Really Old School

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2015: Christmas In The Sonoran Desert
2014: Boxing Day Mani Pedi
2013: Racing Toward The New Year
2012: I Need A Support Group
2011: No One Mentioned The Elephant In The Room, But The Zebra Was A Big Topic Of Discussion
2010: White Chocolate Melts Away
2009: An Appetizer With Heart
2008: Angelic Eddie Friday
2007: Would You Like A Fried Egg With A Side Of Influenza?
2006: Cerrado
2005: The Best Gift Of All

Bring Me Some Snow!

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2015: Have A Very...
2014: The Christmas Table
2013: Wishes To The Whole World
2012: Merry Christmas!
2011: Who Says Money Doesn’t Grow On Trees? It’s Christmas!!
2010: Christmas Time Is Here
2009: Commanding Attention Once Again
2008: A Meal Of Delicious Cheesy Goodness And A Day Of Good Delicious Cheeriness
2007: The Merry. The Moments. The Memories.
2006: I Love Your Bawwwlls!!
2005: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

My Christmas Presents Are Safe

I made and served dinner - meat lasagna, spinach lasagna, salad, and bread - for me, my mother, Ed, Ed's parents, and my friend Kim - in our little temporary apartment.  After dinner was over and my guests left, I made a cheesecake for Christmas Day.

There was an NCIS marathon on which kept me company during the entire process.  And that's Agent Gibbs up there keeping an eye on our presents.

Not a bad way to spend a Christmas Eve.



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2015: O Christmas Plant, O Christmas Plant
2014: In The Shadow Of Friends
2013: Christmas Eve Big Ass Surf And Turf
2012: This Sled Is Being Pulled By Rudolph The Bucking Red Nosed Reindeer 
2011: Call Me For A Good Time – I’m ALWAYS Happy
2010: Blue Plates And Books For Christmas Eve
2009: Holiday Theft Is On The Rise…Right In Your Own Neighborhood!!
2008: The Team Finally Takes A Rest
2007: The Night Before Christmas And All Through The House
2006: The Only Visible Flames Came From The Candles On The Altar
2005: Tonight’s The Night, People

It's Never Too Late

Photo:  MarthaStewart.com

You have two days left until Christmas.  If you're a procrastinator like me, you're probably still shopping.  Don't fret, there's still time to get some great gifts.  Here are some things I love (any of which you should feel free to send me) that you might want to consider adding to your last minute shopping list.

First, let's not knock drugstores - Walgreen's, CVS, Duane Reade.  They have a surprisingly good selection of stuff everyone needs, and most of them are open 24-hours.  Some are even open on Christmas Day! Can't get more last minute than that.  My favorite is Walgreen's, and it just happens to be the one closest to my house.  If I were to cruise their aisles in the next day or two, I'd buy these cute lip balms, this super shiny top coat, my favorite powder blush, the best makeup remover towelettes on earth, the cleanser I use every day (dermatologist recommended!), and at least ten boxes of coffee flavored Nips.

But if you have a little more time to research, and don't plan on shopping Christmas Eve, take a look at these options:

APPS
One of my favorite apps the Audible app. I LOVE it!  If you know someone who enjoys reading, this free app gives subscribers offline access to its audiobooks.  Each month the subscriber receives a credit they can use toward downloading a new audiobook of any monetary value. The subscription also allows members a 30 percent discount off purchasing additional audiobooks from the website’s 180,000-plus titles.  Gift cards are available for three-month, six-month and 12-month subscriptions at $45, $90 and $150, respectively. Gift cards are also available for individual books.  I would love you for this.

There are tons of apps out there, and of course it may be hard to choose if you don't know the person well, but you can buy iTunes gift card if they have an iPhone, or a Google Play gift card if they're using an Android device.  You should be able to find both cards a local store that has one of those gift card displays.

SUBCRIPTION SERVICES
I love subscription services.  You can buy a one-time gift or if you really like the person, a recurring delivery of treats - edible and otherwise.  Check these out.

Harry and David - I haven't received this personally, but an old boss of mine used to get boxes delivered every month.  It was fantastic!

Blue Apron - I'd like to try one of these food delivery services.  I've seen so many commercials, I'm intrigued.

ArtSnacks - If I were to buy this one, I know exactly who the recipient would be.  What a great idea!

RunnerBox, CycleBox, and TriBox - These sound great.  Ed might just be getting one in the
future.

Birchbox - I'm totally putting this on my list.  Ed, are you reading this?

There are TONS of subscription services to choose from.  There's Beer of the Month Club for brew fanatics, ManCrates for guys, BarkBox for dog lovers, and many more. Start Googling, you're sure to find one that fits!  


MOVIES AND MORE
My first pick is Amazon Prime.  Not only do you get access to free movies, books, and music, but you get free shipping on tens of thousands off items found on their website. They have everything.  It may be a little pricey, but it's totally worth it.

Netflix - you can buy a gift card at Amazon, Target online, and Walmart online.  They'll be delivered to the recipient via email.

RedBox - Who doesn't love RedBox?  A movie for less than two bucks?  Give me this now!

Magazine subscriptions.  One of my favorite gifts EVER.  I love getting something in the mail every month.  This is the gift that you give once but can be enjoyed for a year or more (some two-year subscriptions are cheaper than buying lunch).  You can buy a magazine in a store, wrap it in a box and give it to the recipient.  You can buy a subscription online through Magazines.com or Amazon, or you can buy access to the Texture app, where they can access their magazines on their tablet or phone.

See?  There's hope for last minute shoppers.  If all else fails, and you're really pinched for time, you can always find a gift card to a local store.  I love getting ULTA, Barnes & Noble, Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, and others.  It allows me to get something I love - usually more than once - and it always fits.

Happy Last Minute Shopping!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2015: Pug Life
2014: The Capital Wheel Blur
2013: Shopping, Wrapping And Eating Is Exhausting
2012: This Space Available
2011: The Road To Laramie
2010: Muscling Christ Back Into Christmas
2009: Holiday Gift Suggestions
2008: Weighing In
2007: When You Need Maternity Clothes And You’re Not Pregnant, You Know It’s Time For A Diet
2006: It’s The Real Thing!
2005: Spiraling Out Of Control

Four Eyes At Your Service

Bottle openers for sale at Vintage Hardware in Port Townsend, Washington.



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2015: Good Morning, Arizona
2014: Boom! Last Load Of The Year
2013: Do You Really Need To Ice Skate At The Mall??
2012: Christmas Score! 
2011: Iowa Beef Dresses Up For The Holidays
2010: Weather, Wyoming And Wings
2009: The End Is Not Just Near, It’s Here!!
2008: Keeping The Mountain On The Right Side Of The Fence
2007: Divine Intervention Comes A Little To Late
2006: General Delivery
2005: Frumpy To Nicole

Easy To Find

Hotel Santo Tomas is located in the main area of downtown Ensenada, Mexico.  Close to many attractions, if you decide to stay (we haven't), you won't be able to miss its bright exterior.



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2015: Silver Level Safety
2014: Climbing Snoqualmie With Ease
2013: In Lieu Of Snow
2012: Money Vs. Meatballs
2011: A Window To The Past
2010: A Killer Rest Area
2009: The Barn Man
2008: Text Me
2007: Eddie Gets Impatient Friday
2006: If You Have A Note, Then It’s Perfectly Okay To Commit Credit Card Fraud
2005: Limo Scene

Nut Vendor

I'm busy and have no new stuff to tell you about, so I'm posting a few pictures from years past.  New to the blog, but not necessarily current.  This photo of a girl selling nuts in the main square in León, Nicaragua, was taken by Ed.



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2015: Western Blaze
2014: Where The Boys Are
2013: Trimming The Family Tree
2012: Waking Up With A Fat Man
2011: The King Lived Here
2010: Love
2009: Over The Hill And Over The Top
2008: Mr. & Mrs. Javelina And The Carb Encounter
2007: Disk This
2006: Ghostly Landmark
2005: Shopping In Hell

Holiday Humor

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2015: A Giant Effing Cross
2014: Early Morning Driving Perks
2013: I Get To See This Amazing Stuff!
2012: 3...2...1...Cross The Hudson!
2011: New Life
2010: Wearing Your Message On Your Sleeve. Er, Wrist.
2009: In The Round
2008: Eddie’s Adoring/Bored Girlfriend Friday
2007: Lux Perpetua
2006: The Lesser Known King Of Romance
2005: Wow. What Beautiful Gums You Have.

Ranch Sky

Somewhere in the California hills.


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2015: NSFW Takes On New Meaning
2014: Mirrors, Glass, And Anxiety
2013: Skip The Stockyards, Head To The Roadhouse
2012: One Week To A Delightfully Dazzling Christmas
2011: My, What A Long Truck You Have
2010: A Place For The Snow To Rest
2009: They’re Always Touching Their Hammers
2008: Raindrops On Roses And Whiskers On Kittens
2007: Love Hate Relationship
2006: Full Service
2005: Struffo-What??

Enjoying The Fruits Of Other's Labors

Image source:  Google Images

I have always said that I "take" pictures, but I have heard people, mostly professional photographers, talk about "making" photographs.  And I like the way that sounds.

Saying you make a photo reminds me of back in the day when the skill not only came at the time of composing and photographing a subject, but also in the darkroom when you had to develop film in order to get your final result.  That in itself is an art.  My grandfather used to develop his own film.

These days, everyone's a photographer.  They buy a digital camera and hang out a shingle, taking pictures of everything from newborn babies to weddings to food to DIY projects.  And some people are really good at it.  Have you see Instagram lately?

For me, I am planning to make more photos in the future, and get a little better at doing it.  I know I will never master the true art of photography.  Not because I don't think I can, but because I know I won't apply myself in the way that's needed to learn and perfect the art.

I'll just stick with what I do for the blog, enjoy the lucky shots I get, keep adding to my Instagram feed, and continue to follow the work of the really amazing photographers I've found online.

I'll live vicariously.



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2015: I'm Not Seeing It
2014: Searching For Après-Ski Attire
2013: They May Be Turkeys, But Their Goose Is Definitely Cooked
2012: Just In Case You've Run Out Of Ideas
2011: Getting Stoned In New York*
2010: I Used To Care But Now I Take A Pill For That
2009: Wet And Woodsy
2008: Bite Sized Yummy Goodness
2007: There’s A Time For Everything
2006: Colors Of The Barrio
2005: Puss In Breasts

Swirls Of Life Emerge From Hell's Kitchen

Ocean's Eye, 2014, by Nick Stavrides

The image above is a painting done by Nick Stavrides, a guy I went to high school with.

I wasn't friends with him, but I remember him being friendly.  And I remember him being cute.  I don't remember him being creative, although clearly that was something he always was.  We reconnected through Facebook several years ago when everyone in my high school class discovered social networking and started friending people willy-nilly.

He's an artist living in New York City now and does some really nice work.  Most of his work seemed to be paintings of fish, and when I started following him and learning about his work, I wondered why.  Then I came across the bio section of his website.

This is what it said:

"Nick Stavrides was born in Washington Heights in the late 60’s and resides in New York City/Hell’s Kitchen today. As a child, he would spend hours in the waters of Montauk, snorkeling and drifting among the fish. It was a place where he felt safe and is the inspiration for his fish series that’s consumed him for the last 10 years. A self-trained painter, Stavrides embraces the art of different tribes and cultures which gives his work a primitive quality. He also draws inspiration by observing New Yorkers in their daily rhythms on the streets and makes comparison between them and the schools of fish."

Makes complete sense now.

He paints other stuff too, but I am drawn to the fish.  I think the swirling schools of fish in the colors he uses are soothing.  And I really love the octopuses he's been doing, which you can see on his Instagram feed.

Check him out on NickStavrides.com, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

And if you want an octopus for your home, he's now taking orders for limited signed prints of these two, via his Instagram feed.  Perfect for Christmas!

A photo posted by Nick Stavrides (@nick_art67) on Dec 15, 2016 at 7:13am PST

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~2015: Taking My Faux Fur And Heading To Arizona

2014: The Place For Pajama Pants, Motor Oil, And Christmas Lights
2013: Christmas Cheer Comes With Antlers
2012: Think About It
2011: She Strikes Again

2010: The Frozen Tundra
2009: Your Tax Dollars Hard At Work
2008: What’s Next, Reporting Your Maid In The Middle Of Her Dusting The Living Room Tsochkes?
2007: Fashion Forwards
2006: Swimming Po
2005: Just Call Me Rosa

Early Warning

An ominous warning at a rest area in New Mexico.

I took this picture just as the sun was coming up.  I pulled in to do a quick load check and decided to get a shot of a warning sign I've seen many times - apparently the coiled up rattlesnake is enough to get the point across.

I've never seen a snake at a rest area and hope I never will.



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2015: Palm Trees And Ocean
2014: Good Morning, Newport
2013: One Very Happy Sloth
2012: Overnight In Ohio
2011: If It Ain’t Sweet, It Ain’t Southern Made
2010: Portland Bound
2009: Dear Blog Santa
2008: The Trees Help Guide The Way
2007: Just In Time For The Holidays
2006: Eddie Leans On A Barrio Door Friday
2005: Glowing Reminders

Ladies Of Leisure

Art pillows at the Mystery Castle in Phoenix, Arizona.



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2015: Represent Cuba
2014: Where To Go For Pig And Eggs
2013: My Memory Goes Way Way Back
2012: Remember One, Remember All
2011: History Still Standing
2010: Stay Home: TV And Hot Chocolate Is The Only Way To Make It Through
2009: A Rainy Rainbow
2008: Be Wary Of Women Wearing Skull Panties
2007: Holiday Sparkle
2006: Arizona Sunset
2005: Before And After The Chops

The Price Of American Made

Photo courtesy of NewBalance.com

In four days, I'm going to walk in a 5K.  I needed new sneakers.

I haven't bought sneakers in years.  And the Skechers I have, although comfortable, aren't really great for walking long distances.  They're more a comfy running-around shoe.

I first went to Famous Footwear in the mall because they have tons of shoes and lots of different brands - Nike, Converse, Adidas, New Balance, ASICS, Reebok, Saucony - I was bound to find something I liked.

Can you believe I didn't find anything?  I tried on at least 20 pairs of sneakers and couldn't find one that felt comfortable.  They were too tight in the toe, binding across the top, slipping off the heel.  I was losing hope, and by the end of trying them all on I was sweating and pissed off.  My feet have been killing me lately and I really wanted something that was going to make my feet feel better.  

So I decided to go to Alan's Shoes because they specialize in orthopedic shoes and I knew if they carried sneakers, they'd know which would be good for my feet.  I walked into the store and told the salesman that I need fat-girl sneakers.  That I was planning on walking a 5K, that I wanted to be more comfortable doing it, and I needed something that was going to cushion all the weight coming down on my tootsies.

He measured both feet - length and width - suggested a pair, got my size, and added an ortho-insert. There's something to be said about a full-service shoe store with a clerk who knows his product inside and out.  It reminded me of shoe shopping as a kid, when we went to a real shoe store, with people who pampered you and made the shoe shopping trip an experience that ended with the right shoes for growing feet.  True customer service.

So after the salesman told me about how the shoe was made, the materials it was made of, and why this shoe was good for a heavier person (something to do with denser rubber for fatties), he slipped them on, I did a few laps around the store, and then sat down and told him I was sold.  They were perfect.

They were also $164.95.  Plus $60.00 for the inserts.

My mother, who was shopping with me, was shocked at the price.  My best friend called me a moron. And Ed said, "I run several times a week, miles at a time, and I've never bought a running shoe that expensive."

And?

I know they're expensive, but I need my feet to feel good.  They hold up my whole entire being.

Personally, I think it has something to do with the shoes being Made in America. The Made in America slogan was proudly displayed on the advertising in the store, the shoe box, and embroidered on a tag ON the shoe itself. People should get used to this, though, because if we start fucking with China and all the other countries that make cheap products for us, everyone is going to be paying more for everything.  I guess that means my shoes make me a patriot.  Hmmm.

But really, I haven't bought sneakers in at least ten to twelve years.  It's unlikely I'll ever wear them out, and if I divide the cost by the numbers of times I'll be wearing them over the years, they'll probably cost me less than twenty-five cents a wear.

And I'm worth it.



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2015: Sunset In The Brick City
2014: The King Of Light
2013: The End Of WiFi???
2012: Through A Canopy Of Oaks
2011: Clap Your Hands
2010: Wishing For A Blizzard But Will Settle For Flakes
2009: A Hideous Thief Exposed
2008: Southwest Sunset
2007: Subtlety Is SO Not His Middle Name
2006: Bridging Chicago
2005: Oxymoronic Holiday

A Witch, A Geek, And A Brazilian Bombshell Walk Into A Party

Today is my friend Mike Goldenberg's 52nd birthday.  We've been friends for more than 24 years. He lives across the country from me now, but we still keep in touch regularly - mostly phone calls, sometimes texts.

We worked together at the Westin La Paloma resort in Tucson.  He was my boss, and according to him, I was the best employee he's ever had.

This photo was obviously taken at a Halloween party.  His house, 1993.  My friend Tami is the witch on the left, he's in the middle yukking it up, and I'm the one on the right dressed as a very convincing Carmen Miranda.  I was 26, Mike was 28.  No one at the party knew who I was supposed to be her, they all thought I was the Chiquita Banana lady.

I made that costume by hand, without a pattern.  The top, the skirt, the giant (very heavy!) fruit hat. To date, it's the best costume I've ever created.  At the hotel, strangers stopped me and asked if they could take a picture with me.  I was famous for a night!

Oh, those were  days.  Such fun!!  And so many memories made with my friend Mike.

Happy Birthday, Goldie!!



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2015: The Eternal Voice
2014: Crack O' Dawn
2013: Oh No You Didn't
2012: Nothing Is More Memorable Than A Day At The Lake
2011: The Champion Of Our Cause, The Protector Of Our Dreams
2010: Shuttin’ Down The Operation
2009: Rolling Out The Holiday Films
2008: No Rig Too Big
2007: Go Dasher, Go Dancer, Go Prancer, Go Vixen
2006: Untitled
2005: Unawarrior

The Last Mile

Even though we only work three days a week, I am always happy to be heading home.



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2015: Off Season Surf Shop
2014: Two Full Weeks Of Shopping Left
2013: Team Daily Rant Makes A Pitstop In Florida
2012: An Apple A Day
2011: California Sunshine
2010: A Star (Or Two) Is Born
2009: Modern Road Warriors And Their Weapons 
2008: Holsteins On Display
2007: Listening And LOVING
2006: Unfortunately Synonymous
2005: The Gays Are The Ritziest

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Catmas

Blue, enjoying a roll in the poinsettias.



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2015:The Waffle King Of Ozark
2014: Chocolate Covered Memory
2013: I Found A Few Gifts To Flip For
2012: Barely Surviving
2011: In And Out In A Peachy Keen Flash
2010: Yo, I’m All Over The Place!
2009: Morning On The Willamette
2008: Stupidity Threat Level: Orange*
2007: It’s Like Playing A Record Backwards To Hear The “Real” Meaning
2006: In The Desert, The Clouds Look Like Cotton Candy
2005: Chinky By The Ramada

Purgatory

A piece of pottery displayed in a room called Purgatory - because it was situated between the chapel and the bar - at The Mystery Castle in Phoenix.

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2015: Happy Little Machinery
2014: Yo, Brooklyn!
2013: ALL Weather Is Tarping Weather Now
2012: 132" Of Christmas

2011: Breakdown = Extra Nap Time
2010: Dr. Lettera Said The Very Same Thing, She Just Wasn’t Qualified To Write The Prescription
2009: The First Snow I’ve Seen This Season
2008: Not That There’s Any Reason To Park Here
2007: A Game You Wouldn’t Want To Play If You Were Say, IN The Witness Protection Program
2006: Companionship Is Just A Phone Call Away. Beauty Is Another Story.
2005: Who Stole My Cheese?

Man Meets Cactus

Ed took this photo of Gary, who was meeting a saguaro cactus for the first time.

He was very interested in some of the facts about these giant plants.  Their form is so tied to the image of the desert region of Southern Arizona that it's probably what most people think of when you mention the wild west.  Well, after cowboys and indians!

They got along splendidly.



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2015: Joy Delivery
2014: All Huddled Together
2013: Me And My Shadow
2012: Weekend Update
2011: Midway To A Haven Of Triple X Activity
2010: The Cowboy And I
2009: Christmas In OKC
2008: Ain’t Nuthin’ But A Lizard Pimp
2007: After The Storm
2006: Border Town
2005: Easily Amused

Looking Out Over The Valley Of The Sun

Ed at Lookout Point at South Mountain Park in Phoenix.

According to Wikipedia, South Mountain Park, at 16,283 acres, is the largest municipal park in the United States and one of the largest urban parks in North American and the world.  It was created in 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge sold its initial 13,000 acres to the city of Phoenix for $17,000.

The lookout rises 1,000 feet above the desert floor.  You can see Phoenix sprawled out in the background, behind Ed.

I can only imagine how amazing the view must be at night.  



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2015: Eastern Shore
2014: Sunday Elixirs
2013: Getting Robbed On The Way OUT Of New York
2012: Not Everyone Learns In The Same Manner
2011: Just Another Day In New York
2010: Practicing For The Retirement Home
2009: United Parcel Servant
2008: Whizzing Through Dallas
2007: Eddie With The Luscious Kisser Friday
2006: ’Tis The Season To Be Tweety
2005: Cat Fiiiiiight!!!