Sun....Aries
Moon...Pisces
Time...7:30pm
Mood...shaky...just downed a Starbucks
Weather...Mild, sunny...hunkering down for a lousy wet weekend.
Sound...CEU (Brazilian music we bought at Starbucks)
BirthdayShoutOutsTo:
# 1970 Ricky Schroder SI NY, (actor)
# 1964 Davis Love III.(golfer)
# 1946 Al Green (r & b singer)
# 1945 Tony Dow (actor)
# 1944 Jack Casady (bassist)
# 1942 Bill Conti (composer)
# 1939 Paul Sorvino (actor)
# 1935 Erich von D�niken (author)
# 1935 Lyle Waggoner (announcer, skit player)
# 1926 Don Adams NYC, (comedian)
# 1919 Howard Keel Ill, (actor/singer)
# 1906 Samuel Beckett (French playwright)
# 1743 Thomas Jefferson Virginia (3rd us president)

QuoteDiva sez: "The future is an opaque mirror. Anyone who tries to look into it sees nothing but the dim outlines of an old and worried face." -Jim Bishop

How was YOUR Friday the 13th? Ours was nice. Peaceful so far. We met with our real estate gal to go over some things...this is it...the house is on the market. According to the Washingtonian Magazine (April ed.) we live in a "golden" zip code. So with the prettiest house on the street and fingers and toes crossed we plunge into a horrible market for sellers and we maintain a positive vibe. Thanks Petra...keep that candle burning...thanks CM for your well wishes!

Two years ago fiance thought this house would be a great investment...now it's just another drain on his wallet. It was a risk... Now he needs to unload it. He has two mortgages as well as other things to suck the money out of his account. He also has an ex to support until she gets on her feet. Soo....it's important that this house sells. He will take a loss but he's resigned to that.

Come take a look...go to my gallery and see for yourself what a pretty house it is! As you look at the photos...send a positive thought our way! "THE HOUSE WILL SELL QUICKLY" If you all will say this as you take a gander, I'm sure by the sheer mental force of Stream WILL, it WILL sell quickly!

Thanks!
Namaste!

-pr-

Sun...Aries
Moon...Aquarius
Time...1:30pm
Weather...66 degrees and cloudy in DC
Mood...headache, stalling!
Sound...Divorce Court
Claire Danes, Shannen Doherty, Andy Garcia, Vince Gill, David Cassidy, David Letterman, Ed O'Neill, Tiny Tim
QuoteDiva sez:"I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who overcomes his enemies." -Aristotle

In 1983, '84 I was 21 and 22...I was living with my boyfriend and was a part time professional dancer and dance teacher. My father had graduated from FSU years before and had been in the Army at my age and later became a teacher as well as working for the state. My point, he had his life under control and had done a great job as son, husband, father, soldier, employee and friend! Me on the other hand, I was totally clueless but THOUGHT I knew what was best for me!

Each Friday I would go over to his house where he would check out my car, feed me lunch and chat about how the week had been for me. He never failed to gently nudge me to keep up with my schooling.

My various responses:

"I'm FINE DAD!"

"I don't need college, I'm doing fine as a teacher and dancer."

"I don't NEED a lot of money, Chris and I are doing fine!"

"Dad, can you JUST check my car and not give me a lecture each time I come over here!"


You get the idea. I thought he was just being well-intentioned nagging father.

He wanted me to go to school because he knew that degree would give me the edge I needed in life and I would be able to take care of myself better. His intention was to see me in a better situation as he knew he was dying of congestive heart failure and I had no other family member. He was concerned that I was living with a young man that worked in a warehouse and who would probably always work in a warehouse. He was concerned that I only had four months of college under my belt. He was worried that after he died, I wouldn't be able to live life as I had become accustom to in my life. (middle class comfortable.)

But I was sooo stubborn!

Long story short...my oldest who was living with us for 9 months wants to move out on her own with a guy she's known since August. She has not officially graduated from high school (she's 20 this year), she has a decent job but is not in school yet. She's not in a hurry to get into school. We tried to afford her the ability to go to school and not worry about money. We didn't charge her rent. We provided the basics and then some. I find myself thinking,..."wow dad, I get it! I feel your pain! She's as stubborn as I was!"

She's been very sloppy around the house, she admits to not seeing the same dirt and grime and untidiness as we do. (Heaven help her boyfriend, especially if he's the neat type!)

After mom and grandma died, I lived with my dad for a year and a half. I was young like my daughter, nearing 21 and while I wasn't as much of a slob as my daughter, my father was retired Army and a real neatnik! So it didn't take much for him to call me on something.

One nite, after dancing a show, I came home to a note on the fridge:

(I'm looking at it now! I've treasured it, but didn't at the time!)

11/29
You: LEFT THE DINING AREA LIGHT ON AND DIRTY DISHES IN THE SINK!
HOW COME?
USE THIS SPACE FOR A WRITTEN EXPLANATION OF BOTH PHENOMENA
1.______
2.______

The lines were obviously short because there WAS NO GOOD REASON to leave lights on or dirty dishes in the sink. I had been told a million times before.

What did I write in response?

"Dear Dad, I'm an irresponsible, immature, forgetful slob."

It was written with a very cavalier attitude. I thought I was being funny. But I was being disrespectful. Now, 24 years later I finally understand where he was coming from with this note and his worries for me. And despite what my daughter might think, that I'm totally clueless, I really DO understand what you're thinking my dear daughter! And at some point down the line, you will see things as I do and you will understand and finally say with 100% sureness, "NOW I KNOW MOM, NOW I GET IT!"

I keep saying that when "you have kids daughter, you'll understand how I'm thinking and why I'm thinking it!" And don't think for a moment that I don't understand how you are feeling and why you are doing what you are doing.

And it's because I do get you more than you get me that I let you go and live your life. I'll be here if you need me now and again but for the most part....you are your own person and at 20 it's time you start flying! I have faith and confidence that despite this slow start, when all is said and done, you will achieve great things! After all, you are MY daughter!

-pr-

Not much time...speaking of Icons...this one is a big departure from my usual narcissist or just plain silly icons! Fiance and I were walking around the DC mall and tidal basin a few weekends ago, enjoying the cherry blossom explosion....and decided to take a time out on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial. Suddenly these four serious looking young men came walking by. They were walking past a stage where performers were showing us martial arts moves. As soon as they cleared the stage, seconds after having their picture taken by me,...they broke out in hysterics! It was so funny! But for my photo, they look so reserved!

None of them were more than maybe twenty-three years old. Any one of them could have been my son. Suddenly I thought of this twenty-nine year old man I know who is over in Iraq (just went over.) But he's not just any man. I have known this man since he was all of seven. I am very proud to know him and I pray for his safety ever day.

Seeing these boys, reminded me of how close the war has come to me. It's not just a story on the news. He was the most precious little boy, so well-mannered and had such a beautiful smile! He's still that same little boy...only grown up, married, miles from home, in a very volatile situation.

Pray for him and his comrades in arms as well as their families and our nation. We need it, more than ever.

-pr-

Sun...Aries (and I have the headache to prove it!)
Moon...Capricorn (I have the aches and pains to show for it...Capricorn rules the joints)
Time...12:46pm
Mood...achey, low grade fever, headache, cramps...a nice soup of blah!
Weather...52 degrees and cloudy.
Sound...some Brad Paisley country song.
BirthdayShoutOutsTo:
1988 Haley Joel Osment (actor)
1984 Mandy Moore (actress, singer)
1983 Ryan Merriman (actor)
1981 Lil McClarnon (singer)
1952 Steven Seagal (actor)
1936 John Madden (football coach,sports commentator)
1932 Omar Sharif [Michael Shalhoub], Egypt, (actor)
1929 Max Von Sydow Lund Sweden, (actor)
1921 Chuck Connors Bkln NY, (actor)
1915 Harry Morgan (actor)
1870 Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (revolutionary, founder of communist state)
1847 Joseph Pulitzer Hungary, (publisher)
1829 William Booth (founder Salvation Army)

QuoteDiva sez: "Charm is a way of getting the answer yes without asking a clear question" -Albert Camus

This post inspired (once again) by Randy from the 'holler! And CM (I figured if she can get through her days with much more pain involved than I am feeling now, I can do a lousy post.)

Randy was writing about his different icons. It got me to thinking about our use of icons. I have seen so many cute ones...and then there's the nasty ones, the pretty, the strange, the funny, the enigmatic etc..

There are people who change like they change underwear (right Randy..but didn't our mom's always tell us to always go out in public in a fresh clean pair of icons because you never know when you are going to be in an accident and you don't want to be caught with your pants down, ....er, so to speak!)

Some are so consistent as to truly become one with their icon! We come to identify the icon with the writer...like it's their logo. We see the golden arches and even at 3 we know...MCDONALDS! Whit's cartoon writer at his cartoon desk!!! We come to equate that icon with integrity and a man who has a good grasp on reality.

Mr. O. (by the way Mr. O....I still read, don't comment...all part of my slowing the Rubble machine down....no reflection of you!)...Mr. O is known for his outhouse, floating in space! Comedic and surreal...yet he has a good head on his shoulders.

Bella and her crazy sexy gams....she wanted to change and we wouldn't have it!

Soulmate Dreamer....we see that falcon in the air (it IS a falcon?) and we hear it's call and admire it in flight and we know our soul-searchin' dreamer is nearby...

When we see Michael Clark Duncan straddling, holding his cane, looking fly, we feel Wilson Fisk's presence in all it's no-holds-barred, take no prisoners glory.

Kristin's tongue sticking out and her Squeeze Me Wonderbread beckons us to stop in and see what's up....

Even Mr. Azron's non icon is...iconic! LOL And consistent!

Even those that do change every now and again...well, it doesn't matter...if it's something celtic and dreamy, it's CM floating around the stream in all her etherealiness!

Whether it's a big hairy ape or a South Park Character, we can sniff and smell BC in the HOUSE!

And even some of us who change with the wind:

Biggie T (hope you had a great bday by the way!)...you KNOW ya'll tune into just to see what the icon du jour will be...kinda' like watching to see what the doo will be with Sanajaya! Will he be a cartoon character or will he be a Princess?

Angie (4 kids and I KNOW SHE'S NUTS!) Don't we look forward to seeing what photo of herself she will use or will it be one of her cute kids?? Look, she's a MOM of four people so she can do whatever the hell she wants for an icon! And she's like me, we get bored with our furniture so I KNOW she needs to be able to flip and switch icons (besides, you can change icons with less trouble than movin' around a whole room....)

Adam...he might change a couple of times but you knew it was an Adam Icon in it's enigmatic/mysterious or far-out-ness! Consistently mysterious!!!

And then there's me....I'm a Gemini...I get bored easily. Sometimes I put my mug up there, sometimes it's just my smile,..sometimes it's me screaming in frustration, sometimes it's a golden Buddha...sometimes me as twins, sometimes it's an Andy Warhol-esque icon...and sometimes...it's a 37 year old stuffed bunny named what people??? That's right, Ester....as I come down to the close of my time here in the Stream...you'll get a couple more icons before it's over.

So Randy...we love your rolodex of icons. Each one reflects to a certain degree your multi-faceted personality! I love them all...(Richard Simmons not-withstanding!)....we really do get a kick out of seeing who will be up in the display window next!!! You never fail to disappoint.

There are soo many of you...I just didn't have time to mention everyone! But you know who you are!!!

So let's say it all together,..."I con, you con, we ALL scream for ICONS!!!"

-pr-

Hmm...time to change my icon...speaking of.....

Sun....Aries
Moon...Sagittarius
Time...1:44pm
Mood...Hoppy!
Weather...46 degrees and cloudy.
Sound....classical music downstairs...an cooking show featuring Italian style!!! YUM
EasterBirthdayShoutOuts To:Julian Lennon, Betty Ford, Sonja Henie, Buddha(!), Kofi Annan and Mary Pickford.

QuoteDiva sez: "I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances." -Martha Washington

My name is Ester and my "owner" or as I like to call her, "my little girl", Rubble is busy making cards, watching some cooking show and sipping on a Bloody Mary so I figured on this, Easter, I'd take care of writing a Post FOR HER. She'll never notice...she's got a bit of a buzz on and I think I can fake her out with her usual header she does with each post.

I don't have a lot to say other than I want to thank you for all the kind thoughts and comments you give my girl after each post. She's enjoyed doing this blog for the past six months or so and she is in the process of printing out her posts for prosterity.

She's not sure exactly when, but she has come to the decision that for a myriad of reasons, she will be bringing this little writing project to a close in the coming weeks. She's thinking her last post will be on her 45th bday....May 20th.

She has enjoyed the experience of writing for her own pleasure and writing for the eventual sharing of her posts with her children one day. [Perhaps in the event of her early demise OR when she feels her children could best appreciate them whatever comes first.]

She will NOT, I promise, just disappear! And she doesn't plan on doing it too soon. But she does feel that it's the right thing to do.

She's loved the camaraderie and the humor she has shared with many of you! Some of you have made her think, laugh, cry and contemplate with your stories, your jokes, your poetry and your philosophies.

Shhh...she's coming back....seems she needed a refill on that Bloody Mary!

So I better hop along....

God/dess Bless and Namaste as she would say!

HOPPY EASTER from Rubble and Ester!

xoxo