Tazas Live Artz

My friend Bryan calls and tells me he just has to share a story with me. He is a landscaper and in the middle of a job his mower dies. He cannot coax it into restarting; so in a bad temper simmering in depression and frustration he packs up and heads home. On the way home he calls his wife and fusses about how depressed he is, frustrated, his mower has died, why things are so wrong. She listens and calmly tells him she will be home soon. They hang up. He goes back out to the garage to work on the mower. He gets it started, loads it back up in the truck and his wife arrives home. She greets him and goes in the house where she quietly sits. Bryan is a bit confused about why she is home and assumes she has a Dr. apt and just wants to clean up before she goes. He finishes the job with the client and heads back home. His wife is still sitting in the same spot. He asks her what is going on. She asks him what is going on. “You call me at work, tell me your mother died and then go to mow a lawn!!”  Bryan busts out laughing. “I said mower not mother.” She went back to work. This tale had me giggling all day.

There I am, driving through suburbia on my way to a client when I pause because I see a squirrel to my left. I slow down and he decides to change his mind and runs back to the left. As I start to accelerate a depraved, suicidal squirrel runs out from the right going about 47mph and dashes under my car.

 I left off the gas pedal but do not stomp the brake for fear if I am going to run him over now I will smear his little carcass down the street and I could not accept that. Moving at a slow pace further along, I see him charging on across the street; healthy, intact and with all his parts. Relief.

Dude!!! You are in the right turn only lane. Two lanes over is the left turn lane. Your right turn blinker is on. The light changes and you shoot across two lanes and turn left. What the bloody hell is wrong with you!!!

My client has moved their office to a local college. I am driving around the place looking for visitor parking. I drive for about 7 minutes. NO visitor parking. So I head out into the parking chaos of students leaving campus and arriving on campus and walking from the parking lot and to the parking lot. It is like a Mall parking lot on Black Friday. Just as I see a spot and turn on my signal a boy sees me and slows down to gawk at my Cougar gorgeousness. A car behind him sees the spot and makes the turn into the spot I wanted. I am fussed up and as I tap on the gas two more boys are stepping up to my car to cross in front of me. I nearly killed them. This was NOT a positive experience. But I can with confidence say I have been there, survived and will live to return again.

The live art at Tazas last night was wonderful. Ashlee painted a beautiful belly dancer.

 Stella performed amazing dances with swords, cane, zills and candles. 

Trinidad played some awesome drums and I, well I got to paint with henna. I had four victims and enough henna to practice practice practice.

 Thanx Stella!!

I have to get the photos downloaded.

Enjoy your adventure!

Bad Customer Care Rep

I am still fighting the failure of my back up sensors. They worked; the guy ran into my car, they broke. The repair was made, 3 weeks later they do not work. Now I am having to experience havoc to get them back to working. I call the insurance company back and as I explain to the male creature on the other end of the phone the situation (I was supposed to get a call back on Monday and did not) he asks me if I have insurance with this company. Excuse me?? He repeats the question. I had given him my name and I know from past experience that my info is on his screen. He asks me again if I have insurance with this company. Really?? I am already fussed up because the insurance company had told my service advisor that they had no reported problem from me regarding my car. 

So…. As male creature asks me his question a second time I proceed to straight to battle I did not even pass Go.  Why would I have called you if I did not have insurance with you? If I had insurance with Geico I would have called Geico. If I had insurance with Farmers I would have called Farmers. YES I have insurance with you. He proceeds to tell me in his petulant California voice that he will not be spoken to like that.  Then perhaps sunshine you should rephrase you question. He then whines that he will not continue this conversation with me. Excellent I say please put another rep on the phone. (I actually said this in a cheerful enthusiastic voice). The bloody muggle hung up on me.

Well… you can imagine the conversation between me and the next rep when I called back. Heeheee. I even keyed in my account number wrong as an experiment. She still had me on screen because it located my account via the phone number I called in on automatically. I filed a complaint against male creature, and then got down to business. The rep I talked to at the insurance company in the first placed had failed to tell me he needed a copy of the service record and receipt so the board could review to decide if was a malfunction caused by the accident or not. REALLY!!!!  I am now considering changing insurance companies. 3 strikes in one day are enough to try the patience of Job.

My Artz Council is having our first Live Artz show at Tazas this evening. I am excited. Please come by between 7 and 9 and check us out. We will have artist Ashlee Collins Mathis painting on canvas. Stella who will be performing belly dance will be her muse so we should end up with a beautiful painting of an exotic belly dancer. Trinidad will be performing with her playing drum. It should be a fun evening watching some of the Artz Councils very talented members. If I could have just found someone to do henna during the evening; maybe there is still time.

Anyone out there want to donate a couple hours to some possible henna designs?

I was helping out with the Rotary Golf Tournament with Moola when while we were on our beer rounds (we got to drive a beer cart around) she jumped out of the cart and ran away.  Fortunately my friend from Geico found her and rescued her. Thanx JR.

My mother asked me last night if I wish my dad had a grave and headstone so I could go talk to him.  Mom! I know where he is over at Ft. Sam and besides I have some of his ashes in a mason jar in my house. I can get his jar and talk to him anytime I like. She just shook her head and grinned. WHAT???

I have a meet so I am going to get ready!

Frank James Visits

In 1868 my 2^nd cousin Sarah Elizabeth Pearis married David Emmons Johnston born in Pearisburg in 1845. He was well educated and a writer. He became a judge and Vice President of a brand new bank, Princeton Bank & Trust that had recently opened in Princeton West Virginia. Judge Johnston was the attorney for the bank. 

He was also a soldier in the Confederate Army and wrote The Story of a Confederate Boy in the Civil War.

In January 1843 Alexander Franklin James was born and 4 years later he would meet his little brother Jesse. You may know him better as Frank James, bank-robber member of the Younger-James Gang. 

What you may not know is that Frank was very well educated, an avid reader and very well versed in the works of Shakespeare. He was a soldier in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

Judge Johnston built a house in Princeton for his family. 

It had 7 fireplaces, 4 bedrooms, 2 kitchens, 2 bathrooms a receiving room and a grand circular staircase. Inside the home was a vertical Schubert piano.

This home, owned by Johnston was one of only two structures that survived the burning of Princeton during the Civil War. A smaller building on the property served as Princeton’s first post office.  

The James Gang happened to be Huntington when they heard rumor of a new bank in Princeton. Frank went to investigate. He arrived in town and entered the bank posing as a salesman. The building was still in the stages of completion and as of yet still did not have a safe. Frank claimed he was a salesman from a company that made safes. He was advised to seek out Mr. Johnston the banks attorney and Vice President. He was invited into the home of the Johnston’s. He stayed for dinner, he played the piano, and he exchanged war stories with Mr. Johnston. The following day Frank left town and returned to Huntington. The bank was not robbed.

Was the bank not robbed because it was small? Because there was not a safe and Frank assumed there was no money? Did he bond with the Johnston’s while he enjoyed an evening of intellectual conversation and music around the piano? Was the fact that Princeton suffered during the Civil War reason to leave them in peace?  

The James Gang did have a policy that they would not “rob a banking institution presided over and owned by an ex-Confederate soldier."

In August of this year the Pearis-Johnston Home was auctioned and demolished.

Probably to make room for a Walmart.

Tomorrow ….. maybe we will chat about Reverend Robert Sallee James. 

Brake Fail

I have become an old senile woman. I had my glasses on while I was ghost hunting because I came across an old newspaper article I was having trouble reading. Monday morning my glasses are gone. Vanished as if the fairies that weave knots into your hair at night had whisked them away and are hiding behind photographs on my book cases making a jolly at me.

The brakes on my car failed to work while I was driving on a wet road. Imagine my surprise when I attempted to stop. Oh yeah big fun!

But wait! There is more. The backup sensors on my car that were just repaired and replaced due to the attack on my car by the Hyundai a couple months ago; are no longer operating and I nearly backed over a huge hedge.

Then after I took Gucci out to piddle after being in his crate  for about 4 hours he comes  back in and while I am outside unloading the supplies I had purchased out of the car piddles a HUGE puddle right on the bed. HUGE!! Not 3 minutes after coming back inside. So now I have to wash bed linens again! I had just washed them on Sunday.

My Esthetician Karen seems to have flown the coop and I do NOT trust anyone else with my face.

I need a garden tub, a beach, an amazing breakfast, a fabulous dinner and a 25 year old Scotch.

Well, I am off to see what magical adventures await me today!

Blushing Boy

I am not sure what happened outside in the parking lot last night but as I was walking Gucci this morning we came across 1 lone pink pump. Barbie sized, just lying on its side alone on the pavement.  

So I am in a hurry, I have not eaten and I have about 45 minutes between scene changes. The McDonalds on the corner has just re-opened from being closed for a facelift and I have not had McDonald fries in ages. I drive through and order a number 3 meal.

 I pull forward to pay and little drive though boy starts to get his game on. He flirts and allows his stares to linger just a wee bit too long. His voice changes to an almost husky whisper. A bit shocked by this and remembering I have on no make-up and my hair is a hot tangled mess on my head I decide to throw some tease on him. As he hands me back my card I wrap one finger around his hand and proceed to slide my eyes from his fingertips, up his arm and linger on his lips before meeting his eyes. The most adorable thing happened. He blushed, his entire face, neck and arm turned a lovely shade of pink. I smiled, released his hand, thanked him and drove forward. Son! If you are going to pull blade be aware of your opponent.

I come flouncing out of the bank (there is no other word I can use to describe this movement) and there in the front row of the parking lot is a 1975 baby blue Lincoln in all its boxy, oversized, ostentatious glory. I stop in mid stride and gawk. My eyes get hung up on the license plate; Elmer B it says. The owner is still in his vehicle where he is applying a comb to his side parted, neatly trimmed, James Dean haircut. He steps out checks his shirt collar, pats down his pockets, stands up to his full height, lifts his head and saunters into the bank. I feel like I am on a movie set and any minute Patsy Cline will starting singing the Tennessee Waltz.  The man had to be about 76 and must have been a hotty in his youth.

We the Artz Council have created an event at Tazas a local coffee shop. There will be live painting by Ashlee Collins. She will have a muse, Stella who will belly dance to drums played by her husband Trinidad. Ashlee will be painting a belly dancer. I am trying to decide if I want to add a henna artist. I am thinking yes. I think it will add a feeling of intimacy. I would love a henna design.

What say you my friends? Henna or not?

Cousin Al and the Earps

I am having one of those I have nothing to say days. I hate it but at the same time I love it.

I stumbled upon a fascinating cousin while I was ghost hunting over the Labor Day weekend.  His adventures are the stuff movies are made of.  I wanted to do a lot more research on him before I told you about him. He was born in 1842 in Virginia. His death is a mystery; I can find no evidence of it anywhere except he was last seen in Salem Oregon, but that is a tale for another day. In 1881 he was living in Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona.  Sound familiar this place called Tombstone in Arizona?  How about the year? 1881?  On October 16 1881 Cousin Al, became enraged after arguing with Harry Barron over a bill.  He was using “abusive” language. A bootblack who worked at the establishment interfered in the argument. Cousin Al then pulled out a pocketknife and took two swipes at the bootblack cutting his head just above his ear.  Guess who happened to be on the scene?  Marshall Earp. He arrested Al and charged him “assault with intent to kill” handing him over to the Sheriff.  Does the month October in 1881 bring anything to mind in Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona?  Allow me to refresh your memory…. 

                                                  Tombstone 1881

    On October 26 1881 at about 3:00 in the afternoon Virgil Earp, Morgan Earp, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday had a gunfight with the Clanton brothers,   McLaury Brothers, and Billy Claiborn. 

                                                  Walter Virgil Earp

Is that the only connection between Al and the Earp’s? The answer to this is no.  I will close now with a smile.  Remember he was last seen in Salem, Oregon. He was also in his 20s during the Civil War. 

Oh there is more to tell about Cousin AL. Are you interested? Maybe a little curious?  Here is another interesting tidbit to ponder the movie “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” was filmed at The Oregon State Hospital.  This facility is located in Salem Oregon and was known until 1913 as Oregon State Insane Asylum.

Cheers!

DoT - It will be ugly

The Department of Transportation is rebuilding a section of interchange here. 

It is where Loop 1604 crosses I-35. The area involved are those people trying to go North from 1604 onto I-35 and those people attempting to head west from I-35 North to Loop 1604. Since I live here and have for a long time I know the ins and outs. What roads will take you wherever. Now let’s add on top of that the closure of another road near my home being done by the city or water people or someone.

 What should have been a straight shot to my drive is now a drive around where I live to get back to where I live. But part of that problem is intensified because there are angry people who have been diverted from their routine route into an area they are unfamiliar with. Yes there are detour signs but as you can guess there are the rebels who believe they can find a better route. So GPS sends them my way to a closed a street. Tempers are flared and driving is volatile. Getting to my mother’s home last night was an adventure. The DoT put out plenty of warning the best part of the PSA read “This is going to get ugly. Please, be patient.” Nice…haha

So I am at the movie yesterday sitting in my seat and at 2 minutes to the show time there are no ads, no TV teasers, nothing. Odd! By 10 after there is still nothing. I called the office and told them the movie had not started; still nothing. After another 2 minutes a young man sticks his head in and looks around. I speak from my VIP seats on high. “Are we going to start this movie today”? He says “ma’am you are in the wrong theater. This is 9 and you want 8.” Bloody Hell!!!! I laughed. I get out to the hall and right over the door in large letters it says 8RPX 

I point, he grins and points to the little 9 by the door. I point to the large 8 above our heads, he shrugs, shakes his head and his supervisor says. It happens a lot. While that was reassuring it also did not make me unique. I missed the pre-views but I did sit just as Riddick came on. 

No harm and I am still laughing at myself this morning. I have visions of me, the crazy lady that they just shake their head about and mutter…”oh yeah it is just Tamara she has a different drummer.” Maybe they say that now….

I forgot to lock Gucci up last night while I was gone so when I got home ….

1. Rug by the front door is now in the living room

2. Camera and bag are no longer on the couch, they are on the floor.

3. Camera is no longer in the bag.

4. Camera bag strap is chewed in half.

5. A seashell is chewed up and scattered on the living room floor.

6. He has peed on the pile of linen I was going to wash today.

7. He has shite twice on the same pile of linen.

8. He is cowering under a chair before I even step 4 paces through the door and have yet to assess the damage. He knew he had done some very wrong things.

DOGS!!!!!

Speaking of dogs some creature and their dog decided to shite on the sidewalk to my front door. There is a fence between the side walk and the street so it was not an accident of walking it was deliberate. That sidewalk only goes to my door. There are shrubs on the one side and the fence on the other.

Have a great day I definitely have to wash bed linens now. 

Centerpiece Trouble

Pot of tea, dainty cubes of sugar, ivory colored cream and a small bowl of strawberries. Do you know what is missing? Scones and clotted cream which I have recipes for however, I have only whole wheat flour. I wonder if they will taste the same. It’s a mystery. There is a local grocery that sells these little tea biscuits that are bagged and frozen and are very delicious. I suppose I could buy those and just make the cream.

My ? has become stubborn and unresponsive. Does that mean I am so smart I no longer need to ask questions or do I need to be separating ideas with / because my mind is thinking so fast. It is annoying!!!

Ahhhhhh!!!  I just had a thought I think I am responsible for the centerpieces for the luncheon today. Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! I have 4 hours to create fabulous!! Where is David Tutera???? I need centerpiece help!! We are launching the Gala today so everyone will be made aware of the theme. This is a splash! A Blitz! What am I going to do???  Our theme is Casino Royale  “A Night of Glitz and Glam” . My budget to decorate the table is $4.00.  I am so going to freak out in about 10 minutes. I will have to decorate via Walmart it is the only place open.

I had called my mother several times last night between 7 and 9 pm. She did not answer but I was not worried she may have been at the concert being held where she lives. At exactly 10:55pm my phone rang. It was my mom but she hung up after 1 ring. I rang her back this time a bit in a panic. She answered laughing. No she does not drink!  She noticed she had missed my calls and was attempting to listen to voice mail when the phone dialed my number and she freaked out when it started ringing so she hung up when I answered.  MOM!!!!

Neiman Marcus Beauty Event starts tomorrow!! Very excited! However the $125 bothers me. Wasn’t it $80 last year or maybe it was $100. In two years it will be spend $300 and get a free lipstick!!! NO!

Ok I am off to create centerpieces. 

Walk Dilemma

My walking partner moved to another side of town last Monday as she had to be out of her house. We found a more convenient location for her to get to so we could continue our morning walks. This of course threw my routine off. This morning she, probably right about now, she is loading her suitcase into her car and will be driving toward Maryland. So again this week my schedule is akimbo.

I have several options. Go back and walk the park alone. Start walking my hood again. Continue walking our newer location which by the way is inside and relatively safe. I shall explore this and other options this week which I hope will explain in advance a possible lack of breakfast letters.

For those of you concerned in my living situation here is how it fairs. I am forced to sign a yearlong lease with this place again. I am out of time to explore any other options. Am I happy about this? NO! Is $700 for a single pet as a deposit right? NO! Paying another $20 per month because of a pet right? NO! Proving I make 3 times the rent amount an indication of my ability to pay rent? NO!! Checking my credit score make me somehow worthy? NO!  Paying more by going month to month right either? NO! Here is the crush in all this. The carpet in this rat nest is disintegrating as is the pad under it, what is left of the pad. The edge of the carpet where it meets the wood flooring is frayed and bare to the weave. Will they replace my carpet? Yes, since my lease needs to be renewed. The problem is I will have to pack up everything and move it out and store it somewhere for about 3 days and then move it all back in.  If I am going to pack it all up I might as well move. The carpet is the thing about this place I hate. What to do???

I did not do any ghost hunting over the weekend. I did have house-guests  my daughter and granddaughter and my daughter’s friend, Norma. They all left last night and my bathroom looks like back stage at a beauty pageant. Hairsprays and gels on the counter. I had no idea I had some of those products. Make up remnants, a forgotten eye shadow box, and an almost empty container of make-up remover. Tipped over bottles of shampoo and conditioner in my shower along with a collection of shavers, and sugar rub defoliators are jumbling for space.  Body lotions and perfumes sit everywhere.

The library challenges I have set up for myself is very hit or miss right now. At one library I started with A and at the other I started with Z. I am working my way backward and forward through the alphabet. I have done this at libraries everywhere I live. Some days I check out a winner that I can scare put down for fear the action will continue and I will miss something, other times I have to force myself through the first chapter and then the second chapter in an effort to give the book a fair chance to engage me. I pick one shelf and have to find a book on that shelf. The next week I go to the next shelf and read my way through the library. If I absolutely cannot find a book then I must pick one from the “New Book” collection.  I will be returning to both libraries this week. I finished a great page turner and the other I made it through chapter 3 and it is not going any further.

I am starving so while I grab some Almond milk and granola you enjoy your adventure today.