Any Emu Fans Out There?

They are so big now...nearly taller than me...WOW...Is it really possible that in less than 5 months those little buggers have grown from the size of a small cat to the my height? Yes, it must me because I can see them. Interestingly, they've become so tame they will eat lettuce out of the palm of my hand and drink out of the hose. Have you ever seen a sparrow take a bath in a fountain? Picture a Big Bird bathing in a wading pool...and you can't help but laugh. These gentle giants go through a wading pool every few months. With their raptor claws they puncture holes in the plastic pools as they flick water on each other.

Beyond loving water, they are curious. So curious, I have to becareful with what they do, They will stick their heads through the fence and peck our German Shepard. I'm hoping someday she doesn't decide to have Emu for lunch.They chase anything that moves, peck anything that looks edible and pluck feathers from their roomate Turkeys. They are ravenous eaters consuming the occasional bug, lizard, leaf, and numerous mushy fruits. Yet, No livestock dealors in my area carry the Emu food...so I have to mix my own... here is the recipe...

Emu Chow

2 bags Turkey Finisher

2 bags Chicken Scratch

1 bag Dog Food

Pour together, mix well...and Enjoy...

And Trust me they enjoy it along with 2 Turkeys, 20 Chickens, half a dozen dove and a few blackbirds...what a manegerie...I have...The expense is the worst....50 dollars a month...ugh! But I believe its worth it...Goodnight Cyberspace, Keep Happy, Healthy and Friendly

To UCLA...I Go

Did You know that The Copts are a group of Christian Eygptians? How about this...had you any idea that their are two Popes? The Roman Catholic Pope Benedict XVI and Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III.

The joy in life is really to just give life a chance. To learn something new and to challenge yourself with new activities. For me the recent challenge was to present at a conference at UCLA. I am not a good public speaker...my hands shake and my eyes loose focus, my breath comes slowly and I speed talk. Giving the speech to my graduating class in High School I swore that would be it...no more speechs and no more public speaking engagements. WELL I LIED! I was honored...and terrified at the prospect of being invited to present a paper at the 10th Annual UCLA St. Shenouda Coptic Conference. Honor:To be one of only a few special speakers amongst famous men such as Prof. James Robinson and Dr. Mark Swansen. Terror: Standing in front of 50 people and presenting a paper in front of Doctors, Scholars and Preists. I managed to be terrified and still give my presentation without stumbling or forgeting the words.

Walking to the podium, I tried hard to breath and remember all the hints I had been given like "look over the crowd" "smile" "Just take your time everything will be ok" but I knew that it wasn't going to be ok. I step onto the stage plant my hands firmly onto the podium and set down my paper. Starting with "Its an Honor to be here to present..." and ending with "Thank you". I thought, wow...that wasn't so bad. Until the questions began. Question one...a cinch...Question two...oh geez...breath...ok...done, applause...Step off the stage, walked back to my seat. I believe in luck and that might have just been my lucky day. I had two offers to publish my paper in scholarly references i.e. peer reviewed works and I didn't trip getting off the stage. All I have to say is I came, I saw, and I conquered...My challenge for the summer is over...Thank you Dr. Vivian, Hany Takla and the St. Shenouda Coptic Society for giving me this chance.
Goodnight Cyberspace...Stay softhearted..

A Building that Shouldn't have been

I believe this is one of the ugliest pieces of history and architecture that I have had the pleasure to read about and see on TV. I was watching an episode of Ghost Hunters International and this Hall was featured. One of the managers of the Hall referred to it as the most haunted building in Great Britain. The ghost hunters although found no evidence of a haunting. Personally, I don't believe in ghosts. I chalk all paranormal activity up to psychology, anxiety, the power of the mind, and the devil. For me ghosts are a way to draw humans away from what really matters. Yet, for some odd reason I enjoy watching the so-called scientific investigation of ghosts. Go ahead call me a hypocrite...I deserve it. Samlesbury Hall interests me more for its odd Tudor design. Situated in Great Britain this house sits like an enigma in the landscape. Its decorated in black and white gingerbread and clubs. It makes me dizzy.

Take a Personal Online Tour with courtesy of http://www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com/samlesbury-hall-tours.html.

A little history: Samlesbury Hall was built in the 14th century by the D'Ewyas family and situated on the bank of the river Ribble. The Hall was destroyed by Robert the Bruce, after the Battle of Bannockburn, where the Scots attacked homes along the banks of the river, from Preston to Clitheroe. Gilbert de Southworth from Warrington married Alice D'Ewyas in the early 1320's, and five years later built the Hall, at least the oldest part of the building. Mr. John Cooper bought the Hall in 1850. In 1862, Joseph Harrison bought the Hall and restored much of what stands today. The renovations nearly bankrupt Harrison causing him to commit sucide.

A Post for an Amazing Poster

I've been gone for a long time, not posting or reading bI am writting at the request of a dear friend. I would like to send a prayer and a good word to a Post to Poster Sandy Kessler. Sandy is ill and needs support and strength. Sandy we are all here for you.

Here is a few sweet words for you strength, from an unlikely source...GET WELL SOON SANDY!!!:

Sick
'I cannot go to school today, 'Said little Peggy Ann McKay.'

I have the measles and the mumps,

A gash, a rash and purple bumps.

My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,

I'm going blind in my right eye.

My tonsils are as big as rocks,

I've counted sixteen chicken pox

And there's one more-that's seventeen,

And don't you think my face looks green?

My leg is cut-my eyes are blue-It might be instamatic flu.

I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,

I'm sure that my left leg is broke-My hip hurts when I move my chin,

My belly button's caving in,

My back is wrenched,

my ankle's sprained,

My 'pendix pains each time it rains.

My nose is cold, my toes are numb.

I have a sliver in my thumb.

My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,

I hardly whisper when I speak.

My tongue is filling up my mouth,

I think my hair is falling out.

My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,

My temperature is one-o-eight.

My brain is shrunk,

I cannot hear,

There is a hole inside my ear.

I have a hangnail, and my heart is-what?

What's that? What's that you say?

You say today is...Saturday?

G'bye, I'm going out to play! '

---Shel Silverstein