Julia Rachel Barrett's Blog, page 17

You Tell Me…

I saw the mountain lion again. His absence had been noted, by me. I hadn’t seen him since I caught him sunning himself on a hillside back in early December, before Christmas Break. The park saw a huge increase in hikers over Christmas because the kids were out of school and the weather was perfect. If I were the cougar I’d take off too. I’m not fond of crowds.

On the plus side, the drug dealers have been keeping the area around the picnic table pristine. See?

Pristine.

Anyway, I saw the lion yes...

The question is conspicuous by its absence.

Someone needs to ask the question– Why does this keep happening?

Why does great talent keep killing itself with drugs?

Phillip Seymour Hoffman is only the latest.

Is it the kind of person drawn to the performance arts?

Is it the pressure to be loved and admired?

Is it ingrained in the culture of Hollywood?

Is this the very nature of the beast?

Heath Ledger was a terrible waste. So were Janis Joplin and Jimmy Hendrix and… good god, so many others it’s impossible to name them all.

And we, as a society,...

Indisposed.

I give up, throwing in the towel, waving the white flag.

Surrender.

This fractured torn right index finger is so messed up I really and truly can’t do much of anything. I’ve immobilized it again. And I’m pissed. Almost forced ‘Oscar’ to amputate with a tree trimmer this morning. The pain was so severe I felt like the finger was caught in an ALT (Animal Leg Trap) as opposed to a BLT– which could stand for either a Bear Leg Trap or a Bacon Lettuce and Tomato sandwich. Was tempted to chew it off.

S...

And It Wasn’t Even A Swim Suit!

This is why I don’t shop for clothes. You know? It’s a real downer.

But I am sorely lacking in nice-casual attire. My standard uniform is jeans. If I want to dress up I wear black jeans.

So I went shopping. Actual shopping for a change as opposed to virtual shopping.

Oh shopping, I hate you so...

I stopped in one department store. I picked out a bunch of shirts and slacks in my size and the sales clerk put them in a dressing room for me.

Dressing rooms are like the dentist – torture.

I have this ru...

I swear to God I love this ad.

Paul Harvey, 1978

Maybe you gotta be from Iowa to appreciate it? I don’t think so.

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Ice Age Trivia–

Extent of Glaciation, North America, Wisconsin Period

Solid Line: Approximate extent of glaciation during last (Wisconsin) ice age- 18,000 yrs ago.

Dotted Line: Approximate extent of earlier glaciations.

Increased cold and glaciation create drought in other areas, causing desertification. My home state of Iowa was shaped by glaciation. I grew up in the Loess Hills of Western Iowa, a gift from the last couple of ice ages.

See here:

Geology of the Loess Hills, Iowa

I was born right about… there!

Jus...

Around the blogging world–

Just FYI:

Penny Watson is editing (I’m guessing) her new (Is that an oxymoron?) geriatric romance. I say, Go Pens! Check it out here: Apples Should Be Red

My French Heaven is celebrating one year on Instagram. Stephane’s photos are to die for! Not only is he an amazing chef, he’s a brilliant photographer. A Year In My French Heaven

Another evocative, provocative, stir your sense poem by R. H. Mustard at City Noir: Biology

A great recipe for hash (I love hash!) and a Low-T Challenge over at More T...

Talk about pissy!

Sometimes I read a blog post– no, not yours, Tom– and I think– Oh honey, your youth and inexperience are showing. Not cool. Better tweak that elitist attitude, babycakes, or one of these days you’ll be eating a boatload of humble pie.

My philosophy is this – I do what I do. I make my own choices. Sometimes fate intervenes, things happen and I make adjustments, not excuses. Feel free to disagree with my choices, but save the disrespect for when you’re dishing with your BFFs. I don’t disrespect...

Oh! Had a fun lunch today at Spenger’s with author H.P. Oliver!

Lookey– Lookey!

Santa came late this year! But better late than never. I LOVE these covers. Passionately.

Thanks H.P.!

And I got a little preview (verbal) of his upcoming release– Goodnight, San Francisco, A Mystery in History, by H.P. Oliver. Yummolicious! Check it out here!

Oh, and did I mention the crab cakes? Hmmmmm? Jealous, are we?

I love crab cakes.

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I do love this speech–

Hamlet, 1602, William Shakespeare.

HAMLET:

To be, or not to be: that is the question:

Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;

No more; and by a sleep to say we end

The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to, ’tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep;

To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub;

Off to Berkeley on...