Five Things that Make Me Happy!!

Magical Mystical Mimi did a Five Things That Make Me Happy meme the other day and I thought I'd play along, since the quality of my life is so much better since moving back east (though I do miss the scenery and climate of the PNW).

First, my man and our relationship make me so incredibly happy that I could burst.  He's very happy too, as you can see!  I think back on my prior long term relationships and two years in, things had become routine and somewhat 'blah'.  Not with this one.  I fall more in love with this man every day.

The furkids crack me up.  Baby Huey and Miss Thing.

Craft supplies of course.

The beach, beach combing and the sound of the waves not only makes me happy but relaxes me.

My stepchildren, our families and friends surround me with love, support and happiness!!!  My stepdaughter made my day when I got a 'Happy Mothers Day' text from her!!

Feel free to play along, and I'm also going to tag five bloggers as well:

The Crafter's Apprentice
Older Mommy Still Yummy
Suzanne's Tribe
Giggling Trucker's Wife
Life Is Good

Not Really a Cat-Person, But......

I cannot get enough of Tardar Sauce, the Grumpy Cat.  Or her brother Pokey.  I seek out their pictures and memes that have gone viral over the past couple of months.  Videos.  Anything I can find on them. There was a Christmas meme that just had me howling with laughter.  Face and stomach cramp inducing, tears pouring down my cheeks laughing.  I must visit The Daily Grump every day.  They are the cutest cats I have ever seen and I wish I could cuddle them both.  Tard doesn't have a grumpy disposition according to her human.  It's just the way her face is shaped.  She seems to be tiny for almost a year old and has trouble walking and jumping.  I think one of the articles I read said that she may be a dwarf cat.  

When I see their pictures, I cannot help but say 'SQUEEEEEE!!! GUM AN POE!!!'  Because of course in my animal baby talk, I call her Gumpy.  I assume that's why he was named Pokey, for Gumby and Pokey.  And when I see a close up of Poe, I squeal, 'Po-KEEEEYYYYYYY' with the emphasis on the 'key'.  

These are still clips from a video that is one of the cutest things I've ever seen and heard.  They got a child to provide the Grumpy Cat narration so that alone is extremely endearing.  And the music used is perfect too. THIS is the link to the HuffPo article.  Just scroll down to the video and click play.  Trust me, you won't be sorry.  It's only a little over a minute.  

The memes have been a riot.

"Iz in yer livinroom, hatin' yer football".

BAHAHAHAHA

This nod to Big Bang Theory had me in snots.

Mt. Grumpmore

A comparison to Statler & Waldorf of 'The Muppets'.  

I realize that she's on the edge of overexposure, and some people are griping on FB that they are getting tired of seeing Tard all over their newsfeeds, but I still can't get enough of her & Pokey.  

Have you seen Grumpy?  What do you think?  

My Ten Essentials

A few weeks ago, I was tagged by Anne over at Is Anyone There? to list my Ten Essentials in life.  That required some thought to narrow it down because there are so many things that I truly can't live without!!!!  Except for #1, the rest are in no particular order.

1.  First and foremost, my sweet, loving affectionate, kind, handsome, hard working fiance'. 

I truly don't know what I'd do without him.  Every day I fall more in love with this amazing man.  I spend my days daydreaming him and our future, like a lovesick teenager.  We're closing in on two years together and the level of attentiveness hasn't dropped off at all.   I'm dancing with happiness when he comes home and I weep every time he leaves.  

2.  Doggies.

I love my furbabies and I can't imagine not having a dog.  Our next one will be a beagle.  I have come to love doggies so much that when I'm walking along the Canal and someone is coming the other direction with their dogs, I always say Hi to the pups first before I even remember there's a human standing there.  By 'say Hi' I don't mean that I'm stupid enough to approach and pet a stranger's animal, I literally mean I say, 'Hi puppywupsters! Aren't you cute? Oh yes you are! Oh yes you are!"

3.  Craft Supplies.

I have always been the first to admit I have a hoarding problem with craft stuff.  Back in WA, I hit Ben Franklin in Bonney Lake at least twice a month; it was an unfortunate coincidence that they shared a parking lot with my grocery store....and if I was in Puyallup, I had to go to Michael's Crafts or Bead Boppers.  And the annual pilgrimage to Shipwreck Beads every January with my Christmas Bonus and gift cards burning a hole in my pocket.  I figured I should buy stuff that I liked when I saw it, 'just in case' I didn't get the opportunity again.  That strategy has paid off big time, now that I can't be spending gobs of money shopping like that.  I've been able to make stuff, mostly with the stuff I had on hand, thus reducing my need to shop with abandon now that I'm here.

4.  Travel/road trips.

I have to see stuff.  I wish I had done more traveling when I was young but there never seemed to be the money or a good time to do it.  I never did get back to England like I wanted.  I haven't seen near as much of Canada and the US that I should have by now.  So yeah, besides the unrealistic Bucket List I have, there's also the more attainable 'Local Bucket List' that sates the need to spend money to go long distances. So much is in your own backyard.  (The above photo shows all the states I've been to in colour).

5.  A camera.

Must. Record. Everything.  Well not everything but close to it.  Only my cousin Diane trumps me in this category. I have a crappy memory and have relied on journals, photos and scrapbooks to keep things fresh in my mind since the age of 12.

6.  My San Francisco 49ers blanket.

It's about 20 years old now....getting a bit worn and tattered, but I love it and love to snuggle under it while watching TV.  It rests on the back of my chair when not in use.  Even if it's not cold enough to use, I still find comfort in it just being on my lap.

7.  Glass.

I can't get enough.  Well, actually that's not true...I've been VERY good about not buying more glass bottles and trinkets, simply because we have zero room for any more knick knacks in this house. But I've surrounded myself with a lot of beautiful and special pieces which is probably better than having a huge collection.  At least I can still look at the marbles, bottles and other pieces and remember where they were purchased and when.

8.  Art.

I get lost in the art pieces I've chosen to purchase and display.  Interesting to note, nearly all of them were created by North American artists and illustrators, except for one by Belgian artist Rene' Magritte.  I especially love the landscapes by the artists of the Hudson River School. (above picture:  'North Point' by Andrew Wyeth).

9.  Music. 

I confess that I don't listen to it as much as I used to or want to.  I just really find myself preferring the peace and solitude of a quiet house, but for the white noise of the a/c or fans.  My honey has been lobbying hard for me to disconnect the stereo so that we will have more space in the livingroom but I have been reluctant to put it in storage in the back room.  It's true I don't use it as much as I used to, but I like having the option when the mood strikes me.  A lot of people have turned to the free music site called Pandora where you can make your own playlists, but I don't like the sound quality that comes out of my laptop.  It's not the same as having a stereo.  And how will I make mix tapes without a stereo?

10.  Friends. 

As much as I love my alone time and solitude, I also love to chit chat with friends, in person and online (I'm not a telephone person...I don't like talking on the phone and it's really rare that I'll even answer my phone).  My friends have always been my family, loving me for who I am without judgment or criticism.

What are your Ten Essentials?

Summer-Themed Meme

Feel free to play along....

1.  What is your favourite part of summer?  When it's over.  Summer is a season to be endured, not embraced.

2.  What is your favourite quintessentially summer food?  Least favourite?   Fruit fruit n more fruit.  I'm not a fan of seafood of any kind (except fish-n-chips), which seems to be consumed more in the summer than other seasons.

3.  Best beverage to beat the summer heat?   Crystal Lite Lemond Iced Tea, or Lipton Ice Tea Mix.  Or watermelon.  And lemonade.

4.  Least favourite/most annoying thing related to summer?  Heat, humidity, sticky weather, shiny face all the time due to humidity, crickets, humidity, mosquitos, greenheads, heat, bugs in general.  Did I mention heat and humidity?

5.  Pick one: the lake or the beach.  Why?  Beach.  Because I was born by the sea, and I must live by the sea.  Besides, it's cooler on the coast.

6.  Most amusing summer vacation trip you've ever taken?  Had a lot of laughs on Summer Tour 1989 - 5 Dead shows in 8 days, but probably the best and happiest trip was driving east, last June with Russell.  It was pure magic with lots of laughs and love.

7.  Most ridiculous/cringe-inducing/blush-provoking summer outfit you have seen (Bonus Points if you were wearing it)?  Not a clue.  I rarely ever notice what other people are wearing, even at Walmart. (the following photo is a web image).

8.  Your absolute dream summer afternoon would be?  Traveling somewhere/sightseeing.  Or spending a peaceful day with my sweetie at a cottage, preferably on Spring Hill Beach in E. Sandwich.

Write it Down

My friend Sonnia at A Ladybug's Life tagged me in a Blogging Meme, where you respond to the questions by handwriting your answers instead of typing them.

1.  What's your name/blogger name?
2.  What's your blog's URL?
3.  Write:  The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

4.  Favourite Quote?

5.  Favourite Song?  OK, this one took about a half hour's worth of thought, as I probably have at least 1,000 fave songs.

6.  Favourite Band/Singers?  Again, I could have written a list a mile long.  So I stole Sonnia's response for my last one.

7.  Anything else you want to say?

8.  Tag Three People.

Lazy Sunday and a List or Two

It's finally cloudy, and the temperature has dropped back into the 60's. I don't know why August seems to take forever to finally end. I climbed back into my jammies after my shower and have been enjoying a lazy Sunday of card making & colouring. Brian's gone upstairs to take a power nap and I'm dangerously close to falling asleep too.

Here's a Free Association Meme I pinched from Music Wench :

Say the first thing that comes to mind:

Bangs - Phil & Anita, a family in my hometown

Diaper - Something I have never changed nor plan to. EVER.

Coffee Table - Large picture books

Cops - Bad boys bad boys, whatcha gonna do when they come for you

Matches - Don't play with them

250 - Area code for Vancouver Island, BC

Hurricane - "Step into My World" by Hurricane #1

Bad - A U2 song

Confirmation - a/k/a CYA (cover your ass) letter sent by a lawyer to confirm a phone conversation.

Fiber - Arts & Crafts Medium

My pal Rob posted a list on Facebook called "15 Albums" and tagged me in it.

"The Rules: Don't take too long to think about it. List 15 albums you've heard that will always stick with you. List the first 15 you can think of in 15 minutes." This one was hard for me because I could have filled the list with Clash, ELO & Dead albums. Easily. So instead I opted for ones that blew me away the first time I heard them. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. London Calling - The Clash

2. Nevermind the Bollocks - Sex Pistols

3. Face the Music - ELO

4. Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - Dead Kennedys

5. Skeletons from the Closet - Grateful Dead

6. Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd

7. The Doors - the Doors

8. Fine Art of Surfacing - Boomtown Rats

9. Old & in the Way - Old & in the Way (70's bluegrass that featured Jerry Garcia on banjo)

10. Islands - Kaja (f/k/a Kajagoogoo, without Limahl)

11. Up to Date - Partridge Family

12. Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd. - the Monkees

13. Architecture & Morality - OMD

14. Boy - U2

15. New Clear Days - The Vapors

It's all I can do to stay awake so I think I'm going to adjourn to the craft table and salvage the rest of my afternoon before I doze off and regret it later!

A Meme from MusicWench

MusicWench did an interesting meme on her blog the other day, with new and funnier questions, so I decided to answer them too. Anyone who wants to play along can feel free to copy & paste. Some of the formatting got screwed up and I can't seem to change it.

1. You can press a button that will make any one person explode. Who would you blow up?

I only get ONE choice? OK then, either Sarah Palin or Octomom.

2. You can flip a switch that will wipe any band or musical artist out of existence. Which one will it be?

Seriously, again with the 'one' choice?! I really hate Bruce Springsteen. Gonna have to go with Springsteen.

3. Who would you really like to just punch in the face?

Former Oakland Rayduh's quarterback Jeff Hostetler. I really can't stand that guy. I have always wanted to punch his face in.

4. What is your favorite cheese?

Cheddar.

5. You can only have one kind of sandwich. Every sandwich ingredient known to humankind is at your immediate disposal. What kind will you make?

An east coast style Italian sub.

6. You have the opportunity to sleep with the movie or sports celebrity of your choice. We are talking no-strings-attached sex and it can only happen once. Who is the lucky celebrity of your choice?

I'll get in trouble with the Vincent Vixens if I don't automatically pick Vincent.....but I've had a crush on John Pyper Ferguson for many, many, MANY more years than Vincent. Plus Pyper spends a lot of time in Vancouver, so he's a lot closer than Vincent who is all the way in NYC. Pyper was also gracious enough to accept my Facebook friend request AND he personally responded to a short message I sent him.

7. You have the opportunity to sleep with the music celebrity of your choice. Who do you pick?

It used to be Bob Weir from the Grateful Dead, but the Bobby of 25 years ago. There aren't any current musicians that I'd sleep with now.

8. Now that you’ve slept with two different people in a row, you seem to be having an excellent day because you just came across a hundred-dollar bill on the sidewalk. Holy shit, a hundred bucks! How are you gonna spend it?

Probably something to eat because I'm ravenously hungry from all the sex. Or spend it on beads.

9. You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go?

Newfoundland or Nova Scotia. Seriously. I am dying to see the Canadian Maritimes and beachcomb on Grand Manan Island.

10. Upon arrival to the aforementioned location, you get off the plane and discover another hundred-dollar bill. Shit! Now that you are in the new location, what are you gonna do?

Buy a piece of local artwork, either a picture or beadwork or some other locally made craft.

11. An angel appears out of Heaven and offers you a lifetime supply of the alcoholic beverage of your choice. It is…?

I don't drink because I seem to be allergic to alcohol. I wouldn't mind a lifetime supply of Jone's Pure Cane Sugar Green Apple Soda.

12. Rufus appears out of nowhere with a time-traveling phone booth. You can go anytime in the PAST. What time are you traveling to and what are you going to do when you get there?

Who in the Sam Hill is Rufus? (who in the Sam Hill, is Sam Hill?) A time traveling phone booth? Um, OK I think that's called a TARDIS. But I digress.... Any time in the past? Well I would love to have been at the Human Be-In in Golden Gate Park in January, 1967. Or the summer of 75.

13. You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. You make the rules. What is the first rule you put into place?

No annoying your neighbors with barking dogs, screaming children, loud engines or loud music.

14. You have been given the opportunity to create the half-hour TV show of your own design. What is it called and what’s the premise?

MusicWench and I are on the same page with her answer: "...Good News and feature uplifting, happy news stories instead of the horrible stuff we're faced with everyday. NO POLITICS. No kidding. lol Me, political junkie is tired of the negative ragging on each other and screaming. Even the liberals are screaming and it's making me nuts."

AGREED!!!!

15. What is your favorite curse word?

What the Fuck. Fuck you, you fuckin' fuck. Get the fuck outta my way. Fucking-A. Are you fucking kidding me??? Also Jesus Fucking Christ. That's another fave.

16.One night you wake up because you heard a noise. You turn on the light to find that you are surrounded by MUMMIES. The mummies aren’t really doing anything, they’re just standing around your bed. What do you do?

Lose all bladder control and try to scream but nothing comes out then die of a heart attack.

17. Your house is on fire, holy shit! You have just enough time to run in there and grab ONE inanimate object. Don’t worry, your loved ones and pets have already made it out safely. So what’s the item?

I don't want to answer this b/c this has been an all consuming fear of mine since a series of traumatic fires in my hometown when I was 7 and I can't talk about it. Maybe someday I'll blog about it; it help make me confront it.

18. The Angel of Death has descended upon you. Fortunately, the Angel of Death is pretty cool and in a good mood, and it offers you a half-hour to do whatever you want before you bite it.

I'd give away all my stuff to my friends to make them happy. Scott, I don't know if you read my blog or not, but YES YOU STILL GET THE WACKY PACK COLLECTION.

19. You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow you with the super-power of your choice! What’s it gonna be?

Telekinesis. I desperately want to throw slow-moving cars in front of me off the road. I fantasize about it during my commute every day, especially when I'm behind a Volvo, Subaru or the trifecta from hell: A mini van with disabled plates and the driver is on the phone.

20. You can re-live any point of time in your life. The time-span can only be a half-hour, though. What half-hour of your past would you like to experience again?

Set II of the Grateful Dead on October 30, 1991, Oakland Coliseum: Eyes of the World into the best Estimated Prophet I have ever heard in my life.

21. You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?

Geez there are so, so many of them. I can't possibly pick just one.

22. You got kicked out of the country for being a time-traveling heathen who sleeps with celebrities and has super-powers. But check out this cool shit… you can move to anywhere else in the world! Bitchin’! What country are you going to live in now?

Oh god that's a no brainer: British Columbia, Canada. Preferably on Vancouver Island in a custom built log home.

23. This question still counts, even for those of you who are under age. Check it out. You have been eternally banned from every single bar in the world except for ONE. Which one is it gonna be?

Wow. Couldn't care less. I don't drink and I don't like bars.

24. Hopefully you didn’t mention this in the super-powers question…. If you did, then we’ll just expand on that. Check it out… Suddenly, you have gained the ability to FLOAT!!! Whose house are you going to float to first, and be like “Dude, check it out…I can FLOAT!”?

What an utterly bizarre question. But honestly, I think I would be too busy taking aerial photographs to bother floating to someone's house to tell them I can float, unless I happen to be floating past their house when I'm taking pictures.

25. The constant absorption of magical moonbeams mixed with the radioactive vegetables you consumed earlier has given you the ability to resurrect the dead famous-person of your choice. So which celebrity will you bring back to life?

Jerry Garcia. Then I'd send him in for quadruple bypass surgery, then to long term rehab so he could quit the smack for good.

26. The Celestial Gates of Beyond have opened, much to your surprise because you didn’t think such a thing existed. Death appears. As it turns out, Death is actually a pretty cool entity, and happens to be in a fantastic mood. Death offers to return the friend/family-member/person, etc. of your choice to the living world. Who will you bring back?

My dad for sure.

27. What’s your theme song?

Estimated Prophet by the Dead. The first time I heard it was late 1987 and I heard the studio version on WZLX radio in Boston. I was just getting into the Dead, and I was already focused on moving to San Francisco. My family didn't believe that I would go and dismissed my constant talk of 'when I move to SF...'. The people at work didn't believe I'd ever quit such a high paying, union job at Channel 56. I would voice my desire to live in the Bay Area and be met with patronizing head-nodding. Estimated inspired me and really lit a fire under me to make it work. Guess I showed them. The album version is great, but when they do it live, and they really jam it out, holy shit it will blow you away. Especially the verse that starts, 'you've all been asleep you would not believe me!' when Bobby is really belting it out and the band is just so loud and hitting the crescendo. These are the lyrics:

My time coming, any day, don't worry 'bout me, no
Been so long I felt this way, ain't in no hurry, no
Rainbows end down that highway where ocean breezes blow
My time coming, voices saying, they tell me where to go

Don't worry bout me, no no, don't worry bout me, no
And I'm in no hurry, no no no, I know where to go.

California, preaching on the burning shore
California, I'll be knocking on the golden door
Like an angel, standing in a shaft of light
Rising up to paradise, I know I'm gonna shine

My time coming, anyday, don't worry 'bout me, no
It's gonna be just like they say, them voices tell me so
Seems so long I felt this way and time sure passin' slow
Still I know I lead the way, they tell me where I go

Don't worry bout me, no no, don't worry bout me, no
And I'm in no hurry, no no no, I know where to go

California, a prophet on the burning shore
California, I'll be knocking on the golden door
Like an angel, standing in a shaft of light
Rising up to paradise, I know I'm gonna shine

You've all been asleep,
You would not believe me!
Them voices telling me,
You will soon receive me!
We're standing on the beach,
The sea will part before me
(Fire wheel burning in the air)
And you will follow me,
And we will ride to glory
(Way up the middle of the air)

And I'll call down thunder
And speak the same !
And my word fills the sky with flame!
And might and glory gonna be my name, MY NAME!
And men gonna light my way!!

[insert insanely hot, 5 minute, face-shredding jam here]

My time coming, anyday, don't worry bout me, no
It's gonna be just like they say, them voices tell me so
Seems so long I felt this way and time sure passin slow
My time coming, anyday, don't worry about me, no ...

Can you see why "Estimated Prophet" inspired me to move to California?