Wayne Dyer

So, how's it going? Other than it's Friday and happy hour should be starting now instead of 6:30 tonight?

Wayne Dyer always helps me put things in perspective. He has a movie which at times can be hokey, but helps you get the message. It's always good to watch when things are getting you down.

Sure wish they'd let me watch it at work! And I still wish it were happy hour already.

Dr. Wayne Dyer

Halloween Chocolate Covered Cookies

Halloween is just a short time away. Our neighborhood likes to get together and drink cocktails on the front porches while we pass out candy to the kids. (Did I say drink and pass out in the same sentence? Freudian slip.)

Something to eat on Halloween night or at a Halloween party? Check out these chocolate covered cookies - specially decorated for the holiday. Oreos and Nutter Butters. My favorite!

Edible Gifts Plus

Fireplace Screensaver

PES

Apple Pie

Some people go on vacation and don't do a thing. I like to do things that I never have the time to do at home.

We baked an apple pie this week. This is the second year we've done it. I forgot to add the sugar to the first apple pie I made last year. Plenty of ice cream fixed the lack of sugar.

This year, the pie was great (still had ice cream on top of course).

I've got to work on my decoration though. Those are supposed to be moons and scary cats on the top crust. Martha Stewart would not be impressed. Sorry Martha.

Martha Stewart's Apple Pie Recipe

Lobster claws

"Owww! Where are my claws?" said the lobster. "In my belly", I said.

Still on vacation!

We’ve been to Barnacle Billy’s and Lords so far. Mabel’s Lobster Claw is tonight.

(Excuse the bad photo - it was taken from my phone's camera.)



Barnacle Billy's
Lords Harborside
Mabel's Lobster Claw

Fallen off the wagon

We saw fireworks in Ogunquit last night. They shot them over the beach, so we were able to watch them from the Marginal Way, which is a tiny footpath along the coastline.

I’m not sure what the fireworks were for – my guess is they heard that Charles ate ham for breakfast!

We were able to snap a few photos using the tripod which was schlepped up here and the slowest lens setting on the camera. It worked great and here's one of the results!

How to use a camera tripods
Buy a Tripod
Marginal Way

Stonewall Kitchen

Did I mention I'm on vacation in Maine? Cool weather, changing leaves, good lobster and whoopie pies everywhere you turn.

Not in Maine right now? Too bad. We could have shared some lobster. While not a substitute, you could go to Stonewall Kitchen's website to buy whoopie pie mix.

Two Mainers made a successful business out of jams and jellies. But they also offer an impressive collection of kitchen supplies and other prepared foods. If you like Martha Stewart, you'll love Stonewall Kitchen.

We're taking a cooking class at Stonewall Kitchen while in Maine. No lobster though - I'll leave that to the professionals. I'm on vacation.

Stonewall Kitchen

A Very Long Engagement

While I was at home a week ago and sick with a cold, I watched a favorite movie of mine.

A Very Long Engagement is a French movie (subtitle alert, subtitle alert!) about a young girl in search of her lost fiancée, who has disappeared from the trenches of the Somme during World War One. It stars Audrey Tautou. Most people would recognize her as the woman who played opposite Tom Hanks in the Da Vinci Code, but her better work was in a previous movie titled Amélie. She is currently starring in the new movie Coco Before Chanel.

While there is sadness in the film, it is Mathilde’s optimism that fills you with hope and the carnival-freak show cast of characters make the journey fun. (Definitely a good movie for when you are sick and lying on the couch!)

There is a recurring scene in which Mathilde’s dog farts, to which the aunt responds “Doggie fart, gladdens my heart”. So much more mature than our typical response around the house, where we laugh and blame it on the person sitting closest to the offending dog. (What can I say?)

A Very Long Engagement
Amélie
Coco Before Chanel
Audrey Tautou
Da Vinci Code

Click here to visit the Snackworthy site.

Zombieland

This past Friday, Charles and I went to dinner with two other couples. Half of the spouses were enjoying a quiet evening, while the other half was having too much fun to call it a night. (Too much bacon swiss dip and gimlets before dinner!) So a spontaneous trip to the movie theater playing Zombieland occurred for three of us.

I have a few favorite zombie movies. 28 Days Later, I Am Legend, Shaun of the Dead. Now Zombieland is going on that list.

The movie centers on the narrator’s rules for surviving a zombie plague. Clearly the thinking man’s guide to zombie survival, the narrator espouses rules that always escape characters in other zombie movies – such as the doubletap. When you’re not sure if the zombie is dead, instead of gently kicking it with your foot, he suggests shooting it again, also known as the doubletap. (Write that one down. It’s a keeper. Works on squirrels too.)

Go see the movie for other very important survival tips and to see a Woody Harrelson movie that’s actually funny. (Yeah, hard to believe!)

Zombieland
Twinkies (Twinkies are a running gag throughout the movie. Wait, did I say gag in reference to Twinkies? This site has links to recipes, including Twinkies Sushi. Yep, gag alright.)
Zombie Survival Guide
The Zen of Zombie
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Zombie cocktail (for any upcoming Halloween parties)

Kitchen Paint

A friend was touching up the cabinets in his kitchen. He picked up the wrong paint and suddenly had beige splotches all over his white cabinets. It was one of those paints that dries a different color. (Or so he says…)

Reluctantly, my friends decided to hire a professional painter who would paint the entire kitchen and fix the mistake (after living with spots for a couple of months). It took nearly a week because the painter started by using a roller instead of a brush. These friends are designers and would have none of that, so the painter sanded the cabinets and started all over again.

After about a week of painting and repainting, the kitchen was finished. The worst part about the experience according to my friends? They couldn't get into the liquor cabinet for a week because of the painting.

Never mind the plates or the dishes – it’s the drinks they missed the most. (I know what you’re thinking – and it was totally not my kitchen. This did happen to friends of mine. I swear.)

Color blindness - click here to test your vision
Chalkboard paint (now available in all kinds of colors – I love this stuff. Now what can I paint?)
AA

Click here to visit the Snackworthy site

Swine Flu

I’m home from work today. I started feeling sick yesterday and left the office early. You know it must be bad when I left before a coworker’s birthday cake was served! Did you know that Dairy Queen will make an ice cream Butterfinger Blizzard cake? (Being sick totally bites.)

I think I must have swine flu, because I’ve been eating everything in sight lately. That’s a symptom, right? So much for losing five pounds before vacation (which is completely necessary because vacation is all about eating – especially in Maine where lobster and whoopie pies are sold on every street corner or quickie mart).

Why isn’t there an “eat like a bird” flu? Wait, isn’t that avian flu? How do I get that?

Dairy Queen
Swine Flu
Avian Flu
Oh look, Lobster is on the Atkins Diet
Whoopie Pies (not on anyone's diet plan)

Click here to go to the Snackworthy site.

Season Premiere

We’re going on vacation in a little more than a week. We’ll be in Maine for ten days. The neighbors will pick up our newspaper and the mail. The dogs will go to “camp” with the breeder. (That’s what we like to call it.) The thermostat will get turned up a couple of degrees to save money.

Charles’ biggest concern while we’re away? That TiVo will run out of recording space! There’s too much new fall programming and we’ll be gone for so long. We’ve got two TiVos that are networked together. Between the two, I think they can hold sixty hours of recording. (Definitely not enough for Charles … there are a lot of new shows on TV.)

So he’s on a marathon this weekend to watch all of the movies previously recorded and never viewed. This way he can clear off TiVo and relax while on vacation. (Who knew how much work it takes to get away from all the stress! )

TiVo
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (from excessive use of the remote control)

Fragrance Samples

A friend’s hair color turned gray at a very early age – in her mid-20’s. So she started coloring her hair early on. It was a constant challenge, being young and on a budget. (No expensive salon visits for professional colorings!)

One Christmas, she sent out a holiday newsletter, you know, like the ones where families list their kids’ accomplishments throughout the year (Timmy stopped wetting the bed and Mandy got an STD). In this case, my friend separated each month, where she listed one or two trivial things that happened. At the end of each month, she filled us in on the color and performance of the dye job, such as “Miss Clairol #39 – Sunset Brown. Too brassy and faded fast. Switched to #38 by mid-month.” It was the best holiday card I ever received! (No offense to the pug Kwanza card, it just wasn't as memorable.)

After our bathrooms were completed, Charles and I began putting things back into cabinets. It was then that I noticed his collection of fragrance samples. (You saw my previous posting on Hoarders, right?) Stacks and stacks of vials of the stuff!

So, instead of the regular cologne, I’m making him use the fragrance samples each day. For the past three weeks, it’s been Aramis Surface. (He had two of those and those little vials hold a lot, unless you shower yourself in it and who wants that?) Not much of a scent. My favorite so far was the Kenneth Cole fragrance – very clean smelling. Watch for this year’s Christmas card. It’ll be a stinker.

BaseNotes (Everything about the fragrance industry, including reviews)
Fragrance.net (Online discount retailer)
Christmas card newsletter templates (From Microsoft)
Miss Clairol (Just in case.)

Click here to visit the Snackworthy site.

Hoarders

Years ago, when Charles and I first moved in together, we went through the process of consolidating furniture and getting rid of stuff that didn’t fit. (In other words, all of his furniture. Don’t get me started on his teal ceiling fan. Yeah, he had one.)

Charles had a two bedroom condo before and in one bedroom, he had a set of bunk beds. This was his childhood bed. I’m not sure what guests ever visited his condo, but I would have loved to see their expression when facing these bunk beds. They were right out of the early 70’s – very rough hewn wood with a dark stain.

Charles decided to take the beds to a consignment store. Neither of us was very familiar with consignment stores and had no idea what to ask for the beds. He mentioned this to his mother over the phone that weekend. His mom’s reply? “Hold on, I’ll get the receipt so you know how much they cost.”

I did mention this was his bed as a child, right? She had the receipt from 30+ years ago and knew exactly where to get it.

There’s a new show on A&E called Hoarders. I’ve set up a season pass on TiVo and am making Charles watch it. I’m calling it television therapy to prevent this sort of thing from being passed down to him. (Seriously, we don't have that much closet space!)

Hoarders (Watch it, but I warn you - it's very frustrating when they choose to live like that and not one Cheeto in sight! People, if you're going for sloth, you need Cheetos.)
How Not To Decorate (on BBC America - I bet the hosts have seen these bunk beds lately.)

Click here to go to Snackworthy

YouTube Partner Program

When our bathrooms were being renovated a couple of months ago, my dad and the guy working with him spent many days replacing the plumbing under the house. Our house has a crawl space under it where all of the pipes are. Since they had ripped out the floors of the bathrooms, it was a easier to work with the pipes. The contractors decided to replace all of the piping - even out to the main water line. (Yea - more money!) Several days in a row, the water would be turned off while they worked and they would patch enough of it by the end of the day so that we could turn the water back on at night.

One afternoon, I arrived home to find Charles out by the street. He was getting ready to turn the water back on at the main valve. I walked into the house and went back to the master bath. My dad was standing on the ground (remember, no floor in the bath). He was crouched down with a flash light in one hand and a cell phone in the other. The plan was for my dad to tell Charles to turn the water on and he would check for leaks under the house.

Just as I'm walking into the bedroom, I hear him speaking into the cell phone telling Charles to turn on the water. Seconds later, one of the pipe connections in front of my dad bursts with water shooting directly into his face. They had forgotten to glue that one connection! (If it had happened on a sitcom, you would be rolling your eyes.) My dad got totally drenched and I got a good laugh! No other leaks under the house, by the way.

I recently heard about a father who posted a video on YouTube of his son after a visit to the dentist. The kid was still feeling the effects of anesthesia. His dad was part of the YouTube partner program. When the video went viral, the kid's dad made more than $25K from his share of the advertising revenue.

Which begs the question - why didn't I have a video camera that afternoon???? That must have been at least a $50K profit sharing video. D'oh!

YouTube Partner Program
David Devore After The Dentist
YouTube Video On How To Glue Plumbing Pipes
Flip Video

iTunes Genius

I love iTunes. It’s great to be able to buy one song from an album instead of 9 other songs you’ll never listen to just so you could get the one you liked.

The one thing about iTunes that I can’t figure out is their Genius component – which is supposed to look at the songs you’ve purchased and listen to regularly and then recommend songs that are similar which you might like.

I bought an Annie Lennox song the other day. It’s called “Shining Light”. I’ve been a big fan of hers for a very long time and have several of her songs in my iTunes library.

iTunes sent me an email a day after the purchase of Annie Lennox and included some of their Genius recommendations.

I’m not sure about “Shine” from the band Booty Luv!?! Did iTunes recommend it because they both have titles about shine? (For the record, the dance song is not bad, but I can't help but snicker each time I think about the band's name. And I see no connection to Annie Lennox.)

Netflix has the same type of recommendation service – where they try to guess your tastes based on ratings you give movies that you’ve watched. It’s not much better. At least they are doing something about it though.

How to improve your iTunes Genius recommendations
Netflix offers another $1 million prize for better movie recommendations
Enter an algorithm to improve Netflix's recommendations

Click here to visit the Snackworthy site

Who's Afraid of Crawl Spaces?

Years ago, we placed speakers all throughout the house. We ran wires under the floor to the various spots for music. (And when I say we, I mean me.) I crawled under the house to fish the wire through. Charles wouldn’t go near the crawl space.

The last time we added some speakers, I crawled all the way from the back of the house where the access door is to the front of the house, where the living room is and the stereo. There’s only one access door to the crawl space, so it’s a long trip.

I’d always been worried about seeing snakes or spiders when I’m crawling through this tight space. There’s really no getting around down there quickly.

On that particular day, I just happened to look over my shoulder toward the access door at the back of the house when I saw two eyes shining back at me from some kind of animal! I almost jumped through the living room floor! (If there been enough room to get some lift, I would have made it through.) Luckily, it was just a cat who was more scared of me than I was of it and the cat ran away.

We haven’t put in any more speakers since that day. But now that we’re getting the receiver fixed, I saw these mini speakers from Sony. And they’re wireless. No more crawling under the house for me.

Sony HT-IS100 (The size of strawberries. Nice! I totally need them.)
Rock Speakers (For outdoors, although these aren't wireless)
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook (You don't know - that cat could have had rabies or something. Of course, the dogs were lounging in the living room at the time.)
Click here to visit the Snackworthy site.

Lightning Strike

Lightning strikes are a common thing here in Florida. We have surge protectors for most of our electronics to prevent serious damage. We have battery backups for the most important pieces, like the computer (so you don’t lose any work if the power goes out) and Tivo (seriously, I couldn’t possibly miss one minute of Project Runway!).

We had a major storm the other night. A day later, I decided to do some work around the house (Yeah, I know. What got into me?) and I turned on the stereo to listen to some music.

Wait a minute. I didn’t know Annie Lennox was in the movie "Lord of the Rings"! I could hear Annie singing and the hobbits yelling at each other. (Mr. Frodo wasn’t singing, but I totally bet he could rap.)

After a few moments, I realized that our stereo receiver had been hit by lightning again and an electronic component had burned out inside (even with a surge protector). This happened once before, where the receiver played all inputs at the same time – the TV signal, the iPod, the CD player, XM.

While I like to multi-task, I can’t pay attention to all of that at the same time. Just ask Charles – he'll tell you I barely listen as it is. (Did he just say something?)

So I'll be looking for a new upgraded surge protector with a battery back up. And sending the receiver off to get fixed.

Surge Protectors with Battery Backups
Project Runway (now on Lifetime)
Models of the Runway (Thanks Pat – I’m now hooked on another TV program!)
Annie Lennox (more on Annie later this week)

Click here to visit the Snackworthy site.

Beef - It's What Might Be For Dinner

OK, so I completely threw Charles under the bus while his parents were here. Now, Charles has not eaten any beef or pork since the beginning of the year (and I can totally respect his beliefs). Since we are trying to cook more often instead of eating out, that means no beef or pork for me either. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

I casually mentioned the topic in front of his parents. Now his dad is retired military and been retired for many years. In other words, he has zero tolerance for your hippie-loving, tree-hugging, no meat eating ways, no matter how good those reasons might be.

A little family pressure might bring back bacon and corned beef and steaks. (Oh, I’m getting hungry.) Or it could simply steel Charles' resolve even more. Keep your fingers crossed.

In the mean time, I'm thinking about framing all of those beefscapes print ads and hanging them throughout the house. You know the ads, where the steak looks like a mountain and the greens look like a forest? I love those, sort of subliminal landscapes. Think it will work?

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Print Ads (Not only are the ads very creative, but each one has a recipe connected with the photo.)
Aaron Copland’s Rodeo IV. Hoedown (The great music from those beef commercials - available on iTunes. Makes you want to put on some cowboy boots or something.)
Ben and Jack’s Steakhouse (Thank goodness for friend’s birthdays)
Click here to go to Snackworthy

Secret Flask

The in-laws came to visit over Labor Day. They arrived on Friday and stayed through Monday morning. They have been married for more than forty years and have been retired for at least 25 years or more. Charles’ dad retired in his 40s from the Air Force.

The in-laws kind of liked the new renovations to our bathrooms, but thought we should have installed higher toilets for older people and bars in the shower so that it would be easier to get in and out. They brought their own suction cupped bars which they tried to install on the beveled tile. (They didn’t much like the tile after the suction cups wouldn’t stick.)

By the way, I started reading a lot more this weekend. I found a whole series of books (notice the picture) on etsy that really brightened my spirits (so to speak). I have found that I can read them over and over again and never grow tired of the story. Boy, the weekend just flew by! It’s all kind of a blur to me now.

Books on etsy are at PommeFrites
My favorite bookmark
Portable Suction Cup Grab Bars (Sorry, but there's no way I'm buying these for at least another 30 years. If you need them when visiting my house, better bring your own.)
Click here to go to Snackworthy

Glee Returns

Glee returns on Wednesday at 9:00 on FOX.

I've been singing "Don't Stop Believing" all summer since watching the pilot episode this past spring. It's been on my iPod and I listen to it at work. Unfortunately, every time the music begins to crescendo, someone stops by my desk to ask me a question. So, I start it over again - you know - to feel the moment in its entirety. Yeah, I can totally recite the first verse by heart. Don't have a clue what's in the second verse though. Some day maybe.

If you go to iTunes, you can download some new songs from the cast. I hear they are even working on an album. Get in line behind me. I'm a total Gleek.

Glee
Click here to go to Snackworthy and comment on Glee.

Interior Spaces blog

Friends of ours recently moved their office space into a new studio in their backyard. They had their old garage rebuilt into a new office. Now these designers can look out the window at their beautiful garden. (Once all the construction is finished!)

They’ve also started a blog that allows you to see their various projects in process. It’s kind of like one of those HGTV shows, but in a more realistic time frame. (C’mon, how can you completely renovate a whole house in one week?)

Visit their new blog to get a peek into other people's homes and pick up some new design ideas.

Interior Spaces Inc.

Desperate Classic Housewives

This past Friday, we invited the neighbors on our block over for happy hour. There’s one couple on the corner who have been retired for some time. The “mayor”, as we call him, celebrated his 80th birthday a few years ago. In his early 20’s, the mayor played drums professionally, even for Gypsie Rose Lee (Wow!).

It’s fascinating to me hearing about the past of someone older – learning what they were like before they were the person that I know today. I enjoy trying to imagine what they were like at my age. (Although, I never, ever, ever needed to see the photo of a previous boss when she was a professional bodybuilder - and it was printed on a birthday cake no less!!!!)

StoryCorps is a series on NPR that strives “to honor and celebrate one another's lives through listening.” I also love our local paper’s weekly photo column titled “My First Car” typically old pictures of people posing in front of their autos.

Maybe it started all started from watching The Golden Girls. (Picture it, Sicily…) Either way, I’m a sucker for a good classic story.

StoryCorps
My First Car
The Golden Girls
TV Land's parody of Sex and the City - with Bea Arthur (you've got to see this)
TV Land's parody of Desperate Housewives - with Charo

Facebook and politics don't mix

I’ve been “friended” on Facebook by several high school acquaintances in the past year. At first, I was flattered. (Really? You want to be friends with me? But we haven’t spoken since high school and even then, your only words to me were “Get out of the way loser.”)

It has been interesting to learn what they have all been up to since we have last spoken. What I find most fascinating is the divergent paths our political beliefs have taken. (He’s a right-wing conservative? She’s now an outspoken liberal? That sort of thing.)

But what makes me unfriend someone faster than the dogs polishing off a bowl of kibble is when these Facebook friends start complaining online about politics and posting charts, graphs and videos. (Oh yeah, there have been several.)

Just this morning, someone complained in their posting about ABC and NBC refusing to air some political commentary. Just before I unfriend this person, I wrote on their wall how much more I like Ugly Betty and 30 Rock. (I mean, really, what’s not to love about Betty Suarez and Liz Lemon?)

I’ve been told Facebook friends never know when they’ve been unfriended – unless they try to look you up again and remember you were once Facebook friends. And even if they do know, who cares? Would you walk into a party with charts about the problems with Obama’s health care reform? No friends of mine would!

Facebook Ettiquette
Emily Post - there's even an email newsletter (not that you need it, of course)
Yearbook Gift Wrap - just because it's fun
Yearbook Yourself - create a new Facebook profile pic using old yearbook photos

Solar Lantern

When the weather is cooler and there are fewer mosquitoes, we like to entertain in our backyard. Unfortunately, it’s a little dark back there at night. Normally, a couple of candles do the trick. But in October, we have a pumpkin carving party for the neighborhood for Halloween. I suppose it’s not a good idea to use sharp knives in the dark. (Cry babies. I mean really, who needs two thumbs, right?)

I realized the best way to protect us from any more insurance claims might be to have extra lighting above the table, not just from candles on the table.

In the past, we have strung lights across the yard from the tree, but lately the squirrels have gotten to them. (I would never have guessed that electrical cords are that tasty. I wonder if it's those Zombie Squirrels...)

I think these solar lanterns are a nice alternative. I’m going to order one and see how bright it is. If it works well, I’ll probably get a couple more just in time for October. The neighbors will be so pleased.

SFMOMA

Vintage Phones

We spent too much money on the bathroom renovations this past spring. So our new mobile phone purchase has been postponed – which is killing me!

Some time ago, I installed software on my Palm Treo that allows me to check work email. (It’s special software that interfaces with Lotus Notes – why would anyone still use this antiquated email program?) Unfortunately, my phone already had a tendency to lock up and restart. The work email software makes it occur more often.

Restarting normally takes five minutes which totally ruins those moments when there is a squirrel outside the window looking at you in the conference room as if you were a caged animal in a zoo (it sure does feel that way) – and you want to take a picture of the squirrel but your phone has to restart. (I do work hard, I swear!)

While I love technology, there’s something to be said for things that work everytime, without complications.

These vintage phones are cool, but does it mean that I would actually have to sit down in one place, actually use my finger to dial, then have a conversation? And how do you send a text message on it?

The Curiosity Shoppe

Genealogy

My dad’s birthday was this past weekend. He brought an old photo with him to lunch on Saturday. Dad asked me to scan it and print copies.

The picture shows my dad holding my older brother who was just seven months old in the photo. (I should have Photoshopped some horns onto him for torturing me as he did while growing up!) Next to my father is his mother. Next to my grandmother is her mother. And next to my grandmother’s mother is her father. That's my great-great-grandfather with the cigar in his hand on the very left.

Five generations all in one photograph! You don’t see that everyday, now do you? (And on top of that, the photo makes my dad look tall!)

My dad spent some time trying to remember his great grandfather’s first name, but could never think of it.

So I thought I’d do something nice and search for it online. I started the search with my grandparent's names. There were more than 15 million entries that might be matches to them. (Oh, if only I had been born with a less common last name!)

Any ideas on the best genealogy sites? Visit the Snackworthy site and submit a comment to provide your best suggestions!

Here’s what I tried so far:

Ancestry.com
Genealogy.com
Familysearch.org

The Poisonwood Bible

A co-worker lent a novel to me from Oprah’s Book Club. I’m not sure how O does it all, between producing a daily television show, publishing a magazine, running a radio channel on satellite radio and managing a cable network. That’s quite an empire. And, on top of that, she reads books. (Or does she secretly just get the Cliff Notes?)

I’m a little behind her schedule. The Poisonwood Bible was on her book club a couple of years ago. (What? You thought I meant behind on managing my own television show, publishing a magazine, etc., etc.? Yeah, well that too – but really way behind schedule. Frankly, I'm lucky if I make it to work on time.)

Anyway, the story is about a family of Southern Baptists from Georgia who go on a missionary trip to the Congo in the early 1960’s. The most interesting aspect to me is the changing narrative. It is told from a completely female point of view, switching from chapter to chapter, between the voices of the four daughters and their mother.

Along the way, you learn about the culture and history of the Republic of Congo.

The book is more than 500 pages, so don’t start to read it unless you have a lot of time on your hands. You’ve got an empire to run.

But if you do, make sure you’ve got a takeout menu handy and a telephone. You won’t want to do anything else until you’ve finished the book.

The Poisonwood Bible
Cliff Notes for The Poisonwood Bible

Next to Normal

My younger brother adopted a dog last year whose fur is completely white. He and his girlfriend Brandy spent considerable time trying to think of a name for the dog. They finally settled on Polar. Brandy’s reason was because the dog has white hair – like a polar bear. My brother’s reason? If anyone asked where Brandy was, he could reply “Brandy is by Polar.” (Read it aloud. Bi-polar. Got it now?)

While mental illness is not humorous (except to my brother), it sure can be the topic for a great musical (I know, who would have thought?). We saw an amazing show in New York last weekend. Titled “Next To Normal”, the show is about a family's unraveling as they struggle to cope with the mother's bi-polar disorder.

It’s from the director of Rent and it has a similar style to it. The lead actress, Alice Ripley, won a Tony for her performance as the mother and she does an amazing job.

Check out the preview on YouTube. It gives me chills each time I watch it.

View a clip on YouTube
Now go buy tickets

Pinch and S'mac

We just returned from NYC yesterday. We were up there celebrating a friend’s 70th birthday. It was a surprise party with about ten guests. (We didn’t yell surprise or anything – I did say it was his 70th birthday, right?)

Last time we visited New York, we found a restaurant that came highly recommended. This restaurant only serves two things – pizza and mac & cheese. (I think they might have salad, but who really cares?)

It’s called Pinch and S’mac and is located on the Upper West Side. I went there for the mac & cheese (of course). They let you select the cheese(s), breadcrumbs or no breadcrumbs and other ingredients to add, including bacon (oh yeah).

Want to know the amazing thing? I really liked the pizza too. (Sorry Poppa Johns, you’re still my regular guy at home.) Honestly though, who would even bother with pizza when you’ve got mac & cheese and bacon? But the pizza was really, really good.

So you know that Pinch and S’mac is now a regular on my tour of NYC. I may not make it to my 70th birthday party. What, from eating so much bacon, and mac & cheese? Oh, no, I just meant, I’ll probably be at Pinch and S’mac, while everyone else is waiting somewhere to surprise me. That is, if it’s still around in 50 years (hey, I look 20, right?)

Pinch and S’mac (they do deliver, but only for a couple of blocks, darn it)

Zombie Squirrels

A couple of weeks ago, my yoga instructor read a poem from Mary Oliver at the end of class titled “Snow Geese” from her book “Why I Wake Early”. It was inspiring and thought provoking – to live in the now and enjoy the beauty all around us.

I typically wake up early in the morning and go to the gym with a work out buddy. The trick is to get your exercise before your mind wakes up and gives you excuses to avoid it. (I’ve been told that I look like the walking dead at the gym.) After a half hour of weights, we typically run or walk through the neighborhood for some cardio all before the sun comes up and it gets too hot.

On the morning after yoga with the poetry, I was relating the poem’s meaning to my friend. We were both talking and talking and talking so much that we almost didn’t notice the dead squirrel lying in the middle of the sidewalk. Until my friend almost stepped on it. And shrieked. And jumped behind me and grabbed my shirt.

We continued walking, while I laughed (for the rest of the day). A few days later, the squirrel was finally gone, which left us speculating about zombie squirrels coming back to haunt our morning walks. (Don’t tell my Norwich Terrier about zombie squirrels. She’ll never get any sleep.)

Interestingly, a web developer created a game about zombie squirrels – sort of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but with guns and dead rodents. Go to his site to play.

Or read some poetry if you’re into that peace, love and Zen crap.

Zombie Squirrels Attack
All Squirrels Must Die! (My dog Bobbie's favorite web site.)
Why I Wake Early

TiVo and YouTube

We had some friends over the other night for happy hour. After a few drinks, the conversation turned to funny commercials. One of our guests made a beeline to my laptop, cranked up YouTube and showed everyone the Boost Mobile video. It features two pigs sitting in a restaurant, talking about eating ham. (If pigs can eat ham, why can't Charles, right?)

While this was entertaining, it was more fun watching our guest do the ‘talk to the hoof’ gesture (pictured) that the pig makes at the end of the commercial. (I did say we had a few drinks in us by then.)

Without thinking, we were passing around the laptop to watch the YouTube video. I had completely forgotten one of the benefits of TiVo – the entertainment equivalent of bacon.

With TiVo service connected to a high speed Internet, you can watch YouTube videos on your big screen TV. No need to pass the laptop; everyone can watch at the same time. (Unless you want to watch your guest re-enact the ‘talk to the hoof’ gesture each time the video is played as the laptop goes around the room.)

By the way, happy birthday Scott. See, I never even mentioned it was you doing the ‘talk to the hoof' gesture. Oops.

TiVo
Boost Mobile commercial on YouTube

Mini Burgers

Charles decided to stop eating beef and pork at the beginning of this year. He had seen documentaries about meat processing and talked to a friend who convinced him that it was healthier not to eat beef and pork. (Oh yeah, that same friend fell off the wagon two days later - to bacon, of course. You know who you are!)

Let’s just say, it's been a tough seven months. Especially since Charles is not a big fan of seafood. (He’s a very picky eater, no matter how much he denies it.)

A friend had given us a gift certificate to a steakhouse. Last Saturday night, neither of us felt like cooking or had the desire to go out for dinner. This steakhouse has curb side service (yeah, possibly the greatest thing ever). Now, we had been going to this steakhouse for years before Charles’ new found, quasi-vegetarian phase. (He still eats chicken, which I do like, but for the love of God, how much chicken can you eat, day after day after day…?)

Charles had always ordered the steakhouse’s special steak, with baked potato and salad – every visit. It was his routine. (Picky eater, right?) On that Saturday night, when he suggested we use the gift certificate, he said “I’ll just get their chicken.”

He placed our orders and jumped in the car to go pick up dinner. When he returned home, he called me to the kitchen in a bit of a panic.

He had ordered, out of routine, his usual – steak special, with baked potato and salad! Immediately, I’m thinking, has the dam been broken? Is the dry spell over? Will we see beef and pork in the house again? He did eat the steak, but sadly, has not gone near meat again since.

Meanwhile, I’ve been eyeing this mini hamburger griller. It’s perfect for making sliders, which would be great party food. I can dream, can’t I? Someday, he’ll come to his senses and the days of bacon will return.

Sur La Table

Potty Patch

This week has been about the accidents that occurred during our bathroom renovation. One accident seems to happen all the time – not just when there is construction going on.

Check out our Norwich Terrier waiting by the door. (You’ll also notice the Poochie Bells in the background. Those are for her to ring when she needs to go out. Never once happened, although I’m sure it amused her watching us attempt to train her.)

Bobbie knows she is supposed to go outside to pee. But she drinks too much (I know, where did she learn that?) and we’re not always waiting at the door for her (isn’t it supposed to be the other way around with dogs?). We’ve also tried a doggie door – that is until the neighbors complained of our dogs barking all day in the back yard.

And to top it off, she doesn’t pee on tile or wood floors. She goes directly for the nearest rug or bath mat. (More "grass-like" I suppose?)

So, it’s like my prayers were answered when I saw the infomercial for the Potty Patch. Fake grass on a collection tray which holds up to a gallon of liquid. You’re right. I better get two. She does drink a lot. And that should complete the bathroom renovation, huh?

Potty Patch

Microwave Safety

During the bathroom renovations, our house took several hits. I already told you about the antique light shade. Here’s another.

The light in our microwave had blown out eight months ago. (And why wouldn’t it? It is the most used kitchen appliance.) Neither Charles nor I took the time to figure out how to replace the bulb and just lived with watching our food cook in the dark. (Yes, whatever happens, it was ultimately our own fault.)

When my dad started working on the bathrooms, we made a list of other projects that we wanted him to do, including replace the microwave light bulb.

After months and months of renovations, we shortened the list. (Just to get things wrapped up already, right?!?!) We moved the bulb to the very bottom of the list.

I sat down with my dad and reviewed the list, detailing the priority – even saying “Don’t worry about the light bulb if you are running out of time. That should be the last thing you do.”

What do you think he started with? Oh yeah, the light bulb. He couldn’t find access to the panel in front of the bulb. I’m not sure why, but he thought it would be helpful to start the microwave with the door open. He held the latch with pliers to “trick” the oven. Which as luck would have it, burned out the microwave.

By the way, Famous Tate has great deals on microwaves. Our new one requires you to only press the number key and it starts running on high for that many minutes. And there’s a button for 30 more seconds. (Yes, I am that lazy.)

Just in case you aren’t familiar with all of these new fangled kitchen appliances, here are some links on microwave safety.

(Oh yeah, when we were removing the old microwave from above the stove, the light bulb panel popped right open. Nice.)

Tips for Using a Microwave Oven for Dummies - (In all fairness to my dad, the Dummies book does not say close the microwave door while trying to run the microwave.)
Microwave Safety from the FDA
Wiki Answers on how to keep your door open while the microwave is running (They say this is comparable to checking the amount of gas in your gas tank by using a lighter.)
Famous Tate - so you can buy a new one after reading the article listed above

Atlas Homewares

Some parts of the house were damaged during our bathroom renovation. I came home for lunch one day and was greeted by my dad. (He was the contractor, so no matter what happened, I couldn’t get mad. I should have thought this through better…)

He had been walking through the house that morning carrying old beams that were ripped from the guest bathroom. He lost his grip on one of the beams and it tilted forward. The back part of the beam tilted knocking the glass shade of an antique Art Deco chandelier to the floor, where it shattered, of course. (Lunchtime was not so great that day. Strangely, I still didn’t want to go back to work.)

I finally located a replacement shade from an antique lighting store in New York. They're shipping the shade to me this weekend. Which made me think about the street numbers on our house. You know, I need to be sure the delivery guy finds our house.

We’ve got some boring old house numbers (yep, Home Depot special), but I really like the ones at Atlas Homewares. They're very cool and I’d buy a set – if I didn’t have to replace the antique light shade. Maybe next year I'll have cool house numbers!

Atlas Homewares

Personalized Gift Wrap

You know I’m a sucker for personalization. Offer me any product that I can customize, put a photo on or have embroidered and I’ll buy it.

So, I love the personalized gift wrap that I found on Namemaker.com. They have more than thirty different prints that you can order with three choices for the font. You have up to 37 characters to customize the gift wrap.

I’m trying to decide on the most shocking order (in 37 characters or less) for the order fulfillment person at Namemaker.

Hope the STD clears up-get well soon.
Good luck in prison-enjoy these cigs.

Got any suggestions?

Namemaker

Margarita Chicken Skewers

I’ve got another appetizer recipe that I recently tried. I don’t know much about Sandra Lee, but she has a recipe for margarita chicken skewers. (Yeah, I know. You had me at margarita.)

There’s tequila right there in the recipe (which you should always taste first, just to make sure you’re using the freshest ingredients).

But, much like the twice-baked potato bites, I think it needed one more thing. Be sure to add salt, just like a real margarita.

Give them a try and invite me over for drinks and chicken.

Sandra Lee on Food Network

Twice-Baked Potato Bites

We recently had a small cocktail party at the house. I spent hours preparing party food. (When is someone going to create a store that sells ready to prepare appetizers? I mean if Publix can sell chicken cordon bleu that you just put in the oven, someone should be able to sell good apps that you can claim as your own!)

I tried a couple of new recipes – some from Sandra Lee (semi-homemade – yeah right! Sandy, tell me who likes working with phyllo dough?) and some from Martha Stewart.

The easiest and best tasting appetizers were these twice-baked potato bites from Martha Stewart’s Everyday Cooking. (Although they could have used one more ingredient. You know my motto – everything tastes better with bacon.)

You’ve got to try them.

Martha Stewart

National Ice Cream Day

I’m a little ashamed of myself. I’ve been so caught up in work (yeah, right), that I completely missed one of my most important holidays. Didn’t see it coming at all. Didn’t even get a chance to ask for time off to celebrate.

National Ice Cream Day was last Saturday, July 18th. (I've let you down - I'm so very sorry.)

So, I’m planning to celebrate this weekend. A friend told me that she had a root beer float to celebrate, which sounds just about right for me during this hot summer. (You do know that Steak ’n Shake’s daily happy hour from 2-4 is half priced milk shakes.)

Check out this beautiful luncheonette style glass and holder. It’s the perfect way to help celebrate National Ice Cream Day.

New York First

Car Baked Cookies

Did I mention that my little department was just recently moved to another building? It is now the furthest away from the garage. Where there is shade from the hot Florida sun.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Park in the garage and walk – it’s good exercise. And that is all well and good. Except for when I’m running late (everyday) and need to get into the office as quickly as possible (and walking for another three to five minutes will only alert everyone on the conference call that I’m not there yet). So, I’ll probably end up parking close to the building and scorching myself at the end of the day when I get in the car.

So, I was intrigued by this web site which shows you how to make cookies on the dashboard of your car in the hot sun. (Don't worry, no cookie dough directly on the dashboard. Yes, I know how dirty my dashboard is. The site tells you to use a pan on the dashboard!)

I may as well make some good use of the heat, huh? Who wants to try it with me?

Baking Bites

See Jane Work

The department where I work was taken over by another department from the home office last year. Since then, we’ve been forced to adopt their standards. Each month, we learn of something else that is being taken away, downsized or additional reporting that is required. This weekend, we’re being moved to another building where each of us gets smaller digs – except for the chief from the home office. His office space remains suspiciously the same…

As a precaution, I brought home all of my personal belongings that I was afraid the movers might break. So I decided to play a joke on Charles. I left the box of items on the dining room table. He came home and saw it. Knowing how much I love my job (?!), he immediately assumed I quit my job that day. (And after we just renovated the bathrooms and put a new roof on the house!) I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so pale. See, there’s fun in everything.

See Jane Work is the opposite of Office Depot bland. Some of See Jane Work's stuff is a little too girly, but they do have some gender neutral items.

Now that the tiny box I work in will be smaller, I was thinking of organizing it a little better with the items pictured. They call it their Locker Basket Collection, but it kind of reminds me of prison bars. (Seemed appropriate!)

Now I just have to find a good resuscitation kit for Charles. The poor guy won’t survive many more of my practical jokes.

See Jane Work

Beautiful People

Here’s my last suggestion for surviving the summer of bad television. “Beautiful People” is a comedy originally produced by BBC. It is airing on LOGO here in the U.S.

The series is about a flamboyant thirteen year old in Reading, England and his eccentric family. (While the entire cast is great, the mother’s character steals the show.)

You’ll need to pay attention though. The accents are heavy and the talking is fast. But what you miss in the dialogue is made up for in the over-the-top scenes you see.

Watch the series on Logo website.

(By the way - "Project Runway" premieres on August 20th on Lifetime. Four weeks seems like a lifetime from now.)

Logo

Glee

In case you missed the preview a little while ago, you definitely need to watch “Glee”. It’s a new series starting this fall on FOX.

It’s from Ryan Murphy, who created “Nip/Tuck” and “Popular” (an old favorite of mine that was cancelled way too early). Part comedy, part drama. It’s a little like “Ugly Betty”, but in a high school. And there’s a glee club instead of a magazine. And there’s singing and dancing. OK, so it’s not exactly like “Ugly Betty”. But you’ll like it, trust me.

Still need convincing? It has Jane Lynch, the dog trainer from the movie “Best in Show”.

See the first episode on FOX’s website by clicking the Watch Full Episodes link.
Then go immediately to iTunes to download the music. (I mean it!)

Glee

Better Off Ted

Mid summer TV sucks. I can't even begin to watch another reality show about dancing stars or celebrities trapped in a jungle.

Catch up on some primo television you missed the first time around - online of course. "Better Off Ted" is a comedy set in the crazy offices of Veridian Dynamics. If you've ever worked for a large corporation, you'll recognize the insanity immediately.

Episode four is probably the funniest half hour ever. The company's new light sensor system doesn't detect African American employees. Things go wrong - very, very wrong from there.

Still need convincing? Portia de Rossi (Ellen’s girlfriend) is one of stars of the show.

See it on ABC's website by clicking on the Watch Free Episodes link.

Better Off Ted

Sunshine Deckchair

This week, we’ve talked about recharging batteries using the sun. Today’s topic is all about recharging your battery with the help of the sun.

These cool deckchairs feature the words to the song “You Are My Sunshine” on the fabric panel. Very clever, huh?

They’re great for kicking back and enjoying the summer. Just be sure to wear sunscreen. And keep a pitcher of drinks near by. We don’t want you to dehydrate from the heat of the sun. (Although, I'm not sure vodka alone will keep you cool. Better add some ice.)

Rockett St George

Camera Bag

I’m enrolled in a photography class right now at the local university. You know that means? No, my pictures have yet to improve. But it does mean shopping for photography accessories, of course.

On the Gaiam site, I found a solar camera bag for my Canon. The bag has a flexible solar panel on top that sends a 1.5W trickle charge to a 12V outlet to charge equipment.

OK, so I may not be Ansel Adams (yet), but I sure know the importance of natural lighting.

Gaiam

Solar Power

I use my mobile phone a lot. Sure, I use it for calls occasionally. More often, I’m texting like a pre-teen girl or updating Facebook or checking my email. All of which takes up a lot of energy. (Actually, I meant the battery power in my phone, although my thumbs do feel a little tired.)

Once my bank account allows, I’m buying the Solio Hybrid 1000 charger. (I wonder if there were nine hundred and ninety nine chargers before this one…)

It’s a battery that powers up from the sun or from the USB port on your computer (if you work in a cave devoid of light like I do). When your cell phone battery starts to wear out, plug it into this gadget to recharge. It works the same as if you had plugged it into a wall. The great thing about the Solio is you can clip it to a bag, suitcase, etc. and let it charge throughout the day.

After a little time with the Solio, you’ll be back to talking on your phone. Me...I’ll be back to my texting.

TerraPass

Vitalwares

My birthday is today. At 8:05 PM, I will call my mom as I do every year. You see, she made me wait every year while growing up until it was 8:05 before we could celebrate my birthday and open my gifts. That was the exact time of day that I was born.

The reason she always tortured me until 8:05 was because I made her wait when she was pregnant with me. The doctor predicted my birth would be at the beginning of June. One month later, during a particularly hot summer, I finally arrived and weighed almost eleven pounds. (Hope this doesn't scare anyone who is pregnant!!!)

So let’s raise a glass to toast my mom tonight. (Like you needed a reason to drink on Friday night?) Oh and by the way, upgrade your cocktail shaker. You’re practically a professional drinker now, so use the proper tools.

Have a great 4th of July!

Vitalwares

Tap Boards

Do you know somebody that really likes beer? I mean, really, really, really likes beer? Forward this message on to them. Or any college student you know.

Because today’s product is Tap Boards. These tap handles fit on standard kegs and professional bar equipment. Simply write the type of beer on the board with the chalk provided.

You might want to buy a couple of these. No telling what you’re handwriting will look like once your party finishes the first keg. (I mean, it's not all that great when you're sober, now is it?)

Tap Boards

Haute Diggity Dog

Is it wrong for me to like my dog’s plush toys more than they do?

The dogs might kinda chew on it for a few minutes, but since they can’t read, they don’t really understand how great this one is.

Dog toys in the shape of vodka bottles. Arfsolut Vodka. I wonder if they have little plush limes to go with the vodka?

I'll drink to that.

Haute Diggity Dog