Scoop

Well, that's all I can say.  I checked out Scoop from the library today.  We settled in to watch Hugh Jackman, Woody Allen, Scarlett Johansson and Hugh Jackman...oh, definitely Hugh Jackman.  To say we were disappointed is an understatement.  It was close to being only of the most stupidly silly movies I tried to watch.  We ejected it after 20 minutes.  I bet Hugh Jackman wishes he had never made this bomb.  Maybe I am being a little too harsh.  After all, Hugh Jackman is Hugh Jackman...voted sexiest man for 2007-8-9???? beating out George Clooney?

Dissertation on Ironing

My thought is:  If you can avoid it, do so.  I adhere to ironing on an "as needed basis".  My ironing sessions used to be for an hour or so every week.  I ironed while I watched TV.  Then, I stopped watching TV so what to do about ironing.  That is when I had my "aha" moment.  I will iron as needed.

Let me suppose that I continued my "ironing sessions".  I would have a closet full of ironed clothes.  And... what if, "my time to go" was tomorrow?  I would have a closet full of ironed clothes.  You see...I wasted two hours. That is my ironing philosophy and I am sticking to it.

Recently a group of us were visiting.  For some reason the subject of ironing came up.  Most of  us agreed with me.  I think there was one hold out.  She used ironing as a therapy.  She could lose herself in the process.  Frankly, I think I would find another process in which to lose myself.  Another of us didn't believe in ironing at all.  She told her two boys that if they insisted on buying cotton shirts that has to be ironed, then they would be the ones ironing.  (It worked. Can you believe it; they learned to iron?)

I have noticed in the last several years that a lot of people subscribe to the "no ironing" philosophy.  They adhere to their belief with so much vigor that the pendulum swings the other way.  I think they actually wad their clothes up so that they looked "unironed"*).  Now you can even buy clothes that come with the "unironed" look.  There was a time when the only thing that looked "unironed" after you had it on for ten minutes was linen.  


Remember when:
Blue jeans used to go to the cleaners to be washed, starched and ironed with a perfect crease.
We sprinkled clothes, put them in a pillow case and in the refrigerator.
Your mother ironed the sheets and pillow cases.

When irons looked like these 










What do you remember about ironing?  Comments welcome!


* Is that a southern word? My spell checker does not like it.

Posting While Watching Paul McCartney at the White House

Married By Morning by Lisa Kleypas




This definitely was my favorite of the Hathaway Series. Like everyone else I am madly in love with Leo. Ms. Kleypas added the right amount of depth to Catherine and Leo. I loved the fact that she had them tell the truth to each other. I have always found it disconcerting when the characters drag confessions out just to keep me interested. This story kept me interested without such a ploy.


I will say, however, it seems that every other current Regency Romance I read uses a "kidnapping" at the end. Finally, it is confessed and actually expressed that long awaited for "I love you". Another thing I do not like is the need of the author to educate me on a particular subject particular to that period. I like my education to come along with the story. I do not like to stop the story for the lesson at the mere mention of a word or phrase. This happened a couple of times in this book, but was not blatant.


I am a "series" book reader and I am already of the list at my library for Love in the Afternoon. I have a feeling that Beatrix' story is going to be fun!

View all my reviews >>

Serious Collector vs. Pack Rat ????

I am a "collector".  I have been a "collector" since I was six years old when my Aunt Mavis sent me a demitasse cup and saucer from a trip.  I still have it today, along with several others. It and my stamp collection are the only collections* that survived from that time.  I also collected salt and pepper shakers, paper dolls, doll house furniture and accessories and movie star pictures from movie magazines.  All of these collections went by the wayside over time.


Now I have several collections that I no longer actively collect.  I know this will surprise you.  There is a point when I know that it is time to quit collecting a particular thing and I do...I stop!  I still have them packed away...


Swan figurines,  
Depression glass Petal Swirl...I use some of the bowls and plates on special occasions, 
Aqua pottery vases, 
Hallmark Christmas ornaments, 
Beanie Baby Bears (I gave about 80 of them to the Library to sell at one of their book sale, but I still have some), 
Paint-by-number pictures, 
View-master viewers and reels (I will still by a reel from a vacation spot :), doll house furniture (mine was lost so I recollected it and more)


I have some collections that are displayed, but I do not collect any more...

Miniature perfume bottles,
(oops, I almost forgot about the sea shells...we'll save that for another day :)






Stereoscope and cards, 
Hummel figurines,
Pop-up books, coffee table books.


I have also tucked away in my storage area  my Dad's collection of Wild Turkey whiskey bottles and Chuck's collection of menus.  There are several collections that I started when I was in the Flea Market business.  They are stored away until they become valuable.  However, I must confess they never will be.  There were too many made and too many people have become collectors...45 rpm records and players, miniature whiskey bottles.


What I am collecting now...

Squished pennies made from tourist attractions when I am on vacation,

Sterling Silver State charms for my bracelet that commemorate my having been in, through or to all 50 States,

Silk men's neck ties, 
(I think men's ties will not be worn by the typical man of the street in the future...although to look at the ties in Dillard's...I do not know who buys all of those ties. )




Miniatures for my printer's tray,
State handkerchiefs when I can find them. (I do not buy them on-line, only from antique malls or flea markets),
Quality vintage rhinestone jewelry,
*Stamps...every year I buy the Annual Commemorative Stamp Album sold by the U.S. Postal Service.


Wow, that is scary to get that on paper and no doubt I will remember some more.  I'll add them later.  My sister-in-law made an interesting observation...I seem to gravitate to small items to collect.  Maybe that is because I am, too.

INCEPTION

We just saw "Inception"!  I highly recommend it and that's something.  I am not usually interested in the same movies that interest Chuck.  However, every once in a while I will find one that I think I can watch.  






"Inception" was one of those.  So, after I got off work at noon we went on an afternoon date...lunch at Buffalo Grill and the movie at the Promenade at Chenal on the IMAX screen.  

It is hard for me to grasp the imagination of some people.  The action and the special effects  kept my eyes riveted on the screen.  The story line, although complicated, was intriguing.

Of course, Leonard DiCaprio is always easy on the eyes!  You can watch the trailer and not feel as if you have seen the whole movie.  There are many surprises to keep you guessing.  I am probably overselling, but I do think you'll like it.

Next movie for us, the Sorcerer's Apprentice
...maybe in a couple of weeks.

Continuing ... No. 45 of 50 State California

We have a daughter who lives in California on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge.  We have made several trips to see her. 

The main trip was to attend her wedding.  It became the one of the Top Ten of experiences we have had in our life time.  It took place in the Redwood Forest with a full pipe organ, a seated dinner, dance floor and band.  What an awesome adventure.





We have since
visited
Yosemite National Park, 




attended Fleet Week,  and the President's Cup at Harding Park.

We even made a trip to Monterrey for Chuck to attend a class for First Tee in order to be certified to be a certified First Tee Coach.  This one did it.   He is now a certified First Tee Coach assigned to First Tee of Central Arkansas.


It is a great place to visit!  We love California!

Until "The Sale" is over

The FOCAL "Friends of the Central Arkansas Library" Book Sale ...  this Friday, July 16 through Sunday, July 18. 

Until Sunday afternoon I do not have enough mental energy to post.  My section is "Children's" in the far back left corner of the Sale                                     Room. 

I am working Friday and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm.  I do get pizza on Friday.  

Hail, hail the gang's all here (from an earlier sale)

The Cat Who...

One of my favorite series in the Soft Mystery Genre is The Cat Who... Series by Lilian Jackson Braun.   

The Cat being one KoKo, said to have psychic powers.  I have read the whole series twice and listened to them once.  I am now starting on my third time.  I cannot tell you what I find intriguing about these books, but they do intrigue me.  




The first three books by Ms. Braun were written in the '60's.

The Cat Who Could Read Backwards 

The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern

The Cat Who Turned and Off












Then, she took a break to raise her family before writing 27 more books and three short stories.   She is not writing anymore.  Her birth year has been published as 1913 so I am not sure she is still on this plane with us.  Her last few books were not up to her normal standards.  It was time to quit.  However, I shall always love the characters and the basic story line.

Happy Fourth of July!

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,

A home and a country should leave us no more!

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!  

(Cover to music and lyrics: Reprint from Wikipedia.org)