Here A Lie, There A Lie

"Take our politicians: they're a bunch of yo-yos. The presidency is now a cross between a popularity contest and a high school debate, with an encyclopedia of cliches the first prize."

- Saul Bellows

I am not sure which politicians Saul Bellows is referring to with that quote, but it certainly seems to fit our current choices. I guess some things never change. Sigh.
So, did you watch last night's presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain? I did. In fact, I had been looking forward to it all week, as I sat glued to the news regarding the seemingly imminent Stock Market collapse, and the failure of our economic system.

In an effort to understand things better, I have been playing a little game with myself for the last couple weeks. I chose a stock that had been struggling, and invested a nominal amount of fantasy cash, $200.00, just to learn about what it must feel like to those men and woman who are standing at the brink of financial ruin. I chose the amount, based on a percentage of what we have been able to save lately. It's a fair amount for such an exercise I think. If nothing else, the recent financial mess we found ourselves in, with the California Budget stalemate, forced us to tighten our belts, and the result was a bit of a savings in the bank.

Every day, when I logged on, I checked the opening quote and then watched the stock periodically throughout the day. Some days it didn't move much, other days it did a great deal of moving, mostly in a downward motion. I read financial articles about the stock, and what was causing it's downturn, and I watched as it held on for dear life, and then finally fall into an irreversible coma late Thursday night. Yep, you guessed it, I was watching Washington Mutual. See, I felt I kinda had a stake in it already as a depositor there. I should have know it didn't have a chance when I bought the original stock a couple weeks ago for $2.10 per share. But I saw some possible light when a week later it had risen to about $3.60. Oooh, bliss.

I had some hope at that point, maybe, just maybe, if they could hold on and ride out the storm, it would work out for the troubled savings and loan. Alas... along came nervous investors, and the market fell off sharply, and Washington Mutual didn't have a chance. It might have survived if the bailout had been implemented as soon as Bush and Paulson requested it... but wouldn't that have been a scary proposition?As I watched the whole thing unfold last week, all the twists and turns and political maneuvering, I learned a lot more then I bargained for.

I learned that you can only cry WOLF so many times, after that you are pretty much left in the woods, some very dark and creepy woods, with your own devices for finding your way home again. If you don't believe me, just ask President Bush. Actually, I learned the moral of that story in kindergarten, from the story, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, but apparently not everyone has read that book, and as a result, Bush has lived his presidency crying wolf, and now he has learning the lesson.

He has lied, and demanded and generally gone about thinking he is king of the world his entire time in office, so, last Monday he and Paulson submit a 3 page report to Washington that basically said, there is a big, snarly, farty, mangy, drooling, flea infested, cross eyed, one lipped, 7,000 lb wolf in the forest behind the red houses and blue houses, and he is going to pounce if we don't get him NOW! We got to nip him in the bud. PRONTO! Otherwise, we will all be eaten up and farted out. To which Washington, said, wait a second... not so fast... maybe we don't have to nip him in the bud, maybe we can accomplish the same thing by starving the wolf to death, as opposed to nipping him in the bud... if indeed there is really a wolf.

Now with all that in mind, along comes the first presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama. I was looking forward to finally hearing something about what kind of future we are in for. Both men were asked about what they will do about the economy, how they felt about the proposed bailout of Wall street, and how we will dig ourselves out from the brink of disaster. Neither candidate could really say, because the bailout situation hasn't been decided upon, we did however, get some idea of what areas might be cut, due to the overwhelming deficit one of them will inherit. As I sat, listening to the two sniping at each other, and the never ending condescending "I don't think he understands" from McCain, it occurred to me, that I wasn't going to make up my mind until I read the analysis from Factcheck.org, that would be in my mailbox today when I woke up.

I wish Factcheck.org had been around years ago. I like knowing who is lying to me, and who is stretching the truth. When all was said and done last night, John McCain had lied again and again, and misrepresented Obama again and again. Don't get me wrong, there were misrepresentations on both sides throughout the night, but McCain has seemed to circulate more and more negativity since the very beginning, and even when he has been called on his lies, half truths, and misrepresentations, he has dug in again and again, rather then relying on the truth to make his case for the White House.

I used to have some respect for John McCain, but it has eroded greatly. As for Obama, while I haven't always believed he could deliver what he has promised, I do think he is more in touch with what's happening right now. By all accounts, when he attended the meeting at the White House this week regarding the bailout, he at least asked a series of questions about the package, and it's consequences for America. By some reports, McCain did little for the process, and indeed may have been more of hindrance, then any real help. Obama showed some strength and leadership to me.

So, while I am looking forward to upcoming debates, especially the Sarah Palin/Joe Biden face off next week, I think it will be more of an exercise in amusement, rather then anything that will affect my decision making come November. In truth, I have already decided how I will be voting. See, I will be voting for the candidate that lies to me less. It's just that simple. Go Read FactCheck.org's,Whoppers of 2008, and make up your own mind.

-OndineMonet
"Decision 2008"

Carly's Chicken Bella Gusto

"One of the very nicest things about life, is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating."

-Luciano Pavarotti & William Wright
Pavarotti, My Own Story

On my sidebar it says that, among other joys in my life, cooking is a passion for me, and Italian cooking is a specialty of mine. I like cooking, and concocting my own recipes is my favorite way to enjoy food. More so then even eating the food, I enjoy making the food. Taking all those fresh ingredients, and putting them into something delicious makes me feel like a success. Hey, I will take my successes where I can get them! LOL. Last night, in an effort to chase the blues away, I decided to make a new chicken recipe. I wasn't sure what I wanted to call it, but after I tasted it I chose simply... Carly's Chicken Bella Gusto, which means, Chicken Beautiful Taste. There are similar recipes out there, I am sure, but I put a few specific touches to it that makes it uniquely mine. :)

Carly's Chicken Bella Gusto

4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (trimmed of fat)
1 jar Classico Cabernet Marinara sauce
3-4 cups, frozen chopped spinach
2 cups marinated, julienned cut sun dried tomatoes
2 cups chopped French Feta cheese
1 0z. shredded Mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 375. Spray a medium sized baking dish with cooking spray. On a cutting board, lay open chicken breasts, and pound out to 1/14 inch thickness, and brush lightly with butter. Divide the spinach among the 4 chicken breasts, followed by the sun dried tomatoes and the feta cheese. Secure with tooth picks, and bake for 35 minutes in the oven. After 35 minutes, check the temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer. If it registers at least 140 degrees. Pour the sauce over the chicken, and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese, return to oven and cook and additional 35 minutes, or when the temperature reaches 185 degrees and is no longer pink inside. Oven cooking times vary, so watch it carefully to avoid overcooking. Chicken is done when it reaches 185 degrees.

Enjoy.

-OndineMonet
Carly's Chicken Bella Gusto
Berkeley, California
September 25th, 2008
Evening

Lazy Days

"When we are tired, we are attacked by ideas we conquered long ago."

-Friedrich Nietsche

Autumn always heals me. Along with it's cool mornings, and warm afternoons, comes my peace of mind. I have never been able to figure out what it is about this season that allows me to think so much clearer, and sleep so much sounder, and live so much better, but somehow it does. Have you stepped outside yet, for the sole purpose of looking at the how the autumn sun plays with the color of leaves and flowers, and of course the sunset? Here on the west coast, we are all about the sunsets, but I think next month, I will try for at least one sunrise. I think Alan and I will get up really early, or perhaps not got to bed at all, and head across the bay to San Francisco, to watch the sun rise over the bay. Maybe the view from Twin Peaks would be the best place to be, as the sun lights up all those amazing tall buildings. The view from up there is magnificent.

I haven't done as many photos this year as I have wanted to. There have been a ton of reasons. The price of gasoline, my diagnosis of degenerative arthritis, Elvis's cancer, the drama with the state budget. I get sad when I think about it all at one time, so I won't dwell on all the reasons, I will just say that sometimes life gets busy, and sometimes I have the energy of a toddler, and sometimes, not so much. That's just life... right? It just is what it is. The last few days I have been somewhere in the middle, but today I am really tired, and it is not even noon yet. I feel quiet, and a little bit unfocused. Not really uninspired, just maybe, well, little inside.

I am not taking my mood lightly. I am going to fight back. Later today I am going to ask Alan out on a date to Starbucks for a Venti/Shaken/Ice Tea/Lemonade/with Passion tea. YUM. If you haven't tried it yet... go get one now. It will hit the spot, trust me on that! (Insert BIG smile here). And for dinner tonight I am planning on whipping up a new recipe for stuffed chicken breast. Autumn always seems to inspire my cooking as well. But for now, however, I am going to bow to my mood, and be lazy for the next few hours. Cream of Tomato soup, and a toasted cheese sandwich for lunch, my Elvis by my side, a wonderful warm cropped sweater around my shoulders, and a good book in my hand. Lazy in the afternoon.

Lazy Days
By Robbie Williams

Lazy days calling to you
Come out to play
The future lies with you
Now you can be sure love is the cure
What we're searching for
Is to have a jolly good time

Crazy days, but you'll get me through
And here I'll stay, holding on to you
Now you can be sure
Our thoughts unpure
Will unlock the door
And we'll have a jolly good time

It can happen in any season
We don't need any reason
To sit around and wait
The world can change in a second so
I find the sunshine beckons me
To open up the gate
And dream and dream

Lazy days don't let the get you down
Where your smile
I don't to see you frown
Don't let them get you down

It can happen in any season
We don't need any reason
To sit around and wait
The world can change in a second so
I find the sunshine beckons me
To open up the gate
And dream and dream

The we will have... a jolly good time.

-OndineMonet
"Yellow Reflections"
Cull Canyon Park
Castro Valley, California
September, 2007

Fall Back

"The ancient Romans had a tradition: whenever one of their engineers constructed an arch, as the capstone was hoisted into place, the engineer assumed accountability for his work in the most profound way possible... he stood under the arch.

-Michael Armstrong

Lately, I have had an old saying on my mind. "Spring Forward... Fall back." As a small child, I thought it was nifty, just nifty. What a cool way to remember that the earth, at least here in the northern hemisphere, will soon be sinking into shorter, darker days. I guess I have had that quip on my mind lately, because of all the turmoil in the Stock Market. It is a perfect metaphor for the current situation. Think about it. The Bush administration has insisted for years that the very foundations of our economy were sound. We were a resourceful people, and therefore we would come out on top. We would survive. Well, I suppose everything does look much more alive in the spring... doesn't it? I suppose when we all closed our eyes, and tried to believe it, we were smack dab in the middle of our springtime mentality, but now the leaves are falling, and so is the economy.

The fact that the Bush administration has been given a free ride, in terms of accountability, has disturbed me for years. I am sure you have read my rantings over the years I have been blogging, but at every turn, Bush and company, have been written a blank check, and therefore we have found ourselves in yet another mess, and it will be you and I who clean it up. Bush will leave office, without taking responsibility for whatever damage is caused by the latest blunder... namely... the failed economy and his plan to save it. Not only is there no concrete guarantee that it will work, but if it indeed fails, we will be in roughly the same boat we are in now, and no one will have to answer for it.

When Nancy Pelosi sits down with the Bush administration to iron out the details of the current ""Bailout" proposal, she will ask for perhaps a second stimulus package, and food stamps, and caps on the retirement packages for the executives of the major banking institutions that allowed this situation to build into the catastrophe that is taking place before our eyes, but if she stops there, she will have let us all down once again. She needs to demand that the question of accountability for what happens next, not be a question at all. The Bush administration needs to finally have the buck stop with them. They need to be held responsible for what they have done, and will do in the coming weeks and months. I think it's about time the free ride stops. Demanding that accountability be written into the proposal must not be negotiable. It must become a fact of life. When all is said and done, I wonder who will actually take responsibility for this mess?

Winter 2008...

"I hope you're confident about our economy. I am. We've got some short-term issues to deal with. Fourth quarter growth slowed to .6 percent. In other words, there are signs that our economy are slowing."

-George W. Bush, January 30th, 2008, speaking at the Robinson Helicopter Co. in Torrance, California.

Spring 2008...

"In the long run, we can be confident that our economy will continue to grow, but in the short run, it is clear that growth has slowed."

-George W. Bush, March 15th. 2008 weekly radio address.

"One thing is for certain... we are in challenging times. But another thing is for certain... that we've taken strong and decisive action."

-George W. Bush, March 17th, 2008, after meeting with economic advisers.


So tell me, what do you think will happen? Will we avoid a full on financial depression, or will we fall completely? How much faith do you have in the Bush administration plan to bail out Wall Street? What is the biggest struggle your family is facing right now? How closely are you watching developments in the Stock Market? Will you be shopping more, or less, this upcoming holiday season?What was your "Back To School" shopping like?


Share your thoughts with me.

-OndineMonet
"Falling Leaves"
Oakland, California
September 21, 2008
Afternoon

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #4: Welcome To Autumn!

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree."

-Emily Bronte

This Photo Shoot Is Now Closed! :)

Autumn begins today, at 8:44 AM Pacific time, let's show it a good time, shall we?

EMPS #4: Welcome To Autumn!
I love autumn, simply love it, so, lets have a little fun with the earliest moments and days of my favorite season. Grab your cameras, and treat me to what the first few days of autumn look like in your neighborhood. The leaves, the sky, the autumn light, folks wearing sweaters, or still enjoying picnics outside among the falling leaves. If you customarily have warm autumns... show me that! If you are beginning to feel the chill... then show me that! In other words... show me what signs of autumn you are seeing this week in particular!

**You don't have to post your EMPS entry only on Monday! As always, you have until the following Sunday evening, at 9:00 PM Eastern time to submit an entry.

**After you post your entry, comeback here and leave me the complete link. Not a general link to your blog or journal. Please check your link carefully.

Linking List For EMPS #3: Cheese Please! 9/15/2008

NOW CLOSED!

Karen, shares a Monty Python cheese shop sketch, and her puppies bark "YES" to BabyBel Cheese!

Wammy, and her family, love cheese. In fact, they recently took some cheese along on a family adventure. Read all about it here.

Martha makes four different kinds of pizza, all delicious looking, and all featuring cheese. YUM!

Thanks everyone!

Ok, you know what to do! GO BE PHOTOGRAPHERS, and GO GET THE PICTURE! See you back here in one week, with your links, and a brand new EMPS assignment!

-Carly

Photo Tip #4: Use The Sun.
Photograph your subjects with the sun to your back, so that the full light illuminates your subject, and you avoid washing out the picture with too much direct light.

A Night Safari For Two

"I cannot walk through the suburbs in the solitude of the night without thinking that the night pleases us because it suppresses idle details, just as our memory does."

-Jorge Luis Borges

Alan and I went on another date the other night, we decided to visit the Conservatory of Flowers in the evening, rather in the daytime when we usually do. The conservatory introduced something new this year, that goes along with it's display of butterflies. The Night Safari. For the same admission price, you come to the conservatory on the first and third Thursday of the month, with flashlight in hand, to view the large Luna, and Cecropia moths, which usually reside in the rafters.

The Night Safari's have been running since last April when the exhibit opened, but this was the first chance we had to get over to the city on a night. It was the second to last night safari that they have scheduled, so there wasn't many of the big moths to be seen, but it was also rather fun to hunt the usual suspects of Monarchs, Buckeye, Gulf Fritillary, and Crimson Longwing butterflies.

I wasn't too disappointed that there wasn't a glowing Luna moth fluttering about, and neither was Alan, we have just resigned ourselves to be more on top of things if the conservatory decides to bring the night safari's back. Hopefully they will stick to the schedule, of offering this exhibit every two years. My fingers are crossed! It was a delightful way to spend an evening, and wandering around in the conservatory at night was both spooky, and romantic at the same time! Alan is a fun date.

Afterwards we drove across town to Ghiradelli Square, for an ice cream. We took it to go, and ate it outside under the big Ghiradelli sign. Vanilla with warm caramel sauce for me, Java chip, with hot fudge for Alan. I don't indulge in ice cream very often, so it was a nice little treat. Somehow ice cream just tastes better when you haven't had it for a while. Still, I think we will be going back there soon. It was just too good to stay away! And besides, how many really good dates can you have for under $20.00!? :)



Buckeye



Crimson Longwing



Yellow Orchid

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-OndineMonet
Conservatory of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
September 18th 2008
Evening

Round Robin Challenge: It's Not Easy Being Green

"The one had leaves of dark green, that beneath were shining silver, and from each of his countless flowers a dew of silver light was ever falling, and the earth beneath was dappled with the shadows of his fluttering leaves."

J.R.R. Tolkien

I have changed my mind, several times in my 46 years, about what my favorite color is. I love pink, especially if it is paired with yellow, and the funny thing about that is, I can't really wear either color successfully. Both colors, on me, look hideous. I like the color mauve, and I do a little better with it then pink, but if given a choice, I will simply take purple. Purple has been my favorite color for a while now, but the thing about purple is there is very little that can go with it, so I will tend to go back to the color I wear most often, which is black, because I can wear just a splash of any color I want. But even black gets old after a while. What to do? What to do? I know! I will go back to the color I always go back to when I feel like I am in some type of transition... Green.

I love the color green. It is one of those colors that put me at ease, no matter what turmoil might be going around. I like photographing different shades of green, and of course, what would and afternoon be, without my green tea fix? I hadn't realized how much green was actually in my life, until I began to do this entry. I have green sheets on my bed right now. My favorite autumn sweater is green. Life wouldn't be worth living, if I didn't have my nightly vegetable, especially a crisp green salad. When I set out to find the green in my life, I discovered it is absolutely everywhere in my world. Maybe that is why I have been feeling a little more centered lately. Heck, even the cover for my Yoga mat has a deep green background, with tiny multicolored (but mostly green) dragonflies on it.

The lighthouse you see above, is one of my very favorites. It is the Walton Lighthouse, which is in Santa Cruz, just a short hop from the boardwalk area. It had some controversy a while back, when there was a movement to paint the bands around the top red, and replace the lantern with a clear one. Public outcry saved the unique green colors of the lighthouse, and now you see it in all it's lovely green splendor!

Here are some more of my favorite green things...

Late summer in Berkeley, still a little green left to enjoy as the seasons prepare to hand off to each other.

The gorgeous green cliffs along Highway 1.

The Luna Moth. I think it kinda looks like a ballerina. What do you think?

Is there such a thing as a white/slightly green tarantula?

YES! Brussels Sprouts are a favorite vegetable of mine in autumn and winter.

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Where did the idea for this challenge come from? Glad you asked. Our friend Julie, who can be found at the blog, Julie's Web Journal, submitted the idea of a green challenge for us. Be sure to go by her place and see what green things she posted for this challenge! And after you do, pay a visit to all the participating Robins! Let's be sure to show our support of one another, by paying each other a visit, and commenting. It's a great way to get to know one another! If you haven't played yet, there is still time. Just visit the official Round Robin blog for all the details!

Linking List

Julie... Julie's Web Journal
Posted!

Karen... Outpost Mavarin
Posted!

Carly... Ellipsis
Posted!

Wammy... The Ellis Family Cincinnati
Posted!

Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
Posted!

Martha... Perception
Posted!

Maryt... Work of the Poet


Marie... Photographs & Memories
Posted!
And... Photographs & Memories Too
Posted!

Maria... Maria's Space **Welcome New Member**


Valerie... Soulfully Blond **Welcome New Member**
Posted!

Jennifer Robin... Robin's Woods
Posted!

Vicki... Maraca
Posted!

Erin... Life of a College Student **Welcome New Member**
Posted!

Gina... Gina's Space
Posted!

Momma... Sandcastle Momma
Posted!

Em Dy... Captured Beat
Posted!

Ourhomeschool... Our Home School in the Woods
Posted!

Kiva... Eclectic Granny
Posted!

Steven... (sometimes)blog
Posted!

Connie... Far Side Of Fifty
Posted! **Welcome New Member**

Greg... Photo Trek
Posted! 09/21/08

Jeni... Friendphotog
Posted! 09/21/08

Just a reminder, there is still time to play the Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot. The week the topic is "Cheese." You have until 9:00 PM eastern time Sunday night to post your photo, and leave me the link.

-OndineMonet

The Gates Of Heaven

"Sunsets are so beautiful that they seem as if we are looking through the gates of Heaven"

-John Lubbock

Here is my last summer sunset for 2008! We had an unusually mild summer this year, there were only few days that I can were summer like. Even yesterday, when I took this photo, I was wearing gloves. Strange summer. The sunsets this year have been magnificent, I didn't photograph as many as I should have, but I plan to rectify that. I am hoping to make autumn, all about the sunsets! Wish me luck, now that I have said my plans out loud... lol... you just know something will try to stand in my way! We'll see.

So tell me, how was your summer in terms of the weather? Are you looking forward to autumn arriving? Tell me everything.

-OndineMonet
"Gates Of Heaven"
Point Montara Lighthouse
Montara, California
September 18th, 2008
Twilight

Martha's A-Z Photo Challenge: "M" Is For Morning Glory

"I think it pisses God off, if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it."

-Alice Walker

I can't believe we have already arrived at the letter "M" in Martha's A-Z Photo Challenge! But we are indeed here, and I found it difficult to narrow things down to just one "M." I think I came across more items I could have used with this letter, then most of the other ones. If I hadn't narrowed things down, I would probably have a dozen or so pictures with this entry. Mountains, M&M's, Meat, Morning, Monkeys, Music, the possibilities were endless. In the end, I chose the Morning Glory that is growing in abundance along my garden fence this year. I am noticing it more, I think, because for my birthday we bought a really lovely garden swing, and I have been spending a lot of time out there reading. I love how the Morning Glory takes on a different appearance depending on what time of day you are enjoying it. And that color. I can understand why purple is a royal color!

Be sure to go by Martha's journal, "Perception" to see her "M" photo, and find the links to the other participants in her A-Z Photo Challenge. It's not too late to play along, so go ahead... go play! Its fun!

-OndineMonet
"Morning Glory"
Berkeley, California
September 15th, 2008
Morning

A Day Spent In The Surreal

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living."

-Dr. Seuss

Ever have one of those days when nothing seems quite right? Kind of like you are living in the same world as everyone else, and yet you are half a step behind the natural flow of things? It's during those times that coincidences tend to occur. When you experience deja vu, over and over again. It's when you might just glimpse a specter out of the corner of your eye, or a funny light in the sky, that could just be someone from some far off community in space about to pay you, specifically, a visit.. You trip over invisible objects, and misplace your keys, only to find them later in a place you looked a dozen times. On days like the one I am describing, you just know you are moving through time and space, and for all practical purposes, it's completely out of your control as to who, or what, might cross your path.

I was having that kind of day a while back. I was running into walls, and forgetting to shut doors. Twice I picked up the phone to call someone, only to hear them saying "Hello, Hello," into the receiver. I had picked up the phone, before it even rang! I found a box of old love letters, quite by accident, written to me by an old flame, who I had dreamed about the night before. I called and asked Alan what he wanted for dinner that night, and without saying a word to him about what I was hungry for, he said "Yankee Pot Roast." The very thing I had been hungry for all day. It seemed that during all this missteps, there was something serendipitous also occurring. I was experiencing a phenomena of sorts. I was in both the right place, and the wrong place at the same time.

I got through the day with only a few silly bruises to remind me of the day, and as twilight was approaching I was glad that the day was nearly through. Most of the day I had felt so uncomfortable, and out of place, that it had made me feel weary. It was all quite spooky, and at one point I realized that more then anything else, I had felt as if I wasn't gliding through time, so much as time was stuttering, and I was the only one who noticed it. That's not exactly something you want to say to the person next to you in line at the grocery store. "Excuse me stranger, do you feel like maybe we are hurling through time out of control, and by the way, did you just feel that stutter? I had a chance to ask the person behind me in line at Lucky's just that question, but I had been distracted by the fact that the total for my groceries came up to $106.90.

I was ready to be home after that. I was done with that day. So, in an effort to shake off the wiggins, I put on some nice music on my care stereo. I am tired of the mixed CD I made a while back, so instead opted for the KFRC (106.9) instead. Classic hits from the 60's, 70's and 80's. As I started to leave the parking lot of the store, Huey Lewis and the News began to play, "The Power Of Love." That was the favorite song of the boyfriend who had wrote me the love letters I had found earlier that day, and who I had dreamed about the previous night. I hadn't thought of him in years, and now he was solidly in my thoughts. It wasn't really love between us, but it was a solid infatuation to be sure. He took me to see the movie, "Back To The Future" which of course is the movie in which this song is featured.

About half way through the song, and about five miles from home, I saw a silver car pull out from a side street, and move in front of me, and it was... you guessed it... a DELOREAN! I had to smile. Neat! How weird had this day had been! Wonderfully quirky, with the exception of the running into walls, but now, this bit of fantasy, things seemed to going full circle. Hmmm... given all the coincidences, could it maybehaps be Marty McFly in that car? Is Doc Brown somewhere nearby? Maybe it was Doc Brown in the car! Or maybe it was simply a case of being in the right place, at the right time to see one of the only 6,500 Delorean's that are believed to still exist!

In any case, it was fun to follow that car, and maybe daydream for a bit that I could be caught in the wake of it's possible trip through time, even for just a moment or two. After all, I had been traveling through time all day! Alas, as the car pulled onto HWY 13, and out of my sight. I was back to the present again, and almost immediately, everything, including time, seemed to correct itself. For the rest of the evening, everything seemed back to normal, it seems my day of the surreal had ended. As weary as the day had left me, I would have experienced it all again for that little bit of fantastic distraction. Hmmm... I wonder if the old flame had thought about me too that day? I don't really want to know the answer to that question, it's much more fun to wonder. That's what fantasies are for... right?

-OndineMonet
"Back To The Future Of The Past"
Berkeley, California
Sometime In The Past

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #3: Cheese Please!

"Many's the long night I've dreamed of cheese, toasted mostly."

-Robert Louis Stevenson

EMPS #3: Cheese Please! NOW CLOSED!
For this week's photo shoot assignment, I thought it would be fun to get creative with one of my favorite things... CHEESE! There are literally, hundreds of different kinds of cheese, and I am pretty sure I love them all, so this week, it's all about CHEESE PLEASE!

**After you post your photo shoot entry, come back here and leave me the direct link to your entry. NO HYPERLINKS PLEASE!

**Please check your link carefully. Keep in mind, that it is your responsibility to submit your link information correctly. The link you leave me, is the link I will post!

**You have until 9:00 PM Eastern time next Sunday to submit your entry. After that time this challenge will be closed!

LINKING LIST FOR EMPS #2: "Water In Motion" 9/8/08

NOW CLOSED!

1. Karen, shares a fond memory of her dog, Tuffy, playing "The Water Game" with a garden hose.

2. Greg, photographed water moving majestically in a stream.

3. T.J., gets artistic with droplets of water, while keeping up with her grandson.

4. Vicki, was "making a splash" with waves she photographed while out on her boat.

5. Steven, paid a visit to Longwood Gardens, and shows us water coming from a birdbath, that looks like a silver ribbons.

6. Jama, takes us back to the beach!

7. Ahh... Laura brings us water from a faucet. "Drip Drop, Drip Drop."

8. Sandcastle Momma, shows us a series of photos featuring some serious waves, and one in particular seems to be chasing a Heron.

9. Martha, displays three scenes of water in motion, one by way of a waterfall, and two at the beach!

10. Tammy posted two photographs of her favorite decorative sprinkler in her garden. Beautiful!

You guys submitted some really great photos this week, I enjoyed them very much. Now, as I said last week... "I am ready to see more!" GO BE PHOTOGRAPHERS, GO GET THE PHOTO, and I will see you back here on Ellipsis in one week with a brand new EMPS assignment!

Photo Tip #3: Look For Lines
Use shadows and natural lighting to create interesting lines within your photos.

-Carly

And The Emmy Goes To...

"To refuse awards is another way of accepting them with more noise than is normal."

-Peter Ustinov

Well, one week from tonight I will put on my high heels, my one evening dress, and I will pop some Pizza Rolls in the oven, then settle in to watch the 60th annual Emmy Awards. I miss the days of my friend June holding her silly awards parties. She didn't always hold an Emmy Award party, but she never missed the Academy Awards... not ever! I thought about holding a shindig, but in the end, I thought it would be fun to just watch the show with my favorite date, Elvis. Alan has to work, so it is just me and my elegant little friend for the evening. That's ok, how many ladies can say that they will be dining with a man in a tuxedo next Sunday night? Tee Hee. My boy never let's me down!

As for the show itself, I must admit to being somewhat bored in recent years. I think if asked to name my favorite moment from past shows, I would have to go all the way back to 2001, when Ellen DeGeneres hosted it, right after the terrorist strike on 9/11. She made me laugh... and laugh... and laugh again. We all needed that, but I haven't been really, truly entertained since then. Am I being too critical? Have you enjoyed the Emmy's the last few years? If so, sing out in the comments, tell me what you think!

As for the nominees this year, I am a bit amazed that more awards weren't offered to what I consider the best new show of the year last year, Pushing Daisies. It was new, creative, and beautifully filmed. Unfortunately, I think it was lost a good bit when the writer's strike hit, as were many other shows I think should have gotten a nod, such as Private Practice, and Big Bang Theory. As for the reality catagory, how could they have possibly overlooked, Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, or Hell's Kitchen? Sigh. The unfairness of it all! :)

So tell me, in the following categories, who will you be rooting for? Here are my Picks...

Outstanding Comedy Series

30 Rock
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office
Two And A Half Men - X

Outstanding Drama Series

Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost - X
Mad Men

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Tony Shalhoub (Monk)
Steve Carrell (The Office)
Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies) - X
Charlie Sheen (Two And A Half Men)

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

James Spader (Boston Legal) - X
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
Hugh Laurie (House)
Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

Tina Fey (30 Rock) - X
Julie Louie-Dreyfus (New Adventures Of Old Christine)
Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?)
America Ferrera (Ugly Betty)
Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds)

Outstanding Actress In A Drama Series

Sall Field (Brothers And Sisters) - X
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
Glenn Close (Damages)
Mariska Hargitay (Law And Order: SVU)
Holly Hunter (Saving Grace)

Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

The Colbert Report
The Daily Show with John Stewart
Late Show with David Letterman - X
Real Time with Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Reality Program

Antiques Roadshow
Dirty Jobs
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Intervention
Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List - X

Outstanding Reality Competition Program

The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With The Stars - X
Project Runway
Top Chef

Outstanding Made For Television Movie

Bernard and Doris
Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
A Raisin In The Sun
Recount - X

So tell me, what do you think? Will this be a good year for the Emmy Awards? Are your favorites among the contenders? If so, who are you rooting for? Will you be watching the show with me, or do you just hate awards shows? Tell me everything!

-OndineMonet

If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Want To Be Right ;)

"All you need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."

-Charles M. Schulz

Today, September 13th, is National Chocolate Day, do you know where your dessert is? LOL. I have to admit, I probably don't have as strong a love for chocolate as most folks, but I also have to admit that there are times when nothing else will compare. Since being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes last year, I have made the nutritional changes to my diet into a bit of a game. I have tested the affects of different foods on my blood glucose levels, and experimented with different ways of tweaking recipes to help in managing and meeting my dietary goals. I saw my diagnosis not as a setback in life, but rather a new way to take care of myself, and a new way to channel some creativity.

Today, my doctor is thrilled with me, and my ability to keep my blood glucose numbers in what she calls, "the fantastic range." Most of the time, I register numbers that would be considered good for non-diabetics. All the time I invested in myself has paid off in the form of being able to be a little nutritionally naughty on days like this. NATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY! I am planning a nice healthy dinner tonight, to be followed by a slice of Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake. The one you see in the above photo to be exact. Dark chocolate is good for you, and it is good for the diabetic, when enjoyed in the proper portions. It's fun being a little naughty once in a while, especially if I know that along with the thrill, I am also taking care of myself.

So tell me, will you celebrating National Chocolate Day? And if so... how? What is your favorite chocolate indulgence? Do you prefer white chocolate, dark chocolate or milk chocolate? Tell me everything... you know you want to!

Dark Chocolate Makes Your Heart's Blood Flow (Diabetes Health)

-OndineMonet
"An Assortment Of Sins"
Berkeley, California
September 13th, 2008
Morning

Carly's Hawaiian Ribs

"Did you ever stop to taste a carrot? Not just eat it, but taste it? You can't taste the beauty and energy of the earth in a Twinkie."

-Astrid Alauda

With all this talk recently of "pigs" I found myself with a serious hunger on for pork ribs! LOL. So, what's a girl to do, but yield to her hunger by making some in her handy dandy crock pot! What a fabulous invention that little darlin is. The most difficult part of the recipe process, is waiting the 5 hours for the ribs to reach their maximum tender juiciness. Oh my, the house smelled so good, and my goodness how my stomach roared. I LOVE cooking. I LOVE channeling my creativity toward recipes, when I am too sore to do my photography the way I would like to. And as we inch ever closer to autumn, my mind is swirling with ideas for recipes I have been inventing. I think for my next trick, I will be making some Creamy Pumpkin soup for dinner next week. We'll see, but for now, here's how I make my Hawaiian Ribs...

Carly's Hawaiian Ribs

1 med. Rack Pork ribs, (bone in) cut into individual ribs (about 8)

1 can Pineapple chunks, in light syrup, (drained w/syrup reserved)

1/2 sm. package Baby Carrots

1 tbsp. Hot Mustard (dry or prepared)

2 cups Yoshida's Gourmet Sauce

1/4 cup Brown Sugar

On the night before you make the ribs, add the Yoshida's sauce, hot mustard, brown sugar, and pineapple syrup into a large Ziploc bag. Add the ribs to the bag (divide the recipe and use two bags if necessary) and toss well to coat the ribs on all sides. Allow to sit overnight in the marinade. Next day, place the ribs, carrots and pineapple in the crock pot, and cover with the marinade. Cook on high, 4 - 5 hours or until the pork reaches 170 degrees.

Enjoy!

See, couldn't be easier! So tell me, do you use a Crock Pot? What is your favorite meal to make in the autumn? If you do use a Crock Pot, what is your favorite recipe to make in it? Tell me everything?

-OndineMonet
"YUM... Ribs"
Berkeley, California
September 11th, 2008
Evening

911 Once Again

"Tears are the safety valve of the heart, when too much pressure is laid on it."

-Albert Smith

Well, as of today, it has been 7 years since the worst terrorist strike on American soil occurred. I hear a lot about how safe George Bush has made us, but has he really? Yes, it's true we haven't been struck again, and some efforts to do so have be thwarted, but I have to continue to ask one question... WHERE IS BIN LADEN AND WHY HASN'T HE BEEN BROUGHT TO JUSTICE? Is there any real excuse, or reason that actually makes sense? Do you think he will ever be caught? Will Bin Laden ever be made to pay for what he did? I wonder.

-OndineMonet

Applauding The Vagina or The Woman Who Wouldn't Be President

"My idea of feminism is self-determination, and it's very open-ended; woman has the right to become herself, and do whatever she needs to do."

-Ani DiFranco

A couple of weeks ago, I paid a visit to the Rosie The Riveter Memorial in Richmond, California. As far as I know it is the only such memorial in honor of the idyllic WWII icon. It might be small in size, but it packs a punch by way of the powerful images of real women who did more then their share for America. My mother was one of those ladies. She didn't talk much about that time of her life, but I know she counted those years among her most rewarding, both for supporting her country on the home front, and handling herself against the gender discrimination of the men working alongside her.

As I looked at the photos that were displayed in the memorial, of WWII women working in all kinds of industries, I wondered how those women got up every day and went off to the shipyards and the airplane hangers and faced making a much lower wage then the men who had occupied the same jobs in the months before we were plunged into war? It was socially demanded to expect hard work and patriotism from those ladies, and it was taken for granted that if she was both, she would accept the lower pay with supreme gratitude. It wasn't wonderful, but it was expected, and to a certain degree it worked for those of that era.

Here we are, 60 some years later, and women are still making much less then their male counterparts. In fact, women make only about 77% of what men do. Why is that? I can remember the bra burning, and NOW posters of the late 60's and 70's. The debate continued somewhat into the 80's, but by the time the 90's rolled around, you really didn't hear too much about it anymore. Why did the push for equality lose steam? Did we give up? And here's a question for you... are all vagina's created equal?

It disturbs me that there is such a push to put a woman in office, that we will consider voting for any woman who might end up on the ticket. I am hearing on the news, and from other sources, that women in this country will vote for the Republican ticket for no other reason then there is a woman on it. Somehow, to me, that takes all the hard work that women have done since the beginning of the Women's Suffrage Movement, and turns it to something a lot less powerful... something almost trivial.

It seems to me, the push for equality meant more then just putting a woman into a position traditionally held by a man, it meant showing the world that a qualified woman could not just hold those positions, but indeed excel in those jobs. I don't personally believe that Sarah Palin is qualified for the office of vice president. I believe that voting for her would mean a serious setback for the woman's movement in general, in that she is against not just Roe v Wade, but she is also against abortion even in cases of rape or incest. It makes no sense to me.

It shocked me when I heard on World News Tonight the other evening that women showed up for a John McCain rally simply because Sarah Palin was there. They wouldn't have come to hear anything from the contender for president, but they would to hear from the woman. The woman who wouldn't be president. And the really strange thing is, to date, she has said very little about what she stands for outside of Alaskan politics. In fact, more false rumors have been circulated about her, rather then the truth, because she has refused interviews. Although she has agreed to an interview with ABC's World News Tonight anchor, Charles Gibson, for tomorrow, Thursday, September 11th. I have to wonder about the timing.

Look, here's the thing. If we (women) vote this lady into office for no other reason then she is a woman, we will be setting ourselves back 200 years. The war in Iraq is not "God's will" as she asserts, anymore then WWII was. That isn't just a stupid notion, it is a deadly one. War is pretty much mankind made. She grins and waves her NRA card with such glee, and then preaches family values while combining the two into a family activity by shooting animals for sport with her children. When some nut goes on a rampage with a gun and kills an innocent person, is that "GOD's" will also? And while she didn't actually engage in book banning, she posed the question to the librarian in her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska, and isn't that sad? There is one other thing about her that really disturbs me. You know that rumor about her belonging to a group that sought to succeed from the union? Well, she never belonged to that group, but her husband did. Sigh.

When you add it all up... is that really who you want in the White House? As I stood, looking at the photos of women who weren't defined by their politics, working side by side for a greater good, I felt inspired, but when I go home, and listen to women of my own generation willing to throw all that hard work that came before us away, I just feel empty. And to a certain degree... embarrassed that we would follow in the steps of some men, who would vote for someone solely because of their gender. It's a waste of the privilege of voting.

Interesting Reading...

Votes For Women Timeline

Why Do Women Earn Less?

-OndineMonet
"Rosie The Riveter Memorial"
Richmond, California
September 3, 2008
Afternoon

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #2: Water In Motion

"A strong man and a waterfall always channel their own path."

-Unknown

EMPS #2: Water In Motion.
For this assignment, any type of moving water will be perfect. Let your imagination out to play. Photograph a waterfall, a fountain, the ocean moving in and out, raindrops landing in a bucket, a lawn sprinkler watering the yard, water being poured into a glass, even water running under a tap will do nicely. You get the idea, WATER IN MOTION.

**After you post your photo shoot entry, come back here and leave me your complete link with all the information. NO HYPERLINKS PLEASE.

**Please check your link carefully, it is your responsibility to submit the information correctly. The link you leave me, will be the one I post!

** You have until next Sunday evening, at 9:00 PM Eastern time, to submit your entry for the assignment.

LINKING LIST FOR EMPS #1: "Let's Say Hello" 9/1/08

NOW CLOSED!

1. Karen, says hello in a series of photos, some of which are Dr. Who inspired!

2. Gattina sends out a little hello from Belgium.

3. From Singapore, we have Jama smiling for the camera.

4. Kiva, poses for the camera in a some different hats.

5. Our new friend Greg says hi, with some gorgeous mountains in the background.

6. Martha, and friends, wave hello to us from an AOL Journal's get together.

7. Laura shares with us, both a lovely self-portrait, and a nifty photography tip as well.

8. Nancy shows us a a self-portrait from a "different perspective." Shiny!

9. Wammy, who hails from Cincinnati, shows us her lovely smile, and a little black camera!


Thanks for playing along with my first photo shoot assignment, because of you, it was a success! Now I want to see more! So GO BE PHOTOGRAPHERS, go get the photo, and come back here with your link, ready to show me some WATER IN MOTION!

Photo Tip #2: Look For Crisp Clean Backgrounds.
Try to avoid backgrounds that are too cluttered with objects which might distract from your subject.

-Carly

Round Robin Challenge: Blog Spot

"My ideas usually come not at my desk writing, but in the midst of living."

-Anais Nin

Alan teases me when he says that "most of my friends now live in a box on my desk." LOL. Yeah, I have gained a lot of wonderful blogging buddies over the years, you know who you are, but they hardly live in a box on my desk! Nope! They live in the computer on my desk! And there it is! Tee Hee.

I have been thinking about the subject of my desk for quite a while, in fact, a similar topic to this one was going to be the first photo assignment for the Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot, but Steven beat me to it! LOL. Great minds think alike I guess. It happens. Anyway, like I said, this is my blogging spot. I am happy with it, it is comfortable. What you don't see is the little area under my desk where Elvis sleeps and gnaws on my knees. It's more of a tickle then a bite mind you, but I will save that for another entry!

Here is a close up tour of my desk...

I am currently reading "Fair Game" by Valerie Plame Wilson

One of my favorite bears Windy :)

My Favorite games; 5 Crowns, Quiddler, Backgammon, SET

My favorite CD ROM game The SIMS2

A box of holiday tea, that sits in a little cubby hole with all my favorite calming teas and potions. :)

The idea for this challenge came to us by way of Martha, who journals at "Perception." Great idea my dear! Go and see what her blogging space looks like, and then be sure to visit all the participating Robins. Just follow the links below!

Linking List

1. Martha... Perception
Posted!

3. Carly... Ellipsis
Posted!

4. Karen... Outpost Mavarin
Posted!

5. Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
Posted!

6. T.J. ... T.J.'s Photo Blog
Posted!

7. Annie... Pictures of Craziness and Me and my Phone
Posted!

8. Whammy... The Ellis Family Cincinnati
Posted!

9. Jama Hameed... Sweet Memories
Posted!

10.Kiva... The Eclectic Granny
Posted!

11. Maryt... Work of the Poet
Posted!

13. Greg... Photo Trek (Welcome New Member)
Posted!

14. Raven... Raven's Lament (Welcome New Member)
Posted!



If you would like to play along there is still time! Just visit the official Round Robin blog for all the details!


-OndineMonet
"My Blog Spot"
Berkeley, California
September 3 2008
Morning

What Would You Have Said To The Man From Great Britain?

"The very purpose of existence is to reconcile the glowing opinion we hold of ourselves with the appalling things that other people think about us."

-Quentin Crisp

The other day, while in Golden Gate Park, I had an extraordinary experience happen to me, one the solidifies my belief that once in a while, one must venture out into the world, rather then veg in front of the computer, because out in the world is where you find life, opinion, and experience. You see, the other day, I met a tourist, a world tourist really, who makes London his permanent home, but who is currently touring the world, and who just happened to be in San Francisco on the same day I was.

The British man with the brown shoes had an easy smile, and talked about how much he was enjoying America, but that he hadn't been fond of Monterey. He shared that he thought the Oregon coastline was stunning, and that he would like to see it in winter sometime. We talked about how lucky he was to be in the Bay Area, during a week when there was hardly any fog, a rarity really, and then we paused, as the conversation lulled a bit.

The British man broke the silence by asking me a question that I should have been able to answer without hesitation, but instead I answered with great embarrassment, "How do you feel about George Bush?" He asked. I was taken aback for so many reasons. First of all, I have never been asked that question by someone who lives outside the United States. In all the time I have spent in the city, and all the folks I have talked to with all the many languages, not one person has ever asked by opinion about Bush. In the moment I had to think about it, I considered apologizing for Bush's actions, I considered being offended by the smirk on the man's face, but in the end I merely muttered, "I am looking forward to him leaving office." It was as honest as I could be in that moment.

"Do you think he will leave office?" Asked the man. "Yes" I replied, "according to our Constitution he has to." The man simply widened his smirk and said, "But hasn't he pretty much made your Constitution into rubbish?" Sigh. I felt sad as I realized the man's opinion of the U. S. politics, the president, and of Americans as a whole. It made me sad, and a little defensive to think I had to somehow justify the mess we are in around the world to a total stranger in the park. "Well," I said, "he has taken some liberties I believe, but he will be leaving office soon, and then we can set about rebuilding America's reputation, hopefully." The man said nothing for a long time. "Well, what do you think about John McCain, and Sarah Palin? Asked the man after a moment. I simply smiled and said, "Actually, I am supporting Barack Obama, and Joe Biden." Again the man said nothing.

A long quiet rested between us, and after a little while I got up to leave. I wished the man a safe journey. He smiled a polite smile, and shook my hand. "Good luck with your elections," he said. I just smiled and then I turned and walked away a little shell shocked. Why hadn't I told him that I think John McCain would bring nothing but further humiliation to America? Why hadn't I mentioned how embarrassed I was by Sarah Palin's speech the other night? How can the GOP on one hand be touting change, when their speeches were filled with the same belittling rhetoric that they have been spouting for years? How can they on the one hand, call young people to think about serving something greater then themselves, and on the other hand, mock Obama for his community service and leadership? But then again, how would I explain that to a total stranger, from another country, when I don't understand it myself?

So tell me, if you had met the man from Great Britain, what would you have said?

-OndineMonet
"The Man From Great Britain With The Brown Shoes"
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
September 4, 2008
Afternoon

Pretty Wings

"Just like the butterfly, I too will awaken in my own time."

-Deborah Chaskin

I know I always say this when I discover a new butterfly, but, isn't she beautiful? This is a female of the Mexican Bluewing, or Myscelia ethusa. It is a medium sized butterfly, which behaves a lot like the monarch, in that in flight they don't seem to move their wings as fast as some of the smaller butterflies do. While it is called a bluewing, the colored bands on the wings actually appear purple, rather then blue. I enjoyed watching it, and studying it the other day at the conservatory, in fact, I think it might make my list of personal favorite butterfly species to watch. I always learn something new from these amazingly beautiful creatures.

Additional photos...

Mexican Bluewing (Myscelia ethusa)

Learn about them here...

Bluewing Information

-OndineMonet
"Mexican Bluewing"
Conservatory of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
September 3, 2008
Afternoon