Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Kim,

When I first beheld this little sweetie, the first name that popped into my head was "Barney".

Eileen

Really? Honest? Then I might be back!! Actually, not even scratchy toilet paper would keep me out of the UK if budget permitted. When we last visited, Hubby nearly had to drug me to force me home!

Eileen

I'm off for a day or so waiting for my stupid (again) computer to be repaired (again), and look what you ladies get up to!!

We've got a comedy show up here called "Puppets Who Kill". Nasty and stupid, and it involves a teddy (definitely synthetic) who collaborates with a ventriloquist's dummy!

Since we're plumbing the depths of the evil bear/ toilet paper connection, I want to take this opportunity to say that one of the most offensive bear-representations I've ever seen is the bear family in "Charmin'" Toilet Paper commercial. Aside from it's general cringe-worthiness, I have a few specific objections:
1. Like the Telus piglet, those bears have no anal orifices.
2. It is not at all clear how they dispose of the toilet paper, nevermind the poo, if any.

If you've ever tried both British and American toilet paper, you'll understand why Americans use more of the stuff than Brits. The British equivalent (sandpaper, as Shelli says) was so unbelievable that I brought back a mess of it to amaze my friends!! :lol:

Eileen

Marie, you are the cutest! :D

Shelli, m'dear, if you're going to insist on being so talented and generous, you're going to have to learn to duck!! :D

Eileen

Thanks, Sue Ann :D

Today I have not lifted so much as a finger. The family wallows in its own much!

Eileen

Marie,

Horsie is still in the works! I thought I'd finish him and use him to display bears, maybe make some bear-sized horsies. Unfortunately, at the moment, my woodworking shop is buried under piles of boxes. I'm working on it . . .

Eileen

Holy Mahoney, Shelli, :D

That's a fantastic avatar--you've outdone yourself, girl!

Congratulations, Rita!

Eileen

Well-said as usual, Dilu, :D

If I've learned anything from these forums, it's that nobody in the BearWorld is a Nobody, and that the Somebodies are the Salt of the Earth.  Is this Utopia or what?

I firmly believe that the work of Bear Artists must be promoted as art--huggable art, maybe, but that's part of it. Huggability doesn't just happen.

The Art Gallery of Ontario has displayed for the last many years a giant fabric hamburger. I repeat--a giant fabric hamburger, as ART. Somebody made this piece of crapola, called it art, and there it is. They don't even let people jump on it.

I'm going to spend the months of August and September building up my bear inventory and honing my photographic skills and building a website. Before Christmas, I mean to display my little Dudes and Dudettes anywhere and everywhere--shop windows, library & bank displays, wherever. All they can say is no, and I've heard that before and lived. I may not have a name yet, but  I've got ATTITUDE. First-born American Leo. I survived three teenaged daughters and, unless somebody shoves a preying mantis in my face, at this point in my life I'm fearless!

Eileen

:D:D Thanks, all you Sweet People :D:D

It's only 7:03 am here, but so far I feel more like 16 than 61!!

Check out my Party-Pooper MSN Horoscope-- :mad:

Leo
July 22 - August 22
The world is probably not going to be revolving around you today, dear Leo, so get used to it. Even though this may not be the news you want to hear, it is probably the news you need to hear most. Use your incredible passion to nurture others. Think less about yourself and more about the people around you - especially your family members. Stick close to home and take care of domestic chores.

As If :lol::lol::lol:

Eileen

Thanks, dear ones

I've been nagging the family about a digital camera (all I've got it a big honkin' 35 mm) so I hope I don't get more Chanel No. 5 this year!!

Eileen

Thanks for all your compliments, girls:D

Marie, I'm the one in the purple. I had such a hard time getting the photos up, after it occurred to me that I could scan them, that the descriptions of the pix are actually several posts before the pix. I think I panicked there.

I love all this music! Of the artists I've actually heard of, I haven't seen one name that I don't like. Neil's "Sweet Caroline" played over and over at my Caroline's wedding, of course. Celine sounds even better after her break and her baby, though sometimes you'd think she thinks she invented motherhood! Ah, but the voice . . . Diana Krall hardly seems to be trying, she's so good. The only times I've tried singing and playing together are best not mentioned. Our little parakeet (rescued from the park where some creep abandoned her) died last week, but she loved jazz--Ella, Louis, Diana, MJQ--she used to chirp her little heart out to the radio.

And Shelli!! :DTurandot! I adore it. Bawling all the way through the last act . . . which reminds me a bit of the Phantom of the Opera, which I also love. I have Pons's solo on an opera anthology tape, along with a lot of the old greats. My mom was named Melba for Nellie Melba (from Melbourne).

I also love the Backstreet Boys, and I'm glad they're back!

Close encounters . . . I went to a Beach Boys concert in college. They performed in a tent way out in a field somewhere. Halfway through the concert, the top of the tent collapsed with the weight of the last night's rain, and soaked the audience. I also remember that there were no toilets!

I saw Nat King Cole at a nightclub shortly before he died---smooth as silk.

I also saw Frank Sinatra at the Newport Jazz Festival. That one was a bit disappointing. He was 'three sheets to the wind' as they say in Newport, and trying to sing 'Call Me Irresponsible'. He kept getting the words mixed up. "Call me . . . .uh".

Chuck Berry performed at most of the college beer blasts I went to in the Boston area. He was always in the crowd signing the girls' shirts or bottoms--never mine. And there were lots of toilets at those events . . . :lol:

Eileen

Matthea,

I did a one-on-one paid survey several months ago about a shingles vaccine. The company (not specified) wanted to know if people would be receptive to such a thing if they knew more about shingles. I certainly was!!

I have no idea whether this vaccine is available now, will be available soon or ever, but I'd ask your doctor to check it out for you. It apparently minimizes the symptoms of existing cases of shingles, and helps prevent relapse. For people without shingles, it either prevents them or makes the symptoms very mild.

Eileen

Welcome, Sandi :D

Your little bear is darling--I love the name Snowy Day Bears.

Like you, I'm just starting to build an inventory, look for website help and design logos.

I highly recommend Nancy Tillberg's online course, "The Business of Bears". It really helps you to get you head in the right place for going professional, and she thinks of everything. I've just recently started the course, and I'm about a week behind, but I'm back at it tomorrow morning with a will.

By the way, does anybody have any wisdom to share about web hosting? Nancy will offer it this fall, but what are the options?

Eileen

Thanks, Dilu :D

It was an absolutely blissful day!! Perfect small wedding, everybody happy and getting along, perfect food, 2 exhausted but happy mothers-in-law and the sweetest bride and groom ever!

Ape? Moi? Well, some days, maybe . . .

I love the oboe. It sends chills down the spine. Too bad there isn't such a thing as a jazz oboe  . . . or is there?

I hacked around on the piano and guitar for a while, but never amounted to much, though I still enjoy them. My dad's brothers were professional musicians with the Buffalo Symphony, one on violin and one on bass and cello.

My middle daughter (the bride) was great on the base, but my eldest didn't get far on the violin (singer, you know). I could always spot her at school concerts because her bow was going in the opposite direction of the others!! Takes after her mom!!

Eileen

Dale, Dale, :D

We love 'ya, Dale. Don't be offended. We wouldn't have our men any other way!

(Pssst! Where can I get one of those remotes, Shelli?)

Eileen

This is so embarrassing :(

But I think I've got it this time.

Trying again, not a quick learner!

OK, just for Shelli,:D

Two 2-year- old wedding pix. My daughter Caroline's wedding reception in our back yard.  In the first pic, I'm the Old Dear in purple gazing in rapture at my beautiful baby bride. On my left is beloved bear John, on Caroline's right is the Amazing Adrian and his (estranged) parents.

In the second pic, I''ve had a few too many glasses of Merlot. My friend and neighbor Cathy is on her first glass of wine, which is why she looks so serious!

Ahhh. There's Judi's beautiful neck. Thanks, Intercal!

Trying again

Welcome back, Judi!

I had a letter from my bank a week ago, saying that they had reason to believe that my Mastercard had been "compromised" and promising to send me another card soon. No details at all, strangely enough. Idiot that I am, I haven't gone to the bank to check it out yet, which I should have done right away.  Scary stuff.

And by the bye, I was once a Charter Member of the Mickey Mouse Club!! I even got the magazine! Got to see Brother Bear asap.

Eileen

Rats, Shelli :lol:

I was hoping that nobody would ask since nobody HAD asked. I'm fine being the invisible rookie but, hey, I'll try to find one from my daughter's wedding, when I was looking my absolute worst from near-terminal fatigue--that way, when we meet, you'll all say, 'Dang, she looks so much better in person!"  Gimme a day or two to hunt one out, ok? I promise.

Actually, you're right on target ! I'm more like a grizzly than anything else. Hair all over the place because I keep forgetting to remember to cut it, hump from slaving over the computer and my worktable, long nose, sort of heavy in the lower jawline . . . big feet.

Actually, I'm not that knowledgable, since one bit of information these days tends to drive out another. My husband got me into opera which I hated at first (actually fell asleep most times) but love now, partly because my eldest has an incredible huge soprano voice--she's given it all up for love and an MBA. As for Shakespeare, I just love him. The stories and the characters and the language never get old for me.

Eileen

Omigosh, Matthea! Shingles? :(

You poor baby. It's nasty. Ouch. Hugs & hopes for a quick recovery, and thanks for the early birthday wishes!! :D

Eileen

I love your avatar buin, Kelly! What is he made of?

Eileen

Great topic!  If we put together a band, I'm afraid I'll be on the Triangle :lol:

For housework, rock of any period, because it's the only thing that keeps me moving.

For bears, musical scores or Opera, including La Boheme, which I think is the original of Shelli's Rent. Both kinds of music are full of heart, which is great for bears.

For tutoring online, I listen to Audiobooks, currently Othello. I've got multitasking ears, but only two hands! ::(

Eileen