Please Send Me Some Work!!!

Dang, but it is too quiet this week at work. This economic downturn is killing me. Without oodles of work to distract me, look what I spend my time doing!

...Trying to take a decent picture of myself. I always look weird, or like a deer caught in headlights or I twist my mouth up funny....anyway I hate almost every picture of myself. Well, I been thinking, maybe if I take enough photos while I practice relaxing and acting natural, maybe I can train myself to stop looking like Goofy.

What do you think?
Am I getting anywhere with this theory?

No really, that wasn't what I was doing. Okay, it all started like this: You might have read what Muse Swings had to say here, "I never feel comfortable in the business world, and I've been in it (with a few interruptions)for 45 years. I always feel like I'm just an actor in a Kabuki theater presentation."

And maybe you read my reply too, "Kabuki theater...what a great visual you've given me Muse...when you see me smiling to myself today you can be sure I will be seeing myself as a Kabuki actor. I'll be the one with a big red frown yowling at the heavens!"

So I get to work today and it is so slow, so slow in fact that I start thinking about being that Kabuki actor on the big stage of life.

First I draw myself as an actor....you say...but you look like a man....only men were allowed to act in kabuki theater. Here is how I see myself.

Scary enough? Do I look about to yowl any minute? Then I decide to make a self portrait...myself as the inspiration....

How about with my brow lifted like this?

No, not mean enough looking yet. How about now?

Heck I don't look scary...I just still look like Goofy.

Maybe I'll try taking an artsy shot...my reflection in a Diet Coke can...what do you think, museum worthy? No?

Oh well, I may as well try relaxing and see if I can get a decent shot of myself now that the camera is out and all pretense of work is forgotten.

First, I try a coquettish wink at the camera....what? You say you never would have recognized that as a wink? Well, I never!

After 15 or so attempts I do manage to take these two fairly, moderately, okayish pictures.

And this full smile....which I never do for the camera because this is usually when my mouth begins to twist upwards to the right and then my left eye gets smaller and smaller and all the winkles on my neck inflate to twice their normal pucker and my nose widens and ........well you get the picture don't you?

Well anyway, here I am in all of my unphotogenic glory.

I managed to do all the work on my desk today, including some busy work I manufactured to look productive. But this afternoon I found myself with too much time on my hands again. So I decided to redecorate my computer. I'll leave you with a glimpse of my new digs.

Meet Chic Clotile. She was inspired by all the talk of cloches over at Ladies Historical Tea Society. She seems like she is looking down on me a little. She probably doesn't approve of such high jinks going on in the workplace.

And here is Somber Simone. She is disappointed in me I think. And perhaps a little worried that I'm not taking my job serious enough. Oh, I take it serious hon, don't worry a bit....I just need some work to occupy my restless brain. (her hat isn't as stylish as Clotile's, she thinks fashion is a frivolous distraction in the office)

Here they are in their new positions, right where they can keep an eye on me.

I promise to behave better tomorrow girls!

Perfect for Dinner or Breakfast

This is a recipe that evolved from something my daughter-in-law made the last time I was at their home in TX.


Cheesy-Corny Waffles

2 cups of Bisquick
2 eggs beaten
8 oz. cheddar cheese (grated)
1 microwave bag of white shoepeg corn
1 tablespoon chopped jalapenos (or more to taste)
Sweet milk or buttermilk (which ever you have on hand)

Cook corn in microwave per instructions on bag. Mix all ingredients in a big bowl. Add milk and mix until batter is a slightly thick consistency.

Heat waffle iron and cook until crispy.

This recipe makes about 6 waffles. I don't put any butter or syrup on these savory waffles. Just eat them hot from the griddle. Don't worry, the tablespoon of chopped peppers called for doesn't make the waffles hot, but rather tangy and savory.

Or cover in plastic wrap and store overnight in the refrigerator. They make a fast and easy breakfast on the go. Heat in a toaster oven until they sizzle. Wrap in a paper towel and dash out the door. Eat on the way to work, washing it down with a Diet Coke. Yummy.

**Disclaimer** If you try this recipe and you think you need more of one ingredient and less of another, feel free to add and subtract at will. I really don't have a recipe for this, I just dump and judge as I go. I always use the whole bag of corn. The rest is up for grabs.....sorry to those of you who only deal in absolutes : )

Randomness.....

Sometimes I am so bored at work....

that I amuse myself my doing this:

Yes, I took pictures of the dust on my keyboard.

Or I take yet another picture of my cup of highlighters and markers.

Sometimes I daydream about everything I wish I was doing instead.

(I was not cut of cloth made of equations and data entry)

And feel that my real life is on hold.

I tend to eat too much fast food.

And yes, the lunch hour is my happy hour.

Sometimes, I use my lunch to take pictures of Alabama's flowers in their natural habitat.

Banks of colorful flowers can be seen daily not far from my office....

at Chick-fil-a.

They not only cook good chicken, they grow some nice flowers along the drive-thru line.

But look, even amongst the most carefully tended flowers a weed grows.

There is a moral to this story.

But I haven't found it yet.

Help me out. How would you end this most randomest of random posts?

Tea Party

The bluebird of happiness fluttered to a stop outside my window this morning to hum a sweet song reminding me that today I'm invited to a tea party at Muse Swings.

I must rush to get ready. First my bath...


Eeeek! No photos yet, please! Let me slip into my party frock. Which shall I wear?

How about this one?
I'm bringing some decorations.

I hope it is okay, I invited two of my closest mates. They've been dieing to meet you.

Faerie cakes anyone? I'll be gobsmacked, but don't they look scrumptious.

Ready for a cuppa? Help yourself.

Fancy a bit of a sing-a-long? Tea for Two, anyone?

All photos courtesy of Flickr

It's been a gala event! Thanks for inviting me Muse.

It's been a lovely ride!

Air Update

Yahoo, the air man has come and gone and icy air is coursing through my house even as I type! The condenser on the fan had died. (think I have that right) The monetary damage wasn't too bad, so I'm relieved about that. I love the air man!!!

I've been using my time wisely by reconciling my check book....it has been 4 months since I did it properly. UGH! I'm almost finished though. I decided to take the rest of the day off and try to keep the momentum up by doing other chores I've been putting off too. Wish me luck. I must back away from the computer. It has a huge gravitational pull on me. (I must work..I must work...I must work....no browsing, surfing, or blogging allowed...)

So, I will leave you with a funny video I saw yesterday. This is in keeping with all the embarrassing music...In keeping how you ask? If you saw me doing these dances you would be embarrassed for me!

Not Too Happy Tonight

Apparently my air conditioner quit working sometime this afternoon. I awoke from a nap to find the fan blowing, but no cool air circulating. The unit outside wasn't doing anything. So I turned it off and turned on the ceiling fans.

It is 10:47 pm here. 81 degrees inside the house with all the windows closed. Outside it is 81 degrees, but weather.com says it feels like 86 degrees because the humidity is 75%. I opened the door to check the temp and closed it right away. It is actually cooler in here with the ceiling fans running than it is out there because it is so sticky.

Please, oh please, let the air conditioning man be able to come here tomorrow!

Time For A Short Geography Break

Vatican City, Monaco, Nauru, Tuvalu, San Marino and Liechtenstein are in this order the six smallest countries in the world.

Vatican City, a sovereign city-state surrounded by Rome, is about .02 square miles in size and has a population of about 800 people. It is governed by an non-hereditary elected monarchy - the Bishop of Rome otherwise known as the Pope. The Vatican has its own police force that is responsible for public order, traffic control, criminal investigation and border control.

Photos courtesy of Google Images

Monaco is .07 square miles is size and lies along the French Riviera on the Mediterranean sea. For its diminutive size, it has an astonishing population of 32,000 people. The Grimaldi family has ruled Monaco since 1297.

Photos courtesy of Google Images

Nauru is a tiny Pacific island of 13,000 residents who live on 8.5 square miles. The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear, since their language does not resemble any other in the Pacific. Phosphate mining has virtually destroyed the tiny nation's ecology, turning its tropical vegetation into a barren, rocky wasteland.

Photo courtesy of Lonely Planet

Tuvalu is composed of 9 coral atolls which stretch out for 360 miles in Polynesia. These islands are home to 12,000 inhabitants. Its people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home by those abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

Photo courtesy of Google Images

San Marino, located on Mt. Titano in central Italy is home to 29,000 residents. This country claims to be the oldest country in Europe having been established in 301 AD. San Marino's constitution, dating back to 1600, is the world's oldest written constitution still in effect. More than 50% of the per capita income of the country comes from tourism.

Google Images

Liechtenstein, home to 34,000 people, is located on the Rhine River between Switzerland and Austria in the alps. Its land mass covers 62 square miles. While it is the smallest German speaking country in the world, it is known for its winter sports and as a tax haven. Liechtenstein is one of the few countries with fewer citizens than registered companies. Its government is a constitutional monarchy ruled by the reigning prince of the Princely House of Liechtenstein. The Prince of Liechtenstein is one of the few monarchs in the world to live in a castle. Parts of this building date from the 12th century although it was rebuilt at the beginning of the 16th century.

The Princely House