Don't you wish you could love The Cars (i.e. Rick Ocasek) like you did in the 80's

I'm relishing the last bits of summer and taking a short hiatus.

Back after Labor Day(ish).

See you then.

Update, or more like a Backdate

Mr. One in his fat and happy years. Somewhere around 1996. These were the years we grew up together. Scrapping it out when he wasn't getting his way. Probably a few times when I wasn't getting my way too.

Rest assured, it was Christmas time, hence the bow around his neck. He didn't wear the bow as a general rule. I'm not that evil.

One with Teresa. What a great belly!! (One, not Teresa.)

the long haul ~ edition VI

return to the homestead this weekend. always a whirlwind. never enough time to do all the things i'd like. love my nieces to pieces. all they want to do is hang on me and show me the things in their lives and tell me about everything they've done and its rather wonderful. as a bonus, it keeps me from the dreaded adult conversations that take place which i don't necessarily always agree with, but since i am my parents daughter and don't want to create any more perceived distance between me and them than already exists, i keep my mouth shut. but i digress. my nieces are fabulous and dacia always says immediately upon seeing me that she's missed me sooooo much. and then over the course of the next few hours i get to see them she reminds me over and over how much she'll miss me when i'm gone again. guilt much? note to self: spend more time with beautiful nieces while they actually want to spend time with aged aunt.

i'd really like to have more time to see friend, yes pretty much singular, there's but the one i'd like to see. will make time for it next time i go, for certain. i'd like to go to the beach, hike, eat big burgers, ride my bike, etc. making time for the important things is more difficult than it should be. priorities i suppose. *sigh*

ok, the long haul, literally.

don't try this at home kids, i may make it look easy, but taking photos, while driving at freeway speeds (those i won't mention here) can be dangerous.

pretty much these are just random photos of my drive home sunday. i'd see something ever so slightly interesting to me (yes, i was bored driving, so take the word interesting with a grain of salt) and would try to take a photo and drive at the same time. no looking through the view finder, no focusing, just luck of the draw. again, i digress.

the last photo, bottom right, is the long line of traffic, miles long in fact, on the other side of the freeway (thank you Lord) due to an accident. i tried to get a pic of the accident, but again, freeway speeds were prohibitive. so glad i wasn't stuck in the very, very slow moving traffic. and that's my latest long haul.

I can feel something happening

This photo was taken from my office today. Cars, cars everywhere.

I occassionaly open my eyes and look around. I actually try to do this consistently. I find it truly amazing there are so many people going in so many directions all at the same time. Pretty much everyone is on a completely different path from everyone else. Every one starts at their own home and goes to their own work or on their own errands. All the intertwined paths moving at freeway speeds, which, depending on the time of day is slow. Picture it from above on a time lapse camera. Wow!! Dizzying. (Yes, that is how you spell the actual word, I had to look it up too.)

Now think about what that same picture would have been 30 years ago, 50 years ago, 100 years ago. Technology, industry, invention. What have we really done to ourselves? If I allow myself to think about the negative effects of some ordinary devices in my life, it staggers my little brain. For example, I have yet to meet someone who thinks cell phones in restaurants and movie theaters is a good thing and yet someone always seems to be on one in those places. What happened to leaving the house and not needing to talk to your significant other or the dog groomer or the friend who wants to chat about their most recent great bargain from Target? When did this change from a convenience device (because being a woman and breaking down on the highway at 10PM is truly scary) to I have to talk on my phone all the way home to my children or husband or the doctor's office or the office because there just isn't enough actual time to spend with them when we are in the same room/house together. Why are we so ADHD that we can't turn off our phones for 15 minutes? We didn't even have these phones just a few years ago and literally, people can't turn them off. A few years ago, I was on a first date. The guy saw me turn off my cell phone and he literally didn't know what to do with that. He didn't quite know how to handle it. IT WAS A FIRST DATE and he can't turn off his phone for two hours. I felt pretty important, just kidding. Needless to say, no more dates for him.

Have we really thought about the convenience items we purchase? I am not rallying for everyone donning overalls and a straw hat, don't get me wrong. Think about the days not so long ago when we had fewer 'convenience' items which are designed to make our lives easier and we spent time with family at the dinner table or in the street playing with our friends. We don't do those things much any more. In order to live the American dream these days, all the adults in the house have to work. There's no one at home raising the children. We rush home after work, talking on the phone the entire way, change clothes to get in a work out, do some laundry, clean the cat box, pull a few weeds in the yard, try to figure out what dinner will be, eat it in front of the television, clean up and what do you know, its 9:30 and its time to fold the laundry, brush and floss, shower, pick up a few things that need to be put away and crawl into bed with maybe a few minutes to read and 'relax' before trying to catch a few zzz's. Now that's my typical evening, I can't fathom what a parent has to add to the list... picking up child, homework, after school activities, making lunches, and stuff I can't even think of. Where is the quality time? Where is the convenience?

Whew, my brain is really working overtime the last couple weeks. Remember that change I was looking for? Searching for? Anxiously awaiting? Well, it might be here. I've been reading. And I'm not turning into an earth muffin nut, but I have decided to make some positive changes in my life in the arena of food. I try to be healthy as a general rule, but I've decided to take it to the next level. Isn't that what we do as Americans? We strive and achieve? Anyway. Be watching for my metamorphosis in the coming weeks. We'll see.

So, a couple links to give you an idea where I've been and where I'll be going. I'm reading this book by Jane Goodall: Harvest for Hope about eating organically / ethically. One of the things she talks about is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). The link, well, the link speaks for itself. A wealth of information about local farms with fresh and quite often organic products. Feel free to join me. I feel good things coming from this new adventure.

XO

You answer some seemingly simple questions and...

You Are Bad Girl Sexy

Girl, you are nothing but trouble. And that's hot. You've got the classic bad girl sexiness mojo going on. And your badass attitude makes men fear you - and crave you. Don't give into people who say to tone it down. You're perfect as is.

What Kind of Sexy Are You?

Bad girl sexy with the basic panties? I am beginning to question the validity of these online personality tests.

You Are Basic Panties

You are a laid back chick with a real natural beauty. You can make unwashed hair and minimal make-up super sexy. Men tend to notice you show the "real you" - and they appreciate it. And while basic makes boring for some, it looks classic on you.

What Kind of Panties Are You?

Cuteness Factor 10

Huh? It wasn't me!!

...enough of that...

the long haul ~ edition V

you know you don't want to have your own children at this point in time, that boat has pretty much sailed. but you see your beautiful nieces growing up so bloomin' fast and you see them with their mother and the smiles and the laughter and the 'insider only' looks and feelings and the getting to tell them how to live their lives if only for a few more years and... and i know i've made the right decision, i know i'd be a basket case mom who loves too much. why is it sometimes, not all the time, but sometimes so hard? i know what i should and probably will do, maybe, i should smother and love my friends' children and my nieces.

its just not the same. that's all i'm saying.

time is a bandit and he never returns it.

ever.

TGIF

Happy Friday to all

and to all an excellent weekend.

I sometimes wish for smellovision. This is one of those times.

Whacky Spritz Goodness

Do you like Spritz cookies? I love them. To me they are the perfect coalescence of sugar and shortbread cookies, and they are usually very cute.

I recently had a summer receptionist who was a doll. The daughter of someone I've worked with for something like 16 years. Anyway, on her last day, she brought these spritz cookies which were to die for. Of course, I needed the recipe.

Spritz Cookies ~ a recipe

1 white cake mix 2 3/4 cups flour 1 lb butter

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Melt two sticks(1/2 pound) butter.
3. Allow the remaining butter to reach room temperature and soften.
4. In a small bowl combine the flour and melted butter. Mix well
5. Pour melted butter mixture into cake mix in a large bowl.
6. Add softened butter.
7. Mix until all ingredients have been incorporated until smooth. If dough is still stiff knead until softened.
8. Spray cookie sheets lightly with cooking spray.
9. Shape as desired ~ cookie press makes them pretty, but not necessary. Bake for 14-16 minutes until lightly browned
10. Chow down!

This recipe can be altered by using other types of cake mixes. I hear spice cake is excellent. I'm going to try that one out. But devil's food would be awesome and I really want to try lemon. Yummy!! Hungry now. Enjoy. XO

Cat Collage

He loves his tummy rubbed.

and his ears and back and tail chin and forehead and...

He loves to just be near us.

he'll cry and cry until you pick him up or let him in your lap. if there isn't a lap available, he'll paw and claw until he is just as close as possible.

He loves attention. he won't be ignored. he doesn't even like to share you with the telephone. he sneak attack~dive bombed me with his head once when i was on the phone and ignoring him. i had a bruise (a bruise whacked out, like i'd been struck by a softball bruise my friend) on my calf the size of, well the size of his little noggin'.

He's whacky, fuzzy and whiny. He's so loved.