Thursday Thirteen

Totally random rantings and the kitchen sink.. Lucky you?

Thursday Thirteen:  Since trying to stay positive, I've turned a blind eye to some things that shouldn't have been trusted.  So.... These are The Gripe Sessions, as presented by Major Grump and General Chaos.

But they will be followed by at least a few hurrahs.....Even IF it's only a single last hurrah... *wink*

1.  My Eldest, before she passed away, told me to forget about the gym, to just walk every day and to knit.  I indended to listen, but alas...

I'm now locked into  a seemingly endless series of lessons doing things that could have been learned in half that amount of time.  I'm so done with the gym.  Too be sure, I'm grateful for what I have learned, but I am done.  I have 8 more session and NO idea whether any of them are going to be useful.   I fell a couple of weeks ago, into a big piece of furniture that didn't seem to have the common decency to get out of the way!  Anywho...  I told my trainer I was too stiff and sore to come in and try to work out.  He has me working from the floor, getting up and down on the floor no less!  I asked him to cancel that week's session and to please save a my spot for the next week.  And Boy do I have the TMs to prove this!

Today I went in, and he said," You're here?"  I said yes.  He has scheduled someone else in that slot. He had responded with a "LIKE" which you can now do in messenger. Oh Joy! And, WTH does a LIKE mean, exactly?  Since I still have the text, it makes me very happy.  It's irrefutable PROOF.   Oh Dear God!  I'm SO OVER this gym thinga!

2.  When I drive by the old school yard and see what has been turned into a wasteland, I think of all the little animals that are now buried there, just run over by a bulldozer.  Mr.Z said that the little rabbits there used to go across the street and eat the grass on the lawns.  That's where the little fella who came to our yard for a few days came from.

We tell ourselves that at least it isn't a high rise
 or an apartment complex, which would have been a disaster.

And the birds, who could get away, have to reset a map that has been passed down to them from generations of ancestors that went before.  This must be how the Native Americans felt when they were uprooted and slaughtered.  I wish I'd have fought harder for an urban park in that space!  In-filling might be better than urban sprawl, but it also has it's terrible costs.  At some time, there may be trees, shrubs and lawns again, but that's practically an urban wasteland for the animals displaced, especially the seed eaters.  There was a lot of shrubbery left up there even after the loss of the Big Sycamore trees which gave shelter and comfort to so many other earthlings.

4. Frankly, if I actually DO get the choice, I won't come back to Earth, EVER.  I'm torn.  It's the only place, that we know of, in the Universe that has chocolate.

5. I'm mad at myself for not staying spry.

 It's come on over time and at nearly 75 I should be glad I can walk, but still... I rebuilt my back after getting on a horse that was two "bucks" away from a Rodeo.  I should have known better.  The horse's owner should have known better.  She wouldn't take no for an answer.  I think I've never met a bigger idiot in my life, besides, to be honest, myself, for getting on that horse!

6.  We have a train wreck in Washington and I'm too old and creaking to fight.  I find this very hard to take.  I long for the good old days, when the People had some real clout!  We were listened to in those days!

7.  I can't really think of another gripe!  I've plum run out!

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Seriously, I am looking for positives but finding few.  But they are there.
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 Here are a few:

8. Instagram.  There are so much excellent photograghy on it, from young to seasoned veterans of international stature.  It's like the best Eye Candy in the world is being put up there and you can look at it for as long as you like.  All of this IS concentrated in one place and you can lose yourself for hours in it, seeing this beautiful world full of people who care about it. UNFORTUNATELY it seems like Google now owns Instagram, and everyone who is in Google + and Instagram whom you've "followed", is now in your Google Page feed, too.  There is no way I have found, to divorce the two.

9. Smoothies are a happy thing!
I like them for midday meals.  They are quick to make, and also are a great use of those saved up, over-ripe frozen bananas.   This is better than putting them into the composter!  *BACK TO THE RECIPE*In the blender combine two big soup spoonfuls of greek yogurt, a frozen banana (broken into pieces), some pre-soaked dried mango, (one loosely filled cup of mango pieces pre-soaked in water or almond milk) just pour it in with the liquid it's in.   Add some honey or a couple of dates for sweetness.  Add about a cup of almond milk or water.  Blend. Pour. Enjoy.

10. Happiness is Our own personal little Wolverine.

A few weeks ago after a long hot walk with his Best Bud

He's back from the Groomer's and is sporting a new bandanna.  It's so cute, whoever thought that up for the male dogs is a genius.  Well, I did a little research on origins for bandanna, and the web isn't exactly a text book.  *rolls eyes*  But it does point out that the bandanna is something that has been worn in the West by cowboys, and also by farmers elsewhere, for a couple of centuries.  They are good for keeping necks from getting burnt from the long hours out standing in your fields, or on horseback.  All sorts of workmen wear them now who have to work outside in the sun.  It's also grand to help keeping dust from going your snout, even if you aren't a dog. So what I'm trying to say is that they are useful.  Around a dog's neck they are only ornamental.  But, they do look very cute.

Ok. Nice is over.  Back to grumpy me....

11.  I'm tired enough to sleep for a month.  I'm throwing in a load of wash and going to take a nap in a minute.

12.  I think I've seen about a hundred caribou gutted, cut up and eaten in the last five months.  Yes, I certainly need to get a life. AH, reality TV.  I loathe killing anything, and I just couldn't live that life.  But some of those Alaskans are tough boogers.  I think I like them all, especially the Hailstones,  But, I like Andy because he candidly admitted he hated to kill anything.  I actually liked Kate better, but she's gone. Are you into reality? Just look up, "Life Below Zero", if you do.  It has it ALL but I think it's giving me some terrible nightmares. Oh and I like the new musher.  We could be distant Cousins!  I always wonder about where all my numerous cousins are.  But I hate trapping.  It's cruel and it's for the fur trade.  I hate the fur trade.

13.   Well, lets do something nice again.  I quit the gym.  I'll go back when I'm good and ready.  I feel like what little control over my life I did have is back into my own two hands.

Hypocrites all.....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/08/29/on-disaster-relief-republicans-go-beyond-hypocrisy/

My take is that we are either a Country or we aren't.  We take care of the people here or we don't.  It's that simple.  And, it's that dreadful if it quits working that way.

Take care of all the people you asses... The money you throw at each other's little "Projects" like WARS and such is OUR money.  You'd damn well better start thinking about who YOUR people are.  It's ALL of US.  

Sunday Stealing: Art History... hahaha

Art History

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on  

WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. 


Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. You may have heard the expression, “honor among thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from, if possible. We also provide a link to the victim's questions 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 recently asked questions from a previously post. Cheers to all of us thieves!

Bev, this composite is Hilarious!

 This is a quiz I picked up a long time ago and my notes say that it was stolen from "Master of Art History Asks," but I can't find a trace of that blog today.  But the questions were interesting (a couple downright relevant!)

1. Do you look forward to the spring?
Southern California has two seasons.  The Wet and The Dry.  The only season I don't look forward to is midsummer through early fall, which is basically, The Dry.  It is hot here during that time, and I am very ungraciously attuned to whining about the heat.  I hate the heat.

2. Which area of the sciences do you enjoy the most?
Geology and all the Life Sciences.

3. If you could own a classical statue in the form of any figure from myth, religion, or even modern fiction, who would you choose?
I want a Quan-Yin.  My mother's beautiful porcelain Quan-yin, which came to me when she died, got broken one year, and I've never been able to find another that wasn't hundreds of dollars.

4. Do you have a good relationship with your mother?
I did.  She was the steadying influence in my early life.  

5. What is your favorite mythological story?
I tend to like the stories about the Norse Gods.  I'm not so convinced they are myths. *wink*

6. If you put on a big feast, what would you serve?
A Chinese Banquet.  I'd have it catered and it would be vegan, organic and delicious!

7. How do you have fun? (What is your favorite 'Earthly Delight'?)
I really like Instagram for all the excellent  photographers on it.  Ethical Owls is one of my very favorite groups.  Instagram has become my latest, and favorite time sink.  My real earthly delight might be my online game.  That's the other way I have fun.  I also like to go Geocaching.  But wait, You didn't ask what I hate.  You have to have this counter-valence, too!  I hate the gym but did get VERY lucky to get a trainer who taught me myofascial release techniques to use on my own.  Yippie!  no more knots!

8. Do you often look for hidden messages and meanings?
I'm thick as a brick.  I have to be practically bowled over before I find any hidden meaning at all.
Then, boy, does it ever have to be succinct! 

9. Have you ever received an award or special position?
I'm very plain vanilla.   But I will say this.  My kids all remember how good my cooking was.  They enjoyed eating foods from practically every cuisine on earth.  Cooking was the way I chose to express that artistic bent of mine.  I mean besides craft and sharing it with the kids.  They all turned out pretty crafty.  In a good way.

10. If a revolution was about to happen in your country, would you be part of it?
I would be part of it.  What that part would be, I cannot say, because I do not know.  But, I can't stand Idly by and let others take the flak.  I just couldn't do it.  The People's Constitution gives us the right to defend the nation and our constitution against tyranny, and I think I pretty much know what that entails at least.  I would defend my people and my country.  Domestic enemies should not be allowed to just control the armies or the police.  It's totally, well, Un-American!

11. Have you ever planned an act of revenge?
No.  I believe that revenge belongs to God.  Let God take it.  There is not a single, mainstream religion that does not teach this truth. Not a ONE.  So, why isn't it being said from every holy man's mouth?  

12. What is the most dramatic thing you have ever done?
The school thing.  I don't want anymore drama than that and hope not to have to be a part of a revolution, though it could not be shirked. 

13. Do you care about your weight?
I try to keep it down, because of my knees, but I don't actively care about it.  If I can be strong and healthy at what some would consider a weight that is too high, I don't give a flying fig.  There are too many people in this world who judge the worth of a person by their weight.  They are idiots.

14. Is your life moving too slowly or too fast?
I like life slow.  I've had enough of speed to last me for the rest of my days.  Losing my daughter within five months of a deadly diagnosis what so totally out of control that we are all still trying to recover from it.

15. Do you prefer to stay in the shade?
Yes, now I do.  Now  I am too pale and freckled to stand much sun, and a couple of medicine I take make that worse.

16. If you could have any mural on your ceiling, what would it look like?
It would look like all the stars in the milky way on a dark night.

17. Do you enjoy the countryside?
I prefer the country.  Or at least a small town IN the countryside.  

18. Are you a romantic?
I'll have to look that up and get back to you.  Right off the top of my head, I'd say, "no".

19. What is your favorite historic subject?
This is confusing.  History IS a subject.  Do you mean what subset of reference?  I would have to say it would be the Geological History of Earth, or maybe Archaeological History.

20. Do you prefer landscape paintings?
As opposed to portraits?  I'm trained as a seascape painter.  I like that best. And I like most modern art up until it went straight into commodity.  After that .. meh.  That was the death of Art.

21. Are you interested in social issues?

Oh ya.. I believe that governments should be formed to mainly put Social Welfare and Human Rights first on the agenda. Look how well it worked in Europe for awhile, until the black plague raised it's ugly head yet again!  Damn you, Breitbart!  
We need no more veering off into installing MONEY as the One True God.  Look where it's gotten us as a people -nowhere, and without a moral leg to stand on.  

I Wish it would rain..

 No, I really don't!

Saturday 9 Song: 

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 Wish It Would Rain (1968)
... because Janelle recommended the Temptations
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

If you would like to play along, go HERE

1) This week's song focuses on rain. Ombrophobia -- the fear of rain -- is fairly common in children. How do you feel about rainy days? 
I'm a Californian, and normally I adore rain.  However.... We have to get the roof fixed before Mid September.  That's when the rainy season can start.  We really don't want rain right now! 
Grits Teeth! 😬  I'm so beside myself over this.. but..*sighs*...  Life goes on!

2) Lead singer David Ruffin always wore corrective lenses. Are you wearing glasses or contact lenses as you answer these questions?
I'm over half way to 75.  What is your guess? 😎

3) Those thick-rimmed glasses were David's trademark. When he custom-ordered a luxury car, he had the image of those glasses painted on the door. Tell us something that makes your vehicle distinctive.  I can't think of anything other than it's a four wheel drive.  But is that distinctive?  There are three of this exact same model at the gym when we go there.  Lol!

4) David also had a penchant for mink. Rumor has it that he wore a mink-lined hat and even had that car upholstered in mink. If you could really splurge on anything right now, what would it be? Car? Travel? Clothes? Jewelry? (NO responsible answers allowed.)  You've heard all this, ad nauseam, so go ahead and skip to the next question.. And, since Clothes was plural, I am going to go Plural!

Houses!  I'd buy and completely furnish (IKEA does wonders these days) at least four houses - two in Santa Cruz and two in Arcata, where I would like to eventually live.  We once did look around up in central Cal,  when we were in our 30's, at Fresno and there-a-bouts, but, sadly, nothing came of it.  Big Mistake. We hadn't moved to San Diego yet.  My kids went through hell here.  

5) He sings that he badly wants to go outside. What are your plans for today? Will you be outdoors very much? 
I've already been outside enough this week.  And, I've been outside today to check on the tomatoes. We plan to bring them in when they get just a little pink on the bottom.  They ripen up fine when you do that, and that way the "animals" don't get at them.

6) The Temptations originally called themselves The Elgins because in 1960, Elgin watches were the high-end timepiece of choice. Today, in the age of cellphones and FitBits, wristwatches aren't that popular anymore. Do you often wear a watch?
 I sometimes do.  Not so much anymore, though.  Time isn't so pressing as all that, now.  The daily schedule doesn't read like a daily Metro schedule anymore.  My friend Meffie once said that of her life. *waves To Meffie*

7) This sad song was inspired by a real-life event. Motown songwriter Rodger Penzabene discovered his wife was cheating on him. Much to his own surprise, he didn't want to divorce or even separate from her; he just wanted her to love him and only him again. Tell us about a time when you didn't react as you thought you would. (Your story doesn't have to be as dramatic as Rodger's.)
Someone in middle school came up to me and asked me why I hated her.  I told her that I thought she hated ME...  We  developed a good solid friendship after that.  "Bee" was one of the most lovely people in the world.  I hope she's had a wonderful life because her mother died suddenly of an aneurysm when Bee was in high school, and she had it very rough emotionally after that for a while. I still think of her from time to time.  She married her high school sweetheart, a very good kid, right out of high school. I have this fond memory of the two of them walking, hand in hand, across our HS campus, going away from me one day.   We had all stopped to chat.  I thought, "That's what True Love looks like." 

8) In 1968, when this song was popular, a Pittsburgh McDonald's sold the first Big Mac (two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickle and onion on a sesame seed bun). Describe your perfect hamburger.
Ick.  McDonald's. Their special sauce tastes like ketchup with pickle juice in it.  Anyway, my perfect hamburger, when I was even eating any red meat, was from Fuddruckers.   In-n-Out burgers were pretty good, and really fresh ingredients.  


9) Random question: When you catch a cold, do you soldier through it? Or are you a big baby?

Colds don't slow me down too much.  Well, I'm already pretty darn slow! *insert image of a snail* But, I've had pneumonia, so I'm careful about watching for anything like that developing.  I was two days from hospitalization when it was caught by a very good doctor, one of the few, at Kaiser.

Thursday Thirteen: Favorite movies.

Short list of favorites, most of which turned out to be chick flicks and not necessarily in order from favorite to least... I had to think about these, even though it seems not.  😊

And so.....

Source = Pinterest Monster

Go HERE to play!

Happy Thursday 13 Everyone!  Hope you have a completely lovely day, no matter how dire it may seem when you first awake.

1.  "Cold Comfort Farm" One of the quirkiest love stories around.

2. "One Enchanted April" Just a lovely film about, of course, the transformative power of Love.

3. "Milagro Beanfield War"  for? See blurb below.... this one just tickles me PINK!

4."Moon Over Parador"  For the insane "take" on American political tactics in Latin America.

5. "Princess Bride"  A smashing good swashbuckler of a film that is also a fabulous love story.

6. "Pitch Black"  for the odd redemption factor.  It is a great Halloween movie.  I think it's right up there with "Alien" movies which would be on this list if, that is, the list could be longer.

7. "Whale Rider"  A film that helped to put the Moari people back into the World's awareness.

8. "Chocolat "

9. "Evolution" is an insane comedy about "evolving" creatures from a space rock in a cave in the desert near Las Vegas.

10. "Pirates of the Caribbean"  Why?  Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbossa.  This could actually be three entries, couldn't it?

Source is Disney Wiki

11. "Sully".. A magnificent true story about a miracle wedded to human know how and courage.

12. "Hidalgo"  A story about an American cow pony who won a grueling race across the Arabian Desert.  It's since been debunked as a lie, but who really cares?  It's a great story.

13. "The Devil Wears Prada"  Meryl Streep's fantastic portrayal of a little tin pot despot in the fashion industry.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: A Question of Being.

Primitives by Kathy Boxed sign.
usurped by Pinterest patrons

I see this as the perfect solution to the problem of modern Angst.

Tuesday Tails. A very intelligent article about feathers, from NatGeo....

I'm just going to provide the link because I'm behind on a lot of things, and I also slammed into a piece of furniture and can't walk that well. lol

Here is the Article at the National Geographic magazine site.  Expect a few ads and pop ups.  They are ubiquitous these days!  *rolls eyes*

The feather of a threatened Golden Eagle.

I hope that  the tribal efforts at managing these very valuable feathers, and the preserving of habitat and populations of the birds themselves, will be successful.  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is putting it's foot down on this, and doing a good job, so kudos to them here as well.

I'd like to send the Eagle killers to that place in hell where vultures eat their livers constantly.  But, I guess that is a little harsh. Maybe it is.  And, maybe it's not!

Something different: Sunday Stealing-- Wendy Weetabix... Say whaatt???

Something different  

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on
WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. You may have heard the expression, “honor among thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from, if possible. We also provide a link to the victim's questions 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 recently asked questions from a previously post. Cheers to all of us thieves!

Want to PLAY?  Go HERE for the linkie and the list!

Here's something different for this week.  

There is a woman named "Wendy Weetabix" who wrote a blog called That's My Bix, but the last entry was from 2015.  But she has been posting random questions for the past several months on Facebook.  I went through and picked a few of them for us to answer this week.

1. What is a normal thing that took you an embarrassingly long time to learn?  I had to learn that, for me, Addition and Subtraction was not something that came naturally.  I had to do work arounds so that I could do it.  It took an awfully long time.

2. In what ways are you old-fashioned?
Probably my moral compass regarding, for one thing, marriage.  I don't impose it on anyone else, but some things that are sort of now commonplace in our society, still feel somewhat wrong to me when re-examine my compass, like now. The interesting decline of Marriage is one of them.  I'll not delve into the others.  Now, I feel it's important if there are children, to be a committed, loyal couple, and legally, but not otherwise. And, this still makes me a little uncomfortable.  I hope to reach the point that I'm totally OK with the new reality.  If the Tribal Chief or Elder, or a Sea Captain, takes your hand and places it into the hand of your beloved, that's a marriage.  Different strokes for different folks.  

3. What is the best sandwich you've ever eaten? Where did you get it? What made it so delicious?  The best sandwiches I've ever eaten were from home, but they were copies of some that we'd had at Zolezzi's here in town.  They were Italian Sausage sandwiches, and they are very delicious because of how they were made, with a split bagatelle crusty roll, With nothing more than some grilled onions and peppers, and grilled sweet sausages as toppings.  

4. What are you currently not bragging about that you should totally brag about? 
I have no bragging rights on anything that I know of.  I've had so many scars patched over deep philosophical, and almost mortal wounds the last year and a half that I'm just glad to still be here for my DH and our other kids.  

I will miss my girl, both her amazing mind, and her wise council, for the rest of my life.  I don't feel like I have anything to brag about.  I've lost something far too precious to feel pride.  I regret the years that went by without spending more time with her.  The loss of the years into the future is bitter indeed.

5. What food have you never tasted and are most interested in trying? 
I am of an age, that if I had wanted to taste something, anything,  I'd have done so already.     

6. What history facts were you surprised to learn because it was never covered in school?
That whole duplicitous stretch of our National history where the American government caused so much harm. We didn't live in a vacuum in our expansionist periods, nor in a vast and empty land, and more and more we are finding that out.  Greed and aggression will always come home with a vengeance.

7. What is something that you waited entirely too long to start or stop doing? What made you say "Why did I wait so long?"
I waited too long to establish myself as a seascape painter and portrait artist.  That's a career that can last a whole, long lifetime but it needs to be pretty much established by the mid 30's.  Like any career, you have to build it when you have the stamina to do so! lol

8. What socially expected thing do you hate doing the most? What thing about polite society really grinds your gears? 
I'm not sure exactly what Polite Society is, I'm not anywhere near the level that something such as that comes into play.  I've answered the second question first, which is a very bad habit I've gotten over the years.  It's akin to rambling, but not exactly the same thing.

I guess something that comes close, is that notion that a woman's best and almost ONLY purpose is that she must keep her house as neat as a pin.  I wasted almost the whole of my young life being neat as a pin, and believe me, it doesn't make you anything but crazy.  So, there is that idea that grinds my gears.  That is something I hate.  
I'm not naturally Obsessive Compulsive, but I know some people who are, and they are hideous to live with. If a peanut butter jar is not down in exactly the place they left it, label turned just so, the other people in the house hear about it and every other thing that they have done to induce Chaos.  My mother was tidy but she wasn't OCD.  But, I digress.

9. What is something about your city that I should know if I'm going to visit? What is the hidden "must see" that you always tell friends and visitors to not miss?
Torrey Pines State Beach, the one that you have to walk out to over the hills and dunes.  Now THAT place is worth the walk.  I have a gorgeous picture of it but Googles now got it, and I can't find it!  

10. What do you miss most about childhood?
I really don't miss childhood. Being an adult is WAY better.  :)

11. What "fact" did you learn in school that is not true or no longer true?
The thing that had the most impact was the whole "Indian Wars" thing and how bad "they" (the Native Americans) were to attack the soldiers.  Who did they think they were, anyway?  Hollywood busily re-enforced this false view.  

12. What's your favorite piece of useless trivia? 
Trivia is always useful.  It might be obnoxious but it's useful. 
I like this Trivia:  "Nothing has more strength than dire Necessity."  Very informative, yes?  In case you don't know it, it's a quote from Euripides, and was used in an episode of Inspector Lewis.  There is no better classic read than the works of Euripides....Aristotle, meh..  Pythagoras, Yay!   James Joyce, meh.

13. What's your best go to homemade "lazy" meal?
Dinner?  A sandwich and some cut up carrots with a few chips and iced tea.  

14. What's the title of this current chapter in your life?
I was just thinking of this a few weeks ago.  I thought it should be called, "Waiting for God", like that BBC show.  So, I'll say that.  Waiting for God.

15. What is a habit or practice that you learned from your childhood that you didn't realize was "weird" until you were an adult?

Memory fails me, it was SO LONG AGO that I was a child.  Anyway, if I do think of something, I'll plug it in before the publish date - Midnight.  

OK.  I'm intuitive to the nth degree.  It's considered weird so people hide it.  I mean really intuitive.  I'm so old now that it's helping me to the grave, so I like that about it.  I've never talked about it much before now, but now it's sort of a harmless little quirk that will soon fade away into the dust of ages.  You really don't think this web will last all that long if the big Intel companies control it do you?  Me, either.  

Good night and Good Luck!

Saturday9: The incomparable Beatles Band.

Saturday 9: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 

... because Joy recommended it
If you would like to play along, or see other posts, go HERE to Sam's Page and check out the linkie at the bottom of the page.  

1) The Beatles recorded this after they had taken a three-month hiatus from working together as a band. Do you find you're sharp after taking time off? Or does it take you a while to get back into the swing of things in your day-to-day life?   I haven't worked outside the home for decades.  So, I don't really remember it very well.  All of my jobs where minimum wage, and part time.  My favorite job was as a classroom aide.  I would have, and did, work at that one for free (at first.)

2) During those three months off, John Lennon made a movie called How I Won the War. What's the last movie you watched? Did you view it at a theater, on TV, or from a device like a computer or tablet?  A couple weeks ago, we watched "Whale Rider".  It was a DVD on TV.  It is a lovely movie, and this is the second time we've ordered it to watch.  
~*~Haka! ~*~



3) Paul McCartney and George Harrison both used their time off to make new and different music. Paul composed instrumentals for a movie soundtrack while George studied sitar with Ravi Shankar. Ringo Starr spent those three months with his wife and their two little boys. If you had three months to spend doing anything you wanted, and money was no object, would you try something new (like Paul and George) or just kick back and relax (like Ringo)?
Like Ringo, I would spend the time with my daughters.

4) Paul recalls what fun it was to dress up in Edwardian-era costumes for the album cover. When did you last attend a costume party? What did you wear?
 It was years ago.  I was about 30, and dressed up as an Airline pilot, complete with gray mustache and gray wig.  I used some airline pilot's wings that a pilot friend who was director at the AeroSpace Museum had given me, and a Navy Commander's blazer and pants from Goodwill.  I had long hair and it all went up inside that wig after being wound around my head.  Everyone was shocked when all my long, dark hair came out from under the wig when it was time to "take off the masks" and just dance.

5) Paul says he came up with the name "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" when Beatle friend Mal Evans told him about this great San Francisco band, Big Brother and the Holding Company. Paul hadn't heard their music yet, but he loved the sound of their six-word band name. Soon everyone would hear of Big Brother. Do you know who Big Brother's famous lead singer was?  I remember them well!  Big Brother and the Holding Company.  I really liked their sound!  Janis Joplin was their lead singer at the time.  Hot doggies!  That was a long time ago.

6) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band appeared on the Billboard charts for 175 weeks. Is this album in your collection?  Yes.  I like the Beatles, though they aren't my favorite group.  Sam, I understand why you do.  I'm just a lot older and the impact was not as great for me. heehee

7) The Beatles are among the top-selling artists of all time in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. Would you like to visit Africa?  Now I would.  Not so true back in the day before the peaceful turn around in South Africa.   

8) 50 years ago, when Sgt. Pepper was first released, the average price for gas was 33¢/gallon. When did you last fill up your gas tank? Do you remember how much it cost?
No, but I remember gas being 33¢ a gallon.  I was taking my Aunt grocery shopping all the time, and she would give me money for gas.  

9) Random question: Are most of your married friends happily married?  

Yes my Dears, a mini rant.....because I'm old and want to save the world of the sad and lonely some serious heart ache.

I'm old and have seen an awful lot.  Most of my friends who aren't dead, are on second marriages, some of which are good.  I guess a few are happy, but many others are not, or were not.  

I  see being a widow or widower as the Time of Life when the"Victim/Predator Period" can rear it's ugly head in human relationships.  If you have a house, and some cash in the bank, there is someone out there who will be intent on separating you from it. Some of these people didn't even wait for the spouse to die!  😧  (That happened in my mother's family, and to several of my friends.)  
Sad, I know, but true.  This is one of the seedier sides of humans.  And, these were friends who had been around the block a few times, and whom I never dreamed would be silly enough to fall for things like this - like some star-struck Teenager!  This thing is practically an industry!  I'd bet there is a handbook available on the Black Web.
Well, Dear, you did ask, and I'm never one to shrink from expressing an opinion.  This isn't talked about very much in Polite society, and actually, it should be!  Such nefariousness should never be taboo.  In my experience, there's only about about a 33% chance they aren't just after your possessions, good health insurance, or survivor benefits.  Watch your backs! 

Thursday 13: Wolfie

!.  Wolfie arrives home... He's had a rough two to three years wherever he's been.  Now he has his forever home, and I am so thankful that I spotted him on the SD pound website.  He's completely adorable!

2. Three or four months have passed and his coat is coming back in.  All the bald spots are filling in.  He's looking so much better.

3. At six months and begging for a treat.  He doesn't actually beg but he will sit.  No one ever played with this little dog or taught him any commands or tricks.  It's heart breaking that this is so.  He's a wonderful little guy and eager to please.  And, he's very smart!
His ear hair is growing longer.  His eyes are bright but still have a little of the haunted look.  He's very skittish and afraid of all loud noises.  He's found that he can hide under the bed now and he goes there regularly in thunderstorms or on trash days.

4. At one year.  He is thoroughly a Pappa's Boy by now, and this is as it should me.  Jazzie was so focused on ME that Mr. Z. felt left out of the dog pack.  Look at those worried little eyes on Wolfie as he wonders if his Alpha Dog is coming back from the hunt anytime soon!

5.  Now it's very hard to figure out the pictures because every time I modified a picture the date was changed.  but I'll keep trying to get this right.  This is wolfie sometime in 2011.  He is thoroughly happy, but still goes nuts at New Years, Fourth of July and not quite so much on trash days.

6. Wolfie and Mr.T at Fourth of July, 2010 or so.   MrT. being the well behaved Gentleman of the duo, waits patiently to be able to test out this new playmate, who doesn't want anything new, ever, if it doesn't come with a treat attached.

7. Kicking back and waiting for something to happen.  Hoping, must likely, that a tidbit or two will land close to their noses.  Barbecue smells always drive dogs wild!  "Hush, Puppies!"

8.  All told, he had a happy, and sweet Fourth.  No booms or flashy flashy stuff!

He's a most happy Fella!

9. Sometime in all this hubbub, Wolfie was entered in a contest when a friend clued me in!  He got quite a few votes but was way behind in the race.  That's OK.  I am thankful that he didn't know anything about it because he was then not disappointed by the outcome. No day after the election blues for this little guy!

10.

He got Lots and LOTS of cuddling from both the twins.

And lots of Lovely car rides to places he loves.
Though he didn't get to go to the beach again.

He goes nuts at the beach but it was a little too cold in January.

11. Head Trauma.  Wolfie was hit by a car at some point between his carefree days of Barbeques and Christmas visits.  It was a miracle that he was not hit hard enough to cause him lasting trauma or to kill him.  He took off after a neighbor across the street, and I realized right away that he would come right back when his friend, our neighbor, dived into his car window, kicking his legs wildly so that Wolfie could get the full joy of accomplishment.  Our other neighbor was driving by and saw me in the street and was able to come almost to a halt before Wolfie, a black dog on a darkly lit street darted back across it.  He winged himself on the under carriage that was hardly moving at all.  He did get a big head ache and some stitches, and the bragging rights to a scar.

The night of... After he'd been stitched up by the Emergency vets

12.

A few months later, he's healed but now I have a scar.
 A very big one.  Happiness is a warm puppy, though.

13.  MrZ has finally got a dog that is mostly his, all his.  I think it's sweet.

Relaxing after a hard day of walks and romps.

Tuesday Tails: Both hard to watch and inspiring... A kitten for Kylie.

I think this site is very inspirational, even though it is most likely sometimes painful to watch.  I was not looking for it, just stumbled onto it when researching How to videos for my camera.

This story is very beautiful.   The kitten become cat, looks like- except for the larger white mark on her chest, my favorite female cat, Ever.  Pepper came to us, with her sister, when Laura was but a baby.  Pepper moved with us 7 times.  She was an amazingly loyal little feline who gave us "gifts".  She was ever the hunter.  

Faith.....

Faith is quiet.
Doubt is loud.

Faith is supple.
Doubt is stern.

Faith is calm.
Doubt is angry.

Faith faults self.
Doubt faults other.

You must have faith to understand this.

Everyone says they have faith, but few do.

Skillful discipleship means distinguishing the faithful from the fearful.


From Rusty Ring's blog, on the 10th ....


Myself?  I also listen in the quiet, and Await....  

Sunday Stealing: Make a difference today...

  

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on
WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. You may have heard the expression, “honor among thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from, if possible. We also provide a link to the victim's questions 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 recently asked questions from a previously post. Cheers to all of us thieves!

Want to Play?  Go HERE to Bev's linkie and to read other participants Entries.. It's fun..

you'll like it... 😊

1.  What is the favorite piece of art you own.  
That would be this piece...though it's borrowed for now.  It's big and also behind glass. Sorry about the flash back.   I couldn't get it down off the wall to get rid of the glare.  The Cougar is taking a drink through a hole in the ice, on a snowy bank.

Bee's first place entry in the
Catalina Art Show
She was a Senior in High School

1.  The most expensive bill you paid last month.
Probably the Electric bill. 😳

3.  What’s the last thing you apologized for?
I find myself apologizing, a lot, for interrupting others.  I guess because there seems to have been a lot of things left unsaid when Elle was dying that it's gotten to my brain that things must be said when they skip across my consciousness, and before I forget them.  IDK... 😔

4.  If you could do today over, would you change anything?
I'd go out first thing in the morning when the sun is barely up, and work for a little bit pulling weeds in the garden. This would apply to every morning.  I can't be in the sun very much now.  

5.  What is the largest TV screen in your house?  
Ooo Story time!
When our 27 inch refused to break. Rho, one of my knitting buddies, even offered to come out and break it for me! Lol!.  
Soon enough, Dh and I were shopping at Costco one day.  And, in what had seemed to be a fit of insanity, Mr. Z. suddenly detoured into electronics and snagged a great big box off the racks.  It was a 46 inch Flat Screen TV.  It is the only size we could fit into our TV corner.  He must have been doing secret research because he knew exactly what he wanted.  We sold the old Sony to a lady who had rentals.  Those old Sony's were/are built to last!  That sucker was OLD!  The newer one is our one and only TV.  

6.  What did you buy today?
I haven't been even within yelling distance of any store today.  Oddly, neither has Mr. Z., who has to do all the food shopping!  I don't envy him THAT chore!

7.  I wish I had been closer in proximity to my girls.  I think we could have helped talk Elle into getting a test two years earlier that would have saved her sanity ( advanced cancer can make you psychotic- something they don't tell you) and, ultimately, her life.  Fourth stage colon cancer isn't curable.  We would have paid for the test, since it was, for her, not in the HMO guidelines to test people under 60.  Stupid, criminal HMOs. It would have been, "Elective" because of her then rotten insurance coverage.  One of the major "what ifs" in my life.  I'm saying to you, don't let them make you wait!  Go over their heads if you have to.  Make a BIG noise!

8.  How many photos did you take today?
I've taken four photos today.  The one up above and some others.  I now take them all day long. Particularly because of the BIG CLEAN OUT!  I need to know that progress is being made.  And, since finding my old Canon, my only true, working camera, I'm going to be taking even more. She's almost 17!  That's a long time for an early digital.

9.  Last thing you wanted and didn’t get.
I want new wide base board for this house.  We need them.  Right now we haven't got any at all.  Really I shouldn't whine.  Far too many people in the world haven't even got a house.  But, baseboards are the first thing to go in before I get too Freaking old to lift a paint brush, let alone climb a ladder.

10.  What was the last new thing you tried?
Instagram!  I love it!  There's just nothing like it on the Planet!  And as to Pinterest, I hate it.  They have clogged the image search, and locked up so many images.  I could bite them in several places, with menaces.  Ok, I finally got THAT brass monkey off my mind.  

11.  Who is your hero?
The man who rescued me from deep grief and sorrow.  Mr. Z.

12.  Today I feel really secure knowing our Justice Department is not just rolling over and playing dead!  They are kicking A** and taking names!

13.  Whose life did you make a difference in today?
Some little, bitty foxes.  They are being cared for by an amazing group of people in Louisiana.  If you are on Instagram, look up Amy Shutt's photo pages. She has the details.

14.  What would have made today perfect?
Oooo! oooo!  Let's do FANTASY !
I'd fly to Santa Cruz to be with our kids.  (I'd love to have a pilot and a Learjet at my disposal, as well as a random billionaire's bank account.)  I'd fly up early, buy a couple of houses for them with the tons of cash in the bank, order furniture to be delivered, pay for dinner for everyone, and fly back down.  Perfect day!  Oh, and I would also buy those base boards and pay someone to come in Wednesday week, and install them. That's a lot for one day!  Also, if you send me a request, I'd wire you some of that dough, too.  Spread the Wealth!  

15.  Did you thank anybody today?
Yes, I always thank Mr. Z. for all the cups of tea he makes me.

Bonus: If you were a Muppet, which would you be?
I'd be .......   Animal!!  I've always wanted to be crazy and play the drums!

Saturday 9: Start Me Up. the Stoned.. I mean the Stones!

Saturday 9: Start Me Up (1981)

... because Kwizgiver recommended The Rolling Stones

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

My note: If you would like to play along, go HERE  This long running meme is just a lot of fun.

1) That's a goat wearing a high heel. What's on your feet as you answer these questions?
To be honest, I never wear shoes unless I HAVE to.  I spend the entire day barefoot and only put shoes on to go outside.  In winter, when it's cold, I wear wool socks and either slippers or Teva sandals.

2) More fashion: In the video for this song, Mick is wearing white pants with an elastic waistband. Are you wearing a belt as you answer these questions?
 Since I no longer have a waist to fret about, I just don't hassle with a belt.  So, no, I'm not wearing a belt.  I like my new "Earth Mother" look and persona. Thank God.  At last I can be completely Twee if I wanna be!

3) In this song, Mick pleads, "Don't make a grown man cry." When is the last time you shed a tear?  This morning about four am when I awoke with a start from  rather bad dream involving some Russians,who were good people, trying to explain things to me about their situation.  I know the cause of it.  But it still was a little strange and sad.

4) Keith Richard has said this is a song he could play "forever and ever." 
What in your life doesn't get old, no matter how often you do it?
My sense of the ironic and my sense of humor has never gotten "Old".  I like to use it, and will hope to until the day I die.  Well, eating chocolate hasn't gotten old either.  I'd like to keep that too!

5) While The Rolling Stones enjoy performing songs, like this one, from Tattoo You, Mick Jagger has dismissed the songs from their 1967 album Their Satanic Majesties Request as "rubbish." Do you have a favorite Rolling Stones song?
I guess it would be "Ruby Tuesday".  I like/liked that song a lot, but don't have any Stones Albums.  I think they had been trying to carve out a niche for themselves in a crowded market.  Many were.  I just never liked their brand.  Yes, those songs were rubbish.

6) This recording of "Start Me Up" features a cowbell. Do you remember which Saturday Night Live host made, "More cowbell!" a catchphrase?
No.  And, I regretted not being able to stay up late enough  to watch that show.  I usually got up at 5:30 in the morning when that "More cowbell!" catchphrase was probably becoming all the rage.  SNL would have been a lot of fun.  Sort of like "The Onion", only live.

7) Bassist Bill Wyman once said he thought he should have been a archivist because he loved to make lists. Do you have a to-do list? 
I don't.  I do things by rote, and it's all in my head.  My life has gotten pretty simple and easy to keep up with.  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday...etc...etc... And, EVERY day is a day to toss and re-cycle.  It works for me.  

8) Mick finds it hard to stand still when he sings, not only on stage but also in the studio. The engineer for this song reports that Mick would have to run across the room to get back to the microphone for his vocal. Are you more fidgety, or still?  
Now, I'm quite still.  I used to be called, "Our Lady of Perpetual Motion".  I'm just not that frenetic anymore.  No need and believe me, it's a whole lot easier a life.

9) Random question: Do you believe men are inherently more sensible than women?
Most of them obviously are not!  It's really telling that 95 % of people who are running all sorts of hideous enterprises such as drugs, torture, enslavement and the war industry for a profit are men.   On the whole, it's a rare thing to see a woman going after the money in these odious "businesses".

Thursday 13. Paper cutters, some chat. some chaff, but no rants.

But first, the little promo:  Go HERE if you would like to see more participants in Thursday Thirteen, or if you would like join in and post one of your very own.

It's fun and easy as pie.  Until it gets harder that is. 😉 They never tell you this! lol

I'm busily cleaning out my crafting over burden.  However it's not all getting the heave ho.
One of the things I want to do, is start making cards again.  I have about 250 rubber stamps and all the various other accouterments of the craft.  It's time to clear space to do it!  These cutters do come in handy for making gift tags and such, though they do not work well on cloth.

But, without further ADO, 😏🙂Here are my thirteen tools to edge papers for card making.

I made the image LARGE (but you can click and make it even bigger) so that it's easier to see them all and what they do.  The squiggles on the black part of the blades shows what each tool does.  The "oddball" at the top was bought before I realized that a pair of strictly zig-zag cutters was not needed.  I could have just used the pinking shears!
Do not gasp all you seamstresses out there.  Shears can be sharpened.  Just don't let the Hubster get his hands on them for his "Handy Man" projects, like cutting sheet metal.

One thing the Odd Ball cutter did do was make the whole collection come out at 13.  It's interesting how this worked out, though they were all bought well before I even had a blog!
It might be that I've always considered 13 to be a lucky number, since Hexagram 13, in the Book of Changes, is a lucky Augury.  Fellowship with others in the open, meaning, one big swap meet. or perhaps a long and lovely Camp out!  I could go for this!

Hope you all have a Happy Thursday Thirteen!

Wordless Wednesday: Recent Sunrise: two flowers

Music Monday: Freddie Mercury- Queen Bohemian Rhapsody....

I was just in the mood for a little screaming today! Freddie does that whining scream so well!

Thank you Bev! Bill Maher 'Splains why Republicans still win.....

Sunday stealing: Freckles and Other Oddities, and some little rants.

Freckles and other oddities

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on  
WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser.
 Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. You may have heard the expression, “honor among thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from, if possible. We also provide a link to the victim's questions 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 recently asked questions from a previously post. Cheers to all of us thieves!

I found this on a site called "my-bitter-soul" which now appears to be predominately for anime, but has the occasional meme as well.  He says he originally got it from a blog called "All My Answers," which has apparently been deleted.

Gals and Guys?  Go HERE to play along or read other postings.

Do You Have Freckles? 
A. Yes I do.  I no longer have them on my face so much as they are all over my legs and forearms. The kids are/were all freckled. too. DH has freckles too.  It's a family affair.

Do You Sleep With Your Closet Doors Open Or Closed?
A. Buhahahaha!  I AM the monster in the closet.  Why would I close them?  

Can You Whistle?
Yes, and very well,  It's that pesky Welsh Ancestral who "gae me" this talent.

Did You Wake Up Cranky today?
A. Yesterday yes, but this morning not so much.  Tomorrow though, when this publishes, we'll just have to see.

Zodiac Sign.
A.  I'm in the cusp between Sagittarius and Capricorn, by three hours.

What Is Your Eye Color?
A. Sort of a light and golden brown.  Could be age.  But I don't think so.  The blacker my hair, the lighter my eyes were.

Take A Vitamin Daily?
Friends, I take many vitamins and supplements.  It's very Californian to be this way, and I will not apologize. *wink* I trusted my last doctor a lot, and even she found a supplement for me after the last surgery.  She respected my quest for natural things, I think.  She was wonderful.  My new one is, too. I'm lucky, since Leaving the Evil Kaiser, to have found them.  My sister has Kaiser and they are doing nothing for her.  She has Parkinson's and they act like she is a hypochondriac.  I HATE THEM.  In the twenty years I was there, they didn't detect that I had two auto immunes that were easily detected ones - IF they had bothered to test!  Now they are letting my sister suffer and I am mad as hell.  Sue me.

Do You Sing In The Shower?
Sometimes.  Really almost never now.

What Did You Have For Lunch?
I had and apple and a half cup of mixed nuts.

Do You Watch The Olympics?
I did so until a few times ago.  The last things I did watch were 2 Olympics ago, and I watched women swimming contest.  My little nieces are Ace Water Polo players, and that sort of inspired me.

Do You Prefer To Swim In A Pool Or The Ocean?
I prefer the Ocean.

Bottled Water Or Tap Water?
We filter water, and refill our bottled waters.

Do You work Better With Or Without Music?
I like it quiet.

Can You Curl Your Tongue?
Yes, but, Gal, I tried that thing with a cherry stem and I am in AWE that you can tie one in a knot with your tongue.

Is There Anything Pink Within 10 Feet Of You?
Good Lord, There must be seventeen things!  I will NEVER give up Pink things!

Have You Ever Caught A Butterfly?
Yes, I used to catch them when I was a kid.  We always let them go but it was fun until we found out that just touching them wore out the "dust" on their wings.  We quit catching them.  Our mother was a great teacher of respect for all living things.  She might have been a farm girl but she was inordinately kindly.

Are You Easily Influenced By Other People?
No.  They can say what they want, but I still have to run it through my own data miner to figure out if it's going to become part of my program.

Do You Have Strange Dreams?
Sure, I've had a few very strange dreams, more visions, but doesn't every one?  And no, I do not take drugs ever.  And I discount ANY dream I had while on that wicked, God Awful, Percocet.  

Do You Like Going On Airplanes?
I love Airplanes but I don't want to fly anymore.  

Name One Movie That Made You Cry.
I'd be better off trying to name one that DIDN"T.  And that would be, the Mad Max movies.

Peanuts Or Sunflower Seeds?
Sunflower seeds.  I like my peanuts spreadable.



If I Handed You A Concert Ticket Right Now, Who Would You Want The Performer To Be?
Anyone?  I'd like to see Joe Cocker.  Yes, I know he's dead.  But the show must go on, right?

I love LOVE this guy.
He was never given credit for his HUGE influence on Style, one that was akin to Sinatra's.

Are You A Picky Eater?
No, but don't try to give me black eyed peas.  I can't stand those things!

Are You A Heavy Sleeper?
Not at all.  I have so much trouble sleeping that it's hard for me to take NAPS!

Do You Fear Thunder / Lightning?
Not in the least.  And our house has actually been hit by lightning.  I'm sure a hurricane or tornado would change my mind, but not a thunderstorm like we have here.

Do You Like Your Music Loud?
I have tired ears.  And so now the answer is an emphatic, "HELL NO!"  I have to yell to hear myself these days.

Would You Rather Carve Pumpkins Or Wrap Presents?
I actually would rather dye Easter Eggs.

What’s The Next Movie You Want To See In Theaters?
You going to be giving me a 57 inch TV?  I'll never again go to a theater to watch a movie.  

Been On The Computer For 5 Hours Straight?
Only when we were waiting for a house to fall (IDOC-in danger of collapse) or running with our old guild in UO.

Do You Like Meeting New People? 
I do, actually.  I just won't stick around if there is no where to sit or if the music is so loud that everyone is shouting and still can't be heard.  I just went through that this weekend. But this guy scares me.  If he's there, I am so GONE!

What Are Three Things You Did Today?
Let's see.  I ran outside and screamed, "FIRE!"  
I called the police to report a neighbor who was mowing their lawn before 7 am.  
I held up the local liquor store and blamed it on DH.  I won't split the money either, even when he gets out of prison.  
Oh wait, I thought you said three BAD things you did today.  Sorry.  I really did think that's what the question was.  AND, it was so much fun to type all that I'm not going to take it back, either.

What Do You Wear To Bed?
I wear midi knit nightgowns that look like very long Wallace Beery.  You youngins will know them as a "Henley."  Actually the oldest name is supposed to be "Henley" which stems from HERE that is if WIKI isn't lying.  They even make them for little kids!  How fun is that?

Do You Wear Jeans Or Sweats More?
Sweat pants with a T.

Name Something That Relaxes You.

A half a bottle of Tequila.

Other than that there is always being dead tired from being up 74 hours straight.