We narrowly escaped the ice storm that hit Oklahoma and a few other Midwest states so hard. It just poured yesterday, but it never got quite cold enough to really freeze on the trees or power lines. They were calling for some snow last night, but we didn't get any, and the roads were in great shape this morning. I know that weather forecasting involves much uncertainty, but I kind of wish they'd just 'fess up and say, "We really don't know if this is going to happen." It seems that they're wrong more often than they're right. I'm not really complaining about our weather people--they generally do a fine job and help us plan things. But could you just admit that it's inexact?
I wondered the other day if there is a song called "Christmas Rap." Well, almost! Comedian Tim Cavanaugh has a song called "Christmas Wrap," and it's about a guy working at a kiosk in the mall wrapping Christmas presents. My favorite line goes something like, "I use a tape, its name is Skee-otch!" Ha!
Have you heard the reviews of the Led Zeppelin reunion show in London? Unbelievable. I was never a huge Zep fan, but I had a few albums and listened to them quite a bit when I was in college. I've heard clips of the show, and they really did sound incredible. Jason Bonham got raves for his drumming, and the whole band sounded great, Plant's vocals included. I'd be willing to bet that based on the great reviews, they'll decide to tour. Would I want to go see them? Nah, probably not, unless I won tickets--I'm sure it will be a pricey ticket, like another band that I won't mention (Police). Like I said, I was never that into them. I've seen the Stones, and that was probably the ultimate for me. (It's the only concert where I ever screamed like a girl when they ran out onstage. I can't explain it...it was just such a cool moment, and I love those guys.)
I've mentioned that my friend Jillian from work started an online book club, and we're reading the Modern Library's top 100 novels of the 20th century. I asked her permission today to put up a link, so if anyone is interested in checking it out, here is the Tiptop 100 book club forum. You have to sign up to be a member to post, but take a look, read the comments, and see if you might be interested. We're currently on #99, The Ginger Man by J. P. Donleavy, and it's pretty rough going. We're all struggling with it a little, mostly because we find the characters pretty abhorrent. For a while, I wondered if I was going to be able to finish it, but Ken gave me a little pep talk and kept me going, and I'm far enough along now that I know I'll be able to finish it.
We got our shelf hung above the TV, and I put stuff up on it last night. We had a really nice (large) picture hung there, but when we got the big TV, it covered up half of the picture. When Kim and Steve were out here last March, I asked her opinion of what I should do with that spot (she teaches design at a college in central Cal). I said I was thinking of a shelf, and she agreed that would look good. I found a cherry shelf at Penney's, Ken hung it this weekend, and I loaded it with these huge pine cones from the golf course by our timeshare in Florida (a nice reminder of our home-away-from-home) and some framed feathers that I put together this summer. I may tweak it a little bit, but I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out! It's at just the right height, and the stuff I put on the shelf isn't too tall or too short...it's juuuust right! Ha!
At the risk of sounding like HGTV, the shelf makes me think of one of Ken's great ideas. To hang shelves or pictures, he puts a dab of toothpaste on the holes or hooks on the back of the picture (I use Closeup toothpaste, which is red, so it works great), then holds it up to the wall and asks me where it looks best (and for the shelf we used a level). When he finds the spot, he presses it against the wall, and the toothpaste shows exactly where to put the nails. Brilliant!
5 comments:
Glad to hear the weather isn't as bad as it could have been. Seems like your weather is exciting enough as it is.
We had a slight frost warning for a few hours during the night. So there I was, in my work clothes, hosing down the plants in the dark. No obvious frost this morning!
Sounds like the shelf is working out well. Perhaps you can post a picture. Then again, it depends on how many critiques you want!
Well, I best get back to "work" (working at home on tons of papers). This is ever so much more fun.
Hi! You've got that right about our "exciting" weather. We're happy whenever we manage to dodge the bullet! Glad your plants made it through the "big chill!" :)
Beth
Thanks, Kengineer rescues another damsel in distress :o))
Hey I do that with the toothpaste!!! Guess my little secret is not such a secret... not sure where I learned that one. Anyway the shelf sounds beautiful and like it is a lovely way to display great memories!
Hey Aubs! Or it's the other way around: Ken's little secret isn't such a secret! Thanks for the comment!
Beth
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