Spooky Ranch

Spice Rack

My exciting life. I got a new spice rack from IKEA. How cool is that?

IKEA has to be my favorite store. What is your favorite store?

Award!

While I typically don't accept awards, this one simply floored me. 

The Deborah Award!

Hope

Courage

Faith

That anyone would read my crazy ramblings never ceases to amaze me. That someone comes back again to read my stuff is shocking.

The friendships I formed via my blog is priceless. I thank each and every one of you.

I thank Janice who is crazy enough to think that I have any of these virtues. Let's not tell her. OK?

And thank you Deborah for creating this beautiful award. 

I am not worthy!

I'd like to share this award with all my readers. You teach me daily all about hope, courage and faith.

Thank you!

Earth Day

Happy Earth day! 

May we all find some way of nourishing and returning the gifts that Mother Earth provides to us.

May we learn to respect and love like Mother Earth.

Note to my American readers and American Idol watchers:

Sanjaya was my papaya

Turbon was my bourbon

Nough said.

Flunk!

So I know that my regular readers think that I am this super macho woman. Embodiment of perfection. Flawless. OK. Give me a break. I would like to believe that you think of me that way. Play along with me. OK?

Last weekend, upon my friend's insistence, I bought tickets to do the segway tour of Austin. Segway is like a motorized scooter that you ride and look utterly stupid in. I have no problems looking stupid if I am having fun. And as long as it is legal. While I told my friend that I had absolutely no atheletic abilities and the last time I rode a bike was decades ago, she did not listen. She said it would be easy.

Wrong!

I went there with my hubby and met a bunch of friends. We rented the segways and got training lessons. Everyone else did great. I sucked. When I wanted to go left, I went right. I could not stop the darn thing on demand. Two trainers tried to help me. I endured dirty glances form other people in the group who could not understand why someone could not do something as easy as that and was slowing them down. I was mortified.

And then I heard the most wonderful statement in a long time. 

Trainer: I am sorry but we must ask you to stay behind. We cannot take you with us.

Me: So I flunked this?

Trainer: It is not you. It is a liability issue.

Me: Thanks so much! What took you so long to decide that I am not capable of riding this darn stupid thing? And can I have a refund please?

So I was stuck in downtown for 2 and1/2 hours while my friends went their happy ways on the tour. I was so relieved that they left me behind. Which is not bad if you have your camera with you. I spent the time taking photos of downtown and the Capitol of Texas. When they called me to tell me the thingie was over and to meet them, I was almost disappointed. I had so much fun walking around and taking the photos.

Here is one of the Capitol of Texas.

Questions:

• Have you ever flunked at something and been really relieved?
• Do you love me less now that you know that I am not a super woman?

Wall of Scriber

Last year, when I was first armed with a digital camera, my goal was to get into one show. Have my artwork display at one public place. I tried and tried and tried. And accumulated rejection letters. One after the other. But then I finally got a break. And them some more.

One thing about exhibiting photography is that it is a cut throat world. I mean that literally. The photography world is not filled with nice people. They fight. A lot. And everyone wants an entire wall to themselves so they can display their art. I met this lady who I shall call Jane who always wanted a wall to herself. So it became a joke to me. The wall of Scriber. 

Since no one was that interested in my artwork, I created a gallery in my house and called it the Wall of Scriber.

As I explored my artistic side, I dabbled in painting and then encaustics. I was having fun. I met some painters and other artists and realized that it was a completely different world. While the photography world was full of negative people, the painters and artists welcomed me with open arms. They encouraged me and inspired me.

I remember one time when an artist friend of mine stopped by at my place. I was at work. My hubby was at home. We have known each other for years and our kids grew up together. She saw the wall that I had built in my house. When my hubby told me that she had stopped by, I was mortified. I had about 10 loads of laundry going on and my house was an utter mess. I called her up later on and apologized for the messy house. And you know what she said? 

I did not notice any laundry baskets. Or any laundry. I just saw the beautiful artwork on the wall.

Yep. That's what she said. And you know what? I believe her.

So she invited me to exhibit my stuff. And gave me an entire wall.

I had to share this with you. My latest show. All the artwork you see is mine. I have the Wall of Scriber:) Yeah!

House Call

So my regular readers know that I was a little sick last month. I won't bore you with the details but suffice to day that I had a nasty nasty cold that lasted over a month. I am on my second round of antibiotics and recovering. Considering the grand scheme of things, it is no big deal. I really don't want to share the boring details of my mucus and cough.

What I really want to share with you is the wonderful experience I had with my health insurance. Yes. Wonderful and health insurance in the same sentence.

I've been lucky to work in the high-tech industry and have a very decent health insurance. For years, I've had this thing called the White Glove service. I did not really know what it meant and never bothered to use it.


Then one morning, as I was coughing my lungs out, someone sent me an email about being sick and calling White Glove. That immediately got my attention and I looked into it.


Essentially, my health insurance provided a service that would give me a house call. A nurse or an assistant would come to my house and diagnose me. And give me the meds.


Since this had lasted for over a month, I immediately scheduled an appointment. 


And promptly, a nurse came to my house. And he got all these goodies that you see in the photo! A gift for me. There was more stuff but I used it up:) He checked me and gave me more antibiotics. Everything was inflamed and I was not recovering. The best part about the experience? He had all the medications in his car and promptly gave it to me.


To clarify, I am no prescription addict. But it was fabulous to have someone at my house and say, can you give me something for my nose? And my ears? I feel like caterpillars are crawling in my ears constantly. And I take cough suppressants all the time but it is getting worse and worse.


He gave me all kinds of medication to deal with this nasty stuff that I have been dealing with.


And how much did this cost me? 25 dollars. Yep. I could not believe it. I kept saying it was too good to be true. What was the catch?

Reality is that it is super expensive for the health insurance industry for people to go to an actual doctor. There is a huge amount of overhead. The nurses, the overhead, the paperwork, the facilities etc. etc. Health insurance industry finds it much cheaper to have nurses or assistant make house calls. It costs too much to the health insurance industry if I go to a doctor. Why not send someone to my house and give me same/better treatment? Win Win situation baby.

From my perspective, I love it. Anyone who delivers chicken soup when I am sick to my house deserves utmost loyalty. 

Now I am off to drink some chicken soup. What are your plans this weekend?

Blurred...

Every now and then, Photo Friday has a theme that really speaks to me. Blurred. Seriously? I have too many choices! You know how much I love taking blurry abstract photos. And an opportunity to post one? I will never miss that!