The Car, The Window and the Mirror - Weekend Reflections #41

Every Friday through Sunday, Newtown Area Photo sponsors a meme where a gazillion photographers, amateur through pro, can showcase their work using a "Reflection" theme. I love to see the different points of view that people have, and the truly amazing pictures that they take.


I was out driving the other day taking pictures to use in my blog posts. I was driving around one of our local strip malls (not an indoor mall, and a mall that just follows a straight line) and a light bulb went off in my head as I passed the dance studio. I stopped my car, which stopped traffic, which made some people mad, but I couldn't resist taking this photo. From the driver's seat, I saw the reflection of the car in the studio mirrors, as well as, the reflection of the car in the studio windows. I'm sure this is not the first time a picture like this has been shared, but it was my first time! Hope you like it!

I just want to thank Newtown Area Photo for sponsoring this meme every weekend, and allowing me to participate. Please visit here and prepare to be entertained by some truly amazing artists!

(If the link takes you to a page that says there is no page for Newtown Area Photo, just click on the highlighted title and you will be wisked to the correct home page.)


Have a great weekend!

Friday Fragments - ADD Style

Not than anyone who contributes to this wonderful Friday segment has any form of an attention disorder... I speak for myself in this regard. Every wonderful day of my life is filled with fragments; there is nothing structured, even while I am at work. I am in awe of how the heck I ever get anything done! Every now and then my head will whip around and I realize, that it is just God smacking me upside it to help me get it together. After that, my thinking improves and I start with the lists!

Princess Katya returned from China on Monday night, after a six-hour layover in Los Angeles. It was only supposed to be a three hour layover, but someone....and I'm not naming names....plugged up the toilet in the plane after everyone had boarded. When the airline potty specialists couldn't rectify (no pun intended) the situation, everyone was asked to deplane, luggage and all. The next available plane took off three hours later and there were many joyous reunions at 11:30pm in St. Louis. We took balloons so that Katya would see us right away. (Like any aiport is going to be crowded at 11:30pm!) It was a late night for me, especially since I worked the next day. I told Katya to sleep for about two days or until she couldn't hold it any longer. Poor thing was still on China time and could not get to sleep until 4:00am. She's almost back to Central Time at this point. Pictures and stories to come this weekend.

Rock, who is/was/always will be my Rock Star, played a game of softball with friends this week. He slid into second base and took off the first layer of skin from his calf, the size of a banana leaf. He was so brave...he didn't even tell me until the next day. As I looked in horror, he asked me what he should do. I would have called 911, and taken a ride with some of Missouri's hottest looking guys! But, since Rock is not really interested in guys, we got him cleaned up and gave him a drum of neosporene. He had a birthday party to attend, and didn't want to gross out the guests, so he wrapped it and still received a ton of sympathy. All the girls wanted to take care of him! It looks really gnarly now that it is scabbing, but at least there are no signs of infection!

I finish up another temp job this week. It's a place where I've worked before, so the routine is not scary. It's trying to remember the names of everyone that is a challenge. By the end of the week, I can name about a dozen of the 80 people in office. The employees here are really wonderful and so understanding when I send them phone calls that have nothing to do with their area! I like working for air conditioning companies; their air is always working! This is a plus for me and my chubby little thighs during the awesome summer months in St. Louis - 95 degrees with 90% humidity.

The Holiday weekend is upon us! What fun things are you doing? There are a gazillion things going on in downtown St. Louis. But, in case I haven't mentioned it before, I'm a little uncomfortable with crowds. We will watch the fireworks from the parking lot of a church close to our house. There are three shows held during the time between 9:00pm and 9:30pm. We bring the lawn chairs, snacks and bug spray!

Happy Fourth of July! Have a great weekend!

Thanks for stopping by my Fragmented Fridays, hosted by the brilliant and awesome Mrs.4444. Click here, to get to her post for Friday Fragments.

Wednesday Wickedness - Idiot Style

I recently found this great meme sponsored by Wednesday Wickedness. Each week, Janera posts quotes from a well-known celebrity, and then poses questions to the reader following the quotes. This week's meme posts quotes from Lady Gaga, a very popular and unique entertainer. Please pop over to Wicked and say hello! Just click on the logo for Wednesday Wickedness below!





Here are this week's quotes:


1. "Peace. it does not mean to be in a place where there is no trouble, noise, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart." Do you keep your cool no matter what is going on around you?

Yes, I'm a cool babe! I never let them see me sweat! I put on my happy game face while I stuff all of the stress, anger, resentment and killer instinct down my throat! Actually, keeping my cool is a shortcoming of mine. I have to work really hard at it.

2. "Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you're wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn't love you anymore." Do you feel that career should be more important than your love life?

Of course! Think of all the drama that can be avoided if we just worked on improving our networking skills, sleeping our way to the top and when crawling into bed after a long hard day, actually going right to sleep. Actually, I think this is a personal choice for each individual to make. I chose love and family, with no regrets. But I sure could use the extra money from an established career right now!

3. "You have to be unique, and different, and shine in your own way." In what way(s) do you feel that you are unique?

Certainly not as unique as you Lady! Who dresses you? I can't imagine anyone desiring to be so far out there as you are, with the only missing link being the language of Klingon. There is nothing wrong with being unique, different and shining. What is wrong are those who take unique to the gazillionth level!

4. "I want women -- and men -- to feel empowered by a deeper and more psychotic part of themselves. The part they're always trying desperately to hide. I want that to become something that they cherish." Do you feel that there is a part of you that you need to hide from most people?

Psychotic? Don't they put you away if you exhibit anything psychotic? Yes, there is a part of me that I need to hide, and I'm not going to tell you what it is, because I forgot where I hid it! We all have secrets that are best kept tucked away. I think that "cherishing" these secrets would make me psychoitic.

5. "Love is like a brick. You can build a house, or you can sink a dead body." Have you ever held on to a relationship even though you truly knew it was already over?

Yes, for 34 years! We keep tossing the same brick back and forth like a hot potato!

6. "Sometimes in life you don't always feel like a winner, but that doesn't mean you're not a winner, you want to be like yourself." Would your friends say that you are a winner in this game of life?

Yes they would, if I paid them enough money!

7. "A glamorous life is quite different to a life of luxury. I don’t need luxury. For years, I was practically broke but I was still very vain and glamorous. And I still am." Can you tell us about a time when you were broke and yet still happy?

Nope. Actually, I'm rarely happy...broke or in luxury although luxury is a little more comfortable to endure.

8. "I’m single right now and I’ve chosen to be single because I don’t have the time to get to know anybody. So it’s okay not to have sex, it’s okay to get to know people. I’m celibate. Celibacy’s fine." Do you think staying celibate between relationships important?

Well, I think it is just as important as being celebate during high school or college. If you are going to engage, it doesn't matter if it is in, out of or between relationships. Again, I think it is a personal decision. Having Lady say "it's okay not to have sex" is one of the more intelligent things she has ever said.


9. "Fight and push harder for what you believe in, you'd be surprised, you are much stronger than you think." Tell us about an incident where you were stronger than you thought you were.

Childbirth. I never expected to get through it, much less survive it! I surprised myself. It was also nice to not have to apologize for all of the four-letter words that accompanied the birth of each of my children.

10. "I lie in bed and try to pray and breathe. I have a very overactive mind. I’m the sort of person who’d never take medication to calm myself. It’s maddening. But I love what comes out." Do you feel that you always have the ability to calm yourself?

I have the ability to calm myself as long as there is chocolate within ten feet of me. However, I find it so much more fun to run around with a crazed look on my face. People feel sorry for me and give me things that they think will calm me down, such as metal restraints, a left hook, a push down the stairs, or even chocolate! Actually, this question deals with a similar subject to that of question #1. Over the years, I have learned several methods of relaxation, some of which include drugs. I like drugs and think they are good in most cases, but if the supply runs out, then I revert back to "calming" exercises, like lying on the floor and chanting. My problem is that I'm not always in an appropriate place to do this.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Please check out answers given by other bloggers like me. Just click on the logo above and you will be magically taken to Wednesday Wickedness! Happy Hump Day!

Sundays in My City

A great way to cool your toes!




Picked up a little something for Tootsie!




Something to put in a boring field, anywhere!





His & Her chariots in the church parking lot!





A gentle reminder that we don't have to drive everywhere!




Have you heard of Unknown Mami? She has a delightful blog where she shares photos of her city on Sundays. She invites the rest of us to link up with her and share some of our own city's photos. Click on the logo to visit Sundays in My City!

I live in St. Louis, MO. Welcome to my city!

Wednesday Wickedness, The Boss Style

I recently came upon this great meme sponsored by Wednesday Wickedness. Each week, quotes from a celebrity are posted, with questions to the reader following the quotes. This week's meme is about quotes from Bruce Springstein! Yum! Please pop over to Wicked and say hello! Just click on the logo for Wednesday Wickedness below!







Here are this week's quotes:



1. "When it comes to luck, you make your own." Do you believe you have that type of control over your luck?

If I had any type of control over my luck, I would be living the dream somewhere on a warm beach with drop-dead gorgeous guys making a fuss over me! Actually, I believe that luck is just that...there's only one who has control over it...the guy who programs the machines!

2. "You've got to learn to live with what you can't rise above." What is something you have had difficulty rising above?

The fact that Sandra Bullock is getting all the good movie roles! Actually, I have difficulty rising above the need to let go of my kids.

3. "Poor men wanna be rich, rich men wanna be kings, and a king ain't satisfied til he rules everything." Would you want to be rich?

Duh...let's see! I certainly would like to try it for a while. Then, I could make an informed decisions based on the data.

4. "The best music is essentially there to provide you something to face the world with." Tell us about a song that helps you "face the world."

The "Rocky" theme song, "Gonna Fly," and Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Want To Have Fun."
5. "In America everything's about who's number one today." Have you ever been a fan of someone you thought would last but turned out to be a flash in the pan?

Yes, Andrew from this year's "American Idol." He started out great, and I thought he would get so much better as time went on. Also, I could name a few politicians who fit this role, too.

6. "Is a dream a lie if it don't come true, or is it something worse?" Has any dream of yours come true?

If you mean literal dreams that happen while you sleep...I would be in deep doo-doo if any of those dreams came true. Otherwise, many of my "dreams" have come true. I married, I had children, I attended college, I was lucky enough to be in a TV commercial, I met a professional football player (I used to be obsessed with this one), and I once reached a weight goal. I still have a list as long as my arm.

7. "Our American government has strayed too far from American values. It is time to move forward. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting." What would you change if you became the president?

Well, Bruce, I guess you know about "straying" don't you? If I became president, I would instruct the Federal Government to perform their duties, and only their duties, outlined in the Constitution. Then, I would give back to the people everything that has been taken away from them in the last year and one-half.

8. "Yeah, I had gay friends. The first thing I realized was that everybody's different, and it becomes obvious that all of the gay stereotypes are ridiculous." How do you feel about gay rights?

Gay rights, minority rights, gender rights, religious rights, rights of children... people are people. There are "ridiculous" people who come from all walks of life, even the music industry. I think that if a person is honest, hardworking and has a good heart, it shouldn't matter.

9. "It's a sad man my friend who's living in his own skin and can't stand the company." How have you ever been disappointed in yourself?

I am disappointed in myself at least three or four times a day. But having hope that I might be able to make changes is all I need to get by. Having support from good friends doesn't hurt, either!

10. "The best music is essentially there to provide you something to face the world with." What is your favorite band?

I like music I can dance to... upbeat, loud and full of rich sounds. Music like this takes me away to a happy place where I can escape, regroup and come back stronger. I've heard that certain wines can have the same effect.

Well, there you have it! Please come play with us at Wednesday Wickedness!

Fragmented Fridays #98 - Chinese Style

Yes, this is a picture of The Great Wall located in the country of China. It is approximately 5,500 miles in length and stretches from Shanghaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, and along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia*. The entire wall is not really all wall. It is made up of brick wall, trenches, hills and rivers. This concludes our history lesson for today.

Well, here goes my first Fragmented Friday, graciously hosted by Mrs.4444. Please click on the logo and stop by. You will find a lot of great reads there!




So...for starters...last week when I was at my temp job answering phones, I became a little restless (bored). My cute butt was beginning to ache so I stood up to do some leg exercises. MISTAKE NO.1! I somehow strained, sprained or pulled something inside of my right butt cheek. I have been limping for 8 days now, and feeling very embarrassed, especially when asked about the limp. I have been lying and telling everyone that my dog tripped me with her leash. If all else fails, blame the dog! (It's hell getting old; don't do it if you can avoid it!)



To add to that misery, on Monday of this week I had my annual colonoscopy. Need I say more? First I self-abuse myself, then I allow a couple of doctors to abuse me and probably laughed the whole time because I was out and couldn't hear them! Everything went well and there were no complications.

Tomorrow night, my baby - 17 year old Katya, is leaving for three weeks in China. CHINA!!!!! I'm very excited for her, but I also am a little anxious. This is a trip of a lifetime! She will be well-chaperoned, and plans to drink only bottled water. (Did you know that there is no drinking age for alcohol in China?) She has plenty of little tissue packages for the pottys outside of the hotels. She will only eat "chicken" and nothing else, no matter what they say it is! She gets to do some touristy stuff, some community service stuff, and gets to stay with a family before she returns. We picked up some currency from the bank so she could start spending money as soon as she gets off the plane. Her dad wants her to by a plasma TV and ship it home. I just want her to come home...in about three days!!!

Ed is having a great time spacing out graduation parties of her friends. She has been attending at least two parties a week since the end of May. At least I know she is eating well...almost too well! Rock has been incognito since his graduation party. He just finished up 17 years of continuous schooling. I told him he could "check out" for a week or two before he has to find a job! He has been glued to his computer playing shoot-em-up games on the net. He SAYS he is putting together his virtual resume to send out to prospective employers. Yeah...and I look like Elizabeth Taylor!

I hope you all have a great weekend, and I thank you for taking the time to check out my first "Fragment" post!



*Wikipedia, The Great Wall of China

My Fairy Best Tooth Fairy Story

I was clicking around today and ended up at Supah Mommy. She asked us to write a story about a Tooth Fairy experience. You know how fond of fairies (tooth, godmother, garden, laundry, Bad Spells, etc.) I am! I just couldn't resist! Please stop over and say hello at Supah Mommy.

I have forgotten my share of Tooth Fairy duties. If there is anyone out there who has never forgotten….well… I really don’t want to know.

One time, when I did remember, it was the first “switcheroo” job. At the time, Rock was about 10 years old. He was a half/believer at this point, but I assured him that there was, in fact, a Tooth Fairy who brought coins for teeth. Of course, moms know NOTHING. He was out to prove that he knew better.

That night, Rock put his tooth in a place other than the “designated” place and the Tooth Fairy could not find it. The next morning, Rock showed me his tooth. He was so sure that there was no Tooth Fairy, because she would have found the tooth no matter where it was. I explained to him that she visits a gazillion kids every night to pick up teeth. She always looks in the same place where she picked up the last tooth. She doesn’t have time to hunt around the room looking for the tooth, and possibly waking up sleeping children. I told him that she probably figured that he forgot to put it in the same place as last time.

I suggested he try it again, but this time he should put it in the little box on the nightstand. He did so, very reluctantly. The next morning, he came downstairs excited, but confused, at the same time. The Tooth Fairy had left a coin for his tooth, but she also left a bill for the wasted trip out the night before.

The invoice was very professional. It had the Tooth Fairy’s name at the top, with her address on Bicuspid Lane. The words “SAMPLE BILL” were stamped on the invoice. The bill, itself, did not have an amount due, but there was a section for notes which read:

Because of the deception you engaged in two nights ago, this bill is being sent to you for my trip out to your house and no tooth in the tooth box. It has come to my attention that the tooth was in the room, but was hidden somewhere other than the box, the dresser or under the pillow. If every child just put the tooth in any old place, I would never be able to visit everyone who lost a tooth. There is no money due at this time, however, should you repeat this behavior, you will be required to compensate me for my time. Thank you, the Tooth Fairy.



Please check out Supah's blog. She has something for everyone!

Have a great Wednesday!