Stiletto's blog ^pro

'Take life one step at a time. Look to yourself - look to your inner self and see life through your own eyes and not the eyes of others. Do not be too quick to judge or condemn. Embrace the journey – feel the light that exists in your life and follow your intuitive hearts.'

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Exploring meaning on a special day
♥

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The Odic force (also called Od [õd], Odyle, Önd, Odes, Odylic, Odyllic, or Odems) is the name given in the mid-19th century to a hypothetical vital energy or life force by Baron Karl von Reichenbach.

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odic_force

...

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I returned last week from my Trip to the States (well deserving of the capitalisation - but more about that as and when) and since I got back I haven't been online at all; not e-mail, not Skype... nada.
I have been catching up with people in person and indulging in offline activities which have presented themselves, as they do...

So, my apologies to those who have not yet heard from me; I'll be holing myself up at home and tackling a bulging Inbox, sorting photos and sharing them with those who are waiting (you know who you are!) but my first priority is...

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Summer at home when home is a holiday resort brings a varied bag of delights. Ferias, concerts, and all sorts of colourful and cultural events ripple out from each town or village over the spring and summer months.

I love June; lengthy days temperate enough to luxuriate out in the countryside or at the beach, with a golden glow of light teasing the long shadows of the late sunsets. July is my favourite full-on summer month, there are more people around; an animated atmosphere for going out, hot days to be spent by the sea and balmy nights that tempt you to linger on till dawn.

In August the tourists descend en mass, plague-like in some forms but less disciplined and orderly than most insects. The sun sets sooner and there is humidity in the night air not discernable a fortnight before; strains of the scent of autumn remind us that summer days are shortening. I prefer spending time home alone or entertaining and visiting with like-minded friends, away from the maddening masses stressing to enjoy their leisure.

This year the month got off to a start worthy of its name… I had been looking forward to my trip to Berlin for months, keen to meet a very special person. People often talk about deceptiveness on the net, but it is true that one can encounter the total opposite. I had a warm and wonderful image of a loving, laughing soul… the vibrant person who embraced me with reflected enthusiasm is all this and much +

Unconditional love is true *bliss* =-)

I’m looking forward to rounding off August with another treat. I’m flying to New York, then California the next day – with just enough time to check out the camera store in NY! Ah, the delights of the dollar exchange as opposed to the Euro for a Sterling person… ;-)

These are the dates for those who have an interest:

29-31 ~ San Francisco
31-1 ~ Sacramento
1-3 ~ Yosemite National Park
3-4 ~ San Francisco

Then it's back to New York to meet up with another very special soul and attend a conference in Rhineback over the weekend, my reason for travelling around these dates.

So I'm looking forward to what this trip brings and open to whatever that may be. I hope for a learning experience of adventure and discovery, scenic sights and curious creatures, punctuated with smiles and flavoured with feelings of joyful freedom.

=-)

Last night I found myself walking down to the beach alone, bearing a large bag and an anticipatory smile.
I wanted to see the fireworks, bonfire and go for a post midnight swim in the sea; I had determined that this year would be a skinny-dip! The friends who'd been planning to come with me had gradually dropped out and I was happy to be able to enjoy the witching hour in my own way. Reaching the edge of the milling people, I found myself a spot on the sand, spread my towel and lay down to enjoy the fireworks, camera at the ready.

Flame Daemon

After the fireworks, the bonfire was lit. I lay gazing through the lens at the fire through the gaps in the crowd and peoples limbs as the flames leaped high above them - when suddenly a pair of legs appeared out of nowhere and straddled me. Opening my left eye I focused and familiar crotch came into view...

Two of my friends had been walking through the beach and wondering whether I'd be there and if they'd see me. We'd been in touch by text earlier but hadn't arranged anything. It was more crowded than other years and visibility was limited to silhouettes.

"Look for a flash," said one of them, "She'll be behind the camera..." Just then they looked down and there I was, lying on the sand in front of them, lens stuck to eye and in another world…
Coincidences happen often for those who believe in them.

My two friends were the only ones from their family who had made it down and the three of us stalwarts had converging ideas about enjoying the night. Knowing that I always go into the sea, they asked if I was going swimming and I explained that this year I wanted to go in nekkid and I'd been thinking of going to another beach as there were so many people around.
“Let’s walk a way down,” X said as he hoisted my big bag. The three of us walked along the shore until there were only a few stragglers, “That's far enough,” X asserted. I looked around as untied my bikini and folded it into my bag, taking my towel and considering my options.

“I'll go down to the shore with you, you take off the robe and give it to me and I'll be waiting for you with the towel when you come out - so long as I don't get wet!”

*perfect*

Midsummer Mediterranean night
wading into the water
I went from skyclad to seaclad
in the whisper of a wave
immersing myself and feeling the flow
loosening my tresses
tasting salt and freedom
Bonfire figures glowed in the distance
with my back to them I gazed out
watched by the waning moon
at the endless horizon and stars in the sky

*precious*

As I returned to my entry point I saw that there were over a dozen people, filling bottles of water, milling around and taking pictures. I saw the dark outline of my friend pointing further down the shore as he started walking.
I swam down on a parallel route, relishing the extra minutes in the Mare Nostrum.

When I emerged I didn’t feel cold at all. I wrapped the towel round me and we made our way to the bonfire to get dry and dressed. Upon seeing me, X had commented on my garb saying that the best thing about djellabas were the hand-holes through which you can scratch your balls. Not having testicles myself, I find the faux-pockets are useful for performing an inverse striptease within the realms of decency. To each their own… ;-)

 

Here's to enjoying Midsummer nights and more...!

Today I am having an open house gathering - a pre-Birthday celebration!

My friends and their children will be arriving as from one o'clock, and there will be an all day dinner ~ from lunch through to tea-time then a barbecue in the evening ~ by which time the toddlers will have mostly gone off with their respective parents and other friends sans smallies will have migrated in for the hard stuff... ;-)

I'm expecting around 40, just over a quarter children. My friends are an eclectic bunch. I'm looking forward to enjoying them all - while everyone can help themselves to whatever they want... I'll be mingling! If the weather is fine we can play in the garden and go for a swim (bring your cossie, swim nekkid - or don't swim, of course!). In any case I've made the whole of downstairs toddler-friendly, peppered the room with cuddly toys and moved all the breakables out of reach. So everyone can just relax, do their own thing and have a good time... =)

I've got colourful balloons, jelly and cakes and all sorts of yummy stuff to eat (the menu is looong and my friends have contributed wonderfully) with jugs of Sangria and Mojitos in the evening. Lashings of Moroccan mint tea too!

*Wooo-hooooo*

Here's to family, friends, food & fun!

trip

v. (trips, tripping, tripped)
1 catch one's foot on something and stumble or fall.
2 (trip up) make a mistake. (trip someone up) detect or expose someone in a mistake or inconsistency.
3 walk, run, or dance with quick light steps. (of words) flow lightly and easily: a name which trips off the tongue.
4 activate (a mechanism), especially by contact with a switch. (of part of an electric circuit) disconnect automatically as a safety measure.
5 Nautical release and raise (an anchor) from the seabed by means of a cable. turn (a yard or other object) from a horizontal to a vertical position for lowering.
6 informal experience hallucinations induced by taking a psychedelic drug, especially LSD.
7 go on a short journey.

n.
1 a journey or excursion, especially for pleasure.
2 an instance of tripping.
3 informal a hallucinatory experience caused by taking a psychedelic drug. a self-indulgent attitude or activity: a power trip.
4 a device that trips a mechanism, circuit, etc.

- PHRASES trip the light fantastic humorous dance. [ORIGIN from ‘Trip it as you go On the light fantastic toe’ (Milton's L'Allegro).]

- ORIGIN ME: from OFr. triper, from MDu. trippen ‘to skip, hop’.

 

Concise Oxford English Dictionary

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trickle

v.
1 (of a liquid) flow in a small stream.
2 come or go slowly or gradually: the congregation began to trickle in.
3 (trickle down) (of wealth) gradually benefit the poorest as a result of the increasing wealth of the richest.

n.
1 a small flow of liquid.
2 a small number of people or things moving slowly.

- ORIGIN ME: imitative.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary

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In an attempt to minimise what could be more than a pyroclastic flow...

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I've been absent from interacting on Ipernity this last week or so... I'm sorry but there were some *big* things going on in my life which... just took up all of me.

Anyway, I'll continue to be away until next week because I'm fucking off on a holiday - a HOLIDAY!!!!
Not just travel, not a "trip" - though I have a feeling it's going to be one too... ;-)

*Tee hee*

So, I'm driving off in my little car, with my phallic shooter easily grabbable on the passanger seat next to me and the music blasting ~ when the sun shines I'll put the roof down and think of my frend Sherry-Rebujito as I'm cruisin'... you'll be proud of me, girl! ;-)

So, all positives thoughts for all sorts of yumminess are more than welcome! *I* will be doing *exactly* what I want to be doing. =)

I will get back to all the comments I've not yet replied to, on all streams - thanks to Ipernity's recent upgrades I'll be able to catch up on every single one when I return ~ thanks Team Ipernity!


Thank you for bothering to read this - it's either care, curiosity or a combination; all to be encouraged! =D

Love and kisses,


Tanya

xXx*

gliddy glub gloopy nibby nabby noopy
la la la - lo lo
sabba sibbi sabba nooby aba naba
lee lee - lo lo
tooby ooby wala
nooby aba naba
early morning singing song

Thank you for sharing the :-)

*precious little life-forms*

Good Morning Starshine (Radio Mix) - Serena Ryder

I haven't been active here over the last few days; I'm a tad disgruntled.

The way whole streams are deleted just like that bewilders me.

It seems to happen quite regularly. In some instances people return, but not necessarily in the same way, which is not always positive.

It all seems very ephemeral.

I don't like it.

I shall continue to ruminate.

 

 

When the Censorship row exploded on F****r, I didn't like the way they (mis)handled things so I stopped uploading photos and participating, out of protest. That was when I joined Ipernity to suck it and see; I immediately found it quite different, though more appealing in certain ways. I was rapidly and increasingly impressed with Ipernity and within a month got a Pro account, though I’d planned on waiting a little longer - they just convinced me sooner!

Proud in his Birthday Suit...

I only joined F****r two months before the row, so I have no idea what it was like “in the good old days”, only what others have referred to so positively in their comments. Maybe I wasn’t there long enough to get into it properly, I was enjoying discovering F****r enormously, but the censorship debacle popped my bubble. When I’d return to check the protest Groups I became increasingly disillusioned and after I resumed uploading my involvement there has been pretty much perfunctory.

I find it is easier and more fluid to strike a rapport with others on Ipernity, as well as follow conversations or streams – and be more connected, generally. At F****r I find it time-consuming and mostly futile to check the comments I’ve made – so many people prefer to collect accolades and don’t even bother with a reply. I’ve gathered from others here on Ipernity that they feel the opposite; maybe there’s an essential plug-in I’m missing or maybe it’s just me. I’d like to know, out of curiosity, though at this stage I’m not willing to invest much time there to find out.

Ipernity has also been a better learning tool for me than F****r, which is not what I’d expected. In this context, as well as others, the blog and video features on Ipernity are a great plus. I also like the layout of the front page and the member tags - the whole feel of things, in general. Ipernity Team’s response to people’s requests and wishes has been fantastic; the new improvements over the last weeks and months have been great and auger well for the future.

Which is really the most salient difference between them; Ipernity respond to their customers/community whereas F****r’s attitude is markedly contrasted and cavalier; they respond to a market (share). I understand that they prefer certain “trouble-makers” slip away, over one issue or another, as their focus and emphasis is on the many thousands signing up daily to join the many millions. I understand they have their priorities… but I don’t share them and their attitude is as off-putting to me as the environment they are creating.

But as a mass photo-sharing / storage site F****r is great, I subscribe to it. I use my account there mainly to share full resolution photos with friends and family; those from events and outings where we’ve been together are mostly private, though I also have many photos of the Hounds and other such that are there for all to view. The unlimited upload is useful as I can upload batches at will; I don’t like the result on my photostream but the way you can organise Sets and Collections makes it easy for my friends to locate the photos they’re interested in. Though there is overlap, at Ipernity I’m more selective about the photos I upload, at F****r I have more quantity, maybe a whole album as opposed to a few photos. You’re welcome to visit and I’ll be happy to import anything upon request. ;-)

So for the moment I have both, horses for courses. Even if Ipernity were to increase their upload allowance I would not change my dual system, now that I have stumbled into it by default I find it serves me well.
F****r is a very convenient tool, but quite frankly I’d rather be browsing through photos and spending my online time here at Ipernity. Ipernity is more fruitful and fun!

This is in response to Bigoode’s attack: Achievement of Stilleto :D
- you might want to read it first and keep it open on another page...

Please see the individual photos for extra comments and notes!!!
if you navigate using the Retaliation Album they are arranged in the story order.

Scroll through the story slowly... and click on the penultimate pic!

 

 

 

 

Now... to the birds!

 

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I headed for the beach with the Hounds yesterday afternoon to take advantage of the warm and sunny weather and went for a glorious walk along the beach. To be doing this mid October is a treat I don't take for granted. I suppose my bikini days are seriously numbered now, I've been taking my time saying goodbye to the summer and the farewells aren't quite over for me!

Flying after the birdies

Beachcoming is quite boring during the summer, but now the shoreline is different and the rougher seas cough up all sorts of objects, Yesterday there were loads of canes and branches, a selection of sodden shoes and a profusion of buoys of all shapes, colours and sizes. Marduk gleefuly spotted a shiny new red one which he had great fun playing with on the way out - and didn't get bored of, which is a first! He ended up carrying or playing with it most of the way back, though I eventually felt sorry for him and his jaw and carried it the final bit myself - but he didn't manage to get me to do it earlier! ;-p

One of the few people we came across was a jogger who made a yapping hand signal and asked as he approached on at a lope, "Do they bite?"

Now this is a silly question. Why, what are you going to do?! Stop and pat them? Hit me over the head?
Of course they bite! How else are they going to eat their food - or deal with anyone who tries to take it from them, for that matter?!
Now, if you mean - "Will they turn around and bite me as I'm jogging past, like frenzied savage beasts?" the answer to that would be, "No... See, I have one under control on a bright red leash and the other is visibly calm and I can trust him to walk to heel and behave like a gent; you have nothing to worry about!"
But in seconds as a chap is running by, one can't really get into all of this.
So I just answered, "No", which is what he was expecting to hear.

I'd prefer it if joggers or walkers cried out, "Keep them away from me!" - "I'm frightened of dogs!"
Then I'd know where they're coming from. But I've noticed, many people ask, "Do they bite?" either because they want to touch them (in which case, why not ask that question, it comes with a different reply) or just for the heck of it, from a distance as I walk by. Bizarre.

... that I was reminded of after reading one of Bigoode's comments ;-)

 

 

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Two Saturdays ago I was perusing my pages at Ipernity as I waited for friends to arrive; it was a fine afternoon and we were going to take the dogs for a walk on the beach. It was with much amusement that I read bigoode in the clouds comment on my Yellow Dragonfly:

"miss the blue one to make a triptic !
Shine on"

Ha ha! Chance would be a fine thing! Well, I'd never even seen a blue one! Yellow, orange and red dragonflies were the ones I'd got excited about in my somewhat limited (but growing) dragonfly encounters; there were blue ones too?!?

Soon after we set off on our walk. We stopped by the little lagoon, where there were some dragonflies but mostly muted camouflage colours - nothing bright and shiny! Then we cut across to the beach and continued our walk along the shore.

Imagine my surprise, when only a short while later, I came across this!!!

I couldn't believe my eyes - what an uncanny coincidence!!! :-D

Wow!!! Shine on indeed!!! *LOL*

I edged nearer to try and take a closer shot...

 

Sand on the wing seemed not a good thing... Unfortunately, the dragonfly appeared incapacitated,
it was moving a bit but not too happily. Maybe it had got wet? Couldn't fly away? It didn't look damaged...

I crouched down to take another shot before deciding what to do about it when suddenly -

 

Marduk rushed right up to me and - well, my quandary was resolved and my photo session abruptly ended.

It was suggested to me that Marduk knew the dragonfly was injured and had acted to end its suffering.

Hmm... so his conclusion was:

Step on!?!?