This Southern Belle's Musings

"Darlin', don't ever take a Southern woman for granted!" [tm]


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Friday, February 27, 2004

Totally WRONG Assessment 



"Experience is the hardest kind of teacher.
It gives you the test first, and the lesson afterward."

~ Anonymous



I just took the Brain Usage Profile test.     And, I have to say, based on ALL of the other psychological, temperment, personality, and gifted testing I have ever taken, I've NEVER been classified as logical or organized.      Organized?!?     Me?!?     Pardon me while I laugh, hysterically!

Artists, in whatever form they manifest their creativity, have no concept of logical organization (as it tends to stifle the creative processes).     I've been labeled one of the most "right-brained" persons ever to take any such testing, and am S-H-O-C-K-E-D to find that my answers put me in the "auditory/left-brained" category instead of my usual "visual/right-brained" category.     Can we say -- glitch in the testing?!?


Your Brain Usage Profile
Auditory : 56%
Visual : 43%
Left : 61%
Right : 38%


[begin assessment quotes]
Kitty, you are mildly left-hemisphere dominant while showing a slight preference for auditory processing.     This overall combination seems to indicate a well-working blend of logic and judgment and organization, with sufficient intuition, perception and creativity to balance that dominance.

You will at times experience conflict between how you feel and what you think which will generally be resolved in favor of what you think.     You will find yourself interested in the practical applications of whatever material you have learned or whatever situation you face and will retain the ability to refine whatever knowledge you possess or aspects of whatever position you are in.

By and large, you will orient yourself toward intellectual activities and structure.    Though not rigid, you will schedule yourself, plan, and focus on routine and continuity of operations, rather than on changes and disruptions.

When changes or disruptions occur, you are likely to consider first how to ensure that such disruptions do not occur.     The same balance is reflected in your sensory preference.    You will tend to be reflective and measured in your interaction style.    For the most part, you will be considered objective without being cold and goal-oriented while retaining the capacity to listen to others.

Preferentially you learn by listening and maintaining significant internal dialogues with yourself.     Nevertheless, you have sufficient visualization capabilities to benefit from using graphs, charts, doodles, or even body movement to enhance your comprehension and memory.

To the extent that you are even implicitly aware of your hemispheric dominance and sensory style, you will feel most comfortable in those arenas which emphasize verbal skills and logic.     Teaching, law, and science are those that stand out among the professions, along with technical sales and management.

[end assessment quotes]

I'll stick with writing, photography, mixed-media art, interior design, and the more abstract sides of life, thank-you-very-much!




current mood:  confused by my results
current music:  Prince

(c) 2004 A Southern Belle's Life

Bibliophiles & Other Such (Acceptable)-philes 



"If a man does not keep pace with his companions,
perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Let him step to the music which he hears,
however measured or far away."

~ Henry David Thoreau (Walden)

"The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise.
It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us."

~ Ashley Montague



I admit it.     I am both a book and movie fanatic.     My book collection and movie collection could rival small town libraries and video rental stores.

In my last two houses (prior to this one, sadly), I was extremely lucky enough to have two separate, dedicated libraries in each house to support my vast (and ever-growing) collection of books.     In both houses, one of the libraries was in my Artist's Studio and held books relating to my works as an artist, interior designer, photographer, writer, and miscellaneous associated materials.     The second library (in both houses) was a dedicated room with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling, shelves to hold books of every imaginable topic, along with two over-stuffed reading chairs and accompanying lamps, a stereo system that played an assortment of light classical, jazz, and other background reading soundtracks, and enough wood and deep, dark colours to make a true "Gentlemen's Club" jealous.     It was HEAVEN!

As a lifelong, dyed-in-the-wool bibliophile, living with another bibliophile with similarly strong convictions, together we have a book collection that literally scares moving companies. During our last move, the "official" inventory count by the moving company was 285 cartons of books from our formal library, which did not include my design studio library (another 47 cartons) or my S.O.'s workshop reference library (another 23 cartons).


"Why is it that we don't always recognize the moment
when love begins but we always know when it ends?"

~"Harris K. Telemacher" (L.A. Story)

"I suppose I could be pissed off about what happened to me.
But it's hard to stay mad when there's so much beauty in the world.
Sometimes I feel like I am seeing it all at once, and it's too much.
My heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst."

~ "Lester Burnham" (American Beauty)



And, movies!     Ahhhhhhhh!     What can I say about my fascination with allowing a celluloid journey to dispel reality for a brief moment in time?     Genres?     I don't pigeonhole myself with such labels.     I either like a movie, or I don't; and it doesn't depend on what some studio bureaucrat decided to label it for marketing purposes.

Yet, I will admit, for all of the movies I have seen (many -- several times, some at least fifty times or more), there are some that are labeled "classics" that I still haven't viewed yet.     And, now, after years of hype and "you've-got-to-see-(fill in the blank)," I find that, when I finally do view one of the so-called "classics" or Hollywood Heyday films, I'm often disappointed by the results.     I'm probably one of the few people in the world that was extremely disappointed by "Breakfast At Tiffany's," even though George Peppard's performance was stellar.     But, there are times, when I've been pleasantly surprised by older, and/or indie, and/or critic-trashed movies.

Take, for example, the following movies that had an entertainment value in spite of any number of variables that might affect potential watch-ability:

Mr. Skeffington (1944)

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Four Rooms (1995)

Daredevil (2003) - trashed by critics everywhere – not a bad "dispel-reality" film, even if it was Ben Affleck (Colin Farrell, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jon Favreau, and Joe Pantoliano were great redeeming factors for this movie!)

Ed and His Dead Mother (1993) -- I am a long-time Steve Buscemi fan!

I have to admit; I've never seen Citizen Kane.     I've never seen An Affair To Remember.     I've never seen the Godfather trilogy.     I've never seen (all of) The Graduate.     I've never seen (all of) Taxi Driver.     And, I didn't like Big, even though I'm a Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia fan because, no matter what choice Josh Baskin made, someone was going to be hurt in the process.     But, I've probably seen many more popular, as well as unpopular, obscure, foreign, and practically any other movie category in-between, than some movie critics that get paid to watch movies.

So, why not use the comment section below and tell me -- What movies appeal to you?


[Crash Davis starts to walk out on Annie
because he says he doesn't believe in quantum
physics when it comes to matters of the heart]


Annie: Well, what *do* you believe in?

"Crash" Davis: I believe in the soul, the cock,
the pussy, the small of a woman's back, the
hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that
the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent,
overrated crap. I believe that Lee Harvey Oswald
acted alone. I believe there ought to be a
constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf
and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet
spot, soft core pornography, opening your presents
Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve
and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft,
wet kisses that last three days.
~ Bull Durham




current mood:  CREATIVE and ARTISTIC
current music:  Men At Work and Dexys Midnight Runners (not at the same time!)

(c) 2004 A Southern Belle's Life


Thursday, February 26, 2004

Epiphany 



"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.    To keep our faces toward change
and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable."

~ Helen Keller



Even though this piece was original written on Tuesday, November 18, 2003, it is re-manifesting itself in ways that beg to be explored.

Epiphany. I love the sound of that word. Aside from the mystical, ethereal, cosmic, spiritual aura that envelopes you when you hear the word, the long-reaching effects that follow after you experience one can alter a life path in the short term or, perhaps, forever.

Was it the recent full moon or the lunar eclipse? Was it my recent birthday? (let's not even talk about that!) Was it the change of the seasons, or the change of the clock? Or was it the culmination of all of those events together that effected not one, but two, eye-opening epiphanies in my life?

Epiphany has been described as "a spontaneous experience of awakening into awareness." It has also been described as "a sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something; a comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization; and moments when everything seems to make sense, when the universe (though flawed) at least seems comprehensible for a brief moment in time." How can you not feel emotionally charged, and changed, when you have experienced an epiphany?

Of these recent epiphanies, one was professional and the other was personal, yet both were strong, intense and immediately crystal-clear. With the pressures of the world all around us, when we suddenly have clarity, even in just one aspect of our life, it gives us such a sense of a weight being lifted and blinders being removed. It always makes me think of a cartoon character with the light bulb suddenly appearing above their head. My epiphanies have given me insights into even more areas of my life that can be changes in smaller ways.

Do I want to share the details? Right now, it is probably best to keep working toward the goals that were revealed in those sudden revelations, and keep the details to myself. Sooner or later, the details will manifest in ways that will be quite evident to all who know me, and the changes will be obvious to even casual acquaintances. I do think epiphanies are rather spiritual and, in that manner, something that is quite personal and deep. Whether the moment of the epiphany is ever shared really doesn't matter -- it is the results that are achieved as a person moves forward along the journey, exploring new paths, and finding new directions for their life.



current mood:  Another busy, hectic (work-filled) day ahead
current music:  Richard Marx

(c) 2004 A Southern Belle's Life


Wednesday, February 25, 2004

In The Heart Of Dixie 



Q:   How Are a Texas Tornado And a Tennessee Divorce The Same?
A:   Somebody's Gonna Lose A Trailer!

Q:   What Lies At The Bottom Of The Ocean And Twitches?
A:   A Nervous Wreck!



Southerners can laugh at anything.    Often, it is at themselves, friends, relatives, acquaintances, or just something they read in the local paper.    If you don't believe that, just take a look at the following:

Georgia Moonshine Lingers On
by Stump Martin, Staff Writer
Chattanooga, TN Times Free Press

Northwest Georgia lawmen agree the glory days of moonshine operations are over, but illicit stills are turning up with a bit more regularity in the rural mountains, and closer to town, too.

Georgia Department of Revenue Agent Shawn Douglas said there’s "a resurgence of moonshine."

"We bust 25 to 30 stills statewide a year," he said.   "But there’s a lot more out there.    If we had the manpower, we could get a lot more."

Dade County Sheriff Philip Street busted two brothers and destroyed their moonshine still on the side of Sand Mountain last year.    The sheriff said they both pleaded guilty and are now on probation.

Sheriff Street said it was a "family tradition" with the brothers.

"They had been making whiskey since they were kids," he said.    "But there are more people than them out there making it."

Gordon County deputies discovered more than 200 gallons of corn liquor inside in an abandoned house, and another 118 gallons of the untaxed liquor in the back of a pickup in downtown Resaca late last year.

Clint Harris of the Gordon County sheriff’s department said the still was "busted up just like the days of old.    We haven’t had one of those here in 20 years."

A 66-year-old man was arrested and charged with possession and manufacturing of distilled spirits.

Mr. Douglas deals with alcohol, tobacco and coin-operated amusement machine violations in the western half of the state.

He said moonshine "is not a priority right now."

About the only time moonshine is a concern, he said, is when health issues are the cause.    "A couple of years ago we had four deaths in Meriwether County from lead poisoning caused by bad moonshine," he said.

Mr. Douglas said his agency worked to get "the shine out of the shot houses and juke joints."    He said Union County on the North Carolina border and Echols on the Florida line are the only Georgia counties that remain "dry."

In the old days when most counties made the sale of any alcohol illegal, he said moonshiners were tough to catch because there was a code of ethics among the corn whiskey makers.

"Drug dealers will roll over on each other, but moonshiners will sit right there in jail rather than tell you where his buddy’s still is," Mr. Douglas said.

Former Chattooga County Sheriff Gary McConnell said 40 years ago moonshine was a "major economy" in his county.

Back then, most Northwest Georgia counties were "dry."

Mr. McConnell, director of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency until last year, said he saw his first moonshine still on Jan. 1, 1965, when his father, John Frank McConnell, took over as the Chattooga County sheriff.

The younger McConnell was a deputy for his father.

"We busted 105 stills in the next 52 weeks," he said.    "'White lightning' was referred to as 'The King' in Chattooga County back then."    He said his dad was elected to rid the county of the bootleggers and stills that supplied white lightning from Atlanta to Chattanooga at $7 to $8 a gallon.

"The stills were everywhere," Mr. McConnell said.    "You would drive down the road and see a trail and follow it and you would find a still."

He was elected to replace his father when the elder McConnell died in office, and at 21 was the youngest sheriff ever elected in Georgia.    Mr. McConnell said some of the bootleggers would bury their stock.    He said others would take window sills out of their houses, store the bottles of liquor in the walls and replace the sills.

(c) 2004 Chattanooga Times Free Press



So, why not take a few minutes to laugh at what Southerners know to be just another day in the South?    You can even check out Moonshine -- How To Make It, if you're so inclined.    Have a GREAT day!


current mood:  Creative
current music:  The Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me

(c) 2004 A Southern Belle's Life


Tuesday, February 24, 2004

It's In The Stars 



Falsehood is easy, truth so difficult.
~George Eliot

You can fool some of the people all of the time,
and all of the people some of the time,
but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.

~Abraham Lincoln



Scorpio - here is your horoscope
for Tuesday, February 24:


Technically, lying is wrong.     Sometimes, however, it's necessary to stretch or fabricate the truth.     If you're good at telling people what they need to hear, consider a career in marketing or government.

-------

WOW! - Marketing or Government ... and, here I've been working in the wrong profession!



current mood:  Passive-Aggressive
(work is calling my name; I'm trying to ignore it)
current music:  INXS

(c) 2004 A Southern Belle's Life

Welcome To Bizarro-Land! 





Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
Sponge-Bob Square-Pants!
Absorbent and yellow and porous is he!
Sponge-Bob Square-Pants!
If nautical nonsense be something you wish,
Sponge-Bob Square-Pants!
Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish!
Sponge-Bob Square-Pants!
Ready?
Sponge-Bob Square-Pants, Sponge-Bob Square-Pants,
Sponge-Bob Square-Pants!
Sponge-Bob Square-Paaaaannttss!!!

~ Captain & Kids
Spongebob Squarepants Theme Song



Things That Make You Go . . . hmmmmmmmm


As a card-carrying naturalized citizen of Bizzaro-Land, you must first refuse to accept the "ideal" that there is something called "normal."     Normal does not exist.     Normal is merely your own vain attempts to make the occurrences around you something that can be processed and acknowledged as acceptable to your perceptions of reality.


Of course, in Bizzaro-Land, those limits and attempts are futile.


So any occurrence, even if considered strange, incomprehensible, or unbelievable can -- and will -- ultimately occur in Bizzaro-Land.     It is just a matter of time before you discard your perceptions of reality, as they are useless -- and simply a waste of time and energy -- in this world.


And, please don't expect the strange and unusual to be spaced out in reasonable allotments peppered with some semblance of normalcy.     That would defeat the purpose of Bizzaro-Land, wouldn't it?     You never know what will happen -- or when it will happen . . . you just have to be prepared for anything!


Take for example this past Saturday.     Seemingly a decent day of the week, wouldn't you agree?     After weeks of cold weather, and a snowfall that refused to vanish completely even after three weeks time, Friday and Saturday were gorgeous.     Sun-filled days and sixty-degree temperatures -- not what you would expect in the Mid-Atlantic region in late February -- but, a hint that Spring may well be on the way.


Distracted by the warm weather and sunny skies, I foolishly thought that I could attempt an afternoon of normal errands and such.     I first sent a quick text-message to my best friend who was on his way to softball practice for his company softball team.     Simple and to the point -- "Be Careful, and Don't Get Hurt!"     Something just said "send-this-message" and, not one to ignore the voices in my head; I did as I was told.


Then, I had the opportunity to chat by phone with a new friend that I met online.     As I was driving (approximately a 50 minute drive to my destination), he and I chatted about this-n-that, comparing notes on life in an alternate universe.     As I was nearing my destination -- probably ten minutes away -- I came to a stop at a traffic light.     You have to keep in mind that the road I was traveling isn't considered a main thoroughfare, but is one of two routes to travel from Point "A" to Point "B."     Sitting at the traffic light, I heard a tapping on my passenger side window. I turned to look, and this is what I saw:







waving, and blowing kisses at me.


Now, I could understand if Mr. Squarepants was promoting some event, or waving a banner, or some such activity.     But, no, he was merely standing on the street corner, waving at the passersby, knocking on my car window, and blowing kisses at me.     In any other universe, I might consider this strange.     But, in Bizzaro-Land, this is merely another example of an everyday occurrence.


From that point, I stopped at my first destination, was presented with different information than originally expected, so I reconsidered my plans and diverted to the nail salon instead.    There's nothing like a manicure to re-center yourself.     On the way to the salon, I rang up another friend of mine -- to catch up on her day, as well as to share my recent Spongebob experience.     Since she is also a resident of Bizzaro-Land, she understood completely.


While in the salon, I failed to hear my cell phone ringing -- darned Asian soap opera on the tele (much too loud and totally "foreign" in language) -- so when I reached my car; I was greeted with that all-too-familiar message alert sound.     I called my voicemail and had a message from my best friend -- you remember him -- the guy practicing softball.     It seems he had been injured during practice and was on his way to the emergency room with something torn in his knee.     I had only missed the call by about ten minutes but, when I tried to return the call, I just reached his voicemail.     "Text-Message Foreshadowing."


I had a dinner date, so I headed on to the restaurant.     While waiting in the sea of Saturday evening "elbows-&-a-holes" at the bar, my phone rang again.     My friend was out of the ER, diagnosed with torn ligaments and a strained cartilage in his right knee, in a walking cast and on a pair of crutches.     Luckily, the ER doctor saw fit to inject his bum with a cocktail of Demerol and Phenagrin, and he was floating in and out of consciousness while being chauffeured home.   I told him to go home and rest; I would ring him on Sunday.


Toss all of these events into the mix, consider that only three hours had passed, and you can see why life -- in Bizzaro-Land -- is not for the faint of heart!




current mood:  Busy, hectic (work-filled) day ahead
current music:  Spongebob Squarepants Soundtrack CD
(c) 2004 A Southern Belle's Life

Peanuts' Philosophies On Life 



Charlie Brown: Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, 'Where have I gone wrong?'
Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night.'

Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, 'is life a multiple choice test or is it a true or false test?'
Then a voice comes out of the dark, and says:
'We hate to tell you this, but life is a thousand word essay.'

Sometimes I lie awake at night in bed and I ask, Is it all worth it?'
And then a voice says, 'Who are you talking to?'
And another voice says, 'You mean: to whom are you talking?'
And I say, 'No wonder I lie awake at night.'

Sometimes I lie awake at night and I ask, 'Why me?'
And the voice says, 'Nothing personal your name just happened to come up.'

Never lie in bed at night asking yourself questions you can't answer...






You are Woodstock!

Which Peanuts Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla




current mood: Still Exhausted (I hate being an insomniac!)
current music: The ticking of the antique clock downstairs
(c) 2004 A Southern Belle's Life

More Fortune Cookies 

[originally posted Tue Feb 24, 03:23:11 AM on http://east-tn-kitty.blogspot.com/ - transferred to new blog]


Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.


The road less traveled is that way for a reason.




current mood: Tired (another sleepless night)
current music: Silence (except for the hum of the heating vents)
(c) 2004 A Southern Belle's Life


Saturday, February 21, 2004

SATURDAY (Bay City Rollers flashback) 


Verbal:   The greatest trick the devil ever pulled
was convincing the world he didn't exist.

~ The Usual Suspects



Friday was a nightmare.    Too much to do; too little time.    And, not enough time to get everything accomplished.    I hate that feeling!    And, talk about B-O-R-I-N-G!


I had to take the stained glass window (originally) from the front door to the stain glass artists in town to see if they could repair it.    Seems my s.o. broke it a few weeks ago because he forgot to take a door key when he left the house because he was driving his weekend vehicle instead of his company vehicle.    So, when he didn't have a mud-room door key on his return, and I wasn't home, he attempted to come through the front door to turn off the alarm by trying to jimmy the chain lock on the front door.    Instead, he pushed too hard against the door and shattered eight sections out of the stained glass in the 105 year old front door.    I had to replace it with plexiglass until I could get an appointment with these artists.    *sheesh*


Then, I had more errands to run.    I had to *pop* into Belk for some make-up essentials.    Of course, I ended up buying more than I went in for . . . and, never left the Clinique counter.    In addition to a Victoria's Secret junkie, I'm also a Clinique junkie, too.    I think I did quite well -- considering -- I kept the purchases to under $100.00.    That really is good for me; especially since I purchased five items!


After that, it was off to the grocer for some MAJOR shopping -- as in, I haven't shopped for meats or vegetables in several weeks.    And, since my s.o. has decided we're going to start eating better, as in healthier -- which, if you translate that, it means more chopping, prepping, and work for ME! -- but, I guess healthier isn't such a bad idea.


I did see a movie for the first time yesterday.    It got really bad press and reviews when it was released.    But, all-in-all, it wasn't such a bad movie, really.    It was Daredevil with Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jon Favreau and Joe Pantoliano.    Considering it was on a premium channel for free, it wasn't such a stretch to tune in.   And, later last evening, I caught one of my favorite movies, again!    The Usual Suspects.    I think that is a great film, and Kevin Spacey was amazing in it.


This morning, I was able to pick up Alexandria and Bob from the Vet.    I'm glad to have them back home.    They're both just sleeping now, and I'm supposed to keep them quiet for the next six days.    Yeah -- Right!    Bob probably won't be that difficult but, Alex -- she's a whirlwind of energy!


My afternoon is rather hectic.    I have an appointment for a manicure and pedicure a little later (one of my indulgences).    After that, I have to stop in at one of my s.o.'s stores and help the assistant manager with week ending paperwork because the manager is out this weekend "playing-army" as he says -- rather, he has Reserve Duty.    So, my day is rather booked from here on out, it seems, because I have quite a bit of driving to do to get to the places I need to go.    Of course, since the store I'm having to go to is close to a Mall, I have plans to *pop* in and visit Victoria's Secret (I just found out that I over-paid on my credit card by $182.00 -- I need to blow that credit a.s.a.p.), and I want to find a new pair of sunglasses at The Sunglass Hut.   I'm thinking I'll replace the Oakleys of mine that my s.o. "lost" since I'm not all that happy with the current Ray-Bans I'm wearing now.


Well, probably time to get this "show-on-the-road!"    Have a GREAT Weekend, Everyone!



current mood: loving this warm weather
(even though it isn't going to last)
current music: Beethoven for Book Lovers


(c) 2004 A Southern Belle's Life


Thursday, February 19, 2004

Trip To The Vet 


There are two means of refuge from
the miseries of life: music and cats.

~ Albert Schweitzer




Today, I took

Alexandria   Alex   and Bob   Bob

to the Vet.    Alexandria is being spayed and de-clawed (front only), and Bob is only being de-clawed (front only).    I know many people have differing opinions on the big "de-claw" debate but, since my cats do not go outside, only have the front claws removed, and are very well cared for, it is a decision that is necessary for me.    The shredding of furniture and furnishings -vs- the de-claw process (which has not been a problem for any of my other five previous cats that have been de-clawed) wasn't a difficult decision to make, ... considering the costs of replacement and damages that claws have, and will continue to, cause if this procedure isn't done.

The only thing is, ... they both have to stay for two nights at the Vet's office so they can be monitored because of the de-claw surgeries.    I can't pick them up until Saturday morning.    Alexandria is such a bundle of energy that her presence is definitely missed already.    Granted, Bob is more of a "lump-o-cat," but he is definitely going to be missed, too.    Of course the other four are still here, along with the three dogs but, ... Alexandria and Bob are conspicuously absent!



current mood:   a little sad, missing my babies
current music:   Summer of '69 - Brian Adams
(c) 2004 A Southern Belle's Life


Wednesday, February 18, 2004

Smoldering Flames 


I would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful
than a lifetime of nothing special.


~ Steel Magnolias



There are many in this world today that would want you to think that Southern women are somehow inferior in the talents and techniques of seduction.     These same people attempt to perpetuate the myths that anyone from the South must be naive, and/or prudish, and/or clumsy when it comes to the fine art of seduction, and the possession of class.     If you have somehow been deceived by these lies, let me set the record straight.


Southern women are Masters-in-the-Art!


A Southern Belle knows just the proper tilt of the head, accompanied with just the correct lifting of the eyes -- most coyly -- to catch a man's gaze, and knows just exactly how long to hold that gaze for but a mere second longer than sheer "accident," but never longer than past the object-of-the-gaze's comfort level, before demurely dropping the gaze and looking away, shyly.


A Southern Belle knows that a hair-flip must always be accompanied by a coquettish giggle -- this falls into the 6.2 degree of difficulty category, and must never be attempted by a novice.     To achieve stellar performance in this area takes years of hard work, dedication and practice to make it look simple and natural, but perfect timing is the key to executing the maneuver with style and pinpoint accuracy.


A Southern Belle knows how to make a man feel special -- to feel like the protector and the one who is in control.     Of course, the Southern Belle is always in complete and utter control of every situation; she just knows how to make the man she is with feel as if he is the one with all the power.     Stroking the ego is the ultimate aphrodisiac for any man, and the ultimate tool of seduction for any woman.



(c)   2004   A Southern Belle's Life

I Wanna Be A Ballerina ... 



Miss Mona:   "I couldn't be a ballerina now.
I'm too top-heavy. I have a hard
enough time balancin' these
things now without gettin' on my toes!
Me jumpin' up and down?
I'd black both my eyes!
"
~ The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas







Ballet shoes- beautiful, graceful, and creative, you enjoy dancing, writing, and music.    You are often very poetic, and sometimes dramatic.    You keep to yourself aside from a few close friends that you can relate to.

What Kind of Shoe Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla



I'm like Miss Mona -- I always wanted to be a ballerina, too.    As a child, I took lessons and mastered all my barre work and toe exercises with grace and elegance.    But, just like Miss Mona, I certainly couldn't do it now, even if I wanted to.    I'd certainly black both my eyes if I tried.



(c)   2004   A Southern Belle's Life

100 Things 



Elizabeth:  How did you know?   How did
you know I'd respond to you the way I have?

John:  I saw myself in you.


~ 9-1/2 Weeks



  1. I was born at Homestead, Air Force Base, in Florida.
  2. We left Homestead AFB when I was three months old.
  3. Homestead AFB doesn't exist anymore.
  4. It was blown away by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and the government chose not to rebuild it.
  5. My birth certificate shows my given name as Susan.
  6. My really close friends all call me "Kitty."
  7. I am an only child.
  8. My dad is/was a Baptist minister when I was growing up.
  9. I am (now) probably what you would call a typical "P.K." (Preacher's Kid).
  10. But, I wasn't when I was younger.
  11. I was too afraid of my dad!
  12. My birthday is November 6th.
  13. That makes me a Scorpio.
  14. I am definitely a typical Scorpio!
  15. My Chinese sign is the Boar.
  16. Even though I have the characteristics associated with the sign, I just don't like the sound of it -- "boar."
  17. I am left-handed.
  18. I am the only left-handed person in my whole immediate and extended families -- both sides.
  19. I am 5' 6" tall.
  20. I am a natural blonde.
  21. I am fair-skinned with some freckles.
  22. I have teal-colored eyes.
  23. My eyes change between blue, green and a combination of the two depending upon the day, and my mood - I guess I have "mood-eyes."
  24. My peaches-&-cream complexion can be attributed to the fact that I'm Irish.
  25. I love men in uniform, especially Police officers and Naval officers.
  26. My dad was in the Navy, then in the Air Force.
  27. My godfather was in the Air Force with my dad.
  28. Then my godfather became a police officer in Missouri.
  29. Freud says that all of our sexual preferences and attractions are developed by the age of three.    I have vivid memories of a car accident when I was three, and I can remember a lot of policemen taking care of me.    I guess Freud was right.
  30. When I was younger, I wanted to either be a police detective or a newspaper reporter.    Either way, I wanted to be the one asking all the questions!
  31. I am very artistic and creative.
  32. I began drawing and writing at a very young age.
  33. My favorite mediums for creating art were charcoal, pastels and watercolors.
  34. I took extra art and writing classes all through elementary, junior and senior high schools, and was on the newspaper staff in high school.
  35. I have a B.A. in Fine Arts.
  36. I have a B.A. in Applied Arts - Journalism.
  37. I have a B.A. in Interior Design.
  38. I have minors in Psychology and Sociology.
  39. My first job ever was as an administrative assistant at McDonalds.
  40. After that, I worked in hospital billing administration.
  41. Then, I worked as a patient accounts administrator for a multi-satellite mental health facility (sixteen centers across six counties).
  42. Then, I worked as a paralegal for two different law firms (in Chattanooga and Memphis).
  43. I managed to obtain and perform all of these administrative positions without formal training in the fields.
  44. I guess that means I'm a "quick-study."
  45. I owned and operated my own interior design studio for several years, but grew tired of the hassles involved, and now work on a referral-only basis.
  46. I now work as a freelance writer and photographer.
  47. I love all creatures (with the exception of bugs, spiders, and snakes).
  48. I have six cats.
  49. Their names are Molly Claire, Simon Bartholomew, Alvin Bryant, Jasmine Marie, Bob Roberts, and Alexandria Yvette.
  50. They were all rescues.
  51. Molly Claire is my oldest -- she is now seventeen years old.    She was feral and only 2-1/2 weeks old when I got her.
  52. Simon Bartholomew is the only "breed" cat -- he is a Maine Coon.
  53. Alexandria Yvette is my newest -- she was rescued from the crawlspace under the house where she had been abandoned by her mother at approximately 3 weeks old.    She was in the screams of her final "death-cries" when we found her and took her in.
  54. Alex's mother and two siblings live in the barn.   They are feral and won't let you get close at all.    I still put food and water out for them every day.
  55. I also have three dogs.
  56. Their names are Miss Savannah Jayne, Miss Dixie Leigh Belle, and Milton Hans Wolfgang.
  57. They were all rescues as well.
  58. Savannah Jayne is 1/2 black lab and 1/2 black chow.
  59. Dixie Leigh Belle is 1/2 golden retriever and 1/2 chow.
  60. Milton Hans Wolfgang is 1/2 german shepherd and 1/2 unknown (but he looks and moves like a wolf).
  61. I currently have a large tank of freshwater fish.
  62. I have a Plecostomus named Phil, who was a gift from friends moving to Thailand.   He has moved five times since I've had him, totally over 1,000 miles in traveling distance.
  63. I live on a farm in a 105 year old Victorian farmhouse with plenty of acreage.
  64. That means I have plenty of wildlife around the farm to commune with as well.
  65. I enjoy feeding the birds, and have feeders all around the property so that I can watch the different types of birds from practically every window.
  66. I am originally from east Tennessee (Chattanooga).
  67. I lived in west Tennessee (Memphis) for five years between the years of 1993 - 1998, and I can proudly say I never visited Graceland while living there.
  68. I am currently living in north-central Virginia in what might be called the outer-suburbs of Washington, D.C.
  69. I miss Krystal restaurants (my favorite fast-food restaurant).    Bristol, TN/VA is as far north as Krystals currently are.
  70. I also miss Kanpai of Tokyo (my favorite sit-down restaurant), and my favorite cook - Christian.
  71. My favorite season of all is Autumn.
  72. Autumn has all of my favorite colors, too.
  73. But, I do love the first warm days of Spring, when everything is new and filled with life again.
  74. As a child, I was a coloring book junkie -- my parents bought me a new coloring book every time we went to the store.
  75. I was an anal-retentive, obsessive-compulsive child.    I always stayed within the lines, and matched the colors exactly to the colors shown on the covers.
  76. I was also a fanatic about my Crayola Crayons 64 count with the built-in sharpener.    The crayons had to go back in exactly the same place they came out of, and no one else could use my crayons because they might break one.
  77. Okay!   So shoot me!    I'm still A/R - O/C!
  78. I have an OCD number, and have to count certain things that many times before I can continue on.    It's not as bad as some people, and I'm lucky that my number is relatively low.    The main things I "do" using my "number" are checking the stem on my wind-up clock (no electic clock - what if the electricity goes out in the middle of the night?) and shuffling cards.
  79. I am an iNFp as determined by the Keirsey/Myers-Briggs testing study.
  80. I am a shoe-a-holic, and once owned 168 pairs of shoes.
  81. I am also a purse-a-holic, and have lots of purses.    But, I usually end up carrying one purse during the Winter and one purse during the Summer, unless I am going to a specific cocktail party or society event when I will carry an antique Chinese tapestry evening bag instead.
  82. I drive a white Chrysler Sebring convertible with a tan top and tan leather interior.    Convertibles are the ultimate ride!
  83. My car has the following stickers on it: "University of Alabama," University of Alabama "A," University of Alabama "A with an Elephant," "Tennessee Titans," "New Orleans Saints" and my caricature/logo for my Backwash column - "I May Be Blonde, But ... (don't let that fool you!)."
  84. My mother is a breast cancer survivor, and my best friend's mother died from breast cancer.    My license tags are personalized tags that supports "Breast Cancer Awareness."    They display the pink ribbon, and say 4*2*MOMS.
  85. My favorite flowers are the dark purple iris and the apricot tea rose.
  86. I have five piercings, all in my ears.    Two in one ear, and three in the other.
  87. I have a tattoo.    I created the design myself.    It is a purple iris, with the stem in the shape of an "S," and a pair of handcuffs wrapped around the stem (I'm still a cop-junkie).
  88. It took the tattoo artist 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete the design.    There are twenty-seven different colors in the design.
  89. If I had it to do over again, I would probably do it -- just not as big, and in a different spot.
  90. I am addicted to Victoria's Secret, especially the "Angels" collections.    My lingerie cabinet is perfectly organized with all matching sets, color-coordinated to mix-and-match accordingly.
  91. I love thunderstorms, and have had a recording (first on LP, then also on CD) called "One Stormy Night" for almost twenty years that mixes instrumental pieces played with a thunder/rain storm in the background.    Talk about mood music!
  92. I've suffered with severe migraines since I was fourteen.
  93. I'm a cyclic insomniac.    No matter what I do to break the cycle, nothing works until it runs it course.   Very tiring until I can finally sleep again!
  94. I don't drink coffee -- never have, never will.    But, I like going to Starbucks for either a Caramel Apple Cider or a Hot Chocolate.
  95. In the event of any major weather conditions (snow, ice, hurricanes, etc.), there must always be plenty of the following in the house:  a large jar of peanut butter (smooth), a large block of cheese (extra sharp cheddar), some sort of chocolate, some sort of salty item (preferably plain or salt & vinegar potato chips), Coca Cola Classic, popcorn, hot chocolate mix, apple cider, candles and matches, mega rolls of paper towels and toilet paper, cat food, dog food, fish food, bird seed, and kitty litter.
  96. I believe in ghosts, and am totally fascinated by abandoned buildings (I don't think any building is ever completely abandoned!).
  97. I have never seen a Disney movie - ever!    Since I've made it this long without seeing one, why start now?
  98. I have a lot more guy-friends than girl-friends.    I relate better to guys, and they are extremely comfortable around me, confide in me, and we relate on a better level than I do with other women.    I don't know if I intimidate other women or what but, ... I don't need the hassles!    I'll hang out with my guy-friends any day!
  99. I'm currently in the research and developmental phase of not one, but two, books that I hope to publish within the next eighteen months.    Wish Me Luck!
  100. The latest addition to the property is a hot tub (delivered last week).   When the late-night temps dip down into the 20s and 30s and you sink into the 105 degree bubbling tub of hot water with the steam rising up, and lean back and look up at the clear, star-filled sky, that is an amazing treat for all of the senses!



(c)   2004   A Southern Belle's Life

See The U.S.A. 




create your own visited states map here


Hmmmmmm?!?    Twenty-four out of fifty.    Almost 50% isn't too bad; especially if you consider that, until ten years ago, that number was only seven!    Do I get bonus points if I toss in Puerto Rico, Nassau Bahamas, St. Thomas, St. Lucia, Grenada, Guadeloupe, and the Dominican Republic?    (I really love the Islands!)


I want to visit every remaining State in the U.S., as well as several places throughout Europe, Asia and Africa, within the next ten years.    I don't think that is an unreasonable goal, do you?



(c)   2004   A Southern Belle's Life


Tuesday, February 17, 2004

My Inner Child 


My inner child is six years old today

My inner child is six years old!




Look what I can do!     I can walk, I can run, I can read!     I like to do stuff, and there's a whole big world out there to do it in.     Just so long as I can take my blankie and my Mommy and my three best friends with me, of course.


We all need to nourish our "inner-child" whenever we have the opportunity.    Giving our "inner-child" the creative freedom to explore is the best way to continue to always see the world through "fresh eyes!"



(c)  2004   A Southern Belle's Life

Miscellaneous Alphabet Musings 


Live every moment as if it were your last.



A nimal Crackers In My Soup
B utterfly Kisses At Night
C onvertible -- It's A Rag-Top Day!  (I love my rag-top)
D reams Are Wishes Your Heart Makes
E verybody Hurts, Sometimes
F estival, Riverbend -- lots of music, the Bessie Smith Strut, and much, much more
G reenway Parks -- great outdoor experiences (and lots of special memories)
H unter Museum of American Art -- I have attended some wonderful exhibitions, openings, shows and events at Hunter through the years
I Shot An Elephant In My Pajamas -- How He Got In My Pajamas, I Don't Know
J ust Between You And Me
K anpai of Tokyo -- my favorite Chattanooga restaurant   (I have the phone number programmed into my cell phone and I live eight hours away)
L ookouts, Chattanooga's Minor League Baseball Class AA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds
M argaritaville, more than just a song -- it is a way of life ... Check out Radio Margaritaville for more laid-back vibes
N o desire of the body, but for what lies in there, what lies in the flesh, the world, the thought, the creation, the illumination.   March 2, 1936 from Fire   (Anais Nin)
O ne Who Walked Alone, the story of Robert E. Howard, by Novalyne Price Ellis
P ieces of April, I Keep Them In A Memory Bouquet
Q uestion Everything ... When You Stop Asking Questions, You Stop Living
R e-connecting ... There ARE Second Chances
S tarry, Starry Night
T ennessee, My Home-Sweet-Home!
U nderground Atlanta -- an experience not to be missed
V incent, This World Was Never Meant For One As Beautiful As You ...
W e write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection.  (Anais Nin)
X ylograph, A strange-sounding word that produced some beautiful results -- wood carvings used for printings and transfers
Y ou come and the time slips away in a dream.    It is only when you go that I realize completely your presence.    And then it is too late.  (Henry & Anais)
Z ebras Are Just Horses In Striped Pajamas




(c)   2004   A Southern Belle's Life

Fortune Cookies 


Never kiss by the garden gate, cause love is blind but the neighbors ain't.

Add a fortune to your website or blog, click here.




Especially MY neighbors -- darned eighty-three year old fella' has a pair of binoculars!     He doesn't want to miss a thing (and, usually doesn't)!




(c)   2004   A Southern Belle's Life

And, The Winner Is ... 


Just as you can't judge a book by its cover, you can't truly judge a proper Southern Belle by her choices in movies.    Movies, and the appeal of a broad range of topics and genres, simply add to the mystery and allure that is all a part of the ... "keep-them-guessing" aura.     And, never ask a Southern Belle to narrow her choice to just one -- why, darlin', two is a nearly impossible task to achieve ... that is like asking her to choose between only two suitors -- that's just too confining a task!


So, without further ado, I give you my

"Top Fifty-Two Movie Choices"



Aliens; and
Always
Blazing Saddles; and
Bridges of Madison County (The)
Casablanca; and
Choirboys (The)
Deliverance; and
Dead Again
Eraserhead; and
Exorcist (The)
Fatal Attraction; and
Falling in Love
Gone With The Wind; and
Garp, The World According to
Heartbreak Ridge; and
House of 1000 Corpses
Indian Summer; and
Intersection
JFK; and
Junction, Two Moon
Kindergarten Cop; and
K-PAX
Last of Sheila (The); and
Lost Boys (The)
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil; and
Mary, There's Something About
Night of the Living Dead; and
No Way Out
Offerings, Burnt; and
Out of Africa
Pulp Fiction; and
Psycho
Quick and the Dead (The); and
Queen of the Desert, Priscilla
Running Scared; and
Raising Cain
St. Elmo's Fire; and
Strangers, Never Talk To
Texas Chainsaw Massacre II; and
Tombstone
Usual Suspects (The); and
Up Your Alley
Very Bad Things; and
Velvet, Blue
Way We Were (The); and
Whole Wide World (The)
X American History-; and
X, Citizen-
Young Guns; and
Year, Same Time, Next
Zero, Less Than; and
Zoe, Killing

Movies allow us to dispel reality, if only for a brief moment in time, and to let our imaginations soar!     I cannot say that -- even by tomorrow -- these will still be my top fifty-two choices but, for now, they will be my first fifty-two choices ...



(c)   2004   A Southern Belle's Life


Tuesday, February 10, 2004

"Primary" Colors 


This site provides an over-simplified version of a personality test based upon four colors (green, orange, gold and blue), and is quite similar to results determined by Keirsey / Myers-Briggs testing. I was surprised to receive the color result that I did until I read the characteristics associated with the color; then, I realized, it was quite correct, indeed.

Check out the Primary Color Preview for yourself.

As an iNFp, falling into a mere 10% of the total population,

I am also, by this test, a "blue," which is

"[a]pproximately 10% of the men, women and children on the planet" -- coincidence?

I doubt it!




(c)   2004   A Southern Belle's Life

Let The Journey Begin! 



There's nothing like staring at a blank screen and visualizing what is to come.


Thus begins my new journey with Blogger ... and, what an exciting journey I'm sure it will be ...




(c)   2004   A Southern Belle's Life





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Susan Reno-Gilliland, known as "Miss Kitty," an Irish lass, a true Southern Belle; a writer, photographer, animal-lover, dreamer, stargazer, totally tangled (or is that entangled?) in relationships, slightly obsessive iNFp with stories to tell!    . . . (fascinated by forensics, human behavior, pushing all the right buttons of men I find interesting, and seeking utterly-sweet revenge without any repercussions.)     I am a Friday's Child.    Friday's Child is loving & giving.
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