The Number 7

The Number 7 Re-Occurs

I don’t know its significance or what message it is meant to convey. A set of non-blinking brown shadowy eyes and the number 7. Often there is a sweep of silence right after the number presents its self. A silent moment where for three or more seconds I don’t think about the number 7. A slight euphoria? It’s almost a search of emotion in that few seconds because I try my hardest to feel what or where or who is presenting this number to me. I see nothing… Then it starts over again. Seven, 7, XII, just 7… It drips like slow molasses and stays inside my brain for a good number of days after its recurring arrival.

I’m not much of a numerologist. I really haven’t delved into any sort of historic, prophetic, or psychic explanation of this ever occurring number 7. Although looking at the Wikipedia entry on that number along with random Google searches which yield lots of biblical and historical references to consider; I know this is not relevant to my number 7. Yes mine. All I can explain is that it and its aura remains dense for many days after its unexpected arrival. It doesn’t let me forget. It’s almost playful in its occasional, reoccurring visits But, the receiver or giver or initiator is always just out of my reach. I smile at it and look back to see who tossed it but, once again, no one is there. It is charmingly familiar and it lingers for days. But, there is someone or something there that tossed this elusive number 7 toward me. Despite the lack of physical knowledge I fully expect it to be tossed to me again but I can’t predict where or when or why. To my best recollection that number has periodically shadowed me over eight to ten years. Making itself known more and more often. That is the best I can explain it. It feels like there is love or goodness attached with it yet, there is an unfamiliarity that continues with the arrival and ensuing association. This is engaging and somewhat mysterious. In several of my art forms I am required to count a stitch or a shot or a step. In repetitive work I often pause mentally on the number 7 as well. Just because I recognize that it is mysteriously saying something to me or for me or just near me, but mostly making sure that I have once again noticed its presence.

It's not my lucky number. I don’t play the lottery or gamble often. But, a few times I have bet on the number 7. Once in Vegas I played it in Roulette several times knowing it wouldn’t hit. I just wondered if some sort of event would occur due to repetitive betting. Yet, these have availed no winnings and no event has occurred to justify these occurrences of the elusive number 7; Which, to date, continues to remains permanently just out of my reach and understanding. Fuck it, I never liked Vegas much anyway.

The number 7. Are you thinking it? Did you see the A in my hand too? Was there 7 of something that I missed. Who are you Number 7? Will I know you or even dare to? I say, I have know you? Can I email you Number 7? Does it have a Twitter, maybe a cell phone?
(I tried not to be sarcastic right up until this moment.)

NUMBER 7, NUMBER SEVEN, NUMBER 7.

Disclosure: No I’m not criminally insane and have never had any mental disease or been labeled obsessive or neurotic or even psychotic. I’m not an addict nor do I claim to have any sort of supernatural gift or anything of the like. I just felt that after ten years; I should publicize my thoughts on the appearance of this elusive Number 7. Perhaps I am not meant to know. albeit, I still want to know. It won't let me forget. Perhaps I’m losing my mind? This was written on the last day of the Seventh Month , in the year 2010

What Happened to the Weather Channel?

What happened to the Weather Channel?

Over the decade, I would consider myself a weather-head.

Do you recall the commercials in the late 90’s for the weather channel? It depicts 2 guys in a sports bar setting, one was rooting for the warm weather, the other for cool weather. As weekend outlook begins, they are cheering the forecast outcome, like a couple of face painted football fans on opposite teams. I loved that commercial.

Here it is on you tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqYDx5rQjdA

Something has changed in the Weather channel programming in the last 5 years., In my opinion, the overall functionality of the channel and its programming are not effective. Ever since some of the best weather anchors they had, left for on site assignments, it's gone downhill. Now its like listening to small metropolitan news anchors, and very little actual radar coverage. Of course, I'm tuning in to get the latest developments on Tropical Storm Alex, and just had to express my disappointment at actual weather coverage, of the ENTIRE United States and outlying areas.

Why? Well everyone need advertisers and sponsors, and I am aware of that and its what fuels our tv and internet today. Selling commercials on the Weather Channel, should be like catching raindrops in a bucket during a thunderstorm. The drowning of the channels content, has diminished the purpose of the weather channel , hasn’t it? Half of the hour, goes to telling us about the channel, what it covers, who covers it and what even may happen soon. Less than 15 min of the hour, shows the actual radar or forecasted weather for the country. So my irritation, beyond the local on the 8’s, has driven me to “timeline” half an hour for you. (granted that is Sunday and the format is lacking on the weekend anyway) Let us start at the Local on the 8’s… with commentary.

2:38 – Local on the 8’s some love jazz makes it watchable.

2:43 – Disaster in the Gulf… anchors open Ann Thompson's story, fly over of the oil gulf. Shows the spill, and barges in the area working on the spill and relief wells. Interviews with Oil Chief on the ship. Graphic of the Relief Well proposal. One of the outside reporters, who I really admire. Comprehensive and engaging, ending with the possibility of the storm hitting the area and destroying the mission.

2:47 – 15 secs of graphics reminding us that we are watching the channel, and what they will cover.

2:47 Back to Michigan Radar, a quick shot of storms in Boston. Never any really close radar looks. Obvious its storms and lightning near Detroit. But moving out of the area. They also don’t show area NORTH of that, still in the storms. Its like only Detroit exists there.

2:49 – One shot of TS Alex, with a fade out to commercials. (of course they mention that they cover the Tropical Storm News and they have coverage of that. (cause we may not have known)

2:49-2:52 Proactive Commercial, Texas Workforce Commercial, Louisiana Tourist Commercial, weather channel beach party promo.

Actual time is 2:53- but Local on the 8s came back on….. ?

2:53 – Tropical Update. Adam covers it.. his head blocks the biggest part of the storm intensity. Winds 35mph now, he mentions it was intensifying yesterday. Same Radar image loops, short low pressure graphic. Models show the possibilities. His statement is “Last thing we need is that oil going in ever which-away direction” He is showing the timeline and says “We are worried about somebody somewhere”….

10 secs again for Kim to tell us that the weather channel is coming up…..

2:55 – Michigan storm damage. Just a text list, showing damage done in some areas.

2:55 – Live webcam of Detroit.. its just lightly rainy and humid on the video. Once again radar shown for 5 secs, of Michigan.

2:56 – FINALLY, another weather radar of Ohio Thunderstorm Line. No more than 20 secs of it.

2:58 – Oh another Promo of the Weather Channels Beach Party

2:59 – Commercials for Sherwin Williams, M&M’s, Subaru, and Off Clip On

2:59 - Another 15 secs, that weather channel is the authority on Weather

2:59 Local on the 8’s again….. different modern music.

3:00 – You are watching the weather channel. – Graphic.. thanks for the reminder

3:00 – TS Alex, 5 secs of the Radar. Beach cam shown in Belize.. Most is not really visible, but the storm will move out of the area shortly… not really anything to see.

3:01 – Adam again showing the same radar he showed at 2:53. Now pointing and saying that it intensified yesterday. Same graphics , the issue is it will hit land. Yes it has to hit land, Alex. Heavy Rain and Potential track shown again. Intensity will of course change this track. FINALLY they show the rest of the Trop Atlantic. Nothing Forming there.

3:02 – New Information coming from Ntl Weath Svc at 5pm eastern. Kim tells us what is coming up, and that the Weather Channel has continous coverage of it.

3:03 – Michigan Weather, text shown only, some damage and reported Tornado.

3:04 – Kim shows that same Michigan Radar, Moves to Ohio Storm again. (hail Damaging Winds. She mentions the county names. Goes to Southeast, some storms moving southo f Atlanta.

3:05 – Thunderstorm Forecast Graphic

3:06 – Alex at the desk. He says stay tuned for the weather channel, and that we can count on them for the very latest… same TS Alex radar shown.

3:06 – Commercial Dr Scholls, Omnaris allergy med, Crazy Critters for your dog (these are a rip off, btw! Made in china and my dog tore it in the first 10 min)

3:08 – 30 secs of that the weather channel covers, and that they are the authority of Hurrican Season. It looped again at the end.

3:08 Local on the 8’s.

How long can I go on? I didn’t realize how much dictation that would be. But if you read it you get the point. There is only a few minutes, focusing on MI, OH and a very tiny part of the Southeast. Then the TS coverage, unchanged in the last hour, and Local on the 8’s. its almost like the rest of the country doesn’t have weather. Only one graphic shown of the entire US, with a thunderstorm forecast.

ARGH 3:10 – Back to Alex, showing the TS Storm Radar, and repeating things. He gives us too much of a geographical lesson. As if we are in 5^th grade and don’t know where Mexico or the Gulf of Mexico is. It would be effective, if he gave us small talk, about Hurricanes, or something about the storm winds, water temps, or something else!!

3:11 – Back to Gulf. Tarballs on Beach in Jackson County , Miss. Not shown, only a text list.

3:12 NBC's Cary Sanders. Ntl Story shown about the Rigs and possibility of the storm gets into that area. Oil is going to contaminate that whole area. Not just the beach.

I just get fed up watching the weather channel now. Unless Dr Steve Lyons, or Dr Forbes, or one of the other “actual metorologists” come on briefly to give us more comprehensive information. Otherwise, they could just have a robot there, pushing the button that says “replay that” and lets run a bunch of 15 sec promos about how we cover the weather. These promos actually make your realize, how little weather the show actually covers. They just dont actually show a lot of weather in the US. A few main storms, the Tropics, and then lets run some news stories.

Am I the only weather-head that misses the old weather channel? I don’t even know whats going on in the West, Northwest, South, Southwest, The Plains. Its like that part of the US, is just not weather worthy for them. Only Bad and highly repeated Weather Stories Channel. Thank God for the Internet. I can use NOAA.gov, forecaster statements, local news sites, and weather sites, to get more up to date information and more useful weather information on the Heat and Cool, the Rain and Snow, the Hail or Tornados, the Radar composites, and the Tropical Season of Hurricanes. My local WOAI meteorologist, gives me 5 times more US weather information in his 10 minutes, than the weather channel peeps shows me all day long!! I think the guys on the commercials, at “The Front” bar, prolly stopped going there to watch the Weather channel. The face paint faded and now they browse the internet for weather. I just drove myself nuts for 30 minutes, watching the Weather Channel, and documenting the lack of programming and actual weather coverage. Why would I put this content on my smart phone, or embed it on my website? It doesn’t give me any information on the latest weather. I can google better weather information.

Thank goodness at the end of this story, Dr Forbes, does get 1 minute or so to tell us about US Weather and Storms. With actually good graphics. I have to change the channel now. Im on team Lyons, but Forbes really presents the weather issues well.

~Cooksterz

Real Weather can be found at:

http://www.noaa.gov

http://www.wunderground.com/

http://www.intellicast.com/

Also posting this at:

http://www.woai.com/home.aspx

- Citizen Journalist section

Crowned Jewel Bracelet

Easy pattern, with some bead & snap sewing involved. You can size it to your wrist by adding chains, or increasing hook size. Pattern written and designed by Cooksterz
Yarn: Sugar and Cream 100% cotton
Color: Painted Desert
Hook: Aluminum US Hook B 2.25mm
Small metal snap. 5 beads – I used faceted bicone beads – 3 pink, 2 purple

1. ch 40
2. hdc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc across – 39 st, ch1 turn
3. in front loops, sc across – 39 st, ch1 turn
4. sc across – 39 st – ch 5 turn
5. sk 1 sc, sc in next. Turn and sc across the 5 ch loop. Turn and sc in skipped sc below loop. *Ch 5, sk 1 sc, sc in next. Turn and sc across the 5 ch loop. Turn and sc in skipped sc, below the loop.* repeat till 2 sc from end. You will have 12 - nubbies. Sc in last 2 ch. Fasten off.

Attach snap pieces at each end of bracelet. 7. Using Nylon Thread, sew on 5 beads, slightly under the nubbies. (crowned top)

Sphere

Spheres are Fun... say that three times without spitting!

Crochet is taking over my life. HA.. so ive been happily Lost, at places like Crafster and Crochetville. Today I realized this whole pattern swap and monthly challenge addiction. Now my mind goes all over the place, along with the 5 projects im already doing!

Spheres are fun and easy, but this pattern is mathematically correct and really does make a more perfect ball shape. I followed the pattern at http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=341241.0 . For the 26 Row Sphere. I used a bamboo 3.5mm and cotton soft yarn. The multi colors make the perfectness of this pattern less evident! But I really like how it turned out!


My goal is to write down and share patterns at those places too. Even now, I look at my sphere and think what find of funky doll i can turn it into!

Sharing Photo :

Wire Around

Ever get a day ready, filled with lists and plans, and set out to finish it all before days end?
I just couldnt get it done today. So many excuses and still i sit, wondering why i just couldnt get these things done today. Im blaming cold rain and traffic.
I think i just wrote this blog in order to avoid going out in the rain and picking up some things on the list. Sometimes my wiring gets all caddy-whompus.

Is anyone else just sickened by that Secty Gibbs. He is just just a ego-maniac. When he sees a group of reporters, im sure he checks himself in the mirror and imagines what he could say, to incite some giggles. That guy is on my short list of total dicks in government, that are ineffective. There are total dicks in government that make progress, and use the "dickishness" for the greater good. Gibbs needs a public de-pantsing in a bad way. Hes begging for interview and tv time, isnt he? Then there are the Governor candidates in Texas. No to Medina, after her latest statements, she lost my vote. Wow look at me voicing political opinion. Ill stop now and offer a list.

1) There could be a magic package waiting at the Post Office. I go to there now.
2) Magic medicines await me at HEB pharmacy. I go to there now.
3) Hulu - Hilarious series called Super News. Youve got to see the one called "I dont want to go Bowling" It ridicules Facebook and Twitter people. I loathe those 2 sites, so i was thoroughly entertained. Check it out at : http://www.hulu.com/watch/91588/supernews-i-dont-want-to-go-bowling I love the Computer Questions from your Dad segment!! Laugh out Loud Funny.
4) Pick a photo to post here.. Ok OK, im photoshopping them im Out in the Rain... Give myself 1.5 hours to complete said Errands. How about a barrel with wire. Yes youll love its inspiring feel. LOL

Cooksterz

Wintery Doldrums

Often the coldest of seasons, takes my muse and buries it, under a soil packed with "chills" and a stack of sunless photographs.The photos usually lack color. Just how ive been feeling lately! As an video production addict, i have not logged on for a week. This is like an eternity for those of us who watch, comment on and create videos and artful expression. The only thing to do is move on to better paragraphs...


Howard keeps me Napping...


I never happened to make an announcement about this blog. I feel often, as my creations and writing go to a public venue, something gets Lost. Maybe its the idea of someone reading it, and noticing grammatical errors, or perhaps its the fact that about 5 people i actually know would read it, and then whats the point anyway. However, its something fresher and ill be posting here very often now. If only for my own documentative needs. i know documentative is prolly not a word, but its in my brain dictionary and has not been edited out yet.

Ive used my time recently to pick up an old crafty habit, and read more. I also watched a few good movies. I picked Patricia Arquette and stuck at least 5 of her movies on my Netflix list.. True Romance was dark, bloody and emotionally telling. I think it was Romantic too. Call me dark and moody!

Well i wanted to include this BLOG in my next vlog video. I dont do that often, but i think ill start just talking more and let a bit of my guard down. i will link or embed the video here, once i turn on camera, brush hair and post it. Im submitting a few of my stories and opinions to local news sites and hope that some of those editors will accept this old freelance gals views on local sites and sounds in San Antonio. Im not a great candidate for hire, and again, something gets Lost in that aspect. Once I have to do a story, or are assigned a project i lose part of what drives me to do it in the first place. So ill keep taking a chance, and just let the wind and shadow take me places. I like being Lost and just taking each day as its dealt to me. Sometimes good things seep out but often times i miss out on opportunities along the path less taken. Here is a parting list.. you can interpret as you see fit.

1) Yes Jimmy Fallon - no i still hate facebook and twitter.
2) The new historical series Spartacus.. Big time enjoyment.
3) Make a doctors appt, i always wait too long. Dont I?
4) Update your old website. Doesnt it look sucky. I need to swap movie time, with website flash design time. I wish i could sketch it on paper and have it done in 15 min. Im going with a nerdy flowchart design and takes a bit of design there.
5) Zenni Optical Story
6) I like Bic Accountant Fine Points and Government Pens. I need government pens and cant find them on ebay.
7) Watch my You Tube fellow creators.
8) Photography Sites are missing me. So is the Sun. So is Spring and Summer.


Remaining Lost, yet positive, and GO SAINTS! (writing this during the game!)
Cooksterz