Economic Boycott Day

Today is buy nothing day.

The premise of the event is to show that the public is not happy with the things that are going on, the past 1 1/2 months.

Decisions are being made that increase the costs of things that we purchase.

I went back and forth in my mind, as to whether I wanted to avoid purchasing anything on that day.

Especially since we shop of Friday, due to our stores $5 Friday.

My Husband had an appointment on Thursday, so we decided that we would move our normal shopping day up one day and participate in the boycott.

If you find that you absolutely have to buy something, hit up small businesses and use cash that day.

So that is what we are going to do.

Taro Is My Pallet Cleanser

All the bad news coming out of Government these days, it brings me great pleasure when my Son sends me photos of his cat, Taro.

She is part Bengal, so she is very photogenic, and gets into all sorts of situations, that my cat never did.

Always with her beautiful eyes, ever watchful.

I thank my Son so much for keeping his Mother sane.

Has Spam Gotten Worse Lately?

Does it seem that Spam emails have gotten worse lately?

I am used to the normal Paypal ones (check your account, if you have one) , Credit Card and bank ones (never click links on those).

Now it seems I get ones from Social Security (yeah, right you don't send anything via email, except letting me know a new message is available and to log in to My Social Security to see it). It is always good form to never ever click a link on an email.

I even got one from the IRS the other day. No way am I checking THAT out, without a written letter.

Life is hard enough, without constantly worrying that people outside the Government, are trying to get your information.

We Go Way Back

My Husband and I rarely get out.

Gym is usually our only activity, though we mostly social distance at class.

So Saturday's lunch date with my former work partner, was extra special.

He works from home, so to say the least, he is just as isolated as we are.

Getting to catch up on both our lives, and talk of the current situation, was nice.

He is so special to me, and I am glad we drove over to the Ventura area (an hour journey), to make the lunch date happen.

Always Ventura, For The My Glimpse Of The Pacific

My Water Post For Today.

Yes, when we visit my friend who lives in Port Hueneme, we go to Andrea's Seafood, right on Ventura Harbor.

We spent so much time catching up, that we did not walk the harbor, this time around, but I have plenty of pictures of the area.

This being one of them.

I love the flowering bougainvillea's that surround the entire harbor.

It brings such beauty to the area.

I hope you enjoy.

Visiting With Jethro

It was time for our yearly visit with my former work partner.

We always choose to meet between our two birthdays.

As is usual for this visit, his cat, Jethro comes out of the back room while we go to lunch.

So there he was, on the couch, and I got a few photos of him sitting there.

When my friend sat down next to him, he felt safe and stayed the entire time.

I was impressed how long that was.

It was a nice visit with both him, and my former work partner.

Hanging Ceramics

In these times of bad news every day, I go back to things that give me pleasure.

These are a few hanging ceramics I saw at the show last Fall.

I really like the one in the middle, though I am not sure if it is a bird feeder or bird house.

It is so creative.

I also love the plant holder, especially her choice of succulents.

As to the gourd, I believe she told me her sister gave it to her and she made it into a hanging bird feeder or bird house.

I can't wait til the Spring show, in May.

So Come On Angel, Tune In On Me...Girlfriend

It was Walter Becker's birthday on 2/20. He has been dead now for 7 years, and I miss him. (BTW, the photo is from 2003. The closest I ever got to the man).

Each year, Walter Becker Media releases some interesting tid bit, from the unreleased collection they have. This year, it is a demo of his song, Girlfriend. This page not only has the link to the song, it has other interesting tid bits about the recording of it. Of course, you can skip all that by just clicking the Youtube link directly HERE.

Why does this mean so much to me?

Here are the lyrics that spoke to me enough, that I named my blog after them.

So come on angel
Tune in on me
You 'll see your faithful servant
Lost in misery

Here are the entire lyrics to the song, as it appears on his solo album, 11 Tracks of Whack.

Girlfriend

Alone in my cave
It's corn flakes and Camels
And the long restless shadows of my life
None but the brave
Jim Beam and Jack Daniels
Channelhopping these empty days and nights
Glued to the screen
Rerun by rerun
At the dark outer limits of my soul
Stranded between
The Green Acres of my good intentions
And the Twilight Zone of zero self-control
So come on angel
Tune in on me
You'll see your faithful servant
Lost in misery
And all of your hard work
Coming down to no good
Better see about me babe
If you only could now
Girlfriend if it can't be you
I don't even have anyone to tell my story to
I said girlfriend if it can't be you
Girlfriend if it can't be you
I don't even have anyone to tell my story to
I said girlfriend if it can't be you
Dust and despair
Cobwebs and confusion
Collecting in the corners of my room
All of my dreams
Bitter illusions
I just can't be rid of them too soon
Tired of my brain
Tired of this movie
Too tired to get up and shut it off
The time that remains
What good can it do me
Now that I know that too much is not enough
Wait a minute baby
What about my heart
Was it your idea
To take it all apart
And put it all back together
Just one piece at a time
Now it's down to you darling
That's why I'm all
Girlfriend if it can't be you
I don't even have anyone to tell my story to
I said girlfriend if it can't be you
Girlfriend if it can't be you
I don't even have anyone to tell my story to
I said girlfriend if it can't be you
I'm pullin' in a picture now
Up off my back pages
And all at once am privy to
The entire grim design
Of a great civilization
In the terminal stages
Of a slow but steady mental moral spiritual decline
And so it goes
And thus it is written
And all I want to know is
Where does a guy like me fit in?
So I'm visualizing a cute little bunny
With a fluffy white tail and long grey floppy ears
Who looks up at me and says, Doc don't you worry
All you got to do is, hide in here
Now all you got to do is to just say when
You might consider bringing your sweetness 'round here again
Girlfriend if it can't be you
I don't even have anyone to tell my story to
I said girlfriend if it can't be you
Girlfriend if it can't be you
I don't even have anyone to tell my story to
I said girlfriend if it can't be you

For more about why I post as angel, and why Steely Dan songs, were and are, part of my life. You can revisit one of my earliest posts, HERE.

The Final Window Is Fixed

The last window has been replaced as of Wednesday. Just in time for my Son to arrive, in early March.

Since I have showed many photos of the windows in my house, here is the POST, to refresh your memory.

This window ended up being a warranty replacement, so we are incredibly happy that we got it for nothing.

They even cleaned the frame, which we were told we would have to do. More power to them.

Now All I have to do, is make sure water from the sprinklers does not hit the window anymore.

I checked it a few weeks ago, but I will definitely check it again.

All windows are clean, and in this regard, the house looks great.

Ford To New York

If you managed to watch the 50th Anniversary SNL show on Sunday (all 3 1/2 hours of it), you probably saw this routine.

Click the link to see it. SNL New York

I went to college in the mid 70's and graduated in the later part of the decade. Just like they said in this routine, New York City was DEAD. Every production that centered in NYC, moved to LA.

So what did I do, after dropping in at every corporate building (Hard Rock, Black Rock, 30 Rock)? I decided to follow them to the West.

I am so glad I did, because after a year in a photo lab, I got my dream job in broadcasting.

As this routine highlights, it was not easy working in the City, and I am so glad that they pull themselves up, time and time again.

As to the rest of the show, it had its good points, and bad points, as SNL always does.

Onward to another 50.

The After: My Madagascar Dragon Tree

I told you that I decided to cut the tallest branch of my Madagascar Dragon Tree, on Sunday.

Well, here it is, in its chopped glory.

I think it looks great!

We will see what it does in the future, in regard to regrowth.

The Den looks much better now.

The plant had just gotten too tall, and I read that it could have grown another 10 or so feet.

ACK!

The Phoenix Zoo From 2007

My Water Post For Today.

This is a flashback to the weekend our friends in Phoenix's daughter got married.

I knew I had taken several photos of the water features, that day, so I decided to see what I did not use in other water posts.

Amazingly, this one came up, which feels like the best one of the bunch.

I love the palm trees on the shore, and the calmness of the water.

Enjoy.

My Madagascar Dragon Tree

My Madagascar Dragon Tree was moved in December, to the Den.

It had gotten so large, that it started to lean forward.

I used the window in the Den to keep it propped up, but after we had all the windows washed, I moved it over to the desk, and leaned it onto the wall.

This can't be a permanent solution, so I looked up what to do when it gets too tall.

They seem to all agree that I can cut it wherever I want to, and it will regrow back even better.

You can also place the part you cut off, into water to give it new roots.

Uh, no. This one is definitely more than enough.

A Beautiful Valentine's Day Sunset, After The Rain

A peek out my kitchen window, gave me a hint as to how the sunset was going down.

I have done this before...I grabbed my camera, and got some beautiful photographs.

This is what a huge rainstorm (we got a total of 5 inches of rain over 3 days) does on the day after.

We are supposed to dry out for a week or so, then more predicted in March.

Welcome to the rainy season.

Yes, We Got More Rain On Thursday

Through my clean front windows, you get to see the heavy rain coming down, so far, 3 inches on Thursday.

Not the worst, by any means, but more than the early rain a week or so ago.

They say more is in store for March, so we will see what that entails.

With fires, floods, and mud flows, it has been quite the winter season.

Taro And Her Master: Together Again

I haven't seen my Son in quite a bit of time.

Hopefully, that will change next month.

A few weeks ago, he had to drive to Toronto, and when he returned home, he sent me this photo.

I call it, together again.

Look how curly and bushy my Son's beard is!

I have no idea where he got that from. :-)

Our Windows Are Now Washed

I found a window washing service, that is local to my area.

I have the two windows in the front that have hard water stains, and nothing I did helped.

For an extra fee, they not only took care of that problem, they washed all the windows (minus the one in my Son's old room).

They all came out excellent!

I am so very happy to have it done.

We now wait on the replacement window for his room, and all will be just fine.

SpaceX Up once Again

They delayed the launch of the latest SpaceX rocket, by 24 hours, to not interfere with the Superbowl (Fly Eagles Fly). :-)

So I ran out on Monday just after sunset, and managed to catch it.

It weaved in and out of clouds, but all in all, it was pretty cool to see.

I may not be happy with the owner of the company, but the rockets are pretty interesting to watch.

Subway Crossing The Potomac River

My Water Post For Today.

I came to my photos from 2015 to catch a New Orleans water post, but before I even got there, I found this one.

The Metro crossing the Potomac, the same time our Amtrak train did.

I thought it was pretty cool, especially since we have crossed via Metro, many times over the years.

You can get almost anywhere using public transportation.

May it stay that way.

Downtown LA Skyline From South Los Angeles

This photo was taken in 2019, and I do not see it anywhere in my blog.

I just see the sunset, later on in the day.

What strikes me is that it's the same time of year as now. Winter.

Lots of clouds over the Downtown LA skyline.

They say that we are going to get some fierce storms later on in the week. OH WHAT FUN...NOT.

Well, we prayed for rain to get rid of the fire danger, so I guess this is what we should expect.

Bringing Back Depression Era Chocolate Cake For Today's Cooks

This is part 2 of my post from yesterday.

Being the price of eggs keeps going up, this recipe was made for people during the depression, who did not have access to eggs and dairy.

You can also substitute half the water, for coffee, if that's your thing.

This recipe uses vinegar, in combination with the baking soda, to help the cake rise.

Here it is, and many thanks to my cousin, for sending me her mother's recipe.

Depression Era Cake

3 Cups Flour
2 tsp Baking Soda
2 Cups Sugar
1 tsp Salt
12 Rounded tbsp Cocoa
2 Cups Water
2 tsp Vanilla
2 tbsp Vinegar
10 tbsp Oil

Mix well and pour into greased and floured pans. 2-9 inch pans or a 9 x 14 rectangular pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

Frost with butter frosting, or cream cheese frosting.

Six Dozen Eggs!

I had a hearing aid appointment, across town.

It just happens to be right next to Costco, so we decided to go.

We really did not need anything right away, but I looked at the price of eggs at their store. $3.73 a dozen for 5 dozen eggs.

I just paid $7.99 at my local grocery store for just 1 dozen, so I said to my husband, want to get them?

So we did. Good thing I had saved several cartons, so I transferred them to 18 count and 12 count egg containers.

They take up much less room in my fridge.

I guess I have to use them up now.

Me At 70

On my birthday, I had my Husband take this photo, before we went out to dinner.

I have had this dress for decades, and it amazes me how good it still looks.

I used to wear it every week at Church, because I could crawl on the floor wiring the audio mics, and never get it dirty.

Best money I ever spent, IMHO.

The photo reminded me that I am not bad looking, for 70.

I am not happy to be so old, but I take my victories where they come.

Artwork In Denver Station

While we were waiting at Denver Union Station, I noticed a piece of artwork up above us.

I did not get a video, but the different sections would swing either in the wind, or in some way with a motor.

It does not look like it has been there long, because every photo I have seen in Union Station, does not have it.

Whatever, it was interesting to watch and something different.

I would like to get back there someday, and actually walk around the station.

Travels With Taro

My Son was given a gift for his cat, Taro.

It is several steps up from the couch (I think), that ends in a box for her to sit in.

According to my Son, she does not use it much, but right after he said that, she went up there and sat at the top.

So, of course, he sent us a photo of her.

His feeling is that it is cold up there, this time of year.

A Sunset In Oahu, Hawaii

My Water Post For Today.

5 years later, to the day, I bring you back to Oahu, Hawaii.

Our ship was returned to the island, to drop off a sick patient.

We got this sunset, and it was totally worth it.

The sky, the clouds and the water, of course.

Seeing the sun set, is totally worth it.

Cacti At The Getty

This photo goes back to my trip to the Getty in 2011.

It was a day of rain, and clouds.

My Son and I walked through the buildings, and I documented everything I could.

These barrel cacti spoke to me.

It must be all the trips I went on with my Husband, to Arizona.

I think the clouds make them look so wonderful, not washed out at all.

CVT Is Now In My Store

A big announcement came out on Friday.

My CVT Soft Serve guy, has now made it to Safeway and Vons.

Well, I shop at Vons, so there I was looking at the ice cream, and obviously, I found them.

They are not cheap, as I keep mentioning, ($4.99) but it's nice to have it right there at my normal shopping location.

Good luck, Joe Niche. You are a powerhouse entrepreneur.