The Dress Debute

The food was good, the performance magnificent! BRAVA!

Another Funny Horoscope :)

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I urge you not to Google the word "duh," Libra. If you do, you'll mark yourself as a conformist trend-slave, joining over 33 million people who have already done it before you. Furthermore, you will be in danger of wasting the potential the cosmos is offering you, which is to reap rich rewards by exploring brave new frontiers on the edges of your awareness. So please be insanely curious about stuff you've never heard of and people you've never met. Research subjects that tantalize your imagination and stick your nose in where it supposedly doesn't belong. But don't Google "duh."

Beats the HELL out of Pardoning a Turkey

There was a time as a Democrat I felt my vote was a toss up between two candidates. But today, when I saw this picture, I actually teared up. Hillary Clinton passing out chickens at a food bank, and then making the day of a whole school full of children as secret service agants scrambled? No, this is not your average "photo-op" kinda guy. I can say with without a doubt one of the things I am thankful for today is a real presidential role model for a change. Like a cool drink of water to a thirsty American soul. How can the country, even in it's sorry shape, not be better steered by this vision?

So to all that read these words today, I wish you a peaceful Thanksgiving. Whether it be a can of spam or Turkey with all the goods, take time today to be thankful for life's many small blessings. If you can't think of any at the moment, just ponder the last eight years, and hopefully you'll find one or two. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Doodle's Turkey Plan

Ok, here is the deal. Two weeks ago the red haired lady I live with and I had a little "situation'" I have long suspected she does NOT eat the same food I do, but now I know that for sure. I was minding my own business, watching her rattling pots and pans in the "kitchen" room (that is always so entertaining). There was this BIG green pot on the stove that steamed for a long time, and she watched it carefully, so I got a clue it was important. She opened the pot, and took too long stick-like things and stuck them in the pot. As she turned around all of the sudden..."BOOM" right in front of my eyes was a huge mound of steaming " damn chicken" right there in front of my nose. I know it was a damn chicken that exploded on impact, because she said that as it dropped. It looked really strange on the floor, still really hot and steaming, but it smelled really good. She forced me to stay away from it as she tried to scoop it out on a big plate, but I knew it was a losing proposition. There was lots of little pieces left all over, and I lapped them up before she could even get the mop out. WOW, this wasn't even close to what I get in my bowl. She IS keeping the good stuff for herself !!!

Since then I watch her in the kitchen room very intently. I've tried to hypnotize her into dropping all manner of interesting stuff, but as yet no luck. But yesterday I overheard her talking about a HUGE damn chicken they'll be eating tomorrow, and I am feeling really lucky. My plan is to watch her very carefully. If she can't move a damn chicken from pot to plate, I would wager that would go more than twice for anything bigger. I will just focus on her, silently thinking "drop it, drop it, drop it".

It could work. :P

I Met The Walrus

It only took me a Month..sheesh

Here they are, my fab-u-lous vintage Lotus Birthday lamps! They twist at the top to open the lotus flower, and are amazing when lit, as the petals are carved through. Best i can tell from the electrical wiring, these were made in the 1940's. Perfect bedroom lamps, not meant for reading . YAY!

Yes We Did

Obama Nov. 4th working the phone bank in Indiana.

There are no words to adequately express last night's stunning victory. I expected to wait until the morning to know the results, last night's early announcement was completely unexpected. I was actually washing dishes, and heard the National results over the running water. I guess I should have been glued to the set, but where better to hear such news? Clean dishes-clean start for America..it totally works.

I have worked for several campaigns in my life, and never did I get anything like this e-mail the evening of the election. What a class act. I CAN HARDLY WAIT to see this man in action in Washington!

Laura --
I'm about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first. We just made history. And I don't want you to forget how we did it. You made history every single day during this campaign -- every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it's time for change. I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign. We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next. But I want to be very clear about one thing... All of this happened because of you.

Thank you, Barack

Psst...Ris...Look what Doodle is getting for Christmas

Hee-Hee-Hee. Found this today for Doodle's Doggy Christmas Stocking.

This one too. Guess no more late night calls to the Pizza Hut from Doodle to circumvent the people food rule, huh? (LOL)

Forget the POLLS..Ask My Sister

I've said this before, if you want to know who will win the election, ask my sister who she voted for. I know this sounds silly, but it has almost become a superstition to me. The arguments we had about her support of Bush are almost legend in my family.

In any case, she stepped up to plate for Obama this year, and every one of my nieces wore their Obama buttons to school today. The bad news was that her husband, who had massive stock market losses and was laid off just three weeks ago, voted for McCain. She threatened to make him sleep in the van over this. I fed him chili anyway, as his vote isn't my concern. My "everywoman " sister's vote is.

Notes from the Van

I am so happy I voted early. (LOL) My Voter pick up hours were from 6 am-10 am this morning, and from what I saw even in the early hours of the day it was apparent that this was not "election as usual." The wait in this small town at 6 am this morning was 25 minutes. At 6 am! By the end of my shift, the voters were moving through the process in about 90 minutes. Instead of the one or two voters to their polling place per trip I was delivering 6-8, even in the early hours. I even picked up and delivered two hospital patients today. It was truly amazing.

At about 9 am the call went out for available Madison County van drivers to pick up bottled water and fruit snacks to deliver to a larger city in my area for people that were waiting in a long outdoor line to vote. Since I was not available to deliver that far out of town another van met me halfway to unload the cases of bottled water our town had on hand. If Obama runs the country like his organization ran this get out the vote campaign, we will be in great hands indeed.

Then it was home to make my traditional Election Day Ex Girlfriend chili. Read the chili story here: Ex .Made five pounds this year, and I slurped up this bowl soon after this picture was taken. Life is good. Now I'm crossing my fingers and watching the results like everybody else :)

It Takes a Great Woman...

...to raise a great man. She'll be watching still, you can bet on that. My thoughts and prayers are with Obama and his family tonight.

Happy Halloweenie

Three pumpkins carved by three of my favorite people. :)

Yeah, It Had To Happen

Poor Doodle. Oh the indignity! He dodged a bullet with me, as I decided I would not dress him in costume for Halloween this year. Little did we know my sister had the agenda of surprising us both and dressing him as a hotdog and his brother Oscar as a hamburger for the family Halloweenfest. He just kept pleading with me, using that sad little "Why me?" look in his eyes..but he was a good sport. Oscar on the other hand was completely unhappy and hid under the couch for the duration of our Halloween party. Guess he must be allergic to sesame seeds (LOL)

"YES WE CARVE"

Tee Hee! I love this.

Alaska Women Hold Surprise Event for Obama

THIS is the Alaska I know! :) Good Job Girlies!

Today was THE Day

I voted today. It was the day I could coordinate and take two of my neighbors, an elderly woman with mobility problems and a hunky construction worker to help get her around. All three of us on a mission to elect Barack Obama the next president of these United States.

I have never voted early before, and what we encountered at the polling place was definitely a real surprise to me. I live in a town about the size of Wasilla, Alaska: I have voted here before and never even had a line to contend with. But today? Today we waited in a very long line of early voters, it took 40 minutes for all three of us to get through the process. Any time I ever voted here I was generally the youngest person in the room, but not today. Young people, barely out of high school, mamas balancing babies on their hip, some people you know haven't darkened the door of a polling station in years. It struck me so many people were voting from a position of fear, Republicans scared of the bogeyman Obama, Democrats scared of four more years. But everyone was polite, things went smoothly, and now we can only wait and pray for the right outcome for this country.

I will be driving the van on Tuesday to deliver people to the polls for the Democratic Party as I have in the last four elections. I will also be making my famous election day ex-girlfriend chili, you know, the stuff we've drowned our sorrows in for the last two elections. I hope this year's chili will be the celebration kind.

Just saw Obama's infomercial on television. The HOPE gave me goosebumps. I've made my stand, and I choose to stand with him. THAT ONE...the one with the clear vision of what America was and can be again.

Big as Your Head on a Stick

This weekend I found myself, as I sometimes do, at a large outdoor festival with Arty Appetite. I gotta tell you, this particular fair was a real "freak show" of gargantuan Festival food. Oh yes, your standard fair stuff like funnel cakes and the lot, but I mean I was shocked at the new improved variety. I mean, cheesecake on a stick? Whole hunks of cheesecake slathered in chocolate that would feed three for dinner, giant corny dogs that looked like medium baked potatoes in size, lemonade that came in giant bucket cups that couldn't be drunk in an hour. Deep fried Twinkies, huge caramel apples with whole nut coatings, and just about anything you could skewer on a stick walked by.

All the food stalls were covered in giant banners like the old carnival freak shows,with people shouting their various slogans at passersby. It hit me that the old freak shows have become interactive, and consuming big freakish food was now the entertainment. I assure you from my vantage point, nothing is as unattractive as watching people balance their various food items, and attempt to actually eat these giant things.


The worst, and I do mean the worst offering I saw was the new improved fried guacamole on a stick. Being an old Texan, I was curious just how this was accomplished. I questioned the vendor, and was told they make the guacamole and let it sit out unrefrigerated for five days until it "sticks together", then the form it like patties on a stick and drop it into a deep fryer. Anyone with any guacamole experience will tell you, in five days the avocado has turned deep green black and I suspect what was "sticking" this mass together was bacteria holding hands and singing Kumbaya. Just the thought of what guacamole looks like in five days was enough to send me running to find the Port-a-potty. And yet someone was buying and actually eating this.

So I passed on the food freak show, and found a local bakery/bistro that actually served edible portions of food. I then bought my mini hamburger cookies and went home marveling.(LOL)

Ruby Slippers

Considering the expense, let's hope all it takes is three clicks to send their wearer "home" to Alaska.

And who could forget Crystal!

Be afraid, be very afraid if you see this dynamo heading your way on a soccer field. Other people's Moms and Dads actually chant her name when she gets the ball. (LOL) She's going through an "attitudinal" phase right now, but who would love her any less? And the best part, she actually knows what the vice president's job actually is. I'd vote for her in a heartbeat!

So Many Nieces, so little time

Here's Lauren all dressed up and on her way to her first Homecoming dance. Only 15 and already stunning. Her funny boyfriend Alex is adorable, just the right "laid back" to counter her hyper-perfectionist personality. So good to see her smile through her seriousness, never thought I'd live to see that happen. :)

Antipasto Sausage Art: Coveted by my Dog :)

Doodle gives "two paws up" for these Russian Sausage Art reproductions. Incredible that they are actually edible, and viewers frequently do eat them at the end of the art show. Doodle is dreaming of a "Pupperoni" version so he can be all over this new art trend.

What I am Watching: The Fall (2006)

One of my very favorite people gave me this movie for my birthday. In all our years as friends he has never given me a movie, so I knew when I unwrapped it that it must be something special. And oh, how it is!
Set in the Los Angeles of the 20's, a little immigrant girl finds herself in a hospital recovering from a fall harvesting orange trees. She strikes up an unlikely friendship with a bedridden man who captivates her with a whimsical story that removes her far from the bleak confines of the hospital into the exotic landscapes of her imagination. I have never seen a child's eye view so carefully committed to film before, and this is a film as lush and stunningly beautiful as

anything I have ever seen. Filmed in 18 countries over four years, with a child in the cast as realistically childlike as in any film in recent memory. I recommend this movie highly.

Thanks Rogie, you have always known my true heart. :)

Miss Me?

Been on a whirlwind of travel since my birthday. Just spent 12 days working the Covered Bridge Festival in Indiana, and it looks like I'll be working almost every weekend until Christmas. Considering the economy is so bad we've actually been doing well, mainly because we sell an inexpensive luxury product. The biggest trend we've seen so far this season is virtually no credit card sales. Seems everyone spends the cash in their pockets now, which is strange since generally credit card sales are usually at least 20% of our business at shows. My heart goes out to all the people out there struggling so, and I am grateful we actually sell a really great food product so I know they are eating well at the very least.

I have so much updating to do over the next few days, as Doodle has grown ENORMOUS (three full pounds in two months!), I have all kinds of good pictures and arty stuff I've been saving, and of course there are my birthday lamps. You gotta see them to believe them :) Yippeeee!

I want to take this opportunity to say a belated happy birthday to Judith. I was in Indiana for your birthday where there was no cell phone reception, and I thought of you all day on your birthday. Hope you had a good one and knew I was thinking of you in the wilds of Indiana.

So I will get on with updating. Enjoy :)

What I did in the Summer of 2008

After 5000+ jewels, bullion embroidery, and beading for weeks this is Maryssa in the finished Madrigal renaissance gown. She will be wearing her hair up for the actual performances, but preferred it down for her senior formal portraits. Phew, glad to have this finished...and it is as beautiful on her as we kept telling ourselves it would be over those many hours. :)

A Birthday Present from the Universe

Digging around in a box at an auction yesterday and look what I found! Another pixie shoe keychain from the late 50's, but this one is the actual color mine was as a child. Finding this made me happy, and I knew right away this was definitely a tiny gift directly from the Universe to me. I love when that happens.

It's the BIG Day

Thought I'd upload the link for Palin Debate Bingo here for anyone that might be needing a laugh or two during the debate. (Not that there won't be plenty available unintentionally, I am sure.)
Have fun with Palin Debate Bingo

Jack Cafferty Tells Us How He Really Feels About Sarah Palin

HERE! HERE! This is not the "Miss Teen America" Pagent, where nerves and lack of clear communication can be laughed away as "adorable", but the office of the Vice President of the United States of America we are talking about here.

Let 'em Fail

Been busy, like everyone else it seems, glued to the unfolding crisis on Wall Street. Especially following the 700 Billion Dollar American Taxpayer Bailout, and from my lowly view I say if there is no accountability for where these funds are allocated, or failed banks and companies refuse asset transfer to make these funds a loan, I say let 'em fail. This smells like "Shock and Awe Deux" to me, and just a way for the Bush administration to raid the financial markets and tie the hands of the next administration, especially if that administration has bold new plans and directions for America that will take funds. I hope to God the Democrats hold this bail out up all the way through the election; deregulation is our esteemed Republican colleagues sticky ball of wax let them find a way to wash it off themselves. We as a nation are warned that if we do not act very quickly there certainly will be a recession. Hello...HELLO...HELLO, I think we are already in one down here on the ground Mr. Paulson. I think in actuality if we don't act quickly we will see more failures, and this is deadly timing for the Republican campaign. Period.

It is doubly frightening to me that half of the American electorate is totally "OK" with voting in a candidate for vice president of America that has not faced questions from the press. I don't mean sit down interviews with favorable television talking heads, I mean PRESS. Stonewalling the bipartisan investigation in Alaska, campaign stumping like a wind up doll, the same speaking points over and over even when disproved as a lie, this is lunacy. There is not one other candidate in this campaign didn't have to walk through the ring of press fire to get there. Even the vice presidential debate has been carefully crafted, since Ms. Palin "doesn't have the debate experience" to face Biden. If she can't crawl out from under her rock and stand up to the big boys now, how on earth would she be able to lead this country in a crisis? It is obviously not that important that she be able to think on her feet or speak to the people she represents, her handlers will do that for her. Don't know about anyone else, but I am not voting for "handlers." Her "presentation" seems to be the final curtain call before closing the current Washington Puppet Show. With any hope that is.

Now see why I try to stay out of discussing politics on my blog? (LOL)

The Palin Doctrine

"Don't blink."

You know, the funny thing about "doublespeak" is that you must first understand the concept in question to be able to do it. It doesn't really work very well if used in covering up what you yourself do not know.

"Don't Blink."

Works well when playing poker, but I'm not really comfortable gambling with America's future by electing a leader who can't admit they need more information, or one who doesn't take the time to really think through a situation and instead relies on "Don't Blink" as a first response. Does this initial response sound familiar? It should...as we have had eight long years of "Don't Blink." from "He-who-will-not-be-named-by-the-Republican-party." We've all seen how effective that was.

"Don't Blink."

Thanks for the suggestion Sarah. But after your performance last week you can be sure you added even more voters sufficiently terrified with your hubris (you can look that word up) to the Democratic Party.

We won't be blinking or exhaling until after you are sent packing back to Alaska.

A Little Reminder

Think Doodle would stand still for this? (LOL)

Doodle would chew off his own tail before he's allow anyone to paint him. This is a cat thang obviously.

Lastly, what did we learn this week?

If you are in the direct path of a hurricane, or involved in any natural disaster, have the good sense to plan it during the Republican National Convention. Compassionate Conservative "Photo Op" for them, much needed help and attention for you. It's a real "Win-Win" situation.


That was for you New Orleans...OK, I'm done :)

And another thing....

DICK CHENEY

Just because his name wasn't mentioned. even once, from one speaker at the pulpit of the National Republican Convention this week doesn't mean we'd ever forget who he belongs to. I guess if he was the vice president enthusiastically elected from my party for eight long years of service I might be embarrassed to claim him too. I just marvel that you managed to say so little about our sitting Republican president as well...you know...GEORGE BUSH.

Nice try at revisionist history though. (LOL)

Follow the Yellow Brick Bridge to 'Nowhere"..

This news week has certainly had a strange, Technicolor movie quality to it. (LOL) Even though I promised myself I would get roped into politics on my blog this year I feel what I have been thinking needs to be said out loud. This is in no way intended to change anyone's mind in this election, I'm pretty clear the battle lines are drawn at this point for just about everyone and most voters I personally know are cemented to their position.

The first question in my mind after the selection of Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate was "Why on EARTH this woman?" There are many, many Republican woman that would be far more effective and suitable if this were just a "fill in" for Hillary voters. Just off the top of my head I think of Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas who would have been a really serious asset to this ticket. With all the controversy that immediately swirled around the choice of Sarah Palin, it seems to be clear she was not vetted for this position properly. Or was she?

Purely from the standpoint of my experience in marketing, I have come to the conclusion that Sarah Palin was chosen as a "smoke screen" for this ticket. I believe that she was chosen to do exactly what she is doing, take the full force of attention away from the messages of the respective campaigns and place it on a "shiny new media toy." Focus the "lightening quick video game" attention span of this country squarely on a candidate with more skeletons in her closet than Anna Nicole, and the media will follow suit. There is the very real possibility the news cycle may not be able to investigate all the leads and scandals attached to this woman within the slim eight weeks before this election. It already seems questions considered reasonable to a male candidate will be considered "sexism" if the answer is uncomfortable for Ms. Palin, and she is the only candidate I've witnessed in my voting experience who is taking several weeks during crucial campaign time deliberately shielded from the pesky, guaranteed by the American Constitution, free press. Need I remind anyone...eight weeks until we pull that lever...tick, tick, tick.

As much as I dislike Sarah Palin's politics I do feel some measure of pity for her. I think her blind ambition deludes her into believing she deserves the Vice Presidency at her low level of experience. (I lived in Alaska remember, and know how small and insulted that community is firsthand.) I don't think she was prepared for the media scrutiny she will endure, and I can't believe she actually gave much thought to the scrutiny her so called "normal" family would endure either. But in one stated position, she is the perfect choice for her handlers. BIG OIL and mega corporate interests need a person in office that dismisses warnings from science and will continue the march toward the depletion of the resources of this planet. To select her just proves, they don't care if the person in that position wears a skirt and lipstick. Yay, Girl Power!

Now back to the actual campaign. This time like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, I hope we'll all ignore orders and peak behind that smokescreen curtain. The message of "Change" is obviously very effective and so powerful Republicans are attempting to co-opt it. Democrats stay on message, do not react to daily gossip and innuendo as fact. There is clearly a very double standard at work here, as the Republican party would crucify a Democratic candidate with Sarah Palin's problems and sell roasted marshmallows at the event. But if you are given the opportunity to debate her Mr. Biden, just visualize Dick Cheney in a skirt. A true feminist knows the punches come with the position, ask Hillary. Keep to the facts, there are more than enough lies to expose that have nothing to do with her gender to suffice.

Have I mentioned how much I love this dog?

Doodle had a "puppy sleep over" this weekend with his little brother Oscar, and the kids wasted no time dressing them in doggie clothes. At least Doodle got a somewhat dignified Polo shirt and not a glittery sweater, and I know he was grateful for that.

It's official by the way, the Vet confirmed Friday that Doodle is very special (like we didn't know that already) because he is a rare albino puppy. He has pink feet pads, clear nails, every inch of skin is pink and then there is that nose. I knew he was mine the minute I met him, Odd is good . :)

Give me a Yard of Velvet...

...some trim, beads, and 12 hours and you too can have this lovely velvet hat. (LOL) I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in the massive "Maryssa Renaissance Costume" project I just had to celebrate a minute. Hard to believe we've spent two months building this costume. When Maryssa saw her hat today she was completely delighted and squealed ..."Nobody has even seen anything even close to this...". My sister didn't miss a beat when she said..."Nobody has an Aunt like Laura either." Nice to be appreciated by a teenager on a Tuesday. :)

18 Million Cracks in the Ceiling...

For this woman to arrive? I have never seen such blatant pandering in any VP choice by any political campaign in my life. It might look like "change" to a fifth grader, but this is an example of how stupid the Republican Party thinks Americans really are. I can just hear the conversation around this one:

"Women want to vote for a woman, by God we can find one!"

Anti-Abortion...check

Anti Gay Rights...check

In Big Oil's Roomy Back Pocket...double-check-Can't be the Governor of Alaska without that

Pro War...Well, hell ya...her son is off to fight the evil infidel as we speak

Anti-Feminist...Oh, alright. We can let her call herself one...it will play well with the pantsuits.

This woman Hillary's Legacy? Not a chance, not even in the same league, but thanks for playing.

A Note from the Floor

Okay, not really the floor. I've decided the couch cushions are far more cushy then the pitiful cat bed that red haired woman provided for me on arrival, and so I am dictating this missive from my comfortable couch perch. Wish I could train her to peel me a grape >>sigh<<.

Today I had my puppy check up. I now weigh seven pounds, which is truly remarkable since I never get anything resembling actual food here. That is two whole pounds in six weeks, but even more astounding is my length. I have grown five inches !!! I think this may be because "she" frequently rubs my long belly with her toes when I lie at her feet. I assume if she keeps this up I will be as long as a yardstick by the end of the year.

I hear more "good dog" words than "bad dog" nowadays. I do wonder why "she" spends so much time throwing my string toy around. I keep bringing it back to her, and "she" gets all excited and just throws it again. I will never understand why "she" does this, but it seems to entertain her. I've discovered it is important to keep her occupied and out of trouble, this does it as well as anything.

So that's this dog's life. Still waiting for bacon.

And so it begins

For every prayer spoken aloud in Denver this week, millions who can not speak join wordlessly. My prayer is this: TAKE BACK this country, make "We the People" our reality again and not just a concept that looked good on paper once.

Why I LOVE Ebay today...

Usually I could fill a large sized spiral notebook on the subject of what I dislike about Ebay. But today I am focusing on the positive. I've been looking for this little light-up nose Santa for a while. My grandmother wore one in the 1950's, as did most grandmothers I think. Oh, they are available everyday on Ebay, but generally bring $20.00-$35.00 each. Yes folks, $35.00 for a little piece of 50's plastic. (Though it is almost a sin for me to complain about that since I actually sold a little piece of 50's plastic this week for $95.00.) Anyway, I've been watching for a while, and the prices have dropped as a result of the weak economy..and today my Santa finally arrived, costing exactly $7.24, and most of that for shipping. So I will be twinkling for Christmas this year :)

Salvador Dali on Whats My Line?

I Guess I Have to BLOG Now (LOL)

Wow, today I actually got an award for blogging! Which is a little strange since I've actually been on a blogging Hiatus this summer. It is a rather pretty award, don't you think? Thank you Cederflame for thinking of me.

"This award was created to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creativity and their talents, and for contributing to the blogging world in whatever medium. When you receive this award it is considered a “special honor”. Once you have received this award, you are to pass it on to 5 others. What a wonderful way to show some love and appreciation to your fellow bloggers!The rules for passing this honor on are.
Pick 5 blogs that you would like to award this honor to.Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y Pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award from Arte Y Pico."

My first nomination for this award is Who Got The Gravy : I am always delighted with Brian AKA/GODinLA's posts. I find him to be a very interesting multifaceted writer and person who combines the unusual and mundane with ease. A real wordcrafter, well worth reading. You never know what he is thinking or how he will express it, and I love that. Congratulations Brian :)

I am having a terrifically difficult time with my Internet connection (so far two weeks badgering the cable company to fix it daily...) So I will continue my nominations for the next four days. It will also accomplish getting me back into blogging a bit..it's all good. That is if Doodle will stop chewing my feet as I type. (LOL)

What I am Reading: EINSTEIN by Walter Isaacson

Just finished reading "EINSTEIN" by Walter Isaacson this past weekend, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was thinking that it would be difficult to really capture the spirit of the actual person, since his great achievements in Physics would cloud objectivity. To even describe his discoveries in layman's terms would be a daunting task, but Isaacson did an excellent job. Instead of the dry textbook type of biography this book read like an adventure. And the best part, in the end I even liked and respected Einstein more for his humanity.

Updating: The ATTEMPT

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): This is your best chance in a long time to meet people you've always wanted to meet. It's also a favorable time to turn pretty good connections into excellent collaborations, and to adjust your role in your web of alliances so it's closer to where you want it to be. None of these fine developments in your social life will magically unfold on their own, however. You can't just sit back passively and hope that cosmic forces will somehow make them happen. So formulate your intentions crisply and act aggressively to manifest them.

My horoscope today. As always, Rob hits it right on the head for me. Sometimes I think it would be quicker for him to just give me a call and then write his Libra horoscope weekly. :)

And here I am, with a vicious summer cold and a big bowl of homemade chicken and dumplings. I won't write about cooking it, but thanks to the friend that reminded me that a chicken could be my best friend fighting this. You were right, even if I didn't add Tabasco sauce.

Doodle is getting bigger, and is going through his "terrible twos". Chewing everything in sight and "talking back" when I correct him. But he's still the cutest thing on four feet so I'll keep him.

Working on a rhinestone studded medieval costume for my niece, as well as building a hat to match it. Over 1000 red and topaz rhinestones applied by hand, will upload a picture when we've finished. So handy to have an "arty aunt" around, thank God she's a senior this year and there won't be many of these left to make. There are actual wedding dresses that take less work, honestly. But I love her too, so I'll keep her.

So Rob, I am working at shifting my reality. But until then I am grateful for this quiet life.

Maybe I should rename my blog?

ALL DOODLE...ALL THE TIME (LOL) No...won't be doing that, I will get back to blogging about something other than Doodle or food sometime soon (hopefully). But I did want to say thank you to the friend (who wishes to remain anonymous) who sent us the fabulous Leopard Carpetbag "Doodle Carrier" that arrived today. Doodle especially likes that he has his own vinyl lined pocket in it. Now he thinks we need to go on a trip...maybe we should be planning one. :)