Pretty Doesn’t Last Long Around Here.

The lifespan of the bow above was about 45 minutes and that included the 10 minute ride home from the groomers. Coco goes to the groomer once a month. And she loves going there because she gets treated like a queen. Seriously folks, my dog has a fan club at the local groomer. For example, let me recreate the phone call I made to schedule her grooming.

Groomer: Good Morning!

Lynne with an E: Good Morning…I wanted to see if I can get my dog in for a wash on Saturday? (crossing fingers)

Groomer: Well, it is kind of late since it is Thursday. What’s the dog’s name?

Lynne with an E: Coco. 

Groomer: Coco!!! Oh great, and I am working this weekend. I am not supposed to schedule anyone else for Saturday but it is Coco.

Coco is a very good dog. And the groomer loves putting little bows on her. But they don’t last long.

 

The poor bow never had a chance. Jack had it out for that bow and his favorite squeaky toy…Coco. Luckily, Coco survived. The bow…not so much.

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For The Birds

I am waiting…I am waiting for the third bird.

Bad things are supposed to happen in threes and that is why I am waiting for the third bird. But in order to understand the third bird, I will tell you about the first bird and the second bird.

First Bird – Around mid-September of last year, after Lou the cat decided to plop his “little head, big tail” self into my world, I noticed a pigeon. My apartment is on a second floor above a garage (I know, it is very Growing Pains-like). And my kitchen window looks across the driveway to a tiled roof. So at the corner of this red tile roof sat a pigeon. A big fat pigeon, that would sit there in the morning and in the afternoon. And he would sit there and make a big mess (and I don’t think I need to elaborate on the kind of mess that a pigeon is A+ on making). Lou would sit in the kitchen window and stare at the pigeon on the tiled roof. And the pigeon would stare back. A couple of times the pigeon would attempt to fly toward the window but was unsuccessful. Little did I know that the pigeon was practicing for his fait accompli.

A lovely Sunday afternoon and I am in the midst of cleaning my living room with my front door wide open. Meg and Lou are sunning themselves on my doorstep. The quiet is broken by the furious flapping of wings accompanied by an incessant whoop-whoop sound. Soaring over Meg’s and Lou’s heads, the pigeon makes his landing in my living room. I would like to say that I was as cool as a cucumber with nerves of steel so I will write it but it was the direct opposite. The pigeon proceeds to waddle around my living room as Lou and Meg continue to lounge on my doorstep. I decide to do my best impression of a  lion tamer at the circus, pick up one of my dining room chairs and guide the pigeon out of my apartment. And with a mighty “Whoop! Whoop!” the pigeon flies over Meg’s and Lou’s head, out my front door.

Second Bird – A leisurely Saturday morning, my front door, once again open. I have to run errands but I decide that maybe I should work on cleaning my bathroom first. My bathroom door is partially shut. I pushed the door open. I have a big open shower. Lou is sitting next to the shower drain, surrounded by blood and feathers, consuming the remains of a small bird. Once again, I am going to write that I kept my cool when the reality is the direct opposite. I did spend the following two hours cleaning that bathroom.

So I am waiting because I am sure there will be a third bird. Or maybe a whole flock.

By the way, the pigeon just called. He wants to know what’s for dinner. I told him chicken. He hung up.

Sincerely,

Lynne with an E

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One Word Movie Review

Well, you will be happy to know that I have been depriving myself of sleep in order to get caught up with my movie reviews. Yes, it is hard work but I do it for you, YOU! It is always for you. Well, maybe not always. Okay, most of the times…okay, maybe not most of the time. Anyways, here’s this week’s installment of one word movie review.

  • Alice in Wonderland – Fantastical (Fantasy + Magical)
  • The Back-up Plan – Laborious
  • It’s Complicated* – Classy

*Is it wrong that I would love to live in a Nancy Meyers’ movie? I mean, COME ON! It just isn’t right how everything in that world makes me just want to jump through the television screen. Okay, I would even take Baby Boom. Granted shoulder pads and wearing white socks and tennis shoes with panty hose is a little out of date but still. Almost every single new set in It’s Complicated drew a “OH COME ON!” out of me. And the garden?!! I didn’t realize that I could lust after a garden like that. It just isn’t right but yet, it is oh so perfect.

Sincerely,

Lynne with an E…ar-splitting OH COME ON!

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Alone

All alone. Jack at vet’s for check-up. Coco at groomer’s. Ropey toy at hand…but it just isn’t the same.

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One Word Movie Review

Seems I need to get back on my movie review wagon. I have slacked off a bit but I have a couple to review this week. I don’t know about you but watching a movie proves to be a serious time commitment. I guess I could approach it the same way as reading a book, watch 30 minutes or an hour at a time but that just goes against my whole philosophy of watching a movie. And watching a movie while performing other tasks is like not having watched the movie at all. Focusing on the movie is necessary because how else will you recognize a funny line or a favorite quote or a fantastic outfit or any other nuance of a performance? I try to approach movie-watching at home like I do in the theater. I am all-in. And it may seem the height of decadence to devote two hours to a movie, but if you love it, why shouldn’t you devote the time to it? Okay, enough of the philosophizing about movies. Here are the two movies for review this week:

  • Remember Me – regret-full
  • When In Rome – campy

Sincerely,

Lynne with an E…normous backlog of movies to watch

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Anticipation

I am waiting…waiting for the day that I have tomato overload but from the looks of things, that is still a couple of months away.

So in anticipation of the homegrown tomatoes to come, I am making Bruschetta, a.k.a. Italian Salsa.

Ingredients:

  • 6 Roma tomatoes
  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cp parmesan cheese, shredded
  • 6 basil leaves, chopped
  • 4 T extra virgin olive oil
  • Dash of salt and pepper

 

Chop both ends off the tomatoes. Use your finger and poke through the membrane to get rid of the seeds and extra juice.

Chop up tomatoes, garlic and basil. Put all three ingredients in a bowl, add parmesan cheese, olive oil, a dash of salt and black pepper.

 

Mix ingredients together. Eat immediately or let sit for awhile for flavors to meld. Fantastic served on sliced bread, pita chips or mixed in with cold pasta for a fresh pasta salad.

Posted in Food, Recipes | 1 Comment

Concentration

I cannot even begin to explain.

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Cranes Revisited

Well, first I strung’em up and now I am plastering them. I am showing the paper cranes no mercy.

I decided to explore the origami crane in a different medium.

My Co-Conspirators:

Using origami paper, I cut triangles and glued them in a pattern on the canvas.

I used white paper to make a paper crane pattern. I copied the pattern onto green paper, arranged it on the canvas and glued.

Using a sponge brush, I slathered the whole canvas with the mod podge and set it to dry.

I like the aspect of playing with a specific theme across several mediums.

What do you think of the results?

I wouldn’t necessarily say I am in love with this project. But I definitely think it has potential.

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Saturday Hike: Batiquitos Lagoon

Living in California, you are constantly surrounded by people. I hadn’t been hiking for awhile and when a friend suggested a trail walk at the Batiquitos Lagoon, I instantly agreed. Located in Carlsbad, a coastal city in North San Diego County, the Batiquitos Lagoon trail was beautiful. The weather was the quintessential “June Gloom” but no bugs to be found.

Being that it is San Diego and a beautiful Saturday morning, there were many people on the trails. The people of San Diego, on the whole, are friendly and laid-back. That was very evident on the trails, with the amounts of “mornin’s” and “hi there’s” being extended. And even though there were many people on the trails, it was great to be out, taking in the air and recalling all the reasons I am lucky to live in San Diego.

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Plans For The Weekend

I don’t know about you, but I always seem to have a hard time balancing my work and play on the weekend.

There are so many chores that could be done around the house. And the weather is so nice that I should be doing more than painting inside. I am always sucking the life out of my weekends. It is part of my constant conundrum of not enough hours in the day. I am trying to accomplish all the chores that need more than 15 minutes while at the same time cramming as much fun in as possible.

I don’t really know the solution but I think I will make a list.

 What is it about a list that makes me feel like life is at least partially controled? There is a certain familiarity and comfort in lists. My mother is the Goddess of Lists (among many other titles). From a very young age, I remember waking up in the morning, walking into the kitchen and seeing her sitting at the kitchen table with her coffee and her list of To-Do’s.

A list is also a partial contract. Activities, events, chores, etc. that you have promised yourself you will accomplish. There is a certain satisfaction in crossing an item off your list.

A list is a lifeline and a money saver. Have you ever taken the time to put together a grocery list and then somehow forgot to bring it along to the market? Ugh! What a mess! Trying  to remember what is on the list and buying a whole bunch of stuff that wasn’t on the list. And then you arrive home and realize that you didn’t purchase the one item that was necessary in your life (toilet paper, cat food, vodka!)?   

So I am hoping this weekend involves a good balance of fun and work. And I believe some of the following may be in order for this weekend’s list: mojitos, golf, hiking, bbq, grocery shopping and marathon training. I mean, I do live in Southern California!

So what are your plans for this weekend? I hope you find some balance this weekend. And then again if you decide to spend the whole weekend in your pajamas, puttering around, that’s okay too. As long as it is on the list;)

And maybe you will also have a couple of these on your list as well.

Cheers!

Lynne with an Epic To-Do List

Posted in Cocktails, Random Musings | Tagged , | 2 Comments