Morgan Freeman doing well after an automobile accident.

How Global Warming works.

Primates facing an extinction crisis.

An eclipse slide show.

Dinosaur dig in Wyoming.

Edouard moves on land in Texas.

1. Do you like blue cheese?

Absolutely!

2. Have you ever been to Yellowstone Park?

No, but I want to go there and it's on my list of things to do.

3. Do you own a gun?

Heavens no!

4. What are your favorite songs?

I don't have just one. I like a little bit of everything when it comes to music from classical to jazz to rock to pop to rap to new age to folk to inspirational. I just like music in general!

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?

Not for regular checkups, but if I am sick then I do because I'm worried needles may be involved! I don't do needles!

6. What do you think about hot dogs?

I like them occasionally. I like them with cheese, onions and mustard and sometimes chili.

7. Favorite Christmas song?

Greensleeves (Though I would argue it's not really a Christmas song, though it is often lumped in with Christmas music.)

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?

Water or green tea. Mostly water though.

9. Can you do push ups?

Yes, but who wants to?

10. What was the name of your first pet?

Duke. He was my parents German Shepard and I adored that dog. Harassed him too, but he adored me as well and was very protective of me.

11. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?

My engagement and wedding rings. I also like a pair of earrings that Jamison bought me with my birthstone (opal) and Lex's (pearls).

12. Favorite hobby?

Cooking, reading, writing and quilting.

13. Favorite trait of spouse?

He adores me and really listens to what I am saying.

14. Do you have ADD?

I think everyone has ADD to an extent, but mine is not severe. Jamison on the other hand... ;oP

15. What one trait do you hate about yourself?

I don't think it's healthy to hate anything about yourself and that was a hard, hard lesson learned!

16. What’s your middle name?

I'm going to pass on this one. I hate my given middle name and my legal middle name is my maiden name. If you know me then you know what it is, if not then sorry. :o)

17. Name 3 thoughts you are thinking at this exact moment?

1. I need to vacuum AGAIN!!

2. I need to mop AGAIN!!

3. I want a robot to clean for me! ;oP

18. What did you buy yesterday?

Nothing

19. Favorite vegetable?

Cucumbers, which I guess technically are a fruit, but since most people label them a vegetable there you go.

20. Current worry right now?

I try not to worry, but lately that's easier said than done...Rising costs worry me a lot.

21. Current dislike right now?

Summer heat/humidity...Is it fall yet??

22. Favorite place to be?

North Carolina Beaches

23, What did you do to bring in the New Year?

Slept.

24. Name three people who will complete this?

Given I'm not sending it to anyone... ;oP

25. Believe in God?

Yes, but I don't believe in the vengeful, hateful version that some try to portray. God is good and kind and loves everyone. God is not spiteful and hateful and determined to smite us all from on high.

26. Do you have an unusual skill?

I can take just about any ingredient and make something edible out of it.

27. What shirt are you wearing?

A red Old Navy t-shirt that Darlene mailed to me. I LOVE this shirt!

28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?

Don't know...Never have.

29. Can you whistle?

Yes

30. Favorite color?

Blue

31. Would you be a pirate?

What kind of pirate are we talking here? I kind of like the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything! ;oP

32. What songs do you sing in the shower?

Whatever comes to mind when I'm in there. I love the acoustics in the shower!

33. Favorite girl’s name?

Alexis! ;oP

34. Favorite boy’s name?

Jackson

35. What’s in your pocket right now?

A tissue.

36. What made you laugh last?

Alexis

38. Worst injury you’ve ever had?

I injured my ankle very badly playing basketball when we lived in Alabama and was on crutches for 2 months. That sucked!

39. Who is your loudest friend?

Darlene, but she's a loud happy and we're loud together and she makes me smile.

40. Do you like where you live?

I love where I live.

41. How many TVs do you have?

Three

42. How many dogs do you own?

None.

43. What would you do if you hit a deer while driving?

Cry.

44. What is your favorite book?

Oh wow...There are so many. I don't think I could name just one.

45. What is your favorite candy?

Caramel.

46. Favorite Sports Team?

I'm not really into sports that much anymore. I do watch UT football once in a blue moon during college football season, but normally if I see one game that's about it and I usually stumbled upon it instead of actually seeking it out.

47. What were you doing at 12 a.m. this morning?

I was asleep.

48. What was the first thing that you thought of when you woke up this morning?

I have a bazillion and one things to do.

49. What song do you want played at your funeral?

Oh wow...That's a hard one too. Given I don't want a funeral at all to begin with probably nothing.

50. Does someone have a crush on you?

I doubt it...I'm an old married lady now! ;oP

Play along on your blog, or if you don't have a blog play along in the comments section!

I did a paper on the Chesapeake in undergrad and John Smith's descriptions of the Bay are vastly different than that of today's Bay and have stuck in my head every since. There were reefs of oysters where the shells would poke up out of the water visible to the naked eye. Boats had to be careful not to crash into them. The water was so clear you could see your anchor on the bottom well below the bottom of your ship. Wildlife and plantlife abounded and in fact some of the flora and fauna is now extinct to the area, or extinct all together. While the Chesapeake is still a sight to behold and beautiful in its own right today, the mere thought of what it once was is awe inspiring.

You can get more info here.

An earthquake hits LA.

Stephens indicted.

Snoop does Bollywood.

A new era of space tourism?

Total solar eclipse Friday night.

Secrets of the Polar Lights.

Has the time of the LED light bulb come?

So what? He had hand surgery. That does NOT change the fact that you shouldn't be driving while under the influence of anything! I'm so sick of Hollywood making excuses for these people. Take responsibility! And if you are impaired in any way do NOT drive! (Yes it's a boldy underliney sort of day! And yes I just made both of those words up! ;oP)

Obama up by six.

More on Urban Roofscapes.

Some really interesting wild animals.

Times are changing.

How could corporate America screw that up? ;oP

What will they think of next?

Read more here.

Read more here.

She does an excellent job!

Let's start with the yellow first:

I've had this orchid for 4 or 5 years. This is the first time since I bought it that it has put on a bloom shoot. Maybe it's because it's in a window that gets more sun? I'm not sure, but it has dainty little blooms between the size of a quarter and a half dollar.

Next we have the purple orchid:

I've had this one for years too. This is the third time that it has bloomed. It seems to bloom every year. It had 6 blooms total, but just dropped one. Now we're down to five, but the other blooms seem to be hanging in there. These blooms are about the size of a large plum.

Now let's take a look at a white orchid:

I got this orchid at Costco (yeah I know...who would have thought?) in January and it had a very long bloom shoot covered in 11-12 blossoms. A few weeks ago the last of those blossoms fell. A few weeks before that a side shoot sprouted off and now it is blooming again. This shoot looks like it will have 7-8 blossoms.

What is odd about this new shoot is that the bloom upon it have a slight purple tinge on the back of the blooms, where the original stalk did not. Plant phenotypes at work...Fascinating! ;o) The blooms are roughly the size of a small apple.

So that's my orchids for now...You're thrilled I know! ;oP

A 5,000 year old tree in Scotland?

Did da Vinci sketch a car?

How to choose an energy efficient TV.

Do bumblebees lose their buzz when ill?

Can't say I'm overly fond of either of these choices thrown out. Hopefully this is just rumor.

Weird "facts" about when Lincoln was assassinated.

Baobab fruit has more vitamin C than oranges.

Sesame Street gets a new web address.

Does dopamine fuel fear?

Exercise can keep Alzheimer's patient's brains from shrinking...

Human hobbits?

McCain gets it wrong two days in a row...Why is this not surprising?