You Never Know

Palin / Hillary Open

2008-09-14T23:24:30Z

The Winds of Change

2008-02-20T22:31:55Z

It's time for a friends cut
For those who have gone, for those who are quiet and for those who have decided no longer to share.

xoxo

What I Listen To At 3 a.m.

2007-08-20T02:39:14Z

Thank you to the people who created the IPOD
Thank you to my girlfriends for realizing that I needed one
Thank you to my Husband for giving me a dock with speakers

This is What I Listen To At 3 a.m.

N.P.R. Fresh Air
N.P.R. Wait Wait Don't Tell Me
P.R.I. Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know
Pottercast
Mugglecast
ICNYU Lecturers (mostly Islmaic scholars)
The New Yorker Out Loud
Motherhood Uncensored
People.com
Oh, and Bill Maher when he's on (one more week til the new season, I'm EXCITED)

new podcasts downloaded to try:
Manic Mommies
N.P.R. Pop Culture
The Satellite Sisters

What Podcasts Do You Listen To?

Oh, and just as an afterthought!
I added the syndicated feed for the Nelson-Atkins Bloch Building Blog yesterday. I like her style & it's always fun to learn tid bits about the inside workings of the galleries.

Birthday Wishes!

2007-06-28T21:49:56Z

Happy Birthday to you....Happy Birthday to you....HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR creamofwheat....happy birthday to you!

may all your wishes come true ♥

birthday wishes to my dear dear friend

2007-06-27T01:39:51Z

A very very Happy Birthday to an amazing woman!
Someone who is a light in my life, _peregrinus_

I have a feeling that this is going to be a year that you'll never forget
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Birthday Wishes

2006-09-08T15:57:16Z

videoleslie make a WISH!

Happy Birthday Stacey!

2006-08-22T16:15:02Z

Quote Meme

2006-08-15T21:36:43Z

I could probably do this better from my own collection, I've been collecting quotations in a book from the age of 16 on...maybe later I'll add ones from my own book.

However, I thought this was really clever!

Go
HERE
and pick five quotes you feel accurately describe your life in one way or another.

"My home is not a place, it is people."
Lois McMaster Bujold, "Barrayar", 1991

"What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined... to strengthen each other... to be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories.'
George Eliot (1819 - 1880)

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler."
Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)

"Sincerity is the way of Heaven."
Mencius (371 BC - 289 BC), Works

Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier.
Kathleen Norris, Hands Full of Living, 1931

Friday Fives

2006-08-04T20:09:19Z

From the fridayfiver:

1. When is the last time your phone rang in the middle of the night?
I honestly don't remember.

2. Who makes you yell?
I'm not much of a yeller, I don't really yell at people or if I do...man, you're in TROUBLE! I will rant & rave about 'the injustice of it all' sometimes, but I think I'm yelling into the void.

3. What do you do for fun?
Fun? Fun is connection, fun is learning something new from someone even if it's their point of view. Fun is hearing the ones I love laugh. Fun is also reading a good book, watching a movie that makes me feel that 'child like wonder' isn't gone when you're 31, it's yelling at the T.V. with friends for a bad sports call, a you kicked off the wrong reality show contestant or "OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE'S GOING TO DO THAT" moment. Playing with my puppy dog, wandering art fairs, decorating my house, entertaining friends & shopping are also 'fun'.

4. What hours do you work/go to school? I work 9-5:30 M, Tu, Th, Fri & Sat 9:00-2:00

5. Who is number one in your life? There's a tie, My Mom & My Husband. Luckily if you ask my Husband, he'll say my Mom. There's a Pakistani saying that "Heaven lies under your Mother's feet"

From the altfriday5:

1. Do you like summer in general? Why or why not?
The only good part about summer, okay, well there's two things
1.It makes me appreciate Fall all that much more.
2.I love that the sun doesn't go down until after 8 p.m.

2. Are you liking this summer (or, for those of you in the southern hemisphere, did you like this past summer)? Why or why not?
This summer is FANTASTIC! Are you kidding? I got to move into my dream house with the man I love. Plus I get to look forward to a vacation at the end. I like looking at the world out the window from my air conditioned room, I count myself VERY LUCKY & just don't go outside.

3. What were summers like for you as a child? Did you enjoy them?
I don't remember not enjoying them. My Mom taught summer school so I would go with her in the mornings to class, when I was old enough I would play in her classes. It was the only time I wasn't allowed to call her "Mom" My Dad would take me to my Grandparents house in Florida for two weeks every year & my Mom would take me to a small town in Western KS to see my other Grandparents for a week. It was very much the same every year, not much variation but oh how I miss those trips now that I'm a grownup. Almost every year I would try to go to camp, Church Camp, Girl Scout Camp, Band Camp....but I was a hopeless camper, you could almost time it by the hour, I would last about 48 hours. I would get deathly ill and my Mom would have to come get me. College, I made it about two weeks. I liked camp, I did! for the time I was there....but my body just couldn't handle a change in my sleep schedule.

4. Which summer was your favorite? Which summer was your least favorite? Why? I don't know, I'm terrible about remembering years & such.

5. Have you had summer jobs? Which were your favorite and least favorite? Why?
In High School I worked for a children's clothing boutique, my regular gig for two years. It was undemanding, I could work on homework, and I worked mostly alone. The downside was that my boss was a real piece of work, she was VERY demanding, strict, & not too nice but if she liked you, she was fair. I spent two summers in the shop. My favorite summer job was working for an upscale teddy bear shop, she dealt in all things teddy & sold a lot of high end collectible bears. The store was in the 'funky' part of town, it had wood floors which I would sweep while talking to the bears. Classical music would waft through ancient speakers. Since I was a collector myself, I loved that job until family drama ruined it. Family owned businesses are not always the easiest to work for. My least favorite job was working for a local Movie Theater before metroplexes became the norm. This was an old time theater with velvet curtains and massive screens, chandeliers on the ceilings. The only drawback was my Manager who was three years older than I was and enjoyed taunting me as his underling. Plus the average age of my co-workers was 16 & I was 19. At that age, three years is huge gap. That summer the first Batman came out & I spent most of my summer listening to it playing while schlepping candy & popcorn. I was never so happy to quit a job in my life.

a light in the jewelry industry has gone out

2006-07-11T21:29:22Z

This man was a pioneer, an innovator, an extraordinary artist
and he's gone:

Jewelry designer Steven Kretchmer passed away on July 8, 2006 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He was 52. His funeral will take place on Sunday, July 16, 11:00 at the Lasher Funeral Chapel in Woodstock.
In his second year in Milan, Steven met his wife Alma, the future Vice President and co-creator of his company, and his stepdaughter, Claudia. After living in Italy for two years, Steven returned to the United States. He pursued his studies at the University of Michigan where, in 1982, he received his Master of Fine Arts degree in the Department of Metalwork and Jewelry Design. He then moved to New Mexico where he worked designing and creating in his own goldsmithing studio applying techniques and exotic alloys such as 18 karat mokume gane gold, blue gold and purple gold.

In 1985, Steven’s techniques and designs earned him first place in Contemporary Jewelry at the Santa Fe Festival of the Arts. His metallurgical innovations took him to Harry Winston Inc. in New York City where he researched, developed, and produced jewelry components made from unique golds, most importantly 18 karat blue gold. In the next few years, while developing his career as an independent custom designer and goldsmith for various retailers and private clients, he worked as a precious metals consultant to firms around the world. During this time, he developed a number of patents for precious metal product inventions and alloys including multicolored layered golds and tension settings.
In 1991, Steven Kretchmer Design, Inc. was founded in Los Angeles, CA. In 1992, Steven was voted Designer of the Year by the Jeweler’s of America trade show. The following year, Steven reviewed techniques, innovations and offered production methods for manufacturers aiding in the promotion of platinum with the Platinum Group International.
In 2003, Steven developed Polarium, a new permanently magnetic platinum alloy developed for a revolutionary line of fine jewelry, including earrings that exhibit amazing behaviors, such as levitation.
Steven Kretchmer is survived by his wife Alma and stepdaughter Claudia.

www.stevenkretchmer.com

Make A Wish Tiffany!

2006-06-26T15:50:58Z

Just bury me in boxes

2006-06-02T19:44:28Z

I realized last night
My life would be so much less complicated
without books & art supplies

But what fun would that be?

sometimes there are no words except for Emily's

2006-04-20T17:08:48Z

"Hope" is the thing with feathers

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
-Emily Dickinson

Team Monahan

2006-04-07T14:36:27Z

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ TRAIN

curious...Johari Window

2006-02-13T22:40:36Z

I'll play, will you?

http://kevan.org/johari?name=lu_shines

http://kevan.org/johari?view=lu_shines

Meme

2006-01-14T16:19:55Z

DOG - Your daemon may be a dog if you are loyal and
caring, and like to know what is expected of
you. You probably are very family oriented, and
have a small group of friends that you are very
close to, rather than a large group of
acquaintances. You dislike confrontation, but
you will stand up and fight for the people and
issues that you really care about. You may
prefer someone else to take the lead in a
situation, although you would rather take the
lead yourself than have the situation fall
apart. You probably enjoy routine and order,
but that doesn't mean you don't like to have
fun. If anything, your friends probably know
you for getting intense, child-like pleasure in
the small things in life.

What Is Your Daemon?
brought to you by Quizilla

2006

2006-01-01T06:24:47Z

This Year
I am resolved to
------------------

Take things slow
Not be swept away by my emotions

Keep my word
Be mindful of what I say

Hear my own voice

Follow my passions
Allow myself the time and space to pursue them

Find the path to faith
Practice patience, express my beliefs, become more balanced

Culture love

Keep my friends & family within my grasp
See people for who they are
Accept who I am
and not ask more of anyone then what they are willing to give

Find within myself the balance between mind, body & spirit
creativity, domesticity, being social, solitary, & productive

Know that I am responsible and have the keys to my life within my grasp

BREATH

lu_shines @ 2006-01-01T00:07:00

2006-01-01T06:07:24Z

Happy New YEAR
2006

I hope for all of you that this is a fabulous year!

Insanity Has Struck

2005-12-16T00:01:53Z

the eye twitch has begun

An Unusual Romantic Comedy

2005-12-02T03:05:35Z

Has Anyone Seen This Movie?

KNOTS it supposidly came out in 2004

This is a great way to sum it up:
"It's a great comedy about the dynamics that modern urban relationships can take. It is at once comic, tragic and outrageous."

I definately give it two thumbs up.

ANTM Girl in Town & Country

2005-11-29T21:41:01Z

Almost daily I look over the fashion magazines we get at the store
as my need-to-clear-my-head lunch break
The sales staff doesn't leave for lunch, so I have to escape somehow

but guess who I saw looking absolutely STUNNING in Town & Country today

our dear girl Yoanna House!
she had attended the Snowflake Ball
*lovely*

lu_shines @ 2005-11-19T08:30:00

2005-11-19T14:29:44Z

A very very happy birthday to blindhurt

make a wish
I hope this year brings happiness, adventure & love

lu_shines @ 2005-11-18T08:28:00

2005-11-18T14:28:14Z

Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday to you Happy Biiiiirrrrrthday dear cider Happy Birthday to you

Sing It Billy

2005-11-14T18:15:14Z

All the waiters in your grand cafe
Leave their tables when you blink (ooooooooooooo)
Every dog must have his everyday
Every drunk must have his drink
Don’t wait for answers
Just take your chances
Don’t ask me why

All your life you had to stand in line
Still you’re standing on your feet (ooooooooooooo)
All your choices made you change your mind
Now your calender’s complete
Don’t wait for answers
Just take your chances
Don’t ask me why

You can say the human heart
Is only make-believe
And I am only fighting fire with fire
But you are still a victim
Of the accidents you leave
As sure as I’m a victim of desire

All the servants in your new hotel
Throw their roses at your feet (ooooooooooooo)
Fool them all but baby I can tell
You’re no stranger to the street
Don’t ask for favors
Don’t talk to strangers
Don’t ask me why

insert tango

Yesterday you were an only child
Now your ghosts have gone away (oooooooooooooooooooooo)
You can kill them in the classic style
Now you, parlez vous francais
Don’t look for answers
You took your chances
Don’t ask me why
Don’t ask me why

-Billy Joel

33 Meme Questions...

2005-11-05T17:26:22Z

1. My uncle once: called me from Texas to get a jewelry present for my Auntie, really sweet in my opinion.

2. Never in my life: have I been bungie jumping, and god willing, I never ever will.

3. When I was five: I really wanted my name to be Lisa, and I wanted to grow up to be a Librarian. Maybe I just liked "L" words.

4. High School was: band, BAND, and more b-a-n-d, I was voted most improved in my trumpet performance.

5. I once met: good grief, I have nothing good for this one....no one famous comes to mind that isn't just a girl in a jewelry stores regular deal....oh, well, I once met Alan Revere at a Jewelry Show in New York and foot in mouth completely took over:
My Boss to Me: "Carrie this is Alan Rever"
Me:"Alan Revere, like the jewelry school, Alan Revere?"
My Boss: "The One and Only"
Me to Mr. Revere:It's such an honor to meet you, I thought you were dead!

6. There's this girl I know who: charms the pants off everyone she meets

7. Once, at a bar: did a little dance, made a little love and got down that night

8. Last night: I went to the gym, only to realize I FORGOT MY WORKOUT BAG! So Tiffany and I were forced to go to dinner instead :-D Then off to Genevieve Flynn's Opening at the #8 Gallery, she always amazes me. I'm so lucky to have her as a teacher.

9. Next time I go to church: goodness that's a good question!

10. When I turn my head left, I see: my boss in her office and the door to the shop

11. When I turn my head right, I see: the credit card machine and a fake orchid

12. How many days until my birthday?: too many to count

13. If I was a character written by Shakespeare I'd be: Henry V, if just to say his soliloquy

14. By this time next year: I will have learned all sorts of new things, deepened my friendships, and hopefully be living in a new house with my husband.

15. A better name for me would be: Carrie Lu is pretty darn spanky

16. I have a hard time understanding: Complex math, people with evil intentions, and thick accents.

17. If I ever go back to school I'll: learn CAD CAM!

18. You know I like you if: I hug you, I don't hug those I don't like.

19. If I won an award, the first person I'd thank would be: My Mother

20. Take my advice: Hope and Love are stronger than you think

21. My ideal breakfast is: Omelet ala Zee, tortillas, fruit and coffee

22. If you visit my hometown: the saying "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore" will have new meaning.

23. Why won't everyone: Become educated, learn to communicate and follow the golden rule.

24. If you spend the night at my house: be prepared to tell lots of stories.

25. I'd stop my wedding if: this is a bizarro question, although one of my friends who used to work for the Marriott had a groom who was arrested the night before his wedding for disorderly conduct, needless to say the bride wasn't pleased.

26. The world could do without: meanness

27. I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: be stranded in the middle of the ocean, or eat anything on Fear Factor

28. My favorite blonde is: Tracey, one of those smart blondes.

29. Paper clips are more useful than: a poke in the eye

30. If I do anything well, it is: being me, I'm the best me I can be!

31. And by the way: if you made it this far, I APPLAUD YOU! Leave a comment, you deserve a bit of thanks for getting through this.

32. The last time I was high: I'm high on life errr..and cold meds, blech

33. The animals I would like to see flying besides birds are: is there a reason more animals need to fly?