Mute Monday: Powers

Look, but Don't Touch

Cholla in Bloom

A Grilling Day

Time for the annual squadron picnic and time for Phos to man the grill. Lots of burgers and hot dogs hit the coals today. It was a lot of fun and this time the weather was pleasant so it wasn't as hot as the last time I stood in front of the fire.

I'll be doing some more grilling this weekend on a smaller scale, I've got some ribs I want to smoke...

The Yucca is Blooming

Some flowers for you all...

Popeye's Revenge

It was my own fault to be sure. My first mistake was eating chicken prepared by a sailor. Now if I wanted to know how to tie a knot, navigate around the Horn, or do scrimshaw give me a sailor every time, for chicken one is best off hunting down an old Kentucky Colonel. He may not have actually cooked a chicken in his life, but unlike our hapless sailor would know that the government requires the chicken reach a safe internal temperature of 165 °F, and is then held at or above 135 °F until time for service. To be fair to the sailor after months at sea eating nothing but weevil-ridden hardtack, a piece of rotten chicken may seem like a treat, but my system was ill prepared for that nautical nonsense.



My second mistake was eating the piece of questionable meat. It felt cool to the touch, surely a bad sign. I’ve always had reservations about the place, picked over piles of chicken just lying there waiting for me, no way of telling what the temperature of the food is or even if Timmy, my chicken sales associate, is scrupulous about washing his hands after picking the scab from that new nose piercing. I guess after Korea and the Philippines I felt invincible when it came to food borne pathogens, but alas I was mistaken and spent the weekend feeling as though I’d been body slammed by a 75 pound Spotted Eagle Ray.


The moral of the story is beware what you eat whenever venturing out into the world of restaurants. I’ve worked at enough of them that I should know better – from watching as one proprietor removed fish from the garbage to re-cook and serve when he ran out of the fresh stuff, to the 10-second rule in operation, there be danger in those waters. You are your own last line of defense - if something seems off, send it back and walk away. Your gastrointestinal system will thank you later.

Born Under a Bad Moon

Happy Birthday EC

Go over and wish Eternally Curious a happy birthday when you get a chance. I think she turns 25 today...

High Flight

This morning was the first time in a long time I darkened the doorway of a church. It wasn't to worship or sing praises, but to bid farewell to a young student pilot who died in the course of a training mission. The church was filled to capacity so the group I was in sat in another room, also filled to capacity. These people weren't under any orders or compulsion to show up, many didn't know him, in fact I had only spoken to him a couple times while in the squadron. The reason people came was a sense of comradeship and brotherhood. Everyone in that room shared bond with the Lieutenant, his family, and each other, and had come not to say goodbye as much as to celebrate the wonderful person he was and will remain to us all. His death a tragedy, but the love and light he brought into the world a miracle, and though he may not be here physically the warmth he brought lingers on.

Happy St Pat's

happiness is discovering corned beef only takes 40 minutes in a pressure cooker and comes out incredibly tender...

I promise to post some pictures of the weekend as soon as I get off my backside and download them...

The Moral of the Story

I enjoy watching old films made before the time the movie companies shifted from presenting a moral to trying to outdo each other in body counts or glorifying some thug subculture. One of my favorites is “You Can’t Take it With You.” The basic moral in that movie is that friends trump money every time. Friends are important, not just for our social well being here and now, but for the common man’s shot at immortality.

Precious few of us will live on in the style of the Rembrandts, Twains, and Pavarottis but we do have a shot at “Immortality lite” by living on in the hearts and minds of our friends. Conversely, one never loses a friend or relative who dies as that soul lives on in the heart and mind fresh as the day of first meeting. Most religions have a life after death clause of some sort but I believe the closest we’ll get is to be remembered by those who love us and there is a side benefit in the here and now as love and camaraderie spread through society.

The moral of the story is to be kind and reach out, be open to others, develop friendships, and aside from a shot at immortality one might find that he or she has also brought some joy and love into others lives. Not a bad deal for everyone involved.

Happy Birthday Max

The Big 01 !!!

Gnat the Glass Master

The thing about Blogging is that, as I have said in the past, I get to stand amongst giants, whether they be artists, bakers,writers, photographers, or just plain wonderful people it is a rare privilege to associate with everyone. One of the giants is Gnat. If you haven't been to his site you need to check it out. Gnat is a glass blower and a great one at that. Everyone can break glass but precious few can make beautiful glass objects.

To sweeten the pot he is having a contest the prize being an exemplary piece of his work. I own a Blue Gnat and I am telling you it is better than that Venetian crap by a long shot. Anyway, head on over and take a shot at a great prize and check out some beautiful glass while you are at. If that isn't enough of a reason, Gnat is a hell of a nice guy as well - he can spin a good yarn when he has the mind too...

He lives here!

Times Change

Nothing strikes terror into the hearts of the young like the reminiscences of a geezer. One can see them preparing to bolt the minute the words”and there I was…” leave the coot’s lips. I had been thinking of how my conversations have changed over time and n mentioned to a friend of mine that had we been twenty years younger we’ve been discussing fast cars and hot chicks, but here we were comparing hospital visits and maladies. Sad that.

I am not sure if it is the fact that we fell for the hot chick ruse once and now know better or are beyond the young buck mating frenzy stage. Perhaps it is a combination of the two. As far as fast cars, I now look for something that won’t shove a gun in my back and take my wallet when I pull up to the gas pump. Speed kills.
I am content to look back on what I have learned. Some may consider it useless trash, but I consider it amassed wisdom and am more than willing to dispense it in large doses to younger more inexperienced people – and there I was…

Swedish Chef Translates last Post for Our Scandinavian Friends

Sunny Arizona??

Despite the weatherman's assurances of a bright and lovely day I woke up to cloudy skies and cooler temperatures, not that I mind. It is going to be a quiet day at any rate so the Wx is not a factor.

Happy Weekend!!

Good Night All

Max's Big Day

Max, mom, and Cashew had to return home today, but I think a good time was had by all. We even went on a shopping expedition - loaded up granny with her wheel chair, Max, and the whole kit and caboodle and headed off to the store.

Max got his first taste of refried beans at the Mexican restaurant - best not to feed babies lots of those, but a little won't hurt. He enjoyed the quesadilla and the rice. Then it was off to the department store to checkout the sales in the baby department. Max managed to find a cool new adventurer's hat and now it is off to find a crockie...Finally enough was enough and we headed home where our shopped out little guy decided to take a nap on grandma. A good day all in all...

Tagged by Jin

The Seven Freakish Things You Find Out in Heaven...

1. I can be very superstitious - someone opening an umbrella indoors really upsets me
2. I have an extremely sharp sense of smell
3. A cruel streak lurks behind my fat jolly sense of humor
4. I find disturbing things uproariously funny
5. I celebrate the fall of famous stars and sports figures
6. I tend to shift my interests frequently and quickly
7. I am still trying to figure out what the point is.

Visitors

Lots of commotion at the Tiny House with Max and Cashew visiting. It is nice to have the noise and all the excitement...

Max and a very patient Yukon