A store named "CAKE" that doesn't sell cake? Bastards

I drove to Nashville with a friend yesterday.  She had an appointment and I didn't have anything better to do.  We had just gotten off the Interstate when out of the corner of my eye I spotted a black and white sign with the word CAKE written in a beautiful font.  I got all puppy dog wiggling over a new toy excited and turned on my blinker to make a little pre-appointment detour.  When what to my wondering eyes should come clear?  But that the store named "CAKE" did not sell cake at all...WHAT!?!?!?!?  No apparently they sell vintage table linens and tablewares.  While I love a good vintage store, one must NEVER indicate that they have cake in ANY form if they do not.  I have not yet gotten over the disappointment of this false advertising.  I, in fact, had to purchase 3 whole Gigi's cupcakes to comfort myself from the crushing disappointment of a store named "CAKE" that doesn't sell cake.  COME ON IT"S NAMED CAKE...SELL CAKE!!!!  They should change the name to Bastards...cause that's what they are.  DOn't mess with my cake!-Lola

Inappropriate Men

We have all had one, some of us have had many (no comments from the peanut gallery), I am talking about inappropriate men.  They are dangerous, sexy, unobtainable, and speak to our fix-it natures.  Whether they are too young, too old, too unemployed, too aggressive, or too married/already involved with someone else, we are attracted to them like (insert barnyard analogy here).  We know we shouldn't be, our friends tell us we shouldn't be, our families tell us we shouldn't be...but does it matter? NO!  Because if he loves us enough, if we work hard enough, if we say and do all the right things, he will change.  He will prove to your Dad that he is man enough, he will charm your Mom, and your Besties will stop trying to introduce you to "nice" boys and see him for the amazing guy that he is...OK now that I have stopped laughing (hindsight being 20/20 and all that) you get to the point that you realize, he isn't going to change.  He is going to continue being the wanker everyone has always told you he is.  Here is my advice...We like the naughty inappropriate men (admit it!), can we get to the point that we see them as they are, enjoy them for what they are, and not let ourselves get wrapped up in fixing them.  Because only then can we enjoy the interlude without missing the appropriate men.  Dear self, please read entire last post and take your own advice!-Lola

A Compendium for New Brides (circa 1965)

    So I was in a used book store this morning wandering around in a romance novel daze.  When it occured to me, women in the South are seriously repressed.  The sheer numbers of romance novels alone was enough to have a sort of epic revelation.  People think southern women are so demure and straight laced?  Not the case according to the evidence.  I think they are really just nasty closet pervs and can only experience that thrill with contraband bare chested, bossom heaving, half lidded eyes, and flowing locks.  After my moment of clarity I was wandering around a "homemaking" section and discovered this little gem of a book.  Published in 1965 "Happy Living, A Guidebook for Brides" is chock full of nuggets of wisdom, lists of neccessities, recipes, and helpful hints.  Some chapter examples include: Your trousseau of table, bed, and bath linens, How to keep house, The Bride cooks breakfast, and For Bridegrooms only.
    You can imagine my mid-century minded joy at the discovery of such a treasure and I felt the need to share a few choice tidbits from the book with you here.  "You are twice blessed when you own things that are as beautiful as they are useful", "Now that you are about to play the role of Mrs. Homemaker, why not become a "method" actress?  It is the lady with the method who gets things done the fastest, thereby saving precious time and energy for more creative endeavor", and lastly, for the men, "If you are one of those men who has never bought anything but sports jackets and fishing rods, here are some suggestions:" (inrefernce to purchasing home furnishings).
   Needless to say I am enthralled with this book and randomly scream out quotes to my roommate while laughing hysterically.  Yet somewhere deep down I enjoy the order and straightforwardness of the books, ideas.  What that says about me?  IDK- Lola

Creamed Eggs in Corned Beef Crust...WHAT were they thinking?!

"Dutch Treat" or Why are you a cheap bastard? or Why I deserve to be treated like a lady.

    I wouldn't say that I am old fashioned, but any more I look at the dating scene I am mystified.  In the aftermath of Feminism it has become, even more, a world that caters to boys and their lack of ability to act like MEN.  At least, in time gone by, a MAN would open the door for you, a MAN would pay for dinner, a MAN would make the effort to court a woman.  Now, not only do we "get" to work as hard as men just to survive, we also get to open our own doors, pay for our own meals (and a lot of times theirs) on dates, and strive ever harder to find and pursue a guy.  Plus what ever happened to a guy opening the door for you and waiting for you to enter first he places his hand on the small of your back to let you know he is there for you? I mean REALLY!  Who raised this generation of guys?  They didn't turn into weak, little boys on their own.  I would call them Mama's boys, but that is a misnomer.  My Dad is a Mama's boy but his Mama raised him right.  For example, I have a gay male friend that I met in high school.  When I told my Dad we went to the movies, he asked if my friend paid for me.  I said no because he was gay and it wasn't a date...for the past 15 years my father has referred to him as "cheapskate".
    I was raised in the grand tradition of "learning the wifely arts".  I can cook an entire meal and serve it all warm at the same time at a precise time.  I make food from scratch (including whipped cream, pie, crusts, biscuits, and pesto.  I can not only sew on a button, I can sew a complete outfit.  I vacuum, dust, and do windows, and can iron a knife pleat into a pair of men's pants.  I know what the placket of a men's dress shirt is and how to iron it, I can clean a house from top to bottom in less than a day, and know how to make hospital corners when making a bed.  For all my knowledge, what do I get in return?  I get to work so hard to find a respectable man, that at this point I would be shocked if there actually were any to be had. 
    If you know a real (SINGLE) man who treats a woman like a lady, who pursues a woman he is interested in, who thinks "Dutch Treat" is what the Amish serve for desert, and who does the hand on the small of the back thing (it's really hot).  LET ME KNOW!-Lola

Howdy!

You know how sometimes things are really funny in your head and you think other people would enjoy your commentary but there isn't anybody around to share it with?  That is not the case with me.  I have a wonderful little boy who has learned to laugh at about anything I say.  This is a double edged sword, it is great if I am telling my hilarious "What do you call a guy with no arms and no legs" jokes, not so great if I am telling him it is NOT ok to bite people's boobs or reach up their dresses, or throw screaming thrashing hissy fits on airplanes.  So I have started blogging as way to gain perspective on my interior monologue.  Maybe even a little control over it.  If you like what I say, let me know, if you don't and you want to try to get nasty, then karma might just put me and my 2 year old on your next 6 hour long flight. -Lola