Mr Squiggee Unplugged

A SPECIAL TREAT!

2012-01-29T14:19:00.000-07:00

    Over the next few days, you and I are going to
take a journey through the process of creating a
custom needlepoint design.
    The finished design size will be 20 1/2" X 11 3/4".
Gail informs me that it is for a box pillow. The subject
matter is a rather large house in Long Island, New York.
A house in the Hampton's. We shall scan some photo's
and post a few of them to give you an idea of what we are
dealing with.
    Gail sent the sketch out for approval from the owner
of the house, and it's recently come back so all is ready
to go. This has been in the cooker for a while now, but
we never could have anticipated all of the turmoil
of the last year, so it had to be put on the back burner
for a bit. Painting a canvas of this type and size
requires a serious block of time. Once you start one
these pieces, all else goes to the wayside. Over the years
I have watched Gail paint all different sorts of architecture,
from small cabins, the White House, and pretty much
everything in-between. It's kind of fascinating to watch
the whole process come together.
    I will be posting photo's at various stage of the canvas,
as well as a scan of the sketch. The sketch gets placed under
the canvas , as a sort of guideline while she paints.
    This particular canvas will be on 10 mesh/stitch, and will
most probably be worked in wool, as it stands the test of time.
    You'll have to pardon me for saying this but, " this
ain't no tar paper shack". You'll see.
   Gail goes into a zone when she paints one of these things.
It takes a lot of concentration and finesse. The most difficult
part to fudge is the bushes and/or grass and trees. You
have to utilize various tricks to fool the eye.
   So, it should be, at the very least, interesting to look at.
I shall endeavor not to sound like a total putz.
   I am sitting here listening to Mary Black on a Cd.
If you are unfamiliar with her, she is an Irish folk singer.
Wonderful voice and great musicians, all from Ireland.
Music for listening and contemplation. Irish writers, as well.
Universal themes.
   I guess it's time to start thinking about putting some
chicken in the oven. I may add to this a bit later, but one never
knows. Gail is finishing up some Santa's and listening to
"Beach Music" by Pat Conroy.
   There is one song on this CD that is sung completely
in Irish. I have no idea what the words mean, but it's
amazing to listen to. Haunting, is the best description
that I can come up with
    Anyway, that is what's going on here. Hope you are
having an enjoyable day.
   Feel free to drop me a line. Mr. Squiggee.

UNTITLED----- SO FAR-

2012-01-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

     Generally speaking, the week after the big
January Trade Show is a quiet one. The vendors
have to pack up their displays and arrange for
it to be shipped back to their home base, and then
squirrel themselves away for a few days to process
all the orders they have taken. The next step for them
is to get an order off to their painting service. It's a
bit of a mad dash.
    The shops and owners that went to the show seem to
have all sorts of different methods.   Some will place
orders at the show. Some spend the first two days looking
at the various designs and then return to order. And
then some of them make notes about what they like,
go back to their shop, and then make their decision on
what to purchase.
     The trick to a successful buying expedition is knowing
the kind of designs that you customers are looking for.
The whole emphasis being all of these shows is "what is new".
It is unfortunate that the costs for printing any sort of
catalog is going up all the time. Especially photographs.
When I wandered around at the show, I didn't see a lot
of catalogs, and I was only offered one fiber sample.
    This is one of the major reasons that we put the catalog
online. Everyone can view it. The shops, the stitchers,
the curious, etc. Anyone interested in one of these designs
can simply call a local needlepoint shop, give them a stock
number, and the shop can order it for them. The catalog is pretty
big, and it's going to get bigger.   Anyone that wants to know
the name of a shop near them can always contact us and I
will find them a shop near them that we have dealt with.
    This lull is temporary, of course.  Jan. is one of those months
that puts people in a limbo mode. Valentine's Day is your
next holiday, so perk up.
     We did finish the last DVD of "Boardwalk Empire" last
night. So really good extras, too.   It is amazing what they
can create, based on old photographs. The period costumes,
the creation of the boardwalk, and you get a chance to
hear the actors talk about their characters, and all the
historical tidbits.
     One thing I will tell you. The actor that plays "Chalky
White" in this show, is the same man that played "Omar"
in " THE WIRE". Michael Kenneth Williams is his name.
A very charismatic character.
    If you are thinking of watching this, you might want to
steer clear of these sites where people give away all
sorts of plot details. Spoilers, I believe they are called.
It is the correct term, of course, because it does tend
to spoil the experience for the first time viewer if you
know what is coming nest. Way too many self appointed
critics. You either like, or you don't. Why dissect it
and ruin the experience for others? But that's just
my take on the whole thing.
Breakfast time . EDit later Ken

GOOD MORNING !

2012-01-28T07:29:00.000-07:00

     For those of you that are interested in this
sort of thing, on the fourth DVD of "Boardwalk Empire",
are some extra bits. The first of these is a brief
history of Atlantic City and a few of it's illustrious
characters and past. The second set of extras is a tour of
some of the speakeasy's of the day that are still remaining.
So you get to see several in Chicago and several famous
ones in NYC as well. All sorts of hidden exits and concealed
liquor vaults. These places are now icons of the city, but
what truly amazed me was the woodwork, metalwork, glass
and detailing on the interior of these " illegal drinking
parlours".   Elegance, is the best description that I could
give you.
     It's always the eye for even the smallest little detail
that makes it really sing out to you. That "majestic"
ambiance.   It's like going to a Sunday tea at The Willard
Hotel", in Washington D. C. History just permeates the
whole structure.
    I remember a couple of people telling me, upon their
return from a visit back east, that they didn't care for
it because "Everything looked so old".  Vapid, truly
vapid. Attempting to point out any sort of historical
events would be a total waste of time. Some people
just don't see the beauty. Can't see the trees for the
forest, is the expression that comes to mind.
     Anyway, if you should happen to rent or purchase
these DVDs, don't forget to check these extras out.
Well worth your investment in time.
    So is that PBS documentary on New York City.
The photo's, newsreel footage, and the narration
are exceptional.
    That's about it for this morning. More, a bit later,
I imagine. Guess I need to edit, as well.

JUST HOW MANY BOOKS OF S & H GREEN STAMPS DO YOU HAVE?

2012-01-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

     It's certainly been a while since I have seen those.
Hmmm! How many books for a toaster?
   I am really not sure exactly when they stopped giving
these out, but I can certainly remember the time spent
licking those awful stamps.
   For those of you that don't recall this bit of Americana,
it was pretty common, way back when. Merchants of all types
would give out green stamps with each purchase, as a
sort of reward for your patronage. You received them
at the grocery store, the pharmacy, the gas station, etc.
At some gas stations, and this was back when a business
actually courted you, they would give you double stamps
for a fill-up and throw in a couple of coke glasses.
    All houses seemed to have a drawer full of these loose
stamps, and when the drawer would no longer close some
lucky sod was delegated to lick and paste the stamps in the
book. It took quite a few books to procure something
really usable, but that never mattered. Everyone browsed the
catalog like it was from Tiffany's. Then off you went, with
your small bags of filled green stamp booklets, to the
redemption store to claim your prize.
   Soda bottles, back in those days, were also prized items.
You could wash them out and take them to the corner
store, get your 2 cents or 5 cents per bottle reward, and get
yourself some BB Bats, licorice, fireballs, or any variety
of penny candy that your little heart desired. Simpler
times, of course. But you could always see small groups
of children scouring the roadways and alleys for these
glass bottles.
    YES, RONNIE, YOUR
S&H GREEN STAMPS
BOOKS ARE WELCOME
HERE!
     I did tell you that we have been watching the first
season of "Boardwalk Empire", and,being the curious
creature that I am, I did a bit of research about
Warren G. Harding. He was elected President in 1920
and died in 1923, while still in office.
   Truth is always much stranger than fiction. You don't
have to delve too far into all of this to see the greed
and corruption that fueled this whole era in our
society. What is that old saying, "power corrupts?
And with such a vengeance, too. The fact that
prohibition, as an enforceable law, was never going
to work, only brought on more graft. Hell, even
the Pres was having liquor parties. It wasn't until
1933 that the whole thing was repealed.
   This show gives all kinds of historical tidbits for
you to nibble on. For myself, doing a bit of
research on the computer can go a long way
towards filling in a few of the gaps that we, as
children in school, never seemed all that interested in.
   Time marches on, so they say. More later maybe.

HE'S BACK! OH CRAP, WHAT'S HE UP TO NOW?

2012-01-25T16:09:00.000-07:00

     Not to worry, he's not up to anything sinister.
Or at least not anything more than the usual. Gail is
in the other room painting some candy wrappers,
and for some strange reason I have this craving
for some chocolate. OH, yum!
We have an audio book on at the moment. This
time it's the unabridged version of a Michael
Crichton book titled "PREY". It's about 13 hours long.
The person reading the book is not a name I am
familiar with, George Wilson, but he is doing an
excellent job.   Anyone that is unfamiliar with his
novels, or his name, need only remind themselves
of Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, Disclosure,
Congo, and the creator behind ER, on television.
A rather vivid imagination? You got it!
Dumb and dumber, this is not. Needless to say, it's
a very informative and mesmerizing book. Bottom
line,"Don't mess with mother nature and be very
cautious with what you are about to create." It just
might turn on you.
   As a footnote to my earlier posting; The Volstead Act of
1919 led to the passage of the 18th amendment, which
was Prohibition. It was repealed in 1933. Women in this
country gained voting rights in 1920. A strange, but
fascinating, period of history in this country. Stock crash
of 1929 and the Great Depression. History is anything
but dull and boring.
     Just thought I would toss that out there.
     Mr. Squiggee gets to write a letter this evening., and
I shall fill you all in on the result of this action. You will
find the subject matter quite interesting. The recipient
of the letter won't, however. I shall be civil, but very
emphatic.
   I doubt that my take on the TNNA show in Phoenix
shall sway any ones opinion, or make any drastic ripples.
But, when you look around you and see all these
little mom- and-pop stores disappearing, only to be
replaced by some behemoth corporate entity, it might
make one come to the realization that, if you want your
small business to survive and flourish, you can't be
complacent.
     "Check the chicken", says Omar. "Smells good".
Later

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN! ON GUARD FOR THE TRASH MAN!

2012-01-25T07:04:00.001-07:00

SEE CARMEN'S PHOTO BELOW.
NOW THERE IS A GAL WITH
FLASH, AND ATTITUDE!
THANKS, RONNIE!

     Got up around 5:45 to put out the last bag of trash.
You know, the foodstuffs and wrappers that, if you put
them out the night before, all the innards would be
littered about the yard. Varmints. Coffee has just finished
brewing so I need a cuppa. Hang on!
    We have started watching HBO's " Boardwalk Empire".
Rental, for the time. We have watched the first two
disc's and have already deduced that, at some in the
future, it will be added to our collection of DVDs.
That period of time in history, between the two world
wars, prohibition and the Volstead Act, the Temperance
movement and women gaining voting rights, has always
been one of interest.   A lot of research went into the
making of this show. Tons of characters to keep track of.
The good, the bad and all those caught up in the turbulent
era.
    This just came out on DVD. Now, for those of you who
never watched The Soprano's, Carnivale, Deadwood, or
The Wire, you might not find this type of show appealing.
Too convoluted or disjointed. Each episode seems to
pull you deeper into that world. Don't kid yourself,
your fellow man has not changed all that much in modern
times. He has just gotten slicker at it. The greed and
corruption is just as prevalent now as it was back then.
The stock market crash of 1929 was not far off and
with so many fingers in the till, things got pretty ugly for
those in the cities.
Like I stated earlier, a lot of research went into the making
of this series, and while there are those that merely
view this sort of thing as merely entertainment, it's a slice
of our history. Or, as Omar says : "Read a book, and learn
about our not so sweet and cuddly past".
   Good coffee this morning. Gail went back to sleep for a
while. Her reverie will be interrupted by the trash truck
and Omar, in a little while. Pancakes for breakfast,
compliments of Mr. Squiggee.
     The temperature said 39 degrees in Tucson, this morning.
The winter has been a colder than normal this year, so I
am told. It's tough on the vegetation, as well.
   I do have a few errands to take care of this morning, but I
have some other stuff to tell you, so drop back by. Sounds
like Facebook is going to force more changes on everyone,
so I shall be bidding them a not so fond farewell. It served
it's purpose and it's time to move on. This circle of friends,
timeline, etc. is a "load of old cobblers", as they say.
   Catch you later. Spell check and I am outta here.

TOO MUCH SUSPENSE? SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU NOSY THINGS?

2012-01-24T18:02:00.002-07:00

     Got waylaid doing errands today, but the
chicken is in the oven and Gail is finishing up a
couple of custom orders. I did speak with the
kind folks at Rainbow Gallery this morning to let
them know how kind and knowledgeable their
reps at the show were. Credit where credit is due.
    Gail will be in shortly to post Carmen's photo.
I have been reading a few of the comments, on FB,
made by a few of the vendors at the show. Maybe
I went there on the wrong day or I had my eyes closed
and missed something. Attendance on Sunday
seemed a little sparse to me. But then I am used to attending
woodworking shows and home building trade shows.
A bit more demonstrative, as well. Yeah, yeah, I know it's
a wholesalers trade show.
     The irony of this show, as well as the one in Columbus,
is the fact that that it's only about taking orders. Can't sell
anything on the floor. All that expense of going to the show
and the shops come home with orders to be delivered sometime
in the future. Kinda like putting something on layaway.
   Without the input from the people that actually plunk
down their hard earned money to purchase the designs,
how is a shop owner to know what his/her customers are
really looking for. We have all been manipulated and told
we are supposed to like {sort of an "in crowd' thing]. The same
is true with music, literature, and TV/movies. All I can tell
you is that sometimes you just gotta step on up and make a
ripple, now and then, or be swept along with the tide.
    If you gotta tell people that it's "cutting edge", then it
really isn't "cutting edge."   And you thought I didn't
have an opinion? Guess again.
   And while we are on the subject of my opinion, and it's
intrinsic value; As the Internet plays a larger
role in all of our lives, shows of this sort seen a bit passe,
from my view. I listen to so many of the smaller shop
owners, from all over the country, who simply cannot
afford to attend one of the big shows. This economic
downturn has put the hurt on the smaller business person.
Learning to make full use of the Internet, as a vital
tool for your business, is going to be a necessity for
the future. It's just a reality, sorry to say. It's still
a hell of a lot cheaper than going to one of these shows.
The Squiggee Designs Website costs us $14 a month
Not bad for all the coverage it gives us., eh? All 85 pages
of designs, right at your fingertips.
   Got to check the chicken.

YOU DIDN'T SERIOUSLY THINK I WAS GOING TO SHOW YOU THE COMPLETE FLAMINGO, DID YOU?

2012-01-23T11:39:00.003-07:00

     Is that malcontent, Mr. Squiggee, teasing you again?
Boo Hoo. Of course he was.   I just thought you might
want to feast your eyes on her magnanimous hat. Wait till
you see her dress and el magnifico legs.
     Our very big thanks to Ronnie Oliver for stitching the
wondrous Carmen. And, yes, she did make a hit at the
show yesterday, but I had to whisk her back home, for her
own protection and a photo shoot.
    Gail provided some photo's of her wall of canvases at the
show. This is what is known as the tip of the iceberg. "Just
ran out of room". When the Columbus show rolls around there
will be so much more.
    The show closed at 4 PM, so everyone is packing up. A rather
daunting task, to say the least. From what I can gather, the show
next year will return to Long Beach, and nobody knows about
the following year.
    Yes, I schmoozed, and I was as charming as I could be,
but a man of my caliber can only hang on for a certain
amount of time.
    For those of you that are needlepointers, Mr Squiggee
was most impressed by the new fibers from Rainbow
Gallery. Mr. Squiggee and his cohorts love bling and
pizzazz. Must've been a crow in a previous life. The two
women that I spoke to, from Rainbow Gallery were very
helpful and the sample card they gave me made quite a hit
with Gail. They have some fibers designed for 10 st. The
pug rollie is actually on 10 st. Gail was thrilled to actually
a metallic thread that wouldn't have to be doubled for
use on ten stitch. Their names are Fluffy Fleece, Plastic
Canvas 10, and Ribbon Rays.
Also something called EdMar, and their card
said: Explore the colorful world of Brazilian Dimensional
Embroidery Threads.   Very nice stuff. Check it out. Also
YLI Corporation out of Rock Hill, South Carolina .
    The two gals I spoke with from Presencia were also
very helpful. Cool looking stuff, even if I don't stitch.
   Like I have stated before, this was my first foray
into this world. I do think, however, that the addition
of the " Soul Train Dancers" could have livened the
place up a bit. It ain't no thang! Just a thought.
A lot of serious looking people, but Mr. Squiggee
did behave himself. Kinda!
    Had to go to the laundromat earlier today to was the
king size comforter. Too large to do in the washer
at home. Looked through a few old magazines while
I was there. No news is good news, so to speak.
Supposedly, the water company was out to read the
meter today. I will give them a call tomorrow. I will
let you know the result.
That's about it for the moment.
As for Carmen, you'll just have to come back. Didn't
want to make to easy on you. TA!

WHEW! I'M BACK! ANDE NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON!.

2012-01-22T18:33:00.000-07:00

      Enough, already. Thank goodness my friend had
bail money, or I would still be in the pokey. First, they
tried to toss me from the Convention Center for doing
"the hoochie coochie dance"in the new items display
area, but the final straw was doing the "gator crawl"
through the fiber displays. On go the cuffs. Off to the
hoosegow with the degenerate Mr. Squiggee.
       I LIED.
    But I am back home. Had a very nice visit with
Sharon G, even though I had forgotten the chocolate.
Let's see, I spoke with Megan from Needlework Retailer,
Elizabeth from Needlepoint Now, Pat Delp and her family from
Designer's Desk. and several different fiber company
reps. Oh, and a friend of Ruth Schmuff at Bedecked and
Bedazzled. So, for all practical purposes, I had a good time.
Since I had never been to one of these events, I wasn't
quite sure what to expect. I do understand that many of the
people there were shop owners and buyers. Not exactly a place
for a relaxing visit, but it was nice to be able to put a face
to the voices I have heard for the last couple of years.
    I did manage to get a couple of orders for Omar's new
fibers. Laughs, as well. You have to be a dog lover to fully
appreciate this sort of thing. Sharon wanted to know when
my next Sensitivity Training Seminar was scheduled to take
place. Just have to keep her in the loop.
   I can't say that I envy those that have to tear all of those
displays down on Monday and prepare to go back home.
Got a few photo's and Gail will post later. Bear with me!

MR. SQUIGGEE IS HEADING TO PHOENIX.

2012-01-22T08:53:00.000-07:00

AND A GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU!

2012-01-21T15:11:00.002-07:00

     Just finished eating a rather late lunch and
just lounging around. Gail is in the living room,
with Omar resting on her lap, watching a movie.
Just took the phone in to her and Squiggee is also
beside her on the lazy boy.
   The show is in full swing, of course. As Gail said
on her blog, I am ready to head on up there tomorrow
morning for my debut, as it were. We did receive a package
from Tyler, Texas a little while ago. I will be taking
these canvases, as well as my gal Carmen with me when
I head to Phoenix.
   As flippant as I may seem at times, both Gail
and myself truly appreciate our pals sacrificing their
time and making such an extraordinary effort to stitch
some of these designs for us. We are very grateful for
their input, as well.
Hang on, back in a bit.

ALL THE PIECES MATTER- PART TWO- WHOA, JUMP BACK! YES, WE HAVE NO BANANAS!

2012-01-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

    Got a package from the men in brown a little
while ago. It was from Ronnie, down in Louisiana.
Inside of this package was none other than the
magnificent "Carmen Flamingo". We are talking
some serious bling, glitz, and, as Omar would say,
"That woman is seriously trashy. I think I'm in
love".   There was also a couple of mardi gras
beaded necklaces in the package, so himself and
Squiggee just had to try them on. We will have
to do a photo shoot later on today. Omar got in to
his prance mode where he sashays his bubble butt
around the room.
   I will be taking my pal Carmen with me, when I
head up to Phoenix for the show on Sunday. We
just got off the phone with Ronnie a few minutes
ago and expressed our gratitude and thanks for
stitching such a flamboyant character for us.
Not too sure how she did the ruffles on the dress,
but they are pretty amazing.
Yes, we will post photo's, but not until I come back
from the show. Probably post her photo on Sunday
evening when I get back.
    I have printed out my map to the Convention Center,
so I am pretty well set.   Well, I am heading off yo get a snack.
I shall return a bit later.

ALL THE PIECES MATTER!

2012-01-20T07:15:00.000-07:00

     Before I begin, I just want to let you know
that I will be posting several times today. On
all sorts of topics So you'll need to stop by to
scope it out, at various points today. We have been
rather busy getting all the loose ends tied up and ready
for the show, so I have been told, by the boss, to just
relax and putter, today. We call this: "getting yourself
correct", for the impending festivities.
    I do have a couple of duties that I have to take care of
at the show. I asked Sharon G if she brought me any
chocolate from PA. Her response was no, but that I
should bring her some when I visit her at the show.
I just might do that.  Great sense of humor, and I
am looking forward to saying hi.
     In other news, we just received an order for a couple
of the candy wrapper canvases. You can see these on the
right side of the blog. You just never know what will
catch peoples attention. The catalog just keeps
getting bigger. We are up to 81 pages now. There
is also a custom section for the new shop in
Middleburg, Virginia. It called "STITCH", and
it is owned by Stacy Norris. There are several pages
of some of the custom designs that Gail has done for
her shop. It has taken her a bit longer, due to
remodeling, etc., to get it all up and running, but she
will soon have her website up and she has promised to
send us some photo's to post. Opening a new business
is both exciting and exhausting. She sounded pretty pooped
the last time we talked. Enthused, is putting it mildly. She
will do very well. She has the drive to succeed.
    Got an email from the fabulous Saundra this morning, and
it sounds like a few of our little pals are on their way back
home. Such an absolute sweety, and very talented. There,
Saundra, now can I have a cookie or something? LOL.
Teasing friends and associates is not a crime. It's more of
an endearment, so to speak. The world does need to lighten
it up a bit. Way too much of this "gloom and doom".
Where is Auntie Mame" when we really need her?
More in a while. Gail is stirring.

AND THE FUN BEGINS- IT'S REALLY BITCHIN', DUDES AND DUDETTES!

2012-01-19T18:21:00.000-07:00

     Of course it's silly. It was supposed to be. Anyway,
people are beginning to arrive in Phoenix for the show.
I just happened to notice that Sharon G is already in her
hotel room and getting ready for tomorrow. Friday is
the day that all of the vendors set up their wares. And
Friday evening is chocked full of activities before the
show really opens. Showcase night, so to speak.
"Sample it night' and all manner of splendor.
On Saturday the show opens for the buyers, the shops
and shop owners.
    I shall be going on Sunday morning, taking a few models
with me for the display. The frog shown above used to be
on the side of a green straw bag, but needed to be sent off
for a bit of repair work. It looked as though the last
distributor had gone to pick up groceries in it. Pretty beat
up. All better now and ready for Phoenix.
     In other news, my pal Carmen is on her way home.
Ronnie informs that she might arrive as soon as tomorrow.
You can call me a simpleton if you like, but I enjoy seeing
these things when they are stitched. Always a different
touch. I don't stitch, or even pretend to know anything
about the stitches, but I do like the tactile feeling and the
look of it. Like a beautiful piece of wood.
     I do have a couple of really good stories to tell you in
the morning, as well as some info about the photo's at the
top of Gail's blog. The heart with the Lillies of the valley,
for those curious about such things, is on Page 81 of the
catalog, along with a matching frame. A twelve year old
design. Simple and elegant.
   We've been relaxing a bit today, tying up loose ends,
and watching a couple of movies. The kids have been
fed and we might even throw them in the car and take them
out for ice cream.
     I will catch up with you in the morning. xoxoxo Ken

CAN THIS BE SO? MR. SQUIGGEE HAS GONE SWEET? JUST WAIT TILL THE MEDS WEAR OFF!

2012-01-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

    That certainly didn't last long. Had me worried for
a few seconds. It's all just a ruse, of course!
   I do have lucid moments when I can approach being
charming. The thought of Mr. Squiggee on the loose
at the Phoenix Convention Center this weekend can
certainly conjure up some scary scenario's. "Who is holding
the bail money"?, I hear you ask. Not to worry!
   I did print up the floor plan for the show, that way I won't
get lost when I venture off to visit a few pals{?????}
And I already have the booth numbers written down.
I just know they'll be anxious to see me.
   If you look at the above photo of the candy wrappers,
on the left side of the canvas you will see some writing.
Gail has always used poster board under the canvas
when she paints and well always have to thoroughly
review all of the notes on this poster board so we don't toss
out phone numbers. Under the poster board is ceiling tile.
The push pins hold the canvas still while she is painting.
These were created in 2002, and all of these were created
within a two week span.
   These items were returned by a previous distributor, who
was quite insistent that he/she/it would never stoop so low
as to ever reproduce one of Gail's designs. And yet, ten years
later this person is doing precisely that.
   Or, as Tony Soprano would say: "The con game never ends."
He certainly got that right. Where is all that designing prowess?
Ten year old scraps is the best that they could come up
with.
   Want to know the date the canvases were created? Hell,
maybe I shall just cruise on by, at the show, and ask them.
More later. Just though you'd like some food for thought.

???????? LITTLE KEN??????

2012-01-17T20:50:00.000-07:00

A gator named "LITTLE KEN"? This has all
the earmarks of those two crazies down in Louisiana.
You know which ones I am talking about, don't you?
Bless 'em both! Hi gals! Do you want some of OMAR'S
Fibers to stitch that little rascal with? All you gotta' do is
"drop a dime" to Mr. Squiggee and he will send 'em
on down to you, post haste. PDQ, expedited handling,
el pronto express. And they are some truly "Fab" colors.
Some of these colors are so outrageous that they don't even
have names yet.
The number to call is 1-BUB-BLE-BUTT, and we'll
hook you right up.

OY! GLAD I'M NOT ON THAT CRUISE SHIP!

2012-01-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

     It do look a bit ugly laying on it's side like
that. Not quite sure what happened, but someones
ass is going to be in a sling.
    After yesterdays news, you just pick yourself up
and keep moving on. We haven't had any contact with
them since Gail told them that she she and I were
getting married. Dismissed as a family member, so to speak,
for marrying someone that her mother did not
approve of. And this was back in 1979. Life, most certainly,
goes on.
    A few matters to attend to this morning, but I shall
return, and spread the news. So, just hang on for a while.

LIFE SENDS YOU A CURVE BALL

2012-01-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

     Gail is in the other room, talking with her
cousin. We just found out that Gail's stepfather has
just passed away. Her mother died a couple of years
ago. I have listened to Gail speak of him many times
over our married life. I met him only a couple of times,
back in the seventies. This was before Gail and I were
married. Families become estranged for all sorts of
reasons. Sometimes for reasons that really make no
sense.
     I have heard Gail speak of him many times over the
years.   And it was always with love and affection. All
of the little trips they took together, the Sunday matinee
movies they went to, the carnival visits up in Maine, and
numerous stories. The same applies to her mother. We knew
that he was in assisted living and that it was only a matter
of time. But there is still a sense of loss.
    Over the years I hear the stories of her childhood and
the love that these two people gave her. I am actually
envious, sad to say. Mine was the opposite.
    Thank you Bill and June. All those qualities that you strove
to instill in your child are still there. A little bruised, but
hanging in there.
     All for now. Ken

GOOD MORNING

2012-01-16T08:24:00.000-07:00

     Never did manage to get back to blogging
yesterday. Lots of other little things to take care of.
Presumably, lot's of folks were watching the pro
playoff games yesterday. I am sure Susan is skipping
down the road today, since the Giants won. Same with
Jane and the Ravens. We haven't had our TV hooked up
since all of this went digital, which was a couple of
years ago. Just never was one to watch a lot of
sports on TV, anyway. Possibly a quirk from my
childhood when I was forced to watch any and all sports
on TV. Lost it's luster, so to speak.
    As usual,the week preceding the show is always a busy
one. Loose ends, etc. Making sure to get the word out,
so that the shops will be able to locate the booth at the show.
   After the last two under performing { and I am being generous
in that description] distributors, it's a real boost to finally
be represented by someone who understands the business,
has a love of the needle arts, and the drive to succeed.
     I will try to zoom in and out today. Photo's and info to
load on the computer. Sounds like the new shop is almost
ready to open, so as soon as we can we shall give you the
scoop. Breakfast time. Back in a while.

RIDE IT ON OUT OF HERE, BOB! LOT'S GOING ON TODAY!

2012-01-15T08:29:00.000-07:00

         I am not quite sure how this has happened,
but there are a couple of "gators" that have been
adorned with the name of "Ken". Gail informed
me of this yesterday, after a phone call. Jeez, now I
do feel special. I can't quite bring myself to ask. At
least it wasn't a possum, or that strange armadillo.
     The show is next weekend, so we shall be posting
all sorts of information on our blogs and the website.
The new edition of Needlepoint Now arrived yesterday,
and there were two ads for Squiggee Designs. Some
Gingerbread houses and Round Santa's. Great looking
ads, too. So, CBK and Squiggee Designs are on the move.
     Omar thought it would be best to wait a bit before he
took an ad out for his line of fibers. He has been busy
getting samples together for the show. You know how that
is. Psssst!
    You might need to check back in today for photos and
musings. Oh, there is A Squiggee Designs trunk show
booked for PEACOCK ALLEY in Ada, Michigan for
sometime in the spring. The final date hasn't been set, at
this time but I am sure that Sandy will fill us in on the
details.
     Shit, I absolutely need to get the bio done for the
website today. Mama wants it kind of light and with
a bit of a Squiggee twist.
     I can hear her requesting coffee, from the other
room. Omar is useless at this sort of thing.
    MORE LATER!

THIS LITTLE KEWPIE'S NAME IS " COWBOY BOB". SAY "HOWDY" TO THE FOLKS, BOB!

2012-01-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

     Gail painted this little Kewpie on Wed. With all of the
rushing around to have everything ready for the show, this
was the last design to go off in the mail. At this point anything
else for the show will be hand carried by yours truly.
     As with all things in Squiggeeland, choosing the name for
a design is kinda fun. The intention was to have all
the Kewpie names start with a "K", but we couldn't come
up with the right name for this one. So, here is where
the name came from:
     We have a rather odd and eclectic taste in movies.
Cowboy Bob's name came from a movie called
" Parenthood". It's a Ron Howard movie with Steve Martin,
Mary Steenburgen, Jason Robards, Diane Wiest and
Rick Moranis. It's a funny little movie that involves
the pratfalls of parenting and life in general. One
of those movies like "Christmas Vacation" that is just
fun to watch. You can see part of your family in it,
as well. Anyway, Steve Martin gets himself all
done up to look like a cowboy for his son's birthday.
But he does so with anything that he can find around
the house. It's hilarious.   So we named this little Kewpie
after Cowboy Bob. This is the third in the series, so
there are more in the works.
      My pal has informed me that I need to ditch those
little Air Wick thingy's when I go to the show. "Way
too bulky" under your shirt, so they would be quite
noticeable. We have our people working on it.
     I did happen to notice that a big snowstorm was
moving east. This is the first winter that I haven't seen
any snow in a very long time. Actually, about 40 years..
Very strange.
    Gail is stirring, and Omar is telling me that he needs
to do a varmit check, so I shall try to come back later.
Might need to edit.

NO, THAT IS NOT A PICTURE OF MR. SQUIGGEE ON HIS WAY TO PHOENIX!

2012-01-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

LUCY, YOU GOT SOME 'SPLAINING TO DO!

2012-01-12T10:48:00.001-07:00

      I think that was the old Ricky Ricardo line
from the " I Love Lucy" series. Anyway, I guess it
might be a wise move to explain my previous post.
     I received a message from a pal {?} telling me
how grateful my fellow citizens are that the water problem
has been taken care of. This message intimated that the
folks attending the show should be grateful, as well.
I suddenly had this vision of shop owners "haulin' ass"
for the exits as if a skunk had entered the room. OUCH!
{Vivid imagination, I guess}. Maybe I will just strap a
couple of those Air Wick thingy's under each armpit before
I hit the boardwalk. Might take a couple of days, but I
am certain I can find the right scent. My man, Omar will
put me on the right path. Kiss, kiss, Susan! LOL
     We did speak with Christine yesterday and I shall be
taking some display models with me to the show, along with
several new designs. Should be fun.
    Gail and I used to like watching Masterpiece Theater on PBS,
but aren't real enamoured with the Contemporary excursions.
If ten minutes of watching something doesn't make you care about
any of the characters, on any level, we just pop it out of the
machine and send it back. Hell, I could watch regular TV for that
much boredom. Besides, I miss Alister Cooke and Russell Baker
doing the intro's.   More in a bit, I need to do some laundry.

NO, THAT IS NOT A NEW COLOGNE I AM WEARING!

2012-01-12T08:22:00.002-07:00

OMAR IS BACK FROM THE COIFFURE AND CLAIMS HE IS NOW A "RIGHTEOUS DUDE"!

2012-01-10T16:32:00.000-07:00

     So he says! He does, however wish to take a
quick siesta before he "git's down on some baked
chicken" with his sister Squiggee. He certainly
lives up to the name of his "fibers". We are talking
some very serious " Bubble Butt". He tells me that
there can be no picture taking until he is rested and
fed.
    Did manage to have a con-fab with Carole this
morning and one yesterday with Ronnie. Yes, you
will get pix of Mr. Squiggee's pink T shirt. Ought to
look spiffy with that pair of black and white shoes.
No, not like a pimp! Jeez, control yourselves!
   Our neighbor, Fabiola, dropped by for a visit this
morning. I could hear the two of them in here, talkin'
trash and laughing. I do hope they are not planning on
buying one of those hats for me to wear. You know, the
ones from the garage sale. Other than the golf course
or down on the corner, I am not sure I could wear it
anywhere in public, without seriously clashing with the
decor. Where is that Jamaican bobsled team?
     Time to go check on the chicken. Don't want to
overcook the boys grits. I shall return.

MY CALL TO THE WATER COMPANY- THESE PEOPLE ARE A JOKE!

2012-01-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

     OK, I told you that the water leak had been
repaired. I have been monitoring the meter for the last
couple of day for any sudden leaks, but all is
holding fast.   So, I called the water company this
morning to let them know that all was well. Another
wait on the phone, for about 20 minutes.
     When someone finally came on, and I explained the
issue for the fourth time, I was told that they would have
to come out and read the meter themselves and verify that
it was repaired. I was ready to give them the readings
but they were not interested. They are only interested ,
so it seems, at over charging you for water. They have
a tiered approach to how much they charge for water.
It's the same water, of course, but they want to charge you
six to 8 times what you are normally charged.
This is a Public Utility that puts the Soprano's to shame.
What a racket. It ain't over yet, of course. They wouldn't
come out to look at the system, or even glance at the meter.
They will be out on the 23rd to read it. I shall be waiting for
them and let the meter reader know how enamoured I am of the
company he works for. Henceforth, I will be the one doing the
meter reading. When did we start paying more for services that are
hell bent on giving us less and less with each coming year?

IT ARRIVED ON SATURDAY-- GET DOWN WITH YOUR BAD SELF!

2012-01-08T18:48:00.000-07:00

      Only two weeks until the big show and Mr.
Squiggee is warming up the important muscles of
the body and getting his wardrobe "correct" for
Phoenix. My pink Mr. Squiggee T-shirt arrived on
Saturday, along with the new business cards which
are also pink, and his tan baseball cap with Squiggee
Designs embroidered on it. Whoa! Won't be hard
to spot hoofing it down the aisles at the show.
     I still need to do a printout of the floor plan at the show,
so I can go visit some pals. Omar is sending along some
fiber samples. A few more colors to name, but, as they
say:" BUBBLE BUTT ELITE is the fiber that speaks
your language".  Need I say more?
    No, you may not see a preview of my ensemble. You
just gotta wait for it.
    We had a visit from a couple of Javalina"s last night.
All the commotion with the water lines left some openings
and the smelly little brutes were out there banging into
things trying to get into the crawl space. It was driving Omar
nuts. I blocked up all the access points and then went
over to a friends new house and put up curtain rods. She's
getting settled in, so I will be back over there from time to time
to help out.
    As always, Gail is always really busy just before
one of these shows.   Had a call from Michelle earlier
in reference to some models for the show. She'll ship them
here and I will take them to Phoenix along with whatever
new designs she comes up with.
    Watched "Midnight In Paris" a couple of nights ago.
A Woody Allen movie. Low keyed and character driven.
Great music, too. Sidney Bechet and Django Reinhardt.
This is one of those movies that requires a modicum of
knowledge about literature, painters, composers and
dance. Someone once told me this sort of stuff was
just for egg heads, and was way too boring for words, but
that's utter nonsense. We are awaiting another season of
"New Tricks" from Amazon UK, plus one other DVD.
Should be arriving soon.
    Well, it's dinner time for the kids, so I had best get
moving towards the kitchen. Rather bossy dogs in
Squiggeeland. I will come back and edit a bit later.

KEEPING VIGIL FOR WATER LEAKS

2012-01-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

    Now that the water line is repaired and no
longer leaking underground, checking for any
small changes in water pressure every time
you turn on a faucet becomes an essential part
of your routine for a couple of days. Debris in
the water line has caused the washing machine to
dump water all over the floor on more than one
occasion when our well pump was replaced back east.
Not fun!
     Clogged aerators on faucets need to be replaced
as well as the floats in the toilets. We are not even
going to talk about the craters in the backyard that
were created trying to find the water line.
     Did speak with Sandy out in Ada, Michigan this
morning. They were doing shop inventory. Some
people just know how to have fun.
    Now, I know you are wondering about the garage
sale, so here we go: The best items at this sale were
hats. Wait, now. We are not talking about your run
of the mill hat. Let your mind drift while I try to describe
these lovelies:
    We are talking the Queen of England hats, but with a big
twist. There were six of these bad boys, in all sorts of colors.
They were crocheted. I do believe that Stevie Wonder
picked out the colors, and it reminded me of some photo's
I once saw of the Jamaican Bobsled Team, at the Olympic
tryouts. We are in Arizona folks, so doffing one of these
little puppies could make people seriously question whether
you were 1. A golfer with no fashion sense { unless you
had matching pants, 2. A truly garish pimp. or 3. Could
just as easily put a Tupperware bowl on the top of your
head.
     This was truly scary! I never did see anybody attempt
to try one of these on. I had the camera ready, too.
    FYI, the "Itchy and Scratchy" portion of the show
is now over. Inside joke, so bear with us. Back in a bit.

WHEW! THE WATER IS NOW BACK ON. MR SQUIGGEE HEADS FOR THE SHOWER

2012-01-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

Finally!, It's almost 2 PM A long three day battle,
so to speak I am heading for the shower and will be back
a bit later.

LOST IN THE OZONE AGAIN

2012-01-05T17:50:00.000-07:00

      Actually, I think that is an album title, or
somewhere thereabouts. It was by Commander Cody
and The Lost Planet Airmen and contained the song
"Hot Rod Lincoln", and "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the
Bar". Mucho goodo for dancing ,enjoying yourself.
     The same cannot be said for the current water
blues. One side of the house has water, but not the
other side. Someone obviously did some DIY when
this was all hooked up many years ago. There is
galvanized steel pipe which has corroded over the years.
This type of soil only speeds up the corrosive effects.
They shall be back tomorrow to attempt to fix it once
again. Still haven't found the exact location of the leak,
but they are going to have replace all of it to the point
where it enters the house.
   I will have to fill you in on the neighbors garage sale
tomorrow. Gail and I just wish we had some video to go
along with the story. Mondo Bizarro!
   Might be back later. Need to go check out the cooking
status of the chicken. Not to worry, I did find my
oven _____s.

YOU JUST HAD TO GO THERE, DIDN'T YOU?

2012-01-04T20:32:00.001-07:00

     Complete the following phrase:
"Eye of _____ and keester of toad."
The next one is a bit easier:
I know it's finished baking, but it's hot
and I won't be able to get it out of there without
my oven _____.
   Easy, wasn't it? See, I am up on current events.
You thought I didn't even know the candidates names.
Silly you!
   I do miss those "Fractured Fairy Tales" and Mr.
Peabody's Wayback Machine. My goodness, where
is Nell?
    The digging crew will be back tomorrow morning to
work on the water line. At present the back yard looks
as though somebody lobbed a couple of mortar rounds
back there. No, we didn't find Jimmy Hoffa! Didn't
they finally find him under the Bada Bing, all wrapped up
in tin foil so the space rays couldn't get to him?
    In other news, my hot pink Mr. Squiggee T-shirt is on
it's way. I shall certainly appear festive at the Phoenix show.
I almost wish I had a pair of spats, but that might be too
over the top. I do promise pictures, however. New business
cards, as well. Zazzle comes through , again.
    Omar told me that he would like to go as well. When I tried
to inform him that dogs were not allowed, his solution
was to tell the powers that be that in his former life he was
one of the "Soul Train" dancers. He and Don Cornelius
were tight.   See, I told you that all of our dogs were a bit
odd. "Funky as you wanna be", says Omar. Down boy
down!
    To be honest, I miss "Soul Train. I enjoyed it. Different
generation, I guess. That's enough for tonight, I guess.
Hold it, I almost forgot. After all my begging and pleading,
I finally have added a new follower. Incognito, of course.
Holy Bat Turds. I have reached nirvana.
    By the way, those Godiva chocolate wrappers have not
arrived yet, so I had to do a bit of slumming and
resort to a plain ol' Hershey bar from the Circle K.
They are open 24/7, thank goodness.
   Later, gater!

SLIGHT CHANGE OF PLANS YESTERDAY

2012-01-04T06:42:00.001-07:00

     Got the water bill yesterday. It was $194, which
was triple the amount for the month of Nov. Now, included
in this bill are the sewage fees, which are always $37 each
month. I was a bit concerned about the previous month
but this one was way over the top.
    By far, the biggest frustration of the day was trying
to get someone on the phone from the water company.
You get the luxury of an automated answering device
which sends your through this maze of questions and
then you wait. And you wait. And you wait some more.
Thirty minutes go by and finally you get to hear a
voice that can actually respond.   This seems to be
the modus operandi for business these days. Customer
service seems to have become archaic. They court you
as a potential customer, but once that is all taken care
of, you can whistle till the cows come home, before you
get a response.
    They rang up the account and told me that, based on
my previous bills, there must be a leak somewhere.
No shit, Sherlock! Duh! So, I check underneath the house,
the faucets, the toilets, and take a look around outside.
Nothing! "Well, it must be leaking underground, somewhere
between the water meter and the house.. We thought that
might have been the case when we read your meter on the
23rd of Dec." When I asked them why they made no effort
to contact me, via telephone, Internet, a knock on the door,
or even a tag on the door, all I was given was the silent
treatment. they are only responsible for getting the
water to the meter, and that's as far as it goes. Their
only suggestion was to call a plumber.
   I called the landlord.  They get to take care of it. That
is one of the few advantages of renting. I did a bit of
digging yesterday to see if I could pinpoint the location.
We're only talking a distance of 20 feet or so. They
will be out this morning to work on it. It got dark so
I quit digging. There are gas lines and buried electrical
lines in the same area, so one has to proceed with
caution.
    Might be a disruptive morning. This laissez faire
attitude in reference to customer service really
"gets right up my nose", so to speak..
   And Poodle Boy is worthless with a shovel.
Life goes on, n'est-ce pas?

A SUCCESS STORY???????

2012-01-03T10:04:00.000-07:00

     OK, guys, now that we have all trimmed down
to what can best be described as "cruiser weight",
we venture forth into the new year.
    Omar tells me that he didn't gain any weight over
the holidays, but that is probably because of the
constant vigil he kept on the local goings on out in
front of the house. It takes a lot of energy to protect
us all from marauders. OK, dude, you can "pump up"
now. Actually the boy needs to be coiffed, again. Four
to six weeks, tops.
    Just spoke with Pat in Lancaster this morning, and it
sounds like she is also recovering from the holidays
as well. It does take a lot out of you. What is it about
that "Gator Loving Santa"? Must be the absurdity
of the whole thing.
     Nothing, at this time of year, runs on a rigid schedule.
So, here it is almost 10 AM and I am getting ready to
make pancakes for a late breakfast. I have been
an early riser for many years. A morning person, so to speak.
Gail is not, and neither is Squiggee. They begin to
focus around 9:30 or so. I just putter and try not to make too
much noise.
    I shall return after the flapjacks with more nonsense and
possibly some pictures. Just hang in there.

WELCOME BACK FROM YOUR HOLIDAY

2012-01-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

    OK, I just saw a rather strange ad on my
TV. Here goes:
   "The holiday season is now over. Remember
all of those lovely food ads and recipe's we
touted around the holiday? Well, now it's time
to pay the piper.
   Consider the following images: The "Stay Puft
Marshmallow Man" or the "Michelin Tire guy".
I would have said the Goodyear blimp, but the
network execs thought that might be pushing the
envelope. Bottom line is that you're supposed
to inflate your tires, not yourself. Don't you
know anything about air hoses?"
    They don't say any of this, of course, but this
is the general modus operandi for the network
TV talk shows, right after the holiday. Then they
devote about five minutes of exercises with some
anorexic looking 20 year old telling you how to
shed those holiday pounds while nibbling on a sprig
of cilantro or some other new vegetation meant
to balance out your flora. Yummy, I'd almost
rather eat the plate.
   You change the channel, but it's the same message,
only different faces. The ads for the gyms also
picks up this time of year. Treadmills, stationary
bikes, etc. The beat goes on. Did these pants
shrink over the holiday?

PROPAGANDA FROM A RATHER NEFARIOUS SOURCE-ME

2012-01-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

We get this little community newsletter each
month. It is delivered, possibly in the wee hours of the
morning, and placed in a small can that is attached
to the side of the mail box. In this little newsletter
you will find little nuggets of info. There was a best
holiday decoration award for the houses in the area.
Being the inquisitive individual that I am, I thought I
had better go check this place out. Don't get me wrong, I
do like decorations, but the award winner looked like that
old TV show "SANFORD & SON". I kid you not.
It scares me to think of the type of individual that
deemed this dwelling as El supremo. The only thing
missing was the lawn jockey and the donkey pulling a
cart. Wait, I stand corrected, there was no empty bathtub
with flowers in it, or toilet, with the lid propped up.
Tasteless does not even come close! Must look like
a carnival ride at night.

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU, AS WELL

2012-01-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

    A quick heads up, before we begin. Mama
wants pancakes this morning, and she's been throwing
out all these new ideas for designs. Mr. Squiggee
is a sounding board this morning.
    Anyway, you will need to check back at various times
during the day, as this is going to be one of those
days with numerous interruptions. But I do have some
good stuff [ I was going to say "good shit", but some
of my readers are such delicate creatures.}
    Back after breakfast.

TUNES AND TRASH

2011-12-31T17:04:00.000-07:00

   For this portion of my blog I shall attempt to
make a bit of sense while listening to some
favorite tunes.
   I have always been a fan of artists/songwriters
like Percy Mayfield, Alan Touissant, and Mose
Allison. Craftsmen with words,so to speak.
The same could be said of people like John Prine,
Steve Goodman, Lyle Lovett, etc.
The first tune was "Please Send Me Someone to
Love", written by Percy Mayfield and performed by
Paul Butterfield's Better Days. This song has been
done by a lot of people over the years. Percy also
wrote "Hit The Road Jack". and countless other great tunes.
   I do know that Lyle Lovett also posts on Facebook.
This, I learned by accident. actually. I enjoy reading
his posts and talking about the various venues he and
his fellow musicians play in. These are top tier musicians
in anyones book. A class act, no matter how you spin it.
I do have a great admiration for those that have that
true dedication and love of the art of making music.
I also admire Norman Granz for his dedication to the
jazz world. All of this can be looked up, of course.
   For a bit of a change of pace I am now listening to
"Heartstrings" which was written by Milt Jackson and
performed by himself, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, and
Ed Thigpen. Vibes, piano, bass and some really nice
brushwork on the drums. A ballad that swings. It's from
an album titled "The Very Tall Band" or something like that.
And also some Wes Montgomery.
Oh, we did get an email from Mandy who is presently in
mid flight somewhere between Tucson and Wisconsin.
Just wanted to say hello.
Time to take a break , for a few minutes.

AND YOU FOOLISHLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO FINISH OUT THE YEAR WITHOUT SOME TRASH TALK. SILLY YOU!

2011-12-31T14:30:00.001-07:00

     Today's madness is brought to you by
BUBBLE BUTT ELITE
   THOSE FAB FIBER'S FROM THE VATS
OF OMAR...

And so ends the commercial plug of new and exciting
products. Made in the third world, but the little name tag
printed right here in the USA.
    For those of you that can remember when Johnny
Carson was host of the Tonight show, he used to do this
skit called :THE EDGE OF WETNESS.
He would provide a narrative and pan the camera around
the studio audience. Usually some rather convoluted
and nonsensical story, but nevertheless very comical.
I still miss that good hearted fun he used to have
with guests and the audience.
   If you are expecting some sort of cosmic revelation, I
suggest that you move on. It's the end of the year and
it just ain't going to happen.
   I did speak with Carole earlier today and she has promised
to send a photo of Chloe in her Xmas pajama's. Chloe is
Omar's paramour and a Yorkshire Terrier. A real box
ripper, so I am told. Anyway, for those of you familiar with
Yorkies, these PJ's obviously make it appear that Chloe
has what is known as a BUBBLE BUTT. My man Omar
has already asked, assuming this story is true, if this vision
of loveliness could adorn the tags of his line of fibers. He
will need consent, of course, but he must have conjured
up some sort of image in his mind. Where is that PR
machine? Stop the presses! We have a logo! A trademark
worthy of the dude himself.

NEW YEARS EVE --2011

2011-12-31T08:44:00.001-07:00

     Yes indeed, the last day of the year. Out
with the old year and in with the new. Omar is
back in control of the homestead from his
vantages point on the lazyboy. Mandy, and her
family will be heading back to Wisconsin this
morning. They have been visiting their family that
lives next door to us. She's another dog lover, so
Omar has been enjoying her visits. We enjoy meeting
new people, as well. A bit of something new around
the holidays.
    It will be nice to put this year behind us. Lot's to
look forward to. I guess you might call it the new rhythm
of your life. So many changes this last year. So, as
we bid a not so fond farewell to those that are inflicted with
PBD { that's Personality Bypass Disorder}, we do
wish all our pals a Happy New Year.
   It is nice, feeling that things are getting back on
track. A few loose ends to tie up, but nothing that
can't be dealt with.
Looking forward to many things this next year. The
trip to Phoenix, new voices and new faces. I will
finally get the opportunity to come up with a Squiggee
Custom catalog . The past year put all of that in the
crapper, so to speak. Too many other things to
think about. Have been getting my little office
in order, and organizing all sorts of stuff. Getting
all of Omar's new fibers sorted and labeled.
     New and fabulous links for you to check out.
Omar is not, however, very discerning when it
comes to plugging products.   He will plug anyone
and anything, just to get noticed. Rather shallow, no?
The world is full of that sort of wannabes.
   Need to run out to the grocery store before it
gets crowded. I might be back a bit later. Maybe
I will put on some music and just ramble a bit.
Time for a bit of fun. Gail has been taking a couple
of days off from the drawing table and trying to
relax. Catch you a bit later. New pictures coming.

GREAT GARBONZO'S- ONLY ONE MORE DAY LEFT

2011-12-30T08:38:00.000-07:00

      My, how the time flies. Well, sort of. I keep
waiting for my pal to send me some new addresses,
but, per their norm, they have chosen to ignore
my invitations for meaningful dialog. How's that
for delicate diplomacy?
     Managed to get the computer room all back together.
Gail is in the other room sleeping. Yes, I do know that
I spelled Eau Claire incorrectly! Not one of those things
that spell check catches.
    At long last, Gail did give me some spiffy names for
Omar's new line of fibers {Bubble Butt Elite}, but I am
a little reticent to print them. And you thought mine were
trashy.
    His paparazzi needlepoint blog is starting to pick up
steam. Lot's of new links to check out. He has been
so busy culling the www. that he seems to lose track
of the dinner hour. As the town crier, the first with the
gossip wins. Not one to build his rep on the talent
of others, he is very diligent, and dare I say, dogged,
in his pursuit of any sort of swag he can get his
little paws on. A freebie is a freebie, after all.
Yes, yes, yes, it's wonderful! Where are my free
samples?
     Get on with your bad self, Omar. The fire sale days
have dwindled down to a precious few. Oh, no!
That puce colored step van has stopped sending
signals from the GPS tracking device, so I can't
tell you the locale of todays sale. Pity!
More on this later!

HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN, JIGGEDY JIG! DEUX

2011-12-29T08:57:00.001-07:00

      Busy, busy, busy! After Omar and I get back from
our breakfast run, we shall fill you in on the scoop. The,
so called "yin and yang" of life, or as Omar calls it:
the "poon and tang" of life. You know what a lowbrow he
is. Who else would name his new line of highbrow super
special fibers
BUBBLE BUTT ELITE
    So, hang on to your knickers, we shall return. Our
house guest has gone to her new home, so our animals
are running amok this morning. The new year is almost
upon us. Only a few more days. We shall be back, shortly.
   BACK AGAIN!
     FYI- I am still waiting for my pal to send me a few more
addresses, but it hasn't happened yet! Of course the email
wasn't sent to me, but to Gail. It was a bit of a swipe since I am
such a despicable human being. Ouch! Of course, Mr. Squiggee
has always been considered persona non gratis in certain
environs. TSK, TSK!
    At least I am welcome down in La., but I am unsure if
that is because they consider me as "gator bait", or
it's because I am so damn charming. But I still refuse
to get in a boat with either of these two women. Kiss, kiss.
    We were discussing not so famous lines in movies that we like.
One is from "State of Play", with Bill Nighy. And here it is:
"Shag on tap".
This is a British expression along with the following:
"She/he has a face like a slapped ass".   Not a PC expression,
but very succinct in it's meaning.
    Slang expressions certainly can be interesting
and even eloquent. We used to be able to watch
EastEnders and viewed their website the other day. It
was great fun. It's what could be considered a soap opera.
Ah, Albert Square. You just need to have an ear for
this sort of thing.
   Gail needs the computer, but I shall return.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

2011-12-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

Quite obviously someone is under the
misapprehension that Mr. Squiggee does not
have the mental capacity to find an address using
the Internet or a phone directory. It was such
a nice gesture, however. Lucky me! Was this an email
that deserves an answer? Not!!!!!!

THE AFTERMATH- IT ARE WHAT IT ARE!

2011-12-26T13:44:00.002-07:00

     What else can one possibly say? Mr. Squiggee is
in a rather pensive mood today. A couple of songs running
through my mind. One of them is titled "Souvenirs" by John
Prine. Somehow I always think of this song around the holidays.
The second phrase in this song actually mentions Christmas, so
at least at least that much of the song ties in. The other song is
also a John Prine tune titled "Hello In There". These two songs
date back to the 70's, but the themes are universal and very
thought provoking. Songs that, once you hear them, they never
seem to leave you. I am sure you can find both of these tunes for
download, etc. In this time of giving and receiving, it's the giving
that means so much. Check them out, you'll be glad you did.
Our neighbor's have had their son and his family here for the last
week or so. They are from Eaux Claire, Wisconsin. and just visiting
for the holiday. She misses their dogs, so Omar visits with her
and garners his share of hugs. She likes to come over in the evening
to visit. Her grandmother used to do needlepoint and she is
fascinated with all the fibers and Gail's designs. We have learned
a couple of regional expressions from the upper Midwest that
we've never heard used before. One of them is "sausage-bologna".
Just don't get the two reversed. The literal equivalent is "Holy bat shit".
Or something closely related. I will attempt to clear this up later.
Anyway, she enjoys coming over to visit. There's 20 years
difference in our ages, but doesn't matter. Universal themes
in life humble us all.
   Gail is painting a dog collar with pearls on it. We all just
had our lunch and the dogs are napping. Squiggee is in her
"Cubby" and Omar has his spot in on the lazy boy. We did
hear from a friend in Wake Forest, North Carolina yesterday.
And another good friend down in Houston, Texas. It's always
fun to touch base with those you consider friends, even though
you have never met.
     The week between Christmas and New Year's has always
been strange. A rather transitional period of time. Gail and
I will most certainly be glad when this year has rung it's last
bells. To bid a not-so-fond farewell to certain nefarious
individuals and that insufferable group of people {?}known
as my family that has obviously finally gotten the message.
     Also, quite obviously, we are looking forward o the new
year and all it will bring. Movin' on. I did happen to
notice, when I looked at the interactive floor plan for the
TNNA show in Phoenix, that the CBK booths are very
close to the fiber manufacturers. In particular, the Krenik
fibers. Gail loves their fibers, and also mentioned Rainbow
Gallery, Vineyard Classic, and DMC Floss are among the
booths the Mr. Squiggee must visit.
   See, lot's of mischief for me to get into. Hang on for a bit.
Java run.

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY

2011-12-25T14:42:00.001-07:00

     A bit of a busy morning. Relaxing, but
busy. Didn't want any of you fellow heathens thinking
that Mr. Squiggee had done a runner.Nah!
I gather that the huddled masses will be flocking
to the stores to exchange all manner of gifts that
they did not care for tomorrow. Won't catch
me out there.
    Went with a friend to a cell phone store a couple
of days ago. Browsed around a bit and decided that
all of this nonsense was not something that I was
particularly enamoured with. Not my cup of tea.
Just another example of being manipulated into thinking
we need all this stuff in order to function in our daily
lives. Nonsense.
    Hope the Big Red Lobster man was good to all of you.
Back in a bit. Something I need to check out.

FOR MISS BUBBLES- WITH ALL OUR LOVE

2011-12-24T16:26:00.002-07:00

     The photo at the top of the blog and the numerous
pictures along the right side are of Miss Bubbles.
Miss Bubbles died Xmas Eve of 2009. She was 12 years
old and one of the sweetest dogs. Squiggee's older sister
and constant companion. When she died it cast such a
pall over the holiday. Throughout all the trials and tribulations
of this past year, my thoughts of her always make me smile ..
She was poetry in motion and always game for a walk,
no matter what the weather brought. Thank you Bubbles
for enriching our lives.   Squiggee sends her love, too.
     Thanks to our dear friends and those twisted souls that
suffer through my blog entries. As we look forward to the
New Year, the big show in Phoenix, and our lives moving
forward, we are grateful for these people, many of whom
we have never met.
    Happy Holiday's to you all.

IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE

2011-12-24T11:08:00.001-07:00

Gail will be adding some photo's in a few
minutes, so just hold tight and we'll continue in a
while.

ONLY TWO MORE DAYS

2011-12-23T08:59:00.002-07:00

      Yep, it's fast approaching! Gail has one more
order to put in the mail this morning and that will be
about it. She has been working like some sort of maniac
to get it all done. The added push this year is to have
everything in place with our new distributor for the Jan
TNNA show in Phoenix. It's been pretty hectic but
we are in great shape for the show. Lot's of new stuff
and models.
    The dog's have been feeling somewhat neglected these past
few weeks , but we're all looking forward to a nice
Xmas together. When I told Gail that she hadn't posted anything
on her blog since the 15th, she said she would do some today
and add some photos.
    I will be back later to talk some trash and give you some
news.

THE PRELUDE/ PLUS SOME ODDS AND ENDS

2011-12-13T07:17:00.002-07:00

     It's a rainy, rather dismal and dark morning
in Tucson. The rain woke me up around 4, so I
took Omar out and went back to bed. The boy does
not care for the rain. He does like being toweled
off, however. Then it becomes a game. All of our
dogs have loved this game, but the towel takes the brunt
of the punishment.
   This series is sort of a running narrative, so I shall be
making entries and tweaking things all through the day.
I am going to a walk thru inspection this morning at 9,
but I shall return and launch myself into this thing.
Life's little distractions, so to speak.
     I still have not written the new bio for the website,
much to my chagrin. Gail wants something a bit more
lighthearted and fun. The last one we posted was a
little on the dry side. It all depends on what you are
going through at the time.   There is, however, a rather
capsulized bio on Gail's blog. Probably need to do
a rewrite on that one, as well.
     Yep, the bio on Gail's blog needs a rewrite, too.
     Gail was attending classes at both Corcoran School
of Art and George Washington University when we
met. I hadn't been out of the service for very long, so
I had no idea of which direction I was headed in.
My life was in flux, so to speak. When she and I got
married, in 1979, she was working at The American
Needlework Center in Georgetown.   This is where she
did her apprenticeship as a needlepoint artist. At this
point in time she was head designer and ran the art
department. An in-house studio.
    After she and I were married, we decided to move
up to Maine. She had spent many summers up there
as a child, and at that time I was in the housing construction
industry. So, she gave her notice and decide to pursue
her career as a freelance artist.
    The point being, in all of this, is that she has been
self employed since 1979. Over this long span of time
she has created an amazing amount of custom needlepoint
designs for numerous customers. These customers,
generally speaking, will contact a shop and give the
shop owners the particulars of the type of design they
want, and the shop owner conveys this information
to the artist. More often than not, the artist is asked to
give an estimate of the cost for painting. In our many
years together, the only time that I have known Gail to
waiver from the cost estimate that she has given is when
a customer asks for additions. As with all things that
require hand work, sometimes when you are creating
something you make money on it and sometimes you
just break even . Sometimes it just takes longer to fit
all the pieces into a design and you lose money. This
is not like a job where you receive an hourly wage.
But, as in cabinet making or construction remodeling,
you stand by your estimate. Once you start jacking
people around, price wise, you begin to lose them as
repeat customers. And most businesses survive on
repeat customers. Their core, so to speak.
     Here is where I have to leave you for a bit, get
myself "correct", and prepare for the walk thru.
When I return, I will give you a heads up on what
happens to this design next. We shall trace it's path,
so to speak.

GREAT LEAPIN' LIZARD'S CHECK IT OUT, OMAR! ,

2011-12-11T09:17:00.001-07:00

HE'S BACK AND IT'S 10:27. Look below
      OK, the dude and I are heading out for
a breakfast treat and to scope out the new XMAS
decorations. But we shall return, with some news,
gossip, and just a smidgen of trash talk to liven
up this cool morning.
    The title, strange as it may seem, comes from the
fact that I have had four hits on my blog this
morning from North Carolina. Is someone out there
plotting some sort of coup. Should I be worried about
visiting that state as well as Louisiana. My pal Santadeb
has disappeared from my list of followers. Boo Hoo!
I am now down to four, and one of these is in-house.
Omar listens to me, but I have to bribe the little demon
with food. Back shortly.
    Yep, a late breakfast. Doing laundry,etc.
    We have been listening to some audio books these
last few days.   I confess, we do like John Grisham's
books. Quite a few of his audio books are read by
Michael Beck, and his delivery is very engrossing, to say
the very least. At this time we are listening to "The Last
Juror".
   Occasionally, when I get a blog hit from an area of the
country that I am unfamiliar with, I type the name of the
town into the search engine just to find out a little about the
area. This morning's was Ottawa, Illinois. One of the
nicknames for this town is "The Town Of The Stovepipe
Hats". Very cool nickname which conjures up all sorts
of images of an era gone by. Of course, I have always
found history to be a fascinating subject.
     Now, as to the new hits from North Carolina: We have a
friend in Raleigh who has been waiting for her copy of
Needlepoint Now, and I do believe it has finally reached
that part of the country. Publishing a magazine, along
with most printed material, is a rather daunting task.
Distribution is also a major issue, so these magazines
are shipped out in stages. These people usually check out
the Squiggee Designs Website and then wander over to
our blogs. She has been busy painting all manner of
new designs, which is rather normal for this time of
year, so she doesn't do as many postings. So, those
of you who have stumbled into my turf, all I can
tell you is that I was never this strange before I met
Gail. And I am sure she lays the blame on me. You
know how artists are. They're famous for it. LOL
Actually, we can blame the dogs. The beauty of that
statement is that they cannot defend themselves.
We have been getting emails about the interview and
several people commented that it was just like
having a conversation with either of us.   That is great
news! Just a couple of working stiffs, so to speak.
I have been referring quite a few people to their local
needlepoint shops as outlets for purchasing the
Gingerbread White House. This can be ordered through
any needlepoint shop in the country.
     And in other news.: Had an appointment down at
the Va clinic on Friday. My first appt. was in Sept. and
they wanted to make sure that the Rx that I am now taking
are keeping my blood pressure under control. Two small
strokes are certainly nothing that one takes for
granted. It takes a hell of a lot out of you, but I was
lucky. And in more ways than one. Anyway, they adjusted
the meds and scheduled a few tests. The nurse was
actually from Savannah, Georgia. A very nice woman
with a wonderful accent.
    I have made two more call to that shop outside of
Phila. and the party I need to speak with never seems to be
available. I am getting the distinct impression that
I am being avoided. We are planning on posting a notice
on the Squiggee Website this evening. A lot of websites have
this same sort of notice posted. One would think that it
would not be necessary to do this, but it becomes a
necessity. Here the gist of it:
     All of the images on the Squiggee Designs website
and any image created by Gail Hendrix, is the property of
Gail Hendrix. The posting of these images on any
website or any print media, without the written consent of
Gail Hendrix, is prohibited. No exceptions.
      At first blush, this may sound a bit harsh, but I have
seen numerous websites with incorrect and outdated
information on them. Some of these sites actually
credit the distributor of these designs as being the one that
created the design.   This is clearly not the case. Some shops
go so far as to block out the artists name completely
when they photograph a design for their website.
Now, for an industry that seems to be rather
preoccupied with trade names, this is just another ungrateful
slap in the face for the artist that created the very
same canvas design that they are trying to sell to their
customers.
   I do apologize if I sound like some crazy zealot.
But I will continue to call these shops and write them
letters urging them to fix the problem. Of course I
could post the shop's name in this blog and let
you know just how outdated their website is. Think that
might work? Freedom of the press, and all of that!
More later, but I will make it a new post.
      Some good news, plus some trash and updates
on the continuing saga; The EL BIGGO GOING OUT
OF BUSINESS SALE". TTFN

NO, THIS IS NOT THE NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE!

2011-12-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

     It is, however, a rather ingenious way to decorate
the local flora. Omar just taught me the word "flora"
as part of our new business venture. We do have to
give our new fiber colors some really spiffy names.
We have already replaced those sleeves and have
now opted for little tags at the top and bottom. Cheaper
and lots easier to replace.
     Now, as to the names of some of the colors. Since these
fibers are meant for the common man, or woman, Omar
and I thought it would be a good idea to use names that
would leave no doubt in anyone's mind as to what it really
was. Here are a couple of modest examples:

SQUIRREL GREY
BABY PUKE YELLOW
STEAMER BROWN
STEAMER BROWN ICE
{The ice actually simulates frost on the top of one
of these bad boys]
CHEESE MOLD GREEN
OMAR BLACK
POSSUM PINK
PEPTO PINK {a slightly darker shade}
MELTED BUTTER YELLOW
TWIZZLER RED

    This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, of
course. We have many many colors. We might
have to engage the rest of the brain trust, {squiggee}
to come up with more of these names. It is a
daunting task.
    We have actually received very positive feedback
in response to the name of our line of fibers. The town
crier seems a bit reluctant to endorse our new fibers,
thus far, but that is probably because we didn't send
out any free samples.
     Now I do realize that this may sound a bit shallow
but, in all honesty these people would sing the praises
of a dog turd if you would just send some free samples.
     Ever onward.
   Oh, we did listen to the audio book version of
"Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham yesterday.
It was read by Dennis Boutsikaris. Nothing really
heady, but a fun book filled with life's little
ironies and just very enjoyable to listen to. So much for
your imagination to play with. Unabridged, of
course.
   I need to take a small break and grab something to
drink, plus my cohorts say that they need to go out.

A GATOR LOVIN' SANTA!

2011-12-03T08:03:00.001-07:00

    You do realize that if Santa likes lobsters, then
he likes gators, too. In an odd sort of way, this
one is dedicated to a couple of our pals in
Louisiana, Carole and Ronnie. I confess that
I do tease them both.
   We have been doing a small bit of Xmas decorating
these last couple of days. Omar has decided that the
stuffed Grinch should be his. We have had this one a
long time, so it stays up out of his reach. One thing
we did discover is that we are down to one small container
of decorations. The moves from Pa. to Colo., and then
to Ariz. eight months later cleared out a lot of it. We gave
some of the antique ornaments to friends before we left Pa.
and wound up donating a lot more of it to the Humane
Society in Colorado just before we left.
   I had gotten so used to seeing a lot of those old ornaments
and figurines. We only had one small wreath in our room
last Xmas in Colo. And on Xmas Eve of 2009 we had to have
Miss Bubbles put to sleep. It was absolutely hideous. So this
will be our first Xmas in Tucson, less a lot of the senseless
drama of last years fiasco.
   And there are those individuals that are just toxic to
your well being, on any level. Figuring out just how toxic
this group really can be is an experience that both of us
could have done without. Big time. Their behavior will never be
forgiven, Ever.
   We have gone through a lot of upheaval this last year. Looking
though that one small container and coming to the realization
of what is gone forever, made me incensed.
   There are many things to be grateful for, of course. But we
are no different than anyone else. Fire and brimstone, so to speak.
And the clock is ticking for our pals. I will leave it at that, and
move on. But, I do get angry just thinking of them. Not good.
Not good, at all, cause there is a lot to tell!
It's Xmas time, however. More later! Gail needs some coffee.

WREATHUS MAXIMUS!

2011-11-30T15:00:00.002-07:00

    It is the season, after all. Went down and
picked up a couple of small artificial Xmas trees.
Since this will be Omar's first XMAS tree we thought
it might be a good idea to have it on a table top.
The boy can only be tempted just so much.
   When I was picking him up at the groomer yesterday,
I found a little hot dog with a squeeker inside.
He played with it for a while, but Squiggee eventually
commandered it and away it went. It was nice to see her
playing with it.  After Bubbles died she lost interest in
squeeky toys. She throws her whole body into the
effort and will not give it up. Omar's jaw power is no match for
hers. The spell check is not working. Poop!
A friend is getting her modular home delivered today,
so I shall go over there to scope things out as they bring the
sections in. So, we may also have blogus interruptus.
No matter.

THE LAST DAY OF NOVEMBER- AND IT'S TRASH DAY

2011-11-30T07:22:00.003-07:00

     Yes, I can imagine that you don't give a hoot that
it's trash day. But my man Omar sure does. "Just let
me at 'em, dad", is his mantra. Had to get some
stuff out of the freezer to bag up and put out. The
thought of having to go out and pick up trash after
the local critters have spread it around, is not
my idea of fun in the morning.
    At some point I will have to start thinking of
some Xmas decorations. Moving two times
certainly had a way of weeding out a lot of
the decorations we have had over the years, so
we will have to pick up some lights. We gave
some to friends before we left Pennsylvania
and donated quite a few items to the Humane
Society in Colorado before we left.
   It will be nice to decorate this year. Last Xmas
was a complete bust on so many levels We were
both still pretty stressed out from both the move and all
we had was a small wreath with lights and
a 12 inch high iron tree that we put a few ornaments on.
Of course, by the time Xmas rolled around I wasn't feeling
particularly festive and I had a stroke three days later.

But now we are where we need to
be and looking forward to a simple and relaxing
Christmas without the added nastiness and drama
of my family. 'Nuff said on that subject.
    Hang on, Gail is up and the trash truck has come
and we are safe. We have eaten our breakfast
and Gail is in there texting to the new shop about
some designs. Like all things, getting a new shop ready is
always an ordeal . We're talking about building inspectors,
electrical inspectors, painters, and all the necessary
racks and display cabinets.   A lot of hustle and
bustle and project coordination is required. That was
my field of expertise, so to speak. Thirty years in
construction and cabinetmaking and installations..
I do miss it, of course. We shall keep you informed,
but she is having fun getting all of this together.
   Gail will be in to put some new pictures on in
a bit and I shall return later this afternoon with a
story for you. So, drop by later. Ken

HIS "DUDESHIP" IS BACK AND, ACCORDING TO HIMSELF, "HE IS AWESOME"

2011-11-29T16:50:00.003-07:00

He actually strutted to the car when I went to
pick him up at the groomer. Of course when I
got him back, Gail informed him that he had
a "bubble butt". And he is even worse when he
swishes his "little bad ass self" around the room.
It's 4 PM and he's been giving me these little
nudges, informing me it's just about dinner time.
He does look pretty sharp, however. He is two now
and their hair actually changes a bit as they get older.
His cutie will be impressed.
I have received a couple of calls from Texas shops
about the Gingerbread White House. There seems to be
a couple of locations across the country that haven't
received their NN magazine. I am not sure how they
stagger the shipments, but I'm sure they will be there soon.
People are
already putting up holiday decorations, and
seeing cactus behind the decorations doe seem
a bit on the bizarre side. I saw a javelina the
other night. First one I have been able to get
a good look at. For those of you that have no idea,
a javelina is a peccary, or as us common folks call it,
a wild boar/pig. Smelly little brutes, too.
This one was about knee high and had a hurt foot
or something. He sauntered off and I haven't seen
him since. I gather they get rather nasty when
they are provoked or cornered. Not to worry, I went
back into the house. From what I have read, you can
smell them before you see them.

Yo! Omar and I are going out to get breakfast. Wait for it!

2011-11-29T07:43:00.005-07:00

    Yes, we made it back. It was yummy. We brought
some home for Squiggee and Gail. She was busy
texting with the new shop owner. Not to worry, Susan,
as soon as things are all in place, you'll be the first on
our email list. Haven't found the diner yet, but I am sure
there are some around here.
   We watched "All About Eve" yesterday. Bette Davis,
Gary Merrill {sp}, Thelma Ritter, and George Saunders.
No matter how you slice it, this is a classic. Snide, caustic,
abrasive, cynical, and always a pleasure to watch and listen to.
After that, and this is Nancy's fault, we were compelled to
watch " Christmas Vacation". This is Squiggeeland, so one
never knows.
    NEWS FLASH: OMAR IS HEADING OUT TO GET
A TRIM. GOT TO HAVE THE BOY "LOOKING
CORRECT" FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
     Odds are that he will want a photo shoot afterwards
so that he can send a couple of autographed glossies
to his heartthrob, Chloe. "Forget the box, babe, look at my
photo", will be his lament. No, Omar is not a shallow
dude.
   Anyway, I have to cut this short this morning to get
the dude to his appointment.
   PS- I actually think that texting might be right up
Gail's alley. Even as a child she could not spell
for shit. But she does paint well. Life balances out.
Later.

THE FLAMINGO SAGA

2011-11-27T14:30:00.000-07:00

    Inquiring minds want to know. Isn't that the
tag line?
     The photo above is the premier flamingo for
Squiggee Designs. The first one of these, however,
was painted on a piece of maple. It measured
somewhere around 5 inches high and I forget
exactly how wide it was. The wood was off fall
from band saw cuts at work. I brought the scrap
home and ran them through the planer, sanded them,
and put a sealer coat and one top coat of lacquer.
Then Gail just painted the design over the top.
Maple takes all finishes beautifully. Even though
I still have quite a few of these pieces of wood
left, even at 1/4 inch thick, they still remain flat.
Ah, the beauty of hardwood. I do miss the
woodworking, but once things settle down, I plan
on getting back into it. The skill and the expertise
is all in the head, same as with creating the
canvases. This is probably one of the reasons
that Gail and I get along so well.
    The flamingo, even though it was painted on the wood,
just seemed to sing out to you. Voila! Of course you
never know where that will lead you. I mean, please!
Carmen Flamingo? Flamingo's in ballet positions?
No way, Jose! Way, Way! And, what's up with
that Poodle skirt?
    I am a bit curious about one of the hits I have been
getting on this blog. All it says is United States, US.
That's it. That is all it says. I can only presume that
it's somewhere out in the ocean, but not a territory.
There is the odd possibility that it might be one
of my relatives just being nosy. Not concerned, just
nosy! Bugger off!

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION- redux

2011-11-27T07:41:00.002-07:00

     All bets are off today!
     I was on Facebook last night and came across
a posting about one of our favorite movies.
The title of the blog says it all. This movie, for
all practical purposes, became a classic right
after it was made.
    It does require a sense of humor, which many
people seem to be lacking. Dysfunctional ?
NO SHIT! Outrageously funny? You bet!
    We watch this every year, and sometimes
even during the year.  This movie is entirely
about family and their quirks. People, right down
to the core.
    And great performances by veteran actors.
Just reading some of the FB comments makes you
chuckle.
    We also like:
Home For The Holidays- with Anne Bancroft and Charles
Durning
The Ref- with Denis Leary, Kevin Spacey, and Judy Davis.
and of course
A Christmas Story- with Darin McGavin and Melinda Dillon-
and the Red Ryder BB gun, and the Bumpuses dogs. Classic
Jean Shepard story and narration.
    Hang on , Gail needs to use the scanner. I shall return
It's now 9:55. While Gail was scanning I made
pancakes, with the help of my staff.
    There are photo's on the website of the new models
that we have received. Thought you might like to
take a look. Had a very nice note from a pal
in NC this morning. Sounds like she and her
family had a very nice Thanksgiving. Hi Susan!

TWO IN ONE DAY- JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS

2011-11-26T14:29:00.000-07:00

       These long holiday weekends just seem
to amble along at a rather slow pace. Of course,
if you are out shopping, at a hectic pace. Not too
much activity today. We did get one message today
from back in the days of EBay.   Gail did some
custom dog bones for a woman named Theresa, and
now she has a new pup and would like another.
Must have tracked us down via the website. A
blast from the past, so to speak.
   As I told you, we have been going through the seven
seasons of "Homicide", while Gail paints. We
just finished the sixth season and the last three
episodes featured the following songs:
Hello Stranger- Barbara Lewis
One More Heartache- The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Save The Last Dance For Me- The Drifters
Native Son- John Hiatt
and
It's All Right- The Impressions.

You get such a mix in this series; Everything from
Los Lobos to Ravel. Suzanne Vega to James Brown.
   The music had a definite edge to it. It just
fit. When this series aired on TV, I had no idea
who some of these artists were, but I did find a
place online to get a print out of the songs and
artists.
    This is a dialog driven series, much like
"The Wire" or the first two seasons of Law and
Order. Just fun to listen to. Have to take Omar
out, so hang on.

YEAH, I KNOW I AM LATE. GET A GRIP ON YOUR BAD SELF!

2011-11-26T11:43:00.000-07:00

     We got up around 2:30 this AM, possibly due to
eating too much stuffing. It just tasted so good.
Moderation was nowhere to be found, last evening.
So it just caught up with us this morning. Not exactly like
Dave's White Castle burgers, but it took a while
to get things calmed down. Omar did not like his
sleep time interrupted. Poor baby!
   I can imagine that some of my readers we a bit surprised
at yesterdays revelations since I have been so quiet
about it all this time. It was a pretty scary span of time,
and in more ways than one. We press onward.
    I have been trolling the web this morning looking at
various sites. I do this on a daily basis, but on the
weekend I tend to widen my scope. I sent a list to one
of the shops on the eastern seaboard to inform them of
some incorrect information on their website. Haven't seen
any movement yet, so I sent them an email asking if they
would like another copy of this information. We'll see what
happens. If they want to keep offering their customers
discontinued stock, so be it. But they are also two distributors
behind.
    I also keep my eye peeled to see if my old pals are trying
get slick with inventory disposal. The last I heard they
were sending out some sort of flyer to various shops. Of
course, they are not answering questions or responding to
emails. The clock is ticking, however. This certainly won't
improve their credibility as business professionals. In the scheme
things, I would rather be known as a fool than a ______.
The finishing term is of your own choosing.
   According to the news, it's OK to take pepper spray with
you on your next shopping expedition. From what I can
gather, it's a lot less damaging than a taser. There is the
possibility that you might be sneezing so hard that you
involuntarily "drop trou", but at least you won't be sizzlin'
and shakin'. Hang on, a phone call!

MR SQUIGGEE DOES NOT WISH TO GO SHOPPING, THANK YOU VERY MUCH- IN TWO PARTS_

2011-11-25T12:40:00.003-07:00

    Had a nice chat with Carole this morning,
and it sounds like they had a nice Thanksgiving
down in La. I think she and Gail must've talked
for an hour or so. Omar does have to check up on his
"squeeze", Chloe. And we also got a note from
Ronnie this morning, thanking us for the Jacquie
Lawson card. Back at you, Ronnie!
    Heard a few dreadful stories about the lines at
the various shopping malls around the country.
Sorry, but there is just no way that I would be
standing in any line just to get in the store. Let me
just order this online and you can ship it to
me. Thanks, but I would really rather not get
pepper sprayed just because someone feels
impatient. Hang on a minute or two. Lunch.
    Gail is in the other room, painting something
that looks a lot like snakeskin. Not exactly sure
what it's for, but I do know it's for the new shop.
   In my Thanksgiving blog, yesterday, I did mention
that I was having some sort of writers block. Actually,
it was nothing of the sort. I did want to express my
thanks for several things, but I thought it best to
give you a days breathing room.
    What many of you may not realize is that I had
what is known as a mini-stroke on Dec 28th of this
past year and another one on March 9th. So when I tell
you that this year has been a tough one, I was not joking.
My reason for telling you all of this is I wanted to really
give thanks to Gail who, through all of the madness
of Colorado managed to care for me and create
and paint a lot of canvases. She designed that White House
canvas about two weeks after my second stroke.
     My thanks also goes to the VA hospital in Denver
and here in Tucson. It's been a rough road for both of
us, but I am feeling much better. I was in pretty rough
shape for a while there.
     I grant you that I may come off as some sort of
loon, from time to time, but I consider myself very
fortunate indeed to have such friends and those kind
folks that put up with my ramblings on this blog.
     My thanks to you all.

AND SO ON!

2011-11-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

    I trust that everyone behaved themselves
at the dinner table yesterday. No belching, or
wiping your face with the tablecloth or your
sleeve! No time outs?
    Omar and Miss Squiggee most certainly
enjoyed their Thanksgiving dinner. Two very
different styles of eating. Omar is methodical
and somewhat tidy. Squiggee just, for all
practical purposes just sucks hers up like a
vacuum cleaner. We call this the hoover
effect. It's also a rather noisy affair, as anyone
that owns a pug or a short nosed dog will tell
you. They enjoyed themselves immensely.
A very pleasant change from last year.
The smell of the kitchen was driving Squiggee
crazy, and now that the girl is blind, food takes on
even greater significance. Plus she always needs
to know where you are. After one of these eating
extravaganzas they can usually be found napping,
laying side by side, and snoring to beat the band.
Oft times it becomes hard to tell whether there
is one dog or two dogs in that heap. They are comfy,
and that's all that matters.
    So this is the big shopping day, black Friday, as they
call it. Not me! Shoppers en masse is something
I try to avoid. They seem to take on that "mob mentality",
which is a rather ugly trait.
    Breakfast time, so I will be back in a while.

AND A HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL

2011-11-24T13:38:00.000-07:00

    I confess, Omar and I have not begun our
cooking extravaganza yet, but we are working
up to it.
     To be quite honest, I have been having some
sort of a writer's block this morning. Don't get
me wrong, this is not from a shortage of subject
matter. But, this is Thanksgiving Day, and I/we
do have quite a bit to be thankful for this fine
November Day.
   First and foremost, we want to thank all of our
true friends and those fine souls that have shown
such kindness and generosity of spirit this past
year. And, it has been a very rough year in a lot
of ways. Thanks to all of you.
    Enjoy this Thanksgiving with your loved ones,
and Omar and I are off to the kitchen.

Just Back for a short one.

2011-11-23T17:38:00.000-07:00

     We posted some photo's on FB yesterday, I
think. Anyway, we put several photo's of the
Gingerbread White House on there because it's
a rather complicated structure and getting shots
of the different elevations is a bit tricky. Glad
you enjoyed it.
    I did go out to the grocery store this morning,
so we are all set for the big day. I also couldn't
help but notice that "The Salvation Army" bucket and
bell ringer was in front of the store. It does start you
to thinking, as well it should, about your fellow
man. It's been a brutal year for many folks in this
country and around the world. And that little bit of
change, or loose dollar bills, in your pocket can go
a long way this time of year. Go ahead, drop that
change into that bucket. Your conscience will
thank you. "There, but for the grace of God".
And I thank you, too!
    Gail spent part of the morning going through
our Jacquie Lawson card list. We have been sending
these out for a few years to some of our old EBay pals,
friends, and several of the shops that we deal with.
Contrary to what many may try to tell you, small gestures
do mean a lot. It's such a small thing , but it lets the
recipient know that you thought of them and cared
enough to send them a Thanksgiving wish.
    And I would like to wish all a Happy Thanksgiving,
and by the way, don't forget our little four legged
friends. Be thankful for them, as well.
   PS Omar tells me that he is volunteering his services
for cooking duties, tomorrow. He only wants to be
the official taster. Catch you tomorrow!

IF I SAW HER WALKING DOWN THE STREET, I WOULD BE SPEECHLESS,TOO!

2011-11-23T07:21:00.000-07:00

   FYI- In Squiggeeland, none of the flamingo's
have names! Just attitude!
    This one in particular has lots of attitude. She
made the voyage down to Louisiana to spent some
time with the magnificent Carole Gatza , to be
stitched. { See, Carole, I can do a humble).xoxo,
Mr Squiggee. After coming back up to Arizona,
the gal went on a trip to Stitchery Square in
Maine to be finished. We just got her back a couple
of days ago. Just thought you might want to feast
your eyes on the girl. On behalf of Squiggee Designs,
we want to thank both Carole, and Michele for the
fabulous job they have done.
     We did speak with Carole the other night and
heard a wonderful story about an armadillo, some
flowers, a heavy motor vehicle, and a hell of a
speed bump. Opossums fall into the same category.
Smelly, destructive, and ugly!
     Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, and if any of
you are making the big drive, please be careful. This
time of year seems to bring out a lot of crazy driving
behavior on the road. We have done our share of
traveling these past couple of years, so we are staying at
home with Omar and Squiggee. Might just roast a
chicken, with some fresh green beans, a bit of
Pepperidge Farm stuffing and some of those little roll up
crescent rolls. Just simple, and yet tasty.
   I shall be in and out of this blog, today. Might even talk
some trash. I do want to send my best wishes out to
Sharon, up in Pennsylvania. And also to Michele
and Harry up in Camden, Maine.
   Hang on , Gail needs coffee and the trash truck rolled by.
Omar has kept us safe, once again. Drop back by. Ken

A TEASE? ME? NEVER HAPPEN!

2011-11-21T12:20:00.002-07:00

     Someone actually accused me of being a
tease, this morning. Mr. Squiggee is truly shocked.
Omar, get your little ass over here and least make
some sort of attempt to defend your dad against
such accusations! Ain't that just like a poodle?
The little spud is rolling around on the bed, snorting
and laughing. I confess, I was teasing. But only a
little. Are the PC police nearby?
    Speaking of teasing, the above canvas is an
ornament on 18 stitch/mesh pearl grey canvas, and
it measures 4 inches by 5 inches. It's called a
Goyard Tote ornament. This piece is not only
custom, it is also exclusive. The one at the top of
Gail's blog falls into the same category. These are
designs for the new shop. All sorts of goodies, so
we shall keep you posted.
The Nov./Dec. issue of Needlepoint Now should
be reaching people very soon and, yes, the
Gingerbread White House is painted on brown
canvas. It is gingerbread, and isn't that stuff
brown?   Hope you like it?
     Hang on a second or two. Lunch time.

HE'S BACK

    Lunch time is officially over. Just stopped by
FB for some abuse. Jeez, you recommend one
song and the abuse comes from all sides. OK, the
song was "Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright.
Hey, it is Monday so a bit of levity never hurts.
It's one of those memorable tunes from bygone
days. No guesswork or ambiguity with this one.
I am sure they were laughing as they swore at me.
Nice try, Nancy. Probation, indeed!
    No news from the Bermuda Triangle. The mere
mention of the words "cook book" gets Omar all
excited, but I had to break the news to him that
there was a major difference between a cook book
and cooked books. I am not sure that he had a
handle on the distinction.
   Expect longer lines at the PO, this season.
Especially if you are using click and ship. A lot
more measuring and weighing, plus extra charges.
   The kids are needing an outing, so I will try
to make it back a bit later.
    My pal {?}, you know the mother of Omar's
paramour, recently returned from one of
those cruises aboard "The Frigate Matilda".
You know how it is when people come back from
a couple of weeks of hobnobbing with the
Hottentots and creme de la creme of society.
You send a small box to them and they sic the
vicious beast, Chloe, on to it. All you are
left with is something that resembles one of those
Quaker Rice Cakes after it got tossed in the
blender. I know, I know, I should not expect any
sympathy.   Kiss, Kiss, Carole!
     Well, I have some work to get done. Don't be a
stranger!   Mr. Squiggee

OMG, WHAT IS THAT?

2011-11-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

      IS IT A DOG?
IS IT A PIG?
IS IT ONE OF THOSE
DESIGNER BREEDS?
    Nah, it's just our first dog, Woof Woof,
in one of his disguises. I think we
sent this out as a Xmas card one year!
Not exactly a Hallmark moment, but there
was a bit of speculation about our sanity.
He was a sweety, however. One of his
favorite toys was a small squeaky football.
He was always up for a game, come rain or shine.
He would wear himself out chasing that
ball. Out into the farmers field he would go
and would not give up the search until he
found it.
    I found one of these balls the other day at
our local hardware store, and lo and behold,
our boy Omar has a new favorite toy. I can't
even open the drawer where we stash
this new football. He haunts the drawer, just
the way the Woofmeister did. None of our
dogs that came along after Woof died have shown
the slightest interest, and he died in 1997.
His spirit and love of life will always be with us,
much the same as with all our dogs. And, per some
sort of cosmic karma, the squeaker is already
dead. Two days, tops. Funny little things, aren't they?

THANKSGIVING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER-WHOOPS!

2011-11-19T07:08:00.000-07:00

Just happened to notice the date and came
to the realization that Thanksgiving is next Thurs.
Whoosh!
So, on this day, you will have to wander back at various
points during the day. I am getting ready to fix
breakfast, etc. But I do have a few random thoughts
to share with you. I shall return, shortly.

THIS JUST ABSOLUTELY DESERVES A NEW POST!

2011-11-17T14:55:00.002-07:00

        First, the above cup is a quote for all
those fans of "The Wire". Gail bought me this
cup as a Xmas present a few years ago.   The
quote comes from the third season. Granted,
it's only two words, but the delivery and inflection
are priceless.
   Had a surprise phone call a little while ago from
the woman that Gail painted a custom stock for.
It was the one of the French sailor in a boat. She
posted pictures of it on her blog back in the middle of
Sept. I only caught a couple of minutes of the
conversation, but it sounded like two of them had known
each other for years. A lot of laughing and silliness.
That's always nice to hear. Anyway, she just felt like
calling for a chat. She also likes to tease and is very
quick witted.
   Now, rumor control has it that the "Going out of
Business Sale" is back up and running. I gather that
trying to sell the needlepoint canvases, and maintain
anonymity, didn't quite work out. This is almost
reminiscent of the old "black market" fence, if you will!
An undercover network of needlepoint safe houses, where
the booty is delivered in brown paper bags in order to
avoid those dastardly people that actually expect to
be paid the royalties that they are due. I mean, if they had
made one tenth of the effort to fill orders as they are now
doing in their efforts to hide the documentation and sales
receipts, this would never have become an issue. Attempting
to remove the paper trail for sales, and depriving the author
of the very item you are profiting from ? Doesn't sound
like sound business tactics to me.
   Beleive me, I truly resent being put in a position of
having to ask these questions. That was never my intent
when I began this blog. However, I will ask them.
This too shall pass.
    We're still waiting for a logical explanation for the
50 missing sales receipts from them. Our questions
get no response at all. We already have the receipt
numbers, and I might just send a few questionnaire's
out to some of the shops.
   There's some questions about remaining inventory,
and their efforts deprive us of this specific
information. Rather furtive, no?
   People seem so surprised when they have totally
underestimated your resolve to forge ahead, in
spite of their pettiness and inability to do the job that
they told you they were capable of.
   In my world, back in my construction days, when you
didn't perform, you got a warning and that didn't do it,
you were given notice, or sent packing. If you didn't
want the job, why take it on? You only manage to
do a disservice to those you are supposed to be
representing.

HE'S BACK!!!!!!!!!

2011-11-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

OK, I have completed the vast majority of my
errands, and there is some beef in the crock pot.
It has really started to give out some aroma, so Omar
and Squiggee are haunting the kitchen.
   Gail will be adding some new photo's in a while.
Probably this evening. I'll be taking care of a friends
animals over the holiday, so I am going over for
a visit this evening. I feel a bit guilty for being a bit out
of touch these past few weeks, but we've had a lot to
wade through.
   I do have another letter that I need to compose, but
I do better with this sort of thing very early in the morning.
Fewer distractions, etc.
   I have offered to play a game of twenty questions
with my pals in Oklahoma City, but I haven't gotten
any sort of response. I do hope they're OK, so I'll just
keep checking back with them and let them know
how much I care. Surely, with five email addresses,
one could assume that they would check these
more often. Shit, I love a "going out of business sale"
as much as the next guy.
   By the way, what is "a learning curve"? And is
there such a thing as a steep learning curve?
I thought those were hills. Silly me, misinformed
again. More in a bit, checking the crock pot.

OMAR GOES GANGSTER WILD ON THE TRASH TRUCK

2011-11-16T09:44:00.000-07:00

     Not really! But every Wed. morning he struts
from door to door, waiting for his nemesis, the
trash truck. He barks, grumbles, and seems
to threaten all manner of heinous behavior. A
truly scary sight and sound.
   Truth be known, I had him outside one morning
when the trash truck stopped in front of the
house, and he didn't even utter a peep. I even
offered to let him off the lead to go and shred
a couple of tires, but to no avail.
   Of course we tell him that he is ,indeed, a true
bad ass, and if it wasn't for his vigilance and
machismo, we would be up to our armpits in
trash. Saved us again, you little brute.
   Naturally, he wants us to give Chloe, his new
paramour, a heads up as to his new nickname of
El Magnifico. Guess he will just have to send her
some pictures., just not in a box. More later.
Errands to do

JEEZ, NOW I FEEL UNLOVED!

2011-11-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

   I have completed my errands, kept the
children entertained, and have been waiting
for my old pals, Margaret and David, to come
out and play with me.
   What can I tell you? One minute you're
talented and the next minute you're absolute
dog shit. Talk about a major snub! Boo Hoo!
   And here it is the 15th of November, already.
Omar posted a new picture of his paramour.
You wish, big boy. Tell you what, you arrive in
a box at Chloe's house and she'll rip you to shreds.
There won't even be a packing slip left. Better
take some sort of goodie and ditch the box.
   Gail is finishing off some new designs for a shop, and
soon it will be feeding time for our little heathens.
Since Squiggee has lost her eyesight, food has become
her main priority. She definitely lets you know when
the time is drawing near.
    We have been listening to Homicide while Gail's
painting today. We have watched this numerous times,
but the dialog is so rich, witty, and diverse, it's
just enjoyable to listen to. The technology dates
it, but that's not really a major factor in what we choose
to watch, anyway. There are also seven seasons, so
it all just sort of flows along at a leisurely pace.
   Time to head to the kitchen and think about
dinner. Later, gater!

SEE, I KNEW YOU WOULD LIKE IT!

2011-11-15T08:07:00.001-07:00

    As Gail and I were talking last night, I commented
that I could not remember exactly when she painted this.
I know that it was somewhere between the middle of March
and sometime in April. We were still in Colorado and there
was an enormous amount of turmoil going on around us.
This piece, as precise and exacting as it was to paint, was
created at a time when there was a lot of unpleasantness
going on.
   Seeing this piece in it's finality, stitched and finished,
and in the magazine along with the interview, does give you
a sense of pride. And we do want to thank all of those
people involved that helped to make this all happen.
    I shall be back a bit later with a bit more news. I have
some correspondence to take care of and errands to
do. Omar is happy now that he has some new photo's
of the fabulous Chloe.   Thanks Carole!
FYI- WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING
SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING
WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
WEEKS. STAY TUNED. AND
PROVIDING LINKS, AS WELL.

IT'S A GINGERBREAD WHITE HOUSE

2011-11-14T06:32:00.002-07:00

     See, I told you that I would have something
new for you to look at this morning. Later on this
morning I will post photo's of the painted canvas.
Gail has another view of it on her blog, and there
is a picture on the Squiggee Designs website.
   Gail will be listing this in the Squiggee catalog,
and display the stock number. We have been
keeping this little item a secret for a while.
   Hope you like it! It will be making it's
debut at the Jan. show in Phoenix.
   I just took a look at the website, and it's
already in there. The correct stock number
is SQ 5396. When Gail arises she will make
the correction on the web page. Sorry about
that. I have already heard from a friend this
morning, and as soon as I get the OK, I will
provide you with more information. Thanks for
your patience.
UPDATE
   Your local needlepoint shop can order this
canvas for you from our distributor CBK
NEEDLEPOINT COLLECTIONS.
   Now, on to some other nifty information.
This gingerbread house currently appears
in the latest issue of Needlepoint Now.
There is an article/interview with Gail,
photo's and a stitch guide, as well. In true
Squiggee fashion, we give credit where
credit is due, and thanks to all our fans, and
to those who helped to put all of this together.
    Hope you all enjoy the article. Just
remember, I am the only sane one in the
family.

MR. SQUIGGEE'S PANCAKE BREAKFAST IS NOW CONCLUDED. eXCEPT FOR THE CLEANUP

2011-11-13T09:12:00.001-07:00

     It was a , straight up, Aunt Jemima morning with some
Log Cabin syrup. Squiggee, naturally, had to have a
taste. She's our pastry girl, so to speak.
    Lot's to tell you today, so you will need to keep checking
by. I do think my pal is back from the voyage across
the pond. I am sure I shall hear from her at some point
this week, when she finally unwinds from her trip. Hi to
Ed, Carole, and Chloe!
    Chris arrived yesterday morning with a Kubota
trencher on the trailer, so the morning was spent pulling
a few stumps. The process didn't really take that long, but
you still have the cleanup process. Twigs, small bits
of the roots, etc. Then you get to rake it all out
and try to level it off.   It's been raining this morning,
so I will have to rake, tamp, and level it out again
tomorrow. It's looking a lot better.
    FYI, still haven't heard anything about the "going
out of business sale". Nor have I heard anything from
"Crane Cottage". Mr. Squiggee feels like persona
non grata. I do strive to show civility, of course.
But there are those among us that truly need to take the
concept to heart, and not just use it as some sort of
PC buzz word.
   . Omar has take his place on the lazy boy, waiting for
some sort of action. Gail hasalso just informed me that
it's awfully close to iced tea time.

VETERANS DAY - PART TWO

2011-11-11T18:28:00.000-07:00

    My posting earlier today triggered a lot of memories.
I found my yearbook, if you will, from my basic
training unit in the Army. This was back in 1965.
I joined up two months after my 17th birthday. Vietnam
was already in full mode and the selective service was
busy chasing people down. Pre- volunteer service days.
My reason for joining the service between my junior
and senior year of high school was, to put things in their
true perspective, survival. I would have rather risked
getting shot in Vietnam than to stay where I was.
    Whatever instinct led me to that decision, and especially
in the light of this last year events, it was the correct instinct.
     So, when I entered the service, I was a rather confused
17 year old kid.   Boot camp was, and probably still is, tough.
With Vietnam going on, the major thing they strive to
teach you is discipline, the ability to follow orders, and
teach you how to work as a unit. Focus, is a pretty good
description. And staying alive.
    As a young recruit who, for all practical purposes, was
no stranger to fear, I was extremely fortunate to have a platoon
Sargent that was able to alter all of this.  He would break us up into
groups of 9 or 10 guys, stand us in a tight circle and tell
us the following:   Take a good look at all the soldiers in this
circle. You don't know them, or anything about them. Treat this
man with respect, whether you grow to like him or not,
because if you are in a combat situation , this is the man that
can save your life. This man will have your back, and you will have
his.
     I thought about that platoon Sargent today. And, I want to
thank him for that little lesson. It's not a little lesson,
however. It's followed me all trough my life. We all deserve to
be treated with respect. It's just one of life's little lessons,
but it has such a bearing on how you deal with strangers on a
day to day basis. And that service to my country helped
me grow as a person, as it has helped many others.
Maybe we need to bring back some sort of mandatory
public srevice, in this country. Not necessarily at the military
level, but as a citizen, give something back!
    And that's about it for my Veterans Day thoughts.
TTFN

VETERAN'S DAY

2011-11-11T08:00:00.002-07:00

     Yes, today is Veteran's Day, and I have just learned
that Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. will be
closing it's doors, after 102 years of service. Although
there will be newer and more updated facilities, as a
Vietnam Vet, I still find the thought of this quite unsettling.
A lot of my fellow comrades have come through those
doors over it's 102 year span. Two World Wars, Korea,
Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, but to name a few. Presidents,
the Spanish flu of 1918, etc. As a resident of the Metro D.C.
area for so many years I have driven past this hospital
complex multiple times and visited with comrades. But ,
that was a long time back. I got out of the service in 1969,
during the Vietnam Era. There wasn't a lot of this breast beating,
and welcome home attitude on a national level. It
was an unpopular war and we were a part of it. And, for
the most part, that feeling never seems to leave you.
   I remember driving by there one day, back around
1970 or 1971, and seeing anti-war demostrators in
front of this facility. A hopital for wounded vets.
When I thought of what those patients must have
felt when they looked out the window, I was ashamed of
my fellow countryman.
    I am so glad that there will be a newer and better
equipped facility. But, on this Veteran's Day, give thought
to those souls that are in these VA Hospitals around the
country. All these lives that need rebuilding, and bodies
that need mending. would be glad just to hear the sound
of someones voice. Rhetoric, and thumping of chests on
this day and Memorial Day is not enough.

AND THE WINNER IS.........

2011-11-09T15:04:00.000-07:00

     Nah, you're not getting off that easy! Oh, crap,
it's 2 o'clock. How the time do fly. Busy, busy.
    We have a small dumpster/trailer sitting out in
the driveway. It arrived yesterday morning.
The previous occupants of our humble abode did
very little upkeep on the shrubbery and plant life
outside. A lot of overgrown bushes. When you have
a freeze in this sort of climate, like they had last year,
it kills of portions of plants, but not the whole plant.
It's not like the trees we have in many portions of
this country. But this stuff has some nasty thorns,
and is not a lot of fun to prune. I have been clearing out
a lot of the overgrown vegetation, and tidying the place
up. This is not a job for the summertime. There is a
flowering bush the natives call "a bird of paradise", but
it reminds me of kudzu. It just spreads and grows like
wildfire.   Sorry, folks, but when I decide to take a stroll
around the yard, I do not like getting poked or
jabbed. This is just one of my quirks. So, when you
are eradicating this nasty little plant you have to wear
long pants, a long sleeve shirt, and leather gloves.
Not real relaxing, either. Anyway the dumpster is now
full, so now I shall start working on the stumps. And
they are some ugly stringy little mothers. Might need
a small trencher and some chains to get a couple of them
out. Omar is not much help.
   The other big reason for clearing all of this out is
the coyotes. They are considered an endangered or
protected species, here. Actually they look like an
emaciated dog on crack. Always looking around and
acting furtive.   The joke here is that they help to
keep the rabbit population in check. Absolute
nonsense. So when I take the dogs out at night, I
always carry a heavy flashlight and they are always,
and I do mean always, on a leash. These are pack
hunters, make no mistake.
   As many of you already know, Gail does a good bit
of custom work. And sometimes you get to branch
out and create something which is, for the most part,
totally unfamiliar to you. This also requires a lot of
research. Even this research is kind of fun, because
you get to learn something new. A different
perspective! And that is really what the arts are all
all about anyway.
   So that has been my day, thus far. Big announcement
coming on Monday. And maybe, if you behave, a photo
or two. TTFN. No, Mr. Squiggee is not texting!

D. B. A.--- C. C.-- A. K. A.

2011-11-09T07:25:00.000-07:00

    I wasn't really sure if the title of this post could
be considered texting. It actually looks like one of
those little puzzle games we used to see in the comic
section of the newspaper. Or, one of those secret
decoder rings that you used to send away for, as kids.
I think one of them was from Ovaltine.
  Nope, these are legit abbreviations.This particular
grouping may appear a tad cryptographic, but it really
isn't. Using this sort of language, you can say all
sorts of things, but unless someone else knows the
basis of this coded message, it just comes off as
gibberish.
   Cryptography and texting aren't new, or particularly
innovative. Texting dates back to the Morse code days.
Cryptography goes waaaay back. I gather that the
basic thrill of this is the ability so set up your own code,
and hold it in the palm of your hand. But, you still have to
pay for the message units.
     I tell you this because of several note cards that I saw
tacked up on the message board and the local grocery store.
It had terms like UR and 4U, and plz. Now, these cards
are from people that soliciting work situations. Sorry, but if
you are too lazy to spell out the word "please", you will not be
anywhere near any list if I did find a need for these services.
     I know, I just sound like some whiny old guy doing a
"piss and moan", and I am so far "out of the loop". No
matter. By the way, will someone please tell me what
the term "cutting edge" means? This particular phrase gets
bandied about so often these days, but I have yet to hear
an accurate definition. The media likes to pump out
new little catch-phrases for people to throw out there when
they're trying to prove to others how "hip, cool, etc."
   Is there something wrong with the English language that
inhibits you from making a point in a concise and
clear manner? I love to read, but if I come across some
word that I am not familiar with, I grab the dictionary and
look it up. And Presto, you've learned something new.
     Anyhow, Gail is awake, and it's trash day. Omar is on high
alert, and I actually have a thin layer of ice on my windshield..
This is Arizona. What's going on here?
   I will return in a while. Did you figure out the code?
K

HEY, HEY, HEY! I AM BACK!

2011-11-07T15:05:00.001-07:00

     It just seemed to be a better idea to start over.
Yes, it was a busy morning.   Shock of shocks, I
received an email from Michelle at Stitchery Square
this morning. It seems as though, with all of our
moves this last few months, we had forgotten to
inform her of our new phone numbers.   Whoops!
Problem solved and it was nice to talk with her.
     Well, we did finish the second season of
Waterloo Road last evening. It involves
the trials and tribulations at a comprehensive
school in the UK. This is the equivalent of our
high school. It is both fascinating and scary at the
same time. Teaching under the sort of siege
that seems so prevalent in the inner city schools,
is a herculean task. In addition to actually trying
to teach, they have to play counselor, referee, attempt
to maintain control of a group of young adults that
seemingly have no use for them, and give their lives
some sort of focus and direction. These teachers do have
their small moments of triumph, but I can certainly
see why the burnout rate is so high.
    We do tend to forget, as we age, that period of
time when we were in school. So many things have
changed; Dress codes, cell phones, texting, drugs,
and alcohol, just to name a few. The peer pressure
alone, is enormous. With the increased use of the
computer also comes what is known as the
"cyberbully". A bully, and especially one that
hides themselves behind a keyboard for the sake
of anonymity, never seems to stop in their attempt
to make others feel small and insignificant.
    Sometimes you really get to take that leap of
faith in what you chose to watch. I am old enough
to remember television, in it's very early days, was
touted to be a useful tool for education as well as
entertainment. In that goal, it has failed on so
many levels. But every once in a while you get
to watch something that enables you to gain a
different perspective.
    I have previously mentioned "The Wire" , in this
blog , on numerous occasions, and for a lot of the
same reasons. Sorry folks, but life is not a series
of Hallmark moments.
   I am grateful for both of these shows, and for the
people that were courageous enough to take the
the risk to write and produce them.
   Thanks for listening!   Ken
    Whoops, I forgot to mention the Toille at the
top of the blog and the coral pieces along the side.
Gail has some cool stuff on hers too!
Time to start getting the chicken ready to put in
the oven. We don't want Omar to start chewing
on my leg.

THE MORNING JUST SEEMED TO SLIP AWAY!

2011-11-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

Woke up this morning and it was raining.
That does not happen very often is this neck of the
woods. So, we kind of lounged around this AM.
Omar and the Squig seem to love this bit of
family time, just before the work day begins.
Hang on, Gail needs to scan a photo. Back shortly.

AND HERE SHE IS- OUR IRISH ANGEL

2011-11-06T08:13:00.001-07:00

   A rather slow start this morning. Gail came
in to add photo's and update the catalog. She
added another angel on her blog.
   FYI, I am sitting here with my headphones
on while I blog. Another one of those Cd's with
all sorts of madness. This one has some by The
Band, Canned Heat, Jethro Tull, and even one from
Steppenwolf, and The J Geils Band. Now it's
"Don't step on the grass, Sam" by Steppenwolf.
Yeah, I know it's an oldie.
   I did find out one thing a bit earlier. Today is
Guy Clark's birthday. Happy Birthday Guy!
What can I tell you? I have always had an
affinity for folk music and storytellers.
    The last song on this Cd is titled "The Water
is Wide" and it's sung by Steve Goodman. It's
actually an old Irish folk song. This is a live
recording from a club date and it has a beautiful
penny whistle solo in it by David Amram. It's a
very powerful rendition of this song. Certain
songs, no matter how many times you hear them,
always just grab you and touch you in ways that
are difficult to describe.
      We have been watching a series called "Waterloo
Road". We got this from Amazon UK.  The best
suggestion I can give you is to look it up on
IMDB. Anything I could say wouldn't do it justice.
But I will tell you that it concerns the school
system, teachers, students, and the difficulties
teachers face. Nothing is ever really black and
white, just like life. Fascinating stuff. We tend to
like this kind iof thing anyway. No soft pedaling
or tap dancing on issues. Dialog can be a bit
tricky at times, but they have the same sort of
problems with our slang.
   New disc: It's Sonny Rollins playing "Decision".
Instrumental, with Wynton Kelly, Max Roach, et al.
And "That Slavic Smile" by The Modern Jazz Quartet.
For those of you that are unfimiliar, the quartet consists
of piano, vibes, bass, and drums. Someone once
called this "chamber jazz", probably because it
blends both of these elements together. Relaxed
and swinging, at the same time.

PART FIVE

2011-11-05T06:51:00.002-07:00

    Last night's chicken extravaganza with Omar
and Squiggee went fairly well. But you barely have
time to get it out of the oven before they descend
on you, demanding a taste. There is no such
thing as decorum or etiquette when it involves
dogs and food. Their preference is to take the
viking rule approach. Forget the bowl. Just rip it off
the bone and gimme' a piece. The two of them crowd
each other, and I think they must be counting the
pieces and making sure they get their share. Since
Squiggee is almost totally blind, she can smell the
chicken headed her way and her mouth is in motion
long before the food is within her grasp. Absolutely
nothing wrong with the girl's appetite.
     Miss Gail is awake. So I took a hot cup of
coffee in to her. The children have been out, so
I guess I should think about what to make for
breakfast. One final note:
     As of this date, there are approx 350 designs
in the Squiggee catalog and another 400 or so in
the GCH designs line. And we have a couple of boxes
of designs that have not been entered. That
small fact ought to give you an indication of what
we have been up to. Lots to go through. Back in a while.

OK, it's around 9:30. There was only enough butter for
two English Muffins, so I had to run out to the store.
Must have forgotten to put it on my list.
   I did receive an email from Ronnie last night to
inform me that I was not being snubbed, but since her
husband was cooking some gumbo, I could just bugger
off. She really didn't say that, but if I had gumbo waiting ,
I would ignore me, too. Oh, yum! I was informed this
morning that I would be welcome, provided that it wasn't
feeding time for the gators. OMG, what a heartwarming
invitation.
Also, I would like to say hi to Saundra, down in Texas.
And to thank her for her kind words about Squiggee.
     Had to look back at the blog to refresh my
memory with my earlier post.
     Here we go:

Over the last couple of years we have printed
up and have mailed out over 85 catalogs to
shops all over the country to promote Squiggee
Designs. These are color catalogs in a
hardbound notebook. The promotional aspect
of this business is normally handled by the
distributor. They attend the two trade shows,
set the wholesale prices, take orders from and
deliver orders to , the shops. The Internet
provides you with a very cost effective way to
reach thousands of people and show them what
you have available.
    However, our last two distributors didn't
quite see the effective use of this marketing tool
The first of these two put Gail's name on their website ,
but never even posted a photo. The second
got a webmaster, posted 2 pages of over sized photo's ,
and then left the website untouched for a year.
Not one more entry.
   Never did see any sort of printed catalog from the
first of this duo. Saw one catalog from the second, but
it was incomplete and with many errors.
    I guess what I am getting at is this: In almost any
trade there are those people who clearly
overstate their qualifications. You either have a
grasp on how to promote and sell, or you don't.
The success of any blue collar endeavor is the
ability to take orders for a product, get it produced,
and deliver it in a timely fashion. If you screw
up, admit it and correct the problem. But to
throw lie on top of lie will certainly not improve
the situation.
   I worked in a cabinet shop for many years, and
oft times I could overhear the owner of this shop
talking with a client on the phone and giving some
date for the delivery of some mill work or cabinetry,
when he hadn't even ordered the lumber for this
job. So, when this job is delivered late, do you
seriously think this customer will ever order from this
company again? Yep, you just lost a future
customer.
    Well, folks, it's the same in this business. No matter
how you try to spin things, this is still a blue
collar effort. You are creating or reproducing a
product.

PART FOUR- MY, MY, A VISIT FROM THE NATION'S CAPITOL,TOO

2011-11-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

     I would be lying if I told it was from a fan! 'Nuff said!
My man, Omar, has been keeping a watchful eye on
me while I was getting the chicken ready for the oven.
Hang on, let me spritz myself with the atomizer so you
can tell how busy I have been getting the dinner ready.
I did try tossing a bit of flour on my T-shirt, but everybody
saw through the charade. Bummer!
    For those of you that ate not quite sure how all of this
works, here we go: The first part is the creation of the painted
canvas. For all practical purposes, the artist relies on several
factors. Squiggee Designs canvases are out of Gail's head, so
these pieces are borne of imagination and years of painting
expertise. Since Squiggee Designs actually got it's marketing
start on EBay, the supposition is that people like the designs.
They're fun, and should be fun to work. There is enough
latitude in the design process for the stitcher to add personal
touches and fiber choices, and for all practical purposes,
make this canvas a creation that reflects them. Shading
is also kept to a minimum.
     Like I stated previously, the piece is given a stock number,
embellishments are tied on with fishing wire, we do a photo shoot,
and off it goes on the wings of man, to the distributor.
    The distributor contacts their painting service, or sends
this canvas to the painting service, to get a price on
reproducing this design.  Some painting services will give
an estimate, and some won't. Either way, once the painting
and reproduction cost is determined, then a wholesale price is
set. This is what the shops pay for a design from the
distributor.
   The artist leases the rights of reproduction and distribution
of these designs on the wholesale level, to the shops.
It's much the same as for the sales of a book or music
CD. The publisher , or record company pays the author
or recording artist a small percentage, anywhere from 5%
up to somewhere's of 20% of the wholesale price, as the
royalty. This is based on sales. It's the same with
the artist that creates the design.
   Hang on chicken is done. Back later

PART THREE

2011-11-04T13:44:00.000-07:00

     Somehow I get interrupted and have to dash
off for a few minutes. Omar needed a ride, Gail
needed some iced tea, and we were out of cheese.
The world is now back on it's axis and all is correct
and as it should be.
     Gail's blog did get a visitor from Oklahoma City,
but we are still waiting for answers. Not just any
answers, like Carmac on the Johnny Carson show,
but answers to specific questions. Wrap it up and
let's move on.
    As many of you already know, we have been in the
midst of gutting ready for the Jan show and getting
in place with our new distributor. It is a
daunting task.If you take a look at the size of the
catalog you will grasp the amount of time it takes to
catalog, inventory, package, and ship it back out.
No artist will admit to wanting to do this. It is a
major disruption on many levels. So, as you may
have gathered, there has to be some pretty specific
issues involved that would make someone go through
all of this commotion.
    So, for all of you budding artisans, here is a bit
of a heads up Hang on.

PART TWO- WHO WOULDA' THUNK IT POSSIBLE?

2011-11-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

     It's 11 AM. See, I told you that there would
be some pictures. OK, at the top of this blog and
on the right side are photo's of designs Gail did
that are based on the old Cluney Tapestries. On the
top of Gail's blog a photo's of the tapestries that
these designs were based on. What you are getting is
the flavor of these originals.
    One of the more interesting aspects of this type of
design is that Gail has painted chair seats for customers,
based on these. No matter what your tastes, these will
always be very elegant looking..
    So, how do we go from this sort of design to, as
an odd example, Carmen Flamingo? Imagination!
Pure and simple. And no matter how you shake it out,
when you look at either of these pieces,  you realize the same
discipline and consistency is evident in both of them.
Just thought I would share that with you.
     On other matters, I did receive a poster gram
from my pal, Carole, yesterday. So glad that she
and Ed are having a good time. I am, however,
going to inform her how badly Ronnie has been snubbing
me these last few days. Even Gail threatened to
do a "runner" as a follower of my blog. Shit, that
would leave me with only four. Talk about some sad
shit. I offered her a warm brownie, and all was
forgiven, but it was close. Of course, she lost a
follower as well.  More on that at some other time.

MR SQUIGGEE MAKES BROWNIES- SURELY YOU JEST!

2011-11-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

No, this is not the Swedish chef on the Muppet
Show, although I do love the character. What a beautiful
homage to Julia Child.
This is even better than my notorious bundt cake, and
not near as ugly to look at. At least Omar doesn't bark
at my brownies.

MINNIE WORKED HER MOJO AND IS HEADED OUT OF TOWN!

2011-11-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

      Jeez, every time one of these witchy woos
blow into town, they create a ruckus and leave
the rest of us to clean up the debris.
    The neighbors a,couple of doors down from us
had a small Halloween party the other night. Not
real rowdy or noisy, as parties go, but they did
have a karaoke machine. The many different
voices drifted up the boulevard, but the one
most noticeable was a cross between Phyliss
Diller and Lucille Ball. Definitely gets your attention.
Makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand
straight up. Got every dog in the neighborhood
wound up as well. A howl fest, in other words.
    I think someone must have pulled the plug on
her, because the lights went off in the house for
about five minutes and then miraculously came back on.
She must have gotten bored and left!
    As the evening progressed we did manage to hear
a rather poor imitation of Elvis. Several times, in fact.
Whether you know this or not, Steve Goodman did
a song titled "Elvis Imitators", and the singing up the
road brought the memory of that song back to me.
It's a funny little song , too. Right up there with
"Vegematic".
      Busy day, but I shall try to make it back. Hang
in there.

AND HERE SHE IS- THE BELLE OF THE BALL!!!!

2011-10-31T12:45:00.000-07:00

       Her arrival was not only noisy, but she was
loaded with info and gossip. "Witchy Woos" are
quite proficient at talking trash and dishing the dirt.
The fact is, according to her, that she knew the
10 million dollar marriage was doomed from the
very start.. She should know, of course, since she
was one of the bridesmaids. Those two poor sods
never had a chance. It's a miracle that they lasted as long
as they did.
    Now, she did inform us that she couldn't stick
around here too long, as she had another celebrity
wedding to attend this weekend. After much prying,
and some liquor, I was able to get a couple of
names out of her. Are you ready? Here we go:
   Man about town and bon vivant extraordinaire
Harold Dingus and reality star/spiritual advisor to the stars
Ambrosia Sweetmeat are to be wed at noon on Sat.
at an undisclosed location. Much as I tried, she refused
to give me the location. Didn't feel like being turned
into a "whatsit", so I let it drop.
    So, there you have it. As usual, Mr. Squiggee
has his ear to the ground in order to give you the
pulse of your community.
   Yes, I know it's all bullshit, but I was having a
bit of fun. Does this go on my permanent record?
Tubby time! Think it over. I suppose I should have
given you some sort of warning.! See me look ashamed!

WHAT IS THAT AWFUL RACKET OUTSIDE? OMG! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!

2011-10-31T07:11:00.002-07:00

That explains all the racket and commotion.
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't she riding one
of those large metal trash cans with some sort
of hood ornament on it? Well, at least it sparkles!
IT'S MINNIE!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Quick, get the camera. She moves very quickly.
And that hair. Eat your heart out, Mrs. Slocum.

WHEW!- THANK YOU MILWAUKEE!

2011-10-30T16:10:00.001-07:00

I was beginning to feel like I was being dumped,
again.I do apologize, but I think my meds were wearing off.
Need to make some coffee. I have spent the last hour
or so, going through a website and cataloging canvases
and stock numbers. Mislabeling, etc.Incorrect stock
numbers and deleted or discontinued designs. And all
of these have credited the distributor, but not the artist.
Only problem is the fact that they are two distributors behind.
So I will send them an email in the AM. That ought to
help. These are all Gail's designs and we have already
ditched some of these designs because they remind us of
the first distributor.. We'll tackle this subject some other time.
Last year on this date, we spent the night in Hays, Kansas.
This was our final stop before Colorado. I think it was
a Motel 6, and this would be our last comfortable night
for a long time to come. The "Welcome Wagon" was not there
to greet us upon our arrival. The whole ordeal still
makes me cringe. It is, however, behind us.

MEET THE GIRLS! THE BEAT GOES ON, SO TO SPEAK

2011-10-29T12:22:00.003-07:00

     Nope, sorry guys, you do not want to go
out on a date with any of these gals! Believe me,
you don't even want their phone numbers! These
numbers are unlisted and unpublished for a reason.
The top one is "MAUDE". Left to right you have:
MABEL, MUFFIE, AND MADDIE.
     Muffie is the one with the "whatsit" on a leash.
She's a witch, so she can conjure up any sort of critter
that she wants to. Who would possible argue with her?
And, truth be known, why would you risk it? You
could be next! Just kidding, but an imagination is a
terrible thing to waste. These gals do have a new
pal riding in to town, and she'll be taking her place
in the "hood" on Monday morning. "That's just
the way she rolls, dad", says Omar.   Her name is
MINNIE, so beware! She is, shall we say, on the
loose and extremely dangerous.
   At present I am listening to Muddy Waters singing
"Blind Man Blues", from the London sessions album.
Just thought I would let you know. I am sure that
I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" can't be far
behind. This is one of those CD's I made that
has all sorts of music on it. Mix and match stuff:
Ry Cooder, Lyle Lovett, Elton John, Sonny Terry
& Brownie McGhee, Slim Harpo, Maria Muldaur,
etc. All over the place. And a couple of Duke Ellington
pieces, as well. This probably explains a lot about
my personality, too. Ah, Mona Lisa's and Mad
Hatters. All you have to do is listen.
   Nevertheless, over on the right side of this post
you will see : My Mummy, Mrs. Stein, Frank N. Stein,
and Miss Bubbles sporting her boa and looking like the
sweety that she always was.
   You can view Mrs. Stein at the top of Gail's blog.
She is a rollie, but her outfit is straight up "Bob
Mackie". Lot's of flash and bling.
    OK, folks, Mr. Squiggee still hasn't found a
replacement for that follower he lost. Sometime
people just get their knickers in a twist. Was is
something I said? I am out here, all on my
lonesome, waiting for some other individual, and
I don't even care if you use your dog's name, to step
into the breech. Left to my own devices, I could
say something truly ignorant.
    As we press onward, "Way Down In The Hole",
which was the theme song, kinda, of "The Wire".
This version is from "The Blind Boys of Alabama".
And it's Sly and the Family Stone singing "If you
Want Me To Stay".   This dates me, of course. I have
always been a sucker for some good R &B.
     Had to run out for a couple of cappuccino's.
"Bring It on Home To Me", by Sonny Terry and
Brownie McGhee with Sugarcane Harris on violin.
    FYI, Gail is working on Minnie as we speak. She is also
listening/watching the Sopranos. It all fits.
Now, while I was out and about I had a couple of visitors,
but I am still waiting. I am sure that a few of you
only come this way for the pretty pictures, in fact
I am willing to admit that is the major reason..
I have also reard the rumor that DH means other things
besides Dear Husband. The fact is that I have been
called many of these things by that crazy artist in
the other room.. Doofus Husband rings a not so
distant bell. No matter.
    In my defense, I was only in Milwaukee once
or twice, but that was a long time ago.  Just kidding.
I did receive an email from someone stating that
they usually read my blog on their laptop in the
bathroom, as a sort of laxative. Now I do feel special.
    The phone lines are open, so bring it on.
Operators are standing by.

HALLOWEEN IS DRAWING NEAR- WhO KNOWS WHAT EVIL LURKS? THE SHADOW DO!!!!

2011-10-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

       Never did get back to the computer last night.
The smell of the turkey was driving the children crazy,
so we all had dinner within minutes of it coming out of
the oven. This was around 5 PM. We are talking about
two small dogs and you would think that we had been
withholding food from the pair of them for the last few days.
At least they didn't throw any of it on the walls. But that
appeared to be close to becoming a reality. They finish off
their plates of food, decide that they should also eat some
of yours, and begin poking your leg and circling the table
on the off chance that you might accidentally knock your
plate off the table, and they vie for position. They
are not even remotely interested in your cranberry sauce.
You can bag that idea. Last night, just before we went to bed,
Gail offered Omar a little bite of turkey but he was full.
Couldn't take one more bite. Tilt! Needless to say, the two
of them slept very soundly last night.
     Still haven't written the bio, yet. Some days there just doesn't
seem to be enough time. And the amount of paperwork
involved with changing distributors, as well as making sure all
the designs are cataloged and inventoried, is a daunting task.
Gail and I work well together on this front. It's all coming along
nicely, thank you. I handle the phone work, etc., which gives
her the time to do what she does best, and that is create and
paint. Writing the bio , and having it not sounding dry
and boring is the trick. Your mind needs to be free of a lot
of noise and nonsense. Sometimes I think that that is why
I like writing early in the morning. There are lots of surprises
in store, but I am not at liberty to "spill the beans". It will all
play out, so be patient.
     Omar and I have been made keenly aware of a
new "moonlighting venture" that we need to check out.
Part time, of course. So I might have to ease up on my
designing career. ( scissors getting dull, and I might be getting
carpal tunnel from changing the names on these things}.
It's very "hush hush", of course! It's so secret, in fact,
that Omar is not privy to all the details.
     No, big boy, your dad is not going to peddle stuff on the
black market.
    Yo, Gail's up! Mama wants coffee.

YOU WAITED ALL THIS TIME BEFORE YOU TOLD ME?

2011-10-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

     Jeez, and now I feel like such a putz! How was
I to know? Is this the ultimate faux pas?
"Babe, you left me with the Chicken Cordon Blues"!
    Now, quite obviously Mr. Squiggee has stepped in it,
once again. My cardinal sin this time was to use the
word "underwear" in one sentence and follow it up with the
word "nuts" in the next. Is this verboten or just bad
judgment on my part?   OMG, I feel like such an absolute
heathen.
    Hey, Omar, come here and let me ask you a question.
Is your daddy a heathen?
Omar: Does a duck quack or a bear shit in the woods?
    I guess that answers that question.
Oy, when that turkey is done cooking you'll be singing
a different tune!
   Yes we decided on another turkey. They're on sale
and it's been a long while. Last year on this date we were
heading through Kentucky on our way to Colo.
   And yes, that is The Boo Express. On Monday you will
get to see the new Witchy Woo! Her name is "Minnie"!
   On another note, my next door neighbor informed me
that she read my blog about the house across the street.
She didn't exactly call my sense of humor "dememted",
but I can take a compliment as well as the next guy.
Just joking.
We are up to 78 pages on the catalog, so there is
some new stuff to feast your eyes upon. Omar wants
me to baste the bird..I shall return

GINGERBREAD TENTS

2011-10-27T17:30:00.000-07:00

     Yes, I do realize the saga of the two g-bread
tents is a bit of a mystery. But the only place you could
have ordered either of these items for the last few months,
was from us. That has all changed, of course, since we
are now represented by CBK. Yep, she's got 'em..
   She informed us yesterday that she already has the
passes for both of us at the big show in Phoenix.
Looking forward to it, most def'. After all the networking
with shops across the country, it will be nice to be
able to chat with them in person. Of course I am
going to wear clean underwear. Are you nuts?
    You also must be aware that I almost got arrested
once for being too charming.   Got off with only a
warning. Just kidding. Can't anybody take a joke
anymore?
    I started to do a blog posting earlier today, and
had the titled all picked out, but got a bit distracted.
It was titled: "ALL THE PIECES MATTER".
I got this from one of my favorite television
shows; " THE WIRE".
    My posting was not about the show, but about
how various entities are interrelated. The
needlepoint industry is no different, in that respect.
     Since Mr. Omar is demanding dinner, I will get
into this tomorrow morning. Don't worry, I will tie it
all together. Catch you in the morning.
   Oh, I did stop by McDonald's earlier to pick up
iced tea and couldn't help but notice that the
clerk was holding the bills up to the light. When
I asked her why she was doing so, she replied that they
had been getting counterfeit bills, so the manager
had someone come in to the store to show the
clerks how to spot phony bills. We live in impoverished
times! Let's see: " There's the long con, and the short
con". Hiding behind anonymity seems to be the new
business tack. Omar and I suss it out daily. Ever
vigilant, he says.
TTFN

HEY THERE AND GOOD MORNING!

2011-10-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

     I am much better this morning. Still a bit miffed,
but you just have to put it all behind you and move on.
    Last year, on this date, we were busy loading up the
truck to move from Pennsylvania to Colorado. We picked
up the truck at 8 AM and were packed up and on the
road by 7:30 PM. Marathon moving event. It was
quite a day. We had lived there for seventeen years.
Even through all the uproar of this past year, we are so
glad to be here. Safe and sound in a place we call "home"
    FYI, the bunnie rabbits that I mentioned have gotten
truly miffed and the have knocked over the little Dutch
boy when they realized that they couldn't get to the flowers
and plants. Omar says that he has seen them in a huddle
and hears them whispering about some sort of coup or
mass insurrection. Anyway, the poor little Dutch Boy
figure is laying on his side, in the gravel, and I am tempted
to go over there at night and place a brown paper bag,
with an empty beer bottle enclosed, beside him. This
way people will merely believe that he just got tanked
and passed out, rather than taking a smackdown from a rabbit.
It is shameful, isn't it. The indignities of life.
    Several things to take care of this morning, but I shall
return. All for now.

MR. SQUIGGEE IS NOT AMUSED. HE IS APALLED AND INCENSED.

2011-10-26T19:04:00.000-07:00

I will return tomorrow. This is one of those times
that it is best not to write anything. Good evening to all.

ALL SPIFFED UP AND READY TO GO!

2011-10-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

     See, I thought you would like this. We have countries,
as well. As we reintroduce these little gems, we
shall post photo's of the previous design and the updated
version, complete with stock numbers. Myself, I like
the addition of the little sparkly beads. The newer fibers
oughta really make 'em pop.
   Added some new pages to the catalog. It's up to 75 pages,
so if you click on anything above that number, it will be
blank until Gail sizes the photo's and puts them on the pages.
It takes time, but it's getting there.
    Good story for you. Across the street from us are a
couple of "snowbirds". What that means is that these people
move down here to live from the First of Oct. until
the First of April. Their outside of their house is
quickly becoming "chotsky central". I kid you not.
This is bric-a-brac gone gangster wild. Lawn ornaments,
metal stand up geese, a little dutch boy and girl on a wood
frame { smiling benignly at each other, of course} and little
flower beds of cute little plants flanked by even more cute stuff.
The windmill is in the back. The only thing that is missing
is a couple of flamingo's and a jockey holding a lantern.
     But, here is the good part: This area is loaded with
bunnies. Anyone that has ever lived out in farm country
knows exactly what that means. These little critters
will eat anything. So after watching this couple plant
numerous little flower pots, all with very colorful flowers,
the next morning looked like a stampede at the soup kitchen.
All the tops of the plants were gone. The only thing
missing was the sight of these creatures laying on their
backs and belching as if in a stupor.
     Now, I know it's not kind to laugh at this sort of
thing, but you already know how twisted we are. These
fastidious people have now had to resort to using
chicken wire to try and keep the bunnies at bay.
So, in the midst of all of this splendor, we have the
breathtaking beauty of chicken wire. The only
thing missing is a row of razor wire on top. I imagine,
knowing how resourceful these little creatures are,
that it won't be long until this fence is electrified.
     Even Omar finds the whole thing a hoot. I try
to make him stop laughing , but to no avail. He
describes it to Squiggee and she rolls around on her
back and just snorts.
     There goes the neighborhood. It's really as shame
that these people leave before Easter. Inflatable
bunnies and an Easter egg hunt, along with Omar and
Squiggee wearing bunny ears.   Don't want to give
them the big one, as Fred Sanford called it!
    Enjoy the vision.

IT'S 5:25 AM, MR SQUIGGEE! WHY ARE YOU SITTING IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER?

2011-10-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

     Good question. The answer is that my internal
clock is still on East Coast time. That, plus the fact that
for the past 30 years my workday started at 7 am
or 7:30. Have to consider drive time to the job site,
etc. So I was usually out the door by about 5:30.
I am a morning person, so to speak. Gail is not.
Never has been. Neither is Squiggee. Omar simply
goes outside, does his deed, checks for vermin, and
when he is sure that we are safe, he goes back to
bed. He comes in periodically to check on me. Funny
little thing. FYI, today will polish off the last
remaining bits of the turkey.   We got lucky this time.
Only had to go "gangster wild" with the air freshener
once or twice.
      When Gail gets up, she will post photo's of a state
ornament for you. It's ARIZONA. And Mass. will be
next. We also have photo's of the original ones that
Gail created, so she might display them side by side
so you will be able to see how she's put " the Squiggee
touch" to them with some sparkle, embellishment beads,
and a little extra bling. Now, you have to remember that
when she did the originals, a lot of these newer fibers
were not around. It opens up all sorts of possibilities
for the stitcher. Different textures to play with. A bit
of glitter here and a bit there. Voila!
    It's always kind of exciting to see the end result, or
a finished piece of one of Gail's designs. On this end, I
always get to see the flat painted canvas, but they take
on a whole new dimension when they are made up.
And, to be honest, each stitcher has stitches they really
like to use and fiber preferences. So although it's
the same design, there is always that individuality,
or personal touch in each piece that you see stitched.
In our small network, we ask all sorts of people if they
be interested is stitching a piece for a model.
    These models go to the trade shows, and travel
around the country with trunk shows. What this does
is to show a potential needlepoint customer that
there are all kinds of possibilities to play with. It
piques their imagination. Gail does all sorts of
small teaching pieces for shops, so there is always
going to be new people that want to enjoy the
creative side of this.
     We all remember those paint-by-number things
as children. And many of us also changed a few of the
colors to suit our tastes. Stitching a piece of needlepoint
gives you that same creative opportunity.   Go ahead, put
your own spin on it.. But, by all means, have some fun
with it. It's not supposed to be some laborious task.
We have enough of those in life.
      I need more coffee. Never did get that bio done
yesterday. I have to be in a certain mood to do that.
Don't want it to seem pretentious or stuffy. The last
bio was a little dry. That's not either one of us.
     Started watching a series titled "Clocking Off"
last night. It was written by Paul Abbott, who also
penned "State of Play".   It won a BAFTA award
for drama and aired on the BBC in 2000. It centers
around the lives of textile workers, and while you may
think this a rather dry subject, it most certainly is not.
Back in a while. I hear someone stirring.

GOOD MORNING TO ALL

2011-10-24T09:41:00.000-07:00

     We did some work on the catalog yesterday
and realized that there are now 74 pages of designs
And Gail has just informed me that we'll be adding
another 4 pages within the next few days.   Busy, busy,
busy!
And, since you asked, here is a short list:
1 A couple of new G-bread cookies- Mr. and Mrs Santa.
2. A Victorian Love Heart
3. A Shamrock Heart
4. A Santa face mitten
5. Two new Round Santa's;
      An Old World Santa
      and A Chef Santa
6. A couple of the round birds;
     A Pheasant
     and A Hummingbird.

Anyway, Gail will be posting these new items in the catalog
in a little while. So you will have to keep checking back.
    I will get to work on the new bio later on this afternoon.
Just had to take care of some loose ends first.
     In other matters, and I know this is a heart breaker,
I happened to notice that I seem to be minus one
follower. Poof!. El disappearo! Not even a good-bye!
Woe is me! I am now down to five!  I may need meds!
LOL. Just joking.
    I gather that it's getting close to iced tea time. Maybe it
was the note pinned to Omar's collar, but I hear this
distant voice so I shall jump in the chariot and be on
my way.
     I will probably write more this evening, so buzz back by.
Oh, hi to my pal Ronnie and that vicious woman that
flew off on the wings of man. Hmmm! Hell, if we talk
trash about her now, she'll never know! She's "out of
pocket", so the chances of somebody "dropping a dime"
on us are pretty slim. Hope she has a wonderful time.
     That's about for the present time. TTFN

OMAR'S TURKEY EXTRAVAGANZA

2011-10-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

     We put the turkey in the oven around noon. A
15 pounder, so it took a while. Omar has kept a
constant vigil since around three o'clock. He has
kept us apprised of the cooking progress all afternoon.
   We just finished our dinner and attempting to eat your
dinner with four little eyes staring up at you is no easy
feat. You fix them little plates, but it's like watching
a swarm of locusts or packs of wild hyena's stripping
a carcass. And noisy too. Squiggee has always been a
noisy eater, and her blindness has only increased her
wild anticipation at meal time. We haven't had any turkey
since last Thanksgiving in Colorado, and that was an absolute
disaster on many levels A totally unpleasant experience.
   So it was really nice to sit and watch our two little children
immerse themselves in some turkey. We'll pay for
this later on tonight. There is some ingredient in turkey
that makes dogs a bit gassy, so we will both have a
can of heavy duty air freshener by the bed table tonight.
Hence the expression: "This is a good place for stick
up". I think that is what they were called..
    Maybe one of those methane converters or a
spark arrestor strapped to their tails. It was worth a shot.
Made contact with someone new today, and when I
attempted to convince her that I was the only sane one in
this household, she was not convinced. I am truly
shocked. Hi, Susan! It was nice chatting.
    Now, I contacted NASA and they reprogrammed
the orbit path so I could get some good photos
of the dwelling that is having that sale. It is amazing the
detail they can get these days. Didn't really look like much
action was going on there. Not too many people, either.
Might have done a lot better leaving the phone hooked
up.   Just a thought.
Well, I am off for the evening .. See you tomorrow.