I’ve known this since the age of answering machines, I sound like a squeaky toy on tape. For my final three seconds on Antiques Roadshow they caught me talking…apparently imitating old Mickey Mouse cartoons. Look and listen for me at the 6:56 mark on Tucson Hour 3 (aired April 11, 2016).
Last year on May 30th I volunteered to help the crew film Antiques Roadshow here in Tucson. The first of three episodes finally aired on 03-28-16, the second on 04-04-16, and the final one should air on 04-11-16.
It was a very looong day, exacerbated by a small electrical fire that morning. I was on my feet from 6:30am until 7:30 that night! It was well worth it to meet the appraisers, watch the process, and see all the treasures folks brought in.
Did you know the appraisers are also volunteering? They do it for free, reaping the benefit of their names and company information broadcast on PBS. It is one of the highest rated series on PBS. Only the film/production crew members are paid (it is public television after all and the budget is tight).
As a volunteer I was permitted to bring in two items to get appraised. I now know that there is no danger of anyone selling off our family heirlooms – they aren’t worth a darn thing!
That’s me with the blonde pony tail, blue shirt, tan shorts – and yes, the camera does add ten pounds (at least). Watch me artfully guide an attendee in the Tucson Hour 1 episode from 28:55 to 28:59. Priceless, I know.
A certain someone is lucky to still be alive today. I came home last night after working 12 hours to find this:
My Thomas Edison Battery Oil bottle that I found while “Black Friday scavenging” with my Aunt and her friend was shattered on the floor. A 100-year-old antique bottle that had survived being thrown by the railroad tracks and had avoided being crushed by 1,200 pound bovines met its demise in my house, thanks to a rambunctious, young cat.
I believe she just used up another of her nine lives. Is this a guilty face or what?! Bad kitty, bad!
Spotted this yesterday in a little shop in Willcox, AZ. At least they have a sense of humor about it!
Poster hanging on the wall in my boss’s boss’s office. I know it’s sassy but it cracked me up.
A collage of sights from my Christmas trip to the San Diego area. Featuring (l to r): sea lion, harbor seals on beach, sea lion pile, sunset, metal detecting, dog sporting shades, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, rowing, brown pelican close-up, gull close-up, decorated tree at the beach, an injured harbor seal, harbor seal poop, harbor seal yoga (3), sand loving harbor seal, harbor seal yawn, tide pool waterfall, sea lion close-ups (2).
Bailey is helping me watch all the Star Wars movies in preparation for the new one. Thus far, he appears to like Jar Jar Binks and Watto the best.
* Quoting Boss Nass, of course.
That’s a lot to be thankful for! Our Thanksgiving weekend started with a celebration of Scott, George, and Coralie’s birthdays (all within a week of each other). Desiree and I topped the cake with 205 candles (their cumulative ages). We couldn’t get them all lit before the heat melted the icing and started a small fire. The flaming cake was hysterical! Luckily, we didn’t need the fire extinguisher and some of the cake was still edible.
Thanksgiving Day was blustery and cloudy, very Fall-like which made staying inside and eating lots of delicious food quite desirable. During our after dinner stroll through town we admired some of the fine architecture. The evening was capped off with belly dancing by Deborah.
On Black Friday we “shopped” for treasures along an old, abandoned rail line: netting one dime, an intact Thomas Edison battery oil bottle, flowery painted pieces of Southern Pacific china, 3 devil’s claws, and 2 barrel staves.
Good food, laughter, and random activities = one of our typical family gatherings.
Wylie is clearly destined for management: she never lifts a paw, doesn’t work one minute past quitting time, takes numerous breaks throughout the day, provides all kinds of helpful feedback, and she ignores all safety warnings.
Lucky me!
Stephen and I are in the middle of our first tiff. Don’t get me wrong, I like the guy. I admire his impressive intellect, his boyish good looks, his undeniable charm, and his sensational sense of humor but those attributes were dreadfully diminished when he mocked my fair city.
At the 25th minute of his 10-29 show Stephen Colbert crossed the line by saying, “Mars has long been thought of as an arid and dusty hellscape where no one would want to live. Which is why it is often called the Tucson of space.”
Oh, Stephen, you were almost right. You were only off by 90 miles. Everyone in Arizona knows that the place most similar to the hellscape of Mars is Phoenix. Don’t believe me? Compare the dust storm in The Martian with news footage of recent haboobs in Phoenix. ‘Nuff said.
I think we can patch things up. Stephen, I’ll happily give you a tour of Tucson so that you don’t embarrass yourself on national TV again. Oh, and when you come over, bring some ice cream. Americone Dream will do nicely…
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