My birthday is a movable feast

For those friends who don't know this, my birthday is really in December but I celebrate it in June. You see, having a birthday close to Christmas is a pain. My mom was always good enough to try and make it fun but the weekend before Christmas, who has time? As an adult, it was even worse I was busy and my Mom, mother-in-law, and grandmother all had to be born during that season. So I had an idea.

When I was about to turn thirty, six months prior, I told my family, I'll age myself six months if I can celebrate in June. Everyone was quite agreeable with this, even my father. The only holdout was his mother who insisted in sending a card in December.

When I retired from my last job I told everyone this story, they were amazed. I never thought it was a big deal. My only problem is I never thought about what else was going on, Father's Day. Sometimes it even fell on the same day, sheesh. Well, don't want to change it again, but I do enjoy having more time to enjoy my special day.

Our darling friends gave me a great party with food and family and friends. A strong emphasis on food. Abodanza! Appetizers, salad, soup, main course and to top it off, cupcakes.

Thanks to all who came and made it so special.

Editor's note: Recipe for the stuffed mushrooms are on Peanut Butter Étouffee.

Testing, can you see me now?

When I'm at the computer I never seem to have a calendar when I want it so I've created a desktop background picture to be used as a calendar. It's easy but you need to know how to change your background on your computer. Here are some quick steps:

• Click on appropriate link.
  large calendar, 1680 x 1050
  medium calendar, 1024 x 640
  small calendar, 800 x 500
  

• PC users-right click or Mac users Control click, the image and select "Set as Desktop Background"

The calendar is now your background and all your files or shortcuts will be floating on top. You can rearrange them but not the background calendar.

Don't want it once you've selected it?
PC users:

• Select Start, Control Panel, Appearance & Themes, Change desktop background.
• If the image is distorted, select "center" under Position.
• To remove, select none and apply.

MAC users:

• Select System Preferences
• Desktop & Screen Saver
• Select a new image
• If the image is distorted, select "center" from the pull-down

What I'm looking for is feedback from anyone who uses this.
Does it work for your machine?
Is it too big/too small?
Wouldn't want this on your desktop?


a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/2/28/833461/800_500july.jpg

Onion and tomatoes

At the farmer's market I found this great red onion. My fasination was with it's furry roots. The tomatoes were from a different FM. I seem to get most of my inspiration from veggies on display.

Mac person living on a PC Web

With family visiting I didn't have much desire to paint but now that I'm alone I find myself in the studio again. I'm trying to decide how to market my work. It's not easy but with the encouragement of my sister I think I can give it a try.

Here is a small piece I've just finished. I apologize for the color. I work on a Mac and to me the color looks garish but if I adjust the color for my platform it will look horribly washed out on a PC. When I was gainfully employed and did this for a living, I had two computers side-by-side, it was much easier. Why didn't I just design on the PC? Like I said, I'm a Mac-person; end of discussion.

The inspiration is a photo from a food blogger, Lucullian Delights. Ilva is a brilliant photographer and I've always wanted to try my hand at one of her images. I've already tried her recipes; no one person could be so talented, she must have a twin. Thanks, Ilva for giving me permission to use your photo, I hope I did it justice.

If you'd like to see more of my work, just click on "Pastel" at the bottom of this post under Labels. As always, I'd be pleased with comments, good or bad.

The Gypsy Caravan is on it's way; again

Cat, Sister and Brother-in-law took off down the road for their next adventure. Always sad at their parting but I know, when they settle, it will be closer than Florida. We are all happy about that.

Their next stop is heading north to Sequoia and beyond so they needed an early morning departure. I envy them their adventure for I think I've a bit of gypsy in my bones, too.

No, we didn't swap trucks, this is darling husband being funny with his truck when we camped together at the beach. While parked under their fifth-wheel it did get some odd looks.

The beach camping trip, albeit short, was great fun. Buddy dog enjoyed watching the abundance of squirrels and rabbits in our area. Amazed at how many there were but I never noticed any natural predators and they were very good at stealing Buddy's dog food so they adapted to us humans.

Explain, please

I have no idea what this game show is about but it's pretty funny?

Summer blooms at the Getty Center

The Central Garden at the Getty Center is in full summer bloom. I can't believe how lucky I am to be a docent on the top of the hill and with the summer comes many new visitors to see this beautiful outdoor work of art. I've finally finished working on my tour and actually gave it once to about twelve visitors. It was a weak start but I finished strong, now I need to perfect my delivery and everyone will be happy. It is very satisfying when you know the visitor is experiencing something new.

The architecture tour is still part of my assignment as well as the Family Room and new Sketching Gallery so I can't ever be bored on my shift. So come visit this summer if not for the Art, for the blooms.

Together, again

The Gypsy Caravan arrived on Sunday and as you can see, all three of us fit into my kitchen; the sister, me and daughter. We are busy already but plan to do some real cooking soon, this was just lunch. Most of my posting will be on PBE so forgive me for not keeping this blog up to date I'm sure I'll get back to my normal ranting, soon.

You thought LA's traffic is hazardous

Rush hour in New Delhi is more dangerous these days with an old elephant holding up traffic if he suspects food in any of the cars. He forces the drivers to stop by standing in front of the car and then stays there until the driver gets out and he can extract his toll.

What's next? Raising the bus fare?

Get out of Purgitory free card

You'd think being retired I'd have this spic and span clean house. How wrong you'd be. My house cleaning consists of tidying up the kitchen and baths, making sure my dearly beloved has clean britches and dusting, if we have company. Of course when we have overnight guests I feel compelled to clean a bit more and since my family will be converging here in June I've been in Über clean mode.

Because I've gotten lazy I only do one or two chores a day then either walk, write for this and the PBE blogs or paint. I do spoil myself. Today's chores consisted in cleaning ceiling fans and the aluminium blinds in both front rooms. Yikes, what a boring job and if I were still associated with the Catholic Church I'm sure I would have offered up this time as penance for the poor souls in Purgatory. A product of some Catholic schooling, every boring job drags my mind back to Nuns making you feel no time is wasted when there are souls to push onto their final reward.

This sort of stuff all ways got me into trouble in school like the time I, quite seriously, asked the Nun if I could sort of "bank" some prayers for a few of my friends I know will need them once they die because they should be going straight to hell. Detention, Miss.

Something in the back of my mind say some recent Pope eliminated Purgatory a few years ago but I'm not sure. If this was changed I am sure everyone got the express into heaven just like when, during the the 60s, they eliminated the Friday penance of no meat. Says so somewhere in Canon Law, which, I might add, reads like some Californian ballot propositions. The church never does seem to get it's story right, Inquisitions, Indulgences, and Insolent Priests.

Under the Tuscan sun

When our dear friends visited Tuscany they brought back a lovely plate for our kitchen. It has all the wonderful colors of the kitchen and that is where it will hang but I couldn't resist a small, quick still life before it goes on the wall.

They also brought back some lovely photos so, even though I didn't travel to Italy, I can paint like I did. Only you and I will know this secret, shhhhhh.

Hate the war; not the Warriors

Something stabbed me in the heart on Friday while waiting for our movie to start. No, not a heart attack though with all that butter-flavored-oil on the popcorn these days I'm surprised. It wasn't a tussle with another movie goer for a seat but a commercial. God how I hate paying so much to view a movie and seeing commercials but this one gave me a jolt. It was for the National Guard and although I know about the Guard this commercial put this Memorial Day in perspective for me.

When these Americans signed up for the Guard they signed to serve America, Federal or State. They are the ones who show up during floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes with the knowledge that in times of war, they will serve there as well. They signed up to protect us with the understanding we'd protect and take care of them.

It is unfortunate they are in a place, I feel, is not serving democracy like the current administration tells us but serving some other interest we'll find out at a later time. I don't hold all of us responsible for letting this happen, for not voting to change the administration when we had a chance just like I don't hold the soldier responsible for being in Iraq.

We can really thank them for their service by bringing them home.

A Million Thanks

First in a kitchen flavor

Doing a kitchen theme is something I've always wanted to try. I've always been drawn, pardon the unplanned pun, to Cook's magazine, I've even framed two of their covers but wanted more of my kitchen palette. So here is a start. I hope the color looks better on a PC than it does on my Mac.

Comments or criticism always welcomed.

Why the good mood?

Walking has become quite a joyful event for me these days. I try to attach my walks to saving gas by making one stop and lots of walking in between businesses but on occasion I just walk.

This morning's walk was quite relaxing and before I knew it I'd walked much farther than I usually do. I try to take my mind of how far and just enjoy the time. That seemed to be successful this morning because I noticed so many different nice things. No one tried to run me down in the crosswalk, two people smiled and answered my bright and cheery hello, and I watched a squirrel scamper across the park and up into a tree carrying what I assumed was a nut.

There is no other word for the way they move except scamper. They seem to bounce in between each step as if their front feet are tied together, as well as their hind feet, like some escaped mental patient gloriously ignoring the fact their feet don't move independently when they run. Walking is a different matter. They can scoot up the tree moving all four appendages.

Enough of small furry animals, I have to say I'm most likely in a good mood because today was our daughter's birthday and we'll just say, she's an adult and leave the age alone. We took her to lunch; she picked a nice restaurant across from her office. It's always a treat to see her in the middle of the week. So Happy Birthday, lil Bird and thanks for being such an important part of our lives.

It's all about the Dinero

There is an e-mail being circulated now that shows the American flag upside down under a flag from Mexico. Snopes , my go to for anything controversial these days, had this to say about the incident that happened last year, by the way. High school students from neighboring high schools, angry with Montebello students for not joining in the walkout, took over the campus and re-hung the flags.

Was it wrong, yes. Does it mean this is the sentiment in the Hispanic community, no. The students guilty of the acts were punished and Montebello students now live with the accusations of their patriotism.

Immigration is a touchy subject right now, with no simple answer. We've looked the other way for years when it comes to hiring people for low-income jobs and now we want an quick fix. As long as people can get to this country and make a living they can't in their country, they will come, legal or not. And because everything is about the money, I'm sure what ever they come up with some fat-cat will make some more.

How to get noticed in California

My birthday is coming up and I know what I want, an air-horn. I've been doing a lot of walking. Trying to get healthy and keeping green, I walk about six miles a week. I'm hoping to increase it to ten but not unless I get an air-horn.

Why would I need one? To honk at all you bastards trying to run me over in the crosswalk. In California the crosswalk is sacred, a safety zone for the foot traveler. That is the intent but there seems to be a lack of communication to drivers, especially phone-to-ear drivers. For the love of god, I'm a fat lady in the crosswalk, you couldn't see me? I've taken to wearing brightly colored clothes but I refuse to carry a flag, what I need is something to blast them back to reality. The reality being, "You're driving a f#$%ing car, get off the phone!

The Gypsy Caravan is on it's way

WooHoo! My sister and her beloved and the Big Ass Truck are finally on the road and leaving Florida heading west. Their second night is in Pensacola but they will be in Ole Miss tomorrow. At least they are one time zone closer.

Please stand behind the yellow line

Here I go, being Green, again. I'd like to challenge all my friends to one day a week to leave your damn foreign oil sucking machine in the garage/carport/impound lot so that we can really send a message to the damn sucking oil companies. This is getting more ridiculous.

Someone was excited about not buying gas on Thursday. That'll show 'em. Yeah, right if, you buy 10 gallons a week and don't buy it on one certain how is that showing them? Well we could buy from the independents. Just where do you think THEY get the gas. Just because his name is Akmid doesn't mean he has a direct line to the Saudi well. Brains people, we all have them we could exercise them and our own bodies by cutting down on the consumption.

I'm not asking anything drastic, just start small. Meeting friends? Car pool. Two or more errands, park and walk. What will it cost you? Time? Jeese, you've got a dozen modern time saving appliances, time shouldn't be an issue.

I've been investigating riding public transportation to the Getty Center, I'm volunteering twice this week so that means two trips to LA on the bus. I will be posting my results. Plus, I might get a funny story out of the whole adventure.

Never give up

This just proves if you are persistant you will prevail.

Where is she?

I've been oh so terrible about posting here lately. I'm working furiously on my Getty Tour for the Central Garden and have been drawn into the WW Web. How easy to do. No Spiderman here but held against my will.

One more, then I'll get back to work

This is a work in progress. Pastel is just too much fun for me now but I do have other things I've got to do, like clean the bathrooms and dust. Way too much dust in this part of the country, we oh, so need some rain. Since sister and her pit crew will be here in a few weeks I should get busy. Oh, maybe I'll do that after I work a bit more on this.

Are they here yet?

My sister and brother-out-law have been residents of the Blue Tarp State, Florida to those of you with short memories, and for the last year have been trying to escape and come West. Their success is eminent. They've sold the house, bought and taken possession of the Big Ass Truck and were supposed to have the fifth wheel on Friday. A glitch has them still waiting but this should be rectified this afternoon, then a few days to get it loaded and they'll become Road Gypsies.

It should take them about a month to get to our place, but only because they have plans to stop along the way. Seems like they will be traveling in style with the Big Ass Truck pulling a fine RV with comforts of home. I'm a bit envious of all the wonderful sites yet to be discovered but will be thrilled to see photos.

Her blog should be filled with interesting places they find themselves and will be fun for me to track their path. I can't wait to see the Gypsy Caravan pull up out front so until that time, are they here yet?

Having a pastel moment

Because watercolor is literally a pain in my neck I've changed to pastel. Here's my first two.

Walkin' the Green Talk

This was my first UCLA Festival of Books and it was quite the adventure. I knew it would be crowded and the parking (8 bucks) a nightmare so my only alternative was to take public transportation. Hey, I talk about being "green" so let's try it.

Because I live about 35 miles from UCLA I decided to cut down my bus ridin' time a little and drive 15 miles to a central bus hub. The Metro website has this great trip planner and even better directions. A $3 all-day pass and two buses and I was there.

Arriving about 10:00 a.m. I thought this was too easy, then about noon the crowds came. Thank god I got lunch early because after twelve the lines were unbelievable. Lunch was two soft tacos and I found a shaded grassy area next to Janns Steps.

There were vendors booths all over the campus from big book sellers to little self-published authors. A man stopped me and read a bit of a poem from his book. We all need more poetry in our lives and I was glad to hear his on a warm sunny day in Los Angeles, with 100,000 of our closest friends.

If you had kids this would be the place to come. There was an entire area set aside for kids books with a stage where different celebs read aloud.

I'd did make it over to the Cooking Stage to see Food Network's Chef Dave Leiberman give a demo. He wasn't as smooth as his TV show but very friendly with the crowd answering all types of questions. It was a bit breezy and toppled his sign.

Ok, so what did I save by going "green?" At 52 cents a mile from the hub, $ 12.21, oh, and 8 bucks for parking less the 3 dollar day pass that saved me $17.21 for the day. For my 15 mile trip I cut out about 14 lbs of carbon. Doesn't sound like much but this is just one trip in a Hybrid Honda so if you had some huge SUV suckin' the life out of California it would help to travel, if only for a bit of your trip, by public transportation.

Will I do this again? Yes, I'm at the Getty Center, same bus line, once a week so when we have big traffic days, I'm gonna bus-it. Benefit? Saved money, got to read my book--both coming and going--got to see some poor soul that tucks his shirt into his underpants--and doesn't care. But that's for another post.

The Secret of the Getty

I've heard of people "playing" the travertine but here it is.

I remember 1950s

Editor's note: There is absolutely nothing important in this post; just me musing.

For some reason, my parents didn't own a washing machine so that meant weekly trips to the Laundromat. If we were living in an apartment, which we did when we first came to Southern California from Indiana, and my mom was working, it was easier for her to haul everything to the local wash-a-teria and do it all at one time. This was agonizing because I got hauled along with the sheets.

In Culver City I remember a store next door to the Laundromat, it was a convenience store called "Pronto Market." Never did understand why they called them "convenience" stores when I was a kid but as an adult, on the way to a party, yes oh so convenient.

Bribing me with a buck allowed me to peruse the magazines and candy selections but because I was an odd kid I'd check out everything else. Who knows, maybe I was thinking of a party for some of my other ten-year-old friends and as I remember, it was a liquor store with a cold case of milk and soda and some odd snack/party items. Yup, they have those packages of little drink umbrellas, must remember those for my next soiree.

The store changed names, I can't be sure of the year, maybe in the 60s and it was an odd name, Trader Joe's. They added a few different items but still had that party theme. Buy a keg, bags of chips, case of beer, ice; that sort of fare. I'd forgotten about them until sometime in the 70s when we moved to Simi and seems like TJ's moved to the valley. Still a place to stock up with drinks for a party; nothing special.

Fast forward to the 90s--the 80s were a blur to me--working in Westlake I stopped in the store quite by accident. Someone raved about their wine selection and hey, they had a bigger store that carried quite a lot of wine and some other interesting items; fresh cheese for one. Cheese the regular markets didn't carry. I was hooked.

Now I carry my own shopping bags and in a Trader Joe's at least twice a week. I love all their dairy products including the cheese selection. Why are they cheaper than the big markets? The staff is always accommodating and they seem happy to be there, like it's a big party everyday. I look forward to April for the buck daffodils. The wine brought me in but the cheese made me a customer for life.Well, that and the fact they still carry those little paper drink umbrellas.

Loss of a Pet

Here is an interesting survey from Purdue University. They are compiling infomation about how pet owners grieve after a loss. Pet Loss Survey.

We, the Jolly Family, have had three dogs, our current is darling Buddy, the wire-haired-terrorist. It is sad to lose a pet but we've always thought the pain in losing is offset by the joy of giving them a much better life.


Editor's note: The Jolly Family is a name we've called ourselves, darling husband, lil bird, and me.

It only takes one bad Geek

Back in March I had a "melt-down" in our local Best Buy. Why? Well, it might have been a combination of my neck problem, my age, and the fact that they were acting so stupid I had to get angry. The next day I went to the doctor about my neck, I can't do anything about my age and I really never wrote/called Best Buy about the idiots they have in, what they laughingly call, customer service, but I did swear off the store.

Yesterday I changed my printer cartridges and remembered seeing a recycle bin for empties; dead batteries, too, at Best Buy. Not wanting to goop up the land fill I went there and yup, they took the cartridges. Being a bit happier than I was the last time I entered their store I thought I'd check there supply of photo printer paper. To my utter amazement one staff member took me to the department and asked that staff member to help me, which he did. I mean he really helped me. He told me about the different papers and I wasn't going to buy but wanted to know if he was knowledgable, he was. Amazed I walked to another department, the same damn treatment.

What could have created this turn around I wondered? A new interest in customer service? Or maybe trying to boost their sagging image. One of their "geeks" got caught being bad and I'm sure there was a prime directive from the corp. office about being professional.

Seek help, if you need it

So sad the news from Virgina Tech but have we all known someone we thought unstable and not done anything. I feel we want to believe the best of people. I had a co-worker that nearly drove people insane with his odd behavior but, luckily, our company was proactive in diffusing the situation. What they couldn't do, other than suggest, is demand the employee seek professional help, so they eventually fired him. It saved the rest of the staff but I'm afraid we lost him and that was the sad part. A talented, troubled individual alone in the world.

T. Rex comes home to roost/roast

Seems like the long extinct T. Rex has been linked genetically to our flavorful modern chicken. Yumm, I need to fix me some dinosaur tonight!

In a league of his own

Sixty years ago today, Jackie Robinson came from the back of the bus to be on top of the world. Today the LA Dodgers and all ball parks across the country, are recognizing the anniversary of Robinson's entry into an all white baseball league. What guts it took to take those steps from the dugout to first base. It must have seemed like walking the last mile but he did it with dignity, and with the support of some of the Dodgers, he walked right into the record books with a stellar ten year career.

Caps off to you, Mr Robinson.

Don't give chocolate to dogs

I take a long time to load but am worth the wait.

Carz that Cruize

Sometimes it really hits home, the power of modern culture on our youth. This time it was positive. My dearly beloved's hobby, really his lifestyle, is automotive. He loves cars, I think always has, and spends most of his retired time fixing, waxing, or promoting the sport of Streetrodding. This is ok by me as long as I get to say, whoa ever so often. He is adept at balancing his addiction with family time.

Wednesday nights are "Cruize" nights and this means a bunch of folks get in their cars and head for one of the local food establishments with a big parking lot and have dinner, stand around looking and/or talking about their vehicles, and pretty much show off their pride and joy.

Last Wednesday while parking his car, the black '37 Chevy sedan in the photo, he was stopped by a young woman with a small child, maybe about three. "Could my daughter look at your car," she said. "She saw the movie Cars and got real excited when she saw these." What a thrill, for this little tyke, to see her movie heroes come to life.

The popularity of this movie could open up a entirely different use for these cars; celebrities. My beloved could start hitting the birthday party circuit and make a bit o' extra change with his vehicle. Yeah, that's me always thinkin'.

Editor note: This photo is from our new cell phones. Passing quality for blogging.

Buddy, on patrol

Does all this pet food poison scare worry anyone but Buddy the wire-haired-terrorists? He's very aware of what has and has not been contaminated and wants everyone to be super vigilant when it comes to a recall.

What keeps me up nights, besides the pizza, is wondering what's in the food we import? Sheesh! Who is watching this stuff. I know everything is global these days but does the Food and Drug Administration not look what is coming in to the country? A little nightmare reading from the Bioterrorism Law.

If accidentally some foreign substance can get into pet food how can we be sure anything imported is safe? It wasn't the FDA or Canada's equivalent but dead pets that alerted everyone to the problem. Buy local. Support your local Crop Share or Farmer's Market for fresh produce.

Buddy suggests to check out Snopes, his fav site for correct information. Feel safe knowing he's out there protecting the pack.

This bud's for you

An Ode to a Lemon Tree

We cut ye limbs not long ago;
your branches were a dyin'.

So desperate were we to keep our tree
it was trimmin' we were a tryin'.

Through all the winter ye struggled
to shoot out branches green.

And with the breath of first spring rain
your buds are finally seen.






Oh happy Spring!

Otter Love

This is so damn cute. You'll have to watch the entire video for the magnificient cuteness.

Before the next tear drop falls

Some might know my dearly beloved and I have a Tear Drop Trailer. I'm sure some wonder why, with all the time he spends with the cars, and safety team when do they have time but hey, let's add one more thing to our already full plate. The plate right now is dripping with gravy running off one side and mashed potatoes slipping of the other.

If I had to describe the Tear Drop it would be half the trailer with twice the fun. It is compact so packing and stocking the galley, notice I didn't call it a kitchen, is a challenge. We love challenges.

Cooking is very rustic. Two burner propane stove. For those of you never having the pleasure of cooking outside on propane it has two temperatures. Burning the hell our of anything in the pan and making that odd, poof, which means the fire's gone out and you'll need to re-light. Please turn off the gas, wait a few minutes then re-light. And speaking of fires, I set off the smoke alarm (yes, that little tiny thing has one) making toast one morning. Nice at 7:00 am to let others in the campground know I'd burnt something.

Ok, so we were off to a Tear Drop "Gathering" last weekend and we didn't have a clue what to expect. I'd seen a link to the event online and we thought we'd give it a try. Boy did we have fun. We found that Tear Drop Enthusiasts are just a nutty as Streetrodders so we fit right in. There were 120 trailers of different sizes and styles and my darling was in his height of glory talking to other people who've built theirs. We made many new friends, too. Some energetic sole has already posted photos of the event. SCCT Gathering

Because everytime I tell people we have a Tear Drop I hear this song from the late, great Freddie Fender--here are the lyrics.

Ahoy, mateys!

When I was a child in the 60s skin cancer and sunscreen just weren't on our radar like they are now. Jeez, it was the opposite. Lather up with the oiliest substance you could find, mine of choice was cocoa butter, and bake until you were tan. With me it was bake until you were burnt to a crisp, then peel, then freckle--but I tried anyway. I am now paying the price.

The dermatologist and I have become quite good friends and he seems to know my body as much as my beloved which is an icky thought because I just found out he was at UCLA the same time as our daughter and son-in-law. I know he's a doctor but come on, he's a kid to me.

So it goes, getting older, but it's what he's looking at that gives me pause; Actinic Keritosis. He finds these little dry scratchy places, usually on my face and zaps them with liquid nitrogen. I'm sure if he just put a cigarette out on that spot it would have the same results but with smoking laws what they are and all his little shot of this freezing liquid does the trick.

What really stops me in my tracks are the one he biopsies. He'd been watching something on the back of my leg above my knee. As I remember that was a favortie place for me to burn come summer time. Lots of walking in shorts. He always says, "Oh I'm sure it's ok but let's be safe" and it has been ok, so far.

Prevention would have been the best way to go but since that ship has sailed and most likely sunk, I make sure I keep the appointment with my boy-doctor. He must know something, right? He also teaches at med school so I'm sure he wasn't a "C" student. That doesn't mean I've given up, I use a sunscreen every morning.

Here's a site with some good info on skin cancer. We do live outside a lot here in Southern California and that won't change. Just change some of your habits and you won't have the need to scrape these barnacles off you old hull. Mayo Clinic Skin Cancer website.

Editor note: The biopsy report says it was benign. Let's hear an Amen from the choir.

Ode Spring

Spring has come, the grass is riz;
I wonder where the poseys is?

That, is a poem my father would say when Spring was mentioned. I giggled as a child, groaned as a teen, but miss it now he's gone. Happy Spring, D. Eugene.

Chief, you have mail

Our wired-haired terrorist Buddy is about eleven-year-old and is housebroken but when I went into my studio last week, a no-dogs-allowed area, I found someone had left me a "present" on the floor. Present in this case was a small pile of dog crap in the corner and yes, I do know the difference between a gift of some value and this. I was amazed because this isn't something this dog does. Oh there was that one time at Mary's when, much to my horror, he lifted his leg on a house plant but the two Bark Brothers were there and I think he was just marking his territory.

My beloved stepped in on Buddy's behalf because while moving cars in and out of the side yard he'd closed the doggie door and forgot it for the rest of the day. Poor Bud-man. There was no use admonishing him, it was long past, but this incident did qualify Buddy for a new Navajo name. My darling christened him, Poops-on-Floor.

Thanks, Snores-Real-Loud. I can only guess what he calls me.

Somewhere Über the Rainbow

The German word über has migrated into our American slang to mean super or the best but the word's translation means over or above. The word übermensch, which means super human or superman, might be where there super came into our definition.

Artist Tim Hawkinson's naming his musical installation at the Getty Center, Überorgan is spot on to the literal and slang definition of the word. These huge super balloons and horns float over our heads in the Museum entry hall and spurt out wonderful deep booming music. If you listen carefully you might pick up a melody. Yesterday I heard the first few bars from Tchaikovsky Swan Lake.

We are lucky not only to have the Überorgan but also four new works from the artist commissioned for the Getty. The artist uses all types of materials to create these pieces. He works with "found" objects so take a close look at Octopus--I could stare at it all day. The name of the exhibit is Zoopsia, visual hallucination of animals. That Tim Hawkinson is so clever with the language he manipulates it as much as his found objects.

With Clara making her appearance in Oudry's Painted Menagerie in May and Zoopsia and the Überorgan hanging around until September the summer will be a treat for the kids. How clever of the Getty to have this on display all summer.

The Getty Center is a great place to bring kids. Last year I noticed every Wednesday the same mother with kids would show up. She was pleased that I recognized her and told me it was cheaper to bring the kids here once a week than the zoo or even the beach. Parking at the beach has gotten pricey and with our free admission and eight buck parking she thinks it a bargain and often brings neighbor kids. She said the kids love the Family and Art Rooms and can run around in the garden and because she comes so often she can give them little bursts in the museum looking at the collections. Fun for all.

Daffodils anyone?

Yes! We have had a number of summer type days, which makes it Spring here in Southern California. See how lovingly my little frog looks at the daffodils.

Out my kitchen window you can see my dwarf navel orange tree with some oranges ready to pick. What you can't smell are the new blossoms, they smell like heaven or what heaven should should smell like. Well maybe heaven should also smell like cinnamon, too. Oh, or maybe donuts and apple pie.

What does your heaven smell like?

The Boys in Blue

There is a post on PBE about the doggies and their spa day but I had to post this additional photo of the furry little boys. Their haircuts made them a little susceptible to the cool morning so lil bird sent their new sweaters she knit for them.

Buddy has a new hair cut at as well, my beloved refers to this as his "witness protection" look.

A convienient lie

Karl Rove is on the loose, again. He's trying to shore up his buddy's rep. Trying to put a positive spin on Bush's legacy. Legacy? We are at war for the wrong reasons using up our most precious resources, our nations future generation, and let's not even talk about how much money is being wasted, poured down that rat hole.

My beloved had a good thought the other day. Remember the plaque President Harry Truman had on his desk in the oval office, The Buck Stops Here. Well, he says it should be screwed to Bush's desk.

Bush's legacy. He'll be lucky to get out without getting impeached.

Soldiers Home Now

Over heard at the park

"Did you go to the dance?" said the lady sitting behind me to her friend. I couldn't exactly see these two women but I could tell they weren't teenagers.

"Yes, I went to the dance," she said with a sigh.

"Well, tell me, did you have a good time?"

"I'll tell you. I went to the dance and I was lookin' real nice and I was really expectin' to get asked to dance but I just sat there, all alone, the whole night. Then, when it was just about over this nice lookin' man starts to come up to me. He was a real nice lookin' guy, you know, nice and he was smilin' at me just walkin' right up to me."

"So? what did you do?" asks her friend.

"I just sat there thinkin' finally someone's noticed me, so I smile. Pardon me, he says, would you mind dancing with my brother, he's a bit retarded."

I can see clearly, now

You would think better vision would be a blessing but to me it's just worrisome. I've worn glasses with bifocals for the last ten years.; my reading vision being the worst. I can't read anything on the TV screen without my glasses but watching TV in bed I rarely wear them. The other night I noticed I could read the "crawl", that nasty little ticker tape of a message on the bottom of most news shows, without my glasses. I thought nothing of it. The next morning I could read some larger print items that the day before I would surely have needed my glasses.

After all day at my watercolor/drawing classes my near vision was back to abnormal but my distance vision is still somewhat improved. I could read street signs sans the glasses. It seems my better vision present is melting away like the witch in the Wizard of Oz. I really don't know who to thank for that "tender mercy."

Now I wish someone would let me understand this current administration, if only for a few days.

Now I'm learning Yiddish, too?

My Yiddish lesson on Wednesday was the word, ch-il-lay-la though I'm not so sure of the spelling. The ch is pronounced as if you are clearing phlegm from your throat. Such a funny word and it means a complainer. After dropping Dolores at her house I practiced this sound on the way home until my throat was dry. What a language, it can make you laugh and clear phlegm.

Igpay Atinlay and Dogus Latinus

The meaning of word I used in a previous post, uckfay, was questioned. I assumed all knew Pig Latin and tried to be kind to my more gentle readers. Not that most of my friends would cringe if I dropped the f-bomb, it's become the common, in the vernacular, but I do take my writing serious and always remember a teacher saying it was lazy to write relying on the language of the ordinary to get a point across.

Fuck, as definition in Wikipedia, is an offensive profanity but back to the Pig Latin. Pig Latin was made somewhat famous by the Three Stooges, ixnay or amscray is what I remember as a kid but it was my sister who first said "ukfay" and it has been a family curse ever since.

Fairly new to our lexicon is Dog Latin and anyone who's been forced to learn Latin at the hands of nuns or brothers will understand the fun of the phrase, Non illegitimis carborundum; don't let the bastards wear you down. Woof.

Auto shop 101

While having dinner with some friends last Friday evening the woman-sided conversation somehow turned to "why did these guys marry us?"

First some back story. All of all of these baby boomer folks are streetrod-related friends and we've known them for ages. The guys work on their own cars; my beloved being one of the greasiest. I knew he was greasy when I married him and sometimes it's caused frustration but maybe it's the grease that has lubricated our troubles because we've hung together for some 37 odd years. We've also made some very close friends; that's the balance. Lots of memories attached to those cars, some good, some evil but there's nothing like getting stuck on the side of the freeway and having a "car-guy" help you out.

Looking for a common thread I ask the group, the four couples sitting at our table were about the same age, if they'd ever helped in "bleeding the brakes"? Four hands shot up. The term is for a process of removing the air from brake lines after you've done something to the brakes. It seems to coincides with my beloved asking about my life insurance, I can't be sure.

I figure there is a big old greasy book in high school auto shop classes that is required reading for fifteen to eighteen-year-olds and here are a few passages:

• If you plan to change your brakes the use of a spouse/girlfriend is of up most importance. It is better to find one who can take orders without too much complaining.


• When you are in the middle of a particularly greasy under the car project there is nothing like a spouse/girlfriend to find that tool, that invariably rolls out of your reach, and retrieve it for you. Side note: Women have smaller hands and fingers for getting into small spaces or retrieve bolts that have fallen through. Related reading: chapters three and seven-What you can't say in mixed company or with small children when things fall out of your reach.
  


• Auto repair can be expensive, remember two incomes are much better than one.
  


• Paint job not what it should be? There is nothing like a pretty woman to distract from some minor imperfections.

Let me try to explain this procedure. It's a two person maneuver and only one needs any knowledge of auto mechanics. The mechanic lies somewhere out of view but not out of earshot. It must be uncomfortable because the patience level becomes strained if this job doesn't go smoothly. The other person sits in the driver's seat at the ready to depress the brake pedal when the mechanic says "ok." Sounds easy, right?

Him: Start pumping the pedal until it gets harder to push.
Me: How long do I pump it?
Him: UNTIL IT GETS HARDER TO PUSH. Then keep your foot on the pedal until I say to pump again.
Me: Ok, now?
Him: Yes.
Me: Pump, pump, pump, pump, pump, pump, pump, pump, pump, pump, ok.

Now the mechanic does something to make the pedal go to the floor. I have to admit the first time this happened I thought I'd done something wrong but he just said "ok, do it again." And again, and again and so on and this is just for the first wheel. You've four, you see, do pay attention. You can get into a rhythm of pumping and holding and then pumping again. Where you get into trouble, is in that rhythm, you forget to wait until the mechanic says, "ok."

Him, doing something with the brake line: ok, do it again.
Me: Pump, pump, pump, pump, pump, pump, pump, pump, pump, pump, ok.
Him: You let your foot off the pedal, didn't you?
Me, in an almost imperceivalbe voice: yes?
Him, with a sigh that speaks volumes: Ok, let's start again.

If you'd like to save your marriage/relationship don't what ever you do, don't lift your foot before the ok. In all fairness, this isn't fun laying on the ground in an awkward position trying to get the air out of the brake lines with a lunatic behind the wheel of your special car.

There was talk of a tool the mechanic could use instead of the spouse/girl friend and that would explain why I've not done this in a while. That and the fact I had a difficult time with waiting for the "ok."

They won't come back 'til it's over over there

Darling husband and I were discussing something a news reporter from Baghdad had to say about the troops. He says there are three types of soldiers there, and this isn't a direct quote.

• Truly committed to the goal of giving these bastards a stable government
• Doing a job
• Being there for the guy in the boots next to them

This brought to mind something his WWII served-in-England-flew-over-Germany-father told my darling husband.

"You go over for your country; you stay for your buddies."

Never really heard that one before but it does make sense. No glory, just do what is right at the moment. We will say nothing right now about why this current administration was nuts enough to get involved in the first place.

This makes it lots clearer. We've just sent them over for the wrong reasons. Our fault, not theirs.

Write your damn Senator! Just bring them home. And if anyone can tell me what the uck fay it means to win over there, you would be a genius, because the currrent administration sure can't.

Dianne Feinstein
Barbara Boxer

Editorial disclaimer: Darling husband, bless his soul, and I have similar core beliefs. This makes living together for our just past 37 years much easier. Anyone who knows him realizes he's not as vocal as I am.

Just eat it!

First my sister and brudder-out-law moving westerly and now this. Stem cells from fat transplanted into hearts to save lives. I can hear my next conversation with my Dr. "Sorry Doc, I'm not fat just growing some future stem cells."

Could life get any better right now?

Yeah, maybe if I won the Lotto but let's not hold out for that. Sister Weed has sold her house. Send up the balloons, strike up the band, and pinch me because she and her darling husband and cat will be heading for Arizona. This is the closest she's lived to us in more than thirty years.

I'm already planning little jaunts that way. I hope they get there before I do.

Welcome to one of the seven western states, sistah!

Keebler is short an elf

We've lost one of the truly original voices, Walker Edmiston passed away February 15. You may not have known his face but you'd surely remember H.R. Pufnstuff, Flintstones, and early Beany and Cecil among a myriad of other characters. His latest was Ernie the Keebler Elf.

His credits also included a variety of TV and movies with a number recurring roles.

Walker was also a car enthusiast and racer and the Roam'n Relics car club was lucky enough to have him as a member.

Your friends will miss you, Walker.
2/6/1926 • 2/15/2007

Unfortunate recipient of my rage

In my hurry to get home today I found myself behind a moron with a "Bush '04" bumper sticker and at each stop he was fumbling in the back seat for something. I couldn't put up with this any longer so I didn't just honk the horn, I laid on the horn. "Pay attention ya stupid idget." Oh yeah, I guess you can't pay attention, look who you voted for.

Desperate measures

It took me two weeks to finally kick this viraemea I had only to have darling husband come down with something equally as evil.

I'm sure what he had was contagious, hell, I gave it to him, but I'm not sure it was on the same level as Ebola. Desperate times call for desperate measures and poor guy was desperate to have some uninterrupted sleep.

This was just to keep people from ringing the damn door bell. It seemed when he was trying to nap there was a light that signaled everyone to approach our door, especially real estate agents.

This helped and even though he's on the mend I just might keep it for days when I just don't want to talk to people.

But wait, there's still more

While I was in bed and not sleeping I was watching an odd assortment of late night programming. The paid advertising shows, which are thirty minute commercials, are incredible. They have to employ a lot of people. I started scanning the crowds and switching from channel to channel to see if I saw any repeats in the audiences. This leaves you little time to actually understand what they are pitching but it makes the time just scoot by. They must make some sort of profit or why would they advertise so much.

I can't say which is my favorite, Ron Popiel or some bimbo/moron used-to-be-a-child-actress/actor selling exercise equipment. It's nice to know they are still working albeit 3:00 am. I think Hillary Clinton is selling something but I could have been hallucinating then.

Now the actual commercials aren't any better. I'm naive enough to be shocked at the Girls Gone Stupid videos you can purchase--all with a money back guarantee. Just what does that guarantee read like? So do they charge you credit card with "College sluts doing their damnedest not to study" or is it something generic like "education videos"? When your wife mentions an odd charge do you fess up or just scream Identity Theft!?

The one for hair plugs takes the Golden Globe for stupidity. They show a few before and after shots and the last one is of guy with a quarter sized mole on his face stating how much this new hair has done for his self esteem. Self esteem? Did he think people stared at him because of this balding head? Hell no. They were waiting to be introduced to that thing on this face.

Listen, most women don't care a hoot if you're bald but things hanging off your face, whew, that's another matter. If it's big enough to have it's own gravity take care of it. I think there is an infomercial for that very thing.

Open wide

Well, I'm sitting up and taking nourishment. Darling husband is whiz-bang at heating things in the microwave and more than willing to run out and get me anything I need. Have to pass on a few things right yet but the soup has been a godsend. Trader Joe's makes this cream of tomato in box that is great so was pleased he could get me a cup warmed.

What made me feel better? I succumbed to marketing and husband snagged me some Mucinex, well generic version, and it seemed to work quite well. I can never tell whether it's the cold taking it's course or it actually does something to help. My dad used to say, "To get over a cold it takes a week unless you go to the Dr and then it takes 7 days." I didn't laugh at that until I got a lot older.

Since I've caught up on all the old movies I can handle I think I'll get up and "blow the stink off of me" which is another Dad wisdom. He was sure if you got up you'd feel better which in most cases that works. I was stoic when it came to work. Don't get me wrong if I was contagious I stayed away but if I was still working I would not be languishing in bed. Ah, another early-retirement benny.

All this resting got me thinking of some of my childhood illness, which because I was Asthmatic were numerous. Once, when I had some ear-infected-snotty-nose-cough type of illness I awoke in the middle of the night crying. My dad was the first one there with the cough medicine and poured me a big old spoon full without turning on the light. Bleck! It was sweet oil something that was put in your ear if you had an ear ache and unfortunately the same size bottle as the cough medicine. It was a long time before I cried in the middle of the night again. Being a parent is difficult, especially at four-in-the-morning. Thanks, Gene.

Shhhhh, she's resting

Crap! I've got a cold. I think the last cold was when I came back from Indiana last May and that was because we spent so much time around smokers. This seems to be a regular, get a fever, sneeze, cough and feel crummy for five days cold.

A friend said, "take Zicam, it is a miracle." Well it's a miracle I can stake the stuff. I opted for the tablet that melts in your mouth. Ugh. Taste like sucking on a drain pipe. Dan says he never saw anything get so sick so quick so I guess we can stop taking the Zicam. Good it made my tongue feel like it had a little furry coat on that tasted like some old ABC* cherry gum.

Lil bird, who just had the same stuff says, "Musinex is the best!" My sister swears by Theriflu. I'd love to soak in a blistering hot bath but with my recent episode with dry skin, that's out. I think I'll just stick to the home remedies. Rest, lots of fluids, chicken soup and hot lemon water with honey. If that doesn't work, a slug or two of brandy would be just fine. Can't hardly take too much; you pass out before you overdose.

If you all aren't sick you can struggle on over to Peanut Butter Étouffee. We are having a food challenge.

*ABC- already been chewed

Tools for a healthier life

Suffering from dry skin this time a year isn't real life threatening but it sure is uncomfortable. After a rather irritating weekend I decided to check some websites for info. I love the Mayo Clinic site, so informative and very easy to find things. Low and behold, they have a section on dry skin.

The causes are what you would think and yes, I take blistering hot showers so that will have to stop. Another good point they made was even in winter it's easy to get dehydrated so remember, drink your water. Water seems to be the key in almost everything. Could be our bodies are mostly water, mine has it's share of fat but it's good to be reminded to drink more.

So I'm off to the store to find some of the creams they recommend and then into a nice lukewarm bath. Ahhh, relief at last.

Only one year ago

This blog is more than a year old so I was looking back to last January and I had only one post. It was about our remodel of bathroom number one and the agony of having only one functioning bathroom. Spoiled, really spoiled.

It seems amazing that it's been a year since that bath was finished, time does move forward. Now I find it difficult to remember the old bath with it's clunky dark shower and the horrible ugly vinyl flooring, ugh, so seventies.

There are a few projects still left to be done, paint the living room, flooring in my office and the guest bedroom and I must think of something fun to do in there. Darling husband has been busy installing a new heater and A/C and the heater came in the nick of time but I have little to do with these jobs. I've lost the momentum needed to finish these projects. I need some house guests to make me more organized. Maybe I could rent out the front bedroom? I do have two bathrooms, now.

Life sized at the Getty Center

My life at the Getty has become so much busier now that I'm giving tours but for the rest of the month I'll be happy to be inside. It's damn cold up on the hill right now and last Wednesday we had thunder, rain, hail and a double rainbow.

Inside this month we have a wonderful experience for visitors. Clara. She is a life size painting by Jean-Baptiste Oudrey of a rhinoceros and she is getting a spa treatment in the East Art Information room. Her treatment consists of some fancy cleaning and retouching done by one of the conservators, Mark. He does his work on display but on Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3:00 he answers questions from the crowd.

If you're in town before the end of January do drop by and see Clara and Mark. If you can't make it then plan to come in May when she'll be on display with others in the menagerie.

This is a test. If it were a real emergency …

Last night was girl's night out. Darling husband was at sweet daughter's house getting ready to make a new roof so a lady friend and myself had dinner and went to the picture show. When over it was late, for us, but since she is single said what the hey to a cup of tea at my house. She left after 11:00 and since there was zip on the TV I did some writing.

Very silent house except the clinking of the keyboard so you could hear any little noise the house makes. Just me and Buddy.

Let's have a bit of back-story here. We have a Carbon Dioxide detector that has been relegated to the garage. Seems as though the "chirps" it makes ever now and again makes the terrier certifiable. He will actually climb up in your lap, no matter where you are--note to self: close the bathroom door all the way--and quiver like the hounds of hell are pursuing him. We've had this problem before and that is why the current detector is out of his earshot, or so I thought.

Buddy was the first to hear the chirp and I should have known. Usually if you are up late he just heads off to bed. "See ya in the morning, don't forget to lockup." He was right next to my chair when I heard the detector hit the high note again but it is always one of the those, "Did I hear something?"

The next time it was unmistakable, at least for the dog because all of his 27 lbs leaped into my arms and refused to get down. With some soothing I convinced him off my keyboard and I was out to the garage. I yanked the detector from it's plug and showed Buddy. "See, I've slayed your dragon my great protector, now go to bed." Which he did until the damn thing set off again. Seems like I forgot to also pull the battery. Now there was nothing else to do with except shut down the computer and be off to bed where he slept closer to me than ever.

Some of you safety people are saying, "How could you disabled the detector; maybe there was actually a problem?" Not to worry, I have another one and it said on the case, chirpping every three minutes is a malfunction. It's off to Lowes this morning to buy a new one.

Who knows what that noise means to him. It is loud but not as ear piercing as the actual alarm. It's constant but only every three minutes when it's in the malfunction mode. Well at least we don't have to worry about not hearing the alert, Buddy will keep us safe long before the carbon monoxide gets us.

Look Ma, no cavities!

Most regular readers know Buddy, the wire-haired terrorists. He's our eleven-year-old darling doggy and after a trip to the vet last November he was told by Dr Ron to lose a few pounds, three to be exact. Now this is not to say he's fat, just a tad over his fighting weight. So we stopped with all the "people food," which we thought was a good way to diet. Buddy didn't agree but us being the dutiful pet parents that we are we stuck with this new regimen.

Yesterday Buddy had an appointment to have his teeth cleaned. This was his first time. We've never had a dog with dental problems so why subject him was my thought. Anyway he did just fine, not a bad tooth in the lot and even had a blood test to say his insides were just as good.

And how did the diet work, she asks? Buddy proudly jumped on the scale and as the number rose my heart sank. He did not lose one ounce, not one. Of course he didn't gain anything, that would have been pure agony, but he really hasn't been eating anything close to what he did before November. Either this mutt is ordering pizza while we are away or we just don't understand how much to feed a dog. Back to the drawing board on this one. Poor Buddy.

No more troops

You have a bucket of water
You put your fist in the water
You remove your fist--
Were you ever there?

How's adding twenty thousand more fists going to ensure victory?

You may write President Bush.

You may have noticed

A few things have changed but not the author. Darling Blogger had a fit and we had to all change to the new version. I thought it time to do a few updates but nothing radical. The new template has a bit different way of handling the archive but everything else seems the same.

Hey, a girl has to change here style once in a while.

Simi Valley, one big walk-in cooler

It's not only windy, that's a given these days but it cold. Brrrrrr, freezing cold. Dan brought the milk in from the market and asked if I wanted it in the refrigerator. Funny question you think? No, the 'fridge was 39 degrees and outside temp was 40. I don't even want to guess at the wind chill temp. Making soup today.

How creative were you today?

Just in case you thought your neighbors were sane this guy proves you wrong. Here's what they might be doing.

Butt-painting

Seems as though the VA board of education fired this teacher. I can't say I enjoy his art but you have to give him points for creativity.

What does peace look like?

So I heard him and can't believe he'd want to send more troops there. We do have to leave someday and I sure don't see crowds of people throwing flowers, tearfully waving goodbye, thanking us. And are we trying to shame Syria and Iran into help stabilizing the region? They couldn't care less about something stable. Wouldn't you think they would be tired of all this? I suppose it has become a way of life, or death for so many of those poor Iraqis.

More troops, buckets more money and what will we get? More dead--that is all--and when we leave there the tide will rush in. We can not change something that has been going on for 1500 years.

If you think the Iraqi government is magically going to step-up and finally create some safe areas please volunteer and go over and help them. Just let our young people come home; alive.

Mother Blogger

Blogger is pretty much making my blog life crazy. Sheesh! Is anyone else having this much trouble? Can't connect, photos don't load, and the worst insult--can't make a comment on a blog. How can I live?

It does seem to be back up and running this morning so a quick rant because I am a busy retiree. With the holdiay past I'm now into a different more relaxed but still busy mode. And because I'm trying to give my spleen a rest I'll try not to be too frustrated with Blogger today and state that I have a few things to be thankful for.

The wind has subsided, notice I didn't say stop because it will be back this Friday. It has been the the worst year that I can remember and I've live in this house since '73. Give us some rain, please. So until the wind comes back I will savor the lovely California winter.

He's back

I don't want to scare lil bird since this is her car and we just garage/tinker/and drive on Sundays and holidays of obligation but Dan took it to the garage this morning. Not any garage, Christian Auto Repair and it's back in business after a few years hiatus. Shawn and his son Jason have re-opened their business and it couldn't have come at a better time.

Dan has been trying to find the time to do a bit of rear end swapping but what with the holidays, and the install of a friend's heater/AC and our upcoming install of the same plus a water heater, he just hasn't gotten to it. Shawn to the rescue. And just as a side note, there are only a few that Dan trust with his cars, he'd rather do the work himself. If he let's someone else turn a wrench you know they've got to be good.

We're glad he's back in business because he's one of those trustworthy mechanics that actually knows how to fix cars and now he's passing on this knowledge to his son and when the time comes, to the grandson, too. Dan got over there super quick because today's the first day of business and once people in town know he's back, well, there could be a wait.

Jason and Shawn, good luck with your new venture.

No handicapped people here

We were one of four hosts for a New Year's Eve progressive dinner and had a houseful for the salad course. I didn't get to make anything fancy, it would have been impossible for 25, but did have an interesting salad bar. What was the biggest hit at my stop? The warm spiced apple cider. It was a chilly evening.

One of the guests is a very talented blind woman. She was a guest at the house a while ago when I was living in Bakersfield and knew right away we had remodeled. She tapped the floor and said she noticed we'd changed from carpet to tile. I found this amazing but she is an amazing person. She works and plays the violin and is always so cheery. She also lives alone, cooks for herself and friends, and swims in her backyard pool. I would never think of calling her handicapped. It's us that are at times.

Baby it's cold inside

Our darling Buddy was cold this morning and I can't say I blame him.



Though I did get him to at least poke his nose out to say Happy New Year!

Some people ... can be good

Ok, let's just file this one under Christmas Miracle.

Read my sister's blog.

Happy … fill in the blank

With the 25th approaching I've been trying to decide what we celebrate in our house. Not being religious folks we don't attend church anymore and I have to say not one of my family does either. I'm sure we are not that unusual because thinking about our circle of friends and neighbors I know of only one family that even attends services on a regular basis; there might be more. I did know someone that attended church and bible study with such fervor that I wrote her off. I guess I'm a heathen because she questioned everything I did.

Some of my older relatives do attend church and I know it gives them some solace in times of need but I guess I've lost that. My consolation comes from a call from my sister or a visit from a friend. The Catholic church was pretty crummy to my mom when she got a divorce and what with priests snagging little boys like they did and probably still do, I have no use for an organized religion.

So just what do we celebrate this time of year? I've given it a lot of thought and I'm sure there are more people standing on my side of the fence than care to admit. I celebrate a time to think of less fortunate folks and make it a time of giving and the time we spend together as family and friends. I celebrate that my family and friends, though not associated with a religion, are good, honest, and moral people. They are all these things for their own reasons and don't push any beliefs down my throat.

I also celebrate the bright shiny things of the Yule Tide, the warm feeling I get from seeing the lights and decorations. You see our mother/grandmother was a bit of an elf. Lorna decorated every square inch she could reach and I feel a bit of her soul each time I pass a Christmas tree or a pretty package or make a plate of "goodies" for the neighbors.

Today would be Lorna Georgianna's 84th birthday and if there is any time of the year I miss her more it's this time. Gone almost five years but still in all our hearts. Think of her next time you see some "eat at Joe's" blinking Christmas lights. Happy Birthday Momma.

So even if you don't believe in anything believe there are good honest people in this world and if you include yourself in this group, feel good about celebrating the joy of the winter holiday; it needs no name.

Here is a little something my sister sent. For your entertainment.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Frostie

Our neighbors like to decorate. For Halloween they have stuffed scarecrows and pumpkins and fake tombstones on the lawn so it goes without saying they'd do something for Christmas. I always thought the nativity was Jesus, Mary, and Joseph but there's Frostie the Snowman, with some idiotic grin, standing right next to Mary. I could see it if they had a small yard but they do have an homage to Santa Clause complete with bobbing head reindeer so why isn't the snowman standing in the secular section?

Somehow they've found the ugliest nativity scene on the planet. It's plastic and lit from inside and about one-third human scale. Over the years the colors have faded and for some reason Joseph is starting to look like an albino. The plastic is bad enough but the actual features of the three are hideous. Who modeled for this?

Don't forget My Online Red Kettle

Good or bad, it's a warm feeling

It is a lovely day here, 88 I think and the wind has died down a bit, well, enough for me to walk about a quarter of a mile to Von's. Damn if I didn't forget something my last trip out and just couldn't think of getting into the car again so I hoofed it; I can use the exercise and my car the rest.

Walking is a good time to see the sights in your neighborhood--oh I wish they'd left their shades down on that house--and to think, I was thinking of my Christmas shopping and what else I needed to do. I was almost done but I now need to buy presents for a family of five children. Our car club donates to charities and they needed some extra shoppers. I'm looking forward to this challenge as we have no little ones to buy for these days. I also need to do some final baking but it's too warm today to make peanut brittle.

Outside the Von's was my favorite bell-ringer, John. John lives nearby and this time of year he works for the Salvation Army. I always put something in his little red kettle if for no other reason than to have him smile at me. He's wheelchair bound but beams when someone walks by and always says, "thanks, luv and have a great day." John has a charming British accent and I've never seen him not smile.

Seeing John got me thinking about the Salvation Army so I had a look at their website when I got home. So techy they are, they have a virtual kettle and I signed up to be a host. My mom was a great volunteer and this is what she had to say about volunteering:

Volunteering is like wetting your pants in a dark suit, no one knows you've done it but it gives you a warm feeling.

I'd never ask for money here on my blog, other do but I do this for fun, not for a job, but I am asking you to take the time and plunk a buck or two in my kettle. It's not for me but for my neighbors and your neighbors and for that good warm feeling you'll get.

My Online Red Kettle

News flash to holiday shoppers

If you are standing in a checkout line eventually someone will ask you for some method of payment so get your damn finger out of you nose and be ready.

Do you suppose people who wait until the clerk say, "That will be xxx." before they decide how to pay are expecting the clerk to say, "You're so damn ravishing today, why don't you just blink those baby blues and we'll call it even." I do believe some were just dropped from outer space and don't have a clue what to do.

Think ahead, ya morons! Wait these are the same people trying to cross six lanes of traffic because--oh oh, there's my exit--so I guess they've not given any thought to how this transaction will end. The fucking money won't escape open the wallet.

As you can see I've already lost what little holiday spirit I had.

I'm not asking to win the lotto, just for a little rain

The winds have calmed down this evening and that's gotta be better for the firefighters on the Moorpark fire. The fire raged in the strong winds on Sunday, darling husband saw smoke just west of us, but we knew little since we have no local TV coverage. My sister from Florida called to check on us, it made the network news.

Scary thing our California brush fires, they can spread in a moment fanned on by the horrible winds. Sixty-five mile per hour winds that shake the house and every atom in your body makes everyone a bit jumpy, including the dog.

We live in a small valley with dry hillsides nearby so every time the wind kicks up we think of the worst. 2003 was the closest it has come to the house in the 34 years we've lived here, too close for me. A serious water problem just waiting to happen and they still build more homes in the hillsides. I know, that's the price you pay for living here.

So everyone, let's think of rain. Not flooding gully-washers just little puddles in the street, maybe a bit of snow at higher elevations, but some moisture. A soft rain that washes the streets clean and waters the hillsides would be nice, but not at "drive time," we don't want accidents. We did invent the Sigalert in Los Angeles and it has something to do with us not knowing how to drive in inclement weather. Don't let anyone tell you different, Californios can't drive in the rain. It scares us, we have to phone someone, and then that's when the fun begins--red flashing lights and tow-trucks.

Yes Buddy, there is a Santa Claus

After the horrible wind last night this morning I tiptoed outside to see if there were any ruby red slippers in the yard and was relieved to see our house was still in Southern California and not OZ.

Next I gingerly opened the newspaper to see if I'd dreamed it and nope, it was true, UCLA beat USC yesterday and proved you can't discount the underdog. The Bruins didn't beat the crap out of the Trojans but they beat them enough. That was good enough for the fans. The true fans are our daughter and son-in-law because they are alumni, here is a great photo from the game, winners.

I will be honest, I wished for a win but didn't think they had a chance, what a fool I was not to believe. It proves if you want something bad enough you can make it happen and the football laddies did their team, their fans, and city proud.

Just one more thing before I go to bed tonight, I'll make my list for Santa.

I am from the planet Valdor, pee in this cup

Doctors intimidate me. I can't say why, maybe it's the tools they have and the fact they have to sterilize them. They also can make you do things you'd never choose to do on your own like peeing in a cup. I've never woke up in the morning and said, "Hey, before I eat or drink anything, why don't I just take a whiz in this mug." It must be some mind control.

Where else do we willingly strip down to our bare nothingness in a strangers house and wear a paper robe and not question what will be going on. I leave my socks on because it give me a false sense of security. If there is an emergency, and I have to run out, at least I have something on my feet. Please don't try to imagine me wearing my red socks and clutching a paper gown running down the hall it will keep you up nights.

Isn't it sort of creepy how they don't have a sense of humor? Lucky's the patient who's doctor can smile at a joke let alone say anything remotely humorous. It's like they aren't human or maybe they're alien. That sure would explain the colonoscopy procedure.

I'll be right back I've just gotten a desire to have someone stick me with a needle.