A few asked about the Bamboo program I spoke of. Well, it is interesting, I’ll give it that. I don’t know, maybe it is just me, but I suppose I am going to have to read all of the instructions that came with it. You see, it has Photoshop, Corel, and a way to write and have your writing converted to type.

On the Mac I have a program on it called INK, compatible with the tablet and pen. So, I turned it on and proceeded to write a note back to Debi Wharton with it. Uh-h-h, yeah it works, sort of...if you don’t mind very legible cursive, or printing, and you do not stop in the middle of the word, or it guesses the word incorrectly. Seriously, I tried writing the first sentence about 25 times, before I realized I {b{type faster and with fewer errors.

I painted a pretty picture on Corel Paint. If you like abstract tubes of varying color gradients. (e:rolleyes} I typed some text on a photo, saved it, but whether or not I’ll be able to find it is another topic.
So, if you want to unload yourself of $100, cause yourself to get high blood pressure and have oodles of time to experiment...go for it. (Seriously, anyone who has some tech know-how will be able to figure it out.)

On the bright side of things, I managed to sell my HP laptop to my dad today. I got it last year, thinking I would appreciate having Windows on at least one computer. I was wrong. I used it maybe a dozen times, hated Windows Vista, and the fancier Yahoo IM, hardly worth it, I don’t really need those talking emoticons and sound effects. A great deal for them though, especially since they were looking to get a new one.

Okay enough of my techno mumble jumble. For those of you wondering about the Saturday series, “I Second That Emotion”, I will be putting it in this coming Saturday’s blog. I believe Scarlett may also post hers, it just won’t be timed with me like usual. Anyway, we both put them into our portfolios after they are in the blog, so if you miss it, that’s where you will find them. (I have links to both above.)

Murphy, plug your dang ears. Okay......whispering......
we met with our architect yesterday, to give the go-ahead on the plans...drawing the elevations etc. Looks good, and if all goes well, we will be able to get a permit to tear the ranch down around February. Ahem...

This morning I went down to renew my passport, which meant getting a new photo. Dang, the gal at the post office isn’t a photographer by nature. I thought I looked good, until I saw the picture she took. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she says to me, “You should have worn a shirt with a collar.” Why, did it look like I was naked or something? The neck-lift didn’t take? What?? Gawd. She then proceeded to cut off everything but my head, so you never would have seen a collar anyway.

Oh, I don’t know if you all remember when I mentioned that our kitchen (in the remodeled home we just sold/left) was being photographed for the Caesarstone website, but finally the photos are in...here’s the link, but you will have to scroll down to the color Carmel and our kitchen is the last five of the seven photos. Sigh. (Images 74-78)
http://www.caesarstoneus.com/gallery/index.cfm

Also, The Today Show just did a feature on the House and Garden Kitchen of The Year, and talked about and showed our product. I was going to link you, but apparently I can't do it right. (I can't seem to get the link to work...but it was nice.)

Don’t worry, I get lost looking at links too. Hope you all have a lovely night!




 

Somebody better rein me in fast! I’ve been spending my days in ...electronics stores. Retail ones. Gulp. You all know what that means don’t you? Yep, I am now knee-deep in manuals for some electronic toys I bought. I am hopelessly addicted.

It all began with a trip to the Mac Store. I wanted to get that new laptop for hubby. I am the absolute world’s worst at formulating intelligent questions to ask about stuff like this.

Me: So, you have any of those laptops that fit into a manila envelope?

The bored guy: The MacAir?

Me: Yeah, the lightweight one. Which of these is it?

The bored guy: Neither, we keep it locked up, they have a tendency to walk away. (Off he goes to get one.)

Yeah, I really knew what I was talking about there, had done my research thoroughly. I now know if I want to listen to or burn a cd I have to spend another $100 for a something or other drive. It’s amazing what Apple doesn’t give you for the big bucks.

Well, that means it also has no word processor, so ching-ching to buy yet another Word program...and then how do I get it onto the computer? Something called “migration”. Yeah, supposedly my computers can talk to each other over my wireless network. Oh really. Yeah, I guess so, it only took me a few hours to figure that out...”to set up your MacAir open the setup assistant, then make sure the Bluetooth is open and your wireless networks are the same, and refer to page 15 to set up your other computer.” Huh? I’m only on page 16, and I didn’t see any clear-cut directions on page 15.

Oh well, I finally figured it out but as I was doing the migratory thing it said, “two hours and eighteen minutes left”...YIKES! I can’t have two computers tied up transferring all that stuff to each other....how will I blog? SCREECH....HALT...ESCAPE...

Whew, now I have nothing...but time to blog. Oh well, lucky you. I guess I have a few months to get stuff done, except I did buy the “insurance” for three years and I do need to get it registered, but that involves...well, I think we just went through that.

Moving on, to the next ill-advised, but who knew at the time purchase, a video camera. Yep, I’m going to make movies, or mistakes using whatever Murphy throws at me. Of course that entails a huge magnifying glass, 3+ reading glasses and a thingy, and a10x Loupe for jewelry. All piled on top of each other just to read the manual written in a 3” x 3” booklet. SUCKS. Maybe later. They may as well have written it on a piece of rice, or the head of a pin. Sheesh.

Moving on, I bought something called Bamboo. A tablet I can write on with a pen, use a mouse or my fingers on to ....hm-m-m...fix pics, draw, paint or throw out. I haven’t decided, but it cost the same as the cd thingy for the MacAir. Oh what have I done?

Well, I’m going to renew my passport tomorrow...wonder how that will go, two new pics and all.

Off to dinner, sorry for the rambling, but .....love you.

Good night!









 

If not now, when?

I have been using this phrase for a few months now. I don’t know where I heard it, but it seemed to resonate deep within me. It redirected what I was thinking from maybe or someday, to the obvious; if not now, when?

I have gone from thinking I had all the time in the world to do something, to making me analyze whether or not I really cared about it what I was wanting or saying.

For example I notice that sometimes Hubby would ask me a question like, “What would you like for your birthday?” Because this particular one is one of those supposedly significant ones (always seem to be those ones ending in a zero) I felt I should do or get something special. I would answer him, “Oh yes, I’d like a trip to Africa”, or some such thing.

The next day I’d think, did I really say that? Of course I had. It would become perfectly clear when I would say to myself, “If not now, when?” That though it sounded appealing and exotic when I said it, I had to consider Hubby. Would I just take off with a girlfriend and go do the Safari thing? No, because what I really want to do is be with Hubby. There is no way I would put him through the rigors of a trip like that now, at this stage of our lives. I’m not that selfish. Ireland, maybe...

However, I did learn a good lesson from that little blurt over dinner. Think before you say something, especially to Hubby. He has suggested some things, “How would you like to go to Palm Springs?” But being allergic to the sun I hardly would consider going to the desert exciting. Oh sure, it would be nice for Mr. Suntan, but his birthday is Sunday, if he wants to go to the desert I’ll go with him then. I don’t want to go to a place hotter than CA already is. Sheesh. Sometimes that stupid phrase doesn’t work to my advantage.

I just bought him (ahem, us) a new laptop, for his birthday. It is a whole two pounds lighter than the ones we have, because I am tired of lugging it on vacation, as well as he is not as strong as he was and it will be easier for him to handle. I mean, if not now, when?

I decided what I want for my birthday is a video camera. Yep. I’ve been taking some short videos of him and now I (we) want to do a web series. I say want to...but hey, if not now, when?

We are kicking around some ideas for a show...I don’t think he realizes how much work this will be...of course it will have to be when I am not writing. I just hope he doesn’t turn the table on me and say, “If not now when?” Gawd.

Somehow, in light of how quickly things in your life can change, try to ask yourself once and awhile; if not now, when?

I have been meaning to do this for awhile, but I’d like to introduce a blogger to you; TheWýtçhè - Away Indefinitely .

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I just spoke with Scarlett . My heart breaks for her, having been through the loss of my mother a few years ago.

Obviously it is bad enough to lose her mother, but she informed me Mey Ling is now hospitalized, and may be having her baby prematurely. The water broke yesterday, and it is a full two months early. However, as of tonight nothing.

Her father is taking the loss hard, and is not wanting from or giving any comfort to Scarlett or her sister. He is refusing to leave his home. This is all so familiar to those of us who have lost a parent. I know this is an additional worry for she and her sister.

She asked me to thank you all. She has been to the forum, and I know she was helped some by the kind wishes, thoughts and prayers you have left. I know as more time passes these messages will even mean more to her.

When I hear from her again I’ll let you know. If you haven’t been to leave her a message I would encourage you to do so. Thank you to all of you who have done so already.

1449897

For Scarlett  [E] A place to leave support for Scarlett. Thank you Nada and my many friends here on WDC. by Scarlett

My dear friend, Scarlett informed me this morning that her beloved mother passed away this morning.

In her usual unselfish way she first mentioned she would not be able to post her part of the serial we are doing together on Saturdays.

Those of us who know Scarlett, know how full of love she is, and how devoted to her family she is. Her blogs on caring for her mother and father, AKA "The Wrinklies", and her forays into “La-La Land” were her humorous ways of sharing and dealing with the heartbreaking illness of her mother, dementia. It is so typical of her to come at difficult problems with her comedic eye.

In the past few months we have also been very fortunate having her share her younger years growing up with a mother who, in many ways, was more of a friend to her teenage daughters. Her mother was a strong and very liberated woman. I know I had come to admire her uniqueness.

I ask you all to join me in sending her our love during this most difficult of times. Come and leave your words of support.

1449897

For Scarlett  [E] A place to leave support for Scarlett. Thank you Nada and my many friends here on WDC. by Scarlett

The other day when hubby was flopping...er-r-r-r flipping channels on the tv, I mentioned “even ugly deserves a home...”. He had landed on a channel that was selling jewelry. I love watching people hawking jewelry; it is educational for me, both on pricing and the different styles.

I usually have one of the channels on in the background, as I’m getting ready for my day. The past few days I decided to go back to the channel hubby had discovered. OMG today it was being hosted by a couple of knuckleheads, Jack Jackel and Peter Grogan, we have watch them for years. To clarify, I mean we have watched them on different channels for ...gosh maybe ten years. (Now that I think of it, over ten years because I remember hubby bought some jewelry from them for my 50th birthday, and I’m sure it was not the first thing we purchased.)

They were the first to sell jewelry on television, at least as the kind of show dealing only with jewelry. Even more interesting was that they auctioned off one of a kind pieces of Estate and Antique Jewelry. It was a hoot. They came on every Saturday and Sunday from like 1-5 pm. They are an unlikely looking duo, one shaved his head bald and grew some facial hair, the other has a moustache. They played off of each other’s personalities, and would crack me and hubby up with their antics. When some piece of jewelry was especially nice you would anticipate hearing, “This is not normal.” We would howl in laughter. Over the years I got some really good bargains from them. Eventually they left that channel.

Maybe a year later I discovered them on some other station, still together, still with Jack being the straight man to Peter’s crazy jokes. They were corny as heck, but they always gave you a heck of a deal on fine jewelry. They lasted maybe a year on that channel. Finally about a couple of years ago they disappeared, and I wondered what had happened to them. Well now I know, every Wed. from 9-12, Thursday nights and Sunday nights they are on this channel. Oh, and they sure got old. Now, if I can keep myself from calling.....

On a completely different topic, today I was doing my drugstore run for shampoo etc., when I saw a magazine rack with some hairstyle magazines. Cool. I wasn’t tempted until I saw they had one titled, SHORT Hairstyling. Well, that did it, I would love to have a new style.

Cut to me all comfy, settling down to do some serious browsing for a new do...when I open the mag and do a double take...not only do they seem to have redefined what short hair is, but dang, since when did a magazine about hairstyles start charging EIGHT DOLLARS?

Hey, $8.00 for a magazine full of nekkid men, maybe...but of women’s hairstyles which are shoulder length and not so SHORT? I’m feeling ripped off here. I know, so how come I didn’t notice before I was home...because I bought some other stuff too, so the total wasn’t seeming that shocking, but now that I think about it, it should have been a red flag. Oh, and yeah, I should have flipped through it first, then I would have realized their definition on short is not mine.

One interesting thing though, there were four hairstyles from a salon in.....Nottingham, England! Just in case someone we know needs a new salon.

Have a good night...my son returns from Hawaii tonight...poor guy, welcome to 100º+ weather, the real world. Heh-heh.



 

Hang on, I’ll tell you what Hubby did this time, but I need to set the scene.

We have the entire holiday weekend to ourselves. No Mike, no Cesar, no Angela, no gardeners, no pool guy, just Hubby and I home alone. Well, if you don’t count Niles and Frasier. More about them later. Pure bliss I tell you!

It’s been especially nice for me. I do not have to scrutinize every piece of clothing I want to wear, for fear of it being too...u-m-m...revealing. Now when I say revealing don’t think I mean short shorts up my butt or nothing, I mean a white, thin t-shirt with no bra or a thin summer nightgown.

So anyway, Hubby and I were watching the Olympic swimming trials last night, and I got up to get us something cool to drink...water. On my way back to my side of the bed, which is a long dang walk, I decided to sit over on his side and snuggle up for awhile. He was freshly tan and smiling that big old smile of his that shows off his pearly whites, how could I resist?

So we talk abit and I lay my head on his chest, he hugs me close and lets his hands rest on my hip. “M-m-m-m-m, new real estate.” I sit up and right away he starts backpedaling. ”Uh-h-h you know what I mean...”

“Oh yeah hun, I know exactly what you mean.” Inside I am laughing because ...well, you all know I love giving him a hard time. Now that I’ve been going to the gym and I’m getting all firm, it doesn’t feel like a personal attack about the extra poundage I have right now. Muscle weighs more than fat. Oh it sure does! That’s about as far as I could take it without busting up laughing. Of course that signaled to him he had permission to start laughing, and sure enough he looked at me and said, “Oh gawd...I see your wheels turning now, this is going to be in your next blog.” Ya think?

So my dog Frasier has now gotten into this habit of wanting to go outside in the middle of the night, and barking incessantly. A lovely trait. My son decided that he would buy a collar that would emit a sound only the dog would hear, a sound they don’t like. So he brings home this red collar with a little black box on it, battery operated. He assured me it did not use “shock” therapy like I know some things do. Well, after about three nights of Frasier going out and barking while wearing it, I gave up.

Cut to last Sunday’s baby shower. I heard Ashley saying they had just used a collar on their dog for the first night, and it worked. I strained to hear more. Well, it seems it is the collar which uses a fine spray of a lemon based citronella stuff. It seems dogs don’t like that, and the spray disrupts the bark. Well, I had a mission now.

I went to the big pet store and looked for it. An older employee saw me walking around, looking confused I suppose, because he asked if he could help me. I asked him about the collar and that’s when he told me it was in the locked case. Good grief, they have stuff locked up in cases! Who knew, amazing. He took me over, reminding me he was on his lunch break, “that’s why I have my ball-cap on.” Uh-huh, good, not sure at all what that had anything to do with anything, but he told me three times.

Well, despite the fact it was expensive (thus the lock-up) I bit the bullet and bought it. I read the instructions and it said there was no danger, no shock, just a fine spray in front of their nose. I’d gone this far, so I called him over, and followed the instructions, placing the little hole where the spray comes out to the right spot. It was the first night I wasn’t awakened by his barking. He barked once, but I could tell the spray worked, he was looking for the source in the grass.

The instructions also said they should not have it on for more than 8 hours. I removed it early in the morning. The next night I repeated the placement on him; calling him over and placing the collar on.

He was quiet the first time out. But then..... apparently it can take several weeks to train them. Gawd. I’m going to be so sleepy.



 

“Second Hand Emotion”-Part 14

Thank you vivacious for the lovely signature

ID: 1409924   (Rated: 18+) I Second That Emotion  A place to house the "mirror blog" series. There are 28 entries in two folders. by Nada

Gulp...even ugly deserves a home!

I am fighting the instinct to...barf. Oh nice you say. I need to explain to you I am watching, courtesy of Hubby, the World Championship Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest televised LIVE from Coney Island. It’s a perfect example of our national gluttony.

With just one minute and 15 seconds to go the top “eaters” have consumed 53 hot dogs and buns. There are some twenty contestants on the stage, including one tiny woman. She holds the world’s record for Cranberry Sauce eating, a record thirteen pounds, as well as for the women in hot dog eating, thirty-nine! She weighs a mere 105 pounds.

The final countdown now... it’s a PHOTOFINISH!! Both of the leading face-stuffers tied at 59 dogs apiece, in ten minutes. There will be a five hot-dog eat-off. OMG, can’t you feel the pain? Why...this is such riveting tv I can barely take my eyes off of it. Except if I don’t I may never eat another hot dog again. No sweat, hubby flipped over to the Jewelry Shopping Channel where the hostess just declared, “It’s now a telethon to sell those pearl necklaces, because, even ugly needs a home!” I suppose that is why ESPN decided to televise the hot dog eating contest, and they have since 2004.

ESPN is covering this, with announcers and all. THIS JUST IN: Joey Chestnut, age 23 won! He beat Kobayashi (who had to have acupuncture because of a jaw problem), to bring the Mustard Belt back to the USA. Whoot! He retained the Mustard Belt he got last year when he unseated Kobayashi by eating 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes. Now a two-time champion. In the interview afterwards, the exchange went like this:

Announcer: “As you look over the last 12-13 minutes what were your thoughts?”

Joey: "Who needed it more?"

Announcer: "After 59 hot dogs in 10 minutes what were your thoughts when they said it was a tie?"

Joey: “Oh Darn.”

Announcer: “And how are you feeling about your performance this year?”

Joey: “I was a little bit messier than I wanted to be. But I got ‘em in me and got ‘em down.”

Announcer: “Why do you do this? Why do you put your body through this year after year?”

Joey: “I love to eat. I love the competition.”

Announcer: “You handled the competition well Joey, Congratulations.”

I mean, riveting stuff. Well, after seeing this I know what the Nada household will not be eating today. However, I admit to being curious enough to check out how this happened to come about.

It seems this tradition began (according to legend) when four immigrants decided to have a hot dog eating contest at Nathan’s Famous on Coney Island to settle a dispute about who was more patriotic. It was July 4, 1916. After ten minutes and thirteen hot dogs, Jim Mullen emerged as the winner.

Over the years, rules were developed:

1. Drinks are allowed, but water is the preferred drink. The contestants all seem to dunk the dogs with buns {HDB is the appropriate lingo} in the drink and double handed shove them into their mouth, some breaking them in two first.

2. Condiments are allowed, but not usually used.

3. The hot dogs are allowed to cool, to prevent mouth burns.

4. Each contestant is paired with a scorekeeper, known as a
“bunnette”. They flip over a number card for each hot dog eaten.
If they are in the mouth and are successfully swallowed when the time is up, they count.

5. Both hands can be used, but points may be deducted for excess “debris”.

And this is all probably more than any of us cared to know.

There are some wonderful blogs about the meaning of today, enjoy them, and I hope you have an appetite after this. Happy Fourth of July!