Manicure (005/365)

TIME:  9:18 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  DQ’s nails

DQ and her cousin talked me into taking them to the mall this evening so they could get manicures.  Seriously?  The mall?  On a Saturday night?  I’d rather stick a rusty needle in my eye.  We were out of rusty needles, therefore I ended up chauffeuring them to where they wanted to go.

Mandatory Reflection In Christmas Ornament Photo (358/366)

TIME:  9:32 PM
PLACE: Living Room
SUBJECT:  Photographer and tree reflected in a small vintage mercury ball ornament

It is not the holiday season unless this type of photo is taken and posted on a 365 blog.  I am fully clothed – I prefer not to be responsible for burning my (few) reader’s retinas.

Stainless Steel Curls (259/366)

Curly stainless steel
Loopy, bright, works well on pans
I strip paint with it

Haiku by Sujomi

TIME:  10:29 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT: Wire Scouring Pad

It’s all I got today.

Church Key (086/366)

“... 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:  9:09 PM
PLACE:  Home
SUBJECT:  Church key/bottle opener

Why is it called a “church-key”?  From what I’ve googled, it’s either because when monks were brewers they carried large keys to open the cellars where the ale was made – these keys were known as “church-keys”; or it’s because the rounded shape of other openers (the kind that pry off the bottle caps) looked like the handles of big door keys, especially the ones that opened large church doors.  Okaaaay.  I, however, associate this tool with punching holes – one in each side! - of a can of Hawaiian Punch.  Who else remembers when Hawaiian Punch came in a 46 oz. can?  If you do, you are old like me.  I still use a church-key when I make spaghetti sauce.  Force of habit has me punching my large cans of tomato juice instead of using a can opener.

Fork (072/366)

“The world was my oyster, but I used the wrong fork”

Oscar Wilde (Irish Poet, Novelist, Dramatist and Critic, 1854-1900)

TIME:  10:42 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Fork

A common object.  Simple, yet effective.  Used everyday.  This one has probably been washed thousands of times.  It’s ancestors in the eleventh century (belonging to a Byzantine princess who married a Venetian) were considered an affront to God’s natural forks…our fingers.  She died of the plague two years after being condemned by the clergy for her fork use.  Wow, God is quite vengeful when it comes to the correct eating utensils.  (via Leite’s Culinaria)

Ice, Ice Baby (067/366)

Bill Nye: [talking about the Titanic] Don't call a ship unsinkable when it's built like an ice-cube tray, and don't call an ice-cube tray unshippable when it's built like a sink.

Bill Nye, the Science Guy. TV Series. 1993–1998. KTCS Seattle, PBS.

TIME:  11:57 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Metal ice cube tray

Before I took that photo of the UFO yesterday, I checked-out the Pink Elephant Antique Mall.  And in that mall, I found something that I have been searching for – a vintage metal ice cube tray.  Why?  Well, I get tired of buying new plastic ice trays several times a year because they crack & break apart. (No, we don’t have an ice maker – we’re poor & deprived)  I look forward to my wet fingers sticking to the frosted metal, just like when I was young.  Ahh, the memories!

Nice Rack (047/366)

Dr. Neven Bell: You know, I had a bully in school too. He would wait for me every morning outside the bicycle rack.

”Mr. Monk and the Bully.” Monk. 6 Feb 2009. Television

TIME:  5:45 PM
PLACE:  School
SUBJECT:  Bike rack

MonkeyBoy’s volleyball game took place at a newly built school in one of the other school districts in our town.  Everything was so shiny - even the bike racks.

Fun House Dryer (025/366)

Mr. Salt: What is this, Wonka? Some kind of funhouse?
Willy Wonka: Why? Having fun?

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Writ. Roald Dahl. 1971. Warner Bros.

TIME:  8:35 PM
PLACE:  Target bathroom
SUBJECT: Xlerator hand dryer
(taken with my cell phone)

DramaQueen had freshman orientation at the high school this evening.  I cannot believe that my oldest will be in high school this fall.  I DID manage to embarrass her several times during the evening.  That’s my job.  After, we went to Target to pick up a few items.  I had to use the facilities before we started to shop.  I’m looking like a Weeble in this reflection.  That is NOT what my physique is like – honest!

Powers Out Stains (010/366)

"Pain is not the cleanser"

Bart Simpson, Chalkboard gag, The Simpsons, “The Last Temptation of Krust” Episode #193, Feb 22, 1998

TIME:  8:02 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Ajax Cleanser top

With the exception of cropping to a 5”x7” size and adding my watermark, this is a SOOC (straight out of the camera) shot.  Is there any significance to this photo?  No.  I had just finished cleansing out my porcelain sink and needed a picture for today.  The top of the cleanser canister seemed as good as any!

What I Wore Today (005/366)

“A women who doesn't wear perfume has no future.”

Coco Chanel (French Fashion designer who ruled over Parisian haute couture for almost six decades, 1883-1971)

TIME:  4:46 PM
PLACE:  Front porch
SUBJECT:  Bvlgari Black Eau de Toilette Spray

I’d like to be all flirtatious and say that I wore this and nothing else, but that might cause my readers to conjure up an image that will haunt them for the rest of their days.  (And my dad reads this blog; I gotta keep it clean.)  So, um, yeah, I wore clothes too.  This is my favorite fragrance and I cannot locate it in stores anymore.  That’s typical for perfumes that actually smell good on me – they get discontinued.  The good news is that it seems to be available in abundance online.  That’s fortunate, ‘cause otherwise I would be a very sad and not-as-good-smelling girl.

Percussion Caps (135/365)

“The possibilities of percussion sounds, I believe, have never been fully realized.”

Charles Edward Ives (October 20, 1874 – May 19, 1954) American modernist composer

TIME:  8:31 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Bottle cap bells

DramaQueen worked on a music project today.  Her assignment:  Create a musical instrument and document your process.  She went with the percussion group and made a tree from dowels with four branches.  Off each branch hangs a different item to percuss with a homemade mallet….a paper plate tambourine filled with beads; a single chime, bracelet jangles and these bottle cap bells.  I showed her how to drill a hole to insert the dowels into the main trunk and she did the others.  Other than a slight mishap with plaster of paris spillage on the kitchen floor (quickly wiped up) it went smoothly.  Even though she did 99% of the work, I think I’m ready for school projects to be over for awhile.

Sanitary (129/365)

Young Tantor: Mom! Are you sure this water's sanitary? It looks questionable to me!

Tarzan. Dir. Chris Buck and Kevin Lima. 1999. Walt Disney Pictures. DVD.

TIME:  7:00 PM
PLACE:  Baseball fields
SUBJECT:  Sewer cover

After MonkeyBoy’s baseball game tonight, StellaDella was definitely NOT sanitary.  Her grubby, little body was thrown straight into the tub when we arrived home.

Necklace (092/365)

“I remember meeting you in a dark dream
Of April, you or some girl,
The necklace of wishes alive and breathing around your throat.”

John Ashbery (b. 1927), U.S. poet, critic. "Hop O' My Thumb."

TIME:  8:07 PM
PLACE:  My desk
SUBJECT:  Premier Jewelry necklace “Cascade”

I went to a jewelry party on March 2nd with my cousin and had ordered this necklace.  It was delivered about 3 weeks ago to her house and I went by to pick it up this morning.  I really like it, but while writing this post, I checked the old eBay pricing of said jewelry and I can now see that I overpaid for this piece.  Grrrr, now THAT annoys me – I’m all about getting the best deal I can.  Well, if I ever want to purchase more from this company’s line, now I know where to go for the best pricing.

Down Escalator (074/365)

“An escalator can never break: it can only become stairs. You would never see an ‘Escalator Temporarily Out Of Order’ sign, just ‘Escalator Temporarily Stairs. Sorry for the convenience’ ”

Mitch Hedberg (American Comedian, 1968-2005)

TIME:  7:42 PM
PLACE:  The mall
SUBJECT:  Down escalator at Sears

I was at the mall, not once, but twice today. *Sigh*  I went this morning to Sears to buy the HandsomeHusband a new Craftsman workshirt and pants.  He has some sort of meeting tomorrow and wanted a new set as all of his other ones are pretty worn.  Then I headed to the library for some quick genealogy time before meeting HH for lunch at the hotdog place downtown.  Later, when he got home after work, I pulled the pants out of the bag and….they were the wrong size.  Doh!  So after supper I schlepped back out to Sears to exchange them.  Of course I had company, do you think DramaQueen would let be go without her?

The Double-Nickel (031/365)

“Old is always fifteen years from now.”

Bill Cosby (American Actor, Comedian and Producer. b.1937, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)

TIME:  11:14 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Two nickels

I mentioned yesterday that the HandsomeHusband turns the big double-nickel today.  And in honor of that occasion, I present a photo of…two nickels.  Happy Birthday my love and I wish you many, many more.

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others (134/365)

“One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?”

"One of These Things." written by Joe Raposo, Jon Stone and Bruce Hart. First appeared on Sesame Street, Episode 001, Nov 10, 1969.

TIME:  9:45 PM
PLACE:  Grade School gym
SUBJECT:  HVAC grate

StellaDella’s Daisy scout troop had a sleep-over at the school this evening for their final activity of the school year.  I bit the bullet and volunteered to spend the night and help out with the activities.  They ate pizza and salad; gussied up dollar store flip flops with strips of fabric; decorated hair elastics with tulle and handcrafted yarn pom poms; did some dancing with the Wii and finally watched “The Tooth Fairy” and “Akeelah and the Bee” while eating popcorn and nachos.  The last girl fell asleep about 1:45am Saturday morning.  Yeah, I’m tired.

Faux Steel (030/365)

“There are three things extremely hard:  steel, a diamond, and to know one's self.”

Benjamin Franklin (American, Founding Father of the United States of America, polymath, author, printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, soldier and diplomat. 1706 – 1790)

TIME:  4:45 PM
PLACE:  Hometown skating rink
SUBJECT:  Skating rink exterior

DramaQueen went roller skating this afternoon.  She skates at the same rink that I patronized when I was her age.  The outside of the rink looks very different from when I skated there.  The inside of the facility though, hasn’t changed too radically.  The admission area, the counter where you rent your skates, the snack bar, the beginner rink and the main rink are all pretty much as I remember them.  I even think the disco ball in the middle of the rink is the exact same one from when I was younger.  They were just finishing up with a couple skate when I went in to pick her up.  I immediately thought of a boy in my 6th grade class that had sweaty hands when he and I skated together.  Ahh, memories.  Looking back, it seems to me like those were simpler times.  I wonder if DQ, when she is my age, will think how simple her life was at 12 years old.

Christmas Wrapping (357/365)

 
Bah, humbug!" No, that's too strong
'Cause it is my favorite holiday
But all this year's been a busy blur
Don't think I have the energy

To add to my already mad rush
Just 'cause it 'tis the season.
The perfect gift for me would be
Completions and connections left from

Last year, ski shop,
Encounter, most interesting.
Had his number but never the time
Most of '81 passed along those lines.

So deck those halls, trim those trees
Raise up cups of Christmas cheer,
I just need to catch my breath,
Christmas by myself this year.

Butler, Chris.  "Christmas Wrapping."  Lyrics. Perf. The Waitresses.  A Christmas Record.  ZE Records, 1981.

TIME:  9:42 PM
PLACE:  Bedroom
SUBJECT:  Present wrapping paraphernalia

I finally wrapped presents tonight.  It was a trick keeping StellaDella out of the bedroom.  But I told her I was wrapping presents from Grandpa (which I was) and she kinda sorta accepted why she couldn’t come in.  I was able to wrap the Santa presents too and hid them in plain sight under a sheet by the basket of dirty clothes.  Looks like a big old pile of laundry – she won’t suspect a thing.

In The Sauce (332/365)

 
There's no sauce in the world like hunger.

Miguel De Cervantes (1547-1616), Spanish author. Teresa Panza (Sancho's wife), in Don Quixote, pt. 2, ch. 5 (1615), trans. by P. Motteux. This well-worn proverb was attributed to Socrates by Cicero in De Finibus, bk. 2, sct. 90.

TIME:  9:21 PM
PLACE:  My Dad’s kitchen
SUBJECT:  Spaghetti sauce with meatballs

Tonight was the “Family” Thanksgiving.  The family being my Dad, my oldest brother and his family, my younger sister and her family and my family.  I have another older brother, who lives in San Francisco with his family, but unfortunately, they did not make it into town for the holiday.  My Dad had the idea for each of us to make a pot of spaghetti sauce and meatballs and bring it to his house where we poured them all in to one huge pot.  We all have the same base recipe handed down from my Dad’s mother, Edna, but it is interesting how the end result differs from parent to child and from sibling to sibling. Doesn’t matter…the melding of the four sauces was superb.  Dad made some chicken spiedini, bread and a salad to round out the meal.  We also each brought some pie – pumpkin, chocolate pudding, pecan, peanut butter and apple.  I also brought the turkey cookies I made.  We all ate way too much.

End Of The Season (312/365)

 
We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time.

Vincent Thomas Lombardi (American football coach, 1913–1970) 

TIME:  2:53 PM
PLACE:  Edwardsville High School
SUBJECT:  Ring in Cheer binder

MonkeyBoy ended up having his last game of the season today.  They lost 19-13 this afternoon, which made their record 5 & 4…not good enough for any playoffs.  They will play in a “Turkey Bowl” game over the Thanksgiving weekend against another city football league.  But other than that, this is it until next August.  I wish they would have done better and made it to the playoffs, but a little part of me is glad that we get a breather from an extra-curricular activity for a little while.  It was a beautiful day for football - sunny and 79 degrees.  I could handle this weather all year long.