Stephanie says

My co-worker's 12 year daughter and her best friend came in to sweep up sawdust in the door factory and generally make themselves useful.   It's entertaining to hear them talking and giggling in the background.  They're so in tune with each other it brings to mind Melissa and I at that age. Or at any age.  We were shoe shopping over the weekend and collapsed in hilarity over my exposed toe cleavage in a particular pair of shoes.  Far too risque for an upcoming business meeting - I've seen the power my feet have on men.   I mustn't lead them on. Anyway, today was another brutally hot day so the (twelve-year old) girls decided to wash some of the pickup trucks.  I'd been out on an errand and sought them out at the back of the shop, where they'd set up a car wash station, to ask if they would wash my car.  "Yes."  So I hopped out and said, "keys are in it." to a huge burst of giggles. A bit later, with a lot more giggles, here they cam...

Yum.  Perhaps not the wisest choice to heat up the kitchen with temperature hovering near triple digits.  I picked an onion and oregano from the garden for this!  I mentioned this to Terry who suggested pickling onion in lime juice and oregano.  That sounds lovely. I cooked Jasmine white rice because some dishes just taste better with white rice.  This is another recipe from America's Test Kitchen.  It's good but I'm going to give it a shot of lime juice when I eat the leftovers. Serves 6 We prefer this dish prepared with raisins, but they can be replaced with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar added with the broth in step 2. Picadillo is traditionally served with rice and black beans. It can also be topped with chopped parsley, toasted almonds, and/or chopped hard-cooked egg. Ingredients 1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef 1 pound ground pork 2 tablespoons water 1/2 teaspoon baking soda Salt and pepper 1 green bell pepper, stemmed, ...

Out of the blue - here's a Facebook friend request from someone I worked with in 1986, my secretary to be specific.  She was excellent at her job, but so guarded and reticent eventually I began to suspect bad shit happened in her home life.  Details emerged confirming just that.  Tragic details,  horrible sexual assaults by her brother, never acknowledged by anyone.  He later sexually abused his daughter and served prison time for this offense.  But not for his sister.   He penetrated his sister with a coke bottle and she is unable to bear children.  Sorry to subject you to that.  There it is though.  I didn't want to know that either. Worst case scenario.  Horrific.  Call me shallow but the only thing this woman brings me is down.  I've tried.  Outings, movies, stuff.  In the end, I don't enjoy her company.  I really feel for her, but I don't enjoy being with her.  I'm just gonna own that....

From this laid back, pot smokin liberal   to the Skin Head Boy from Hell Arghhhhh

I'm just home from a visit to my grandson Henry of Flagstaff Arizona.  The boy got the Thompson feet.  Note that little toe, wayyyy out there.  We can pick up coins with our toes. Henry's got the Thompson piano playing hands, as well, but I didn't get a good shot.  Helene is practicing chords in anticipation. My daughter and her husband are elated with their baby.  Wonderful.  Young Henry's parents spend a great deal of time gazing at that cute little face with adoring smiles; they glance at each other and grin with delight.  I love seeing my child so happy.  I also enjoy getting to know my s.i.l., who is a hoot.  Ryan does impressions, uproarious ones, and is looking forward to reading to our boy in voices, (shades of my father - he'd really like Ryan.)    My brother Bruce drove up to meet the boy and deemed him one seriously cute baby.  Bruce said "I've seen lots of babies, really homely babies, but this guy is a do...

I’ve been watching “Off Camera with Sam Jones” on HBO.   Sam Jones interviews mostly artistic people; musicians, actors, directors, comedians, (although there is one show in my queue with a skateboarder, but I have ADD when it comes to watching any sports so probably won’t see that one.   Ah, will these words come back to haunt me?) These people are established in their professions and have interesting things to say, a wonderful departure from the common “it” girl, boy, band or Kardashian touted so often.   To date I’ve watched interviews with Sarah Silverman, Will Forte, Judd Apatow, Dave Grohl, Robert Downey Jr., John Krasinski, and Aimee Mann.   A refreshing trait among this group is they’re all skilled grown-ups.   Aimee Mann was asked if she saw herself as a musician when she was a child.   Which raised the question about how I saw myself as a child (because this is all about me) and some memories surfaced.   I’ve been thinking abou...

following an early morning bike ride Sausage and fried potatoes topped with jalapenos, avocado, tomato, pepper jack cheese.  Yum!

I’m going to meet my grandson very soon so needed to get the dog’s kennel cough inoculations updated to meet boarding requirements prior to my departure.   We toddle off to the vet where Rosie is happy just getting in a random lick while she gets pricked.   Hmmm.   Moose, not so much.   He apparently remembers his hock surgery in February, or maybe recalls being forced to wear the cone of shame for such a long recovery.   Regardless, he is not fond of the vet.     He was bucking and flailing and growling and just trying to get the hell out of there.   He is a powerful dog, (he’s been looking noticeably thinner to me, Terry concurs, but weighed in at a whopping 128, up three pounds…)   Who is now labeled aggressive…   We were sent home Tuesday without the shots but with a handful of sedatives (for him) and an appointment on Thursday.   I was totally pooped and wishing for my own sedatives. Went back again today ...

I'm still fooling with the aperture in manual mode but I shot a few frames on automatic.  Those were the best ones...  So annoying. Still not getting what I want - but the blossoms are very pretty.

This variety of sweet pea is purported to have the sweetest scent of all.  I'd name the variety but that would involve me getting up and finding the seed packet and it's 90 degrees outside.  So no.  I planted these outside my bedroom hoping breaths of fragrance would waft through the open windows and perfume my dreams.  I'm testing my camera, aiming for a crisp foreground and a blurry background, a shot I could make in the dark with a SLR (film) camera.  Needs work.