Thursday Portrait

Harvey Pekar, disgruntled and underwhelmed writer of illustrated literature, has passed away at age 70. My hero....gaaaackkk!

If you want a fun way to know more about Harvey Pekar, please check out the hilarious film about Pekar which was made by none other than Robert Crumb and Terry Zwigoff, called American Splendor. It stars Paul Giamatti, of Sideways fame, and it's a hoot, I promise. Now, if you love comix, then you will love the American Splendor series which goes back to the early 80's! (yes, I have them ALL!)


Did you know that Harvey Pekar appeared on the Dave Letterman show a few times and each time, WOW what a scene?! You can find those goofs on youtube... here is just one and it is hilarious! Now what I love about Pekar and what he does best is poke fun at everyday life. One of my favorite schticks of all is when he writes about the strange things people buy, and conversations he overhears while in the grocery store line.
There is so much information on the internet about grumpy old Harvey that you could explore, i'm not kiddin'!



RIP Harvey, ya done well.
Although.....chances are you'll find somethin' to grumble about in heaven.

Have A Lovely Day!

This Just Makes Me Smile

click to embiggen

All the sons I didn't have!
Hampi 2008

Thursday Portrait

Here is my crazy hair. I don't know if I like it or not!

New skirt for my shop and favorite boots.


I would not dye my hair if it were this color, would you?

Shasta daisies, my favorite.

My dahlias. You know, I do not have a green thumb. Thankfully, dahlias come back double.
Anyway, I hope you are all having a wonderful summer. I am. I got a new shed made for my stuff. Now Gary will turn my little yurt into a mancave, stay tuned! I told him, Lime, that he needs a pink barbie tv to make the mancave complete. It is all I can do to not make curtains and froofy things for the yurt now that it is empty agian, but that will never do for a mancave!

Have A Lovely Day!

The Things I Get Talked In To...

So Little Rita wants to dye her hair. Thing is, her hair is this awesome shade of natural honey blonde coolness that no dye bottle color can top, and she's also about to try out for a gig as a junior dance instructor, and wild hair is a no~no. Still, she managed to appease her urge to dye some hair by making me the victim elected candidate.

I will show you the rest after I get the red stuff scrubbed offa my face!

Have A Lovely Day!

Friends from Goa

You know I am itching to get back to India again!

Have a Lovely Day!
181India ;)

The Cats Are Away....

Mr Ratburn and Little Rita are off to Flarhida to visit the relations for a week. I have lots of sewing to do, but, I will still be spending some time watching chick flix, drinkin, chatting on the phone and computer, taking out the trash, wasting time on fbook and other various get it trouble ables. Today I drove to SFO and back to deliver them to the plane, the traffic was horrendous and I ended up on the east side of SF instead of 19th....that meant another 45 minutes in traffic on top of the regular routine, 5 hours total for that drive! Then I stopped on the North side of the GG Bridge for a most breathtaking view, but didn't stay long, it was absolutely freezing on the bridge. (I do love living here...)
That was enough work for today...

Right?
The travelers have just called from Dallas/Ft worth...!
I'll be right here chillin!

Schools Out, For The Summer!!!!

Little Rita is off to high school!

This proud mom would like you to notice the gold ribbon with bronze medal which means she is an honor graduate, woo hoo yes I am proud! Little Rita also received a citizenship award, and a presidential academic award signed by President Obama. Way to go, kiddo!
Hey I am allowed to brag, I am the mom.
And by the way, she is wearing heels so I am not that much shorter than her, yet.
So, here we are, another summer on the way. Thing is, we haven't had much sun as of yet. In fact, it is still raining in Northern California, which is quite odd for June. I blame the mighty volcano. In fact, it was completely humid today which is so strange for the west coast, I was sweating my ass off all day, and no, it wasn't hot flashes.
Hope all is well in blogland, and please see below for the cutest Soul Sister ever!
Have A Lovely Day!

LIPDUB - Hey Soul Sister - UVIC 2010

VERY CUTE WATCH ME!

Nanci sings, Deadwood,South Dakota

When I was in my mid 20's, I got really into Nanci Griffith. She was just a little sweetheart. I loved her music. Of course, no one else but myself in LA would admit to liking Nanci Griffith, and because of that, I saw her live about 12 times, 3 or 4 times in the front row of little clubs and even in the front row of some well known dive on Hollywood Blvd whose name slips my mind.
Now the first time I heard this song, it brought tears to my eyes, and tonight while I was browsing on Youtube, actually looking for some Kate Wolf music, I ran across this performance.
It's lovely, and it still brings tears to my eyes, only this time, Little Rita saw me tearing up, poked fun and me and the song. She was, no doubt, waiting for the mandatory rap solo which never came.
I hope you will enjoy this as much as I do. Tell me if it makes you cry.

Justin Timberlake - SexyBack ft. Timbaland

Ok wow this is a pretty sexy song.... ;)

Soldier of Love

I'm really loving this tune right now. After all these years, Sade is still making lovely music. Enjoy!

Happy 5th Anniversary, Os! HNT!

HNT #1 Little Rita Face, originally posted on September 29, 2005
(age 8)

Little Rita Face May 18, 2010
(age 13)

So here I am, posting an HNT again after not participating for a couple of years now. But back in the heyday, I wanna tell you, I posted some rad HNTS. They were not such sexy HNT's, but fun and imaginative instead. (ok, there were some sexy ones, but you're gonna have to search) In fact, I am the self proclaimed Queen of Absolutely Creativisimo HNTS's, and if you don't believe me, check them out, they are all listed in my sidebar. I have linked some of my favorites here as well. My god, that was vain, but really, they are so cool!

Anastasia's HNT

UP HNT

Jodhpuri Chai Party HNT

Pilfered Paper Hospital Gown HNT

Ok, that's enough, if you wanna see em all, check the sidebar. So now, I want to say, congratulations, Os, for creating something pretty damn cool. I enjoyed participating for years, and having a creative outlet like that was fantastic! Now, I don't blog that often because I am working hard, saving up for my daughters college education. As you can see, time really flies, next thing you know, she'll be 18...
Happy HNT 5th Anniversary, Os!

Thursday Portrait

Me, the gnome, modeling a couple of my new skirts.

Oh, is it Saturday? Well then, we are either 2 days late or 5 days early, depending on how you look at it.
Have a lovely day!

A Susies The Boss RERUN: Theresa Gets Her Head Back

Originally posted in 2007, I ran across this and thought, well why the heck not post it again! We don't have many Barbies left in this house, just the ones I managed to save from amputation. Enjoy!


by Little Rita & MomHello everyone, Dr Chelsea here. Welcome to Half baked Hospital! I hope you enjoy our tour.

Today we will be undergoing a very difficult procedure......

Meet Theresa. She has come here today with a terrible brain trauma.


Now you can see my lovely Nurse Karen prepping the body for surgery. "Nurse Karen, bring me the head of Theresa on a platter!"

Wrong head!

Nurse Karen has retrieved Theresa's head, now we may begin attaching!


Voila! The operation was a success!



Nice job with the bandages, Nurse Karen!

Ogette, Ivy and Cross Dressing Ken Ken, who have come to pick Theresa up from the hospital after surgery, wonder why the doctor is lying on the floor.

"I've fallen and I can't get up, and I've dropped my hammer!", yells Dr Chelsea.

Not one to be upstaged, Nurse Karen makes sure to have the last laugh.

Ta~daaaaaaaa!

Due to Theresa's emergency surgery, Musical Monday will return later in the week.

Thursday Portrait

A couple of weeks ago we had our local yearly small town parade. LR played the clarinet in her school band. This weeks portrait is LR and I after the parade, strolling through town. You are not imagining it, she is 4" taller than me and still growing. Her feet are bigger than mine as well. I like that, she can't steal borrow my shoes anymore!
Now, LR just thinks outgrowing her mom is totally cool, and she points it out on a regular basis. Don't think I haven't noticed that she has inherited Garys stringbean physique vs. the panda bear option.And finally, LR has taken to comparing me with this little creature. I have told her, gnomes are only men, but she persists. Did you know the travelocity gnome doesnt have a name? LR and Gary call it Susie. ARgh! and, Gary made his own little stationery set, which consists of the travelocity gnome in greyscale, 4 inches high, and I am now finding little gnome notes all over the house! For the record, I am 5'1", that is NOT that short!
Do you think I could cash in on this name the gnome Susie thing?

Have A Lovely Day!

Still Think It's Worth The LOW PRICES?

Walmart To Pay $27 Million Over Hazardous Material Dumping In California

SAN DIEGO - Prosecutors say Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has agreed to pay $27.6 million to settle claims of improperly handling and dumping hazardous waste at stores across California.

San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis announced the settlement Monday involving more than 20 federal, state and local prosecutors and environmental agencies.
She called the settlement one of the largest of its type in the United States.
Dumanis says Wal-Mart employees were caught illegally storing and dumping hazardous waste at 236 stores and distribution centers across California.

If you need more convincing, please watch Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price
You can rent it on Netflix.
Support your local businesses!
Have a Lovely Day!

Thursday Portrait

Flashbacks from Hampi '07

Gman told me that I haven't posted in 10 days. Ok, Gman, this one's for you. Now, I gotta get back to work. Hope all is well in blogland.
Have a lovely day!

Apple Blossom Time!

Greetins' from the orchard!

Those redwood trees were knee high when I moved here....

Have A Lovely Day!
(achoo!)

Thursday Portrait

It's been awhile since I've taken a photo where I am not making a really stupid face, or one that doesn't showcase my panda bear figure (I plump up right quick -post India starvation diet!) Finally there is this one, and I apologize for the little bit come hither look, Mr Ratburn took the picture, and well, ya know....

Happy Thursday!

Too Many Eggs!

"do you want the last egg?"
"oh no! Oh no! No, no!"

"honey, can you believe we ate 36 eggs?"
"Yep"

"honey?"
"yes?"
"You're sleeping on the couch tonight."

Have A Nice Day!

Overheard

Fortunately, and unfortunately, we are having a lot of work done on this house that we have been living in for 18 years. The house really does need the work, but what a pain in the arse. Now I finally understand why my neighbors in their starter mansions complain when they are having "the kitchen redone".
"My goodness, there is dust on just absolutely everything! I am going to have to get the drapes professionally dry cleaned after this reeemoe!"

So lets talk about the handymen. Besides being here too early every morning, playing an annoying classic rock station in my yard, leaving cigarettes butts and taco bell wrappers around the yard, parking on the grass when I have a gigantic driveway, and dropping nails and screws all over the place for my tires to find, they are also slow as molasses. And since they are doing a lot of work on the roof, they keep popping up in every window! We live in the country and some of our windows do not have curtains, either. So, at least for my pain and suffering, do you think I could get a little of this to look at while they have invaded my space off and on for the past two months?

Of course not, I get two of this:
Ok but I have to admit, they can be pretty funny. Why, just today I overheard these two lovelies:

Young handyguy, proudly showing off his work to oldtimer handyguy:
"What do you think of that?"
Old timer (with front teeth missing so he whistles)
"I think it'ss crap!"
Young: "What's wrong with it?"
Oldtimer: "Everything!"
Young: gasps
Oldtimer: "well then, don't assk if you don't wanna know!"

Then later, the young guy is on a ladder and says to oldtimer:
"Can you do me a favor?"
Oldtimer :
"I don't do no favorss that involve me being on my kneess."

Have a lovely day!

Sing It With Us, Now!

Here comes Peter Cottontail
Hopping down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppityEaster's on it's way

Bringing every girl and boy
Baskets full of Easter joy
Things to make your Easter bright and gay!!!!


When you wake on Easter mornin'
You will know that he's been here
'cause you find those chocolate bunnies
Hiding everywhere! OH!

Hippity, hoppity, happy Easter day!!!!!
Have a lovely Easter, everyone!