I Have A Mind Like A Steel Seive

It is no secret that I struggle with depression. Sometimes it's better, sometimes it's worse, but ultimately it's always there. When I lived by myself, and spent a lot of time alone, dealing with it was easy. If I didn't want to go out, no problem. If I didn't want to talk to people, no problem. If I wanted to cry in the shower for half an hour then go back to bed and sleep for a day, it was no problem. Now that I don't live alone anymore it's a big problem.

I'm not certain if the pressure to perform that I feel is self-imposed, or correctly interpreted. I go places I don't enjoy with people I don't like more often than I used to, which was basically never. I feel my reluctance to engage is seen as an output of my depression as opposed to a genuine aversion, and therefore challenged or discounted. Which makes me feel worse, and sadly, unsure of myself. I'm beginning to understand that as a part of a couple, I'll never again have anything just for myself. That I will have to say goodbye to certain things that I want or that matter to me. As you can see, I've got the buffet set up for my pity party, and the invitation has already been sent. To myself.

Since I know that I cannot change others, only myself, I've decided that I'll work on the problem in another way. Next week I'm going to get a SPECT scan of my brain. Basically, this scan takes place during activity and at rest, showing how all the parts of your brain engage. This is helpful to see essentially what's not switched on. When a trained doctor looks at the results, they can determine the best course of treatment for activating dormant processes, or reversing ones that need to be swapped. The graphic representation can look like a brain outline with voids where activity should be, or a power grid map with cities abandoned blazing with light or cities that have a large population completely dark. If the lights are on, but nobody's home there's a problem. Regulating the power grid is achieved through nutrition, exercise and in some cases medication. I am eager to get a better handle on this. Cognitive therapy has been enormously helpful, but I feel that without the type of deeper scrutiny that a SPECT scan will give, I've plateaued and will be aware of my feelings, understand my behavior, but continue to be unable to change either any further.

I am happy with my life. I'm lucky in love, work, family and finance. I want to be able to enjoy all of it to the fullest. And I'm going to find out how.

12 of 12 April 08

8:28 AM- I'm feeling neglectful of my household duties, so I stay home this morning to do paperwork and filing. I'm going to see a new doctor next month and have to fill out a ton of gross forms.


10:11 AM- I am a crack-up. If only either of us could remember what I said to get this reaction. Then we could all laugh together...


11:21AM- On our way to chocolate shopping, we stop at Colorado Kitchen for brunch. If you are in the DC area, don't let the opportunity to dine here pass you by. The joint only holds 50 people but boy is it good! A good value, too.


12:02 PM- It did not take long to share a patty melt and corn flour waffles. Gavin got bacon and a side of sausages with his waffles, I got crispy onion strings on the plate with my melt. All incredibly good. Chef Gillian Clark makes what is considered among the top 10 burgers in DC. Having tried two of the ten, I think she's the best so far. The waffles were awesome! Subtle corn flavor, fluffy and light topped with butter and maple syrup.


1:35 PM- After unexpectedly running in to some friends at the chocolate shop, they convince us to go to Arrowine with them for some free cheese and wine tastings. Like we need more to eat after 6 different kinds of chocolate and brunch. Remind me why I didn't exercise this morning?


6:13 PM- I wake from my food and heat induced nap to discover that the china I bought has arrived. The pattern is called "Dirty Dishes" because they're naked ladies all around the edge. I love it.


6:16 PM- MD heat wave+no building A/C=chores in underpants. GMiller vacums while trying to beat the heat.


6:47 PM- It is so hot in the condo that our wine needs a cool down before it's drinkable. Watching Good Eats and drinking a nice Spanish red is a good way to stay cool.


7:54 PM- Pepper also feels that it's too hot. If he were an old man, he'd be wearing dark trousers with a strap undershirt and a handkerchief on his bald head. Since he's a cat, he's trying to provide as much surface area for cool air as possible. A new renewable energy source? Perhaps.


10:54 PM- Both Casino Royale and the wine are over, and bedtime soon approaches.


11:15 PM- Flannel and Steve McQueen share a secret: You don't have to beat the heat if you're born cool.


11:51 PM-I like that every night spent with GMiller ends with a kiss.

If you are new to 12 of 12 - here are the basics:

1) ALL PHOTOS MUST BE TAKEN ON THE 12TH OF EACH MONTH.

2) After you post your pictures onto a webpage of your choice (Livejournal, typepad, MySpace, Flickr, etc...) please post the TIME, LOCATION, and A SMALL COMMENT in the pic.

3) You own the rights to all of your pictures. The idea "12 of 12" is Chad Darnell's. While credit is not necessary, please don't credit someone else with the idea.

4) The original concept was at least one body part in the picture. That idea was slowly faded away. The important part is that it is 12 pics.

5) The monthly Bonus pic is a 13th picture and is optional.

6) When referring to the project, please refer to it as "12 OF 12" - not "12 ON 12."

7) Once completed, please e-mail or post the PERMALINK of the post AND the city and state or city and country of WHERE THE PICTURES WERE TAKEN. (If you are on vacation, it's where the pics were taken.)

(The permalink is the link to the ENTRY of your page. If you just send me your website, I have to track it down. By listing the permalink, it helps for people to go back and view your previous 12 of 12 entries from previous months.)

ANYONE is welcome to join in, even if you've never done it before! I hope you will.

I Picked 'em: Why I can't really complain about work anymore

Over the past few months, I've been checking out my options on the job front, as I've mentioned in a previous post. I felt like things were as good as they were going to get at my company for me, and that the things I wanted next just weren't in the cards. So I floated my resume out there, dropped hints, etc. In April, an opportunity falls in my lap. On a friend's recommendation, I get a cold call for an interview. I go, they have some of what I'm looking for... Same sort of work, same BD tool, more responsibility and FLEX TIME. The interview goes well and I get a call for a second interview. Again, the interview goes well.

During this two week time period, I have to do some tall thinking about why I would leave where I am and go somewhere else. I decide not to wrap myself in a knot about it until I get an offer, preferring to be excited about my desirability as a professional. While we're in Williamsburg at the end of March, I get the job. Huge salary increase, work from home 3 days a week (good for raising any small humans in my future)and marketing autonomy. The gnashing of the teeth begins. I talk with GMiller about it. I talk with MY dad about it. I talk with HIS dad about it. I talk with Group about it. I accept the offer. Now comes the hard part; telling my boss I'm leaving. I cry, he's upset, my staff cries... As it turns out, I am valued, trusted and loved at my current company. They don't want me to leave! What will it take for me to stay? After talking to my boss again, we agree to several things, including FLEX TIME. Hooray! All of this in the span of four days.

So I call the new company to decline and they are so MEAN! I could understand being disappointed, but for the love of Mike, my decision is not an indictment of them as human beings! They even got my friend to call me and try to guilt me in to working there. How's that for unprofessional and crappy? They could not have done more to cement my decision to stay with my current company. What a bunch of pus-heads.

Now my work is like a new fiance. We're wedded. We're registered at Target. Just kidding.

12 of 12 March 08

5:57 AM - Another late start on the 12th. I really need to balance my sleep schedule. Here's a beauty tip for all you curly-haired folks out there: scrunch with your towel, never rub!



6:42 AM - This is my favorite pose that Pepper pulls. I think he looks like a fat old man. Sometimes he even watches TV from this position. That's always entertaining.



7:02 AM- My building has caught on fire twice in the past few months, so the management is holding fire safety classes. Notice, too , the saving energy seminar. You know what would be more energy efficient? Replace the building's single pane glass windows and metal sashes with proper windows. That might work.



9:51 AM- It seems as if my job is an endless cycle of phone calls and paperwork if you just go by my 12 of 12. Take a long last look at my sunny beautiful office. I'm being evicted in April. Don't ask.



11:47 AM- The cafe on the first floor of our building is finally open. With the $2 in my wallet, I buy lunch. I chew slowly because it's teeny.



5:18 PM- On my way to meet my book club for dinner. We never read books, just gossip and drink. We're trying the 11th Street Lounge in Clarendon. I've heard good things.



6:14 PM- Finally! I got lost on my way. I'm surprised when I go in at how narrow the restaurant is. It looks really cute and cozy. Best of all, it's half price burger night!




7:39 PM- I forgot that you can still smoke in VA restaurants, and the evening ends in a cloud of fumes that will follow me to the car.



8:37 PM- Great minds think alike as GMiller and I take simultaneous photos of one another.



8:50 PM- It continues to surprise me that I'm so happy to come home to my handsome husband to be. The world falls away for a few moments with his kiss.



9:28 PM- My other handsome fellows can't keep his paws off me as we watch TV.

I Hate My Crappy Ad Firm

They are the worst ad firm I've ever dealt with. They have no concept of customer service, and their work is so sub par, there are no words. I wish I had hired them so that I could fire them. The best thing about working with them is that after I get two more ads developed, I'll never have to deal with them again, Hallelujah!

Let me illustrate the ways in which these knuckleheads have disappointed me.
1. Selling building democracy in developing countries with with machine guns and cigarettes. Literally. The sell sheet had an American soldier with a machine gun holding a cigarette. "Welcome to my country, I'm here to kill you. Sorry, I meant YOUR country. Of course it's your country. I'm still here to kill you. Bullets or cancer. Your choice."

2. Selling driving simulation training to the trucking industry by telling them to "crash and learn". Also, the simulator was pictured in a median strip... as if it fell off of a truck. GAH!

3. Suggesting that we develop a direct mail piece for our campus security assessment program and sending it out a few days after a university nutjob racks up a serious body count, while the incident is still "top of mind" with campus cops. Hey, why not show up at the funeral and hand out fliers? That'll really get 'em!

4. Sending text with typos and misspellings, when they were provided with error free copy. FIVE TIMES!

They suck.

12 of 12 February 08

7:41 AM - I was fifth on line at the polls this morning to vote in the "Potomac Primaries". I wore my sticker proudly all day.



1:19 PM - For lunch I have leftover Lion's Head casserole. The broth was well flavored, but I didn't let the pork chill long enough, nor did I sear the meatballs effectively, so they are a little dry. Good thing the recipe only made four of them. They got eaten despite the lack of savor.



2:36 PM- The view from my office balcony. This is the same office that I was promised prior to the move, then was told that I couldn't occupy, then occupied after four months in another office, and now I have to go back to my old office because the looming specter of "someone more important" has materialized. I hope they die of sunstroke. Then I can have my office back. That's the Masonic Temple in the distance. They have tinfoil dioramas of Moses inside. It's weird.



6:42 PM- I have an urgent need to examine the hem of my skirt. I feel as if there's been a loose string all day, but find nothing. Maybe Moses is sending me brainwaves from inside the temple... Let my stitches go!



7:12 PM- I am forever in traffic! I can't figure out what the deal is with this sea of stock-still cars, it's just rain! I found out later that it was a gross ice storm that caused all kinds of problems. I can't blame my sheltered perception solely on the fact that I park in a garage at work. Sometimes my head's just not in the game.



7:54 PM- I get through the traffic to arrive at my exercise class. I could not figure out why no one was there. I check the calendar, classes are scheduled. What's the problem? The hot line message says that class is canceled due to the weather. I still think it's only raining, so I'm PISSED, especially since I stayed late at work to take the class.



8:31 PM- In traffic again, this time closer to home.



8:44 PM- I'm not as conscientious as GMiller at checking the mail, so sometimes there's a lot in the box when he's out of town, and I get my butt up to the mailbox. This is mostly junk that goes right into the bin.



8:48- When I got home there was a Realtor's card on my dining table. I can't even get excited any more. My first thought was "At least they left the place as neat as they found it." Sometimes prospective buyers really trash the place, which is annoying because a) I can't tell who their Realtor was so my Realtor can call and bawl them out, b) It looks like hell when another person comes to see it later in the day, and finally, c) I hate cleaning up after myself and it really toasts my bread to clean up after strangers, too.



9:37- I treat myself to a Sazerac. My new favorite recipe is from the Brennan family of New Orleans, original home to this original cocktail. M-O-O-N, that spells Sazerac.



8:51 PM- This is a letter that should have gone in the bin at the mailbox, but they got me with the HUD logo on the envelope. With all that you hear nowadays about high interest loan holders getting a break, I was momentarily fished in. Of course, they are obligated by law to tell you that they are not affiliated with HUD once you actually read the letter.



10:20 PM- I am tired. You know, the pleasure I get at hogging the bed no longer outweighs the fact that I am lonely when GMiller travels and I'd rather have to share the space and the blankets.

If you are new to 12 of 12 - here are the basics:

1) ALL PHOTOS MUST BE TAKEN ON THE 12TH OF EACH MONTH.

2) After you post your pictures onto a webpage of your choice (Livejournal, typepad, MySpace, Flickr, etc...) please post the TIME, LOCATION, and A SMALL COMMENT in the pic.

3) You own the rights to all of your pictures. The idea "12 of 12" is Chad Darnell's. While credit is not necessary, please don't credit someone else with the idea.

4) The original concept was at least one body part in the picture. That idea was slowly faded away. The important part is that it is 12 pics.

5) The monthly Bonus pic is a 13th picture and is optional.

6) When referring to the project, please refer to it as "12 OF 12" - not "12 ON 12."

7) Once completed, please e-mail or post the PERMALINK of the post AND the city and state or city and country of WHERE THE PICTURES WERE TAKEN. (If you are on vacation, it's where the pics were taken.)

(The permalink is the link to the ENTRY of your page. If you just send me your website, I have to track it down. By listing the permalink, it helps for people to go back and view your previous 12 of 12 entries from previous months.)

ANYONE is welcome to join in, even if you've never done it before! I hope you will.

Greenbacks bring out the green-eyed monster in me

Trying to plan for the future is hard. In the ant and grasshopper story; I'm the fiddler. I fiddle cash on clothes, bags, food, books... Am I extravagant? No. I buy what I can afford. At least I thought I did, until we went to see a financial planner. I'm not too far off track, which is the good news, but I'm not making my money work for me, either. Phooey. What I can't afford is to have no savings, emergency fund or retirement investments. So I'm not spending what I can afford, I'm spending my future. Pretty sobering. Looking at my scuffy Luella bag makes me mad at my spending plan. Looking at the shoes I wear that the cat chewed makes me mad at my spending plan. Looking at the lifestyles of my friends and acquaintances makes me mad at my spending plan. I am jealous that they spend so freely yet I have this stupid spending plan. Then I read an article in the Washington Post by money writer Michelle Singletary about being happy with what you've got.

The subject of the article expressed the same frustrations I have and asks the straight-shooting columnist for a figurative smack on the head. Ms. Singletary uses a quote from Thoureau; "A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone."

I have to quell my green-eyed monster and realize that because of my stupid spending plan, my fiance and I will pay for our wedding outright without using credit cards. That because of my stupid spending plan, the only debt we have will be our mortgage. That because of my stupid spending plan, car repairs aren't an emergency and December shopping bills aren't the thing that wakes us in a cold sweat come January. And, finally, because of my stupid spending plan, if bad things happen, the safety net we worked to build will be there.

Thinking about it that way, perhaps more people should be jealous of me, even if I have cat tooth marks on all my leather shoes.

It's Mardi Gras!

Faithful readers will know that NOLA is my favorite city that I don't live in. I love Mardi Gras, and so does my family. My father and stepmother are active in the Carnival scene in Biloxi, MS and each has been members of the court and even King and Queen of Mardi Gras for local krewes over the years.

Last night I made GMiller's favorite, grillades and grits, for him. The first time he was served this braised meat and gravy dish we were on our inaugural trip to NOLA as a couple, at brunch at Elizabeth's. After the heaven that is praline bacon, this huge Pyrex pie plate full of food is plunked down in front of GMiller. He has a soft spot for anything braised, and made short work of a serving that would have satisfied four with ease. For the past four or so years, I've been trying to make a version that was met with such excitement. I think last night I succeeded. Thanks to NOLA cuisine, the grillades with andouille and cheddar cheese grit cakes were awesome! If you have some time on your hands, make this dish. It takes about 3-4 hours and is so worth it.

I'll also host friends for dinner tomorrow night. Our menu will be:
Shrimp remoulade
Chicken and Tasso jambalaya
Banana caramel coconut cream pie with dark rum
Gin and tonic
Sazeracs
Abita Mardi Gras bock

My dad sent me a huge box full of decorations, so the place is looking festive with green, gold and purple beads, streamers, doubloons and garland. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

12 of 12 January 08

9:47 AM- Home from exercise via my office where I had to go pick up my camera. GMiller is coming down with the flu and needs to replenish his electrolytes, so gives the human salt lick a kiss. It's a win-win for both of us.


10:32 AM- Now that he's a bona fide Mouse Hunter, Flannel can barely contain his own suaveness. He spent a few minutes shrugging his fur and shaking his paws this morning as the masculinity rolled off him in waves.



11:45- Killing time outside the house, to avoid potential buyers, we go to World Market in Chevy Chase. I'm hoping to find some cheap furniture for my office, but we never even make it to that side of the store, getting predictably stuck in the wine and food aisles. I actually like Spotted Dick, but this was more than I could handle in one bite.


12:35 PM- Still out we go to the Trader Joe's in Foggy Bottom. It is huge and has liquor and beer, because it's in DC. Since we already loaded up on booze in Chevy Chase, our focus here is on actual comestibles.


12:41 PM- Though weakening by the minute, GMiller is strong like bull and carries our TJ's booty all the way back to the car. Once packed up, we head to Burger King then home so my flu-y fellow can rest.


5:44 PM- I'm meeting my friend Elizabeth for a Cyrus Chestnut jazz concert tonight. I have to get there early to pick up my tickets at Will Call, so I have to hurry and put the final touches on my make-up.


6:50 PM- My destination is in sight. Next I will have to run the parking gauntlet. Although it's a painful process, it is much better than it ever has been. When I was in my early twenties, you could park in front of the Saudi Arabian embassy across the street from the Center. Those days are long gone, believe you me.


7:10 PM- In the Hall of Sates after picking up the tickets. The show was in the Family Theatre, which neither Elizabeth or I had ever been in for a performance. Not having a chance to pick your seats means sometimes you sit behind a pole or something like that. We were very lucky, getting center seats at the very front row of the balcony section. It was if the band were performing just for us. Very cool.


9:15- After the concert we follow the exit signs thinking we're heading back to the Hall of States... Wrong! It's really the exit and we get dumped out in front of the Center itself. We go back in to get to the garage for the car. We have reservations for dinner at Circle Bistro in a few minutes, where Elizabeth's husband will meet us. Dinner was very good, and I'd like to go back to try more of the menu. I got tagliatelle with rabbit ragu. Excellent.


11:57 PM- I come home to find GMiller trying the old homestead cure for a cough - whiskey. He says it makes his phlegm taste like peat.


11:58- Pepper cannot contain his glee at having me home again. He breaks in to ecstatic rolling and leg stretching, which all spells "I love you" in interpretive cat dance circles. Or maybe it means "my belly is empty, feed me". I'm going to take the love interpretation.


12:06 AM- As I head to bed, GMiller uploads his 12 of 12 while taking his "medicine".

If you are new to 12 of 12 - here are the basics:

1) ALL PHOTOS MUST BE TAKEN ON THE 12TH OF EACH MONTH.

2) After you post your pictures onto a webpage of your choice (Livejournal, typepad, MySpace, Flickr, etc...) please post the TIME, LOCATION, and A SMALL COMMENT in the pic.

3) You own the rights to all of your pictures. The idea "12 of 12" is Chad Darnell's. While credit is not necessary, please don't credit someone else with the idea.

4) The original concept was at least one body part in the picture. That idea was slowly faded away. The important part is that it is 12 pics.

5) The monthly Bonus pic is a 13th picture and is optional.

6) When referring to the project, please refer to it as "12 OF 12" - not "12 ON 12."

7) Once completed, please e-mail or post the PERMALINK of the post AND the city and state or city and country of WHERE THE PICTURES WERE TAKEN. (If you are on vacation, it's where the pics were taken.)

(The permalink is the link to the ENTRY of your page. If you just send me your website, I have to track it down. By listing the permalink, it helps for people to go back and view your previous 12 of 12 entries from previous months.)

ANYONE is welcome to join in, even if you've never done it before! I hope you will.

You Take The Cake, Dumbass

I just sent an email to two folks asking what quantity they wanted on a print job. One answered that they wanted the nicest color saturation possible and the other said "medium". I'm not saying that everyone should be a MENSA member, but honestly, shouldn't a functional understanding of English be resident in people who have been speaking and reading the language all their lives?

She's Lump, She's In My Head

I have an owie lump on my head right about where you put your hands to do sit ups. My Dr. says that it's a cyst, and I need to see another doctor to confirm that it's not my brain poking out of a hole in my head, or my unborn twin. Either way, they have to cut open my head to fix it. I am nervous about this, as I don't like needles, and since it's not a big lump, they'll probably just shave off a patch of hair, give me a local anesthetic and slice away. Or they'll aspirate it, which is another needle. In. My. Head. With all the panicky thoughts roiling around in there I'm most concerned with how I can get a hair appointment in beforehand. I know I won't be able to get hair dye on the big divot stitches.

I can hear GMiller in my mind telling me to stop psyching myself out and wait for the next Dr.s opinion. He's right. But I can't help thinking about it. So until then, I remain, like Chewbacca's son: Lumpy. (pictured at right)

Mouse Lips!

While I was preparing diner for Gavin's father and stepmother on Boxing Day, I saw Flannel trot out of the bedroom with great purpose. It looked like he had a hairball in his mouth, then I made the connection. As he trotted past Gavin into the kitchen, I warned that Flannel had caught a mouse and that we shouldn't make any noise for fear that Flannel would drop the mouse and it would run to a place where we couldn't retrieve it before his parents arrived.

Flannel spit the mouse out under the wine rack, and the mouse proceeded to run to the food dish in the corner. How apt. Pepper joined in watching what the mouse would do next, but was really too nervous to interfere. Flannel took the mouse back into the bedroom where we managed to trap the mouse in some tupperware. Gavin took him outside and threw it into the woods by the train tracks. Poor mousie looked like he'd been trundled around in a cat's mouth for a while. I hope he got his bearings and found shelter.

Anyway, Flannel is now king of the condo, strutting around and turning his nose up at kibble. Once you've tasted mouse, you can't go back. I told my dad that Flannel was now a member of the He-Man Woman-Hater's Club and he cracked up. Flannel "Mouse Lips" Duggins rules the roost. It's a funny story, but we didn't share it at dinner.

12 of 12 December 07

5:42 AM- I get up much later than I'd planned. Pepper waits for me to go into the kitchen while Flannel stares at Gavin as he goes to take a shower.



5:59 AM- I read a cookbook while eating breakfast. I'm hosting two dinner parties within a few days of each other and I want to make sure that the menus are good, but easy for me to fix so that I'm not too cranky to enjoy my guests when they arrive.



6:20 AM- Faithful readers will remember that my office holiday dinner dance fell on the 12th last year as well. I'm taking my dress of the closet door in preparation for heading to work.



6:28 AM- During the cold weather months, I'm usually driving by the time the sun rises. Since I'm late today, I get a Maxfield Parrish style treat.



8:46 AM- My second hit of caffeine for the day. I think our coffee maker looks like a Silon. But I'm the only one in the office who does. Probably because I'm the only one who knows what a Silon is.



11:41 AM- My colleague and friend arrives at the office. She works in Connecticut and we were told that the only way she could come to the dinner dance and expense it was to have a business meeting. We pulled together a meeting in about half a day. We are just that good.



12:51 PM- We're carving out a niche in the new office real estate hierarchy. My friend helps me move chairs from empty offices into the conference room so that our cobbled together meeting attendees have a place to sit.



1:42 PM- Everything is set for the meeting; agendas at each place and supporting documents in the order in which they'll be discussed.



6:55 PM- This is the first dinner dance I've been too where the girls from my department are in attendance. We all got to sit with our boss, really close to the stage... Only three tables away from the company president! It is pathetic that I measure my value to the organization by where I'm seated at this dinner, but it really is like analyzing photographs of the Soviet May Day parade to see who's in favor and who's not. Three tables away from the prez = high visibility.



8:51 PM- My dessert this year is a little better than last; fresh fruit in whipped cream. I did not eat the chocolate cup. I'm sure it tasted like wax.



9:30 PM- The door prize winning criteria this year was to be the youngest person at the table. You can see from her youthful grin why my colleague won.

If you are new to 12 of 12 - here are the basics:

1) ALL PHOTOS MUST BE TAKEN ON THE 12TH OF EACH MONTH.

2) After you post your pictures onto a webpage of your choice (Livejournal, typepad, MySpace, Flickr, etc...) please post the TIME, LOCATION, and A SMALL COMMENT in the pic.

3) You own the rights to all of your pictures. The idea "12 of 12" is Chad Darnell's. While credit is not necessary, please don't credit someone else with the idea.

4) The original concept was at least one body part in the picture. That idea was slowly faded away. The important part is that it is 12 pics.

5) The monthly Bonus pic is a 13th picture and is optional.

6) When referring to the project, please refer to it as "12 OF 12" - not "12 ON 12."

7) Once completed, please e-mail or post the PERMALINK of the post AND the city and state or city and country of WHERE THE PICTURES WERE TAKEN. (If you are on vacation, it's where the pics were taken.)

(The permalink is the link to the ENTRY of your page. If you just send me your website, I have to track it down. By listing the permalink, it helps for people to go back and view your previous 12 of 12 entries from previous months.)

ANYONE is welcome to join in, even if you've never done it before! I hope you will.