La Vie en Curlsz Part One

I really miss this old blog, while cruising my friend Lindsay's blog - Cotter Crunch - I saw my old blog address hanging out over on the right side of her menu. I got so sentimental I had to click on it. It's so cute and cheary here why did I ever leave? Oh yes, because I'm a web geek and I must try new things.

I am oddly sentimental. Today the old avocado green oven is being taken away and a part of me says "awww".

It's also officially moving day for La Vie en Curlsz... The site I use for my photography page(Snap Pages) now has a blog tool - so one stop shopping so to speak. I am keeping this site active - who knows I may decide to return to the original recipe. But for now it's time to move on.

So please come visit me at my new home so to speak.

Ps this site will be archived on my new site as well. There is also a RSS feed on the new site for those of you that are in to that...

I thought perhaps I should take notes on this insane "financial crisis" for Grandparents day 2049. You know when your grand kids say "grandma, grandpa weren't you alive when...?". Because I'm imaging they are going to be quizzed on terms such as Ponzi Scheme, Subprime Lending and Stimulus Bill. They'll be learning about President Barack Obama, Bernie Madoff and Henry Paulson. And there is no way I'm remembering all this crap come age 72ish!

Although at this point who can afford children? So the family tree may have just died due to lack of funding.

I'm entitling my notes - the age of being screwed over by greedy millionaires, loosely based on events as I see them...

Which leads me to the video of the day...it's the full episode and it's so popular right now it is being a bit slow - John Stewart facing off with Jim Cramer on the irresponsibility of financial commentators. It's goooooood.

mmmm Royers!!!

Garland: "Oh my gosh, what do we do with all this?"

And this is why I prefer to walk...

Looking over my blog apparently I bought stock in You Tube and am single handily trying to keep them afloat...

I'll get to some no clip related blogging soon...perhaps.

Thank you Sherry - I had to share this...

(Egypt: $68.53, favorite foods is okra and mutton)

I stumbled upon some pictures on facebook, various families and what they eat. It also gave the breakdown of how much money they spend on an average week on their food. I was pretty fascinated. I really liked looking at the pictures and details and analyzing how some cultures lean towards more breads or some towards more vegetables. Though the American family in the south apparently leans towards all pre-made foods, shocker.

It's also fascinating to see how much or little they spend. I believe the photographer tried to do an average, obviously some families eat more or less, and differently than others but this is an average based on that culture.

(Germany: $500.07, favorite foods fried potatoes with onions, bacon and herring, fried noodles with eggs and cheese, pizza, vanilla pudding

Actually apparently "they" are trying to make it right now - and by right I mean weasel their way out of the mess they created and hiding it with an illusion of correcting the situation.

I can not believe how fast my Hyacinthia has grown. If you'll remember this is the plant Garland gave me for passing my insurance exam. My "success" plant.

I do hope my success grows as fast as this beauty - but not quite so crooked. I'm trying to rotate it so it will grow more upwards but so far eh. (Ps you should smell it, scratch and sniff technology unavailable at this moment)


Before (Jan 26th) and After (Feb 6)

You know what - let's not mince words. I'm pissed!!! I'm pissed at these ridiculous corporate banks and business crying that they need more money and frankly running their companies into the crapper and appealing to the government and American public for a bailout ONLY to then turn around and spend like it's 1985 all over again!

First of all they don't tell us what they use OUR money for - then they continue to keep interest rates at an all time high and now we find out that they are not only continuing to give huge bonuses to select people but they are spending money on things like corporate jets, Vegas luxury retreats and thank you CEO of Merrill Lynch for spending OVER a million dollars redecorating your office!!! I mean don't we all need a $1400 trash can?

This is beyond ridiculous, beyond eye rolling - this is insanity!!! This is like having your parents pay off your debt and then turning around and buying a sports car with who knows what money?! And come to think - there were actually some congressmen that predicted this behavior. I think these idiots should work for free for the next 5 years - and by free I mean NO salary, no bonuses, nada. And any luxury items they want comes out of their pocket. Sound drastic - let's be honest - they have assets you and I can not comprehend - they will be fine!

I worked for a small business through college - and when times were tough my boss didn't take a pay check home in order to keep the business going and pay his employees. That's how it works!

As much as I love this town - it's vibe for art, education, music and culture - it is shockingly lacking in great museums.

Even Midland has a planetarium - and as a former volunteer (dork alert) I have been itching to see the stars. But alas no stars to be had (pardon the melodrama, I've watched 2 hours of American Idol today)

Then I waltzed into Moltov last night to be greeted by the Austin Planetarium fundraiser!!! Yay - Austin, welcome to the show.

I LOVE this town!! We even made the Rachel Maddow show. Imagine my delight as I'm watching this show and Austin makes an appearance - for something completely unique and crazy!

Pardon the (boring) entry to the video - watch the full thing though.

I don't normally post email jokes - but this was way too good not to pass around!

And on this day I actually get to snuggle on the couch with my favorite blankie!

With a view of frosted windows and my new beautiful congratulatory plants.

I hate tests - the studying, the cramming all of it. Test anxiety doesn't even begin to describe it. I had to take another state licensing exam - this time for general life and health insurance (new side job), and it about did me in!! Prepping for it didn't drag out as much as the ol' real estate license did but still - state licensing exams are a pain in the arse no matter how much you prep for it.


By Sunday night I had had it - and was ready to throw the towel in. A lovely sharp pain behind my left eye told me I was literally giving myself a stress headache.

But like any other trial once the pain is over it's just a bad memory. I passed, thank God!!! And for my treat Garland showed up on my door last night with balloons, a potted Hyacinthia and all the fixins for mahi mahi & salmon with mango sauce!!!

Very sweet indeed - but minus the balloons each item had a meaning. Potted plant instead of flowers because cut flowers are basically dead flowers and will be in the trash in a matter of days. Plus he knows how much I love plants - and he figured we'd watch my success grow as we watched these beautiful flowers grow. On the other hand - I really hope my success doesn't wither and die if these plants don't make it! The dinner was because I love mahi mahi and salmon and I LOVE mango!!!

PS he's not so much smiling but laughing because I feel the odd need to photo log every event. I haven't told him my idea of Kodak eyes yet, wait till that technology come into play!!!

THIS is why I love this woman - and this is also why I fully support more speeches from Governor "F" word Blagojevich. He is so "F"ing entertaining - as he would say. When you start comparing yourself to a wronged cowboy - you have got MY attention.

Also, I have been wondering for a while now - how it is "right" that a governor (emphasis on the letter A) picks the next senator. Vote anyone?

Whether you are an Obama supporter or not - we all should take a moment to reflect in the fact that we are living out history. As a history major this really amazes me. Not that it's an inauguration - those come every 4 years. But 45 years after Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech we are inducting our first black/blackish President. Side note King hoped we would have a black President in 40 years from his speech, he optimistically hoped based on what was happening in 1964 that it could even be 25 years.

Think about it - one race, one sex of individual has held this office since George Washington. Other nationalities and women have successfully been elected and placed in various challenging positions in our government and industries, but not the Presidency till now

Seven of the Little Rock Nine - the 9 children that integrated the Little Rock School system, were able to attend this event. The surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen were also in attendance of our inauguration.

And it has spread globally. Did you know there is a large sect of black Iraqi's that are amongst the poorest of their nation. They hold no governmental office of any kind and are heavily discriminated against. And you thought discrimination was regulated to the United States? Because of our election and inauguration they have banded together to change their outcome, to begin to fight the poverty and discrimination handed down to them from the generations before them. Ancestrally slaves from Africa, transported to Iraq, they have now formed a group to seek public office to change their destiny.

See it's not just about us - this is a global manifestation and I truly hope we understand what we are seeing today is a reflection of change - whether he is a good President or not - he is still the first. And being the first carries a lot of weight.

(Mutt and Jeff is a reference to two friends of distinct disproportional size)

I want a dog, and I want an elephant, and a cat and a monkey. And I want them all to live happily ever after with me and my family...kind of like this