Brunetta's Musings

Finally, the conclusion

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:06:00 +0000

I am off for a weekend of good food and drink relaxing outside along with thousands of people listening to some great musicians. All at Saratoga Performing Art Center.
What better way to end Saturday's line-up than with Patti LaBelle, the "Queen of Rock and Soul".

Back again.......

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:34:00 +0000

The great jazz guitarist George Benson! Looking forward to his tribute to Nat "King" Cole accompanied by a 28-piece orchestra.

This is the first song I heard by him back 30 years ago

Also appearing.........

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:52:00 +0000

Aaron Parks, jazz piano prodigy:

And next........

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:08:00 +0000

Soul Queen Bettye LaVette's "Take Me As I Am"

Sorry for the still picture video but it is a great song.
Oh, that voice!!!!!!!!

Also appearing........

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:22:00 +0000

John Ellis Quintet

First of many to follow

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:55:00 +0000

Bonerama-New Orleans Brass Funk Rock:

And a new face....well, sort of a face:

(after hitting play,might have to click "HQ" to start)

My Personal Stimulus Recovery Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 04:10:00 +0000

If you are looking for me this weekend, you will find me here:

Come a little closer............

Can you feel the tranquility?

The End:

And the winner is...............

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:29:00 +0000

Our very own Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse was voted America's best barbecue in ABC's "Good Morning America" poll!

In April, "GMA Weekend" asked viewers to send in the names of their favorite barbecue and tell them what made theirs special. They received more than 1,000 e-mails which they narrowed down to 4 based on the number of submissions, the eloquence with which people described their favorite barbecue, their desire for regional representation and to get a good balance of different styles of making barbecue.
Ron Claiborne, anchor at GMA, visited the 4 finalists and tuned into every detail that each had to offer. You can follow his quest here. In the end, our very own honky-tonk rib joint ruled!!

Watch the whole story here:

Best Barbecue Winner: Dinosaur BAR-B-Que

John Stage, the owner, got his start by feeding bikers on the road and at rallies using a 55-gallon oil drum cut in half.

"Here's the secret of barbecue," Stage said. "There is no secret. It's spice. It's meat and it's sauce." And, he explained, it's knowing when the cooking barbecue is ready to "give up the ghost" -- the exact moment when it is transformed into great barbecue. "

Basking in the moment:

In the foreground left is John Stage co-founder of the Dinosaur and to the right is Mike De Lucia who submitted the the entry.

Stop and smell the lilacs

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:12:00 +0000

Here are a few shots I got before the rain came in.

We ended the day at:

which leads into my next post...........................................

Take Time To Smell The Lilacs

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sat, 09 May 2009 04:19:00 +0000

Hope it's not a rain out.

E.T. phone home

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 04:50:00 +0000

Did you ever just want to laugh at somebody even though it was the wrong thing to do? Well I have . Recently my daughter was asked by 2 different friends if she would dogsit for them. The first sitting was for someone with 3 rescue dogs- 2 of them are boxers and the 3rd is a boston terrier who looks like Joe Pesci that she described as a " 10 lb dog on crack". It took her a couple of days to get used to their personalities but it went pretty well. The next home had 2 dogs; 2 very large dogs- a mastiff/yellow lab mix and a german shepard/hound mix. I expected it to be easier because I know how these dogs are a big part of their owners' life. My daughter also found out how much attention they love to have too. One rainy night she opened the door to the garage to let them out and freaked out when her eyes met the following:

She quickly grabbed the dogs from going out but then realized that they weren't even barking or looking at this guy. She threw a screwdriver at him---- he didn't flinch. Okay, is this someone's idea of a joke? As she approached him she realized that he is a boxing dummy all dressed up in a raincoat! She called the owners who laughed through their apologies for not mentioning his "toy" that had been there all along. I would have been scared to death. And even though I sympathized, I had an immediate flashback to 1983. There I was on my porch on a hot summer day where I fell asleep in a chaise lounge in the early evening. At some point I rolled over and felt someone staring at me so I slowly opened my eyes to see:
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AH-H-H-H-H!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I screamed at this 8 foot tall bug-eyed monster looking at me! Okay, maybe he was only 2 feet tall but he really looked big from where I was. When I calmed down I realized that the monster was my daughter's inflatable ET character. I swear he wasn't there when I fell asleep but no one would owe up to putting him there- not even my 2 year old daughter.

Daydreaming

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 04:27:00 +0000

Where has the time gone? I find myself counting down the workdays until Friday comes and then the weekend just flies by. I guess I am tired of cold winter weather and can't wait to spend more time outside. Okay Brunetta, patience is a virtue. In the meantime, I have a room I want to turn into my summer escape with wicker furniture and a wallpaper mural of a garden or ocean theme. Or maybe a Tuscan Villa scene. Of course I would rather see that villa in person but reality strikes so I will bring the villa to me. We were lucky to some traveling last year to North Carolina's Outerbanks, Lake Placid, Toronto, San Francisco and NYC (haven't posted pictures yet) but this year will be more low key... like in staycations. There still will be a girl trip to Lake Placid though. And it is a good time to catch up on reading. I have several books waiting to be opened. I have really gotten into using my ipod whch has caused me some embarrassment recently. While grocery shopping, I was listening to my favorite podcast "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! " when I felt the stares. Oops.... I couldn't control my chuckling.

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! is NPR's weekly radio quiz show. It is a fast-paced, funny look at current affairs and the week's events presented as a series of games with guest panelists, well known personalities and listeners.

One segment is called "Bluff The Listener" where 3 stories are told and the listener tries to figure out what's real and what's made up. You have to listen to this. The subject is:

"I returned my iPhone once I realized there was no 'chick magnet' application." Three stories about recent troubles involving Apple's popular phone.

Click here for a laugh!

Happy Birthday To Me

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:39:00 +0000

I had a great birthday recently celebrating with family and friends. My husband bought me flowers, my kids cooked a wonderful dinner, my sister treated me to a facial and body massage and the girls at work brought in all sorts of treats to munch on. It isn't over yet- my Mom is taking my 2 sisters and I out to dinner since our birthdays are close together. I got alot of nice cards but there is one my sister-in-law sent that made me laugh so I have to share it.

Saturday Night Special

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:47:00 +0000

"When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator"
~Mahatma Gandhi

If skies are clear Saturday, go out at sunset and look for the giant moon rising in the east. It will be the biggest and brightest one of 2009.

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, there are typically twelve named full moons every year.
The Native Americans who lived in the area that is now the northern and eastern United States kept track of the seasons by giving names to the recurring full Moons.

Jan. 10, 10:27 p.m. est
-- Full Wolf Moon
This full Moon appeared when wolves howled in hunger outside the villages

Feb. 9, 9:49 a.m. est
-- Full Snow Moon
Usually the heaviest snows fall in this month. Hunting becomes very difficult so to some tribes this was the Full Hunger Moon

Mar. 10, 10:38 p.m. edt
-- Full Worm Moon
At the time of this spring Moon, the ground begins to soften and earthworm casts reappear.

Apr. 9, 10:56 a.m. edt
-- Full Pink Moon
The grass pink or wild ground phlox is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring.

May 9, 12:01 a.m. edt
-- Full Flower Moon
Flowers are abundant everywhere

Jun. 7, 2:12 p.m. edt
-- Full Strawberry Moon
The tribes knew this Moon as a time to gather ripening strawberries
(this happens to be the name of one of my favorites by Grover Washington Jr)

Jul. 7, 5:21 a.m. edt
-- Full Buck Moon
Bucks begin to grow new antlers at this time

Aug. 5, 8:55 p.m. edt
-- Full Sturgeon Moon
Some Native American tribes knew that the sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this full Moon

Sep. 4, 12:03 a.m. edt
-- Full Corn Moon
This full Moon corresponds with the time of harvesting corn

Oct. 4, 2:10 a.m. edt
-- Full Harvest Moon
This is the full Moon nearest the autumnal equinox and is bright enough to allow the farmers to work into the night by the light of this moon

Nov. 2, 2:14 p.m. est
-- Full Beaver Moon
This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs

Dec. 2, 2:30 a.m. est
-- Full Cold Moon
This is the month when the winter cold fastens its grip

Dec. 31, 2:13 p.m. est
-- Full Long Night Moon
Nights are at their longest and darkest.
Because this is the second time the moon turns full in a calendar month it is also known as a "Blue Moon."

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:37:00 +0000

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 05:31:00 +0000

I feel that I have been neglecting my blog. I do not like to feel that way because it takes all the fun out of it- like some kind of obligation-but things get hectic around the holidays so blogging falls to the bottom of the list. I was supposed to have this week off of work and the plan was to decorate and shop and bake cookies. Well, my 5 days off got reduced to 1 day off and did I fill it to the max. I realized after 9 hours of errands and shopping that I was starving. No wonder-I skipped breakfast, lunch and dinner. So here I am at a shopping center when I see a grocery store that I needed to stop at. I ordered a pizza there while picking up some things I forgot to get at my regular store. Then it hit me. I could not wait another minute so after checking out I rushed to my car, cranked up the music and dug into a hot brick-oven baked pizza that was loaded with mushrooms and onions like this:

Who knew that a grocery store made better pizza than a pizza shop?

Now for my real treat.... I ripped open a package of California rolls, complete with wasabi and pickled ginger. There was a time when I wouldn't dare try these because I thought it was raw fish but I then learned that these are American-Style Sushi Rolls made with cooked crab, avocado, and cucumbers.

Heaven... I'm in heaven

Ah-h-h-h, the reward. (burp)

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:25:00 +0000

Bits and pieces, bits and pieces.
People.
People important to you
People unimportant to you cross your life, touch it with love and move on.
There are people who leave you and you breathe a sigh of relief and wonder why you ever came into contact with them.
There are people who leave you, and you breathe a sigh of remorse and wonder why they had to go and leave such a gaping hole.
Children leave parents
Friends leave friends
Acquaintances move on
People change homes
People grow apart
Enemies hate and move on
Friends love and move on
You think of the many people who have moved in and out of your hazy memory. You look at those present and wonder.
I believe in god's master plan in lives. He moves people in and out of each other's lives, and each leaves his mark on the other. You find you are made up of bits and pieces of all who have ever touched your life. You are more because of them, and would be less if they had not touched you.
Pray that you accept the bits and pieces in humility and wonder, and never question and never regret.
Bit's and pieces, bits and pieces.
~Anonymous

Think Pink

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 04:46:00 +0000

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and although I didn't get this up until the end of the month, the message is important ANY time of year. I am so proud to have been asked to help out in putting together care packages for newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients. We needed to fill 375 bags to be delivered to oncologists, surgeons, physicians, women centers, etc. All the credit goes to Jennifer Tom who is the founder of Positively Pink Packages. As a breast cancer survivor, she knows firsthand the physical and emotional challenges facing a newly diagnosed patient- so much information to learn, so many decisions to make. Because of her own experience, she has dedicated countless hours organizing fundraisers and group meetings to provide chemotherapy and radiation therapy gift bags containing comfort items such as a satin pillowcase, herbal tea, non-irritating cleanser, cotton head turban and mints in addition to support group information, a writing journal and videos.
These are small items that touch people in a big way.

Here are some volunteers preparing packages:

And here are some of the same volunteers at the Kentucky Derby fundraiser:

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

"Four years ago, my dream and business plan to help breast cancer patients became a reality and Positively Pink Packages was officially incorporated as a non profit. It was at a point in my life where I could only dream of (but sometimes afraid to hope) the day that didn’t consist of surgeons, surgeries, and endless treatment. As Vickie Gerard writes in her book, There’s No Place Like Hope, “Hope-what a wonderful, beautiful word it is. I had not understood until that moment that all my deepest emotions had evolved around that word. The roller coaster ride that had become my life had all been driven by the loss of, and the renewed search for-hope. Yes, I would have loved a guarantee that I would get well, but I knew that that was impossible. What I had been searching for was hope. Without hope I could find no foothold, nothing to stop my spiraling, downward fall.” And that is why we started Positively Pink ~ to provide hope, along with information, coping tools and comfort aids to help make this difficult time a little easier for breast cancer patients and their families."
Jennifer Tom
Kudos to Jen!

And the winner is............................

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:33:00 +0000

Sean Cunningham! Cunningham, 23, a recent graduate of Syracuse University, won the grand prize for the state's first-ever "I Love NY Short Film Competition."

The award was presented in New York City by "Ugly Betty" star America Ferrara on the set of the ABC television show.

"A lot of people, when they think of New York, they think the city," Cunningham said. "I wanted to show the diversity of the state." His 60-second movie doesn't include a single shot of the Big Apple.
Waking at 6 a.m. the day of the shoot, Cunningham met his college roommate -- and star in his film -- M.J. Parish, of Long Island, to catch a sunrise in Ithaca. From there, they drove nearly 200 miles to 10 locations, stopping at Carpenter Falls in Cayuga County, a vineyard at Seneca Lake and strolling along a pier in Skaneateles before shooting a stunning sunset at Oneida Lake.
The scenic sights from Central New York were all shot in a single day.

Congratulations Sean!
Watch Cunningham's award-winning video.

Discover a Different New York - Grand Prize/Central Region Award -

I'm in a New York State of Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:44:00 +0000

Some folks like to get away,

Take a holiday from the neighborhood.

Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood.

But I'm takin' a Greyhound on the Hudson River line.

I'm in a New York state of mind.....

Great song.

Calling all New Yorkers-Cast your vote in the first ever “I Love NY” Short Film Competition.

The revamped “I Love New York” campaign invited filmmakers-professional, student, or amateur to produce their own short film about why they love the state.
All films must be shot in a “New York Minute” (:60 seconds), filmed in New York State and should highlight distinct places, unique characters and hidden gems that make New York State special.

The Grand Prize Winner’s film,which will be announced in the fall, will appear as part of a commercial during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcast, as well as on jetBlue Airways seatback televisions and on the Independent Film Channel.

It has been narrowed down to 15 finalists and 2 are cyn’ers!!

One of them is Eric Lindstrom ( from Ithaca): “We realized how many locations in NYS are world- wide locations like Rome, Mexico, Jamaica, Geneva- all exotic sounding places right here in CNY." He focused in on the Fingerlakes and gave his film "an operatic, Italian feel to it”.

Here is his film from Six Mile Creek Winery in Ithaca:

You can view the entries here.

And don't forget to vote for your favorite by visiting

The New York Post.

Now back to Billy...........

Savoir-faire and Makeup 101

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Who knew that a trip to the grocery store could be dangerous? It started out with a plan to go bike riding with Greeneyezz and my daughter for the following day and to bring along a picnic lunch. We made a late night trip to the store to pick up some things, including the newly discovered energy drinks. As we waited in line for several minutes, Greeneyezz tells me to check out the woman waiting behind me so I nonchalantly turn around to see the following:
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Holy Crayola Catastrophe!!! This woman clearly likes to color outside the lines. And she is ~~staring~~ scowling right at me so I try to cover by picking up a box of candy on the shelf to purchase. Of course Greeneyezz, aka the instigator, starts an exagerated imitation of:

Oh-oh- she knows.
All of a sudden Hot Lips started slamming her groceries on the belt, one item at a time, starting with 4 cans of coffee- leaning over right up close to me.
Let me outa here!!!!! But no-o-o-o-o..........my sweet sister wedged me in during my escape and will NOT let me get by her. The cashier mumbles something about "someone here is grouchy", I am trying to flee and Greeneyezz can't stop laughing.
That woman needs a Revlon consultant.
And it is time sis and I have a talk about tact.
Never let her tell me again that I have put her in harm's way.

Let the Biking Begin

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:35:00 +0000

Mark Twain's wisdom on cycling: "Learn to ride a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live."

I like Susan B. Anthony's spin on it:
"Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood."

So I decided to do my part.
What a beautiful day to be outside! Greeneyezz and I decided to go for a bike ride so we packed a quick lunch and off we went to the Erie Canal. But first we had to stop to get her some water, or so I thought. I suggested that she try an energy drink and what a mistake that was. Now a I have created an addict.
There are some scary choices out there, like Full Throttle, Power Trip, Screamin Energy Shot, Radioactive Energy and so on but she went with NOS. Within a nanosecond she was peddling at warp speed. As she flew by me I heard her say "Gotta get more of that stuff!". And off she went full speed ahead. Okay, so maybe I am exaggerating a bit but she did make me bike 22 miles.
Oh, my aching arse!

Here are a some pictures of what we saw:

"Everything is lovely when the goose honks high."

The car ride home was on the quiet side but the wheels were still turning. "Do you think BJ's sells that stuff by the case" ? she asked.

Mea Culpa

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 04:07:00 +0000

Bless me Blogger for I have failed, it has been 43 days since my last post.

In this time I have:

1) Vacationed in the OuterBanks, North Carolina

2) Went to Saratoga Jazz Festival

3) Visited with family from out-of-state

4) Been working my a** off at my job

5) Planted, fertilized, weeded my flower and vegetable garden (and proudly harvesting basil started from seed)

I am sorry for ignoring my blog. Where has the time gone??

I promise to do better. Right now though I have a quick post about barbeque sauce. This isn't just any sauce but our very own homegrown variety from the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que , a great honky tonk joint. It is known as a Sensuous Slathering Sauce-
"Not your everyday barbeque sauce... an aggressive crimson-red tomato-based sauce riddled with spices you can see smell and taste." It is coming up a winner everywhere. This article appeared in our newspaper:

Also, Eating Well magazine did a taste test for a healthier barbecue sauce with the following guidelines:

Less than 300 milligrams of sodium
12 grams or less carbohydrate per serving
No high-fructose corn syrup or artificial colors in the ingredient list

The staff tasters: Carolyn Casner, Stacy Fraser, Hilary Meyer, Carolyn Malcoun, Jessie Price gave the EatingWell Smart Choice to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que's Sensuous Slathering Sauce.

It was described as "Lowest in calories and carbs, as well as the tops in both taste and texture, this was our Smart Choice winner. Jessie said, “This one has the best tangy, bright flavor.” Hilary thought it was nicely balanced. We also liked the Roasted Garlic Honey flavor."

Check out the full article is here.

Is it an oxymoron to say "Long live The Dinosaur!!!!!!" ?

Knowledge of the self is the mother of all knowledge

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sat, 31 May 2008 04:11:00 +0000

So it is incumbent on me to know my self, to know it completely, to know its minutiae, its characteristics, its subtleties, and its very atoms.
Author: Kahlil Gibran

Reflections of Self
We are all mirrors for each other

When we look at other people, we see many of their qualities in innumerable and seemingly random combinations. However, the qualities that we see in the people around us are directly related to the traits that exist in us. “Like attracts like” is one of the spiritual laws of the universe. We attract individuals into our lives that mirror who we are.
Those you feel drawn to reflect your inner self back at you, and you act as a mirror for them. Simply put, when you look at others, you will likely see what exists in you. When you see beauty, divinity, sweetness, or light in the soul of another, you are seeing the goodness that resides in your soul. When you see the traits in others that evoke feelings of anger, annoyance, or hatred, you may be seeing reflected back at you those parts of yourself that you have disowned or do not like.
Because we are all mirrors for each other, looking at the people in your life can tell you lot about yourself. Who you are can be laid bare to you through what you see in others. It is easy to see the traits you do not like in others. It is much more difficult to realize that you possess those same traits. Often, the habits, attitudes, and behaviors of others are closely linked to our unconscious and unresolved issues.
When you come into contact with someone you admire, search your soul for similarly admirable• traits. likewise, when you meet someone exhibiting traits that You dislike, accept that you are looking at your reflection. Looking at yourself through your perception of others can be a humbling and eye-opening experience. You can also cultivate the traits and behaviors that you do like. Be loving and respectful to all people, and you will attract individuals that will love and respect you back.
Nurture compassion and empathy and let the goodness
You see in others be your mirror.

The Journey Of A Mother

noreply@blogger.com (Brunetta) — Sun, 11 May 2008 03:10:00 +0000

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said "Yes, the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning." But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, gathered flowers for them along the way, bathed them in the clear streams, the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this." Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come." And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, "A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you." And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today, I have given them strength." And the next day came strange clouds which, darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: "Look up. Lift your eyes to the light." And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the Mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God." And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them." And the children said, “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence." Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every teardrop. She's the place you came from, your first home; and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space...not even death.