RIP

Never, never, never give up.

Churchill

Ocean. OCEAN. OCEAN

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Fall colors are some of the things I'm most looking forward to in October.

2. Sometimes I forget.

3.Sushi, Republicans and the Coelacanth, that's why there is a saying, "never say never"!

4. When I'm down, I'm never out.

5. In front of the computer or behind a camera is where you'll find me most often.

6. A rainy day is good for homemade split pea soup.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to dinner out, tomorrow my plans include dinner out again (MIL's visiting) and Sunday, I want to run and hide!

And since I missed them -- here's last Friday's for good measure.

1. There is no need for sarcasm.

2. Where in the heck did the dog go?

3. Getting dressed is all I managed to do.

4. Prospects for a new day.

5. Peace is the message. Love is the answer.

6. Simplicity and tranquility are nice for a change.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to OCEAN, tomorrow my plans include OCEAN and Sunday, I want to OCEAN!

Not From Around Here

People are not friendly here.

A fellow from the next town down told us that was because some movie star came in, bought property and changed the tenor of the whole place – made to order Snootyville.

Whatever.

I live in a resort area. I know how annoying tourists, their titanic RVs, and stupid questions can be.

Is this the way to the lake?

Remember that bridge you crossed five miles back?

Yes.

That was the lake.

Still, I’ve never been rude to a tourist.

They’re on vacation.
They’re guests here.
They’re walking that way ‘cuz their head’s up their ass.

I didn’t say I liked them.

When we see someone so at odds with local norms (either by dress, speech or action) that they stand out like Hugh Laurie’s ass on a cloudy day, we say,

Not from around here.

First day, early morning stroll to the beach. Called Good Morning, to a few locals standing in their yard, got glared at in return.

Hmm. Perhaps the salt air has rusted their manners.

When Honey Bunny paused to look at a blackberry bush, an old lady yelled at him from her balcony even though he was on a public road, and had his hands in his pockets.

He wasn’t stealing her blackberries. She screamed at him to get down the road.

Welcome to Oregon.

Cruising the main drag before dinner one evening, we stopped to let a young couple jaywalk in front of us. The man smiled and waved a thank-you.

We said in unison, Not From Around Here.

I watched them to their car. They weren’t. Out of state plates.

Here’s some advice for the Chamber of Commerce of Snootyville:

If your main business is fleecing the tourists, accept that tourists will be milling around your little berg.

Consider opening a Charm School for your snotty natives because there are other lovely places to visit.

Like Montana, where the people are friendly, the air is clean and there is always plenty of room to turn around a titanic RV.

Camera Shy

This trip, I took only one camera, one lens, no film, no computer, no photo safe, no backup.

I was practically naked.

It wasn’t long before I missed the 8 mg Oly, because that one slips right in a pocket.

But.

I had left it home, in a TSA fear-induced coma.

I took 939 pictures in three days with a Nikon D40 and a 55 to 200mm zoom lens. I filled one 4 gig SD memory card and half of another – which is easy to do when one is trying to get a picture of a flock of pelicans flying in front of the setting sun and the pelicans a l m o s t cooperate.

Actually, those are seagulls.

Here are the pelicans.

Neither flock cooperated.

I had to content myself with sun, sand and surf.

Beach Redux

I'm back.

Did ya

did ya

did ya

miss me?

Threat Effect

I haven't flown since 9/11.

Not because I was afraid of terrorists; because I couldn't think of anywhere I wanted to go, bad enough to get frisked.

I was also not encouraged to stand in line with other travelers, joyfully surrendering their civil rights in the name of presumed safety. I sometimes get scrappy standing in lines. I decided I'd rather not end up in the Federal Pen for being a smart ass, so I stayed home.

Now, in a miracle worthy of Vatican attention, I get to go to the OCEAN again. Yes, you heard that right. Twice in one year.

*

To meet Honey Bunny after his work conference to spend the weekend at the beach, I have to fly.

Alas.

Well,

they say, it's not all that bad, anymore.

TSA's got it down to a science. You'll be whisked through that risk assessment, bag screening, metal detecting station before you know it.

Wham, Bam, Move Along Ma'am.

Just remember not to bring an ice axe, meat cleaver or more than three ounces of liquid.

Honest, they're on the list.

So, I'm trying to think of something else.

Ocean, OCEAN, OCEAN.

By the time you're reading this, I will either be on my way to a romantic weekend on the Oregon coast, or the Federal Pen for unrepentant smart-aleckiness.

Some things, dear hearts, don't change.


*Hugh Laurie

Sofia's Escape

And she's not even a terrier!

Watch the faces on the two left behind --

Be attentive to time and the way you spend it.

Nothing is more precious.

This is evident when you recall that in one tiny moment

heaven may be gained or lost.

The Cloud of Unknowing

Kill The Wabbit

Remember when the best part of the movies was the cartoon?

Friday Fill-Ins #89

1. I enjoy the beach.

2. The collective intelligence of America is something I wonder about often lately.

3. In your heart, you knew you wanted it.

4. Take rum, (no, wait, I'll take the rum.) add a little tonic, peppermint and lime, and you end up with Heaven on earth.

5. Life has gifted me with persistence. (An annoying virtue at best.)

6.Reading a good book is an instant vacation.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to I have to make a pie for the community bake sale, tomorrow my plans include avoiding further bake sale entanglements, and Sunday, I want to a movie would be nice!

Vote

We used to say perfume on a pig, but anyway you look at it, that's one well-accessorized porcine.






Found this over at Fond of Snape.

It's Never Too Late To Have A Happy Childhood

Nice article about Tom Robbins' advice to writers.

Stop worrying about getting published and concentrate on getting better.

That was some of the sage advice the celebrated novelist offered writers at a literary seminar last week in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

“Focus on the work itself and not on what may or may not eventually happen to it,” Robbins said. “If the work is good enough, it’ll take care of itself.”

Full article here.

You Know You're In Montana When . . .

Summer is over, but hope springs eternal.

Manic Monday

If you could choose only two movies to watch ever again, what would they be?

Wizard Of Oz and Dirty Harry.

Are you a good witch or a bad witch?

Feel lucky punk?

What have you found to be the best way to relieve tension?

Rum.

If you went to a beach and it turned out to be a nude beach, would you stay and go swimming?

First I'd have a good look around, and stare until I either had a heart attack or barfed.

Would you swim nude?

Well, I have gone nude in the hot tub at the gym in the ladies room, and considered myself daring. Then one day, a naked older woman felt faint, staggered as she climbed out of the tub, sat down suddenly on the edge, and slumped over. And there I was, also naked, minding my own business, and I thought, oh glory, I'm going to have to resuscitate a naked old lady and when the paramedics get here, we're gonna look like a scene from bad lesbian porn. Luckily, she recovered without my naked assistance, but now I think about that every time I see the hot tub on the way to the steam room where I keep to myself.

Procrastination

Night Mysteries

Beach Zen

You Know You're In Montana When . . .

September 1st, snowing in Butte.