Got a secret?

Confess it here.

Dring...dring...

Paul it's for you...

Get your free coffee here...

Awesome baby...

The Real Chow Baby is opening a second location in Early 2008 at the Cobb Galleria Mall! Very near where I work.

The new location will be an 8,000 square foot space with two Stir-Fry lines, two bars, a larger grill, a private dining space, a gorgeous patio and as always-complimentary valet parking. Construction begins soon.

"We're Stuffed with Fun!"

This weekend if you just happen to be in Whiting, Indiana don't forget to stop by historic downtown Whiting for the 13th Annual Pierogi Festival.

The Polka Parade is tonight and is a highlight of the festival. Mr. Pierogi and his Pieroguettes (Miss Potato, Miss Cheese, Miss Mushroom, Miss Berry, Miss Beef, Miss Apricot, and Miss Sauerkraut) will lead the parade.

And you won't want to miss seeing the Pierogi Queen and her court.

A weekend filled with fun...if you ask me.

I didn't know...

Bugs Bunny was designed to be the epitome of cool and modeled after Groucho Marx with a carrot rather than a cigar.

Fortunate accidental discoveries...

I want more of them...lots more!

I like this...it's nice...

Starfish

by Eleanor Lerman

This is what life does. It lets you walk up to
the store to buy breakfast and the paper, on a
stiff knee. It lets you choose the way you have
your eggs, your coffee. Then it sits a fisherman
down beside you at the counter who says, Last night,
the channel was full of starfish. And you wonder,
is this a message, finally, or just another day?

Life lets you take the dog for a walk down to the
pond, where whole generations of biological
processes are boiling beneath the mud. Reeds
speak to you of the natural world: they whisper,
they sing. And herons pass by. Are you old
enough to appreciate the moment? Too old?
There is movement beneath the water, but it
may be nothing. There may be nothing going on.

And then life suggests that you remember the
years you ran around, the years you developed
a shocking lifestyle, advocated careless abandon,
owned a chilly heart. Upon reflection, you are
genuinely surprised to find how quiet you have
become. And then life lets you go home to think
about all this. Which you do, for quite a long time.
Later, you wake up beside your old love, the one
who never had any conditions, the one who waited
you out. This is life's way of letting you know that
you are lucky. (It won't give you smart or brave,
so you'll have to settle for lucky.) Because you
were born at a good time. Because you were able
to listen when people spoke to you. Because you
stopped when you should have and started again.
So life lets you have a sandwich, and pie for your
late night dessert. (Pie for the dog, as well.) And
then life sends you back to bed, to dreamland,
while outside, the starfish drift through the channel,
with smiles on their starry faces as they head
out to deep water, to the far and boundless sea.

I should learn this word...

Word of the Day for Wednesday, July 25, 2007

riposte \rih-POST\, noun:

1. A quick thrust given after parrying an opponent's lunge in fencing.
2. A quick and effective reply by word or act.
3. To make a riposte.

My honey honey wants to learn to fence.

Second Honeymoon...

I had my toes painted during lunch and they are now the most delightful shade of pale pink polish called Second Honeymoon.

Think fast, ride safe, feast hard, AB

Feasting on Asphalt 2 airs Saturday, August 4 at 9 p.m.

Guess you know where I'll be every Saturday night until September 8! Get the scoop here.

Speaking in staccato sentences...

De de...de de...de de de de

The office is reeeeallllly cold today.

I'm an old cowhand...

from the Rio Grande.

It's official...I took the test...

I'm a strong type B.

These are people who prize the domestic world over the work world, and the private over the public. B types want their leisure, their hobbies and their family to take a primary part in their life. They may be hard workers, but work is not their only priority, nor will they sacrifice family and personal time to it happily.

Someone has to be a "b".

Harvest...

I'm growing cherry tomatoes, peppers, squash and some herbs on my porch this summer. Here is a picture I took of some of the peppers that I harvested.

I took the picture and turned it into a watercolor. I can't decide if I like it or not...it's different.

My honey honey...

has a photo blog. I've mentioned it before...The Paul Clark Photography Project.

He incorporates music to each slide show of photos that he creates. Right now...I'm listening to the sound of the ocean...as scenes from Pensacola Beach flash in the background.

It's quite relaxing...you really should try it.

Comfort Haven...

I've been going through old papers and throwing things away and found a little scrap of paper that read...

The Road to Comfort Haven:

1) Armoire

2) Mirror

3) Bar bistro and chairs

4) Bathroom thing

I don't really remember what the bathroom thing was supposed to be but...you know...I don't think I actually ended up buying any of those things...and still I think my apartment...is well...in my eyes...my own little Comfort Haven!

Tres Yum!

Why is it that everything that is so good...is not so good for you.

It's been a good week for word of the day...

Word of the Day for Wednesday, July 18, 2007

bibelot \BEE-buh-loh\, noun:

A small decorative object without practical utility; a trinket.

Just something else that needs dusting.

Nero did care...

And today, the 18th of July, is believed to be the anniversary of the fire that burned Rome in 64 AD, while the emperor Nero supposedly played his fiddle. In fact, he wasn't in Rome. He was away at his holiday villa on the coast, and when he heard about the fire, he rushed back to the capital and took charge of the operations.

The rumors about his playing his fiddle probably came from people in the Roman military who did not approve of Nero's artistic leanings.

A poem to pizza...

Crust, ever so thin
and deliciously crispy,

Sauce, tangy, and tomato-ey with
herbs and yummy flavors,

Chees-ey gooeyness,
pepperoni and more,

All melted together into
a warm slice of heaven.

De-lish!

The Theory of Rain...by Paul Clark

It is my strong belief that the so called "pop-up" showers that we receive in the late afternoons of summer are the build up of smog and pollutants throughout the day.

That, coupled with the heat, produces random rain showers that may or may not include thunder.

And that, dear readers, concludes this brief lesson on rain.

Photo compliments of the Paul Clark Photography Project, July 4, 2005 entry.

I like this word...

Word of the Day for Tuesday, July 17, 2007

gallimaufry \gal-uh-MAW-free\, noun:

A medley; a hodgepodge.

It's kinda like me.

Guy Noir not so much...

On Saturday night driving home, listening to A Prairie Home Companion, I heard that they sell Guy Noir t-shirts...I LOVE the Guy Noir segments on A Prairie Home Companion...but the t-shirts...not so much.

I did like this one however...

How appropriate...

Word of the Day for Friday, July 13, 2007

triskaidekaphobia \tris-ky-dek-uh-FOH-bee-uh\, noun:

A morbid fear of the number 13 or the date Friday the 13th.

Testing fate...

Several weeks ago I said to my boyfriend... "You know what I haven't done in a while?"

And he said, "What?"

And I said, "Stepped in gum."

And he said, "You're testing fate."

Well, today I'd really like to test fate...you know what I haven't done in a while? Won the lottery. I haven't won the lottery. So fate...come and get me!

I'm a brand new blog...

My honey, honey made me this banner yesterday...but check out my new and improved banner that he made me today...with all twelve of the ladybugs who attended the picnic. I'm a lucky girl.

Dippity do da...

My honey sent me a video this morning of him taking a dip in our new pool. It has rained practically every day since we put it up so we really haven't had a chance to use it yet...but soon perhaps. Very soon.

I've watched the video a dozen times already today...puts a smile on my face.

The rain in Spain...

falls mainly on Atlanta.

Happy Birthday Mr. White...

Today is the birthday of the man who gave us Charlotte's Web, E. B. White., born in Mount Vernon, New York (1899).

For more E. B. White books go here.

Here comes the sun...

I love the bow-tie guy on CBS Sunday Morning...such a soothing voice. A man you can trust. I always wondered where the sun images came from that appear on the show so I did a little snooping and found this...

The face in the Sunday Morning logo, along with some of the other sun images shown during the show, are inspired by an out-of-print book entitled The Sun in Art. I'd love to see the book and all the sun images.

Some of the other sun images show up in the mail; some are produced by more local artists. If you'd like to send in your sun image...send them to Jessica.

Photos of sun artwork can be directed to:
Jessica Frank
CBS News Sunday Morning
524 West 57th St.
New York, NY 10019

Today's been busy but before I go...

Two Look At Two
Poem lyrics of Two Look At Two by Robert Frost.

Love and forgetting might have carried them
A little further up the mountain side
With night so near, but not much further up.
They must have halted soon in any case
With thoughts of a path back, how rough it was
With rock and washout, and unsafe in darkness;
When they were halted by a tumbled wall
With barbed-wire binding. They stood facing this,
Spending what onward impulse they still had
In One last look the way they must not go,
On up the failing path, where, if a stone
Or earthslide moved at night, it moved itself;
No footstep moved it. 'This is all,' they sighed,
Good-night to woods.' But not so; there was more.
A doe from round a spruce stood looking at them
Across the wall, as near the wall as they.
She saw them in their field, they her in hers.
The difficulty of seeing what stood still,
Like some up-ended boulder split in two,
Was in her clouded eyes; they saw no fear there.
She seemed to think that two thus they were safe.
Then, as if they were something that, though strange,
She could not trouble her mind with too long,
She sighed and passed unscared along the wall.
'This, then, is all.

Fresh food...locally grown

I always forget that East Atlanta has a Farmer's Market every Thursday May through October. It starts at 4:30 p.m. and goes until dark. I should start buying my produce there. Must remember...must remember.

Camping fever...

I'm ready to go camping again. My honey and I always have so much fun. Being outdoors ... hiking, laying out by the lake, riding our bikes. Our last camping trip was to the Holiday Campgrounds on West Point Lake. We had a blast. I love sitting by the campfire, cooking dinner and breakfast in the dutch oven. Finding some new recipe to try from Papa Dutch. Last time my honey made this really awesome chicken. It was delicious.

I think our next camping trip will be to Black Rock Mountain. It's usually too warm to camp in the summer (too hot to sleep comfortably at night) but Black Rock Mountain boasts cooler than average summertime temperatures...not to mention many beautiful vistas.

Heavenly fourth...

What a great holiday. Everything was perfect. We put up a screen door for the kitties and put up our pool. Soon we'll be in floatie heaven. I was treated to thin pancakes with raspberries Wednesday morning, and homemade avocado butter (honey you're a genius) for our corn on the cobb Wednesday night.

I'm off to Target for a pool kit and drink floatie. Then we're set.

Victory sweet victory...

Joey Chestnut won the 92nd Annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, beating six-time defending champion Takeru Kobayashi by consuming 66 hot dogs in twelve minutes, setting a new world record. The coveted Mustard Yellow International Belt is finally returned to American shores.

Yeah Joey! Good job.

Happy Birthday America!

Happy fourth of July everybody!

Click here to view a slide show of last years fourth of July celebration in Zelienople, PA courtesy of the Paul Clark Photography Project. Thank ya sweetie.

Born from jets...

I'm so happy. Today I made the final payment on my car...not just any car...my dream car. I am now the sole owner of my Saab 95 SE. Yeah me!!

Jooooeeeey! Jooooeeeey! Jooooeeeey!

USA's Joey Chestnut ate 59-1/2 hot dogs in 12 minutes to qualify for this years Nathan's Famous July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest that will take place tomorrow in Coney Island, New York. Last year Japan's Takeru Kobayashi ate only 53-1/2 hot dogs to win the competition.

Kobayashi...this year...you're going DOWN!!!
Read the article here. To learn more about the International Federation for Competitive Eating go here.

A round of Mini-Putt...

As you can see hole number 14 and hole number 18 killed me. But I did get eight holes-in-one. Play here.

Unbelievable...

I'm an inventor.

You might not know this but I invented the saying no, no, no and the mini hamburger. Well Williams-Sonoma has this advertised in their catalog. The mini burger maker. I should have thought of that. Grrrr.

Favorite things...

One of my favorite things is snacky dinner. And no one makes it better than Paul.

A Snacky Dinner Haiku

Dine on bread and cheese
kielbasa and tasty wine
Brie, Stilton, butter