La, La, La...

I had quite the experience on Friday (and I still feel a bit hoity toity saying it) – I went to see an opera at the Met!!!

My friend won tickets to the final dress rehearsal for Boris Godunov and she invited me along. It was a long show (4 ½ hours with intermissions) and I am glad that I went with someone who is familiar with operas. Plus she gave me the synopsis to read while on the bus so I would have some clue as to what was going on.

No photos allowed in the opera house...I did not take this photo...nope...not me....
Did not take this one either....

Sitting outside, having a snack, looking up....

The door that lead to leg room!!

Couple of things:

The costumes were incredible….

No Phantom showed up, so no crashing chandelier either…

The woman that sang was neither fat nor wearing a bronze bustier and Viking hat…

The actor playing the priest looked like Eddie Izzard….

The lead is a smoker!! (we waited by the stage door to see the Latvian opera singer and watched the lead mingle with his friends)

The seats are made for some very short people – luckily we bumped into someone that we know and in exchange for some cookies, he asked us to join him in his seats. Box seats = different view and leg room!

Always bring snacks to the opera….

The end of intermission is announced by gongs and a woman with a xylophone.

The chandeliers are amazing…and I was thoroughly excited when they rose up to signal the start of the show…..

Opera groupies are an interesting bunch…..

Hakuna Matata...

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Disney Villains...

OMG, OMG, OMG!!!

Boingy, boingy, boingy!!!

This is what happens when my email is backlogged...

I see THIS later rather than sooner.....

A new MAC collection that calls to me.....

I have been a fan of the Disney Villains (and Villainesses) for ages.....



Cruella






Evil Queen







But the collection that I adore most of all....

MALEFICENT









I love that they used the drawings of these characters to model the different looks that you can achieve with each collection...

Rinse and Repeat...

I realize that I left out an integral part of my birthday festivities....and every time I get it out of my head, someone mentions it.....Enjoy!!

Ding, Fries Are Done!





And of course Family Guy had to recreate it....

Definitely Celebrated!!

Greetings on cars

Yummy Sushi

Flowers and Balloons

Fire Pit

Sugar Shock

Smooshes

Ren Faire

Yeah…my birthday was definitely celebrated properly!!

Change of Box....

"Honey, welcome to my box." Samantha Jones


It’s a quote from one of the Sex & The City episodes….

I remember watching that episode and thinking that it was a ways off….

And now here I am, changing boxes when they ask my age….

It does not bug me...

The decade changes do not bug me…..

It’s the decade plus one that gets to me…

And I have a ways to go before the next one…

Weeee..Weeee...Weeee!!!

I am STILL laughing at this commercial....

I fight the urge to do this in the car when I am a passenger...

Hmm...if only I could get my hands on some pinwheels...

Pirate Speak!

Two If By Land, Three If By Reservoir....

Yar...Yar...Yar, Yar, Yar....and Yar…

We celebrated International Talk Like A Pirate Day a bit early and actually won first place in a costume contest!!! We are now “Pirates that own a Heineken branded guitar”....(note to self - learn to play)

I am very happy that I was in attendance this year...slightly differently than I had thought when I agreed to it last year but much better!! Plus it is a bonus when everyone gets into the spirirt of things - even if they are not dressed in costume. The radio station guys found themselves quite educated in pirate speak by the end of the night!

And on a personal note of achievement – my corset needed to be tightened – a lot more than expected….sweet!!


The next day we took to the sea….well, the reservoir….spent a very full day paddling around with a third pirate. Booty was obtained (not just garbage), much fun was had and cairns (nifty rock towers) were created. We even met up with our nautical friend….all "bro-mance" jokes aside, he is a cool dude and it is awesome to see other like minded people when paddling!

At one point, after dodging acorns (while paddling along the shore), we channeled the acorn chuckers…..you can smack an acorn with a paddle….it makes an awful noise though!

Speedy Mix...

For some reason, this mix makes me speed...vroom....

Battle Without Honor or Humanity – Tomoyasu Hotel
Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith
Welcome To the Jungle – Guns & Roses
Pour Some Sugar on Me – Def Leppard
Tainted Love – Marilyn Manson
Bitch – Goo Goo Dolls
Material Girl – Madonna
You Give Love A Bad Name – Bon Jovi
Kick Out the Jams – Rage Against The Machine
Monkey – George Michael
Magnificent Seven – The Clash
When I Grow Up – Garbage
Impression That I Get – Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Someday I Suppose - Mighty Mighty Bosstones
State of Love & Trust – Pearl Jam
How Soon Is Now? – The Smiths
Push It – Garbage
If I Had A Million Dollars – Barenaked Ladies
I Drove All Night – Cyndi Lauper

Heh...

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Blooms....

I had some nerves going on today...

Then the interview went smoothly.....

And I got some Harvest Spice coffee....

And to top it all off - this came to my house...

Cue a big smile that makes my dimples into craters....

Dodging Acorns....

Yesterday, we took a hike (literally - yeah, that joke does not get old for me at all)...

We stood with our thoughts looking at the NYC skyline for a bit before making friends with the hawk watching guys (incredible camera gear!). And after that, we set out for a few hours of acorn dodging! (there was also an incident where I was attacked by a tree.....I guarantee you the tree has another version of that story.....)

Fun with VFF's and some dirt/gravel...

The levitating grasshopper!! (on the ground right now but he did levitate!)

Gnarly tree....do not remember if it was an acorn chucker or not.....

D-D-D-Deals!!

So as not to bore you all with another pic of stuff, I simply would like to thank the following stores….

Target

$0.39 box of 375 count Q-tips (manufacturer & Target coupon)
$1.99 Purex 3 in 1 – 20 loads of laundry for ten cents each? Yeah, I’ll take that!

Rite Aid

For $0.42, I took home:
2 20 oz. Pepsi Max’s
1 snack size bag of Doritos
2 packs of Orbit gum

The Pepsi’s had BOGO coups from both RA and the manufacturer (combined equaled to 2 free sodas), the Doritos coupon was for a free bag when you bought 2 Pepsis and the gum was a BOGO coupon as well. (The person at the register keyed in the full price vs the sale price. Total should have really been about $1)

Shoprite

I saved $28.50 between sales and coupons – OOP was $11.66 for 4 packs of Weaver chicken products (nuggets, tenders, etc.) at $1.99 each, cottage cheese at $0.77, 2 boxes of Quaker Instant Oatmeal at $1.50 each and Milk at $0.99. Only thing I paid full price for was the chopped spinach ($0.99) which I need for dinner tonight.

North Shore or Bust!

A fun way to spend Labor Dkay Weekend - I can finally say that I have conquered Splitrock’s North Shore! (there is even video footage of this event!)

After a slightly bumpy start (involving waves), the rest of the paddle trip was a lot of fun. Lots of nature to check out, islands to see, minimal trash to pick up and I got to experience the other side of the reservoir. Very peaceful!!

There may have been some knocking over of this very carefully constructed cairn….total accident though!


And there were doggies!!! They did not care that we were there – all the wanted to do was swim and catch tree branches – no wussy sticks for these dogs!!

The paddle back was long but I put my head down and actually enjoyed the waves….those with binoculars just kept chuckling – I did not need any device to see the whitecaps that were waiting for me in the last two miles!!

Sunday's night company made me a bit of a whirlwind of enthusiasm. Huge thanks to TGP for helping ALOT with the food and clean up!! A good group of people, pumpkin beers and a fire pit made for a great night!!

Dancing At The Movies...

This just makes me smile....

Dreams....

I had a very vivid dream last night – it’s still bugging me so I have to share….

Car carnage at every turn...

A big UPS truck backing into my driveway and crumpling up my car.

A Jeep Wrangler tries to climb a tree (that used to be in our front yard) and gets about halfway and comes crashing down.

Everywhere I looked there were cars being destroyed.

And I just stood on the front lawn yelling that it all had to stop.

Moral of the story? No more spicy food after 8 pm!

Adventure!

I have taken to recapping my weekends in a lump statements...

This past one included - Fire Pit, Kayak, E & C, more Fire Pit and BBQ!!

But I feel compelled to elaborate!

Fire Pit - snuggly, controlled fire with "sprinkles" that made it change color!! (purple, teal, 3 shades of blue, green - just SO cool)

Kayak - got to help with more garbage clean up but also realize how far I have come with paddling - I can paddle backwards comfortably!

E & C - had not seen them in a while and we got to chat about life...

More Fire Pit - self explanatory, right?

BBQ - fun times even though we did not indulge our hostess and play Beer Pong....

And then there was the Grand Finale to the weekend.....taking the One Who Must Not Be Blogged About home.....she yanked my car out of gear on the highway twice (from automatic to fake stick), breathed a sigh of relief at being in her own home and adapted SO quickly to the caretakers....we all breathed our own sigh of relief!

Cling....

Like Press & Seal....

There are things that I am holding onto very tightly....

I know I am but I need them in order to get through all this...

And I will get through all this...

Tis me!!!

I have been told that I am a Muppet.....one friend's nephew told me that I remind him of a cartoon character....well, I was on the phone with a friend and I was told that I remind them of Isabella from Phineas & Ferb due to one phrase...."Whatcha Doin'?"......hilarious because it's true!

Round and Round....

The mention of a certain phrase just swirls me to one song and then along to the next one...for some reason these three are forever linked in my mind....here's the loop...

I hear the phrase “Chances are…”

Flash to Robert Downey Jr. in the movie “Chances Are” which ends with the song “After All” – a duet by Cher & Peter Cetera…

Then flash to Robert Downey Jr. on Ally Mcbeal singing "Chances Are" with Vonda Shephard….

And then that flashes to an Ally McBeal episode where Vonda sings "You Belong To Me"….which is also a book...

All three songs break my heart in one way or another….but in a good way….they are not linked to any person or any event in my life....I just love these songs....

After All
Lyrics - http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/peter+cetera/after+all_20107398.html
Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihQxiObdY9c
(this song has been making me cry for over 15 years...I do prefer their duet but I could not find a video of them together!)

After All the stops and starts,
We keep coming back to these two hearts,
Two angels who've been rescued from the fall.
After All that we've been through,
It all comes down to me and you.
I guess it's meant to be,
Forever you and me, After All.

Chances Are
Lyrics - http://www.lyricsfreak.com/v/vonda+shepard/chances+are_20144709.html
Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnQtSUbgFL0

Chances are I'll see you
Somewhere in my dreams tonight
You'll be smiling like the night we met
Chances are I'll hold you and I'll offer
All I have

You're the only one I can't forget
Baby you're the best, I've ever met

You Belong To Me
Lyrics - http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/cline-patsy/you-belong-to-me-5575.html
Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEU_iiXcyPc

Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain
Just remember till you're home again
You belong to me

Pirate Jokes....

Tee-hee! A new website for me to amuse myself with…. http://www.piratejokes.net/
plus a daily joke on Twitter!! (@piratejokes)

And check out the stuff in the Booty Shop….I’m still cracking up over the shirt where one Jolly Roger says “Yaaargh” and the other Jolly Roger says “I was just thinking the same thing!”

The people that make all of these ARR! jokes should be what? ARRested!

What is a pirate receptionist scared of? Getting CAAARRRRRpal Tunnel!

Why do pirates prefer to sail? Because they can't drive CARRRRRRRs!

Where did the pirate keep his boat? In the HARRRrrrrbor!

What did the pirate get when he cut himself in a battle? A SCAAAAARRRrrrrr!

Why did the pirate go back to the future? To see MAARRRTY McFly!!!

What's a pirate's favorite coffee spot? Starrrrrrrbucks

Why did the man have to become a pirate? He didn't learn the 3 ARRRRRRRs!

Why was the pirate's butt so big? He kept stealing everyone's booty!

What's the smelliest part of a pirate ship? The poop deck!

Why didn't the pirate get hungry when he was left on a desert island? Because of all the sand which is there!

What's a pirate's favorite herb? PARRRRsley!

What is a pirate's favorite board game? MonARRRRpoly!!

What do you call and official pirate? A carrrrrrd caarrrrrrying pirate!

What do nerd pirates do in high school? They run the video projectaaaaaaaaar.

What do pirates keep for good luck? Charrrrrrrrms!

What does a stoned pirate say? FARRrrrrgh out, matey!

Did you hear about the stupid pirate? Yeah, what a ret-AAAARRRRR-d!

What does a pirate say when he has a heart attack? Arrr! Me heartie!

Rainy Faire...

The Ren Faire in the rain is a different kind of fair...there really is no need to be family friendly because no one brings their kids out in a monsoon…As a result, you get to see the more adult side of the fair!

It is more intriguing to play this instrument while wearing a mask….it adds to the Phantom of the Opera theme.

The Washing Well Wenches are one of the best new acts at the faire. Wet dirty women providing good clean fun and making sure that grown men do the silliest things in order to get a flower for their ladies!

Watching women being chased by a very large Nordic looking man wanting to be fed like a baby bird provides quality entertainment!

Whenever there was a VFF question, it was directed to me first. ("Hey, they have those creepy shoes!")

We watched ducks being raced in a puddle – Orange should have won, but he lost it midway through…

We sent the rose girl after other people with cleavage after letting her know that beer was more important at the moment.

Moist is similar to damp…

I collected about an inch and a half of rainwater in an empty cup in about 15 minutes.

And the Ginger Pirate now owns a costume that I consider to be fan-f&*king-tastic!

There is a politically correct way to define what a pirate does....see the pic below...

Unfortunately, the day ended with a flat tire, but luckily we were in a safe (and dry!!) place so the wait for AAA was not bad. (always nice to know that car dealers are looking out for you when they give you the wrong size wrench for your lug nuts)

The Essence of Success

This is on the mousepad that I have owned since 1998....

I recently took the time to read it again....

Successful is the person who has lived well, laughed often and loved much, who has gained the respect of children, who leaves the world better than they found it, who has never lacked appreciation for the earth’s beauty, who never fails to look for the best in others or give the best of themselves.

Weekend Ying Yang...

The weekend went from one extreme to the other.....nicely balanced!

Saturday - I helped with the Splitrock Reservoir Cleanup. I was energized afterwards and felt really good about helping out the place that I have come to enjoy both on foot and on water. Plus I was able to really break in my new VFF's!

After that I had a mini family event with a very recalcitrant birthday girl. (99 year old cranky pants) There was a considerable amount of effort and time put into the party and her behavior was that of a complete brat. I really think that if she could have seen what she was going to become, she would have changed things in her life.

And then I headed to my third event of the day – one of my friends was in town from the South and he had a get together at his parent’s house. So I drove the hour long commute that I did for a good six months before moving closer. Lots of laughs and lots of empanadas fueled my energy for the ride home!

Sunday – a very sleepy trip to IHOP and then zonking out on the couch while watching a bunch of TV……perfect balance to Saturday’s running around!

Zapatos Locos!!

An early birthday present....Vibram Five Fingers Trek Sports! I lurve them!!

And just because I find it cute, I have to share....

Fair Faire!! (more than fair actually!)

Ah, the NY Ren Faire....a yearly tradition!



It still amazes me how many band geeks end up at the faire. Like a natural migration!

We had a bunch of people and a few that had never been to the faire! I NEEDED a fun time & my friends did not disappoint.

A few of the high points:

“Yeti Feet” (FiveFingers) were used to cut the bar line.

Booby roses for all!

Feather envy was overcome.

Wacky Chickens were worth the trouble finding the stage.

Beards were referred to as scrub brushes.

We heckled at the Kissing Bridge.

And on the way out – frozen chocolate covered bananas and the stocks….that combination proved that we still had enough energy to roar with laughter after a LONG day in the hot sun!


Any guesses as to what this says?? (pouches....really....)

Wheeling & Dealing...

Retail therapy in any form is good....getting a deal is even better!!

I know that you're all used to me posting about CVS, Walgreens and occasionally Rite Aid and Target but I have had a couple of trip lately at the supermarket where I just have to stop and glow about the savings....

Last two trips went a little something like this:

Purchased shredded cheese, ice cream & sausages
Total savings between items being on sale & coupons = $19.56
$2.78 OOP

Purchased many frozen treats, yogurt, snacks, bacon & eggs
Total savings between items being on sale & coupons = $28.86
$7.06 OOP

Both times the cashiers complimented me on savvy shopping!

Sparkle Lounge…..

Everybody, everyone c'mon c'mon
C'mon c'mon

Baby, baby won't you give me a good time?
Squeeze me, please me, make it feel like the last time
Hold me close and I'll make every dream come true
Just let the man in me meet the woman in you

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose
Get back the spark, come light the fuse
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Everybody, everywhere

C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
Give a little, take a little
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
Give it all ya' gotta give
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
Let me hear it everyone, c'mon, c'mon
C'mon, c'mon

Baby, baby take the ride of a lifetime
Thrill me, kill me, won't you send me a lifeline?
Ready, steady go wherever you want to
I'll bet the 7 wonders ain't got nothin' on you

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose
Get back the spark, come light the fuse
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Everybody, everywhere

C'mon, c'mon
C'mon, c'mon
C'mon, c'mon
C'mon, c'mon

Smilez!!!

Check out this incredibly patient smiling kitty!!


The rest of the pix are HERE - my favorite is the kitty in a basket with a kitty in a basket on it's head!!


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Descriptors...

None of the recent entries that I have written would go over well right now - lots of anger and negativity…no need to expose the masses to it....I do have some creative phrases though!!

Some of the overly dramatic descriptive phrases in my head that are apparently just dying to come out…I have caught myself writing:

Acting like a complete curmudgeon
Verbal Vorpal Sword
Devastatingly blue eyes
Spouting venom like a geyser
Crumbling into nothingness
Emotional vampires

I know that I am run down – I need to see my friends to recharge. And I will have the chance this weekend during the Ren Faire (bring on the debauchery!!)

That thought (and some good hugs) are helping me get through the week!

Pointy Feet!!!

This was similar to my wake up this morning....

Let It Bleed...

I have a bunch of favorite Rolling Stones songs...they filter through my head at amazingly appropriate times...."Dead Flowers" is probably the toughest one to explain....but here's what I have on repeat now...

Let It Bleed

Well, we all need someone we can lean on
And if you want it, you can lean on me
Yeah, we all need someone we can lean on
And if you want it, you can lean on me

She said, "My breasts, they will always be open
Baby, you can rest your weary head right on me
And there will always be a space in my parking lot
When you need a little coke and sympathy"

Yeah, we all need someone we can dream on
And if you want it, baby, well you can dream on me
Yeah, we all need someone we can cream on
And if you want to, well you can cream on me

I was dreaming of a steel guitar engagement
When you drunk my health in scented jasmine tea
But you knifed me in my dirty filthy basement
With that jaded, faded, junky nurse
Oh what pleasant company

We all need someone we can feed on
And if you want it, well you can feed on me
Take my arm, take my leg, oh baby don't you take my head?

Yeah, we all need someone we can bleed on
Yeah, and if you want it, baby, well you can bleed on me
Yeah, we all need someone we can bleed on
Yeah, yeah, and if you want it, baby, why don'cha bleed on me
All over

Ahh, bleed it alright, bleed it alright, bleed it alright
You can bleed all over me
bleed it alright, bleed it alright, bleed it alright
You can cum all over me

En Fuego....

This is not news, but the pyromaniac factor is strong in my family...makes for some interesting pictures!

The mortal coils of the basket burn into oblivion...

Almost like a mushroom cloud...

I see a masked face in this one...

Fire went *poof* in the middle...

Peer closely into the flames....

I do not remember which ones I actually took so I can not claim credit for all of them - only some!

Brain Dump...

Around the interwebs...

A NJ version of Grey Gardens - http://greygardensnews.blogspot.com/2010/07/maplewood-njs-own-version-of-grey.html

Nifty artwork - http://chantrelleli.blogspot.com/2010/06/chanterelle-mushroom-carriage.html

Market weak for selling cemetery plots - http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-07-22-cemeteryplots22_ST_N.htm?csp=24


And a joke about the weather...

Bzz....

Leek Field...




Hmm....




Oh Hai!!

She Who Must Not Be Blogged About...

I know I am breaking the rules with this one, but I have to - writing about it on paper is just not enough.

I have discovered a new layer of hell.…Caring for someone you would rather see dead is not easy.

After decades of hypocrisy, all her grand statements are coming back at her….."Look at that old person, how can they not control their body?", “You talk too much” (guess who won't shut up now even though she does not make sense), "Cats only come to nice people" (my girls will not go near her)….the list goes on and on.

She never was warm and fuzzy….

She is praying that nothing happens to us….while she is alive…gotta love that conditional….. I find it ironic that the girls that she dubbed "stupid & useless" are the ones taking care of her in the end, not her beloved menfolk.

Listening to her shout asking why God has forsaken her and why he won't take her leaves me in tears though...

And by the end of the day with her, I feel trapped and need to get outside to get some air/get away for a bit.

But….

I have found compassion that I didn't know I had.

I have found patience that I didn't know I had.

I have found strength that I didn't know I had.

This could break me and I absolutely REFUSE to let that happen.

When I have a few moments to get out, I want to interact with the people that make me happy.

And I am very fortunate that there are a bunch to choose from…..

Pahr-tay!!

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Power Tools!!

Due to my curiosity and fascination with power tools, I have been quick to say yes when TGP has a project to do - ranging from installing roof racks to changing sparkplugs to painting a kayak to some work on the lathe...

I am completely fascinated by the precision involved in every single project. Of course if you are going to drill holes in the roof of your car, it should be done properly….but the patience involved blows me away….

And a side benefit for me - I have learned how to use macro mode on a camera!! (I took this pic!!)

Adult Moments...

It all started with the Glad Press & Seal...

The “OH!! This is awesome!” moment….

Then it happened with Select A Size paper towels….

And this past weekend it happened with the Method dish washing liquid (such a great shape for the bottle!)…

These moments are proof that the “awesome” factor has changed…

I’m getting more adult by the day folks…

The Mistress of All Evil...

AWESOME!!!!

"She is often viewed as the most powerful and sinister of the Disney Villains"

Tim Burton is re-doing Sleeping Beauty!

Rumor has it that Angelina Jolie will be playing one of my favorite Disney villians - The Mistress of All Evil - Maleficent!!!!!!!!!!!

*deliciously evil laugh*

Natural Weekend...

Or should I call it the Wildlife Weekend?

Definitely a different type of weekend for me - full of hummingbirds, phoebes, fritillaries, tweaked out squirrels and the occasional bear.

After many declarations of “where’s your knife?” I actually had it on me….most of the time…

It was nice to commune with nature – even if I was STILL louder than most of it!

I heard a Whip Poor Will for the first time.

I lived along with the phoebe chicks as they tried out their new wings.

I introduced others to the yumminess of Sweet Tea Vodka.

The bear…after a pure Eddie Izzard “Tie”-“Grrr” moment, we saw the bear the next day after he went after an empty suet container in a bag….cute…but glad I was safely in the house!!
And I got to see what “farm fresh eggs” look like….there may have been a pterodactyl or dragon in that batch…

(note -up close nature shots were taken by my camera...but not by me!)

Happy Fourth Of July!!

If this picture looks familiar….It may be because you have seen it HERE!

I can now say that my feet are famous too! (in a borrowed pair of VFF’s)

I know that I was able to relax and enjoy the weekend due to the fact that our troops make sacrifices everyday – THANK YOU for making them so that my family and loved ones are safe!!!

Eclipse...

TGP was a trooper and bought tickets for a very late showing of Eclipse….and even if he was bored to tears, he did not show it!

I enjoyed the action sequences, I cheered for the wolves (puppy!!) and my heart broke for Jacob over and over again…almost as bad as I felt for him while reading the beginning of “Breaking Dawn”….

RPazz is still quite the little English bon-bon.....like that needed to be said…

Not really a fan with what they did with Jasper's hair....but it was neat to see the way that they did his backstory.

Carlisle can do no wrong.....but there no black Benz butt shot...boo! I want to see a mass of Cullen cars!!

And Jacob...the first time you see him, it’s a pure 50’s rebel moment…and they do joke about him not owning a shirt!!

Victoria is on-screen so little and has a massive wig so you really do not notice that it’s a different access.

Edward’s bed was a bit disappointing – it was written much more descriptively so I had a different mental image of it.

All in all, I did enjoy…definitely worth staying up past my bedtime for it!!!

The Green Grass Breathed...

I knew someone would post it sooner or later!!

Here's the song that I was raving about....

Carry-Ons...

Have you noticed how most people are divorced and have kids? A while ago, this vein of thinking actually led to a boozy chat that we should get married so we would have an ex-spouse too....yeah...not a brilliant idea at all...

Those that don’t have kids, have the subtle clues that they look for – hushed conversations, whiffs of alcohol, unaccounted time chunks or whatever else it is that triggers them…

We all have baggage – some cuter baggage than others, but it’s still baggage.....Mimi from Rent said it rather well - "I'm looking for baggage that goes with mine...."

I do want it to be worth the effort....

Special - whether I am your first or third or last….

Growing pains suck....but it's easier when they are worked on together....

Wormhole...

I truly hate it when everyone around me is upset…

I can’t help or fix the situation…..

So I do what I can…

Most of the time I can at least get a smile…..

But sometimes, it just makes things worse…..

Which in turn makes me feel worse….

And it turns into a black hole…..

Can somebody throw me a rope?

Please?

Song Racetrak...

I know exactly why these songs are floating around in my head....

Maggie Gyllenhall - "Just The Way You Are", Journey - "Seperate Ways" and Van Morrison "Moon Dance"

But here's the one that's throwing me off....

Cranberry Flotilla...

On Saturday, I went kayaking with a Ginger Pirate and a Portuguese Sun God. I have been trying to come up with names for the other two, but all I have is “Mountain Dew Guy” and “That Guy That I Vaguely Remember From the Shore House”.

While waiting for the others to arrive, TGP and I had quite an interesting interaction with a toothless old man that was there fishing. My knee jerk reaction is to be a bit scared when strangers talk to me. (yes, you read that right, the girl who shouted at White Pick Up Truck Guy that he had to be her friend on FB is scared of strangers). The fisherman turned out to be full of jokes and even invited us to breakfast!! (legit offer - he had two fish!)

We were a full flotilla – five kayaks. Even though it was a small lake, it had some interesting nooks and crannies – along with a canal that was as wide as TGP’s boat. (there was a brief Austin Powers golf cart moment when he turned to take a pic)

And of course I squealed when a few houses had doggies swimming by their docks!!! One owner let his dog out because she likes to greet everyone that paddles by the house. The house that sits upon a rock, isolated from the others had an even cooler dog – he was even fishing!

I also got to wear another pair of VFFs…..I spent most of the trip subconsciously wiggling my toes!!

Inside the Gates....

O.M.G. The ultimate Disney dream (besides living in Cinderella's castle) Designed by the Imagineers...Possibly loaded with hidden Mickeys....

A housing community INSIDE THE GATES of Disney!!! (no short term rentals allowed)

"Golden Oak offers the opportunity to create new Disney traditions entwined with treasured ones, and invest in your family legacy. To call Golden Oak home is to enjoy elite concierge services and privileges at Walt Disney World® Resort and to step into a realm reserved for just a fortunate few."

But where is the pirate style villa?!?!?

Are You Impersonating Me?

Found out earlier today that one of my dormant credit cards has been used recently….someone in the big, bad city has been sending flowers with it - online. (Yeah, because that can't be traced...DUH!) You figure that they would pick someone with an easier name...maybe it was a random number generator....who knows!

I have always been one to reconcile my accounts and balance my checkbook every month……and especially now, I watch what I do like a hawk. I would have seen the charges on the next statement but I happened to called in today and they automatically list the five most recent charges.

So the fraud department was involved sooner rather than later…..unlike other cards that have frozen my account because I was buying a one way ticket from a local airport last minute….because I had missed my flight and still needed to get to my destination….even though I had bought the original tickets with the same card so they knew I was traveling…. *grumble* (yeah, that trip was an adventure and a half….)

Name That Celeb....

Celebrity Sex Faces.....taking comedy to another level....

Gilbert Gottfried, Robert De Niro and Edith Bunker are my favorites....

Baaa!

So where did my adventures take me on Sunday?

After getting home at 4 am-ish, I decided that it would be a waste of a day to sleep....so we went to the Valley Shephard Creamery!

They make cheese from sheep's milk....can we call it sheese?!?!?!


I held a lamb...and there was no mint jelly involved.....

There were alpacas too...and a token mean one...he tried to stare me down! (Ok, I may have started the whole thing by telling him that he looked like a poodle....)

Equinox...Solstice...

On Midsummer Night, St. John's Fires blaze up and girls dance at the Flower Feast, adorned with garlands of wheat-ears & blue cornflowers...

A fun pagan celebration - complete with drinking, singing, dancing and jumping over fires...tall fires...fires that people fall into....fires that my brother can actually make it over...

Fires that others walked through last year.....so this year we were greeted by this....


But I was not going to chance it with these anyway...I could not melt the world famous Five Fingers!!

Equinox Tunes...

I have the chorus to "Tā es tevi mīlēšu" running through my head from last night....

I would post a video but it sounds SO much better with a full choir singing the harmonies...

Jā, jā, jā, tumša nakte ziedēja,
Zaļa zāle elpoja,
Lakstīgala klusēja
Vairs nespēdama.
Tā es tevi mīlēšu, tā es tevi mīlēšu.
Kam nav draudziņa, kam nav draudziņa,
Tas ar cisu maisu.

Oil Can!!

Two images that are still cracking me up from the other night....

Once I Was....

The King of Spain!!!

This post is completely inspired by last night's impromptu garage dance party...bounce, bounce, bounce...This song makes me just want to get up and dance/bounce/smile....

Famous Footsies...

I do not own a pair.................................yet....

But those that do all share their joy of these shoes by submit pics to www.birthdayshoes.com

Real Men Wear Five Fingers....And I know the owner of THESE feet.... (click both links - especially the second one...you know you want to....)

I have been asked if I think that they are weird, etc.....

They take a bit of getting used to, but something that makes him THIS happy should never be mocked...

Brain Dump....

I definitely feel like I have been slacking with the writing….

So here’s a WHOLE bunch of randomness for the masses!


I have mostly stopped biting my nails!!

Mice like to live in canoes that are stored on the side of a shed.

I have FINALLY figured out a solution on how to chronicle the backlogged journal notes – monthly recaps with the important days getting their own entry.

Barftastic is my new word…..for someone else’s situation.

After being blindsided by that Lady Antebellum song way too many times in the past few weeks, I am boycotting the radio.

Even a declawed cat can catch a chipmunk.

I prefer a watermelon hooker.

It cracks me up that I can do something outdoorsy and then transform into a girly girl about half an hour later!

Wee little babies that smell yummy like to dance with me…so do grown men when inspired by Stevie Wonder.

I can get away with calling a macho car “pretty” when it is loaded with boats that make it look like a popsicle stand.

The world keeps getting smaller and smaller and smaller. (this results in blocking people on FB)

Toddlers make the best animal sounds – especially when imitating a confused cat.

I used the word “vulnerable”…and meant it in a good way.