Macro Flowers Saturday - After The Rain

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Skywatch Friday - Los Angeles, San Francisco and Hong Kong

Sky Over Downtown Los Angeles

Sky Over The Palace Of Fine Arts San Francisco

Sky Over Lantau Peak In Hong Kong

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Decorative Country Style Rooster Candy Dish

We have a bright, bold and cheery 7" by 6" by 1" tall round candy dish or bowl that is made of heavy ceramic and looks to be hand painted though I cannot testify to that fact. It sports a red and yellow coloring with a brightly styled rooster and a yellow sunflower. This is really a cute little bowl with a country motif and can be used as a candy dish or just decoration. The back of the plate simply reads Roosters Made in China with a sticker that reads QC F-26. It is overall in good condition with very minor scuff wear on the bottom of the bowl. It is free of chips and cracks. The lighting you see on the plate is due to glare from the window.

For more information and ordering instructions, visit our listing at Jo's Collectibles Mercantile.

Thursday Two Questions - Addiction

Pierre doing what he loved most.

Today we're going to talk a little about addiction. I'm going to tell you a personal story which some of you already know. I'll make it short, I promise.

When I heard about Amy Winehouse I automatically thought of Pierre. I met him decades ago when I was 13 years old. He was 18 at that time. He had his own Greek band and played the bouzouki as you can see in the photo. Five years difference in age is not that much but when you are 13 and the guy is 18, especially back in the 60's it seemed like a lifetime.

I know it's strange to say "love at first sight" at that age but it was. There was that instant connection that just could not be denied. Once I met him I made sure to go to any picnic, festival and event in which he was performing. I would attend all of these events with my cousin and her family. It didn't matter the event, I would just sit there and watch him perform. At that young age, a simple Hi! from him would have my heart fluttering for weeks.

When I was about 16 and he was 21 I heard he got married. Of course my heart broke and I stopped going to the events in which he performed. A few years after he married, they were divorced. Fast forward, 15 years later I went to a Greek festival not knowing he would be there. He performed with his band and all those feelings I had for him came rushing back to me. I remember my Mom telling me to go talk to him and my telling her "why? he'll never remember me." She edged me on and during his break I went up to talk to him. He through his arms around me, hugged me and we sat there drinking ouzo and eating baklava for hours.

We began seeing each other from that night on and dated for quite a long time. If there is a heaven, that was it, I was living it. The down side was he was heavily into drugs. He took drugs day in and day out. I never joined him and he was fine with that because he always said "drugs will ruin your life," yet he kept taking them. I hated that he took them but I was so in love with him and so worried that if I said something he would leave me, that I lived with it.

He spent many times in jail and one long bout back through part of 1999. In July 1999 to the day I am writing this he was being transferred from a prison in Southern California to Pleasanton, CA when on the bus with other prisoners, he became sick and started turning blue. The prisoners kept alerting the bus driver that he wasn't breathing but the driver would not stop. When they reached Pleasanton he had already died. The drugs just ate away at every part of his body until he finally gave up. I was completely devastated. I also felt guilty that I never asked him to stop the drugs. I think in some ways my addiction was him. He was the love of my life. I know there will never be another like him. I wrote the following poem after he died which some of you have read. My two questions this week will appear after the poem.

Agape
for Pierre

My heart summoned you
at an early age not yet knowing love.
Sensual whispers, warm rains
shower my body and soul with your being.
When you spoke, I could not speak
for words escaped me.

You sang
strumming blood tears on your bouzouki
year after year lost in Rebetiko.
Yet life your muse,
music your passion.

Too young
I could only listen;
rhythms burning my very core.
Your melancholy eyes hypnotized my essence
a captive trance,
nirvana.

Fate
years later realized.
Now a woman
we shared love,
requited passion,
unrestrained.
Boundless infinity together
a moment in time.

Soon thereafter you were gone.
Suddenly your last breath stolen away,
gone too soon.
I now see those melancholy eyes
within the wind
amongst the trees
along the shore
within my soul;
I love you still,
Agape mou...

1. Have you or a loved one ever been addicted to anything?

2. If so, how did you handle it?

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Ruby Tuesday Exotic

Photos taken at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens

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Macro Monday Bulbs

Oriental Trumpet Lily Bulb

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Sorry, I do not know the name of this flower.

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Macro Flowers Saturday - Stamens

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Meito China Ivory China Plate Set of Four

Understated elegance is the only way I can describe these floral bread/dessert plates Made In Japan by Meito China Ivory China which is what it reads on the back stamp of the plates. These are richly colored and designed with a floral rose motif and a beautiful gold colored rim. These plates measure approximately 6 1/4" in diameter and the entire set of 4 plates are in good condition with only very minor scuff wear on the bottoms. Please view the photos for more in depth details. The fine details in the roses are just amazing. These are truly gorgeous plates and would make an excellent set of plates for any special occasion or just an impromptu luncheon with friends.

For ordering instructions please visit the listing at Jo's Collectibles Mercantile. Thank you

Skywatch Friday - Randomness

St. Dominic's Church in San Francisco

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Marin County, CA.


SF Botanical Gardens

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Thursday Two Questions Meme - Is There A Hell?

Over two weeks dealing with not only AT&T but every other service provider out there and I finally have what seems to be, so far, a constant connection.  Of course I am writing this on Monday the 18th and scheduling it for Thursday so who knows if it will still be up and running then.  

The AT&T tech came out and replaced everything on the outside phone line.  It seems that my actual phone line was dead with no dial tone.  Now, don't you think that should have been checked first? In any case, so far so good.

My questions today deal with hell.  I don't know if there really is a hell but if there is what I do know for sure is that AT&T has a branch there.  If you are going to hell when you die, you will spend an eternity sitting in front of a computer with flashing red lights on your modem and talking to AT&T online tech support throughout eternity :D Of course I'm kidding but who really knows.

My two ?'s are do you believe there is a hell?

If you do, exactly how will you suffer throughout eternity?

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Artichoke Plant and Internet Update

Photo taken at the SF Botanical Gardens.

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I am still without a reliable internet connection.  The problem has not yet been resolved.   I get about an hour a day of connection time.  As a result, I have to use that time on the store so I will not be posting or commenting that much nor will I be on Facebook or Twitter etc...  When I am able, I'll post and visit everyone.

Thanks, Jo

Skywatch Friday - Flowers With Blue Sky Backgrounds

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Thursday Two Questions Meme - Internet Service Provider

Pigeons Sunbathing Atop Phone Lines :)

Well it's been over two weeks and I am now with a somewhat reliable internet connection. It started on July 2nd when the DSL flashing red light blinked and flashed hours on end. I called AT&T who is my ISP and has been my primary telephone service as well for over 25 years. I will try and make this short.

Calling AT&T for help means getting an automated robot to diagnose your problems before you are actually transferred to a person. I spoke with the robot 7 times and with online technicians 8 times. The first technician told me I needed a new modem which seemed plausible since mine is about 6 years old. So, I go to my local AT&T store and buy a new one for $80.00. I bring it home, plug it in, it works for a half hour and doesn't work anymore. The red lights - flashing again. Finally a technician was sent out. I was told there would be a charge of $60.00 per half hour if the problem was on my end. The tech checked out the lines only with his laptop outside and said all was fine. He came inside and replaced my phone jack, gave me another modem, configured it and it seemed to work fine for a little while so I thought everything was okay. Then after a couple of hours, all of a sudden a dialogue box pops up on my screen saying there is unauthorized access being attempted on my modem and that there is risk of fraud and phishing. Of course I panicked and unplugged the modem the tech gave me. I then plugged in my old modem and immediately changed all my login and password info on my accounts and sites that I use. About an hour later, again, flashing red lights on the DSL line on my modem.

Now mind you all of this is taking place over a week and a half and my main concern was my store and missing orders that were coming in. I was panicked, furious and just crazy with all of this. I finally decided I was going to call again for the seventh time and if I couldn't get anywhere with AT&T I'd cancel my account. So, I called the online tech support talked to the robot again and got transferred to an online tech agent. He asked me the same ?'s every tech asked that I previously spoke to. He told me he was going to do more online tests, then hung up on me. I called back, got someone else and got disconnected while she was going to transfer my call.

That did it. I cannot even describe in words how furious I was. I cannot remember the last time I was that angry. By this time it was late in the evening but I didn't care. I called the Northern California Regional manager for AT&T and got his voice mail. I took all of my frustration over that past week and a half out on him. I screamed, yelled and basically told him that I wanted this problem fixed within 24 hours or three things would happen. If not fixed, I'd cancel my account of 25 years, I'd go to Comcast or Verizon and I would sue AT&T for all the time and money lost with my business and for emotional stress. Now, of course I wouldn't actually sue but threatening them made me feel better.

I know I said short and this is already long so I'll close soon :D. Next morning, the same tech that came out earlier in the week was at my door at 8:00 a.m. I guess threatening to sue worked. He this time physically checked the lines outside and found that he had to replace a fraying wire in the phone line outside. Evidently that was the problem all along. So far, so good. I hope it lasts. This has been a total nightmare. In fact I've had more pleasant real nightmares :D

Here are my two ?'s.

1. Who is your internet service provider?

2. Are they reliable?


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Macro Monday Bee

Photo taken at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens.
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I have been without an internet connection for more than a week. It seems to be working okay now but is not reliable so I will be blogging when I am able. Thanks, Jo.

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Egg Fantasy Goose Egg Music Box

I am so excited to bring you this stunning real goose egg music box by Egg Fantasy. It stands 6" tall and is in excellent condition. It plays "Lara's Theme" of which you can hear by viewing my short video clip. It plays perfectly. The piece is in excellent condition and has no flaws that I can see. This beautiful piece has gold colored accents both on the legs, windup mechanism on the bottom, around the cameo and atop the egg with blue faux gemstones. It is adorned with a gorgeous blue cameo and accented with faux pearls and clear stones. The interior which can be used as a small trinket or jewel box is lined with white satin and blue fabric scrolling around the rim of the egg. These elegant accents are intricately woven around the egg with a smooth style and grace. This egg is just truly exquisite. Please view the photos for the stunning details. When I worked in a music box shop in Ghirardelli Square, we sold the entire line of Egg Fantasy music boxes. I so enjoyed these pieces as did our customers. I've always thought this would be the perfect way for a gentleman to propose to his lady with the engagement ring inside one of these beauties.

This item has been sold. Visit Jo's Collectibles Mercantile for more treasures.

Palissy Limoges France Handpainted Plate Pickard China

This beautiful hand painted porcelain plate measures 8 1/2" in diameter with a scalloped gold color border design with pastel colored apples on a vine with green leaves. The plate has a subtle pastel greenish hue and is just gorgeous. The back of the plate reads New Palissy T&V Limoges France. It also has a patent number which I cannot read. It has a sticker which reads Hand Painted Pickard China. The plate itself is in good condition with minor scuff wear on the back of the plate. There are no chips or cracks. Please view the photos for more details. It also looks as if there is a signature on the front of the plate but I cannot be sure. It could be a part of the design but I have taken a macro of that particular area so you can see if for yourself. This is a stunning plate and would be an exquisite accent to any home decor.

This item has been sold. Visit Jo's Collectibles Mercantile for more treasures.

Camera Critters #168

Taken at the Marin Art and Garden Center in Ross, CA.

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Macro Flowers Saturday #61

 

 Photos taken at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens

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