Thursday Thirteen - once

desired male attributes
(working my way thru the alphabet....backwards)

Yummy
Yee-Ha - ing
Yeats reading
Yoda watching
Yawns rarely
Yells softly
Yule celebrating
Yellowstone camping
Yeast baking
Yard planting
Yesterday respecting
Young-at-heart
Yankee

Thursday Thirteen ~ diaz

desired male attributes
(working my way thru the alphabet....backwards)

zenith-reaching
zamboni-watching
zodiac-ignoring
zoo-going
zymo-appreciating
zephyr-loving
zoom-driving
zeppelin-riding
zoetrope-watching
zero-"bs-ing"
zest-living
zeal-feeling
zing...to my heart-ing (smile)

crazy week

I know when my life is out of control when I don't even have time to read up on.... let alone actually post in.... the blogworld....thanks for all the emails.

I'll be back....

(since Arnold became Governor...we all have to say that....smile)

first impressions

Okay...this is way fun...at least for me.

Sweet Kai ~ Buzz Queen of the Mounties turned me on to the Vancouver Mermaid at Once upon a time...

the mermaid was doing this little gig in honor of the International Day of Women and honored ME with her impressions in the following areas:

1. I will tell you what song makes me think of you.
2. I will tell you what tattoo I think would suit you.
3. I will tell you my first opinion of you.
4. I will tell you the color or flavor of jello that I'd wrestle you in.
5. I will give you a nickname.


Kathrine - remember these are based on a fleeting first impression (much like most of my opinions)

1. SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME -the best is always saved for last, much like my comment here to you:-)

2. A little musical note, tucked in anywhere you wish.

3. Your name reminded me of American Idol, wasn't Kathrine the runner up?

4. Definitly rainbow coloured jello. There's a little bit left over from all the colors I've already wrestled in.

5. I'll call you Katie Lady.

smiling....isn't this fun...(I've been thinking about a new tattoo....a musical note...tucked in....hmmmmm I am frequently runner up...)

HEY MEL....did you notice the hyperlinks?!?!? thanks again

hesitation

So I’m talking with my kid on the telephone…catching up on the nothings that make up our day. I make some comment about a little tidbet I recently learned.

And she says…. “is this something you read on a blog?”

Pause.

“yeah” I say “it might have been”

Really really long pause. Several of them.

At last she says, “you know you haven’t given me the name of your site yet”

“I just sent you little story about when I came to your office”

“yeah sure…sometimes you send me what you write…but I want you to know that I know you haven’t sent me the name of the site”

“I know…so how’s Jon?”

Feast One Hundred and Thirty Four ~ ocho

Appetizer
What is your usual bedtime? Do you like that, or would you rather it be different?
I go to bed around 11pm. I know that I need to get more sleep but some genetic mutation results in me waking up at the crack of ever-lovin’ dawn…or before…every morning.

I don’t want to go to sleep earlier…I just want to sleep later.

I totally need more sleep.
I am deprived.


Soup
When it comes to advice, do you give more or receive more?
I give more. I have an opinion on everything.

However in my own defense….people ask me for advice more often than I offer it unsolicited.

Salad
Describe a memorable meal you've had.
I love to eat and my family is big on long drawn out meals with lots of conversation and debate. So when I try and think of a meal that has a poignant memory, it would have to be the last meal I remember having with a cherished loved one. My grandmother, my cousin, and my brother. (heavy sigh)


Main Course
Name a work of fiction that affected the way you think about something.
A single work of fiction. Hmmm.

It would have to be the book “Katherine” by Anya Seton.

It is based upon the real life of Katherine de Roet Swynford who was the longtime companion and ultimately the wife of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. She was related to Chaucer (who was married to her sister) and thought to inspire his more romantic tales.

It has some fairly gory and graphic passages of the 14th century plague and war. She suffered the loss of a child and much heartache. But it is truly the most incredibly romantic stories I have ever read, seen or known. She actually has her own society these days...

katherine crazies

I discovered this book while in college. Two dozen or more of my most closest personal friends were “rf-ing” a fraternity house and I found it while emptying the library of all their books. (I should blog this story….)

Ahhhh….now I so want read this book again…..


Dessert
What is your favorite type of fruit juice?
Grapefruit – the real stuff not the sweet ruby red mix. But since I am somewhat susceptible to kidney stones I need to stay away from too much of it. It is one of the worse things I can drink (One of the best things I can drink is coffee within 20 minutes of brewing…praise God). If I am feeling deliciously decadent I love to have Pomegranate juice….but it’s a bit too expensive to be gulping down everyday. (it’s not too bad with vodka either…for those of you who indulge - smile)

thursday thirteen ~ nueve

desired male attributes
(working my way thru the alphabet....backwards)

Alluring
Almighty following
America loving
Astute
Authentic
Asskicking
Accolade giving
Arrogant
Attractive (as least to me)
Absurd
Amused
Adjusted
Adventurer

wordless wednesday

take your mommy to work day

I have actually experienced a fluctuation in the space time warp continuum.
I am left shocked and shaken.
I need to speak with Q.

My all-grown-up daughter Rhiannon lives and works in The City ( that’s San Francisco for those of you who don’t know what we cool Californians mean when we say “The City”.) She manages operations for a company up there in the financial district. They have a little office here in Santa Cruz. She and a couple of her co-workers came to town for the day.

In my truest Lorelei Gilmore fashion… I get all giddy and bail out of work early, to have lunch and spend a bit of time with my daughter. I just don’t get to see her often enough to let this kind of opportunity pass me by.

As I stepped through the doorway into the office where she was working …I felt a jolt of energy and the room kinda rocked and the lights sorta flashed. Not that unusual here in earthquake country. But no one else seemed to notice. Hmmm.

After hugging my baby with greetings and introductions all around….my daughter pointed to a desk on the edge of the room by the window…and told me I could hang out there. Cool. Laptop in hand…I set myself up…I needed to check in at my office.

I overheard her colleagues saying things like, "oh your Mom is so cute" ….and "she is just like you"…"you guys talk exactly the same" et cetera. She laughed….and I could hear her telling them funny little stories about me. (oh geez Rhiannon….don’t tell them THAT) I focused on my laptop….pretending not to hear. I’m patting my little self on my back for wearing a trendy outfit, combing my hair, and wearing makeup. Atta girl.

Wanting to check voicemail (I’m not obsessive…but I had left work in the midst of a small crisis. It wasn’t a convenient day to go AWOL…but the Mommy instinct took precedent over any sort of work obligation). I walked over to another desk to use the closest telephone.

“What are you doing?” This exasperated voice came out of my daughter’s mouth. Her eyebrows arched and her hands on her hips. I felt as if I had got caught with my hand in the cookie jar.

My response of “I was just making a call” sounded damn near whiney. I don’t whine. With a dejected put upon air…I put the receiver down and sulked back to “my” desk. Sheesh…it’s not like I was rifling through confidential documents or anything.

I had crossed over into some bizarre reverse parallel universe. Or maybe into one of those freaky Disney mother / daughter switch movies.

It was almost 1pm and not being a big breakfast kinda gal….I was starting to feel the rapid approach of the low sugar bitch. I strolled innocently into the coffee room. Looking in the fridge….opening the cabinets….poking around for a stray donut, bagel, or muffin. (yeah yeah…I only wanted the donut…but at that point in my desperation…I woulda settled for something healthy)

Again the voice. “Mommy…what are you looking for?”

Feigning nonchalance…dragging the toe of my shoe on the floor….I ask “…aren’t you getting hungry yet?” (I refrained from calling her SugarCookie while she was being all professional…but just barely) She gave me a look I am fairly certain she has seen on my face two or three hundred times. I responded with perfect innocence, “whaaaaaaaat?”

Finally…we went out to lunch. We both require straws for our water. We both ordered the exact same thing…we request identical substitutions. We speak to the waitress in the same cajoling be-nice-to-me-I-tip-well tone of voice. She grilled me about my date on Saturday. She has a few choice tidbits of advice. WhatEVER.

And then…she picked up the check.
Okay...that’s kinda cool…I can handle that.

Back at the office, I sat at “my” desk trying...really REALLY TRYING…to be well behaved. I’m getting bored and fidgety. One of the guys asked Rhiannon if I would like some chocolate. What a kiss ass. She graciously gave him permission to generously share the Godiva. I guess I was a good girl and finished my lunch.

I said thank you.
I smiled.

But I was thinking, “Where the hell were you and your little stash of chocolate when I was starving….and why the e’ph are you asking HER?”

The game is “Mother May I?”
The game is NOT “Daughter May I?”

Yes, you may.

Her boss came over bearing gifts. I now have a pen, a mug, and a thermos all with the company logo. Cool. Party Favors. Collectors Items. They told me I need to come back again and how much they love Rhiannon. What a great asset to the company she is. I positively BEAM. Proud Mommy. I am sure they think I am lots of fun and very well behaved. We are having a lovely conversation about how wonderful it is to live in Santa Cruz.

Rhiannon with the exasperation again…telling me to sit still and be quiet because she had work to do before we could leave. I tried giving HER the look. She ignored me….she was the one in charge here. Sheesh.

Next time I’m there…I swear….I’m gonna spin in the chair.

aimlessly surfing the blogwaves

Get Your Sexy Name

amazingly accurate....who are you?

oh puleeeeeezzzzzz

Okay….

Can I just say praise God for Brian Lamb and MTV???

I cannot even beLIEVE how INANE daytime television is.

I mean c'mon!!! We’ve all heard the complaints…but still…I thought there would be some old movies on or at the very least reruns of some decent television show…. but no. The airwaves are full of stupid people. Or programming specifically designed to make people more stupid than they are already.

It’s almost enough to make me want to go into work.

I find my self calculating how many minutes until 4pm and Oprah. I’ve only seen her show a half a dozen times ever….but at least it won’t make me crazy.

(that little cartoon lightbulb above my head just blew up…no WONDER so many stay at home parents are blogging!!!!!)

I'm gonna pick out a DVD to enjoy.

Manic Monday with Mo ~ "Blow" The Man Down

History of “Blow the Man” down below the lyrics (smile)

Come all ye young fellows that follow the sea,
to my way haye, blow the man down,
And pray pay attention and listen to me,
Give me some time to blow the man down.

I'm a deep water sailor just in from Hong Kong,
to my way haye, blow the man down,
if you'll give me some grog, I'll sing you a song,
Give me some time to blow the man down.

'Twas on a Black Baller I first served my time,
to my way haye, blow the man down,
And on that Black Baller I wasted my prime,
Give me some time to blow the man down.

'Tis when a Black Baller's preparing for sea
to my way haye, blow the man down,
You'd split your sides laughing
at the sights that you see.
Give me some time to blow the man down.

With the tinkers and tailors and soljers and all
to my way haye, blow the man down,
That ship for prime seaman on board a Black Ball.
Give me some time to blow the man down.

'Tis when a Black Baller is clear of the land,
to my way haye, blow the man down,
Our Boatswain then gives us the word of command
Give me some time to blow the man down.

"Lay aft," is the cry,"to the break of the Poop!
to my way haye, blow the man down,
Or I'll help you along with the toe of my boot!"
Give me some time to blow the man down.

'Tis larboard and starboard on the deck you will sprawl,
to my way haye, blow the man down,
For "Kicking Jack" Williams commands the Black Ball.
Give me some time to blow the man down.

Pay attention to order, now you one and all,
to my way haye, blow the man down,
For right there above you flies the Black Ball.
Give me some time to blow the man down.

The following excerpts where taken from a wide variety of resources all in the public domain. Words which caught my attention in addition to “blow” were: knock, man down, blowers, swallow, tail, ball, seaman (either spelling works)…yeah I’m just gonna stop there.

Blow the Man Down originated in the Western Ocean sailing ships. The tune could have originated with German emigrants, but it is more likely derived from an African-American song Knock a Man Down. Blow the Man Down was originally a halyard shanty. Western Ocean Law was Rule with a Fist. "Blow" refers to knocking a man down with fist, belaying pin or capstan bar. Chief Mates in Western Ocean ships were known as "blowers," second mates as "strikers" and third mates as "greasers."

This variant is of The Black Ball Line which was founded by a group of Quakers in 1818. It was the first line to take passengers on a regular basis, sailing from New York, Boston and Philadelphia on the first and sixteenth of each month. The Blackball flag was a crimson swallow-tail flag with a black ball. The Black Ballers were fast packet ships of the American Black Ball Line that sailed between New York and Liverpool in the second half of the nineteenth century. A sailor would arrive in America within four weeks of leaving England, and the return trip was usually less than three weeks. The faster the ship, the quicker a sailor would get paid, and the quicker he would be back to England, so naturally many sailors wanted to sail on the Black Ballers.

Sea life in those days was ruled by the whip, and the captains of the Black Ballers had a reputation for being particularly brutal. When a sailor said that a man was blown down, it meant that he was knocked to the ground. Blow th' Man Down is a song about the unfair beating of sailors aboard these ships. The ships were famous for their fast passage and excellent seamanship. However, they were also famed for their fighting mates and the brutal treatment of seamen. (Western Ocean seamen were called "Packet Rats"). Many ships bore the name "bloodboat." Most of the seamen hailed from New York or were Liverpool-Irish.

By 1880 the sailing ships were being replaced by steamers and the packets entered other trades or were sold.

Hey Sailor….

feeling lucky?

Kelly at A Yoga Coffee Outlook is giving away a Zune MP3 Player.

...this could be very cool.

Check it all out at:

www.yogacoffeeoutlook.com

tonight from the point...low tide as the sun sets on the city of Santa Cruz

photo hunting ~ week six ~ "salty"

If you have ever swam...or surfed...in the amazing Pacific Ocean...you know it can be very salty. This is my 'hood...Pleasure Point at moonrise.

Almost every day I walk along the cliffs...with the surfers, the strollers, the cyclists, the seniors, the skateboarders, and the wannabes.