SEEN
~  April Showers Edition  ~

FRONT PAGE

View From The Bluffs by Anexplorer
and
Fairweather Lewis by Fairweather Lewis
at
The Library Cat by Bookworm





IN THE NEWS




The White Lodge by John, the Squabbler



EARTHQUAKE?
“What the hell was that?”
Those very words were spoken by millions of people
across the heartland,
on Thursday morning, at about 4:30 am.
We felt a little shake back in the 70's,
from a quake that ran through the St Louis fault line.
But this, this was a genuine 5.2 rumble
that went all the way up to Minnesota!
This isn’t suppose to happen around here.
The size and quaking was what was different in this one.
We had a genuine “California-like” earthquake.
What’s going on, God? Are you angry at us? Is it me?
I didn’t mean to insult you in any way!
Hey, I’ll wear the damn sandals!
Did anyone else feel that?
Pagans don't wear sandals! by joesblog6




What April 26, 2008
Looks like in Northern Minnesota!
My sister took this picture from her downstairs window
because there is a drift of snow blocking her door!
~  Taylor



State moves to ban fake testicles on vehicles
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters)
Senate lawmakers in Florida have voted to ban
the fake bull testicles
that dangle from the trailer hitches
of many trucks and cars throughout the state ...
Motorists would be fined $60 for displaying the novelty items,
which are known by brand names
like "Truck Nutz"
and resemble the south end of a bull moving north.
Mad Yankee Ranting by BigChris






POLITICS




Thoughts from a drinking buddy by Big Al



MAYBE, IT WOULD BE EASIER TO PICK THE RIGHT CANDIDATE
IF SOMEONE ASKED THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
Why weren't the candidates asked questions like these:
How is your healthcare proposal actually going to meaningfully lower health insurance rates without having to lower the comprehensiveness of coverage?
How on earth can you mandate the purchase of health insurance and compare it to auto and homeowner's insurance when the rates for health insurance are so much higher and this country hasn't seen a significant rise in real wages for so long?
How would you approach the Middle East situation especially in Iraq and Afghanistan in your first ninety days in office?
What would you do to replenish and re-strengthen the condition of the US troops morale and ability to respond to other potential needs if we are still going to be in Iraq for at least 1-2 years before any withdrawal is even attempted?
Is the US government going to continue bailing out large financial entities who get into trouble and not thoroughly address the woes of regular people with their home mortgages?
Because you are of a minority racial part of our populace, how can you address any fears that the majority might have regarding your showing any favoritism to that minority part to make up for biases they have endured?
In your approach to taxes, are you going to commit to the idea that the middle class will not feel the brunt of any reversion to previous income tax rates and including estate taxes? How would you define the middle class economically?
How will you assuage the real estate home market and restore the goal of reasonable home ownership to the American people?
Regarding NAFTA, are you going to address the fact that corporations are given a tax break to export their job positions?
What are you going to do to encourage the re-establishment of American manufacturing capability and does the American workplace have to take large wage losses to do it?
Is it fair that hedge fund managers only have to pay capital gains tax instead of regular income tax?
How are you going to re-strengthen Social Security and is the government going to keep dipping into the SS fund to make up for gaps in government revenues?
Should corn be used primarily for food or for fuel? If for fuel, how are you going to address the rise in food prices caused in part by the change in primary use?
A Different Take by The Consigliere



Obama is like a lemon pie with lots of whipped cream on top.
Now that we have eaten through the fluff,
we are discovering the pie is pretty darn sour.
Poly Ticks by Cyberian




The Geekly Planet by Zappa Fan



Then there is former vice-president
of the United States Albert A. Gore, Jr.,
who wrote a book entitled "The Assault on Reason,"
which fairly describes what he has done in his career.
On the other hand, he is responsible for a movie
called
"An Inconvenient Truth,"
which would be more honestly descriptive
if its title were converted to
"A Most Convenient Lie."
Food For Thought by WhitneyWright



So the first thing we learn in New Jersey
is that we are encouraged to put a few jokes in our tax return ...
Because if you can use your creativity
to get a bigger tax refund on your own,
you will be creating your own stimulus to the economy.
Don’t even look at it as cheating.
And thereby saving President Bush
and our poor overworked government
the extra effort.
Unskilled and Mediocre by RHolt 
  





IN THE LIFE




There is something magical about this time of year.
We've come out of a long cold winter,
and then suddenly the days turn into "lambs" as Tara says.
The bugs are minimal and playing in the woods is an adventure.
Imagine It by Kelly



Today my daughter is PMSing big time.
I'm living with a 15 year old psychpathic drama queen today.
I know that tomorrow will be better than today with her.
But gosh.......so much drama from such a little person!!!
I say that all in jest.
It's just funny to see how blown out of proportion
a pms'ing 15 year old girl can make things!!
At least I can see humor in it!!!
Not the life I'd planned. by NotCallie 


 
 
Bella's Gotta Brand New Blog! by Bella



Some of the happiest moments I spent as a child
were when I got to visit the farm
of my maternal grandparents.
They lived on a large farm where
they were more or less self-sufficient,
growing their own fruits and vegetables,
and having milk cows, lots of chickens, and several hogs.
 Whit's Whittlings by Whit's Whittlings



I also noted how sweet it is
to be FREAKIN QUEEN of the remote control.
I felt a strange feeling of power as I clutched it in my little hands
...I could watch whatever I wanted...
without interruption and without being asked 200 zillion times
if we could pretty please change the channel
because watching Nickelodeon isn't the same
on the other 3 FREAKIN TV's in the house.
"The Misadventures of a Single Mom" by Ash's Mom



 
Major Danes by Dalpha



The fact is for every issue I had with my ex-wife,
I could not deny the fact she loved our son.
She knew the same about me ...
After our attorneys, had their ego-driven battle
which was the most pathetic thing
I have seen since
Rosanne Barr tried to sing the national anthem.
I realized how sad this all was.
I still loved my soon-to-be ex-wife
and for all the problems we had
had no desire to take our son from her.
I just wanted to be a large part of his life ...
... our son deserved the opportunity to have a strong,
loving relationship with both parents.
The Way I See It by dustmac

My honey and I are leaving for Europe today!
We plan to check off some of those special places
on our own "bucket list" ---
like Paris and Rome!
Hopefully, I'll have some incredible photographs
to share with you when I return.
Momma Never Told Me by Rita B




We had a Mr. Wizard, but not a Mr. T ,
And Oprah couldn't talk, yet, in the Land That Made Me Me.
We had our share of heroes, we never thought they'd go,
At least not Bobby Darin, or Marilyn Monroe.
For youth was still eternal, and life was yet to be,
And Elvis was forever in the Land That Made Me Me.
Heidenheimer by Heide



 
The point of the story is an anecdote on race relations
in our U.S. of A. in 2008.
Four best friends meeting in Tampa.
We have met the enemy and he is us by sinann



I went to Sevilla and this is the week of the Feria (big party).
IT was sooooo neat.
Everyone was dressed up in Flemenco dresses and suits and ties
and looking really really nice.
As it turns out they all go to Feria and get smashed.
EVERYONE.
I saw grandparents and parents drunk.
They were all dancing and singing and having a grand ole time.
The Big Move to Spain by Bethany




Major Danes by Dalpha



One afternoon, after checking to make sure nobody was watching,
I made the decision to ride my brother's bike,
despite the fact that it was direct disobedience
and that I'd probably get into deep doo-doo if I got caught.
Although I hated to admit it, my mother had been right ...
Deb's Diddies... A Wandering Mind by deeej




The Hollow Hills from a distance, on top of the next ridge ...
My little house is below.
I traveled one hundred years into the future to get this one.
I’m long dead, of course, and forgotten.
Someone may come along and say, “People lived here once.”
The White Lodge by John, the Squabbler



BOY SUSPENDED FOR TALKING TO DAD IN IRAQ
...there are rules for no cell phones in school, I know.
The mother had talked to the assistant principal
& explained the situation.
She was told it would be ok
for her son to accept a call from his dad.
Great, right? Um, nope.
The call came in between classes.
A teacher saw him talking
while walking down the hall & reported him,
taking him to the office.
He was suspended for 3 days!
The school says they will NOT change this
& he will serve his time.
There is no tolerance for this.
Doncha think this is special circumstances?
With the rate soldiers are being killed over there,
this could very well be the last time
the boy every speaks to his dad again!!
My Soap Opera Life by Secret - Victoria's First




She was as dead as any ship could be.
Destroyed in 1915 by a summer gale
that crushed her against the shores of the Scarborough Bluffs
and ripped her to pieces,
her remains were scattered along ten kilometers of shoreline.
Her boiler and walkway were all that protruded
above the surface of the lake
and had become the plaything of local children.
The Alexandria's days as one of the most graceful steamers
on the Great Lakes were over.
View From The Bluffs by Anexplorer



Widow's Peak

She walks a winding stair to the edge of the sea,
a foolish heart despises her begging pleas.
The roar of the wind and the crashing waves
Greets her soul with a power it once gave.

O emotions from the swollen tides
mysteries and life within it hides.
A salty spray moisten her eyes
mingling with the tears she cries.

Light reflects off ocean swells
searching the spirit within her that dwells;
O great and mighty the depth it contains,
some for display, while others remain.

Shading her eye, she watches the laughing gull
mocking her pain, scorched heart and emotions dull.
She turns with the wind, who wraps her dress up tight
His ship will not return to it’s port tonight.

She pulls in air, clean, free and pure,
Wondering how much longer she will endure.
She tucks a loose hair behind her ear,
And wipes away her final tear
Returning to her life once more,
While waves suck dry the ocean shore.
Whispered Promises by Whispered Promise



Sometimes, I think I have to go out there
and do a bit of living
in order to have something fun to share here. 
overthemoon by n. lynn 






ON-LINE



WANNA ADD MUSIC TO YOUR BLOG?
My Tunes Live,
Pure Volume,
Reverbnation,
Music code,
I Sound (for new and upcoming artists which I've checked out and is embeddable),
Blog Musik (embeddable too),
Odeo,
Project Opus,
Sonific,
Sym Music,
My Flash Fetish,
Noolmusic.com,
Radio blog club,
Batanga, and of course the MTV site for videos!
Bella's Gotta Brand New Blog! by Bella



Here is a neat trick to find out where a person is who sends an e-mail.
When you get an e-mail,
look just below the Subject header and Date header,
there is a link there called "Internet Details".
Click that link and paste the results
in the box at
http://www.ip-adress.com/trace_email/#result 
This will tell you within about 30 miles where the users computer is.



Have you ever written a whole post and LOST it at the very last minute.
Stop.  Don't panic.
Just click the CTRL (CONTROL) button and the letter Z ...
and POOF!
The screen will return to whatever was previously displayed!
It works!






TENDING OUR GARDENS

Raindrops Make Things Beautiful by Sherry'sCherries



I think everyday should be Earth day,
I think that for every second that
this wonderful big blue marble
allows us to live here
we should be kissing her big blue butt.
Do you really think that we are going to pay back
everything that we owe this planet
with one day a year?
Echoes From The Tomb. by Scratch




A Jesus' Alien on Earth by Praywithhope



My garden is beginning to look pretty awesome,
even if it has been slow going getting it planted.
I still have quite a few little seedlings
that need transplanted from inside to out,
but what I have already out is quite astounding,
considering.
Spinach, lettuce, cabbage, tomato... sounds like a yummy salad!
From a Mom's perspective by Palikari



 
Big Island Paradise Life by Gecko



Only that maybe its officially SPRING
the Skunk cabbage is growing and the trilliums are coming up.
I will try and get a pic of them for you
they are so pretty.
Bits and Pieces by gjwlegs



 
A good laugh is great medicine by Topaz



Funny. For two years I couldn't grow arugula.
Now I can't escape it.
Towering, sequoia stands of arugula lung into view
as soon as you get to the blueberry field.
I will let the plants go to seed and trade the seed.
The arugula is a wonderful high end salad green
that tastes extra good when boiled in with whole wheat pasta
a la Rachel Ray.
Eat Your Lawn by Urbfarmer 





JUST FOR FUN 




Midnight, Me and the Blues by Cracker



Genealogy
A little girl asked her Father,
'How did the human race appear?'
The Father answered,
'God made Adam and Eve and they had children
and so was all mankind made.'
Two days later the girl asked her Mother the same question.
The Mother answered,
'Many years ago there were monkeys
from which the human race evolved.'
You told me the human race was created by God,
and Mother said they developed from monkeys?'
The Father answered,
'Well, dear, it is very simple.
I told you about my side of the family
and
your Mother told you about hers.'
My life as it is by john24871




ANONYMOUS ONE'S EXPERIMENTS by ANONYMOUS ONE (AO)



BEER DOESN'T MAKE YOU FAT,
IT MAKES YOU LEAN
against bars, chairs, tables and walls.
THE OTTUMWA SHAMAN. by HAWK....

ChickenLittles by LilLadyReg



the truth is the truth and nothin' can change it...
so don't ask for the truth
unless you are sure you really want it...
Cracker's Place by Cracker 




"Blonde Pole Dancer"
Idle Thoughts by Granny 



Frank and Earl are over the road truckers.
It was time for Frank to renew his drivers’ license
so he and Earl went to the DMV.
Earl got into the sleeper for a nap whilst Frank took his test.
Frank had passed the exams with flying colors
up to the very last question.
The instructor explains to Frank:
“You are fully loaded, on a narrow two lane road,
and are going down hill at a 65% grade.
As you exit a dark tunnel,
you see that a wreck has happened about 2000 feet away.
Several cars are strung across both lanes of the road.
On one side is a 500 foot drop off.
On the other is a 7 foot steel and concrete wall.
When you go to apply your brakes,
you find you have none on the tractor or the trailer.
The question is; What are you going to do?”
Frank thought about the problem for a few seconds
then responded:
“I’m going to reach back into the sleeper and wake Earl.”
Puzzled the instructor asks Frank just why
he would he take the time
to bother Earl at this time.
Frank just leaned back in his seat
and responded very calmly,
“’Cause Earl aint never seen no wreck like the one
we're about to have!”
The Joke's On You! by MaxClay
 

I don't need a wife....I've got a TRUCK!
THIS SIDE OF 40: Life With BryM by Bry_M






INSPIRATION




Bella's Gotta Brand New Blog! by Bella



I wonder what impossible-seeming things
we laugh at
when we forgot that
all things are possible for God.
Chocolate for the Soul by Kim







There's always Hope... by Rosie



If we think about our single self
in the world that will span millions of years,
we'll feel like a speck,
small and insignificant. 
Thoughts Cafe by seeingpeople

    



I woke up early this morning,
and paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish
that I took time to pray.
Idle Thoughts by Granny






SO LONG - FAREWELL - AUF WEIDERSEHEN - ADIEU
(This Week's Parting Thoughts)



My day has been made much brighter by the dear people who are involved with blogstream. You are encouragers, and such a joy! How blessed we are when we can encourage others. When we can lighten another's burden along the way, then the gift is truly ours.
Against A Crooked Sky by summerrayne



Blessings to all of my Stream Friends ...
All of you are very special, caring people
whom I am so fortunate to call
Friends.
Texas and Beyond by RoieVanBib



I tried to add
SEVERAL NEW BLOGGERS
this week.
I hope you have a chance to visit their blogs.
There is SO MUCH TALENT
here on the Stream!

As always,
if you have seen somthing
you'd like to add,
PM me! 
 




BIRTHDAYS






Blogstream Birthdays !!!

If you get a chance, follow the links to make someone's day!
Belated Birthday Greeting Are Okay Too!

Taurus - Earth - possessions & determination
APR 20 to May 20

April 26  ~  Wish You Were Here by HeatherN

April 29  ~  To Go Beyond by Celtic Mist 

May 1  ~  My Photos by Baygirl

May 10  ~  Mrs. Stream of Consciousness by wayfarer


May 10  ~  Love and Light from HEALING Creek by kktaylorcc

 

May 15  ~  Bipolar Rollar Coaster by ~*~RED~*~

May 17  ~  But I digress by BlackNapalm

May 18  ~  immortal-beating by immortal_beating

 

May 19  ~  A Lesbian Love Story by Schree`

 

May 19  ~  Lady Blu's New Vibe by blumoon

 

May 20  ~  Life in Canada(Vancouver) by Katarina

 

May 20  ~  Pretty Rubble: One Woman's Story by Rubble

 

May 20  ~  Religious Quotes & Information by Vert Files



If I have forgotten you or anyone else,
please let me know.