All the comforts of home

Being retired doesn't mean you can't take a few days off. From what I'm trying to figure out but my darling and I headed to the beach on Sunday for a few days. We wanted to stay right on the beach at Rincon, dry camping, but problems with our trailer made us settle for the RV campground. No view of the ocean but just a short walk.

We also like the main street of Ventura for the antique shops and small eateries; Cajun Cafe being one of our favs. An extra plus this trip, I found a shop that sharpens knives and I just happened to have two of my favorites. This guy does them while you wait and he did a great job. I'll be taking more each time we visit.

Using the full hook-ups gave my darling time to fuss with his new satellite dish. I was surprised but pleased when he got it working. We were missing a few channels, the one carrying the Doyer's game, but we muddled through. With the weather a bit dodgy we didn't spend as much time outside as we normally do so the addition of PBS was ok by me.

So why do retirees need time away? Seems like I don't read as much as I like and I got into a book I'd wanted to start. I was thrilled to do the crossword puzzle every morning from the paper and let's not forget the nap. I could take one at home but don't so an afternoon nap after a long walk on the beach was perfect.

Can't wait for the next trip.

May Desktop Calendar

This is a funny little frog that my sister found in a plant she brought home from the nursery. She quickly snapped a photo and I translated it into a pastel. It is one of my favorites and now hangs in my office. I hope you are enjoying spring as much as I am.

If you'd like to use this month's calendar as your desktop pattern for your computer please use the following instructions. If you have any questions you can leave a comment or email me at mooncrazy.debono@gmail.com

• Click on appropriate link. large calendar, 1024 x 680 or 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

My blog IS my bastard child

As always, I've been chastised for neglecting my blog. My only excuse is: this is not a publication, nor a job. I do it for the fun of it and if I'm busy with other projects, it will take a backseat for a while.

Eliminating any unnecessary visits to my site is quite easy; use a little free app like Bloglines. Just sign up and it will alert you to new published content on a variety of sites, doesn't have to be just blogs and it will make your life trouble free. Well, trouble free except for:

• the war in Iraq
• global warming
• price of gas
• the current regime
• coming election
• the state of education in California
  

Good grief, last year California ranked 40th in the nation. A little reminder for those of you graduating last year; we are a nation of fifty states. Take the time and read the last link. If that doesn't put a damper on your good mood, I'd love to take what you take.

Oh, and I have pickles for anyone who cares to come by.

Nothing normal here

This is my new custom-made window seat for my office. It is quite the multi-tasker. It holds my wine cooler, cook books, and two bottoms. I love it especially since it was made by my dear brother-out-law while there stopped here on their way to Jellystone. They'll be working up in Montana for the summer, but true to his word, he made my new seat. We were sorry to see them head off but they will have quite an adventure this summer.

We hope to get back into a somewhat normal pattern. What with my wrist injury and my beloved's health problems it has been non-stop doctors. I hope I don't see the inside of a waiting room until July--that's his next office visit. I promise to be quite careful where I step, too.

What is faster?

Why is waiting so difficult for me? Christmas, nine months of pregnancy, retirement; waiting on those things always make me itch. I'm the type that will open mail walking in from the mailbox. Can't wait that extra twenty seconds it takes.

Maybe it's the Internet that's made us so ready for instant gratification. Computers getting faster; have we ever said they work too fast? Instant communication. What, wait until someone gets home from work to talk to them? Nope, it's call their cell, they'll take time to answer. It is a bit productivity killer in the workplace.

I blame the food industry. Microwave cooking, fast food and instant pudding has made us a nation if impatient people. Bake a potato?

Waiting, it can make you a little nutty.

Looking back

When I have a lot on my mind I either post too much or not at all. I'm in the "not at all" stage right now. It's not that I don't like to post it's when I find it a chore I don't sit down and write. So, for now, let me just look backwards.

What I said a year ago and the year before.

It's amazing that the Imus thing took place a year ago. He is back on the air and I still enjoy hearing his guests, most of them. The ones I don't enjoy I have the power to turn them off.

Ode to the election

There once was a voter in flux
and her wallet a bit shy of bucks
with gasoline prices high and the real estate dry
her job's to find a candidate that won't suck.

Good Luck, y'all.

Vote for a great candidate

moar funny pictures


Na, Buddy dog isn't running for any office, though it's a great idea, he wants you to vote for him on I has a Hot Dog. Just click his photo and vote for him. It would mean so very much to the old doggy.

I'm in therapy

This shouldn't surprise some people but it's not the therapy some of you think I need. My wrist is in serious need of some help so my Dr has sent me off to some very kind ladies who twist and knead my wrist and elbows until I break a sweat. It's not at all what I'd expected. I was thinking hot packs and massage but I get series of exercises with some pummeling. They must work because I'm able to leave my brace off for longer periods. No pain, no gain.

After using my left hand/arm/elbow exclusively for some time now has made it quite sore. It really hurts more than the fractured wrist. The injection the bone doc poked me with did little to relieve the pain and for a few days I couldn't use either arm. I felt as though I had flippers. Therapy has at least gotten me back on track.

All of this reminds me that your life can change in a second. For me the time it took for my feet to leave me and my fat ass, as well as right wrist, to hit the floor. But, I keep hearing my mom, "… this too shall pass." and am thankful it wasn't any more serious.

Serious like the car crash last week. This is the second, in as many years, that I've been witness to and both in the San Fernando Valley. Yikes, it's like running red lights is a hobby with those people. Yeah, I know, they happen everywhere. That's why cities are putting up those blow-this-light-and-we-snap-your-photo cameras.

Just the sound of an accident stays with you for a long time. Nothing can compare with the screech of tires, scraping metal and breaking glass and you looking helplessly at this uncontrollable video being played out before you. Bless the human race; before the smoke cleared people were running to help.

How late do you have to be to run a red light.

Who knew?

Volunteering at the Getty Center gives all of us docents the opportunity to meet new people from all over the world. On a recent encounter with some lovely guests from outside the US my docent friend Dolores was asked a question.

Visitor: Was J. Paul Getty Jewish?

Dolores: No, why do you ask?

Visitor: He had a lot of money and Jewish people are always rich.

Dolores: Well, I wish someone would have told my father!

She's quick, that Dolores.

April Desktop Calendar

There's a twist to this month's calendar photo. It was taken by my darling and quite talented sister, Doodles. I'm still unable to draw so rather than skip a month I'm using a photo she took recently. I love it so much I'm also framing it for my living room in a space I've created. Thanks, sis.

Do check her blog for more photos and her posts about living full-time on the road.

If you'd like to use this month's calendar as your desktop pattern for your computer please use the following instructions. If you have any questions you can leave a comment or email me at mooncrazy.debono@gmail.com

I've changed the sizes a bit and removed the large image and replaced it with something a bit smaller, 1023 x 680.

• Click on appropriate link. large calendar, 1024 x 680 or 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

WH Press Briefing March 20, 2008

Well that was weird, I posted this a few days ago and it just popped in, three times. I think I've straighted it out. I'll let it speak for it's self. I hate Cheney, this current administration, and anyone else who thinks they can bamboozle the American people. (If you can use "bamboozle in three different conversations today, you will the grand prize.)

Who or what is art?

Question: Is that Art?
Answer: No, he only looks like your cousin, Arthur.

Question: Is that art?
Answer: Who the hell can answer that!

Being at the Getty Center I'm exposed to a wide range of art. Even though we are better know for our painting collection, the 9th through the 19th century, we've collected much more in the ten years the Center has been open and have some modern pieces. For one, the photo collection has grown immensely and now includes some prints from 2006, Luc Delehaye. We also have some very contemporary exhibits like the new works of Tim Hawkingson which seemed a big hit last year.

Sometimes I look at different art movements and wonder if the artist thinks, "… wink, wink, let's just slap some color on a canvas, add a huge price tag and pass it off as art to prove these suckers will buy anything with a famous name attached." But, I like Richard Serra's fluid bands of steel and Chuck Close's portraits. Can't understand conceptual or performance art.

All of this art is making my head swim. How to look at it, how to appreciate it, how to understand it. I found a website that does explain some of the art movements, Modern Art
but does little to help how to understand it. None the less, if you too are confused about what is art, check this site.

So why the angst? California Video is just open at the Getty Center and even though I'm not crazy about the exhibit it is the very beginning of an art movement assembled together to view and study. This experimental venture into video did not exist before 1968 and continues today with a piece created for the show. In 100 years people will look at this collection and because the Getty Center has conserved this block of work and will be able to see it from it's inception. I do have to remind myself how the Impressionist movement was quite radical during it's time.

Check the website for the exhibit California Video and you might find something that inspires you, or puzzles you, or just starts a conversation about art. And maybe that's what the artist wanted in the first place.

Does everyone have an idiot uncle, too?

Is your hate well placed with Obama's minister? What about Jerry Falwell's diatribe about immorality and anti-Christian's being responsible for 9-11? If you want to hate someone we've got plenty to hate. I hate the current administration for dragging us into this now five-year war costing four thousand American lives and one-half a trillion dollars. Imagine the country spending that amount of money here on education, infrastructure, or jobs. Someone has gotten rich on this conflagration and it isn't the soldiers fighting there, nor I doubt, the inhabitants of Iraq.

Two of my uncles are such bigots I wouldn't walk across the street to visit them let along fly to Indiana. Why? Because I don't care about them. They fill their lives with such hate it doesn't matter what else they do, they don't exist to me. What I've found about myself is I'm an "insulationsist." I keep close people who believe pretty much the same as I do. That might be wrong but it keeps me happy. I've long since tried to change anyone. They are who they are but I don't have to be around them. So, if I bust your chops for something you've said to offend me, consider yourself a friend.

As the elbow turns

Of course regulars here know I've just recently broken my wrist. Actually, a fracture of the distal radial which sounds so much more official. It has been four weeks and today I saw the Dr for another round of x-rays. It is healing nicely but at least two more weeks in the brace and as much physical therapy. I am looking forward to the therapy because after four weeks of not using my right hand it's as week as a hand in a cast for a long time; or maybe a kitten.

All this non-use of my right hand has caused my tennis elbow to flare up, again. My darling Dr. shot me up with something wonderful, well, for the time being. He told me it would feel good long enough for me to get home and far enough from him because in an hour it would start to hurt real bad and he didn't want to be anywhere near me. Smart guy. So he suggested to go home and take some drugs that way I wouldn't hate him. How could I hate this guy.

And, here is a little fun since I'm feeling a bit drugged, Loldogs.


see more loldogs are funny dog pictures!

Chilling

Twenty years ago on March 16, planes flew over the village of Halabja in Northern Iraq and dropped bombs loaded with the chemicals, tabun, sarin, VX, and sulfer mustard, killing over 5,000 Kurdish men, women and children. Some how being treated with crappy customer service doesn't seem so bad to me.

This info is from a blog called "can of worms." For your edification, class, please read his blog.

Prostitution, a victimless crime?

Are you f-ing kidding me? I am sick and damn tired of hearing some people say, "Why can't you just look the other way about this Call Girl thing ? It's just prostitution and who actually gets hurt. "

Who gets hurt? You think some 24 year old woman decides she has a knack and on a whim puts in an application. Most of the time it's a choice of last resort or, something like this in New York. Have a twelve-year-old daughter/granddaughter? Here's a quote from the article.

Authorities said Davis forced a 12-year-old girl to be a sex slave in 2005, confining her to a house in New York and transporting her to Connecticut to work up to 12 hours a day as a prostitute. He also was accused of recruiting a 17-year-old girl in 2006 with the promise of a cheap apartment, but when she arrived, investigators say Davis took away her cell phone and locked her in an apartment.

The bastard, in this case, got 23 years but don't think he was the only one doing this. There's big money and a whole lot of greed involved.

Human trafficking doesn't just happen in third-world countries it happens here in your neighborhood. Ever go to Craig'slist? In one recent case, two Chicago women were charged for selling girls as young as 14 years old on Craigslist. The girls were forced to have sex with 10-12 men per day, and the traffickers made tens of thousands of dollars.

Still think it's a victimless crime? Next time you think that way also try to envision your niece, daughter, granddaughter in that situation.

Meet some of our new feathered friends

This IS a chicken. I had to post this photo that sister Doodles took when we visited the Poultry Show in Bakersfield last weekend. You can read her post for more pix. We got a lesson on fine feathered birds and met some very nice people. None as fancy as this gal, though.

Von's Supermarket-agita for life

Agita, a perfect word in Italian to describe my feelings for my local Von's supermarket. Customer service isn't the perfunctory, Didyoufindeverythingyouwerelookingfortoday? Customer service is where you say to the customer, "I'm sorry you had to come back to the store to correct OUR mistake." I hope we can serve you better next time you return." And of course, this is spoken looking directly at the customer with some sort of, albeit fake, sincerity.

I don't shop at Von's because they have the lowest prices or a sparkling clean market, far from it. I go there because it is the closest option in my many options to by food.

My checker, trying to get done with the day, was so quick to ring me up she forgot to give me a substantial discount on a product I'd purchased, $9.65. I did think my bill was a bit high and putting my groceries into my trunk I noticed the mistake. If it had been any less, I swear, I'd have just gone home but I was irritated by her actions in the first place.

After I waited in the Customer Service line the guy looked at the receipt, looked at the ham, walked to the cash register and gave me my change. No apology, no smile, no kiss-my-ass-I-hate-all-you-people. He then stood there and watched me struggle to put the ham back in my bag. I still do have a broken wrist and a noticeable brace on my right arm. I had to ask for his help.

Mistakes happen, I'm well aware of that, and I'll even go so far as to say I should have been paying a bit more attention as she checked me out but for the love of all that's good, would it have killed them to be a little more cheerful?

Baking in Bako; no, not so much

Back from a few more days of camping. This time it was Bakersfield. Great weather as long as you don't breathe too deep. Yeah, not one of my favorites but favorite people were visited so it's all good. The Gypsy Caravan has settled into that section of the central valley until mid-May when they start their trip North to Alaska. If you sang the song; give yourself five points.

We did have fun; the fellas spent three days at the Nostalgia Drags, sister and moi antiqued, shopped, ate and I gave her the fifty cent tour of good ole Bakersfield.

My wrist is healing but still cumbersome to get things done. I did enjoy the rest for my wrist. We only cooked one night and darling sister did those duties. Now it's back to the real world.

I still owe a post on the previous camping trip to Ventura. We had a ball and I actually do have some snaps so watch for an up coming post.