lolliloobedoo

Simon made a onesie 4 the incredible Hulk.

2010-02-15T20:57:00.001-05:00

MMMB Brass

2010-02-14T18:24:00.001-05:00

sax and trombone

flutes

Hoops!

look at those straight lines!!

My new love, Mickey Rourke

2009-08-26T09:19:00.003-04:00

So peaceful spending the day with Mickey Rourke. He winds around my legs, then finds a comfy spot to lay down and watch me while I work.

From Fashionista to Egg Maiden

2009-08-20T23:35:00.007-04:00

Yesterday I took a job doing the egg candling at Elmwood Stock Farm in Georgetown. I wash the eggs then hold them up to a light to make sure there are no cracks. I put them in cartons. The cartons are stacked in a box which is then put in the walk-in. And over and over it goes.

I feel like I've won the lottery.

I've been wanting repetitive and meditative work for awhile now, craving time to just sit in my head. I'd only imagined physically demanding jobs like hammering nails and pulling weeds. It never occurred to me that I might find something so pleasant and satisfying as what I've found.

The farm is a stunning beauty and the barn where I work is open, allowing full view of the rolling fields. I can listen to my iPod...or not. Periodically a barn cat will come in and wind around my legs as I work. Andy prepares a delicious lunch for us everyday from the farm's bounty.

Contemplation and meditation plus lunch. What a life!

MicroBlogging stole my Blogging Mojo...

2009-05-11T22:42:00.002-04:00

I've been getting angry comments from some guy who really hates the FLips. I guess he didn't have anything better to do than scour teh internets for blog posts about them cause my last post was August of 2008. Sheesh....some people have too much time on their hands.....Not me, I've been busy since last August. It's just that I've been talking about it elsewhere.
The main reason that I'm here is to announce that I've given up smoking....again. I told myself that I had to make a post once I broke my record of time off the sticks. I've now been nicotine free for 9 weeks which breaks my record by a few days! You can pat me on the back next time you see me and don't forget to tell me that I smell great and my skin looks so much better....KTHXBAI!

First up on my Christmas List!

2008-08-23T02:48:00.003-04:00

Or maybe they could show it at the Kentucky Theater........

Of course he's won a Pulitzer!

2008-07-09T11:06:00.004-04:00

Lord, I love me some Joel Pett!

Prepare to be disgusted

2008-05-17T14:09:00.003-04:00

Hundreds of thousands of people in Burma, displaced from their homes, are taking shelter wherever they can, two weeks after Cyclone Nargis struck. Some have returned to their homes, even though flooding continues amid heavy rains. The government in Rangoon has raised the death toll to 78,000, but aid agencies say it could be much higher. Some boxes of aid have been getting through, but agencies say the Burmese government is still obstructing a proper aid operation. Local donations are also crucial in providing rice for survivors, but the Red Cross said unless they get clean water, a lot more people will die. "If clean water isn't available, it's going to be the biggest killer in the post-disaster environment," Thomas Gurtner said. However, the Burmese prime minister said the priority had now shifted from emergency relief to reconstruction - as at Rangoon's Shwedagon pagoda, which was damaged in the storm.

Stella's Kentucky Deli

2008-05-16T08:11:00.002-04:00

Best restaurant in town! Their Saturday all you can eat brunch buffet is THE BEST. Plus all sorts of freakazoids seem to show up every week...take these two for instance....

Not Ready to make nice....

2008-05-14T08:51:00.008-04:00

This song came on my Ipod as I was mowing yesterday and I found myself circling and circling listening over and over...yes, of course I knew the song already. But look, here's the deal baby. The houliclan have had a really crappy year. You don't need to know the specifics. All you need to know is that my husband and sister have been in extreme amounts of unnecessary pain and I am angry. Yes, it's kind of silly but I can not begin to tell you how cathartic it was to sing this song at the top of my lungs...imagining my audience filled with all the mysteriously silent people who let them down.

If you have some anger of your own...the kind that won't go away no matter how hard you try, just sing this song twenty times. It actually helps. Thank you Natalie Manes. I'll be listening in my car again this morning.

Oh and also...I've got a thing for Anime Girls and this video is chock full of 'em.

Cuteness Alert!

2008-03-27T10:21:00.004-04:00

Ya know I just love the Heart Symbol as an icon. Suddenly it seems it's showing up on new born beasties all over the world....first a piglet, then this cute little pup and today a kitten. I love all the photos, but I especially love this quote on the Jezebel blog referring to Heartkun the Pup:

"How fitting is it that this little guy—a chihuahua named Heartkun—was born in Japan? Why do the Japanese consistently hand us our asses in the cuteness department? Surprising this little guy wasn't born with anime eyes!"

Murphy thinks this is stoopid....I think it's genius

2008-03-15T13:47:00.002-04:00

Discountess doing some mad markdown magic!

2008-03-05T11:53:00.001-05:00

Discountess doing some mad markdown magic!
Originally uploaded by lolliloobedoo.

Hello Shoppers! Discountess has arrived and I'm here to do some damage!

Ya'll better get yourself on down to the Isle. I've gone STARK RAVING MAD with DISCOUNT FEVER! For the moment my main symptom is an overwhelming desire to slash already low prices, so I'm selling everything that's marked down for an additional 20% off. Kids, that means some things are 95% off because Fall, Winter and Holiday stuff is 25% to 50% off already!

I'm just sayin that you might want to get down here quick before my symptoms go away because this is stuff at the Isle of You so you know there's some good stuff. Come now before I advertise my madness to the masses. Once they know, it'll go quick cause these BARGAINS ARE AMAZING!

Tell your friends!
loll
The Discountess of the Isle of You

The Gods are mean....

2008-01-29T22:19:00.000-05:00

Rob Brezny...very appropriate this week...
"PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Neither God nor the gods are dead, but
they've virtually disappeared because so few people are capable of
carrying on authentic relationships with them anymore. The materialist
delusion rules our world: Millions believe that nothing's real unless it can
be perceived by the five senses. Churches and temples are full of ethical
people, but most of them have no clue about how to know or feel or
converse with the divine presences. So what can the deities do, having
been banished from our midst? Psychologist Carl Jung said the gods have no recourse but to worm their way into our lives as sickness and pathology. And that's how you may encounter them in the coming days, Pisces. But get this: As soon as you see through their distorted disguises and recognize them for what they really are, they can be themselves again, whereupon they will bestow the exact blessings you need in order to become a smarter version of yourself"

Your VERY OWN Artistic License!!!

2008-01-16T09:10:00.000-05:00

This is from David Mack's "Kabuki. The Alchemy #9"

'A writer (named Chuck P.) once told me in a letter that he had a teacher who used to say: "99% of what any class or workshop does is give people the license they need to create".
As if the belief or example or just a respect of their creative interests-someone taking them seriously- gives them their own "Artistic License".
For that reason...
I have created this Artistic License. To enlist other artists in our Global (& internal)War of Art.
I'm sending these all over the world.
Print this in your books for others to copy and cut out and pass on.
Copyright Free.
With these instructions:
-This is your Artistic License.
-Your permission to make a difference.
-You are your own story.
-You are your own self-fulfilling prophecy.
Make stickers of this...posters, shirts, cards, etc.
& pass on'.

(My first "spread the Love" assignment....as required of me by the Secret President of the United States...see previous post)

I better get busy!

2008-01-15T23:22:00.000-05:00

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The President of the United States is George
W. Bush, but the *Secret* President of the United States is . . . well, I
can't tell you, can I, because then he or she wouldn't be secret anymore,
right? I can reveal this, though: The Secret President of the United States
is working furiously behind the scenes to create a world in which
generosity, not fear, is the prime motivator -- a world whose moral
system is rooted in beauty, love, pleasure, and liberation instead of
control, repression, propaganda, and profit. And the Secret President of
the United States has a special assignment for you to carry out in the
coming months, Pisces. Are you ready to become more of a leader than
you've ever been before? Do you have the courage to be an inspirational
role model who motivates people through the power of beauty, love,
pleasure, and liberation?

Christmas with the Rowlands

2007-12-28T09:41:00.001-05:00

Turn off that lamp!
Originally uploaded by lolliloobedoo.

Christmas with the Yeisers

2007-12-28T09:40:00.001-05:00

My Yeiser Family (Actually only part of it)
Originally uploaded by lolliloobedoo.

Christmas at Gran Todd's

2007-12-23T09:29:00.001-05:00

Christmas at Gran Todd's
Originally uploaded by lolliloobedoo.

Indelible Mark

2007-12-10T18:38:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I listened to this song 4 times today in the car and got more choked up each time. Then I came home and grabbed it on youtube watched it and just about had a complete meltdown. "Hello old friend!" my heart sings to the pretty, pretty video that I remember watching as a child. I love David's mod hair, the color of Bing's sweater and the chateau they're sitting in. I love the elegant lampshade in the background. I imagine when word got out that they were performing together, it was much like when Elton John & Eminem collaborated on the Grammy's. Both Masters of their own Universes, but Galaxies away. I love watching these crooners croon and I love the fact that they use words like "fellas". Most of all I love the lyrics.

And they told me pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
A new-born king to see pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
Our finest gifts we bring pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
Ra-pam-pam-pam, ra-pam-pam-pam

Peace on Earth, can it be
Years from now, perhaps we'll see
See the day of glory
See the day, when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be

Every child must be made aware
Every child must be made to care
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can

I pray my wish will come true
For my child and your child too
He'll see the day of glory
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be
Can it be

It is a pretty thing. Isn't it?

What was Santa thinking?

2007-12-07T20:47:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday we arrived home to find a big box toppled over on our living room floor. It was wrapped in green striped paper and it had huge a red bow on it, but the package had been ripped open and there was a bag of puppy food spilling from it. There was a note attached that said,

"Dear Lori, Hap, Murphy, Simon, Marshmellow and Cheeky,
I heard you saying that you wanted another puppy. This little guy lost his Mama and needs a home, so I thought he should come live with you.
Merry Christmas,
Santa Clause"

Murphy just looked at it and exhaled "Duh?" Simon started jumping up and down, screaming, "I told you! I told you didn't I, that Santa would bring me a puppy. I told you! Now where is he?" Just at that moment Cheeky & the Pup came running 'round the corner and all sorts of gleeful, happy-happy, joy-joy, commenced. Simon immediately christened him "Sparky" then announced, "I'm just so happy that this isn't a dream. It's really real."
We've spent the last few days watching puppy T.V., cuddling and napping with the puppy and remembering all the other stuff that's synonymous with "puppy" like teething and housebreaking.
Twelve week old Sparky is a wonderfully laid back mix of miniature pinscher, bassett hound and beagle. He's pretty quiet but he does have that funny hound dog bark. He was bottle fed from 3 weeks, so he's super cuddly. Cheeky loves him, but is quite territorial about her "things". He can mess with anything in the house, but if he even gets near one of her squeaky toys (that she hasn't played with in months, btw), she starts growling and showing her teeth. Mostly though, she's entertained by her new baby brother.
That's what Santa was thinking. "Cheeky needs a dog."

(btw...Sparky was one of 8 needing a home. There are still a few that would love to come live with you!)

Wayne talks about Flaming Lips Alley

2007-12-01T19:12:00.001-05:00

It feels like time for a dose of Wayne. God love him. Wayne does the weather after the six minute mark. Sigh...

Somebody did something bad!

2007-11-20T08:30:00.001-05:00

Somebody did something bad!
Originally uploaded by lolliloobedoo.

Looking thru my photos from last Thanksgiving, I ran across this little gem. I'm not sure who we were all yelling at....I assumed Murphy, but then I don't know who took the picture...no matter...I find it quite amusing.
Click on the photo for a full view of the anger.

From the mouths of babes..........

2007-10-26T08:54:00.000-04:00

Simon: Mom, can I say something random?

Me: Sure.

Simon: You're very considerate.

Me: Well, thanks Simes. Ya know, so are you.

Simon: Not always.

Me: Yes, but most of the time you are. Nobody is perfect.

Simon: No Mom, that's wrong. Everybody is perfect.

Oh, how I hope he'll keep this attitude...

2007-10-10T10:24:00.000-04:00

I soooo do not have time to be doing this, but Becky fussed at me for not doing it and sometimes fussing at me helps get me motivated....especially when it's something I actually enjoy doing (like this) but just haven't made the time for. If you want to know the truth...I've been far to busy playing Poppit to do anything else on the computer.
But I'm here today and this is what I want to tell you. I have had a fun filled few weeks. The Shochats came for a long weekend visit and my house was bursting at the seams with testosterone leaking from the 4 boys who spent most of their time hooked up to a screen of some sort. Between DVD's, video games and computers they did periodically stampede up to the trampoline and spend some time jumping. We took a couple of walks up to the Arboretum Woods where they played on a fallen tree. We spent a Saturday afternoon out at John's place in Cave Run. The boys had a lazer tag battle in the woods. Ashley & I looked on from our perches and Ivy napped. The next day we had a little gathering in the backyard and got to see some of our favorite people. Good times.

I went to a birthday party for my friend Sherri. I was bad and didn't take my camera but I wish I had cause there were plentya moments worth photographing. First off her house is tres magnifique...from the front porch Halloween decor to the basement bar and jam joint and everything in between...fabulosity abounds. Sherri is a very well organized collector of all sorts of wacky stuff....Museum quality abode. We crafted with Mylar & lighters. There were some awesome birthday gifts for the birthday Queen...crocheted Dixie Flag pillows...Hello! Wish I had a photo. There was a Poi performance then Jimberly & Sherri did some surf rock jams. More good times. Ya'll should go see her sister Little Miss Tammy Smith with Mike Tevis at Mia's this weekend....Saturday at ten....I won't be there, but I promise you'll have a rockin good time.

Tomorrow I'm heading South to pick up Becky and head to Fairburn Georgia for The Echo Project Music Festival. I've been hired for the Work Exchange Program and I'm very curious and excited about that. I'm hoping there will be some kind of internet access so I can update over the weekend, but I'm not really counting on it. I'm gonna try my darndest to get on stage with The Flaming Lips. Anybody have a connection? Call me...
Alrighty then. I'm outie. Until tomorrow you can find me down at the Isle tryin to keep my mind on work instead of play. But man-oh-man it is HARD!

Update

2007-09-20T22:09:00.000-04:00

Online Videos by Veoh.com

It's been a while. The Houlilife has been taxing in 2007 and the last few weeks have followed course. I'm a tad exhausted from it all, but it's been a fine bit of adventure that's brought on my tired.
I'll start at the end...which should happen around October 12. That's when I'm going to Atlanta where I've been hired to go and be a part of the work exchange program at The Echo Project. I am so excited. I don't know what I'll do in the 15 hours I've contracted to them. Could be picking up trash and that'll be just fine. I'm longing for some time doing a repetitive task that's coupled with quality people watching. Fly on the wall kind of stuff with bursts of meditation thrown in.
I'm meeting Becky there and we're going to have ourselves a break from our usual lives. When I'm not working we're gonna Rock! and relax.
Hap & I went on a whirlwind trip to Minneapolis for The Henderson/Rackiewicz Wedding. We got in the car with Otto & Christin around 6 a.m. on Friday. We got back to our driveway at 1 a.m. Monday morning. In the hours between, we traveled several hundred miles, celebrated with friends and spent some quality time with the Helmuths.
I spent last weekend with the Belly Dancers. T had a workshop weekend at MECCA and I set up shop there. On Saturday Night I went to The Blue Moon and helped backstage with The Indigo show. My cousin, Fridey got to help out Little Miss Tammy Smith with her M.C. gig. Lucky girl.
Hap is in Louisville this week. Tomorrow is his birthday and the boyz & I are going to drive up and spend the evening with him. Tonight we went shopping for birthday bounty. Murphy has discovered the wonders of Sqecial Media.
I'm obsessed with Twitter, HugNation and MySpace.
I'm tired, but Life is grand and full with love, adventure and new dimensions to explore. When I need a pick me up...I just go online and find a video of Grandpa Caleb.

Tender

2007-09-15T09:27:00.000-04:00

Read about it here.

Dave & Oprah sittin in a tree

2007-08-29T22:38:00.000-04:00

David Letterman has agreed to appear on Oprah next month! Remember the good ole days before Oprah actually appeared on Dave's Show.......when every night he was begging her to come, asking Paul whether she'd called yet....ahhh he milked that for every laugh he could get. After she finally appeared they even did a Super Bowl commercial together. Apparently he's just gonna walk over to Madison Square Gardens for the interview...not actually fly to Chicago or anything...Hey! I'm excited. I love me some Dave and I'll take any opportunity to see him out from behind his desk. Oh! Oprah has Bill Clinton coming for a visit, too. That Oprah....she can get the guests.

What could I possibly say about this?

2007-08-25T17:43:00.000-04:00

Comment with the first word that comes to mind. Mine is "Ahhhhhhh!!!!" But is that really a word?

Tonight

2007-08-23T22:07:00.000-04:00

Tonight I had dinner with a most delightful trio of women. Shrimp, salad and wine on the veranda of Spindletop Hall in 100 degree weather. Exotic Southern Belles, all four of us...even the one from Ireland.

A Speech by Bobby Kennedy

2007-08-07T09:14:00.000-04:00

City Club of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio April 5, 1968

Mr Chairmen,Ladies And Gentlemen

This is a time of shame and sorrow. It is not a day for politics. I have saved this one opportunity, my only event of today, to speak briefly to you about the mindless menace of violence in America which again stains our land and every one of our lives.

It is not the concern of any one race. The victims of the violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. They are, most important of all, human beings whom other human beings loved and needed. No one - no matter where he lives or what he does - can be certain who will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. And yet it goes on and on and on in this country of ours.

Why? What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever created? No martyr's cause has ever been stilled by an assassin's bullet.

No wrongs have ever been righted by riots and civil disorders. A sniper is only a coward, not a hero; and an uncontrolled, uncontrollable mob is only the voice of madness, not the voice of reason.

Whenever any American's life is taken by another American unnecessarily - whether it is done in the name of the law or in the defiance of the law, by one man or a gang, in cold blood or in passion, in an attack of violence or in response to violence - whenever we tear at the fabric of the life which another man has painfully and clumsily woven for himself and his children, the whole nation is degraded.

"Among free men," said Abraham Lincoln, "there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet; and those who take such appeal are sure to lost their cause and pay the costs."

Yet we seemingly tolerate a rising level of violence that ignores our common humanity and our claims to civilization alike. We calmly accept newspaper reports of civilian slaughter in far-off lands. We glorify killing on movie and television screens and call it entertainment. We make it easy for men of all shades of sanity to acquire whatever weapons and ammunition they desire.

Too often we honor swagger and bluster and wielders of force; too often we excuse those who are willing to build their own lives on the shattered dreams of others. Some Americans who preach non-violence abroad fail to practice it here at home. Some who accuse others of inciting riots have by their own conduct invited them.

Some look for scapegoats, others look for conspiracies, but this much is clear: violence breeds violence, repression brings retaliation, and only a cleansing of our whole society can remove this sickness from our soul.

For there is another kind of violence, slower but just as deadly destructive as the shot or the bomb in the night. This is the violence of institutions; indifference and inaction and slow decay. This is the violence that afflicts the poor, that poisons relations between men because their skin has different colors. This is the slow destruction of a child by hunger, and schools without books and homes without heat in the winter.

This is the breaking of a man's spirit by denying him the chance to stand as a father and as a man among other men. And this too afflicts us all.

I have not come here to propose a set of specific remedies nor is there a single set. For a broad and adequate outline we know what must be done. When you teach a man to hate and fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color or his beliefs or the policies he pursues, when you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job or your family, then you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens but as enemies, to be met not with cooperation but with conquest; to be subjugated and mastered.

We learn, at the last, to look at our brothers as aliens, men with whom we share a city, but not a community; men bound to us in common dwelling, but not in common effort. We learn to share only a common fear, only a common desire to retreat from each other, only a common impulse to meet disagreement with force. For all this, there are no final answers.

Yet we know what we must do. It is to achieve true justice among our fellow citizens. The question is not what programs we should seek to enact. The question is whether we can find in our own midst and in our own hearts that leadership of humane purpose that will recognize the terrible truths of our existence.

We must admit the vanity of our false distinctions among men and learn to find our own advancement in the search for the advancement of others. We must admit in ourselves that our own children's future cannot be built on the misfortunes of others. We must recognize that this short life can neither be ennobled or enriched by hatred or revenge.

Our lives on this planet are too short and the work to be done too great to let this spirit flourish any longer in our land. Of course we cannot vanquish it with a program, nor with a resolution.

But we can perhaps remember, if only for a time, that those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of life; that they seek, as do we, nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and in happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they can.

Surely, this bond of common faith, this bond of common goal, can begin to teach us something. Surely, we can learn, at least, to look at those around us as fellow men, and surely we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds among us and to become in our own hearts brothers and countrymen once again.

Frozen With Fear Like A Bunny Crouching

2007-07-28T00:51:00.000-04:00

The saga of The Backyard Bunnies continues. Yesterday I noticed Cheeky showing her retriever bloodline. She was back in the vicinity of the bunny nest and she obviously had found something. I went over and checked it out. I am telling you...Bunnies have really amazing camouflage skillz. I could barely see it because it was so motionless in the cover of grass and vines. I carried it to a safer spot. Good luck Little Guy!
Later I noticed an adult bunny that had been hanging out in the Maxon's yard. I walked over to it and it didn't move. I got within a few feet before it hopped away so I knew it was probably protecting a baby. I looked back to the bush where Hap had freed one of the Bunnies. There it was! When I moved, it crouched down and maintained that strange motionlessness of a wild animal spotted. I watched it for awhile then went to find my camera. When I returned it was gone, but I got some photos of the Mom.
The boys decided to build the classic bunny trap. You need a box, some rope or string and some vegetables. You know how it's supposed to work. Well, it didn't. No rabbit ever came near. After patiently waiting for an impressive amount of time, the boys gave up.
Meanwhile, I walked over to the Mead's and immediately spotted one of the Bunnies Part Two enjoying a moment in the sunshine. It too decided to freeze rather than run. I don't think I'll ever enjoy mowing the lawn again. Who can tell where a baby bunny is crouching, frozen with fear.
Today I saw a documentary film about the war that FROZE ME with sadness, fear, and finally shame. I don't understand why they aren't showing us this kind of thing on the evening news. We wouldn't like it. It'd be hard. War is ugly. But, shouldn't we American people be seeing what happens in our name.

A Place to Call Home Part Two

2007-07-25T23:29:00.000-04:00

I haven't seen Mama Bunny again since the day we discovered her nest. She's come in the night to tend them because in the mornings the nest is neat and tidy with new layers of fur and grasses. The Baby Bunnies were safe in their sweet, down-filled nest beneath the birdbath... until this morning. I looked out the back door and there was Cheeky, sniffing all around the area with her nose right to the ground. She was pacing a quick perfect little pattern, not even letting an inch of ground go uncovered. Our cat Marshmellow was right there with her...also sniffing the air. Obviously the day had come. The Bunnies were no longer safe.
When I returned home this afternoon, I warned the boys,"Let's all keep an eye on the Rabbit Killers. They've sniffed out the nest." Cheeky and Tipper didn't seem to even remember the nest when we let them out. They hung out in the yard and never went near it...until we looked away. All the sudden I hear a horrible screaming/squeaking. I look toward the sound to see Cheeky running from the nest and Baby Bunnies hopping in every direction. Hap rescued the one Cheeky had gotten and the boyz and I each grabbed one but the fifth got away. We loved on them for a bit, then let them go in safer spots in the yard. Before I set mine free, I was laying stretched out on the grass with it on my chest. An angry chattering started in the tree above me. I look up and there is a squirrel yelling...definitely at me. It was like she was chastising me, saying "What are you doing with that baby bunny? Leave it alone! Put it in the brush and step away!". So, I did.
Later I headed over to the Mead's to gather some peppers from their garden. As I approached the gate, I noticed a Rabbit sitting in the yard near their door. It just sat there as I approached and I realized that she was kind of sitting on something. Looked closer. Guess what! She was nursing BABY BUNNIES! But not our Baby Bunnies. This was a whole new litter...probably a couple of weeks older. They were so cute, like puppies in the early weaning stages. There wasn't enough room under her for them to fit comfortably. One was laying completely upside down, paws kneading his Mama. Such a sight. I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have walked up on that scene.

The Simpson's vs. The White Stripes

2007-07-19T23:45:00.000-04:00

OK...so it's lazy of me to post this video rather than a REAL post...however...if you love The Simpson's and you love The White Stripes....you'll love this clip.

A place to call home

2007-07-17T09:15:00.000-04:00

As Murphy always warns his friends before their first visit to our home...Our house is tiny, but don't worry, our yard is huge....
Yes, we have a big yard and that big yard is home to many a critter. On Sunday afternoon I was sitting out back and a bunny kept coming closer and closer to me. She seemed completely unfazed by my presence. She hung out for awhile making sure I posed no threat then hopped over to a spot just under the birdbath and settled in until Simon could contain himself no longer and just had to try to lure her to him with a carrot from Hap's garden.
Here is the story in photos.

Romeo! Romeo!

2007-07-10T10:32:00.000-04:00

This week I've had the pleasure of spending my evenings at the Arboretum with my Dear Fairy Goddaughter Ivy Loo Hoo. We are volunteering with the Kentucky Classical Theater Conservatory as they present their Summerfest series over these next few weeks.
On Wednesday night the series will open with Romeo and Juliet. No matter how many times I witness the tale of the star crossed lovers, whether it be the 1968 Franco Zeffirelli Classic, the hip Baz Luhrmunn production or even the 1971 Made for TV adaptation If Tommorow Comes...I always find myself sincerely hoping the story might change...reasoning that the series of tragic events might go down in an unexpected way...never happens...erroneous fighting and deaths...they drink their poisons...the dagger is found...Tragedy with a capital T.
Seeing it performed by this remarkably talented cast made up primarily of Lexington Teens is both poignant and awe-inspiring. Wowee! You really MUST go! I promise that you will mesmerized.
The show opens Wednesday night and plays through Sunday...doors open at 7...preshow at 8...curtain at 8:45. Bring snacks and drinks...bugspray and a blankie...prepare to want to come back for next week's production of The Crucible.

2day (july 3)

2007-07-03T11:39:00.001-04:00

I actually slept all night last night. I woke at 6:15...cuddled back under my Fluffy and lived in Dreamland until Regis & Kelly woke me at 10:15. Yummmmmmmmmmm<3
The movie Blow Up was suggested to me thrice in a 36 hour period so I did a viewing this weekend. Confusing...thought...provoking and oh!so beautiful.................still pondering.
Do my dots (...)bother U?
Miss my boys. :(
Dentist at 2. >:(

Waking at 3 a.m.

2007-06-29T21:22:00.000-04:00

For the last week or so I've been waking at 3 a.m. Not a quick stir awake for a moment then drift back to sleep kind of waking....no this is a full wide awake kind of waking that forces me to get out of bed and just BE AWAKE for awhile. Usually I come here to the computer. One night my inbox told me that I'd gotten a message from Lori-Lyn at 3. I thought maybe her energy had reached out to me thru the night, but no she'd actually sent it at 12, not 3 like the computer said.
It's very curious that I'd be waking this way. I've never been prone to any sleep issues. In fact, my sleep habits are thankfully rhythmic and simple. I usually sleep seven to eight hours of every 24. I can stay awake all night when the mood strikes and still function. I can sleep just about anywhere...parties..planes..floors..the ground. Yes, I've been pretty blessed in the "ability to sleep" department and this waking at 3 is weird.
I was a little bugged by it until last night at the monthly meeting of C.R.A.B.S. when Lori-Lyn mentioned that waking at 3 a.m. is significant in the paranormal world. It's a time when psychic phenomena peaks. She said maybe a spirit was trying to speak to me.
My heart and head went to James E. Tittletoo and I was no longer bothered by the sleep interruption. Wouldn't that just be grand? Wouldn't that just be the greatest, if my friend who I so admired was calling to me from another dimension? I was so intrigued with the idea that I came home and told Hap about it then got online and googled "waking at 3 a.m.". Not that I ever doubted it, but Lori-Lyn had spoken with authority. Go to the link and see for yourself.
Last night, just like the previous nights before, I woke up at 2:59 a.m. Instead of grumbling or flipping my pillow and trying to get back to sleep, I tried to be an open vessel... ready to hear any messages that might be coming my way. Simon had fallen asleep in our bed and he stirred beside me, mumbling in his sleep, but I couldn't understand what he was saying. I closed my eyes and sent my own message..."Hello!" Images of Jamie appeared in my head. Words like freedom, peace and joy whirled and echoed around me.
I know this may sound hokey to some. I actually have a healthy skepticism myself. There are certainly perfectly rational explanations for all that I've been describing. Trust me. I've thought of them all myself, but I do enjoy dipping my toes into other worlds...imagining that the ones dear to me who have passed are close by. I'm sorry to tell you now that if there is a party of spirits in my room at night, then it could be a fairly large party. Yes, there are a host of loving relatives and friends who could be trying to speak to me, but the evidence all points to Jamie.
Memories of...thoughts of...dreams of...and sadness for Jamie is always floating there with me in these early days after his passing. It only makes sense that it would be him tapping me awake in the night...telling me that he is free and at and peace...telling me that we're all free and at peace...we only have to choose to be that way.. to be true to oneself...and to continually strive to celebrate life and all the wondrous gifts surrounding us...telling me to come to the computer and tell you...Of course it's him. Isn't that what he was always saying in life, through his very actions and deeds?

Precious Memories Flood my Soul

2007-06-22T10:03:00.000-04:00

There was a big send off for Joey Broughman at Lynagh's on Wednesday night. Wow! What a blast! No doubt Joey approves. By the end of the night the floor was a sticky mess with beer splashed on the floor! "Oh my God! I haven't seen you for years!" SPLASH! "Let's dance to this song like we did at the Dead Show back in '92!" SPLASH!
Around 11 or so, I walked through the room and I practically had to grab my legs to lift them because my rubber flip flops were adhering to the floor. Oh yes! A good time was had by all.
I knew Joey best back in the early 90's. At the time I was working at Lynagh's Music Emporium where Joey did a variety of tasks from bar tending and guarding the door to acting as Minstrel in the "John Lynagh Show". What a time it was. Nearly every night was a raucous good time as local and national acts took to the tiny stage to rock our world. At the end of the night we mopped up the sticky floors, cleaned all the surfaces, counted our money, then had our own after hours party. Those were some of the best times I've had. I don't know if I've ever found myself laughing so frequently. Joey was often at the center of it. He had this dry and cutting but completely love able wit. Put he and Mike Tevis together in a room and it was all over except for the laughing.
I ended my tenure at the Emporium on the day that I found out I was pregnant with Murphy. The lifestyles just didn't mesh. Even without the second hand smoke, lifting kegs and standing for hours, it just wasn't gonna be so great anymore. I'd need to go home at the end of the night, not stay up late hanging with the rest of the staff.Where's the fun in that? So,I gave that night's coveted shift to one of the Studmuffins and I was done.
I attended lots of shows at the Emporium after I was no longer employed there. First step in the door...there was Joey, always so happy to see me, always making me feel special. I think Joey just had the gift for making everyone feel special. Evidence of that lies in the hoards of people that showed up at Lynagh's on Wednesday night.
Yes, it was a Memorial befitting Joey. Joey was first and foremost a musician. His knowledge of music was deep but I do know he loved Dylan, Keith Richards,and The Dead. The musical guests started playing "Joey favorites" at 7 and didn't stop until 1 in the morning. There was dancing, joke telling and reminiscing. Cocktails and beer flowed freely. There were tears but mostly there was laughter.
Joey was a true rock star and we'll miss him something fierce.

Cinderella Thriller

2007-06-19T09:53:00.001-04:00

Check it out! Cinderella is doing Thriller moves! Thanks to Mel & TT, I am well versed in the choreography. I thought I was imagining things, so I went to the artist's blog to ask him. I am so proud. Yes. It's a small feat, but I like it when I'm actually paying attention.

Hey! If you got 3 minutes and 37 seconds and need a good laugh......

2007-06-13T21:34:00.000-04:00

Wow! I ain't done no writin' round here in a long while.
Ain't really that I had nuthin to say.
Ya'll! I'm here to tell ya that more-n anythang
I got too much to say.
There's all kinds of stuff been going on,
but there ain't hardly a bit of it you'd need to hear about.

2007-06-05T21:11:00.000-04:00

4.2 Million Iraqis Are Now Displaced

"The number of Iraqis who have fled the country as refugees has risen to 2.2 million, said Jennifer Pagonis, spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. A further 2 million have been driven from their homes but remain within the country, increasingly in "impoverished shanty towns," she said."

http://www.salon.com/wire/ap/archive.html?wire=D8PIRD601.html

Wahhh!!!!

2007-06-04T22:06:00.000-04:00

Color me blue. Becky made the trek south to Georgia and her new home today. I'll miss my Becky Boodle and all her brood. We sure had fun these last few years.
Said by Hap today..."You poor thing. I don't know anyone who has had so many really good buddies move away."
He's right you know. I get all attached and then ZIP!Boom! Off they go....Luckily everyone has either moved close enough to visit or to a glamorous location. I'm having fantasies of a big reunion one day. RScot, Ashley, Tom, Jill, Ingrid, Amy,
Scott and Becky...do you hear me? Oh and all you peeps-o-mine still in Lexington, please stay put for a while. Just long enough for me to recover. Have mercy!
Some people think a person can only have one BFF. I disagree with that or maybe I just have a Multiple Personality Disorder. I don't guess I ever use the phrase "My best friend." I usually say "One of my best friends." All these people that I so sincerely love, they all feed a differant part of me. Not one of my BFF's could be replaced.
But, now Becky is gone and there'll be hours to fill that normally would have been spent whiling away hours with her & the kids. Please send all inquiries for schedule filling this way!

torture

2007-05-24T16:14:00.001-04:00

torture
Originally uploaded by Rosie O'Donnell.

Pan

2007-05-22T22:51:00.001-04:00

Pan
Originally uploaded by lolliloobedoo.

When the flowers that we've cut and carried inside are starting to wilt, we offer them to the altar of Pan.

Confusion Reigns!

2007-05-11T11:47:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure I've ever been more confused about my path. In the past, the answers always came easily to me about where I wanted to be and what I wanted to be doing. Sometimes I think the trials I've been going through lately are Karmic debts that I need to pay before I can go further. I admit it. There have definitely been times that I haven't remembered the parable about the plank or remembered about walking in another mans shoes.
Then there's that whole idea about God or the Cosmos speaking to me. I am getting so many messages in my heart that I can't hear them all. This joke keeps coming back to me.
"There was a man who was drowning, and a boat came, and the man on the boat said "Do you need help?" and the man said "God will save me". Then another boat came and he tried to help him, but he said "God will save me", then he drowned and went to Heaven. Then the man told God, "God, why didn't you save me?" and God said "I sent you two boats, you dummy!"

?

2007-05-06T11:51:00.000-04:00

Our ponderings for the day come from Simon. I can't answer this and would appreciate any help you can offer.
"Why is it, 'I'm gonna beat you up?' not 'I'm gonna beat you down?'".
I don't know. Why is it?

I woke up in a good mood

2007-05-04T09:31:00.000-04:00

then I read this.

Dreaming space

2007-05-02T22:22:00.000-04:00

You know how much I love our little house. It's a fine home. It's just a tad bit small. I've been doing some daydreaming about buying one of these Glassic Flat modular homes and bringing it home to live with us on Edgemoor Drive.

The Work revisited

2007-04-26T23:38:00.001-04:00

Remember back to my birthday....my "self-help birthday"? I went to a Byron Katie Workshop and I watched "The Secret"? Turns out "The Secret" is heavy with cool graphics and empty promises but doesn't have much substance. "The Work" on the other hand is amazingly helpful, but I have trouble explaining exactly what it is. Here is a short list of the differences between the two as explained by Byron Katie on her blog.

The Secret: “You can have whatever you want.”
The Work: “You can want whatever you have.”

The Secret: “My will be done. I know what’s best for me.”
The Work: “Thy will be done (=Thy will is done). What’s best for me is what actually happens.” (In A Thousand Names for Joy, Katie says, “God’s will and your will are the same, whether you notice it or not.”)

The Secret: “You can control your thoughts.”
The Work: “You are not the thinker. It’s not possible to suppress your stressful thoughts. But when you question them, they let go of you.”

The Secret: “You can manifest your positive thoughts as reality.”
The Work: “Reality already is the best thing that could be manifested. When you realize this, you’re home free.”

That Katie. She sure is a wise one. The video that I've posted is of Katie doing the work with the statement, "I need more money." It's about 8 minutes long. Worth every second.....

OMG! How sad is this?

2007-04-19T11:32:00.000-04:00

I have a lump in my throat. This kid is just five years older than Murphy. I know. I know. AI is just a silly TV show. This Sanjaya thing is both fascinating and creepy to me. Remember world...he's a 17 year old kid from Seattle...first experience in the mass media and he has been crucified. Sure, it's probably been great in some ways, but he has to be carrying a heck of a bunch of hurt.

An ode to Sanjaya

2007-04-18T23:11:00.001-04:00

Sanjaya! Sanjaya!
Oh why?
Oh Why?
uh
I've loved you from that very first day.
Your big sister-she wouldn't win.
No way!
It was you all along
who was headed to Idol
I'd already guessed
your popularity would be tidal.
Flat quite often
And you couldn't hold a note
Which led many to question
Why you always got the vote.
JLo knew why
Tony Bennett did too
But it was Diana Ross
who best summed up you.
"Sanjaya is Love"
She said so succinctly.
That's why you were followed devoutly.
You have that freaky smile
That never leaves your face
Simon chides and you're still full of grace.
We'll miss you on Idol.
You know that it's true.
But you're Sanjaya Malakar
there's no way that you're through!

Prepared!!!

2007-04-16T22:34:00.000-04:00

Lord God! Everyone get prepared!
Get prepared!
Get prepared!
Get prepared!
Outrage today on the news
that Virginia Tech wasn't
more prepared!
Excuse me?
Huh?
How does a school or an individual or a town
Prepare!
for the unthinkable?
And what does a world look like
where schools, towns and individuals
are prepared! to react quickly & efficiently
to the unthinkable?
Yes. Yes. I get it.
An ounce of prevention
blah blah blah..
I totally get that.
But the question
I find myself
coming back to
time & time again...
What do I want my world
to look like?
to be like?
to feel like?
I know for sure
that there's little
in that dream world
that reflects a culture
forced to feel
it should be
forever prepared!
to handle
the freaky scene
when anger
insanity
and a gun
doth meet.

Posing with Rachel

2007-04-10T21:24:00.001-04:00

We did a booth at Mecca two weekends ago for the Rachel Brice workshop. Big fun! We think we may try to do more stuff on the Bellydance Circuit. Them girls are Isle of You kinda girls! Anyway...all that was a weekend or so back. I'm just now mentioning it cause Mick finally posted his photos from the entire weekend!

Yikes! I've been away too long.

2007-04-06T19:44:00.000-04:00

Oh! all the reasons why, I'd tell you but it'd take a day an a half to tell you and mostly it's just that I'm a mother and a wife and a business owner and hot dang! but all that stuff takes up a lot of time. The lil boyz are in Whitesville with Memaw & D-daddy. Hap and I are about to go get some dinner. Yum.
I have not had a cigarette in 2 months 4 days 10 hours and 53 minutes. That means I have saved $210.61 and I have not smoked 968 cigarettes. I'll hit 1000 in a couple of days. Mick might do a collage. Pleez Mick! Please! What does 1000 cigarettes look like?.

40 + 4=44

2007-03-18T12:35:00.001-04:00

This past week was my birthday. My dear friends and family bestowed upon me such spectacular good wishes and celebrations that I am beyond humbled.
Because it was also the Ten Year Birthday of Isle of You, I asked for and received a good week of sales at the store. All us girls workin on the Isle appreciate that. Between the NCAA Tournament and the crappy weather it could've been a banner BAD week, but our buddies rallied to the cause and purchased somethin' for themselves (or a loved one) that we hope they'll enjoy for 10 years....or more!
The Guyons invited me to join them in Louisville on Saturday for a Byron Katie Workshop. WOW! I can't even begin to tell you....without a doubt the inner workings of my thought processes have shifted. Thank you Byron Katie! Thank you Guyons! You're precious.
For my birthday present, Hap and the boys agreed to clean our house to cleaning lady standards. So, I got home from Louisville and a large portion of our furniture was on the back lawn. Hap was standing on the back porch drinking a beer, smiling real big and saying "I'm nowhere near done, Honey." The scene was just so cute and The Work was still so strong in me that I wasn't concerned or annoyed or anything.
While gettin dressed for my big birthday soiree at Lucy & Micks I decided my birthday outfit would be planned around my new "Marie Antoinette" Paul Frank tee. If I'd done better planning I would've acquired a small bird cage for my head but I didn't plan so instead I looked like this. Are you feeling the "Marie"? A grand time was had by all. The babies were adorable. The food was delicious. The cake was beautiful. The guests were lookin fabulous.....oh and I got me some great gifts! I've really done nuthin 2day, but bask in the memories of this amazing birthday week, work on this blog post and upload photos to flickr. Hap continues to work his fingers to the bone with the house cleanin and the boys have been jumping on the trampoline. All in all a great way to end the week.

In other news....according to my Quit-O-Meter, I have NOT smoked in 1 month 2 Weeks 2 Days 7 hours and 23 minutes. This means I have NOT smoked 696 cigarettes and I have saved $151.34....money which I plan to use to go to Bonaroo. Who's with me?

Shark Jumping

2007-03-13T11:07:00.000-04:00

"Dancing with the Stars" has officially jumped the shark. O! Why'd ya do it my guilty pleasure? I loved you way back then....your first season.....Simon & I watched together every week and his passion for the dance was born. At the Robinsons wedding Simon & I danced the night away...run-kneedrop-slide... his best move. I just don't get it. DWTS has been a run away hit and for good reason...they certainly didn't need to promote this new season with Heather Mills and her missing limb. Christ almighty! Surely the masses were already excited to watch just to see that adorable Apolo Anton Ohno. We usually only see him during the Winter Olympics. He's always a media favorite during those. So putting him on...smart move...putting Heather Mills on...sensationalism and unnecessary shark jumping in too many obvious ways to mention. I know ratings are important so what I'm wondering is...did the DWTS producers get scared or did they get greedy?

It all started with the Lips

2007-03-10T21:59:00.000-05:00

This morning at the Isle I had something like five coincidental oddities with Susannah, a somewhat regular Saturday morning shopper that I don't know well, but always enjoy seeing. First, I'd thought about her just last night because I'd made contact with Joel Crisp and it made me think of her and another Saturday morning at the Isle when she and I listened to Catawampus and reminisced about the "good old days". So we're talking and it turns out that she's good friends with some old Isle of You favorites, Christina and Satana. Later, I don't know how it came up...she asked if I'd heard the NPR "This I Believe" that Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips did. OMG! I'd heard it and it's one of my favorites! She goes on to tell me that she happened across "Fearless Freaks" a documentary about them on TV and it was pretty good. Guess what was due to arrive in my mailbox from Netflix this very day? Right. Fearless Freaks. Isn't that weird? What does it mean? Does it mean anything? Maybe I'll make it mean something. I'm aching for some magic. Maybe the obsession I now have with Wayne Coynes is the magic. Wayne may be the funnest most non judgemental,well adjusted person in the world....ever. The Lips are playing Bonnaroo this year. So are alot of other acts I'd love to catch. Me, Hap, Otto and Christin are thinking about going.

The Ides of March

2007-03-08T08:15:00.000-05:00

It's been 10 really fun years on the Isle
All this stuff we've bought to sell.
Wow! We've had some beauties.
Yikes! There've been some duds.
My birthday too is one week from 2day.
44 years that's me.
What gift do I want for my special day?
Big Loo tells me I should say...
What I want is for you and you and yoohoo
to come to my 10 year old baby
and buy something for yourself or your boy
or a special friend.
Times are tuff, I have to say
I want the Isle to be here another day
10 years more is fine with me
I love my job you see.
The people, the stuff,
the weird lil downtown scene-
It's all so special to me.
So there U have it.
Now you know.
Don't need to spend much
Just a few dollars will do.
It adds up quickly
multiplied by a few.

An Ode to Sarah

2007-03-04T01:53:00.000-05:00

Lovely Sarah-Our fashion muse
at The Isle she's the glue
that holds it all together
when the rest of us are
snapping at each other
struggling for power
quiet voice
deep drawl
kind & tender hearted
gentle not fragile
Saralini
Sarabelle
Lover of Darrellkins
Savior of Frankums
Ten years my friend
another fifty if we're lucky
We'll be two funny old ladies
In daring duds
asserting our inner Diva
Long live the Fashion Queen!

I LOVE dancing with my son

2007-03-03T07:46:00.000-05:00

more than most anything. I hope he'll keep dancing with me even when he's a sassy teenager.....

The BUZZ Index

2007-02-21T20:34:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite "media destinations" is Salon.com. There's many an article to read on Salon, whether ye be craving politics, gossip or headlines. There's also a nice bunch of sports, music and theater reviews. It's a veritable playground. One of the little tidbits amongst the more serious commentary is our little friend "The Buzz Index". The index is a short listing of news items that seem to be generating some buzz. Here is the list for today.
BUZZ Index
* Most viewed story on Yahoo News: "Woman in Iron Lung Celebrates Birthday," Associated Press
* Most e-mailed story from the New York Times: "Flame First, Think Later: New Clues to E-Mail Misbehavior"
* Most popular track on Hype Machine: "March Into the Sea," Modest Mouse
* Most viewed story from the International Herald Tribune: "TV Talk-Show Host Craig Ferguson Refrains From Mocking Britney Spears After She Shaves Her Head"
I'd like to take a moment or two now to comment on each.

First...the woman in the iron lung. Basically it's a story about this birthday girl who has been breathing with the aid of an iron lung for 57 years! You'd think they could give her some kind of updated fancy, not so large device but apparently they can't. Anyhoo...I am successfully decreasing the chances that I will ever have to use an iron lung. According to my Quit-O-Meter I have been smober for 3 weeks, 11 hours and 45 minutes so I HAVE NOT smoked 324 cigarettes therefore I have saved $70.41. I'd also like to mention that the photo above is of an Iron Lung ward. Can you even imagine?
Now this story about Flaming that everyone seems to read and then e-mail out really caught my eye cause seriously who hasn't experienced "flaming" as the flamer or the flamee...maybe both. I also think most people are probably sending it out with this in the subject line.."WTF! Did you know there was a name for this?"

This is Modest Mouse. I don't know if I know any of their music or not. I probably do because I'm very familiar with their name...whatever. The only thing about that piece of buzz that you really need to know is that Hype Machine is muy-muy yum-yum my friends!

Finally...I consider this Craig Ferguson piece proof positive that I have my finger on the pulse, that I have a certain prescience about what's gonna be big news because just today I was standing round the Isle with Meredith and Lucy telling them that the biggest news on the blogosphere concerning Britney today would actually be about Craig Ferguson and his heartfelt monologue last night. I was feeling pretty "I told you so" when I got to the Buzz Link and saw that item listed. I saw his monologue (I've been having a bit of a Craig obsession the last few days and have been staying up late to watch....ya know ya give up the 'rettes it really messes with the sleep habits)and it practically brought tears to me eyes, but it was weird because it was the monologue and no one was laughing.........
Finally, in a side note that has nothing to do with the BUZZ Index...Remember my last post where I told you to go to Drawer Geeks? Did you go? Hopefully you did because I just tried to go there and it's down because so many people have been visiting. They give Fark and DIGG as the perpetrators of too much traffic. I say...Hey! What about me? I found Drawergeeks all on my own thru some weird coincidence and excellant web exploration skills. What's a girl gotta do to get a little credit? Increase my blog readership by a few million or something?

Ginger and Mary Ann

2007-02-19T11:15:00.000-05:00

On Saturday I stayed up til the wee hours exploring the strings and strands of the web. I found this cool place that I just have to share. Click on a theme and you'll get illustations of that theme by some very good illustrators. One of my personal favorites is Alice in Wonderland by Bryan Ballinger.
And then there's this other thing I found which is sooooo wonderful that I can't even stand it. It's called Instant Talk Show. I'm not even going to bother trying to exlain. U should just go to the site, check the archives and watch their interview with Elijah Wood or Robert Schneider. I haven't seen any of the others, but feel sure I will on a day when I have more time for leisurely pursuits!!!

02142007

2007-02-14T22:07:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentines Day!! Our Valentine Tradition at the Isle is to offer up free delivery of a gift, flowers and candy...gotta get all Valentine bases covered ya know. Lucy made these fantastic little posies...some of the prettiest we've had on Valentines Day in the 10 years we've been doing this. We have Valentines by Maxwell Elementary students adorning the walls and it just looks great. The store seems to glow pink and red. The Valentines will be on display through Sunday. On Friday we'll have a special reception during Gallery Hop. If you can't come by then, there's more photos here.
Things are going well for The Apples in Stereo. Their song "Energy" is the most added at CMJ. That's big stuff! Tonight they'll be playing on Conan. Hopefully they aren't trapped in the big blizzard. And if they are trapped in the big blizzard, I hope they're somewhere fun with lots of friends and nuthin to do but enjoy the fact that the world has shut down, if only for a day or two. Go Apples! Go! We're watching you from down here. Hope the tour's a huge success because gosh darn it! I love this album. Thank the Gods, so does Lucy cause it's all either of us want to listen to it seems. My personal faves? Same Ole Drag and Play Tough.
Finally...according to my Quit-O-meter...as of this posting I have not smoked in 2 weeks 13 hours and 12 minutes. That means I have NOT SMOKED 222 cigarettes and I have saved $48.21. Woo! Hoo!

The Police - Roxanne

2007-02-11T22:27:00.001-05:00

I let time get away from me and I missed all but the last minute of The Police performing on the Grammys....Dang it!!!
I found this old Roxanne Video on YouTube tho, so I posted it just in case anyone is happening by and wants a lil trip back in time. The Police were so cute!! No wonder I fell completely and madly in love with them in my younger years.
I have memories that come flickering back to me every winter, of a senior year snow-day spent hanging with Brad and seeing the video for "Do do do de da da da". Already loved the music, then when I actually saw these three....okay, so Andy never did so much for me, but the other two...ohhh la la! Once I actually had one of those dreams where you REALLY FEEL the emotions in the dream. (You know the kind I mean..right?) Anyway...I had this dream where I was actually dating Sting. I felt it, I'm tellin' ya'...with every ounce of my 17 year old girlness. Just like it was REALLY happening. So cool.
If I ever really got to meet The Police, I'd probably be much more attracted to Stewart. Sting's real cute, intense and smart but he just never has had the playfulness that Stewart exhibits. I mean he tries and all, but it just doesn't seem to come as naturally to Sting...plus Stewart's got that whole string bean, lanky boy thing going on and I think he's like way beyond beyond smart. Jiminy!!! I do go on, don't I? It's the video. Its got me all a flitter.

Here's Mickey!!!

2007-02-11T21:46:00.001-05:00

in lolliland

2007-02-10T23:28:00.001-05:00

Last night Meredith and I accidentally ended up at H'Artful of Fun in matching earrings. Horrors!!!Hap looks on as we pose for Boyd.
Murphy and I did our second sewing project togther today. This one is going to be a Valentine for MeMaw. Here's a view of a pocket that Murphy sewed on. He's rockin' the straight lines!!

According to my Quit-O-Meter

2007-02-06T21:53:00.000-05:00

I have been smober for 6 days and 12 hours. I have NOT smoked the 100 cigarettes that I would have smoked-so I have saved $21.75. Yea for me!

What the freak?

2007-02-05T22:04:00.001-05:00

Can anyone explain this to me?

If Cheeky were a Designer Dog......

2007-02-05T19:10:00.000-05:00

The talk has been building for a few years about "Designer Dogs" or "Hybrids". You know where they take two really great breeds of dogs and make a new kind of dog. There's lots of types. There's the Labradoodle. There's the Goldendoodle. There's the one that's been around since I was a kid...the precious Cockapoo. There's a bunch of differant kinds. Can you pick a portmanteau for Cheeky? Her Mom is a boxer. Her Dad is a mix of poodle, and terrier. What would we call that? Cause really she is a fabulous Pup....except for her barking habit. She's our little lap dog. We love her so...
Recently there was a cover story about designer dogs in the New York Times, so now there's also a story about it on Fresh Air.....oh, and I'm blogging about it. Go to this site where you can take a test to see if you can tell the differance between a designer dog from a breeder and a designer dog from the pound.
By the way, the funniest mix I've ever seen in person was a dog named Tequila. He was a mix of yellow lab and dachshund. That's called a Dachsador. Who knew..............

Name that Star Wars Character

2007-02-04T17:21:00.001-05:00

Simon has really been into drawing Star Wars characters for a while now. I was bored last night and started taking pictures of the newest just for fun. I was kind of digging the end product, so I grabbed a folder of older Star Wars drawings and posted those too. Enter my contest and you could win a prize. I don't know what it will be yet, but I can guarantee that it won't be worth much cash. May the force be with you...............

Friday nights aint what they used to be.

2007-02-03T02:23:00.000-05:00

Ironic thing is....Cheeky is the only one of the three of us who wanted to go to sleep. Simon and I were eating mac-n-cheese and watching a movie. Next thing I know, I'm waking up and I didn't even know I was asleep in the first place. So, Simon continued sleeping and now it's 2:30 in the morning and here I am.......

Flickr Drama!

2007-02-01T00:52:00.000-05:00

Okay so it seems the rest of the world is just catching up with me. Remember my flickr drama from a while back.I couldn't get into my account because of the Yahoo! merge....you may not remember..it was insignificant really...UNTIL TODAY!!! So here's the scoop. The (evil corporate giant) Yahoo! took over cool photosharing/social networking site flickr. Yahoo doesn't really seem to "get" flickrs core passionate users and has starting posting new rules. The natives ain't happy and the competitors are moving in. Thomas Hawke (CEO of Zoomr) blogged about it. While smugbug.com, another photosharing site is offering 50% discounts to what they call "flickr refugees"
Whatcha gonna do kids? You'll have to decide soon. Deadline to sign on with your yahoo ID is March 15....which by the way is also my birthday...and the Ides of March. Togo party anyone? We can take cool pictures then post them......

Click!

2007-01-31T19:48:00.000-05:00

There is more than one-way to march on Washington. MoveOn.org is sponsoring a virtual march on Washington on February 1st...This march will be made in the form of phone calls, emails and faxes, to send one million direct contacts to members of Congress to stop the escalation...everyone can take part in this march. You can take part here. I've already clicked myself.
CLICK ON THE PHOTO

Frigid

2007-01-29T22:41:00.000-05:00

It's frigid cold outside right now
14 D greeezz when I took the boys to school
I waited at the bus stop with Murphy
River and Ashley climbed in the car
to escape the cold....frozen prepubesence
We listened to the stereo
Beck has a new 11 year old fan

Last week we had a tiny ice storm
When I awoke the ground was white
with a dusting of snow
Shocked when the TV said "No school"
Then the sun came up
and the ice was revealed
twinkling on the branches

Lydia

2007-01-24T21:42:00.001-05:00

This is the precious newest member of my gigantic family. Her name is Lydia and she is the daughter of my nephew Josh. I guess that means that I am her Great Aunt?
Mom, Michelle (Lydias Mom)and I are the three adult voices that you hear in the background. She's just so darn cute that it's impossible to look at her without ooing, gooing and generally acting a fool.
Babies rule!

You too, be it male or female can also be fashionable!

2007-01-23T22:13:00.001-05:00

(Brenda Dickson! Peoples Choice Award for Best TV Villainess. Jill Abbott on Y&R from 1973 to 1980)

Well, Hello! You may not know that I have been watching The Young & the Restless since its debut episode in 1973 and I have watched it somewhat regularly ever since. I admit it. I just can't get enough of the fashion and Drammmma.
I don't remember this woman's face, but I certainly remember her voice and the way she emotes. She's grand isn't she?
This video will educate and inspire! Remember fashion can be aquired by anyone, be IT male or female. Also snake and jeans are always a great look.
Well, Hello! Ostrich feathers anyone?

My name is

2007-01-21T22:53:00.000-05:00

This is my Mom, Judy. She and my Dad named me Lori Ann Rowland. (The Ann is from my two Grandmothers...Anna Jean Rowland & Anna Lee Yeiser) My parents and family call me Lori. A few of my friends call me Lori Ann. No one ever calls me Ann, but I tried to start the trend when I moved to Lexington in 1981. Eventually, my name began to evolve and for the past decade or so, I've been answering to many differant names.
Lolli
Loll
Lolliloo
Aunt Lolli
Miss Lola
Lola
It all began with Lolli, which was the best my precious Ivy could do when first attempting to say my name. It stuck with everyone and I became Lolli to my scene of scenester friends. Then Ivy started looking like little Cindy Loo Hoo and she became Little Ivy Loo Hoo. The ryhming trend caught on and I became Lolliloo. My adult friends eventually shortened it to Loll, but my youngster friends started calling me Aunt Lolli. (Dante still does & I LOVE it)
When I opened the store I met a woman named Shirley who was particularly confused by my name so she called me Miss Lola and then that became a trend. Some people STILL call me Miss Lola and I love that, too. Some even call me Lola without the Miss.
According to the Baby Name Wizard, the name Lori showed up in 1940 and reached its peak of popularity in the early 60's. The name Lolli showed up in the late 1800's but it was spelled Lollie. Lola also showed up in the 1800's, but its been up and down the popularity scale ever since.

Murphy finally lets me take a photo...

2007-01-19T07:57:00.000-05:00

but only after he gets his face prepared.

An ode to our house

2007-01-02T20:07:00.000-05:00

This is where we live.
This is where we love.
To some it's just a little cottage
sitting on an acre of land
in the middle of the city
and that makes it interesting.

Our house arrived on a train
and was probably built in a day.
That was over 50 years ago.
Where is that original family
who called Gunnison Homes
and ordered up this house?
Their children's heights
are still posted
on my closet door.

Aunt Mary & Uncle Will
moved in after they left.
Hosting kids from her
Sunday School class,
they made corn cob dolls & foil goblets.
Jill Shambhu told me so.
I have a photo of Hap sitting on
the same back stoop we sit on today.
He was just a little kid,
but the stoop looks
the same.

Jump forward 20 years
Mary Houlihan lived here then.
I remember the first time
Hap brought me to visit.
It was love at first sight
for this cottage and this land.
We sat on the same back stoop
and I met my future sister.

This house has surely
hosted thousands.
This house is warm & cozy.
This house is bright with sunshine.
This house has more than enough room
for my boys
and me.

I like to imagine
Aunt Mary & Uncle Will
see us here now
and smile at the happy vibrations
that pulse
from this house
and it's tiny
foundation.

Cheers to you, You crazy ones!

2006-12-31T09:01:00.000-05:00

Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they h ave no respect for the status quo. You can quote them; disagree with them; glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them.Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do. (Used in an Apple marketing campaign, and often attributed to Kerouac. It has been suggested this was not written by Kerouac personally, but inspired from his famous quote from On the Road: The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!”)

Lil' Houligans & the best story of Christmas 2006

2006-12-29T11:41:00.000-05:00

Isaac is the son of my cousin Pete. Pete is a Preacher, so I guess that makes Isaac "the son of a Preacher Man" (Thank You, Dusty Springfield). Anyhoo...Simon & Isaac really hit it off this Holiday Season. After playing together for hours, Isaac turned to Simon and asked "Simon, are you a Christian?" Simon rather nonchalantly replied, "No. I'm a Houlihan" To which Isaac asked, "What's a Houlihan?" Confusion reigned supreme for both kids until Hap intervened and explained to Isaac that Houlihan is our last name. He then asked Simon if he believes in Jesus and Simon said he did. So, Hap told Isaac that indeed Simon is a Christian & a Houlihan. Relief was felt all around.

Holiday Parties! Woo hoo!

2006-12-20T23:07:00.000-05:00

The boys had their "Last day of School before Winter Break!" parties today. This is a picture of Simon with his friend Cheyenne. They must have a really good time together. He talks about her alot.
This is his friend Max. Funny story...Max is the son of James & Etel who we met through Ingrid & Scott. Max was at Dante's birthday party the year that Simon was born. Max was just a few days old. Simon was just a few days from being born. They met this year at Maxwell and quickly became friends. They LOVE to play Star Wars together.

Trivial Thursday

2006-12-17T10:34:00.000-05:00

On Thursday morning I was the fill in guest host on Mick's show. Big fun! There wasn't much going on that interested me, but Mick thought it was a great day in history. Either way, I wasn't really "on" and I'm blaming it on uninspiring history rather than sluggish brain cells.
As always, guest hosting is a fantastic way to get a couple of hours of Mickstar time. The man can talk to a wall and probably does if no one else is around. Thru February, he won't be talking to walls for sure. See the upcoming Trivial Thursday Guest Host schedule here.

R.I.P. Maisy Moo

2006-12-11T15:24:00.000-05:00

You were the best houndcat ever.

Maisy Moo Rowland went on to the great kitty hunting grounds beyond today. She moved in with me when I lived on the corner of High and Lafayette. I found her at the pound. She was just a skinny sqeaky runt, but she meowed at me and I had to have her. She moved with me to Preston where we lived with TT, Zelda and Slimey. Those were the golden years. Maisy really loved Slimey, Zelda and TT. She spent many hours there playing fetch with milk tops and keeping watch from the 2nd story balcony. From Preston, Maisy moved with me to Sherman. She was a little less comfy on Sherman after her buddies Slimey and Zelda passed away, but she regained some of her youthful energy when we moved over to Edgemoor and she had this big yard with lots of critters around to terrorize. In fact, I spotted her crouched and ready to pounce on something just a couple of weeks ago. But, all was not as good as it seemed. Her old kidneys just weren't working like they were supposed to. Maisy is survived by her buddies Marshmallow and Cheeky and her humans Lori, Hap, Murphy and Simon.

Keefy just keeps painting away!!

2006-12-10T09:41:00.000-05:00

This is one of my oldest and dearest friends, Keith. When I was in 7th grade, I got a hall pass to go to the lil gals room. On my way there I passed this blonde haired boy working on a bulletin board about Christopher Columbus. We've been good friends ever since.....oh! the things we've been thru together could fill a book. Anyway...he's come a long way since the Christopher Columbus bulletin board. Here's a bit of what he's doing now. I'm so proud!

Joy!

2006-12-08T21:25:00.000-05:00

Crazy holidaze
cycles back around
every year
bout this time
green & red
bit of blue
for good measure
silver & gold
good for everybody
Hey! How about purple?
Familiar faces face unfamiliar faces
and smile
Jolly Joy
Merry Happy
The year's drawing to a close

I'm in!

2006-12-02T10:51:00.000-05:00

Hey! I finally got in to flickr! All is right with the world again! Problem was I was signing in with "lolliloobeedoo" not "lolliloobedoo" Note the subtle difference? Computers...they're so sensitive!

Genius really

2006-12-01T23:40:00.000-05:00

My friend Scott made this cool collage of the Flickr Loop. Once I used the keyword "merge" I found all sorts of people on the "help" forums suffering the same defeat as me. I know this is pretty boring stuff to u dear reader....but I have to vent! FRUSTRATION!!!!

Never Never No! Never

2006-11-30T17:28:00.000-05:00

Merge your Yahoo! and Flickr accounts. I have been caught in a sign in loop with those guys for over a week now and I still can't get no satisfaction. But I try........................

Please sign into Flickr

We can't find a Flickr account with those details. Are you sure you entered the right stuff?

Ok. You're signed in at Yahoo! with your lolliloobeedoo Yahoo! account.

The next step is to sign into the Flickr account you want to associate with your lolliloobeedoo Yahoo! account.

The email address you need here is your Flickr primary email address - the one you normally sign in to Flickr with.

Stereo Still Life

2006-11-23T10:55:00.000-05:00

I'll get you, My Pretty!

2006-11-23T10:39:00.001-05:00

Over the Top!

2006-11-13T21:30:00.000-05:00

Joined the girls for a bit of Marie Antoinette this eve. As soon as I heard the first few bars of Gang of Four I knew it was gonna be a coupla hours practically custom made for my senses. YES!
In other news....I've been catching up on the new season of Nip/Tuck with Becky and Hap. The Docs have come full circle. Little disconcerting this season...no warning before the gore. Blechhh! Otherwise, pretty enticing TV time. Like M.A., overflowing with great music, beautiful sets, beautiful people...OTT.

Dale Chihuly

2006-10-27T20:33:00.000-04:00

"Now sitting in the pond is The Huntington Museum of Art Tower, a stunning 10-foot-tall, 6-foot-wide glass sculpture comprised of 352 different pieces that curl toward the ceiling as if bursting forth, searching for the light.

The custom tower was made by the world's most famous art glass maker, Tacoma, Wash.-based Dale Chihuly (think Dr. Seuss loose in a glass factory). The stunning piece was given to the museum by the Polan family in honor of Dorothy Lewis Polan and Lake Polan Jr."

I NEED one of these!

2006-10-26T06:41:00.000-04:00

The LOVE JONES

2006-10-17T08:36:00.000-04:00

There I am on Saturday night at the Love Jones show giving my best "Oh! You wanna take my picture? Let me tilt my head." pose. C me? Right there in the middle...........

Bilingual

2006-10-03T11:25:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday Happy!

2006-09-21T22:45:00.001-04:00

Badlands
Originally uploaded by lolliloobedoo.

We're yours!
I remember this spot
and this day
Murphy was afeard o the rattlers
never saw any.
The signs said it could be so
and that's all he needed
Let's get back in the car.

Moo!

2006-09-18T08:30:00.001-04:00

Monkeys in my pants! Cow poo in my greens...blekkk

2006-09-17T11:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was all about gettin' my diversity on. Met the boyz, Aunt Mary and her lil G'Buddies at the Festival Latina. Wow! It was a beautiful sight. What a gloriously enthusiastic community. Beautiful, just beautiful. Wish I'd had my camera. Welcome to KY! I'm glad you're here. I adore the spice you add to the Bluegrass State. Saw Murphy's Algebra teacher dancing on stage with the folks from Columbia. You go Sr. Castrillon!

Later I went on over to Mecca where the Hafla Pura show was in full swing. Ya want some Shake Shake! Jiggle Jiggle! Shake! Then that's the spot for you. The Rakadu ladies were amazing as usual.
They just keep getting better and better! Sabi Diri knocked my socks off. I was panting FOR THEM by the time they completed their African Dance set. Might be a heart attack waiting to happen for me, but dang! it looks like fun.
Remember the wise words of Mr. Impresario
"As long as there's Mecca. There's always something to do in Lexington."

In other news.......

Oh! That's just great. As if it weren't enough to be worried about all the other stuff we have to be worried about.....I guess I'll just keep it local at the Farmers Market. But geez Louise! What else could possibly go wacko in our weird world?