Category Archives: Inspiration

The Pinball Machine

Comedy, Free Spirit, Inspiration, Life, Memoirs, Opinion, personal, , , , ,

I gotta admit, I’m already tired of all the politics, and it’s just really gearing up. Tonight, there’s a Democratic Town Hall Meeting with Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. I’m recording it to watch later. Right now, I am waiting on my husband to get home with our tortilla soup from our favorite Mexican restaurant. We’ll watch Richard Dreyfuss as he portrays that scumbag Bernie Madoff, while we eat.

While I was looking for something on YouTube today, I ran across a video about my pinball machine. I have mentioned that I love pinball a time or two on here. My husband surprised me with it for Christmas in 2006.

He told me he was going to be spending a little money on my present, and when I asked how much and he vaguely told me, I was like – that sounds like a lot of money we probably didn’t need to be spending, and since we had recently lost our beloved dog of over thirteen years (and my husband and daughter kept saying we needed to get another dog, though I wasn’t ready) I was worried that’s what he wanted all that money for. So, I told him I had transferred the money he needed from savings and that he best not be bringing anything home that breathed, ate, or peed. He laughed . . .

Fast forward to Christmas Eve – he had been storing the pinball machine at my sister’s house, and he brought it home that day. I have to admit, I was surprised as hell, happy and honored that he had put so much thought into my surprise gift, and excited to start banging balls.

Once he got it in the house and all set up, I noticed the images on the machine. After doing some research on it, I found references like the porn of pinball machines at the time. I couldn’t help but laugh at that one, and when I asked my husband about it, he said of the four machines the guy had for sale, this one was the cheapest nice one he had – and it was $600 – the next nicest one was over $2000. So, the porn of pinball machines was the one.

Anyway, I LOVE the machine, though it is old and is starting to show a little wear (fading a little on the wooden deck and the cabinet). It was fun finding new rubber gaskets and bulbs and a few other parts I had to order – okay so now I had invested another $300 or so in it.

BUT, it is an excellent stress reliever, I can tell you that, and often I play so hard, my aging wrists, finger joints and shoulders ache. It’s a good kind of ache, though – especially when I score high. I keep a list of my highest scores taped to the side and my goal is always to beat my highest score to date. And when you score high – it makes a lot of noise!!!

So, getting back to the video – I found this video today and it cracked me up! I felt like we all might need a little comic relief, so thought I’d share it.

Here’s a shout out to Wyrd Smythe over at Logos con carne – I was looking to ensure the date was right (1979) when I ran across this video 🙂

So here’s the Bally 1979 Future Spa pinball machine I work out my frustrations on!

(Laughing – my husband said this woman’s  big cheesy grin reminds him of Olivia Caridi from The Bachelor . . . )

Just something I was thinking about . . .

I’m Doing it – NaNoWriMo

Creativity, Current Events, Inspiration, NaNoWriMo, Opinion, Thinking Independently, Writing Prompts, , , , , , ,

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I’m doing it! I’m going to attempt NaNoWriMo again for the like the 4th, maybe 5th time. I was always working before, so it really was hard. Last year, I was still in a daze, but this year, I can’t help but wonder if this is destined to happen 😉

It’s really fun, this National Novel Writing Month annual event that started in 1999. So, even though I have some really interesting things on my agenda to share with you, I may be a bit MIA even more than normal this next month – yeah I know, you never know what to expect from me . . . sorry — though I kind of like it LOL 😉 (Like today for example, you get to hear from me two or maybe even three times – that’s a record!!)

If you want to join me in this journey to attempt 50,000 words in 30 days, the links are provided above. Notice, I did say attempt – though I am going to work it hard this year!! Maybe this is the something I felt coming, hell who knows 😉

Wish me luck!!eyes

 

Just something I was thinking about . . . that novel burning up inside me 🙂

Some FLUFF is always good

Appreciation, Free Spirit, Inspiration, Memoirs, Music, Opinion, Thinking Independently, , ,

I don’t know about y’all, but I need a break from the news.

I love all kinds of music – though not head-banging or rap so much – rock and roll, blues, jazz, R&B, some pop, some country, and even a small amount of classical. Growing up in the 1970s , I was a huge Black Sabbath fan! My first real boyfriend turned me on to them – they were his FAV band, and his room was covered in their posters. As we listened together, I fell in love with the driving beats, and what I considered at the time as rebellious, independent, free-spirited, anti-establishment, beautiful, truthful lyrical compositions. BUT my favorite compositions were their instrumental pieces. They are just beautiful and soul-touching.

My very favorite of these instrumental pieces & one of my all time favorite songs is Fluff.

Then there’s Laguna Sunrise, a very peaceful, introspective piece.

Black Sabbath did a few other instrumental pieces, as well, but these were my favs.

Feeling nostalgic and working on feeling peaceful this evening . . .

Got some interesting stuff coming soon, a few new topics I have been probing around in – hope you’ll stick around and check it out!

Just something I was thinking about . . . ☮

Who Would You Choose?

Appreciation, Inspiration, Just Jot It July, Life, Opinion, , , , , ,

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If I was given this luxury or gift of spending an hour sitting with anyone from the past or the present, it would be a difficult choice to make. I have a few that come to mind:

My Mom – I would apologize for all the times that I was such a bitch! Seriously!! I wasn’t a bad daughter per say, but I was a rebellious (to say the least) teenager and a hard ass as an adult. Now that I am older, I can appreciate a few of the situations she found herself in and why she struggled the way she did. I can also appreciate and understand the bond and love you feel with your children, especially your first. I don’t think most human beings really understand this until they have become a parent – truly. I know I didn’t. I would want her to tell me all about Heaven.

My Brother – Though I am the oldest sibling, my oldest brother died when I was five. He was 3 ½ years old. Things were said like pneumonia, crib death, and other things, but who really knows. Did he know I loved him? (I was told that I was so good with him and sweet, but did he realize it?) I would want to ask him what Heaven is like in his eyes, because I know if there is one, he is surely there!!  I’d want him to know even after all these years, though I don’t recall much, I have never forgotten about him. HE was my first real friend, and after watching my granddaughters together – I just know he and I were close like that.

My Papa – My grandpa died when I was 14. He had a massive heart attack in his 50s. I didn’t get a whole lot of time with him, but I got enough. I would want him to know that even after all these years, he was one of a few good men I was able to look up to and respect. He was one of the only men I ever trusted completely. I would tell him the lessons I learned from him were lifelong. I still think of him so often even now. They say some girls marry a guy just like their daddy, well I certainly didn’t – but I’m pretty sure I married a guy a lot like my Papa 🙂

My Father-in-law – I would gladly insist my husband take my place and spend that time with his dad and get those last words they needed. The one day he rallied to say goodbye to everyone was the one day out of three and half-weeks that we did not make the 3.5 hour drive one way to the hospital. The next day, we showed up early in the morning, but he was out of it again. He died a week later. We missed our opportunity to say goodbye – most importantly, my husband missed his opportunity. I would love it if they had that time together.

My younger self – I have so much advice, especially in hindsight. There’s a few habits I wouldn’t have picked up, and a few others I would’ve. I would have saved so much more money, had I only known what the future held. I wouldn’t have taken a few things so personally. I would’ve handled a few keys thing very differently, which would have changed the course of my life in some aspects, I believe, for the better.

This is a tough decision, so good thing it’s not for real! If you had this luxury or gift, who would you choose? It’s an interesting train of thought, for sure.

Anyway, just something I was thinking about . . .

http://misslouella.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/just-jot-it-july/ 

Happy 4th of July

Appreciation, Inspiration, Opinion, , ,

As we celebrate Independence Day in the United States, I have many things on my mind.

I am thankful that I can spend the day with my family, several generations actually, eating good food, drinking a few, and playing in the pool. I can do this knowing no one will try to invade the party or bomb us.

I am grateful that I live in a country where, though I do not agree with many things like the recent Hobby Lobby birth control issue, we can discuss it openly – even if I don’t agree, and no one is going to come and arrest me because I do not agree and I voice it publicly.

I respect those who sacrifice and are brave enough to put their lives on the line so I can do these things. My sincerest gratitude!

I value the freedom of expression we all have.

Just something I was thinking about . . .

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Looking for Signs

Inspiration, Life, Opinion, Reality, , , , ,

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Typically I write about things going on in the world. Today I’m pondering the strangest things. So my dishwasher quit working a few days back. Gotta love when things go wrong and you are not expecting it or it is a problem (for whatever reason). So my husband had to pull out the dishwasher and try to repair it – which he was unable to do.

BUT, the most random thing happened. In all the strange and out of the ordinary things that have happened lately, today was a bit trippy. After the dishwasher was pulled out and messed with, a few margaritas were had to celebrate the fact that we could not repair it and it will need replaced – meaning we will be washing dishes by hand for a while. We celebrate odd things around our house – and after a few margaritas, I was buzzing pretty good and not feeling quite so bad about the dishwasher anymore, and I happen to look down, and I found this little piece of copper lying on the floor. It’s so small, it’s barely the size of a third of my fingernail.

The minute I find it, I recognize where it is from – a favorite pair of copper earrings I haven’t worn in over 3 years because I had lost a piece – the piece I happened to find tonight. I have to admit, in light of all the bullshit going on, this was amazing since this was one of my favorite pair of earrings that I got compliments on all the time, and had quit wearing because I had a lost a piece of one of them – though refused to throw them away. Needless to say, I thought it was lost forever – so finding it, and finding it in this manner was, may I say, so fucking random!

I was just thrilled about this find – I am pretty easy to amuse most days! I know this seems like such a small thing, but for some reason, I felt this was a turning point. We all find signs where we want, and this was a sign for me that things are going to be looking up, that unexpected joyful things are going to keep happening. I hope I am correct in this assumption. BUT even if I’m not, I now have one of my fav pieces of jewelry back in service. These earrings probably didn’t cost me but about $15 or thereabouts, but it’s just the fact that after all this time, I found the missing piece.

Then today, I discovered the most wonderful tenants in my huge fig tree in my back yard. Four small owls; I think they are fledglings. I was so excited to know they have been living there. That may be what my dog was going ape-shit over last year, too, and I just didn’t notice them. I hear they are habitual about where they nest, so hopefully they will return next year, too. I can only hope so! I consider these little owls to be a sign of hope for new and exciting things in the future, if I am curious enough to pay attention.

Like I said, we all find our way and our signs in different places. What about you? What do you think?

Just something I was thinking about . . . .

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And I get the image credits today 🙂