larger view larger view

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz is a worthy read.  My fingerprints have stained the silvery cover and crisp novel pages.  Not quite able to get past the first chapter with a scenario that has ill descriptive taste, I took a breath and soon found myself beyond chapter thirteen. 

Odd Thomas apparently has a Myspace page.  It was there that I became nosy and read his comments.  Impatient mentions of the odd hours had me Googling.  Odd Hours is the fourth installment in the series that begins with Odd Thomas and takes you to Forever Odd, Brother Odd, and now Odd Hours coming out May 20, 2008. 

I do believe I have some catching up to do.  Time well spent.  I look forward to reading more about the Bodachs and Fungus Man.  I have a curiosity with the blackness in a room of a particular house.  A darkness, which had no other description.  I emailed Dean Koontz and his team was kind enough to inform me that my query may be included in his Questions and Answers web page.  I could hope for answers later on in the reading, but I'm starting to think mystery is part of the journey. 

larger view larger view

Schools are having their annual science fairs this month!

My kids are working on their science fair projects.  My husband is in charge of my third grade daughter's project.  I am in charge of my first grade son's demonstration.  So, I suppose I have it a little easier.  We chose the title, How Bee's Make Honey.  But, we will see who gets first place!  Just kidding.  Relax.

My son and I did some research on the Internet, of course.  (Wikipedia sucks, lol).  We did find some neat pictures on google.  We are going to the library this week to do some reading on the subject.  My son got an ear full from the honey stand guy at the Farmer's Market on Saturday, haha.   That was the best source of information so far.  The guy was very informative on what type of flora the bees will get the nectar from to make honey.  The honey from the Farmer's Market is produced by bees and flora here in Kern County.    There is Buck Wheat, Orange Blossom, and Sage flora.  These are in the foothills, for the most part.    I didn't ask too many technical questions, this is a first grader's demonstration. 

My son has enjoyed the research on how a bee will store the nectar and make honey in a honey stomach.  He has been grossed out by the process of regurgitating the honey into the honeycomb, which is glandular body fluid aka bees wax.  But, he has also enjoyed the the tasting of the sweet regurgitated honey lol.  He didn't like the stronger Buck Wheat honey.  He said it had a sour taste.  He couldn't get enough of the Orange Blossom honey.  The guy at the Farmer's market mentioned that it was a favorite with the kids.  This part of the interview had something to do with my son's hypothesis of his favorite choice. 

It has been fun spending time with my son and learning with him along the way.  Now, we just have to put it all together on a display board with some pictures I took and his analysis reports underneath.  Last year he received 3rd place with his volcano.  We shall see if he places higher in this years science fair! 

But, I will be proud!  He has already been rewarded within himself for the hard work he is putting into this demonstration.  I know this by the smiles. 

Life is hard enough with everyday occurrences.  Be it the trials of errands, chores, or family annoyances.  I have stressed so many issues with family and friends in my blogs over the last two years I have spent on Myspace.  I have deleted my personal accounts for reasons that are none of any ones business, but my own.  I have deleted friends, and have been deleted by friends.  Yes, I still call them friends.  Funny how I have dropped top friends, and been dropped myself, to remain good friends with that person over the phone and through messages, but most importantly, in life.  Who?  None of your business.  HA. 

I have been reacquainted with old high school friends, made new friends, and I have been able to keep in touch with family on myspace.  I am thankful.  I have missed much with family.  So, through myspace, I have also been able to explain my actions better through writing.  Writing about the fact that I discontinued to see most of my family for two years when my first children were born. It allowed some of them to read for themselves what happened.  It allowed me to be able to talk about it with the ones who don't have a Myspace.  I learned that family is you.  My sister had to remind me that family makes up who you are and who you will become, whether you like it or not, haha. 

Through Myspace, I have been able to pursue my dream of writing.  It has made me a better writer and uncovering a hidden photographic talent that I might have strengthened in college in Photo Journalism, had I known I would be good at it.  Whether I make a career, or not, out of what I pursue on Myspace and now other Internet sources as a result of Myspace browsing, doesn't matter.  What matters is that I am trying.  Although, many opportunities have been passed, for I am doing what I can for the time being. 

There is no burning of bridges, only water under the bridge that douses the flames.  Everyday things change in our lives, Myspace is no different.  We may forget, forgive, and be forewarned that our top friends list may grow bigger, or smaller.  It might be different people on that list from month to month, or the same people we started with in the beginning.  It might be the same people we started with all over again in another year, after taking them off for whatever reason.      

Myspace does not define me, or my family and friends.  It is not even close to being a reflection of who I am.  And as one friend put it, "If you base who I am by pictures on Myspace alone, you must think I'm crazy."  I'm sure this is true for most of us.  The old saying goes, Do not judge a book by it's cover.  In today's world--Do not judge a book by it's Myspace page.