It all began two years ago...thereabouts since it was a Leap Day. We're half-way to our first anniversary, so for our ½ celebration we decided to do something different. We went to a screening of a locally produced movie supporting marriage equality. The name of the film is Inlaws and Outlaws. This was anything but a dry documentary! It was a funny, poignant, and meaningful look at what love is, whether it be between two people of the same or opposite sex.
Ever since leaving the northeast, Pooky and I have struggled to find a pizza that is what we are used to. Some places claim to be New York style around here, but the truth is, pizza in Seattle is more like California pizza. It should be known we lived in the Capital Hill district of Seattle for a summer, and we drove passed this pizzeria almost daily, but did we ever stop in the eat there? No, because we had been jaded by our previous pizza experiences and couldn't stand another disappointment. Until now.
Hey, it's our ½ Anniversary, why not live on the edge and try something new? Since we were going to be in the area to see the movie, may as well take the chance.
What this place lacks in customer service they made up with having a 98.9% authentic New York style pizza!
I am suffering so much from waiting that I almost give up and die. Pooky becomes un-amused and stands guard with a straw.
With nothing better to do, I thought we should have the obligatory picture of our ½ Anniversary to commemorate our waiting for the pizza. Maybe it felt like it took forever because I was so hungry, or perhaps things were moving slower than I am used to.
Pooky passed the time by reading the local counter-culture newspapers where you can sell your drug-free urine for $60 a pee, or connect with various and sundry single people looking for various and sundry sexual partners. I believe there are also ads to sell your eggs and sperm. One ad that was not about sex but was titled as such was: Don't give away your pussy in regard to low-cost spaying of your kitty.
Finally when the pizza came I was drawing my last breath of life. Not really, it was just my stomach growling. I ate until I was happy and contented. I wanted to get an ice cream later at Cold Stone but they close at 9pm and the movie let out at that time. I guess that will have to be for another merriment and celebration!
I am in the process of upgrading MT to the latest version, so things are going wonky on my end as I adjust to the new system. They have revamped a lot of stuff, and my learning curve is slow. So if you see things, experience technical difficulties, and wonder what the hell is going on, just know that there are a few kinks to be ironed out.
Please return to having an ordinary day!
I have special plans to personalize my psychotic tomato. It's going to be a surprise. Don't try to guess what embellishments I am going to add to my tomato—but let's just say it will be considered "Franken-food" when it is done!
Well, anyhow, I wanted to find the factual information about this, because I couldn't recall the source that I had originally gained this insightful knowledge. I was testing various search terms to locate frog=penis, and so I was using Yahoo and typed in "frog symbology penis" and was scrolling through the list of returns when I spotted my own blog as #8! "Holy frog penis!" I exclaimed (not really, but it does sound funny to pretend I said this), "My own blog is listed!"
Yes, I've become one of those crazy people who lands on my blog by using a questionable sexual search term! I can no longer make fun of and point fingers at those looking for the undercarriage of life; after all, perhaps they were looking for legitimate information as well.
As it is the usual routine at Pearl House, when I come downstairs in the morning Mr. Doo swarms me for his daily feast of tuna. Today he was vocalizing in such a manner that it made me think: He sounds like Katharine Hepburn meowing! Now, I've never heard Katharine Hepburn meow, so I am making a big leap in how she would actually sound. Something about Mr. Doo's tone and inflection struck me as being Katharine Hepburn-esque. Maybe Mr. Doo was briefly channeling the spirit of Katharine? He does have awesome mind powers!
Other things in kitty-land of note: Theodore Montague is currently in a wild mode, attacking all feet once on the bed. Stash-a-Magee is his slinky self, and Smee-Ami requires his daily Smee-Love. Mr. B has been mellow at times, requiring affection, but he is his grouchy self to the kittens if they disturb him too much.
The recent cold spell has caused the cats to sleep on the bed, stealing the heat from the heated mattress pad. I've awoke too many times covered in cat! I'm still trying to figure out why an animal covered in such a nice fur coat needs to steal heat. It's one of the things that makes a cat most mysterious!
Click play to hear Olympic Theme Music:
Presenting Ultra Beauty! Made using DMC Baroque thread in ecru, size 0 (1.75 mm) Clover Soft Touch steel hook. Number of times I frogged: 4. Number of times I wondered why I was making this doily: infinity.
Bragging rights: I shouldn't win the gold, I should get the platinum!
I was feeling mighty proud! I started on the final round of my Crochet Olympics doily when I looked at the pattern and noticed something missing on a previous round! No, it can't be! I said to myself. How could I have missed this noticeable mistake NOW and not earlier?
The workings of the universe suck! I hate the inversely proportional time factor of the nature of things. Examples: It takes 100 million years to form coal that is burned in about 8 hours. It can take hours to cook a great meal, only for it to be snarfed in less than 20 minutes. It can take 4 hours to crochet round of a doily, only to frog it in 10 minutes.
Yes, I'd much rather it take 4 hours to frog and ten minutes to crochet than vice versa! But I am only bitchy about it because this morning it was down to 16° and my knuckles feel the cold! Tonight it is forecasted we'll drop to 5°! I'd better do my Jet-Stream dance and see if I can't make it get out of the Arctic where it is picking up all of this freezing air. I'm sure my Shrone powers, coupled with Mr. Doo's awesome mind powers, will be the motivating force to change the weather.
When I went to Wally World yesterday all of the V-Day candy was gone and in its place was the Easter goodies. But alas! They didn't have any Cadbury Mini Eggs! My life is now slightly less cheerful. Each year I patiently await the arrival of these marvelous chocolates to re-appear on the shelves only for my nerves to be shot a fatal blow!
In my wildest dreams a small kiddie pool is filled with these crunchy mini eggs and I lie inside and eat my way out! Sometimes you just have to have totally bizarre dreams...it makes life more interesting.
Magical Spring
Just looking at this magical spring located on the familial property known as Tree Crest, I can't help but think that on full moon nights the fairies and pixies come out and dance around, cavorting with their merriment and laughter.If I were tiny like them, I know I would find it hard to resist not going Pagan and stripping naked and doing my sexy dance around the water.
This little pool trickles into Cady Creek and the sound is like one of those feng shui fountains you can buy. So serene and calming! I look forward to just sitting pool side in July and communing with Nature!
The House
This is a view of the house coming up from the magic spring. It's just a little house nestled on a hillside. The view out the front is of Hood Canal. There is a view of the Olympic Mountain Range if you go into the town of Belfair.
In childhood when we'd visit, it always felt like it took all day to get here. Turns out it isn't that long of a drive. I suspect back in childhood time moved slower. I'm certain of it!
The house has two bedrooms, a large garage, and a nice sitting room. Much of what my grandfather left when he died is still there. The house has an old smell to it. It has lovely Shrone-style wallpaper in the main bedroom.
The town of Belfair has grown significantly, having a couple of large chain grocery stores, restaurants, and shops. It's still not much of a town, but it is enough civilization to not feel totally isolated.
It should be interesting to go hang out here in the summer for a few days, see how Pooky and I like being away from TV, phones, computers, and maybe the cats! We'll have to see what to do with the beasties. I wonder how they would feel about going on vacation? Now that's an idea I won't ponder because they are cats after all!
As seen on fellow Shrone blogs (Wendy started it and Kari followed):
If you have one, post a comment with the link and I'll pick 5 or 6 words for you!
Here we are at Aberdeen's World Famous Hot Dog House celebrating a day early our 5th anniversary of Pooky-Pip togetherness! (Aberdeen's other claim to fame includes being the birthplace of my dad and where the band Nirvana calls "home".) There isn't much to the town so all we did was drive an hour to eat a delicious burger and for me, a hot dog as well.
We stumbled upon the hot dog house on an adventure we took to the coast. The rest is culinary history. Since then we've gone back to enjoy ourselves. We can get stuffed for under $15!
69% Completed; Major Hurdle Crossed
I finally got past the braid chain round after three times! After much cursing and vowing "never again" I then progressed to the anchoring of the braid round and have started to move beyond into the final rounds. The rest of the doily should be smooth sailing from here. Just a matter of taking the time to work the round and then blocking it.
I'm really pleased with the look of the braids, and I hope that this year's fair judge will agree. (I am determined to take first!)
I have a second doily in the works to add to my Olympic endeavors, and I'm also working on a third for my Secret Pal 7 partner. Lately I am the doily making maven!
Some of you may know this already, but for those not in the know, my sister has recently joined C'Ville and she has her own knit/crochet blog. She is listed in the Hall of Shrones as Elle Marz.
While she says she envies my crochet doily skills, she has me beat when it comes to being able to knit and crochet—possibly at the same time! She's made her first sweater and she is a doily making maven, soon to rival me so I'm sure it will become a blood bath at the state fair this summer.
Her goal is to make socks and she has been practicing using dpns for making sleeves. She has yet to succumb to natural fiber yarns.
Swing by her way and give a howdy when you can!
Not Your Typical Olives
Pooky cleaned out the fridge this morning and what I had thought was a little cup of butter was actually a creme brulee leftover from Christmas! Eeewww!But that doesn't take the prize for most disturbing find. He said he pulled out a can and it was all black inside—looked like a can of olives—until he read the label and saw it was sliced pears! Now that had to date back to when I was sick last summer! Double eewww!
My Blood is Just Like Brine!
I came to the realization that my salt consumption is high enough to begin the pickling process. I estimate that in twenty to thirty years I will be totally preserved—perhaps as little as ten if I increase my salt intake.It has occurred to me I can skip the pickling process and go straight to jerky if I eat enough salt and lay out in the sun.
Our V-Day is on the 16th
Five years ago on the 16th, Pooky and I met in person for the first time! Our date lasted the entire weekend. It started off with dinner and then...well...you know.Tomorrow the plan is to celebrate the day by taking a trip out to Aberdeen to get some hot dogs! Yes, this is significant because getting a good hot dog around here is near impossible. This region isn't a hot dog eating bunch like in the northeast.
I'm hoping that I'll get to enjoy Snake-in-a-Bow later that day!
They rebuilt me. Everything works.
But they had never seen a feline.
They had no guide for putting me back together.
I was making good progress...I completed the challenging round of making the Braid Chains and moving on to the next round when I discovered...Yes, an error—all the way back at the start of the braid round! I had added an extra single crochet where none should have been.
So I frogged. Why? Because I plan to enter this puppy into the fair! Otherwise it would have been cleverly disguised.
An hour later I complete the round and come out with one extra stitch at the end. WTF?!?! So I trace my single crochets back and find I had left one out in the very same spot where I had previously included and extra! Did you hear me scream at 11 o'clock last night, Pacific Standard Time? Sorry if I woke you.
Yes...I will be frogging the round again and doing it a THIRD time. I'm sure with all of my practice that I will eventually get it right.
Things I Learn by Watching the CBC
The Olympic coverage on NBC sucks, and I've found that the CBC does a much better job of showing the events. I didn't have to stay up late to find out who won the pairs figure skating medals because the CBC got to it without skipping around. I'm not fond of Bob Costas, either, and Dick Button's commentaries grate on my nerves.
One thing I've noticed that I find amusing is that companies/corporations originating in the USA that encroach like weeds into Canada undergo a Canadianization process. How is this accomplished? Add a maple leaf! Evidence is provided to the right.
Long ago in my salad days I would joke that my aunt had "defected" to Canada, becoming a Canadian citizen. I wonder if this meant she had a maple leaf applied discreetly to her personage?
Up until Canada elected a conservative prime minister, I tinkered and toyed with the notion of perhaps moving there, but then I stop to consider that it is farther north and colder. Even though it is homeland of Lucy Maud Montgomery and people pause in the afternoon to have tea, I am not yet entirely sold on living there. Now, if it was certain I'd receive a lifetime supply of maple leaves in which to Canadianize things, I could be swayed!
Now 57% Completed
So far this doily is going a lot faster than I anticipated. I probably should have gone with the one from Victorian Spiral Doilies, but if I get this one done quickly I can always add a second one.
Stash-A-Magee decided to inspect my work as well as attack it. You can see his paw in the first photo, too!
Monday I awoke around 4:30 am with an unpleasant green feeling. Something I ate disagreed and I sent it back via the regurgitation express. Yesterday I spent feeling groggy as I took phenergan to end the green and keep my food down. I slept most of the day and was revitalized by eating pizza.
Mr. Doo received a snail mail card from PetSmart™ wishing him a happy birthday, and inside was a coupon for a free cat toy (retail value up to $4)!
I think the reason for my brief spat of sickliness was due to the fact that I was active over the weekend. I went to a wine tasting with my sister and BIL, then on Sunday we drove up to Tree Crest to retrieve some camping gear my sister needed.
Tree Crest is a second summer home my grandparents Carlson bought in the 1950s when buying a second summer home was the thing to do. When my grandfather passed away my father inherited the property and I have the feeling it will remain in the family. I took pictures of the house and natural spring and will eventually post them. My grandfather passed away in the house and my sister feels that his spirit still resides there.
The last time I was at Tree Crest my younger brother was a baby. This would make it about 21 or 22 years ago! The place hasn't changed much; the exterior color was redone, but the inside is pretty much like how my grandfather left it.
Wine tasting is very bourgeois and I felt like I had stepped into a living episode of Fraiser. I never did drink all of the sample I was given. I took baby sips—just enough to get a taste the wine, as I wasn't looking to get loopy. One wine was exceptional—it was a late harvest something-or-other, and then there was a really nasty one that was a rhubarb wine and it smelled like wet sock and had no flavor.
Sunday we had tacos for dinner, and Pooky was bothered by the seasoning (he is if I don't buy a particular kind) and I suppose that I was also laid to waste by it since it unsettled my stomach. I won't be using the rest that I bought of it.
Happy 4th Birthday Mr. Doo!
I wished Mr. Doo a Happy Birthday this morning and sang to him, calling him The Prince of Darkness. Now, you might wonder why I regard him evil, and what that all means. Do I think he is truly sinister? No, not really. He is spirited and full of personality. Too much personality for a cat. His evil is in the spirit of Baby Stewie.
I'd like to share the story of Mr. Doo. I've not told it and I think it would be most fitting today.
Four years ago around this time, Pooky and I were celebrating our first anniversary of being a couple. It was then that we knew we'd be moving to Washington and we agreed that we'd have a cat once again once we settled into our new living arrangements. We had lost his cat, Roo, when we went to visit my mother for two weeks. He wandered off from the house (he was indoor/outdoor) and I tend to think he met his fate through an encounter with a larger animal. He was always getting to scrapes with something.
I knew that I wanted a white with black spots styled cat. I fell in love with one while visiting a farm a friend lived on in New Jersey. I even have a picture of that kitty. Now, I also knew that the next cat I had I'd name him Fez. Usually I don't pre-name my kitties, but this time I just had to name a kitty Fez.
Come the merry month of May we traveled across the country and we settled into the Seattle area around the first of June. After a week of being in our apartment Pooky announced we could go look for a cat. We tried the animal shelters but none struck me as Fez. We tried a pet store and they had one black kitten that looked sickly and I didn't think he looked like a Fez.
Fearing that we'd never find a cat, I started to despair. But Pooky said we should go back to the pet store as he had a feeling. When we returned they suddendly had a bunch of kittens! Three of them were white with light gray patches, the black one was still there, and then in the middle was this large cat that had white with black patches and it was playing with the others. I thought the big cat was the mother, but I also knew that this was THE cat I had been looking for!
Pooky doesn't like female cats, says their personalities are different than a male, which is true. So my hopes of taking home this perfectly colored kitty was slim. Someone looking at the kittens asked the clerk if the big cat was the mother. She replied no, that he was an older kitten. My ears perked up! It was a male cat, and he was available!
So I asked immediately if I could hold him. She brought him out and put him in my arms. He purred loudly at me and I just knew: This was Fez! $99 later we had him in a box to take home. On the drive home he got upset about being in the box and he started to get evil. I wondered if this kitty was going to be one of those wild kind that always scratch and hiss, never permitting affection. He was 4 months old, whereas the other kittens in the shop were 8 weeks. Had he been previously adopted and returned?
I finally let him out of the box and he was happier. When we got him home we turned him loose and he followed me into the bedroom and helped me fold clothes and put them away. He helped by sitting on the clothes. By the end of the evening I was looking forward to him sleeping with us on the bed. NOT! He came up on the bed and immediately started to shred my feet!
It became his nightly ritual. He would stalk me from the bathroom, run and pounce on me once I turned off the light, then he'd attack me feet. He would then be tossed from the bedroom so we could sleep without fear of losing a toe. During the day he would run through the apartment gripping the carpet as he ran, and he'd fly across the furniture. Pooky would play with him and get him to go in circles. Fez was a ball of feline fury—it was apparent he possessed a strong evil gene. But I loved him!
He was fearless. One day his curiosity got the best of him and he joined me while I was taking a shower. He would climb up Pooky's back. He would sit on the dining room table and watch us eat our meals. He was determined to escape, too!
One day I realized that Fez had grown up into Mr. Doo. He had celebrated his first birthday and he had a more distinguished air about him. I also had realized that he needed feline companionship so when I saw someone was giving away free kittens, that's how we got Mr. B (Pair of Eyes) and that's a completely different story in itself.
I found this quiz from KateSpot and took it to see if I truly should be playing the cello. I answered honestly and sure enough, cello it is!
 | You scored as Cello. Cello.
Not much to say about the cello. apologies.
If you were in an orchestra, what instrument would match your personality? created with QuizFarm.com |
I swiped this from Princess Trish. What you do is finish the statement.
(1) I am... surrounded by cats.
(2) My ex was... unable to have a sexual relationship
(3) Maybe I should.... practice the cello
(4) I love.... my Pooky, kitties, and perfect cheeseburgers
(5) I don't understand... why everything is about money
(6) I lost my.... virginity at age 16
(7) My boyfriend/girlfriend Pooky is.... the love of my life
(8) People say I'm... an Unknowable Shrone
(9) Love is.... a many splendid thing
(10) Somewhere, someone is.... wishing they were Mr. Doo
(11) I will always... be awed by the magic of spring
(12) Forever is... having pain that doesn't respond to medication
(13) I never want to... grow up and become a crusty adult
(14) I think the current President.... could have done many things differently
(15) When I woke up in the morning... Stash attacked my foot!
(16) Life is full of... mystery.
(17) My past is... at times surreal, humorous, and profound
(18) I get annoyed when... I have to wait my turn
(19) Parties are for... the fortunate people who have friends that throw them
(20) I wish... I could be a cat
(21) My pet is.... the Glue of the Universe
(22) Kisses are the worst when... teeth need to be brushed.
(23) Today.... is Thursday
(24) Tomorrow I'm going to... perform my first vow renewal ceremony
(25) I really want....to go to the town of Shrone.
(26) I have low tolerance for people who... aren't open to life
(27) If I had a million dollars... I'd pay off bills then help others through scholarships and such
(28) A funny or favorite quote: I'm unique, just like everybody else!
Everyone should add a question to the end
(29) Awards shows are... very narcissistic
(30) What gives me the greatest joy in life is... full moon nights in the summer, kitty love, Pooky love, and perfect cheeseburgers.
Please stop everything (even reading this!) and give a hearty welcome to two new Shrones!
Sherry
1. You have a loving husband who nominated you for Shronedom.
2. You endure working at Wal-Mart and the customers who shop there.
3. You have tattoos.
4. You know what it is like to have physical maladies.
5. Something about you says when you get old and withered, you just might go out crusing for penis
6. You are unknowable.
7. You are creative and crafty.
8. You've got a great outlook and attitude about life.
9. You're one groovy chick and I think you are super cool!
10. You haven't killed your inner child and you freely allow it out to play.
Kimberly
1. You have a style 100% all your own.
2. You are ambidextrous, but interestingly can ride a bike without using your hands.
3. You love thunderstorms.
4. You know what it is like to have physical maladies.
5. Something about you says when you get old and withered, you just might go out crusing for penis!
6. You are unknowable.
7. You stylishly procrastinate, a distinctive Shrone trait.
8. You've lived in Ireland, the land and home of Shrones!
9. You're one groovy chick and I think you are super cool!
10. You haven't killed your inner child and you freely allow it out to play.
On behalf of all Shrones, I welcome you into the sisterhood!
I finished and blocked this doily last night. It is Hazlenut from the Patricia Kristoffersen book Coffe n' Cream doilies. I used DMC Baroque thread in white, size 1.75mm/O Clover Soft Touch hook. The doily is about 12" in diameter.
I started this about a week ago, have been puttering along on it in the evenings. I didn't take much thread, so I was able to use up some left overs. It is going to be sent out as a gift.
There are additional pictures posted in my Crochet Gallery, so pop over if you want to see detailed pictures of the stitches.
We have two new toilets (only one is currently installed)! Pooky won a motivational contest at work, and originally he was to get a barbecue grill, but the grill sold out and so he received a mini shopping spree at Home Depot. We had wanted to replace the toilets with higher, extended bowls (ever since getting my bag an extended toilet is much friendly to empty my bag into) and thought we'd do it for Christmas, only we did the new pantry instead.
Upon hearing the news that we had a sudden windfall of wealth, I suggested we do the toilets. Pooky agreed and the rest all came into place. I've yet to christen the new thrones, but I'm sure it is just a matter of time...
Update: I used the new toilet and it flushes so marvelously! I didn't have to hold the handle down and wait thirty seconds for the water to drain out. The water came out with such magnificence I almost fell over from shock! This means that there won't be any suprises found in the toilet due to poor drainage. Oh, and draining my bag was a dream! No more yoga positions to straddle the bowl!
I have found Mr. Doo's birthday present—the one that I would get for him if I stopped being so selfish by buying yarn, sending out Shrone gifts, having Secret Pals, eating food, using the electricity, surfing the Internet, watching DVDs, playing the cello, and driving a car.
Yet, while I think this would be a gift fitting to honor Mr. Doo's majesty, I tend to think he would appreciate more having his own Universe to rule and dominate—or perhaps he'd better enjoy his own throne to perch upon and loom down and glower at his minions and unworthy subjects? I wonder if there are crowns that would fit a cat's head?
Though I am sure Mr. Doo would like to spontaneously have the neighborhood German shepard burst into flames via the use of his awesome mind powers, the gift that we'll give Mr. Doo this year will be a homemade catwalk to connect the two cabinets in the kitchen. Thus, if Mr. Doo gives his Disapproval of the gift the other beasties can use it.
I did hint that Mr. Doo may receive his own can of tuna for his birthday, but when I discussed this with him he gave a disinterested look. His eyes indicated he'd much rather have Total World Domination or endless tummy rubs. The two ideas are expressed similarly upon his face.
In human years Mr. Doo will be turning between 32 and 27 years old, making him my age cohort. He already needs a tummy tuck or a truss. His belly keeps sagging. If I could, I'd repeal gravity so that not only could Mr. Doo be spared the embarrassment of a drooping middle, but that my boobs might go back up on my chest.
It is official and your name may grace the hallowed Hall of Shrones! Stop by and see the brand new website dedicated to providing each Shrone with 15 minutes of fame!
Some Shrones may wish to update their picture and provide a bio statement. If not, I can come up with something, but you won't like it because I will permit Mr. Doo to say bad things about you.
It would be great to have real picture of all of the Shrones—better if you wear a turban or festive hat of some kind. Or pose in a strange way so that you capture maximum unknowability. Photos of your cat may substitute for yourself, but it had better be a darn smart picture of your beastie!
Be sure to direct your friends and family to your Shrone page, and if you can manage to exploit your Shronedom to make money, I will gladly take 10% of your earnings.
For those not currently Shrones, stop by the site anyway and see if you possess The Shrone Gene thereby making you a Shrone. If you feel you are a Shrone you can submit your nomination form (all done electronically thanks to fancy-smancy computer technology).
Last night I went to my first orchestral rehearsal. I'm dying to tell you how I faired at not having played in 5 years! I actually did all right—it's like once you learn how to ride a bicycle, it comes back to you rather quickly. Of course my site reading sucks, my speed is slow, and I still struggle with rhythm, but I always had a problem with keeping time, so these are areas for me to work on.
My question was answered: what the heck kind of part would a cellist have for Scottish music since that is the theme of our concert in March? Pizzicatto! There is an unusual amount of plucking to be done. This is good. No bowing required. Just find the note and pluck.
I did locate a cello teacher nearby, but haven't the courage to find out how much lessons cost. I know if I keep with playing I'd like to learn how to do the higher positions, and learn how to read the different clefts. Some notes reach into the treble cleft and those notes scare me!
There's a lot of nice bass notes to play. I love the deeper tones of the cello. It's very soothing to me. Kind of like a giant kitty purring.
The size of the orchestra is pretty impressive. I'm the 7th cellist and there is a full section of violins to have a first and second part. A few violists, and there is sufficient wood winds and we have percussionists. I sat right in front of the kettle drums last night. The vibrations were palpable!
So, if I keep at this cello thing I will eventually want to procure my red hued beauty. Meanwhile, I need to come up with a name for the cello I have, since it does require a name. My first cello's name was Winston. I haven't even determined if this cello is a boy or girl. I respect its privacy and I don't peek inside of its F-holes!
Please give a hearty Shrone welcome to the newest Shrones to be named! These gals have the honor of being the first Shrones of 2006!
Kathy
- You are the ultimate feline maintenance worker!
- You aren't afraid to wear comfortable clothes.
- You are very creative and crafty.
- You know what it is like to have physical maladies.
- Something about you says when you get old and withered, you just might go out crusing for penis (even if you forget what to do with it)!
- You are unknowable.
- You have a keen spiritual wisdom.
- You know how important it is to keep the food bowl full.
- You're one groovy chick and I think you are super cool!
- You haven't killed your inner child and you freely allow it out to play.
Faye
- You often daydream about walking down the street wearing a green hat with a large feather in it and nothing else, smiling and cruising for penis at the age of 95.
- You aren't afraid to go barefoot.
- You have a strong sense of yourself.
- You love animals better than most people (very true of Shrones).
- You feel you are reincarnated (this time you came to be a bona fide Shrone!)
- You are unknowable.
- You have a need to plant rose bushes.
- You are addicted to fiber.
- You're one groovy chick and I think you are super cool!
- You haven't killed your inner child and you freely allow it out to play.
Digital Goddess
- You possess a sharp sense of humor.
- You don't need a god or church to be at one with the universe.
- If you were any more eccentric you would pop.
- You are creative and crafty.
- Something about you says when you get old and withered, you just might go out crusing for penis!
- You are unknowable.
- You know the importance of having a dark or all black wardrobe.
- You consider marriage and motherhood to be a chronic or serious illness (I agree).
- You're one groovy chick and I think you are super cool!
- You haven't killed your inner child and you freely allow it out to play.
Melissa
- You know what it is like to have a funky gut.
- You have a fine sense of style and taste.
- You are creative and crafty, and you like to do things your way.
- You are a dedicated feline maintenance worker and mom.
- Something about you says when you get old and withered, you just might go out crusing for penis!
- You are unknowable.
- You are trusting and kind (the world needs more people like this!)
- You have too much blood in your caffeine-stream.
- You're one groovy chick and I think you are super cool!
- You haven't killed your inner child and you freely allow it out to play.
Yesterday I received my first package from my Secret Pal 7 gal! I'm totally in love with my secret pal! Why? Just look at all of the Baby Stewie goodness evilness! I adore the sticker that reads: Damn you, vile woman! You've impeded my work since the day I escaped from your wretched womb! This is my favorite quote of Stewie's because I had an epiphany at module about how I felt as a child my mother was always negating my ambitions. (Enough psychobabble)
Other items include chocolate bars! a Baby Stewie keychain, fridge magnet, monkey notecards, scented candle, and a marvelous pink bag with kitty on it—the perfect size for storing pens or crochet hooks.
My secret pal really amazes me! She works more than 40 hours a week, and still finds the time to knit and breathe! Plus, she's indulged me by answering my endless questions and e-mails. I think she is possibly a Shrone and is certainly Mr. Doo Approved!
Now, you'll have to excuse me while I break into the chocolate bars. I've been holding off on devouring them so I could include them in the picture!
In this book Anne goes to Summerside where she is a teacher at a girl's school. The three years covered in this book are the final days before Anne's marriage to Gilbert. She encounters the infamous Pringles and wins them over by proving herself to them all.
The book is written in a different style compared to the previous Anne stories. The plot is conveyed through a series of letters written to Gilbert with regular narration peppered in between. I found this style to be confusing, choppy, and wondered why L. M. Montgomery chose to write the book this way?
Living up to the Anne stories, many new characters are introduced including Rebecca Dew, Dusty Miller, and Elizabeth Grayson who seeks to live in Tomorrow and where she can be away from Grandmother and the Woman.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Recommendation: 2.5 out of 5
Yesterday I was able to rent a cello! Tomorrow I attend my first rehearsal of the Pacific Northwest Chamber Orchestra! I may end up being a second or third part cello player, but hopefully only until I get the callouses back on my left fingers and get acquainted with playing again.
It's been since 2001 that I have played, so parts of my brain are rusty about playing, while other bits have returned quickly. I can make a fairly decent sound but I play slowly still. I will need to adjust to reading music again. The only way to sound better is to keep practicing, so I shall be doing that regularly.
The orchestra has a concert in March and the music will be Scottish. I have no idea what to expect as far as the music goes! I've never done Scottish music before!
Last week I received a package from Wendy who sent me two figurines from Narnia available in McDonald's Happy Meals! It was a welcomed surprise because I had wanted to collect some of the figures but wasn't in the mood to be eating McDonald's cheeseburgers. A big Shrone "thank you" to Wendy for her thoughtfulness!
As you can see Mr. Tumnus is seducing little Lucy with his bifurcated flute! Let your imagination go into places you dare not let it roam, for we know that this faun is really symbolic of Pan, a horny goat god whose sexual prowess is irresistable despite his funky goat stench. Lord Krishna also seduced the Gopi by playing a flute...Is flute music that erotic, or is it that the flute is blatanly phallic?
Completing the Tarot trilogy are Vision of Tarot and Faith of Tarot, of course still written by Piers Anthony.
I decided to write about both of these books together since they are more cohesive than the first. In Vision of Tarot Brother Paul uses the Tarot Animations to explore the different major religions to see if he can find the one true God of Tarot.
He re-enacts Biblical scenes and creates a scenario in which to explain why Jesus didn't have sex (an accident at his bris). He intimates that there was an ancient race of people who are responsible for life on Earth and other areas of the galaxy, who left behind fragments of their high technology. He has Jesus encounter one of these ancient artifacts which charges his aura, elevating it to a divine status.
By the end of the book Brother Paul realizes that the Christian God isn't going to give answers so instead he seeks Satan who always is willing to help and answer anyone's prayers, wishes, sacrifices, etc. Thus, Brother Paul decides to enter Hell to meet Satan on his own turf.
Faith of Tarot begins with Brother Paul and his companions summoning Satan so that they may enter Hell. The Black Mass may be objectionable to those of delicate constitution, but it is nothing you wouldn't imagine to take place at an evil rite.
Once Brother Paul and friends are in Hell, Satan grants Paul three wishes, and Paul uses them to learn about the history and origin of the true Tarot, and then about the future of the Tarot. Paul discovers that the deck originally contained 100 cards, and that the suit of Aura was lost. In the future the full Tarot is restored and the Tarot Animations are used all around the universe as a healing tool.
I think that the third book is the best in the trilogy as it fully explores the Tarot that Piers Anthony has created. Each book goes have an appendix listing all 100 cards, with some explanations, but here he gives us a nice story about the origins.
This is my second time reading the series; my first reading was in 1991. I still lament that the proposed Tarot deck was not created. Perhaps there wasn't enough interest to commission the deck to be made?
For anyone who enjoys the Tarot, and can stomach Anthony's sexism in the form that women are sex objects, there is a lot of merit to this trilogy.
Rating for both books: 3.5 out of 5
Recommendation: 3.5 out of 5
Happy 4th Birthday Mr. Doo!
February 12th marks a very special day! This is your chance to pay homage to Mr. Doo by wishing him a very happy 4th birthday! Send him an e-card, but better yet, spend a few bucks and mail him a can of tuna, and if you are feeling really generous, consider sending him catnip or his favorite snacks: Whisker Lickin's Tuna crunchies!
Mr. Doo has awesome mind powers and will know who you are if you fail to at least send him an e-card! He even has his own gmail account to facilitate your blessings, tributes, and worship to him. You may even want to go crazy and send him a real snail mail birthday card or postcard. He'll gladly give you his mailing address upon request. (No, he doesn't have his own post office box—yet!)
There are benefits to you bestowing a little worship his way!
- You may someday win the lottery!
- You can brag to friends how you sent somebody's cat that you never met something for his birthday!
- You'll be able to look at yourself in the mirror and know you've done right by Mr. Doo!
- Most tuna is now dolphin safe so you're protecting the environment!
- Mr. Doo would remember you on your birthday (well, maybe not)
- He is more evil than you and has better mind powers
- You would spend more money on buying a latte or skein of yarn
- This counts as a random act of kindness so you can negate some karma or move ahead one person in line at the Pearly Gates
- Mr. Doo may purr with excitement over all of the attention!
But wait, there's more! Mr. Doo would appreciate it if you mentioned his upcoming birthday on your blog, in fact cut and paste any or all of this entry so that his birthday can reach as many people as it possibly can through all of Blogdom!
Written and posted for your amusement and entertainment. Sending a birthday wish to Mr. Doo in no way guarantees you'll win the lottery, spend less money than you would on espresso drinks or skeins of yarn, nor will improve your spiritual standing, save the environment, or enable you to live with a guilty conscience. There is a small possibility that Mr. Doo will actually purr over your thoughtfulness and generosity. All other claims made in this post were purposefully made to make you smile, if not laugh. Have an ordinary day!
Mr. Doo's Admirers
Noricum * Deneen * Amy * Mistfit * Sherry * Tiff * Marvie * Joy * Sara * Kimberly * Stacey * Amanda * Pooky * Kari * Pam * Natasha * Dani * Renee * My Kick-Ass Secret Pal! * Kathy * Melissa * Hunny * Crochet Queen (Sharon) *
I've decided that Washington needs its own "groundhog" to predict the weather (which we know is just the same old gray, rainy day over and over). Introducing Sluggy (or other more humorous name)!
How does Sluggy predict the weather? If he slimes across wet ground, six more months of rain. If he slides across dry ground, six more months of rain! See how easy that is? But for Sluggy there is another possibility! If he is doused with too much salt: Bye-bye Sluggy!
The name of the day would need to be changed to Limacine Day to mark the difference in critters.