Flash

Photo courtesy of niece. I did not attend these back-yard fire works. I don't usually feel safe when "amateurs" are letting off fire works. I love my nephew and I hope he is always safe.

My sister-in-law is home from the hospital and doing well I am told. I will probably go visit her later today or tomorrow.Or, I may just wait and call instead. I like to give people time to rest and adjust. She did have all of her stomach removed and we are hoping that the cancer does not return somewhere else.

Very quiet around here. I did nothing yesterday. There is a big festival in town for the week-end, but I don't go any longer. I don't need that food that I love so dearly and I don't need the noise.

Weather has turned cool here in Ohio, so just keeping windows and doors open instead of running the air is enough.

A beautiful bird had decided to build her nest on the top of my front door porch light. It is one that sits on the side of the door. I did not realize it until I went out after dark the other evening to retrieve the mail and she went nuts when I went to go back into the door.

I had no idea what the hell was going on and I thought I was under attack. Hearing the flutter of the wings I realized it was a bird and I figured she must have built a nest on my light. I wasn't looking up, I was holding the mail over my head. I felt like Tippi Hedron! I believe I twisted my neck - it was hurting all the next day.

I go out the back door and around the house to sneak into my mailbox, now. It is on my front porch wall. I move slow and she and I just eyeball each other the entire time. No sudden movements!

Heart breaker

His grandma said he kept moving his head to try to see what the painter was touching his face with. His Mom said he is a heart breaker. I thought it was a strawberry.  :D

Fire!

The cars before he ate them. And this is why they have a fire truck standing by. Two years ago - only a fire truck. This year, a fire truck and an ambulance. I hope it is just thinking safely and not because something happened before. A piece did fly off from one of the cars but we are sectioned off  by a caution tape and the distance must be okay because nobody was hit by the flying pieces.

And.....she's OUT!

All day at the festivities and she is out like a light. We came home and I fixed grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup for everyone. This one ate four. Okay, let me repeat that - FOUR!

She was watching the movie WALL-E and I was busy on the computer, my daughter came through with her dirty dishes and said "She's out."  I said "huh?"  My daughter pointed and repeated "She's out!"

Yes, she was. LOL!

Here is the video of the creature eating the cars. Yet again, I found myself with a full memory card by the time I was needing to make a video and after kicking myself in the rear end (mentally) I remembered my trusty cell phone and pulled it out of my purse to make this video. It is over 8 minutes long and I had YouTube stabilize it for me (shaky hand).

The people noise you hear is not my crew. The little girl (above me) did not make one peep during the entire episode. You can hear me say a few lines, such as "That was close", "He is coming over to us" , "That's rude" and "What's he doing?"

Our other family members were somewhere else in the crowd as we all got separated for a bit.

The event is a sight to see and I highly recommend it for children and grand children. It looks as though this was their last event for 2013, but here is their web site.  http://www.megasaurus.com/. You can read about his history and photos and hopefully they will post the 2014 schedule soon.

The rainy and wet festival

This picture is from a few years ago at the Fall Festival. I went Saturday and wish I had not. I was miserable. It rained in the morning, then the sun came out. The weather said cloudy the rest of the day. I went to the festival. Big mistake.

It poured. And it poured. And then everything was a muddy mess.

Sigh.

Pretty colors

My niece invested in an LED H00la-h00p. She and her new husband travel around from one festival to another where there is a lot of dancing, people h00ping, twirling fire sticks etc...

They all do it for free and for fun. It is a great way to provide entertainment between or during bands playing.

This little gem that she is using will set you back $300. It has 90 different color/flash/pulsating combinations.

Keeping warm

I did not take this photo. I believe my nephew did. Quite a few campers came in on Friday night (the 1st of June). It had rained all day and the weather was very cool for this time of year. Many chose to sit around the big campfire to stay warm before heading to their tents to sleep and prepare for the next day (the wedding).

I drank earlier in the evening at dinner but stopped when we got to the campground (private field). It was not a public campground. My nephew and I went to rescue a couple who had broken down on the expressway. Tolls are tricky when you need to get on the road and pick up people. We had to travel 12 miles past the broken down couple to exit properly (pay the .50¢). No illegal U-turns allowed. If we had not exited properly, the ticket booth lady said if we brought the original ticket back to her (or that checkpoint) we would have to pay the full toll fare (which was $80). Ouch!

The couple could not get their car started after it cut out on them, so we gave them a lift to the party. I spoke to them on Sunday and they had to have her mother drive all the way (across state) to get them and use her Triple A to tow the car back home. They had just picked the car up from the garage. (They used wallet mart - but I am going to refrain from any comments here).

The next day my nephew chose to ride with me and leave his car at the motel. He gets real tired of being the "sober" guy who has to drive everywhere and do everything. I don't blame him. This may not have been the issue, he said it was because of parking room (there was plenty). I think the colder rainy weather may have kept a few of the party goers away. One guy counted 220 people, but I wonder. There were so many people and they kept moving, I don't know how he could have counted them. Anyway, there were tents on the fields all around us - as far as I could see.

I think a lot of people had a really good time. If I were 25 years younger and I did not have the impending headache, I well may have been one of them. Minus the smoke. I cannot stand smoke of any kind. I learned something I did not know. A "nugget" is a ball of of weed. Some sites say it is a bud. I think they roll it and smoke it in a bong. I am not certain because I usually was not around this activity. From what I see on TV, it still requires using a cigarette lighter (the movie Hesher) and I say that means smoke of some kind. (maybe? - maybe not).  Ha, ha - I really DON'T know.

There were no other drugs that I could see (except for alcohol). No pills, no cocaine, no sniffing or huffing. Just weed. A real hippie festival. 

What am I talking about? How would I know if anybody took pills or imbibed in ecstasy? How do you take ecstasy? Ah...thank-you Google. It's a pill. They did not have this kind of stuff around when I was in my 20's. And meth? What the hell is that? One of my ex-boyfriends OD'd on this (years after we broke up).  Wow. Looks like you can snort, smoke or inject this drug. The pictures of people on meth are horrible! 

Hey, it is way too early in the morning for this sh!t!

No, wait! One more. My neighbor told me about this one. He said they used to breathe nitrous oxide out of a balloon when he went to the festivals in the 90's.  This is laughing gas like you would get at a dentist's office. I have never had any at any dentist so I do not have any idea what effect this has on folks. My daughter has had it (at the dentist) and she said it feels like you are floating. Man...I need to switch dentists. :)

The "in-between bands" band

This group of singers were friends of the groom. Most of the songs they sang were his songs. I had heard them because he has a web page where he has his songs and I had listened to them. They sang on the small stage between gigs while the bands on the big stage set up for their next set. My niece had arranged bands to play from 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on her wedding day. Minus the hour during the ceremony of course.

My niece is very happy. As long as she is happy. She is a bright,  young and very sweet girl. She just graduated with a degree in Psychology. I hate to see her take this hippie route; but again - what do I know? She wants to continue her education in holistic medicine or naturopathy.

All I can say is -what a great way to practice your psychological skills.

The children

Remember the saying "Not in front of the children?"  Many people brought their children to the festival. Beer drinking, whiskey drinking, pot-smoking, and hippies stumbling around. 

I saw many moms watching over their children. I saw no dads helping to take care that the children stayed out of harms way.  Except for my niece and her new husband. He watched her six year old like no other.

The children were having a wonderful time. From what I could see. There were no tears. There were not tantrums. The children danced, hula-hooped and laughed.

What do I know?

One family had all their blankets and sleeping bags stolen. They had to rent a motel room because they had small children and needed to provide them with warm shelter. 

I overheard others talking and one guy said "Possessions are not important." Kiss my ass, mister.

It may have been my headaches that soured my experience at the festival also.

In costume... or not?

Last week a few of us had to work after hours to complete a job at a school. It just so happened to coincide with their Fall Festival (a.k.a. Halloween party). Schools are not allowed (or permitted) to use the word Halloween because of it's satanic theme. I am assuming that is the reason why. Or perhaps it is because if draws attention to a certain religion (Satanism) and schools are not permitted to celebrate events. If they have a Halloween celebration then they will have to plan a Christian celebration (what the heck is the Christmas party/concert?) Anyway....

My co-workers and I had been at it for a solid four hours and were a bit slap happy if you know what I mean. As usual nothing was working correctly and we were struggling to figure out what we could do to make it right. I was on the telephone (so I was spared) when a very (and I mean very) young fellow in a cop uniform walked into the office. A few remarks were made about the Fall Festival and his "costume".  The guy co-worker that was with us suddenly became quiet. The young fellow in the cop uniform said something but I didn't catch it. My female co-worker (it was her school) answered him and he left. It was about this same time I was finished with my phone call and she was laughing. I looked at them and said "What? Was he a REAL cop?"  She managed to squeak out a "Yes." The guy said "I thought he was a kid dressed up as a cop until I saw his gun."

Note to all Police Departments. Don't send the youngest on your force to Halloween events. Nobody would take him seriously. It didn't even look like he was shaving, yet - I swear! And, for the record - I doubt that I would recognize a real gun if I saw it. I am happy to report that my eyes did not get down that far. My Mama raised me right! He was just a boy, after all! But he was dead serious. There was no mistaking that look on his face. This young fellow meant business. I think he is going to make a fine officer of the law.

A little wine

That bee is lucky this was the last of my wine. My BIL fished it out and I almost drank the rest. Last sip and all. Hey, I needed something to get me through six hours of screaming, pushing, sticky and crying kids Saturday at the Fall festival.

This was their cranberry flavored wine. Tasted just like Ocean Spray Cranberry juice. It has 11% alcohol by volume. A little tart but so is cranberry juice.

They package it in wine bottle sized frosted crystal Christmas trees that look to make a very nice gift.

Lip smacking good.

Ain't no sunshine....

I went to the Fall Festival today. It was not sunny. The above photo is from last year. I did not even take my camera this year. Partly because it was a wet week-end and mostly because I STILL have not found my camera's battery. Sigh.

It was a big muddy mess. I layered my clothing so I did not get cold and only had to put my last jacket on when the rain came in for about 3 minutes. I was comfortable. I looked for a new welcome sign for my front porch (because I can't find my Autumn one - we all know why!), but did not find one that I liked.

Maybe I'll just make my own.

Witchy Woman

Here is one from the festival at the beginning of the month.

I posted this one in a very large format. How can you tell how much storage space you have left on your blog site? Go to google.com and log in. Choose Settings. Choose Google Account Settings. Choose Picasa web album - Settings . Choose storage. This should tell you how much storage space you have left to post pictures on your blog. There is a limit, you know. I have read bloggers who had to create new blogs because they ran out.

I just tested it. I took 3 of my largest pictures and set them to upload to this blog. I then watched my storage settings (as shown above) and refreshed after each picture loaded and I watched it increase. Now, this is where it gets tricky. You can delete the post, but the pictures still stay on the Picasa and still use up your storage space. How do I get rid of those three pictures since it was only a test posting?

Anywhere in settings, look at the top tabs. You should see one that says "My Photos". Choose that tab. You may have to hunt and peck, mine were at the very end of course. You can delete them here. Just make sure you don't delete any that you actually used in a blog post.

There. I'm done.

Festival Dance

I had to upload the video to YouTube first, and then embed it here. You really can't hear my brother over the singing (chanting?) of the participants. One year it was about 90 degrees Fahrenheit and I watched them dance. This year they didn't seem so miserable. Beautiful.

Festival 2

I had to zoom to get the photo of these two. I did get more of them, but in a movie format. This dance is just awesome. They invite the crowd to come in and participate. A few did. I did not make it back out on Sunday. Both sisters canceled. They ended up closing the festival early because of poor attendance.

This couple had me in awe. They kept right up with the dancing. Once I check the sound of the video, I will try to get it posted. I am not certain what is said on the video, yet. I'll have to use my backup computer. The sound card in my big one seems to have bit the dust. I blame it on sister 1954 and her making me listen to Lady Ga-gag.

The festival

From the fall festival this year. The best I can tell (from Google) is that this type of pipe is a Great Highland perhaps? I see her every year and I should talk to her (when she is not busy playing, of course).

We walked. Then we ate. Then we walked some more. Then we ate some more. Rinse, repeat. I thought I would burst. My sister and I would not have eaten so much, but she had her son with her and he was like "Next!" at every food tent. I didn't complain, but my tummy did a little.

My other sister just called and cancelled on me today. I guess that is a good thing (for my tummy). The weather has been cold and rainy (yesterday it was cool and cloudy). The ground will be a muddy mess (I know from past experience) and it will be quite miserable. I still have one sister who has not checked in. I may be going, yet.

Great and Grand

I looked it up. Grand Nephew is just the same as a great nephew. So, I was right all along.

My party is Saturday. My annual July celebration. I have it on whatever day my town is setting off their fireworks. They have a festival in the park (just over the hill from me) for about 3 or 4 days during this long week-end. It is a great time. Sometimes I don't get the chance to get over there, but when I do - I am never disappointed.

So far on the menu, sweet Italian sausage, hot dogs, hamburgs, calico beans, macaroni salad, potato salad, vegetable tray w/dip, cheese ball and cheese tray (I just remembered I need crackers), strawberry frozen, peanut butter fudge, pineapple pudding cake, lemonade, iced tea, pop and beer. Sister 1956 won't be able to make it this year. Drat! She and I just went to a party Saturday so that is okay. She could only go to one or the other (because of her job).

Sister 1954 is excited because there will be some family members she has not seen yet since her release from prison.

I didn't have my party last year because I had my daughter's high school graduation party (remember the sumo wrestling?). That was only one year ago? Good grief!

My daughter's new beau will get the full exposure to family and I think she might be nervous about it. I don't know. She got mad at me last night. I guess I embarrassed her in front of him by telling her to "chill out." She called me on it and accused me of getting an attitude each time company was over. She was stomping around the house trying to force one of the puppies to poop outside. He was so scared he ran and jumped into my lap shaking. (The pup, not the boyfriend).

I think stress is getting the best of her. New job, new beau and all. Me? I bit my tongue with her. I know how hard it is to be the new love interest in some one's home and I refused to make her new beau feel uncomfortable by arguing with her. I let it pass.

I bought my first bag less sweeper. I got the Bissell Healthy Home model. I really like the bag less feature. It was so easy to snap it in and out and to empty it. Once I figured out that I kept putting it back into "brush" mode and that was the reason I was not picking anything up, I was okay. It is much lighter than my previous models.

I am going to focus on outside mowing and landscaping today. I hope. I need energy. My head hurt as soon as I got up this morning. I went to bed too late (vacation days from work) and I suppose that might be the reason. The dogs don't care that I went to bed late, they want to go out at 6 or 6:30. Sooner if they can. I also got myself a brand new hedge trimmer. I have never used one before. I guess you have to supply your own electrical cord? Good thing I have one. My friends spoke of how they cut the cord while they trim. Sounds like it happens a lot. I suppose I will do it, too. I chose the lightest model they had. My arms will be sore enough.

I hate, hate, hate waking up with a headache.

Making more memories

Warther's Museum 2009

On Saturday I met family and we toured the beautifully decorated trees at Warther's museum. A couple of the family had not been before and they were just as entranced by his carvings and work as they were by the trees. The trees did not disappoint.

I fell in love with a beautifully lit blue one. Head to toe in blue lights, tinsel, garland and balls. It had not been sold yet. $750. Sorry. My budget doesn't even come close to allowing such a luxury and besides, can you imagine what my pets would do to such a beautifully decorated tree? Oh, the horror!

We all went out to eat at Texas Road House and again were not disappointed. Then we did a little shopping at the nearby mall. My heel spur is really acting up. I am getting shooting pains down into the inside of the heel. Not the middle. More toward the inside of the heel.

I took it easy on Sunday. Even though it was rather nice outside and I could have cleaned out the garage or patio, I stayed inside. My daughter's boyfriend is still mowing my grass for me and he did that yesterday. I got to clean the bathroom drain out. Lovely. Little Chong was very curious as to what I was doing. He was the only one. He kept coming into the bathroom and there I was sitting on the floor and working under the sink. It was as if he was asking me "Did you fall down? Do you need help?" It was comical. Until I realized that my wooden spoon was missing. I use the spoon's handle wrapped in paper towels to clean the drain out. Yep. He stole it and it was chewed up beyond rescue. Cheech threw up later and I finally got all the wooden splinter pieces picked up off the living room carpet. Thieving little devils, they are!

My office was scheduled to work only Monday and Tuesday of this week so I took vacation days. I have a follow up doctor's appointment this morning and then I will go to the grocery store and buy the items that can be stored for four days before the feast.

I will go again on Wednesday to get the fresher items. I am fixing all the meal for me and my crew probably on Friday and will be going to the family feast on Thursday. For that get together I am making my usual cheese ball and tray. I am taking a vegetable tray with dip, some olives and pickles and maybe devilled eggs. I asked my daughter's boyfriend to ask his mom if she had time would she make me some homemade noodles for Thursday. I hope she only says yes if she has the time. She also works full time. My family are not noodle eaters but I thought the other day, 'we never have noodles' and I figured I might take a batch. We'll see how they go over.

For the movie department we watched "My Sister's Keeper". It was good. I am not a fan of C Diaz. I do like the way she looked worn and haggard in the movie - it fit her role. I got a little confused as they tossed the viewer back and forth in time. I did not see much chemistry between C Diaz and J Patric and I swear I saw him pull back from her kiss in disgust at the beach scene. I almost watched the movie again (fast forwarding to that part) to see if it was my imagination or not, but didn't really care. I am beginning to warm up a bit to A Baldwin. He played his part well, I thought. And J Cusak was great as the judge. My daughter just could not believe that A Baldwin in this movie was the husband in Beetle Juice. I got a chuckle out of that.

We also watched "Next Day Air." Skip this one! The two chuckles we got in the entire movie did not make up for the foul language and blood scenes. This is NOT comedy. The only ones worth watching were M Def and Y Deliz. M Def didn't have more than a dozen words in the movie and that is where we did our chuckling.

On the "old movie" chart I watched "Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte." So many times you hear old movies mentioned but have you ever really watched them? I caught this one the other morning at about six a.m. In the old time movie fashion, it was quite good.

Chong chews

Here is Chong chewing on some dead grass on my patio.

I do not go outside without all of them (except Sable) on a leash. It is too risky. They love to run, but I have a road in the front yard and neighbors who have that wonderful knack of coming out of their house the exact instant I take my dogs out. It always seems to work out that way. Of course all my dogs run over to them to say hello and it takes me 15 minutes to drag them all back over into my yard. The boxer was really good for a while at listening to me. Now he is going through a phase where he pretends that he does not hear me. Sable all but ignores me.

My daughter told me she woke up this morning with no pain. Finally. She did okay at the festival, better with ibuprofen than with generic Vicodin. She did go sit in the car towards the end with her boyfriend because she had a headache and was cold.

Things were not the same at the festival. The food was not nearly as good as I recall. The crafts are redundant. The campers decorations are also redundant. Except for the bubble fogger. That was pretty neat. Even the pie was bland. My sisters and one brother were as great as ever, though. That more than makes up for the lack of excitement of the festival. I didn't walk up the hill to see the old cars. I ran out of steam.

Smoke Bubbles

They came from a bubble-maker on top of the camper. When they popped, a puff of smoke escaped. Some were wet to the touch, some were dry. They fascinated us for a good five minutes. I never did catch a photo of one dissipating into smoke. It wasn't from lack of trying.

They came from this machine.