A Visit to the Longs....

So today is day three of my "staycation". LOL that word just kills me, because well, my entire homelife has been a staycation, it's just so darn fun living here! Here I am having bachelorette dinner....pizza delivered in a box! YUM!!

As some of you know, on Friday we got cable so now my computer is super fast and as a bonus, we have some television. We decided that we want to watch the Olympics for the first time since we moved here in 1992....so whichever Olympics came last before that. But of course we pick the "lets boycott the Olympics because it's in China and all that" year...so we'll just see! Then, if we haven't totally turned ourselves, or our child into zombies, we might even keep television. Right now though, I'm sorta watching Tyra...and what the heck? What a waste of time....before that I watched Morrie Povitch..man, that dude has gotten old since the last time I saw his show in 1992! What a bunch o crap, i'm telling you!

So after I looked around and noticed that my house was a mess because I am on staycation and therefor do not have to do dishes, pick up my clothes, or clean up all the sewing stuff strewn all over the house, I thought I oughta spend the morning cleaning up a bit and then head over the the store for some unneccessary plastic objects, beauty products and cleaning supplies.

So I headed over to the shampoo section and looked for something not too crappy. I hate drug store shampoo if ya really wanna know, but since I live in the boondocks and the local beauty supply store went out of business... I perused the sorta high end head detergents. There was a mom/teen daughter combo shopping at the other end of the aisle. Suddenly the daughter yells out, "HENNA AND PLACENTA SHAMPOO!!! WHAT? THEY USE PLACEN....."

The moms hand claps over her kids mouth and through gritted teeth, says, "Will you please......."

OMG I thought I was going to fall over on the floor laughing. I had to turn my head, grab my shampoo and run for the checkout stand. I laughed out loud for a good 5 minutes after that. Coulda peed my pants it was so funny! Thank you, little teen, that was just hilarious but I just wanna ask, where do they get that placenta from anyway?

So then on the way to the checkout I was stopped by a sudden olfactory memory. It smelled like warm flowers and reminded me so much of Bangalore. I had to walk back and forth a few times to figure out it was the heat coming from the coke fridge that was heating up some scented beauty products on the "Last Chance" sale shelf. I peered into the shelf to see what could be making that smell and that's when I noticed this:

OK but, you have to understand, it had a sale price, and it said LAST CHANCE! Now, what I wanna know is, why would contraceptive foam be marked down? Was it expired? If so, why buy it? Did it prove ineffective causing unwanted pregnancies? If so, why.... OK no, I have a feeling that this LAST CHANCE item is going to end up in the dumpster out back.

So there you have it.
Have a lovely night! It's time to break out the bachelorette party supplies.

More Pics Of The Old Neighborhood

Venice July 2008

Um..... maybe I dont like that cable guy afterall.....My blog is broken people! Wahhhh!!!!!! I can post, I can comment on your blog, but I cannot go to my blog front page. The message in the dreaded grey box reads:

Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site Operation Aborted....any suggestions?

**UPDATE** For now, I have to use firefox.....I have no idea what that means, or if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but if you are having trouble accessing my blog, please use Firefox...it worked for me.
In other news...I have just taken Gary and LR to the airport. They are off to Florida for the week to see dad/grandpa and Aunt Judy. I have an entire week to myself!!! Hurray!! Um, I mean, I will miss them so.
I have just driven from SFO, like, 80 miles, having to pee the entire time! Do you ever have that feeling where you find yourself thinking..."I could pull over and pee there"...."or maybe there"....ok...80 miles worth of that side of the freeway type imagining and can you believe it? I didn't pee until I got into the orchard and ...LOL...ok, I'm like....400 yards from my house but I just had to get out of the car and pee in the orchard because I was dyinggggg! I practically flooded the road! Ok TMI I know, but after that drive I have also had a shot of whiskey or two and I am quite silly.
Have a lovely weekend!

Get Modern!

I heart my cable guy?

Can you say Suuuuupahhhhhh Fast?

Having an online store, and living out in the boonies and all, we thought it was time to get some faster cable service around here, and while we were at it, some television.

When I googled "cable guy", I also got this dude....

Um, I didn't know there was such a rush on cable guys! So, am I really sure I want TV afterall? I am a little afraid of this Larry person.

Little Rita is already lying on the floor in front of the television trying to catch up with 11 years of no TV. I'm not sure I like this idea.....keep you posted.

Have a lovely weekend!

Thursday Portrait

More pics from trip to LA last weekend!

I lived on this walk street in Venice from 1980 to 1991. We like to take a stroll up the walk everytime we come to Venice, have a chat with whoever might still be hanging around, and admire our initials that we carved in the sidewalk too many years ago.

Did I ever think I would be returning here one day with my daughter?

HELL, YES!

And here I am dipping my toes in the Santa Monica Bay. Did I go swimming? Nope. Too dirty. But Mr. Ratburn went swimming....perhaps that explains the funny green growths he's acquired since that dip!
Have a lovely day!

Came, Saw, Conquered

Scene of the crime.

Hi, I'm back from Los Angeles!
Now, I'll bet you are all waiting in antici.........pation for my reunion news!
So hmmnn, where shall I start?
How bout this?

So here we have, Mrs A, who I have been friends with since 1975, moi, and the lovely Mrs S, wife of Mr S, whom I have known since 1977 . We are all dancing together with Mr Ratburn because the other Misters did not want to. Their loss, as you can clearly see! Yes, the shoes have been ditched. Mrs and Mr S and I wander the haunted hallways of the Queen Mary.

uh oh! I think I see some of the infamous ghosts right now!

Some of us found it necessary to get a breath of fresh air to uhhh...clear our heads.

I don't think we're showing enough teeth! :P
So, are you wondering why there aren't pictures of my friends and I cavorting with other alumni? I have to tell you, had I not planned to meet my pals at the reunion, there really would have been no other reason to go. The food was mediocre, drinks had to be paid for on top of a steep ticket price, the music...Play that funky music, white boy? GAAAAAGGGG ME! And would you believe it? Above all, I recognized....2 people other than who I came with.
Still, I am happy that I went.

Mrs A, Mr C and Mr S goof around at our cool table.

~***Please read the comment section for interesting insights into class reunions from Bryan. I have to agree with Bryan completely......and an extra little treat which I did leave out until SSS said it was ok to mention...Yes, we did get in trouble for a funny smell coming from SS and Mrs Pizzas room. NOT MINE! Hee heee blame it on them. It's true that we could possibly have been tossed from the ship for that stunt, but the security guards were both 25 year old, 110 pound little men who clearly did not know how to handle The Boss and her oh so calm in the face of danger friends!

Oh, I forgot to mention that one of my former male classmates is now female. Complete with long blonde hair, a tan, strappy sandals, size 12, and the LBD (little black dress), she looked marvelous! Kudos to her for showing up as the new her, and no doubt, the happier her.

55 Flash Fiction Friday

This weekend is my 30th High School Reunion. Do you think anyone will recognize me?
This 55 is for every high school class of 1978, where ever you are!

Of course growing up in Southern California....might just seem like paradise to you!
Have a lovely weekend!

1978

Dittos

Surfer bangs

Puka shells and flip flops

Farrah Fawcetts red swimsuit poster

Freddy Mercury in his orange checkered jumpsuit

Star Wars

All day on the beach

Baby Oil and Iodine

Frisbees at Seal Beach with Larry

Spinning LPs in Steves room

Cochise and Venice Beach

Diane and me and

Triple cones at Thrifty

Thursday Portrait

A Trip to the Slaveway

Cheeeeeeeeeese loaf....mnnnnnnn!

Quite frankly I am shocked they allow this stuff to be sold in California.

Freedom........freedom!!!!!! Freedom is the late night grocery store run.

I can't believe this! It's flying bottle o "butter"! Another California availability shocker.
You're such a good boy. Your mom would be proud.

Rock on, Lindsay!

Have a lovely Thursday!

Hey you guys, give me a break with the time zone thingies here, ok? I just woke up, it's Thursday morning, Mona dear! :P

Carhenge & Birthday Update!

Hmnnn...this gets me thinkin'

Carhenge....

Candybarhenge?

Beercanhenge!

Doobiehenge....

Burritohenge!

Cellphonehenge....

Twinkiehenge.

Baconhenge. ...one that made me laugh so hard....

fishstickhenge!!!!!!
and finally...

c**khenge!

OMG....I feel lots o projects comin' on

**as promised birthday update**

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUFUS!

YYYJuly 22YYY

Beautiful Child

Rufus performing Beautiful Child live with Joan and Martha.

Check out the blonde wig on Joan, hee hee!
Go ahead, watch it. Don't forget to sing along with the "doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo's"!

When I am older than all these goddamned hills

And there's no reason for my mind to be still

Oh, how i'll feel like a beautiful child again

Such a beautiful child again

When I have finally found my room filled with toys

Banging on my crib excited by noise

How i'll feel like a beautiful child

Such a beautiful child again

And when theres nothing to gain

Or bring me pain or pin the blame

On you or myself

And when they finally fall

These wailing walls and burning crosses

Gods twilight and all

How i'll feel like a beautiful child

Such a beautiful child again

~

Have a lovely day!

Blair Witch Woods

It's just random weirdness. Mr Ratburn thought I oughta say that so you all don't think I'm just losing my marbles or something like that, ok? And besides, he wrote that Blackberry song about that part of our woods, so I could not help it.

Have an awesome weekend, everyone!

Thursday Portrait

Sasquatch discovered in Northern California!

We all have a feral side....

Yeah I know its only Tuesday, who cares?

Have a lovely day!

Oops!

I accidentally smashed my Space Needle Sno-globe with a hammer.

I was in Seattle for the first time in 1965. I was four years old. I beat you! I even went in the Needle before you were even born! LOL

Poor Sno-globe!

Ack!

This video is so fricking funny. I just cannot stop laughing.....be sure to have your sound up! Enjoy.

Musical Monday on Friday

Oooh lookit here! Rufus and Ben Folds doing George Michael's Careless Whisper. The video isn't the best, but the sound is excellent.
I hope you will enjoy it as much as I am. Ok, I know you won't enjoy it as much as I am, but check it out anyway!

PS The video quality seemed much nicer at 3 whiskey am!

Have a lovely weekend!

***Thank you, Mike, for finding the new Rufus! You know I am thrilled!***

Thursday Portrait

The heat wave continues. Triple digits.

I'm cooling off with my personal mister. There's alot of that going around these days.

Have a breezy day!

Thinkin and Drinkin Part 2

You know, I consider myself a pretty tough chick when it comes to my whiskey. I don't know why, but for a little person, I can really throw back even though this drinking thing is fairly new to me.

Sure, I drank in college just like the rest of you! But that didn't last long. I just didn't enjoy it. Then in my 20's and 30's, I'd say I drank alcohol maybe 6 times in 20 years. Could it have been India that awakened my tastes for alcohol?

Now, in India I have drunk some pretty scary whiskey....Stuff that might have been made in someones backyard cow trough or something! Stuff that made the little hairs on my upper lip dissolve....but this...this...

...you knew I was a snake before you let me in....

This is cobra snake whiskey from Thailand.

Supposedly it's an aphrodisiac.No thanks!

Musical Monday

I'm recovering from heat wave and the farmers market. Mr Ratburn is in San Jo for the week. Little Rita and I will probably have to do some shopping. I probably won't do the dishes while he's gone, or clean the house either. Hee hee!

Have a good week.

This is a bit of live Joan Wasser from Warsaw just two weeks ago.

Enjoy!

Thursday Portrait, Happy 4th and all that.....

My Thursday Portrait is for the foot people. Enjoy. ; )

So I was looking for some cool post for the 4th, and you know how it gets on Youtube, one thing leads to another, and so this is what I chose. Make of it what you will. Fireworks are illegal where I live. Too much fire danger, and, if you ask me, too much smoke.

Bah Humbug.

Have a lovely holiday! Don't burn your weenies.

Uhhh....wow....

I ran into Bob today. Bob's the landlord, but since I have issues with the L word, lets just call him Bob, ok? Bob let me know that we were getting a new recyclin' bin next to our dumpster, and I told him I thought that was just great! Then I asked him about the neighbors dog and the fence that still has not been repaired.

I also let him know that since this dog has been around, I have spent over 700 dollars on my cats. (Vet bills, Kitmo, etc)

Bob asked me if I had seen the dog around lately. I said not for about two weeks but I just figured she was hiding that dog for fear of the rifle at ready on my neighbors back porch. Bob said that is what he also thought. That, and everytime my neighbor drove by the dog owners house, he made sure she saw him pat his rifle on the rack behind his head.

That's when Bob told me that my neighbor had gotten rid of the dog two weeks ago! TWOOOO WEEEKKSS AGO? WHAT?!!!

So, um, you know there I was standing there...shocked, the dog has been gone for two weeks and I have been tripping over these cats, and keeping them indoors, chasing them when they get out, panicing for their safety, spending way too much money, worrying, for two weeks longer than ...arghhh!!!!!

I don't know what to say almost. You know that smiley face where the eyes stare blankly ahead and the mouth is a straight line? (4th row, 4th one over)

Blink, blink. That face. That was me when Bob told me.

Now staring at all those faces makes me realize that I have felt most of those emotions during the dog/cat wars.

Ok, so don't think I just let the cats out right away! I am only going to let Oaty out when the neighbor is asleep or not at home, and Gupta....let's just say I am not ready to let her go out. She's still a naive stupid kitten, even though she outweighs Oaty already.

So that got me thinking, I wonder what made her send the dog packing? Perhaps she really did see that it was a terrilbe fit for this neighborhood, or perhaps she felt bad. Maybe the dog was too much work? And um, ok I'm evil, perhaps the dog took a quick little nibble out of a visitor! :P

~

In other news, sadly we have decided to close our art coop store in town at the end of July. With the economy the way it is, and the lack of energy and participation toward the shop, we just aren't making it. I think everyone else expected someone else to do all what needed to be done, and that never happened. In a way I feel like I could have really been the one to make the store survive, because my clothes do sell, but, how to run a shop full time, and also make the clothes full time? That is just impossible. So for now, I have a physical shop for one more month, and then after that, it'll be the market and my online shop.

It's cool. Que sera sera and all that.

So, I guess I'll just get back to sewing now, and the next time Oaty cries and scratches at the door to get out, I'm gonna let her out, dadgumit!

Have a lovely day!