My Cooking Skills

    This is quite accurate.  The wise ones in the family know better than to allow me anywhere near the kitchen and/or barbecue grill when meals are being prepared.

Wine To The Rescue

    And just in time, too.

Wile E. Coyote

    Genius.  Sheer genius.

Abs, they said.

   
LMAO.

CD profits

    Just sayin'.

Happy Birthday, Aldous Huxley!

    Born on 07/26/1894, Aldous Huxley is without a doubt, my favorite highbrow author.

    Bonus Trivia Question : On what day did Aldous Huxley die, and why does nobody remember that?  (Answer in comments)

Nailed It!

    Perfecto!

Book Excerpt for the Day

        “If I have a ticket waiting at the Tucson airport, can you fly to Austin?  Is this thing important enough that you would go and see Kivu?  Does he know you?  Would he trust you?”

    “I think so, yes.  Wait a minute!  Just fly off to Austin?”

    “Do you want to be part of how this story develops?  Or do you want to leave it to press hounds like me, who might get it wrong?”

    “You always were a bitch, Val.”

    “Yeah, I know.”

    “I’ll do it.”

    “Good.”

    (from Dark Inheritance by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear)

    6½*/10.  The complete review is here.

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Lollipop

    You're welcome.

You Matter

    Or Science Friday.  Whichever.

Old Books, Old Friends

    I have to admit it - this is me whenever the subject of getting rid of old (already read) books comes up.  True confession:  I'm looking over at one of my bookshelves right now, and there's a "Photoshop 7" book on it.

Picture Makes No Sense

Underwear

    True dat.

Rolling Stone Magazine

    My favorite Rolling Stone Magazine cover of all time!

Art Appreciation Sunday

    Actually, when we were there for a week last July, the skies were for the most part blue, and the high temperatures were in the 90's.

Pot In A Cone

    File this under "Things I Never Thought I'd See When I Was In My 20's".

Oh, look! A doggy!

    Well, this is Liz actually.  Not me.  But I'm a silent co-conspirator.

Philosophy Thursday!

    This kinda describes me right now, as I convalesce from heart issues last week.

New Meat Loaf album!

    Meat Loaf has a new album coming out!  Titled Braver Than We Are, with all songs written by Jim Steinman, it is due to be released September 16th.

    I am stoked!!  I've seen Mr. Loaf twice in concert - the first at the (second) peak of his popularity, and the second many years later, at a venue so small I was literally about 10 feet from the stage.  I was not disappointed either time.

Mentally Unstable?

    One year in college (a long time ago), I lived in a four-plex, with a next-door neighbor who had 20+ cats.  Needless to say, we called him "Catman".

Black Lives Matter

    Taken during the Baton Rouge Black Lives Matter demonstrations yesterday.  There are no words to describe the confrontation between the forces of elegance, resolve, and the demand for justice versus brute force, racial killings, and the white status quo.

Rock Bottom

Happy Birthday, Nikola Tesla!

     Born 160 years ago today.

Home from the Hospital

    I've been in the hospital since Monday, being poked, probed, tested, sedated, purged, and deprived of Sodium and fluids.

    Which is to say that everyone at Banner Heart Hospital was professional, committed to keeping me alive, finding out what was wrong with me, monitoring my vitals, and changing my lifestyle to a healthier one.

    I was able to come home tonight. in as good of shape as could be expected, and I have only one thing to add...

    Lasix, you and I will never be friends.  

English Is Fun

    I'm not sure why the plural, "homeowners", isn't included, since "meows" is there.  But I pick at nits.

Official Notice

    Gawd, as we sit here in monsoon storms and 116°F weather, is Halloween really creeping towards us on the horizon?

Buddhist Evangelists

    It was bound to happen sooner or later.  It seems Buddhist Evangelists have come up with a hand signal to push their "Be One With The Universe" dogma.

Book Excerpt for the Day

    “Why did you get bounced out of Yale Law, Archy?”

    “If I said that during a concert of the New York Philharmonic I streaked naked across the stage wearing a Richard M. Nixon mask, would you believe me?”

    “No.”

    “Then consider the subject closed.”

    (from McNally’s Dilemma by Lawrence Sanders)

    8½*/10.  The complete review is here.

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Political Opinions

    Generally, I prefer not to be drawn into political and religious discussions.  I'm not interested in other people's opinions, and frankly, they aren't interested in mine.

    We do make an exception to this though, when Liz throws a pool party.  There, the alcohol flows, which means partakers just naturally want to breach etiquette.

    We have two venues for these debates.  There is the indoor venue, wherein tact and respect for others' opinions is de rigueur.

    Then there's the back porch venue, usually preferred by the younger set of party-goers.  And the more sloshed ones, regardless of age.  Basically, anything goes, and the only rule is that one is not allowed to lose one's temper, no matter what gets said.

    Now you know.

The Next Generation

    What shall we call this next generation of voters, for whom "9/11" is just something to study in History class?  How about the "Twin Tower Tubbies"?

Foghat - Under The Influence

    There's a new Foghat album out, called Under The Influence.  I was pleasantly surprised to find they can still rock.  That's no small achievement for a band that's been around for 40+ years.

    I've only heard it once so far, but I have it on loan, via Hoopla, so will listen to it a couple more times before it expires after a week.  And BTW, if you've never heard of Hoopla, check with your local library.  Most public libraries offer it as a free perk of membership, and it's a great way to "try before you buy" new releases.

    And BTW, as good as the music is, that is a freaking fantastic album cover!!

   

My 20's

    This pretty much sums up my 20's, which essentialy encompasses the 1970's.  At least I thin it does.  Mostly I remember it as a 10-year blur in my life.

History

    True dis.  Back when I was in school, we had to memorize all the presidents of the United States.  In the correct order.

    Of course, there were only eight of them back then.

Star Wars Surrealism Friday!

People vs. Governments

    I'm not a world traveler; altogether I've visited 12 other countries.  I can tell you this is absolutely true.

    People are the same everywhere.  They want to live in peace, provide for their family; see their kids grow up and live happily as well.  They don't want to conquer your country; they don't want to take your land and house and possessions.  They don't want to kill anyone.

    When you meet someone who acts differently, he probably works for somebody's government

Wine for Special Occasions

Crossword Puzzles vs. Sudoku

   Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

Book Excerpt for the Day

    “That first time – when I met you at the station.  You kept touching that chain round your neck.  Made me wonder.  The average teenager’s careless.  My girls for example.  Always losing things – mobiles – I-pods – keys.  Careless.  But not you.  You wear your front door key round your neck.  Because you can’t afford to lose it – there’d be no one to let you in.  I watched you coming out the station.  Most people stop at the vending machine – grab a coke or a snack.  Not you.  Counting the pennies.”

    (from A Raucous Time by Julia Hughes)

    5½*/10.  The complete review is here.

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Graffiti Art Sunday

    I am really impressed by the cleverness and artistry of some graffiti.

Housework

    This happens at our house all the time.