1960

Hello.
I am a crab.
When I was young, I used to live in Galveston. But in 1960, I moved to Wichita Falls with these small humans. A green frog moved with us then, but he disappeared. I guess he just hopped away.
I don't remember, but I think I was born in a place called "Japan" because that is what is printed on the underside of my right claw.
I have also lived in Tyler and Dallas - but I think I will retire to Stephenville where the livin' is easy.

Celebrity

There is an item on Facebook, "Five Famous People I've Met", and it got me to thinking about all the celebrities that I've met - all the time spent hanging around stage doors. So, I have tried to make a list of everyone. I'm sure I've forgotten SOMEONE. I should turn this into a series of "Celebrity" and tell my stories about who was nice and who was not, etc.

Julie Andrews
Sandy Duncan
Katherine Hepburn
Liza Minnelli
Carol Burnett
Gene Kelly
Ginger Rogers
Margaret Thatcher
Barry Manilow
Rock Hudson
Ella Fitzgerald
Mickey Rooney
Debbie Reynolds
James Mason
Ethel Merman
Angela Lansbury
Eydie Gorme
Steve Lawrence
Greer Garson
Shirley MacLaine
Faye Dunaway
Kathleen Turner
Lily Tomlin
Lorna Luft
Hayley Mills
Petula Clark
Roddy MacDowell
Cloris Leachman
Jane Powell
Mitzi Gaynor
Tommy Tune
Don Corriea
Margaret Cho
Elaine Stritch
Peter Graves
Blake Edwards
Paul Lynde
Harve Presnell
Tony Roberts
Michael Nouri
James Farentino
Brenda Vaccarro
Gregg Jabara
Richard Schall
Alice Ghostley
Nancy Kulp
Fabian

Hot summer day

Not too long ago, I discovered/realized that there are not many early photos of us three together - and this one isn't very good. But its rarity makes it a treasure.

Tuna Does Vegas

I saw "Tuna Does Vegas" last night. It was good to see all the old familiar characters from Tuna, "the third smallest town in Texas".

The play was short on plot, but the jokes came fast and furious. Joe Sears and Jaston Williams have not lost their touch with all of the various residents they portray. I guess my favorite two characters are Aunt Pearl and Vera Carp (below), but close runners up are Inita Goodwin and Helen Bedd, the cook and waitress from the Tuna Tastee Kreme.

from love....... to indifference

Calling Dr. Peay

Another update from two years ago: I am still getting regular chiropractic adjustments at CoreHealth Wellness Center.

I just couldn't do without seeing Eric and Michele! Although Eric does adjustments to my back and neck as ongoing maintenance, they BOTH adjust my psyche with their cheery outlook and positive vibes. As I said in my last post, they are concerned with your entire "wellness". Visiting the CoreHealth office gives a lift to my entire day!

$4.99 Heaven

It's Wednesday! Time for an Enchilada Plate Special - for only $4.99

For plain TexMex, El Fenix remains my favorite. The chips are thin and crisp. The hotsauce is very flavorful without being too hot. I could just drink it! The enchiladas, etc. are just the right mix of grease and salt to make it all so satisfying (but not greasy). If you're feeling very decadent, get the lemon icebox pie. Incredibly tart + sweet. With the Wednesday night Enchilada Plate Special for $4.99, you can eat there SO CHEAP. It's all so comfortably predictable. I bet it's been the same since they opened in 1918. YUM.

A bit of luxury

An update on my post of almost two years ago on Truitt, massage guy extraordinaire.

I have enjoyed semi-regular massages with Truitt - until the economy crashed and I could no longer afford that bit of luxury. But during that time, we have become friends with similar senses of humor and similar interests is artistic pursuits, especially photography.

Since Tru needs to promote his massage business online and in print ads, he has allowed me to take photos of him to use to keep his “look“ updated in his ads. He is fun to work with, especially since he is not afraid of the camera, being a former actor. We have had two photo sessions so far, and are beginning to explore more artistic images. He is an inspiration to me with his own photography and encouraging me in working with me in mine.

Here's a collage of some of my favorite photos from the first two photo sessions.

J.C. Leyendecker

I have always liked illustration art, and recently a book was published about my favorite illustrator, J.C. Leyendecker. I have enjoyed looking through all of his work in the book, most of which I had never seen.

Before Norman Rockwell, there was J.C. Leyendecker (1874-1951) – arguably the nation's most popular and successful commercial artist of the first four decades of the 20th century.
Leyendecker's work both reflected and helped mold many of the visual aspects of the era's culture in America. including the mainstream image of Santa Claus as a jolly fat man in a red fur-trimmed coat , the New Year's Baby and the Arrow Collar Man, modeling him on his partner of 50 years, Charles Beach. The tradition of giving flowers as a gift on Mother's Day was started by Leyendecker's May 30, 1914 Saturday Evening Post cover depicting a young bellhop carrying hyacinths.

As the Saturday Evening Post’s most important cover artist of his day, J. C. Leyendecker illustrated all of the major holidays, as well as many in-between. His Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas covers were annual events for the Post’s millions of readers.

Click on each image to enlarge

At Rest

I already have a spot to rest.

I didn't care about doing this so early, but Mom wanted to get all of her arrangements done and paid for, so I went along. She spent a lot of time designing every detail about the marker (the permanent mom/child protective embrace and the permanent flowers when there will be no one left to bring real ones). This must have been in the early 90's. Mom is now buried at the stone and there is a place inside of mine to stuff my ashes. I'll probably have some scattered somewhere as well.
At the time, some people thought this was creepy to do so much in advance, but I like already having a little statue to myself.

Have a restful Fourth of July

Charlotte is spending the Fourth inside where it's cool .

Since her last kittenish appearance here 11/20/07, she has grown into a pleasingly plump stubby shape with a grumpy personality. She can be happily purring one second, and then turn around and bite you the next. I've never known a cat like that. The receptionist at the vet said that that psycho personality is common in tortoiseshell cats. After six weeks, she is barely tolerating Max. He can get close to her if he's slow about it, but it's usually growling, hissing, and swatting on her part. Max doesn't care a bit. It's been funny to watch a little kitten chase the big fatmomma cat around the house. Maybe the household will calm down with time and Max losing his kitten energy.

100°

It's so hot
that I need
a BIG cup
of ICED TEA!

unsweetened

lots of ice

Extensive Grey Gardens photo site

I have posted this interior design site, "Cote de Texas" elsewhere, but it is worth listing here also because it has a VERY extensive collection of photos about the house, Grey Gardens which is, of course, the home of the famed mother and daughter Edith and Edie Beale from the 1975 documentary "Grey Gardens".

Dressing, Y'all

I made Paula Deen's "Corny Coleslaw" from her show "Paula's Best Dishes". It was okay.... the corn was too powerful a flavor. BUT, I loved the dressing that was made for it. If you need a creamy Mexican themed/flavored dressing, this is good!

Combine in a small bowl:
2 T sugar
1 t ground cumin
1 t House Seasoning (below)
1 lime, juiced
3/4 cup mayonnaise

House Seasoning
1/4 cup salt
1 T black pepper
1 T garlic powder
Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to six months

still amazing

Since I haven't blogged in awhile, I'll have to update past posts.
The computerized mat cutter has become an integral part of the shop, and as everyone says, I don't know how we did without it. We never cut ANY mats by hand anymore. It's an incredible modernization in the industry,