Amuse Me

Beginning of the End

2011-07-17T04:09:00.001-07:00

Now that it is nearly two years since my last post here, I am thinking of shutting it down.

In this intervening time, I have concentrated on self-publishing The Fowlerville Chronicles while posting history lessons on The Fowlerville Observer.

As I continue to concentrate on a second book -- a biography of a local publisher -- my interests continue on the history of our village.

So, in the interest of giving me as much time as possible to work on editing the next book, I am going to shut this blog down. I truly, truly appreciate those that have read this and commented. In the meantime, for some fun stuff, head over to The Fowlerville Observer.

Gobble Gobble

2010-11-24T04:03:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is upon us. In addition to giving thanks for everyone in my life, I just know you need some trivia!

Aztecs and Zunis domesticated the turkey for food, sacrifice, and feathers. It was raised for meat on a wide scale after World War II.

Eat lots and have a great day!

Thanksgiving Growl

2010-11-22T03:35:00.000-08:00

Hungry for that turkey, oh, and the dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy -- oh, yum. Here's some fun trivia that you might consider while you are waiting for the bird to finish cooking.

The sound your growling stomach makes is called "borborygmi". It occurs when the stomach walls automatically squeeze together in an attempt to mix and digest food and there's no food there! The movement of gas through the intestines produces the gurgling sounds, too. In the resting state, there are usually about 200 milliliters of gas in the gastrointestinal tract. Its composition varies: between 20-90 percent is nitrogen, up to 10 percent is oxygen, up to 50 percent is hydrogen, up to 10 percent methane, and between 10-30 percent is carbon dioxide. The gases and digestive juices sloshing around inside the empty stomach and make a sound similar to word "borborygmi."

More Trivia

2010-11-15T06:02:00.000-08:00

Now here are a couple things to think about; one in particular since flu season is upon us. Well, now that I think about it, both are relevant. It is interesting to note how are blood is constantly working at getting and keeping us healthy.

It takes your blood about one minute to make a complete trip through your body, during which it carries oxygen to outlying cells and returns with waste matter from the cells.

And then, we've all heard how bananas are good for us. So maybe this was a good thing that scientists recognized the following:

Bananas don't grow naturally in the wild. We invented them. Thousands of years ago, wild bananas were like big bean pods filled with seeds. Scientists learned how to breed pulpy seedless bananas. Only sweet bananas are eaten raw; other bananas are picked green and made into food by cooking. More sweet bananas are eaten each day in the U.S. than any other fruit. Those tiny edible black things are indeed the seeds of the banana.

No matter what, during this time when germs are attacking, drink lots of fluids, cover up when coughing or sneezing, and get lots of rest. Maybe we can "nip it in the bud" (as Barney Fife used to say) before it spreads too far!

Silly Trivia

2010-11-11T05:44:00.000-08:00

I have been so delinquent in posting that I have finally started feeling guilty. I love blogging but another project has been taking all of my focus and free time away from this site. But . . .

. . . I couldn't resist passing along a couple bits of trivia that came my way.

Have you ever wondered why dogs tend to circle around two or three times before flopping down for a long sleep? We have. Well . . . it would appear this is something hard-wired into dogs' instincts from eons ago when all dogs were wild. They would circle for two reasons: 1) to look for predators before sleep, and 2) to pat down the needles and leaves to create a nest. Cool, huh?

And then,

The first successfully marked toilet paper was by Edward and Clarence Scott of Philadelphia, who sold it on rolls. The group of papers known collectively as the sanitary grades include toilet tissue, toweling, facial tissue, and napkins. These grades are made from various proportions of sulfite and bleached kraft pulps with relatively little refining of the stock to preserve a soft, bulky, absorbent sheet. This sheet is further softened by machine creping, in which the wet sheet is pressed upon a smooth drying roll and subsequently removed by running against a flat stationary metal blade (doctor blade). The sheet is piled up upon itself, thus producing a creped effect. Facial tissue is dry-creped; that is, drying is complete on the drying roll before the creping doctor blade. Toweling is generally of heavier weight than the tissues and is usually creped while still wet. Napkins are of somewhat heavier weight than tissues.

Thank goodness for inventors.

KC Dawg and Friend

2010-10-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

A-w-w-w-w . . .

Sorry for This Post

2010-10-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry for this post, but sometimes my mind travels in very strange ways. The other day, as I soaked in a long, luxurious bath, and then had to do the chores such as shaving my legs and underarms, I got to wondering. Why is it and who decided women should shave their legs and underarms?

Well, I went to www.straightdope.com, which is an awesome sight for answers and this is what I found:

February 6, 1991
Dear Cecil:
Why do women shave their legs and underarms? When did this custom begin? If it's for hygienic reasons, why don't men to it too? Is it all a big conspiracy by the razor companies? I've heard some European women don't shave. Please clarify this mystery.
— A., Chicago
Dear A.:
I knew if I procrastinated long enough on this often-asked question somebody would eventually do the legwork for me. Sure enough, Pete Cook of Chicago has sent me a 1982 article from the Journal of American Culture by Christine Hope bearing the grand title "Caucasian Female Body Hair and American Culture."
The gist of the article is that U.S. women were browbeaten into shaving underarm hair by a sustained marketing assault that began in 1915. (Leg hair came later.) The aim of what Hope calls the Great Underarm Campaign was to inform American womanhood of a problem that till then it didn't know it had, namely unsightly underarm hair.
To be sure, women had been concerned about the appearance of their hair since time immemorial, but (sensibly) only the stuff you could see. Prior to World War I this meant scalp and, for an unlucky few, facial hair. Around 1915, however, sleeveless dresses became popular, opening up a whole new field of female vulnerability for marketers to exploit.
According to Hope, the underarm campaign began in May, 1915, in Harper's Bazaar, a magazine aimed at the upper crust. The first ad "featured a waist-up photograph of a young woman who appears to be dressed in a slip with a toga-like outfit covering one shoulder. Her arms are arched over her head revealing perfectly clear armpits. The first part of the ad read 'Summer Dress and Modern Dancing combine to make necessary the removal of objectionable hair.'"
Within three months, Cook tells us, the once-shocking term "underarm" was being used. A few ads mentioned hygiene as a motive for getting rid of hair, but most appealed strictly to the ancient yearning to be hip. "The Woman of Fashion says the underarm must be as smooth as the face," read a typical pitch.
The budding obsession with underarm hair drifted down to the proles fairly slowly, roughly matching the widening popularity of sheer and sleeveless dresses. Antiarm hair ads began appearing in middlebrow McCall's in 1917. Women's razors and depilatories didn't show up in the Sears Roebuck catalog until 1922, the same year the company began offering dresses with sheer sleeves. By then the underarm battle was largely won. Advertisers no longer felt compelled to explain the need for their products but could concentrate simply on distinguishing themselves from their competitors.
The anti-leg hair campaign was more fitful. The volume of leg ads never reached the proportions of the underarm campaign. Women were apparently more ambivalent about calling attention to the lower half of their anatomy, perhaps out of fear that doing so would give the male of the species ideas in a way that naked underarms didn't.
Besides, there wasn't much practical need for shaved legs. After rising in the 1920s, hemlines dropped in the 30s and many women were content to leave their leg hair alone. Still, some advertisers as well as an increasing number of fashion and beauty writers harped on the idea that female leg hair was a curse.
Though Hope doesn't say so, what may have put the issue over the top was the famous WWII pinup of Betty Grable displaying her awesome gams. Showing off one's legs became a patriotic act. That plus shorter skirts and sheer stockings, which looked dorky with leg hair beneath, made the anti-hair pitch an easy sell.
Some argue that there's more to this than short skirts and sleeveless dresses. Cecil's colleague Marg Meikle (Dear Answer Lady, 1992) notes that Greek statues of women in antiquity had no pubic hair, suggesting that hairlessness was some sort of ideal of feminine beauty embedded in Western culture. If so, a lot of Western culture never got the message. Greek women today (and Mediterranean women generally) don't shave their hair. The practice has been confined largely to English-speaking women of North America and Great Britain, although one hears it's slowly spreading elsewhere.
So what's the deal with Anglo-Saxons? Some lingering vestige of Victorian prudery? Good question, but what with world unrest, the economic crisis, and the little researchers having missed their naps, not high on Cecil's priority list. Here's hoping some all-but-thesis Ph.D. candidate will pick up the trail.
— Cecil Adams

Late 1800s Emoticons

2010-10-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

I think we sometimes think we have invented all of the current day emoticons -- but, long before computers, and probably long before typesetting -- there were rebuses.

While working away on another book (yes -- I am addicted to self-publishing now), I've been cataloging a ton of research material. I recently came across this published in a local newspaper in 1879 (taken from a newspaper in another village) and got a smile from it. Enjoy . . .

Ladies Only

2010-10-15T01:00:00.000-07:00

I recently received a post from a friend on facebook in reference to Breast Cancer Awareness. It made me smile. Someone has now created icons to represent, well, let's say, a part of our anatomy that tends to change through the years -- either on purpose or through gravity. The icons are:

Fake -- (+)(+)
Perfect -- (o)(o)
Perky -- (*)(*)
Cold -- (^)(^)
Big -- ( O ) ( O )
Small -- (.)(.)
and even,
Grandma's -- \./\./

I hope this made you smile too!

Good Begets Good

2010-10-14T03:29:00.000-07:00

As most know that read this blog, I've been very busy with promoting and selling copies of The Fowlerville Chronicles, which you can find by clicking here. Well, just like I've tried to live my life by the philosophy "the worst you will get is a no answer," I am also becoming more and more convinced "good things beget more good things" (which I haven't really voiced before this, but probably have always secretly believed it).

As the weeks have progressed since The Fowlerville Chronicles became available, I have become more and more the person approached for anything historical in Fowlerville. Other than being told by a good friend he was recently asked -- Who is the old lady doing the history for Fowlerville? -- it has all been very positive.

Well, the latest is I'll be working up a two-page synopsis of the history of the village for a book soon to be published by a local mission organization. To say the least, I'm struggling a bit writing a short history of a village with a lo-o-ng history.

So, here's my question . . . if you were to read a recap of a town's history, what would be the most important thing you would like to know about that place?

Grand Rapids' Artprize

2010-10-10T07:17:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday, Hunks and I wandered around the downtown area of Grand Rapids. We saw maybe .5% of the 1700 displayed pieces of artwork entered in the contest to win the grand prize of $250,000. What we saw was amazing and this is but a mere sampling of some of these pieces. Enjoy . . . The last picture was a bit of my own creation. The piece of artwork was comprised of broken mirror shards fastened to a form that created a profile of a man's head. Hunks and I stook close and I snapped a photograph, making us part of the artwork.

It was a wonderful day, a chance to fill the brain with a bit of culture, and an opportunity to walk around a big city with Hunks on my arm. Oh, and it was sunny and beautiful. What more could one ask for!?

Lennon's 70th

2010-10-09T04:47:00.000-07:00

This is kind of cool . . . if you head to Google today, you will see this as their icon: If you click the red box, it will play about 30 seconds of one of his songs. He has now been gone 40 years -- hard to believe. As I've heard mentioned in this last week, can you "imagine" what kind of music he would have created if he was still around?

Fall Sigh

2010-10-08T03:01:00.000-07:00

I love fall . . .

A Little Like Being Rich

2010-10-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

It is fall in Michigan and that means brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows as the leaves do their last gasp before the snow flies. It also means harvesting as much as we can out of the garden before the frosts kill off the plants.

In a strange sort of way, it makes me feel a little bit rich when we bring in bowls of vine-ripe tomatoes, jalapenos, green and yellow peppers, beets, waxed beans, basil and other herbs, and squash. A great deal has already been prepped and stored in the freezers, while some we are making entire meals out of veggies. The garden did so well this year, it has been a continuous feast these last few weeks. But it is quickly coming to an end as the plants die off.

But, then in a decorative sort of way, I love being able to take the drying cornstalks, and the Indian corn I grew this year, and create a fall setting at our front porch. The mums are coming into their own so, as well as the cornstalks and pumpkins, there are burgundy, yellow, and orange mums. I guess when it is all said and done, we have feasted on the garden goodies and we have a feast for the eyes. Fall is always gorgeous here in Michigan.

Toss a Punch

2010-10-02T05:28:00.000-07:00

Hunks sent this to me and I definitely felt the need to pass it along.

New Audio

2010-10-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks back I had another chance to do a "one-minute" interview with George Smyth for his website of One-Minute How To audios. The subject matter was of my own choosing and since I am so involved in The Fowlerville Chronicles, I decided to speak of self-publishing. You can listen to it by clicking here.

It is horribly difficult not to stutter or stammer or say "umm" while collecting thoughts or making sure everything is covered, but fortunately, he's always able to edit the tape and make me sound pretty darn good.

The only thing wrong is, when I listen to my own voice, I wonder, "Is that how I really sound?!"

Sidewalk Chalk

2010-09-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

Give Hunks a chunk of sidewalk chalk and what does he choose to write . . .

Odd Tomato

2010-09-29T04:31:00.000-07:00

I am so bad -- just a few days ago, I so needed a rest from blogging -- and here I am, back already. But it is all for a good cause -- for your viewing pleasure. The reason?

Hunks lingered in the garden the other night, plucking and grabbing a ton of tomatoes, peppers, jalopenos, and cilantro in preparation of making his infamous salsa. Of course, when he came in with this huge bowl of goodies, his comment was "here you go, some more work!" But in reality he was the one that got to work. He ended up making three batches of salsa -- two of which went to work so his colleagues could enjoy is artistry, and one for here (which, by the way, is now gone).

But in the whole process, I did help him by washing the veggies and when I came across this one, I so knew it was going on my blog. So how does this happen? Were there three tomatoes close together and they melded into one? Or was there some other over-active reason this tomato grew nubs? Any answers?

Respite

2010-09-27T06:47:00.001-07:00

Now that I've reached over 1,000 posts on Amuse Me, I am going to take a bit of a rest. I will post occasionally, maybe even a bunch of days in a row, but I have decided to concentrate on The Fowlerville Observer a bit more.

While compiling and editing a ton of information for The Fowlerville Chronicles, I found so much more I could never fit into the book. And yet, I would like to share as much of that information as I can. So I will be working at adding articles I've transcribed, old pictures, and even photographs of old articles to that site. I find whenever I start working at cataloging all of that information, I get lost in a different world -- and somehow I find enjoyment.

Maybe there has been a historian hidden inside of me all these years.

Anyhow, please feel free to check back here occasionally to see what Hunks and I are up to -- because I definitely have to catalog that -- but also be sure to head to the Fowlerville site for some interesting, intriguing, sometimes sad but mostly happy, sometimes even weird things that will be posted about this area we call home.

Goo-ey Goodness

2010-09-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

There is so-o-o many fresh foods available right now and our meals have been fantastic feasts of steamed squash tossed with butter, garlic powder, salt, and pepper; waxed beans; corn (both on and off the cob); vine-ripened tomatoes; fresh pesto made from basil in our garden; steamed beets tossed with butter, salt, and pepper -- we are almost on taste-bud overload.

But there's always something new on the horizon. The other day, while at a bridal shower, a couple of friends and I got talking about making pesto. One suggesed making a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato on the side. I decided to take it one step further.

I inverted a kaiser roll and buttered the inside which became the outside, swabbed pesto on the inside of each piece, placed a slice of Muenster cheese on each, then brought them together with a big slice of fresh tomato in the center. I grilled it, carefully flipping it, and routinely pressing it slightly. When the bread was toasted, I slid it onto a plate and tried a bit. Melted. In. My. Mouth.
Except for one bit of dissidence. Everything was warm and melty, except the tomato slice was still cold since it had been in the fridge. I nuked the sandwich for 20 seconds. Perfect. The sandwich was goo-ey and the tomato was room temperature.

It was a perfect sandwich except there was no way I could pick it up. Knife and fork had to be employed. I'm thinking I already know what I'll be having for lunch tomorrow . . .

Eye Spy a Spy

2010-09-25T01:00:00.000-07:00

We arrived home the other night and the newly-installed (thank you very much, Hunks) light over our garage came on. I had to stop, jump out of the truck, and take a picture. I know; this is getting a bit crazy. But anyhow, what I spied was one of the spies from Spy V. Spy in the old Mad magazines. Your thoughts? Or do you see something else?

Dove Love

2010-09-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

Engage, embrace, enjoy . . .

Success is the sum of many small efforts . . .

One's best success comes after one's greatest disappointments . . .

Buy flowers for yourself . . .

Bring your life to life: stop planning, start doing . . .

Believe in and act on your dreams . . .

Count your blessings, not your worries . . .

Open your eyes to the love around you.

I got into the chocolate the other day (yay for me). I was crumpling up all the little tinfoil papers that had been wrapped around the milk chocolate Dove pieces, until I started reading the inside.

Every saying above hit home in some way. Have a great day -- stop, look around you, and celebrate..

Oh, and as a postscript . . . I was watching Dr. Oz the other day as I worked-out at the gym on the eliptical (applause, applause), and it was being recommended women need more zinc in their diet for healthy-looking skin. Once I got home, I googled "what foods are high in zinc" and found a top 10 list of suggestions. Number 8 was chocolate . . . oh, yeah. Peanuts came in at number 10. The rest of the foods just made me want to go buy some zinc pills!

I've Arrived!

2010-09-23T01:07:00.000-07:00

A few of my favorite blogs for reading when I have a few free moments sometimes talk about being requested to review products. One in particular, The Bloggess, gets a number of requests and ultimately has a grand ol'time giving these companies a problem.

This is my first ever request to review a product. So, now do I or don't I? Do I request a freebie from them if I'm going to take time out of my schedule to look this over? It does appear to be something about "screen shots" which is exactly what I discovered recently. Any thoughts?

Ah, To Be Connected

2010-09-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

It took 46 years to wire 30 percent of the United States for electricity; it took only 7 years for the internet to reach that level of connectivity to US homes.

Amazing . . .

So now that we are so connected and even somewhat dependent on using the internet for communication, the talk of regulating and charging additional fees for certain sites and products continues to elevate. I'm actually wondering how that will work. We already pay for the service of connecting to a modem, satellite, or some form of wireless, but now some servers and sites want more money?

It will just make me go elsewhere on the internet. I know I don't want to pay double . . . but I guess we will see where this leads.

Our State

2010-09-21T01:27:00.000-07:00

For just a minute, we need to stop thinking about all of the harshness in the world, especially economics, and step outside, take a deep breath of our fall Michigan air, enjoy the changing colors, and appreciate the state around us.

Yep . . . time for a walk.

A Cool Website

2010-09-20T01:09:00.000-07:00

Found a new website that I keep checking back with. You can find it by clicking here. Even though we don't really need anything around here, I might just have to purchase one of her pieces of sketch-work. For whatever reason, it speaks to me!

Let me know what you think of her work.

Ahoy, Ye Matey

2010-09-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard, it is International "Talk Like a Pirate Day" all day long. In honor of this wonderful holiday, I am posting a picture of myself and Hunks from a couple years ago when we were visiting Nurse Do-Goode in St. Croix. Oh, the fun we had! So, now, if you are on facebook, change your language to "pirate talk" and have your own fun.

Proper Manners

2010-09-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

To to a proper place setting: large dinner fork to the left of the napkin, smaller salad fork to the left of the dinner fork, knife to the right with the cutting edge toward the plate, small spoon to the right of the knife, and soup spoon to the right of the small spoon.

We are in the throes of the lost art of sitting down for dinner -- well, Hunks and I are when we are at home. We have slowly, very gradually, slipped into the habit of making a scrumptious and tasty meal, then grabbing our dishes, napkins, and whatever we are drinking and heading for a little tv entertainment. Once in a while we do actually sit at the dining room table, but that is becoming fewer and farther between times we would like to catch a little news or watch a dvd.

I can't say it really bothers me because even sitting together having a meal and talking about what is on the boob-tube even feels right. My biggest concern is not forgetting my manners when I'm out in public -- such as working from the outside in toward the plate when using utensils.

Well, back to whatever show is on . . .

San Francisco in 1906

2010-09-17T01:32:00.000-07:00

While working on The Fowlerville Chronicles, I came across a number of articles of relating pedestrian/car accidents. Especially in the early 1900s. I would puzzle at the time how so many accidents could happen here in a small village . . . but now I'm thinking there was a very good reason.

While watching this video, sent to me by someone that purchased a copy of a book, I noticed a number of pedestrians that would either walk in front of cars or hurriedly step out of the way. Was there a transition time after the automobile started becoming more popular when most people were unaware of the speed and size of this contraptions? Although most cars then were very slow, were they faster than a horse-drawn carriage? Were pedestrians just not conditioned to watch out for something other than a horse's snort-of-a-honk or the clip-clop of their hooves?

In the months ahead, I will be posting many of the articles I couldn't include in the book, and I will especially look for at least one of these accidents in Fowlerville where someone stepped off the curb in front of an on-coming vehicle.

I'm A Geek

2010-09-16T01:00:00.000-07:00

This is just a mini-little post to let you know I have reached geek-dom in my life -- at least my idea of geek-dom. The other night, long after Hunks had a friend of mine's son call to help him download his music playlist to his 4G iPhone, the two of us stretched out on our bed and played with our phones. He listed to his music (occasionally "singing") while I played Bejewelled.

At one point, we looked at each other, and I know we were having the same thoughts -- we are techy geeks. Fortunate for each of us, neither spoke, we just went back to what we were doing. After all, isn't geek-dom slightly singular?

Who knows -- all I know is I've arrived. And now back to my laptop where I am furiously working on obituaries. Oh my, you say. Let me explain. What I am doing is pre-posting obituaries of some of the early settlers in Fowlerville, which you will be able to find at The Fowlerville Observer in October. It is interesting stuff but definitely taking a bit longer than I expected, but definitely gives me quality time with my laptop!

In the meantime, since I am a bit of a techy geek, though, enjoy this picture I capture on my digital camera of a beautiful field north of us, downloaded it to my photos program, resized and tweaked on it, and posted it here!

It Isn't Halloween Yet, But . . .

2010-09-15T13:01:00.000-07:00

What does the ghost say to the bee?

Boo-bee . . .

Sorry . . . but I had to pass that along long before Halloween. We already know some of our munchkins are going to be a Minnie Mouse and a ladybug.

Useless or Maybe Not So Much

2010-09-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

It was an astoundingly busy, super fun, different weekend and while I was away, all of this trivia arrived in my e-mail box. So, I just thought I would lump it all together and post it. No words of wisdom or memories . . . just some tidbits of information you can pass along at a party or get-together . . . and make yourself look all wise and a great conversationalist!

An ounce (28 g) of gold can be beaten out to 187 square feet in extremely thin sheets called gold leaf.

A hockey-like game was played in Nova Scotia in the early 1800s by the Micmac Indians, heavily influenced by the Irish game of hurling.

Horses were reintroduced to the New World about 10,000 years after wild horses became extinct there.

Sir Hugh Platt wrote in 1652 about the possibility of cultivating plants indoors and then greenhouses and conservatories started to be built in England and elsewhere.

Puzzling to Say the Least

2010-09-13T01:52:00.000-07:00

I believe I've got pretty tough skin -- not literally, but in how I handle comments. For the most part, I can shrug them off if someone makes an odd or disparaging comment about me. I'm partly able to do that because I usually wonder what's going on in their world that makes it important to make an offensive, if even only a slight one, toward me. Basically, what did I ever do to you to make a comment like that about me attitude.

Anyhow, I've been having the time of my life the last few weeks doing book signings and soon a couple of author talks for The Fowlerville Chronicles, my self-published 425-page, nearly 600-picture tome of the history of Fowlerville from 1836 to present.

I admit it might be a little pricey at $38, but with self-published books in a low quantity, the expense is all mine to recoup. There is no publisher printing 100,000 books (at pennies for production) on my behalf. I need to sell about 2/3 of my first order just to get back my investment. The last third will probably pay for all the traveling around and time spent away from my day job!

But I digress.

Why I'm puzzling over any comments is beyond me but at least one keeps popping up in the my head. At a recent business expo both Hunks and I participated in (he was a wonderful help, thank you very much), I showcased my embroidery, quirkyburp rags, and the book. Since the expo was in Fowlerville, there were many "Fowlervillians" checking out the book -- some even came specifically to purchase multiple copies. One fellow, obviously very interested in the book, thumbed through the many pages and asked for the price. When I told him, he set down the book and made the comment, "oh, too much. I'll wait til I find a copy in a garage sale for a quarter." Ouch.

Of course, all I did was say thanks for stopping by. After relaying the comment to Hunks, we did have a laugh. But how that comment made me feel has stuck with me. Partially because I have wondered -- have I ever made such a comment (innocently spoken) that ultimately felt like a put down of all the hard work of someone?

This fellow reduced my months, hours, sleepless nights because I was living in olden-days Fowlerville, eating meals in front of the laptop because I needed to get a chapter finished, hours and hours in front of the microfilm machine (sometimes getting a wee bit seasick), and having Hunks wonder if I would ever surface again, to a mere 25-cents.

If I have ever unwittingly made a comment that discounted someone's hard work, passion, or accomplishment, I hope now I'm more aware and will never do that again. What we choose to do in our own lives, such as me following a dream to have my name on the front cover of a book I'm proud of, should never, ever be minimized.

So, to that fellow that has made me pause and think about my own comments -- thank you, but I hope, upon hope, you really, really wished you had picked up a copy of my book because once they are sold out I'm not sure if there will ever be one available for you!

Belated Thank You

2010-09-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

Pearls' color varies according to the waters from which they come: Persian Gulf cream-colored, Australia white with bluish shades, and pink from Sri Lanka.

Hmmm . . . a pearl ring. Something I remember from my youth. When Hunks asked me to go "steady" in 10th grade, he gave me two rings; one he had handcrafted, which I still have but unfortunately the stone is missing, and a white-pearl ring with two diamond chips. I wore the pearl ring for the 2 1/2 years we went steady but then threw it in the trash when we stopped going steady.

**And this now brings to mind how sometimes mothers do something special for you -- even if you don't know it at the time -- but you greatly appreciate it much, much later.**

I threw the ring in the trash when we broke up. My mother retrieved it without my knowing it and tucked it away in her jewelry case. Years and years later, when she knew she wouldn't be around much longer, she gave me that ring and we had a wonderful time reminiscing about my high school years. I ultimately tucked it away in my jewelry case and promptly forgot about it.

Until, of course, Hunks and I rediscovered each other. When we finally started dating again, being together, I dug through my jewelry case, found the pearl ring, and slipped it on my fourth finger on the left hand. We were going steady again.

A year after that (now 12 years ago), the morning of our wedding, I slipped it off my finger but didn't chuck it. We broke up from going steady to get married. The pearl ring now resides in a small wooden box with a penny that was placed in my shoe for luck and the matching pearl earrings I wore that special day.

There have been moments in my life since my my mother passed away I've wished I could say have said thank you. Maybe she hears them in my head. Maybe not. I'll never know, but I keep saying thank you just the same. Life continues to be an interesting trip and I find it curious how a little bit of trivia can open up so many memories.

Fruity Flavor

2010-09-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

Fruit produced without fertilization includes seedless oranges and grapes, the banana, and the cucumber.

What?! Cucumber is a fruit? Well, I guess it is, according to Wikipedia. Who knew.

Anyhow, it is the weekend, supposed to be a time for relaxing, but it's not. Saturday will be used up at a local expo where I'll be selling (I hope) more copies of The Fowlerville Chronicles and a few QuirkyBurps, and showing information on my embroidery company. Saturday night will be spent at Maple Grove Airport serving a spaghetti dinner for Boy and Girl Scouts and any other campers awaiting the next morning's Dawn Patrol when possibly up to 500 planes will descend on our little town. Sunday morning, Hunks and I will be helping to serve up an all-you-can-eat breakfast at the 59th Annual Dawn Patrol.

Sunday afternoon . . . collapse. Hope you have a great weekend, and be sure to let me know if you come across any of those fruity cucumbers in your travels.

Yummy Uglies

2010-09-10T01:00:00.000-07:00

I'm a newbie when it comes to heirloom tomatoes -- as a matter of fact, before this spring, I had never heard of such a thing. But I know about them now and I'll never go back to traditional tomatoes. These have the most flavor I have tasted in a tomato in years; and I don't care a bit how they look. A little extra trimming is all that is necessary for slices or chunks to go with a meal. We are now starting to get our crop of orange, yellow, and red tomatoes and my mouth starts watering everytime I see one ripening. Crazy, it is!

Oh, and by the way -- Cheapest. Meal. Ever. Yesterday's dinner was all from our garden -- squash, tomatoes (third from the left in the picture), and corn. Can anyone beat that?!?

It was too awesome.

Yes, Please

2010-09-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

Nurse Do-Goode has been traveling again and now settling into assignment in San Francisco. I'm so happy, though, she still has time to send along important stuff like this! As always, thanks for the laugh! And now, I'm off to find a glass for that wine . . .

So, Of Course

2010-09-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

You guessed it . . . of course, after posting yesterday's geek find, I had to try it out. This time, I went to Google and started typing in "how do you make" and I paused. These were the top most asked questions starting with those four words. From the looks of it, Facebook keeps everyone puzzled.So, have you tried printing your screen? Let me know if you have any questions.

Geek? Maybe Yes, Maybe No

2010-09-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

This just might be one of the most awesome computer-related things I've learned in a very long time. I now know how to use the "PrntScr" button -- all thanks to Hunks. Now, he probably does not want to take credit for my further fall into geekiness, but he made a comment the other day about being able to take a "shot" of what is on the computer screen.

Like dominoes falling one after another, the pieces fell together for me to realize I can increase my efficiency at work and play. In the past, I've printed off the information on a webpage or out of my digitizing software, scanned it, saved it as a .jpg, and then e-mailed it to whomever I was working with. It was all a long, drawn-out hassle.

Now it is so easy. If you want to check it out, here goes:

1) Pull up a page on your computer screen,
2) Press the "PrntScr" key, which on my laptop is at the upper right hand corner,
3) Open the Paint program,
4) Find the "copy" or "paste" button and click on that.

Voila' --

Your screen shot is now in the paint program. You can now save it, crop it, make it larger or smaller, save it in various formats.

This is so cool. I understand it has probably been around forever -- but sometimes my geekiness is just not up to snuff.

But, now you know what this means. I'll probably be adding a few screen shots to my posts!

Fall Sports

2010-09-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

U.S. football evolved in the 19th century as a combination of rugby and soccer - with the first college game in 1869 between Rutgers and Princeton. It was quite different from the modern game.

Okay, so today is Labor Day and I am taking the day off. And with that, I thought I would just give you a bit of trivia about football; because we all know what happens in the fall. High schools, colleges, and pro-teams are in full swing.

For those of you that have today off from work, enjoy. I know just about the time you are reading this post, I'll be mixing either a mimosa, coffee with a little kick, or pouring a glass of wine and hanging out with the fam.

In the meantime, The Fowlerville Observer is getting a bit more of my attention these days -- what with book signings coming up and various other events. Be sure to check out The Fowlerville Chronicles and come visit with me.

Labor Day

2010-09-05T01:00:00.000-07:00

Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September (and then, here in Michigan, the kids go back to school the day after). This year, we had a fairly quiet Memorial weekend and then the Fourth of July was at the racetrack. But, now as the summer comes to a close, we will have family here over the Labor Day weekend. We may wave a few flags . . .

Flags are thought to be the invention of China or India. The first "national" flags in Europe didn't appear until the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

But, for positive, we will do some sparklers. I bought a whole bunch of these innocent little sticks to have some fun at the racetrack but we never found the time. So now with little ones here for the weekend, we are going to dance and delight in the backyard once the sun goes down. I just hope we all stay awake that long!

How about you? Anything special going on with you for the last blow-out of the summer before getting down to business?

Donut Muffins

2010-09-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

Normally I like to post recipes just about every Saturday on The Fowlerville Observer which I cornily call Snack-urdy. But this recipe from AllRecipes looked so good, I felt it necessary to share here and then I'll link from the Observer over here.

Anyhow, guess what I'll be making very soon -- donut muffins!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup margarine, melted
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup margarine, melted
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 375. Grease 24 mini-muffin cups.
2) Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup margarine, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Stir in the milk, then mix in the baking powder and flour until just combined. Fill the prepared mini-muffin cups about half full.
3) Bake in the preheated oven until the tops are lightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
4) While muffins are baking, place 1/4 cup of melted margarine in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of sugar with the cinnamon. Remove muffins from their cups, dip each muffin in the melted margarine, and roll in the sugar-cinnamon mixture. Let cool and serve.

My Aching Feet

2010-09-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

Pray for the safe return of my muscles -- that is what I keep as a mantra in my head as I work out 3-4 times in the gym. I spend time on the treadmill, the weight machines have the pleasure of my full attention, and the eliptical has to endure cursing under my breath.

But the good results of all of this exercise also bring me sore feet. I'm trying to resolve this but I think I just have tender tootsies. Well, more like the knuckle at my big toe. As I read the following trivia, I wondered if feet really are made for repetitive pounding on a treadmill or if the uneven ground is more to their liking.

The human foot cannot grasp and is adapted for locomotion. Striding is a step unique to humans - allowing them to cover great distances with minimal energy expenditure.

Your thoughts? What is your staying-in-shape mode?

Book to Movie

2010-09-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

An elephant's trunk is extremely complex and sensitive, capable of performing delicate functions like picking up a coin from a flat surface or cracking open a peanut, blowing away the shell, and putting the kernel in its mouth.

As I'm reading this bit of trivia, Water for Elephants came to mind -- an excellent book written by Sara Gruen. It had two things happening at the very end of the book that made me go a-h-h-h.

Now I understand it is to be made into a movie. By the mere fact Reese Witherspoon will be in this movie makes it worth seeing -- all I hope is that they stay true to the story written by the author.

Just my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Nicely Preserved

2010-09-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

Abundant fossil remains of dinosaurs exist from every continent, though this constitutes less than 0.0001 percent of all the individual dinosaurs that once lived.

Have you ever wanted to go on a dinosaur-bone dig? I'm not sure that would be my thing, but I have strongly considered the opal digs in the western states such as Utah or the gold mining opportunities in Georgia. One of these days, I tell you; one of these days.

I truly apologize for this very, very short post but I am off to a very full day that includes deliveries of sold copies of The Fowlerville Chronicles, a sit-down with an 85-year old lovely lady as she reminisces, lunch at the Fowlerville Fairgrounds where we will be watching some harness racing, and then a telephone interview with a local radio station regarding my book.

Could life get any busier? Maybe an opal-hunt or gold-mining would be the perfect way to relax!

Dream A Dream

2010-08-31T01:00:00.000-07:00

Do you remember your dreams? For the most part I can relate my dreams the next morning -- and sometimes Hunks likes to listen to them, other times maybe not so much. They do get weird, after all.

Well, Carl Jung believed that dreams are compensatory, that they balance whatever elements of character are underrepresented in the way people are living their lives. He thought dreams bring the underattended areas to attention.

When I read this bit of trivia and thought about it for a few minutes, I had to wonder about a dream I had the other night. It was mainly about getting a stain out of a shawl, going to a restaurant and everyone would line up their chairs to watch television instead of eating, and the front door entrance to a house I wanted to enter had a 4-foot step inside. Would someone please explain to me what any of that means as believed by Carl Jung!

I doubt there is an explanation but the best I could come up with is maybe I don't get dressed up enough (especially since my day job allows me to dress casual), we don't head to restaurants very often since we like to cook for ourselves, and maybe I'm not supposed to enter just any old building. Who knows.

I would love to hear if you dream, do you remember your dreams, and then do you try to analyze them.

Worth a Thousand Words

2010-08-30T02:36:00.000-07:00

Diamonds in kimberlite pipes, in the original rock in which they were formed, are found at depths of more than 75 miles. Most gem diamonds are tinged with yellow, as colorless and pale blue are rare.

So many things in our lives are considered "priceless" -- many of which might even be some a piece of jewelry with a precious stone. For me, all of the pictures I take day to day become priceless to me -- trips, grandbabies, sons and daughters, celebrations, everyday moments. Pictures put remembered conversations to the front of my memories. Some photographs generate a feeling deep inside, while others bring to mind a smell, warm or cold, a mission I was on.

To me, pictures are irreplaceable. Oh some do go into the trash or are deleted from my digital camera faster than you can blink; but the good ones are forever.

Or until I changed laptops and could not find some year-old pictures. Or . . . at least that was my first panicked thought. With this new laptop, I thought I transferred over everything from the old. But, n-o-o-o. As I was working on yesterday's post, I went looking for one of our desert pictures from our trip last summer. They were nowhere to be found in my new laptop and my old laptop is long gone.

So now I have learned a lesson, one I unwittingly performed and will remember again. When we got back from our trip, I shipped off all of our pictures to Shutterfly so I could put together an album. That album is the only evidence of our trip (other than my posts last summer) and now that book full of two-weeks' worth of our awesome adventure has become a bit more precious -- maybe more so than any jewels.

Arid Lands

2010-08-29T02:36:00.000-07:00

Deserts resulted from the progressive cooling and consequent aridification during the Cenozoic Era (66.4 Mya to present) but only a few ancient primitive desert plants still occur in present-day deserts.

Last summer, Hunks and I drove from Oregon home. It was a fantastic trip, and if you would like to see what it was about, scroll down to the "Labels" and click on 09 Avant Road Trip. All of the posts will come up. One of the most unusual sights for us, living as we do in a lush, green, humid area, were the wide-open spaces of various deserts. The above picture was taken sometime during our ride through a portion of the Painted Desert. For someone so used to the green, this was very unusual.

Since that trip, I have wondered a few times just how people survived and still do in that area. Granted, there were not that many houses or roads to indicate population, but there were still some. In many ways it must be hard to live where water needs to be trucked in, the drive to the nearest town could be more miles than I drive in a week's time, and the hot sun must be relentless. But, then again, can you imagine the stars at night.

Makes me ready to figure out another road trip!

Jon Stewart Gets it Right

2010-08-28T04:22:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

I Have a Scheme

http://www.thedailyshow.com/

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Tea Party

Take ten minutes today to see what Glenn Beck is all about.

On The Hook

2010-08-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

The hummingbird feeder is right outside our bay window. We can sit right on the other side of the glass and watch these miniature creatures hover over the sugar water-filled plastic flowers or sit at the tip of the shepherd's hook, surveying its domain. I have a feeling, for the most part, the glass of the window reflects enough that they don't really see us. But then I wonder sometimes -- that is, as they hover in front of the glass as if looking in. Or are they checking out their own reflection.

Such odd little, nervous birds.

One Thousand and One

2010-08-27T01:11:00.000-07:00

Copper is in the ashes of seaweeds, in many sea corals, in the human liver, and in many mollusks and arthropods. Copper plays the same role of oxygen transport in blue-blooded mollusks and crustaceans as iron does in red-blooded animals.

As Johnny Carson would have said, "I. Did. Not. Know. That." with great emphasis on each word. And now that I think about the above trivia, I'm not even sure I could work this into any conversation other than questioning is there copper on the seaweed we eat with our sushi? Ah, something to ponder.

Well, today's 1,001 post is short as I am off and running to market The Fowlerville Chronicles some more. I've been busy with interviews with different news sources, setting up possible book signings at a coffee shop and a "for sure" one at Curtis Grocery where seniors can have a free cup of coffee, and I'm making arrangements for numerous other opportunities for people to purchase the history book. On Facebook, Are You a True Fowlervillian has posted a link to the LivingstonTalk article, which then you can go to my website (linked above) where purchase information and event dates can be noted.

So, maybe I'll see you at one of the events?

Milestone

2010-08-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

Today marks my 1,000th post on Amuse Me.
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*Fireworks bursting in the skies*
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*applause*
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*oohhs and aaahhhs* all-round.
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And now that we've celebrated, time to get back to work. I threaten (to myself and anyone else that might be listening -- Hunks mostly) that I may back off on posting everyday, but I believe I'm in the middle of an addiction. It is fun and easy, plus I get so much written down that would otherwise just blow away with the breeze. And, with so much going on with The Fowlerville Chronicles, it just isn't possible to get away from this laptop.
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I started this blog with no particular agenda in mind but it has grown to be a daily journal (of sorts), a look at the simpler things that surround me, a celebration of some of my successes, and a place to catalog all the trivia and jokes I hate to lose. It is kind of like the morning glories on our front porch. The habit started to grow . . . . . . and then latched on pretty tight to my daily passions. So I guess I'll start working on the next thousand posts. I will keep threatening it might not be every day but if you keep coming back, I'll keep finding something new to talk about.

Practice

2010-08-25T01:00:00.000-07:00

Doctor (the word) comes from Latin for "teacher" and though it is now synonymous with physician, it was not until the 14th century that the doctor's degree began to be conferred in medicine.

And, as we've always said, "General Practitioner" means he or she must be practicing on me. Is that how you feel sometimes? I love our family doctor but I don't really see her very often; fortunately the colds are far and few between. But there is another reason. Our health insurance is making us think twice about making any doctor appointments.

It is a tough place to be and I'm sure one of these days an ache or a pain will finally send me to the phone, make an appointment, and "bite the bullet." Or in other words, pay the big bucks to find out what might be happening.

Until then . . . let those doctors practice on someone else and get it right before I call.

Invasion

2010-08-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

Run for your lives -- it is the invasion of the giant hornworms!

The Manduca Quinquemaculata, or Five-Spotted Hawkmoth, has turned into tomato hornworms and taken up residence on our tomato plants.

It all happened so suddenly. Sunday everything was fine but last night, I happened to look out toward the garden as Hunks was checking out our bounty. I saw him leaning into the center of the plants then gingerly holding a branch. I thought it was a basil plant but when he came him, he presented me with this . . .
Too kind.

He even had three branches with three 2-2.5 inches long hornworms.

Of course, I headed to wikipedia to see what that was all about -- tomato hornworms are known to eat various plants from the family Solanaceae, commonly attacking tomato, eggplant, pepper, tobacco and potato. Accordingly tomato hornworms are often found on defoliated tomato plants, the caterpillar clinging to the underside of a branch near the trunk. They are difficult to spot due to their green coloration. Gardeners' anecdotes have mentioned the use of a blacklight to find the hornworms on tomato plants at night, where they glow under the ultraviolet. They can be reduced by planting marigold flowers around these plants.

Last year we were smart. Not sure what happened this spring. As every year before, last year we had planted marigolds, which were functional and pretty, but this year we forgot. And the above hornworms are the result. Guess what we will be doing next spring!

On Being Human

2010-08-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

Behavior particular to Homo sapiens, together with the material objects used as an integral part of this behavior includes: language, ideals, beliefs, customs, codes, institutions, tools, techniques, works of art, rituals, and ceremonies.

And, as Hunks has always said, the ability to accessorize. Which, sometimes, I wonder if I fall into that category of being able to decorate myself. I have a favorite necklace that I wear day and night (although sometimes I will add an additional necklace for a special night out), my ears hold diamond studs that never come out except for cleaning, and I don't wear a watch. My accessories are very limited.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love jewelry and I guess, on a limited basis, some accessorizing does happen. Such as changing my earrings (two holes in each ear) every day. I guess that just means I'm slightly above human-like beings that know nothing of wearing jewels.

As far as the rest of the list, I guess I'm good.

Staying in the Lines

2010-08-22T01:12:00.000-07:00

The 120 Crayola Crayon set now includes 23 reds, 20 greens, 19 blues, 16 purples, 14 oranges, 11 browns, 8 yellows, 2 grays, 2 coppers, 2 blacks, 1 white, 1 silver, 1 gold.

Okay, you are all grown up, but . . . has that ever really stopped you from coloring? In a restaurant, with kids, fun placemats and a couple crayons set before them, I find myself fingering one of the crayons and helping to color in the pictures. Or maybe play tic-tac-toe. Or find my way through a maze. Or fill in the letters to complete a word.

It's fun, and coloring, especially, is really quite relaxing.

So that begs the question, why do we grow up and stop doing things like that with any frequency? Were we smarter, in many ways, as kids and just instinctively knew how enjoyable something as simple as crayon to paper could be? Or do we just find so many other things to keep ourselves busy?

I have no answers, I'm just asking the questions. But, I know one thing for sure, now that I've pondered these questions, the next time I'm in a restaurant, I'm asking for my own placemat and crayons. Why should kids have all the fun?

The Fowlerville Chronicles

2010-08-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

Well, this is it. This is what I have spent the last 8 months immersed in, coming up for air once in a while to see if Hunks is still around. He has been so very patient while I have delved into the history of Fowlerville.

My copies arrived the other day and I have been on the trail of selling as many as possible in my quest to either break even or, heaven forbid, make a little money. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, head to The Fowlerville Observer where you will see a Paypal button at the right hand side. It includes the cost of the book, sales tax, and shipping directly to your door.

Well, I'm back out the door for more pr work! Sell, sell, sell!

Keepers

2010-08-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

I have a website for the small town we live in. I've been working on it for over two years and it is finally getting noticed. Recently I spent a couple of hours with a reporter from the Livingston Press and Argus. Click here (then go to pages 6 and 7) to see the results of our conversation.

That notoriety has been interesting and all, but the comments I've received from friends and family have been the most fun. Quite a few are already asking for my autograph and I'm wondering if I can charge for that.

Anyhow, here's just a sampling of a few e-mails I've received from family and friends . . .

From Suzie-Q ~~ You are becoming famous! Nice job and I enjoyed reading your comments. I love the mystery re: suitcase - reminds me of my Nancy Drew years.

From AvaMom ~~ Yay – that’s a fun article!

From Ms. Rocks ~~ I'm so proud :) You are definitely famous now. Great work!

From a fellow colleague ~~ Enjoyed the article in the Livingston Press & Argus today. You’re looking good!

And, last but certainly not least, from Hunks ~~ I'm bracing for the crowds at the door . . . well maybe not. I hope more people stop her on the street and say, "arn't you the lady in the paper who does that blog thing or maybe you are the one with a house full of cats?" All kidding aside . . . I'm the happy camper who gets to brag about my lovely, talented wife to everyone who will listen. I can go on and on given the chance. Can I have your autograph?

With this kind of support and encouragement, I believe they are all keepers in my book.

Animal Crackers

2010-08-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

Now here is something everyone needs to know.

There are currently 20 distinctive shapes of Barnum Animal Crackers: Bear, Bison, Camel, Cougar, Elephant, Giraffe, Gorilla, Hippopotamus, Hyena, Jaguar, Kangaroo, Lion, Monkey, Rhinoceros, Seal, Sheep, Tiger, Wolf, and Zebra, and the Koala.

Could you name even half of them?

Tru Calling

2010-08-18T01:00:00.001-07:00

I have gotten myself into an interesting dilemma. It began with Angel, moved onto Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, then Dollhouse, Dark Angel, and now . . . Tru Calling.

I have purchased all of the above complete series (through Amazon), then as I'm working on my various projects, I run the episodes. When I am done watching each series, I either pass them along to someone interested or try selling them on eBay. I do have to admit I have kept Angel and actually watched it twice. Not sure if I will ever get rid of that one (you know, David Boreanaz and all).

But anyhow, Buffy moved onto a happy home with kids that are appreciative. Dollhouse is still here because I'm waiting for Season 2 to arrive and then I'll decide what to do with the complete series. It might be a keeper because of its intriguing concept.

Dark Angel was on eBay and season 2 sold -- season 1 has been relisted. It was good and was wrapped up nicely. And now I'm working my way through Tru Calling; for which the jury is still out. I'm halfway through the series and am "tru-ly" enjoying the concept but I haven't decided if it will move onto another family or be posted on eBay.

This whole thing with watching entire series has turned into an interesting dilemma, but one I'm willing to keep at as long as there are series out there of a certain worthiness.

Any suggestions for my next marathon?

In The Mood

2010-08-17T01:00:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted a recipe in ages, but this one looks awesome. I love quiche and this one might even be a little healthy. It does have bacon, but no crust.

Hey Hunks -- guess what you're having for Sunday brunch!

Here's the recipe, courtesy of AllRecipes.

Ingredients:
8 slices bacon
4 ounces shredded Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons butter, melted
4 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
Directions:
~~Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
~~Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9 inch pie pan.
~~Line bottom of pie plate with cheese and crumbled bacon. Combine eggs, butter, onion, salt, flour and milk; whisk together until smooth; pour into pie pan.
~~Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, until set. Serve hot or cold.

Let me know what you think . . .

Climate Changes

2010-08-16T01:00:00.000-07:00

Climate (the word) is from Greek term meaning "slope or inclination of the earth and sky from the equator to the poles," i.e. a zone of the earth occupying a particular elevation (a clime). The word as referring to an atmospheric/weather condition was first mentioned by Shakespeare in 1611.

Romeo, oh Romeo . . . do you believe we are deep into global warming? How about the rest of you?

Sunrise

2010-08-15T08:16:00.000-07:00

I spent a bit of time in the middle of the last few nights looking for shooting stars -- any chance to make a wish! The other morning, as I stumbled away from the annoying alarm clock to make my usual pot of coffee, the morning sun opened my eyes a little bit wider.

And, then of course, I had to grab my camera. Through the morning fog and a very tall tree, the sun burned brightly. It is just amazing how so many mornings can appear so different in our little neck of the woods.

Dot Dot Dash Dash

2010-08-14T01:16:00.000-07:00

Codes are unvarying rules for replacing a piece of information such as a letter, word, or phrase with an arbitrarily selected equivalent. Ciphers are transpositions or substitutions (or a combination) to transform a message to conceal its meaning. The first cipher device, a scytale, appears to have been used by the Greeks around 400 BC for secret communications between military commanders.

My friend, Patty, and I used to love writing codes. We were just out of grade school, looking at the scary prospect of junior high school -- new building, new teachers, kids we didn't know. We were big on writing notes back and forth; passing them to each other between classes and sometimes even during class. We were probably at the top of the nerd pile but probably not much different than anyone else during those years.

I look back at those times with a bit of wonderment of how long ago it is, how fast the years have gone by, and still the feeling of how those few years seemed like an eternity.

I also sometimes think if anyone had broken our code, oh would we have gotten into trouble. But no one ever bothered and we survived junior high, and now I'm sure if that code was set before me, it would all look Greek to me.

How about you? Did you ever go through a phase of secrecy like that?

Collector

2010-08-13T01:15:00.000-07:00

Coin collecting (numismatics) is one of the oldest hobbies in the world - from archaeological evidence, at least from the Roman era and probably for as long as they have existed (c 650 BC).

I wouldn't quite call myself a numismatic, but I have been collecting quarters since the U.S. Mint decided to issue individual state designs. I bought five books that fold out to display all the quarters at once, each one pushed into a hole specifically for that year. I have all five books full -- yay me -- except then the government decided to issue one for the District of Columbia. That must not have been in the original plans because there is no space for that coin. And they are hard to find.

Sometimes I think the government is worse than women -- you know, changing our minds?!?

Anyhow, in addition to collecting all 50 states, I've also grabbed up any half dollars, Susan B. Anthony coins, $2 bills; basically anything that is a bit out of the ordinary.

I have to admit it is kind of fun. So now, a "bleg" (blog beg) -- if you come across any District of Columbia quarters, will you share them with me? I'll trade you one to one!

More Please

2010-08-12T04:31:00.000-07:00

Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, fermented and roasted and ground to form a paste (chocolate liquor) which can be hardened into bitter baking chocolate - or made into cocoa powder, or mixed with sugar and additional cocoa butter (vegetable fat) to make sweet eating chocolate. The xocoatl was served to Herman Cortes by the Aztecs - which he took back to Spain and it became a Spanish secret for almost 100 years, sweetened and flavored with cinnamon and vanilla.

And, oh by the way -- chocolate and raspberry are just meant to be together!

Love That Milk

2010-08-11T01:15:00.000-07:00

Cheese-making reduces about 10 volumes of milk to one volume of cheese. Ripening and curing consist of biological and chemical changes that are affected by the moisture content, acidity, texture, shape, size and microorganisms in cheese - all of which change its consistency and flavor.

I do love my two glasses of milk everyday but I never knew how much milk product I was getting -- 10 to 1? Amazing. That's probably one of the reasons too much cheese is not really that good for us. You know; kind of like overdoing a good thing.

Speaking of cheese, though, Hunks and I are going through mass quantities of fresh parmesan and romano cheeses making our yearly patches of pesto. My fingernails are stained from sorting through and cleaning the basil leaves from our garden. But I won't be complaining in a few months when the weather turns fall-like and then snowy -- especially when we can pull a container out of the freezer, defrost the pesto, then enjoy a taste of summer.

Cat's Meow

2010-08-10T04:50:00.000-07:00

The vertebrae of the cat are held together by muscles rather than ligaments (as in humans) and their ears have 30 muscles (humans have 6) which can register up to 25,000 vibrations per second.

The countdown continues toward some exciting news (for me), but in the meantime, I hope you have enjoyed this bit of trivia. We've had a pretty sick KC Dawg lately -- not sure if she got into something rotten or what, but nearly $400 later, her tail is starting to wag. Not that I'm putting a price on her head, or anything like that, but it is amazing how expensive x-rays, blood work-ups, medicines, and advice costs for animals. Not sure I can afford the same for me!

It's A Date

2010-08-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

Calendars evolved to measure periods for agricultural, business, domestic (etc.) reasons - the first known being that of the ancient Egyptians though the lunisolar formula was probably invented in Mesopotamia in the 3rd millennium BC.

Today is August 9, 2010 -- or 080910 -- I love when something creates a number sequence. Numbers are also interesting to me sometimes when we are working toward something -- I am on a major countdown to 082010. If all goes as planned, the unveiling will happen the next day.

Sunday Brunch

2010-08-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

Brunch is a portmanteau word blending breakfast and lunch, first recorded in 1896, 'To be fashionable nowadays, we must brunch.'

So what do you do for meals on Sunday? Quite often, we have only two meals on the weekends -- what we now call brunch sometime after a couple cups of coffee kick-starts our brains and then usually a dinner by early evening.

Corn

2010-08-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

Michigan corn is sweet, tender, juicy, and only really, really good for about three weeks in August. After that it is still good, but will start to be a bit tougher. So during this time, we are buying lots of fresh corn, eating what we can, and packaging the rest in the freezer to enjoy the middle of winter. Hunks and I were late getting our garden in this year, so that means so far we are enjoying everyone else's corn and ours might be ready by the end of August. If so, we are going to be able to enjoy fresh, tender corn longer than usual. And, if so, we might just start being late every year.

This picture is our beautiful garden after a few hours of weeding, bagging said weeds, sprinkling some anti-weed formula between the rows, and adding nitrogen to help the corn grow taller and faster. There is something very satisfying to be able to look out over a freshly-cleaned garden, after having a shower to get all the dust off, and hold a drink in hand. Might just turn into my new, best hobby.

Deep Breath

2010-08-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

Lots to do with a garage sale -- weeding out things I haven't touched for five years -- so at the end of the day, I'm going to take a deep breath and enjoy the fact someone else is using my junk!

For your information pleasure . . . .

Human lungs have an estimated 300,000,000 alveoli (gas sacs), providing an adult with a total surface area equivalent to a tennis court.

Pricey Pizza

2010-08-05T01:05:00.000-07:00

Hunks and I had the pleasure of having dinner with Big Brother and Susie-Q the other night, and where we ended up was a restaurant named Enso. It is very fenshui. And, being a beautiful evening, we ate alfresco. Hunks enjoyed osso bucco . . . . . . and I tried their marghuerita pizza. Yes, this is Enso's idea of pizza. It was flatbread with fresh mozzarella, sliced grape tomatoes, fresh basil, and brown sauce drizzled over all. Not sure about the brown sauce but the rest was pretty tasty. Well, onto the next restaurant and to try something new (or maybe back to the gym to make sure I work off all of this fun).

Catalpa Tree

2010-08-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

From Wikipedia ~~ The largest living Catalpa tree is on the grounds of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, and was planted in the year of its dedication, 1879. The oldest is the 150-year old specimen in the Minster graveyard of St. Mary's Butts in the English town of Reading in Berkshire, although this is soon to be replaced, passing the claim to Rochester's 140-year old Catalpa situated in front of the town's cathedral. Catalpa is also occasionally used as a tonewood in guitars. This is all very interesting, but now even more so because it was just pointed out to me (by Hunks) that we have two of these trees nearly right in our backyard. I've glanced at them before on my travels, but only with a passing thought how big and a bit strange they looked.

And now, one has lost a major part of its trunk, bringing down nearly half the tree. I will now be keeping track of these trees and will no doubt find another reason to post.

Runny Nose

2010-08-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

There's a website I like to check out occasionally where she posts favorite things. Well, I thought I would follow suit and start with something as simple as Kleenex boxes. The last couple of years, this company has gotten a bit more creative with their packaging. Instead of just lame patterns and colors, you can now find boxes like . . . . . . and this . . . . . . and one of my personal favorite . . . . . . and Christmas-y . . .

So be on the look-out for interesting boxes and brighten up your bathroom.

Rising Up

2010-08-02T02:05:00.000-07:00

The first bread was made in Neolithic times about 12,000 years ago. It was laid on heated stones and baked by covering with hot ashes. The ancient Egyptians figured out that fermenting a dough creates a lighter, expanded bread and this also helped in the development of the baking oven.

Just a slice (sorry for the pun) of trivia today. Check back the next few days for some fun stuff.

Size Matters

2010-08-01T03:30:00.000-07:00

The brain triples its size during the first year of life - a growth rate unique to humans. Between the ages of 20-75, it is estimated that an average of 50,000 neurons atrophy or die each day.

I'm always trying to do something to keep my brain engaged -- work can sometimes be a bit numbing -- but reading, writing, exercising; it all works together to help us. Joy is another thing that will always help shoot off some of those neurons, and the other day, while talking with AvaMom, this Ruby-Throated Hummingbird sat on the shepherd's hook, watching us have a conversation. Beautiful.

Eye Spy a Frown

2010-07-31T01:00:00.000-07:00

My purse latch (looking at it one bright morning when there should have been no frown in sight) . . .

Christmas in July

2010-07-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

How often have we heard "Christmas in July" when stores are starting to run sales on everything from summer clothes to school supplies to Christmas ideas? Well, that thought ran through my head the other day as we headed to Frankenmuth, Michigan, home of Bronner's Christmas Store, where we were attending a wedding reception. No, not at the Bronner's Store but at a brew pub. What a great place for a reception -- they had great beer as well as everything else consistent with this type of celebration.

We had an hour or so to kill between the wedding and reception so Hunks graciously drove me through Bronner's parking lot so we could look at the over-excesses of Christmas year-round. It was not a disappointment. There was everything from life-size Nativity scenes to Santa and his reindeer to really cheesy plastic snowmen. The one thing that was pretty cool was this Christmas tree shaped mileage post.
I think it's pretty cool. So, anyhow, are you seeing signs of Christmas in July wherever you are located?

Unretouched

2010-07-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

In the computer world of today, photographs can so easily be manipulated, colors changed, effects deployed to posterize or make a picture look like glass blocks, it is sometimes hard to tell if what you see is for real.

Well, I am here to tell you these two pictures (out of a dozen) are exactly as taken. The other night, a hot, humid, very sticky evening, the sky was glorious. I just stood looking at the slowly shifting clouds as the kalidescope of colors moved from yellows to pinks to purples and blues. And then . . . a couple nights later -- same spot but different colors. Amazing.

Subject: The Ocean

2010-07-28T01:17:00.000-07:00

This should take your mind off any problems you may have temporarily.

1) - This is a picture of an octopus. It has eight testicles. (Kelly, age 6)

2) - Oysters' balls are called pearls. (Jerry, age 6)

3) - If you are surrounded by ocean, you are an island. If you don't have ocean all round you, you are incontinent. (Paul, age 7)

4) - Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily Richardson She's not my friend any more. (Kylie, age 6)

5) - A dolphin breaths through an asshole on the top of its head. (Billy, age 8)

6) - My uncle goes out in his boat with 2 other men and a woman and pots and comes back with crabs. (Millie, age 6)

7) - When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to cross the ocean. Sometimes when the wind didn't blow the sailors would whistle to make the wind come. My brother said they would have been better off eating beans. (William, age 7)

8) - Mermaids live in the ocean. I like mermaids. They are beautiful and I like their shiny tails, but how on earth do mermaids get pregnant? Like, really? (Helen, age 6)

9) - I'm not going to write about the ocean. My baby brother is a always crying, my Dad keeps yelling at my Mom, and my big sister has just got pregnant, so I can't think what to write. (Amy, age 6)

10) - Some fish are dangerous. Jellyfish can sting. Electric eels can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves in to chargers. (Christopher, age 7)

11) - When you go swimming in the ocean, it is very cold, and it makes my willy small. (Kevin, age 6)

12) - Divers have to be safe when they go under the water. Divers can't go down alone, so they have to go down on each other. (Becky, age 8)

13) - On vacation my Mom went water skiing. She fell off when she was going very fast. She says she won't do it again because water fired right up her big fat ass. (Julie,age 7)

14) - The ocean is made up of water and fish. Why the fishdon't drown I don't know. (Bobby, age 6)

15) - My dad was a sailor on the ocean He knows all about the ocean. What he doesn't know is why he quit being a sailor and married my mom. (James, age 7)

Color Choices

2010-07-27T01:16:00.000-07:00

Black is, optically, the total absence of color due to the absence or total absorption of light. Perfect blackness being a rare attribute of objects. Those objects from the surface of which very little light is reflected are commonly called black. Thank goodness, though, the world is not just black and white -- but shades of every color under the rainbow. As I've mentioned before, I don't have a green thumb; but when a flower decides to bloom in spite of me, this is what happens.

Interlude

2010-07-26T01:15:00.000-07:00

After going deaf around 1796, Beethoven continued to compose until his death in 1827 -- where 10,000 people attended his funeral.

Beethoven, Vivaldi, and the Canon in D guy -- those are my favorites. But, anyhow . . .

Part of the reason I found this bit of trivia interesting was the comment that 10,000 people attended his funeral. Now tell me, you've thought about it, am I right?! Who and how many would attend your going away party.

I've thought about it once in awhile but a bit more lately after getting hooked on another cancelled television series -- Dollhouse -- produced by Joss Whedon. He comes up with the best concepts for series but has the worst luck with networks in keeping them going. His track record includes the short-lived Firefly (that is still awesome to this day), Buffy (which was very successful) and the spin-off from that, Angel. Angel lasted five seasons and Joss knew the fifth season was its last and he went out with a blaze of glory.

Dollhouse lasted two seasons. Once again he knew months before the end was near so, from what I understand, the second half of season two is great. I've only been able to watch season one and am waiting for season two to arrive.

Funeral -- oh yes, that's what we were talking about. There is an episode in the first season where a murdered woman is able to go to her own funeral in another body (you have to watch to understand -- too hard to explain) and she gets to spend time with her family as a "friend" of her murdered self. Great, great episode.

I've always said I'm coming back to haunt -- so, after my funeral, watch out if you are meeting any "friends" of mine you didn't know existed.

Rainforest

2010-07-25T01:02:00.000-07:00

Of all reptile brains, the crocodile brain is the most highly developed and they are the last living link with the dinosaur-like reptiles of prehistoric times and the nearest living relative to the birds.
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It has been hot and muggy here, rain or near rain for quite a few days -- rainforest-y -- and I'm thinking if we were to find a crocodile in our backyard, I wouldn't be surprised. Instead of finding anything as interesting as that, though, we have listened to coyotes either fighting or mating (there's got to be a fine line) in the middle of the night. The sound comes close to giggling teenagers as their voices echo through the otherwise quiet night.

Anyhow, back to the reason for this wandering post. Well, maybe there is no logical segue other than from crocodiles that live in water to hot and muggy to rain at the Ann Arbor Art Fair, just when we wanted sunshine.

Hunks and I packed up, fortunately some of which were rain jackets and an umbrella, and headed to this annual event that has grown to monumental size. I had planned on taking loads of pictures of beautiful artwork but, once the rain started, it was impossible. So instead I went for this . . .
At the corner of Liberty and Ashley stands a small diner amongst all the taller brick buildings. It looks so out of place, but so settled in. We had already eaten at the Grizzly Peak, but the next time we are in Ann Arbor, that is where we are headed. Which will, of course, be another post.

For now we are back in the cool, dry air conditioning waiting for the muggy weather to move on to its next victims. The crocs have have this weather back.

Woven

2010-07-24T01:01:00.000-07:00

Baskets are generally either of coiled construction (a single element wound in a continuous spiral around itself) of noncoiled (such as wattle, lattice, matting, plaited). Archaeologists say the salient characteristics of basketry are the same today as they were in the 3rd millennium BC.

It has been a busy week -- one that involved an interview with a local paper regarding The Fowlerville Observer and other projects -- so I'm offering up just a bit of trivia for your learning pleasure. As far as the interview goes, be sure to check out The Fowlerville Observer in the next few days for my thoughts on where that website is headed.

Unrivaled Ribs

2010-07-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

Barbecue (the word) came into English via Spanish, who adopted the term from the Arawak of the Caribbean to whom the barbacoa was a grating of green wood upon which strips of meat were placed to dry or cook over a slow fire.

We will soon have family coming to visit from nearly the left coast and on our menu, top of the list, will be spare ribs cooked on the grill. We will first par-cook them in the oven, basted with Hunks' secret rub, then tossed on the grill for the final burn. In the meantime, another secret recipe, derived from a combining of a couple of different recipes, a dipping sauce will bubble away on the stove.

Oh, how my mouth is starting to water already. All that needs to be next to those ribs is homemade coleslaw and a cold beer.

Hmmm . . . in my ongoing search for summertime downtime, I think I just found another favorite.

Fair Time

2010-07-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

The last few days I've been exploring some of the ways we slow down a bit during summer -- or at least we try a bit. I can remember when AvaMom and Ms. Rocks were four or five (somewhere along there), they could lie on the floor and gaze up at the ceiling for long minutes at a time. I wondered sometimes what they were thinking but then pretty much decided they were practicing their relaxing mode and would decide not to bother them. So now I wonder -- do they ever take the time to stare off into space and let their minds wander?

I have tried to be more relaxed this summer since work has slowed down and I'm approaching a very busy time in my work life as well as a the fruition of a project that will hopefully gain me a few minutes of fame (not fifteen, for sure, but maybe five).

So we've napped in the sun, read a book by a lake and taken KC dawg for walks, eaten ice cream while swinging on an old metal structure, and daydreamed a bit. And yesterday, I spent a few hours at our family fair. It is a step back in time with the flashing lights, sounds of rides grinding on tracks and kids screaming, and the smells of every single type of food that is wrong, just wrong, for our bodies.

I had my once-a-year elephant ear, but could not even fathom who would purchase a "fat ball." I wanted to catch a sight of what one would look like, but no luck. Now my imagination is working overtime -- I suppose it is just an elephant ear formed into a big ball. Well, if nothing else, "fat ball" shows truth in advertising. You know what you are getting; I'm just not getting one.
So, minus the fat ball and the fact it would land right on my hips, I am going to head back home to somewhere a bit more quiet now and think of the next summertime downtime thing I can come up with. How about you?

Summertime

2010-07-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

Continuing with our quest for enjoying all things summertime, the other night we headed to our local community park. We had small sundaes in hand from the local Frosty Boy, and a mission -- make it to the swingset before the ice cream melted.

How glorious it felt to gently sway in these barely flexible seats, savoring the sweet flavor of a small vanilla ice cream sundae with nuts and caramel topping. Our conversation moved easily from how many other people were enjoying the park, to how nice the weather was, to future plans. It was quiet, peaceful, slow motion life for about an hour -- it was wonderful.

Take time this summer to enjoy something simple; whether it is planned or spur of the moment. Stop -- as they say -- and smell the roses.

(And a special p.s. -- happy birthday to someone very special in my life.)

First Corn

2010-07-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

Another great thing about summertime -- corn. We had our first locally-grown corn the other day and it was tender, sweet, full of flavor, and our whole meal. There will be a lot more in our future; both for meals and to freeze for future meals. How about where you are? Anything locally-grown that you are enjoying about now?

Inception

2010-07-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

Summertime is for relaxing and we are actually doing some of that -- and that has included getting to a movie. The other night, Hunks asked me on a "movie date" and I gladly accepted. He then mentioned the movie Inception and I wasn't quite so sure. I really hadn't heard too much about it.

We headed to the movie, 128 minutes worth, and it was really quite good. If you like sci-fi, lots of music, and beautiful people; check it out. I'm thinking too it's one of those to see on the big screen instead of on the television. The visuals are quite interesting.

So there's my review for this movie -- on to the next relaxing and fun thing we can find. Sushi, anyone?

Apple Uniqueness

2010-07-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

The production of consistent apple trees is not easy as the seeds resemble their parents no more than human daughters resemble mothers. Without the technique of grafting, each tree in the world would constitute its own variety, distinct from every other.

Does anyone else find this as interesting as I do? Or at least answers a question I've had over the last couple of years of why we are seeing more types and varieties of apples in the grocery stores. A few years back, Gala and Fuji apples became very popular. I liked the names of these apples but didn't know what to do with them. Actually, I had to buy a few, bring them home, and either eat fresh or cook with them; experimenting so to speak. In my opinion, they are both for eating fresh. When it comes to cooking, I particularly like Granny Smiths, Jonathons, and MacIntosh.

So, now to explain the above picture. We have three apple trees, and out of those three trees this year (lovingly called Jonnie, Mac, and Red), we have two apples set on. Not going to be a productive year from our backyard.

So, it will be off to the farmer's market or grocery store for our usual tradition of making applesauce and pies.

Alaskan Flag

2010-07-17T01:00:00.000-07:00

Whilst we are melting in 90 degree weather -- very warm for our thick skins -- I thought this bit of trivia from Alaska would help cool things down.

The Alaskan flag of Polaris (the North Star) and Ursa Major (Great Bear) was designed by a 13-year-old orphan boy -- with the dark-blue background symbolizing the Alaskan sky and ubiquitous forget-me-not flowers of spring.

Frog v. Toad

2010-07-16T01:00:00.000-07:00

In general, frogs are more active and like water more than toads -- and have webbed feet while toads have little or no webbing.
This bit of trivia reminded me of a picture I took last fall of this creature resting on the step up to our front porch. Obviously he was a little leery of me getting too close but he posed long enough for me to get this picture. Pretty awesome, huh?!
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Hunks is always celebrating when worms show up after a rainstorm, or toads are jumping through my flower gardens, or honeybees are flitting from flower to flower (even working on the clover in the grass). We are even lucky enough, once in a while, to see deer, pheasants, and other wildlife working their way through our yard.
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Nice to see we can all co-exist.

Not Just for Floors

2010-07-15T01:00:00.000-07:00

Generally, a rug is smaller than a carpet, which is frequently tacked down and usually wall-to-wall, but the use of these words is not consistent. The word rug, which is of Scandinavian origin, is newer (1808) than the word carpet (from Latin, c 1438). Until the 19th century, the word carpet was used for any covering, such as a table covering or wall hanging; since the introduction of machine-made products, however, it has been used almost exclusively for a floor covering.
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So as I'm reading this trivia, I was reminded of a picture I took a month or so ago while touring an old downtown building that is still under refurbishing efforts. As the workers were taking the walls back to their original look, an interesting layer was found. Carpeting was used . . . possibly to help mute some sound . . . around the entire room. As I pointed my camera at it, I had to wonder "why." Why those awful colors and why in just a narrow strip. I suppose when I run into the former owner of this building I could ask these questions. But, then again, do we really want to relive old, fairly ugly decorating history?

The Alphabet

2010-07-14T01:03:00.000-07:00

J was the last letter included in our alphabet and only with the influence of Noah Webster, and other dictionaries of his time, did J and V gain full acceptance. O is the oldest letter of our alphabet.

And here I've always thought they all arrived at the same time.

(Please excuse the very short post, but we are on the road and I pre-posted this. If, perchance, I get some really interesting pictures, those will be posted too.)

Mind Over Matter

2010-07-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

Physiology was first used by the Greeks as a term to describe a philosophized inquiry in the nature of things, but the term as applied to activities of healthy humans only came about in the 16th century. Anatomy is more about identifying organs and body parts (structure), while physiology studies how they work (processes and functions).

I've studied both and am an expert in neither. While still at the track, I've preposted this bit of trivia, just in case I can't get online to post pictures. Some of the racetracks we get to are as much about speed and excitement as they are about nature and enjoying the out-of-doors. I'm looking for a little bit of both.

Traveling Sneakers

2010-07-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

We are at the races again, so that probably means a little bit of fast food will be in the mix. Maybe not quite as stylized as this burger shoe, but I'm sure we will hit up a Wendy's or a Burger King along the way. Check back for motorcycle shots, or anything else that catches my eye.

Flavors

2010-07-11T03:14:00.000-07:00

Häagen-Dazs, the premium ice cream brand, became a registered company in 1961. Why the Scandinavian-sounding name Häagen-Dazs was chosen remains a mystery. It is not a real word, but was made up by Ruben Mattus, who founded the company. However, the name does convey an aura of old-world tradition and craftsmanship. The first three flavors of Häagen-Dazs - vanilla, chocolate, and coffee - were introduced in 1961 in New York delis. Vanilla is the most popular Häagen-Dazs flavor in the United States.

I know of a few people that swear by Ben and Jerry's. My favorite? Pretty much any french vanilla ice cream that I can smother in chocolate sauce and cashews. But then, I've also had some wonderful ice cream sandwiches made by AvaMom.

So what is your favorite?

Flightless

2010-07-10T01:00:00.000-07:00

There are a few birds that cannot fly, having completely lost the power of flight during the course of evolution. However, the close structural similarity of flightless and flying birds indicates that they all had a common flying ancestor. The rudimentary wings and flightless condition of the ostrich-like birds and the penguins is a secondary, specialized condition. Loss of flight seems to occur most often on isolated islands where there are no mammal predators. Some famous flightless birds are the emu, kiwi, ostrich, and penguin.

But penguins can do this -- oh, shoot -- the video is no longer available. There was a video on YouTube of a penguin waddling past another one and gets slapped at the back of his head, toppling through the ice. The company that happened to catch that moment has had the video removed due to copyright laws. Darn. If you ever come across it, let me know.

But now, since I couldn't find the penguin video, here's a picture of a flamingo (which I believe the real ones can fly). This flamingo stands over a front doorway to a bar in a small town a few miles away. Upon closer inspection, it would appear at times the flamingo may have twinkling white lights to brighten up the already bubblegum pink.

Peaceful Respite

2010-07-09T01:00:00.000-07:00

Once in a while a person needs to take a break away from the phone, the laptop, and all the other distractions that eat up our techy-days. Which is exactly what Hunks and I tried to do a couple days ago. We were semi-successful.

We headed to a recreation area where we could take KC in the water, wade a bit, enjoy some soft breeze in the hot weather under some shade trees, and listen to the sounds of kids playing on the beach and in the water. I say "semi-success" because KC could never settle down enough to let us totally relax -- she wanted to be sociable with everyone walking by.

But we were also very successful in spreading out a sheet, arranging a couple of beach towels, and stretching out side by side to have a bit of lazy conversation. When Hunks took KC for another walk, I looked around a bit. I looked up . . .. . . and down . . . . . . and out over the water. These few moments of slowing down were well worth it, and might just be in the cards again very soon.