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Friday, February 26, 2010

Friday Mieography

This one is very short, which is a bummer, I'd like to find more information about this lady.


Margaret Abbott was born in 1878 in Calcutta, India. Her family was from Chicago, where they had presumably moved back, before she and her mother moved to Paris, to study art and music, with Degas, and Rodin. While they were in Paris, they learned of of the Olympic Golf Event, and, both of them decided to enter. She is the first American Woman to win a Gold Medal. (Her mother took 8th place). The year was 1900. She played in a skirt and high heels.
An interesting fact is that at the time, Margaret thought it was just some sort of international competition, it was not billed as the olympics. She never knew she actually won a 'gold medal'.
Her score, for any curious? A 9 hole score of 47.
She married noted American humorist Finley Peter Dunne, and lived with him in New York City.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Wordless Wednesday

So This is what 40 looks like....



Thank you everyone for the good wishes. Daryl the card (s) are lovely, and Nana Kaos, nothing makes me laugh more than a Sock Monkey, or two. What an awesome birthday card!!!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Hello from the Dungeon!

to visit me in the dungeon, go here (oh, and you can see the other people's answers there, too...)

The Rules : Once you have been tagged (or commanded by the Queen) you are supposed to write down the top 25 SEVEN songs you cannot live without. The ones you can listen to over and over and never get tired of. They don't have to be in any particular order. These are the songs that make you laugh, cry, think of an old friend, whatever the reason. I know it's impossible for many of us to narrow it down to seven. There are just too many songs. Instead, make a list of seven songs that move you personally and tell us why. What memory does the song evoke? What emotion? Where were you when you first heard it? We'd like to know what's in your musical memory bank. Name seven songs and tell us about youremotional connection to the song.
Fair enough?


Let's get started!

1. Thunder Road- Springsteen. I just love the lyric of this song, and the simplicity. I could be Mary, wanting to escape with a boy in a fast car that showed up to rescue me. I probably would have had I known such a boy...where was I when I first heard it? I don't know. It's always been present

2. Red Admiral Butterfly- James Galway and the Chieftains. I played the flute from 4th grade, to 12th grade. I was no slouch with the instrument, but listening to this particular song makes me wish that I could have played like either James Galway, or Matt Molloy, who bring me to tears when they play. Unless I am driving, I usually close my eyes when this song is on, it's just one I can feel. And sometimes, I need to listen to it at least two times to be satisfied.

3. You Don't Own Me- Lesley Gore. This is one of the first songs I remember hearing where a girl was not all sickly sweet over this boy, letting him do what ever he wanted. Instead, she called him out and plainly said that he did not own her, and she was not a toy. It resonated with me. I still know every word to this song. It is a very empowering song, one that I recommend to everyone.

4. Alison- Elvis Costello. I don't really know what it is about this song. I just love it. And Elvis Costello. And his wife Diana Krall for that matter...in its own way, this song is wistful, but fun, Mr. Costello has a way with lyric, I think. I was stationed in Japan when I first heard this song.

5. Hysteria- Def Leppard. Just hearing this song takes me back to the 80's, high school, and a lot of goofy stuff my friends and I did while listening to Def Leppard. Someone had the tape, and we listened to it at school during lunch on a regular basis. I can still smell the hairspray..

6. I Don't Wanna Play House- Tammy Wynette. My Dad introduced me to Ms. Tammy, and some of her songs are so heartbreaking. Her incredible voice helps. This one, in particular, struck a chord with me. Odd, because my parents have been together FOREVER, and I never really knew a divorced couple until I was at least 10 years old. My dad owned the record, which I swiped from him, and played upstairs in my bedroom all the time. It is another song that has always been in my musical memory.

7.
Belly Dance- The Wicked Tinkers. I am betting most of you have not heard of the Tinkers. They are a bagpipe/metal-ish band. This song is mesmerizing, and its even better live and in person. I actually heard it live, first, at a local Celtic Faire. Then I went to their booth and bought all their CD's. They are national, though, and in iTunes if you are so inclined. You won't be disappointed...

Now because I am in the dungeon, I am going to take liberties with this weeks meme (which will probably get me more time, but what the hell) and list seven PRISON songs (no, not poison songs, Bret Michael is a horrid toad) that I am probably listening to, curled up in the corner with my threadbare blanket, and my vase of tulips....

1. Folsom Prison Blues- Johnny Cash
2. Jailbreak- AC/DC
3. Chain Gang- Sam Cooke
4. Jailhouse Rock- Elvis
5. Nebraska- Springsteen
6. Cell Block Tango- from Chicago
7. In the Jailhouse Now- from O brother where art thou

Monday, February 22, 2010

the direction of television, at least in our house

It seems to me like lately, every time you turn on the television, you can find a reality show about home renovation. Usually, home renovation gone wrong.

Or some other real-estate reality shows. We've been watching a lot of them, actually, the renovation ones can be kind of scary, though, especially because even though it's been almost a year, I am not quite over the whole wood floor installation fiasco. (For the record, that asshole has STILL not come back to finish what he promised us. Think he's going to? Nah, me neither.). Still, we would like to, eventually, renovate our house. We have some good idea's, too, nothing crazy, just some things that we'd like to add, like a built in pantry, a mud room, a master suite... (both bedrooms here are pretty much the same...). But it's not like we're living in squalor. I love our little house.
The show that makes me crazy, usually, though, is House Hunters International. MOST of the people they show on there are these crazily pretentious people who seem to just want to show off the fact that they can purchase an island vacation home somewhere in sunnier climes. I swear the producers of that show go out and find the most annoying dumb asses they possibly can to feature. Every now and then they do "real" people, like the Canadians last night who live in more snow then I would ever tolerate who saved money for years and years and years to buy a cheap condo in the Dominican Republic. (they were kind of nice people, it seemed. Woman said "eh?" quite a bit... would have been a great drinking game).
For some reason, though, we find ourself watching these shows, a lot. Its fun to look at the other houses, even if the people are annoying...

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Wordless Wednesday



Valentine's Day Style :)


Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Queen Meme Tuesday- and she had a grumpy VD...

The UnValentine Grumpy Meme

1. I, Mimi Pencil Skirt Peace Woman, have officially declared war on Valentine's Day. If I see one more chocolate rose covered in stupid red tin foil paper I'm gonna have a fit. What did you get for Valentine's Day?
Well I did not get chocolate roses! I got a vase of tulips, which are my favorite flowers. Better yet, my Jeep got cleaned for me, which is EXCELLENT. And I got a sweet card, and then a card that involved Transvestites... awesome. We also had a nice dinner. (Am I going to the dungeon for this answer?...)

2. What will you miss most about Valentine's Day? I will miss, um, the opportunity for nice tulips, and cards with transvestites on them? Oh, and the conversation hearts.

3. What could you have done differently yesterday to make the day sweeter? Gotten more sleep, probably...

4. How many roses make a dozen? It depends on which person is giving them to you.


5. You and your love are getting matching tattoos for Valentine's Day. What will they be? Ouch. They will be non permanent Henna tattoos. Of sea turtles... (?....)


6. My kingdom for a man who can spell. I am so tired of getting text messages from college educated 45 yr old men like .....I miss u ....wat up?.... B there by 8... or the ever popular U home? Does your significant other have an annoying cute little habit you'd like to break? Yes, he reads my blog (Hi sweetheart!). Seriously. Um, annoying habit... annoying habit... he is a blanket hog in the cold weather...




7.
What did you get someone for Valentine's Day, if I may ask? I got MM a tres romantic gift. A laser leveler with a tripod, some sour patch kids, the DVD Young Frankenstein, and a card.

8. No one is looking. I promise.
Write one word on this candy heart you've been dying to say to a romantic connection from your past. I will not tell. Just one word? I have to have four, and they are "Grow The Hell Up".


9. Be a poet. Write a 4-line poem starting with Roses are red....Roses are red,
but Tulips are better
I need to go out
and buy a new sweater.

10. What song best describes your Valentine's Day experience this year?Bolero...
why? Because I like it and I could not think of anything. My brain hurts.

11. I, Mimi Grumpy Skirt, am so glad this meme is almost over. This is my final question. I made it eleven questions in honor of the 11 roses I didn't receive. Aren't
they lovely? This is my final final question, Regis:
Two c
upids are in a knock down drag out fight on the floor of the Senate. One is a constituent from Venus, the other from Mars.
What is the name of the legislation are they fighting over?
The Poisoned Tipped Arrow Ban

as usual, for more fun, go here

Monday, February 15, 2010

playing hooky

When I was a kid, there was nothing more fun then staying home from school and hanging out with my Dad. Not that I got away with that very often. But every now and again....

My Dad always worked swing shifts. He wouldn't leave for work until around 2 in the afternoon. We would spend those hooky days watching old television. Hogan's Heroes, Dialing for Dollars, Green Acres... M*A*S*H. Dad would make one of his signature sandwiches, that usually involved at least 3 pieces of bread, peanut butter, bologna, jelly, mustard, onions, the kitchen sink...
No one else ate one of Dad's sandwiches, for obvious reasons. He would always offer us one, and seemed baffled when we refused....
I kind of miss those days, playing hooky with Dad...

Friday, February 12, 2010

Friday Mieography


Temple Grandin was born in Boston, Mass. to Richard and Eustacia Grandin. When she was three years old, she was diagnosed as autistic. It was recommended that she be institutionalized. INSTEAD, her mother placed her initially in a structured nursery school, got her some speech therapy, and had a nanny come in who could spend hours playing educational games with her, and her sister. When she was four, she began talking, and making progress. She went to 'traditional' schools, but has said that middle, and high school were the worst years of her life. She was incessantly teased and picked on, with people calling her "tape recorder" because she repeated things over and over again. She ended up attending "Hampshire Country School", a boarding school for gifted children. She went on to college, earning a bachelor's degree in psychology, and a masters degree in animal science, and a doctorate in animal science, as well.

She is considered a philosophical leader in both animal welfare, and in autism advocacy. She has been quoted to say "I think using animals for food is an ethical thing to do, but we've got to do it right. We've got to give those animals a decent life and we've got to give them a painless death. We owe the animal respect." She has written and been published of more articles then I could count on this subject. She also has designed many things to improve the treatment of cattle, including new chutes to "dip" cattle in that prevent them from drowning, and even curved corrals, that decrease the stress in animals that are being led to slaughter. (she figured out that cattle take comfort in herding in circular patterns). She's even managed to win awards from PETA.
She has never married, nor had children, she says "the part of other people that has emotional relationships is not part of me". She currently lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she continues her work in animal science and welfare, and autism rights. She is a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. She also enjoy's horseback riding, science-fiction, movies, and biochemistry.
She's written multiple books about autism and Asperger's Syndrome (a form of Autism).
She is now, also, the subject of an HBO film about her life, entitled, appropriately, Temple Grandin. And I am watching it, right at this moment....

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Wordless Wednesday




Meet Lulu and Mischa, who belong to Mr. and Mrs. Kilt...

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Queen Meme Tuesday




Sometimes silly. Sometimes serious.
Always fun!
Step out of the box. Be creative.
Use your imagination.No one's answers are quite like yours.

It's time for the circus. We are all going!
Fun for the whole family, right? Hmmm....depends on your taste. Whether you're a fan of circus tricks, sweaty animals in a ring, fire breathers and bearded ladies or you find it all just a wee bit offensive, never let it be said that memers in blogland have no opinions on the matter. Whatever your preference, these photos leave much to the imagination and could be explained in a variety of ways. I found some amazing lithographs from the early 1900s depicting the Greatest Show on Earth and some from Cirque du Soleil. Back in the day when the circus was the circus instead of a commercial fest and a legal team from PETA standing behind each elephant.
This is your task.
I've provided ten pictures from the wonderful public domain land of Wikimedia.org.
Your job is to caption them.
Use humor, satire, serious commentary, personal recollections of your own circus experiences or just plain silliness...I'm sure you can find something to write about that will make us laugh, cry, or think.
I warn you though. This picture meme isn't as easy as it looks.
Let's get started.

*these are in a different order because my copy and paste went wonky...**












What Jim Morrison really meant when he sang "Come on Baby Light My Fire"


...and if you see a little girl in a Gingham Dress, don't trust her!



I Knew I'd get stuck with this job when the lion bit off my other leg...



Just look away once, lady, that's all I need...


I'm Henry the 8th I am...

If only I'd chewed off my opposable thumbs...

Where were you ten years ago..


Bitch, you stole my boyfriend, you only THINK I am going to catch you




Horse: "I wish this lady would stop wearing stiletto's"



"I thought we were pigs, not elephants"

Monday, February 8, 2010

waking up emotional

I am a fan of sleep. Always have been. I get really kind of pissy when I don't get any. (I am sure many of you notice that!)

And, as it has been well documented, on both mine, and Cami's blogs, many of us in my family are very prolific dreamers. And we remember our dreams.
For the most part, this is nice. I like the internal storytelling that goes on in my head when the lights are out. But now and again, I have dreams that aren't very nice. And because my dreams are so detailed, and I remember most of them, in detail, I wake up with the emotion that I was experiencing in the dream still coursing through my veins.
And that?
sucks.
I've had days where I woke up angry from the get go, because I dreamt of an argument with some one.
I've woken up sad, because someone died.
I've woken up scared, because of nightmares.
And, Sunday? Horribly, I woke up heartbroken, because I had a dream that MM got tired of me and got me to move out of the house. Into an ugly apartment, with ROOM MATES, and none of my familiar belongings around me. I was so distraught over this one, that I scooted across the bed at approx. 3 am until I located him, woke him up, and discussed this particular dream with him. He was very sweet and reassuring, for 3 am. Especially because we hadn't gone to bed until midnight...
I MUCH prefer waking up happy, after good, happy dreams. Thankfully the bad ones are not frequent flyers...

Friday, February 5, 2010

Friday Mieography


Abigail Jane Scott was one of eleven children born to John and Anne Scott, near Groveland, Illinois.

At age seventeen, her family moved to Oregon, in a wagon pulled by oxen, over the Oregon Trail. Her mother, and one of her brothers died during their move. The rest of the family settled in Lafayette.
She married Benjamin Duniway, producing a daughter, and five sons. They lived on a backwoods farm", where Abigail wrote, and published a novel "Captain Gray's Company". It was the first book commercially published in Oregon.
Unbeknownst to her, her husband made a bad financial deal, and, they literally lost the farm. Then, he was injured, badly. Abigail had to support the family.
For awhile, she ran a school, then, she opened a millenary and notions shops. She sold it, eventually, and moved her family to Portland. Her husband got a job with the U.S. customs service there. She began to work for women's rights and the suffrage movement in the Pacific Northwest. She founded a newspaper called "New Northwest, and served as its editor, and writer. One of her brothers also ran a paper in Portland, and was very much against suffrage, and his sister. She also published her own serialized novels in her paper. She also managed a northwest speaking tour for Susan B. Anthony. She continued her work with suffrage, and founded the Oregon State Women Suffrage Association, and organized the Oregon State Equal Suffrage Association, of which she was the president. During this time, she was criticized, and attacked, both verbally, and physically. Sadly, her only daughter died at age thirty one, of tuberculosis, and that same year, the women's suffrage referendum failed in Oregon, and her organization fell apart. She moved to Idaho, where she lived for the next eight years. She continued to work for the suffrage movement in Idaho, where the suffrage referendum passed.
She returned to Oregon, and revived her suffrage association, and started another publication, "The Pacific Empire". This paper also was for suffrage, and, had her novels in them. Once again, she was under attack. Years went by, with many, many defeats of any suffrage referendum. Finally, in 1912, one passed, and the governor of the state asked Abigail Scott Duniway to write the proclamation, in recognition of her long struggle. She was the first woman in her county to register to vote, and was the first woman in the state of Oregon to vote.
She completed, and published her autobiography, then died in 1915.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

1. An unexpected blizzard occurs. The power goes out for 10 days. There is no food in the house, no gas in the car, no heat, no TV, no computer, nada! You are snowed in and can't get to the store for supplies. How would you survive? How would you get out of this mess?
Lucky enough for me, we live on a property with plenty of trees, and we have fire wood. I have a snow shovel and I know how to use it. I can get a fire going, melt snow into acceptable water, and, well, I have 2 dogs, 3 cats, and a fish tank...

2.
Tell us about your last snowball fight. During the winter those are a semi regular thing around here. If we walk out the front door, and there is snow, someone is going to get pelted with it. Even if it's just one of the dogs.

3. You have been asked to make a snowman. What is his name? Periwinkle

4. I have mountains of snow outside my door. I would like to make snow soup. What is the recipe? STAY AWAY FROM THE YELLOW SNOW. Other than that, just get a big pot, some local vegetation, and go for it! Snow soup is never made the same way, twice.

5. It is Day 5 of the Big Blog Blizzard. You have been hunkered down for a very long time and in danger of losing your sanity. Your blog neighbors (that would be us) come callin' to see if you're OK. We peek in the window. What do we see?
What are you doing in there? You more than likely see me sitting there, typing on a dead computer, and talking to the 22 pound black cat like she understands me....

6. Who is the flakiest snowflake in your life?
Past or present. We are each, in our own way, a different kind of snowflake. For me to pick out the flakiest would tax my brain too much

7. You are Snow White. Which dwarf is your favorite and why? Sleepy. Because I love a good nap.

8. What is the most fun you've ever had inside during a snowstorm? I enjoy just being INSIDE during the snow storm, relaxing with my family, happy that we are all safe, and warm and don't have to venture out into it!

9. What was Jack Frost nipping at? Jack is a meanie, and nips at anything he can get to in his realm. I think his mom didn't breastfeed him...

10. Due to blobal warming (that's blog + global for all you non-blog speakers) your snowman has prematurely melted. What was his last request?
That we turn him into snow soup


Ah, that was fun. Though I hope by doing this the weather doesn't turn on me, and we get a snow storm tonight!! If it does... well.....
for more fun, go visit the Queen here

Monday, February 1, 2010

stop time!

Oh, for heavens sake
Its already February.
It just doesn't seem possible to me. Time is just flying. I blink, and more time escapes me. This is a big month in our house. Mustang Man and I both have birthdays this month, and, of course, there is VD... the day used to harass men into buying women costly jewelry, flowers, and other baubles. (For the record, I love the romantic notion of the day, just not the 'purchase costly things!' message that has been associated with it).
Anyhow
February.
a busy month for us. I have the honor (cough cough) of turning 40 (gasp) this month.
I am struggling some, with that. Honestly, I am.
I can hear some of you now, saying to me, as others already have "its just a number". Yes. It is a number. I get that. But its going to be MY number. And, I just don't quite know how to feel about it.
40.
it even looks odd to me..