catheroominations

While visiting my parents, Matte, my sister, and I hopped in the car to visit a little store in Isleton (population 840), a few miles away. I had seen this store on a previous drive-by, but didn’t have my camera with me then. This time, I was prepared, for the sole purpose of our visit was to capture the store sign in digital form.

As you can see, Bob is a master of sorts. He also proudly boasts having a firm worm. But of course.

Neither Matte nor I had any idea that Isleton would offer so many interesting photo opportunities (see my Flickr set here). The people of Isleton (are they called Isletonites? Isletonians?) provided an entertaining soundtrack as we took photos of several deserted buildings. While standing outside the police station, we overheard a loud conversation down the street. A guy was working on his pick-up truck in his front yard with a buddy of his. His wife was walking back into the house and he yelled after her, “Hey, bitch! Bring me a beer, wouldja?” To which she replied “Ah, blow me! Go @#$% yourself!”

I’m sure we’ll visit Isleton again, perhaps in February for the SPAM contest, or in June for the Crawdad Festival. It’s world famous, you know.

I signed up for Bootcamp. Not the military type, the exercise type. For three weeks, five days a week, I will rise at 5:30 am, brave the cold, damp air, and join other bootcamp cadets (read: crazy people) for an hour of torture exercise. And I will arrive on time each day because if I do not, it’s 20 burpies for me. If you don’t know what burpies are, they’re somewhat like push-ups on steroids. And I loathe burpies. So I will not be late.

You may be wondering why am I doing this. You may think I’m a loon for leaving my nice cozy bed before the sun rises and voluntarily participating in cardiovascular exercise and strength training for an hour a day. Couldn’t I just accept the extra pounds that reside on my frame? Learn to embrace my tone-lacking body parts? Couldn’t I just (gasp!) DIET?

No. I need someone to kick my ass or I won’t exercise. I need to be worked. Hard. I want to sweat. I want to be sore the next day, to feel that I’ve done something good for my body. I crave that runner’s high I haven’t experienced in much too long. So these Bootcamp instructors can yell at me. I will do what they say. They can shove my face in the mud and force me to do ten more push-ups, and I will do it. And I will love it. Love it, I tell you!

You see, there’s this dress I bought. It’s a rather expensive dress to wear on a very special day and I want to look hot in it. That means rippling rhombs, tremendous traps, and luscious lats. It means tight triceps and bulging biceps. And I want a big thick football player neck. Add a tiara and you’ve got one slammin’ bride-babe, no?

Please leave your answers in the comments.

Do you prefer:

• white turkey meat or dark?
• stuffing or mashed potatoes?
• yams with marshmallows or without?
• canned cranberry sauce or homemade?
• pecan or pumpkin pie?

Happy Thanksgiving! Now, let’s eat! Oh. Heh. It’s only 8:15 am. Uhm, let’s have a piece of toast right now or some cereal to stop this incessant stomach growling!

Which of the following is the correct definition of muffin top?

1. The phenomenon caused by the bit of pudge that oozes out the top of one’s jeans (AKA Dunlop’s disease: “My belly done lops over my britches!”)
2. The only item on the menu at Elaine Benes’ bakery, Top o’the Muffin to You!
3. A cereal found exclusively at the Dollar Tree
4. All of the above.

Until tonight, I was only familiar with the fashion don’t and the Seinfeld reference. But now I’ve discovered these calcium-rich muffin tops! So much better than the belly kind.

By the way, they also sell these at the Dollar Tree. But, ladies, please get a second opinion, OK?

Also, be sure you take a close look at the bakery items at the Dollar Tree, to ensure freshness. Look at the large version of this photo to see just what makes this bread “extra sourdough.”

The Dollar Tree is a great place to pick up gifts for Thanksgiving. Thank your host or hostess with a nice can of sardines (2 for $1), or bring an appetizer of Fiddle-Faddle (just $1). And be prepared for the weather with some raingear. A 5-pack of rain bonnets is just a buck and it includes a fabulous carrying case! I’m giving the pack to my mom. Nothing’s too good for you, Ma!

Matte found some inspiration for an artsy shot. Scrumptious, I’m sure!

I’m sure you’ve been waiting at the edge of your seats. “When’s Catheroo gonna talk about wedding plans? I can’t get enough of hearing about wedding plans!”

I’m a people pleaser, so let me give you just a little scoop.

The date of our wedding is May 25, 2007. It’s a Friday night. Apparently Friday evening weddings are “in,” but we didn’t choose it because our finger is on the pulse of wedding planning. We chose it because 1) it was available at the winery we chose, 2) it’s the beginning of Memorial Day weekend, so our anniversary will always be at least near a 3-day weekend, and 3) it’s the beginning of Memorial Day weekend, so our out-of-town guests can enjoy some of Northern California before they need to head home. Although not considered during our planning and only discovered after we booked the date, May 25, 2007 also marks the 30th anniversary of the theatrical release of the somewhat unknown film, Star Wars. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?

We will not be having a Star Wars wedding. R2-D2 will not be our ring bearer. C-3P0 will not be Matte’s best man. Chewbacca will not be our officiant. The ushers will not be Stormtroopers. I will not wear Princess Leia buns on the sides of my head, nor be escorted down the aisle by Darth Vader.

What else should we not have at our non-Star Wars themed wedding?

For some people, memories are triggered by a song, a scent, or something they see. But it’s weather that conjures all sorts of memories and emotions for me. Rain and fog remind me of a much sadder time in my life, and those memories put me in a somber mood. The odd thing is, that I was living in a fog in 2002, so I’m not sure how I am able to recall what happened four years ago with such clarity.

keep reading Thinking about the weather