Wednesday, November 19, 2008

oh, dear

Some game designer must have seen me at the track this past summer and gotten inspired. This is exactly why I prefer trail running - plenty of trees and stuff with which to pull one's self along.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

theatrical heinie-kicking taken to a whole new level

So, between the never ending booze and cleavage, the barfing fellow bus passengers, the line of "vendors" thrusting the calling cards of "available" women in your face as you pass by, and the guys holding up handmade "Repent NOW!" signs, the Las Vegas Strip is basically like a 24/7 Mardi Gras in the biblical town of Gomorrah. I mean, we all know this, right?

Also, after spending several hours wandering through the smoke-drenched air of various casinos in rhinestone heels you start to realize that you could fairly accurately (and more cheaply) recreate the experience by finding a dirty ashtray and licking it clean while sticking your feet in a Cuisinart and setting it to "shred."

But as far as people-watching goes, I can't imagine a much richer environment than Vegas. And also, they have stuff like this in the water and this on the ceiling. And, of course, this, which was like nothing I have ever seen.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

vegas, baby

Is it just me, or does everyone completely relate to this commercial?

Ah, well. No matter. I'm gettin' the heck outta Dodge. Time to hang with friends and family, catch a show, blow a few bucks on the slot machines. I'll be back next week, hopefully with tall tales galore.

Oh, and our Friday Soap Giveaway winner from last week is Donna B. from LA! Donna, send your address to me at NEBrackett (at) gmail (dot) com, and I'll get that bar of Falling Leaves out to you on Monday!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

honor

Recently, a WWII Veteran I know brought over the Purple Heart he was awarded by President Truman so I could see it.

image credit: unknown

The stories this man tells about what happened abroad nearly 65 years ago alternately send chills and inspire awe. He's careful about which stories he tells when the kids are around, but he did show them how his fake knee (the real joint was wrecked when his submarine was torpedoed) pops when it's moved from side to side. He told me he sometimes wishes there was a doctor who could open up his head and take out the worst memories of what he witnessed during WWII and in Korea. He was a P.O.W.
My dad is a vet, too, as are several of my friends and students. I'm not a war romantic, and I still have enough Jesus freak/nouveau hippy protester in me to believe war should be avoided whenever possible.
But sometimes it can't be avoided, unless you consider capitulation a victory. And I know full well how absolutely blessed I am to live in a land where the kind of men and women who don't consider capitulation a victory can still be found in abundance.
Today, my Thank You goes to them.

Friday, November 07, 2008

friday soap giveaway!


'Tis the season for Falling Leaves! I don't know about where you are, but here in Northern Arizona any tree that's not a Ponderosa is well on its way to being bald. These newest bars to be added to the Garland Prairie Soaps line celebrate the loveliness that is Fall. It's hard to tell from the picture, but these bars are a deep, reddish orange with many other fall colored chunks embedded throughout the soap. They're scented with a yummy citrus, cranberry and wildflower fragrance blend, making them a perfect addition to anyone's bathroom or kitchen. You gotta USE my soap, though, okay? None of this setting in on a windowsill as pure decoration. It's good stuff - glycerin-rich (which means it helps keep your skin soft), detergent and surfactant-free!
Wanna win one?
Simply leave (no pun intended) a comment describing your favorite fall memory.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

at least we know we're raising her right

I'm a firm believer in exposing kids to horses as soon as possible. It does my heart good to know that our now-8-month-old Lizzie agrees.


Oo! And I almost forgot to mention that Maiden is the lucky soap winner from Friday before last. Look for another soapy giveaway this Friday. I'm well stocked at the moment, since the big Holiday House show was last weekend and there's another biggee coming up in a few weeks. It's all soap all the time here at Writer/Rider Central. That and Chicken Cacciatore, which is what's currently cookin' in the crockpot.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

hope you did, too