Hang On to Your Old Wicker « Art « Culture

I was going to wax poetic about the new anti-conservative censorship and racism that the left is using to basically doing what they can to destroy anyone who disagrees with them, when I saw a headline on one of the decorator sites about old wicker. It’s like this, if you still have any, take care of it, don’t sell it, and just hold on, because the prices are going through the roof!

So, now I’m glad I wasn’t able to sell what I have. I’m still broke, but I have incredible vintage wicker that is the next big decorating thing.

I’m spray painting it different colors.

Is that bad?

I suppose, in the long run, wicker is a bigger deal than far left bigotry. It also says something about the direction of the country. Wicker is interesting. In a way it is timeless. It is classic, chic, retro, and goes from one generation to another. I have a 1900 wicker rocking chair in storage. It needs to be repaired. It belonged to my great aunt Mabel. My patio furniture belonged to the parents. I’ve painted it. One reason I’ve painted it is because it’s cool to paint and the paint protects the fragile nature of the piece. My wicker sofa dates back to about 1980.

One of the other reasons I’m now painting it is that’s all the decorating rage in south Florida. Okay, I’m from south Florida. There’s a stupid comedy I like called Modern Housewife. One of the lines the teenage daughter used against her mother was “You can take the girl out of Florida, but you can’t take Florida out of the girl.”

Guilty as charged.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SJ Reidhead (aka The Pink Flamingo) is a writer based in New Mexico. The author of two published novels, both westerns: Dust Devil and The Second Mrs. Earp and two published works of non-fictions: TRAVESTY: Frank Waters Earp Agenda Exposed and A Church for Helldorado, Endicott Peabody's 1882 Tombstone Diary. One of the leading authorities on the life of Wyatt Earp and Tombstone during the Earp years, she is writing a series of murder mysteries set in modern day Tombstone. The author is also working on a book about fashion in the Wild West. When complete, there will be over 2100 unpublished antique photographs dating from 1855-1910.

The author's work has appeared in Wild West, True West, Blogcritics, and The Tombstone Times. Recently the author has had to deal with a father who succumbed to Alzheimer's Disease. This is leading to a book dealing with the frustrations of dealing with the frustrations of the disease, finance, legal, health-care, and things no one bothers telling families about it. A portion of the book will contain entries from a blog she kept, detailing the struggle with her father's AD. She is also working on a murder mystery series set in modern day Tombstone and Cochise County. Several books of essays on Christian living are currently in edits. A book of essays and revisions of articles about Wyatt Earp has been completed and will include her latest work detailing her theory about the murder of his second wife, Mattie.

SJ Reidhead has been involved in Republican politics since she was 'a little kid'. During the Reagan years she was a lobbyist working with various non-profit organizations who were attempting to salvage NASA and the American space program after the disastrous Carter years. In spite of ups and downs, and numerous disappointments, politically, it is obvious the only political hope for this country is via the Republican Party. Along with politics she is an opera fanatic, has been known to stalk baritones to the point of being a baritone junkie, and loves baseball.

The Pink Flamingo went on line on October 4, 2005.

THE PINK FLAMINGO STORY

It started out as a joke. During the seven years I worked with the girls of my parish, leading a youth group, one of the things that I stressed were manners. Part of having manners, the way I see it, is to know how to set a proper table, host a party, cater it, and clean up afterward. I was fortunate enough to have a group of very talented girls in my youth group. They learned how to plan for, and execute large church functions, very properly. During one such function I noticed there were several incredibly tacky pink flamingos sitting on the table. Knowing the girls were up to something, I said nothing. A few months later they did the same thing at a function I was hosting at my home. I said nothing. They had a birthday party for me. More pink flamingos appeared - and a joke was born.

Thanks to the girls, all of whom are now grown, I have a collection of pink flamingos. It has become an ongoing joke. When I began working on my political blog, I realized the only possibly title was The Pink Flamingo!