There are these teeny tiny little bitty...

(not pictured here)

...gnat thingys that can be found inside our house during warmer weather.

I don't even know what they really look like because they only appear as tiny specks to the naked (or aging) eye. These bitty buggies are small enough to fit through the screens on our doors and windows, and they seem to be present in alarming numbers in the summer.

Because they're attracted to the warmth of artificial lighting, there is always evidence of
itsy bitsy gnat-ish bodies - who have flown a bit too close to hot light bulbs and drop dead around our lamps.

These miniscule gnat-ish types don't bite and really aren't much of a nuisance, save for the bother of having to periodically wipe their tiny carcasses off surfaces. The little guys are the least of my buggy concerns.

One of the biggest headaches about living in the forest is that eeeeuuuuuw - there
are so many BUGS. Every dang day, there are creepy crawlies invading inside the house that I use the bug spray on, moooosh with a heavy book - or run screaming from.

There is a plethora (and amazing variety!) of spiders, ants (the biggest black ants I've ever seen stomp across our driveway daily), millipedes, silverfish (a favourite food of California quail) and other Flying Insect-y Things in these forested environs. Even so, living here and dealing with them is a decided improvement over BIG CITY BUGS.

It's been decades, but the memories are yet vivid: of battling fast, sneaky, plotting, evil La Cucaracha in old flats and apartment buildings in San Francisco.
Really and truly...BIG CITY cockroaches...they are the worst.

[shudder]
[double shudder]
[triple shudder]

P.S. We don't have the perimeter of the house sprayed several times a year like some folks around here do (to cut down on the pesty bug population).
Should we?
Would that kill all the beneficial-to-wildlife insects as well as the unwelcome ones?

when all else fails...

I like to bring back a pleasant memory from days gone by.

Classic Indy

Ingredients for success:

• The Hero - an older (so what) Harrison Ford - he still wears it well.
• His Now-Older Sweetheart.
• A Special Surprise.
• Standard Issue Bad Guys and Gal with Suspicious Accents.
• The Greedy Fool Friend Turns Foe Save Him Anyway But Too Late Character.
• Some Olde Familiar Settings.
• Heart-warming sprinkling of In-Jokes/References.
• A generous dose of Creepy Crawlies.
• Snake (1).
• The Reliable Red Trailing Line on The Map to Show Where We're Venturing To.
• Those Gritty Warm n' Dusty and Gorgeous Jungle and Fast-Moving Water and Web-Filled Caves as Exotica locales.
• Action-Packed Scenes without Action-Packed Scenes Overkill.
• A Tidy Tie-Up of Rather Loose Personal Relationship Ends.
  
• Happily Ever After (?)....
• To be continued...(?) did ya happen to notice what was in one of those other, accidentally opened crates...?
  
• Here and there, some dialog that may require a wee bit of forgiveness on the part of the viewer to the scriptwriter...but hey.
  

Whaddayawantanyways?
All of the above: well worth leaving the theater with a big smile on your face...

One word movie review: ENJOYMENT

Of Tong Wars and Dragon Ladies...

A 'Must-See' documentary about 'Hollywood Chinese'.
Well, I must see it, anyway.

Though it won't be showing in this neck o' da woods.

'Round here, Kung-fu fightin' films are the more popular ones from the Asian film genre, since those movies help to perpetuate the comfort of The Myth. In my observations of the local populace, it is still not widely accepted that Chinese have much to offer of their culture beyond Chinese Food, Confucius Sayings (in fortune cookies, yet) and martial arts. Like who cares, right?

Nor did the Chinese have much of an historical presence in this region. Yet they did. Perhaps not in large numbers (exclusion acts of government legislation managed that), but very significantly.
No brag, just fact*.

So, no.
'Hollywood Chinese', in all probability, won't be a draw at the local box offices.
In time, ignorance and racial/cultural stereotypes may be dispelled. Education is key. This new documentary should/could be an eye opener. Yet, one has to wonder - who'all is going to be seeking it out to view, anyway - but those already in the know?

Ah well?

With little doubt, it will necessitate my traveling quite further afield from where I reside - for a screening of 'Hollywood Chinese'. Failing a lengthy 'Summer Blockbuster' (yeah, right) run, it'll be out on DVD soon enough. I'll probably end up owning it, and forcing copies upon my DollinkDaughters/DollinkGranddaughter, even.

* The other bit of irony I love to entertain is Leland Stanford doing triple rolls in his grave over the fact that so many of Chinese heritage have attended Stanford University. HeeHee.

(many thanks to my DollinkFriendJ for sending
me this link to director Arthur Dong)

The Blue Whale

We live in a recreational area.

Nature abounds:
Rivers, lakes, hiking-biking-horsebackriding-dirt bike- trails.
Superb scenic views.
Warm sunshine.
Refreshing cool shade.
Good smells.

Fresh air, clear water, tall pines, bluest sky.
Flora and fauna.
Forest birdies and mid-mountain critters.

Quiet.

So - maybe it's high time to get off our sedentary TV-watching butts and recreate*.

*recreate:
–verb (used with object)

1.	to refresh by means of relaxation and enjoyment, as restore physically or mentally.

–verb (used without object)

2.	to take recreation.

Yeah.

P.S. 'The Blue Whale' aka Necky Manitou II Tandem kayak.

Keep your knitting needles crossed...

for me - as I 'frog' aka 'cleanse*' yet another knitting project:

This jumble of partially undone knitting shows only a portion of the 148 stitches pulled out from a circular needle. After completing the 2/2 ribbed body of this sleeveless tank top/vest, I happily moved on to shape the armholes in the same ribbing, followed by working the front section (the ribbing continues) with simultaneous decreases for neckline and armhole. Oops, a little mistake here. Oops, another wee error made there.
Crap. Lots more weird things happening...

That's when I decided to rip out at least 1" of yucked-up rows to get back to the tubular body. Better to begin anew where things first screwed up (read: I screwed up).

It isn't going well.
The ribbon yarn is gorgeous and fun to knit with. At the same time, it's slippy-slidey stuff. What would normally be a straightforward pulling out of rows followed by relatively easy picking up of stitches has become something of a nightmare - disappearing loops and rapidly dropping knits and purls.

As the ribbon yarn continues to slip away from the rescue needle and down into the body of the tank top, I'm being forced to take out more rows to get to another workable section. Problem is, as the cleansing continues, the knitted piece keeps getting smaller and smaller and smaller...

This is where I am in the ripping out process. Last night (round about 1:00AM), I was trying to pick up every single one of those (damned) stitches with a straight needle. I failed miserably. Pulled out more rows. Tried again by feeding through with a tapestry needle and contrasting yarn. Things got worse. Yanked a few more rows down. Unbelievably awful. Even more rows fall away.
Eyes: glazed over.
Muttering: You-Don't-Want-to-Know-What-Expletives.
Frustration level: high.

However - I wasn't about to throw in the towel (er, yarn ball) just yet, though the project was abandoned for the night as I headed off to bed. It seemed a good idea to renew my depleting energy as well as channel positive knitting karma for the morrow.

We're well into a brand new day and it's time to brave the frogging/cleansing again. Now I'm armed with a smaller longer circular needle and a new 'trick' - shown here (see the video for 'Inserting a needle into destination row, before unraveling'), so it just may work...

[needles crossed]

* the term 'cleanse' is used by some of my fellow knitters - based on the notion that it feels so much better to 'cleanse' than to 'rip out' or even to 'frog'.

What's she doing now, I wonder?

Do you ever wonder what someone from your past is doing...now?
Sure you do - we've all entertained at least a casual passing thought about individuals whose lives have criss-crossed with ours.

But...
have you ever wondered what your first child's first pediatrician is doing...now? Is he/she still alive? Retired? Revered? Reviled?
Tonight I wondered.
So I 'Google'd' the doc's name - and found some interesting info.

This is what DollinkDaughter LLS' pediatrician is doing 'now'.
[The article is from a year ago].

Dr. Ramer was in attendance at the birth of BabyLLS.
I was a newbie parent and to me, Doc Ramer represented the Voice of Reason. I listened attentively as she dispersed medical baby-related advice. Her words were Gospel. The Doc encouraged nursing, Snugli Carriers, Happy Baby Food Grinders, cloth diapers, reading books to your baby and plenty of parent-child interaction via touch, speech and play. Ramer never dismissed my asking 'silly' and 'obvious' questions about parenting. She answered plainly, pointedly and with a sense of humour.

Moreover, the doc was kindly and fun, even whilst doctoring. She hugged my infant at every office visit and even kissed baby's (clean) bare bottom once. Doc Ramer called LLS 'fat' and considered it a compliment because the kid at least looked well fed and happy. Growth rate certainly met with the doc's approval.

When it was time to exit the Big City for the suburbs, I was loath to leave this doctor and switch to a new pediatrician. Ramer was my Primo Guidance Counselor at What-Life-Never-Taught-Young-Parents-
About-Raising-Babies Camp.
However would I cope without her gentle reassurance in regards to my insecurities about parenting?
Would T. Berry Brazelton's baby/childhood primers have ALL the answers I needed?
However would I/we cope?

We did as people do. We moved on. We found a new 'ped' in a new town. We adjusted.

Time passes (like nobody's business, it passes...).
Though we try not to, we do lose track of people who were once such important players in our growth, development and life experience. Daily musings about interaction with these folks start to lessen.
Once so vivid, our mental playbacks of these people, places and events, begin to fade.
Snippets of times past are reduced to blurry memories we file away in the back 4o of our memory bank.

Then, perhaps, decades later - we're prompted to recall a once significant
name, time or place.
Oh yes....so and so....Hmmmmm.....What's he/she doing now, I wonder?

In the case of First Child's First Pediatrician, the WWW provided a tidbit
of info in answer to my query. Cool!

'Just Google It'
Ya never know what you'll find.

games people play

peek...

a...

boo!

photos taken by DollinkDaughterJrS

Quote of the day...

'I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn't itch.'
- Gilda Radner -

HaHa.
I heard this quote a couple of weeks ago and thought to myself 'Oh yeah, that would be ME'.

Everyone knows of those infamous itchy labels attached to necklines. Some sensitive clothing manufacturers have taken to printing garment info directly onto the fabric at the nape of garments. Most considerate, and
takes care of a major comfort-in-clothes problem.

If only it were that simple.

For me, clothing issues extend waaaaaay beyond the 'minor' irritation of an itchy tag tickling the back of the neck.

In considering my wardrobe, it seems that clothing choices I've made over the years consists of things that just don't 'feel right'.
Itchy this, too tight that, too loose here, not fitted enough there. Slipping, sliding, pinching, twisted fabric. I confess to not having chosen well.

I do adore soft fabrics and generally go for fine silks, drapey weaves, touchable pima cotton and cashmere. I like the look, but can't stand the feel of, stiffly woven cotton. Consequently, few items made from firm weaves/heavily sized fabric make their way into my wardrobe. If they do, I rarely, if ever - wear them. Too crispy.

Each time I pull a fitted long sleeve, high neck garment over my head and onto ye olde bod, I utter a rather loud and sustained ARRRRRRRGGH. Once the item is on, I'm OK with the feel of it - for awhile. Until I start to feel the fabric chafing my skin...
BTW, I HATE wearing turtlenecks.

I don't often dress in layers because I can actually sense the shift of each layer of clothing upon the other.

Fitted waistlines on skirts and pantyhose invariably pinch my mid-section.

The crotch on fitted jeans drives me bonkers (which is why I prefer baggy 501's).

Clothes that ride up, shift and/or wrinkle easily are cause for daily fashion upset.

Don't even get me started on ill-fitting bras and panties.

In addition to clothing issues, it seems I'm overly affected by a host of natural elements: heat, cold, brightness of the sun, wind, humidity. Too much or too little and I grow uncomfortable and/or my mood changes (to - can you believe - worse) and I begin to obsess on the offending element.

If that isn't bad enough, there can be problems for me with temperature controlled environments as well: A/C that has been cranked up too high, when there is not enough air circulation in a car...harsh or unflattering artificial light....distracting noises....the deafening decibel of extreme restaurant din....

Inspired by Gilda Radner's cute quote, I only meant to click 'round the net for some 'fun n' lite' info on how folks deal with itchy clothing. Instead, I happened upon studies for Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD!), aka 'sensory issues'.

Gosh.
The things one can discover about oneself whilst composing a simple blog post. It really does give me pause.

Yet another syndrome.
Not fun or lite, this SPD stuff is serious.
At the very least, it is itchy.

'Oh yeah, that would be ME'.

[G-R-R-R-R-E-A-T...]

Peeeeeeeeeuuuuwwwwwww!!!!

Man Cologne. Applied with a heavy hand.

I'm not talking about the quick splash of a lightly scented astringent slapped about the cheeks/neck post-morning-whisker-scraping. Fresh and citrus-y, there are quite a few aftershave scents which are very pleasant (and sweetly memorable) indeed.

Peeeeeuwwww!!! is the musky, lingering, cloying, downright stinky Parfum de StupideMan. Heavy, pungent scents that many men believe entice and attract. However, the desired effect is not always achieved. More often than not, those stanky
overpowering odors actually - repel.

Besides the unappealing smell and intensity of some (not all, but too many) of these scents, why is it that so many guys seem to use half a bottle at each application? A whiff of a super heavy skanky smelling men's cologne is an attack on our delicate senses.
Makes ya want to go runnin' for the hills.

Take care not to stand too close to a guy who has soused himself liberally with 'fragrance'. Invariably (more so if the stuff is especially offensive), the scent tends to slime and seep its way over into YOUR clothes, hair and skin...
and is most difficult to wash away.

Ugh.
Ptui.
Yuck.

Cologne: Get a clue, boys. Choose lite. Apply sparingly. Don't let the bed bugs bite.
(Oh sure, the same can be said for some of the more cloying women's scents, but we're discussing ManParfum today...)

Within the books of our home library...

...it's not unusual to find bits of ephemera I've slipped between the pages over the years...for safekeeping.

Little things that double as bookmarks:
Notes & doodles written/drawn by DollinkDaughters when they were kids. Chinese Good Luck red envelopes (sans money, but kept for how pretty they are). A receipt from purchase of the book. Airplane seat ticket stubs. Recipes. Unused cocktail napkins. Candy wrappers. Grocery lists.

If the book happens to be a Russian novel, one might find a listing of the names of the characters = full names + nicknames (those of you who have read Russian novels understand that it's near impossible to keep track of those lengthy names without writing them down).

It's especially amusing for me to discover slips of paper on which I've written notes to myself.

I came across one just the other day. Flipping through an old book which was about to go into a donation box for Goodwill, I found a slip of folded scrap paper on which I'd jotted three very important things to remember. The note contains the following info that is definitely worth saving (perhaps in the pages of another book):

(1) Klatuu/ Barada/ Nikto
- because I always forget...and it's of the utmost importance to remember....just in case... an alien robotic form needs to be stopped.... from zapping me with its eye-laser-beam.

(2) The words from a scene of one of my favourite Danny Kaye films:
The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle.. The chalice from the palace has the brew that is true. *** The pellet with the poison's in the flagon with the dragon. The vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true.

Just in case one ever has to choose between the vessel and the flagon.

(3) The lines to W. H. Auden's 'Funeral Blues' - as memorably recited in the movie 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'.

So sweetly poignant.

Movietime: could not walk away

Last month, 'Born On the 4th of July' aired on HBO.

I own this movie on VHS, and can watch it at my convenience. In spite of that
fact, it's difficult for me to walk away from the television when this movie is being shown.

In my humble, it is the only 'Tom Cruise movie' that even attempts to challenge his acting ability. Before 'Born On the 4th of July', it would be a stretch to say that the man could act at all.
Great direction makes quite the diff, as does a superb supporting cast.

One word movie review: riveting.
(read: I'm riveted to the set when it's on)

Take a look...

I love this style of shoe.

As a kid, I'd listen attentively as Mom made frequent mention of 'spectator pumps'.

Quite the fashionista in her youth, Mom always had a pair of 'spectators' to accessorize certain outfits in her very chic wardrobe.

I've never worn spectator pumps, but have always wanted a pair.

Maybe....this year.... I'll knock some fashion sense back into my old, worn-out wardrobe (which, unfortunately - goes with my old, worn-out bod)....and get a pair of 'specs'. Such a move could very well jump start a wee bit of a fashion uprising in the ol' clothes closet....

in praise (?) of fried food

Teaching the proverbial old dog some (healthier) new food choice tricks is next to impossible.

Weaning oneself off a diet that consists of reaching for more than
what I should of fave fried foods - ain't easy.

Eating of strictly fresh, unadulterated healthy food should define my eating, yet
those fried dishes can be something close to irresistible.

So what is it about fried, particularly deep fried?
What keeps us coming back for more?
For some (read: me), it is very likely the irresistible/inexplicable sensuousness of oil-infused crispyness.

This morning I came across and obit for Al Copeland.
Whoozzat? Copeland was the founder of fast food chain Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits.
Although I do not frequent Popeye's, I've known folks who are rabid fans.
Just about EVERYTHING is deep-fried on the Popeyes menu. Shamelessly so.

Just recently, I tasted for the first time - french fries from Popeyes.
MmmmmMmmmm Gooooood!
Crispy thin and tasty, they rival McDonald's fried spud offerings.

Believe me, I really do try to balance my consumption of the fried stuff with au natural fare, but it's been a tough-going struggle, let me tell you.
'Fried' may well be my downfall in an otherwise healthy food regimen.

[Just to whet your appetite!]
Fried wonton.
Batter-fried onion rings. (the best to be had are in Marysville, CA., at the Silver Dollar Saloon).
Cantonese brandy-fried chicken (it's all in the marinade).
Deep-fried calamari.
Fried zucchini (ooooh - a bit less oil!)
Bacon (OK, these aren't deep-fried, but you Baconites know all too well the attraction/addiction!).
Yes, I did make mention of salt: fried food's tasty accomplice.
This is serious: WARS have been fought over SALT.
Another post, another time...

Writing of the best of the worst in fried food, just as I just come off a day and a half of feeling poorly with fever,
lightheadedness, tossing my groceries, accompanying complete loss of appetite and the bed-ridden blues.
Just yesterday, I could not even think of food, much less fried food...
This post must mean that I am actually feeling better!

serenity prayer

God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

As a life mantra/chant/guide, the Serenity Prayer certainly comes in handy.
Especially applicable this week - for me.

Alas.

Wild Kingdom

Nature shows: What's not to love?

Enough with all the knitting blogs, awreddy!
I've become a flat character of my own making ~ as of late, I am interested only in all things to do with yarn and knitting and yarn and knitting and yarn.

Fearful of becoming Single Subject Sue (and not getting invited to social gatherings because of it), today I sez to myself, I sez, it's time to (re)expand my repertoire.

So...
this evening I searched the web for other-topics-that-have-been-of-interest-to-me and came across this fun (and very educational) blog about nature/animals.
and...
I wanted to share it with you.

For tomorrow it's going to be All About Knitting again.

december 31 redux

If this image looks familiar, it's because you saw it last year, on the December 31 2007 post about the package of mochi with a possible $500 + price tag.

I can finally talk about it.
Here's the first part of the story in 25 (or so) words:
Crowded parking lot.
We back car out carefully.
Asshole in another car also backs out.
Fast.
Hits our car.
Dented. Fixed.
We pay $500 deductible.

Here's the second half of the story in another 25 (or so) words:
No Fault.
Yeah, right.
I'm (ahem) 'peeved'.
Last week, insurance company sends $250 check.
$250 + package of mochi-an.
Better than before.
Still too damned expensive!

forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah

The other day, I was informed via a group e-mail - that postage (for mailing your basic
letter) is going UP again. One penny more. On May 1, 2008.

Never down, only UP.
Increases.
No biggie, right?
Still a bargain, yes?
One cent at a time. Sometimes, two.
We get used to it, no?

Yet one does tire of the announcements of increase this and increase that.
(Watching a movie from the 70's-80's ?? yesterday, my jaw dropped at seeing gas prices posted at $1.31 per gallon! Gosh, that seemed like eons ago...).

At any rate...(haha)....and many of you already know this...
U.S.P.S. offers 'Forever' postage stamps. Buy them today at the current First Class Postage rates, use them forever without having to add more postage to meet
higher rates in the future.

I thought this a good idea.
Purchase a hefty stockpile of postage stamps at the current rate - use 'em 'later'. All the better to pooh-pooh any future hikes in postage.
Ace up the sleeve, like.

I was ready to head down to my local P.O. (which for me, typically stands for how Pissed Off I get at the postal service) for some Forever's, until I talked with a buddy-o-mine yesterday.
My friend stated that anyone who buys Forever stamps today will probably end up using them sooner than later. Like, much sooner.

You run out of stamps, you reach for the Forevers.

Sometimes, Forever ends up being Next Month.

She's right, y'know.
This same friend is having a time capsule sealed into a wall of her new home (currently under construction). Now, wouldn't it be coooooooool to have some Forever Stamps sealed into her time capsule for folks in the future to use?!? Say, 50 to 100 years or more in the future - when postal rates - if they still exist - may well be upwards of $10 per letter? Now, that makes some good sense (or cents).

More in U.S.P.S. related news:
I was surprised to see, at my local P.O., a 6 foot tall cardboard free-standing display - of HBO's upcoming 7-part miniseries, 'John Adams'.

Waaaah? Advertising T.V. shows at the Post Office?!?
Seems the P.O. has a deal going with HBO to promote the television show.
Velly intahlesting.
By the way, I am so ready to embrace Paul Giamatti in the role of John Adams, aren't you? And Laura Linney as Abigail Adams!

What's not to love?

(a) very good year (s)

Right up front - credit where credit is due...
to my DollinkBroS-O, for sending along info (thank you) on...
Hawaiian uke enthusiast, keonepax...
who posts a series of 'Oldies but Goodies' audio/visuals on YouTube.
keonepax began with this #1 compilation, then went crazy. I believe he's up to twenty-some odd videos, and still going strong.

For those of us who stroll Memory Lane (maybe too) frequently, these musical posts are a delight to listen to.

Out of the many pop/rock/folk musical compilation videos offered by keonepax, I decided to post (the one above) from 1963.

Historically, so much happened in this country in 1963.
A decade of phenomenal societal and political changes.

Musically, art does reflect life.

Do check out the Classic Oldie but Goodie video series by keonepax. The album covers alone are worth seeing!
They're like a mini history lesson via pop music.

BTW, I was 12 years old in 1963.
My oldie but goodie grey matter has retained 90% of these songs and/or lyrics.

A fact that rather pleases me, I think...

Link: keonepax: be sure to check out his cute home-made-y uke videos too!
Also this.
We're all having too much fun!

KOOOOOOOOL!

Finally - It happened last week in my kitchen: wool - dyed with KOOL-AID!

Before

After

More being dyed today and in the next few days...will post pix at a later date...
In the meantime...what shall I knit with it?!?