Sue's Birthweek - A Pictorial Homage

After looking up the definition of the word "homage," I'd like to note that here it means "a tribute, often of high respect" and NOT "a feudal ceremony by which a man acknowledges himself a vassal of a lord."

That out of the way, let's celebrate the many faces of Sue.

Here we see Sue, the animal lover, using her monkey thumbs to take a picture of Spanky. Come to think of it, she isn't really a big fan of Spanky (maybe it's the dead squirrel). Or Carbon(maybe it's the hair). Or Tilly(maybe it's because of Tilly). Perhaps it's better said that she is kind to animals.

Sue is fun-loving and knows how to bring people together for a good time. I mean, look how happy that football player is to be with her and her friends.

And versatile -

As a history buff and extraordinarily talented crafter, here are two of her interests combined:

She's generous, just like Santa.

Happy Birthday Sue!

Bologna Dreams and Cream Pie Wishes

Remember the show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and their tag line: Champagne Dreams and Caviar Wishes?

We had our own version of it last night. In celebration of birthdays for both Chris and me, there was a gathering at the G and R Tavern in Waldo, Ohio. The G and R is known for its World Famous Bologna Sandwiches and we loaded up. The guests included my parents, my son, my in laws, and my dear friends. It was hard not to look around the table covered with bologna, curly fries, onion rings, napkin dispensers and mile high cream pie and not feel like I was truly blessed.

Fortunately, I don't need Robin Leach and his faux accent to tell me that I'm living the dream.

Some Assembly Required

Alerted to a big sale at Big Lots, I headed there with my gift and discount card in hand. I decided to get a new office chair.

However, when I saw that I needed to assemble it myself, I had serious doubts, despite the assurance of an employee that they were simple. "Yeah, but simple enough for Lynne?" Obviously she doesn't know my skill set is very limited (and I hate the phrase "skill set"). When I opened the box, I had even more doubts.

There were many obstacles to assembly, including curious cats who each needed to inspect the empty box and the many chair pieces. Then there were the dogs who needed to be exactly where I was on the floor for an impromptu wrestling match.

Despite repeatedly saying, "I can't work like this, People!" (wrong audience for one thing), I made progress.

The directions said it could be put together in 30 minutes. Miraculously, I finished it just under an hour.

Look! It's the Executive Office Chair with High Back. And I'm sitting in it right now and it hasn't fallen apart. Not yet anyway.

However, it is only right that we take a moment to acknowledge the chair that The Executive is replacing. It's never had a name. I guess if it did it would be something like "Reuben Kincaid" because I'm pretty sure that this chair is Partridge Family era.

This chair was salvaged from the Admissions Office dumpster twice. Darren retrieved it the first time and gave it a home in his tiny office. Always unreliable, it threw many people out of it if they did much beyond sit quietly in a rigid upright position. No leaning - absolutely not! It tossed Darren over more than a few times, as well as many coworkers, visitors to the university, professors, and the director of Financial Aid (I was there for that one). Then when Darren left Admissions, they were going to throw the chair out (again), but Darren brought it to live on the Gold Coast. It's been here ever since.

So far it's lived longer than all the nine lives of all the cats. I'm not quite sure what to do with it. Maybe it will go into permanent retirement in the upstairs abyss. Or maybe I'll put it outside to see if someone wants to rescue it one more time. Old Reuben may still have some life left in it.

Gold Coast (Social) Living

You've seen the commercials of the couple who take advantage of those daily deals for saving on big fun in their city?  Yes, I've watched them get massages, hang glide, and eat sushi for a bargain.

I looked on some of those sites, and strangely there are no such offers for this immediate area.  It made me wonder what a day of big fun would look like.

A very necessary stop would be the local dive-bar-turned-dive restaurant.  A mere two miles away from Gold Coast Central, it does indeed deliver on some tasty, if not extremely country, fare.  Why just today I noticed their lunch special was ham and beans with a side of corn bread. 

Take that sushi!

While I do not know of a local boutique that sells those bizarelly high wedge heels, I do know of a certain thrift shop where you can try on a faux fur coat.

Did you see that? Less than $8 and I could have taken that puppy (I don't think it was made from real puppy) home - no coupon necessary! The helpful tag even told me to "clean using fur methong." As T and Pat will attest, their first thought was the tongue a la cat grooming.

Who needs aroma therapy and a babbling creek for one's massage when a new massage therapist has converted a room at the middle school-turned community center into their very own lap of luxury? (I sure hope it doesn't still smell like gym socks.)

Perhaps city dwellers like the fact that fate may have them run into some random celebrity who happily breezes about their town.

Recently, there were not one but four said famous "people."

And some people think the weiner mobile is a big deal.

While I can't think of the equivalent of zip lining or parachuting at fifty percent off, I do know that walking out to the kennel in forty mile per hour winds is SUCH a rush. And no charge!

Casino trips can not compare by the bet I have every winter that the snow plow will knock over my mailbox a minimum of three times.

And while there's Cirque de Soleil and the Blue Man Group with their fine talent, how can that be compared to this:

It's all in ther perspective.

Peace out, Dog.

Update: On January 14, my mailbox sustained its first blow. While still standing, it has a dent that prevents the lid from closing. Of course.