No One Cares What The Definition Of "Is" Is

"If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't be able to sit down for a month."

-Theodore Roosevelt

There I go, thinking in the abstract again. Sometimes, I do my best thinking while walking in traffic, but I wasn't feeling up to taking a walk today, so I decided to walk, metaphorically, down this interesting hallway, in an attempt to clear the cobwebs from my brain. Come along with me if you like...

I really like lemons. The Meyer lemon is my favorite variety, and I am lucky enough to have my very own tree. It was Elvis's favorite at one time, up until he devised a brilliant scheme to catch a bird, that one day went terribly awry. It seems that he would sit and watch birds flying in and out of the tree all day long. It was fascinating to him. One day, he decided to climb up into the bottom branches of the tree. I watched as he slowly made his way up to the second from bottom branch. He positioned himself against a thick branch and then did something amazing. He opened his mouth! I couldn't believe it. He sat with his mouth open for about five minutes, apparently waiting for a bird to fly in it! Talk about "home delivery!" His adventure didn't end the way he expected however, a few minutes later a bird landed on the branch directly above him...then pooped on his head. He got out of the tree and ran to me to clean him off. I got to be a mommy that day! :)

It makes me sad to watch the news sometimes. Those children in Pennsylvania should be alive, but instead some dark, bitter heart took their life from them. How dare someone rob them of their life, before they had a chance to grow and learn, and live. Sigh. Why again did Bush not keep his promise to sign the Assault Weapons Ban? Oh yeah, it might have lost him some votes from the NRA. I forgot. Like the Corvair, the man, and his administration, are unsafe at any speed! :( And what do you think should be done about the Speaker of the House ignoring the fact that a member of congress was sending suggestive IM's and emails to underage, male pages? I say it's time to clean house!

"Guns are neat little things, aren't they? They can kill extraordinary people with very little effort."

-John W. Hinckley Jr.

It's been way too long since I did a whole entry devoted to David Duchovny. Sigh. I still love him after all these years! I saw the movie "Return To Me" the other night, and I cried and cried. One of my favorite moments from The X-Files, is at the end of the episode, "Post Modern Prometheus," when Fox and Dana are dancing to the Cher tune, "Walking In Memphis." Swoon. Oh well, I would look silly dancing with David Duchovny, in that I am only 4' 11. LOL. :) But silly or not, I wouldn't turn him down, if he asked me to dance. LOL. Trivia: Fox Mulder's birthday is 10/13... the same date as my wedding anniversary. :) Purely coincidental, or is it an X-File? You decided! Bwahahahahaha :)

* It's seven minutes to midnight, according to the Doomsday Clock.

* William Shakespeare was born and died on the same day, April 23rd.

*The Ethereal Musician has taken up the tuba.

*There is a law in Minnesota that says it's illegal to walk across state lines with a duck on your head.

*In North Carolina, you may not use elephants to plow your cotton fields.

*A male kangaroo is called a Boomer.

*I really like lima beans.

*There is a position in the Bush Administration called, "Director of Lessons Learned." It pays over $100,000 a year. Hmmmm...That's ironic! The position is currently held by Stuart Baker.

*What will happen on "Lost" this season?

* Jeepers I miss Melrose Place.

* Pluto isn't a planet, and they misquoted Neil Armstrong! Sigh!

*My twin died when my mother was six weeks along in her pregnancy. Yep, there should have been not just one, but two of us! LOL. Boggles the mind doesn't it?

* After being killed during the battle of Trafalgar, Admiral Horatio Nelson's body was submerged in brandy to preserve him for the voyage back to England. After they arrived home, his crew celebrated his military achievements by drinking the remaining brandy.

* The scene in "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid," where Etta Place and Butch Cassidy take a ride on a bike, is one of the sexiest scenes in film. I decided to grow my hair long, after seeing that scene. It is now over 5' ft long.

Raindrops keep falling on my head

But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red

Crying's not for me, 'cause, I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining

Because I'm free, nothings worrying me...

-OndineMonet

The Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence
Federal Ban On Assault Weapons Expires
Gunman Opens Fire In Amish Schoolhouse

Carly, Concubine Of The Far North

"I wasn't kissing her, I was whispering in her mouth."

-Chico Marx

I thought it might be fun to get your week started with a spicy entry. LOL. Ahh yes, kissing. :) I love kissing, but never really thought of myself as having a particular style. I just always knew what to do when the time came. LOL. Of course I started dating way back in the late 70's, you know, the stone age! LOL. I read all the "how to" magazine articles that Cosmopolitan could provide. I kept up with the latest trends, and you know, dated all kinds of guys, well it wasn't that many really, don't get the wrong idea, I simply wanted to see who was out in the world with me.:) But I have to say, I will never forget my first kiss, it was on a Sunday afternoon, in late August. It was warm, and soft, and to this day makes my knees weak. And trust me, all of my five sense where involved. :)

It was... YUMMY! I remember about a 1,000 things going through my mind all at once. Are my lips soft enough? Did I use Crest or Colgate that morning? Did HE use Crest or Colgate that morning? What if I do this wrong? Where do I put my nose? Oh my, what if I have to sneeze? What if I have to burp? What if I have to fart? LOL. Then it happend, and I relaxed, and ooooh-LA-LA! To date, I have never had a single complaint. LOL. Go me! :) Tee Hee. So, let's have a little fun. Take the quiz and share what your kissing technique is, and if you like, feel free to share the story of your first kiss. PG-13 ONLY please. :)

If this topic gives you the wiggins, here is an alternate quiz for you. With Halloween coming up, I thought this one might be kinda fun as well. :) Be sure to share what your "Vampire Name" is in the comment thread for this entry. If you like, you can do both quizzes. :) Come on, don't be shy, you know you want to! ;)



The Romantic.com - Awesome Kisses: Tips & Ideas

Quiz #1: Are You A Good Kisser?

Quiz #2: What Is Your Vampire Name?

-OndineMonet

It's A Girl!

"Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl, is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves."

-Albert Einstein

Meet my new baby, her name is Lilith, and she is a 2007, Saturn ION. According to Parenthood.com, the name Lilith, means, "Spirit of the Night," in Hebrew. That name suits my new car just fine. See, I am a bit of a night owl, so I tend to do my shopping and the majority of my driving during the nighttime hours. She is a dream to drive, and she has a few of the bells and whistles that were available, such as OnStar, but she is just really fun to drive, so she was the car for me.

Alan purchased the same make and model that I did, only his car is in Cashmire Gold, as opposed to mine in Cypress Green. Buying two cars at the same time, made for a really long, and stressful night at the dealership, but it was kinda fun too. Here is a look at Lilith's first jaunt around town. Saturday afternoon in Berkeley is enjoyable and relaxing. :) I went window shopping, then grabbed a pizza from the Cheeseboard for dinner. Blue Cheese and Heirloom tomatoes.YUM! In other news about town, Cal Bears won over Oregan State, 41-13. Cal is now, 4 &1 :) Makes for a lot of cheering about town!

Lilith's innards

The first of the autumn lights here in Berkeley

Track #16: "Iris" by the Wallflowers

Downtown Berkeley, along Shattuck Avenue

Berkeley Public Library

Autumn along Ashby Avenue

-OndineMonet
"Lilith"
Berkeley, California
September 30, 2006
Afternoon

Mr. 7:30 PM

"They say that time changes everything, but actually, you have to change them yourself."

-Andy Warhol

This past summer saw a lot of changes and new horizons for me. Some doors opened while others closed. I guess that's life. As summers go, the summer of 2006 certainly wasn't the worst summer I have ever had. One brilliant point was the arrival of a family of Blue Jays, who spent their time in my dead apple tree. There was a couple, and their babies, now it is just the one. He comes home to roost every day at 7:30 PM. I can tell time by the sound of his chirping. He lands in the tree no earlier then 7:28 PM and no later than 7:38 PM, but more times then not, it is exactly 7:30 PM. He is a constant in my life, he is magical. A couple years ago, a small brown duck used to land in my swimming pool every morning at 10:30 AM, I haven't seen her for quite sometime, but I have my new friend, Mr. 7:30.

And oh yes... Elvis Costello

Carly steps up to the Karaoke machine...

Everyday I Write The Book
By Elvis Costello & Sung By Carly

Don't tell me you don't know what love is
When you're old enough to know better
When you find strange hands in your sweater
When your dreamboat turns out to be a footnote
I'm a girl with a mission in two or three editions

And I'm giving you a long look
Everyday, everyday, everyday I write the book

Chapter one, we don't really get along
Chapter two, I think I fell in love with you
You said you'd stand by me in the middle of chapter three
But you were up to your old tricks in chapters, 4,5,6

And I'm giving you a long look
Everyday, everyday, everyday I write the book
The way you walk
The way you talk, and try to kiss me and laugh
In four or five paragraphs
All your compliments and your cutting remarks
Are captured here in my quotation marks

And I'm giving you a long look
Everyday, everyday, everyday I write the book

Don't tell me you don't know the difference
Between a lover and a fighter
With my pen and my electric typewriter
Even in a perfect world where everyone was equal
I'd still own the film rights and be working on the sequel

And I'm giving you a long look
Everyday, everyday, everyday I write the book.

I hit the shuffle on my Real Player the other day, and that song came up. Funny, I hadn't listened to it in such a long time. I now have it stuck in my head, kinda cool though, always loved Elvis Costello. :)

-OndineMonet
"Mr. 7:30"
Berkeley, California
Summer, 2006
7:30 PM

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment # 131: You Little Devil

"The best way to behave is to misbehave."

-Mae West

Weekend Assignment # 131: We've all got a little bit of a devil inside. Share a (small) moment in your past where you did something less than entirely ethical. I'm not thinking of moments that could, you know, have you tracked down by the police because the statute of limitations is about to expire. Those big transgressions against the law and morality you should probably not reveal here. We're talking about a little bit bad here.

Extra Credit: Devil's food cake vs. Angel's food cake: Which one do you prefer?

-John Scalzi (By The Way)

Oh my, so I have to share my less then ethical side huh? Well, I have to confess, I used to be a real stinker, and I have a weird sense of humor that has driven more then one friend and or lover away, lol, but there are a couple of examples that I am willing to share I suppose. One is a tale on a nose gone bad, and the other is about a movie, and why reading the reviews before seeing it, is a good idea. Let's begin with the nose job...

The Nose Job...

It was a bright spring morning, in 1983, I was working as a proofreader (can you believe it, I used to know how to spell) for an advertising agency in Oakland, California. The department I worked in wasn't big comparatively to the rest of the office, but it did have it's scandals all the same. We had a secretary to one of the VP's who worked in our area, and she was a mean, troll of a little woman. She would give up her lunch hours, in order to spy on the employees. She would sometimes even take photos of folks she caught outside the company in dating situations, just so she could have the joy of seeing them fired. Also, she had a ledger, in which she recorded the times the employees left for lunch and when they returned. It wasn't her job to do so mind you, she simply enjoyed having something to hold over one's head in case she needed a favor. I was never in her cross hairs, because I usually ate at my desk, but I saw a lot of good people get into trouble, all at her doing. She really knew how to stretch the truth.

One day, she came to work with a terrible allergy attack. She snorted, sneezed, coughed, moaned, groaned, snorted again, and generally complained for 6 straight hours. I never minded the noises those afflicted with allergies sometimes have to make, heck, if it's autumn, you will probably hear me making nosey noises as well. It happens. The thing that set me off on the day, all those years ago, was the fact that she must have asked me four or five times throughout the day, what could be done for her malady. I suggested, in good faith, everything I could think of. Hot & Sour soup, Benedryl, a visit to an ear, nose and throat doctor, but nothing was good enough, she had a reason to not do any of the suggestions she asked me for.

Finally, I had enough. She asked me one more time, and that was the breaking point. I slowly looked up at her, and suggested one more thing. "Selma, there is one thing that I hear works quite well for the clearing of a brain, I mean head, it's kind of extreme however, want to know what it is?" I asked. "Yes, Carly...please tell me," said she. "Selma, you simply need to clear the pipes between your nose and your ears, so stick two fingers up each nostril and blow really hard twice. " LOL. Now I ask you, how was I supposed to know she would do it? LOL. She nearly blew her brains out, right there on my desk. Selma came to a few minutes later, and while she was completely pissed at me, she never asked me again about how to cure the sniffles. And somehow, my place in her special ledger disappeared, or so I was told. Tee Hee.

Disclaimer: No actual secretaries were harmed... too much. :)


Free Johnny Dangerously...

I used to have a friend, Jaycee, who would enjoy fighting the good fight... as she saw it. One day, she and I and a few other friends got together to play some board games, and share each other's company. Jaycee was a nice enough girl, but she would get her facts and impressions about things really confused, and God help the person who tried to set her straight.

On one particularly confused day, the subject of incarceration came up, and a recent report about prison conditions in the United States. Well, she became absolutely livid. "America has the best prison system of anywhere on the planet, those lazy inmates just want to complain about everything, take that Johnny Dangerously, for example." Now see, it was 1984, and the film Johnny Dangerously had just been released, and all around were these silly, oversized billboards that read, "Join the campaign to FREE JOHNNY DANGEROUSLY from prison." The billboards made it look as if a guy in jail, was somehow trying to beat the rap. I knew it was a movie, and I also knew that it was a big ad push to get folks to see one of the first ever PG-13 movies. It was a gimmick, but Jaycee wouldn't believe me, and I am afraid I fed into her rage a bit. I admit, I stirred the pot, but I had tried in good faith to let her know what it was about, and she disregarded me as a liberal. LOL. About five minutes into her rage, I handed her a magazine with a proper ad for the movie. It was one of those Emily Latilla moments from "Saturday Night Live." I could almost hear Gilda Radner saying, "Never Mind."

Wasn't I just Evil? LOL

Extra Credit: Devil's food cake... oh yes...Devil's food.

-OndineMonet
"Evil Me"
Summer, 2006

Transitions

"Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine."

-Robert C. Gallagher

Ah yes... change. Sigh. Don't like it... nope... would fight it, but what can you do? Change happens. It's time to replace our cars, which means, in a few days I am going to have to face saying goodbye to my 1999 Saturn SL1 "Angelica." She has seen me through so much, and through it all, she held steady. We had chosen well for our vehicles, I can't say enough good things about Saturn. It's time however, and to be honest, it's like losing a dear friend. Angelica took me to my parents gravesite, the little stay I spent at the "WHATTHE HELL HAPPENED" hospital, and a few other yuckinesses that life has a way of throwing at you. She also took me to see, one of the great crushes of my life, Micky Dolenz, when he held a concert at the beach in Santa Cruz. She has taken me on all my photo jaunts, and too many sweet, dreamy nights at the Marin Headlands, as we watched the sunset over San Francisco. The good times, the bad times, a car is there for all of it. I am just too sentimental for my own good. Oh well, I 'm off to the Saturn dealership tomorrow, to maybe buy two new cars... it's time. It's time. :(

Have You Ever Seen The Rain
By Creedence Clearwater Revival

Someone told me long ago, there's a calm before the storm
I know
It's been coming for sometime
When it's over, so they say, it'll rain a sunny day
I know
Shinin' down like water

I want to know, have you ever seen the rain...
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain...
Comin' down on a sunny day?

Yesterday, and days before, sun is cold and the rain is hard
I know
Been that way for all my time
Til forever on it goes through the circle fast and slow
I know
And I can't stop I wonder,

I want to know, have you ever seen the rain
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain

Comin' down on a sunny day?

-OndineMonet
"Transition"
Fort Point
San Francisco, California
May, 2006

Just Before The Wave Crashed!

"Woah! Hey! It's like a Koala bear crapped a rainbow in my brain!"

-Captain Murphy

If it's autumn, it must be time for the surreal. LOL. It was almost a year ago, that this same bird, or one really similar, or another one completely different, tried to peck through my windshield, while I was picnicking at Fort Point, in an attempt to steal my spaghetti lunch. LOL. Now this guy, is spying on my bag of extra crunchy Cheeto's Cheese Flavored snacks. I like to snack, and heck, sometimes, have whole meals in my car at Fort Point. The view of the Golden Gate is stunning, and the wildlife is, well, surreal. Sometimes, if you are among the lucky, a giant foamy wave of salt water will swoosh up and clean your car for you. LOL. Know what is really surreal? A big wave, with a small fish in it, lands on your car, then a really big or even average sized seagull comes and steals the fish off your car, but not before you scream, because when the fish is coming at you, you kinda think it looks like Jaws! Eeeekk. Trust me... you had to be there!

Look... that bird stole one of my Cheeto's Cheese flavored snacks!

A really upclose view of the bottom of a seagull's foot. Don't see that every day! See, I'm not just informative... I am entertaining! And once, I gave a backrub to a squirrel, so I am also theraputic! ;)

-OndineMonet
"Another Surreal San Francisco Moment"
Fort Point
San Francisco, Ca
September 26th, 2006

50 Questions Swiped From Pat

"Don't ask what they world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who come alive."

-Howard Thurman

I saw a cute meme over at my friend Pat's blog, "Here, There, & Everywhere, 2nd Edition." You know how much I enjoy doing memes, so I thought I might give this one a try. You are about to get to know me better, so pop some popcorn, grab a soft drink, and hold on... :)

1. First Name? Carly.

2. Middle Name? Elizabeth.

3. Were You Named After Anyone? Kinda... that's all I can say. :)

4. When Did You Last Cry? This morning.

5. Do You Like Your Handwriting? Yes, I have always had good handwriting, although I have noticed it has changed a bit over the years.

6. What Is Your Favorite Lunch Meat? Black Forest Ham.

7. Kids? Nope.

8. Would You Be Friends With You? Yes, and I am. Although I don't always have enough time to spend with me. Sigh.

9. Do You Have A Journal? Yep, if you are reading this, then that cat is out of the bag! LOL. I have several, actually.

10. Do You Used Sarcasm A Lot? Yeah... I guess I do.

11. Do You Still Have Your Tonsils? Yes.

12. Would You Bungee Jump? Yes, if I could I would.

13. Favorite Cereal? Special K w/Red Berries.

14. DO You Untie Your Shoes When You Take Them Off? Yes, if they have shoelaces.

15. Do You Think You Are Strong? If I have to be. :)

16. What Is Your Favorite Ice Cream Flavor? Honey/Cantaloupe

17. Shoe Size? Most of the time 6, sometimes 8, but only on my right foot.

18. Red Or Pink? Pink. :)

19. What Is Your Least Favorite Thing About Yourself? My height.

20. Whom Do You Miss The Most? I have a friend that I haven't talked to for a while, I miss him a lot. Sigh.

21. Do You Want Everyone To Send This Back To You? I would love to see others do this meme, but it's up to you, it's all good! :)

22. What Color Pants And Shoes Are Your Wearing? Black pants, pumpkin colored sweater.

23. Last Thing You Ate? Yoplait Chocolate/Raspberry yogurt. YUM!

24. What Are You Listening To Right Now? Melrose Place Jazz CD.

25. If You Were A Crayon, What Color Would You Be? Autumn Mauve.

26. Favorite Smell? Elvis,my cat, his natural body oils make him smell like baby powder.

27. Who Was The Last Person You Talked To On The Phone? Alan.

28. The First Thing You Notice About People You Are Attracted To? The eyes. ;)

29. Do You Like The Person Who Sent This To You? Well, Pat didn't send it to me, I swiped it from her journal. But yes, she is my friend, I like her very much. Hey Pat! :)

30. Favorite Drink? Alcoholic=Apple Martini Non-Alcholic= Coke Classic.

31. Favorite Sport? Baseball... Go A's!

32. Hair Color: Redish/Brown w/ a few streaks of grey.

33. Eye Color? Green

34. Do You Wear Contacts? Nope.

35. Favorite Food? Italian food, in fact I am making my famous 30lb Lasgna even as we speak. :)

36. Scary Movies Or Happy Endings? Scary please!

37. What Color Shirt Are You Wearing? Lt. Blue.

38. Favorite Desert? Cheesecake.

39. Who Is Most Likely To Respond? Dunno.

40. Least Likely To Respond? Dunno.

41. What Book Are You Reading? Writer's On Writing.

42. Whats On Your Mouse Pad? "Starry Night" By Vincent Van Gogh.

43. What Did You Watch Last Night On TV? Deal or No Deal, 2 1/2 Men, Men In Trees.

44. Favorite Sound? Elvis snoring.

45. Rolling Stones Or Beatles? Beatles, of course. :)

46. The Furthest You Have Been From Home? New York.

47. No question # 47

48. No Question # 48

49. Do You Have A Special Talent? I can curl my tongue. ;)

50. When And Where Were You Born? Oakland, California, 6/1962.

Note: Not sure why there are no questions for numbers 46, 47. So, to be fair, if you have two questions you would like to ask me, feel free to leave them in the comment thread for this entry. I will answer almost any question. One rule, the question must be about me. :)

Thanks Pat, that was fun. Click here, to see her answers to these questions. :)

-OndineMonet
"Crimson Patched Longwing"
Conservatory of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
September, 2006

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Horses!

"It's like nuts and bolts. If the rider's nuts, the horse bolts."

-Nicholas Evans

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Horses are nice. Show us a horse picture you've taken. It can be new, or one from your files. It just needs to have a horse in it. Donkeys, mules, ponies, zebras and quagga are also acceptable, and I'll be impressed if you have a picture of a quagga in your files, being that they have been extinct 125 years and all.

-John Scalzi (By The Way)

Miss Rowell Ranch, 2006, Anna Bavor (L)


I like horses, I don't get a chance to see them up close very often, but every May, Alan and I go to Castro Valley to watch the Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade. There are always a lot of very pretty horses, and lovely ladies to ride them, such as the current Miss Rowell Ranch Rodeo, Anna Bavor.

Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, California

John didn't say it had to be a REAL horse...LOL...so here is a fine example of a fake horse. I couldn't find out any information on it, but I saw it at the world famous Madonna Inn, in San Luis Obispo, California. I bet there is a mysterious tale about this horse and it's rider, but if there isn't I will someday make one up! LOL. How does the title, "Stiff In The Saddle," grab ya? Tee Hee.

Note: Just as a matter of fact, this entry marks my 365th entry on this journal. A year's worth of postings, in a little over 10 months! :) Whew! :)

-OndineMonet
"Love Story"
Cull Canyon, Castro Valley, Ca
Autumn, 2005

Meanwhile Back On Wisteria Lane

"Yes, each new day in suburbia brings with it a new set of lies. The worst are the ones we tell ourselves right before we fall asleep. We whisper them in the dark, telling ourselves we're happy, or that he's happy. That we can change, or that he will change his mind. We persuade ourselves that we can live with our sins, or that we can live without him. Yes, each night before we fall asleep we lie to ourselves in a desperate, desperate hope that come morning...it will all be true."

-Mary Alice Young (Desperate Housewives)

They're back...those desperate ladies of Wisteria Lane. And not just back for their third season...they are back to being the sharp, witty, funny, scary, intriguing ladies they were in the first season, but who were none of those things in the second. I was a fan of this show, before it ever debuted, and as I watched the first season unfold, it only became a bigger guilty pleasure in our house. Yes, even Alan was hooked on the silly goings on in the fictional town of Fairview U.S.A. In fact, we debated the characters many times, on our long drives to our photo jaunts. We discussed who we thought had the best marriage, duh, that was Lynette and Tom, and we even discussed how we, at times, saw our own lives and marriage, played out on the show, with only a little additional melodrama and moments of shocking revelation. LOL.

There is so much you aren't told when you get married. How you can go along for years believing that there is no one else on earth but your spouse, only to glance up one day into the eyes of someone who can drop you to your knees. There is rarely someone around on your wedding day to tell you that when it happens, it will be perfectly normal. They also don't tell you, that as much as you think you might know about the person you marry, you will invariably find out something new, something they have probably kept well hidden. Like they pick their nose, or that they don't just snore...they also drool. LOL. They also don't tell you, there will come times when one, or maybe both of you, will become mind numbingly bored, either with yourself, or with each other. Or maybe they do, when they get to the part of the vows that says, "For better or for Worse." Shrug.

The second season of Desperate Housewives, was a disjointed mess. Characters were added who had nothing to do with the main characters, and most of the shows seemed like filler. You know how that is with TV shows sometimes, it's like they are just trying to get to the end of the season without being canceled, which makes the characters seem empty somehow. It was dry, not really funny, but they one thing that remained strong was the clever narration done each week by the deceased, Mary Alice Young, played by Brenda Strong. But then again, as she said in the pilot episode, now that she was dead, most of her senses had become dull, but not her ability to see. She was now gifted with an incrediable sense of clarity about what was happening around her. She became sharp to her surroundings. And sharp she remained. That's why I decided to tune in last night.

Season three began last night, and I am pleased to say, the show is back to that original magic. It was funny, intriguing, and it even had Alan and I saying to each other, "What would you do?" Especially in reference to the situation with Tom's love child, and the psycho woman who is her mother. Sheesh! What a thing to have to deal with. I'm not so sure I could be as good natured and patient as Lynette is being, but then again, she does need to be desperate, to be a true, "Desperate Housewife." Tee Hee. Happiness and unhappiness comes in many forms, so does desperation, I suppose we are all alone in that we each have to find our own way.

So tell me, do you think Mike will come out of his coma? How about Bree, will she go through with marrying Orson? Will Susan "cheat" on Mike? Is Edie all through with her revenge and scheming against Susan? LOL. I'm DESPERATE to know what you think! ;) And be sure to take the "Which Housewife Are You?" quiz below. The first time I took it, I was Bree Van de Kamp, for the second season, I was Susan Meyer, this season, I am apparently, Edit Brit. I guess I can identify a little with all these ladies. YIKES!

Click on the graphic below to take the quiz. Comeback and tell me how you did!

"Edie Brit"

-OndineMonet

The Trials Of Dog

"Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person, is a little like expecting a bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian."

-Dennis Wholey

The world we live in isn't always a fair and just one... agreed? So, where do the lines of justice blur? Is it ever ok to break the law, for a righteous reason? Do motives supersede ethics or legalities?

I am thinking about the situation that Duane "Dog" Chapman, star of the A&E show, "Dog The Bounty Hunter," is currently facing. As you probably know by now, Dog, and his son and an associate, were arrested at their Honolulu home earlier this month, by U.S. Marshall's, on charges connected to the 2003 arrest, made by the men, of Max factor heir, and wanted fugitive, Andrew Luster. Luster had been on the run from his Los Angeles trial, where he was being tried on 86 charges of raping three woman, and drugging them with the date rape drug, GHB. Luster disappeared from his Ventura County home in early January, 2003, during his trial, and in his absence he was subsequently convicted of the charges and sentenced to 124 years in prison. When Luster fled, it set off an internation manhunt that included California police, the FBI and also included bounty hunters other then Chapman, who were seeking to re-coop some of the million dollar bail that had been posted by Luster.

During the 5 months after Luster skipped bail, Chapman had apparently made it a personal crusade to bring the cosmetics heir to justice. Duane "Dog" Chapman has claimed to have caught over 6,000 fugitives in his time as a bounty hunter, so I think he must have been aware of the legalities involved. Mexican laws says that the kidnapping on anyone, fugitive or not, is illegal. Period. Dog knew the law, and chose to pursue Luster anyway. The moral pull here is that he caught someone who was a clear threat to any society he lived in. After Luster was arrested in Mexico, the authorities found video tapes, and personal journals written by Luster which included detailed acts of violence he was planning to carry out, some included as,"payback," to the victims who had testified against him in his trial. So here is a question...

Should Duane, "Dog" Chapman be extradited to Mexico, to stand trial on charges of kidnapping fugitive, Andrew Luster?

AOL News, ran a poll earlier today, in which 86% of the respondents replied
"No" to that question. You can find the complete article and poll here.

There is a lot about this case I don't understand. For instance, why did federal marshalls have to "storm" Chapman's home at 6:00 am in order to arrest him? I think that given Chapman's celebrity he would have gone willingly when arrested. In fact, he did go willingly, there was no attempt to flee, so why was he arrested in such a melodramatic manner? Also, why did it take Mexican authorities over 3 years to finally file charges against Duane, Timothy and Leland?

The men are all currently released on bail, until a hearing later this month decides when they will be extradited to Mexico for trial on kidnapping charges. In the meantime, they are required to remain in the state, and to wear a tracking device which limits their movements to daylight hours. Chapman released a statement yesterday, offering the Mexican authorities an apology and an offer to pay whatever fine might be imposed in lieu of jail time in a Mexican prison.

So tell me, if you had the opportunity to stop a dangerous person, but knew up-front that you were probably going to be breaking the law to do it, would you? Tell me about what you think about Dog's arrest, and if you think he should serve time, then tell me how you think you would have handled the same, or a similar circumstance. Should public opinion ever be considered a deciding factor ,in who or what, is brought to trial? I want to know what you think.

L - R Leland Chapman, associate, Timothy Chapman, & Duane Chapman

Andrew Luster, after his arrest in Mexico (2003)

The wedding day of Duane and Beth Chapman (2006)

-OndineMonet
Court TV: Inside The Take-Down Of Andrew Luster

Fugitive Max Factor Heir Captured

And So The Doctor Said, "Carly..."

"If I'd known I was going to live so long, I'd taken better care of myself."

-Leon Eldred

I paid a visit to my doctor this past week, it was time for my 6 month Fibromyalgia health progress check. There was plenty for she and I to talk about, but the first thing she wanted to address was why my blood pressure was 190/96 at 8:45 a.m. on a Wednesday morning! "I don't know," said I, "George Bush maybe?" She was not amused, although she did grin a little bit. LOL. No, the true culprit was probably the swelling that tends to attack me on cold mornings, or it could have been my lack of sleep the night before. "Well...I don't go to bed most nights until 5:00 a.m., it is just my internal way of life." Ok, so again, she wasn't amused, although she was still grinning. "Carly, what are we going to do with you?" "We?" Now there's a "we?"

Yes, "we" consisted of herself, Alan, and the surgeon I had to have a visit with, as part of my Breast Cancer scare. You remember that...right? One day, while minding my own business, I found a large round lump in my left breast, just sitting there, doing nothing, but scaring the Noodle-Roni out of me. Well, one visit to Mr. Squishy and one visit to a technician for an Ultrasound, and I got the good news that it was a cyst that would resolve itself, but I also found out that while that cyst was benign, my chances for getting Breast Cancer had just increased...a bit. It's always something. I was a lucky girl the day I was told it was all going to be ok... other ladies aren't always given good news about such things.

As we talked, my doctor continued the exam, by listening to my heart. Then she asked, "Carly, do you snore?" "Snore?" Not me thank you very much! That is one of the things I have been most proud of in my life... I don't snore! "Nope," said I, "Why?" "Well, I hear an irregularity, and I suspect that is what is causing you to not reach that 4 stage of sleep you need. It might also be causing the pain in your legs, and the Restless Leg syndrome." YIKES! Now what? As it turns out, some folks with Fibromyalgia, had disturbed sleep patterns and some even experience Sleep Apnea. So, I am now on a medication for my heart, it's a very mild medication, and she thinks it will work to relieve the pain in my legs and ankles. That means that perhaps I won't go into hibernation this winter, like I did last year. :) I may have to change my office hours however. :( That will be difficult, I have always been a night owl.

If you are reading my journal the old fashioned way, by visiting in person and not through subscription, you may have noticed I have already begun displaying the pink ribbon, for Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. It's never too early to raise awareness to this disease. The statistics are scary and something needs to be done. I am making a plea to you ladies who supported me last spring, when I needed to get my first mammogram, to please schedule yourself and appointment for your own mammogram, the sooner the better, and share your own good news of a clean bill of health with us. Please feel free to swipe the dragonfly ribbon on my sidebar, I made it myself, and display it on your sidebar along with the link to the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Let's get going...let's make a difference!

Here is what I am doing...

The Yoplait Lids For Life...



Yoplait yogurt is asking us to save the pink lids, now through December 31st. Clean them off and send them in to Yoplait for their "Save Lids To Save Lives," campaign. For every pink lid we send in, they will donate a dime to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. This is really great, yogurt is so delicious, and my doctor actually recommended it to ease the stomach spasms I have sometimes. I like the idea of the yogurt a whole lot better then swallowing yet another pill. :) And now, I get the chance to help others, while taking better care of myself. Pay a visit to the Yoplait website to download your own badge for your sidebar.

Passionately Pink For The Cure



This is a great idea. The Susan G. Komen foundation has a great campaign all set for October, and you can be a part of it. All you have to do, is choose one day in October, and wear pink that day, and donate $5.00 to the foundation. It's not just your chance to make a difference, it's a chance to encourage others to help raise awareness of Breast Cancer, and make a difference. Just click on the above banner to visit the website and find out what you can do in your cities all through the month of October. I have chosen, Sunday, October 22nd. I will be sure and post my outfit, so you can see what I will be wearing that day. One hint... it will be pink! LOL.

About the above picture, well, that was my heart healthy lunch. A mug of tomato soup, and a fruit salad I invented. Mixed salad greens, strawberries, tomatoes, mandarin oranges, sliced red onion, crumbled french Feta cheese, fresh limes, and low-fat red wine vinaigrette. Too yummy! :) Fibromyalgia is such a strange condition to live with. It causes irritating things to happen, like when I lose whole words, or go to type one thing, only to have something completely different make it onto my blog. I have to check everything I do two or three times, and then there is no guarantees that it will be right. I am still searching for that groove Shelly told me about, but I count myself as a very lucky girl because I have all my friends here in Bloggerville, who don't worry about every little mistake I make, and in general, I am a healthy woman, with many more years of life to let George Bush raise my blood pressure! LOL. That's what I want for all of you! The healthy life... not the George Bush part. Tee Hee.

So, who else is going to join me, by choosing a day in October, and wearing pink to raise awareness of Breast Cancer?

Save Lids To Save Lives
P.O. Box 72716
Rockford Mn, 55572-7016

-OndineMonet
"Salad ala Carly"
Berkeley, California
September 22, 2006
Afternoon

The First Day Of Autumn

Blackberry Eating
By Gallway Kinnel

I love to go out in late September
among the fat, overripe, icy, black blackberries
to eat blackberries for breakfast
the stalks very prickly, a penalty
they earn for knowing the black art
of blackberry making; and as I stand among them
lifting the stalks to my mouth, the ripest berries
fall almost unfbidden to my tongue, (1.)
as words sometimes do, certain, peculiar words
like strengths or squinched,
many-lettered, one-syllabled lumps,
which I squeeze, squinceh open, and splurge well
in the silent, startled, icy, black language
of blackberry...eating in late September.

Welcome to autumn! :)

-OndineMonet
"Blackberries"
San Francisco, California
September 20, 2006
Late Afternoon

1. edit: unbidden

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #130: From Athena!

"People as me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."

Roger Hornsby

This week we have a guest assigner for the Weekend Assignment: Athena!

Tell us if you like or don't like baseball (which is Athena's favorite sport), and (as extra credit) if you played it as a kid (or would play it, if you were a kid now). Write it up in your blog or journal and then come back here and leave us a link. Athena thanks you for your cooperation.

-John Scalzi (By The Way)

Well now let's see... "do I like baseball?" Yep... I sure do! LOL. You might even say I love the game, although I admit I haven't been keeping up with the game as steady as I used to. Sigh. My bad, because at one time, it was really quite a passion with me. Alan and I would go to baseball games all during the two years we officially dated. It was the bleacher seats for me! I loved sitting in the open, with the sun so bright, and besides, it is as close to nature as this city girl was willing to get! LOL. Oh my, the hot dogs, the promo days like, "Camera Day," and the BBQ's in the parking lot, how do you not love that? I was, at one time, a collector of baseball cards, and the highlight of my collection was a Tony Conigiaro rookie card, that Alan bought me for my birthday, the year we got engaged. He knew I was a big fan. "Tony C," passed away less then a year later, at the age of 45. Sigh.


At one time he had a very bright career ahead of him, when he was playing for the Boston Red Socks. On August 18th, 1967 everything changed for the slugger when he was struck by a fastball pitched to him by Angel's, pitcher, Jack Hamilton. His recovery took well over a year, but he made a short lived, but triuphant return to baseball in 1970. However, he was still plagued by vision problems, so he gave up his baseball career, and eventually went into sports broadcasting. He was the sports reporter for the Bay Area's ABC affiliate, KGO, for a time, in the late 1970's. I became a big fan, through hearing my brother and father talk about his playing, and seeing him present the sports in a way that, even a little girl who knew nothing of sports, could understand the game of baseball.

Extra Credit: I was a "girly girl" when I was little, so no I didn't play baseball as a child. I am still a "girly girl" as a grown up lady, so I think I would still prefer to watch from the bleachers. :) But I am with Athena on this one...baseball is my favorite form of sports. :) Cool choice, Athena!

The Last Day Of Summer

The morrow was a bright September morn;
The earth was beautiful as if newborn;
There was nameless splendor everywhere,
That wild exhilaration in the air,
Which makes the passers in the city street
Congratulate each other as they meet.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The sun yesterday was so bright! The air was really cool, there was some light dew overnight, so everything was glistening. All the roses and hydrangea,reminded me of how stunning life is, early in the morning. It was so gorgeous. I had to leave the house really early to make a doctor's appointment by 8:00 am. I am usually asleep at that time, so I have been missing that late September sun of the last couple weeks. I am learning to appreciate the sun, and the warmth a bit more then I used to. I have never been a summer girl, well, not until recently. :)

The last couple weeks a raccoon has been visiting the garden, and bold creatures that they are, my raccoon likes to come up to the back door to visit with Elvis. He is not too happy about our newest visitor, and to be honest, they kinda frighten me a bit. They are so beautiful to look at though. I am thinking of removing one of the screens and setting up the tripod. I don't want to approach them the way I did the opossums, as I learned they are more likely to carry rabies then most of the nocturnal creatures that come by the yard. There is still a lot of fruit and vegetables to pick, so that there won't be any encouragement for them to continue to visit. But soon, even if the raccoons move on to greener pastures, we will begin hearing the bats that like to hang up in the Juniper trees. Autumn is just a day away! :)

-OndineMonet
"Late September"
Wednesday, September 20th, 2006
Late Afternoon

Round Robin Challenge: "Dream Homes"

"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams."

-Ashley Smith

I love that quote. :) Think about it for a second, it is an amazing thought isn't it? Taking all the beauty of life in...fully understanding it...and embracing it. It's passion exploding. :) Yes, my dream home is a lighthouse or at least the house that sits next to a lighthouse. But, alas, the home I would want, probably doesn't exist anywhere on earth! See, I want my house to have 6 floors. Three above ground and three below. I want it to have secret tunnels and a dungeon. :) I want the doors to each room, to appear as bookcases and plant stands. I want a movie theatre that is only accessible through one of the tunnels, but once you get there, it seats 25 people, and has an old fashioned curtain that rolls back when the movie begins.

Every Friday night is Alfred Hitchcock night. MMMMM...can you smell the freshly popped popcorn? Hot dogs too, and you would all be invited, except I probably wouldn't attend the screening of the movies, because I always enjoyed how Jay Gatsby threw parties...as an observer. He enjoyed watching his guests have fun, from a distance. I would probably be in the tower of the lighthouse, looking for the ghost who walks on the beach below. I have dreamed of that "dream house," for the longest time. It exists only in my imagination, however. I would love it if my house was sitting in a spot like the grounds of the Point Montara Lighthouse in Montara, California. This lighthouse has a Youth Hostle on it's grounds. For a nominal charge, you can sit and watch the storms roll in. It is a very special place. :)

The sunsets off the coast are amazing at times. Depending on the conditions, it could be a soft, gentle, glow, or the sky can appear to be on fire! It's all passionate, and amazing, completely sensual for the creative mind to ponder. It also doesn't hurt that there is a legend about a ghost who supposedly walks the beach below the lighthouse. She is called the "Lady in Blue." She is, of course, searching for her lover!

There is only one green Adirondack chair on the premises. I love this chair. On visits, I sit right here and listen to the waves breaking against cliffs, and the happy sound of the birds singing, as as they fly about the coastline. God, I love the Pacific Ocean. I would be lost without this view!

I have done so much day dreaming while visiting this lovely lighthouse, and looking down at the cliffs below. I wish I could accurately explain how I feel when I am there. It is so still, and so calm, it makes me feel as if I am being embraced. I know that sounds odd, but it is the purest peace I know.

And of course... the sunset.
I really enjoyed this challenge. Thank you goes to Gem, author of the journal, "Journally Yours." I found a lot of inspiration in this subject. :) Be sure to pay a visit to all the participating Robins, Just click on the links below, or pay a visit to the official Round Robin blog, to get the full URL link to each journal. :)

Point Montara Lighthouse
Montara, California
August, 2006

Note: I will be gone until very late today, so it may take me a few days to visit everyone, but no fear, I will be by to see your entries. :) I am proud of you guys already!

Round Robin Linking List

Gem... Journally Yours
Karen... Outpost Mavarin POSTED!
Steven... (sometimes) photoblog POSTED!
Carly... Ellipsis... Suddenly Carly POSTED!
bolyiou... Percolation
Nancy... Nancy Luvs Pix POSTED!
Maryanne... Inside The Gilded Cage POSTED!
Suzanne R... New Suzanne R's Life POSTED!
Patrick... Patrick's Portfolio POSTED!
Gina... Gina's Space POSTED!
Becky... Where Life Takes You POSTED!

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Color Opposites

"The Most exciting attractions are between two opposites that never meet."

-Andy Warhol

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Post a picture that focuses on the contrast between two opposing colors. What colors are opposites? Green and red are opposites, as are blue and yellow, and orange and purple. So, a picture that has something purple in front of something orange would work, or a picture that features blue and yellow in alternating stripes. The subject of the picture could be anything you like - but there have to be opposing colors in there."

-John Scalzi

I haven't been out with the camera in about a week, so I decided today might be a good day to do some more "still life" photos of the summer harvest from the garden. I will post some of those photos soon, but in the meantime, I am still finding inspiration in those lovely pears. My goodness are they ever delicious. I sat under the tree for a while yesterday, and just ate them right off the lower limbs. Juicy, buttery and sweet. Almost erotic. My goodness can my mind ever wander! :)

More moments of contrast...

Now this guy, is a study in contrasting colors!

A red butterfly with a green body! I wasn't able to get any info about it, but it was absolutely stunning! Ahhhh...things with wings! :)

Color Matters (An excellent resource for information on colors)


-OndineMonet
"Pear In Blue"
Berkeley, California
Monday, September 18th, 2006
Late Afternoon

Steven's Feline Friday: Cuddle Kitty

"Who among us hasn't envied a cat's ability to ignore the cares of daily life, and to relax completely?"

-Karen Brademeyer

Well, the cold is still present, and so is the fever. Sigh. I have a pretty good nurse, however, in my kitty Elvis. He took a long nap with me this afternoon, and we held paws. He is so snuggly warm, and even when he is in full snore mode, I feel all safe and happy. :) Is that a great belly or what?





If you have a kitty, be sure to play along with Steven's Feline Friday. You can find all the info about how to play along over at his blog, "(sometimes) photoblog." :)

-OndineMonet
"BellyBoy"
Berkeley, California
September 17th, 2006
Afternoon

The Family Day Challenge

"Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you want, and let the food fight it out inside."

-Mark Twain

LOL. Maybe it is the raging fever I have of, 103.5, or maybe it is because I have an odd sense of humor to begin with, but when I saw this giant can of Manwich Sloppy Joe sauce at Big Lot's yesterday afternoon... I just had to have it! I have to confess, I have no idea when I will actually use a 6 LB 11 OZ (3.03kg) container of Sloppy Joe sauce, but I will figure something out. LOL. According to the top of the can, it doesn't expire until, March 29th, 2008, so I will have plenty of time to figure it out. Some possibilities that come to mind are, awarding it to a lucky MadLibs winner, or giving to the 10th trick-or-treater who shows up at my door on Halloween. I could mail it to my friend Patrick, as a nifty housewarming gift, since he will be moving soon. Bwahahahahaha! Just kidding Patrick! :) If you haven't already done so, be sure to drop by his blog and wish him luck in his new endeavor!

Another thought that has come to mind, as to what I should do with the Manwich can, is to give him a makeover. You know, jazz up his personality with a nifty bowtie like that hunk, Tucker Carlson, wears. LOL. Jeepers...have you seen him on "Dancing with the Stars?" How strange is that? LOL. It's even stranger to watch when one has a fever...or so I would imagine...because I really didn't tape last week's episode...to watch this weekend...nope...not I! LOL. No, I only dreamed I did. That's my story and I am sticking to it! And in yet another possibility, I could create a new photo series here on Ellipsis, "Adventures Of Manwich," in which I take the giant can of Manwich and pose him at different landmarks... kinda like flat Scalzi! LOL. Where will Manwich turn up next? Only Manwich knows for sure! LOL.

So, have you heard about the Family Day Challenge? Created in 2001, by Columbia University's "National Center on Addiction & Substance Abuse," it is a special day set aside to promot communication between parents and children by remembering to share a meal together. What a great idea. When I was a little girl, we rarely, if ever, all shared a meal at the same time. My mother had a lot of difficulties which left her to become emotionally distant, so she rarely cooked dinner for us. Dad was working all the time, so mealtime became the most fragmented time of the day, when it came to family contact. I don't know, a lot of things were assumed when I was a child, one of those things was that most families ate all their meals together. Sigh. It makes me feel really good that some honesty has finally been put into society, so that maybe one day, it will become something that everyone does...because they want to!

Alan, Elvis and I will be taking part. :) Yes, I do realize Elvis is a cat, not a child, but he is my little boy, and so why not have some fun? Alan and I don't get to eat together very often, due to his hours at work, so it will be good to make a special day of it, and take some time to slow down, and really share what's happening in our lives. For instance, he is writing a book, he is almost done, and is making notes for his next one. He shares with me all that he is doing to reach his goals, but sometimes it is while he is one the run with errands or on his way to work. It will be nice to just stop, turn off the TV, radio and computer, and just focus on each other over a nice meal.

I am really looking forward to fixing something special for dinner that night. I am thinking of a recipe for, Mediterranean Pot Roast, I created a few years ago. And as for Elvis, well, he has always enjoyed sitting on a step stool in the kitchen, while watching me as I fix dinner. Sometimes it really does seem like he is taking notes, so he can one day, fix a baked chicken like his mommy does. Gee... I really love that cat. He will have a place setting at the end of the table, right along with us. :) He is quite polite...and minds his manners. With the exception of how loud he can be, when he belches Mr. Pibb! But oh how funny it is! LOL.

Ours is not a traditional family, but we make it work. How about you? I don't think "Family Day" has any barriers on what constitutes a family, so if your children are grown or you don't have kids, how about a best friend, a neighbor or co-worker joining you for some companionship and a good meal. You could even make it pot luck, and invite several people over for the evening. It's about taking time for the people in our lives, and reminding them how important they are to us. It's about giving ourselves the gift of those we love. That includes our pets too, by the way, so be sure to include them! If you don't encourage your pets eating at the family table, serve them something special in a new bowl. Make it a treat. Now, if you want to take the challenge, you can find out all the information you need to sign the pledge to share "Family Day" with those you love. See the link below. If you do sign up for the challenge, take some photos, post an entry, and comeback here and leave your link in the comment thread for this entry. But remember that Family Day is Monday, September 25th, so I will not be doing the follow-up entry until Wednesday, September 27th. So no fair posting early! You MUST post on September 25th or after to be linked to. Hope to see you take the challenge!

Family Day Challenge

-OndineMonet
"Manwich"
Berkeley, California
September, 2006
Evening