Just my size!

Little outhouse for little people

One of my sister's ex-husbands makes outhouses that seems to be all the rage for yard decorations. Can you imagine? The one pictured above is not one of his. He sells in a different part of the state. But, it was just a few years back we were removing them from our back yards.

Regardless, this little girl thought it was the greatest thing to play in. Peek-a-boo or a wooden version of a playhouse, she seemed to be enchanted with it. I didn't look inside any. Maybe there is an old Sears catalog or some corn cobs hanging on the walls. Corn cobs? Who in their right mind?

We went shopping for a Halloween costume this evening. No easy feat. I have a stash of long dark capes and wigs and a few masks, but my daughter didn't want anything to do with scary and gory. She used to be into that. Now, it is a sort of zombie chick. Yikes. I won't be here for the party. It is tomorrow night.

I'll be here. I am not a gambler. We went in 2000 and of course, I got a migraine. I sat in the non-smoking area and drank pop. I felt a little better later. We'll see how this time goes. I am taking my camera, not sure if they are allowed in the speakeasy. I'll find out. Guess I'll pack my winter coat for this trip. I am hoping the sun shines even if it is cold, and I can get some nice fall pictures on the way.

Backroads

Backroad in Tuscarawas county

A beautiful road for taking pictures. If the sun were out and gave the leaves some color. I only had wet, dreary and gray. If only the camera could have captured the smell of freshly fallen rain on the wet leaves. Mmmm.

I did see the cutest thing. I came upon a tiny horse pulling a tiny cart. (Not on the road pictured above. They were on a much busier road). Inside were three of the cutest little Amish children. They smiled and waved at me as I passed them. We were going in opposite directions so I was able to get a good look at them. It was too quick for me to get my camera ready and I wouldn't have taken their picture anyway. Maybe that is changing also. Along with other Amish traditions, maybe the young ones don't mind their picture being taken. There was not an adult to be seen. I am not sure what the laws are for moving vehicles on the roadway and how old you have to be to operate one. But, they sure were adorable.

Sun chaser

Sun rising over my town in Eastern Ohio

Some folks chase ambulances,
some chase dreams,
some chase lovers,
some chase children
and some chase dogs.

I have been known to chase all except the ambulance, I believe.

And now, I chase sunrises and sunsets.

The Petting Zoo

Feeding the llama

One of the favorite attractions of the festival is the petting zoo. I didn't know this little girl, but since mine is 15 and was out and about taking her own pictures, I zoomed in on this one. She is giving the llama a grape.

You could purchase little dixie cups of carrots and grapes to feed the animals. All of them except the tigers. The lady selling the treats told us one little girl was handed her dixie cup of treats and proceeded to eat them herself. LOL! To heck with the critters. It was apparent that they were getting much more than they needed, so she was eating them.

My sister kissed the camel. It is a ritual that usually my brother does every year. His daughter got a picture of him doing it and I got a pic of my sister kissing the camel. Here.

The expressions on the faces of the people around them are priceless.

Well, they aren't actually kissing. You put a baby carrot in your mouth and the camel takes it out of your mouth with his (or her) mouth. By the looks of it, the camel is female because the pictures my niece took of my brother and the camel - looks to me like that camel was twitterpated.

It's all about the colors

Festive Ponchos.

What a beautiful week-end for the fall festival this year. I normally do not go on a Sunday because it is nearly impossible to navigate to the area because of the enormous car show.

We went earlier than usual and I snuck in a back way. We waited less than ten minutes in the line of cars. Now, leaving was another story. I was not aware that the festival shuts down at 5 p.m. on Sunday. What a mess.

It didn't help that by that time I had an enormous headache from the sun and the rich foods. Besides the fact that the week-end was hectic for me because of the extra traveling and visiting I did. My head was about to explode. When I arrived home I was able to lay down for about thirty minutes. I had taken migraine medicine long before. I awoke refreshed and ready to catch up on some long overdue housework.

The colors. The food. The weather. I did not purchase anything. Drat! I began to get a sick headache halfway through the day. My daughter's foot began hurting. She has been diagnosed with tendonitis. We purchased new shoes hoping this will help. We were ready to go home after four hours of walking around.

We didn't even tour the old car show. They had a record amount this year. We could see vintage vehicles covering the entire hillside. They are remarkable. I saw different people than I normally do. Probably because it was a Sunday instead of Saturday.

My brother and his wife help to man a concession stand for their fire department. They both were tired. They have been camping in a tent all week. You can tell they were ready to go home. They chose not even to walk around with us. I couldn't blame them.

My sister made a few purchases for Christmas gifts. She also has cement geese that she likes to dress up. She chose one male pilgrim outfit and a female Indian outfit this year because we always have Thanksgiving dinner at her house. I think her geese have a bigger wardrobe than I do. LOL!

My picture taking was also low this year. I just plain ran out of steam. This week-end some family members are meeting at a large gambling resort in a neighboring state. I am going to rest up this week so that I can party all night with them. Woot!

Bridges

A bridge between WV and OH

I went to WV today. A funeral, a hospital visit. Saw some people I have not seen in many, many years. It was a long, trying day. Bittersweet. Death is bitter. Hospital admissions are bitter. Seeing old friends is sweet. Hearing sad news is bitter. Talking positively about the future is sweet.

The sunshine was inspiring. What little I saw of it. The time I did spend alone in the car I was pensive. Change my diet so I don't end up with congestive heart failure. Watch what I eat so that I don't end up with diabetes.

I had so much at home to do. I had a headache when I woke up this morning. I slowly drank coffee and took a shower. Get moving. Go. Visit people. To hell with the lawn and weeds. To hell with the dirty kitchen and the carpet that needs swept. Go. Socialize. Be there. Reach out and touch someone.

Memories. Tears. Laughter. News. Happenings. Diets. Restrictions. Cravings. Nurses. Needles. Sore bums. Bruised arms. Swollen legs. Tired. Where to go from here.

One thin dime

Photo Friday Challenge: Thin

A blow upon a bruise

My very good friend.

I met this friend in 1978. She is dressed up in the old saloon style garments that you can get when you go to an amusement park and they take one of those old-time pictures.

I got word on my answering machine today (from my sister) that her Mother died. My friend took care of her Mother 24/7. I called her as soon as I heard. Her sister from Columbus answered. My good friend was in the hospital from pneumonia and congestive heart failure. The sister couldn't reach me because I am unpublished. Well, she has had a lot to deal with.

I can't reach my friend. There is no answer at the direct number. The 800 number for the hospital tried to ring her room and there is no answer. I can't believe this.

I've looked at my dog

...from both sides, now.

She has strange white hairs on her left side. People comment on it all the time. I used to think that perhaps she was traumatized. Hit by a car and drug along the road because underneath the wiry, white hairs, no fur grows. There are bare patches of skin.

Her right side however, is a beautiful lustrous black. The vet didn't know what may have caused this. She has been like this since we rescued her from the pound. There were no more incidents. She still has the same markings as when we first brought her home. That would be over three years, now.

They do turn red if we scratch her coat in that area, but I would imagine that is from normal blood coming to the surface of the skin. She is treated for allergies about twice a year. The rest of the year she seems to be fine. We take her in for her allergy shot when we notice her licking her paws excessively or shaking her head more than usual. She had ear mites once, we treated her and she has never had them again. I thought she did when she scratched a sore under her ear, but the vet said that was from the allergy. No mites. Good.

I worked for a veterinarian oh, I am counting....29 years ago. Ouch! That hurt! She was the meanest witchiest little woman that I have ever come across. She did love animals, though. Much more than people. I was a timid 17 year old and I have to tell you - she belittled me every chance she got. She was not a nice person. She looked just like Dr. Ruth without make up and dark hair with glasses. She was also German. My gosh, I can't recall her name. I think it was also Ruth W(something). The clinic was titled: Argos. I worked there for about six months. My most memorable experience there was looking up and seeing an Irish wolfhound resting it's head on the counter that came up to my chest. Wow.

Kool Kid

Just ten days away from 6 months old

Looking like he knows all the secrets to the world. Or, as if he is amused by the photo session. Kind of like a Mona Lisa smile. My sister says that he (her grandson) is a happy baby. Think about it. When she has him he is in a house with three retired people. What do they have to do but cater to his every need and dote all over him? I'd be a happy baby too!

He is their first baby in that house in 28 years. My goodness that is a long time between babies. Grandparents on the Mom's side live out of state, more than a five hour drive away. My sister, her husband and our brother get him any time they want. My sister worked for years as a teacher and a pre-school administrator. She is by far the best with small children that I have ever seen. She probably started helping out with little ones in 1950. She is the Jackie Kennedy look-alike.

I have been busy with this location. The lightning took out a slew of equipment in the Schools' administrative building. I have been working on getting things back on line. The place sits on top of a hill. It used to be a big farm and has plenty of land surrounding it. So, the school district built a football field on one side and a soccer field on the other. Which is fine, except when the storms come rolling in and the air fills with electricity. The man is recovering very well and may be home by now - from what I hear at the school. It's a miracle.

Black pine trees

On top of the Park hill.

If Elmer could see this

Ad in today's newspaper.

Back around 1980 I was working in an Automotive/Hardware store. Near Christmas we would get a huge amount of toys in stock and sell them like crazy. One customer called on the telephone and asked if we had "Baby Belch." Innocent as I was I got on the intercom and asked over the entire store "Do we sell 'Baby Belch'?" Well, the store manager "Elmer" came back to my office.

He gave me one of those incredulous looks. "Baby Belch?" he asked me. I realized it was kind of ridiculous. I told the customer "No. We don't have a Baby Belch." After the phone call the buzz around the store for a couple of days was how vulgar such a baby doll would be. Who in their right mind would even "want" such a thing?

Well, the above ad has pushed that request right off the charts. If my old store manager "Elmer" could see this ad! The picture looks like it is straight out of a 1950's comic book. Folks, if your party is reduced to using this bear as a means of entertainment - STOP GIVING PARTIES!

And the part that really floors me? "Your friends will be so charmed they'll want to hug him again!" I seriously doubt that I would have many friends if I showed them that I was sorry enough to purchase this toy.

Which brings me to another story. Back when I was about 10 years old, my neighbors invited me over to play. They told me to look in their dad's lunch box. There was a fake pile of dog poop. I was disgusted. They howled. Never did care for those neighbors. Their daughter reminded me of "Nellie" from Little House on the Prairie. Playing mean tricks on the rest of the girls in the neighborhood.

Anger

Photo Friday Challenge: Anger

Don't stop. Don't think. Just get the HELL out of the way.

She squeaks

Little pumpkin

After a long day of work (I did have some successes today - but not in ATM) I finished the day with this bright little blue-eyed pumpkin girl. She is imitating us by talking in her little way - it just comes out as squeaks. A sing-songy chirp.

Late on a July Evening

One from my nephew's cache - July 2006 - near Irondale, Ohio.

Anybody ever listen to Uriah Heep? The actual song goes "Early on a July morning". I changed it a little. This photo is not mine. It belongs to my nephew. I downloaded it from his album.

I am still ear deep in ATM troubleshooting. I have fiddled with the fair queuing. It is now fifo (first in first out). We'll see what that does.

The schools are in a frenzy these days. Lots of stuff going on. My mind is reeling.

Up with the sun

Yawn. Yet another photo of Friday's sunrise.

I had a document due today, so I woke up early. I needed to add some finishing touches. It was good because I was fresh. I'm not now, but I was as brilliant as the sunrise this morning. It all came together for me. Sigh. It's in. It's done. No comment from anyone. Double sigh. Whatever.

What job is perfect, huh? I spent extra time on this project. I worked last week on another problem, one day putting in 12 hours. Nobody says a word. Nothing.

I knew that once my daughter was older, more time would open up for extras on the job. I must take care not to let it consume me. It won't do me any good to give more than my share when I get nothing in return. We are all guilty of that sometimes.

I remember when I first started working. I was so vibrant. So full of energy. Jumping out of bed in the morning. Late teens, early twenties. The work world was mine to conquer. I drank it in. I beamed. I laughed. I was good. I did it all. I did more. I burned out. Yep. Became angry and depressed. I moved on to the next job thinking things will be different here. I bounced again. I was vibrant again. Yes, I could still be good! Repeat. I moved on.

The more you do the more they ask you to do. When you don't do anything or volunteer to do anything, they don't ask you to do anything. I was never smart enough to not volunteer.

I finished the movie The Sentinel. It was okay. Now, I have Poseidon to watch.

Through the haze

Hazy sunrise - again east on 250 last Friday morning.

My head is hazy with the task of creating a Network diagram. It is a big school campus with lots of switches and fiber transceivers. My mind is boggled. Wires go every which way and to put it all on paper can end up looking like jumbled Christmas lights.

Over the week-end, I did catch a movie about Woody Guthrie. "Bound For Glory." I didn't know all that much about the folk singer before I saw the show. I followed up a little bit reading about him on Wikipedia. Arlo seems to have followed most in his footsteps.

I am trying to watch The Sentinel with Michael Douglas. I get about twenty minutes a day to watch it on my (home) computer. So far so good. I'm about halfway into it. Kim Basinger looks much better in this movie than she did in Cellular.

Rats are still doing very well. Cats are fine. I have moved the bird into the back bedroom again. Mouse is hanging in there. Dog is being very out of line. She ate all my roast beef on Sunday. I had it covered and on the kitchen counter. She popped the lid off and ate the roast without dropping the plate on the floor. The lid was on the floor but did not break. Counter is at least three feet high. She is barely touching her dog food. She must have heard me tell my daughter it was low calorie dog food. Ah.

She tried to get our tacos tonight but my daughter caught her as she was trying to get up on the table. I give the cats very little at a feeding because if they leave any at all, she will get it. Maybe I should go back to giving her anti-anxiety medicine. Maybe she is stocking up for winter. Maybe she is angry because I forgot her outside Friday evening for two hours. I fell asleep. Sleep. Speaking of sleep....yawn. Good-night.

A streetlight named desire

Rising sun

I traveled East on Friday morning to attend a much-needed meeting. Well, what I thought was going to be a meeting. We had huge changes a month or so ago at work and most of us were looking for somebody (anybody) to tell us where the organization was heading, what was expected of us, things like that.

Well, that all went up in smoke. We arrived and found ourselves thrust into learning a new help desk program. Great. No answers today. The manager that I asked is just as confused and frustrated as I am. Perhaps more so.

Situation normal. All fouled up.

Bows and earrings

Photo Friday's Challenge: Girl. All girl. And, every girl needs to have access to this!

Moonflower crystals

A wet moonflower

Ugh. It has been one of those weeks. No time for anything special that I like to do. The above photo is one of my moonflowers after a rain. I wanted to touch the photo up real bad, but I didn't. Only cropped it to center it a little better and put the little black and white frame around it.

Bravo's was exquisite. I was in a trance from all the great food and the beautiful atmosphere. Oh, maybe I was tired. That may have been it. So glad I didn't drink any wine. It is a 40 mile drive for me. Interstate and construction. Lovely.

My head is spinning right now and I have not imbibed one tiny sip. I may skip the fair this year and just sleep all week-end. Yeah, right.