HNT - Flash Back Family Trio Photo's

Inspired by Susie & Lime, I'm also having a flashback HNT today. Not having any children of my own, I've instead flashed back to my baby years instead. Here is a snap of my Dad, Me and my Mom circa 1962 or 63. That is their VW Bug in the background. Wouldn't you love to have that car today? Just think how much cash one could raise selling it to a collector. My piggy bank would be stuffed!


I've always loved the candid portraits of my family & friends which show them in sets of three. They end up being some of my favorite photos. The energy of the subjects really shines through. There is something magical about the number 3 that I think adds to the composition of the shots as well. Below are a few examples:


My Nephews and my Brother-in-law at the Disney's Storybook Cafe ~ October, 2007. It truly is "the greatest place on earth!" when it comes to family-friendly entertainment.


My Godson/Nephew, Sideways Sam, and Myself ~ October, 2007. At the beginning of a great day spent together while his Mom was celebrating her 30th HS reunion. Go Cypress Centurions!


October 31, 2007 ~ Irene the Fairy Princess, Lilian the Good Witch, and LisaPizza the Purple Puma out to lunch together at the Olive Garden on Halloween Day.


I have also had a fascination over the years with photographing my cars. Which I attribute to the many family photo's of the past where a family is often seen posing in front of, or riding in, the new family car. Just to show you what I'm driving these days ~ here's my Honda CRV.


Vintage photo ~ Can you name the make, model & year of the car? Hint: these ladies could be driving to the first US National election for which they were eligible to vote.


Above is my Dad with the Hummer of the moment ~ Spring, 2008. This photo was taken by my Bonus Mom, his wife Jeanne. She is always so good to share photo's with us and I love her for it. Unfortunately, because she is usually the photorapher, she is rarely in the photo's herself. Therefore, I don't really have many photo's of her :- (

Please leave me your guess on the vintage photo in your comment. All other comments are also welcomed. Hope you are having a great day in Blogland. Your blogging buddy, LisaPizza97

55 Flash Fiction Friday ~ Speedy

My aching belly! I haven't felt like this since I was 9 years old, and I ate an entire bowl full of fresh picked cherries all by myself. Alka-Seltzer, please do your stuff! I'll never eat again. Relief couldn't come fast enough. Wow! This stuff really works. Is it time for a turkey sandwich, yet?

Tag! Your It!

I was tagged by Bunny and here are my 8 revealing facts for you all to read:

1) I often buy cookie dough squares and then never bake them because I've eaten them all right out of the frige. I especially love the Trader Joe's brand, but Nestle's will do in a pinch. It may take me all week to eat them, as I try to limit myself to 4 blocks at a time. This usually happens when I'm in PMS mode. I will tuck the remaining dough in a bag or container and hide them from mysself in the frige so they don't taunt me into eating them all in one shot! This is a guilty pleasure I endulge myself in about 6 times a year. Have you ever eaten raw cookie dough that wasn't enveloped in icecream?


2) I have a PEZ collection. My Mom started buying the candy dispensers for me when I was a kid and I've managed to collect approximately 100 over the years. One day I hope to display them at the Orange County Fair, just for kicks.

3) I love to read Biographies. I'm currently reading one about Queen Noor of Iran.

4) My husband & I often enjoy jigsaw puzzles. We currently don't have one in progress because we need to buy a new one. When we have one going, we work on it together on the dining room table.

5) If life gives you lemons, make Picatta sauce! I make a mean Picatta and use only the best ingredients: white wine, capers, asparagus tips, fresh lemon juice only please, and a touch of flour to thicken. It's great over shrimp, any seafood really, veal, pork, chicken, rice ~ the list goes on, and on.

6) I love to draw with crayons, colored pencils, paint, ketchup, markers, icing etc. You name it and I've probably drawn with it.

7) We have no children, but our home is filled with toys. Steve and I love board games like scrabble, chess & monopoly. We collect the kids meal toys from MacDonald's in sets from our favorite movies. We have a select few stuffed animals, and we have many pool and beach toys as well. We ride bikes, roller blade and love amusement parks, too! I guess you could say we are kids at heart.

8)If I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd travel the world with my husband taking courses as we go. First on the list would be the Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. The Loire Valley for a Smithsonian historical cruise would be next, and then who knows where you'd find us. Some possibilities might include: Australia for a digerido lesson, Switzerland for a yodelling class, Italy for a fresco restoration tutorial, or the nearest philharmonic for violin finger calistenics. We'd also visit Chicago during their jazz festival, Sundance for their film festival, Colorado for white water rafting, and Tahoe for the ski season. New Zealand is on our list of "must see" places in the world as well ~ kiwi pie anyone?. We'd love to be able to say we've seen all of the U.S. national parks. We could spend a month in Bejing doing Tai Chi in the great park each morning then off to Hawaii to learn how to hang ten with our Niece & Nephews in the Pacific. And the great thing is, as we travel about the globe, we could keep in touch with all of our family and pals via blogland.

I hope you've had fun taking this personal tour of my psyche. I look forward to reading your comments and your 8. If I tagged you...

The rules are:

1)Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2)People who are tagged need to write in their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3)At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4)Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

These are the 8 folks I chose to tagged today! Please visit their blogs via the links provided. Let them know I've sent you to them when you say hello, or leave them a comment.

Amadeus45
Aurora
Colleen
Osbasso
RennyaBA
Susie's the Boss
Rocko

Happy HNT! Get your Cowgirl on!

Me & some of my fellow cowgirls at a recent round up ~ Yeehah!



Last night, I watched the Movie NORTH COUNTRY once again. There are many things that I like about this film. Three of them being the leading actresses; Charlize Theron, France McDormand and Sissy Spacek.

Based on an inspiring real-life event that took place in the late 80's, North Country stars Miss Theron in a low-glamour, but high-impact role as Josey Aimes, one of only a handful of women working in the Minnesota iron mines. Forced to labor under sexist conditions, she and her female colleagues decide to stand up against the unrelenting harassment from their male counterparts.

A fictionalized account of one of America's most groundbreaking sexual harassment lawsuits comes to the screen in this hard-hitting drama. Aimes returned to her hometown in Minnesota and followed the lead of her old friend Glory (Frances McDormand), who had bucked tradition and found a job in the iron mines that had long provided employment for much of the community. Aimes found herself the growing target of sexist jokes and abhorrent behavior from the male miners, she found that many of her female co-workers were reluctant to stand beside her, afraid of losing a good-paying job at a time when they were increasingly hard to find. The right for females to work in the mines had been mandated by law almost 15 years prior, but as a personal crisis became a public war of words, Aimes became the center of a nationwide controversy when she attempted to file a class action sexual harassment suit against the mine owners, and won setting groundbreaking precedence.

One of my favorite scenes in the film takes place when Glory is riding along in Josie’s truck on her first day working at the mine. Glory asks Josie, “So are you a cowboy, or a cowgirl?” Giggling, Josie answers, “A cowgirl.” Then Glory reminds her that they are working in a man’s world and she admonishes Josie to “Get your cowboy on!” I just love all that this phrase inspires. The female’s ability to embrace her Yang and get down & dirty with the best of the boys. The idea that becoming rugged, rough and ready for anything can be turned on, like a switch. After all, Attitude is everything!

Charlize & Francis were both nominated in 2005 for Academy Awards for their leading and supporting roles respectively. Does anybody know who won the Oscars for Best Actress, and Best Supporting Female Performances that year? For extra Bonus points name the male winning actors that year as well. You are all on your honor not to Google the results. The first one to name all four actors will win a prize! And I promise it will be a movie worthy treat.

For more information about HNT, North County and the class action lawsuit, please visit these links.

HHNT ~ Guilty or Innocent?

Next to the questions,
put your answers as either
guilty or innocent.
Guilty if you have. Innocent if you haven't.

1. Dated outside your race? guilty

2. Given a hickey? guilty

3. Dated your best friend? guilty

4. Sung in the shower? guilty

5. Spit in someone's drink? innocent

6. Dumped someone? guilty

7. Opened your Christmas presents early? guilty

9. Seen "The Goonies" more than 3 times? innocent

10. Had more than five bf/gf?
Consecutively? ~ innocent my top was 3 bfs
Serially? ~ guilty

11. Played a computer game for more than 5 hours? guilty

12. Ran through the sprinklers naked? guilty

13. Ate food that fell on the floor? guilty

14. Went outside naked? guilty

15. Made out with a friends bf/gf? innocent

16. Mooned somebody? innocent

17. Flashed somebody? guilty

18. Made someone cry? guilty

19. Been in a parade? guilty

20. Been in a school play? guilty

21. Drank alcohol? guilty

22. Gotten detention? innocent

23. Been on a plane? guilty

24. Been on a cruise? guilty ~ AK

25. Broken into a house? guilty

26. Gotten a tattoo? innocent

27. Gave money to a stripper? guilty

28. Cried so hard you threw up? guilty

29. Gotten into a shouting match? guilty

30. Played hide and go get it? guilty? ~ Is this the same as "hide & go seek"?

31. Spun yourself in circles to get dizzy on purpose? guilty

32. Laughed so hard it hurt? guilty

33. Tripped on your own feet? guilty

34. Cried yourself to sleep? guilty

35. Cried in public? guilty

36.Threw up in public? guilty

37. Lied to your parents? guilty

38. Skipped class? guilty

39. Slept in class? guilty

40. Made out with someone and didn't talk to them the next day?
guilty ~ nor ever again!

Want to play? I found this to be revealing. I'd love to hear your responses.

Happy HNT! MAC Make-Over

I was given a fantastic make-over today by Shannon at my local MAC counter. My husband didn't much approve of the final outcome, but I had a blast & I think I look marvelous! This was done in preparation for an up-coming all girl weekend trip I have planned. I have really been wanting to update my look & I had the perfect excuse to have it done for me. I received a Nordstrom gift card for completing one of those long, tedious surveys online. You know the ones, where you have to answer about a billion yes/no questions and complete at least two of the offers to receive the proposed "gift". I can be very patient and I always find at least 2 deals I can complete either for free, or for less than $10. Then voila! I have a free giftcard, or a free iPod, etc. I applied my Nordy giftcard and a little of my own cash to pay for my new cosmetics. I now have new eyelashes, eyeshadow, blush & lipstick. I'm ready for a night out clubbing with the girls.

I'm curious. What do you think of my new look?
Have you ever done a make-up counter make-over?
If so, how did it turn out?

Want to know what HNT is all about? Go to Osbasso and get the skinny!

Genius Albert Einstein - My Hero

Happy HNT! Albert & Me discussing his special theory of relativity while enjoying

the display about the Universe at the Griffith Observatory.

Albert Einstein (March 14, 1879 – April 18, 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist who is widely considered to have been one of the greatest physicists of all time. While best known for the theory of relativity (and specifically mass-energy equivalence, E=mc²), he was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics “for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.”

Published Works in 1905: His paper on electrodynamics of moving bodies proposed the radical theory of special relativity, which showed that if the speed of light is the same when measured by any observer no matter how they are moving, then real physical consequences must follow — e.g., clocks slow down and rulers contract when in motion, thus requiring fundamental changes to the notion of simultaneity. This

In his paper on the equivalence of matter and energy (previously considered to be distinct concepts), Einstein deduced from his equations of special relativity what would later become the most famous expression in all of science: E=mc², suggesting that tiny amounts of mass could be converted into huge amounts of energy.

His paper on the particulate nature of light put forward the idea that certain experimental results, notably the photoelectric effect, could be simply understood from the postulate that light interacts with matter as discrete "packets" (quanta) of energy, an idea that had been introduced by Max Planck in 1900 as a purely mathematical manipulation, and which seemed to contradict contemporary wave theories of light. This was the only work of Einstein's that he himself pronounced as "revolutionary". This is what is know as quantum physics.

His paper on Brownian motion explained the random movement of very small objects as direct evidence of molecular action, thus supporting the atomic theory.

All four papers are today recognized as tremendous achievements—and hence 1905 is known as Einstein's "Wonderful Year".

A bronze Statue of Einstein at the Griffith Observatory.
Young Albert before the Einsteins moved from Germany to Italy.
In 1999, Albert Einstein was named "Person of the Century" by Time magazine.
A 5 Israeli pound note from 1968 with the portrait of Einstein.

For more biographical information go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein

Quotable Notions: Einstein is almost as famous for his quotes as he is for his scientific research and theories. This is one of my favorites:

"Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love. How on earth can you explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love? Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity."

Beautiful Redhead-Nonpareil Humanitarian-Fabulous Thespian

This weekend we went to Hollywood and visited the Chinese Theater. When I put my feet into the bare foot prints left there by Susan Sarandon, it gave me goosebumps. No, it wasn't because the cement was cold & wet. It was because our feet are virtually the same size, and I've always been a big fan of hers. Well, I've been a fan since the early 80's when I first saw The Rocky Horror Picture Show. You see, she's a gorgeous natural redhead who can really act, and she's a humanitarian to boot. That's a triple whammy in the book of "Things I Admire".

Susan Abigail Sarandon has quite an extensive filmography, but for our purpose here, I thought I'd just hit my favorite highlights. I'll start with her first Ocsar Nomination for Best Lead Actress as Sally Mathews in Atlantic City (1980). Next, her breakout role as Annie Savoy, the baseball mentor with a bod, in Bull Durham (1988). She started out the 90's with a firecracker's bang when she co-starred with Geena Davis in Thelma & Louise (1991), playing the pushed to the edge waitress, Louise Elizabeth Sawyer. Sarandon received her second Oscar nom as a lead for this role. The following year she played the real life Michael Odone in Lorenzo's Oil (1992), and received her third Oscar Nomination. She next brought John Grisham's character, Reggie Love to life in the movie The Client (1994). Sarandon received her fourth nomination for best female lead role for this film. In 1995, she was nominated yet again, but this time she won for her role in Dead Man Walking, when she played another real person, Sister Helen Prejean. The final film I'll recommend today is Stepmom (1998). Sarandon plays Jackie Harrison, ex-wife to Ed Harris' Luke and arch rival to his new love played by Julia Roberts. Don't miss her many documentaries, if you want to listen to her voice-over work.

I think Susan's most important role, besides being a mother, is her role as a humanitarian. In 2006, she was awarded the honor of being an Olympic flag carrier at the Turin winter games because of her work for civil rights, AIDS relief, and her position as Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.

I only hope I've accomplished as much as she has by my 61st birthday. BTW - Susan's will be 61 on October 4, 2007. I better stop leaning up against poles and get my butt in gear, if I want to catch up to her. Tune in next week for another post about someone else I admire, Albert Einstein...

The Italian Bedroom

Here I am admiring the renovations in SidewaysSam & my bedroom suite. Specifically, it's the sitting room between the two master bedrooms. Mine is on the right, although I seldom am. Right, that is. But that's a whole other enchilada. This sunny spot is a place we like to call the Doge Suite. I really must speak to the 2nd floor maid and ask her to iron out all of the wrinkles in the wall drape. I love so much about this room. I can hang my PJ's or jewels on the arm of the lamp, and I can sit in my teal & gold silk embroidered chair when I read. The natural light in here is exquisite. I feel very comfy in this room. Besides those nasty wrinkles, I love every bit of the décor. On second thought, I may have to change the portrait. I don't like a strange man watching us in our most private moments. That's why we usually have female figures hung in our boudoir. Well, it's a work in progress. A Kaizen philosopher's job is never done. Since it took Hearst 27 years to build & remodel his castle I think he'd agree.

Please stay tuned for more about Hearst Castle.

55 Flash Fiction Friday

If I were a mermaid,

I’d let my hair wander in the ebb and flow of the tide.

I’d have rainbow colored seahorses as companions,

and I’d exhale bubbles that would float up to the surface

like balloons drifting into the sun.

Alas, I have four limbs and no fishy tail.

I am merely me.


Do you know who I am and where I hail from?
Let me know if you write a 55 Flash. I'd love to read it!

Happy HNT! Doris Day

Hear I am, double chin and all, with two of my favorite actors

- Dorris Day and Kirk Douglas.
I think this picture must have been taken during the filming
of their movie Young Man with a Horn. It hangs in the lobby of the

Palm Springs Tennis Club were we spent our anniversary last month.
~
Young Man with a Horn (1949)
Kirk Douglas plays hard-drinking, passionate music man Rick Martin in this drama inspired by the life of jazz trumpeter Bix Beiderbecke. Thanks to a devoted mentor, the young, idealistic Rick proves to be a musician of the highest caliber. But his life hits a sour note when his troubled marriage, penchant for the bottle and stormy personality threaten to derail a promising career. Lauren Bacall and Doris Day co-star as Rick's love interests theis was the first truly dramatic role I'd ever seen Dorris in. She & Kirk are both fabulous.

~
The following are some of my favorite Doris Day Moives...

~

~
Love Me or Leave Me (1955)
Nightclub singer Ruth Etting (Doris Day) tries to keep her secret romance with a musician under wraps in this dramatic musical based on the life story of the 1930s singer. Etting is controlled by Martin "The Gimp" Snyder (James Cagney), who builds a nightclub and makes Etting its star. Snyder catches Etting with musician Johnny (Cameron Mitchell) and goes to prison for trying to kill him, leaving Ruth to continue performing in Snyder's nightclub. Doris received some of the best notices of her career for this role.

~

Pillow Talk (1959)
Womanizing songwriter Brad Allen (Rock Hudson) spends hours on the phone wooing his many women. Problem is, he shares a party line with prim interior decorator Jan Morrow (Doris Day), who's miffed because she can't get any calls. Then Brad gets a gander at Jan -- and it's lust at first sight. Realizing he's a goner if Jan learns his true identity, Brad concocts a Texas persona to seduce her. When the truth comes out, there's hell to pay. Thema Ritter is hilarious in this picture. As usual she play a domestic, sidekick to the lead actress, Doris.

It Happened to Jane (1959)
Single mother and fishmonger Jane Osgood (Doris Day) may be in over her head when she receives a large order from the Marshall Town Country Club for lobsters. Unfortunately, she fails to deliver, as the supply arrives ruined because of a train delay. To compensate for her business loss, Jane enlists her admirer, George Denham (Jack Lemmon), to sue the railway's owner (Ernie Kovacs) in a fight that winds up longer than the train route itself. Doris stikes a blow for feminism with this character. She stand up to the railway owner like the best of businessmen & hilarity ensues.
~
These last three movies are all examples of Box office queen and "world's oldest virgin".

~
Algonquin Round Table member and showbusiness wit Oscar Levant, who had known Day earlier in her career, summed up the paradox of Day's late-blooming ingenue phase when he famously said, "I knew Doris Day before she was a virgin." But the public loved Day's light, frothy comedies of this period, buying enough tickets to make her by far the top female movie star in America during the first half of the 1960s.

~

Sideways Sam wanted his picture taken with the Rat Pack.

The woman on the right is noted only as "a local Palm Springs Beauty".

~

Please have a happy HNT!

Happy HNT! White Horses

Hello, you beautiful beasts.

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Who is that looking over my shoulder?

*

This is one of my favorite pieces in the Palm Springs

Museum. Doesn't it look like two horses looking thru the

door of a barn with me standing just outside it?

RED, RED & MORE RED

(Red) Bag - My Husband's Christmas present to me.



(Red) Cousins,

(Red) Aloha,

(Red) Joy
Fun At Disney with the Selbe gang.




(Red) Friends
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Steve & Debbie

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(Red) Barn - A favorite painting.



(Red) Jacket - Steve & Driftwood Horse.


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Me
at
Joni & Bob's
Wedding
*
*
*
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(Red) Pomegranates



(Red) Hearts - Chinese Animal Art.

(Red) Grapes - Grgich Hills.







(Red) Nose
*
A
day
in
the
sun
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(Red) Car

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My trusty ride.

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http://www.joinred.com/

(RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of DATA to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by teaming up with the world's most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT)RED branded products. A percentage of each (PRODUCT)RED product sold is given to The Global Fund. The money helps women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.