A Recurring Dream

I live in a REAL small house. It's only 1150 sq. ft. It sucks, although it is a charming little place. Built in the '30's. with woodwork everywhere and built-in bookcases. Anyway, we are so cramped here [we have lots of STUFF] that I keep having this dream wherein I live in a real big house. My dream house is so big that it has rooms that I never even use. It has rooms that I've never even SEEN. Now that's big. My real kitchen is smaller than the interior of the smallest compact car. In my recurring dream I have TWO kitchens! One just for baking and the other for entertaining and everyday. It's a blast. I actually look forward to sleeping so that I can dream some more about this big house with rooms I've never even seen. [You can thank the med cocktail that I'm on for these vivid dreams.] I've seen tents bigger than my house.

Well, if I could choose a house to live in, any house, it would be Fallingwater by F.L. Wright. But alas, it is not to be, so all I can do is dream. I'll sign off for now, it's almost dreamtime.

Neurosis

A fellow blogger in my class brought up the subject of a very mobile childhood where she moved so often that she went to like 19 different schools. I replied to her that she could of been writing about my crazy life.

It was neurotic until I got married at nineteen just to create a life for myself where I wasn't moving every 6 months. No, my father wasn't in the military. He had a steady government job. My parents are still as neurotic as ever and continue to move for no apparent reason every 6 to 9 months. [I'm using this blogspot as an analyst's couch.]

My life was as chaotic as ever. Imagine being ripped out of school in the middle of the freakin' school year just to move across town and a different school district. No rhyme or reason. We just gotta go. I wonder if they were in the WPP or something. Seriously. Some crazy shit went down in my family - we were constantly on the move. I could never foster any friendships because I knew I'd be moving in a few months. What was the use?

I'm still mad at my parents for moving every few months and it doesn't even affect me anymore. I've been in my current abode for 14 years now. That's the longest time I've EVER been in one house. I love it.

So, because my life was so chaotic I am constantly seeking solace and serenity. I actually have it finally with my husband of 12 years--he's the embodiment of calm. Thank you, Carl. I guess that's it.

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Quote of the Day:

Is there no way out of the mind?
Sylvia Plath

Death of An Entertainment Icon

The entire day of news was taken up with the death of Anna Nicole Smith yesterday at the age of 39. What a tragic life she had. From seedy bars to strip clubs to Playboy Playmate of the Year to wife of decrepit millionaire she had quite a life. But the most tragic moment came last year upon the death of her 20 year old son Daniel. Parents should never outlive their children. Maybe Anna died of a broken heart, who knows? Now the question remains who will get the millions she was awarded by a court order last year? Will her surviving child, whose father by the way is unknown at this time. What a tragic life. I for one thought Anna was beautiful, albeit ditzy, in a Marilyn Monroe sort of way. We need to remember that although she was sort of a media circus, she was also a human being, whose family is grieving for their loss.

On another note, I do believe the media played up her death. Too much airtime was taken up in reporting the death of a celebrity. Meanwhile, probably over 300 people died yesterday in the absurd Iraqi war, and we have not been treated to an expose of their lives. What about the sons and daughters of parents who have said goodbye one last time? We have not heard about them. We need to.
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Quote of the Day:
"There is only one success--to be able to spend your life in your own way."

Friedrich Nietzsche - 1844-1900

Phil and other musings on Love

So, I guess Phil the Groundhog did NOT see his shadow? Or did he? Either way, whatever he saw means Spring is just around the corner whether you believe in this farcical bit of whimsy or not.

Either way, I'm looking forward to Spring and the eight month reprieve from paying exhorbitant gas bills.

There are a lot of celebrations in February, not the least of which is Valentines day. This is the day when millions of men nationwide, with sweaty palms and empty wallets, give their sweethearts roses and sexy undies in hopes of assuaging any of their own wrongdoing the previous year. Unfortunately, the sexy undies are best kept for the Victoria's Secret models, but we will wear them and FEEL sexy, yes we will! And then we will realize the comfort of Hanes Her Way and place the sexy undies lovingly towards the back of our intimates drawer, hoping our significant other doesn't notice the absence of said undies.

Of course, millions of women do the same dance and purchase silk boxers and a single red rose for their sig-others. But do we see those silk boxers after February 15th ? No!! It's back to the Hanes for them, while that red rose lovingly fades on the nightstand.

Is this a manifesto of tarnished love? No, just a loving reminder of the things we do for love. And our corporate entities love it, for Valentine's Day is probably the second most moneyed holiday next to Christmas.

I think I'm going to do some exercises for the next two weeks in hopes of getting some sexy undies for V-Day...

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Quote for the Day:

Women hope men will change after marriage but they don't. Men hope women won't change, but they do.

Bettina Arndt

Shopping

Today was the day that approximately 400 teenage girls decended upon the Dillards at Woodla nd Hills Mall in Tulsa. And I got to be there, yay! I forgot to mention that all 400 of them decended upon the formal/prom gown section. Double yay! But, I got to do some quality shopping bonding with my stepdaughter, which was a good thing. Apparently, there's a Valentine's Dance in two weeks at every jr. & high school in this state.

So, there they were, parading in and out of the dressing rooms in their chosen attire - some looking like sausages stuffed in a casing, others looking anorexic enough to enter the ER, and some looked healthy and happy. Most were arguing with siblings and mothers about the style and fit of dresses, some were being downright bratty. My girl was being wonderful, thank goodness. She has good clothes sense. But, I'm exhausted. I forgot, in my middle age, how exhausting shopping with a teen can be. It brought back memories of when I was young and used to hang out at the mall, flirting with boys, and spending my money on cosmetics. Little did I know then that I would need the cosmetics more thirty years later than I did then.
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Quote of the Day
"It's not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages."

Friedrich Nietzsche

I keep forgetting...

To put my quote/Fact of the day under my posts!!! Arggggghhh.

"America is the greatest of opportunities and the worst of influences."

George Santayana (1863-1952)

Testing Links About the 100 Mile Diet

This is a test...for the next 60 seconds you will hear...............I'm testing a link for the
100 mile diet. Let's hope this works. Anyway, the 100 mile diet is just what it says...a diet consisting of foods obtained only within a 100 mile radius of your home. The purpose is to realize that each time we sit down to a meal, almost all of the products have travelled over 1500 miles to reach our plates. Big deal you say? Well, with the price of oil, and the pending scarcity of oil, this constitutes a big deal. When the price of a gallon of gas reaches $5 a gallon those potatoes on your plate won't be costing no $1.89 a bag--nope. You'll be paying for the cost of gas reflected into that bag-o-spuds.

Eating locally helps support your immediate community and save oil all at once. But, sadly, some things just can't be produced in America. Like coffee, and olive oil, any many other foods to numerous to mention. This can put a damper on the 100 mile diet. But many adherents to this diet try and do a large percentage of their diet with locally grown foods, while supplementing with the imported coffees and olive oils.

It's a start. This summer I'll try and visit my local farmer's market more often. It's fresher and cheaper!

Forgotten Quote of the Day

I neglected to post[below] my Fact/Quote of the Day!! Here it is:

"Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving taxicabs and cutting hair."

George Burns

Robin Hood Restaurants

What in the world is a Robin Hood Restaurant? I just now discovered this awesome enterprise today on http://sustainablog.blogspot.com . What RHR's do is eliminate prices on their products they serve, which happen to be all organic and usually locally produced. Instead of having a set price to pay, customers pay what they can afford. According to the proprietor on the link I gave you, the income evens out in the end, with the wealthier patrons making up for what the less fortunate patrons can pay. What is so good about this concept is that everyone, including the poor, can enjoy a good meal, and organic at that, which is healthier to boot. Usually organic means $$$$, and lots of them. But this concept allows everyone to partake.

For those customers that can not pay anything, the proprietor says they can barter work for food...activities like washing dishes, repair work, some have helped to lay tile in the kitchen.

This is just another of many concepts out there that help to lessen the gap between the rich and poor. I'm on the lookout for others.