Lazy Sunday # 180: Small Things Amuse Small Minds

I admit to being way too ticklish.

I also apparently have a funny bone embedded too close to the surface. Even in the most dour situations, I seem to be able to find something to giggle about.

If that's a sign of immaturity or insensitivity, so be it. If it means you can't risk leaving me alone with people I should be trying to impress or who feel they're deserving of a certain modicum of respect, I understand your trepidations.

I'm sorry, I just find a lot of things funny and/or just can't take them as seriously as I'm supposed to do.

I've been elbowed in the ribs by too many dates for laughing at the wrong places in a movie -- or for laughing too hard at the right ones. And I've been accused of finding humor in things which are inappropriate, juvenile and tasteless.

Yep, that pretty much nails me.

So, of course, I need to provide a few examples.

Many of you may not find what follows funny. But I'm guessing more than a few will fight back a grin, stifle a chortle or just bust loose.

When it comes right down to it, there's just a whole lot in life that is just plain silly. And embracing the silly is much more fun than getting all judgmental about it.

Just another way to -- Enjoy Your Sunday.

 

Summer fun...

My two grandkids enjoying their time over at my house riding their scooter. Waving hello to "Papa" as they drive past. This is the area that we are adding the slate to our yard that we bought at a yard sale recently. Look at those natural ringlets.... All to soon these little ones will be driving around in real cars, my-my-my how time does fly~

The Villa

I made this pink flowery sign for my bestest-buddy in the whole wide world who unfortunately for me, is moving to the coast. She stated she needed a sign outside her door to tell everyone her name, unlike me--- I have a "no soliciting" sign :-P.... Here you go sweetie pie, I made this totally with you in mind.... happy, sparkly, joyous, fun, whimsical and beautiful... just like you.Nellrene has been my personal cheer leader for many-many years. You know the type, always upbeat-happy and encouraging you on no matter what... What a true gift she has been to me and my family. She is my total inspiration for being a fabulous Nana! I love you Nellrene, you are and will forever be my bestest-buddy in the whole wide world!! We'll be up to visit you soon, pinky swear.

Five Things I Learned About Myself This Week

Metal tag

Having bought 3 rolls of metal tape a long time ago, I sometimes find a need to play with it. I didn't want a huge project, so I made a simple tag. I cut a tag shape out of chipboard to which I simply glued chipboard letters to. While the glue was drying, I used my paper cutter, to cut the metal tape into random size squares. I then just willy-nilly started sticking the metal tape onto the tag covering the tag and chipboard letters completely. I even covered the backside of the tag as well. Next, I burnished the metal tape around each letter being careful not to break through the tape. I used nail polish remover to remove the red logo on the metal tape. Once that was finished, I took a regular ol' pen and started poking holes along each edge of the squares of metal tape giving it the appearance of being riveted together.
Lastly, I painted black paint onto the tag and using a facecloth, rubbed it into the crevices to give it a time worn appearance. I used gray vintage seam binding to finish off the tag. Easy peasy~

The Best Prayer Ever!

There's a tendency in the media to paint those who hold to a religious faith as being rigid and humorless, dour to the point of fanaticism.

And there's a lot about organized religions to give many people pause. As someone tallying the atrocities committed in the name of one God or another once quipped, "The one headline you'll never read is "Atheist Extremists Massacre Agnostic Enclave".

All of us have also been forced to endure those bland and hollow sounding pronouncements before sporting events where lives might well be lost as if invoking blessings takes the negative edge off our anticipation of the mayhem to come.

And then, along comes somebody who seems to understand the over-marketed, over-macho'd world of corporatized sport for what it is and also knows that if we really were made in the image of some Supreme Being, that's where we got our sense of humor.

Pastor Joe Nelms from Last Saturday's Nascar Nationwide Series race in Nashville, Tennessee…

Would you tumble for me?

I'd tumble for you!!..... My daughter is trying to win a free party for her two children at our local Swim America & Tumble America club. If you have a face book account and you've got a spare moment... could you pretty please "like" the club at this link: Swim America & Tumble America and then click on the photo section.... once there, click on "cutest kid contest" and of course, my two grandchildren are the cutest there... But.... if your eyes are not what they used to be.... here is some help. This is Chloe only two precious years old...and this happy soul is Jonathan who is four-happy-years old. If you could click on "Like" on both Chloe and Jonathan's photos that'd sure be a huge help in getting to her goal of "WINNING" a party for her two little love bugs. Thank you-thank you-thank you!

Lazy Sunday # 179: The Elvis Impersonator

A couple of nights ago, the AC was blasting, the ball game was over and I still had most of a beer left, so I spun through the remote and found an old Elvis Presley movie, "Harum Scarum". Not one of his best.

But then, Elvis wasn't really known for making good movies. Maybe "King Creole"…

Still, when I was a kid, Elvis films were considered the ultimate date movie. They mostly preceded my own dating years, but my friends and I saw them as well and we all agreed that Elvis could fight pretty good, which made him okay in our eyes and worth sitting through the interminable kissing scenes.

But as his career went on, the movies seemed to get even worse. The stories were moronic and the songs were mostly forgettable. I remember wondering why somebody as rich and powerful as Elvis would allow himself to get involved in such dreck. Surely, he must have known he wasn't giving his fans their money's worth.

Later in life, I met a guy who produced several of Elvis' films. He worked for Hal Wallis for a long time and then went on to a very successful career of his own. I didn't want to ask him why all the Elvis movies were so cheesy, so I just asked what it was like working with Elvis.

He said he was a fairly down to earth guy. Polite and courteous. Came to set knowing his lines. Hit his marks. Punched a couple of guys. Sang a song. Kissed the leading lady and went home. He wasn't the kind of actor who questioned his motivation or wanted to direct. He just figured the movie people must know what they were doing, did what he was told and got on with his life.

It got me wondering if maybe Elvis was a better actor than I gave him credit for. That he just kind of embodied whatever somebody else said would make the fans happy and made that person seem as real and natural as could be.

And maybe those people telling him what to do really did understand what his fans wanted. His real fans.

During "Harum Scarum" I also found myself wondering how the American Movie Musical transitioned from lavish Busby Berkley numbers and all-singing, all-dancing casts to a string of films where just one guy did it all himself.

The way studios cover their butts and try to make sure everybody in the audience is getting something, it speaks to the power of Elvis' onscreen persona that they didn't think he needed any back-up whatsoever.

And maybe that embodiment of so much charisma is why Elvis Impersonators remain so popular today.

If you're anywhere near Collingwood, Ontario today you can take part in the largest competition for Elvis Impersonators on the planet, where in addition to young Elvis and old Elvis, you can be treated to Asian Elvis, Lady Elvis and Baby Elvis. All the Elvii you can imagine will be there for your enjoyment.

But maybe the original was a master impersonator as well…

Samples of Young Elvis and Old are offered for your consideration. Young Elvis from his first full musical "Loving You" and footage from one of his final concerts. In both, the incredible talent beneath the characters shines through.

Enjoy your Sunday.

 

Bird tags

I made seven tags for a bird themed swap I joined recently. I made my tags to look like actual bird houses. I think they turned out pretty cute. This is the very first time I have ever been successful using a crackle medium. I had to resort to actually reading the instructions--- and *gasp* following them. What'da know.... it worked. Here is what the backsides of my tags looked like. I also made a bird themed box that I mailed the tags in. I enlarged and printed a copy of a vintage postcard which I then cut out with scalloped scissors. Glitter, crepe paper, flowers, sheet music...
vintage silver doilies and more vintage images adorn the inside....Lastly, I added shredded sheet music and its ready to be mailed. That was fun~

The Dark Secrets Of The White Lady

On August 1st, 2011, an enchantingly beautiful tall ship bearing the equally enchanting name "Esmeralda" will enter Canadian waters to begin a two week visit to the cities of Victoria and Vancouver.

Her four masts and 21 sails stand almost 160 feet above the water. Longer than a football field and carrying a crew of 390, she is the second largest sailing vessel still plying the oceans of the world.

A training ship for the Chilean Navy, "La Esmeralda" comes as a guest of the Canadian Government and the Canadian Navy. And a lot of Canadians are requesting that both change their minds and order her to turn back.

For although she is affectionately known as "The White Lady", Esmeralda has a very dark and horrific past.

From 1973 to 1980, she was one of the primary places where Chilean political prisoners and innocent civilians caught up in the web of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet were taken to be raped, tortured and ultimately "disappeared".

Now let's be clear. This magnificent ship had no say in what happened aboard her. And most of the men who sail in her today weren't even born when those crimes against humanity were committed.

But more than 30 years after The White Lady's last victim was slipped over her sides to an unmarked watery grave, no one has been called to account.

Despite detailed investigations conducted by Amnesty International, the US Senate, and the Organization of American States, and despite Chile's own Truth and Reconciliation Commission which all detailed and documented what happened aboard the ship, the Chilean Navy has refused to acknowledge having any part in what was done, let alone name which of their officers and men participated.

At the end of May, despite this continued Naval Blockade of the Truth, the Chilean Government finally charged 19 retired senior naval officers. But no one knows when or even if they will ever be brought to trial.

Last week, the Mayor and City Council of Victoria unanimously requested that our Federal Government and Navy rescind their invitations to "Esmeralda" and similar motions are expected from the cities of Saanich, View Royal and Esquimalt (Home of the Canadian Pacific Fleet) whose shores the ship will have to pass to reach Victoria's Inner Harbor.

It's the height of tourist season in a part of the country that thrives on tourism and with massive cruise ships arriving daily no one wants to wear the stain "Esmeralda" inevitably trails in her wake.

For if she does arrive, she will be greeted, as she is in virtually every port, by crowds of Human Rights activists, protesters and vivid street theatre re-enactments of her past. In Victoria, she will also be met by several members of the clergy, even the normally straight-laced Anglican ones, wanting to know the fate of their fellow Episcopal Priest Father Michael Woodward whose last known whereabouts were in a torture room below Esmeralda's decks.

Yet, plans are afoot for the usual Pomp and Circumstance. Naval bands will parade. Ceremonial cannons will fire. And local dignitaries will go aboard to dine with the Captain.

I don't know if they will visit the rooms where hundreds of young women, many with no political affiliation whatsoever, were brutalized, gang raped and murdered. But I do know they'll cross the deck where chained and naked men were battered by the water from fire hoses until their flesh was flayed. They'll most certainly get to see the masts around which others were handcuffed for days, left to the elements and beaten with rifle butts if they tried to sleep.

Allowing "Esmeralda" to visit a Canadian port on a "Good Will Tour" is on a par with taking one of the Auschwitz ovens around the Summer BBQ circuit. And those responsible for that latter obscenity were at least brought to justice.

Although the Chilean Navy rationalizes the various visits of "Esmeralda" as an opportunity to move on, the revelations of her past and the work of those trying to bring her former sailors to account are making that more and more difficult. She has been banned from several ports already and unceremoniously escorted out of others "for her own protection".

Maybe we too need to ask "Esmeralda" to go home and wash the last of the blood from her decks before welcoming her as a guest in our country.

Cloche Party

Welcome to my cloche party! Here we have a shabby chic cloche...The next two I loosely called cloches. This one is made from a lamp. I bought this full of seashells for only $5. I used E6000 glue to adhere the base and the crystal knob at the top. This glass & silver container I picked up for $1 at a yard sale. I couldn't get my money out fast enough...All three of these cloches are on a dresser in a hallway by my front door. Here is a small cloche in my bathroom. I love the look of my cleaned brushes in the blue container in my bathroom, I think they look beautiful! Most times my bathroom sink shows of the colors I've recently been painting with-- I don't care :-P.....The next set of cloches are the ones I made using glass domes and glass knobs and clear beads. This one holds an old-old--- ok, you could probably call it vintage-- photo of me when I was a toddler. The handmade dress had a lot of fabric in the skirt, it looks like a fun dress to twirl in!Here is the largest glass dome I turned into a cloche. It is housing my bronzed baby shoe collection. I just love them!Another cloche I made houses my trophy I won for first prize in a top hat party I joined. Here is another one I made, this one I stuffed full of antique photo frames. I bought five of these for $20. Here are some cloches that I made using some chicken wire. After shaping them, I spray painted them with copper colored spray paint, then I used green embossing ink and powders to make it appear to have an old patina. Here is two more way up high on a shelf....This tiny little masterpiece I picked up for $1. It is made out of a small chickens egg.Here is a close-up of the inside of the egg. Thanks for stopping in for a visit, if you'd like to view other cloches please head on over to "A Stroll Thru Life" linky cloche party.

Lazy Sunday # 178: MFCEO!

The cardinal rule of advertising is to make the public aware of and interested in purchasing your client's product. By and large that's by making their products appear essential to your well-being and future happiness.

We all want to deal with providers of goods and services who purport to respect us, deal in quality and take their business seriously.

Oh, sure, from time to time one ad or another will have a little fun at the client's expense, maybe even imply that nobody really buys that respect, quality, responsible malarky. But we all know they're really just kidding the way only truly respectful, responsible and quality people do.

And that's especially been true in the realm of Product Placement. Advertisers provide some product or service to a television series or film and in return the production works what's being sold into the storyline.

When that works well David Caruso is slipping on a pair of wire frame Maui Jim's. When it doesn't, Donald Trump's Apprentae are hawking Whoppers in Times Square.

Seamless is good. Implying a character the audience likes or wants to emulate uses a product they should purchase makes everybody involved happy.

Nobody wants a character shilling their product who's vulgar, morally reprehensible and utterly without redeeming characteristics.

At least that used to be the case…

Until a few days ago, K-Swiss, a leading manufacturer of athletic wear, was happy to sell its wares much like most of its competitors, with fast paced colorful ads filled with happy, smiling young adults playing sports and working out.

Sometimes their ads featured well-known pro-athletes and celebrities.

But this week they signed a spokesperson who is a well-known pro-athlete and celebrity only in his own mind, Kenny Powers of HBO's irreverent series "Eastbound and Down".

For those who haven't been paying attention, Kenny Powers is the warped demon spawn of screenwriters Ben Best, Jody Hill and Danny McBride. McBride also portrays him onscreen.

In the world of "Eastbound and Down", Powers is a failed Major League pitcher relegated to substitute teaching back in his home town. In Season Two, he attempted to restart his career in Mexico and will return in Season Three making a hard final charge for the fame and fortune he is certain he deserves, lack of definable athletic talent notwithstanding.

From a comedy point of view, Kenny is a brilliant creation; a racist, foul-mouthed, self-centred dickhead that even the most crooked used car dealership wouldn't let anywhere near their late night horror movie spots.

So, of course, K-Swiss has just made him their new brand spokesman.

According to the company's VP of Marketing, Chris Kyle, "Some people see us as that company that makes conservative, white tennis shoes and some of the kids today don't even know that much. Here's their wake-up call. This is who we are now.".

I'm not exactly sure what that means. But then I'm not fully conversant in marketing talk.

But I have had to integrate products into a dramatic storyline. Or, massage a moment to reduce the stress levels of an advertiser whose viewing of a rough cut made him break out in a cold sweat.

The K-Swiss/Kenny Powers marriage may mark the moment when the world of product placement and celebrity endorsement got a little less onerous for everybody involved.

Or, if it doesn't go well, it may signify a lot more writer room angst in the years to come.

However the scale tips, one thing is certain. Kenny Powers first outing for K-Swiss is jaw-droppingly hilarious.

Enjoy your Sunday.

Just A Thought

My Studio 2011

Well its that time of the year again when we all swing open the doors and share our studio spaces. My studio is packed from the floor- to literally the ceiling, come on in and have a poke around. There are two slideshows at the end of this post that show every angle of my studio :-0.... eek, probably showing off some dust too!!!
Here is my table/workspace in the foreground of this picture. It is never this clean-- in fact, I totally took everything off of it for this photo. Its a long-long table that sits in the center of the room, this temporary workspace I've now been using for about 3 years. I have a vintage bookcase on top of my worktable which has several spinning caddies of tools that I use everyday. Scissors, paintbrushes, pens etc.. There is a closet behind those curtains.
I have one comfy chair in my studio that I sit at to jot down ideas and work on small projects while watching t.v.Here is a bookcase which holds very old books ranging from the late 1700's thur the 1920's. Most of these books ranged in price from .25cents to $1. The jars on top are full of my mother of pearl buttons that I collect ;-)
Here are two slideshows showing my studio space in its entirety.... you can stop the slideshow and view each one as a snapshot if you'd like.
Artsy Fartsy Studio 2011 Part 1

Artsy Fartsy Studio 2011 Part 2

Next year I am hoping to have my workspace updated along with addressing the wall where my t.v. is now. I would love-LOVE a wall-to-wall unit over there too! If you'd like to see more spaces of where bloggers create, please visit Karen at "My Desert Cottage" Thanks for stopping by :-)