Sunday, February 28, 2010

Taken To The Cleaners (059/365)

2010 02 28 IMG_4838w 
“This shirt is dry clean only. Which means...it's dirty.”

Mitch Hedberg (American Comedian, 1968-2005)

TIME:  5:00 PM
PLACE:  W. Main Street
SUBJECT:  Dry cleaner’s sign

Yesterday wore me out.  I did not feel like doing anything today and I accomplished that goal.  I even took a nap early this afternoon.  HandsomeHusband picked up dinner from a fire department BBQ so ravioli will wait until dinner tomorrow night.  After we ate, I needed to go to the grocery store to pick up things for the kids’ lunches this week.  I pass this dry cleaner’s sign almost every day.  I played around with the picture on Photoshop to give a more retro feel – like an old Kodachrome photo.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Ravioli Day (058/365)

2010 02 27 IMG_4831w  
“Meatball, Meatball
Spaghetti underneath.
Ravioli, Ravioli
Great Barrier Reef!!”

"Imitation Krabs." SpongeBob SquarePants. Season 2, Episode 24b. December 28, 2000.


TIME:  3:29 PM
PLACE:  M--- Community Center
SUBJECT:  Ravioli

Today was our family’s (the paternal grandmother’s side) big ravioli making fest.  Between the hours of 8am and 4:30pm we made, spread out, turned and boxed up approximately 4,000 ravioli.  It was a lot of work, but very fun.  The first batches that were rolled out took a little bit longer than expected - we hadn’t made these in some time, so there was a relearning curve involved.  By lunch time we had only four batches or so completed.  Or maybe that could be because the wine was uncorked at 10:30am – really, who can say?.  But after we ate, oh baby did we hit a groove.  We knocked out the rest in record time.  Now, I’m tired.  I’ll make some sauce and we’ll eat our endeavors tomorrow.

Friday, February 26, 2010

February Tree (057/365)

2010 02 26 IMG_4774w 
"Late February days; and now, at last,
Might you have thought that
Winter's woe was past;
So fair the sky was and so soft the air."

Morris, William. “The Earthly Paradise.” New York: Longmans, Green & Co. 1896.

TIME:  3:09 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT:  Red Sunset Maple tree

Well, here is the tree for February.  Not much of a change from January, huh?  Who would have thought that I would have the same type of weather on the 26th day of the month for both January and February?  One difference I can see it that the sky is a much deeper blue today than it was in January.  I am looking forward to posting the next picture of this tree…because that will mean it is SPRING!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Put A Cork In It (056/365)

2010 02 25 IMG_4769w 
“Some weasel took the cork out of my lunch.”

W. C. Fields (American Comic and Actor, 1880-1946)

TIME:  8:48 PM
PLACE:  My brother’s kitchen
SUBJECT:  Wine corks

My sister-in-law hosted a Signature Homestyles show this evening.  That meant I got to get out of the house by myself!  If I had the funds (& a remodeled kitchen) I could have easily spent a whole lot of money.  But, since I don’t have either, I only purchased two items: a divided caddy for when we have get-togethers (no more silverware in plastic cups!) and a mini organizer basket which I plan to use at my desk.  

My SIL has collected wine corks and placed them in the bottom of a hurricane candle holder on the kitchen island.  While the representative was tallying up orders, I was taking pictures.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Dirty Birds (055/365)

2010 02 24 IMG_4700w 
“‘We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,’
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.”

Oliver Herford (1863-1935), poet. I Heard a Bird Sing (l. 5-8). . . New Treasury of Children's Poetry, A; Old Favorites and New Discoveries. Joanna Cole, comp. (1984) Doubleday & Company.


TIME:  3:52 PM
PLACE:  The alley
SUBJECT:  Birds

Sunny, but very cold again today.  These birds were splashing around in the water-filled depressions at the end of our drive.  How these birds can stand being in the ice cold water is beyond me.  I get the shivers just thinking about it.  I am about done with winter.  To give me an incentive to get out of bed in the morning, I keep telling myself that each new day brings springtime a little bit closer.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Watching (054/365)

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“'Tis sweet to hear the watch-dog's honest bark
Bay deep-mouth'd welcome as we draw near home;
'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark
Our coming, and look brighter when we come.”
      
Lord Byron (George Gordon Noel Byron), Don Juan (canto I, st. 123)

TIME:  3:32 PM
PLACE:  By the front door
SUBJECT:  Oreo

If it isn’t too cold, I like to open the front door and let the afternoon sun spill inside while waiting for the kids to walk home from school.  Since it was pretty sunny today, I left it open after they came home.  When the door is open, Oreo likes to lay in the sun and watch the goings on through the full view storm door.  Occasionally she will get up and bark at the kids in the neighborhood or another dog going by our house.  Consequentially, my storm door is usually covered with dog nose prints and dried doggy salvia.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Smelly (053/365)

2010 02 22 IMG_4659w 
“You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be led.”

Stan Laurel (English, Comic actor, Writer and director, famous as the first half of the comedy double-act Laurel and Hardy, 1890-1965)

TIME:  8:23 PM
PLACE:  My desk
SUBJECT:  Smencil (Black Cherry scented)

I’m sitting at my desk tonight, trying to gather enough “umph” to work on taxes.  While I’m sitting here, I notice an odor wafting from my pencil cup.  It was my Smencil!  I’d forgotten all about it.  The children’s sold them at school through their Junior Optimist club for Valentine’s Day.  MonkeyBoy brought me home a Black Cherry scented one.  Mmmm…”Gourmet scented pencils, Made from 100% recycled newspapers, Saving trees…one pencil at at time.”  They are very smelly and I mean that in the nicest way possible. *And* it provided me with a photo for today.  What a good pencil.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Gloomy Day (052/365)

2010 02 21 IMG_4604w
“I like these cold, gray winter days.  Days like these let you savor a bad mood.” 

William B. "Bill" Watterson II (American, C
artoonist and the author of the influential and popular comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, b. 1958)

TIME:  12:28 PM
PLACE:  Mississippi River
SUBJECT:  Barges

A very wet, grey and gloomy day, with a very low cloud ceiling.  In the morning, the kids went to Sunday school.  When it was over, the family went on a Costco run.  Exciting!  I took this picture from the car on our way home, as we were crossing the Mississippi River, south of St. Louis.  I was hoping to take other pictures today, but I didn’t.  So this is the one I post.  I also took a long nap this afternoon instead of folding the laundry, I hoped it would go away so I wouldn’t have to do it.  Unfortunately, it was still there when I woke up – gosh darnnit.   

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Lock-In (051/365)

2010 02 20 IMG_4592w 
Walter Sobchak
: OVER THE LINE!
Smokey: Huh?
Walter Sobchak: I'm sorry, Smokey. You were over the line, that's a foul.
Smokey: Bullshit. Mark it 8, Dude.
Walter Sobchak: Uh, excuse me. Mark it zero. Next frame.
Smokey: Bullshit, Walter. Mark it 8, Dude.
Walter Sobchak: Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules.

Ethan Coen & Joel Coen. John Goodman, Jimmie Dale Gilmore. The Big Lebowski (1998).

TIME:  5:54 PM
PLACE:  Bowling alley hallway
SUBJECT:  Bowling lockers

A busy Saturday.  We had a 9am doctor’s appointment, then haircuts for HandsomeHusband and StellaDella; at noon we traveled to my father-in-law’s hometown for a Little League fundraiser (turtle soup!); then we headed back to town for a Cystic Fibrosus bowling fundraiser at 3:30pm.  Our family, my dad, a friend of MonkeyBoy’s and a friend of DramaQueen’s bowled three games.  We finished up a little before 6pm, then headed home.  I ordered and picked up pizzas for dinner.  After dinner I ran DQ’s friend back to her house where she picked up a change of clothes and pajamas so she could spend the night here at our house.  OK, I think I’m done now.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Everybody Into The Pool (050/365)

2010 02 19 IMG_4516w 
“Fast Eddie, let's play some pool.”

Sydney Carroll, U.S. screenwriter, and Robert Rossen. Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason), The Hustler, after 25 hours of playing pool (1961).

TIME:  10:49 PM
PLACE:  A local watering hole
SUBJECT:  Pool table

My cousin Kathleen emailed me this morning to see if I could join her and her neighbor for a few drinks tonight and to talk.  We met at a local bar where one of our high school classmates was playing in the band.  I alternated between Schmirnoff Ice and diet sodas – three of each.  After my first drink I sauntered over to the pool area and asked if I could take some pictures.  The guys playing agreed – one even told me that he liked the perfume I was wearing. Why thank you sir. *grins* I still got it…yeah, right.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Gym Ceiling (049/365)

2010 02 18 IMG_4485w 
“Are you really sure that a floor can't also be a ceiling?”

M.C. Escher (Dutch graphic artist, 1898–1972)

TIME:  7:07 PM
PLACE:  R--- School Gym
SUBJECT:  Ceiling

DramaQueen had a basketball game tonight.  I have found that I get really stressed out when I watch my kids play.  I have to look away from the court to calm myself down.  This was my view of most of the game…except for when I was looking at StellaDella and telling her that she needed to quit wiggling around on the bleachers, or when I was looking for the Webkinz that she dropped.  Our school lost another game, 11-0.  Two more games to go, I hope the girls win at least one this season – it would make them so happy.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Lenten Meal (048/365)

2010 02 17 IMG_4483W 
“I get a little behind during Lent, but it comes out even at Christmas.”

Frank Butler (1890-1967), British screenwriter, and Frank Cavett (1907-1973), U.S. screenwriter. Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald), Going My Way (1944). Explaining how he rations his bottle of brandy over the course of a year.

TIME:  6:26 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Cheese sandwich

Today is the first day of Lent for those of us who observe this period leading up to Easter.  I am a rather sporadically practicing Catholic myself (my father joked that he wasn’t standing anywhere near me at Aunt Dee’s funeral mass, lest the Cathedral burst into flames due to my presence), but I do abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during the Lenten season.  Tonight I fixed the kids spaghetti with leftover plain sauce and I made myself a toasted cheese sandwich.  I eat many of these during this 40 day period as they are quick, easy and rather tasty.  I used a slice of American cheese *and* a slice of provolone in my sandwich this evening – très gourmet!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Dried Cedar (047/365)

2010 02 16 IMG_4439W 
“One must have a mind of winter
To regard the frost and the boughs
Of the pine-trees crusted with snow;”

Wallace Stevens (1879-1955), U.S. poet. The Snow Man (l. 1-3). . . Collected Poems [Stevie Smith]. James MacGibbon, ed. (1976) New Directions.

TIME:  4:38 PM
PLACE:  Backyard
SUBJECT:  Dried cedar bough in snow

All the kids went to school today and HandsomeHusband went to work.  And it was my day “off” work.  I ran errands in the morning, sorted the never-ending laundry pile in the basement (which is freezing cold BTW!) and washed and dried a couple of loads.  I laid down this afternoon as I’m not feeling all that great – my throat is starting to feel sore and I did not sleep well last night.  Before I knew it, it was 3 o’clock, and the troops were home.  DramaQueen has a basketball game tonight at 5pm, but I’m not going.  With me not feeling well and StellaDella still having the “mucus” as she says, I think it’s better that she and I stay home.  HH, DQ and MonkeyBoy all left and not 5 minutes after they walked out the door, of course, the dog needed to go out.  So I figured, while I was out with her, it would be nice to take a picture as we had the sun shining today.  Two seconds after I took this shot, the dog came running over and decimated the scene.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Key Chain (046/365)

2010 02 15 IMG_4420w 
“... a key,
a very large key,
that opens something
some useful door
somewhere
up there.”

Anne Sexton (1928-1974), U.S. poet. "Riding the Elevator into the Sky."


TIME:  7:35 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Brass safety pin & keys

This is my key chain, a vintage large brass safety pin.  My mom had a number of these and she gave this one to me many years ago.  She said that her family used them on horse blankets.  Mom always used hers as a key chain and so do I.  I just attach it to my purse handle.  I love it because I never have to dig in the depths of my purse for my keys - very handy!  The keys I currently keep on it are as follows:  the Jeep key, the Miata key, a key for some property we own, my office key, my house key and finally, a key to open the overhead garage door.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

A Valentine’s Snow (045/365)

2010 02 14 IMG_4397w 
“Brew me a cup for a winter's night.
For the wind howls loud and the furies fight;
Spice it with love and stir it with care,
And I'll toast our bright eyes,
my sweetheart fair.”

Minna Thomas Antrim, “A Night Cap.” A Book of Toasts. Philadelphia, 1902.

TIME:  8:26 PM
PLACE:  Back yard
SUBJECT:  The “wonky” Sunset Maple Tree

Happy Valentine’s Day to all!  There wasn’t a huge celebration at our house.  The kids got some chocolate kisses and Hershey bars.  HandsomeHusband gave me a box of chocolate covered strawberries from Merb’s Candies in St. Louis, which are always appreciated by me.  I gave HH a book of 52 reasons why I love him that I made out of a deck of cards (I brazenly stole the idea from the Dollar Store Crafts site).  In other news, I took Oreo to the groomers today – she was especially stinky and now she is smelling better.  DramaQueen’s friend, Lola, is spending the night.  And it is snowing again…we are under a winter weather advisory with up to 5 inches of snow expected to accumulate.  I guess it is a good thing that the kids are already off tomorrow for President’s Day.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Makizushi (044/365)

2010 02 13 IMG_4342w  
Bart:  Akira, my good man, I'd like two sharks, an octopus and an eel.
Akira: Very good.
Bart:  Do you have any giant squid?  The kind that drags men to their deaths?
Akira: Not today.
  
-- At the Japanese restaurant, The Simpsons, One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish' (1991)

  
TIME:  6:10 PM
PLACE:  Nobu’s Japanese Restaurant
SUBJECT:  California, Spicy Tuna and Cucumber rolls

HandsomeHusband and I went out tonight sans children.  My nephew, Michael, G-d love him, came and sat for us.  We had originally planned to attend a Mardi Gras celebration with friends near the second oldest Catholic Parish in Illinois (The Holy Family Parish Log Church).  But our plans ended up changing – our friends were unable to join us  - so we decided to go out to dinner instead.  After a lovely dinner at our favorite sushi restaurant, we went to a nearby Barnes & Noble for coffee and some book browsing.  Finally, we headed to Target for some last minute Valentine shopping for the kids.  As we headed into Target, I told HH that the honeymoon is officially over as we are shopping at Target on a Saturday night.  He agreed.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Bolt (043/365)

2010 02 12 IMG_4323w 
All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.

George Harrison (Musician, producer and composer, member of The Beatles, 1943-2001)

TIME:  8:11 PM
PLACE:  My brother Michael’s kitchen
SUBJECT:  Bolt on birthday cake

StellaDella finally went back to school today.  She sucked it up because they were having the Valentine’s Day party this afternoon.  She made it through the day and had fun.  DramaQueen tried returning to school too, but I ended up leaving work at 10:30 this morning to bring her home.  They all have a 3-day weekend because of President’s Day on Monday…that should help with the recoveries.

We had SD’s and my niece Brandi’s family birthday party this evening at my brother’s house.  SD was happy with her Bolt decorated cake.  Instead of blowing out her candles, we had her use a plate to fan them out instead – we didn’t want to take the chance of any residual sickness landing on the cake.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Peaks And Valleys (042/365)

2010 02 11 IMG_4289w 
“Where there is plenty of light there is strong shadow.”

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749-1832), German poet, dramatist. Philine, in Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship, act I, Götz's castle (1771).

TIME:  11:25 AM
PLACE:  My office
SUBJECT:  Window blinds

What is that trying to shine through my window blinds?  Why it’s the sun, casting a shadow in my office.  I almost didn’t recognize it at first.  But I am ever so glad to see it.  I especially liked the way the light and shadow combined to make this distinct wavy pattern on the faux-canvas wall covering.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Birthday Cupcakes (041/365)

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“Six! Six! I’m six! I’m six! I’m six years old today!
Yeaaaaaaah!
I’m six! I’m six! I’m six years old today!
I’m more than one.
I’m more than two.
I’m more than three.
I’m much more than four.
I’m even more than five.
Can you guess how old I am?”

”I’m Six Years Old Today”, Sesame Street

TIME:  5:05 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Cupcakes

StellaDella spent her 6th birthday at home sick today.  But, she had company – DramaQueen – who has a nasty upper-respiratory infection.  Good times, good times.  We are having the family party on Friday at my brother’s house, a combo party with my niece Brandi whose 18th birthday is tomorrow.  I hope everyone recovers by then.  SD requested a “Bolt” (from the animated movie) cake  from the grocery store for the party and that has been ordered.  Today, though, she and I made a chocolate batter (from scratch even, just call me Martha Stewart!) and she wanted to bake it as cupcakes and one single round layer, all with red frosting.  What the birthday girl asks for, she receives.  I arranged the cupcakes in the shape of a “6” – she thought that was pretty neat.  I fear that I will not be able to impress her much longer with little things like this – she’s growing up too fast.  Happy Birthday StellaDella!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Tweeters (040/365)

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“You know you don't have to act with me, Steve. You don't have to say anything, and you don't have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together, and blow.”

Jules Furthman (1888-1960), U.S. screenwriter, William Faulkner (1897-1962), U.S. novelist, and Howard Hawks. Marie Browning (Lauren Bacall), in To Have And To Have Not (film), spoken to Harry Morgan (Humphrey Bogart) (1944).

TIME:  4:09 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Warbling bird whistles

I recently did some re-organization of my library card catalog cabinet.  While I was doing so, StellaDella found these bird whistles in one of the drawers.  I think I purchased them from the Botanical Garden gift shop last June.  You just fill them with water and blow.  It is amazing how much they sound like a real bird.  Even the cats stop and pay attention when they hear the warbling.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Acetaminophen (039/365)

 2010 02 08 IMG_4265w
“The desire to take medicine is perhaps the greatest feature which distinguishes man from animals.”

Sir William Osler (1849-1919), Canadian physician. Quoted in Harvey Cushing, Life of Sir William Osler, vol. 1, ch. 14 (1925).

TIME:  4:52 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Children’s medicine

DramaQueen and StellaDella stayed home from school today due to illness.  SD had a fever last night; DQ’s throat is sore and she has a cough and general achiness, but no fever.  SD keeps wanting me to phone the doctor, but she’s not sick enough to warrant a call.  Her fever and other aches can be controlled by the store-brand acetaminophen, thank goodness.  I’m hoping that in a day or so she and DQ will be over whatever they have.  Man, am I ready for winter and the sickness that it brings to be over.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Pink Carnation (038/365)

 2010 02 07 IMG_4235w
“The flower in the vase smiles, but no longer laughs.”

Malcolm de Chazal (Mauritian, Writer, painter, and visionary, 1902-1981)

TIME:  4:19 PM
PLACE:  Bed of Roses Bed & Breakfast
SUBJECT:  Dianthus caryophyllus

My sister-in-law, Emily (my brother John’s wife) is in town for a visit.  Her sister had a luncheon today from 2-4pm at the B&B she operates.  The only problem was that my kids had their honors brunch today as well.  That was at noon, so I wasn’t really hungry when I went to Em’s luncheon.  That’s ok…I was more interested in seeing and catching up with her than eating. 

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Duel Master (037/365)

2010 02 06 IMG_4208w
Yugi Moto: Now I will go on the attack with Mammoth Graveyard, Polymerization, and the Living Arrow card.
Seto Kaiba: What's a Living Arrow card?
Yugi Moto: I tell you. Normally, I make a fusion with my cards but for a change, Living Arrow allows me to fuse my cards with my opponent's cards opening up bold new possibilities. Now I will use the magic of the Living Arrow to fuse my Mammoth Graveyard to the heart of your beast. However, since my Mammoth Graveyard is an undead type monster, it can't properly fuse with your living Ultimate Dragon. Instead, it will cause your dragon to rot and decay from the inside out and since Mammoth Graveyard has a total of 1200 attack points, that means your Dragon will lose 1200 attack and defense points each turn until even my weakest monsters can destroy it.

Kazuki Takahashi, Yu-Gi-Oh, Perf. Dan Green & Eric Stuart, Toei Animation, 1998-2006.

TIME:  10:33 PM
PLACE:  Living room
SUBJECT:  StellaDella’s trading card game

I went to a home jewelry party tonight at my friend Denise’s and SD and DramaQueen came with me.  SD brought a stack of old fundraising tickets with her from our house and the first thing she did when we arrived was to ask Denise for some markers to use.  Then she made her way downstairs to the playroom.  She was occupied the entire time we were there making her own Yu-Gi-Oh type card game.  She even recruited Denise’s son to draw a couple of characters…“Light-no Man” is one of them.  All the others are done by SD.  She named the characters and gave each of them specific attack and defense powers, which she noted by initials on the back of the card.  There are 28 cards in her deck right now.  She told me that tomorrow she will be making more, so would I please find her some markers.  I am just amazed by her imagination.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Snowdrops (036/365)

2010 02 05 IMG_4161w
“A lot of people like snow.  I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.”

Carl Reiner (American, Actor, film director, producer, writer and comedian, b1922)

TIME:  9:02 PM
PLACE:  Backyard
SUBJECT:  Freezing snow on branch

We are supposed to get hit with 2-4 inches of the white stuff by tomorrow morning.  I went out to take some photos and I was shaking so much that most of them turned out blurry.  I know, I know…I should use a tripod!  But, I was lazy and just didn’t feel like hauling that outside with me.  Right now, we’ve got a mixture of snow and rain going on.  I wonder what it will look like outside when I wake up tomorrow morningShould be interesting.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

A Rough Day (035/365)

2010 02 04 IMG_4066w
“We do not live an equal life, but one of contrasts and patchwork; now a little joy, then a sorrow, now a sin, then a generous or brave action.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (American Poet, Lecturer and Essayist, 1803-1882)

TIME:  9:24 PM
PLACE:  Living room
SUBJECT:  Oreo

Today we said goodbye to my Aunt Dolores.  During the church service and at the gravesite, I though a lot about Mom.  I hope Aunt Dee wasn’t offended by that – I’m pretty sure she would understand though.  After the services, we went back to the church for a luncheon and family visit.  I returned home about 1:30 and laid down on the couch until HH and the kids arrived home at 3pm.  DramaQueen had a basketball game (they lost 25-5) and a Cadette meeting tonight.  She also lost cell phone privileges for 24 hours due to her smart mouth being disrespectful to her mother.  *SIgh*  Here’s to a better day tomorrow.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Pajamas (034/365)

2010 02 03 IMG_3990w 
“One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know.”

Groucho Marx (American Comedian, Actor and Singer, 1890-1977)

TIME:  9:35 PM
PLACE:  By my computer
SUBJECT:  Pajama pants

Oy, what a day.  At work today, my PC froze up, then the monitor would not work.  So I switched out the monitor…still didn’t work.  Called the outside computer vendor we use and they came by the office and took the unit in to see what’s up.  Here’s hoping it’s just the video card.  Apparently, 2010 is not looking to be a good year for me and computers. ~ This evening was the wake for my Aunt.  I just hoped I could get through it without falling apart and I did fine.  I arrived at the funeral home about 4:30ish.  HH brought the kids with him in a seperate car.  DQ, MB and SD found the food spread in the lounge area and were thus occupied.  HH took the two younger ones home a little after 6 and DQ stayed with me until 8pm.  I will be going back tomorrow for the procession to church for mass and then to the cemetery.  It will just be me, the kids are going to school and HH will be going to work. ~ When I returned home tonight, I changed into a huge sweatshirt and my comfy PJ pants.  I put my feet up and am sitting at the computer to relax a bit before I head off to bed.  Goodnight.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

3-2-1 Contact (033/365)

2010 02 02 IMG_3981w
“Competence, like truth, beauty, and contact lenses, is in the eye of the beholder.”

Dr. Laurence J. Peter (American "hierarchiologist", Educator and Writer, 1919-1990)

TIME:  7:46 PM
PLACE:  Bathroom
SUBJECT:  DramaQueen’s contact lens

DQ received her contact lenses at the eye doctor today.  She was very excited.  She was supposed to get them yesterday, but the doctor’s office was down to a skeleton crew due to sick employees, so they asked to reschedule for today instead.  THAT was a major disappointment to DQ, let me tell you.  You might have even heard the loud wail of angst around 4:05 yesterday afternoon when she got home from school and I told her that her 4:30 appointment was cancelled.  I tried cheering her up by telling her that she was going to be able to leave school early (1:45 pm) today.  That helped ease the pain a little bit.  In any event, the sun still set last night, rose this morning and she was able to make it through the day until her appointment.  Now she has her contacts.  All is well with the world…for now.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Casting Shadows (032/365)

2010 02 01 IMG_3952w 
Geoff Carter: Got a match?
Bonnie Lee: Say, don't you ever have any?
Geoff: No, don't believe in laying in a supply of anything.
Bonnie: Matches, marbles, money, women.
Geoff: That's right.
Bonnie: No looking ahead, no tomorrows, just today.
Geoff: That's right.

Jules Furthman (1888-1960), U.S. screenwriter, and Howard Hawks. Geoff Carter (Cary Grant), Bonnie Lee (Jean Arthur), Only Angels Have Wings, Geoff Carter's philosophy of life (1939). Based On A Story By Howard.

TIME:  7:28 PM
PLACE:  The kitchen
SUBJECT:   Cast Iron Match Holder

This match holder used to reside by the stove at my parent’s lake house in Carlyle, Illinois.  The pilot light on the stove’s gas burners didn’t work.  So we used a match to light the gas ring when cooking.  Dad sold the property a few years ago and when we were clearing out the house, I laid my claim on it.  I got dibs on the holder because I had originally purchased it for Mom from an antique mall back in the late 1980’s. Nowadays, replicas are easily available from many merchants on the web, but this one is an original.  It hangs in my kitchen, but I don’t have matches in it…yet, I’m waiting until StellaDella is a little older.  I’m paranoid that way. 
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My Aunt Dolores passed away last night.  She was 78 years old and was married to my Dad’s brother for 53 years.  Her youngest daughter Kathleen & I are good friends as well as cousins.  Rest in peace Aunt Dee.  I’ll always have fond memories of the fried bologna sandwiches you would make when I spent the night at your house.