New Gravatar, Old Unicorn

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I finally went to gravatar.com n posted a globally recognized gravatar which is unique, because I drew it myself years ago. I will continue to use my blogger profile pic here on blogger as well. (Apparently, it doesn't interfere with that, btw-)

It has ocurred to me that some readers are unaware that I draw alot of unicorns.
This was drawn with a cursor in a paint program (larger) back in Win’98 days. I wrote Snag on it, which is now the uni’s name… The original includes more of the creature than shown here.

Here's an archive post of another black n white unicorn scetch from awhile back
This was drawn on bond paper with a regular Sharpie marker very small (6 inches). The original is the whole animal carrying a heart, n set inside a larger heart for Val's Day circa 1985. I then cropped the head, enlarged it, fixed it up, n inset another original design of the letter "I" as an eye to be the unicorn's eye. This design was also layered upon a puter-painted background n printed as T-shirt iron-on tranfers a few years back. I've designed a few T-shirts... (here's a logo I did) I should make tons more T's. I have whole series which have been designed, but not financed.

I grew up drawing mostly horses n other animals. I've morphed horses into the more popular unicorns, n enjoy painting them on fantasy back-drops. While an adult, I greatly increased my practiced subject matter to people, seascapes, landscapes, n objects. In college I also added skills of other media on top. However, unicorns will always be my forte`- what I'll be remembered for.

Short Pier

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The sun rays have shown for two Days Off this week! It's in the 70-80F degree range to boot. Folks have come out of the woodwork with summer clothes in droves.

At the Short Pier, boats visit for short spells, n tie up dingies for getting to the moored water craft out around the harbor.

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Kids are out playing on the roads, now sprung from school for the summer. Everything is louder, every errand takes longer. I wish my days could be longer also. I've too much laundry backed up from when it was difficult to hang-dry quickly (I'd like the laundry chore to be over).

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Today I had a free, live, Blues concert from the village bandshell, while out on the deck with Mischief, before a neighbor began weed-whacking to drown it out. At least I got to sit in the sunlight for fifteen minutes before the interruption. Then I couldn't concentrate, n closed my book. My errand run was very short as rent-pay time again approaches this week.

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The pic was taken on a brief pier walk Thursday while going to pick up the mail. Today's post is a bit abrupt as well. For the first time in months I'm attempting to go to sleep earlier, n awaken earlier to get to a wedding shower in Metro-West of Boston for lunch-time. I wasn't even going to post today, until I remembered not uploading the week's photos yet.

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I've been taking fewer pictures recently, trying to make the most of the sunshine to get so many put-offs from past rain-time done. I'm still not finished with deck re-potting, but at least got to a little bit, in the few hours of available dry daylight since awake. The biting buggies are making the most of it, n feasted on my exposed skin.

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Now of course, I'm wide awake n trying to wind down early. Normally, I'd still be working at this hour. I'm thrilled I took a second day in a row off (First time in 9 months)! So at least I don't have to work all night after my drive this time. I'm attempting as much rest as possible around the planned activity, because it's likely the quietest it'll be here until at least August...

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See ya after my early nap, n early drive up n back...

Happy Sunshine-

New Moon Jette

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Rain Toad gulped 3 inches of water in the drizzle this week.

The other night it was very difficult to get the deck door open, it was so swollen with the moisture.

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The New Moon last Saturday with a storm off shore rotating counter-clockwise brought the spring tide up over the jette rocks at my Fav Beach. I've never witnessed the water so high here.

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The peak vaca time of the year is at my door step. This week-end I expect the regular summer visitors downstairs again for July, n the R's next door too. It's a sad day indeed if folks have a cottage here n never make it to vacation for Independence Day.

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Last summer was alot less congested as seasons before, except for the month of July. When they cut it down, economically challenged tourists n summer residents tend to pick this time for the one trip.

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Last July, my summer neighbor n I conjured an "Outer-Limits" segment where all the merchants n restaurants get ready n wait, but no tourists ever show up! It becomes a ghost town enlikened to the middle of frigid January... in balmy July- How weird would that feel?

Of course the only problem I have with that scenario is the economic hit it would be for everyone locally. I'd love to have this village to myself all July if I didn't have to work... Last year seemed the tourists would never show for awhile, until July. Here we are on the last week of June already-
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Reality dictates it'll be about three months before I'm alone on a beach again. All trips will take longer, n there'll always be lines at the market. Work orders will double, n I'll get so exhausted keeping up working OT that I may collapse.

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I'll have more plans keeping me busy. The outdoor noise n constant village festivals n concerts of every sort will rob me of more sleep. I have much to do in the warmer weather, if it ever dries out enough. ESR may slow down a bit when so much else has priority.

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This is busy season. Time to make the whole year or break-water it...

Creative Minds Guess B

Definitions of recently admitted Rypos B

What I think when I ask my brain:

"What is a ... ?"

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Bice It would be nice

unhead Brain is temporarily out of order

nout When you paint into the window frame seams n let it dry so you can't open it anymore, similar to grouting tile.

exoectedt Extracted externally, past tense

squireels films of squiggly lines that only squirrels understand

Sping Like spam the food, but in stringy form

srill Not as loud as shrill

oics Oinking like a human pig

captuted a hat which toots on command

seatshirts a toga for Chair seats

tavels unravelled tassels

uauaklly to convert guitar to ukulele instead

siopping to sip, spit, then mop it from the floor

occrred a deep, yellow-brown tone was applied

golks people who eat egg yolks

Baday A very bad day

habds habits forming

wikk Almost being Wiccan, but flunked out from the order

ecerything outer rye stuff

starange dreaming of becoming one classic Movie Star after another.

intoe raod Cathoid-ray tubes inside your toe

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Brought to you by SnaggleTooth's Dictionary of Rypos

R-e-l--i-e-f !

How do you spell relief?

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I was ticked off from being awoken every ten minutes all day long with loud noises.... but happy to hear furniture moving n repeated trips out to the cars.

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I believe it's likely the offensive, unnamed, plagues of neighborly torture have moved out today!

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The lights are out, their stuff is gone, n it it so quiet here after work! I look forward to quiet sleep before work tamali! TG

Yippeee-Kii-Yo-Kii-YaY-zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

Inspiration

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Day Off was partly sunny! It always feels great to see the Sun after so many grey n rainy days. I let Mischief out on the deck for a long time while I puttered about. Tons of people n dogs were outside playing n walking all over the place.

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My problem neighbors have been away! I got better sleep, so was able to get up n outside before missing all the pleasant weather without the groggies. Thankfully, my TV is still working after the digital switch over. I wasn't sure it would, because I have cable, but don't use a cable box. Weather Guy warned me to enjoy today, because grey's moving back in the next few days again. Rain Toad has been working overtime, more than me... Every day I dump out the water, n haven't had to water anything. Most of the plants aren't dry enough to transplant, tho some did finally get done.

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While I was waiting for the comforter's wash cycle at the village laundrymat, I walked a block down to the bluff n got that top pic of the pier. The watercraft traffic is picking up big time. It was about 6:30 pm n Marc's, the pizza place, was very crowded. There were droves of boisterous teens hanging about uptown. Every one seemed out n about to socialize in the dryness. Except me, doing chores with only my cam for company on a Saturday.

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The pic at the bottom was taken from the little bridge near my house, while on my way to the market this evening. I'm fortunate not to have to go out of my way to get these inspirational sights into my day. So even tho I had to do errands n chores, I got to enjoy minutes of it, n captured part of it to share.

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Sometime soon tho, I'd like to stop n relax without pressing issues dictating priorities in my free time. I haven't had two days off in a row since September! I don't know anyone else who can say that. I really need a vaca, n tho I qualify for one as of this week, work won't let me have one until after the busy season of Summer on Cape Cod.

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The truth is, even if I hit the lottery Jackpot this week, I wouldn't slow down. There's so much catch-up to do here between chores n backlog projects. It would sure feel good to not be overtired finally, enough to be in the mood to mess around with unplanned experiments painting n stuff. I haven't had time to do so much I've thought of recently.
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Lately I've been just working on the "needed" n doing none of the "wanted." Other folks got me missing so much rest I can't think to organize myself better. I've got a zillion snippets begun n unfinished to work on. Work has me wiped out with blistered fingers n toes, n even that doesn't stop my brain's creative functions from spitting out yet more projects I need more time for... I crave more musical instrument time n must be content with an hour-

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I'm here doing this, because I don't have to plan it or do it carefully, n I like to do it! Lists of writing projects hang in limbo awaiting more inspiration to key, but I know this time is too limited to accomplish much, n then I won't get to everything else needed, because it takes me over...

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As I went to the Cumbies store for milk under two bux near midnight, rain started up again! One Day Off without grey rain was better than none at all... Why is it easier to think, plan, n dream on sunny days?

Rypos B

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More bad type-age...
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Credit for the idea goes to Jannie of Funsterland, but the mistakes to follow are mine...
Her hilarious miss-keyed posts are labeled "Bord on a Wire," if you haven't visited her blog n need a laugh, go search for them.
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Since my last Rypo post, I saved up my miss-placed word-age in a text file again.
Most of these key slippages were corrected before publication, tho several got by me. Reg readers of ESR should recognize it from recent past posts n comments.
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My Rypos are again listed as phrases, sans puntuation. I've created many new words to make my mind think, "What does that mean?"
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Here goes, I hope you're as amused as I!
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Bice sheet-music bend
sorry to herah
feeling so alone n unhead.
nout the window-
At least it's not all goofy looky
MB is exoectedt
It's prob full of squireels
Sping-a-ling
recession poof-
srill pretty cool
White Hose Press conference
I managed to get out for a couple oics
You captuted good light

actual word ver on Talon:
"terde" (on my comment about not wanting big messes to clean!)

wash any clothes (seatshirts,...)
from today's tavels
Hope your family had alot of gun
I uauaklly put guitar music on my voice mail
(low siopping)
I suddenly occrred to me -(I suddenly occurred to me?)
great to look at when the habds get larger!
Sister's wikk be late
you can't do ecerything!
starange dreams.
I just learned a wee ago.
eyes, hands n beck
Get co-ordinated golks! (me too!)
I have a friend who has this exact same Baday
with more intoe raod work.
(with more intoe road work - sounds so painful!)
In the simmer they may do more passenger trips.

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Stay tuned for some more exciting Rypo Definitions in the near future...

Behind Main St

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Fifty feet away from the gas station in the Center of town, I spied alot of folks fishing for free food on the other side of the railroad tracks. I even left a few out of this shot. High tide's good for running in the stripers n sea bass.

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Pay no attention to that sign, n hope you don't have a quick run down off the bridge while you have a bite on the line. That dude had to cut his line when a fish took the line around a piling n got stuck.
On the other side of the narrows, are three other crowded fishing piers.

Deck Decs

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Mischief keeps a close eye on me, because I don't want her to go down to the lawn, n she's def planning to get away with some grass eating again. She has grass in containers on the main deck just for her, but likes the wild stuff better. She makes a good ornament.

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There's more fleas n ticks down there, never mind neighbors who may drive too fast over her on the lawn if they return now. Then there's alot of wandering felines she'll attack when she sees them, even tho she's old, n short- tho stocky. She's really an indoor cat with supervised outside privileges.

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I'd awoken one day deciding I really wanted this thing for the deck. Went to the store I'd seen it in, but couldn't find any. Then, after I'd given up, there on a clearance shelf by the exit there was the last one! One more day n it would've been too late.

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The toad water gauge with glass eyes will really help me decide if I need to water the deck plants. It'll also make a good conversation piece. Actually those eyes remind me of a special cat named Teri I had for two decades, gone a dozen years now. It only rained .25 inch this am. It's odd I had that urgent "Get that" thought just after dreaming of the recently passed on woman's garden, before I knew she was gone that day.

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Deck Decorations are a good thing...

ESR 500

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Sunrise today was clued in only by brighter cloud cover with showers before I went to sleep. I got up late afternoon on Day Off, n finally the skies broke with cloud-hazy sunlight somewhat before errand time.

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My new deck water meter indicates there was about 3/8 inches of rain. While out there with Mischief a few minutes, I searched all the un-redone flower pots for evidence of perenials n self-seeders. The only prolific plants out here so far are the moss, Boston Ferns, n the Cockscomb which seem to've magically taken over many containers.

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I haven't done much with deck plants yet, because the weather never seems to find the soil dry enough to work with when I've had time. Most of my indoor seedlings have died off awaiting transplantation because of all this rain. They needed more sunlight. Of course, more time off without exhaustion would certainly help. I keep re-seeding the little partitioned squares in the window.

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Having the daylight until after 8 pm is great, because I can sleep n still get a few hours of outdoor-light-needed stuff done. Lately tho, I'm just not feeling motovated to do the lawn n some other heavy stuff. It's all I can do to get the work clothes laundry caught up. There's still too much pollen outside, slowing me down.

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I managed to get a few pics as the sun again went barely visible behind clouds again. You'll be seeing some more of them later. Because it was peak high tide, I visited the coves at both left n right ends of my street. Near the boat ramp, tons of little, orange-sided fish were chasing thru the shallows creating churning ripples, but my cam couldn't get them clearly- so small, too fast.

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The huge, seaweedy Horseshoe crabs didn't get away quick enough once they saw me tho- This is a flash shot, which came out better than the second dark try. "It's you n me against the waterworld, babe..."

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Why do these sea critters come so close to the high-tide water's edge which will soon recede again? If someone wanted to catch them, it'd be easy. Both the Orange-sided minnows n the large Horseshoe crabs pick the edges to re-seed again, every year, same as before. I hope they always re-appear n regenerate.

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Locally the boats n people are multiplying too...