Serendipity

Serendipity.

I like this word. It sounds cool. And it's fun to say. And it's about happy, unexpected, fortunate happenings. What more could you possibly want from a word? Really. I can think of nothing. One day I would like to think up a word that is even half as good. And then make it a part of everyone's vocabulary.

Serendipity is good any time. But it's best when it happens in real life. 

When it does it goes a little like this. 

Serendipity Scenario 1: You're at Girl's Camp. It is hot, hot, HOT! And soon time for campfire. Who wants a campfire when it is hot, hot, HOT? Enter a serendipitous (also a most excellent word!) idea.

Poolfire!! Without the fire.

 And the best "campfire" ever!

This spider decided to join us. By swimming across the water. Where do these things come from, anyway?

 Here you can see reflections caused by propane lanterns at poolfire.

Serendipity Scenario 2: You're still at Girl's Camp. It's the last night and you have made it through the week with no pranks. And you wake in the morning to find a minivan covered in silly string, graffiti, and all sorts of fun messes! It is not your minivan.

But later you find out it was meant to be!

Seriously. This happened. If I had known it was meant for me I would have taken a picture. But trust me when I say, serendipity doesn't get any better than this!! I mean honestly, what could be better than feeling the love from the girls...on someone else's van? Thank you, ladies! You rock my Girl's Camp world!!! : )

Serendipity Scenario 3: There is a dramatic Midwestern storm moving in. You are working to learn a new photography technique and decide to practice while shooting the storm clouds. While trying to get a shot like this...

Another version:

...you end up with a shot like this.

LIGHTNING!! In a photo. Of MINE!! 

I could not in a thousand years capture this shot by actually trying. 

This is true serendipity!! 

And needless to say, it made me silly with excitement. : )

Here is another version.

And another:

I may, or may not, have even more versions of this serendipitous photo sitting on my computer.

So there you have it.
Serendipity.
It rocks my world.

Now I wish for you a week filled with serendipity! 

Watch for it. 

And when it happens, think about it. And say the word. 

Serendipity.

It just feels that good.

: )

Summertime and The Livin' Is Easy...

I have had this song stuck in my head for days! Ever since I crossed the  Missouri River. Six times. In one week. The water is really high. And I thought the next line was, "Fish are jumpin', and the water is high".

I was wrong. It's about cotton.
And Gershwin lied. Summertime livin' is NOT easy!

The fact that it's nearly three weeks since I've made it to the blog is proof positive of what I'm saying here. I've got a lot of catching up to do! But for today I have got to get something off my mind.

It's about pet peeves. I have a few. But there is one especially big one that I just have to get out!

It is: Word verifications. Yes, word verifications.

You know when you try and search for concert tickets online, or place an order online, or post a comment on someone's blog online and a box with an obscure and very fuzzy combination of letters pops up with a phrase that says something like, "word verification: please type the following in the box below"? Yes, that's what I'm talking about it.

And what they want you to "type in the box below" looks something like this:

ablingd tijaryya

That is what popped up last time I had to write in a "word verification". True story.

And here is a sampling of some of the other "word verifications" I have run across recently.

hasovi gencei

roonago sunlati

squinge

packado

ejune ercelown

This leaves me with just one thing to say...


People...THESE ARE NOT WORDS!!!

Trust me. I have looked them up. They Are. Not. Words.

But it's not just the not-word words that bothers me about this whole thing. It's how they are written out. They are squiggly, and cryptic, with letters all smashed together and distorted. They make me squint and furrow my eyebrow. And they give me a headache. Every time I have to type in one of these not-word words I wonder, "How the heck does someone with eyes older than mine manage to figure this out?" Are you with me here?

One day I was having an especially difficult time with an especially obscure not-word word and noticed that there is a little handicap icon next to the box. I figured this was for people like me. With a headache. So I clicked on it. If you have ever done this, raise your hand. If it helped you at all, put it down.

My hand is decidedly down. It did not help me. Because it sounded like this:

"squingeeju6neercel3ownhasovig9enceiro0onagosunl0atirestlip7ackado2isisli4oablingd6tijaryya.Again."

And after "again" a repeat. I'm pretty sure they just took all those not-word words and mumbled them together with numbers interspersed. I assume you're supposed to type in the numbers, since they are the one thing that is not like the others... But still, there are no instructions for this! 

It all leaves me very perplexed.

And annoyed.

And that is my rant for the day. 

I am feeling better already. : )

In other news, you'll be happy to know that there is indeed Potato Bread in the Potato State!! 
I got this happy text, with its accompanying picture, from a friend who lives there:

"BAM! Potato bread :)"

But wait, it gets better! One of my other friends did me the favor of researching Bimbo Bakeries. She sent me links so I could learn about them. And I am sharing them. So you can learn, too. : )

http://www.bimbobakeriesusa.com/about_us/our_history.html
http://www.grupobimbo.com.mx/display.php?section=1

I have awesome friends!

And one last parting shot. The Mississippi River. It's pretty full, too.

(*Sings*  "Fish are jumpin', and the water is high...")

Back at the blog. YAY!!