Thrift Store advice

Thrift Store Sign
Originally uploaded by pixeljones

A dear friend of mine does costume design for movies. Often she goes to thrift stores and alters the clothes she finds. She knows which thrift stores in her town have what. She knows her shit. Sometimes people will try to be helpful and tell her she should shop at thrift stores to find clothes. Yeah, she already KNOWS. She just rolls her eyes and thanks them.

When I was job or boyfriend hunting (long long ago - thank god I have both!) I'd never talk too much about the places I had sent my resume, the dates or the interviews. It would always doom the prospects. You'd get all excited, talk about the cool people you saw, how the place looked, the location, how he'd make a great father...Then when you didn't get the job or the guy (who you swore was the one) - you'd hear it back later from your friends, "How is he, how's Mr Right, hows the new job..." And you'd mourn all over again for your last hope. For your lost hope. There's be no other, that was it, that was the perfect job, the perfect man and nothing could compare. Then there'd be a new job posting, or that guy who you never noticed. And you'd try, try so hard not to get excited to proclaim to the world that you finally found the one.

I am searching for the answers, the questions, I keep hoping I've find the right job, the right man maybe the right cure. And I don't want any help. I don't want to tell anyone until I know for sure. Until then any unwanted advice will be taken and thanked as I yell, "Thrift Store!"

Bitch on wheels and the rules

trashy bitch
Originally uploaded by mugley

Watching "The Office" last night, I totally got Jim and his frustration understanding what his new boss wanted. I have quit jobs after trying to get a straight answer out of a boss. "You know, you'll just know" one boss said when I asked about a design that he hadn't liked. I wanted clarification or parameters - not a vague answer. I had a teacher that told me to make a design, "more crunchy." Yeah, ok. She was a sub so all I had to do was wait for my real teacher to come back.

I got an email today requesting a diagram of my creative processes. It was one of those babble speak emails that made my head hurt. The diagram might look like the picture to the right. Might.

And today, I have been trying to send a package out through FedEx. It was complex. I wanted to do it right. It took four employees to get that shit gone. The first one took a bible sized book and told me to find the info I needed. Wouldn't that be HER job. I thought another office could ship it out for me. Nope. Two wasted trips. Later this afternoon, I reread the instructions and brought the package back to the same place. Again, more employees but we figured it out.

After this frustrating day I come home to find my neighbor parked in our shared driveway. Shared. Driveway. I stomped down the driveway and told him to move the vehicle. There is a set of rules the old neighbors drew up about parking in the driveway. Really.

A Watched Pot...

A Watched Pot
Originally uploaded by Josh Sommers

...never boils. I know I know. I KNOW.

I have no patience being a patient.

Train kept a rolling...

train kept a rolling
Originally uploaded by cycℓops (mjlearmouth)

...all night long.

Pull the plug - ha ha ha no need. Plug is pulled.

Shipoopi

I hate this song. I hate the title. I hate the dancing. And I hate Buddy Hackett. - I find him annoying and simpering. I've heard stories about Buddy Hackett and his graying underwear and wayward bits - which only adds to my hatred.And tt's perfect for a gross project I'm about to embark on.

Finding God

Many years ago I was at the library, I got the book pictured, The Life of God (as Told by Himself) It's from God's point of view of how he created the world. He starts by saying "it was foolish to create winter." I think that's what sold me. I hate winter. And insects are "the embodiments of my anxiety." He invents the rhinoceros and the palm tree on the same day and regrets the rhino's horn, "I should have removed it, but didn't." I loved the book. It answers just about every question you might have about the creation of the world. I should have remembered the author, who's name Franco Ferruci, is close to Fiorucci one of my all time favorite stores. You'd think. If you Google "Life of God" there are 309,000,000 entries. Good luck. I went back to the library. I'm searching the library's database for God, Life of God. No luck. I cannot find it. I cannot find God. For my 40th birthday, I took a road trip down Route 66. I was at the library stocking up on books to take on the trip. I thought I'd ask one of the nice reference people at the library. I apologized in advance for my stupid question, "I'm looking for a book about god, a funny first hand account. I don't remember the title or author." I could tell them about the insects and winter but all I got was glazed looks. I left my number on the slight hope someone could help me. Just before I left on my trip, I got a call - one reference guy, called another guy and they figured it out. We have a goofy feature in the St Paul paper, Sainted and Tainted. You can nominate anyone for such an award. I wrote in that the staff at the St Paul should get a Sainted award for finding the book. The reference guy called me back and said it was part of his job to find hard to find books. He answered an almost impossible question and found God for me.

Grandma's Gefilte Fish

Every Passover, my grandma would make gefilte fish. The best part was the story about getting the fish. It was very Seinfeldesque - a story about nothing. It was always told with great dramatics, they didn't have the right fish, the fish wasn't ground enough. There was always a story. I think my sister had some assignment to document a process. My mom photographed my grandma making gefilte fish and they transcribed her instructions. My mom found the original cook book and copied the cover and recipe in one picture. That's the picture in yellow.

Grandma will be watching from above as James and I try to do our best. I hope our story doesn't end up with, "and we had to go buy a few jars of the scary gefilte fish from the store." Here is that transcript of my grandma making fish:

A running commentary from notes from the gefilte fish demonstration made during Grandma's demo

Buy fish at a live fish store; it should not have a lot of fillets in the display case; just whole fish on ice. Fish is ordered in advance; fish man grinds it, saving bones 5 head for the broth

Recipe comes From ORT Cookbook: Portal to Good Cooking (see photo)

Fish formula: 1/3 each: trout, pike, white fish [pickerel can be sub. For pike each pound of fish (before boning) yields half pound after

Demonstration started with 5 lbs. of fish, 2.5 Ibs. After boning add: 1 good-sized onion and 1 egg for every pound of filleted fish (After they prepare fish and grind it, have them weight it so you will know the amount you have)

Add .5 cup water, increase salt .5 teaspoon for each pound of filleted fish. (If still a little bland, can add some more)

Add 1 tablespoon of sugar, to bring out the taste .5 teaspoon of pepper
(Grandma used less pepper; she didn't like the mixture too peppery)
1 tablespoon matzah meal for each pound of filleted fish .25 to .5 cup of cold water for 2.5 pounds

(Depends of mixture of fish- If fish is firm or delicate, fatty or lean. Ratio of matzah meal and water can vary a little)

Prepare fish broth: My Grandmother cooked together fish bones, onions, carrots, parsley root, parsnip, fish heads-- all together in huge pot for 3 hours, then discarded bones etc. She liked to cook fish in broth without all those bones getting in the way. Quantities for broth: 3 large sized onions, 5 carrots cut in large pieces or quarters, salt, pepper

Actual cooking:
Chop onion fine in Cuisinart (can be a little mush), fine enough to be mixed with fish in mixer.
Mix 3 fishes together by hand first. (In the past, fish wasn't ground but chopped in a large wooden bowl using a double-blade rocker, then chopped together). 3 fish + finely chopped onions mix together First by hand, then in electric mixer, adding salt, pepper. Add to mixer bowl: eggs, cold water, matzah meal, mixing to blend with fish. DON'T OVER MIX OR ELSE IT GETS MUSHY!

(Eggs = large-size) Grandma liked to complete mixing by hand; more cold water, the stiffer the fish.
Let stand (refrigerated) 10 minutes or so to allow matzah meal to soften. (Feel should be cohesive, moist; test comes when you wet hands to form ball)

(No brown skins on onions; turn fish brown)cooked a second round of onions and carrots added to fish broth (peeled carrots sliced and served on top of fish-patties). Forming the pattie: mixture fairly stiff could be "stretched" by adding more water and matzah meal (doesn't taste as good)

Cooking fish-patties in fish broth: need enough broth to cover fish completely; can add more water, salt and pepper to taste. Add more water during cooking if necessary.
Bring pot of broth to a boil; drop formed patties into boiling water. Cook several hours in covered pot. [Cook briskly first half-hour,Then boil gently, not a simmer, on low.) Let cool in broth,taking care in removing so patties do not break.Patties: Each pound yields approximately five; six pounds: 30 or more.

Dip hands in cold water; form a ball, drop in boiling water. Fish coagulates immediately; immediately form next ball. Use soup spoon with long handle; amount fills hand. (Measures less than .5 cup, approximately 1/3 cup of fish for pattie (?)

Sorry that this rambles; I did‘t feel like re-writing, editing etc. This keeps the conversational quality of Grandma narrating while she made the fish.I can remember my own Grandma chopping fish is a large wooden mixing bowl, rocking that double-bladed rocker back and forth.

Kindred Spirits

Scene from Anne of green gables
Originally uploaded by mesple

One of my favorite comfort books is Anne of Green Gables. When I feel low, or sick, I dig out my Anne books. I have Anne's House of Dreams on my new MP3 player. I was listening to it while stuck in a doctor's waiting room. I love that Anne (my middle name is Anne as well - with an "e") is always looking for kindred spirits. It made me think of the kindred spirits in my life.

Dana - I can't think of when we weren't friends. I met her in 7th grade. Our weekends used to be filled with watching Love Boat, Fantasy Island and listening to her Steve Martin albums. A few years ago, we were out to diner. Across the street was a record store. I had a feeling there might be those same Steve Martin albums on CD. There they were. We bought them and we each have copies. When Steve pops up on my iPod, It brings me back to Dana.

David - He was visiting his friend, an Irish exchange student, near my parent's house in Chicago. The friend's name was Mal. I always say short for malcontent. He was a crab. I tried being nice to him, take him to some unique Chicago places. He hated everything. My dad had a sailboat and said that Mal, the host family were going to be going sailing - did I want to come along. I was about to say no when Mal introduced his friend, David. David was the opposite of Mal - he was witty and funny. Because of him, I went sailing. Out on the boat, my dad let David steer the boat. There was a depth gauge - dad didn't think it was working right. It was erratic. At some point my dad was lost in conversation. The depth gauge said something like 50 ft, then 40, 30. David pointed this out to me. We both were thinking "Oh shit!" Were we in some weird shallow area? Somehow we got past that point and thegauge went back to being all erratic. David has been my friend ever since we almost beached my dad's boat.

Caroline We were both transfer students at MCAD and kinda cynical about college. Most of our classmates were new and still loving it. Caroline was in my type class. I could hear that she did not have a Minnesoooooda accent. Something from the east. We're going around the room introducing ourselves. She says something like "I'm a transfer student," and that was about it. I walked over to ask her where shetransferred from. "Oh, you wouldn't know it." She was kind of curt. But I was curious. Try me. "Bard College" I knew of it and had stories of a recruiter coming to my high school and actually a car from Bard hitting my mom's car in NY. I responded something like it's some crazy art school in Upstate New York. Nobody else had known the answer. That's when we bonded.

Ken - we met on a film shoot taking place in the Stillwater jail. Or I just like to say I met Ken in prison. It's more shocking. I was doing production work and he was doing sound. At some point it was getting stressful - he said something like I sure do wish I had some Maalox Whip. Maalox in an aerosol can. We by chance thought it was hilarious. And we were probably the only ones who had bought it.

Patrick - I can remember him making fun of Chisholm/Bop, a system using human fingers as an abacus. It was featured in an old '70s commercial. And that he laughed at my answering machine message of the evil killer Teddy Ruxpin. Grandma said the message would scare away the boys. I told her if that scared them, then good. She didn't get it. Pat said it didn't scare him.

Karen - she is in my book club. I can remember joking around saying my company was looking for part time workers to work the ice cream carts. I was shocked when she was actually interested - and now she and her husband are some of our top sellers.

Barely held together

This is how I feel. A beater barely held together with the windows covered over in cardboard.

St Patrick's Day

James in San Francisco St Patrick's Day
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

I wish you were around on this dark day. Almost makes me want to go out and get some Jameson. Almost.

Birthday fun

Birthday breakfast
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower

I am part of this great organization called Hour Dollars. It's a service exchange or barter program. I love it. Read about it here.We were in the home and garden show over the weekend. I was talking to this guy telling him I get massages from someone in Hour Dollars. He told me he knew Sister Rosalind - she's a nun who does and teaches massage. She even drags her massage chair to our local minor league baseball stadium, home of the St Paul Saints. Her style of massage is like S and M - seriously. She's this tiny German woman, but she can make the biggest men cry in pain because she does such deep tissue massage. I love her but all I'll take from her is a hug. So how this guy got to know Sister Rosalind, was his sister told him to come to Minnesota and take Sister Rosalind's massage course.His sister told him it would only take 4-6 months. He said the course actually took a year and half. He was indignant, how dare his sister lie just to get him to come to MN. You can't lie to siblings after age 10 he said. I laughed. I told him my sister and I had this ongoing game. My grandma would send us a check for our birthdays. The amounts were always the same for each kid. But! What was fun to call up my sister and tell her that grandma gave me $50 - when in fact it was only $25. Pretty much we just double the amounts. She'd do a double take - maybe even a spit take and laugh. But I'd always get her. And she would get me back. This year was the best. I told her grandma gave me $100. And she believed it. Grandma's been gone for 9 years. I still got her! Lesson for that guy, yes, your siblings lie. Even me!

Elixir

Elixir
Originally uploaded by Michelle in Ireland

I had this really cool idea.


I saw a production of the Wizard of Oz done by kids. The writer of this play must've been hitting the sauce - because instead of the Cowardly Lion getting a medal of bravery - he got a bottle of courage. A bottle of courage. Nice. How do you put that around your neck - like Angelina Jolie and her vial of Billy blood? My local liquor stores has lovely bottles of courage - all kind all prices - but I'm cutting down on liquid courage because it might be eating up my stomach. I was driving out to bumbletown last night for some emergency car repairs - my car door wouldn't stay closed, then when I got to the dealership, I had to crawl out the passenger door. Stuck at the dealership, I had some time to think. I wished I had some courage. Should I go to my therapist and get some of that Abilify I see on TV. A booster to your antidepressants. I take enough meds. Then, I had this image of an old fashioned pharmacy counter. And a kindly pharmacist. In his hands, there were the meds I needed. Courage, mental courage. Or just a positive thought. My stomach was hurting from the idea of emergency car repairs (and the bill the guy showed me) so on that counter I put some Pepto Bismol. And I remembered that old Pepto Bismol commercial that showed that pink crap coating your whole stomach. There I just had some mental Pepto. Wait, I want my cholesterol numbers to come down faster - so on that virtual counter, I took a boost of my statin drug. I've had such a hard time imaging my body healing. And then I found this free online pharmacy. Online in my head.

Now for some expensive moisturizer!

Epic records time

record clock
Originally uploaded by photobotic

I go to the doctor alot. Alot. And I love being able to see the test results, lab results. Whatever. Whenever I want. I want to Google the weird medical words. And two of my clinics have this ability. Fairview and Health Partners. I can email these clinics. I usually send them the newest jokes and funny Youtube videos. Or tell them that I'm having drug interactions. The computer system that allows the patients to see their records is called Epic. The U of M does not have the Epic records (see the connection) system. Today, having a drug interaction, I had to make an old fashioned phone call. Wait on hold to talk to a nurse. No email, no links to drug studies showing the various side effects. On hold. I bet she was wearing one of those white caps. It's time U of M. Time for Epic records.

Easy Bake Oven

easy bake daffodils
Originally uploaded by boltandfrolic

"Nothing Says Lovin' Like Something From the Oven!'

I was shoved in an oven today. Ok - not like Hansel and Gretl but an MRI machine looks like an oven. And stupidly, I always say to the nurse something like "Nothing Says Lovin' Like being shoved in an oven!" No one gets it. Then I get to spend about a half hour with my head inside the MRI. They can play music while you're inside but it's almost worthless unless the music is techno - because that's what it sounds like inside. Dunk dunk dunk dadadada daaa daaa. I was in the disco machine laughing at my own joke about being shoved in an oven and I thought of actual Easy Bake Ovens. I so wish that was my photo and my oven. As a child, I wanted one so badly. The sugar addict in me wanted to have a tiny personal private midnight bakery. Mom said no fucking way. Pretty much just like that. I could bake downstairs, in a real oven, with her supervision and nagging that chubby kids shouldn't eat so much. Besides it wouldn't make Hostess products. Or Little Debbie's. Or bad cheap grocery store birthday cake. So what's the point.

It was a fun thought to get me through disco oven techno hell.

Cadbury Creme Eggs

Cadbury Creme Eggs
Originally uploaded by fuzuoko

I love Cadbury eggs. I have since I first met them. Maybe because they come out in spring. While I'd love to be able to eat the big eggs, I totally dig the little guys. I was rotating my stock - bringing some old frozen eggs (no not THAT kind) to the fridge. I thought I should try one. I heard the first tornado siren of the year going off. I opened my back door, and listened to the melting snow dripping off the roof, the tornado alarm and ate a Cadbury egg while breathing in some nice 40º air. Life is good.

Dreaming

Dreaming of Dragons
Originally uploaded by Alexandria LaNier

In my dreams I have had quite the cavalcade of movie stars. A few nights ago it was Ron Howard and Brad Pitt. Both good friends of mine. Last night it was NBC night with Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan. And show bumpers featuring Conan O'Brian. Is it cartoon characters tonight? Or old 50's stars. Please no Lucy or Woody Woodpecker.

A Golden Ticket!

I need a Golden Ticket!
Originally uploaded by nocturnel

Is this it, is it my golden ticket? Are the new meds my golden ticket? I get so hopeful. Or is it the next test or the next one? Or from the blood I had drawn today? I get my hopes up, I take the new meds for weeks and then and then it doesn't work. And then I try to find another golden ticket. I'm running out of chances.

Health Lottery

The World Heath Lottery
Originally uploaded by dkhlucy

When you buy a lottery ticket, you are buying the chance to dream. "If I win the lottery..." if I win, I'll buy an old silver Airstream trailer and head out on all the back roads. If I win, I'll create a charity and give it all away. If I win, I'll be able to remodel. It goes on. It's sad when you hear the numbers and you didn't win. But you got those few days of thinking about your dreams.

So you have a medical problem and you make an appointment. You start dreaming, will this be the cure? Is this the test that will solve everything? You start dreaming about being healthy again, that the pain will be gone, clothes will fit again. You see the doctor and mostly the dreams are shattered. He didn't find the reason for the pain, there's nothing in the blood tests. You're sent to another doctor and the dreaming begins anew. Someday you'll win, you'll win the prize of being back to normal. Back to healthy.

Mermaid and feets

Vintage Mermaid Valentine Card
Originally uploaded by Neato Coolville

I was busy and never posted my Valentine stuff. If you were on my list (my mom used to use that as a threat - You are on my list!) - then you got a printed Valentine. If you use the Google and punch in Pisces and foot problems (it's a link) My theory is to become human, us mermaids (Pisces) had to lose our fins to gain feet.
This is from Wikipedia:

The Little Mermaid, longing for the prince and an eternal soul, eventually visits the Sea Witch, who sells her a potion that gives her legs, in exchange for her tongue (as the Little Mermaid has the most intoxicating voice in the world). Drinking the potion will make her feel as if a sword is being passed through her, and walking on her feet will feel like walking on knives.

I have a physical therapist for the knives in my feet. And I have many Pisces friends with fin uh I mean foot problems. We should've stayed with the fishes.

Sweetarts

I so love Sweetarts. Love. them. Alot. I used to dig the the roll of Sweetarts as young 'un. The dry, the crunchy, the bite 'em. Love them. I'd wear out my mouth eating so many of them. I don't know what form of drug they use. But I am hooked.


Now my new love is the Sweetart minis:


I got these one Halloween along with some Sweetart Chews. And fell in love. They're barely any calories. I can have a few at a time. I was just at Target and I found a bag with the minis and the chews.I used to only find the minis. Minis and chews - that sounds stupid. They were my dinner tonight. A few chews and a few minis. Chews and minis. I sound like Zippy the Pinhead. Sugar and citric acid will do that.

Cool

Cool
Originally uploaded by dadadreams

I'm a cool person and I enjoy cool things. My job is selling ice cream all day. I work in a barely heated warehouse. I make my coffee the night before (or fill my mug at work) so that it's cool when I drink it. I like my hard boiled eggs chilled from the frig. Warm hard boiled eggs gross me out. At Subway, they always want to warm up the chicken for me. One lady insisted that it was the Subway rule. They don't warm up the other meats. Dang it!I am a cool person.

Other Side

How long, how long will I slide
Separate my side; I don't,
I don't believe it's bad
Slittin' my throat
it's all I ever had (how long)
I don't,
I don't believe it's fair
Slittin' my throat
it's all I ever..

I Adore La Dora

James and I were making sure that everything was up to date in Kansas City. And you know, they've gone about as fur as they can go. We et some Kansas City bbq (Gates) and put some bbq (Arthur Bryant) in a cooler in the car and ate it for the next two days. Our plan was to check in the La Dora Jewel Box Bank Bistro. I took the photo shown almost a year ago and saw a sign on the door that gave out the web site. I've been checking on their progress.

Their web site said they were open so we traveled the back roads to get there. We arrived around 7 pm. All those windows glow when lit up. It was gorgeous. There was a group of people there enjoying the food and wine and it became a Robert Altman movie - with different sub plots and scripts. The owners wanted to know about our ice cream trucks, other people wanted to discuss the ghosts of Amana. We talked to the owners and asked about how they came to find then own it (a chance drive by), how they rehabbed it, the stuff they've found in the building. We kept ordering food because it was so good. Read the menu. It will make you drool.

It is totally was worth the drive. And you can stay in many nearby motels:



Get some gas and go. Now!

Groundhog Day

I am so sad you died, Andrew Wyeth, I have always thought this picture is the perfect representation of Groundhog's day. It's looks cold and barren. And very February. One more full month of winter. It's all up to what that little rodent sees.

Seal a Meal

seal-a-meal 2
Originally uploaded by SusieLovesCraigFerguson.

I have this exact model and I used mine today - for a craft project. Not for melting a seam on a bag of chips. Weeee!

Podiatrist

Thanks Pat, for sticking this in my head.

Courtesy Calls

Telephone in telephone booth, Abbotsford, WI
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

I have been plagued by so called “courtesy calls” the past few weeks. My car was in the shop so I had to get a rental car. Every damn day I had that rental car, I’d get a call from Enterprise who would give me a courtesy call. “Hi Debora, how’s the car working out?” It probably translates to “Hi Debora, have you wrecked our car today?” Hmmm, that’s right, I totaled the car and I guess I should’ve called. A call from them every damn day.

This week, I’m doing a written survey (I think they get mad if you talk about it) and they give me a courtesy call everyday as well. Again translating to, “Hi Debora, are you writing the shit down or are you fucking it up?” Medica has been calling wondering if I’m going to change my insurance plan. My insurance company has been calling me too, repeatedly, if I have any questions on my insurance. No I don’t. I was wondering if the insurance bill was totally overdue – it won’t be overdue for a month. A courtesy to whom, I may ask, because all these damn calls are not a courtesy for me. It’s a pain in the ass.

Going out to play

I was invited to a photography exhibition, American Heartland : An Exhibition of Photography at the Anderson Center in Red Wing, MN. It features W. Pringle Rodman and David Husom. It's a great collection of photos. It goes from January 26 - March 13:

David Husom is a Minnesota and Wisconsin based photographer whose large format color documentary photography of vernacular architecture and landscape has been exhibited throughout the US and in Japan. See photo above.

W. Pringle Rodman is my eye doctor (a really good one) and I can't find any of his black and white photos.

I was joking with James (after spending the evening talking with many photographers at the exhibition) that he should find some sculptors to play with. "Go out and play with your sculptor friends honey." He'd probably come back with welding burns or he'd be crying because some bad sculptor stole an awl or something.

I got a woman, stay drunk all the time

Dead soldiers
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

It's easier to just drink. Not to have to deal with food. Sugar, alcohol digest fast. Other stuff - not so fast. Sad. I do sing that Led Zep song from time to time. 12 steps - yeah right to shelf where my liquid courage is.

Weather, man

Sonny Elliot, weatherman
Originally uploaded by dmalewski.

I work for my boyfriend. Selling ice cream. Mostly it works out o.k. I can take direction from him and no other coworker. And I can get free ice cream. So we're watching t.v. last night. On the bottom of the screen there's the work and school closings because it will be -20º in the morning. Not wind chill, actual temperature. So I ask him if I should watch for Big Bell Ice cream to be closed. There are only a few of us - not a whole factory. We work in big drafty warehouse along with a 3000 sq ft freezer. Yesterday, it was pretty painful. I had a two space heaters on, but they were not doing the trick. Today, James' brother (who's in the military) said it was too cold to be in the office. So James told me to take the day off. So I have to spend the day at home, in my PJs in 73º comfort. Bummer!

Door into summer

The title of this book was triggered by a remark that Heinlein's wife had made[2]: in the novel, the protagonist's cat refuses to leave their house through any of its numerous doors when he sees snow on the ground: he is looking for The Door into Summer.

Me too. I think the only door into summer these days is through a boarding gate for a plane going to Florida.

Men's PJs

Swell robe , Pop!
Originally uploaded by amanda bel.

I ate a big meal last night. And I just didn't want to wear anything tight - so I grabbed the pajamas James left at my house. They are really big on me - but they were comfy. James is a social butterfly and in my dreams (while wearing those PJs) I was as well. I seemed to see almost every one of my friends last night while dreaming. I woke up trying to remember everyone who starred in my dreams. Old friends I haven't thought of in years, dead friends. It was fun.

Ibid.

Same shit, different day. Copy and paste.

I'm mad as hell....

I have been doing a lot of cleaning in my house. Lots of trips to the garbage can, lots of bags of recycling. There’s even an old futon by the garbage can waiting to be picked up. And I’ve been thinking of getting rid of other outdated stuff. Too many times, I have been told, “It’s too far to go to your house.” Seriously. My parents tell me it’s too far to come to Minnesota from Chicago. On my car’s trip odometer, the distance to Chicago then back to Minnesota seems to be the same. Weird? I’ll admit, it’s too COLD. Right now. But spring and summer are gorgeous here. I have other friends that have told me that or implied the same thing. It’s too hard or too far to come to my house. Yet, I’m supposed to be willing to meet them where they want. Is there a version of “He's Just Not That Into You” but for your friends? Maybe I have a huge set of friends that just aren’t into me.

Long ago, a friend called on a hideously cold day, she was stranded on the highway out in bumblefuck with a broken car. I have a long goofy tiger coat that I wear when it’s really cold. I got out of the car and she started laughing because of the coat all the matching tiger shit I was wearing with it. Yeah, a big fashion “don’t” but it cheered her up. Then she started crying with frustration and then amazement that I was willing to drive far out to the ‘burbs on such a crappy day to come pick her up. I told her, it wasn’t that far. An old friend called me the other day – she was willing to drive from Wisconsin to have coffee with me. I would’ve driven to River Falls, WI because it just doesn’t seem that far.

When I start up on this rant, my boyfriend just gives me that look. Maybe my OCD meds have become less effective or am I less tolerant of putting up with crappy friends. Or should I just have Facebook friends and send them the flowers or snowballs, dumb jokes or whatever. No actual email or communication, not an actual note that says “Hi – or I’m thinking of you” Just more garbage to delete.

Dom Perignon

Dom Perignon
Originally uploaded by SpeakerX.

I wanted to buy some Dom Perignon, so I went to my favorite liquor store and asked if they had any. They did. $160 a bottle. I decide to ask the guy if it's dry or sweet. I forgot that's it's a really dry champagne. Yuck. My dad grew up drinking Manischewitz wines and when he had his first glass of dry wine - he spit it out. So to make up for his ignorant years, he drinks the driest wine he can find. I'm somewhere in the middle.

There's a sweeter champagne type wine a Spumante Frizzante that's sweeter and cheaper. So I got that. And some scotch. And some organic rum. I can celebrate all sorts of ways.

Chinese New Year

Chinese Dragon
Originally uploaded by V a n C a t.

My parent's, in the 70s, used to throw the craziest New Year's Eve parties. One year, my mom wanted to make it a Chinese New Year. Somehow she found someone with one these huge dragon costumes and a bunch of us wore it and we walked through the house. There were a ton of people, food, liquor and it nuts. We have a balcony that overlooks the living room and at midnight, we got to throw confetti off the balcony at midnight. I still feel sorry for the guy whose plate of fresh food we purposely aimed at.

I hope to have fun at my house tonight. Not so much on the crazy drunk stuff - but just mellow fun.

Piggly Wiggly, Chipley, FL

Piggly Wiggly, Chipley, FL
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

On cold yucky days, my mom would make spare ribs. So in my mind, a cold yucky day (usually a Sunday) where you feel all tired and blobby IS a spare rib day. A grey day, where you have tons of forgotten homework, like some stupid paper or a diorama that's due the next day. Or a test you've been putting off studying for. And then there's spare ribs for dinner. Only a few of my friends understand what a spare rib day is. There really is no cure for a spare rib day. Except waking up the next day.

Because of the above, I don't usually like spare ribs (because they are only served on yucky days - duh!). Unless the Big Daddy makes them.

And I feel all porky for eating alot of Big Daddy BBQ this weekend - to stave off a spare rib day. Damn it!

Happy Hanukkah and Season's Greetings

Happy Hanukkah and Season's Greetings
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

Here's my gift wish. I want someone to search their old video tapes and find that stupid old Johnsonville Brats commercial, "Charlie Murphy's cooking Johnsonville Brats!!!" Now. Why isn't it anywhere. Come on. Please! Upload it to your favorite video site and send me an email.

love,
Debora

Shoe and foot repair

Shoe Repair, Delaware, OH
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

I was back seeing my podiatrist today because my feets still hurt. Two weeks ago, I went to see her, and she told me to wear my orthotics all the time. In the shower, in bed. No - but just no bare feet. And it's been getting worse. My shoes have become Cruel. I was back at her office and was joking (kind of) asking could I get a coupon for a foot massage? A light bulb went off over her head, she's affiliated with a physical therapist just down the road. She wrote up an Rx for 12 sessions. My intuition said to call and they had an opening almost right away. I hobbled into the office on my bad feet. Usually you just get the stupid consultation and then NEXT time you get the therapy. Ha! I got some work done, some pressure point stuff, some massage. I got off the table and the angels sang! I may have shouted "Hallelujah, brother! I am here to comfort the sinner and return the stray lamb to the fold." Most of the pain was gone! And I get to go back for more. Just because I was joking around and asked for a massage.

Yeah, right

A beautiful way to say Merry Christmas
Originally uploaded by sugarpie honeybunch.

If I got a scale for Christmas - I'd kill that person. There'd be no fake smile no - "Thank you for the pants." (Crow on MST3K) Just a big clunk to their head.

Our Lady of Lost and Found

body charms_ graft & dart
Originally uploaded by blum_nancy.

I've been feeling down, let down, sad - disappointed. All sorts of down. I have this book "Our Lady of Lost and Found" a book about the Virgin Mary coming for a visit. The book is by my bed. I was thinking of Tom Hanks in the movie, "Big" making a wish to be big to Zoltar. You can't really ask for guidance from a fortune telling game machine. I grab the book by my bed and I say out loud - "Ok Mary, give me something here." and I flip open the book. It's the part about milagros - Mary is unpinning milagros from a dress. All these different metal items for health, or money or any sort of prayer. It struck a chord. Maybe I need to find milagros for the prayers I need answered. The one pictured here is kinda cool. Milagros.

Sorry Zoltar.

Turkey Fact #12:

Turkeys are filled with enough L-tryptophan to knock you on your sorry Thanksgiving ass.

Love, Crow

Dr. Ugs, Virginia, IL

Dr. Ugs, Virginia, IL
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

On my travels I saw this sign and paused. It said Dr. Ugs. Not Drugs. Hmmm. On closer look it was coffee shop. The inside has the original tin ceiling and probably the original soda fountain counter. I heard the owner bought it because she loved the sign (bless her heart!) She has had sign salesmen come in and say she has a very outdated sign and could they sell her a new one. Ha! She's a big supporter of the town of Virginia, IL.

And they made a great pumpkin latte. Get in your car and go visit this adorable town. Now!

Taylor Maid Auction, Sandoval, IL

Maybe someone will buy this?

Ice cream trucks and rules

McCarty the Good Humor man
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

James and I have just been to the IAICV - International Association of Ice Cream Truck Vendors with our friend McCarty - who does NOT sell Good Humor. Ha! He sells for the Blue Bunny. My job is to fake up photos with his face on them for his coworkers. He hates me. Yet we are a customer of his company so he powers through it - like tequila.

We met this kid, Zach at the convention, who had a list of rules and he's repeat them from memory. Zach's rules:
1. Don't get killed
2. Don't get stolen
3. Don't be a pain in the ass
4. Keep it short
5. Don't run through shrubs.

His dad, another ice cream truck driver, would make Zach repeat these rules daily. I think they should be the new "Everything I learned in Kindergarden..."

Dwyer's Cafe, Lafayette, LA

Dwyer's Cafe w, Lafayette, LA
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

While shooting this - a street person tried to talk to me. I wouldn't answer.I was shooting - duh! He kept trying to engage me. He thought he'd scare me by saying,"What do you think of the new president?" Dude, I'm from a blue state. Down here, red. necks.

Obama and my parents

Obama and my parents
Originally uploaded by Debora Drower.

My parents have been Obama supporters since the very beginnings. This photo was taken at a fundraiser in the Chicagoland (I so love that term) area in 2004. My parents believe in nothing - really. But when Obama at this fundraiser commented on the guy's house and mentioned he couldn't have white carpet because he had little kids - that won my parent's hearts. We had white carpet in our house but it was my dad and his pipe smoking that was the demise - not us kids. Also there was the Ryan scandal - and it took place in my home town.

I hope Obama wins - then maybe it's a cabinet post for me!

My dinner with Andre

Ok - not Andre but Klecko - but it sounds French. It was the first Saturday of the Month - I call it the bread show at the Saint Agnes bakery. Klecko decided it was French day - he had French sourdough and other french. Maybe he just called everything French. French rye bread, French kolaches. Hell, it was early. Kim Ode was there and we griped about MHS and a possible French girl joining the stable. Inside jokes. Klecko and I have a standing date at Big Daddy's BBQ on retail Saturday. I had popped in just to say hi after an early meeting and yet he was ready for BBQ. Big Daddy's is in Frogtown (French bread, Frogtown, new French chick) And to drink - "Peru" at the bakery.(Better Off Dead movie line) We joked and stuffed ourselves with BBQ. You can kiss your afternoon Au Revoir - because you always need a 3 hour nap after Big Daddy's. Or is it Klecko?