The Smiley Smile Message Board

It's Saturday, what did you do today?

I did nothing all day really. My dog woke me up around 11am, I had some toast, turned on the TV, watched Survivorman and sat in awe at Les' ingenuity and then I wondered if he was a fake, went on the computer, got the Smiley Smile sessions, listened, then listened to "When Girls Get Together" about 500 times in a row, made a milkshake, read some articles on Wiki about nothing worth mentioning, looked at internet porn, did activity that usually follows gladly, watched some TV again, this time cartoons, while listening I read some of my book, came back on the computer, sat about like a moron, talked to a few people, talked to some more people, thought about how I don't leave the house anymore, wondered how my new neighbors are as people, listened to more "When Girls Get Together", wondered if it was written after hearing "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon, stopped wondering, wondered about the reality of the average human, if our sense of freedom and personality is merely the trappings of an ant governed by smells and the Queen Ant, stopped wondering, started wondering about some more things, wondered a little bit more, and some more, made another milkshake, had some pizza, came back on the computer, went to Smiley Smile, clicked new topic, started writing, kept on writing, am still writing, can't stop writing, maybe this will never stop, is this what life is about?; have I now stumbled upon the meaning of life?; still kept on writing, spoke of it in the past tense though it is or was still happened or happened now or before.

You?

It's my 24th birthday. Unfortunately, we also got news that one of my beautiful cousins has died in a car accident this morning.

So I'm drinking.  :beer

Leaving to South Beach soon with my brothers...

take care.

Hey! Happy Birthday man! 24? I thought you were my age for some reason. Where's your Pet Sounds then?  ::) I'm sorry to hear about your cousin, those things happen and are a terrible loss to everyone. Don't hide the pain with alcohol for too long though. Hope things work out okay with your family concerning the whole thing.

I went on a wild hunt for "The Sorrows of Young Werther" at Steve's insistence, only to returned hot, frustrated, annoyed at the mall parking, and empty handed. I got it on Amazon for 5.25 including the shipping.

Oh and Id hate to think you are doing "glad activities" and chatting with me conversely.

It's SO worth the mall visits.

"brb" affords me plenty enough time!

Just like when you visit my house for viewings of Garden State!

Sorry to hear about your cousin, Amo.

BTW, I talked to my honey for hours, had a wonderful time, and listened to Boyce and Hart and The Flaming Lips new one (MY GOD, it's great).

let's see.......went to walmart like 3 times for stuff I forgot to get the 1st time, washed the outside of the house with siding wash, helped put up laundry room cabinets, washed 3 cars.  I am tired LOL
Carly

well gee wonder who Spaceman is?

Oh and Im STILL ripping CDs to this computer. Been doing this since Tuesday, what a pain in the ass.

Woke up at 6:30PM, ate dinner, been on the computer more or less ever since.

Sorry to hear about your cousin, amosario.  We'll pray for comfort for your family and a safe trip for you.

I updated my comiclist site to a blog:

www.comiclist.com

It should save me some time on future updates to that site.

Let's see: Listened to the Smiley Smile Sessions today, soaked them up and started on my own take of "Gettin' Hungry". Need to polish the backing track. Then, had some dinner and went shopping and bought two pairs of shorts, and a very comfortable pair of sandles. watched a movie, and am now heading to bed.

How I spent my Saturday...Pushed a bunch of shopping carts around, pushed a guy in his wheelchair back to his apartment--the only thing harder than pushing him uphill was trying to keep him from rolling DOWNhill...Had a gig, I'm part of an acoustic trio, among other musical endeavors...A semi legend in one neighborhood, the bottom of the food chain in the other...it's a question of balance I guess...

spent all saturday in carmel. getting married there in july. gave the photographer a deposit and found out he's written a couple of books!, checked out the reception banquet facilities, went shopping on ocean ave., tried out my nos olympus pen camera while my fiance tried out her new digital, went to the blackhawk auto museum (way kewl) on the way home, decompressed after the drive by watching chronicles of riddick. woke up today and started downloading all of cabana boy's (huge shoutout) yousendit links while washing my cars and cleaning house. later i'll be getting ready for work next week by doing lesson plans and reviewing state standards. i'll relax tonight by working on a new song. happy easter, all!

Today was mildly eventful. Completed some work that was needed to be done, went on this forum and a Pink Floyd forum. In fact I kinda haven't been on here as much because I've been on the Pink Floyd forum a lot more, plus I'm on the verge of maybe becoming a mod there as there is a desperate need for new mods there.

Finally got the Stone Alone biography by Bill Wyman, been reading that a lot. The man is very interesting, and it's interesting to read about his childhood which was "scarred by poverty". Been playing on my Gameboy, watched a bit of Arrested Development. And that's pretty much it. Just relaxing during my school holidays.

Waterista's RULE!!!!!

No way, man, no way.

As a proud Gilmorian, I resent your statement.

.

As a proud Madcap (Syd fan), I disagree with both of you. Though if I had to choose between the two of you, I'll go with Woodstock and Waters.

Don't you mean Barrettista?

Yeah, whatever. A member of the Madcap Army. A Madcap, a Barrettista, or whatever. I'm a Barrett fan, simple as that.

Which translation?

Okay, who the hell is spamming on the Pink Floyd Forum?
I know it's someone from here, and I have a sneaking suspicion I know which one, Tarot Mandrews.
Saying stuff like I'm not fit to be a mod there, what happens at other forums doesn't concern you. Stay out of it!

It is a nice song, no doubt, but 500 times in a row, really? You must have set the world record for that. The most I can listen to a favorite song in a row is 20-30, 35.

Played floorball.

(http://www.brodowski-fotografie.de/bilder/blaumeise/blaumeise_3.jpg)

Played floorball.

Tomorrow I will play floorball.

I've done a terrible job of cutting my nails, guys.

Perhaps it's time for a new method.

I did absolutely nothing, and its everything I thought it would be.

sh*t, I've done it again.

 :lol :lol :lol

I went out record shopping/browsing today. I visited three of the local used record shops in town and I bought a nice stack of albums. Check it out...The Doors 'Absolutely Live', The Damned 'Not The Captain's Birthday', Kinks 'Kinks-Size', Beach Boys 'Friends' (for the 3rd time, but this is a mint re-issue copy), King Crimson 'Lizard', Jeff Beck 'Truth', California USA Various Artists (double LP), and Julie Driscoll/Brian Auger & The Trinity 'Street Noise'. Afterwards I took my 2 year old out for ice cream and I bought him a kiddie pool for our backyard. When we got home he fell asleep, I listened to Side One of 'Lizard', and here I am now posting this message as my son snoozes. He looks so cute hugging his stuffed frog. What a nice day :)

.

Yes. the green Capitol label (SN-16157). Beautiful condition.

.

Coincidentally, I started reading An Irregular Head last night. Great reading so far and more in-depth than any other Syd stories I can recall.

The Jools and Brian album is fantastic.  I have everything they did together, and that one was the best - so, good buy.  Cool cover too, done by the same guy that later worked with Hunter S. Thompson on the crazy Rolling Stone features on Nixon and the like.  If you like Jools, search out the tracks she did with Giorgio Gomelsky early in her career.  The easiest way is to get a CD two disc set marketed as Brian Auger -Tiger (made in Germany on Atom in 2007, and about as good as these tracks are gonna sound) that also has the early Auger sides and Steampacket stuff.  She does some choice covers, like "I Didn't Want To Have To Do It" and "If You Should Ever Leave Me."  She's the closest singer to Dusty I've ever heard.  Jools and Brian got back together in the mid-70's and did an album.  Hope I'm not butting in with stuff you already know, fans of these folks are so rare.  Which brings me to my co-feature story...       Somebody else who is a fan.  Yesterday while researching, I came across the four posts that Mark Linett has done on Amazon USA.  One of them was a  review  for Open, a 1968 album by Jools, Brian and the Trinity.  It was him fussing at Tom Vickers, who had helped Brian in the production of the CD re-issues done by Ghostown Records in 2004.  Seems the bonus tracks Tom had come up with were Fake Stereo!  Maybe they could have used the mono, but for whatever reason didn't.  They sound okay to me.  A little insight into what else Mark listens to at home.  Brian's son Karma did the restoration and 24-BIT re-mastering (I've never heard them sound better), so I'm sure all involved knew what was going on.  I'm glad to have those rare bonus tracks in any form.  I have been a fan of Jools, Brian, and anyone Brian wants to play with to this day.  He put an album out recently, on which he sings lead vocals - something he's let others do for way too long.  Have you heard it?  It sounds a lot like his early 70's work, when he did the vocals on the albums.

.

I want one! :3d

.

Mmmmmmm!!!!

I graduated Friday but didn't get the chance to post it then  :)

.

well I'm going to college but at this point in time I can't think about it now  :lol

Pfft, plans.

Just do it like I do it and blindly stumble toward your destiny.

Congratulations!!! Post your Graduation pics on the Smiley Smile Official Member Pictures thread  ;D

thanks!  ;D  I played the BBs "Graduation Day" song and it was really bittersweet  :'( the harmonies can really get to you sometimes  :lol

That's quite cool. Did anyone sing "Be True To Your School"?  :lol

.

nope  :lol o and they didn't sing Graduation Day I played it at home (I wish they had though)

Nice to see you back, Jess. To be fair, the fact that you graduated from school isn't a bittersweet thing. That place is boring to the point that every classmate starts annoying you. Been that way for many people I know (including myself, of course).

thanks RangeRover  :) yea I definitely had senioritis during the last two months I was ready to get out  :lol

Had a friend come over, had a really nice time. He let me borrow 3 Metallica albums, so will be checking them out.

don't do iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitt

Metalica

(http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/29900000/metalica-metallica-29931748-623-732.jpg)

Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks

...for the most part. They have a couple songs that aren't sh*t.

From what I heard from others, Metallica was excellent in the 80's, and gradually got worse and worse from the 90's onwards

2Mr. Waves & Woodstock: well, taste is subjective thing, isn't that? Let Rei rely on his own ears & if he doesn't like any, then your "theory" works. Easy formula.

made my first resume i'm 22 and done graduated from college. i want to move to LA. someone give me a source of income so i can meander about and play with girlz

Master of Puppets is superb, a must-hear. No idea about the rest----metal isn't really my bag.

Prevention is better than cure, my dear RangeRover.

I'm not a Metallica fan, but I am a huge fan of the 2 bands which Metallica were inspired by, Black Sabbath and Motorhead.

By the way, James Hetfield once included Pet Sounds in a list of his favorite albums. He wasn't kidding either, although I'm sure it was a later-in-life choice of his.

Bought my first blu-ray ever :smokin. Tales from the Crypt - as a birthday present for some girl who has a party tonight. Hope she likes it..

Programmed a whole lot.

Now I am watching the World Cup.

Didn't know there's an illness called "metallitis". More so it's dangerous.

.

I hung out with Brian at dinner and we discussed his future plans. Unfortunately, it was not Brian Wilson at all but some other guy. In fairness, he was rather talkative nonetheless. He wants to start a war against the Salvation Army and then take his troops down to Mexico. Actually, none of that is true. I hung out at home instead spending approximately a wasted minute of my life coming up with this crap. I'll probably be busy designing and selling shrubberies tomorrow. I am a shrubber. My name is Roger the Shrubber. I only make one brief appearance in this movie anyway.

Awesome day off with beautiful 86 degree sunshine! I took a walk over to the East Side of Providence for a relaxing visit to The Coffee Exchange on Wickenden Street where I enjoyed my caffeine and read the Providence Journal. I continued my on-foot venture to the downtown area where I got hit up for spare change by a scrowngey looking dude whom I gave my pocket change to. He was nice and said 'thank you sir, god bless you'. Then I hit up the local record store in search of groovy vinyls and I succeeded! Great list of finds today...The 49 Minute Technicolour Dream (Various 60s Psych LP), Yardbirds 45 'Ha Ha Said The Clown b/w Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor' (Sundazed Reissue with picture sleeve), Surf Mania With The Surf Teens (Dionysis Reissue LP...features cover of Beach Boys Luau and oddly Bruce Johnston is credited as songwriter), Love 'Forever Changes' original Elektra LP, Dr. John 'Zu Zu Man' LP (70's budget LP on Trip Records...very cool album cover) and Animals Animalism (original MGM). When I got home I ordered pizza and made plans with friends to meet their newborn. Super nice day.

This is where it all started... Less than 24 hours later you joined the APFFN forum and started causing a lot of trouble there.

If you really wanted to leave me alone Tarot, then you should have done the same thing. You shouldn't have joined that forum and meddled in something that was none of your business. It was a dick move indeed.

Tarot, it was you all along that was fueled by a stupid grudge. I even offered to make peace with you and admitted I was wrong in that you created Tony Miraculous, Miami Dan, and Piper Syd, and that you didn't come from here (Though DSOTM :) and I were later proven right). But you didn't accept it and continued your senseless attacks. The ball was in your court, but you chose to do what you did. That's why everyone got sick of you, even The Piper had enough. If you didn't join the forum to meddle in something that was absolutely none of your business, then everything would have been fine.

I'm done now. You've already blocked my messages anyway. Just don't paint yourself as a victim.

EDIT: Just realized Billy's warned to leave it alone on the Coming Together thread. I'll leave this as it is, but I'll drop it at this point.

I spent the morning in the 'Rank The Tracks' section of 'Album, Book and Video Reviews And Discussions'. It's my day off and it's raining outside. At least I kept my mind busy, right?

Yeah we noticed.

(http://ft.trillian.im/101aa44fa9d0caf7556227574aa3a1c38605adec/6rMgNTU8AkeF9Vz7xr4vQr6UClLwp.jpg)

 ::)

Lol, sorry pixletwin, I was enjoying my favorite message board with too much time on my hands today. I had a great time ranking, though.

Re-evaluated the film version of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince with a fellow Potter-nut. Hours of discussion.

I was just going to start the next three rounds of solo survivor today, but now I have to wait for all these rank your track threads to bugger off so it doesn't look like the board turned into a poll-fest.  :-\

Sorry everybody. Didn't realize it would affect things like that. Apologies.

It may affect people who check the board by looking at the info center. Otherwise, you did fine, it's not like these Rank the Tracks threads kept running the more important to the bottom or next page of "On Topic Discussions".

Okay, where are the games, Mr. Twin? Bring 'em on!

Nah, it didn't. I think pixletwin was a little harsh there.

Same, Judd. Paging Rei from another thread, "Someone's in a cranky mood! Lol".

Hi all,

Over the weekend I volunteered at the Dick's Open Golf Tournament in Endicott, NY.  I had a fun time. 

I cut my hand open with a knife.

worked!  and bought more not quite 'official' BB/BW cd's......... and damn! proud of it.

Darn these BB's are and were something else! this 'Brian' guy, wasn't too shabby either.....

wish they would 'officially' release more of the great archives............ let's start with SOT's!!!!  that would be a start.

RickB

Worked and flirted with a cute girl.

Then came on here...

Good day all in all.

I've been painting----as in "and decorating"...

I saw a fantastic Beach Boys tribute band from Rhode Island called The Driftwoods perform in Woonsocke today. Check out a sample of the show... http://youtu.be/KlYJ55Mhi1Y

When you wrote "tribute band" I thought you meant Bruce and Mike.

Pulling my hair out! On my Fantasy Football team, my starting running back was Adrian Peterson, who was arrested, booked, and deactivated yesterday! I replaced him with Knowshon Moreno, who proceeded to gain 4 yards on 1 carry and left the game with an injury. I started Heath Miller at tight end in favor of Antonio Gates. Miller did nothing and Gates already has 6 catches and 3 touchdowns at halftime. Finally, in my Survivor Pool, I picked the New Orleans Saints to beat the Cleveland Browns. Sure bet, right? Wrong. >:(

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
FUNNNYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Sorry to hear you hurt your hand Josh.  Hope it's better now.

That's why god made the blunt knives.

I stepped on an old banana in a parking lot.

Made a collage of my record collection: http://lonelywanderingflower.tumblr.com/post/99762542920/my-record-collection-collage-made-using (http://lonelywanderingflower.tumblr.com/post/99762542920/my-record-collection-collage-made-using)

Thought I'd give an update here. Today, I've been appointed as a moderator on the Pink Floyd forum. Anyone who does join that forum from here with the sole reason of hateful trolling will be banned post-haste. There will be no Tarot Part II.

Good luck with the Pink Floyd forum, BD.

Today I assembled a new garden workstation for my wife, for potting plants and stuff. The instructions were a little vague and some of the screws were too short. I think a four-dimensional work bench might have helped too. It was still standing when I last looked out of the window.   

The person who runs the site has announced that he will be absent from the forum for a long time due to his actual job outside the forum as well as an upcoming holiday. There's already one mod - who's now a close friend of mine, and have met in person twice. Like me, he is 16 - but he thought a second one was needed. So he appointed me, the reason being that I was one of the more active members and that I was ready to be given such responsibility.

Yeah, though he lives in Perth which is on the other side of Australia. We caught up when he came to Melbourne in November last year, and when I came to Perth earlier this month.

Today I walked out of my gym session long before time. The music they were playing was this lame drum & bass version of the Korgis' "Everybody's Got To Learn Some Time" on repeat----just one track!----and it was driving me nuts. Apparently there was nothing they could (or would) do about it so I left. Assholes.

I worked the first day at my new job.

 :rock Right on Bubbly!  Changing jobs is liberating.

Hi all,

On 7.12 I went to Tioga Downs
Today I will sun and do some housework.

I ate an apple that tasted mostly of dirt.
 
                                             :)
I also made this smile triangle:  :) :)

Went to a Taekwondo tournament and took the dogs to the dog park.

Feeding cows, fixing fence.

I didn't do much today.

My trusty iPhone 4S, however, after 3 years, has finally died for good... I'm pretty sure...
I think I need an alternative alarm so I can wake up for finals...

I may have seriously injured a lizard.  :'(

Checked the flooding reports for the nearby interstates. Thankfully the river has crested so should be able to travel tomorrow.

Kept my Australian Shepherd away from a neighbor's chicken who flew into our backyard.

Got to page 200 of Dickens' Pickwick Papers (which means only 600 pages to go)

Read article about whether fitness guy Richard Simmons is being 'controlled' and not able to see friends. Article made mention of Brian/Landy

Drain it, bruh. 

Just read about that. It sounds awful and very landyesque.

Took a final.

One more today. One more tomorrow.

Expect posts in the "I'm Drunk AMA" thread on Thursday ;)

Good luck with those finals, u-m.

As for me, I spent a pleasant break from work replenishing the supply of ivy in the stick insect tank (while listening to The Agent Intellect, as it happens). The new brood of beasts arrived recently and the place is crawling with them (the tank, not the house). Once the weather warms up sufficiently, out they all go onto the hedge for a relatively carefree summer in the back garden. I usually retain three small ones in case I can't find three in the garden at summer's end (although I have seen them around as late as December). Small pleasures...       

Tried to get a stray cat that my daughter is insisting on befriending to take a dewormer.

Thank you! I got pretty decent grades, and did way better in physics this quarter than last quarter. And now I'm done with physics :).

Also, +1 for listening to Protomartyr. I apologize for stealing Bubs' thunder...

Today I went on a run, went to class, and bought black shoes. My life is not exciting... I'm supposed to go to a house show tomorrow, so that'll be fun.

Mowed the lawn for the first time this year.

changed my profile to be more vampire-weekend-y  :love

Also signed up for the rock n' roll half marathon... a band at every mile. I'm excited.

Hunkered down now, not able to travel anywhere due to the "toad strangler" (extremely heavy rain) we had a couple of hours ago.

Our street is flooded and the water is only very slowly going down.

We have tickets to opera tomorrow afternoon (Madame Butterfly) so hope all the water drains off.

I hope so too, NBBF. Toad strangler----I must remember that...

Had incredibly beautiful weather today.

Saw Madame Butterfly. We were weeping almost from the beginning - 'Butterfly', fly away while you can!
Are there any other Americans depicted in 'classic' opera? Hate to think the only one is that Piece of Garbage Pinkerton!

Well, a toga party that I was planning with two friends was cancelled today, as we were unable to locate a suitable venue.

Originally we were going to have it at my friend's place, but after he kept saying "sure", "no problem, don't worry about it" and all that, and after I had begun inviting people, he then backtracked saying that he's not allowed to have it at his place. Now I'm stuck in the embarrassing position where I have to tell all those that I invited that it's been cancelled. Such is life....

So the guy framed you? Not good.

He didn't frame me, but he turned out to be hopelessly incompetent. He kept insisting that we were allowed to have it at his place, said not to worry about it, then suddenly said that he found out he actually wasn't.

I got angry with this person:
(http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj563/paintedteeth/IMG_0798_zpsp59g9ida.jpg)

Are you angry because they drank your invisibility potion?

Maybe the person is a transformer. 

Hahaha! Reading that while looking at that suburban sedan cracks me up.

Woke up stupidly early (like 5am) worrying about stuff. Got the kids up and off to school. Had a long chat with their mum (we're separated) which was surprisingly positive. Came home, took my girlfriend out for dinner (slow cooked brisket), game of pool, pack home had a nap from which I awoke having a massive anxiety dream about work. Went to said work (filming a band, this time a bunch of guys in their 60's pumping out some very decent Rock N Roll), came home, popped to supermarket, had some *ahem* libations, currently browsing through the internet listening to music as girlfriend has had many libations and is currently laid on the floor... (this is usual behaviour....)

 :lol

Got up at 8:30. Bought and devoured chocolate croissants with my better half. Read booklet of Black Star (haven't played it yet). Walked dog (alone, if you exclude the dog). Tweaked and posted the palindrome that had kept me up until 1.30. Listened to some rap. Went out and got meself some new long-distance glasses, so the world now looks a lot sharper than it did. (New reading glasses next week.) Really looking forward to libations later, hopefully retaining a more or less vertical state...

I cleaned up the kitchen really well yesterday (we rotate weekly chores at the apartment) and it's already messy..........

Far and away the best album of this year, and one of the five best of the decade, I'd say.

As for me? Breakfast of oatmeal and coffee. Ran. Hated it. Several moves in various games of Words With Friends. Made banana bread (well, made the batter) while listening to an interview of Sheldon Wolin by Chris Hedges. Investigated Lebanese 7-Spice--which seems to have at least a dozen spices listed among its magical seven depending upon where one looks--as I am going to try something along those lines for dinner later. And looked up, just now, delighted to see some sunshine.

Sunshine all day over here. Went to a pancake restaurant in the woods with the entire family----a birthday tradition----where one of my presents was...Love and Mercy! I can hold my head up high from now on.  :hat   

I read this and had an aneurysm:

"Adult/Child: Planned Release Date: Fall 1977

Reason It Was Shelved: Adult Child was recorded in 1966 through 1967 which was the same year Brian Wilson left The Beach Boys due to personal issues after the Pet Sounds project. Many of the songs can be found on bootlegs or have been leaked online but after it was rejected by Warner Bros. in 1977, it has never been officially released to the disappointment of many Beach Boy fans as it is chronicles Wilson's decline."



http://www.complex.com/music/2012/08/50-unreleased-albums-that-wed-kill-to-hear/brian-wilson-adult-child

Played it on Saturday. Incredible! Of course, it's a pretty grim listen ("Look up, I'm in heaven")----the black letters on a black ground are a perfect reflection of the music. I must pluck up courage and play it again soon...   

Pancake restaurant? Cool! We have a holiday annually that lasts 7 days during which people cook pancakes & serve it in the streets for free. I'm a big fan. What kind of pancake you ate - with jam or meat fillings? or maybe sour milk? Any is yummy! :3d
Best wishes & Happy birthday!

Thank you! I myself ate a rather offbeat pancake with bacon and ginger, lol. Bacon is normal, apple too, maybe banana...

More general info here:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pannekoek

Sounds good----an entire week of pancakes!   

Oh, pancakes!
RangeRover, I had some of the most delicious pancakes ever while in Russia. We stayed with a family for a couple of weeks in a house outside Moscow (which our hostess laughingly called her 'dacha.') The house didn't have indoor plumbing but thank goodness did have heat.

For Breakfast she would fix delicious pancakes and crepes ('blinis') along with the most flavorful melons. Her husband drank lots of vodka with every meal - didn't know how he could stand it!

As for what I did today - nothing of note during the day, but enjoyed some time this evening listening to theme songs from 3 British TV programmes from the 60s - Danger Man, The Avengers, and The Prisoner. Just love how the British themes sounded, so groovy, neat, outasite.

hung out with a friend for like 20 minutes before he had to drive 3 hours back home :/

Split my black suit trousers crouching down at the photocopier  :brow

Started a band.

Nice. What genre will it be, who are the main influences and which instrument are you playing?

I'm not really sure what the answer to your first two questions are yet. I just asked a couple of close, musical friends I've known for years, and they all enthusiastically agreed. I've done various musical stuff with them in the past (including an unfinished concept album about fruit called Fruit Medley). My friend's girlfriend is in the band, and she's a great singer, so I'm exited about having female vocals in the mix. It's always been a dream of mine to write quirky duets a-la "Let's Put Our Hearts Together."

I'll end up playing a lot of keyboards, rhythm guitar, bass, and hopefully some singing.

Spent yesterday evening with one of my friends in my local pub putting the world to right while drinking some rather good beers.

So your friend and his girlfriend are in the band? Sounds like trouble down the line. When you make it big, and they want to take the band in another direction (much to your dismay), you'll be outvoted. Better break it off now  8)

O ye of little faith!  :lol

Good luck with your venture, sir.

I was thinking more about when they break up and she starts dating Bubs, a la Fleetwood Mac / Jefferson Airplane.

I'll buy your first album.

Today...  for some reason I'm catching up on this thread.  I know from this post, that the last time I was here was 4 April.  Husker Dude, you never gave us the lowdown on why you got angry...

Guess it was a transformer then.

Sounds like that was fun.  Most posters don't make their age visible, so didn't know when your birthday was.  We are both Aries.  Good sign, no wonder we get along.

Happy Birthday!  Only eight days later, as to fit in with the Today idea.

john k,  See you are here today, right now checking/catching up on this very thread.  Good Morning. -Will

Today during a major clean-up I was presented (by my better half) with a box full of my old diaries, a quarter of a century all told. It will be fun revisiting descriptions of holidays of years past. (I shan't spend much time on the other bits, lol.)  

Good afternoon to you, Will. And thanks for the belated birthday wishes!

Whoever is writing that is very clueless.  Not on just the Brian/Beach Boys album, but many of the others I wasted my time to read, today.  I've owned Adult/Child since 1984.  It wasn't hard to find.  I hope that one day it is officially released, but the boot sounds fine.  I have an even better Cd version these days.

That bit on the unreleased Hendrix album is BS.  Janie has been releasing "bottom of the barrel" Jimi music for many years.  She would put it out if any of it was even half-good.  She is having trouble keeping even uber fans interested.  I was at Atlanta Pop 1970.  Hendrix wasn't close to the best act there.  I have yet to buy it.  If the price gets down to $10, I might buy the Blu-ray.  I have the Showtime version on my DVr.  It's okay.  Janie is such a jerk to put some of the tracks on as a bonus only.  If it was in the show, put it in the show.  Same thing with the Brian Las Vegas Blu-ray.  Why do I have to go back into the menu to see the "bonus tracks"?  If it's in the show, put it in the show.  Those were two of the better songs Brian did that night.

Sounds like that could be interesting.  I used to keep diaries, but my life is so ordinary now I suspect many of the pages would be blank.  And hey, we have this thread just in case something does happen today.

I'm off to check/catch up on other threads I've missed...  I do have to go to the doctor today for a chest x-ray.  See, not too interesting.

One more, to get my thread count up.  I'm almost to 1000.  Perhaps by the end of today.  But not if I go off on one of my meandering, stream of consciousness posts, like I did in the Oops thread the other night.  I was doing that for near an hour.  When I read that back the next morning, I noticed it referred to several different threads I had been reading.

At Black Sabbath right now, the song they're currently playing is Hand Of Doom. Really incredible, helped that I had a good smoke beforehand

2john k: thanks for the wiki link. Looks good. Though tbh, I don't know what either bacon or ginger tastes like. But I like meat so I think it'll be right up my alley.

2NOLA BB Fan: we call summer houses "dacha". Not sure why the hostess laughed, it's a common word. They aren't supposed to have inside plumbing; people take manure in special cabin outside and wash hands under water dispenser. Cook on an iron stove and it serves like heating - you toss the wood inside and light it. Bathe in a barrel. That said, the rich can afford modern conveniences in their dachas. While there is special pancake holiday Shrovetide, they can be made anytime. We never did them in summer though. We ate cowberry, blueberry and mushrooms. sometimes granny would boil black pudding. It's as much special dish as black caviar.

2feelsflow: you will not get to 1000 posts in the Sandbox. It is place for off-topic, the post count stays the same.

That's awesome.  I thought about buying a ticket to see them one more time, especially when I found out they've been playing Hand of Doom.

But, I wanted my last Black Sabbath memory to be of Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill (the lineup I saw in 2001, 2004, and 2005). 

Plus, spent some concert ticket money for Ghost, Guns N Roses, and Brian Wilson. 

I see, we're quite a few Aries's here. Belated congrats everyone! Btw, mine is today! And I'm celebrating it right now - for what it's worth - by trying to spread some good vibrations here in The Sandbox, aided by very talented poets!!

Happy Birthday

Many happy returns, Rasmus. (Returns being very much the operative word in your case!)   

forgot to ask you, john - you mentioned devouring chocolate - what are the famous Dutch chocolates/ candy? maybe wiki link?

Did I? Your memory is better than mine!

These look pretty typical (and pretty mouthwateringly scrumptious):

https://puccinibomboni.com/bonbons/?lang=en

All the way from Amsterdamee!

2NOLA BB Fan: we call summer houses "dacha". Not sure why the hostess laughed, it's a common word. They aren't supposed to have inside plumbing; people take manure in special cabin outside and wash hands under water dispenser. Cook on an iron stove and it serves like heating - you toss the wood inside and light it. Bathe in a barrel. That said, the rich can afford modern conveniences in their dachas. While there is special pancake holiday Shrovetide, they can be made anytime. We never did them in summer though. We ate cowberry, blueberry and mushrooms. sometimes granny would boil black pudding. It's as much special dish as black caviar


RANGE ROVER: I think our hostess laughed because the house had been in her mother's family and perhaps was used as a summer home, but at that time (1991) it was her family's permanent home.
We didn't have to go outside to take care of our "business" as there was a privy attached to the back of the house. They used newspaper to wipe. We had each brought and left there several rolls of good quality tissue paper which our hostess greatly appreciated.
We didn't bathe in a barrel. Our hostess, a little woman who nonetheless had very strong arms, would carry in two large pails of water, She would heat one of the pails then bring the two pails into the spacious bathroom. We'd mix some of the cold and hot water to take what we call "cat baths". I did get to take a shower once. It was outdoors in a little stall. A fire was set to heat the water.

I cut my nails with a pair of scissors.

Well, it's the 20th day of the 4th month.

Semi-famous on the Tame Impala subreddit, I guess..

Actually you said "croissants" but I was meaning to ask about chocolate later. Fantastic collection!

2NOLA BB Fan: well you're lucky then. Could be worse.

Is it special day? I am not sure what's about it.

Cannabis day in the US.

Not only in the U.S., it seems...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C4bEC8odz4

Well that's certainly a *very* special day. How could I forget it?..

These come quite close:

(http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/de-croissant-van-de-chocolade-19092445.jpg)

Sometimes they have chocolate on the top as well...

Thanks! It's too late now but I know what I'm going to buy tomorrow. :3d

We got together and played for about 4 hours today. I wanted to name us The Mulberries, and now we're called The Mulberries. Way back before the band started, we worked on different songs based on the alphabet and corresponding musical notes/chords. The song for F is called "Forget About It," and I love that song. We still don't have one for D or E, and A is up in the air at this point. I suggested we round up all the songs, release them as an EP called ABCDEP, and then move onto other stuff. Work on those continues on Friday.

I'm looking forward to starting the new, not-overtly-silly music soon. Because we have a female in the band, I'd love to do something Pastels-y. I've written music for about four or five songs, but writing lyrics is a real struggle for me. I find it bizarre I can't translate my love of writing to writing lyrics.

Last night went to a small party. Had around 4-5 Carlton Dry Lime Beers, though it was the joints and bongs that was the main scene there. Needless to say, it was one hell of a time!

I dig this idea. I wish you luck for the remaining letters. I've never really tried writing lyrics, but artsy writing sounds fun.

Sounds like a good time.

Last night I watched a video with my friend from Sasquatch last year with Tame Impala playing.
I teared up because the intro and build-up and everything about "Let it Happen" is so beautiful.

Reviving old topic atm.

Avoiding an email I should send.

Feeling anxious for no reason, per usual.........

Left New Orleans just in time before the storms came through.

While driving to Jackson, MS, listened to PS, TSS (through GV), Los Lobos' The Neighborhood, and did a cool down with Rick Nelson's great Live from the Troubadour.

Anybody have trouble driving while listening to Cabinessence? While listening to the Truck Drivin Man section I developed what we in the US call "lead foot." Looked at my accelerator and thought, Whoa Nellie. Lucky I didn't get a traffic ticket!

Relaxing in the hotel. Hot as you know what outside. The person at the front desk said, Oh, you're going to the Beach Boys concert! Well, sorta, 2 or 3 people who are/were Beach Boys (not 100% sure if Blondie will be here)

Will post about the concert later in the Tour thread.

I'm just hearing about all the storms.  Some posts are showing up on the main board.  I don't turn on the news, or check the weather much.  Did you drive up through Mississippi or Louisiana and cut over?  I always liked the drive up through Mississippi.

I love Los Lobos, but don't listen to Rick too often.  Hope the show was a good one, With Blondie!  

I saw some really good shows in Jackson back in the 70's.  Spent a lot of time in Vicksburg.  Beautiful place, Mississippi.  -Will

Well, it won't help me to get to 1000 posts, but this thread is friendly enough to spend some time.

Good luck with the band, Bubs.  Yeah, Bubs.  I ain't typing in that long one you have today.  ;D  Looking forward to hearing some of the new stuff.  In the appropriate thread, of course.  Think my posts count over there.

Taking both allergy and cold medication to get through the day. 

One of those rare times that I suffer both a head cold and seasonal allergies. 

Bought "Royal Canin" for cat and chocolate paste to glaze cookies. Speaking of, got email from NoiseTrade titled "You are NOT a Jar of Nutella". Way funny.

I have decided to buy a 12-string Danelectro.

I ordered one off eBay last week

Cool, we can be Danbuds.
Which kind and how much was it?

This one...cost $400 usd including the case. (http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjQwWDQ4MA==/z/CfUAAOSw34FVEYhB/$_1.JPG)

I'm planning on using it for jamming...I play live every Friday and some Saturdays, it should be great for doing lead lines on stuff like Cantelope island

How were your chocolate-coated cookies, RR?

Me? Crafted and posted a palindrome. Listened to Celibidache conducting Bruckner as I worked. Tried to catch a mouse. Ate, etc.

Yesterday I...
went for a run, worked out, then escaped to a city park that was much more like a hike. My legs are dead.
But I saw a lot of nature, watched the sunset, and everything felt surreal. Lovely beach there, too.
Been feeling down so I really needed some kind of release. Connection with nature. I understand why Brian used the sandbox now.

"W", the man who has been taking care of a neighbor's lawn, has been a friendly, cheerful person around here for a number of years. But I saw the other side of him, and reinforced how easy a life I've had in comparison. Found out this morning that his Granddaughter was the teenaged victim of a high profile murder which took place recently. And that most of his siblings have died from Diabetes and he's battling it himself. Finally, his Mother died during Hurricane Katrina.  :'(

Then went to Dentist for Checkup etc. A local radio station was playing "soft rock, great to relieve stress" according to a commercial. The "song" was a monotonous thing where there was something sung by one with a response of "sexy" something or other. Over and over. No wonderful melody. Where was the "hook?" Or the wonderful "middle 8th?" All of a sudden remembered my parents telling me to "turn that noise down." Then remembered that Sunday evening back in midSeptember 1965, at my Aunt's house (we were there as there was no power at our house as a result of Hurricane Betsy). The Beatles were on, and as Paul sang "Yesterday," my Mom said "Why can't all their music be like that?" Well, now I understand at least a little what she was getting at.
Speaking of Paul, expecting to get the Paul bio today so reading that will be on the schedule tonight, along with watching a TV bio of Janis Joplin on US PBS network.

Bought some dumbbells.

Coughing and hacking from allergies. Pollen is not my friend, though the trees are beautiful. Got a manicure. Don't feel like cooking.

The semester is almost over but that means I have to read all my students' work. Hence, writing here to procrastinate as I don't post much here. (But lurk a lot)

^ Allergies suck. But I feel you—trees are beautiful!

On a somewhat similar note, I've been feeling severely sick for the past almost 48 hours now. It started off as sniffling and a sore throat, blew up in a nauseous, feverish mess. I feel a little better but my roommate wants me to clorox-wipe everything before I go.
Ugh. I just want my appetite back. All I've had since I got sick was some orange slices and this popsicle and some tea...

That's not good. You get well soon, ya hear? :smokin

(http://i.imgur.com/fxL06Bz.jpg)

such music.
very college.
much hip
WOw.

I greatly dislike memes.

Anyway, it's just a picture of me tuning the guitar I mentioned earlier (http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php?action=post;topic=1409.175;num_replies=194#top) after just picking it up from the store. Takes a long time to tune, y'know.

(http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/degrassi/images/6/6e/Arthur-hatersgonnahate.gif/revision/latest?cb=20131024193753)

That's cool, though. New gear for your new band?
I'm pretty partial to sunburst-colored instruments. Nice guitar you got there.

I don't cook as chef, I tried to make little cat face picture with chocolate in each - didn't work. Better luck next time. But they were delicious!

Tried to catch a mouse? Do you have a cat? They don't eat mice because they're squeamish (good for them) but they kill them.

Re memes - tell me about it - they booorree me. I despise social networking, still don't get Twitter, when I try to read smb's Twitter, it's too much brainwork, they read so bizarre. Selfies? Annoying, I am waiting when it gets fad.

mmmmm, speaking of RR1 making cookies, do we have like a cooking/recipe thread? A place to boast how good (maybe mediocre) food we make?

I just had homemade bread toast with avocado + a little lime and a fried egg. I love breakfast.

edit: I also woke up early to register for classes. Yay....

I'm alive! Residually sick but otherwise fine. Luckily it went away fast. But it wasn't fun when it was around.

You like breakfast. This might be uninteresting so don't click: http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,1128.0.html
Actually you should because I fixed it. :police:

For recipes in general, there's a short thread over at "my" other board:

http://beachboysforum.freeforums.org/post1153.html

But why not start one here? Most people here eat, so it should catch on...

 

No cat. I use a mouse-friendly trap and let them out in the bushes near other people's houses.

Speaking of cats, what happened to Swedish Frog's cat?   

Yes, where is it?

Swedish Frog's Kovu/Scar cat, as well as others will be ready shortly thereafter.
hey, undercover, cooked anything today? Tell us!

I ordered a Huawei Mate 8.

Went to the store; my card was declined; ran around panicking; realized I was trying to use my old, cancelled card.
Am now relaxing in the sun at the dog park.

Morning: Walked the beast and did a little work.
Afternoon: Big family get-together. Big family get-togethers are great fun but they can be exhausting.
Evening: Released the herd (100-150) of stick insects from the tank into the garden (after dark, otherwise it's munchies for birdies). Retained three tiny ones in case I can't find any out there at the end of the year.     

Went on an awkward, family-arranged dinner date.

Saw Iron Maiden, which was one hell of a concert. Bruce Dickinson sounded amazing and also very witty

You dated your family?

That's why it was awkward.

Just kidding. Who was the lucky one? What did you talk about during the date? Music?

About satire...

It was my sister's friend's sister. We talked about theater, music, food, epilepsy...

What about Judd?

Guy is changing the world!

Sisters visiting for a few days. Always interesting, varied conversation. This was actually yesterday.

Talked about distant relative who died in a high profile plane crash in the 70s, then listened to some music of his we found online.
Then:
Zika and dengue fever, and uptick of yellow fever including death in Brazil.
Tornadoes, and why so many earthquakes in Oklahoma?
The nightmare of getting around Washington DC nowadays (one of my sisters commutes to work there)
The sadistic dentist we were subjected to as children.
The Titanic disaster, how cold does 28 degree seawater feel; John Jacob Astor's body was found with over 2000 US dollars in pockets
A discussion of Dickens and Wodehouse
Volunteer experiences - one volunteers with Coast Guard auxiliary, another told of harrowing experience volunteering with Red Cross after recent flooding down in this part of the country. Maybe I could volunteer for Meals on Wheels? (Delivering meals to elderly)
Asked sister when she started present job -1999- then listened to Amish Paradise where they "partied like it's 1699". Then I listened to an old 1923 song, Old King Tut.
Then discussion of 1963 submarine disaster, The Thresher, which I was too young to remember. However remembered very well the horrific 2000 Kursk disaster.
Looking at this, some conversation was somber, but there were also lots of silly jokes. More to come today.

A guy walked up to me and handed me a leaflet. It was a "missing girl" notice. I asked a few questions and the guy was her dad and she disappeared just a couple of weeks ago and his voice and face just devastated me. I burst in to tears, which is hardly what he needed. My god, that anonymous news story hits home when the person is a human right in front of you.

Where'd you see them?  Unfortunately, the Book of Souls tour is not coming near me. 

Went to a concert!

I hiked 12.5 miles in Joshua Tree National Park looking for missing hiker Bill Ewasko.

I see Mr Ewasko went missing almost six years ago. I have your blog bookmarked to learn more...

I just walked into my living room, and everyone is gone, and some guy I've never seen before is snoring on my couch.

{:-/

Is it Kyle? Because I've had that experience.

Well yesterday I went to Kew and visited my first high school for the first time in around 5 years. It was quite an experience, and a joy to see everyone again after such a long time. Before I got there, I went to a book/CD store and purchased Dick Dale's album "King Of The Surf Guitar". Looking forward to listening to that. On a bit of a down note, I was disgusted to hear that only a couple of blocks away from where I was, the house where Gough Whitlam was born in was torn down and demolished. It's a terrible shame, I had always thought about going there and paying my respects to a legendary Prime Minister.....

just walked past this late nite karaoke bar. this gorgeous girl outside smoking said hi and we chatted for a bit. she told me she just sang Kokomo and that i should come up there and have some fun. had to run home first (2 blocks away) and when i got back she was gone.  ??? FML

She did say she was drunk tho, so idk...maybe she had to throw up  :-[ Of course i'm a gentleman, so I would NEVER take advantage of someone in an inebriated state  :police:

I received a fabulous haircut.

Saw some guys from HBO filming their new TV series (Big Little Liars) at the hotel I've been staying at. Caught a glimpse of one of the actors (Alexander Sarsgard).

When the sitter arrived to look after Mom for 6 hours, I drove to a local coffeehouse. On the way listened to BBC World Service, and heard part of interview with Sir Paul. Said that he was, one could say, a "fish out of water" when the Beatles broke up, as he had always been part of a group, never solo. Also spoke about misgivings dealing with Allen Klein. The whole interview, Mastertapes, can be seen on BBC4

After arriving, got an iced mocha and spent 2 hours reading Southern US author Walker Percy's novel, Love in the Ruins, one of two books (the other being The Moviegoer) to be discussed at a Walker Percy conference I'll be attending the first weekend of June.

Then went to a local 'greasy spoon' for lunch, then back home for more reading and fixing dinner for Mom.

Tonight will possibly catch up watching the TV series, Call the Midwife, but need to be in the right mood as the shows this season have been very weepy to say the least. Will probably watch some old Fawlty Towers afterwards for comic relief

CHANGE OF PLANS: Decided to watch The Birds, which I recorded a couple of days ago. Read that Brian recommended this movie highly!

Eating a big bowl of home-grown strawberries and sour cream as I type this.

You grew them yourself? That sounds awesome!

Splendid! :3d Did your better half grow it? You should be proud. Is strawberry in general popular culture in Netherlands?

As RR suspected, my better half grew them.

My son has a modest organic allotment but no time to tend it so my wife looks after it. She often brings a few vegetables home.

Almost forgot: strawberries are very popular in the Netherlands and they're in season right now...

Runs in the family? :3d May I ask - is your fam vegetarian?

Cool. It's very expensive to buy it where I live. In season here is blueberry & cowberry (redberry?) & in swamp places - cloudberry.

Sea food is great, yes. Some cannot stand it, esp. fish & laminaria. I like it. I'd like to taste oysters. They must be delicious.

Meanwhile here I am avoiding seafood like the plague - and has been for nearly 10 years. The smell, taste and texture makes me sick....

The last bit is typically what sea food "haters" say. Different taste buds? Do you like dairy meals & eggs? Imo boring taste; may buy little milk - 250-500 ml to use for baking cookies.

Oysters are delicious----not that I eat them that often. They're a rare delicacy.  

When it comes to dairy and eggs, I'm largely indifferent - though I do really like cheese

I have problems with milk products, especially some cheeses. As time goes by I become sicker when eating dairy. Perhaps a little bit of yogurt, that's it.
Being where I am, have to love seafood. Last night, grilled some catfish. Tonight, made stuffed mirlitons with shrimp. Mirlitons, also known in the rest of the US as chayote squash, are used in our local cooking mainly stuffed for Thanksgiving dinner in November. However, our city didn't have any freezing weather this past winter, so the mirliton vines produced a second late spring crop. A friend of mine gave me a couple of them from his backyard garden.
Just now have made zucchini banana blueberry bread, 2 loaves 1 to give to my "mirliton" friend who's having his birthday tomorrow. The blueberries are from our bushes at our "dacha" lol.
Just sitting here, a kitty on my lap, looking at the mess of a kitchen that needs to be cleaned up. But I can't disturb my kitty cat!  :)

Open Day at the allotment (coffee, cake, pasties). And in the evening a concert by Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Phil (Elgar, Beethoven, Dvorak).

Read my welcome thread when I got back. Had to pinch myself a few times. Well, at least it's all channelled in one place now. And to an outsider "Oops" is an innocent enough name for a topic----isn't it? :3d 

Not any more it isn't.  ;D

Yesterday morning I attended a demonstration of ballet by my granddaughter and her class (think five- to seven-year-olds), listened to and chatted with a former musical confrere during the local jazz festival in the afternoon and spent the evening in a church listening to choral music sung by the choir of my chorister friend whom I help with her parts. A day full of music. :=)        

Took my little dog to the vet to have his teeth cleaned----under narcosis. Poor little fella. Still, by the end of the day he was his usual bouncy self again. Had a good laugh (and some excellent Belgian beer) watching a strong Iceland beat a feeble England in the Euro 1016 campaign. Another Brexit, as Mendota Heights (Andersson across the road) rightly pointed out. :lol 

Spent first half of day in the hospital with elevated blood pressure. Am home now and here I am.

Trying to deal with the heat. I know, it's SUPPOSED to be hot down here in July, but it has been a bit out of hand these past few days.
My Mom wanted more color around her house, which is surrounded by large rose bushes that bloom in spring and fall. So I planted lots of heat loving plants including coneflowers, Texas sage, Pentas, cleomes, and purslane (portolaca). Wax begonias in shady spots. Also tulsi (Holy Basil), sweet banana peppers, Malabar spinach and native milkweed to attract Monarch butterflies. Will sow some zinnia seeds, and moonflowers.
The "heat index" hit dangerous levels the last couple of days, reaching over 45 degrees Celsius (114F). And the big weather news is that the low temperatures are incredibly high (record levels), so there's no opportunity to cool off at all at night. Our "low" temperatures have been over 28 degrees Celsius (83F). Add high humidity to the mix and its positively oppressive.
We get rain all around us, with the thunder and impressive light shows, but the rain always seems to miss us. So I have no choice but to water our plants with the chemical laden city water. Our drinking water comes from the Mississippi. Someone flushes a toilet in Pittsburgh, St Louis, Memphis and we get to drink it.  :-\

Would like to add that, along with seeing the pretty flowers, other relaxing things took place. Spent a good deal of time reading Guralnick's Volume One of Elvis' biography (Last Train to Memphis). Listened to some of his Sun recordings. Then got into the mood for Gospel quartets, Blackwood Brothers and the Statesmen.
Finally listening to classic soul/r&b from our iconic Soul Queen, Irma Thomas.
Needed to listen to good music after all the controversy about a shooting that took place in Baton Rouge and has made national headlines.

Slept extremely poor last night, only got about two hours of actual sleep. Then trying to activate my new debit card got me nowhere and wasted a good 20 minutes of my time. And then immediately after I stubbed my toe. Then I had to wait for over two hours to take my driving test (I was dead last on the list). I failed on the last turn.

So yeah, not the best day.

Moving this weekend, or rather, moving everything into storage. Was trying to find people to help us move and was amazed at how people had plans all of a sudden. Nothing like someone with heart issues moving heavy furniture by themselves!

I had my first day off work since like eons so...

not much. And I'm am okay with that.

Hey, u-m, good to see you around this neck of the woods.

My day was spent grandchild-minding and cooking for two families so it sounds rather like the opposite of yours. ;D     

Been a bummer of a day so far.

Woke up to the update on the Nice tragedy.
Then had to deal with a very ticklish, uncomfortable family situation which won't end well.
Then had a scare when I found out that friends of mine, in the performing group I used to be in, were still in Turkey and were having difficulty getting out. Finally got word that after 5 hours they did get out and are now in Bulgaria.
Watching TV right now, people getting shot with the coup.

Could use a joke right now - wouldn't even mind if it was a bit off-color.

Will have to turn TV off to preserve my sanity. What's that saying - Keep Calm and Listen to Pet Sounds. Will do that tonight.
Also got the Uncut guide to Beach Boys in the post today. Will lose myself in that tonight.

Love and Mercy!  :'(

Hope this makes you smile, NOLABBF. Goodness knows we need some humour in these dark days...

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/95325460/Rich%20III.jpg)

The last time I went camping, I stayed up all night to see where the sun went, then finally it dawned on me.  ::)

Very punny!  ;D

Not much, I'm afraid. Too darned hot.

Very emotional day.

In the late morning caught a screening of the documentary, "Gleason," at our local megaplex. It's about local hero Steve Gleason, a former professional football player who was diagnosed with ALS in 2011.  Part of it was a video blog for his son, born after the diagnosis, so that he would see his Dad when he could still walk and talk. Gleason is able to "talk" now thanks to technology allowing his eyes to pick out letters on a keyboard. He also programmed it while he could still talk so that the computer voice sounds like his.
The documentary touches on many themes, father/son relationships, caregiver burnout, spousal burnout, spirituality, handicap advocacy, quality of life/end of life issues. It was very moving and inspirational.
For me, the impact on me is similar to how "Love and Mercy" affected me last June when I first saw that.
It's showing in a handful of US cities now and will be in wider release in a couple of weeks. Since Amazon Video was involved in the production it should be available for viewing there in the not too distant future.
The trailer for the movie can be found online, or at TeamGleason.org
Gleason's motto: "No White Flags" (in other words, no surrender)

In the afternoon, was in communication with a sister who's a volunteer with the Red Cross in Maryland and sent video and other info concerning horrific flooding in Ellicott City, Maryland, outside of Baltimore. The video of the raging torrent through the town was shocking.

In the evening saw an uplifting documentary, Singing Revolution, about Estonia and how singing helped keep the populace United in the face of Soviet and Nazi occupations. This was followed by another documentary about a huge singing festival there. I found out about composer Veljo Tormis and checked out some of his stuff online. Very impressed

Stirring stuff indeed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJMLIZjpKmw

Thanks for the tip... 

Oh, that's wonderful!
Its great that he found the beauty in this and other work songs that he set to choral music.
I find this kind of music, be it "call and response," "antiphonal singing," "litanies", to be mesmerizing.
Amazing how people coped in a creative way with repetitive tasks, that putting a specific rhythm to them made them easier and more tolerable (and occasionally almost enjoyable)

Laying down track for the railroad: "Who ran the Iron Horse/Who ran the Iron Horse" etc.

Had a brief power cut. Made myself useful while it lasted it by peeling and eating some overripe plums.   

The weather in Baltimore was so nice yesterday, I went out on the deck and did something I rarely do on a worknight.  I popped open some beers and put some burgers on the grill.  Put on my Brian Wilson Pandora channel, and relaxed. 

Nice, drink some natty bows? 8)

I had one Boh left in the fridge.  The rest were Miller High Lifes. 

Evidently I've been the receiver of a mild sunburn.

Thanks for converting to Celsius. 45 degrees - you sure? It's like New Orleans competes with Africa.

Yes it's been HOT. This July has been one of the hottest on record here.
Again, the 45 C was not the actual temperature but the "heat index" temperature (actual temperature was "only" 37 C). Don't know if your country uses this. But it's a measure of temperature plus humidity. Along with the heat here it's very humid, so this was considered to be in the dangerous category, that if you are working outside and don't get in the shade every once in a while and drink plenty of water you can get what is known as "heat stroke" which can kill you if not treated.
Sometimes when it gets super hot the sky will become dark and we'll have bad storms. This happened a couple of days ago - high winds, lots of rain, hail. We had a baby tornado hit just north of the French Quarter section of town, destroying or severely damaging 4-6 homes.

We're supposed to have real bad heat this weekend as well, then things will start to get "interesting" with a tropical system moving in probably east of here. A little nervous right now, as we're overdue for a tropical storm or hurricane. Think the last hurricane hit here in 2012 and caused lots of flooding outside of New Orleans as the storm didn't move for several days (the city itself didn't flood, but electrical power was out for a week in my neighborhood). Hated that storm. There were persistent 100-120 km winds for days, knocking over several small trees at the house, fortunately we were able to prop them back up with ropes and stakes and they survived. Not so with my herbs, The super heavy rains were too much for the sage plants, and killed 2/3 of my once beautiful huge Rosemary bush; that never recovered.

According to some tornado documentary, the families build an underground bunker/house/some such for cases like these. with food & drink supplies, carrying things from main house etc for safety's sake. Do you do that?

An underground bunker wouldn't work in my city due to flooding. Our water table is also very high here - no basements. That's why we have what's called the City of the Dead, above ground tombs, a number of which are quite ornate. Don't know how many other cities have cemeteries as tourist attractions other than those with military connections.

Some places on the Gulf Coast are trying raised concrete houses that can withstand the high winds. On the coast the main problem is storm surge, the wall of water that comes in with a hurricane. With Hurricane Katrina the surge got to a US mainland record of 30 feet (9.14 m) which wiped out all of the houses and businesses. Very depressing to drive along the coast when the highway reopened and see nothing but emptiness the whole way.
With the domed house it's hoped that the surge would come over it but not wash it away, There's one in Florida I believe that survived a surge from a much less strong storm a few years back.

Oh my...  Just got an alert on my phone. One of our local Jazz icons, clarinetist Pete Fountain, has passed away.  :-(

I remember hearing a hit by Pete Fountain way back. I think it must have been this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbiVpcWIzbo

Sad news. Rest in peace, sir.

I sincerely hope the tropical storms stay away from your part of the world this time.

Today's gonna be a day of firsts, a day of adventure...

Well, hope undercover-m's adventure was a good one!

We are in what are called the "dog days" of Summer. Guess it's called that because it's so hot that an outside dog, seeing a rabbit, cat, etc., will just think, "Whatever," and not bother with it.

Being a hot, sultry day I thought of "Summer Song," which Dave and wife Iola Brubeck composed, and was sung by Louis Armstrong.
In music, outside of the Classical realm,, there are only 2 composers whose compositions can move me to tears - Brian Wilson and Dave Brubeck.

Here's the song, Armstrong on vocals (his 115th birthday was a few days ago), accompanied by Brubeck. Perfect for front porch sitting, busy doin nothing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXSoA5I1smg[url]] (http://[/url)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXSoA5I1smghttp://

At home, under the weather.
Speaking of weather, it's shaping up to be a catastrophe down here. A tropical system has parked itself over us and isn't moving. Areas to the east, west and north of me have received unbelievable amounts of rain and more is expected.
When it's all done, the prediction is that some areas would have received upwards of 30 inches (over 760 mm) of rain! And with this will come more flooding from overflowing rivers and streams.
Right here it's been okay so far, no flooding but steady light to moderate rain. However our area is still in the "danger zone" so we're not out of the woods yet by any means.
All I can do is sit tight. Will play some "rain music" - perhaps It's Raining by Irma Thomas.
Just got an alert - the police and others are searching for child washed away in flood waters.
 :-\

P.S. Or maybe Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927" would be more appropriate.

How awful. That poor child. Thoughts and prayers for everyone out there...

I dusted and washed my desk (actually two tables in an L-shape) and dusted and tidied its contents. Drank some white wine and nibbled things at the lake with my better half.

Read that and thought, "how nice." Then read it again and had a good laugh!
Anyway...

After a rough morning, and having a headache, decided to listen to a 60s satellite channel which does a different Top 40 list each week (from US Pop charts). This was for the week Aug13-20, 1964. Well, I knew right away what one of the songs was...
There were 4 Beatles songs this week - I'll Cry Instead, And I Love Her, A Hard Days Night - and so help me - Ain't She Sweet!! How in Hades did that song make the top 20 (it was 19 this week). It's more of a Tony Sheridan song, no Ringo... As Range Rover A1 would "say", smh!

However there were some great songs - Under the Boardwalk, Maybe I Know (my favorite Lesley Gore song).
Rag Doll - tried to sing high notes at end, and my cat bit me - guess I was hurting his ears LOL.
Handy Man by Del Shannon - this song sounds so much like a Beach Boys song (particularly their cover of Do You Want to Dance). Del Shannon's regular (not falsetto) voice sounds so much like Dennis.

#15 this week was I Get Around. After playing this side B was played, Don't Worry Baby. Then to keep the vibe going, they played an extra (song on the charts but not in the top 40), Bruce and Terry's Summer Means Fun. Then Jan and Dean's Little Old Lady. Finally some songs later, to keep up on a sort of Beach Boys thing, the number 2 song was Dean Martin's signature song, Everybody Loves Somebody.

Sometime while listening to this, noticed that my headache disappeared.

Went back to reality briefly, seeing dramatic rescues that took place west of here, a man trapped in a tree for 10 hours, another a rescue of a woman and her dog as their car went underwater.

Needed to go back to music. Watching right now the Dylan 30 concert which sounds great. George Harrison's on now. Then there will be a documentary about Elvis, then Brian's soundstage concert, then Ringo...

I've no idea what "smh" is. I use "sth.", short for "something". & Del's voice doesn't sound like Dennis'. In "Handy Man" or anywhere. Al sang "Runaway", fyi. Dennis' voice isn't strong, for starters. Listen to Del & Al back to back. They've got energy in delivery & they sing with gusto. That said, Del is Del & Al is Al.

Saw the car rescue you mentioned on TV. One happy ending, at least (although happy is perhaps the wrong word).

I do hope you and yours are safe in this horrendous situation.

Sorry, got almost no sleep the night before posting that.
Guess, just to my ears, Handy Man on my radio (outside of instrumental break) sounded sort of BBs like. But YMMV, or sth. :-)

BBs-like, I'll give you that. But nobody can possibly compare Del's voice with Dennis'. Listen to "Little girl (you're my miss America)", "Celebrate the news", Pacific Ocean Blue. Then listen to any of Del's hits. Different diction, inflection, phrasing, vocal style etc. If you'd like to hear "Dennis", check the song "Kites are fun" by Free Design.

Brought Mom to dentist this morning. Third time is the charm as the saying goes - her denture finally feels good.

Then went to a pet place and bought some bags of both cat and dog food, plus some leashes. A friend of ours is using her business as a collection point for pet things to be sent to places taking care of homeless/stray dogs and cats from the flooding around here. Will try to get some animal crates and water bowls to them as well in the coming days.
This means a lot to our family as we are big animal lovers, and were deeply saddened and angered by the tens of thousands of animals killed during and after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Back then, people couldn't bring their pets with them if they were going to shelters. Some, including a next door neighbor, didn't evacuate their homes as a result (his cat was his "best friend."). Some in the suburbs were rescued with their pets and brought to a dry building. Then they were told they had to go somewhere else and couldn't take their pets. What happened to those pets? Someone took it upon himself to shoot all of them dead!! No one was ever so much as reprimanded for it ( the excuse, the pets could have carried diseases blah blah blah).
So everyone's watching the government officials closely now to make sure the animals are taken care of.

Plus there are numerous places to donate food, clothing, baby supplies to the many thousands of people who are now homeless (and that number is growing as the flooding is still spreading). My sister, a nurse, will be doing volunteer work with the Red Cross.  It's a way for us to "Pay it Forward" -  help those now suffering, as we had been helped in 2005. It will take many years to recover, but we're resilient.

"Louisiana, Louisiana, they're trying to wash us away..." - Randy Newman

What an insanely cruel thing to do, shooting defenceless pets for no good reason. Words fail me. All courage to you and yours in dealing with this and other horrors.   

I love animals. I think I have to thank my dog for keeping me emotionally stable.

My heart goes out to all of those pet owners :(.

-----

I have been doing a lot of bussing today. In fact, I get to see my dog later today as a result 

One thing i did was buy a CD (still buying those) of 'Good Times' by The Monkees.

Do you have a picture of your dog, M, or is there one here somewhere?

What did I do today?

Morning: Nearly got my left ruddy leg pulled off by the physiotherapist.
Afternoon: Fell asleep at my desk.
Evening: Ate two fried eggs.

(http://i67.tinypic.com/k19yfp.jpg)

I'm always willing to show pictures of my dog.

Thanks, M.

That picture looks familiar. Maybe you posted it earlier in Bubs's "Small Dogs" topic----or in some "Pets" topic that I can't find...

This is a recent one of my little dog Diesel:

(https://s4.postimg.io/xklx82mct/IMG_0054.jpg)
 

Those dogs are cute. 

I worked very hard today in extreme heat.  Boy I hope the Summer ends soon.

Just got cleaned up, and now hoping for it to rain.

Next up...make a whisky sour and play some Beach Boys.  I'm starting with Beach Boys Today! SACD.

Looks like a sweet dog. I like that wood flooring, too.

Looks like an older version of our Chihuahua/Miniature Doberman mix.

How about that? Yes, it's a Chihuahua/Minipin mix. He's reached the ripe old age of nine.

Any chance of a picture, OSD?

I'll try to get both dogs in the picture. The other one is a Sheltie (min. Collie).

Love seeing these sweet dogs!

Watched Winding Stream, a documentary about the Carter Family (AP, Sara and Maybelle) plus extended family and of course Johnny Cash. I absolutely love their music, plus I'm on an "old timey" music obsession right now.

Then afterwards, for no particular reason, listened to some Rosemary Clooney.

Keep on the sunny side!

another day, another coat of paint.  Putting in some new rugs.  The Big clean-up before Fall/Winter - my favorite time of the year.  The place is really looking better!  Feeling Great, cause it's almost done.

and!  it's cooler today for the first time in two weeks, only 74 degrees -and less humidity.


also.  Being from Louisiana myself, my heart goes out to all the flood victims (including the animals).  Loved growing up in Monroe, and the years I lived in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Always felt I didn't so much leave Louisiana - in my soul forever.  I left the heat.

NOLA BB Fan,  Louisiana will survive this.  Once saw the Ouachita River get near the top of the levee, but never spill over.  Saw a bridge between Monroe and West Monroe go under a couple of times.  What's happening to the swamps West of New Orleans?  Can the water get as high as those freeways (10 and 55)?  Did see a news report the other day on how some of the islands are disappearing South of New Orleans, tho.  The Gulf is in trouble.  Hang in there, the water will go down.  -Will

Dammit.... ::)

[Deleted]

*SB scratches head* Huh....

[Deleted]

Just kinda rude about SSers' best friends....

I looked it up.  Maurepas Swamp is flooding, and the Mississippi River flood control project has done a lot of damage.  I haven't been down there since 1980.  I love that whole area West and Northwest of New Orleans.  Hope the restoration of adding back fresh water from the Mississippi River will make things better.

[Deleted]

huh...

[Deleted]

If scratching my head at your posts counts, that's what I did today.

[Deleted]

Now I see why Jay got fed up with you.... ::)

If somebody starts something, I reply back. I made innocent post, very trivial commenting dogs in the pictures. This could've been avoided if you didn't chime in.

For many people, a pet is considered to be family, not just an animal. So insulting someone's pet is like insulting a family member. That's why there was offense taken.

I respect what you say, Billy, but in my, maybe unsophisticated, opinion, calling one's dog "not cute" & the other saying *looks like*, not really *being* plush toy, isn't insult. But OK, time to end this nonsense. Better just add SB to ignore feature.

Sigh.... Back on topic, I applied to graduate school today!

Hello, yes, the Interstates did flood this past week. In fact, on Interstate 12 northwest of New Orleans, hundreds of people were stranded in their cars for more than 24 hours.
Yes, our state is in trouble, and it's only a matter of time before New Orleans will be on the coast. A great book to read about thus is Bayou Farewell, by Mike Tidwell.

As to what I did today, not much, really. Will watch that Mike "surf and beach music " show, coming on in a couple of minutes.
Tomorrow will get more cat and dog food, leashes, bowls etc to donate for animals left homeless by the floods.
Also will check on our readiness in case a hurricane comes this way - there is a system in the Atlantic that might make life miserable for people somewhere on the US coast next week. Hopefully not, but...

My dog is indifferent to all comments because she loves everyone. And that's the true beauty of dogs :)

Hey, that's cool. What kind of program/degree are you going for?

I went for a run, went to "work" (unpaid internship), and did some errands. Been a decent day I suppose.

Public Administration since I eventually want to work in government!

I didn't say she looks ugly, btw. I think you generalize about dogs liking everyone. That's impossible.

Well, good luck with getting in. It's always nice when you at least know what you want to do with your life! :)

Meanwhile, I'm just waiting to get done with undergraduate schooling...

Amen to that. I'm 59 and still trying to figure that out!

Had to hold off until tomorrow getting pet supplies. Instead, went to coffeehouse. Am reading Ernest Hemingway's A Moveable Feast about living in Paris during the 1920s. Entertaining. He and his wife go out but can't afford a babysitter for their young son. So who is to protect him? Their cat! "M. Puss" (that's his name) sleeps next to the baby and supposedly won't allow anyone near him.

Tonight, am getting more nervous about a tropical system in the Atlantic. If it develops, looks like our area can be in big trouble next week. Hoping it's wrong - but our bad storms lately always seem to hit the week before Labor Day (US holiday, first Monday in September)

Was so flustered that in texting a message to a dear friend, instead of a smiley face I somehow sent her a middle finger instead!  :thud

Over here it's going to be hot today and even hotter tomorrow----35 degrees is extreme in the Netherlands. I hope that system of yours stays away. Haven't you had enough bad weather for a while? 


 :lol 

When you sign it with their name----that's the time to start worrying!

I'm struggling to pay rent... as in, I can't log in to my online account.

The money is there but the means is not :(

That really is a bummer, M. :=(

I got it all figured out I think! It was just me struggling with online banking stuff; nothing severe.

I haven't done much today other than watch House Hunters... and I'm in good company, so that's always nice :)

Ate a bucket of Sweet Martha's cookies.
(http://www.mpls.tv/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/bucket-764x1024.jpg)
My sister bought them and gave them to me.

It's not my fault!!!  :police:

Relax, Hal----I'd say you had little choice in the matter. The words "thing" and "decent" come to mind, not necessarily in that order. :lol   

Finished reading A Moveable Feast. Hemingway thinks Dostoyevsky is boring. Oh well.

Not able to directly help in the monumental cleanup effort and tending to homeless pets in areas west of here (as I need to take care of my Mom), went online and donated a lot of cat food to be delivered to one of the pickup points. At the grocery store, bought food and cleanup items and placed in the bins provided. Wish I could do more.

Talked to my Uncle in Hawaii. He and my Aunt who isn't well left the "big island" where they live, as it is threatened by a tropical storm called Madeline. They are in Honolulu now. Hope they won't be affected by Hurricane Lester which is going by there this weekend. Over here, we are okay but a storm is going towards Florida, possibly causing extreme flooding. Crazy weather!

Got a book today - Richard Halliburton's Complete Book of Marvels. We had this book when I was growing up and loved to read about his world travels. He was an adventurer who died at sea in 1941. Love travel books and would appreciate suggestions for further reading. Particularly love books from around 100 years or so ago.

The morning was a mixture of falling in and out of sleep and fumbling around on my phone.

I've always loved this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Art-Tramping-Graham-Stephen/dp/140863273X

Ideally you want one with a blank or, at worst, abstract cover. A cover picture spoils one's reading pleasure. Of course, you could always make your own dust jacket...

Thanks!  :)

been cooking good things all day.

In the past week watched the movies "Hills have eyes 2", "Harry Potter 6-7", "Jurassic Park", "Sherlock Holmes", "Ghost Ship".

May I ask which Sherlock Holmes, RR?

And thanks for removing your post in "The Welcome Thread". :=)   

With Robert Downey-Jr. It suffers from boring script but the main cast - Sherlock & Dr. Watson - is right imo.

(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/27/72/76/2772767dcfa231fc1a813c4dff448183.jpg)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol


(http://pre08.deviantart.net/c471/th/pre/f/2013/202/9/f/sherlock_series_tv_poster_by_marrakchi-d5bcpfa.jpg)

A Sleuth for the 21st Century----one of the most brilliant TV series ever... 

I repainted the number of our house on our wheelie bin...

(http://www.wheeliebins.com/images/bin_img.png)
...in Roman numerals.

That's pretty badass, John. I hope you had fun ;D.

Sigh... It's nearly 3am and I'm just about to fall asleep.

Also, music discovery has been hoth a process of me listening to new music, but also finding new meaning in both new and familiar songs.

Picking at writing some of my books i got 6 im working on but 2 are really coming along,  worked on my 97' XJ sport 4x4 some early winterizing to the undercarriage.  now im hanging out with my black labs, drinking a crystal pepsi

Are you a writer?

Also, never heard of crystal pepsi...
Google has made me understand where it gets its name. Cool.

Got kind of stressful today. Family stuff. Gave myself a five minute "pity party" then went on with the day.
Turned on TV. Just what I needed - the station was showing "Brian Wilson and Friends." Brought my blood pressure down. :-)

Then watched a Charlie Chaplin documentary, about his early days before building his own studio. Discussed how he used more tape making one of his 20 minute masterpieces (The Immigrant, 1917) than the 3 hour DW Griffith movie, Intolerance. During this time he'd go to the studio not knowing exactly what would happen but would let everything slowly develop. Kind of like Brian with GV.

Being the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, BBC America is showing a marathon of all the original episodes. Watching that now and will tune in for more tomorrow.
Live long and prosper, y'all!

I echo that sentiment, Elizabeth. ;=)

I've spent the last three days up to my ears in the music of Sergei Prokofiev, the featured composer in this year's local music festival. Three evenings of stunning music for orchestra, with and without choir and soloists----and a phenomenal violinist (see the "classical" topic)...  

My day will be mainly taken up with two activities: cooking lasagna for nine (see the recipes topic) and doing my little walk. Let me explain.

I've been going to the physiotherapist for my left knee, which is well buggered. On my last visit he prescribed me a set of walking exercises----all in a straight line and some involving bending the knees. I've made it more interesting by setting it to music (I'll spare you the details) using an early 1960s song that came to mind immediately (although I had to find out who sang it). And it works wonderfully well. The main problem is keeping my balance! Apparently that's a good thing, as it adds a side-to-side movement. This is the song in question:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Krn4HEA4iV8
 

Aspiring, fun hobby that clears my mind..  Crystal pepsi is a novelty drink from the 1990s not bad pretty much tastes like pepsi n sprite together

Today, my exhaust fell apart at cat while driving on freeway, still drivable(clamped it)  just now it sounds wicked loud like a race car  :lol.    Dug around my mom & stepdads attic and tried to get his ooold 80s stereo from him with record player built in. He wouldnt budge of course

Oh I need to walk as well, but it has been so hot. Instead have been following on FB a priest who's getting into shape to take an almost 1000 km pilgrimage in Spain. As he walks he's posting beautiful pictures of the Dutch countryside.
I love that song you posted, but fear that I would have trouble walking to it without falling on my face. Would have to practice before going out in public!
This morning, I had the (mis)fortune to hear "Surfin Bird" by the Trashmen. Watched the video online featuring a Dutch comedian providing choreography for the second half of the song. Maybe I can walk and wave my hands around like that in the park. Would scare wild dogs and muggers away.   ;D

Ate some homemade banana bread, bought a book and two albums, and hung out with my better half. :)

Assuming it's the same better half, do give him my regards. :=)

What did you think of the Jonathan Safran Foer novel?

By popular request, this is the footwork involved. The two-bar opening riff sets the pace----each "step" is a slow count to four over two bars. Every step forwards or backwards (always in a straight line) is followed by bending the knees while remaining upright (or as upright as possible, lol). Keep in mind that there are four steps per verse (no pun intended) and for the instrumental break and six for the chorus ("You just walk..."). Good luck!

Intro and verse I: Ten forward steps toe-to-heel
Chorus and verse II: Ten backward steps toe-to-heel
Chorus and solo: Ten forward steps one footstep apart
Verse III and chorus: Ten backward steps one footstep apart
Verse IV and the first four bars of chorus: Six large steps forward
Last eight bars of chorus and fade: Six large steps backward

Begin as far back as you can or you might find yourself walking into a wall just before verse III...
    

It is. I guess I'll be keeping him around for some time :P.

I haven't finished it. I've yet to finish a JSF novel, not because I dislike the writing, but the intense emotions in it were a bit too much at the time.

I picked up some short stories by Dostoevsky, so maybe that'll take up my reading in the meantime.

John, I'll give your walking routine a try. But I might end up doing the "Hokey Pokey."  ;D

The weekend was wonderful. On Saturday a group of us met at a house on the Mississippi gulf coast (in the town of Waveland) for a day of "spiritual reflection." The topic was "Mercy." During the breaks I'd sit on the front porch and look out over the Gulf, watching the gentle waves and the swooping sea birds. Much of the day a gentle rain fell. Incredibly peaceful.
Today I got up real early and made crawfish pie. It finished baking right before going to a church service. After we got back we went to my sister's house in rural Mississippi for lunch. Four generations of family were there. Along with the crawfish pie, my sister made a great chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, plus there was salad, bread, and lots of dessert. Add to that wonderful conversation that thankfully steered clear of politics (we don't see eye to eye on that subject to say the least) and it was a most enjoyable day. Hated to leave but hope we can do it again soon.

Glad to hear the weekend went so well. You better make sure you're insured before attempting my walk. Funnily, you're not the first person to mention the "Hokey Pokey" in that context...

Bought this. I found it in the music section
of my local friendly bookshop----filed under B:

(http://d3cxckyc3pu9pz.cloudfront.net/images/9780571324682.jpg?width=240)

That book cover is a lot better than what we got here in the US.

No, the other cover is better. Mike is old, therefore, it's logical to use picture of him old.

A crazy day.
Had to try and "put a fire out" with my Mom's caregiver (she comes for a few hours Monday-Friday so that I can go out). With all the unrest going on, my Mom, an old-school White Southerner, thinks she knows it all and was lecturing D, who is Black, about what's best for Black people. Understandably D doesn't appreciate bring talked down to. The two of us got headaches.

I left for a while to read at a coffeehouse, where a sweet dog welcomed one and all and kept the patrons company.
Then went to store to get items for Sunday dinner, including spaghetti squash. We love this squash which is used instead of pasta. The hardest part is cutting it in half (the halves are then baked 45 minutes to an hour) without slicing my hand. Usually will get a couple of cuts on my fingers...

Read the wacky news that a group will try on Saturday afternoon to take down our iconic statue of Andrew Jackson, using ropes. And they asked that the police leave them alone as they do it (fat chance).  I personally can't stand Jackson, he's a monumental "piece of work" who was a slaveowner and responsible for many deaths of Native Americans (look up "Trail of Tears"). But this is an issue which needs to be discussed more. The most famous photographs of my city pretty much all involve that statue with the old St Louis Cathedral in the background. There are other, even more odious, statues that can come down first.

Reading a post elsewhere about a BW concert on YouTube, watched it (Negev Dinner 2015 featuring Beach Boys is the title). It was a nearly one hour benefit that Brian and company did. Relaxed and listened to it.
Funny moment - on Good Vibrations, at the chorus ("I'm picking up good vibrations...") BooBoo our dog started howling. Guess he was feelin those vibrations  ;D

Off to bed now

Dogs are nice but cats superior, fact. :police: Speaking of, fed the cat, bought new blanket for his basket - it's very dandy, with positive colors (orange, bright yellow etc). Then made chocolate cookies & fresh tea. good thing about living with cat is that the cat doesn't like these foods, so there's many cookies left for tomorrow.

 :lol

That's an extremely interesting and important topic, in my opinion, as we have in recent years seen an increase in this kind of thing. On one hand, I absolutely believe we ought not teach history as mythology, especially as what some people sometimes seem to want to treat as religion: founders, early leaders, infallible. That's nonsense. But on the other hand, to remove these people (or incidents, or whatever suits the situation) from history altogether because they don't fit modern sensibilities is absurd. I've heard generally of this Jackson statue being controversial, and of course Princeton has had much publicity recently with its various commemorative buildings, rooms, plaques, or whatever else to Woodrow Wilson.

I'm not quick to recommend removing such things. To me, that is pretending we were as we are, there has never been dissent from modern acceptability, the end. Conversely, there are some symbols that I absolutely don't like seeing remain prominent, such as confederate flags, because the "heritage" they represent is inherently intertwined with slavery. (We can recognize that the confederacy existed, and even that good people fought for what they considered a loyal cause for their states, without celebrating what causes a large minority of our fellow citizens very serious offense.)

Obviously Russia, or more properly, the USSR, is famous for its rewriting of history over the past century or so. I don't want to see America to pursue that kind of course.

To make this a relevant post, what I did today was work from home to let in contractors who are supposed to be redoing my bathroom. Alas, floods throughout the state kept them busy on emergency jobs, so that instead my bathroom remained untouched today, in a mostly torn-apart state. I've been happier. But on the other hand, I'm not victim to the flooding. So it could be worse.

I guess I wonder about the distinction between flying the confederate flag and raising statues to similarly abhorrent symbols? I do see a difference in that one involves more action, while once that statue is there, allowing it to remain is passive, but is that difference enough to make a distinction?
I'm not strong either way, on the Jackson or Woodrow Wilson thing; I can see both sides and don't feel committed at this point. I do feel committed about the confederate flag, but my lack of commitment regarding the former is making me question my commitment to the latter.
I had a nice lunch and am heading out to the dog park.

Shot paintballs at hilary & trump signs.. dont care for either  :lol.  
 Laughed at the guy down the street who keeps having his trump sign stolen off his 'property' by this black dude who lives the next street over  :lol. Called the cops :police: like our tax dollars should be wasted on that ::).  the cops dont care :lol

 :lol :lol

Yesterday I assembled Toothbrush Man out of Lego. (I already have Baker Man, who gets wheeled into position as a reminder to me to get a new loaf out of the freezer that evening.) TM is to help me remember to brush our little dog's teeth. Obviously, we can't have a dog's toothbrush standing around all day in the living room. He's a type of dog whose teeth get brown very easily and very quickly, which means he then needs them cleaned under anaesthetic, which is no fun for him (or for us). So it's up to me now. He hates it. I can sympathize----toothbrushes are refined instruments of torture.

I congratulate you in trying to brush your dog's teeth. Our pup really should get his teeth brushed more often but he is so hyper.

Took Mom to Doctor. Got back shortly before noon. Just after noon went online and got good tickets for Brian and Co., who are coming here at the end of March.
Wanted to catch the Beatles documentary (Eight Days a Week) at a local theatre in the afternoon but got too sleepy. So will probably have to wait for the DVD.

After dinner, watched the documentary "Muscle Shoals", about the legendary recording and session musicians in that little town in Northern Alabama.
I was familiar with it in the 70s, but was pleasantly surprised to see that favorites of mine such as Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, and Etta James recorded there in the 60s. And that the incredible rhythm sections on these songs were played by white guys, most of whom grew up in the area.

This morning I cooked a full English breakfast for four.

This afternoon I dismantled numerous Lego structures and popped their bits into a plastic bag each.  

This evening I posted the day's second palindrome, explaining how I made it.    

Nice! One of the best music documentaries I've seen, highly recommend to all. The one about the Wrecking Crew is equally fantastic, too... I'm sure that one's been posted about before :)

I have returned from a weekend-long field trip to a local mountain to collect data for an ecology class.

I'm tired and dealing with wasp stings and probably dirty. But I had a good time.

And now, I await the return of someone else.

Hi, M. Sounds like it's "all systems go" in your part of the world these days. :=)

Happiness is a groovy thing.  Throw beads and flowers into the sky, they come back down diamonds strung on rainbow threads.

Important to have the right atmosphere.  Just the right amount of mist in the air.  You need that to make rainbows show.

I saw that in the photo you posted this morning, Mari.

As Paul said, Get on the Right Thing.  Good Times Coming.
love,  -Will

oh, I spent the day posting, backstage and out in public.  And then I had to wash clothes.  That's life.

Went to usual coffeehouse for coffee and reading. Don't usually go on a Monday and there were different baristas who had the TV on a news channel. Guess what they were yapping about? Ugh! Can't get away from it.  >:(

Got tickets for my sister and me to see the musical Jersey Boys in December.
Debating whether to get tickets to the ARW concert (3 members/former members of Yes). Love Yes music, but the main reason I loved them was because of Chris Squire, who's no longer with us.

Tried to see if there were tickets for The Beach Boys show in Biloxi (1 1/2 hours from here) for Friday night. Waited too long, pretty much sold out and there are no rooms available anywhere near there as I hate driving at night. Found out why the BBs play there every year at this time - there's a huge vintage car festival going on, with cars cruising up and down the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Most cars are from the 50s and 60s but a few Model As or Ts show up as well. Guess when they get bugged driving up and down that same old strip, they'll stop for a while to see Mike, Bruce and co.

As a weather freak, spent the evening monitoring various weather boards concerning Major Hurricane Matthew, which is set to lay waste to poor Haiti, then Cuba, the Bahamas, then...

Watched the Vikings vs. Giants game tonight, Monday Night Footbal.  Was quite fun.  Vikings won.

Can't believe it.  Bubs put up a rainbow road picture this morning!

I'm off to the doctor in a few hours for my three month check-up.  Yeah, every three months.  Those watchers!

Some great pictures there from Bubs. (Couldn't find M's photo.) Would you or M wish him all the best from me when you next speak to him? A move like that is always emotionally and physically draining. I took the plunge in '74 when I left the UK for a completely unknown Netherlands. Worked out well in the end though. :=)

All the best with that check-up, Will. 

Best wishes for good health Will! :)

I had a good check up.  Lost eight more pounds, I actually haven't gained a pound since 2008.  That's the everyday goal for me.  I've lost sixty-eight pounds in those eight years.  Sounds slow, but slow is the best.  I'm down to 193 on a 5'8" frame.  A1c continues to go down.  Yeah, I have the "everybody has it in America" -dreaded T2D for the last ten years.  This was also my yearly check, so blood work.  I should get those results soon.  Doc doesn't anticipate any problems.  I feel great.

John, Mari's photo of a hillside near Seattle is in the tread itself, not one of Bubs.  He posted the rainbow pic in his InstaGram set. -Will

Thanks, Will. Wow----that's quite some picture. And glad to hear things went well at the doc's.

i'm making some fun lists.

earlier, i ate too much food and saw way too many disappointing rain jackets.

Happy National Poetry Day (in the UK)
Listened to BBC World Service which had a nice feature about poetry.
Then heard Prince Charles read Seamus Heaney's poem "The Shipping Forecast". Thought that was funny.

A little later I pulled into a petrol station to get gassed up. There was a large group of college aged kids there, on their way from up north to the Baton Rouge area to help with the ongoing cleanup after the catastrophic floods a number of weeks back.
Bless 'em.
As bad as the flooding/destruction was west of here, it pales in comparison with what could be happening later on in Florida. Have a sister and her family who live in south Jacksonville. She works in a hospital emergency room and will have to be there for the storm. Hope she doesn't get too stressed out, as she and her daughter have Lupus, and stress causes her to have bad flare ups.

Will go to store to get some items. One will be a bag of Jolly Ranchers, sour candies that I suck on during stressful times, as will be the case this evening and tomorrow seeing what Hurricane Matthew does. (In case you're wondering, my favorite flavor is the sour apple)

Just got through working out at the gym

Ha! I had my weekly session yesterday.

Last night I dreamt that the 14th-century invasion of Pskov by the Knights of the Teutonic Order has been transplanted into the modern age----and into my town! Not nice, as those who know the film Alexander Nevsky and the invaders' barbaric behaviour will surely agree. Boy was I glad to wake up...     

Disappointing as in fashion? I'm sure half of the universe doesn't know a thing about dressing well, they care what's "in". You can easily buy tasteless boring jacket. What matters is material. Check if it resists rains.

Was on my way to a talk when a "bing" went off in my car, indicating low tire pressure. I was leaving the interstate and heard a chunk a chunk sound. Pulled into a business driveway and could hear the hisssssss of the last of the air leaving the right rear tire. Called a company to change tire and put on spare (the spare, which in the 5 years of having the car had never been used, was stored under the car). The guy put the spare on, it looked almost flat and I said, aren't you going to add some air to it? He shrugged and said something along the lines of it being only on temporarily, what's the big deal?
Anyway, change of plans. Dropped off tire to have it repaired and put some air in the spare. Then went to library for a while and pulled out an Agatha Christie book to read. Will get to that on the "reading" thread.
Got Brians book in the post this evening and have finished 3 chapters. And on his recommendation, for a nightcap listened to Rosemary Clooney's "Tenderly." Oh my goodness that's wonderful!

Worked 12 hrs, watched an ooold episode of wwf/e raw is war from 2000 now im hangin out on smileysmile skimming the new eastbay magazine

Off for a weekend of nostalgia at my 50th high school reunion. Heading over to the local winery to meet some classmates where the drinking begins. Man, hope they've got the name tag thing goin' on.  ;)

Nice! 8)

OSD, have a nice reunion for the 50th!
Just a question... has it a set end date? ;D

2thorgil: good joke. Checked the Internet Radio site, found new genres "manele", "psytrance", "reggaeton", "kizomba", "goa". Should listen to samples of each & I'll be smarter by 0,0000000000000000001%.

Woke up around 4:15 and decided to turn on the radio to a St Louis station that I can get a strong signal until sunrise (St Louis is about 965 km from my house). The program, Overnight America, was on and the host said that he would be interviewing some musicians that hour including Mike Love. So stayed up to listen. It was a "soft" interview, Mike mainly talking about all the family gatherings with the Loves and Wilsons, making music. Nothing negative except a few words about Murry. It probably will be available to listen on the Overnight America with Jon Grayson, or the KMOX website.
Then let BooBoo the dog out for a few minutes, then went back to bed.
Woke up, made coffee, made sure Mom was taken care of, then cleaned cat pans - a never ending task as the cats are prolific peepers and poopers...
Watched an early 1990s TV movie about the Bay Area earthquake of 1989, where people in the US found out about it from the TV broadcast of a World Series baseball game in San Francisco between the SF Giants and the Oakland A's (remember hearing the announcer say "we're having an earth---" and the power went out.)
Made list of groceries to buy, including what's needed for pumpkin bread.
Watching baseball game tonight between Cleveland and Toronto (cheering for Cleveland)

Brought Mom to get her hearing checked and hearing aids adjusted.
Very sleepy for much of the day.
But later watched North by Northwest, followed by Jaws, on TV.
Then watched the last few innings of the Chicago-Los Angeles baseball series. The Chicago Cubs won the game.
The Cubs and Cleveland Indians are in the World Series championship. This is so historic and exciting.
The last time the Cubs won the World Series, Tsar Nicholas II was ruling in Russia. The last time the Indians won, David Marks was a baby.
So I'll definitely be following that this coming week.

Go Cubs Go! 8)

 :lol :lol  In the middle of the reunion dinner, I stood up and announced that it was over and time for everyone to immediately leave. I was hated before that but then I saw someone sprinkle a white powder all over my half eaten chicken.  ???

Cubs win!!  Cubs win!!

 :woot :woot

 :tm :drum :tm


Then played the BBs "it's trying to say (baseball's on)". It went well with watching the cheering crowds and Cubs players celebrating.

Go Cubs go! 8)

Dealing with something that hadn't occurred here in over a month and a half - rain. And lots of it.
Seems like a month and a half's worth of rain fell today, causing lots of street flooding.
Unfortunately, more tomorrow. Worried about how I'm going to navigate my Mom tomorrow in the wheelchair, in the rain, to vote in the election.
But set that aside for a couple of hours and watched a fine documentary, "Bob Dylan: In and Out of the Folk Revival 1961-65".
What a genius!

Definitely not as melodist & musician - he's competent but not ace guitar player, simplistic tunes etc. & don't forget the voice which is godawful. Frankly, I am completely apathetic about the lyrics. In the song, music is fore element. goes without saying.

Well I must respectfully disagree concerning the importance of the music in the case of Dylan and others such as Woody Guthrie and Phil Ochs. Vocal quality and virtuosity in playing an instrument are not so important.
The lyrics to them take precedence, with the music in some cases just being some old folk tune that fits the meter.
Maybe because I'm older and grew up during the Cold War and the turbulent sixties, his songs for me have stood the test of time.
With God on Our Side sends shivers even now.
Oh well.

Today I decided to return after my sabbatical. A break's all very well but there are some folks I can only converse with via this forum. I must admit it was interesting looking in on Smiley and PSF on equal terms for a while... 

The day's only recently begun, so all I've done so far was have some breakfast. But once the sun warms the air a little bit--it's only 36 F at the moment--I'll get outside to rake the mountains of leaves coating the lawn in a similar way that snow no doubt will before too long. Once that's done, I'll pick up some beer or wine and make some plans for a suitable dinner for my evening of flipping between MN Gophers football and MN Timberwolves basketball on TV. After a long week (season, year, whatever) of political obsession, it'll be fun to zone out on something wholly inconsequential.

JohnK, how did you fare with the bad weather in the Netherlands. Just saw video of planes having to abort landings in Amsterdam due to high winds.

My day was a lot calmer. Made mirliton (chayote squash) bread - tastes like zucchini (courgette) bread.
Am baking a vegetarian mirliton casserole for a friend of mine. Am "winging it" as much as possible. He wanted lots of mushrooms, lots of tomatoes, and lots of cheese. To this I added onions, peppers, celery and garlic, thyme, parsley, plus bread crumbs.

Bought a turkey for Thanksgiving. Mom insists on this even though none of us except her care for it.

Went on a run—new route this time. Ran along a beach, which was kinda fun. Then there was a mile or so with a decent incline, so that wasn't kinda fun.

I chatted with smb. here via message & asked if there is anybody that doesn't serve turkey at Thanksgiving. They said it's only once a year so why not but maybe some people cook sth. else? I find it amazing that many would be loyal with traditions. But you say that you don't care - good for you.

Well, it's not so much that I don't care for traditions - they definitely have their place.
It's simply that with all the other things I'll be cooking on Thanksgiving, the turkey is just a big pain in the neck. After cooking it is either too dry, or parts of it are undercooked. And  it's taking up space in the refrigerator. I bought it frozen today and hope that it will be thawed out by Thursday ( it weighs 11.5 pounds - 5.22 kg). Last year I put a similar sized turkey in on Monday and it was still partially frozen on Thursday.

I suggested picking up a turkey that was already cooked. Mom freaked out. She "rules the roost" so that's that.
Thanksgiving is our big family meal of the year. Christmas on the other hand tends to be more laid back with no regular menu.

Yes, it was quite wild (by Dutch standards anyway) but I and my family weren't affected. Thanks for asking!

As for any unwanted turkey: I have an address you can send it to----in Europe, where we still have to wait ages for ours!  ;D   

2NOLA BB Fan: we disagree. I regard the food traditions stupid. Besides, turkey works for big fam gatherings.

Just different cultural perspectives.
Where I live, food traditions are VERY important.

You mean Earth?

[deleted]

No, no, it's not "just food" down here in New Orleans. Tradition is so very important - Mardi Gras, visiting and placing flowers on graves on All Saints Day (November 1), and both Mardi Gras and All Saints Day are city holidays.
Food is taken very seriously here. We roll our collective eyes when people in other parts of the country try to do their impression of our cuisine.
A few months ago the Disney company posted a video for gumbo. There were gasps, guffaws, etc when it showed the dish being created. Oh my goodness, they didn't make a roux! How can you have gumbo without a roux?! (A roux is mixing flour with oil or butter, as it heats constantly stirring until it gets to the desired color, usually a medium to dark brown. The roux is the foundation by which the gumbo is built on),

As for Thanksgiving, turkey isn't necessarily the obligatory meat. Ham, chicken are also used. But there are two dishes that are definitely part of the tradition - sweet potato casserole and stuffed mirlitons (a type of squash).
Food is constantly on our minds and in our conversations (and in our guts too - most of us can stand to lose some weight!)
In other places, people eat to live. Here, we live to eat.

Appreciate the joke but I'm sure you got me that by saying "it's just food" I meant that cooking in one's household shoudn't be very important on national level. What you say about Mardi Gras etc. is wholly different tradition. OK, food is taken very seriously there. But you didn't explain why. Let's say there wouldn't be tradition what to eat at holidays & everybody cooked what they like - then what? Would it be that bad? Surely not, they'd roll with it, the tradition would be within the family (specialties that pass from past generation to the new) which is fine. But make it national - I don't know, it's puzzling.

In chatting with other Smiley Smiler, I said "animals eat to live. People live to eat". :)

Hello,
I'm up just for a moment to let the dog out, then will go back to bed for a couple of hours. Then will have a long day, going early to the grocery store to get lots of things such as apples, pecans, mirlitons, coffee. Then a nurse will be coming to check my Mom. Family will be coming in later this morning - they drove in from Jacksonville, Florida, which is a little under 1000 km from here.
I will answer your query about "tradition" but will be when I have more time later on today or tonight.

It's good to know that you too believe in living to eat! :-)

I rather think the good captain was deadly serious. Perhaps you should apologize to him.

Strangely enough, I was indeed being serious, and it absolutely adds to the discussion at hand. I'll elaborate, since it appears necessary. It's fine if someone doesn't care about food traditions, but that person is in a tiny, tiny minority of humanity. Food traditions are some of the oldest and deepest kinds of traditions across the entire world. They are a part of virtually every ritual: marriage, religious rites, sex, death, harvest, solstices, etc., and always have been. So outliers are of course welcome to their fringe views, a little deference or humility toward the vast majority of the history of mankind on the issue mightn't be out of line.

For example, while I like food traditions (just because I love cooking) I don't care about holidays. Not at all. I think they're stupid. I am not sure there was ever a Jesus and certainly don't think he rose from the dead or was born at the winter solstice, and so Easter and Christmas are nonsense to me. I'm a little sickened by nationalism, so the 4th of July is out. Halloween combines religion and commercialism, and the food is just candy anyway, so meh. Even Thanksgiving, which I love both from the food tradition aspect and the concept, is tarnished because I'm not especially fond of family gatherings. And so on, you get the point. But I fully realize that pretty much everyone else thinks otherwise. So I keep my snide remarks to a minimum and don't often call holidays stupid when discussing them with people who are fans. Because that's rude.

All that said, when I feel an injection of sarcasm would be appropriate, I'll feel free to be the syringe.

There is a lot of guilt tied up with food-based/family traditions as well, at least in my experience, to add to the mix. I don't hate food traditions per se, but everyone's idea of how it should be are so completely subjective that it's hard to walk away from a holiday meal without some kind of physical or mental discomfort. And I'm just talking about the food, forget family drama and politics.

For instance, this Christmas my husband I are traveling to Newfoundland to stay with his family. They're great people, so hospitable and generous. But there's a dark flipside to it. My husband and I refer time spent with his parents as the Food Olympics, because every meal is an event, in which it is impossible to win the gold medal. There's enough food to feed an army, with only 5 people sitting around the table. More food than anyone can possibly eat without making themselves sick. Not just at dinner. Breakfast and lunch too. We try to get out of the house all day to avoid it, and save ourselves for dinner. But when you don't ask for seconds or thirds, the disappointment from my mother-in-law is palpable. That's how she shows her love. If you don't gain 5 lbs per meal, you didn't get enough of her love. It gets emotional for me. I'm not a big eater. I have food sensitivities, but I hate making excuses, so I'll often ignore my better judgment and try to please her, which ends up with me sick and her sad that I'm sick. And then trying to make me feel better by offering me pie.

Nevermind what my husband and his brother went through their whole lives, dealing with the mother/love/food/guilt scenario every damn day. So I'm thankful it's relegated to the holidays for me. Can't say I'm looking forward to it though. I am looking forward to my father-in-law's homemade blueberry wine though, that stuff's the bomb! And it's a tradition I can always get behind, haha.

.

There is a lot of guilt tied up with food-based/family traditions as well, at least in my experience, to add to the mix. I don't hate food traditions per se, but everyone's idea of how it should be are so completely subjective that it's hard to walk away from a holiday meal without some kind of physical or mental discomfort. And I'm just talking about the food, forget family drama and politics.

For instance, this Christmas my husband I are traveling to Newfoundland to stay with his family. They're great people, so hospitable and generous. But there's a dark flipside to it. My husband and I refer time spent with his parents as the Food Olympics, because every meal is an event, in which it is impossible to win the gold medal. There's enough food to feed an army, with only 5 people sitting around the table. More food than anyone can possibly eat without making themselves sick. Not just at dinner. Breakfast and lunch too. We try to get out of the house all day to avoid it, and save ourselves for dinner. But when you don't ask for seconds or thirds, the disappointment from my mother-in-law is palpable. That's how she shows her love. If you don't gain 5 lbs per meal, you didn't get enough of her love. It gets emotional for me. I'm not a big eater. I have food sensitivities, but I hate making excuses, so I'll often ignore my better judgment and try to please her, which ends up with me sick and her sad that I'm sick. And then trying to make me feel better by offering me pie.

Nevermind what my husband and his brother went through their whole lives, dealing with the mother/love/food/guilt scenario every damn day. So I'm thankful it's relegated to the holidays for me. Can't say I'm looking forward to it though. I am looking forward to my father-in-law's homemade blueberry wine though, that stuff's the bomb! And it's a tradition I can always get behind, haha.

EDIT: I don't want to sound ungrateful. I love food, and I love my husband's family, and how generous they have been with me. My mother-in-law is a wonderful person and a fantastic cook. I just want to underscore the point that food and associated traditions are so subjective, everyone's experiences with them are different. I simply didn't grow up with the same kind of food traditions that my husband did, and even after almost 10 years it's still hard to digest (pun intended :) ).

SCarolineZ: oh my goodness, i can relate! Thanks for sharing. There's also a wave of veganism affecting the younger element of my family, threatening the survival of traditions. Tomorrow should be interesting.

[deleted]

You're missing the entire point. Maybe it's a language thing. I won't bother to restate.

[deleted]

Instead of arguing with people, why don't you go on wikipedia and find out yourself?  ::)

Yeah, it think it's a language/cultural gap personally.

Mari, I really don't know if I can answer your question to your satisfaction. The Captain stated part of what I would have posted.
Food traditions are a way of maintaining and unifying a culture. The ingredients are usually easiest to find in that particular area, and/or a particular ethnic group or groups add aspects of their culture to make something new.
Down here the food tradition comes primarily from a combination of African, French, Spanish, and Italian; that is evolving further with the emerging importance of Vietnamese food culture.  So traditions can be tweaked over time.
People can be at each others' throats about things, but sitting down to a traditional meal of chicken and sausage gumbo, served with French bread, is a point where the factions can relax and enjoy things for at least a while.

Don't know if I'm getting my point across. It's been a hard day and I'm very tired.

Those in the US - hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving !

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I liked this discussion, thanks to everybody who joined, including SCaroline Z. But none of you answered the posed question "why?".

I'd say there is misunderstanding from both sides. Food is present in every ritual there is - point taken. Food traditions existed since ancient times - goes without saying. Food tradition is way to unify & maintain the culture - in what way? If there wouldn't be single food tradition, say, for Americans & would just eat what they usually cook in the family, no turkey & mirliton at Thanksgiving, just anything they'd like, can't the factions still relax & enjoy things? I don't see what difference the food could make. It may accompany us during making important decisions, f.ex. if the 2 fighting camps decided to sign the treaty & there was food & drink, in what way could that food influence the decision, play any role?

Italian food tradition is pasta, they serve it in restaurants & it's authentic. But what does it say? It just shows Italian culture, defines Italy, that's it. But these people could eat anything. Remove any food tradition, would it bring their lives to hell? Ditto any other country. As such, the "importance" you talk about regarding food seems like overstatement. I really don't see that traditions in food bear significance. How it became tradition to eat this & that dish during this & that holiday & why is questions I'd like the answers to. But thank you anyway.

I think the "why" of food traditions is unanswerable, or at least not satisfyingly answerable, in the same way the "why" of any other cultural artifact would be. Clothing, holidays, musics, dances, etc., none of them matter on some level. If you're simply asking "couldn't life just go on without them?" the answer is always yes, obviously it could.

But culture is an organically developed artifice that brings people together (and separates them from other people brought together by their cultures). That's why it is important to people, I think. On an existential level, we have no reason to exist. We are going to die. Life is terrifying. We are ultimately temporary and alone. Culture--including food tradition--hides that beneath layers of artifice that tie us to our families, and our neighbors, and their families, multiplying into communities, regions, and even nations.

People smell some food or other cooking in the next room and they are transported to their deceased grandparents' homes and those memories. They think of their childhoods, or of significant moments in their lives. They think of the celebrations that certain foods signify to them and they imagine meaning there. Of course there is no literal meaning there, of course they aren't actually any closer to their deceased grandparents, but sometimes literal reality is irrelevant to experience.

A person could replace a traditional Thanksgiving feast of turkey, potatoes, stuffing/dressing, green beans, brussels sprouts, pumpkin pie (or whatever your regional variation may be) and eat nutritiously acceptable meals. They could also stop going to beautiful cathedrals and worship in garages. They could stop wasting time listening to music or looking at art. They could dress in simple, practical clothes. But all of those things and many other cultural signifiers are just important on a non-practical level. The evidence that they are important is their omnipresence across the world throughout history. We can say everyone throughout history, everywhere, was acting silly and in the wrong, or we can show some humility and recognize that whether it makes practical sense or not, it's just reality.

For some better explanations, I recommend googling some studies on the subject. People are unlikely to give coherent explanations of why aspects of their own culture matter, as they are drowning within those cultures and probably don't look at it objectively. ("I don't know, we just do...")

(I'm not vouching for any of these, they just popped up with a quick googling.)

http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/141797.pdf
http://www.sirc.org/publik/foxfood.pdf
https://books.google.com/books?id=I6lsDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=food+traditions+study&source=bl&ots=lV2rcL7NKe&sig=6DGP2k4WMdRHqfJgoA-pGyk5Yag&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwicptCOucHQAhWhgVQKHfY3CKE4ChDoAQgzMAY#v=onepage&q=food%20traditions%20study&f=false

Went with family to our place in the woods, an hour drive from my present home.
Picked up fixins from a local store, made sandwiches, had potato salad and baked beans (which contained some sausage - delicious).
My oldest sister brought a jar of Mickles Pickles, a locally made sweet pickle.
A friend then chimed in and said that these tasted great, but if you want spicy pickles, be sure to get Wickles Pickles!

There was a bit of a "nip" in the air so we got a nice fire going in the fireplace.
Don't laugh too much, Captain - it was a cold 66 degrees F (about 19C).

After great conversation and listening to some music, we had to head off, some to New Orleans, others a much longer ride back to Jacksonville, Florida.

Had thought about having a slice of leftover pie. But upon opening the door at home, I saw that BooBoo the dog had helped himself to the remains of the pie. I said Bad Dog, and he just wagged his tail, seemingly saying it's about time you got home - please play with me!

Relaxed, Mr Fuzzy the cat sitting on my left, and listened to some Dave Brubeck.

Two days ago (to veer slightly off topic) I played my last gig with the band I've been in for almost 17 years. You know, to all good things etc.

And yesterday I watched my granddaughter take part with schoolmates in a dance festival. Aged five, she was the youngest person on stage all evening! This is what they danced to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru0K8uYEZWw   

Ha, yes, no sympathy from me for the next few months with temperatures like that. We're looking forward to warmer-than-usual temps the next couple of days: high 40s, maybe 50. So far the nights are still only getting down to freezing, which is nice.

Not today, but Friday. I attended a recital by the Romanian pianist Radu Lupu. I think the term "living legend" is applicable in his case. He played Haydn (Andante con variazioni), Schumann (the astonishing Fantasia in C) and, after the intermission, Tchaikowsky (The Seasons). It was like being transported back to a 19th-century salon! The Schumann in particular blew my mind.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radu_Lupu 

Went to the New York City Ballet Nutcracker, for about the 30th time. It's a tradition now being imposed on my daughter.

Lucky daughter. Tschaikovsky is probably the most listenable classical composer on the planet.

Just now see this, movie thread was eventful. I shall investigate these links. Thank you. In regards the answer, a lot of it makes sense, some I still disagree with. I'd say it's true, there isn't & can't be found the right kind of answer. But thanks.

I quoted when I should have modified. Not the best of starts to the day. :hat 

Played air hockey in the basement with my dwarf friend Diana. I invite her seldom to play this game. It's the best game, she's really good at it. The cat was judge. The sweet creature looks to & fro. Then Diana went home to dinner. She likes her mother's food. Cat said bye in polite cat tone. Diana said bye in return. She's got poodle dog Maya. I said say hello to Maya. She said she will.

On Christmas Day? Chopped, scraped, cooked, ate, drank... Followed by a massive clearing-up session during which I played the following ambient house albums:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWebqCRw7o4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3GFpH-ky38   

Got 100 % completion GTA III on ipad took a week(picking at it) to completely do it, smoked some with my brother and enjoyed the day until the next looooooong workdays ahead

Set up a "rainy day" fund for my Las Vegas trip by consigning random stuff in my house.

I'll by that stained futon for $1.75.

Worked from home because I didn't feel like driving with incompetents after a (small) snowfall, started posting here again a little (and debated getting banned just for fun), and--after logging out of work, mind you--began drinking. Oh, and rolled some egg rolls (pork, scallions, ginger, garlic, chilis, and julienned broccoli, cabbage, and carrots, with store-bought wrappers), which will be fried up later along with a massive amount of some vaguely Asian something or other (chicken, onions, celery, carrots, scallions, chilis, mushrooms, ginger, garlic, etc. to be served with either rice or noodles, TBD). The vegetarian is away for the moment, so it's meat-tastic. Oh, and listening to the new Hardcore History.

(https://s29.postimg.org/rjqbvqvw3/IMG_3019.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/rjqbvqvw3/) Also got some cool NBA Washington Bullets stuff!

I'd consider selling my soul for a Hot Plate Williams, LaBradford Smith, or Ledell Eackles jersey.

Like you did for a Donyell Marshall or Christian Laettner jersey?

Almost completely the opposite.

More like Ty Corbin, Stanley Roberts, Tod Day, Dennis Scott, Marko Jaric, Dario Milicic, Nemanja Bjelica...that kind of thing.

I upgraded my computer (well, beginning yesterday). I'd been getting warning remarks from websites and took the plunge (with some indispensable help from a family member). Of course the next thing is to get the computer to do what it used to do. My old Word folders and mail folders had vanished but their contents had not. That's when you realize that the internet really is your friend (most of the time). A few online instructions later most things were back the way they were!     

Really cool, love vintage NBA stuff!

Walked 6 miles in the fog to leave a flower at the grave of a girl who killed herself recently, it was too hard to go to her funeral plus most of the people there i couldnt stand, two-faced that never took the time to get to know her but when word got around she died, same people suddenly were her best friends and heartbroken >:( 

Agreed on that one, I had a friend who died with all fake people at the funeral... ::)

You got any vintage Cavs stuff?

a buncha stuff, a few snapback hats from the 90s, a coke bottle from a rockets/cavs game from 94 i got at a antique store in tennessee(i think) which i posted in the NBA thread..basketball cards, a mark price candy bar wrapper, assorted stuff like keychains and magnets ive accrued over the years. And bobbleheads. Just about evrythings in my storage unit, the bum i share my apt with i dont trust whatsoever but for 200 a month though..next time i go to my unit ill get some pics for ya

Beautiful day today about 66 and sun ;D cant wait for spring. Putting a new exhaust on my jeep went out and got flowmaster, spent the morning cleaning the fuel injectors all the while playing a 50s doo wop mix..

Played air hockey with friend Daiana. Cat really likes when I invite her. He likes Daiana. Made friends with new neighbor - nice cute old lady. She's got 3 cats, dog, hamster, parakeet & tortoise. She said she just lacks pig. She likes different creatures.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Note: my avatar, which will be changed in the next day or so, is yours truly getting nowhere fast on her tricycle in her Kindergarten Mardi Gras parade back in the early part of 1963.

Happy Mardi Gras to you too, Elizabeth. Nice pic!

MG always makes me think first of Paul Simon and then of this one by The Band:

https://youtu.be/-PuC7xyJsBQ

Great song
The Band + Allen Toussaint (horn arrangements) = winning combination!

Going to an NHL game in Washington D.C. (Warriors made the wizards game on Tuesday too expensive to buy tickets)

On Saturday we sat out in the garden for the first time this year. And saw the first Brimstone Butterfly.

Odd----they're always the first to appear and then they vanish... 

(http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/rhamni%20male%20016a.jpg)

Ended an 8 week regimen to regain my health. Dropped 25 lbs (11.34 kg) and feel much better.
(Late last year I got quite sick; everything seemed to be breaking down physically and emotionally - something had to be done!)

Planted lemon thyme, English thyme, Greek oregano and sweet marjoram around my Rosemary bushes.
Pepper plants, cucumbers, tomatoes looking good; see some small tomatoes growing. In a couple of weeks will be able to plant basil and eggplant (aubergine).

Registered for a free online course offered by a British university, "Shakespeare and his world." Course starts tomorrow.

That's fantastic, all around.

2NOLA BB Fan: 50 kg/ 110 lb to 5'7 speaking here but now I'd like to be 40 kg/ 88 lb. What did you do?

Addition: Non-Shakespeare fan talking here but post the link to the free British uni course. We must share useful links. Thank you.

Congratulations, Elizabeth.

The course sounds like a gas. :=)

Mari, the free course, "Shakespeare and His World," is offered on the FutureLearn.com site. It is taught by faculty at the University of Warwick.
FutureLearn is a digital version of Britain's Open University.

As to dumping excess weight, I weighed and measured 3 meals a day, nothing in between. Drank only water or herbal tea. Cut out all flour and sugar. Ate LOTS of vegetables. Ate fruit at breakfast and lunch. Cooked from scratch as much as possible instead of using boxes of stuff some of which contain chemicals.
I've gotten off of it the last few days but will get back to it again, perhaps slightly modifying it. I like the way it keeps me from "crashing" right after lunch (would get so tired that I was afraid to drive). And my legs no longer feel like they have lead weights on them, so there's more of a spring in my step. And most importantly, I'm thinking more clearly!

Elizabeth - Thanks for the info.
110 lb isn't excess but I'm just curioius to see if I can dump 10 kilo. Say, to 85-75 lb? Not to anorexic level. Then get back to: see 1st digit. Hence the question.
You know, some food is plain boring - vegetables/ fruits, dairy, fast food, soups. You grew up with vegetables, I can tell. You're basically friends with them. In other words, danke shon etc. but it's not to my taste.
Better tell about your 1st Shakespearean day. Was it interesting?

Hmm, you're 110 lbs at 5 feet seven inches tall? That's thin. Don't know that it would be healthy for you to get under 100 pounds. But I'm not your Mum! :-)

Anyway, I do love vegetables and fruits, especially fresh vegetables - grew up eating horribly over cooked tinned veggies - ugh!
Usually cook vegetables such as onions, peppers, mushrooms in a stir fry, with some chicken. Very quick and delicious.
I enjoy fruit with oatmeal. Strawberries are in season down here and we have a refrigerator full of them right now.
I can't have dairy as it makes me bloated and sometimes quite sick. I got tested for it. In the test if something was above 40 then there could be a problem. For dairy my score was 900! So I use nut/soy milk and "cheeze". Cashews can also be used to make a cheesy substitute.

Are you more of a "meat and potatoes" kind of gal?

Ah, Shakespeare! There are a bunch of videos to go through, a quick bio, some items from the Shakespeare museum. Watched a few yesterday and will continue to watch the rest throughout the week. Then there's a quiz (oh no).
Then the course will focus on one play a week and relate it to the events going on during The Bard's time.

It's so enjoyable listening to the lecturer. I could listen to him all day.
Love the way the British talk.
Americans for the most part don't move me in that way. Only a few perhaps, such as Orson Welles or James Earl Jones.

Thoughts and prayers for the victims (and their loved ones) of the horrific attack in London yesterday.

Despite the long list of unfavorites (add eggs there, boring taste), these foods I like:
Seafood - fish, shrimps, caviar etc. Everybody in town goes fishing in June, it's the go-to food.
Fruit - orange. Berries, mushrooms - freshly picked. Buckwheat, rice. Meat - sliced bits. No patty. Liver's good too.

Which Shakespeare do you like? Tragedy, plays?

You'd feel right at home where I live. Seafood is everywhere. I had to go to the store early yesterday and passed a bayou and lagoon on the way, and saw lots of people fishing.
I love fresh mushrooms. Would love to be able to grow them. I know someone who forages for mushrooms in the forest but I would be afraid to try this on my own - might end up picking a "magic mushroom" that could send me trippin'!
Liver, particularly beef liver, ycch. Mom tried to force me to eat it as a kid, However, I can tolerate chicken liver if it's mixed in to rice. That dish is known down here as "dirty rice."

Probably my favorite Shakespeare plays are Julius Caesar and King Lear.

Is it? I first (and only?) saw dirty rice using ground beef or pork, and never gave it further thought. It was originally done with chicken liver? Interesting! The change makes sense, though, to give it a more broad appeal.

I envy your cuisine culture in New Orleans! While Minneapolis has built a great, great food culture in the past 15 years or so, its roots are far less interesting. In my youth and throughout my parents lives, it was known for bland, Americanized versions of Scandinavian or German peasant food. (I have a church cookbook that belonged to my late grandmother, published in the '50s or '60s. You'd die of laughter at their recipes for "exotic" dishes such as chili or lasagna.) Lots of plain meat, lots of potatoes, vegetables--often canned--boiled into grey oblivion, and nothing seasoned very heavily or with much beyond salt and pepper. As I said, that has changed, but the underlying roots weren't especially interesting.

No wonder Bob Dylan left! ;D

Had a most interesting day.

Read an article and saw a documentary that involved how people react to extreme stress. The article was about children who, under stress, shut down and become comatose. There was a example of a boy from a Russian family who were trying to get refugee status in Sweden for religious reasons. Sweden was about to deport them and the boy, who had been in Sweden since he was 5 years old, all of a sudden became unresponsive, and was in a coma like state for 5 months before finally getting over it.
The other was a documentary about Augusta Chiwy, a Belgian nurse who aided Americans during the time of the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944. The horrors she experienced rendered her mute off and on for much of the rest of her life.

After that I needed to listen to some music. Pet Sounds fit the bill. And our dog always likes hearing Banana and Louie.

Went to Brian's concert tonight at the historic, beautiful Saenger Theater and had a wonderful time.

Came home to find that an ancestry report came back. I had sent a saliva sample a while back. Was kind of shocked at the results. Not what I expected! It will spark some interesting conversation in our family LOL.

It's getting close to 0100 hours and I should attempt to go to bed although I'm still pumped up by Brian and my crazy DNA.

Well you got me intrigued - what the results showed? Is it akin to "Who Do You Think You Are" & "Faces of America"? Like 5% this, 38% that etc? Thanks in advance.

Some surprises:
Shows about 5 percent Southern European ancestry (i.e. Spain, Portugal, Italy). Didn't know of any before.
Have about 18 percent Irish/British ancestry, more than I thought.
A little less than 1 percent Native American ancestry. Thought it might be a bit more as I supposedly had multiple lines with NA (Choctaw) ancestors. Perhaps those people weren't really Choctaws. People down here like to think we have more than we do, particularly romantic tales of Choctaw princesses. I do have at least one verifiable Choctaw line. As a record of court cases in the late 1700s shows, my male ancestor in Natchez, Mississippi lived with a Choctaw woman (he couldn't legally marry her) and had a couple of kids. He died in a freak accident - fell out of a tree, his leg was cut off and he bled to death. There was a court battle as to who could get his property - his children, or his relatives back in France. The children won the case.

What blew my mind? I have 2.3 percent sub Saharan African heritage, specifically from West Africa. This apparently took place from the period of the mid 1700s to early 1800s. This is most certainly from my mothers side as her ancestors have been in North America since the mid 1600s (my father's ancestors came over starting in the late 1840s).
I don't know how my mom would react to this, and especially some of my cousins. With the old "one drop rule" I would be considered to be an African American (which is laughable if you look at me. I'm about as "white" looking as you can get)!

As George Takei would say, "Oh my!" ;D

It's funny what kind of rules people lived by in the past. So, you've got everything except Asian ethnicity. At least African makes sense - iir, Louisiana is country with many blacks, right? I think if they trace back their genes, they'd find some from Africa.
What about 70+%? Did you pay either for the sample or report/ both? Where do you go to get this info?

Very interesting. At the same time, I just happened to have recently watched a lecture by a geneticist regarding the use of (what sounds like) genetics in pseudoscience, and she took some time specifically to discuss this sort of testing (basically saying one must take it with a grain of salt and/or at least understand the limits of the tests and their results). If you're interested, the relevant section is cued up here.

https://youtu.be/0BuRECUOsx0?t=39m7s

Perhaps it might not be totally accurate.
However I did some Google digging last night checking out some ancestors. Fortunate that a couple of them were well enough known that they are mentioned in some history books of the area (Natchez MS).
Found out that the man who married the daughter of the guy who died after falling out of a tree was a "mulatto", which back then could mean mixed race. The book with the info indicated that the man was part Black. He's a direct ancestor, so maybe I have my answer.

Anyway maybe some of my other sisters can get checked out, or I can do it with another company to see if I get similar results.

By the way, I also found your comments about having Native American ancestry interesting, as it is common in my area (Minnesota / Upper Midwest) for people to exaggerate any such rumors in their families. I assume that's to add what is seen as some exotic back-story to what is otherwise very much historically bland: Scandinavian, German, Polish ... that's the bulk of it, or was until the past few decades anyway, when we took in many Hmong, Liberian, and Somalian refugees, Mexican immigrants, and had increased African-American population migration. It seemed everyone had an aunt who had "discovered" some Native American connection--usually not quite believably and almost inevitably being something like a noblewoman, as you referenced!

Though of course there was a lot of intermingling here, especially in the earliest years of European exploration here, back when it was mostly just fur trappers and the like who were meeting with the native population, prior to statehood.

Humbly apologize. I didn't notice your post while glancing through thread early this morning.
Yes, there are many Blacks in Louisiana, so it shouldn't be surprising that a fair number of "White" people whose ancestors have been here for more than 200 years could have some African ancestry. In reading about it, back in the colonial period down here (before it became part of the United States) there was a lot of race mixing, whites, blacks, various Indian tribes.

I had to pay a company to get the information. I paid them, then they sent a package with a tube that I had to spit into, close and shake, then put in an envelope to send to the lab. It took about 2 months to get results back.

Didn't notice, right.
What's the name of the company? & again, what about the other 70+%? Tell.

.

Took throttle body off and took apart cleaned it thoroughly, trying to catch this kickdown, sputter problem thats been rampant for a while waiting on my brother to test tps, iac and upstream 02 sensor. bogs down, then surges back to normal and fine the rest of the trip though the throttle body might needpretty much rained everyday since last thursday so havent had much time outside beside work

Past few days...

Couple of concerts----Bach's Matthew Passion on Thursday and Dvořák's Stabat Mater (piano version) on Saturday----and a book launch on Friday.

Luckily there was Sunday to recuperate from this flurry of activity... 

Actually, I've been in mourning ever since "The Word" got voted out of the Beatles Survivor thingie. I was hoping it was fake news, but no. ;D

Glad to hear you and yours escaped the worst of the weather, Elizabeth.

They seemed to have missed that the word was Love.

Went to store early to get supplies for today. Family and friends are here for the next few days.
Made crawfish pie. Put it into the oven for 45 minutes then went to talk to everyone a while. Conversation was good except for a few minutes when one of my sisters and my Mom got on the subject of the dreaded "P" word. Did everything possible to change the subject to something less incendiary.
After 45 minutes went to oven to take out pie. Everyone was hungry for it. But, oh no, in setting the time to cook it, I inadvertently had turned off the oven. Ack! So I had to turn it on, get it back up to the right temperature, then set for another 45 minutes, all the while apologizing profusely.
Finally it was finished cooking and the pie turned out very well.

Spent the rest of the afternoon talking about food customs. One of our guests, of German heritage, said that his specialty was Stollen, a specialty bread traditionally served around Christmas.
As the evening progressed I did food prep for the crab/shrimp stuffed mirlitons (a type of squash). Cut up plenty red bell pepper, celery and onions.
Calling it a night. Have to get up super early tomorrow to boil the mirlitons.

Ate a boiled egg. Watched Love & Mercy for the first time.

How was it? (Love and Mercy, that is).

Had to do lots of cleaning up today. Princess the cat got into one of her "spells" and started darting back and forth across the room. Then I heard a loud crash. A canister of very potent catnip crashed to the floor, the top of it popped open, and the ceiling fan helped whip the stuff across the floor. Five cats even crazier than normal.

My oldest sister called and said that the marquee outside the country store had changed. At one time, the store advertised the following available for purchase:

ICE CREAM
WORMS

(Yummy. Do you like worms?)

Now, under new management they are trying something new. So it's now:

SNOBALLS
INSURANCE

Have started reading a book, "Word by Word'" written by someone who works for an American dictionary company.
Described the work environment as "I want to sit alone in a cubicle all day and think about words and not really talk to anybody else. That sounds great!" There are times when that sounds very appealing.
Was musing about this when I heard a crash. Mom had dropped her glass of milk on the floor. All I could think to say was, "Don't cry over spilt milk," as BooBoo the dog, permanent member of our Cleanup Crew, lapped the milk up.
After cleaning that I went to clean up in the kitchen and proceeded to make a mess of that as well.

Will continue my binge watching of the TV show The West Wing, read a little more, then call it a night,
Hopefully I'll also get over a headache caused by caffeine withdrawal.

Don't know if I want to purchase insurance at the same place as snoballs (ice shaved very finely and covered with flavored syrup and perhaps cream)

:lol

A most entertaining post, E. You've abandoned coffee? Is that wise?

Yes, L&M was quite an experience. I got the DVD for my birthday last April and the moment had never been right to watch it----until yesterday, after finishing one job and before starting another. Some brilliant music in there, courtesy of Atticus Ross and some band...

No, I haven't abandoned coffee, but only drink it occasionally. I love cafe au lait, the traditional way coffee (or coffee and chickory) is drunk here. I don't drink it more often due to my having problems with dairy products. Have never been able to get used to black coffee unless it's loaded with lots of sugar, not good.

No, the caffeine came from diet soft drinks that I started drinking again over the past couple of weeks. Don't know why I drank them except that they were readily available.
When I stopped them cold turkey, not only have I had headaches from being away from the caffeine, I also had really bad aches and pains throughout my body.
Was it from the fake sugar? Or the other chemicals in sodas? Whatever it is, soft drinks are now anathema - no more!

Will stick to water and tea, occasionally juice, from now on.

On the subject of coffee, I have recently noticed that anything more than a cup of coffee makes gives me more anxiety than usual (and I have enough of it as it is!). I still love the taste, but I only ever brew a cup when i need a little pick-me-up. Maybe I'll scout out some decaf options, too.

And I'm glad you got around to watching L&M. I have the DVD as well as the soundtrack CD and vinyl—did I go overboard?

Today, I have gone for a run and made breakfast for my better half and me—veggie scramble and toast. He's off to work soon, so I'm gonna have to figure out what to do with myself...

Took advantage of probably one of the last gorgeous days here - by next week it will start getting borderline hot.
Did some gardening. Planted 8 milkweeds, doing my bit to help the monarch butterflies, who use the milkweed as their major food source. And other butterflies, moths, bees and hummingbirds love the flowers as well.

Harvested some cucumbers and cherry tomatoes from my garden, which were used in a dinner salad. Don't know if I've ever tasted better tomatoes, so flavorful.

Wow. You have Monarchs. In the UK, where they are an occasional visitor, they also call them Milkweeds:

http://www.butterfly-guide.co.uk/help/monmig.htm

And yes, nothing tastes better than homegrown produce!

Yesterday my wife and I celebrated King's Day by buying and eating oysters amidst the general festivities and then drinking a glass of white wine at the local lake...   

Very interesting article.
It is sad, however, that the Monarchs that make it to the UK probably don't survive the migration when the days get shorter.

We have a long bridge over our Lake Pontchartrain (The Causeway, 38.6 km). During October it's fun seeing all the Monarchs migrating south - it looks like they're using the bridge as a guide, as it's north/south

Sometimes I envy your climate, being able to be harvesting vegetables already. (Of course, the heat and humidity would just kill me, so other times I don't envy you.) We're only in the past few weeks seeing signs of plant life, with grass going from a brownish-grey to green, the trees and shrubs budding, and tulips, at least, flowering. In the garden, my chives are going strong, and rhubarb, strawberries, thyme, savory, and oregano are beginning to show rebirth. Mint, rosemary, and sage still look like brown skeletons. And it's too soon to plant any annuals, so my parsley, cilantro, basil, tomatoes, chilis, and such are at least a couple weeks from even going into the ground, much less being harvested.

Yes, it gets pretty unbearable by August, and the heat restricts what we can grow - mainly just hot peppers, eggplant and okra, maybe a little squash. And tulips don't rebloom down here. One time bloom, then throw it in the compost pile.
I've never lived in the Far North, but did live in central North Carolina for a couple of years, There's something to be said for a four season climate. How everything is dead looking in winter, then spring is so incredibly beautiful. Makes one appreciate it more.
It gets a little boring, funny to say, down here. In the "dead of winter" there are all sorts of flowers in bloom.
Although it's nice to be able to grow lettuce, chard and (of course) kale.

Oh my. Watching TV right now. My thoughts are with those poor souls going through the floods and tornadoes in the central US.

Happy cinco de mayo

Thanks, W. And the same to you, amigo.

What have I been doing? Swapping weird egg jokes with OSD. :lol

Rebuilding one of my old bmx bikes ;D
2000 Dyno Compe, all original beside the rear tire and rim. I also have a 95 Compe im leaving as is 97 VFR and a 98 Air(next springs project)
The chromes been blasted off :P. handlebars and fork GM black pearl auto paint and the frames gonna be marble. Black then silver  to get the marble effect and topped with Chrysler moss green pearl auto paint. The decals i havent decided like any nos,oe parts the prices can be ridiculous so i think im going to make stencils of the original decals and airbrush them on :smokin 
todays day 3 of endless rain so i cant do much
(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/664465/IMG_0591_zpssbve7tm9.jpg)
(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i262/664465/IMG_0589_zpsa3zovifb.jpg)

Nice, I was lucky to get a mongoose 1990s bike from my uncle! P.S- poor Whammer.

Really cool, do you know which model?  old school bmx bikes are great, todays style are toooo small and weird looking to me plus the prices for a new bmx bike, i can build 2/3 retro Dyno/GT's.
Watched the cavs, picked at various projects throughout the day including the compe, pretty relaxing day

Whammer was the coolest mascot the CAVS ever had, moondogs repulsively boring running around the Q banging on a drum ::)

Not much today. Worked a couple of crossword puzzles and deciphered the daily coded message in the paper (it was about Mothers).
Finished a book - a well done, albeit depressing one - The Road to Jonestown. Got to find something uplifting after that.
Read that on this day in 1869 the US Transcontinental Railroad was completed. So the Iron Horse could run unimpeded from sea to shining sea.

I can imagine that was a depressing read. I remember reading about it when it happened----those images are hard to shake off.

We have a thing in the paper called (in translation) "in the middle", where a topical word or name appears once the rest of the puzzle has been solved. Very obsessive!      

Yes, depressing.
But also something I obsess over and have to read everything about. Next year will be the 40th anniversary.
I wonder, if there, would I have "drunk the Kool Aid"? (actually, it was a cheaper drink mix used, Flavor Aid)

Am also obsessed over puzzle games. I use them to gauge my mental abilities, to work these old brain cells.
Sometimes we have puzzle games like the one you describe. Lots of fun.

Today should be interesting listening to local radio. Don't know if you're familiar with our Confederate statue controversy, but one of the statues was taken down a couple of hours ago.
Yesterday I was reading some posts on a US Civil War message board I follow. There were photos of a Civil War re-enactment, where people dress up in uniforms and costumes. Curiously, this re-enactment took place in Russia, the photo looked like it could have been here. What gave it away, however, was the dog. Here it would have been a Bloodhound or something similar. In this picture, however, it was a Borzoi!
The leader of the group, from Moscow, said he was so interested in the Civil War because of the outcome - why wasn't General Robert E Lee or Confederate President Jefferson Davis executed?
These two "traitors" had statues erected in their honor in New Orleans. The Davis statue was the one taken down just now,

Listened to CBS Radio Mystery Theater, this ep: http://www.cbsrmt.com/episode-4-lost-dog.html

I didn't plan it but you know the way it goes like - start searching sth. & end up with sth. else. I went to check the Hitchcock collected shorts by various writers, read descriptions & got interested in "Lost Dog". The guy in radio starts with saying it's written by Henry Slesar specially for RMT. I didn't listen to it before as I'm used to the visual acting but now I think I will. It's cool to hear the actors play. They do it really well.

Sic 'em, Attila!  :-D

Remember these radio shows back in the 70s; they played on our local CBS network station. Good to see that they are available to listen to again.

As for yours truly, was dodging raindrops and tornadoes today. As in so many times lately, we weren't supposed to have any severe weather so this was a surprise. A small tornado hit close to my sister's house in suburban New Orleans - a trampoline ended up on someone's roof.

Favorite play?

Last night I put all my stick insects in the garden. There must have been at least 100 in the aquarium and they were eating me out of house and home. Anyway, the outdoor temperature is high enough now, with no further chance of frost. So the ones that don't get eaten by birds (or frogs) will have a good half a year out there (they never survive even the mildest winters in this part of the world). 

I've been breeding them for years on and off but I won't be doing it again. All good things must come to an end...   

Favorite play?
[/quote]

I will have to go through the list to remember the ones I liked. I wasn't able to listen to it every night, but intermittently over the years.

Spoke to my Mother this morning about radio shows. Her favorite was "Inner Sanctum."
On hot summer nights people would sit out on the outside steps and listen to the radio.

Here's one, Mari, that you might like. The episode is called " The Wailing Wall." 
During the broadcast there are several amusing advertising breaks for Lipton Tea.
The Cat saw everything.

 ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWDLTlk7ETE

I've never seen them here, have only seen photos of them. They're fascinating to look at.
Do they eat the "bad" bugs?

Today was Mother's Day here, so took Mom out to lunch.
I've passed by this place loads of times over the years, but it was the first time ever at the Degas House.
The artist, Edgar Degas, lived there 1872-73. His mother was from here, and lots of relatives were still here as well.

At our table, I saw a painting Degas had done - it was of the room we were in. It looked exactly the same, down to the yellow walls.
By great luck, the painting right next to us was a reproduction of "L'Absinthe", one of Degas most famous, or infamous, works.  I could look at that painting for hours - what is that woman thinking? And that guy?
Mom had never seen that painting before, and she was utterly fascinated. She made me laugh as she talked about the woman's bad taste in hats. And her shoes! (Quite frankly I had never noticed them before). With Mom only having one good eye, she thought that the woman was wearing running shoes! From an angle, it did sort of look like that. I mused that she wanted to be able to run away quickly if necessary, although at that moment she wasn't going anywhere soon, being in "la la land" due to that potent green stuff, Absinthe.

Mom was still talking about the painting tonight. She felt sorry about the woman, and, as a former psychiatric nurse, she was quick to notice the hat and shoes.

It was a great day overall, except that it looks like poison ivy got me again after doing some gardening. My left ear is crusty and oozing, and it's spread over the left side of my face. Will have to see doctor.

They only eat plants, so they're not much of a help really. But as I say, this is the last time. I once bred them ten years on the trot (taking in three at the end of the year for the next batch) until the new neighbours pulled down the hedge...

[Deleted. Today's discovery: favorite="not great but okay". Weird ::)]

A strange day overall.
Started off okay, harvesting lots of vegetables from the garden.

But then, like so many in my city, I kept a close eye on live feeds from downtown. An event was happening that has caused much emotional responses from all.
The last of the Confederate era monuments was coming down. This one was Robert E Lee.
It has really saddened me reading posts of a vicious, racist nature, primarily from people who don't live here.
It was weird having that statue come down as it's been there since the 1880s and the roundabout was called Lee Circle. However, for 100 years before that it was called other things including Tivoli Circle, and now it will be renamed again. That's the way it is.

Glad that I'll be able to get away from this in a couple of days, as I'm going to a wedding in Asheville, North Carolina. The mountain air will do me good, clear my brain.

Tonight I got the urge to listen online to acapella choral music - by Mozart, Barber, Britten, Debussy, Rutter, Byrd,etc etc. I had sung these in various choirs over the years. Might post some of them - they're all incredible and show the beauty of the human voice. I figure that Beach Boys fans would appreciate that.

Please do, Elizabeth. You're welcome to use my "classical" topic if you need a home for them...

Thanks, I just posted a couple of Ave Verums.

Leaving in just a little while to go to the mountains for the rest of the week.
Can post more songs when I get back.

Okay, great. Have fun in the mountains.

Drove with a Traveling Companion (TC) from Birmingham, Alabam to Asheville North Carolina.

During the first part we listened to the BBC World Service and their coverage of the Manchester tragedy. There was a vigil service held, and at the end, part of Barber's Adagio for Strings was played.
During the broadcast word came of Sir Roger Moore's passing. My TC said that her father (a local Jazz musician) turned down a small part in the movie Live and Let Die.
I took the driving route to avoid the mess in Atlanta. Instead we went through a mess in Chatanooga, Tennessee. But it allowed me to see some advertisements. Do you know there is an "International Towing and Recovery Museum"? Guess it has a Repo Man Hall of Fame?

Going off the interstate north of Chatanooga, we then drove on an older highway that ran parallel to a river, with lots of rapids in places. There were people having fun in their rafts. I decided to change the radio to the "Spa Channel" which played soft music to match the beautiful scenery. One of the songs played was "A Song of Enchantment" by Libera. Wow!

We got to Asheville, checked in and had a nice dinner with other friends at a nearby restaurant.
My niece and her husband to be were discussing whether rain on their wedding day would bring good or bad luck.
The wedding is tomorrow morning. Forecast - Rain...   ::)

The wedding was rather dreamlike. We were at a mountain chapel, in the clouds, misty. We all agreed that the only thing missing was bagpipes.  :)

The following night I had a dream that I was walking by a building and a brass band was rehearsing "Trombone Dixie." Thought I heard someone who sounded like Brian giving instructions.
So that tune was in my head. Another ear worm was the first part of "Holidays" from TSS.
Had a wonderful time shopping at a calligraphy shop and another place specializing in Weather and Astronomy items.

After reading the SS posts about Dennis and that movie he was in (have never seen it so don't know if he could "act" or not), I woke up this morning to the ear worm of the chorus for Slip On Through.
Will be home tomorrow. Back to reality.

Wow. Quite a musical trip, by the sound of things. ;=)

Went to Farmer's Market and got a bunch of sweet, very juicy peaches. Plus blueberries, blackberry preserves, and fish (black drum).

Then the heavens opened with torrential rain. Good weather to listen to music, I'm subscribed for the time being to Amazon Music so want to take advantage of all the albums available.
Listened to the new mix of Sgt Pepper. Although I no longer care for some of the songs, the music sounded terrific.
Who knows why, but I decided to listen to all of Dylan's 60s albums. Last night I listened to his first "Bob Dylan", then today to the incredible Freewheeling recording.

Also decided to listen to "Days of Future Passed." My sister had bought that in the early 70s and played it constantly. However she must have only played side 2 since I don't remember ever hearing the first few songs.
Have always gotten upset with how Pinder says the last line of the lament.
He says "But we decide what is right / and which IS an illusion?"
I think it should be "But we decide what is right / and which is an ilLUsion?"
Yes, I've got too much time on my hands  :lol

'
Doesn't he say, "But we decide which is right / and which is an illusion"?

Someone else with two much hands on their time. ;D

 :lol

Also listened to some of the BBs Hawthorne compilation.
Love how Brian pronounces "huarache" on the Surfin USA demo

Elizabeth, busy doin nothing...

US baseball player Jimmy Piersall passed away. He was mainly known for publicizing his mental illness in his book, "Fear Strikes Out."
I watched the 1957 movie adaptation this afternoon. Anthony Perkins played Piersall, and Karl Malden played his overbearing father.
After being hospitalized for a good while he eventually was able to play Major League Baseball again. He was later diagnosed as being bi-polar.
Read a quote from him today -"Probably the best thing that ever happened to me was going nuts. Who ever heard of Jimmy Piersall, until that happened?"

Continued my Dylan listenings, today was Another Side of Bob Dylan, featuring songs such as All I Really Want to Do, My Back Pages, and It Ain't Me, Babe.

On the Hoffman music board someone asked which were favorite songs from TLOS. I'll take any excuse to listen to that recording again.
Just finished it. Going to bed now.

Was on the road until early afternoon. Listened to a bit of the US hearings involving former FBI head James Comey. I was surprised to hear a line from one of my favorite films, Becket. The line was "Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?" Comey quoted it and the US Rep responded, yes, that was what Henry II said shortly before Becket was assassinated.

Driving home I found out that there's a radio station that's playing Beach Music for the next month or so. I love that music which I heard while living in North Carolina in the early 80s. It's R and B, and the dance associated with it is the Shag. Will post a couple of favorites on the Old Record thread.

Went to a garden center and created a miniature garden in a pot using succulents, different colored gravels, and miniature cats and frogs. Fun and relaxing!

Going to bed now. Hope I can shake off a toothache.

Drove home from Birmingham, Alabama, where I had been attending a Sacred Harp convention, (a type of shape note singing, 4 parts acapella).
On the way home my traveling companion played Sacred Harp music, then Gilbert & Sullivan, then finally 1920s Jazz.
After dropping her off, went home to discover that my copy of BW Live at the Roxy arrived.
Had to drive back to Mississippi and thoroughly enjoyed listening to Brian and his band.
Now relaxing, listening to the frogs and crickets. Making their own music.

I've had about 7 hours of sleep in the past two nights, so I feel a bit crazy. I've had a little wine... determined to fall asleep. I miss my better half :(

Well, M, let's hope auf wiedersehen gets back to you soon. And tell him "Freundliche Grüße" from me. :smokin

Crazy day. Tried to calm down one of my sisters who is really anxious about this tropical storm we're going through.
Turned on the 60s station and they played Catch a Wave. Then turned on TV to hear warning for everyone to avoid going out in the water due to dangerous rip currents.

We're getting absolutely hammered right now. High winds, heavy rain. Squalls.
I'm a little bit anxious, quite frankly.
This isn't supposed to end until at least Thursday afternoon.

Stay safe, E.

Went to our place in the woods (about an hour's drive from here).
We had put out cardboard traps because of a growing problem with field mice getting in the house. We used to have a couple of cats there - one was a champion mouser - but they're with us now and as they say, When the cat's away, the mice will play. If the only didn't play on our beds -  >:(
Well, I noticed that one of the traps was occupied, and not just with a mouse. Stuck in the trap was a rat snake! I got in touch with my sister who came over and helped open up the box. The snake's head was stuck in the glue. Working gingerly, trying to soothe the snake (it's okay snaky snaky, we're trying to help you; he wasn't buying that) we got virtually all the paper off, his eyes and mouth were clear, and he quickly slithered away.
Now have to call a company to plug up the openings to the house!

Also am getting finalized with some miniature gardening projects. One will be a beach theme, another is an "octopus' garden" and will try to make that Beatle-esque.

Eek! That's amazing. Rat Snakes are non-venomous, I see, but they can be quite big!

Last night I finally got round to watching Alexander Nevsky. And quite an exhausting experience it was too. Eisenstein wasn't one for half-measures...   

I tried relaxing, and here I am (it means I succeeded, because I haven't posted here in forever!).

Today I was having a discussion with a neighbor about staying healthy and couldn't remember when was the last time I was actually sick. Then later I remembered that the last time I was sick I spent the day "ranking the tracks" on this site, which kept my mind busy while I was couped up in the house (even though I only mentioned that it was a day off and it was raining...but I had the flu which totally sucked for it being a day off). Best time I ever had being sick! And wow I haven't been sick since 2014! I must be doing something right.  :afro

Just finished watching it. The quality of the sound wasn't very good but still a stirring soundtrack.
In the big battle sequence I thought, where have I heard that music before? Then remembered - the war scene in Woody Allen's Love and Death.
Would like to see it again, with a better print of the film.

Same here. Abominable sound but everything else makes up for it. This is said to be a better version:

https://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Nevsky-Nikolai-Cherkassov/dp/630513104X

The electricity went out due to frequent rain & lightning. It made presence yesterday when I sat to write in this thread. To be in safety, people must unplug the fridge, TV, computer etc. during it. Today now it's sunny - favorite type weather. The frequent rain's annoying, it makes everybody bored, some dumb people decided to walk in the rain, they even laughed. Their problem if they start coughing & sneezing. "Columbo" series don't show by Fridays-Sundays. Therefore, today's plan to see is documentary about some guy arriving to cities to help the local hotels from going bankrupt - by rebuilding, new standards, new furniture, dealing with administrators, doing the right talks with people who threatened to shut down the hotel etc. It's interesting. The cat lies in his basket with orange checkers & rounds in bright yellow background - good friendly colors.

Yes, indeed, don't mess with electrical storms. Lightning can cause some serious problems.
Many years ago, a lightning strike at our country place caused one of our light bulbs to explode. Very impressive!

Have been dealing with the weather. Yesterday we started having some rain, then some more, more, more, more...  20+ cm worth in 3 hours!
Lots of flooding and lots of angry people in the city today.

I took a video of our neighborhood late yesterday afternoon. Sounds like I ingested some helium LOL; my speaking voice is usually lower!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Exyy83N9U0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Exyy83N9U0)

Wow, E. That's bad. I hope Trump sees this and the other vids...

Yes, the weather's been wacko everywhere. There was flooding in Las Vegas yesterday, also in Los Angeles a couple of days ago.

Paying a ton of money to fix my car.... :'(

Drove to a sister's house to watch TV of the eclipse in the US. Down here the eclipse was 75%, enough to darken the sky just a bit and confuse the crickets into starting their noisy racket. It was great watching the total eclipse events moving west to east throughout the country.
Another one of my sisters left at 3:30 in the morning from Laurel, Maryland, and drove about 700 km to Greenville, South Carolina, where she saw the total eclipse in a parking lot. When over, she got back in her car and drove back to Maryland!

Was thinking about songs relating to planets, the sun, moon, stars etc, Decided to play 8.

 Solar System - Beach Boys
How High the Moon - Les Paul/Mary Ford
Moonshadow- Cat Stevens
Shining Star - Earth, Wind and Fire
Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
Moondance- Van Morrison
Here Comes the Sun - Beatles
The Warmth of the Sun - Beach Boys

That's interesting, E. I have this "Crazy 8" topic at my other board (my other other board these days) and I was just planning one of eight titles with the word "planet" in them.

Today, however, I made Milk Bottle Man. He has since joined Baker Man and Toothbrush Man on the shelf in the living room.

All three gentlemen are made of Lego. Baker Man relocates to the kitchen top when a new loaf is to be taken out of the freezer that night. Toothbrush Man is to remind me to brush the dog's teeth every evening at eight after the news on TV.

Like Baker Man, Milk Bottle Man is to relocate to the kitchen top when there's only one packet of milk left and we need to buy more.

I'll add a snapshot of this unlikely trio some time.   

Yes, please post that if you can.
We have a Lego club at one of our libraries. There's an age restriction - no one under 21 years of age can attend because booze is served. Bet by the end of the afternoon there are some interesting Lego creations!

I'm sure these are very primitive in comparison (booze or no booze) but all they do is convey a message. Regrettably Baker Man's rolling pin went missing a while back and now he's stuck with a plank. That's Toothbrush Man in the middle, if you hadn't already guessed. Milk Bottle Man's platform soles are a reference to the days when milk came in bottles rather than cartons...    

(https://s30.postimg.org/e76o151mp/IMG_0858.jpg)

Cool!

Ah, milk in glass bottles. Don't remember getting them at our house, just remember cartons.
However, my Grandmother would get the glass bottles. Her milk wasn't homogenized so the cream was at the top. When we visited her we would fight over who would get the cream. Good memories.

Today 1st September is Knowledge Day celebrated annually - school kids galore walking with parents, flowers, dressed in classic black & white, polished shoes. Elder kids - 8th-11th graders (there's no 12th grade here) walk alone. They go to school yard to listen to microphone speech by principal/ teachers.

As I walked way back home, some girl was just about passing me by. Till that time, I didn't look at people who pass by - I went with ear buds & the sun shining brightly, you know it's very difficult to see the phone if it's sunny, I wanted to break password to access to music to play it again (it stopped). I began walking slowly to gaze at phone to see if I write down the right password.

When finished, the very absolutely beautiful girl passed me by. She wore LBD (little black dress) with 3/4 sleeves & white embroidered collar. She had black straight hair waving in the breeze &...She smiled to me! It wasn't mocking smile but very kind, warm, sincere & joyful. As if she was too happy that day & she wanted to share it with me (well, people - maybe she's just smiley). Usually I don't look back - I walk forward. But this time I nearly did. But I didn't. But I still rmbr her face & the smile. Isn't it good beginning to day? It creates positivity, that everything'll be alright. Maybe it's strange to say but looking at beautiful people lifts spirits.

This evoked a gorgeous picture in my mind, thanks for sharing :)

It reminds me of what Audrey Hepburn said... "Happy girls are the prettiest" or something like that. A random smile from a beautiful stranger is a sweet thing, to be sure.

Today I (in deliberation with my wife) reorganized a corner of the living room in such a way that the door to a cupboard crammed with hundreds of classical LPs can be easily accessed without clambering over furniture and then only being able to peer in through a crack at the contents. A whole new world opens up!

I had one just now (I think). I was waiting to cross the road with my dog, or rather waiting for a break in the traffic in both directions (an extra precaution as it's dark) when a girl cycled past and looked interestedly at the dog. I looked back a bit later and she smiled a big smile as she cycled on.

Of course,
A) she might have been smiling at the dog, or
B) she knew me and I just didn't recognize her, haha.

Last day of paving was yesterday another season over ;D, finally got in a factory 2 weeks ago after a month background check and drug screen, great company that works 3 shifts and saturday overtime, work for years to come! no more coal industry for me :lol  weird though since 75% of employees there are temps and watching a new batch come in everyday and half quit by first break really shows how lazy young americans are. Relaxed all day today back to the grind tomorrow

That's good news, SRGF. :=)

Today I watched our garage (whose building we share with the next-door neighbours) being topped off with a green roof. And to our great joy a green roof also appeared on the neighbours' supremely ugly annex. The garage roof needed repairing (it was leaking) and the green topping was our idea, not theirs. But they certainly warmed to the idea. There's one more green-roofed annex (and shed) in our street so let's hope the trend continues!

Saturday went to celebrate my cat's feline pal's birthday. Prepared good gift - the old cat basket, the cutie didn't like it anyway. The lady, boithday boy's master, was gleeful as she never bought basket to her cat. But now says it's good idea. Was going to bring my dwarf friend Daiana with me, said it'll be fun. She refused by inventing some excuse that she's very busy. But we're cool as cool goes.

That's the spirit, RR. :=)

Today I finished off the (for me) crippling business of insulating the convector radiator tray (my idea). I found some ancient just-about-usable foil in the attic for the last corner, rather than forking out for a whole new roll. So all 's well that ends etc.

Actually yesterday (see previous post).

I managed to find someone computer-savvy who could locate the hard disk in my old dismantled PC and render it unusable.

Now I can take the thing to the dump with a clear conscience. ;D

Carved out a pumpkin lantern (my one concession to Hallowe'en, which has no tradition at all in this country).

Rejoined my old band for one gig (my successor left after the booking had been made). Fun, but not to be repeated. ;D

Trying to relax today after stressful day yesterday.
Reading two books, one on Dylan’s spirituality and the other a new biography of Gordon Lightfoot.
After some reading I played Lightfoot’s If You Could Read My Mind album. Superb. The bio pointed out that for this album VDP played the harmonium on one song.
After lunch, a lot of housework to be done. Put on the Deep Tracks satellite channel, and by some great luck it had on a program about the Toronto music scene. I mopped, swept and cleaned out cat litter to Neil Young, The Band, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot and Steppenwolf.
After dinner, more laundry and dishes to do, interspersed with more reading and music.

Hope you managed to relax, E.

That must be "Cobwebs And Dust". Ry Cooder also plays mandolin on it. Wonderfully subtle texture to this song.

Source: https://www.superseventies.com/lightfoot.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3JdTDKdHeg

Thanks. Mom had a fall (she’s okay).
Cobwebs and Dust. Housework. Although I wasn’t sweeping up those yesterday. Dog hair, cat hair balls (even though I give the cats food that’s supposed to prevent them). Cleaning up after cats who love to play the game, “I wonder what will happen if I knock this over?” LOL

Right now thinking of those poor worshippers in Sutherland Springs. Twenty-seven dead. Ye gods.

Happy Thanksgiving to the US SSers!

Been goofy on my end. My sister is hosting the Thanksgiving lunch. I volunteered to make the cranberry sauce, apple and pecan pies, and mirlitons (a type of squash popular down here), stuffed with crabmeat,
Went to the store and got all the items. My sister lives in the country and it was decided for my Mom and I to stay the night in our house in the woods next door to my sister's. That meant that I would have to haul everything up there.
I packed everything (or so I thought).
We drove out of town and Mom said what are you stuffing the mirlitons with? I said "crabmeat" then went d'oh, forgot to pack the crabmeat! There was a town about an hour away- I couldn't afford more crabmeat so got a pound of boiled shrimp.
Peeled, cored and sliced the apples. Realized that I had forgotten to bring the cranberries...
This morning I was making the Dutch apple pie and realized that I forgot the brown sugar. Arghh. Fortunately there was a little store open not too far away that happened to have brown sugar. So was able to finish it and put in oven. Next up, the pecan pie. Guess you can figure it out - forgot the pecans!
Although it is different with the boiled shrimp (which were seasoned) was able to get the mirlitons done.
Now helping Mom with gravy then we'll be going next door for lunch.
A little crazy so far but should be nice to see sisters and nephews again . Just hope for no politics but that might be asking too much.

Took it easy today. Sent to coffeehouse and read some of Dylan's Chronicles Volume One. He's in my city in 1989 trying to record an album, but so far the "chemistry" isn't there. Will he, producer Lanois and musicians finally click?

Avoided all shopping areas as it was Black Friday here in the US. It's called that because businesses hope that the sales will put them in the black (make a profit) for the year. Better than being in the red. Every year there are reports of fighting as customers are all trying to get at a particular item (usually some electronic device).

Sad. And now there's Black Friday Week! :lol

This insanity has wafted over to the Netherlands: "Black Friday sales until the end of the month".

Black Friday is a joke now.   Most stores run Black Friday specials all Thanksgiving weekend, and some run even better deals as Christmas gets closer.   

Now, there's also Cyber Monday which is today, for online Christmas shopping. 

Yesterday evening I got the last bits and bobs ready for today's Sinterklaas festivities while listening to a YouTube mix of Denny's music to celebrate the man's birthday. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas

That sounds like a fun tradition!
I'm trying to get into the "spirit of the season."

It's pledge time for the public television stations. To get people to send in money they schedule special programming.
Last night, with the dog at my feet and Mr Fuzzy purring on my lap, I watched Carole King perform Tapestry at Hyde Park. At one point she stood up and said "This is what 74 looks like." She looked good and sounded great.
 following this was the Moody Blues performing some hits, then the whole of Days of Future Passed. I was trying to harmonize but sounded awful; thankfully kitty didn't attack me!
Very enjoyable (and yes, I pledge money every month to the station).

Maybe now Carole sings it better but back then, 1971 Tapestry, she failed to impress me. It's the album I dubbed "Didn't like it 1st time - never will". Songs not my bag, ditto voice.

Back at work full time

Wonderful!  :woot

But give her props for the album cover- the cat!  :-)

Best news in a while.

Yes, m'am, you're right, m'am. :police: Btw, to my taste, Carole King isn't pretty. Then again, curly hair makes anybody look dorky. :-D

I've been going through a hair crisis recently. Dyed my hair dark auburn on Tuesday, on Wednesday decided I hated it and bleached it out to a horrific yellow orange color, and then got it done to close my natural shade of light brown this morning. As a result, I haven't gotten much sleep.

The view from my kitchen window an hour ago:

(https://s33.postimg.org/izmc84akv/IMG_0964.jpg)

It's beautiful! Can you tell what tree is it?

Thanks! We're very happy with it too. It's the autumn (or winter) flowering cherry:

(http://www.whatgrowsthere.com/grow/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Prunus-Autumnalis.jpg)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3345615/Winter-beauty-Prunus-x-subhirtella-Autumnalis.html

Cherry trees are beautiful. The ones around here bloom in early Spring.

Went to the store and heard a lame cover of Little Saint Nick. The singer sang Run Run Reindeer in such a way as to not spur them on but with the result of keeping them stuck in neutral gear.

Opened a box of battery powered Christmas lights. On the list of instructions, obviously not written by a native English speaker, was the following:
 "6. To avoid the batteries and wiring dip into water." Oooookaaay!

Then heard on a TV show how much a donkey liked John Stamos, will leave it at that...

Lovely post, E. :=)

Was reading about the Doors' final concert which took place in my city on 12 December 1970. Jim Morrison was a mess by that time and during one of the songs suddenly became catatonic. The rest of the band left for a while until he recovered, at which time he went on a tirade, banging the microphone stand into The Warehouse's stage floor with such force that it created a hole (which at least for some years was not repaired due to its musical historic importance).
The rest of the band decided that there would be no more concerts, and a few months later Morrison met his end in Paris. What a sorry business.

Today I accompanied the younger classes at my grandkids' school on the piano for their Christmas sing-song.

This unlikely trio has now been joined by Meatball Man, who appears on the kitchen top when I need to buy more mincemeat for my little doggie (for his daily meatball).

(https://s31.postimg.org/5zviob9bv/IMG_0986.jpg)

JK, your dog gets a daily meatball? LOL. Love the Legos.

Happy New Year to everyone.

It's cold down here, forecast to be below freezing tonight. I have two beautiful poinsettia bushes that I had to cut back and cover up in an effort to keep them alive. We're supposed to have 5 nights in a row with below freezing temperatures, at least two with "hard freezes" (-5 C). With the hard freezes we have to worry about water pipes freezing, as the homes are raised up and the pipes exposed.
Do any of you have names for your trees, shrubs or other plants? I've had a huge clump of lemongrass for several years that will probably meet its end with the cold weather. I have harvested a little bit of it but there's so much of it now. Looking at it I immediately thought "Bob", as in Dylan's hair back in the day. Later on thought maybe I should have called it "Tina" instead after Ms Turner. Anyway Bob/Tina will soon be no more.

Tomorrow will cook a traditional New Years dinner of black eyed peas and cabbage.

Ha! You reply too late to JK's post. :P

New Year to me is just change of calendar, really. I didn't decorate house, didn't buy tree. Besides, what good will it do to buy fake tree? Maybe in America they sell real tree here & there - it's land of possibilities. But here only if you live in the village, with nature - then you can cut it & bring home. & it's really silly & pointless to decorate house with tinsel, bright toys when it's just me & cat. It's suitable for extended fam with kids & adults around. Still, bought postcard & gifts - to me & some selected relatives as I don't like everybody. I bet lotsa people sleeping right now after New Year night walk & fireworks. I didn't at all - if there's single day I can allow myself not to sleep, it's 31st December. :police:

Well, better late than never. Oh, forgot to add cornbread to the New Years menu.

Couldn't sleep New Years Eve night - our neighborhood will sound like a war zone soon and I need to stay awake to comfort the dog and cats who will be freaking out. Hearing some "bombing" now. Will start to get really crazy in about 3 hours or so.

Maybe I should watch the Thin Man movies that are on TV tonight. They might distract BooBoo as he would want to see Asta the dog.

Sounds familiar, E. Our dog started barking with the first firecracker yesterday morning and hardly stopped until way past midnight. Still, it's over now (except for a few losers out there this morning).

I hope it went OK where you are. I said it in my Welcome topic but I'll say it here too----Happy New Year to you and to everyone here. :=)   

2 Liz: Nice to see you catch after me & start talking fireworks. :police: Cool. Who taught you to plant flowers? Mother?

The fireworks were crazy but mostly ended around 0030.
Watched one of the Thin Man movies. BooBoo almost destroyed the TV when he got excited watching Asta run around the house with a piece of paper in his mouth, Nick and Nora trying to catch him to get the paper which contained a note.

As to gardens my Mom used to faithfully plant caladiums every year, then dig them up and store them in wintertime then plant again in the Spring. She also planted tulips every year. Unfortunately down here tulips are "one and done" they only bloom once, as opposed to cooler areas such as The Netherlands. Also in the Summer we had plenty daisies in the front yard.

She planted things but what did she do to teach you? Showed planting methods? Took you to help her in the summer house? Bought you thematic books?

It was mainly the love of flowers
She did teach me to add a bit of bone meal to the soil before planting bulbs.
We like to plant pretty flowers, zinnias, roses, camellias etc to bring in and make Mom happy as she can no longer do gardening.

Gardening is very relaxing. And I love the bees and butterflies

Liz, I like to get to bottom of things. You couldn't just love flowers & it taught you planting. It led you there but isn't knowledge itself. How did you get to be good at planting? Mother advised single thing (add meal to soil), then you looked at the other sources, what did you do - read books/ attended lectures about it/ enrolled in all-girls New Orleans planting club/ else?

Yep!  ;D

Mom taught me a lot of things. Don't think I need to list them all! She taught me about different bulbs and when to plant them here. Tulips had to be bought early and put in the refrigerator for a couple of months. She said that the ideal time to plant them was between Christmas and New Year's Day. However, the temperature had to be right. 10C would be good. Sometimes our temperatures at that time could be quite warm, 25C, and she would have to wait.

As I started cooking and crafts I learned about herbs and what could be grown here. Also learned not to pay attention to national magazines as they give wrong information for our area, not mentioning that we can grow vegetables all year round here, and what they say to plant in late spring (tomatoes for example) won't work in New Orleans. I usually put tomato seedlings in the ground in late February as the poor things can't handle the heat. And I learned that it's not how hot it gets during the day - it can get just as hot further north - but that it doesn't cool off enough at night. When I see that nighttime temperatures will be over 21C I know the winter and spring crops are kaput; that usually happens by late May.

There are classes I attend about improving the soil, good plants for shady spots, even how chickens can help in the garden by their eating the bad bugs that can cause problems. Also how to garden without chemicals. Which plants attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds.

Also good old "trial and error".

That should be enough for now, yes?  :)

Watched a documentary about the 1918 influenza outbreak.

Then, sitting in a comfortable chair in a very warm room, I fell asleep. In the dream I was outside when Al (looking like he did circa 1964) walked up. We played with a couple of cats, Al was laughing and having a great time, then I woke up.
Don't know why but Al is the BB who shows up the most in my dreams.

Now it's 2220 and I probably will have a lot of trouble getting back to sleep LOL.

It will do. Thanks, Lizetta. :D

Your dream brought back beautiful painting by Jane Lewis, "Laughing Cat" (https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a3/bd/1e/a3bd1e9af01788ab68c8ace3b8de21e0--jane-lewis-cat-illustrations.jpg)

Ah, that cat might be laughing, but it has that mischievous look in its eyes...
  :lol

Pet and owner look like fun-loving types to me. :=)

Yesterday our range cooker was turned off (for the annual checkup by its suppliers) so I cleaned it while it was cold (normally it's on 24/7). This operation included carefully scraping layers of congealed grease from the ceramic top with a special ultra-thin blade. And then we ate out----the thing takes an entire evening and night to reheat!   

I have been (and will be for some time) organizing and posting stuff I saved from our old Freeforums board, which had been
overrun by nasty Tapatalk and has since been wiped, save for a caustic goodbye note. We are now in a friendlier place. :=)

Survived nuclear annihilation.

Jesus, you were there for that... :-\

Yeah. The alert woke me up. I picked up my phone, thought "no way" and went back to sleep.

Nero fiddled at (mar lago) while Rome burned... ::)

One of my sisters flew in yesterday morning. Went out to lunch and spent pleasant afternoon catching up with things.
She went to the Moody Blues concert, as the weather started to go downhill. She got back home safely, dealing with icing on roads and sidewalks. She had taped some of the concert; the Moodies sounded great. But things were really starting to get bad, with the northern bridges leaving the city being closed. Wonder how the people at the concert who had to travel North to home fared?
All the interstates and almost all bridges are closed. How are the Moody Blues to get to their next gig in Sugarland, Texas (Houston area).
Right now New Orleans is pretty much cut off from the world, at least by auto. Glad my sister's flight is later today and hopefully she can get to the airport. Too cold for me! Brrr!

Are things that bad? Let's hope your sister's flight isn't cancelled. (I'm no fan of cold weather either.)

Yes, it's a mess. I know some people up north might snicker about it as our temperature is minus 7C. We had a bad freezing rain/sleet storm last night.
We don't have the means to deal with this weather as it happens so seldom.
The temperature isn't supposed to get above freezing until the afternoon , then it will possibly get even colder tonight.
I don't like weather this cold - other than a coat I have no winter clothes. Even during winter we usually don't need to wear a sweater except first thing in the morning.
Fortunately it will get back to normal winter weather by the weekend, with a low around 7C, high around 20C.

-7C is veeery good. Weird to complain about such warm winter. Here it's -35C. Soon there'll be sun shining. Sun in winter makes beautiful sense. Bored to see plain white snow.

I know. I saw something about a place in Russia that was -62C a few days ago. I guess with our temperatures they would consider it to be a heat wave!
Can't imagine dealing with such cold weather every day. I'd have to get a whole new wardrobe.

To add: Airlines canceled their flights until early afternoon. Why? Our airport doesn't have De-icing equipment so it would be too dangerous to fly. My sister's flight is supposed to leave at 1730 and it should be above freezing still although the temperature will be once again the freezing a couple of hours later.
Also, down here houses are raised up the ground and water pipes are exposed making them vulnerable to freezing then bursting when the weather warms up.

Update just in case anyone was curious -
The Moody Blues concert scheduled for tonight in the Houston area has been rescheduled for tomorrow night due to problems getting to the venue

Let it snow.... ::)

Counting down the days til spring, or better yet summer.   I detest winter.  I like a little bit of cold weather around Christmas, but as soon as midnight hits on Dec 26th, I'm done. 

Not a fan but detest is perhaps too strong a word in my case. I identify three milestones in Winter:

1. December 22nd, when the days start getting longer again
2. December 26th, when there are just two of us with all that left-over food   
3. New Year's Day, back to normal and a first step along the road to Spring ;D

Worked yesterday, Today, shoveled some snow, went to Wawa, went to a resale shop, let the dogs out twice, vacuumed, took a nap. Gym tomorrow with work again on Saturday.

Here's my winter timeline

September 23 - First day of fall.  Bummed to see summer ending.
October 1 - OK, crisp weather.  Cooler nights, not running the AC, firepits, whiskey neat, pumpkin spice coffee, the Halloween season.   I'm good. 
November 1 - Even cooler weather, getting ready for the warm and fuzzy holiday season. 
November 7 - Daylight Savings Time ends - Dark too soon.  Tired all of the time. 
November 25 - Thanksgiving is over.  Start decorating for Christmas, doing the festivities, listening to music.  Happy happy joy joy.  Stop counting calories.
December 21 - First day of winter.  The cold goes so well with the Christmas season.  Bundle up, grab a warm drink enjoy.
December 26 - What's this???  It's 21 degrees outside. 
January 2 -  F**K!!!!  Two and a half more months of winter.  Too cold.  Too dark.  I need to start dieting.  Summer's so far away.   

It's too cold. But, popular fact says people who live in really cold/ hot places eventually get used to it.

Few years back we cancelled the Daylight Savings Time. But even when we shifted time, I didn't see the difference. It's just hour. Not, say, 5 hours.

It may be just an hour, but it does make a difference.  It really doesn't take a whole lot to throw off a body's internal clock.  Especially if you go from leaving work in broad daylight to leaving work pitch black darkness.  I think at least two states in the US have done away with DST

Looks like in the U.S. daylight to pitch black changes fast, in hour. Here, it doesn't - it's dark regardless. Ditto flying to place with few hours' difference time zone. People usually complain they can't sleep & vice versa. But, I read that in fact, it's easier to adjust to the time in any place than it's given credit for.

Depends on the season.  In summertime, the transition from day to night is a little more gradual.  However, in the fall / winter months, it seems to get dark much faster. 

I don't know whether it's what KDS means--I won't speak for him--but the change out of Daylight Savings Time is more a slap in the face than anything else. Obviously, one hour's difference isn't such a big deal. But it comes in November, when the days are already naturally getting shorter. So we're only a few months from when the daylight lasts until 8, 9 p.m., and all of a sudden it's getting dark at 5:30--then literally overnight, it's 4:30! That's what makes it so depressing, I think. It just piles on an already depressingly inevitable road to darkness.

Thankfully, it's cyclical. While throughout winter it's usually dark both when I leave the house for work and by the time I get home from work, today I was noticing how it was still light outside at around 5 pm. It's a little thing, but I'll take it happily. In a few months, that'll be 6, 7. Right now I'm happy every time it's above freezing--and damn near jubilant when it's almost 40 F, as it was today--but in a few months we'll be in the 50s, then 60s, everyday. (Then it'll hit summer, we'll get streaks of 90 degree days and nights above 70, and I'll complain about that.)

Anyway, that's my take on it. It's not the hour here or there. It's the cumulative effect combined with that one, suddenly shifted hour of Daylight Savings Time.

I have always had problems with having "the blues" starting in November. And Christmas is a sad time. The lack of sunlight knocks me down every year.
I live at 30 degrees latitude so have a lot more sunshine/daylight hours in winter than those in much more northern latitudes.
Read some depressing news yesterday - For the month of December, Moscow had a grand total of SIX MINUTES of sunlight (the normal for December there is 18 hours). I would have ended up needing to be in a padded room if I had been there.

Yes and no. 

But, I was talking about the fading of daylight into night.  Maybe it's my imagination, but sunsets in summer seem a little more gradual, and it seems to take a little longer from when the sunsets to when the black of night sets in. 

Reading latest BBs vs. Beatles - ha! Some poster goes out of way to apologize to troll? Welllll...people never fail to weird me out.

been feeling nauseous all day. good way to spend my last week of freedom (before starting a new job).

Speaking of nausea, I do believe that, as emetophobe, it helps to read about it, see short clips as well as hear people puking to cure. This is what Emily disagreed about when we chatted via messages last year. She said sth. like "no, it doesn't help, it's really bad idea". She said to see videos with [phobia subject], to be around it to cure it is bad method. But, I read many sites with people telling they did just that, been advised to by licensed specialists. F.ex. people with germs phobia must be locked inside, say, dusty room. It may be a bit too tough, which I got was Emily's point, but, in my view, if you choose mild treatment I really doubt it works. Anyhoo, it's been interesting to discuss with Emily, even if we see it differently.

Watched the news.

Lather, rinse, repeat...
 >:( :'( >:(

What news?