Fired

Well if I didn't know better I can sooo see where some of y'all, my dearest internets, would think I had been fired from my own blog...

But surprise I have not been nor were we in the recent wild fires. The biggest one in Magnolia was about 20 miles away. We had some friends that were evacuated and praise God their home was spared. We did a few grass fires near by that were brought under control before leaping onto the many (hundreds) of dead trees around here. It is very sad to see so many of our woods dying. If the wind blows too hard huge limbs fall as if they were leaves in autumn. I suspect that the first ice storm / freeze (if we get one) will bring down lots of the barely surviving limbs.

I have been doing stuff that has me away from the computer often. New leisure (lol) classes at the college. I spent this past weekend in Oklahoma with a friend. We took a Healing Touch International class. OMG - I mean really OMG!!! was it ever wonderful. But the real reason I brought it up was so many of their rivers, yes rivers, were dry and had grass growing in them. ~CRAZY~

And now back to our Dryness: I know y'all have been sending prayers of rain and I personally thank you super very much, we had a shower yesterday. Please continue the prayers and please add Oklahoma to the rain request.

love y'all my dear internets

Trouble in Paradise!

OMG and HOW SAD, for me. It has been 10 days since my last post, my dear internets, and not one of y’all have called or emailed to check on my well being. Humph! (thanks for the snail mail card Deanna)

So what’s going on and all that you may want to know, or maybe not. {insert sad face here} I have not had any leftover MoJo / Inspiration / fodder to share with y’all. See it’s all because I was abducted by a space ship. Not the typical silver saucer with lights all around it, nope. It was one of those cigar shaped ones, no sillies not a Zeppelin but close, I guess if I had to make a reach for what it looked like…other than a cigar but way bigger, no huge’r than a cigar.

Sadly or fortunately I don’t remember much, not really. It was all like one moment I was dancing naked in the backyard trying to conjure up some rain and swoosh I was in this vast room. I mean hole E cow can y’all image! There I was all naked and junk in a colossal, too brightly lit room…all and I do mean ALL of me exposed. {shudder} Oh wait I forgot something {Cue: spooky space or techno music} So again there I was like all Nake Ed and so I just stood there looking around and thinking, What happened? Did I fall and hit my noggin in my wild foray of a dance routine? Did lightning strike me and now I’m in a coma? What!!

“No”, echoed this tiny voice.

Yeah, weird as I expected, and why did I expect, this big booming voice to answer too. So I twirled around trying to see who or what said that. Nothing, I saw nothing but empty space. Then I heard the tiny echo say, I’m up here. Duh!” I snapped my head up - Hole E Mole E! Standing on this weee witty bitty platform thingie was a little dude. At least I guess it was a dude, it had no…umm… well he had no boobs okay. So yeah, dude. Now picture this (oh you can kill the music IF you want) he was wearing a striped shirt of red, white and yes blue and had on pants, no not blue jeans, they were these green plaid, yellow and black. I know how crazy is that? And Orange tiny shoes, sort of Italian leather looking or made from Nagua’s (Naugahyde, umm yeah they are real).

I said, “Just what is going on here and who ta H E double hockey sticks are you?” While in my head I was all like whoa (as Joey says) and my legs were feeling a little jello’ie and not from my super and duper dance routine either. Then he shook his butt, at least I guess it was his butt it was behind him anyway and said something, it didn’t echo so I don’t know what it was. My hearing is not as good as it used to be ya know.

And next thing y’all and I know, I was in my bed and it was thundering and raining. No - not inside my head Silly, Outside and by that I don’t mean inside my house either.

To wrap up this post that went nowhere {along with me} the moral of this…the point is to…awh heck Don’t NEVER EVER do a rain dance when you are naked and “they” are cruising the night skies on a joy ride.

Have you ever been Abducted my dear internets?

Hello are you there?

No...Wait!

Don’t fire me! Not from my own blog.


Ah my dear internets I wish it would rain at our house. Have I complained about this already? Matters not, my rain barrels are dry, our yard is as crunchy as Grape Nuts cereal and the same color too…okay so there is a tad of green near the tomato bed. I feel bad wanting rain when so many are flooding throughout the greater Mississippi and Ohio River valleys; Their homes and lives being devastated when here in Texas we have wild fires. Last week there was one blazing a few miles from my home, thank God the firefighters were able to extinguish it within several hours.

I have been busy this day. Really I finished writing and editing a couple of poems, I would share them but they are a bit…umm let me just say they are on the adult side.

So um, I’ve been doing an online art journaling workshop…21 Secrets. It’s purdy neat and now that I have finished up a few ATC commitments and a class at the college is winding down I can really delve into the workshop and relax.

Here is that “under painting” Brian asked to see, now mind you I drew this with the canvas in a landscape orientation and bam a lam it’s supposed to be portrait orientation. Weird a$$ed art, hum maybe I should look at my poetry from a different angle…lalala

So really that’s all I have for y’all today. Please pray for all the flood and fire victims.

Would U believe

I almost forgot to remind y’all about my – April - of Give aways in celebration of National Poetry Month – April. Yes even if you win you are still eligible to win again…but you must enter each time and by “enter” I mean comment on my April Post.

Now I feel better about that, but also I need a bit of sympathy. Yes it’s true I acquired a little boo boo while ironing one of the 2 aprons that are slated as prizes for my Stupid Blog Party on April 15. Watch for that reminder in April. Okay, So please give me a gentle hug and maybe offer to kiss my burn.

Thank you I feel much better.

So we have had a bit of cool weather show up this week. Which is funny on accounta it had been in the 80s already. It looks like after this cold, err cool snap is over I will need to plant some more luffa seeds as only 2 of the ten that I planted came up. Those luffa seeds are so picky ya know.

OMG the above ground garden system it totally kick a$$. I have great expectations for a bountiful crop of: Green Beans, Bell Pepper (yellow), Radish, Potatoes, Tomatoes & Onions. Yes that does seem like a lot of stuff in kiddie pool, but they are all very happy…see

Of course I need to plant the carrot seeds (again) as they didn’t come up, well unless they look like radish. But that’s ok as more carrots make for a happier bunch. (chuckle) In the other part of the back yard, the “flower bed” I’ll be planting more cotton seeds. Hey don’t laugh in a few years I should have enough to make…err to make a handkerchief.

Oh the upside down buckets? Yes well the potatoes are in ‘em. Really. So it’s my first time to try to grow them, they seem to be doing well. See you have to buy “seed potatoes” plant them about 4-6 inches and as they grow upwards you cover them with soil/hay and just keep going. So me, with my outstanding inventive mind (stop laughing) thought hey I’ll just use buckets. Some people use garbage cans or barrels. At one time I heard some people used old tires, yeah I know sounds bad to me too, with all that petroleum product junk so close to the food I want to eat. I’ll let y’all know how it goes.

Now onto more serious world events: Hole E Mole E! Scary stuff my dear internets. I ask y’all to pray, send out good vibes and thoughts for our planet, our Earth, our home.

Spring

Has long been in my part of Texas, okay so maybe not “long” but for a couple /few weeks anyway. The plum trees have bloomed and I think I see some teeny tiny future goodness, the pear has bloomed and it for sure without a doubt will have pears. The Apple tree is always the last to spring, but we are holding out that this year will be the year we will get apples! Oh yeah the nectarine is beautiful I’m sure the crazy a$$ed squirrels will love ‘em again this year. Humph!

I am still waiting to harvest a head of cabbage, they are growing but I need it to be just a wee bit bigger, so it will fill the pot ya know. As I write this I sit out on the wonderful breeze way with the wind chime well chiming and some yahoo making too much racket, really must you mow your yard while I’m working? Hey I’m working here!!

So did I tell you my brilliant idea to do an above ground garden in conjunction to the flower bed gardens? Okay so we have been talking about it for a few years…we can build it like this…use this material…plant this that blah blah blah. About 3 weeks ago I made a decision to stop talking about it and just do it. So I rushed out to purchase my supplies, dirt, mulch, potting soil and swimming pool. Yeah that’s right my dear internets we now have a pool in the center of our…well it’s the center of the yard between My Purple Door Studios and the fence.

So after I put the pool where I wanted it I moved all the dirt and topsoil and potting soil and mulch; then I planted some veggies and stuck some seeds in the ground and watered said good things. Knowing we already have an impending bountiful goodness. Oh I put the tomatoes (most of ‘em) in the front flower bed they are very happy. Well all the plants are very happy…See

What? Shirley you didn’t think I meant a simming pool big enough for us to swim in. PaLLLLLeeeeese! Umm I did say above ground garden YES and this works well on so many levels. I mean come on my dear internets just look at that photo again. ah uhh you so know I'm brilliant!

1. Drainage is great, I poked holes in the bottom (although we need rain)

2. It’s right smack dab in the sun all day (a plus for growing veggies)

3. It’s not a permanent structure (in case I’m lazy next year)

4. It seems to be just the right size (I can reach the middle)

5. Weeds should not be much of a problem (I’ll kill the dirty…you know whats)

6. No moles can dig up the roots (although I could use a new moleskin journal)

7. It was very cheap to build (okay so it was really, REALLY easy to build)

I know I have wowed y’all with my Yankee ingenuity {smiling pretty} especially for a Southern Yankee {curtsey}

Now I must be off, I have a fence to jump and a neighbor to yell at! Make that two neighbors, mowing must be contagious. Ha they should mow when I do…at 7am on Saturdays before it gets too hot. What idiots!

Necturine Blossoms

Saint Patrick

As if I needed to tell y’all that yesterday was Saint Patrick’s Day. Funny thing about that is the world always seems to think it is Irish on Saint Patrick's Day. Now that’s funny…a Green Earth…hum I may be on to something.


That St. Patty was something else, I mean he chased all the snakes outta Ireland and I think they all came to Texas, well at least they always seem to fine me, but this is NOT a snake story! Really it’s not.

Last weekend we took a trip to Glen Rose Texas. This little town has the Paluxy River going though it and if you don’t know that it is a very special river. Granted it’s not the Rio Grande, whose gently rolling waters thinly separate Texas from Mexico, but nonetheless the Paluxy River in Glen Rose has a gia-norm-mas history…

Ya see in and around the river are Dinosaur tracks.

They are pretty cool to see in real life and our visit to the State Park would have perfect if had not been for all the people. No really they and their noisy kids were all over the tracks, poking them with sticks chunking rocks at them. What is up with people? Didn’t they get the memo that this is a Green Earth? And that once this type of thing is destroyed there is no mulligan no getting a second chance. So what I’m trying to say is IF y’all have not been to Glen Rose Texas to see the Dinosaur tracks and you were planning to go don’t wait too long. Bare (yea the naked kind) in mind that there is not much in Glen Rose except the tracks. Oh and they are in a state park so there is an entrance fee.

Also please note the missing tooth of this poor fellow…I think some rotten people got stuck between his teeth.


Now back to the previously mentioned St. Patty’s Day...We went to Glen Rose for a Festival, where there were some: runs, motorcycles, craft booths, kids' jumper thingies, bean cookers, music but hardly anyone wearing green and dagnabit no leprechauns! I miss Ireland, the real county with stout cows and rolling green hills, mossy green truf, crazya$$ed golf guys, crumbling castles and tons of red headed peoples including the lucky gold carrying leprechauns…the land of my ancestors


Please pass me a green beer and kiss me I’m Irish even after Saint Patrick’s Day.

Dirty Laundry

I know y’all remember our autumn adventure from some time back…and how it was a faulty washing machine that was at the bottom of it…and how said faulty machinery was replaced before the renovations…and that I could not use the new machine because we had to move out, well live elsewhere…Anyways I’m going to, finally, give a review of the new machines that got rid of our dirty laundry and ugly kitchen.

We got the front loaders with pedestals and I must say I love ‘em. The dryer is super & duper. The washer is very efficient with water usage and I tell you it gets our clothes purdy clean. We do use the HE liquid detergent, yes it’s a bit more costly than the regular kind, but you use less and by that I mean way, way less and therefore really do get more loads per bottle. Yes these front loaders are prone to smelling musty and after about a year of use ours did have a bit of a smell, even though we leave the door open.

I searched for a solution and learned that the use of HE detergents was the alleged cause. I say alleged because the research blamed HE’ s on accounta they were made from animal fats (more on this later) Humm, and crap we buy in bulk, most of the time. So we have gallons if not barrels of the stuff on hand.

Now our smell wasn’t as bad as others claim theirs to be… He double hockey sticks no, I knew this because our clothes didn’t smell musty after they were dried. I checked and sure enough our HE soap did NOT use animal fats, but still we had a faint musty odor. I found where it was suggested to use vinegar in the rinse cycle, besides it’s a fairly good fabric softener – Double duty.

My tips on Front Loaders, (I’m not liable for your decision to use my tips)

Wash the biggest loads you can as the washer will work better and it makes your pile smaller faster – Win Win.

Use about a quarter cup (or less) of white vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser, especially on your last load for the week.

Leave the washer door open WHEN NOT IN USE DUH!

Dry around the rubber door dohicky every once in a while, maintenance is a good thing

Don’t use fabric softener, or if you feel you must use as small an amount as possible & see the vinegar tip above

Don’t use fabirc softener sheets in the dryer, they clog up the lint filter and the dryer will not be as efficient

About that "Animal fats" thing: all soap has some form of fat / oil in it.

And in Summary- front loading washers & dryers get a 6 thumbs ups as does HE laundry detergents

FTC Disclosure: I received no compensations of any kind for my opinion of these products, unless you include the lack of Dirty Laundry at our house. Now someone fetch my pig, my feet are a bit cold.

This One Time

when I was cooking some potato soup, okay stop laughing – I do know how to cook! In fact my Daddy says to me, “You make the best potato soup I’ve ever had.” Never mind that he may have been drinking, heavily, at the time. So any way I made the pot of soup. Really!


So then I was cleaning up the kitchen…no quit it. I do too clean! Gosh what’s wrong with you people? So I was cleaning and fixing to wipe off the stove when what did my itty bitty eyes spy? Y’all, my dear internets will never believe it! A pixie, a fairy if you will. No it’s true. Stop snickering…I can cook, I can clean and I did see!

Look I have proof!

See I told you. Well no, I couldn't get to my camera fast enough to take her photograph but she did leave a foot print. No she did not make the soup, I DID! NO she did not clean the kitchen, I DID!

I swear I don’t know what I’m gonna do with y’all my dear internets. Any suggestions?

Oh MY Stars

Y'all really didn't think I would let the whole constellation shift get past me without some sort of post...did ya? Especially after that falling birds thang.


I'm sure that by this time you have figured out:

that the various named star constellations were named way back. Like 5000 years ago or so including the "new" one (so not new).

that Astronomy and Astrology are NOT the same thing, in fact there are even differences in Astrology Here is an explanation in plain English and here is a fancier version

that the stars did not move, rather the Earth (surprise) moves in its wobble (tilt) about every 2000 years (give or take a few :-o) Huh! there is that whole Earth cycle again- that I believe is a natural and expected thing...not some freak occurrence.

And besides IF they (whoever they are) decide that now (even though this is ancient news) there are 13 zodiacs -SO WHAT - It WILL NOT and CANNOT change who you are. Your personality or traits will NOT shift.

Relax my dear internets You are You are and are perfect in that NO ONE else can do as good of a job at being You than YOU.

And I for one Like YOU just as You Are so let's dance and rejoice just for the shear excitement of living.

ps: I hope my links don't vanish this time {crossed fingers}

pss: Enough with the doom & gloom, y'all know that you should be Right with God.

Don't Look UP

Whatever ya do, there’s birds a falling!

I know y'all have heard about the dead birds and fish in Arkansas and the doves over in Switzerland. They have come up with a reasonable and Natural reason for such unusual occurrences. NO really, isn't it perfectly reasonable to believe that the black birds were scared to death by fire works or that the fish were diseased? How about the doves, they overate, won't all wild life eat, eat and eat till they die?

See "They" broke my link to an article that tells about more than just our birds and fish in Arkansas. Yes even here in Texas and our neighbor Louisiana and more states. Humm, strange stuff going on around the planet. Go ahead read it...it has pictures...and a reason that makes sense to me...I'll wait....lalalalalalala dedededededede dumdumdumdumdumdum and so on.

Okay you're back. Y'all know I've said before how I believe that the global warming is a Natural Earthly Cycle. Y'all know I've said how scientist claim that the Earth is expected to tilt back (think opposite of what it is now). I mean is it really so crazya$$ed to think it could be possible? The scientific facts show that the Earth has been frozen before so why not again? No this does NOT negate my belief in God nor my faith. He made plants, animals and people to have life cycles why not the Earth too?

So that brings me to one of the possible reasons mentioned in the article...A slight shifting of the magnetic north pole. I say plausible!

Now tell me, my dear internets, has anything weird (nature wise) gone on in your state/country? If so What-Do tell. And tell me do y'all think humans would be able to survive an extended ice age or some such world catastrophic event? I do.

From me to y'all

This is an edited version of a comment I left over at Carmi’s, Written Inc; somehow I thought it was appropriate to keep for posting here on Christmas Eve and as it turns out it will also fulfill a request from Paul C on his blog Quoteflections.


Time is only a minute by which we mark greatness, each one greater than the last, yet we know the next will be best for it still holds a great mystery.

As we all reflect this evening and in the days to come I think that WE should be reminded that…

Time is what we make of it. Each moment a symphony full of high notes and low notes, we are the music that fills the Earth with song, make yours beautiful.

And there you have it my dear internets not one but two quotes by me. I bet y’all didn’t know I could be such a deep thinker. Haha the jewels on my crown had to come from somewhere, didn’t they? No don’t answer that.

Merry Christmas

Hello--

It’s me.

I know I’ve been scare around here and over there lately. Yes of course I have great reasons

My classes are finishing up, our trip has ended and I’m ready to buckle down and get back to you—my dear internets.

Oh the trip? You mean the surprise trip I didn’t tell y’all about? Yes, we traveled to Savannah Georgia for Thanksgiving. Picture perfect weather the whole time we were there, lovery place (it’s okay for you to be jealous).

On Thanksgiving, when almost every place was closed, we packed up the cooler with some beef B-O-L-O-G-N-A, some bread, pickles, apples and waters drove over the big-huge a$$ed bridge to Hilton Head, South Carolina and had a picker-nic on the beach. Baby girl’s first time to see the Atlantic.

Then on Friday we drove down to St. Augustine Florida, sorry to say it was way tourist trapish, but we didn’t mind and had a good time anyways. Cause we are that kind of people.

Drove back to Georgia to see Aunt Nonie and Uncle Dan. They are doing fine by the way.

Then we went back to Florida, I know this whole back and forth zig zaggy thing. Only this time it was so we could come home. Weather was still beautiful (jealous-I see it in y’alls eyes)

My classes, I win! I am so smart now I can hardly contain my brain inside my skull anymore. I mean my eyes are practically bulging as if I had some kind of illness. Haha I knew you could picture that without a photo.

It’s cool enough to work in my studio more, okay so it has been for a while, I just didn’t tell you cause I was Arting (not Farting) in my spare time instead of visiting y’all, my dear internets. Oh did I mention about the November Poem A Day Challenge? Yeah I did that too and I’m most likely too in love with some of them. Y’all know it’s not good to be in love with your words and junk. Ah well, it’s good to be Queen of my own Paradise Valley. And I need to pick some and submit ‘em for the Chap book challenge portion of the gig.

Yes I have stopped doing any new photos over on my 365 Views by Me blog. See it wasn’t just y’all that I neglected. And who knows maybe I’ll have an announcement of some sort in January or something.

No! I’m not gonna have a baby, but we are waiting for grandchild number 9 to arrive, almost just any time now…so with that I’m outta here for now. Cross your fingers that I’ll be by soon to read ya if not sooner.

K-bye.

ps I have missed y'all...Did y'all miss me?

So lucky to be Alive!

Yes this is the long awaited for post about our trip home from Fort Worth. Y’all know the one in which we went to the Japanese Fall Festival and met the super duper all original and organic Jai.

So there we were, driving away from the what-a-burger with happy faces and the ‘wonder how long it’s gonna take to get home’ feet.

The van was shifting funny, but not in a laughing sort of way. It would go into overdrive then after a few minutes it would shift back down then back to overdrive. Humm. We had just make it outside of Dallas and back on to our familiar I45 when…are you ready?...someone had to pee and someone else was hungry and well you get the picture. We stopped at a gas and eat station. Did our business and purchased some subway samwitches (is too spelled wright)

Back on the road, eating while Beloved was driving and commenting on how the sky looked, figuring we would be getting rained on just any minute…then I spotted a rainbow. We chit-chatted about rainbows and how scientifically they come about, yeah, we are that kind of family. Then Beloved says “hey does that cloud look funny.” Y’all know not the laughing way, but OH $hit kind of funny.

I already had my camera out on accounta of the rainbow and junk. So Hey I though take some pictures. Cars had pulled over and we keep on going and taking pictures, most were blurry. Sorry the rainbow didn’t come out, but this one did

We did not know it was crossing the freeway a mile or so ahead of us. It came down on a school blew the roof, knocked the field goals about in the football field, tumped over a train car behind the school.

We saw two different cars that has spun around in the ditch (people okay?)

An ambulance and a couple of cop cars went flying off, we can only assume they were taking family members to the hospital (?)

Then we got to it there in the middle of the freeway on the south bound, our, side of I45 was an 18 wheeler, torn up and laying on its side facing the wrong way (Driver?) Debris was strew all over the road from the truck and the school, insulation was in the trees across the freeway from the school.

Once we got past that, about 7 to 10 miles we ran into hail, it hailed on us for some miles, nowhere to take cover. The hail ranged from pea sized up to large marbles, y’all know the shooter size. But we made it through; I know you were beginning to wonder.

Do you know we still believe this was a good weekend. We were together, saw a really neat drum performance, meet a wonderful dear internet and lived to tell about it. I mean, come on, how much better can it get? No don’t answer that it was a hysterical question and those required no answer.

How do ya spell it...

IT, yeah, yeah I know--thanks... So's anyway I'm talking about my loofah, luffa, loofa, What-ever. Have y'all, my dear internets, been following the progress of my loofah plants over on 365 Views by Me? They have done well this year, Finally. I have been trying to get these going a couple of years (I think) Last year they started growing and then bam-ah-lamb, they withered and died. And for those of y'all that want to know... in fancy a$$ed words they are called luffa cylindrica.


I don't have a photo of when the plants first came up and were growing, but fear not my dears I have a photo of one blooming.

Here is a photo of a "fingerling"; theoretically they can be eaten at this size. Cut them up into bite sized pieces and use in soups, stir frying or whatever way you like. I know, freaky that we can actually eat those tough scratchy bath thingies for food.

But of course if left on the vine they grow and grow, looking like this

And that is what I wanted so I let them be and watched for the tale tail signs they were ready to be tuned into bathing tools, pot scrubbers or even white wall tire scrubbies (cool). Okay so I didn't exactly wait the recommended time... which was to leave them on the vine till they turn brown, skin becomes leathery / hard, become light (not heavy) and the seeds rattle inside when ya shake 'em. Anyways I noticed that my biggest one had become pale and yellowish and not being able to wait I cut it from the vine. See here just before cutting it off

The skin had become leathery and I could feel that it had pulled away, slightly, from the fibrous meat inside, but my seeds did not rattle, it weighed only ounces almost like a balloon with regular oxygen in it. So I left it to sit on the dining table for a while. You know this was hard for me, and maybe the remaining fruit that hangs on the vines I'll do the "right way...blah, blah pretty much let the vine just wither away and die before I pluck 'em off, blah.

Okay that's it for this post, Jai has taught me well to leave y'all wanting more. Well do ya? Want more? Keep an eye out for the next time I post about my loofahs to see how this looked on the inside, etc. and junk.

Missing y'all but the learning is going oakie-dough-key.

Popped in the Crown

No not really, just wanted to get your attention. Did it work?


You know you are the boss of you? Really you are. You have the choice every single day, every single moment, of what you are going to say and do. I know some of us say that our hands are tied and we just have to do {insert whatever} But the fact is we still do what we want.

We do our jobs and perform in them the way we should. We expect ourselves to do the right thing, okay some of us do and those are the only ones I’m addressing here. Now I’m guilty of wondering about those other kinds of people. Y’all know them, they never seem to take things seriously, they are always getting bailed out of some kind of self made jam. Seem to skate by trouble and even when they fall in a pile of poo they come out smelling like the cliché rose. Yeah I knew you knew at least one person like that.

Why do we let that under out skin? I know sometimes what they do does affect us personally and sometimes in a really bad way…

But is it their fault that THEY chose to be un-responsible, un-liable, un-kind even?

Do you think maybe it’s our fault that WE choose to be responsible, liable and kind? They don’t seem to hold it against us. Just saying.

Have you seen my new Crown? I got it on clearance at the exclusive Royal Store. It’s shown here, the one that shines so much yeah on the right, next to my older one, yes they are surrounded by blissful dark chocolates.

I know it’s so loverly with all the Gin-U-Whine Die-Mounds on it. I wear it from time to time, but all this power sometimes, well just sometimes it gives me a headache and I think of crap like the above.

What about you, have I left you speechless?

Money is "GREEN"

I recently hear a rumor. Of course some of you may know this already, as I’ve been known to be behind the times on some things. So the rumor I heard is that here in Texas, grocery stores and I thereby assume all stores, that use those little plastic bags are going to start charging for said bags. Upwards of 49 cents; I know outrageous! cause that is what I thought. My source said its true they (you know them) are already charging for the bags in other countries and some areas of some States. I understand that California Wal Marts are charging. Also after they started doing that the price of the “green” bags went up. Which had been my first thought…well I’ll just pick up some canvas bags before the price goes up.


From what I understand a tax has been suggested on these handy dandy disposable bags and that my dear internets is enough of a threat to start retailers charging for them. I had some canvas bags at one time (think 80’s) for groceries, but they were too narrow, so I started using them for other things. Yes I have seen the new ones, but hey I’m an average American and have always felt that I already pay for them. Hey after all they (yes them again) increase product / item prices when the Stock Shortage ratings go up. Okay for any of you non retail job holding people, Stock Shortage is what it’s called when a store has missing products / items, y’all know when stupid people shop lift, borrow, pick up a 5 finger discount from stores. We all pay for it in higher prices and now, well now it’s beginning to look like we will be paying for all those loverly plastic bags that litter the sides of roads and dangle in trees or get sweep up by barbed wire fences.

Well we’re no dummies, no sirree, we all know they (who ever they are) have invented biodegradable bags, so why don’t they (you know) make stores use this kind then it wouldn’t be a issue. Surely those type of bags are no more expensive and thereby too costly for the bottom line. But I tell you dear internets perhaps bio-bags are an option for house hold trash. Speaking of which they have got to be bad, I mean they are built stronger so as not to break and spill yuck on your floors so they (bags) must be too strong to pop open in the landfills and hinder the breakdown of all our garbage. Just saying.

Personally I use those handy little bags for transporting more than groceries and stuff from the gettin stores. They (plastic bags not them) make purdy good totes for wet bathing suits and little trash can liners and for overnight bags in case a grandchild spends the night over here. Now back to the rumor…y’all know we do “green” junk around here, but it’s not because we are “green” people it is because it saves us money (that kind of green) So I’m gonna pick up or make some of those green bags. They (bags) may not actually be the color green, but I will only pay for them once and have ‘em till they wear out, a little like this rumor post.

Are you already paying for lil’ plastic bags? Are you already using the “green” bags? Do you think I’m just a crazy A$$ spreading rumors?

Have you been counted?

Okay so I know I, of all people, don’t need to tell you how absolutely and totally important it is that you fill out the census from and actually return it. So I won’t tell you that, instead I’ll ask have you done it? Eew, maybe a census taker came to your house OR is gonna come to your house. A real live paid for by We the People person to count you and yours.

I did ours and sent it back in already. I want to be counted, even if my personal vote doesn’t. Yeah a thorn for me, that I’m counted but my vote is not…stupid electoral crap. (just saying)

So in case you haven’t filled yours out yet, it’s no big deal-e-oh. The questions are easy name, age, ethnicity. H E double hockey sticks it doesn’t even ask if you are a citizen or not, it does ask the country you originated from if not born in the awesome U.S.A., but not if you are a legal resident, alien or not.

I almost filled out the Spanish questions just for fun, it doesn’t matter the questions are the same and thereby the answers would be the same either column.

And that’s all I have to say about that. Lame as it may be you gotta love me, my dear internets. Did you hear me? You just gotta LOVE MOI.

Hey you didn’t answer my question yet…so did ya fill it out and return it yet?

Can you read Braille?

We needed band aids and well I went to buy some. I stood there and studied the huge selection of different brands, styles, colors, medicated or not. When I finally decided how much I was willing to pay to cover a paper cut booboo and the average size of my typical booboo I grabbed a box. Said box …

to my surprise has Braille on it. Can you see it?Cool, no super Cool! Then I thought hey wait a minute why am I just now seeing a product that has Braille labeling? I know, you too huh? See this goes back to my rant about the salt grinders, well sorta. I mean come on even blind people or sight challenged folks need to buy stuff. Sure it may not matter what color the sheets that they buy are, but they do need to know the tread count and the size (for some things size does so matter and bed sheets is one of ‘em). And yeah, I’m sure the color does matter in an overall decorating scheme sort of way.

When was the last time you saw a sight challenged person shopping alone? Or God forbid not getting to shop! That would be awful, don’t you agree. I’m just saying it’s about time someone put Braille labeling on a product. Way to go Band Aid people!

FTC Disclaimer: I received no compensation for my opinion in this post (maybe I sould just make this statement a part of every post as I seem to never be compensated for any opinion I have)

Ulnar and Solar

Well my dear internets the kitchen, dining and living rooms are being worked on. My office has not installed anything at my house so that I could work from there. I guess there is always next year.


Good new the solar guys showed up and it has been installed. We are now proud owners of our own renewable energy, did I mention we are selling it to the utility company. It should cover our usage and after a few years or so it will have paid for itself and it's a good thing.

Keeping it short today, cause as y’all know I just had my last scheduled surgery for the year, ulnar nerve release. Dr. Yee says it is sorta like the carpel tunnel syndrome…the nerve gets trapped and restricted by tendons and such in my case at the elbow. This is also the same nerve that can be pinched/damaged at the neck. Remember when my co-worker had her neck fused, that was for her ulnar, but her doctor just called it a nerve. But anyways this nerve can also be trapped at the wrist, I’m sure y’all will agree with me when I say no I don’t what that.

Before photo over at 365 Views by Me; maybe even an after???? That is if you dare!

My whole arm is wrapped up nice and straight, yeah very weird. Alrighty then, meds kicking in and I’m off to nap. Take care my dear, dearest internets…



Read ya soon

Grinding Rocks

So there we were, my dear internets, sitting and dining out (yes again), but this time my food needed a bit of salt. Hum where is the shaker, oh no shaker? They had one of them thar grinder thingies…

Which is all well and good if you can twist them and not to beat a dead horse, but I can Not twist  ‘em.

Hum funny how many little things are overlooked when we don’t live a physically challenged life. I have often gotten my panties in a wad over things, places and yes people not being accessible to those with physical challenges. That was one of the things that bothered me about Europe, nothing was accessible, doorways were small, it seemed like shops and all the buildings had steps and I won’t even mention restroom facilities. But the point of this little rant is the salt shaker, well actually the lack thereof. Why take a perfectly good functional item and trade it out for a faddish type, i.e. the salt grinder. Sea salt no less and depending on the sea of course it can be bitter and besides what is wrong with good old fashioned machine ground salt? Nothing, I tell you absolutely nothing.

I was lucky to have my Beloved with me to grind salt into my hand so I could sprinkle it where I wanted, the problem was he had to stop eating to grind some salt for me. Gotta love that man of mine, I mean holy cannoli he is so good to me!

Ah yeah, there was a pepper grinder too, but I like fresh ground pepper, I just wish they had a battery operated one. And so until they have battery operated grinders at restaurants my most Beloved will have to grind for me.

Speaking of grinding Elbow-Ulnar Release sugery was this morning, let's hope I came out of A-Okay - Yes this was a "Pre Post"

...So how's about you have an axe to grind?