Sirius Sucks

Each morning please remember that you are either the shark or the shark bait depending on what side of the bed you woke up on. Today, I am not really sure, I might very well be the shark. I have read my share of "blasts" from my friends' blogs. I remember when my good friend, Korie, would blast Michaels out of the water. Yes, she was a cool shark....I would always think - "You go, Girl!" Yes, Korie was in the right when she would take them on. Now, I want to issue a warning to all my friends out there. When you buy a new car and it says you have a free year of Sirius Radio - run. Don't walk. Run....... Goodbye, Martha - Goodbye Howard - Goodbye

Are you reading the info above? So what part of this don't I understand? Sirius says the dealership activated the radio in Sept. 08 and so I get it free until Sept 1-09. The dealer says that is so not true. They activated as a "dealership" not an individual. Second call to Sirius today - no dice. Ends Sept. 09 and I should ask the dealership for a check to cover a year. Ain't no way, sweetheart. If she thinks I will ever pay Sirius a dime of my money - uh uh. I enjoy listening to books on tape, thank you. My CD player is more important to me than Sirius. Bye Bye Sirius.

OK, maybe my mood wasn't the best today after waiting over at the DMV from 11:15-12:30. But I got my business done by turning in the old license plates. I am really gonna miss that little itty bitty car with its cool plates. But (besides the SIRIUS radio) I do love the new car.....

AND, hey the DMV is going to give me a refund on the tags. What about Sirius, seriously? I need to go and create something. I really am in a good mood and feel good about cardio tennis this morning, getting the car title and getting my license plates and stuff done at DMV, and my trip to JC Penneys. Penneys has really improved their customer service and the sales are too die for right now. . . . ask my credit card! Enjoy the rest of your Saturday. If you want a chance at a free audio book, go to my Friday post. Smooches from the Honeysuckle, except for Sirius and they get nada nothing nada.

Another Giveaway in Honeysuckle Breeze

Yes, girls and boys. Here is the Give Away I promised you many months ago -- ugh -- like February 23, 2009. In that post I stated (yes, I am just doing a cut and paste since I am lazy tonight):

"Welcome to my library my dear little boys and girls. Here is what I am 'reading' - the term 'reading' may be not be relevant so please be patient. Unfortunately, I don't have much time to read (unless traveling), therefore I listen to CDs. I love it and got started on it after my mother passed away and I inherited all of the cassette tapes of books I had bought for her. At first it was a little difficult driving and concentrating on the book when a driver would cut me off and I would fling unflattering words at the jerk but as time went on it became easier.

"The book I just finished and wanted to recommend to all of you is "The Book of Names" by Jill Gregory & Karen Tintori. OMG. Listen to me, 'OH MY GOD.' This book is one of those thrillers that catches you on the first page and won't let go. The fictional story centers around the concept that there are thirty-six righteous souls within each generation and their lives hold the key to the fate of the world. In this book someone is going around killing them and the world is faced with tragedy after tragedy and becoming more unstable as each death happens." As the story unfolds, I learned some interesting things about Jewish tradition that I did not know like "each generation produces 36 righteous souls who hold up the universe." (I hate to admit this - but that statement always reminds me of one of my all time favorite TV show's -- BUFFY the VAMPIRE Slayer -- oh how I loved that show, I lusted after Rupert Giles, yes I did. Such English suaveness -- to die for! Eye candy, yes, eye candy, yes!!!) OK, back to the post....

The first time I mentioned this book, one of the authors, Karen Tintori, stopped by the Honeysuckle Breeze and enlightened me that the two very excellent authors had another book in this same vein called "The Illumination." As some of you know, I went straight to amazon.com and bought it and then gave it away in a drawing right here on April 3, 2009 and the "winner" was Andrea who lives in Idaho!

All you have to do is leave a post here that you are interested in winning these CDs and they will be yours. As stated before, if we only have one person sign up - not a problem!! That would be the one person that will win! I am so loving giving stuff away. We will use random.org next Friday at 8:00 pm to choose the winner. Good luck, boys and girls. Although many days have been rainy here in the Breeze, I have my fingers crossed that I will get to Cardio Tennis in the morning. I am getting fat just thinking of all the tennis I am not playing.

Me a NASCAR Sweetheart???? Nope

While my dear dear nephew Aaron was here for a week I got to do something I will never do again. Read my lips. No, like Never.... Never..... Does this photo look like I am having fun? Yes, Aaron and I went to a NASCAR race in Dover, DE, (a 2 1/2 hour drive from home and a 2 1/2 hour drive back). We had to leave at 8:45 am. Why? Who knows, I told Aaron not to push the envelope too much or he would be traveling alone and selling my ticket at the race.

Yes, he had two comp tickets, thanks to Autism Speaks, and they were expensive and in the 21st row up and up and up. Who knew, the higher up the seats the better. Do tell, a whole other world I don't have a clue about.

Well, we made record time. The Bay Bridge was fun to drive over. A little excitement. Kind of threw Aaron for a loop when he saw how long it was. Do you realize, some people cannot drive across it and can get assistance to have someone drive them over the bridge. Made it to Dover by noon time and then proceeded to find a parking place along with 100,000 fans. A 100,000 fans. We did (on the advice of a coworker) park in a local yard for $20. A bargain.

Then we got to look down on semi-trucks. Lots and Lots of semis belonging to someone. They were pretty cool. I thought the best one was Crowne Royal. Really a nice purple.

And next up a Parade..... yes, a Parade, need I say more? Yes, you are looking at a trash collector truck or something like maybe?

Then we got to watch all these little cars race 400 laps around the Monster Mile. 400 laps. I helped count down the laps on the big clock in the middle of the track. 400 MILES... no less. However, there was a cute M & M car but it had a driver that most of the crowd didn't like. I loved the little car.

Yes, there is no doubt there was 100,000 people there, no doubt, and some big cameras. When Aaron's father called right before the race (Oh, I didn't tell you about the noise and big ear plugs, did I?) I told him, my brother, to look for the orange hat in the crowds with a hand held high and a third finger held even higher. That would be my message to my beloved brother.

I did tell Aaron if the race wasn't over by 6pm to give me the keys and he could hitch a ride home. Well, the race did end at 6:00pm and I have to admit the last 15 minutes were exciting when Jimmy Johnson came from behind to win. However, I had been sitting there from 12:45 pm until 6:00 pm. Think of all the creations I could have been working on.... However, I sucked it in and enjoyed my visit with my nephew on the track.... One interesting event happened. On the way home through Delaware into Maryland on a Sunday late afternoon/early evening, people sit in their front yards waving at drivers. Hmmmm, a Stephen King novel or Deliverance? Not sure, I told Aaron not to stop the can no matter what.

It is always nice to come home and then get to visit with Oliver. He had such a nice hair cut..... he and Aaron bonded and we all lived happily ever after.

Neglected Murderess for June from Edward Gorey

Hmmmmm for those who follow my blog, you know if we are getting close to June 1, it can only mean it is time to drag the Gorey calendar off the wall and begin to work on yet another neglected murderess. A week or so before the month ends I start with the antsy ants in my tummy thinking OH NO, no way can I do another drawing and make it mine. No more! But then I remember all the wonderful calendar creations I have seen out in blogland and I just pull myself up by my bootstraps (OK, if I had some I would, I betcha).... and I stop thinking and start "coloring" and it begins to come together.

When flipping to June's featured female, Lady Violet Natheless, we discover that she has strangled the Hon. Opal Gentian at Gilravage Hall on Midsummer's Eve, 1925. June 23rd is Midsumer's Eve and is said to mark the ancient middle of summer, the astronomical beginning of summer, and the nativity of St. John the Baptist. Some also claim that the fairies dance at midnight on the Eve. Here is an interesting little factoid which I am certain Edward knew - there is a Gentian Violet. Do tell....... you know he knew....

OK, back to the Gorey drawing, we see the Lady likes to dress like the Lord of the Manor. You can only imagine what I thought of ??? Yup, same thing you did. Fashion is everything? or Lover's quarrels can be so ugly especially (and this is where my mind starts making the story mine) when you have someone hiding behind the peacock feather.

Oh my, oh my, dear readers, you know there is always a Mrs. Peacock in the story...... or is that Miss Peacock as I envision in my scenario. What can you say, how about, "Shame on you, Violet. Shame on you."

On this piece I was going to literally sew some fringe on the table cloth but changed my mind when the beads and plastic purple feathers were not cooperating. Instead I just cut it all up and individually added each one, then used a favorite "cover-up" called glitter.... Always remember, sparkle is good. Sparkle is really good!

I felt it did give a three-D look to the work. Below you will see my imagined dearly departed Opal who looks like a cheery ol' gal. OK, obviously her red crown does clash with Lady V's purple tux..... I know......

When all is said and done - it always comes down to fashion issues....

As our dear Tim would say on Project Runway - Make it Work! Hopefully, I did and hope you enjoy the final product.

P.S. - I'm not sure which of the three were wearing the black garter. I don't wanna go there... I just don't wanna go there.

Published in the Breeze

I tried to post this story three times yesterday before running off to play "team tennis" and for some reason blogspot was messing up each time I posted it. SO, instead of getting really frustrated, I gave up, went to play tennis - thank you very much, boys and girls, my team won the most points for all six games played. I figured out that my team did not win any overall matches last year. They were excited and in disbelief when they added up all the scores and discovered we had won.... so for example, my mixed doubles partner and I won our game 8 to 3, our singles gal won her game 8 to 1, my doubles partner and I lost our match 5 to 8... over all score was my team 38 their team 34....... Nice night!

AND before tennis, it was an exciting day when in the mail I received a copy of the Summer Somerset Studio Gallery magazine addressed to "artist - comp copy." Hmmmmmm, who might that be? Lo and behold, there was a work of mine I had submitted last November to the special "Marie" publication by Somerset. WOW, I felt all tingly.... doing the Snoopy dance! I will not include photos of that piece right now since they may have been what was messing up my posting. I will try a second post and comment more on the piece that was not to be submitted but was to be the envelope for the other work I submitted which was a small "Marie" book. Who knew the envelope that got so messed up that I kept collaging would be the published work of art?

Interesting times in the Breeze! Yes, I wrote in my Gratitude Journal about my amazing journey yesterday.....

First Things First in the Breeze

I know, I disappeared on you - didn't mean to but life happened. Can't believe it is already Monday in a runaway 3 day weekend. Friday night hit tennis balls till late, Saturday played tennis from 8am-11:45am -- THEN, yes, then went to look at some Chryslers (going out of business sale) and came home at 6:45pm with an 08 Sebring Touring Convertible with 200 miles never been driven for a steal. Yes, the red lady bug is going but not gone yet. Two women at tennis expressed an interest in her.

Sunday, spent the day cleaning and letting lady bug run around with one of the ladies - she is looking at it for her daughter. And as a matter of fact, lady bug spent the night at their house (yes, I have a check in the full amount as a deposit ; 0 !) Go figure. I will, no doubt, miss the cutie, but it is time for a change. I am cleaning because my nephew is traveling here for a visit and will arrive this afternoon. The craft/studio room was DISASTER and he could not find his bed if he had a bulldozer!

I originally had plans to: 1) do Layer art work with Julie; 2) work on my PaperWhimsy quote on apple blossom time; 3) work on my Off the Walls book. Gratitude Journal still up to date! *wink* (for my cousin).....

AND, I was blessed with a photo of my Loren in her prom dress with me at the office. Too much fun that day. You know she is my special theatre date and my special little darling. When she was a little baby and I had red hair and red glasses (think Sally Jesse Raphael here), she would just constantly look at me. She and I were dinner partners at the table when we all met for dinner. And here she is 18 years later.... WOW, where does the time wander off to? When you find out, let me know. OK, need to get busy here!

Gratitude in the Breeze

On May 13 I stated that I would be writing down five things every day that I am grateful for.... and I have been doing that religiously. I forgot how easy it was. I showed you one page I had worked on a number of days ago and now I am going to show you a few more. This will be a short post. I am a little sleepy, it is a little early, and I want to veg out in front of the TV. Played "team tennis" last night and not to sound like I am bragging - but my doubles partner and I beat (in a tie breaker) the third ranked team in our league. Final score was 8 games to 7 games. Then I had to play a minimum of 8 games in mixed doubles. My partner and I managed to win 3 games (which is good). SO, I did not get home until late last night - had to shower - had to wash hair - had to nibble - had to fall asleep listening to my boys on Ghost Hunters on the Sci-Fi channel. Love my guys.

Anyway, I digress as I usually do. This page is a tribute to Julie Prichard. I have visited her blog Land of Lost Luggage for sometime. I met her through Michelle Ward's Crusades. I have admired her style, especially since it is not even near to what I do. I loved the way she does artful journaling. Amazing. Words in circles, words all over the place, it just stretches me to think about even trying to do it. BUT, I tried it in my Gratitude Journal:

Other pages I am working on will be works in progress since I am writing everyday and then going back to post items and photos I have taken. These photos from the craft weekend was quickly printed out on plain paper and serve their purpose on this page. I also added a little paint. OH, and I stayed in Room 1222. Love the "2s".....

This page is on the opposite side and is in reference to my entry, ". . .got pages done in Paris book!" Also using up some bits and pieces from previous projects. Don't toss just glue down.... Run for your lives I coming for you with my glue gun extended.....

Almost time to run downstairs! Good night.