Freeway Fun

This amused me greatly:

Because he's all proud of his RAM truck but it's a Ford...

This is me and it's the Jungle.

A Life Beyond #15

I suppose it's only fair that there be some bad with the ridiculous good that some places have.
For example, when one's back yard looks like this:

It's only fair that the entire house be carpeted in leopard:

And there be this guy in the bathroom:

This is me and it's a weird world I visit every day.

Top Of The FB Page Today

There are days when FB says just what I need it to say to make me laugh. I especially like the darker of the two blue ones:

 

This is me and that was amusing.

That's What It Is

I finally figured out what it is about the Barefoot Contessa that bugs me so much.
The Food Network is one of my favorite channels and I have watched Ina Garten for years. Her food looks fancy but good and I have learned some very helpful things from her show, but watching her has always made me angry as well.
Today I figured out why that is.
The woman NEVER cleans up after herself. She mixes, spills a little, but never wipes the counter down, she never cleans the blade of her knife, never puts the food scraps in the compost bowl/basket/bucket/pile, never scrapes out a bowl, never puts a bowl in the sink when she's done with it, and puts the goopy spatula back down on the counter and does not give it another thought.
I know I am not a spectacular housekeeper but I can manage to empty the food processor and get it in the general vicinity of the dishwasher before moving on to the next step.

This is me and I feel better now that I know what it is.

Brave

Much as I wanted to, I can't say that I was impressed with the storyline of the Disney movie Brave. (Yes, I only just now saw it.)
Having it be a Scottish heroine was a cute idea and the three little boys were adorable.
The animation was typical. The closing credit sequence was beautiful.
The plot. My goodness. So. Many. Holes.
Why was the father an idiot? I hate it when the man is made out to be a doofus.
How was this the first the daughter was hearing about a marriage being necessary?
Considering the control the mother has over the room, no one could think her weak and downtrodden.
Considering Merida's opinion of the boys that were competing for her, why did she want to shun all vestiges of civility and become just like them?
Plain and simple, Merida was a moron. Every time we turned around she was doing something stupid and running from responsibility. And in the end she didn't really learn anything. Oh sure, she missed her mother but she didn't choose to accept the responsibilities of her station. Gah!
Also, what about all the nudity? So completely inappropriate.
Not a movie I will be recommending to anyone.

This is me and can someone please get that girl a brush?!!

I Didn't Miss Them

This is not my first comment on the federal government.
I doubt it will be my last.
I am so irritated by this government shut-down / resurrection nonsense.
First, why did we elect such stupid, immature representatives?
Next, why do they think blaming the people / claiming that "the people have spoken" in any way makes sense?
Next, WHY do we allow these schmucks to continue to get paid - at all, let alone during the shut-down - when all the federal employees - who had nothing to say about the shut-down - did not?
Lastly, does anyone else think we should consider a third party? If enough of us vote for Floyd next time we might make a difference.
Frankly, I was very intrigued when the some of the states decided to take matters into their own hands and reopen the national parks with state money because the federal guys couldn't get it together. If that had gone on long enough I could see the states becoming independent countries and we could have forgotten all about the losers in D.C.

This is me and it always comes back to "the people get the government they deserve."

Ode To A-Mazing

It's Rocketgirl's birthday...and despite my not being skilled with the rhyming odes like she is; a tradition is a tradition dangit.
Rocketgirl is an amazing person.
She has three fantastic children and that's not by accident. She is an amazing mother.
She has played with two renowned bands - still plays in fact - and rocks it every time! She is an amazing musician.
She grew up with three brothers - amazing accomplishment right there - and welcomed all the girls they married with open arms and big smiles. (Even though we're all a little nuts.) She is an amazing sister.
(I can't swear by this 100% but there are those who say she is an amazing daughter.)
Don't be taken in by her 'I'm-not-talented' and 'I'm-not-pretty' lines.
She lies.
She is both talented and gorgeous:

She is an amazing woman.

This is me wishing a very, very Happy Birthday to Rocketgirl!!!

Plus Seven

It would seem that my parents were correct. The older one gets, the faster time goes. I'm not sure if it's because there is more to do or that there's less of my life left and my mortality is sneaking up on me, or what it is but if you can believe it, it's been a whole year and it's my birthday again.
On the one hand it's been a heck of a year, with a lot of things coming and going. And on the other hand, it has passed so quick I can't believe it.
Some of the major events, in no particular order:

• Tarzan accepted the assignment to be bishop(!) of our ward (local congregation) and has been alternately flustered, frustrated, absent and elated at the events and responsibilities of the calling.
• Because of Tarzan's reassignment, I was released from being Relief Society President and was placed back in Primary - NOT the President - so I am happy.
• Another faction was added to the odd list of things I do in the day; in the form of drafting for an architect. Both better and worse than before.
• My hands are refusing to cooperate and I have perpetual trigger fingers it seems.
• Celebrated six years of this blog.
• Based on the title of a post, Tarzan bought me an iPad Mini for Christmas. I find it really fun - books and games and things - but I still wonder at the necessity of it. I feel spoiled.
• Celebrated 12 years married to Tarzan. TWELVE years. That's a long time people.
• Tarzan and I took a road trip in a really fancy RV with Stingy, her daughter and a hired guide through the southwestern states.
• Got to go to the theater to see Jekyll & Hyde.
• We pulled out the apricot tree in the front yard and the weird, termite infested tree in the back yard and replaced them with an avocado and lime tree respectively.
• Watched Les Miserables in the theater with mixed feelings. Our only trip to the movie theater this year.
• Caught some possums in the back yard.
• Welcomed a new nephew and two new nieces. (Not all from the same parents.)
• Visited Rocketgirl for 10 days! Met the Condor and partied hard even though it was freezing rain outside in APRIL!!

It has been a very busy year and this blogging in feasts and famines is kind of challenging. I think I need to work out a schedule.

This is me and I hope I'm getting wiser.

A Life Beyond #14

This is one of the weirdest houses I have ever been in. In the back yard, they have a fenced off tennis court, another fenced off area for the pool, an outdoor bar and a koi pond with a bridge and turtles:

The powder room did not disappoint:

Mirrors EVERY-where. Even the ceiling.


This is me and I think I would be afraid to pee in there.

Reemergence

I would like to say that I took a blogging hiatus in protest to the government being stupid and shutting down because the entitled, spoiled brats in Washington can't get along.
But we all know it's been way longer than that since I posted anything. (Has anyone seen September?)

This is me and I'll try to be back.