Carting Around Beasts

Rose and Ella are no longer spring chickens.  They are nearing the senior discount age, and someday, perhaps sooner than later, they will need to learn how to drive so that they do not have to walk everywhere they go.  

Unfortunately, they have no desire to learn how to drive.  So, Robert and I have been asking ourselves, What's the next best thing?  And we are tentatively deciding on a luxury taxi.  This past holiday season Robert and I got a chance to try out the luxury taxi idea after we test drove one that we gave to Robert's grandma, Carolyne.  While Carolyne is not going to use hers to cart around beasts, she was happy to let me take Ella for a ride.  

For the majority of the ride Ella blew air through her massive jowls in an attempt to curse so I think it's settled.  We're getting them a luxury taxi!

I saw it and thought boobies?

A few days ago I had a very pleasant time in one of my favorite fabric stores picking out goodies.  This particular store is like a thrift shop for crafters.  Hoops and buttons and fabric galore but all secondhand.  I always find something surprising.  This time around I found a simple zodiac print that I don't have any idea what I'm going to do with.  I saw it and thought boobies?  Or perhaps a depiction of Adam and Eve and it could be her boobies?  I think the print is too large for embroidery so it's going to be a tough decision.  

Currently I am completely stumped as to what I'm going to do next.  I've tried to start a few projects and they have flopped because there is a disconnect between image, fabric and thread.  I know from previous experiences that if there isn't any harmony the whole piece will fall apart.  I recently finished a paper collage of kissing owls that needs about five more coats of sealer and I while I do that I will hopefully come up with another embroidery idea.  Perhaps with the zodiac fabric!

Chompers

It can be said, now that there is distance between us, that this fish and I are not friends.  I'm not going to say anything demeaning or disrespectful about this piece, but it was a giant pain in the keister.  I will say that while I will do some things differently next time, I am still quite happy about his teeth.  I had a good time going gangbusters on the chompers.  

My Dog

My Dog is a sweet exploration of the relationship between man and dog.  You will be delighted to see a spunky Isaac Mizrahi rave about his pooches, listen to Richard Gere’s brief philosophical tidbits about his dog and get a peek into the beautiful connections between dogs and their humans. 

I really appreciate how the film gracefully skips from one interview to the next, constructing an exciting collage of poignant moments and revelations and giving ample opportunities to see my favorite people and their dogs.

Daniel Shire, a boy with autism, created a bridge between his world and his family’s world through the companionship of dogs.  Lyn Redgrave’s special and brief relationship with her dog proves to be a testimony of living for the moment.  But undoubtedly, my favorite notable dog lover of the film is the poet, Billy Collins.  I won’t spoil if for you but there is a funny moment when the dog poops and Billy Collins curses, and it’s really very special.  Billy Collins, who has a book of poetry close by for the first few shots, eventually graces the movie with a poem that speaks of time and how it means two different things for humans and dogs. 

While Billy Collins and his dog stood out the most for me, my favorite quote of the film came from Richard Gere: “Whatever creature is under this dog costume—we’ve had many lifetimes together.  Maybe I had the dog costume the last time.”

Etsy

It's official!  I have an Etsy! 

I will be selling my collages, embroidery and paintings.  More items are coming soon!

all too happy

Robert's cousins, Rachel (14) and Sam (who is 8 and pictured here) spent a few days with us, playing apples to apples, acting silly, going to the arcade, making crafts and even watching a band perform at a local coffee house.  We had a blast!  And while Rose spent most of the time hunkered down in her bed away from the noise, Ella was all too happy to be involved in everything, car rides being no exception.

Funnies!

I saw this at a nearby bookstore in the children's section.

And, this is how I discovered that I'm using Robert's Facebook more than he does:

That pretty music can use some shit talkin’

When I listen to Classical Loon by Northsound I hear these great conversations between the loons in my mind, and I can understand why some crazy people never make the attempt to hop the fence to normal.

For instance,

Male loon #1 to male loon #2: Hey, what’s that intoxicating sound?

Male loon #2: That, my friend, is the sound of one hot mama loon. 

Also,

Loon talking to loon buddy:  Do you hear that?

Loon Buddy: Yes, it sounds a little like a violin being played in a toilet.

First Loon: No, that’s not right.

Loon Buddy: You must be talking about the cello.

First Loon: Stop making shit up.  I think we’re under attack.  I think we’re dealing with aliens bro. 

Loon Buddy: You mean Chopin?

First Loon: You know their name?!?

And,

Loon named Betty: Henrietta, do you hear that?

Loon named Henrietta: (as she stabs her loon cigarette into the remains of her fish lunch) That aint nothing but Jimmy Bob fixing the washer machine.

Betty: No, it’s something else.  It sounds like the washer machine is stuck on the same distress call.

Henrietta: Hurummph! That’s because that piece o shit been stuck on spin.  But Jimmy Bob gonna pop it loose in no time. 

And lastly,

Loon #1 (possibly Betty from a previous conversation): Do you think we should tell the fancy musicians that the pretty music doesn’t hide all that sass of Jimmy Bob’s firey language?

Loon #2 (maybe Henrietta from a previous conversation): That pretty music can use some shit talkin’.

Nope, one more,

Violin to Cello and Piano: What is that sound?

Cello: We’ve been trying to tell you about that string for days.

Violin: No, not that.  It sounds like someone is violating a flute.

Piano: Oh that sound.  Didn’t you know we were chasing loons
Cello: Well, it sounds like somebody already got ‘em. 

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

While the plot closely followed the movie - I watched the movie first, at least 20+ times so far, to be exact - the book grandma, or pardon me, grandmere, is no Julie Andrews. Even though I was appalled by the book version of Mary Poppins (another grump who was turned into a sweetheart by Julie Andrews), I actually found the egotisitical, chain-smoking book grandmere to be delightful, and I especially like what happens to her at the end of the first book. 

Mia happens to be freaking hilarious in an angsty, snarky woe-is-me kind of way. She also abuses the heck out of italics and capital letters, which totally works for her, and I'm not just saying this because of how much I LOVE italics and capital letters. And she is a very lovable girl so I was constantly pulling my hair and biting my nails in response to all of her woes. 

Even if you find that this book is not your cup of tea or sidecar, you must flip to Mia's list of The Ten Women I Admire Most in the Whole World. And if you shoot me an email I can send you a beautiful rainbow spread of Hilary Clinton in all her pantsuit glory courtesy of a page I ripped from an Oprah magazine a few years back. 

I will leave you with some angst, courtesy of Mia.

"Hmm, hold on a minute, let me see... My mom is going out with my Algebra teacher, a subject I'm flunking, by the way; my best friend hates me; I'm fourteen years old and I've never been asked out; I don't have any breasts; and oh, I just found out I'm the princess of Genovia. 'Oh, sure, " I said to Principal Gupta. 'Everything is fine.'"

BusyBusyBusy

I've borrowed Robert's theme song, BusyBusyBusy, this past month.  It's from Sandra Boynton's Philadelphia Chickens.

I've been playing a lot of catch-up from the weeks when the bum knee kept me on my bottom, and I'm officially 100%, biking and playing tennis and all that jazz, just a mere three months after the injury and two months after the surgery.  Go me!  

Honestly I owe a big part of that 100% to Robert.  He was supportive, encouraging and the good kind of pushy, not to mention super caring and attentive.  Go Robert!

I also made a trip to Tucson to visit family.  These are my favorite pictures!

Chilling at Noble Hops

Scott and I went to afternoon tea at The Chantilly Tea Room for my birthday!  We picked out our teacups, drank about 6 pots of tea, ate finger sandwiches and scones and were on our very best behavior.

While Scott and I were at afternoon tea the rest of the family  was planning a giant surprise birthday party, complete with princess accessories, which was VERY appropriate because I was in the middle of The Princess Diaries.

We took a lovely stroll through Tohono Chul Park .

We celebrated Christmas, and because I mailed my presents I had lots and lots of bubble wrap so naturally we decorated Rusty aka James for Christmas.

Heather liked the present I made for her, which was inspired by the Fancy Nancy books. 

And Scott was mobbed several times by their menagerie of dogs (the two pictured here are Bernie and Louie) and our niece, Harper, who has really taken to him.