Photoshop 3.0

Most people who met me after 2001 are surprised to find out that I have an artistic side. In actuality, it is this side that keeps me sane. Before I entered the workforce I swore that I would end up at graphic designer. Apparently fate, had different plans for me however.

Anyway in honor of reminiscing, I wanted to share a design I completed in 1998 -1999. This illustration was based on a image found in National Geographic and was completed 100% by using Photoshop 3.0 and plenty of time and patience.

LG

Foreign Humor

Typically I can appreciate foreign advertising. There always seems to be a satisfying delivery of humor and/or sex appeal that balances right on the edge of going to far. See my blog posting Just Admit You Love Advertising for a classic sample. However, this recent spot from El Cielo for Claro makes me a little uneasy.

Maybe it is because my American brain associates gerbils and little boys with the scandals and horror stories at local hospitals and in tabloid articles. Or maybe it is because I typically only see the cream of the crop when it comes to foreign advertising.

Any which way, this spot was definitely foreign for my tastes. Now, the hamster dance I would have been able to associate with.

LG

Meet the Dogs

I recently received a joke from someone that spoke of a wife's love for her husband versus a dog's love for his best friend. I'm not going to try and re-tell it; I would just butcher it. It finished with something on the line of telling the husband to lock his wife and his dog in the trunk of his car, wait 4 hours and then let them out. He would then be able to tell which one loved him more, by the one that would be happy to see him. A dog's love and admiration is everlasting; which is probably why I have four of them. I'd like you meet them...

A. Grips
aka. Grippers, Pippers, Fatty Patty, Yellow Butt, Feather Butt

Grips is my alpha dog. She is the second oldest and The Queen.
She runs her house with a firm paw. Taking a passive approach to her
alpha status. Letting her brothers "think" they are alpha. But let them
step out of line, and she will be first to put them in the place. A true woman.


B. Sprocket
aka. Spicket, Sprocket the Piss Rocket, Sprocket Tucker.

Sprocket is my baby. He is the oldest and often reminisces
about the time when it was only him. There isn't a day that goes by that I can
almost hear him saying to me, "Mom come on lets just get our own place.
Remember how nice it was when it was just me."


C. Pegs
aka. The Bitch, The Devil Reincarnated, Piggy,
Piggy Wiggy, Piggers, Peggy, Little Miss Piggy.

Pegs is the second youngest at 3 years and weighs in at around 50lbs.
She is our spoiled brat, she doesn't hold the nickname The Devil for nothing.
If it wasn't for the fact that she is our hunting dog I am sure
we would have taken her to that famous farm that all bad dogs go to.

D. Drake
aka. Drakers, Snookems and Larry.

Drake is the youngest and the largest. He is our problem child.
Drake is the result of a broken puppy hood. After spending time in a abusive
home and then some time as a stray he ended up at Lab Rescue.
He was supposed to just be a foster dog for us. However, he quickly stole
my husband's heart and everything else since. Including 4lbs of raw
pork loin. While Drake is a fear bitter he is the sweetest dog on the earth.
Just don't show that you afraid of him or anything else for that matter.

LG

Neighborhood Bars

When my husband and I were buying our second house the neighborhood bar was right up there with a bathroom in regards to "must haves". A necessity, for those of us that grew up watching Cheers "Where everybody knows your name" and where no family gathering was complete with out a room full of drunken relatives.

So in honor of those places that make you want to put a beer bucket on your head, I have compiled a list of my top places to throw back a cold one, in Maryland. Enjoy!

1. Bruce Bitner's Cafe & Grill
   Located in Harford County on Rt 22 across from the community college. Bruce Bitner's embodies the true meaning of a neighborhood bar. Not only, does everyone know your name they have a killer burger, wing, and beer special from 1 - 4 on Saturday and Sunday.
   
   
2. Cross Street Market
   Located on Cross Street in Federal Hill. While, technically not a bar this is my all time favorite place to throw back a 22 oz beer and eat my self silly on sushi, raw oysters, Alaskan crab legs, and shrimp. Not to mention the patrons of Cross Street are such an diverse group there is always a new and interesting character to meet.
   
   
3. Harborside Bar & Grille
   Located on the harbor side (hence the name) in Ocean City. Chock full of drinking establishments for the pleasure seeking patron, Ocean City has much to offer. Harborside always proves to be a favorite drinking hole, ecspecially with their honor of being the birth place and home of the Orange Crush.
   
   
4. Looney's Pub North
   Located in Bel Air, MD. Looney's North is the prime establishment to listen to a local or not so local band, while catching the game on any one of their many many televisions. Not to even mention their St. Patty's Day Celebration. I didn't move for two days after St. Patty's day and two shots of Jameson Whiskey one year.
   
   
5. Nick's Fish House
   Located at the Baltimore Yacht Basin. Nick's Fish House is the perfect stop on a weekend excursion. While I can't say I've ever stayed long at Nick's I always enjoy the time we spend there. The atmosphere can't be beat plus no matter what I always seem to run into good friends.
   
   
6. Riverwatch
   Located in Middle River. Riverwatch will always be my neighborhood bar at heart. At the Riverwatch you can see a couple in their sixties bumping and grinding on the dance floor, or during the warm season you can finish out your weekend with boats, bikes and live music. Any which way you can't go wrong with the Riverwatch.
   


7. Ropewalk Tavern
   Located in Federal Hill, Ropewalk Tavern is a must visit. The Ropewalk's offering of beer choice is only shadowed by it's offering of cigar choices. This bar is complete with loft, piano, wooden Indians, and the ability to get your M.B.A. Master of Beer Appreciation.
   
   
8. The Emerald Tavern
   Located in Parkville on Harford Road. The Emerald Tavern is another bar that has the neighborhood thing down right. Thursday's is wing night and I've never been inside and haven't ran into the most unexpected people. They put on a pretty killer St. Patty's celebration too.
   
   
9. Torino's Bar & Grill
   Located in Bel Air, Torino's Bar & Grill holds my official neighborhood bar status. Not only do they offer $1.50 Miller Lites on Saturdays, but they offer karaoke on Friday and kick ass food any other day of the week. If you visit I recommend their micro brew called One and Done. I drank one and was definitely done.

So I raise my glass to Neighborhood Bars, without you life would be a whole lot less interesting. Plus, I wouldn't have a reason to put a bucket on my head.

LG

The Perfect Weekend

The perfect weekend is like beauty. It is in the eye of the beholder. This past weekend came pretty close to perfect for me. Certainly there is some things I would adjust slightly to make it actually perfect. For instance, the warmer climate would be permanent and not just a tease.

Either way, though this past weekend had the makings of greatness. Ingredients included one lazy Friday evening, followed by on restful Saturday morning with a desperately needed clipping of the dogs nails. Then an evening with good friends who you don't get to see enough and one bad ass movie. (Even though, I fell asleep.)




Then on to a Sunday, that starts around 2 in the afternoon, some time in front of the computer finishing up #67 on my 101 in 1001 for @CSTINEBUSY, a quick visit to the grocery store and Little Ceasars, and then pizza and tv.

Yeah, pretty close to the perfect weekend. Definitely in the top.

LG

Maybe One Day I'll Explain

Random Useless Pieces of Information (25 to be exact)

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. My cousin that I am closest to lives 2758 mi. away & it has been like that since I can remember.
2. I grew up telling everyone I had a brother named Bubba & I still do. Bubba was our yellow lab.
3. I have a highly addictive personality that is most certainly genetic.
4. A sure fire way to get me to do something is by telling me I can't.
5. Senior year of high school I completely rebelled, & I wouldn't change those times for the world.
6. In third grade I had to go to special classes to learn to read at my grade level.
7. I have been addicted to reading since.
8. The first time I was black out drunk was the last day of eighth grade. Off goldschlager.


9. The 1st day of 5th grade I wished for a sibling, the last day of 5th grade my sister was born.
10. There was a trampoline, horseshoes, a swimming pool and pit beef at my wedding.
11. I have really bad balance. I attribute this to my height vs my small foot size.
12. I was one of 3 captains of my varsity cheerleading squad.
13. I cheered from the time I was 7 till my senior year when I rebelled and quit the team.
14. I am always late. Always.
15. I started eating raw oysters before most kids eat solid food.
16. I smoked my first cigarette during "Take you child to work day".
17. I really enjoy waterfowl hunting; especially down in the marshes of Maryland's Eastern Shore.
18. I was born with a full head of black hair and rat tail (the hair style) down my back.
19. I spent a year and a half as a distributor for Slumber Parties.
20. I have 7 Tattoos and plan on eventually getting a quarter sleeve.
21. I keep a Webster's II New Riverside Pocket Dictionary in my desk, and refer to it often.


22. I love cooking but hate doing dishes.
23. I learned to tow a boat while still getting my driving miles for my license.
24. My favorite place to go crabbing is Kent Narrows.
25. I've been told I am explosive, impulsive, a bitch and more. All of which are true.