Zoinks! - #AtoZChallenge

I started a diet this past Saturday. Figuring I would be proactive, and because the sell by date was approaching, I decided to grill some chicken breasts for this week's lunch.

After dinner, about 5 o'clock, I put the chicken on the top rack of the grill - so they wouldn't overcook.

I don't know about you, but I am not a huge fan of dieting. I am a problem solver. Give me a problem and I'll work doggedly to solve it and then move on to the next one. I have determined that this is my problem with diet and exercise - it's not a problem with a solution, it takes constant vigilance and work.

Two years ago I had gotten down to a size six! I was wearing my skinny jeans!

Today, I am... not a size six...

Therefore, back on the diet I go. I'll be happy at a size eight, but six was awfully nice...

Where was I? Oh yes... the chicken...

At about 11 o'clock, just as I'm about to drift off to sleep, I remember the chicken...

Voila! Something that makes me sad, for my last photo a day for April 

This is why I should not be allowed to diet grill... hopefully the rest of my diet goes a little smoother :)
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Well, that's it... I did it! This is the last post of the 2012 Blogging from A to Z Challenge. This is the second year I have participated and I really enjoyed it both times.

Thank you to all 99 of my followers (almost to 100 - woohoo!) for tagging along, and welcome newcomers. Your comments and encouragement everyday have been awesome and very much appreciated!

Circle - #PhotoADayApril

Oh hey! I just realized this is my 200th post! :)

Yew, You and Ewe - #AtoZChallenge

One of the most interesting things about the English language is that there are are a lot of words that have multiple meanings.

For example, I found this the other day...

There are quite a few...

Image from Mrs. Kaur's Reading Zone

Then there are those words that sound the same, but mean different things and are spelled differently. You know those words, the ones we use to drive Grammarians nuts!

Image from: http://www.gigatonne.com/pic/there-their-theyre.jpg

And...

Image from: http://www.angryflower.com/itsits.gif

[By the way... I went to Google Images and Googled "there their they're" and among all these great cartoons there was an image of a naked man... really. I didn't click on it in an attempt to understand.]

Ware was eye?

Oh yes, and then there's...

Looks like a cute book. Click on pic for a link to it.

Really... who came up with this stuff?

I think Larry sums it up the best... hit it Larry!

Gotta love Silly Songs with Larry!

Updated: I just saw this on @Unmarketing's Facebook page and thought it was the perfect ending to this post:

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Oh yes... today's photo prompt "1pm". Well, at about one today I was doing this:

Mmmm Brownies!

X - #AtoZChallenge

Today's photo prompt is "somewhere you went", so I figured I'd post pictures of 10 (X - get it??) places I've went been. In no particular order...

Montezuma's Castle - Arizona

Jerome, AZ

Cave Dwellings near Roosevelt Dam - Arizona 

Tortilla Flats, AZ

Indiana, PA - hometown of Jimmy Stewart (and yours truly)

Out the window of an airplane, flying from PA to LA

Kerrville, TX

Disneyland, CA

Miami, FL

And the only place I went today, work

Wendy - #AtoZChallenge

Last year I did W is for Wendy, figured I'd do it again :)

Another 15 16 random things about me:

1. I'm 41 and I still collect teddy bears.
2. My dream jobs include Muppeteer, FBI Profiler and Dream Manager.
3. I love city building games - like Castleville 
4. I have been a PC gamer for over 30 years.
5. The first time my husband told me he loved me it was while we were playing a video game together, and mostly because he'd just snagged my loot!
6. I never did get that Ring of Jordan back...
7. At one time I wanted to be a History teacher.
8. I have over 68,000 words written in a novel that I fear I will never finish.
9. I have always wanted to study psychology more - I find it fascinating. 
10. I love to color. <-- click for an example!
11. Coloring ability has no real value in my life, other than simple enjoyment.
12. I have yet to figure out how to combine a love for psychology, coloring skills, social media and puppeteering into a marketable career. 
13. For reasons I cannot explain, I love "your mom" jokes.
14. Wearing flats makes me feel young. 
15. Wearing heels makes me feel mature.
16. I may by channeling my five year old in the above...

Speaking of my beautiful daughter... today's photo prompt is "black and white"

Effects using picmonkey.com

Virtual - #AtoZChallenge

This is a shout out to all of my "virtual" friends. People who haven't had a rich, rewarding online social life don't "get it", but those who have do.

People I have never met in person, and likely never will, have helped me tackle issues that I'm not sure how I would have dealt with otherwise.

My only hope is that I have helped you in some way as well.

You know... like telling you about Oreo Balls... Mmmm Oreo Balls...
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Today's photo prompt is "looking down"

Unicorns vs. Zombies - #AtoZChallenge

I've had this discussion/argument several times... if zombies were to go up against unicorns who would prevail?

Several people argue that the unicorns would win because they have magic.

Rumor has it that they poop rainbows

On the other hand, Zombies are pretty much indestructible, and could easily fend off rainbow pooping glorified goats (thanks Bridget!).

Even if they puked rainbows...

Or pooped marshmallows 

(Sorry, that picture was too perfect not to share)

However, no matter what argument unicorn lovers come up with, there are two things they cannot argue...

1. Chances are we'd end up with Zombie Unicorns

2. Unicorns aren't real, but we all know Zombies are...

If you have an alternative argument, let's hear it! :)

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Today's photo prompt just doesn't work well with my U topic... "something you're grateful for". (No, sorry, not grateful for unicorns, nor zombies)

Since it's some "thing," not someone, that I am grateful for I'd have to say it's my digital camera... I love it. And I have to say that I am super grateful for digital cameras period because I have taken roughly 13,000 pictures in the last five years. Can you imagine if I had to purchase and pay to develop that much film??? 

But, since this is a photo a day challenge, here's a recent picture that I thought was cute :)

NomNom watching Dad play WOW

Tortoise - #AtoZChallenge

A turtle lives in the water, a tortoise lives on land. Let's face it though, turtle is easier to say, spell and read.

I thought I'd share some more pictures of NomNom with you, because quite frankly I am a bit burnt out on blogging this month :)

Woah... what IS that? (she just kept staring at it, I didn't know what to think!)

So... we meet again...

Wow... this is awesome!

Nothing to see here folks, just ignore the huge turtle in the corner.... Zzzzzzz....

You know... I just realized, I have no idea how she managed to get into that corner without knocking over the table...  LOL

Don't forget, NomNom has her own Facebook page! Come on, give a turtle a like!
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Oh, and today's photo prompt: Vegetable

Everyone's favorite veggie - a pickled cucumber!

The last thing I bought #PhotoADayApril

Today's photo is "the last thing you bought". The last thing I bought isn't actually here yet, it was more Bob Ross DVDs and instructions. 

Different angle, but no further progress from yesterday. 

Sad Trees - #AtoZChallenge

After much anticipation, I finally got to start my very first oil painting tonight. Actually, it's my first painting period. My assistant, Bob Ross, was his usual cheerful, encouraging self - even if I did have to pause him several times.

Boy does that guy move fast!

I didn't even make it through his entire thirty minute presentation in the hour and a half I spent working on my painting. To be fair, I did spent some of that time learning the ins and outs of cleaning my brushes and he had several on hand.

Note to self: buy more brushes and odorless paint thinner.

The stage is set. 

Blue skies and water below. The white spot in the middle is by intention. 

Here's my mountain.

Now you can see the water. My trees aren't happy like Bob's are, but it's ok.

Just to give you an idea, this is the sample picture of what I'm painting.

I've got to say, it really was pretty easy. A few things worked against me... my canvas is smaller than the one he's using, I don't have a multitude of brushes and I don't have a good brush cleaning system going. Overall though, I am very please with how I've done so far. My snow and happy tree techniques are lacking, but since my intent is to paint desert sunsets, snow really won't come into play often. Nor will pine trees, of which I am not a big fan of anyways.

Hopefully I'll be able to finish my painting tomorrow. So far I am very pleased. It's not perfect, but it's mine :)
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Oh, and today's photo prompt is bottle...

This bottle makes a great display. The wine however is awful.

Ross... Bob Ross - #AtoZChallenge

It's here! It's here! My Bob Ross painting kit has arrived!

I have purchased two canvases. I have studied the written materials. I have fondled the paint tubes inventoried my painting materials.

I am ready to go!

So excited! I thought about how to paint a sunset on the way in to work this morning. Then tonight I stalked shopped Ebay and found a few more Bob Ross DVDs.

I haven't been this excited about a project since I don't know when.

Things I don't have, but probably need...

• an easel - I guess I'll just have to wing it for now
• a pallet - Again... wing it
• a painting smock - my "hair dying shirt" will be doing double duty!
• an hour or two of free time 

Speaking of artistic endeavors, today's photo challenge is "something you drew". Try not to be jealous... it'll just be embarrassing for both of us...

Qi - #AtoZChallenge

If you've played Words With Friends, you've seen the word Qi. Chances are it has pissed you off more than once actually... and/or it has made you wickedly happy. I was addicted to WWF for awhile and I think Qi popped up in at least 80% of the games I played.

Yet, no one seems to know what it means.

So let's just solve that little mystery, shall we?

Qi: the circulating life energy that in Chinese philosophy is thought to be inherent in all things; in traditional Chinese medicine the balance of negative and positive forms in the body is believed to be essential for good health (via Crossword Clue Solver)

Huh? Wait a second... isn't that what that Ying/Yang symbol represents??

Sure enough, if you Google "Qi" for Images, look what pops up...

Image from East West Wellness

And then suddenly, and honestly quite by accident, I realize just how appropriate my second sentence above really was.... 

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Knock Knock

Who's there?

Orange.

Orange who?

Orange you ready for today's photo challenge pic?

Perhaps a reddish orange, but orange enough for me!

Purple Hair! - #AtoZChallenge

There are a few things in play tonight...

1. I'm Tired. Yes, with a capital T. 
2. I need to go walk on the treadmill because I'm getting Fat. Yes, with a capital F.
3. Today's letter is P. The capital doesn't really mean anything. (You are so analytical!)
4. Today's photo challenge is hair.
5. I have always wanted to put purple streaks in my hair, or maybe just go all purple.

So I present to you... MrsPickle with Purple Hair!

Photo edits done on picmonkey.com :)

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date with my treadmill... joy... 

Oil Painting - #AtoZChallenge

For my birthday my parents gave me a gift certificate to Amazon. After some contemplation I purchased a Bob Ross Paint Set!

I'm really excited about painting happy trees and landscapes. Actually, what I really want to paint are my sunsets. Hopefully, with Bob's help, I will soon have a new hobby. I'm really looking forward to it!

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Something I don't look forward to, which brings us to today's photo challenge, is dusting! We live in the middle of the desert, so dusting is something that's virtually impossible to keep up with around here.

See the dust! Definitely something I don't like!

NomNom - #AtoZChallenge

We adopted NomNom almost a year ago. She's about two years old, a Russian Tortoise and has a lot of personality. I try to let her wander around the house as often as I can, so she can hang out with us and get some exercise. As her name might indicate, she loves to eat and has been packing on the ounces lately - hence the need for exercise.

This past Saturday she was wandering around the kitchen when she came across a problem... Ginger was blocking her path. So, I waited to see what would happen - sadly I did not get it all on camera, but here's the story.

NomNom sat there and pondered her options a few times, before bravely marching forward towards Ginger. Ginger, who weighs in at about 85 lbs., looked over to see NomNom and wagged her tail in greeting. Her tail whopped poor NomNom in the face, who immediately pulled her head it letting out a whoosh noise. This scared Ginger, who jumped up and  ran off.

The Tortoise and the Lab... NomNom 1, Ginger 0

Then NomNom headed into the Living room where she posed with the smarter of the dogs she had just encountered.

Mom, can I keep him?

Fact: I take so many pictures of NomNom she doesn't even react anymore when the flash goes off.

Then she came across an Easter egg...

Woah... what's this?

 Which, much to Angie's horror, she prompted tried to eat...

Stop rolling and GET IN MAH BELLY!

As you can see, just about every field trip is an adventure - if not for her, for me when I try to find her after she's wandered off. She moves pretty fast, that NomNom of mine :)

If you would like to Keep Up with NomNom, she has her own Facebook page - just click here :)

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Today's photo challenge is flower. I don't have any pictures of NomNom eating a flower, so this will have to suffice...