Just so you know

We've had a house full of guests this past weekend and Sunday morning darling husband asks, "Who brought the Australian Coffee?" No one answered. "Yeah, there's a container in the kitchen marked 'coffee mate'." We threw him outside. Just thought you'd like to know what I live with.

You can never have too much serial

If anyone is interested in the food part of our Indiana trip you can read and eat the serial on Peanut Butter Étouffee.

I'm way to small to care about anything

This is from Cute Overload. Little bird talks about this site once in a while so I thought I'd have a look at some of their photos. Prepare yourself if you visit the site there are so many "awwwwws" that it will take you an hour.

Second hand Rose

There are lots of benefits of second hand furniture, clothes, or even relationships but second hand smoke, it's a killer. I learned about this first hand with my visit to Indiana. First let me say I'm sure everyone smokes in that state, they don't stay in school--three out of ten students don't finish high school--but they somehow learned to smoke. They smoke in every public place and I won't even deal with the private ones because those are populated with my relatives.

Listen, I've heard every rebuttal to second hand smoke and until I experienced it on a personal basis, I didn't really care. But this made me sick, really sick, doctor visit sick so now I'm mad.

I couldn't care less if the smoker gets cancer, that's their decision but if you work in a bar or restaurant that allows smoking and you need your job then you should have a right to a smoke-free environment. If you are a child that can't speak up for themselves then you need smarter parents and a smoke-free environment. If you are a friend or relative you need real friends and relatives that are aware of the poison they are spewing.

So you want to smoke? Go ahead, lock yourself in a little room and smoke until everything in it turns brown with the nicotine including you lungs but stay the hell away from me.

Whew, that made, me feel almost as good as the antibiotics I've had to take to clear up this second hand smoke infection.

A sweet and sour Mother's Day

While in Indiana we lost another part of our extended family, our dear little woman Grandma Sue. The memorial service was on Saturday and darling husband, little bird with husband, and myself attended. I'm still sick from my trip and felt I was contaminating the whole of Southern California but the relationship with this part of our extended family would not let me miss the service though I passed on the after gathering.

Sue was a sweet little Scottish-Canadian woman with a smile much bigger than her actual body. It was very reassuring to have so many people stand up and say a few words at the service. She had many friends and a loving family and she will not be forgotten.

Having a mother prepares you for life and loosing yours prepares you for what's after. We lost our own mother Lorna in '02. I'll add Sue to my list of angels.

Mother's Day

Little bird came back home after the gathering and spent the night getting up the next morning to make the "healing" Mother's Day brunch. I awoke to sausages, biscuits, and eggs and potatoes being cooked in my kitchen and loved every bite. They even cleaned the kitchen but I made a mental note to check the whereabouts of my iron skillet when she left later that day. It was my mom's skillet--more than forty-years-old--and is seasoned to perfection. I promised she wouldn't have to wait until I die just until I can't cook anymore.

So, a belated Happy Mother's Day to all and blessing on all our mothers no matter where they are.

Home again, home again ...

I miss odd things when I travel. I missed by darling husband, but he's not odd. I miss my pillow and my bed, though we had a lovely room in Edinburgh, Indiana one night, what I miss is the taste of my water. Silly, I know, but I do. When you're traveling all you get is bottled or their local water. Our's isn't spring water collected by the artesian elves nor is it particularly soft, it's just what I'm accustomed to after 33 years.

So Weed and I had a good time and in the weeks to come I'll have some photos up. We were lucky to be there for the last of the tulips and dogwood. The photo is from Foster Park in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

Back home again in Indiana

Tuesday sister Weed and I are heading for Indiana. Not that we are big Indiana fans but the beloved aunt and uncle live there and we are making our annual trip. Both of us were born there but left mid-century to grow up in the Los Angeles area, thanks mom and dad good decision.

We'd planned this trip early in the year and now it's here I'm starting to get excited. We did have some bad news on Wednesday. Our beloved uncle passed away. Shocking, yes, in a way but he'd been in a state of fragile health for a while so not unexpected but it is always shocking. This doesn't change the trip because we will be with our aunt and it will be sad to miss Uncle Dave. Fine man he was and a snappy dresser even in his later years; he will be missed by family and friends.

Beloved aunt wanted to see the dogwoods in bloom in southern Indiana which is where her family originally lived. Our mother was born in Pee Wee Valley, Kentucky but that is another post. We located the family cemetery last year and promised to bring her back in the spring. It's not as morbid as it sounds, there is just so much family history in the cemetery it compels you to return and learn more. I'm not sure she has the same desire now that her love of fifty plus years is gone but we'll see. I'd be glad to honor any of her wishes.

Daughter calls our home state, Klan-diana and after our mother's funeral refused to ever cross the border again. It is more white-bread than I'd ever care for and without the beloved Aunt I'm sure we'd never make the trek either. They seem to be holding on to Plessy v. Ferguson with fervor.

Geographically it's not an ugly state, if you like farmland, but there is an undercurrent of something about to happen. Last year we toured a good deal of the state by car and noticed so many small towns boarded up. Sad, but with family farms being a thing of the past and no jobs, what are young people supposed to do; leaving is the only answer. Not unlike many other areas they need some industry or maybe if they found oil. Now there's a scary thought, Rumsfeld steaming into Terre Haute.

So Weed and I will head back to our Indiana home, though neither of us claim it, and I'm sure we'll have a good visit with darling aunt but then we take are fun with us.

If you feel like singing,

Back home again in Indiana,
And it seems that I can see
The gleaming candlelight, still burning bright,
Through the sycamores for me.
The new-mown hay sends all its fragrance
Through the fields I used to roam.
When I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash,
How I long for my Indiana home.

Rising Damp

Before Christmas last year darling husband and I met daughter little bird and my step-mother Mary in Port Charlotte Florida where my sister and her husband live.

Little Bird had to fly home to her husband and work but the rest of us went to Babcock Ranch in Punta Gorda to take the Swamp Buggy tour. The tour was great though the "museum" at the ranch was a little lacking. We saw swamp wildlife, which included a number of alligators, and flora that I'd never experienced. I especially like the cypress knees that stick up out of the water.

We picniced on the grounds when we returned from the tour and had a memorable day. The Sean Connery movie, Just Cause was filmed on the ranch and part of the set was still there. It intrigued us so we visited the video store on the way home and rented it. Creepy thriller of a movie but worth the rental. Check my Shutterfly for more photos of the ranch plus some of the Thomas Edison winter residence and workshop.

Do they make band-aids for tubs?

We took a four month hiatus from the remodel because we were just tired of all the dust and such but now we are back at it. Dan demolished the guest bathroom and he and Mr. Heckendorf, our contractor and a friend, were working feverishly getting the new tub, walls, and vanity in. They were almost finished when a rather unfortunate accident happened; Mr. Heckendorf knocked over his four foot level and it chipped the enamel on the side of the tub. You can just see it on the edge of the tub in the photo on the left.

I called the tub company and they are sending a "patch kit." Mr. Heckendorf bought a new tub and wants to pull everything out. I'm for waiting until we try the patch. I'll be the only one who knows it's there but he's being stubborn.

What would you do?
More bathroom photos

Bottoms up Exxon-Mobil

This morning I've received a few e-mails from totally unrelated friends telling me to boycott Exxon-Mobil; hopefully bringing down the price of gas. I agree grassroots involvement is so important and much under rated in our society and we sure could use lower gas prices but hurting Exxon, not as much as you'd wish. Yes, they might notice an excess of supply but they'd just sell it to someone else. Costco and these little independent stations don't refine their own gas and Exxon would just market it elsewhere.

If you'd like to stab these bastards in the ass, reduce the amount of gas you use. Does that mean you have to drastically cut consumption, no because if enough of us reduce, just a bit, it will send that all important message to their bottoms, ah bottom line, that is.

So, make a few less extra trips this week, drive with a co-worker, or get out there and walk. Don't wait for the other guy to do this, you do this now and tell your friends. Ask them to commit to just one less trip a week or walk to lunch instead of driving. Reduce our need for oil and it will help everyone, well maybe not those oil company execs.

Gas Saving Links
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Grandma what big paws you have

The better to eat you with my dear.

Yikes, we saw these mountain lion tracks on our hike to Mt McCoy this morning. As reference they are about five inches long. Our naturalist said it was a big cat because of the depth of the claw prints. Bobcats don't walk with their claws extended. This was less than 100 yards from a housing tract and only a few feet from the trailhead. "Oh honey, have you seen the dog lately the dog?"

The weather was cloudy but there was still quite a view from Mt McCoy 500-600 feet above Simi Valley. From the ridge you can see the Reagan Library and, I'm sure, on a clearer day the Pacific ocean. We took our terrier Buddy and even though it was less than three miles round trip he was pooped out by the end and ready for a nap.

The naturalist, Mike was great. He called himself a greyhound which I took to mean we were in for a quick trip to the top but not at all; he stops at every bush. We saw so many wild flowers but this is just the start of the season so I'm looking forward to next weekend. If you want check out my Shutterfly there are a few more pix from the trip including Dan and Buddy at the top. Of course I was there, who'd ya think took the picture!

Clenchers--we are not alone

Blogger supplies a list of blogs they find interesting. I have to say sometimes I wonder if they just throw a dart but I've found some good ones in the past so I do check all the new ones. There is one up there now, The Google Doctor and I poked my nose into this site not knowing it was an actual Dr. This site is worth sharing if only for the links. Dr Razavi has enough interesting links to keep any hypochondriac busy.

About twenty years ago I broke my tail bone in an unfortunate rollerskating accident and now I know what causes the occasional pain in my rump, I'm a clencher. If you belong to this club, tension headaches, carpal tunnel, neck pain, then read this short informative post that is, if you can release your grip on the mouse. Dr. Razavi's Good to Know Info: Avoid the Clenching Syndrome

Easter Hike

Since we don't actually celebrate Easter darling husband suggested we take a drive. I've been itching to try out a digital camera that my son-in-law loaned me. Dog, husband, me and the camera headed to a local park for a hike. The trails are easy and since I'm just starting to feel better and the weather was so nice we decided to hike a bit. The dog loves to be out with us and after the rain the hills are wonderful. I've put a few photos on Shutterfly so feel free to have a peek. I'm always open to any criticism.

He performs the Pastorale in the pasture

While patching this morning I ran across this site, Pastoral, and felt it needed a share. I've got it bookmarked so I can switch from the ugly news to these quite calming landscapes. Good job, Dave Levison.

You're doing a hellova job-- insert name

I truly didn't want to post something negative, I've been a bit punky lately and wanted to keep things light but you can't seem to avoid these monkeys in Washington. The American people know Rumsfeld, et al, have bungled the war, now generals are speaking up, when will they give this guy the boot?

Not soon enough I'm afraid because the President seems to think Rumsfeld deserves his support. Who looks out for the interests of us Americans?

Where's a camera when you need it

Yesterday, while riding on public transportation, I noticed the young man standing next to me had the hairiest knuckles I've ever seen and he'd shaved his head. Wait. What makes someone lather up the skull and ignore the bushy growth on the hands? Maybe it's a question of where to stop or maybe time because, as women know, once you shave those legs you're a slave to the razor from that point on. I was just thankful it wasn't tank-top weather.

Need a laugh, call Trunk Monkey

I know, this is a waste of time but oh so funny. Trunk Monkey

This old house

Our house tends to creak and groan on occasion. It's a 1964 wood-framed house which isn't old but it sometimes seems to be, well, cranky. Tonight has been one of the noisier in the past months. Could be the change in weather, cold and wet to a long awaited spring. It could also be the earth moving, what we Californios call, "get the hell out of bed, we're having a 'quake."

Being awake and hearing more than one of these grunts I decided to check my favorite site the USGS map of recent earthquakes, I've got it bookmarked. While poking around I found this link and if you select your state there is enough "geeky" information to keep reading for hours, or in my case, keep you awake for hours because now I'm too jumpy to go back to sleep, sheesh.

Oh, in case you were planning to sleep tonight, try reading this little tidbit. It's about Mammoth Mountain and you can find out how many trees have been killed near the lake from toxic carbon dioxide levels. Don't worry, just the trees are dying.

Don't live in California? Try your state, I'm sure you can find something to keep you awake.

Unconditional love in a furry package

My husband and I were lucky enough to be entrusted with our daughter and son-in-law's dogs while they were out of the country. We'd watched these two fluffy white little Maltese before so it was no problem to add them to the kennel.

They were finicky eaters and barked at the drop of a leaf but they never once piddled on the carpet or refused to cuddle in bed. After walks, napping seems to be what they enjoyed best and since I was feeling poorly they were my best friends.

Multi, on the left, is about three times Max's size and if he'd hold still, Max would fit in one hand. I've cooked bigger chickens. Max's problem is he doesn't know he's pint-sized, he thinks like a pitbull. I wish I had his confidence. He established himself as the alpha dog early on and no one has told him different. I love his bravado; he even walks with a swagger.

Our darling Buddy, a wire-haired terrorist in his own right, acquiesced to the little dog immediately. Not that he couldn't have grabbed him by the neck and shook him to death, Buddy was a patient host and only asserted his alpha-dogness on walks. Hey, one can only be so polite.

Poor Multi usually gets the brunt of Max's mischievousness but he does fight back when he's had enough but more than once Max would sneak up on Multi and pounce on him like the attack animal he is. Multi is content to let Max run amok while he finds a human to lay upon.

Sometimes, when I have to find someone to stay with Buddy while we vacation I think about not having the responsibility of a dog and then I think of all the doggy friends we've had over the years. I can't ever imagine not having an animal around; they ask so little and give so much.

The Bark Brothers were here an-all-to-quick twelve days and we miss them now they are back home. Dogs are a lot of work, worry, and responsibility but they are so worth it when they lick your nose. I mean that IS unconditional love, would you lick someone's nose?

Things that make you laugh

Got the blues? Check my sister Weed's post. The little bird has a funny on her blog, as well. Where do they come up with this stuff?

I've also stumbled onto Craig Ferguson on CBS' Late, Lateshow. This guy is hilarious. I was experiencing a bit of insomnia when I first watched his show and we all know--latenight TV with all the infomercials will make anything seem funny--but after TiVo-ing him, and watching in the light of day, his humor stood up. Sometimes he has the odd wanky guest but most are interesting and he actually interviews them something Leno and Letterman rarely don't do. He does let them plug whatever they are plugging at the time but I'm sure that's the only reason they'd appear.