Paradise

Dance

2011-11-12T21:39:00.000-05:00

Does this man have any bones in his body? How does he do that?

Soft, Sweet Music

2011-11-08T20:49:00.003-05:00

But it is not the music that drew me to this video. The visuals are amazing. And all done with Jelly Bellys.

Murmuration

2011-11-07T21:18:00.001-05:00

I have never seen anything like this. I think I would have sat there all day.

Another Wonderful, Amazing Story

2011-11-04T23:35:00.000-04:00

Ah, people are grand!

How?

2011-10-12T23:59:00.000-04:00

Another of My YouTube Subscriptions

2011-10-11T10:08:00.000-04:00

Funny guys. And such a man thing, too.

Help Me Out Here

2011-10-10T12:13:00.002-04:00

I colored my hair again. Auburn, black, and blue. With a little untouched blond thrown in for the heck of it.

I expected to get some looks. Along with smiles (hopefully). But I was surprised by the anger. Why would anyone get angry about someone's hair color?

Even more astounding was the coworker's pierced, tattooed, shaved head husband who asked about me, "What was she thinking?"

I don't get it. If you could explain it to me internet, I would be forever grateful.

Truth

2011-10-09T21:53:00.002-04:00

All I can say is that if this were me, this video would be nothing more than me massively pummeling myself.

My Day is Made!

2011-10-07T20:02:00.000-04:00

A new Simon's Cat. Twice the fun! Oh, what a happy camper I am!

Danny Macaskill

2011-10-06T17:25:00.001-04:00

There is just so much amazing in this world!

Moving Metal Music

2011-10-04T09:48:00.001-04:00

Have band, will travel.

Bad Lip Reading

2011-09-28T23:13:00.001-04:00

This was the first video of theirs I had seen.

Music Soothes the Soul

2011-09-26T14:05:00.000-04:00

This guys videos are pretty funny.

Homeward Commute

2011-09-25T00:00:00.003-04:00

Last night as I was driving home from work there was a spectacular sunset. I kept trying to get pictures of it while I was driving but, well, it didn't work out the best.

I decided that once I got to the road I live on, I would pull over and try to get some shots then. I turned onto the road, pulled forward enough from the intersection to avoid anyone nailing me as they came around the corner, parked, and got out to scope out the view.

I guess I wasn't the only one. I did not even notice this bird until I was out of the car. He (because, as we know, all raptors are male) was stunning! And big. And not bothered by me in the slightest.

I love big birds. I love sunsets. Combine them both, and this is what you get;

You will probably have to click to enlarge the photo to see him there. The only camera I had in the car was my Nikon Coolpix. I would like to think we were both watching the beautiful sunset but I'm pretty sure he was hunting for some dinner.

What a great end to a work day!

Scary, Dangerous, Fascinating...Thing

2011-09-24T11:25:00.002-04:00

See You In September

2011-09-22T10:21:00.003-04:00

Do you know what yesterday was? No, not September 21 (well okay, it was September 21 but that is not where this story is going. Settle down) but TIME TO GET THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS OUT! That's right, at work we started putting up the Christmas area. Aargh! I am dreading the day when the carols begin on the instore radio.

Speaking of work, the other day I waited on a man who had two items. One small thing (I can't remember what it was) and one tag from a piece of clothing. He was obviously wearing the clothes but it baffled me.

"I've gotta' ask you," I said. "I'm sure you didn't come in here naked but you are paying for a pair of pants that you are wearing. What happened to the clothes you came in with? You did come in in something, right?"

He laughed and told me that he had stashed his shorts in the trash. Broken zipper and he got tired of all the concern about gaping.

Phew! I was kinda' worried that I was noticing half clad people wandering in the store 3 feet away from me!

Almost Grown

2011-09-20T21:11:00.002-04:00

I will write you a post tomorrow or the next day. But in the meantime, enjoy the heck out of this...

You Look So... Beige?

2011-09-18T22:25:00.003-04:00

I was out and about in public today and I ran into a man I have met, oh, a zillion times give or take (his name escapes me at the moment). He always says the same thing to me, "I don't believe we have met. What's your name?"

Sure enough, we went through the routine today. Except... this time he said, "You just blend in and I don't notice you." Huh.

Okay, let's ignore the insult and just look at this from an objective point of view. I had on a rainbow colored shirt along with my blond hair complete with blue chunks in it. Yup, just your average, ordinary sunday go to meetin' gal.

I'll tell you what. If I ever get arrested, I want this guy to be the one picking me out of the line up!

What IS That?

2011-09-17T07:46:00.005-04:00

I opened the back door this morning to let the dogs out and my two horses were in the pasture (where the dogs go) entertaining two visiting deer. The deer were startled by the sound of the door and began running back and forth. None of which was noticed by the dogs.

When the dogs finally slid under the fence to head up the hill, craziness ensued. Cruella barked, the deer picked a direction (up the hill!) and Horace ran around totally confused. What were those big things that didn't smell like horses and ran away instead of towards him? That could be fun.

He followed their scent up the hill but luckily they were in a pasture that was fenced with woven wire. And Horace couldn't get through it. Oh, he tried. He followed the entire north end of the line looking for a weakness. How disappointed he was!

So the dogs came back in the house and Horace jumped up on the upstairs couch to soothe his mental wounds. Cruella took the downstairs couch.

She doesn't have any mental wounds but dang, the couch is way more comfortable than the floor.

Loving The Jedi Kittens

2011-09-15T21:09:00.001-04:00

What more can I say?

Where Are All the Smiling Faces?

2011-09-12T20:33:00.004-04:00

I was at work Sunday and was getting a bit tired of the crankiness so I decided to pose a question to many of my customers.

"What made you happy this morning (or afternoon as the day wore on)?"

I was hoping to be able to watch them mentally revisit their happy place, watch their joy unfold. That's not exactly how it went.

79% (give or take. I didn't keep track of the actual numbers) said waking up that morning. Just being alive. Not the most exciting answer but at least they felt appreciative of their life.

20% responded, "Nothing." Nothing? Really? Is that even possible? How do you continue to get out of bed if there is nothing that is making you happy?

And the last 1%? They were specific. Things like waking up with their grandchildren that morning or their overwhelming enthusiasm with God.

I said earlier that my goal had been to watch them revisit their happiness. It was also to get them thinking about what constitutes happiness. Is it a million dollars or, as my neighbor said, the smell of fresh perked coffee? A brand new car or listening to happy children in the kitchen?

Don't get me wrong, I would be happy with either sides of those questions above. Equally happy. Because there is no happiness sliding scale. It's all even.

And all good.

Science Is Just So Cool!

2011-09-09T00:05:00.001-04:00

I thought this was fascinating. And amazing.

Daily Smart Chuckle

2011-09-08T00:00:00.001-04:00

Those Crazy Engineers

2011-09-07T10:45:00.001-04:00

I am not so keen on the whole topic (flatulence) but the things these guys make to prove their stories are great fun! Check it out;

Why I Walk So Funny

2011-08-22T13:50:00.002-04:00

Bassman, bless his soul, told me to stand up straight the other day. Oh, I am trying but it ain't working so good.

And now I know why. 5 bulging discs, a pinched nerve on the right, and some bone spurs thrown in just for grins. I discovered this after my very first MRI (those things are fascinating! Loud too).

The good news is there is no need for surgery at this time (HOORAY!) and that if I am careful, and do the chiropractor thing conscientiously, I should be good for many years to come. Even horseback riding won't be off limits (not this week though).

So Wednesday I will go and discuss why this crippling crap that kept me off work for two weeks happened and how I can make sure it won't happen again.

Because, while it may sound like fun, lying on the couch for two weeks staring at the television (no cable, remember?) really isn't.

Swan Lake

2011-08-16T14:33:00.000-04:00

Combining ballet and gymnastics. Amazing and beautiful.

Bwaaaaahaaahaaa!

2011-08-15T13:59:00.001-04:00

You know I love me my Death Metal. Apparently, so does he!

More YouTube Trivia

2011-07-28T10:39:00.000-04:00

Beatbox

2011-07-21T08:51:00.001-04:00

Oh man, I love this song. Not only is it a great song but it instantly brings that last scene in Fight Club into my brain.

A New Pet(?)

2011-07-11T22:21:00.001-04:00

Nah. Just a passing through visitor.

First Time

2011-07-01T11:56:00.003-04:00

A while back (southernism there), Fuchsia said that she would love to have an ice cream maker. I told her I had been thinking the same thing but I couldn't justify the expenditure. BUT THEN CAME FATHER'S DAY and we used it as an excuse to buy one for the Bassman.

Tuesday night we finally assembled all the ingredients (we had everything except the ice), threw them into the cannister, and fired that puppy up.

(resting in the cooler to avoid any spillover accidents)

One hour later we had slightly soupy vanilla ice cream. The instructions had warned us it would not be super hard when done churning but would get harder after a few hours in the freezer. They also recommended not adding fruit, chocolate, or nuts until just before sticking it into the freezer.

So I added the cherries and chopped up Hershey's bars and tossed the whole mess into the freezer. And one hour later (because I was about tired of all that WAITING) I had the most delicious homemade ice cream I had ever had.

Of course, as a matter of an honest disclaimer, I must admit it was also the FIRST homemade ice cream I had ever had.

But I have a feeling it won't be the last.

Horace

2011-06-28T22:34:00.003-04:00

We have a new resident here in Paradise. He was dropped at a friend's house and the friend did not want him. Me? I just thought he was the cutest thing ever.

We are still making some adjustments. He is learning that the cats are higher on the hierarchy than he is which does not make him happy. He is also learning that it is okay if the neighbors come to visit. But most importantly, he is being forced to accept that I will also be petting Cruella. That seems to be the one that makes him most unhappy.

As to his name, well, after extensive research (I swear, I had to go to at least SEVEN different websites), I learned that Horace (and Jasper) was the name of Cruella's driver. Bassman (who suggested the idea) had already owned a dog named Jasper so Horace it was.

(Isn't that a great picture of the pair of them?)

Duo Languages

2011-06-27T22:51:00.000-04:00

Yet More Impressive Children!

2011-06-16T22:02:00.002-04:00

Watch those fingers fly!

Creativity

2011-06-07T21:45:00.002-04:00

What an incredible, fascinating process. Truly amazing.

Anything For a Laugh

2011-05-01T22:28:00.000-04:00

Ah, humor. I guess my receptor isn't broken after all. I hope you enjoy this.

Dancing

2011-04-16T11:13:00.001-04:00

Well this sure tickled my funnybone. Gotta' love the royals!

On Pause

2011-04-06T22:53:00.003-04:00

For a little while. My levity receptor seems to be a bit broken. Hopefully it will smooth out soon.
Misfit

Work

2011-03-27T10:56:00.002-04:00

I am still trying to get used to that getting up in the morning and heading off to work thing. Does everyone do this? Is it some kind of conspiracy? I don't know what kind of conspiracy it could possibly be but since it is such an uncomfortable undertaking, it must be one. That's my argument and I am sticking to it.

On one of the mornings I was on my way to my gainful employment, I passed a Mennonite farmer just heading into his field. When I came home, he was still there. In the same place. The next morning, same thing. That night, still in the half plowed field. Now my theory here is that he had a possible blowout on one of his horses and he was waiting for the Mennonite version of AAA to come fix it. Because by the next morning he was gone and the field was finally plowed. It makes sense to me.

I guess the moral of the story is that we all have to work.

Unless you're a Mennonite horse.

MacArthur Had Nothing On Me

2011-03-23T10:13:00.003-04:00

Okay, I know I have been gone awhile but I was working. For six days in a row! Can you imagine?

Yeah, I know, some of you have done that for years. No biggie. You even voluntarily get up in the morning (shudder). I, however, have been out of that loop for a bit. A bit being 16 years. You can understand my need for some adjustment time.

Another item throwing a wrench in the works is where I am employed. I work in the county south of us which is in the Central Time Zone. Slow time. That means I have to leave for work 1/2 hour after I am supposed to be there. While that's not too terrible (an extra hour of sleep), the flip side is that I get home 1 1/2 hours after I get out of work. Makes for a short night.

But I am adjusting. Truthfully, it is nice being out and meeting new people. And I am disproving the adage "You can't teach an old dog new tricks". It's just taking me a little longer!

And that is why my blog has been soooooooooo empty lately. Yet now I have returned. You had to know I couldn't leave you for too long! I just won't be able to see you quite as often as before.

K

2011-03-17T22:47:00.002-04:00

As in, "Attention K-Mart shoppers." Yeah, that is where the interview was. It is also where I began working today.

I am thrilled to have the job. Truly. With this area's unemployment as high as it is, finding employment is just short of a miracle. Making it even better is the fact that it is in the county south of us which is 'slow time'. One hour behind. I will never have to be to work before 10 am my time. Perfect.

So next time you see a flashing blue light, think of me. Unless it is a cop car behind you.

Then you're on your own.

2011-03-15T16:55:00.001-04:00

I guess it is video day for me. A little River Dance to sooth your soul.

The Harvard Sailing Team

2011-03-15T00:59:00.002-04:00

A new video from the Harvard Sailing Team! Hooray!

Please vote for them at the Comedy Central's Comedy Awards. http://www.thecomedyawards.com/categories/viewers-choice/best-viral-video

Job Hunting

2011-03-14T21:12:00.003-04:00

Not a fun thing to do but a necessary evil. At least now you can apply at many places online thereby avoiding the direct rejection of , "Just put the application in the pile. We're not hiring."

I had to drive into town today for a job interview. I was early (of course) so I had to kill some time in the employee lounge. While I was sitting there, an employee came in on a lunch break.

"You here for an interview?"

"Yup," I said.

"Better you than me. Those things suck."

What an encouraging thing to hear right before going in to the interviewer.

Photograficating

2011-03-13T21:15:00.003-04:00

My Liberty blog was in desperate need of some new photos so Bassman and I spent the afternoon driving around the area. It was sunny, 65, and cloud free so the decision was a no brainer.

Here are some of the photos that did not make the cut;

Although the side view mirror and the car lot are lovely, it's hard to beat this kind of classic,

Keeping with a theme, there is this,

which will probably become part of my "Car Interior" exhibit (watch, it will make me famous!).

Rounding out all the greatness it this one,

which is titled, Cows (as if it could be anything else).

I am sure you all are amazed that I didn't save these for the photo blog but I just wanted you all to know that you are special to me too.

So there you have it. The only place on the web where such greatness is consistently displayed.

Immature

2011-03-12T22:16:00.003-05:00

Some people may see that as a detriment but I seem to view it as a goal. Kinda'. I don't throw spitwads or drink and drive. I don't name call (well, except for my animals. But they deserve it!). However, I also don't have short, styled hair (which is a MUST for women over 50) and I do have a tattoo. I have a car that is covered with rock band stickers and they are all things I have purchased.

I don't seem to know how to behave in public. I laugh out loud. Sometimes I guffaw and on occasion, I find myself laughing so hard tears come to my eyes. I tell people when they smell nice ( why this is considered so odd is beyond me). I give gifts and entertain even when I am broke. I'm fiscally irresponsible. I still dream about all the things I am going to do in the future that make no sense to most people. I sing rock lyrics while wandering through the grocery store.

It does sound immature, and it probably is. But I don't intentionally hurt anyone's feelings, I cry when I see other people or animals suffering, and I still have hope that Diogenes will find the person he is looking for.

So I guess I will stay in Peter Pan land forever. And I will save a spot for anyone who wants to join me.

2011-03-11T15:17:00.003-05:00

It is impossible for me to be frivolous today. The tragedy of the tsunami is too overwhelming.

Hegira

2011-03-10T13:14:00.003-05:00

The definition of hegira is a journey undertaken to escape from an undesirable situation.

Hmm. Apparently my mother-in-law's tongue decided it had had enough of the simple pot I had placed it in and was going to begin a hegira of its own. I have no idea where it thinks it is going but it certainly did a fine job cracking the lip off its container.

I am attempting to get my paperwork around for the IRS. Is there anywhere I could go on a hegira that would save me from that?

G

2011-03-09T22:27:00.001-05:00

But I will be back in full force tomorrow.

Forgetting

2011-03-08T21:18:00.003-05:00

One of the questions that has found its way across my desk this week is, "Do you have a good memory for some things and not others?"

Yes. Thanks for stopping by.

What's that? Some examples perhaps? Okay, but only because you asked so prettily.

What did I have for breakfast yesterday? Or today? And is today Monday or Tuesday? No clue. The first two questions are not worth the effort involved in trying to remember and as to day of the week, well there is always the date/time stamp in the lower right corner of the computer screen. No need to fill my head with those details.

My head is filled with decades worth of material now and I'm not sure I want to do the reorganizing necessary to make room for new stuff. And even if I did, which memories should I toss? The memory of my Father's scratchy kiss when I walked into his house after driving 13 hours to get there? Or the birth of my two wonderful children? Perhaps I don't need to clutter my head with my wedding day to Bassman? No, I think I'll keep those.

I realize that my brain has plenty of room for new memories and I'm sure I will continue sticking some up there. But I'm pretty sure that yesterday's breakfast will never make the cut.

Emigrant

2011-03-07T22:06:00.004-05:00

One of the prompts offered by Nablopomo this month was, "How far away do you currently live from where you were born? How did you get there?"

The answer to the first question is easy. 715 miles. NOT as the crow flies. The 'how did you get there?' part is a tad more complicated.

1996 was the year I turned 40. It was also the year that I had finally had enough of New York State. The taxes, the cold, the taxes. Oh yeah, and the taxes were a bit high up there too. On top of that we were living in an apartment over a store in town. Not ideal for someone who had always been a country girl.

I decided to get proactive. I wrote to Chambers of Commerce and Real Estate Agents in 13 different states east of the Mississippi. The coastal states all had fairly high taxes themselves so anything in that direction would have been a wash. The midwest looked like the place to go.

Bassman had a job coming up in Kentucky and I decided to accompany him. He would be working on a Burger King in Cave City and I would be exploring the eastern part of the state.

Cave City/Bowling Green area is FLAT. I could imagine the tornadoes would really get going out there. Nah, I needed some hills to break things up.

I had some brochures from Liberty that sounded interesting. Small town, within 100 miles 0f an interstate (Bassman was doing a ton of travel then), HILLS, and low taxes. It certainly had potential.

I came and looked at some property on a Tuesday. There were several pieces that caught my eye, but I felt I had to show Bassman. One was 100+ acres that had septic, water, and a 2 car garage. Land without visible neighbors! Yeah!

I did drag Bassman over on Thursday. By then, the price of the farm had dropped $15,000. It was just too sweet of a deal to pass up.

Four months later, we moved into that 2 car garage. We cleaned out the trash, added a kitchen sink and a water heater, some electricity and a phone. And then Bassman had to get back out on the road. He left and Fuchsia and I began to adjust to living in an area where we knew NO ONE. She met people through school and I met people on my forays into town. It wasn't easy but it was rewarding.

They say most people live their entire lives within 25 miles of where they were born. I knew from a young age that I did not want to be part of that group. It just took me 40 years to do it.

Idle

2011-03-06T19:43:00.002-05:00

There is no other word for my activity level today.

Bassman made breakfast around the crack of noon, followed by YouTube videos (it's hard to beat a Wheezy Waiter marathon!), a bath, and some reading.

Dinner was super fast hamburger gravy on mashed taters eaten in front of the television (omg, what a horrible movie we watched. Something from the 90's titled Another Day in Paradise) followed by more reading. And it appears we are going to cap the day by finishing season 2 of Dexter.

At which point we will be so exhausted from our day of sloth that we will toddle off to bed.

Thank heavens it's back to normal tomorrow. I don't think I can keep up this pace.

Devalgate

2011-03-05T17:18:00.003-05:00

As I have mentioned before, this is not the first time I have attempted nablopomo (a post every day for a month). Each time it always felt like work. Not something I looked forward to other than hoping to accomplish a goal.

Not the case this time. I am having a ball! I'm enjoying seeking out oddball words and building a post around them.

Like devalgate. It is a characteristic that I find very attractive in men. And it seems to be fairly rare (at least in Kentucky) so I don't get to see it too often (don't you feel sorry for me? Can't you feel my pain?). Perhaps if I moved to Wyoming or Texas (hmm, don't think Bassman would go along with that) I would get to see it on a daily basis.

Any clue what I am blathering about yet? All right, I will take pity on you and end the suspense.

Devalgate. Bow-legged.

Is that hot or what?

And the cowboy is kinda' cute too.

Curmudgeon

2011-03-04T21:20:00.002-05:00

When I was younger, I thought it would be cool to be labeled a curmudgeon. Kind of an outwardly cranky person but everyone knows that underneath beats a heart of gold. Unfortunately, it wasn't possible because all curmudgeons are male.

Sigh.

Or so I thought. I looked up the definition in my Random House College Dictionary and this is what I discovered; "an irascible, churlish person." Well la di da! No mention of sex whatsoever. No mention of a hidden heart of gold either but, hey, one out of two ain't bad.

I think I will spend the next week practicing. You know, shaking my cane (hmm. May have to go shopping) at anything that passes by, mumbling under my breath the entire time. "You cats get out of there! Don't drive so fast! What?!"

So, what do you think? Think I can pull it off?

Be Careful

2011-03-03T22:55:00.003-05:00

I don't have cable or satellite television, a fact I occasionally brag about. As if that makes me better than anyone else. Uh, nope.

Because I have Netflix and a Wii. So my television can be as busy as I want it to be (as long as Fuchsia doesn't need the net for work).

Usually that is a couple hour binge once a week. UNTIL I found this, that is;

It took me about 15 minutes into the first show before I felt the pull of addiction. Now I am into season 2. I tell myself, "I'll just watch one" and next thing I know it's past midnight.

Like all addictions, I begin to panic when I see my supply start to dwindle. And let me tell you boys and girls, that supply is dropping fast. At this point there are only 7 shows left that I can stream before I have to switch to the hard stuff. Yeah, that's right, the dreaded disc.

So the lesson here is to always remain humble. Cause as soon as you start climbing on your high horse and getting all superior, Dexter comes along.

Let's just hope it's not in person.

Ambitious

2011-03-02T19:14:00.002-05:00

I am still keeping busy trying to stave off those nicotine cravings. In addition to the Wii, I have also started taking the killer dog for walks at the Ag Center.

Because I am fascinated with the whole island concept, that is where we head. She is always in front of me keeping me safe from oh, squirrels, and deer, and raccoons. Even gators. Not that we have gators but if we did, she would be after them. The only thing she's afraid of is people.

Cruella's pace is much faster than mine. She trots the entire way. Occasionally she even disappears from sight.

As a result of all that running, she has to get cooled off. Watching her do this knowing that she will be climbing into my car soon does not make me the happiest camper in the world but I can't complain since she has just risked life and limb for me (again, as long as there were no people involved).

Nablopomo

2011-03-01T13:01:00.002-05:00

This month on NaBloPoMo the theme is in a word. As a help, the site suggested you could also use oneword.com or savethewords.org for inspiration. I went to both but found I preferred Save the Words. Mostly because the words BEG as you roll your cursor over them. Who could resist that?

The word that cried the loudest? Scandiscope. I had to go to Phrontistery (a great site for inspiration for ABC Wednesday!) to find the definition. A machine for cleaning chimneys.

Even better was the sentence they used it in. "The scandiscope removed soot, but also what might have been reindeer droppings."

It made me chuckle.

So I will give this a go one more time. I feel I must warn you though, I have only made it all the way through once. Wish me luck.

Peepers!

2011-02-21T14:48:00.002-05:00

Oh, I know this is just a fluke and it's WAAAY to early to be true, but I heard them today! And for those who don't remember what they sound like, here's a short clip I recorded a few years ago;

Chickadees with their spring song, peepers out doing warm ups. With all this evidence I have to know that a season change will be upon us soon!

Touring Southern Kentucky

2011-02-20T21:16:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was such a beautiful day that I decided to hop in the car and go take some pictures. I googled South Central Kentucky for attractions and one of the things that came up was the Mill Springs Battlefield Tour. I had been meaning to check it out for awhile so I let that become my target.

First stop was the museum where I watched a video about the battle. They gave me a map too since I was going to be driving about 100 miles total (not all of that was necessary to the tour. Some of it was just me going around the block).

(This cannon was at the visitor's center. I have no idea why the plastic owl is sitting on it.)

Next door was the cemetery. That's the part I hate visiting the most since it saddens me. Not that I knew anyone interred there, it's just the thought of war. Two sides fighting for what they believe is right and, whether they are or not, the end result is way too many dead.

The rest of the trip promised to be nothing but glorious countryside. Down back roads that didn't see a lot of traffic. At one point, I passed a sign that said, "Muse Cemetery" (explains a lot of writers block) but I didn't get a picture. I knew I would have to return the way I came (the road I was on ended in the river) so I thought I would grab a photo then. No such luck. My theory is that I was never supposed to see that sign to begin with so once I had passed it the little people came and removed it.

The battlefield is on 2 sides of the Cumberland River (which is now LAKE Cumberland) hence the need to retrace my steps before I could continue on. From Nancy, Ky I headed into Somerset then onto Monticello and back to the southern section of Mill Springs. I passed many wonderful empty old buildings (see Liberty blog for more photos) all begging to have their photos taken.

After finishing my tour, I decided to head in a kind of homeward direction. To do that, I had to pass over the Wolf Creek Dam. The dam is undergoing repairs (it leaks) but because it was Saturday I didn't have to deal with the construction traffic.

(Ya' gotta' love the 90 degree turn onto the dam)

After that, it was grocery store, Papa John's, then home. It was a wonderful way to spend an almost spring day.

On a totally unrelated note, this is what Fuchsia brought me home from China,

It is much bigger than it appears in this picture. That is a king sized bed the drawing is over!

Wii Fit

2011-02-15T15:04:00.005-05:00

Because I tend to get a bit 'antsy' while I am working out this nicotine thing, I decided to drag the Wii Fit back out. You know, put this energy to use.

I started with all the typical stuff, weigh in (groan), etc. Then I thought, what the heck, I'll try to do all the balance things (besides the yoga. I do that separately). The bee broke my bubble before I could even get to the island on the river, I couldn't get past the third level of the Table Tilt. I did okay on the penguin slide, but I absolutely kicked butt on the Lotus Focus! Tough stuff but I took photos to help you understand my training regimen.

Oh yeah, I was looking forward to peaceful!

I was tough enough to KEEP MY LEGS FOLDED. Booyah!

Concentrate. I could do this!

Oh yeah. It was glowing. And the piece de resistance?

Champion! That's right all you wannabees, I can sit still for 3 minutes! I achieved the highest level by putting forth maximum effort.

I should get a gold star or something, don't you think?

I can't understand why more people aren't trying to get fit!

What Rabbit Hole?

2011-02-14T12:24:00.003-05:00

The rumor used to be that Lewis Carroll, of Alice fame, was an opium smoker. I did some research (on Lewis, not the opium smoking) and found arguments both for and against. Personally, I don't think he did use it.

No, I think that what happened to Mr. Dodgson's (Lewis Carroll) mind was that he gave up nicotine.

My dreams have suddenly switched to the HD super-gloss technicolor. With some CGI thrown in for good measure. Sure, the typical talking horses, sitting down to a cup of tea while discussing just how abysmally their owners ride. The cat rounding up all the humans in her realm and forcing them to sit quietly while she snoozes. Peter Max wandering around with his magic paintbrush coloring in the edges.

But better (worse? scarier? harder to deal with?) are the visions while awake. Oh yeah, the snakes, bugs, mice, rats, etc. that go passing just at the edge of my sight. I jump when I see them until I realize that snake, bug, spider season has not begun yet.

Today is day 3 with no nicotine. This is supposed to be the hump day. If you need me, I will be in the closet with my good friend Mr. Caterpillar. I hear that Jabberwock will join us a little later.

Killing Monkeys

2011-02-12T12:47:00.002-05:00

In August of 2003, I quit smoking. In August of 2010, I started again. Oh, there were several reasons but they all translate to stupidity. Now it is time to get the monkey off my back again.

(Above photo is me. Back when I was Rita Hayworth)

Boy howdy, it is hard. What keeps me going is A) not leaving the house, 2) avoiding everyone while I work through the cranky stage and C) knowing that I have done this before. And that it is doable.

So if ya' come to visit and I am a tad grouchy, please remember that I won't bite your whole head off. Just a little sliver.

HOORAY!

2011-02-10T22:56:00.005-05:00

Guess who finally made it back to the States? Yay!

I had to leave super early to try and make it to Cincinnati before the storm hit us in Southern KY. Getting to Lexington was tough, but after that, it was smooth sailing. Which meant I only had 5 hours to kill.

I went to dinner, took a little nap in the car, called Bassman and chatted for awhile, and spent some time in a motel parking lot reading the book I took with me (the airport people yell at you if you wait in front of the terminal). Finally Fuschia called and said she was standing in front of the airport so come get her.

It was such a treat to see her! She regaled me with tales of food and adventures while we drove to Lexington. Unfortunately, the roads were such that we had to spend the night in a Howard Johnson's in Nicholasville (shudder).

We finished the trip home this morning. Once she unloaded everything, she showed me all her photos and souvenirs.

Needless to say, she is way more ready to return there than I am to see her go. But I am thrilled that she had the chance to have such a marvelous adventure.

Because it's not every day you get to spend the night in a shady Howard Johnson's.

Suzie Lovable

2011-02-09T00:39:00.003-05:00

Ziggy, my precious cat who seems to have a bit of a problem making friends, had to go to the vet this week for surgery. She had a spot of skin cancer on her neck that she kept irritating so Doc decided it would be best for us to remove it. I took her in on Monday morning (7:30am! Ack!)

For those of you who have never met my sweet kitty, I offer you this;

That was one of her happier days. Anyway, while she was at the vet, she antagonized everyone. The dogs, the vet tech, even Doc. Luckily he had put her in one of the new cages where the sides slide forward, pinning the animal to make anesthesia much less hazardous for everyone involved. He doped her up and cut out the nastiness.

After the surgery, the office called me Tuesday and told me I could get her in the afternoon.

When I went to pick her up, this is what I saw;

Holy crap, I thought she was dead! Her little legs stuck straight out from her stiff body. Doc told me she'd be fine, she was just still under the anesthetic. I had to take her home and leave her in her carrier for another 12+ hours.

The first 5 or 6 hours weren't too bad. She slept for almost all of it. However, long about midnight she let me know she was about tired of the crate. Howling, hissing, growling. She tried it all. I didn't weaken and release her even though I truly wanted to.

Wednesday morning (yeah, that's today. Kinda'. Maybe after the sun comes up we can call it morning) I will finally be able to let her out. I guarantee we will both be happier after that!

P.S. Fuschia is finally coming home from China! She is in the air even as I type and should be in Cincinnati Weds. at 10:00pm. I can't wait to see her and her photos.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

2011-02-01T17:00:00.004-05:00

My house is a variation of a split level. Kitchen, bedroom, laundry room and bath downstairs. Living room, bedroom, and big bathroom upstairs.

The downstairs is the only original part of the house. It used to be a 2 car garage (which translates into one big kitchen) which means there is a concrete floor. Since the heat source is 2 small electric baseboard heaters, it is usually cool in the winter (unless the oven is on).

Upstairs is a propane "fireplace" in the living room. When it comes on, it makes a soft click, then follows with a whoosh as the propane ignites. Because it is adjustable, I can keep the area fairly toasty. To keep the upstairs from sucking all the warm air out of the kitchen, I keep the door between the two areas closed for the most part.

If the mighty C-dog is upstairs, as soon as she hears the click she heads over to stand inches away from it. I swear, one of these days she is going to fuse her metal collar right into her neck. Genius, she ain't.

Today it was fairly warm outside. The kitchen was not cold so I left the door between the two areas open. The heater clicked. I was sitting right next to it and barely heard it. Yet half a house away, Cruella did. She came running up the stairs, planting her face mere inches from the glow.

Pretty amazing hearing for a mutt who doesn't seem to notice when someone is knocking on the door.

Pets?

2011-01-30T18:30:00.002-05:00

The other day I was out running errands, driving around the county. It was one of those cold days, 17 degrees (FAHRENHEIT) or so.

On the way into town, I noticed one of the trailers I passed had the front door wide open and a man was sitting in his living room. Just sitting there. Door wide open. 17 DEGREES.

A little odd, but who knows. Maybe the guy was simply a fresh air freak. Accent on freak.

Did I mention the temperature outside?

On the way home, I again passed the trailer. The door was still wide open, the man was still in his chair, but this time I noticed the chickens wandering in and out.

Of course they were. Why wouldn't they? Given a choice of rooting around in the blowing wind or hanging inside maybe watching a little TV? Hopping up on the sofa and cracking open a couple of beers? Chuckling at the poor fool critters still sitting in the yard? You know they were probably doing all that and more.

Wow. And I thought my house was pet friendly.

Truth?

2011-01-29T09:35:00.001-05:00

Into all humor is a touch of truth, don't you think?

Grab The Popcorn, It's Gonna' Be A Fun Night

2011-01-28T16:43:00.002-05:00

Bassman and I had both read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series (thank you again Kate, for turning me onto them) and loved it. My neighbor also read them but she went one step further and watched the first two movies. In Swedish. With subtitles. She kept trying to convince me to watch them but I wasn't interested in investing 2+ hours 'reading' a movie.

I don't have cable but I do have streaming Netflix. One evening I was bored and decided to give the movie a go. Swedish and all.

Oh my. I loved it. So much so that a few days later, I watched the second movie. But that's as far as I could go because the third was not yet available on Netflix.

While Bassman was home, I suggested that we watch the first two as I thought he would enjoy them too. I was right(a state that happens so often, it's hardly worth documenting).

Apparently the universe loves him because while he was here, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest became available on instant view.

Of the three, this one was my favorite book. I had hesitated reading it because then all the fun would be over. I kinda' felt the same way about watching the movie. Could it possibly be as good as the book?

Oh yeah. Definitely.

So grab yourself a HUGE bowl of popcorn, take the phone off the hook, and pop The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo in your DVD player. If you want to make it an exceptional evening, block off 7+ hours and watch all 3 in one night. You may be a little bleary eyed the next day, but it will be worth it.

Trying To Fill In The Blank

2011-01-27T15:15:00.003-05:00

After being able to spend 5 days together, Bassman had to leave to go back out on the road. As is typical in such a case, it has left me maudlin. With a side order of preachy. And you, lucky readers, will benefit (?) from it.

Today on the Liberty blog (see link in photo on sidebar), Average Girl left me the most wonderful comment. She said, "You inspired me to open a separate blog just for photos."

Wow. It is a super feeling to hear that you have inspired someone. I suppose I could have felt threatened by the competition but I didn't. Instead I was happy that I excited someone else to try something I enjoy.

Average Girl didn't need to go through the hassle of posting a comment (2 comments actually) but she did it anyway. Why did she do it? I don't know for sure but I think it was because she was being kind. And as my father-in-law used to say, "Kindness counts."

So let's all follow her example today and do something nice for someone. Snail mail a postcard to a friend you haven't spoken with in awhile. Compliment a coworker. Leave a comment on someone's blog. It doesn't need to take a lot of effort, it just needs to be sincere. I guarantee it will make you smile.

End of sermon.

Brainiacs

2011-01-22T23:44:00.004-05:00

Yesterday it was 17 degrees. I was a bit worried about the horses so I went down to look for them.

In the barn? No.

Lying on all the loose hay near the roll for warmth? Nope.

Neither of those. No, they were in the ring. In the shade. In the snow.

Hard to believe that, as a species, they have survived all these centuries, isn't it?

At Least I Don't Live There

2011-01-19T16:26:00.002-05:00

And if I did I think I would move!

Welcome Govind. I am glad you joined us!

The Scary Wonderful Internet

2011-01-14T18:40:00.002-05:00

My youngest daughter (Fuchsia) works from home via the internet. She also does a bit of her socializing there.

Back in March or so of 2010 she decided she wanted to attend PAX Prime. Penny Arcade Expo. It was held in Seattle in early September. Before she went, she spent several months in relevant chat rooms getting to know many other attendees.

She went to Seattle, met a ton of people she had chatted with face to face, and had an outstanding time. She came away from there with some wonderful new friends.

Two of whom live in China. So my baby girl, my little baby girl, is on the beginning of a long trip to go visit them. Her journey of 20,000 miles began today with me taking her to Berea, Ky. She is spending the night there and her co-worker will take her to Lexington, Ky in the morning (to save me the 3:30 am wake up call) where Fuchsia will board a plane for Seattle. After a week there, she heads off to China.

China. Wow. I am excited for her, envious, and a bit terrified. So very far from home.

I know she will have a great time. And, hopefully, take eleventy zillion photos.

Most importantly, she better remember to bring her dear sweet mother some great bling. And Fuchsia, if you are reading this, bling does not include chickens!

Advanced Style

2011-01-13T01:57:00.003-05:00

I was talking to my neighbor the other day about a blog I had happened upon, ADVANCED STYLE. It bills itself as, "Proof from the wise and the silver-haired set that personal style advances with age."

As a person of a certain age (no silver hair yet thanks to Clairol. Or L'oreal. Or whatever happens to be on sale), I am overcome by all the wonderful photos and tidbits that Ari Seth Cohen posts. Please, do yourself a HUGE favor and wander over to the site. I think you will be pleased.

If you're not, I promise to refund the entire cost of your admission.

http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/

Another Successful Dinner Party

2011-01-07T12:53:00.005-05:00

While in NY, I decided to make spaghetti and meatballs. For a crowd. I mixed 3 lbs. of ground chuck with all the other ingredients (it's a secret, you know), fried them to give them that crisp outer shell, and then dumped them into a crockpot full of spaghetti sauce (another secret. Or not. It's plain old Ragu people. No threat to the Pioneer Woman here).

The goal was to have the meatballs finish cooking in the sauce. I turned the crockpot on high and waited for the magic to happen.

And waited. Then waited some more.

I knew the appliance worked because we had used it to make chili for our Christmas get together but it just wouldn't get hot. A bit warm but never hot.

After 2 hours of that, I decided to throw in the towel. I announced dinner was served and hoped that no one would come down with e-coli from the undercooked beef.

As we finished dinner, I looked a little closer at the crockpot. Which still had the cardboard liner between the heating element and the stoneware. The meatballs may never have reached a high temperature but that liner sure did.

No one reported any awful side effects, thank heavens. On the plus side, I think I have invented a new recipe.

Spaghetti and sushi meatballs.

Well, We Don't Drive a Hot Rod Hearse

2011-01-02T15:48:00.003-05:00

Back when I was a child, a hundred years or so ago, there was a show on television called The Munsters. Grandpa and Eddie (child) were some kind of vampire type thing, Herman (Dad) was a frankenstein creature, Lily (Mom) was another type vampire (the reason I always wished I had a widow's peak), and finally, cousin Marilyn who looked 'normal' to the rest of the world.

In essence, this is my family. Okay, maybe not exactly, but there are some semi-parallels. Bassman is stick thin and has a shaved head except for the braided queue on the back of his head. Fuchsia presently has green hair which is super-duper curly. Sparrow is the bondage queen of her fair county. I am known as the hat lady and, at this moment, have green and red streaks in my hair (Christmas you know). And Stacy is our Marilyn. Normal (at least on the surface).

When my Dad died, we were all in the same house most of the time. Before the funeral, I said that anyone who didn't know us would certainly be able to figure out which were our family members (except 'poor' Stacy. She's our delegate to acceptability). Luckily no one seemed to judge us by our appearance during that sad time.

So next time you see an odd looking crew walking down the street, say howdy. This Misfit clan is a pretty friendly bunch!

Christmas

2010-12-28T19:00:00.002-05:00

The holidays are a fun time but they can be kinda' stressful. The gift issue, running hither and yon, money. Yet delightful things happen too. Seeing children get caught up in the magic of the season, watching fat snowflakes lazily float to the ground (when you're inside nice and warm), the generosity of strangers. And reconnecting with cousins you haven't seen in (ahem) 45 years or so.

I walked into my cousin's house and she looked the exact same as she did last time I saw her. Her sister was sitting in the kitchen and, oh my gosh, she looked so much like my grandmother had. I was a bit nervous about what we would have to talk about but that concern was wiped out within the first 30 seconds.

What did we talk about? Everything! Family (a given), where we had lived, N.Y.S. taxes, stupid things we have done, and on and on and on. We had such a good time we are doing it again Thursday.

So here's to new relationships with old(er, uh, not really old. Just older than we were last time we saw each other) relatives! There truly is magic this time of year!

Holidays Are For Happiness

2010-12-22T23:13:00.003-05:00

Nothing says Merry like those holiday photos we all have. In case you haven't seen enough yet, here are a few more.

The C dog dressed in all her finery;

And the pretenders who dared to steal her hat;

I hope all your elves look just as happy!

Winter Wonderland

2010-12-16T12:24:00.004-05:00

You know those beautiful scenes where the sun glistens off the ice covered trees after an ice storm? Yeah, we don't have that.

What we have is drooping foliage and mud. Tons o' mud. With just enough ice thrown in to make walking and driving treacherous.

Ah, the joys of winter.

Comet

2010-12-15T13:45:00.003-05:00

Comet is some kind of hound/chihuahua/whatever mix who is approximately 1,000 years old. She is having problems getting around due to her back end giving out periodically. She also spends a lot of her time shivering (which is why she is in the Santa suit. Or at least that is the excuse I give myself). She's definitely in her senior years.

The other night I went into the kitchen (the only room she goes in) and noticed a puddle of blood tinged something. I mopped it up and figured I hadn't heard the dog asking to go out.

An hour later, I went downstairs to find the same thing. Once again I mopped it up. I decided to leash Comet to the table leg and put a towel down so if she had to go she could do it on the towel. Then I went upstairs and googled 'blood in dogs urine'.

Mistake. There are many different causes and none of them are good. The computer screen was practically flashing "CALL VET IMMEDIATELY". Since it was midnight I decided to wait until the next morning. Poor dog.

At 3 am I was sitting in the tub reading (yup, I am a night owl) when I suddenly remembered I had put the turkey out to defrost. Not wanting salmonella for the holidays, I jumped out of the tub and ran to the kitchen.

Where the turkey was defrosting and dripping a blood tinged puddle from the counter to the floor.

Duh. No wonder the poor dog looked at me like I was crazy when I tied her up.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a totally different subject, this carol is just too pretty to keep to myself. I hope you enjoy it.

Christmas Cat

2010-12-14T22:15:00.002-05:00

Hooray! A new Simon's Cat for the holidays!

And an older one to celebrate all our snow.

P C Holiday

2010-12-10T14:47:00.002-05:00

And a happy one to you, too!

You have to admit, it makes a point!

Dang Cat

2010-12-09T01:21:00.001-05:00

No matter how many times I tell her how bad they are, she just won't give up the cigarettes and computer games.

The Liberal Media

2010-12-06T17:29:00.004-05:00

Last month USA Today, a fairly reputable publication, stated that the majority of the country (us included) were going to have a mild winter.

15 degrees + snow =?

NOT MILD!

Unless you are used to the weather in Antarctica. Or North Dakota.

Just goes to show you can't believe everything you read.

Pwned

2010-12-06T00:48:00.006-05:00

That's right Mike, it's over. Your butt is mine. Feast your eyes upon this;

The upstairs bathroom,

The stairs,

The downstairs bathroom,

The pot rack,

The cyborg (another Bassman production),

Dish shelves,

And the piece de resistance, the kitchen window.

Why is the kitchen window such a big deal? Because if you click to enlarge the photo, you will notice that not only do the birds want to get in on it but I also made it snow outside. Not a big deal in Tundra Land but quite a feat here in Kentucky. You know, the south.

So yes, Michael. I own you.

It's a good thing I am not the type to gloat.

Something Different

2010-12-05T12:41:00.002-05:00

Hang drums played by a duo who truly know what they are doing.

The Dinner Bell Rings

2010-12-04T23:30:00.002-05:00

I had a hay delivery this afternoon. The man I buy it from brought 5 rolls on a wagon which he drove into the pasture.

Any changes freak the little horsies out. Food is good, strange vehicles in their pasture, bad. However, this one had food on it so the whole equation was thrown out of whack. They were interested but cautious.

After the first one came off they decided to use it for cover. They're about as brave as the C-dog.

We're kinda' low tech around here so the hay had to be rolled off the wagon.

Any movement by the men caused the horses to vacate to a further section of the pasture. And when the rolls came off, well...

Not everyone reacted calmly. That blur in the back is one of the fools losing her mind. Again.

But the scary truck left and all that glorious hay remained and the little horsies lived happily ever after.

Or at least for the next 2 months.

It's On

2010-12-03T22:04:00.003-05:00

I have a friend who is under the delusion that he can out Christmas decorate me. What-ev-er. You know darn well he is merely a Misfit wannabe. Hey, I have been at this three days and I have the living room done (and maybe one of the bathrooms and my bedroom. Oh yeah, and part of the outside).

Just to give you a hint as to what he is up against,

(You can't have a village without people and trees!)

Okay, I'll admit it. I didn't put everything out (upstairs) because I thought it might be, you know, a bit much.

You will get to see more of the house later, I promise. I just don't want to push him over the edge too early.

On a side note, if you are wanting some incredible built ins (like the one above) and live east of the Mississippi, send me an email. It's what Bassman is second best at (after playing the bass, of course).

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like

2010-12-01T22:02:00.003-05:00

a yard sale. Or someone moving. Yes, I asked the neighbor kids to drag all my Christmas stuff out of the attic. Which meant I spent the day washing holiday linens, loading the festive dishes into the dishwasher, and, most importantly, making sure the Christmas outfits still fit all the critters. Don't worry, you will get to see pictures of them but not yet (that's known as a teaser. Now I know you will stay tuned!). I am waiting until I can get them all together for a group pic.

Savannah With The Girls

2010-11-27T09:03:00.005-05:00

Stacy, Fuchsia, and I headed into Savannah for a girl's night earlier this week. Fuchsia hadn't been there for 10 years and she wanted to see something 'Savannahy'. Nothing says Savannah more clearly than River Street.

The street isn't very long, 8 - 10 blocks or so. The cobblestones on the street are the ballast the original ships used on their journey to the south. You can feel the history (and a gazillion bumps) when you drive it.

And drive it is all we did. We didn't want to get into the hordes of people and none of us were in the market for souvenirs or t-shirts. We chatted about the area (I did my semi-remembered tour guide thing) but most of our conversation centered around where we would go for dinner.

Stacy had several suggestions but then she came up with the best idea of all. The Melting Pot. It has to be my favorite of any chain restaurant. Good food, good dessert, all at a leisurely pace. The only suggestion is that you go with someone you can talk to for 2 hours. None of us thought that would be a problem.

No, conversation was not the problem. The problem was that the restaurant didn't open for another 25 minutes so we had to find a way to kill some time.

Which is not difficult to do in Savannah. The city is so beautiful that you could walk for hours and still find something charming.

All that was within 4 blocks of the restaurant. And in the square, (of which there are 20 some in the city) was the biggest dog any of us had seen in quite awhile. He seemed to be just standing there for no particular reason (I left the people in the photo to give a sense of his size)

but then he wandered over to a tiny lady who was apparently his owner. It's no wonder he didn't have a leash on him because she never would have been able to control him with it. He was obviously some type of help animal.

It was finally time for the restaurant to open so we headed back. We were the first people there (a bit eager, perhaps?) but we were immediately followed by another group. The baby talking hostess asked us both if we had called ahead for reservations. We hadn't, the other group had. They were seated first.

Okay, no biggie. But it must have been a strike against us because they seated us in the bar area (which is where they put everyone else who came in and hadn't shown the good taste to call for reservations. I suppose it was amazing that we even got seated at all since the place was oh so busy. You know, at least 7 tables in the place had diners by the time we left. Out of 30 or so.). But we knew it was a bit pretentious before we went in so it wasn't too much of a surprise. Hey, we were only there for the food and the fun.

And oh my gosh, did we have fun. We even got the waiter to loosen up a bit and crack wise. We women folk got laughing so hard it's a wonder they didn't toss us.

Yup, Savannah is a great place if you are looking for a good time. I don't think it would have been possible to have a better evening. Even without reservations!

Holiday Festivities

2010-11-25T11:51:00.002-05:00

I had a chance to see the tire sealing method up close and personal. I WOULD NOT recommend this at home.

Change

2010-11-24T12:22:00.002-05:00

There are occasions when change is a good thing. Cell phones, computers, remote controls (as opposed to kid powered) are just a few examples. Changing the burgers at Captain Woody's, horror! They went from having the best burgers ever to serving a pretty good burger. Pretty good! Quite a drop on the meat patty scale.

Luckily, the scenery is still just as stunning as ever. And sitting outside on an 80 degree day in late November will always be a winning idea.

I guess I'll just have to switch my order to the grouper sandwich.

The Weekend

2010-11-22T09:33:00.003-05:00

It was a busy one. On Friday, Fuchsia and I drove to South Carolina. She drove to Knoxville and I took over from there. By the time we hit 95 (a road that causes my brain to stutter at the best of times) it was dark. It didn't help that I was working a mini-migraine. I'll tell you what, you haven't lived until you attempt to drive down the busiest road in North America (where people go from 75 to 0 because they see a flower or some such thing) with your vision all screwed up. It adds that oh so fun element of danger. Good times.

But, as you can tell, we survived. Unfortunately for Bassman and Stacy, Fuchsia and I weren't at our best that evening. I think we were all in bed by 9. Saturday was spent recuperating and preparing for the Cutest Toddler in the World's second birthday party.

Sunday was the big day. The CTITW is still young enough that she doesn't realize what a birthday is but, boy howdy, her mom knows. Mom was practically vibrating with stress by the time the first guest arrived while the kid was more concerned with who was going to push her on the swing next (I'm pretty sure she handed out numbers and everyone had to take one).

Things moved along fairly smoothly at the party. There was a minor meltdown when the Midge had to get OFF the swing, but other than that, it was all good. Even the weather cooperated with a sunny 75 degree day. That never would have happened in Tundra Land. It's a good thing CTITW had the sense to be born in the south.

(BTW, everyone got in the party mood)

The party ended in the early evening and all the adults who were left standing decided to have a campfire. Why? Well, the evening was a bit chilly and (you are not going to believe this) one of the men (who is over 50) had never had a smore! Up until last summer, Bassman was the same way. How does that happen? Were they raised by wolves? Communists? Anti-marshmallow people?

Whatever the reason, we brought his smores drought to an end. Not only did he get to experience the regular version, but we also cooked up several of the gourmet type (peanut butter cups instead of chocolate bar).

As gourmets, and having demonstrated our willingness to push the envelope by trying such new and crazy things, don't be surprised if the food network asks us to host a show.

It's a Good Life

2010-11-18T15:29:00.002-05:00

I was sitting out back smoking this morning while the dogs were doing their thing. Black cat (so original!) wandered over to the horse trough and hopped up to get a drink. The birds were singing, the critters seemed happy and I thought, "What a good life." Don't get me wrong, I still have all the problems the rest of the world (excepting maybe Bill Gates and Oprah) does, i.e., the economy, work, smoking (!), etc., but on the whole, it's good.

And this week gets even better! Yes, this week I get to see Bassman, some of my kids, and the Cutest Toddler in the World (it's her second birthday).

Speaking of whom, here's the sweetie showing her holiday spirit;

(Hmm, I guess she didn't care for the Halloween costume Granny sent her!)

As if all that weren't enough, I can also enjoy the fact that the high priced Doberman has remembered that meadow muffins (horse turds) are an epicurean treat! (Sorry, no photos [yet] to accompany that. You'll just have to imagine it.)

I know nothing can compare to that, but what do you have in your life that brings you happiness? (Hey! That's not rhetorical! I want some answers, dang it!)

P. S. I may have outdone myself with parentheses this time.

Continuing On...

2010-11-17T11:56:00.003-05:00

More on the literary meme;

What is the most difficult book you've ever read?

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. Not tough to read but hard to face that kind of in your face reality.

Do you prefer the French or the Russians?

This one is a no brainer for me. C'mon now, I named my kids after Russian royalty! Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Checkov (almost Russian). Yeah, I prefer those guys.

Roth or Updike?

Not so much either but Roth does have a slight edge.

David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?

I am not familiar with Eggers. But Sedaris, especially the 6 - 8 Black Men, cracks me up every time I read it (or watch it on YouTube).

What is the most embarrassing gap in your reading?

Dante's Inferno. Every so often I try again but I just can't do it.

What is your favorite novel?

I can't think of just one. There are so many great authors and books.

Favorite play?

Chicago. Yeah, I know, not very highbrow but a dang good time.

Favorite short story?

I am not a fan of short stories (you just get into the story and it's over). I do seem to read The Red Pony every few years but I think that is only because I keep hoping for a different ending.

Favorite work of non-fiction?

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. So well written I didn't realize it was non-fiction until after I finished the book.

Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

I don't think I can answer that. All authors (except Harper Lee and Margaret Mitchell) seem to write an occasional crummy novel.

What is your desert island book?

I would like to say Anna Karenina just to watch Fuchsia's head explode but in all honesty it would have to be something along the lines of How To Survive Anywhere.

What are you reading now?

Star Island by Carl Hiassen. He makes me laugh.

That's it. There were a few other questions but I chose to ignore them. Mostly because I really don't care about English Lit as a whole (I blame that on a Brit Lit class in college).

What about you? Do you have any recommendations?

I Am So Lazy

2010-11-16T16:07:00.005-05:00

Why? Because I went looking for a meme to post and look what I found! Any of you who wish to may play along but I promise I will shed no tears if you don't. If you do though, golly gee it will make me happy!

So here I go;

What author do you own the most books by?

Oh yeah, that has to be Stephen King. Followed closely by Janet Evanovich and Dean Koontz.

What book do you own the most copies of?

No such critter. I have so many books that I only keep one of each. And I still wind up donating bunches to the library.

Does it bother you that both those questions ended with a preposition?

Jeez, I hope not. Because that's 90% of my writing!

What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

Lula from the Stephanie Plum books. I want to be that self-confident.

What book have you read the most times?

I don't usually read anything more than once. There are just too many books out there for me to try to get through.

What was your favorite book when you were 10 years old?

Black Beauty. No doubt. I only read it 10,000 times. I may even read it again for a refresher. And this answer kind of negates the previous one doesn't it?

What is the worst book you've read in the last year?

I can't remember. I know if I really hate a book, I get rid of it immediately.

What is the best book you have read in the last year?

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. No question. I can't wait for the movie to come out.

If you could force everyone to read one book, what would it be?

None. Find what you like and go with it. And hopefully you will become a lifelong reader.

Who deserves the next Nobel Prize for literature?

Well, duh. I do, of course.

Okay, enough for today. I will finish this later this week (on pins and needles waiting, aren't you?). Mara and Kate, I am hoping you do this too because both of you have given some stunning recommendations this year!

Talking Cats

2010-11-15T00:19:00.000-05:00

Ya' gotta love them talking cats!

The Hills Were Alive

2010-11-13T19:39:00.002-05:00

with the sound of gunfire. I swear (or suwanee if I am using the southern vernacular) it sounded like a war out there today. Yes, today was the beginning of gun deer season.

I'm not a big fan. I was even less of a fan when I discovered that someone had put a hunting blind on my property and stocked it with one of my horse water tubs (they needed something to sit on you know). I had given my neighbors permission to hunt on my land but that setup was not theirs. I called the sheriff and he told if I knew who the people who had placed it there were, I should go talk to them. I told him I wasn't crazy about talking to trespassers who liked to play with guns, so he said he would do it. He also told me if they didn't remove it, I could.

Whatever he did must have worked because the blind was gone today. They did leave my horse tub but they didn't bother to put it back where it belonged. Aggravating.

And yes, there were some deer shot on my property today but it was by the people I had allowed to hunt. Fuchsia is pleased because she is hoping to get some venison out of it (which will be all hers because I am not interested, thank you).

Now I have to follow up on my last post. When I made the comments about blue bloods I forgot that was a bit of an inside joke. UK's colors (the real one, not the posers) are blue and white. But mostly blue.

Me and Dennis Miller. Our references are always too obscure!

Happy, Happy, Happy

2010-11-11T19:24:00.004-05:00

UK, which as all good blue bloods know does NOT stand for United Kingdom (posers) but instead for the University of Kentucky, has a clinical trial which screens (through internal ultrasounds) for ovarian cancer. To be entered in the study you must be A) Female with ovaries, 2) over 50 or, C) have a close female relative who has had ovarian cancer. I have been taking part for 4 years now (as long as I have been female?) and today was the day for my yearly screening.

Driving into Lexington is always a challenge for a country dweller like me. Lots of traffic and everyone going screaming fast to make it to the next light which immediately turns red. Add to that the fact that I had to drive to the center of a HUGE campus with a HUGE hospital with something near 10,000,000,000 students who believe as pedestrians they are entitled to not get hit by a car (more posers) and you can understand why my blood pressure gets a tad elevated. Oh, and did I mention the one tiny parking lot that you have to know the secret code (and address) to get into? Yeah, good times.

But I did make it and I did have a normal screen and all the pedestrians survived. A win-win-win situation.

To celebrate such a momentous occasion, I felt some shopping was called for. So I stopped and made the one purchase which will make the entire household happy.

Groceries? A new car? Clothing from this decade? C'mon now, you're not even trying! Put some thought into it!

This is what I bought;

Because you know the old saying. If C-dog ain't happy then nobody is happy.

My Acting Career's Culmination

2010-11-10T19:52:00.006-05:00

A year ago ( a YEAR!), I drove to Lexington to be an extra in the movie Secretariat. For those of you who didn't see the original post, you can read it here. I loved the horse, was thrilled to be able to be in the movie, and was on tenterhooks for the 12 months until I would be able to see the final result.

The long awaited day arrived. While I was in New York, the local area did a sneak preview on the Saturday before I was to leave. A bunch of my family got together and we headed to the theater for my (not really) red carpet premier. I remember how wound up we all were. Me because there was a chance I would see myself on the big screen and them because, well, of the same reason.

The theater was fairly crowded. The movie began and I near about vibrated with excitement. I teared up when Lucien and Ron Turcotte entered the story. They were such a part of Big Red's life.

Then it was time for Secretariat to run the Derby. Which was shown upside down and backward (it started at the finish line). Apparently no one had bothered to screen the film beforehand (way to go Elmira!). The theater employees came in and announced to us that they would not be able to fix it that evening but if we wanted to come back sometime the next week, they would give us free passes.

Since I was leaving the following Monday, the passes did me no good (I gave mine to my relatives). I planned on seeing the rest of it sometime when I was back in Kentucky.

And that is what I did today. I went to an afternoon matinee. The place was almost empty (when I arrived, there were 2 other people sitting in the last row) so I chose a spot about in the middle. Apparently it was a great spot because the only other person to come in sat in the same row.

A little over an hour into it, the guy at the end of my row received a phone call. Which he answered! I was beginning to believe I would never get to see the movie but fate was on my side since his phone wouldn't work and he had to leave the room. Hooray!

He left, the movie continued, and I sniffled my way through it. The ONLY thing that kept me from dissolving into sobs was trying to find myself on the screen (I didn't but my neighbor told me she thought she might have). Even so, I still put the tissue I was wise enough to take with me to good use.

If you have a chance, see the film. It's family friendly with a great story. And I think it's safe to say that unless you were a superfan of the big red colt, you won't even need the tissue.

But if you were, you might want to think about giving this a try;

It sure would have come in handy for me!

So Inspiring

2010-11-09T23:07:00.002-05:00

This, though 2 years old and 20 minutes long, was powerful enough to actually take my breath away. Trust me, it will be the most wonderful 20 minutes you have spent in a long time.