Old Book Stores...

I wander around aimlessly but yet with a goal in mind. As soon as I walk into the old book store I can smell the pages, the musty scent of years gone by and the stagnant aroma of woody bookshelves. When I see the books stacked upon each other I am excited and I don't know where to start my journey as I know it will be a long one. As I open my first book I hear the sound of the binding crack and from the beginning, I am hooked. It entices me to explore further it's insides. I scan the pages but I'm not quiet sure what I'm looking for but I know what I want. I focus on dates and towns and publishing rights and depending on what I see, I will continue. I will then shift my weight back and forth from leg to leg and I will lean against a wall or find a tolerable spot to plant myself. Mostly it's a biography or historical piece I enjoy or sometimes the subject could be whimsical with it's brightly animated illustrations that depict circus life or Christmas at the turn of the century. There's nothing like an old book store to lose your place in life and wile away the time and at the same time, inter into a world that is so foreign to you but yet very familiar in every way.

"BIZARRO WORLD"

Why do people in high places have affairs? Do they thing they can get away with it or are they so powerful they think that certain rules don't apply to them. These are people who are in the limelight or are very important people in the government and perhaps being watched by the world. People who have privileges that you and I could only dream about. Is it because they are in that high place and have access to more convenient devices like, tinted limo windows, private jets and assistants? Do cronies and acquaintances help them out because they too are doing the deed themselves and feel obligated to help out a friend, you know, Quid pro quo; Latin: meaning, something for something.

Do their brains work differently than yours or mine? When they have secret meetings and leave the country without telling people or send juicy emails to each other or go to the same event, but arrive and leave through different thresholds and then "tweet" about it...do they actually think this charade will endure? Perhaps they live in a world I like to call "Bizarro World" , where they are invisible, wear gossip proof armor at all times, no one will ever probe into their business therefore, they can write and say whatever they want, not take any responsibility for their actions and when caught, all they have to do is say I'm sorry.
Their spouse will stand by them with that "deer in headlights look"and because they live in "Bizarro World" too, they will put on a good face and continue the charade.

I don't know, I really don't have the answers and quite frankly it's really none of my business whether other people want to live in "Bizarro World" , but it becomes my business when they begin spewing their higher than thou (insert bad word here)and pointing their pointy little pious nose at me and tell me how to live my live one way while they themselves, live their life another... or, they want me to elect them, vote for them and admire them because they think that's what I want to hear so that they can continue living in "Bizarro World". Anyways, I'm just say'n.

Judging a Book by it's Cover...

Recently my best friend Brenda in one of her many travels, stumbled upon a sweet little book with the title of "Elizabeth and her German Garden". Brenda, being very thoughtful as usual, purchased the book and gave it to me as a little gift knowing that I would instantly love it.
This book by all appearances is a non descriptive looking book, drab olive green cover and back with discolored pages and absolutely no illustrations....not one! But she knew I would appreciate this gesture of kindness as I collect antique books among other things, but also because my mother in law who is German, grows a garden every year and believe it or not, her name is Elizabeth. This book was written in the year 1898 in London England and is told in the first person. I've only skimmed the pages as I have been a little busy lately to actually sit down and read it, but I will soon make time, due to the fact that I did a little research on said book.

This English author was born Mary Annette Beauchamp in Australia. Her family relocated to Europe where upon she married a Count from Prussia. They traveled all through Europe and lived a very happy life while she wrote several books, Elizabeth's German Garden being the very first one. Her husband died and she married again to an Earl. The marriage was rocky and they separated whereupon Elizabeth, whom she is now called, escaped to the United States never divorcing

It is written in diary form and spans a year in the life of Elizabeth and it depicts her experiences in gardening and interactions with her friends. It includes commentary on the beauty of nature and on society, but is primarily humorous due to Elizabeth's frequent mistakes and her idiosyncratic outlook on life. She looked down upon the frivolous fashions of her time writing “I believe all needlework and dressmaking is of the devil, designed to keep women from study"...I love it!

Her books and this one in particular turned out to be highly successful and in 1993 the novel was turned into a Academy Award winning movie by the name of "Enchanted April" and in 2003 was adapted into a Tony nominated play. A couple of fun little facts about our beloved Elizabeth and this book is that, this book is noteworthy for not publishing her name and that she was H.G. Wells mistress for many years here in the states. She died in 1941 in Charleston, South Carolina.

And there you have it. A little old book from many many years ago, with no author written anywhere, found in a antique store in Arizona and if I know Brenda, probably hidden under something, written by a very controversial and independent woman, given to a sometimes controversial and always independent woman who happens to write a blog.....hmm!

Happy 30 Something...

I was just strolling down memory lane the other day with Marie about how we got you home from the hospital. At the time she was driving a little VW bug and I was sitting shot gun with you in my arms, no seat belts, no car seats and on top of everything else it was raining a little. Wow, times have changed since then, but what hasn't changed is my love for you. When you were born , yeah, I'll admit it, I was scared to death, but fortunately for me, you were a very easy baby and child...hell didn't let lose till later and that's a whole other blog entry. When we told people your name, the response was always the same "such an old name for a baby" and now people tell you "what a beautiful name" You were always smiling just like you do now and such a girlie girl, always twirling and twirling your dresses. Friendliest kid on the block. If I gave you money to buy ice cream from the ice cream man, you always bought ice cream for the neighborhood kids too. You always shared your toys and made friends easily...nothings changed. Remember when the door to door photographer man with the horse came down our street and you brought him to our door begging to take a picture? The only problem with that is we lived in the back house and they literally had to squeeze through the side of the house and park it in the backyard. You were always ahead of your time. You walked at 8 1/2 months and was potty trained by age 2. Now you are married with a husband and you have given me 3 wonderful squirrly boys that I adore. People tell me we are similar, but I know we are not. You never leave the house with out wearing make up even if it's to go get the mail...and your mailbox is on your porch....seriously! You have your own style and personality. You are an amazing mother...much better that I ever was and you are very kind and generous...sometimes to a fault, but I gotta love that about you too. You are strong, funny, beautiful, smart and very thoughtful and we are very proud of the person you have become. Happy Birthday Meredith!! Wishing you a wonderful b-day and a lifetime of happiness and good health...let's hope...your the one that's gonna take care of me in my old age.



Ahhhhh...

Swill Juice...

The other night, Eric and I were talking and somehow the subject of disgusting food came up. This is probably because we had dinner at a Sushi Bar earlier and some people thing that Sushi is disgusting, but we won't talk about those people. I want to talk about the people who discovered Clam Juice. Yeah, that's right, the juice from the actual clam. Who in their right mind would open up a clam and drink the liquid substance from it? I can kinda see eating the clam only because it might be similar to Sushi, but the liquid? Was it a dare or accident? Was it a lonely survivor of a ship wreak or a brave tribal member trying to prove his manhood, because, man, you could not pay me enough to swallow this swine.

And to add insult to injury, you can now buy it, in combination with tomato juice, it's called "Clamato Juice", seriously, did some highly paid executive come up with this one? Why didn't they pick Oh, I don't know, let's say, Pomegranate Juice or Guava Nectar because I'm asking you, would any juice suffice? Come on people it's funky clam liquid...Hey...I'm just Say'n



PLUS

Hey Brenda, I Don't Think This Is Gonna Work...

I wasn't sure if I wanted to write about this subject. I really don't like to think about it, first because I am afraid and second, because it's sounds silly and trivial and most responses I get about this subject is "Really? Are you kidding me", Ahhh, no...I'm not kidding. My friend Brenda said I should blog about it, perhaps it may help, after all, I always do what I'm told, well kinda, I wouldn't t jump off a cliff..I'm afraid of those too! Clowns, I'm afraid of clowns! I'm a grown ass women, why would that frighten me? I even hate to write it and believe me, you will not see a photo insert as to enhance this entry, because I can't even get myself to go there. A whole page of images of clowns would probably do me in...I'm not that strong yet. I don't know where this fear came from. I was never attacked, talked to, had a bad experience, dreamed of, lived by or anything else by a clown that I can think of to make me feel this way. Don't get me wrong, there a few other things that I am afraid of, but those things I can sort of put in perspective and deal with much better.

A short story...When Raquel was in grade school and the school's annual carnival was in full swing, I was standing in the middle of the festivities talking to Mrs. Tanner, a school administrator of some sorts. As we were talking, over her shoulder I see a clown practically on the other side of the school from where we were and yes, my vision is that good, especially when it comes to clowns. I can spot a white face, red bulbous nose and floppy shoes anywhere. Needless to say, my focus was broken and I was full of "ah ha's" and "mm's" and my head was bobbing up an down in agreement trying to follow the conversation. As I watched this clown make his way closer to the area where we were in, I could feel my anxiety level rising and the panic starting to set in but I was still trying to pretend to listen and keep an eye on him all at the same time. Next thing I know, he's walking straight at us like he's on a mission, he's about 20 feet away now and in a moment of spontaneous rudeness, I abruptly say to Mrs. Tanner, "I gotta go, I'm sorry", as she looked at me with knitted eyebrows, I turned and walked the opposite way and pretty much hid from him the rest of the time I was there....and I was in charge of something or other so I was there for the duration. The following Monday I sought her out and apologized profusely and explained what had happened...."I'm sorry", "I'm wasn't trying to be rude", I'm deathly afraid of clowns, I'm am a psychopath...blah, blah and blah.
Her response "That was my husband, he dresses like a clown for parties" ,"I knew it!, I told him I think you scared off another one". Well, we had a big chuckle over that one, but honestly, he scared the bajeebers out of me. This is the only encounter with a clown I can think of with an exception of an ex boyfriend or two and it really wasn't much of an encounter at all.

One more weird thing, OK, there's a lot of weird things, but one specific bit of info regarding this subject. If I'm so afraid of clowns, then why am I so obsessed with circus life. Circuses, and that particular lifestyle and everything that comes with it...except for the clowns. Very interesting subject to me. When I was a kid and I'd go to a local carnival, people working there fascinated me and I would study them and wonder what kind of life they must lead. Who thinks that at age 8? The last 3 books I purchased where about this subject. I can't figure it out and so I have just stopped trying. I don't know if blogging about it helps, but what I do know is, that I need to stay away from Circuses and ex boyfriends. Which I have...on both counts!

Our National Treasure...

Do fathers get short changed on Fathers Day? Perhaps fathers don't get the respect they truly deserve. To me, it seems that Mothers on the other hand get way more attention on their day as oppose to dear ol' dad day. I know that mothers pretty much rule the roost ( at least in my home), they traditional tend to the children, and most likely take care of the house and everything that comes with that, but, fathers have played a very important role in society from the beginning.
They hunt and brought back the food, they go off to war, they historically have made huge decisions and most importantly, without them the human race would cease to be.

All I know is that when Mother's Day comes around..."stop the presses", this country comes to a stand still, phone lines are tied up, airports become crowded, flower shops increase their prices and forget about getting into a restaurant.
You are expected to fawn all over your mother,aunt, grandmother and wait on her hand and foot. Please don't get me wrong, I've been on both ends of that statement, but it just seems to me that we should give dad, husband, uncle or grandfather the props that they deserve. In today's society, traditional roles may have changed a little due to changing times, but I still would like to put that male up on a pedestal. You have heard of the term "male ego"?

Everyone likes to be validated and that includes men. So in a nutshell, let's treat our men on this special day and perhaps on an occasional day throughout the year like the national treasures that I know they are.

Here's mine...Eric ~