A handful of Democratic women woke up this morning excited about our trip to see the President of the United States, Barack Obama.  Shortly thereafter, we were disappointed to read the headline in our local newspaper. Although he was passing near to the sl… Read full post »

Hi _____:
With regard to Dr. James A Grillo III's letter:

http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/note.php?note_id=120243129785&id=48801385&ref=share

There are moral, ethical, religious and political assertions being made in his letter and others like his that have been inte… Read full post »

Dear __________:

Most Friday nights, I eagerly await the end of Dollhouse so that I can watch, "Real Time with Bill Maher" on HBO. Last night, his guests included James Carville, Matt Taibbi, Reza Aslan, Naomi Klein, and Seth MacFarlane. With this lineup, I sat up on the edge of my… Read full post »

Just got back from three days in Tallahassee attending the annual REALTOR"S DAYS event with ten members of our local governmental affairs committee. It was an interesting experience being the only liberal in the group, but they played nice with me ;)  I have to report that&nb… Read full post »

In response to a nice letter from Sally Swift, I decided to let you all know what is going on with me. Believe it or not, I post this at the risk of losing my job.  Yes, there are extenuating circumstances for my absence which were brought on by a post that is now deleted… Read full post »

The tree pollen count is at the highest level possible in our county here in Central Florida. I have had allergies all my life, but have never been bothered too much by the pollen except in my sinuses. Something is wrong, however, as my ey/… Read full post »

or "How Home Buyers Can Help Save the Economy"  

First time home buyers have been given a once in a life-time opportunity to buy a home and in the process get thousands of dollars back to spend on home improvements.  Provisions in t… Read full post »

_{Photo Courtesy of www.trendir.com}

Has anyone else noticed that President Obama's announcements during his first days of office are serving much the same function as a really great Advent calendar house? Each day, we get to open the door to find a new delight in the form of overturning&nb… Read full post »

We have been raised to believe in home ownership as part and parcel of the American Dream. Buying the place that keeps a roof over our heads has been a practical investment as well as a profitable venture for decades.  Homeowners have been willing to take on the risk of a mortga/… Read full post »

1) I was a church organist starting at age 9. 

2) I went to 12 years of Catholic School, for which I am thankful.

3) Although an ex-Catholic, I am ever appreciative of the moral base established with regard to right and wrong that the Catholic faith provided.

4) I have always… Read full post »

There are no Obama signs at the polling places in Highlands County, Florida. The signs were not stolen, and there were plenty of volunteers to put them out. The Obama campaign consciously decided NOT to have Obama signage at the polling places.

In result, some loyal campaigners decided to d… Read full post »

Well, I have seen it all, now, also, too. Sarah Palin is campaigning in Lakewood, Ohio, connecting with the populace, wearing (get this):

 Faded Blue Jeans!

Her bright red designer jacket is actually VERY attractive as professional "business casual" wear. Casual, as in "casual Friday"&… Read full post »

Yes, Dorothy, now click your shiny red heels and chant with the witch doctor, "There's no place like home, there's no place like home".  

Sarah's Ruby Slippers

Please, Sarah, try harder! We want you to make it back home as soon as possible so that we can… Read full post »

The headlights skimmed over an ugly pile of fur, hooves and entrails heaped next to her rusted rural mailbox. The unexpected sight popped up lifelessly from the unlit road’s darkness, hurling her back into a heightened state of apprehension.   She was assured by the county sheriff's p/… Read full post »

Some of the Open Salon regulars are too modest for their own good. Take Mishima's post about his cell phone art, Confessions of a Hack Photographer.  What he does is not easy, takes a photographer's eye, and a painterly touch. In the hands of the less talented, other things can ha… Read full post »

Even the best experiences can be enriched by the magic of synchronicity. As Heraclitus stated:

 "The unseen design of things is more harmonious than the seen."

  

I learned the truth of these words and experienced the beauty of synchroni… Read full post »

I have an overriding concern regarding the Open Salon upgrade: 

Does Salon want Open Salon to be interactive OR just a place for established/published writers to use for their blogging?

I posture that this may be the crux of the matter. Published authors' great posts are lost often becaus… Read full post »

 Pottery Barn Catalogue 2008

Open Salon blogger Denise LeBlanc-Bock's

Personal Design and Custom Built Portable Table

Circa 2000

This handsome piece was on the second floor being used as a desk in their lovely New Orleans bungalow.

As a result, the ta… Read full post »

Isn't Halloween going to be fun this year!

I like color -- those that know me here on Open Salon probably have figured that out. Since basic html does not work to create color in these posts, I had given up. The other day, however, I copied and pasted a quote, and wonder of wonders the color and font made it through t… Read full post »

My favorite table is about the only piece of furniture I have sold in my entire life. I just could not see it as "Floridian", but I wish now that I still had it. All these pictures are pre-digital, at least seven years old. Wish I had better for you, Stellaa,… Read full post »

Angry as usual, Sam* called to say that he needed to sell his home immediately for as much money as possible. In 2005, most realtors were confident of that financial inevitability. Sam wanted over $460,000 for his newer 1600 square foot frame home on ten acres in a remot/… Read full post »

Long ago, in a place known time out of mind, that exists beyond the constraints of time and space, the Wise One called forth an Innocent to make a proposition:

"Little one, your creation has been a wondrous gift. Your existence provides a delightful reflection of th… Read full post »