Sky Watcher Post; Garden report; Wolfie report, and The Tort report.

There is lots and LOTS of thunder but no Bolts so far.  I hope we get some rain and not just lightning strikes which can cause fires.  It's over 80 degrees and very exciting!  Wolfie is not bothered by all this but then, it hasn't really crashed to the ground and hit anything.

One year before we had Wolfie and before the trees were out,  a bolt of lightning came down the tree, lept over to the house and fried the electric meter before it traveled through the grounding wire into the ground.   Smokin'!  That was a very big noise!  Living at the top of a Mesa really has it's exciting moments!

Garden Report: Mr. Z saved tomato seeds from the Heirloom Zebras, and this is the second year we've been able to use last year's seeds.    I'm so stoked!  I'd love to plant potatoes, too, but the little skunks and possums would just probably dig them up.  And, the potato plants are, like tomatoes, bad for the tortoises.  This pot is thigh high to me, so the torts can't figure out how to get at them.   We use our compost and some potting soil, new, every year.

Wolfie Report:  Wolfie is very calm during this storm, and we are hoping that most of his PTSD, from living with gunfire and in the rough for God only knows how long, is over with.  He came from somewhere in City Heights, which can be a real Wild West Show sometimes.  He's just been to the groomer's though, so he may be a little deafened from the blowers.  Holy Smokies, is it ever LOUD in there.  He runs away when I try to take his picture so here's one from earlier.

He's small enough to fit inside a grocery sack when he wants to.

Tort Report: The baby torts spent the winter outside for the first time this last year.  They missed their rose feasts but they had plenty of grass in their enclosure.  40% of what a tortoise eats in the wild is dried grass anyway.  We keep a good eye on them lest they tried to escape to the larger world and meet the horrible fate that met their youngest sibling.

Mother Poko went out the gate this year as well, though she was large enough to attract the attention of a passing neighbor who came and told on her.  Mr. Z nabbed the miscreant and immediately fortified the gate with bricks.  How that huge tortoise managed to wedge her way in and then out of such a tight space still has us scratching our heads.  Tortoises, it seems always want to go where "the grass is greener", and will do just about anything to get to it.    

Tuesday Tails... Free range hens in California. Yay!

Eggs Lovely Eggs!

...And, I quote:

"The State of California will end the sale of eggs from out-of-state battery cage facilities beginning January 1, 2015.

On Tuesday, July 6, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law Assembly Bill No. 1437, which requires all sales in California of shell (whole) eggs for human consumption to comply with the state’s Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act. This act prohibits the confinement of egg-laying hens in a manner that does not allow the birds to fully extend both wings without touching the side of an enclosure or other egg-laying hens, effectively banning the use of battery cages.

The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, also known as Prop 2, was brought into law through a successful November 2008 state-wide ballot measure. It phases out the use of battery cages by Californian egg producers by January 1, 2015, while the new assembly bill extends that ban to out-of-state producers selling to consumers in California.

The Associated Press reports Schwarzenegger as saying the new law is a positive step both for California egg producers and for animal welfare. With just under 40 million consumers, California is the most populous state in the nation. Observers expect AB1437 to have significant impacts on egg production methods outside of the state."

End Quote

Oooops I forgot to link but now it's in place...

This is from HERE : the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition Page.  Our Other twin daughter has a degree in Sustainable Agriculture.  We are dancing over this victory for the hens because there was,of course, a protracted fight by Industry to have the law thrown out.

"Animals" magazine ran an article about a local egg ranch who started making the transition before hand, not waiting for the overtime end around play to get stomped, which it did.

Many farmers actually don't want to treat animals the way that has been pushed by the largest Agribusinesses like Tyson, for one.

Big Agri, once the farmer was heavily in debt to them by making changes that were demanded, and in order to do the only business around (i.e. with big agribusiness firms like Tyson) they in turn forced a lot of things on farmers that no normal human being can stand.

I'm glad to see that this tide of filthy practices is changing.  Now to keep meats and other animal products out of the United States, from non conforming nations.   Agribusiness is moving off shore.

Europe and Britain are way ahead of us in this.  They are closer to being REAL human beings apparently.  But a fight against such horrors can be won, and I'm glad to see California began this under a Republican and it's enacted and enforced under a Democrat.  We are all together in this!  And that, my friend, is good for all of us.

The people won this one.  Power to the People!

Music Monday: Slack Key Guitar- Ledward Kahumoku, Cyril Pahinui, and also a history from Jeff Peterson

First, Ledward Kahumoku:  We saw Ledward in concert here in a beautiful little church in North Park, and he played this.  He was one of the three Slack Key players who played that night, and one of the ones I talked about in Saturday9.   Beautiful player, "bright guitar".  He is also Master Player



Now, a video from a younger Master Slack Key player.  This one explains the history of Slack Key Style.



My favorite Old Master is Cyril Pahinui.  I love the mellow sound of his guitar.  Not so "bright".  I don't like certain very famous guitars because of their "brightness".  It's just a preference.

One Song...with stills,

Sunday Stealing- The Usual Things!

Come on all you meme thieves!  Let's Rock this one!

June 27, 2015

Unusual Things

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from. We also provide a link to the victim's meme in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from this new meme or recently asked questions from a previously featured meme.
Cheers to all of us thieves!!!

Unusual Things

Stolen from: My Random Randomness

1. Who was the last person of the opposite sex you laid in a bed with?

 Wait, wait, I read that wrong.  Trying again...

Mr.Z., that's who.

2. Where was the last place you went out to eat? 
Mrs. Kelly's Fish Market down in Point Loma.  Not the one that got a huge kitchen fire because someone didn't clean the exhaust fans properly.

3. What was the last alcoholic beverage you consumed?
A little bit of Champagne at New Years with the kids.  Oh wait, Mother's Day Margaritas made by our Grand Nephew.  Yummy stuff!

4. Which do you prefer - eyes or lips? 
I like eyes.  They can say more than lips can, you know.  What's he saying?  This horse is a little nervous...

5. Medicine, fine arts, or law? 
Fine Arts without a doubt.  Of course there are Detectives who specialize in Fine Art Thefts.  That might be fun.

6. Best kind of pizza? 
Cheese, pineapple, green pepper, and black olives

7. Is your bedroom window open?
Nope!  It's only open in the morning when it's cool out there!

8. What is in store for your future? 
More cortisone, and maybe arthroscopic surgery.  I'm looking up the $$$ for that.

9. Who was the last band you saw live? 
Well, they weren't a band per se, They were a trio of strings playing slack key guitar.  Fabulous!

10. Do you take care of your friends while they are sick? 
It's one of the givens of friendship, that you take care of friends when they are sick.  So, the answer is yes.

11. Any historical figures that you envy? 
Teddy Roosevelt before all the trouble hit him.  I would have loved to see the west through his eyes.

12. How many songs are on your iTunes? 
Probably 3,000.

13. What brand of digital camera do you own? 
I have an ancient Ricoh, and two of the smaller Canons.  My secret love is an EOS Mark 5 - if we could afford it.

14. When was the last time you got a good workout?
 When I hurt my arm about a year ago or more at the gym.

15. Are you experienced? 
What?  In the wilderness? I can call in 911 air rescue, give CPR, stitch someone up, but not amputate a limb, and I can administer pressure dressings.  At my age I've taken at least seven first aid courses and so on.  I worked at the Red Cross, etc.  If you mean something else, well, you just go away.

16. If you need a new pair of jeans, what store do you go to first? 
I like women's Levi's so I go where they are.  This means I shop Goodwill first.

17. Are you a quitter? 
No.  I'll stay until the job gets done.  My kids probably hate me for that.

18. What are two bands or singers that you will always love? 
Ok( just two-dammit- ) Boston, Kansas, Moody Blues, Aerosmith, and Pink Floyd, Otis Redding, and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on  and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on....

19. What of the seven deadly sins are you guilty of? 
Anger is the only one I think.  I'm mad as hell at the jerks in congress who want to start another civil war.  What a wet dream for the Military Industrial Complex!  Sorry to be gross but it's late and I've had my meds.  And I guess I'm a little jealous of people who can send their kids to any university or college no sweat, and then buy them a house to live in while they attend.  Ya, mark me green with envy.

20. Did you just have to google the seven deadly sins to see what they were?
No, I knew what they were, having looked them up recently to make sure I knew what I was talking about somewhere else.

saturday9: From Iceland... Björk, "I Miss You"

I Miss You

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!
Saturday 9: I Miss You (1997)

.. because Smellyann suggested it

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Bjork knows what she's looking for in a mate, she just hasn't met him yet. If you are/were still looking for The One, what two qualities would you hope he/she possessed?
I'd want a kind man, full of love.  He'd have to want a family, and work to protect and support them.  Why two?

2) The lyrics ask if you believe "that a dream can come true." Do you believe that dreams come true if you wish hard enough? 
I don't believe in wishes.  I believe in a power with limitless benevolence that wishes us well.  Without a miracle, I wasn't going to live to be 20.  I got my miracle.

3) Bjork turns 50 this year. Do you treat "milestone" birthdays differently? Or to you, is your age just a number?
I completely believe that age is just a number.

4) Bjork was always highly musical. At the tender age of 6 she began studying classical piano and flute. Sam is impressed because at the age of 6, she was still trying to master tying her shoes. Do you consider yourself musical?
There was a time when I considered music to be the best thing about me.  To some extent, I still feel that it is.

5) She was born and raised in Reykjavik, Iceland. While the city is known for its bar scene, beer was banned there until 1995. How often do drink beer?
I don't drink at all.  Bad for my meds, and bad for me.  But there was a time when I really enjoyed having a beer.

6) 66ºNORTH is one of Iceland's biggest employers. This clothier makes quality outdoor wear and this time of year they sell a lot of durable rainwear. Do you have a raincoat?
OOOps missed this one... No, I don't have a raincoat.  I do have a rain resistant parka type jacket and muck boots.  I'm going to go have a look at 66°NORTH.  I wear North Face and a couple of other down products.

7) In 1997, when this song was popular in clubs, Titanic was popular in theaters. Sam saw it and yes, she cried. How about you? Have you seen the saga of Jack and Rose? Did you enjoy it?
I was horrified that only a few people remembered the people in steerage.  I loved the movie and think it deserves it's blockbuster status.

8) Also in 1997, singer John Denver died. Name a John Denver song.
"Annie's Song".  I really do like that one a lot.  Except that he would sometimes change keys in the middle of a song, I really did enjoy his voice and his singing.  He was a very good song writer/singer. Good Man!   A poet.

Then there is that part of knowing Aspen before it became a compound of sky lodges and mansions.  It was an amazing little Rocky Mountain town.

9) Random question: If you had the opportunity to sky dive, would you take it?

No.  I'd rather learn how to para sail.  

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

friday5! How Rank!

Friday 5 for June 26: How Rank!

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there; then leave a comment below so we’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!

What memories do you have of an old-fashioned general store?  

I'm actually young enough to not have ever seen an old fashioned general store.  To me, that's amazing!  Anyway, I have seen the General Store in Old Town.   So, it was a museum experience which someone dragged into the 21st century.

What’s something people think incorrectly of your home state (or country) but still contains a kernal of truth?

Too many people around the world think we are pretty much free to do whatever we like here, in the USA.  However, that's not true for a growing number of things to do.  When the West was Wild, it was more true.

Collecting cow pies for fuel on the plains.

What are the major differences between you and your best (non-romantic) friend?

She's hyper religious, I am not.  She has a disease that's going to kill her soon.  I don't.  Those are the two most major differences.

What’s something you were the captain of?

I was captain of one of the Spanish debate teams in high school.

What’s the story of your first private moment with a high-school romantic interest?

I never dated in high-school.  That didn't mean I didn't swoon over a couple of guys on the Football team, and one of them was also on the Basketball team.  He went on to greatness, that one.  

Thanks for participating, and have a chiefly fantastic weekend!

Seat of the pants Sailing into Thankful Thursday...

Since this almost turned into a pity party day, I've tacked, raised the spinnaker, and took  flight down wind to the Ocean of Dreams.

I take extreme delight in the Cape Honeysuckle through the bedroom window.  The male Allen's Hummingbird has come back and seems to "own" the Cape again.  The early morning air is brisk and fresh.  A lovely day!

I am thankful  that we have such a wonderful plumber, nearly in retirement now, bless his heart. Isn't it wonderful that the trades have not been forsaken?

I wish this arm would behave, that the mystery of it could be solved.  But, there are other things to celebrate!

Being in a hopeful, thankful frame of mind, I started going barefoot again, and it's doing wonders for my balance and joints, especially  the old witch of a hip.   It's time to make me some of my world famous barefoot sandals again!  That's a joke, they are not world famous.. It seems everyone makes them now-a-days.  My Sis remembers many things of Back in the Day.....  barefoot sandals were so excellent!
The ones we made looked exactly like these:

Middle Eastern Women started this, or maybe Hindis?  I don't know that history

Oh, in the next life, I don't what to have to wear shoes!  Ever!  I want to dance the bird dance through life and live in the Marquesas, where the Tropic Birds fly!

This sweet picture is from HERE

Wordless Wednesday - Hydroponic Tomatoes and Veggies

Source

Tuesday Tails: Dying for Art?

I'll just hit you with it:  

We just watched a movie called, "Hector, and the Search for Happiness".  It was an amazing film. It's well worth watching but I have a problem that can't be resolved about it.  I didn't see the full credits so don't know if it carried the seal of a Humane Society - any humane society- HSI-International, the US ASPCA or UK SPCA.  I certainly hope so because there is a disturbing very believable killing of an animal in it.  Yes, a tiny animal but still.  Gah!

Rats, beautiful pets!

Kiss!  Nibble!  Stretch!

And, so, how was your weekend?  Have a great week!

Music Monday: Mozart Clarinet Concerto; Sharon Kam Solo artist

In honor of my little niece, CC, who plays the clarinet very well indeed!

So, are you any good at Texas Hold'em? Dancing with the Stars? Sunday Stealing time....

First of all, Happy Father's Day going out to all our friends and family!

Get It All Down Meme

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from. We also provide a link to the victim's meme in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from this new meme or recently asked questions from a previously featured meme.  
Cheers to all of us thieves!!!
  
Stolen from: My Random Randomness

1. Are you a good dancer?
I'm only an OK dancer.  I love, love to dance but I'm only passably good at it.

2. Are you a good singer?

I thought I might like to be a singer when I grew up.  I started singing solo, on stage, when I was a third grader and sang all the way through to my forties or fifties- mostly folk and Country. with a guitar.  I had to give it up when I got Pneumonia, first, then broke my wrist.  I've given most of instruments away to my daughter who plays three different stringed ones.

3. Are you a good cook?
My kids think I was, when we got together for meals a few years ago.  It was something I really did enjoy doing, and I put some effort into being good at it.  I loved most to bake.

4. Are you a good artist?
That is what I really thought would be my career, as a portrait and landscape painter.  I particularly love Oil Painting and seascapes.

5. Are you a good listener?
I'm a better listener than a talker. Listening is more important than talking, to me.  So many people need to tell their stories.  Talk it out, you know?

6. What's your favorite clean word?
I like the sound of the word, "slice" and always answer with that.  

7. What's your favorite swear word?
It must be the word, "Hell".  I have a hard time not saying it at times.  It can just roll off the tongue with such ease.

8. What's your least favorite word?
Swear word or regular word?  I hate to hear, or see, the F word.  

9. What was the last film you saw?
We just watched, "St. Vincent".  I don't know why it had a PG-13 rating, but then there's so much I don't understand about the movie rating system.  On the whole, it was a great story and Bill Murray was magnificent!  It has a great cast, and the little boy who played Oliver should get a nomination if he didn't.

10. What football team do you support?
Meh.  American Football?  Meh..  I resent paying for new stadiums for these multi millionaire owners.  Let them eat cake, and stay the Hell- there's that word!- away from the Public Loaf of Bread.

11. Have you ever been bobbing for apples?
No way José!  I could tell from a very young age that sort of thing was just not very wise to do.

12. What's your most expensive piece of clothing?
A white Blazer

13. What's the last thing you took a picture of?
The book on this blog.  I can not keep up with so many deadlines now that there are both brick and mortar libraries and kindle libraries.  It feels like an embarrassment on riches.  I love it!

14. What's the last thing you drew a picture of?
A seashell or one of the abstracts.  I don't remember.  I'm trying hard to get my shoulders back.  If this new exercise works you will hear the knitting needles again.  A YouTube of them!  A crescendo of needles!!; then I'll start drawing again!  

Source dug out of Pinterest.. gah
Now, there's a job and a half!

15. Have you ever bought anything from eBay?
No.  I've bid on a few things but have a low tolerance for overpaying for anything.  A dozen Tea cups and saucers went up over 125, and I bailed.

16. Have you ever invented a fairly unique meal or drink?
No, I like to cook but I'm not a chef be any means.  It's just fun to cook, and to bake.  Drinks?  Never tried it.

17. Do you have any secret family recipes?
There is no secret to the family's recipes, maybe the making of olives?  But I did invent (meaning I came up with it by myself) a way to cut a cake layer through the exact middle (in half )with no sweat.  It's the same way you cut a thousand year old egg in pieces in Chinese cooking but only applied to a cake layer.  Works fabulously. 
 

Look Yummy?

Saturday9..and where did you learn to drive, Parnelli?

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: Daddy's Little Man (1969)

... because it's Father's Day weekend

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is about an afternoon visit between a father and son. What are your plans for Saturday afternoon?  Writing this out... I'm so late!

2) The lyrics talks about enjoying an ice cream cone. Do you have any ice cream in your freezer right now?  No, only some soy frozen stuff.  I plan to eat ice cream very soon, however.  :ol  maybe tomorrow.

3) Sam's father hates it when she swears. When is the last time you cursed?
Just a minute ago, under my breath, because my Triceps and Biceps are cursed and they hurt like (#&*!@#  So, I have to be careful with them and a strange, curative exercise from HERE is helping.  I can't be happier, really, because this injury has gone on for over a year, cortisone, ex-rays, shots, blattity blah for over a year of nothing.  I hate when I swear.

4) In a recent ranking of movie dads, Mufasa (Lion King) and Atticus (To Kill a Mockingbird) got very high marks. Who is your favorite movie or TV father?
There are so many.  Let's see....  It still has to be Major Dad.  And, this is probably because, with few exceptions, I don't watch TV sitcoms.   There was "A Father's Choice" that I thought was an excellent movie about a rodeo cowboy, coming back from a bad injury, who is sent his two daughters to raise after his wife is killed.  I loved that movie and thought of it right away.  It's based on fact, also.

5) Sam's own father often traveled for business, and always remembered to bring her the little complimentary soaps, shampoos or body lotion he got from the hotel. When you take a trip, do you bring back souvenirs?
Only of the Rocky kind.  I have rocks from all over the half acre.

6) Back when Sam was in high school, it was her father who gave her driving lessons. Who taught you how to drive?
I stole cars and took them for joy rides in the riverbed.  Joke!  The paternal unit taught my brother, me and our mother, but Mom taught my little sister to drive.  My little sister was the lucky one but we learned a lot younger.  I was 10 and my bro was 10, too.  Yes, we would drive the highways from the deserts while Dear old Dad slept it off.  Things were a lot simpler then, you see.

Actually I always wanted to drive a Tank.

7) Sam's own father is easy to buy for: every year he wants a new pair of loafers, so every year for Father's Day she gives him a DSW gift card. Would you rather receive a gift that someone chose, even though it might not be just right, or do you prefer a gift card or cash so you can get exactly what you want?
Actually I like something someone chose.  My own hubby and kids were great with this.   And friends.

8) For family barbecues, Sam's dad dons his "Kiss the Chef" apron and mans the Weber. What's the last thing you cooked on the grill?
DH has one of those aprons.  Cute!  And my cooking days are over so that would have been years ago, the last BBQing for me.  I used to cook everything, years ago.

9) Sam's father satisfies his afternoon sugar craving with an almost endless stream of Butter Rum Lifesavers. When you crave a snack, do you usually want something sweet or salty?
Either one.  Actually my favorite is sweet and salty, too.  Those peanut or is it almond nut things.. can't remember what they are called.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Aren't Random Lives pretty much what we live now?....friday5

Friday 5 for June 20: Scattergories, Part 5!

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there; then leave a comment below so we’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!

It’s the third Friday in June, which means it’s time for our annual Scattergories Five! My favorite Five of the year!

We first did them in 2009, and revisited them in 2012, in 2013, and last year on this same weekend. If you never did those, and if these five questions seem not to be enough, feel free to add those questions to this week’s.

This week’s 5 is inspired by the party game Scattergories, in which players have to think of items, all beginning with the same letter, in several categories. For example, if the die is rolled and shows the letter T, players might have to name a soft drink, a farm animal, a river, and a U.S. President, all beginning with T. Valid answers might be Tab, turkey, Tennessee, and Tyler.

First, go to this nifty online random-letter generator. Set the “number of random letter sequences to generate” to 1. Set the “length of each random letter sequence” to 1. Leave the “letters to choose from” how it is and click the button. You’ll get a rather non-dramatic one letter. Use that letter to begin all your answers to the 5 questions below.

Alternately, if you find that boring, you could set the “length of each random letter sequence” to 5, thereby giving you five letters, a different one for each question.

What random letter was generated by the online random-letter generator (this doesn’t really count as one of your five questions)?
............................

The random letter generator gave me the letter W.

What’s a refreshing beverage whose name begins with the letter?
A. Water, of course,

What ailment whose name begins with the letter have you suffered from?
A. Weirdness

What horrible creature whose name begins with the letter do you resemble in your foulest mood?
A. Werewolf.

What emotion whose name begins with the letter have you experienced in the past week?
A. Weepiness

What’s an item in your purse, wallet, or backpack whose name begins with the letter?
A. Ha!  Wallet

Thanks for participating, and have a qrqvqohy* weekend!

*generated by the random-letter generator!

Thankful Thursday... Oy Vey!

I cried my woman tears of gratitude when reading the reaction to how SEXY women scientists are at work!

You can READ the reactions to the original if you haven't already..

I'm sort of glad that my girls went in for the Arts, Math, Agriculture and History so that they can cry their "woman tears" somewhere they are not likely to be scrutinized by males.  Thank you Holy Spirit!  Heck, all Artists cry like babies....

Thanks to Mr. Z for the link ... *cries* (because she didn't find it herself first).  Oh BooHoo!

And don't you forget it, neither!

Tuesday Tails_ Sri Lanka Stray Dog report.

It's Tuesday Tails and .....

Let's Wing it!

Having recently seen a Ted Talk Series about how Capitalism can keep it's fist in the coming markets, and not be caught with a hand in the till, I decided to write about one young man's epiphany about creativity, and how it pays to take a sabbatical and live with wild dogs as models for new design.  At least I think that's what he was trying to convey to the audience but perhaps I was confused.

Sri Lanki has 3 million stray dogs, which they, the Sri Lankan authorities, were going to have culled on or about May 2012, I believe.

Meanwhile, perhaps a few years later, this young next hot thing gave a Ted talk telling about how, when he went there on Sabbatical from his highly successful advertising business, and made chairs and other objects centered on the dogs because he was afraid of them.  He was having a great time in his talk, saying how he used his fear of the dogs to build new life into his designs.  A dog chair is something I remember - it had two huge dogs holding it up to sitting level, carved from local woods by the furniture makers there.  I'm sure they were happy to have the work.

I'm left  wondering if he donated the money from a gallery sale of the "art" back to Sri Lanka to help the dogs.  People from all over the world ARE actually trying to help, but this young artist said nothing at all about that part of his adventure.  He was speaking on how a sabbatical every 7 or so years is SO rejuvenating.

My  hope is that, behind the scenes, he took a little pity out of the money bag and used it on the dogs and the programs there in his "Paradise" to help these unfortunate and very ill animals.  Animal SOS - Sri Lanki is one of the organizations trying to help the country deal humanely with the dogs.

One comment was telling, in that a woman who must work euthanizing animals in the U.S. stated that 6 to 7 million dogs and cats were euthanized every year here.  But, of course, Sri Lanki is tiny and poor.

Our little success story:  How our dog rescued us.  I hope it inspires more people to adopt pets.

Wednesday August 26th is National Dog Day.

Sunday Stealing, Mind if I peek at your skelly?

Would You Rather Meme, part two
Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from. We also provide a link to the victim's meme in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from this new meme or recently asked questions from a previously featured meme.
Cheers to all of us thieves!!!

Would You Rather Meme, part two

Stolen from: Sign Up Genius

1. Would you rather go to a movie or to dinner alone?
 No because it would be less fun.  Sharing meals is a great pleasure.  I love it.  Movies?  Same same!

Chicago Meal Sharing Group meet up

2. Would you rather always say everything on your mind or never speak again? 
Seriously?  It would be impossible to say everything on your mind because most of it is pictorial.  I'm already pretty quiet, anyway.

3. Would you rather make a phone call or send a text? 
Texts seem to be more appreciated than intrusive calls, so I'd rather text. 

4. Would you rather read an awesome book or watch a good movie? 
I've been reading some very awesome books in the last few years, and have stopped watching movies or Netflix sitcoms in the afternoon.  Both have their place in entertaining the brain but since Movies are visual treats that make you think, sometimes I like them better.  But then along came Kindle Fire and reading in the dark became so much easier! 

5. Would you rather be the most popular person at work or school or the smartest?
The smartest.  I've never been in either situation, but being the smartest person would make things a lot easier!

6. Would you rather put a stop to war or end world hunger?
Wars cause world hunger.  Without them, the farmers, large and small could feed this world.  Soldiers, ours anyway, would most likely rather distribute food to the hungry than deal with the consequences created by War Lords.

 7.Would you rather spend the night in a luxury hotel room or camping surrounded by beautiful scenery? 
I would much rather be camping.  No contest!  Can't wait to get back out there!  Besides, camping can be totally Glam, you know...

8. Would you rather explore space or the ocean? 
The Oceans win this one.  There's still life in it, no thanks to man.

Oceans for Kids Page

 

9. Would you rather go deep sea diving or bungee jumping? 
See above

10. Would you rather be a kid your whole life or an adult your whole life? 
You mean we're not all still kids?  Dang!

11. Would you rather go on a cruise with friends or with your spouse? 
I don't want to go on a cruise with or without anyone.  

12. Would you rather lose your keys or your cell phone? 
The word rather indicates we have choice.  So I choose to not lose either.

13. Would you rather eat a meal of cow tongue or octopus? 
Those two choices are the best reasons I'd have for moving,instantly, into the realm of strict vegetarianism.

Go here if you dare

14. Would you rather have x-ray vision or magnified hearing? 
Since I cannot stand noise, I choose ex-ray vision.  I'd probably be going with ex-ray vision on this.  

15. Would you rather work in a group or work alone?
This really depends on the project.  A Gallery show set up I'd rather be with a group.  Making the piece, alone.  

Did you say Pie? Saturday9

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

 Saturday 9: American Pie (1971)
... because Country Dew suggested it

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In the lyrics, Don McLean refers to having once been a paper boy. When you were a kid, what job or household chores did you do for spending money?  

From 7 years old - when Mother cut her hand badly, which left it permanently damaged - until the end of the pre-teens, I cleaned the house on Saturdays-mopping, dusting, waxing, vacuuming.  All of it.  Summers I helped my mom to can fruit and veggies, fed the chickens, rabbits, and the eating pigeons. Weekdays I did dishes, ironed clothes and babysat my little sibs.  Life on a farm is no joke.  Everybody works.  But then, at 11, I went to work as a carpenter, working weekends and summers doing that as well.  That's where the real money was. ;o)

2) Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye. What's the last drink you ordered?  

Mr. Z and I had a glass of wine on our 50th.

3) He drove to the levee but it was dry. When is the last time it rained where you are? 

Probably three weeks ago.  

4) When McLean was working on the song, he wrote the lyrics out in long hand. It took him 16 pages of lined notebook paper. Today it's a laptop/smartphone/tablet world, and Sam can't remember the last time she hand wrote anything longer than a sign on her front door that read, "Bell broken. Plz knock." What about you? What's the last thing you wrote with pen or pencil?

With a pen, a letter to my daughter a couple of weeks ago.  We've decided to write letters.  It's lovely.  I write nearly everyday, mostly lists but still do two daily crosswords.  That's with a pencil.  I have had a lifelong love affair with pens and pencils, and paper for that matter.  Pencil Drawing, and Pen and Ink are something Beautiful to do, as mediums.

5) McLean's most recent CD is called "Addicted to Black," in reference to Olivia in The Twelfth Night. Quick! Without looking it up, name another character from Shakespeare.

Hamlet

6) Don was born in New Rochelle, New York, which was named one of The Best Walking Cities in America by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). What about your neighborhood? Is it easily walkable?

Not as much as others I've known. Older, small cities in New York must be beautiful to walk through, much like Pasadena and Altadena are here. I'm not sure how much those have changed but they were gorgeous when I was a teenager.

7) In 1971, the year this song was popular, Walt Disney World officially opened. Have you ever been to DisneyLand or Disney World?

Once when I was 11, Mom took us to Disneyland when our aunties from Ohio visited.  My sister was so little that she was very happy about it all.  Now, the whole thing is huge, I imagine.

8) Also in 1971, Mattel introduced Malibu Barbie. This doll was a "sun-loving California girl" and had a distinct tan. Have you ever used a tanning bed? 

Californians don't really need them.  So, No.

9) American Pie is also the name of a 1999 movie. Have you seen it? 

No, but but it's one of my favorite songs to sing, and we happen to own the album.

*********************************************************

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

The Philosophical Sandwich of Socrates? - Friday5 MeMe

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there; then leave a comment below so we’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!

1.A sandwich is usually some kind of ingredients between slices of bread, but what’s a great sandwich that has no bread at all?  
Are you speaking of a burrito? Is a tortilla considered bread?  Perhaps you are thinking of a veggie wrap, of lettuce leaves with filler ?  Those are pretty good.  If you are referencing something like insulation- as a tricky crossword setter might do -  then  I'd say that is a great sandwiching of layers - not tasty, but great. 

2.A salad is generally thought of as a mixture of fresh greens, but what’s a great salad whose main ingredients are not veggies? 

 A fruit Salad, one of the most yummie salads of all!  

From Dave's Deli, New York

3.Juice is usually the liquid squeezed from a fruit or vegetable. What’s a juice you enjoy that isn’t?  

The only thing I can think of, that I used to enjoy, is made from the juice of a member of the cactus family.  That cactus is an Agave, and the juice ends up as Tequila.  

Source

4.Milk is usually the food that a mammal produces for its young. How do you feel about milk alternatives that aren’t animal-produced? 

 I like all soy products, from Tofu to Frozen stuff.  Sometimes I long for the good old days of extra rich ice cream cones, but if I distract myself a little, that mood soon passes.

5.A staple is usually some food that forms the basic constituent of a cultural diet. What’s a staple in your diet that doesn’t exactly fit that definition?  

You have me stumped here.  I can't think of a thing.  Well, there is oat flour, and rice flour and agave nectar that we use in tea, and in the place of honey- sometimes.

Thanks for participating, and have a fantastic weekend!  

Come play the meme with us?.. button in the side bar..a sleeping baby mammal with a teddy bear...

Thankful Thursday.... well, sorta...

Health.  I'm thankful that this is as good as it is.  When I read about what others are going through, their medical challenges and what they must face every day, I'm humbled.

DH caught a cold probably from the Gym, he's pretty sure of it, and now it looks as if he's sharing it with me.  Cold-EZE is NOT putting the bite on this flaming new gem in the atmosphere.  A friend in Texas and DH came down with it the same day.  That's at least a thousand miles of space it traveled in record speed.  Is the Army experimenting again?  Of course, it's a Joke.

One thing in our society that seems to be generously shared is a virus.  People need to be able to stay home when they are truly in the grip of a virus.  Of course, that doesn't happen very much anymore - in this modern and more enlightened age of no unions, underwhelming payscales and corporate greed - so these things rip through our communities like wildfires.

So, wear your masks and wash your hands like a fiend!

And, once again, wear those face masks!

This is the second big community cold virus in less than 6 months. Maybe the Army wanted to test two viruses and got them mixed together like the well shrieked about Monkey Virus in the poliovirus fiasco?  Here we see an infected Colonel trying to call for help.

Maybe it's the Aliens?

"Look, her eyes are red and she's sneezing"
"Good work, Snoom!  It's only been a half an hour."

See you in a few.....

Giving a cat a bath. Tuesday tails about a very special little cat I'll never forget.

Oh how I remember having to bathe a cat.  My poor cat, Milo, was only about 2 months old when we took him home from my outside my sisters apartment.  His family had moved away and just left him there.  Anyway, he was a kitten but not tiny.  He'd been living "rough" for a couple of weeks or so, and he needed to be bathed, or so I thought.  Bad idea.  My poor back and neck caught the brunt of it when the kitten thought I was going to drown him.  Maybe someone had tried it already or something.  Anyway, he got the biggest eyes I've EVER seen on a cat, and took off over the top of my head and down my back.  There are still scars on my shoulder and back.  I should have just let him go but no, stupid human that I am, I hung on to him for dear life.  We had him for seven years until he was hit by a car, in the middle of the night, which was speeding up our street.  I hate people who speed on residential streets.

There has to be a special place in hell for people who do this, and then leave what they have done behind them to suffer and die in the road.  

Music Monday: It's Summer, The Beach Boys in the Studio... "Good Vibrations" Turn it up!!!

Fun Fun Fun

Happy Birthday Elle!
Sunday Thieves, m/friends, I am catching up this afternoon with your spaces.

So, you want to time travel? Better think about this one! Sunday Stealing!

Would You Rather Meme, part one

An Active MeMe Button is in the MeMe section of the side bar, folks.  Come join us! 

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from. We also provide a link to the victim's meme in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from this new meme or recently asked questions from a previously featured meme.  

Cheers to all of us thieves!!!  

Stolen from: Sign Up Genius

1. Would you rather go into the past and meet your ancestors or go into the future and meet your great-great grandchildren?
I'm pretty sure there will be no great-great children to meet, so I'd want to meet my Paternal Native American and French ancestors on that side.  I'd also love to meet the Welsh, Irish, and Amish ancestors, and learn Gaelic and Olde German; that would be a hoot!


2. Would you rather have more time or more money? 

Time is worth a lot more than money at this point in my life.  But wait, later on we are given another chance at this!

3. Would you rather have a rewind button or a pause button on your life?
I would chose the pause button.  Rewinding changes too many variables but then I guess you could just hit it forever.  Hmmm.... hard choice!

4. Would you rather be able to talk with the animals or speak all foreign languages?
 Animal languages ARE foreign languages so I choose to talk (and emote) in all foreign languages.

SOURCE

5. Would you rather win the lottery or live twice as long? 
If I lived twice as long, I'd be 144 years old when I died.  Yuck!  I want the money and I want it now!
Lol... Dame lo Dinero!

The first thing I would do is start giving it all away..

"Money, you've got lots of friends

Crowding round the door

When you're gone, spending ends

They don't come no more

Rich relations give

Crust of bread and such

You can help yourself

But don't take too much

Mama may have,

Papa may have

But God bless the child that's got his own

That's got his own"

~Billie Holiday~ 

I think this lady looks adorable.  She's Ecuadorian 

Would you feel worse if no one showed up to your wedding or to your funeral? 

We didn't have a big wedding so no to that, but at my funeral, I'll be dead and how could anyone care who showed up, unless it was a secret love who flung themselves on the casket to the horror of the others there.  Hmm.  It's time to hire a mummer who will do just that! Great fun from beyond the Grave!

Would you rather be without internet for a week, or without your phone? 
My phone has the internet.  How can anyone live without the internet.  Oh, snap, I'd choose the phone because it has it's own little internal Giga thinga!

Would you rather meet George Washington, or the current President? 
George Washington, and I'd want to ask him about those terrible wooden teeth, and how he really caught his death, and why he gave advice to the new nation to not keep a standing army and how he feels now that we've ignored that advice.

Would you rather lose your vision or your hearing? 
Another Hobson's choice.  Can we not pick something a little less vital, perhaps something like sex appeal? I can certainly live quite happily without that.

Would you rather work more hours per day, but fewer days or work fewer hours per day, but more days? 
The real question is, why does Europe have such better hours and benefits than the American Worker?  So my answer is, I'd rather be German, Scandinavian, or French.

Would you rather listen to music from the 70’s or music from today? 
 I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Rocker.  Having said that, I'll take anything but Justin Beiber or Rap.  You want to know is that yes or no to either.  I say, there is no choice.  

Would you rather become someone else or just stay you? 
I'll just stay me.  If a person switched then they would lose everything about themselves: spouses, children, family,  friends, loved ones, dogs, cats, memories?  If you change one thing you could change everything.  Not a good choice for me, for the most part, unless I was writing this from a prison cell. I would change having killed someone.....never did that one.  Hmmm...Tempting, but no.

Would you rather be Batman or Spiderman? 
Hobson's Choice or Morton's Fork question alert!  I'd rather be Catwoman, my Dear.  Ok, I'll play nice.  I'd rather be Batman because he can fly, and he has an amazing Valet/Butler who can COOK and clean the Batroom!

Would you rather be stuck on a broken ski lift or in a broken elevator? 
With all due respect, I'd rather be in a Zodiac on Lake Michigan in the winter if that's the only choice there was.  Well, I must admit that a stuck elevator would be less cold and breezy.  But what if it's crowded?  Oh I can't bear it.  I must go lie down now......*drama queen exits stage right* 

For your birthday, would you rather receive cash or gifts?
If handmade?  A gift.  DH could build me a patio for my birthday.  Otherwise I prefer cash..... Cha-ching!