Finnriss's blog: "This and that..."

It seems I got myself a new dog...showed up out of nowhere last friday when I got home from work I was letting the Pablo and Flurry out to the backyard and this dog that looked just like Flurry came in the yard thru a gap on the fence, she is almost all white with some light tan....looks like it has part husky on her...as soon as I have a picture I will put it on the album...I am still looking for the owner but it does not look like anyone is looking for her, I let the pound know in case they get a call, I have been checing the newspaper and the posted signs at the grocery store but nothing yet. she had no collar, bu next month if no one has claimed her, I am taking her for shots and to get her fixed and she's mine...I am calling her Fancy. She is pretty friendly and good with the other animals in this home so she fits right in. :) On another not, Nathan is doing pretty good, but he is still behind in his reading, I e-mailed his teacher to see if she has a recommended list of books or words that he needs to be learning...I am waiting on her reply.

On Monday I took half the day off from work so I could go meet my little boy at school so we could have lunch together. His dad lives way across town from where I live so his school is 35m away...yes it is a lot. But the look on his face when I walked into that cafeteria made the distance, the fighting traffic and having to arrange things at work so I can leave early all worthwile. He was so happy to see me. I was just as happy to see him. He wanted to share his lunch with me, but I told him that was ok since I had brought my own ham & chez sandwich...he did trade my orange capri sun for his cherry one...lol

DSHS Issues Mosquito Precautions The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is reminding Texans that the arrival of fall does not mean they should relax their guard against mosquito bites. “In most of Texas, we wouldn’t know it was fall without a calendar,” said Tom Sidwa, a veterinarian and manager of DSHS’ zoonosis control program. “Temperatures remain high, and mosquitoes are still very active.” He said 30 percent of the state’s 1,700 West Nile cases from 2002 – 2006 became ill after Aug. 31. Mosquitoes can carry viruses that cause West Nile, dengue fever, western equine encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis. Sidwa offered the following precautions to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne infection. •Use an insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. •Drain standing water from around homes. Empty cans, buckets, tires, rain gutters and flower pot bases regularly. Change the water in pet bowls, bird baths and wading pools several times a week. •Mosquito-proof houses. Make sure door seals are secure and window screens are intact. •Limit the amount of time spent outdoors from dusk to dawn when many species of mosquitoes are most active. •Cover as much skin as comfortable when outdoors. This year DSHS has confirmed 69 human cases of West Nile neuroinvasive illness, 16 cases of dengue fever and one case of St. Louis encephalitis. None of the dengue infections were acquired in Texas. No human cases of western equine encephalitis or eastern equine encephalitis have been recorded in Texas for several years. “Certainly, not every mosquito bite causes illness,” Sidwa said. “But it’s still important to take precautions.”

I went to the pet store yesterday and bought a little gerbil...I was feeling down due to the loss of a friend...(my thanks David for listening to me yesterday). I named the gerbil Sappy...that is what my little boy had named our previous gerbil...he got lose and we found him but when my older son cought him, I think he squeezed him to hard because he died the next day. I had been thinking about getting another one for quite a while now but had not quite brought myself to go into the pet store. Yesterday it just seemed like the thing to do, I figured, they may not even have any, the last time I went to the pet store for pet supplies they only had rodents destined to be snake food(mice and rats). No cutsie gerbils or hamsters... I prefer Gerbils because they are diurnal, unlike Hamsters that are nocturnal. I want my pet to be up when I am. My dog was tripping over the new pet...she kept jumping trying to smell the cage...the cat sits by the cage and stares...I gotta do something about that. I need to make sure the cage is secured and the cat can't tip it over and eat the poor little guy. :P I took some pictures...I will load them later on.

Last friday my company hosted Pool party at the wave pool in La Porte. They had some door prizes and I won 6 tickets to the Astros game last night. I have to say the kids had a great time at the pool it was not crowded and the weather was so nice, it was in the evening so once the sun is down is not too hot but the water temp is still warm, it felt soooo good!!! Afterwords we went to McD's and had happy meals and burgers...the kids wanted toys but they did eat their food, so is all good. We went to the game last night, my son, mom, dad, nephew and one of my nephews friend(my sis was supposed to come but she ended up working.) We had some good seats, dogout level...I got some good pictures of the players, the Houston Astros got 2 home runs last night, they won the game but the Washington Nationals put up a good fight, so I think it was a good game. I am not real big on baseball myself but my dad and the kids are, it was fun...

This year the Houston Museum District Day is on August 18th, 2007 from 10am to 5pm Parking in the Museum District There are numerous places to park throughout the Museum District. Parking is available in the free lots at the MFAH on Bissonnet and Main and Main and Oakdale; The Menil Collection, Holocaust Museum Houston; John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science; Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and Houston Zoo. Paid parking garages and lots include: the lot at The Children’s Museum of Houston; the MFAH garage on Binz; Houston Museum of Natural Science garage; Rice University and the Park Plaza Hospital parking garage. METRORail If you take the METRORail to the Museum districtdistrict, you may park your vehicle at the South Fannin Park and Ride Lot for the entire day. For METRO information please visit www.ridemetro.org. Houston Museum of Natural Science, One Hermann Circle Drive in Hermann Park, (713) 639-4629, www.hmns.org From a giant T-Rex to gems the size of your hand — HMNS is a treasure trove of the rare, beautiful and record-breaking. Museum District Day visitors can enjoy free general admission to the permanent exhibit halls, a world-class facility with three floors of exhibits ranging from dinosaurs, to the world-renowned Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals, the Texas-size Wiess Energy Hall, the John P. McGovern Hall of the Americas, and the Welch Chemistry Hall. Please note: Admission to the Wortham IMAX ® Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, and Burke Baker Planetarium require separate paid tickets. The Children’s Museum of Houston, 1500 Binz, (713) 522-1138, www.cmhouston.org Fourteen galleries of hands-on exhibits and activities offer young visitors and their families a myriad of fun and educational activities. John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science, 1515 Hermann Drive, (713) 521-1515, www.museumofhealth.org Learn why it’s really important to wash your hands and watch what lives in a single drop of water at Microbes: Invisible Invaders, Amazing Allies. Check out amoebas, paramecia and other protists through powerful, easy-to-operate microscopes. Watch microbes gobble up an oil spill. Learn more about microbes – the harmful and beneficial – through a scavenger hunt. Afterward, learn more about your body and how it works through the Hickox Amazing Body Pavilion, a fantastic larger-than-life walking tour through the human body where visitors receive informal anatomy lessons about everything under their skin. In addition, there are Brain Train activities, Discovery Carts, mini-classes and the hugely popular dissection demonstrations in the McGovern Theater. Holocaust Museum Houston, 5401 Caroline, (713) 942-8000, www.hmh.org Bearing Witness: A Community Remembers, the museum’s permanent exhibit, features authentic documents, artifacts, film reels and photographs from the Holocaust era, interspersed with personal stories from Houston-area survivors and liberators. Special exhibitions include: Anne Frank: A Private Photo Album, an exclusive presentation of photographs taken by Otto Frank before his family was forced into hiding from the Nazi’s during World War II. Additional exhibitions include butterfly inspired artwork by students of The Awty International School of Houston, Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals 1933-1945 and Gumoil photography by Karl P. Koenig. Lawndale Art Center, 4912 Main Street, (713) 528-5858, www.lawndaleartcenter.org Lawndale Art Center launched the Billboard Series to present the work of local and regional artists while the gallery is closed for renovation. The billboard is located at the northeast corner of Highway 59 and Montrose on the route the free METRO bus shuttles will travel on Museum District Day. Houstonian Mark Wade has created Manifest Destiny an artwork that presents a chilling historical photograph documenting the Battle at Wounded Knee (1890) and its resulting massacre of the Sioux. Lawndale is dedicated to the presentation of contemporary art with an emphasis on work by Houston artists. Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC), 4848 Main Street, (713) 529-4848, www.crafthouston.org Potters, blacksmiths, weavers and metal artists will make objects on site at the “Gathering of the Guilds” on Museum District Day. Houston area artisans from the Polymer Clay Guild, The Houston Area Fiber Artists, Houston Metal Arts Guild and the Houston Area Blacksmith Association will be on hand to answer questions and share information. Additionally visitors are invited to build garden walls, move dirt and plant at a work day in the Craft Garden. HCCC is dedicated solely to craft, with an emphasis on objects of art made primarily of glass, fiber, clay, metal or wood. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet, (713) 639-7300, www.mfah.org The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston houses a magnificent collection of more than 45,000 works of art from around the world. Visitors can view works from the collection and special exhibitions in the Audrey Jones Beck Building, the Caroline Wiess Law Building, the Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden and the Glassell School of Art. Special exhibitions include: Aaron Siskind: Centennial Celebration; Taos Modern: Paintings by Herbert Dunton from the Stark Museum of Art, Orange; A Creative Collaboration: Museums, Teachers, and Students Teacher Workshops at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Patrons Choice: The Silver Anniversary of The Museum Collectors, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Visitors can see the MFAH’s recent acquisition of Rembrandt’s “Portrait of a Young Woman,” one of only two portraits by the Dutch master on view in Texas. From 2 to 4 p.m. enjoy a living re-enactment of Rembrandt’s masterpiece by the Invisible Bus in front of the Audrey Jones Beck Building. The Jung Center, 5200 Montrose, (713) 524-8253, www.cgjunghouston.org The Jung Center is an educational institution dedicated to individual growth, development and community service. Through classes, programs and collaborative outreach efforts, The Jung Center provides a forum for psychological, artistic and spiritual discourse that inspires change and adds meaning to daily living. Enjoy the vibrant paintings of Margaret Scott Dobbins in Moving Elements. From Noon to 2 p.m. take a movie break with therapist Karen Magee. She will screen clips and discuss the relationship between psychology and the movies during a half-hour presentation. From 3 to 4:15 p.m. artist Suzan Kraus will teach visitors how to make a corsage in one fun and easy lesson. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose, (713) 284-8250, www.camh.org Explore how contemporary art and culture are defined and presented in a global context through How Latitudes Become Forms: Art in a Global Age. The exhibition presents work by 28 international artists from seven countries ranging from drawings and architectural structures to new media installations and documentary films. Also on view is Perspectives 142: Boys Behaving Badly, which features works of art that examine male adolescent behavior. The exhibition presents photographs and videos that explore the influence of societal expectations and contemporary culture on male development. Throughout the day, the Museum’s FAQTeam (Frequently Asked Questions Team) — a group of specially trained young, knowledgeable and fascinating artists and art historians—will be available to give instant tours of the exhibitions, answer visitors’ questions and engage in general conversation about contemporary art. Outside on the lawn, visitors will be entertained by the sounds of the HSPVA Jazz Band. The Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross, (713) 525-9400, www.menil.org The Menil Collection, always open free to the public, is part of a “museum village” that includes the Cy Twombly gallery and a rainbow of fluorescent light by the renowned minimalist sculptor Dan Flavin at Richmond Hall. The permanent collection includes Surrealism master works by Rene Magritte, Max Ernst and Yves Tanguy. The Oceanic and African art collections set in light-filled atrium galleries include totems, masks, musical instruments and ceremonial objects from a range of African and Indonesian cultures. On the front lawn The Menil will present the water fountains of Jean Tingley and the percussive rhythms of D.R.U.M. (Divine Rhythm United Motion). The Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum, 4011 Yupon, (713) 521-3990, www.menil.org/byzantine.html The Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum is the repository for the only intact Byzantine frescoes in the western hemisphere. These masterworks from the 13th century were stolen out of a chapel near Lysi in the Turkish-occupied section of Cyprus, cut into pieces, and smuggled off the island by thieves. The fresco fragments were rescued by The Menil Foundation and restored through a painstaking process with consent of the Church of Cyprus. They reside on long-term loan from the church in an intimate chapel near The Menil Collection. The Rothko Chapel, 1409 Sul Ross, (713) 524-9839, www.rothkochapel.org The Rothko Chapel and its fourteen paintings by Mark Rothko was commissioned for Houston by John and Dominique de Menil and dedicated in 1971. An intimate sanctuary where the experience and understanding of all traditions are encouraged and made available, the Chapel is alive with religious ceremonies of all faiths. The Chapel also provides diverse programs to engage audiences intellectually, artistically and spiritually by addressing issues and concerns before they are generally recognized and popularized. It is located on the southwest corner of Sul Ross and Yupon, near The Menil Collection. Houston Center for Photography, 1441 W. Alabama, (713) 529-4755, www.hcponline.org The Houston Center for Photography (HCP) is dedicated to the study of photography as an expressive medium as well as an investigative tool. The Meaning of Objects, on view in the Main Gallery, is a group exhibition that focuses on still life and examines the allusive meanings contemporary artists find in everyday objects. The exhibiting artists are Cynthia Greig, Laura Johansen, Laura Letinsky, Douglas Mellor, Johnny Miller and Celia A. Shapiro. A Gallery Talk with the artists will be at 1 p.m. In Gallery X, enjoy Seamless by Koye Abe; and in Gallery Y, Bye-Bye Baby by Michelle Sank. Rice University Art Gallery, 6100 Main, Campus Entrance 1, Ground floor of Sewall Hall (713) 348-6069, www.rice.edu/ricegallery Rice University Art Gallery does something no other university gallery, and only one other public museum in the country does exclusively, which is to commission site-specific installation art. On view will be a new installation by internationally acclaimed artist Jessica Stockholder, whose work features highly imaginative, oftentimes hilarious, combinations of objects united by broad planes of brilliant color. Vivid yellow and red shag carpet, an eccentric wall supported by lamps, and large household appliances are some of the elements Stockholder will use at Rice Gallery. Enjoy free ice cream, cold water and a chance to relax in the shade of Rice’s famous live oaks. Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, 1834 Southmore, (713) 942-8920, www.buffalosoldier.com The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum works to educate the public about the contributions of African-American soldiers toward the development and protection of the United States. The soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalries were nicknamed “Buffalo Soldiers” by the Cheyenne Indians who admired the men for their fierce fighting ability. The museum charts their accomplishments from the Revolutionary War to present day battles through more than 4,000 historical artifacts, documents, videos, prints and other historical memorabilia. Special exhibitions include: Women in the Military, WWII and Black Chaplains in the West. Guided tours of the permanent and special exhibitions will be available throughout the day. Beginning at Noon and presented every hour until 5 p.m., enjoy a performance about the life of General Harriet Tubman of the Underground Railroad. Miller Outdoor Theatre,enjoy a free performances in Hermann Park. For information please contact (713) 284-8350 or visit www.milleroutdoortheatre.com. For details about Museum District Day call (713) 790-1020 or visit www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org.

I have decided to make a blog about the G-force, as we used to call our favorite Saturday morning cartoon (“we” being my siblings and friends in the neighborhood When I was little I used to love Battle of the Planets…I thought it was a great show…recently, I guess it has been a few years in the making but the original Japanese series was dubbed and released on DVD…I was confused at first because the title was different but I started buying them…hopefully I plan to get the whole series…but in the course of my research trying to find what I could not find on the store I found out some interesting things about this series. This is some of what Wikipedia had to say: "Battle of the Planets (1978) is the first Westernized adaptation of the 1972 Japanese animated television series known as Kagaku ninja tai Gatchaman. Of the 105 original Gatchaman episodes, 85 were used in the Battle of the Planets adaptation, produced by Sandy Frank Entertainment. The adaptation is generally faithful to the plot and character development of the original Gatchaman series, but significant additions and reductions were made in order to increase appeal to the North American juvenile television market of the late 1970s. In 1986, Gatchaman was re-worked in the US as G-Force: Guardians of Space by Turner, with a good deal of the original content that had been edited out of Battle of the Planets put back in to the show. It followed the plot of the original Gatchaman much more faithfully than Battle of the Planets because of this. However, the lack of Hoyt Curtin's original score and inferior voice acting prevented this series from attaining the high praise given to Battle of the Planets." I remember seeing this “version” and being confused because the names were not the same. Apparently Sandy Frank Entertainment would not release the rights to the names and such so when Turner acquired the series, they had to come up with their own. Check out http://www.chronicsite.com/gatchaman/ if you are interested on this fun series… P.S. Rumor has it there is a movie on the works but if they do make one...I am so there to watch it the second the office box opens...LOL

Below are true descriptions of zodiac signs, with traits from a book written 35 years ago by an astrologist predictions. ** VIRGO - The One that Waits Dominant in relationships. Someone loves them right now. Always wants he last word. Caring. Smart. Loud. Loyal. Easy to talk to. Everything you ever wanted. Easy to please. The one and only. ** SCORPIO - The Addict EXTREMELY adorable. Intelligent. Loves to joke. Very Good sense of humor. Energetic. Predict future. GREAT kisser. Always get what they want. Attractive. Easy going. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Caring. ** LIBRA - The Lame One Nice to everyone they meet. Their Love is one of a kind. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! However not the kind of person you wanna mess with...you might end up crying... ** ARIES - The Liar Outgoing. Lovable. Spontaneous. Not one to mess with. Funny. Excellent kisser EXTREMELY adorable. Loves relationships, Addictive. Loud. ** AQUARIUS - Does It In The Water Trustworthy. Attractive. Great kisser. One of a kind. Loves being in long-term relationships. Extremely energetic. Unpredictable. Will exceed your expectations. Not a Fighter, But will Knock your lights out. ** GEMINI - Irresistible Nice. Love is one of a kind. Great listeners Very Good in the you know where... Lover not a fighter, but will still knock you out. Trustworthy. Always happy. Loud. Talkative. Outgoing VERY FORGIVING. Loves to make out. Has a beautiful smile. Generous. Strong. THE MOST IRRESISTIBLE. ** LEO - The Lion Great talker. Attractive and passionate. Laid back. Knows how to have fun. Is really good at almost anything. Great kisser. Unpredictable. Outgoing. Down to earth. Addictive. Attractive. Loud. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Not one to mess with. Rare to find. Good when found. ** CANCER - The Cutie MOST AMAZING KISSER. Very high appeal. Love is one of a kind. Very romantic. Most caring person you will ever meet! Entirely creative. Extremely random and proud of it. Freak. Spontaneous. Great telling stories. Not a Fighter, But will Knock your lights out if it comes down to it. Someone you should hold on to. ** PISCES - The Partner for Life Caring and kind. Smart. Center of attention. High appeal. Has the last word. Good to find, hard to keep. Fun to be around. Extremely weird but in a good way. Good Sense of Humor!!! Thoughtful. Always gets what he or she wants. Loves to joke. Very popular. Silly, fun and sweet. ** CAPRICORN - The Passionate Lover Love to bust. Nice. Sassy. Intelligent. Sexy. Predict future. Irresistible. Loves being in long relationships. Great talker. Always gets what he or she wants. Cool. Loves to own Gemini's in sports. Extremely fun. Loves to joke. Smart. ** TAURUS - The Tramp. Aggressive. Loves being in long relationships. Likes to give a good fight for what they want. Extremely outgoing. Loves to help people in times of need. Good kisser. Good personality. Stubborn. A caring person. One of a kind. Not one to mess with. Are the most attractive people on earth! 15 years of bad luck if you do not forward. SAGITTARIUS - The Promiscuous One. Spontaneous. High appeal. Rare to find. Great when found. Loves being in long relationships. So much love to give.Not one to mess with. Very pretty. Very romantic. Nice to everyone They meet. Their Love is one of a kind. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! Amazing in the you know where!!! Not the kind of person you wanna mess with- you might end up crying.

I went last week and I had a bit of trouble because my teacher has given me an introduction to dressage and I have been practicing but for me english seems much harder than western. I can walk and I can get into a canter without too much trouble but when it comes to the trot(and in my opnion, for whatever that is worth, this is where the real skill comes in),I am all over the place...my seat is horrible...I have a hard time coordinating my movement with the horses and consequently I am off balance...I am supposed to keep contact with the horse(short rein) my arms down(shoulders relaxed--fat chance of that)and keep still while posting (all at the same time?) I know it can be done but Chuck is sensitive and I must be doing something wrong because he keeps changing speeds on me. I am trying to keep him at a slow trot and he switches to a working trot and to an almost canter...it feels as if he is in transition from trot to canter but does not quite complete it, it makes for a really bumpy ride...I amy have it all wrong but that is how it feels....now, the other day(saturday feb 17th)there were some obstacles that one of the other students was using to practice jumping(she was awsome)in the menage(that is what the training arena is called). I urged him to a trot and started to weave in, out and around the obstacles. Because he was constantly turning he did not change speed like when we were going on a straigt line and I managed to keep my balance a little better but I still can't post very well(or should I say at all)...I wish I could go more often, I know I could improve my seat if I could practice more... Poor Chuck, I know he hates to see me coming..."OH NO!!! is the beginer again" LOL

Well, here I am on a system I've never seen before. I am here only because a friend asked me and I figure what the heck, is just for fun...Althought I don't really think I belong here.