Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for March 23, 2013

She’s balancing a Happy Anniversary/ Sorry For Your Loss card !

Taking Scratch and Sniff to a whole nother level.

No hi jinx permitted in this store. Absolutely forbidden. On pain of something truly horrible.

I have arrived. Let the fun begin.

I’m still here, but not for long.I should stay for Susan’s Grand Arrival.

Okay, G’night.

When Duchess Sunshine arrives, she’ll be carried on a mattress by strong servants and followed by a retinue of dancers and adoring subjects. Ahead of the procession pretty girls will be strewing rose petals in her path. A full orchestra will play the Grand March from Aida. It will be quite the sight.

Whoa…. put me down!Put me down, I say!

Whose idea was this??

Sheesh….what was that all about?

Kinda fun but a little embarrassing!

Hi guys…. what’s new?Did you see that?

Oh MY!

LOL!!

I only meant to stop by for a Rd Tail and a little conversation.Anybody here?Red?Brian?X?

I know Bev and Ling went to bed already.

Brian!The most amazing thing happened on my way here!Did you see?Was I dreaming?

Hi X!

You’ve been having computer trouble?

I think I must have somehow fallen into one of Brian’s operas….

I’m not sure how that happens…

Hi Dog!

Wow, maybe I’m in an old musical….LOL

Dogsniff….if I could only remember how it started…..

There were these dancers, see?And, um… I was up in the air…and…Shucks, no one’s gonna believe it….I feel like Dorothy when she woke up back in Kansas….

t least when Sandy succumbs to high jinks, she keeps some balance in her life…

Brian!You’re quite a choreographer!

And here I thought I dreamt it all…..

And X…. I’ve been wondering what happened to you!

You were even the Find-It again on D.S., you know….

I had a couple of crashes o this PC a few weeks ago, and I was afraid I’d be replacing it soon.

I did NOT like the idea that all the new ones are Win8 machines.

I did recently find out you can restore a more 7-like desktop.

But no Aero-peek, which I am so used to now.

Oh, Brian! thanks for the grand entrance….LOL….a once in a lifetime experience, I’m sure!:)

Oh, g’night Red…. good to see you, albeit briefly….

I guess I should carry a more appropriate outfit with me, in case something like that ever happens again….

Gosh, I’m gonna need a bigger purse!

Nah… it’ll never happen again….sigh…

Where did you go, X?Did you get your beer?

Fenton…. have I been dreaming?

Oh… you saw them all too?And the dancers and the…oh…..I suppose it’s OK for me to drink my ale then….I’m guess I’m not already drunk….

Still here. Just deleting some apps and unpinning others. Let’s see… I don’t travel so that ones gone, spent all my money on this computer, so scrap Finance.They how much to upgrade to the Ultra Pro version of…forget it.Fenton, another draft and a Tequila shot, please.

Yeah, they’re very hopeful when they load that cr**..my favorites are the shortcuts to programs that aren’t even there.

Start your 10-day trial version by entering code GMXP-344 at the prompt…then all it does is exhort you to buy the real program.

I remember the preloaded MS Works on this computer was so full-featured it crashed without saving if you typed a whole page.

Anyway…. good to have you back at the Tiki….

I gotta go get some sleep, though….Usually I’m up later, but tonight I’m already at that point where if I don’t do it voluntarily, I’ll be doing it IN-voluntarily…..

Fenton…. everything cool with you?Yeah, I know you can handle it.

Pcolli might be next through the door…

G’night X….And good morning, next shift….

annoying musical cards meet scratch and sniffs!

i believe i actually ran into this woman at walgreens the other day. utterly devoid of pretense and delightful. whooping it up in the card department. so refreshing in this angry age!

That march reminds me of the procession into Royal Court that I attended with Cuddles the only year that we made a daytrip (the 4 day weekend) of Estrella War. (Wars, for those unfamiliar with SCA, are the largest type event, mostly campers (with some unfortunates like me who have to book a room in the very few nearby lodgings). Cuddles was still with me at the time and I stayed there past dark to attend Royal Court (with dignitaries and Royals from as many as 8 different kingdoms). Estrella usually has over 6000 people attending and everyone wears their very finest garb. A variety of pets also come along. My Baroness asked if Cuddles would accompany her in the entrance procession and I naturally agreed (she loved to have attention of the crowd) and rode on Her Excellencies arm into the huge tent where thrones were installed all along one side (mostly Kings and Queens, but many Barons from nearby lands, and all of those from Atenveldt) with evereyone’s Arms hung on the wall above the thrones. I decided a photo is needed (this is a small part of the wall).

We still had a monthly newsletter in print until last year and I was in charge of the covers for 2007. Here is one showing that years Royal Pair.

By the way, I stopped to read last night and answered Pcolli and Shika.

I see that I missed a grand entrance by Duchess SusanSunshine. I DID wonder why I kept dreaming of trumpets and fanfares though.I DO wish I could stay up longer, but I must be older than anyone here to feel sleepy before midnight.

I had a most enjoyable time visiting with beviek. It’s a rare time that I am awake even for that.DAZZ Yes, please tell me about your murals sometime. I like the way a mural transforms a room.X_Tech, good to see you back. I have to de-clutter my laptop too.

On that note, Have a good Saturday folks. See you later.

I think I finally found what my PC was calling an invalid device. I have so many USB ports I could not figure it out (4 in the back of mainframe and 2 in front, 4 in the back of monitor and 2 on the side). I have so many wires coming out of everything and have to catch them up out of the way; turns out I had 1 thing with 2 wires coming out which was plugged into another port next to there with an identical USB plug and the other plug (similar to the one that fits my camera) was hanging empty. So I took it off and that annoying error message is gone. This may be for one of my older video cameras, so I’ll put in my box where I keep software and extra devices (in the bird room closet).

I’ve been spending so much on all the new supplements and tests for the start of my medical work (mostly just so I’ll be able to live longer to enjoy what we have just re-found) that I can no longer afford to buy all the gadgetry that I normally would. My middle son sent me the injection of cash that he normally does each year (with an extra M for good measure) but I want that to last until next year. Even though I appreciate it greatly, I feel guilty taking money from any of my kids.

I know that he has already provided well for all the college his kids will need and then some, and his wife (who is a court reporter) seldom works, just enough to keep in practice with the latest software. The other boys have more average lives and my daughter is a lot like my mom was (likes to travel a lot and spends everything as it comes in). I only have one big shot, even tho’ both of the oldest graduated with honors and now have PHDs.

Commin out frum teh purple haze of Hydrocodone..(?) whooooaaaah…. I shore ahm dizzy…!!!! An hungry tew..!!!!

@ beviekShorter, plumper and heartier than the average banana, the Red banana is the most sought after “alternative” banana variety available in the US. When ripe it will have a thick maroon to red peel and pink-salmon hued flesh. Its flavor is sweet and creamy with raspberry highlights. +++++++++++++++++++++++I don’t know whether to eat it or pour it into a wine glass! I thought mine looked ripe, but the flesh is white as a ghost, so I put it into a paper bag. The rest will ripen in time.

Good to see you back Munkey. Care for a Red banana? Oh, I forgot, mine aren’t ripe yet. I’ll let you know when they are ready.

Looks like the party moved on for a bit. I’ll pop in to say good night.

Oh, I meant to say, if Sandy does that a lot, I’m never buying a card from there again. High Jinks are fine, but keep your nose out of it, lol

I’m here for a couple of more hours.

Has anyone ever indulged in Low Jinks?

Spring came pretty much on schedule around here. We had a nice warm spell, though it’s been cooler these past few days.

Hullo all….Glad to see somebody still up!

If you are.

Sheesh my phone is ringing!At 11:20 pm!

Oh… did I miss you, Red?Thanks… for asking and for the drink…and it wasn’t anything bad.That was my first thought too!

No, just a friend who said “I know you stay up late, so…”

it’s true; what could I say?

You mean…. you’re not capable of doing things two hours ago?

I’ve had workdays like that…. not lately… but I’ve had ’em.

I once had a boss who said things like “Hurry, OK? I should have had you do that last week.”

Another Saturday night at the Tiki and nobody here?

LOL… that line made me think of Sam Cooke!

MURALS: Our first house (aside from rental places) was a 100 Y O farmhouse with no down payment (found by dad who did RE). It had tenant properties on 2nd floor and in basement. There were a couple living in the former all the time we had this. Living room had a lot of windows and I needed to furnish cheap, found some orange drapes of poly-cotton, carpet was beige, so I decided on a desert theme. I took photos of blooming cacti and buttes from those old Nat. Geo. mags as well as a father/son driving a small herd of cattle. The only photo is this of my youngest son.

In the childens room there I did the cartoon mural which I have shared, but here is one view: This old house had very large windows (tall) and I did our bedroom in pink with a sheer pink drape that gave pink light to everything. I had no headboard yet for a bed, so I painted that wall in a VERY bright pink and painted my headboard as a white life-sized peacock with metallic gold accents. I did very elaborate machine quilting on the top of bedspread in the shape of wedding bands linking and hearts.Second House (1st Single Family)In the older boy’s bedroom I did some lifesize bullfight pictures (their suggestion) and in another for the younger 2 I decorated with appliqued bedspreads of a soldier and princess (both white quilted tops); bedskirts were deep turqouise

My last house in IL (before moving here in 1998) went thru a few changes because I live there over 30 years. I HAVE to go take those vitamins as they were supposed to go with breakfast and it is getting to suppertime (almost 2PM)

That last house was chosen because it was close to the workplace (short commute) for my X. It was a 1200 SF ranch with no garage, but with a good corner location (so-face brick on 2 sides). It had avacado carpet and frig. (I moved the latter to the basement and painted it for drinks) I painted all the walls a light celery green and originally did the surrealist mural (based on a painting I had seen of a tree man carrying a woman with ivy hair). I did a “creation of the world” with that woman representing the feminine forces of nature and the tree growing from her, dropping a main branch to lift her up. The background becomes many hills – in pairs that are differing by texture and color from foiliage (continuing the femaleness of earth). I introduced the Phoenix bird for rebirth with a rainbow proceeding across the sky, looping around the other main branch and disappearing into the ceiling (from whence appear 2 doves) That last part is not captured at the edge. I painted the raindrops in various sizes to represent distance and also to allow me space for the detail I required for various animals and I tryed to vary them as much as possible (not from a single continent) and there ARE one man and one woman (very carefully posed) almost shown here. The raindrops are finished with a high gloss to look wet. Across the room (above the pull-out dining table) is my Roualt-style Sacred Heart (I hate the effeminate blond one). This day was a visit from some of my kids. My youngest son and his wife (terrorized by Cuddles) and I believe that was my 3rd grandson (not sure). I have to do some exercise before I finish.

Anybody looking for me ? I’ll check in later – around the turn.Take a look at my recent comment on today’s HERMAN to find out what I’m doing at the moment.

@Ling, I am also very glad that I chose AZ instead of Florida (see what I said about my hair in IL summer) but in my case, my X was living there with the rest of the Cubans and I was still in love with my man when I moved; I just did not feel he wanted me.

DAZZ, sorry I am late. I’ve read about and looked at your murals. They are wonderful. What an artist you are. Do you do that for a living?

I think that if I had a reason to move, I’d move to Arizona. I like the idea of a dry heat, although I have no idea what dry heat feels like, lol Anywhere I’ve been has had humid heat.

Hi Ballardeers. I’ve arrived at that in between time again.

Now, back to murals. I had finished the LR mural shortly before filing for divorce and had still allowed visitation for my X at home (MISTAKE). Naturally I went elsewhere while he visited and one of those days he spyed a heart shaped box of chocolates that my man had given me. He flew into a rage and damaged 2 of the murals by throwing 2 scuptures he had made at work (welder) into the walls (lathe and plaster). Needless to say, there was no saving the murals. I repaired the walls with drywall (difficult as the thickness was hard to match) and since I never paint exactly the same thing twice, I stuggled with what to do in LR. This was a transition stage (I tryed a tranquil Italian hillside village). and later found a Monet painting of the Seine that pleased me more. The rest of the far left shows in the photo with part of my son. The other one he damaged was the wall next to my bed which was covered with 12" squares of black glass (all the other walls were metallic gold, and I had floor length black sheers on the 2 window walls with a gold and black brocade valence to match the bedspread). The mural on there was a linework/cartoon of nymphs and satyrs frolicing around with trees and garlands of flowers placed stratigically to hide all the “naughty bits”. That was all gold metallic paint as well, and I really liked it. He was even more incensed before I painted it when he saw some of the sketches that I made for my own amusement. I wish I had photos of that. (or even the sketches)Nothing ever happened to the powder room. I had recently remodeled that with a really nice mahogony and Corian vanity and I had replaced the seal on the toilet myself as well. The natural wood of the vanity and the seat required something in nature so I painted this on all the walls (brick red with gold branches of differing widths and spacing and occaisional branches. and I found a faucet set with large bronze roses even on the drain pull.

Aw Bev…. hope it works out one way or another…. I can’t believe you guys are still getting that kind of snow after the piles of it you’ve had all winter!

I wish you sunny days soon, and April flowers.And that I could send you chicken soup.

Maybe I’ll make a big pot of yak noodle for the Tiki tonight…. it would be good for you AND for the Monkey….

And …. well. I’m sorry, but….to those boasting of warm sunny weather to a friend (and I do think we’re all friends here) who just said her dryer broke down when there’s 10" of snow on the ground….Gee thanks!

Oh, I DID once paint a mural behind the altar of my old church (did it at home on my back porch on 24"wide rolls of canvas which I had to keep rolling top and bottoms because the porch ceiling was not high enough). Result was 12’wide x 8’high and the church hired a paperhanger to install and then some of the sisters sat my children while I did touch-ups on the seams. Sorry- had to go look for a photo and quick scan it. and I also painted a mural on the wall of my favorite hairdresser (back when I could still afford that) when she opened her own place. Also did her window signage and a drape in the window (I’m sure I charged something for that, but not the church).

Now I’ll heat up the last of some veg chili and rice for supper (late). I need to save a link to today (hard to remember so many details). I have had such a crazy life with so many branches off in a variety of directions. I ran across one photo of myself in nun’s garb at the convent and another close to that time of me in a gold lame dress while the rest of the girls in my dorm were in PJs, because I got back late from ??

My, DAZZ, you have had an interesting life. But your creativity is amazing. I love the Monet and even the trees in the baathroom. What a beautiful way to decorate your home.

Were you a nun, or just dressed as one for a reason? I like the rear-doss mural in the church, as well as the sacred heart, although that is not from my tradition. (Anglican)

Thank you so much for sharing with me. I admire your artwork. Too bad your EX had such a temper.

Good Night Ballardeers.

@Shika, “Were you a nun, or just dressed as one for a reason?” I was on my way to becoming one because back in those days parents normally provided for college and my dad said becoming an architect was out of the question for me and I had to surrender my lovely sliderule to my brother when he went off to college. The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (out in Chicago suburbs) promised to send me to college for that so I had joined the novitiate. For the time being I was dusting their public areas every day and attending all of the convent activities on weekends until my father visited and gave them a large donation to refuse me.

My grandparents on mom’s side were Anglican, and grandma (husband deceased when I was born) was Irish Catholic and my parents did not really practice anything but they had met in the famous Unitarian church in Oak Park designed by FL Wright. I read a lot about many religions before becoming a Catholic and the books of Thomas Aquinas most impressed me.

And I see that you’ve gone but with all the rest, it WAS eventually his temper that caused me to divorce him (not all the rest). It was a huge blessing to meet my man so soon after and I needed him to fully mature (and he’s still my steadying source – truly GOOD).

Swung by. It looks like a hen party is going on.I’d best not intrude.

Good night all!

Who’s a Good Doggy?

https://cleoandcompany.net/march-23-2023/

Meh. For real hijinks I suggest building a tower of cards, all open and balanced on top of each other. Why not use the envelopes, too, to make up “floors” between levels?

Good morning Balladeers and Tigressy!