Phoenix Update

Part of the reason this blog exists is because it's fun to document family memories and milestones and have them in a journal to look back on.

My grandson who's 10 weeks old is changing by the day it seems. He's smiling now and it's not just gas that's making him do so. ha! It's neat to watch him and feed him and have that eye to eye contact. We "talk" back and forth and he trying to form words and watches my mouth move so intently. The first sounds he's made is "Goo" and "ah-goo" and several more indescribable sounds.

Yesterday I started the 'visiting the farm' thing where you say, "The cow goes.... MOOOOOOO! And the cat goes MEEE-OOOOWWWWW!" And he grins and grins. What a joy.

Cool Tool

RoundPic is an online tool for making rounded corners for avatars and images, "web 2.0" style.

Simply browse for the image on your computer or grab it from the web by inputting the url and "round it".

Thought you guys and gals might find this useful.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Filthy :: dirty
2. Therapist :: psychiatrist
3. Duck :: l'orange
4. Slant :: spin
5. Artist :: musician
6. Lease :: rent
7. Wish :: upon a star
8. Doormat :: wipe your feet
9. Global :: warming
10. Apartment :: sublet

link

Kevin Rudd

the newly elected Australian Prime Minister... is that a good thing for Australia? I hope so.

Chris Merritt

Chris Merritt is a singer/songwriter that's new to me. Someone just sent me the link. It's not what I usually listen to. It's light rock with very beautiful melodies.

Go have a listen: Chris Merritt. Each song I listen to becomes a favorite but the harmonies on Geronimo were particularly nice. Actually, they are ALL good. I bet Anne would like it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey all you turkeys! My bird's in the oven and I'm jumping online a few minutes before the cooking begins.

I remembered to take out both plastic bags this time. I always double check since I left one in but that's not too big of a Thanksgiving blunder.

One of my most memorable Thanksgivings was the first one I ever cooked. My grandmother, my mother's mother, passed away on Thanksgiving morning and Robin and I fixed the whole dinner. I guess it turned out well. Everyone said it did and we were both so proud of ourselves. We were about 13 (Robin) & 15 (me) years old.

Robin passed away two years ago on Nov 25, which was Thanksgiving Day, too. Today I'm especially thankful I had 50 great years with her.

The first Thanksgiving dinner I cooked when I got married was from a turkey that my husband's family had shot in the woods along with all the other granola-fied trimmings a hippie girl could whip up.

Of all the cooking mishaps I've had I've never botched a turkey somehow. Mother once showed me a sure-fire way to cook one where you put it in the oven before going to bed and cook it for one hour on 450, I think it is, and then turn off the heat and don't open the oven door!. After 8 hours or so the bird is totally cooked. As long as you didn't open the oven door all night long. Really conserves heat this way and when you wake up on Thanksgiving morning the turkey is done. (Now why didn't I do this last night?)

My Mother in law has a smoker and smokes her turkey sometimes and sometimes she bakes it in a big brown paper bag with flour packed all around it. I bet a fried turkey is good. I've never had one.

Any turkey mishaps or recipes or blessings you want to share?

Thanksgiving Traditions?

Do you or does anyone in your family have any Thanksgiving traditions?

I don't think that we had any. I read that someone ate spaghetti-o's for Thanksgiving because they hated turkey. Mine is pretty normal.

When I was about 17 and microwave ovens were first introduced to the world, my Father had some type of promotion at his store (sold tires, furniture, appliances) where they cooked a whole turkeys in a microwave, which was pretty revolutionary at the time. He brought one home for our dinner and I made a big stink about not eating it because I was sure it was contaminated with radiation from the microwave rays.

But I would LOVE to be able to have a photo or video of each Thanksgiving dinner table for each year to see all the seating changes that took place. Would that be cool? People who have passed one, people you were dating or married to, etc. It would be a real cosmic quilt of friends and loved ones who've been woven throughout your life.

That's what I'm going to meditate on today. All the different people who've come in and out of my life and how thankful I am to have been able to experience them in it.

Tuesday Blogging

My fever has broken this morning. Thank goodness. But I'm still feeling puny. Skyler and the baby are staying thru Thanksgiving. Skyler also has a cold. The baby miraculously doesn't have one. Nor does Mother. Hubby is coming over tomorrow night bringing dessert for the turkey dinner.

I'm glad I picked up the turkey Sunday when I was in town. Mother asked if I wanted to postpone our Thanksgiving dinner until the weekend, but I think I'll feel well enough early Thursday morning to cook. Mother wanted me to have them cut it in half and use the other half at Christmas time but I'd rather have too much turkey than not enough turkey so I brought home all 14 lbs of him in one piece.

Did you know that the Monday after Thanksgiving is Cyber Monday? It's when everyone is back at work after Thanksgiving and they're shopping online. Retailers are promoting sales with free s/h Monday, November 26 so if you're a big online shopper like I am, you'll want to have your shopping list ready.

Gloomy Outdoors, Gloomy Indoors

I went to bed last night with a mental list of what Monday morning would bring by way of chores, errands, etc.

But I woke up with a yucky cold so I am going back to bed. Again.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Toasty :: warm
2. Allegations :: lies (?)
3. Herb :: weed
4. Bacon :: bits
5. Neck to neck:: huh?
6. Simon :: LeBon
7. Heels :: spike
8. Fundamentals :: basics
9. Middle :: Ages
10. Seasonings :: spices

I KNOW I've matched some of you out there today! (Guess who I've got squirming around on his baby blanket?)

Unconscious Mutterings

Friday Feast

Appetizer
What was your first "real" job? In high school my friend Janet and I worked together at Kentucky Fried Chicken (Kentucky Fried Suicide)

Soup
Where would you go if you wanted to spark your creativity? Maybe drive up to Watauga Lake (eastern Tennessee).

Salad
Complete this sentence: I am embarrassed when…When I'm not at my best

Main Course
What values did your parents instill in you? Compassion for others, especially for those who are less fortunate than I, is the best value. And acting on that compassion by doing for others, volunteering.

Dessert
Name 3 fads from your teenage years. Clothing: Bell bottom and embroidered jeans, leather fringed jacket, poor boy shirts, tie-dye, stash bags, moccasins-- add a ton of jewelry and I'm ready to go!

Friday's Feast

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Susan*Jayne 13 Things in my dirty laundry basket 1…. yellow terry cloth like burp cloth 2_. red polar fleece baby blanket 3_. hunter green #5 football jersey 4_. black hoodie with grey thermal lining 5_. orange undies 6_. grey sweatpants 7_. black v-neck tee 8_. navy tee 9_. lime green undies 10_.black yoga pants with white stripe down side 11_.lime green bra 12_.blue jeans 13_.black jeans

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! | View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
My first Thursday Thirteen! How'd I do? Sorry about the undies, but had already committed to the laundry basket- ha!

Phoenix Rising Napping

Mr Phoenix came to see me last night. He and Skyler are staying for a couple of days. He's 14 lbs and 10 weeks old and has the sweetest smile you ever saw.

Winter Pansies

Our days are getting shorter, and the sun's highest point in the sky isn't as high as it used to be. It's time to take action, and provide ourselves with some winter cheer that starts now, in fall.

It's time for winter pansies.

Winter pansies aka viola, are hardier than regular bedding pansies, tolerating more winter cold and summer heat. They can be grown well in Zones 4 - 9.

I hope it's not to late to plant some of these. I've never tried these before and I may just put them in concrete urns on the front porch. I also want to buy an amaryllis for indoors. Anyone have any luck growing something in winter?

Veteran's Day

We celebrate Veteran's Day in the US today, November 11. Tomorrow is a day off for State and Federal employees. I don't remember having this day off when I worked at the Employment Office, but I suppose I did.

Today I think of my Father and his service to the country in World War II. He was the oldest of 6 children. Three boys and three girls. He joined the Navy right out of high school at the age of 17 in 1942 and I am certain that that young boy returned home a man. He had two younger brothers who followed in his footsteps. I always liked to hear him talk about his time in the Navy and see the pictures of him in his white uniform. I still have a pair of his wool navy sailor pants someplace.

His father, who he was named for, was born on this day, November 11, 1900. I called him Paw-paw and he was the sweetest little man with a strong, small frame. I can't think of him without seeing that smile that wrinkled up his eyes each time. So Happy Birthday to you Paw-paw. I'm thinking of you today, too, and all the veterans around the land.

Unconscious Muttering

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Treadmill :: jog
2. Stroke :: heart attack
3. Exclusively :: only
4. Lash :: out
5. Red carpet:: koolaid stain-- if you've ever had a koolaid stain on a light colored carpet, you'll never ever forget it!
6. Credit card :: VISA
7. Points :: score
8. Domestic :: violence
9. 21 :: gun salute-- since it's Veteran's Day!
10. Inject :: shoot

link

To Sir, With Love... ? No, wrong Lulu

Lulu is a site I've seen around for years now. Lulu.com lets you publish and sell and print on demand books, e-books, online music, images, custom calendars, and more.

Just upload your manuscript, your photos or your digital files, use their formatting tools to get everything set up just the way you want, from size to binding to cover art, and... well, that's it. You're the proud parent of a brand new digital creation, ready to publish and cherish.

You set your own price, they print and ship each item as it's ordered, and you collect 80% of the creator revenue on every sale. To sell or give as gifts.

So many of you are very talented photographers. Either pros or just as a hobby. On Lulu you can print an nice photo album up for your family (for Christmas gifts?).

Good Morning!

"Are you up, sleepyhead?" That's what my voice alarm said to me this morning. Are you in a pleasant mood in the morning? Or are you a grumpyhead?

When Skyler was small, she would wake up and say "Good morning," then look outside and say, "It's a beautiful day!" What a little optimist I have. We loved to see her greet the day.

By the time she got to high school she had left that early morning good mood behind! So I began greeting her mornings with her "Good morning! It's a bee-yoo-ti-ful day!"

What's New?

I need to do a family update. Not only for family members who read the site but to document milestones and insignificant events that are a special part of my daily life.

**Why I choose to say "insignificant" began when I was an arrogant teen and older. Speaking with my Mother was painful. She would drift off talking about the cat that lived next door and how she forgot to turn on the dishwasher and other tedious thoughts to a thriving teenage girl. Thankfully, I matured and learned to enjoy her daily accounts and I even encourage her to tell me more.

She wasn't doing very well when I came to stay with her 2 years ago but after a few doctor and hospital visits, she's amazing. The clarity is heart-warming. Everything is still sharp and young about her but her gait. She now uses a cane and putters slowly and deliberately.

**Dear husband is as snarky as ever. Why doesn't he write a book? He has written many songs-- even gospel songs and country songs because he's such a good story teller. He's going down to see Skyler and Phoenix this week again (200+ miles). He reminds me so much of my own Father. Always dependable and ready to lend support whenever his daughter needs it.

**I'm aching to see my little grandson. Phoenix is 8 weeks old now. I'm going down sometime before the year's out. Skyler is wanting to go back to work to pitch in but Jason is happy taking care of them for now so we'll see how that goes. She's pretty much the earth mama of their little commune. There are 3 couples and 4 children sharing a big house.

**Who else? Oh, there's me! I'm looking forward to getting things set up to work here at home this week. I wonder how I'll do with that? Interruptions? Can I stay focused? Do I wear my house shoes or should I dress up like I'm at work to help me get in the working frame of mind? Should I set up my computer work space in another area of the house, or just leave it where I always type? Hi-speed Internet coming this afternoon! Zoooooooooooooooooom!

Okay, that's my news or lack of it for today. xo

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Assets :: liabilities
2. Concern :: care
3. Over the top :: crazy
4. Supplies :: accoutrement
5. Mustache :: rides
6. Doug :: Kathy (inside family joke)
7. Coach :: K (Duke basketball coach)
8. Bleachers :: stands
9. Stripes :: solids
10. Assortment :: array

link

Working in my PJs

I've had SADU (sad a** dial-up) internet service for ages now and I am finally making the leap to High Speed service, or Broadband. Go, me! I think I'm the last person to do so. No more 12 hour downloads that will now be done in 10 minutes time or less. And the music possibilities.

I recently found that if I have high speed internet I can do my work at home. =) How quickly do you think it took me to call and get that bad boy set up? They're coming to install it Tuesday.

Fall Is For Football

Checking out other football scores today I just noticed Shirl's MSU playing MICHIGAN! Ut-oh. I'll definitely keep an eye on that game. UT (University of Tennessee) is playing Louisiana-Lafayette at 4:00 for their homecoming. It's not televised around my area so I have a radio to listen to.

Anybody else got a favorite team playing this weekend?

What To Do In Asheville

I've been tagged

Rules: answer the questions, tag 5 people and then go off on your travels to their hometowns.

ASHEVILLE, NC

Best place to eat: Tupelo Honey Cafe especially for breakfast, try the sweet potato pancakes with peach butter and pecans --"The whole town loves this spot." --Southern Living; The New York Times describes the interior as "an old fashioned tea room."

Best shopping mall: Downtown on Lex:
Minx Boutique - 64 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 225-5680,
68 Lexi - 68 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 251-1170;
Hip Replacements - 72 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 255-7573;
Liquid Dragon Art Studio - 66 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 251-2518.
ALSO the best record/cd/vinyl store: Static Age Records 82 N. Lexington Ave. A, Asheville, 254-3232

Famous landmark: The Blue Ridge Parkway meanders 469 miles in the Blue Ridge Mountains between Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks.

Best tourism attraction: Biltmore Estate - Historic landmark built by George Vanderbilt. The estate winery produces red, white, rose and sparkling wines from European grape varieties. Also horseback riding.

Best place for kids: Asheville's Fun Depot - Asheville's only family entertainment center featuring: indoor mini golf, multi-level laser tag, batting cages, climbing wall, soft play area, indoor and outdoor go-carts, bumper cars, the Depot Diner and more.

Popular outdoor activity: Whitewater Rafting at Nantahala Rafting Center. 37 years experience; family, group,& high adventure trips; team building; 5 SE rivers; offering the best whitewater fun in the Asheville area with unparalleled attention to detail on & off the water.

Breathtaking view: Chimney Rock Park - An elevator inside the mountain or a network of trails leads to 75-mile views of the Blue Ridge, 404-foot waterfall and fun animal sculptures. Family and pet friendly. Rock climbing, special events, group activities, dining.

Only found here: Grove Park Inn
It's a majestic stone palace with horse drawn carriages that take your from your car to the front. It has a great spa, world-renowned restaurants (7), bars, golf course. Two fireplaces in the lobby are so large that you can stand up inside of them. My kids have always loved this place especially during Christmas when they have a Gingerbread Baking Contest (2007 competition and displays begin Nov 12).

I should tag 5 people now but since this has been around a bit, I'll leave it open to whoever wants to do it. Just leave me a comment if you also have a list about your hometown.

FRIDAY RANDOM 10

Shuffle 'em up and show us your ten.

1. Bob Dylan - Just Like A Woman-- my favorite song in the whole wide world
2. Pearls And Brass - Wake In The Morning
3. Rolling Stones - Monkey Man
4. Robert Plant - Shine It All Around
5. Daughter Darling - Broken Bridge
6. Michael Stipe w/Joseph Arthur - In The Sun
7. Boards of Canada - Aquarius
8. String Cheese Incident - Smile
9. Devendra Banhart - Cristobal
10. Tuung - Soup

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."-- Hunter S. Thompson

Four-Part Bob Dylan Special This Weekend

Bob Dylan

On Friday and Saturday, WETS will present a four-part series on the career of one of America's most vital artists, Bob Dylan. The first two parts will be heard Friday afternoon between 2 and 4 pm. The second two-parts will be heard Saturday night 10 pm and 12 midnight. And the following Friday, 9 November, all four parts will be broadcast between 8 pm and 12 midnight. Check this website in a couple of days for details about Dylan, coming up on your public radio station WETS-FM.

I'm listening to it now! Great selections. Patti Smith narrates. WETS-FM is a public radio station operated as a partnership between East Tennessee State University (my alma mater) and the station’s listeners.

link

The JC Penney catalog from 1977

There's many more catalog pictures from 1977 on the -- 15 Minute Lunch website where I found the post below.

"Here's how to get your ass kicked in elementary school":

"Just look at that belt. It's like a boob-job for your pants. He probably needed help just to lift it into place. The belt loops have to be three inches long, for god's sake. And way to pull your pants up to your armpits, grandpa."

"Here's how to get your ass kicked on the golf course":

"This "all purpose jumpsuit" is, according to the description, equally appropriate for playing golf or simply relaxing around the house. Personally, I can't see wearing this unless you happen to be relaxing around your cell in D-block. Even then, the only reason you should put this thing on is because the warden forced you to, and as a one-piece, it's a slightly better deterrent against ass-rapery."