Bad Influences

We all have them. We all enjoy them. You know you do, so don’t try to say you don’t! Everyone of us has a friend that’s a bad influence. The one that says another slice of cake won’t hurt, or that you need that new dress, or that those shoes are absolutely fabulous and you must get them.

I have one of those friends, too. His name is Mitchell, and he is dangerous. Oh, we’ve never met, and he would die before going dress shopping with me. But when it comes to art and the kitchen, he is mandragora. He is the reason several bloggers came up with a new name for shopping: going a-yorling, after his former blogging name. A couple of days ago he posted some lovely kitchen canisters that he purchased as a housewarming gift for his mom. Not only lovely, but handmade here in the USA. You can guess what happened next:

Yep, I got the complete canister set from Crosby & Taylor. In my defense it was a fabulous deal, and considering I had been using two basket canisters for the longest time, I felt I was due for an upgrade. Right?? All I know is that now I need the matching garlic pot and soap dispenser. And when I say “need”, I mean WANT LIKE BURNING!!

If Mitchell ever has a garage sale, I’m sunk 😉

Keeping Busy

Life always intrudes, doesn’t it?? It never fails…. you go to the craft store, you find something new to try, and as soon as you come home you put it in your craft area, ready to start on it, only to find you need just one more thing, so you wait on in until you get it, then you forget where you put something else you need, so you keep putting off the project until you can’t remember what you were going to make.

That happens a lot to me. And no, it’s not senility.

Anyway, I finally found the item I needed: a miniature canvas. Those are a bit hard to come by, since most artists prefer to paint on a full-sized canvas, I imagine. And why would I need a miniature canvas? To make something similar to this:

Mine won’t need so many canvases, and will be smaller in size. I hope to have it finished by this evening, because I just know something is going to come up. Again…

I figure I may finish this project in time for school to begin 😉

Samuel L. Jackson, You’re My Only Hope

Last night was a typical Friday night at Casa de Aggie. One kid had a friend over, one kid was having a chatfest on FaceBook, and the last kid was enjoying the fact that she had complete and total control of the remote. That really isn’t a big deal, since she always does. But all in all, we had a nice quiet evening.

Until Hell came to Snaketown.

This is Aro.

My Eldest’s pet snake.

She is usually found in her natural habitat of glass tank with lid.

Her turn-ons are small rodents, warm rocks, and small dark places.

Turn-offs include taking baths in cold water, glass candle holders around bathtubs, and dogs.

Mostly dogs.

Especially dogs.

As I explained, last night was a rather quiet evening. Until about 2 AM, when Eldest banged on my bedroom door and said, loudly and urgently, “MOM!! I NEED YOU!!”

Instinctively, I grabbed my gun and was about to jump out of bed, when she went on with, “I need your help! Aro is gone!!”

(Insert groggy groan here, followed by silent curses)

I told her to start looking and that I would be right out. Placing the gun away, I went out, and we began a rather fruitless search for a snake who had a six hour lead on us. The good news: neither dog had bloody fangs. The bad news: there are too many places in which a small snake can hide. So, for now, I will be cleaning up and examining corners, looking for bone pellets or shed skin.

So, who wants to come for a visit??

UPDATE!!

I took John’s advice and began to think like a snake. I found her five minutes after that, in the hallway closet, under two backpacks, one overnight bag, two scarves, a pair of snowboots (yeah, still have them from Germany), and a cloak. I also found a brand new Risk board game that the kids are playing upstairs. Son had said he had “looked” in the closet last night, so I asked him what he had seen on the floor.

Son: A pair of boots….

Me: And?

Son: I think my old backpack….

Me: And???

Son: and…..maybe something else?

Me: Suuuuuuure you looked…

Sheesh!

Indulgences

Ah, yes…. There are times when you are clipping coupons, and cutting unnecessary expenses, and even relying on generic brands to make ends meet. But there is always one thing….one tiny indulgence that you must keep, isn’t there??

I’m not sure if this is my antidote, or my Kryptonite. Either way, it’s a small way to feel special. Better than going totally overboard with $400 shoes or $600 dresses, right??

200th Comment!!!

And the honor goes to…..

MRFIXIT

Congratulations on this rather obscure and dubious award 😉

Sithy Frippery

Well, today’s letter was to someone to whom I want or should give a second chance. Seeing as I give everyone and everything a second chance (yes, even menudo, both the band and the stew), I decided to do something more frivolous here.

It’s my blog and I post what I like 😀

A friend of mine happens to be addicted to shoes. And by “addicted”, I mean ADDICTED!! There is not a day that goes by without her checking out Jimmy Choo and Louboutin, and whatever shoe designer she comes across. And it had me thinking…. I quite like shoes, too. Not to the extent of paying $400 for a pair, you understand. But I do like a nice pair of heels!

And if you think I just get them for looks, think again. That heel can do some serious damage 😉

Letter to a Brainworm

Has anyone ever had a person, place, or thing occupy a tiny area of your mind for years, laying dormant most of the time, until you are caught unaware while making a Tres Leches cake and suddenly–POOF!!!–it comes to the fore of your thought processes and interrupts your cake-making bliss to the point of making you question why in heaven’s name you need egg yolks, and how many have you added to the batter???

Yes?? ME TOO!! There have been songs, and poems, and even certain speeches that have done this, but eventually they go away. This one guy, though…. He sticks around like disco. This is my letter to him:

GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!

Dear Signor Da Vinci,

“Larger than life” is an appropriate descriptor for you. Painting, sculpting, inventing were not enough. You were an engineer, an architect, excelling in mathematics and taught yourself Latin so as to be noticed by the Mathematical community. You were ahead of your time in anatomical studies, your inventions considered marvels, and your feats of engineering defy description to this day. So I have one question for you: WHY WERE YOU SO DAMN LAZY THAT YOU NEVER FINISHED ST. JEROME IN THE WILDERNESS??? That painting drives me nuts to this day!!! Oh sure…. La Gioconda is revered for it’s enigmatic smile, and The Last Supper is considered to be the foremost example of facial characterization. But why, oh why did you never finish St. Jerome?? It was the inventions, wasn’t it? The helicopter, the steam cannon, the glider, the bridge, the musical instruments??

There is one consolation in my fevered mind, though. At least I rest easy knowing you were greater than that Michealangelo dude 😉

Sincerely,

A fan

Happy Father’s Day!!

To all the dads, may you enjoy a lazy day and be catered to like the kings you are!!

And try not to think about that cartoon too much 😉

Enjoy your day!!!

Letter to Someone From My Childhood

I was never close to any childhood friends. I had a best friend in elementary growing up in Puerto Rico, but he ended up dating my cousin and breaking her heart with another childhood friend, whose dad was good friends with my dad, and and whose brother ended up marrying yet another cousin. Am I ever glad I was gone when all that stuff went down. Twenty-five years later, the drama is still going on. As for childhood friends here, I am still in touch with a few. Some have passed away, and others don’t have an internet life. But there is one friend that has been with me since I first saw him at the age of 8:

Dear Snoopy,

I love you, and don’t ever change 😉

Love,

Me

 

To Someone Far Away

This letter is to someone who is in a different state or country. Yes, Hubby qualifies!! No, I’m not writing about him again. I thought of going in a more mundane direction in an attempt to keep my five readers entertained.

To Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II,

I love your hats. I love the fact that you got a ticket for speeding while driving your Jag. I love how you aren’t afraid of eating from a plate on your lap. I love how you like gin, and aren’t afraid to drink it in front of people. I love how you stoically hold the country together, and how endearing you look when Prince Phillip makes a blunt statement.

Hat, purse, Corgis, and Canada!!

You have been oil on troubled waters, and I pray that you live for many, many years, mostly because I fear for England with your idiot son on the throne. But most of all, I love the fact that you are a sucker for dogs. Just how many corgis do you have??

Sincerely,

A Subject That Never Was 🙂