Shutterday #61: Theme 153 - "Unplugged"

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"Batteries Not Included"
Raleigh, NC - May 2009 (Click to embiggen)
Next week's theme: "Special Places"

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Thank You Auntie D.

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"Thak you Auntie D and Uncle Ray and Rosie and, wherever you are now, Gus"
Raleigh, NC - December 2009 (Click to embiggen)

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Yesterday another one of those yummy smelling boxes came. And yay! More special treats from my Auntie Daryl!. Then today, Dad told me something really sad. He said Gus, Auntie Daryl and Uncle Ray's friend had "crossed The Bridge". So besides a thank you, I want to let them know how sorry I am that they lost their friend. Dad says he was pretty sick and in a lot of pain, so I'm glad he doesn't hurt now. But I know the rest of them are hurting because he's not there. Dad says there are people who won't get it 'cause Gus was "just a cat", and he says he feels sorry for those people 'cause they're missing some of the best stuff in life. And Dad? He's a dog person to the bone. So if he says so, it must be true.

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Thanks Auntie D! (You Rock!)

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"They just find the best stuff!"
Raleigh, NC - November 2009 (Click to embiggen)

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I'm hijacking Dad's blog for a minute, 'cause he won't let me have my own (don't know why, he's got a spare computer I could use after all). Anyway, if you remember my birthday last year you remember that yummy smelling box that arrived a few days later. Well it took a little while to figure out where it came from, but it wasn't hard to figure out that it smelled really gooood. Well this year, not only did the box smell good, it was specially made for me! How cool is that? So to my dear Auntie Daryl, and Gus, Rosie and Uncle Ray too... thank you! This is really awesome!

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Shutterday #49: Theme 141 - "Gone to the Dogs"

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"You Were Expecting Maybe Lassie?"
Raleigh, NC - May 2009 (Click to embiggen)
Next week's theme: "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"

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Hey Smoofus, You Didn't REALLY Think I Forgot Didja?

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Click and hold to play!

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She most likely thinks I forgot, but really... you all know better right? Time was, Smarmoofus (or Smoofy, or Smoofus to those who love 'er) was quite the prolific little blogger. There were photos and and amusing anecdotes and the occasional Presidential Debate Party. (What fun those were, eh Smoof?) But lately she's more of a Prairie Blogger (the virtual equivalent of a Prairie Dogger... those folks in the cube farm that pop up over the wall any time the smell of poundcake drifts through the office or there's a loud crash followed by heavy silence). She pops up now and then like a NetFlix ad window, but it's always with something worth the trip over. So maybe if ya'll go crash the party over there she'll feel the love in the room and come on in outta the great cyber cold. And she's given ya the perfect excuse by completing another orbit around the sun today, so get yer butt on over and wish the lady Happy Birthday will ya? The 55 Flash Fiction circuit will thank you. Plus? It's just a nice thing to do.

What, you're still here? Go!

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Happy Birthday Again, Dammit!

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Okay try to stay with me here. A little over a year ago I followed a blogger I read regularly to a guest post she did at a blog I don't read regularly. And in the comments on that guest post I noticed a blogger I'd never heard of.

But I really dug her avatar photo, so at the end of my comment I asked the poster, "PS: You think you can introduce me to that Maggie, Dammit girl up top there? She's hawt!" The rest of that conversation was the usual bloggy slap-and-tickle with much jocularity ensuing, but in the process I managed to find my way over to Okay, Fine, Dammit and the rest, as they say, is history.

A few weeks after this exchange, it came to my attention that my brand new blog-buddy was celebrating the beginning of another orbit around the sun. I was, of course, by this time completely hooked on OFD and its author and thus began what's become something of a tradition here at Casa Mojo. I hadn't hired the elves yet, and there wasn't time to find temps, so I had to scratch together this post by way of celebration. Yeah, the first virtual birthday bash hosted on Why? What Have You Heard? had the one and only Maggie Dammit as its guest of honor.

It hardly seems like a whole year has gone by since then, but here we are for another first. This is the first repeat virtual birthday bash, and I've gotten a little better at them since that first fledgling effort waaaay back in '08. And there's a whole lot more to tell this year, because I know the guest of honor a lot better now than I did back then. And I can tell ya, the longer I know her, the more amazed, awed, and impressed I am by her. Not only is she one of the most gifted writers I know, she's also one of the most fundamentally good souls I know. The high priestess of elemental goodness. For reals. Only someone with a heart as big as the Wisconsin wilderness she calls home could ever have conceived of the much celebrated, and apparently badly needed, Violence UnSilenced. She won't take credit for it because that's just how she rolls. She'll tell you that she doesn't really do anything but schedule posts and moderate comments. She'll say that the contributors do all the heavy lifting, she's just along for the ride. She'll undersell her role in it, but don't let her kid you. To break it down to simple logic, if it were not for Maggie, there would be no VU. It sprung full grown from her heart and mind and whether someone else had eventually had the idea or not, it would not be what it is. It would not be Violence UnSilenced. And the survivors who have found their voices because of VU would not have had the outlet it gave them. Ya did good sis, and you did it well too.

I'm gonna shut up now even though there's so much more I'd love to say. But if I said it all, the candles would burn out and the ice cream would melt. I once told Maggie that if I'd ever had a kid sister I'd have wanted one just like her.^* (And I'd have taken care of that little punk for you too. Believe it.)

So Happy Birthday, Sis.

Dammit.

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^*Actually what I said was:

"I never had a sister. But if I had, I hope she'd have been just like you. No, not 'hot'. C'mon. Although having a hot sister (who has hot friends) could be a bonus I guess. Okay, okay, I'm stopping now before this gets weird. Er."

Now you know.

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Pic A Theme 8.31.2009: Theme #12 "Fins, Feathers & Fur"

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"Me & Tonka - Mostly Tonka"
Raleigh, NC - May 2009 (Click to embiggen)

To see more from the Pic-A-Theme Community of Bloggers, visit Pic-A-Theme

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Pic A Theme 8.16.2009: Theme #12 "Fins, Feathers & Fur"

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"You Didn't Think I Could Do An Animal Theme Without The Tonka Unit Did You??"
Raleigh, NC - May 2009 (Click to embiggen)

To see more from the Pic-A-Theme Community of Bloggers, visit Pic-A-Theme

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In My Next Life, I Want To Be My Dog

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"The Wretched Excess of Dog Majal"
Raleigh, NC - July 2009 (Click to embiggen any image)

Featured on Pet Pride

I can almost hear the WTF's all the way from here. But if you've known me for any length of time at all, you've heard me mention "Dog Majal". And the raised eyebrows and questioning looks are almost universal when I try to explain. So I've quit trying to explain. I'll just sum up.

This project has been going on for -- literally -- years. I laid the cornerstone for it September 11, 2004 but the site prep actually started before then. It's been through delays of all sorts in the interim, and has sucked down more weekends than I can count. But here it is... in all its grandeur.

Row 1

Left: The escape-proof double gate
Center: The walkway from gate to deck (more for humans than dogs).
Right: Full Frontal Wretched Excess

Row 2

Left: The sand left over from building "the beach"
Center: No, it's not a squirrel cage
Right: It keeps the critters away from the heating/air conditioning unit. (Okay, go ahead ... I can take it.)

Row 3

Left: The view's not bad either (in this direction at least).
Center: Clearly Tonka approves
Right: A Tonka-eye view of the front

Row 4

Left: Why? Because I had the materials left over and there wasn't much else I could do with an area this small.
Center: Did I mention the ceiling fan?
Right: I think he likes it!

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P-A-R-T...Y?... Cause I gotta

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Click Me!

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Geez, has it really been almost six weeks since we had a birthday party around here? Yes, I believe it has. But never you fear, Tonka's got a way of sniffing out birthdays no matter how carefully they're hidden. (He is a retriever after all, that's what they do.) But in this case, we didn't have to put Sir Nose to any real test. It's amazing that people will just give you this kind of information if you ask. Astonishing really.

So anyway, today we celebrate the anniversary of the grand entrance of Robin from Around the Island. Besides being on helluva photographer and writer, she's also a supporter of my two favorite bloggy causes: BlogBlast for Peace (coming to a blog near you 11.5.09 -- why not your blog too!) and of course, Violence UnSilenced. And who could forget her contribution to photomemedom, the brand new for 2009 Summer Stock Sunday? She's also the one who taught me how to say "Yom Huledet Sameach", which -- on the off chance you didn't know -- is Hebrew for "Happy Birthday", and a very handy phrase to know. Sometimes. And to cap it all off, she says nice things about me, which is always a great way to get your props here at Casa Mojo (hey, everybody has his price). But seriously. This is a brilliant lady who brings a little bit of Israel to all of us in her words and photographs (though she is a Rangers fan... ah well, nobody's perfect). But don't take my word for it, go over to The Island and see for yourself.

So for the girl who can turn the world on with a smile (as you'll see if you click through on the hilarious story board above), Happy Birthday, Yom Huledet Sameach, Janmadin ki Baddhai, and... anybody want to throw in any other languages, you can do it in the comments.What? You're still here? Go! Visit! Have a nosh, clean out the fridge, make a few long distance calls...

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Thematic Photographic 51: "Single" v.7.0

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"Are you through yet?"
Raleigh, NC - May, 2009 (Click to embiggen)

 Hosted by Written Inc.

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There are millions of dogs in the world, but there's only one Tonka Unit. He's one of a kind.

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Another Elf Work Stoppage

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The Birthday Elves bitched out on me again. Something about OSHA regulations and workplace hazards and yada-yada. I tell ya, I may refuse to renew their contract. I can get scab elves just abotu anywhere these days with the economy in the shape it's in. I mean puh-leeze. But never fear, my trusty pal Tonka's still on the case. He never lets me down, and best of all he works really cheap.

So... who's the lucky Birthday Guest this time you ask? Well today marks the 47th trip around the sun for the inimitable Tiff Spiffy (nee... umm... something else. But I'm sure it was cool.) (And by the way, she outed herself age-wise on her own blog so it's okay for me to tell it here... I'm not letting any cats out of the bag okay? So shaddup.)

What's the birthday girl want for her big day? Followers. That's it. Hey, how often do ya get to make somebody happy with a couple of mouse clicks that don't involve a long string of pseudo-random numbers and a password? I mean seriously. This rocks as far as I'm concerned, 'cause I'm just notoriously cheap thrifty (and trustworthy and loyal, clean and reverent. Okay, trustworthy loyal and clean. Happy now?)

Oh... her blog? Yeah, I suppose that would help. You might have seen in yonder blogroll and corner of Blogaritaville known far and wide as No Accent Yet. Presumably the title comes from the failure of the lady to acquire a Southern drawl despite living in the sunny South for a number of years. But we don't hold it against her down heah, 'cos we're just good that way.

The Tiffster (as she's known to some) is one of the first bloggers I ever met both in cyberspace and in the three-dimensional world. In fact it was the Tiffenator (as she's known to some) who, along with her faithful companion (and now husband) Biff Spiffy (whose 40th we celebrated earlier this month you might recall) who conspired with me to launch "Bloggin The Square '08" last August. An event which brought together several (okay, three) local bloggers for an evening of free music, overpriced consumables, and loads of fun (if you missed it, there will be others).

So ya'll stop on by Tifferina's (as she's known to some), say howdy, have some cake before it immolates and if you're in a generous mood, you might even thrown the old gal lady a bone and follow her around. (C'mon, would it kill ya?) And in the meanwhile, you can read of the adventures of the Spiffy's in the Tiny House (or TH as it's known to some) which are occasionally frequently always amusing. And if life in the TH isn't enough, you might find life in the cube farm chortle-worthy.

Okay, you want more. I get it. So here's a humorous little gem found on YouTube that Tiff herself would have brought to you had she found it before I did. So Tiffer, Happy Birthday girl... this one's for you.

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Shutterday #29 - Theme 118: "Your Life Would Suck Without Whom?"

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"The Tonka Unit"
Raleigh, NC - August 2008 (Click to embiggen)
Next week's theme: "What Do You Do When You Do What You Do?"

 Find Out More

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A Birthday Two-Fer

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When it rains, as they say...

For the last couple of months there's been no work at all for the Birthday Elves, now suddenly they've got three jobs in one week. And wouldn't you know it, today is two of them and they're taking the day off. But never fear, my old reliable pal Tonka is on the case (and up to mischief I'm sure) because like me, he can't let one of these go by unpunished uncelebrated.

So who are today's guests of honor here at Casa Mojo? Well one of them you know very well. The other, maybe not so much. Carmi over at Written, Inc. is responsible in no small part for you seeing all the photography you see here. His Thematic Photographic meme was the first one I ever played, and for a while the only one I played. Gotta start somewhere, right? Dr. Frankenstein, meet your monster. And in celebration of this auspicious day, I conspired with Carmi's lovely wife Debbie to cook up something a little bit different from the usual over on Carmi's blog. Ya'll do go check it out and wish him a happy one woncha?

Now my other special guest is the damn-near-underground blogger Biff Spiffy, whom I also have the privilege of knowing in the three dimensional world. When he puts his mind to it old Biff can weave a rather compelling tale or two. But it seems like lately he's been in a bit of a slump and hasn't made any renovations to Spiffytown! in over a month. So get on over there and tell him to get his butt in gear offer him a bit of encouragement, okay?

I had less luck persuading Biff's lovely bride of just a few months (that would be Tiff of No Accent Yet) to collude with me on a hijacking escapade, so I just turned Tonka loose here to do his worst. (I'd suggest hiding the children before you make that click thru though. No telling what he'll come up with.)

So to a couple of great guys and great bloggers I hope you both have the bestest birthday ever... so far. And to the rest of you go forth and deliver birthday wishes!

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What? You're still here? Go! Visit! Have a nosh, clean out the fridge, make a few long distance calls...

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