What's on my mind

I had a dream last night.

My mother, brother and I got into a taxi but not by opening the door, we had to climb through the windows! Our driver was hunched over the steering wheel with his head turned to the right. He had some kind of condition and that's how he drove, the whole way- YIKES!

We got on the craziest freeway that had no middle barriers or side railings and we were high above the city almost in the clouds. The lane we were in suddenly came to an abrupt end and instead of driving off the edge we somehow made it into the next lane.

We finally got into the city - I forgot to mention we were in New York - and soon arrived at my godmother's house.

I started having a conversation with my mother when all of a sudden she morphed into Whoopi Goldberg. She was still my mother but in the form of Whoopi Goldberg!

Ok, if anyone can interpret that dream I'd be greatful!

I'd like to share a note I wrote to my mom. It's kind of personal but I feel compelled to share it with you because sometimes it's hard not being with her. I don't share this with a lot of people but my mother has Alzheimer's and I don't believe she quite knows who I am sometimes. I don't get to hear her voice often so I mostly communciate by writing to her.

Hi Mother!

I am wondering if you are having a good day. How is the weather, is it hot? The weather in San Diego is quite pleasant. (I drew a smiley face)

What are you up to? Right now I am reading 3 books at the same time. Don't ask me how I manage but so far so good!

What's for dinner tonight? I plan on making teriyaki burgers. Yummy! I think I'm going to use ground turkey instead of hamburger. What do you think? For dessert I would like something simple but I keep wanting cake! A white cake with fruit in the middle. (And then I ran out of space)

Always remember Mommie Dearest how much I love you!

Your daughter, Bonnie

Here is a pic of my mother and father and their littlest BonBon.

Hope you all give your loved ones an extra hug today!

For he's a jolly good kitty

A shout out to our friend Baby Kitty who just turned 8 years old!

Happy birthday old man!

Baby Kitty's story is a fabulous rags to riches tale (or is it tail) that you will want to read here.

The festivities began Friday night...

...and is still going strong!

And now a birthday toast from Kitty:
Age is something that doesn't matter unless you are a cheese!

I'm sure you all know the words to this tune...




As we all know, birthdays are nature's way of telling us to eat more cake so

here's something special we baked just for you Baby Kitty!

ENJOY!

trip back in time

I have been on the look out for cake eyeliner for some time now without much success. I do have an eye shadow by Lancome that you can use wet or dry but I'm looking for a product with a price point that won't break the bank! Say something under 10 bucks.

Back in the day I loved Maybelline or Yardley cake eyeliners. I guess they've gone out of fashion.

I remember when Yardley was a HOT product. I loved the packaging it was so MOD and COOL. Their commercials were mostly shown during the Monkees TV show, take a look...

Oh yes, I was a GROOVY girl!

Olivia Hussey, wasn't she gorgeous! I almost forgot about Oh! de London cologne.

Believe me I had all the products. I wanted a London luv story as much as this girl!

Jean Shrimpton, one of the IT girls of the 60s


OMG, I am having a total flashback to the hallways of my old high school trying to avoid Sister Mary Margaret Something-or-other and grooving to the sounds of oh, say...Daydream Believer or I Got You Babe on my transistor because iPods hadn't been invented yet!

Our uniform consisted of saddle shoes, white short sleeve blouses and blue plaid woolen pleated skirts. Wool in Hawaii, whose idea was that! We also had uniform inspections every morning, and seriously, GOD help you if you weren't wearing a full length slip. That would cost you at the very least, three Hail Mary's, one Our Father, the Act of Contrition and a trip home.

I later switched to a public shool and after years of being sheltered with the nuns I really did experience a little culture shock! They were crazy in public school, swearing, smoking, rude gestures! You know, real life!

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday!

Happy 4th of July

Hope you are all enjoying your 4th of July today. What are you up to? BBQg, enjoying a picnic, ballgame, the pool or beach? Maybe you're taking a snooze in your hammock in the backyard?

Happy 4th of July

My nephew and his high school marching band (he plays the trombone) were in a patriotic parade today where he lives in Ohio.

Myself, I sit here at the computer with a pomtini in hand. It's hot and a drink certainly helps with the thought process! Here's the recipe, it's delish but if you don't have all the ingredients let me tell you that vodka (I used raspberry flavored vodka), pomegranate juice and a splash of ginger ale if you have it do the trick just fine.

Refreshing!

• 1 ounce freshly squeezed pomegranate juice
• 1 1/2 ounces vodka
• 1 1/2 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
• 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1/2 ounce Simple Syrup
• Ice cubes
• Orange peel, for garnish

In a cocktail shaker, combine pomegranate juice, vodka, grapefruit juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and ice; shake until well combined. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Twist orange peel over cocktail and add to glass; serve.

I am awaiting a friend or two to drop over for an afternoon of chili dogs, sides, drinks and movies. I am especially wanting to watch Independence Day; I'm thinking the theme at least is appropriate even if involves aliens!

Chili dog heaven!

We have been following the news as the newly minted duke and duchess have made their way over to our part of the world. They are enjoying some Canadian hospitality right now but plan to join us in California on July 8-10. Here are a series of "wish you were here" type postcards as they appeared in Us magazine.

A little something for the folks back home!

Finally, it wouldn't be the 4th of July without Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, held since 1916! This year's winner (for the 5th time in a row) is Joey (aka Jaws) Chestnut who downed 62 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes! The female winner was Sonya (aka The Black Widow) Thomas who managed 40 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.

Joey Chestnut displaying championship form

Ladies who lunch! The Black Widow in the middle at 40 hot dogs.

Ah, food lovers! I'm sure they'll reunite next year.

And that's another 4th of July Independence Day for the books!
Have a great week everybody!

Mid week interlude

I must sheepishly admit to feeling a bit like the absent minded professor today as I have spent the entire day at work with mismatched shoes.

Where exactly was my brain this morning?

Amazingly no one noticed but you know I could start a new trend. I mean after all if Helena Bonham Carter can get away with it on the red carpet well so can I!

I really don't think we'll be setting a new trend any time soon!

Hot fun in the summertime

Happy 2nd official day of SUMMER! I think I can finally put my little over used space heater to bed till fall rolls around. The skies are blue and the days are warming up nicely. Not too hot...yet!

Any plans for the summer? If I could, I would get me a little trailer and toodle around the countryside like Mike and Frank from my new FAVORITE TV show American Pickers!

Frank and Mike doing their best American Gothic

You can catch the guys on the History Channel already into its second season. I've only just discovered it so there are lots of episodes for me to catch up on.

The dudes

These long time friends are based in Iowa and the show takes you along as they explore America's backroads and countryside searching for long buried treasure that they hope to re-sell at their store Antique Archaeology. They are ably aided by Danielle at home base who finds contacts for the boys over the phone and internet.

A fantastic find!

One of the reasons I enjoy the show is that it's a travelogue of the American countryside. You never know what they'll find in attics, basements and decrepit old barns besides raccoons and spiders. They even came across a home that was once a part of the underground railroad, talk about history! The guys have expanded their picking and recently came out west to Arizona and southern California.

Mike, Frank and Danielle probably dreaming about their next pick

My pickings don't send me too far. Just to the Goodwill and neighborhood yard sales. On a recent visit to Goodwill I did manage to score a pair of brand new capris (black stretchy denim with a daisy print) and two bracelets for a mere $8. Definitely not the kind of stuff Mike and Frank would search out but I'm sure they'd agree I did OK on the price.

Sound like fun? Hop in my little pink caddie if you'd like to come along. The more the merrier I always say.

See ya!
Oh! The places you'll go!

HAPPY SUMMER, HAPPY PICKING!

Hi everybody, my apologies for a rather prolonged absence from the blogging scene. I haven't been well these last few months but I've decided the best therapy is to get blogging again but how to bring you up to date? I thought maybe a fun way to do that would be to recap a recent phone conversation I had with my friend Heidi from back home.

Heidi and I met back in the deep dark 80s when we both took 80s fashion seriously from big hair to big shoulders...thankfully, we have moved on!

the 80s!

After a discussion on friends, family, weather and recent goings on, we got to the good stuff like....Dancing With the Stars! We were outraged and declared it a travesty that Kirstie Alley made it not only to the final three but to the top two! She robbed both Ralph Macchio and Chelsea Kane of their rightful spots in the finals.

Kirstie and Max

Thank goodness Hines Ward and Kym Johnson won the mirror ball trophy or I would have fallen out of bed and thought the world had gone completely mad!

Hines and Kym in a winning dance number

The adorable Chelsea Kane with Mark Ballas. Chelsea was cute as a button, talented and a worthy competitor.

Chelsea and Mark

Heidi and I felt that the final dance competition should have been between Hines and Chelsea. It seems like the voting is more about fan base than true talent. Anyway, I look forward to the next chapter in Dancing With the Stars. With all the seriousness going on in the world today, I enjoyed being swept away if only for a little while.

Ok, who got up and watched the wedding? You know which one! I admit to getting up at 3:30 in the morning all bleary eyed and watching...well, in between cat napping that is.

Young William all grown up

So I hear that Will and Kate will be in southern California this summer. What are the odds that they will be staying with the Beckhams?

The Beckham's at the royal wedding

Wouldn't it be fun if they had a reality show called Bunking With The Beckhams?


I'd like to let the duke and duchess know that Disneyland and SeaWorld both have exciting and fun new attractions this summer so start saving up!

Aaargh! I seem to have misplaced my camera! I had some photos to share but that will have to wait for another time. I remember taking pictures outside last Sunday and now can't remember where I placed my camera. Wish me luck.

Have a great week!