w words

Wife Goes On

2008-05-27T22:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Madame x got a long overdue pedicure... as she sat in a giant vibrating chair, her feet immersed in warm swirling water,she looked at the bottle of nail polish clutched in her hand and noticed the color she selected was called:

---- 'wife goes on' -----

she then drifted off to the land of idle thoughts,

Once upon another lifetime, Madame x married a handsome

young dashing charmer who happened to be a Lt. in the United States Navy. He took her away to a town full of strangers...

Madame x tried to stay busy

watching

t.v and painting pretty pictures and

baking cookies and ironing big ole' man sized shirts

Every night when the handsome and charming young Lt. arrived home....Madame x was full of news and conversation and idle chat chat chat

The Handsome (and weary) Lt just wanted to sit in his easy chair and make the day go away

the young bride eager to share her every waking moment of her day followed him around the apartment with her constant chatter and relentless banter .... even into the bed.

One night as she was yada yada blah blahing away.... The handsome and weary Lt gently put his hand on hers and said ....Wait.!..as if he heard something (other than her)....

Mx waited

Then waited some more

Then heard a small noise that slowly grew louder.... she turned

and saw the profile of her husband gently snoring .

end of reverie

Wednesday Review.... a video

2008-05-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

There will be Blood

A real head scratcher for Madame x-----not a video she would have purchased for herself. Yet, found it strangely thought provoking.

Madame x recommends this movie if you are in a dark mood....

the lack of opening dialogue----the symbolism and the parallels between blood and oil.

the beautifully austere costume and scenery ----

the Main Character-----a person who rejects truth, meaning, value, and the possibility of goodness in his own son and those around him, overwhelmed with greed for domination in his quest for oil.

The secondary character------a malicious preacher, in a power struggle with the main character, a struggle he will never win.

The movie is fraught with violence, fear, poverty and non redemption-----it leaves the viewer with a brutal and sadistic ending and then runs the credits to the Innocent and melodic music of Brahms Violin Concerto 3rd Movement.

Daniel Day-Lewis ------ a compelling and at times embarrassingly intense actor----truly deserving of the academy award

that was uplifting....wasn't it

We remember.......

2008-05-26T12:49:00.000-07:00

1964.... Madame x lived in the oldest dorm on campus.... A solid ivy covered brick fortress filled with three floors of young women. There for a brief few years of her life, Madame x met and bonded with 23 women known as the "3rd floor sisterhood". This is where she met Sandy, an upper class mate, so full of energy and fun and Mischief she often made Madame x tired.... Sandy had an equally fun boyfriend named Charlie. Sandy and Charlie were the 'perfect couple'..... beautiful and privledged and open and generous and 'unprotected'. Soon Charlie's grades failed as well as his condoms. Madame x was not able to attend Charlie and Sandy's wedding but heard it was a raucous affair (indeed) lasting almost four days. Charlie was drafted four months before the now infamous tet offensive and landed in Vietnam at just about the worst time in the history of the war. Charlie was killed three weeks after his baby boy was born.

Madame x did not hear of Charlie's death for another six months....the news came in a note from Sandy's mother (responding to Madame x's own wedding invitation).

Madame x was struck by a story she heard years later during a little mini renunion of 'the 3rd floor sisterhood'.

"During Charlie's funeral service when the flag was removed from the casket by the military color guard, it was folded and given to Sandy, holding her infant son.... She held tight to the flag for a few moments clutching it to her breast. Then turned and gave the flag to Charlie's mother."

How could a young mother, so torn in her own grief, know how much that gesture would mean to her husband's mother. An amazing act of generosity and empathy. It is an exhausting story to tell because of the stark cognitive emotion for Mx. Ten years ago, on a business/pleasure trip to New York it was decided(on the spur of the moment) to take a side trip to Washington D.C. to the Vietnam Memorial..... to look up Charlie. He was there....in what seemed like the very middle of names etched in miles of wall. It was a gut wrenching experience.

Here is the disturbing part.... Right now, today, this minute, Madame x cannot recall Charlie's last name.

This is how we begin to forget......if we don't memorialize.

Who gets the next Bloggy award?

2008-05-23T21:31:00.000-07:00

Drum Roll please

Chellie!!!

for being so darn nice....

........super-dooper-extrafraghalistic-nice......

because you care

and
because you lets the bunnies munch your flowers

What She said

2008-05-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

go here askgrandma J*
tell her Madame x sent you
tell her Madame x sez "ah shucks"
tell her Madame x also sez "thanks and back at cha"
cause when you're hot.... you're hot

get your two cents worth

*disclaimer

If you are Delusional, psychotic, neurotic, psychopathic or confused...

Grandma J can only do so much,

The 1st ever Foolery Bloggywood awards

This is Foolery .....she started it...

Madame x will be naming more awards as soon as she climbs out of the tar pit

Windmill tilting

2008-05-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

When is it time to stop all the medical intervention and just love and let go?

Madame x ponders these things as she watches her father's health grow worse everyday.

She realizes now, she endured all those week-end (stomach turning) airplane rides as a little girl.... because she '''''''''just wanted to be with her Dad''''''''

Wash Day

2008-05-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

the Washer Machine...... in praise of

Once when Madame x said the dishwasher was her favorite electric device.... She realized , the very next day, while gathering up a weeks worth of clothes from her hamper aka: the closet floor .... she might have been mistaken.

She further realized she has come a long way from her ancestors (The Coggins clan). Those hardy folk, who climbed from straw pallets on a misty Scot morn, walk down to the lochs edge, pee, then washa washa washa soiled garments. Nor does she have to wash her clothes on Monday as the hardy pioneer women did, so that they may all be dry by Sunday for church or mumbly peg.

Mx dreds Washin' sheen Day, as her baby boy called it.... or Worshing machine as her Granny called it (she of the Coggins clan) and when it came time to purchase the FINAL Washer of her life, there was research and inquiries and looking and looking and looking to find the perfect machine to make Mx's life easier. It was decided... the LG Tromm.... not for any other reason than ..... best... price from the appliance guy.

However, Mx did not get the stands for those giant machines to rest upon. Mainly because it would be another $250.00...... the dollar was already stretched to the max.

This was a mistake....

for two years Mx has been bending and kneeling and yes, once a squat that felt like both her knees popped sideways...

So yesterday when the appliance guy delivered two beautiful brand new shiny stands (for the price of less than one....) Madame x and her aching back declared

'THE WASHER!' as her favorite electric device.

Wistful Vista.....

2008-05-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

Madame x got some good news today and some bad news today.

While on yet another quest to find videos for her Dad.... Mx bypassed Borders

to give Best Buy a try. Mx was helped by an eager young man in a blue shirt------------>

With his help, Mx selected two westerns, a drama and (a hang on to your recliner) a Horror

-<--------<-----movie.

Mx was pretty pleased with her selections.

Then...... as in Brigadoon.......... Mx found herself in the 'computer section', talking to another eager young man in a blue shirt.... and he was desperately trying to sell Madame x a computer. DESPERATELY Im tellin ya. Madame x was reticent and told him so....... a new computer was in her two year plan and this was just month one of her two year plan. Then he asked Mx what she mainly used her computer for... and thats when Mx got the bad news. Vista os probably wouldn't support several of her software programs

one in particular, which is a totally ed

$600.00 piece of software that Mx wouldn't know what to do without.

Whats.a.person.to.doooooo?Mx wailed.

""Well, we can still order a computer with an xp pro os, He soothed (and this is the good news). But, it would have to be soon as they are no longer being manufactured

two year plan, ditched.... new desktop computer on the horizon

Want vs. need

2008-05-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning while tragedy was striking here and here.... Madame x received a phone call from her local (favorite) appliance pusher....who happens to be going out of business. (He has been going out of business for about six months now....) At first we were a little distressed to hear this.... we truly did have plans to remodel ye old kitchen and we like this guy (and his appliances), We wanted him to stay in business. We wanted his fair and reasonable prices.

But then we were all..... SALE! Rock bottom prices! If he was really going out of business,we thought we'd better go down and see what could be ours....cheap (for the future)... that was Six months ago, the appliance pusher wasn't quite ready to deal the good deal... Mx and Hub just said..."you have our number" and left.

Now.... let Mx just step right up here and say (loud and proud) that if you have ever remodeled a house by the 'joint spousal decision making method'. You probably are no longer joined... If you are about to begin a remodel using the 'joint spousal decision making method'.... You must get a magic marker (now!) and go around the house putting your initials on everything you want to take with you in the event of the inevitable 'messy separation'... and........ May God have mercy on your soul.

for Mx and husband, it never has been a matter of fussing over money.... More a matter of serious differences in personal style. So with malice aforethought, Mx and husband headed back to the 'going out of business sale' at the enticement of the appliance pusher.

With much give and take and sighing and heaving from Mx and then from husband of Mx and then from appliance pusher and then some more from Mx.... We scored some pretty good deals. AND husband of Mx.... dug deep into his secret (getting ready to fix up the 57 Chevy) money and paid up.

because lets face it.... You may want to fix up your old dusty car, sitting in the garage for twenty years. But you NEED a

Jade™ Dual-Fuel range, truly the best of both worlds. It allows you to sauté to perfection on a gas cooktop and brown with precision in a self-cleaning electric convection oven. Plus, it offers the largest usable oven capacity available in a cabinet-depth range. All Jade™ Dual-Fuel ranges feature a unique convection oven that constantly circulates an envelope of warm air around your food so meats emerge with a delicate brown crust while maintaining a juicy center. With both 18,000-BTU and 12,500-BTU burners and cast-iron grates, it's an excellent tool for creating a meal to remember.

Even if its just to show off your so very happenin'

Michael Graves teapot

Why men have to get involved in these things anyway..... Mx will never know.

2008-05-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

I call for all you readers to take the challenge

(if you already haven't)

It's fun

Wrapped in an enigma

Yes.... Mx fell into Grandma J's challenge trap.... find a photo that best depicts the following:

What is Mx's name:

What is Mx's favorite food:

What is Mx's RELATIONSHIP STATUS

Who is Mx's CELEBRITY CRUSH

What is Mx's FAVORITE TV SHOW

What is Mx's FAVORITE BAND

WHAT MX HAD FOR BREAKFAST

ONE THING Mx is WEARING

What is Mx's FAVORITE COLOR

What is Mx's FAVORITE ELECTRONIC ITEM

SOMETHING FUN Mx DID IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS

HOW DOES Mx FEEL RIGHT NOW

Madame x solemnly swears that these photos are untouched and obtained in a totally clandestine and stealthy manner directly and indirectly from other bloggers and/or their family members and so on and so forth.

What?.. update bottom of post

2008-05-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Last night as Madame x was writing a note to her brother with the tv playing in the background..... she thought she heard a female voice say

"what the f.... are you doing?

Not in a casual camaraderie sort of way. More like, really pissed with a great emphasis on the F word. Madame x looked up and saw on the tv a clip of a cruise ship in some harbor.... turning. So she looked to the door wondering if Mr. Mx was talking to someone...... no.

Mx then picked up the tivo clicker and backed it up a few clicks, and heard it again.

"What the 'f....' are you doing?"

This was not an HBO movie..... This was not a payperview movie.. This was a 30 second news tease and she obviously thought she was off the air....Mx had to call Mr. Mx to have him listen (Mr. Mx's hearing has diminished lately and now he won't admit it, but Mx thinks he is stone deaf...at least when she is talking). However, the tv voice was so loud and clear that Mr. Mx

said "whoa, is that NBC news?"

A long standing news anchor

I present Sue Simmons magic moment

Sue Simmons Drops The F-Bomb - Watch more free videos

****update**** Mx posted this at 11:30am PST it is now 1:15pm and NBC is pulling these videos as fast as they can find them.....

Wait.......

2008-05-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

Mx interrupts her (thousand page novel) to bring you

breaking news....

A phenomenon has happened in the blogging world folks, Mx thinks this must be a first for any personal blogger.

The Pioneer Woman

got Fourteen THOUSAND (thousand, thousand, thousand) comments on her post yesterday. All because she ran a little contest...(as she is want to do). Usually, it is some sort of 'name this picture' and lots of clever and not so clever comments boosts her numbers up into the thousands, but nothing close to 14! thousand.

It was the prize she offered.... are you ready? A Nikon D80 digital camera (plus some sort of printer to which Mx didn't pay much attention because she was so focused on the NIKON D80 digital camera)..... Mx immediately broke both her wrists caused by the lightning speed used to leave a comment on said contest. It wasn't really a comment.... just had to leave your website address. It seems Pioneer Woman has a site that randomly picks the winner. It's the luck of the draw on Monday. Wish Mx luck..

fourteen thousands comments...... ?????

editorial note:

While Mx finds Pioneer Women a charming and delightful read

Lately she has discovered these two funny ladies and so added them to the list of people Mx doesn't know.

by the way, I found them thru remember her? Who Knew?

Foolery

Grandma J

They write some pretty clever/awesome blog stuff, but OMG... some of their comments here just leave Mx laughing her way out the door.

Wintry mood

2008-05-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

Madame x was perusing Border's recently, looking for videos for him. She accidently landed in the book section (which is oddly what ,Tom and Louis Border has in mind back in 1971....BOOKS....not videos and coffee and jigsaw puzzles and keychains.) While briskly walking through the book section Mx's eye caught this----------->

She had to stop and pull it from the shelf... and it spoke to her (much like the last two biscotti in the tin.... in the pantry...... on the top shelf..... hidden behind the three year old box of dog biscuits).

Book: "Remember Pillars of the Earth? How you didn't want it to end, how you ignored family and friends for seventy-two hours because it was a story with a life force of its own? Remember how you snarled and scurried into the bathroom and locked the door when those family and friends ventured close, trying to pull you from its grip? Well, you are in luck.....Verily, I AM THE SEQUEL and baby it's cold outside. Take me home and snuggle up with me."

If Madame x goes dark for a few days...... Not to worry

WRONG...... to write

2008-05-07T20:34:00.000-07:00

Madame x is having a hard time getting with the lingo...

phrases such as:
Tight, snap, snizzle, whizzle, my fizzle, my bad, True dat, oh HELL to the no, your mom, word, OWNED!, Random, whatev, Out of the box, so gay, You go girl, "....and I'm all......., and then she's all......., and then I'm all......" , prolly, for reals, bling bling and bling

This is the conversation Mx thought she heard in the grocery store today.....

"Then I'm all, Oh Snap, Dude! I say"whatev" all the time, but hey my bad. I straight up like to say it 'cause it's hella tight and bangin. But you all say "oh hell to the no" with that, 'cause it's so gay and I keep thinking that's HOT,dude....That's so random! So dont go there, girlfriend".. Fo Shizzle dizzle on the bling bling...it's all good.. Ya feel me? Fo real "

word

OWNED!

Mx sez....not

This..... is owned

Wowza

2008-05-05T15:39:00.001-07:00

This is the back yard of Madame x's house.... behind the climbing roses sits the backyard of the wild and crazy barking dingo dogs. The very dogs that Mx had to call the animal regulation department about THREE times in order for something to be done. On the side, is the backyard of the wind chimes. The four wind chimes that jingle jangle all thru the night to lull our company to slumberland in the wee hours of the morning. On the opposite side of the yard is a street. A street that interesting, provocative, alarming and jaw dropping things take place, also in the wee hours of the morning.

Well, guess what....

Last week the wind chimes were removed...poof...gone...and not at the request of anyone in Madame x's household. Then..... yesterday, the biggest U-Haul truck on the face of the earth, loaded up the back neighbors and by evening the place was vacated. Dogs....Furniture.....People.....poof.......GONE....

Life is good

Today is Cinco de Mayo.

The grandparents of Mx were married on this day

eighty five years ago in a little coal mining town in Colorado

which no longer exists.

They were fine hard working people.

This photo was taken in Sept of 1964,

they were putting Mx on a plane headed to college.

People used to dress up (to fly)

Some day Mx will relate

the tale of that harrowing

flight experience

Worlds 1st billion dollar house

2008-05-04T11:06:00.001-07:00

Personally, Mx prefers the Dutch Colonial style

He could go from this

"On the health level, local plants decorate the outdoor patio near the swimming pool and yoga studio. The floor also features an ice room where residents and guests can escape the Mumbai heat to a small, cooled chamber dusted by man-made snow flurries."

..............To this...........

for just a few dollar more...... Dude should totally do it

Wilshire Blvd

2008-05-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

For Christmas last year Madame x received from her secret Santa (whom always turns out to be her sister-in-law....every year...... for ever and ever.......)

a 2008 calender

Not just any calender, a special made, lovingly put together complication of every goofy picture taken of Mx in her formative years. Each month more amazing than the next. This month for example... Mx on her country estate with her parents. Yes, Mx was a country kid, transported from the big city, smack into a one hundred and sixty acre (complete with barn and one 'Ayatollah the Duck'), FARM......

at the tender age of seven years old.

And so, Mx has been waxing nostalgic every time she sits at her desk and looks at that calendar. Mx's formidable and resolute Mother was set on a path to keep her daughter out of baseballs caps and overalls. Her little Mx needed to become learn-ed in the 'finer' and more genteel ways of style and fashion...... This resulted in a twice a year 'shopping' trip to "L.A." the big city. Trips to Wilshire Blvd to sit in a big room whilst hired clerks brought dresses and shoes and straw hats and (yes) gloves...to try on and sort thru and purchase for the ensuing season. This was fine when Mx was uncaring of such things and could just sit and pick at the scabs on her knees and wait for 'lunch', while her mother did the hard work. But, when Mx became a teen....... That's when the trouble began. Mx wanted what the 'trendy' teens were wearing . Things Seventeen magazine proposed no teenager could live without! But Mx was no match for her mother. No new Malls were ventured into for a look at the new 'Judy's' dress shop.... No Capezio flats with cutouts.... No six layers of crinoline slips, no poodle skirts, or chiffon scarves..... It seemed none of this was offered in the stores on Wilshire Blvd.. I hated Wilshire Blvd.

In the end, Mx's (wise) Mother relented a little, but looking back at the photos....

She was right

We love you... Discovery channel

2008-05-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

Boom de Yada.... indeed

Enjoy this

and this....

WA$TED

2008-05-01T10:14:00.000-07:00

Madame x is trying so very hard to be as green as possible.

No more plastic grocery bags
No more running water idly
No more Polar Bear hunting.........

So far, Madame x ..... hasn't been able to turn in the big ole Gas Guzzler driving machine....because it is so great for road trips.... but eventually, it will happen.

This site is devoted to the whole going green concept....

Some of the energy saving recommendations :

Get a pig to eat your food scraps... (hahahahahahahah.........no)

set up a worm farm.... (remind you of a certain jingle?)

AND

give up the 'Beer Refrigerator'..... (Seriously... what has Mx been missing )

But if you give up this....

You might give up this

and everyone would be green with envy

Wrighteous indignation

2008-04-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

Dude needs to dial it back....

Who knew

2008-04-29T16:56:00.000-07:00

Trip is over... but she'd probably still take donations.
Try Here

Madame x is told (by person helping Mx wth her bloggy that she gets a fair amount of reader traffic (more than 4, less than 4000).... and very few of these..... comment on her posts. But they do send emails...

and someone felt Mx should know..... There is a much much better blogger (than Mx) out there who refers to herself in the third person. A Ms Georgia Getz ..... Mx feels obligated to explain.... She knows about Bossy and in fact sent an email of her own to this hilarious and witty and clever house painter and blogger extraordinaire... .

Mx explained to Stella's owner about how she had begun referring to herself in the third for various and sundry reasons....but alas when she followed a comment on Dan's Blog (miss you Dan, hope all is good) Mx somehow landed on This section of her blog (warning....don't go there unless you have lots of time!) and has become a fascinated reader ever since. Obviously, Bossy had long been blogging in the third....waaaaay before Mx even knew what (exactly ) a 'weblog' was. Mx then confessed her 'ahem' plagiaristic style and promised to knock it off if 'said famous person' should so desire.

Madame x did not receive a reply, therefore surmised..... Mx could keep the 'I' and 'me' out of her posts.

and that's the truth Mr. fake.emailaddress@yahoo.com

But keep those emails coming folks

Mx loves them ................she like comments too

Wednesday Review

2008-04-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

No Country For Old Men

lets just talk about the movie poster... 'cause it is about as messed up as the actual movie. They put Tommy Lee Jones name under Josh Brolin's picture and vise versa (or as some like to say vi-SA versa).

Then they gave the menacing assassin person front billing AND an academy award.

Seriously, how hard is it to walk around on a bad hair day throwing about threatening looks. Mothers all over the world do this daily.

If someone in this movie has to get the academy award... Give it to Josh Brolin for having to deal with his character being named "Llewelyn Moss'. Madame x thought they were calling him 'Lu Ellen'. Which would not be a good name.... for a destitute welder..... living in a house trailer..... in a desolated West Texas town.....being hunted down..... by a hired psychopath.

Mx tries very hard to pay attention while watching movies, really... Not only did she mess up on the character names, she didn't figure out until half way thru the thing.... that the era was sometime in the 1980's.. Mx just figured everyone drove around in twenty year old cars 'cause they couldn't afford a newer one. Maybe there was some subtitle clue at the very beginning about the date.. Mx didn't see it.

Last...they call this an "instant classic"... sorry....but, Madame x hopes not... Madame x declares 'Shrek' an instant classic..

This movie did not get a rating on this site... If you like a storyline doomed to end badly.... with graphic murder and mayhem, this beauty is for you.

When you just need to grin

2008-04-26T23:28:00.000-07:00

This is a public service announcement that began playing on t.v. in the early early 1960's..... so early, it might have been 1959

Madame x used to sing this song to her passengers while driving in her grandmother's hand me down 1953 Mercury sedan.... and we would all laugh like the goofballs we were.......

seat belts? Madame x didn't know anyone that had a car with seat belts.

Now Madame x has two grandsons that literally feel vulnerable and exposed if they are not harnessed into a 5 point flapping strap maze of bucket shaped molded plastic that cost $250.00.

Safety first

mx apologizes for any ear worms she might have created with that 'snappy' little tune

Wishes

2008-04-25T18:15:00.000-07:00

This is Mary

Mary is Madame x’s counterpart in the Grandmother world. She is ‘Nana’ to six beautiful grandchildren , two, of which
are also the grandchildren of Mx

Specifically……These two…

Madame x has enjoyed Mary’s adorable sense of humor….. Partaken of Mary’s fabulous gourmet meals….. Shared love and DNA with two of Mary's beautiful grandsons.

Last year while traveling, Mary suffered a massive brain hemorrhage and collapsed in a Florida airport. The ensuing year was a struggle for recovery. In the early hours of the morning on April 21st, 2008..... Mary slipped away from her earthly confines.

She is now at peace

and her peace, is her family’s peace.

Madame x wishes bad things didn’t happen to good people
Mx loved Mary

Winsome

2008-04-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

Added to the Roll Call:

Say Hi to Chellie.... She is tucked happily away in the mid-west on a midlife female vision quest, for a new house and a new heartthrob, topped off by a pursuit of peace and purpose.

She will probably be alarmed at first that Madame x "borrowed" this photo from the The Dolphin Cove.. Madame x loves to help herself to pictures on the net.... Oh wait... here is another!!! So very adorable .....enough to make Tom Cruise jump up and down on the sofa....

If you want to see her with a Celebrity... (hummmm... sorta)
You have to go look for yourself (try here)

enjoy

Wabi-Sabi

2008-04-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

Got an email nudge from a friend.... to POST SOMETHING already....

So.... go see her at WABI-SABI

find out what the heck 'Wabi-Sabi' means

find out what happened to the big SINKHOLE in her front yard

find out how she has the time to be such a great mother and still be artsy and crafty

take a lesson from her 'joy' in life and nature... No. Matter. What. (obstacles are thrown her way).

Listens to some music.......which seems to be stuck on Nat King Cole....but that's cool, in a non-Bon-Jovi sorta way

In the meantime.... I'll start posting again...... when I think of something fabulous to write about. Besides Wabi-Sabi...

Women's Shelter benefit event... and one wacky committee

2008-03-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

Madame x has been busy doing philanthropic things for her once a year philanthropic over the top benefit show for the local women's shelter.... So, try to hang in there, as the story might veer off and stray into a discourse on MULLETS... In fact let’s just get right to the mullet. As a part of this big extravaganza four day event Madame x takes herself to her trusty beautician (we'll call her Deb) for a little trim and some highlights to chase away the gray. Deb always does a fine job and even on occasion has tolerated the fact that Madame x likes to trim here and there on her own(usually a day before her regular appointment). Mx needs to back up here:

to THE COMMITTEE....
the committee has changed (drastically) from the last hundred years. Up until this year.... Mx and her BFF have been the younger ones on the committee. But too much complaining and moaning and groaning from certain folks (certainly not Mx, have you EVER heard a complaint from MX?)

sooooo much complaining.....that

the powers that be

replaced all members (save) Mx and her BFF. The new committee, an energetic group of 'go getter' women known far and wide for their organizational skills and deft handling of tricky situations was now in charge. Mx and BFF were suddenly the oldest ..... and maybe least needed. The two vowed to stick it out for the year.

Mx met all her new committee members prior to her hair appointment..... They were a no nonsense, nose to the grind bunch with a mission! Mx knew she had to zip her (sarcastic) lip and be a good soldier too.

Back to the beauty booth with Deb.

Deb always asks Mx how she would like her hair cut and Mx always replies that she doesn't care... just keep it long enough for a ponytail. The general public has not seen Mx with a ponytail in years and years. Why does Mx want this ponytail? For those two hours in the evening, when she is in her comfys(s) with her face washed of all makeup, with the clear understanding she is no longer receiving visitors. That’s why.

This is Mx's blog pic:

Mx wasn't in the least concerned when Deb suggested (or Mx suggested) perhaps try, a little more layered aroung the top.

The next time Mx met up with the new committee, was 'set up' day. This is a pretty physical activity and takes all. day. long. Plus, three more days of set up for each show. (Something Mx mentioned to the new committee once or twice). By days end the entire group was pretty frazzled....

This is the part where you are probably wondering what this has to do with mullets.

The next night when Mx arrived for more set up, she discovered the group of organized women had come up with a plan. The plan involved.... wine! Enough wine to lower inhibitions and relax among fellow (old fogy) committee members. Enough wine for one such woman* to turn to Mx and was all:
"Dude, who gave you the mullet?"

which she hasn't been taking as diligent care as her (ahem) face.

*Mx later found out she (the mullet commenting woman) wasn't a committee person (she was an interloper) and Mx and the real committe peeps are all now BFsF..... Cause Sixty is the new Forty.... which means I'm on a committee with a bunch of teenagers.

Wind and Waves

2008-02-25T10:51:00.000-08:00

From the time Madame x was just a little xlet... she has had a fear and fascination of giant monster waves. Who doesn't, one might ponder. Madame x, however carries this morbid terror (and curiosity) deep into her psyche, complete with repeated dreams of water demise due to giant monster waves.

This is the dream:

Little madame x is sitting on a beach towel playing with her friends and family (her back is to the beach), suddenly a look of fright and panic appear on the faces of all the beach goers. The sky abruptly becomes dark and as she turns, she watches the ocean being sucked out.... and to her horror! sees, a mind boggling, terror inducing, wall of water.... a Gi-normous wave. So big it blocks the sun... There is a flotsam and jetsam mishmash of weird stuff in this giant wave. Mostly furniture (couches and tables and chairs). She awakens just as the wave begins to peak.

This dream has been recurring for the past forty years and the fate of Madame x is always spared by the alarm clock.

What in the world happened to cause this to be her demon? Who knows. Perhaps it was when her brothers learned about the tsunami(s) and spent the week creating tidal waves in a galvanized tub in the back yard, sinking battalions of little plastic army men on popsicle stick rafts.

Or maybe it was the time a young madame x got caught in an undertow at San Clemente beach. When an ocean rip current pulled her under and towed her, bouncing and somersaulting, until she popped to the surface on the other side of the wave and swam safely back to shore.

Madame x will watch an entire t.v. show about guys surfing gazillion foot waves. She Just stands watching transfixed.... in awe and amazement. She looks and looks...but there is never furniture in those huge waves.

What ever the reason for this fixation, it created a lifetime allure. So yesterday when the local newspaper reported twenty foot waves due to gale force winds.

Madame x had a perverse desire to go see them.

Wednesday Review

2008-02-18T11:17:00.001-08:00

Two posts in one day.... a miracle ....for that you get:

Two reviews (same movie) for the price of one.

In 1963 Madame x was sixteen years old. She saw this movie on a date with her ‘then’ boyfriend (the football hero). She had no idea Hollywood was sending her a ‘message’ in the movie. Trust this, Madame x’s mother drilled into her, the consequences of ‘pre-marital sex’ and the horrors of back alley abortions! She didn't need Hollywood for such things. So for young mademoiselle x it was just a MOVIE, a made up story, an unreal look into another life …. It didn’t go any further than that.

This is what the sixteen year old (Mx) got out of ‘Love with the Proper Stranger’.

A pretty young thing with an overbearing family, somehow manages the ultimate act of defiance and has a ‘one night stand’ resulting in (unwanted) pregnancy with a hunky wannabe jazz musician named Rocky. They are all of Italian heritage living smack in the middle of Manhattan.

Rocky (Steve McQueen) is really quite appealing in a sweet, protective sarcastic way. He looks very hot in his trench coat and skinny tie

And Angie (Natalie Wood) is really quite appealing in a feisty, vulnerable doe eyed way. She looks stunning in her little black dress and chocker length pearls.

To Mx it was a simple solution. They needed to get on the bus and get out of that dirty, noisy, crowded, scary city and move to an abode that didn’t require hiking three flights of stairs with a fire escape for a backyard. Rocky tries to do the right thing by offering marriage, Angie thinks she should do the right thing by marrying the dufus grocery store owner who professes desperate love for her (played by Tom Bosley).

WHAT? ??

Marry Tom Bosley or......... marry the King of Cool? Hmmmmm… Let us think about that……

FORTY – FIVE years later

It is 2008 and Madame x is no longer sixteen. She is watching this movie in a delirious state on her death bed, every breath a death rattle, being force fed a poisonous death concoction called ‘Nyquil’. In the next room is her husband (the former football hero) brewing up more poisonous creations and oblivious to the fact that he is about to succumb to the very same ebola virus Madame x has barely survived.

This is what a no longer sixteen year old Madame x got out of ‘Love with a Proper Stranger’…. (we already know the story line, we’ll just move in for the kill).

1. The black and white ‘film noir’ feel, adds to the grittyness of Angie’s situation. The acting is really very good. In fact, Natalie Wood got an academy award nomination for her part. But alas, Patricia Neal won for a movie called ‘HUD’. Didn’t see that one.

2. But Wow, has Manhattan changed in the last forty-five or what? In real life, it is all cleaned up, and friendly like, with trees and cute little store front neighborhoods and police on horses.

3. Unwanted pregnancy would be the least of your worries in having unprotected sex with a stranger… The stranger could be a disease carrying serial killer…for either party. Hollywood can drive that message home any day of the week.

4. In confused delerium, Madame x wants to tell Angie it is okay to go with the ‘King of Cool’. Tom Bosley will go on to ‘Happier Days’ as Howard Cunningham.

5. Last, a Nyquil saturated brain landed on this thought.....That baby would be forty-four years old with the very real possibility of Angie and Rocky being GREAT grandparents.

The King of Cool…. A great grandpa. Hmmmm…. Let us think about THAT!

Madame x gives this movie ….. a definite rating

Woe is Madame x

2008-02-17T21:25:00.000-08:00

December 07.... A happy, hilarious, fun filled noisy Christmas, with the constant commotion of a four year old and a six year old and all the company of parents and aunts and uncles and cousins, ravaging the house and neighborhood. One hardly noticed the brief few hours the little one fell ill... Spreading the deadly virus like a sparkling pixie dust storm, landing where it may.

It was a melancholy day when they all left, one moment all choatic and alive with laughter and kisses, and the next.... silence, unsettling and erie. Madame x thought she was just in a lonely funk, wandering about the house. picking up stray toys, a forgotten sock, feeling kinda blah.... and then she lost her voice. No kidding her voice totally, completely amazingly disappeared..... gone....
Although Madame x felt kinda punky, she managed to function through her January days in semi-croaky silence. It took the full month to rally (something the 4 yr old managed in a few hours). On the evening of January 31st, Madame x announced in her scratchy recovering voice that she was looking forward to a February of good health.

HA!

Madame x didn't know sick.... until February 1st dawned..... the unseen, unheard, all powerful and ever lurking virus of the 4 year old swooped in and dropped a bucket load of sick on Madame x's head. Rendering her unconscious and on death's door....(shut up, its true) for FIVE days straight ....miserable and delirious. Unable to eat, drink, think or even check into the ~~morgue~~ hospital....

Upon regaining consciousness, with barely the strength to shower and collaspe back in bed... Madame x awaited her fate. the tunnel... the white light..... and while she waited.....she watched a movie.

Therefore, In the next post....

Madame x will offer up her Wednesday review about that very movie.

Written on the Wind

2008-01-31T13:25:00.000-08:00

For the last several YEARS, Madame x has had plans underway for a MAJOR remodel of the humble abode. The year 2008 was the target date.

Postings on blogger would document the progress, step by delightful step....culminating
in the magnificence of the fait accompli....

can you hear the music swell into materialistic ecstasy.

But everyday, in everyway….. Charles Schwab sends us a greeting and it sez:

Turn off the music…I’m takin yer money and I’m sendin it back to the garden of eden

I found this picture Here

So for now, we remain Shabbily Chic

Wednesday Review...... edited

2008-01-31T10:23:00.000-08:00

Madame x has been thinking about starting a Wednesday (movie)Review post.
Not necessarily posted on Wednesday....

Wednesday is the day R.G. (and her band of chicka...s ) comes to clean Madame x’s bathrooms and sometimes fireplace(s)*, ......you can read all about that* here.....written (btw) before Madame x became all hip and started referring to herself in the third.

Madame x and her spouse, the very handy and accomadating Mr. Mx, allows that he take time out from his very busy day so that he and Mx can go to the afternoon matinee.... at special old fogey prices. Thereby, getting out of the house (on the cheap) and out of R.G.'s way.

Some stimulating and thought provoking conversations have arisen from these movie treks so why not get blogger in on the deal.....Just so you know.... Wednesday Review....or "What the Hell.... was that?" will be the actual post title.

as that is almost ALWAYS the way Mr. Mx begins the discussion

So, stay tuned.

If you feel cheated about not getting a review in today's post.... here is one I did when I just was getting my feet wet in the blogging world... an abandoned blog. It started out as a post about Thanksgiving, then wandered into something akin to a movie review... or maybe not

Weather........

2008-01-27T13:16:00.000-08:00

This is our Weather >>>>>

It is good for making hot chocolate
doing laundry
and getting thrashed at cribbage.

also

learning to crochet on youtube.....
all in all..... the day has been a bust

Who's in.....Who's out

2008-01-26T12:26:00.000-08:00

Madame x has one or two oscar observations:

Nominated

Daniel Day Lewis - There will be blood

He is never going to be as beautiful as he was in this -------->

sigh..

Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Madame x thinks Cate should be given the oscar so she can put away the white face powder...... and we can let HRH... R.I.P.....KWIM

NOT Nominated
Angelia Jolie - A Mighty Heart

No nomination for this sad but true story----too bad, so much better than her Laura Croft deal.Psssst....didja hear the rumor...pregnant again....with twins
Love..rumors

Hey wait a minute...

is that Judge Amy's brother?

Sean Penn - Into the Wild

First time directing.... Another sad but true story.

Looks like he didn't get a nod from Mrs. Penn... either

And those are the observations of Madame x re: a few oscar nominations.. Bye the bye....Madame x hasn't seen any of these movies, so she really doesn't know if 'Mighty Heart' is better than a movie about Pandora's box.

While you are waiting

2008-01-20T11:47:00.000-08:00

First.....thanks for checking in on me....you know who you are Em and Chellie and my friend with guilty secrets.... all is well and I will be stopping in with comments soon... You are good peeps So, until I actually get back to posting, I offer an inventory of my desk:

1. Mickey Mouse. He is trying to look inconspicuous in case 'the grandsons' are still around. One of which, has a habit of sucking on Mickey while watching videos. Mickey thinks Buzz or Woody should take a turn.

2. Madame x's favorite coffee cup (a gift) usually filled with Peet's Arabian Mocha-Java...... As we know, Starbucks is loathe to sell Peet's. My last year rez was to NEVER ever stand in line at Starbuck’s to pay $4.75 for a venti java chip Frappuccino.... ever again..... (and almost didn't).

3. Madame x's desktop computer...a faithful old friend suffering serious wear and tear. Twelve years of steady uninterrupted service and now almost out of ram and megahertz. It is too old to upgrade and has been partitioned twice. Madame x needs a new desktop....but some people cast askance at such nonsense. (see item 5)

4. A magnum of scissors...Madame x doesn't feel secure unless she is surrounded by a lot of scissors...There are more in the other room...for every pair of scissors, Mx has four writing and drawing implements. These are necessary staples in Mx’s life.....

IE:

bread,

milk,

Mrs. Dash's seasoning,

scissors, gel pen.....

5. The software program which tracks all Mx's *necessary staples. *Necessary is very subjective, as in 'peculiar to a particular individual'... IE: spouse of Mx, who is prone to qualify what is necessary (which is totally unnecessary).

6. Buzz and Woody and Jess and Prospector .....they are so cool! they drive a turquoise Cadillac car.

7. Last(ly).... THE LAPTOP.... such a bad boy.....crashed twice.... diagnosed with schlepping syndrome (as in schlepped all over creation) sometime without even a shut down....it would like to have a brand new desktop for a brother or sister to play with and teach bad habits.

With Apologies

2008-01-07T09:15:00.000-08:00

Didn't mean to just drop off the planet... Madame x is not dead

Everything is good.

Hoping, to get back to this soon.

Wits End...........

2007-10-11T21:34:00.000-07:00

Madame x barely had time to unpack her dirty laundry, before the forces of evil set about their evil forcing ways.

There's a bad moon on the rise, folks

But light dawns in yander tunnel and with luck and latitude Madame x will be back on the computer by next week (mid-week).

As an aside................remember the barking dogs? the dogs are still barking...........

and at the moment

that ........is the least of Madame x's problems.

Water Parks

2007-10-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

Madame x survived TWO! Bigger than life water parks with a 4 year old and a 6 year old…. Thank God they were not big enough to go down the Mt Gushmore Summit Plummet, a 120 foot high ski jump that you shoot down at speeds of 60-mph.

They say no one has died on the thing…. But Madame x is not so sure

Madame x now has a really bad cold and cough

And has no money…. Walt Disney has it all.

And doesn’t care, it was worth it.

Madame x is going to read up on all y’all… and see what has transpired in this long absence.

Walt Disney World....

2007-09-21T17:10:00.000-07:00

We the beleaguered …besieged and harassed….

2007-08-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

Madame x lives in a nice neighborhood…. Not too fancy, not gated, no rolling lawns, but well kept and generally desired. It is a typical planned development with tract housing….. When Madame x’s husband got the brilliant idea to get married, luck befell them and their names mysteriously jumped to the very top of the waiting list for the very best house in the whole entire tract (about to begin construction). Madame x and husband were able to oversee all the details and soon happily moved into their new abode.

Enter the neighbors…. Across the street, the retired couple (way before WE were the retired couple)…. I refer to him as ‘Buttsniff’…. Because Buttsniff encouraged his Buttsniffing dogs to come over to our lawn to do their buttsniffing pooping……. I don’t know this for a fact, but there is no changing Madame x’s mind.

Next to Buttsniff, lived the “Diva and the Wimp” , She was the Diva because that actually was her real name, Deva… (no sh.t!) and the Wimp because he groveled around her like some kind of houseman and yammered his troubles to anyone within earshot. Soon the Diva tired of the Wimp and divorced him and they all moved away. That was it for awhile, until the neighbor on the other side of ‘Buttsniff’ filled his garage to capacity and not wanting to litter up his driveway, started parking his car in front of Madame x’s house…. For some reason, this chaps Madame x’s ass, so she has begun calling him Buttsniff also. Now, Madame x’s husband (who is not disturbed in the least by any of this) is confused about whom Madame x is referring when she is muttering profanities about Buttsniff.

The cruelest blow came upon Madame x’s retirement…. It seems the neighbors behind us have adopted two new dogs. Little yapping –excited-yapping –nervous- pacing- yapping dingo looking dogs. Any.little.noise.sets.these.psycho.circus canines into a frenzy of frantic barking….and it goes on and on and on for.ever. It is a good thing Madame x is leaving town and has a chance to become calmed and well rested before dealing with the ‘the owners of the dingo dogs’. Because, deal….she will.

Over the years, Madame x has learned many lessons in patience and good-will, she has strived to over-look minor annoyances and pet-peeves in order to maintain this good will and excellent rapport with the soon to be teenagers and their respective parents.

As Madame x’s husband reminds her (constantly) “We will set an example of good neighbor(ly) living”. And so, we do.

Inhale pink…….
Exhale blue….

Wine Country

2007-08-29T20:27:00.000-07:00

Early Friday morning we are headed to Northern CA….via our uber gas-guzzling, non-green, ‘get out m’way’ big ass car. Well, the registration sez it's a truck, but Madame x knows.........it's a car.

It is also pretty darn comfortable driving and we don’t have to go thru a TSA line, half dressed, with six hundred dollars worth of make up crammed into a one quart baggie. Or put up with a surly flight attendant who is sick to death of the job, and the weary masses of demanding souls trying to get to an urgent destination on an overbooked flight.

Madame x has waned of late in accompanying her husband to the races…but she always agrees to this particular race. Smack in the middle of a heavenly little valley of thousand year old stately oak trees and row after row of brand new grapes… The restaurants, the vineyards, the Spas all outdoing each other in excellence…. The weather is delicious and the town folk friendly and accommodating.

I may or may not get a post in tomorrow. If not, I’ll see all you working stiffs in another ten days. At any rate, I’m sending a postcard to this guy while in Calistoga….. Maybe you can send him one from your county.

Tah

Watering Cans and Lawn Ornaments

2007-08-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

Another 'toy made in China' is recalled: the Robbie Duckie Watering Can is going off the shelf..

Madame x mutters to herself "these suckers should have been recalled for the blatant ugliness ".

Madame x's husband reminds her of the Lawn Goose ornament story. Whereas, Madame x and her husband wandered about the Iowa countryside and marveled at all the cement garden geese, dressed in real clothing folks!.... Every type of garb a goose could imagine.. But, alas it was race season in Knoxville, Iowa.

The majority of these cement statuettes were dressed in black & white checkered bikini's......topped with a modest sunbonnet. Stopping in a charming little antique store, the proprietor (a lovely woman name Myrna) proudly displayed her most prized items for sale....yes....outfits for your Garden/Lawn Goose. Madame x would have documentation of this fact, had her computer not crumped last month...all evidencery photos gone. But Mx did find this on line for you. Go Here or Here

take that! ....................................................and............ that!

Upon returning to the lovely bed and breakfast 'home away from home' where a nice couple charged a ( modest fee) for four days .... Madame x lamented to the breakfast group her discovery of these goofy aberrations for sale. Elegant in her ridicule and sarcasm and on a verbal roll, it was a small tap on the knee from Madame x's husband that made her stop mid-sentence. The young wife across the table, 'blurted out "Where exactly is this shop?" So eager to get there, she literally begged her husband to take her immediately, thereby interrupting a fabulous breakfast feast. There was no doubt, Myrna the shopkeeper was going to have a good sales day.

Madame X thought she had since learned tolerance toward all things in the garden. Obviously, Robbie Duckie set off a latent prejudice.

She repents.

So Iowa, Ohio, Indiana.... knock yourselves out...just be safe out there.

Whatever do you mean?

2007-08-27T15:08:00.000-07:00

What is happening, that all of a sudden my life is so much busier ...now that I’m retired.... than when I was...not...retired?
When I am the most behind ... with too much to do before leaving town... and I have exactly 15 minutes to get to my destination 20 minutes away
Why is it that , the door bell rings.
Where is it written that I must not politely close the door on the two nice looking young men wearing white short sleeves and black ties... gripping in their ‘eager to share paws’, a copy of the
Wait for it.....
Watchtower Magazine.

Do I pray? (they inquire)
Huh? (I reply)
How do you pray? (they again inquire)
Uh, uh... well lets see........
Dear God, please don’t let there be a chain smoker sitting in front of me at the red neck races this week –end... yeah yeah yeah I mean amen... no wait....

Dear God, please let the black pants I plan to wear to the play next Tues, fit. The ones, I’m NOT trying on because they might not fit.
Yeah that! I mean amen.... no wait

Dear God, never mind the black pants.. Please don’t let a really, really tall guy that moves his head constantly side to side sit in front of me at the play next Tues. hallelujah! I mean amen.

Oh and let there be world peace..... for now and ever.... and I mean amen

so it is written

Worst and Best

2007-08-24T16:46:00.000-07:00

We're home briefly (to oversee the rental house repairs and check in on Dad) then on the road again....

This is the worst picture, of all the gazillion pictures I took.. notice the lovely rock...which is in perfect focus.

This...however... is the best picture I took (for so many reasons)

***the weather was freezing *** the entire time

Boat drinks*

Waitress we need twelve more boat drinks

I think we got cabin fever.....Somebody sound the alarm
This photo was taken on the last day of vacation

and I think it is amazingly focused

considering

*song and lyrics courtesy of Jimmy Buffett

Wiedersehen

2007-08-13T20:11:00.000-07:00

Madame x goes dark for ten days.... I'd take the laptop, but alas no internet cafes in the great northern wilderness....besides, the beauty booth takes an awful lot of room :)

why bother with beauty supplies, you ask?

Because Madame x's husband was promised serious bribes (of a private and personal nature)
to make up for the wallpaper incident....therefore, Madame x must look her best

Cheers everyone

Wallpaper

2007-08-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

Twelve hours peeling off wallpaper ... the damn stuff must have
been put on with Rhino Glue...

I wanted to take a photo of the ensuing mess of water and little
bits of paper debris everywhere, not to mention the sweaty brow
of madame x’s husband... but his
murderous
look gave me pause.

He’d like to get his hands on the asshat that put that stuff all the hell over
the laundry and bathroom walls twenty years ago.

Oh wait.... that was me.

Will Call...

2007-08-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

We will be leaving next week for what amounts to a months worth of vacation.
First to the beautiful wilds of Canada for fishing and general good times with some wonderful friends.

Upon arriving home we just about have time to repack and head out for eight days of ‘Dirt Track’ racing.... in Northern California. Madame x's husband loves this stuff.....

I thought it would be a fun time to take two days and drive into San Francisco to see a play and have a nice meal.....

Reaction....

But... when he got the racing tickets?.....

JUST KIDDING FOLKS!..... madame x's husband really looks like this....

and he adores a night in the city, seeing some good theatre

Wasted Day....... and a Worthy Cause

2007-08-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I only had time to comment on one post before I headed to the hospital for a medical test. A ridiculously long test requiring Madame x to lie very very still for long periods of time as a giant space ship hovered over her with about 1 inch of breathing space. If I have your sympathy and attention.....I bring you this

If you are so inclined to contribute to a worthy cause...besides your own families health and welfare, this is a good one.... It is about the children. I will just copy and paste my niece’s description as she says it best. I will tell you that my niece is an attorney in LA and she is ‘good people’. I haven’t truly researched to see if the money actually gets to the intended children, but I believe KT has an honorable group of friends and that it will.

From KT's blog: Share our Strength, an organization that works to end childhood hunger in America and the organization that put on the recent Taste of the Nation event, is bringing you a new way to contribute to the cause.The Great American Bake Sale is a campaign to get people to host bake sales in their community to raise money to aid children at risk of hunger.This is a way to contribute for those of us who may not have $100 to pay for a food festival, but may be rich in friends and neighbors who like to eat (and who doesn't, really?)

click HERE TO read about it and DONATE or click here to donate directly (thanks to Em)

Thanks Em!

Leave a dollar or two...it's easy... it's fun... it isn't fattening

So ends the PSA.... and THANK YOU THANK YOU for reading..... and maybe even donating..

Madame x

Weighing in.....

2007-08-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

We are at the end of the strawberry season here in California but I thought (out of curiosity) I would do a little price comparison. Just in case I
wanted to start watching my nickels and dimes..

First up, is Von’s (formerly Safeway for you NorCal folk). These strawberries come from Watsonville. Watsonville is the artichoke capitol of the WORLD folks… but they have nice strawberries too. They come prepackaged in plastic see-through, well you know, boxes and are 3.49 a lb. Each pkg is a lb.

Albertson's, on the other hand offers the same 1lb pkg from ‘Central Ca’ for 3.99 a lb...I haven't been able to shop at Albertson's (even if they were to suddenly get cheaper) since 1990 when my grandmother tripped over some plastic tarp in their store and made me promise to 'never step foot in their door again'... I think she wanted a life time annuity and a new car for her pain and suffering and they declined. She ended up with a little settlement though, well actually a pretty hefty check. Probably why their prices are higher and why I'll 'never step foot in their door again'. She was a rascal that one, someone you don't want falling down in your store...

sorry-back on topic
Trader Joe’s (Proudly supporting the arts, one chalkboard at a time) only carried the extra large gourmet organic w/stems at $5.00 a pkg which holds about seven beautiful strawberries

And last….the local Farmer’s roadside stand. $9.00 a flat… Not as pretty as peak season, as you can see by the photo, but so big and fat and heavy you can hardly carry the things to the car. Twice the amount of strawberries for less than half the price.

btw: Corky I'm not really stealing your 'food' topic...this was really in my 99 year blog plan. Really.

Worn Out

2007-08-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

Migraines...what do they look like?

They can ruin a week-end ...that's for sure

Found this on the web.... as I was trying to get some new info re: the dreaded migraine.
This is Mark Fitzgerald's vision (of his aura) at the onset of a migraine.So amazing to me, because
this is what I see.... only mine is a bright pink superglowing blob. Pink isn't even a good word....Magenta....a pulsating, glowing, neon Magenta blob. When I see this blob, I know what is coming.... Oh God.

I haven't found any new information.... but these are some of my own ideas about my migraines.
1. They are not 'cyclic'... the only cycling I do is on an exercise machine and I actually don't do that either.

2. They don't seem to be food related. As in, Chocolate, Cheese, Wine.....the big three of the migraine culprits....

3. Stress? maybe... who knows. We all tend to make our own stress, outside factors only exacerbate what makes us anxious.

4. For some reason, I feel quilty getting them, as if I caused them somehow. As if I'm being melodramatic with the throwing-up and sleep of the dead. As if I'm looking for attention .

5. Pity the poor husband standing by, especially when he wants to do something for you....and you just want to be left alone....in a dark room....with four pillows on your head.

Word for the Day

2007-08-05T19:58:00.000-07:00

Doppleganger: (DOP-uhl-gang-er) noun
A ghostly counterpart or double of a living person.
[From German, literally a double goer.]

I was reading the label on a prepackaged deli item when I first felt her stare. I glanced up but she quickly looked away. The next encounter happened two aisles later coming from opposite directions – she hesitated slightly as we passed, as if she wanted to say something to me.

Finally, four more aisles down the road and there in front of the instant oatmeal I decided to end her misery (for all the furtive glances) and I offered an encouraging ‘Hi’.

Good Googa Mooga! The verbal floodgates sprang open with an outpouring of multiple ‘Oh my Goshes’ It seems I am the EXACT (right down to the haircut) …spitting image of her cousin Kathy Jean who lives in Canada. It did peak my interest though, as I slowly backed away. Oddly enough, this happened to me once before about fifteen years ago. A saleslady in a boutique was astounded at how much I looked, acted and even talked like her best friend. What are the odds...that there are two people in this world that look EXACTLY like me?

So, Kathy Jean: if you’re reading this…. Send a photo, especially if you are tall and thin… I'd like to see how I'd look

Tall and Thin

FYI: 179 years from now,on this day ... - Kevin Thomas Riley, Tasvennir, Tarsus IV (Star Trek) will be born 8-5-2186

Weekly World Journal … Hasta La Vista Baby

2007-08-04T19:18:00.000-07:00

after 28 years of headlines such as this, (see below) the WWN is signing off...........

MUTE DRIVER HONKS OUT A ROAD RAGE IN MORSE CODE — WWN

beep beep beeeeeeep beep
beep beep beeeeeeep
beeeeeeep beep beeeeeeep

Oh man, where are we going to go to find out the important stuff? Inquiring minds need to know:)
Totally weird or fake news, with fabulous headlines created to make your grocery line wait tolerable if not educational..

As Larry Williams of the Hartford Courant said…"it’s a sad day for pretend journalism"

or is it?

Witherspoon..........is it the money?

2007-08-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

Ding,Dong .....Bo-Hylurox calling

the unsuspecting first time......

I think it's the he-man 'ab cream' he really wants

What’s that?.....you say

2007-08-02T21:50:00.000-07:00

Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors
In the Wizard of OZ Dorothy's last name is Gail. It is shown on the mail box.
Babies are born without knee caps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2-6 years of age.
Debra Winger was the voice of E.T.
According to Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity, it is possible to go slower than light and faster than light, but it is impossible to go at the speed of light
Captain Kirk never said "Beam me up, Scotty," but he did say, "Beam me up, Mr. Scott".
Spencer Eldon was the name of the naked baby on the cover of Nirvana's album
In the last 4000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
In every episode of Seinfeld there is a Superman somewhere
The word 'byte' is a contraction of 'by eight.'
The last NASCAR driver to serve jail time for running moonshine was Buddy Arrington.
St. Augustine was the first major proponent of the "missionary" position.
The first video ever played on MTV Europe was "Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits.
The dot over the letter 'i' is called a tittle.
If you were born in Los Alamos, New Mexico during the Manhattan project (where they made the atomic bomb), your birthplace was listed as a post office box in Albequerque.

Way way .... long ago

2007-08-01T14:25:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day in fifteen years that our rental house sits empty.... I will always love this house, as it represents a major milestone in my life as a single Mom.... Purchased in 1975, it had to be co-signed with my parents, even though I was able to come up with a 30k downpayment. They didn't trust single women buyers so much in those days, plus I had a fairly low paying job. My mortage payment was $278.00 a month, including impounded taxes. I paid off the mortage eighteen years ago.

We drove over to take inventory on maintanence and repairs....and found these vintage photos tacked to the otherwise bare bulletin board on the back porch.

pictures were taken.....sixty-five years ago. What a great thing to have! You cannot tell by the top picture...but that is a dirt road in front of the house. Evidently, a young soldier rented a room back in the WWII era. He stopped by the house on a visit back to our town and dropped by to see how it looked all these years later and brought photos to share.

The house has not seen too many (exterior)changes... But no longer has shutters, I think we need to get some......don't you?

I'll post a current picture as soon as the place is spruced up a little.......

Wicket W. Warrick

2007-08-01T11:26:00.001-07:00

Species:Ewok
Gender:Male
Height:.8 meter
Weapon:spear, sling
Vehicle:hang glider
Wicket W. Warrick was a loyal, curious and adventurous young Ewok scout when he first met Princess Leia Organa in the forests of Endor'smoon. The lone Ewok found a strange offworlder knocked unconscious from a speeder bike accident. Tentatively prodding her with his spear, the jittery scout was surprised to find this strange creature not only alive, but friendly as well.
Galactic historians would be surprised to note that this friendship led the way to an alliance that helped overthrow the Empire.

Wicket led Leia to his Ewok village, high in the trees of Endor. There, the Ewok leaders learned of the Galactic Civil War. It wasn't long before the Ewoks pledged their loyalty to the Rebel Alliance, and helped the Rebels in their fight against the Empire. Were it not for the Ewoks, the Rebels would not have been able to infiltrate and destroy the Imperial shield generator complex on Endor. With the generator down, the Alliance Fleet was able to penetrate the second Death Star's superstructure and destroy the station

Okay, it's true........ I don't have much to write about today

BTW Dan.... if you're reading this.... THIS guy should be your butler.... not big foot. You could 'throw over empires!'.... and hide in trees and stuff

Wasteland….the vast kind

2007-07-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

This is how Newton N. Minow (then chairman of the FCC) described television forty six years ago….. well, sort of

First he said it was good…the best actually
Then he pulled the ‘vast wasteland’ curve ball…..with qualifications

All in a speech titled “Television and the Public Interest” on May 9, 1961

read it here

1961….back when there were only THREE channels (networks)
Wonder if Newt new how vast that wasteland would get, or how amazingly wonderful

Roots on ABC Jan. 30, 1977 seen in (36.38 million homes)

third highest viewer ratings from 1950 - 2000

the highest?..................................... last episode of M.A.S.H and television has only gotten better

When television is good, nothing is better. When it's bad, nothing is worse.”
-Newton N. Minow

Wahoo! happy dance

2007-07-29T20:19:00.001-07:00

I got most of my music library back.....

Received an email from an anonymous reader and they included a link to restore from my ipod...

took some figuring, but I did it....... THANK YOU.... anonymous...(and you shall remain so)

okay... maybe I'm not that happy

but I'm definately

tickled

happy

Wrong Turn

2007-07-28T06:55:00.000-07:00

So....... while I was running in circles tearing my hair out a seeking solace in the freezer compartment of the frig a lamenting my computer tradedy to strangers in the supermarket a

<Dad...decided to take the car out for a spin

And I knew it....because, I was driving onto his street as he was driving out....

interjecton:

We are on the brink of some serious role reversal... Dad and I..... it is an uneasy transition. The car is a big issue, sort of the last bastion to his independance.

So I say...."Dad! what are you doing?

and he says....."Going to breakfast with '________' (buddies)

and I say......."Dad, we talked about this......driving.......thing

and he says......"okay honey!" see ya later.... waves me off....drives....away

I won't go into the sorted details of the ensuing hours......because.....he didn't show up at the diner for AN HOUR AND A HALF.........it should have been a five minute drive. he must have driven to the next town before he turned around.

So now, I'm the new Sheriff in town, the car impounded, the rules layed down...... I told Dad that we had both made an error in judgement, we both had made a wrong turn and that ..... 'two wrong turns, don't make a right' and he said

"unless they are left turns....."

Whoa da Machine

2007-07-26T19:16:00.000-07:00

see this.... This...............is............the BLACK (not blue) screen of death

not good....

This causes involuntary jazz hands.. and utterances of words (not befitting a kindly grandmother).... and as if in a bad slo-mo nightmare the five stages of grief take hold and consume the next 24 hrs of your life.

Denial: the initial state "This can't be happening"(how many reboots with the same screen does it take to figure out "it's happening baby)

Anger: Why is this happening "looking around wildly for someone to blame"

Bargaining: Oh Hell! just let me get my Quickbooks back! I don't care about anything else....(Oh yeah? wadda 'bout those ten thousand photos....)

Depression: Wandering aimlessly around the kitchen periodically opening the refrigerator door, helping yourself to 'yet' another ice cream sandwich, waiting for the techie guy to call for a "computer update".

and last...

Acceptance: Highly jubilant acceptance, looking thru the Dell flier that has been littering the computer desk for weeks. Hmmmm, that certainly is a fine looking lime green laptop with a 17" in screen.... Just the thing to help one thru a tragic computer disaster.

Cell phone rings while making a purchase at the local Farm Supply store. Techie guy in need of Norton's Utility password to load it back on my computer.

"You fixed it?" I inquired.....

"Well, I got your Windows OS back, but everything else is gone"

So there you have it.....I have my trusty (old) Toshiba laptop back . A pristine, blank-slate, little program-less virgin......

as visions of a shiny new greener than green, 17" screen, bad boy named Dell, fades to

well, black

Winnah!

2007-07-21T20:23:00.000-07:00

What could be more thrilling than spending an afternoon playing boardgames with a 3 year old and a 6 year old?

Unless it is rounding up action figures to replace lost player markers. The 3 year old was into it.... and quickly claimed 'Buzz Lightyear' for his own. The 6 year old (first born...tidy...perfectionist) wasn't so convinced... Afterall, it was a DORA the EXPLORER game, it didn't seem right to be using a motley assortment of other figures! But when it was agreed that he could use the GIANT superman, which easily took up three spaces at a time, we were good to go.

It didn't take long for us to figure out we had been hustled... Up against a couple of Candyland sharks, interjecting mysterious new rules as they loomed close to various perils. And then, fate stepped in.... karma took charge..... all the good juju landed in Grandpop's hand, with one draw of the magic card, sending him straight to the Candy Castle and the end of the game...

The looks of astonishment on those two faces was too good not to enjoy, then some hidden communication between them signaled the attack. Grandpop was pounced on.... in a flurry of arms and legs and exclamations of foul play.

I was just glad the dang game was over

.....good times.........

Well Enough Alone

2007-07-20T21:35:00.000-07:00

Pretty Picture... has nothing to do with blog subject

I've been messing with the template again and managed to get it aaaallllllll screwed up. But I think it is just about back to normal and as there is not time to pull something out of the blog part of my gray matter............. today you get a run down on my blog links.

First up is my niece

KT and her husband "J" are attorneys in LA (el A) but J doesn't practice law anymore so I don't know if one could say he is an attorney...but I do. KT is also a foodie but nobody sez "foodie" anymore so she is more a fledgling gourmet and writes a pretty darn educational and (lots of time fun) food facts and recipes blog.
Loves Hello Kitty is the daughter my mother always wished she had. One can tell by her posts that she might be borderline OCD about cleanliness and order. She brings us some great product reviews (for us girlie girls). Her very best posts are her people observations and it gets even better when she throws in candid photos... Her obsession with all things "Hello Kitty" is waning but I hope she keeps her title.
W Style Magazine....gets a little 'out there'....but fun. I actually found this link exactly as it is, on another site and had to add it to mine ....because, well, you know.
The Pastorsbride A must read.... She is a laugh riot, and because of the nature of 'google', I think she (more often then she should.....) gets her share of self-righteous readers that do not understand her vernacular. They are looking for wisdom and recipes and instead get hilarious snippets of the ups and downs of marriage to a hunky pastor with ready made kids. Stop in and give her some love.

So that is the run down on my links..... I'd love to add Captain Corky but he might bring the birdman over here! (kidding....just kidding:D...birdman most welcome) besides I'd be stealing him from Femmetopia (aka Still Loves Hello Kitty) and Heidi on Vashon (one 'full of life women') ...I'm living her life...vicariously! I should link Dan also 'cause he left a comment once and we have the same coffee maker...he already has about a hundred girlfriends, he probably needs a break, but lulu* could use some props.

As for you other three readers, too shy to comment... Maybe I'll link you too... just

......Come on down.......

*click on Dan's link to find out who lulu is....

Wedded Bliss

2007-07-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

Jackie & Jack
.

I wish I had the writing acumen to accurately describe what a happy sweet couple ...

these two are

a lovely wedding ... a perfect 7.7.7 day.

Jack is my nephew, the last of the 'kids' to be married. He is my brother's son, he will go far in this world because he is loyal and oh-so-smart and charming and has Jackie at his side.

Jackie and Jack's wedding was a step into a day of magic...where friendships were reinforced, families rejoiced and

one 'Kah-ray-zee' wedding planner flitted around in a flurry of intermittent hissy fits. He might have been the very best entertainment of all.

The photo booth was pretty cool though, everyone got a photo souvenir to take home.... and one to leave in a wedding book. But the very best thing for me?.......

dancing with this guy......

Robert

three yrs old

my youngest grandson

the boy can boogie......

Wheelbarrows,Wisdom,Wisecracking

2007-06-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

Back in January I read this thoughtful piece on the poet Anne Sexton and it stirred up long forgotten college memories. I'll go out on a limb here and tell you I wasn't a stellar student, and I really wasn't much interested in my literature class. I really REALLY did not like the woman professor teaching my literature class. Maybe it was that I couldn't charm her in the way I could the art teacher or the botany teacher. Maybe because she called me an ‘elitist smart ass’ and I did not know if she meant that as a noun or an adjective. She should have failed me for the final paper I turned in on this poet and this poem, the red wheelbarrow. I did not fail the class and I know why.......because she did not want me back.in.her.class.again...................ever.

THE RED WHEELBARROW

so much

depends upon

a red wheelbarrow

glazed with

rainwater

beside the

white chickens.

by William Carlos Williams

It is actually more than a poem.... it is some sort of kick ass Japanese haiku....(type poem) but not nearly as good as this..........found on the Internet

parents spent a lot

for college education

alas, no husband

had to go to the beach for that.....

I'm just sayin'

Will & Grace

2007-06-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

I think I was channel surfing one night back in Y2K and landed on this. Wasn't having a good year... Humor eluded me. I gave it 15 minutes then moved on...

thus, it has become my new happy discovery...

Reruns on Lifetime every

week. day. night.

eleven p.m. pacific standard time

there is something so oddly endearing about each of them

that I missed seven years ago....silly me

Wingman

2007-06-27T21:58:00.000-07:00

The door bell rang.... and mere seconds later, rang again ......twice in succession. I got the hint. Hurry up.

I can usually see my visitor through the side window next to the front door, but it didn't look as if anyone was there. Then a loud firm knock, I opened the door.

I almost didn't respond to her greeting I was so taken by the pure visual, pristine 'clean-ness' of her.

She was almost glowing in her shiny clean. Shiny blond locks pulled to the side with a shiny pink satin bow. Immaculate and perfectly pressed dress, white Maryjane's and super white socks .

She was there to charm me out of my hard earned money to sponsor her in a 'read-a-thon'. How could I resist?

I filled out a pledge card and congratulated her on all the names she had collected, then bid her farewell. Much later that same day, almost evening, the doorbell rang again....

the same little girl,

she wasn't alone.......

"Hi, this is Arthur, he's in my class and he's getting sponsors for the 'read-a-thon' too.... and he hasn't gotten ANY NAMES...not one."

and then she smiled at me and pushed Arthur and his folder forward.

That was many years ago, but I read in the paper today that she has just graduated top in her class from UC Berkeley.

I'm not surprised to see, she is still shining

What this isn't?

2007-06-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

......in our house....

who wants to watch their favorite programs on an intensely, clear, 54 inch picture, allowing virtually every detail to literally jump off of the screen anyway…

......certainly not us....

So we bought this instead…..…

and we got 20% off because we had a coupon ...we had three coupons in fact

but they only let us use one.

WiTricity

2007-06-24T17:11:00.000-07:00

What's the difference between a Witch and an Electron?

that was an actual question from my one and only philosophy class in college.....

There wasn't an answer

A least I hope there wasn't

*Witricity and video credited to Ray Podder's blog... some fascinating stuff there

Whoops!

2007-06-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

Where are those grammer police when you need them?

My last post title had a little 'grammar error' ....ahem...

sorry girls

why didn't someone alert me...... I can't always find these things myself you know

Wile away the hours....

2007-06-22T16:12:00.000-07:00

Today I was to take Dad to get a haircut... Dad is pretty unhappy that I don't want him to drive anymore. But, he isn't quite 'tracking' on the important stuff these days, (the way a person in control of a 1000 lb piece of machinery should be) ..... So I am driving Mr. Daisy.

Unfortunately, we both forgot that Bob the Barber no longer comes in on Fridays... So, I got a few pointed remarks about who's 'tracking' on what, thrown in my direction...
To save the day, we went to Leon's used book store and scavenged around that place for...ev....er

these are three books that got his Dad's attention:
This entire book is the story of how the song 'Silent Night' came to be... no really.... the entire book.. beginning, middle, end. A magazine article might be too long for this subject.

btw...I know what you're thinking, that book cover picture looks like a big head of lettuce...it does in real life too..

War of the Words?.... Is he looking for ways to out wit me???

Time for some diversion

Hey, Dad look at this one!

Oh.....Sorry, it's in German.....

So we ended up with a biography, a mystery and a mafia crime story..... oh, and some lunch (fully dressed)...

I actually like spending time with Dad.

Whew!!!!

2007-06-21T20:07:00.000-07:00

Okay...it has been awhile.... But I have some really great excuses

this is the best one

SURGERY

.... on this guy, my thyroid....

now,it is gone
.....kicked to the curb....tossed in the cancer crematorium

Good-bye Thyroid ...... I always suspected you were up to no good.

I wonder what will be my excuse now, for not having a body like this?
hmmmm...... oh well ...............................hi girls Saaaa.....lute!

Watch and Wonder

2007-02-18T13:15:00.000-08:00

If you have six minutes of your life to squander........ and like amusing yourself with music ala forty years ago (first up) and music today (gone all viral on youtube) then this is for you

okay.... 'Feelin Groovy'.... not the finest hour of the sixties (love the audience though....those are 'my people' folks)....

but do they have to do that to the Legos.... please, not the Legos

Wasted Days and Wasted Nights

2007-02-15T19:24:00.000-08:00

I thought I could soldier on, chug some electrolytes, and not let my family down. We were having dinner out to celebrate my mother-in-law’s birthday with the Valentine masses. I actually made it, thru the dinner anyway. They forgave me skipping the dessert and present opening and let me drag my sorry ass home.

Turns out I had good old fashioned influenza. I believe the medical term is "sicker than a dog." It all came down (or up) about two in the morning. I spent a wicked few hours in the bathroom. At dawn, I am (finally) in bed, my hero and husband and caretaker brings the pedialyte, to restore the electrolytes and get me back on my feet. He places it on the dresser instead of my nightstand. Four steps away. I lay in bed for 2 hours willing it to come to me, but too weak to walk 4 steps to get the bottle.
I hope this terrible stuff is avoiding you and I hope you are all well. I hear we had a beautiful day here today….be careful, it is still the 'cold and flu season'…hunker down and take care!

Winged Fat Babies...

2007-02-14T14:18:00.000-08:00

are messengers of God

According to Roman mythology, Cupid (aka Eros)was the son of Mercury, the messenger of god, and Venus (aka Aphrodite), the goddess of love.

Cupid was generally seen as a good spirit who brought happiness to all, but his matchmaking could cause mischief. Psyche, Goddess of Beauty was the wife of Cupid.

"Princess Psyche was the most amazingly beautiful mortal ever. She was almost as beautiful as Aphrodite with chickenpox on a bad hair day. People were known to forget their own names and swoon at her feet. Although not usually a malicious Goddess, Aphrodite wanted the princess out of the way.

Her temples were being neglected by Psyche fans and it just wasn't on. So she conspired with Cupid to make the princess fall in love with the ugliest man they could find. That would soon get her out of the public eye. Cupid fluttered off and got ready to launch an Arrow of Love at the innocent Psyche. But by chance, he pricked his finger on that very arrow and fell hopelessly in love with her himself.

This caused all kinds of problems for all concerned, and eventually Psyche found herself cut off from mortals and Gods alike as Aphrodite's wrath pursued her. She contemplated suicide by drowning, but even the waves refused to take her. The only way to salvation was by passing Aphrodite's cruel and unusual tests. Forget sorting poppy seeds from lentils before daybreak or grabbing a cup of water from a mountain monster — the ultimate challenge was this: Go down to the Underworld and steal Persephone's beauty cream.

Her heart quailed, but Princess Psyche made her radiant way down the gloomy steps. Seeing the approach of loveliness, Cerberus, the ill-tempered Hound of Hell, rolled over like a puppy. One sweetie from her maidenly hand and he was friends for life. And grim Charon, taking one look at her youthful beauty, blushed to his boots and gave her free passage.

So finally she arrived at the throne room of Hades himself. Now Hades is very proud of his domain, and doesn't tolerate the living turning up. It spoils the atmosphere of gloom and despair. So he would've killed Psyche there and then, but his wife Persephone saw this was no ordinary interloper and asked why she'd come. As the story unfolded, Persephone took pity on Psyche and gave her a big jar of her finest beauty cream. Hades sighed and allowed her to return, making a mental note to cancel Cerberus's doggie chocs for the next hundred years.

Psyche struggled back to the land of the living with the jar of beauty cream. What did Aphrodite want with beauty cream anyway? she wondered. It must be something really potent and special. Surely a little dab on her cheek wouldn't do any harm. So Psyche opened the jar, poked her finger inside, and instantly fainted away.

It was very powerful beauty cream indeed. In fact it could have transformed Medusa, ugliest of the Gorgons, into a chart-busting sex kitten with the three Graeae sisters on backing vocals. Psyche was about to wither away under the influence when Cupid turned up and whisked her off to Olympus. With Zeus's blessing, they were at last married. Aphrodite didn't mind too much as she now had a goodly supply of face cream to play with." *

*found this on the internet.... and if I ever remember where, I will credit it.

mythology is funny stuff and they teach this at college

Well then

2007-02-12T21:37:00.000-08:00

So it was a good thing the Grammy's put the Police reunion on in the first fifteen minutes.

I was commited to watch the entire show in the long run and I was certainly set up for it. Even though I'm as old as dust or dirt or whatever... I liked the Police and not just Sting. I liked them all by osmosis, by the music of my son's generation, by the fact that I am not a total fogy . But that's fodder for another day.
No dis to Ms. Aguilera but, she has taken her 40's look too far down the road, maybe she should dial it back a notch. Anyway, the main problem with last night's show was that it was… zzzzzzzz. . nodding... nodding..... boring .

I'm still in a fog over it all. yawn

Wired....the hard way

2007-02-11T21:05:00.000-08:00

Husband Person (HP) and I share a home office… a very nice home office. About a year and a half ago HP got a little plasma tv for his viewing pleasure to put in the home office.

That was when I lost all control on what happens in the home office. To keep the peace and give him complete control over the clicker, I purchased a fifty foot co-axial cord (bright red), so that I could use my laptop in the other room . HP just cannot bring himself to go wireless as, we all know the KGB is still active and waiting for a chance to steal our identities..

Tonight I am set....watching live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles the 49th Grammy Awards. In HD by Sony. I have Chai Tea from Trader Joe's at the ready, some sort of Boboli construct thing going on, and salad , just in case. The Police (or Synchronicity) are supposed to kick it off, and, and so they are......... All in the middle of our king size bed… which is (for this evening) my home office, a real comfy home office.

I think I might have the better deal

What did you say?........... salesladyperson

2007-02-01T16:55:00.000-08:00

I placed my three items on the counter and offered a cheerful hello. This startled her as she was scrunched beneath the counter rummaging for what? Gold? Nope….it was her lunch. She flashed a look of total annoyance and the voice that matched said “ I’m going to lunch, you’ll need to go to the front”.
Me: Uh, no one is at the front (looking directly at the abandoned front register).
She: There will be, just wait there
Me: Can you call someone?
She: (big sigh, looking around)
Me: I’ll buy your lunch if you’ll just ring these three little items up. (sometimes bribery works)
She: Oh, here! As she grabs a teeny tiny person carrying a S%*t load of ‘Tees’
She to Tinyperson: I’m outta here, help this lady.
Tinyperson: Ohheythosearesocutehereletmesetthisdown…
Me: I actually don’t say anything, as I’m trying to interrupt what she just said (at a glass breaking, speed of light, pitch).
Tinyperson: Ohthesearejustsocuteandreallyreallyreally……forgiving.
Me: Thanks (did she just say I’m fat?)
Tinyperson: Doyouwantthehangerbecauseswerenotsupposetoaskbut.....
Ialwaysliketohavethehangerbecause....(big sigh), ....I live with myboyfriend.
Me: Yes please,
Tinyperson: Okaythenthanksforshoppingat
”BetterBuysandRugBeaters*”comeagainsoon
*name changed to protect the ambivalent

IhateshoppingreallyIdo

Willard.... is that you?

2007-01-30T19:12:00.000-08:00

We have the luxury of a cleaning lady, she signs all her notes R.G. Every other Wednesday,R.G. and her band of giggly, singing, gossiping relatives clean the 'bejeebers' out of the kitchen and bathrooms. They do a darn good job of dusting and vacuming the rest of the house as well.

Once a year R.G. cleans out the fireplaces, why she chooses winter for this chore, I just don't know. I've learned not to question anything that happens in the cleaning people department..... R.G. knows what she is doing and R.G. doesn't like questions. So, tomorrow is fireplace day and of all the fireplace days before it, and of all fireplace days to follow, there will never be one as eventful as the very first 'fireplace day'.

In those days the husband person always arrived home from work before I. Any problems or questions that arose from R.G. were handled by him. On this particular day, R.G. seemed very agitated and announced "there is a be-eeg ....(insert unintelligable word)".... in the garage vacumn holding her hands about 12 inches apart and pointing to the Black and Decker in the back yard. Her accent so thick in her excitement, he could not understand. He finally (after being dragged over to the outdoor vac)figured out... 'There was a BIG RAT! in the vac....oh scheese!.

So he got a broom with a long long handle and with the trash bin as a shield he flipped off the lid to the vac. Sending R.G. and band of no longer giggling relatives, screaming in every direction.

He waited a minute or two for the rat to scurry out... nothing happened.
He gave the vac a little tap. nothing.

So he hoisted two hundred pounds of his brave male self on the trash bin and peered into the vac from a (sort of ) safe perch. Looking up at him with two beady little eyes, covered in white ash from the fireplace. was...
a.little.baby.possum.

So now, once a year we get this note:

Thereby putting all baby possums on notice...

Wind Chimes

2007-01-28T12:52:00.000-08:00

The husband person has been sick for about a week (plus) now... I have been sleeping in the back bedroom affectionately known as the 'upstairs playroom'.

So, I won't catch whatever it is, that is making him feel lousy causing a compulsive need to describe his every sign and symptom of the plague that has befallen him.

So, I don't have to listen to the cacophony of sounds emanating from his phlegm filled head, throat and chest.

So, that I may read until midnight without disturbing him (in his sickness).

I must insert a little aside here to say that while physically well, I have been suffering a bit of the malaise myself. The winter blahs (maybe) or that extra layer of winter fat (maybe) or the fact that I have been busier than my lazyass cares to be. Whatever the reason, I haven’t been sleeping well. Therefore, to shuffle off to my own bed, in my own room at night was not a disagreeable prospect.

And this is how I discovered my neighbors have (not one, not two, but) THREE! wind chimes in their backyard. A lovely melodic, psychotic jumble of glass and brass and steel…jingle jangling thru the night as the arctic winter breezes whirl around the neighbors yard.

In self-defense, I seek solace by watching the playroom t.v. I have now watched ten days of Dr. 90210. I think I have figured out the reason for my glum. I am growing old and there is no stopping the process. Maybe Dr. Rey can help me.

...............................and maybe I can help him with his choice of suits.

Weeda

2007-01-10T13:40:00.000-08:00

Weeda is how her name is pronounced

O.U.I.D.A is how it is spelled.
She is my mother and today is the eleven year anniversary of her death.

She died of hepatic cancer.

at home, in the middle of the night, with my father at her side.

So, this is for you Mom, I wonder how it is that you are still so vivid in my dreams.
That you come to me in the oddest places while in my dreams
such as, my closet or
the backseat of my car or
In the house we lived in forty-five years ago

and once

In the old Santa Barbara I. Magnin department store (that one, I get)

I am always perplexed and pleased that people still tell me how much I look like you, although I can’t see it

I tousle the thick wavy auburn hair of my own first grandson and I know you had something to do with that. I delight in the second grandchild with his devilish grin and indominatible spirit and I see you... you at two and you at seventy two.

I look at your quilts and wonder at the legacy you leave. Those beautiful handstitched masterpieces. Truly superb artistry, that will last for generations to come.

I look through old photos with Dad and he lingers long on those of you and he together

I don't know what he is thinking but,

I know what I am thinking

if Mom knew this was the third day in a row

Dad has worn that same shirt...

we'd all be in trouble!

Wish you were here Mom
Wish you were here

Wiggle Room

2007-01-09T19:49:00.000-08:00

This Christmas I got my father a 2000 piece puzzle.

His once healthy body is failing him. His brilliant, high energy, well traveled,
adventurous days are behind him. His safe harbor is his recliner and the tv clicker.
I strive to always treat him with respect and keep him fully involved in his medical
And personal care.

Sometimes I have to resort to mild trickery to get it done.

I thought a puzzle might be interesting and helpful in stimulating his brain. I thought
wrong… He is indifferent at best and insulted at worse. It is I, that is burdened
with the task of putting that beast together.

Every night as I leave his house I ask him to try at least to put a couple of puzzle pieces together. Every morning I find about five pieces (similar but not a match) stuck together.

Sometimes he has to resort to mild trickery to get it done.

Watches

2007-01-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

This is my second best watch. Last year the battery quit and I took it to a jeweler (one that was unknown to me).

The jeweler had some trouble getting the back plate off and took it into another room. He appeared a few minutes later with my watch and handed it to me. It was running again. He motions for my arm and placed the watch on my wrist, stating:

"No charge for nice lady, maybe you come back....
buy diamonds, Yes?"

I told him I’d like to pay for the battery at least. He waved me off again saying no. I thanked him and left.

Walking to my car, I pulled my keys from a side pocket, glancing at my watch, I see, it is not attached to the little bar thingy that slides in the holder thingy. When I looked closer, to my dismay I realized it was not attached because it was broken off. So I U-turned back into the store and showed the watch to the same gentleman. To which he said:

"oops, you break. " (Oh.... really?)

To laser down the story, I will tell you....he would not, in any way, shape or form own up to breaking that watch, thereby eliminating any possibility of me buying diamonds...from him...

ever.

The watch is in my (brand new) jewelry chest, waiting for Godot.

Wealth

2007-01-06T12:16:00.000-08:00

ptc ..... chp ...... me......

Certain gifts bring riches beyond measure. Friendship is one of these,

'Best' Friendship times two is the friendship jackpot.

Yesterday, at lunch was a reaffirmation. We gathered to meet the newest grandchild, a beloved, welcome little girl, in a combined collection of boys. A lovely, needed respite with good food and good company. It was not until the very end, after the bill had been paid (thanks P), and the mom and babe out the door (in a pink bugaboo* blur) that I just sort of blurted out a particular ‘sticky’ problem I had been facing - but actually didn’t even really want to discuss (oh yeah?...I guess I did).

You know how, you can be all together with a ‘group’ of friends and someone will say: Oh gosh, I’m having some trouble with ‘yada blah’...and then someone chimes in with “Oh Lord” that happened to me!” and another with “Good Luck with that” and then the clueless one in the group sez “ huh? What? Who? is going to jail”.... or the fake advice (and you’re thinkin, ‘like They would really b*&ch slap their mother-in-law’). This has nothing to do with my mother-in-law by the way. Sweetest women to walk the earth.

Yesterday, from two best friends, the advice came swift and strong and perfect. All wrapped in love like cellophane, tied with a bow. I left feeling better than I had in days.

A best friend is such a profound gift and having two best friends, well that just sweetens the deal.

Maybe not in each others back pocket
But always in each others heart.

Thanks, you two. I do love you so.
Shell

*bugaboo...google it (an awesome contraption)

Workplace

2007-01-04T13:11:00.000-08:00

I have forty-two years in the workforce under my belt (just two jobs in forty-two years) and this is the year I hang it up.

When I forged out into the paying labor force I was really just a young girl. Three years of college, a new husband, no children and absolutely zero ambition or direction.

I accepted a job (sort of a mercy hire) from a family friend in my hometown. He was a physician and owned the local hospital. It was a lovely and happy job, floating around to different departments, filling in where I was needed. It set the course for the rest of my life.

A child was born, a marriage failed, tragedy lurked, and through it all, my normal happy working mom’s - life, carried me along. Ten years as a good soldier, following orders, carrying out my duties. Locking the office door at five o’clock and not looking back, turning my attention to family matters.

It was moving into the management part that kicked my butt. Made me think about what I was doing and how I was doing it. There were hard lessons in dealing with people and making decisions. Long hours, juggling work and family. The money was good; the hours took their toll. It eventually all worked out and now is coming to an end.

I’d start a countdown clock, but I don’t know the actual date. Not soon enough for my replacement, too soon for my employers.

I was one of the lucky ones, I was able to stay in my hometown and raise my son. It will be strange not being a part of this workday experience…..but

I’m ready

Wide Angle Wonder

2007-01-02T21:01:00.000-08:00

THIS.... is my christmas present from the husband person.

There are no words to describe my
amazement!

First, I had no hope of ever getting this camera. I thought I was lucky receiving my fabulous little Canon SD500 two years ago.

The amazing part ....the husband... The fact is, he just never ceases to amaze me. Two weeks ago (of his own volition) he washed all the downstairs windows, so the house would look nice for the holidays. He is clean of person, pure of heart, loyal as a Boy Scout and has no idea what a blog is. I share this, so that you (all) may know my good fortune that he is in my life.

For him,

I shall make a new years resolution to be the kind and loving and patience
and patience
and patience
wife he deserves.

so it is written

Westin’s Wild Women…

2006-12-27T15:09:00.000-08:00

Every year for the past fifteen years

‘We, the girlfriends’

take a shopping trip to San Francisco the first week in December. We have had some pretty mind blowing, money spending, alcohol drinking, late night partying times. It really sort of kicks off the holiday season for us……

This year we stayed at the St. Francis Westin, the highlight of which was not the musty old room (no complaints, as it looked directly on Union Square), but rather the new Michael Mina restaurant. It is an experience…. Here is a quote from some cuisine magazine

Seasonal selections highlight a fresh primary ingredient paired with a trio of accompaniments; each of the three presentations offers a distinct taste sensation. The essence of a dish is found in the interplay of comparing and contrasting ingredients and techniques. Michael Mina personally designed stunning Royal Doulton china for the restaurant - an integral dimension to showcase his original food concepts.

Let me just say… If you were expecting to have the famous high tea in ‘The Compass Rose tea room’, it… ain’t….there….. no…. mo’…..

This year none of us made it into Macy's... Sort of a disappointment, because our favorite thing to do is ring up each other on our cell's and yell "I'm in Macy's... and I can't find the way out....." Those of you who have tried to find an exit at Macy's know from which I speak. Even when you manage to find an exit, once out, it requires five minutes of total concentration and a magellan GPS to figure out which street you are on and which way to Gump's or Nordstrom's.... Speaking of Nordstrom's..... Oh my, the SF Shopping Centre is going to have to drop some BIG BUCKs to catch up with the new Westfield's.... It is all.... very amazing. So much for the bad economy....

The daughter-in-laws are now joining us on this auspicious trip, and it was

they
Which came home laughing and giggling at 3:00a.m….. not us. They just don't know the fun, in the years ahead, those wild women.

Winter Squash

2006-11-21T21:47:00.000-08:00

See ya after Thanksgiving...

ACORN SQUASH VELOUTE WITH GINGER AND MUSTARD SEEDS

Cayenne and cumin also add flavor to this rich-tasting soup.

3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups chopped onions
8 cups 1-inch pieces peeled acorn squash (about 3 1/4 pounds)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
4 1/2 cups (or more) canned low-salt chicken broth

2 tablespoons tomato purée
Pinch of cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 tablespoon mustard seeds

Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions; sauté until light golden, about 8 minutes. Add squash and ginger; sauté 5 minutes. Add 4 1/2 cups broth. Simmer until squash is very tender, about 35 minutes.

Working in batches, purée soup in blender. Return to same pot. Add tomato purée and cayenne. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes to blend flavors; add more broth if soup is too thick. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm soup over medium heat before serving.)

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in small skillet over medium heat. Add cumin and mustard seeds and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Ladle soup into bowls. Top with seed mixture and serve.

Serves 6.

Its flavor is so intense, however, that I recommend small servings.

Widgets...

2006-11-19T20:21:00.000-08:00

A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.

I got some html instruction last week and it obviously didn't sink into the old head bone..... 'cause, in case you haven't noticed this 'blog' keeps changing (subtlely changing)....

I had to make.... one.... two... three! emergency calls to my 'mentor' (ahem)....

because First...I lost the heading, then I somehow re-formated so that I had one mile long column, then the heading got all scrunched up and weird looking.

On the last call for help.... I was told to (quote).... "JUST STAY THE F*#K AWAY FROM THE TEMPLATE" (unquote)....all loud and yelly like that.

geesh

Whereupon

2006-11-17T20:37:00.000-08:00

she exclaimed: Who has been boiling my gap chinos? and I'm not talking about my 'size little'.....
I'm talking about my size..'not so little'.

The trouble began six weeks ago.

I was entertaining a new minimalist stage of my cluttered life. I suggested we move the treadmill out of the downstairs office. I also suggested we move it into the garage.... to a spot currently occupied by one 1957 Chevy Nomad station wagon.
This would mean, of course, taking this vintage 'treasure' off-site so I could create a nice little exercise area for myself....

Can you believe that this was not met with enthusiasm?...... First came the 'blank' look, as in no comprehension, then the sort of furrowed brow, as in 'did she really just suggest that'?, then the sideways tilt of the head, as in 'Oh no! you didn't really just suggest that'! the tight jaws are always the best. It is a look that has many meanings...this look was "THE GARAGE IS MINE....YOU CAN'T HAVE IT". Culminating in a look of disgust. With a little puff of air escaping from his tight jawed lips, he turned and left the room. Never uttering a word.

I haven't been on the treadmill since.

I'll show him...boy

btw: My niece is starting a detox diet... she is much braver and much younger than I....

World Wide Wonder Waffles...................................not

2006-11-13T18:58:00.000-08:00

I didn't really mean to stay home from work today.... But the husband wanted Waffles.

Waffles.

Not the working woman's breakfast fare. So, I waved him off with the flick of my wrist, never taking my eyes from the newspaper. "Can't.... we don't have eggs"

He was gone before I could even look up.... headed to the store .... for eggs.

I called work and left a message on the secretary's voice mail that I wouldn't be in.

I hauled out the villaware waffle maker.... The 'Hummer' of all waffle makers, and tried not to think about the only other time I've used the thing since Santa left it under the tree. We could have built a summer home with those waffles. Dense, overcooked, lego-looking, brick-like waffles......

I bought a pricey pancake mix at Sur La Table this summer (Carmel, CA). I would use the new mix and the age old 'fold in beaten egg whites' trick. Wow, that batter looked great. Wow, big ole villaware took almost all my batter. Wow, oozing, monster waffle .... Wow, steam wafting up as it split apart upon lifting the big bertha lid.

Back to the bisquick, 2 cups of it... add 1 egg, 1 1/3 cup milk 1TBL oil.... Pour into one hummer waffler maker.... and viola.... one batch of average Ho Hummer waffles.....and a nice breakfast with my husband.

Walt

2006-11-12T23:42:00.000-08:00

We are home… We are missing the kids already

So we've decided we need a big ole vacation together... and what's bigger than Disneyworld/Epcot/MGM/...Orlando!

For Sept 2007….. the reservations are made

a four year old .....a six year old......

and four adults living vicariously

Let the Disneymania BEGIN….

Waving

2006-10-23T22:41:00.000-07:00

goodbye for awhile.... leaving for Atlanta (ya'll) to see the grands for two weeks.. But first must get a manicure and a pedicure. I'm branching out this time, changing from my usual french on the fingers and french on the toes. All because of this post Resisting the "French Manicure" Pedicure you may have to scroll down to see it... So I stopped by to make the appointment and pick a new color.

Okay, the colors are nice and everything....but how do you get that job making up the names, because I want it. Have you seen these names? Is it only O.P.I.?

The color I've selected for tomorrow is 'Have a Tempura Tan-Trum'.... The shop keeper told me O.P.I.'s most popular color was "I'm not a waitress". So of course, it is discontinued.

If I had that job, I would name my first color "cotton candy, with a bitter finish" in honor of the former 'Ms Loves Hello Kitty'. Then my next color would be "Settle Down" probably because I'm going to visit two little livewire grandsons and, they

just. never. stop.

a job naming polish colors..... and watching the boys

They wouldn't even have to pay me

Wig Out!

2006-10-21T19:49:00.000-07:00

I have an account at a very friendly little local bank. It's a first name basis..... how's your mom........ 'sure let me get that for you'...kind of bank.

One of the tellers keeps a glass bowl which holds an orange betta fish (beta?). There is also some type of aquatic plant with orange glass rocks courtesy of Michael's, scattered at the bottom...

That orange betta fish, is one psychotic dude. lurking in the root structure of the plant, darting in and out if he thinks you are getting "in his space". I try not to make 'eye contact' with the little goofball.

UNTIL TODAY....

In preparation for a trip to see the kids and grandkids, I got out the 'Nemo' key ring I received as a gift from grandson last Christmas. I clipped Nemo onto my keys and set out to take care of errands. Those of you who are familiar with Betas, know where this is going, I had no clue. My first stop was the bank, stepping up to the teller with the fish bowl and set my key chain on the counter next to the fish. Happy, friendly nemo landing face forward to the fish bowl.
I don't think I have the words to do justice to the ensuing drama. This fish began furiously slamming against the bowl, aiming for Nemo! Knocking over his plant, creating a small tidal wave and propelled! his little body right out of the bowl. "Lester!" exclaimed the teller (he had a name? who knew)...."Don't you know these fish are territorial! Please remove your keys.." complete with a surly look, directed at me.... as she scoops him up and puts him back in the bowl.
Okay, well he was floating a little suspiciously when I left (like lifeless).. I walked over to Pet Central and discovered 'orange' betas are $3.95 each.... blue are only 'a buck'.... I wonder if a timid blue beta would have been so freaked about an orange Nemo. Clearly, Lester was an Alpha Beta.....

you just can't make this stuff up....

What?

2006-10-20T21:53:00.000-07:00

I had a huge collection of Madame Alexander dolls as a child. On many occasions I was given a doll for my cabinet by different family members my favorite being the Bride doll, but Pocahontas was the one I played with the most. Usually they were 'country of origin' themes. Or 'story book' themes (red-ridinghood, bo-peep....yada).......It would have been awesome to get this

beauty-------------------------------

...totally weird and awesome...

click here if you want one

I wonder what happened to all those dolls of mine?

Woeful

2006-10-19T22:27:00.000-07:00

Be-Bop Kitty

A sad day… Tomorrow we take BubbaKitty for a euthanasia consult and a last good-bye. He is so very sick and we just can’t see him suffer any longer. So we wait for the end, just so sad for our old cat with the kitten face.

He still purrs loudly when we sit with him, he loves us and we love him.

Good-bye to our Bo-Bo, the kitten with a thousand names

Wookies

2006-10-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

Found this today while looking up info on Route 66

Kickin' Wookies

don't think Chewbaca would get it, I know, I don't

Warning!

2006-10-17T23:24:00.000-07:00

Had some kind of weird nuclear test on my thyroid yesterday. They gave me a pill to swallow at 8:00am then I was told to return at 2:00pm for a scan. BUT... I couldn't be around pregnant women or small children for 24 hours because I would be

That's just swell.... I'm back to normal today

Way

2006-10-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

too cool.....that is Tia Lyndie in the lens (6mos pregnant)

Wedgie

2006-10-16T19:08:00.000-07:00

2yr old grandson.....he can sleep anywhere, under any conditions

Whip

2006-10-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

Up a delicious batch of these:

Sweet and Spicy

Pumpkin Seeds

Makes 1 cup

Pumpkin seeds must be completely dried out in the oven before combining
with spices. Whether for cooking or carving, choose an unblemished pumpkin
that feels heavy for its size; it will store well, uncarved, at room temperature,
for up to a month.

1 medium pumpkin
5 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
1 ½ tablespoons peanut oil
Pinch cayenne pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 250°. Line a baking sheet with parchment
paper. Cut pumpkin open from the bottom, removing seeds
with a long-handled spoon. Separate flesh from seeds, and
reserve the flesh for another use (see Pumpkin Pie). Pumpkin
should yield 1 cup seeds. Spread seeds on parchment in an
even layer.Bake until dry, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
Let cool. In a medium bowl combine 3 tablespoons sugar, salt,
cumin, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne. Heat peanut oil in a large
nonstick skillet over high heat. Add pumpkin seeds and
remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Cook until sugar melts and
pumpkin seeds begin to caramelize, about 45 to 60 seconds.
Transfer to bowl with spices, and stir well to coat. Let cool.
These may be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week

courtesy of Martha Stewart

w words

Wife Goes On

Wednesday Review.... a video

We remember.......

Who gets the next Bloggy award?

What She said

Windmill tilting

Wash Day

Wistful Vista.....

Want vs. need

What?.. ****update**** bottom of post

Wait.......

Wintry mood

WRONG...... to write

Wowza

Worlds 1st billion dollar house

Wilshire Blvd

We love you... Discovery channel

WA$TED

Wrighteous indignation

Who knew

Wednesday Review

When you just need to grin

Wishes

Winsome

Wabi-Sabi

Women's Shelter benefit event... and one wacky committee

Wind and Waves

Wednesday Review

Woe is Madame x

Written on the Wind

Wednesday Review...... edited

Weather........

Who's in.....Who's out

While you are waiting

With Apologies

Wits End...........

Water Parks

Walt Disney World....

We the beleaguered …besieged and harassed….

Wine Country

Watering Cans and Lawn Ornaments

Whatever do you mean?

Worst and Best

Wiedersehen

Wallpaper

Will Call...

Wasted Day....... and a Worthy Cause

Weighing in.....

Worn Out

Word for the Day

Weekly World Journal … Hasta La Vista Baby

Witherspoon..........is it the money?

What’s that?.....you say

Way way .... long ago

Wicket W. Warrick

Wasteland….the vast kind

Wahoo! happy dance

Wrong Turn

Whoa da Machine

Winnah!

Well Enough Alone

Wedded Bliss

Wheelbarrows,Wisdom,Wisecracking

Will & Grace

Wingman

What this isn't?

WiTricity

Whoops!

Wile away the hours....

Whew!!!!

Watch and Wonder

Wasted Days and Wasted Nights

Winged Fat Babies...

Well then

Wired....the hard way

What did you say?........... salesladyperson

Willard.... is that you?

Wind Chimes

Weeda

What?.. update bottom of post