Mellow, it's so mellow

It began with a visit to the coop on Friday after work. Just going through my usual maintenance, I found, peaking out of their private room, two small eggs! Finally, the hens are laying! They were perfect too...I had read to expect some problems but they looked perfect and they tasted like yummy fresh eggs.

On Saturday we attended the Luther Wedding. It was held at the Alamo Ritz. We were completely amazed at how the wedding turned out. I knew it would be cool but the Alamo along with Kazhal and Damon's good taste transformed the venue into an elegant and flawless soiree. It is the best wedding we have ever attended.

This weekend I also got to see The Dead Milkmen reunite at Fun Fun Fun Fest. They did not disappoint. My friends and I wanted to be up front but settled for mid ground with almost a foot of space around us. Once they started with Punk Rock Girl a huge wave of aggroslamdancers surged forward leaving me tangled in a bed of deadly elbows and toxic pits then I saw my best friend sail by in front of me, sideways, telling me to be careful. The survival instinct kicked in (literally) and we dug our way out of the flesh heap fast. We were naive to think that we could pogo that close (which really wasn't too close)to the stage. This was no crazyfun pogo mob. We left feeling revived and 18 again except for the fact that we couldn't make it in the mosh pit this time.

Sunday was spent with family and feasting on good food. When we got home I found that my hens ended the weekend the way they had started....one more egg :>

Le weekend était AWESOME! With a weekend like this, how can I not feel uber ready to start the holiday season and melt into Fall??? Pumpkin pie,cozy couch evenings with the hubby and warm flannel pjs.

mynewtiae

Not only do a have a new brother-in-law but there is more newness ahead.

Tonight we'll know who our new president will be. I hope it is Obama because America's soul will rot to the core if it's not.

We'll be getting a new neighbor in the hood: my friend and co-worker is moving into the hood. Yay!!!!!!!!

My new studio will be done this weekend, Yippeeeeeeeeeeee

Out with the old, in with the new!

Allowing gay marriage is in keeping with traditional American values: Individual freedoms, it is social progress. For all the love of the past that I have, it is only because we are moving forward. I could not feel the same if we sat stagnated in 1950 America or 1930 or 1940 America etc...

I'm back

We were in Del Rio this past weekend. While there I got to check in on Dash and Chickiebaby. They have grown so much and are the cutest little roo brothers. Roosters don't normally hang out together, even when they are sibs, but these two are best friends and they warm my heart to see them strutting along together. I also got to see my grandfather's new chickies. A surprise flock of the tiniest Serama chickies. This is a very tiny breed so the chicks were almost thumb size.



I usually start in on Christmas earlier than most but Del Rio already had the decorations up all over the city. I was told they were installed two weeks ago! Hmmmmmmmm, no, that's not right.

Mind Ooh sha

The mind is fickle and it's weird what memories it decides to keep or purge. As a kid we'd travel by train to Mexico. On these trips I remember loving the dining car. It was always spacious (for a kid) and well lit with natural light from windows on both sides. It was exciting heading over to the dining car because we had to cross cars and I found that adventurous. As I hopped across the walkways I would catch a quick look at the blurry ground below.

There was always that diner smell, sort of a mixture of ham and toast or something. What really stands out in my mind was the appreciation I had, already as a kid of five or so, for the heavy, well made, railroad china. The dishes were an off white and had maroon trim. I also remember dark green and cobalt blue trim on the different trips over the years. My mother would get a tiny little ceramic creamer for her milk. I always wanted to take it, it was so cute. The butter would come on tiny little plates. I did managed to swipe one of these at one point. I remember taking it and putting it in a white, cardboard lined, toy purse. I felt incredibly guilty and I remember being very paranoid about the whole thing. I still have it! I even buried it once, along with a few other treasures.

My brother and I were really into putting a few treasured items into cigar and jewelry boxes, wrapping them in plastic or foil then burying them. We'd make little maps and then dig everything up months later. It gave us something to think about when it would finally rain. We'd wonder if our little boxes were getting wet and what about the items in them.... It was hard not to dig up things after a rain to check and see. There was a feeling of success and achievement to find our items intact.

But I digress... Some sites on railroad china:
The Railroad Commissary
Cabin Class

I also remember being on a trip once and seeing a girl running around with this cute little plastic purse with a doll. I really wanted one. Never forgot it. I now know they are Remco Pocketbook Dolls.

Speaking of sweet home

Someone had a sweet home uprooted and moved. They will replace it with some sort of boxy mcmansion, no doubt. Sort of risky business this late in the game, even for Austin. The economic climate has changed and whatever will be put there will have a sign up for quite awhile. But at least they didn't demolish the house, yay! Actually it may be a loophole that is saving these cute vintage houses. We are thinking, my vintage house loving friends and I, that moving a house allows for more land use than a tear down? Something like that?

You could buy one of these homes for less than $30K and that includes having it moved to your property. Not a bad way to go at all if you own land somewhere around town and want a vintage house. I heard there is a guy in Elgin who is creating his own vintage development and has bought quite a few homes from the Brentwood/Crestview area and moved them over there.

Hmmm $169K for eight acres of land east of town, line a couple of rescued homes in a row, call it Teratown. Teehee

Home Sweet Home

This summer has been very different from our past summers. It's been cozier and homier. There has been a lot to do and it's getting done but keeps us close to home more than before but, the best weekends have been at home and not at the beach. It's all about the backyard. There is something hugely satisfying in enjoying your own hard work. The backyard was one of our projects this year and has been nothing but hard work.

Saturday and Sunday mornings are so blissful. They begin cool and quiet and even when the day turns and becomes a positively mean 100 degrees, we would have already enjoyed enough hours of relaxation and found some unexpected edification. I have been surprised with the results, feeling as if I've returned from a vacation. My job has become increasingly stressful (and continues to each week-blehk) and I don't deal with stress well. Being able to feel as though I am worlds away from the work week and office every weekend has been an unexpected treat. In fact, the times we've left town for weekend getaways has been more work than rest and we return wanting an extra day to recover. Still planning the big vacation voyage but in the meantime it's nice having sanctuary so close.

I read about home retreats once in some magazine in some waiting room and thought: PFFFT yeah right. It mentioned personal Shangri La and backyard retreats. When I returned indoors this morning, back from Our Own Backyard, I was reminded of that article. Wm and I agreed that we stumbled upon something unexpectedly cool this year. My friend has found similar bliss at her new house. Equipped with a dream kitchen and sitting on one acre, she has found her Shangri La. Visiting her and being treated to her tres yummy creations from her very own chef's kitchen has been enjoyable. It's happy food.

I recently read this sort of blissful discovery of one's backyard and happiness in one's home is called a staycation. Are you serious? What about home sweet home? That's been around forever.

This weekend I also caught a short documentary on New Zealand and sustainability. They showcased people who lived off their land and made a living from it. NZ was tres impressive. I would seek a range sort of life in NZ if I could. Until then it's just us under the shade trees.

It's hot, it's so hot, it's hot or We need more shade trees and less asphalt

This year I was determined not to let the rotten summer climate keep me inside for months watching everything around me turn yellow then brown and die. I was determined to fight the sun and humidity and stand outside and plant, transplant, water and help everything around me live as best as anything can live in this damn climate. The new yard just needs to get established this year. It can die away next year, returning to vibrant greens after some good rains (always hope). This year though, if it dies, it stays dead because the root system is weak and water is the only way to strengthen it. I'm surprised our water bill isn't showing nearly close to what I thought it would show. But its all about watering the dry spots not the whole yard and sprinkling plants here and there. Hoping that Dolly brings some much needed rain.

It's heavenly to be outside at 4pm when a strong breeze begins to stir some clouds. There is nothing like catching a dark cloud riding a strong hot wind the moment it blocks the sun. The relief is immediate when this happens. Then comes the smell of wet asphalt mixed with the scent of wet dirt. You catch the notion seconds before you actually catch the reality that it may in fact rain. Then the cool drops and you hope it just pours for hours. No amount of water from a garden hose can yield the results of one good downpour.

I can remember some very rainy Augusts. I hope there is one in store this year. I won't even complain about the humidity, I'll grow gills. But for now it's just too hot and it's been too hot. I do enjoy waking up early and catching the cool mornings. I wish it could stay that way all day. The weekends are great because I can actually enjoy the backyard till noon. From three o'clock till six in the evening, I'm so beat. I can't always stay in, have errands to run, places to be, things to do. I refuse to be dominated by the weather this year. But I'm beginning to think, I'm beat. I can't keep this up till November or whenever summer around here is finally over. November, right?

Just Three Little UGHS!

What do you do when your doctor just leaves? Quits? Moves on? Without notice!
I had the best doctor ever (smart, great bedside manner,cooperative) and when I called to confirm the appointment I was told I would not be seeing her.
I said," Well reschedule me when she returns from vacation. "
"She is gone." the receptionist said.
UGH! So I will be seen by the doctor she shared the office with who has a reputation for being mean, difficult, uncaring. I hate looking for new doctors.

The other day I was told that my face had a nice healthy glow and had I been out in the sun recently. I guess I've been hanging out more outside. I know I have...didn't I say more than the last 15 years combined or something? Didn't I also say with an SPF 85 that has all that Helioplex stuff plus a hat and sunglasses? Cause I should have the palest face. The palest! So what is not working? UGH! Sun exposure=aging.

This morning Keet aka Dark Meat crowed. My favorite little hen crowed. Is Keet a roo? UGH! Please lay an egg Keet!

M+in+oo+sha

In

Warren William :Really love his moustache

Personal worlds: Hanging outside reading.

Train trips: looking into an East Coast voyage.

Vintage bicycles: Looking into one for evening cruising.

Vintage Aladdin Thermos sets: Cute little plaid bag with room for two glass lined thermoses and a little sandwich box.

Pesto: The basil is about the only thing doing well and yielding a high return so basil and black olive pesto for all!

Chile Rellenos and rice pudding: Trying to get the recipes down. My Grandmother makes the best chile relleno and my Grandfather makes the best rice pudding.

Out:
Tolerating cluttered spaces

Waiting around, standing around, patience: It's the time of the year where it's just too hot for that sort of thing.


Cool Website:
Authentic History

SquarePegssquarepegssquare.....PEGS! minutiae

We got the Square Pegs dvd last week and have been enjoying every 80s drenched episode. That was a funny show but just like Freaks and Geeks, it was over too soon. Why?! Man, early 80's fashion, what a trip. Those ruffled high collar dresses. Hmmm I think I had one sans the ruffles anywhere else. What was up with that?

We have been renting old Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman dvds. Neither one of us ever watched that show. My mom used to love it. I'd hear it playing and my mom laughing when I was sick and woke up "in the middle of the night". We checked it out and it's freaking hilarious. I think it's more clever than Soap ever was, at least so far, two discs. I remember Soap.

Speaking of old shows, RTN is a pretty fun channel. New fave. Reminds me of WGN circa 1979, 1980.

I have been spending more time outside this season than I think I have in the past 15years put together. Despite the nice shade trees and patio umbrella, it's still pretty damn hot but the evenings and early mornings are pleasant enough.

My friends and I are into rich, kitschy, retro recipes and have been sharing all those really yummy and unhealthy dishes that tasted oh so good. Actually, they aren't that unhealthy, made from whole foods just maybe a bit too rich. Paula Dean is so decadent, she adds sour cream to just about everything. Although this one vintage mac salad recipe I found uses 1 cup of mayonnaise, cheese and four eggs hmmmm.

Speaking of macaroni, my grandmother made her yummy homemade macaroni and yummmmmmmm. Glad William got to experience that dish. If only I could replicate that. She also made chile rellenos when we were there. I am biased but she truly does a great job and it's always been consistent. In all of Austin there is not a chile relleno recipe I feel can top hers. I've tried them...nothing compares.

Picked up brushes and paint and have decided I'd like to paint again. At least make an attempt. The last time I bought camel hair brushes they weren't quite so pricey. However, at the time my best friend and I couldn't buy them all at once and had to space the purchases over two months. There was a sale so I got everything at 40% off. It's cool when a spontaneous decision is rewarded like that. So I'm off to paint, maybe outside... Maybe not-outside.

R&R

We were in Del Rio this past weekend to celebrate the 4th, deliver the two Silkie roos to my Grandfather and celebrate my mother's birthday.

Chickiebaby and Dash traveled very well. They just sat down and enjoyed the music. When they didn't like a song you'd hear a low grrrrrrrrrrrr. Diana Ross was their fave and they'd tap to the music on their water bottle.

We spent the days just hanging out around town thrifting, eating figs and peaches off the trees and just enjoying a slower pace.

But you said I wouldn't need root canal

Last year I was eating a piece of gooey Chinese candy when something went horribly wrong in my mouth. It felt like a tooth had been uprooted, the pain was horrifying for two seconds or so then it became a dull ache that lasted weeks. I went back to the dentist who did the filling, not my usual dentist but he is so popular I was unable to get in when I wanted, and without looking into my mouth she said,"You need a crown". UGH!

I returned to my regular dentist and he said eventually I'd need a crown. Substitute dentist didn't do such a hot job on my filling, in fact she drilled too deep and nearly hit nerve then she drilled too wide and weakened the tooth. So, one year later I return to Dr Ahmad Ahmadian, for what I think will be a more less easy procedure, a crown without root canal. When he checks the x-rays he tells me, because of the poorly executed filling last year, to put in a crown with nerves exposed that way would give me problems in the future. Time for a root canal. Shit! This was one of those things in life I'd thought I'd escape. I only had two cavities and they were found after I turned 30,or maybe in my late 20s. I thought I was somewhat home free... Since last year I had not touched another sweet, gooey confection.

I have heard nothing but horror stories, I have read blog entries on root canals and YIKES! Seems there is no escaping the pain. He said he could do it in an hour and it was simple and no problem. So I sat in the chair, requested no nitrous and began thinking, I'm strong, I'm strong, I can do this.....

The procedure sounded ugly, so very chainsaw ugly but otherwise, I felt nothing. I didn't even feel the shots, I felt nothing, not a thing. I have a high pain threshold but I'm not superhuman so my dentist RULZ! I was done one hour later and I didn't even have that drooly numbness. Ahmad Ahmadian RULZ!

Remember this guy?

Yuk! When I was a kid I thought he was so gross, I think he still is. First caught Slim Goodbody on Captain Kangaroo. My little brother and I also got grossed out by the Zoom opening (here's an earlier version but similar to what they did later). It had these kids all dressed the same with their striped shirts and jeans but barefooted. That icked us to death for some reason. Once I happened to wear a similar shirt and jeans and ran after him barefooted saying I was a ZoomaZZZZZZZZZZZZooma kid out to get him. Chased him but we both stopped cause we were laughing too hard. We liked Zoom but something about the intro that season they had striped shirts.

Zoom and Sesame Street, all those PBS shows had kids from the East Coast and I was always fascinated by them. I'd ask my mom why they were so different, never met kids around me who spoke like they did, I really dug their accents. My friend Rodney and his brother came to Del Rio, Tx from Pennsylvania in 1979 or so and I remember they had those accents. Later he told me they thought we all spoke like we were out of a Deputy Dawg cartoon and couldn't stop laughing at us.

Oh yeah, The Letter People! In kindergarten we had the blow up dolls and the record. After nap time the record was played and Mrs Wall, who assisted Mrs Eckles, would come in dancing with the new letter person. After those 26 days of fun the Letter People were strung from the ceiling and soon after that, kindergarten was over.

Did anyone ever learn to read from Theodore Clymer's books? I can only recall:
One Potato, Two
Helicopters and Gingerbread
Duck Is a Duck
The Dog Next Door and Other Stories
Fish and Not Fish
May I Come In?
Seven Is Magic
How It Is Nowadays

And what set off this nostalgic minutiae? We watched Swingtown last night and I saw Tupperware. Vintage Tupperware always catapults me back to the 70s and my childhood.

Minutiae here, minutiae there

Hearing all the news about air travel makes me just not want to fly but I have destinations planned. UGH! There is LA and Chateau Marmont, NYC to see family and meet up with new friends, then there are returns to Philadelphia for record stores, hoagies and to see friends, then always Vegas and I've been hearing about Nova Scotia and how it's cool this time of year.... I hope to make it to at least three of these places soon. In the meantime, it's very hot here.

Neckties and pantyhose are becoming extinct I heard. The problem here is comfort and aesthetics. Those thin, silk mid-century neckties are awesome. I think they look great on a man and personally, I can't trust a man who doesn't own at least five neckties. They make a guy look dashing. Whenever I come across a thin, vintage necktie, I buy it, take it to the cleaners then give it to my husband. My Sweetie wears them well. Because they are thin and made from silk, they aren't uncomfortable. Yes, per him.

Pantyhose, what a disgusting image that conjures up, seamed stockings or nylons are much better. To see women wearing pumps without anything between their feet and the closed toe shoe, it looks icky to me. Flats are different but I have a mental block when it comes to those closed toe shoes on a 2 inch heel. At the same time, pantyhose (YUK) have become such unattractive contraptions. Totally not sexy. Hanging out of their packaging at the store they look so gross, then advertise having tummy control and binding stuff like that. I can't imagine how anyone can feel normal wearing them. Still, I think there is a need, so why not keep the bring back the seamed stocking or the nylon. The Cuban heel seam was especially cool. Nylons and garters
Vintage Nylons

Watched Lost in America...man, that's a funny film. Reminds me:
Surfwise

Overheard minutiae:
1. Swingtown is a fun show
2. Flying sux right now
3. RSL is getting married in August

IN, in my world:
Pavement's early tunes
Butterscotch Custard: Yummmm
Silkies: Six of them I joined the urban hen movement
A 1970's childhood
Writing
Teaching Callanetics: Finally
The Paramount


OUT:
Driving before 8pm
Driving.

Late Spring minutiae

It's already late Spring, the schools let out soon and college was out last week, YAY! I love how it feels coming into work on cool mornings, feeling like the streets are empty. They aren't empty just feel a bit roomier.

The Kerouac Scroll will be taking off 6/1...I'll miss it. It's just been so awesome having it in town. If you haven't seen it, you must stop by the HRC.

I passed a building walking to work this morning that had the exact same bush or vine that the Val Verde County Library has and that scent had me remembering how I'd sit there reading with my newly acquired pile of books waiting to be picked up. The library was so quiet and always nice and cool and had the perfect balance of natural and fluorescent lighting. The furniture was a dark mahogany, the stacks all neatly lined up, there were nice paintings on the walls. If giggles or loud wispy talking began the librarian nipped it in the bud. There wasn't much loitering going on there in the late 70s, early 80s. This is the library that made me love all libraries. Now I always have at least one dream a week that takes place at the old library at night:

My friends who are teachers and school librarians are all excited about their upcoming summer break. I used to be jealous then I realized it wouldn't work for me. It would really mess me up, in fact, I have the hardest time getting back into the swing of things after only a full week off.

I loathed September until I graduated from high school. I went home for the summer only once after my first year of college and it wasn't any easier facing September. That was my last three months off for summer ever. My adult summer break, I feel, works better for me: Paramount movies with the Sweetie, having family on school schedules visit more often, being able to meet friends on school schedules for lunch and being able to hang with them at any time, less traffic,beach weekends and old AIP beach movies. Just added to this list is enjoying Saturday morning breakfast on the patio, watching 8mm films outdoors and cookouts with neighbors (soon).

Pondering minutiae

I wonder what food would be like if they had never started messing with it. Tomatoes and strawberries left at their natural sizes. Some Italian friends of mine laughed and laughed when they saw the size of the strawberries here. No strawberry has ever tasted as sweet as the few I grew myself one brief season in 1999. Picked up two lil plants in Gruene and put them out on my balcony.

What if all varieties of food were grown, because you know, we only stick to a small handful of varieties. Heirloom seed places give you an idea of what could have been out there in grocery stores and what was out there on carts and open markets. Been reading Michael Pollan's in Defense of Food. It's extremely hard now to even look at processed foods and I want so badly to be able to grow all my own veggies.

Save the Texas Prairie Chicken: Turns out crazy ants or the Rasberry ant likes to eat their eggs. UGH! Poor Attwater's Prairie Chickens they just can't get a break. They've been decreasing in numbers for years. Not even Mike Nesmith could help them for long.

Starting this Fall all The Nez Hats sold here will come with a Save the Texas Prairie Chicken button and $10 of every hat sold between September and January donated to the Adopt-A-Prairie Chicken program.

Minutiae Du Jour

I've been waiting anxiously for the documentary: The Natural History of the Chicken to arrive in my mailbox. I think today is the day. Yay!

Looking forward to meeting Junior. He is a tiny Bantam rooster that belongs to my Grandfather and is just learning to crow. I'd like to see him before he masters it.

Watched Cockfighter recently. Only Warren Oates could make enjoy a movie like that. Speaking of...there was a man at my hood meeting last night who looked just like Warren Oates circa 1971. I kept expecting him to lean over and ask the guy next to him, "What kinda sounds you like?" teehee.

I'm trying to be more civic minded so last night I attended a neighborhood meeting. There was a presentation by the city regarding flood zones and how they affect the hood. Basically I found out that many,many,many people in the Brentwood area have the same concerns I do and it felt good to know this. However, being highly encouraged by the city to purchase flood insurance was sort of worrisome.
I also learned that:
1. The City of Austin has a HUGE creek erosion problem.
2. A majority of the neighborhoods in Austin are connected by creeks and storm drains and there are very few areas that are not in danger of flooding
even if not on a flood plain.

Minutiae for those who love me

1. Bud Cort at the Alamo-Ritz was a tres, tres memorable experience. We had fun! The tiramisu there is great as well.


2. UGH! Tomato seedling failure!

3. My 91 year old Abuelita and I are now able to do video calls. Awesome! Got to show her the stuff I made and have been working on.

4. Green tea really does wonders for me.

5. Ann Charters at the Harry Ransom Center! She read a chapter from the new book she is working on. It is about the friendship between Kerouac and Clellon Holmes and it's impact on On the Road. Can't wait for a publication date.

Recession minutiae

You know it's a recession when you are given more work to do at work because there is no money to support new hires or carrot dangling. At least it feels like the recession has hit in these parts. It's a job and some people are losing theirs so I can't complain but poop.

Acclimating minutiae

This is the first year I don't feel uber cold in 40 degrees. I was always pretty uncomfortable but I prefer it cold to hot. I think it was that hour and a half spent hopping waves at the beach in October. That was pretty chilly water. It hurt at first but then we became acclimated to the cold water. Lately I've found that the hoodie/thermal combo works just fine not knowing it's 31 degrees. WHAT? How'd that happen? Acclimation! So I've been able to enjoy the cold, gloomy days outdoors and not just from inside. Freezing rain and sleet predicted.

You know how skanky some of the Myspace pictures get? My friend got her account erased by Myspace for posting tiny photos of a cake in the shape of a penis. She is a pastry chef and she made this gag cake for a birthday party. Her account was private so no one could see the photos except 30 or so of her closest friends. It was just the cake, no one posing with the cake, cutting the cake or eating the cake. Just the cake. Nice to know that myspace does have boundaries and it seems that penis shaped cakes cross the line. Meanwhile...

Saw Juno and didn't like it. I read the reviews after I saw the movie. What was irritating in the reviews was every one of them noted the reference to Soupy Sales as being a grossly reached reference for a 16 year old. Really? Perhaps in this day and age it might be. However the character referenced Iggy Pop and, well, from Iggy Pop to Soupy Sales isn't quite a reach.
There is a whole lot more stuff crammed in that movie to cause your eyes to roll out of your head, don't get stuck on the Soupy Sales reference. Tres annoying movie. One movie that was uber annoying to me but to this day everyone seems to hold it such high esteem is: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. ICK! I found the two main characters to be huge bores.

I dreamt of eggnog. I opened the fridge and there was a new bottle. I got so excited and popped it open, reached for the rum and nutmeg and it was the best eggnog ever! I was on a steady diet of eggnog and I guess it is hard to let it go. It's not like you can ween yourself off it. It is for sale for just a few weeks and then gone and you can't get it anywhere for the next 12 months unless you make it yourself. I don't want to do that. Eh.

I've been reading craft....hmmmmmmmmm, let's think about this. Okay,some things are better left not posted.

Green minutiae

It is a very Spring like night. Thoughts are with growing basil, strawberries and mint. I had a lucky streak one year with strawberries. I grew them on my apt balcony, in a lil 5x7 window box. They were so sweet and yummy.

Down the street is a lovely, working greenhouse. Classic design, all glass, so pretty and inspiring. I have no green thumb but I've been playing with the idea of a grow rack. Even that seems a bit of a commitment. I tend to come up with ideas for hobbies and interests I'd like to take on then research them into the ground. This might be yet another. When I take on something I want to complete it, see it through.....so if it can't stick through the research and loses momentum, finito. But every now and then I want to take on something new and not just read about it.

I have always loved conservatories and the idea of a tiny Wardian case is appealing. The idea of a pretty begonia or African violet in one.... Nothing will confirm the lack of a green thumb more than a dead Bonsai or failed Wardian case. That's advanced gardening for me.

Anyway, I want more than one lonely basil plant (I love pesto) but less than a garden so a grow rack is a great compromise. Then again, there are several home improvement projects this year and uh....Should we get ice this month, my thoughts of herbs and strawberries will vanish (bye bye momentum) and thoughts of cocoa and marshmallow making will return. While I'm streaming thoughts and ideas...

We are taking down the large cottonwood in our yard this year. It has died. It will be sad to see it go. I loved the sound of it's leaves. Planting another oak in it's place. New beginnings.

the last lil crumbs of minutiae for 2007

Here are some renditions of Christmas songs not in heavy rotation.

Donde Esta Santa Claus-Augie Rios
Jingle Bell Rock-Herb Alpert & the Tiajuana Brass
Silver Bells-Booker T & the MGs
Frosty the Snowman-The Ventures
We Wish You a Merry Christmas-The Brady Kids
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer-Captain Kangaroo
Auld Lang Syne-Little Bobby Rey

There was a full moon tonight. It was a memorable composition: full moon sitting off to one side of the house. The house was all aglow with the outdoor lights, wreath on door and the tree all lit up blinking in the window. It would have made a nice photo but I wanted to savor the moment rather than run inside for the camera to try and capture it. I was in my car about to run an errand when I spotted this. It has been my experience that a photo doesn't quite capture moments like this as much as you'd like them too. It was more for the mental memory book. Looked like a late 70's Coca-Cola Commercial.

This year I strayed from all obvious Christmas cookie recipes and just went traditional: oatmeal raisin, rangers, peanut butter and sandies.

The one obvious Christmas cookie I made was the spritz. I scored a dead stock Mirro cookie press about a year ago while thrifting. I had a mental block about the spritz. One year my mom made them, big mess. She made them every year and they came out great but I kept remembering that one year and how I didn't want sticky dough all over the place. Well, they came out yummy and it was uber easy and that cookie press is quite nifty. I added peppermint oil to the dough-Peppermint flavored Christmas trees=obvious Christmas cookie.

Olivia made tres yummy Mexican Canela and Anise cookies-OMG! They are the most perfect cookies ever. They look perfect like from a store , you can't even tell what side was on the cookie sheet! Lovely when a pastry chef bakes for the holidays. Yay Olivia!

Christmas eve is tomorrow and wow, everything this past year has just raced by. Last Christmas was still hanging in the air. I found pine needles in August. Only one, really. It was jammed in the floor board. Is this how it's going be as you get older?! Eeps! Slow down. I managed to get everything done at a pleasant pace so I can't complain too much.


Wishing all who happen upon this posts: Health, wealth and happiness in 2008!

A Grey Garden's Christmas and other minutiae

I have seen Grey Garden's over and over and over. Imagine my excitement when I discovered my friend had not seen it once! Yay! So I've invited her over for a Grey Garden's Christmas evening. We will watch the Maysles follow the Edies around and snack on crackers with spreads. Thought it would be a nice homage to how Big and Little Edie ate per the doc. No boiled corn but we'll have Christmas cocktail foods made from authentic 70's recipes and I'll take my cocktail in a mason jar.

I've always wanted to have a Grey Garden's party. I'd like it in a half empty, old house (with cats roaming?), boiled corn, pate on crackers, cake, ice cream, cocktails in mason jars and the movie running on a 16 mm projected on a wall. Of course you must dress like an Edie or Maysles brother. Maybe when I turn 40 this will be my over the hill themed party, sans the cats and raccoons. We have four already so that's enough.

TGIF and cloudy, wet and cold!

This year the plan is homemade peppermint cocoa, homemade marshmallows, gingerbread men, gingerbread cake and still sorting out what cookies to bake.... stuffed mushrooms, various, yummy, balled up cocktail foods, teehee (the kitsch factor in that is tremendous and tres nostalgic for me).

Basically the season really kicks off today after work.

Tiki Monkey Christmas!

Colder Minutiae

It's cold, it's cold, IT'S COLD!!!!!!!!!!!! drizzly, dark, cloudy, grey and what a gorgeous December day! I love cold, cloudy, winter days. Days like these inspire and motivate. I'm not one depressed with shorter days and lack of sunlight. Suits me fine, in fact.

Seems like it will be a cold week. Just in time for holiday parties and festivities. YAY!

This morning, while still in bed, eyes shut, I was thinking of our last trip to the beach. How we caught cold waves for hours. Now that makes me think about Half Moon Bay and all the insanity going on there. Must be freezing. I'd love to watch Mavericks, more for the insane waves than the extreme surfers, but only if it were a cold, cloudy and grey day.

Pondering minutiae

Why was I born a Texan? I have such East Coast and New England desires. Sigh. West coast? Nice place to visit but wouldn't want to live there.

The last few days have been blissful. I dig cold, grey, gloomy days. I love listening to Scott Walker, The Velvet Underground and Lou Reed on days like these. Patterns begin to emerge: we play more John Lennon around this time of year and listen to more early Stones than usual.

Speaking of music, didn't have to ponder adding Brian Setzer's Wolfgang's Night Out on my list of cds to check out.

We watched Psycho Beach Party and I ended up liking it more than I thought, teehee.

I was pondering those trapeze dresses, so uber Mia Farrow circa 67 but uh...us hour glass figured girls look more less disastrous in them. No thanks. I need fitted. They are tres cute though so if you have a Mary Quant ready body, yay you and yes, I am bit jealous, but Stop Staring's design make me feel so much better, as does anything with a defined waistline. I do love seeing them around though, I think they are tres chic and elegant and can be worn anywhere. Poop.

Pondering the use of blogs as status symbols, mine of course not being one, teehee, I write for my mom,sibs, and friends. It is to keep them all updated on my thoughts, interests and opinions.

Hood Minutiae

Seems that Paz Dhody did offer the owners of Brentwood Taverns a fair deal but they claimed it was too little too late. BLEHK! That's just being...the word in Spanish is caprichudos. In the end they didn't sound as invested as their hood clientele. I am sure whatever replaces the Brentwood Tavern will become a gathering place once again. I think if any of the other plans and developers had been picked for this venture there most surely would have been way more unhappy people. For the most part the Farmer's Market development seems a pleasant and welcomed distraction from the Wal Mart development. If only Paz Dhody could have purchased that piece of land. I'm sure he would have had more creative and culturally lucrative plans for the place. Social value just doesn't have the clout economic value has when it comes to development, tres triste.

Clean up in the creek area near Dart Bowl is in order. ICK! Litter all over the place. Very ugly. Now that the weather has changed this is the plan. Creeks scare me a bit. In Del Rio they bring cotton mouths and they are scary: The Cottonmouth snake is related to the copperhead but more dangerous. Venom is highly toxic with severe tissue destruction. Bites are fairly frequent in the southern United States. Color dark or nearly black, especially in adult of the species. Average length 3½ feet, maximum length 6 feet. Possums eat snakes so I am hoping Pepper the possum takes care of the snakes, if there any.

Seems like chili pequin grows all over this neighborhood. I find that so comforting for some reason. I like using it in pico. Very hot pico.

I wish our hood would have a sign up sheet for the homes participating in trick or treat. Our house always gets passed up. Actually, seems everything south of Koening does. Poop.

walking minutiae

After turkey meat loaf and macaroni and cheese made by my Grandmother (all 1940's diner style) we took a long, leisurely walk through the hood. My Grandfather's pecan trees were hit with the web worms this year and he had no pecans to give me. Poop. But on our walk I managed to pick up assorted varieties. All the neighbors were out picking them up. Along Arroyo Seco I also found blackberries, pomegranates and chili pequins. Yay!

So, anyway, there will be pecan pralines!

Minutiae

I have been busy at work on a wholesale order. This weekend some new items will finally get posted if all goes well. I've been busy.

I have a giant corn plant on my desk at my day job and when I returned to work on Monday it looked ill.
OMG! Corn Plant! It was covered with yellow and brown spots. I feared a bug so I called over a co-worker who knows plants. He suggested taking a sample of the damage to a nursery. Another co-worker had a super duper magnifying lens and checked for bugs. I trimmed off the ugly, diseased looking leaves and Corn Plant didn't look so bad.
I took a sample of the "illness" to Shoal Creek nursery and the guy said, over watering with tap water. Tap water?! Corn Plant only gets Sparkletts. He said office plants quite often get those hard water stains or mineral stains because co-workers dump their leftover beverages into plants. He said it could have been coffee even. YUK!
I was relieved to find out it was not a bug or some plant disease. That's the first time I have been so invested in a plant, worried about it, sad that it was ill. But I *heart* Corn Plant. It is started to look much better.

There has been a lot of plant talk these days. The yard needs landscaping so we are doing some Fall work and planning for Spring.
Taking down the nearly dead Cottonwood and putting in two or three oaks instead? I don't know, we want a Magnolia tree but heard those are best left for a back yard. In the back yard: bringing in a Weeping Willow and putting down more grass. Maybe heirloom roses, but...I have no green thumb, so maybe not.

There has been talk of Christmas too.....I guess it is around the corner. I should be thinking more about it since it is my busiest time. I have been so behind this year.

Sunday evening minutiae

The last time I ever had the flu was in 1994, it was really bad too, high fever and everything. The last time I had a cold was the summer of 1997. I woke up Friday morning feeling like my winning streak was about to end. UGH! It depressed me to think I wasn't immune to it all. I dragged out the soup and juice and prepared for the worse. That turned out to be the worse. By Saturday morning it was evident that my symptoms were just allergies, a sinus problem or a 24 hour something. Woohoo! My streak continues (I count a cold as two weeks of the sniffles, congestion etc), although, now that I've done some bragging, maybe I jinxed myself. I was uber happy all weekend having escaped serious upper respiratory problems.

It was a productive weekend of sorts. Everything I posted on craigslist on Monday was sold by this morning. That is a first. One woman even gave me $10 more than I asked for on one item. When does that happen?

We found out that our house doesn't need to be leveled and we can proceed with our plans. If you own an older home you really understand how completely awesome it is to get this news.

We were given an old mantle clock that chimes. It did not work but so pretty and I have always wanted a chime clock. I spent time today looking up clock repair shops but thought I could maybe fix it? It didn't take long, anything that goes round and round works on the same premise. I've gotten lazy about it as I have gotten older but for some reason today I was in the mood to fix something mechanical and I did. It didn't take long. I have often wondered if I should have had a side business fixing turntables, reel to reels, projectors and maybe clocks?

Heard a cold front is scheduled for Tuesday. Cold? Hmmmmmm cooler maybe.

It's Fall for me, orders have begun to arrive and uh, I'm not exactly ready so I better go.

some fashion minutiae

I'm like a one note Johnny about the Audrey Hepburn sewing pattern collection but could someone out there in cyberspace create the series? I guess there are copyright hurdles to cross. It would be cool to be able to make the exact outfits she wore in her films:
The fitted Sabrina "Back from France" wool suit or the fitted Sabrina jumper

The pink Breakfast at Tiffany's cocktail dress (seen on the right in black and white)

A knitting pattern for the sweater from Breakfast at Tiffany's
(cropped with wide collar)

Then there is the cute tailored number from her movie Paris When It Sizzles.
Why stop there?! Mia Farrow's dresses in Rosemary's Baby, Faye Dunaway's outfits in Bonnie and Clyde, Anna Karina's film wardrobe and on and on and so on. Do send me free patterns.

Not many men look as good in their pants as Dick Van Dyke did in his while starring in his show. So much attention is placed on how women look in clothing but not many men can look great in a pair of slacks (teehee) or even jeans. They often wear ill fitting pants. Attention should be placed on men and their pants, it's been ignored for forty or so years. Isn't there a way to make men look good in pants without a tailor? Whatever. It can be done. It was awesome when men wore hats, sweaters, cuff links, ties, nice shoes and looked great in pants. It would be cool if the DVD look came back, teehee. I'm not talking that business class look that is so generic and boring and not at all stylish and often not even a clean look these days. Many guys have ill fitting suits:pants need to be hemmed an inch, sides of jackets taken in, shoulders taken in. I'm talking that cool Italian 60's look, with a nice tapered, tailored silhouette and sharkskin. Stop with the blue, chambray shirt and khaki chinos. Ick! Mix it up a little.


PERSONAL INS
1. Tailored style wool dress suits for women, boxy cut, cropped tops, big belts and pencil skirts. Lots of detail in the tops. Not in grey, navy and black but in various shades of green.
2. Tailored looking Dick Van Dyke pants. Throw out the ill fitting pants!
3. Vintage repro, vintage originals
PERSONAL OUTS
1. Imported synthetic tops

Would be cool if tailors were all the rage and got really competitive with their prices so you could get cool outfits, custom made and all at a reasonable price. Would be cool to see tailors back in business. Would be cool to see tailor shops opening up all over the town instead of the same ole big box shit.

BTW, you can learn to make your own shoes.
Here in Austin you can learn to make your own clothes

Interupting the minutiae for Minutiae

I've been driving to work tres early and can smell tinges of Fall. Sort of? It's so nice and cool, no need for ac. The sun is still asleep. Been listening to Velvet Underground, Roxy Music and Iggy. It doesn't pierce and collide with the morning either, fits right in and results in pure elation. Same elation I experience with my favorite operas like La Boheme* and favorite jazz pieces.

Watched Wassup Rockers tonight. We thought it was funny. Its good! They have a scene (deleted?) with those Homies toys in it, dug that. I never saw Kids, didn't appeal to me and everyone who has seen it tells me to pass, so I do.

Watched a David Cassidy documentary. Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis guy............he's a guy with a lot of..... I love this guy!! Catching him in Vegas next. In all seriousiteeeeeeee, I do dig his voice.

02%20I%20Woke%20up%20in%20Love%20This%20Morning.mp3

Going to get RxWayfarers. Actually they are just about the only Rx sunglasses you can get these days-the lenses on all the others curve too much. I was actually wanting a pair for a long time, tres vintage, but I heard this is the year they brought back the "original" with all the old style hardware even?! Hm. I also heard they are "IN" again. Really? They were out? The lady at the store emphatically assured me that Wayfarers were indeed out but the young starlets are bringing them back. Starlets? We still have starlets? I always think of a young Ginger Rogers or Lana Turner when I hear the word starlet. Anyway, I'll be so "IN" {insert sarcastic squeal here}. Great.

Hamilton Camp!

*Pagliacci, Gianni Schicchi,Cavalleria Rusticana and La Traviata

Summer Minutiae

The summer has been soooooooooo mild it's nutz! We don't even get into the 90's much. YAY! Time for a beach excursion, so long as it doesn't rain. Too much rain?

Speaking of....A friend of mine was at Okaloosa Island, somewhere near Florida's Emerald Coast. Her photos of miles of desserted beach and blue water and dolphins made me want to get us on the next jet to the Emerald Coast. Definitely a futre destination, sooner than later!

Been enjoying friends, music, movies and reading. Remodeling project will begin soon, will post photos.

Summer Interests Du Jour:
Heirloom roses

Fried green tomatoes at Billy's

Bookmaking: Made my first lil hardcovered book with hand sewn spine, trescool! Tons of ideas.

La Mer

Pachuco Boogie-Don Tosti

OUT:
Those about.com websites. I always end up clicking on one for lack of eyeing the url fast enough. They carry no information and lead you to other pages with no real info.

U.S. District Judge John D. Bates-What an asshole. What a criminal. How much did they pay this guy? What an indecent human being.

Weekend Minutiae

Listening to Roxy Music this morning before I head off to work and creating this entry. I woke up too early. So this past weekend was somewhat eventful.

We finally made it to the AMOA where I got to see Robert Frank's US 90, en route to Del Rio, Texas It was pretty awesome being able to finally see it. It was like meeting someone you have long admired.

Later we stopped by to see Gabe Kaplan at Book People. I haven't been to one of those book signings since Harvey Pekar. I stood in a fast moving line waiting to get my book signed and formulated a few questions. I was last. However when the time finally came I stood sort of speechless. It was Mr Kotter. I faintly asked if it would be okay to have a photo taken and said thank you then managed to utter, "Big fan", as I walked away. This reaction was completely unexpected.

His book:Kotter's Back: E-Mails from a Faded Celebrity to a Bewildered World is tres funny. Sort of Jerky Boys meets Punk'd meets Borat but done Kaplan style via e-mails. Reading in between the lines it really says a lot about American culture today in regards to celebrity, reality shows,e-mail and the internet. The story I enjoyed most was Wilma.

Dropped by to see Mr Gage. Finished the weekend with White Heat at the Paramount with the infamous Bonnie. We couldn't wait to hear, "Made it, Ma! Top of the world!"

Teee-I-Neee Minutiae

Saw Gena Rowlands and Ben Gazzara in Paris, Je T'aime and was reminded yet again that Cassavetes died too young.

Favorite French Word
oublier: to forget
I like how it sounds

So far, summer has been pretty mild. For awhile it seemed like we were heading for icky heat but there have been some cool breezes!

A La Mer day has been scheduled-Thanx Olivia!

What? We might get an Atomic Ranch House?

Clash By Night is a new fave

Finding old photos....

In:
Big, giant, black sunglasses and ponytails

Goodreads.com

Authentic embroidered Mexican tops

Al Stewart-finally everyone has come around

Tons Summer Movies for people over 30 and not 3

Miles: I dig his love for green boas, gold shoes, tap dancing and Lucha Libre. He is five and one of the coolest people I know.

La Mer

YAY! My once ill friend is now fine and back at home and everything is cool! YAY!!!!!!

Out:
Big, giant trucks and SUV's: How can anyone drive a ZAP when these things are on your ass and driven by careless jerks?

Bad government- you'll see, bye bye

Yuppies, Yippies, Trustafarians and their affectations, actually it's their affectations that grate, not so much anything else.

Smugness, cockiness, posturing, trade it all in for coyness and become palpable

Old knick knacks from the past (threw out six boxes filled with things I no longer had any use for, didn't know I had, no longer liked, acquired by default and then two boxes of "valuable" knick knacks that went to a Salvation Army for their auctions)*

The media labeling Michael Moore a "liar" ummmm do you know what the Bush and the Dick did? And you're calling a guy this guy a liar??????

Media

Minutiae:
Watched Slippery When Wet-Bruce Brown: The soundtrack to that film was awesome. I actually enjoyed this film more than Endless Summer. It's got a totally accidental and earnest French New Wave feel to it sometimes. It's sort of Beat, sort of 50's teensploitation too. The shots are awesome! I highly recommend old surf films at midnight after a hard day.

Skin Flix: Funny check him out once a week.

*Afraid to admit they were all Ebay mistakes,ugh the money I have wasted. Sworn off Ebay forever, yes forever!

Let's promote my work through a blog?

A few of us were discussing blogs, websites and DIY in town. Many of the DIY websites in general contain blogs that promote the DIY/Crafty items being sold. I tried to blog about topics relevent to my crochet work like other DIY girls on their DIY websites but they never get posted because they bore me. I have ideas, lots of them, there are new things on the horizon and even trunk shows scheduled in the Fall but sorry, I am unable to fill you in on the details. YAWN. It's supposed to help with sales and promote your work but, honestly, it embarrasses me. I would rather post a meaningless and uninteresting list of minutiae than go into minute detail of how I drew inspiraion to create this or that hat or scarf and how that tied into my weekend trip to blah blah and booboo and bore bore and hey buy it cause it's now up and ready for purchase. Ick.

I don't work from a studio, if I had a studio I would spend my time organizing and re-organizing. Instead all items are individually packaged and stored in climate controlled storage in plastic bins (all contents well catalogued). I work in a room we call the Record Room. It has a record player, records, a few books and a tv from the 60's. It is smoke free, pet free and all other odor free and dust free. I am inspired by all that is not crochet or yarn. The item I made for you was done in the Record Room over a weekend or during time off from work like say 4th of July or Xmas break. I work alone, I work non-stop and then I photograph what I crochet in the Record Room then uploaded it. I think you can see the records in the background.

I may have procured models this year, not sure(fingers crossed), otherwise it's the dressmakers model I use for sewing that wears all the scarves.

I only use two brands of yarn, I like consistency, I am a perfectionist, I like to make durable, long lasting items and this all tends to slow the process down but what you get is something I have made to last more than a season. I appreciate every order and they all ship the day of if not ASAP the next morning. That's that.

Listing Minutiae

IN:
The old hood

Houston: People are so much nicer there compared to Austin, dig the restaurants and museums

The Menil and Cy Twombly Gallery (I would move to Houston just to hang here. I've been hanging at Elizabet Ney waaaaaay too long)

O & P House:Inspiration

A really well made horchata

Sophia and her big brown eyes

Fennel

The Sing Glees

Nice, unpretentious strangers who treat you like they know you

Galveston: Dig the beach, fresh seafood and the grit

Pouty Day at the beach:45 degrees with a strong, chilled wind, grey skies, huge waves and no one there

East Beach

Olympia Grill-Galaktoboureko(Austin needs a really good Greek restaurant)

Casey's

Col Bubbies Army Surplus and their $9.95 sweaters

Embroidered Oaxacan dresses from Juarez (10Q OO)

La Hacienda

Being off the radar,under the table,covert

Surf Music

OUT:
Darest I mention the Blanton Museum here. I noticed it had water stains on the ceilings and walls

Austin's price of housing

Being land locked and no fresh seafood

Pretentious
Main Entry: pre·ten·tious
Pronunciation: pri-'ten(t)-sh&s
Function: adjective
Etymology: French prétentieux, from prétention pretension, from Medieval Latin pretention-, pretentio, from Latin praetendere
1 : characterized by pretension : as a : making usually unjustified or excessive claims (as of value or standing) b : expressive of affected, unwarranted, or exaggerated importance, worth, or stature
2 : making demands on one's skill, ability, or means : AMBITIOUS synonym see SHOWY
- pre·ten·tious·ly adverb
- pre·ten·tious·ness noun

Bobo, Yuppie, Trustifarian watering holes

Homegrown one man shows-What a bore

Shameless self promotion-YAWN.

Being a helot

End of March Minutiae

In
Vintage embroidered Mexican dresses and shirts
Watching old Bewitched shows
Exercise
Itunes(Yay! Finally music at work. The Cd player gave out long ago)
Uploading trip photos and video
My House

Out
Inertia
Infarto (watching this show once was enuff): Had nightmares after watching this and eating spicy Thai food after midnight.

The weather this weekend sucked. I missed Little Richard because it was crowded beyond belief. Oh well. I appreciate cloudy, grey days during cooler months otherwise it works to make me nervous. Those sort of days during the Spring and Summer have always ushered in bad news or bad times. In Del Rio it used to mean a tornado was brewing. If it's raining that's different. It's those stagnate, grey, muggy days with low barometric pressure that are perfect for all that is dismal. However, nothing too terrible managed to happen, it was quite social. Mental note, leave past anxieties about grey Spring days in the past.

Book Minutiae

1. Sucker for coffee table books filled with photos. I try not to buy them anymore, they are the first to get off the shelves when I need to get rid of books but I found one I think I want. Nudie! All about Nudie and his suits.

2. After my own copies of J.P.S Brown books. Half Price has none. Time to purchase them from J.P.S. Brown himself.

3.This past weekend I unloaded some books at Half Price. I am never really 100% sure I ever want to sell my books back but I went ahead and did it anyway (part of this process of separating from objects). One of the books was The System of Objects by Jean Baudrillard. UGH! Why did I do that?! If you are familiar with the book you will understand the irony of my situation.

If I don't blog it...what?

I spent some time with a friend of mine recently who asked why I didn't blog about it a few days later if I had such a good time. The truth is, I blog minutiae, stuff that I wouldn't mind telling a group of strangers at a cocktail party while sober. I also blog stuff I wouldn't mind a bunch of strangers knowing about me. In other words, hanging out with X friend was tres personal and I don't have much to share. I am not a fastidious, want to reach out to you, know me, know me, sort of blogger. Just because you don't read it here doesn't mean it didn't happen, or I didn't have fun doing it or I didn't find it interesting.

I also keep this blog primarily for friends and family. They all know what I am up too through this blog and it probably makes more sense to those who know me and can read between the lines.

I blog writing ideas I may or may not expand on later for mags, I blog things that will remind me of design ideas later, clips and URLs I want to keep but not have attached to a bookmark list ... see, simply, minutiae. Sometimes reading lists are too telling so I don't do the reading list (but I'm reading) or what I've been listening too sort of thing (though I've been pining for Townes Van Zandt and Tim Buckley's tunes). I will post announcements like:
This weekend I am purging of just about all my comics somehow. Claude? I kept a few like the Ivan Brunetti's and Twists but the rest...eh.

This blog began as a place where I could gather all things Kerouac and Beat to inform and entertain myself, but ended up as a place to store all those little mental notes, opinions and anecdotes that are insignificant in the bigger scheme of things. If you love me or know me this blog is nothing but a vital news source for all things Tera. If you don't know me I hope some of what I type out gives one a sense of solidarity (used as noun). Knowing that there is someone out there who may think along your lines in your world may be pleasing.

Disclaimer: There is so much to what goes on in a day and what makes impressions and what I find interesting and love and detest that this blog doesn't even really scratch the surface.

Minutiae of all minutiae

1.Nothing like opening a purse you haven't touched in over a year only to discover a brand new eyeliner, the best shade of lipstick you thought you had lost, lots of change and an old wallet you thought you had mistakenly given away.

2.Homemade carrot juice is the best!
Rich dark chocolate, not so much. Caffeine makes me ill, a weird sort of ill, I get hyper, jittery, happy and chatty but crash uber fast and end up nauseous. In college I had to be carried home from Quacks when it was on the drag. I had 2 espressos for the first time in my life, I was 18. The taxi driver thought I was being carried because I had too much to drink, booze wise. It took all weekend to feel better. I rarely, if ever, partake in more than a sip of coke or coffee and milk chocolate is all I can take. Green tea is a no-no as well.

3.Have been living with the Undertones these last few days. Check out their sweaters. Awesome music but really awesome sweaters! Feargal will be the name of my first born son,teehee.

4.Netflix has been sub par as of late. Is it just my bad luck?

5.Cooked leeks with lemon juice is what I die for these days for some reason. Artichoke hearts sauteed in olive oil with garlic and lemon juice then placed on a bed of lightly warmed spinach is the other.

6.Traveling light: 17x12x7 for 4 days!

7.Sinaloa, Mexico has a surfing school! Maybe I'll have time to check it out? Lots of swells.

8.Sick of bangs and the hoodie search.

9.Still loving this. Spring is coming, the air in the morning smells different like Spring air. I think of Mimi and Richard Farina in the Spring now since I read Positively 4th Street in April (a year or two ago?). I also wake up thinking of this song (teehee, wink wink ,nudge nudge to Wm) left over from a memory of the cool Spring of 2004 along with this.

10.Had enough? Okay, one more, upcoming designs:
Scarves for men The Feargal, Sparky Marcus, Poe.
Hats Tweeters Ponytail Hat
Either a purse or summeree halter top called 78lp

11. Garageband.com is making me happy with new discoveries

Viva Las Vegas 2007 and other minutiae

Yet another year that I have not been able to make it to VLV. I'd go to wear gorgeous numbers by Whirlingturban and Stop Staring and for the car show. I really don't mind not going this year what with the Stardust implosion in March (car show would take place in their parking lot) and the Riviera and Sahara not being long for the world(c'mon, we know that Freemont is the best they can do as far as preservation and even then, one day, poof). Maybe as long as the Peppermill and Carluccio's are there, I'll be fine visiting and maybe next year.

The Today Show has declared sewing is in again. Several articles in late 2006 and early, early this month already declared it a trend, hop and ever so in. So, here's hoping someone out there will create an exclusive series of patterns based on the outfits in all the Audrey Hepburn movies. Another thing that was mentioned in some of these articles was a return to older styles and retro.

I just realized it isn't long before I go to Los Mochis,woohoo! I am excited about that. I won't be there long but five days with my Abuelita is gold, pure bliss. Topolabampo Bay with my Granny, frijoles con crema, the papaya trees, the palm trees, the Spring (just before hurricane season)!

Still very much in love with Rohmer's films! Would like to visit France soon.

Also, anyone got a Subbuteo game lying aorund? I want to play, looks like fun. I have been in a board game mood as of late. I didn't realize that LIFE had changed so much. BLEHK! I need to find a 70's or 80's version, the graphics are what I am used too. I don't want to spin the wheel and get a Hummer.

I am parting with many of my possessions this year. The 1960 Silvertone Stereo Console in a minimalist design. Why? Well, it's procurement was sort of by default, never been happy about that. It is tube, not solid state. I could fix it, all it needs is a new idler wheel and those are easy to get online but it's over 5 feet long and I have no place to put it! I could even send the old idler wheel to this place and they'll refurbish it for under $30 but still, no room. I don't want to make room for it either, this is in every sense of the word...baggage. I am selling it for $40 but contemplating a donation to a local church store by the end of next week. I'd like it to go some lovely Luddite who will replace the wheel and love it, love it, love it.

I was going to sell my retro television but after finding a guy in town who can fix it so that it no longer overheats on top, I decided to keep it. I remember waking up at 6am and calling Claudia on a Sunday morning to wait in line with me to enter the estate sale to buy it. She was the only one who would do that for me back then. I was anxious, I really wanted it and if it was sold I'd be pissed because the price on Saturday was CHEAP but at the time I needed to watch my money. Doors opened and there it was 50% off, so we loaded up and drove to my place pleased!

I found an authentic Predicta at Hog Wild for $350. It's a nice tabletop console for anyone wanting a vintage television. That's 150 times what I paid for my television. I will still purchase a Predicta, but uh.....not until this televison goes kerplunk, kerpluey. In fact a visit to a few vintage stores this weekend made me want to sell less and just hold on more.

It's been pretty hectic

It was only a three day week but it felt uber long and a lot happened. Well, seemed like a lot happened, just hectic.
Wed:I suffered an allergic reaction to my allergy shot. It didn't scare me until it was over. I waited the required 15-20 minutes and was about to leave but thought I'd finish the last 5 minutes and read the last few sentences in the article. Good thing I did. My ears and throat started itching, not a regular itch, something fierce. I told the nurses who rushed me to a room and started me with Zyrtec. A cough came on then the hives. ICK! They shot me eppy and then a steroid. Everything slowly started to pass and finally, despite the shakes from the meds, I felt pretty good. Relief.
Thurs:I had to meet with my allergist who said if this happened again I would have to stop. UGH! I NEED MY SHOTS! Without them I succumb to the molds in this town and wind up looking awful, feeling awful and alternate between a headachey day and a swollen eye day. Not pretty. Yes, vanity plays a big part but frankly, without allergy shot I feel like shit. So now I have to carry an eppy with me at all times along with Benadryl and must present both to receive a shot.
Fri:I'm going to Los Mochis, Mexico this March to visit my Abuelita! I have not been there since 1989. I have not seen her since 1999 or 2000. I miss her so much. To visit Los Mochis takes a lot of time and quite a bit of money. This is no $400 round trip cheap vacation down South. This place is not a tourist spot, not even post Nafta, and to get there by air cost $1100 per Expedia and $982 per Travelocity and that's putting my mom down as a Senior, something she won't like and I'm not sure she qualifies for because she isn't yet 65. But it is a birthday gift to me and my Abuelita. After you spend that much you don't want to come back in 3-5 days. This will be a week, best we can both do. We are going for her 90th birthday. The party will be the day we return and her day is the 18th but at least we see her a week pre-relatives coming in and get more time with her. There is so much I want to do and talk about with her and this time I have a digital camera and things like the internet. Sadly even Sam's, Wal Mart and Cosco are there too. On the other hand perhaps those post Nafta nightmares will keep me from becoming ill. I always got ill when I went down. I'll miss not seeing my Abuelito, the garden or the produce man with his donkey.

Other Minutiae: We have a new system at work that has been tres slow to get going and now that it's up...UGH! today was my only fast day.

I am reading a lot about the French and made a French soup from one of the French books written by a French author. It was delicious:
It called for hard boiled eggs and parsley as a topper. I made this dish as well, chicken, scallions and artichokes.

My cat, Mona, is giving me grief for feeding and tending to the whims of a strange stray that has shown up. I just don't want him to cross the street so I go outside, and true, I am at his beckon call with food and fresh water. He is too skittish and doubt he'll ever let me pet him but, I don't to step out my door and see a tragic lump of fur.

Tomorrow: King cake, egg nog and did someone say Haggis with neeps and tatties?

The Twelve Days of Christmas and minutiae

Today is the first day of Christmas. The holidays are still not over (not officially) so if you don't want to take the tree down this week read why you don't have too. If you haven't done Christmas cards or forgot a gift and a visit with someone, you still have until the evening of the 5th. Just mention you are following the European tradition of Christmas this year.

My stock has run out so I must begin all over. The winter season has just started so not sure if I should put out Winter items or just begin on Spring like the stores do.
I'll let the first request be my guide.

I made too many cookies this year... Yeah I did. I still have dough in the fridge too.

Going to spend the rest of the week in hibernation reading Amy Sedaris.

Nostalgic Minutiae

This time of year conjures up tons of nostalgia. In fact I just read a book called Retro by Peter Laugesen, about what Retro is and why it is. To summarize, it's escape and the author uses the 60's as a starting point to illustrate the first retro movement (it was in art: Art Nouveau). The book states retro is popular when people find their own times unromantic and complex.

I LOVE old vintage cookbooks with their color saturated photos of strange food compositions. I actually read cookbooks from start to finish, reading all the ingredients and preparation instructions, thinking about the measurements etc... The recipes hit me later when I'm thinking of what to prepare with just cabbage,celery and turkey. It will just come to me, flashback to The Farmers Cookbook (circa 1948). Old, vintage cookbooks are a welcomed gift.
~Note: In search of cookie recipes for Xmas.

Recently I've been reading a book called The House (circa 1939). It is an old "domestic science" book for college. It is awesome! Filled with info on ow things were done back then, what was eaten, used in the home, how the homes were built (cool photos of 30's Modernist homes), prices of things, how to set up the kitchen, living room a real find for those interested in the past. You know things are moving uber fast and have been when you look back at this sort of thing and it's like a nother world. As if the 30's were another planet. In the 80's I'd look back at the 30's and think wow, 50 years ago. Now "50 years ago" puts me in the 50's which was an ear and could almost reach out and touch in the 70's.
~Note: I enjoy reading non-fiction tremendously

To be able to pick and choose what you want from any era from the begininning of time until now is awesome. As I patiently try to procure a take up reel for my 16mm projector, I can hardly wait to watch a few old home movies I have. Not my family, a stranger's, some unknown family that lived on the East Coast years ago. Time keeps marching on.

Minutiae

1. Thanksgiving: It was uber sweet and delicious! Oh yeah...Nothing beats real whipped cream made just minutes before the pie is served.

2. My inner Cinderella loves a well cleaned floor and so I spent my day off (day after Thanksgiving)getting the kitchen floor and floorboards spotless. Only a few (and Nickie) understand the drive and pleasure of this sort of thing. Not work, not a chore, relaxation and then enjoying the clean, clean, spotless floor.
2a. City Wide Garage Sale...YES! Nickie, lets go!

3. "This is my happening and it freaks me out!"
~ Z Man
Great movie to watch after Thanksgiving!? But it was hilarious!

4. This exists! Quick, weekend trip over and back? Cleveland, anyone?

Minutiae

1. Last Friday went to see Jerry Cole, King of Hot Rod guitar, perform at Saxon Pub. It was great! However, Jerry was a lil, shall we say, randy. Nothing makes the night go kerplunk faster than appreciating an enduring older man only to find that off stage he's a wolf. Thanks for the save NINA!

Oh, I am now hip to the Thunderchiefs! Count mein, big fan!

2. Garage Sale this Saturday 8am-12pm! Yes, something for someone of every demographic and lifestyle.

3.My interest du jour has been investigating older homes. What I have found is so many of the little tract homes in my area were made with the idea to add on. Many were built leaving a spaciaous backyard just for this. From what I have read it seems as though the idea was was for newlywaeds to move in, same money, and build as soon as a family started. Sometimes families didn't come along or there was one child or job opportunities elsewhere that resulted in a move. Ideas changed quickly after the war and bigger homes came along. There was no need for frugality after the war. Out went the post Depression and WW2 thinking. There was money, jobs and opportunity so...why add on if you could move into a home big enough. Many of the old honeymoon homes remain stunted.

Minutiae

Today is a nice day. It is grey and rainy out. Perfection would be 50 degrees outside but this is nice....with the ac full blast and solar screens on the window it makes it seem like it's freezing outside. I like that.

The house is finished and it looks great! We added white and hunter green w/shutters & solar screens. Still a lot more to be done. Home improvement, ugh, we've started down that long road.

Loving Pompadour Hibiscus and Rose Hip Tea,buttermilk pie,Nigella's pancake recipe and sweet lavender scented pillows, Thanks, Parisa!!!!!!!

Totally into Corman's Poe films this month with donuts.

Watched The Bloody Brood about beatnik sociopaths. Tres Peter Falk circa 1959 and for that tres cool.

Pumpkin hunting soon! Shopping germangrocery.com

Looking into CSA's

Yay Fall! Minutiae

I went outside early this morning and it was still dark, cool and the moon was GORGEOUS! I heard a rooster crow. Yay! Awesome moment. It may still feel warm but Fall and cooler weather is coming at us. Can't wait for the time change. I like it dark out.

Minutiae

1. Hawaii Five-O Has the best edited montage to music EVER!
1a.Hearing the Ventures do it is pretty awesome! Mel Taylor's drums....dreamy. It's the best version of the theme. Well, that's instrumental version, Sammy Davis Jr rocks it.

1b.Don't buy Swamp Rock

2.Q.If you could sit down to the dinner table with any three people, past or present, who would you invite?
A.Sinatra, Cassavetes and Kerouac. It seems like it could get uncomfortable.

3. Donuts

4.

5. AWESOME! Vintage Toasters Yet another site to use for my 1949 ktchen reassembly. Just to review:
Toasters
Neo Vintage Don't forget SMEG
Refurbished Vintage Appliances

Minutiae: OTM Tiki Monkey is coming

1. I'll be continuing Abuelita's Chango but I work forty hours a week and simply,that leaves me little time. Some ideas don't get executed and trust me, they are FABULOUS! I stick to projects that are fast and easy to make and don't showcase all I can do with a hook. I especially love working with the tiniest gauge cotton thread and am unable to show you all that.

2. Endless Summer, pretty much took my breath away. First time I have ever seen it, though been meaning too for years and years. I have always had a deep appreciation for what a person can do. It's orgasmic to see someone pick up a guitar and just strum out a song then in hours, the lyrics and there you go, an entire song, to see someone just cut and piece and sew up a gorgeous dress or see someone pick up a brush and just paint. When they make it look easy, like you can just do it too, just like that(finger snap), you know they are great. I'm not easily impressed but when I am, I am speechless.

3. -Rough Draft Tiki Monkey Logo...needs to be cleaned up.

For other info and updates regarding Abuelita's Chango or One Tough Monkey: Contact Me.

4. Watched an Elvis movie with our very own Elvis Fried Peanut Butter Sandwhich...yes, very good.

5. Realized I haven't stepped foot in Wal- Mart in three years! Actually we did once and it was oogy. Target rulz! I realized this when I cleaned out my art box and found dried up inks and paints with Wal-Mart stickers on them. Why didn't I frequent Hobby Lobby or Miller's more? But it feels good not to feed that corp monster. I can only feed so many corp mosters at a time. But really, the ones in this town seem to be messy (24 hours no down time for cleaning and stocking) and never enough cashiers so you stand in long lines forever. I prefer Target.

Minutiae

1.*Thank God* for *Claude* this week!* For some reason this week seemed uber long despite the 4th off.

2. The Drag needs life. They should bring a Whole Foods "satellite" store and Book People along with an Alamo theatre to the Drag. These are all local businesses that have made enough money to afford rent on Guadalupe. Howaboutit guys?

3. Vogue, Butterick or McCall's needs to present the Audrey Hepburn Pattern Collection and feature the dresses she wore in her films. The cute jumper in Sabrina should be one of them, The little black dress she wore later in that film as well, her cute little capri and shirt set when she played Ariane Chavasse in Love in the Afternoon, the pants from Wait Until Dark, The skirt from Roman Holiday, outfits from Breakfast at Tiffany's and so on!!!!!!!!!!!! Sew on? But really, slim, cigarette,capri pants from Funny Face,gorgeous suit sets from Charade in tweeds and wools, those coats!

4. How to Get the Guy, saw two episodes and, boring, boring, boring. How to Drop the Wrong Guy would be more useful. Maybe a reality show along the lines of teaching women how to spot a loser a mile away (or recognize the loser they may be with) and how to go about dropping him and finding the right guy. That way the girls wouldn't have to drop them after leading them on for several days...they are pretty harsh. This show is all one sided about finding romance or something...can't really tell. Reminds me of that movie I saw only once, Looking for Mr Goodbar, ick! Poor Diane Keaton, that's a girl who needed to learn what a bad guy looks like. It was based on a novel that was based on a true story. Yeah. I know...chilling.

5. Looking forward to the game on Sunday! Forza, squadra azzurra
Forza Azzurri
Forza Italia
Forza Totti ecc...where's the limoncello!
OOOH reminds me, we checked out Mandola's and YUMMY! I highly recommend the prosciutto and arugula pizza and the gelato choices are amazing!

6. Interests du jour:
*Cookbooks (again, cycles through) I love to read cookbooks (use them as well)
*In search of the perfect vintage jumper dress pattern (ongoing since high school really but they will finally be in and I won't be the only one looking like a Mennonite this season).
*My One Tough Monkey logo is exciting,...needs cleanup and then to the rubber stamp makers.
*Populuxe
*Spring of 1971
*Whassup Rockers!

Dream Minutiae

Dream Jobs:
1. Hat check girl at a swank establishment
2. Cigarette girl at a swank establishment
3. Stewardess on flights to Hawaii

Need to buy:
1. Predicta TV
2. SMEG fridge and range and dishwasher
3. A few choice Heywood-Wakefield pieces
4.This
5. That Atomic Ranch house in California with pool

Books:
1. The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing
2. Entire collection of Tom Swift

Minutiae

It was chilly this morning and even into 10am it was chilly. Nice! It was also cloudy, NICER! As much as I love the beach and the sun, a chill in Austin is always nice because usually you get is sun, heat and humidity and ther is no beach and I can't take sun sans beach all year.

I am so hungry. The cruise ship got me used to eating at all times. How did I get into that habit after one week? But I am now hungry 9am-3pm non- stop. Nothing can make it go away. I thought my mega avocado and spinach sandwich, candy bar and soup I brought and thought that would really keep me feeling full until at least 2pm but it was gone by 10am! All three were my breakfast.

Because I am hungry I am thinking of Sarcone's again in Philadelphia. UGH! Wish they could ship me a large Sinatra Hoagie. How many times have I mentioned that place and Seeger's Bakery (South Main Street in Del Rio,TX) on this blog....But those two places really had heavenly eats. Seeger's sighyummmmmmmmmm

Did I mention their Boston cream pies? During the summer they were so cold and light and fluffy and just sweet enough. Their cream puffs, not a place in Austin can hold a candle to those yummy, perfect lil cream puffs always sprinkled with powdered sugar. The creamed horns yummmmmmm the cookies and lil carton of milk and they'd fit it all in a lil bag for you to carry out. I wish I could just walk into the place right now.


Obscure minutiae:
Note: Why not take little metal bottle tops and nail them to your living room floor. It gives you the impression that you are walking on little metal bottle tops.

Fashion Forecast:Necklines are plunging lower every year. This year the V will go down to the tummy in something of a peek-a-boo effect. Keep this swing of fashion and sort of have your own personal navel observatory.

*Wink*Wink*

Mini-Minutiae Rants

So, what happened to all the Necco wafer conversation hearts this year? Were they not made? Did they sell out? Did I go to the wrong stores? I came up with nothing after driving to 4 stores!!!

I was looking forward to blogs filled with I hate Valentine's Day etc.....nothing. Perhaps now that retail has co-opted this as well, well...no one can say it better than corporate?

Recently my neighborhood has been into this anti-McMansion thing. I'm into the anti-McMansion thing myself. I'm pro yard, anti the razing of cute, working, stable little homes from the 50s and 60s, anti-McMansion developers, anti-McMansion trash. Crestview and Brentwood are cute little hoods with tract and ranch homes. Some were not kept up as well as others. So tear them down and put in a cute little home that fits the lot and aesthetic of a basic " All American" home. Not too hard. On Ebay those house plan books from the past go for big bucks and I see new books at the stores selling "vintage" plans, repro-retro etc...so there are people out there interested in these homes. Hmmm I'd like to see more stucco California Mission style myself like the few that are sprinkled about town but....

But are Austinites really all in favor of these ill constructed, ill looking giant, chicken coop homes.

Carter Bruce-Blehk! Gag!

Yes folks, my Grandad built chicken coops for his birds and they looked just like the modern urban homes they are building sans the glass on windows and the garages. They aren't cool, post-modern looking glamour homes, not repro-retro California style, not at all reminiscent of the new classic and much coveted Usonian home, or even Joe Eichler (who built homes from 1947 to 1973, using architects Anshen & Allen, Jones & Emmons and Claude Oakland),nothing like that. Pure Post modern Chicken Coop. They go up in like one month, made of plywood and sell for upwards of $300K! They don't look at all stable or secure. SUCKERS!

(My Grandparents in Mexico built a home in the 60s that is so ultra modern. I don't have a photo but I have the blueprints and would love to build that home in town (huge pipe dream). It looks fresh today and is the missing link between the 50s ranch and what Metrohouse is doing. Why can't people put up homes like those I wonder. )

So what happens is it looks all jenky up against homes from the 40s and ranch homes from the 50s and the run down rentals. Those structures themselves I feel will look run down in a few years-try 3! They are all painted so drab, earth toned. Too many Frank Lloyd Wrongs with money. Allandale kept it's neighborhood good looking. All those homes and the nice yards around them are worth so much and everyone there is happy cause the place looks great! Wouldn't have been that way had they succumbed to and expected and welcomed the move towards the banal. As we drive around town looking for homes we find what were cute places, wonderful , old remains of great hoods and wonder what happened? Then hit a duplex, fourplex, apt bldg on the corner. Oh.

They speak of density. Yeah right. That will work in this town. Things that are done well in other cities fail in this town because there is a lack of intelligent resources when it comes to city planning. If you want a single family home over 2100sqft, new! then you are burb material. Duplexes? I would never want to OWN one. Special people live in those things and own one. I see future rentals when I see duplex. Metrohouse does their stuff well (not too crazy about all Studio Momentum has done though). It's these others who do post modern so poorly. I wish Metrohouse would stop with charging so much though. I guess we"need" duplexes now? Is the yard passe? So anyway, my hood is quickly becoming a zoning nightmare. Like eating oysters at 2am and watching that Jacque Tati movie with that modern home then falling asleep.....
People with bad taste and bad ideas and no vision may win again. Mediocrity and greed are ruining Austin.

An INFJ's Minutiae

According to the Keirsey Temperment Test I scored for type INFJ. If you want a general overview of who and how I am, pros and cons just go here. Although this info varies slightly, it is pretty close as well. It makes a lot of sense and explains a lot to me.
I suggest this book:Please Understand Me II
if you just have to know what you, your friends, lovers and enemies are.
I tried to procure a copy at two different Half Price locations but was unsuccessful. I did run into two sisters who were also INFJs and looking for the same book. One of those things.

In other news:
It has been six months that I have my kitty,Mona Big Eyes.

She is still pretty small in size (compared to her brother who is full size and full grown). She is 10 months old already.
She is the best cat I have ever met. Highly sociable, agreeable, talks a lot, many vocalizations, highly alert and intelligent and just plain full of cuteness and personality. She is a social butterfly and can hold still without a hassle when I clip her claws and she is able to enjoy car rides. She loves live guitar and to be sung too and will just do all sorts of rolls and sumersaults to music. However in the car she doesn't like Dylan, not at all. His voice will send her into incessant screech meowing. Can't all be perfect. Tres cool to have her and glad she walked into my apt that night.