Assignment Complete

Here's a picture of our refrigerator. Voila!!! This is in response to D-Cup's tag for this fun meme. I'm sure everyone has a similar mess as the fridge seems to be the go-to spot replacing the bulletin board in every home that I know. I'll try to shed some light on some of our most treasured items on display here:

1. There are several advert magnets for various businesses around Anchorage ripped from the covers of our six(yes, 6)phone books dumped on our doorstep all in the span of one week; weighing 15 lbs. Whew!

2. Photos of my best friend's niece and nephew. Gawd; they've grown so fast. There is also a photo of Bev and Les; every one's surrogate grandparents and a lot of fun. They've worked hard all their lives and never lost that wonderful sense of humor, no matter what.

3. There is the announcement of the birth of my first grandchild. You all know how I feel about her.

4. A mosaic painted pony holds a recipe that I plan to spring on K.(when he least expects it, of course!)

5. Two of my favorite magnets are the growling grizzly bear and the one with King Kong climbing the Empire State Building. My youngest gave that to me as a souvenir when she returned from a choir trip to New York.

6. My fortune cookie message revealing my "lucky" lotto numbers is being held in place by a magnet declaring free pizza delivery from a ristaurante whose location is roughly 2000 miles away. I wonder if it's guaranteed to still be warm when said pizza arrives?

7. Speaking of pizza; there are at least five ads for pizza places, including one for Mike's Pizza Palace in Valdez, AK. They are no longer in operation. Good pizza: dirty kitchen. Eeewww!

8. Did I mention that I like pizza? I do but not as much evidenced by the appearance of our fridge-scape! LOL!

9. At the top right is an add for FREE ESTIMATES from a local paving company. Our driveway is one of two or three in the neighborhood made of concrete. Concrete heaves and buckles in 15 degree below temperatures. Ours is in need of repair. Just a subtle reminder to K. that I'd like that deathtrap of a driveway with about a 12% grade remedied. It would be nice before winter gets here...

10. Last, we have our collection of old match books from all over the country. I must confess, we did not collect all of these on our own. I bought a bunch of them at antique store in Aztec, New Mexico. An amusing fellow from Durango, Colorado was the proprietor. We enjoyed our visits with him.

That wraps it up from here. If I were to tag someone, perhaps it should be http://madnessinwomen.blogspot.com

Something to think about

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And then this.

A lot about nothin'

So; for the last two days I have been doing a bunch of little projects around the casita while K. is up north for training(you mean even further north?) Yes; further north! Anyway, I've gotten quite a lot accomplished, yet managed to completely avoid the pile-o-crap I really should address on my dining room table(bills, get well cards, insurance and EOB forms, and whatnot.) Stuff that I wish my clone would handle, but she is above all that! I moved all of my herb plants indoors, as they were just beginning to get established because of the lack of sunshine this "summer"(or what is loosely termed as such around here.) They are already perking up this evening and I look forward to using fresh herbs in my food preparation this winter; though not too thrilled about winter. There is termination dust already on the mountains behind our house, and the overnight temperatures are in the mid to low 30's. I have a fire burning in the wood stove as we speak(so to speak!) The other thing I've not done is shower, as I have actually been that busy! I'm sure if anyone was around, they'd surely point that bit of unpleasantness out. Phew! I will definitely get to that tomorrow, as I'm sure to notice myself reeking after all this busy-work I'm doing so as not to notice how even more empty the house is right now. I'm sure K. will want to re-arrange a few things, and that's fine. I've hung a few paintings and moved some furniture, so if he wants to tweak it a bit; I don't mind. My goal was to stay busy and not think of political or finance news at all(oops; looks like it's creeping in.) Did I mention that I'm sick of rain. Ah, the Pacific North West. Is Alaska a part of that region? I'm not even sure. I just know that I could probably count the sunny days that Anchorage residents experienced this "summer" on less than ten fingers. Yup; great. Oh well, enough about MY day; hope all of you folks had a good one. I'm gonna watch some non-sensical television, all the while trying to ignore those Burger King and Quaker Oats ad-spots (creepy) and call it a night. Night!

Lighten up

Let's take a little break, shall we?
Smashing Pumkins' Rocket

And if you ever wanted to know what Sarah and Todd

would have named you if you were one of their offspring....
http://www.personal-space.com/palin/index.php

I am wait for it(drumroll PULEEZE!)

Icepick Motor Palin.

Has quite a ring to it, no? No.

More Food For Thought

For anyone who wants an Alaskan-in-the-Know point of view, here ya go.
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/

What else?

I just talked to my friend Patti. Sis is experiencing swelling in her legs and feet, and is en route to hospital. I don't know much else, but I hope everyone out there has a few good thoughts still left in light of this week's happenings elsewhere. I'll update when I have more info.

Love, V.

What happens when we're done here?

I've been thinking about death a lot lately. Friends on the innertubes, from childhood, and people that I love and miss ever so much come to mind to infinity when I try to rest my head at night. I'm an incurable, dye-in-the-wool insomniac, so this is just one in a long, long line of things that torment me at night when I'm desperate to close my eyes. I truly believe that we go on to another phase when we leave Earth. Something tantamount to graduate school, and then must return for more education in order to progress. At some point we get to "retire" and do what we most enjoy. Call me crazy; but stumbling upon this philosophy has made a huge difference in my life. I now feel less inclined to be fatalistic, and more able to enjoy the moment. It also makes the hope possible that I will see loved ones again
at some point, even if I don't think my seat in Heaven will be as nice as some of theirs! What do you think? I'd be interested to hear what every one's thoughts are on this one. It's quite personal, I realise; but this subject has always fascinated me.

Meatatarian

So. We are on a diet. The Low Carb Diet. I hate this one! I seriously get headaches on this diet; and I get loopy! My brain must have carbs ! This can only mean two menus. Now, don't get me wrong! I'm am a staunch carnivore. But when you get right down to it, I truly believe in a balanced diet. I also realise that we both have an affinity for breads and 'taters of any sort. Top that off with the fact that I LURV to cook, and you've got yourself a virtual recipe for disaster. I fully understand the necessity to cut corners in the culinary department, but this time; we are going our separate ways. I'll definitely do salads and chicken or fish: but I will not forgo the blessed potato on occasion, or a nice slice of home-made wheat bread...aram

(cool, huh?)

AAUURRRGGGHHH!!!

Hey everyone! Wanna know the NEW definition of Hell On Earth? Spending the afternoon in the endodontist's chair. Having my lower right second molar drilled.
For a three hour root canal. Listening to Sean Hannity AND Dan Fagan(the local equivalent of Rash Limbo!) 'Nuff said. OWWW!!!

What We Leave Behind

Something that's been niggling at my brain as of late. What ever happened to pride in what you do? My grandfather was a civilian graphic artist for the Air Force, back in the day of draftsman tables and before computer programs. The drawings he did for them were of prospective buildings, made from the builders' blueprints. They always looked like photographs. Pop-Pop always told me; "If it's worth doing, be sure to put your name on it!" Needless to say; more than being an excellent artist,
he was first a die-hard perfectionist.

I guess that's where I get it from, but my affliction is compounded with a severe case of procrastinationizm(is that even a word?!) Couple all of that with a lack of confidence, and a "healthy" dose of OCD and boy! What a fine MESS you have. That doesn't prevent me from trying my best; what ever work or task I might attempt.

I'm really taken aback by the fact that a lot people I encounter in my day-to-day life just don't give a crap. Not about the job; the work; the person(s) they are waiting on or talking to; the car they are supposed to repair; the patient they are administering to; the class they are instructing; the guy behind/in front of them; the food they are resposible for preparing; and so forth. It just makes me pause, and really pisses me off!

What happened to doing things properly because it mattered that people felt they could count on you to do so? When did the bottom line become the only way to gauge whether or not you would even venture into any effort? Customer service used to mean something. It wasn't just a job description, it was a philosophy. Craftsman-ship was not an extinct ideal; it was an art.

I feel that if people quit half-arsing things, and started caring about their own legacy, the world would be a better place to be. How do you want to be remembered? I know I've got a long way to go, but I'm gonna try to do better from here on out.

I'm also going to be more empathetic and patient; but that's another post!

Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...

Some more food for thought. Funny, I've been watching Headline News this A.M. and there has been no mention of Amy Goodman's arrest. There has been discussion of Bristol Palin's personal condition. I personally feel this is certainly not the concern of the MSM, nor anyone else other than Bristol and her family. I wish that people would show a little compassion and empathy in this situation. She is not public domain.