2010-05-31 Fried Everything

Things that are fried are tasty. You could bread my shoe and throw it in the fryer and it would probably be an acceptable snack for me.

We had a great Memorial Day BBQ today at my brother's house...fresh fish and venison, fried up with tasty sides...they're really good cooks over there. Tasty, down-home Southern food. Not always for the light of heart or the fat of ass, but hey, sometimes you gotta go for it!

Now, venison is not my favorite meat of all. I like it OK, but tend to eat small portions. But my brother and SIL really know how to cook it. The secret is to soak it in milk, which removes gamey flavors. It was the best I've ever had.

My favorite picture is of these little babies...we love to cook whole fish in our family, so whether it's baked or fried, we tend to serve them this way. It just makes the meat wonderful and juicy. And my brother was so proud of catching these little snappers...


Here's the rest of our day and a view of our menu...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_rXb0dKX7I

2010-05-30 Ice Cream....Slowly Disappears

I went to buy some juice at Sun Harvest and decided to sample the Key Lime ice cream. But of course it's 1000 degrees in my car, so I was forced...yes, forced...to eat it quickly.

Going...going....gone...

2010-05-29 Royal Poinciana

I love these tree that are blooming all over town...


First of all they're red, and that's my favorite color, and second, it seems that the blooms cover the whole tree...from afar it's like a tree on fire! I hear they're called Royal Poincianas. I want one in my yard immediately...too bad, I have my full share of trees and plants. I would feel guilty cutting down one tree just to get another...it seems like it should be OK since you're still planting a tree, but I think I would feel guilty.

2010-05-28 Ticky Tacky Tourist Stuff

I'm not sure I have ever seen the equal of Florida for its ability to produce tacky tourist crap.


If you're out there and you desperately need home decorations that include pink flamingos, alligators, or palm trees (and I'm sure you do), give me a jingle.

Now, having said that, I do decorate my Xmas tree in Floridian decorations, so I'll be going back to this store for these:


OK. I'm tacky, too.

2010-05-27 Shopping Mall

I love having days off...today I had a lovely dinner with a friend and walked around the little boutique mall here in town...bought some shoes and had sushi. Now that's what I call a nice evening...

2010-05-26 Rock Stars of Photography

Hi, everybody...this is Phil.


Phil is the SO of a friend of mine and a photographer and general "picture-taking rock star" who agreed to give a course to a bunch of us who are interested in learning more about our cameras. We spent a great evening talking about aperture, ISO, shutter speed and more...we looked at a lot of examples, too, which really helped.

Our friend Karen hosted this class at her catering place and served us delicious snacks...OH, the deliciousness of the snacks. I think my favorite was "coffee and donuts" - a little plate of savory cheese donuts which you can dunk into a demitasse filled with sliced beef in a wine demiglace. Wha'...cameras? Did someone mention cameras?

We looked at a lot of Phil's camera gear -- this grey lens weighs so much, I think I could only take one picture before my amrms collapse.


Great class -- lots of great new information. My thanks to Phil and Karen!

2010-05-25 Stuffed

Not too much going on -- been at my friend's house working on some Jr League stuff. We ordered in some pizza from Pizza Fusion...


Then we sat down to plan some meetings, with these fellows watching over us.

2010-05-24 Weed

Is this a lovely organic lettuce?


Nope. It's a weed growing in my yard. I would hardly even say my yard has grass. It's basically a melting pot of weeds that cannot be mastered or contained. I wish for a beautiful green lawn that I could run around in, or play with the dog in. But no, my lawn looks like I'm running some kind of weed-based petrie dish. This month, one weed will seem to take over, and the next, it's dead and a new weed is on top.

I've got a yard guy who told me he's going to do some experimenting with my soil to see if he can make my yard grassy...I'm willing to give it another try before I call a concrete truck and have them dump 120 cubic yards of concrete over the top of it all. Good luck to you, sir.

2010-05-23 Dog Show!

I went to my first-ever dog show today! Granted, it wasn't exactly Westminster...no, it was a civic center that usually sees more tractor pulls than anything else. It was extremely interesting. And the dogs were absolutely lovely.


May I make some generalizations and observations...

1. I was surprised at the fatness of the audience. Yes, I know that sounds judge-y, and if you saw me, I'm the pot calling the kettle black, but I have rarely ever seen so many large people congregated in one place. It wasn't the people showing the dogs...they're all very slim from running around with the dogs. It was the spectators. I stood behind one woman who are an enormous vat of macaroni and cheese while the dogs were being shown...fascinating.
2. A lot of the dog show-ers were young teens and twenties. I was kind of surprised. I guess I keep picturing the movie Best In Show. It was kind of fun to see young 18 year old girls dressed in business suits and Skechers, running around the arena with their dogs.
3. There were a ton of vendors there -- probably about 20 of them. I would say a good 3 or 4 were jewely makers. Is this your target audience? Dunno why I would bother setting up a booth at a dog show.
4. There were hardly any chairs for spectators. Practically everyone who was there had brought their own folding chair. What the hell? I stood for a loooong time before I found an empty one of the 4 or 5 folding chairs provided by the arena. Very weird.

Overall I thought it was really neat and I loved seeing the beautiful doggies going through their paces!

Here's the whole show -- turn on caption to see comments.

2010-05-22 Fried

Since when is "Fried" the default method of cooking meat which is to be placed on a salad?


I used to get this salad from Wendy's and decided to have one the other day. It had always come topped with grilled chicken, but today, I unpacked my lunch and voila, a piece of fried chicken breast.

I thought we were having an obesity epidemic and fast food places were trying to make changes to their menus...oh, say what? That's bull-hockey? Yep. You're right. I actually happened to drive-thru later in the day for a soda as I was out and about and I told the cashier my thrilling story of mistaken chicken identity earlier in the day, and asked if the basic salad was supposed to come with fried chicken or grilled chicken. I pointed out that it used to be grilled as a default.

The cashier just sort of looked and me and said, "You don't WANT it fried?" As if to say, who would want anything but deep fried chicken on everything? And also, what the heck does 'default' mean? Or maybe she took one look at me and figured, 'This lady has certainly had her share of fried food. What's she complaining about?'

She's right. Absolutely. Who would want a nice plain piece of grilled chicken. The salad was delicious...now, I need to run out and rent a wheelbarrow to drag my ass in.

2010-05-21 Summer Skies

Oh, it's summertime in Florida, and the temps are already skyrocketing. It looks beautiful with the clouds skimming across the sky. Looking outside on days like today can't help but buoy my mood.


It makes me feel like planning an escape. Memorial Day weekend is coming and I have a few days off...it could be the right time to explore some beaches. I'm ready for the feeling of the sand in my toes...

2010-05-20 Freak Flags

Nice little sushi lunch with a friend today. Walking out, I noticed this store having a sidewalk sale...they seemed to have an extensive collection of those flags you put outside the house.


This is perfect because I've been looking for a place that sells them. I know a bunch of people, including me, that have those flagpoles hanging off the roof, where you get to let your particular "freak flag" fly. I see lots of college or holiday or religious ones. I only have one flag. It's a pineapple, and I got it for a housewarming present. But I'd like some seasonal ones and perhaps a Univ of Fla one.

Sadly I couldn't rummage around today. I had spent a looooong time yammering and needed to get back to the office for a 2pm meeting, which was then canceled at 1:59. Perfect.

What if our flags could actually display images that really represented us...mine would be like a Cathy cartoon...my flag would have the cartoon-me hunched over a computer 9 hours a day. Or me sitting on the couch with a remote control with a dog on her lap. Or me looking frustrated while I pick out clothes or fix my hair.

Mine's a little boring, but someone else might be dressed up in latex whipping their spouse. You never know. Whatever floats your boat. It would make it fun to drive down the street. What would yours be?

2010-05-19 Power Walking

These birds are just taking a walk...never seen them in my neighborhood. I don't trust them. Maybe, they're casing my house, or they're doing some power-walking.


If they're power-walking, I need to be following them. Wish I could convince someone to go walking with me in the evenings...I need a walking buddy. I don't like to walk on big streets by myself. And the only way out of my neighborhood is down a major street. And it makes me nervous. Sigh. I'm being a baby...

2010-05-18 Rewards

Tonight was our JL annual meeting. Everybody gets recognized...awards are given...hands are clapped...food...drinks...mingling. I got a little box of JL goodies.


I love seeing all my JL friends, but I never seem to be comfortable in large rooms of people. I guess I force myself to do it, but I just start to panic. With 20 people, I'm great. But walking through the room of 100+ is a struggle.

But strangely, I have no problem speaking to large groups.

Yeah, I'm weird. I know.

But in good news, I got a nice little haircut before the meeting. I really don't know what I'm doing with my hair. I'm trying to get it as long as I can possibly stand it. But I needed a trim. I was starting to look like Sasquatch.

2010-05-17 Go with the Flow

Oh man....work. I'm trying so hard to be flexible. But it's hard. I can't describe everything that's troubling me, but some days I feel like I've just had it. And I wonder what to do.

2010-05-16 The Drops

I ran through the raindrops to get to the mall for some errands.


Why, in a state where it rains constantly for several months of the year, do they only seem to build outdoor malls? Oh, right...they're too cheap to pay for a roof and air conditioning.

At least there's palm trees to stand under.

And hey, tomorrow, I buy GaGa tickets! Woot!

2010-05-15 New Growth

Nothing exciting today....just a lazy day of dispensing with DVR stuff. I got in late last night and got up late this morning...just got out of the house around 3pm. Just totally doing nothing feels good sometimes. Damn, it feels good to be a gangsta...

2010-05-14 Living Color

It's all growing in the back yard today...not my yard, of course. It's the neighbors'. They don't mind if I creep around and take pictures...what they don't know won't hurt 'em.


Going to Robin Hood tonight.

2010-05-13 The Downtowner

Taking my friend out for a dinner tonight...she's been stuck at the hospital all day with her grandma. I keep forgetting dinner downtown is an option. And it was really nice...


My Blackberry camera sucks, but it was a nice night to be walking around.

2010-05-12 Pretty Baby

If you saw this on Facebook, then I'm sorry for the repeat, but it had to be done.


On cleaning day, the bed gets all made with nice fresh linen, and my dog loves it. This is the best day, because he gets to rub himself all over my clean sheets and blankets. Not that he's dirty...he's fresh as a daisy, really.

When I saw him sleeping like this, I had to take a shot to show how funny he is. "They" say that when an animal can sleep with his stomach exposed like this, he feels very safe and comfortable in his environment. So it makes me feel good to see him laying here, belly-up. Makes me feel like he trusts his mama.

But my favorite part of this picture, is how his front paws curl in. Oh, brother. I sure do like my doggie.

2010-05-11 Under Construction

We're getting to that time of year when traffic dies down to a nice manageable stream of locals.

The snowbirds are gone. The kids are almost out of school. And the oppressive heat is starting, preparing us for the sauna that is July and August.

The only thing stopping us from moving from place to place is construction and heat-related lethargy. But I'm going to plan some distractions from the heat this year. I need a barbeque or picnic or something to make summer something other than the time of year I look least forward to. Hm...lessons of some kind?

2010-05-10 Thank You

I believe in Thank You notes.


I think it makes people happy to get a little note telling people you appreciate them and their efforts. So I like to keep a little stash of personalized note cards for just such purposes. I can never really have enough of these...

I didn't learn this from my mother. Nope, my mom did not really subscribe to Miss Manners-style behaviors. She said thank you, she meant it, and felt that was sufficient for most everything. But later in life, I met people who felt moved to send me thank you notes for things, I and really remember feeling good and feeling appreciated. So, in recent years I'm really trying to be more grateful, and I think this is a nice way to show it.

2010-05-09 Celebration Part 2

On to day two of the celebration weekend...it's Mother's Day and my niece's graduation from college.


We gathered around the table for a lovely brunch, prepared by my niece. I don't know how I ate anything after last night's meal.


And then we went over to watch my niece graduate from the University of South Florida, which is a college in our state university system and located in the Tampa/Sarasota area. Isn't she cute? I can't believe we're related!


After the festivities, I drove home full. Of happiness! : )

2010-05-08 Celebration Part 1

It's a weekend of celebrations...tonight we were at Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa to celebrate my friends' 17th anniversary. We started off with some girlie drinks, while we waited for the gentlemen to arrive...


We were observing the decor and boy is it elaborate...it's something like a medieval bordello. Fabulous!


Anyway, back to the food.

That evening we were treated to a tasting menu of all kinds of soups, appetizers, champagnes and red wines...but then the main course was a delicious combination of steak and chicken. I couldn't even finish my plate of food. But oh, the steak was perfect and tender, and the chicken was so flavorful and fresh. We were so lucky to be there with regular customers, because the spread was amazing. The service was amazing, too.


At Bern's, you have to make a separate reservation to go up to the Dessert Room on the 2nd floor. It's a beautiful room -- each table is in it's own enclosure, shaped like a floor-to-ceiling wine barrel. There, we were given a menu of about 10 pages of wines, liqueurs, coffees and desserts. Our waiter immediately brought us a tasting of a 100-year-old Madeira wine that was sooooo smooth. Then he brought us an amazing red dessert wine, whose name I cannot remember. We ordered dessert...I ordered the most incredible Macadamia Nut ice cream with hot fudge. It was the stuff of dreams. Seriously. My friend ordered a Baked Alaska. They prepared it tableside...and of course, they lit it on FIRE!!


We finally waddled out of there around 11pm. Yes, folks, that's 4 hours of eating and drinking. I've rarely ever been so full, but it was a great dining experience. I was really upset that we didn't get to do the kitchen tour...guests are invited to see their amazing kitchen, cheese and wine cellars. They have more than 1 million bottles of wine underneath that building. I really wanted to see all of it, but I had to drive down to Bradenton that night for Celebration, Part 2.

Wow. If you're ever in Tampa, eat at Bern's. You won't regret it. And I'm going back!

2010-05-07 Dualing Telemarketers

Well, I've never had this happen...


One telemarketing company called both my business AND home lines at exactly the same time. It's such a shame because I was in a really giving mood. I was just thinking to myself:

Yes, I would like to refinance my home...
Yes, I would like to donate to the Fraternal Order of Police...
Yes, I would like a credit line...
Yes, I would like to donate to my alma mater's scholarship program...

If only they hadn't called both my phones at the same time. I just couldn't decide which to answer. Awwwww.

2010-05-06 Flying All Over

This crap is flying all over the place and making people nuts...


Record levels of Pollen are in the air this spring and it seems to be followed by sniffing and sneezing and coughing and eye rubbing.

My own poor little doggie had such a bad reaction this season, he scratched himself raw. Sometimes he would be crying from the pain of the abrasion he had created by scratching, but he itched so bad he was compelled to keep scratching it. I almost had to put the cone on him. : (

But as we move into summer and more rain enters the forecast, the air will be washed clean...and then all we'll have to worry about is hurricanes. Excellent.

2010-05-05 Broken Plate

Yesterday I broke a Brie...today, I broke a plate. I put something in the microwave to heat and about a minute in, the plate shattered. WTF! I've had this set of plates for about 10 years and I think the pattern is no longer made. But thankfully I found a replacement on ebay, so all will be well.


Actually, I don't even love these plates anymore...so why did I need to buy a replacement plate? I don't have enough space to explain my problems. I'm mental. That's why.

2010-05-04 Broken Brie

I made this for a get-together...


But beneath this crusty facade, all the brie has spilled out onto the plate.

I decided to make this baked brie for our last JL board meeting, but for some reason the bottom burst out when I transferred it from the baking tray to the serving platter. Sigh. Oh well...it was still pretty and everyone at it up! Woot!

Its really easy to make too. You just buy a brie and top it with apricot preserves, then wrap it in puff pastry and do an egg wash on top. Bake about 10 minutes til brown. Eat with gusto.

2010-05-03 Sea Grapes

I have amazing memories of sea grapes...


When I was a kid, we went on a lot of beach vacations during the summer and I have such vivid memories of walking down paths leading towards the beach, flanked on each side by hedges of sea grapes. Seeing those big round leaves waving in the breeze, almost pulled me towards the shore. My little feet felt the sand on the way to the water, and my nose was filled with the salty scent of the ocean. When I see them today, it's only good memories of times past.

2010-05-02 Growing Wild

I found these little mushrooms growing wild on an old palm tree stump in the yard.


I've scoured mushroom websites to try to identify these but no luck. I'd love to know what they are...they're kind of pretty and creepy at the same time.

2010-05-01 Let There Be Light...Please

I've been operating on one dinky ceiling light for weeks now as bulb after bulb went out and would not come back on when I replaced them.


It was a mystery...not ALL the light bulbs could be duds. So I got a couple of guys out to take a look and it turns out there is a little extender installed on some of the bulbs and they had all gone loose with time. So now, I can see. And it's about time because if my last bulb had gone out, things would have been pretty dim! (That was a pun. OK, you knew that.)