So when does the chit-chat start? Right now!

a reply to: desert

And a very subversive Mele Kalikimaka to you too desert!

How many places besides Lounge Noir do you think we could get away with that kind of thing?

:-)

The sweater sounds lovely -and interesting :-) Now I can't wait for next Christmas. But I can really use that Sherry my friend - there is a bottle in my kitchen right now of the very worst sherry I have ever had...not even suitable for cooking. I'm still trying to down a little bit of it every night - waste not want not and all that. Good sherry will be my reward

Your dinner sounded amazing - hope your holiday was wonderful. Hope you get your snow!

Oh, my ex called out of the blue this year, to say "Thank You!" for having helped raise our sons to be so loving. Now that's what I call a Christmas miracle!

Doesn't that just beat everything? I love that. What a gift

All my love to you and yours - and to all of Lounge Noir too. Happy New year everybody!

I am playing the war game Goddess of War,I was so exciting about the game.

Nesting season soon...sun coming back

Ciao compadres - see you in the spring

:-)

Spira, I think you just found the LN theme song. That was so nice, so nice. Well, since you might not be here for awhile, I hope you use that Amazon Button I gave you. Just put it on your fridge and press it whenever you need to resupply the sherry. Now, don't get so....so .....so relaxed that you keep pressing the "thank you for being" magnet next to it. That one's good for inspiration but not so good for ordering sherry.

Ok, gang, I'm going to put more money in the jukebox, so we can hear more of Leon. Think I'll go check out that Goddess of War game.

TODAY is Amadeus 260th birthday.
Happy Birthday Wofie!

Wolfie! Yay!

Ok, everybody, Mozart Cocktails are free today. And all-you-can-eat liver dumplings with sauerkraut in the buffet and at the bar.

Party on!

Dammit! I stepped in a yuuge gopher hole on our big, beautiful Lounge Noir golf course. Means Spring is almost here! Yay!

Jeeves, morning coffee for all. How is everyone?

Well, I did my first sabrage yesterday. No, don't cover the young'uns' ears. Sabrage is the art of opening a champagne bottle with a saber. So, desert can now be the official LN Sabrage Champagne Sommelier. No charge to LN members. I had been reluctant to try it, believing I would see my finger tips flying in the air rather than the top of the champagne bottle neck. Nope, didn't happen.... which is a good thing, because I still would like to put on the LN Summer Finger Puppet Theatre this year.

olaru, you lookin' forward to another fishin' season on the river?

Well, I'm off to start the day. Good coffee. Good friends. Good time. A rich Life, indeed.

a reply to: desert

Finger puppets....kinky erotic theater always gets my attention until the dementia kicks in.

No fishin for me this season; joined another union to keep busy. IATSE... working locations. union proud, union strong! Still SAG/AFTRA but old hippies are only served thin slices of the pie.
Tamalewood is booming!!

olaru, the Finger Puppet Theatre will have its usual childrens shows during the day and early evening. The late night adult show will continue to offer kinky erotic theatre. That's when the gloves come off.... or on, depending on your preference.

Oh, one new finger puppet skit this year, to honor our venerable tradition of election season, had to be moved to the adult show. The re-enactment of the GOP debates would have included Rubio and Trump comparing "hand size" and Romney "dropping to his knees" before Trump. The LN board members decided that, out of decency, the children should not see it.

Hey, SAG/AFTRA and now IATSE? You ARE busy! Yay! olaru, having grown up in Los Angeles, I have a special place in my heart for your profession. A world without actors and everyone involved in that art and craft would be a dark, soulless world.

Well, waddya know, a double post. What was that, olaru, about dementia setting in? hahaha

a reply to: desert
Hey kids! It's spring - more or less. Was all dirt a week ago - and now it's crocuses. Like magic

You know Desert - I keep pushing that button for more sherry, but this is all I get...


There's more than one message in that video - it's a swirling abstract ouroboros of meaning that somehow keeps missing it's own tail

But I have to wonder if it doesn't mix a little product placement in with your penchant for finger puppets :-)

As far as actual sherry goes - still dry, so I found myself wandering back home to Lounge Noir

Thank you for being desert - while I'm here. It's a good thing you're on the entertainment committee - we gotta laugh to keep from cryin' :-)

Let's give the jukebox a swift kick and get this party started

Oh, yes, let's laugh and have a good time! Welcome back, Spira! Jeeves, our finest sherry!

Spira, my younger sister and I were faithful Shari Lewis fans when we were children. We loved Shari and her puppets! Who could forget Lambchop....brings tears to my eyes as I think of those times.....good times.... innocent times .... Shari inspired my sister and I to up our act as puppeteers. Instead of using socks on our hands, one Christmas we asked for a real puppet show set we had seen in a store. A child-size cardboard puppet stage with neat looking hand puppets!

Of course, we knew that just "asking Santa" for something didn't mean it would magically appear under the tree Christmas morning. We could wish, but knew that all wishes couldn't be fulfilled. Another thing my sister and I loved to do was to rummage around our large garage and storage area to find things to play with, things that either would start an idea for imaginary play or be incorporated into an imaginary play idea we had cooked up. So you can imagine the delighted surprise we had when one day our rummaging around revealed a carefully hidden puppet set, the exact one we had seen in the store!

Being the kids we were, we immediately set out to open the box and play with it. Of course, we knew we should not spoil our parents' joy in seeing us find the set under the tree Christmas morning, so we made a pact never to tell anyone that we had accidentally found the hidden Christmas gift, carefully opened it up, actually set it up and played with it, and then skillfully put it away as it had been found.

The worst part was having to keep that secret until Christmas, to stifle the excitement of imaging all the fun times we would have being real puppeteers, to pretend that we might or might not get our wish. But it was all worth it Christmas morning, when we saw the look of joy on our parents' faces, when they saw how delighted their daughters were to find that puppet stage set up, ready for imaginary play with those adorable puppets.

My sister and I never did tell anyone about finding that gift before Christmas. We somehow knew even as children, that Christmas was a magical time for gift givers as much as gift receivers. We could never spoil the magic for our parents.

And so I raise my glass of sherry and toast the return of Spira to Lounge Noir! She returned bearing gifts for us! Let the magic begin!

.... and now, desert is off to shake that thing! ..... or maybe desert just wants to sit under the tree and ponder "it's a swirling abstract ouroboros of meaning that somehow keeps missing it's own tail ".... or maybe just walk around trying to pronounce "ouroboros" correctly....

a reply to: desert

That made my day desert. You and your sisters feel very familiar to me :-)

When I was a kid, in the summer while my mom was at work I used to spend the day with some kids that lived farther down the valley from us on a winding dirt road. They had an actual barn - and in that barn were several old trunks full of puppets and costumes and backdrops

Is there any limit to how much fun you can have in the summer, in the country, in a barn - with a stash like that?

I forgot. There was also an old piano - and a pony

Life was good

I have a kind of a thing for Ms. Shari - she's almost an icon for me, though I didn't really begin to appreciate her in that way until I was much older. I reckon she had a lot to say, and managed to say it in a very subtle, artful and humorous way. You can find subversion in the most interesting places sometimes - don't you think?

:-)

desert dusts off bar stool and sits down..... Oh, so good to be back! Hola, amigos y amigas! Been enjoying the renovations around the ole casa, so haven't been here for awhile. Been planning parties.... a cruise theme and a camping theme, complete with tent, Spira! ...... BFF is having her Kentucky Derby party, and I have my hat made; it looks godawful, with an abundance of colorful organdy material and bows, so should fit right in. I stay away from plumage. I'm gettin' more PETA-ish in my old age.

Speaking of parties, there's way too much political crap in the news!! And Trump All The Time.... aggghhh! It's so bad, that I ended up listening to days of music from Coachella instead ..... and I liked it!! Why have I not heard of Killer Mike and Run The Jewels?? ....oh, maybe because of my age..... but, hey, it's never too late..... I just have to be careful with body movements, so as not to get torn retinas, cartilage, etc.

Heading up to Kings Canyon for a few days today. Fond memories of that place, both in campgrounds, rustic cabins, and backcountry. Not much is in the news (see above) about the disaster in the central Sierras; at least half the trees in some areas are dead from beetle infestation due to weakened state from drought. Too see half of a range that should be green but is brown is too much to bear. God help us with anther fire season approaching.

How's everything in your neck of the woods, everyone? olaru, I think for you it's the San Juans; and, Spira, your area has been on again off again with Spring.

Well, Spira, let's toast a glass of sherry....To subversion! ..... Hey, one of the things I've been up to lately, since my wet bar has been reclaimed from our aging cat, who no longer can jump up there to enjoy a specially placed bowl of water, has been to become a home bartendress. I plan to advance to mixologist soon, but, for now, I make some excellent martinis. Maybe it's all thanks to my statue of St. Amand, patron saint of bartenders and winemakers, but I've been having fun going online for different drink recipes. The camping party libation list has been created. And I had to special order a small bottle of Xocolatl Mole Bitters for a summer corn cocktail.

Jeeves, don't worry. Your job is still safe here. But I can sub once in a while.

Salud!

a reply to: desert

I'm sure I've just missed you. I can see the dust from your caravan moving a ways down the road...

I'll sit here on the veranda sipping my sherry, wishing you a magical trip desert

I'm going to have to try the bizarreness of a corn cocktail, but Jeeves just said hell no. So I guess I'll have to wait for your return

Hasta la vista to you and your mister - happy trails...

Desert!

Shake off the dust, pull up a stool - I'll make you one of those corn cocktails you're so fond of

I make mine with a can of creamed corn and tequila - close enough?

It may not be quite as lovely as yours - but it's faster

Welcome back sister

So that's why I've had to keep dusting off my barstool! Sorry about all the dust around here. I'll park Chewbaca and the rest of the caravan further away, on the golf course. I can see that Spira has been in charge of the drinks and music..... she really has a flair for music, but I think I'll pass on her version of the corn cocktail.

Well, my trip to Kings Canyon was great! We were fortunate to get a night in their 110 year old cabin, nestled in among their other cabin types. Brought back memories of seeing the old ranger cabins or forest cabins on camping trips as a kid. The other two nights was spent in their modern lodge; I remember when it was built and always wanted to stay there.

The drive down into the canyon was not as sad as I thought it would be. There was the sad loss of a historic resort, but the good news is that wildflowers had come out to cover the ground wherever the fire had come through. Nature at work overtime to recover. The hillsides of brown, dead trees, although horrific, seemed to be confined at this point, so there were still beautiful vistas.

Didn't see any bears but did see deer, raccoons, various squirrels and chipmunks, and there was beautiful birdsong all day but especially in the early mornings and evenings. Took several walks to see views and redwoods.

We had our camping theme party, and sometime next is a cruise party, but we're really excited about a year from now for a Summer of Love party. Yay! Yep, 50 years ago.... WTF 50 years!!.... anyway, I already have my tie dye caftan shirt, and of course we'll be wearing flowers in our hair. The only acid to be dropped that day would be if a bottle of balsamic vinegar spills. We will have music. Decorating should be a breeze, blankets to sit on the floor. Incense.

MrD wanted meat for the SOL party, but I told him that we'ld probably do vegetarian. But after thinking it over and consulting my 1972 Whole Earth Cookbook, we can make a Mexican Stuffed Zucchini. MrD said that hippies really didn't start becoming vegetarian until the Hare Krishnas started plying Americans with Indian food, especially those little savory pancakes. He's right.

Well, I'm just gonna grab a cup of coffee and mosey on out. Gotta get some breakfast going in the kitchen. ..... early mornings are my favorite, best time of day.

a reply to: desert

Brought back memories of seeing the old ranger cabins or forest cabins on camping trips as a kid.

And KOAs...been a while, but such happy memories

I'm glad it wasn't sad. Watching nature do it's thing after such a loss is powerful stuff. Obviously fire is natural - but, some fires are more natural than others. So glad to hear the area is full of life

Summer of love! Desert! If we are all very good girls and boys - maybe next summer really will be the summer of love

Happily will I wear my best tie dye dress - and flowers in my hair

I once wore lilacs in my hair to a party. Lilacs wilt - badly and soon. I still say real friends would have told me :-)

I'll bring the hummus then - and a few other Moosewoody goodies. I'm sure Mr. D won't mind

So, for Love, Summer - and for the open road...

desert is behind the bar, having given Jeeves the day off. Poor guy, he's been here 24/7 for awhile now. desert gave him a pile of bills and suggested he get some rejuvenation at the LN Spa. desert takes bar towel and wipes residue dust off the bar top.

Hello, Spira! Good to see you! You've had a busy morning being a good human. Some of us had lots to celebrate yesterday. Hey, I created a drink just for you! Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like A Bee. A shot of the finest sherry, followed by two chasers of more sherry.

desert wipes spills from bar top. she never was known for pouring liquor without spilling.

Hey, thanks for swiping your card in our new juke box. I love that music! Glad you're getting ready for SOL. The party here will be huge. A tip from a friend: gardenias don't work either, rather an embarrassing mess. Thanks for thinking of MrD!

Another Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like A Bee? If you want, you can try out the blankets I would like to use for our SOL LN party. Take a nap on the veranda and see if these blankets will be comfortable enough for sitting and lounging. Here, I'll even deliver you another drink. .....Oh, no, no charge. These drinks are on the house for all the good work you do around here as a good human.

What's the chance we can book this guy here in LN land.

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