McCain’s latest ad “Celebrity” tries to negatively link Obama to the likes of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears… (yes they are all celebrities, but nothing alike as people) and the makes a completely false assertion that he would raise taxes on electricity.   Not true, according to factcheck.org and the Cincinnati Enquirer.

I’m getting more disgusted by the day and I’m afraid you’re going to be seeing a lot more political posts from me as the election gets closer.   What happened to McCain’s promise of a “respectful” campaign?

• From straight Talk to Smear Campaign - St. Petersburg Times Editorial
• The Low Road Epxress – NY Times Editorial

I really hope my Republican leaning friends/family see through this nonsense and don’t reward the behavior. Don’t be fooled by Karl Rove’s minions this election. Don’t vote McCain! It would be like getting another George Bush, only angrier.

I suggest a vote for Obama! But if you just can’t bring yourself to do that – why not take a look at Libertarian Candidate Bob Barr?

I kept hoping against hope that Karl Rove wouldn’t play a part in the current election year.  He is evil incarnate.  He is the antichrist.  He is a vile creature that should be doomed to eternal torment in unimagineable ways.  Or maybe you can imagine them – if so share some ideas with me

But I digress.  Unfortunately, John McCain has hired Steve Schmidt, a disciple of Karl Rove’s who worked on George W. Bush’s 2004 ads.   He is using the Rove playbook that says that it doesn’t matter if something is true as long as your target audience won’t bother to find out the actual truth, and believe that it “sounds like it might be a true.”    

It’s a tactic similar to one employed by the nutcase Sean Hannity.  He relentlessly repeats falsehoods day after day, unchallenged by his co-host or call listeners.  Those lies become embedded in the media (and his audience).   Hannity could use some eternal torture as well.

Apparently, in his desperation, John McCain forgot his promise to run a clean campaign.   Here are a couple of recent doozies.
 

• A new McCain TV ad falsely insinuates that Obama canceled his visit to wounded troops in Germany because “the Pentagon wouldn’t allow him to bring cameras.” (untrue)   But even if HAD visited the troops McCain had another ad (lie) ready claiming Obama used the visit/troops for political gain.   Here’s what FactCheck.org has to say.
   
• In another recent ad, he’s claiming Obama is the guy to thank for the high price of gasoline.  Complete nonsense, according to FactCheck.org   And here is what USA Today editorial board had to say about it.

I’m sorry, but if you believe the crap in these ads, you are as big an idiot as McCain’s team takes you for.  

Tonight I found myself craving something sweet and looked in the cupboards to see what I might have hidden away.  I realized I had all the ingredients for a delicious caramel popcorn recipe, which I haven’t made for years.  It sounded perfect. 

3/4 C brown sugar
3/4 C white sugar
1/2 C dark Karo (light also works)
1/2 C water
1 Square butter (NOT margarine)
1/8 tsp cream of tarter
1 tsp soda

Mix everything but the soda and cook on medium high.  Stir and cook to “soft ball” stage – not too firm.  Remove from heat and quickly stir in soda (makes it foamy).  Pour over popcorn – makes at leasat 2 large mixing bowls full.

I only wanted enough to cover a microwave bag of popcorn – and 1/3 recipe did it great.  1/2 recipe would give tons of coating if you’re so inclined.    Try it and let me know what you think!

What treats do you find yourself craving at night?

Last night I was out doing a little shopping and stopped by Macy’s at Alderwood Mall.  Knowing my daughter, Ashley, is still trying to find something to wear to her American Idol audition on Tuesday, decided to check out the sale racks.   

I found a couple of dresses that I thought might fit and that Ashley might like and pulled out the phone camera and sent her a pic of one of them.  She called right back with a “That is SO CUTE!”  So I knew I was on the right track.

I have to just publicly thank the darling sales associate, Ayse, who actually agreed to TRY THE DRESSES ON so I could get an idea of how they looked and if they might fit.   She is a little shorter/smaller than Ashley – but it was so helpful!

I took pics and sent them to Ashley – and with Ayse’s help we determined that the black/pink/white Nine West dress would probably fit (and looked much better on).   And at 75% off, I couldn’t pass it up.

So I popped it in the mail late last night – keep your fingers crossed it arrives on Monday… and that it fits!

Have you ever had a sales associate that really went out of their way to be helpful?

I live in a small, 1 bedroom condo – less than 800 square feet.  But after living in apartments for several years I was so sick of white walls that I went color-happy.   

With the help of Benjamin Moore (and my sister), I painted the living/dining/kitchen/hall (all connected in some way) a combination of Henderson Buff (a pale yellowish green), Monroe Bisque (beige), and Plum Raisin. It sounds like a lot of color, but it looks really cool with the asian feel of my furnishings.  

My bathroom is a lovely taupe/stone color, and my bedroom is Dijon (mustard yellow).  There is nary a white wall in the place, other than inside closets.   It took me several months to complete and my right shoulder has never been the same.

While at the Benjamin Moore paint store, I noticed some really cool shimmering metallic glazes.    Mind you, I have a love of all things sparkly, opalescent, irridescent and metallic and my mind started racing with possibilities….  unchecked, I could turn my place into a tacky, gawdy nightmare    But I restrained myself and recently came up with an elegant plan.

I don’t have a headboard, and so decided to make an entire wall a lovely focal point for the room using metallic glazes.

I started by designing the general layout for the wall.   Then I started taping off the squares.  I could only do one layer at a time, because the glaze has to dry before taping/painting over the corners with another color.   I used a combination of a small roller brush, a dry sponge and a rag.  I’m still not sure which method I like best.

It took me about 2 weeks, painting a portion nearly every evening, to get this far.  I still have a few of the most sheer/pale squares to go – but this gives a good idea of how it looks.  (Click the photo to enlarge).   It’s a sublte effect, and doesn’t really show in the photos, but some of these squares really shimmer – especially when the light hits them just right.   Once all the squares are done, I’m will probably sponge over the whole thing with a sheer, shimmery gold glaze so that it catches the light even more.   

I love it.  It looks great with the beaded curtain (real, hand strung amber and gold glass beads – and shimmery gold ribbon)  that leads to my closet. 

Did I mention I like sparkly, shiny stuff?

 So what do you think?   Are you inspired to create your own shimmering (or other) wall?

As suggested by friend Chris Spiro on her blog, I’m playing the Memory Tag game. 

Here’s how you play:

1. As a comment on this blog post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn’t matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory of you.

It’s actually pretty funny to read the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I’ll assume you’re playing the game and I’ll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don’t want to play on your blog, or if you don’t have a blog, I’ll leave my memory of you in my comments.

And if you know Chris, be sure to post a memory on her blog!

I have fond memories of summer kiddie matinees in the late 60s, at the old Villa Theatre in Salt Lake (now Adibs Rug Gallery).

Just a theatre full of kids and popcorn and movies.  I don’t recall my parents ever being there - could you even imagine that these days? Did you do this as a kid?

I can’t remember most of the movies we saw, but there was one that has always stood out in my mind.   Although I knew it had something to do with Captain Nemo, I couldn’t recall it’s name.  It never showed up as a late night tv movie, and if ever I described the movie and asked anyone if they’d seen it, I’d get blank stares.

Why was it so memorable?  It was an undersea adventure.  I remember vivid scenes of fish and coral – and people wearing beautiful blues and purples in an underwater city of gold.  And a sea monster and submarines. Something about it captivated my imagination as a youth and so over the years I’ve searched google using all sorts of name/word combinations trying to figure out what it was, to no avail.

Well, last night I happened to do a search again – and I FOUND IT! And, would you believe that it was also YESTERDAY that someone posted the entire movie on YouTube???   I couldn’t believe it….   and yes, I actually watched the whole thing – and it made me smile  (though I was not thrilled when Captain Nemo broke off a piece of coral, explaining how they used it for building/decorating the city…. Kristin will understand.) What a trip down memory lane.  I love YouTube.

I give to you, Captain Nemo and the Underwater City (1969 trailer)

When I first posted this, the entire movie was available to view (in segments) on YouTube. It has since been removed, so if you want to see it you’re going to have to buy it online at Amazon.

Well, those little slugs I was finding a few months ago have become really BIG slugs. They are actually kind of cool looking, but also rather disgusting  – and do a lot of damage in the garden. They have to go.

I’ve tried beer, which did lure a bunch of them to their deaths, but was pretty gross to dispose of.  I’ve used a slug poison that really works, but I don’t like using it because I think it could kill the frogs I like to have around. I’m also using “Sluggo” pellants but can’t tell if it’s doing much of anything….

So I have also resorted to a nightly hunt in the garden. Around 10pm, I wander out with a flashlight and look for slime trails – and usually find at least one big slug each night.

Here is last night’s prize….  (image is actual size)

I liked his leopard spots (many of them are just dark brown or a sickly pale green) and I like his funky antennae. He’s making his way around the hand shovel I used to scoop him up. (Don’t pick slugs up with your hands – their icky slime takes forever to wash off!). After our photo session, I put him in a plastic bag, tied the knot and stuck him in the trash. Poor slug.

Today, my little sister turns….  well, let’s just call it another year older.

She always has to share her birthday with that of our nation, but this year, I’m not celebrating Independence Day at all – today, it’s just

Kristin’s birthday! 

Isn’t she cute as a 3 1/2 year old?
(or was it 4 1/2)     

Here are a few things you may or may not know about Kristin….

First, you’ll never find a more loyal friend.  She’ll defend you to the end – but will also be your conscience, because she is, after all, the fairness police   It’s been a difficult struggle for her to recognize and accept that life just isn’t fair – because she wants it to be for EVERYONE!

She used to be the responsibility police as well.   But over time, I think she’s discovered life can be more enjoyable if we don’t take responsibility for others responsibility or lack thereof.  With age comes wisdom.   

Kristin is generous to a fault – as exhibited by her innumerable acts of thoughtfulness.   A card with a little cash hidden in the back, just because she knows you’ve hit a rough spot financially (never mind she might be too)….   cards and gifts sent off in time for every birthday or holiday, hours upon hours spent editing photos or videos to make a special surprise, finding ways to help pay for my trip to Hawaii with her when I couldn’t really afford it.   

As a teenager, I’d find sweet notes from her hidden in my room, or flown at me in the form of a paper airplane. I’d come home to discover a gold lame’ bag, filled with M&Ms on my pillow…. Kristin spent her allowance money to do that – even though I teased her horribly, pretending I was going to drop her off the balcony (I suspect she actually enjoyed that game, knowing I wouldn’t REALLY drop her) and making her sell popcicles with Chris for a measley reward. But this post is about Kristin, not me…

She has always been a good sport too.  Especially with her hair.  Whenever I’d get the itch to cut my long hair, she let me satisfy it by cutting hers instead.   She’s had a lot of hairstyles over the years.

And she’s been willing to indulge my silliness and cosmic musings in a way that only a sister can.   She can be pretty silly herself, though.    We have an ongoing habit that if we ever go to a restaurant or store that takes your order/reservation, and then says “could I get a name?” – the name they get is Guenivier, which always draws strange looks.  I love seeing how they try to spell it.   Mind you they never ask, “could I get your name” – it’s always just a name… so we feel no obligation to give them ours.

She has always been there to help with the really hard stuff, whenever I’ve needed her and when no one else showed up (or even if they did).  

Stuff like apartment hunting, packing/ hauling/ unpacking for multiples moves, painting houses, cleaning out houses, drafting divorce and child support agreements, working til 2am (hours after everyone else had left) to help me hang a hundred butterflies from the church ceiling/arrange huge trees to create the perfect “enchanted forest” for Ashley’s wedding, working her butt off in the kitchen during the reception (along with mom, bart and grandma) because the stupid R.S. ladies who committed to be there didn’t show up.  I could NOT have pulled off Ashley’s wedding without her.

Kristin is smart as a whip - though she didn’t realize it til far too late in her life.  She is a talented writer, a whiz with numbers, and can turn ANYTHING into a chart or graph that will blow your socks off.    She’s really quite brilliant.  And, I’m so happy that she shares my disdain for “tacky forms” – and recognizes the importance of a well laid out newsletter or webpage.   

AND – even better, she’s a total wordnerd!

Oh, and along with this smart thing – she’s ORGANIZED. I have made a pie chart graphic in her honor. As she has said many times: A man without a plan is not a man…. (I, apparently, am not a man).

She thinks ahead, when we travel she provides these incredible checklists to make sure we don’t forget anything. When we traveled to Hawaii together for the first time, over a period of a couple months she emailed a history of the islands, information about the culture, just stuff to make sure the trip was all it could possibly be.  She’s just very considerate, including sharing the benefits of her organizational skills with all – and I really appreciate it.

She’s also got a great sense of humor and we do our fair share of laughing when we’re together.  And we seem to keep her kids amused.

Speaking of which, she’s also a great mom, and has raised (is raising) two incredible smart, gifted, thoughtful, respectful, fun kids. She’s instilled in them the understanding that they can trust their own feelings and judgement – that they are capable of making wise decisions – and they do. A devoted companion to Craig, I think he’d tell you she’s the perfect wife for him.  She starts planning months in advance for a birthday, anniversary or Christmas gift for him – to make sure it is something thoughtful, unique and meaningful.
  

She can be tough and strong and put you in your place if you’re out of line… it’s the Marine in her. Yes, a Marine. (“I can make you handicapped if you want to park there legally….”)  She’s also sensitive, compassionate and tenderhearted. I’m grateful she was able to attend to our mom/grandma during the last couple of weeks of my grandmother’s life. I know it was really hard for her – both physically and emotionally – but she never complained and turned it into a beautiful experience.

We share more private jokes than one could possible count. She’s been my travel companion, commiserator, emotional counselor, technical support, fellow photo fanatic, partner in crime, conscience, cheerleader, moral support and best friend for longer than I can remember. And, honestly, I don’t know how I would have survived many of my life experiences without her. I’m so glad I didn’t have to find out….

Love you – happy birthday!

P.S. Let’s plan another trip!

Yesterday I stopped at the mailbox, excited to see what Netflix had sent me (I don’t keep track of my queue sometimes) and hoping I might even be surprised by a card, letter or a check from a client.  But no….   instead, I was greeted by an envelope bearing the dreaded words:

IMPORTANT!  JURY SUMMONS ENCLOSED - IMMEDIATE RESPONSE REQUIRED

I don’t have time for jury duty!  Not that I would mind serving as a juror, mind you, but being the sole support for my household I kind of need my income….  

PLUS, they have sommoned me for the week that Brandon & Jennifer will be bringing granddaughters Emily and Marie for a visit.    (I can request a postponement, thank heavens)

So share your jury experiences with me.  Ever been summoned before?  Ever served?  Ever gotten out of serving?   Any suggestions for convincing them I really need to be excused?  Have any good jury stories?