Essential Tools

Sometimes we just need to remember what The Rules of Life really are:
You need only two tools: WD-40 and duct tape.
If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40.
If it moves and shouldn't, use the duct tape.

Happy Halloween! 

beFrank's latest assignment reminded me of a favorite memory: Sid and I had matching SuperMan outfits for Halloween! I can still see Sid riding with me on the passenger side of the car, front feet on the hand rest to lift his entire head out the window, his cape blowing in the breeze!

The picture is a young Alex in a Halloween wig and Sid the Super Dog in front of the old Fullerton house. It still makes me laugh!

Mountains and molehills

Have I mentioned that, while it's true that I live on a LARGE piece of land, my actual abode is rather, er, humble, I think what realtors would describe as cozy. So as not to overwhelm what space I have available, I buy small containers of household products. This of course is impractical and expensive because you run out very quickly, and ounce for ounce the small stuff is made out of liquid gold. So I finally figured out that I CAN shop at Costco, the wholesale circus warehouse and store the excesses out in my garage. It is the trip back and forth outside to replace what I quickly use up that makes me understand how fast I go through these small containers. Anyway, this morning I found myself refilling my small dishwash detergent container with the super-duper-gallon-sized one. And ounce for ounce, I didn't blanch at all about the amount I mopped up and threw away. I also now understand that this isn't a particularly good product to clean up with a damp sponge. But here were a few of my uneasy thoughts while doing so: are two brands compatible with each other, can you "mix" them if the first one wasn't 100 percent gone before adding the other? And, can you safely dispense brand B out of a container that quite plainly advertises brand A without express written consent? What about if there is still trace amounts of brand A mixed in, does the product behave similarly after having been mixed, or has it been altered to a more mellowed result by keeping some of the original but adding to it, like a good Sourdough starter, or a fine port wine?

I do know that the smell of excess dishwash detergent brings back memories of backyard barbeques, when dad would concoct home-made soap bubbles with dish soap, glycerine and unbent wire hangers for us kids. Come to think of it, he used to carefully alter and age the soap then, too, for the perfect consistency and coloration and mellowness. Like a fine port wine!

The Wild West

I think the only good thing that can be said about Tumbleweeds is that they're easy to pull up. By natural design, they have a shallow root system that allows them to pluck themselves when they're ready to roll and deliver their bundle of bazillions of little tumbleweed spawn. That, and when they're young and tender, they're actually kind of soft, so it doesn't hurt to pull them. Unless you've waited one day too long, when they miraculously become dry, stickery and horrid.

I have learned a lot by living on a large piece of undeveloped land, number one is that "undeveloped" is actually another word for "dusty", and number two, there is nothing poetic or sentimental about tumbleweeds.

The Little Kid in me says:

there's hope yet! There's life beyond medicine! There's .... LEAVES!

Poor pitiful Pearl

What is it about a sore throat that makes you feel like a little kid? And that stupid chronic little *coff* *coff* that doesn't really do anything, bring anything up, or scratch the itch, but is always right there, especially when you take a deep breath? Both of these things after days of it, make me feel like crawling up into somebody's lap, curling up in a fetal postion, and saying in a puny little voice "i don't feel good". Yuck. Ptew. Blechk. Make it go away. Please.


and for you aficionados out there, yes I KNOW cough is spelled wrong up there. I just can't even muster the strength to spell it out, much less have a real one. Now don't bug me. I'm feeling a little punchy. I don't feel good.

Next big adventure!

I was beginning to plan out my next adventure, thinking Africa might be nice. Looked into it, found that the small day trips into the veldt were often hung up due to circumstances beyond their control:

think I'll wait this one out

The wedding was a complete success! Absolutely beautiful down to the last detail, and more significantly, not a dry eye in the house, from the moment she stepped down the aisle to the speeches and toasts by family new and old and the "remember when" slide show done to the theme of a What a Wonderful World. Her dad spoke of the joy in raising her, and her new father in law spoke of his joy in "finally" having a daughter in a house of all boys, and how when she steps into a room it is immediately filled with sunshine. We all knew what he meant! The preacher likened the marriage to be somewhat like Columbus' voyage (the reference because it was commemorated on this holiday weekend): he knew who he was taking along on this expedition, and he thought he knew where he was going. And her dad was the epitome of decorum and pride as he walked her down the aisle, lifted her veil and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then placed her hand into the hand of this neat new guy. And then he sat down and wept quietly. Her mom's tears were a little more apparent, and no person or people could have been more proud and happy! My favorite part were my last 5 minutes there, when Alex and I had some alone time while she found a few minutes to eat a few bites of her now-cold dinner, and we talked about stuff. Just stuff. But it was just she and I and it was good.

Now, as far as the reception goes, picture the movie "Big Fat Greek Wedding" and substitute only "Armenian"! Oh my, I think I'll wait for pictures to be available, and see if I can piece together some of the stories! Let's just say they'll start with the seating arrangements, where I was seated next to "Uncle Nick", and work through the dinner, the dancing and the laughing! What a fun party! What a great time! What a beautiful couple!

Congratulations Alex and Garo!

The engagement pic of the happy couple! 

"only 1 day 9 hours 22 minutes 39 seconds till our wedding.."

I've just been to the wedding website of stepdaughter Alex, she has one of those running time boards that's been counting down till the big day. There was something very real about seeing this short time left. I wrote her a few days ago when I realized there were only a few days left and tried to put into words how proud I was of her and how excited and happy I am for her. She is a beautiful, smart, kind, funny, orderly, strong, intelligent and just plain fun person to know and love. I think in my letter to her I said "woooo! It's gonna be a great party!" It probably might have said a little more, but I don't know that I've ever been able to tell her how much she means to me, how proud I am to call her "family" and as any parent, how much I look forward to living vicariously through her as she makes new choices and follows new roads because of the inherent trust I have in her judgement and her enthusiasm.

These thoughts were mirrored as closely by another person, my mom, and my deepest lament is that she can't be here to celebrate this day with us. Still, it's going to be one of the biggest days in a lot of our lives, I know mom will be right there with me (as she was when she helped me find a perfect dress, and sent her sister to help me find the perfect shoes, too!) Now, if I can only appeal to her to help me overcome this head cold that I feel coming on….or is that just stress and nerves?! I wonder how Alex is feeling right about now?

Happy Wedding, Alex! I love you!

"only 1 day, 9 hours, 7 minutes, 6 seconds till our wedding"

Rewarding accomplishment

1. Make a list

2. Check it twice

3. Cross out items as they are accomplished

Isn't that the order it's supposed to go? I find I make the lists, and upon checking it, I always add more to it... but then… what do I have, a list with a bunch of chores written on it. I never seem to get to the crossing out part. Or, if I do accomplish things, I don't go back to get the satisfaction of seeing the list get smaller. And worse, I know where to go back to get old lists that are stacked up, and check those to see which ones I still need to attend to. So I've pretty much defeated the purpose of "the list", and one would think that after a certain amount of trying the same thing over and expecting different results, I might learn that I am not a good lister and stop making the dang things.

4. Look up in thesaurus an acceptable alternative for "lister".

Well, pardon me while I take my leave this morning, I have lots of things to do.

5. Blog

Working out my thoughts

Amazing, isn't it? How quickly a body disintegrates with neglect?

Take working out for instance. You can run and run and run, then take just a few measly days off and … whammo. Back to square one. Sheesh. There's no rest for the weary. I'm finding there's no rest for the lazy, either, in a kind of funny oxymoronic way.

"I got it on EBay"

Tucson to Tucumcari

Tehachipi to Tonapah

Been there, done that with Auntie!

Made it to Mariposa in twice the amount of time it should have for all the side excursions, James Dog her poodle ever present and diligent between us on the seat. Mariposa is an old gold mining town, but the value of the town is found in the people, not the glittery stuff. Joined Kareoke nite on arriving in town, a nite in Tehachipi on our way out of town, a Margarita party at Claire's for her good friends, and the rest of the time spent on the lookout for cowboys, finding instead good ole boys! Another successful outing for the books!

Now, on to business at hand, a major wedding in 8 days, and NOTHING to wear!! Aaaauuuuuggghhh! Panic time!