"Leslie's Place"

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I owned my own restaurant...............

It would be small and charming, with barstools at the counter that swivel, like the ones in an old fashioned diner.  The seat cushions - red leather, with shiny, chrome holding them up.

The sign at the front door would read:

              "Open for Breakfast and Lunch (Your mom is expecting you home for dinner)" 



sauted garlic, mushrooms, and spinach

 It would be a neighborhood restaurant - tucked in, somewhere unnoticed, but the regulars would know where to go to find it.  

The menu would be simple. 

Eggs ordered just about any way you like it - hard boiled, soft boiled, poached, fried, scrambled, scrambled with................

garlic, onions, olives, artichokes,
mushrooms, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers,
spinach, cilantro, basil, cheese.   

Is it an omelette you would prefer? 

MY specialty! 

All fresh, organic ingredients. 
Vegetables and herbs sauted in olive oil (and just a tease of butter), until tender and golden brown. 
Add in the eggs, and watch the ingredients consummate. 
Just a sprinkle of cheese to finish it off, and .......................voila! 

The perfect combination of flavor and color on a plate. 

Add a nice glass of fresh squeezed orange juice, and a good strong cup of coffee (served in one of a collection of unique coffee mugs), and you are about to start your day in a perfect way.

...........and for lunch? 

Eggs and omelettes will be served all day, but if it is a fresh salad or a sandwich, served on your choice of  bread, or a hot cup of homeade soup you would prefer.....................we have those, too. 

Just a few to choose from, but all "out of this world". 

Is it pasta you like? 

Order the "Pasta with...............", and add in any ingredients you would like.

Not to mention, our fresh rotisserie chicken, roasted daily, which can be added to your "scrambled with....", your "pasta with................", your sandwich, or your salad.    

Can't make up your mind? 

Order the "Leslie"...................and you can be certain that we will bring you something good. 

What's the name of this joint? 

I am tossing a few ideas around -

     "The Odd Egg",

          "Scrambled Egg",

               "The Egg Shack",

                    "The Chicken or the Egg", 

But for now, while it is only in my head,
    
     I think the most appropriate title would be, simply........................

                                                                                         "Leslie's Place". 

 

The "Not So Discounted" Rate

Me and Charlie - before. 



 Last Thursday, like a responsible pet owner, I took my little guy, Charlie, to the veterinarian for his "procedure" - the dirty deed, the necessary act................snip, snip. 

This was the first time that I had experienced being the adult "in charge" of making such a decision.  Our last male dog was adopted, and the animal rescue agency had already taken care of "the problem".

I felt really bad, taking him in.

Little did he know, as I opened the heavy, glass door to the veterinary clinic,  that when we would exit through that very same door the next morning, his leg humping days would be over. 

Little did he know that his beach romance with the old girl, Snickers, or his romping around with Dexter, the Jack Russell Terrier (and yes, a MALE dog ) would be his last. 

Even his stuffed lion, with whom Charlie has been quite intimate, may start to feel neglected.

Before making the appointment for Charlie, I shopped around for estimates.  The quote that my current veterinarian had given me was quite high, and I wanted to look at other options.  A friend of mine suggested  contacting the SPCA (Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), to possibly receive a discounted rate, which I did.  SPCA referred me to Spay, Inc., who gave me a list of participating veterinarians, with discounted rates.  It looked like I would be saving a couple hundred dollars.

When I brought Charlie into the vet, that Thursday morning, the young girls at the front desk were quite friendly and attentive.  One of the girls whisked Charlie away, to begin all of the pre-surgery tests, while the other began pleasantly putting forms in front of my face. 

I say "forms", but they were more like "menus".

The first "menu" offered the different types of pre-surgery blood work.  I can't remember the specific words that were used to describe the choices, but to me, it read like this:

Choice A - You care A LOT about your pet...............$$$ 

Choice B -  You care VERY LITTLE about your pet...............$

Choice C -  YOU COULD CARE LESS about your pet................$0.00     

The second "menu" offered the different options of sedatives and fluid amounts provided to your pet, during surgery.

Again, this is what it looked like, to me:

Choice A - You care A LOT about your pet, and would not want him to be in any pain......................$$$

Choice B - You care about your pet, but are willing to bet that he will not need any extra fluids or       sedatives............................................................................................$

Choice C -  You not only could CARE LESS about your pet, but would like your pet to be TORTURED.....................................$0.00


I stared at these papers for a good five minutes, at least, realizing that my "discounted rate", was about to go up with each signature, and check of a box.  The important thing was that I be able to walk away from those forms with a clear conscience, so I made my choices......................... and walked away.

The next day, when I walked through the heavy, glass door to the veterinary clinic, anxious to see my little guy, the friendly and attentive young girls (with new faces) greeted me with.................. my bill.    

At least I was prepared. 

When I had left the day before, I laughed to myself, realizing that I could end up spending as much money with the "discounted rate", as I would have with the original quote that my veterinarian had given me.

As I looked past all of the numbers on the page, quickly finding the one next to "total", I smirked. 

I saved a total of...........................$50.00.

Just as I finished paying the bill, Charlie came barreling around the corner to greet me, looking and behaving no differently than the day before.  So much so, that I had to check to make sure that they had performed  the procedure at all.

Sure enough, he was definitely "lacking" between the legs.

Poor guy. 

We said our good-byes, and exited through the same heavy, glass door, through which we had entered, where Charlie quickly squated, taking what appeared to be the longest, most pleasurable pee..............................ever,

RIGHT THERE ON THE PAVEMENT.

As I watched the giant puddle...............growing around him, I realized two things: 

1)   He must have been holding in all of those fluids that he had received during surgery, and .............

2)  I wonder if I should go back in and tell someone that Charlie had just peed dollar signs all over the pavement.   





Something, out of Nothing

Good Morning, and Happy Tuesday!

What's good about Tuesday? 

Monday is out of the way.  Time to get my head out of the fog, and focus on what needs to be done today, and for the rest of the week.   

Breakfast of the day?

2 egg omelette with frest garlic, spinach, and a sprinkling of feta cheese.  What a beautiful display of colors, and delicious, as well.    

Note to self - Out of oj.  Trip to the grocery store, on the horizon.  Omelette not the same, without it.   

Brilliant idea of the day (so far)?

Create a musical called, "Facebook LIVE!", where the characters sing random profile statements.  This could be (seriously)........................hilarious! 

Try it, yourself.

Scroll down your facebook page, and sing every profile statement that you wrote.

Imagine this....................on stage.

This could be...............FUNNY.   

Funny observation of the day (so far )? 

A phone conversation with a friend (who is talking from her car), is interrupted by "The GPS Voice".

Friend:  "I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you.  My car was talking to me."   

--------------------------------------

This was my attempt to make an entry in my blog, even though I have nothing to write about.  Well, I guess it's not..................nothing, but I am not really sure that it's ...................something. 

I will let you know if something MORE comes along.

Shopping for School Supplies

EXPANDING FILE, LETTER SIZE WITH 7 POCKETS.
EXPANDING FILE, LETTER SIZE WITH 7 POCKETS.
EXPANDING FILE, LETTER SIZE WITH 7 POCKETS.

Every year. 

Every damn year. 

Every damn year there is ONE item on the kids' school supply list that is IMPOSSIBLE to find, sending me on a mad scavenger hunt - and believe me, by the end of it, I am MAD. 

The thing is, I am not the type of person to let a little "7 pocket file" get me bent out of shape. 

"Looks like they are OUT of 7 pocket files," I would say, "Guess what?  We will come back in a couple of days."

To which, the response IS.....................

 "We HAVE to have it TODAY!  My teacher SAID!"

MY TEACHER SAID.
MY TEACHER SAID. 
MY TEACHER SAID.     

I love teachers.

I think teachers are wonderful. 

In fact, I come from a family of teachers.

I am also pretty smart, and I know that MOST teachers are pretty reasonable. 

Teacher :    "If your mom can't find the "7 pocket file" at the store because (guess what?)  EVERYONE ELSE IN THE COUNTY HAS BOUGHT THEM, then it is okay to bring it in..........
as soon as you can."

Yet, somehow, there is always a small part of me that believes it when my child says,

"MY TEACHER SAID!"

.......................sending me to Staples, Target, CVS, Office Depot,
and my least of all favorite stores (sorry) WALMART,

and that same small part of me (even though I love teachers) also believes that teachers everywhere get together and come up with some "KNOWINGLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND, RANDOM ITEM" every year to put on the school supply list, and then they sit back with their "I love my teacher" coffee mugs............................................................and watch.

I think I just created the next reality tv show.

OH, AND BY THE WAY ..............

Do you remember that Staples commercial (see link below) that came out years ago?  The one where the dad is skipping along, shopping for school supplies with his kids, while the song "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" plays on the intercom (or maybe, it's just in his head) ????

PARENTS SHOPPING FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES DO NOT LOOK LIKE THAT.

We looked stressed. 

We look tired. 

We look annoyed.

We look frustrated.

We look like we will do bodily harm to whomever comes between us and that
EXPANDING FILE, LETTER SIZE WITH 7 POCKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next year, I am not going to fall for it. 

I am going to send my supply list back to the teacher, with the EXPANDING FILE, LETTER SIZE WITH 7 POCKETS................ circled,

and a note that says,

                                                                    "Nice try ; ) !" 

Staples commercial -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPIIMbG9R4w




 

Afterthought of a Gypsy

A friend of mine reminded me that it was actually Johnny Depp's character who was actually the Gypsy in "Chocolat",  and not Juliette Binoche's.

While this is true, she was drawn to the Gypsies, and I believe that she felt that in her HEART, she WAS a Gypsy, just as I am in mine. 

"I Am A Gypsy!"

Today was one of those days when I had an overflow of thoughts and ideas.  Some days, it amazes me, how many there are.  There is not enough time in the day, week, month, year - to follow through with them all., but I am working on trying to (at least) follow through with SOME of them. 

Having this blog helps me. 

To give you an example:

       In my fifteen minute shower ALONE today, I came up with the idea to give to a charitable organization for every person who becomes a follower on my blog, learn as much as I can from my former photography teacher/employer about studio photography (any willing subjects are welcome), buy a beach house and start a business as a cage-free dog boarding facility in the Outer Banks, NC, start a business called "Becoming Me Photography" and start out by coming to people's homes and taking photos for their holiday photo cards, and last, but not least, it came to me -
                                                                                            THE CHARACTER I CAN MOST RELATE TO IN A MOVIE I HAVE SEEN IS ................... (drum roll)..........................................Juliette Binoche's character, Vianne Rocher,  in "Chocolat". 

And it has nothing to do with the fact that Johnny Depp was in it (although, it does not hurt - at least, I don't THINK it does).

Moving along......................

It is because I see so much of myself in her.

Feeling like the outcast. 

Not understanding the reasons for the rules, or why people behave the way that they do, and being strong enough to stay true to my own feelings, despite what other people might say or think.   

Feeling quite vulnerable, yet, at the same time, having extreme faith in myself.    

Vianne is a Gypsy, and though, many of the definitions refer to Gypsies as being originally from India, moving from place to place (job to job)....................

 and though, I have lived in the same area my entire life...................

 the part that I can relate to the most is the "unconventional lifestyle".

A Gypsy does not conform to someone else's lifestyle simply because that's the way that everyone else  lives.  On the contrary, I think that a Gypsy would question............."why?"       

I am such a Gypsy.  I really am!  I am a Gypsy, at heart.

My Dad once said to me, "It must be difficult being you, sometimes," and he would be right. 

The reason is because I see everything the way that everyone sees it.  I feel everything the way that everyone feels it.  I look at every angle..................every perspective.   

That can be exhausting, at times, but also, extremely rewarding. 

It can be draining, yet also, empowering.     

And in the end, I do what I believe is the right thing to do.  Even if it goes against what EVERYONE else believes in. 

A Gypsy must always stay true to herself. 

I am a Gypsy! 

................and a photographer, future beach home owner, dog boarding facility owner, and philanthropist.

"Late Night Fiesta"

It was a beautiful night.

A great night to stop in at the sound-side cantina. 

Many stayed quite late, partying until the early morning hours. 

When the barkeep called, "Last drink!",

they were still sucking them down.

When the sun awoke, though the spirits were boarded, 

      and the music was silent,

there lay evidence of the previous night's festivities -

  
                   The ones who could not make it home.