"Famous"

Check it out ... One of my guerrilla-style photography shoots got posted to another blog.

Click on the Blog of Unnecessary Quotations Marks for a take on "burgers."

Birthday Wishes

Dear Birthday Fairy:

I know it's silly to be asking you for stuff for my birthday, so early -- but it's not really. It's in about four weeks, plus people have been asking me what I want. So, I thought I'd write you a Wish List to put the ideas "out there" for folks:

First let me say, I don't need much. All of these ideas are just little goofy things that would be nice to have, but I certainly don't need them.

A. That logo for Auntie Nettie's Attic that I asked Santa for all those months ago.

B. A New Library Book bag -- kind of like this one from the @your library.com folks. Hopefully it's out for sale now. I like it.

C. Not that I'm a culinary whiz, but this one puts books and food in the same place:

Literary Feast: The Famous Authors Cookbook, with recipes from David Baldacci, Adriana Trigiani, and the model for the Shushing Librarian herself, Nancy Pearl. Bios on the authors, lists of published works, and backstories about the recipes? What else would be greater? (Now on sale from Classic Day Publishing, though some major retailers.)

[2/2010 Editors note, again ... THANKS JANE. Cookies from Rick Steves and other culinary tidbits will be shared later!)

But seriously, Birthday Fairy, please tell people that I don't need anything. If people want to get me anything, I would suggest that they donate to one of three places:
1. Friends of Maddie. Families of children in NICU certainly need support and nurturing more than I do right now. I have been blessed. Help me pass on some love. Read about Maddie, Donate here, or purchase a pack for a family in need.

[1/16/10 Editor's note: Apparently there is some debate whether the American Samoas actually need these books ... Send aid to Haiti via the Red Cross for now, with aid for the libraries to follow once immediate humanitarian aid efforts have made a dent in the recovery.] 2. The children in American Samoa are suffering because a tsunami destroyed four of their libraries in September. The schools are seeking donations of materials to rebuild their collections. Children's books in new or good condition may be sent to:

Cheryl Morales Polataivao
Feleti Barstow Pulbic Library
PO Box 997687
Pago Pago, American Somoa 96799

(If someone wants to pay for my airfare and a trip, I'll fly down to Pago Pago to hand deliver the books!)

and finally,

3. Caramoor -- because I just can't say enough about the place or the wonderful people who work there.

Thanks for helping me spread the word,

Auntie Nettie

Trucking Along

You know that phrase:

"Close your eyes and think of England?"

I don't think my British ancestors ever thought about the implications of doing that while driving behind a semi. That's probably one of the places you shouldn't close your eyes and think too hard.

Signs of the Times

As the New Year and new decade have rolled in, I've been trying to be open to the whispering of the universe. So far so good. I've been diligently (read, NOT) checking my horoscope, and going with my intuition. By listening to my inner voice, I made it through Security at the airport with no problem. In order to wrack up good karma, I've practiced a few random acts of kindess. I haven't won the lottery yet, but that's okay.

I have noticed some weird things though. Now that I've been looking for "signs," all of mine seem to be, well, a little "off."

Like this one: What or HOW do I "ook," exactly?

Or this one: Oh, swimming in pond? G-O swimming? M-O (re) swimming in pond?

Talk about mixed messages!

Finally, this one just made me shake my head. NO DUH!

(Or is the universe talking about my youth and/or natural waist line?)

Pimping the Peeps

Dear Makers of Peeps*,

You know I love your product. I love to play with the Peeps. I love to eat the Peeps. I love me some holiday-specific and peppermint-flavored Peeps.

However, the day BEFORE NEW YEAR's is too soon to be pimping the Valentine's Day Peeps -- especially given my still-ongoing Christmas Candy Coma.

Ah, what the heck. I love you too.

Cavities and Kisses,

Auntie Nettie


* Yes, I know. It's not your fault. You just MAKE the Peeps. You don't sell them.

Many Happy Returns

Guess what happens when you take off for vacation?
The work keeps on piling up.
Please stand by while I undig.

Retroblog New Year's 1982

Happy New Year! 1982

These are some things I hope will happen to me this year.

__ I'll meet someone famous.
__ I'll set a school record for something
__ I'll see a falling star
__ I'll discover a secret hideaway
XX I'll be on television
XX I'll visit some place I've never been before
__ I'll become a genius and not have to do any homework
__ I'll meet someone from outer space

Other exciting things I hope will happen to me.

I will have a good year.

My wishes for 2010 vary just a bit from those of 1982. I still wish for a good year and that I'll visit some place I've never been before, but I have NO wish to be on television. ABSOLUTELY NONE. No reality star urges for this Auntie Nettie. In fact, if she could not appear in any photographic evidence at all, she would be perfectly content. In fact, that invisbility cloak of Harry Potter's? That's my New Year's wish.

Maybe if I wish on that falling star?