IN LIFE AS IN THE DANCE : GRACE GLIDES

ON BLISTERED FEET.
---Alice Abrams

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Camera Critters


This is my buddy, Spike. He is the nosiest little creature - he wants to go where you go and do what you do! He loves opera and rock and rock. He keeps tempo with the music by bobbing his head up and down. They call cockatiels the clowns of the bird world and boy, are they right!

He's 17 years old and most cockatiels live between 20-25 years. We're hoping to break the record!

Photo Hunt - Furry





Okay, I'll admit it - I'm shameless. I was going to try and be creative and take of photo of my legs or something different (well, it is winter, you know....) but I'll take any opportunity to
post a pic of my fave furry folks. Katie, the infamous Shih Tzu, and Zoey, our adorable Mini-Schnauzer. Now, are they cute, or what??? Besides, who wants to see hairy legs?

Please visit our hostess and creator
of Photo Hunt
TNChick !!!

Thursday, January 29, 2009


The sky was a symphony of color on the evening I took this photo!

Please visit "Looking at the Sky on Friday"
and our hostess with the mostess,
Crazy Working Mom!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

How Can You Break a Contract???

Right now, I'm so angry at Dish Network, our satellite provider, I could just spit nails!
When Hubman got laid off, we starting looking to cut corners; one way was to swap cable for satellite. Worked just fine, saved quite a few dollars. (I know this may not be a big issue to a lot of you but we do watch a lot of TV, especially now that Hubman is home. My apologies to you who manage to live life w/o a TV!)

Then, (you knew that was coming...) all of a sudden, our local CBS affiliate decided to pitch a fit with Dish Network. Their contract was renewing in December and they didn't want to renew it unless Dish Network coughed up big bucks, or so they claim...

We signed a two-year contract, of course. Hubman missed all of the football playoff games, we can't watch any of the shows we really like: The Unit, Criminal Minds, NCIS and much more.
Now I'm really ticked off! I called both parties and voiced my complaints - oh howdy, did I ever!
But even though I suggested that DN violated their promise to me to provide the networks they said they would, they won't let us break the contract. They say "talks are still in the works."

Anyone have any ideas???

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Wordless Wednesday



Is this what's referred to as "monkey business?"

Monday, January 26, 2009

Manic Monday - Snow


SNOW - Hawai'ian Style!!!

Living in central California for almost 40 years, I've only seen snow here on the valley floor twice, the kind that sticks! We're surrounded by mountains, including the range through which the infamous Grapevine (the part of Hwy 99 that goes to L.A.) traverses. In snowy weather it is often closed, making travel from the north to the south a real mess, especially for the truckers.
One year, the weather was horrible and caused people to become stranded up on the ridge. People couldn't get off the road and had no food, etc. So an enterprising young grocery truck driver opened up the truck and started passing out vittles. Guess what - he got fired for it!
So many people complained that his company had to reinstate him or risk more than just egg on their face. And it made a great human interest story!

I commiserate with you folks who get stuck with snow so many months of the year but it is a wonderful sight for those of us who can view from afar!

Please stop by and see more snow stuff at
Manic Monday, hosted by Morgen

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Looking at the Sky on Friday....


This used to be the view from our backyard facing east - until they built a 12 foot block wall!
Oh well, it was nice as long as it lasted!

Please visit our hostess and maybe you'd like to participate!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Wordless Wednesday



Is fame worth it???

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Manic Monday - Office


Here's a photo of my home office. As you can see, it is lavishly decorated and of the upmost in quality. Now, as you know, I am a reprobate and lie a lot when it comes to my personal abode.
So here is just a little bit o what I'd LIKE my home office to look like!

Be certain to check out Manic Monday, and our host, Morgen!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Grab it and Do it...



Grab it & Do it!

RULES: There are 100 statements and you bold the ones
you have done. Grab it and play for yourself!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (lunar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten cavier
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a boneBold78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Check out Callie's Answers!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Photo Hunt - Hat(s)


This is on the list of "Ways to Torment Your Pet." I don't like dressing up dogs but, as you'll notice a few posts down, I also subjected Zoe to this cruel and unusual punishment. It's not really a hat - it's a little drawstring bag that a piece of jewelry came in. Katie wasn't real thrilled...

Please visit TNChick at Photo Hunt for more "hats."

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Looking at the Sky on Friday


Our air quality is one of the worst in the nation, so when
we get a day like this, it's cause for rejoicing!

Like this "sky thing?" Look for more at Crazy Working Mom's!

HELP! Any ideas???


Since hubman was laid off and I don't qualify for Medicare, I've been trying to find a decent prescription drug plan. One of my prescriptions costs $750 a month! Does anyone use a drug plan or know someone who does? I've looked at a couple on line that may work, but they don't cover my two most expensive meds. Target has their low-cost plan but only two of mine are covered ($4!).

So, if you all know anything please feel free to leave me a word...
Thanks, and blessings!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Manic Monday - Cell



I've always obeyed the law cuz this is where I didn't want to end up! I can't imagine anything worse than getting stuck in here!!! Well, maybe getting stuck in here with a 6' woman who had time on her hands... ACK!!!

Mo's sticking with MANIC MONDAY!

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Thursday Thirteen - Rules of Thumb


>>>To measure water for cooking rice, rest the tip of your index finger on top of the rice and add enough water to reach the first visible joint. This works for any size pot.
>>>For every day you spend in the hospital, plan on one week to recuperate.
>>>To avoid lunatics on city buses, sit in the middle. The friendly lunatics sit as close to the driver as they can, and the unfriendly ones sit as far away as they can.
>>>All putts break toward the water, even on greens that appear perfectly flat. That's because all greens are contoured for drainage.
>>>An extension cord should be as thick as the cord you plug into it.
>>>Any cop will tell you that in a bar fight, the shorter of the two men probably started it.
(My former husband could tell you that - he was 6'5" and the little guys would get loaded and start in on him!)
>>>If you ask a negative question, you will get a negative answer.
>>>For a minimum level of financial security, your net worth (the cash value of all your assets)
minus all your debts should equal one year's income.
>>>Keep white wine in your fridge and take it out 30 minutes before serving. Keep red wine out of the fridge and put it in 15 minutes before serving.
>>>If you're playing cards in any gambling game for over 20 minutes and haven't figured out who the patsy at the table is, it's you.
>>>As a manager, expect 80 percent of your work to be done by 20 percent of your staff. Also, expect 90 percent of your headaches/problems to come from 10 percent of your staff.
>>>You are wealthy enough to give some money to worthy causes when you can buy all the groceries you need.
Taken from the "Reader's Digest;" Rules of Thumb: A Life Manual-Brilliant Guestimates, Shortcuts, and a Few Shots in the Dark," by Tom Parker (Workman, $8.95)
>>>If all the nations in the world are in debt, where did the money go?
Steven Wright

Visit Thursday Thirteen For More Thirteens!

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Wordless Wednesday



Be sure to visit Wordless Wednesday!

The Meme With No Name...


A visit to Asara and her mental meanderings reminded me that I hadn't enjoyed one of Queen Mimi memes in a long time. So here 'tis... (This wouldn't post if I linked to Mimi or Asara! My apologies to you both) If you want to check them out - I suggest you'll enjoy both - they're on my sidebar...

What is Your motiv​ation​ for tomorrow?

To wake up.

Do you know what you will wear tomorrow?

Yeah, sweats with my mink coat. Well, it’s

chilly.

What is the last thing you put your lips against?

Tissue, when I blotted my lipstick.

Have you ever gone two or more days witho​ut changing your underwear?

I plead the fifth. Well, have YOU ever been camping???

Have you ever accidentally eaten an insect?

Yep. A worm landed on my sucker. I’ve also

eaten bugs intentionally.

What serial killer do you find most distu​rbing?

Charles Ng. No doubt about it. Google him if you don’t

know who he is.

Are you ever purposely irritating​?

Sure. I love to torment my husband.

What was the last thing you used your debit card for?

I paid for my anti-psychotic drugs. The moon was full.

Are you cheating on your significant other right now?

No! Not gonna happen.

Are you contemplating cheating on your significant other right now?

No! Not gonna happen. He’s the best thing in my world.

When was the last time you sat down and watched kiddie cartoons?

I suffered through “Captain Bob Squarepants” with my grandson.

Do you sleep with one leg out from under the covers?

Yeah, the shaved one.

Do you have any text messages that you would be embarrassed to let your mom read?

No. I don’t text. But if I did and if my mom were alive, I’m sure she’d

be embarrassed!

How old do you think you will be when you finally have kids/your next kid?

Good grief! I’m post menopausal! But if I did get pregnant, I could be on

“Good Morning, America!”

Have you ever thoug​ht about conve​rting to a new religion?

Yeah. The Satanic Church. Good Lord, forgive me for even

writing that. NO. I have wandered through the tenets of

many religions but I have landed squarely in the midst

of the Reformers (Martin Luther, John Calvin).

Do you know anyone with the same first name as you?

Uh huh. My given name is the same as a leading female

politician. It’s why I’m “Gracie” in blogdom.

When was the last time you went to church?

Since my enforced hermitage, I don’t go as often as I’d

like.

What song plays on your MySpace profile page?

MySpace? I’m a gazillion years too old for that.

If I did, it would be "I am Woman, Hear Me Weep."

Do you know anyone that smokes pot?

Who doesn’t? I mean, know someone that smokes

pot – not that every one smokes pot!

What were you doing the last time you were in the bathroom?

Honey, you don’t even want to know.

Have you ever had a Razr as a phone?

Nope.

Which energy drink is better; Amp or Rocks​tar?

Rockstar.

Would you rather eat a Milkyway or eat a Twix?

Milkyway.

Would you ever walk around with a free hugs sign like the dude on youtube?

No – I don’t want to get bedbugs.

Did you ever flip out on a teacher and walk out of a class​?

Flip out a teacher? In my day you’d actually get kicked out of

school for that! I did leave my Algebra class because my teacher

made fun of my name in front of the whole class and said I was fat.

My name had seven syllables and he couldn’t pronounce it properly.

I corrected him and he got snarky. I had dieted all summer and

only weighed 115 at 5’6”. Jerk. (Yeah, I still despise him.)

Today’s parents would sue the teacher, the school, the principal, the

School district and the manufacturers of the algebra book. My folks

could’ve been millionaires!

Do you/did you ever have dreams of being​ a rockstar?

Yeah, I even had the name of the band picked out: “Lusty Flesh and

The Four Skins.”

If vegetarians think it's wrong to eat living things, why do they eat plants?

It’s one of life’s mysteries, isn’t it? Those poor plants die an extremely painful death, being plucked from their roots in front of the other plants.

Monday, January 05, 2009

Leon Panetta??? What's Up With That????


Okay, I'm a conservative. I wasn't a happy camper when Mr. Obama won the election. But he is going to be MY president and I have been praying that God will bless him and the decisions he must make.

But...(you knew it was coming, didn't you?). I'm very disappointed in his selection of Panetta
as head of the C.I.A. The reason? What are his qualifications?!? I understand that Mr. Obama wants to make appointments that do not echo President Bush. Okay, I get it. But please choose someone - and I don't care if it's a democrat - but please make a wise decision here. We need a strong person with intelligence experience, now more than ever.

I don't mean to be snarky, but now I'm wondering if the "Maui-Wowie" was a little too strong while the President-Elect while he was in Hawai'i.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Manic Monday - Sale

Okay, I'll admit it - I love a sale as much as the next guy! But these days, I look for them online. Saving money is a real good thing, especially now, but I'm really out of shape. That means hurdling towards that awesome sweater I've always wanted is out of the question. Instead of out-sprinting someone in JC Penneys, I'll go to the internet. More than likely, I'll find something similar at much less loss of sanity and self-respect!

Friday, January 02, 2009

Photo Hunt - Hope



HOPE - Faces of the Future
More Photo Hunt Photos - TN Chick

Hope is the thing with feathers
that perches in the soul...



If the sky happens to look as though it's on fire, it was...
we were collecting a lot of smoke from one of California's
massive fires a couple of years ago, which created an
eerie, glowing sunset.

Please visit "Crazy Working Mom" for more of our skies!