A Day At The Park

Another day of Eddie and I out and about taking pictures of well, nothing really. Here's a shot from the park at the Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, New York.

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1 YEAR AGO: A Body Temperature Of 98.6 – The Only Requirement To Work At McDonald’s
2 YEARS AGO: Laughter Is The Best Medicine
3 YEARS AGO: Take Note
4 YEARS AGO: Sorry, no post from 5/31/05

Ode To Milk

I've always liked iced lattes, but lately, I've been on a crazy milk kick. I fill my little drink container with ice, add a squirt of Hershey's syrup and shake for a cold, delicious treat. It's really getting out of hand. So much so, I can't go without having a gallon of milk in the truck. So I decided to write a poem about how I feel.


Ode To Milk

Milk, I’ve always liked you.
Let me tell you why.
I was first introduced to you through a nipple. Bottle, not breast.
As a kid, you were a big part of my life. I had you in cereal, mixed you in oatmeal and blended you with chocolate, which was served hot and with marshmallows.
You were the base for homemade milkshakes and chocolate mousse, my father put you in mashed potatoes and my grandmother made you into creamy chocolate pudding.
Sometimes, my mother would warm you and serve you up before bed if my belly was rumbling.

I've always wished I'd lived in the era where you showed up on my doorstep in a glass bottle.
If you did, I’d have taken you inside and spooned the delicious cream off the top, saving the rest of you for later.
I’d never let you spoil or worse, get sour.
I wish I had a milk man.

For a while, during my teens years, I drifted away from you. You know, the age when girls are sort of fickle. I acquired a taste for Diet Coke and Kool-Aid and couldn’t figure a way to fit you in. Although I did combine you with root beer sometimes, a trick my step-father taught me, and you seemed pleased to be so delicious. I think you liked the carbonation; the fizz made you happy.

Then as I got a little older, I discovered you were great for cooking. You made my cream of broccoli soup more delicious, my scrambled eggs fluffy, and my smoothies well, smooth. And I could never make my Aunt Ronni’s amazing rice pudding without you. You were the star of that dish.

And let’s not forget the quintessential use for milk, the place where you really shine, in a combination known all over the world, on every continent and among even the biggest celebrities. Like Santa. Don’t be shy, you know what I’m talking about. Milk and cookies. Or, cookies and milk. Either way, most people won’t eat one without the other; especially not Santa.

You always seem to be high in demand and so many treats wouldn’t be the same without you. Milk chocolate for instance; pizza, yogurt and cheese. Oooooh, cheese...and cheesecake! Or Kahlua and milk, which is often the only alcoholic drink I imbibe. And you’re so international; leche in Spanish, lait in French, latte in Italian. Let’s take that word, latte, for instance. I guess Michelangelo and Leonard da Vinci aren’t the only Italians known the world over. You’re famous. Millions of people utter your name every day, making you into more of a thing, than just a name for a thing. You are the latte. People have you; “I’ll have a latte.” They take possession of you; “Make mine a latte.” Although sometimes, they bastardize you; the soy latte.

And not only are you good, but you’re good for us. You provide calcium and vitamin D and you’re good for my bones! I love you most with Hershey’s syrup, but if you’re icy cold, I’ll take you alone. I pray to never become intolerant to lactose because frankly, I don’t know what I’d do without you.

I love you, Milk.


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1 YEAR AGO: Eddie On The Rocks Friday
2 YEARS AGO: The Unintentional Beating Of A Red State Child
3 YEARS AGO: Homeless Shelter
4 YEARS AGO: Sorry, no post from 5/30/05

Eddie In The Creepy Sailor Mask Friday

Eddie found this mask at the Philipsburg Manor gift shop in Sleepy Hollow, New York. I was looking at all the beautiful things in the shop, wanting to buy it all, when like a five year old he kept calling my name wanting me to turn around.

Finally I did and what I saw was him in that creepy mask. We left the shop empty handed and I realized I never have to have kids with Ed around.

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1 YEAR AGO: No Wonder Sailors Came Up With A Special Knot
2 YEARS AGO: Bridge To The Gate Of Heaven
3 YEARS AGO: Summer Staples
4 YEARS AGO: Sorry, no post from 5/29/05

Semantically Speaking

Ed and I always argue over exactly what particular words mean. Why would they say this, when they actually meant that? Did I just hear what I think I heard?? Is that woman aware of the double meaning of that word when used in that context? That kind of thing.

It's kind of like a joke I recently heard:

"What was the dirtiest thing ever said on television?"

"Ward, you were very hard on the Beaver last night."

Ba-dum-bum. One word, two meanings. But sometimes, there are two different words with essentially the same meaning.

Today while in Houston, we passed a sign for Bush Intercontinental Airport and Ed said, "What's the difference between Intercontinental and International?" Not because he didn't know the difference in what the words meant, but just wondering out loud why someone would choose one over the other. For example, what's the difference between Bush Intercontinental Airport and JFK International Airport, beside their location?

I said, "I don't know. I guess because one means 'between nations' and the other means 'between continents'."

"So if you're flying to a nation, can't it mean you're also flying to a continent?" he said.

"Well, assuming they're talking about places, not people, sure. I mean, a nation could be a group of people or a tribe, like the Cherokee Nation, and you can't fly into a group of people. As for a place, most nations are on continents, so yeah, I guess it could mean both. But for instance, if you're flying from Canada to Mexico, they are different nations but on the same continent, so you'd only be flying internationally, not intercontinentally. Is that even a word, intercontinentally?" I said.

"Maybe they want to give the illusion that they are more worldly," he said, "hence the "intercontinental" thing. But I think you'd have to connect through another airport anyway before flying to another continent, so technically they aren't "intercontinental" at all on their own, but they are when you consider you can get to another continent by starting out at their airport." he said.

"Oh my God, I don't even think I know what the hell you just said, and I don't think anyone has ever talked as long as we have on this subject. I just wish they would have given more consideration to the name they gave it. "George Bush" just screams incompetence. Why would anyone want to fly out of there? Something is bound to get screwed up."

....

"I'll wait for the Obamaport to open, thank-you-very-much."


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1 YEAR AGO: He Fought The Ed And The Ed Won
2 YEARS AGO: Electric Fence
3 YEARS AGO: You’re Such A Pansy!!
4 YEARS AGO: Sorry, no post from 5/28/05

A Blaze Of Crotch Sniffing And Licky Kisses

My cousin Ro is very friendly with her neighbors. Their houses are so close, you can't fart without the other one knowing about it, but sometimes that's a good thing if you're the kind of person who doesn't like to be alone.

Enter Blaze, the dog that belongs to my cousin Ro's neighbor. He doesn't like to be alone. And althoug he's not a person, he thinks he is because he wants in on every little human event that's going on. He has to be around while you're watering the plants, sweeping the porch, going for the mail, drinking a Diet Coke, planting in the garden...

He may as well be Ro's dog for the amount of time he spends in her yard. When Blaze isn't in his own yard, he's at Ro's house. It's the same with the neighbor's kid. He always wants to be with Ro. Sometimes, her neighbors have to sneak them (dog and kid) into the house when they come home just so they don't see Ro; because if they do, they want to go over and play.

Ro loves every minute of it, she gets to have a dog and a kid on a part-time basis, giving them back whenever they need a bath or a potty break. How ideal. And they never have to worry about where they are since everyone knows where to look if one of them is missing.

I can see why Ro loves being around them, as they both are cute in their own way. Blaze is very licky, jumpy and crotch sniffy; all the things one apparently looks for in a dog. He's also very lovey and curious, wanting to be in on everything.

The kid is kinda the same...very lovey and curious and wanting to be in on everything; not licky, jumpy and crotch sniffy.

That would be weird.

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1 YEAR AGO: Going To Market
2 YEARS AGO: Lazy Sunday
3 YEARS AGO: Can Someone Define Their Purpose?
4 YEARS AGO: Sorry, no post from 5/27/05

A Look At An Oil Baron's Lookout

Another touristy thing we did while in New York last week was our visit to Kykuit, the Rockefeller family estate. Initially built for John D. Rockefeller Sr., the founder of Standard Oil, but also used by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Nelson A. Rockefeller, a one time Vice President and long time New York Governor. The name Kykuit comes from the Dutch word for "lookout" and is pronounced "Ki-Cut" like "high cut". The home sits atop a piece of property, the highest in the area, which overlooks the Hudson River and The Palisades Bluffs.

The tour begins at Philipsburg Manor where you board a bus for the short ride to Kykuit. No photos are allowed inside the house, but there is plenty to photograph on the grounds. When you first drive up to the home with its stone walls and wrought iron gates, it's not known what lies beyond them; there are no signs and you can't see anything from the outside.

As you wind up the main drive, an enormous Tudor-style mansion off to the right comes into view. This is the "Playhouse" and contains an indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, a gym and a bowling alley; at three times the size of the main house, it's quite an impressive building. It was not included in the tour, but I read that it is used twice a year for family reunions and was often used as a fun gathering place for most of the family.

Nearing the front drive, the Oceanus Fountain sits off to the left. It's really beautiful in person and you don't see how perfect the setting is until you stand at the front door of the home and look directly down the drive. Only then do you see how it is framed by the trees on either side, a detail that was specifically designed to create that very effect.

Kykuit has approximately 40,000 square feet of living space, including the art gallery in the lower level. This seems like a cottage when compared to the 175,000 square foot Biltmore Estate that George Washington Vanderbilt II built in Asheville, North Carolina, making it the largest private residence in the United States.

I make the comparison because they are homes belonging to two of the wealthiest men of their time; the Vanderbilts made their money in the railroad, the Rockefellers from oil. We went to see the Biltmore in February 2007 and were in awe of its size and beauty, loving every minute of our tour and deciding right then and there to go back for a second visit.

But on our first visit to Kykuit, we learned that J.D. Rockefeller, Sr. did not like ostentation, so although architecturally beautiful with fabulous gardens, the size of the home itself was within reason. He wanted a liveable mansion. Of course, it's still about 35,000 to 38,000 square feet bigger than the homes of most of the people I know!

The interior decor of the house was beautiful with many pieces of art displayed in ways many people might not consider; a piece of Chinese porcelain placed next to an antique clock, a modern painting gracing a formal living room, a mock bookcase hiding a television, a John Singer Sargent portrait hanging above a Chinese ceramic from the T'ang Dynasty.

According to our tour guide, Nelson A. Rockefeller was responsible for the majority of art in the home. His wife Happy had a strong hand in the art also and the gallery they created in the basement of Kykuit is both unusual and suprising in that the pieces that sit below such a formal home are so modern. The gallery houses sculptures, paintings, drawings and tapestries by the likes of Alexander Calder, Toulouse-Latrec, Chagall, Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso. My favorite tapestry, copied from a Picasso painting and woven in silk by Madame J. de la Baume Durrback of France, is Girl with a Mandolin.

The art though, was not just confined to the home, the gardens were just as magnificent, created by William Welles Bosworth and considered his best work in the United States. They were alive with beauty.

The sculptures lined the paths to smaller structures on the property such as this stone tea house at the east end of the inner garden.

There are over ninety pieces of outdoor sculpture in all sizes and materials, from stone and steel to bronze and plastic, represented by fifty-five artists. Some of the pieces were so large they were brought in and placed by helicopter.

There are many locations on the property that we didn't get to tour, such at the Japanese Tea House, and the Temple of Venus, but we did get to tour the Coach Barn, where a collection of automobiles are housed and where some the finest examples of horse drawn carriages can be seen. There is even a sleigh for winter, complete with a fur throw.Kykuit was probably the highlight of our Westchester County visit, as the weather was beautiful (which of course you all know means, "not hot") and the opportunity to take the tour, a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Initially when we called to make reservations, all of the tours times that we needed were sold out, but while roaming the gift shop at Philipsburg Manor, we got lucky when Ed double-checked and found that they had availability on a morning tour that left in thirty minutes. We jumped at getting the tickets and wound up with a very small group (seven people) on our tour bus.

If we were to do it again, we would definitely include the full tour of the gardens and the second level of the house. We took what was available and only wished we had more time for photographs. It's truly amazing what wealth can create; I read that a long standing witticism of the estate goes, "It's what God would have built, if only He had the money."

The good thing is, my cousin lives fifteen minutes away and the opportunity to go again will always be there. If you have a chance, make time to see this spectacular display if you ever find yourself in Westchester, it's well worth it.

In addition, I recently purchased The House the Rockefellers Built: A Tale of Money, Taste, and Power in Twentieth-Century America. If you can't get there, maybe you can read about it. And if you're interested in the book, let me know - I'll pass it on once I'm done reading it. And no, girls, it's not on the Kindle yet.


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1 YEAR AGO: Spring In The Maritimes
2 YEARS AGO: Envisioning A Huge BLT Sandwich
3 YEARS AGO: Eddie’s New Passion Friday
4 YEARS AGO: Sorry, no post from 5/26/05

Bringing A Little Tropical And Some Pretty In Pink To The Trucking World

My cousin Ro recently went on vacation to Cancun and stayed at a beautiful Hotel Iberostar property; a place where peacocks walked in the lobby! She took hundreds of pictures while she was there, but I asked if I could have this one to post on my blog.

I think I have a little thing for flamingoes. I love their color, their twisty necks, their plummage. This is a beautiful shot and definitely blog worthy! After spending twelve days in New York with her, the least I can do is post one of her photos.

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1 YEAR AGO: My Kind Of Festival
2 YEARS AGO: Happy Memorial Day
3 YEARS AGO: Closing The Age Gap
4 YEARS AGO: Sorry, no post from 5/25/05

Was My Mother Hot, Or What???

Tonight we were invited to a BBQ at my cousin Toni's house in New Rochelle. Not only was the dinner great but the company was fantastic! What a great group of friends she has; in the group was a successful dog walking company owner, a high end marble and granite salesmen, two school vice-principals and my cousin's best friend of thirty years.

The conversation was great and it was nice to be among a group of interesting, intelligent, engaging, warm, life-loving individuals. The table conversation included discussing books, movies, plays, vacations, vocations, Teamsters and recent gambling trip to Las Vegas. I want to move back to New York and BBQ with these people all summer!

Now about the photograph...

Toni had this picture of my mother in one of her photo albums. It was taken at Masten Lake, New York and my mother was in her mid-thirties. She was always tan, dripping in gold jewelry and she wore high heels everywhere she went. Including, as you can see, with a bathing suit.

I couldn't think of a better title because all I could say when I saw the picture was, "Holy shit, my mother was hot!"

Then when Ed looked at it, he said, "Boy, your mother was hooottt!"

And I actually think he dragged out the "hot" word.


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1 YEAR AGO: The Fiddleheads Of Maine
2 YEARS AGO: Fifteen Dollar. We Make Nail Nice. No Plobrem.
3 YEARS AGO: Road Testing The Girl
4 YEARS AGO: Ed Time

Sing Sing Singin' The Incarceration Blues

Today we visited Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York. According to the Wikipedia entry, it was named after the Native American Sinck Sinck tribe from whom the land was purchased in 1685.

We heard a rumor about a museum they were constructing and thought we'd go look for it but wound up at the front gate of the prison. We stopped at the gate to read the countless signs telling us we couldn't take pictures, etc. when we saw the guards coming out of their towers to look at us....a little unnerving. Then a guard came walking toward us. We stood right where we were because we figured binoculars weren't the only things they were carrying.

We talked for a few minutes with the guard, finding out that it was a maximum security prison and as far as she knew, there wasn't any museum. She was pleasant but a little scary. We told her we'd be on our way and skulked away from the gate knowing we had a minimum of five pairs of eyes on us.

Interestingly, the prison sits on what one would think is a prime piece of real estate (even if it is in Ossinging), situated on the banks of the Hudson River with a beautiful view, one of which is the Tappan Zee Bridge (which you can see in the background). If you enlarge the photo, you can see the guy in the tower...I swear he's looking at us and not over that vast expanse of water.

Read more about Sing Sing here.


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1 YEAR AGO: Flame Sandwich
2 YEARS AGO: Contradiction
3 YEARS AGO: Every Eight To Twelve Seconds
4 YEARS AGO: Sorry, no post from 5/23/05

Crouching Eddie Hidden Lamb Friday

Eddie crouches in his lush surroundings to take a picture of a lamb who was drinking from the pond. You can't see the little bleater because he's hiding behind the tree.


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1 YEAR AGO: Help Me Understand
2 YEARS AGO: Take Two Lattes And Call Me In The Morning
3 YEARS AGO: It’s Never Too Late For A Good Sale
4 YEARS AGO: The Original Goldfish

Jake

This was one of the pair of oxen found at Philipsburg Manor. His name was Jake. The other one was named Joshua. I don't really know how to tell the difference, but I do know Jake was the only one close enough for a picture, so here he is.


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1 YEAR AGO: I Might Have To Be Put In Restraints For Our Next Conversation
2 YEARS AGO: People Who Are Happy To Help You Drown In Debt
3 YEARS AGO: I, I, I
4 YEARS AGO: Sorry, no post for 5/21/09

A Mini And Me

While in New York, my cousin Ro has been letting us use her car. As you can see, there is a HUGE difference in what I drive and what she drives. She has a Mini Cooper. We, uhh....don't.

Her car is a convertible, so I've been tooling around with the top down; normally not something I'd do since I can't stand both the heat and my hair whipping around at the same time, but the weather here has been beautiful and my hair is short so there isn't much whipping going on. The one thing I have noticed while driving topless is how much of a sensory experience it is. I not only see what I'm driving by from a different angle, but I can also smell everything. Most of it has been good; honeysuckle and lilacs, freshly cut grass and people cooking out in their backyards, but some smells I can do without, like garbage, cow manure and exhuast.

When I've been out on the road for a while, I feel like I've forgotten how to drive a car, and driving a car this small is not only an adjustment, it's a teensy bit frightening. Maybe it's because I'm not used to it, but I think a big part of it is being in New York where no one, not one soul, knows how to do anything slow. They are all in a huge rush to go nowhere. Even the old people move fast.

I'm a native New Yorker and I truly love, love, LOVE the area I'm in right now - Westchester County - an area full of hamlets and villages and river towns. But just try to do the posted speed limit in these towns (most of which are 25, 30, 35 mph) and see how fast someone connects themselves to your bumper or careens around you, one hand in the air. They are not waving.

I can't say I never drove faster than I do now; I did when I was younger, but never recklessly and never at as frenetic a pace as people here do. I drive much slower now, most of the time never going more than two miles over the posted speed limit. I'm a grandma in the truck. I can just lumber along and I never, ever worry about holding up traffic.

Ed taught me how to do that. Initially I was concerned that I was holding people up, but he said he never worries about what's going on behind him. He just concentrates on what he's doing, making all of his moves in a safe manner and paying attention to what's going on around him but not letting other people dictate how he should drive.

And now that I drive a truck, I'm much more aware of what I do in a car since anything that happens to me while driving affects the only license I have, my CDL. So going the speed limit is important to me and whether I'm driving the truck or a Mini, I'm doing it.

So for the rest of the week if you see a chubby chick in a Mini (car, not skirt) going one mile over the speed limit, it might be me. Please don't make any sudden moves in my vicinity because I'm on hyper alert while in this car and you might startle me. And if I'm startled, I might slow down. And slowing down might get me hurt.

There are senior citizens with Cadillacs here. And canes.

And coming up against either one of those in a Mini doesn't give me many options.


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1 YEAR AGO: Wild In Tennessee
2 YEARS AGO: Isn’t There A Third Evil?
3 YEARS AGO: What The Hell Is This???
4 YEARS AGO: Sorry, no post from 5/20/05

The Sad, Sad Future Of Our Young People

Today I went to Dunkin' Donuts to get a bagel and an iced latte. My total bill came to $7.33, I gave the guy a $20.00 bill.

When he opened the drawer to give me my change, I saw that he was fiddling with a whole stack of ones, so I said to him, "I can give you the exact amount if you don't want to give out all of your ones."

He said, "Uh, it's too late."

His expression told me all I needed to know; that he didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to complete the transaction without the computerized cash register telling him how to give change or give money back or whatever it was that it was too late for. The guy in line behind me looked over and raised his brows. I looked back with a shoulder shrug and a look that said, that's what you get these days.

The manager happened to be walking by at the tail end of the transaction just in time to tell the cashier, "It's not too late. Just give her back her twenty and she'll give you the exact amount. No problem."

So I got my bagel and my latte and went on my merry little way, but carried with me for the rest of the day the thought of how so many people (mostly young ones) lack even the simplest skills. I'm no math whiz, but it's so hard for me to believe that people don't know how to handle something like this. It's not brain surgery. They are getting paid at a job and they don't even know what they're doing.

Boggles the mind, I tell you.


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1 YEAR AGO: Sighting The American Idiots
2 YEARS AGO: Orbiting Out Of Control
3 YEARS AGO: Passing Through Life
4 YEARS AGO: Texas Pride?

Milling, Spinning, And Bleating

We visited Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, New York today. I've been there before but never toured the entire facility. In this photo you can see the Mill on the left, the Manor House in the middle and on the right, the New World Dutch Barn.
According the the brochure...

Philipsburg Manor is a nationally significant survival of a colonial-era milling and trading complex that was owned by Anglo-Dutch merchants, rented in small plots by tenant farmers of diverse European backgrounds, and operated by a community of enslaved individuals of African descent. The agricultural products of the manor supplied both New York City and plantations in the West Indies with food.

By the middle of the 18th century, the Philipse family had accumulated over 52,000 acres of land in Westchester County and Adolph Philipse was one of the wealthiest men in the colony of New York. The Philipses were also one of the largest slave owning families in the colonial north. Twenty-three enslaved men, women, and children lived and worked at the Upper Mills quarters. Although by 1750 the institution of slaverly was legal in all 13 of England's North American colonies, northern slaveholders rarely owned more than two or three individuals.

At Philipsburg Manor, enslaved men and women like Ceaser, Dimond, Sue and Massey provided the skilled labor necessary to operate a milling complex, a bakehouse, farm and dairy as well as to pilot sloops up and down the Hudson River. Philipsburg Manor, a community of enslaved individuals formed a community that survived almost 100 years in spit of tremendous odds.

Philipsburg Manor presents the history of northern colonial slavery and its relationship to the commercial, economic, and cultural development of New York.

It was an interesting tour but finding out that one man once owned a piece of land that encompassed all of Westchester County is quite astounding. We saw a pair of oxen pulling a cart around the property and watched three women spin sheep's wool into yarn; sheep that had been shorn just a few weeks ago and who were freely roaming the property bleating like....well, sheep.

And if you're tired of the bleating, you can just look at them when they're being all cute and quiet under the trees...



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1 YEAR AGO: What Happens When You Have Too Much Time To Think
2 YEARS AGO: Eddie Rides A Polar Bear Friday
3 YEARS AGO: Lite Bright, Making Things With Light
4 YEARS AGO: Texas Pride?

There's Nothing Like The Humor Of A New Yorker

While in New York for the weekend, I heard the following joke:

Q: How many New Yorkers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

A: One. What are you, stupid??


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1 YEAR AGO: Anne’s Land And Beyond
2 YEARS AGO: Butter Me Up
3 YEARS AGO: Master Backer Or Master Bater?
4 YEARS AGO: Not By The Hair Of My Chinny Chin Chin!!

Strolling Along The Atlantic

A woman walks along the beach in St. Augustine, Florida.

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1 YEAR AGO: Eddie Chatting It Up Friday
2 YEARS AGO: The ABC’s Of Me
3 YEARS AGO: After The Storm
4 YEARS AGO: The Essence Of Me

Eddie So Hot He's Cookin' Like Guy Fieri Friday

I think this might just be one of my favorite Ed pictures yet. He looks like Guy Fieri, the host of the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives show on the Food Network.

We found this hat at Wall Drug in South Dakota. The color of the hair matched Ed's color perfectly and the higlighted tips look so natural. The "hair" was attached to the hat, so you put it on in one piece. The color of the hair matched Ed's so perfectly and the highlighted tips looked so natural. If his hair weren't Little-Orphan-Annie-curly, I would convince him to tip it, spike it and wear it like this for a while.

I think he looks really cute and it's way better than his Bob Ross impression. I don't even know how he's the same guy, it's such a difference!


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1 YEAR AGO: Maybe She Should Hold Off On Pet Ownership
2 YEARS AGO: It Must Be A Sign
3 YEARS AGO: Keeping Time With His Ticker
4 YEARS AGO: Yo! Yo! Yo!

One Day A Revered Indian Chief, The Next Day Wagon Train Eye Candy

I was going to save this for Eddie Friday, but I thought it would be best to put both pictures together. In the first one, Chief Eddie Drive Big Truck is clearly in charge. He's addressing his tribe and by a wave of the hand, showing them the way to go (much like he does with me).
In the second photo, it's evident that he's been stripped of his fancy feather headress and trusty Palomino, gussied up in western garb and thrown in the back of the someone's covered wagon to be toted off to who knows where.

By the look of the expression on his face, I'm pretty sure he's not too thrilled about wearing that neckscarf.

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1 YEAR AGO: Not Exactly The Best Way To Reach Out To Your Community
2 YEARS AGO: Carny At The Junction
3 YEARS AGO: Mother Superior
4 YEARS AGO: Great Expectations

Two Poles, One Man, No Fish

A lone fisherman on Ponte Vedra Beach in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. I sat on the boardwalk for a while watching to see if he caught anything, but nothing seemed to be biting.

I didn't have the patience he obviously did to wait for something to surface, so I took my camera and moved on to the next photo opportunity.

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1 YEAR AGO: When You Don’t Have Time To Make More Than One Trip
2 YEARS AGO: A Mother Of A Mother
3 YEARS AGO: Could You Love William Perry?
4 YEARS AGO: Herding The Blogger Sheep

A Little Smooch Makes Everything Taste Better

I saw these kissing salt and pepper shakers at a souvenier shop in South Dakota. I SO wanted them, but I don't think Ed was too thrilled about shaking cows to season his food.

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1 YEAR AGO: The Greatest Spectacle In Racing
2 YEARS AGO: Jalapenos Basking In The California Sunshine
3 YEARS AGO: Millions Of Miles Of Knowledge
4 YEARS AGO: Midnight Snack

When Sunny Gets Blue

This storm was rolling in on only one side of the interstate in South Dakota. If you click on the picture, you can get a better look. I like the lone tree in the center and the way the sky goes from light to dark.

It's not a great photo because we were moving, but if you look at the clouds on the right, the bottom of them are very dark, as if rain is just pooling in there, waiting to drop to the earth. The sky on the other side of the interstate was sunny and bright blue, with puffy white clouds hovering over the land. It looked as if we were driving right down the center of two completely different places.

I love storm clouds and gray days and every time I see a blue sky going gray, I think of this song from my childhood. My parents were huge Johnny Mathis fans, so I have a mental rolodex of his songs; probably more than I'll ever need to know. I know the song is about a person and not an actual sky, but I always find myself singing it when I see clouds rolling in.

When Sunny gets blue, her eyes get gray and cloudy, then the rain begins to fall.....

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1 YEAR AGO: Putting The Friendly Back In The Skies
2 YEARS AGO: White Squall
3 YEARS AGO: Free As A Bird?
4 YEARS AGO: The Heat Is On

The Closest I'll Ever Come

Ed took this shot of me in South Dakota and it's about as close as I'll come to celebrating Mother's Day....unless something goes tragically wrong, of course.

As you can see, I'm wearing the latest in Lakota fashion, which my incredibly fat cheeks seem to be lovin' since it's obviously hiding a multitude of sins.

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1 YEAR AGO: Who Is He Kidding?
2 YEARS AGO: The Captain Of My Vessel
3 YEARS AGO: Baking Is Fun!
4 YEARS AGO: Sticks And Stones

Hail To The Driver

Only minutes after Eddie pulled over in a chain removal area in southeastern Montana to check our load, and just before he was getting ready to get out of the truck, the skies opened up and unloaded twenty minutes of hail on us.

Every little piece of ice that hit the truck had me cringing inside wondering if it was doing any damage. All we could do was watch, as there was no stopping it, sitting there in silence and listening to the barrage of pings on our sleeper, windshield and hood.

Here's a picture of the hood of the truck with the buildup of the hail:

And here are some little pieces of ice that I caught when I stuck my hand out the window:

They weren't very big and didn't do any damage, but it was interesting to see the skies go from sunny to hailstorm in a matter of minutes.

Of course, Ed tried to convince me to drive after it happened...yeah, whatever.


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1 YEAR AGO: Eddie Shows His Good Side Friday
2 YEARS AGO: Go Bananas!!
3 YEARS AGO: Shmuley Says
4 YEARS AGO: Fangboner

Peeping Ed Friday

This is what Eddie does when I'm working on my blog. He's a peeper, I tell you, I catch him doing it all the time!

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1 YEAR AGO: It’s Obvious Where My Sense Of Style Comes From
2 YEARS AGO: End Of Season Snow
3 YEARS AGO: At Least She Isn’t In The Cubicle Next To YOU
4 YEARS AGO: Mother Lode

The Sum Of Its Parts

At one time, I was sorta into making dolls. It was a hobby of my boss Lynn, and she got me interested in it. She was so good at it, she even got invited by the White House to create a doll for their Christmas tree!

I say I was "sorta" into it because after I made a few, I hit a wall and couldn't come up with any good ideas. When that happened, I just let it lapse. Recently, when I was home and digging through some boxes looking for a piece of material to use as a patch, I came across several unmade dolls; heads, arms, legs and bodies all sewn, but not put together. They were so cute and it lit a teeny spark in me that made me think, hey....maybe I should start making those again.

That's just one example of how my attention span usually keeps me from following through on things. I decide I want to try something, then I do it, and then I'm kinda satisfied. I don't have to go all the way, I just have to dabble. It started when I was very young, and could pertain to anything....like wanting soooooo bad to kiss that cute guy I work with, flirting like a tart to get him to notice me, luring him with whatever bait I think might work, and then getting the kiss. He may want more, but for me, the kiss was enough. Mission accomplished; time to turn my attention to something else.

I'm like that with a lot of things, as I find that there aren't many things that can capture my attention for very long. Oh, a good book might do it for a few days, or a movie for two or so hours, and of course magazine reading at the nearest Barnes and Noble...I'm good for half a day in one of those places. But crafts, exercise, jobs, even people start to bore me after a while. They leave me wanting something more; something else.

My blog though, has been different. Today marks the fourth year I've been writing it, which I guess means I like it. It's as if all the body parts came together to make a whole doll. This blog has lasted longer than boyfriends, craft endeavors, jobs and definitely weight loss milestones. The only thing associated with this blog that's getting old is me.

I think I'm pretty happy that I have something to write about, or not, which is why you'll sometimes see three days of pictures. Generally though, I like what I'm doing enough to actually write about it.

Since this started as a way to keep in touch with family and friends, some of the things I chronicle might make your eyes roll back in your head. I mean, do you really want to hear about how the cheese grater I bought to grate my prized Locatelli cheese actually works better on my heels and that it will never touch a block of formaggio again? It's magic, I tell you. I've never seen a smoother hoof.

You might not find that interesting, but someone in my family would. I can hear the phone call from my mother now...."Are you sure that's safe? It was made for cheese, what makes you think you could use it on your body?" Um, have you ever heard of the Ped Egg?

I am hoping in my fourth year to see more comments from those of you who do read (and no, Mom, that does not mean you), no matter how you found me. The summer is on its way so I should have more photos and a bit more things to talk about...we have a tendency to do more in the summer, despite my aversion to moving much in the heat.

So I guess I stuck to something and I'm glad I did. I enjoy the comments, emails, compliments and support. If you have any suggestions, send 'em my way!

I'm off to have some Oreo's and cold milk right now in lieu of birthday cake and I'm going to force Eddie to sing "Happy Blogday" to me.

Although that may not go as planned...


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1 YEAR AGO: Look At Me, I’m Three!!
2 YEARS AGO: A Trucking Style Birthday Celebration
3 YEARS AGO: A Perfectly Uninteresting Event
4 YEARS AGO: The Day The Blog Began

The Clouds And Trees Line Up For Bed

The clouded skies of early evening line up behind a row of trees. I love the gloomy days ever present in the Pacific Northwest; this photo was taken in eastern Washington, just outside of Spokane.


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1 YEAR AGO: The Shimmer Of The Sea
2 YEARS AGO: Indian Gallery
3 YEARS AGO: Geography Test

Stupid Should Be An Abomination

This whole Miss California thing has got me really irritated. First, I'm annoyed by all the attention she's getting and second, I'm annoyed by all the attention ignorant people and their stupid comments are getting.

I was listening to a talk show the other night when the whole gay marriage subject was brought up yet again and the caller (who was like most of the callers regarding this subject; from the south, claiming to be Christian, speaking with large amounts of intolerance dripping from their voices and almost always throwing a fragmented piece of scripture into their conversation) gave their opinion on why they don't think "the gays" should marry; all the usual reasons about how it will be the downfall of society, etc.

What I found most amusing about the exchange was when the radio host asked the caller, "Since you don't like the idea of homosexuals getting married, how do you feel about heterosexuals getting married?" The caller said he thought heterosexuals absolutely should be allowed to get married.

Then the host asked the caller "Well, do you think homo sapiens should have the right to get married?" The caller said that he thought that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

"So homo sapiens should be allowed to get married?" the host asked again, and then without waiting for his answer said, "Are you a homo sapien?" The caller was indignant, stating that he absolutely was not a homo sapien and once again, he believed that marriage should be allowed ONLY between a man and a woman.

See? This is exactly the type of people we have to deal with in our society. People who don't even know they are human. It disgusts me. And I can't even tell you how many people I come across like this as I drive throughout the country. How many conversations I overhear and how many ignorant comments I have to not react to. Good thing Ed is with me 24/7 because I am seriously considering saying something to every person who blatantly displays their ignorance. I want to be a one-woman anti-ignorance police force.

On the same dumbass Miss California debacle, I came across a comment to an online story about it where the commenter had this to say:

"She reminds me how threatened the gay community is by beautiful women. Every head they turn, turn away from a gay man. Since gays cannot procreate they must recruit. Carrie Prejean thwarts their insidious plan."

Another person responded to that comment with this:

"The gay community IS NOT threatened by beautiful women. In fact, a good number (but definitely not all) of gays are into fashion, hairdressing, interior design, etc. A lot of the people who assist or do makeup for the world's most beautiful women, are gay. You said "gays must recruit"........Umm........I don't know how gay people could "recruit" people -- it would be a really tough sell -- how would the sales pitch go?

1) Be gay! - so that you are called slurs and made fun of, or sometimes beaten or killed
2) Be gay! - so that you lose some of your friends and perhaps become estranged from your family
3) Be gay! - so that you feel alienated from other "Christian" people, who forget about their own sins and shortcomings, but only focus on your homosexuality
4) Be gay! - so that you have higher rates of depression, because of a society that is critical of you and judges you for your "homosexuality" rather than your contributions and actions as a human being
5) Be gay! -- so that when you do want to be in a committed relationship with the person you love, you won't be granted equal protections in the eyes of the law.

And despite this horrible sales pitch, about at least 5% of the population is gay. The truth is, gay people are the result of the union of a man and a woman, as much as straight people are. And by the way, all of the people I know who have been raised by 2 lesbian mothers or 2 gay dads, turned out to be straight."

On the flip side of that, every gay person I know (and I am friends with a LOT of gay people) came from two very straight parents. Some of those parents are even from the South. Boy, what a kick in the ass that must be for them, huh?

It's crazy to me that people actually think it's okay to discriminate based on sexual orientation, as if it's a choice. You may as well say that people with brown hair can't get married, those with blue eyes can't drink out of water fountains, and Jews can't vote.

What's even worse, in my opinion, are the wacko Christians who like to call homosexuality an abomination, but conveniently forget all the other things in the Bible that are also considered abominations; reading your horoscope, getting a tattoo, telling lies, acting unjustly, eating rare steaks, paying a mortgage or having credit card debt, wearing a shirt made of cotton and polyester, women wearing pants, children disrespecting their parents (according to the Bible, they should be put to death for this one) and cheating on your wife.

If they are going to select random scriptures to support their hatred, perhaps they should pay more attention to John 8:7 where Christ himself says, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone..."


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1 YEAR AGO: The Fine Line Between Compliments And Creepiness
2 YEARS AGO: The Antenna Ball Beneath My Wings
3 YEARS AGO: Mexico? Where In Tarnation Is That??

Salena Javier Barcelona

As I sit watching Vicky Cristina Barcelona, I find myself swooning. I think I have to add Javier Bardem to my list of imaginary movie-star boyfriends.

I can't decide what I like best about him but his nose definitely ranks high on the list.

Now I need to add Spain to my list of European countries to visit. Perhaps Javier will be free to give me the grand tour...

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1 YEAR AGO: Road To Bangor
2 YEARS AGO: Horton Hatches A Plaza
3 YEARS AGO: Crack Whores For Everyone!

It's All Connected To The Pigskin

This is Ty, my friend Kim's son. She took this shot at one of his football games and sent it to me. I just thought it was very cool; all the shades of blue, his Zac Efron-esque hairstyle and his square football player looking jaw....it works.

A few days after she texted me the photo, I got another text from her telling me that Ty was the first one in our county to be diagnosed with the Swine Flu.

My friends are so cutting-edge-news aren't they?

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1 YEAR AGO: The Sorriest Team Drivers You’ve Ever Seen
2 YEARS AGO: Ooooooo, A Contest!
3 YEARS AGO: Modern Convenience

Droppings Might Be Too Delicate A Word

There isn't just beautiful scenery to take in (or take pictures of) at our National Parks; the animals leave behind all kinds of crap.
Literally.
I think "droppings" might be too delicate a word for this buffalo chip, what do you think? Although, when I see such an abundance of any one thing, my first thought is, How can I turn this into a business?
There is money somewhere in this pile of crap. There's got to be some way to turn a profit here. I think I see Badlands Fertilizer Co. in my future...

But who am I going to get to collect it all?


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1 YEAR AGO: Eddie’s Bedtime Snack Friday
2 YEARS AGO: Activities I Need To Participate In
3 YEARS AGO: Unwarranted Annoyance

Eddie Makes A Pie Friday

I know it's a little blurry, but here's a picture of Eddie making a pizza in the truck. This is his first attempt at cooking in my kitchen and he did a pretty good job.

He made one with pepperoni and black olives and another with taco meat and black olives. It was pretty damn good - next time we'll use a different pan so we can get a crisper crust, but overall it was really delish!

I think I might even give Ed his own night to cook.


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1 YEAR AGO: What A Doll!
2 YEARS AGO: Day Two In The Desert
3 YEARS AGO: April Showers Bring May…Fish??