Nicole Tasker Woods

I just can’t stand the stuff. I’d rather go out in a snow blizzard then get drenched in the rain. I’d rather be cold&dry than cold&wet. I hated the rain back home in NH and I hate it here in CA.

My worst fear is that my hair-do will get ruined. I had an AWFUL experience with that in high school back in NH. Every day, part of my morning-getting-ready routine was to “do” my hair. It was long and thick and super straight so I attempted to curl my bangs and then plaster them in place with hairspray. Even to this day, it is stick straight (despite sporting a really short hair cut) and as smooth and soft as it was when I was 10, but still I plaster. Anyway, back to the high school story…

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Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71 years old.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers.

He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.

Today would have been Elvis Presley’s 75th birthday.

Can you imagine what Vegas would be like today if Elvis had not died sitting on the toilet? He could still be a sell out performer, his name in lights and fans screaming like crazy. He would have had to loose the weight and silly sequined jumpsuit.

Maybe go back to the suit and skinny tie or black leather jacket…yeah, black leather like the ‘68 comeback special.

All the oldies radio stations are playing around the clock Elvis Presley tunes and I’m doing the same from my iPod at my desk. Happy Birthday, Elvis!

Suck on unsound thorns and brandish rosy heads over me…

Five hundred bloody petals dance and quiver over me.

Arms stretch out and I spin to lift up towards the timid sun,

Spiral to Heaven, broken pencils hover over me.

Open hands cup and paddle through stars and milky way dark,

Knees bend and snap to feather kick the earth up over me.

Reeling up to the rising, toes drown in liquid crescent…

Dreaming through Beta blue, week-old fish bowls try to ground me.

Wish I could fall away, lose myself in timeless rapture,

Look up long enough to taste the rumors blushing over me.

Copyright © 2010 N.E. Tasker

This is the lull after the holidays that I love. The house is back to normal and there is nothing planned for the next few weeks; everyone is just trying to get their sleeping schedules back in whack and to stop eating so many sweets. But seriously…how can you when there’s chocolate bread pudding just screaming your name from the refrigerator???

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Tonight Carolyn made an awesome, casual meal for us and another couple…mac&cheese, meatloaf & chicken dumpling soup. She also cracked open a bottle of Cristal Champagne (which was divine by the way) and then we had coffee and dessert…chocolate bread pudding, coffee walnut ice cream, rice crispy treats & cake.

The company was great and the food was incredible. I finished the clean up while they got dressed up for a night of dancing at the Country Club. Every New Year’s Eve the club has a live band play for the club members while they eat dinner and then dance until midnight. Ryan and I have gone in the past few years, but wanted to enjoy tonight by the fire in our jamies watching movies. So that’s just what we did. After watching It’s Complicated and then an indie soccer film called The Damned United, it was already 12:16am. We missed the countdown to the start of 2010, but to tell you the truth, I do not really care.

I look forward to 2010 and more nights by the fire with my husband and puppy dog curled up in a ball between us.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

We got all dressed up went out to dinner Christmas Eve and had a fabulous Italian meal. Here are some pics…

After our fabulous dinner, we went back to Ryan’s parent’s house, greeted all five dogs waiting for us, then changed into comfortable clothes and opened presents. First, the gifts had to be separated into everyone’s own pile and then from oldest to youngest, the gifts were opened. It’s the tradition that they have been doing for years and although it is not what I am used to doing with my family in NH, it was still enjoyable. It was a wonderful way to spend Christmas Eve.

Oh my  snowy New Englanders

I am envious of your snowy New Englander plans

As you are heading to snowy New England towns

For a snowy New England Christmas

Copyright © 2009 N.E. Tasker

My office is hosting their annual holiday lunch today. It is a lunch / party that starts at 12:30pm at Cafe Bizou, a restaurant near to our office that has a preselected menu, wine at the tables and holiday music in the air. There is a couple of prizes given away to the lucky few who have their names drawn out of a hat at the end of the meal and then we all head back to the office for a Yankee gift swap.
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It was left to dry
On the front door’s balcony
But an unexpected midnight storm
Of rain and rushing winds
Lifted it up and over the side
Violently thrashing as it flew
Through murky skies
Falling hard on the bushes below
Left soaking long enough
For snails to make their home
In the damp folds of water repellent fabric

Copyright © 2009 N.E. Tasker