IMPERFECTION

Things are not perfect in the Queen's world..........She knows that Christmas is over but it was so confusing!

Tasks just did not get completed.

For those of you who are wondering why you did not receive a card --  she still loves you.  No one has received a card - yet.  We have not given up on the goal.

Beaute was here making life joyful and passing on loads of knowledge on electronics' operation.  Now we just have to remember all of that and keep moving into the new era.  The cynic says that by that time it will all have changed -----again.  But, as an example, we had wanted to post a photo.  That knowledge has vanished.

Oh well.  Will reconnect.

More later.  We promise.

Tired and Confused Queen

EEEKKK

EEEEEEKKKKKKK

Too much to do.  Too little time.   Enough to send your Queen running to put the pillow over her royal head and avoid......

Queen update

NEW AND IMPROVED?

Well, your Queen is becoming more computer literate thanks to Beaute.  You actually might see some changes here.  Who knows.  And we're on facebook.  Although you have to send me something so we can you something asking you to be my friend.  I think.

But in the meantime we might go back and play a little catch up with some photos.  Like this one taken with birthday gifts (including new scepter) from one of our court!

Just too darn much to do before Xmas.......

Busy Queen

TIS THE SEASON.....

......to be grumpy.

Oh.  That's not how it goes?  Your Queen is trying to keep her Thanksgiving message at the forefront.  But, we are having a hhhaaaaarrrrddddd time.

What kind of things can make a queen grumpy?  Medical stuff and the government managing (or controlling, would be a better word) our healthcare.  And, peeps, we haven't seen 'notin yet.

Next:  companies that provide services that must be in our world in this day and age, that actually do have a monopoly and therefore treat customers like ---t.  Want access to the internet?  One choice.  Don't want your tv from us.  Fine.  We just charge double for the internet!

As you may already know, this Queen does not like being told what to do.  No sirreeee. It takes away from Queenness!  This week has been one no-alternative case after another........

Think we'll listen to the Charlie Brown Christmas music.

Still Queen

PERFECT WORLD

Now peeps, the Queen's World is a perfect World.  So what happens when things are not so perfect?

Queen angst.  Not pretty.

This would be happening because of the Christmas holiday and our expectation that there are certain things that must be done!  But, alas, we are few.

Gifts seem to be under control.  Expenses are totally out of control.  Cards/letters are a distant dream......

We say again,

I'mlateI'mlateI'mlate arrrauuuuughhhhhh

Queen's Helper

BIG AWAKENING

WOOOOOPS.  Almost Christmas!  Didn't we just have Thanksgiving?

Since things have to be organized and, yes, perfect Here In My World, this will just never do!

Gifty thing pretty much under control.  But cards?!!!!  And we do want to get them out since Our World is farther away from most of our peeps now.

Oh, what to do?

I'mlateI'mlateI'mlate..........

Where IS my court?

Your Queen - frazzled

THANKFUL

THANKFUL......

We have realized that the day set aside to be thankful has past and we have not commented.  Queenly mistake.  And we are not going to do the 'list' of things we are thankful for (ending a sentence with a preposition...)  Of course, there are most of the usual.  But this is about just being thankful.

We are practicing being thankful to be able to be thankful.  Just that there are things.  But remembering to consciously be thankful.  Say that to yourself, or out loud if you can.  It can change your whole attitude - dude.

Wake up (like we do at times) with body parts hurting?  Be thankful for the ones that don't.

Don't get to eat what you want?  Be thankful you have what you have.

Don't like today's weather?  Well, can you feel it?  See it? (Rather than complain about it.)  Be thankful.

Get the picture, peeps?  Get out of the negative and into the positive.

As for us, we have tons to be thankful for here In My World!

With a special "thank you" to all our court who make this possible,

Your Queen

XMAS & STUFF

Ever wonder why Christmas sneaks up on you?  December doesn't move.  The 25th doesn't change.  It would be hard not to notice all the decorations that start appearing around Halloween.  So why is that all of a sudden, the extra expenses start to pile up and the paydays diminish -- extras show up (like tires needed for winter), and you are not even close to where you would like to be in gifting.

Because if you are anything like us, we would love to get lots and lots of presents for those we love.  But, dang it, most of them cost $.  Even making gifts yourself is no longer that economical.  Reality nearly floored your Queen this week when she had to purchase sewing thread.  Now folks, granted it has been quite a while since the Queen did major sewing.  She is mostly just in the mend and alter mode these days.  So, when she needed a couple of basics (white, etc.) and stopped at the local thread department, she was totally flummoxed to see that the smaller spool was $2.85!!!!!

Might not sound like a lot but considering she remembers paying $.25 to $.50  (that's cents) per spool.......

And have you noticed that things like eggs are getting smaller?

We would not make this up.

And then............there's "Affordable Health Care".  Seems like an oxymoron...Well.

I sense the blood pressure going up.

For now,  Your Queen

SEASONS -- REALLY?

The Queen's World came neigh unto disappearing in a 'Dorothy-like' manner yesterday.

Unseasonal line of severe storms/tornadoes threatened and took life and life spaces much too close for comfort.  While they left My World in tack, a few miles east it struck around Diane's castle.  Many, many big trees down in the neighborhood.  6 in her own enclave.  Only one ended up resting on the castle roof and didn't do damage.

And, folks, we're talkin' BIG evergreen trees.  And, yes,  family and dog were all in the innermost section of their basement.

But our world is safe and so are we.

Did I mention that the Queen does not like this?  Not at all.

Weather news from Our World.

SEASONS

SEASONS

HERE IN MY WORLD.......we do have seasons.  And it's threatening to be winter.  A week or so ago there was actually a snowflake.

Yesterday, in 50 deg weather, they (we still wonder who 'they' are) predicted a snow storm for that night.  It will get warmer, then get cold.  But we have also learned to be skeptical of what 'they' say.  Weather around here is fickle at best.

But Winter Storm Watch turned quickly into Winter Storm Warning and the grocery stores were busy with stock-up-before-the-big-storm peoples.  Nononono.  Your Queen was not actually IN a grocery store.  This was reported by Diane.

In order to understand the weather Here In My World you have to understand the term 'Lake Effect Snow."  Now we're not saying we totally understand, but the simple explanation is that the World is located at the very southern tip of Like Michigan (the 'lake' aforementioned).  Now this snow looks and acts like most other snow you are familiar with.  But it shows up in a strange pattern.  And show up it did last night.  Just not in My World.

Very cold and very windy and there were several dozen flakes, but none accumulated on streets, ground, even roof tops.  Journeying almost directly east about 8:30 a.m. for 15 minutes and there is more.  On the road side, on the roofs, etc. and ! some coming down from the sky.  Local radio is reporting several road closures due to accidents a little south.  Next county east -- another 20-30 minutes and TA DA flakes, flakes and more flakes ending up at 8-15 inches.

So.  This time My World is just cold and very cold.  But next time 'lake effect snow' could mean us.

Ficklefickleandmorefickle

Re;porting the joys of the seasons

The Queen

BOOK/ENTERTAINMENT ALERT

A quick news bulletin:

We have just learned that one of our top favorite books of all time (really peeps) has been made into a movie to be released this month.  The book is The Book Thief and if you haven't read it, do so immediately.  Amazing.  Powerful.

Who knows how they depicted a lot of the scenes since without them the book would not make a lot of sense.  But we must be ready for some dark drama.  May not be suitable for impressionable younguns or adults.

Your Queen noticed this book because it has the word "Book" in the title and we all know that's a snag for moi.  Had never heard of it or the author when we picked it up.  Wow.

OK.  Shutting up now.

We will definitely do a movie review.

From Queen's News Headquarters

LAST BIRTHDAY INSTALLMENT

And, finally, the third and final installment of the BIRTHDAY!

Saturday night sleep was better having learned some tricks from the night before.  But the Queen was still awake early -- munching popcorn and starting coffee.  Pack up and check out.  Starbucks.  Actually drive thru breakfast at Mickey D's.  And, oooooppps, we're at the -------wait for it -----

Outlet Mall.
Surprise Surprise.
The bad thing is we had to be sure to be on the road again to get Beauti to her plane in Indianapolis so had only a very limited time (as outlet mall shopping goes).

The good thing is:  we had only limited time......

But of course we had efficiently prioritized the stores that required our presence.  Still managed to do damage.  Had some fun and regrettably loaded ourselves into the coach and proceeded on.

Arrived at the airport in good time for a sad farewell, and Diane and I hit the road again for her castle, where another birthday dinner would await courtesy of Diane's great mom-in-law.

When finally delivered to our door that evening, it was..........amazing? Did that really happen?  Judging by all the presents and photos, yes.

Words don't usually fail your Queen, but all of these seem woefully inadequate.

Just learned from Beauti (official technical advisor) that we may be able to post photos here.  Stay tuned.  I know you will.


and the Queen lives on.

WARNING!

WE INTERRUPT THIS STORY FOR A VERY IMPORTANT WARNING!!!!!

According to the media (outside My World)  there is going to be a shortage of--------WINE!!!!

Now we didn't get the exact details of this-- like the when (very important--) but we know that some of our closest  advisers will find this very troubling.  We're thinking:

Have room for a wine cellar?  Time to build.

Invest in wine.  You know the prices will go up.  Maybe already have.

And for those of you close enough, a serious trip to Trader Joe's may be in order.

Now the Queen treasurers her court and likes them to be happy.  A 'no-wine' court would not be happy.  Very scary.

So all you lovelies, a shopping you will go.

From the Queen Network


PS:  Hmm  stock in wineries?

NEXT.......

Where were we?

Oh, yes.  It's still only Friday afternoon!  On the road again headed to Nashville, IN.  About another hour down the road and we were all ready to check in and go eat.  Now there was something -- we never did figure out exactly what -- going on that attracted allot of, um, plain people....  The no make up, long skirted, etc. sort......And the place (actually Columbus, IN) was very large and full up.  Dinner that night was probably the only not fabulous meal.  OK, but not repeatable.

Now we are not going to talk allot about sleeping arrangements -- 3 set-in-their-ways adults in 2 double (not queen, do you believe it?) beds.

Once again, Diane saved the days by traveling equipped.  Brought our own coffee w/maker, snacks and food, wine (ah, yes).  And Beauti, bless her, brought ear plugs, military issue.

Your Queen is an early riser these days.  Beauti is not.  And had an hour time difference.  But she is a trooper.  Plan was mapped out the night before with an alternative, since it might rain.  And it did.  So, no flea market.  Sniff.  But on to Nashville.

Yummy breakfast at The Muddy Boot.  Homemade that a.m. pastries and deserts.  We are coming back there!  Local art on the walls and live music -- for breakfast!  And we certainly wouldn't want you to be bored with this account, so suffice it to say that we walked this little town between raindrops, stopped in little shops, ate and had coffee and walked.  Ended up, after making a loop, at......The Muddy Boot.  Desert to go for later.  Wonderful day even though 2 large tour buses disgorged their passengers into 'our' little town.

Diane did her thing making friends with everyone she met, including the banjo-playing,  overall-clad, grey bearded gentleman outside the Muddy Boot who recommended a tavern for dinner.  Another myohmy.  We'll not tease you here with a detailed description since it will have you gnawing on your 'puter.

Want to add here that these were mostly not your run of the mill tshirt and .......shops, but neat stuff:  Clothing of lace and crochet, jewelry of special things, hand made brooms (2nd or 3rd generation made as you watch) a wonderful yarn shop and we didn't get to the antique stores!

Covered bridges?  Oh yes, we saw some photos.......

Exhausted and full, so ends Saturday.

Stay turned for Sunday.

Your Queen

AND IT BEGINS.....

Well, hmmmmm.  If all birthdays would be half as wonderful as this last one, we would like 2 a year!  My oh my.

First of all, we have always been in favor of birthdays that last several days, or over a week.  Hey.  This one officially started Friday morning by Your Queen being picked up in one of the royal vehicles by Princess Diane.  It was she who orchestrated this 'production'.  And a 'production' it certainly was.

First stop:  Yummy breakfast.  Then on the road whilst Your Queen tried to guess by the direction we headed, at our destination.......  Having previously bemoaned not having anyone to see this particular 'festival' with,  we were beginning to get most joyful as we headed in that direction.....YES!

Down to the region that celebrates the Covered Bridge Festival every year -- south and slightly west of My World.  After a refreshing Starbucks break, we continued south to - ut oh -- veering west.......freeway signs indicating international airport!!!!!  What?  Someone is joining us!!!!!  It can't be.  Ah, contraire.  Beauti is waiting!  Flying in for the weekend.  Oh, my, ohmyohmyohmy.

How Diane coordinated this is truly a wonder.

So we were all back on the road again, heading for 'bridges".  And it's still Friday.

To be Continued.....

OLD

Old:  Having lived for a long time; no longer young.  Belonging only or chiefly to the past; former or previous.  New American Oxford Dictionary

Hmmmm

Old as it pertains to antiques – officially – an item must be 100 years old or older.  Old as it pertains to people?  Depends on your prospective.  If you are 6, old could be 20;  14, old is probably 40; 35, old may be 70.  And so on.

“Middle age” has floated around 40-55.  That makes dead 80-110!  The phrase “3/4 age” has not caught on.

But, dearies, by any of those definitions, The Queen is old.    AAAUUUUUUGGHHH!

Old is physical, mental and emotional.  The last majority of years this Queen was 35 mentally.  This explains the quirkiness.  Emotionally varies between 20-ish and 100 (just guessing).  Physically, oh my.  Some days, 100.

Some of you are probably wondering at this point just how we're going to work in the subject of ‘books’.  I know you were.  Well.  Lately we’ve been noticing written references to ‘old’.  ‘She was a spry 70'.  ‘Thriving in the assisted living atmosphere at just over 70.’  ‘Now that she was over 70, there were frequent little memory lapses.’  Is this, in fact, the accepted opinion?  Harrumph

Not until 65 did we begin to notice physical ‘stuff’ associated with aging (not old).  And it is irritating.  We had been totally convinced that we would be either a) immune or b) dead.  Who knew?  Genetic history supports this opinion.  So.

There are no ‘plans’.  How does one ‘plan’ for something you don’t believe will ever happen?  Now not being maudlin my peeps.  Just honest.  Hint:  Make your bucket list at 50.  That gives you time to actually check some thing off!

So, she restates.  The Queen has finally come to a birthday she doesn’t really want to acknowledge. (Well maybe except for presents.  We love presents!).  But, hey, she’s still here!  Relating to the dictionary definition, but of course.

Gotta go.  This weather isl making my back hurt…..

Your Queen

PS:  Never giving up 'quirkiness'.  

The State of Our World

HERE IN MY WORLD--

there is NO government.  It's a Queenship!  and it doesn't shut down.  and there is no president and no congress and and and

This Queen still watches very little news.  What's the point?  Mess, mess and bigger mess.  Stupid, stupider and stupidest.

And do any of my advisers know if the capitol, federal police are still getting paid?  The guys that greet the veterans to keep them from visiting their own memorials?  The ones that are guarding the gates of the parks?  Keeping us (as in 'we the people' who EMPLOY these idiots) off of 'federal' land and roads (see Wyoming).  Are the people that are putting up those barriers getting paid?  BTW, who bought the barriers?  Ironic that 'our' government should need so many barriers.

This the Queen knows:  just when you think their world is unfixable, it actually gets worse.

From one of the Queen's advisers:  If what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, who let Harry Reid out?

Think we'll go make cookies.

Disgusted

SEASONS

SEASONS


We are trying to get used to the weather changes here in Our World.  Eeeeeeek.

Summer is TERRIBLE.  High heat with matching humidity (95/95 folks)  and does it actually get down (and I use the word loosely) to the mid 70's?

Then there is 'teaser' weather.  A few days of high 60's and low 70's that might even dip to high 40's at night!  Dryer.  And by that I mean humidity at or around 60%.  Forget the teens.  Maybe a horrific thunder storm.  Get out the jeans and light sweaters for morning.  Then -- Surprise!!!!!  80's/90's with a "low" of 70.  Oh, pleeeaassseeeee.

Now the leaves are just beginning to sprout reds and yellows.  That will be a good thing.

Queen sees that her old world is having snow stuff in the mountains...........miss that so.  Actually, miss those big jaggity mountains.....

sigh

PS:  On the chance of ending on a sour note, does anyone in my court understand this new medical/insurance even a little?

BEEPBEEP

Who started this anyway?  All the "beeps" are driving Queenie nuts (ok.  more nuts).

Remember back in the day when every movie feature started with a cartoon?  Bugs Bunny and The Road Runner!  That "BeepBeep" always signaled disaster for mr Wyl - i -e Coyote.

But folks, this has gone entirely too far!  Have you even noticed how many things beep?  A partial list:

Big trucks and machinery;
microwave ovens;
timers'
phones;
cars -- keys in the ignition -- seat belt not fastened -- warning that you are about to back over the neighbor's child;  headlights on - or not;  door not closed ("the door is ajar" -  how can it be a door if it's a jar?  just askin')
alarm clocks;
delivery vans;
        and  The Queen's all time super favorite!  wait for it,........





Smoke alarm battery in the middle of the night!


Doesn't the constitution say we have a Right to QUIET!!!!!

Del Mar, CA is on the right track.  It outlawed leaf blowers!

Shhhhhhhhh,  Queen

FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON

A season for grief.

Grief is not an event, but a passage, a pilgrimage along the path that allows us to reflect upon the past from points of remembrance in the soul.  At times the path is filled with stones underfoot and we feel  pained by our memories.  But on other days the shadows reflect our longing and those happiness es shared.

                ----from Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear

 The Queen reflects on recent events.

Books Again?

Well guess what just opened up right outside of  Our World?

An Antiquarian Bookstore!!!  As if we didn't have trouble enough.  Relocating from Chicago, they have been in business for 100 years (obviously not the current proprietors.)

Beautiful dark wood shelving all the way up to the ceiling -- and yes, you need a ladder for the top ones.

This is like nirvana to the Queen!

So far:  hardback of The Count of Monte Cristo;
            hardback, although a newer release, of The Black Stallion;
            A reference on 200 years of English Domestic Silver;
            hardback special edition of John Steinbeck's Cup of Gold.

The Queen is sooooooo happy.

MUSINGS....

Books, again?


Big disappointment.  Really  liked Dan Brown books until we got the latest "The Inferno".  Didn't like the topic/setting.  And 100 pages in and they are still in a foot chase in Florence and the professor has been yanked out of intensive care because of a severe blow to the head and amnesia!

Ouy vey.

And, yes, we stopped reading.


BUT:

Found these memorable and thought provoking.

"The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis."

"The decisions of our past are the architects of our present (future?)."


Musings from
The Queen

DRIVING LAWS

The other day the Queen went for a drive.....
Now understand, Queen considers herself to be an excellent driver - always has liked fast cars.
And admits that one of her irritants is 'bad' drivers.  Pay attention people!

Theoretically you have to know the laws and take a test to get a license to drive.  (Not including those who are so bad at it that they can't get a license or have it taken away and drive anyway.....)

We can't speak for every state but have driven in many and universally the person/car on the main thoroughfare has the right of way.  (interesting phrase "right of way").  Someone entering that -- thoroughfare is dang long -- road, either direction, must wait for a clear spot.  (This distance is open to interpretation by drivers of fast/slow cars, etc.)

Anyway,

The car on the main road turning left off of that road onto a side road must wait for a clear opportunity from oncoming traffic (duh) but has the right of way over a driver that wants to turn left from the side road onto the main road. (Really hope I didn't loose you already.) This whole procedure works very smoothly if everyone does what their are supposed to!

So Queen is driving along and needs to turn left from a side road onto a main road -- having happily just purchased an iced Starbuck's.  Miss bozo brain in the big SUV pulls into the left hand turn lane on the main road ------and STOPS.  Cars are behind her.  Queen is patiently waiting for her to wake up to the right of way thingy.   Bb misses several good opportunities to turn.  Then bb starts motioning to Queen to turn left in front of her!  Are we confused, or what?

Finally it occurs to Queen that bb is just not going to get it and she does, in fact, turn left in front of bb and zips on her way.

People. The laws are not always just irritants.  Sometime they are to make things easier.

I'm just saying.....

From Our World

PS:  Another frequent occurrence -- 4 way stops.....Need I expand?

MORE BOOKS

Queen has found another interesting book -- or series.

Have noticed all the rage about 'THE GIRL..."  books:  ...with the dragon tattoo; kicked the hornet's nest and whatever.

Accidentally without a book to read (!) we downloaded an e book from the free library site -- the first one in that series.  Well, it is actually good.  Had us reading allot to get done before the loan expired and it disappeared from our Kindle.

Warning to all of you sensitive types:  it is a little graphic in places but the mystery and searching had us to the very end.

May have to get the actual book from the library.....

Read on, says

The Queen

LOST & BOOKS

Continuing on the subject of not finishing books ------

If you keep up with this blog, you will also know that the Queen has some things that have gone 'missing', one of which has since been found.  So when she spied a book in the library "The Book of Lost Things" by John Connolly it was quickly snatched up.

What     a    disappointment.  Even with a cover touting 'best selling author'.  poooh.

We kept waiting for this book to make any sense at all.  And it was totally weird, as in fantasy, science fiction or some yet unnamed genre (we can wait).  David, the main character, is 12 when his mother dies.  (sounds like cancer)  That would be the first 'lost thing'.  But David was already exhibiting serious signs of strangeness with some ocd stuff going on. But he looses himself in books -- fairy tales being high on this list. Well, dad gets remarried.  David faints and hits his head.  oooops.  things get weirder.  In his new room there are lots and lots of books - most of them old, some first editions.  And, wait for it, they talk!  To David and to each other!

We struggled on, looking for something------

David, having not adjust well (duh) to dad's remarriage, wife and new brother, is sent to a child psychiatrist.  But, of course, he doesn't tell the dr. about the talking books and the ivy that grows up to the third floor to his room and in thru the cracks...    

This is about our stopping place.  Now, if you should choose to find this book and read it to prove us right
 or wrong, we would be mildly interested if this ever made sense and where oh where that title comes from.

To a positive note -- here are some of the books that we would recommend.

Probably our new most favorite book (between this and "The Count of Monte Cristo") is 'THE BOOK THIEF" by M.Zusak.  Oh, my.

Any of John Dunning's mysteries like "The Bookman" etc.  We have read 7.

A little strange but interesting is "Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore".  Don't have the author at this writing, but how many can there be by that title?

Non-fiction and informative:  "A Passion For Books......" edited by H. Rabenowitz & R. Kaplan

OK but way down the scale:  "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much".

That ought to keep you busy for a while.

From the library in Our World

Here In My (Our) World -- this Queen loves, loves, loves books.  Occasionally she has recommended reads.  Well, we are going to share book opinions/ramblings etc. (yadayadayada's).  She once held the belief that a book once started must be finished.  That view has changed.  Too many books, too little time.

But books with books in their title are an instant must read.  We have found some really neat things this way.

One example is two books written by Nancy Pearl --"Book Lust"  and "More Book Lust", neither of which could you read all the books she writes about. --well, know what we mean.  But, hey, bored with your current selections?  They may even have them at the library.  We invested in both in paperback (you can mark them up that way, since they belong to you!).  And in her second book, she sets forth some great stuff about 'finishing' a book once started.

Quoting at random:  One of her strongest held beliefs is that no one should ever finish a book that they're not enjoying, no matter how popular or well reviewed the book is.  So evolves her "Rule of Fifty".

        If you are 50 years old or younger:  give every book about 50 pages before you
        commit yourself or give it up.

        If you are over 50 (ahem):  subtract your age from 100.  This is the number of pages
        you should read before deciding whether or not to quit.  (and you need not tell anyone
        this number!)

        If you are 100 or over:  You can judge a book by it's cover!

THIS IS SO FREEING!

So, coming next -- a book about a book that did not get finished!

From Our World

TRUEISMS

"Never jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker."  ---Charles Schultz

"Never thread a needle just after eating chocolate."  --the Queen

"Whatever should take just a minute, will always take a day and a half."  Queen Adviser

"Never depend on electronics to actually work when they should."  Who Knows

"Things that should ripen, don't and things that shouldn't, do."  ditto


Frustrations from My World

SOME FOUND.....

Just to report on very positive things, too:   Two of the lost are FOUND!

A very important thing and a small irritating thing.

My stack of VIP PAPERS!  And they were in a very good place.  I just forgot where that was!  Looking for something else, found them!  It's kinda like coming alive again.  Births, marriages, etc.  There they all were!

Need to put them someplace secure until the long-promised safe.  (You know who you are.)

Second thing was my favorite nail file.  No.  Doesn't sound like a big thing and isn't.  But it was irritating not to have it.

That's it from My World\

The Queen

STUFF

Starting another week here in my world.

We have taken to doing alot of knitting - challenging to new and more important things.  This leads to frustration as we make mistakes (!) and have to tink.  (knit spelled backwards.  Get it?)  So we are about back to where we were a week ago......

Weather has been more livable here in our world.  That helps get things done.

And this Queen loves football!  And her team was on last night and WON!  Just keep this going the rest of the season.  The relocation of our world also necessitates rooting for The Bears!  Well, ok.

There's a couple of you out there who have not communicated for a while.  Whadup with that?

Starting the new week right

The Queen

THE LAND OF LOST THINGS

The Queen is beginning to believe that there is a place for 'lost' things.  Not 'lost' as in not going to heaven.  But 'lost' because you know they exist in someplace that you may have put them so that you would know where they were.

We are becoming more and more convinced that there is such a place -- maybe one in every living space.

Now this Queen's actual living space is not large by any standard; a one bedroom, compact living space.  So we ask you:  How can things just disappear?

First it was all her very important documents!  Now, folks, I mean.  Great care was taken to put these in a place where they wouldn't get misplaced!  Ha, I say, and again, Ha!  Her abode has been scoured many times by at least two people, looking in all the likely and unlikely places.  And, no.  Not a hint!  Now this is not a good thing.

Second:  some everyday type jewelry.  Most of the good Queen's jewels -- there are some actually worth something -- are found.  However, the go to, put-that-on stuff has ------you got it -----disappeared.  From what the Queen can accurately remember, probably not a great loss monetarily, but definitely missed and not really replaceable.  Phoooooeeeey.

As you know, if you know the Queen, she likes to do creative stuff.  So in preparation for a crafty giftey, she purchased some tea bags.  Ya know. Empty for people who make their own blends......And, I might add, these come in large quantities.  100.  Now that should last even the avid tea maker a while.  So this little stash was put away til needed.

Today, they are needed.  Are they anywhere around?  No.  And again, I say NO.  Empty tea bags are not outrageously expensive, but that's not the point.

Are all of these things together somewhere doing the Lost Things Dance! and giggling.

Not to mention that it makes our Queen grumpy when she can't find things.

A day in the life of

the Queen

VIEW FROM THE PORCH

Light greys and blues periodically peak thru
bright white to dark grey clouds that rush on their way to somewhere else.

Red strawberries- only 3,  cling defiantly from their
yellow green leaves.

Dark grey green stalks are tipped with
lavender blooms.

This morning from our porch.

Background accompaniment is the ever present drone of the freeway
More to-ing and fro-ing.  It's constant.

Wonder  if they all notice.

From the Queen's porch.

WHAT IF GOD WERE BLIND?

Obviously a hypothetical.  But just think a minute.  In Genesis God created, and saw that was good.

He is, was and always will be -- and sees all.  (I heard that!  You said but then He couldn't see us sin.)  He'd still know because He knows everything!

But -- if He were blind, wouldn't everything be in black and white and all shades in between?  There would be no sunrise or sunset, there might be flowers with different shapes but they would have no color.  No blue sky.  No turquoise ocean.  No fall colors.  Boooorrrring.

And He says He's watching over us.  Be hard, blind.  We'd all have to yell alot to get his attention.

OK.  Enough of that.

What I'm trying to say is that I can't imagine not being able to see.  Every day I look for sunrise cuz they are never the same.  I love color,  and it's everywhere!  Take green for instance; spring grass, olives, emeralds, shamrocks, pine trees, oak trees, avocados, grapes, frogs, envy.

As I just alluded to, we use color to express feelings:  I feel blue;  Red with rage.

How many things just wouldn't be the same without color?

Paintings
Puppy dogs & kittens
ribbons on boxes
food
people
flags
The Grand Canyon
Waikiki Beach
rainbows

And of course,
Flowers

Here in My World there will always be color and this Queen thanks God daily that she can see it.

Q

GROCERY SHOPPING!

Now.   If things were perfect Here in My World, We would never have to go to the grocery store again.

We always get things we hadn't planned on and don't get things we need.  Don't know how that happens.

Sometimes there are things you need that you didn't know you needed......Pretzels covered with sweet dark chocolate?  Oh, yeah.

Every once and a while there are things on sale you have to have.

And, oh, those peaches look good.

We especially like it when a ton 'o bucks is spent and you get home and there is nothing to eat!  I swear this is a puzzle.

It's kinda like feeling the urge to cook (an urge that is more and more rare).  Then getting the favorite cook books down and getting inspired.  Then being so hungry that you snack and we are too tired to cook!

We are so for developing a meal in a pill.......

Queen's thoughts.....

ps:  doesn't help to make a list because the list is forgotten on the kitchen counter!

AHHHHHHH

It's 5 a.m. here in my world.  Not quite sunrise but almost.  Just a soft glow in the east.  And as I step out onto my little balcony ------ a breeze!  And it's dryer.  And only in the low 70's!  Oh, so  many things to be thankful for!

Over on the freeway cars and trucks are still, and always, to-ing and fro-ing.  Some life never stops.  Can't help but wonder what's so important that they to and fro all night and even on this lovely morning.

Stop and smell the air folks.

It's wonderful  here in My World

The Queen

HOT

HOTHOTHOT

Q is used to hot (over 100) but it is supposed to cool off when the sun goes down and high humidity is 30%.  Give me 60 with 30% humidity, please!

And, yes, this is whining.  90 + with humidity of 80-90% for the last 5 days.  And, folks, it when down to 73 last night.  'Course by 8 a.m. it was already 85/85.  Step outside and take a breath and you feel like you are drowning!

This is the part of Indiana Q knew she wouldn't like.  Now in her world.........70's to 80's during the day; high 50's-60's at night........

Oh my heart is in Idaho...........

When is summer over?

Q

Deja Vu

Her past life -- before retirement -- has come back  these last two weeks.  (Q excuse for not writing more in this blog.....).

Most of you know that the Queen is an Interior Designer by degree.  (Difference between a 'decorator' and a 'designer'?  A whole lot o'knowledge and a speciality degree.  Be glad to expound on that at some other time)

Well, when Diane and family left for the mountains Q was tasked with several re-dos.  The fun part was that it all just came rolling back!  Space - color - texture - light - structure.  And the satisfaction this last week of seeing it happen!  Some things had changed.  More technology.  New products.

And some things remain the same.  Contractors being contractors -- i.e., not showing up when they say.  Forgetting to order product..  Irritating stuff.  Especially since the two biggies needed to be finished, done, ended, by Diane's return = this coming Monday.

Well, needless to say, some things aren't getting done because of time and some aren't getting done because of lead times, product availability, etc.  This, too, is deja vu.

The good things are still there -- and so are the irritating

Does she miss it?  Sure.  Parts.  Want to go back?  Negatory on that bubba.

Today, tomorrow and Mon. a.m. will be spent getting as much done as possible and putting things back together.  A great opportunity to purge and organize........

This is an--
Update from Queen News Central..

BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY

This Country, not the movie-------

HG has some things to say on this birthday (surprise, surprise).

Anyone notice I did not say 'great' country?  That's because at this particular point in time, it isn't.  Great.  Unfortunately it's on a downward spiral and gaining momentum.  I do believe it will survive.  And possibly be, once again, great.  Because under all of this garbage' there is still the spirit of the core -- the hearts of most people.

We have weathered some catastrophic times:  The War of Independence, the Civil War,  WWI & II, Korea, and oh, Vietnam.  The mid-east past, present and probably future.  And the pains of other man-made events:  expansion to our present 50, the 'Dust Bowl', prohibition; the Depression (s).  Oh, yes, my peeps, man made.  (But that's a whole 'nother rant.)

An aside.  When I became interested in my family and it's history -- genealogy -- I learned more of  this Country's History.  Oh, there were history classes in school, including American History in college.  But I couldn't get interested in memorizing dates or events that didn't seem to be anything more than just that.  Why, oh, why aren't most history classes interesting?  Because this Country's History certainly is!

Well, back to today.  It would be good to actually finish this today.

I do morn for some things on this day:  respect -- for the flag, the military, the elected officials (the office only if need be), our national anthem.....and each other.  When did it become ok to show disrespect, reverence and awe for these things?  It has brought a tear to my eye when I have witnessed this blatant disrespect.  TAKE OFF YOUR STUPID HAT!  What ever do you have to say that is so important it can' t wait?  Unless you're yelling "fire" or something similar,  NOTHING.  The hot dog or beer can wait.  Trust me.

Do you know the words to the National Anthem?  The Pledge of Allegiance?  Are you familiar with the actual   Declaration of Independence? Constitution? the Bill of Rights?

How about the Lord's Prayer?

If you ever want  to get depressed (hmmmmmm) stay up and watch Jay Leno some night when they do the interviews 'on the street'.  One of the best/worst was the college student whose major was political science did not know the name of the vice president, the speaker of the house, and -- have to admit to being so sick by this time that I stopped listening.

Folks!  Please!

Wake up! Look around at the still great things we have!  For one thing, God's beauty -- this country has it all.  Incredible mountains, deserts, seas.....No matter what you like, it's in this country somewhere.  No place else on earth can really say that!  Times may be hard for you right now, and may get harder, but you can take personal responsibility (aw - a foreign concept?).  Your attitude.  Your actions.

We are still free.  We do have greatness.

CELEBRATE THIS FOURTH OF JULY -- not by acting stupid, but by being the best you can be in this country that is still the greatest there is.

This is the day that God has made.  I will be glad and rejoice in it!

Whew.  That made this Queen tired.  May have to go take my morning nap.zzzzzzzzzzz

HG

Another Book

Yawll know the Queen reads - allot - and she has some favorite authors (as do many).

One that we connected with many moons ago is Joel Rosenberg.  If you have not  heard of or read this man's books you are either living without current events or maybe, too scared.  Don't know him?  Do the google thing.....

The scary thing is that he has been right time and again.  In his latest -- Damascus Countdown -- you have to continue reading, not just because you have to know what happens, but because you HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!  So, not only are they well written, but since his track record of being right is excellent, you want to know, but you don't.

If you just like thriller, suspense type books and don't believe in all that biblical prophecy stuff, it's still a mighty good read.

Another book review from
HQ

Electricity

The night before last, a nasty storm took out the power to our castle from 6:00 p.m. until 12:30 a.m.  Our Internet was out until about 1:30 yesterday.  In this world, this is a big deal.  Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING runs on electricity -- except my cell phone!  But.  It better be charged since there is no electricity to charge it if it isn't!

TV:  Not a big deal, you say?  But it's our window to the news ----- and weather!  "Course it's satellite.  But if you know anything about those you know at the first hint of bad weather, it goes away.  So, how do you find out what's going on?  All those warnings and watches.   Nope.

Lights:  We have flashlights and candles.  OK.

Alarm system:  Nope.  Doesn't work without electricity!  Are thieves that smart?

Automatic garage door openers:  Nope, again.  And this vertically challenged Queen person cannot reach the manual override.

Laptop:  Well, operates for a while on it's battery.  And it's a good thing not to have it plugged in since it's direct to the -------- electricity.  But then the wireless Internet went out.

You know what else wouldn't work without electricity?  You out there in the west would never guess this one.  The sump pump.  Luckily has a battery backup.  We don't know how long that lasts and don't even begin to want to find out.

Now there is gas to cook food on the stove top.  If you can see in candle light.

Oh, and since this is a 'gated' community, you can get out (if you get your car out of the garage) but you can't get back in.......

So all these electrical wonders; are they a blessing or a curse?\
This Queen has often wondered what would happen if all the New Yorkers parked their electrical cars and plugged them in to charge them at the same time!!!  Talk about a brown out!  What do you suppose that would do to the national grid?

Oh, and have you ever tried to buy anything when the electricity (computers) were non-operational?  Like, groceries?  Gas?  HA and double HA.  No computer no anything!!!!

I'm just saying.

Maybe we should have wood burning fireplaces, lanterns, etc.  And, no all my peeps, I do NOT personally remember.

Another spout off by
HQ

Memory

Now, where did I put that magic wand?

HG

Finally. Did you miss me?

First, HQ would like to ask your forgiveness for staying away so long.  Things seemed to be in a more confused state than usual.  Residence has temporarily been moved to Diane's castle and we are trying to settle in for a few weeks.  No.  Nothing wrong at home castle.  Just castle watching for a bit while Diane and family enjoy Colorado mountains.

Back to Fathers:

Dad, father, pop, daddy.......

Dad:  an informal  use meaning one's father.

Father:  a man in relation to his child or children; a man who provides care and protection....

Pop:  chiefly in US, an informal term for Father

Daddy:  informal for one's father..

But remember when one of your parents addressed you by your full given name?  That was serious.  You were probably in trouble.

Seems to me that the same applies here.  Father used in address carries the same weight.  It's formal and sounds cold and somehow distant, especially used to address that person.  While Dad is more friendly.  Daddy more friendly still and more loving.  Conjours up hugs and a shoulder to cry on when you skinned your knee.  Pop sounds almost irreverent;  old man.  A little disrespectful maybe.

The male person that took care of me, was always there with open arms, was definitely "Daddy".  Loving, funny, creative, long suffering, patient, soft spoken, generous, kind.  Did these positive attributes become liabilities sometimes?  Yes is an honest answer.  Were there times when I wanted that person to just go beat someone up?  Sure.  But in the long run, who was wiser?

And there are things I said the did that I wish I could take back.  I probably hurt that kind heart.  I am so so sorry.  I'll tell him one day.

Just know that I miss him.  All the time.  Daddy.

Sniff.
HQ

Fathers

Queen's head was buzzing while trying to go to sleep last nite.  Now just have to find a place to start.

Fathers

Stay tuned.

Q

Rain Rain Go Away......

Weather

The Queen used to wonder why people became so obsessed with the weather.  Well, she's learning.  In her world things are only occasionally affected by weather.  But the possibility is always there.

Her world is surrounded by an area that is known to have 'bad' weather -- bad, bad thunder storms, very high winds, tornadoes, flash floods -- all that good stuff.  The good things about this is that you most always  know what's coming.  Unlike her previous world where earthquakes just sneak up and shake you (another pun.  hehe).

Primary residence is on the second floor.  Up closer to the action, so to speak.  So far, lots of thunder storms.  One with a lightening bolt that sounded like it could crack the house in two.  Big rain.  Big wind.  Clouds that look better in paintings than real life.  But no tornadoes, or even watches.  Which is a good thing. Since hunkering down in the bathtub is still on the second floor.......

So HQ is supposed to be putting together an emergency bag to grab and run?????  Downstairs I guess.

Diane has a wonderful basement and encourages HQ to come there and stay if bad weather is predicted.  That would be a good idea as long as HQ  had plenty of notice.  Sure would not want to be out there driving around -- like all those people on I30 in Oklahoma.  Watching all that storm stuff live begins to make an impact.  (was that another pun?).

We are so ready for the storm season to pass so that we can complain about the heat and humidity.....

The one good thing?  Grey days make for staying home and catching up on 'things' -- or just plain crawling under the quilt with a good book.

The Weather Person signing off for

The Queen

The Queen's Day Trip

This is your intrepid court reporter (court.  Queen.  get it?) with the high/low lights of the Queen's recent road trip.

HQ (Her Queenship) had been wanting to see some of the country surrounding her world.  A day road trip was in order.  Diane would drive the big black SUV and princess would go along, too.  HQ spent some time researching the area they planned to cover (one of her favorite things.  researching.) and came up with what she thought would be  a reasonable trip.  It would include antique shops, garden centers, a festival billed as 'vintage', food of course, and even a thrift store (another one of her favorite things).

As luck would have it, it was a beautiful day for a road trip.  Clear and sunny but only about 60 degrees.  A little wind.  A scenic highway winds along the eastern side Lake Michigan and all the trees are in full green leaf.  The little -- admittedly tourist oriented -- towns are old and billed as historic and charming.

First stop a town called Three Oaks where an old factory has been turned into a collection of stuff.  Most of the stuff was very nice quality and fairly unique, if a little over priced.  Passed by a vodka brewery (thinking we might come back, but it is, after all, only 10 a.m.).  On the main street is the thrift shop.  This actually produced a couple of nifty things.  Something for all.

By this time, Diane is squeaking about being hungry so we troop into a fun looking little cafe/dinner house a couple of doors down.  Menu looked good but a little heavier than what we were wanting.  HQ ordered an iced coffee to go.  The door opened onto a small raised cement platform - which they all obviously had to traverse to get in.  Just as HQ pushed open the door, princess overstepped slightly and stepped on the back of HQ's shoe.  They both laughed and HQ turned slightly to say something cute to princess.  Well, that wasn't smart.

Picture it:  Slow motion.  HQ takes a step totally forgetting the 'step' and slowly rolls down the step, onto her right hip, right elbow hits next and coffee becomes Vesuvius.  Next to hit was right shoulder, then head hits advertising sandwich board before resting on cement sidewalk.  HQ tries to maintain her dignity while lying on the sidewalk.  Princess yelling.  Diane had been watching from just inside the door and comes running, also yelling, "Are you alright?"   Hmmmmm.  Taking a quick body inventory HQ says she thinks so.  Doesn't think anything's broken.... Getting up with Diane's help is still tricky but there is a chair right there!  And wonder of wonders  only a little bit of the coffee spilled and not a drop on HQ!

Result?  Slightly scraped and bleeding elbow, large lump in pretty colors on hip and very sore muscles.

Slight pause.

Next stop the Blackbird Vintage Fair.  A tad misleading but neat stuff.  'Designer' priced, but interesting.

Heading out on what are now back roads we pass - almost - a yard and garage sale sign.  Woooops.  U turn.  Tricky.  But Diane is a wonderful driver.  After following the country road - admittedly a very nice drive - for a while and seeing no evidence of sale, Diane notices another sign and turns to follow that.  Another sign pointing down a dirt driveway to Karen's Flower Barn.  Interesting outside but we have no idea what the inside will be like.  But being the curious sort, we adventure in.  OH MY GOODNESS!  This is a wonderland of every imaginable and some previously unknown types of dried flower/grass etc.  ever.  Wonderfully displayed.  Attended to by - we assume - Karen.

The problem was how to limit what we wanted to take home!  HQ has a thing for dried lavender and there was some imported from both France and England and some just recently harvested from Karen's own farm.  Bingo.  There is no way to adequately describe this little barn so I'm going to put her website here and you can see.  This little accidental excursion turned out to be the most outstanding thing of the day.  Practically worth a drive just to get there.

This gets us to lunch.  A place called Fitzgerald's in the town of Sawyer.  Good food actually on the gormetish side.

By now the day has pretty well passed.  We make a couple of more little stops and Diane garners a piece or two of her rare glass pattern.  Then we head home.  Again a beautiful drive.  Mostly on back roads.

What a wonderful day.  And HQ has the bruises to prove it.  The other 5 towns and numerous spots will have to wait for another day.

Signing off for now, your
ICR (intrepid court reporter)

www.karensflowerbarn.com

THE HAPPY BIRD

There is a bird Here In My World and he has to be the happiest bird ever.

Every morning (!) at 4 a.m. he sits on one of the highest peaks of the roof across my driveway and sings his heart out.  Notice it's really not even dawn yet!  But he'll sit up there and sing his little voice out for about 1/2 an hour.

Then he probably needs a short nap.

He'll be back again about dawn -- 5:30 or so -- and start again.

Now sometimes I don't notice when he comes back during the day as I'm up and doing myself.  But he is ever faithful proclaiming his happiness to the world.

(Haven't actually identified this bird yet, but will at some point.  Maybe a robin.)

But it occurs to us that we could take something from this bird.  Every morning, before morning, he's happy. So happy he can't wait to tell the world.  An optimist?  Surly.  Now knowing something of the life of birds, his little life has got to have tough times.  Where are those worms, anyhow?  There has to be somebirdy around for me to talk to?  My throat hurts.  Maybe I don't want to get up and sign this morning,

But there he is.

Hmmmm

Queen thoughts while observing her world.

The Stranger

THE STRANGER

We have detected a strange woman  Here in My World.

She isn't around all the time but it's often quite a shock when she is seen --A glimpse in a reflective surface --  Suddenly, as we go around a corner or prepare for slumber.

She  is obviously 'old'.  Where she is from we do not know.

But her posture is slumped.  There is a look of sadness about her.  She has that 'turkey neck' and her boobs do the Maxine saggy thing (and are uneven even).  Age spots show on her hands in between those large blue veins.  When she does smile there are obvious teeth missing.  Oh, and she was seen once in shorts!  Those blue veins with lightening patterns are on her legs!

Her silver hair is a beautiful color but there isn't much of it and her little pink scalp shows thru on top.  (We really hate that part!).  Eyelids droop over skimpy eyelashes.  Even when you know she isn't frowning, her mouth turns down at the corners.  She probably had pretty skin once, but now there are those 'age' spots on her face and places that the tone is uneven.

Who is this strange person?

The really scary thing is that she looks familiar!

We really hope her visits are few and that she doesn't decide to stay.....

Here In My World

The Queen

DREAMS

Dreams........tons written about them and many different 'theories'.  Many different 'types'.

Are they prophetic?  Sometimes we believe they are.  Personally I don't remember a prophetic dream.  But I listened when Diane did and because of that, we were able to see our mother before a serious surgery that she didn't survive.  Diane never told me exactly what the dream was, just that she knew we needed to see her before she went into the surgery.  Prophetic?  I don't know.  Premonition?  Hmmmmm.  Is a dream the visual form of a premonition?

Are they signals of things past that need to be examined in the present?  Why do they bring back past experiences or people long out of our lives or deceased?  Are our brains trying to tell us it's time to deal with a past experience?  Are they warnings that these feelings not handled will keep occurring?  Problems in life not dealt with that are going to affect present or future life?

Maybe the symbolic dream is the most important?  But who really knows how to interpret those symbols?  Which study do you believe?  Or do you just believe your own inner 'gut'?  Honestly.

Then there is the theory that everything in your dream represents you or a part of you.  This one seems the most far fetched to us.  And the most difficult to figure out.

And some of these keep recurring either in part or whole.

Tons.

So muses the Queen after a troubling night.......

NOT AGAIN!!!!!!

There is this nifty (as advertised) thing that attaches to your tv and lets you stream programs from the internet. Margaret, one of my trusted advisors, got one and said it was so easy to install.  I also heard that from other sources.  We got one for Christmas.

For some reason it's taken til now to get the right cable (not included) and so we decided to do this easy install so that we could watch the Kentucky Derby preshow.

Well.  Plug ins easy.  Instructions easy.  Push the button and the setup appears on the tv screen.  And why shouldn't we be surprised that it didn't?  Because we're in my world.  20 more minutes trying to follow instructilns without results and we went on line to the 'support' site.  Waited 20 minutes in the chat.  What followed is now funny.  Not then.  45 minutes later and still no setup on the blank screen and the chat guy is blaming my tv.  Almost a direct quote "We're going to have to work with the manufacturer of the tv....."

At this point smoke is coming of this Queen's ears.  I thanked him very much.  Said I was totally out of patience and was 'done'.  Still not hooked up.

Then there is an email apologizing that my chat session was inadvertantely cutoff (hellooooo?  I hung up) and asking if my problem was solved.  Duh and duh.

I guess this will be continued.  Maybe I can recruit someone who is not electronically challenged.

Old fashioned in My World,

The Queen

The Misremembered Man

Book Time My Peeps.

A novel by Christina McKenna.  Got this ebook free from my library.

Story takes place in Ireland (for which a sucker I always am) and follows the lives of two people til an unexpected -- sort of hair of your chinney chin chin - meeting.

There are several reasons why I liked this book (other than all things Irish).  McKenna is new and I really liked her style -- Nice to read but not boring -- she slips between the two principal characters and within their childhood experiences to present day.  There are one or two hints as to the ending but they are easy to miss and she keeps you wondering how in the world this is going to work out.  As I came to the end of the book I kept saying to myself:  Self, if she ends this book______________I'm going to be royally (teehee) ticked off.  Well.  No.  You must wait for it.

I must admit that there is a very troubling aspect to this story that revolves around the Roman Catholics.  I was very grateful for the author's note at the end.   Come on.  Do Not Skip Ahead.  (Now I know my peeps and several of you automatically did anyway.  Shame)  But the note helped in a way.  Enough said.  Would love to hear your comments.

All in all, a good read my lovelies.

The Queen

I'll Try This Again......

The visit Continued.  Refer to previous post for background.

The perfectly peaceful and quiet day promised a night of catch-up-on-sleep.

Promise unfulfilled.

Stopping here to give a little layout of the bedroom.  Large bed parallel to he outside (looking on the back yard/forest)wall.  Nightstand between bed and wall.  Wall has tall window.  So...

A little before 9 p.m. am crawling into bed.  Almost immediately fall into a deep sleep.   ZZZZZZZ-ing away when - not a foot from my head -- a VERY LOUD BARK.  Now you have probably experience that startled awake thing when your body levitates 3' off the bed and the adrenalin practically shoots out your ears.  Luckily it only takes your brain a nano second to process whether or not this is really a fight or flight kind of thing.  This was obviously neither.  But you are awake.

Remember those non-human pests?  Well the raccoons were in full pest mode.

I won't bore you with an actual blow by blow of the rest of the night but to say that it kind of went on like this till I was up -- again -- at 4:30 writing the blog.

There are motion sensor flood lights at several points that light up the back yard and it was like a d....
light show all night!  All accompanied by LOUD BARKING from the resident large dog.  Just doing his job protecting us from mean pests.  But.  Folks.  So much for catching up on sleep.

Going to my world where the quiet is only broken by ambient traffic noise from the freeway.

zzzzzzz

WHAT?

Was alerted to the fact that the blog 'Visit Con..."  didn't post.  Guess that what happens at 4:30 in the a.m.

It was a really good one, too.  May try to recreate but later.

pooh

Visit Continued

Visit to Another World

We are visiting another world for a few days.  One that is close but, sadly, this Queen does not rule.  But it's a nice world.

It's very quiet here.  And it's spring and beautiful.  Bulbs up and coming.  Trees budding.  And one magnolia- looking one (not a gardener-type) has beautiful white blossoms before it gets leaves.  There are lots and lots of birds:  goldfinches, house finches, painted finches, cardinals, 2 kinds of nuthatches, 4 kinds of woodpeckers, blue jays, sparrows, robins and a hawk.  Probably others that I forgot just now.  They are so beautiful to watch.  And all the birds and little animals are feeling 'frisky' now, too.  I almost feel like I'm in a sanctuary.

There are some pests -- the non-human kind -- squirrels, raccoons that regularly raid everything, a pretty red fox came trotting down the other day......All of these make the resident large dog try to go thru and window, glass, screen and all..  Quite a fuss.

But what I've realised is that this is not home.  Home is my little world.  Where mostly I know where things are and what they are.

But, hey, there are still a couple of mysteries.  Never did find the VIP PAPERS that I so efficiently put away before the move and  now cannot find them.  Of course the State of Indiana wants them all to make me and my car officially here.  So I'm not, yet.  I guess I'm an illegal...........Know I'm not an alien though!

Signed up for a beginning knitting class.  Now some of you know that the Queen already knits.

So, you ask, why a beginning class?  Because it covers much more than what I would have called 'beginning'.  We smuggly thought the first class would be a little boring.  Ah, contraire, mon ami.  Learned to knit the 'continental' way.  Very awkward but we are practising.  For those of you who knit, the yarn is held in the left hand instead of your right.......

And we are getting out and about and will, eventually, meet some 'friend', not just acquaintance, candidates.  Haven't met anyone yet who isn't nice, though.  There are probably some rotten ones out there like everywhere, but so far they are stayed out of my world.....

Need to practice knitting now.

Crafty Queen

perfikt

Ah, yes.  PERFECT
.
Now you might think that 'perfect' would be a good thing.  And, insofar as we can judge, it is ------ because ----wait for it-------IT'S PERFECT!

But (and there usually is one) a good thing taken too far can be a bad thing:  perfectionism.

New Oxford American Dictionary:  1. having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.  2. free from any flaw or defect in condition or quality; faultless.

Now, my peeps, take a look at some of the words in that definition.  "Having ALL".  Not one or two.  Not just about.  But ALL.   EEEEEEEEEKKKKKK.

And why are we off on this tangent?  Because we have admitted to trying to be 'perfect'.  A long way of getting to why there hasn't been a message from your Queen for sometime.  Huh?, you query.  'Cuz if it didn't have to be the 'perfect' message, it could have been written a lot sooner.

We are about to be very tired of ourselves..........

Perfectionism:  Refusal to accept any standard short of perfection.   This can be really horrible as a trait.  If this is really ingrained, it can produce stuckness (Queen word).  The inability to act for fear of falling short of 'perfect'.  Not making any decision for fear it will be the wrong (unperfect) decision.  Which is a decision all itself.  In everyday life, this is a big pain in the pittutity.

OK.  Now I really am tired of myself.  See what you get when you are trying to be perfect.

OKOK.  We're really done.

ALONE

Now that I am Queen Here In My World I am more convinced than ever that there is allot of difference between "alone" and "lonely".  Being alone is a wonderful state for someone who is secure in themselves.  It can be restful, creative, restorative, peaceful and fun.  

It can be very lonely with other people around -- in a crowd -- with strangers or acquaintances.  Hard to be lonely with real friends.  Not being lonely takes special skills.  It doesn't come naturally although it is easier for the 'outgoing' personality to learn.  Being alone is obviously a more desirable state that being lonely.  This Queen is often alone and sometimes lonely.  We much prefer the former to the later.

QUEEN'S RULES

We see we have been terribly neglectful of communicating and for that we apologize.  We have been out of 'my world' for a bit and that always throws off the routine.....

But to the current subject.

Rule No. 1
What ever the Queen says is law.

Rule No. 2
All things work.  If not, refer to Rule No. 1.

The Queen has long held the belief that all things should do what they are designed to do, most especially if one has paid for them.  Example:  When you buy a car, it should run.  That it should require fuel is even irratating.  But we can allow that.  Other than that, it should just run.  Every time.  All the time.  Get where we're going here?

So on the list of things that are on the 'bad & very bad' list are:  automatic garage door openers; anything computer, anything electronic, phones of all types; anything electrical; anything initially control by a 'clerk' (see previous blog).  That about covers it for now.

Now you might assume from this that things have been a little out of whack lately.  BINGO!

We need to go hide for a bit now.....

Q

NOT ABOUT EASTER

The Queen woke early (4 a.m.) and mused a lot about Easter, it's meaning, celebration, symbols and so forth.  And had some pretty interesting thoughts -- from Christ arising from the tomb to Fabrege' eggs.  After all of that, she has decided not to write about Easter.  The Queen's prerogative.

One of the things in my world now is a very large TV with all that new stuff.  Folks if you have never seen The Phantom of the Opera ----- what can we say, you are deprived.  Now we do not like opera per se.  (Here we could expound on screeching, etc.)  But this, my dears, is not "Opera", it's ART, GENIUS, TREASURE, CLASSIC oh my.

We first saw Phantom at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles - you know, where they've held the Oscars.  Big, big auditorium.  Margaret -- being well connected-- had gotten tickets and shared.  Seems like it was 8th row......I had no idea what I was in for.  But for those of you who are deprived, in this production the show opens when a humongous, glorious chandelier travels from the top of the back of the pavilion down to the stage with a loud something.  Now this incredible lighting fixture is about a block long (well, maybe we exaggerate slightly).....You just MUST see this.

I have seen the play 3 times in different venues and, now the movie.  I don't know when this came out, but it's got to be out there and what a treat.  There is nothing wrong about this movie.
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We would urge that viewing be uninterrupted if at all possible.

In My World this is a beautiful thing.

The Queen

TRAIN WHISTLES

"Hear thaaat lonnesome whistle blow....." the Queen sang.

Now aren't we glad this doesn't have audio?

Train whistles:

• adventure
• danger
• loneliness
• arrivals
• departures
• sadness
• gladness

There are a lot of trains and their whistles in my world now.   They are heard mostly at night and sound far away. -- How do you know a train has been there?  By the tracks.........----(This is what you get at 2 a.m.)  We can understand that one would not want to be very close to the trains and their whistles.  Close would be very annoying.  Too close could be fatal.  But at a distance they can be soothing or mournful.

Tonite I choose soothing.

The Queen

FIRST RANT!

Evil slips into my world.  It really pains us to say that there are still things we cannot control.  Ugly outside influences.

Again this morning our world was deeply upset by CLERKS!  Now I grant that there may be a few competent clerks out there really trying.  But folks, most of them are undereducated, minimum wage, non career non thinking robots!  The big problem is that they can -- and do-- control our lives.  And as such have the ability (which I think they secretly know and relish) to ................

There are many examples.  However case in point.  Clerk at doctor's office fails to pass on paperwork requested by insurance company to doctor/nurse in a timely fashion (or at all?).  This triggers first clerk at insurance company to enter into the'computer' (another rant due here) a big red flag.  Result is that we must take our time to make calls to get this straightened out OR pay 2-1/2 times the amount of the prescription -- a not inconsiderable chunk o' change.  OR just go cold turkey and stop this life altering medication.....

Now the Queen doesn't like these alternatives.  If this were in the control of our world PEOPLE WOULD JUST DO THEIR JOBS.

And we wonder why we are sometimes cynical.

THE QUEEN MUSES

Ever wonder what happened to.......?  It seems that people move in and out of our lives.  Sometimes we understand -- they move away and you just loose touch.  Or maybe you wake up one day and realise you miss them.  You may not even know where they are if you wanted to reconnect.

We have experienced this and sometimes mourn.  (Admittedly, sometimes not,)  An example:  Before queendom We decided to 'go back to school'.  During that time four of us got together that were of a similar age and circumstance, studying the same thing.  We saw each other frequently off campus and I thought each of us felt the bond would last.  And it did, for many years and thru many life changes for each of us.

But then one day one drifted away and we heard less and less from her.  An occasional Christmas card from a neighboring country.  And then ----- nothing.  Then another moved out of my life, although to this day I keep track of her through Willow, who was the third member of the group.  And, if you will remember, still around and in my Court of Advisers.

To demonstrate my point, although I wasn't really close to the first one, the others were.  I was very close (so I thought) to the second and am still puzzled and more than a little sad she is no longer in my life.  I cannot conceive of my life without Willow.  Although it's been a long time since we've lived within driving- over-for-tea distance, we maintain a very close friendship that I cherish.

So We muse:  Where are they now?

Queen

FAVORITE THINGS

'These are a few of my favorite things', the Queen hummed softly.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee                   Gardenias                        Grand Tetons              Ferrari's      
               The taste of good coffee (Starbucks Americano)                 Turkey dinner              Dark Chocolate            New Snowfall                      Ribeye Steak             Horses, puppies & bunnies
            Sunrise (God painting watercolors)               Raindrops on Roses (of course we didn't forget)
and, oh yes------BOOKS!!!

BIG, little, to read, to look at, to have, new, old, real & unreal let us count the ways.    Oooops, we wander. We love to read them, discuss them, cherish them, have them.  In my world (IMW) there is a 'library'.  No, no.  Not that kind.  One of the old fashioned kind with walls of loved books, big comfy chairs with ottomans and a fireplace.

So with that said, We've been thinking of Top Ten Lists.

  First additions (teehee):  Favorite writer/authors ever:  God,  John Steinbeck, Ivan Doig, Susan Wittig Albert, Brock & Bodie Thoene, .....

Best Books --The Bible,  East of Eden, Steinbeck;  The Book Thief, Zusak;  The Count of Monte Cristo, Dumas;  The Five People You Meet In Heaven,......

Just finished "Sweet Thursdays" by Steinbeck.  Hadn't even heard of it until we saw it at a library book sale (Oh!  Another Favorite Thing!) in paperback and snatched it up.  Sort of a continuation of "Cannery Row".  Big Sigh.  Oh Darn, It's The End.

Middle of the night IMW and we are tired.


                   

IMPORTANT PEEPS OF OUR COURT

For future reference, these will probably pop up most often.  Not in order of importance....

Court Advisers:

Margaret:  Most trusted, smartest and most learned.  We grew up together since teenhood.  Always there and can be counted on to be outrageous or calm whatever is best.  Trusting her to offer correction in all matters 'english'.  Knows more about us than......

Cookie:  Source of all important matters outside my world, that could affect my world.  Dedicated to truth and serious researcher. Passionate.   BTW, a wizard with all things edible.  Makes us laugh.

May:  Most recent addition to advisers.  Shares experiences and interests.  Always good for a chat.

Willow:   Clever, steady, insightful, dependable, inventive, crafty, creative.  Wonderful to travel with outside our world.

Important in Our World:

Beauti:  Daughter, but never got to be a princess.  Beautiful inside and out.  Intelligent but sometimes thinks too much.  Talented with things electronic.  Has a wonderful laugh.  Will inherit the kingdom.

Diane:  Wonderful younger sister.  Queen of her own world which she rules with love and generosity.  Serves her King.  Also trusted adviser especially on numbers issues.  Presents an opposite, although not opposing, view;  agree or not.

Cuz:  Wonderful lady.  Glad she's related just cuz.

Well will you look at that!  There are no male persons in our inner court!  Now don't get me wrong.  I really like men.  Have really liked/loved a few outstanding men and (come to think of it) a few real stinkers.  But this Queen is picky.  On the whole they have their usefulness.  (a subject for yet another time.)  There is one who has a lot of influence in our world and we do trust him.  But he definitely has a strong 'stinker' side.

TRUMPET FANFARE & DRUM ROLL PLEASE!

In the not too distant past, in a land now far away, I was sitting in a movie theater with a dear friend and happened to observe some behavior that I deemed 'wrong' and made one of my comments.  My friend, without missing a beat, totally soto voice said, "But you are not queen of the world."  Truly this came as a shock to moi.

Time has passed.  And I am now Queen of My World!  So be prepared folks, all the comments, observations, advice, rants and opinions you read here are mine and mine alone -- for better or worse -- (and that phrase just conjured up a whole boatload).  You are welcome to, and invited to, comment.....
Signed, 
The Queen (not queenie!)