrival that he only took cash. The third tow-wer was quite affable and allowed us to stop at our bank for cash, though his initial quote of $150.00 USD blossomed to the $190.00 USD final fee once we arrived home. Seems he hadn't realized how far out in the 'boonies' we lived... his poor truck straining the clutch on all of the hairpin turns and grades. Gail's new towing service would not pay any of the towing bill at all since the problem wasn't electrical in nature and/or was cause by a road hazard... figgers. Her old service would have paid, but went with her recent change of cell phone carriers. The new service soon to be replaced.

Chrissy, my daughter, and her little family have been moving their 'stuff' into the remodeled trailer home. Carpet and tile down, painting done... looks great ! They've still work to do but have been sleeping there for the past few nights. Work on the plumbing, sinks and shower... cleanup outside... and other odds-n-ends needed.

My in-laws have all their puppies, Shiba Inu's, sold before they can be loosed from their mother. We still have two kittens that need good homes... and a number of adult cats that need to be neutered/spayed.

" The Gulls  "... the contest burped out a blank confirmation after I submitted the entry... hope it survived the ether.

" Eventide "... a Haiku: Eventide overlooking the ocean from possibly a tropical island... the sky a scarlet-red reflecting on the water with a yellow sun just above the horizon.

More from Charlie Chaplin:

" Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself. "

" The saddest thing I can imagine is to get used to luxury. "

Hamburgers and fries served up by my wife, Gail, tonight... with grilled onions... yum !

Gail took a pain or sleeping pill tonight to try to get some relief from her pain and get some rest. Everything she tries to do seems only to exacerbate her condition. I can only pray.

I'm being stalked by a mosquito right now... the spiders who share space with me aren't pulling their weight. Ten minutes later with flyswatter in hand I manage to cease her advances... making it evident that she had been, in one respect, successful.

Well ( opening myself up for retort ), a few more poems in quick fashion for the contest. I finished the previous May 5th offerings prior to the 9 p.m. PDT deadline and was able to complete for tomorrow's entries shortly thereafter... cool !!!

" Surcease  "... Not much one can do with less than (100) 'tiles'... I did my best... a chance to use 'surcease' again... a mortal era ending ?

" The Parrots "... a Haiku: Gail exclaimed on how beautiful the photo of the Parrots was... and told me that they, birds, " are the only creatures that mate for life ". Welllllllll... as I elicit " deep thoughts " from my " shallow mind "... then lapse into silence mode...

The site I use for 'Goodbye' has been down ? So...

oooops... let's edit and try that again !!!

More from Nathaniel Hawthorne:

" Generosity is the flower of justice. "

" We sometimes congratulate ourselves at the moment of waking from a troubled dream; it may be so the moment after death. "

" Sunlight is painting. "

" Moonlight is sculpture. "

" Our Creator would never have made such lovely days, and have given us the deep hearts to enjoy them, above and beyond all thought, unless we were meant to be immortal. "

... Amen !!! I've only read his " The Scarlet Letter " once, and that was in high school or college many years ago.

David, my grandson, to the hospital late Tuesday night. Gail and Chrissy and David returned about 3:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. I stayed up waiting for them, soooooooo... I'm a bit slow, as everyone else is, today. Appears to be tonsillitis, maybe strep. He's home from school but appears far from sick with his usual rambunctiousness, except for his terrible coughing. Chrissy worked half a day to be able to give Gail some surcease... the two words that have links ( underlined ) in this paragraph DEFINITELY apply !!!

Hope you like the new look of the BLOG... the aesthetic wave continues to evolve as my skills increase. I've used some simple HTML tables... I want to upgrade to CSS tables in the near future for more flexibility. This format creates way too much spacing that CSS may cure.

Weather Tuesday and Wednesday hot and breezy... allergy weather !!!

Elders Talbot and Green stopped by for a quick visit Tuesday night, making their rounds.

Remembered my two brothers will be driving down for Mandy's wedding from the Pacific Northwest. Jim, the elder of the two and my junior by just short of thirteen months, will be bringing his significant other, Pam, as well. Looks like all five of the Nichols' siblings will be in attendance, Debi and Peg already living in the area... cool !!!

E-mails from sister Peg... something about M&M's and getting cancer or something if you're on fire in New York. Maybe I'd better read them again.

Reserved a car for the weekend... They're going to take a...
$ 230.00 USD deposit out of my debit card, even though it's a...
$ 9.99 USD per day special... oooooooook ! Maybe they just want to make sure the extra insurance that isn't mentioned is covered ?, or something. Borrowing $ 100.00 USD from Gail to to help cover until the deposit is re-credited... and she's borrowing against her car insurance money... sheeesh !

" Night Golf  "... a whimsy.

" Butterfly "... a Haiku: Butterfly: mariposa... papillon... Schmetterling - these I knew ( except I thought 'papillon' ( French ) had a double "p" and 'Schmetterling' ( German ) ended in "k"... 'mariposa' being Spanish... all for "Butterfly". Also: 'borboleta' in Portuguese and 'vlinder' in Dutch according to babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr... the cyrillic and oriental languages would not render well for some reason from the site, maybe the Microsoft language modules aren't loaded on my computer... or something. As for my lilacs... they've long since lost their bloom, sigh.

More from John Milton: " Death is the golden key that opens the palace of eternity. "

" Tears such as angels weep. "

" The mind is its own place, and in itself can make heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. "

" Sweet bird, that shun the noise of folly, most musical, most melancholy ! "

" With thee conversing I forget all time. "

Finally made a correct answer in the " Call for Help " quiz... I had been 0/5. Todays question had to do with where the word 'icon' came from.

I mis'spoke' again... (1000) MegaBytes = (1) GigaBytes ( NOT TeraBytes )... re: Google's new gmail. I know better... just goofed.

Hot day Tuesday. Tonight half the world will be able to see a lunar eclipse, weather permitting, but not not here in North America... we have (5) months to wait for our opportunity.

My sister Debi called with more info on her daughter Mandy's wedding. I'll have a place to spend the night.

From an email my brother Robin sent: " The upper waterfall is concreted in. Next will be the front stream, then the back pond. It took 20 sacks of 60 lb concrete to do the waterfall. And it was a hot day. It was 80 deg. F. The wisteria are growing well on the shed arbor, and the jasmine are also taking off there as well. "... Phew ! Just reading what he's done to his back yard makes me exhausted. The pictures he sent show a beautiful work. Now if he could only demolish the homes that border his...

I hope the formatting held up above... thought I'd try something different. Nope...it didn't ... try again. I think I've got it !