"Ben the two of us need look no more, we both found what we are looking for..." Ode to a Rat sung by Michael Jackson written by Walter Scharf & Don Black

What up my homies (all 6 1/2!) I have a bone (sorry the pun) to pick again with the media. My last little commentary on the media had to do with the happy commericals about erectile disfunction and the depressing (again with the word play) commericals about depression. Today's sermon is about animal abuse,abandonment and getting lost. Now gentle reader anyone who know's me know's I am mad for my girls and any other doggie or cat that passes my way. If you refer to prior post, "Puppy Love", it says it all. I realize that everyone's gotta raise money for their causes and marketing of any product is necessary but my goodness they might as well start playing the depression commerical's before and after the commericals for animal abuse and abandonment. There are two that kill me. The first one is where they show the sad dog and Sarah Mclachlan starts yodeling in the background. I get it, but hey when I hear her start to yodel I plug my ear's and start going lalalalalala as I try to blindly change the channel because my eyes are also closed. The other one is the sad looking dog poking his nose through the cage asking "What did I do"??? Crap, it brings me to my knees. Just as my Sainted Danny has often banned me from programs with initials, NCIS,CSI because I have nightmares these commericals are also forbidden in our home. Now I realize they are playing on our emotions but crap my emotions are not in that good of shape being a 52 year old woman going through menopause and dealing with my own depression. We all get the point! Please, just get on the TV and ask me for money. I promise, I will send it!! I can't take the Sally Struthers commericals about children with no food either. I think their choice of casting was ill advised, no offense to Sally. She's grown a bit portly in her old age and doesn't look like she misses many meals. Where was Celine Dion when they were casting, and she can yodel the song to it as well! Yes, I'm a bleeding heart and cannot stand any form of abuse or neglect of animals, children, old people the whole schmear. Look even crazy ole dead Michael Jackson sang the lament of a rat who was misunderstood. We all felt for the rat, one of the most unloveable creatures on god's green earth. When my younger sister heard the music for Lassie come on she used to run screaming with her ears covered (I did the same thing with the music from Chiller Theater). At 4:30 Mummy made sure that the channel was not turned to Timmy and Lassie cause we couldn't stand the screaming. Of couse she also screamed when she saw a fly or flushed the toilet so who really know's what that shit was all about! I also must admit, since I try to be honest in my blog that when Ruth got on my nerves too much, imagine that, I used to turn the channel to Timmy and Lassie just to watch her run away screaming and leave me the hell alone! She got me back years later when I listened to music with headphones, she would sneak up and wait for the drum solo on "In the Air Tonight" and turn it up and scare the crap outa me. But I digress. Here are some fun, light facts about dog's since we have been dealing with the serious. Dogs have about 100 different facial expressions, most of them made with the ears.Dogs have about 10 vocal sounds. Dog's do not have appendix. They also DO see colors. So I promise that I will continue to support animal rights, give to starving children and never pass a Salvation Army kettle without giving. I also support the rights of Werewolves!Please, Please just take it easy on the maudlin commericals. So, today dear reader, if anything has made you go hmmmm It should be, how the piss does my Sainted Danny put up with me? So for now, Later Scater ur out (70's street slang for goodbye). Your servant, Pammy xooxoxoxox

"A rose is a rose is a rose"....Gertrude Stein

Dear 6 1/2 supporters and whom ever else had decided to read my little missives. Hope you had a great week and weekend. I had the pleasure of attending a dear friend, Margie's wedding yesterday. I've know Margie about 4 years and she's many years younger than me, but she is one of the most kindest, caring and all around good persons I've ever had the honor of knowing. Just as she is a beautiful person she was a beautiful bride. I have the profound gratification of knowing she is "a sister of my heart". As I watched her and her Tony exchange their vow's and have their first dance as husband and wife I had time to reflect upon many different things in my life and it does bring up so many different emotions. First off, as always it reminded me how in love I am with my Sainted Danny. As I watched Margie walk down the isle I was reminded of my own wedding day and the excitement. It wasn't the "party" that was important to me, it was the vow that I was taking that excited me. I though about my Mom and Dad and how proud I was to have my Dad walk me down the isle. I was his last daughter to marry and I thanked God he was there to support me (I think we both did a bit of emotional and physical supporting that day as Daddy was not in good health). I also had to reflect on some painful things....My sisters. As most of you probably know my sisters and I do not have contact with one and other. That of course was until March 18th when I ran into my older sister, Donna at Sam's club. I have to give her credit as she was the one who approached me as I didn't even see her. It took me a few moments to realized who she was, which in someways is very sad. I don't know if I would have been able to do the samething if I had been the one to see her first. We spoke. I held all the horrible bad thoughts and words in because that was not how she was approaching me and at this point would solve nothing. She wished me a happy birthday and I wished her a good, happy long life. We did go outside and have a conversation. I can't say it solved anything I guess it just took the suprise element away of will I ever run into this person and how will I handle it. I try to be a good, kind, caring and forgiving person but I don't always succed. I acknowledge that it took four of us to cause the problem and I do include my dear mother in that. I love Mummy with my entire heart and soul and tried to everything I could for her. I wish Mummy had knocked all our heads together and told us to shut up, get along and get over it. Alas, this did not happen. At this point in her life Mum was getting older and probably sicker and in general just beat up mentally and physcially by life. It happens. I have been fortunate that I have other family who have been my rocks and foundation during these past years. No matter how I try I cannot erease the blood bond I have between these two women. I must say even if I don't like them as people, I do love them. It's a very complicated thing. I still haven't seen the younger sister, Ruth, but just as it did with Donna I imagine we will run into each other someday. I don't think it will go as civil as it did with Donna. I don't know what I feel about Ruth. Yes, I love her, no I don't like her. This might sound like a horrid thing to say, but I can't help it. If God had put us all in a room together none of the three of us would have chosen to friends with one and other. Blood does not always make you buddies. I had already been in conflict with these feelings before last night at Margie's wedding. It made me think about things like will I ever see my Niece and Newphew again and see them walk down and isle with someone they love? Will I ever know if I'm a Great Aunt? Then is the horrible question of do I want to be part of those lives. It has nothing to do with love for them. My heart aches sometimes to see them and hear their voices. I just am so unsure what path I am being led down right now. I know we are supposed to be good Christian's and forgive but some hurts go so deep and the cut is so ugly that it may never heal. I know, Jesus forgave the worst things in the whole world why can't I? Where does it leave us?? I have no answers. I don't think it's something that I will all of a sudden have a "light bulb" moment and have the answer. I also don't think I'm the one who has more soul searching to do. I know I do my share of it and I know the toll it has and is taking on me. I must say watching Margie get married with all her family and friends around her loving and supporting her gave me a wonderful warm feeling. It also made me sad that I honestly never felt that kind of warmth from my sisters. Dear reader, please do not think I am placing all the blame on them. again I state, I had my fingers in this pot and helped stir it. Much of my stiring was not done from any malious but from overwhelming hurt. I always tell people who are angry at a sibling or a loved one and have decided to to speak to them to please take a good,long, hard look at my sisters and myself. Our's was and is no solution and if you make that decsion sometimes there is no turning back. Thus brings me to my blog title "A Rose is a Rose is a Rose". This was written my Gertrude Stein in 1913 for a poem "Sacred Emily". Basically it means, It is what is is. Im also trying to process that in terms of these two relationships. Is it truly is what it is? I can tell you in the future days, weeks and months I have much to ponder and pray on. If anything today makes you go mmmmm in my blog today I hope that it is about the effect we all have on one and other, releated or not. You have all been kind reading this and allowing me to vent some of this. I bid you all and Adios for today and leave you with a quote from Romeo and Juliet
"Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.".. William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, 2.2. Gotta love me...I like to make a grand depature and any chance to quote ole Will Shakespeare is always a great opportunity! Till the next time my friends....xoxxoo peace out! Pammy

To Bra...or not to Bra...that IS the question...

S'up my 6 1/2??? Not all that much on my end, but I do have and experience to share with all of you. Now people that know me personally know that I am a shall we say a Reubenesque built woman. Even after losing 116 lbs. I still have "girls" that are deserving of their own zip code.Now this is not bragging, it's a fact.If I had my way I would be flat as a boy. First let me give you a bit of background on Bra's that you may or may not know. Bra's can be traced back as far as the 16th century coming to fashion during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). They were called a "Dudou" and were in vogue amoung rich women. I guess the poor ladies just let them flop in the breeze! From the 16th century up to and through the 19th century corsets were the choice for ladies to keep em in check. Those did not sound fun, even when I look at a bustier I feel like I can't breath, thank you Madonna for helping to make them popular again. Perhaps that's why her singing is only so so...she can't breath! Now here is a fun fact about modern day Bra's. Did you know that Howard Hughes (1905-1976) who was a aviator, movie producer, billionaire and well know hypochondriac invented the underwire, push up bra for Actress Jane Russell (1921-2011) for the movie The Outlaw (1943)? Ms. Russell's sensous performance and her boobies cause a three year halt to this movie, directed by Howard Hughes from being released!! Anywho, enough history and allow me to share my Bra saga from the other day. Picture this...me with my big boobs, my dear Sainted Danny, a lady I went to high school with in a clothes shop dressing room. Now my Sainted Danny is always there for me. Since my little fall this summer I have some torn meniscus in my shoulders and it's aggrivated any arthritis that was in there from dislocating my should and breaking my arm as a child. Yes, I have always been accident prone and yes I am getting old and not ashamed to admit it. So, dear Danny being the bestest husband any old lady could ask for had offered to help me try on Bra's so that he could hook and unhook them for me. Enter my old High School friend Cathy who works in the clothes shop that we are attempting to purchase said undergarment from. It all started with the measuring, which is an ordeal within it's self. Now comes the decsion of what style, color, hooking method, underwire or no underwire, lace or cotton...I could go on (I have to admit the sub-catagories where what almost broke a brave Daniel down!) We now commence to trying on. Of course you have been measured but as any woman of any size know's that usually means jack shit. You just keep trying until you find one that holds em with as little pain and aggravation as possible! Now comes the March of Bra's. We started small as in only a few Bra's in the fitting room. We hook, we look, we unhook over and over again. At this point we now have at least 20 Bra's of different shapes, color and sizes spread around the dressing room. Dan is running back and forth like a crazed hampster to find a new model every 10 min or so. At one point I suggest we stop and in the firmest voice I've ever heard from Daniel he said "WE ARE NOT LEAVING HERE WITH OUT AT LEAST ONE BRA"...he was on a "mission from god". There were Madonna cone Bra's, sport's Bra's, lacy pretty Bra's nothing is working. Enter again Cathy my high school friend. There stand the three of us in a fitting room, me san's bra, my husband with his hair standing on end and Cathy with her tape measure. We measure yet again and start over. At one point as the three of us stand there Cathy tells me to bend forward and shake the "girls" into the Bra. Now most of us have had to do this at one time or another,you just really don't expect to do it in front of an audience unless there are dollar bills involved! EUREKA...we have found a Bra that just may do the trick! It is now 2 hours later and a man that could use a beer. Boob's no longer have any mean as anything other than something you strap down! As we checked out I advised Cathy and Dan I felt like we "shared a moment" and perhaps should go have a smoke! My random thought after that entire ordeal is....ahhh the power of the boob!!! I had a lady fit me at a deparment store once who was of German descent. We will call her The General. As I stand there naked from the waist up trying on a new Bra she throw's open the fitting room door and barks "Vas is Das???" I reply, my boob's. Vell, she say's, zee boobies should be all in zee brassier. I told her that is what I was trying to do but had been interupted by someone throwing open the door. This did not bother her at all. She proceeded to put "the girls" in the the Bra herself. She walked around me, tugged, pushed together, snaped and then prounonced it a "good fit". She then flicked my nipples and walked away. I still don't know what the flicking had to do with the whole ordeal but it seemed important to her! It was the best fitting Bra I ever had! Where was The General when I needed her? I leave you with some of the lovely names we have for Bra's. So creative and descriptive. There is the boobie basket, the over the should boulder holder,the tit sling, the upper decker flopper stopper and in German Der Floppen Schotoppem! I just had to share this little experience with all my 6 1/2 whether they wanted to hear about it or not. Afterwards Daniel and I had a very good laugh and swore it was going to be a lonnnngggg time before we did that again! So there is no great point to what I've written just something to hopefully make us all laugh as now days we all could use a good one and I'm happedn to supply the material. Have a great week all and find something good to laugh at...it keeps us young...that and firm boobies! xoxxox Pammy

"When Irish Eyes are Smilin...." Or as I call it the magical month of March!

Dia Dhuit (dee-ah-dh-it) God be with you in Gaelic my dear 6 1/2!Ahhh the Merry Merry Month of March, ok, I know that it's technically May in the song, but hey, i'm usin it now. What is to be said about this loverly months. Well first and formost it's the month of my entrance into our world."it was cold dark snowy night....(stolen from Snoopy in Peanuts cartoons).Actually I think it was morning and my Mom was iritated that she went into labor on the 17th cause she was all dressed for a party and I don't think I did much for her new dress. So instead of a party, she went to the hospital and TA DA...The stork left moi! Vous you may say...MOI!!! March 18th 1959. Now I don't remember much about that remarkable day but I imagine it was hectic. I embarrassed my parents early on as the night that I was born I rolled over in my little plastic case. Mum and Dad were at the nursery looking at me and lots of other people were looking at their yung un's through the glass as they did in those days (just like little zoo animals!)well, I rolled my little butt over as i'm sure I must have been uncomfortable on my back. Everyone ohhhh'd and awwww'd cause newborns must not be able to do that right away. I don't know as I've never had one of my own. Mum and Dad just looked around like who is that child..don't know why it made such a big fuss but they always told that story. They gave me the lovely name of Pamela Joyce Beattie. Now Mum wanted to name me Heather Laurel but my Great Grandma Lizzie said "you might as well call her Petunia Pardenia cause that's how stupid it sounds" Lizzie spoke her mind. I only have vague memories of her as she passed away when I was 4, but I know I liked her and missed her when she was gone. When it stormed and the thunder and lightning came they always told me the angels were bowling....well...not long after Lizzie died we had a thunder storm and I looked at my Mom and Dad and said, and I am quoting verbatim here "well, If Lizzie can bowl in heaven why the hell can't she pick up a damn phone and call??" Mom said I went through a phase where I swore like a sailor. They also told this story through out my life. So many things happened in the month of March. My Mother did have another child on March 16, four years after I was born, otherwise know as Rigid Ruth (she never compromises). March 15th in history is refered to as The Ides of March. The date in history in 44 B.C. when the Roman Dictator Julius A. Caesar (I don't like his salad dressing) was stabbed 23 times in the Roman Senate lead by his "dear friend" Marcus Junius Brutus...Julie baby's dying breath was to have been taken and with these words "Et Tu Brute" died...bummer. Well, with friends like that you don't need enemies, but then again, he WAS a dictator and they usually don't meet good ends. We thought that Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie had a bad end to a friendship? I think this act coined the phrase "frienemies"! We of course celebrate St. Patrick's day on March 17th when St. Patrick was said to have driven all the snakes out of Ireland. Now did he really drive the snakes out of Ireland..there is no proof to confirm that he did or didn't.They say he may have thrown a few in and cast them out to make it look good but they also say he drove sobriety out of Ireland that day! I can joke about things Irish as my Sainted Danny was born in Ireland! Acutally the driving of the snakes out of Ireland can be looked at as the pagans being driven out to make room for Christianity.Ahhh yes so many day's in March history, again with my Birthday taking precedent over all of them! I don't have a good name for my birthday celebration since St. Patricks day is taken. If I was born in October I would have called it Pamtoberfest, but alas, I was not. So this year I will celebrate my 52 years on earth. It will be a quiet celebration and all verbal tributes are appreciated!. I have two little fun facts to share with you about Parades, Pittsburgh and Ireland. Do you know or remember that on March 13 1993 during the St. Patricks Day Parade in Pittsburgh we had the worst blizzard in 100 years, yet the parade went on!Also..Lucky Charms, a favorite cereal brand among many, young and old, was created in 1963, with its popular mascot, Lucky the Leprechaun. Its jig is a memorable tune for many, including the young at heart!
"Hearts, Stars, and Horseshoes
Clovers and Blue moons
Pots of gold and rainbows,
And the red balloon
That’s the luck of me lucky charms!
Their magically delicious!".
So I hope you enjoyed my little trek through history and my life. I enjoyed writing it I think my random thought is how is the world do I write this stuff?? My mind is ten different places at one time and somedays can't organize a trip to the toilet let alone these paragraphs. Have a wonderful St. Paddy's day my dear 6 1/2 and anyone else who may read this. Slan Agat...Gaelic for goodbye!

"Okey Dokey Artichokey"....Uncle Charlie 2 1/2 Men!

Bonjour dear 6 1/2. I've missed you all but I've been busy following the antics of Charlie Sheen, which has become a fulltime job!!! Would someone please shut this man up!! Martin Sheen have this man declared unfit and get his ass committed before he ends up dead. Just like with Brittany Spears and anyother celebrity addict we all spend too much time paying attention and by doing that feeds the media. The media always say, we given them what they want. I guess we want trash sometimes. Even I, by writting this am playing into the entire hoopla. I just find it sad that another talented life is being wasted.They always say because these people have so much money and power that people are afraid to say no to them or tell them the truth. I thought that was what parents were for! Didn't matter how old I was my Mom and Dad never hesitated to tell me what they thought and what I was doing wrong. At the time it pissed me off, now, I wish I had listened more. Of course I'm not speaking of anything of the level that Mr. Sheen is experiencing. When you can't stand up for yourself or for that matter stand on your own two feet Mom and Dad need to be there. I also realize that a drug addict pushes family so far away that there are times for their own sanity they step back. So if the family can't do it there are enough people around him who's career's depend on him that someone should man up and slap him in the face (figurativly). I try not to feel to bad for Charlie cause he's done this to himself, but there is a part of me who looks in his face all all I can see in his eyes is the confusion. I remember seeing the same look on Robert Downey Jr.s face in the last mug shot they took of him. Af frist I thought it was crazed but then I had a much younger friend point out to me that it was a scared, confused look. I looked back at the picture and did see it and it was terribly sad. I truly don't think Charlie Sheen understands why all this is happening or that he's done it. I know Dr. Drew is just itching to get his paw's on him...imagine the ratings for Celebrity Rehab!!! Mr. Sheen is just playing out in the media what happens to addicts everyday. He just has more money, power and celebrity that causes people to pay attention. I don't think anyone really cares how it turns out for him, because of course when it finally kills him everyone can say "what a shame someone didn't help him". I'm not only sad for the life that is being ruined and the people around him, but damn it, I really liked 2 1/2 Men. Uncle Charlie was a pig, but he was a loveable pig (if that's possible). I've always loved John Cryer since he was Duckie in Pretty in Pink. In this crazy world we live in it gave us something to laugh at. So if someone has enough talent in the day and age to take us mentally away from the worlds troubles for a half and hour I give them credit. I know this is all a bit heavy but I felt like sharing my thoughts on this. So since this has been a bit preachy left me share a fun fact about Oscar's.
The Oscar statuette isn’t made of gold – it’s made from an alloy called Britannia [wiki], which is 93% tin, 5% antimony, and 2% copper. It is only plated with gold.
To conserve metal during World War II, the Oscars were made of plaster. The winners could then exchange them for the shiny statuettes after the war was over the actors could have them replaced with the gold plated statue. As usual I found this little piece of trivia interesting. I'm going to leave you with this random thought that might not be as random as I think but I hope it will all make us go hmmmm. Remember the names Michael Jackson, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams Sr.,Janis Joplin and Judy Garland. Now when we hear them or think of them we always think at the sametime....ahhh it was drugs and alcohol that killed them. Think about Robert Downey Jr., Drew Barrymore and the scores of people you know in your own lives that have overcome some type of addiction. It is possible with help. When he starts shaving his head like Brittany perhaps someone will help him. Let's hope he can get it together. I wrote this not for Charlie Sheen because he would not care a rat's ass about one little person like me thinks, but for the sake of making us think about addiction. So my dear 6 1/2 Have a great day!!!xoxox Pammy