Red and Yellow! Yellow and Red!

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Dotcalm? Bubbleman? Zylobowl? Garry Golightly?

While speeding through a wormhole in the Center of the Universe (aka the "Fremont" neighborhood of Seattle) I spied this zany vehicle with colorful metal bowls affixed to its back. It was worth a second (and third look) so I whipped around several blocks to find a parking spot so I could jump out and get these happy snaps.

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So many questions come to mind I hardly know where to start. What is the meaning of the "Dotcalm" vanity plate?

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Who is the mysterious "Garry Golightly"? A relative of Holly, no doubt, but why now? Why here? Why in general?

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How do the chopsticks manage to stay in the tacky tiki container when this thing is barreling down the highway? And who is the Bubbleman?

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And yes, Gentle Readers, I did play the Xylobowl with said chopsticks. It actually sounded like soothing wind chimes. Who knew a Toyota SUV was a musical instrument? And why do the different little bowls make different notes when they all look alike?

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So many questions...so few answers...

PS: Actually, a quick review of the Bubbleman's website answered MANY of these questions.

The perfect shade of aqua

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Mr. Safety Man Reminds Us: Learn CPR!

This weekend I took a refresher first aid course which included CPR. The CPR dummies now have removable faces. Removable faces, you ask? Yes, removable faces. They're convenient and sanitary...and more than a little bizarre because they look oddly lifelike and at the same time decidedly fake.

During our lunch break I decided to sneak one out of the classroom so he and I could roam about the grounds of the old naval base where the class was being held.

I had a great (if slightly subversive) time photographing Mr. Safety Man as he enjoyed the sunny weather.

Mr. Safety Man is such a kidder! Here he is pretending to be an old-time fire alarm box.
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Ha, Mr. Safety Man...you really had us going!

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Here's Mr. Safety Man enjoying a contemplative moment ("Let's see...is it 2 breaths to 30 chest compressions or 30 breaths to 2 chest compressions?") It's 2 breaths to 30 compressions, silly!

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Don't you just want to run your fingers through Mr. Safety Man's luxurious hair...even if he does look just a little teeny tiny bit like Alfred E. Newman?

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Mr. Safety Man taking time to smell the flowers and catch a few rays...
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Here's Mr. Safety Man taking a little nap, resting up for the afternoon session...
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I can't rightly say what Mr. Safety Man is doing here, but he sure seems to be getting his fill of water...

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Signs, signs, everywhere a sign

Nothing says "electrical safety" like a beaver in a hard hat.
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This sign is ALL OVER the Seattle suburbs to warn people of buried cables. Yes he may be an odd choice, but isn't he just the happiest darn safety icon in the world? Ya gotta love the jaunty hard hat and blueprint plans under his arm.
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Now check out this sign. I'm thinking it's long past its helpful days...
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Double Double Take

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Itchy, Ouchy Texture

Ouch!

Itch! I feel a need for Nivea:

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Flowers sprouting from the very walls...

Maxine created what may be the coolest wall embellishments on the entire planet. On her pink wall, just as you walk into her shop, she painted abstract flower patterns and then glued beautiful vintage silk flowers on top. I'm pretty sure one day, probably right in the middle of something I'm supposed to be doing, I will grab some paint and try emulating this effect on my stairwell with the robin's egg blue walls...

More Marvelous Maxine's

I met my friend Julie at Maxine's Pickety Patch the other day to scope out ideas for wedding decorations for her upcoming nuptials. (I believe that may be the very first time I've written the word "nuptials"...it looks mighty funny on my computer screen).

Anyway, if you haven't had the pleasure of experiencing Maxine's floral and gift shop, RUN (don't walk) to it as soon as possible to soak in its delightful sights, sounds and aromas. It’s a heady vortex of fantastically colorful flowers, peeping-cheeping real life birds and sparkly eye candy, mixed with the earthy scents of fresh flowers and abundant greenery.

For more photos of Maxine's shop, check out a post from last year...and stay tuned for more optical goodness later this week. This is just a smattering of the wonderfulness that IS Maxine:

Maxine offers classes in how to make these huge crepe paper flowers. You can't tell from this picture but each one is at least 12" wide! I took it last year with a friend and it was a delightful, pampering creative experience.