JUST A HIPPIE GYPSY

Rainbows of the Soul

2012-01-28T10:00:00.004-05:00

There is something about Elvis World that gives people permission to dress up. It should come as no surprise that people arrive dressed to the Nines as Elvis, Marilyn, Dale Evans, Colin Farrell, and even Gumby!

I believe some people do not do it on purpose. The Europeans look European. There is just a certain flair they have. It shows in their skinny jeans, their hair, their glasses, their back packs, their easy coolness. I have to admit, I have not met an ugly European. They are shiny faces and an openness that is not only refreshing but fills me with a longing for something I can not put my finger on. Perhaps a memory of better times.

The young kids shouting their independence and all looking remarkably the same. Did we do that too? All with long hair streaked with outlandish colors, skinny jeans, Ugg boots, and their noses glued to their i phones as they follow at a slower pace their parents with the hopes that no one will assumed they are connected. At least that's what I did. The parents do display a Kid in a Candy Store type of awe.

Am I stereotyping? Women from Texas; Big hair and knee high expensive boots.

Canadians? Just like us but like to show off their plastic money.

Australians? They buy the shops out and tell you how expensive everything is in Australia and how they have to buy new luggage to take everything home. And they show you their plastic money.

But it is those who dress up that capture my attention.

One day last summer I looked up and spotted a woman browsing in the front of the shop. She had one of those little hats from the 50's on her head, with the small veil that extended over her forehead. In her white gloved left hand she held the other white glove as she pulled a Gold Lame clad Barbie from the shelf. She slowly sashayed around the store until she emerged so I could get a good look at her entire ensemble.

She was in a beautiful red and white flared flowered dress. It was cinched at waist with a red belt. She wore stockings with the seam up the back and pretty little soft white heels.

My heart lurched in my chest as I recognized the outfit, the uniform of my Mothers generation and immediately my eyes filled with tears I could not hold back.

What is this emotion?

I have thought about the sudden burst of tears and realized that it is the young little girl inside of me who wants her Mommie and there she was. Out of the Blue. Without warning. Stepping out of 1959. She was so beautiful

The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears. ~John Vance Cheney

Town without Pity

2012-01-27T18:19:00.002-05:00

The Weekly Photo Challenge from Wordpress this week is........

HOPE

It is hard to believe that it is almost seven years ago we packed up, sold the house and moved to Ft. Wayne. Upon arriving we walked around the downtown area and I took a lot of pictures. Always a fun way to first view a city, through the camera lens.

Then we ran across this warning!!!

And I hoped it was not true.

Go here for more interpretations of HOPE.

Don't have a Grand child with a Dog Collar

2012-01-26T10:13:00.008-05:00

Thursday Thirteen for January 26, 2012

First off, why is it that you never listen to your Mother? They can dispense the absolute best advice by sharing their life experiences. Yet, the irrefutable lessons we learn, the ones that truly reveal their innate universal validly, have to be understood the hard way. No one can tell you. You would never listen.

1) Never criticize, condemn or complain. This is like the mantra from the Dale Carnegie Training programs. Who likes to be around someone who is always complaining? I think I complain a lot, maybe not out loud so much, but in my soul. I do not like this situation and I realize it drags me down, compromises my happiness. I wish I could stop it and just accept things. Have you ever been around someone who is always criticizing? Or condemning? You just want to vacate the area.

2) All things pass. I try to remember what was bothering me at this time last year? Or last month? or three months ago? Sometimes I can isolate a particular incident, but on the whole the answer is no. So I try to tell myself not to get so upset by little things. Because unless it is death, taxes or love, it's a little thing. Everything else can be handled, maybe with drugs, but it's all going to be OK. (just joking about the drugs).

3) There is no relief in consuming large amounts of alcohol to make the pain go away. It does not work and only makes it worse. It only will bring on a terrible hang over and you may wake up in a ditch. Or worse, have a Grand child with a dog collar. (I love that commercial!)

4) There are no do overs in life. So when it comes to your kids, make them the most important focus of your life for their first 18 years of life. When they go to college - let go for god's sake.

5) Don't give advice unless asked for it.

6) You do not know it all so don't act like it. You do not have to be right all the time. Do not correct someone in public or point out how ridiculous they sound! If you know the Beatles were not inducted into the Rock-N-Roll hall of fame the first year and they insist they were, just say you must be wrong (even though you just heard all about the it the night before on The Heavy Metal Show) and tell them you need to look it up on the Internet. Sometimes it just feels OK to know you are right.

7) Be able to say, I'm sorry I was wrong . Mean it. Do not say, "I'm sorry, but...." just say, "I'm sorry, my bad." This also makes for a happy marriage.

8) Sleep on it. Do not jump on anything, even if it seems a sure thing. Even if you think you must react immediately - sleep on it.

9) Trust your gut. Your subconscious knows things. All will be revealed in time.

10) Listen to people, what they are really saying sometimes is hidden in between the words. Have you ever been taking to someone and to see if they are listening you stop before the punch line or the climax or the summation of bringing it all together? You leave it hanging? Just to see if they will say, "So? Then what happened?" Or if they will say, "OK see you later" and walk off. I swear, I try not to be that person who does not listen. Too much good stuff is given to you , like a gift if you only ask. If you only listen. So I think one of the most important lessons, if not the most important life lesson one can learn is how important it is to listen to others.

11) Never underestimate the power of a kind encouraging word. Saying "Thank you" or "You do that so well!!" goes a long way. I remember last summer when I was trying to run again and was really struggling and soooooooooooooooo slow. As I labored in the 100 degree heat on the paths in Shelby park a young high school kid running with a pack of high school kids whizzes by me and says, "Good Job". I really needed that. So, be a blessing to someone.

12) Don't take yourself too seriously. Life is too much fun.

13) Love is everything.

These are in no particular order! For more Thursday Thirteen go here!

The Common Man

2012-01-25T08:39:00.006-05:00

My goal this year is to read at least two books a month. I think I read a total of TWO books all last year, but this is a new year!

I just finished Book Two last night, Listening is an Act of Love, a celebration of American Life from the Storycorps Project.

I give it five starts, an incredible book. I cried all through the second part. The stories of common everyday people, just like you and me, are amazing. It was a thoroughly moving book. I grabbed this book off the bio shelf at the Goodwill because I thought someone had stolen my idea! When I first retired from Coke, and was taking it easy, I thought that I would go into Nursing Homes and interview people about their histories.

Someone beat me to it. And I had no idea that these stories had been running on NPR for years!

My subconscious was talking to me while I slept last night and upon waking I knew I had to commit to a mini Storycorp Project of my own focusing on the extended family I have surrounding me.

I woke up with a song in my heart! It has been awhile.

If you can find this book at the library grab it!! You will be engrossed for however long it takes to finish. I would have loved to have read it from cover to cover.

Questions to ask those you love, admire or even yourself...

What is the most important lesson you have learned in life?

LAY DOWN ALL THOUGHTS,

2012-01-23T21:22:00.002-05:00

SURRENDER TO THE VOID
It is shining, it is shining - The Beatles, Tomorrow Never Knows

In other words some randomosity....

I was watching television with my husband last night and he was flipping stations and landed on PBS and a bio history "period" piece of the 1960's and '70's focusing on the singer Phil Ochs. We didn't stay on the program very long but long enough for me to become very interested. Especially the statement he made that his subconscious stopped talking to him and feeding him inspiration. I truly understand that.

Then we flipped over to the VH1 station because he wanted to watch a heavy metal program. He had been so sweet to me recently that I did not complain or groan or get up and leave the room. I just decided to watch the show and to my surprise it was great! The host went ballistic on the nomination committee for the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame for the obvious exclusion of some of the his favorite bands and the inclusion of "rock-n-rollers" like Donna Summers ??????? etc. I loved it. Then Slash came out and they concluded that Guns-N-Roses would be a shoo in this year, the first year of their eligibility, just because of the drama that will surround "who will take the stage?". I believe Axel Rose is on the total outs with the rest of the band. Not to mention that the original drummer is a raging drug addict. I know this because he tried to turn his life around with Dr. Drew on celebrity rehab (great show -lol, my daughter folks). So that show was very cool too.

I once found a $10 bill in the post office parking lot about 25 years ago. Since Thanksgiving Day I have found a $10 bill on the floor of the Bucket, a $5 bill floating around the lot at the X-ing, another $5 at my feet in the parking lot, and a $40 Target gift card in the employee parking lot (but I turned that in thinking that they might claim it). The other day I was talking too much to a guest as I was giving them back their change. It was $2.53 in change. For some dumb reason I gave them $3.53 and I realized it as she was snapping her purse shut. Oh crap, I thought. I also thought, I'm not going to tell her I just make a mistake and hand it over. I let her walk away, it was so late, we were closing and we are never penalized for anything under $5. I'll be damned, there is a $1 bill laying on the floor in the deserted about ready to close shop. I am a money magnet. Ha ha ha.

I was running behind trying to get out the door the other morning and Joe made my lunch for me. That is why I watched the metal show with him. He's a keeper.

Daffodils are blooming in my front yard! Never have I lived in a place where I had daffodils in January! I'm not certain how I feel about this.

I have begun my Christmas shopping already for this year! It helps to work in a retail store and know a good deal when you see it. Employee discount makes it sweet.

I am so stoked up that Justified is back on! I swooned over Colin Farrell, I would have fainted over Tim Oliphant. Now I realize Tim is no Colin - but oh my, how I love me some Raylan Givens.

Oh and ............Go Big Blue!

I need new glasses!

2012-01-22T23:29:00.002-05:00

Just the other day 'Fire & Brimstone' at the Bucket said, "You should quit that other job and just work here.' She is concerned about me burning myself out.

I nodded in agreement and said something like, "If I could make X amount of money, I would just work here!"

Oh no no no no no no no. NO NO NO NO NO WAY!!!!!!!!

I lied. If I had to choose between the two places, it would be "So long, sayounara, see ya on the other side, asta la vista baby , good-bye to you, to the Bucket.

Because the following would never ever happen at the Bucket.

I am cruising through the ticket office when I am told Colin Farrell is in the house. He was spotted at one of the restaurants. That was the info at the time.

So I have a few minutes left on my break and I am standing outside the office and looking to the left and looking to the right and talking to one of the Security Guards about C.F. He says, "He is coming up on my left....."

My heart began to go BOOMDADABOOMDADADBOOMBOOM....BOOMDADDDABOOMDADADABOOM. "I'm not going to gawk at him, I will just look as he passes behind you......."

And then he passed behind him about three feet from me.

He is drop dead good looking.

I smiled at him. He did not make eye contact and moved on. As soon as he was a slight distance away I turned to get a damn good look at his ....retreating back.

Security says, "Go call Joyce and tell her which way he is heading." Then he took off.

I call Joyce, tell her how luscious and handsome he is and give her the trajectory they are taking.

About 15 minutes later she sticks her head in my store and says, "I don't know, he was okay. The girl he was with, a bow-wow. I don't like the pony tail, they kind of looked like trailer park trash. I don't know, I'm from Boston and I am use to seeing pretty boy Irish." I am bum fuddled. "I guess I need glasses more than I thought." She nodded and left.

Fast forward 20 minutes. She calls me, "Oh My God!! I was looking at the wrong people. He is a babe!"

I was relieved that my eyes still can tell if Colin Farrell is Colin Farrell and not some trailer park trash.

I'm the Hype Girl Today

2012-01-21T10:07:00.006-05:00

Today I was Rosie to Shanika's Sophia Grace .

We are having this ridiculous contest at Elvis World to see who can sell the most of these little candy mint boxes. Not any mint box, but the new 35th anniversary box with the hideous picture. When I first saw the box I thought, "Great Balls of Fire! No one wants to see the "Elvis" of right before he died!! They want the young virile healthy Elvis in black leather!" Instead we have this very unflattering pic of him with his hair all eschew and him bending over the microphone looking like he is sweating up a storm and about to pass out.

And so, due to the picture being so unflattering, they are not selling. To make the contest more interesting, they are waving a carrot under our noses. A free meal at one of the restaurants EACH DAY to the one who sells the most tins.

It's on!!

I did win one day and I am pretty good at it. But there is this one lady who is the best! And it is getting Shanika down. She had decided to quit trying because she can't win.

Pure Bunk!!

Today I was the relief person for a certain section of E-World which means I give breaks and lunches to the merchandise team. I then go to the high volume stores and help bag, stock etc.

I went to Shanika and gave her confidence to sell those mints!

I would hold them up and demonstrate the many uses for the tin after the mints are gone. They are perfect for hiding change from your husband. You can put your pills in afterwards. You can look at Elvis every day. You can give them as an inexpensive gift!! Valentines day??

We rocked. We sold 14 of those suckers in about an hour.

For that day she was the winner!!

And for that afternoon I found out how Rosie must feel.

Weekly Photo Challenge #2

2012-01-20T09:23:00.004-05:00

SIMPLE

Life use to be so simple with you.

Then you grew up.

For more interpretations visit The Photo Challenge at Word Press.

January 19th's Thursday 13

2012-01-19T09:14:00.004-05:00

UNDERGROUND RESUME

My Dad held two jobs after graduating from Graduate School. One with Standard Brands and then with IBM.

My Husband has had three jobs since graduating from High School (he attended some college in between job one and two), the FBI, (1 year) the Sheriff Dept. (1 and 1/2 years) and then the Rail Road (ever since).

I, on the other hand, never have seemed to have found my niche, my calling, my place it the world of the gainfully employed. I am always searching for that elusive perfect job.

And so, thirteen jobs/careers that I have held and embarked on in the hopes of finding that perfect fit since High School. And so here is my underground resume.

1) Lifeguard at the Country Club - This happened because I was not rehired as a life guard at the private swimming club, home of my swim team and illustrious star studded spot under the sun as a cracker jack at the back stroke. I had been fired the previous year, right before the end of the season, for heading to Lexington to get a grilled cheese sandwich at Frischers with that bad trouble maker and dear friend and owner of the black bug (in my header) and was late for work. Roger, the manager that summer (how do I remember these names???) was not playing that day and fired my butt. The next summer I thought all would be forgiven but it was not. I found myself getting my suntan at the Country Club that summer. Yet, I met two very important and influential people who had a major impact on my college life - CF and Ginny. We all were destined to head to Murray in the fall.

2) Clerk at the hosiery counter at the now defunct Wolf Wile Department Store - home from college for the Christmas break. Marched to down town Lexington and secured a position at the little bitty hosiery and glove and stationary department. I remember the ladies name was Paulette and she had platinum blonde hair that she wore in a bun. I think she must have been in her sixties, but I was only 18 so she might have been in her 40's. (hahaha) She thought I wore my dresses too short!! My first and only dabble in retail until recently.

3) Waitress at Shaker Village - summer of freshman year. I dressed up like a Shaker and was paid minimum wage - no tips. It was quite an experience and I gained five pounds! I found out about real cooking! I had heard about it. I knew it existed. But was unfamiliar with it until that summer, my only experience being my Mom's cooking and the cafeteria food at High School and college. I still have my Shaker Cook Book and still make the peanut butter cookies. Best ever! Lemon pie, eggplant casserole, corn sticks, and squash souffle .... on my.

4) Telephone Operator - One summer in between attempts to be a college student I signed on as a temporary operator because the regular operators were on strike! We crossed the picket line daily. This was the old days of answering calls with those cords! A call would appear as a light on the board and you would plug in. They would tell you what they wanted, a collect call, a person to person call (ah, the good old days) and you would put it through by documenting the numbers on an information card, by plugging in a second cord and dialing the number, noting the time (by a time stamper?) and making the connection and moving on to the next call. I would try to complete the most calls of everyone in an hours time. Can not remember if I ever succeeded. I excelled at the pay phone calls, because no one wanted them so they were readily available on the in bound. I quit when it began to interfer with my social life.

5) Tax Preparer - My Dad and I went and took the four month class together to become qualified to do tax returns. I did them for two years and to this day consider myself some sort of tax guru. I am trouble with the IRS. Go figure. Damn those computers. My Dad did taxes for Senior Citizens for many years after that.

6) Bar Maid and Bar Tender - this part of my life probably lasted way too long but was also the most fun I ever had working. Working?? Ha! It was very much exciting and I made very much money. I found out I had a really good head for remembering drinks. And subsequently remembering.(That was then, this is now) A table of six would come in and I would get their order, Tom Collins, Rusty Nail, Jack and Water, Bud, coke and a Tequila Sunrise. I never had to ask again. I would just go near the table, make a circular motion to indicate "another round?" and if they nodded yes, or held up a near empty glass I never had to ask what they were drinking. I just knew. If they came in days, weeks, sometimes months later I'd just know! "Here comes Crown royal and coke". No one had a name, actually, just what they drank.

7) Night Auditor - this was when I learned I had a knack with numbers! I did this all one summer at the Astro Village Holiday Inn in Houston. I lived in Texas for a year during a particularly stormy period in my life, but a good one in the long run.

8) Accounting Clerk - nine years of my life working the Corporate grind. I went to school in the evenings and finished my college degree. One of the accomplishments I am most proud of. But I wasted away in this office. But, the good up side, I had a fabulous collection of shoes and clothing!

9) Car Salesman - This was the job that made me tough! I worked with all men because Susa got fired. Thinking back I realize that I took enormous strides in my personal development having to stand up for myself among the sharks. It was the stuff sit com's are made of. I truly wish I had kept a detailed diary/journal of this ten month period of my life.

10) From Car Salesman to Chemical Sales - Industrial Supply Sales. My training was absolutely top notch. I was taught every trick in the book to make someone go, "What just happened?". When I interviewed with the Beverage Company and on my final interview, he held up a pen, handed it to me and said "Sell me this pen"..........I smiled and knew I had that job. And I sold him that pen, "I'd buy anything you're selling" Crazy Eddie said at the end.

11) Newspaper Employee - I worked for two newspapers! In the circulation department at one and the Advertising Department in the other. Neither worked out.

12) My beloved Beverage Company - Yes, I was a Coke pusher.

13) Elvis World - in the retail department. It could be worse I suppose. At least I meet people, odd people strange people fascinating people everyday. Case in point; Yesterday I was minding the shop in the Part III of Elvis World when two ladies rushed in. May I help you? Yes, I am looking for a TCB charm. So I showed her what I had, nothing that she was looking for because I only have trinkets and trash and only a smattering of the Real Deal. "I gave mine to Clinton" she tossed off this remark like a used tissue. Of course I bit "President Clinton?" "Well, he wasn't President yet, he had just won the Texas primary. Do you know he was more excited about that TCB pin!!"

I can't make this stuff up.

TIME TRAVEL

2012-01-18T08:54:00.008-05:00

Google is having a contest for grammar school age kids to have them create doodles for the Google logo incorporating the theme "If I could travel in Time, I'd visit......."

Which makes me think, where would I go? What would I like to do? Who would I like to meet?

The possibilities!!

The roaring twenties, like The Great Gatsby era. I would have loved to have been an expatriate living in Paris during the 1920's. I would have liked to be a fringe member of The Lost Generation. The Super group of mover and shakers of the early 1920's which include Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, James Joyce, Picasso. I would have liked to been a Flapper. Outrageous and shocking and dancing up a storm drinking champagne and flirting with Fitzgerald and Anais Nin.

Then again, I would have loved to have seen the super Rock-N-Roll groups of the 1960's right before they became HUGE. The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles in Liverpool, Bob Dylan, the Dave Clark Five, the Kinks.

I would have loved to have been at Woodstock.

Because I am squeamish I would not like the Wild West. Being scalped and having to use an out house...no thank you. But to see the pristine prairies of the west, the Grand Canyon, the snowy mountains of the Rockies, the painted desert, all before smog, acid rain and litterers...?

New York City during the 1950's hanging out with Beatnik's would have been very cool. Going to all those snappy cafes. Meeting James Dean.

The middle Ages - no way.

To hear a sermon from the mouth of Jesus.

To see my Dad again as young and vibrant........

Who the Hell is Pioneer Woman?

2012-01-17T13:11:00.004-05:00

And What is She doing in my Kitchen?

Inquiring minds want to know what I do on my day(s) off. Like all accomplished goof-offs and procrastinators I lie in bed and read until my (near blind) eyes grow tired. Then I think about cleaning the house and upset my husband by vacuuming around the living room like it is the most important task I accomplish before the world comes to an end. I even cleaned the fan above the kitchen table. The filth and dust collected up there makes me realize I should have done that a long time ago.

I am tired from all the exertion and decide to make cookies. I am making them for a friend of mine that is in a rehabilitation hospital. The fact that he is diabetic does not hinder my determination to make cookies.

I have a recipe in mind, one that I perchance caught on FoodNetwork. It was the Pioneer Woman, Rea Drummond, the millionaire blogger who is making millions more every day. Probably every minute. Somebody somewhere is buying her cookbook or her memoir. Or staying at her Ranch Hotel/Bed and Breakfast.

I first became aware of PW years ago, perhaps when she first started her blog and was gaining popularity. Back before AOL-J Land went belly up, someone there mentioned that PW was a fantastic site! They were reminded of SloMo, an AOL blogger who quite suddenly, at the height of her Readership and more than likely on the cusp of being "discovered" , disappeared from the Blogesphere creating an incredible void that was hard pressed to be filled.

Was Pioneer Woman the answer?

I have to admit I have tried out some of her recipes and for the most part, they have turned out pretty good.

Fresh green beans cooked in a cast iron skillet with onions and chicken stock plus seasoning? Who knew? I do not cook green beans any other way since.

With such success why not try that lasagna recipe. Another success...damn it!! I do tend to doctor up the lasagna a lot, but otherwise she hit a home run.

So when I caught her on the Food net work making cookies I thought "What the Hell"

Guess what? They are very very good. She puts malted milk power in the mix. I added some cappuccino double mocha power along with the malted milk and cut the two sticks of butter to one and added 1/2 cup shortening.

Mmmmmmmmm....to die for!

I will send a big batch to my friend so he can share with his visitors. I wish I could visit him but I can not so these cookies will have to take my place.

Guess PW is not so bad after all. Guess I am just slightly jealous she burst on the scene and had immediate incredible success.

I suppose she deserves it. If only for these cookies....

Here is the link!

Fire and Brimestone

2012-01-16T18:20:00.004-05:00

Boy have I bitten off a lot to chew committing to the Nablopomo thing. I have missed two days and both times it has been on a Sunday. A tough day. I usually work the night before getting home at 1130ish and up and out to work at Elvis World the next day. TV is usually too good Sunday night to forfeit for the computer. Plus my husband is around and needs attention.

Hence, Sunday is tough.

Though all day I was rolling around the sand of a thought, a theme so to speak and trying to produce a pearl. My thoughts continually came to the wish that I was at church and not standing in the middle of a music shop talking and chatting up Elvis to a bunch of Canadians.

How I miss the hustle and buzz, the getting there. Now I am not really a religious person. I am Catholic by birth and have been there done that. I never wanted to be a Nun, I never wanted to go to Mass much less the confession! I recoiled from the lives of the Martyrs and Saints. I believe my lack of interest in the horror genre stems from my repulsion to being stones to death, crucified upside down, celibacy, burnt to death at the stake, having your head chopped off, being burned to death as an offering, having children cut in half. Horror stories? Look no further than the Bible.

No the religious life was not for me.

Yet I found a lot of comfort in attending the non denominational church with Joe in Lexington, the Mega church. I loved it. I loved everything about it. But I especially loved the donuts and coffee afterwards. That ended when they built the new church that included a cafeteria and cash registers. No more donations, based on the honor system, in the jar.

That's progress I suppose.

I loved the Bible study classes I attended because as I said, I shunned the Bible and it's gory lessons. But in a women's group, taking a Beth Moore class, it was just a wonderful experience of female fellowship I had never encountered before.

Trying to "out sin" your fellow class mates at second grade Confession practice does not count.

Since leaving the Lexington area we have not found a church to fill the void. And I feel the urgent need for spiritual guidance and nourishment.

Sometime ago I was having a discussion with one of my new friends/co-workers at the Bucket. I was telling her about seeing Joel Osteen preach on TV about being a blessing to other people and how it affected me.

She gave me a long look and took a few moments to choose her words. "I don't like him. Seems like a lot of psychology and hooey to me. I like my religion Fire and Brimstone." Then she fixed me with a steely stare. I figured she was daring me to say something.

After 12 years of Catholic schooling, I've had way too much Fire and Brimstone!! But I kept my mouth shut, I certainly didn't need a philosophical argument among the Christmas decorations and angel glitter.

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

2012-01-14T09:19:00.003-05:00

The Friday photo challenge at WordPress for this weeks inspiration is PEACEFUL.

One of the most beautiful spots in Lexington is also one of the most peaceful, the Cemetery. The botanical achievements in this resting place is phenomenal. Even in the midst of winter the scenery is awe-inspiring. It teeters on the formidable.

When I am home and am able to squeeze out a little bit of time, I head to the Cemetery located close to down town.

The world fades away in this hamlet of artistic beauty. Everything is quiet. Everything is perfectly harmonious.

Everything is at peace.

Superstitious ... ?

2012-01-13T10:20:00.004-05:00

Who me? Friday the 13? Ha! I'm Catholic! I have a lot of things to be afraid of other than unfounded superstitions. Like dying in the state of sin and having to spend most of eternity in purgatory! Now that's scary. I do not concern myself with trivial irrational beliefs as Friday the 13th's, black cats, broken mirrors, blue moons & walking under ladders.

Now falling off a ladder, that's another story!

Speaking of being Catholic reminds me of my Mother, a devout Catholic who puts all her trust in prayer and the will of God. I am certain that the fact I had no sisters until I was 11, in her opinion, was the will of God.

I think it is God's sense of humor, maybe. Or sense of justice.

I was ironing a shirt for work this morning, a few minutes ago, going through the steps as my Mom taught me so many years ago. First the shoulders, then the collar, then the sleeves, iron the button area on the inside of the material, then flip over and iron next to buttons then in between buttons, then the body of the shirt etc. etc. etc.

I had all the "girl" chores to do while growing up and helping out with the ironing was one of them. I quickly found out Woman Work a hell of a lot harder than the Men when it comes to housework.

My list of "chores"....

Ironing

Setting the Table

Peeling the potato's

Washing the dishes

My brothers list of chores (there was three of them...well, two most the time)

Clearing the table

Taking out the garbage

What is the parity in that? None!! I had to wash up the dishes for a family of at least six including pots and pans! I had to stand on a stool to reach the water. Night after night, day after day, and I had no sister to share my chores with!!

Boy's had it easy.

When Kit arrived I had to add watching the baby, changing the baby, feeding the baby.... to my list of chores! What??!! But it was excellent training for my first job...babysitting!

So, God up High, thank you for my dishwater hands and my sister, who arrived way to late to help with the dishes but none the less is greatly appreciated.

January 12th - Thursday Thirteen

2012-01-12T08:16:00.004-05:00

As a child, there is not a time that I can remember that our house was not encased and submerged in books. My mother was a librarian holding a masters degree in Library Science from Columbia. Don't you know I heard that enough as a kid!

Her love of books and reading was instilled in all her children, and as it so often happens, in her grand children. I fondly recall our trips to Downtown Lexington in the 1960's. To us it was the gateway to the rest of the world. It was our only glimpse outside of the farming community that held the answers to the mystery of life. It was vibrant, sophisticated and cosmopolitan. It was our New York City.

We always went to a small second hand book store on Limestone. The books were stacked everywhere and overflowing in the dark musty dusty shop. I must say this about my mother, she put little if any restrictions on our selections. I'm not certain why this is so. Perhaps she felt that if it was published as a book, it must have some sort of merit.

As children, and I mean under the age of 14, we were never restricted to the children's section or Young Adult (boring) areas. We could roam the stacks with abandon. I read Valley of the Dolls, Joy in the Morning, The Crowd, and Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones all before I left 8th grade.

No matter where I go, where I live, where I travel, where I end up upright, I look for the bookstores, preferably used. I am forever looking for that elusive copy of The World of Henry Orient, the original from the early 1960's. One of the scandalous books I read as a child and was ASTONISHED to find it re-issued as YA. What the hell are they thinking?? YA has certainly changed since I was doomed to the YA genre. But, I was never actually doomed to YA, thank God.

I was deeply saddened and horrified that C-ville had no used bookstores! I had to feed my addiction by browsing the Goodwill's for books. Just not right. 5th largest city in Tennessee. Go figure!

This is a list of the 13 bookstores that I have haunted over the years.

1) Dennis Book Store - Downtown Lexington on Limestone. Where it all started. Not certain what year it closed it door, perhaps when Mr. Dennis kicked the bucket. Where I began my phenomenal collection which has grown and shrunk like a living breathing creature throughout the years. Green front with dirty windows, books stacked everywhere, old bookshelves constructed from sagging boards, tables in the middle of the room with books scattered and calling to you to read me read me read me. And we did.

2) The Book Exchange on High Street & Tates Creek right off Euclid. One of my favorite places to search! Unfortunately, also closed. I remember the proprietor sitting behind the small area to the right when you walked in, surrounded by books and magazines. It was a second hand shop, specializing in paper backs. Nothing was arranged alphabetically and only a small fraction of the tomes made it to the shelves, but where stacked up from the creaky dirty floor until they threatened to topple over! The front window was filled with paperbacks also stacked to capacity to ensure every available space was taken up. Every so often you would find something you wanted from the window, but it was always faded from intense sunshine! He traded paperbacks. Two for one, and I was in there constantly. He has been gone a long time, maybe since the late 1970's. I could not find the name of the store on line but I remembered I might just have a surviving book from his immense collection. And I did - Jack Kerouac's On The Road. Price? $5.50 only!! (underlined) Collector! A lot of money in the 1970's!

3) Goodwill Bookstore on 51 in Horn Lake - my newest haunt. I love this place! They have such a fine selection of Cook Books that I can not stand it! On one of my "drop-ins" I found two vintage (from the 1990's) Gooseberry Patch Homespun Christmas cook-books. The last time I was in there I bought 7 books - $22.00. Not bad. And she said as I checked out (because I am in there at least twice a month) "You are such a well rounded person!" lol! My haul this time came mostly from the biography section.

4) The Book Cellar - @ the Main Lexington Public Library, in the cellar. My favorite of all time. When they opened, maybe in the early 1990's, I would be the only one in there. It is not that way any longer. My secret is out and now everyone goes there! Once I found a first edition of "The Vampire Lestat" for $50. But no Interview with the Vampire. Then they began selling the collectible stuff on e-bay. Bummer. I became addicted to travel books due to this shop.

5) Morgan Adams Book Store - Leestown Rd. Also Lexington. I believe that the Lexington area is one of the most educated area's in the US. the % of college graduates is extremely high, thus so many book stores! Alas, this one closed it's doors this past May. But all is not lost, it reopened when several employees purchased the inventory and assumed the lease. I began collecting hard backs because of this store! I use to be a cheap old paper back girl and then I graduated to hard backs. The store smelled funny. And I am being kind. It actually smelled like a bad tooth. Or really bad breath that I always associated with tooth decay. I still went in. Nothing comes between me and my addiction.

6) Hyde Brothers Book Store - Ft Wayne. Another wonderful used book shop. One of the best things about FW. Two stories because a huge collection is in the basement! That is where the travel books were located. Know what I loved most about this store? The old books that lived on the shelves really were alive! I would just randomly pull a book and discover all sorts of treasure's. Supposedly used as book marks.. I would find foreign money, old airplane tickets, business cards, girl scout identification cards from the 1940's. It was just like unearthing messages from the past.

7)Carmichaels - Louisville, new book store. Independent and full of great stuff. Note cards, postcards, moleskines etc.

8) Joseph-Beth - Best ever new bookstore. I believe that they re-invented the traditional book store. When it first opened at Lexington Green it occupied a different space. Smaller and more intimate, with huge comfortable arm chairs for you to sit and read! And, before cell phones, free land line phones peppered the stacks. I loved that. I used them all the time. Jo-Beth went the route of over expanding and not having a crystal ball to foresee the evil Kindle. Yet she endured, being bought from bankruptcy by the shopping center. A destination spot for anyone who knows anything coming to Lexington. You will just have to go and find out why!

9) Hawley-Cooke - Lousiville. A sort of clone of J0-Beth, but was snapped up by Borders in due time. Fantastic magazine selection. Several locations and fantastic marked down section.

10) Borders - You know, for a new bookstore I like Borders. I especially like the cards and what not's. I do not like Barnes and Noble. Go figure.

11) The Book Corner - New &Used book store in St. Mathews, a suburb of Louisville. I have found some fantastic stuff in there when I was looking for something specific. And that is very cool for a used book store.

12) Twice Told Books - Bardstown Road. Closed but not forgotten. A musty dusty shop with books stacked everywhere. Great name and I believe he is operating on line now, or was at one time.

13) Burkes Book Store - Used, Cooper -Young area Memphis. Love this store too! The civil war section is to die for. Laid back staff and wonderful stacks to get lost in. Rocking chairs readily available in every little nook and cranny.

There are many more, but I am going to stop for now!

THE METAL BEAST

2012-01-11T12:02:00.006-05:00

From "THE DAILY POST"

I would ask them to tell about some childhood memory, that is, to write it as carelessly, recklessly, fast and sloppily as possible on paper. Their only effort became to tell spontaneously, impulsively, what they remembered.

And I asked for childhood experiences for this reason. A child experiences things from his true self (creatively) and not from his theoretical self (dutifully), i.e. the self he thinks he ought to be. That is why childhood memories are the most living and sparkling and true.

From If You Want to Write

I have three brothers. I wanted a sister but my Mother kept handing over boys! I was 11 years old before I got a sister and by that time, it was too late. We were a generation apart.

But I always have my brothers. We share all the same memories and experiences. Three of us were born within 27 months of each other. I can not imagine how my Mother did it. I suppose she was just one of the many.

As I grow older I find my childhood memories are fading. I remember pieces of things, like tiny snap shots. The face of my brother in the car rolling down the incline headed for certain death, or a wild ride through the back of the garage and a head first plunge into the old rail road track gully that led to the tunnel. And my mother, obviously pregnant with Patrick, chasing the car, jumping in and slamming on the brakes in the nick of time to avert certain disaster.

Snap shot of same brother handing on the car door, my Mom taking a curve from Douglas to Morgan too fast, door flying open, brother swung out on door, door swung back and brother was redeposited into car.

Now we understand why car seats and seat belts are so important.

But I do have a lot of grammar school memories!

Such as our recess and lunch hour. The play ground was a seriously dangerous and wonderful place. We had a sliding board that was a least 10 feet high, two separate swing sets that had those heavy duty foot long links and heavy rubber seats that were retrieved from the shed and attached. We had the Mother of all Merry-Go-Round. A Metal Beast that not only went around around and around but also tilted back and forth, much like a top.

When the doors swung open from our tiny class rooms (we were a four room school house!) we raced to the Metal Beast to secure a place on one of the eight seats.

The game was to stand erect, spread eagle holding the top of the rungs with your hands and securing your balance with your feet placed at the sides of each seat where the rails connected from the top. Then you would be given a push and you would begin to go round and round, up and down and BANG the pole in the middle hoping to jar someone off, to have them fly through the air and land on their head so that someone else could take their place and the game would continue. Usually we had someone in the middle dodging the Beast heading for the pole.

Great fun! You would most certainly get squished if you faltered!

We were not a bunch of coddled sissies. We were Baby Boomer Kids. Our parents survived a depression and a World War.

We were born tough.

We would take wax paper and slick down the slinging board. If it was very cold, we would pour water in a path leading from the end of the board as far as we could extend it, sometimes precariously close to the jaws of the Death Trap. The object was to squat down and wrap your arms around your knees and FLY down the slippery slope, hit the ground and the icy course and see who could slide along the pavement the longest.

At times you would have to lay back in a prone position if you had enough trust to end up under the Metal Beast!

Those were the days.

The Death-Go-Round endured for perhaps 70 years until some wimpy kid fell off and broke his leg. Then it was deemed too dangerous and removed.

I wonder where? When I think of my hair flying and my legs pumping and my body swinging my weight from right to left to gain gravity defying speed I smile and I think how much fun that was.

Worth every skinned knee, every bleeding elbow, every concussion.

THE LIST

2012-01-10T09:36:00.003-05:00

I know I have mentioned this before. This confession of an obsession I have. I am a hard core list maker! They pop up everywhere. I was a natural at the Grace in Small Things I did several years ago because it was just second nature to keep a daily list of ....anything!

Since I tend to spend all my time at a job that does not allow any personal effects at all I over come that barrier by whipping off a ten inch piece of the receipt tape and use it as my writing pad. I fold it up and stick it in one of my pockets to have at ready if I need to add to it. Which as you can see by the mountain of slips, I add and add and add.

I have a (several) list(s) of possible blog entries. And I ran across it (one) the other day, the one I jotted down sometime right after Christmas. So I thought that I would use one of the idea's this morning.

TOUCHED BY THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

This is the Christmas season in retail! Desperate people buying those last minute gifts because the son's girl friend is going to attend. Desperate procrastinating people who wait to start their Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve Eve! And later. Desperate people who have no idea what to buy. So they come to The Biscuit Bucket knowing that they will be helped and guided through the gifting process with a steady knowledgeable hand. 80 year old grandmother in a nursing home! No problem, take a look at this Fairy in a Jar! Ten year old gifted kid! No problem, look at this hand held Suduko challenge! Only $19.99 and we gift wrap for you!

Lord help me. Just to get away from the craziness I enjoy gift wrapping. Though I do not enjoy the gift giver hoovering over me as I crate an awesome outer shell to a 50% off ornament purchased because "i don't want to spend much"...but they want a million dollar wrap job. Sometime I'll ask, "What do you do for a living?" and I hear a wide spectrum of occupations. Inside my head I bark "Would you like me coming to your 'fill in the blank' and breath down your neck as you work?"

But I do not.

I just work my magic and hope to hell they do not call the corporate office and tell them I was mean (that almost happened this Christmas!)

But somewhere under all the excitement and dread building, the True Spirit of Christmas is lurking about.

Right after the incident of being curt and unaccommodating with a pushy guest I was bracing myself for a call into the back office for a tongue lashing and a warning. I was talking with the Retail Manager, expecting the worst when we were approached by a woman who recognized him as a Manager and touched his arm, "How many servers do you have working tonight?". We were packed and service was a little slow. Restaurants are notorious in trying to keep labor at a bay and predicting traffic and they are never correct! I thought she was going to call corporate and complain and wanted to have her numbers straight. She wanted the count for an entirely different reason.

10 minutes later, as I was looking for some type of candy for a guest a gentleman took my hand and shook it, "Merry Christmas and thank you!" As he walked away I realized he had placed a $20 bill in my hand. Along with a business card inviting me to visit the Bible Church.

I was astonished. It was not only me, but every brown apron clad over worked and under appreciated employee with in his sphere in a one minute period.

Then they were gone.

Wow.

Another incident. I was on the way home Christmas Eve and headed into Kroger. I know, what was I thinking! I was thinking, "I NEED SOME EGG NOG!!"

The store was torn up! People were everywhere. I had chosen a Kroger that I had never been in before and it was pleasantly Old School Kroger. Apparently in an area that did not warrant a remodel.

I stood inline (no self check out) and waited and waited. It was a long line. The cashier was really rocking though. Since I am a cashier at Elvis World I was watching her work it and was impressed how she was moving that line.

It was my turn! I had very few items and was rung up FAST. I ran my debit card through and hit the OK button and was handed my bag and held my hand out for the receipt....the receipt....the receipt....No receipt. She was out of tape.

She whips one out and reloads as the line begins to shift from one foot to another and crane their necks to see what the hold up was. The tape she put in did not load. She tried over and it did not load again. She removed it and examined it and called for Back-up. It was the wrong tape. The cashier behind her did not have a roll of thermal tape either.

The line began to disperse and head for other long lines to start all over. the grumbling was audible.

The lady behind me moved closer, into the space that usually is reserved for the one who is being checked out. the courtesy area so to speak.

"Don't worry honey" she said to the young green haired cashier with the orange fingernail polish, "We can wait while you fix this. I am in no hurry"

From way back in the line a lone voice called out, "Hell it's Christmas! We're all in a HOLIDAY mood!! It's all good" And that battle cry was taken up by all the people in line! "It's the holidays!! It's OK!!"

And it was. All good.

It was really was. The rattled cashier regained her composure, the tape was changed and I was on my way and everyone in the line was talking with each other, getting into each others space, so to speak.

Is Memphis Cool or What?

2012-01-09T08:22:00.004-05:00

Most cities have a free alternative newspaper that is available once a week. I have encountered one in every city I have lived, with the exception of C-ville because can they really be considered a city? Cincinnati had the best! Ft. Wayne the slimmest and least political and informative, mostly just the bar scene updates. Memphis has one that leans more towards Cincy than Ft. W.

This latest issue has a small article about an art project that is in its third year. For a small donation you receive a hand stitched hand made 16 page sketchbook that you fill out with what ever your heart desires. Sketches, poems, photographs, found objects, water colors, collages, writing or whatever. The possibilities are endless.

Upon completion you return the small book by the deadline and they are put on display in a exhibition. The coolest part is how they are displayed! Suspended by thin wires and dangling into your hands for viewing and enjoyment.

I have a couple of days off in two days and I am going to find out how to get one!!

Memphis is a very cool place!

A CADILLAC AND A PLANE TICKET

2012-01-08T00:37:00.007-05:00

It's the Kings Birthday Week. The buzz, the atmosphere, the electricity in the air around Elvis World verifies the fact. Fans are pouring in from all over the world to spend the weekend together celebrating what would have been his 77th birthday.

Last night I had the assignment of being the guard at the door, the bracelet police so to speak. The event was a private affair for a select group of Fans.

A gentleman came outside later in the evening as things were calming down and humming along. He decided to initiate a conversation with me. He confided in me that he was waiting to meet someone. This someone was from Norway. We joked a little about how the Europeans were easy to spot, always sporting a European shoulder bag or a bulging back pack.

Then he introduced himself to me. I recognized his name immediately. He was a friend of Elvis' and was of enormous importance to the King. (I believe I signed a confidentiality contract so I have to be careful on how I word things. ) (I should pay more attention to what I sign.)

I asked him about his favorite Elvis memory. He paused a long time pondering the question. I was on the verge of interrupting his thoughts when he finally lifted the TCB necklace he wore around his neck, encrusted with diamonds and said, "When he gave me this." And nothing else, no elaboration, no explanation, no back story, just the statement, "When he gave me this."

Several moments later one of the Special Event organizers came rushing up to me and said, "There is a woman on the plaza who is not part of the Club. Do not, I repeat, do not let her inside." She looked over her shoulder and announced, "There she is!" and rushed off.

Both TCB guy and I looked in the direction she had indicated and saw a lone figure, a slight woman obviously homeless dragging a suitcase. She was dressed in several layers including a knitted scarf and a pull down hat. Her whispy gray hair surrounded her old face. She passed by without a glance in our direction.

"If Elvis were here he probably would have invited her in to feed her" I commented.

"If Elvis were here he'd buy her a Cadillac and a plane ticket........." TCB confided to me.

I liked that. I liked that lot.

I probably would have liked Elvis an awful lot.

MAKE THE WORLD GO AWAY

2012-01-06T08:46:00.004-05:00

I have finally stumbled upon the answer to why I am so cranky! While in the clutches of a mind numbing shift at Elvis World it hit me. I am just totally dying inside with this brain freeze of an existence. I have little creative outlet and I need that badly.

And it is The Birthday Week!

How do you describe the typical Elvis Fan? You can't because there is no stereotype. They come from all over the globe to Elvis World. Some of them over and over and over again. And they know your name! Not only because you wear it stapled to your collar, but because they remember you! They come from South Africa, Holland, England (oh God do they come from England!) and Scotland. A lot of Scottish. Ireland too. One evening I had the Irish back to back. The latter one rode a bus from Nashville to visit Elvis World. They come from Down Under and New Zealand. And good lord do they ever come from Canada!

New York to New Mexico, Connecticut to California. Brazil to Mexico. Well, they just come from everywhere.

They are young and old, male and female. Some are in wheelchairs and some in strollers. Some are very old. Like Elvis old. He would have turned 77 this coming Sunday. But when these women talk about Elvis, their eyes glass over, a dreamy expression takes over their faces and I see the teenage girl emerge. They are young again.

They want to engage you in conversation. I learned long ago not to admit that I am not a FAN. I just keep my mouth shut and listen. They always ask, "I bet you get tired of listening to this music all day long" (HELL YES) but I never let on. I shake my head and say, "Oh no, how could I?"

Their stories are sad, lovely, hilarious and haunting. I learned to listen.

A gentleman burst into the store shortly before closing Wednesday evening, having just arrived from Canada, with that bright euphoric expression that leads you to believe that a FAN has arrived and not a tourist.

He talked to me and made the ending moments of the day entertaining rather than excruciating and I thank him for that. Best story he told me. He was in Memphis with friends showing off. He took them to the Gates and they were snapping pictures when lo and behold a limo pulls up and the people outside the mansion swarm the vehicle for a glimpse of their King. The woman he was with ran up to the very darkly tinted window and snapped her last frame thinking (I'm certain this had to be the thought process) that she could tell folks back home that Elvis was behind that glass! Suddenly the sun roof opens and Elvis pops out waving at the small crowd as the gates open.

Damn, she has no film left!

He began this story telling me that once he saw Elvis at the mansion gates wearing his power blue jump suit. Naturally my first thoughts were "Did Elvis just wear his jump suits as casual day wear? Like walking to the security gate house to pick up the morning paper?"

That is how I amuse myself.

And listening to these incredible stories about a man who touched so many lives. And still does to this day.

Happy Birthday Elvis. Man do you ever still LIVE.

THURSDAY THIRTEEN

2012-01-05T08:25:00.005-05:00

And so it goes. The follies of my youth were spent hanging out at bars! I worked at bars and frequented a lot of bars. Here are a few that I remember from the roaring 1970's around Central KY.

1) The Post Lounge - Bluegrass Bar located at the Holiday Inn off I-75. Since it was located in the heart of Bluegrass Country and had only bluegrass bands, I can make the bold statement that it was the Best Bluegrass Venue ever. The house band was Stoney Creek. When ever we were stumped to book a band, Stoney Creek would step in. A lot of fantastic music passed through these doors. I was there the night Steve De Martino played drums for the J.D. Crowe Band and a brawl broke out. Briefly. Keith Whitley, Bela Fleck, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs all were there. Not all at once but through out the two years I worked there. It was fantastic. And since I was working (barmaid and bartender) I remember it all - lol.

2) High on Rose - aka, the Club House. Best name ever for a bar. Sat on the corner of High and Rose, very close to UK campus.

3) The Up Start Crow - another great name for a smoky wood floor saloon. Also relatively close to UK.

4) The Terrace Room - an unlikely hot spot located at the Eastland Bowling Alley. The house Band was the Doug Breeding Bunch. They played - well they just rocked the house! Every night except maybe Sunday and Monday. It was packed every time they took the stage. People traveled from all over the state to listen to them. It was SRO. There was a line to get in! Once upon a time my BFF and I broke line in frustration and lied to the bouncer by telling them we had people in there holding a table for us. He let us in and we had to find a table quickly! Two unsuspecting cute guys were sitting at a small table for four and we swooped in. The fact that I know there names 30 years later, Steve and Rudy, must tell you that something developed from that chance encounter. BFF and Steve married.

5) Greensleeves - ah yes, the disco era. It was a very cool place that was loud. And we danced.

6) Stingles - fantastic bar close to UK.

7) Johnnie Angels - Still standing! As a matter of fact I was there this past summer dancing the night away! At one time it was the most dazzling bar in the South! A disco that had the most incredible light show, mirrored walls, the loudest music and the most outrageous characters!

8) The Circus - After hour club that was BYOB. Since "we" worked the clubs we never got a chance to party (???????????) so we had to have an after hours club and thus was born out of necessity. A disco, natch.

9) Some Place Else Lounge - another place I worked and it was kind of icky, for lack of a better word. It was a destination bar for the older crowd. Maybe had ladies of the night there - lol. I was too wrapped up in my own little world. It was a "50's" type place with a DJ who operated in the back of a chopped pink Cadillac. that place was packed every night with an older crowd. Older to me, since I was in my early 20's. I met a ton of people who were employees at SPE. We partied like 1999 on Sunday's making trips to Kings Island and the Drag Races.

10) Jefferson Davis Inn - I mentioned this small hole in the wall in an earlier post. If I remember correctly the bar was split into two rooms, the stage located on the corner of Limestone and the bar proper off Maxwell. We would go all the time to listen to bands, in particular the late and great Ron Harris. He was a force to be reckoned with. He is sorely missed from the Lexington music scene.

11) The Village Pub - what can I say about this absolute Hole In The Wall? It was owned by friends of ours (briefly) and so we made it our home base - more or less. It was the closest establishment to Keeneland and so the Horse crowd was the core clientele. We played pinball and pool. My BFF was a very mean Pinball Wizard!

The following are not located in LEX but played an enormous part in my 1970 bar experience

12) Cotton Club - Going South, baby. No more needs to be said.

13) The Great Western Music Company - Breaks my heart to even mention it but there it is.

WHAT'S KEEPING ME UP AT NIGHT?

2012-01-04T07:57:00.004-05:00

Making the commitment to blog everyday is daunting. There is only so much to write about. I found a web site on Wordpress that was presenting a daily topic for consideration. Naturally, it has not kick started 2012 as of yet! I am not much of a meme person, though I love the Thursday 13 and several photo challenges.

Yes, it's all coming back!

I have slept like a baby lately since I do not have a lot on my mind that keeps me awake. I worry about my Mother, but that is futile. As she has told me, do not worry, pray. I worry about my renters in Indiana, it seems they can not afford the house and that is my fault. I will give them one more month to get it together and then I will be forced to ask them to leave.

If that is all I have to worry about, then I am a very lucky person.

When I woke this morning I had the tail end of several dreams floating in the ephemeral space of unconscious and awareness. It is not unusual for me to awake realizing I was calming myself in the dream sequence by assuring myself that I am dreaming. This morning I was assuring myself that I no longer worked for the Beverage Company and I did not have to deal with the anxiety of not knowing where I had last seen my Hand Held! Or how I was going to get them a case for $10 and delivered, by the side loader, up a mountain.

Whew, thank God!

I also dreamed I was at yet another reunion and I had not taken any photographs. I know where that came from!! I realized yesterday that some thing is wrong with the DSLR. I have to see if I can send it back to Nikon to fix. If not, it means I have to start saving for a D-80. Woo-hoo!!

I also dreamed I was pregnant. Where did that come from? Nightmare!

I then caught a fleeting glimpse of myself rushing past a store front in Lexington, searching for my Hand Held and worrying about making that Beverage order. The building was the old JDI - Jefferson Davis Inn, one of the haunts of my ill begotten youth.

My purse was stolen there once and my Dad had to get out of bed and drive to downtown and deliver the extra set of keys to the car. Good old Dad. How I miss him. Had not thought about that incident in forever. Dreams as gateways into long ago memories?

Lingering in bed, I began to list all the old great bars that existed in my youth that no longer remain. Gone with the Wind. No one would be interested in the bars or the transgressions of my wild '70's existence! No one but me.

And then I thought, well hell! who is this blog for anyway?

Home of the Blues

2012-01-03T17:29:00.004-05:00

While I was visiting Kentucky I realized that everywhere I went, and I mean everywhere, I found myself telling people I lived in Memphis.

This how the the conversation went in Old Kentucky Candies.

"Hello, where are all the hard candies?"

"We no longer carry them."

"What?!! (and in my head I yelled WTF!!) Do they carry them downtown?"

"No. The company is out of business."

"They were my favorite!" (I lied the pulled candy is my favorite and bourbon balls run a close second), "How long have you all been in this new location?"

"Four Years.'

"Great Balls of Fire! It's four years since I have been in here? And I came all the way from Memphis just for the hard candy...."

This is how the conversation went in Trader Joes, "I had to move to Memphis for you guys to open up a store in Louisville!! Please come to Memphis!!"

This is me in Coffee Times.

"Do you have a Coffee Times frequent user card?"

"No I live in Memphis but my sister probably does! Can I give her the points?"

Same deal at Jo-Beth, "I live in Memphis and I recently read that you guys have a store there! Is it as nice as this one?"

I swear, everywhere I went I had to let people know I lived in frigging Memphis! And I truly don't live in the town proper, I live in (gasp!) Mississippi.

I think I must like Memphis.

And I do!

VENI VIDI VICI

2012-01-02T11:05:00.004-05:00

HEADLESS ELVI

Last Monday I was home in Kentucky for the holidays for several days and found myself up at the crack of dawn headed into town for a shopping spree!

I hit all my favorite stores beginning with Jo-Beth Booksellers and ending with Old Kentucky Candies.

As I drove home past the beautiful horse country side, the white fences of Calumet, the horse mural that adorns the built up airport runway close to US60, the entrance to Keeneland, and the Castle I realized that something vital and inspiring was absent from my life.

I had left my muse in Kentucky!! My inspirations, the jolt to my memories, the territory of my youth, the background to most my adult life were located in Central Kentucky.

It is essential that I stop being home sick. Home sick in ways that have permeated my soul and my existence. I have to start doing the things I love again. Beginning with photography.

I hope to do the 365 photos in 365 days.

If I can not carry around my D-50 I always have my cell phone.

Day One - Headless Elvi (Latin for the plural of Elvis!) (Three years of Latin....)(.....and they put you on the day shift).

Too Much Conversation Not Enough Action

2012-01-01T11:47:00.003-05:00

The retail shop had cleared out. A welcome reprieve after weeks of frenzied shopping and wrapping and my nerves along with my emotions growing thin.

As I finished my nightly ritual of straightening and replenishing I was lounging around the cash stand when my co-worker asked me, "Any new Year resolutions on the horizon?"

I shrugged and decided to share the top two, the virtual tip of the iceberg.

"I hope to make a commitment to go to the Y at least three times a week and to give up candy."

"What!! Give up candy!!??" (we are surrounded by candy!)

I nodded my determination. After all, I gave up ALL SWEETS for lent last year and DID IT! Now that is resolve. This is one subcategory of a large super set. I can do it. My teeth will thank me in the long run. In the mean time my thoughts raced to the two bags of candy cane kisses, the tin of chocolate pulled candy and the peppermint bark I still had hidden in the cupboard. There is a BIG mouse in my house who goes by the name of Joe and this hiding of candy is a sick and ongoing game we play.

I asked if he had any resolutions.

It was like the flood gates opened. "I am going to get closer to God." He told me how he has strayed from church and brotherhood.

"I am going to resume my good habits, which I have abandoned. I use to check my bank account every morning to make certain things were right. I cleaned my apartment every evening when I got home. Every evening." He shook in head in amazement. "I had some good habits that I need to get back."

"The third one is I am going to find a new job. One job. Not two jobs anymore. One job. I am missing out on my daughters growing up. I do not spend enough time with my family, my cousins my Mama."

I wanted to ask him how prior years had gone for him. If he had conquered his resolutions, but I didn't.

We discussed the barriers, emotional and the economy, for finding decent work.

I too want to find a single job. I find that I am turning into someone I no longer recognize. When ever someone asks me a super dumb question, like standing outside an exhibit at Elvis World and asking me what is it. And I say "You have to go in and find out"....and I say it with a smile, but inside I know.

I know I am just plain mean any more.

I too will find one job and only one job. I have set the bar too low for myself and have accepted my positions as fate, as the result of my age.

But that is bull, it is just laziness and fear that keeps me at these stupid jobs.

I hope this is not just talk.

"Talk is cheap" - famous throw off line I have heard a million times from my Mom.

Call me Fitz

2011-12-30T08:10:00.004-05:00

It seems my family is developing a mother lode of traditions. My sis has taken the reigns and suggesting (over and over again) that when we gather that we all write some sort of Fitz memory.

She came up with a brilliant idea years ago while at the Lake House that each of us write an essay on why it is Fabulous to be a Fitz. After that, it was ON.

Around Christmas the theme usually includes holiday memories but it open for anything. My BIL brought in his family tree that has recently been researched by one of his BIL's. It was a fantastic spread of faceless names. "I know three of them" he commented as he unrolled the huge document. the bottom line was how we touch each other and how far our reach extends with out our being aware.

My essay (which I left in Memphis and I had to reprise from memory) went like this....

A friend of my on Facebook asked us to share our best Christmas memories. He went first and described how all he wanted was a pair of Beatle Boots and was told, by his Mom, that they were too expensive. It was all he wanted, all he thought about. And, like all great Christmas stories, on Christmas morning after all the presents were opened his mother directed him, just like Ralphie and his Red Ryder BB Gun, to a special package hidden behind the tree. That was the best Christmas ever for him, the year he got his Beatle Boots!

I tried to think back and remember a time when I received the best gift ever! When, on some bright Christmas morning when the day was brilliant with snow and cheer, I found the gift I had been hoping for all season! Was it that Chatty Cathy doll? Was it the Beatle album?....Was it the Frye Boots that were out of this world expensive? Bicycles being test ridden in the snow ruts? Was it....was it.....? What was it?

I closed my eyes and tried to rewind time and think back to when I was young enough to believe in Santa and gifts arriving in magical sleighs. How old would I have been? Eight? Nine? Six?

I remembered the Christmas day when my parents invited the young women from South America to share our Christmas day. They were students at the Women's College in the area and unable to return home for the holidays. My parents opened up our home to them and celebrated the birth of Christ with total strangers!

I think I was around seven or eight. I remember the pictures of me that day. Gazing up at the glamorous women, a doll clutched tightly to my chest, in a maroon dress with a matching cloth head band.

I also remember my mother inviting girls from my small grammar school, girls I never would have considered close friends! She invited them into our kitchen to help us make Christmas cookies!

Many years later it is not the Christmas gifts that I recall with vivid clarity.

It is my Mother's generosity and the true spirit of Christmas she held and displayed by example no matter what the holiday. No matter what the season.

And this is the gift she passed on to all her children.

Feeding my Addiction

2011-12-22T08:14:00.003-05:00

Very interesting prompt popped up at the Blogher site asking the question Is blogging writing?

As I read a few of the posts I ran across one that raised the question of Where have all those bloggers gone?

I suppose I could be considered one of the missing. I am not lost, just in a very different place than previous. Not only with my career (what a laugh) path, but with my writing spirit. I feel that I jumped the shark somehow and now that shark is no where to be found.

I am reading this lovely book of short stories called The Springs of Affection - Stories of Dublin by Maeve Brennan. Now that is writing! I have only just begun but each story so far is like a tiny snapshot of life, an incident retold with a simple poignant clarity.

Then I was in the Goodwill Bookstore feeding my addiction and ran across The New York Times best selling author, The Pioneer Woman's memoir for $4.99. I thumbed through a few pages and immediately thought of Maeve Brennan and placed the book back atop the shelf for someone else.

My time is too precious.

But it begs the question, is this not what all bloggers are striving for? To be that Pioneer Woman? To be plucked from absolute obscurity by the hand of God and made into a TV star, a NY Times best seller and to make tons of money writing a blog? She is the most successful case I know of, I'm certain there are others. Like Waiters Rant (now that is some good writing!!).

But then there is the 99% of the rest of us who are just compelled to write because we have to. Something inside of us has to get out! We are compelled to write it down, commit it to paper and examine the soul.

Anyway, it's disheartening that I no longer feel the fierce need.

But I am encouraged that that need is still alive, just lurking.

Just Like "the Bishop's Wife"

2011-12-14T11:52:00.005-05:00

I finally found someone who took the reigns and continued on with the tradition of Reverb. I came up with my own list of topics to write about, but as you can see I have not kept up nor have I been writing every day!

WHAT ONE WORK DESCRIBES YOU IN 2011.....

I have to admit it would be STRESS. 2011 began with an eminent relocation. Even though I was bored to tears with my job at the Mall and ready for a change I found I was not prepared for this type of shake up. I wanted it on my own terms.

The IRS wanted their money and I found myself in the position of looking for another job. I knew I could transfer to another Bucket, but it does not pay much. I found I was having a difficult time getting interviews let alone job offers. I know my resume looks suspicious, a two year employment gap and then a semi-minimum wage job in a retail shop.

I moved four hours further away from my family. My Mom is not in good health and I find myself unable to visist as much as I would like. I have seen her four times since moving.

I am stressed because I work two jobs and I have so many people inquire why I do this? I do not have the frame of mind to tell them I need the money to keep up with my crack habit. I have people who resent it.

I am so close to paying off the IRS and then I lost my renter in Indiana. She paid me the months rent under the promise I would pay her back a half month with her deposit. She tried to rent the house for me since I am six hours away from that home. She could not pull it off for me. Joe and myself had to take four days off and travel to Indiana and assess the situation.

I had not seen the house since renting it to A. I had the house painted and new carpet put in. To my absolute horror, the paint does not compliment the carpet! I made fun of my green carpet and yellow walls. The best thing you could say about that combination was it had personality! This combo was milktoast at best. I almost cried at what I had authorized to be done!! I had wanted a steel gray silver-ish carpet and it was not available or some such bull. Once I take possession of my house again (if ever) I am painting the walls some outrageous color!! And I am going to get some outrageous furniture to liven up that buttermilk carpet. Yuck one hundred time! no wonder why no one wanted to rent it.

Evertime I turned around Ihad some unexpected financial crises on the horizon!

My mothers advice to me was to not worry but to pray. Every time I felt a panic attack begin to creep up in me or I woke up from a sound sleep to toss and turn and agonize over things - I would hold my rosary and comfort myself back with Hail Mary's rather than "I'm screwed" mantra.

My new favorite Christmas movie, which incidentally I never saw before 2008, is The Bishop's Wife with Loretta Young and Cary Grant. To sum up my favorite part, there is a non believer who talks to the Angel (Cary Grant) about his agnostic beliefs and they debate the existence of God. Later on in the movie Loretta goes running to this Heretic who is a good friend of hers because the Angel had fallen for her (hence the title) and she was confused. The Agnostic brought out his bottle of port and showed her a miracle! He poured them two glasses of wine and the bottle when up righted was full again.

The Angel! God's hand at work.

My life and my money woes are like that bottle of port. There is always enough and there is always replenishment.

What me Worry??

So even though stress seems to have dominated 2011, so have Miracles.

Day 2

2011-12-02T09:12:00.003-05:00

I'm Tired.

I realize it when I wake up in the morning. I realize it when my legs begin to cramp when I move them a certain way in my sleep. I realize there is nothing more important during a day then how your feet feel! After all, I am standing on my two all day long except for a thirty minute break and the drive to my second job.

I have been asked many times "Why do you do this?" and the reason is simple, I drink too much if I am at home.

No that is not true. The reason is that I did not work for two years and ran up some astronomical debt. I am paying the proverbial piper right now. Added to the mix is that I am over 55 and jobs for my age group are scarce.

People do not want to hire a Know it All.

Case in point. I work with a wonderful woman who is approximately my age. She lost a "good" job and continues to look for a replacement for that income. In the meantime, she works at this semi-minimum wage job.

She frequently interviews for great jobs in the Retail industry. She never lands them. I have a big notion why. She begins many a sentence with, "That's ridiculous!......." another is "That is the silliest thing I have ever heard!".

No body wants to hear that stuff.

I try to express my observations to her that I realize this place of work is like any other I have worked. i.e. "Don't tell me about the labor pains, just show me the baby"

Just shut up and do it.

Play the game.

Don't whine about how far it is to walk from one end of the parking lot to the shopping center. Don't flaunt your Handicap Card. Do not clock in and then drive 200 yards to the public parking lot.

People notice these things. It's OK to be disgruntled if you focus it to do something positive.

Because I realize that the people who hire when they see a 50 something potential employee they also see the person I just described. There are many ways to gt around hiring you. Like "can you lift 25 pounds?" My friend would reply "Hell no, maybe 30 years ago!"

DAY 1

2011-12-01T11:06:00.001-05:00

Old Friend From Far Away...

I am going to begin with "I Remember...." and see where it takes me.

I remember a time when I did not worry about a thing.

I would get up in the morning after my Mother yelling at me from the bottom of the stair case to GET UP! Threats would finally have me roll out of bed after a night of listening to the radio, positioned above my head on the small twin bed that was made for me by (I believe) Elwood House. It had a book shelf behind that was perfect for filling with paperbacks and lots of crap (I had lots of crap even back then), but the radio...oh how I loved that radio. Mom and Dad gave it to me as a gift after my sister Kitty was born. I helped around the house with everything while Mom recuperated and rested from her birthing ordeal.

The radio had an AM and FM dial. Which was fantastic in the mid-sixties! I found the first ever FM station out of Louisville that I listened to at night, imagining myself up on the stage performing with Dusty Springfield, the Beatles, Lulu, Diana Ross and the Supremes. It was a portal into the rest of the world. I stayed up as late as I could, listening to the radio fade in and out on the wave bounce until sleep would overcome my most valiant efforts to stay awake.

It made for a tough morning.

I remember being the last person to jump in the car as my Dad revved the engine in the drive way, the car filled with my brothers and the other two. We car pooled to the High School in the city, a Catholic High School that I hated going to.

But now, 40 years later, am so happy I did.

I had the best of both worlds. Living in a small town where everyone knows you and the opportunities of a large new circle of friends in a different city.

I remember hating the fact that back then it was long distance to call this other city so I never got to yak with my gal pals from Lexington for all hours.I remember the phone on the wall in our basement that I would perch myself on the old ripped up red bar stool from our upstairs "snack bar" and yak yak yak on the phone for hours with my Small town friends.

I remember one of my best girlfriends running from her house across town to my house to tell me to put the phone back on the hook that John Paul was trying to call me and the line had been busy for an hour! OMG!!

JOHN PAUL!! and not the Pope, y'all.

We use to take the phone off the hook so that Omega's nap time was not interrupted.

I remember that was how it was back then. Running or jumping on a bicycle to quickly get to someones house to deliver an important message.Ask our Mom's to drive us somewhere!?!! Surely you jest. It just was never done.

I remember everyone being very skinny.lol.

The List

2011-11-30T08:29:00.001-05:00

Last year I participated in a terrific end of the year reflection exercise called Reverb 10. The website has been retired and it has been suggested that any interested party just sponsor their own Reverb.

With that in mind, I will make a list of things that I will concentrate on writing about in the month of December. They may be subject to change as time goes by.

1) Lessons learned this year.

2) High point of the year.

3) Progress on my 1001 days (begun over 1001 days ago!)

4) Memoir exercises - have this great book with a lot of prompts, so this will be my go to when I have brain freeze.

5) Plans for Retirement.

6) Reflections on my career path

7) Agism and its effects on my job search

8) Paths I did not take

9) People I would like to meet

10) My continued list of passions and hobbies

11) My attempts at cooking a new dish from one of my ten thousand cook books per week

12) Touring Memphis and area with me as I explore and discover

13) Forcing myself to pick up my camera and taking some fantastic shots!

14) My favorite TV show(s)

15) My thoughts on any articles from TIME magazine

16) List of five things I HAVE TO CHANGE in 2012

17) New people in my life

18) Where I would like to be this time next year

19) Cities I have lived in

20) What has changed the most this year in respect to my head (lol)

This is a list that can change at any moment, but at least a catalyst for filling the blank page every day!

Blah blah blah

2011-11-29T00:35:00.001-05:00

I am going to do the Blog her thing and post every day for the month of December. I went home to Kentucky for the week end. It was the shortest visit ever. Six hour drive up, arrived around three thirty in the afternoon. Partied until 4am, got some sleep, up at 830am to cook the amazing stuffing dish for my family gathering to celebrate Thanksgiving and then on the road again at 315 and over seven hour drive home because I-65 was a parking lot so we detoured down the West KY parkway.

That sentence was longer than my visit.

I drove around my home town Saturday afternoon and a sudden overwhelming feeling of loss engulfed me. I began writing my blog while living in this town. I got married while living in this town. I had the best job ever while living in this town. I grew up in this town. I walked all over this town as a child and as an adult.

I know a lot of people spend most their lives running away. Who says you can't go home?

She's Cooking Again

2011-11-17T19:30:00.008-05:00

Wow! What's with this new Blogger Look? Freak me out.

This week I have been watching "America's Test Kitchen" and made a Brisket in the slow cooker. Shout out to ATK - OUCH! That was so hot it made my eyes water! I can't figure out what gave it the fire unless it was a combo of everything! Next time I will slow it with my own rub. Otherwise, it was pretty neat.

Tonight I decided to pull out another cookbook. This time it was...

MEDITERRANEAN COOKING, from the Home Cooking collection, 1996

I decided to make Mushroom Risotto with Sausage Bolognese. I recall an episode from The Next Food Network Star where one made risotto and the other contestants raised eyebrows because of how easy it is to over cook.

And so.....

4T Butter or olive oil (I like to use both together)
1 onion
1/2 lb. mushrooms sliced
2 garlic cloves
1 cup short grain rice (I only have jasmine rice)
1 1/2 c. chicken stock (thank God for packaged)
salt

Sauce Bolognese
1T olive oil
1 onion finely shopped
4 Italian Sausages, casting removed (really?)
3/4 c pureed tomatoes
2 c. chopped canned tomatoes
1 t Italian herbs
S&P

Melt butter in lg. skillet over med. heat add onions and mushrooms. Cook 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Add garlic and rice. Stir well and cook 2 minutes more

Stir in stock and salt to taste. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until most of the liquid has been adsorbed. If still moist, raise heat to high and cook 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly. My jasmine rice cooked up pretty good in the 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the sauce. Heat oil and saucepan over med. heat add onions and crumbled sausage meat. Cook, stirring, for 7 minutes (I just cooked it until it was done but I did time it....) drain off excess oil (I did not have any) stir in pureed tomatoes (surprise! I didn't have any so I substituted tomato paste and cooked a little in the middle of the pan, about 2/3 of a sm. standard can) then add the chopped tomatoes and herbs S&P. Simmer another 7 minutes.

Transfer risotto to a serving dish, top with bolognese sauce and serve at once (lol)

I give it a four star!! **** Tasty and very easy to make. It was probably a little sweeter than I would have liked due to the tomato paste rather than the pureed tomatoes. But, it was very good. Even Joe, who ate at the Chow Wagon Buffet for lunch (not really but I can't remember the name of the restaurant) with "the boys" - holy smokes they ate for two hours!

Yet, when he came home he was able to eat a small bowl and pronounce it "Good".

Look I'm Flying! I mean Blogging!

2011-11-11T06:49:00.018-05:00

I don't know how long I will keep this up, but with the diminished hours at Elvis World, it may be everyday. I suppose the bright side is that it is good training for the Reverb Challenge next month.

And so, with so many cook books on hand I thought I would engage in Number Three of my Passions which is Cooking!

I decided to choose a cook book at random, which was the Farm Journal's Country Cook Book. I had a bag of green beans that I was using as a side dish to the pot roast I cooked the night before. Rather, I cooked over night in the slow cooker, yum yum yum. (Three yum's up) I settled on Green Beans in Sour Cream.

Onions....

My Secret Ingredient

Before oven....

After oven!

I halved everything:

2 lbs green beans cooked or canned
1 onion sliced
2 T finely cut parsley
1 t salt
2 T butter
1/4 pepper
2 T grated lemon rind
2 T flour
1 c thick sour cream
1 c buttered bread crumbs

Place green beans in a buttered 2 qt. casserole.Saute onions & parsley in butter until lightly browned. Add salt pepper flour lemon rind and sour cream. Heat until just hot. Spoon over green beans. Top with bread crumbs.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

I added garlic to the onions. I used onion crisps and my new favorite topping chow mien noodles instead of bread crumbs. I did not have a lemon but I did have a grapefruit! I never can tell how much I am grating and the first thing Joe asked "What is that zingy taste?"

Pretty good!

The Many Passions of Alphawoman - Part II

2011-11-10T11:27:00.007-05:00

The Birth of Kit and Mollie Vintage

I have three days off in a row and I am giddy! Tomorrow night I go into my 2nd job for five hours but I am FREE until then.

How have I spent the last 24 precious hours? Besides driving around Memphis and mistakenly not taking the right ramp and ending cruising over the mighty Mississippi landing in Arkansas? I have been spending time playing with my vintage jewelry. Sitting under a very bright high voltage light bulb and turning the pieces this way and that holding the jewelry loupe to my eye, trying to read any hidden markings. Sometimes so miniscule they seem hidden.

I caught the vintage bug last winter. Bored and alone at a computer screen with little to do, I found a marvelous site (it remains a secret that I only share with my bank!!) that every so often I feel like I hit the lottery.

Take this lot of earrings that I bid $6.99....

............and won. The green drop earrings caught my fancy and the bidding was so low that I could not help myself. To my credit, it had been over seven months since I have fueled this compulsion - I mean passion.

After shipping, I think it came in under $20 (the only beef I have with this site is that the shipping charges are extremely high with "handling & insurance" added into the mix - boo).

When they arrived I was thrilled with the haul. The top center earrings, which unfortunately look a lot like Bridget's baby teeth (yes I saved them, I am a semi-nut case), are marked "Japan" and I tend to think they are cultured pearls. Score!

The drop earrings are stunning - just like I suspected.

But the coup de la fabulous is the big gold brooch - its a Les Bernard! Worth at least twice what I paid for the entire lot.

My big plan is to some day have a cute booth at some little festival. Joe retires in one year, ten months, three weeks and four days! I am hoping that we will hit the road in a RV, that is if I can talk him into it. My big plan is sell my vintage jewelry along the way. I also am going to sell on the ESTY site - as soon as I make myself get it up and running.

I already have a name, Kit and Mollie Vintage. The name of my two Grand Mothers.

Cool, huh?

The many Passions of Alphawoman

2011-11-08T09:21:00.001-05:00

I have a new hobby! Once I looked at a friend of mine who was suffering from infernal boredom and I offered a suggestion that they find a hobby. Sitting in front of a TV and consuming beer was not a hobby. Maybe a sport, but not a hobby. What are you going to do when there is nothing of watch worthy and you don't have a dime for beer, or as they would say in Memphis "What you gonna do when ain't nothing on the tube and you dry..."

My hobbies aren't that expensive. A lot less expensive than playing golf or consuming expensive wine.

Some might say I jet past hobby and embrace passion when it comes to collecting Cook Books.

When we left C-ville the Goodwill received most my extensive book collection. I could not bring myself to (once again) rent a storage area to house thousands of books. I tired Abe to sell them off, but it was terribly time consuming and cost me out the wazoo as I priced them as collector items and could not compete with Amazon. Damn Amazon.

So I gave them away and kept only the Travel books, the Mystery books (i.e. my Sue Grafton collection, Sara Parensky collection etc) and odds and ends (first edition To Kill a Mockingbird). When it came to my Cook Books, they made the trip to Memphis and thank God, not in the car as the crazy Cat. (another story).

And so the saga continues with frequent trips to this marvelous Goodwill Book store in NE Mississippi. I can find the most unusual assortment of culinary marvels donated from uninterested inheritors. I have to look at it that way.

What would be the explanation for the following poignant inscription inside the cover of "COOK COUNTY HISTORIC COOK BOOK" (December 1989)

"To Kelly Anne F*******, my Grand daughter From Mama Jean. May you enjoy using some of these recipes in your cooking in years to come. I hope you enjoy reading the history of the different Homes and tows of Cook county, in the state of Georgia. My place of birth and where I live. Love you, Mama Jean"

And the Cook Book is exquisite. 380 pages in a spiral bound jewel weighing about two pounds!

I may even start using them in the future!

We Inturrupt this Silence with an Update

2011-11-06T08:13:00.003-05:00

What I have been up to as of late

Work work work. And it's a drag. I certainly miss the days when I jumped into a company car and drove around spreading the love on a daily basis. When I was finished or just ready to kill some time I would find a public library or a hotel with a business center and attend to my blog. Remember the good old days? Before Face Book and Twitter when you blogged? Times have changed and so have I. I really don't know how to use Twitter and I usually only comment on Face Book.

And blogging has almost gone the way of the dinosaur.

Honestly, I miss it quite a bit.

Quickly, yesterday I was distraught and so close to a teary breakdown that it is a miracle that it did not happen.

He reminded me of my Dad. He was elderly and ill, his puny body being pushed by wheel chair into the entrance to the Airplane Exhibit at Elvis World. I held open the door and he looked up at me from his slumped over position, from under a frumpy hat that covered his thinning white stringy hair, with runny eyes and a face that was wasting away with age.....and he gave me a beautiful smile. So much joy at being - here, at E-land.

And it hit so close to the bone.

My Dad would have been 92 on Friday. I miss him so much.

Where the Southern Cross the Dog

2011-08-30T09:01:00.004-04:00

Saturday August 27th

13/365

1) Day trip!! No where to go, nowhere to be. Unable to go to Hot Springs so just headed south and took off. Packed a bag just in case.

2) First stop was Tunica - but we just wandered around one of the casino's and shrugged and left.

3) Went across the Mississippi into Arkansas and found this little restaurant in West Helena called the West Helena Fish Market. A hole in the wall, funky with one big round table for eating in. The action was the take out. At three o'clock in the afternoon it was non-stop. The fish plate, for a cool $10, included five pieces of fish, slaw, hush puppies, french fries and a 20 ounce Mt. Dew (sorry Coke but you won't return my calls)

4) Then on Clarksdale and the Delta Blues Museum which was fantastic.

5) Then to Ground Zero Blues Club where we had a couple of beers and soaked in the atmosphere. This is the Crossroads, Baby!

Up with The Birds

2011-08-30T08:53:00.002-04:00

Friday August 26th 12/365

Grace in Small Things 2011 version

1) Went to bed way too early last night and woke up at 3am and could not go back to sleep. I was up before the birds! But I ironed clothes, washed dishes, paid bills, made breakfast and lunch and an extra sandwich for the Bucket, and made certain I packed a bottle of 5 hour energy drink in my purse.

2) That baloney and cheese sandwich at lunch was sooooooooooo good! I make sure I pack the tomato separate so it does not make a soggy mess.

3) As I have mentioned it has been slow at G-land, so I got to read a little of this book while tending a gift store for an associate that called out - I learned some great facts about the reasoning behind G-land.

4) The weather seems to have been hipped that summer is nearing a close. A sweet breeze today.

5) At the Bucket I was on the front porch having a one woman event selling bubbles and checkers. I was shooting myself in the head with a bubble gun. I really need to buy a couple of those for the Grand kids.

August 25th

2011-08-30T08:44:00.002-04:00

Grace in Small Things 11/365

1) Today is an old friends, (from the very distant past) ( a long long long time ago), birthday and I smile each time I remember. I am unable to contact this person as I have some idea where they are but sleeping dogs are best let to lie.

2) Went to work at G-land thinking I would have to work a register (pull a drawer) all day but that is not how it worked out. In many ways this made the day drag by, but at first it was a relief to not be chained to counter all day long.

3) One of, maybe my most favorite, "associate' did work the drawer in my store.

4) There are Popsicle's in the freezer for everyone everyday!! I got a blue one for the ride home and did not worry about my blue tongue.

5) Bag of scones at Kroger end of the day special about 10 of them for 99 cents!

Mama says eat Your Veggies

2011-08-30T08:28:00.002-04:00

Wednesday August 24th 10/365

1) Because we are so slow now that Elvis week has concluded and everything has slowed down considerably I was sent home two hours early.

2) So I took a leisurely drive home and ended up at the Farmers Market. A misleading name for this International Super Grocery Store, but they certainly have the best selection of vegetables I have ever seen. An array of spectacular color and bin after bin of mind boggling cornucopia from around the world - or so it seems. I have never seen cactus laid out for inspection before. Have you? The question is...have I bought cacti? No. But I do purchase stuff I have never seen before but a little tamer. I love that place.

3) Made one of my all time favorite dishes with squash, onion, and corn scraped fresh off the cob, fresh basil and tomatoes. Instead of using butter to cook it all in, I used two slices of bacon. This stuff is plate licking good. I do not cook the tomatoes into a stew like existence as the recipe calls for, but just toss them in at the end to loosed them up. I like it like that.

4) Have I every mentioned before (lol) how much I use the public library? With my Mom being Super Librarian I was indoctrinated at birth. Every city I have lived in I have a library card. And some that I didn't! That is tricky but at times you can pull it off. I was able to check out several books regarding sightseeing in the area. The Internet is good for information but there is nothing as satisfying as holding a book. At least to me. It's one of life's greatest pleasures for me.

5) One of my all time favorite people needs help. I am able to help out a little. Instead of just doing it I discussed it over with my husband. I am starting to get this marriage thing.

August 23rd

2011-08-29T09:25:00.005-04:00

Tuesday 9/365

1) Addicted to the FaceBook Page "Louisville Old Hippies from the 60's & 70's". Love the pictures and the stories and the memories. One "memory" was what song do you most associate with that time and I immediately thought "White Bird" and sure enough so did someone else and the video was posted. I loved that song.

2) Boo to my hometown page that for some inexcusable reason blocked me out! I addressed the issue with the administrator and he said he tried to get me back in but FB would not let him. Damn I was having a great time throwing out "memories" to the rest of the old farts from my home town. maybe a good thing I am blocked because I spent entirely too much time there.

3) Found the live stream from the terrific radio station with one of the old Hippies from Lou! yay.

4) My brother in law gave everyone these beautiful prisms for the window. It is held in place with a suction cup and when the sun gets to a certain point the prism starts dancing! The cat ( alas, not our beloved Indaka, but the cat known as Kitty who showed up on our door step in the middle of a deep freeze with a nap sack on his back and a note from his distressed Mama - please help a little defenseless kitty, hence Kitty) The cat goes nuts trying to catch the moving colors!

5) Met another set of guys writing a blog about traveling around the country. They were from Brooklyn. I asked if they were writing a book about their experience. they informed me "writing a book" was passe, they were writing a blog! Well, hell I always thought you write a blog hoping to get a book deal? Ask Pioneer Woman or Waiter Rant. When Joe and I hit the road I will decidedly be looking for a book deal. lol lol lol and lol again.

Double Entry for August 22 - b/c I'm confused

2011-08-29T09:15:00.004-04:00

Grace in Small Things

Monday August Something Maybe the 22nd

1) because my life is so dull at times, having two jobs and all, I will probably think this is the high light of the day a lot of times! Along with the food I eat/cook! With that being said, I ran about two miles in about 25 minutes. I think it was because there were three good looking guys doing a work out routine on the track at the first curve. I wanted to hustle around to get a good look from behind my shades.

2) I got to work early at the Bucket because I thought I had to be there at 530pm and as I was racing down old Goodman road (Joe says we can really haul a** because we have Indiana tags and people assume we are part of the Indy 500 Koolaid set) I realized I was scheduled for 6pm. Wow! Work early for a change.

3) My cash drawer from G-land was perfect! I love that for some crazy reason.

4) Learned there is an Elvis trivia that if you answer correctly you win a free great big lunch from one of our restaurants. Game On!

5) Finally read the Sunday paper

Uncle Buck Packs my Lunch

2011-08-23T08:18:00.006-04:00

8/365 & 1/52 Monday August 22

First week completed 51 to go of Grace in small things

1) Woke up at 5am and jumped out of bed. Much like Julia Child as portrayed in the movie "Julia Julie". The Julia parts were the only good parts.

2) Pack my lunch daily for G-land. Some time it verges on the absurd with left overs. At times I have a little tupper wear of beets, a salad accompanied with a bottle of salad dressing, fruit cocktail etc. As I was eating the beets I felt like Uncle Buck packed my lunch. Uncle Buck is one of those movies that I will watch whenever I find it showing. It never fails to make me laugh out loud! John Candy was one of the funniest guys ever.

3) Had lunch with one of larger characters at G-land. She is leaving, retiring. She mainly works in the jewelry shop and I have learned quite a bit about the Elvis bling from her. I will miss her when shes gone.

4) Had a tight window this morning so I went to the track and ran two miles in about 25 minutes1 I am getting stoked.

5) Made the stretch goal at the Bucket.

Grace in Small Things

2011-08-23T08:11:00.002-04:00

Sunday Aug 20th (I hope this is the correct date)

1) Ran at Shelby park with Joe. Did the 2.75 mile route in approx. 35 minutes. I'm getting there.

2) Perfect cash drawer. When I was hired at G-land I found out that at times I would have to "pull a drawer". Since then I have only been off a penny and a second time I have been off a Quarter! I am good with change.

3) Caught Neil Young on a music channel for several songs before Joe changed the channel. I had never heard either before and they were beautiful. I wanted to hear "Hurricane" but it was not to be. It was too late and I was too tired to be totally blown away anyway.

4) I left G-land early when my store was closed first. I love being treated like an adult and trusted to do the right thing.

5) Since I am season and my days are numbered I was encouraged to stay by one of the supervisors. "I want you to stay!" That was so sweet.

Saturday Aug. 20

2011-08-23T08:03:00.002-04:00

Grace in Small Things 6/365

1) Passed the silly PAR test at the Bucket. I have avoided taking it for two years (!!!!) because I was either too busy or did not want to give up any of my off time to go in. Anyway, the truly nice people at the new Bucket asked me constantly if I had taken it and I finally caved. For some odd reason, it made my happy!

2) Jasmine rice. I'll never go back to long grain.

3) Elvis pens - the ball point kind.

4) Food Network on line. Found the Beans and Rice recipe from a show I once saw a long time ago and folks, it was easy and so good.

5) My knee did not hurt today. Must have just slept on it wrong - lol.

5/365

2011-08-22T07:10:00.002-04:00

Grace in Small Things Friday August 19th

1) Soap I bought at trader Joe that is lavender fragrance and has little nubs all over and is just wonderful. A mini massage every day.

2) Priceline - even though it's time may have past, deals like Five Star rooms in Miami for $25!! ...it still will save you money if you are willing to take a risk. A huge risk. Will report back next Monday.

3) Finding out you have a week-end free and no where to be...so you make plans for a mini-vaca.

4) Decided it was too hot to wear anything but a sun dress. Found a dress in the closet that I was coerced into buying in Jamaica - hand made for me - fit like a glove back then, and it's loose now!! Yay,, all this running is paying off!!

5) Yellow butterflies and orange/black butterflies.

Thursday Aug 18

2011-08-19T14:53:00.002-04:00

At least I think that is the date yesterday.

Grace in Small Things (and big things) or You Don't Know Nothing About Goats!! (I was being chastised by my friend D. when I asked if his goats ate tin cans...)

1) My friend D. had a brain bleed two weeks ago and is now out of ICU and into a hospital bed. Then out of the bed into the Rehab hospital. On FB it was posted that if he is up to it, he can go to the State Fair to see his kids show their goats. That is some great fantastic news!

2) The University of Memphis Jazz station on the radio. Always perfect.

3) Day off after working 12 straight days at G-land.

4) Took a wrong exit off the expressway and ended up at a Panera Bread! The one most major thing I always thought wrong with C-ville was it was not big enough or had the correct demographics for a Panera Bread. I had a cinnamon raisin bagel - toasted.

5) Went to the Goodwill Bookstore and found "The Playboy Gourmet" 1971. A real unusual book to add to my collection.