weekly winners


November 30 – December 6, 2008

Joey can be difficult to photograph. He usually runs to me as soon as he sees me. So I approached with caution when I saw him lounging in the kitchen:

joey in the sun

He turned his head, and I managed to snap a shot before he got up.

joey in the sun

joey sitting
I should probably clean that window one of these days. Kitty nose prints!

Posey is usually a well-behaved model for me.

posey

posey

Jeter was not cooperating this week, so no new photos of him. But I’m sure he’ll be back soon!

The next shot is from the Vienna Teng show Thursday night. Our table was right next to the sound booth. and I liked the way it was lit. I can’t believe anybody can learn what all those knobs do!

soundboard

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park america ruined my night

We had a lovely evening at the Rams Head Tavern, watching a great performance by Vienna Teng.

vienna teng

She was really amazing. In one song, she used the piano for percussion between beats. Another, a capella, she recorded samples on the spot and was able to sing multi-part harmonies with herself.

And, of course, we got album covers signed and another photo for my collection:

vienna teng

And as we headed home before 10:30, I was happy for the early night. I’d still be able to get in some computer time before bed. I obviously did get in some computer time, however, I should be in my jammies right now.

We got to the car in the parking garage, pulled out of the spot and headed up towards the next level. And stopped.

Our departure not only coincided with a concert letting out, but it was also Midnight Madness in town.

Argh!

traffic jam

When I started taking photos, I think we had been in the car for 15 minutes. And had moved 10 feet.

By the time I saw the smiling face on this sign:

park america

I was pretty livid. Yes, the exit was near. But we passed another exit THAT WAS CLOSED 25 minutes earlier.

Finally, we could see the front of the line.

the exit is in sight

Yes, I know. I need to dust the dashboard, but I wanted to get the time in there. I knew I had been impatiently clock-watching, while sitting in traffic, since 10:33. So I know we left right around 10:30.

A few minutes later, we were free!

next in line

And then we were home.

home at last

Notice that the time it took us to get home, once freed from parking hell, is the same amount of time it took for Park America to collect $2 from six cars.

It was flat-rate parking for cars entering after 4p.m. Which was probably just about everybody. It’s not like this special event took the city garage by surprise. They do it every year!

It took us nearly an hour to get home when it could be walked in 30. (Just not in the dark, while wearing heels, in the rain.)

Ugh.

weekly winners: thanksgiving edition


November 23-29, 2008

Turkey Chase

On Thanksgiving morning, I ran the Turkey Chase 10K. They offer a 10K race and a 5K run/walk. But before we got running, there was a mascot race. The Turkey was challenged by various restaurant and school team mascots in a short race.

Turkey Chase Mascots Get Ready

Turkey Chase Mascots Go

I thought the Turkey would be a sure-thing to win, it being Thanksgiving and all. He was the defending champion from last year.

But it wasn’t meant to be.

Turkey Chase Mascot Cow

Turkey Chase Mascot Finish
No, they didn’t run a 5K! They just borrowed the finish line.

After I got home, I showered and started cooking!

pies

thanksgiving in the making
See our full feast over here!

Even before her turkey feast, Meadow was getting into the Thanksgiving spirit.

meadow's thanksgiving nap

Jeter also found a sunny spot.

jeter in the blinds

That’s all for this week. Visit more Weekly Winners at SarcasticMom.com!

disturbing finds at rite aid

I was wandering through the seasonal aisles at Rite Aid today, and was confronted with something scary.

deranged girl?

Yes, it says she’s “Glitzy Girl,” but she looks kind of deranged, doesn’t she? Creepy.

And just steps away:

street walking doll

The 32-inch Walking Doll. I can’t help but insert “Street” in the name.

I had a “Walking Doll” when I was a kid. You held its hand, rocked it back and forth, and it would take small, slow steps as you walked. It was also quite tall, but shaped and dressed like a child. No boobs. No makeup. No nose studs. (OK, the blond girl in the middle is lacking a nose stud. She is also lacking the fishnet stockings worn by the other girls.)

What age child will play with this doll? I was probably five or six when I got mine. On the original version of the photo (I resized it when I uploaded), you can make out the age on the box. Four and up.

It’s just wrong.

I’m sure there were others, but I didn’t stick around long enough to find more inappropriate / scary toys.

I was too haunted by Glitzy Girl’s stare.

it’s been a day full of leftovers …

One day after Thanksgiving, and our feast has been repeated twice. There’s still at least two-three more meals out of it. Just the way we like it!

I did do a little shopping today, but just downtown to look for a gift that has to be mailed soon. I wasn’t about to go near the mall. I hadn’t realized the tourists came out for Thanksgiving weekend, but it wasn’t too bad.

Before and after my shopping break, though, I was planted on the couch. Still am. (Well, now I’ve moved to a chair — more comfortable with the laptop).

It seems the TV has been stuck on SOAPnet’s Kelly’s Leftovers 90210 marathon, “celebrating the many men our girl Kelly loved and left behind over the years.” Oh, they’ve skipped quite a few of them. I guess there are only so many boyfriends you can fit into 12 hours!

It was a little strange whenever they’d skip a few seasons between episodes … but I’ve enjoyed revisiting Kelly’s failed relationships.

And it’s not like I’ve been unproductive all day … I’ve gone through (and recycled) a lot of magazines and catalogs today!