Graham Crackers- the new Gateway Drug

Ok, I confess. I ate a lot of graham crackers today. Being a nurse, I am trapped for 13 hours at a time in a small area with tiny little packets of various types of crackers. Plus, cute little tiny tubs of peanut butter. mmmmmmmm...... I had noticed several weekends ago that the graham crackers seemed to be calling me from their little baskets, or drawers, or countertops, wherever they were randomly strewn, calling to me to "have one! we are harmless...such a small package, have oooonnnneeee!" Being a nurse, I first became a little concerned. Why on earth did we have talking graham crackers in a hospital for crying out loud!? This could frighten the patients. I was able to "just say no" for a while. After all, if the freshly baked cookies put out for the new mommies and their guests didn't get me, why would little vocal packages of graham crackers! Well, one day, two Saturdays ago to be exact, when I was experiencing a helluva weight loss plateau to begin with, the stress became too much for me. I gave in to the graham. After all, we give them to our diabetic patients as a "healthy" alternative to cookies. It is a harmless, nay, acceptable snack! Well, don't you believe it. One miniscule package of talking graham crackers leads to another package, then another, and pretty soon, you need a milk, then, you add peanut butter, which is after all a protein. One thing leads to another, and before you know it, every time you go to work you are bombarded by noise from the graham cracker packages. "You're baaaack!" "What a reliable idiot, uh, friend, you are!" "We are harmless little healthy snacks! Eat up!" and on and on and 0n and on it goes! Then those little styrofoam cups of ice cream enter the conversation and you arrive home at 8 oclock one night in a fog of sugar and fat, having gone from harmless, wholesome snacks to the evils of a food with "cream" in it's name. And you have spiraled out of control. You are now in need of an intervention. The plateau has gone, but if I can't beat my newest addiction, it may return. Beware the graham cracker.

The Four Sisters

Ahhh, the pitter patter of little kitty feet! Allow me to introduce the new foster kitties at my house: from left to right we have Pippa, Alice, Bella, and Gemma. They will spend the next few weeks being pampered and played with at la mia bella casa. We have a large hall bath that will serve as the Cat Cave. We did this last summer as well for our local animal shelter. I think there comes a time during the summer months where the cat population explodes and all of the local shelters are full to bursting. Last year we took a mother cat and her 5 kittens from the age of 2 weeks until 8 weeks. Of course, by the time we were done, we were over our kitten phase, but now it is time to do it again! And boy, were we ready! I have been scouting PetFinder and Craigslist for weeks now. Finally, we have our own little fluffballs to spoil. I have a sneaking suspicion that one or more of these girls might be permanent residents, but we will see how it goes. I think they are lovely, and they are certainly sweet. They get thrice daily eye treatments, which is one of the things to consider before fostering. They need four times as much care and attention as adopting one kitten, but they are also 4 times the fun and hilarity! It's always an adventure to have animals around, and fostering is a way to help out your local shelter, local strays, and local prospective adoptive families. It is always nice to adopt a kitten knowing a little about it's personality, background, likes and dislikes, and that it has been socialized into a home environment. Sooooo, if you have the patience, space, and time, consider fostering for a local shelter or rescue organization. You will get more out of it than you put into it, most definitely! OK, here's one more!

Gemma 6 weeks

Everybody needs a theme song...

As I was winding down my workout last night, I walked out of the gym with my mp3 still in my ears. For a moment, I didn't notice; then, all of a sudden, with no background noise filtering through, I had an out-of-body experience.
I had my own personal theme song.
It was AWESOME!
I was tooling through the ladies locker room with "Cry Me a River" by Justin Timberlake illuminating my actions. Holy Cow, was that cool, or WHAT!? I felt so Hollywood-y. It was like I was walking through a TV show starring me. I travel that same path most every weeknight getting to my locker, never realizing that a simple Theme Song would make me feel so special! I was a STAR! For a moment in time, it was all about ME. I even took a few online quizzes today to discover what my actual (scientifically calculated, of course) theme song might possibly be. I came up with "Stand" by Rascal Flatts (quizilla.com) and "Born to be Wild" by Steppenwolf (blogthings.com) Now, I am pretty sure I know which answer bought me the Steppenwolf label, but I need to go listen to the Rascal Flatts song to figure that one out. Not normally a Country and Western kinda gal, though I am often impressed by Brad Paisley. But Steppenwolf just got downloaded to my mp3.

I wonder what my theme song will be tonight???
2003 Triumph Speed Triple

Battlefield

Better go and get your armor...

-archival photo World War I battlefield

Battlefield

Jordin Sparks

Don't try to explain your mind
I know what's happening here
One minute it's love
And suddenly it's like a battlefield

One word turns into a war
Why is it the smallest things that tear us down?
My world's nothing when you don't
I'm not here without a shield
Can't go back now

Both hands, tied behind my back with nothing
Oh no, these times when we climb so fast to fall again
Why we gotta fall for it now

I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for

Why does love always feel like a battlefield
A battlefield, a battlefield?
Why does love always feel like a battlefield
A battlefield, a battlefield?
Why does love always feel like

Can't swallow our pride
Neither of us wanna raise that flag
If we can't surrender then we both gonna lose
What we had, oh no

Both hands tied behind my back with nothing
Oh no, these times when we climb so fast to fall again
I don't wanna fall for it now

I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for

Why does love always feel like a battlefield
A battlefield, a battlefield?
Why does love always feel like a battlefield
A battlefield, a battlefield?

I guess you better go and get your armor
(Get your armor)
Get your armor
I guess you better go and get your armor
(Get your armor)
Get your armor
I guess you better go and get your

We could pretend that we are friends tonight
(Oh, oh, oh)
And in the morning we'll wake up and we'll be alright
'Cause baby, we don't have to fight
And I don't want this love to feel like

A battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield
Why does love always feel like a battlefield
A battlefield, a battlefield

I guess you better go and get your armor

I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for
(Fighting, fighting for)

Why does love always feel like a battlefield
A battlefield, a battlefield?
Why does love always feel like a battlefield
A battlefield, a battlefield?

I guess you better go and get your armor
(Get your armor)
Get your armor
I guess you better go and get your armor
(Get your armor)
Get your armor

Why does love always feel like?
Why does love always feel like?
A battlefield, a battlefield

I never meant to start a war
Don't even know what we're fighting for
I never meant to start a war

Don't even know what we're fighting for

-archival photo World War I battlefield

pic from Doctor Who UK site (episode Family of Blood)

pic from rusticgirls.com

11/11/09
Don't forget to Remember

Keep Calm and Carry On

Perilous times call for meaningful messages. I spotted this particular directive on a t-shirt worn by an exceptionally thoughtful and intelligent human being and it got me thinking. I "bing-ed" the phrase and found out all sorts of interesting things about it's intended usage. A synopsis from the Wiki page goes something like this... In the early days of WWII, the British Ministry of Information under King George VI decided that the People needed a word of resolve to keep their spirits up. This was one of a series of posters designed to remind the British People to continue being British. The first poster, which was the most widely distributed, was printed with, "Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory". The second, a little less certain..."Freedom is in Peril". Then, reserved as a sort of worst-case scenario in the event the Nazis succeeded in overrunning the United Kingdom like rats, we have our phrase of the day, "Keep Calm and Carry On". Wow. Now THAT is a stiff upper lip. I mean absolutely no disrespect to the British, but in the event of a Nazi takeover of my homeland, I would SO go with a different approach. I mean calm is great, you can stay calm, that would be advisable, but to just sort of "carry on"? Here is where I feel a different course of action might be wise. You see, when Nazis, or, say Socialists, for that matter...take over your land, you might want to do something a little out of the ordinary.


I definitely see signs of this taking place all over the Colonies at this point. Town hall meetings devolving into shouting matches, tempers flare at the drop of a hat... Ok, maybe panic and freak out is NOT the best advice. But, if we don't do SOMETHING to stop the runaway train that is careening us at top speed towards bigger and bigger government, we will be wearing a different t-shirt....

"I think that might be a view of eternity."

What a simple, and amazing quote from a complex and amazing guy. James May took a trip to the edge of space, to be precise, 70,000 feet up. This is what he saw...






I find it fascinating that a brilliant and touching show that did such justice to the accomplishments of the space program on the 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing was not shown in this country. I likely wouldn't even know about it if I didn't partake in a tiny little bit of MayStalking via the internet. I happen to adore all things May, and pretty much anything he does leaves me feeling slightly in awe, but this program was pure tingles and shivers. And a few tears. It returns some of the feelings that must have been experienced forty years ago but with much better photography. It highlights the extreme coolness factor of the entire Space Program, not to mention the complete and total awesomeness of being an astronaut. Remember the day, when kids wanted to BE something when they grew up? Something that required dedication, intelligence, endurance, all for the prize of being a part of something so incredible that it was actually worth all the work required to get there. The title of this post is an actual quote from Mr. May, though you have to really hear it to appreciate the reverence with which it was spoken. What a guy...and I think he looks brilliant with that American Flag on his arm....


And that just makes my
Friday feel good !

Childhood memories, Indian food and Mitch Hedberg...

Since the sun is bright AND shiny today, I thought I might lunch on the veranda. Actually, it is more of a shabby deck, but, nonetheless, food just tastes better out there. I thought the sun might sprinkle my lily-white legs with a few more freckles. Plus, I felt that I might need a little Vitamin D, so out I went. As I was eating my mattar paneer, a strange event unfolded neath my footrest. A squiggly little lizard-type thing rushed across the blazing deck boards. He found a shady spot under the steps to the top level, and I got a good gander at him. He seemed relieved to have found the arctic zone as he swished his tail about, looking all cute. When I was a kid, I would not have stopped until I OWNED that lizard. I would have emerged from under the deck, covered in mud and muck and spider's webs with a tiny lizard gingerly, but firmly, between two fingers. I always save glass jars and margarine bowls, even now, and I know it harkens back to a day when I always needed a habitat for some new "pet". I digress. As I watched, I started to suspect that the tail-swishing wasn't exactly a gesture of relief, but possibly one of attraction or aggression, often with the male of the species it is difficult to distinguish between the two. (* Life Lesson Alert #1) Another little lizard emerged from 'neath the deck and my little friend proceeded to chase the newcomer. Again, not sure whether it was love or hate, but I appreciated my observer status in the whole episode. Somewhere inside still lurks the kid who used to be, because I wanted to drop my Indian food and give chase. But, ya' know, it was kind of fun to just sit and let it all unfold! Here's to the miniature dramas unfolding all around us. Next time you get the chance, take a moment and LOOK AROUND. You never know what you may see. Or remember...






"In England Smoky the Bear is not the forest fire prevention representative. They have Smacky the Frog. It’s just like a bear, but it’s a frog. I think it’s a better system, I think we should adopt it. Because bears can be mean, but frogs are always cool. Never has there been a frog hopping toward me, and I thought ‘man, I’d better play dead. Here comes that frog…’ You never say here comes that frog in a nervous manner. It’s always optimistic. Hey here comes that frog, all-right! Maybe he’ll come near me so I can pet him, and stick him in a mayonnaise jar, with a stick and a leaf, to recreate what he’s used to. And I’m pretty sure I’d have to punch some holes in the lid, because he’s damn sure used to air. Then I can observe him, and he won’t be doing much in his 16 ounce world."
-Mitch Hedberg