Do not

blithely toss a fringed silk velvet burn out scarf into your washing machine even if its HE with a gentle cycle unless you like untangling a 1 1/2 yards of wet 8 inch fringe into the wee hours. The scarf part came out great, the fringe is a nightmare.

It makes me appreciate the times my mother detangled my hair after I left it braided for several weeks at summer camp. I washed it every day after swimming but didn't bother to unbraid it, seemed like a great idea at the time.

I've had better ideas...

uncertain

A friend just called to tell me about a great garage sale. Amazing clothes, sewing/embroidery notions, books, etc... Normally I would run over and check it out, however when she gave me the location I realize it is Bernadette's house, and its her estate sale.

I am not sure I can go over there. She had great things so I know I would like it.  I don't have any of her work and I would like to have something of hers to remember her by.  I haven't been by the house or seen her family since she died.

I suppose I should head over, I can just drive by if its too much.  I called another friend of ours and maybe we can go together...  I hate this!  but most of all I hate that she is dead.

Who ya gonna call?

It is Gumby with a grumpy face?
an over done gingerbread man?
no its T Buster
(name and link has been shortened to protect the innocent)

(with apologies to Ray Parker Jr.)
If there's somethin' strange in your neighborhood
Who ya gonna call (Tbusters)
If it's somethin' weird an it won't look good
Who ya gonna call (Tbusters)

I ain't afraid a no T
I ain't afraid a no T
If you're seein' things runnin' thru your head
Who can you call (Tbusters)
An' invisible man sleepin' in your bed
Oh who ya gonna call (Tbusters)
I ain't afraid a no T
I ain't afraid a no T
Who ya gonna call (Tbusters)
If you're all alone pick up the phone
An call (Tbusters)

Your tax dollars at work here, folks...

I am eating a chocolate chip cookie

This is something most people take for granted in their lives, the ability to eat whatever treat they want.  This cookie is a Mac the Chip http://www.alternativebaking.com/productinfo.cfm?pid=9&CFID=3877&CFTOKEN=71987114
with no wheat, oil, dairy, peanuts or eggs.  Actually tastes pretty good.

What tasted even better was a cherry almond rice crispie treat that I had last week.

Gas Prices ;-)

I forgot to post that I bought gas yesterday at $2.89/gal.  Today its $2.75/gal, typical

Another propaganda poster

For those who don't know I studied propaganda academically and was briefly enrolled in a phd program but as some would say "life had other plans."
My main area of interest is British World War I propaganda, and Chinese Communist Propaganda. The British because it was what everyone steals from and the Chinese health stuff because it was so effective.
One of my favorite places to hang out in terms of propaganda is the Imperial War Museum in London which is located in what once was the central part Bethlem Royal Hospital (1815-1930) for lunatics and is where the term Bedlam comes from.
While grabbing the link for the museum I notice they are currently having an exhibit I would LOVE to see called Weapons of Mass Communication.
Incidentally the King George poster on the above page link is the original that Germany and the US ripped off for their own propaganda campaigns.

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Literate Good Citizen
Book Snob
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

I can't get the red lines to appear on the graft but basically, I scored like this:
Obsessive/complusive bookworm over 2/3
Literate Good Citizen a bit under 2/3
Book Snob 1/2
Fad Reader barely there maybe 1/20
Non-reader- I wasn't at all
Grabbed from Geoff's blog

In light of the expected influenza pandemic, MSRA, TB and how often I see people not washing their hands, I thought I'd post a few public health propaganda posters.

presenting Mayda!

If y'all, as my grandma would say, want to check out what I have been working on, here is it:

www.myspace.com/maydamiller

Look quick because its gonna change soon ;-)  with new background picture and colors

Bernadette R.I.P.

Bright Eyes

Is it a kind of dream,
Floating out on the tide,
Following the river of death downstream?
Oh, is it a dream?

There's a fog along the horizon,
A strange glow in the sky,
And nobody seems to know where you go,
And what does it mean?
Oh, is it a dream?

Bright eyes,
Burning like fire.
Bright eyes,
How can you close and fail?
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
Bright eyes.

Is it a kind of shadow,
Reaching into the night,
Wandering over the hills unseen,
Or is it a dream?

There's a high wind in the trees,
A cold sound in the air,
And nobody ever knows when you go,
And where do you start,
Oh, into the dark.

Bright eyes,
burning like fire.
Bright eyes,
how can you close and fail?
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
Bright eyes.

Bright eyes,
burning like fire.
Bright eyes,
how can you close and fail?
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
Bright eyes. -Simon and Garfunkel


Bernadette died from what I understand were complications from chemotherapy.   She lost the gamble that chemotherapy can prolong one's life, in her case it may have shortened it. She lived 4 months from her diagnosis. 

Another friend and I were going to stop by her house a few days before she died. We called first, I realize from the sound of her husband's voice that it was very bad. She was still in the hospital which was not so unusual, he said there was no point visiting her there although we could.  It was the first time I heard total despair in his voice.  I hoped he was wrong, it seemed inconceivable.

Even though its been several weeks now, its so hard to take in that I will never see her again, hear her voice, feel her irrepressible energy or see the sparkle in her eyes.  She always seemed so unstoppable, a force of nature. She always encourage and inspired me to go after dreams, and reminded me to approach life as if anything was possible when I would forget.
I don't think it was possible to know her and not think of her with a smile. 

I started to write this post a few days ago, but I started crying when I was trying describe the person she, couldn't stop for quite a while.  I am far from the only one who feels this way, she was one of the most loved people, I have ever met. Last week, I was volunteering at the food coop and another friend of hers came in, it was all we could do not to just break down.

September was a very bad month, I try to look at the various things and think in 10yrs time they won't matter, but this will.

I'm crying again...

I think my luck is changing! The price of gas went down two days after I filled up instead of one.