A Walk on the Wildside by Diane Ogden

I was out and about this morning finishing up some deliveries for the news magazine, The Sustainable Times in Madison, Wisconsin.  Not that I was wearing those gorgeous vintage stockings and or blue pumps even tho I do wish I had the courage to do so!  I am going to be so mad when I die and didn't do that among a few other creative yet off ideas.  I come upon the delivery to an old neighborhood building called The Washington Hotel. Doesn't that remind you of a huge red brick Hotel from the 50's with black fire escapes, alley's and a few drunks there and about?  Well it did me. Probably because my Grandmother Gillie used to manage one of those old jobbers in Rockford, Illinois. Had the old elevator along with the elevator operator and big brass gate holding us safely to the next floor.  Mother would never allow me to go too far for fear of something I didn't know what?  I do now!  Back to The old Washington Hotel...  In reality it is two story, on the lake with a gorgeous view of the Capital and the Monona Terrace Center.  Our mini Australian Opera doo daa day in the Bay.  Sorry I forgot what its called but I do know.  Somewhere in my brain is the name of that Bird Billed Architectural "thingy."  God all these college words, cant hardly take it.  OK, back to the point.  I usually park directly in front of The Washington Hotel, take my bundle of magazines inside, place them on the rack, cut the bands and leave.  Today no parking available in front so I park across the Railroad Tracks in an empty lot.  This would be a dreadful place if it were darktime!  But it wasn't so I stifled the GAD that tries to keep me locked up in my house forever. (General Anxiety Disorder) Grabbed my bundle, and headed for the weed surrounded tracks.  Suddenly I remembered all the old movies I saw as child where the good guy/gal gets their shoe/foot caught in the tracks (I have never figured out how that is possible) and of course the train is coming fast blowing its terrifying whistle.  Back to reality? Rarely!  I crossed the tracks looking both ways as if I would miss the huge hunk of metal should it be even remotely close. duh.  Took a few seconds to survey the tracks to see if my foot could get stuck.....There would be no saving me if so.  No hero around the corner, no "Clean Cut Cowboy" to rush in and save the distressed damsel.  That never happens anymore by the way. Not even in the movies I don't think...  I MADE IT and on my own even.  Crossed those tracks, delivered my mags....crossed 'em again with not so much as a smidgen of drama... That's why I have to make up my own.  I love my drama.  It seems so real sometimes.  By the way the picture of Nell isn't me either.  I found that on google.  She does have a neat little blog tho.  http://www.littlenellvintage.blogspot.com/   She is also at http://www.flickr.com/    I am home now, sitting in my jeans and sweatshirt dreaming of some other dangerous interesting little skit I can put myself in.  I am good at it!  Maybe I'll write a book.  I already am.

On a Lighter Note....

ALSWELL.....or it will be.

The Pregnant Daughter...omg

Some daughters are pregnant in Junior High School...others in High School, then others in College, then there is  mine, pregnant at age 21, living on her own, or was.  Sick as hell.  She would tell you she is surely in hell and would like to die.  I am in the background being positive.  Don't you just hate that positive person in the background when you need to pueck over and over, have to go to the Urgent Care, then the E.R. for IV fluids...they can't find your veins because you are dehydrated.  You are bruised over and over for two weeks. You are spinning, nauseated, having reactions to the meds given you, including one that paralyzed you 75%...and then there are the 99% of all friends and relatives telling you to "get rid of it."   "It " they say...Some say" it" has no spirit until just before birth...the online photos say it has feet now, and she saw the heartbeat on the ultrasound, and, the daughter only has one week to "get rid of it" legally in this state.  Another says she needs attention and that is why she is sick. Mentally self induces vomit, right!  Another emails "GET AN ABORTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  And that one was a brother.  Another says, "You leave the area yet? You hitchhiking out of there yet?" DUH.. That was another brother...  The very ones that helped raise her when I heard all the same reactions at age 40 after discovering I was pregnant while using birth control.  Yup...here we go again dammit.  But who knows...it might turn out wonderful.  People hate a positive person...  My daughter told me she could not imagine spreading her legs in the same building with such people, all there for the same reason and all their "tadpoles" (I call it that so I can deal with this mess) being sucked out of their bodies with a vacuum and dumped into the SAME Garbage can!  I wonder who picks up the trash at that building...Her tadpole has feet and a heartbeat and arms now...But no Spirit some say...so its OK to suck it out. Hell tadpoles have hearts and feel pain, but we are not all connected are we?  Some also say the devil set it all up to make her life horrible for her.  Humm.. Could be!! Grandma tells her it might have down syndrome because she had a miscarriage before this and pieces might be left inside her.  Can you believe this?  Holy Cow shit I say...  She is sooo sick....and then to deal with all the comments.  But maybe they are all right and correct.  Will be hard, will be a child with a bad background, will cost too much, may need government help for a bit, might be a huge inconvenience, might change her life, might ruin it, could be a bad seed.  Yet the one thing my daughter has done well in her life is be a Nanny and love the little ones.... Bless her decision, but I figure she will have this tadpole, give "it" a name, and share custody with the father.... I pray her sickness leaves soon and my positive attitude will prevail a good outcome...  a healthy little human being man-boy!  Named????  Not a fetus in a mixed trash can of waste...They say God doesn't create trash....I sure hope God is in this one...who could say its trash ?? Who is to say that?  Such a bunch of emotional TRASH going on here regarding this tadpole, huh?
So I guess this was my emotional dump on my blog.  Sorry.  I am believing for a good ending...I always do.  It doesn't always work out tho..  My License Plate says, ALSWELL.  So it is!  I could have gotten a License plate that said, lfe s sht...but I didn't..Even tho sometimes it is, I prefer ALSWELL. This is not my decision...I will support hers.

People Cannot See White Lines on Road...

So I ran out of gas today.Running out of gas can be very hazardous to a persons well being as you can see by the first photo of the car coming at me in my parking lane. Nobody runs out of gas who has a half a brain and some money. I did.  My gas gauge is broken so I trip set my mileage.  I usually go 340 in the winter.  This time I chugged  through an intersection and putted to the side at 279 miles to an entire 17 gallon tank. What happened?  I had a load on for a couple days is what happened. The real problem turned out to be at least fifty people with less brain cells than I had today...that cannot seem to see the white line next to my car advising them its a PARKING LANE!  Take note of the car on the bottom photo that I am taking from my rear view mirror.  Look how far over the lane that person is.  I couldn't believe the trucks that almost hit me.  I re-seat belted myself and also figured I would be safer on a flight over the ocean...in a storm. 

My co worker showed up with a full gallon of gas . She had to purchase the gas can at $7.95 plus the gas.  There went my Roundys gas savings card. In fact I lost money on this round. I still cant believe I ran out of gas.  But ALSWELL as my license plate has said since 1994.   

Where Did The Time Go? by Diane Ogden

OK so I stopped at this restaurant called Texas Tubbs in Madison, Wisconsin.  I had eaten there once with a co-worker by accident. Meaning, we were exhausted and hungry and happen to run into this here Texas stop.  They play old time country music and I mean old time.  While standing at the counter waiting for my Texas Tubbs home made salsa and chips to go I struck up a conversation with a couple and their two daughters, who were laying, yes each laying on a bar stool while resting heads in Mom's lap. Dad was strolling about awaiting a table.  I noticed the lamp on the desk and commented on it.  "My goodness that's an old one."  She said, "Who are those people?"  I said, "That's Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. They were very famous in the 1950's with a "sit-com" and music albums.  Did you ever hear of his horse named Trigger? Or hers named Buttermilk?"  The man and woman looked at me and said, "No!" 
Jeez....I thought to myself how gumpy old I must look as well as felt at that moment.  Besides I was dressed in old goober work clothes to top it off.  Suppose there is more to come or maybe not if I keep my mouth shut regarding OLD TIMES when I am around YOUNG PEOPLE. doi  Cant believe they never even saw a re-run of Dale Evans and Roy Rogers chasing bad guys on pretty horses.  Thank God I didn't try to sing Happy Trails to that young family.

The Next in Line Arrives Home....Cody Ogden and Laura Conrad from Los Angeles by Diane Ogden

And he came but not "Home Alone," yet yes as in the antics of that movie...  Cody Ogden is visiting from Los Angeles this month. He brought with him a tiny little package with a name... She is five feet tall, surely  not a hundred pounds even... Laura Conrad is the name, and I think the man is in love. What a special couple they are.  Not afraid to try or do anything.  Having a wonderful time we all are. I told her she looks like a miniature Sandra Bullock...she said, "Allot of people tell me that."

Buster Goes on Vacation

See, this is Buster!  He has been sitting in my apt. for six years waiting for his best bud Chris to come get him....  finally Chris came.  BUT...the car was overloaded with "stuff."  I told Chris he needed to take Buster with them to Yellowstone.  They had already traveled from L.A. to Sedona area,  to Texas, to Wisconsin, then New York, then back to Wisconsin, and now with Buster in tow, to Yellowstone.  Personally I pushed for Buster! I felt Buster would give the many humans that viewed him a jolt for joy!  Can you imagine seeing the amazing dog friend atop a car crossing country. Reminds me of the movie VACATION..when they put the dead Grandma on top the car and kept going.  I laughed at that until I cried..and here we were again.  BUT, no room for extra weight on the car.  Well shitski anyway. What a hoot this would a been huh? Buster trucking with the kids cross country, giving so many such joy!  O well, Buster is now back in my spare bathroom sitting there alone again for God knows how many more years.  I can't put Buster on top my car... I can't..wouldn't be the same!  He can wait, he's the best at waiting... he sat in Chris's room since the mid 90's...I better put a caretaker for him in my will for sure... I will!