Never too old to rock

One of my Hollywood buds, Tina, invited me to join a great new group called Never Too Old To Rock. Since I am 60 and STILL want to be in a rock band ( hope dies hard ) I joined up pronto. and you too can meander on over to www.ntotr.ning.com/ and join. And if i screwed up and got the wrong url just let me know. 

Tina is the one who was the catalyst for my being online. She started out on Webtv and after a year she graduated to a computer. I am nowhere near as tech savvy as she is so I still on Webtv and even though I got my Mac within this last year, I still don't know how to do most of the basics ( I have a printer, how the heck do I use it? How do I scan? How do I upload this file and that? Blah blah blah blah etc etc ). But while on Webtv I met John, this Aussie dude, introduced him to my sister Libby and yesterday ( ok, two days ago now as it is the 31st of March being after midnight ) was their wedding anniversary! I am not sure how many years they have been married but it has been, I think, maybe 5 or more. I also met my best friend Cheryl aka Dovey, and it is amazing how you can be buds with someone and just love them to pieces and know them for almost a decade and never have met them in person! I am hoping that Cheryl and I can finally meet next year, it will be a decade then. I keep telling her that the Coachella Festival is calling her name and it is only a mile from where I live. 

SAC

Some spiders are not your friend

Back when I lived in Hollyweird I had a pet spider. Oh -kay, you might be going, you had a pet what? I kid you not. I had a spider who was a daddy longlegs who befriended me. He would follow me around my apartment. I would talk to him and it would respond. I could feel its emotions. No, it is true! Spidey was my buddy, he was my friend. And when he was accidently killed I put him in a baggie and brought him with me when I came out to the desert. I figured I would bury him one day, maybe under a rose bush that I have not yet planted. 

I loved Spidey. He was my friend. Warm fuzzy feelings abounded. HOWEVER, some spiders are NOT your friend. Last night around 2 am I decided I would turn on the light, get up and go get some strawberries and ice cream ( something I might possibly repeat once I log off ). I looked over at the wall corner next to the bathroom and oh my MY! There in the corner was the BIGGEST and the BLACKEST ( pitch black,  night with no moon black, patent leather shiny shoes black ) and the CREEPY SCARIEST BLACK WIDOW SPIDER I have ever seen in my entire life ( and yes, I have seen a few and NO, none of them have been my spider buddies ). So I went into the kitchen, grabbed about 4 paper towels, came back into the bedroom and SQUISHED ( twice at least ) the spider who was not my friend. I sent it to spider heaven where it can play with Spidey. And it did not get to bite me and send me to the emergency room. IT WAS HUGE. Little black widows might make you sicker than a dog who falls out of a truck bed going ninety but BIG black widows will make you sick to death's door and even beyond. IT WAS THAT BIG. 

I am still creeped out about this. DUH! Welcome to the desert. Jungles ain't got nothin' on the desert. We have rattlesnakes out here too. They are not my friend either. 

SAC

Fattie Fattie Two by Four Onion Dip

Over at my sister Libby's blog there is a recipe of one of her favorite things: a recipe I was given when I was in about the 7th grade. Now keep in mind that I was a waif until I turned about 30. I personally believe it is because of this dip recipe that I am no longer a size 5 and weigh 105 on my 5'4" frame. So here is the recipe. I eat these with Lays ruffles dip chips ( though I have discovered Kroger wavy potato chips and they are pretty good with this too ).

1 pint sour cream 1 pint cottage cheese, small curd. I use low fat for this. 1 and 1/2 packets of onion dip ( Liptons or otherwise ). 1 dash of French's worchestershire sauce, sprinkle of garlic granules, 1 pinch of dried chopped chives, squirt of fresh lemon juice. Mix this heavenly concoction and put in the freezer for maybe 20 to 30 minutes to get nice and chill. Enough for maybe 4 people or 1 greedy pig. As if I share!!!!!! 

Now because I am in THE MOOD I will toss out a couple of other recipes:

Killer Strawberry Daiquiri Toss a bunch of strawberries into a blender. Add about 1/4 cup of homemade lemonade. Sprinkle in maybe 1 or 1 and a half teaspoons of superfine ( also called bakers ) sugar. Squeeze one lime into this. Add a jigger ( 1 1/2 ounce, or make it 2 ounces or to taste ) Bacardi white. Add about 1/2 ounce of Grand Marnier. Add 1/4 ounce 151 proof rum. Blend the heck out of it and serve over ice ( or crush the ice up with it ). Rearrange the alcohol and other stuff but best to manage a smaller amount of the GM and 151 as you want a subtle flavor from the GM and you want to be conscious so you don't want to over do it with the 151. 

Super easy Neopolitan: slice 7 big fat strawberries and sprinkle about a teaspoon or more superfine sugar over them. Toss a couple of scoops of French Vanilla ice cream on top of them, drizzle with Hershey's chocolate syrup. Super easy and divine. 

Yum...

A lovely afternoon and evening.

I am a night owl. As usual I was up all night. I was expecting my mom to come over this afternoon with a big pot which I would borrow from her to make corn beef and cabbage in. So I did not crawl out of bed until 3:30 pm. I then went out to check my mail ( there was none ) an hour later and there sat a big pot in front of my door. There was also a bag of lemons and a bag of granny smith apples. And no mom. Oh dear. So I tossed the corn beef into the nice big pot and about half an hour later mom, Julian and Nathan show up. Julian ands Nathan visited for a little bit and then they took off. I had a lovely visit with mom while waiting for the corn beef ( and then cabbage, carrots, onions and potatoes ) to cook. I invited my next door neighbor Margie over and mom talked Margie's ear off for a couple of hours until the corned beef and cabbage was done. After dinner was dessert of vanilla ice cream and big blackberries. They had been frozen but I nuked them in the microwave for a minute on defrost and they were perfect. Mom and I had a lovely time together and I really enjoyed cooking for her. THIS is why I moved here to the desert. I moved here to be able to have my mom come over and have me fix her dinner and dessert and then do the dishes. I love to pamper mom and hopefully I can have some time to do that. Heaven knows, she needs some pampering. :-) I love you, mom. And it was a lovely afternoon and evening having you come over and sit in my new rocking recliner while I sat in my old chair and watched you smile and exclaim what a wonderful cook I am. Well, it takes one to know one and I inherited my love of cooking and my ability to turn out a good meal from my mom --- who was a fabulous cook. But it is ok for you to now sit back and have me cook and clean up for you. You gave me such a lovely childhood of home cooked meals so to be able to return that favor just a little makes me happy. Mom, did I mention I love you? I can never do that enough. 

SAC

scribblings, tv viewing, other stuff

I am happy with myself because this past year I have completed THREE projects. This is pretty darn major for me because I have been working on said projects forever. I finished my book hollyWEIRD ( first draft ) and completed working on the basic notes for my Biddenlarn series and my Outer Cosmos worlds and galaxies notes. Now to complete all the maps for these --- ha! There will be more meandering into the right brain labyrinth to come up with more suggestions, countries for created worlds and the like. But all of that is for another day. 

This does remind me of my New Years resolution. And there I was thinking that my basic resolutions ( besides praising God and thanking  Him ) were so simple and easy to do. It is already past the middle of March and here I am with no big or little desire to fulfill them: to type up and copyright hollyWEIRD ( ok, it would be nice to get that done ) and to buy and learn to play a left handed guitar. I really need to face the truth of this: I do not want to play any instrument except the one I was born with and that is my voice. I am a singer. I am not a girl with a guitar. I am a woman with a voice. And the nice thing about this is that the resolutions I did not make, to complete my Biddenlarn notes and my Outer Cosmos notes, I am thrilled that it is something that is done ( sort of ). 

Ok, now about tv. I have been watching that trash fest, Rock of Love with the tattooed, face surgery screwed, peroxide blued and with silicon than found in Silicon Valley. They sent home Ashley this time. Last year it was the bleached blonde tattoo silicon queen Daisy that got her walking papers. Ok, it is true that women have broken up with lovers or ex-husbands and lived in the same dwelling. HOWEVER, if you are trying to hook up with some other guy at least TELL HIM in advance. With both of these bimbos if they had been honest about it before then they might have made it to the finals. 

Speaking of trash, yes, I have been watching American Idol. The judges are so beyond annoying and whether it is fixed or not ( I don't know though of course I have heard the rumors for years like everyone else has ) they have their favorites who can do no wrong --- such as that hideous Megan. You send Alexis home, cute with a great voice, while keeping their favorite off key fave? And then there is America who does not get it. IGNORE the judges and make up your own mind! DUH. Right now I like Alison and Adam ( though Adam IS over the top a bit ) and no, I do not know or care if he is gay. He looks theatrical and Goth ( that is what those black fingernails are about, duckies ). And he is cute and he can sing. Just like Alexis. 

Now on to the latest. I was reading a Readers Digest and there was an article about Rick Warren. It mentioned that he gives 90% of his income to charity. Which I think is cool. And it got me to thinking about my own writings and such ( not that I have given 90% of what I have made, which is 1.25 from busking in Venice once ) and thought up a name and an idea. How about I take some of my songs and writings, I can start out with the Christian ones, see if I can find how to market them and give 90% to charity, in this case to the rescue missions? Ok, so that is gonna be the new resolution and Lord willing and with His blessing, it will come to pass. I have some nice little essays and some songs so I'll see what I will see. I view what I have as talents and therefore it is time for me to start putting there out there, my 5 or 10 talents to gain 5 or 10 more. And the name for this could be spinster mite. Why that? Because of the parable of the widow who put in 2 mites into the offering and it was all of her living. The Lord knows that I have prayed and worked towards being self reliant for years. Maybe this will be what He wants me to do. And being a spinster, rather than a widow, here could be my mite for the offering. Something to keep in prayer

SAC

lots of things on my mind

Depression: I have had a problem with depression since I was injured when hit by a car on a bicycle in 1985. I started writing songs as a cure for depression and then moved to Hollywood in 1989. I moved back to the desert in 2007. I think one of the biggest reasons for my depression has been people who flake on me or those who refuse to help me. It brings despair to the soul and how does one deal with it? The way I deal with it is to pray. It is the only thing that gets me through the callous disregard that people have shown me throughout the years. I have yet to meet anyone who has ever been willing to help me with my music or to help type up my writings. I guess one of the reasons it is so hurtful is that I have always been willing to help others as much as possible. I am getting to a place physically where I can't do that anymore ( help others ). And while I have never been in a financial place to help others, my own family has decided that unless I can grease their greedy palms they have no interest in helping their almost elderly disabled sister. So why do I still love them and wish they would give a damn about me? I have yet to figure that one out. My two younger sisters have told me more than once they do not know me. Whose fault is that? They have never shown any interest in getting to know me. My youngest sister said some horrible and spiteful things to me about me that were not only lies but they were lies thrown out with the intention of cutting as deeply as possible. And why is that? Because she doesn't know me? So the depression lingers even though there is a part of me that is quite happy with my new digs. You love people and they then turn around and treat you like something they scrape off the bottom of your shoe --- that hurts. And again, there is nothing one can do but pray --- and forgive those who never step up to the plate. 

I believe that the depression that I have now is deeply rooted in my frustration. I am frustrated over the circumstance of my life. Yes, I am happy that I have this little one bedroom apartment and I am happy that I now have some new ( for me ) furniture ( couch, lounge chair rocker, a couple of end tables ) for my new living room. I am thankful for section 8 and thankful for my SSI BUT I want so much to be self-sufficient. I will continue to keep that goal in the foreground and work towards it. I know I am not worthless and I know how hard I have worked on my writings and my songs over the years. And I will not give those who criticize me anything except my contempt. They have never tried to get to know me or to help me. And when ( ever the optimist ) I do become successful in my chosen fields I will take care of ME and any the Lord asks me to help. But those who tear me down and those who have flaked on me over the years --- don't stand in line for a handout. Because your hand will return empty and be left hanging in air, the same air you have left me hanging in for much of my life. 

Now about that couch --- I lucked out on getting a couch. Couches online have seldom been for under a hundred bucks and lousy looking ones at that. So right down the street the other day an elderly gentleman was selling a very nice couch for 45 dollars and it now sits in my living room. I also bought a lounge rocker which folds out like an easy chair. That was 25. So I can now invite my mom over to visit. Yippee! After living in single apartments for so many years it is still such a new thing to have a LIVING ROOM that is not also my bedroom.

I have been working on the idea of putting together a presentation of all I have created over the decades and trying to find a big mega company ( someone like Microsoft or Google rather than a publisher ) to sign an exclusive licensing agreement with me. AFAIK there has not been an individual who has approached a tech or internet sort of company about artistic stuff.  I could be a trailblazer in this. As I work towards this goal I will post how things go. Tech companies have been paying out hundreds of millions of dollars for web portals such as Facebook. If you are a computer geek then do some coding and gain an audience and then the attention of the big dogs in the industry. You'll then stand not only to make millions but hundreds of millions and even the potential to make the B word. So why aren't those of us who are right brained rather than left brained getting a piece of the pie? 

I am here to announce that I am internet THREE. That will be what I will be presenting to those I approach. Right now we are in internet 2. And what is internet 3? I believe it will be people like myself, the right brained freaks who write our songs and poetry and other musings at 3 am. I will be talking about more of this in the future as I believe that I AM the face of the future.  The "normal" savant growls!

I am the face of the future and I am Bohemian. I am right brained. I am a southpaw. I am a night owl. I am an artistic person living in a world that views those who create as being "starving artists" unless one goes and gets a degree to "learn to be an artist" rather than those of us who got our degrees in the school of hard knocks ( in which I have a doctorate ). They look down their dry, dull noses at us and toss us out as if we were garbage and filth. Unless, of course, we ARE garbage and filth then they glorify us and call us "artistic" ( sorry, but I do not believe in political correctness or in blasphemy or foul language nor do I call people who insult my intelligent with the use of that as "artistic" ). BUt I hope my day is coming, a day when someone who is latently artistic and also not going along with whatever current trend on the left or the right goes along with can have her day. 

I have discovered David Pink. I saw a program of his on PBS and then looked him up on the net ( amazon ). I love what he is saying and hope to quote some of it when I finally make my presentation to whomever I seek out. He says people like myself are the wave of the future. It is ironic how some of what he is saying is something that I saw for the turn of this past century. I was obviously a bit before my time and that vision has not yet come to past. He said that the new creativity that will come out of the next age will be as sweeping as the industrial revolution or the renaissance. I can remember thinking that it would be like the renaissance  but that was something I saw in the 1970s. I believe it could have happened sooner but the information age has been fighting and screaming and trying to suppress creativity for decades. Manufactured information and manufactured stars is what they want as they have control over them. The internet is something that has been showing them that a new day is dawning. They want to control that but I hope and I pray that the artists out there will not sell themselves short as they have done for centuries. It is OUR turn. It is our turn to be recognized and to be paid what we are due. Because heaven knows we have been paying our dues and not collecting on them ( with a few exceptions here and there and isn't it strange how the public resents an actor or singer making 20 million but it has no problem with an unknown business or tech person making 5 or 10 times or more of it for the same amount or less work? ). 

Ok, this is getting War and Peace length. Time to post it to my blog and take a little breather. 

Very snooty with an artistic attitude and temperament...

SAC

 

And A Goldfish

Last night around this time ( 1 am something ) the Coachella Rescue Mission burned. Thankfully there were no injuries but 93 people and a GOLDFISH were displaced. Talk about the face of humanity! Even while homeless someone in that mission wanted a pet. And while most rescue missions do not allow them, here was someone who wanted a goldfish and it was allowed by the mission.  If I were to get a pet where I live I would need to pay a big fat pet deposit of 400 smackaroonies. I wonder if they would allow me to temporarily provide housing to a goldfish? As it is, while I am not sure what I am in a position to be able to do, I am going to try and see if I can do SOMETHING. This rescue mission has provided a service in the low desert for decades now and I would certainly like to see it rebuilt. If it is possible, God willing, I will try to do what I can to help. Even if it were only to provide shelter to a goldfish --- though I will try and do more than that. 

SAC

Thrifting and Hal's new blog

My brother Hal now has a blog with the Desert Sun here in the Coachella Valley. It involves thrift shopping. This is a guy who finds suits for less than 100 bucks and they are 3000 dollar suits. So he is obviously doing something right. Recently there was a couple of wet noodlistas who griped when he said he had no use for those stupid boutique "thrift" shops and did not frequent them. So he got some negative feedback about it and even though he was nice to these lamebrains, they STILL posted as if he were sacrificing his first born to Moloch or something. Sheesh. 

I am an avid thrifter and have my own pointers concerning thrifting. So here are a few of them:

1. Do not buy something because you think it might have value. It might be a knockoff of what you think it is and then you are stuck with some over priced piece of shlock. 

2. Buy something because you love it. I bought a painting I loved and then thought it might be worth something. Ok, I would sell it for a million. I only paid 10 bucks for it. I found out it is probably worth 10 bucks. I love it and would not sell it for a thousand. But a million? It's yours. 

3. Unless you are absolutely nuts about it do not buy anything that is made in China. Unless it costs a buck or less you probably can get it at the 99 cents store. Trust me. And nope, I didn't buy the made in China stuff. But I DO buy Made in the USA, Japan or occupied Japan. And England and Germany sometimes have cute things for sale. 

4. If you HAVE to have it buy it NOW. It WILL be gone tomorrow. Yes, I DO know. 

5. Will you remember it a year from now and kick yourself because you did not buy it? Or will you not remember it a week from now?

6. Is it you something that you will never be able to part with or will it end up in a yard sale? 

7. Do NOT buy it if it does not fit. The only exception is couture with a Paris label CHEAP or totally cool vintage stuff for your collection. If it says made in China it is not vintage. Trust me. 

8. If you buy books do so to READ them. And the vast majority of old books do not sell. Do you know how many gazillion "antique books" from the turn of the 19th century there are? And do you know HOW boring they are and how there is not really a market for them? Btw, almost all coffee table books are overpriced. 

Remember to check yard sales.

One last thing, if  you are out of the area, the thrift stores and yard sales in Hollywood are "da bomb." You have creative people with eclectic collections. You also have rich people who redecorate and donate to thrift stores. The best thrift stores there are the Out Of The Closets. The best one is on Sunset one block east of Vine. There is also a Goodwill on Vine one block north of Santa Monica Blvd that sometimes have goodies ( I found a vintage Vicky Tiel with a Paris label for under 10 bucks and hey, it is leopard print! ). 

One last thing, if you go to Universal Studios they have a store there which sells clothes from tv shows and movies. I saw some "Will and Grace" stuff there.Of course it is all size 0 but if you are out visiting from Nebraska and buy something from a favorite soap then that is braggin' rights back on the farm. 

Another great place for thrifting is the Coachella Valley ( Palm Springs and Indio ). I like the Revivals and Angel View on 111 in Cathedral City. And check out the estate sales and rummage sales in the area. So if you take a vacation to the Southland maybe you might find some treasures. And check out the craigslist in your area for yards sales. 

Happy thrifting!

SAC

YIKES!!!!!!!

Some time yesterday I had a problem logging onto my Webtv account. Sooo then later that day I could not get onto my mac and of course about then I was ready to tear out my sparse baby fine hair. YIKES!!!!!!!!!!! Then today I called the macman to see if he could help. He walked me through a few things and then I turned it off and turned it on again and voila! Things were back to normal I HOPE I HOPE I HOPE. 

Maybe it is daylight savings or maybe it is the digital switchover that has made things screwy ( I so need to do a I want my analog and if it ain't broke don't fix it rant but that is for another day. 

I have other things to discuss but for now...

I am back online and hopefully that will be a statement rather than an agitation of back online for a moment... 

SAC

All My Siblings Are Falling Down...

This is getting to be a habit. My brother Hal took a tumble on one of his desert hikes the other day. I called him up about it as I was a bit worried. I have taken more than a few falls myself. When I lived in Hollywood I got into "fights" with the cracked and pitted sidewalks there. Hollywood sidewalks won and my face and body lost. There were times when I had very sore hands, black eyes and even a dislocated shoulder. So falling is no fun. 

And then today I get a call from my sister Libby. She was headed home early from work due to the fact that she had taken a nasty splat in the parking lot of where she worked and needed to go home and ice up parts of her body ( never you mind where ). 

Got an email from a friend who moved to Utah from North Carolina ( and before that from Florida, the girl has moved more in the last few years than I have and that is saying something ). 

Knowing Angela ( who I know from Hollywood ) she will eventually make another move from Utah. Her dad worked in exports and she has traveled all over the world. So she has got a pair of gotta move restless shoes. She works in the travel industry and in spite of the hit that it has taken from the downward economy she is the kind of worker who employees want to keep as she really knows her business. It was good to hear from her again. 

The itises are acting up. Weather is shifting again. I don't know if we will get any rain but we will get clouds and cooler temps and spasms and itises are callin' my name. I would love to put them on mute. It is the Tylenol time. I took some earlier and I am waiting for it to kick in. 

Blessings, I have been praying for a thankful heart and I am now thanking God for blessings: for a full pantry, for my new apartment and wonderful Christian neighbors including one whose 101 year old mom has a smile that could sunshine a rainy day. And Julian drove mom and we over to WinCo ( I think that is what it is called ) to do some shopping. First time since I have moved here. 

I am still exhausted but I guess it is just gonna take time to get my groove back physically. 

SAC

A Lovely Day for the most part

I took a Tylenol PM last night as I am not a morning person. I managed to get up around 10 am or so. I got a call from Margie next door. She invited me to lunch ( some KFC ) with her 101 year old mom. It was a delightful visit and her mom has the sweetest smile. Imagine being 101 years old and having lots to smile about and being in relatively good health.  

My sister Libby came up from Orange County and brought her daughter Keturah ( a high school teacher who lives in Long Beach ) for a visit. They came by with mom and we spent the day shopping. Or I should say I went shopping. The other three mainly stayed in the car. Which was fine with me. They then drove me back to Indio where I put my groceries away and we went for a 2 for 1 dinner at the Souplantation. It is hours later and I am still stuffed. Keturah and I ducked into a Bev-Mo where she grabbed some vodka and I finally found the elusive green creme de menthe and white creme de cacao for my grasshoppers. THAT won't happen for awhile as I ate so much today I am wondering if I should go on a week long fast ( no no I won't but will eat much lighter tomorrow ). Plus I did not get any evil whipping cream at Trader Joe's ( at 40% butterfat that is called EVIL ). And I was thrilled to see they had pink noyaux which they were out of but I know it is THERE so eventually I will be able make pink squirrels! 

Just for the record here are the recipes for a grasshopper and a pink squirrel:

Grasshopper: Equal parts green creme de menthe, white creme de cacao and cream. Shake in a shaker ( or blend  ) and serve over ice.  For a Pink Squirrel substitute the pink noyaux ( not sure of the spelling: noyaux or noyau or noyeaux or something like that but it is pink almond liqueur ). 

Now if I could only find some creme de rose and creme de violette ( equal parts with cream ) I would have the elusive Lillian Russell I found the recipe for in some old drink book. I saw a bottle of creme de violette in San Francisco decades ago. I never have seen a bottle of creme de rose, however. And don't these manufacturers who make mango daiquiri mixes know there are Snooty Aunt Cynthia's  out there who would LIKE a pleasant little buzz from a drink tasting of roses and violets?  You would think they would KNOW that, right? 

The other lovely thing for today was I found 15 dollars that I did not know I had lost. 

On the negative side, I got a stupid bill from the stupid cable company that REALLY has me thinking of Direct Tv in my future. It isn't enough that they charge me almost 100 bucks to set me up and my first months, but now they are billing me for over 20 dollars more for what I have yet to figure out. And for what? Less than the 70 channels they promise me, more infomericals ( tv spam ) than I want to know about, repeats on too many of the channels, etc etc etc. 

The other negative of today was reading my brother Hal's blog and finding he took a tumble down a hill ( OUCHEE ) while hiking. Luckily it sounds as if nothing was broken and he will be back to hiking tomorrow. 

SAC