Tuesday, December 30, 2008

it's SO not Christmastime anymore


Try as I may to get my sorry ass self over it, I experience a tremendous let down the week following Christmas.

Each of the seven days leading up to January 1 of the next year leaves ChristmasHolidayTime further and further behind. As it should. But so quickly?!?!? It's only been a few days post, and holiday decor looks faded and dated. 'Fast away the old year passes'. Indeed. Faster than the Nike Whooooooosh. It is OVER, baby. Collect your toys from under the tree, find a place to stash 'em in the already crowded closets and start vacumning up those dried pine needles from the floor.
(Though this year, I'm amazed at how my tree still feels and looks fresh at this late date. More so since I bought it early, and from a Christmas tree lot, yet. So no spent pine needles for me.)

Nope.
Post Christmas week is NOT my favourite time.

Maybe it's how that magical spiritual sweet feeling of good will towards
man/woman/child/allcreaturesgreatandsmall goes bye-bye and seems to make such a sickening metamorphosis into a
WhooooooHoooooo Party Animal Wild Drinkin' Adults Only atmosphere . . . just in time for a Rollicking New Year's Eve.
Hmmmmm.

Another personal effort then, must be made to counter the media madness to do the expected and instead ride off into the sunset Doin' My Own Thing.

Here then, is the encouraging bit.

Our (somewhat established) New Year's Day tradition usually rescues me from a true post holiday letdown. Traditionally, that's the day to go for a long quiet walk with family and/or friends. Fortunately, we've always lived near enough to the ocean or the woods, and can take advantage of that by ushering in the new year, properly nurtured, by nature. Wide expanses of beach and ocean. Big waves. Tall trees. Snow on the ground. Dampness and cold, with a promise of hot tea or cocoa - and a fire in the woodstove upon our return.

So thank you very much awreddy. For small favours. Nature walks. Getting cold only to be warmed again.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

my very fave contemporary christmas song

perhaps I've even posted it before....

Alright, JT!



Bonus Sweet Baby JT, circa 1970's:


Oooooh on a roooooooolllllll with 70's JT:


anyways.
have a good 'un.
be kind.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Thank the universe for...


So much on TV is crap.
Not all of it, mind you. Just most of it.

When I tire of channel surfing for something worth watching (the ultimate exercise in futility) , I head straight for TCM.
Turner Classic Movies.
There, I can almost always find something: movie, a documentary on films or an interview with the moviemakers. Yes, I loves me some movies.

These last few days I've opted to stay around the homestead and putter (or as my Brit friends say - potter). A good deal of this pottering time has been spent on my latest knitting projects. Settled on the couch or in a comfy chair, I can sit and click the sticks for hours.

Just me and the needles. And yarn. Sometimes I knit in absolute silence. I do like the quiet. At other times, I crank the tunes. Loud.

If all else fails, there is TV: A home improvement show. Some PBS. Dirty Jobs (ah, you know I just had to link to another Dirty Jobs episode).
But mostly - there is TCM.



Lovely.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

KISS



Keep(ing) It Simple(r), Stupid.

Simple quiet pleasures at holiday time
... then and now.
..
1. Then: Being mesmerized by Bubble lights on the Christmas tree.

2. Then and Now: Staring (as a kid, I could do this for what seemed like hours on end) at one's distorted reflection in a round glass Christmas tree ornament.

3. Now: Reflecting on Christmas past. Missing those who were there who are no longer here. Being sad for their absence yet happy to have shared the time with them. This helps with keeping the proper perspective.

4. Then: Christmas in our home was not focused on receiving oodles of presents. Santa didn't come down our tiny gas faux fireplace. (We went to see him downtown San Francisco at The Emporium). Because Santa didn't make house calls, we didn't hang Christmas stockings. My family did decorate a tree, sing Christmas carols, drive around to see decorated houses and visit with relatives / friends. There were just a few smallish gifts to open on the 25th, and they were very special. One year, my favourite present was a plastic mesh basket which contained days of the week panties. You better believe I wore the right panty on the right day. Another year, it was (the original) Barbie (in black and white striped swimsuit = WhooooHooo!).

Otherwise, playing with the shiny tinsel on the tree kept me pretty happy.

5. Then and Now: Every year, there is joy to be found in holiday displays, clear, cold crisp nights, sparkly twinkle lights and the scent of freshly cut pine.

You know what?
I'm not feeling so Bah! Humbug! this year. Go figure.
Here's why.

The increased commercial hyperbole of a Consumer-Driven Christmas has me moving towards adopting non-participatory status. Post T-Day, I'm ready to take (real, not virtual) flight to evade the pressure to get into the holiday groove.

This year I finally reached a breaking point and am streamlining to the best of my ability. Embracing the slower, quieter (yet still sparkly) moments surrounding the December holiday. Sharing quality time instead of getting caught up in equating holiday connectedness with the overkill of abundant, superfluous gift-giving. No longer a rabid shopaholic, I now suck at over-gifting anyway, so earn a 'D' if not an 'F' at the frenzied consumerism encouraged at this time of year. I release myself from even trying.

I'm reminded of those simple pleasures. I want and need to get back to 'em.
Zero'd in. Focused.
Simplicity may well be my holiday salvation.

Truly - more is not better. Less really is more.

As Leonardo Da Vinci put it so eloquently:
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication"


Thursday, December 04, 2008

It's beginning to SOUND a lot like Christmas...


Holiday tunes are fine.
Ye olde standard Christmas carols are mo bettah.

It's a rare occurrence anymore to hear a bona fide Christmas song on popular radio stations. I grew up listening to old-style Christmas carols. I still expect to hear them during the month of December.

For many a good reason, holiday music at this time of the year
has gone generic. It's all about snow, cold, warm fires, parties, presents and rockin' around the Christmas tree. Understandable, considering all the end-of-year celebrations that are not Christmas-related. All that is OK-fine with me. And so we are reduced to Christmas Music Lite. Which is also OK-fine with me. For the most part.
(Exception: I run screaming after the first few listenings of 'Santa Baby' sung by anyone other than Eartha Kitt)

Yet I do miss the good ol' Christmas carols. You know what they are.
The ones about Baby Jesus. Sung by choirs and choruses. In perfect harmony. A cappella. Or accompanied by a few instruments. A full orchestra for those amazing spirit-lifting crescendos.

To fulfill my need for soulful Christmas music, I sought out and subscribed to a 'Christmas Classics' station at Pandora.com.

Hearing those classic songs transports me back to childhood - to a time when Christmas felt most magical. Less to do with any clear religious conviction and more to do with holiday ambiance. That may sound a tad heathen, but what it is is what it is.

Imagine just how lovely for a little girl in the 'hood to entertain imagery of a starry night, a manger used for a babe's cradle, 3 wise men bearing gifts (myrrh?!?), barnyard animals...it's tough to fathom such ethereal things when living in the underbelly of a big bad but wonderful city.

O Holy Night style Christmas music.
Voices raised in joyous song.
Other worldly.
Peaceful.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

T-Day: the essentials



Tomorrow, I will be especially thankful for what I consider The Essential Three foods
on my T-Day plate:
1. Turkey gravy.
2. Steamed white rice.
3. Cranberry sauce.

I am also happy that there is no shopping list of gifts to buy/exchange.
That the day's decor involves minimal, if any - decorations.

That it's mostly about gathering up some nice people to...
Eat.
Rest.
Eat some more.
Relax.

Best to keep this one holiday as basic as possible.
Food. Fun. Family. Friends.

For the next day - all CommercialXmasHell is officially unleashed.

(sigh)

Oooooh - almost forgot.
The Fourth Essential:
4. Homemade pie with real whipped cream over top - or on the side. Or both.

Have a good one.

Be thankful.
For something.
Anything.
There's lots to choose from.

Keep it simple.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Salmon Scales



Let's talk fish.
Salmon.
Store bought.

Why is it that salmon I purchase from the grocery store - not have scales completely removed?
I have a bone (rather, a scale or twenty) to pick with butchers who fail to completely
descale salmon. Whassamada you no scale mo bettah?

Few enjoy a meal of salmon with scales attached.

Attempting to scale a fish when the meat has already been sliced and exposed is no easy task.
Scales flick all over the place, landing in the flesh. The piece of fish has to be rinsed in order to remove the flicked-off scales = water on the fish flesh = watery fish flesh = less flavour when cooked.

Faced with a partially scaled salmon, I often end up slicing the fish skin off completely. Trying to remove the skin without also shaving off a good deal of the meat is quite the challenge. I can wield a sharp knife with the best of 'em and get the job done, but hey - this is NOT my idea of a good time (grumble grumble).

A friend suggested an after-the-fact approach. First, cook the salmon, then remove and discard the dreaded scaly skin. I think this a poor solution for several reasons - one being that scales can harbor bacteria. Bacteria abounds on our foodstuff without deliberately cooking it directly in.

Still, there are those who don't mind a bit of fish scale with their fresh salmon.
Sushi-on-the-fin?

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

how much off?

Just about every Monday, I head out to lunch and a bit of errand-running-shopping with the DollinkGalPals. A convivial time is anticipated - almost promised - and yes - every Monday afternoon - is delivered - to all in the group.

Before deciding on which eatery for our lunch, the following ritual is oft observed: each of us pulls from our purses - % coupons. Clipped and filed away for an occasion such as this. 15% off the entire bill, 20% off one lunch, 2 meals-for-the price of 1, purchase 2 meals and the lesser priced one is free, etc.

I chuckle to myself as we rifle through our coupons, seeking the best deal for a meal. There's something downright endearing about the seriousness each of us takes in the commitment to save a dollar here or there. Precious bucks they are too, state of the economy and all.

Shopping follows lunch. Wandering through the local shops, we again pull out any %%% coupons that might be applicable to our purchases. 'Discount' certainly speaks volumes. Sharing in the saving of a buck or two or more is half (50%!) of the fun.

'Robbing Peter to pay Paul' is an appropriate idiom for %%% shopping. Whatever money is saved by robbing a store from bigger profit is earmarked for use towards payment of a bill or two waitin' there at home, isn't it?

Once upon a time, the practice of %%% coupon clippin' n' shoppin' was the domain of us decidedly middle-aged-domestic-diva types. However, it seems to be a new world out there as I've been witnessing an increase in %%% coupon shopping by shoppers-in-general.

What about you?
How often, if ever, do you shop using %%% coupons? If you're in the
%%% groove, then this is for you.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

take time for cute

It's mid- November.
Actually, we're coming to the END of November.
Unbelievable.

So much on every burner. Lots to think about.
It's good, then - to take time for cute.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

for dinner tonight...


... comfort food.

Chinese bacon is savory, yummy, fatty.
Planning to cook some of it up in fried rice, with a generous sprinkling of green onions. I'll toss in chopped up scrambled eggs (it's more likely that I'll be scrambling the eggs in the pan with the meat). A handful of peas for color.
Fresh ground pepper, soy and oyster sauce for additional flavouring.

Cooking tip: Many Chinese restaurants in this country toss in a pinch or two of granulated sugar into the almost completed dish, then stir the rice mix a few times to fully incorporate the flavours. The sweetness from the added sugar is barely detectable, but adds appeal for the 'Western palate'.

To offset all the fat and salt, I'll be serving the rice with a heaping helping of plain steamed zucchini.

Then - maybe a ice cream sundae for dessert.
A big sundae. With chocolate sauce, whipped cream, toasted almonds, and a maraschino cherry to top it off.

Comfort foods.
For today is absolutely, as has been stated - an historical one.

A day fraught with excitement and anxiety.

Monday, November 03, 2008

On occasion, a shorty post is best...


... introducing: Simple Pleasures
(aka Cheap Thrills).

Simple Pleasure = using a wooden spoon to stir with whilst cooking.

P.S. Also, for me ~ long wood chopsticks are a 'must have' kitchen tool!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

'the interstate'


It's been on my back burner for awhile ~ that drivers outside of California tend to refer to state highways (i.e.: I-80) as 'the interstate', which of course, they are - 'I' for interstate. Yet - here in California, we usually say 'Just get on 80' (or other highway number designation). You don't often hear drivers call '80' or '5' using the (to my ears) more formal 'the interstate'.
Or do we actually say 'Get on the interstate' and I'm just not paying attention (surprise surprise).

Some time ago, I traveled a lot in the eastern U.S., which was when I first noted judicious use of the term the interstate (as well as the turnpike, for that matter). [Check out the labyrinth of interstates on the eastern half of the map - wow - the interstate must have some real meaning there!]

The other week, an acquaintance (from Omaha Nebraska) and I were in a rental car, tootling around the environs of Las Vegas. Sans GPS, we turned corner after corner navigating back streets and main streets towards our (shopping) destinations. Though content to meander thusly, she did keep wondering aloud which way 'the interstate' was. Time and time again, she stated 'We need to get on the interstate', as if it were a lifeline (which, in many ways, it is).

The interstate.
The interstate.

Do Californians not utilize the word 'interstate' as much because most of our daily/ weekly driving is within the state? We drive the 'I' roads, but don't usually refer to them as the interstate(s). Do we have less need (or desire) to make frequent drives across state lines as often as those in other states might? From The Bay Area, it's a 4+ hour hop into Western Nevada, should you even wish to go there....but to Oregon or Arizona - for many Californians - is beyond the scope of an easy day's drive. Consider the length (less the breadth) of Calfornia's size and it becomes obvious that considerable effort / time is required to venture out of state....into and through other states... where the interstate would lead us.

Could it be that drivers from other states rely more heavily on access to 'the interstate' to get them the-hell-outta-Dodge on a regular basis? As in 'I'm going to jump right onto the interstate to get-the-hell-outta-Dodge today!' For those needing to escape Dodge on a regular basis, does the interstate hold more significance?

Do we in California not say the interstate quite as often because California is the proverbial end of the interstate line, therefore we don't go by car beyond the state (west being accessible only by boat or plane) and only on occasion venture back (eastward) or north or south to neighboring states?

Is this state actually more like an all-inclusive island, then? With no real need to obsess 'interstately'?
To be sure, some may view California thusly...

In any case, the phenomenon of the interstate is something to ponder... at least on a lazy Tuesday morning when I should be cleaning house, it is...

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

essays on race, racism and white privilege


For example:
These essays by Robert Jensen.
This is stuff no one really wants to hear about, read up on, investigate or understand.
Or do they?
And who are 'they' anyway?

Hmmmmm.
People of color, when prompted - can usually expound quite generously on the topic(s) of race, racism and white privilege.
But.
Who's.
Listening?
Usually.
Other.
People.
Of.
Color.

On b's blog, I try to make it a point to avoid writing posts that have to do with religion or politics.
Views on these subjects are generally so ingrained (due to successful media and/or parental and/or societal propagandizing) that they are - typically - and absolutely - unyielding.

Religion and politics are social constructs.
So is 'race'. Uh-huh. Though that concept can hurt the wee brain cells (we tackle it another time, OK?).

In my humble view - far too often, rigidity of belief can be ensconced ever more firmly by mere mention of other perspectives ... I do it, don't you? Yet I don't think my views serve to hurt, damage or create disadvantage for others...

So ~
why now and why here amongst merry cherry posts on craft and art and food and shopping and popular movies and nostalgic missives on growing up in the 50's and 60's and Beatles4Ever and DollinkThisandThat (with an occasional pissy curmudgeon post about Borg Tooth Technology?) do I wish to 'make mention', then?

Within the climate of the upcoming presidential election, I digress...
for it's all hitting waaaaaay too close to home.

Bonus: More 'fun' reading on media portrayals of race/class/gender/sexuality.
Also: Peggy McIntosh has much to reveal on the subject of white privilege.
(I especially appreciate her views on male privilege and white privilege as being denied and therefore protected by that denial. WhooooHoooo -'Double indemnity' if you happen to be male as well as 'white'!)

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

fun guy to watch >>>and you learn stuff too >>>



>>> Mike Rowe >>> provides a lot of chuckle as well as plenty of info when he's giving a try of all those no-one-really-wants-to-do-but-someone-has-to-do-them 'Dirty Jobs'.

If you're someone who's always been interested in 'how things work' - catch an episode of 'Dirty Jobs'. More often than not, you get to see Mike Rowe engage in physically messy yucky watery scummy dusty grimey inky slimey and/or smelly work situations.

Tonight's show had Mike Rowe investigating the workings of a sewer treatment plant. It was especially off-putting since I was watching TV in the living room whilst eating my dinner.
Raw sewage and roast pork = Euuueewwww.

But -
enough about my bad habits and back to the show:
Rowe gets goofy and offers educational stuff.
A winning combination.

~ The episode on view above is at a baby-chicks-processing-factory ~
P.S. Here's a bonus video clip - featuring the popular topic of 'poo' on the show ( recycled cow poo - oh how very green).
P.S. Again: OK, here's part of an episode of 'Dirty Jobs' that is NOT so poo-related.

Friday, October 03, 2008

true confession #5,369



It's time.
I risk of sounding harsh, but am waaaaaay overdue in stating this:

I do NOT enjoy receiving group e-mail 'forwards' of jokes, anecdotes, sentimental or inspirational photos/poems/whatnot.
It may be true that I love and adore the sender, but NOT what has been sent en masse by that dear one to all in his/her e-address book - including moi.

There are those special someones who don't bother to write personally, yet
are so thoughtful to include me in a cattle call All Points Bulletin. This is actually kinda sorta almost ... hurtful... and reads more like 'You're important to me, but only to send some junky e-mail forward to'.

Sorry - but - Ptui.

With group e-mail forwards, it is particularly peeve-worthy to find:
(1) a listing of the e-mail addresses of EVERYONE else who is getting the same forward forwarded to them.

(2) It is more than a tad irritating when the messages are HUGE in size.
Though I now have high speed delivery, getting over-sized mail still requires some waiting (all the while I'm thinking while it is loading - 'Who the hell sent me a mongo-sized group forward or photos that haven't been properly reduced for e-mailing?!?!?).

(3) More so when those huge pix included are (inadvertently?) duplicated twice or thrice.

(4) Patience is tested to da max when all previous comments to that forward are included in the e-mail sent my way. I really don't care to know who said what or why. Who the hell are these other people anyway?!?!?

(If you must 'forward', at least do it the right way to protect yourself and your recipients.)

Sure sure. I know. Everyone is busy.
But - way too busy in this short life to build or maintain social contacts/depth of relationships without resorting to becoming 'Forward Happy' (not a phrase coined by, but very much appreciated by - me)?
Hello?
Make some time? Like - isn't life about those relationships?

If a friend wants to share a thought with me, wouldn't it be nice if he/she did it as a one-on-one e-mail with a wee accompanying personal note. 'Thinking of YOU', 'Look what I found that made me think of YOU'. ' Check out this crazy link to something of interest to the BOTH OF US'.

I might even consider reading the thing if it were presented thusly.

Even so, I'm still going to delete that sucker of a forward - within a second or two of receiving it.

'Nuff said, save that I really and truly do adore my e-mail buddies - just wish they'd gently and with great love - remove me from their 'forward list'.

P.S. Oooooh - check this out: a like minded sistah with an acid tongue! She speaketh what I dare not on this blog - for - truth be known, I also swear like a sailor (must be in the blood) but do not wish to offend the sensitivites of
my more delicate readers...not yet, anyway.
..

Thursday, September 25, 2008

to rip or not to rip

Just look at that pretty section of knitted lace.
Now look closer. Towards the top.
See it?
A mistake.
The pattern 'shifted'.
See the shift? You can tell by the vertical lines between the leafy shapes. Those
lines are supposed to stay constant - straight - consistently parallel - not move over a few stitches at the whim of the knitter.

Arrrgh.

Mistakes in knitting. One is faced with a decision: to rip out and start anew from where the mistake happened, or let it go and knit on?

With the more complicated knitting projects I've been taking on, my goal is to re-do my mistakes, rather than casually knit past them as I've always done in the past.
Furthermore, to make an adjustment from the original design could cause problems with future rows as the pattern repeats itself.

So - I did the right thing.
I ripped it out.

Lace has to be undone a stitch at a time, rather than
with a quick pull to rip back all the bad rows.
Labor intensive, this lace stuff.

Then -
I made the same mistake again.
Egads!
How can?!?
I ripped it out a second time.

Many hours (and heavy sighs of frustration) later, the mistake has been corrected (it was a stupid mistake made over a dozen rows down) and recorrected. The knitting is back on track again.

It's been said that making mistakes when knitting, then correcting them - helps one to better understand the art and craft of taking needles to yarn to create beautiful fabric.

I certainly have become a master student - learning more than I ever bargained for regarding knitting lace in general. Getting into some serious one-on-one time with understanding stitch construction is surely beneficial fodder for ye olde brain cells.

It exhausts and delights me.

The finished item will be a shawl/stole.
5' in length.
At this writing, it's not even 18" long.

Aicheemama.

P.S. Lace knitting: something of a challenge, yet very rewarding.
One has to be mindful, lest the design 'shift'.
Hmmmmmm.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Make mine Hamburger Helper


Ten years ago, during a transition period in our home/housing situation, DollinkDaughterJrS and I moved into an apartment together:
Our place was on the second story of a two story apartment complex. It had two nice-sized bedrooms (her bedroom had TWO closets). Two full bathrooms. We had an entry way, a kitchen, dining room, living room.
There were two (?) big hallway closets, a linen closet. Almost more storage space than the house I live in at the present time...

Right off the living room via a slider door was a balcony-lanai. There was a big tree deciduous tree right outside for privacy and a bit of nature-always-on-view.
Carport.

The apartment complex had a large, attractive community room (free video rentals!), exercise room, handball room, two swimming pools and a spa. Lots of biking and walking areas. Well manicured green grass. Trees. Flowers.

Nearby shops, restaurants, grocery stores, banks, et cetera.

We lived there for a year.

During that time - we got into the ease-evils-aesthetics (?) of Hamburger Helper.
Ooooh - the varieties! Our local market always ran specials on the stuff, so we could
stock up.
So - we ate a lot of it.

Hamburger Helper became my Kraft Mac N' Cheese of choice.

Sure, it's full of sodium and weird non-food chemical thingys added for flavor, color
and texture. But - it's quick to prepare. A hot meal in minutes. It looks like food. Tastes like food.

Yeah - I loves me some Hamburger Helper.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Turn around...



(DollinkFriend
C's recent comment over at fakeittillyamakeit prompted this blogpost.)


The song 'Turn Around' was written by Malvina Reynolds.
These are the lyrics:

TURN AROUND
Where are you goin' my little one, little one?
Where are you goin' my baby my own?
Turn around and you're two
Turn around and you're four
Turn around and you're a young girl
Going out of the door

CHORUS
Turn around
Turn around
Turn around and you're a young girl
Going out of the door
(Turn around and you're a young wife
With babes of you're own)

Where are you going' my little one, little one?
Little dirndles and petticoats, where have you gone?
Turn around and you're tiny
Turn around and you're grown
Turn around and you're a young wife
With babes of your own

CHORUS

Where are you goin' my little one, little one?
Where are you goin' my baby my own


In the decade the song was written/introduced, 'Turn Around' made the rounds amongst acoustic guitar strumming folkie circles. It was even featured on a TV ad. The tune and lyrics are really quite timeless. The song resurfaces now and again as a poignant reminder of how fleeting childhood is.

Here is a version I like very much - very sweetly done
by a YouTube member
.

As mommy to two DollinkDaughters, the simple poetry of the lyrics tug at (the sappiest of) my heartstrings - big time. Hearing this song gets me pretty darn choked up. In a good, life-affirming way.

Ah - of babies and parenting and love and letting go so it can go on.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

That guy O' Toole

Peter O' Toole.
Not just another pretty (well, I think so) face - or distinctive voice.

(I'm a big fan of voices that others may find a tad weak - those with a rattle, slight 'thinness' or even 'sandy'. The topic of voices could be another blog post unto itself, actually.....
O'Toole's voice is particularly captivating because it alternates between strong and fluttery).


In his acting and personal life, he's been up and he's been down. Many have, of course - trial and tribulation being par for the course of life.

Watched Peter O' Toole on TV today ~ in a 1991 flick: 'King Ralph' - with John Goodman in the title role.

At first, the finely-honed O' Toole and the ever-haphazard Goodman seem the ultimate mismatched onscreen pairing. Yet, both actors succeed at overcoming the incongruity of their odd coupling and manage to convey a convincing connection between their characters. Good on ya, boys.
All told, 'King Ralph' is a bit of a fun romp, lite fare, satisfying.

So -
back to Peter O' Toole. I sez to myself, I sez ... this guy deserves a HUZZAH or two or more. I mean, he is truly fine.

For me, Peter O' Toole was perfection in 'Lawrence of Arabia'. The 3+ hours of this mega epic is always quite an effort to view (no ladies, and all that sand!). But it's worth the effort, for O' Toole's acting can mesmerize. I get to scrutinizing even the smallest of his onscreen actions and hanging on his every word...

Likewise, as Reginald Johnston in 'The Last Emperor', Peter O' Toole demonstrates how riveting his delivery of even the simplest of scripted dialog can be.

Of O' Toole's (often very) memorable lines, my Mom even adored his kitschy 'I want all you cats to shape up!!!', an exhortation which he wallops with great aplomb in 'What's New Pussycat?', replete in crazy costume and wielding a whip.
(sorry - I could not find an accompanying YouTube video).
'Pussycat' is, admittedly - not one of his classier roles, but what the hey, it's O'Toole. He pulls it off.

Mom also enjoyed him as Chipping in 'Goodbye Mr. Chips' - yes, even with the singing.

HUZZAH!
HUZZAH!!
HUZZAH!!!

Friday, September 05, 2008

rediscovering Fosters Freeze




This could be good or this could be bad.
Good and bad being relative terms and all...



This summer, I've been to Fosters Freeze 3 times.
Thrice may seem an infrequent number of visits to some, but for me - that's a lot.

In the last (too many) years, I've eaten at that particular fast food franchise -
maybe - once every other year - or less.

27 + years ago, you could find me at Fosters Freeze a few times a month (so the cycle is coming round again, it seems).
Why does my recollection of this trivial act zero in on a time period almost three decades ago?

In 1980, I was pregnant with my second child.
The obstetrician's office happened to be across the street from a Fosters Freeze.
I'd go to my monthly appointment, get weighed in, the OB would declare me in fine preggers health and I could rest assured that baby-in-utero was growing nicely.

After seeing the doc, I'd get my rapidly expanding, unwieldy pregnant bod (that is to say I ended up waddling rather than walking) over to Fosters Freeze for one of their yummy corn dogs and/or a medium or large size soft-serve cone (I like the half n' half, maybe because my baby-in-utero was hapa - hee hee).

Towards the end of the 9 months, monthly visits to the doctor became weekly. So did my post doctor trips to FF for corn dogs and soft-serve.

After the birth of baby, I dropped off the Fosters Freeze wagon and went on to health foods, organic this n' that, even vegetarianism for a brief time. More time passed, and my diet morphed into a bit of this to more of that and then to something a bit more balanced: gourmet food, comfort food, fruits and veggies, less meat, more meat, hearty fare, lite fare. Even fast-food fare has played a significant part.

Yet not much FF fare.

Last year, I found myself craving a milk shake. A good milk shake. A thick with ice cream milk shake with flavor that is 'not too artificial'. Short of making my own homemade shake (which is really just a whole lot of ice cream blended with a tiny bit of milk), here was a chance to find the best milk shake in town.

My first stop was the local Fosters Freeze. I ordered a strawberry shake.
Oooooooooh - it was gooooooood.
Seriously YUM.
Cold and thick and chunky with real strawberries. Drinking that shake made me downright light-headed with joy. Brain freeze from the iciness could have attributed too...

This summer, I went back for another shake. Tempted to try their vanilla or chocolate, I again went for strawberry. It was just as delicious as before.

Recently, a friend of mine disclosed to me that she treats herself to a FF soft-serve cone EVERY DAY. DollinkFriend R claims it's part of her 'necessary female daily calcium intake'.

DollinkFriend R met me at FF yesterday and both of us ordered up a soft-serve.
She got her usual: a medium sized vanilla.
Mine was a medium sized half n' half. Dipped in chocolate.

Yup.
It's just as good as ever.
I am once again hooked on the tasty offerings over at Fosters Freeze.

Dang.
(read: I'm predictably habitual in my food cravings...)

P.S. Whoooooaaaaa! Did any of you early readers notice my major faux pas with mixing up my pregnancies?
Big time Senior Moment! Corrections have been made - but my mind - she is going going going....

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

I heart car storage organizer thingys


Last weekend, whilst browsing the odd n' end section of goods at my local Ross store, I bought this.
(Psssst - at Ross, it was half-price the MSRP)
It looked to be the perfect storage accessory for my car - to contain bags of groceries for the long drive home from the market. Hmmmmm - no more bags of food rolling around in the back storage area of the vehicle - wouldn't that be nice...

Practical-for-specific-use item - and then some:

Yesterday, I set the (foldable, collapsible) bag across the length of the back seat. I proceeded to fill it with stuff I typically take with me for a day out: portable crafty projects, numerous books and magazines, an extra pair of shoes, my camera, a sweater, additional bottles of water, snacks, stuff to be mailed, borrowed items to be returned to friends, items to loan to friends, etc.
These things are generally set directly - and neatly - on the seats or in front of the passenger seats on the floor of the car. They too eventually end up sliding here and there during the drive.

I took off down the hill to see friends. Zipped around town running errands. Nothing slid around and off into hidden nooks, crannies and difficult to get to recesses of the car.

At the end of the day, unloading all my unconfined items from the car generally requires several trips from car to house and back to car then back to house again.
No more!
Now, using the two openings on the sides of the (collapsible fold up bag), I can lift the entire container with everything in it.

Cool!
So cool that I went back to Ross today and bought two more. A second one for my car and one for HD's truck. I really like that these things fold flat when not in use. Though I doubt they will ever NOT be in use.

Check this out.
And this.
(both very clever, but I prefer my containers - more all-purpose, don't you think?)

P.S. If you can't find a bargain price on the Case Logic version, the similar, but even bigger bag pictured above is from thi$ $ite: http://www.online-car-quotes.com/v/products/180/

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Scrubba Scrubba


I love soap.

Wonderful beautiful quality soap.

Such a good thing.

I luv it when bars of soap are called
'cakes' of soap (must be the food reference).

Fresh new bars of high-quality soap are a delight to the senses.
Scented or unscented.
Some are organic, rough around the edges and resemble blocks of cheese.
Others are smooth and polished.

French Triple-Milled soap is my favourite.

I'm excited to use a hunk of handmade soap with a rustic look. Or opening a brand new cake of the triple-milled stuff.
( I especially like the round soaps that are wrapped in that crispy parchment like paper....).


New cakes of soap.
Smoothly silken or textural and bumpy.
Shiny or dull.
All are full of sudsy promise.

Lather up with a cake of French-Milled soap, and the daily routine of hand and body washing becomes an absolutely luxurious experience.
We can all use a touch of sensuousness in our day, no?

Mmmmmmmmm.
What I really mean to say is Yummmmmmmmmmm.

Friday, August 22, 2008

GUFFAW!!!


Yours truly crawled out from under her rock yesterday to 'go to the movies'.
I was getting pretty impatient with the fifteen minutes of coming attractions until this ad came up on the big screen.

I'm guessing everyone (and their mother) knows of the E*Trade Baby, but this was my first viewing. Sometimes it really does feel like I don't get out much.
I certainly don't watch much TV.
To be sure, I don't watch SuperBowl.

At the end of the commercial...in the relative silence of the movie theater...with a few dozen moviegoers seated nearby...
I....
GUFFAWED.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The Saga of the Boxy Lady Sweater

C'est fini!

I've been inspired by a friend who takes advantage of the more leisurely months of summer as a time to finish her UFOs = UnFinished (knitting) Objects.

UFOs are items not yet completed (more often, abandoned) from the previous year of knitting. More often than not, UFOs are often responsible for Knitter's Guilt.
(Another major source of Knitter's Guilt is Knitter's Yarn Stash)

Like my friend, I too have a stash of UFOs looming like a dark cloud over my knit conscience. This summer, I too planned to complete a few, if not all, of them.

Smaller, less complicated to finish UFOs came out of the back of the art n' craft closet first. A little tote bag and a couple of felted pincushions. HaHa. Done.
Super gratifying.

Next: the (dreaded) UFO sweaters.
Pictured above is the easier of the two UFO sweaters (yes, I will probably bore you with the second nightmarish one in a future post). I started this one ...gosh, who can remember how long ago. It's been 3 or 4, maybe even 5 years since casting on?
Not bad. Not good either.

Anyways.

At the very start of this project, I was heady with anticipation of a homey hand knit-by- me sweater as the end result of much labor - which, for me - always seems to include blood, sweat and (this might be my trademark in the creative process...) tears.

The ingredients were assembled: well-spun wool yarn (in a deep wine color, tweedy and heathery with black throughout), a simple classic pullover sweater pattern, high quality knitting needles.

My knit mojo was fired up and raring to go.

I blissfully knitted through the first section of the sweater - confident of a quick n' easy start to finish project. HaHa. That should have been my first clue: being overly confident at the get go. It's never that easy, is it?

No sooner was the first section near completion when the otherwise straightforward pattern instructions turned on me by introducing something called 'short rows'.

Huh?
Whaaaaa?
A brand new knit term for me.
I eagerly set down to learn this technique.

Struggling with the directions on how to knit short rows, it wasn't long before I realized that I just couldn't manage it.
'Hide the wrap'?!?? Where?!? The whole short row thing frustrated me more than any other knitting obstacle ever had. I asked fellow knitters. They tried to show me. I couldn't get it. It simply can't be done.
At least not right now and not by me.

Oh well.
Try try try again later. In time, the whole short row thing will come to me...won't it?

Rather than stop knitting the sweater altogether, I cast on for the other front and two back pieces and knitted them all up to the point before having to make those short rows. I then committed cardinal knitter's sin #211: I lost interest. Abandoned the project. Bid it good riddance with a hey nonny nonny.

I brown-paper-bagged it, along with an exclamation of 'to hell with short rows!'

On to new knitting ventures!

Then the inevitable.
UFO / Knitter's Guilt caught up with me.
Some months ago, I finally got my head wrapped around the concept of short rows (it really isn't that hard)(It's all about timing when it comes to learning some things). Since I'd made a commitment to 'finish the UFOs during the summer', I boldly rescued aforementioned UFO sweater from the black hole of abandoned projects.

Onward!

Typically, I have no idea where I left off on any UFO. In addition, I've forgotten the 'rhythm' of that particular knit project. Every handicraft has its own pace, flavor and beat. You get into the rhythm and move through it. It's 'being in the zone'.
Those breaks in the momentum are tough to reconcile when one goes back to a long forgotten UFO.

Tip: It behooves all knitters to jot down comments right on the instruction pattern as to 'this is where I left off' and 'needs 1" more here', etc.. These are reminders to oneself so that going back to an abandoned UFO isn't quite so daunting.

OK, get back into the groove. Make a sweater happen out of this mess.

Next challenge: trying to determine if this sweater was going to fit me after all.
Uh-Oh. I'd almost forgotten that this thing not fitting me was a good, to very good - possibility.

Each individual sweater section I'd knitted thus far seemed destined to remain curled and furled (stockinette stitch tends to roll in at the edges). Getting all four pieces to lie flat so I could determine size/fit was quite the unwieldy task. Worst of all, the whole sweater was looking - kinda small.
Granted, I was smaller when this sweater was begun, but I also neglected to knit a swatch, so don't know if I was knitting it smaller or larger than the correct gauge (cardinal knitter's sin #1)

Unwilling to admit defeat just yet, I knitted on (yep, those short rows). So far, so good. Next, I boldly (quite brazenly and with wild abandon) sewed the pieces together (with yarn).

After sides, fronts and underarms were seamed and all loose ends woven in, the pullover was looking pretty gnarly.

Hmmmmmm.
It was finished, but unblocked. (blocking a sweater makes all the difference between OMG it's so ugly > to > Hey! Not bad! It even looks like a sweater now!

I tried it on.
It fit poorly.
It looked BAD (not as in good bad, but bad bad).

Not to be undone, I blocked it. Pretty aggressively. The submerge-fully-in-water-and-squeeze-out method.

Oh goody.
After blocking, the sweater looked considerably better.
Whilst laying flat on the drying towel, it looked downright GREAT.

After it dried, I tried it on again.
It still fit me poorly.

The shape of the sweater is boxy like the pattern is designed to be.
Why did I not remember that 'boxy' doesn't suit me?
Is it because the woman modeling the sweater in the knit magazine was slim, thin and
long-waisted (and in her early 20's)?
I'm not slim, thin or long-waisted (nor am I in my early 20's).
What was I thinkin' ?!?

Damn.
Foiled again.

Crap.
Shite.
Ptui.
Groan.

...

On to new knitting ventures!

Monday, August 18, 2008

Don't need it...


...but I want it.

Yep.
In spite of the ongoing purge/reorganization of my personal belongings aka 'Stuff', it's still difficult (not always, but at times) to ignore glossy color ads for New Stuff To Buy.

Though I can successfully bypass the latest in technics, cars and clothing; new titles in books: well, that is another matter altogether.

A soon to be released book speaks to my obsession with All Things History of the Wild West (real or imagined).

Granted, 'The Wild West Catalog' appears the quintessential coffee table offering, replete with pretty close-up photos and a minimum amount of text.
However, the appeal of history-in-a-nutshell combined with glossy pictures has me salivating for a looksee and/or a must have it - will buy it.

Regarding books, my mind has been a bit fatigued lately from 'too many books on the bedside table syndrome'.

Long, slow but enjoyable reads of late include 'Mayflower' (Nathaniel Philbrick), 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn' (Betty Smith) and 'Girl With a Pearl Earring' (Tracy Chevalier). 'Girl...' is a re-read for this month's book group. What makes reading so tough going for me is that I don't read one book at a time. My tendency is simultaneous reads. A few pages of this book one night, another few pages of that book the next.
Yes, it does lead to moments of plot confusion! Doh!

Can you believe?
I'm still reading (and just about done) 'Two Years Before the Mast'. I can only handle being at sea for a few pages at a time. A might waterlogged, I'm still happy to be along on Richard Henry Dana's journey. It's another adventurous as well as significant first person historical narrative on the opening of the American west. Aha. Recurring theme....
Although most of the nautical terms in 'Two Years...' aren't familiar to me, I've been savouring every word.

Back to the aforementioned book I don't need - given another 6 months, it's likely 'The Wild West Catalog' will be found on a big box book seller sale table for %%% off.

Hmmmmmm.....

%%% off speaks to another of my obsessions: Good-Stuff-at-Cheap-Prices.

You can bet that I'll be keeping a watchful eye out for it.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Old School


When I was a kid, the start of the school year always, but always, coincided with Labor Day. The first day of school was the day after Labor Day Weekend.

Back-to-School month = September.
We're talking tradition here.

Not that I have to, but I simply can't get used to this beginning to mid-August start of the new school year thing. It just don't seem right to me.

This morning, I saw kids all dressed in their new school clothes - complete with brand new backpacks - as they waited on the corner for the school bus.
I sez to myself, I sez 'Whaaaaat?!? It's still the middle of SUMMER!'

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Truth be known...

My fo' real true taste in furniture/architecture...

...is not Victorian Georgian or Queen Anne.
...is not English Cottage.
...is not Asian Feng-Shui Persuasion.
...is not Mid-Century Moderne.
...is not Cabin-In-The-Woods.
...is not the Eclectic Mix of my actual home.

It IS Cartoon-ish Architecture.
It IS Cartoon-ish Furniture.

Heavy on the whimsy.

The future of decorating Memory #1:
Playland-at-the-Beach, San Francisco. There was a frieze of little fake house fronts atop the rides and concessions that I used to stare at longingly. Concentrating very hard, thinking that if I wished it, those fake fronts would turn into real mini houses. I spent far too many minutes and hours wishing it could be possible to shrink down and enter one of those little doors or open one of those tiny windows and climb into welcoming rooms...

The future of decorating Memory #2:
During the same era (1950's-60's), Children's FairyLand in Oakland had child-size structures built to represent fairy tale dwellings (even the Old Woman In the Shoe's shoe!!). Kids could climb onto, run around, and sometimes even GO INTO these little buildings. The furniture inside was built in/fastened down, of course. Some could be played upon, others visible through open windows, but inaccessible. Such restrictions never took away from the fun I derived from fantasizing about the day (soon) of being able to live in one of these play houses.

Guess what.
It's still possible to indulge my childhood appreciation for the cattywompus, curvy, organic shapes of cartoony architecture. Ain't that sweet?

Case in point: the design of the buildings in Disney's 'Mickey's TuneTown'. Mickey and Minnie's homes sport the same curvilinear lines of fantasy design: windows, doors, chairs, tables, lamps, curtains, kitchen appliances, piano, shelves....all built in disproportionate sizes (to real people) and all slightly askew. Lines that should be straight - are not. Curves are exaggerated. Colors wild.

If you've been on the Pinocchio ride in Disneyland, you might recall the vignette of Gepetto's workshop/home, with all the cuckoo clocks tic-tocking away. Vibrant colors. Warm, inviting curves and arcs. Even the lighting is happy.
Toooooo cute!!!
Every dang time I see that 'cartoon room' - I fight the urge to jump off the ride and LIVE there.

Just when I thought the only possible venues to enjoy playful shapes in 'furnishings' and architecture are to be found at amusement parks (even Vegas offers little to nothing in the way of cartoonish design), I happen upon this website.

Sooooooo cooooool!

Another example of my beloved fantasy aesthetic: fave characters from Disney's 'Fantasia' are (no, not the cute little toadstool-mushrooms, but) the mops and brooms (though they do become a tad nightmarish in the film).

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Gum Cute-Ah

I confess to posting a goodly amount of outta-focus photos...though...
this pic proved a bit too blurry-of-the-face for fake it till ya make it blog. More often than not, blurry artsy is acceptable (to me) - but this photo didn't quite make the cut to post over there at fakeittill.

However, I could not resist sharing this sweet mug somewhere anywhere - so here it be.

Gum Cute-Ah is not her Chinese name.
It's May Lon.
Excuse me.
May Lon-Ah.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Enchanted

When 'Enchanted' was released last year, it piqued my moviegoing curiosity.

The movie trailer presents the film as something of a parody (correct), satirical (yes) as it borrowed with tongue-firmly-in-cheek and with nary a hint of shame - from just about all of my fave Disney Princess Classics. They can do that. Carte Blanche. It's Disney, after all.

One could deduce that, at the very least, 'Enchanted' might be trite. However, the promise of lite entertaining fare for the downtrodden is something not to be ignored.

'Enchanted' arrived, via Netflix, in my mailbox the other day.
Because I add movies to my Netflix queue weeks/months in advance of receiving them, it's a challenge to remember what'all was put on my list. Consequently, it's usually quite a surprise when the DVDs arrive. As in: 'What movie is this and who the hell put it on my queue?!?' Thank goodness the folks there keep proper tabs.

It's been desperate times these last months, and I needed an uplifting movie (having just viewed 'Golden Door' and 'Pan's Labyrinth' earlier this week), so I popped 'Enchanted' into the player to while away an hour and a half - multitasking, of course, by unraveling yet another knitting project. Suffice it to say that there is always another kniting project to 'cleanse'.

At any rate, I was banking on some escapism...

Ha.
and
Yay.
Who knew?!?
Such a good time to be had in 90 minutes time!
Admittedly, I'm an easy mark and highly susceptible, but get this - by movie's end, I felt quite oddly, yet pleasantly ~ transformed and undeniably uplifted.
Disney often does that to me, y'know.

One Word Movie Review: 'Enchanted' = ENDEARING

P.S.
'Pan's Labyrinth': Waaaaay more violence than my poor emotionally ravaged (yes, a bit melodramatic, but hey) soul bargained for at this time. However, I appreciated the Monster at the Feast (my moniker for it), which was amazingly well-designed and so very awesome...

'Golden Door': Great insight on the plight of the first wave of immigrating southern Europeans: especially worth seeing for the Ellis Island scenes, as well as the swimming-in-milk scene at the end.
...
and here you Sicilians thought you were just Plain Ol' White Folk...or was it I who thought that?

Sunday, July 20, 2008

California's Gold


Last week, Huell Howser took me where few have gone before:
to the top of the TransAmerica Pyramid - right up next to the lightning rod!

OK - so it was on his TV show, 'California's Gold' - but - nonetheless, t'was a thrill.

I've learned a bit (from Huell) about California over past years of watching his show.
F'rinstance - about The Old Plank Road and The La Brea Tar Pits. Granted, the Plank Road and Tar Pits are remotely (the former) or oddly (the latter) located; and are considerably less romantic than the view from the tippy top of the Pyramid, but there I be - right along with Huell - and very excitedly so.

Huell Howser has been here, there and everywhere in the 38th state- looking for California history, geography, geology, folk lore, good eats and entertainment. In my humble, tagging along on Howser adventures via his shows is TV time: well-spent.

Why is that?

First of all, there's his on screen persona: Huell Howser is a big, rugged 'growed man' - looking more like a ski instructor or football coach than one who goes exploring the nooks and crannies of California's byways for his jollies.

Originally from Tennessee, he delivers his exclamations with a southern twang.

On very sunny days, Howser removes his everpresent sporty wraparound sunglasses to reveal a 'raccoon eyes tan'. What a dork! You've just got to chuckle.

What I like best is the way Huell Howser displays the curiosity of an enthusiastic 5 year old - delighting in even the simplest discoveries to be found in a world much bigger than himself. And yes, there is something oddly charming (at least to me) about Huell's point-blank naivete style of questioning his hosts and fellow travelers, as well as his reactions to what he experiences.

Huell Howser's joie de vivre about All Things California is just so ~ well ~ gosh-darned ~~~ infectious. He shouts, he laughs, he jumps for joy. He interacts playfully with his guides and with passersby at the sites he explores.

What's more, he appears to genuinely enjoy what he does.

Some viewers can't stand Huell Howser's dweebie style.
Me? I LUV it!

Watch:
Huell on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Huell Whale Watching.

P.S. Another Howser Production worth checking out:
California's Green

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Bring on the DUCT TAPE!



Twiddling those thumbs?

Pictured is a pretty darn cute tote you can make with DUCT TAPE.

When you're done with that, here's another cool DUCT TAPE craft project.

~ DUCT TAPE: WILL CRAFT~

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

The Final Frontier?


Thanks to the 'How Things Work' module on my Google homepage, I share with you
this peek into the not-so-distant future. Here's a video for those of you (like me) who need moving imagery to better understanding.

As law/technology have already BorgTooth'd us, it logically follows that space travel for the (monied civilian) masses looms on the What's Next? horizon...

'Fascinating'.

A few words about the video: In typical Infomercial style, it only takes a few minutes in - and you want one (in this case you want to GO) NOW NOW NOW.
In addition: Space Travel = Adventure + Art + Family Values: a winning combination, no?
Personally, I'm torn - as I am yet in retro thrills mode - having just invested in slowing the pace of life with a new-to-me recreational activity ~~~ making 'nary a footprint' via a slow-moving, manually-operated, quiet, environmentally-friendly, flat water KAYAK...

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Still tired.


Still not feeling up to par.
But not cranky.
Feel like crying.
For love.
For life.

Yet I'm happy to wake up each day and be given another opportunity to deal with it all.

P.S. Many Thanks to YouTube musical video contributors for spot-on visuals I've been able to use on my recent posts when words have failed me oh-so-terribly.
(And K.D. Lang - OMG).

Monday, June 30, 2008

I'm tired



I'm cranky.
I'm frustrated.
I'm not being productive.
I feel lazy.
I feel discouraged.
I am sad.

So it's time for a good ol' tune by Emmylou. A sweet song may or may not lighten my mood.
Either that, or make it even more dismal and gray...

BorgTooth revisited


July 1, 2008.
Californians
: We will be assimilated.

There's already been quite a bit written on this topic (here's an opinion I particularly enjoyed reading, as it mirrors my own view). However - considering my previous rant on BorgTooth Technology, I cannot resist a revisit to this topic...

If you ARE planning a shift to BorgTooth technology for the sole purpose of wearing an earpiece whilst driving (the idea of hands-free talking making it safer for all of us on the road) - by all means.
But.
Can we err on the side of basic cell phone social etiquette (whassssssat?!?!?) for once, and remove those implants once out of the vehicle?

Please?

Friday, June 20, 2008

when bad things happen to good ipods



Imagine my dismay ------ when I
pulled from the drawer ------- my (older, 20GB)iPod ------turned it on ----
and nothing ----- happened.

No friendly Apple icon.
No soft whirring purr.
Nada.
No booting up and readying to offer up my fave tunes.
Instead, there was a blank screen.

I pushed at various areas of the controls.
Nothing.
I plugged it in for a re-charge.
No indication of a successful electrical connection.
Or of any connection.

I stared at the blank screen for awhile.
Then set it aside to deal with on another day. Or another week.

There are days when I simply cannot handle trouble-shooting (yet another) technic which goes into operation failure: my newish iHome task lamp appears to be kaput, Panasonic stereo shelf system has a funky skippy CD player, older boom box has developed CD play issues as well.
Arrrrrrrgh.

It baffles, troubles and frustrates me to pay 'good money' on electronic gizmos that soon malfunction, even with gentle use.
Like most folks, I'm willing to make an investment and feel assured that my handy dandy new communication-entertainment devices will be utilized for a good long time.

Apparently my expectations are too high.
I find that the fancy new gizmos soon stop working and/or break and/or OMG - all too soon - become OUTDATED.
Rarely is a break an easy fix; and replacing the not-so-old with the so-much-newer can empty the coffers pretty darn quick.

So I stubbornly hold on to the semi-working, busted or outmoded devices until until until...well, too long.

Why aren't they sturdier? Why aren't they better designed? Why don't they LAST?

Then it dawned on me: the techno delights we use for work and play...are...in this day and age....largely....disposables.
As in Use and Discard.
When it's time for a new one, you're SUPPOSED to dump the old. Then run out with another wad o' cash in hand and immediately replace the dang thing.
In a high-consumer society, to do so is to maintain the status quo.
We do our part in keep the land-fills filled, eh?

I am admittedly 'old school' in my thinking that high priced purchase items like televisions, stereo systems, appliances and the like should be purchased and happily used without incident for at least a decade, if not two. I mean, didn't it used to be that way?
[Read: the good ol' days...]

But today?
UH-UH. NOT NOW. NO LONGER.

'They don't make 'em like they used to' is an understatement.
You can't just replace a burnt out tube or do a bit of DIY soldering of loose wire connections.

Consider my old 6-transistor radio (circa 1960's). As a pre-teen, I had one that lasted many years longer than most of today's Mp3 devices. My cheapy old hand held portable radio took a lot of abuse in usage, and all it ever needed to keep going was a new 9-volt battery now and then...

Because manufacturers want 'in' on sales when the market is hot for a product, electronic doodads are often sold before operational kinks are sorted out.
Quality control? Pssssseeeesh!

We end up buying stuff that isn't up to snuff (perhaps the standards have actually lowered?). Flimsy inner workings and chintzy outer housing seem part and parcel of construction. Consumer reviews reveal this sad truth.
Don't blame it solely on China. Pride in crafting sound products does exist there. Or did. Factor in: greed and bottom line profit margin of both parent company as well as of the manufacturers.
Hello capitalism - alive and well.

Cost to build is low, but prices to consumers remains high.
Isn't it true that we've all got the disposable income? A couple hundred or a few thousand or a few thousand more to toss in the garbage now and again.

Advertising (and peer pressure?) entices us to buy more stuff. We get on that happy consumer high, and our newest acquisitions operate satisfactorily and keep us smiling for a little while before it becomes necessary to buy again. The same thing: albeit new, improved, and in cooler colors. Perhaps with a few more bells and whistles. For a few more buck$.

What's wrong with this picture?
(Oh I almost forgot. It's blank.)

P.S. After doing a bit of online research of 'blank screen on iPod' - aforementioned iPod is currently back in operation. That is to say....at this writing, the battery.... is.... charging. However, that does not necessarily mean that it will play even after fully-charged...the screen may very well go blank again... ah well....one tiny step at a time. No big whoop, nevertheless I'm thrilled. Best to keep my expectations low...