May 2, 2006

You and I know the depths, we know down, but we always moved forward. Through darkness and obscurity we never stopped moving. We have both had those that knocked us down, even continuously, but they did not know what we hold inside. We have both had those that were like angels, picking us up, encouraging us on. Even they did not know. Even in times when we were suffocated by the “home” around us, that was really a lack thereof, we perceived something, far past the sphere of our current world…only we knew, and there was only one direction.

Some never know and could never realize the courage we hold inside…the depths inside ourselves we pulled from to overcome. We may never understand where it resides. It is so innate, it is ours. But I know what it is born of because from where I stand I can see back to where I was and the fear I felt is how I know courage.

We rise above, and even still, we found ourselves with others, giving all of ourselves, receiving only disappointment in return. Somehow, we managed to come out free on the other side, facing each other. Amazing thing to find a person in this life that can make you feel grateful for every parting, for every lesson learned…it can be hard to know when you are in a relationship that is incomplete, but there is no doubt when you are in one that is complete!

Our relationship is the gratification of our pasts. We have each forged our lives out of sheer will, and now nothing is more exhilarating than the life we forge together…our world holds all the wonderment of childhood. You are such great sweetness!

There is some depth to life that I don’t feel in the presence of all people or in all situations. A deepness that seems to me the foundation of existence. It holds the warmness and familiarity of a mothers embrace and is all encompassing. Like a color, it is a feeling so explicit it cannot be described.

Don, you become a part of this feeling, you are love incarnate.

-Your Merry Ann

April 7, 2006

116 photos

116 photos

April 6, 2006

121 photos

121 photos

April 4, 2006

88 photos

88 photos

April 3, 2006

64 photos

64 photos

March 28, 2006

From the Earth's surface, the Sun's corona ("crown") can only be seen during a total eclipse... but you have to have those nifty little shades to be able to see it, cause them corona waves can burn those eyes pretty good! Unfortunately, it won't be anywhere near us here in America.

"On Wednesday, 2006 March 29, a total eclipse of the Sun will be visible from within a narrow corridor which traverses half the Earth. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow begins in Brazil and extends across the Atlantic, northern Africa, and central Asia where it ends at sunset in western Mongolia. A partial eclipse will be seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which includes the northern two thirds of Africa, Europe, and central Asia." ~NASA

When I was much younger, and I spent my summer months in Costa Rica, I had the childish delight of experiencing a total eclipse... when you can picture the physics, the mechanics, the phenomenon of what you're seeing, it is the most incredible feeling one can experience!

March 27, 2006

59 photos

59 photos

Craziness.  Last night Jenny and Kevin hosted the Going Away Party for Heather, Shaun, Jeff, and myself.  It was the best party I've been to in a very long time.  Everyone was there, and it was about 35 people strong.  There was dancing (my calves are burning!), there were celebratory shots, cake, card-playing, guitar playing, hot tub madness (I have no evidence of this part), and of course a cake fight amongst us.  It was a fantastic night, and I want to thank all our kick ass friends for coming!  We're going to miss you guys so much!!  But some of you, we will see in Omaha soon enough! 

March 23, 2006

77 photos

77 photos

March 20, 2006

(btw... this is an infrared image)

Check this out!! This is so awesome to me!! Here is a picture of the recently discovered... "DNA" nebula (for OBVIOUS reasons named such) using the Spitzer Space telescope. Now, what are nebulae?? Well, normally they are just a conglomeration of dust and gas with no organized shape to them what so ever. So this particular nebula is the first of its' kind... people, this is BIG!

How BIG?? Well, besides the discovery itself, this nebulae stretches out at 80 light-years!! In other words, how far light will travel in 80 years, and that's pretty damn far! quick fact: 1 light-year = 6,000,000,000,000,000 miles (6 trillion miles) IMAGINE THAT TIMES 80!!

Why does it have this shape?? Well, we are still exploring our universe, but something funky is going on at the center of the galaxy. I can only imagine, it's the epicenter of a bunch of solar systems and a whole lotta mass! Well, there is this thingy called a black hole at the center of our galaxy, that could be indirectly influencing magnetic fields around the nebula, causing it to have this DNA shape. So, before matter is completely sucked into nothingness by these scary things, the magnetic fields get all jacked up and twisted. So, what does this mean??? Will this entire mass eventually disapper into the black hole?? And how long does it take for something like that to happen??

quick comparison: DNA nebula is 300 light-years from Black Hole ---- EARTH is about 25,000 light-years from Black Hole (whew, thank goodness!) The magnitude of the things in our own solar system cease to amaze me and take my breath away... imagine what else could be out there in the billions of other galaxies in the universe!!

This double-helix of gas and dust is located at the center of our home galaxy... the Milky Way (just incase you didn't know... ).

March 18, 2006

45 photos

45 photos