Taking a break from party pics

Here's my sweet blog guru, Maren Kate and her Dad, Victor, taken in one of the hotels while we were in Vegas at Caesar's. I've known Maren Kate since she was a twinkle in her parent's eye.

She's going to help me figure out how to make Octopus and Octopie more famous than that yellow square pant person.

Marilyn, me and Elvis

Picture's not very good, but here's Marilyn, no need for last name, me and Elvis tonight. We forgot a camera and Bob took this with the iphone. Light was a bit harsh.

You think they can sing? Shoulda heard me.

Here's a cool idea - time to start thinking about the Octopus and Octopie CD, perhaps they'll let me guest on it? Do small children understand tone deaf?

2009 Christmas party pics #8

Yes, the Christmas party pictures continue. Aren't you delighted I didn't get snow pictures? These are great pictures. Everyone's having a good time and schmoozing.
I hope Christmas was delightful for you. We had another low, very low key Christmas. James Randall and I went to see Mom. One of those visits where she has no clue who he is, but Miss Southern Lady pretends and is very gracious. When she thinks he's not paying attention she whispers (several times) "Who's this nice young man?" I have her room covered with pictures of him age 10 and under. Mom and I both pretend he's still that kid. James Randall, a veteran of nursing homes after these last 4 years made a caustic comment, "I see the once a year visiting families are here in force." Yup.

www.octopusandocotpie.com is slow going, but check it from time to time to see what's going on.

2009 Christmas party pics #7

The State Fair group.

Snowed today and I didn't get pictures. Probably have an opportunity tomorrow.



There's another installment on the blog page of
www.octopusandoctopie.com Check it out.

Merry Christmas Eve

2009 Christmas party pics #6

Thought you'd like to see Michelle and Lorie's hair from front and back and R and Tonya from side.

We met Martha, Steve, Steven and Robert at the new Cowboy Stadium for a tour. Pretty cool. Then to Pappadeaux to eat. A good time was had. I'll have pictures after I get party pics posted. Better start adding more party pics.

Tried to post a new paragraph on www.octopusandoctopie.com Not as easy as this one. Check it out anyway for the unfolding saga.

2009 Christmas party pics #5

Pretty good looking friends, huh? Yes, all dressed up for the party, but they would also look good in welding clothes and I think all of these people have once or twice worn welding clothes. Note Juli's hair and eyelashes - movie star looks.

Check out www.octopusandoctopie.com. I think I managed to add a blog to the website tonight. Yes, another blog. I truly am a vampire and stay up way too late at night.

2009 Christmas party pics #4

I love how people mingled so well this year. I have other pictures of Ms. Stearns pretty in purple. Now all are of her back.

To Patrizios tonight to meet great friends. One said the magic sentence tonight. She noted her 10 year old dogs were getting up slowly, too, because of arthritis. She reminded me her doggies were 10 years old. Gave me hope for BlackJack. He's getting up slowly going to be 14 soon. Becky's right, it's arthritis, not old age.

I had to give Evan a Christmas hug. Patrizios was slammed with customers. Without missing a beat Evan said, "Merry Christmas, Lottie." No way I could remember my customer's names on a very slow day. He's amazing and runs, in my humble opinion, the best Italian restaurant in town. This was our friends' first time, but not last. They were delighted with the food and couldn't get over the reasonable prices. How great for them to see the lighted trees of HP Village during the holidays, always my favorite.

I just finished putting together the first page of the brand new Octopus and Octopie website/blog up. Don't have a clue what to do now. If you get a chance, check out: www.octopusandoctopie.com.

2009 Christmas party pics #3

More party pictures.

Today Bob and I went to see the new George Clooney movie ( I can't remember the name). We'd eaten before going, but I thought I'd get a bottle of water since I have a little tickle in my throat and didn't need a coughing fit in the middle of the movie.

The bottle was $3.75!!! The girl behind the counter apologized, she said, "Movie price water." I declined and she thought a minute and offered me a cup of tap water with ice - for free - how very nice.

We were one of the first to sit down, so I started counting people walking in with concessions. 8 cokes, 6 popcorns, 2 beers, 2 wines, one bottle of champagne, no candy and the theater ended up full. Imagine the money they could have made on concessions if they that anything half way affordable. Last time Delores and I went to the movies we snuck treats in. Guess I'll have to get a purse big enough for water bottles until my tickle unticks. Just remember the name of the movie, "Up In The Air" and it was cute.

Christmas Party Pics #2

Of course I'm standing on a chair for my picture with Miss Lorie. Only time I'm ever taller than her.

Here's our bartender and barback.

Mary and Tommy festive as ever.

Begin the party pics

Forest Hills garden club November meeting

November Forest Hills Garden Club meeting at Katrina's with guest speaker Irwin Lightstone giving us a great talk on cacti and succulents. Everyone toasted me about my good news - winning the Lottie Lottery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So excited to be able to see Mom every day. Read my Examiner.com article about the meeting: http://www.examiner.com/x-15499-Dallas-Gardening-Humor-Examiner~y2009m11d14-Friday-plant-of-the-week--a-day-late

Barbaree Babes and Andie's neighborhood Animal Alert

Barbaree Babes met at Carol's last night. We voted on our very own neighborhood Animal Alert as our charity for Christmas and the rest of the year. Might have a fund raiser during the year.

Carol had great treats for us, everyone talked at once and a good time was had. We always need a project and Animal Alert will be the best.

Lunch with redhead mom

Dawn took me to lunch at Patrizios for my birthday. Yes, my birthday continues. I love that. Isn't she pretty? She's a charter member of the Redhead Mom's Club from Lakehill. We had to band together. We were/are a great group. We had nicknames for each of us. Dawn is the pretty one and you can see why. Weather was beautiful, we sat on the patio and had a big time.

On the way home I stopped to take a picture of this piece. I've loved it since it went in. Never would have thought of yellow for it, but it works.

Laura and Brad's Halloween party

Here's an exra reason to love Laura. She's couldn't be sexier in this outfit and there's the reading glasses hanging from her bodice. A woman after my own heart/eyes.
Great Party

Doggy vacinations and poisonous plants

Took BlackJack in for his booster today. He wasn't happy. Remember being at East Dallas Vet Clinic a couple of weeks ago for the full workup. But always the gentleman, he even let me take a picture of him with Ashley who gave him his shot. I don't know which is cuter. Dr. Cantrell thinks BlackJack is mostly Belgian Sheperd with a little Chow. Bob and I just think he's the most handsome sweet puppy dog.

Garden tip: go to this website for plants poisonous to pets: veterinarypartner.com/content/plx?P=A&A=191

Stretching the garden part

OK, this is really pushing it for garden stuff, but note the big palm. Doing garden humor in a restaurant today.

After visiting Mom, met Weldon for lunch at Tommy's and then we went to Rebecca Low's fantastic gallery and studio. Fantastic just like her. She told me to get out of the metal box and go to copper, stainless steel and aluminum. She's right. She also paints instead of powdercoating. She learned in an automotive shop and suggested I do the same. OK, if I can paint with results like hers.

Another day in garden heaven

Here's Angie making me beautiful. I tell her how I'd like my hair to look and she does what she wants. How is this garden news? Note the striped sweater and purple smock. Angie and and I are little flowers in Salon D. I'd be happy at Sally Beauty Supply mixing purples, reds and blondes, but Angie has the idea I should look put together.

Stopped at Tom Thumb on the way home. Got ingredients for soups and twice baked potatoes. Tried the potatoes tonight, OK, but needed something - like an ingredient to make them taste better.

Cosmetics Dallas Debbie

This is Darling Debbie of Cosmetics Dallas. Look at her and you see why I put my face in her hands. Out of lots of stuff so decided to brave a pretty hard rain and drive to the World Trade Center to see her. What does this have to do with gardens? Her showroom is a "garden" of fertilizers, mulch, etc., for faces. Debbie has so much patience, I could never "cultivate" clients like she does.

Also stopped in to see Sissy and Mike. Sissy, of course, takes full credit for last night's article:
http://www.examiner.com/x-15499-Dallas-Gardening-Humor-Examiner~y2009m10d26-Monday-morning-garden-hangover--chandelier Read it and give Sissy all the credit. She wants residuals now. I'll show her my profits and she'll realize she needs to subsidize me.

Forgot to take a picture of Sissy and Mike, a shame since you could actually walk through their showroom. Usually it's chock-a-block. Would have had a nice background.

Going to close so I can work on my first issue for Equanimity Magazine - a real paper magazine. I'm so impressed.

More Patrizio's birthday lunch pictures

Can you believe I forgot my camera for this lunch? Lorie remembered hers so now I must beg for the picture of her and me. I'll get it somehow. So here's me and Ms. Stearns and me and Michelle on the patio at Patrizios.

Mel came over yesterday morning to return my grinder. Our guy friends borrow my power tools, how cool is that? Mel, of course, was one of the topics of conversation at lunch. Juicy.

Bob and I went to Sushi on McKinney last night. I don't know if you know it's back open just a couple of doors down from where it use to be. The old building is now Chipotle. Everyone's the same except Hiroki is at a restaurant up north somewhere in Carrollton. When Monte came to town we went and all 3 agreed it's the best ever. Who'd think my best sushi buddies would be from Fort Worth and they were eating sushi with me when there was only one sushi restaurant in town.

James Randall came home for lunch today, but as usual that turned into a late lunch. I was going to see The September Issue with Jan, Cynthia and at the Angelika this afternoon, so Bob, James Randall and I went for a Starbucks before I went to the movie and they went to Buzzbrews for lunch.