Ah, could it be true? We might have a bit of the white stuff that has been teasing us from our front window on the mountain peaks this week!

Dreary, wet, even snowy October days, my favorite! I will finally have my best excuse to pull the garden for the freeze and spend the rest of the weekend sipping hot chocolate enjoying white flakes out my office window and write and write and write.

::sigh:: Happiness.

Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

The first one is a 12x12 acrylics on canvas board:

and the second is a snow scene that I haven't listed as of yet, painted with acrylics on 8x10 canvas:

UPDATED TO ADD: Both of these are now available in my shop. Click here to visit my etsy shop.

After church let out Sunday night, I went directly to my sister's house. HEAT!!!!!! I begged to be able to stay inside and of course the family let me :-)

Yes, I woke up terribly stuffed up this morning, but I didn't care. It was worth it to be warm! I'll stay again tonight and tomorrow night, then move into my new apartment on Wednesday. Liz is going to help me schlep stuff.

Good timing with the apartment. The next two nights are supposed to be in the 20's. Maybe snow tonight. Brrrrrrrr.......

mmmmmmkay, let's get this started. Jenny has been getting on to me, saying I should blog. I'm pretty sure she's right, sicne I've been trying my hand at 'feeling my feelings.'
But what to blog about? I have a few interesting subjects, but I'm not the kind to blow it wildly out of proportion, trying to make it funny.

It was raining today. Not something hugely common around here. Texas is much to dry and hot for my tastes, but I've learned to call it home. Ben should be happy to know that little tid bit of info.
It's funny how something like rain, that's usually a sign of sadness and despair, can make me so happy.

Well, not really happy so much as.... content? Yes, I suppose that's the word I'm looking for. I feel at peace when it rains. Corney, I know. But I don't really mind.
Like I said, it doesn't rain here a whole lot. And when it does, it's usually a lot of rain for a short amount of time. I think Texas is bipolar. The weather changes way to much.

But I wonder what it is that makes me love rain so much. I don't think it's an emo type of thing. You know, like that one icon? "I love walking in the rain because no one knows I'm crying."

If I get the chance to go outside while it's raining, I'm not walking. Or crying. I running around, laughing and jumping in puddles. All by myself. Funny sight, don't you think?

I don't suppose 'Ill ever know why I love the rain so much. Maybe it's the whole water thing. I happen to think water is beautiful. Any form of it. I especially love it running down windows (while it rains, of course). If I could, I would make a room in my dream house just for when it rains. The entire thing would be glass, just so I could see the water running down. But there would be pieces of glass that I could open, so I would be able to hear the rain, too. hahaha, My own rainwater room.

I suppose I really never will figure out why I love the rain. Or the snow. Or even water. Maybe I just like it when the sky is gray.

At any rate, I think the sun needs to go away.

Bipolar, I swear.

The Phoenix spacecraft has been conducting experiments on the Martian soil and atmosphere since it landed in Mars’ northern arctic region on May 25 of this year.

Phoenix carried to Mars a suite of scientific packages, including a meteorological station that was designed and built by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) with scientists at York University in Toronto and the University of Alberta, Dalhousie.

The CSA is reporting that for the past few days a weather instrument called the LIDAR has for the first time on Mars detected falling snow high in the Martian atmosphere.

“The irony of us, the Canadian team, finding the snow — it’s not lost,” says Cameron Dickinson, a research associate at York University associated with the Phoenix weather station, in an interview with a reporter for the Chronicle Herald in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

LIDAR stands for LIght Detection And Ranging instrument (a stretch for a catchy acronym). The LIDAR shoots a green laser beam up into the Martian atmosphere and with a small telescope analyzes the light that scatters off clouds back down to the ground. The LIDAR can partially determine the composition and distribution of material in the Martian atmosphere.

If you’ve ever played with one of these newer, green laser pointers you might have an idea how the LIDAR works. Point the laser up into the sky on the clearest of nights and you can see the beam head straight off into space. There is a considerable amount of dust even in the calmest air near earth’s surface, and the green laser scatters efficiently off this material. This experiment doesn’t work so well with the less expensive and more common red laser pointers.

The lead scientist for the CSA weather station on Phoenix is Dr. Jim Whiteway, of York University in Toronto. Dr. Whiteway says “We'll be looking for signs that the snow may even reach the ground,” noting in a NASA press release that the snow detected by the LIDAR falls high in the Martian atmosphere. It is not uncommon for rain and snow to evaporate in the atmosphere before reaching the ground even here on earth.

While fall is settling in for us here in West MI, on Mars’ northern hemisphere it is still summer. But the days are getting shorter for Phoenix just as they do for us after the first day of summer. And since Mars does not have a thick atmosphere to act as a blanket, the planet cools down rapidly even in mid summer.

A Martian year is 684 earth days long. A Martian day -- called a sol -- is, however, only about half an hour longer than an earth day. There are 668 sols in a Martian year.

The first day of fall for Phoenix on Mars is Dec. 26, 2008. Winter will set in on May 22, 2009. But Phoenix’s productive time on Mars is rapidly coming to an end. As the sun sinks lower and lower toward the Martian horizon and the sols get shorter and shorter, the amount of electricity Phoenix’s solar panels can generate dwindles. Before too long, there won’t be enough power to keep Phoenix alive.

And in detecting the first flakes of snow falling high above it, Phoenix has seen the beginning of its end. It is expected that when the snow does start falling in earnest during the Martian northern hemisphere fall and winter, Phoenix will eventually be buried.

Yesterday's run -- through a part of town with a lot of downed branches from a recent thunderstorm -- got me thinking about running in the snow.

The first time I ran in the snow was in college, seven or eight years ago.  This was after the storm had already passed, and the snow was 6 inches deep and very slushy.  I don't think I made it half a mile across campus before my legs gave out.  But I loved the feeling.  It was different and fun.

Since then, whenever I see snow starting to fall, I want to be out there running through it.  Yes, the roads and sidewalks start to get slick, but it's hard to describe the sense of childhood freedom that rushes through you as the brisk winter air blows past your face and the snow lands on your skin and melts there and your legs burn and burn.  (Usually, by the end of my run, I'll be soaked to the bone and my eyebrows will be heavy and thick with ice, which looks pretty freaky, I must admit.)

I can't count the number of times I've been out running in the snow since college, but it's one the reasons I'm trying to get back on track this fall.  If we have a couple of good snow storms this winter, I want to be out there in them.

One other great snow running memory: three years ago, the winter after my wife and I moved into our new house, there was a terrible snow storm that dropped a lot of ice and freezing rain along with the 2+ feet of snow.  It took us six hours to chip our way from our front porch to our car (10 feet total) and another day to finish the sidewalk and actually dig out our car.  It was like chiseling through brick.

Most of neighborhood gave up and decided to just let mother nature do the job, so for the next two weeks, many of the sidewalks were covered in snow and ice.  It was like running through an arctic tundra, and I'm not sure if I ever had more fun than I did with those first few runs before folks gave up and got out there to clear the sidewalks on their own.

The top layer was crunchy so it wasn't too slick, but it WAS hard on the legs -- like running through a rough terrain in the woods, off the trail, only with a lot more "give" under each step.   Every now and then I'd hit a section that had been cleared and that was actually tougher than the snowy sections because each afternoon some of the snow would melt into those gullies and then freeze overnight, creating sheets of ice.

I'm sure a lot of people around town thought I was a freak, but I loved every moment of it.

Anyone else like to run in the snow?

On a totally unrelated note, if you've ever wondered how Nike films the runners in their ads, check this out:

Have fun!

You notice weather is cooler? Well, It's hard to notice. Especially after raining, we can feel the difference.

But in north korea and russia, it's very cold and shivery. Highest mountain in korea, Mt. Baekdu has snow in it's top, too!

You see, this is very beautiful. I can feel the power of nature and supernatural effect on me.

It's going too superstitious.

I found this picture in naver news.

Thank you for reading.

Finally I am at the Kung Fu Garden it's nothing like a Chinese restaurant. The studio is a marvelous caricature of any and all recording studios of note - there's something Spinal Tap about it and it's infuriatingly poorly lit - but that's the film maker in me - can't get enough light, especially in the dark. The guitar collection is amazing, as are the photographs along the walls it's a kind of museum of melody. Linda is small and intense, tattooed and gruff, yet I detect sensitivity and insight under the tough cookie wrapping. I like her - she tells me off...."get filming your not here on holiday"

Cold yard,
beckons me;
to travel beyond
what's comfortable;
to discover
the low
and seldom
explored.

Icy morning
chill.
Cool against
my collar.

Sighing, I pull myself
up;
anxious,
but ready

to take the ride.

eXtasis estaba planeada desde ya hace 3 aos como cualquier idea de un grupo de amigos cuando empezamos pensabamos llamarle "Pradera Negra" pero luego surgio el nombre "eXtasis". A principios de el grupo no todos los integrante contaban con instrumentos para poder tocar asi que decidimos esperar un tiempo, poco despues cada quien obtuvo su intrumento, en el 2005 nos decidimos a tocar por primera vez en un evento del colegio desde ese entonces nos metimos mas en la onda de la banda y empezamos a tocar en mas eventos del colegio asi como fiestas y un gran evento que es el Talent Tour de aula 2.0. Al principio era dificil practicar en casas por cuestiones de ruido asi que decidimos turnarnos cada ensayo.

a principios de Noviembre se nos une un ex integrante(Jorge) de 2 bandas llamadas especies ocultas y gradocero

Durante todo este ao 2006 eXtasis a tocado en mas de 10 ocasiones y tambien se a mejorado nuestra experiencia tanto instrumental como en el grupo, ya que nos han dado la portunidad de estar presentes tocando en los eventos y hemos recibido buenos comentarios y apoyo del publico y desde luego esperamos que nos sigan dando ese apoyo y confiaza para tocar. Y hemos estado grabando nuestras primeras canciones las cuales esperamos que sean de su agrado ya que es lo que esperamos de nuestra musica y sea para disfrutar

Jenna Grattan (born on October 26, 1987 in Brockville, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian professional wrestler best known under the stage name Portia Perez.

Contents
1 Career
2 In Wrestling
3 Championships and accomplishments
4 References
5 External links

Career
Portia Perez made her professional debut in summer 2004 for Professional Wrestling Entertainment. While still in high school, Portia took bookings with many companies in Quebec and Ontario, including the promotion she trained with: Universal Wrestling Alliance.[1] In 2005, Perez began accepting bookings in the United States, making her US debut for Cleveland All Pro Wrestling. She also competed for several other American companies, such as Heartland Wrestling Association in Cincinnati, Ohio, and IWA East Coast in Charleston, West Virginia.

In January 2006, Portia took part in her first international tour, spending four weeks in Ireland's Irish Whip Wrestling and England's All Star Wrestling. After returning to Canada, she continued to perform in many Canadian and American companies, including debuting for SHIMMER Women Athletes in May 2006.

Perez made her Mexican wrestling debut in June 2006 as a masked competitor named Xtasis. She spent three weeks competing for Lucha Libre Feminil as well as appearing for AAA.

Portia returned to Europe in November 2006, touring once again with Ireland's Irish Whip Wrestling. During her trip, Perez took part in the Queens of Chaos 2 tournament in Paris, France, and also debuted for Real Quality Wrestling in London's York Hall, challenging RQW Women's Champion "Jezebel" Eden Black.

Portia returned to Europe for a third time in April 2007. She wrestled shows in England and Ireland over the course of four weeks.

Perez missed all of her June and July 2007 dates after suffering a broken hand in a match against MsChif at SHIMMER Women Athletes' June 2 show. She returned to action at Ring of Honor's July 27 show in Long Island.

Perez was part of an illfated tour of India being run by Tiger Jeet Singh in October 2007. All the shows of the tour were canceled and many of the wrestlers were detained by authorities after a riot at a press conference.

Portia formed a tag team with Nicole Matthews debuting at SHIMMER Women Athletes' October 2007 show. They are now known as the Canadian NINJAs, and have also teamed in Vancouver's ECCW.

Portia began a feud with Allison Danger at SHIMMER's July 5, 2008 show, targeting Danger's legitimately injured shoulder.

xtasis, w ww.xtasis.org, ww w.xtasis.org, www .xtasis.org, www. xtasis.org, www.x tasis.org, www.xt asis.org, www.xta sis.org, www.xtas is.org, www.xtasi s.org, www.xtasis .org, www.xtasis. org, www.xtasis.o rg, www.xtasis.or g, ww.xtasis.org, wwwxtasis.org, www.tasis.org, www.xasis.org, www.xtsis.org, www.xtais.org, www.xtass.org, www.xtasi.org, www.xtasisorg, www.xtasis.rg, www.xtasis.og, www.xtasis.or, wwwxtasisorg, ww.tasis.org, wwwxasis.org, www.xasis.rg, www.xtasis.org, ww.xtais.org, www.xtsis.og, www.xtsis.og, wwwxtais.org, ww.xtasisorg, w.xtasis.org

1. My Mitsubishi Eclipse GTS - She was an absolute beauty. It was love at first sight when I saw her on the dealer's website and went to the dealer's with every intention of buying without even a test drive. Although she was expensive (burned quite a hole in my wallet) she was worth every buck. I realized how fast street lights disappear at 200 kmph thanks to her. I love that car! I'm so sad to see her go. :-(
2. My Apartment - Agreed, it was nothing extra-ordinary by American standards but it was a beautiful apartment. Conveniently located next to Walmart, the malls, the Cinemas, Grocery Stores, Blockbuster, Taco Bell, Chilies, etc... I couldn't have asked for a better locality. Not to mention the 24 hours water supply (hot & cold), Central Air conditioning, hooked-up washer & dryer, my home theatre system, the bed.. the list goes on. Above all, it was home!!
3. Organized Traffic, Awesome Roads & Dust free environment - You don't need to polish your shoes; you can wear whites to work, come back and wear them again the next day (Not that you'll have to. But you CAN); you don't have to worry about trucks coming at you in the wrong lane - 'Nuff said!!
4. Fall & Snow - There can not be a lot of things that are prettier than the Fall colors. It is nature at its picturesque best. Watching a snowfall (when you're not driving)  at night is incredible. The little white things falling on your face against a pitch black sky, sending a chill to the spot they land  - Simply mesmerizing. Always made me forget all my worries and be happy. Of course, driving to work the next day will be a royal pain in the butt but it's well worth it.
5. The People @ Work - The people I worked with were just superb. I could not have asked for a better crowd. I've learned a lot from each & every one of them and I certainly miss them.

Am I being the stereotypical guy who just came back from the US and bitches about every little thing in India? No. I am just outlining the things I'm missing so far. I'll probably write a continuation to this post listing the things I missed in the US that I've right now.

In the apartment there's a note from J and no food, no bedroom, no nothing. Well it's ok I can sleep on a sofa, after 10 weeks of freaks on a bus this is gonna be a cake walk. There's nothing to do. I am jet lagged and have no car, can't rent one till the morning - I find a bar - the Universal Bar and Grill, inside there's a barely live band comprising of a fat Japanese girl in a tutu, a mullet wearing a guitar, and an invisible drummer hidden behind a gigantic drum kit. Everyone in the bar is like a failed extra from the Rockford files. I settle on a bar stool to sip a few beers and be told that I'm cute by the bar girl. Tired, my head spins from the beer and clockwrongness and I have to sleep. I retire hurt to the sofa, some hours later J and N burst into the apartment like clowns at a funeral. It's a good start....Tomorrow I would meet growling Linda Perry at her studio - Kung Fu Gardens...

I love the cold weather, and it's here already, here in Toronto, it's only like 5C and it's cold. But when it's winter and it's like -5, I'll probably be like, "Hey! It's not a bad day today", lol. Toronto can be really cold in the winter, we get lots of snow storms, but it's really hot in the summer. I got to start buying some clothes for the winter, probably some more jeans, and sweaters.

The picture below is how snow can be like in the winter:

-Dovidin'