Saturday's Photos ala Nancy

Just photos today.....


Martha Washington Geranium



Big Dahlia



Small Dahlia



Zoe



Katharine



Sunshine at the end of the street



Hazy southern view



Geranium plant

Goodbye to the Fishers, Hello to 24 Hour Pubs

Leave it to NPR for giving me ideas for today's post.

I have watched every episode, of each season of Six Feet Under and have loved every quirky show. I had not watched this seasons shows. I had ten episodes on Tivo and I heard somebody died. I knew who. I avoided reading anything about who died. I was asked who I thought had died and I said, "Nate." Mainly because he has been about death since he came back to the funeral home.

I spent this past week catching up just in time for the final seventy-five minute episode this Sunday. I am sad to see it leave. But, I agree, it is time. This past season has been horribly sad. Every single show was sad. David going bonkers since he was taken captive. Claire being back with Billy and finally dumping his off his meds ass. Although it was funny to see her try to fit into the corporate world, but also sad. I loved Bettina and Sarah and their get togethers with Ruth. Kathy Bates and Patricia Clarkson added much to this show.

Dealing with George's breakdown was depressing and watching Ruth fall into the bowels of hell was no fun at all. Watching her be so mean to Claire, yelling at David and finally losing Nate, was heartbreaking. Sweet naive Ruth. Now has Maya to look out for. I love that Nate told her he would want nobody else taking care of his child.

Brenda! OMG. What had she turned into? She has dreams about her brother, comes from a seriously fucked up family. Who can blame her for being the way she is? She never really found herself. Maybe motherhood, if that is how the final show goes, will turn her into a productive character.

Final note. The cast of this show could not be any better. The writing was wacky and wonderful. I will stop now, because I know not everybody has seen it, nor would everybody like it. It is a bit twisted, but if you can handle that, rent the first seasons. Get to know the Fisher Family and those in their lives.


Now the 24 hour pubs...Have you heard of this? This is London's solution to binge drinking. To keep the pubs open 24 hours, they will prevent people drinking quickly before the pubs close and help lessen the problems with everybody leaving at one time and apparently putting a hardship on the taxi service. I am not kidding!

I cannot recall every detail of the story, but to keep a pub open 24 hours seems rather ludicrous to me. Of course not everybody agrees on this solution, but it will take effect very soon. Not all pubs, just some. Which makes me wonder, why some and not others??? Hmmm. To hear more, go to HERE to hear the story. It was on Morning Edition this morning. Type in 24 hour pub into the search field to find it.

How Do I Get Rid of Blog Spam?

opening dinnerplate dahlia,smaller one of two


This is one of my favorite summer time flowers. Dinnerplate Dahlias. I have two different ones here. Both just opening. I will annoy you with them as they get bigger! LOL

Now for the BS.....

Yesterday I had five comments that began like normal comments. I didn't recognize any of the names, but quickly realized they were spam comments.

I have never received these before. I went to Blogger to try and educate myself on this subject and to find out how to get rid of these comments, besides deleting them, which I did. I do have a record of them however, as I have the comments come to my email as well.

I was reading about the new flag tab on the blog page. It said something about blog spam and engaging in illegal activity as reasons for using the flag tab. Blogger can then unlist these spammers. If I understood the information correctly.

So, I am sure many of you get these spam blog comments and was hoping to get some advice from you. Do I flag them? What should I do? What do you do? Or should I just delete them and forget about it?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated...Thanks!


bigger of the two dinnerplate dahlias

Here's the Story

I have three brothers and one cuzbro. Cousin, like a brother. Each and everyone different in many ways.

My oldest brother is actually my half brother. He has ten years on me. He lives in Kansas and is a graphic designer who wants to begin writing a screenplay. He if funny, very smart and has a head of hair that proves that the balding gene comes from the mother's side!

He is married to a school teacher about to retire soon, a lovely lady. She reminds me of Laura Bush is her mannerisms and lady like ways. No matter what she wears, she looks great and almost always wears a scarf. She accessorizes well. She is funny and sweet and she and my brother have been married for about thirty years. They have one son, who is smart, funny and quite the musician, which he is still studying in college.

My next oldest brother is almost five years older than I. He is a big sweetheart. Everybody loves him. He is nice. He loves kids. He is very active in his church as is his wife and her parents. Their three kids were raised in the church and are truly great kids. They have been married for more than twenty years. They have a terrific family.

My brother works in the electronics business. His wife a school teacher at a Christian school for years, left last year to home school my nephew. They felt he was on the small side and not ready to turn him loose into the public school system. When some of the other parents from her school found out she was home schooling, many asked if she would home school their children as well. She agreed, she opened her own little school with about fifteen students. She taught seventh grade last year
and this year she will teach eighth, because my nephew is going into eighth. My sister in law is also a sweetheart.

My youngest brother and I have always been close being only sixteen months apart. I love him dearly, but he has turned into somebody I don't know anymore. He used to be fun. He is not fun anymore. He is grumpy. He is only forty-four and he seems so old sometimes. He has a thirteen year old son. He just got the boot from a four year relationship to a woman we all loved. She was right to do it...I won't go into the details, but suffice it to say, he deserved the boot and more.

Within a week of getting a place near his ex and his son, he was dating the ex again. I believe this is the fourth time they have gotten back together. My mother worked at the bank and got him a job as a bank teller when he was eighteen. His ex, was his boss. They have been together on and off since then. Anyhow, he didn't want to tell me he was seeing her again. We played the game of me asking if he was seeing someone, was she from work? Was she from the pool? Then he fessed up. I just sighed. I said, well hope you are happy. He paid to get out of his newly leased apartment, after he told me how much he liked living on his own and how happy he was.

Next thing I hear thru my Cuzbro, was that he and his ex are looking for a house in a better area for my nephew to go to school. Another thing he didn't tell me. When we finally did discuss it, I told him I hoped it was big enough to have a room for him, for when she sends his ass to the couch....Just a guess after all the years of how their relationship goes. Instead of getting on my high horse, I told him I wished them the best of luck. Because they will be needing it. The reasons they broke up have not gone away. If anything, they have gotten worse. And frankly, they have treated each other so poorly in the past, it concerns me, for my nephew's sake. He didn't even get a chance to mourn my brother's ex girlfriend of four years, who was terrific and loving to my nephew, and he adored her. Between that and the last three times he left or got booted from my nephew's mother's life, I really hope it works this time!

I have this thing where I make friends with his ex girlfriends and stay that way. One of my very best friends in the world, was one of them. I speak or at least email with her several times a day. Since my brother got divorced, she has come to all the family fun events, as my friend, nothing to do with my brother. They were done nearly ten years ago and she would never want him back. When my brother got back with is ex, "MY" friend would be banished from the fun events for sake of not pissing off the ex-wife. Well, things have changed this time.

Saturday is my Cuzbro's birthday party at his and my Cuzsis's home. She is like the sister I never had. She says the same and she has sisters! Anyhow, Cuzsis invited our friend as we all have a blast together. Cuzbro invited my youngest brother. My youngest brother called me the other day and told me he would like to see me at some point. I said, "Are you going to Cuzbro's birthday party?" My brother said, yes he is and that he is bringing his ex, and to be prepared....I didn't even ask what that meant. Frankly, because, I really don't care.

So, the ex is going to come face to face with our friend and her nemesis. We haven't told my brother she will be there. She has been more like family then the ex ever has. So we are going to let things play out. My other brother would like to bring the last girlfriend, who by the way, never had a problem with coming to events at my house with "MY" friend here. She got to know her and like her. We never had to banish her because my brother was in a new relationship. She just had to get used to her being here and a part of our parties.

There is a bit of history between "MY" friend and the ex. They lived across the driveway when my brother was married to his ex and "My" friend was married to her ex. When my brother broke up with his ex, he started dating "MY" friend, who was then divorced. At the time, I didn't even know her, but then we became fast and great friends. Anyhow, the ex would see my brother going into "MY" friend's condo, and lose it. She would move his car, rifle thru his things in the car, and other things as well. I am sure it was painful for her to watch her soon to be ex, with another woman, especially when their bedrooms were across from one another. But, she kicked him out and filed for divorce before he began dating the neighbor.

All of that was ten years ago. Shouldn't the ex have let go of her grudge by now? Does the whole family have to change our ways to accommodate the ex, yet again? Our answer is a resounding, NO....So, this Saturday, should be an interesting birthday for my Cuzbro and quite a sight for the rest of us. "MY" friend has offered not to attend, but we all agreed, she was invited and we want HER there....

So, what do you think about this. Are we being mean and bitchy? Or do you think it is time for the ex to get with the program?

My dog and I are ill

I had to rephrase the title. My dog and I are sick, just didn't sound right! LOL

I have had these damn sores in my mouth. Herpes, the dreaded word. They get so sore that my whole face, head and neck ache so badly, that I cannot even function. I cannot be touched, nothing but vicodin seems to take away the pain and then it truly just lessens it. I had the same thing about a month ago. For years I got this and thought my face had a cold. That is how it feels. Like one side of my face had the flu. Sore, horrible. I finally figured out a while back it is directly associated with the cold sores I get in my mouth. I have tried some of the over the counter and prescription meds. They work somewhat, but basically it will last for seven days or a week...I just have to deal with it.

In other news, my poor pup has been sick. He woke me up about one Sunday night to let him out of his crate and proceeded to get sick from both ends. Thank goodness I let him out! Poor guy. He spent the day yesterday doing the same thing. I got pissed because I cleaned up vomit eight times at least yesterday. Not necessarily that pissed me off, but my kids saying, "Eww, he did it again mommy!" As if it is my job to clean up puke!

Finally, I ordered the girls and Katharine's friend a pizza and a salad and went down to watch TV. Next thing I know, it is midnight. I conked out! I came up and Katharine and her friend were in the kitchen. I asked Kate to let the dog out of his cage. No reason he should be in there if he isn't feeling well. What a mess that would be. He came outside and drank a whole bowl of water and didn't stop til the water was done. I have watched him for an hour or so and so far, he has kept it down.

I am not sure what made him so sick. He eats everything in sight. Even his toys, but something finally upset his digestion enough to make sure he didn't eat anything yesterday. He was not dehydrated yesterday, cuz he was peeing, so I am going to see how he does between now and tomorrow and if need be, I will take him to the vet. But, he seems to have a bit more spring in his step and his ears are perky, so I think whatever it was, is now out of his system. I hope so.

Our cousin Lindsay went home on Sunday. She was a treat to have around. Zoe was bored last night and wrote a poem about it, self titled. Good poem though. But, I have stated this will be the summer they learn to deal with boredom and I mean it. She needs to call the library and figure out when she needs to work again. She likes it and it occupies her time...Hmm, dealing with boredom!

We are very excited about Katharine getting to play Brigitta in the upcoming Sound of Music. She nailed her audition on Saturday and while doing her last performance of Seussical the Musical, I got the call offering her the role! This is her third audition and has been in the ensemble for the first two plays. This is her first real role. This is a major passion of hers, so I am very happy for her.

School is about to start and we need to get clothes and supplies for the new year. Zoe will be starting high school, which blows me away. She is not looking forward to the school change, but I think she will be happy there. She is a great student and usually enjoys school. I think she will see how much more independent high school is and that she will like it. At least I hope so. I am very proud of they young woman she has become.

That's about it for now. I am going to see if I can get some more sleep, after I take some more aspirin! Nighty night.

UPDATE:

Charlie/Steve, the dog...is feeling like his old self. Ready to play, eat and his ears are up and perky and his tail is wagging. The bowl of water he drank last night and the little treat I gave him a bit ago, have stayed down, thankfully!

I am feeling better. Not up to snuff, but better....

Sunday Morning Flower Shots

This is a cluster of varigated double impatiens

Three double impatiens


This is a what it looks like as one. Pretty huh?

a lone double impatien


This is another kind of fuchsia that I like.

Deep pink with purple fuchsia


This is yet another shot of the ever blooming orchid.

The orchid, again


This is a different variety of fuchsia. Smaller yet, prolific.

Smaller fuchsia


This is a shot of them there hills. Not as beautiful as on clear days. Southern view, and no ocean can be seen. When the fog goes away, I will take a shot of all the layers of hills and the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean. But, some sun would help! LOL

shot of hazy canyon

August 12, 1998

Yesterday was the seventh anniversary of my father's death. A hard day. He died three months after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

My father was the baby of his family. He was one of nine kids. His mother died when he was only five. He lived in Oklahoma and worked hard along with the rest of his family. Picking cotton and playing music at night with his daddy.

They were dirt poor. He and my grandpa would play bars around town at night to help make money. My father was a genius with a guitar or violin. He was three when he played for the governor, which was on the radio as well. He would play the fiddle and fall asleep and his daddy would tap him on the shoulder and he would wake up playing without missing a beat.

Later in life that is what he did for a living. He never made the big time, but he played with plenty that did and he also played on some of their albums. He played bars and nightclubs and back then they didn't close at two. He had been married at nineteen, had a son and divorced not long after. Unfortunately he didn't get to know his little boy very well before the boy and his mother moved back to Colorado. My father remaining in California where most of his siblings had landed as well.

When he was twenty three he met my mother on a blind date. They were married eight weeks later. My mother was born in Iowa but came to California when she was very small. She lived in LA and that is where they met. She was a bank teller at the time, and remained in banking her whole life. Which was fortunate for our family, as my father was not exactly Johnny on the spot with a paycheck.

My father would come in at four in the morning and then we kids had to keep quiet or we would get the belt. We were terrified of our father, but we did love him. He just had a heavy hand when it came to discipline. Lucky, was my my half brother who was ten year older than I, or at least I thought of him as lucky, because he didn't get whippings. We got whipped for various reasons. He would tell us to pick out a belt and wait for him in the bedroom, that's very scary for a kid!

We did have some great times though...Fishing, camping, making ice cream, growing and cooking our own okra, he basically taught me how to cook at the age of eight. He was fun to be around when he played music, which was often. He smoked and he would put his cigarette behind his ear while playing the guitar. We would watch in wonder as the cigarette burned down and the ash got longer and longer. Strange thing to remember.

When I was about nine, my mother made my father get a real job. He was a mechanical genius as well. Only went to eighth grade was more knowledgeable than anybody I knew in building almost anything. He could do anything electrical, use any tool, build a patio, brick barbecue, complete with pulley system to bring the rotating basket up and down. He could lay concrete, he had one hell of a head for fractions which came from tools and sizes of nuts and bolts, I believe. After we got married and while we were away, he put in additional outlets in our bathroom. Put more outlets in the garage and added many fluorescent lights. He fixed our yard lights. He simply did it all. So, getting a job as a mechanic was what he did.

He worked odd hours, but brought home a steady paycheck for the first time in our lives. It relieved much pressure on my mother, who had three kids and worked her ass off climbing the ladder in an industry of mainly men. Banking has changed a lot since then. My father brought home an electric cart that they were getting rid of at his company. Fixed it up and we used to drive it around the street and park behind our street. He once welded two bikes together to make a tandem and we loved that bike.

Finally, his company had a layoff and closed his building. He was out of work after about twenty years. He started building guitars, but never sold them, always gave them away. He did the locksmith course off a book of matches! Seriously, took classes via mail and passed, got his license and opened up as a locksmith. He did that for a while, he was good at it, but didn't go to calls in bad areas. Which limited his clientele!

My parents bought their house in 1970 for $34,000. They sold it in about 1994 for more than $250,000. The moved up to Bakersfield, about three hours north of here. My mother had retired from the bank and it was becoming obvious that she had Alzheimer's. We knew she had it before the official diagnosis though. He was there for her. Not always liking it, but she spoiled him rotten and let him get by with everything their whole married lives, it was now his turn to take care of her. And we thought he would always be around to do that.

As it happens, it didn't turn out that way. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1998 and died August 12, three months later. Also, one week after my parents forty-fifth weddng anniversary. We had him back down here near us and we moved my mother around between our homes. They had sold their home in Bakersfield when my father was diagnosed. He wanted to go back to Oklahoma. When it became apparent, he would need my brothers and my help, we forced him to come back, only to get off the plane and go straight to the hospital. From there he went straight to a nursing home. It was a very dark time. We took my mother to see him daily. My out of work for a year brother got a job! That left only me to care for my mother who had grown so much worse with the Alzheimer's. And I had a husband and a five and six year old at home as well.

So, my father was gone and we had to deal with my mother, and their affairs. I got my mother into a assisted living apartment not to far from me and as she got worse she needed more help. One day I took her shopping for clothes and she was out of breath. I took her back to the doctor who had given her a physical the week before. Chest ex-ray showed cancer had spread into her lungs. We never found out from where. She died two weeks later and it was almost six months to the day after my father died. They were together again.

The only good thing that came from my father's death, was that we got back in touch with my half brother I had not seen since I was six. He is fully in our lives now and a very important and loved member of our family.

Stop crying honey, your bruise is running

I am a total continuity freak...I don't mean to be, it just happens. I notice things that are out of place. I notice things that are wrong. I am drawn to precision. I notice and actually look for patterns. Such as patterns in a piece of tile or a typed page, the texture of a tablecloth. I am very strange!

I was watching a show last night where the woman was bruised from being beaten up by a mob member. She listened at the door and got caught..After she was rescued, she was at the hospital saying good-bye to a friend who was going into the witness protection program. She had large bruises around her eyes and mouth. She began crying and little by little her bruise ran down her cheeks...How can one take a scene seriously when the injury is dripping off her face?

Another thing is an apartment scene in the Young and the Restless...Okay, wait, I do watch soaps. Yes, I admit it. Okay, back to what I was saying, so this apartment of these college students have had the same plate and saucer sitting in the wooden drying rack since day one. Only one day did it change. One day somebody cooked in the kitchen and washed dishes. I thought, finally, they are going to change the damn dishes in the rack! For all of five minutes they did...Next day, back to the same two dishes in the rack....Things like this get to me. If we are to believe the shows, do something with the sets to make them real dammit!

Or I have noticed the same coffee sets in different households on the same show. Or those chairs with the gold backs that are used in every show with a large event. From TV programs, usually for weddings, to the Award shows where they serve dinner...I would love to have been the maker of those chairs, or at least their leasing agent!

I am notorious in my family for catching inconsistencies in shows I watch. Bad editing. One shot they will show two glasses of wine. Next shot, one glass is half empty. Next shot is back to two full glasses. This drives me crazy...

A shirt is with two unbuttoned buttons, then fully buttoned, and back to unbuttoned in the same scene. A stain on a shirt, there one minute and as if somebody caught it, gone the next.

I love Tivo, I can stop, and go back to these admitted distractions of mine. Just to prove the things I have noticed. I may be nuts, but I like confirmation!

Somebody with a certain hair do, for instance. One scene the woman may have a clip in her hair and the next scene she doesn't and then, behold, it is back again. I will pause, rewind and show it to anybody who will listen. Or her hair may be parted in the middle and then on the side and then back to the middle. Or perhaps bangs today, gone tomorrow. God forbid they should change the color or get it cut in the middle of a scene, that really sets me off. Just wait til the next scene...A new do is okay then!

I know this makes me very strange...I don't care.

I also look for patterns. Patterns in anything. Three trees in the shape of a triangle. Clouds in shapes or how they are spaced. Seeing patterns in tiles in the bathroom. Seeing patterns in typed pages...For instance, a whole line of blank spaces that go across a paragraph or page. When I look at it I see the words, but the stripe of un-typed spaces stand out to me. Does this remind you of Rain Man? I cannot count toothpicks. Although, I can count cards. I also have a wicked memory for numbers. Phone numbers, credit card numbers, part numbers. I don't mean to remember them, but they become a pattern in my head and I will never forget them. I have family members who call me to ask for numbers instead of actually going to their phone books! Same goes for dates...I just remember them, first forming a pattern as usual, then forever in the number department of my brain.

But, mostly it is in movies or on TV when things are wrong that bug me most. I don't know why. I know scenes are stopped for the day and continued the next day while filming. I can recognize that the hair style is only slightly changed and that the actor had gone about their day, showered, had their hair redone to look like it did the day before while shooting. Only to realize it is a little fluffier or something minutely changed. To most, this would go unnoticed. But to me, it is an obsession.

So, for the actress I was watching the other day, stop crying honey, your bruise is running....

Another This and That Post

This is my favorite fuchsia


The other day on my I've Been Tagged post, I got a comment from somebody called Elohimus Maximus. He said, "Being tagged is a sin...repent for that. God 58 Sinners 0. I chalked him up to a wacko and did nothing.

This morning I was at my sister-in-law Phoebe's blog and I saw that he commented there too. I told her the loser commented on my blog too. She said he is harmless and that she has met a very funny Mormon woman thru Elihimus. And that my hub, her brother, put her onto Elihimus. I told the hub and he scratched his head and said, "What?" He does that when he is thinking of an answer. He says, what. Even if he hears you, he says, what? I learned years ago to just wait til the penny drops and he will answer me. Not that he is dumb, just takes him a minute to stop his overloaded with smarts brain, to hear the question.

Anyhow, I clicked on this guy's blog and the hub started laughing. He said, "Oh, he's funny. It's a joke." Exhibit A...The title of his blog is, The Church of Even Later Day Saints.... Okay, that's funny. It was a joke. Glad I didn't blast his ass!

Back to Phoebe's blog. Her link is on my blog. Phoebe owns a Wild Bird Center in West Caldwell, NJ. She is quite the birder and leads hikes for birders. If you ever want to know about a bird or buy backyard bird goodies, check her out. She is also a very good photographer and has an awesome new camera. You may see her photos on her blog. Today was a sphinx moth on some flora...Very pretty and also, her cat Nicholas who was looking out the door. He is quite handsome.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Depp as Willy Wonka


Gene Wilder The Original Willy Wonka


Yesterday, I took four 12 and 13 year olds to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I liked the movie very much. Even though I love the original and love Gene Wilder's wicked and sarcastic wit, which was totally lost on me as a youngun. Later, I GOT it. Still one of my favorite films, I was not looking forward to seeing the remake. It was fine, but Johnny Depp was wickedly wonderful in the role! Luckily, the girls I took were old enough to get the humor, lost on younger kids, and they laughed right along with me. So, I would recommend this movie. Mainly because of Depp and the young boy who played Charlie. He was also the young boy in Depp's Finding Neverland. A movie on my all time favorites list now. This young boy had never acted before and has now done two films with Depp. He is the "To the manor born" kind of actor.

Zoe has her second day this week of helping out at the library. She has begun community service there. She likes it. Community service for the sake of volunteering, not in lieu of a jail sentence!

Katharine has another party. Get this. Today's party, is a cast party for a cast member from Suessical who won't be here for the "real" cast party! She is going on vacation for a week...I suppose any reason for a party is a good one!


Katharine and friend in street clothes after the play


This past weekend Suessical opened and there were two matinees. The same theatre is putting on A Chorus Line as well, with shows at night. Both big casts and a ton of work...This weekend, two more Suessical shows and Katharine will be done. Unless she gets a part in the Sound of Music, which she wants to audition for this Saturday!

And Lindsay, my cousin's daughter that I borrowed for another week, will probably have the honor to go with me to the grocery store! She and Zoe have been burning a hole in the mailbox with Netflix Anime CDs. And, I got them the Anime Network on Demand the other day...The girls are having fun though, that's good enough for me!

Safe Landing for Discovery

Landing in California this morning


I think we were all a bit nervous about the Space Shuttle Discovery landing today. Thankfully, it landed here in California and everything went well.

Every time I heard mission control talk to Eileen Collins, I admired her more. She is a take charge woman who loves what she does. She explained the mission to her two children and showed them how they were trying to make this a safe mission. She sounds like she is a good mother as well as the commander of the Discovery.


Commander Collins

When asked how they felt about landing in California, Collins replied, "We are ready for whatever we need to do." Then when they landed safely, she thanked the whole team. She did not bask in the limelight and take all the credit. She is a team player and it showed.

Eileen Marie Collins, Commander

The 48-year-old retired Air Force colonel has already logged more than 537 hours in space. In 1999, she became the first female shuttle commander. On STS-114, she'll maneuver the shuttle so the ISS crew can examine the orbiter's tiles; rendezvous with and undock from the station; and land the shuttle.

Trivia: She has received many military service awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The crew as a whole was quite capable and unique. It is very exciting to see Discovery complete a very important mission and to prove that our space program is still working. Although, some may think obsolete....


The brave crew of Discovery


After the Columbia completed many missions and landed so often, we became used to it, almost like everyday flying. But, when we lost Columbia and its crew, it was devastating to their families and our country. We were once again reminded of how dangerous it is to go into space.

I admire these astronauts and their spirit of adventure for our nation. I cannot even imagine the anxiety of going up for the first time since the Columbia disaster. And then the problems they fixed on the outside of Discovery while floating in space, I am just in awe.

Well done and congratulations. This has been a great week with wonderful outcomes. If you have time, try checking out the bios of these adventurers. You will be in awe as well.

Did I mention we could use a good woman president???

A Trip Down Memory Lane/Peter Jennings

TV shows and Movies that I don't think have been remade in the last five years! UGH. I am so tired of all the remakes, so I thought this would be fun. I cannot believe Dukes of Hazzard made top box office this past weekend. We need some creativity in the movie world. Perhaps some blogs need to be made into screenplays...Another thought.....


WKRP in Cincinnatti


Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid




Patton/George C Scott


McCloud


Planet of the Apes


All in the Family


urban cowboy/Debra Winger




Saturday Night Fever


The wonderful wonderful Cat


Lassie and Timmy


Jennifer Beals









Mary Hartman Mary Hartman







And a final goodbye to a dual nation treasure....Peter Jennings....Who left us too soon. I will miss him.

Russian Submarine

I am writing a quick post to say how happy I am that the Russians didn't have another bad ending. They got help in time and were able to free the submarine and thus able to free the people inside.

I cannot think of a worse way to die. Well, I can, but suffocation has to be up there with the top of my worst choices. I hate MRI's and anything remotely closed in. Submarines would be terrifying to me. I am very thankful all were rescued! A happy out come.

Pieces of Me

Thanks to Annie Thomas Burke for the format....

I don't take criticism well.

I am terrified of public speaking and even in
front of four people I don't know.

I prefer to be at the party when people arrive.
I am anxious upon entering an ongoing event or party.
Even a family or friend's party.

When I was a bartender, I was fine when people came in and filled
my bar. I was not fine when I took over a shift with a full bar.

I am more comfortable behind a telephone or computer screen.
I don't like being judged by my appearance.

I am blessed with really great friends.
Once a friend, a friend for life.
I keep secrets well.

Once burned, I never forget.
I am forgiving though.

I marvel at nature. Especially trees.
I love fishing, better than most things.

I am a weather nerd.

I love photography.

I cannot draw worth beans.

I love to write and tell stories.

I am funny.
I am moody.

I love country music. I love 70's music.
I don't play an instrument, which makes me sad.
I love to sing, in my own key!

I listen to NPR daily. I love the puzzler on Sunday mornings.

I have very curly hair. I usually let it do
what it does best and rarely dry it straight.
I would have killed for a flat iron in high school.

In high school I perspired horribly. I actually chose
my clothes by what wouldn't show the wetness.
I found Mitchum about twenty and have never had that problem since.

I like single malt scotch. I like Tahiti punch.

I hate people who are racist or intolerant.

I love meeting people from other countries.

Caller ID is an awesome invention. So is
the Do Not Call list.

I love playing detective and do it well.

I like to figure out things myself.

I am pretty insightful to others and do not
always take my own advice. Which I should.

My friends call me for advice. I love that.
I call for advice too.

I can do a mean rant or bitch like nobody's
business. Then I feel better.

I like things done right. I have a problem
with ignorance or indifference.

I am addicted to Tivo. I watch soaps in twenty
minutes or less. I have been watching All My
Children since it began. I was ten. It was black
and white and a half hour long.

I have two and a half brothers. No sisters. I consider
my cousin Ronnie my brother. He coined the cuzbro
phrase. His wife Pam is the sister I never had.

My father was born in Oklahoma. Mother in Iowa.
Both came to California young.
I have lived in California my whole life.

I love rain. We don't get enough, except for
too much last year, but not by my standards.

I have two daughters. They both outwit me in math.
And many other things.

I wear slippers on my feet always when at home.
We have wood floors and I hate crumbs! LOL

I am called Nancy and Nance. I have had several
nicknames over the years and none began with NAN.

My husband is the smartest person I know. He can
speak many languages. And among the kindest men
I have ever known. Did I mention funny too?

We have been married fifteen years.

I turned forty-five last October eighth.

I got the mechanical gene from my father.
I am the fix it person in our family. I can
wire things that most people have nightmares
about. My clocks never blink at 12:00!

I am a water maniac. Have been since being
pregnant at 15. I love seltzer too. No sodium
no nothing. I have two seltzer bottles and buy
co2 cartridges from Zabar's in NY. Cheaper than
most places. Even with shipping.

I rarely drink cola or other beverages. But,
I love iced tea. All my life, yum. No sugar.

I drink coffee every morning. Breakfast rarely.
Bad. I cannot eat or coffee is over!

I take prilosec daily. Have had the curse upon
my father's side since I was kid. One of my kids
is already cursed as well. Only twelve.

I am a great card player. I have been playing since
I was a kid and really have a head for cards and chess
which I abhor. Chess and scrabble have bad memories
from a past relationship.

I am very loving. I care too much sometimes. But, I am not
obsessively affectionate. I give affection and basically
had to learn how to do so. Not when it comes to my family
though, that is very natural.

I have to be in the right mood to tell people I love them.
Not family, but others. It is still uncomfortable to me. But,
when I say it, I mean it with all my heart. Sometimes, I read
that I told somebody I loved them or even signed loved
in a comment. I feel like they may think yuck or something.
But, when it is written by me, it is time felt. And it will
not change after that...Does that make sense? I have made the
connection and felt I could use the word and mean it....

I love my family, my frikends and my life. I am very blessed.

In other words, I don't throw out the word "love" lightly.

But, I do love so many of my blogging friends. I don't know you
personally, but when I feel the urge to tell you, I love you, I
mean it. And I do get to know you all, and I appreciate you letting
me into you world.

And I am humbled that you want to be a part of mine.

Am I Alone?

It is three thirty in the morning and usually at least Cindy pops up to talk to me! Or Bonn. But, not this morning...Oops, AOL is dancing up and down, it could be Cindy....Yep, it was her. She is up and at'em.

My cousin's daughter is coming back tomorrow. We are borrowing her for another week. She and Zoe had such a great time last month...They are both excited to leave real life and step into Anime heaven...

I am meeting with the woman in charge of girl scouts here in town this morning. Glad the house is clean! I have taken on the job of being in charge of all the troops for the nut sales which are held in the fall. Didn't know girl scouts sold nuts huh? Most people don't and they are harder to sell than cookies. But, we do make money on them and the girls get to go to camp or something out of the sales, so it is worth it. I just get to pump up all the troops this time, not just my daughter's!

I had to give three references...It always amuses me to do that. I would of course give people who know and like me right? Would I ask somebody who thinks I am a ditz to give me a reference? Seems rather moot to me. I got great references though. My friends did a great snow job, cuz the lady thinks I am a great lady! HA...Actually, I am good person and I did fill out the forms that say I am not a child molester or a criminal...Wonder if they will call the FBI on those or take me at my contract signed word? LMAO

I have just folded another load of laundry and put another in. Coffee is set to come on in two hours. I suppose I should go watch some TV and fall back to sleep.

When I saw the doctor about my insomnia, he did say if I was happy with five hours, bifurcated or at one time, then he was too. He did give me some samples of the new Lunista? Something like that. I have not tried them yet, but they are supposed to keep me asleep longer than Ambien did and are non addictive, and I am not supposed to build up a tolerance to them. I got to taking two Ambien and told the doc that I would not go on to three pills, even though he said I could. No, I couldn't.

I think I actually like being up in the middle of the night. It is so peaceful and no phones are ringing, nobody is asking me questions. I can just do what I like. Charlie/Steve is snoring in his crate and Partric is asleep high atop his post. The hub is sleeping soundly, the kids are out cold. I can hear two owls talking to each other. I hear the drips that are getting my new car dirty. Coming from the eucalyptus trees that tower here, in their grove, where all the houses have intruded. Occasionally, the coyotes go off, when they find something to eat. They can be very loud. But, not at this moment. How could I not love this time of night? I am apprehensive about taking something that insists I sleep eight hours. I only need five! Things to think about or not!

Alrighty then, back to sleep until the coffee smell wafts its way to me!

I've been tagged

My Lifetime

Tagged by Bonny, or Bonn to me!


10 Years Ago: I will go out on a limb here and say it was hot. Nothing really sticks out in my head. I had been married for 5 years and had a two and three year old though! Maybe that's why!

5 Years Ago: August 2000 - Again, hmm. I had been married ten years and my kids were seven and eight! We had lived in Laguna since 97. Came from Stepford Irvine. Actually, it could have been the year we went to Italy...That was very nice.

Yesterday: Had a doctor appt. Went to the grocery store with Zoe. Took Katharine to rehearsal, picked her up too. The cleaners cleaned the house. Posted three times, did laundry. Walked thru my still clean garage and loved that!

Today: I am going back to sleep soon. Have been up since before three. Emailed back and forth with Cindy. Will be taking Katharine to rehearsal and picking her up again too. Then the nightly dinner question and the preparing of the food!

Tomorrow: I am meeting with the woman in charge of girl scouts. I am getting all my schedules for being the nut manager for the whole town! FUN? There is a sale at the crack of dawn at Hobie's. Not going. Don't do lines, of any kind!

5 snacks I enjoy: turkey and cheese rolled up, chips and good salsa, fritos, sourdough toast, watermelon.

5 bands that I know the lyrics of MOST of their songs:Dixie Chicks, Lonestar, George Strait, Shania Twain, Gretchen Wilson. Those are only some of the country, but I do like many other kinds of music too.

6 things I would do with $100,000,000: One hundred million dollars? I would buy a home in Huahine, A home on a lake, buy things for people when I felt like it, just becasue I care and not because they expect it, and probably a big fishing boat! I would give money to charity too. And a staff to cook and clean and a trainer and masseuse. BTW, I changed it to six things! LOL

5 bad habits I have: Smoking, eating the wrong foods, not exercising enough, bad language, procrastination.

5 things I like doing: Watching movies, TV, fishing, computer, being home with my family.

5 things I would never wear: A thong, anything with words across the ass, horizontal stripes, high heels (left ankle broken twice), tube tops.

6 TV shows I like: House (HE ROCKS), Deadwood, Six Feet Under, Queer Eye, 24, L-word, Queer as Folk...(I know there are 7!)

5 movies I like: Primary Colors, Finding Neverland, Being Julia, Almost Famous, Coneheads

5 famous people I'd like to meet: Maya Angelou, Elton John, Kieffer Sutherland, Kathy Bates, Merle Haggard. And a shitload of dead people!

5 biggest joys at the moment: Family, friends, blogging and otherwise, where we live, watching my daughters laugh, laughing and bantering with my hubby.

I tag Heidi!

Photos

This is my third post for today...Guess I don't have enough to do! LIAR....Anyhow, click on the links for full size photos!

The first photo was taken this foggy drippy morning. This is an orchid that has come back for year four. I think it is very pretty.

orchid

This photo was taken this morning as well. The spider has gotten it's prey. I can't wait to see, what it has tomorrow...And this spider spins a new fabulous web nightly. Right Phoebe??? She was here and saw it, and photographed it with her killer digital camera. Mine is a Dimage 5mp and hers is an 8mp Canon, I believe!

spider in drippy web

This is Charlie/Steve having dinner with Zoe and me last night!
He had his own seat at the table and was a good boy. Just sat there. He was rewarded for his table manners!

Charlie/Steve at the dinner table

Funnies

I got these through emails from my sister in law Phoebe....She has a head for jokes, not big, just full!


>>A guy walks into the local welfare office, marches
straight up to the
>>counter and says, "Hi... You know, I just HATE
drawing welfare. I'd
>>really much rather have an honest job."
>>
>>The social worker behind the counter says, "Your
timing is excellent.
>>We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old
man who wants a
>>chauffeur
>>and bodyguard for his nymphomaniac daughter. You'll
have to drive around
>>in his Mercedes, but he'll supply all of your
clothes. Because of the
>>long
>>hours, meals will be provided. You'll be expected
to escort her on her
>>overseas holiday trips. You will have to satisfy
her sexual urges.
>>You'll
>>have a two-bedroom apartment above the garage. The
starting salary is
>>$200,000 a year".
>>
>>The guy says, "You're bullshittin' me!"
>>
>>The social worker says, "Yeah, well... you started
it."



From the Mind of Stephen Wright:


~I planted bird seed. A bird came up. Now I don't know what to feed it.
~I had amnesia once -- maybe twice.
~I went to San Francisco. I found someone's heart.
~Photons have mass? I didn't even know they were Catholic.
~All I ask is a chance to prove money can't make me happy.
~I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.
~If the world was a logical place, men would ride horses sidesaddle.
~What is a "free" gift? Aren't all gifts free?
~They told me I was gullible..... and I believed them.
~Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows
up, he'll never be able to edge his car onto a freeway.
~Two can live as cheaply as one, for half as long.
~Experience is the thing you have left when everything else is gone.
~What if there were no hypothetical questions?
~One nice thing about egotists... they don't talk about other people.
~A flashlight is a case for holding dead batteries.
~What was the greatest thing before sliced bread?
~I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.
~The cost of living hasn't affected its popularity.
~Is there another word for synonym?
~The speed of time is one second per second.
~Is it possible to be totally partial?
~What's another word for thesaurus?
~Is Marx's tomb a communist plot?
~If swimming is so good for your figure, how do you explain whales?
~Show me a man with both feet firmly on the ground, and I'll show you a
man who can't get his pants off.
~It's not an optical illusion. It just looks like one.
~Is it my imagination, or do buffalo wings taste like chicken ?

Chirping Won't Go Away

It is one in the morning and there is something chirping in the house. I thought it was a cricket. It is not. I am glad I was not being recorded as I went from area to area listening to this damn chirp to find out where it is coming from. I would move in the direction of the sound and listen, move again, listen, move again, listen and what the hell, it sounds like it is coming from across the room again! I give up.

I am outside on the deck, it is dark, foggy, cold, quiet and I can still hear the chirping. It sounds like a smoke detector needs a new battery. But it is not a smoke detector. It is not the copier, not the phones, not the microwave, not the dishwashers, it is not the computers, it is not the cell phones or camera batteries that are plugged in. It is not the washer or dryer....I think somebody is trying to gaslight me and it is placed it some where out of reach to annoy me. I can hear it out here. Goes off about every fifteen seconds. How frustrating.

I am not giving up though. I am going to find out what is making that sound and stomp it into the ground. Or maybe replace a battery. All I know at this point is that I cannot go back to sleep until I find it, if even then. But, I will keep you updated as I am sure you are all waiting on the edge of your seats wondering what it is! LOL

UPDATE.....I found it, finally. It was an old battery operated weather station inside a cabinet under a bunch of stuff. I did not stomp it into the ground. I did remove the batteries though. Silence is golden. I am going back to sleep.

?Question?

Can anybody explain to me how some days I get a plethora of hits within one or more hours? Some days I get 40 hits. Other days I get twice that many. I cannot figure out the pattern.

I know that blogger has the last ten updated posts, but with hundreds being posted every minute, I don't understand that either. I have never seen my blog on there, and never expect to with so many postings. Does it show up at some point during the day and then people click my link, resulting in all the hits from people I have never heard of? This is the only explanation I can come up with.

I know there are those of you who are very knowledgeable in this kind of thing and I would be very happy if you would let me know what you think! Thank you!

Off topic.

I picked up my new car yesterday and I love it. It will take some getting used to. Like the summer I went blonde and jumped each and every time I went by a mirror. I had been a blonde baby, but that was it. I have brownish red hair and it will remain that way. Although, my hair dresser prefers to make my hair lighter these days, as I am getting to be an old bat. She says when one gets older, they should go lighter with the hair color. I happened to like my dark hair with my blue eyes. And she is the same age as me and she has black hair...She is a friend and I will be bringing up this topic soon. Maybe she doesn't have any gray like I do. And I do have a lot these days. But, I miss my dark brown hair. I don't miss my black car, it will just take getting used to seeing it in the driveway and finding it in a parking lot!

Last night we went to Lagunatics. It is a spoof on the community and very funny. This year's theme was Senior Prom. In one scene they had everybody with their backs to the audience. When they turned around, the guys were wearing the dresses and the ladies were wearing tuxedos...Our police chief is leaving, retiring to Oregon. He sang a song about leaving and missing his job. Afterward much applause and more applause and he was wiping tears from his eyes. It was very poignant. He has done Lagunatics for years.

Then the fire alarm went off and nobody moved. The microphone was not working and there was a professional comedian on stage. Lynn Epstein, no relation, but she performs locally every week. Anyhow, the alarm is going off, she is filling in time while those behind the curtain got ready. She was great. One thing she said that stuck in my head was, "Why is it when you have a black car, the dust is white and when you have a white car the dust is black?" Very good question, don't you think? Then Bree who runs the show, beautifully, always, said the Gods were smiling on us. "Nobody freaked when the fire alarm went off, we have the fire chief here, the police chief, the city council, all here, and a professional comedian on stage to keep you all busy while we got ready." she said.

A lot of the spoofs were about not enough parking in town, police with radar guns, making the parking meters into "Vegas like" one arm bandits. You put your quarter in and my win an extra fifteen minutes. There were songs about the tourists leaving and as much as we love them, it is always nice to have our town back. One other thing Lynn Epstein said was, "Forget about telling us how fast a car can get from zero to sixty, how fast does it slow down to zero," which is what happens on our congested freeways. When the entire cast came out for their applause, each got a rose, then one by one they loaded them into the arms of the police chief. It was so sweet. Last night was the close of the four scheduled shows.

It was a terrific show and much money was made for the new Senior Center. All in all, a good night.

One more thing I want to say. I want to say thanks to Jaded for some very sound and honest advice. She thought I might be mad at her honesty, when in fact, it is exactly what I wanted to hear from her. So thank you Jaded! I truly appreciate it. You're the best!

Happy Monday and see some of you on the chat tonight!

Time

Time. Sometimes too much. Other times not enough. Short in the scope of life. Long on sleepless nights.

Tonight has been very long. We spent the late afternoon and whole evening at a car dealership. I hate the whole process of buying a new car. I know I am not alone in this. I am buying the same model car for the third time. Actually, leasing. Not black this time though. French Silk. Who makes up these colors? And why would French silk be the color of an pearl? Why would it not be all colors...It is silk. Getting a new car, takes a lot of time.

I believe there is more paperwork to do in buying a car than a house. I know there is. It is insane. I tried to do an online credit application today. Of course it said I would have an answer within the hour. Not. Too many credit apps going through right now since they came up with the clever gimmick of selling cars at employees costs. Great idea, saves a bundle and they sell cars like hot cakes. I waited all morning for the application to be approved and then take it the dealership...To save TIME. Not.

We haggled a bit about pricing, discounts, but not too much. I liked the saleswoman. We had an instant connection, wit wise. I was driving on the freeway and asked, "Can I get off here?" She says, "That's up to you!" I laughed. Instant like. We have to go back in the morning with proof of insurance. It is sitting right here. I didn't think to take it. More time at the dealership. Papers are all signed, just an exchange of cars. From black to French silk! The saleswoman wants to have dinner with me. She thinks we have a lot in common. I told her she would have to come south...I don't like leaving town at night. She said she used to live south of us, she will come. We will see. More time.

My husband was great. He put up with all the joking, even added his own. He played games on his phone and said he just wanted to know the monthly payment. It was higher than we liked. He said he wanted me to be happy and we got the car. How wonderful is he? Very. I am very lucky. Not just the car, but him. He is funny, loving, caring, hard working and a great father too. Not enough time in the day for him. He works very hard. He would like to spend more time with the kids, me, the dog. Time.

The girls were great too. Katharine had a friend along. They watched TV and raided the vending machines. Zoe sat with us and listened. Learned. Took it all in. She has grown up so fast. Toward the end of the transaction, all the girls, David and I were in the saleswoman's office. The general manager was working up the paperwork and taking too much time. I told the girls to go stand in front of his office and stare. One did, came back laughing at his reaction. We all cracked up. He didn't take too much more time to come in with the final paperwork!

I am sitting out here on the deck. There are beautiful flashes of lightening off in the distance. Summer storms in the desert. The dog was munching on a rawhide bone, but it crashed down to the deck below. His bedtime anyhow! The crickets are loud. The frogs are croaking. The talking has stopped. The laughter and giggles have ceased, at least for tonight. All is quiet, soothing. This is my time.

Petco and the Psychic Clerk

This is Patric on his new cat post...

Pat on his new post

Zoe and I went to Petco yesterday to get Patric (no K) a large cat post. It is larger than six feet and he jumped onto it while we were carrying it into my room. He loves it... I have been feeling guilty since Phoebe was here and would say that Patric was sad. See, Patric has been rather banished to the downstairs since we got Charlie the dog in December...Or Steve.

Anyhow, we have a gate at the bottom of the stairs to keep him out. He will eat socks, etc. I suppose he and Patric would become friendly if Charlie would calm down...He is very hyper though. He is a rat terrier and only ten months old.

So, Phoebe who owns a Wild Bird Center in NJ, has a cat now...Nicholas. He is beautiful, but I never pictured her with a cat and at her store no less! He has his own column in her newsletter! So, for the benefit of Phoebe who feels bad for Patric and for Patric who used to have free rein of the top out back deck, he is now a downstairs, in the bedrooms, cat. He sleeps in my bathroom sink and is very loved. He has become much more affectionate since he moved downstairs. Charlie sleeps in a crate at night and Patric comes up and explores. Poor thing used to have two cat posts out here on the deck, but Charlie peed on them and even used one to climb in when he was young. They have long since been dumped. What cat in its right mind would want to use them after that? Like using somebody else's undies...YUCK.

So, Patric has taken to the top of the cat post. He is so high I can barely pet him. He can see the street below and watch the birds from the feeder on the upper deck. His tail wags. He is happy.

While checking out, the clerk says to Zoe, "You are very artistic aren't you?" Zoe just stared at her. I said, "She does sing and draw Anime characters." The clerk says, " I thought so. I can feel that you are artistic and you should follow that. I feel you don't think you are very good. But keep with it, because your are." Zoe said, "Okay..." We get outside and Zoe tells me that was weird. "Why did she do that?" I said, "Obviously, she had another job before clerk at Petco. She thinks she is obviously psychic" Zoe says, "Well, I am more of a poet than an artist." Yes, she is definitely that!

I do believe that some people have premonitions, maybe see things, can predict things. But as I am always skeptical, I question your average clerk/psychic. I have had two dreams that actually happened. One was our windshield being shot out and another was going down a gang street and getting shot at. It was like a riot. I asked my friend if we had ever been in one or did I just dream it...Within a week, both things happened! I also believe we can talk to the dead. When my father died, I know he spoke to me the night before my mother's funeral to tell me to take care of everyone and my mother. I awoke and told David I had just seen my father. He told me it was a dream. But, I saw him, felt his hug, smelled him, woke up crying from our talk...So, please keep the "I believe in psychic shit," to a minimum...I do believe in some things. No stones please.

One day we were selling girl scout cookies and a mother introduced me to her psychic. I said, "Nice to meet you," and when she left, I asked the mother, "Did she tell you how many cookies we are going to sell today?" One of my very best friends goes to a psychic once a year...Whatever floats your boat....It's all good....

But, the clerk was just out there. Last thing I expected when I went into Petco was to have a chat with a clerk/psychic...

And Charlie/Steve, our very smart Rat Terrier....Below

Charlie