Me and Kat: 1990 (213/366)

“What a crazy pair!

But they're cousins,
Identical cousins all the way.
One pair of matching bookends,
Different as night and day.”

The Patty Duke Show, Sitcom, 1963-1966

TIME:  Evening, 1990
PLACE:  Hotel/Motel/Holiday Inn in Memphis, TN
SUBJECT:  Me and my cousin

Today is my cousin’s 45th birthday – we are the same age.  She and I grew up together and are best friends as well as relatives.  Around this time, waaaay back in 1990, we took a road trip together to Tennessee.  We went to Opry Land, the Grand Ole Opry and finished it off in Memphis.  This picture was taken before we headed out to Beale Street.  Can we be any closer?  Can our hair be any bigger?  I see that I am wearing her earrings and jacket, while she has on mine.  The next day, we went to Graceland.  I wish we could do this again.  Happy Birthday cuz!

A Nice Crop of Weeds (212/366)

”Crabgrass can grow on bowling balls in airless rooms, and there is no known way to kill it that does not involve nuclear weapons.”

Dave Barry (American Writer and Humorist best known for his weekly newspaper column. b.1947)

TIME:   6:53 PM
PLACE:  Back yard
SUBJECT:  A gigantic crab grass growing between the patio cracks

It’s been so hot – I haven’t even attempted to do any weeding.  Silly me…I didn’t think that even weeds would be growing during this heat wave.  Obviously, I’ve underestimated the tenacity of crab grass.

Wet Pavement (211/366)

“He's out of his depth on a wet pavement.”

Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett (British, Comic fantasy Novelist, b1948)

TIME:  11:30 AM
PLACE:  Parking lot
SUBJECT:  Parking lot wet pavement

Look at that - we had rain this morning!  Unfortunately, after DQ and I walked back out of the mall at 2:30pm after doing some back-to-school shopping, it was all dry.  It didn’t even look as if it had rained at all.

Centerpiece (210/366)

Mom, I poured my heart into that centerpiece! [which Bart destroyed] Things like that always happen in this family.”
-Lisa Simpson

Bart vs. Thanksgiving, Season 2, episode 7. November 22, 1990. Television

TIME:  6:22 PM
PLACE:  CKL of I Hall
SUBJECT:  Flower centerpiece

My cousin’s daughter wed today.  These flowers were in a tall glass vase on our table at the reception.

Watching The World Go By (209/366)

“Watching the world go by
When you're with your love
Life is a beautiful tune”

Dean Martin, Watching the World Go By

TIME:  3:44 PM
PLACE:  Living room
SUBJECT:  Oreo and Jack

DQ took this photo of Oreo and Jack looking out the front door.  I don’t know what they were looking at, but apparently, it was interesting.

No Rain (208/366)

“And I don't understand why I sleep all day
And I start to complain that there's no rain.”

Blind Melon. "No Rain." Blind Melon. Shannon Hoon. Capitol, Seattle, 1992

TIME:  8:17 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT:  Western sky

The ubiquitous “they” said we had a good chance of rain today.  Well, “they” were wrong.  It’s still dry.

Ready For Mistakes (207/366)

“The average pencil is seven inches long, with just a half-inch eraser - in case you thought optimism was dead.”

Robert Brault

TIME:  9:14 PM
PLACE:  Home
SUBJECT:  Pencil erasers

HH brought home all of these pencils for the kids.  He said he never wants to hear them utter the phrase “I can’t find a pencil!” during the upcoming school year.  Want to bet they still do?

High School Signs (206/366)

It is hard to convince a high-school student that he will encounter a lot of problems more difficult than those of algebra and geometry.”

Edgar Watson Howe (American Editor, Novelist and Essayist, He was known as the Sage of Potato Hill, 1853-1937)

TIME:  5:57 PM
PLACE:  High School
SUBJECT:  Signs in the High School Atrium

DramaQueen had her freshmen registration this evening at the high school.  We verified residency; she received her schedule; had her ID picture taken;and purchased her books and PE uniform.  Her cousin Brandi, (an alumni - Class of 2010), met up with us and walked DQ around the campus going through her schedule.  Gah!  I now officially am the parent of a high school student.

Almost Gone (205/366)

“This brand of soap has the same smell as once in the big House he visited when he was eight:”

Louis MacNeice (1907-1963), Anglo-Irish poet. Soap Suds (l. 1-2). . . New Oxford Book of Irish Verse, The. Thomas Kinsella, ed. and tr. (1986) Oxford University Press.

TIME:  10:07 PM
PLACE:  Home
SUBJECT:  Shower gel

I was first introduced to this shower gel back in October of 1998.  HH, DramaQueen (who turned one year old while we were overseas) and I visited my old college roommate, Betty and her husband, at their home in London, UK.  This stuff smells awesome.  I brought home a number of bottles with me when we returned to the States.  In 2006, Betty was in California for the summer and I flew out to see her.  She knew how much I loved this stuff and presented me with 10 containers of it.  I’ve used it sparingly over the years.  This is all that I have left.  I could order it over the internet, but the shipping costs are atrocious.  I can buy the product for $3.02 and pay $10.86 to ship it.  Not!  One day I’m going to say “to heck with it” and buy it anyway.

Brock-a-brella (204/366)

“If a woman rebels against high-heeled shoes, she should take care to do it in a very smart hat”

George Bernard Shaw (Irish literary Critic, Playwright and Essayist. 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1856-1950)

TIME:  9:32 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  StellaDella modeling her “Brock-a-brella”

We went to the flea market this morning, DQ, SD and I.  SD found this umbrella hat, aka the “Brock-a-brella” (a umbrella hat, invented by St. Louis Baseball Cardinal Hall of Famer, Lou Brock and Richard H. Nielson) and had to have it.  She wore it while browsing the booths.  Of course, this thoroughly embarrassed her older sister who didn’t want to be seen next to her at. all.  I did get DQ to take a photo of SD wearing it at the flea market for me as both my cell phone and camera batteries were dead. 


TIME:  9:22 AM
PLACE:  Flea market
SUBECT:  StellaDella
(photo by DramaQueen)

I thought she looked adorable.

Things You Might Spy In A Small Town Parade (203/366)

The American Legion Bagpipe Band


A Case Tripl Range tractor.


A tow truck, towing a tow truck, towing a tow truck with a tow truck on it’s bed, towing a Kawasaki Mule with a toy tow truck in its bed.

A man riding a camel-bicycle.  No? Not unusual enough for you?


How about a man riding a hotdog?

A German cuckoo clock float spitting out bubbles from the rear and featuring a German Band.


The accordion player stopped playing just long enough to give a big smile and a wave.

TIME:  6-7 PM
PLACE:  Small town America
SUBJECT:  A parade

Plenty of candy was thrown.  After it was over, everyone headed down to the City park for beer, food, games, rides and music.

Flashback (202/365)

Gloria Stivic: Robin's burning incense. I think it smells nice.
Archie Bunker: It smells like a house of Ill Refute.

All in the Family: Season 1, Episode 7. Mike's Hippie Friends Come to Visit. 23 Feb. 1971.

TIME:  8:18 PM
PLACE:  Dining room
SUBECT:  Incense

I decided to make the house smell nice with some Ramakrishnananda Hand Rolled Incense in the “Hari” Amber & Sandalwood scent.  It’s giving HH flashbacks to the Seventies. 

Withered (201/366)

"Flowers are wilting
My enthusiasm, too
Only weeds survive."

- Gaia Garden

TIME:  6:55 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT:  Black-Eyed Susan

Another picture of a victim of this summer’s excessive heat.  I had planted new perennials under the maple tree this spring – I’m thinking they are not going to make it this year.

The Dry Grass of July (200/366)

Down goeth the grass, soon wrought to withered hay; Ay me alas, ay me alas, that beauty needs must yield And princes pass, as grass doth fade away.

Thomas Proctor (fl. C. 1578), British poet. A Proper Sonnet, How Time Consumeth All Earthly Things (attributed to Proctor) (l. 2-4). . . Oxford Book of Sixteenth Century Verse, The. E. K. Chambers, comp. (1932) Oxford University Press.

TIME:  6:52 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT:  Our lawn

The bad news…the heat and drought conditions have really taken a toll on our (and everybody else’s) lawn.
The good news…HH doesn’t have to mow in this weather.

Tracks & Ties (199/366)

Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.

Dwight D. Eisenhower (American 34th President (1953-61). 1890-1969)

TIME:  8:03 PM
PLACE:  Down the street
SUBJECT:  Railroad tracks

The two girls are spending the night at my cousin’s house.  I passed over these tracks on the way there and back.
~*~*~
Also, this is an early birthday present for Dana.

Ouch (198/366)

“It's not just about bandages and boo-boos anymore.”

Gail Buck

TIME:  7:17 PM
PLACE:  DramaQueen’s bedroom
SUBJECT:  Bandages on DQ’s arm

DQ had her high school examination today.  Contrary to popular belief, she’s considered normal in her physical aspects.  She did get three shots.  Two in the left arm and one in the right.  Since she is left-handed, I guess it should have been the other way.  I hope she survives.

Tomato Harvest (197/366)

"A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins."

Laurie Colwin, ‘Home Cooking’

TIME:  10:11 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Homegrown grape tomatoes

HH picked these this morning – we had some on our salad this evening.  There’s nothing like the taste of homegrown tomatoes.

Cactus Flowers (196/366)

Vin: It's like a fellow I once knew in El Paso. One day, he just took all his clothes off and jumped in a mess of cactus. I asked him that same question, "Why?"
Calvera: And?
Vin: He said, "It seemed to be a good idea at the time

The Magnificent Seven, The Mirisch Company, 1960

TIME:  4:05 PM
PLACE:  The National Shrine of Our Lady of The Snows
SUBJECT:  Cacti & Flower

I spent my day attending Genealogy seminar held at the Shrine.  On the way out to the highway, I passed this clump of cacti.  It looks like they have been enjoying the heat we’ve been experiencing this summer.

Tour de Belleville (195/366)

Bicycle races are coming your way
So forget all your duties oh yeah
Fat bottomed girls they'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties oh yeah
On your marks get set go
Bicycle race bicycle race bicycle race

”Bicycle Race”. Jazz. Queen, perf. EMI/Elektra. 1978.

TIME:  8:31 PM
PLACE:  Downtown
SUBJECT:  Dad & StellaDella

We had our big bicycle adventure this evening – the Tour de Belleville.  A 15 (or 6) mile nighttime ride through our fair city.  SD and HH did the 6, while Dad, MonkeyBoy and I continued on and completed the 15.  There were over 2,000 riders in this year’s annual event.

Schwinn (194/366)

“When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.”

Emo Philips (American comedian, b. 1956)

TIME:  9:26 PM
PLACE:  Dining room
SUBJECT:  Schwinn Plaque

Tomorrow evening is our town’s annual community bicycling event.  A 15 (or 6) mile ride through the city begins 9pm.  MB had outgrown his current bike, so we bought a “new to him” older Schwinn model.  According to it’s serial number, it was built in February of 1980 – that’s 32 years ago.  He says it’s retro.  What? 1980 is considered retro?  Now I feel old.

The Way The Bee Bumbles (193/366)

“Kangaroo and chipmunk
Chipmunk and kangaroo
Ballyhoo and bedbugs
bedbugs and ballyhoo
that's the way the bee bumbles
that's the way the bee bumbles
that's the way the bee bumbles
that's the way the bee bumbles
Bumbles...”

Bedbugs and Ballyhoo. Echo and the Bunnymen perf. “Echo and the Bunnymen” WEA, Sire. London. 1987

TIME:  8:02 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT: Bombus bimaculatus or the twospotted bumblebee

He was on the sedum gathering pollen.  He looks so soft and fuzzy.  I want to hug him and pet him and name him George.  I won’t, because I do believe that he would sting me in a heartbeat.

Library Visit (192/366)

“I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a good book.”

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

TIME:  7:14 PM
PLACE:  Library
SUBJECT:  DramaQueen

To the library this evening to restock our reading material.  StellaDella and I also dropped off our reading slips for the summer reading program.  She wants to win a giant Hershey’s chocolate bar.  One of the prizes in the adult program is a Nook - that’s what I’m going for.

Lamp Lights (191/366)

Brick Tamland: I love lamp.
Ron Burgundy: Do you really love the lamp, or are you just saying it because you saw it?
Brick Tamland: I love lamp. I love lamp

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, DreamWorks SKG,  9 July 2004 (USA)

TIME:  9:25 PM
PLACE:  DramaQueen’s bedroom
SUBJECT:  Lamp

DQ picked out this floor lamp after we had painted her bedroom a couple of years ago.  Amazingly she still loves it.

A Day At The Museum (190/366)

Marge: There must be something we can do to encourage Lisa's gift. An art class. Ballet lessons. They have fun things to do at the museum on Saturday.
Homer: Whoa, whoa, Marge. I'm not spending my Saturdays at a museum. Unless... museums don't have foosball do they?

The Simpsons: Season 9, Episode 3, Lisa's Sax(19 Oct. 1997)

TIME:  This afternoon
PLACE:  Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mt. Vernon, IL
SUBJECT:  The kids, HH and stuff we saw

MonkeyBoy “in” a painting.

StellaDella weaving.


Chairs in the atrium that I would love to own.


DramaQueen by “Shroud for Crypt 33 - Marilyn Monroe 2007” quilt by Sun Smith-Foret.


HandsomeHusband and SD reflected.


A statue outside.  Sadly, I did not get the name of this statue, nor the sculpture at the beginning of my post and could not find them on the cedarhusrt.org website.

Holy Crow–Clouds! (189/366)

“Why is Cloud 9 so amazing? What is wrong with Cloud 8?”

Mitch Hedberg (American Comedian, 1968-2005)

TIME:  6:49 PM
PLACE:  Around town
SUBJECT:  The sky

On the way to pick up Chinese for supper -  it’s too hot to cook – I spied these odd things in the sky.  I think they are called clouds.  They might even be bringing some rain…*fingers crossed*
~*~*~
edited to add:  They did..we got rain!

Dried Flowers (188/366)

“When the well is dry, they know the worth of water”

Benjamin Franklin (American Statesman, Scientist, Philosopher, Printer, Writer and Inventor. 1706-1790)

TIME:  7:52 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT:  Clover – dried out from the heat

Another scorcher today – it got up to 106 for our 9th day of over 100 degree heat.  But they are predicting thunderstorms (maybe) tomorrow night.  It will be too late for these guys though.

Underneath the Puff (187/366)

Wish upon a dandelion because wishing on stars are so overrated.

- Unknown

TIME:  8:05 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT:  Dandelion gone to seed

I wanted to take a different perspective of the dandelion puff so I laid down on the ground and took a photo from underneath.  It kind of looks like fireworks.  I think I also caught a spider by the stem on the bottom left too – Happy Belated Independence Day!

Tracks (186/366)

“Life is like a roller coaster, and I'm about to throw up.”

Unknown

TIME:  6:50 PM
PLACE:  Six Flags – St. Louis
SUBJECT:  American Thunder roller coaster tracks

It was hot – 105 degrees.
The water park was stupidly crowded.
The ride area?  Not bad at all.  Waits were minimal to none.
The kids came home exhausted.  Me too.
It’s gonna be a long day at work tomorrow.

Photographs (185/366)

“Objects in pictures should so be arranged as by their very position to tell their own story.”

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe 1749-1832, German Poet, Dramatist, Novelist

TIME:  11:40 PM
PLACE:  Dining room
SUBJECT:  Photograph albums and scanner

The HH procured his mother’s photograph albums and I am in the process of scanning all of the photos.  There is a rather odd photo of HH as a young lad holding a dead groundhog by the legs.  In fact, there are two – observe:



Yes…I married into this family…what was I thinking?

He’s So Dreamy (184/366)

Marge: Why do you want Bart? He's not much of a singer.
Smash: Marge, it's not the singing that brings in the Sacagaweas. Bart's a rebel. That's what I need for my new band -- the Party Posse. [produces a contract. Homer goes to sign it, but Marge stops him]
Marge: Now, hold on; I have some concerns.
Bart: Please, Mom. My dream is to be a rock star.
Homer: And my dream is to get rid of Bart.
Marge: But ...
Homer: How many lives must you ruin?
Marge: [indignant] Oh, okay. [signs the contract]

The Simpsons, “New Kids on the Blecch"

TIME:  7:51 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT:  One Direction

I had to pick up a new cooler at Target for this coming Wednesday (we’re going to Six Flags).  DQ and SD came along.  DQ asked me if I would buy a magazine for her – I said yes, not knowing it was going to cost me $9.99!!!  It is from the editors of US - “100 Cutest Guys” with “8 Huge Posters Inside”  Here’s the reason she wanted it – Niall Horan (the blonde at the top).

Queen Anne’s Lace (183/366)

“Her body is not so white as
anemone petals nor so smooth--nor
so remote a thing. It is a field
of the wild carrot taking
the field by force”

Queen Anne’s Lace, William Carlos Williams (1883-1963) 

TIME:  7:19 PM
PLACE:  Country Road
SUBJECT:  Flowers

It was another day of extremely hot temperatures.  I stayed inside and cleared out my pantry of old-outdated food – two big green garbage bags full!  HH worked some overtime this afternoon.  When he got off work and cleaned up, the family went out to dinner…it was too hot to cook (and I had thrown away all the food – ha!).  On the way home I noted how the Queen Anne’s Lace was all in bloom and seeming to love this hot spell.  He obliged me by stopping the car so I could take a photo.