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Tuesday, April 25, 2006 -- Junk
While still working on clearing out the immense amount of junk we have accumulated over the years, sifting through piles of papers and boxes of junk, I looked up and noticed a small box on a high shelf with a post-it note labeling it as "Misc Junk." In a house literally bursting at the seams with junk, it seems ironic that only one small box of it would rate a label. Could this junk somehow be "junkier" than the rest of the junk? a finger puppet, a roll of crime scene tape (??), a pad of scratch paper, a whistle, and some twisty ties. Sunday, April 23, 2006 -- Photo Talk I have a gazillion pictures of my family, but I never have any with me. I've just never carried pictures in my wallet. I still don't. Several years ago, while waiting with a group of moms for a tot class to end, everyone started sharing photos. "This is 'Bobby' in his soccer uniform. - Here's 'Cissy' ready for the prom. - Look at grand baby number two. - Aren't the twins getting big?" That sort of thing. They fussed over each other's pictures, passing them around. Of course, I had no photos of my kids to show. But then I remembered that I just happened to have a picture of our guinea pigs in my purse that day, as I was later going to the pet shop. So I pulled it out. (It is an adorable picture, six little furries lined up in a row --- and not an easy shot to get, I might add.) Conversation stopped. They all looked at me. "You don't have any pictures of your children, or your husband, or anyone, but you carry a picture of guinea pigs?" "Yep." And here's the picture -- 
Flower, Angel, Penny, Silky, Taffy, and Sandy (Butterscotch wouldn't pose.) I had a friend in college who always wore a gold, heart-shaped locket. Inside it was a picture of her cat. I always liked that about her. Friday, April 21, 2006 -- Pretty Baby Apparently the public is waiting with baited breath to catch the first glimpse of the new Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes' baby. I heard that anyone lucky enough to click that first paparazzi baby picture could sell it for as much as two million dollars. TWO MILLION DOLLARS! How crazy is that? And just why are people so interested, anyway? It's just a picture of a baby. Unless you are emotionally attached, a baby is a baby. They're all cute, but they pretty much all look the same. Someone shows you a picture of their baby, you smile and say, "Aw, how cute," because really, where else can the conversation go? And then, unless you are interested in hearing about the joys and/or non-joys of baby behavior, it's best not to linger on the subject. Several years ago, when Warren Beatty and Annette Benning were fiercely guarding the privacy of their new baby's birth, a picture ran in one of the papers. I heard Warren Beatty say on a talk show, "You may think you saw the baby, but you didn't." He said they'd run a "decoy" photo. "No one has seen the real pictures," he said. --- BUT I HAD. At the time, Annette Benning's mother, who lives in the area, used to come into the store every now and again. And she was showing the pictures of her new grandbaby to everyone! "Aw, how cute," I said. Thursday, April 20, 2006 -- Cat Herders I love this EDS commercial. -- Cat Herders "Cat herding: Don't let anyone tell you it's easy. Anyone can herd cattle. Holding together 10,000 half wild short-hairs, well, that's another thing altogether." Wednesday, April 19, 2006 -- Humuhumunukunukuapua'a While spending a day at Sea World a couple weeks ago, we visited the Coral Reef Aquarium. As we were reading off the names of the fish inhabiting the aquarium, we simultaneously started to laugh as we came to the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a. "Hu - mu - hu - mu -nu - ku - nu . . ." "Oh! There he is," said Sara, pointing to the brightly colored fish swimming by. We watched him circle the tank several more times. Sometimes called the Picasso fish because of his striking color pattern, he is fairly easy to spot. So, having only recently become familiar with the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a, I couldn't help noticing the headline today stating that he is about to be reinstated as Hawaii's state fish. Apparently, when he was first chosen, there was a time limit of five years written into the bill, thus ending his reign way too soon. Many people, unaware of this clause, were shocked to find that the little fish had been dethroned. I mean, What could possibly be a better choice than a fish with the name Humuhumunukunukuapua'a? But now, finally, a wrong will be righted, the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a will regain his title, will be reinstated to his proper position, and will, once again, be honored as Hawaii's state fish. Go Fish! Tuesday, April 18, 2006 -- Advice never let yourself get befuddled by an unclear understanding of what you're mixed up about." Monday, April 17, 2006 -- Changing Lloyd was already starting the car. "Wait, I want to change into my jeans for the drive back. Nobody's here, it will just take a minute," I said. I pulled on the jeans and was slipping off my skirt while standing in the street. "Good-bye Su," Paul called from an upstairs window. Saturday, April 15, 2006 -- Cartoon 
A silly cartoon (stolen from Joe) Happy Chocolate Bunny Day. Thursday, April 13, 2006 -- Take the Lead We saw "Take the Lead" last weekend. I really liked this movie. It was inspired by the work of professional ballroom dancer Pierre Dulaine, who worked with high school students, teaching them to dance. Along with the dance steps, through his graceful lifestyle, he teaches respect, acceptance, and the importance of manners, or "courtesy" as he says. The movie "Mad Hot Ballroom" was also based on his work. Antonia Banderas does a good job with the role and the movie has some nice dance sequences, too. The ballroom dance program started by Pierre Dulaine is now in middle schools and high schools all across the country. The real Pierre Dulaine Dance Club/Studio is located in New York. Wednesday, April 12, 2006 -- Sea World Sea World may want to add a few more identifying signs. Overheard while we were there; --At the walrus - "It's a manatee." --Watching the Commerson Dolphins - "They're baby whales." --Moray eels - "They can electrocute you." --A school of fish - "Those are piranhas." I touched the sea cucumber. I don't know why reaching into that water would bother me. I have no qualms about picking up bugs, lizards, frogs, snakes, whatever, but somehow, the water just seems icky. The cucumber feels just like it looks, though - squishy. But it was kind of cool. Sunday, April 2, 2006 -- Clearing Out 2 Thirteen combination locks! The craziness continues. Saturday, April 1, 2006 -- Clearing Out It is time to begin THE GREAT DECLUTTERING CHALLENGE OF 2006. After countless years of accumulating, it is time to clear out. Anything that is not being used is going to go. (Pay attention young'uns, if you want any of this stuff, better let me know right away.) I'll start with an easy category -- like sports equipment. Though I take part in no sport activities whatsoever, I happen to have in my possession seven basketballs (and a basketball hoop), three bowling balls (two bowling pins!?), two baseball bats and two mitts, four tennis raquets, six raquetball raquets, six badminton raquets, a few other raquet/paddle type games, and countless balls of all sorts - baseballs, softballs, tennis balls, raquetballs, ping pong balls, soccer balls, golf balls, tether balls, volleyballs, bouncy balls, and various other miscellaneous balls. I also have three snow discs, four paddleboards (and various other swim items), two boogie boards, a windsurf board, a pogo stick, and numerous frizbees. Thank goodness David wanted the ping pong table and Kimberly recently took the air hockey table. I have to say, I haven't missed them at all. |
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