Netiquette

Okay, so here's the deal. Lots of people say lots of things online that they might or might not be quite so willing to blurt out in person, speaking face to face. Now, when you go to some 'neutral' site - for example, Yahoo! or CNN - and you read about something that gets you thinking...and you see that there are comments posted about the story, that's the kind of place where you just let it all out - say exactly what you want to say, use whatever kind of language you want to. You don't have to have regard for any one or anything if you don't want to. You can just focus on conveying your opinion. Super cool. Love it. Do it all the time.

However, there's a difference (IMHO) when it comes to commenting on a friend's blog, Facebook page, etc... I have lots of friends on several different social networks. Some of these friends are lifelong companions. Some of the people who I connect with are family members. Others may be more casual acquaintences, but nonetheless, people with whom I've socialized, and shared experiences. So, on those pages, it seems like it makes sense to keep things in a more "civil" tone. Let me rephrase that. If I visit someone's page, and see something they've posted that I disagree with, or that I think is "inappropriate" or "distasteful" or "just plain stupid" (lol) I don't feel it's in good taste to comment there in the same way that I might, had I seen the same information just out on the web somewhere. Today, I had a friend comment about a link and video that I had posted. Not only did they a.) misunderstand completely the point of the link, they b.) made what I considered to be very rude comments in their so-called 'discussion' of the topic. Now, I WELCOME dialogue about any subject. However, it seemed evident that this person had no interest in discussing anything. Their mind was made up, there was no changing it, so sayeth the Lord. Amen. Okay, fine. Regardless of all of that, there were much better ways to have said the things that got said. I'mjustsayin'...

In the future, perhaps we should all take on the habits of good dog walkers. If, while you're out and about online, you feel the need to take a crap on my page please be sure to pick up after yourself. I'll be sure I do the same, if I ever take a squat on yours.

Robbin Gallery Opening

Robbin Gallery Opening 059, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Robbin Gallery Opening 042, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Robbin Gallery Opening 056, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

This is my friend Raki, and her son Andrew. The photo was taken about 30 minutes after he was born. She chose it as her favorite of the ones I took that night, so I used it in my first show. It was quite an event to witness his birth!

Robbin Gallery Opening 043, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

This was the other image I chose for the show. When I was in Atlanta after my nephew Olan was born, we took a walk one day on the patio at my sister's apartment. While we sat in the sunshine feeling the warm breeze of Fall in Atlanta, this little guy went scurrying by. I snapped a few photos, sort of as a joke, but they turned out pretty crisp and vivid and my mom loved them. So, into the show with the bug pics!

Here's one of Mom and me; her work was really stunning, too!

Equality for ALL!

Randi and Phil on CNN:

Brayden's First Birthday!!

We celebrated Brayden's 1st Birthday this past weekend. He's the son of my cousin Ben and his lovely wife, Emily. Today is his actual birthday, February 10th. He's been an absolutely amazing trooper in this first year of his life. Two open heart surgeries; the first of which took place on Valentine's Day last year...pretty appropriate. Here he is at his party, having a BLAST - and loving his cousin Brock.









I just had to include one more - it was just a snapshot of a moment where I happened to catch him blinking; but it's such a funny picture!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRAYDEN!!! We love you!!

Weekend at My House

I'm in the middle of a typical Saturday here at Casa Monson. I just thought I'd share this moment with you. I'm reading one of my favorite blogs (Home Fires by Lois Lane) and I'm joined, first by Zoey, and soon after, by Bella. They have a need to join me at (on) my desk whenever I'm sitting here for more than a few minutes. Pardon the redeye and the photo quality, I didn't dare roll my chair back for fear of them jumping off my desk. Aren't we cute, catching up on our favorite blogs?

And, see for yourself why I love Lois Lane!

http://nonewzhomefires.blogspot.com

Mr Blue Eyes!

DSC_0123, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

My Lucky Day!

Okay, so if you know me, you know that I'm a fan of several "bloggers" out there, and that I actually created this blog, sort of "in honor" of one of one of the most well known bloggers of them all - Rosie O'Donnell. I found her blog way back when she started on the View, but by then she'd been doing it for years. I wish I had known about it earlier, when it could sort of be more "organic". By the time I happened upon it, she had so many fans visiting every day that it lost a little of it's charm/intimacy. In any case, I was hooked from the start, and through Rosie, I found Ross the Intern and ANT, the comedian - and I've been a regular at all of their blogs for the last year+. Because of that, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet ANT this past summer when he came to town for a show he was in. He could not have been more kind, gracious, welcoming, considerate - the whole evening, he made sure that we (my friend Kristy and I) were taken care of. Then, he asked me to meet for breakfast the next morning so we'd have a chance to talk. Here's a picture from that morning:

Isn't he cute as a button? He, more than any other, has been so unafraid to connect on a real level. Recently, I posted on his blog (nbc.com/ant) about some big decisions I was making about my life, and literally 5 minutes later, my cell phone rang, and it was him. "Talk to me, what's going on?" He proceeded to spend the next 20 minutes telling me how I deserved nothing but the best, and encouraging me to demand nothing less for myself. He was really something. (Especially given the fact that at the time, he was at the bedside of his life partner, who passed away about a week later. He still took the time to call me, which I think is pretty amazing.) Now, backtracking a bit, I found ANT through Ross "the Intern" Mathews (you know, the cute funny guy from the Tonight Show, who does all of the fun assignments for Jay?) If, for any reason, you don't recognize his name, you'll surely know his voice when you hear it. Here's my favorite ROSS assignment:

HYSTERICAL!!!!!
Since then, Ross appeared on Celebrety Fit Club (hosted by ANT) on VH1. He lost over 60 pounds, and to this day, he posts new blogs every day at NBC.com/rossblog. Sometimes, he does what's called a "teleblog" where he asks for phone numbers and randomly calls a few of his blogger fans (called "blog buddies") and records it for a blog. Yesterday, I was lucky enough to get a call! (It might have been because I submitted my number 50-60 times as evidenced here:

From: Ross Mathews [mailto:hellorossm@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 2:59 PM
To: Monson, Donna
Subject: RE: TELEBLOG


Donna! Only one entry per person - you're jamming my email!
Thanks!
Ross

Subject: RE: TELEBLOG
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:59:29 -0600
From: Donna.Monson@qwest.com
To: hellorossm@hotmail.com


Sorry, I totally got addicted. I stopped a few minutes ago. How embarassing!

From: Ross Mathews [mailto:hellorossm@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 3:00 PM
To: Monson, Donna
Subject: RE: TELEBLOG


I appreciate your enthusiasm! :)
Ross )

It turned out several of us were sending multiple requests, and so he got a bit overwhelmed by the response. Funny!

Anyway, want to see it? I'm caller #3. Check it out!!!!

SANTA HATS!!! YAY!!! SANTA HATS ARE FAMOUS NOW - hooray!! Wasn't his diagram perfect??

So, my Christmas is off to a fantastic start. And, my sister, her husband, and my baby nephew Olan will be here in a matter of days - life is good!

I, Robot Baby

DSC06623, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Is it just me? Or does Olan look just a teensy bit like the I, Robot faces in this particular photo?

A Little Christmas Reading

DSC06768, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Olan is catching up on his reading list. Doesn't he look smart? :-)

Olan tries out his Baby Bjorn! (and thinks about licking his Monkey)

Olan's First Parade

In honor of VETRAN's DAY - we thank all of the men and women who have, and continue to serve our country. God Bless the United States of America!

He Said, She Said, She Said

ANT said:

"Why NOT you???"

Molly said:

"Listen to what the Universe is telling you.
There are better things just waiting for you."

Oprah said:

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them...the first time."

Letting Go

There are people who can walk away from you.
And hear me when I tell you this!
When people can walk away from you: let them walk.


I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you,
loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you,
staying attached to you.
I mean hang up the phone.


When people can walk away from you let them walk.
Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.

People leave you because they are not joined to you.
And if they are not joined to you,
you can't make them stay.
Let them go.


And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person,
it just means that their part in the story is over.
And you've got to know when people's
part in your story is over so that you
don't keep trying to raise the dead.


You've got to know when it's dead.
You've got to know when it's over.
Let me tell you something.
I've got the gift of good-bye.
It's the tenth spiritual gift,
I believe in good-bye.


It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful,
and I know whatever God means for me to have
He'll give it to me.
And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it.
Stop begging people to stay.
Let them go!!


If you are holding on to something
that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life,
then you need to ...LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to past hurts and pains .
LET IT GO!!!

If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth...
LET IT GO!!!

If someone has angered you ...
LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge ..
LET IT GO!!!

If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction .
LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or
talents ..
LET IT GO!!!

If you have a bad attitude...
LET IT GO!!!

If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better...
LET IT GO!!!

If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new
level in Him...
LET IT GO!!!

If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship....
LET IT GO!!!

If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help
themselves..
LET IT GO!!!

If you're feeling depressed and stressed ....
LET IT GO!!!

If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling
yourself and God is saying "take your hands off of it," then you need to...
LET IT GO!!!

Let the past be the past.
Forget the former things.
LET IT GO!!!

President-Elect Barack Obama

Happy Halloween!!

IMG_1734, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

This was one of my more recent costumes. I was "DIZZY". (Thus, the stars and birdies circling around my head.)

Olan is GROWING!

Here's my cute nephew, in a little onsie from Auntie Donna. I loved the polka dots, and Kjersti and Alex have dubbed it "Olan's Wonder Bread Onsie"

Hockey Mama for Obama

Sing it sister!!

What the Pfuck???

And just for fun, a look at "Real Wasilla"

Another fun night on SNL!

The Happy Family

Atlanta Baby 033, originally uploaded by d_jazmine.

Kjersti, Alex and Olan Duval.