Grand Cru is poo

Posted on August 11, 2003 by Frog

We were given/loaned a book by Barney Leason called Grand Cru. I respect the person who handed it over and I hate to say this but the book is a laugh-riot. I don’t mean that in a complimentary way. There is a scene where a pet bird flies out of a character’s hair. This is not meant to be funny but is supposed to be a plot device. I’m not making this up. The book was recommended because it deals with wine and Sonoma County. Certainly the details about the wine/vineyards was interesting, but the rest of the book was ridiculous. It would be perfect for wasting time at an airport.

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I don’t think this is a good idea

Posted on August 11, 2003 by Frog

I don’t think it is a good idea for a president to have an action figure. This could cause all kinds of problems in the GI Joe, Barbie and Ken love triangle.

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Canning Maniac

Posted on August 11, 2003 by Frog

This weekend was spent mostly canning tomatoes. I bought 25lbs of tomatoes from a local grower on Thursday and spent the weekend canning. I used all but one jar (which is only about 4 ounces–a novelty jar, really). I ended up putting some tomato puree in a ziploc and freezing it. We still have some tomatoes left. I think I’ll make spinach stuffed tomatoes tonight–delicious.

Here’s what I did to the tomatoes….roasted about half of what I canned and mixed with regular blanched tomatoes (to get the skins off). I have a bumper crop of basil so that went in the jar as well. I also roasted some cloves of garlic to add to the pot. Then I canned. I don’t like to make sauce or do anything else to the tomatoes. One year I made sauce and it wasn’t all that great and didn’t really take to doctoring.

We also had dinner at our friend C’s house. She filled us up with ribs, salad and an excellent corn and asparagus combo. Then I dominated in the Mountaineering edition of Monopoly. It is good to be the king.

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Professional Grade

Posted on August 7, 2003 by Frog

This morning I was flipping channels (I do actually do something other than channel surf) and on FoodTV there was an infomercial entitled something like “The Reason We’re Professional Grade”. I thought maybe they were going to talk about Viking ranges or something. No, it was about why GMC says they are Professional Grade. WHO CARES? Their trucks and SUVs are big and that’s really all most of us need to know.

Today the sister and niece and I were supposed to go to Lake Anna and have fun in the sand and water. What are we doing instead? Going to the Children’s Museum of Richmond where they brag on their website that they are the 11th best Children’s Museum in the country. I’m not sure if I’d brag that I didn’t even make the top 10. I’ve never been there so it will be interesting to see if they are sort-of good since that’s what that ranking implies.

Why aren’t we going to the Lake? Because it is raining. Have I whined enough about the rain yet? I’m not sure that I have. The other night we had hail and we’ve taken to calling our driveway Flannigan Mill Falls…but I really think the name should have Canyon worked into it. Gravel? What gravel? Oh there it is at the bottom of the ravine.

Special thanks to Jerry for linking to this site.

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Totally Sucked In

Posted on August 6, 2003 by Frog

I was home last night flipping channels and got totally sucked into Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. I had told myself weeks ago that I would not watch it because it seemed so hot right now and kind of gimicky. Ok, it is still all of those things but the boys made me like them right away. Carson has beautiful hair. Actually they all do except for that interior design guy, Thom. Dude, design a new hair style.

I also watched Mr. Perfect Teeth in the Bourne Identity last night. He has beautiful teeth…if you haven’t noticed before. And, I completely liked the fact that Jason Bourne has no visible tatoos. Take a note Hollywood not every leading man needs ink. Really.

I’m going through the stuff (er, fabulous merchandise) to sell on ebay. As I mentioned, I’m going to rule the planet through selling fabulous merchandise on ebay. I know I’m years behind the curve on this one but look for my name at the top of Fortune’s list next year. In case you missed it, I have some free CDs that I’ll send you if you want them. Last time I’m mentioning it…soon you, too, can bid on them.

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What’s Love Got To Do With It?

Posted on August 5, 2003 by Frog

When I married my husband I thought it was because we were/are in love with each other. Imagine my surprise to find out that the real reason marriage is an option is so that we can have children and make our society strong.

I thought I was making my society strong by owning a home (paying lots of taxes), working, buying goods (keeping that economy going) and assisting those in a less strong position. I guess that’s why I’m nobody and Rick Santorum is an elected official. If the public wants to impeach a president for lying about sex and recall a governor because they don’t like him, then I say the good people of Pennsylvania need to step up to the plate and get Rick Santorum off the national stage. Aren’t they embarrassed?

Posted in General Spleen Venting | 1 Comment

Ooooh

Posted on August 5, 2003 by Frog

I got the eastmountainsouth CD in the mail yesterday. No wonder I couldn’t find it through my normal routes…it is all one word and lower case. The CD is great and the harmony is nearly perfection. I’m a fiend for liner notes and I always hold out this hope of actually knowing someone in the notes. In reading the liner notes I found out that the one of the leads is from good old VA. So, I heard the song “You Dance” on satellite beamed from somewhere over Texas (at least I think that’s where our satellite is), got on the web, found a seller from CA on ebay, bought the CD and found out the female lead is from 3 hours away in a town I’ve been to dozens of times for work. It is a small world after all.

Here’s another little tidbit for anyone who doesn’t already know this….when a funeral procession is letting out onto the streets to go to the cemetery, it is customary to wait your turn patiently and let the dead and the grieving go about their business. Whatever hurry you think you are in can wait.

Our office building is next door to a sizeable funeral home and yesterday as I was leaving the hearse was pulling out. A full blown moron pulled into the other lane to go around….fool. Guess what happened—a huge SUV came down the road on his rightful side of the road and the fool had to back up into a parking space on the side of the road. Then he had to sit and wait for the rest of the traffic to clear out. Serves him right. I hate stupid and rude people.

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Oh Yeah–Monday

Posted on August 4, 2003 by Frog

Friday afternoon we had a thunderstorm—I know can you believe it? The thunderstorm knocked out power at the office for a second but long enough to stop the AC unit. Did I mention that it is August in Virginia? Did building management do anything about it? Is the AC on yet? Did I mention that thing about August and Virginia? Building management is a joke. So, here I sit in front of a fan getting chapped lips and trying to work. Everyone on the floor has their doors open and fans blowing. Gee, hope no one is trying to entertain clients or is hosting an important meeting.

Lest I forget, the building is being painted and the painters painted over a leaf on the window sill. I have the leaf on my desk as proof–white paint on one side and green leaf on the other. Did I mention they painted the window shut? Looozhers.

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Not that you care

Posted on August 2, 2003 by Frog

Last night the better-half touched my right elbow, which he has been trying to avoid since the accident, and I could feel the scab rip. Yes, this is going to be a gross entry.

Anyway, I was ecstatic and ran into the bathroom…he was slightly mortified. Another part of the scab was gently removed. Pink skin underneath! This morning when I was pulling on my shirt the last little bit of scab fell off to the floor. Whoohoo, now I just have a very pink looking spot on the elbow and I no longer have to worry about whether or not I’m banging into things, as is my wont.

We’re headed to Home Depot today to look for a transformer for the kitchen under cabinet lights. It blew about a week ago during a storm. If we can’t find a new transformer then we’re buying new lights. I am beyond missing having light on the counter-top. Did I mention I hate my kitchen? Because of this hatred, when one little thing is missing that makes it less loathsome it really gets into my craw.

Speaking of kitchen hate, a few weeks ago I was sitting on the porch and I heard a loud crash. I refused to get up because I was quite comfortable and I figured the better-half was in the house and he could take care of whatever was crashing. A few minutes later he came out to the porch carrying a cabinet door in two large pieces. The cabinet door under the sink doesn’t close very well (the problem most of our cabinets have) and he shut it and it popped open so he kicked it. The thing shattered. So now it is braced to the hilt on the inside and doesn’t close worth a darn. We have to firmly push it closed so the magnets grab hold. I was thrilled that he broke the cabinet and not me. I have a habit of going off on things like that so it was pure elation that he did it and not me.

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Edit Much?

Posted on July 31, 2003 by Frog

I read Salon.com at least 3 or 4 times a week. We actually paid for and are the happy owners of a charter membership for Premium content. So, I hate to riff on them….but I can’t let this go without ragging on them.

This image is not faked….

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