Overheard yesterday afternoon:
Taylor (12): "I said just look at the serving size and get one extra."
Freddy (10): "I thought the serving size was 3"
Taylor: "No. It's 2."
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Miss Teen USA 2007 - South Carolina answers a question
Did she say, "Osama people out there in our nation that don't have maps?"
Sunday, August 26, 2007
The Downy Debacle
My friend Jenny wrote this on her blog.
I'm pretty sure I hadn't told her about my conversation regarding this subject last Friday.
First, I'll tell you the story I sent to my email buds last Friday about my visit to Harris Teeter:
"I stopped at Harris Teeter today to get a couple of quarts of chicken stock for this soup. I had the boxes in my hand and headed toward the checkout.
I aimed for what I thought was an open lane and ended up at one of those freakin' self-checkout things. As I was standing there, contemplating the origins of the universe and why the lane signs seemed to give an optical illusion as to their actual location, the helper chick came up.
"Do you need help?" She asked.
"Well, I intended to be over there, but now I'm over here," I said.
"No problem," she said. "I'll help you."
"Well, I KNOW how to do it, it's just that I'm not feeling like doing it myself," I said by way of apology.
"I do this all day," she assured me. "I'll do it."
And so she took my two boxes from me and proceeded to do all the work, reaching past me to punch the right buttons and I was secretly glad she was because, even though I know how to do it, it all seemed quite confusing and LOUD to me and I just stood there and kept mumbling that I was tired and sorry... tired, lazy and sorry. And she kept smiling and took my $20 bill and gave me change and gingerly handed me my bag."
What I did not tell my email buds was about the conversation I had with a fellow shopper in front of the fabric softener in Target about 20 minutes earlier that day.
"Hmm..." the lady said, to no one in particular.
"Too many choices, isn't it?" I said.
"Well, it's just that I'm looking for this specific stuff and it's getting harder and harder to find," she explained.
Then she proceeded to tell me about some miracle product that is like dryer sheets, but you put them in the wash and when the colors on your clothes run, this sheet traps the color so that it doesn't color all the other clothes.
And so we talked about how cool that was, and then I said,
"Well, I'm looking for what used to be a very popular item, but now I'm starting to worry that it's all gone."
"What?" she asked.
"Free & Sensitive Downy Fabric Softener," I said. "It's been the only brand of scent-free fabric softener that I could find at Target and now I'm not finding it here, either.
"Is this it?" she asked, handing me a bottle clearly marked "FREE & SENSITIVE."
"Yup. What a dope I am!"
She just smiled.
They have changed the labels. Really. It reminds me of when I used to buy Old Dutch Corn Tortilla Cchips and had to stop because I couldn't find it anymore. After a couple of months going chip-less, I found it with an entirely different bag.
Can't they at least WARN US?
I'm pretty sure I hadn't told her about my conversation regarding this subject last Friday.
First, I'll tell you the story I sent to my email buds last Friday about my visit to Harris Teeter:
"I stopped at Harris Teeter today to get a couple of quarts of chicken stock for this soup. I had the boxes in my hand and headed toward the checkout.
I aimed for what I thought was an open lane and ended up at one of those freakin' self-checkout things. As I was standing there, contemplating the origins of the universe and why the lane signs seemed to give an optical illusion as to their actual location, the helper chick came up.
"Do you need help?" She asked.
"Well, I intended to be over there, but now I'm over here," I said.
"No problem," she said. "I'll help you."
"Well, I KNOW how to do it, it's just that I'm not feeling like doing it myself," I said by way of apology.
"I do this all day," she assured me. "I'll do it."
And so she took my two boxes from me and proceeded to do all the work, reaching past me to punch the right buttons and I was secretly glad she was because, even though I know how to do it, it all seemed quite confusing and LOUD to me and I just stood there and kept mumbling that I was tired and sorry... tired, lazy and sorry. And she kept smiling and took my $20 bill and gave me change and gingerly handed me my bag."
What I did not tell my email buds was about the conversation I had with a fellow shopper in front of the fabric softener in Target about 20 minutes earlier that day.
"Hmm..." the lady said, to no one in particular.
"Too many choices, isn't it?" I said.
"Well, it's just that I'm looking for this specific stuff and it's getting harder and harder to find," she explained.
Then she proceeded to tell me about some miracle product that is like dryer sheets, but you put them in the wash and when the colors on your clothes run, this sheet traps the color so that it doesn't color all the other clothes.
And so we talked about how cool that was, and then I said,
"Well, I'm looking for what used to be a very popular item, but now I'm starting to worry that it's all gone."
"What?" she asked.
"Free & Sensitive Downy Fabric Softener," I said. "It's been the only brand of scent-free fabric softener that I could find at Target and now I'm not finding it here, either.
"Is this it?" she asked, handing me a bottle clearly marked "FREE & SENSITIVE."
"Yup. What a dope I am!"
She just smiled.
They have changed the labels. Really. It reminds me of when I used to buy Old Dutch Corn Tortilla Cchips and had to stop because I couldn't find it anymore. After a couple of months going chip-less, I found it with an entirely different bag.
Can't they at least WARN US?
Bloomin' Idjut-Part II
Yesterday I again damaged my head in public. I went to the new flooring store to shoot photos at their open house.
And proceeded to hit my head on a carpet display.
Here's how it happened:
I was crouching down next to the display, shooting upward. Stood up after the shot and bonked my temple (the same one as last week) on the edge of a carpet sample.
At least they probably won't forget who I am.
I've decided to take this weekend off--no writing, no work. I chalked up the visit to the flooring store as "playing with my camera."
So I watched two movies yesterday.
The first was Gray Matters
. Fairly decent movie. It's about a woman who does not know she is gay until she falls in love with her brother's wife. I think the strongest thing about the movie is it's title, though. The woman's name is Gray. It's a gray area-sexuality-and she matters. I like wordplay like that.
The other movie I watched last night was Peaceful Warrior
. Now this was a great movie! I'd never heard of it before and I probably wouldn't have even chosen it if I'd known Nick Nolte was in it. But it was great! A little odd at points. A guy is trying out for the Olympic gymnastic team and he's very competitive and yet unhappy and never satisfied. Nolte plays an old guy at a gas station that teaches him to "empty out the trash." Take out all the garbage in his mind and life and build concentration. Good good movie.
Mensa Boy and the guys are building me a light box for my birthday. Out of PVC pipe and, so far, a sheet. But I think they are going to need a different kind of fabric than a sheet. For those of you who are not aware of what a lightbox is, it's sort of like a portable photo studio where you can put whatever you are shooting and use diffused light to photograph it. Shining the light through the walls of the lightbox (or the bottom, if it's just a table one with no sides), helps you control or eliminate shadows. Here's a photo of an apple I took by way of a test:
You can see the texture of the sheet they used. So I think we'll have to look around for some other kind of fabric.
So. That was yesterday. I don't know what's on tap for today. Probably more of the same! I told Mensa Boy I'm in a sort of in inertia right now. I want to get out and do something, but I don't know what. And it's too ridiculously hot, really. We are all very very tired of summer now.
And proceeded to hit my head on a carpet display.
Here's how it happened:
I was crouching down next to the display, shooting upward. Stood up after the shot and bonked my temple (the same one as last week) on the edge of a carpet sample.
At least they probably won't forget who I am.
I've decided to take this weekend off--no writing, no work. I chalked up the visit to the flooring store as "playing with my camera."
So I watched two movies yesterday.
The first was Gray Matters
. Fairly decent movie. It's about a woman who does not know she is gay until she falls in love with her brother's wife. I think the strongest thing about the movie is it's title, though. The woman's name is Gray. It's a gray area-sexuality-and she matters. I like wordplay like that.The other movie I watched last night was Peaceful Warrior
. Now this was a great movie! I'd never heard of it before and I probably wouldn't have even chosen it if I'd known Nick Nolte was in it. But it was great! A little odd at points. A guy is trying out for the Olympic gymnastic team and he's very competitive and yet unhappy and never satisfied. Nolte plays an old guy at a gas station that teaches him to "empty out the trash." Take out all the garbage in his mind and life and build concentration. Good good movie.Mensa Boy and the guys are building me a light box for my birthday. Out of PVC pipe and, so far, a sheet. But I think they are going to need a different kind of fabric than a sheet. For those of you who are not aware of what a lightbox is, it's sort of like a portable photo studio where you can put whatever you are shooting and use diffused light to photograph it. Shining the light through the walls of the lightbox (or the bottom, if it's just a table one with no sides), helps you control or eliminate shadows. Here's a photo of an apple I took by way of a test:
You can see the texture of the sheet they used. So I think we'll have to look around for some other kind of fabric.
So. That was yesterday. I don't know what's on tap for today. Probably more of the same! I told Mensa Boy I'm in a sort of in inertia right now. I want to get out and do something, but I don't know what. And it's too ridiculously hot, really. We are all very very tired of summer now.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Dear Hilton, LEAVE US ALONE!!!
We stayed at a wonderful Hampton Inn in Indianapolis, IN recently. We stayed there on August 4 and then again on August 11.Our visit was smooth, the staff was attentive, the coffee was wonderful.
HOWEVER, since our return home, we have received repeated calls Hilton Grand Vacations.
I've informed callers twice that we do not want to be called.PLEASE do not contact us. We are NOT INTERESTED. We will have to stop using your hotels if this continues.
Thank you
HOWEVER, since our return home, we have received repeated calls Hilton Grand Vacations.
I've informed callers twice that we do not want to be called.PLEASE do not contact us. We are NOT INTERESTED. We will have to stop using your hotels if this continues.
Thank you
Thursday, August 23, 2007
No Coffee, No Title
UPDATE: The water came back on just as I was getting the kids up to school. Whew!
____________________________________________________________________
Today could be a bad day.
I woke up at 5:30 and found we have no water to speak of. We had a day a couple of weeks ago when our water pressure was low. Today there is no water at all upstairs and it just trickles out downstairs.
Nate is not going to be happy.
If they have no water at the school then I figure it could be cancelled or postponed. Which would mean being here all day with unhappy people.
I hope this is the worst-case scenario. At least, I can't think of anything worse. But without coffee my imagination is not really running wild, either.
On a lighter note, yesterday was yet another day over 100 degrees. I sat in the car line at school thinking about how I needed to get a few more school supplies and gas for the car and get the bathrooms cleaned and supper started. And I was tired.
Then it popped into my head that I could Nate to put gas in the car and buy the school supplies. Let the boy run around in the heat.
So I gave him some money and the list and told him to call if he had a hard time finding stuff:
Kleenex
Hand sanitizer
5-subject notebook
Clorox wipes or some other surface sanitizer
I told him he didn't need to go all the way to Target to get the stuff. He could just hit the pharmacy on the edge of Ballantyne. (we don't have such things...pharmacies)
He called to say he didn't know where the hand sanitizer was. I gave him some suggestions.
He called to say he couldn't find it. I told him he'd need to ask. [sigh of exasperation from him here]
He called to ask what Clorox wipes were.
When he got home, he had
Kleenex
Hand Sanitizer
5-subject notebook
Bounce dryer sheets
____________________________________________________________________
Today could be a bad day.
I woke up at 5:30 and found we have no water to speak of. We had a day a couple of weeks ago when our water pressure was low. Today there is no water at all upstairs and it just trickles out downstairs.
Nate is not going to be happy.
If they have no water at the school then I figure it could be cancelled or postponed. Which would mean being here all day with unhappy people.
I hope this is the worst-case scenario. At least, I can't think of anything worse. But without coffee my imagination is not really running wild, either.
On a lighter note, yesterday was yet another day over 100 degrees. I sat in the car line at school thinking about how I needed to get a few more school supplies and gas for the car and get the bathrooms cleaned and supper started. And I was tired.
Then it popped into my head that I could Nate to put gas in the car and buy the school supplies. Let the boy run around in the heat.
So I gave him some money and the list and told him to call if he had a hard time finding stuff:
Kleenex
Hand sanitizer
5-subject notebook
Clorox wipes or some other surface sanitizer
I told him he didn't need to go all the way to Target to get the stuff. He could just hit the pharmacy on the edge of Ballantyne. (we don't have such things...pharmacies)
He called to say he didn't know where the hand sanitizer was. I gave him some suggestions.
He called to say he couldn't find it. I told him he'd need to ask. [sigh of exasperation from him here]
He called to ask what Clorox wipes were.
When he got home, he had
Kleenex
Hand Sanitizer
5-subject notebook
Bounce dryer sheets
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
"Bloomin' Idjut!"
He was too nice to say that, but I did find out from Dr. Adam Cooper, chiropractor, (signs his emails 'ACDC') that I've completely mis-diagnosed and consequently done every single thing wrong with my shoulder.
The left shoulder has been troubling me a lot in the last two weeks. But it was kind of nagging at me for about a month. I thought I was sleeping incorrectly. That the muscles were getting knotted up from improper sleeping. And so I was stretching it, working it, rubbing it...trying to work out what I perceived to be tightness.
Finally the soreness had morphed into a severe burning sensation across both shoulder blades and I was worried enough to seek medical attention.
Sure. The muscles are tight, but the underlying problem is a strained muscle.
"Feels like it's the muscle that goes across my shoulder blade."
[twist, turn, rotate] "hmm. Is it this way or that way?" he asked.
"YOW! That's it!"
"Strained supraspinalis," he muttered.
"What's that?"
"The muscle that goes across your shoulder blade."
And then I learned that I should be resting it, icing it, not exercising it. No weights.
"So basically, I've been stupidly doing exactly the wrong thing for this."
"Well, I wouldn't put it thaaaatttt way!" he said.
And so I was introduced to this fine product:
It is pure menthol. You only need a tiny bit. Very gelatinous. In fact, if you aren't careful, it will just fall off your finger and plop to the floor. The smell is menthol, but wears off within a couple of minutes. But man! Is it COLD! It's like putting an ice cube directly on your skin. That sensation seems to last about 10 minutes.
I did not tell ACDC about dropping my own camera on my head last Sunday.
The left shoulder has been troubling me a lot in the last two weeks. But it was kind of nagging at me for about a month. I thought I was sleeping incorrectly. That the muscles were getting knotted up from improper sleeping. And so I was stretching it, working it, rubbing it...trying to work out what I perceived to be tightness.
Finally the soreness had morphed into a severe burning sensation across both shoulder blades and I was worried enough to seek medical attention.
Sure. The muscles are tight, but the underlying problem is a strained muscle.
"Feels like it's the muscle that goes across my shoulder blade."
[twist, turn, rotate] "hmm. Is it this way or that way?" he asked.
"YOW! That's it!"
"Strained supraspinalis," he muttered.
"What's that?"
"The muscle that goes across your shoulder blade."
And then I learned that I should be resting it, icing it, not exercising it. No weights.
"So basically, I've been stupidly doing exactly the wrong thing for this."
"Well, I wouldn't put it thaaaatttt way!" he said.
And so I was introduced to this fine product:
It is pure menthol. You only need a tiny bit. Very gelatinous. In fact, if you aren't careful, it will just fall off your finger and plop to the floor. The smell is menthol, but wears off within a couple of minutes. But man! Is it COLD! It's like putting an ice cube directly on your skin. That sensation seems to last about 10 minutes.
I did not tell ACDC about dropping my own camera on my head last Sunday.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
YUM! For some...
I made this sugar-free chocolate ice cream for my friend Mike. He's a diabetic and calls his wife "The Sugar Sheriff."
I like doing this for him because he's so appreciative, but it also gives me a chance to experiment with cooking sugar-free stuff for my food stories. This week I did a story on ice cream, so I played with Splenda.
Personally, I think the ice cream was terrible. But I just can't eat or drink stuff with sugar substitutes. I don't have the taste for it and it just doesn't even want to go down my throat. He said it was wonderful. And I think he'd tell me the truth.
Sugar-Free Chocolate Ice Cream
For 1.5 Quart Freezer
1/2 cup Splenda
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 cup whole milk, divided
Dash salt
1 cup half-n-half
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix together Splenda and cocoa powder. Whisk in 1/2 cup of the whole milk until smooth and powders are completely dissolved. Add remaining ingredients.
Turn on the freezer and pour in the mixture while it’s running. Freeze as directed. Allow to rest 20 minutes before serving.
Recipe courtesy “No Food Left Behind” for The Carolina Gateway
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Product Review: True Lime, Lemon, & Orange
In a word: EXCELLENT!
I like flavor in my water occasionally, but not sweetness. These have no sweetener whatsoever. They are good, solid, thirst-quenching flavors. They taste just like you squeezed a piece of fruit into your water.
The first time I tried one, I put it in a 20-ounce bottle of water. Way too water-y. But they do well in the smaller bottles that are around 16 ounces.
I like flavor in my water occasionally, but not sweetness. These have no sweetener whatsoever. They are good, solid, thirst-quenching flavors. They taste just like you squeezed a piece of fruit into your water.
The first time I tried one, I put it in a 20-ounce bottle of water. Way too water-y. But they do well in the smaller bottles that are around 16 ounces.
LightPlay
My brother-in-law gave them light sticks one night and we played with slow shutter speeds.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
State Slogans
Alabama: At Least We're not Mississippi
Alaska: 11,623 Eskimos Can't be Wrong!
Arizona: Dehyd-rific!
Arkansas: Litterasy Ain't Everthang
California: As Seen on TV
Colorado: If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother
Connecticut: Like Massachusetts, Only Dirtier and With Less Character
Delaware: Wow..... you're in Delaware
Florida: Ask Us About Our Grandkids
Georgia: We Put the "Fun" in Fundamentalist Extremism
Hawaii: Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru (Death to Mainland Scum, But Leave Your Money)
Idaho: More Than Just Potatoes... Well Okay, We're Not, But The Potatoes Are Real Good
Illinois: Gateway to Iowa
Indiana: 50 Million Years Tidal Wave Free
Iowa: Land of James T. Kirk
Kansas: First Of The Rectangle States
Kentucky: Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names
Louisiana: We're Not All Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Slogan
Maine: Cheap Lobster
Maryland: A Thinking Man's Delaware
Massachusetts: Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's (For Most Tax Brackets)
Michigan: First Line of Defense From the Canadians
Minnesota: For Sale
Mississippi: Come Feel Better About Your Own State
Missouri: Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work
Montana: Land of the Big Sky, the Unabomer, and Very Little Else
Nebraska: Ask About Our State Motto Contest
Nevada: Whores and Poker!
New Hampshire: Go Away and Leave Us Alone
New Jersey: You Want a F$%&in' Motto? I Got Yer F$%&in' Motto Right Here!
New Mexico: Lizards Make Excellent Pets
New York: You Have the Right to Remain Silent, You Have the Right to an Attorney
North Carolina: Tobacco is a Vegetable
North Dakota: Um... We've got... Um... Dinosaur Bones? Yeah, Dinosaur Bones!!
Ohio: Don't Judge Us by Cleveland
Oklahoma: Like the Play, Only No Singing
Oregon: Spotted Owl, It's What's For Dinner
Pennsylvania: Cook With Coal
Rhode Island: We're Not REALLY An Island
South Carolina: Remember the Civil War? We Didn't Actually Surrender
South Dakota: Closer Than North Dakota
Tennessee: The Educashun State
Texas: A Great, Big Flat State
Utah: Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus
Vermont: Yep
Virginia: Who Says Government Stiffs and Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?
Washington: Help! We're Overrun By Nerds and Slackers!
Washington, D.C.: Wanna Be Mayor?
West Virginia: One Big Happy Family -- Really!
Wisconsin: Come Cut Our Cheese
Wyoming: Wynot?
Thanks to: http://monster-island.org/tinashumor/humor/stateslogans.htm
Alaska: 11,623 Eskimos Can't be Wrong!
Arizona: Dehyd-rific!
Arkansas: Litterasy Ain't Everthang
California: As Seen on TV
Colorado: If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother
Connecticut: Like Massachusetts, Only Dirtier and With Less Character
Delaware: Wow..... you're in Delaware
Florida: Ask Us About Our Grandkids
Georgia: We Put the "Fun" in Fundamentalist Extremism
Hawaii: Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru (Death to Mainland Scum, But Leave Your Money)
Idaho: More Than Just Potatoes... Well Okay, We're Not, But The Potatoes Are Real Good
Illinois: Gateway to Iowa
Indiana: 50 Million Years Tidal Wave Free
Iowa: Land of James T. Kirk
Kansas: First Of The Rectangle States
Kentucky: Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names
Louisiana: We're Not All Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Slogan
Maine: Cheap Lobster
Maryland: A Thinking Man's Delaware
Massachusetts: Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's (For Most Tax Brackets)
Michigan: First Line of Defense From the Canadians
Minnesota: For Sale
Mississippi: Come Feel Better About Your Own State
Missouri: Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work
Montana: Land of the Big Sky, the Unabomer, and Very Little Else
Nebraska: Ask About Our State Motto Contest
Nevada: Whores and Poker!
New Hampshire: Go Away and Leave Us Alone
New Jersey: You Want a F$%&in' Motto? I Got Yer F$%&in' Motto Right Here!
New Mexico: Lizards Make Excellent Pets
New York: You Have the Right to Remain Silent, You Have the Right to an Attorney
North Carolina: Tobacco is a Vegetable
North Dakota: Um... We've got... Um... Dinosaur Bones? Yeah, Dinosaur Bones!!
Ohio: Don't Judge Us by Cleveland
Oklahoma: Like the Play, Only No Singing
Oregon: Spotted Owl, It's What's For Dinner
Pennsylvania: Cook With Coal
Rhode Island: We're Not REALLY An Island
South Carolina: Remember the Civil War? We Didn't Actually Surrender
South Dakota: Closer Than North Dakota
Tennessee: The Educashun State
Texas: A Great, Big Flat State
Utah: Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus
Vermont: Yep
Virginia: Who Says Government Stiffs and Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?
Washington: Help! We're Overrun By Nerds and Slackers!
Washington, D.C.: Wanna Be Mayor?
West Virginia: One Big Happy Family -- Really!
Wisconsin: Come Cut Our Cheese
Wyoming: Wynot?
Thanks to: http://monster-island.org/tinashumor/humor/stateslogans.htm
Strangers. And yet...not
Last week my husband and I went to the the Old Mill City district in our hometown of Minnepolis to see the collapsed 35W bridge. We walked across the Stone Arch Bridge, where we could see St. Anthony Falls on one side, and the 3rd street bridge on the other. There were many people on the bridge that day, one week after the catastrophe.
There were a few memorials, but not many. Really, only about five mementos that I can recall. A couple of signs and some small flower bouquets.
I told my friend Julie that I thought it was fitting that this bridge is NOT just heaped high with flowers and posters...that it is not surprising that the outpouring of grief and concern is muted. This is a region full of folks of Scandinavian heritage. A reserved demeanor is common here.
I took this photo of these people looking at a memorial poster. I like the range of emotions we see here.
There were a few memorials, but not many. Really, only about five mementos that I can recall. A couple of signs and some small flower bouquets.
I told my friend Julie that I thought it was fitting that this bridge is NOT just heaped high with flowers and posters...that it is not surprising that the outpouring of grief and concern is muted. This is a region full of folks of Scandinavian heritage. A reserved demeanor is common here.
I took this photo of these people looking at a memorial poster. I like the range of emotions we see here.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Product Review: R.W. Garcia Spicy Soy & Flaxseed Tortilla Chips
The flaxseeds do get lodged in your teeth, though.
Tree of Thorns
I have no idea what this tree is. It's on the property of a commercial bakery in Indianapolis. I ran across it when I went over there to sit at a picnic table to talk on the phone. The thorns are very very sharp.
I picked off an interesting bit of the thorns that was just resting there...it had broken off, but not fallen to the ground. I have it hanging from my rearview mirror right now, but need to get it off there. I'll have it sitting on my desk.
When we got home Sunday night, we unloaded the car and got everything put away in just a few minutes. I sat down to go through the mail and when I glanced out into the family room, Mensa Boy and Taylor were watching "Who Wants to Be a Superhero."
When the show was over, they both sighed in satisfaction.
"It's good to be watching quality TV," Mensa Boy said.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Sunday, August 12, 2007
HERE!
Well, we are here. Back from "Up Nort." Glad to be home. Maybe. It's stinkin' hot here. And our lawn is burned up. But the jalapenos I hung up to dry in the kitchen and the garage didn't mold, and the house is cooling down nicely after being left at 90 degrees. I've reconnected with a couple of my friends and all is right with the world.
Tomorrow? Massage and then some serious writing.
And the blog entries will come between the paying work. In the meantime, here is my photo of the day, unedited. Brother Lis testing to see how fast I can do the manual focus lens on my camera. Obviously? Not that fast. You can't even see the little reed she is holding up. But she looks pretty darn clear, doesn't she? Of course, my camera naturally navigates toward her anyway.
Tomorrow? Massage and then some serious writing.
And the blog entries will come between the paying work. In the meantime, here is my photo of the day, unedited. Brother Lis testing to see how fast I can do the manual focus lens on my camera. Obviously? Not that fast. You can't even see the little reed she is holding up. But she looks pretty darn clear, doesn't she? Of course, my camera naturally navigates toward her anyway.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Can't Talk "Family" without saying "and Food"
Family, Food, Fun. That's basically what trips back here entail. I'm certain it's that way for everyone.
Here's my dad, pronouncing his ham a success. I'm sure I've mentioned before that my boys call bone-in picnic hams "Farmington ham." Taylor and my nephew Jake requested Farmington ham as a counterweight to my moussaka Sunday night. Fortunately for me, moussaka is only popular with 50% of the family. This leaves more for me!
We had corn on the cob and yellow tomatoes with the moussaka, which made our meal rather...yellow on the plate. (Fortunately I had not drawn the yellow fiesta plate, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see what I was eating!)
Mom made this fantastic salad with baby beets, onions, and cherry tomatoes. Balsamic vinegar was the dressing. Excellent!
Monday we found Old Dutch potato chips. Easy to do here. Not easy in South Carolina. Here is Nate modeling a box.
They aren't necessarily better than some of the ones we get at home, but it's a nostalgia thing.
And here is brother-in-law Bill making burgers for the grill Saturday night. He has a technique. Pretty much meatloaf, shaped into giant balls. Portioned out fairly, then smashed into patties. Delicious!
We also had a nice bottle of Riesling...a Piesporter Michelsberg Riesling I picked up. Can't remember the winery.
Here's my dad, pronouncing his ham a success. I'm sure I've mentioned before that my boys call bone-in picnic hams "Farmington ham." Taylor and my nephew Jake requested Farmington ham as a counterweight to my moussaka Sunday night. Fortunately for me, moussaka is only popular with 50% of the family. This leaves more for me!
We had corn on the cob and yellow tomatoes with the moussaka, which made our meal rather...yellow on the plate. (Fortunately I had not drawn the yellow fiesta plate, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see what I was eating!)
Mom made this fantastic salad with baby beets, onions, and cherry tomatoes. Balsamic vinegar was the dressing. Excellent!
Monday we found Old Dutch potato chips. Easy to do here. Not easy in South Carolina. Here is Nate modeling a box.
And here is brother-in-law Bill making burgers for the grill Saturday night. He has a technique. Pretty much meatloaf, shaped into giant balls. Portioned out fairly, then smashed into patties. Delicious!
Today hopefully it's Jazzercise. Then lunch with The Cleveland Company, and tonight we go out for dinner with my siblings and their spouses. Kids? Tombstone Pizza.
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