Graziella

She's home again. And Lionel's not the only one who's happy about it.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Things I Love ~ A Reposting

Though Lovers Be Lost issued a fun challenge a couple days ago. List things you love. Pretty simple. One of my first ever posts, before I had readers that weren't the Lovely Cats, Nemeria, FAE and the Divine M, was a post about just that ~ things I love. Since my readership has increased since then (have you seen the counter by country? Yes, I'm still obsessed. And digressing...) I am going to repost that one. Disclaimer, I believe I have reposted this before. If you have seen this already, here's another chance. Because it's a happy little post and we could all use those some times. Even if they are in reruns. TLBL, this one's for you...

"A Variation in Hot Pink on Ten Things" Originally posted on July 29, 2005




These are 10 things I love. Here's what's neat. I had a hard time limiting it to ten things. You may see this theme again. :) Here's the disclaimer: These are not things like my family, chocolate cake, or a brisk autumn day. These are the obscure, unusual little things that make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

1. Bears. Seriously. Black bears, brown bears, koala bears (I know...), panda bears (I said, I Know...), polar bears, teddy bears, Pooh bears, bear cubs, the Three Bears. They make me smile. (for the record, I'm also partial to puffins, owls, and duck-billed platypus..es? platipi? Whatever, I like them.)

2. My bed. Lord, I love my bed. Snuggle down, pull the sheets up and...ahhhhhhh. For being sick, for being well, for reading a book or doing a crossword, for ignoring the world, for feeling cozy, napping or getting a good night's rest ~ there is no place better than my bed. Golly, I do love my bed.

3. Kids' stuff. Eloise, Barbapapas, Muppets, Dr. Seuss. Proof that genius is not only for adults.

4. Getting mail. Not bills and fliers but real letters from real people actually sent to me. Nothing's better than finding a letter in my mailbox, curling up with a cup of tea and catching up with a friend.

5. Modern inventions. Okay, that is a polite way of saying "indoor plumbing" and "tampons." 'Nuff said, don't you think?

6. Lists. Have you noticed? I like lists. Top ten lists, Best-Of lists, To-Do lists, grocery lists. Hell, I like this list of lists.

7. Funky toenail polish. I stay (relatively) conservative on my fingernails. But if you can't wear electric blue or blaze orange on your toes, really, where can you wear them?

8. Halloween. All the holidays are great. From the end of October through mid-February, I'm practically giddy. And then there is Halloween. It is (almost) the most under-rated holiday. We get to dress up in funky costumes, we get to be scared, we get to do things like drink hot cider and go on hayrides. How can you not love it? (And in case you are interested, the most under-rated holidays are both on Feb. 15th: I Want Butterscotch Day and National Sea Monkey Day)

9. Cherry soda. Not cherry cola, although that's good, too. But good, old-fashioned cherry soda. Canada Dry used to make a great one but now Acme is the best around (if you're lucky enough to have family in southern NJ who stock it for you!).

10. Purple. Yep; I like purple. Blue is my favorite color. It's peaceful and calming. Hot pink is great. It's alive and happy. And still...there's something about purple. All shades of purple, from aubergine to lavender. Purple is the National Sea Monkey Day of my color preferences.

Those are 10 things that make me feel all warm and fuzzy. They may not be your warm fuzzies but I hope they made you think of whatever ARE your warm fuzzies. We could all use more warm fuzzies in the world.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you (warm but hopefully not fuzzy) coffee.

And nearly two years later, those are still things that make me wicked happy. And they are still Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Questions and Not Answers

There is a tenet in the law that states "Don't ask a question you don't already know the answer to." In other words, don't get caught by surprise when you're questioning someone on the stand. It's a good rule. It's harder in life. I am a firm believer in not asking a question I don't really want the answer to. If I ask a question, I want the truth. Not what the other person thinks I want to hear. I also follow this when I am asked a question. I assume the asker wants the truth and so I will give it. I will give it as gently as possible ~ something like "it's not your best look" instead of "oh dear God take that off; you cannot be seen in public looking like that!" I will, however, tell the truth (as I see it.) That being said, I have learned that I do not always know the answers to questions I have. And I do not always want the answers to questions I have. I may want reassurance. I may want sympathy. That's not the same thing as wanting the answer. Here are the big ones. I ask them here because, quite frankly, I don't want to ask them anywhere else...

* Did you tell him not to do it?
* Why did you keep it when you knew I was in no condition to think of it?
* How did you help him?
* Are you really doing this thing?

I don't know the answers. I don't want the answers. I won't ask the questions.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday Poll Question

For someone who doesn't consider this a thinking blog, I earned the award this last week, huh? So, in light of that, today's Poll Question will be a fun, unthinky one. Just enjoy it. Because the posts I've got stewing on the back burner may take us back to thinky! Or they may just end up me ranting, who knows. :) Anway, enjoy.

Question: What character from literature, cinema or television do you most identify with and why? (And yes, this assumes fictional characters are actually live people, not a culmination of several different writers. Go with it; it's fun!)

Pobble Answer: I have to go with two ~










Han Solo from Star Wars (with a nod to Michael ~ ah, Sunday male beauty!)




















and Zoe from Firefly and Serenity (can you say Sunday female beauty? I knew you could!)




















I don't claim to look like either of them ~ although I wouldn't complain if I did (don't complain that I don't, either, but that's a different post.) The point is, I can relate to these two. They have a strong sense of honor, duty and loyalty ~ to those for whom they have it. They are willing to follow ~ but neither blindly nor silently and only those who have proven themselves worth following. They are sidekicks ~ and their own people. So, yeah, in the great "which character are you" debate, I'm Han and Zoe. For all those reasons and more.





Or maybe I just like the idea of flying around with big guns wearing a really great leather vest.











That's always a possibility, too. :)










Your answer...

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Hot Damn!

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Adams Media Corporation (January 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1598691465
ISBN-13: 978-1598691467

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Ps ~ Test Words continues to sell much better after all the reviews. Amazon has had to reorder several times. Thanks again!

Reasons I'm a Goob

* I worry my dogs are bored ~ while they are asleep.

* I drove to the store to get half and half and drop a couple things in the mailbox. Dropped the mail in the box, got back in the Pobble Mobile and came home. Had to go back for the half and half.

* I looked all over for a pen the other night ~ forgetting I had one attached to my shirt collar. And another in my hair.

* I get excited about office supplies.

* I'm obsessed with my new "by country" counter on my blog.

* I own copies of the Constitution, three dictonaries and Emily Post's Etiquette.

* I attach pens to my shirt collar. And tuck them in my hair. At the same time.

Those are goobish Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Friendship, Movies and Harry Potter

The FAE took me to see Harry Potter tonight. I loved it. Considering the book was 900 pages long and the movie less than 2 1/2 hours, they did a damn good job. But even if they hadn't, I still would have loved it. See (slight spoiler alert!) ~ the love of Harry's friends and his love for them literally saves his life. And that's when I teared up. Not when I was "supposed to" but then.

Courage and bravery in the name of friendship is my favorite theme for movies, television or books. Mushy romances don't phase me. Death scenes? Moved but dry-eyed. There's a show on now called The Black Donnellys. It's okay but they are brothers and I don't get it. Because they are also jerks and family or not, I'd've cut 'em off long before now. However...

Star Wars ~ Han Solo doesn't come back to fight the Empire. He comes back to save Luke's ass.

Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves ~ Little John swings his wife through a flaming forest because they know Robin will catch her. Know it.

Lethal Weapon...whichever ~ Murtaugh is stuck on a toilet with a bomb about to go off. The odds are he will die. They clear the room. Riggs won't leave.

Serenity (and the television series Firefly that spawned it) ~ Mal has no reason to take River home. It makes no sense. Yet he does. (And he keeps everybody alive and sane throughout the series, too. "Yeah, but she's our witch so cut her down!")

And countless others. It doesn't even matter if a movie is any good or not. I mean, come on, Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves??!?? It doesn't matter if the acting is top notch or barely summer stock. It doesn't matter how often I've seen the movie. I will weep. Every time. Because friendships like that are what it's all about. And if you don't believe me, ask my friends. They know.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

The Right to Offend, Pt. 2

The entireity of this post was almost " 'Just' shut the fuck up." However, in the interest of being a little more productive than that, I'll phrase it differently.


Recently, I have had several conversations about relationships. Some have been about my relationship with Lithus. Some have been about other people's relationships. Here's what struck me: people (generally) accept things in their own relationships while being incredibly judgemental about things/aspects of other people's. In other words, we tend to be hypocrites. So "just" shut the fuck up. No, wait ~ I'm attempting to be more productive...


We are hypocrites out of love, our concerns for our friends' well-beings, with their 'best interests' at heart or even sometimes just to be "right." Still, we are hypocrites.


The phrase "S/He just needs to..." comes to our lips far too often. Because, folks, if it was "just" that simple, it would have been done by now. Also, the fact that you or I might need to "just need to..." in the same situation does not mean that the person in question "just needs to" do a damn thing.


None of us ~ not one ~ has a perfect relationship. Anyone who claims to is lying to us, themselves or both. And all of us have different deal-breakers. Yet we tend to get angry, frustrated and judgemental when other people's deal-breakers are different from our own. As if we, and only we, have the secret to a healthy relationship.


When I said that, however, in one of the aforementioned conversations, the response was "No, Pobble. Healthy is healthy. It's the same for everyone." Well. No. Eating toasted coconut will kill me. Literally. I go into anaphylactic shock and, if not treated, will die within minutes. It is the single most unhealthy food on the planet for me, including anything cooked in transfats. Does this mean you should stop eating toasted coconut? Hell no. Because it's not unhealthy for you.


"But Pobble, relationships are different." Why? How? I know a woman who is married to a man I think is an asshole. I simply do not like him, as hard as I've tried out of love for the woman. Guess what? Their marriage works for them. It's healthy for them.

So, I have learned over the last few years to keep my mouth shut. No, I'm not perfect. I still step in where it's really none of my business sometimes. I often roll my eyes at choices I see in other relatioships and thank the Goddess I'm not in that situation. More often than not, though, it ends with the eye rolling and the TTG. It doesn't include judgement any longer. I will look for cruelty and/or abuse. That's different. That's when I must step up. But just because I'm grateful I'm not involved with that person? Just because I think he's an asshole or she's crazy? Nah. That's none of my damn business. Because I really hate hypocrisy.


And Lithus and I put up with shit from each other that would make other people crazy. I know this. I do not claim it to be a perfect relationship. However, TTG, it is healthy for us and works for us. So go ahead and roll your eyes at my relationship ~ or someone else's relationship. Be grateful you're not in those relationships. Mutter that you don't understand how we can be in these relationships. All that is fine. Just know there's something in your relationship that makes us roll our eyes too. And "just" shut the fuck up.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Pobble Thinkings

Half-way between Pooh's house and Piglet's house was a Thoughtful Spot where they met sometimes when they had decided to go and see each other, and as it was warm and out of the wind they would sit down there for a little and wonder what they would do now that they had seen each other. ~ The House at Pooh Corner, A.A. Milne



I am honored. I am touched. I am confused. Michael (in Norfolk) has nominated me and my Pobble Thoughts as a "Thinking Blog."





I am honored because one likes to think one's thoughts and words are not totally without merit. I am touched because he said some really nice things about me and, since we don't know each other outside of cyberspace and haven't known each other here very long, I can't imagine he felt obligated. I am confused because, quite frankly, I don't consider this a thinky blog (as Lori over GNightGirl put it when she was nominated ~ and damn whoever got to her first because she would've been one of mine!) I am as likely to post one of those silly online quizzes and use double negatives as I am to write about my thoughts on great issues. And yet...here we are.



So, Michael, thank you. Very much. For the honor. For the touching moment. And yes, for the confusion. Because confusion is good for us every now and then.



Here are the rules...

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote


So without further ado, my nominess ~

* Get Off My Lawn over at, well, Get Off My Lawn! He is insightful, challenging, good-naturedly curmudgeonly, and an overall good read. He stumbled into my corner of the world and I continue to be grateful.

* Rose at Lessons Learned She shares her struggles with youth, inner cities, family, society and life in general eloquently and with grace.

* Jaded at Is Anybody There? Honestly, she doesn't post as often as she used to. But when she does, she will make you think. She will make you challenge and defend your own opinions to yourself. "Commitment Abby - commitment! There are only two creatures of value on the face of this earth: those with a commitment, and those who require the commitment of others." She is a creature of value ~ and insists the rest of us be, as well.

*The Lovely Cats at Finding Avalon My phone rang last night. Part of the conversation went something like this:
Him: Michael in Norfolk has nominated both of us for Thinking Blogs.
Me: Really??!? OMG, how cool! I'm so touched!
Him: I know! Me too. We have to nominate others.
Me: Right.
Him: I left you Cats but I took Cracker Lilo.
Me: That seems fair. So long as they both get nominated and we each get one.
Him: But you always get Cats.
Me: Well, yes.
However, I'm not nominating the Lovely Cats because she was left for me. I'm nominating her because she deserves it. Why else would there have needed to be negotiation?

* And Dagoth at Dagoth's Domain He has a gentle view of the world that is truly lovely and always reminds me to look around a little more closely, a little differently.

There you have it. Five of my favorite thinkers. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.





Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Your Post

Still Standing...

Sunday Poll Question

Another week without a post in between Poll Questions. Eeek! Summer is still moving quickly...

So, without further ado, a fun, mindless Sunday Poll Question:

Who is (are) your hero(s) and why?

Pobble Answer: I have three heros. Nelson Mandela. I cannot imagine having the strength to fight the way he did ~ nor the sense of self and peace he must have had to forgive. Julie Taymor. She is the first woman to win the Tony for Best Director of a Musical. Growing up, I thought it would be me. How can I not have her as a hero, since it was her? And finally, John Adams. In light of my completely missing the Fourth of July here in cyberspace, I'm going to spend a little bit of time on him. John has, over the last few years, started to come into his own as historians and biographers have remembered that he was indeed instrumental in getting this country started. And yes, we are indeed on a first name basis. :) The man was obnoxious. A bully. Stubborn. Always right, in his opinion. And I would imagine annoying as hell to be around. (I'm obnoxious and disliked, you know that sir...) And yet...He was one of the greatest minds the world has ever known. The confluence of minds that occured in that room in 1776 was and continues to be unparalleled. It was led by John Adams. Yes, it was voiced by Thomas Jefferson. Kept under control (and perhaps manipulated a bit) by Benjamin Franklin. Still, it was led ~ bullied, pushed, badgered ~ by John Adams. As with Mandela, I cannot imagine the strength, the will, the sheer bull-headedness that he must have had to make happen what happened. So ~ those are my heros.

Your answer...

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday Poll Question

First, my apologies for missing last week. It was my last day with Lithus and, quite frankly, the Sunday Poll Question slipped my mind entirely. Why do I think you understand? ;)

Second, it's July. How in the hell did it get to be July???? Anyway, it did. And so we say goodbye to the rainbow that has been at the top of my blog. I won't be deleting it, just allowing it to move down. It was a great idea from Kelley and I hope to participate next year as well! Happy Pride, everybody!

Now! For the Sunday Poll Question...

One of the things I enjoy the most/hate the most about traveling is you can't really get away from other people's conversations. When they are sitting right there and you're on an airplane, you gotta hear what they are saying. This time, it led to the Sunday Poll Question. I believe the gist of the conversation went something like this:

If you were given two choices ~ vote for a member of the party you usually disagree with the most and reserve your right to complain or not vote and keep your mouth shut about whatever happens over the next four years, which would you choose? And if you would choose to vote, which current candidate would you vote for and why? Now, I'm going to tweak this just a little and limit this to Democrat and Republican parties. See, I know my readers and suddenly there would be lots of voting for the independant candidates. :) So, if you normally vote within the Democratic Party in order to keep your right to voice your opinion, you would have to vote for the Republican candidate and vice versa. So ~ vote or keep your mouth shut for the next four years? (And for my non-US readers, change the parties to the ones in your country and chime in! Or answer as if you were voting in the US elections. Or something. I'm curious to hear your opinions as well!)

Pobble Answer: This was tough for me from the moment I heard the kids behind me debating it. Luckily for me, I have had the entire week to mull on it. I would have to vote. Have to. First, people died to give US citizens the right to vote. Second, I cannot forget what women went through to get other women the right to vote. And there are still too many places in the world where I would not be allowed to vote because of my gender. Third, I am really, really bad at keeping my mouth shut. To do it for four years...nope. It would never happen. So ~ I would vote. And I think I would vote for Rudy Guiliani. A year ago, I would have answered John McCain but John has been distressing me in the last few months. I'm no Rudy fan. I'm not even sure I spelled his name correctly. Since the Republican debates, though, I have kept an eye on him and listened to what he says. Still not a fan. Still don't want him as the President. But I like what he says more than McClain or *gulp* Mitt Romney. And if my vote for Guiliani helps keep one of the worse ones out of office AND I still get to bitch ~ yeah, that would have to be my route. TTG this is hypothetical! Part of me is grateful to those kids for making me think about it from this angle. And part of me says Dammit, you couldn't have buried yourself in your iPods and been done with it?

Your answer...

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Rainbow

Remember, if you've read this already, scroll down. This post will stay up top throughout the month of June ~ but that doesn't mean it will be the only post throughout the month of June! And I'm a comment whore so don't leave me hanging! :)


A newly discovered blogger had this posted earlier in the weekend...

Here's a challenge from Kelly Stern at Rambling along in life... with a Stern point of view. ... I encourage my fellow bloggers to post this picture on your blog and let Kelly know. Celebrate Diversity.

It is that time of the year again where I post a photo that shows the rainbow and ask everyone to pass it around in hopes of spreading the idea of diversity. It may not be as pretty as last years, but it is more of the point I am trying to make. This is a rainbow created by different forces in nature (a little sunshine, water and wind). Last year there were over 100 of you who participated in my challenge and this year I want more. As I find the picture on sites, I will link to that site here in this post. I will try and keep this post at the top of the page all month long with links to the other sites. This challenge is not just about being accepted as a gay man, but it is about societies around the world learning to accept people for being themselves... diversity. Gay, straight, Christian, Muslim, skinny or fat... we need to be a little more accepting these days. The world is a mean place, let's work to make it a little nicer by showing this colorful rainbow that formed thanks to the right angle of the sun and a slight breeze across the pond. Mother natures way of saying she approves of this challenge... shouldn't we all. (Thanks Though Lovers Be Lost!)

Now, being the computer goob that I am, I cannot post the picture on my blog and just leave it there. Instead, I will ~ like Kelly, the original author of this ~ simply try to keep this post at the top or near the top of the blog for the month of June. What this means is you, lovely and loyal readers, need to scroll down past this post in order to get to the most recent one. Takes a bit more time but totally worth it, don't you think? So...scroll...there's a new one down there. ;)

Recently, I was asked why I, a straight female, was so concerned with homosexual rights. I was ready with my standard answer (I get asked a version of that question a lot; just insert "black" or "civil" or "refugee" or "poverty" or whatever isn't white, straight and female into the question where it currently reads "homosexual.") My standard answer is How in the name of the Goddess can I not be concerned? Just because it doesn't affect me directly doesn't mean it doesn't affect me directly.


They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant
Then they came for me,
and by that time no one was left to speak up. ~ Martin Niemoller (from the NE Holocaust Memorial version of the quote)

Evil is not to be traced back to the individual but to the collective behavior of humanity. ~ Reinhold Niebuhr

If you don't like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time. ~ Marian Wright Edelman

Those are Pobble Thoughts, with a little help from some friends. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee ~ and a whole hell of a lot more.

Broken Record

133:33

That's one hundred thirty-three minutes and thirty three seconds.

Over two hours.

Can you imagine what it would be like if either one of us actually did like talking on the phone?

I love you, my friend.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Role Modeling

Here in Worcester, one of two things tends to happen when I am out and about. Either people just ignore me or they give me the look. Take yesterday afternoon. It was hot out and I really wanted to stay home in front of the a.c. But Daisy needed her fluid treatment. So I had to go out. Ended up dressed in khaki shorts, a loose fitting black tank and my high heeled clogs. Most people ignored me. Some people gave me the look. And then there was the little girl. This is the response I love the best.

She was maybe 8. Maybe 10. No older. She studied me as I walked by her. Studied me as I stood waiting in line. I watched her eyes flicker to the streak. I watched her eyes get a little larger as she finally saw the tattoo running down my calf. I watched her take me in. And as I turned to leave, I grinned at her and winked.

Her whole face lit up.

Yes, Virginia, there is an option. You don't have to be a soccer mom. You don't have to be angst ridden. You don't have to conform. You don't have to be Muffy...or Lillith. Living here, growing up in a small town...there is an option. There is more. You can be everything and anything you are.

She may grow up to be a Muffy. She may grow up to be a Lillith. She may grow up to be something completely different. But for the briefest moment in her young life, she had a choice. I hope that knowledge stays with her longer than a brief moment, even after she has forgotten where the knowledge came from.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Not Rocket Science

I share the good times with the people who saw me through the bad times. If it seems simple, that's because it is.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Random Pictures

For your viewing pleasure (click on any of them to enlarge)...

The Wrestling Match ...

(nice butt, don't you think?)

The Flowers ...

(I woke up to these on my pillow one morning)

The Video Game...

The Football Game ...

And introducing...

Lithus.

Those are Pobble Thoughts and Pobble Pictures. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Lithia With Lithus

As a solitary, I don't celebrate the holidays with other people often. Every so often, though, I get a chance to do so. Last night was one of those every so oftens. We danced. We laughed. We gave thanks. We celebrated. It was lovely.



Blessed be, my friends.

I Did WHAT???!?!??!?!?!?!

The beach is clothing optional. It was a ...ahem...bad time of the month for nothingness. TTG for my two-piece tankini. I have never done anything like that in my life.



It was fun.


*giggle*


Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Washington Ramblings

* Snails are really cool little critters. Watching them is fascinating. They're even kinda cute. Slugs are just sluggy. * It rains in Washington. A lot. * I carry my fellow bloggers with me more than I'd realized. Watch spiders in a battle for the web? Spider Girl, of course. Watch Timber play his game: Wonder if this is one of the games Tai plays. Lunch at Jack in the Box: "Oh! That's the shake $$ dumped everywhere, bless his heart." Discuss living openly in VA: Michael in Norfolk seems to be making it work. Pass a child playing with her stuffed animal: Damn, what GNightGirl is doing is really amazing... You get the idea. * Pierogies and french fries make a perfectly delicious meal at 2:30 in the morning. * The weather channel shouldn't lie. When the weather channel lies, I end up dressed exactly the way I did in the mid-80s complete with satiny yoga pants, a silk tank top and a maroon blazer with the cuffs rolled back to expose the tan silk lining. All that was missing was an eyeliner design off my left eye. * Starbucks liqueur with half and half is called a brown cow. Add Baileys to it and it becomes an Irish cow. At least in my house. * Moving a bed two feet is easier than one believes it to be. * When you only have one friend actually in the town where you live, it is helpful to have a flexible editor. * Three people really can need four computers. * The store Fred Meyers has everything ~ including clothes from this decade for when the weather channel lies. Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee...on any street corner in the entire state of Washington, which is GREAT!

Sunday Poll Question

This Sunday Poll Question assumes two things. First, it assumes an existence of a higher power. Second, it assumes this higher power is omniscient. Now, knowing my readers, I don't think anyone has a problem making this assumption. However, I wanted to make it clear that I am indeed aware that I am making it. Answering the question does not mean you agree that there is a higher power or make a statement about how that higher power may take form. If you don't believe, answer anyway. Suspension of disbelief is fun, if nothing else.

Question: If you could ask the higher power one question, what would that question be?

Pobble Answer: This is a tough one. "Why?" "Where have you been?" "How?" All those things come to mind. But you know what I think I would really want to know? Who was the third woman? See, my paternal grandfather ~ my Papa ~ only saw three women naked in his entire life. The man was intimidatingly honest, so I believe him. One, was my grandmother. One was a nurse in WWII who streaked by on a dare, hoping to shock the officers, and the Chaplain in particular. And the third one was...no one knows. He was a good enough story teller that at this point, he would weave his words in such a way that he took you away from the story, away from the obvious question. And no one ever came back to it. We just didn't think to. We were too involved with where the story went next. When he died, I asked my father who the third woman was. His response was "You mean he never told you, either? I was hoping you would know!" So. For all the deep, meaningful, life-explaining questions I could ask, I don't think I will. Some things can remain a mystery ~ assuming this is how it all works afterwards. But I really would like to know who that third woman was.

Your answer...

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Some Reassurance

For the past several years, I have become more and more distressed over the state of my country. I am unabashedly patriotic. It is through and because of the love of my country that I have become more and more concerned. The "with us or against us" mentality that was spawned after 9/11; the "see something, say something" announcements made in public transportation systems throughout the country; the existance and then expansion of the Patriot Act...yeah, I've been growing more and more concerned.

Still, I can sit on Lithus' front step with him and not be stoned for being seen with a man I'm not related to; wear clothing that exposes my skin and hair and not be punished; leave the house without an i.d. card or papers and not be jailed for not having them with me. My non-white friends do not have to fear lynchings. My GLBT friends do not live with a death sentence over their heads every single time they flirt with someone of their own gender. None of us will be beheaded for being who we are.

And I can still write this blog. I can still say that: I think the Patriot Act is leading us to a fascist state that could rival Nazi Germany; I fear for free thought, expression and opinion in a way that no American should fear for those things; I am disgusted that I cannot assure my foreign national partner that we can have political conversation on the phone without worrying about who is listening; that I believe George W. Bush has moved from dangerously stupid to stupidly dangerous; that I fear most of the country is too unaware of the subtlties (sp?) happening around us to see beyond the next election and that simply having a non-Republican in the White House isn't enough to undo the horrible damage that has been done; that I know people who are talking not just resistance but Resistance ~ and they aren't crazy, militaristic survivalist types or left-over 60s radicals but intelligent, ordinary people.

So, I take some reassurance from all this. Not much, mind you, still...some. And I have to hold onto that some.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

40 Hours and Meeting Timber

* When I went to sleep last night at 12:30 PDT (or is it PST? I never know when we're on people's time and when we're on God's. Disgressing Pobble....) ANYWAY! When I went to sleep last night at 12:30 West Coast time, I had gotten 2 hours of sleep in the last 40. It may take a little while to catch up again.

* I met Lithus' son, Timber, during that 40 hour stretch ~ and before the 2 hour nap. He's ruthless. I'm cold. These are compliments. We have set our sights on total world domination, starting with his father, who is totally and completely screwed.

* Here is an exchange from last night, coming home from dinner...

Timber: "so what's the catch?"

Lithus: "what do you mean?"

Timber: "I'm not used to having this much fun without there being a catch."

Pobble: "Welcome to my world, Timber."

Timber: "I like it."

Yeah, Timber, I think you're pretty cool, too.

I'll be reading even if I don't have much time to comment and will post when I can. Everybody have a good couple weeks.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday Poll Question

Here's a thought for you to think... Do monogamy and commitment have to go together? I know for most people they do go together and for those individuals, they may have to. But what about generally? What about outside of your own relationship? If you know of a couple who are not monogamous and that is mutually agreed upon and acceptable to both of them, can you accept them as a committed couple? Are they simply making a choice you wouldn't make in your own relationship the same way they might choose their hometown differently than you? (Which makes a pretty huge assumption about my readers, doesn't it? ;) ) Or do you think there is a problem there? Is one or both automatically cheating? Is this a sickness or a problem in their wiring or just a different life choice?

Pobble Answer: Personally, I don't think I have the right to place my morals or expectations on another relationship. Relationships are such personal things and every single one of them is different. If both parties need monogamy to feel a true committment, who am I to tell them they are wrong? If both parties truly agree that monogamy is not a necessary part of their relationship but find commitment between them elsewhere, who am I to tell them they are wrong? (And before anyone says anything about people who agree to it but don't really mean it, please re-read the italicized part of the first paragraph.) I do not believe that we as human beings are hardwired automatically to be polyamorous or monogamous. I think that's about the individuals and between the couple.

Your answer...

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Busy Yet Boring

I can't think of a single interesting post. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. But the reason I'm boring here is because life has been so not boring recently. And when it gets this not boring, I don't have time to stew on my words, to express the stories that are happening, even as life rushes me to the next one.

See, Thursday night, the Lovely Cats came to visit. The kids from downstairs came up to join us for part of the evening (as alluded to in the previous post.) Last night, Tom Cat joined the fun ~ along with more of the kids from downstairs. Today, Peaches is coming out from Boston. I will take her back to town tomorrow in time for me to meet up with Dr. Bagel in order to catch a show that has a Sunday matinee. At 3:55 a.m. (yes, that's a.m. as in morning; as in "oh-dark thirty" for those of you with a military background; as in fuck it I probably won't even go to bed) on Monday I will be picked up to go to Seattle for two weeks. Monday afternoon ~ after having been awake since God only knows when ~ I will meet Lithus' son for the first time.

Breathe, Pobble, just breathe...

I'm an introvert, dammit!!!!!!

There, I feel better. I still feel like a (temporarily) boring blogger ~ but I feel better.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

I Would Drown

BDS over at Two Dollar Productions has a semi-regular series of postings called Bathing With the Drunken Viking. I've always been particularly impressed when they have shown up on weekdays because it means the imbibing was done on a weeknight. Having now imbibed myself on a weeknight for the first time in a very long time, I have decided that I couldn't bathe with the drunken viking. I would drown.


Hush darling, Auntie Mame's hung. ~ Mame Dennis to her nephew, Patrick.

Those are ohGodyoumeanIhavetothink Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee. Much Needed Coffee.

A Night with Coffee Girl

Hi! It's ME! Where are you? You should pick up. I want to talk to you! So call me because I'm gonna be here all night so call me BACK! Gaaa! Love you.

Thus started a game of phone tag that lasted most of today until we finally caught up. Almost three hours ago. See, that's the thing about Coffee Girl. We can go three days, three weeks or three months and it's like we talked three minutes ago. I was going to write "or three years" but I don't think we go that long. Because it's too important to be able to just say "Hi! It's ME!" and know the other knows who ME! is.

I'm always really, really happy after we chat because I know...well, she's still out there. And the world really needs her in it.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Shout Outs

My beloved DonDon sent me over to a couple new blogs, D-Man and Michael in Norfolk. I enjoyed them enough to leave comments. Which in turn (I am assuming here) brought Though Lovers Be Lost over here to Pobble Thoughts. And out of nowhere (although I think Tai had something to do with this somewhere along the line but truly, I have no exact clue how ~ love a good mystery), appeared Get Off My Lawn!, taking the coveted and long empty spot of curmudgeon with pride. (Note, none of these names are live links. You will have to look over at my links list to find them. They're the ones who are all shiny and new.)

These four guys are very different. All four of them will make you think, make you smile, make you want to read more.

So check out the new links here at Pobble Thoughts. And consider this shout out to you, too! Oh, also, I did some rearranging of the links. Decided it was time to organize a bit. I think I kept everybody but if you notice someone missing ~ or look over and you are missing! ~ please let me know! It's almost two in the morning here and I'm not necessarily at my best. ;) And if you have me linked and I don't know it because you read here but don't comment, please, let me know that, too. Thanks!

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Foot Fetish ~ Just Bitching Here

1. To Women ~ Even if it is a "low" heel, if you have to walk flat footed or duck walk, the heel is too high. Please. Practice at home before you come out into public. Or stay with flats. Flats are lovely, I promise. And far more sophisticated than the duck walk.

2. To Men ~ Rubber flip flops are not shoes. They are appropriate for a beach or a locker room. Not a restaurant. Not even a casual restaurant. Personally, I don't care for men in open-toed shoes at all but I recognize this is unfair and hypocritical of me, especially in the heat of the summer. But no flip flops. And if you are going to wear other sandals, I have two words for you: pedicure and please.

3. To the Cute Little Thing Out With Grandma and Mom ~ The sound of flip flops should never ~ never ~ be heard while having tea at the Ritz. Learn this now.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Just For Fun on a Monday

Your Score: Bette Davis

You scored 33% grit, 28% wit, 23% flair, and 33% class!

You're one smart cookie, and you know it. You also know how to let everyone else in on the deal. You've worked hard to get where you are, and sometimes you might not have played fair. You are ruthless but charming, and the light of intelligence sparkles in your eyes. When cornered, you can and will act, but you'd rather have things go your way and live a life of ease and comfort. It's not a great idea to cross you; you will run the competition down like a rabbit, and leave them wondering what hit them. Your leading men include Errol Flynn and Paul Henreid, men who like a feisty gal with a touch of class.

Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

The truly interesting part is I took this test over at Alan's. It came up that I was Katherine Hepburn, which also works for me ~ a little too well, if truth be told. So, this morning when I decided to post it, I took the test again. And came up Bette. Could've sworn I gave the same answers I gave last time. So I took it again, this time choosing my second choice answers. And came up Bette. So I took it yet a third time (I have time on my hands while I getting my first cups of coffee into me ~ it's best that I do nothing that requires human interaction or thought.) The third time, I answered everything as opposite of me as I could. Didn't come up Bette so I know the program was working and not just defaulting to the Divine Davis. Okay. Last time and I will post whatever comes up. Apparently, I'm Bette today. :) Maybe tomorrow I'll go back to being Kate. Either is fine with me. I mean honestly, who can choose between Bette and Kate?????

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday Poll Question

Keeping things a little more lighthearted ~ it's confession time, people!

Question: What's the stupidest thing you've ever done to impress someone?

Pobble Answer: Although I've done crazy things to impress people (including walking into the fountain at Knott's Berry Farms amusement park up to my knees in order to make a 12-year old smile) I'm not often stupid. However, it has been known to happen and this was definitely The Stupidest... The summer before my freshman year in high school, the theatre where I worked was doing Wizard of Oz. In order to build the balloon basket that the Wizard flies away in, we had to split bamboo. This was my task. Which would have been fine ~ except Jason was also assigned to help split bamboo. And oh, what a Pobble Crush I had on Jason. It was destined to be unrequited and even I knew it at the time. He was to old to even see me that way~ sixteen. He was one of the cool kids at the high school. I had to be content with being his friend ~ which we were. But oh...in my little prepubescent heart... So, we each take a hammer and a flathead screwdriver and *wham* start splitting bamboo. And I miss. Slamming the hammer into the upper knuckle of my thumb. Jason sees this and asks if I'm okay. Now, not only was there this crush going on but we were in my theatre and damned if I was gonna let it show that I couldn't take it like an adult in my theatre. So I assured him I was fine and swung that hammer again. *wham* I have no idea how many times I *whammed* that knuckle. I know it was a lot. It was so many times that it finally stopped hurting altogether. The next day, I realized I had never seen so many colors in skin before. I didn't even know there could be so many colors in skin. The joint itself was three times its normal size. And I walked around with my hand in my pocket for nearly a month trying to hide it from everyone ~ especially my mom ~ because to let anyone see it was to admit I had done it and kept my mouth shut in order to impress Jason. To this day, when it is humid and cold, there is an ache there. The stupidest thing about it is I kept my mouth shut well enough that he didn't even notice ~ so couldn't be impressed. Ah well. ;)

Your answer...

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Weekend Ramblings

* A woman who did almost 4 years in jail for credit card and identity theft has written a fictionalized account of her life of crime. She's selling a lot of books and has a second novel contracted and awaiting publication. Hey ~ I can work credit card theft if that will help sell my books. :)

* Toward the end of May, I had dinner with the FAE (formerly known as the FAEE but she is no longer my editor, having moved on to bigger and better so that first e is now superfluous and therefore must be removed ~ digressing Pobble...) When I shared something with her, she not only took it in stride and accepted it but she got it. Down deep, the same way I get it. With a shy yet knowing smile. And that felt really nice. (And no, I'm not coming out. I'm still the pathetically heterosexual Pobble ~ as strange as that really is.)

* I'm getting tired of friends and acquaintances getting upset when I don't blog about *them.* Something important will happen in their lives, they will stop by the blog and then get upset when I haven't written about it. Suddenly, I get a nasty-gram or a tearful phone call or even hurt silence that isn't explained to me until months later. Guess what? The title of this blog is "Pobble Thoughts." Not "Pobble Thoughts About Other People Who Think They Should Be Written About Here." Want your special day memorialized? Write your own blog.

* In the last 36 hours, I have written on a) a trashy romance novel b) a proposal for another genre-specific dictionary and c)...a script for a short film involving a killer refrigerator. My writing life is as surreal as my personal one.

* My friend, Webstress, had a baby. You know the greatest thing about Webstress? She knows I'm excited for her. She knows I want to see her and meet Ziggy. She also knows I have a life that is rather unpredictable in terms of scheduling and that I am not all that fond of children until they hit 11 or 12. (She also could give a rat's ass that his birth wasn't announced here at the time, which is nice considering Weekend Rambling The Third.) Later this month, I will go see them and she doesn't take it personally that I didn't go within moments of his birth. I will ooh and ahh over Ziggy. I will do anything Webstress needs an extra hand with around the house. And we will talk about things other than just the baby and she won't make me hold him. Gotta love Webstress.

* Almost two weeks ago now, I got into a cleaning frenzy. Cleaning Frenzy. And my house is still clean! It's a Christmas Miracle in summer. Have faith, people. They do happen.

* As I was just sitting out on my balcony, a gaggle of geese flew by honking encouragement to each other. This is a sound that always brings me a melancholy kind of happiness but this morning, it was made even deeper by the completely unexpected nature of it. What a gift.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

P.s. ~ The A Minute In The Life project (see Lori over at "This Just In" ~ and I'm too lazy to link it right now, sorry) just took place. Here is the 2 o'clock picture I sent. I know, you're shocked. ;)

That and a buck fifty will still get you coffee.

22 Years Ago

It was 1985...

I was 15...

Nemeria and I had already been friends for five years...

The Lovely Cats and I had only met once...

Reagan was president...

I was in love with D, the one who got away...

The Berlin Wall stood...

The AIDS epidemic was raging...

Madonna was hot...

Duran Duran was hotter...

Michael J. Fox was on my walls and Jeremy Irons was in my locker...





...and my Dear One was born. Thank the Goddess.



Happy Birthday and Blessed be.

















Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Pure Escapism, Just Because

I have been a fan of Stephen King's since before I was really old enough to be reading him. Over the years, I have found his work to be more mundane, more pedestrian. Oh, I'll grant you that the man can weave a tale but, my tastes matured, I became more sophisticated. I started reading historical fiction, non-fiction and literature, even as I wrote trashy romance.

The other day, though, I found my old copy of Christine and thought "what the hell." My friends, back in the day, the man could write a book. Yes, I still grant you he can weave a tale ~ but it's not just me that is changing. It wasn't just my young age that made my heart race at his writings. The man made a car ~ a car ~ both believable and scary as hell. I'm now in the process of re-reading The Shining. Will probably hit The Dead Zone after that. And only with the lights on. During the day. Because damn, the man was good.




I'm not a fan of "chick flicks." Never really have been. And yet Notting Hill makes me romantic and mushy. There is something about the story and yes, even something about the performances of the two main actors (neither bad actors but not Lauren Bacall or Humphrey Bogart, either) that just make me happy. If you, your partner or your relationship ever need a romance boost, may I recommend this one. It's sappy, sweet and wonderful. With the required happy ending, of course.



I love board games. An evening with friends, a couple fun games, munchies and a few drinks is a really, really good night for me. But my All Time Favorite has to be Clue. It intrigued me as a child and can still grab my imagination like no other game. Even while I'm playing it, I'm thinking of the story that goes with the game. I know ~ I'm a goob. :)






There's something really magical about carnivals. Amusement parks are fun, don't get me wrong. I can spend time at the Disney or Universal parks and have a blast. But a carnival...The ones that get set up in parking lots or old fields, stay for a week or two and then move on...Those are magical. The smells, the sounds, the lights and colors. Especially after dark when everything seems just a little bit more somehow. Even the fact that you might be maimed or killed riding one of those things because God alone knows when the last time they were inspected was ~ well, it's just all good. I have even been known to pay the entrance fee and then not ride a ride, play a game or buy a single french fry. Sometimes, just wandering around, soaking it all in, listening and watching is worth the price of admission. And if you're lucky enough to be doing it all with a group of really good friends or holding hands with your sweetie, that just makes it all the more magical.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Eric, on Memorial Day

Eric was a Green Beret. He loved his country. When things fell through and his unit wasn't deployed to Iraq, he found a way to go as a "consultant." This was a couple years ago, back when we thought the Green Zone was just that ~ safe. He and the two other "consultants" he worked with were marked, were followed, were targeted. See, Green Berets ~ every single one of them ~ carry a bounty on their heads, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of where they are or what their doing or if they are wearing berets or baseball caps on their heads. At least they used to and I don't see any reason for that to have changed. And Eric was very, very good at his job. So he was marked, was followed, was targeted.

Apparently, the three of them were sitting outside, having a coffee. They were in the Green Zone so they weren't "on" the way they would have been had they been downrange. It was the first attack in the Green Zone. It would be the first of many ~ but it was the first. And because it was the first, they thought they were safe. Or at least as safe as they could be. Who knows if their radars ever went off or not.

It took a while for the three bodies to get back to the States because they had to sort through the remains to make sure each family got the right person. Because he wasn't there in "an official capacity", they sent him home in a shipping crate. The SGM pulled himself up into the body of the plane, said "He doesn't come out like this", found a flag and three of the men from Eric's unit and brought out that shipping crate with all the honors it deserved, as if it was the casket and memorial it deserved. Eric deserved.

For many years, the company had 63 men. My boys ~ all 63 of them. There are fewer of them now. Eric was only the first. And technically, they aren't "my" boys any longer. But they still are. Every single soldier over there is "mine". And yours. And ours.

Please, enjoy your picnics and your parties. Seriously. Life should be celebrated by living. And, at the same time, remember why were are celebrating. Remember why we have a day off, here at the beginnning of the summer. Remember my friend, Eric. I do.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday Poll Question

The last couple of SPQs have been pretty serious stuff, especially last week's (sorry Two Dollar!), so this week we are going to lighten things up a bit. Nothing thought-provoking or serious and no *cough*copouts*cough* :)

Question: What is your trademark? The thing you wear, say or do that everyone relates to you, that is vintage and classic YOU?


Pobble Answer: Here in cyberspace, it would have to be my sign-off: "That and a buck fifty will get you coffee." Of course. In the "real" world however, it's probably either my lipstick or my heels. I wear one color of lipstick (Cover Girl 900). It is a rare occasion when I don't have it on if I am out of the house ~ or even sometimes at home. It is a gorgeous, rich brown that makes my whole complexion *snap*.

I am also known for my heels. I have a great (great) collection of high heels and so can pick the pair that will make an ordinary outfit ~ jeans and a t-shirt, say ~ become fabulous, dahlink. And the best part is every single pair is comfortable. No matter how uncomfortable they look, no matter how high the heel or pointy the toe, if they are on my feet, they are comfy.

Of course, if there is something else you think of as my trademark, feel free to tell me ~ but only after you've told me yours. ;)



Your answer...



Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

One of THOSE Moments

As I was sitting at a red light, windows of the Pobble Mobile down, bopping along to my favorite radio station, the opening rift of the Dropkick Murphy's song "Shipping Off to Boston" came on. Before I could reach down to turn up my stereo, the stereo in the car next to me was turned up ~ and playing Shipping Off to Boston. So I turned up my stereo and the other driver and I grinned at each other. At which point, the driver behind him turned her radio (which was already up) from a pop station to...Shipping Off to Boston by the Dropkick Murphys on WBCN. And the three of us sat at the light, basking in the warmth of the day, the beat of a great song and the luck of being Bostonians.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Ramblings for the Weekend

1. Yes, M&Ms have colors. :) And I always eat them brown, yellow, green, red or blue depending, red or blue (whichever is left), orange. What does the red/blue decision depend upon? I have no idea. Oh, and I prefer the peanut ones.

2. I took one of those computer proficiency tests today. My numeric keystroke score is over 4700 keystrokes per hour with a 1% error rate. My alpha-numeric keystroke score is over 4800 ksph with a 0% error rate. Yeah. That's a zero. And I type 57 words per minute, also with a 1% error rate. I'm pretty pleased with myself, I admit it.

3. Having someone in your home only to discover they were once a package handler for the Boston mafia in the Whitey era can be far more amusing than one might originally think.

4. Monday, the babies were so cold and shivering so badly, I turned the heat on. Today the temperature is 85. Why do I live here? Oh, right. It's New England. :)

5. Just when you think having been married to a Green Beret for over 10 years means you can no longer be shocked by your partner's work stories, there comes a story about an alligator trying to bite a helicopter.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.