After waking up to frosty conditions this weekend and 30° Monday morning in the Quad Cities, temperatures rebounded nicely by afternoon into the 70s and we could be close to 80° today. Could this be “Indian Summer”? While there’s no uniform rule for that, it’s usually a period of warm, sunny days that follow a killing frost or freeze. Regardless of whether you call it “Indian Summer” or not, it’s going to be toasty the next few days.
This is how we used ABBA’s harvested tomatoes before the freeze and it looks very fall-ish.
Ray’s yummy brushetta was just one thing we devoured as we celebrated my sister’s birthday yesterday. That means today is September 25th and that also means that Christmas is only three months from today!
When Ray went to Wal-Mart Sunday evening, he said the elves (Moline’s version) were busy putting up Christmas trees and decorations in the garden section — just another sign that the summer is over and Christmas is closer than you think or choose to think.
I’m always checking out the pictures that people post on their Facebook pages and some I don’t give a second glance and some I stop and stare at and some I save. My friend, Rose, posted this gorgeous picture the other day and I thought, “that is too beautiful not to share”, so here it is and welcome to the countdown to Christmas (and winter).
We always go all out decorating for Christmas each year with a live Christmas tree in the living room and many other smaller trees in the other rooms just to use up the Christmas decorations. In a few weeks, I’ll climb up on the house and put up the outdoor lights. We love Christmas decorations.
However, this year, because we’re going on the cruise in the days leading up to Christmas, it may change the way we do Christmas this year. We may or may not have a live tree and we’re not really going to buy presents this year. Betty (Mom) suggested that we buy one nice gift and have a mystery exchange, which sounds fun. The cruise is our Christmas present. (I’ll continue to donate time and money to charity like I do each year for Christmas.)
So, as you make your list and check it twice this year, just like Santa, to figure out who’s been naughty and nice, here’s a suggestion for the good little girls (and boys). Yes, some boys would like them and enjoy them. It’s 2012, for Christ sakes.
Meet “Blond Diamond Barbie”!
Mattel will be shipping her to stores and Santa will be delivering many of these new barbies this Christmas. However, don’t make the mistake of calling her “drag queen” Barbie. Barbie has been many things (all good, of course), but the creators Phillipe and David Blond, who designed “The Blonds Blond Diamond Barbie” says that’s wrong.
A spokesperson for the Blonds’ says, “It is incorrect to label the doll ‘Drag Queen Barbie.’ She is the Blond Diamond Barbie. She is female. She is the same Barbie that has been a doctor, a teacher and an astronaut, and now she is glamorized in The Blonds creations.”
Seriously, just because Phillipe Blond, one of the creators is a drag enthusiast, you really can’t see any of those influences. Can you? I mean everyday women wear sparkly little dresses, have perfect hair, and show legs for days.
Let’s do a quick comparison: look at “Blond Diamond Barbie” (above) and see if there’s any similarities to Frank Marino of Las Vegas’ “Diva Las Vegas” for any “drag” similarities.
Really, people, you don’t need Mulder and Scully or the FBI to note the similarities (or if you live in fantasy land, the lack of similarities).
If people need to call this Barbie, “Blond Diamond Barbie”, that’s cool. But, if others want to let Barbie be “Drag Queen Barbie”, let it be. Who says that DQ Barbie can’t earn dollars lip-synching Madonna, Britney, Cher, Bette, Celine, Reba, or Rihanna in bars across the country if Ken can take off his clothes gyrating around in clubs for dollars like “Magic Mike”!
Dear Santa,
I know you’re too busy to get into social issue debates. You just make the toys and deliver them. However, if a little girl wants a dump truck this Christmas and her little brother wants a Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven, don’t think about what others will think. Just make that kid happy.
As for me, last Christmas, you forgot to bring me the Reba McEntire “Fancy” Barbie.
I’ll continue to look for it online and eBay for a good price. But, if you have one lying around, you know my address. And, since I have an 11-year-old daughter, you can pretend it’s for her.
Thank you,
Anthony
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