Sunday, December 26, 2010

See You From The Other Side!


Ok ee dokee, here I go, off to the airport.....22 hours of flying, argh! But you know what? In the old days, it used to be more like 36...so we are making progress. I wish you all a Sub Nava Sal!
That's Happy New Year to the rest o you!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Goodbye Sweet Judy, Our Dear Sister..



Keep 'em laughing up there Judy.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Are You Kidding Me?


THIS IS THE WORST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN!
7India

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Thursday Portrait& Etc





Just a bunch of weirdos!
17India

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

December 1, 2010

The rumours you may have heard are true. Today is my birthday. Let's just not talk about the numbers!
Happy Birthday to Meeee!
25India

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Thursday Portrait on Saturday


Quite awhile back, a couple of years ago even, I promised my devoted readers a glimpse of my old comic book drawing days. Finally, and since we built a new storage shed this summer, I have found a batch of my drawings in my stash! Of course we know that we are not blogging like in the old days, but I still have my three devoted fans. This is for you!
I drew this when I lived in Venice Beach, and I was 28, and having a very bad PMS day. See all those slashes on my arms? NO I was not a cutter. I had been working on a quilt job and the pins were super sharp, it was too hot to wear sleeves. Every time I swung that quilt around on the sewing table, I would take a cut from a pin! I was late in completing that job, and mighty stressed out!
So this was my self portrait, complete with my favorite Bazooka Bubble Gum tshirt and patched up Guatemalan pants, long crazy Axl Rose hair and no shoes, of course.

I hope this gives you a Giggle!

35India

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Thursday Portrait Flashbacks


Hampi 2006
Susie and Ramesh chillin'




Hee hee! Will she go to the Taj Mahal for the 4th time?

45India

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween!


Heatblast... I AM your father... Join me to the Darkside or else...

My niece's husband, and their offspring at my moms house tonight for Halloween. What a cool shot, right?

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Christina Perri - Jar of Hearts

I just love this song, and I think you will really enjoy it too. There is some incredibly passionate dancing in this video and I think you ladies will love how it ends.
Jar of Hearts, enjoy it!

59India



Saturday, October 16, 2010

Congratulations Are In Order!

A few weeks ago, my dear friend, Mir, married his lovely fiance, who I will meet in December when I get back to Bangalore. Here are just two photos from their wedding weekend, held in his family home in Kashmir. Congratulations, my friends, I wish I could have been there to share your special day.
68India


Monday, October 11, 2010

Ahhh, Monday!

Dig the toeflection!
Also, I could use a pedicure if anyone is free.

Ya know, a lot of people hate Monday. The beginning of the work week, 5 whole days 'til Friday and all that. But me, I love Monday! Monday morning to me means I have the entire plantation to myself to do whatever it is I need to do. Plus, I get to stay in my pajamas and listen to music, and my favorite morning radio hosts, Sarah and Vinnie at Alice Radio.
Last week I brought home a new toy. This is a USB turntable for putting vinyl onto your computer! Just happens that Gary and I have about 350 LP's that we have been wanting to listen to for years. I still have my turntable from high school, it's 32 years old and works just fine, but so inconvenient.
Today I will spend some time putting some of my old records to the computer, starting with A for Aerosmith and ending with Z for Frank Zappa.
So, how many records do you have, and which one's would you put immediately onto your computer to listen to right now?
Alternatively, go ahead and be a smartassyoungwhippersnapper and tell me you dont own records or even still, you have no idea what records are!

Have a Lovely Week!
76India

Thursday, October 07, 2010

55Flash Fiction Friday

The Freak
The Strikeout King
He looks like he shoulda ridden his skateboard in after the warmups!
Tim Lincecum has had goofy, otherworldly games.
He was 97 mph with movement. You just don't see that every day.
Giants ace Tim Lincecum struck out 14 in a dominant NLDS debut against the Braves.
Get em Giants!

I noticed today that Lincecums number was 55. Cool~ and lately I have noticed that the Giants look like a bunch of freaks compared to other baseball teams. And you probably noticed that I know nothing about sports talk. These are all quotes that I heard during the game or on the computer. What a bullshitter I am for 55 today. Does it still count, Gman?
Have a great day.

Go Giants!

Ghetto Games: Sport fest a fake front for slumdog reality in India?

Here is an interesting look behind the blue walls erected to "beautify" Delhi for the Commonwealth Games. I am hoping that this fiasco will promote awareness. What else is left at this point? Sheesh what a disaster.


Thursday, September 30, 2010

Thursday Portrait and A Little Laugh

Hi!


"$5.37." That's what the kid behind the counter at Taco Bell said to me. I dug into my pocket and pulled out some lint and two dimes and something that used to be a Jolly Rancher. Having already handed the kid a five-spot, I started to head back out to the truck to grab some change, when the kid with the Elmo hairdo said the harshest thing anyone has ever said to me.

He said, "It's OK. I'll just give you the senior citizen discount."

I turned to see who he was talking to and then heard the sound of change hitting the counter in front of me.
"Only $4.68," he said cheerfully.
I stood there stupefied. I am 58, not even 60 yet. A mere child! Senior citizen? I took my burrito and walked out to the truck, wondering what was wrong with Elmo. Was he blind? As I sat in the truck, my blood began to boil. Old? Me? I'll show him, I thought. I opened the door and headed back inside. I strode to the counter, and there he was waiting with a smile.
Before I could say a word, he held up something and jingled it in front of me, like I could be that easily distracted! What am I now? A toddler?
"Dude! Can't get too far without your car keys, eh?"I stared with utter disdain at the keys. I began to rationalize in my mind. "Leaving keys behind hardly makes a man elderly! It could happen to anyone!"I turned and headed back to the truck. I slipped the key into the ignition, but it wouldn't turn.
What now? I checked my keys and tried another. Still nothing. That's when I noticed the purple beads hanging from my rearview mirror. I had no purple beads hanging from my rearview mirror. Then, a few other objects came into focus. The car seat in the back seat. Happy Meal toys spread all over the floorboard. A partially eaten doughnut on the dashboard. Faster than you can say ginkgo biloba, I flew out of the alien vehicle. Moments later I was speeding out of the parking lot, relieved to finally be leaving this nightmarish stop in my life. That is when I felt it, deep in the bowels of my stomach: hunger! My stomach growled and churned, and I reached to grab my burrito, only it was nowhere to be found.

I swung the truck around, gathered my courage, and strode back into the restaurant one final time. There Elmo stood, draped in youth and black nail polish. All I could think was, "What is the world coming to?"All I could say was, "Did I leave my food and drink in here?" At this point I was ready to ask a Boy Scout to help me back to my vehicle, and then go straight home and apply for Social Security benefits.Elmo had no clue. I walked back out to the truck, and suddenly a young lad came up and tugged on my jeans to get my attention. He was holding up a drink and a bag. His mother explained, "I think you left this in my truck by mistake."
I took the food and drink from the little boy and sheepishly apologized.
He offered these kind words, "It's OK. My grandfather does stuff like this all the time."

All of this is to explain how I got a ticket doing 85 in a 40.
Yes, I was racing some punk kid in a Toyota Prius. And, no, I told the officer, I'm not too old to be driving this fast. As I walked in the front door, my wife met me halfway down the hall. I handed her a bag of cold food and a $300 speeding ticket. I promptly sat in my rocking chair and covered up my legs with a blankey.

The good news was I had successfully found my way home.

Just in case you weren't feeling too old today - - -

The people who are starting college this fall were born in 1991.
They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.
Their lifetime has always included AIDS.
The CD was introduced two years before they were born.
They have always had an answering machine.
They have always had cable.
Popcorn has always been microwaved.
They never took a swim and thought about Jaws.
They don't know who Mork was or where he was from.
They never heard, "Where's the Beef?", "I'd walk a mile for a Camel ," or "de plane, Boss, de plane."
They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.
Pass this on to the other old fogies on your list.
Notice the larger type? That's for those of us who have trouble reading.
P.S. Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Deaf Interpreter My Humps

Dear lady and gentleman , may I present the incredible Ms. Pam Parham, stolen from somebody on Fbook.... fabulous!


Thursday, September 16, 2010

Thursday Portrait

I got a big haircut.

I also dyed my hair fuschia.
Hey, I ain't no grey haired ol' lady, nevah!

Have A Lovely Day

100India

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Remember

Forgive

Hope

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Thursday Portrait


Mr Ratburn was chasing me around with the camera the other day, and it turns out the lighting was just fabulous. I just totally love this green grass in the middle of fall. Actually, everything is pretty dry and brown around here by now, but this is a well tended and well used championship soccer football field!


Whadd'ya know? I'm outstanding in my field again!

Have A Lovely Day!
108India

Saturday, September 04, 2010

Standing In The Alpha Beta Parking Lot...

I was listening to Cake this morning, which got me thinking, how many people actually even know what "standing in the Alpha Beta parking lot" is all about? Now, I don't mean the Cake song, I mean what is an Alpha Beta anyway?


Alpha Beta was a chain of California supermarkets started by Albert and Hugh Gerrard. Alpha Beta began as a system of organizing the groceries in the store in alphabetical order.
Ok, I don't remember the condoms being in the same aisle as the carrots and cookies, but hey, if it worked for them....

Alpha Beta was the place to get ice cream, bananas, and kittens from the Honduran family who would always sell them outside of the market in a cardboard box.


My absolutely favorite memory of Alpha Beta was driving by this sign at night. During the daytime, that sign was as drab and rundown as the rest of my so cal town, but at night, it was glowy, psychedelic and animated. I thought it was just about the coolest thing we had going on!
The Alpha Beta was also right across the street from my elementary school, so I suppose further imbedded it into my brain. (the one I went to 4th and 5th grade in anyway, I went to 7 schools between K-12, but thats another story)
Did you know there is even a Facebook page for former Alpha Beta employees? WOW!
Alpha Beta Grocery Store (Facebook)

This Alpha Beta was in La Habra, CA

This one was in Costa Mesa. It's easy to tell where the stores were located in the pics, because they put the town name on the front of each store. This one says Harbor, but So Cal locals know what they really meant, Costa Mesa.
So of course Alpha Beta was bought out by Lucky/Albertson/Lucky but that doesnt mean anything to you since you shop at the AM/PM or Piggly Wigglys, right?
By the way, before I go, the silliest name for a grocery store is not Piggly Wiggly! It is a store in BC Canada called Overwaitea! Now, I couldn't help notice the massive sizes of cookies, cakes, pies, sodas, breads etc, sorta like Costco....hence the name OVERWAITEA?
That's not the real reason, here is the real reason.
Have a Lovely Day!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

A Local

It's not very often we see praying mantis around here, so I thought I'd capture it!
click to biggen


Saturday, August 21, 2010

P!nk - Glitter In The Air (GRAMMYs on CBS)

I was not a fan of Pink before I saw her performance at the Grammys this year. I thought she was just some loudmouthed drunkard chick. After that Grammy performance, I was sold. I listen to this song every day. I watch this video everyday too. It brings tears to my eyes. What a lovely song and what a fabulous performance.
If you havent seen it, please watch!
Now, that trapeze stuff is really appealing to me. I have been looking for a local trapeze class to take. I wonder if they accept nearly 50 year old chicks? I look like hell in a leotard...sigh.




Have you ever fed a lover with just your hands?
Closed your eyes and trusted, just trusted?
Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?
Have you ever looked fear in the face and said, "I just don't care"?

It's only half past the point of no return
The tip of the iceberg
The sun before the burn
The thunder before the lightning
The breath before the phrase
Have you ever felt this way?

Have you ever hated yourself for staring at the phone?
You're whole life waiting on the ring to prove you're not alone
Have you ever been touched so gently you had to cry?
Have you ever invited a stranger to come inside?

It's only half past the point of oblivion
The hourglass on the table
The walk before the run
The breath before the kiss
And the fear before the flames
Have you ever felt this way?

La La La La La La La La

There you are, sitting in the garden
Clutching my coffee,
Calling me sugar
You called me sugar

Have you ever wished for an endless night?
Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight?
Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself will it ever get better than tonight?
Tonight




Have A Lovely Day!
126India (:P)

Thursday, August 12, 2010

55 Flash Fiction Friday

Ghana market was hot and sticky. Aisha put her basket down to get a better look at some of the coconuts and papayas that the flies liked just as much as she did.
"It's too hot to shop today," she whined. Walking back to Sia's house, the basket felt heavier than when she had left.

Oh, doncha just love a stowaway? I wish. You know, I would have 20 kitties if I could, it's true. I have this friend that says there is a disease called toxoplasma gandhi that you get from cat scratches and stuff, which makes you want to have too many cats! ...well, I don't know if that is true, but if it is, I must have it. :P
All is well in No Cal. We have not had a summer worth a plugged nickel, and I know it's because of that bloody wolcano! I do not care, I hate being hot, but I will tell you one thing, my garden is a disaster. Anyway I am a little rusty on the 55 action, I hope I done ok!


Have A Lovely Day!
.

Sunday, August 08, 2010

Ok Now She's Shamelessly Stealing Newspaper Articles!

Stolen from the Bangalore Deccan Herald:



Woman storms another male bastion, becomes porter
Sanjay Pandey in Lucknow

When megastar Amitabh Bachchan sang ‘saari duniya ka bojh hum uthaten hain’ (we carry the load of the entire world), the much popular song in his mega-hit Bollywood blockbluster ‘Coolie’, he must not have imagined that a woman could also carry the load of the world on her head...

Mudra Devi carries the luggage of a passenger at the Agra  Cantonment stationOne cannot help remembering the song, when one sees 35-year old Mudra Devi, clad in red salwar-kurta, with loads of baggage on her head and shoulders at the Agra Cantonment railway station in Uttar Pradesh. Sporting ‘Badge number 21’ on her right forearm, Mudra Devi, a mother of three, cheerfully carries the load and could be seen competing with her male counterparts both in speed and agility.

Mudra, who joined the ‘predominantly male-dominated profession’ in June last, has become a familiar figure for the passengers frequenting Agra Cantonment
station, which is an important junction on the Delhi-Mumbai route and is always teeming with people.

Mudra’s day starts early. “I have to be here (at the station) quite early as many long distance trains arrive in the early hours”, she said.

She works in two shifts-both day and night like her other male colleagues. “It
allows me an opportunity to earn more”, she added.

On whether she ever faced any problem while working at nights, Mudra replies in the negative. “My male colleagues are always ready to extend all possible help”, she said. Of course, Mudra did not choose the profession of coolie, which is considered to be a male domain, out of choice. It was ‘more out of compulsion’, she points out. “I came into this profession for the sake of my family”, she adds.

Mudra’s husband Khedram works in a shoe factory in Agra. The family was finding it very difficult to make two ends meet with his meagre income, she said.

“We faced a lot of problems in properly feeding our two sons and a daughter”, she said. To lend helping hand to her husband and supplement the family income, Mudra worked with the district forest department as a contract employee. “The salary was too less”, she remarked.

Just when she was thinking of switching jobs, she came across an advertisement for recruitment of the coolies and Mudra applied without hesitation.

Mudra, an eighth class pass, was able to secure the job of the coolie quite easily. “No one expressed any doubt about my ability to perform to the job of a coolie”, she said.
“My husband even encouraged me to take up the job”, she added. Initially Mudra was a little bit apprehensive. “I wondered if I would be able to do the work.... carry the baggage to the satisfaction of the passengers and how will the male coolies react”, she said.

She, however, overcame her early hesitation with sheer determination and hard work. “The work of a coolie demands hard labour and honesty”, Mudra went on to add.

Fortunately, the male collies are protective towards Mudra. “They treat me as their sister and daughter”, she said. On whether the passengers prefer male coolies simply because they could carry more luggage, especially the heavy loads, she said she never encountered any such problems.

“In fact I feel that the difference between the load carried by men and the women is not much”, she said adding that she approached a passenger only after making sure that she could carry the load.

Although Mudra Devi has also to look after her home and cook food for the children, she gets full cooperation from her husband and the children. “Every member lends helping hand to me”, she said.

She is now happy because she is able to earn sufficient to take care of the needs of her family. “It’s a job where one can earn sufficient provided you are ready to work hard..... I have been working in the night shift only to augment my income”, she points out.
Mudra has no immediate plans to switch the job. “I am quite satisfied with my work and want to continue as a coolie in the near future”, a smiling Mudra said.