uncommon ephemera

Wiener Madness

This is a post that is waaay overdue! The event pictured below was the opening of a new "super" supermarket in town last winter. When I read the ad for the opening in our newspaper, I saw that the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile was going to be in attendance. Hot dog! (pun intended). My sister, Denise, once said to me that riding in the Wienermobile was on her bucket list. When I told her about it's close proximity, we decided that we had to go.

The Wienermobile (there are seven) is driven by a team of "hotdoggers" - in this case a young man and a young woman. They sign on for a year, making appearances all across the country. Interestingly enough, the horn on this vehicle plays the Oscar Meyer theme in 21 different genres - including Cajun, Rap and Bossa Nova. We were filled in on Wienermobile lore and the team graciously took our pictures. My sister was delighted with the whole thing and got positively giddy when they gave her a wiener whistle. Since I already had a wiener whistle at home (saved from childhood), I gave her the one they gave me so she could make a pair of earrings!

Notice the license plate "IWSHIWR". The Mini Cooper version is a pic I found on the 'net - and with a little Photoshop magic I added Denise's picture to give her ideas for her next vehicle. You go, girl!

 

Blog Changes...Trying My Patience!

Please bear with me...I haven't updated this blog in FOREVER - and I'm trying to teach this old dog new tricks. That's what I get for blogging "quarterly". So far, I'm just trying to add a new banner. Here goes...

Blue Skies, Smilin' at Me...

It is a glorious spring day out there and I really wanted to get a post out before I hit the garden. We have had so much rain this year (not complaining, we reallly need it) - and chances to get out and put my hands in the dirt have been few and far between. When we moved into this house (25 years ago) it was summer time. The next March, I discovered that there were freesia bulbs planted along the front fence. They have bloomed every spring since, just in time to give me a fragrant St. Patrick's Day bouquet. On a warm day, the scent of their blooms just about knocks me over. I was out in the backyard on Friday - prepping a bed for some gladiola bulbs - and discovered that my peony is starting to sprout leaves. I planted it last year too late to get any blooms and will watch it with high hopes for some fat, pink petticoat blossoms. Although this is a post to fete spring, I did promise some crafts in my last post. The photo is a piece I did for a past Christmas open house. The head was made from an orphaned plastic ornament that just didn't make the cut for the tree, so I turned it upside down, primed it, painted it and voila(!) - Princess Peony! Now I'm off to plant some basil seeds!

 

Walking the Walk

Leaving my job after so many years was a huge adjustment for me. It was very weird to suddenly not have anywhere to go every morning. If you think about it, a career is a very large part of who you are. Although I was glad to have left the stress of job insecurity behind, I was now faced with what the heck to do with myself! I concentrated on some of my creative endeavors - I did a couple of craft shows at Christmas and tried to get more engaged in the things I didn't have time for when I was working full time. I was also able to spend more time with family. It was nice not to have to shove everything into a weekend for a change.

Something I have never blogged about is the fact that I have long suffered from arthritis in my knees. It is an hereditary problem that has been going on for years. Walking for any length of time became extremely uncomfortable. I went through rounds of injections with a gel that mimics synovial (joint) fluid until it was no longer effective. After I left my job, I finally bit the bullet and opted for bilateral knee replacement surgery. On June 8th, 2009, I had both of my knees replaced at the same time. I had many people tell me that I was nuts to have them both done at once, but I really did not want to go through the surgery more than once. I had an amazing orthopedic surgeon who seemed to think I could handle it (they only do about 2 bilaterals a year at the hospital where I had it done). The hospital staff was great and they were very good at pain management. I was out of the bed the morning after surgery (with assistance) and able to walk with a walker by the time I left on the 5th day. I was very lucky to have a husband who was my nurse and cheerleader once I got home. I started therapy (6 weeks worth) after being home about a week and a half. I am now nine months out and very glad that I had the surgery. It has not been a "walk in the park"(!), but I am improving a little more each day. One other result of the surgery is that I now have very straight legs. I have always had bowed legs and there is some thought that this contributed to my problem. I am enclosing a photo (I tried to gussy it up a little - let's face it, the bare legs of someone my age are not gorgeous) so that you can see the difference.

Well, that's all that's fit to print (or not) for tonight. I promise to go back to my more creative side and not post any more gross photos of my legs! Good Night, Bloglandia!

 

Return to Bloglandia

 I would be extremely surprised if anyone reads this post or leaves a comment. I have been absent for so long - it's as if I never blogged before! Typepad has changed tremendously, so I am definitely on a "learn while doing" bent.

 Explaining my absence is somewhat long-winded, so if you are reading this, please hang in there. When I last blogged, things at my place of work (a newspaper) were definitely in limbo. I was a graphic artist for nearly 23 years and the newspaper publishing industry was on the decline. My employer started layoffs around the time I stopped blogging. The work environment was becoming very volatile and unstable - I was just working at keeping my head above water. To add insult to injury, some of our design work was being outsourced to India. The first to go were the middle management folks - my boss and friend was "let go" very unexpectedly and I felt that the writing was on the wall. By the end of August, 2008, there was another round of voluntary layoffs and I opted to leave. Had I stayed, I would probably been able to remain employed for another year - but at the cost of my health and peace of mind. As of September 2008, I left my job and was fortunate in that I was eligible for my retirement benefits.

 It has been quite the ride. Full of ups and downs. I hope to work at having a more visible presence in Bloglandia - so I hope you will check back. I have been "stalking" my favorite blogs all along, but not leaving comments. All of you have been a bright spot with my morning coffee. Ciao for now.

Seeking Serenity

Well, my week's absence from blogging has ended up being a bit longer than

expected. I mentioned in my last entry that work has been overwhelming.

There have been a lot of changes that have been exhausting and have not

left me with a lot of desire to sit down and compose when I get home.

I have always wanted this blog to be interesting and creative and I have not felt

that I could offer that in recent weeks. I do plan to continue blogging - but I

need to rethink my contribution to the blogging community.

I haven't done much in the creative department. Somehow, summer causes me

to switch gears and go outside in the garden rather than sit at my work table

making something. I have noticed a number of blogs that I read on a continuous

basis have taken the summer off. I don't intend to take off the whole summer,

but I do want to give myself a "refresher course", if you will.  I am also trying

to dredge through the changes in Typepad, which I have been very lax in tackling.

Bear with me, I'm still out there.

Yours in Bloglandia,

Dorian

Blogging Ennui

Greetings, Bloglandia...

This will be a short posting. I have been taking a bit of a blogging break. Sorry if you have visited

only to discover the same old post. Things at work have been a bit overwhelming of late and my

energies have suffered. Also, Typepad has made some changes that I have just not had the

energy to tackle. I have not quit blogging - just have hit a bit of a wall and promise to return

in the next week or so. I continue to "lurk" in the blogging background - I have been visiting,

just not leaving any comments. I continue to be inspired and delighted by all of the creativity

that exists in this community and I really want to return with something to reflect that energy.

Thank you always for visiting.

Yours in Bloglandia,

Dorian

A Mother's Day Tribute

A very Happy Mother's Day to all! Although this is a special day that we dedicate to all mothers, I for one celebrate my mother every day in thought and in the many things she taught me. I did not have a recent picture of her in my photo files, so I have posted her high school photo. This particular photo was given to her dear (albeit "screwy") sister from the inscription!

My mother has always been a very creative lady who seemingly could make something out of nothing. She sews beautifully, refinishes furniture and loves to garden. The creative sense she has passed on to both me and my sister - we were dragged along to every "junk" store in our home town back in the days that shabby was not chic. At the time, we hated it - but came to realize that in many cases "one man's trash was another man's treasure". Mom has rebuilt, refurbished and repainted more things over the years than I can count. I helped her throw a drop front desk into the bed of dad's pick-up years ago that had no drawers and about 90 coats of paint. She had my grandfather (a most clever fellow) make new drawers after she had stripped off all of the paint. Today, that little desk is in her dining room with a tassel adorned key in it's lock - no one would ever guess at it's humble beginnings. I could go on at length about her talents and also her mothering skills in sometimes difficult times - but for now, I'll just say that I love her dearly. Happy Mother's Day, Margie Mae!

Aye...'tis Swashbucklin' Time!

Welcome Swashbucklers and and Swashbucklerettes...aye and I thought I wouldn't be able to pull this one off (too little time)! Thanks to that saucy one, Donna of the Ribboned Crown for putting this soiree together!

May I present to you for your edification, that saucy tavern wench, Jenny - of the "Threepenny Opera" by Bertholt Brecht

Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht/Marc Blitzstein
Melody: Kurt Weill

Verse One:
You people can watch while I'm scrubbing these floors
And I'm scrubbin' the floors while you're gawking
Maybe once ya tip me and it makes ya feel swell
In this crummy Southern town, in this crummy old hotel
But you'll never guess to who you're talkin'.
No. You couldn't ever guess to who you're talkin'.
Then one night there's a scream in the night
And you'll wonder who could that have been
And you see me kinda grinnin' while I'm scrubbin'
And you say, "What's she got to grin?"
I'll tell you.

There's a ship, the black freighter
with a skull on its masthead
will be coming in.

(And just what might those keys about her neck be used for?)

Verse Two:
You gentlemen can say, "Hey gal, finish them floors!
Get upstairs! What's wrong with you! Earn your keep here!
You toss me your tips
and look out to the ships
But I'm counting your heads
as I'm making the beds
Cuz there's nobody gonna sleep here, honey
Nobody! Nobody!
Then one night there's a scream in the night
And you say, "Who's that kicking up a row?"
And ya see me kinda starin' out the winda
And you say, "What's she got to stare at now?"
I'll tell ya.

There's a ship, the black freighter
turns around in the harbor
shootin' guns from her bow

Verse 3:
Now you gentlemen can wipe that smile off your face
'Cause every building in town is a flat one
This whole frickin' place will be down to the ground
Only this cheap hotel standing up safe and sound
And you yell, "Why do they spare that one?"
Yes, that's what you say.
"Why do they spare that one?"
All the night through, through the noise and to-do
You wonder who is that person that lives up there?
And you see me stepping out in the morning
Looking nice with a ribbon in my hair.

And the ship, the black freighter
runs a flag up its masthead
and a cheer rings the air

Verse 4:
By noontime the dock is a-swarmin' with men
comin' out from the ghostly freighter
They move in the shadows where no one can see
And they're chainin' up people and they're bringin' em to me
askin' me, "Kill them NOW, or LATER?"
Askin' ME! "Kill them now, or later?"
Noon by the clock
and so still by the dock
You can hear a foghorn miles away
And in that quiet of death
I'll say, "Right now.
Right now!"
Then they'll pile up the bodies
And I'll say,
"That'll learn ya!"

And the ship, the black freighter
disappears out to sea
And on it is me.

The keys? Why they are for her pirate's chest full of sparkly booty!

The song, "Pirate Jenny", I heard for the first time on an Judy Collins album in the 60's. I didn't know much about Bertholt Brecht until later. I have not mastered the art of inserting audio files as yet, but here is a link to YouTube, where you can listen to cabaret singer, Anne Kerry Ford, sing "Pirate Jenny". The song is quite haunting - more than the "saucy wench" I used for my pirate. The doll is an old Klumpe that I found at an antique store years ago. She was "au naturel" and I set about making her a costume. Her sly expression said "tavern wench" and so the costume reflects that persona. Aaaarggh, ladies...don't forget to go to check out the many guests for the "Swashbuckler Soiree" at The Ribboned Crown - and many thanks to the always creative Donna for providing the venue!

Button Brigade

Ulla has posted more of her lovely creative finds. This time it's buttons...all sorts of wonderful handmade ones. Oddly enough, I had a button photo in the waiting - these are some great old vintage beauties I purchased from a friend who has an antique business - and for $1.00 per card! Such a deal! I love the old buckles and the little red tulip buttons are actually too cute to remove from the card. Come to think of it, I'm loathe to take any of them off of their original cards - perhaps they'll end up in a shadowbox instead.

The next pic is of some sequined buttons from Meggiecat'sblog. The photo was low-res, so my attempt to put them on a button card leaves something to be desired.

There is a link on her blog to the tutorial. I could see these as centers on some pretty ribbon flower brooches. While you're at it, cruise Meggiecat's blog. She was one of the first bloggers I found and always has great creative ideas and links to peruse. She also has another blog called Frankie Files with some great old patent drawings for various crafts and toys. Check them out!