Project 365

Old Man’s Scar (031/366)

2012-01-31T21:12:00.001-06:00

“Because nobody goes through life without a scar.”

Carol Burnett (American comedian, actress, singer and dancer, b.1936)

TIME: 8:22 PM
PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: Scar on HandsomeHusband

Today the HH turns 56. Fifty-six! Wow. Just wow. Along with his horizontal wrinkles by his eyes, is this scar by his left eye which cuts across the wrinkles vertically. He received this scar waaaaaay back when he was in kindergarten (1962) from his cousin Greg and a baseball bat (Later in the 1970’s, Cousin Greg took a break from beating up HH and played guitar in the metro-area band Faustus). Apparently, after seeing the bloodshed and damage, Grandma S--- ran around like a chicken with her head cut off screaming “He’s gonna die! He’s gonna die!” Well, unluckily for me, he didn’t. Happy Birthday my love!

Net (030/366)

2012-01-30T22:57:00.001-06:00

“To leave a living name behind,
And weave but nets to catch the wind.”

John Webster (c. 1580-1638), British writer. The Devil's Law Case (l. 15-16). . . Oxford Book of English Verse, The, 1250-1918. Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. (New ed., rev. and enl., 1939) Oxford University Press.

TIME: 7:29 PM
PLACE: Indoor soccer arena
SUBJECT: Netting over field

MonkeyBoy has been attending a soccer camp on Monday evenings for the past few weeks. Normally HH takes him and picks him up, but he had a meeting tonight, so I drove out there to collect him this evening.

I Can Never Have Anything Nice (029/366)

2012-01-29T19:34:00.000-06:00

A catholic priest opened a tub of margarine and saw the face of Jesus. He showed it to his mate from Tibet. His mate said.....I can't believe it's not Buddha.

Bad joke

TIME: 6:10 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Butter spread

This is the carnage that my family does to a container of Shedd’s Spread Country Crock. Not only is it not butter, it’s not pretty.

At The Finish Line (028/366)

2012-01-28T19:55:00.001-06:00

“The true runner comes to the finish and receives the prize and is crowned.”

Plato (c. 427-347 B.C.), Greek philosopher. Republic, 613 C....

TIME: 9:30-9:46 AM
PLACE: Lindenwood College
SUBJECT: MonkeyBoy & DramaQueen

The kids participated in the 2nd Annual ChiroMed Winter Luau 5K Run/Walk this morning. DQ’s friend, Erin also ran in the race. It was much colder than the race they did in December and that made it a little more difficult for them. They made it though. Way to go guys, I’m very proud of you!

Red Wall (027/366)

2012-01-27T22:05:00.001-06:00

“Something there is that doesn't love a wall”

Robert Frost (1874-1963), U.S. poet. Mending Wall (l. 1). . . The Poetry of Robert Frost. Edward Connery Lathem, ed. (1979) Henry Holt.

TIME: 7:49 PM
PLACE: Wasabi Sushi Bar
SUBJECT: Restaurant wall
(another cell-phone picture)

StellaDella had a bad afternoon. It mainly had to do with being unwanted and told to go away by the older sister and brother. There was a whole lot of crying and hurt feelings going on when I walked into the house after work. Poor baby. I feel your pain SD. I really do. See, I had two older brothers who did the same to me when their friends were around. So to cheer her up, HH and I took her (all by herself-no older siblings!) out to eat and then to the bookstore. It seemed to have done the trick.

Vending Wall Of Delights (026/366)

2012-01-26T19:19:00.001-06:00

Maggie Sibley: Well, I know that if you think life is a vending machine, where you put in virtue and you get out happiness, then you'll probably gonna be disappointed.

"Time Flies." Six Feet Under. 27 June 2005. Television.

TIME: 12:53 PM
PLACE: Chinese buffet entrance
SUBJECT: Vending machines
(taken with my cell phone)

I met the HH for lunch today at a nearby Chinese buffet. (We get the “date” time together when we can!) During lunch I asked him if he like my photo yesterday and it was then that I realized my photos over the last 3rd days have been of something either on or against a wall. Well, I guess since I have I theme happening, I need to name it - Week of Walls – all rights reserved (ha!) and need to keep it going. Here are vending machines against the wall in the entrance area to the restaurant. I was very tempted to part with 50 cents for one of those string dolls in the upper left machine. But I didn’t.

Fun House Dryer (025/366)

2012-01-25T23:04:00.001-06:00

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!

Gymnasium (024/366)

2012-01-24T20:27:00.001-06:00

“The moment I felt sure I had everything under control would invariably be the moment right before the principal called to report that one of my sons had just driven somebody's motorcycle through the high school gymnasium.”

Mary Kay Blakely (20th century), U.S. journalist, essayist, author and mother. American Mom, prologue (1994).

TIME: 5:02 PM
PLACE: A junior high school.
SUBJECT: Metal Gymnasium letters

MonkeyBoy had his first volleyball game at a rival junior high school this evening at 5:00pm. (They won.) I was a little late getting there from work. And once I arrived, I was then even a little later because before I went inside, I stopped to take a photo of the metal letters spelling out G-Y-M-N-A-S-I-U-M on the brick wall outside. Yep, I’m mother-of-the-year. Well, anyway, I am excited because now it’s still light out at 5pm. Yippee!

Retro Wall (023/366)

2012-01-23T23:46:00.000-06:00

“If you are calling from a rotary phone, simply stay on the line until an operator returns, and then provide the operator with the next number you want to call.”

TIME: 7:12 PM PST
PLACE: My brother’s house, California
SUBJECT: Birthday presents and wall clock
(photo by said brother)

My brother John, has been into mid-century modern before mid-century modern was cool. Like, way back in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s. It’s true. The home he recently purchased is quite retro as well. When I saw this phone at our school’s rummage sale in October, I pounced on it knowing that it would be perfect for him. Then in December, I found the pepper mill at a local thrift store. These two items along with a couple of vintage books from our childhood and a retro decorating color wheel were Priority mailed to him on Saturday. I was just a couple of days late from his b-day on the 20th. He texted me this picture this evening. I guess that means he likes his gift.

Dog Food (022/366)

2012-01-22T23:21:00.000-06:00

Homer: Well, crying isn't gonna bring him back ... unless your tears smell like dog food. So you can either sit there crying and eating can after can of dog food until your tears smell enough like dog food to make your dog come back, or you can go out there and find your dog.

"The Canine Mutiny." The Simpsons. 13 Apr. 1997. Television.

TIME: 11:03 PM
PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: Oreo’s dog food

When she’s not eating the cat’s food or getting into the trash can, this is what Oreo scarf’s down. I’m glad I’m not a dog.

Condiments (021/366)

2012-01-21T21:50:00.000-06:00

“Americans can eat garbage, provided you sprinkle it liberally with ketchup, mustard, chili sauce, Tabasco sauce, cayenne pepper, or any other condiment which destroys the original flavor of the dish”

Henry Miller quotes (American Author and Writer, 1891-1980)

TIME: 5:58 PM
PLACE: Kretzer's Grill & Bar, Hoyleton, IL
SUBJECT: Condiments on table

The HH and I had dinner with a friend of his and his wife to celebrate HH’s and his friend’s upcoming January birthdays. HH took this photo while we were seated at our table and waiting for our friends to arrive. He and his friend ordered the all you can eat crab legs for their entrees. I think the restaurant lost money on that order.

Suitcase Packed & Raring To Go (020/366)

2012-01-20T20:17:00.001-06:00

Jeff: Why would a man leave his apartment three times on a rainy night with a suitcase and come back three times?
Lisa: He likes the way his wife welcomes him home.

Rear Window, James Stewart, Grace Kelly, perf, Alfred Hitchcock director, Paramount Pictures, 1954.

TIME: 6:34 PM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: StellaDella’s Suitcase

SD was supposed to go with her friend Mikayla to an overnight at Mikayla’s church. She was so excited about this. I swear that’s all I’ve been hearing about for the past couple of days. The anticipation built and built until she was just about to burst. When I arrived home from work, she was all packed and ready to go. About 30 minutes before we were to leave, the phone rang with the bad news that the event had been cancelled do to the icy road conditions we have. SD was devastated, until she received the invitation to spend the night at Mikayla’s house instead. It’s her first “official” sleep-over at a friends house. All is right with the world once again.

Red Boxes (019/366)

2012-01-19T23:25:00.001-06:00

“Thanks to my mother, not a single cardboard box has found its way back into society. We receive gifts in boxes from stores that went out of business twenty years ago.”

Erma Bombeck (U.S. humorist, 1927-1996)

TIME: 11:00 PM
PLACE: Dining room
SUBJECT: Boxes

I finally took the nativity set down this week (slacker!) and placed all the figures in their individual storage boxes. That was as far as I got. I need to get a storage container for the boxes. Boxes need to be stored in boxes don’tcha know. The one they were originally in broke apart while we were retrieving it from the attic back in December. Looks like a trip to Target is in my future.

Bristles (018/366)

2012-01-18T22:40:00.001-06:00

Kevin McCallister: Is this toothbrush approved by the American Dental Association?
Clerk: Well, I don't know. It doesn't say, hon.
Kevin McCallister: Well, could you please find out?

Home Alone, Macaulay Culkin, Ann Whitney, perf, Chris Columbus director, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp, 1990.

TIME: 9:41 PM
PLACE: Bathroom
SUBJECT: Toothbrush

The American Dental Association recommends that you change your toothbrush every three months. I usually replace mine about every two, ‘cause that’s how I roll. Tonight, my new toothbrush makes its big debut. Please, try to control your excitement.

Letterman (017/366)

2012-01-17T22:07:00.001-06:00

“Faster than a rolling "O"! Stronger than silent "E"! Able to leap capital "T" in a single bound! It's a word, it's a plan, it's Letterman!”

"The Adventures of Letterman." The Electric Company. Narrated by Joan Rivers. Children's Television Workshop. PBS, 1972.

TIME: 9:08 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: MonkeyBoy

This evening at an awards ceremony at the junior high school, MonkeyBoy received his letter for playing basketball this season. Way to go MB!

50 Pints (016/366)

2012-01-16T19:58:00.001-06:00

“However, one cannot put a quart in a pint cup.”

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (American Writer, Economist and Lecturer an early theorist of the feminist movement, 1860-1935)

TIME: 6:42 PM
PLACE: Basement
SUBJECT: 50 Pint Dehumidifier

You know you need to re-examine your life when a new dehumidifier purchase and the fact that you-don’t-have-to-empty-it-because-you-sprang-for-the-hose-attachment-so-it-empties-directly-into-a-floor-drain makes you giddy. It almost makes up for not being able to get tickets for the sold out February 22nd Jane’s Addiction show at the Pageant in St. Louis. Almost, but not really.

Snarol (015/366)

2012-01-15T21:24:00.001-06:00

Aunt Martha: For a gallon of elderberry wine, I take one teaspoon full of arsenic, then add half a teaspoon full of strychnine, and then just a pinch of cyanide.
Mortimer Brewster: Hmm. Should have quite a kick.

Adair, Jean, and Cary Grant, perf. Arsenic and Old Lace. Dir. Capra Frank. 1944. Warner Bros. Pictures.

TIME: 4:24 PM
PLACE: Front Porch
SUBJECT: Vintage Snarol box

I had spied this box of Snarol meal about a year and a-half ago at a local antique store and fell in love with the graphics. I’m an odd one, I know. It was in the bargain basement where everything was 1/2 of the marked price. Even so, I couldn’t justify spending $20 on a vintage box of metaldehyde-arsenical bait. This past November, the owner of the shop told me that he was getting rid of the 1/2 price basement in order to be able to rent the space out to dealers; he’d give me a good deal on the box. Things got busy and I never went back to take him up on the offer. SD had a birthday party at the movie theater downtown today, and while waiting, I decided to check out the store to see if the box was still there. It was and I was able to buy it for only $8. And you know what? It had never been opened. What could one do with all of that arsenical goodness…hmmmm…do you think HH would get suspicious if I started insisting he eat a powdered-sugar donut every morning for breakfast? (I’m kidding of course!). *Sigh* Now, I need to find out when the next hazardous waste collection is happening in my area, so I can dispose of the contents properly. I’m keeping the damn box though.

Salty (014/366)

2012-01-14T22:09:00.001-06:00

Reg: Welcome to the Salty Spitoon. How tough are you?

"No Weenies Allowed." SpongeBob Squarepants. Mar. 2002. Television.

TIME: 2:30 PM
PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: Jeep tail light

Obviously, I did not join the extremely long line at the car wash to rid my Jeep of the road salt it gathered as a result of Thursday’s winter storm. Maybe tomorrow.

Paperweight (013/366)

2012-01-13T23:39:00.000-06:00

Darwin Mayflower: History, tradition, culture... are not concepts! These are trophies I keep in my den as paperweights!

Grant, Richard E., perf. Hudson Hawk. Dir. Michael Lehmann. 1991.

TIME: 11:18 PM
PLACE: My desk
SUBJECT: Jack

Jack likes to keep me company when I am on the computer. That usually involves him lying on top of any and all papers on my desk. He makes a good paperweight.

Saputos (012/366)

2012-01-12T21:55:00.001-06:00

Capt. McCluskey: How's the Italian food in this restaurant?
Sollozzo: Good. Try the veal, it's the best in the city.
Capt. McCluskey: I'll have it.

The Godfather (Sterling Hayden, Al Lettieri performers, Francis Ford-Coppola-director, 1972)

TIME: 2:12 PM
PLACE: Springfield, IL
SUBJECT: Neon Sign

I had a meeting at noon in Springfield today. And just to make the day even more special…we had our first accumulating snowfall of the season this morning. It was very windy and the snow was blowing across the highways, obscuring our vision for much of the trip, making the drive a fun and exciting challenge (hmm, not sure if the sarcastic tone is coming through – note to self, locate a sarcasm font for future posts). The silver lining? I was able to eat some very delicious Italian food at lunch. Complimenti alla cuoco.

M&M OCD Rainbow (011/366)

2012-01-11T22:20:00.001-06:00

“The neurosis in which the search for safety takes its clearest form is in the compulsive-obsessive neurosis. Compulsive-obsessive to frantically order and stabilize the world so that no unmanageable, unexpected or unfamiliar dangers will ever appear.”

Abraham Maslow (American Philosopher and Psychologist, 1908-1970)

TIME: about 2:45 PM
PLACE: Work
SUBJECT: M&Ms

I took this photo with my phone camera. Yes, I arrange my M&Ms by color. I ate the brown ones first (as you can see, they are not in the picture). Then, I eat any extraneous colors. For example, there were 12 orange and 15 yellow M&Ms, so I ate 3 orange ones and 6 yellow ones so that they would be even with the 9 green M&Ms. Since the red and blue M&Ms were on each end like bookends, the fact that there only 6 of each was not a problem. Finally, I ate a row of M&Ms from each end…for example: a row of red and blue; a row of red and blue; a row of orange and green (3 times), then finally the yellow ones in the middle. That didn’t sound too obsessive-compulsive, did it?

Powers Out Stains (010/366)

2012-01-10T21:13:00.001-06:00

"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!

Cricket (009/366)

2012-01-09T22:33:00.001-06:00

“Shall we be merry? As merry as crickets, my lad “

William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British dramatist, poet. Poins, in Henry IV, Part 1, act 2, sc. 4, l. 89. Hal and his companions at the tavern in Eastcheap.

TIME: 10:08 PM
PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: Cricket

Every couple of weeks, Blade the gecko gets crickets put in his cage as part of his diet. In addition to being gecko nourishment, they also provide a source of entertainment for Jack the cat. Although we’ve had many crickets in house since the week before Christmas, tonight was the first time I heard them chirping merrily away in the aquarium.

The Great Pumpkin Collapse (008/365)

2012-01-08T18:35:00.001-06:00

“Greatness collapses of itself: such limit the gods have set to the growth of prosperous states.”

Marcus Annaeus Lucan (39-65), Roman epic poet. Pharsalia, 1. 81-82.

TIME: 1:38 PM
PLACE: My sister’s front porch
SUBJECT: Pumpkin

According to my brother-in-law, this pumpkin set a record and was still good and solid until the weather turned warm on Friday. Now, it’s soft, soggy and squishy. A shovel is now required for its removal.

Winter Twilight (007/366)

2012-01-07T23:23:00.001-06:00

“I stand penciled against the winter twilight, a silhouette for dreams.”

Anonymous

TIME: 5:16 PM
PLACE: South of town
SUBJECT: Fence & Tree

HH and I ~~abandoned~~ left the children in DramaQueen’s capable hands this evening to attend an annual membership dinner for one of HH’s clubs. On the way, I snapped this silhouette while we were sitting at an intersection, waiting for the light to change.

Curlicue (006/366)

2012-01-06T21:45:00.001-06:00

“Comedy has to be based on truth. You take the truth and you put a little curlicue at the end.”

Sid Caesar (American, Actor, comedian, writer, musician, b 1922)

TIME: 4:47 PM
PLACE: Front yard
SUBJECT: Ornamental grass

We reached a high of 68 degrees here today. It was beautiful. I managed to make it outside this afternoon and play around a little bit with my new lens. Looking at my endeavors, I can see that I need a lot more playing time. The grass stem was difficult to capture with the warm winds we had. But I’m not complaining – I can live with the wind if it means having this warm weather during the month of January.

What I Wore Today (005/366)

2012-01-05T21:07:00.001-06:00

“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.

Soaking (004/366)

2012-01-04T22:55:00.001-06:00

“Beans, beans, the magical fruit
The more you eat, the more you toot
The more you toot, the better you feel
So have some beans at every meal!”

~Schoolyard saying

TIME: 10:06 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Great Northern Beans

Ham and beans is on the menu for tomorrow night. I picked up a bag of dried Great Northern beans on my lunch hour today. Before he went to bed, HH put them in my favorite red Pyrex bowl (#404, 4-quart) to soak overnight.

“A” You’re Adorable (003/366)

2012-01-03T19:40:00.001-06:00

“I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex.”

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Anglo-Irish playwright, author. Lord Illingworth, in A Woman of No Importance, act 1.

TIME: 6:27 PM
PLACE: Living Room
SUBJECT: StellaDella and Blade

I came across this photo-a-day challenge list of things to shoot for the month of January. I saved it on my computer for those times I am in need of an idea. It’s the 3rd day of the year and I’m already utilizing it. *shakes head and rolls eyes* Today’s suggestion was “Something You Adore.” Well, SD most certainly adores Blade. I am adoring the smile that has been appearing on her face each time she holds him.

Needle Avalanche (002/366)

2012-01-02T19:16:00.001-06:00

“Beware the pine-tree's withered branch! / Beware the awful avalanche!”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (American, 19th century Poet, 1807-1882)

TIME: 12:40 PM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Artificial tree “needles”

Whoever said that artificial trees don’t shed was a liar.

Uncle Al (001/366)

2012-01-01T22:52:00.001-06:00

“Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts.“

~Author Unknown

TIME: 6:16 PM
PLACE: Uncle Albert’s house
SUBJECT: Uncle Albert

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a clear shot of him when he was wearing the complete outfit of a Santa Snuggie along with this hat and Santa-face earmuffs.

Mew Year’s Eve (365/365)

2011-12-31T23:11:00.001-06:00

“The proper behavior all through the holiday season is to be drunk. This drunkenness culminates on New Year's Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're married to.”

P.J. O'Rourke (American, Political satirist, journalist. writer, b1947)

TIME: 9:32 PM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Jack

Because nothing says “New Year’s Eve” like a picture of a sleeping cat made to look like he’s passed out with a badly Photo-shopped New Years hat and bottle of Maddog. Cheers!

Pull Knob For Pack Selection (364/365)

2011-12-30T23:07:00.001-06:00

“People today are healthier and drinking less. You know, if it wasn't for the junior high school next door, no one would even use the cigarette machine.”

Moe the Bartender, “The Simpsons,” Flaming Moe’s, (1991), Television.

TIME: 8:00 PM
PLACE: Kretzer’s Grill & Bar, Hoyleton, IL
SUBJECT: Cigarette machine

This machine was at a restaurant where HH & I met with some friends of ours for dinner this evening. You don’t see cigarette machines like this still in use very often anymore.
~*~*~
When we arrived home, this little vignette greeted us in the living room:

StellaDella built this “house” while we were out. DramaQueen said it took her about an hour to construct it. Check out the the security system she has in place:

I don’t know what to else to say about it. I’m pretty much dumbstruck.

Sleepy Time (363/365)

2011-12-29T22:24:00.001-06:00

“Everyone who gets sleepy at night should have a simple decent place to lay their heads, on terms they can afford to pay.”

Millard Fuller (American, Missionary, humanitarian, founder of Habitat for Humanity International, founder of The Fuller Center for Housing. 1935-2009)

TIME: 9:08 PM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Oreo

That poor pillow pet. Not only have I caught Jack trying to procreate with it in the past, but now the dog has claimed it as her very own headrest. Looks like a trip to the washing machine is in the unicorn’s future this evening.

Have You Seen This Snail? (362/365)

2011-12-28T23:20:00.001-06:00

Gary: Meow.

Spongbob SquarePants. Perf. Tom Kenny. Television.

TIME: 9:40 PM
PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: Gary the snail

Two snails and two more algae fish were purchased today by HH and SD for the goldfish tank. They made sure that the algae fish were large enough so that they would not succumb to the fate of their predecessors. I don’t know if SD has named the new arrivals yet, so I took it upon myself to name this snail, “Gary“ in honor of Gary on SpongeBob SquarePants. (I named the other snail, “Ms. Tuftsy.”) Isn’t he cute?

Bourgeois Buffoon or Early Morning Snowman (361/365)

2011-12-27T22:56:00.001-06:00

Calvin: “This is my snow sculpture, “Bourgeois Buffoon.” Can you believe my mom rejected my grant application to continue making these?”

Calvin and Hobbes syndicated daily comic strip (1985-1995), by Bill Watterson.

TIME: 8:09 AM
PLACE: Front yard
SUBJECT: StellaDella & a very leafy snowman

At 6:30 am, I was awakened by a loud, breathy whisper in my ear of “Mom!!! It snowed!!!!! Can I go outside and make a snowman?” Sure, SD, knock yourself out, just use what little snow there is in the front yard as opposed to the fenced in area where the dog does her business, m’kay? And with that permission given, she went out and created her masterpiece.

The Dog’s Chair (360/365)

2011-12-26T22:48:00.001-06:00

“No animal should ever jump up on the dining room furniture unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation."

Fran Lebowitz (American Writer and Humorist, b.1950)

TIME: 9:07 PM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Ruined chair and reason why

I bought this recliner about a year before the HH brought home the dog. That means I had about one year of owning a nice piece of furniture – one that was un-molested by doggie nails and un-permeated by doggie odor. That is so not the case now.

Christmas Fun (359/365)

2011-12-25T22:47:00.001-06:00

“At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year.”

Thomas Tusser (English Farmer and Writer. 1524-1580)

TIME: 7:03 AM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: StellaDella, DramaQueen & MonkeyBoy

I hate using the flash, but had to do it this morning to get a decent shot of the kids. This is right before the presents were opened. They were all very happy with their gifts. We do have an issue trying to get MB’s new Turtle Beach headset to work with his Xbox 360, but I think a trip to the store tomorrow for a compatible cable with fix that right up.
~*~*~*~
My gift? Glad you asked. I must have been very good this year. (Or, more than likely, I whined so much about it that DH decided he couldn’t take it anymore and bought it to shut me up.) I am now the owner of a Canon EF-S60mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens! Can I get a “Woot-Woot!” I played around with it a little this afternoon. I think I’m gonna like it.

TIME: 2:25 PM
SUBJET: Blade

TIME: 2:34 PM
SUBJECT: MB’s eyelashes (he was napping)

TIME: 2:41 PM
SUBJECT: Bubbles in a bottle of Windex cleaner

TIME: 7:14 PM
SUBJECT: Radiatore noodles

Traditional Stair Picture 2011 (358/365)

2011-12-24T22:26:00.000-06:00

“Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of family and friends.”

Margaret Thatcher (British Politician and Prime Minister. b.1925)

TIME: 8:09 PM
PLACE: Steps at Dad’s house
SUBJECT: 9 out of the 11 grandchildren (or 81.8%)

Here they are…almost all of the grandchildren sitting for the traditional stair picture at Grandpa’s house on Christmas Eve. My brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew from California weren’t able to make it into town for the holidays. We missed having them with us. Shortly after this photo was taken, we Skyped them so they could be with us while the little ones opened their gifts from Grandpa. Hmm, next time if they can’t make it, we’ll have to place the netbook on the steps while the two kids on the webcam and take the photo. That way we will have all of the grandchildren in the picture!

A Girl & Her Gecko (357/365)

2011-12-23T20:34:00.001-06:00

“A cherub's face, a reptile all the rest”

Alexander Pope (English Poet, 1688-1744)

TIME: 6:24 PM
PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: StellaDella & Blade

“Awwwww Mom…look how cuuuuuute Blade is! Isn’t he the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen? Ooooooh…I just love, love, love him sooooo much! And look, he loves me too!”

Shining Star (356/365)

2011-12-22T20:06:00.000-06:00

"Dear brightest star o'er Bethlehem, O let your precious light shine in with hope and peace toward men in every home tonight."

“A Thousand Candles,” Swedish Carol

TIME: 4:10 PM
PLACE: Westfield Manor, Independent Living Community
SUBJECT: Electric star

StellaDella’s Girl Scout troop helped to deliver Christmas baskets to seniors at an independent living community. After all the baskets were delivered, the girls gathered in the lobby and sang Christmas carols to the residents. Santa and Mrs. Claus even showed up to join in the caroling.

Solstice Santa (355/365)

2011-12-21T23:06:00.001-06:00

“If you ever have to steal money from your kid, and later on he discovers it's gone, I think a good thing to do is to blame it on Santa Claus”

Jack Handy (American Writer and cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1991-2003. Famous for his Deep Thoughts comedy sketches.)

TIME: 9:33 PM
PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: Playmobil Santa

This year, we got out one of our many Playmobil Advent calendars to help countdown the days until Christmas. Today’s figure was the man in red, Santa Claus, himself. I was reminded that there are only three more boxes to open until the big event. I am so not ready.

Christmas Collar (354/365)

2011-12-20T20:07:00.001-06:00

“Relax, Georgie, I'm just making my collar and cuffs match.”

Carole Lombard (American Actress, 1908-1942)

TIME: 7:28 PM
PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: Jack’s new collar

StellaDella made this Christmas collar for Jack tonight from scraps of fabric left over from a school art project. He looks so festive.

I Am So Smart (353/365)

2011-12-19T21:51:00.000-06:00

Homer: Woo-hoo! I'm a college man! I won't need my high school diploma any more! [sets fire to it and starts singing] I am so smart! I am so smart! I am so smart! I am so smart! S-M-R-T! I mean, S-M-A-R-T...

"Homer Goes To College.” The Simpsons. Season 5, Episode 3. 14 Oct. 1993. Television.

TIME: 8:08 PM
PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: My new phone

Well I finally bit the bullet and upgraded my (4 year-old) phone. I decided to get a Motorola Atrix2. Yes, I have joined the dark side. The most amazing thing to me about this phone? It has an 8(!) megapixel camera. That’s 3 more megapixels than my Canon Power Shot S2 IS that I take my macro photos with. And it’s only 2 less than the megapixels on my Canon Rebel XS. Crazy.

Gecko Greetings (352/365)

2011-12-18T21:26:00.001-06:00

“With your lovely smile.
I see you slither away with your skin and your tail,
Your flickering tongue and your rattling scales
Like a real reptile.”

The Church. "Reptile." Starfish. Arista Records, 1988

TIME: 6:48 PM
PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: Crested Gecko aka “Blade”

StellaDella has been fascinated by reptiles since seeing them at the library two years ago. She has had HH and I take her to the exotic reptile store a number of times over the past year. Apparently, for her, these trips were actually scouting expeditions to determine the reptile she was going to ask Santa to bring. After many conversations with Santa, it was decided that she could have a Crested Gecko this year. Since Santa can’t bring reptiles on his sleigh (it gets too cold for the critters), he called HH and co-ordinated the pick-up of the gecko from the Tye-Dyed Iguana today. She promptly named him “Blade” and is one happy girl.

Cookie Temptation (351/365)

2011-12-17T23:54:00.001-06:00

“An abstainer is a weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure.”

Ambrose Bierce (American Writer, Journalist and Editor, 1842-1914)

TIME: 1:27 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Italian cookies

7 pounds of Italian cookies were purchased from Rosciglione’s Bakery this morning. 5 of those pounds are individual gifts for friends of ours. The remaining 2 pounds are for us. Right now they are sitting on the kitchen counter, calling out and tempting me to consume them. I know I could eat the whole damn box all by myself before Tuesday. Stupid cookies. Their deliciousness just overrides what little self-control I possess.

Hansel & Gretel Were Here (350/365)

2011-12-16T21:55:00.001-06:00

"Knuper, knuper, kneischen,
Wer knupert an meinem Häuschen?”
Or
”Nibble, nibble, little mouse,
Who is nibbling at my house?”

Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm. Hansel & Gretel. 1812

TIME: 8:17 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Graham cracker “Gingerbread” house

StellaDella made this house at school today. She said that she had a lot more candy on it, but she was hungry and ate them.

Grumpy Monorail Cat Is Grumpy (349/365)

2011-12-15T21:45:00.001-06:00

Lyle Lanley: Throw up your hands and raise your voice!
All: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What's it called?
All: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: Once again...
All: Monorail!
Marge: But Main Street's still all cracked and broken...
Bart: Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!
All: Monorail! Monorail! Monorail! Monorail!
Homer: Mono... D'oh!

"Marge vs. the Monorail." The Simpsons. 14 Jan. 1993. Television.

TIME: 8:59 PM
PLACE: Upstairs
SUBJECT: Tessa

Here is Tessa, lying “Monorail” style on the bannister in our upstairs hallway. The recipient of her evil glare was the dog, who happened to be sitting right beside me when I took the photo.

Pink Elephant (348/365)

2011-12-14T22:13:00.001-06:00

“If you've never seen an elephant ski, you've never been on acid.”

Eddie Izzard (British stand-up Comedian and Actor. b.1962)

TIME: 3:55 PM
PLACE: Pink Elephant Antique Mall, Livingston, IL
SUBJECT: A pink elephant of course

How can you not stop the car and take a picture when you spy a gigantic pink elephant as you are driving down the highway? In fact, I believe it’s the law in 36 states.

How An Accountant Wraps A Present (347/365)

2011-12-13T23:58:00.000-06:00

“I bought my brother some gift-wrap for Christmas. I took it to the Gift Wrap department and told them to wrap it, but in a different print so he would know when to stop unwrapping.”

Stephen Wright (American Actor and Writer, b.1955)

TIME: 11:58 PM
PLACE: Desk
SUBJECT: Employee gift exchange contribution

Tomorrow is the Christmas luncheon and gift exchange at work. The gift exchange isn’t mandatory, but I decided to join in this year. It’s one of those exchanges where you can “steal” gifts from co-workers. The only stipulations were the gift value ($15) and you had to wrap it pretty. I bought a $15 Starbucks card and then I went “green” with the wrapping. I used a cereal box to place the gift in; then made the bow out of a jeweler’s advertising insert and wrapped the box with the stock section of the paper. I think it’s rather festive myself.

Looking For A Mate (346/365)

2011-12-12T20:24:00.000-06:00

Kirby: She is the only evidence of God I have seen with the exception of the mysterious force that removes one sock from the dryer every time I do my laundry.

Emilio Estevez, perf. St. Elmo’s Fire. Dir. Joel Schumacher. 1985. Columbia Pictures Corp.

TIME: 8:15 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Unmatched socks

This evening, my kitchen table was host for the “Socks Without Partners” support group that meets weekly. It is always a well attended event. A few socks were re-united with their partners. But, as usual, the majority of the single socks went back to their home in the community laundry basket alone. It breaks my heart.

Cleared Corn & Winter Wheat (345/365)

2011-12-11T21:51:00.001-06:00

Odysseus: If they ever tell my story let them say that I walked with giants. Men rise and fall like the winter wheat, but these names will never die.

Sean Bean, perf. Troy. Dir. Wolfgang Petersen. 2004. Warner Brothers.

TIME: 4:12 PM
PLACE: Outside of Sparta, IL
SUBJECT: Fields

HH and I were invited to a Christmas party at the home of one of his co-worker and his wife this afternoon. Their house was amazing. She had placed a Christmas tree in nearly every room, all beautifully decorated. My favorite was the picture tree she had in the utility room. It was hung with small framed old family photos. As a dabbling genealogist, I thought that was the cleverest thing. Now, they like to hunt and had many taxidermied trophies throughout their home as well. There were 5 deer and 3 antelope heads in their living room alone. I know, I know - it sounds like a lot, but the way they were arranged in the room was perfect and it all looked natural and tasteful. ~*~*~ The picture above is the view as we drove out of the driveway to the road. So pretty. I need a home in the country.

Paper Snowflakes (344/365)

2011-12-10T23:45:00.000-06:00

General der Infantrie Albert Burkhalter: What would you rather have fall upon you, responsibility, or snowflakes?

"Color The Luftwaffe Red." Hogan's Heros. Perf. Leon Askin. 16 Nov. 1968. Television.

TIME: 11:12 PM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Paper snowflakes

This is what I was doing while watching the James Bond movie last night – cutting out paper snowflakes to hang in the living room. And after? I vacuumed up all the little pieces of paper with my Dyson. Now you just stop right there. Please. Please quit being jealous of my wild Friday night escapades…it’s not always that exciting of a time. It’s usually quite boring.

A Lion, A Cat & A TV (343/365)

2011-12-09T22:32:00.000-06:00

“I want to be a lion
Everybody wants to pass as cats
We all want to be big big stars, but we got different reasons for that”

Counting Crows. "Mr. Jones." August and Everything After. By Adam Duritz and David Bryson. Geffen Records, 1993.

TIME: 10:06 PM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Jack & MGM Lion

MonkeyBoy was just starting to watch a move on his Xbox (James Bond-Tomorrow Never Dies) when Jack decided he needed to lay right in front of the TV. The MGM lion can’t believe that another cat is usurping his limelight.

Mr. Pear (342/365)

2011-12-08T23:58:00.000-06:00

"The pear is the grandfather of the apple, its poor relation, a fallen aristocrat, the man-at-arms of our domains, which once, in our humid land, lived lonely and lordly, preserving the memory of its prestige by its haughty comportment."

Francois Pierre de la Varenne (Burgundian, author of Le Cuisinier françois (1651), the founding text of modern French cuisine, 1615–1678)

TIME: 11:49 PM
PLACE: Christmas tree
SUBJECT: Ornament

A very happy eBay find earlier this fall. It’s a chenille armed, drumstick wielding, shiny majorette hat wearing, golden spidery eyelash sporting, red-mouthed grinning, green “velvet” covered pear. What’s not to like? I smile every time I see him as I pass by the Christmas tree.

Snow On The Car Roof (341/365)

2011-12-07T20:31:00.001-06:00

“There may be snow on the roof, but there's fire in the belly”

Proverb quotes

TIME: 8:09 AM
PLACE: Driveway
SUBJECT: Snow on the car roof

We woke up to just a slight bit of the white stuff sticking to outdoor objects this morning. It didn’t stay, thank goodness. I am sooo not looking forward to winter weather. Who wants to move to Rio with me?

Mascot (340/365)

2011-12-06T22:32:00.001-06:00

 
Goof:  What exactly do you have planned for us?
Homer: Well, I get up and dance, and I spell out the name of the city,
all to the tune of `Baby Elephant Walk'.
Goof:  Ah, Mancini.  The mascot's best friend.


Homer and the Capital City Goofball plan their strategy, The Simpsons. ``Dancin' Homer.'' Written by Ken Levine and David Isaacs. Aired 8 November 1990

TIME: 6:48 PM
PLACE: Junior High Gym
SUBJECT: Raider – the Junior High Mascot

MonkeyBoy had his last basketball game of the season tonight. Both his team and the 8th grade boys won their final games. There is a holiday tournament coming up and then the season is finished. To be honest, I’m looking forward to the next couple of months without any practices, games and all that kind of running about.

St. Nicholas Coins (339/365)

2011-12-05T23:51:00.000-06:00

“Golden coins, I’ll place at your feet
Precious jewels to make life complete
All my treasures are yours my sweet”

Golden Coins, words & music by Giant, Baum and Kaye. Performed by Elvis Presley.

TIME: 11:31 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Gold chocolate coins

Tonight is St. Nicholas eve, and the stockings have been hung on the door handles of the children’s bedrooms. I had planned to get the stocking stuffers at lunch today, but didn’t make it. I had a Brownie meeting tonight, then had to pick up MB from Boy Scouts at 8:30 – so I didn’t get to leave for the dreaded Wal-Mart until then. It took me longer than expected. Can you believe the Mart did not have the chocolate gold coins that St. Nick *always* brings. So I had to make a trip to Walgreens as well. Luckily, they were with the program and the tradition has been saved. ‘Cause if the kids didn’t find gold chocolate coins their stockings, it would have been a tragedy of epic proportions. At least, that’s what DQ was hinting before I left the house.

Juniper Berries (338/365)

2011-12-04T20:50:00.001-06:00

“Lady, three white leopards sat under a juniper-tree
In the cool of the day, having fed to satiety…”

T.S. (Thomas Stearns) Eliot (1888-1965), Anglo-American critic, poet. Ash Wednesday (l. 42-47). . . Oxford Book of American Verse, The. F. O. Matthiessen, ed. (1950) Oxford University Press.

TIME: 9:38 AM
PLACE: Around town
SUBJECT: Juniper berries

HH and I went to breakfast again while the children were at Sunday School. As we were leaving, I grabbed this shot of the berries on the red cedar juniper planted outside the restaurant. The rest of the day consisted of climbing into the attic to get the Christmas decorations down (because of the ~~nagging~~ urging of SD) and spending waaay too much time getting the tree up and the lights on it – this included a trip to K-mart to purchase two new sets of lights, because 5 of the sets I had wouldn’t work. I decided I didn’t want to spend my time going through 750 lights (5 sets x 150 bulbs) to determine which one was loose. Yes…I replaced the fuses first…stupid lights.

Poinsettias (337/365)

2011-12-03T23:00:00.001-06:00

“I have forgotten much, but still remember
The poinsettia's red, blood-red in warm December. “

Claude McKay (1889-1948), U.S.-Jamaican poet. Flame-Heart (l. 9-10). . . Caroling Dusk; an Anthology of Verse by Negro Poets. Countee Cullen, ed. (1927) Harper & Brothers.

TIME: 10:49 PM
PLACE: M-- Company annual Christmas party
SUBJECT: Poinsettias

StellaDella and I went with my dad to a Christmas party thrown by a contractor that his construction firm works with. Here she is with Santa:

And here she is later, with her cousins, after they had their faces painted. Because, you know, nothing says Christmas like butterflies, skeletons and golden fangs.

Where were my older two children? They didn’t go this year. Instead, they participated in a 5K run in our town. MonkeyBoy finished 171st out of 822 runners with a time of 25:20 and DramaQueen was 603rd with a time of 37:28. This was their first race and I am proud of both of them for their accomplishments. I just might have to take up running and join them next time.

People of Wal-Mart (336/365)

2011-12-02T22:12:00.001-06:00

“Wal-mart... do they like make walls there?”

Paris Hilton (American, Socialite, b.1981)

TIME: 9:04 PM
PLACE: Wal-Mart parking lot
SUBJECT: MonkeyBoy and cart

Yes, this is how far down the tubes my life has sunk…shopping at Wal-Mart on a Friday night. Poor MonkeyBoy was with me. I’m sure the thought of having to be with his mom at Wal-Mart at 9 o’clock on a Friday night *and* having her take his picture in the parking lot, didn’t fill his heart with delight either. *wink*

Spreading Christmas Cheer (335/365)

2011-12-01T21:54:00.001-06:00

Buddy: Sounds like somebody needs to sing a Christmas Carol.
Jovie: No way.
Buddy: The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.
Jovie: Thanks, but I don't sing.
Buddy: Oh, well, it's just like talking, except longer and louder, and you move your voice up and down.

Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel, perf. Elf. Dir. Jon Favreau. 2003. New Line Cinema.

TIME: 5:57 PM
PLACE: Junior High School Gym
SUBJECT: StellaDella

It can’t be that time already. Didn’t we just attend this recently? It’s really been a year already? *Sigh* In any case, SD sang and performed her little heart out…Afterwards, I had a couple of other parents and grandparents seek me out to tell me how much they enjoyed watching her on the stage because of her enthusiasm. That’s my girl.
~*~*~
Gah! I just noticed that SD is wearing the same dress that she wore in last year’s Christmas program. What a major faux pas. I’ll probably get my mom card revoked.

Crab-Apple Branch (334/365)

2011-11-30T19:32:00.001-06:00

“We are born believing. A man bears beliefs as a tree bears apples.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), U.S. essayist, poet, philosopher. "Worship," The Conduct of Life (1860).

TIME: 3:37 PM
PLACE: Work parking lot
SUBJECT: Crab apples on tree

We saw the sun today! The crab apples on the tree at work looked pretty against the bright blue sky.

Happiness Is A Ring Pop (333/365)

2011-11-29T21:00:00.001-06:00

“Happiness is like the penny candy of our youth: we got a lot more for our money back when we had no money.“

Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960

TIME: 6:13 PM
PLACE: Junior High Gym
SUBJECT: Twisted Berry Blast Ring Pop

When we go to MB’s basketball games, SD always asks for money for the snack bar. She *needs* a Slim Jim, popcorn and a ring pop to make it through the game. I don’t want to know the amount of money I’ve spent at snack bars this basketball season…and the sad part is, it ain’t over yet.

Shredded (332/365)

2011-11-28T23:53:00.001-06:00

Jimmy: You know, there's some sort of speed control on here, somewhere.
Beth: Oh, hang on, hang on, here are the instructions for the shredder.
Jimmy: Wait, wait a minute, wait, wait, wait, wait. Shredding the instructions for the shredder. Talk about your mind blowing irony. Dare I?
Beth: Oh, ah, Sir, I...
Jimmy: Let's do it. Go, baby, go!
[Drops manual in shredder]
Jimmy: Now, where the hell's that speed control?

"Friends." News Radio. Perf. Stephen Root and Vicki Lewis. 14 Nov. 1995. Television.

TIME: 10:49 PM
PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: Shredded remains

How I spent my evening…catching up on the never-ending pile of paperwork at home. Going through the mail/bills/receipts/school papers/etc.; entering data into my Quicken program (because you know, I can’t get enough of that number stuff at work – you caught my sarcastic tone right?); and shredding everything when I’m done with it. I shred it all because I am a paranoid person and don’t need anyone getting into my “bidnesz”.

The Birds (331/365)

2011-11-27T21:06:00.001-06:00

“From the shaken tower
A flock of bells take flight,
And go with the hour.”

Alice Meynell (1847-1922), British poet (Mrs. Wilfrid Meynell). Chimes (l. 2-4). . . Come Hither. Walter de la Mare, comp. (3d ed., 1957) Alfred A. Knopf.

TIME: 3:29 PM
PLACE: Target parking lot
SUBJECT: Flock of birds

Oh man, is it feeling like winter today. Such a cold and gray sky. I took MonkeyBoy to Target to buy him a new belt so his pants don’t sag. On our way to back to the car, a huge flock of birds flew overhead. It took me a little bit to get the camera out of my purse, so this is the tail end of the swarm. The beginning of the flock was more dense.

Square & Compass (330/365)

2011-11-26T23:34:00.001-06:00

SpongeBob SquarePants: Well, it's no secret that the best thing about a secret is secretly telling someone your secret, thereby adding another secret to their secret collection of secrets, secretly.

"The Secret Box." Spongbob Squarepants. Perf. Tom Kenny. 1 Sept. 2001. Television.

TIME: 8:54 PM
PLACE: Outside Masonic hall
SUBECT: Masonic emblem

I could tell you where we were and what we were doing…but then I would have to kill you….Kidding! HH and I just attended a function at a Mason’s Hall this evening. And last night I had my 30 year(!!) 8th grade reunion. (I’m such the social butterfly this weekend.) The reunion was so fun – I went to a Catholic grade school beginning in 2nd grade and it was pretty much the same classmates each year until we graduated. It was so neat to be able to meet up again with people that I spent 7 years of my life with and hadn’t seen for many, many years. We even had our 3rd, 6th and 8th grade teachers attend. It was a good reunion with many hugs, “Do you remember?”s, laughs and a ton of catching up with each others lives. It was like we never had been apart.

Tongue Coloring (329/365)

2011-11-25T17:58:00.000-06:00

“All parts of the human body get tired eventually - except the tongue”

Konrad Adenauer (German Statesman He was the first Chancellor of Federal Republic of West Germany, 1876-1967)

IME: 10:35 AM
PLACE: Main Street
SUBJECT: MonkeyBoy and StellaDella

Santa Claus came to town today via our city’s annual Santa Claus parade. MB, SD, Oreo and my dad walked up to Main Street to watch. The kids collected a ton of candy and Oreo even received a squeaky toy from the Kennel Club marchers. One of the pieces of candy was a “Tongue Coloring Fizzy Candies”…can you tell?

Green Beans (328/365)

2011-11-24T21:03:00.001-06:00

Beans glisten bright green
Crisp bacon nestled amid
Happy Thanksgiving

Original Haiku by Sujomi

TIME: 12:02 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: My contribution to Thanksgiving dinner at Dad’s house

This is the way we like our green beans at Thanksgiving (and at any other celebration throughout the year). Fresh beans, mixed with lots of crisp bacon and translucent onions, all coated in the bacon drippings. There are never any leftovers.

Old Spice (327/365)

2011-11-23T23:22:00.001-06:00

“Once you get a spice in your home, you have it forever. Women never throw out spices. The Egyptians were buried with their spices. I know which one I'm taking with me when I go.”

Erma Bombeck (U.S. humorist, 1927-1996)

TIME: 8:00 PM
PLACE: Dad’s kitchen
SUBJECT: Spices

I made a chicken pot pie for supper. The kids and I took it over to Dad’s house to share with him and to begin cooking for Thanksgiving tomorrow. After we ate, I started making the stuffing. My recipe called for poultry seasoning and I forgot to bring mine, so I asked Dad if he had any. He didn’t, but he did have this lemon extract, nutmeg and Fruit Fresh in his pantry. I’ll bet if you combine their ages it would turn out to be close to the number of the birthday Dad will be celebrating this coming May. He can’t throw them out now…they’re practically vintage.

Capital Pear In November (326/365)

2011-11-22T22:02:00.001-06:00

"November's sky is chill and drear,
November's leaf is red and sear."

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), “Ettrick Forest in November.”

TIME: 3:49 PM
PLACE: Front yard
SUBJECT: Capital Pear tree

Rainy Gray Day
Home. Car. Grade School (2nd grade play). Car. Home. Car. Junior High School (pick up MB for appt). Car. Doctor’s Office. Car. Home. Picture!. Car. Junior High School (basketball games). Car. Home.
Rainy Gray Day

Turkeys Rock! (325/365)

2011-11-21T22:40:00.001-06:00

“Why was Plymouth Rock so brave?
…Because it was a little boulder.”

A really bad joke

TIME: 10:01 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Rock turkey craft

At the brownie meeting tonight, I had the brownies make turkeys out of rocks, felt and of course, googly eyes. My prototype is in the left and StellaDella’s version is on the right. Her turkey has quite the long wattle and an insane amount of tail feathers. A quintessential SD artistic creation.

Are Those Domos On Your Pie Or Are You Just Glad To See Me? (324/365)

2011-11-20T23:07:00.001-06:00

“…my cherry pie
Put a smile on your face ten miles wide
Looks so good bring a tear to your eye
Sweet cherry pie…”

Warrant. "Cherry Pie." Cherry Pie. By Jani Lane. Columbia Records, 1990

TIME: 10:29 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Domo charms on cherry pie that HH made

Yeah…umm…I got nothing today.

Scouting For Food (323/365)

2011-11-19T21:15:00.001-06:00

“The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (American, Poet, 1807-1882)

TIME: 9:42 AM
PLACE: The Jeep
SUBJECT: MonkeyBoy, Boy Scouts & food donations

As part of fulfilling their Boy Scout Promise to help other people at all times, MB’s Boy Scout troop participated in the annual Scouting for Food collection program. Last weekend they distributed bags and this morning they collected the donations and delivered them to a local food pantry. I helped by driving MB and 2 other Scouts around a section of the designated collection area for our troop. The part the boys enjoyed the most? Riding in the open hatchback of the Jeep and hopping on and off to collect the bags.

Burial Wreath (322/365)

2011-11-18T20:31:00.001-06:00

"late autumn twilight
burial wreath on the door
rises in the wind"

Sondra Ball, Night Haiku

TIME: 3:53 PM
PLACE: Front door
SUBJECT: Wreath

On Monday evening, a man HH & I were honored to call our friend, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. “Cookie” was a former Sargent for the County Sheriff’s Department and an all-around good guy. Our lives were richer for knowing him. He will be sorely missed. Rest in peace “Cous” and always keep those quarters in your ears.

Weeping Willow (321/365)

2011-11-17T23:35:00.001-06:00

“Adieu, adieu, kind friends, adieu, adieu, adieu, / I can no longer stay with you, stay with you. / I'll hang my harp on a weeping willow-tree. / And may the world go well with thee.”

“There Is A Tavern In The Town,” F. J. Adams, 1891.

TIME: 10:44 AM
PLACE: St. Paul Cemetery
SUBJECT: Grave marker detail

After I had my hair colored this morning, I drove out to a cemetery to find some of the final resting places of HH’s ancestors. I located a few of them, took photos for my files and then meandered around the cemetery to look at the older stones. This detail was on a stone for Johanne C Lehmann, GEB [born] d. 29 Sept. 1802, GEST [died] d. 6 Marz 1878. The willow symbolizes mourning and earthly sorrow. There was other writing on the stone, but I couldn’t make it out. If I play with it in Photoshop enough, I might be able to though. A quick search on Ancestry found that her husband, Samuel Lehmann, who is buried next to her, was one of the first elders of the newly established St. Paul United Church of Christ in 1859. Interesting.
~~~
Here is the full photo of the tombstone:

Pathetic Puppy (320/365)

2011-11-16T21:21:00.001-06:00

“Mandy: Boy, Saliva, you really are a pathetic dog... but I guess you're my pathetic dog.”

"Mandy Bites Dog." The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. Cartoon Network. 2 July 2004. Season 3, Episode 4. Television.

TIME: 8:05 PM
PLACE: My desk
SUBJECT: Oreo

I get this face several times a day – mainly when I am sitting at the kitchen table eating dinner. I call it her “I’m-a-pathetic-puppy-please-feed/pet/love-me” look. It’s also usually accompanied by a huge doggy sigh as well. The poor thing…she really has it tough.

Annoyances At The B-Ball Game (319/365)

2011-11-15T21:26:00.001-06:00

“Those of you who think you know everything are very annoying to those of us who do.”

Unknown

TIME: 6:49 PM
PLACE: Junior high gym
SUBJECT: MonkeyBoy

MB’s team suffered a loss tonight. I have to admit, our opponents were a better team tonight. My only complaint is about one of the visitors sitting behind us on the bleachers. Let’s call her “Over-Aggressive-Basketball-Mom” or OABM for short. OABM was loud and a tad bit over-enthusiastic about any and all plays made by her son/team on the court. In addition, OABM was constantly trying to beat the ref on any fouls called against our team and getting upset if she thought there was a foul and it wasn’t called. Funny, when the fouling situation was reversed, OABM would not say a word. After the 7th grade game, MB wanted to stay a little bit and watch the 1st half of the 8th grade game. I was wary about it because I didn’t want to have to listen to her for another game. I’m glad we did though. Our boys were really kicking butt and taking names and it was nice to note that it caused OABM to finally lose her voice. Too bad.

I Can’t Bear To Look (318/365)

2011-11-14T21:39:00.001-06:00

“You can close your eyes to reality but not to memories.”

Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (Polish, Poet, 1909-1966)

TIME: 3:58 PM
PLACE: My desk
SUBJECT: Jack

It may look like Jack is sleeping, but actually he is averting his eyes from the horror that has infected our aquarium. The newest koi fish, Poseidon, has eaten one of our Plecostomus (algae fish). How do I know? Well, the fact that the algae fish’s tail is hanging out of the mouth of Poseidon gave me my first clue.Poor little Plecostomus…we’ll always remember you. Who knew goldfish were such killers. Not the algae fish, that’s for sure. Tonight I believe that I will be sleeping with one eye open…in case Poseidon tries to eat me too.

Eyes Turned Skyward (317/365)

2011-11-13T21:55:00.001-06:00

“The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), U.S. essayist, poet, philosopher. Journal entry, May 25, 1843. Journals (1909-1914).

TIME: 11:31 & 11:38 AM
PLACE: Freeburg, IL
SUBJECTS: Corner of building (101 S. Belleville St.) and trees in the park

HH and I drove to Freeburg, IL to eat at a Wurstmart (one of his favorite things to do). It was a rare day in November - bright blue skies and warm winds. The clouds were dancing and racing across the sky with the wind. All I wanted to do was keep looking up and taking in all the beautiful blue color I could while we were outside. Rain is in the forecast tomorrow…I've got to enjoy it while I can.

Cat Tale (316/365)

2011-11-12T23:56:00.001-06:00

“If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way.”

Mark Twain (American Humorist, Writer and Lecturer. 1835-1910)

TIME: 11:14 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Tessa on a kitchen chair

I just arrived home from a trivia night. We came in second place – Yea us. Our prize was $100, so basically we all received our entrance money back ($10). Sweet! As I walked into the door, all the animals greeted me – I am so loved. I was surprised that Tessa was part of the bunch. She usually stays upstairs when the dog is out and about. It’s only taken her 5 years, but she’s finally getting braver. Right after I took this photo, she hissed at Oreo (who had dared to walk under the kitchen table to get by my side), jumped off of the chair and disappeared into the basement.

Yet Another Fall Vignette (315/365)

2011-11-11T22:13:00.001-06:00

“The problem with taking the easy way out is that the enemy has already mined it.”

Murphy’s Military Law

TIME: 4:29 PM
PLACE: Front porch
SUBJECT: Fall planter

First, a big thank you to all the veterans and their families for their service and whose sacrifices keep this country safe. We are forever in your debt.
~*~*~
I was thinking about taking a photo at 11:11:11am since today is 11-11-11, but I was at work and when I looked at the clock it was too late. Doh! So you all get yet another fall vignette. What can I say…some days I take the easy way out.

Mum’s The Word (314/365)

2011-11-10T20:26:00.001-06:00

“Why don't you get a haircut? You look like a chrysanthemum.”

Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (English humorist, 1881–1975)

TIME: 4:19 PM
PLACE: Front porch
SUBJECT: Chrysanthemums

I bought this large white chrysanthemum just before DramaQueen’s party a couple of weeks ago. It’s sitting on my shabby chair right by my front door. On a sunny day like today, In the late afternoon, the lighting is perfect for a photo. That makes me happy. I needed that because earlier today, I paid our real estate taxes. Ugh.

Fall Steps (313/365)

2011-11-09T21:31:00.001-06:00

Leaves scatter on treads
Paint peeling beneath colors
November fall steps

Original haiku by Sujomi

TIME: 4:28 PM
PLACE: Front porch
SUBJECT: Leaves on front steps

Just a week ago, I left for my shopping vacation in Texas. After listening to my two older children fighting, then racing to see who got to sit in the front seat after the basketball game this evening, I wished I was still there. Since I’m stuck here, I used my Solomon-like wisdom and proclaimed my judgment on the stalemate. Neither one ended up riding shotgun. I simply locked the passenger door and made both of them sit in the backseat.

A Tired Boy (312/365)

2011-11-08T22:17:00.001-06:00

“There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him to sleep.”

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

TIME: 9:16 PM
PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: MonkeyBoy

Here is my tired boy. School, a basketball game and that pesky homework just done wore him out today.

The Days Grow Shorter (311/365)

2011-11-07T21:06:00.001-06:00

“The days grow shorter and the nights are getting long
Feels like we're running out of time..”

Triumph. "Fight the Good Fight." Allied Forces. Rik Emmett, Gil Moore, and Michael Levine. Metalworks Studios, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, 1981.

TIME: 5:00 PM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Tissue paper leaf

I was making supper and happened to notice how dark it gets so early now that daylight saving time is in effect. I did like how StellaDella’s leaf was looking nice and bright against the darkness on the other side of the window. I thought that it made a nice decoration for the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays. Then it hit me. Thanksgiving is only a little over 2 weeks away. Yikes…I’m not ready for this. Could I have a little more time please?

Skull (310/365)

2011-11-06T20:22:00.001-06:00

“The madhouse of the skull.”

Samuel Beckett (1906-1989), Irish dramatist, novelist. The narrator, in Ill Seen Ill Said, p. 20, Grove Press (1981).

TIME: 7:05 PM
PLACE: Living Room
SUBJECT: Cow skull

Before I left last week, StellaDella requested that she wanted me to bring her only one thing back from Texas – a cow skull. From any other 7-year-old girl, that would be an odd request. From my daughter, not so much. On Saturday, I located this one. I liked it because the horns curled under. I was told that this was because the rancher weighted the horns to keep them from catching on things or from accidently goring the other cows or the rancher. I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face today when I gave it to her. I wasn’t disappointed – she adores it.

Good Liquor Hunting (309/365)

2011-11-05T22:18:00.001-05:00

“Once, during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water.”

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

TIME: 4:51 PM
PLACE: Terrell, Texas
SUBJECT: Boo’s Liquor sign

Did you know that the city of Canton is located in Van Zandt County, Texas? Did you also know that Van Zandt is a dry county? Yeah. Neither did we. The good news: We were able to buy a bottle of wine in one of the Trade Days mall areas (apparently some vendors have special dispensation for selling wine). The bad news: That bottle was quickly emptied last night. Today, we ended up driving about 25 minutes west to the city of Terrell this afternoon to check out some antique stores and an outlet mall. Terrell is not in a dry county. We stopped by this liquor store to try to find some local Texas beer for my brother. We weren’t successful here, but finally found something at another store.

Doggie Dress-Up (308/365)

2011-11-04T22:12:00.001-05:00

“If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater... suggest that he wear a tail.”

Fran Lebowitz (American Writer and Humorist, b.1950)

TIME: 11:30 AM
PLACE: Canton First Monday Trade Days
SUBJECT: Isabelle the fashionable Chihuahua

Besides shopping, the First Monday Trade Days are a great place to people watch. One thing we noticed was that the folks sure love their dogs here. There were many, many dogs walking, being carried and even in strollers(!). Once, we even saw a cat being wheeled around in an enclosed pram. This pooch we saw late this morning, was the best. I love her outfit. She looks like am old-timey western Madame in charge of a doggie brothel.

TIME: 11:31 AM
PLACE: Canton First Monday Trade Days
SUBJECT: Daisy as Santa

Right next to Isabelle was Daisy. Daisy was modeling her Santa Claus attire. Hello Daisy, I would like a new macro lens for Christmas please.

Experienced (307/365)

2011-11-03T22:18:00.001-05:00

“Ask the experienced rather than the learned”

Arabian Proverb

TIME: 3:41 PM
PLACE: Canton First Monday Trade Days, Canton, Texas
SUBJECT: Experienced bowling pins

We survived the first day of shopping. This place is huge…we haven’t even gone through half of it. I bought a few items, a ring for myself, some vintage Christmas and an old “Utility Easement” metal sign for my future utility room. We had the best loaded baked potato for lunch. Potato, onions, cheese, sour cream, beef brisket and bbq sauce. Awesome.

Show Me Some Roadside Attractions (306/365)

2011-11-02T21:07:00.001-05:00

"Embrace the detours."

~ Kevin Charbonneau

TIME: 9:42 & 10:37 AM
PLACE: Cookin’ from Scratch, Doolittle, Missouri & Redmon's Candy Factory - Phillipsburg, Missouri
SUBJECT: Giant chicken in an El Camino and Candy

So, now I can shed some light on my cyptic-ness yesterday. I ~~ran away~~ left this morning with my sister and my sister-in-law to drive to Canton, Texas for the First Monday Trade Days. It is noted as being “the largest flea market in the United States. It is the oldest, largest continually operating outdoor market in the USA, operates on hundreds of acres, and provides spaces for about 6,000 vendors.” In other words we drove 10 hours to shop. On our way down, we stopped at a couple of Missouri attractions. We had to see the giant chicken in the El Camino and check out the Candy Factory. We can do that because we have no husbands or children to slow us down. Sweet.

The Feast of All Saints (305/365)

2011-11-01T21:32:00.001-05:00

“May the good Saints protect you and bless you today, and may troubles ignore you each step of the way.”

Irish Blessing

TIME: 8:33 PM
PLACE: Desk
SUBJECT: St. Christopher & Our Lady of Grace Visor Clip

Today is All Saints Day – a feast day in the Catholic religion to honor all the saints, both known and unknown. When I went to Catholic school, it meant that we always had the day off after Halloween – a huge plus.
~*~*~
St. Christopher (who carried the Christ child across a turbulent river) is the patron saint of travellers. This metal visor clip is usually in my Jeep, but I have plans for it tomorrow. I’ll just be a little cryptic and leave it at that.

All Hallows Eve 2011 (304/365)

2011-10-31T23:15:00.000-05:00

“Nothing beats a haunted moonlit night on All Hallows Eve.... And on this fatal night, at this witching time, the starless sky laments black and unmoving. The somber hues of an ominous, dark forest are suddenly illuminated under the emerging face of the full moon.”

~Kim Elizabeth (Author and Poet of the macabre)

TIME: 6:46 PM
PLACE: The neighborhood
SUBJECT: StellaDella

During our trick-or-treat outing tonight, StellaDella told me several times that this was the “Best Halloween ever!” I think this conclusion was made based on the volume of the candy she obtained - her bag was overflowing - and the number of compliments she received on her costume - at nearly every house we visited the folks said she was the best costume they had seen all night. Happy Halloween!

Sunday Dryer Nap (303/365)

2011-10-30T22:06:00.001-05:00

“Now I thought I would observe how he spent his Sunday. While I and my companion were looking about at the trees and river, he went to sleep. Indeed, he improved every opportunity to get a nap, whatever the day.”

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), U.S. philosopher, author, naturalist. "The Allegash and East Branch" (1864) in The Maine Woods (1864), in The Writings of Henry David Thoreau, vol. 3, p. 223, Houghton Mifflin (1906).

TIME: 5:51 PM
PLACE: Basement
SUBJECT: Tessa, napping on the warm dryer

I spent my Sunday doing laundry. The cat spent her Sunday napping on the warm dryer. I think she enjoyed her day more than I did.

Stealthy Chaperoning (302/365)

2011-10-29T22:24:00.000-05:00

Dorothy Shaw: …The chaperone's job is to see that nobody else has any fun. Nobody chaperone's the chaperone. That's why I'm so right for this job.

Russell, Jane, perf. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Dir. Howard Hawks. 1953. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporations.

TIME: 8:00 PM
PLACE: Backyard
SUBJECT: DramaQueen’s teen party

HH and I had a weak moment and agreed to let DQ invite her 8th grade friends over for a party for her birthday. Outside. With a bonfire. Girls and boys. What were we thinking? Ah well. They weren’t too much trouble. I did have to be stealthy in taking a picture and didn’t get the fire pit in like I wanted because DQ saw me and I got the “Mo-ther!” from her. We pretty much stayed inside…going out every half-hour or so to check on the food and the fire or to take out the dog and discreetly do our chaperoning thing.

Impressive Wingspan (301/365)

2011-10-28T22:57:00.001-05:00

Rex: Mr. Lightyear, now I'm curious... what does a space ranger actually do?
Woody: He's not a space ran-*ger*! He doesn't fight evil or, or... shoot lasers or fly.
Buzz: Excuse me. [Deploys his wings; all exclaim in excitement]
Hamm: Wow. Impressive wingspan. Very good.

Wallace Shawn, Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, & Don Rickles, perf. Toy Story. Dir. John Lasseter. 1995. Pixar Animation Studios.

TIME: 4:59 PM
PLACE: Front yard
SUBJECT: StellaDella as a Dragon

Here it is. My goal was to spend as little as possible on her Halloween costume this year. Cause in the past I’ve gone way overboard.

Here is the breakdown:
Cardboard box – free from grocery store
Duct Tape/Spray Paint/felt – on hand
Google eyes – $1.00
Flashlight – $1.00
Cellophane paper – $3.00
Belt for tail – free from thrift store
Umbrella for wings – on hand (it was broken)
Elastic & bias tape for wings – $3.76
Black turtleneck & leggings – $7.00
Total – $15.76

I succeeded. And I think it turned out pretty awesome-sauce.
(Oh, and way to go Cards - 2011 World Series Champs!)

In The Beauty Shop Mirror (300/365)

2011-10-27T21:34:00.001-05:00

[looking in the mirror with Rapunzel]
Mother Gothel: Look in that mirror. I see a strong, confident, beautiful young lady.
[Rapunzel smiles]
Mother Gothel: Oh look, you're here too.

Murphy, Donna, perf. Tangled. Dir. Nathan Greno & Bryon Howard. 2010. Walt Disney Pictures.

TIME: 4:41 PM
PLACE: Hairdressers
SUBJECT: DramaQueen

Well, she made it to fourteen. At noon, I picked her up from school and took her out for a birthday lunch. At 3:30, she and SD had hair appointments – SD got a trim and DQ got highlights. Here she is taking a picture of her birthday coiffure to text to her friends. I may be biased, but I definitely see a beautiful young lady. Happy Birthday my lovely daughter!

Pre-Birthday Fun (299/365)

2011-10-26T21:25:00.001-05:00

Marge Simpson:Well, if a bully picks on you and Milhouse isn't there to protect you, the best way to deal with him is make him feel good.
Bart Simpson: How do I do that?
Marge Simpson: You could say something nice about him. Try complimenting his glasses.

"Lisa Simpson, This Isn't Your Life." The Simpsons. 14 Nov. 2010. Television.

TIME: 4:13 PM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: DramaQueen

I bought these glasses to use the eyes on StellaDella’s costume. Before I disassembled them, DQ tried them on. Cute, huh? Does she remind you of anything? No? How about this…

They look so much alike, it’s scary.

In honor of her 14th birthday, a much nicer photo of the DQ will be posted tomorrow, I promise.

Contrails (298/365)

2011-10-25T21:19:00.001-05:00

“…Or maybe you're laying back on a lawn chair somewhere watching
Contrails disappear from the sky.”

Richmond Fontaine. "Contrails." Lost Son. Cavity Search Records, Portland, 1999. CD.

TIME: 11:27 AM
PLACE: Backyard
SUBJECT: Contrails

A very lovely, breezy, warm fall day with bright blue skies. I was able to spend some time outside, enjoying the weather as I was spray painting StellaDella’s Halloween costume (it involves cardboard and lots of duct tape…there will definitely be a photo of it in an upcoming post). I’ve read that if jet contrails are longer and wider than normal, it will rain. Contrails are partly composed of water vapor, and the more moisture there is in the air, the longer and wider the contrails will be. We are supposed to have rain tomorrow, so it will interesting to see if this holds true.

Un-Amused Corvette Finds Window Prints Un-Amusing (297/365)

2011-10-24T20:51:00.001-05:00

Murray Burns: [shouts at rows of houses] Neighbors, I have an announcement for you. I have never seen such a collection of dirty windows. Now I want to see all of you out there on the fire escape with your Mr. Clean bottles, and let's snap it up!

Robards, Jason, perf. A Thousand Clowns. Dir. Fred Coe. 1965. united Artists. DVD.

TIME: 3:47 PM
PLACE: Back driveway
SUBJECT: Fingerprints on passenger window

The husband just *had* to wash his mid-life-crisis-mobile today. You know, it was caught in the rain…twice. TWICE! And then, on Saturday, MonkeyBoy used the window as a door handle and left fingerprints all over the corner of the glass. Oh, the horror.