We are blessed to have known her

She made our lives rich – vibrant – better

She was our mother – our grandmother – our friend

wife – sister – aunt

She’s gone on now, to be with those who wait for us

and look over us and pray for us

She knows and understands and loves all the more

and she shall be dearly missed

Beulah “Peg” Dorey

1923 – 2009

We love you

“Always too soon, even when right
time runs out despite our best denial
amidst feeling cheated, reason unable to reign
made incomplete by loss yet more complete
for knowing her”
dorian

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• 

Lookin’ for a little link love?! You may not have thought so but who can resist alliteration? Not I! Nor can I resist some well-placed love. The link lovin’ has been widespread lately, from Carolyn’s ingenious ‘Once Upon a Bloggy Night’ link meme through Harry’s excellent response to Bob’s thoughtful consideration of how best to do link posts. From the standpoint that there can never be enough love, I’m continuing the trend. This here first link post o’ mine will contain the blogs I read consistently via my personalized link aggregator; to wit, Twitter.

Failing to find the link from one “Found Fridays” post to the next? With a splash more alliteration & while speaking of linkage, I’m also taking this chance to reconsider my series of “Friday Finds.” The series/category was established to share each week’s found moments, either within or online. Although I am sharing my finds from week to week, there’s no consistency to the type of post it creates. I’d love feedback from those of you who’ve read more than one as I will be changing things up & will also be making Drink Deeply more interactive over time.

Take a tour of bloggers I follow on Twitter via the text links & discover the Twitterers behind the blogs via the avatars..

failing and vikings
Brett meets challenges bravely
6 Weeks at a time

tweets, family, peeps
Carolyn Bahm‘s a dot com
reader, writer, friend

Brian and his quotes
Copyblogger gives good guest
advice worth reading

fictional finesse
expressing How Not To Write
Jamie keeps it real

Gail highlights our best
to Inspire Me Today™
with more to explore

Naomi’s got game
telling insanity off
IttyBiz or not

positive ripples
Life’s Little Inspirations
Wendi’s finding them

Jim, René, Jerry
Live.Work.Dream. to love.laugh.teach.
all on seven legs

randomly helpful
Elle’s observations and finds
reveal Lolo’s Way

pens wielded, blogs saved
front-man James trades barbs and wit
half the Men with Pens

balanced by Harry
both wise and fantasy-filled
he lends mirth, reason

MindTweaks sought then shared
curious and questioning
Tori explores self

Omyword! she’s fun
honest and hilarious
Lisa’s journeying

quotes, queries, insights
Paulo Coelho’s blogging
ready to connect

Darren’s instructive
ProBlogger experience
humanly offered

Remarkablogger!
Michael considers details
reaching past the page

tho’ poignant at times
he couldn’t be funnier
that RhodesTer o’ mine

Dave’ll Rock Your Day
no holds barred nor punches pulled
just self-improvement

swordplay, grammar, drinks
straight-shootin’ Tei saves the day
with Rogue Ink to spare

interests galore
Scott’s Spiritual Tramping
brought his own angels

SwanShadow reflects
commentary, comic art
wry sense of humor

writers are dreaming
via Bob’s Writing Journey
dreamers are writing

(|_|*cheers*|_|)
great people sharing
I’m found in and by these sites
ideas opened

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From Pooh Corner to poetry
With courage and coffee
Thru Art for art’s sake
She inspirited me

From Upstart Crow to unity
With trust and tea parties
Thru Truth for my sake
She inscribed her love

From Camp Nelson to crazy
With freedom and fantasy
Thru Faith for our sake
She inspires me still

(|_|*ME MUM*|_|)
“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”
~ Washington Irving ~

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Exactly a week ago, my youngest brother turned 24. As Joel nears that quarter-century mark, I’m struck by how much my brothers & I have in common despite how very different we each are. This all too familiar dichotomy may seem a given yet all three of our mum’s children are articulate, artistic & geeky. That’s quite a trifecta; the articulation & artistry we each got in different forms from Momma. I like to imagine I imparted the geeky nerdiness my brothers share with me.

Joel shares his art form with his & Jordan’s dad whereas Jordan is a traditional — though not traditional — artist like mum. I’ve always honored, amidst my aim to live poetically, the complementary roll of art appreciator. What has proven consistent for all three of us is the use of computers in whatever form of artistry we pursue. HDR Rendering, as shown below, is one of the ways Joel combines his two passions; the other being computer science, in which he has a degree.

Our mum’s birthday inspired a poem, Jordan’s birthday inspired a post & then another so I knew I’d commemorate Joel’s birthday on my blog too. He, convincingly no less, expressed appreciation for the more timely if brief well wishes offered in the previous Found Friday post. Last Saturday was not only Joel’s birthday but Momma’s 33rd Anniversary as well thus this post is meant as a gift to her also. Upon going into labor during an anniversary lunch with her husband, Momma tried to give Joel his own day but, generous from the start, he clearly didn’t mind sharing & was born six minutes til midnight.

beauty found in all
whether captured or enhanced
then offered anew

nature always sought
by foot or via the lens
explored and exposed

his kindness of heart
touches those surrounding him
informs all he does

laughter ever near
his wicked sense of humor
readily brought out

once a kissing bug
always a loving spirit
now he’s a hugger

born as if a gift
anniversary surprise
still giving each day

(|_|*cheers*|_|)
“Photography records the gamut of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited, and the wealth and confusion man has created.  It is a major force in explaining man to man.”
~ Edward Steichen ~

PS: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, MOMMA & DAVID!!

mountain adventures;
hiking, camping, barbeque,
through moments of love

your thirty-three years
provided a family
brothers I’d not have

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• 

Following the signs found this week led me to an unrelated pair of graphics generators that both encourage unique delivery of a personal message. I found myself pondering more than what to say with these fun discoveries. A previous Found Friday pointed out that visuals speak to us too so what am I saying visually? This seems a particularly pertinent consideration online. No matter what we have to offer, & content is certainly king, first impressions are lasting thus design is clearly queen. My blog currently has a very dark theme which may have kept some passers-by from stopping to read a post or ten. I thank you for staying; did you ignore, like or not pay any attention to the theme?

Found via OMYWORD! [GO see hers, I so agree..]


Made by Andrea Micheloni [Each letter is a NEW pic w/every page refresh!]

Given my choice of a theme I particularly like, any conclusions you drew from it about me are likely accurate. How accurate is another issue.. The importance of design is being discussed at ProBlogger & the consensus seems to be that it needs to be true to the content it holds without getting in the way. In an [over] effort to maintain that balance, I see many people online & in person keeping their flava at bay. I’m always looking for both flair & words that speak to me but I’m also aware of the disconnect that can occur. A pit stop my hunny & I once took during a motorcycle ride left me leaning against our bike in black leather (boots & all) near the entrance of a restaurant. I found the wide berth the older patrons were giving me ironic considering how much they’d likely appreciate the Dean Martin CD I was listening to.

There’s no denying my headphones are just as likely to contain punk which gives credence to the presumptions but leaves their fears unfounded. If we were to look for similarities in others rather than get sidetracked by differences, we’d not only appreciate each other more but could more readily appreciate the differences. In context, those differences prove our uniqueness instead of our separateness. One advantage of connecting online is that context is provided & the content we share can be discovered on its own merits. Are people more willing to interact with a black blog than the black-clad person behind it? Over the years, I’ve taken to punctuating the black with my favorite colors & vice versa; yes, the same colors found on the blog. Does that make me consistent or unimaginative?!

I made this!


Make your own with the Parody Motivator Generator

We are looking & that’s where connection begins. How actively, open-mindedly or interactively we approach the digital & physical worlds influences the shape of our own realm. As explored last Friday, we all adopt additions to our worlds at differing paces. Living in the information age, we have more to choose from but can also make more informed choices. I’m hoping that not only increases the size of each realm but its diversity too. Engaging in sights & clicking on sites that intrigue, surprise or challenge us always leads to worthwhile content along the way. The impact of a first impression can’t be bypassed but a little curiosity mixed with a willingness to explore can give second impressions a second chance.

In the end, what’s not visible – at least not immediately – may prove just as important:

visible at last
this post did indeed exist
 
tho’ slow to appear

---

illness interfered
sleep has had its healing way
life has since resumed

---

one thing matters now
more important than all else
the birthday of Joel

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRO!!!

“Design is in everything we make, but it’s also between those things. It’s a mix of craft, science, storytelling, propaganda, and philosophy.” ~ Erik Adigard

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• 

Paulo Coelho found me on Twitter & I’m already better off for the connection. I was thrilled to discover his Twitter updates include ‘Quotes of the Day’ which have inspired me to follow suit so my first tweeted quote was this morning. I discovered Paulo offers inspiration across the internet in multiple ways. Upon ‘friending’ him on MySpace, I received this e-card as a comment on MYspace. Blessed & humbled by its artistry, I found its message struck a chord as well:

Speaking of artistry as expression, with more personalized quoting, a perusal of my sidebar reveals The Quote Garden as my favorite quote repository. Reasons abound but Quotable Tattoo would be reason enough. Although I love all these tattooed quotes, especially given their contexts, this is a favorite, given my context. In that photo, you may have noticed Sarah has another quote across her collarbone. Because I’ve been collecting quotations my whole life (feel free to ask my mum ), I’ve always wanted one as a tattoo but, because I’ve been collecting quotations my whole life, I’ve never been able to choose one. Now that I’ve seen where I’d like to put it though, the decision process has begun.

Mixing yet more personalization with artistry, I found a fantastic display of individual takes on one “Silly Cat” at Worth1000. Pictures can be worth 1,000 words & those on this site are; there are also well over 1,000 pictures offering up what could be a googolplex worth of words so it’s a site to bookmark & revisit from time to time. To get started, be sure to explore the “View Related Contests” drop/pop-down menu. Amidst the finding of artful connections this past week, I plum forgot – yeah, that’s it – to vote on the “Bracket Blogs” contest I found myself competing in a week ago. I’m sure you forgot too which is why I LOST. Alas, my hunny lost also & it wasn’t til we saw that we both lost by two votes that we reconsidered our decision to abstain – there being two of us (math’s a special skill).

Putting my skills to work, what better to count than my blessings. The previous “Found Fridays” were found reveling in the ultimate tool, with which to enhance those blessings, finding its way to me. Rhodester doesn’t seem to mind this digital affair as the other computer is now true to him. Captivated as I am with the whole affair, it’s time for another set of haiku. The following lines are dedicated to Mark for his generosity, my hunny for his patience & the little electronic guy himself:

once my customer

smile always at the ready

kindness unending

---

friendship as action
ultimate encouragement
unworthy but blessed

---

fulfillment restored
expression now invited
follow-thru as thanx

---

communication
consistently possible
disconnect ended

---

so much yet to do
far more behind than I knew
slowly catching up

---

connectivity
a far-reaching existence
extension of self

---

acting on my terms
pain dictating no more
interaction mine

(|_|*cheers*|_|)

“Much more happiness is to be found in the world than gloomy eyes discover.”
~ Friedrich Nietzsche ~

PS: One final find is the opportunity to donate to nothing. The site is misnamed “Donate For Nothing” which is probably meant to be ironic since donating costs something. Or does it? There are still a few days to take advantage of the e-cards mentioned a week ago. They each provide meals without costing the sender a cent.. Another e-card, available through The Rainforest Site, will help save an ancient ecosystem if its recipient views it by 30 April. I’m admittedly tempted to donate a few cents to nothing - watch for my name – but am always thrilled to donate for nothing.

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Twitter asked me to “Share my story” & share I did. Of course, the story they wanted was why I use Twitter. Having recently answered how I use it on two different sites, the basis for my response was already written but I could have answered why with one word. I’d imagine most of the stories submitted will share that underlying reason yet with all the varied approaches found from blog to blog. Even those who seldom add to the ready flow of communication the internet makes possible are taking part in turning their share of monologues into dialogs.

The reason I blog is to communicate with a wide range of people & Twitter is by far the most natural extension of that. With the flexibility to follow only those of my choosing via Google Chat & an ongoing tweet stream awaiting me whenever I decide to take a dip, it fits my life & online habits even as they fluctuate from day to day. I’m always sure to find excellent advice, article/post recommendations, breaking news & — of course — a good balance of entertainment. Thus, my Twitter stream has replaced the “Digg’s Top Stories” feed I’d used for so long.

Through Twitter, I’ve had a blog post listed on ProBlogger, received a compliment from the founder of eBay & been provided an opportunity to communicate with people I’ve been following through other mediums for ages. Given who you choose to follow, it can be a mini-mentoring experience or simply an interesting influx of information (not to mention both ^_^). Like most Web 2.0 innovations, Twitter can be used in whatever way fits each user’s needs & the benefits are only starting to be realized.

|_|) “Communication–the human connection–is the key to personal and career success.” ~ Paul J. Meyer

PS: It doesn’t hurt that both my hunny & my cat are tweeting too. ~_^

While there are those blogging, & therefore being pseudo-social, with no other intention than making money; even they have to communicate something to have a lasting shot at profitability. There are also many entrepreneurs communicating so effectively that money proved the result. The difference between communicating to earn & earning from communicating is vast though. Gary Vaynerchuk puts it best with his encouragement to prioritize legacy over currency. It may seem ironic that I relate to that SO strongly since both appear equally lacking.

Without a clear path to either, goals still have to be made & intentions declared. My goal when it comes to blogging has always been communication which flows from the fact that I seek out opportunities to communicate in everything I do & everywhere I go. The result has been a full spectrum of observations; with all the extreme viewpoints, hard realities & reassuring wonder of the human condition as my guide. This acute awareness of all that we are, all we are capable of — good as well as  bad — & all we can be to each other is ultimately why I blog.

I’ve been expressing myself online hither & thither for nearly 15 years but not til six months ago was I able to start this blog &, not until this one, was I able to maintain one. Determination & circumstance finally somewhat in sync, an ongoing effort became possible which is why it was time to leave free forums behind. Having established that I’m here simply in the hope of creating a dialog & that I’m no expert in anything, merely an observer of everything, leaves the question; “Why am I willing to pay for a presence online amidst continued poverty?”

The potential answers — Is it ego, am I insane or desperate for friends?! — are why my Twitter story prompted me to tell my blog story. Although I impart much of myself in every post, I’ve yet to actually introduce myself. *flashback to 8th-grade cheerleading* “Dorian,” “Yeah,” “Introduce yourself,” “YEAH,” “Introduce Yourself,” “RIGHT ON, my name is DORIAN!” (flashback dedicated to Tony Northrip whose merciless teasing is why I still remember the degrading chant) As this is an introduction, before you draw any conclusions, allow me to point out cheerleading was the only way to be excused from P.E.

Biographically speaking, in six months I turn 40 & I’m proud of my upcoming milestone. Ever young at heart, I can thoroughly enjoy an age with which my life experience is not so incongruous. My life journey thus far has been one of heath problems, money issues & the mandatory family dysfunction. It has, however, been punctuated by irrefutable hope, miraculous comebacks & unconditional love. I met Rhodester 19 years ago & a relationship of some longevity is training ground enough but I’d already run a bit of a gamut before meeting him. He caught up with me during our first few years of marriage.

I had father issues & had been raped [more than once], fortunately unrelated, was an alcoholic with other addictions as well, very related, a runaway that couldn’t stay away, for love of my mum, & a Unitarian who’d come to believe the Trinity while still questioning Religion. “May you live in interesting times” proved both my curse & my wish; I felt trapped in small-town, middle-class mediocrity & found my escape to be ‘thinking interesting thoughts’ instead. My vices have finally mellowed, even I seem to have along the way, yet not only am I still addicted to interesting thoughts but thinking them isn’t enough; they must be shared.

That’s where you come in. I want to listen & consider, as much as offer contemplation. It’s with the understanding that we have an inevitable impact in every moment of every day that I want even the simplest ones to count. From the difference we can make with a smile to the apathy we contribute to with inaction, our ripples are being felt. In seeking to create good ripples, it just makes sense that it’s equally good — if not better — to impact other ripples along the way. Thus, I seem to inexplicably be offering advice & you don’t really know me; why should you care what I have to say & who do I think I am anyway??

That’s just it, I don’t think I’m any different from any of you. I believe that what affects one of us effects us all, whether we’re aware of it or not, & that we all share shortcomings alongside infinite potential. I hated that word growing up as much because I’d heard it too many times as it coming off oxymoronic. It’s typically used in reference to someone else’s expectation, at worst, or a specific goal, at marginal best, but would be far more encouraging were it to be left appropriately open-ended. Never should we limit ourselves, nor should we forget the potential of unending possibilities & unexpected blessings we all offer each other.

LOL cat found via a tweet from Pete Cashmore of Mashable

While I feel I should promptly start pooping rainbows on that note, life experience & my personal dictate to doubt everything have always kept me a realist so my capacity for optimism is merely a balancing force. Part of my innate balance is an avid interest in almost everything which in no way qualifies me to have opinions about all of it but I do anyway. The next balancing force at work is that there’s little I haven’t come across thus I know there are no right or wrong answers. There is only truth & our individual experiences. So, I’m offering up my own varied thoughts in a way that hopefully makes sense & perhaps even helps, with the single goal of prompting more thought. Therefore, pour yourself another hot beverage & add to the brew..

(|_|*cheers*|_|)
“You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him
to find it in himself.”
~ Galileo Galilei ~

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I’m grabbing hold of imminent possibilities.. By way of God’s grace & friendship as action not simply sentiment, it seems I may actually have a laptop soon! Not only will this resolve the current sharing of a computer with my hunny, which has proven to be all but impossible, it solves the vast discrepancy between my mental abilities & physical ones. Just last night, I’d intended to write this very post yet could not sit at the desk. With that coveted laptop, I can once again be online as my health allows & stay online through whatever my obstinate body throws at me.

A steady connection to the world, renewed & new – not to mention needed – friendships as well as the potential for income makes for anticipation enough but we all know the real excitement is the attention I’ll finally be able to give this blog. Aside from not being limited to posting weeklyish, I can venture instead into the wonderful world of weekly posts; allowing for recurring themes & creating posts throughout the week. Intermingled with those deeper thoughts that emerge a few times a month, I can also share the moments found along the way; both within & online..

As I look forward to offering further “Found Fridays,” I even envision them being written in time for Friday rather than on Friday. Having a consistent means of being online along with the ability to take full advantage of it according to my own schedule seems too good to be true no matter how far down this tunnel I travel. Rather than being the light at the end though, which was rudely turned off for a time, the impending laptop is a lamp to light my way. Were I to imagine what’s obscured in the actual light’s new-found brightness, I picture bookshelves as they’ve become my holy grail.

A more accurate description of what lays just beyond the bend is summed up in one simple word: furniture. No, I’m not prioritizing creature comforts over basic necessities for, after three years without furniture, I can attest some comforts are necessities. Granted, I’ve also proven they’re not by damnably surviving so long with none. We did get a table & two chairs upon our recent move so this is no pity-fest; it’s a reality-check. The reality that has caught up with me, undoing a lot of yoga in the process, is that no bed or decent seating & chronic pain do not mix.

It’s in this context that our access to a hotel suite now & again takes on a whole new, ahem, light. [The future's so bright, I've gotta wear ] Our forced mini-vacation this past Sunday left me wanting to express the experience. That need for expression met with one of my fun online finds & the rest, as they say, is history; well, maybe not but it is below:

seemingly simple
missed comfort and convenience
found in a sofa

---

to sit, to stretch out
wonderful enough but add
pillows all about

---

amazing feeling
softness I had forgotten
lying on a bed

---

so encompassing
body pillow put to shame
surrounded by down

---

sitting up in bed
more than a luxury now
a rare treat it is

---

as I’m lying here
so soon again to lie there
painfully aware

---

not that time’s finite
nor how short a time it’s been
but that this must end

It’s fair to say those aren’t true haiku but I’ll surely be sharing more of these simplistic 5-7-5 verses on Fridays to come though I’m not yet sure how often. What I will continue to share every Friday are those found items from the web (or within) that made me smile or prompted interaction. Along those lines, I’ll wrap up this introduction to a new weekly event with one of my favorite LOLCats that purrfectly sums up our mini-vaca. =^@.@^=

Created by Real Rocky

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• 

An ability to see beyond the pale,
Recognizing hope in the shadows,
Trusting first and foremost in love;
Questioning allows for discovery –
An independent view of the world,
Finding wonder in unlikely nooks,
Taking refuge in discovered beauty;
Aesthetic purpose is proven worthy.

Not simply to be sought but created,
Via means personal and miraculous,
Through more than possible alone;
More than creation from only within –
Not just given but allowed in as well,
Born both of intention and request,
Granted as journey and destination;
Nothing but children can encompass.

The innate art in all that is organic,
Exists as fact as well as fulfillment,
Internal naïveté becomes a choice;
With childlike wonder thus achieved –
The need to be and have a child met,
So an inherent wisdom is imparted,
For beauty infuses all said and seen;
Thus self-doubt may stand idly by.

All hesitance is ever more in check,
Seeking truth rather than reasons,
Knowing order exists despite chaos;
Choosing inspiration over defeat –
All is perceived with a loving heart,
Becoming more complete every day,
Fostering creations formed and found;
Artistry that goes beyond the page.

© Dorian Rhodes 24 January 2008

(|_|*cheers*|_|)
I love you with ALL my heart & all to pieces, Momma! <3 xox
May this be the start of an amazing year
filled with truth, beauty, freedom & love..

PS: This wonderful painting is one of my mum’s creations;
“Hold fast to your dreams, for without them life is a broken winged bird
that cannot fly.”
~ Langston Hughes ~

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•