Tis the season...

ornamental goards
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

It seems as though one can not properly decorate for the Autumn Holidays without investing in (as Thor would say) a croaker sack full of these little darlings: The Ornamental Gourds. Yup, although the name makes one reminisce about a sixties rock band, they add a quirky touch to any piano top or mantle.

These come in a nice little bag (Thor would approve), at least 16 they promise, for $4.99. I noticed at the grocery store they were being sold for .99 a piece. (doing the math in my head, this would save S'mee about $10.00, right?)

small pumpkins
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

Along side any proper Martha Stewart Autumnal Display would have to be the ever popular tiny pumpkin! Also on sale at the grocery for $1.00 per pumpkin, I found these bagged in red mesh and selling for $5.79 -with a quote of "at least 15 per bag". Again quite a savings if you can use all 15. Hey they're small. And if you can't find a place for one more tiny pumpkin, you're just not trying hard enough!

"oy" to the world!

oy!
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

O.k. on what planet would you ever need this soup tureen? If they were giving one of these away free with any purchase, I think I would still need to pass. It cracks me up to just look at the thing.

White platters
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

(per Chronicler's suggestion: PLEASE, please do not buy this thinking you can take your low cal dish in it to the December Weight Watcher's Christmas Potluck!)

These on the other hand, S'mee thinks are quite lovely! And at $19.79 for the two of them, a good bargain as well. The larger of the two is big enough to handle a larger turkey and the smaller would compliment roasted veggies or perhaps a terrific Christmas Goose. YUM!

White serving dishes
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

For an additional $19.00 you can purchase the THREE matching serving dishes for all sorts of side dishes. White with molded leaf design they will match pretty much any theme and show off the food also. Very nice.

oh sweet mercy

oh sweet mercy
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

I admit to being 47 years old and feeling somehow like, "dang it, it's time to be a grown-up and have some real sheets." When I saw these 500 thread count Egyptian Cotton Cal King sheets for $69.00 I just about did a back flip. Now visualize it with me (I'll give you a minute to see me in all my gravitorially gifted wonderfullness actually getting high off the concrete floor whilst whooping with delight). OH SWEET MERCY! S'mee is definitely putting these down on her wish list! They come in CalKing, King, Queen and full; white, sage, butter, wheat, and a nice foggy blue. mmm mm mmm mmm mmmmmmm! Come to momma!

un-freeking-believable
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

Now a dream come true for all you crafters and those connoisseurs of fine ribbon... Feast your eyes on these babies. 50 yards of one, one and a half, and even two inch wide wire edged ribbon for $7.99! I can recommend these ribbons as I have purchased them for years! They come out in the fall and spring and trust me when I say they are gorgeous and fabulous to work with. I was at a popular nation wide craft store where I saw identical ribbon in spools of five yards for $7.99 -$12.99 depending on the width. This is crazy good. My niece buys them and easily removes the wire edging so that she can use them for other items that do not require a stiff, stay put edge. Smart cookie, that one! I also like to suggest that you think ahead to future weddings, or other gifts that you may need to wrapduring the coming year. There are plenty of generic ribbons that will do nicely on top of Dad's birthday gift.

$1.00 a pair
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

For those of you who utilize craft scissors with fancy edges, these are the "new" models for the season. 20 "long and wide" scissors in each set (thinking there are two sets to choose from making a total of 40 different edges). The set of 20 comes packaged in a turning carry-all made of wood. All for about $1.00 per scissor at $19.99 for the set with carrier. Not bad. Know any scrapbookers out there? Here's a cheap way to get their expensive scissors for them.

Christmas Dinner
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

Last but not least are Christmas Dinner Ware. This service for four comes with dinner plate, luncheon plate, a (very cool) soup/salad flat bowl and cup with saucer. Four different designs as well. A Santa in sleigh, polar bear with cubs, reindeer, and snow man. All the designs are definitely categorized under "cute". $44.99 NO! I GOOFED! The box service for four is $39.99 for the set.

If Gramma weren't already gone...

things that make you go "hmmm..."
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

This would kill her! Yesterday I followed my sister's advice and took my camera along on a trip to a Big Box store we all know and love for photo documentation of the pre-holiday temptations offered up for this year's celebrations.

I will begin with what would have surely caused my Gramma a heart attack. As I walked in the store, this display was number three on the isle (coincidentally, the third item you see is usually the one most folks purchase). When I first saw it I was immediately attracted to the "spa" items. It's all the rage right? We are all trying to get that "spa" feeling in our bathrooms. Something to help us de-stress and relax after the days routine. You know, those special imported oils and the waffle weave robes with terry slippers. This chrome rack had 3 large bottles filled with different bath oils, the lower rack contains 4 body oils and 3 bottles of sea salts for the bath. All different "flavors". (who came up with that? "flavors" imply the sense of taste, not smell.) Why would gramma object to rest and relaxing oils? Well, because to give those essential oils there "spa" like appearance and appeal to today's market, they have added tiny little twigs, branches, leaves and yes, pebbles into the jars and bottles. She would have freaked. "Aren't they supposed to strain all of those things out of the oils before you buy them?"

file under:"Who are we trying to kid here?"
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

Here's another thing that would have driven her off the proverbial cliff: French. The "spa" in a basket in the photo you will notice the very French CruDeProvence packaging, suggesting that it is from the Provence region in France which, of course is anything better than you could purchase here in the states. Each of the labels in this basket is written entirely in French; except the back label. The back label (which was too tiny to photograph and read) gave all the information of ingredients and where it was produced (China, known for it's spas and herbal wraps) and the base company distribution center (Fullerton, CA; known for it's ..., um, well, hmmm. Well I am not sure what Fullerton is known for.) Gramma would be upset. She was nothing if not patriotic and "what, pray tell, is the matter with the English language any way? You want soap from France? Move there!"

isn't it ironic....
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

And now, something for my friends who live in the great state of Utah: Fireplaces in a box! I just think it's kind of humorous that I live in the desert, with temperatures that range in the high 40's to the higher 110's and we get, hmm, maybe an inch of snow one day a year and you absolutely can not find a dwelling in our town, -apartment, condo, house or mansion- without at least one full working wood burning fireplace.

However, for the folks who live in 80% of the dwellings in Utah where it begins to snow 3 weeks before Halloween and continues at whim until Easter, well no such luck. You got a heater and that's all you need. It was explained to me as an environmental issue, which again I am at a loss to find logic in . California is known for it's granola eating tree huggers, solar and wind generation, and flex your power demi-gods; while Utah is pretty o.k. with allowing whoever to decide what is and is not environmentally sound. Go figure.

Just in case you don't have enough fire places in your home you can get -not one, but two!- for $499.00. Just plug them in, no wood actually needed!

Pink M&Ms!

Pink M&M's!
Originally uploaded by gluoma.

It was time for bed, so she began the routine. Went to the bedroom, got undressed and took her shower. As she stepped out of the shower her husband noticed the look on her face and asked what was wrong. "I think I found a lump on my breast under my arm, but I'm not sure."

She was diligent. Every month on her birth date she would give herself all the required self exams to ensure that she would never be the one who found anything amiss. Somehow in her head she felt like if she never missed an exam she would never really need one. Did that make sense? No, not really, but it was a superstition of hers. "Be prepared and you'll never have an emergency" type of thinking. But this time it wasn't working. She knew it, her husband knew it and the first thing the next morning the doctors knew it.

Luckily she had the kind of insurance that allowed her the luxury of a professional and complete exam the very next day. She went in, sat in the waiting room and convinced herself that she was just silly, over thinking or perhaps even just feeling something that was normal and she had missed previously. It was her turn and she went in.

The doctor did his exam. He consulted another doctor. She did her exam. Both of them looked straight at her and told her the nurse was scheduling a mammogram and that she would go down stairs, get the mammogram, wait for the results and bring them back up stairs for evaluation. "This is it.", she thought. "This isn't just me, they feel it too." Her heart sank a bit. She wanted to call her husband; but this was before cell phones and he was at work anyway. How could they talk? "It will be o.k.", She told herself.

She went in, had the mammogram, and waited. All the way back up stairs she wished she knew what she was looking for as she looked at the film of her breasts. She went in and the doctors looked and searched, mumbled something to each other and then came back over to her. "We're going to go ahead and take a needle biopsy. There are a few spots on both of your breasts, in several different places that we are concerned about. The biopsy will help us determine which direction we need to go." She was stunned, but o.k. "I can handle this. It's going to be o.k.", she kept repeating in her head. She actually felt calm inside.

She laid down and the doctor took a small needle and over and over again drew samples of her to be taken to a lab. After the third poke she began to cry. Not loud and weepy, just the tears came without warning or control. Just a few, and it bothered her that she was this upset. Inside she thought she was o.k. It was like her body couldn't take the idea of it all. There wasn't any pain, there wasn't any evidence to suggest anything really "wrong" yet and still the tiny little stream of tears flowed down her cheeks. "This is really stupid." she told the doctor. "No, no, believe it or not this happens all the time. It's a release. It's o.k." "But I'm not scared or anything. It doesn't hurt. It's just..." "Weird.", the doctor interrupted. "Yeah. I feel really stupid." "It's o.k. It's your body and we're invading it with all kinds of terrible news right now. But it will be o.k. You're doing fine. Just a few more."

The tests came back inconclusive. "You'll need to recheck every three months." It seems there were three good sized lumps, "baby-pea size" under the right arm in the breast tissue, and five others in the left breast that she had missed completely. Smaller than the others, but still there. They would check every three months to see if the lumps would grow. The cells weren't normal, but they didn't look cancerous either. "My luck, even my cells aren't normal." she thought. She went in faithfully every three months for two years, then every six months, and now faithfully once a year.

That's S'mee. I always have told myself that if it did happen I would handle it this way and that. But when I had to get real about it -all the planning flew out the window on wings of fear and dread. I am the girl with the abnormal cells. I am the girl with very good luck. I got myself off (most) caffeine and I stay diligent.

There are many people for whom luck isn't an option. And lest we think this can only happen to the gals, think again. It is called breast cancer, not female breast cancer. I have a dear friend who went through the whole male end of this and there were all kinds of emotions that came along with a disease that is primarily focused on one gender, and it wasn't his. He also took the Big C by the horns and did what needed to be done. My sister in law lost her mother to this disease and then twenty years later both of her breasts. They need your support along with millions of others.

This month M&M Mars is promoting pink M&Ms. Donations from every purchase will go directly to the Susan J. Komen Cancer Research fund. Go grab some pink deliciousness and enjoy helping a good cause.

Mac Daddy gettin' all shizzle on the blogizzle

Hey, has anyone but me noticed that the squiggly words they give you in the comments thingy are very similar to real words? Perhaps it is the lean I have towards the dislexic, but this morning, for instance, one of the letter combinations looked almost like "chizzle"; which isn't really a word unless you are a coolio rap guy. The other day I had one that looked like it was trying to spell out "jo-monkey". Or the one that was "pasta".

Granted they never really spell anything, it's just like they are in code for those of us who have nothing better to do then try and figure out if the computer program has a sence of humour.

So for now, as they say in the comments verification: "Meshack" has to go. I need to make some "jello" or my dessert tonight won't be "le-git"!

contrast

vegas
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

Here we are in beautiful downtown Vegas! Isn't it pretty? Isn't it wonderful? Isn't just amazing how they can replicate just about anything? Isn't glitzy and glamorous? Talk about a tribute to man's imagination and engineering skills!

Take most of the world's ideas of luxury, success and achievement and doll it all up into one terrific street of decadence and indulgence! Sin city just keeps getting better and better!

Las Vegas Temple, LDS
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

Here we are on the beautiful grounds of the temple. It is beuatiful. It is wonderful. It is amazing how God can teach us how to become more like Him. It is glorious! It is a tribute to God and all He has created in this universe.

Take all of ideas of wealth and success and know that God has promised all He has to us if we will be obedient to His plan of happiness. Our joy will be complete for the eternities.

The Angel Moroni
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

Just by looking at the photographs, one can see the real beauty. The rich pure colours of the temple grounds as opposed to the gray and brown "luxury" hotels of man.

what a view
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

The contrast is clear. The photo of this city view was the one from our "Paris" hotel window on the 25th floor. A very nice room with a spectacular view. In the center of the picture, at the point where the flat land meets the mountains is where the temple sits. From our hotel room we could see it and make it out. The spires of the temple were clear and discernible. To see them in this photo you must focus in and enlarge the photo at the specific place in the distance. It's hard to see, and in fact when you enlarge the photo the spires are still too blurry for a clear understanding of what you are looking at unless you already know.

It's a good analogy I think. This life all the glizt and facades are right here in our face, up close and tempting with gold leafed good times and promises of riches. The truth however is that most who indulge are left with less; and the facades promise nothing that isn't destroyed easily, usually within ten years to build another louder and shinier version of the same old "promise".

If we want things that endure, that guarantee true happiness and value we need to focus -hard- on the things that may seem far off and blurry. Beyond the gold and past the promises of man. The things that only the temple of the Lord can truly promise us. He cannot lie.

It will never happen to S'mee....

Plane Crash I, July 25, 2004 - Fort Collins, Colorado
Originally uploaded by gregor_y.

Almost twenty some years ago I was driving down a city street to deliver my sis in law back to her home with her kids. My minivan was packed to the gills with all of my kids, her kids and it had been a long day. As I drove, I saw ahead of me in the sky a small plane. It was dipping and tilting and I pointed it out to my sis in law just in time to see it completely lose control and dive into the local fair grounds' largest building, exploding on impact and killing the two passengers. Luckily, the building had just been emptied and no one was inside.

This has left a huge imprint on S'mee's little brain. Planes aren't all that fun if they get into trouble.

S'mee's sis in law (yes, another one) left from Vegas this afternoon with her little girl for CA. Her hubby needs to stay and she needed to get home so a short 45 minute hop seemed logical. She left and was expected to arrive sometime around 3:00. Her hubby called me about 7:30 to tell me that she didn't land on time. In fact she had been delayed due to "wing flap failure". Her plane had to circle the airport until fuel was spent so that it could land without benefit of wing flaps, making the landing "very fast". Sis in law reports that all is well, but after seeing the fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles and personnel waiting for them, it was less than fun for their first flight.

This is my nightmare. I can only imagine what goes through one's head when faced with circling for two plus hours...and what do you say to your little girl?

Holy COW! Tonight's prayers will be a tad longer!

Carlton's log, Elvis leaves the building...

I got up this morning and went out for a couple of errands. The idea was to grab the sis in law and head out for all kinds of visits. This didn't happen. So a change of plans and I went across the drive way to the Aladdin and got a hot chocolate and sketched a bit while I waited for Hilo Hattie's to open up. I bought a pair of rubber sandals last week, but grabbed the wrong size, so I needed to exchange them. After the exchange I thought, "hmmm, there's a Sur La Table right there!" so of course I had to go in and drool.

While I was in there a really nice future chef (Yo hommie G!) "G" showed me all kinds of tempting goodies (Hey Chronicler, have you seen their new porcelain line?). I have to say this guy was like Satan, just about the time I resisted this way cool baking dish he turned my head with cute little personal butter bells! After that there were amazing "Martha" coloured dinnerware that was displayed along side sea urchin candle tea lights (that S'mee has resisted for just about long enough). The colour combination is just about enough to entice S'mee into a whole house colour redo. (did I mention we finished painting the house a year ago?) YIKES! Thanks G, I am a dead woman.

Luckily for S'mee, purchasing was halted with a text message and I needed to leave the store sooner than I thought. grrr.

I met with Thor for lunch and then headed out to drop off artwork for my niece. A nice visit there and then off to a book store, bridal boutique (FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON, just looking to kill the cat as it were), and a poke into a paper goods store. I need to tell you, between the dishes and the paper, S'mee showed incredible sales resistance today! (I need chocolate)

Thor's business equal from another region invited us over to dinner with "his guys" so we jumped at the opportunity to eat well. We went to P.F. Chang (again, how sad) and had a terrific meal. (because we are in Paris, we had "Fraunch dressing, Fraunch bread, Fraunch fries, and to drink...Peru!")

The walk home was short, but nice. We saw the last two poofs of the water dance at the Bellagio. Interesting side note: Way back in the day, our little family was less than "in the money". So to add to the income we all would sit around at night and assemble small (tiny) pistons with a very tiny rubber ring. We were paid by the piece and so we assembled thousands of them! At the time we knew the pistons would be going into a huge water fountain in Vegas, a Hotel that was going to choreograph the fountain to music. It seems Thor, the kids and I helped, in a small way, to build what is now the huge water dance that stops traffic and is one of the few beautiful things in Las Vegas. If you are ever at the Sultan of Brunei's palace, we did work there also. : >

the next phase...Carlton's log

Eiffel Tower
Originally uploaded by Adrasteia9.

I love Paris in, well, France would be great, but our next stop and conference is across Las Vegas Boulevard at the Paris Hotel - Las Vegas.

This is the poor man's version of "Passport to Europe with Samantha Brown". Come, cross zee pond - um zee boulevard, vis S'mee as vee vaux Jacques Cousteau and gets al Fraunch!

Yeah, O.k. so I have a lousy French accent, what do you want for your trip to Vegas? It's been a weekend, let me tell you! Saturday we watched conference and after the last session went to a wedding. It was particularly sad because it was two of my seminary students doing the whole "till death do you part" commitments. I can say I am not surprised, not much example on either side of their families, but it was so sad to hear those words. And as long as I am on this wedding, what struck me most deeply was the lack of blessings for the new couple being civilly married as opposed to the ones we receive in the temple.

After conference on Sunday we again went to a wedding. This time for one of Thor's associates at work. The bride had been married before and had two or three little ones and the groom, I think this was his first. It was in a beautiful setting with all the expected t.v. type wedding things. Flower girls and ring bearer, a couple of brides maids and the goofy best man with an even goofier toast. They had a garden reception and dinner with dancing.

This reception had something for everyone. Drinks for the drinkers, food for the eaters, and for the kids? Well, they had their own little bar and food selections, and to keep them occupied colouring books and crayons. I thought that was a great idea and it did what it was intended to do.

Still sad though, even if they aren't members...maybe someday.

Thor and I got on the road late, and by the time we hit state line we had seen enough crazy drivers for any trip. One particular driver had his/her own personal police escort and another had several police escorts, in CA this is known as the slow speed chase and I am wondering if it got the coverage these things normally do. There was plenty of "escorts" following the small sports car with the headlights out.

Half way between Jean and Vegas we crawled along at about 5 mph for about five miles. The big deal was someone receiving a ticket on the right. Can I tell you this is one of S'mee's pet peeves. Hello folks, the cop is too busy with the guy at the side of the road to stop and give you a ticket as well. grrrr.

We checked in and got to the room about 12:30. Nice room, large bathroom, steam shower a plus, and a teen-einsie view of the temple....WHAHOO!

faery tales can come true

When #3 was in fourth grade her teacher gave the class an assignment: "What I want to be when I grow up." A paper that would research careers, the need for those professions, the method of becoming the profession- i.e college, apprentice, artisan, etc., and a back up plan for a second career with the above justifications as well.

#3 wrote her essay. Choice one: Prima Ballerina. She researched several dance studios and found out they all had the same opinion: "Art Saves Lives!" A campaign that was just beginning during that time, also the same time when fine arts were being dismissed from school curriculum in favor of other more "serious" subjects, like computers. The need? Culture and the fine arts are necessary to any successful nation. She would take classes until she was old enough to audition for a national company and then as she grew out of her prime she could either teach or choreograph. (by the age of eight she had auditioned and was in a professional company, hand picked by the Canadian Royal Ballet's Choreographer.)

Second choice, the backup: Good Faery. Her research had been from birth. When a baby is born a good faery goes to the baby and kisses him or her. This is a special blessing that makes the baby sweet and nice and good all their life. The need? Well this was pretty obvious. There were plenty of mean people in the world and so there must not be enough good faeries to kiss all the babies in time. She felt confident that she could learn to fly and kissing babies would not only be fun, healthy exercise, and cool, but a good overall thing to help the world out. A noble and selfless calling as it were. She searched and searched but she couldn't find a college for faeries, but she knew she would some day.

As she grew older she came to understand that becoming a good faery might not work out for her. She began to look into other careers. There was a brief stint in fashion design and art school. Then after much study, fasting and prayer she decided on becoming a Dental Hygienist. Her search for colleges began. Believe it or not she actually found a school that nicknamed them selves "Tooth Faery Tech" She knew it was a done deal. She could be both a D.H. and at last a Good Faery!

She served a mission, worked and saved and as of today she is on her way to becoming what she has been destined to do. She came home happy and content, lugging a huge hard rolling cabinet of tools and instruments, and an equally heavy rolling luggage pack full of books. She informed us she has already pulled her neck getting them in and out of the car, but she is very happy. So are we. After she graduates she plans on working in an office. But she also plans on designing a uniform complete with gossamer wings, so that she can work with little ones and help them smile prettier.

I am very thankful to whatever Good Faery kissed her. She turned out pretty good and now she wants to return the favour.

Carlton's log - day three

Well we headed for home this afternoon and wahoo! we're here! It's always nice to get back home and sleep in your own bed!

I am SOOOOO looking forward to conference tomorrow, what a difference in attention that will be! (Getting hair chopped off in between sessions.) Then after the last session we have a wedding. After Sunday's last session we head back to Vegas for another conference, this time at the Paris.

Paris is quite pretty, but by far (in my opinion) the most smoky of all the hotels. So I will be out and about. Sis in law will be there with her hubby also and so we will hit the other (Thor has many siblings...hahah) sis in law for another visit. After that I am not too sure where to go. My niece has given me an art assignment (working on tonight!), so there will be a drop off of the work and some more chatting. Fun!

A temple trip again on the agenda and probably figuring out something else to do. Any suggestions will be appreciated! Thor has meetings all day and bin'nuss at night, so from about 8-5 I am the wandering nomad of the desert!

Carlton's log: day 2 in Vegas

O.k. So today I dropped Thor off at his meeting and headed out to meet my sister in law and see their new digs. Brother in law is a FBI Agent (yeah, so don't mess with S'mee), but outta town on TOP SECRET stuff. Well maybe not top secret, but it sounds better.

She gave me directions and I headed out, and out some more and then took a left and a right and drove for about 30 or so minutes (at 80mph thanks you very much) and finally got to where they live. I had NO IDEA Las Vegas was like a zillion square miles. They actually live in a little part of "Vegas" that looks like normal home town neighborhoods. Lawns and curbs and normal traffic, no signs, no neon, weird Vegas. Nice Vegas, who knew? (evidently the FBI knew... but then again, they know everything.)

We had a great chat while her first kid was at school, second sat under a table (for 2 hours) and the baby sat in my lap grinning at this crazy "new" lady. We discussed the usual stuff, paint, grass, what to do with the dog doo while her hubby is out of town. It was cool. Normally when I meet with this s-i-l it is a family event and there are about 35 other people there and you never really get an opportunity to sit uninterrupted for 2 and 3 hours with just one person.

Thor and I met with a co-worker and had dinner at P.F.Chang's and a nice conversation also. The main topic was the co-workers new washer and dryer, and how now everyone wishes they had one just like it...although I can't see Thor and I ever paying close to $3,500.00 to wash and dry clothes, however efficient. He had a pretty good time telling us all the gory details and yeah, I wish I could pull jeans out of the washer almost dry, grr, but well why buy a dryer then?

Phone calls to all the kids and a quiet night watching Thor's "Smallville".

Monaco?

Casinò
Originally uploaded by Delizia.

Thor's company has sent him to Monte Carlo for a seminar! Unfortunately it is not the Monte Carlo in Monaco, but rather the one in Las Vegas. Ugh.

I think I am perhaps, the only person in the world who truly despises Las Vegas. But getting away is getting away and so a free hotel room is tempting. Thor's company pays for the room and travel expenses for him to get there and he gets a food account. S'mee rides in the car for free and, because we took S'mee's car instead of the company car, I can drive around town if I want to. I pay for my side of the meals and whatever I use/do and so it all comes out pretty cheap. The problem is that it is still Vegas and the cheese factor is always there.

We have a lovely room on the 28th floor, overlooking the "strip", with all the lights, etc, it is pretty to see it glitter at night; although it still can't hide the funk underneath it all; nor the less than family appropriate advertising from the larger than giant screen t.v.s in front of the other hotels. Nothing says, "RUN! Run for your mortal souls!!!" like 50 foot an air brushed, plasticized, and silicone filled 23 year old show girl showing her buns via a sequin thong, dancing and encouraging you to get all the pleasure you can. I need to be steam cleaned. Speaking of cleaning, we have only been here about 28 hours and I have already washed my hair three times. It looks somewhat like Whitney Houston's fro during that nasty "cocaine" episode of hers in the late 90's. Hopefully I can get my doctor to prescribe a nicotine patch when I get home, the second hand smoke is killing me.

Our window opens up about two inches, I assume so that when the patrons lose their fortunes they don't jump out in a fit of depression. When Thor opens the window we get a distinct aroma - of all things- mac and cheese. If you look downward, directly below our room is the roof top of the front portion of the hotel. I thought at first that it was a parking structure or some such, but after the constant climb of macaroni fumes, I now think we must be over the all you can eat buffet.

We drove out to dinner tonight and then down the strip to see all the sparkle. There is a new hotel, supposedly "the biggest, the best, the most luxurious" yada yada yada. To me it is sad. This is what this man perceives as the best of everything. This is as good as it gets. For him, probably, it will be.

This morning however, I was surprised to hear from my niece, who invited me to join she and her sister for the day and visit. It was very fun. They live out of the city in a smaller community away from all the "stuff". I can tell that these two gals don't associate too much with, nor venture too close into their more notable city neighbor. They have somehow remained sweet in this bazaar world. Giggly children, happy babies and lots of family photos on the walls of each of their homes. Not too much glitz and "glamour", but it seemed to me to be as good as it gets in this world and with an eternal promise for even better as time goes on.

"Fred's Dead, Baby"

"Fred's Dead, Baby"
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

In the "spirit" of Halloween, I spent the afternoon in quiet solitude and carved up some fun! The undertaking? Tombstones!

This is the first of the new tombstones for this year. This one is 24" wide by 16" high and is made from 1" thick foam board insulation that comes in a variety of sizes. I chose the 4'x8' sheets. About $12.00 out the door and into the minivan.

tombstone tutorial
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

If you are like S'mee, you will need to have the guys on the floor cut it into 2 pieces for you (so it can fit in your vehicle). As you can see in the photo, there are indeed "lines" that one could follow -if they wished to do so- the guys I was working with at the time were less than cooperative and decided to "freehand" it on the totally white side without marks and guidelines. UGH! and GRRR!

Make sure you stress the first cut along the lines, otherwise, like S'mee, you will lose one inch, or more, when they cut it diagonally. again UGH!

the front porch

sweet alyssum
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

I have to tell you that lately, just walking out onto the porch in the morning makes me very happy!

We live on a little half acre that is comprised of lousy soil. Hey, it's the desert and I don't expect too much. Our "top soil" is 1 1/2 inches deep of sand with the layer underneath being clay. Hard, solid clay. Lots of pebbles, small rocks and weird bugs, ants and cute bunnies that grown into jack rabbits.

The wind blows pretty much everyday, water is scarce, and unless you treat the soil (read: totally add new top soil with literally tons of new soil and fertilizers) not too much grows. Not even weeds on our little parcel.

Every year I sacrifice to the plant gods, throwing about $50.00 or so into the dirt and pray something pops up. I have treated tiny sections over the years, adding fertilizers, garden soil, all kinds of potions and homemade remedies from many different resources. My only success has been alyssum. I planted it the year we moved in and it flourished and reseeds itself and blooms all year. In the heat of the day the perfume is amazing and wafts into the house. yum.

There have been other successes on a strict on year time line - sunflowers, desert blooming succulents, marigolds, etc. but the only mainstay is my sweet alyssum.

Last year I took a chance and planted a wysteria up along side the post near the front door. It didn't die, but it didn't really take off either. #1 brought his puppy over during Thanksgiving and he ate the wysteria down to a nubbin. The nubbin grew pretty well over spring and now we have a "nice" little vine growing up the side of the post.

The week #5 graduated I also through some Morning glories into the ground near the other post on the porch. They took off and now cover the entire post on all sides and up to the roof. Every morning they bloom and it takes my breath away to see actual flowers growing right there on my sandy old dirt!

morning glory
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

the front porch
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

It may not look like much to you, but I just get a smile looking at it! If you look closely you can see the sand and river rocks. I have a few palms in pots that are getting new fronds (YES!) and mixed in with the alyssum is some mondo grass, one lonely little survivor from a pack of flowers I now forget the name of, and a few sprigs of rosemary. There a few more palms awaiting ground planting and the locust tree in the rear.

Poor mr. locust will be rooted out as he has a fondness for the septic system and needs to be relocated. Palms will take his place and then the rest of the property might have a chance to grab a few live plants. We are aiming to xeroscape because of the desert conditions, so there will be plenty of pathways, patios and only minimal plants that cannot thrive in drought conditions.

The desert environment and ecosystem has changed dramatically since we moved here 25 years ago. Now city folk have moved up, planted every imaginable plant and watered the hooie out of them. Putting in pools and water scapes also adds to the humidity and eventually will add to even more drought conditions as the air will push any and all clouds to the east and dump the water further out. This is happening already and it's sad.

I admit that if I were wealthy and had the wherewithal I too would have a pool, expansive lawns and lots of trees to try and keep the house shaded in this unbelievable heat. Inside though, I would still feel guilty, because I know better what the desert needs to remain healthy, and it ain't man made humidity and water. It does best on what Ma Nature provides.

Boy gets hit by Fire Truck!

pinata
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

Today was the family surprise party for #1 given by his wife at their home. After a fine lunch, chatting, stories and a dip in the pool we all headed out side to watch the babies take a whack at the fire truck pinata.

There's just something odd about this tradition that I will never understand. Blindfold a bunch of little kids. Spin them until they are dizzy. Give them a hard bat of some kind. Allow them to whack away at anything they can find!

The three little ones involved today topped out at 3, 2 and 18 months. The tool of destruction was a rather small broom handle and if the truth be told, most of the whacking came from daddies.

This picture is my grand baby, the middle of pecking order for age, but the only BOY! You could tell he knew what to do with that broom handle. He gave a few good whacks, but not much happened. I love this picture because it looks as if he has managed to whack the pinata right over his head and onto his body. Not really so, just perfectly in front of his body making a pretty good photo illusion.

It cracks me up every time I look at it.

He's Hot!

fire fighter
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

As of September 18 our #1 is an official Fire Fighter! He has gone through the riggers and tests and has earned the right to remove the green "rookie" tape he had to wear on his helmet during probation.

His Captain and crew at the "Big House" threw him a terrific surprise party, complete with amazing barbecue and a tour of the fire house. Just before we were to sit down and enjoy dinner the call rang out and #1 and his crew were in the engine and off to a traffic collision. The Cap' invited his wife along for the ride and to see her hubby in action, which was pretty cool. The rest of us stayed behind and soon we were all digging into fabulous fire house food!

The evening culminated with the removal of the green tape, a small speech and presentation of a plaque, and the "top honour"- the handing over of a remote for the t.v. and being allowed to actually sit in the t.v. room. It didn't last long and they were off to another call.

Here's to the new guy in the Big House! Congratulations, we sure are proud of you!

rain at disneyland

rain at disneyland
Originally uploaded by S'mee.

Proof that it rained like crazy the day we went to "dinneylan". Proof that I actually have a grandson. Proof that he's a "Fun Gi".

I'm moving to Denver

dumb
Originally uploaded by The Fabulous Life of a Cricker Flickr.

It's official!

Now just yesterday I had a long conversation with Chronicler. She advised me to rethink the way I portray myself to others... The whole "You shouldn't go around telling people you're dumb..." good sister stuff.

Then I have to call her back to reload my page, like 4 times! After the hard stuff was done, all I had to do was put in the information. Point and click a zillion times.

Seems I should have caught on earlier that perhaps saving each section right after adding it would save me having to rewrite each section after it would get "mysteriously" deleted. But success! It is finished.

Only problem now is that the side bar, which does have nice little diamonds (thanks for noticing Lisa! : > ) is crooked. Yup, check it out. I don't know why and I don't know how to fix it, but right after "think links" they move one space to the right with each new section. That's weird! If I could fix it I would make them all go over to the right, I think it looks better towards the bottom where they are all closer to that right edge. ( I'm still sleepy) Oh and I somehow made it impossible for S'mee to use her own comments box! hahaha! So it's back to the drawing board.

(where's Johnna?)