Photo Phriday - Placki

I was across town today so I stopped at Polska Chatta and had lunch. Now that's some placki! For those unfamiliar with the Polish, that's a potato pancake. Delicious!

My Life According to Pink Floyd

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think!

Pick your Artist: Pink Floyd

Are you a male or female: Julia Dream

Describe yourself: A Saucerful of Secrets

How do you feel: Comfortably Numb

Describe where you currently live: Obscured by Clouds

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: San Tropez

Your favorite form of transportation: Run Like Hell

Your best friend is: Arnold Layne

You and your best friends are: Several Species of small furry animals gathered together in a cave and grooving with a pict.

What's the weather like : Goodbye Blue Sky

Favorite time of day: Alan’s Psychedelic Breakfast a)Rise and Shine

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called: Shine on you Crazy Diamond

What is life to you: High Hopes

Your relationship: Young Lust

Your fear: Brain Damage

What is the best advice you have to give: Careful with that Axe, Eugene

Thought for the Day: The Show Must Go On

How I would like to die: Terminal Frost

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

I recently finished reading The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective by Kate Summerscale. It's a nonfiction piece written in the style of a detective story. It's a thoroughly researched true crime story about the Road Hill Murder of 1860. The career of the professional detective was just starting as were fictional detective stories and the book gives interesting descriptions of the beginnings of these fields. What is also interesting is the parallels to today's world. The sensationalizing by the press, the public looking at the minutia of the people involved and making their own determinations, the rapid switching between idolizing the police to chastising them; how public opinion can ruin reputations. The heinous crimes occurring then as now and the fact that children can commit them. If you're looking for a light read, this is not the book for you, but if you're looking for a well documented piece of history that's as interesting as it is well written, check out this book.

Lemon Whippersnappers

I love reading mysteries. I love eating food. Therefore I especially love reading mysteries about food! I read several culinary mysteries, among them Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen series. Hannah owns The Cookie Jar and makes, you guessed it, cookies. While I copy all of the recipes, last night was the first time I actually made cookies from the book. I made Lemon Whippersnappers and they turned out super. My dad said they were the best thing I ever baked. My mom was in awe. I was laughing because they were so easy to make! I guess I'll be making these at Christmastime to give as gifts!

Around the House

Today was a work around the house kind of day. I did laundry and took a chance and hung it out to dry. The sky was blue, aside from the big gray cloud over my house, but I figured I'd give it a shot. Lucky me, it didn't rain. I also did dishes, cleaned a rat cage, worked on an article, scanned some pics for another one, cooked dinner, talked to my folks. I still want to bake some cookies and do some other tasks. We'll see what else I can accomplish today.

Grand Opening

I went to the grand opening of a new Target today. It's next to my Wegman's-a very convenient location. They had some great specials and they had sent me some great coupons-so I made some great deals. The place itself is huge. They even have a full grocery section-with meat and produce as well as frozen foods. I probably won't buy much of that there-but it's nice to have the option.

Ganondagan Dance & Music Festival

I spent the day at the Ganondagan State Historic Site for their Native American Dance and Music Festival. What a good time I had. Unfortunately, I won't write much about it as their are major thunderstorms in the area and I want to get off line. To make a short recap of my day-I ate a lot, learned how to make a corn husk doll, talked to some great people, watched a chef make a bison steak as well as sea bass, watched Native Dancers, listened to Arvel Bird's fusion music, and bought some Christmas gifts!

My Own Pickles

I made my own pickles and jarred them this morning.

Flying Time

Today just flew by. I was up early, but spend too much time on the computer. I finally started my errands after 12:30. I got to the barn around 1. Harley was in his stall and we quickly got ready and worked a bit. My back was bothering me-so we didn't work too long. I cooled him off, gave him a shower-misted myself and was done just before 2. Then I stopped at the Hallmark shop as I had expiring coupons. I picked up some good Christmas gifts-that store always has some good clearance finds!. From there it was PetSmart for cat food...and dog food and dog treats and rat treats. Coupons played a part there too. Right next door was JoAnns-it was there Coupon Commotion and I picked up a few things. A few minutes down the road was AC Moore. I had a 50% coupon for the solvent ink I needed and I also picked up a few clearance items. Then a stop at the grocery store. I needed jars for my pickles, and pasta sauce. I also found some clearance gifts, and I picked up dinner-a main dish and 2 sides for $6! I got chicken French, garlic smashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese. Yummm. I had to run home as I was expecting a call for a follow up to a TV survey. I unpacked the car-missed a call from the dentist and my editor, but I had 20 minutes before the survey people. I unpacked the car and put my dinner in to heat. But then, I smelled a smell. Not a good smell. I soon found the source: Barrett had an accident. As I was cleaning up the mess the phone rang-the follow up interview. Sigh. I completed the interview-they were more interested in the commercial than the program-which was lousy, by the way. Then I reheated the dinner, ate, quickly back on the computer. I then did a short Wii Fit session-my back was still bothering me. I washed a few jars, checked the pickles (not quite ready) then time for my shows, a Bones episode I haven't seen and the 100th episode and results show of So You Think You Can Dance. Whew!

Focus Group

This evening I'm going to part of a focus group. I've never done this before, so it should be interesting... although we'll be talking about tires. Hmm. Oh well, I don't have any other plans. I've been doing research this morning and this evening all I have planned is watching So You Think You Can Dance and Top Chef Masters.

Medical Technology

Technology is a pretty neat thing. I went in for my third spinal injection today. When I told the doc that the first 2 didn't do much he said, "Hmmm, where did you get your MRI". When I told him UMI-he clicked the computer screen and within seconds he was looking at my MRI. Although I don't have any symptoms below the knee, he felt the other herniation looked pretty bad to him, so instead of injecting me at L2L3 "Why inject you there when it's not doing anything", he decided to inject me at L4L5. Well, he wasn't kidding when he said the skin is more sensitive the lower you go on the spine. I nearly came off the table when he inserted the first needle. That was painful-much worse than the other 2 shots. Then when the nurse told me to sit up on the table, I couldn't get up. The other times I jumped right up-this time it took me 3 tries to get up! They say that's a good sign. We'll see. Now I've been assigned more physical therapy and will go back to the neurosurgeon on August 13.

Another Surgery for Barrett

I dropped Barrett off for surgery this morning. He has 3 areas of new tumors. Surgery went well, but there are more questions. What the vet thought was a fatty tumor, isn't...the area where his cancerous tumor was has these little lumps all over-so a biopsy was done, and the other tumor is odd as well. All have been sent out to discover what they are. The good news is that Barrett is home. He's snoozing right now. At the moment, he's e-collar free, but I know I'll have to put it on him eventually.

Summer Festivals

There are so many wonderful local festivals occurring at this time of year. Yesterday I stopped by the local Italian Festival. Although not nearly as grand as the one is Buffalo, which has a Mount Vesuvius that erupts every 15 minutes, it was nice. I made it to the demonstration tent-which is where I stayed. They made pasta...and ricotta...and showed how to make prosciutto, and sausage, and wine. And they all had samples! Then I took a plate of braciole home. Today I went to the Oatka Festival. They had lots of craft vendors. I got a Christmas present for my dad, homemade dog and cat treats, and an Italian charm to finish my bracelet. Then I ate. And I'm still stuffed. I had a HUGE beef on weck with horseradish, these great fries (and they had vinegar!!!) and fresh squeezed lemonade. Then, I got dessert...to go... a candy apple and cinnamon taffy, and a banana taffy too. No need for dinner tonight!

Coldest July

I heard on the radio that this July has been the coldest on record. Me, I think it's fantastic. I haven't had to turn the A/C on once yet. Thank God for older houses. My walls are so thick; it gets cold enough at night to really cool things down and it just doesn't heat back up. It was gorgeous earlier-around 70, rain came and it's a bit chilly now,around 63. I'll take it. I feel bad for my friends in Texas with their continued days over 100-yuck. I'm so glad I'm back North!