The other night in the check-out line at the grocery store, I pointed out to my husband a display rack with reading glasses in decorative cases. "Look at this," I said too loudly, "they've put glasses in a camouflage case. I would never be able to keep track of these!" I laughed, "They would always be lost!"

Unblinking, my husband looked at me and said, "What glasses?" Camouflaged house?

On one of the back roads we locals take to avoid the interstate, we saw two deer grazing in a field. Since we had never seen the deer that close to the road we decided to get a photo. It's a terrible road with curves and so we had to get on the wrong side of the road and, while I watched for cars, my husband took the photos.

The deer stopped eating and watched us, not bolting until just before the first photograph. Then they both stopped and looked back at us as hubby took this last pastoral scene. It was like they wanted to make sure we saw them.

Later I started thinking that maybe the deer are on the move. Close to the spot of the photograph, trucks have been clearing down trees and leveling a high point in the wooded area, readying for development. Every time this happens the poor animals have to move out and relocate to where they can find new food and water.

***** I saw a bald woman the other day. Well, she was only bald on top, like male-patterned baldness, and had hair puffed out around the sides. Experts say that men receive their baldness gene from their mothers. Blame Mom if you lose your hair!

***** Hoffa is still missing.

***** About pursuing dreams, "You just have to begin. You'll never have enough time." from Jennifer Manske Fenske, author "Toss the Bride." Oh, so true.

***** "In a culture that celebrates martyrdom, will killing a leader help of hurt our cause?" from The Buzz. Life is cheap in some parts of the world.

***** Poor Paris Hilton continues to find out why fame bites --- she can't even hit a car and run away without being filmed! Weird and beautiful in one skinny package.

***** "We legitimately enjoy the privacy of our own minds." from Randy Cohen. Hallelujah!

***** Thanks, Shakira, for telling us that "Hips Don't Lie." You know, girls, those truthful lovely lady lumps?

***** Community computers are breeding grounds for germs. Now go wash your hands, please, before you touch ME again!!!

All you Super Streamers have a HOT almost-summer weekend! ~~~ Hugs, Rita B

I think of myself as a generic goddess at a name brand high school!

1. I was Homeroom Vice-President and Homeroom Treasurer. (V.P.? Sure, always a bridesmaid --- that's easy! However, I don't remember our class having any money so it must have been safe with me as treasurer.)

2. I played Intramurals in Field Hockey and Ping Pong. (Ping pong? How geeky. I don't remember playing ping pong either, but I did like that sweaty field hockey! Run, Rita run as fast as you can! Hit opponents with big sticks!)

3. I was WNOR's Teen Queen of the Week from Granby High School. (If they had seen this hairdo before hand, they may have taken the title away! Come on, I was only 15, skinny and had no style. Still don't.)


4. I was the only girl in my drafting class. (Sometimes I loved it --- sometimes I hated it. It's where I perfected my wide-eyed "I know nothing" look.)

5. I walked to school everyday --- rain or shine! (Okay, so maybe I got a ride here and there, but I hoofed it most days and so did just about everyone else. My wild frizzy hair rarely made it to school on time.)

This post is dedicated to all those new high school graduates of the Stream and children of the Streamers! Good luck and God bless. In years you'll find out that high school isn't the worst thing that can happen to you!!!

Check out the hit songs the week I was Teen Queen. Ring any bells, old Streamers??? Any guess on the year?


In the Parade Magazine someone asked Marilyn vos Savant this question: "Why do our high school experiences occupy such a prominent place in our memories?"

Her answer mirrors what I believe --- "During high school, we develop the most vigorous adult bodies we will ever have. At the same time, we possess the least amount of sense we will ever have. This combination produces many memorable moments!"

When you and I pack for a trip we don't take ALL new things. NO --- we load our luggage with used and comfortable stuff to carry us through being away from home. If your luggage happened to be lost during your travels on an airline, and was never returned to you, it would end up in, of all places, Scottsboro, Alabama!


Recently I heard mention of that lovely place called Unclaimed Baggage and it brought back stirring memories. A few years ago my husband and I traveled on what we called our "Westward Ho!" trip throughout the southwest. We took a whole month and drove around, stopping at various places we always wanted to visit. Some were sights of a lifetime like Mesa Verde. Well, the Unclaimed Baggage place was the first stop on the list.

We had read an article about it and it seemed like an adventure --- a treasure island of sorts --- all housed under a huge roof. We wondered what delights we would find secretly hidden away in all those suitcases! In we went and then we split up heading in different directions searching for some exotic trinket from someone's world travels. We searched, we wandered, we looked, we tried on things --- round and round we went --- we were not impressed! All the "good stuff" from the luggage had disappeared many moons ago. It was like shopping at one of those middle-of-the-road flea markets, if even that good. I wouldn't have driven across town to go to this store. We found a couple of things, but even an encased video tape of a current movie ended up not working when I got it home!


What a disappointment that place was. So if you get the chance to go by Unclaimed Baggage, don't do it! Save your time for more important things --- walk in the woods, watch a sunset, make love, or write a blog post --- anything but waste your time going through the remains of somebody's trip!

Check it out: http://www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=4546019