Ellen's Nest

Pictures Are Back!

They were Lisa's and from 1999. One roll didn't come out, and they were mostly of the beach and the dogs. I looked at them real fast and didn't see this until I got home. It may be nothing to you, but to me it's heaven!

I call it Mike's Legs

(snicker)  At one time this would have been one for the trash pile.  :0)

Oh Those Infomercials Part I

Last night I fell asleep with the Comedy Channel on.  When I woke up, Mike was putting the television back on to listen to the news, and of course it was still on the Comedy Channel.  The "comedy" on this morning was an infomercial for Miracle Water, or it could have been the end of a tele-evangelist tv program.  I'm not exactly sure.  I had Mike leave it on long enough to watch the charlatan, whom I think is Peter Popoff, derived from some internet research I did later, and another of his kind trying to convince the audience that his Miracle Water cured the burns that covered his body in 48 hours no less!  That's where I turned to the news.

Anyway, the Peter Popoff Testimonies are quite interesting, if you want to read them. (Don't forget to read the financial testimonies.)  What an idiot.

More later...

I Forgot...

While cleaning the closet today I found a sweater I started to make years ago and an afgan I'd like to continue if I can remember the stitches because I was making up the pattern.

What I'm really excited about is that I found two rolls of film.  They're a film I haven't bought  in years (400 speed Fuji) and tomorrow they get developed!  I hope there are some pictures of my son.  If not...oh well.  I can't imagine where they're from, and I have no clue whose they are.  I usually keep track of film.  They may be Lisa's.

Another Fun Day

What a Sunday!  I decided to clean out the most disgusting closet in the house - under the stairs.  It's a small walk-in quadrilateral-shaped closet that's a catch all for all my hobbies, crafts, files, gift-wrapping, some towels, and a laundry shoot.  Simply enough, a catch-all.  I took everything out of all of the drawers (there's an old bureau in there with huge Rubbermaid drawers stacked on top),  pulled everything off the shelves and floors, and emptied all of the corners and crevices.  There was stuff everywhere!  There was a trail all the way from the hall closet to the living room, where I watched TV for some entertainment in the process.  Piles for Goodwill, piles for work, piles for the trash, sorted piles...  Piles, piles, piles.

It was just about then that Lisa started crying with a headache and went weaving  through the piles into the bathroom where she proceeded to get extremely sick.  All I could think of was "Been there, wrote the book", and we headed off to the ER. (Leaving my mess behind.)

On the way in Lisa got sick again.  (It was weird being on this side of the migrane.) We sat there for an hour  and the people were moving slo-o-o-o-ow.  All Lisa wanted to do was go to sleep.  There were kids screaming and crying:  The place was packed!  We waited and waited.  Lisa ate some crackers and kept them down.  Her head felt better and the crackers stayed down.  We left after another 1/2 hour.  It was terrible in there.  I guess migraines are low on the priority list. (Unless you're lucky enough to get a nurse who gets migraines).

I came home to my (ugh) closet mess.  Lisa took some strong meds and went to sleep.  I reorganized things.  The closet looks much better.  Now there are piles of stuff all over my house that are destined for many other places.  Tomorrow morning when I wake up I'll probably cringe at the sight of them.

News Flash!

On the news last night it was announced that in celebration of new Iraqi elections and bush's second term the bush administration was requesting a name change from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) to Operation Iraqi Liberation (OIL).

(From my favorite Chilean)

Psycho Trading Cards

I stumbled on this tonight.  They are unique, to say the least. C'mon, you know you want them!  For Sale, here.

They may be a great way to invest your newly privatized Social Security money:

"Speaking as someone who made a yacht-load of cashola in junk bonds, and then later in Internet IPOs, I speak from experience when I tell you, 'Buy all of these cards post haste! They are the investment of the decade!'" - Reginald W. Chambers, Satisfied Customer

I know I'm partial to Jeb, but this one is my favorite. I'm just trying to get through the next 4 years gracefully and with a bit of humor.

Dedicated To My Favorite Chilean

You know, I was just looking at the cartoon.  I can't draw worth a hill of beans.  Just looking at those pictures, you know who the guy in the blue suit is, AND you can tell it was drawn quickly.  Why can't I do that?

Dedications

I've decided to listen to all of my CD's during the next millenium as I drive to and from work.  So far it's been kind of fun.  I've been listening to music I haven't put on in years and since it's all music I've picked out in the past, I love it all!  Duh!

I heard this one today by Joan Armatrading and decided to dedicate it to the Rickster.  He's always so subdued, you know? (And "The Rickster" is such an 80's name - or is it 90's?)

Then, White Rabbit is for Jerry and Donna, because I almost picked it, too.

Music Meme

This meme came from Ricky, who isn't to crazy about doing them, but I think he did because it's about music.  These things are hard for me...

1. Total amount of music files on your computer: Not many.  The files on my computer are mosty photos.  I have tons of CD's though.  (Sometimes I get duplicates by mistake.)

2. The last CD you bought was:  Actually I just ordered three from Amazon that I'm still waiting to get.  1. The Mamas and the Papas Gold - I read about this in The Ancient Rocker column of the newspaper and it was recommended.  They're always good when you're feeling mellow.  2,  Garden State Soundtrack - An Amazon recommendation.  I think it just won or was nominated for and award, wasn't it?  I haven't seen the movie, but I think Lisa has.  3.  Madeleine Peyroux Dreamland - I know nothing about this person except she's French and sounds like Billie Holliday.  I love Billie Holliday.  How can I miss?

3. What is the song you last listened to before reading this message?

When I'm Sixty-four, by the Beatles.

4. Write down 5 songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you.

What a tough question.  Songs are so influential, and I like so many!  I guess I'll start from when I was little.

1.Mack the Knife, by Bobby Darin.  I loved this song when I was small.  I actually thought it was about a shark.  If you remember the cartoon Beany and Cecil, you'll understand.

2.Walk On the Wild Side, by Lou Reed.  My life was changing so quickly when this song came out.  Things were always fun when it was playing.

3.Touch of Grey, by The Grateful Dead.  Either you love them or you don't.  I'm an addict.  I had to pick one song.

4.Behind Blue Eyes, by The Who.  I've always liked this whole CD.  It's just gotten so 'CSI commercialized' now.

5. Free Man in Paris, by Joni Mitchell.  Another artist I spent a lot of time listening to.  Not much of her stuff I don't like.

The list could go on and on. I do like new stuff, too.  I'm always open to music.  I've been to a Korn concert, seen Disturbed, 3 Doors Down, Days of the New, and a lot of other bands. 

5. Who are you going to pass this stick to stick this with? (3 persons) and why?

OOOOOh.  Tough one.  Michelle, Grace and Margaret. Michelle needs some distraction just about now in her life. Grace has so much free time right now I know she'll just want to do this.  Margaret, well, Margaret is the true, self-proclaimed meme queen, although she hasn't done one in awhile.

Where There's Something for Everyone

I bought a few new CD's last week:  Neil Young's Greatest Hits and Simon and Garfunkel Old Friends.  They're pretty good, but I think it's time to get them out of the car.  They've been playing quite a bit.  The Simon and Garfunkel CD is live, and I like that.  A (good) live recording is always so much better, I think.  The Neil Young CD is the same songs put on a new CD.  I would have liked to hear a little bit different versions of his songs, but then again, they are all the type of songs you can close your eyes and regress to.  Very relaxing.  They were both good CD choices.

The other day I was running errands and I noticed there was great music playing everywhere.  I like all kinds, and there was a wide variety playing, depending on where I went.  None of it was bad.  It added to the day.

A lot of times I'll read about unknown artists or go on Amazon and look at ratings of different CD's that are similar to other ones I like (but a different artist or group) and buy a few.  Usually I am pleasantly surprised.  Other times I am burned. (Elton John's Peachtree Road) 

Then there are always my old favorites that will never be bad.  Right now I'm listening to Jeff Beck  Beck-Ola.  The first band I ever went into Boston to see, when I was 15. (We hitched 30 miles in to get tickets - awk...) They played with the Faces, who at the time included Ron Wood and Rod Stewart.  There was a conflict on stage between the bands and one of the guitars was unplugged and smashed.  A set-up?  I don't know, but it was a great concert, especially for a 15-year old.  From what I understand there were always fights in Beck's band.  The concert was in the old Boston Music Hall, from the original "Boston Brahmin" opera days.  They don't 'em like that any more.  Beautiful, but thinking back, it was a firetrap, and the rules were different back then.

Ah, music, where would the world be without it?  There's always some kind somewhere someone will like.