Hi Everybody,

I pray that you have a happy and healthy life in the year to come!

Sincerely,

X

(Check out my new discussion Hack Live Spaces to see why I posted this again as a jpeg.)

Want to talk about customizing Spaces?
Join Hack Live Spaces Group.

  Sign up for alerts

Hi Everybody,

I pray that you have a happy and healthy life in the year to come!

Sincerely,

X

EDITED TO ADD:

Could you see that message above? Check out my new discussion Hack Live Spaces to see why I posted this again as a jpeg:

Want to talk about customizing Spaces?
Join Hack Live Spaces Group.

Sign up for alerts

Lookie what I made:

I started with a picture of a stack of baby blocks. Then, in Paint Shop Pro, I made each letter a different file. Then, I put them in Windows Live Writer, one picture at a time. Once it was all done, I did shift/print screen to copy what I had done into the clipboard. Then, I went back to Paint Shop Pro and pasted the clipboard as a new image. Then, cropped it and saved it as a jpeg. Whew!

I am not a Paint Shop Pro expert at all, but my mother gave me her old copy, version 5, of it. I’m trying to learn how to use it. I would like to learn how to make fun picture effects like Jodi did when she made my banner with a picture of Rufus and a drawing of a pond. I have a lot of pictures both of our birds and other pets and of my backyard and pond. I’d like to make my own personalized banner, once I learn how to do the fancy stuff.

This would be really fun as a font, but I don’t have a clue how to make a font.

I first wanted to make this because I thought it would make a fun banner for my space. But, my space is all pink, and the primary and secondary colors would clash and make my eyes jumpy.

Anybody know how to make a font?

X

Want to talk about customizing Spaces?
Join Hack Live Spaces Group.

  Sign up for alerts

I wrote recently about my two parakeets, brother and sister, who want to start a family. I said how I had to take the eggs away and gave her white jellybeans, instead. I’ve done this before with other related parakeets. Eventually, they figure the “egg” isn’t going to hatch, and they go on to different activities. 

But, Gumby and Beady, her mate, have not given up on this jellybean. It is so sweet, but sad, too. The only other thing to do is keep them apart, and that would be cruel, too. Parakeets mate for life, and Beady has already out-lived two long-time mates. Beady is my oldest baby who was born here, and he is the cutest, too. I have a soft place in my heart for him, and all the grown up babies, and want them to be happy.

X

Want to talk about customizing Spaces?
Join Hack Live Spaces Group.

  Sign up for alerts

To my Hubby and me, Christmas is not celebrated with snowmen, reindeer, jingle bells, elves and Santa. To us, it’s another day to be thankful that God chose to be born as a man, to live on earth, and die on earth, for his creation, mankind. Although nobody really knows on what day of the year Jesus was born, this is the day set aside as His Birthday. For some reason, we humans give each other gifts on Jesus' birthday. I’ve never really figured that out, but by hubby and I get each other a gift, or get a joint gift, every Christmas.

At my house, it’s just me, my Hubby, and all the pets. I’m having a nice lazy Christmas with my Hubby. The kids are grown and away at college. They are in town for Christmas, so sometime this long weekend we will be getting together with them, we hope. They have busy lives, but we hope we will be able to round up all three to share a meal some time.

My hubby is taking a much deserved Christmas Day nap. The dogs, birds and I are waiting for him to wake up so we can play with him. Yippy, my hubby woke up. Time to play.

Happy Birthday Jesus! Thank you for everything good in our lives. Thank you even for our challenges, for without them, we would not be able to see you work miracles in our lives.

X

http://x-evolutionist.spaces.live.com/

Want to talk about customizing Spaces?
Join Hack Live Spaces Group.

  Sign up for alerts

In "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Charlie Brown is very discouraged by what he sees Christmas becoming. He is frustrated by the commercialism of the Christmas Season. Finally, he blurts out:

"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"

Linus steps up and says:

Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the lord shone round about them, and they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you this day is born in the City of Bethlehem, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men'". (Luke 2:8-14)

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Amen.

X

http://x-evolutionist.spaces.live.com/

Want to talk about customizing Spaces?
Join Hack Live Spaces Group.

  Sign up for alerts

Here is what C.S. Lewis said about that possibility:

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic-on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg-or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

CS Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book 2, Chapter 3, The Shocking Alternative

Who does the Bible say that Jesus is?

Here is an excerpt from chapter one of the book of John:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was john. he came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only, who came from the father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-14 (NIV)

In summary: In the beginning was the Word ... the Word was God ... the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

The Word was God. And, The Word became flesh. Therefore, God became flesh, thus the Bible says that Jesus is God.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all God ... just as water, ice and steam are all H2O. Existing in three different forms does not change the identity. According to the Bible, which I believe, Jesus is God.

(this is reprinted from my website)

X

http://x-evolutionist.spaces.live.com/

Want to talk about customizing Spaces?
Join Hack Live Spaces Group.

  Sign up for alerts

I wrote the other day that because of my health I spend most of the time in my lazy boy chair. I also wrote that my hubby hooked up the computer in the living room so I could use the computer and sit in my chair at the same time. Previously, my computer was in my office, down the hall, where I worked for the seven years before I got sick. My boss sold me my work computer.

So, now you are caught up. Anyway, so the keyboard and mouse “almost” reached my chair. I had to sit up and lean over a little. Also, there was the extra temptation that my birds were attracted to. Wires!

So, yesterday, my hubby went out and bought our Christmas present – a wireless mouse and keyboard. Now, he can use it in his chair next to mine since before it wouldn’t reach. (His computer is broken and needs a new power supply that costs more than the computer is worth. – so we are now taking turns using this one.)

Now the review: The keyboard is nice. It’s one of those curvy ones that make it comfortable to type if your elbows are on the armrests of a lazy boy chair.

But, the mouse --- this is going to take some getting used to. The mouse is big and heavy. I can’t find the “sweet spot”. The curser doesn’t move when my hand does. My old mouse with the wire, worked very well on my chair arm. But, the new mouse is very persnickety about the texture of the arm, I guess. I guess I will walk down the hall and get a mouse pad – next time I have to get up. Getting up is a big production number for me. I get so dizzy and out of breath, I plan all my journeys so I do several things on the same trip.

So, later this morning, I will visit the restroom, grab a mouse pad, get another cup of coffee and be suckered into giving my dog Belty, and whichever of my other dogs is awake, another goodie. “Come on, Mom, you’re getting a snack, can’t I have a snack? The doggie goodies are right around the corner”. I can’t say no to that sweet face.

And, also like I said the other day, Belty makes a great computer desk. When he joins me in my chair, his rump raises my keyboard to a nice tilt.

Wow, this ended up long. Wish me luck with the mouse. Oh, one thing I like, one of the buttons on the side brings up a magnifying glass. One thing about this set up is that the TV is far away, and the type on some pages is teensy. I love the magnifying glass feature. I just need to get the mouse to work on my lazy boy chair arm.

You get a prize for reading this far down.

X

http://x-evolutionist.spaces.live.com/

Want to talk about customizing Spaces?
Join Hack Live Spaces Group.

  Sign up for alerts

I hope you came here because that blog title offended you. I hope you came here to slap me silly. I felt the same way when I read it.

I'm offended, that’s why I am posting this. In Parade Magazine, in today’s paper,  JCPenney has an ad for their Christmas jewelry sale. It boldly shows a gold bar, stamped with the words: “Only Gold Demands Worship”.

This is the second time I have seen this ad. The first time I saw it, and the first time I ranted against it, was last month, November 30.

“Christmas”, meaning mass for Christ, is the day of the year set aside to commemorate the the fact that Jesus came to earth to be born a man. To some of us, Jesus is not only the Son of God, but God, himself.

“Only Gold Demands Worship” is an insult to everybody who worships God.

Shame on you, again, JCPenney.

X

http://x-evolutionist.spaces.live.com/

Want to talk about customizing Spaces?
Join Hack Live Spaces Group.

  Sign up for alerts

Hi Everybody,

I was just at my profile and read the top where it says Civil Engineering Technician in Oklahoma City. To tell the truth, I haven’t done any civil engineering technician-ing for over a year. I’ve been sick. I’ve gone into it some already in my space.

My job was very technical, and I loved it. I started as a draftsman, learning on the job, in 1976. So, I’ve worked a LONG time, working my way up gradually to a position of great responsibility.

Until last year, I had been working at home on this computer for seven years. I was the only employee of an engineer, and I designed roads, and plugged in his bridges. Between the two of us, we prepared many sets of construction plans.

I would see my boss once or twice a year, and communicated through email, telephone and fax. I really, really loved my job. My spare room in this house was my empire. I knew what needed to be done, and I was in control. No boss looking over my shoulder. It was great.

Then, I got sick. I couldn't remember how to do things. It was very scary and embarrassing. I asked my boss for a leave of absence thinking a break would be good for me.

Well, I haven’t worked in over a year. It turns out that I lost my mind because of this pesky lung disease. My lungs weren’t getting any oxygen to my brains. It took a while for my body to get bad enough to see what the problem was.

Meanwhile, my boss got tired of waiting. Since I did half of the work, he closed up shop and got a job working for somebody else. So, I can’t even do my job now if I wanted to. He even sold me the computer I had used for my work.

So here I am in my Lazy Boy chair on oxygen. My lung disease is perfectly manageable with the oxygen. I’m not getting worse. My brains are working just fine. It’s just my body that isn’t being cooperative lately.

My hubby brought the commuter into the living room and connected it to our TV. My lap is my computer desk, and the arm of the chair is my mouse pad. Sometimes my dog Belty is my computer desk. He loves to sit in my Lazy Boy chair with me sometimes. His behind tilts up my keyboard just right.

So, what am I? Am I still a civil engineering technician? I was one for many years. I know I am not retired, because being retired sounds like you have a retirement check.

I have been sick, and being sick costs money. We are a two income family who have been living on one income for over a year. So, being “retired” is not really what I feel like.

But, most likely, I will not be able to work again, unless I get another civil engineer ing technician job at home. I’m pretty weak, and wear out easily. As long as I am in my Lazy Boy chair, I am self sufficient. Thankfully, I have a hubby who loves me and takes care of me.

So, I’m not retired, and I’m not a housewife. Housewives do chores. I sit in a Lazy Boy chair. Oh well.

So. anybody want to hire an experienced civil engineering technician to telecommute? I work well without supervision. I know MicroStation and Eagle Point. I still know AutoCAD, too, but haven’t used it lately. My computer has the first two programs, My boss was the bridge expert, but I’m just dandy at road profiles, plans and cross sections.

I made Microstation and Eagle Point my slave. I had it all set up just the way I wanted. I customized it exactly the way I wanted. I still have the computer, and the settings are saved. I was so good that my boss didn’t need anybody else in his company any more. I have a 11x17” laser printer, a fax machine, and a screaming internet connection. I’m ready to go back to work.

You get a gold star for reading this far down.

X

http://x-evolutionist.spaces.live.com/

Want to talk about customizing Spaces?
Join Hack Live Spaces Group.

  Sign up for alerts

Christmas is the day we set aside to celebrate that Jesus came to Earth to be born a man. Thinking about that makes me want to tell you why I believe in God.

I am a born again Christian now, but I didn’t always believe  in God. I’m in my fifties, and I’ve only believed in God for 12 years now. So, what changed my mind?

It’s a very long story, but it started with a friend recommending a book to me. I made my website, www.X-Evolutionist.com, especially to tell why I believe in God, so I’m not going to tell the whole story here.

In short, I believe in God because I learned that there is actually scientific evidence that God exists. The first time I heard that, I thought my friend was ignorant and silly. But, finally on a dare, I agreed to read a book he recommended.

Boy oh boy was I surprised! Nine months after reading that first book, and many after it, I suddenly believed that there was a God and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. 

I was reading the Bible sometimes during this time. But, for me, as a hard headed intellectual, it was the scientific evidence that got me.

Here is a link to one of my favorite books that can be read online for free:

In Six Days: Why 50 Scientists Choose to Believe in Creation

This book has 50 chapters, each by a different scientist in many different fields, both biological science and physical science. Each scientist gives evidence from his/her own field why life must have been created, and not a product of chance and time. Spend ten minutes and give me the benefit of the doubt and read a chapter. I double dog dare you.

Some time when you are feeling down, and wondering what’s the point, I  hope you remember this. Honest and truly, there is a God, and he loves you.

in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

Thank you for reading this far down.

Your friend,

X

http://x-evolutionist.spaces.live.com/

Want to talk about customizing Spaces?
Join Hack Live Spaces Group.

  Sign up for alerts

Kimmy sent me reeling down memory lane with today’s blog post about Childhood Heart Throbs. As soon as I read her post, I remembered my long ago crush on Davy Jones of the Monkees. As I told Kimmy,

This is embarrassing. I had a major crush on Davy Jones of the Monkees. I am pretty tall, and he is short. So, I taped his picture to the wall at the right height so I would know how far down I had to bend down to kiss him. Oh, gag me. I haven't thought of this for years.

Here’s a video of Davy and the rest of the Monkees singing Daydream Believer on their TV show eons ago:

Thanks for the memories, Kimmy!

X

http://x-evolutionist.spaces.live.com/

Fellow Spacers: Want to join a Group to talk about new stuff in Spaces? Join Hack Live Spaces Group.

  Sign up for alerts

(For an excellent beginner’s lesson in HTML, check out this site: Getting started with HTML)

I was just telling a friend how to load up code if it won’t work in a blog entry. I thought while I’m at it, I will post it to share it with others. I recommend the HTML Sandbox Gadget. It is similar to the Custom HTML Module available in your space under Customize/Modules, but it runs more types of code.

Here is the description of it on the download page:

“This HTML Sandbox gadget was created by the Windows Live Spaces team. It allows you to present and view most valid HTML content, except Javascript on your live.com or spaces page. Install the gadget and then you can place any valid HTML code into the gadget. This is most useful for Flash based gadgets or widget from other websites including slideshows, videos, etc..”

If you find that your code won’t work in the HTML Sandbox, there is one more thing to try: IFrames! (thank you to Mark Slack for teaching me about IFrames.) The quick explanation is that you put the code elsewhere on the internet and then call into a “frame” in your space. Here’s the longer explanation:

(By this point, the HTML Sandbox is already on your space and in the edit mode)

Load up your code in a free website such as http://geocities.yahoo.com/. If Live.com has free web space available, I don’t know about it. (Personally, my internet provider gives a little web space, so I use that for my Spaces Stuff.)

Here is a sample bit of IFrame code from my Space. It’s for my Google Search Box:

<iframe name="bwindow" scrolling=no align=middle  width=175 height=80 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0 frameborder=1 src="http://members.cox.net/x-evolutionist/spaces/search-space.html">
</iframe>

Insert your url where my url is in the example. Then, edit the width and height numbers until the frame is around your “whatever it is your code is for”. Once everything shows up great, change the frameborder to 0 to turn off the frame.

X

 Sign up for alerts
Stump the Creationist Group   All Things Live Group

It is too cold to go outside. Brrr. But, I have a lot of things in the house to keep me entertained:

Since it is so cold, we brought the bunnies inside a few days ago. Our two bunnies apparently are prepared for winter. They dug a big underground burrow. I can’t even reach the end of it, and I am tall with long arms. Any way, I am too nervous to leave my bunnies outside when it is below freezing outside. My bunnies can see out the glass patio door where I have their pen set up. Hopefully, they will figure out why Mom is making them stay in the house. On the other hand, God planned it so that wild bunnies do fine in the snow, but I feel better knowing my pet bunnies are warm inside.

In other news, I saw something I had never seen before the other day…

Background: Some years back, I took in two abandoned, featherless, crippled parakeet babies I named Fred and Ginger. They are now grown and happy, but their legs are still crippled and in a permanent “splits” called “splay leg”. In order to stand on a perch, they have to stand on one leg, and lean over sideways and stick the other leg out sideways and hold on to the side of the cage. Because of this, they are unable to snuggle next to their sweeties on the perch as the other parakeets are able to do.

So, the other day, I saw Ginger, (who turned out to be a boy), sitting on the bottom of the cage in a splits. (birds never are on the floor unless they are eating or tending a nest) Ginger’s girlfriend was next to Ginger, leaning over and laying her head on Ginger’s shoulder. It was the sweetest thing! Love conquers all!

X
http://X-Evolutionist.spaces.live.com/

Join http://hackmsnspaces.groups.live.com/

I tried again to get a video of my parrot talking. I gave up and looked at a catalog. He decided to tear it up. Rufus likes to let me know who’s in charge. It’s certainly not me!

X
http://X-Evolutionist.spaces.live.com/

Join http://hackmsnspaces.groups.live.com/

I saw a cute picture on Kimmy's Space, and so I went to the website in the corner. Too bad they only have doggies and kitties to chose from. I could have added a lot more family members if they had birds, bunnies and goldfish. X
http://X-Evolutionist.spaces.live.com/
Fellow Spacers: Put a direct link to your Space after every comment.  

It is 20 degrees F this morning, and there is ice on our goldfish pond. The goldfish are just biding their time waiting for spring. Don’t worry, God planned it out that fish can live in a frozen pond just fine. Their system slows down, and they just hang out and do nothing all winter.

This picture above is from a couple of years ago, but this is what my pond will look like soon.

X
http://X-Evolutionist.spaces.live.com/
Fellow Spacers: Put a direct link to your Space after every comment.  

Nope, it’s not him talking, I’ve never been that lucky, but I’ve tried.

This video is actually from a few years ago. Rufus and I were on the back patio, and he bent his head down to get a good scratching. He’s not too fond of my hands because they do bad things, like put him back in his house when he is naughty. But, my feet are never mean to him, so he loves my feet. He is actually quite bonded to my Hubby, now.

Our poor Peanut Boy died recently. Peanut Boy was a Timneh African Grey Parrot. (Rufus in a Congo). Peanut Boy loved my Hubby very, very much, and was with him every evening whispering sweet nothings into my Hubby’s ear. It broke our hearts when God took him to birdie heaven.

Rufus moved right in on my hubby as soon as he was available. My hubby is still broken hearted, but he is a good sport and gives Rufus affection, any way.

Penny, my cockatiel, is the only bird bonded to me. She wants to be on my shoulder all day long, and would sleep with me if it let her. Does my life sound boring? Yes! But that’s the way I like it.

X
http://X-Evolutionist.spaces.live.com/
Spacers, Put a "Return address" Space link  in every comment..
Pass the word.

Check out this short video:

Nick Vujicic
   

He is quite a guy, huh?

X
http://X-Evolutionist.spaces.live.com/
Spacers, Put a "Return address" Space link  in every comment..
Pass the word.

     

That’s an adage about business. You make a good product that people want, and people will buy it.

I have never taken on a national issue here on my Space, but I am not liking something that is going on……

The “Big Three” mousetrap manufacturers in the USA do not make mousetraps that enough people want to buy. People are buying better mousetraps  made elsewhere, and paying more reasonable prices.

A failing mousetrap manufacturer should cut costs, lower the price on the mousetraps, and make a better mousetrap. If a high priced mousetrap is not selling well enough, lower the price and sell more of them to make a profit.

A mousetrap manufacturer that is engaging in poor business practices shouldn’t expect a handout from me, a taxpayer.

There, I got that off my chest. Next time I will blog about silly stuff again.

X
http://X-Evolutionist.spaces.live.com/
Fellow Spacers: Put a direct link to your Space after every comment.