Hip Replacement Update from a Vintage Cyborg Old Broad

Figured I better play a bit of catch up here. About one month since surgery and 3 weeks since leaving hospital. Just had my last in home therapy session - one step finished!! Start out patient therapy this week and am looking forward to that. If nothing else, it will get me out of the house 2 or 3 times a week!!


The hip replacement appears to have gone well - so far so good. My delay in recovery time is not from the hip but from having to repair damage done to nerves and muscle by the hip being bad for so long.

More Old Broad Attitude - The Good Old Days? Bah Humbug!

I always enjoy the "remember when", "the good old days", "the golden years", threads on forums. Usually baby boomers post with their memories of growing up in the 1940's, 1950's, and 1960's. They always make me smile as I think "oh, I remember that", but, to be totally honest, there is always a part of me that wants to slap a few faces and say "wake up".

Antique Vintage Dealers!! Collectors!! Have you read this book?

Antique, Vintage and Collectible dealers and collectors - Have you ever read Cadillac Jack by Larry McMurtry? If you haven't, you should. My neighbor and friend Denice turned me on to it and now I want to share. A good book on a subject you've actually lived to a certain degree, is always a good read.

As a thank you to Denice, here's a link to her shop on etsy http://www.blogger.com/www.etsy.com/shop/VioletCrownEmporium

It's a very different book for Mr. McMurtry, but as he states in the forward, he wanted it to be.

A tip of the hat to steampunk.

Please keep in mind that I'm an old broad, okay? Going to be 60 shortly, and am the first to admit that I am no longer up to par on the major interests of the youth culture. Not really sure I was all that up to date on it when I was one of the youth culture! Found myself mingled in with the hippy flower child wave and must admit that parts of it were a very comfortable fit. Have the feeling though that the way my mind tends to work, in other generations the labels might have been bluestocking, bohemian, witch or even village idiot.

Paula's Perspective of New Year's Resolutions

To celebrate my first year of "social networking" I've decided to share the same resolutions I make every year. And yes, I do have a pretty good track record of keeping them. Not perfect, but decent. They are easier than diets and work out plans, they only take a few seconds a day, and they don't cost anything. They do take a bit of commitment and effort in the beginning but they soon become natural. And best of all, they're usually fun and they make me feel good!

• Paula's Perspective on New Year's Resolutions:
  
  Smile at people. Most of them will smile back. Besides, if you're the first to smile and they respond, it makes you the alpha!
  
  Laugh first thing in the morning. Smile for tomorrow last thing at night.
  
  Do one nice thing, no matter how small, for another person AND for yourself each day.
  
  Give a compliment to someone AND to yourself every day.
  
  Learn one thing or try something new every day. Look up a word, ask old ladies in supermarkets how to cook something, read an article in a section of the paper you never look at, watch a show on one of the documentary channels, listen to music by someone you've never heard of, sign up for ballroom dance lessons, try sushi - anything!
  
  Put a dollar in a jar every time you say "I can't", "I will never", and "I don't like that" (when said in reference to something you've never tried).
  
  Once a day, each and every day, stop for one moment and think of what you have to be thankful for. From the basics of a roof over your head, food to eat, clothes to wear, a car to drive to the unbelievable advances in technology and science. Compare your life to others in the world and/or to how your life may have been 50 years ago, and say thanks.
  

Oh - and one more for this year - to write in my blog more often!!

Proudly Introducing My Bonanzle Widgit as the Newest Addition to My Blog! Thank you boyz!

See my widgit? It's on the right under About Me. I'm tickled pink and ready to pass out cigars.

I'm not going to tell anyone that it only took me all day to do!! Making it was easy, the boyz at Bonanzle got it set up to where it's literally a couple of clicks to accomplish and then they give you the code to copy and paste.

Figuring out how in the sam hill to get the thing on here was the hard part!!!! For the other tech challenged, middle aged computer befuddled, and hot flashing with minimal patience folk out there - go to your Dashboard, then Layout, then click on Add a Gadget, then under Basics, click on the HTML/Java Script one, put in a title - I used "A Peek at My Bonanzle Booth", paste the code you copied from bonanzle in the content block, hit SAVE and voila - you got a widget, I got a widget - everybody got widgits!!

Ron McCoy's Antiques Newsletter, Flicker and the Library of Congress

One of the few regular newsletters that I receive is the Antiques & Collecting Newsletter, Ron McCoy, editor. It comes once a month and rather than articles about what is this, how much is it worth, what is this mark - Mr. McCoy offers a variety of interesting and very eclectic links to sites that folk interested in antiques, vintage and collecting, might find fascinating. Since these same folk tend to think a bit outside of the box, the sites offered are the same. A selection of original pin-up girls painted on World War II planes, mens' tie fashions over the years, Route 66 history with photos, various strange landmarks or man made oddities found off the beaten track, vintage TV collections, etc. Even if you're not a dealer or a collector, if you like the unique to the absurd, you'll enjoy this newsletter! You can check out past issues, read some articles or sign up for the newsletter here: Ron McCoy Newsletter

Awhile back he posted a link with some info about a large collection of of old photographs from the archives of the Library of Congress now being shared on Flickr.com. This is a pilot project begun in 2008 to share some of the most popular images from the Library with a wider community and to encourage actual interactions among viewers. The photos come from the Farm Security Administration, Office of War Information, Bain News Service, selected panoramic photos, and other photos from different collections. Most of the photos range in age from the late 19th century to the middle of the 20th century. The photos have no known restrictions on publication or distribution and they have high resolution scans. Here are a few that I really like. I've added names to these because they were available either in the photo, from the Library's notes or from added comments from others.

Library of Congress on Flicker Many came to the Library with no descriptions or background, and the Library encourages tags, comments and any identifying information. Warning, you can get lost in there! The range of photos is fantastic, and reading some of the comments makes them even better. People are actually identifying many of the people in these photos as family members or long ago local celebraties, politicians or characters still remembered in their communities. Even some of the unidentified photos, like the ones taken of female carnival performers from the early 1900's, have started online conversations about the emotions and thoughts the photos stir in people.And you can search for different types of photos, women, fashion, cars, sports.