Round Robin Challenge: Tiny Things

"Sometimes you can tell a large story, with a tiny subject."

-Eliot Porter

My Round Robin teammate Karen, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin, chose one of her own ideas for this round, "Tiny Things." I looked through my archived photos for this challenge, because I know I have a habit of seeing wee things here and there when I am out with the camera. It must be because of my height, 4' 11, I guess I just see the tiny things more readily or something... who knows? Anyway, here is my contribution to the theme, Tiny Things...

A Tiny Clown With Her Mother

Tiny Flowers With A Large Bumble Bee

A Tiny Skipper Butterfly

Tiny Red Sugar Sprinkles On A Homemade Sugar Cookie

Tiny Autumn Leaves

Tiny Gas Prices, And In San Francisco Yet! ;)

My Favorite One... A Tiny After Lunch Reading! I am Kicking The Butt Of Diabetes... And Taking No Prisoners!! :)

I had a bowl of Creamy Tomato soup, a turkey sandwich w/ extra mayonnaise and cranberries, a slice of Fruits of the Forest pie, and a 100 calorie Coke Classic! Can you believe my reading? Slowly, my diabetes has been getting better, especially since Elvis has been sick. I think the extra time spent with him has actually enhanced my own health. He is such a fun cat. We love each other a lot, and when we spend time together, it makes us happier and healthier, and if Alan can join us, it's just that much better. It just proves that it's the little things... maybe even the TINY things that make life good. Tiny is good! :)

If you have an idea for an upcoming Round Robin challenge, feel free to send us an email. You can find all our contact information on the sidebar of the RRC blog. You can also find a complete list of past challenge topics, going all the way back to our first challenge three years ago! So sing out, we can't do the challenges without you! Now go see what this week's participating Robins have come up with, just follow the links below...

Linking List

Karen... Outpost Mavarin
POSTED!

Carly... Ellipsis
POSTED!

Momma... Sandcastle Momma
POSTED!

Vicki... Maraca
POSTED!

Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
POSTED!

Peter... Holties House
POSTED!

Robinella... Not A Stepford Wife
POSTED!

Janet... Fond Of Snape
POSTED!

Martha... Perception


Jill... Letting Crazy Take A Spin
POSTED!

Lisa... Lisa's Chaos


Jama Hameed... A Moment In Time
POSTED!

Jennifer Robin... Robin's Woods
POSTED!

Suzanne R... Living... Suzanne R's Life
POSTED!

Jan... The Prytz Family
POSTED!

Olive... Ur Olive**Welcome New Member**
POSTED!

Maryt... Answers To The Questions**Welcome New Member**
POSTED!

Gina... Gina's Space
POSTED!

Steven... sometimes photoblog
POSTED!

Monica & Sonny... Family Affair Photography
POSTED!

Kiva... Eclectic Granny
POSTED!

Wammy... The Ellis Family Cincinnati
POSTED!

Ronda... 4 Family Fun**Welcome New Member**
POSTED!

-OndineMonet

Alan Will Do Anything To Avoid Seeing Sex And The City!

"Man blames fate for other accidents but feels personally responsible when he makes a hole in one."

-Unknown

As the title of this entry says, Alan will do anything to avoid seeing the new movie, Sex And The City. I have been asking, pleading, and subtly hinting at him for weeks, that I wanted him to take me to see the movie on it's opening day, which was yesterday. When I would ask however, he would change the subject. He would kiss me, pet the cat, make himself tomato soup, turn the channel on the TV to CNN, clean the grill, make Jalapeno Poppers, go out for sushi, all of these things and more, rather than commit to seeing the ultimate chick flick that is Sex And The City. Funny thing, I seem to remember that when I watched the show, when it aired originally on HBO, Alan would sit and laugh, and gaze at Kim Cattralls BOOBs and sometimes join me in a little outrage as one, or more of the men, especially Mr. Big, did something... well... jerky! I mean even Alan knew Aiden was a creep for breaking up with Carrie on a Post-It note! LOL.

I think I knew that going to the movie was a long shot, but even yesterday I held out a little hope until Alan pulled out all the stops to avoid going. He dropped a crescent wrench on his head! LOL. Ok, well, that isn't really accurate, it wasn't really self inflicted, it fell on the top of his head in a freak accident in the garage, but man, the timing couldn't have been better. Alan had called me earlier in the day, and relayed that he wasn't having the best of days, so I told him to just come home after work, and we would have a quiet evening. No biggie. On his way in, he stopped in the garage to see if there was room to hang a bike holder, and that is when it happened. He thought he had put the wrench on the shelf, but he had missed it by that much!

"Carly, don't make a big deal out of it... I think I hurt my head a little bit," he says. "Alan, you need to go get that looked at." "No, nope... it's not that bad." "Yes, yes it is Alan." After a few minutes of heated debate, I grabbed my camera and photographed the top of his head. " Well crap! Ok Carly, call the doctor." LOL. And within 20 minutes we were on our way. He was right, it looked a whole lot worse then it was. No stitches needed, not tetanus shot needed, and we were home in a few hours with a Chinese food and root beer feast. :) I missed the movie opening, but Alan is well, and that makes me happy. Besides I can see the movie anytime this summer, and in 6 months or so it will premiere on HBO. I'll ask him to watch it with me then... except I will hide all the wrenches! LOL.

-OndineMonet
"Alan At The Hospital"
Kaiser Hospital
Oakland, California
May 29, 2008
Late Afternoon

Suspension Folk Provides Shock Absorbing Comfort

"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the human race."

-H.G. Wells

In an effort to save money, and do our share to help out the planet, Alan and I have decided to get bicycles. After a good bit of research, we think we have found the ones for us. The Roadmaster SX Mountain Sport, in 24 inch for me, and 26 inch for Alan, and in his and hers models of pink and blue! LOL. I haven't actually ridden a bike in oh... say... 25 years or so, so this whole experiment is going to surely have some moments of hilarity to be sure. But I have heard my whole life that once you learn how to ride a bike, you never forget! LOL. Soon, I will be testing that theory... and I will be sure to report back to you! LOL.

At the moment, I am not doing much moving, as I hurt my lower right side the other day. I am hurting a little worse today, then I did yesterday, so I am thinking a call to the doctor might be in order. Sheesh. I am not even sure how this happened, but it reminds me of the time I did some damage to my rotator cuff, while unpacking Christmas decorations a couple years ago. We have been having some unseasonably cool weather, which the cat is enjoying, but which makes his mommy a lump of slow moving pain. LOL. Oh well, what's a girl to do?

Well, here's the thing. I need to get more exercise then I do. I love to walk, but when it is this cold, I ache, which makes walking nearly impossible. I am hoping that as the weather will be certainly warming up as we get closer to summer, I will take advantage of the bike, and give my legs the workout they have been needing. I loved riding a bike as a young woman. Before I learned to drive, I rode my bike all over the place, and was told once by a former love that I looked damn good on a it. Of course that was, like I said, 25 years ago or so. Things simply aren't in the same place they used to be. I am now a middle aged woman, use your imagination... or rather don't... oh heck... just take my word for it. ;)

Whether or not I still look good on a bike is really beside the point, the point is that I want to do good by me. I want to live healthier, and be able to say that I am doing my part in this crazy mess we have all found ourselves in. I am not as dependant on my car as I used to be. It disappoints me that we can't afford to take the long rides we used to. I like seeing new places, but it just isn't realistic anymore, and I really doubt things will get much better. Sigh. So, I am going to take a closer look at what's around me. Treasures I would have missed, had I not gotten a bike. Let's see what's right in front of me.

I am even thinking about getting a sidecar, which actually follows behind the bike, not to the side, for Elvis to ride in. He is a strange cat, he loves riding on things, and he even enjoys being turned around and around in a swivel chair. He would have enjoyed it if we had bought him a swing set, but who knew? Go figure! I am just considering it at this point. The following pictures are of what we have definitely decided on. I am not sure if we will make the purchase this week or next, but it's kind of fun to know we are taking these steps for our future. There is a lot to look forward to in life, and that makes all the bad news a little easier to take somehow. For the most part... I'm a happy girl.

"Suspension Folks Provides Shock Absorbing Comfort." LOL. My bum is eternally grateful for that! ;)

-OndineMonet
"Bike Shopping At Wal-Mart"
Wal-Mart
Livermore, California
May 27th, 2008
Afternoon

Things I Think About While I Think About David Duchovny

Mulder: Yes we do, don't we muffin?
Scully: Sure do, poopyhead

-Fox Mulder & Dana Scully, posing as Rob & Laura Petrie, The X-Files

Things I Think About While Thinking About David Duchovny...

1. Earl Hagen, who did the whistling on the Andy Griffith Show, passed away yesterday... that makes me sad.

2. Cat food is a lot cheaper at Wal-Mart.

3. Whatever happened to the guy who said, "Western Airlines... The Only Way to Fly?"

4. My Taco Bell, mild sauce packet, had the following words printed on it... "Help! It's dark in here, and I can hear laughing!"

5. Alan and I have been shopping for bicycles, I want a pink one, 21 speed, with a basket with daisies on it.

6. I found a dollar bill in the pocket of my summer shorts the other day, it was worth a lot more last year.

7. I used to have a white blouse, just like the one Rachel is wearing in the opening credits of Friends. I miss that blouse.

8. " You say goodbye, and I say, hello, hello, hello, I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello..." Hello/Goodbye - The Beatles

9. I wonder when gas prices will hit $7.00 per gallon?

10. I wonder who invented bubble wrap?

11. Camels have three eyelids.

12. Tommy Smothers once said, "Red meat isn't bad for you, now greenish blue meat, that's bad for you!"

13. The San Francisco Cable Cars are the only mobile national monument!

14. If you put a goldfish in a dark room, it eventually turns white.

15. Regis Philbin is very cute!

16. John McCain should spank George W. Bush, and put him to bed!

17. I think I want Beans & Franks for dinner.

18. Elvis has a cinnamon color to his coat, when he sits in the sun.

19. I wonder when David Duchovny will finally find me?

20. Elvis sees Dr. B tomorrow. Sigh.

21. Cows produce methane.

Do you ever make lists?

-OndineMonet
"Take Me To David Duchovny"
May, 27th, 2008
Berkeley, California
Afternoon

Memorial Day 2008

"Four things support the world: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the good, and the valor of the brave."

-Muhammad

The War Memorial, in Lafayette, California, is adding additional crosses to the hillside today, not just for the men and woman killed in action in the two wars we are fighting in the Middle East, but to also reflect those who have taken their own life, since returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's about time we did more for our brave then simply putting a yellow ribbon of support on our cars and windows that says, "Support The Troops." Today, let's remember the total cost of war.

-OndineMonet
"Memorial Day"
Lafayette War Memorial
Lafayette, California

He Made Me Laugh...

"Honestly, it's the kids that made us successful. They had a good outlook, and we made it fun."

-Dick Martin, referring to the show "Laugh-In."



It made me sad today to find out the comedian, Dick Martin, had passed away last night. It always makes me sad to hear that someone with so much talent for easing the stress and sadness of the world, has passed on. As you know, humor has saved me more then once, in fact, humor mine and others, continues to heal me in all sorts of ways. Part of what is keeping me going, when it comes to Elvis's illness, is the fact that he is a natural comic. He does something unusual or funny every single day.

Most recently he made us laugh by belching. See, he has to take a certain anti-biotic by mouth twice a day. He hates the taste, but he takes his medicine with very little complaining, however, he does get a little nervous about it, and usually swallows a lot of air, as he swallows the medicine, resulting in... well... belching. And not just little kitty belching... lion sized belching! LOL. It might sound mean, but I can't help but snicker. It's so cute, and yes, funny.

Elvis likes the sound of laughter, so after he is done with the excess air, he usually gets a little grin on his face, similar to a baby who has just passed gas, and then comes over for giggle time which included playing with his favorite mouse and a ball of yarn. There are more funny little routines he has, but I have gotten way off topic, the death of Dick Martin.

I loved watching him on Laugh-In when I was a child. Martin was the comedy to Dan Rowan's straight man. I loved his humor. I loved his facial expressions, and I loved how he interacted with the cast members and the guest stars. I especially loved the clip above, which I found in YouTube a few months back. In my opinion, it is one of the best moments out of the series. Watch it... it will make you laugh out loud. It's a classic. It is a performance of Tiny Tim, singing his uber hit rendition of, "Tiptoe Through The Tulips."

Thanks Dick Martin for making me laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

"Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it."

-Bill Cosby

-OndineMonet