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Tchotchkes

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Location: Connecticut, United States

marybb1@gmail.com

Friday, June 29, 2007

For God's Sake Will You Stop It!

I do not believe in a god, not any god, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Mormon, Scientology or any other religion. Yet some friends insist that I do believe. They shove god down my throat.

They send me emails with cartoon angels with flapping wings; cartoon jesus on the cross, god's face in the clouds; god god god.

Jesus, Joseph and Mary! - I wish they'd stop doing that.

Can you imagine if I did the same thing?

How would they like long, syrupy emails about how glorious it is not to believe or if I told them to send this email to 10 other people who don't believe and you will get your wish. How about if I invited them to stay home with me on Sunday morning and have a nice icy cold Mimosa? (Yes, I've been invited to attend church with mere acquaintances, as if entering a building will bring me spiritual awakening and I'll become overwhelmed with godness and dump my reasoned and life long position: I don't believe in god for crissakes!) How presumptuous can you get?

I also don't believe in satan or ghosts or devils or angels or things that go bump in the night.

There are people like me in this world, that just don't believe and we're fine with it. We don't need fixing or chain "praise the lord" emails or prayer circles or sermons, we don't want this kind of email sullying our email box and we're not sending anyone else emails promoting the concept of no god.

Enough already with the god emails I say!!!!

(As you can tell I just opened my email!)

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Another Dentist Day

Today I went back for a cavity fix up. Lucky lucky me, the cavity was in a tooth that already had a root canal! A quick buzz of the drill (no pain) some dental mortar inserted into the hole and voila, I was out in about 15 minutes top, maybe ten minutes.

Besides being such a marvelous dentist, Dr. Ed. Kozinn is also an on-time dentist. I have NEVER waited for him. In fact, I usually get there 10-15 minutes early so he will never have to wait for me, and he usually takes me BEFORE my appointment time. It is rare today to find a medical professional that is on time.

Just another reason why I love my dentist!!

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I thought I found a dress on eBay for the upcoming wedding, but I was outbid. Boo hoo. I hope the zipper breaks. (I know that isn't nice, but she beat me out of the dress by 50 cents which hurts.)

I wish I could contact some designers and let them know that *I* know exactly what types of dresses that would sell like hotcakes.

Women want: a strap that will cover a bra strap. Those one shouldered or strapless or backless dresses are fine for tiny tits or young, young ladies, but not okay for the rest of us.

Women want: dresses that are tea-length or long, because they don't have to display their bone white legs, fat thighs, or lumpy knees.

Women want: dresses that float over the body and don't cling like Saran wrap.

Women also want: pants and a top that are elegant, floaty, and not overly decorated.

A-line, empire or bias cut dresses are flattering on most figures, so why not make lots of them?

Then maybe I'd find something to wear to the damn wedding.

Monday, June 25, 2007

It's a lovely day today, so whatever you have to do...you have a lovely day to do it in, it's true...

La la la.

Good weather always makes me happy. I stepped outside and it's already approaching hot which I love. Makes the veggies grow and the flowers grow and my mood glow.

Last night I had two yummy soft shell crabs. They were delicious! Soft shell crabs are not available all year round, so it's a treat when they are in season. They remind me of my mother who adored them. We'd always make a lunch date for crabs when we knew they were available.

So when I eat crabs, I always think of my dear, departed mother and how I wish I could give her a bite.

Friday I had a luscious lobster tail, grilled to perfection. It was a good food weekend for me.

Some people claim to have a personal relationship with god, but I have one with food. Food is more than just a stomach filler, it's a joy. Even a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, when that is what I want, can elevate me to higher spiritual levels of wisdom and understanding. Especially if you stuff the PB and J with potato chips for crunch and extra salt.

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In my morning paper, a writer said that Bush and all his religious right wingers should sign a statement swearing that they nor any of their loved ones will ever use any medicine or treatment for any disease that has been cured or helped by stem cell research. I think that's a great idea. Put their money where their mouth is, so to speak.

But we all know, they would be the first ones to benefit from the research because most of the rules and laws they support and institute are for us lowly folk, and not for themselves.

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A catbird has a nest on the side of my house, where I do not know. But everytime I go on that side, a bird swoops down at me squawking and squealing and flitting and even chasing me away.

My blueberries are beginning to ripen, as are the black raspberries, and this catbird is going to make harvesting them a bit more difficult this year. I wish I could explain to her, must be a her, that I am a friend, only there to pick berries and not to disturb her nest.

A completely boring blog entry as usual!

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Fries and Ribs

Got a yen for some magnificent ribs? (Rated the best in Connecticut year after year after year.) Want some extraordinary sweet potato fries? Traveling anywhere near Fairfield, CT? Then hasten over to the Ash Creek Saloon!

A friend and I had a delicious lunch there today. I just love the place. Western-themed, but packed with a clientele from all over Connecticut, the food is amazing and the ambience is welcoming and the bartender Lars, makes the experience a fun and friendly event.

Dip your fries in molasses, sprinkle some "beer salt" in your Pabst Blue Ribbon draft, and enjoy the three tvs (all sports all the time).

Twice today I experienced the best of the best: my dentist and my ribs.

It was a great day.

Happy Shiny Teeth Day

Maybe you're sick of hearing about it, but I promised myself I would not let a single dental appointment go by without extoling the virtues of my dear dentist Ed Kozinn.

He is so special and so is his amazing staff. I love them all.

This visit, he discovered a cavity, so I have to go back next week. Normally I would be terrified and nervous at the thought of drilling and filling, but not with Dr. Kozinn. Lucky me to have found him.

And to the anonymous woman who I met in front of a restaurant who just happened to be talking about how great her dentist was, thanks so much for telling me his name. Otherwise I might never have gone to Dr. Kozinn, and I'd be blowing off dental appointments, shivering in my boots and dreaming about losing my teeth again.

It's amazing how a life-time phobia can be cured with the gentle, kind touch of an expert dentist.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Mitzvah Monday

I have a friend who donates his Mondays to many good organizations -- he calls today his Mitzvah Monday and I love the term.

Today I'm going to mitzvah myself and do nice things for me: a bubble bath, pedicure and manicure at least. I feel that I do help out others frequently and enjoy doing so, but today I need to give the TLC back to me. Sounds selfish when I write it down, but I do think we all owe ourselves some TLC and tend to forget we are capable of giving it to ourselves, not just other people.

There are so many activities, celebrations, parties and picnics in June I feel like I don't have time to take a breathe. So today is one day I can breathe deeply and meditate which I love to do.

Meditation brings me an inner peace (sounds trite) that nothing else can do for me. It's about being in the now, this moment in time and when I do it correctly it shuts out all negative thoughts, worries, concerns, conundrums etc.

I suggest you make it a Mitzvah Monday too. Choose yourself to pamper or help out. Next week you can do it for others. Come on, you know you deserve it!


Sunday, June 17, 2007

HAPPY FATHERS' DAY!

Hope all the fathers -- would-be, wanna-be, or got the t-shirt types; animal dads, uncles, brothers and mothers who have to be fathers too, have a most wonderful day!

Thanks for spider-killing and tv-moving; for making breakfast and mowing the lawn; for car washing and hand holding; for rides on your shoulder, for driving lessons, for singing in the shower and bringing home sundaes as a surprise; for homework help, housework help and carving the meat. Thanks for planting the gardens, painting the ceilings, fixing the grill, grilling the steaks.

The list could go on and on. Thanks for all you do.

We love you guys!

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Another wedding to go to; another wedding dress to find. Ick.

I know what I'd like to wear, gauzy slim pants with a gauzy flowy light weight tunic top. I don't want to wear a short dress, and I don't want to wear a long dress and I don't want to wear a tea-length dress and I dislike uneven hems, so a flowy dressy outfit as I described would be perfect for me.

Can't find anything remotely like what I described, but if someone designed such an outfit, it would sell like crazy.

I have over a month to find something so I'm not jittery yet about what I'm going to wear, although I'd like to find it soon and then forget about it.

Tomorrow night we're having dinner with friends (their treat) in a fancy schmancy place, but it's so fancy schmancy the dress code is everything from tails to shorts. I peaked at the menu and decided I'd better not order the steak which cost about what I spend on food for a week, slight exaggeration, but I mean slight.

Phone just rang, gotta go.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007


The yellow flowers are in full bloom now. A thing of beauty is NOT a joy forever, however, as they die off pretty quickly. I was told they are Strivus, but haven't had a chance to look them up.


Thank god there are a few places I can rest my eyes where it's peaceful.

I put the TV on for about 5 minutes where I heard a woman died in an ER waiting room while people were calling 911 desperate to get her help as the ER people weren't concerned; Britney spears is back flashing her crotch, only slightly covered this time; and last but not least, Lieberman wants to bomb Iran.

Nuts, the world is nuts!

Sunday, June 10, 2007





He loves his upstairs window seat. He thinks he's in a tree house, plus the squirrels climb up the tree and he's so close to them he could almost swat them with his paw.

Saturday, June 09, 2007






Anyone know the name of these yellow flowers?

See how many more flowers are blooming. Meet Barney my Boston Fern. Finbar with his books.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Thursday, June 07, 2007


SHIT*






I'm putting these pictures up of the front garden because in a week or so it will be a sea of yellow flowers. I'm showing you the vegetable garden because husband makes such a neat garden and we are already eating the lettuce and onions he's grown. The Finbar photos are to show you how he's grown and ask you if you think he has a pinhead. I do.

* So happy it's Thursday

Monday, June 04, 2007

I've been bee-busy lately. But I did try something new which should free up more time: I now talk on the phone with an ear bud carrying the phone in my pocket. Free hands, yeah!!!!

I managed to talk all morning long AND do the laundry, make the bed, clean the bathroom etc. Cool!

Husband made a romantic dinner last night just for me: Shrimp over angel hair pasta with capers, onions and spinach. Delicious and there's plenty for tonight too. (I am going to add some garlic in because I think it needed garlic.) Topped that off with a very chilled Pinot Grigio and for dessert, I ate half a bag of Caramel Cremes.

June is always one of the busiest months for me. Every weekend there is an event and some events during the week. I will blink and it will be July.

And, I am proud to say, I think I might have learned how to do needle point. I adore needle point and it's expensive to buy so I got a little kit (you know how I love kits!) and made numerous mistakes so I put it away. Recently I took it out again, and as if by magic, I somehow caught on to what I was supposed to do and my new work is great. If I improve, I will move on to a large project. I like having projects, AND I can do needlepoint while I'm on the phone!

Somehow I never got the girl phone gene. I hate talking on the phone, part of the problem is not being able to use my hands or accomplish anything during the extended chats. Now even the phone isn't bugging me.

I also never got the girl shopping gene. I hate shopping. I can get into it, once I'm there in the store, but I'd much rather not shop at all.

Online shopping, is completely different. I use Amazon Prime and get my stuff in two days, can't beat that!

tata for now