Finally!

I have finally uploaded my Africa Pics onto my Flickr account. There were over a thousand, so these are my favorites. Here's the link...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pumpkindelight/

Click the "Africa via Amsterdam" set to the right to see them in order.
I'd love for you to stop by and check them out.

I Forgot To Say...

I was so excited to get the Green Bags' experiment posted, I forgot to add a very important point. I know all 4 of my readers will be glad I remembered...
The Green Bags are REUSABLE! Yes, you heard me right people. You can use the bags again and again. Just rinse them out, let them dry, and repeat. So, now you know.

I bet that is pushing some of you right over the edge and are ordering as we speak.

Photo Mosaic

Tagged By Jason

1. Kimberly Mackoy

2. taco2DSC_3926.JPG

3. The William S Hart house

4. `paint the town red.

5. President Clooney

6. Coca-Cola com gelo

7. Flags of the world

8. Red Velvet Cupcakes

9. Artist

10. Let your creativity grow!

11. 9/365 - Some call it stubborn, I prefer 'strong willed'

12. Pumpkin delight





Here’s how it works . . .Answer each of the questions below. Surf over to Flickr (set up an account if you don’t have one–it’s quick and easy) and type your answers (one at a time) into the search bar. From the choice of pictures shown only on the front page, click on the one that moves you. Once the page with your picture opens, copy the URL. Surf over to the Mosaic Maker, set up your mosaic, and paste your URLs.Click “Create!”.

The Questions:

What is your first name?

What is your favorite food?

What high school did you attend?

What is your favorite color?

Who is your celebrity crush?

What is your favorite drink?

Where would you go on your dream vacation?

What is your favorite dessert?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

What do you love most in life?

Choose one word to describe you?

Your Flickr name?

I'm tagging Cortney, Grandma J, and Mike.

Something to Look Forward To

My dear friend Jason has been going through a tough family time for the last week or so. It is one of those things that nothing one says or does can make it better. This post is not to attempt that in the least, but rather just to share some fun and positive things; things to look forward to...

1. I was at Costco on Sunday and David Sedaris has a new book out called When You are Engulfed in Flames. Sounds uplifting, I know. However, he is always quite funny and it could just make you laugh. I do, however, not recommend going to Costco on a Sunday afternoon, even if you are in a good mood. I had to keep taking out my imaginary gun and shooting people.
2. Season 3 of Weeds started last week. I know you are recording it. Nancy burned down her own house and moved to the beach with her in laws. She's now transporting drugs from TJ and Celia got arrested in place of Nancy. It's a riot!
3. Vacation begins in 5, count them, 5 days. I know school is a distraction, but I tell you, I know I am ready for summer vacation!
4. On Thursday you will be done reading the longest book I think we have ever read for book club, ever. You may or may not be finished with it, but after Thursday, you don't have to worry about it anymore.
5. Friday is our staff party and I would like to offer you my DD services. If you accept my offer, you can drink yourself into oblivion if you'd like and I will make sure you get home safely...that is as long as I remember my glasses.

Keep your head up! Remember, I (and all your friends and family) love you and am here for you if you need anything.

So You Think You Can Dance pt. 2

I have been chomping at the bit waiting for SYTYCD to finish the auditions and choose the final 20 dancers. The auditions haven't been nearly as bad as American Idol. I am glad that it wasn't most important to show the worst possible dancers, EVER, to make for "good" TV. Yes, they had their moments when some complete idiot got on stage and performed some awful number, but it was much less than Idol when most of the audition shows are about the bad singers. However, SYTYCD audition shows were geared towards the tear jerkers. Holy cow, I think I cried during every audition show. There was some young dancer who had a sob story in just about every audition episode. Many of them danced for a loved one who had passed. Some had overcome injury to dance again. Some where just so excited to be there that they cried, and I cried with them. OK, so now auditions are over and we get to see some dancing!

Tonight they picked their top 20 and as of today. Twitch the breaker and Chelsea the salsao dancer are my early favorites. Who are your favorites.

Who do you like?

As Seen On TV

A few weeks ago, some work friends and I had a conversation about buying products from infomercials. It all started when "The Magic Bullet" (which to me sounds like something dirty) was mentioned for an upcoming get together. I was amazed when more than one of the 4 people had one in their home. As the talk went on, these people had watched themselves an infomercial or twelve on several occasions and even, more surprisingly, had bought numerous products including something like a dog barking collar that you strap to your stomach it hopes that its electric shocks (which hurt) might make you skinny. Anyways, it was very eye opening because I always thought the infomercial buying type was a bit losery. Well, today, I became that loser.

Minding my own business up in my art room, I worked while I watched some TV shows that I had recorded. During one of them a short, mini if you will, infomercial came on the air. It was for these...

I hadn't planned on doing any shopping today, but my ears perked up when I heard that these bags would keep my fruit and vegetables fresher longer. Since I am a single gal, my fruits and vegetables always seem to go bad before I get a chance to eat them all. I usually shop for the week on Saturday or Sunday so by the middle of the week, my produce is mushy, brown, or moldy, BLECH! In fact yesterday at the store I was just thinking about how many bananas I should buy. By Wednesday or Thursday my bananas are gross and I end up just throwing them away. So I ended up buying 3 yellow bananas and 3 green ones, hoping that they would turn yellow by the end of the week and I could get to them before they turned brown.

Anyhow, these bags are supposed to absorb and remove dangerous ethylene gases which are emitted during the riping process of fruits and vegetables. (I sound like I know what I'm talking about there don't I?) I don't really understand that, but the proof was in the pictures.

These tomatoes were bought on the same day, some put in the green bag and the rest left out on the counter on a plate. Which ones would you rather eat.

Look at this! After 14 days, this lettuce is as crisp as can be.

Summer is just around the corner and I hate to see all that good fruit go bad. The bags kept those strawberries fresh, while the other ones got moldy.

What sold it for me was the bananas. Come on people, yellow bananas after 9 days? NINE DAYS! That's a miracle bag I tell you.

So, I have jumped on the infomercial train and placed my first order. $9.95 for 20 bags (10 large, 10 medium) plus shipping and handling and tax since I live in California. The bags are supposed to be reusable, so I think I am well on my way to healthy and appetizing produce in the near future. What do you think, will they work? I will keep you posted.

I'm Old - Part 2

Last night I went to a Crowded House concert with Mike and Marcie. When we arrived Mike commented, "This doesn't look like it's going to be a young crowd." It didn't matter though because the show was fantastic and they played most of my favorite songs.

Yah, but this morning I realized that the crowd wasn't young, and not only that, they were our age. This morning after looking at some of their CDs I was reminded that I started listening to them about 21 years ago. Holy Cow! Twenty-one years ago! I was 13 years old when their first album came out.

To me it's amazing that it's been that long and that the band members, who I had big crushes on, are now +/- 50 years old and playing to semi-sold out crowds of thirty somethings.

Later this morning, I met up with an old high school friend who I have somewhat kept in touch with. She was in town for a family thing and we got together for coffee. As we talked about "old times" it occurred to me that we have been out of high school for such a long time...17 years in fact. (ugh, that just makes feel like vomiting) Neither of us have kids, but we have mutual friends who have children who are up to 13 years old. How is that possible? I couldn't have a 13 year old kid, could I?

On my way home from coffee, I stopped at Walmart to pick up some household items like a new iron and an ironing board cover. My ironing board is an over the door board and it's great, but the padding is old and now when I iron I get beehive-type marks on my dark clothes. I was planning on buying a new one, but then was pleasantly surprised that they made replacement covers for the over-the-door ironing boards. How exciting! Yes, I was excited.

(This is not a photo of my board, but my new cover is the same ugly blue.)

When I got my new items home, I spent some time changing the board cover and unpacking my new iron. I had a sense of accomplishment and I was giddy with excitement about my new iron and cover. Yes, you heard right, giddy! HOW SAD IS THAT?

So, today is not only Sunday, a day that I loathe, but it has also been one of those days where I feel like I am 110 years old and my life is basically over. I hate those days!