Continuing in the Squashity Vein

I just made a casserole using my home-grown squash and it smells freakin' awesome.

I tried it while I was putting it together and it already tasted heavenly so even tho I haven't tried the finished product, it. will. be. great!

It looks wunnerful too. I can't wait to have it for dinner tomorrow.

The recipe template (key word: template coz I took the recipe and did some major additions) came from a book sale find called "Country Casseroles". A paperback thin pamphletty type book. The original recipe is called Squash Supreme and is credited to Mary Fisher (Madison, Wisconsin) but with my tweaks it is now called...

Sam's Squash Supreme

6 cups sliced yellow summer squash

1 whole small to mid-sized Vidalia onion chopped

1 tsp salt

1 pkg Jimmy Dean regular sausage

1 can (10 3/4 oz) of condensed cream of chicken soup undiluted

1 pkg already julienned/shredded carrots

1 pkg (2 cups) shredded chz of your choice (I used a parmesan mozzarella mix)

1 cup (8oz) sour cream

1 pkg (8oz) seasoned stuffing mix

1/2 cup butter melted

*optional: Mrs. Dash's Table Blend to taste

1. In a large skillet, cook-saute the onions in butter while you are slicing the squash so the onions get slightly browned.
2. Add sliced squash and cook-saute until squash is tender, floppy, and sort of transparent.
3. Drain well, but don't turn off the burner.
4. While skillet is still hot, brown the sausage.
5. Combine soup, sour cream, carrots, and chz.
6. Add sausage.
7. Fold in squash.
8. Mix well and gently.
9. Toss stuffing mix with 1/2 cup melted butter.
10. To assemble casserole: spoon one half of stuffing over bottom of greased big casserole dish (I used the biggest Pyrex I own), top with squash mixture, and sprinkle top with remaining stuffing.
11. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

Mammoth Pumpkin To Be

So this is the result of my mammoth pumpkin experiment so far, it's only been growing since about the 2nd week of August. Despite the suck-ass weather, it's growing quite well. Let's hope it continues to do well.

Glove for sizing purposes.

Can You Say "M-F'in H.O.T"?

I knew that you could.

The past week and this weekend have been like living in someone's mouth.

If we lived in a big city, I'm sure it would be like living in someone's armpit.

Hot. Humid. Even at night. No relief.

I'm trying to stick it out and not break down and put my air conditioner in, but the fans are just about not cutting it.

It cooled down two degrees with a mild breeze on Tuesday so I sucked it up and mowed my lawn which was out of control. 3 weeks plus some days was almost too long to wait.

Saturday I dogsat. Riley and I had one fiercely hot walk. I told him we were going to walk slow and he listened. I also told him I was not going to run amok in the back yard and he accepted that. Basically all he wanted was for me to give him the frozen peanut butter filled Kong and skedaddle while he wallowed in front of the air conditioner at my parents' house. The life of Riley.

I went to my friend J2's baby shower today. Talk about a roomful of women and no air conditioning, just two fans pushing warm air around. I got to be the "present scribe" and the present list was sticking to my hands and wrists. Talk about UGH!

My car has air. My office has air. Some of the homes I visit have air. Stores have air. So I'm managing. Just barely (barely being an operative word).

On a positive note, my hair has been incredible - lots of body and curls with very little effort. Looks good with my summer tan.

A little TMI - I've started putting deodorant in places other than under my arms.

I've also discovered putting rubbing alcohol on cotton "rounds" (basically smushed flat cotton balls that are somewhat quilted) and swabbing my face before I go to bed to remove the schweaty film on my skin. I know, should be immensely drying and would never attempt to do this in the fall or winter, but with the humidity what's to dry out?

I've been working with different fan configurations in the bedroom and last night I think I've stumbled on a good set up. Last night I actually got cold towards dawn! We'll have to see about tonight because it's raining and I can't have the windows open like I did last night.

Yes, it finally started raining today about 5pm. Heavy at times. Which is good on one hand because then I don't have to water what little garden I have or the hydrangea bush but on the other hand, I don't think it's going to break the humidity cycle.

Well, my fingers are sticking to the keys and my wrists to the table. There's two fans with my name on them in my bedroom. Time to read and cool off.

Maybe.

Happy B'day To Me!

Yesterday was my b'day! And while I did not have protesters a'la Madonna, I also did not have to suffer the "Elvis is dead" Syndrome like past birthdays.

It was a great birthday:

• My parents were in town for a change.
• I slept in.
• I got to shop and have a great late lunch with my mom.
• I browsed a book store for book crack.
• I got homemade birthday cake and ice-cream and candles. (Aside note: if you put the Kaluha cake in the fridge, the Kaluha gets VERY potent, I almost have a buzz going on from my piece tonite).
• I got two birthday calls from very good friends.
• I got a book present from my brother.

My Top 10 High Schooler Summer Reads

When I was in high school, we lived in Germany, West Germany that is. Before the unification of Deutschland. Anyhoo, the high school I attended was a mix of the American and British school systems with a definite listing towards the American. The school library was so very teeny tiny... an unpleasant difference from the big huge libraries back in the States I was used to spending hours in. It was extremely difficult to get my book fix and I usually ended up re-reading favorites every season or more. So figure one book got read at least 4x/year and 5+ times a year at the most. Summers we'd visit the States and I would stock up at book stores, snapping up these favorites if I saw them. These were the books I couldn't live without (and in no particular order):

1) Crystal Singer - Anne McCaffery (science fiction): I practically memorized this book I read it so many times. I so wanted to learn how to cut crystal, have a symbiotic alien enhance my strength/endurance and make me practically immortal, and eat all the foods they craved during "the hunger". Nothing like sci-fi with a strong-willed female lead character successfully overcoming her flaws to an angst-ridden teenager, balm to the soul.

2) Windhaven - Lisa Tuttle and George R. R. Martin (science fiction): Another strong-willed female lead character successfully overcoming her flaws only this time instead of crystal cutting, it's flying. And while flying is made to sound really really alluring, I was never once tempted to want to try sky diving or hand gliding. I usually devoured this book endless times right after Crystal Singer.

3) The Nursery - David Lippincott (horror): This very little known gem showed me that while I thought I had it bad with my parents, they were nothing like the psycho couple the lead character ends up dealing with. I bought this book in a Vienna train station one night on our way back from a weekend school drama trip and stayed up all night on the train ride home reading it to the end. Then promptly read it again when I got home, but slower this time.

4) Gloriana - Michael Moorcock (alternate reality): This book is wonderful, it combines an alternate Elizabethan I reality, fantasy, magic, murder, mayhem, conspiracy, sex, and writing I can only compare to a huge box of absolutely delicious chocolates that no matter how much you eat, you want more. And there's no fear of calories or nauseousness. Rich and wonderful.

5) The Long Walk - Rich Bachman (Stephen King actually although I didn't know it at the time - sci-fi/horror): This gruesome dark book was a perfect high school read. Fully realized believable characters that you either cared for or hated, just like the people you were going to school with. Very detailed which made my anal-retentive heart go pitter pat. Scary in that you wonder how well you'd do in the same situation and when you'd end up... A damn fine story with an unusual unhappy ending, finally.

6) Sphinx - Robin Cook (suspense): This was actually a find that our American neighbors up the street had. They generously allowed me to plunder their book collection and while reading Nero Wolfe was alright, this book was great. Light reading for me but the story was well-told, fast-paced, and set in Egypt with strong-willed female lead character on a search for ancient treasure. (Guessing you can see a trend by now?)

7) Banners of Silk - Rosiland Laker (historical romance): I read this book to tatters, bought a new copy, read that one to tatters, and am most likely on my 5th or 6th copy. I finally found the original hardback version and that's my "good" copy (I have a back-up HB copy as well, call me crazy, I won't deny it!). Something about this book... I could say it's the writing, the characters, the dresses, the story, but that doesn't get to it. It's all those things and more. It's a book that strikes a chord and I love it and read it over and over and over.

8) The Fortress - Gabrielle Lord (horror/suspense): IF this was treated right, this book would make a great movie. But then all really good books that you stay up all night to finish and then have bad dreams about are never made into good movies because they never match what your imagination accomplishes. This book rocks, still. I finally got an out-of-print copy and it is exactly as good as I remember it. A teacher and students pitted against terrorizing kidnappers in Australia - that's all I can tell ya!

9) Anne of Green Gables series - L.M. Montgomery: I love reading this series. I read the first book to the last and cram a lifetime in a relatively brief span. Again one of those books where the writing, characters, and story just click and I can't pinpoint exactly why. Wait, maybe it's because while I'm reading it, I'm in the story and not aware that I'm reading. That's it, that complete suspension of reality.

10) Moomintroll series - Tove Jansson: Yes, these books are on the younger side but the stories, writing, and pictures are so engaging that I still find myself coning back to them again and again.

Common trend (in most of the books): strong-willed flawed female protagonist who has serious issues/dangers to overcome be it on a different planet, alternate reality, outback, in the distant past, or modern day.

What these books did for me in high school (and do so even today): due to a combination of great writing/great stories/great characters/great details = suspended reality and made me leave my life for a while never once feeling like I was reading a story, but actually seeing it unfold before me (granted in my head, but still).

Moomin's Weekend Friend

So Moomin was looking out the window when a huge fuzzy bumbly bee landed on the screen for a wash break. It hung out for about 10 minutes meticulously grooming legs/feet/wings. Moomin enjoyed every moment although as soon as the bee stopped moving, Moomin took to watching the crows across the street.

Here he is trying to make contact. I'm such an overprotective mamacat that I did not fall for his cuteness and open the window. Stinging is not fun. Ripped screens are not fun.

Two days of Slambo sunbathing this weekend! I am one delicious caramel fudge brownie! And yes, I'm being careful for all you sun-naysayers. I'm wearing sunscreen on my face and only staying out for short periods of time. I am feeling healthier this summer with all the vitamin D I've been soaking up and I'm definitely looking healthier too. Come this winter I will again fade to fish belly white. I might have to buy a "happy light". Huh (snort).

My Chimney Has a TopHat

I finally got my flashing fixed/replaced.

With all the rain we've been having, mostly heavy and driving, Dad's jerry-rigged tar patch finally gave out and I've been experiencing a "River Runs Through It" on my living room wall.

My roofer contractor is reputedly one of the top guys in the area so he can pick and choose his jobs after playing golf and bar-hopping. Yeah, I know, doesn't sound promising, but he came highly and reliably recommended and if he's that good that he can do what he wants when he wants and everyone wants him, then I don't have any complaints.

Neither does my wall. No more leaks! And he guaranteed his work. And he was reasonably priced. He did say the local squirrels snacking on my lead are eligible for mental disability coverage. Well, at least the ones not run over by cars.

And he let me know my chimney is NOT lined and advised me NEVER to use a woodstove. Makes me wonder how my home's previous owners avoided burning the house down around them because there was a woodstove hooked up when I purchased it. It's still in the basement, full of ashes, just no longer hooked up to the chimney.

He put a top hat on the top of my chimney to keep critters, debris, and rain out of it. Apparently I didn't have one of those either. Go figure, I've had this house since '99. He was concerned about "wicking" which leads to wearing and leaking of the chimney inside - brickwise but as the Universe looks after fools and drunks, I don't have any evidence of that.

One more repair down. Several more to go... but not right now, or soon, or even in a while. I need to percolate some more.

Giant Pumpkin Update

Houston, despite my timely manual matchmaking efforts, we now have a rotting head-sized pumpkin that is beginning to resemble something halfway solid a child has upchucked.

I am SO disappointed but not very surprised given the insane wet weather we've been having.

On the up side, the vine is busy attempting two or three more pumpkins and with the male and female flowers finally in sync, I don't have to "show them the way".

But I'm not holding my breath for any pumpkins this year. My other regular pumpkin vines are just growing forth greenly, not having any babies yet.

I did manage to get 4 yellow squash.

My BiPolar Potato Salad

Or "Hot/Cold Potato Salad" or even "Two Part Potato Salad" if you prefer my more PC names. I myself prefer the nonPC name - "BiPolar Potato Salad".

This is my new summer "catnip" recipe. I describe certain meals as "catnip" because I can't get enough of them and would roll around in them if I were a cat.

So...

The Cold or Manic Part:

• One bundle of green onions - cut with scissors, oh so much easier
• One bundle/stalk/set of celery - diced into nice little centimeter pieces
• One bag of julienned carrots - chopped into little centimeter pieces
• Optional: one yellow pepper - chopped into little centimeter pieces
• Trust me, you are going to want to take the anal retentive/OCD time to make the pieces small.
• One package of real bacon bits (Oscar Mayer) (optional, but you're gonna miss 'em)
• One 5oz container of fresh shredded Asiago cheese (optional, I love me some dairy)
• Mix all of these in a big ass bowl and refrigerate til potatoes are done.

The Hot or Lethargic Part:

• One mesh bag of purple or russet baby/mini potatos
• Boil them up while doing the Cold/Manic chopping part.
• Once easy to poke with a fork, stop the water.
• Take them out one at a time and put in a tupperware or other plastic bowl (with a top that fits)
• Mash/chunk them with a fork.
• Add Ranch dressing and Ginger Soy Sauce to taste. I can't give you measurements coz I just add and mix until the potatoes are a chunky-creamy texture and taste like heaven. One hint, more Ranch than Ginger Soy sauce, but it has to be Ginger Soy, god that stuff is yummy!

Putting it all together or BiPolar Part:

• Bring out the cold veggie mix.
• Ladle as much of it as you want in a bowl. I like pasta bowls for this.
• Then take about a cup with a little + of the potato mixture and put on top of the veggies.
• Mix the potatoes and veggies together, ideally you want each bite to have p's and v's together!
• Put the cold veggies away.
• Put the potatoes away.
• DO NOT MIX THEM!! Keep them in separate containers.
• Only mix together what you are going to eat. I can't stress this enough!

What makes this salad work is that the veggies stay crisp and cool and delish.

And the potatoes are warm and comfort-foodish.

Together=bliss.

If you work it right, there will be more veggies than potatoes each helping and you'll run out of both at the same time if you keep this in mind. If you try to make them equal, you will run out of potatoes very quickly. For us calorie conscious people, we need the veggies to be the bigger portion. Besides the potatoes are almost too good to have too much of, although I've gone there. The veggies really balance out the over-goodness of the potatoes.

Leftovers or Post Crisis Potatoes:

• When you want more the next day, just heat the amt of p's you want in a bowl.
• After they are warm, ladle on the cool v's and mix and you are ready to go.

The BugFest That Was This Weekend

I swear I encountered every freakin' bug that lives in my yard, my parents' yard, and on the dogsitting walk this weekend. I had to bugspray myself good to just sunbathe.

You name it;

Mosquitos (poor Riley, if I hadn't coated his buttocks with Burt's Bees bug repellent... he sorely needed it while taking a poop in the woods. God they're ferocious!)

Earwigs

Big juicy black ants

Tiny red ants

Slugs (okay, so they aren't "bugs" but they are pests)

Flies

Horse flies

Deer flies

Bees

Wasps

Some other very large flying stinging creature that I did not care to investigate closely

Grasshoppers

Moths

Midges

Gnats

The striped bugs eating the squash and pumpkin leaves

Japanese beetles

Some other kind of beetle that was black

And spiders, tons of those too;

The Bad Ass Big Yellow spiders (BABYs)

Daddy Long Legs

The zebra-striped jumping ones

The brown nonwebbers that scuttle frantically when startled (usually found around the soil)

Tunnel spiders

And of course, the garden orb spider as seen below.

It's a wonder I wasn't carried off and sucked dry.

Out and About Doin' the Hooligout

I went out with new friend, L, last night. When she came to my house to transfer over to my car (she drove last time we went out), my neighbor was out sweeping her steps. When she saw me, she said, "wow, you're smokin' tonight!" Of course she's only ever seen me in lawn-mowing mode and bedraggled after-work mode, so seeing me with smoky eyes, blonde curls, a crisp white buttondown showing some cleavage, and a short skinny jean skirt with heels that made my legs look like they started at my chin was a bit of an eye opener for her. L told her I don't go out enough and my neighbor agreed and said she hoped the smokin' effect wreaked some havoc on the male gender. And it did, but so not the way I expected...

We went to a neighboring town's restaurant/bar for a late dinner and some beverages. The waitress was super sweet, the chicken tenders were super crunchy, and the drinks were super weak. I convinced L that staying for expensive weak drinks and bad Karaeoke (sp?) was not how I wanted to spend the rest of the evening so we left and moved on to another local hang out.

The drinks were better but the live band sucked ass, literally and figuratively. We sat and chatted and texted my best friend J in Florida. We ran into someone L knows and chatted with him for a while. One of the locals hit on L.

Next thing we know, this spiffily dressed - and when I say spiffy I mean SPIFFY, he had on a sparkly belt, rhinestone pins scattered on his shirt, rings practically on every finger, I swear I saw several earrings in one ear, coiffed white hair, those old-time shoes that look like a cross between fancy one-color bowling shoes and blue suede shoes but his were white - older man comes waltzing (and I do mean waltzing and if it wasn't waltzing it was skipping, or floating, or gamboling) into the bar and immediately (after equipping himself with a beer) starts buzzing around the women like a bee dipping into each flower. He asked each of them to dance, some nice ones took him up on his offer but most didn't. He buzzed around our table and stayed to talk A LONG time after we both politely said no to dancing. L left to go to the bathroom and the man stayed and proceeded to regale me with mini risque stories, drop one-liners like "if you can keep up with me till 5am, I treat you to breakfast", tell blonde jokes with the blonde always coming out on top "because we blondes need to stick together" (he considered his white hair his blonde ticket), compliment me, touch my arm high enough up to cop a fleeting feel of my boobie, put his hand on my knee or my shoulder, and while it sounds like harassment as I write it down, it was truly innocuous due to how light-hearted and in the moment he was, and it wasn't threatening or icky. It was more like Puck in human form having a blast amongst the women-flowers. (He reminded me alot of Gpa out skating.) Anyhoo. After he left our table one time (he came back numerous times), these other two guys asked us if he was bothering us. We said no and they said he comes out all the time, looking to dance up a storm, in fact his local nickname is "Geezer Pimp" coz of all the bling he wears and his propensity for women. So my smokin' appearance led to being hit on by 78 year old Geezer Pimp!

Next up, much later in the evening, a man comes up and asks if we'd dance with his friend who's going off to Iraq in three days. Both L and said we weren't dancing but they were welcome to sit at our table with us. They came over and proceeded to joke and overshare - it was that time of night. Both of them were Navy, one was 21 and the other was 22 years old, and both were finding Maine an experience. First Guy was from California and had never experienced 50degree temps and saw snow for the first time last winter. Second Guy hailed from Ohio and it turns out his brother is attending my alma mater. How funny is that? First Guy said he was feeling funny about wearing shorts out to the bar because back in Cali you wear long pants out clubbing. I told him there is no clubbing in Maine, it's bar hopping and shorts are norm. L used the word "wicked" to describe something and they just about fell out of their chairs. First Guy said in Cali they say "hella" for "wicked". So we all had to come up with funny hella and wicked phrases with me topping the fun using the F-bomb. First Guy thought I was a riot and told me so several times. After much double meaning and risque talk, the bar was closing and we decided to walk over to another bar and see if there were going to be any fights. There weren't but First Guy offered to go back to my place and "do a little sumpin' sumpin'." I thanked him for his kind offer but had to decline as I was interested in someone else's sumpin' sumpin'. And so my smokin' appearance led to be hit on by a 22 year old.

Go figure, I was hit on by someone who could be my grandfather and by someone who could be my son all in the same night. Now that's got to be good for a drinking game.

Two And A Half Men Speak

"There's not enough bowel movements left!"

"Shut-the-hell-up-shoe"

"Turd in the punchbowl"

"Did your blow-up doll run away with a pool toy?"

"Vodka, Scotch, Whiskey - blond, brunette, and redhead - Charlie's Angels"

"Deep down she's several people and they're all bent."

"I ain't hitting her positive attributes, so I don't give a rat's ass!"

"I now pronounce you fruit basket and nut case. May God have mercy on your souls."

"The head that made the promise isn't the head that broke it."

"It's not a sausage problem, more in the meatball area."

"Swamp ass." "You'd know if you had swamp ass." "A kid in my school had swamp ass and a cat followed him around for 3 weeks."

Just had to share the gigglefest.

VacaPics Using iPhoto

Some belated postings of a few vaca pics. I finally got brave enough for the iMac to suck my photos off my camera. Tonight I've discovered two things I need help with: 1) how to get back to the original photo after I've tweaked it and 2) how to make my photos more blogworthy (read: smaller and crappier quality) instead of huge shiny glistening files that take a long time to upload to the blog. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing!

Ah, whitish sand and turquoise water.

My bestest friend J, her daughter M, and two youngsters L and S.

And this is my youngster. Fortunately the zoo is taking care of it for me.

My haul on one of my two beach-going days. I mailed them back to myself.

Endless vista that I miss.

Male and Female Pumpkin Flowers

The female flower is low on the vine growing off a mini-starter baby pumpkin and when the wide blossom opens up it has a very fat almost foot-stool shaped middle. I have no idea what the technical term for the middle is - stamen?

The male flower is on a tall stalk growing straight up from the vine, the blossom is not as wide and has a much thinner longer middle part - tech term pistil?

Anyhoo, the idea is to get the tall flower's pollen (located on the longer thinner middle part) onto the low flower's fat middle part - thus creating a fertilized pumpkin. How you can tell you did the procedure correctly is that the mini-starter pumpkin instead of not growing and rotting away, starts to swell almost immediately the day after you played matchmaker.

You can do this for squash, zucchini, and cucumbers.

So now you know. Happy fertilizing!

Gardening factoids courtesy of my Mom, Wednesday's Child, and her "gay zucchini story" which is not only educational but extremely pants-wetting as well. Thank you, oh, Master Gardner, you!

Like a Good Neighbor...

Slambo is there.

Once again I'm in charge of watering my neighbor's plants while she is away. But this year I really haven't had to because of all the rain. I totally lucked out in that respect. Besides, the deer or some other wild suburban animals have been extreme-barbering the dahlias I injured last year.

On the other hand, I don't think she arranged for anyone to mow her lawn so I've taken it upon myself to be a good neighbor and mow hers when I mow mine. Our lawns merge after all and when I mow my side lawn, her unmown grass is VERY noticeable, not to mention unsightly.

So I mowed two yards (back and front) today after work before the rain settles in again this weekend. And it was very humid. And buggy. And I was a drippy schweaty mess. God how I dislike heat/humidity.

At work we are dealing with a salmonella outbreak in the downstairs part of the building. Adding diarrhea to hot and humid weather. Instant big time fun.

I was just informed yesterday that my famous or "infamous" (depending on what level a health nut you are) party pretzels have been requested for a bake sale for next week. I've been told that people buy them in bulk and are hugely disappointed when they're gone. In addition to the Reese's PB baking bits (crushed) flavor, I'm substituting mini choc chips for crushed M&M baking bits (what a pain in the ass crushing them is) with some sprinkles added for color and a new flavor of crushed Whoppers. I had an idea for a healthy version - fruit bits with mini choc chips, sort of like trail mix glued onto a pretzel - but the powers that be tell me no one wants the party pretzels to be healthy.

It's supposed to be hot and humid all weekend, I'm not really looking forward to spending time over the stove with a double boiler full of white chocolate and trays upon trays of candy coated pretzels.

I'm just too damn nice for my own good.

Pumpkin Artificial Insemination

Yep, you read right...

Mom started my giant pumpkin seed from scratch and when I got back from vaca the beginning of June, it was a massive green healthy seedling.

I made a mound of dirt, compost, and manure-y mulch and planted it in my back landscape garden.

And then it proceeded to rain, and rain, and rain, and rain, and rain, and oh, rain some goddamn more.

The vine has been growing S.L.O.W.L.Y. and small yellow and black striped bugs have been massively a-munching the leaves.

About 4 beginning pumpkins failed because the girlie flowers were not opening the same time as the boy flowers - so no naturally occurring pumpkin-sex.

Monday before work, I noticed a female flower in open bloom and one lone male flower open and ready to go... but not a busy bee or bug to be seen. I took matchmaking matters in my own hands and proceeded to administer artificial insemination.

Meaning I picked the male flower, bent back the petals, and swirled the male flower parts around inside the female flower.

Today the fruit of my labors is swelling. Houston, we have a giant pumpkin a-growin'. Halleluyah!

Can I Get a WhooHoo??!!

I am making this post from my very new computer!

It's a 20 inch iMac and it. is. AWESOME!

My head is bigger than the keyboard.

The monitor is WAY bigger than my head. Not to mention everything is stuffed into the monitor, so no more tower under the desk or taking up room on the desk.

I have no words. Just AWESOME.

Oh, and I'm going to have to spend some time getting to know the newbie because it is VASTLY different from the PC I was using and the laptop I'm using at work.

Apple did my data transfer for free for me as part of my One To One service package so I've checked and all my pictures seem to be in iPhoto. Apparently this computer is so smart, I just plug my camera in and it SUCKS them right out with not having to go thru my camera's program and then save to My Pictures folder to get pics on the blog. I also have access to free tutorials on the web and can sign up for 1:1 tutorials at the Apple store. All part of the One To One service package for a year.

Oh, and I can call AppleCare for help whenever I want and they can talk me thru probs as they occur. AppleCare will also replace my hard drive if something major unrepairable should happen. If that is at all possible.

Well, the cats have been super patient with me and I have to go feed them. And get ready to watch WipeOut and knit some more on my mom's Mother's Day scarf. I've got to unravel quite a bit as what I wanted to do isn't working and I gotta go with the basics so it looks much better and won't roll up.

Blog ya later!

Wow, It's Been a While...

Sorry to all of you riveted readers who have been jones-ing for a current post...

But I've been flat-out at work,
Went on week's vaca,
Brother is in town,
And I'm still flat-out at work.

Good news,

I went to Florida for vaca to visit J and jammed A LOT into my week: M was there (which was VERY awesome!), thunderstorms, zoo, fondue restaurant, bbq party, beaches, shelling, pool, darts, 2 strip clubs, a casino, some shopping, used book stores, and found a Wii videogame that I finally like and can somewhat play. And I found the perfect perfume for my bestest friend who has been searching for two years to replace her discontinued favorite kind! I sum up my vacation as "Tornados, Casinos, and Titties, Oh My!"

Other good news,

With my baby brother in town, I get to access his vast computer mentality and I may end up with a new computer before or by the time he leaves. Can I get a WHOO-HOO!?

So, I promise to try to get back on the blogging track now that all my shows have gone beddy-bye for the summer but I can't 100% promise this as I'm pretty much doing 5-8 hours straight on my computer at work every day and frankly, I'm extremely sick of keyboards and monitors and mice and misbehaving servers when I come home.

Baby's Got Her Car Butt Back

My car's butt has been fixed and now looks just like it should - new and red and shiny and scratchless. Priceless!

Basically they just took the back bumper off like a Lego piece, buffed, repainted, and baked it. Now it has to "cure" for at least 30 days before I get the ResistAll put back on.

I got to drive a Chevy Cobalt for two days as my loaner-car. This car was like driving a brick with behavior issues - clunky, hard to steer, and it always wanted to go to the right and when I made it go to the left, it took it to extremes. I'm surprised I wasn't pulled over for erratic driving.

So, yes, my car is "devalued" while still "almost new", but as I plan to keep it as long or longer than my old car (13 yrs) and it looks like new again (shiny butt!), I'm not really all that concerned about it's value to anyone other than moi.

My Fit Got Hit A Bit

I got swiped in the car-ass today coming back from a meeting by an impatient teenager.

Fortunately it wasn't the flaming fireball flip-over accident that I lucidly dreamed this morning before actually getting up. I guess the Universe likes to send me overly dramatic forewarnings.

I'll take scratches over a totalled car and being fatally crisped and barbequed any day.

Even tho I was upset coz my car is still NEW!

I'm waiting for my claims adjustor to call me so I can decide if I want Geico to take care of it or if I want my insurance to take care of it. The Geico person was pretty aggressive about having them take care of it. I'm thinking I just want to speak to "my people" and then make a decision coz I'm not really psyched about having every last thing overseen by Geico. I'd rather have where I bought the car handle those details. But I'll keep an open mind and make a decision by tomorrow. Mom? Dad? Any input?

I'm hoping that the door whanged into my side, me backing into my garbage can, and this are considered the official grouping of "three" and it will stop here.

I could just be being overly optimistic.

UPDATE: I'm having the teenager's insurance take care of it all. As my neighborhood insurance agency explained - if they're willing to cover it all, have them do so. So I am. Car is being inspected by the claims adjustor and repaired the same day with a covered rental thrown in if I need it. I may need it as paint is involved, I guess there is a "curing" time. "?"