Sub Nava Sal From Goa 2008!

Happy New Year from Goa everyone! Some of you might remember the crazy party that Karenji and I attended in our hotel last year, the craziness, my hair catching on fire from Indian fireworks, burning my bare feet, dancing all night, and all that whskey!

Well let me tell you this year was no different! Equally crazy, totally rocking, dancing to silly pop music performed by a two piece ensemble with drum machine, and yes yes yes, the evening wouldnt be complete without, you guessed it....

CRAZY RUSSIANS!
Now, this year it was a different kind of crazy, but it was totally crazy, and um, that's all I'm gonna say.
I think we went to bed at 3 am, we are now staggering in 90 degree heat and massive humidity, and after I score some pashminas, will be heading back to the pool to recover for the rest of the day. I hope everyone is having a lovely New Years Eve as it is already noon on January 1, 2008.
Take care and hello from Mr Ratburn!

Hot Hampi Scampi!

Hello from Hampi everyone! I am happy to report that there has been NO NEED for immodium, I have not eaten the sugar crystals Karenji! I remembered what happened last year and I warned Gary as well. I am sad to report that the holy man never went to Bangalore for his back surgery as beauracracy (sp?) has halted his moneys for that, and also he told us that he was afraid to go to Bangalore. I cant say as I blame him

Now I must sorta relate this post to Karenji but of course you can all read. Ok Karenji, so train...you would think I have learned something from last year but again we got on train, were pushed and shoved, had a very tough time finding the right car, then there were people in our seats so we got in an argument with them. Of course 10 other people have to join in the mess, and before you know it everyone is yelling in Hindi, and I am yelling "Panch! Panch times in India, so dont mess with me!" Ok , so along comes some modern Indian men with a cell phone and very good English. They text message the train station which sends him back the train schedule, then he says, "so where are you going anyway?" We tell him Hampi. He tells us, "well THIS train is going to Rajastan, madam!" EEEEEKKKK! Right seats, right car, right time, right platform, wrong train! So, being totally embarrassed we apologized profusely and then ran off! Once on right train, all was well. In the morning, when the sleepers had exited the train, and other people got on, we met a man who was traveling to Hospet for work. He gently reached over and took Garys hand and started reading his palm. He was an amazing man, telling us things about ourselves that he could NOT know unless he had known us all our lives. We chatted with him awhile and I slipped him a 100 rupee note on the way off the train. He held the money to his heart and his eyes teared up. Later I was told that he makes only about 100 rupees a week.

Ok then we are in the train station, looking for Ramesh but not finding him. Some of you will remember him from last year as he was our guide. We waited about ten minutes and he didnt come so we got another driver. As we are pulliing away, I suddenly hear about 5 men yelling my name "SUJIIII SUUUUJIIIIII!!!!!" I look and there is Ramesh and his friends running after us, Ramesh holding the letter I have written to him last month! Hurray! Heres a funny thing, in India Suji means needle or a sewing machine or a tailor and it also means some food product but I dont know what...and everyone calls me Suji and I AM a tailor afterall so it's just too trippy that my name to them means tailor.
Once with Ramesh, all was well.

SO Karen, we did the entire Hampi tour, Queens bath, palace etc, being surrounded by Indians the entire time. You know the drill. At one point, 5 little boys that had befriended us jumped into the rickshaw, climbing on our laps...so they joined us for the remainder of the tour! It was really fun and we are going to have some really precious pictures of those little rascals. One of the boys noticed that I had a cut on my finger and he gently took my finger, held it between his two fingers while gently massaging the cut, as same time giving me the most precious caring look that I have ever seen on a little boy! My heart melted. Those boys hung out with us all day, climbing on our laps or hanging off the rickshaw. In a way,. they were totally a pain in the ass, at the very same time, pure preciousness.

I have given the Green Eggs and Ham book to Varsha, the happy brothers 6 year old daughter. She read me the entire book! At six, she is fluent in English, Kannada and Hindi. That child is amazing, and again, you are going to be blown away at the pics! Of course, we layed around in the restaurant on the floor, and I flipped Varsha, and Appu in the air. I must've played with them for three hours as it was about 95 degrees and I just couldnt go out there.

Ok next, bought some hippie clothes and wandered. Gary just came back and said he was following an elephant! What am I gonna do with that boy? You'd think hes been here all his life! Now I didnt even know there was an elephant in Hampi, but Gary found her, her name, Lakshmi.

OK so Kareniji you are not going to believe this but Ramesh got married last January and he has a baby girl already. It has been so good to see him and hang out and of course, he is still the best guide in Hampi as far as I am concerned. I can tell that his life is more serious, having a family now, and this year after his marriage, took his father to Chennai for heart surgery. His father is well now thank Ganesh.

Today is also Vikkys birthday so ya know. He was sporting a new shirt and pants and we all had gulab jamon that Vikky and Sudis sister had made for Vikkys birthday. Here is the thing, Hampi is very busy this time of year and we were given the families front room as our bedroom. We were the only ones staying in their house, and you know, we really felt the love. When we left, they ALL came out of the house to say goodbye, mama, papa, all the wives sister, and kids. I am totally in love with Varsha and will spoil her rotten now as if she is my own girl.

Ramesh took us to the train in Hospet and then he had to run off to help a Chinese girl find the bus station. We were on the train when Ramesh came running back, hopped on the train to come and say goodbye again. He told us, "of you I am very fond, please asking your daughter if you can again come back next year to see me." LOL, because we told him that Little Rita "let us" come to India together this year.

Karenji, I am telling you we both forever have a home and family in Hampi. They asked about you, missed you and want you to come back. I have had about ten people ask about you, "where is your friend", while holding their hands up at the 6 foot level to show they meant the tall Karenji! So cute!

Gary is in LOVE with the people, and he is doing so great, and I am so proud of him. You all know me, I had to have a few I hate India moments, crying and stuff. But I have such the fabric stash and I havent even gotten to North India yet! Karenji I got 25 silk scarves from Khadi Bandar, Indian prices only madam, and one black one for you!

Well, as I expected, being in India with a man opens many doors and I am loving watching Gary meet people and he is getting us into situations that women just cant do alone. Also met a really awesome drummer named Abdul in Hampi and he gave Gary a drum for so little money, we felt bad about it, but promised to send him an MP3 player because he can get c/ds but not computer.

So now we are back in Bangalore because I couldnt post this in Hampi, power failed! No big surprise! Tomorrow afternoon we fly to Goa to that crazy place with all the Russians! Got Vat 69? You betcha, betas.

I hope you are all well and if you are reading this Little Rita, we love you and you are going to be ok. (She's starting to really miss us, but we are calling everyday)

Be well everyone and lots of love from India from Susie and Mr Ratburn!

Runaway Train Never Coming Back Part Two

Hello from Bangalore. I hope you are all having a lovely Christmas holiday. That was yesterday for us. We spent the day shopping and sweating and walking and drinking beer. Skinny dark skinned Santas everwhere!

Gary thinks I am trying to get him run over by a bus, rickshaw or chapati cart! Crossing the street is a challenge in Bangalore, sir, and you just must plunge right in there in hopes of getting across the street alive.
SO, why did the Indian guy NOT cross the road? Because he simply could not, madam! Trafficin Bangalore could make one pretty nervous. After a breakfast of hot chilies and then a death defying street crossing experience, I think Mr Ratburn is now ready for Lal Bagh park, what do you think?

So after a day of wandering the botanical gardens and stuff like that, we will go back to our hotel and start packing for Hampi. Remember last year? That all night train experience. I just have one thing to say about that......and I will say it IMMODIUM.

By the way, in case you are wondering...remember when we were kids and we thought that airplane bathrooms were just a hole in the floor and all the erm "stuff" just fell out of the sky on people in Siberia? Such is the case with Indian trains.....ahem! So I dont imagine I will soon be hitching or wandering along any train tracks anytime soon.

All that potty talk aside, I will be thinking of you Karenji and that crazy train ride last year and how you had to be my mommy because I became a senseless sick mess. Let's jsut hope the germs leave us alone in Hampi his time. (You can tell Im a little wary, EH?)

You all would be so proud of Mr Gary, he is eating like a pig! I cannot believe it. Personally, I am not really able to eat yet...trying....pants falling off already...etc.

Ok so, Mr Gary wants to say hi and all that. If you are reading this Little Rita, we hope you had a wonderful day with Keri and all, and we miss you and love you so much.

Take care all and see you from Hampi.

India...beer and beggars. Everything for sale. All the cars and traffic in LA put into a space the size of chinatown except replace all the cars with motorcycles and rickshaws. Can you say horn please?

Also the nicest people in the world.

love

g

Hi everyone its Sunday in Bangalore.....hot as heck! But if you get in the shade, the breeze is lovely. Try to stay on the shadey side of the street madam!

I just had a great argument with some rikki drivers that wanted to pretty much rip me off. It was like a Sunday morning coup.....40 rupees to MG Road madam...I do not think so, there is NO traffic! So we're squabbling and I try the next guy, I see this is about solidarity (40 rupees, madam!) and so I just threw my hands up in the air and as I walk away just in time to see a motorcycle collide into a car, and the man went down so hard. I have read about this in books, but I really didn't believe my eyes when 25 men rushed to this mans side, helped him to curbside, moved his bike out of the road, retrieved his shoes, dusted him off, called for a police, while 20 other men chased down the car that hit him and ran off, stopped the car in the road, pulled the man out by his arms, dragged him over to the injured man and made him become accountable. The cops just take too damn long to get there, and so, ya know, take matters into your own hands and all that. I'm just glad that driver didn't hit a cow or he would have been beaten. Uh huh, Im serious.

OK saw my pal Mahesh yesterday, his new awesome apartment, pictures of his new beautiful baby girl. Sushma and the baby girl (nope not telling her name, just call her bunny rabbit) are with her parents being pampered in Mysore. Mahesh sends greetings to Lime! Mahesh and I went refrigerator shopping....had to help the poor guy out, wife away and all. Actually it was fun talking fridges with cute young Indian salesmen. Some things never change.

OK I am taking pics but wont be able to post here....you'll just have to wait, photo requesters, so instead I will just give you some good steal like last year, ok?

Be well, Happy Holidays.

Mr Ratburn coming tomorrow morning hurray!

Love you Little Rita!

She made it!

I am in Bangalore everyone! I'm sorta speechless I'm so tired!

I LOVE YOU LITTLE RITA AND MR RATBURN!
CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU.

PS what the hell is up with my sidebar?

Im thinking I will need help with that when I get back!

Bon Voyage HNT

Ok you guys, I am outa here!

Next time you see me, I will be in Bangalore.

Mr Ratburn is all packed and ready to go as well. (Now doncha worry, Little Rita will be well looked after!)

Stay tuned.......

Happy HNT and Happy Holidays, everyone!
OOPS! almost forgot....

Virtual gifts!

First wish to M at Blissfully Wed and the Mrs: More alone time!!

Second wish to Barman because he is about the nicest human being on the planet!

You just are the sweetest, Barman, consistently positive and what a delight to have gotten to know, and I wish for you whatever the heck you want because you deserve it all!

(Now Barman doesnt HNT but you can visit him anyway!)

My third and final wish goes out to a friend whose mom has brain cancer. No way could that be an easy thing to be going through. I feel like this is too personal to reveal who this wish is for, so I wont, but you know who you are. I know that you and your family will truly cherish your family time this Christmas. For you I wish....that this be not so difficult for all of you.

(Take care, love you! Not commenting though.)

I'm Packing N Stuff....

BangaloreBengalaru, December 2006

Pahar Ganj, Delhi, January 2007

Delhi, January 2007

2India

Greetings Earthlings!

Hurray! I am a citizen of the world! Thank you, Lime!

So I felt like I oughta list some reasons why I am that....

I was born in Eritrea

I lived in Alaska for three years

I have been to 27 airports, half of them being "overseas"

I call being out of the country, "overseas" (that is a military damage issue)

I am about to go to India for my fifth time. Five, that's PANCH, people!

My passport is full of fun stamps!

My closet is full of clothing from around the world, no JC Penney for me!

Ok, I am out of reasons, but did you know that on my second trip to India, I was stuck in Singapore airport for two days, sleeping on the benches, eating nothing but water and granola bars, watching soldiers with uzis patrol the airport? Why didn't I stay in a hotel you ask? The US dollar just doesnt go very far in Singapore, and I had a month to go in India. I was not going to spend half of the money in my wallet just to sleep in a Singapore hotel, when I knew that money would last me weeks in India.

Ok
I must now award Logo with a Citizen of the World button and here is why:

When Logo was a young mother of her two and five year old boys, her husband was sent to Italy for his military job. It couldn't have been easy, raising two young sons in unfamiliar territory, a different language, foods and customs.

She also spent some time in Greece during that three year stay in Europe. Anybody that has raised kids in a foreign country, consider yourself awarded as well!

Here is your award Logo, feel free not to comment! ; )

2 India

PS Lime, how do I put this on my sidebar?

Someone Fire That Naughty Elf!

If I wasn't so gosh darned talented at other things, there'd be no way I'd ever show you this. Ladies and gentleman, my very first ever gingerbread house.

TA DA!!!

"Even I'm not that hungry, Gretel! Let's go find another gingerbread house in the deep dark woods."

Well, Little Rita helped.

It tastes A LOT better than it looks.

5India

55Flash Fiction Friday

In the Christmas workshop, there toils a little elf that likes to make toys his own way.

Today he was in trouble for making green barbies and attaching dinosaur heads to doll bodies.

"I'm telling you Santa, there ARE kids out there who will love this stuff!"

"OK Sid, have it your way" chuckled Santa.

~

I know, I'm late again! Now, I don't know about you, but I kinda like Sids toys.

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

and try to get over and visit everyones 55! This is my last 55 until the end of January. You all know you can count on G~man to collect the 55 comments and stuff like that, right, G~man?

What? You say your word doesn't have a counter and it takes too long to write a 55 and then count and recount? Hah! Just excuses, I tell ya, because Charles has worked that all out. Get your 55Flash Fiction word counter here!
It does all the work for you, except for choosing tasty descriptive words, you have to do that yourself!

6India

Weird Tree Ornaments HNT

No doubt about it, in this family, we do the holidays our way. That includes decorating our 3 foot tall Charlie Brown tree with stuff we find lying around the house such as toys, small stuffed animals and beads. This year Little Rita decorated the tree herself and it does look swell!

Some of the ornaments though, man, they are just too weird!

Happy Holidays and Happy HNT, everyone!

7India

Nothing

~

9India

Sugar, He Brings Me Sugar.....

Tori and her band were smoking hot on Friday night, folks! And yes, totally worth the 140 mile round trip journey in hectic bay area traffic. Tori was having this performance taped for a DVD, so everything was slick, cameras everywhere, fancy lights, etc.
Tori performed one of my all time favorite tunes, Sugar. I found a live version of Sugar from a few years back, it's totally rocking. I hope you will give it a whirl.

..."I know your noodle can hold a lot of information, but don't you think you can remember how many sugars a girl takes in her tea after nine months?"

In other news, I'm just a busy gal, sewing away and trying to get all the things done that need to be done before India. Just 10 more days, people, can you believe it? Now normally, I just toss my toothbrush and the 3 red tshirts (haha, Karenji, yes they are coming along!) into a backpack, bubble wrap up some Sonoma shiraz for Maheshji, grab my passport, and I'm off.

This year is a totally different story folks. As you know, Mr Ratburn is comng along with me to India as we celebrate 20 years of "wedded bliss". I can't think of a better way to rejoice and tell the world, "look, we made it 20 years, and neither of us has killed the other!"

What this also means that Little Rita, who is staying with friends while we are in India, has to be bubble wrapped, packed and stuffed into a back pack as well. You know what I mean.

Now over in India, we have two new babies, so I am bringing a slew of gifts for them, the shiraz, some vintage dead tapes, two wind up human powered flashlights for my pals in Bedrock, India,(torches, they call 'em. How cute!) and a bunch of other gifts too.

After you've been to India a few times, you start to figure out that there are lots of things you can do, and lots of ways you can help to deal with some of the major problems that a country of 1.3 billion people must deal with. One of the things that I like to do, is to bring as much paper, pens and pencils as I can stuff into my backpack to give to the kids. I have learned that a lot of school kids are waiting to be the lucky recipient of a travelers expensive "school pen", and not the cheap pens that I hand out, but if I bring out those pens in a small village where you cannot go into a shop and buy a pen, they just arent available, I am quickly surrounded by children wanting those cheap "school pens".

I am so excited to tell you people that this year I walked into the local drug store in town, and the manager, who knows about my India travels, asked me if I still needed pens for my trip this year. When I said yes, he pointed to a grocery cart full of packages of cheap pens that had expired. (Did you know that pens have an expiration date on them? I did not know that!)

The store manager said to me, "take as many of these as you want, and pay me $1. plus tax, because I have to send them all back to the company."

I now have about 500 pens that I purchased for one dollar.

Then, as if that wasnt cool enough, I convinced the owner of our local print shop to donate some paper for the cause. They sell these adorable little note pads that they make in the back room from scrap paper, and I mentioned that the children would love those. The owner said the little notepads take some work and he has to pay labor for that, so I agreed to receive loose paper.

The following week, when I went back to pick up the paper, I was presented with a box full of those tiny little note pads, free of charge. Hey, I cant wait to teach the rascals how to make a flip book!

School pen, madam?

So there you have it, the generosity of others. What a cool thing!

Have a lovely day, people!

10India

55Flash Fiction Friday

Oh!

My!

God!

Tell me it isn't so...

Susie, all these months, everyday, just the two of us, together, alone, and now...

I thought you loved me?

Rufus, Im sorry but it is so.
No!

You tramp!

How could you do this?

Gasp!

I just cannot believe you are seeing Tori tonight instead of me!

~

Sorry I'm so late folks. I have a lot of work to do today and I am seeing Tori tonight in Oakland. I'm sorry, Rufus, but you know I love you best.

Be sure to get on over and visit everyones 55's this weekend if you can.

12India

Carpe Robeus HNT

The rumours are true. The fuzzy pink monstrosity has been taken from me by the Department of Social Services and placed in a good home.
Apparently, I am not fit to be the owner. I have been accused of pink robe abuse! (pick, pick, pick) I have heard the new owner really likes pink, oh and purple too.


Ok fine, you all know I have a replacement robe anyway that doesnt get fuzzballs, or whine and complain, and is not made of some strange synthetic mystery textile!

Do you think they allow visitations?


Pssttt, down here! Don't tell anyone, but I still have these!
Enjoy your new home, pink robe, but, I still say I am innocent.

Mr Ratburn says goodbye to the robe too! :P
Happy HNT Everyone!

India14

Faeries Wear Boots & Now Ya Gotta Believe Me!!

I'm not telling you what this is, you just have to watch to find out. All I am saying is, it's 1974 in Southern California, where the Beach Boys are king, and Denise Rosenblatt has brought to school her copy of Diamond Dogs LP, and I am thinking...man, that chick is really weird!

Oh Denise, girl, you should have been my best friend!

In other news, as you all know it was my birthday and I got some really cool gifts. I got some cyber roses from RennyBA, a cyber greeting or two from Miss Pizza and Logo, a special sexy Indian birthday man who I am never returning, champagne and chocolates from the girls, and dozens of blog comments wishing me a happy birthday!
From Mr Ratburn and Little Rita I receive a gift certificate to my favorite spa in California, (because my absolute favorite spa is in Seattle) some yummy skin products, a beaded bracelet that LR made. Mr Romantic Ratburn brought me a dozen 0range and yellow roses....so beautiful! My sister sent me a really cool candle with sea shells in it and this goopy purple stuff instead of wax! Whoa! I even got some cash! Woo Hoo!

And then tonight, we went out for Indian food, my favorite, yum! Then after dinner, I saw these awesome boots in a store window and had to have them...aren't they cool? Perhaps I might even wear them......my toes have been awfully cold lately, now, I wonder if I own any socks?

Yes, the 32 pound pumpkin lives in my bedroom.....la la la!

17India

Guess what?
My birthday is really TODAY!!!

......Mr Ratburn and I started celebrating early! You don't mind, do you?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

19India

55Flash Fiction Friday

To Heck WithThe Mall!

Handknitted sock monkeys, cool! Perfect for my sister she thought and hit the buy button. Over here in this shop I need Ugly Bob and Sock Creature Ellie ! A handpainted sugar skull necklace, no way! Holiday shopping for unique handmade items has never been easier thanks to ETSY.com. she sighed. Who needs the mall?

~

I'm sorry I'm late! Todays 55 is sortof fictional but I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you all about ETSY. If you don't already know, ETSY is sort of like Ebay, although you do not bid, the prices are fixed, and everything is handmade!
You can buy some pretty cool artwork on ETSY, as well as unique clothing, toys, accessories, wood furniture, gadgets, handmade fabrics, knickers and lots, lots more. ALL of it handmade from all over the world! If you have a long list of gifts to buy this season, why not go over and check it out.

Heres the Link: ETSY.com
You will be so pleased at what you will find there, that you might never go to a mall, a Walmart, or a Target again. That is my evil plan.

I have a shop there too, but you already know that....and if you want to see it, it looks right now very much like a disheveled dress shop after a wild sale! You can get there with the link on my sidebar which shows a few of my handmade things.
I'm not saying get over there and spend your money with me, because I specialize in handmade womens clothing, and everybody knows, noone looks as hot in bloomers as the G~man himself!.....but I am saying get over there and see the amazing gift alternatives that you can grab without even leaving your computer!

No Traffic! No waiting! No lines! No parking lots! No big box stores! No malls! Hurray!
Now, isnt that cool?
~
Let us know if you all wrote a 55 so we can come over and check it out! And if you need help counting those words, you can always get Charles awesome 55 word counting tool!

Have a lovely weekend!

20India

Happy Birthday to Me HNT!!

You know you wanna click

Don't you just love turning 29 again?!

I do!
~
Guess what? Mr Ratburn is back!


Happy HNT everyone!

Over at Limes today, you can read all about the ferikked and ferhoodled way they talk in her neck of the woods. After your dippy ecks are all, get your hinnerdale over there and check it out!

Now, didja know Lime, that we have some of our own funny languages over here on the left coast? Yes, we do. In fact, we like totally have a few of em, but you like, already know that!

Today we're going to discuss the language of Boontling. Boontling is a folk language spoken only in Boonville in Northern California

The Anderson Valley, of which Boonville is the largest town, was an isolated farming, ranching, and logging community during the late nineteenth century. (WAS an isolated farming town?) There are several differing versions as to the origin of Boontling. Some assert that the dialect was created by the women, children, and young men in the hop fields and sheep shearing sheds as a means of recreation, and that it spread through the community as the children continued using it when they grew up. (But thats not what I have heard ladies and gentleman, NO NO....what local lore tells us is that the language was actually invented in the fields by the adults to keep the children who worked alongside of their parents from understanding their grown up talk.)

Although based on English, Boontling's unusual words are unique to Boonville. Scottish Gaelic and Irish, and some Pomo Indian and Spanish also influenced the vocabulary of the language. Boontling was invented in the late 1800s and had quite a following at the turn of the century. Now it is only spoken by aging counter-culturists and original residents. Because the town of Boonville only has a little over 700 residents, Boontling is an extremely esoteric dialect, and is quickly becoming archaic. It has over a thousand unique words and phrases.

In case youre wondering, about 15 years ago, Mr Ratburn did this crazy all out research project on the language of Boontling, so I kinda know what im tawking about here, plus I stole part of this offa wiki, and they did a pretty good job.......

If you've ever heard of The Anderson Valley Brewing Company, then youve heard of Boonville too. Also, I might add, the beer is delicious, and if you like to read while you're sipping your beer, there's a lot of boontling on the back of the bottle! And if you're ever in Anderson Valley, you can go to the brewery and sample the wares right outa the brew vats.

Here's a samplin from the Boontville dictionary in case you need ta know, but if you want more, just click the link:

applehead - a young girl; girlfriend or wife.

back-dated chuck - a person who is ignorant or behind the times
bahl - good, great
bucky walter - a pay phone. Derived from the fact that a call cost a nickel at the time.

crazeek - crazy.
eesole - an undesirable or questionable character: this is considered a disguised pronunciation or euphemism.

heelch - all; everything: A greedy person when invited to share food and drink would take the heelch: possibly from "whole cheese

kimmie - a man, more often applied to a stranger

nettied - all dressed up; wearing an abundance of lace, ribbons, and finery

shoveltooth - a medical doctor. [after a local doctor who had protruding front teeth
zeese - coffee

So there ya have it, I'b better get to work now. Perhaps next week, we'll dicuss the local old hippies aging counter culturists and what they have been and are still up to around here!

23India

Tupperware Stripper!

Well now, time for something totally different! Not a Tori or a Rufus in sight! Thanks, FG, for this crazy new band, STUMP, a mid/late 80's band.. Well, new to me, anyway....sorry, I dont know much about this band, yet, but they seemed like pretty cool blokes, and a barrel o fun, too!

STUMP
Tupperware Stripper

In other news, the farmers market is over for the year, and I have survivied. Tell me I must be crazy, because I have once again been elected to the board and remain committed to the happiness of tomatoes and their customers for two more years! Ah well, it will keep me out of trouble.

Have a lovely week, everyone!

24India

I'm tired of looking at that TV Dinner.

photo by Little Rita

26India

55Flash Fiction Friday

Thanksgiving

Driving home from dinner today I saw a man walking down the street all alone.
"That poor man is all alone on Thanksgiving, honey."
"Well maybe he's an asshole", he said.
Later at the video store, he saw a woman walking alone and said, "Alone on Thanksgiving, how sad."
"Well, maybe she's an asshole," I said.

~

This really happened today as we were coming home from turkey dinner at a friends. I guess it's all about perspective, isn't it? I hope you are all stuffed to the gills and having a wonderful weekend, and if you were alone today, I hope it was because you are an asshole! Be sure to let us know if you played so we can all come over and check out your 55!!!

27India

Thanksgiving Shuffle HNT

We're making pie and OK, we also have our ipods. What's up with that theme, anyway? Were we supposed to pose naked with our shuffles on our privates, or what?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING HNT!

28India

Quick! Someone Call 911!

Dontcha just hate it when your dolls get behind the wheel and then behave wrecklessly?

They weren't even wearing seatbelts.

There oughta be a law.

29 India

You Have Sent The Maid Home Early....

I've always liked the timeless jazziness of this band, although sometimes that Donald Fagen guy just drives me crazy with that singing voice of his, so I do not surprise myself one bit that my favorite Steely Dan song is sung by "the other guy", David Palmer.
From what I can gather, Donald Fagen had a case of the stage frights, which partially explains why, in Steely Dan, the lyrics are changed up between Fagen and Palmer.
I hope you will all have a loveley week, and I present to you, a video that you dont really need to watch, just listen to, because well.....its homemade and.... and by the way, notice that I dont really care if you dont like what I like, miss smarty pants!

DIRTY WORK



30 India

55Flash Fiction Friday

Bound to the chair, the frightened beast struggles to break free. Wicked stainless steel instruments of various sharpness line the tray table. Overhead lights blind the unfortunate victim. Panic ensues.

In one violent moment, the beast rips itsself from its prison, leaps out of the window and is gone.
Next time we'll take the nitrous!
~

Uh yeah, had lots of fun at the dentist yesterday with Little Rita....tell you what, hormonal 11 year old girls with supernumerals (the extra teeth, remember?) do not with the dentist mix well. We have to go back and try it again, this time with nitrous...poor kid. (If i'm nice, do you think she'll share that nitrous with me?)

Let us know if you wrote a 55 today so we can send the posse over to check it out. Notice I said WE? Ok, so heres the deal, I am going to India and you are all gonna have to carry on without me ya know, checking each others 55 out, commenting....using G~mans blog to report in! :D He he I know he'd love the job n all, since he's just so darn helpful, arent you G~man?

And do NOT forget Charles most awesome 55 counter tool, it's most helpful and you can get it here.

33 India

New Cell Phone Family HNT

logo: Gary looks like he called a porn 900 number and got more than he bargained for

Susie: yeah well i just oughta write that
Susie: since youre my ghost writer today
logo: heh
logo: and maybe he got you, look at that smile on your face
logo: good thing Hannah looks like she is all distracted playing Tetris on her phone cuz dad just got a shock

Ha! I can't even write my own HNTs anymore. Thanks, Logo. We are the proud new owners of three fancy cell phones...thank goodness Little Rita knows how to work them. You know what they say, if you need help with modern technology, ask your kid.


Happy HNT, everyone!

34 India

M I A

Susie has no comment at this time. We cannot confirm rumors that Susie has been seen partying with Jack Black and Henry Rollins in San Francisco, that is all.

36India

La la la...... la la .....la la.... la!

Why yes, it is Tori as a matter of fact! I have found this fun cover of Tori doing Kylie Minogues I Cant Get You Outa My Head. I hope you will all enjoy it!



38 India....

I have two more weeks running the bazaar, betas, and I cannot wait for it to be over. I'm tired of schlepping stuff to the market and back, it's exhausting. Then, it will be my birthday, and before you know it, we're off to India. This year has gone by so quickly, that it sorta seems like I just got back from last years trip. I know I haven't been real talkative lately but I hope you all will hang around and stay tuned for the upcoming adventures of Susie and Mr Ratburn in India, the Panch Trip! LOL (Panch, that's five!)

Pink Polka Dotted Pretty Things

Pretty things, so what if I like pretty things

Pretty lies, so what if I like pretty lies

From where you are, to where I am now

I need these pretty things, around the planets of my phase

Everything's a sign of my astrology

From where you are, to where I am now

Is its own galaxy

Be a star and fall down somewhere next to me

And make it past your color TV

This time will pass and with it will me

And all these pretty things

Don't say you don't notice them

Hey, Im giving it away soon, I gotta wear it while I can!

Have a cozy warm weekend, everyone. It's raining here, so why even bothah to get outa bed.....

40India

55Flash Fiction Friday

Signora del Gioconda, you are looking lovely today!

Stop, Leonardo!
Lisa, you make me crazy when you look at me that way!
I said stop!
I cannot, Lisa, te amo, run away with me!
You tell that to all your models, Leo!
No, bellissima, I do not!
DO TOO!
I must have you!
Paint, Leo....


This is a recycled 55 that Logo and I wrote last year....even with Charles FABULOUS 55 flash fiction word counting tool, I remain uninspired. Alas! If you hate counting words, you will love the new tool! Be sure to run over and thank Charles for his invention. I apologize for recycling...but some of you may not have seen this one before.
Have a lovely weekend, people!

41India

Stonehenge Monster HNT

In ancient times, hundreds of years before the dawn of history, an ancient race of people... the Druids. No one knows who they were or what they were doing...

Stonehenge .......

.......get me the hell out of Stonehenge is all i'm sayin!

Happy HNT, Everyone!

Thanks, Logo for the mini Stonehenge of our very own!

42India