101 things in 1001 days Plus A Photo A Day

Disclaimer

2011-01-07T04:46:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer.

If you have arrived at this blog I need to explain that this is where I have been transferring my entries for 750 Word exercise - it is not my main blog. this is kind of a dumping ground for thoughts and what ever. I liked the idea of the 750 word exercise to kind of stretch-out the writing limbs. I have been having a terrible time writing this past year, taking up the Grace in Small things challenge. Been blogging since 2003 and feel that my "genre" is explaining my past. Or examining my past. There is so much left over, but it's so personal and I am not willing to put it out there for the world and any old body to run across. That will happen, trust me. Into my eight year of hanging out the laundry, I have had people stumble onto my blog and by golly I KNOW THEM! It's like being caught without any clothes on. At least that is how it seems now.

So if you make it here I actually write here at Just a Hippie Gypsy.>

That's where the filtered stuff lays.

2011-01-06T07:55:00.000-08:00

A new day! Last night I followed Joe to R-Ville. He drove the train and I picked him up. It was a nice break from the mundane day to day existence I have been having lately. I got off from the Bucket early, around 915 and headed home, hoping to make it to the Walmart in R-ville and p/u milk. I woke Joe and drove him t the engine and watched as he climbed on board thinking to myself, I need to watch to make sure he gets off OK - then I remembered that he probably knew what he was doing and if he had any troubles would call me. So I took off into the black black night, as if drenched in black ink, no stars, on this old country road witht the brights on hoping to scare off any deer that may want to jump the car or eat the car as the case may be. I made it to R-ville ahead of Joe listnening to the radio and the RR radio. It would crackle and I would jump trying to turn down the car radio to hear what was going on. After a trip to a closed Walmart (damn it) he called. I told him I heard some cracking on the radio "that was me" and he squawked me a couple of times to prove it. I ventured forth and found an open gas station that had beer but no milk. I went on and drove around R-ville w/o the lights on for some time, I was through downtown when I noticed they were out! My car they automatically come on so I am spoiled. I could not find the alternative gas station Joe told me about and ended up on a one way street facing the wrong way waiting for the light to change! I finally ran the light wondering how anybody gets out, not realizng that it was a one way and I was facing the wrong way. I broke so many laws last night I'm certain I would have gotten a ticket if the whole town was not closed up and asleep.
After many stops I finally found a store that sold both beer and milk and I made it back to the station in pleanty of time. I rolled down the window to listen for the train and heard just the yawn of the evening in R-ville. Then I heard him coming, the night took on a low rumble that was not there before. It seemed far away and headed towards me. Then in the distance Iheard the far away blast of the horn. He was coming. It was a little exciting and I was eager with anticipation to see the train pull in the station! Itgot louded and louder and swelled and then the light showed itself and there he was. The red engine roared into the track before me and came to a beautiful stop. I was hot, baby. What is about men and big machines! He emerged from the cab, locked the doors, checked out a few things and climbed down from the huge monster.
It was incredibly sexy. Joe will continue to surprise me over and over as the years g on. I knew he could do this, but seeing him do it. Wow.
I got a letter from Faye and it sounded good. I am going to write her one more note and then call her. Her b-day is approaching, Feb 9th maybe. 59 good lord, that means I will be 58. It's not that I feel old in spirit, its my body. I have been dieting for almost 10 days and have lost/gained lost/gained. Its frustrating. I guess the idea of eating a bag of fantastic nuts from Iran is not the best thing to do - pistascios. Oh I love them. I guess better them than the chocolate I was craving yesterday. I made a pudding the day before and it helped. I have been very good about avoiding carbs - so maybe I just need to be patient. Well, that is if you don't count the chineses noodles.
Yesterday was a pretty good day. The only bummer was talking to Shirley yesterday and hearing about her problems. HBTN told her that she is not call her co-workers and ask for rides to and from work. That five people came to her and said it was hard to say no to her. Number one, Heather is really out of line (isn't she) and why wouldn't people want to help Shirley. I gave her rides, I gave Mary Ann rides, I didn't like it much (my head lights were always out) but I did it and felt guilty.
I received my loupe and it isOK. I really have to bring the jewelry close to my eye to get a good look. I looked over my bracelet from Maura and Johnny when I graduated from grammar school and it looks to be gold plated! Bummer. No where can I find a caret stamp, so I guess I just got a pretty little bracelet that was pinched on the airplane when I flew to NYC for several weeks during the summer of 1967 - summer of love. lol. I just realized that! I have a few surviving pictures of our adventure to the Cafe Wha and the Washington Monument in the back ground. So many things I wish I had been aware of way back then. Take more pictures, learn the 35mm camera, and collect jewelry.

750 words

2011-01-05T07:13:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I wore one of my vintage necklaces. A little piece with different style beading - if you can call it beading - maybe baubles. They were solid and some were hollowed out. I should keep pictures to show my growing vintage stash. I won a lot of bangles - Bolywood style - for about $15 bucks. There are 80 of them. If I end up getting booths at these summer fairs and sell them for a buck apiece, it should work out good. I also coped a bib pearl necklace that is fantastic! All in all, with shipping fees added in, spent about 42 smackers.
I was having semi-nightmares dreams. One was walking into a house and finding two dead bodies in a bathtub/swimming area type - you know how dreams are, they do not have to make any sense. I called 911 "for the third time that day" and got hold of someone who sounded like my Mom. I called her Mom even though it was not. She was not a very good 911 operator. She was near hysteria. The dream consisted of a lot of other stuff, but I don't remember any of it. Except maybe gary S. was in it. I just got a flash of something, but it's gone now.
B. called this morning and missed the check in at the clinic. I feel for her, but she better hand that intake money over to Scott rather than spending it. She sounded very upset. She set her alarm for 6am and slept through it or it didn't go off.
Joe came home and went to sleep almost immediately. I was back in my "Woman cave"in the bed - man that thing calls to me, well I am sick and I am a self diagnosed SADD victim - reading the Rolling Stone. They interviews people about their favorite play lists from one individual and/or genre. It was a great article, or 50 pages of really great music that I wish the MC3 Suites tilled worked. Limewirte. Damn it all. Lot's of good vintage stuff. Keith and Mick referenced the old blues guys. And there were many mentions of stuff from the 1960's and doo wop, Bob Dylan, and Motown that I would love to download. Too bad. But I guess it's time to start paying for stuff.
My tummy hurts. I have taken some alka selser substitute on an empty tummy and have realized that is a no-no. After a cup of tea it settled, but it still is talking to me. Those naprozen are great. My hip doesn't feel so bad any more. Maybe it is bursitis and not arthritis.
Peggy emailed me about Hugh and how was our relationship. She read his explanation on Brents FB page and is cool with it now. I hope to load up pictures from Nana's family that Aunt Maureen gave me or that I stole from Mom's house. Theya re ver interesting, especially the one of Nana (Molly) and Margaret sitting on the beach with another lad - quite possibly a brother. Nana (Molly) was beautiful.
I put my make up on again this morning. I am using the lip gloss to tone down the red ip stick.Might need to purchase another shade of red that is not so "true" though it looks great when on. They were not kidding.
I am perplexed about Money again. I have to stop this with Bridget. How could she miss the intake this morning? Poor thing. SHe is a mess. I remember Mom telling me I was going to have to take care of her the rest of my life. Scott was such a god send. She just does not understand how life works.
I was reading Patti Smith's take on Bob Dylan and how he transcends the lust part and the missing part of love and takes it to new heights. that is my pharasing. I always loved his love songs. They are so full of pain and want and need. And they, naturally, have gotten different as he has aged. Haven't we all? So I understand what Patti meant. Love means so many things but it prevails, it endures. Like the psalm - " love is great love is kind...."
I tried to find some Bible study class in C-ville and ran across several. Many at the Baptist church in DT c-ville. Another one at the Episcopal church. I will continue to make plans to 1) go to church 2) find a bible study class. I have strong memories of the Bible study in Southland. I truly had a spiritual awakening about Chirst and the bible. I loved it and took it seriously. I did the work book, I participated in the exercises and I hung out with some of the people. Like helping Diane with her house in Harrodsburg. I had a wonderful book mark she gave me. I wonder where it went. Anyway I long for those experiences again. I am not much of a joiner but when I do find something I like, it's wonderful.
The little black dress club sure fell on it's face. Not so much because of the members but because of the restrictions that LBDC forces. In other workds it is very limiting. I want to go to HBB parties etc. No go. Now they are having Japanese party. Love that. I should sign up, it is on a Friday night Feb. 22nd. If I sign up it will give me time to experiment with my dish.

750 Jan 4

2011-01-04T11:26:00.000-08:00

OK Let's keep it going.
At work at the Mall and it is afternoon and I have just wolfed down lunch. I bought a can of soup from Walmart and dumped it into a plastic container. It was very good, but from the factory not from the farm! Also a salad covered in Chinese noodles, raisins and sunflower kernels. Yum yum. A great diet. Last night I drove to the Bucket only to find out that I do not work! I bolted out of there and headed down Wilma Rudolph in search of somewhere to spend some cash. I was dying to get a milk shake, but in the end I went home and had a hot chocolate. I figured with the marshmallows it was about 180 calories. Then I had three ghram crackers and some (awful) gummi bears. I laid on the couch and watched the traveling antique show on NPTV. The grandaddy of all these shows, Pickers & Pawn stars. I guess it was inevitable.
And it's inevitable that if I skip milkshakes and candy bars and cookies and cakes that I will loose weight. This morning I came in at 160. That's down 4lbs since I started and I like it. I feel better I think, though I woke up with a sore throat.. Third day in a row. Yuck.
I am wondering about the way things are going to go. I was reading all the S&D buzz on /from the newsletter (via e-amil) that Michele is rocking it baby. Top dog in KY and just behind Alex. She sold around 8 grand of jewelry and from my estimations made about $1600 dollars. Of course she will have to pay her taxes etc out of that so lets be realistic and back out her taxes say she netted $1300. Good for her. And how much did she spend to make that? I know I had to give her $100 or $10/hr for the place in Nashville - mama that was intense. I was so angry in a weird way b/c I knew nothing about the jewelry and that is my fault. I was mad at myself and transferred it to her. People came in and looked and asked questions like "how much" and if I tried to look it up I had no idea where to look!!lol. The people would pick something up and head towards "check out" to buy. It was terrible. But she did the right thing and split some sales with me. Made certain I made enough to qualify her for Star Stylist or what ever. Can you decider that I don't care much for her. I don't know what it is. She seems okay but there is something sort of Sarah Palin about her. And she does not seem to want to help much. She is not all that good at it. lol. Anyway - her daughter was a sweetheart. Maybe it was just the drive and ambition that turned me off. And it was convert. And she does not answer emails - lol.But odds are I will give it another try in time. I just want to know if I get any jewelry from the $875 (bottom of the barrel) lol that I sold.What else - I sent Bridget some money in the hopes that she can pick herself up. She wants to go fix herself up ie get her hair done, nails etc. I hope to God that this helps her out. If all her money is going for pills then it has to really be expensive. Hopefully this way she will save a lot of money in the long run.ANd Joe is working his butt off. I think I enjoyed not having a lot of time on my hands with nothing to do. Go from one job to the other and then sleep and then get back up and do it all over again. Not a lot of time to lay on the couch and day dream while watching movies or DWTS or Survivor. Which I usually taped anyway.Joe as playing with the wii when I left this morning. It looks like a bunch of fun. I hope to get that wii fitness is as much fun as it this sports dvd looks.Linda has gone to lunch and the door keeps opening and dinging. Everyone wants something. It's not too bad, reminds me of when I covered for that month in between. It was so great when she returned.I am not going to buy anything more on the Goodwill site for awhile. I have a collection building and guess what? Today I am wearing one of the necklaces. It is a mixture of designs. I think it is so much more fun to sell stuff like this than that manufactured stuff. This stuff is classic and fun.I need to stop with the Goodwill/c the shipping is crazy! I see something I like and its $13 to ship! Some of the stuff is lower but not often. I like the stuff that is vintage and I hope that it will parlay into something else.Well, I paid the BofA credit card bill this afternoon b/f Linda went off to lunch. I have a ot of stuff to pay here in the next couple of days. Rent mortgage. Bummer. But we both get paid and then the mortgage drops.I am so psydhed about maybe going to Tupelo and starting again. Maybe a different area will break the blah's I have about something. It was funny but I was so high until the holidays came around. I definitely think that I have SADD. I hate walking out of here and it is pitch black/dark out there. Jimmy Crickets! I am over the 750 by a bunch!

Jan 3 -750

2011-01-03T11:05:00.001-08:00

I'm on a roll with 750 words and I don't want to screw it up now!
Back at work and it is OK. I am working on the gift card report and it is a pain in the butt b/c of the enormous amt. we sold for the holidays. I went to work at the Bucket yesterday and it was terrible. In the respect that it was packed and no one was buying. After the holidays no one was much in the mood. They didn't want to chat either, or maybe that was me! lol. I am burnt out at the Bucket, but I know that I prefer working nights vrs. days. The customers/guests stand around in packs looking at the dining room and counting the minutes until it is time to enter the dining room. Our new collections are nice, but nothing like the Xmas displays. People grabbing and buying and wrapping and kids everywhere. They were everywhere this week end. Kara and I had a nice morning together moaning and groaning about how boring it all is!
then Emilia came and I made some snide comment about her getting off early on NYE w/o doing any work. She bent batso and I knew I had/shouldn't have crossed that line with her. Shouldn't have said a thing. I just don't like Emilia much. especially after the Candi fiasco. She should have been gone and not C. But that's the way the ball bounces. E. will play the race card. She might pull it with HBTN about my remarks. You know what? I didn't say another word after she got started, "i don't need this job!' etc. etc. etc. She also went on and on about Kim and should have said it to her face and not to her co-workers and I felt like saying "Write a letter" but I literally bit my tongue. I did another time too when something she was yammering about was just too rich to pass over, but I did. She is a semi-lazy worker. She does not want to do much other than bull and shoot the breeze with the customers. I saw her in action the day she spilt the ice tea and spend a good hour or so farting around while I was going crazy running the floor. I hope she goes to the grill. I for one will not miss her. The kitchen will eat her up. She is funny, but not a good worker in my opinion, IMO.
Bridget wants me to front her her income tax money. I may do it, who knows. She certainly made more money that she ever has before. Good for her and I'm certain its even more since only tips on credit cards are reported. I am proud of her. But, she still should get the majority of her money back. I hope.
I wish more things exciting happened or are on my brain. Misplaced my Manifesto and now I have to recreate it from the picture I took for the Manifesto SS entry. And I am going to try and hold myself accountable for the list. I recall when we once all got together for Coke and wrote down our goals for the coming year. Then we wrote how we planned to get there. The steps needed and back up plans in case it did not work. Liked that and it really helped to achieve the goals that year. It gave yo focus.
Like How am I going to find another job/#1) where am I going to be? If its here, then I need to look here. If its there then I need to look there. I have a list somewhere of major employers in the area of Tupelo and I will tailor make my resume - or at least t sounds good to me.
#2) Jewelry - the loupe is on the way. Ineed to beef up my inventory for on-line selling. I want to be in some festivals and or road side shows like the 127 show and or Court Days. Those are fun. Also I need to jump start the S&D thing.
3) Senior Citizen interviews. I just need to contact the nursing homes and make some volunteer overtures. It's that simple. I could join a writing group. meet-up. Add in the paper - online groups.
4) CSA -here or MS we will find out
5) Make more time for letter writing and note card sending. I should just wake up earlier. I have been sleeping like a log for nights now!I have to be near 750 words and whoop there it is!

750 words jan 2nd style

2011-01-02T04:09:00.000-08:00

Hey cool. I am on a six day streak! It's closing in on 6am and I have been up for a little while now, since about 515ish. I remember all those years where 5am was the norm for a wake up call. I used the alarm clock back then - had to. Over none years with Coke and I miss it still three and 1/2 years later. It will stay with me forever, once a Coke girl always. I did like Home Market because I was always busy. I had a structure that I need. I need structure. I love being able to fly my own plane, but I need structure. One of my manifesto's is to take my job seriously. In a nutshell,t his means structure. Having a plan every day! And I could go it and still have my "day dreaming time"

Yesterday I posted the pictures of the Fitz Xmas and had a nice back and forth with Laura Burke and Hugh commented on one of the photo's - the one with Dan putting the drawers on over his pants. Mom has been giving Dan a set of Boxers for many years. Always fun. This year the Zink kids go a box on moldy bread. Man oh man was that funny. Priceless picture of their reaction. Laura tells me that they are having an 85th for her Mom in April. Could we possible get Mom to go? Maybe - but traveling is so hard on her. We'll see.

Woke up with a little sore throat. Yuck. Is my body's immune system in disarray since the stomach virus? I bought a bottle of Naproxen yesterday b/c my hip hurts so much and I think its a reoccurred of the bursitis and fear that it is arthritis and or my hip needs replacements. lol. The naproxen seems to help more than the ibprophen for sure.

Spoke to Bridgt 2X yesterday and both times she was upset distraught and crying. I try to coach her to help her util Wednesday when she gets the methodone clinic under her belt and life will be back to the way it was three years ago. At least I understand she needs the structure and the support she will get at the clinic. I hate to think she is in the midst of a life long addiction and treatment program. The money she will shell out - here is where I need to say that Ineed to go to Al-Anon so that it is not me shelling it out. I think she wants to change and become responsible and have a new set of friends but how she is to do it? Don't know.

I miss my GiSt writing. What wonderful things happened yesterday?

1) Had a whole afternoon to myself. Joe home at 8ish and I home at 2ish. Read the InStyle mag and posted pictures on FB and just farted around a little.
2) Drank three beers and they were delish. Woke up w/o hangover!
3) The simplicity of two boiled eggs. Since I am becoming obsesses with food since I am trying to follow this WW core diet it is becoming abundantly (lol) clear that simplicity is where it's at. From the farm not the factory. I have beans soaking for a bean soup, and the carcass of the chicken is in the refrigerator for soup stock for the next killer squash soup!
4) The petite fours from Figi. I was chowing down on them and then I let Joe take them off with him. Those rail roader's will love them!
5) FB in general. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I just am an outsider looking in and not really participating - but the fact that I am able to connect with my cousins (thought Laura is really kind of a 2nd cousin) and Hugh - definitely a 2nd cousin, it's just marvelous!

I woke up early so that I could do some things around the house that I normally would not do later in the day. I found it unrealistic that I would clean the kitchen or the living room in the late afternoon. Or do the taxes for the IRS though I better and I better start sending them money!

I need now to purchase a micro lens for the camera to photograph the jewelry that I hope to sell on ESTY. I have no idea what to price the pixies but I am certain trial and error will ensue. We will see.

Happy second day in January, first day of the GiSt 2011 style.

I also need a lap top - hmmmmmmmmm.

750 words December 31

2010-12-31T04:56:00.000-08:00

New Years Eve! And I have it off. And so I am up an hour earlier than usual. And I laid in bed for at least 1/2 hour and marveled at my good fortune at not having to work. Have a full day planned with going to the library, getting my hair done, getting further in debt with purchasing the wii and at least one game for Joe.

Yesterday I arrived home, after shopping at Kohls and the liquor store, and had a letter from Debbie waiting for me. She thanked me for the angel ornament iI sent and it was waiting for her on her return from Key West. Then she told me everything that was going on in her life and how things had taken certain twists and turns. It was heaven getting a letter and on my manifesto for 2011 I have written that I want to keep in touch with people more thru the mail than I have previously. I use to send cards on a weekly basis to several people. I sent Bridget a card a week when she was with Scott. I sent Deb and email a day when she was in the midst of the break up with her husband. I sent cards to everyone. I stopped be cause I was not with Coke any longer and not on the road, stopped at shopping centers that had Hallmark stores and Dollar stores or Target's. Target was a good source for cards.

My aim today after the library is to head to Tuesday morning and see if they are carrying any not cards. They use to have the most wonderful selection. At least at the stores in Lex and Ft WAyne. The one in lou is where I found that beautiful gossamer paper that I ended up making X-mas cards with. They were very cool cards if I do say so.

I woke up several times during the night in a semi panic. I told myself that everything was going to be OK and went back to sleep. I had a couple, maybe 3 1/2 drinks of the run last night and then devoured a box of cereal! Not much left. There goes my whole diet for the day and I was doing so good. I had even passed up french fries. And I was so hungry yesterday afternoon. I don't know if I was really hungry or just wanting to eat. I had a clementine from the stash that Chris had in the refrid and it was delish! I had a couple of nuts once I arrived home and then a little bit of the left over chili and I was find until I was drinking and then almost polished off the box of cereal. It would of been ok but it had 6g of sugar so the rule is in Weight WAtchers, no sugar. Rats.

Heard from Bridget a little bit yesterday and she seemed better.

I received my beautiful green bead necklace from Goodwill in the mail and man oh man is it every a beauty. I need to locate a Loupe today and a micro/macro lens for the camera so that I can set myself up on ESTY. I left my list of books at the office so I need to drop in and get that so that I can continue to list them in case I find a buyer.

I also need to get my hair cut today! And send off the 2006 taxes - again! ANd find those 2004. They are in the garage some where.

Paul's party is tonight and I had committed to go. I have a room booked at the Inn by the Lake, which is that super funky place that Joe and I found 1/2 way in between Lou and Memphis and stayed at least two times. I want to say three, but I think it was only tow times. I have stayed three times when you count in the Sig Ep reunion party.

It should be a great party and I have a new pair of pants I picked up at Khols. With the Sonicare tooth brush. Once you use a Sonic there is no going back. This is my third one. The first I got after the much cheaper Oral B broke. The sonic is a dream. I have had this second one since 2005, I got it right after landing the job with Coke in FW. My first paycheck I ran into Sam's and renewed my cues and picked up a Sonic for around $80. Last night I paid $129 maybe, could have been more and the nice woman in front of me handed over a coupon printed from the internet for 20% off. So I guess I paid $105. $25 dollars more in five years. Hmmmm. ANd it was not Sam's Club.

Well there is my 750 word dump.

750 Words Dec 30th

2010-12-30T07:34:00.000-08:00

Another day another dollar. At least I made it to work on time, clocked in on the dot! I have a bunch of things to do today before leaving for the week-end, extended week-end. I don't know if we will get to go to Paul's because Joe has to work. A grain train or some such crap. If he doesn't go, then maybe I will but I doubt it. A reunion of 40 guys verses a small intimate party is going to be a different story.
Yesterday was a good day. I broke out my little pad and wrote "what wonderful things happened today" and was able to jot a few down. It's much easier when it is the day! Trying to reach back is difficult at the least. I believe that I played on the computer and found the Manifesto challenge with Sunday Scribbling and so I began to jot down a ton of things I would like to pursue or continue in 2011. I lifted another Dionis lip balm as Ihavve lost the other two. Good lord. I walked the Mall and said hi to everyone. I met some nice people at the Bucket and helped them purchase a musical box for $30. It is beautiful and I wish I had the gumption to buy the bears, but I'm certain they will be gone today. I bought the thrid sweater in that style that I love, the purple one this time. I think I may pick up a second black one. They re old women stuff, but nice. I am eating healthier and made a second batch of Squash soup which is the balm! I need to put a little ginger in the next batch and maybe some other eye opener taste. Curry? haha. But I felt so much better when I woke up this morning thinking, No candy and chips!
Manifesto.....I want to read more books, take more photo's, send more note cards and letters, make more telephone calls, tell people why I cherish them, go to AlAnon, pay off the IRS in record breaking time, start that Vintage Jewelry business, go to church, pray more, eat less, drink less, eat healthy, buy from the farm not the factory, join a CSA, be kinder to people, stop criticising people if only in my head, continue to learn with books on tape, buy Tony Robbins tapes on line, buy the Dale Caragie on line, sell my books, start a business on line (ESTY), volunteer at the senior sitizin home and conduct those interviews and write that book!, learn to work smarter ask myself How Can I Do THis Better, make more phone calls to friends, exercise more swim again and maybe take running seriously again, go to the doctor for my women things and get my teeth cleaned!, go on that cruise with Joe, be certain to give more to the needy and not judge, carry $5 with me to give away always when asked, visit more flea markets, buy local, save more money, write more and then write more again, go to the Farmers Market on a weekly basis, be kinder to people, watch less TV, get up earlier in the morning, make time to love Joe, smile more and mean it, help Bridget more in a way that will help her, make Alaynon a reality...
More to come as I think of them. As I grow older I realize how much I love and cherish my Mom. One day on the ride to Versailles I was listening to a Tony Robbins tape and wanted to tell her how blessed I was to have had her not only as a Mother but as a role model and that I missed living so close to her that I could come running over whenever she needed me, how much I missed that and wanted to be there. I think she heard me, because she is deaf on that side of her head and she changed the subject. She must have heard how it was coming from the heart because she mentioned Bridget and how she wanted so much for B to finish high school.
Speaking of B she called me again crying last night. I don't know how to help her. You know how you give advice and then they do not take it. I have mentioned that time and time again in this 750 word dump. They don't listen, maybe she enjoys her misery. Iknow it makes you feel much more alive. Funny how you go on and on taking everything for granted and suddenly you are faced with an earth shattering life changing experience and suddenly everything feels different more intensely and deeply. Well, she is fixated on this guy (who I would love to call a name but I will not!) and helping here is difficult. I offered to let her come down here and I would find her a place with Candi or someone from The Bucket. They are younger! But it would be a change.
We find out about Tupelo in a week or so. Looks good, but I am not going to count on it.

750 words December 29

2010-12-29T07:44:00.000-08:00

I am not very good at the dump game. I am at work already and checking out Goodwill site to bid on anything that catches my fancy with these delusions of gradure that I somehow ill set up a web site, maybe Alphawoman's Vintage and sell it on ESTY or on the street corner. Heck, you never know do you? I do know that I am ga-ga over this jewelry phase of my life. Have I mentioned that I wish I had started it in the 1970's hell the 1960's? I saw a nice ittle bracelet that has multi colored gems in it and it reminded me of something I use to have when I was a kid! Anyway, I am now going to set my sites on these huge bbags of stuff and its just like a treasure hunt! One is out of Ft. Wayne and looks fabulous with a lot of turquoise.
I overslept today and woke up around 730am. I had been having this dream that a movie group came to the farm and wanted to film a documentary. Julu 22nd. But the next morning they were setting up camp for the shoot! I ran out there and told them that they had yet to get permission. They balked and told me that I had given them the word. I walked them into the parlor to meet the owner of the property, a little old woman who was dressed up like a princess and getting ballet lessons. The instructor was holding her as she extended her leg. I told this young pup that he had to ask her and that I did not appreciate his leaving last night (the day before?) without saying good bye. And there was this bull in the back field who noticed me looking out the window. I crouched down but the bull made like he was ready to charge (Hemingway yesterday?) and then my kitty got outside! Black and white. We know that old Blackie won't go outside. And it ws Missy Dotson's house from Big Sink Pike. After I thought about it I recognized the house. How long has that memory floated around in my brain?
I bought the kitty some balls to play with. They are smaller than a ping pong ball and have a ittle bell in the middle. Eight of them. They scared him to death. He crouched under his chair and looked at them. Good lord, this is such a pussy cat. I played with the dancing mouse. The one that we use to sit on Indika's head and he would look at us like we were crazy "Like this? You really want me to let this mouse sit on my head?"
I am at work and it is Linda and I and she has not been in a good mood for the past tow days. Probably because Adam is not here. Even when he is here he is not here. lol. Yesterday he brought in child #3 who was sick. Linda says we are all going to be sick because of it.
I am starting the Weight Watchers diet. Slowly at first - yea that's right, slow. I am going to go with the core thing. You eat everything you want from a certain group of food. There are no cookies or snacks in this group. Just from the farm! Fruits veggies and chicken and fish, that sort of stuff. I think I can do it as long as I remember to buy lots of veggies for variety. Right now all I have is a lot of fruit. I brought a banana and orange and an apple. I should be OK with digestion - lol.
Made the butternut squash soup again last night. It is delish but is missing just a little something. I might try a hint of fresh ginger the next batch I make. I was in Walmart last night because Emilia told me she would close the Bucket. her boyfriend got called into work and she did not have a ride home and so it goes. Heck yes! So I headed over to Walmart and finally found the X,as stuff, hidden in the garden section. It looked like the Grinch had been to walmart and taken it all away. Not a single bag of peppermint Hershey kisses remained. Glad I found two bags for Bridgie for Christmas. I ran into Suzy and Darien and Mindy at the Walmart. We stood in the aisle and talked for a good long while. I truly like them all! Honest. Then I went down to get some milk, since I am drinking the hell out of it with my hot chocolate and there was Adam's wife. She is not very friendly. She smiled but it was one of those smiles that is not warm or guinine (unlike my smile that is the exact opposite).
Well, the 750 words have passed me by and I guess that I have dumped what ever it is that needs to fly out of these finger tips.
Chis told me that the guy who had the heart attack did not make it. He died from a massive heart attack and that the flight surgeon nurse knew what she was doing by rolling him on his side to get a ittle bit of a pulse. But he did not make it. I searched the papers for some obit but did not find it. It happened Friday, New Years eve. Certainly it would have made the SUnday paper? We did not receive many papers at the office or Mindy took them and I did not get my copy. So I briefly scanned linda's and did not see it. I prayed for him, such a terrible time to go. He was 68 I thin Chris said.
So you never know, do you? I also say on tv this morning the best thing you can do for yourself is to eat from the Farm not from the Factory. to eat 1 2/2 serving of fruits and many veggies daily. To floss - and to sleep 7 - 9 hours a night. I certainly have the sleep down!

750 words dec 28th

2010-12-28T07:50:00.000-08:00

I'm going to try and do this daily and then I am going to try and copy it. Did I say this yesterday? Well today it is going to happen!Spoke to Bridget before going to sleep last night and she hung up on me. Made me feel awful because I know she needs help and for someone to just listen to her. Today I called her back to see how she was doing and she told me that Scott had hung up on her also! I told her it might be her addiction and that she is not getting past it. When she says, "why doesn't he love me" and we say because he is a selfish asshole, and she says, why doesn't he love me? It gets a little old and I made her promise that she would begin to listen to people. When she says she does not know what to do and is asking for help then she needs to listen to the advice. The instruction. She is a mess and I told her that she could come down and stay with Joe and me. I don't know if this will work and I am certain it will kill Joe but it is just so that she will feel better and maybe I could find somewhere for her to stay. I know a lot of people from the CB and maybe one of them has a place. I think that Christa needs a place and a job - maybe her and B could get it together. Not that I would ever think B would act on it, but it could happen.
Then Heather be they name was in a mood last night and gave me a semi-lecture on how to fold bags and lay them just so in the box so that she could get couble the amount in there. And that I could just not throw them in there. God, I hate working when she is around. Geez. Kim just stood around acting sort of weird. I guess Kim is worn out and H puts so much pressure on her to perform and carry the load with her. Problem is that Kim is being paid $8.50/hr and Heather gets all the bonus etc. You think she shares any of that with Kim? Hell no. I have come to the place in my tenure with CB that it barely bothers me anymore. She is just not a very good manager and loves to tell people how to do things the way she wants them done. Lately she has been good about thanking us, but not recently.
It is a job that I can take with me if I go elsewhere. I am thinking about wandering in there Friday and taking the PAR II test. If we go to Tupelo, I would like to be a PAR III. I don't look forward to working at a CB, but at least I will have a job.
I cleaned the house yesterday. Well, washed dishes and tidies up the kitchen, took stuff to the garage. I tackled the bedroom and made some great progress. I like a clean orderly house. We have such little room!!
I forgot that at the Barrel a gentleman came up to me and told me that my smile was genuine and from the heart. That he could tell it was not fake but that I meant it. "You hav made my day" I told him. He vanished into the crowd.
I made butternut squash soup in the afternoon and it was so good. Was it healthy? Probably. All I added was about 2 tbls of cream cheese. I added some orange rind and a bay leaf. Imagine if I had used home made chicken stock. Hmmmmmmmm.
I am distressed both over Bridget and Danielle. I feel helpless to do a thing. Throwing money will not be the answer but actually enabling. I decided that I would be the one to go to Alanon for us all. Will I?
And I found the weight watcher stuff and I will look it over today and begin to eat healty - healthier. I woke up this morning feeling bad. Could it be because I ate potato chips and 4 magnetics and a handful of chocolate covered cherries from 2pm onward. And a cup of hot chocolate before bed? What a diet. I also want to start swimming and doing some yoga. To run again would be devine. I know I could do it as the shoe inserts make walking and standing on my feel about as simple as it was 20 years ago - lol.
I bought a white sweater yesterday along with a jasamine candle and two CD's at the bucket. I put my check in the mail to Citizens. I may be overdrawn. I just hope it gets there fast.
i miss reading and taking care of the house and all that jazz. Oh yea, I found the list of books I have! Should I scan it in or should I type them in?I had three hits on the selling the books. I could maybe unload the whole batch. But, I must remember that it would be for resale and that I can not hope too much for the IRS to back off!

Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier

2009-12-17T03:57:00.000-08:00

First off, let me began by saying that I read Cold Mountain twice. I remember in great detail laying in bed while I lived on Sutherland Dr., recuperating from a D&C and reading the book in one long drink, and crying out loud, sobbing at the enc.

As with Cold Mountain, I did not want Thirteen Moons to end.

A magical book, but I read it in one long week. I found the book in the Goodwill on Madison, the clerk was putting up all the books from those large canvas carriers that I love so dearly. He allowed me to dive in and wade among the books he had yet to shelve and there it was!

I grabbed it and clutched it to my breast and knew that I had a book that was going to be a treasure if remotely akin to CM.

And was it? It was like magic. I could not rip through the pages as I am prone to doing. I did not skip, skim or grow bored at any time of the week's read. Last evening as the last pages loomed ahead of me, I laid down the book and thought, "I'll finish it in the morning..."

I loved it. Magic on the pages.

Travel Writing - Peter Ferry

2009-12-09T05:46:00.001-08:00

I liked this book quite a bit. I have a few questions about the plot, like I couldn't grasp why the Doc killed the girl. I assume it was a crime of passion due to two lovers (or patients) finding out about each other and the one who was offed would have done something about the betrayal. It never was exactlly explained. Nor why the victim's sister also was a patient (lover) of the evil Doc.

And the travel pieces were just thrown in. The Mexico picies were OK. The canoe piece was so boring. The Mexico piece brought us and introduced the character Charlie to us, who traveled to IL on a bus and stayed one day. That made no sense whatsoever. He could have stayed logner, but then another story would have emerged and I guess that Peter had little use for him then killed him off.

The Irelenad piece was good only because Ihave been in those places! County Clare. I know he called some other city the musical hot spot of Clare, but in fact it is Ennis. Anyway, the little trip back to memory lane was nice, but uneccessary.

Still, I enjoyed the writing if the story was a bit too male fantasyish.

Bordeaux - paul torday

2009-12-01T05:56:00.000-08:00

At times I will call up Amazon and read the reviews before finishing a book. I was not certain what I was feeling reading Bordeaux. Perhaps a bit of confusion. The reviews compared it to Memento a disjointed film from the 90's that had no linear path through the story.

I never understood the motivation behind the character until the very last pages, which quite honestly I skimmed over. The people he was so enamoured with bored me to tears.

yet, the total outline for my own "novel" (god help me) was revealed to me during those last paragraphs.

i guess to say I finished the novel ant at times the prose was wonderful, the images were very satisfying. But I'm glad it's over and that it's time to move on to another story, maybe this one with more sympathetic characters.

Eventide

2009-11-20T20:15:00.000-08:00

by Evan Haruf

Did not read his first book Plainsong which this book is a continuation of the town and the caharacters....I suspect that only the outlines and smoke shadows of the characters of the last book are here.

A very sad book. One that I read hoping for an ending that would be satisfying and give hope for the lives of those who begin to matter to us.

But, like real life, there are no truly happy endings. People do not learn from their mistakes and children get raw deals.

My heart broke and every time the chapters were about the two children of the seemingly mentally challenged parents I held my breath. Nothing good ever happened for them. They ended up in a foster home, maybe with better haircuts, but with nothing.

How empty and sad.

I realize a whole lot of people compare this type/style of writing with Hemingway...sparce bare boned. But the hoplesness of the children left me empty at the end.

Bastard out of Carolina

2009-11-09T12:51:00.000-08:00

by Dorothy Allison

It seems I am reading a certain kind of formula book these days. Or perhaps I am just seeing the pattern finally. Have a protagonist and then then have one hateful character the reader can focus on. The villain. It's the perfect formula.

I have read two books with similar themes, the sexual abuse of children, incest and out and out child abuse. It makes my stomach ball up in a knot and I want to choke the stupid characters who allow this kind of cruelty to go on.

The Bastard out of Carolina did not satisfy in a way that made the ride worthwhile. I wanted justice and justice was not given. I want to know what happened to the mother, why the mother did not pick up the butter knife after witnessing the step father raping her 12 year old daughter. I don't care. I just don't care. I would have killed him. I just don't care.

I did not find it sitting well with me that he was not beat within an inch of his life for what he did. The uncles beat the hell out of him when he beat her, why not kill him for raping her?

the mother should have gone to jail for her part of it.

I read it with anxiety building hoping that I would feel redeemed in the end, but it just made me sad.

A Parchment of Leaves

2009-11-04T14:07:00.000-08:00

by Silas House

Beautiful prose that wind around you like a spiders web spinning the story. This was his second novel...I did not read the first, but have read one after this. I love any novels about Kentucky. The especially good ones are always written by and about Eastern KY and the mountains.

Just gives itself to stories of ghosts, the supernatural, family, unspoken secrets.

Long live Silas House.

Fall on your knees - by ann-marie macdonald

2009-10-31T14:44:00.000-07:00

This book became a little ponderous at times. Yet, it was an Oprah Book club choice. As all Oprah's book seem to have a particular theme, so does this one and that theme is children.

Three "sister" and then a fourth. The book winds it's way through the tale of the Piper's and the ytragic life of the Mom. It was easy to hate the father, and the sister Kathleen - on man, I did not warm to that character at all. Was I suppose to? And the final chapters when all is revealed, yawn yawn. Another character introduced, Rose. And then another, Anthony. The "diary" of Kathleen brings it all together, but it sits like an unbaked lump dough in the mouth. Why are we suppose to care?

I would have like the "child" Lily to have ended up differently, exepted by the "other" side of the family.

Oh well, most of Oprahs books hit the mark.

Will I stop reading them? Hell no. Thought it took me all week to read the 500 pages and at times I fell asleep, it was a good story.

The patience of Rivers

2009-10-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

by Joseph Freda

It took me about 10 days to finish this book. I was excited to read it at the beginning because of the subject material. The summer of 1969. Viet nam War. Walking on the Moon. Woodstock. The protagonist was a teenage, just graduated from high school and facing the draft, college, going to Woodstock...

But I could never ever warm to the characters and just plugged along. Woodstock was a back drop, the Moon walk was a paragraph that was also a setting for sitting on some canoes and some moon watching, the Viet Nam war was thrown in as sort of an afterthought another back story that really made little to no substance to the story. It just sat there like an elephant in the room.

And the heart of the story just made my teeth ache. His parents go into business with a real shit head. He puts up nothing, but they put up the family farm!! It made not one iota of sense to me that these people could be so daft! And int he end, the grand parents loose their land and their home. But his family comes out smelling like a rose...

An interesting angle was the mafia coming in and putting the squeeze on the shit heads son....

Drinking at a bar at all ages???WTF!! Even in 1969 this seems a far stretch. I remember my swimming coach taking us into a bar (what was he thinking!!!) and we got thrown out. That would have been around that time...

An okay book, Really wanted much much more out of it. Written too much like an adult remembering his childhood than a book written from the view point of a kid.

Just went to Amazon for the review and I am trulyin the minority. Every reviewer loved the book. Oh well...

The Divide

2009-10-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, it took me a long time to get into the swing of things with this book. I did not care for any of the characters for a long time. I could have done without all the sympathy for poor Ben. His wife Sarah seemed an ice queen for most the novel.

Yet, as it progressed I became more interested and wanted to learn how the daughters body was found at the bottom of a mountain frozen forever in youth and pregnancy to be found by two skiers who also almost met their demise at the bottom of a long fall..

Anyway, an okay book. I have read all of Nicholas Evans' books and I think I enjoyed this one the least. For some reason - because I do not remember much of the story lines - the vast outdoors played more of a character than in this book. The Rocky Mountains were just a back drop, like necessary for the frozen grave rather than any other purpose.

Finished with a marathon read this morning, had to find out who killed her and every thing fell into place easily, except how he found them, in the dark, in a place he had never been before in a cabin that was totally unassociated with any of them.

Go figure, but it had to end that way.

The Fortune Teller's Daughter

2009-06-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

by Lila Shaara

About page 200 I cheated and snuck a peek at Amazon and the reviews. There were about five of them and not very flattering. Two said they did not like the book until page 200 when the plot began to develope and gel. One quite reading around pg. 200. Not the best reviews.

Not that I think people are snobs when they decide to tear a book apart. I am more likely to tear a movie apart rather than a book.

I like this book and read it in two days, spending most the day yesterday waiting for the phone to ring regarding the job search and then quietly finished it up this morning after getting a job offer that is laughable, but I will take it because frankly I need the money desperately.

I will continue to look for more "suitable" work, but this will have to do in the short run.

Back to the book. It was a lot of characters that I was able to keep track of. And I liked the tone and rythm of the story. I like the old lady offing the really bad guy at the end and I had a hard time trying to figure out who the floating corspe was in the sink hole. It did not suprise me when he was identified, but kind of saddened by the realization of the why.

And what happened to the old lady? I hope she was whisked away by aliens. I loved th fortune teller, though I wish she had not been drunk when she was offed, maybe thinking more clearly and on her toes (maybe a peep hole in the doors would have helped)...

I just liked it, it fit my mood. I was able to breeze through it and not have to wrestle with plot twists, it was all pretty black and white.

Lulu in Marrakech

2009-06-21T10:06:00.000-07:00

Diane Johnson has been writing terrific best seller, nominations for the Pulitzer, winner of the National Book Award and I imagine dozens of other accolades yet it took me until today to finish a book written by her.

And I truly enjoyed it. I read the book flap afterwards and they mentioned she wrote in the vein of bring naive American into the European world..and I thought, yes that is the world for Lulu, naive.

The second book I read with dealt with the Arab world and not totally realizing it. I must think that the world of literature is immersed in the mystic of the Arabic world.

Book was good and I read it in about two sittings. I am interested in reading some of her other works, Le Divorce (which I believe I have in storage) and Le Marriage which I could have also.

The Garden of Last Days - by Andre Dubus

2009-06-16T05:46:00.000-07:00

Finally, a book I could not put down. Took about four days to read, because I can not read on week-ends when my husband is around, as he does not like me to be distracted from him (hahaha) (sad but true, he once told me he thinks it is insulting for me to ignor him by reading. If we are watching tv and I am uninterested in the show and try to read, he begins to talk - about the tv show - so I give up).

I digress.

I had read 150 pages before I could pull myself away. The story was about a woman who worked in a strip club because she was obsessed with making enough money to buy real estate, not one house, but many. She has a three year old daughter who is taken care of by her landlady while Mom strips. Land lady has a major panic attack and lands in hospital. Does Mom call in sick? Of course not, what type of book would this be if she did? No, she takes kid to the strip club with her and has the "house Mom" watch over the kid.

Does House Mom watch over kid? Hell no, this is a strip club!

As disgusting a plot as this is, I could not stop reading. Once again, a cast of characters that begin interesting and then wear on me. The guy AJ who takes the child, whom he found wandering in the back lot at the restaurant entrance, dumpster etc. AJ with the broken wrist, broken by the bouncer b/c he was touching, holding hands with one of the "girls" thinking "this one is different"...

The real kicker was the Egyptians who took up 1/4 of the book. When I had figured out (which i did about 50 pages in) that these three guys were some the hijackers from 911, I began to skip the pages devoted to them.

Lot of inconsequential characters whoes lives and memories I could care less about. I imagine it was to give us some feeling, some understanding of the complications of their lives, motivations....

The book was 535 pages, I skipped about 100 of them...could have been 300 pages and still a good book.

Work Shirts for Madmen

2009-05-15T05:33:00.000-07:00

by Geo. Singleton

Somewhere in the last chapters of the book the "hero" Harp goes looking for this buddies. (A bizarre group of alcoholic interventionists hired by his wife to help Harp stop drinking). He locates them at the local watering hole and is told that he is just not that interesting anymore, almost fully recovered from his 25 year drunk.

And so it goes, the book was interesting and full of the most bizarre characters and circumstances and happenings as any book I have read in a long time. Gonzo type fiction writing. But it lost speed and interest at the end and as I had about 10 pages left to finish the book, I went to bed to finish it in the morning, which I just did.

I ramble, I liked it to a certain point. I did not understand the significance of the spider vein incident that involved his wife and obviously her vanity. Why include it? To show us his love for her, her vanity, introduce us to yet another cast of incidental characters? I liked his wife a lot up until that point. Didn't get it.

Master of the Delta

2009-04-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

by Thomas H. Cook

Wondering if I ever read any Cook before? Maybe not, but I have a lot of reading to look forward to. Excellent book that actually gave me a nightmare last night.

Great plot, full of twists and horrible information regarding evil. Read it fast, up in the middle of the night (awoke by night mare) and read some more after contemplating bring the book back, unfinished, to the library.

Set in Mississippi and a wonderful cast of characters.

Alive by Piers Paul Read

2008-12-04T13:37:00.000-08:00

Somewhere in the back of my mind I remember in 1972 when this happened. I was in my second year at Murray and came home for the Christmas Holidays with the flu. That is what I remember most about December 1972.

These guys, the rugby team of Montevideo Uruguay, certainly remember something different. They had survived the crash of their Fairchild aircraft in the Andes Mountains, totally off course of where they were expected to be. And 16 of the original 45 survived the 70 days in approx 13,500 feet above sea level.

I could not put the book down and read it in two sittings. How did they survive? By eating the remains of those who died. It was unthinkable, but they had to do it.

Remarkable story. great read.

The Secret History - Donna Tartt

2008-11-27T04:11:00.000-08:00

One word - Wow.

It is when I read a book like this one I wish I were in a book club and could discuss the plot, characters, motivation. But, I finished the book last night and read the interview with the author and the discussion questions I really wanted to have someone I could turn to and say something like .......

"In my minds eye I see Bunny like this!"

I read the second book this author wrote about five years ago, The Little Friend, and truly liked it. Weird as it was, disturbing actually is a better word. This book is disturbing also, in a "I can't look away from the wreck" sort of way.

I was intrigued with the characters. Like the narrator, I wanted to know them better and be a part of their group. It seemed exclusive and intriguing. And, he was granted his wish as were all the readers.

The leader was a tormented genius who found himself in the most diabolical and hated crime our society knows. Yet, we are taken along for the ride, as is the narrator Richard. Somewhere in the body of the 550 pages, Richard begins to think that Henry (diabolical leader) is setting him up to take the fall. Henry is like an expert chess player who invites you to play checkers. And you do, not realizing what you are up against, and are in fact playing a chess game.

There was so much meat in this story. I kept thinking that a child's brain (they were all in their early 20's...20 & 21, except Bunny who was 24, but had been held back due to learning disorders) are not developed enough to understand what they were actually doing. And that there were alternative solutions instead of murder. Premeditated murder of a long time friend (long time as in college years).

I thoroughly dislike the teacher who admitted the six into the exclusive club and viewed them as little pieces of himself.

As I said, I would read this book a second time in a book discussion setting.

Any takers?

Second Best Book I have read this year.

Be True To Your School - Bob Greene

2008-11-21T10:07:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I have completed a book. I think I may have just burnt myself out reading so much the first half of the year. Then again, I think I was using it as an escape mechanism. I have finished one other book besides this one. I will have to find it document a review.

BTTYS was written in 1964, well for the first time. It was a diary kept by the famous Bob Greene, who has a column that was read in over 200 newspapers. I use the past tense due to the book being published in 1987, so Bob could have moved on to other things. I recognize him from the book cover.

Anyway, what fun to read about the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, the Rolling Stones, his first drink, his year of non lettering in tennis, his pursuit of freshman (and younger) girls, his constant haircuts, his first copy boy job...well, it was just a magical book and anyone living in that time period should love this book.

It is the innocent time that most of us Baby Boomers experienced.

Summer in the Land of Skin

2008-08-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

by Jody Gehrman

After several false starts on books that just did not seem that interesting...reading 70 pages here, 50 pages there, I finally picked up the least likely from the trip to the Highland Library SITLOS by Ms. Gehrman.

I was sitting at poolside in Ohio when Joe asks "whats it about". And I said something like this (I was about 70 pages into it) Its about this girl whose father committed suicide and she sits in windows with binoculars and watches people. She them makes up stories about them and sketches their suicides in notebooks and what happens to them on 'the other side'.

Oh.

She goes looking for her fathers business partner, they hand made guitars, who may shed some light on her father who passes when she was 11 and her mother avoids the subject.

I like most the characters and I enjoyed the unfolding of the story. You knew it was going to end well, that she was going to find the link to her Dad and in succeeding ,the link to what is missing in her. Her connection to people, so undeveloped, is kicked into high gear immediately and her life goes from watching people from the safety of her window to dressing in canary yellow go-go boots.

Not much literary value here. A good poolside read and maybe the lightness I needed.

The Night Journal

2008-07-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Crook

Found this book at the Highlands branch the day I got my hair cut. Began reading it Thursday after beginning three other books that did not/have not held my attention.

This book read very easily and I found myself absorbed into the story within a few pages and read all afternoon until I finished it.

I guess I like it very much. Normally I would just say, Loved it, but I want to hold off that accolade for books that totally impress me. This one was close.

Nothing wrong with the story. A set of journals from the turn of the century are published by the daughter and resisted by her grand-daughter until it is almost too late. But we devour them along with Meg and solve the mystery right along with her.

I particularly like Bassie, the daughter of the journal writer. I loved the scene where she enters rather storms into the newsroom of a newspaper and demands the photo of her mother from the reporter who is by all practical purposed, clueless. She slams her cane against his desk and he resists handing over the photo she goes through his desk and finds it herself with him trying to fight her off. Good scene.

And when she dies, I wish they had not killed her off but left her to solve the mystery, which was always in her memory anyway she just did not know it. I was moved by the eulogy given at the grave by the Park Ranger that loved her.

I hated the fact that it was so important to get her buried quickly. She was the benefactor of many and if she died on Sunday and put in the ground on Tuesday, her obit would not have even hit the papers giving no one a chance to attend the ceremony. Odd, but I guess the author did not want to add a bunch of sap to the death and dismiss Bassie, as needed at the time.

Because we are introduced to another Bassie, the young daughter of the journal writer.

All in all a good read, that I for one could not put down.

Chick lit (maybe), but good chick lit.

The Rebel

2008-07-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

A Novel of the Civil War by Bernard Cornwell

The Starbuck Chronicles

This series of books written by a renown British author was recommended by my brother last month. I could not find the four books in the Main P.L. but managed to run across Copperhead at the Highland branch. then, lo and behold while waiting for a computer at the Jeff branch I found the first book...The Rebel.

There seems to be a pattern in Civil War books. Start out with something very gruesome and then on to the story. This one was a tar and feather feature that introduced us to a characters that will remain through out the next three.

First of all, I have to give my bro a copy of Howard Bahr's book...Year of Jubilo, which is to date one of my favorite Civil War books. why? It made me cry and the ending surprised me, I did not see it coming through thinking back I should have. And I loved the dialect ....ah, this is about Rebel not Jubilo.

Anyway, ....characters. Nate, ok but everything an officer could be described by "Co. Aytch" (which I have recently found at the library book store in Memphis) as cowering in the back ground as war raged around them. Yet, he did okay.

Will I read the rest of the series? Not certain, but I must finish Co. Aytch as I see many of the Civil War writers have and use him as a guide when describing life as a CSA participant.

Back to Rebel. The character of Faulconer was great as I wanted to slap his face when he managed to steal all the glory for saving the CSA when it was actually his troops who did so, against his orders. He was fighting mad when he learned of their part in the Manassas battle.

many characters are memorable and from peaking at Copperhead, I see they are still around, so I guess not killed in the book between the first and third.

That's all I have to say about that.

Read Jubilo and the three books written by Bahr before this series. And read Jacob's Ladder before this one. And most definitely read GWTW before this one. Read The Killer Angels.

The Woodsman's Daughter

2008-07-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

I sneaked a peek at the reviews on Amazon before adding this book to my list of 2008 reads. First of all, I found this book on the shelves of "R's" at the downtown Main branch held up as a favorite of the staff...staff pick. Happily I grabbed it because I loved "Icy Sparks" and I know that GHR lives in my hometown (which is also made a minor role in the book as a small town that the wife of the son hails from).

In my defense, I have been reading The Book Club in between the two listed books. I did not finish TBC but returned it day before yesterday half read. Could not relate to the characters blah blah blah.

This book...is not Icy Sparks. Somewhere in the middle of it I thought of Scarlet O'Hara and sure enough, it was mentioned in the other reviews.

I found little sympathy for the main character as a young girl and could not identify her bitterness for her father, since his "sin" was revealed only after 50 or 60 (maybe 100) pages of the first part of the book. I even felt sorry for the old geezer and felt his reluctance to return to his home. Why even go home? Why not make yourself a more comfortable home elsewhere? Say, in Millerown? Anyway, I did not understand the hostility between the daughters and father, and the father punishing himself to return to them. Despite the "I love you's" and the love making she heard through the walls.

I just did not like them. All but the Mammy character. I hated that the girl who was so flip and disrespectful to her father could not own up to setting the barn on fire but allowing Mammy to take the rap and to be banished from the home.

BTW, all this takes place after the Civil War around the turn of the century.

A study in the lives of women, Delia as a turn of the century woman, her daughter as a flapper, her mother as a Civil War survivor and drug addict and Mammy as a free born black woman, slave none the less.

I read it at break neck speed unable to put it down because the story flowed easily. No big words to look up or flabbergast me (as love in the time of cholera). Good story none the less, unsympathetic characters who' motivation was sketchy at worst, left to the imagination at best. Some characters were but mere ghosts coming into the story as a minor character in a play enters from stage right and exits stage left. I did enjoy the brief introduction of the old Aunt (where the hell did she come from? The Miller side or her mothers side? Where did she get the money to live high on the hog, unencumbered by having to marry to survive. Her mothers people became poor after the war, her fathers people were dirt poor and he was a self made man. Made little sense to me) who had an affair or fling with a scoundrel from Charleston...Rhett Butler of course!

Predicable what was going to happen.

I read Icy Sparks hears ago and loved it. Knew the author had been inspired by the Berea Writing Program and Icy Sparks was a prodigy of that program. Icy Sparks was her masterpiece, and this book is just a writing exercise to keep her chops greased until she finds another character like Icy.

At Play In The Fields of the Lord

2008-06-25T22:15:00.000-07:00

by Peter Matthiessen

Imagine my surprise as I groped through the aisle of the library, seemingly in the "M" section when I came upon several of Peters books in the fiction section. I thought he only wrote nonfiction. I picked this book of the three or so offerings and laid it on the stack I was accumulating for the weeks reading.

As I began to read I immediately became sucked in and totally immersed in the story, the setting, the characters. It began to occur to me, about midway through, that this book reminds me of the countless books as a child I eased out of the library under the watchful nose of my Mom and read under the cover of my room, at night while the family slept but I could not. I would be totally immersed in the story, spellbound by the world out there I knew nothing about, fretted over the emotions and needs of adults that I could only hope to someday to understand.

Obscure books that no one else read, but were life changing for me.

This was a good book, one I could not put down and turned the pages greedily. Mr. M's prose is astounding and tender. One line went like this...we found ourselves like butterflies pinned to the trays of our mortality....

The characters were each and every one, fascinating. Though the central character, Moon was someone that I wanted to overcome the hand life had dealt him and in the end perhaps he was the only one who had successfully been reborn, redeemed, saved.

Fascinating book, lot of topics to give thought to such as forcing our idea of a Higher Power that is better, more redeeming than the "savages" idea of a higher power. Who exactly are the savages here? The love between Wolfie and Moon, a manly love, one of desire and two halves making a whole.

A study of faith and loss. Everyone looses. Even Moon, who lost so much to end up in the god forsaken back waters of So America, somehow overcomes in the end. As does Andy, as does Martin, who ends his life work as a martyr killed by one of the converts.

I'm certain there is much more to this parable, this warning, this deep story layered with subtle preaching and astonishing revelations.

I will be searching out rather than stumbling upon more or Mr's books.

The day i ate whatever i wanted

2008-06-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

by Elizabeth Berg

I thought she could have stolen this title from an entry I made in 2006 the day before I went on the cleansing diet - yuck - and ate Dairy Queen, donuts, etc. all day long. The first of many exquisite short stories begins with a similar tale.

I read another book by Eliz., the last book she wrote as it was recommended by my sister and it was very good. Yet, I liked this collection of stories much better. I think I could find some connection to most every character. And if not, then some sort of understanding.

I loved the husbands. I like the way EB characterized them as understanding and un-suffering balances in the lives of their wives. Not all the stories involved husbands, but when they were there they were very lovable.

I totally drank up the story of Michael who quits his advertising job and moves to Mass and builds himself a house. I loved her reaction when she went and visited him, with her husbands trust and approval making the first journey with her. She realizes that Michael is living the life that she wanted and had not known until that moment that it was the life she wanted. And she mourned the loss. Then M. has brain cancer and her last moments/memories with him.

The story about the only child, 10 years old who mean cousin hips her the fact that she is fat. Sad and I felt such sorrow for that child. Like her childhood was over at that moment.

I loved the story about the two old friends and one is dying of leukemia and the other invites her to come live with her. I shed a tear on that one.

I devoured the letter from an old neighbor that served as a birthday gift. It was the recipe to apple pie and was so wonderful that I could just cry.

EB makes writing appear effortless and as easy as breathing. I will definitely read more.

And it was nice to rid myself of the Civil War monkey on my back.

The Black Flower

2008-06-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

A novel of the Civil War by Howard Bahr

This is the third of Mr. Bahr's books I have read beginning with the most recently written and ending with the first, the story of the Battle of Franklin. Another great story that left me crying. Another wonderful group of the most interesting characters from a fictitious city in MS called Cumberland.

He brings his characters to life not only with the dialogue, but also with the inner workings of the men. Virgil c. was only in the first 50 pages but we felt great pain when he left. And Jack, the same fate only we revisit with him in his last hour.

And Bushrod. My God, how I would love to meet these men. Thought they are from another era, another century, another life I would find many things we have in common and I would love to just listen to their stories, their meaning in what is not being said.

I feel these characters in my heart and I cry with feeling for them and their circumstances.

The Black Flower is a tragic story and told beautifully. The middle one, the Year of Jubilo is my favorite out of the the trilogy.

I can not wait for Mr. Bahr to complete another. As I am certain he has many more stories and many more people from Cumberland to introduce us to and make us care about them as much as he cares about them.

Gods and Generals

2008-06-12T18:53:00.000-07:00

by Jeff Shaara

I use to write a brief description of the book I had read, rated it and then on to the next book. This year, I have just listed the titles on the side-bar and let it go. I have had the unusual pleasure of just being able to read as much as I want the last year since I am not working and just lay around doing nothing but reading and worrying about money etc.

What is the use of all this reading if I do not document what the book and story meant to me?

G&G was about 480 pages. As I started the book I looked to estimate how long it would take me to complete. I may not have read this book, but I started another that just did not do it for me and I have made the promise to myself not to read it just because I started it (I use to do that!)

I am not big on history and I like the way both Jeff and his father, Michael who wrote The Killer Angels, take on history with a new twist. They make it fiction. Not in a million years would I guess that I would have read either of these books. The latter won the Pulitzer in the 1970's it was so good, and it was, I read it in a day. But I deviate from G&G. Jeff is not his father and some of the people left me cold. Jeff definitely is more fascinated with the Confederate Army than the Federal Army. The Rebels are always outnumbered, under fed, have limited clothing yet fight like wildcats. It is a wonder we (as I live in the South and consider myself a Southerner) lost the war. Just think, the southern states could be a separate nation, uninvolved with the damn war in Iraq and maybe have an ample supply of gas provided by the great state of TX and the country of Mexico.

Once again, I deviate. I read this book to learn about several of the great battles that took place before Gettysburg. I did not know a lot of things, like Stonewall Jackson died as a result of "friendly fire".

Stonewall is my favorite character in the book. I find myself becoming irritated with the lack of concern .... concern it too harsh a word, the uninterested with the wounded and dead, the dying after all these battles.

I will not read another Shaara book, I will continue with my tear through all the Civil War books I can lay my hands on (I Have a pile of them at ready).

But, it was still good and I learned a lot. A whole lot about the sequence of the war and how very brave the Southerners were.

2008-06-02T04:26:00.000-07:00

1. 1/365, 2. 4/365, 3. January 4, 4. 5/365, 5. 6/365, 6. 7/365, 7. 8/365, 8. 10/365, 9. 11/365, 10. 9/365, 11. 12/365, 12. 13/365, 13. 14/365, 14. 15/365, 15. 16/365, 16. 17/365

066/365

2008-03-07T06:30:00.000-08:00

El Conquistador sent me to the local brewery for a local blend. He did not like it saying it was too heavy and stout like. Oh well. Trying something different with the shot and do not like it much. But, it's a tad different.

065/365

2008-03-05T16:39:00.001-08:00

064/365

2008-03-05T16:38:00.000-08:00

063/365

2008-03-05T16:36:00.002-08:00

062/365

2008-03-05T16:36:00.001-08:00

061/365

2008-03-05T16:34:00.000-08:00

060/365

2008-03-05T16:33:00.000-08:00

059/365

2008-03-05T16:32:00.001-08:00

058/365

2008-03-05T16:29:00.000-08:00

057/365

2008-03-05T16:28:00.001-08:00

056/365

2008-03-05T16:21:00.000-08:00

054 and 055/365

2008-02-25T05:26:00.001-08:00

The Sick Room

Finally I am undrugged and feeling half human. It amazes me that I spent two years in the fridge NE and was not sick once. Returning home I have caught three virus in the last nine months! (has it really been that long?). This one about did me in and I stayed confined to bed for two days.

It recalls to mind a time of childhood when I would languish in bed, ill or faking ill because I had not studied for a test at high school, and I would received chicken noodle soup with crackers, ginger ale, jello, Irish tea with milk and sugar. If a fever were involved, I would have a rubbing alcohol ice bowl next to the bed which would have a wash cloth that I would wring and then lay across my feverish brow. Oh Mommie, how I loved the attention.

And I would read.

Which is exactly what I did this time and I finished two books. As of late I have haunted the Best Seller rack at the downtown branch of the library. And I have to confess, they are like potato chips. Taste good, no subsidence.

This week end I have read the best book of the year (next to Memories of a Geisha), The Natural History of Uncas Metcalfe. Wonderful story about a man who is beginning to show signs of dementia, though this is the early 1980's (I believe they only elude to the date once or twice) so Alzheimer's and the signs are not yet so prevalent and obvious to the masses. This guy is a mix between Larry David (Curb your enthusiasm) and every bodies Grandpa. Several lines made me laugh out loud at the end of the story as he replayed his drama over in his head (the second meeting with Carl) and his description of Carl (only in his head) when asked if they were going to be any royalty at the party, "Only Lord Reticent Taciturn (his wives mocking nick name for him) and Baron Carl the Bad." Oh my, how I wanted to share that clever amusing line with Joe, but how and why would he get it? So I savored it and continued on and finished the book.

The movie Once won at the Oscars! For best song from a movie. I was so happy and though, "Job well done". Even Joe commented that "Falling Slowly" was the best song of the lot.

053/365

2008-02-23T04:10:00.001-08:00

"If winter comes, can spring be far behind?" Percy Bysshe Shelley

Pan,the Greek God of many things but the most important SPRING!

This statue is a fountain that sits at the top of the Hill at the Scenic Loop at Cherokee Park. The trees behind him are encased with, lets hope, the last storm of the season. Instead of the dripping of melting icicles and the crack of falling ice, there should be birds...singing!

Ah, March is but a week away.

052/365

2008-02-21T18:42:00.001-08:00

Taking pictures from the window of a slow moving car. Faint ice storm taking place. This is Breckingridge, some of the projects in the area housed behind this worthy sculpture.

051/365

2008-02-21T18:35:00.000-08:00

Blood Moon Waltz

050/365

2008-02-20T04:55:00.000-08:00

Hello Mama

049/365

2008-02-19T06:22:00.001-08:00

Rose hung upside down from pots and pan thingee to dry. From my fathers casket, the rose stayed beautiful for over a week shedding only one petal. I thought I wouldnot press my luck for all the petals to fall before drying. My SIL hipped me to this method.

048/365

2008-02-18T02:01:00.000-08:00

All over Louisville the sides of buildings, such as this one which belongs to my BIL, are adorned with huge pictures of Louisville's most famous son's and daughters. Such as Diane Sawyer, Muhammad Ali, Pee Wee Reece, Col. Sanders...you get the picture. Patrick was unveiled this week-end at the corner of Broadway and Barret.

I watched the show, Extreme Makeover, last night which featured Patrick's family and wasmoved to tears by the stregnth and love that guides this family. Not to mention the talent that Patrick has for music!! He truly is an inspiration to not only the disabled, but to us all that it is in inside each and every one of us to be the best we can be with the gifts God gives us.

(my spell check has not worked for a week...)

047/365

2008-02-17T06:45:00.001-08:00

And they found the body laying here.

Joe in repose on the couch after a hard night at the "office".

046/365

2008-02-16T09:13:00.001-08:00

Fooling around in the Art room trying to design a new Beatle card.

045/365

2008-02-15T06:19:00.000-08:00

Valentine Day at Stevie Ray's. We sat at the bar, watched/listened to three bands. The first two were very easy....Once music, Joe commented. I wish the crashing angry chords of Once were evident in at least one of the tunes. They all sounded the same with the first singer. The second was a duo. Once had a trumpet. The last band wasa five piece ensemble that performed a wide variety. Prince's When Doves Cry to...well, I can't remember anymore. Had a good time and this picture is kind of blury because it was taken with the small Minolta. Good purse camera. Subtle.

044/365

2008-02-14T04:15:00.000-08:00

Bella. my sisters dog. I watched the kids until my bro got home from work. My sis and bil went to utah to ski. The pic sucks. I had the camera and was actually stoked about taking pictures of us making cookies (which we did) but the lure of a good book (S. Paretsky's Bleeding Kansas) made the afternoon fade into oblivion and I quickly snapped Bella before she was wisked off to her "vaca".

043/365

2008-02-12T13:51:00.001-08:00

The Sun King. I think I am going to start collecting Sun Faces. I was going to find bird houses....but I think the Sun King is going to be more interesting. I may still throw in a few bird houses.

042/365

2008-02-11T16:57:00.001-08:00

Ah, it's snowing at night! I unearthed the D-50 book and tried (with small success) to get the F stop open and override the flash mount on a tripod...and ended up with a tilted picture! With the snow flakes looking very cool...but with those globes (ghosts).

041/365

2008-02-11T08:54:00.000-08:00

Life returns to normal

040/365

2008-02-10T04:47:00.000-08:00

Leaving Mom's yesterday.

039/365

2008-02-10T04:44:00.001-08:00

From the casket. I had to stop the casket from being moved from the shelter and on to the grave site, i asked Becky "Pls. we want roses!" So she went up and secured many for Mom me Peg Kit etc. etc. Bridget.

038/396

2008-02-10T04:38:00.000-08:00

After the visitation I came home and the thought of capturing a picture of the day has been the last thing on my mind all week, yet I try and endure. I snapped a shot of myself from above, which is how I feel, being looked down upon. I erased it by accideent Friday afternoon, so I have re-captured it this morning....sorry I have cheated, but it could not be helped.

037/365

2008-02-06T21:05:00.000-08:00

Collecting photographs for the visitation. Obit in today's papers. Began writing eulogy with bro's & sis'

036/365

2008-02-06T04:56:00.000-08:00

Louisville Airpoty - picking up my Brother

035/365

2008-02-05T06:02:00.001-08:00

No picture other than a blur, which is how the day was...My Dad passed during the early morning hours on Feb. 4th.

034/365

2008-02-05T06:00:00.001-08:00

Waiting for photo's to be developed at Walmart I drove around the Knobs. They once again, pissed me off b/c would not hand over copies of school picture taken 50 years ago.

033/365

2008-02-02T16:46:00.000-08:00

Incredible magic car in Kinko parking lot in Douglas Loop. He was so sweet to pose with car!

032/365

2008-02-01T13:35:00.001-08:00

Joe came back as retreived me. He brought my SD chips with him We went back to the baby's house and I got this bute of a picture. Dad is doing okay.

031/365

2008-02-01T13:29:00.000-08:00

Forgot my SD chips yesterday> can you believe it? Then, my Mom calls and Dad has to go the Emergency room because of CHF. I did not want this to be my pic of the day, but my cell phone was all I had and as the minutes ticked away on Jan 31, this was all I got.

030/365

2008-01-30T11:35:00.000-08:00

Pauls's Fruit Market in St. Matthew's

I heard of a product place on River Rd and for the life of me I could not find it. I even went into downtown, where River Rd has it's beginning, changing from the more familiar street into the long windy two laner that follows the Ohio before breaking off towards the Harrods Creek. Only found an impenetrable store that I circled many times before giving up, realizing it must be commercial only.

And then, thank God, Paul's' open year round.

I get so tired of that crummy produce at the super markets.

029/365

2008-01-29T17:23:00.000-08:00

028/365

2008-01-28T14:55:00.001-08:00

How many pictures of Bridget do I have so far? And it is only four weeks into it!! This must be #3. We went shopping together, which means I pay for everything. She is like a wild woman running through the store throwing everything in the cart, kind of like those shows where the person has two minutes to throw as much as possible from the stove shelves into the cart. That is exactly how it is.

It was a big problem when we went to FL in '06. I must have bought 20 t-shirts.

27/365

2008-01-27T12:44:00.000-08:00

Shelbyville Flea Market

Oh baby. Did I ever hit the pay load. I purchased $55 dollars worth of beads and came home with 12 stands. African wood beads, turqoise, jade...unbelievable.

26/365

2008-01-26T12:21:00.000-08:00

Peanut butter Cookies. Being the worst Mom in the world, my daughter asked me for P-nut butter cookies for Christmas and I gave her money with an IOU in the card. What is today? According to the calendar, its the 26th!!

I am at home without the car and when I am without wheels I panic on what I am going to feature as a picture of the day! This one was easy...I'll make those cookie!

I hope some are left for her!

25/365

2008-01-25T16:19:00.000-08:00

I miss seeing these phone poles around UK. This one must have several years worth of flyers stapled to it! today I drove to Lex because I was feeling blue and just wanted to go 'home"...so I did! I listened to Saw Doc's on the way down and as always, HAY WRAP lifted my spirits.

24/365

2008-01-25T16:08:00.000-08:00

Drove to Churchill yesterday and passed it! I was looking ahead rather than to the side...so silly! The most famous location in Big Lou and I drove right past it!

Not a great picture, taken hastily. Not a good day all around yesterday.

23/365

2008-01-23T18:09:00.001-08:00

This is where I parked my butt all day. J. had the car and I would not drive the Mercedes (too big...too big!!) and in a snit I read two books (well, finished two books today) watched tv...fooled around with the jewelry. Left the couch to make chili, wash dishes, vacuum, bring in garbage pails, re-cycling bins. then back to couch to watch UofL game. Now watching The Nanny, a single father from G-town Ky...

22/365

2008-01-22T16:51:00.000-08:00

Switched the lens on my camera and got this God awful picture. Even photoshop couldn't fix it up! The other pictures were of the snow in the back yard...boring. The full moon?? Looks like a white blob in the corner of a dark screen. So, here are the valentine earrings that are going on the Etsy site, as soon as I get around to it...tomorrow is another day.

21/365

2008-01-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

Jump!! I'll Catch you!

I was hipped to this Art Center on Mellwood. So I decided to amble on over and check it out. Too bad nothing was open! Guess MLK B-day and all, and I discover a lot of retail artsy types won't be open on Monday to compensate for Saturday.

What was there were several workers, and one very good looking Spanish-type. Latino in tight black pants and open shirt.... We passed, he did not acknowledge me in any way. I got a good look at him out of the corner of my eye.

I wandered around and found a stair well that led to second story so I scrambled up there and found nothing, just this view looking down into the open common area. As I was looking through my small camera he suddenly walked out from under and seeing me looked over his shoulder to see what I was photographing...then he barked out some orders to someone I could not see, in that melodic Spanish that can make your heart skip a beat.

I wish I had my zoom lens and I might have just tried to catch him!

It made me self conscious to be up there, no one but constructions workers around (the place is very new and under construction. It's going to be fabulous when it does get up off the ground)....

....me and my camera.

Not my best attempt of the day, but the only one with a story.

20/365

2008-01-20T14:27:00.000-08:00

Homer Simpson through the window. Sometimes the most incredible things happen. i was walking downtown looking for a good photo op. It was cold as hell reminding me of when I first came to FW and walked all over downtown taking pictures. It was so cold with the wind chill factor that I thought my cheeks froze. After two winters there I know how to dress for winter...yet, t he cheeks still freeze.

I once walked around Cleveland in March and my cheeks froze too!

I liked this picture out of all the Belle of Louisville, Main St., trees, blah blah blah...it came out so cool!

19/365

2008-01-19T13:33:00.001-08:00

I found this web site Foliage through one of the blogs I read (and still read) from FW. These tiny hand soaps are darling and so cute! I can't wait to have an opportunity to give them away as a gift! I believe people will go nuts over them...like I have. They are moderately priced considering she makes them by hand and sculptures each hand. Each little hand.

They are too cute to use.

18/365

2008-01-18T19:31:00.000-08:00

Messy stove - In dire need of cleaning Paul Revere tea kettle - Lamb Fries

17/365

2008-01-17T15:32:00.001-08:00

Grandpa and the newest addition.

16/365

2008-01-17T15:30:00.001-08:00

January 16 - visiting in central KY. Almost forgot to take a pic until we were watching the deer in the fields above the house and I tried to get as close as possible.....not very close. Need a better lens the next time. All in all, eight deer were in the back yard looking for dinner. S. usually feeds them.

15/365

2008-01-15T13:19:00.000-08:00

Dirty Window. Kitchen window that every day during this winter I have marveled at the beauty of the red flower plant that I brought in from outside. It has done very well over the months. The window is so dirty on the outside! oh well. Didn't do anything much today and fretted about not getting a picture.

14/365

2008-01-14T13:40:00.000-08:00

"Come on, gimme your happy face."

"This is my happy face."

Went hiking at the Jefferson Memorial Park...were on the 5.4 mile trail while it snowed and I was so glad to see the yellow trail cross the blue trail to the Parking lot.

13/365

2008-01-13T09:57:00.000-08:00

Rain rain...downtown taken through sun roof.

12/365

2008-01-13T05:33:00.001-08:00

A night on the town last night. First we went to Stevie Rays Blues Bar and saw two bands,the last being a Blues Brothers Show which was fun. Then we went to 4th Street Live for an Irish Coffee at the Pub. My pal pal C. was with us and it was great.

Using my old Minolta and after the D50..wow. I just am afraid to lug the Nikon into crowed bars. Its a monster and ever since the time it slipped out of my purse and crashed to the floor...and I went "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" (it only ruined the lens, thank god..not really, the lens is almost irreplaceable, only comes with the "kit" and not available separate, had to buy a larger lens) (thus, the camera is a monster) and I am afraid that someone may steal it. I dream about that.

I need to get the UBC cord for the Fuji, somehow I think I like it better.

11/365

2008-01-12T05:40:00.001-08:00

I am keeping this up! The 365 project, that is. I took this picture this picture early in the morning (yesterday) with the intent of taking the tree down later in the day with the help of my daughter. She has offered to clean, vacuum etc.

Actually, she did her laundry and vacuumed.watched movies, talked etc.

Maybe the tree will come down today.

10/365

2008-01-10T12:11:00.001-08:00

Under I-65 downtown Louisville, Brook Street (maybe?)

9/365

2008-01-09T15:11:00.001-08:00

Woke up with yet another cold.Maybe the same cold, just moved to the other side of my head. Feeling out of sorts all day. But, still did the jewelry class with B. And finished Memoirs of a Geisha. Class was great, book was fabulous.

8/365

2008-01-08T13:12:00.000-08:00

January 8th - Chief Little Turtle looking out over the Ohio towards Cincinnati. If only he had known then...Yesterday afternoon J calls me and says he is to be in Cinti. in the morning and to book us a room for the night! Yay. I love the Cinti. area. I was able to walk around the River Rd. area while he was in a meeting. I was also able to get to the Trader Joes (yummy stuff) and I found the Spring Grove Cemetery...thank you Garmen gps. The cemetery is huge and thus intimidating for my first "drive thru"..I need a whole day to wander around and uncover the jewels. I have posted some on Flickr...

7/365

2008-01-07T14:14:00.001-08:00

Christmas Bear on Bardstown Rd. very warm again today, in the 70's.

6/365

2008-01-06T14:28:00.000-08:00

Today it is close to 70 degrees. I thought I was dreaming when I remembered the weather forecast today but apparently not. I was going to go to the Loop and see if I could find some red berries growing among all the brown-gray trees, but the place was packed! So, I headed to the Cave Hill Cemetery and came up with this. I love cemeteries anyway...the three graves of the little ones is very sad.

Collage #5

2008-01-06T10:35:00.001-08:00

Still just experimenting with stuff. Had this painted piece and just added the legs and butterfly and then just went nuts trying to figure out what to do with the big empty space in the left hand corner. First I put an Mona Lisa type smile, but it did not work. So I tried to paint over it and ended up having to put some of the grappe stuff (hahahah) and then it was a mound, so I free hand painted the stars trying to duplicate and add interest....and it is a diaster, but I am learning.

5/365

2008-01-05T18:16:00.000-08:00

This is what the mail lady brought to the house today. My favorite patchouli candles (for self and gifts), Netflix, and the last Christmas Card (maybe) from our friends in Cinti. The jolly snowman is a gift from my Mom to J several Christmas' ago used as a coin collector. Chili is cooking on the stove in the back ground. UK and UofL getting ready to tip off. J. on his way home.

Nice Saturday afternoon. (stayed home all day, only set foot outdoor to collect mail).

Collage # 4

2008-01-05T09:21:00.001-08:00

BTW - Self portrait

Experimenting with all sorts of different things! Discovered decoupage glue and it makes life and collage a lot easier. Also, the book Collage discovery workshop by Claudine hellmuth....I'm off baby! This is a hodge podge of a lot of things in the book that I just tried on one surface. The heat transfer did not work and I ended up really messing up parts of it and had to just slap on an eye...but not two! Joe is kind of confused with this new passion...and I feel like i must do it on the sly. hence, believe in yourself theme.

4/365

2008-01-05T07:33:00.001-08:00

My daughter. We spent the afternoon together doing mom/daughter things like going to a dentist for a wisdom tooth emergency. She will need oral surgery. Yikes! uofL here we come Feb 8th. Then the mall where she can act like a six year old and I have flash backs to the 1980's. We ate at a local pizzeria on Bardstown Rd which is where this is snapped. I guess I am going for the day to day small things that make up a year...sometimes big things! Anyway, if I can add a dash of artistic genius I will, other wise, this is 365 days of the year of my life of my pictures.

Day 2 and 3 are locked in a Fujifilm camera that I thought would be less intrusive than my huge D50, but I can not find the UCB cord to hook up to computer! So those will be inserted when possible.