Journal

You Learn How to Take Criticism Instead

2012-01-22T13:01:00.000-08:00

"You can’t learn to write in college. It’s a very bad place for writers because the teachers always think they know more than you do—and they don’t. They have prejudices." - Ray Bradbury

Top 5 Reasons Why My Professor Should Not Make Me Create a New Blog

2012-01-18T21:04:00.000-08:00

5. I already have an established audience. If I have to start a new blog, I have to bother my already too-busy friends to join yet ANOTHER of my social media pages. I'm already wearing them out as it is.

4. I want to maximise the AdSense account I have now. Why should I have TWO poorly performing AdSense accounts?

3. The other blog-building assignments can easily be applied to my existing blog. My header can be customized, and I am more than happy to add the bells and whistles he wants to teach us about.

2. My established audience knows that I am in school and would like to see my new skills on my blog. Readers only want bloggers with good skills.

And the number one reason why my professor should let me keep my current blog and not make me create a new one is...

1. If I don't have to spend unnecessary time making a new monetized blog because I already made a monetized blog two years ago, I can spend more time helping my classmates who are new to the idea, therefore saving my professor lots of time and frustration!

Photo Friday Theme for Friday, January 6, 2012: Day's End

2012-01-07T19:40:00.001-08:00

Shem Creek
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
January 6, 2012

My Favorite Photos of 2011

2012-01-02T19:44:00.000-08:00

(that were taken by me)

Photo Friday theme for Friday, December 30, 2011: Best of 2011

2011-12-30T12:51:00.000-08:00

A plate full of good memories.
Nashville, TN
September 4, 2011

It's Just a Needle. It Won't Kill You.

2011-12-27T17:12:00.000-08:00

I donated my 24th pint of blood today.

I am now a 3 gallon donor with the American Red Cross.

This is not much, since one can donate up to about 5 pints of blood a year, and I started donating blood 20 years ago.

If I had begun donating blood at age 17 and donated every 56 days until I reached 76, I would have donated 48 gallons of blood, potentially helping to save more than 1,000 lives! (Although since I was pregnant twice and you can't donate when you're pregnant, it would have actually been slightly less)

I wish I would have been donating all that time, but I haven't. Still, it matters.

I have Type O positive blood, the most common blood type. This is a universal blood type, which means most anybody can receive it in a blood transfusion. Type O blood (positive or negative) is the type most requested by hospitals.

When you donate blood, it is divided into three parts: the red blood cells, the platelets and the plasma. This is why donating one pint of blood can help save the lives of up to three people. Three of the five million people in the U.S. who need blood every year.

The red blood cells are used in trauma, surgery and sickle cell disease patient transfusions. Every 2 seconds someone needs a blood transfusion. A single car accident victim can require up to 100 pints of blood. There are over 80,000 people in the U.S. with sickle cell disease, 98% of whom are African-American.

Platelets are used in cancer treatments. This includes children with cancer.

Burn patients receive plasma, as do people with bleeding disorders.

You have 10 pints of blood in your body. You only need to donate one. Your body will make it back up in no time.

Donating blood doesn't cost you anything but time - about 45 minutes to an hour, once every 56 days. That's about 5 hours a year. Donating money is no substitute. Blood can't be manufactured. It can only come from donors, and less than 38% of the U.S. population are eligible to donate. If you have O negative blood, you are one of the 7% of Americans who do and your donation is especially important.

The two most common reasons cited by people who don't give blood are: "Never thought about it" and "I don't like needles."

The number one reason donors say they give blood is because they "want to help others."

So if you want to help others, think about it. I hate needles as much as anybody, but the thought of helping to save three lives, including the likelihood of helping to save a child's life, gives me the gumption I need to look away and breathe deep until the initial sting goes away and I just keep not looking at the needle until the nurse says I'm done.

You can read more about it, find a donation location, and make an appointment to donate on the American Red Cross Web site.

Last October

What I Learned in School

2011-12-16T13:01:00.000-08:00

I learned how to make a web site.

The class required a personal web site as a final project. I decided to make my web site a digital clipbook, with samples of articles that I have written over the years (I've written far too many to include them all).

Check out my new digital clipbook, by Cyndie Todd

Non-tradition and Veganism

2011-11-24T07:49:00.000-08:00

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that my Thanksgivings can be a tad non-traditional.

Today it's me, Mr. Bibb, and my bodyguards. And we're in the midst of moving. And one of the bodyguards has gone vegan since last year. So Mr. Bibb and I are saving the turkey for our new apartment.

But in keeping with the tradition of non-tradition, and having discovered egg replacer, I present this year's menu:

Breakfast

Banana Pancakes (vegan)

Hash browns (from scratch)

Snacks

Guacamole and chips

Hummus and pita chips and celery sticks

Fireplace Munch Mix (gingerbread marshmallows/popcorn/honey-roasted peanuts/pretzel sticks)

Dinner

White Castle mini-cheese burgers

Corn dogs

Hots dogs (Nathan's skinless beef and Tofurkey Italian Sausage)

Mashed potatoes (vegan) and gravy (vegan)

Sweet Potato Casserole (vegan)

Macaroni and Cheese (non-vegan - I refuse to compromise on this one)

Dessert

Chocolate chip cookies (vegan)

Enjoy and share your blessings and abundance, and love your crazy family.

Update: Vegan bodyguard informs me that marshmallows contain gelatin, which is derived from the bones and skin of animals. Therefore they do not qualify as vegan fare. Also, he does not eat honey, so no honey-roasted peanuts, either. *sigh*

Control Theories

2011-11-16T19:42:00.000-08:00

"Cost is always the enemy." - Al Dunlap

"There are no expense problems, only revenue problems." - Mr. Bibb

What I Learned Today

2011-11-16T17:44:00.000-08:00

Fancy - it's not just a marketing ploy.

Some ketchup in the U.S. is labeled "Fancy". This is a USDA grade, relating to specific gravity, which is how they grade stuff that pours. Fancy ketchup has a higher tomato solid concentration than other USDA grades.

Grade................Total Solids
A (Fancy).....................33%
B (Extra Standard)......29%
C (Standard)................25%

Find the facts here.

Print this, frame it, hang it in your closet.

2011-10-21T20:32:00.001-07:00

How to Make Southern Fried Chicken (Green Hills style)

2011-09-04T19:09:00.000-07:00

In the morning, go buy some whole chickens at Kroger. Cut 'em up into pieces. Save the innards.

Put all the chicken pieces (including the innards) in a big bowl with water, with a bunch of salt, some garlic, some sugar, and some onion powder. Then leave the house and go to a coffee joint (like Frothy Monkey). Have some coffee and bread (I recommend a croissant) while you read the New York Times Sunday edition that you bought at Kroger with the chicken.

Go home and remove the chicken from the brine. Throw out the brine and in the same bowl soak the chicken in buttermilk. Go back into town on an errand. If you don't have any errands to do, make one up (I recommend searching for a new bumper sticker for your Jeep). While you're at it, call someone up and invite them over for dinner later.

Go back home and pull the chicken out of the buttermilk. In a large paper sack, add 3 cups of flour, some seasoning salt (like Lawry's), onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper. Just use your best judgement. Toss the chicken pieces - and innards - in the flour mixture in the bag and set aside on a baking sheet.

Melt a can of Crisco, adding a bit of bacon fat if you have it on hand (never fully dispose of bacon fat!) in a cast iron dutch oven on the stove. Using a cooking thermometer with a hook on the back, heat the Crisco up to 375 degrees, or deep frying temperature. Add the chicken, cook it until it's a real pretty color and a meat thermometer inserted into the meat but not touching the bone reads between 160 and 165. Remove the chicken to a cooling rack set over a baking pan (to allow the oil to drip from the chicken but not all over the counter). Cook the innards last because otherwise they will taint the flavor of the Crisco.

Meanwhile, someone else that you are cooking with might want to make some side dishes like Beer Mac & Cheese and mini corn muffins. You might want to add a little bacon fat to those as well, but it's not necessary.

If you want more vegetables other than the macaroni and cheese, you can blanch some green beans, but be sure to add a little bacon fat so they tie in with the rest of the meal.

Serve with hard lemonade or Miller High Life. Serve the innards to the dog (if your boyfriend has not already eaten them).

What I Learned Today

2011-08-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

I discovered a very nice blog dedicated to providing answers to New York Times crossword puzzles. Click here to visit The New York Times Crossword in Gothic.

Do not, however, interpret this post as an advocacy of cheating.

For good advice about how to dominate the NYTCP, click here.

Bodyguard 2 lays down the final solo for his band's album

2011-07-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

What I Learned Recently...

2011-06-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

Even more than Los Angeles? OMG, it's true!

Music City Marathon

2011-04-30T17:26:00.000-07:00

Sweeney outlines a special message for the runners...

Mickey and Will whipped up some tasty breakfast burritos...

While Nancy and Sweeney poured mimosas and beer.

And here come the runners!

There was lots of style going by...

There were celebrity look-a-likes...

And superheroes...

"Endorphin Dude"

The generous folks at the Taproom passed out free beers to the runners...

making for very happy runners.

Among the crowd, stylish children and funny dogs...

An old friend from Knoxville

Finally, there's this...

If you can juggle while running 13 miles, you're an alien from another planet. There's just no other plausible explanation.

Photo Friday Theme for Friday, April 16th, 2011: Lines

2011-04-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

Lines of people in the park.
Knoxville, TN
April 5, 2011

I want this bedroom!

2011-03-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

But I don't think Mr. Bibb would go for it. Except maybe that pillow.

I'm beyond wearing my heart on my sleeve.

2011-03-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

Soon I'll be wearing it like this.

OMG - these make me ALMOST want to start wearing gold again...

2011-03-30T08:13:00.000-07:00

House of Harlow 1960 Sasha Sunglasses in Tortoise

2011-03-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

Dough!

2011-02-05T10:26:00.001-08:00

I have been eating wheat-free off and on since 2003. I have found it to be a great way to manage my weight and to have a better over-all sense of well-being. Eating wheat makes me feel bloated and glutted. When I stay away from it I feel lighter, slimmer and a better sense of well-being, although I admit it can be challenging. There are a lot of blogs out there promoting gluten-free eating with lots of great testimonies (including my good friend Amber's site), and if you are interested in learning more I suggest you Google "gluten-free."

I was first motivated to try eating wheat-free when I was dieting, trying to lose 25 pounds. I had hit a plateau, and was looking for something that could help me with a break-through. I bought the book Eat Right for Your Type by Dr. Peter D'Adamo. Having Type O blood, the book prescribed eliminating wheat from my diet first and foremost. I learned, basically, that gluten in wheat inhibits metabolism. I tried it and it worked so well in helping me break through the plateau and later maintaining my weight loss, I became a firm believer. Not a strict practitioner, but unshakably convinced of the benefits of eating wheat-free.

Back in 2003, there were very few products on the market that were wheat or gluten-free, so I pretty much just stayed away from bread, pasta and baked goods, and read labels for the sneaky little ways that wheat makes its way into packaged processed foods.

Lately, gluten-free diets have become trendy and there are new products in mainstream grocery stores (or products that have been around for a while that now have a customer base that shops at Kroger). How timely for me, as I am working on losing weight AGAIN, having gained it back over the last four years. So I am going to be trying some of these products and I'll let you know the deal with them. I'll probably add some restaurant recommendations in the near future, too.

What you probably already know about gluten-free products is that they are expensive. I'll let you know whether they are worth it. The second thing you should know about wheat-free products is that they usually taste rice-y, because they are usually made with rice flour, and rice-y isn't always the flavor you really want in a baked good. That's is a quality measure for me, and I'll include it in all my reviews.

First up - Udi's Bagels

I had low expectations for this product, but I couldn't resist forking over the six bucks (Yes! Six bucks! At Kroger. For four bagels. $1.50 per bagel!) just to see what the deal was. Well, I was pleasantly surprised, as was Mr. Bibb, who is unwaveringly suspicious of "health" food. These bagels are made with brown rice, so the flavor is not as shallow as goods made with white rice flour. The outside was crispy brown, and the inside light and airy, and I did not get that belley-bomb feeling I usually get after eating a bagel. I spread fat-free cream cheese and seedless blackberry jelly on the two slices and had an uplifting full yet guilt-free feeling after my breakfast. But really, at $1.50 per bagel, I will not be eating these every day.

Later, my curiosity still getting the best of me, I broke out the gluten-free Bisquick to try the biscuit recipe.

Now we can talk about rice-y. This mix is made with white rice flour, so you can taste the rice in the biscuits. It's not the worst thing in the world, and it actually has a bit of a sweetness to it, but here's the whole thing with eating wheat-free: you have to get used to it. When you are dedicated to not eating wheat, you appreciate every chance you get to eat bread, crackers, cereal or any kind of baked sweet treat without guilt or the next day's yucky "wheat hang-over" feeling. Here's another thing about gluten - it is the thing that makes dough "doughy." You know, that stick-togetherness that allows you to slap it down on the counter and roll it our with a rolling pin and cut it with cookie or biscuit cutters and pick it back up again and put it on the baking sheet? Gluten-free biscuits are going to be drop biscuits. Every time. And that's okay with me, I don't need them to go with fatty sausage patties. In fact, these were great with just a little jelly on them. What I'm really interested in is trying the dough as drop dumplings in a pot of chicken and dumplings. I think it would also make a great coating for chicken tenders. The recipe on the box calls for baking chicken tenders coated in egg and gf baking mix. I want to experiment with frying them. I will also be experimenting with the waffle and pancake recipes, as those are things I REALLY miss about eating wheat-free. I've heard that pizza crusts made with gf mix is really good, too, so I will be trying that soon. But it's pricey, and you only get about three cups in one box. So again, it is something I will be using sparingly.

One last product that I want to tell you about that I have been eating since 2003 is Ezekiel Bread.

You can find it in the freezer of the health food section in Kroger/Publix, etc. Ezekiel Bread is made from sprouted wheat. The gluten is wheat is killed off in the sprouting process, so it is gluten-free wheat bread, and has served my bread cravings well over the years. Again, it is an acquired taste. It's gluten that makes bread soft and spongy and pliable in your mouth. Take out the gluten, and you practically have cardboard. BUT! If you toast or grilled the Ezekiel Bread, you will find a hearty satisfying nutty flavor that makes it worthwhile. I like Ezekiel Bread as morning toast with butter and homemade jam or sopping up egg yolks, or as a tuna melt, or grilled cheese sandwich with soup, and if I have a recipe that calls for bread crumbs, I grind a slice or two in my food processor and add it to the recipe. It's much more flavorful than store-bought bread crumbs, especially in meatballs! Once more, though, it is pricey - about $3.50 or so, depending on where you by it. For me, it is worth it, and it has become a staple of my diet over the years. For what it's worth, a lot of professional athletes eat it as a staple in their diet, too.

Finally, I want to add that I find that losing weight and keeping it off is easier when I'm eating wheat-free not only because I don't have gluten interfering with my metabolism, but also because bread and baked products tend to be accompanied by wheat's good friends Fat and Sugar. Muffins are so tempting, but full of fat; cakes, cookies, brownies - sugar, sugar sugar! And don't even get me started on donuts - the worst thing you could possibly put in your mouth besides a cigarette. I satisfy my negligible sweet tooth with light ice cream or small pieces of dark chocolate. Or M&M's. Also, anything that comes between a bun is usually trouble. Pasta can seem healthy with just a bit of olive oil and fresh veggies, but ugh, the thought of eating pasta is always unappealing to me because of the unpleasant way I know I'm going to feel afterward.

And I don't need more than one kind of hangover in my life.

Our New Favorite Gadgets

2011-01-22T05:52:00.000-08:00

I recommend the Cuisinart single serve coffee maker and the Soda Stream.

Mr. Bibb and I agree that these two are the best gadgets we've owned in a long time. Not to be too dramatic, but it's almost as if they've revolutionized our beverage habits.

The SodaStream we discovered at an in-store demonstration at Crate & Barrel while we were shopping last Valentine's Day weekend in Chicago. We use a lot of soda water and tonic, but a lot of times it would go bad before we could use the whole bottle. And then there were the bottles, which were getting thrown away.

The SodaStream comes with its own reusable bottles, so we've cut way down on our waste. We are using sparkling water instead of soda water now, which cuts down on our sodium intake. And the sparkling water is more fun to drink than plain water, so we drink more water now, adding vitamin c by squeezing fresh lemon or lime into a glass of sparkling water.

We find, though, that the tonic additive is a bit too sweet for our taste, but we really like the diet root beer additive, and it has become or favorite beverage to wash down popcorn.

I gave Mr. Bibb the Cuisinart Coffee Maker for Christmas. He had been drooling over it at Bed, Bath, & Beyond for a couple months, and when he is drooling over something but doesn't buy it for himself, it's a big fat hint about what he wants for Christmas. Fortunately, I get to benefit from it, too. We are having so much fun trying different coffee every morning, and love exploring the options. We find that the hot chocolate that comes in the small cups aren't so great, but that is because we prefer hot chocolate made with milk rather than water. But the tea choices are good, too.

What sets the Cuisinart apart from other single cup brewers we looked at is the water reserve and the cup size selection. You can fill the water reserve up and have a couple days' worth of water for coffee ready to go, rather than have to fill the brewer with water every time you make a cup of coffee. And you can select the size of cup you are using - 4, 6, 8, and 12 ounces. And if you want to use your favorite grind rather than the pre-packaged cups, there's an attachment for that!

Our friends have been raving about single cup brewers for a couple years now. Finally, we get it.

Photo Friday Theme for Friday, January 21st, 2011: Trees

2011-01-22T05:42:00.000-08:00

Backyard Trees
Nashville, Tennessee
January 2011

Photo Friday Theme for Friday, January 7th, 2011: Suburbia

2011-01-10T07:17:00.001-08:00

Backyard Dogs
Campbell, California
July 2010

My New Year Resolutions for 2011

2011-01-02T13:57:00.000-08:00

1. Lose fewer earrings.

2. Buy more cocktail rings.

3. I forgot.

4. Write down ideas when I get them so I don’t forget them.

5. Oh, yeah. Wait. Shit.

6. Oh, yeah. Print, frame and display more of my photos.

Eat This and You Will Thank Me, I Promise

2010-12-06T16:25:00.000-08:00

Here is a fantastic recipe from an e-newsletter that I received from the American Cancer Society. Mr. Bibb and I ate this for dinner last night with some corn bread and again as an appetizer this evening. It'a a little labor intensive with the peeling and chopping and blending but it is so worthwhile.

Enjoy!

Butternut Squash Soup

1 T. canola oil
1 onion, chopped
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. cardamom
1/4 t. nutmeg
1 medium sized butternut squash, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and chopped
1 T fresh ginger, finely chopped
3 C. chicken or vegetable broth
1 C. apple cider or juice
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

• Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat.
• Saute onion until softened
• Add spices and stir to combine
• Add squash, apples and ginger; saute for 1 minute
• Add broth; cover and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and let sit until boiling stops. Puree with hand blender (or in food processor or blender in batches, only filling halfway).
• Return soup to pot and add cider/juice. Stir to combine.
• Season with salt and pepper.

Serve with additional ground pepper and small dollop of sour cream in center.

The Tradition of No Tradition

2010-11-25T08:02:00.000-08:00

Our family never had much tradition in our holidays since we have no relatives that lived close by. Now that it's just me and my bodyguards, we have no pretensions or expectations about the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Bodyguards just wanna eat what they like, and so why not?

So I invited them to submit to me a list of food they wanted to eat while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (our only long-standing tradition of the day) and football. Here is today's menu:

Breakfast
Bread and Chocolate (another long-standing holiday tradition - chocolate-filled French toast)
Sausage Balls

Snack
Mozzarella Sticks

Main Meal
Chili Dogs
"Gourmet" Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Mashed Potatoes
Macaroni and Cheese
Onion Rings
Louie Bombs (a holiday tradition from my mom's side of the family - my grandfather's cream-cheese-stuffed black olives)

Dessert
Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream
Gingerbread Men

And to think - last year I had Thanksgiving dinner in Paris.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo Friday Theme for Friday, August 27, 2010: Warm

2010-08-28T17:26:00.000-07:00

Sun

Lebanon, Tennessee

August 2010

Mirror, Mirror...

2010-08-15T20:32:00.000-07:00

Me: Why is it that when I look at myself in your bathroom mirror I seem to look really good but when I looked at myself in the mirror in the dressing room at Reruns, I looked like a fat cow?

Mr. Bibb: I paid extra for these special mirrors because I know that girls who think they look sexy put out more.

Photo Friday Theme for August 6, 2010: Best Friend

2010-08-06T20:53:00.001-07:00

My Best Friend

Perry County, Tennessee

August 2010

Photo Friday Theme for July 30, 2010: Crooked

2010-07-30T15:04:00.000-07:00

Crooked Signs

Nashville, Tennessee

July 30, 2010

What I Learned Today

2010-07-26T21:40:00.000-07:00

While I was having a beer with Mr. Bibb and Mr. Blasius at the Downtown Grill and Brewery, the place was suddenly invaded by hippies. The girls were wearing very expensive "hippie" clothing.

"What's the deal with the hippies?" we asked Mr. Blasius.

"Trustafarians," he replied. "They're here for WSP."

After a few moments of our "WTF" look, he 'splained: "They're here for the Wide Spread Panic concert at the Tennessee Theatre (just down the block)," he told us. "Trustafarians are trust fund kids who follow bands like Wide Spread Panic around like the Grateful Dead followers back in the day and wear dreadlocks, only they can afford to go to bars and restaurants to eat and drink."

From Urban Dictionary
Trustafarian: priviliged white kids who subscribe to the hippie lifestyle - because they can - since they have no worries about money, a job etc. They can then devote their lives to eating organic, following Phish (or Wide Spread Panic), and wearing dreadlocks (no need for job interviews).

From Wiktionary
Trustafarian (plural trustafarians): (slang) A young person with the fashion sensibilities of a hippie, or any other "countercultural" trend, especially "anarchism", Maoism, or punk rock, who subscribes to an unemployed, shiftless life of hedonism based upon an unlimited amount of funds (a trust fund).

Turn Off the A/C and Open the Windows When You Can

2010-07-25T16:10:00.000-07:00

A few years back, I drove from Nashville to Bloomington, Indiana, taking not the interstate, but a highway. It was October. It was still hot outside, and the air conditioner in my car was out of order. So I drove with the windows down.

I crossed the state line into Kentucky in the early evening. The highway took me through small town squares, farm fields and scenic mountain heights. I saw a stunning sunset over a mountain valley. I saw people gathering at the end of the day for dinner, or a town square event. I saw stretches of mature green crops begging to be harvested. But what made the biggest impact on my senses were the smells. I smelled barbecue cooking, chicken frying, charcoal burning. I smelled honeysuckle as if I were driving through a cloud of it. The scent of ripe crops, damp peat, fresh cut grass and an endless parade of other, unidentifiable smells made my drive one of the most delightful, memorable road trips I've ever made. I'm only sorry I was by myself and had no one with whom to share it.

The sights I would have seen anyway if the windows had been rolled up. But the smells made me realize how much I was missing in life because of air conditioning. If my air conditioner was working, I would have been more comfortable and kept the windows rolled up, and would have never had any idea what I was missing.

Here is an interesting opinion piece from the Los Angeles Times/Knoxville Sentinel that touts the same idea, as well as some pretty bold ideas for change.

What might you be missing out on in favor of the comfort of air conditioning?

The Generosity of the Poor

2010-07-25T06:03:00.000-07:00

When I worked at Habitat for Humanity, some of the most disproportionately generous people I met were poor and low-income folks themselves. They may not have had much materialistically, but they gave of themselves, shared what they had, donated to their church, visited the sick and took in other children. This Dateline story illustrates that.

Photo Friday Theme for July 23, 2010: Sky-High

2010-07-23T17:24:00.001-07:00

Sunshpere
Knoxville, TN
July 23, 2010

2010-06-05T12:25:00.000-07:00

My delicious breakfast - a spinach and feta pie from VG's Bakery stall at the Farmer's Market on Market Square in Downtown Knoxville. Buttery, very French pastry-tasting. Yummy!

I L-O-V-E this bike! I want one just like it!

But one like this will do in a pinch!

Wow.

Joy.

Photo Friday Theme for June 4, 2010: Aqua

2010-06-05T12:19:00.001-07:00

Aqua cornice
Knoxville, TN
June 2010

I Won Again!

2010-05-30T05:23:00.000-07:00

Happy to be named daily winner last week at One Minute Writer!

Southwest Take Me Away

2010-05-22T05:29:00.000-07:00

The house we currently live in sits under the flight path of the airport. It's not as bad as it sounds. Jets fly overhead only in the morning and early evening, and they are well into the air by the time they pass over.

I find that I love the sound of the planes when I'm sitting on the back deck in the morning having my coffee and in the evening while I'm having my cocktail. It's the sound of people going places. And that's who I want to be.

Corny Easter Joke from my Aunt Margie

2010-04-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

A man is driving along a highway and sees a rabbit jump out across the middle of the road. He swerves to avoid hitting it, but unfortunately the rabbit jumps right in front of the car.

The driver, a sensitive man as well as an animal lover, pulls over and gets out to see what has become of the rabbit. Much to his dismay, the rabbit is the Easter Bunny, and he is dead.

The man feels so awful that he begins to cry.

A beautiful blonde woman driving down the highway sees the man crying on the side of the road and pulls over.

She steps out of the car and asks the man, "What's wrong?"

"I feel terrible," he explains, "I accidentally hit the Easter
Bunny with my car and killed him!"

The blonde says,"Don't worry."

She runs to her car and pulls out a spray can. She walks over to the limp, dead Easter Bunny, bends down, and sprays the contents onto him. The Easter Bunny jumps up, waves its paw at the two of them and hops off down the road.

Ten feet away he stops, turns around and waves again. He hops down the road another 10 feet, turns and waves. He hops another ten feet, turns and waves, and repeats this again and again and again and again until he has hopped out of sight.

The man is astonished.

"What is in that can?" he demands of the woman. "What did you spray on the Easter Bunny?"

The woman turns the can around so that the man can read the label.

It says..

"Hair Spray - Restores life to dead hair, and adds permanent wave."

Happy Easter!!!

Order Begets Peace

2010-03-25T20:41:00.001-07:00

Before

After

Recipes for When There's More Month Than Money

2010-03-08T19:04:00.001-08:00

I recommend CookingByNumbers.com.

I get paid once a month. So you know that last week is lean. No matter how well I budget, I can pretty much count on a tight end of the month. But the rent's paid, the power's paid, the cable is paid, so as long as I've got food to eat, I can just hunker down at the homestead until the 30th. Thank goodness for CookingByNumbers, a great recipe site that will give you simple, delicious and yet even elegant recipes for using just what you have in your fridge and cupboard. Mine can be awfully pitiful, being a single gal, but I still was able to get some interesting recipes out of my meager list of ingredients on hand.

Give it a try! And be sure to give feedback and tell them Cyndie Todd sent ya.

Notice Me

2010-02-28T16:43:00.000-08:00

In response to a blog post by Judy Clement Wall that I find completely incomprehensible. Probably because I haven’t got a thread of shyness in my body.

You know me. And if you don’t, I’ll either assume you do anyway or I’ll introduce myself. Because you should know me. I’m a pretty good person to know.

I’m a good person to know because I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. I will assume the best about you until you prove to me otherwise. I’ll give you good advice. I’ll tell you the hard truths that no one else will tell you, and I’ll coat it with sugar if you need me to. I’ll make you laugh, and in no time, we’ll have our own private little inside joke. Because I love inside jokes. You’d know that about me if you knew me.

You know me because I am visible. As highly visible as I can make myself. I’m not famous, but I’d be a fucking rock star if I wasn’t so unambitious. But for now I’m making myself known through Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Plaxo, Amazon, Stumble!, Digg, this blog, other blog comment spaces and various bars around Nashville and Knoxville. Because I’m not shy.

You know me because I’m your neighbor who sings at the top of her lungs. You know when I stub my toe or there is a lizard in my apartment because I cuss really loud about such things. You know when I’ve been drinking because I play my music really loud. And you know when my boyfriend is visiting, don’tcha?

I’m not quiet. Sometimes it’s a problem. But some people seem to love me anyway. I can’t help it. If you ever heard my dad laugh, you’d understand.

I’m not without good judgment, though. I can keep a secret. I don’t perpetuate malicious gossip. There are times when I am properly quiet. Like at work. I keep my mouth shut there. I try anyway.

So, aren’t people invisible because they want to be? And aren’t people noticed because they want to be? What’s the difference? Is it shyness? And isn’t shyness a manifestation of fear? Is extroversion a manifestation of fear as well? A fear of being NOT known? Or is it a manifestation of a lack of fear? I don’t feel like I’m afraid of people knowing me. I don’t feel like I’m afraid of taking risks or getting hurt. I’ve certainly been hurt before and yet I’m doing okay.

Some people don’t like people who like attention. "Attention whore" is a term that gets thrown around by such folks. I don’t think I’m that extreme, but maybe some people do. Where is the line between invisibility and overexposure? Between self-absorbtion and self-deprecation? Between TMI and NEI?

It’s where I draw it, bitches. Because it’s all about me. ;-D

I Need a Wall of Inspiration

2010-02-25T10:43:00.000-08:00

Like John Galliano's:

A day at the office...

2010-02-22T10:28:00.000-08:00

Camp4u: A day at the office

I'm breaking up with Macy's

2010-02-09T20:47:00.000-08:00

I pay my bill early.

I pay far more than the minimum payment each month.

I use my card.

Does this make me a good credit customer?

Apparently not, because Macy's lowered my credit limit to the point where I can't use it. And didn't bother to tell me.

I didn't find this out until I went to buy something with my card.

This is the second time they've done this to me in the past year.

So I'm through with Macy's.

I'm paying off the entire balance of my card next month. Then I will cancel my card. And then I'm not going to shop there anymore. And I'll write them a letter telling them as much (if they haven't read my blog by then).

New York and Co. did the same thing to me when I had their credit card. And I did the same thing to them. Haven't missed shopping there one bit.

It's too bad. I really like Macy's. But they don't appreciate me, so I'll take my cash and move on.

Shining Light on Bad Behavior

2010-01-28T22:12:00.000-08:00

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer of South Carolina, who is running for Governor, states that if you feed poor people, like stray animals, they will breed. And you don't want that.

Seriously. He says that. Read it here.

My New Year's Eve Outfit

2009-12-30T10:33:00.000-08:00

I should be going to Vegas for what this outfit is worth...

Not that it was costly, but the sparkle! In addition to the rhinestone jewelry I'll be wearing with it. And the neckline. In this picture, it is very deceiving. The neckline plunges much lower. And the five inch killer heels are the dot at the bottom of the exclamation point. It's going to be very disco.
From Cache

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T21:56:00.000-08:00

How to say "I Love You" to Your Teenage Sons

2009-12-24T20:59:00.001-08:00

Make them a sandwich.

This is two cheeseburger patties between two grilled cheese sandwiches, with mayonaise, ketchup, mustard, pickles, lettuce and tomato. They'll be bragging to their buddies about this one.

Amy & Brock Carbo Loading

2009-12-13T19:36:00.001-08:00

Amy & Brock Carbo Loading
Originally uploaded by phunkship

My former next-door neighbor and her poodle. Photo taken by her husband.

Photo Friday Theme for November 13, 2009 - Three

2009-11-15T12:15:00.000-08:00

Three fans
Vaught Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS
November 14, 2009

Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T08:38:00.000-08:00

My Grandfather, Louis Lee Davis - better known as "Pop" - who will be 91 in a matter of weeks, great-grandfather to 17 and great-great grandfather to 1, fought in Europe in WWII and received two purple hearts in doing so. He is my American Hero.

It's not bootlegging if you're just getting reimbursed.

2009-11-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

Mr. Bibb: I grew up in a dry county so people would go down to Memphis and buy liquor and bring it back and sell it out of the back of their truck.

Me: *Gasp* That's bootlegging!

Mr. Bibb: No. They were "reimbursed."

Me: And tipped?

Mr. Bibb: Yes. We tipped them well.

Nashville. It never gets old.

2009-11-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

Went to Brown's Diner - an old diner car planted on a corner in Hillsboro Village with something like a lean-to built onto the back - to see my good friend and guitar guru Mark Robinson throw down the jam with Mike Cullison and Randy Handley. Always guaranteed to be a good time, along with a good burger. So my friends take a break and invite Johnny Neel up to do a song.

Johnny played keyboards with the revived Allman Brothers for years. And in the middle of his song - which was a Thank-you-Jesus-for-the-Songs song - he gets everyone at the bar in Brown's Diner to sing Amazing Grace. And, again, it's Nashville, so the Brown's Diner bar crowd naturally sings in perfect harmony, sounding like a church choir that's been rehearsing for six weeks.

I love this town.

Food is always inspiring...

2009-11-03T18:04:00.000-08:00

Especially when it's homemade.

My mother made this yummy sourdough bread and sent it to me all the way from Tehachapi, California. It has been begging to be made into a grilled cheese sandwich, and I found a great tomato soup recipe this week, so I made myself some comfort food for dinner tonight.

I found the recipe for the soup at Art Smith's web site (a little tip from Jordan Reid). It's a great soup, you really need to try it. It also gave me a good excuse to buy a Cuisinart hand blender at Bed, Bath and Beyond (about $27 with tax and $5.00 off coupon). I used pepper jack for the sandwich. The soup is actually a pinkish color - the light in my apartment is not very good for photography.

Sigh...

2009-11-03T13:17:00.000-08:00

I have been seriously uninspired to blog. Oh, well, at least I'm not obligated.

One of the few Things I Hate About Living Alone (and the Worst)

2009-10-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

Mega-Wolf Spiders!

I do not like having to deal with this! It pisses me off!

Flowers from my boyfriend.

2009-10-05T12:59:00.000-07:00

He thinks he's a lousy boyfriend.

I think he's okay. He's a man. He can't help it.

Photo Friday Theme for September 4, 2009 - Fast Food

2009-10-02T12:30:00.000-07:00

Vol Burger
Knoxville, Tennessee
June 2009

Well, well, well....

2009-10-01T17:45:00.000-07:00

If it isn't the pot that called the kettle....uh, never mind.

If SouthComm hasn't had the good sense to retract this racist, tactless, offensive post, here's the link.

Other commentators have already addressed the racist offensiveness of this post. I would like to address the hypocrisy.

A.C. Kleinheider unsparingly brought light to the story of a legislative assistant who sent an e-mail with racial overtones to a distribution list from her computer at work. It made national news from there. As a result of the staffer's gaffe, all legislative employees were required to participate in mandatory diversity training (not that that is a bad thing). A.C. also brought attention to the diversity training sessions in his blog posts.

As a member of the fourth estate, he certainly is working within his job description when he holds government accountable; not only elected officials, but those whose salaries are paid by taxpayers.

But now he makes his own gaffe - not even on his own web site, but the website of his employer. During work hours. For which advertisers pay. And he maintains a shamelessly unapologetic stance.

Does he really think that he can hold others accountable while he commits the same sins and hides behind the excuse of "I'm offensive on a regular basis, what's the problem?" I'm sorry - how old are we? How professional are we? How much respect do we have for our readers and our city?

Who is holding A.C. accountable? Who is holding Post Politics/SouthComm accountable?

I'd say the whole organization could benefit from some diversity training themselves. Mr. Ferrell, here's Rep. DeBerry's phone number: (615)741-2239

Disclosure: I am an employee of the state legislature. Jason Powell is a friend of mine.

Olympus Incident Update

2009-09-23T05:43:00.000-07:00

Olympus Makes it Right
by Melissa Morgan-Heim

My daughter received a 6000 Stylus Tough 10 megapixel WATERPROOF camera from Olympus the other day. It also is shock proof up to 5 feet and freeze proof down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. It also has stabilization so if you move the camera while taking a picture it doesn't come out blurry.

They also sent a memory card to go with it AND a life jacket! Not kidding, it is a floaty on a wrist strap that will keep the camera from sinking should she drop it out of a boat or when she is swimming in the water.

She was so excited to get it and is more than satisfied with Olympus's generous act of righting the situation.

I want to thank Jeff Hluchyj, Senior Account Executive and Jennifer Colucci, Senior Public Relations Coordinator of Olympus for acknowledging my complaint on behalf of my daughter and resolving it in a most satisfactory way.

Thanks to all on fb for your support. Special thanks to my sister Cyndie whose twitter(ed blog entry) grabbed the attention of a large international conglomerate who does care about their consumers, even if they are only nine years old.

Sincerely and satisfied,
Melissa Heim

Why Alcohol is Making You Fat

2009-09-22T09:38:00.000-07:00

Alright. Why it's making me fat is really what this entry is about.

I learned something today. I'd like to share it with you because I have not heard this before and it is important information to me in understanding EXACTLY how alcohol consumption is contributing to my struggle to drop weight. Sure we all know that drinking means high calorie consumption, but what is really going on? Read this:

Alcohol is metabolized differently than other foods and beverages. Under normal conditions, your body gets its energy from the calories in carbohydrates, fats and proteins that need to be slowly digested in the stomach—but not when alcohol is present. When alcohol is consumed, it gets special privileges and needs no digestion. The alcohol molecules diffuse through the stomach wall as soon as they arrive and can reach the brain and liver in minutes. This reaction is slightly slowed when there is also food in your system, but as soon as the mixed contents enter the small intestine, the alcohol grabs first place and is absorbed quickly. The alcohol then arrives at the liver for processing. The liver places all of its attention on the alcohol. Therefore, the carbohydrates (glucose) and dietary fats are just changed into body fat, waiting to be carried away for permanent fat storage in the body.

You can find the entire article at this link.

Here's more from another article:

Rather than getting stored as fat, the main fate of alcohol is conversion into a substance called acetate. In fact, blood levels of acetate can rise 2.5 times higher than normal. And it appears this sharp rise in acetate puts the brakes on fat loss.

Your body draws from a number of different energy sources, such as carbohydrate, fat, and protein. To a certain extent, the source of fuel your body uses is dictated by the availability of the fuel.

In other words, your body tends to use whatever you feed it. Consequently, when acetate levels rise, your body simply burns more acetate, and less fat. In essence, acetate pushes fat to the back of the queue.

So here's what happens to fat metabolism after the odd drink or two.

. A small portion of the alcohol is converted into fat.

. Your liver then converts most of the alcohol into acetate.

. The acetate is then released into your bloodstream, and replaces fat as a source of fuel.

Click here for the full article.

Now, I don't plan on teetotaling it any time soon, but this certainly raises my consciousness and will cause me to question how much a drink is really worth at any given moment when I am asked if I would like one.

Hope you find this helpful, too.

And for crying out loud, don't say,"I don't/can't dance."

2009-09-20T14:34:00.001-07:00

An easy, handy guide for asking a beautiful woman to dance in a nightclub.

You can do it. And we want you to.

Try Netflix for free - on me!

2009-09-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

Click here to sign up for one month of movie rentals from Netflix for free.

For the Mommy Writer...

2009-09-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

I recommend following my friend Tomi's new blog, Media, Motherhood and Mayhem.

Update: Link now works.

Who Picked This Color, Anyway?

2009-09-06T07:42:00.000-07:00

You know I've got to be in love to dress this way - and not with the Vols. Although, Vols are cool.

They definitely didn't ask me.

Of course, I wasn't anywhere near available at the time. The orange and white colors worn by the Vols were selected by Charles Moore, a member of the very first football squad in 1891. They were from the American Daisy which grew on The Hill, the home of most of the classrooms at the university.

The home games at Neyland Stadium are like a sea of orange,

and the spirit is reflected through the community of Knoxville.

The orange is distinct to the school, and has been offered by The Home Depot for sale as a paint, licensed by the university. The color is Spot color PMS 151 as described by the University.

Photo Friday Theme for September 4, 2009 - Urban Landscape

2009-09-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

Urban Rower

Knoxville, Tennessee
September 2009

Boycott Olympus! They rip off nine-year-olds! My niece is one of them.

2009-08-21T12:45:00.000-07:00

Update: Olympus called - they're gonna replace the camera.

Olympus jipped my 9 year old daughter out of 85$!
by Melissa Morgan (my sister)

My 9-year-old daughter saved up her own money to buy a digital camera (after busting two that had been given to her as gifts and being told no more will be gifted to her). She loves having a camera her friends and her have such a great time making silly little movies with it. My daughter bought this camera with the impression that it was a watercamera (which Long's advertised it as) and that was her main criteria for her new camera. She bought it, bought the memory card and was happy as a clam.

Of course it came with a manual and of course we didn't read it, but she was concerned that it wasn't waterproof because it didn't say it on the box. I flipped through the manual and found the page that said this camera had 3 water features. The manual was printed for 2 models, the other not being water proof, and under the three "fishy" icons there was a foot note that said the under water option was only for the model my daughter bought. That was all it said about water features. Not only did it say in the book it had water features, there were fishy icons on her mode choices as well.

She went to the park the first or second day she bought it and it broke. She cried herself to sleep that evening snuggled up next to me in my bed.

I called Olympus and discussed the issue with a Customer Service Rep and she explained to me that that model needed a plastic water proof case to make it water proof. I told her no where in the manual did it mention that. After we went through the manual together (and she was very nice) she saw my point and forwarded me to the customer service team leader, Richard Sasserman.

When Richard Sasserman finally took my call after leaving him two messages, he told me it needed a waterproof case to be water proof I told him to look at page 15 of the manual and he said it says under the foot note that you need a plastic case that is sold separately to waterproof the camera. I informed him it did not say that in mine and we went round about that. He said he could fax the page to me, I said I could scan mine and email it to him. He then said this camera was never intended for under water use. I pointed out again the fishy icons in manual and on camera. He said it clearly states on page 22. Page 22 turns out to be the second to last page before the spanish section in small writing in the middle of the page, after a small warning: "to avoid shock, don't put in water"!!!

Richard Sasserman offered to sell us another camera at a discount but would not replace the camera nor refund the money. I mentioned several times I was communicating on behalf of my 9-year-old daughter. She paid $85 for the camera as it was on sale. After the size specific memory card $115, but that had no effect on Richard Sasserman.

Now I ask you, if a mother of a nine year old called customer service of an international corporation for an $85 refund or camera replacement, wouldn't that be a small price to pay to keep a consumer happy, whether they were right or wrong? Although I am clearly right. They ripped off my 9-year-old daughter who spent her evening balling her eyes out. If it happened to me I'd have thrown it away and bad mouthed them at the get go. I gave them a chance to make things right and all it would have cost them is $85. I am, however, going to attempt to contact the CEO of the corp, Mark Gumz. I am also going to discuss the matter with Long's Drug Store, as Olympus pointed their finger at them for advertising it with water features. After I discuss with Long's, if I don't get satisfaction, I am taking it to 7 On Your Side. If they think my complaint is viable they might take it on. I don't think this guy has kids, and he should know better than to take on a mom who is convinced her child has been wronged.

This is page 12 of my daughter's owner's manual that clearly describes water features and indicates it is for the model my daughter bought and nowhere does it mention a plastic case is required to waterproof it. Mind you, my daughter's camera had the fishy icons on her camera under Modes and she chose the icon before submerging it into the creek. Ok, so on the note it is not so easy to see, but trust me, says exactly what I have stated.

A Southern Delight

2009-08-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

I highly recommend 'mater sandwiches.

Never heard of such a thing while I was raised in Torrance, California; I first heard 'mater sandwiches mentioned during a sermon by a preacher in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. He spoke of his summer days as a boy, going out to his mother's garden and picking a ripened, sun-warmed tomato for lunch, slicing it up and layering it on Bunny bread slathered with mayonnaise. It sounded like an odd yet seductive treat. And over the past 15 years, I've developed an affinity for them.

Having no garden of my own as of late, it has been a while since I've enjoyed the messiness of warm juicy tomato running down my chin with mayonnaise around the corners of my mouth. This past weekend, however, my friend Mr. Bibb and I were able to enjoy some good ol' Southern sloppiness with mater sandwiches we made from tomatoes and bread from the Market Square Farmer's Market in Knoxville.

I wish I had taken a photo of the tomato we bought, it was huge and quite disfigured. But it was a deeply ripened red, warm from sitting in the Market Square sun all morning and the farmer made us a good deal on it. We then bought a loaf of fresh baked Italian bread (not our first choice but it was the last loaf of bread the baker had) and went back to the Phoenix for preparation. We slathered Duke's mayonnaise on both slices of bread and sprinkled the tomatos with sea salt and course fresh ground pepper. The photo above documents our Saturday afternoon lunch.

After which, we took a nap.

M.I.A.

2009-08-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I have blogged. Not that I expect anyone has noticed, I'm just saying.

I expect to get my computer out of the computer intensive care unit today. It suffered severe trauma at the hands of an OS upgrade. Provided it is fully recovered, I should be able to use it this weekend, in which case I will resume blogging. Prepare to be deluged. If you are noticing, that is.

Update: Computer is giving tech fits. I'm fearing the worst.

2009-07-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

"If you are a conservative interested in limited government, the legislation of morals, ethics and mores ought to be anathema."
- Nathan Moore

I HIGHLY Recommend Coconut M&M's

2009-07-26T13:44:00.000-07:00

Three words: O. M. G.

Photo Friday Theme for July 17, 2009: My Favorite Spot

2009-07-17T13:08:00.001-07:00

My Favorite Spot at which to spend my lunch hour - sitting in the shade on the planter (left) facing the capitol with my lunch and a book. Pristine, soothing, peaceful, inspiring. One of the things I love about my job.
Nashville, Tennessee
July 2009

Once Again, Stephen Colbert Gives Us Props

2009-07-16T14:41:00.000-07:00

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Difference Makers - Doug Jackson

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Jeff Goldblum

Somebody stole this sticker off my bumper

2009-07-14T17:59:00.000-07:00

These are really hard to find!
I'm seriously bummed.

July 2010 Update - Mr. Bibb bought me a new one!

A Lesson From my MarketingGuru (TM)

2009-06-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

Caney Fork River

2009-06-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

I recommend canoeing and kayaking on the Caney Fork River.

If you live in the middle Tennessee area, you should try spending a day canoeing or kayaking along the Caney Fork River. It's beauty, close proximity to I-40 and multiple access sites make it an ideal outing for family and friends. It's also a good trout fishing destination.
We went using a private, informal rental service which was MUCH cheaper than the service available on the river, but I'm not at liberty to divulge my source. We put in at Happy Hollow Access Area, which is just one mile south from Exit 268 at Buffalo Valley (about a 45 minute drive from Nashville), and pulled out at Stonewall Bridge. About a nine mile run, except that we took a wrong turn and it took us about a mile or so before we realized it.

There's a great song called Caney Fork River by Wolfman Jack and the Midnight Ramblers. Available on iTunes. Worth checking out.

Reply to Comment 1: You're thinking of the Cahulawassee River. Which is in Georgia. Caney Fork is more fiddle than banjo, imo.

2009-06-26T16:42:00.001-07:00

"For a state...to attempt to control what the people shall eat and drink and wear...It is tyranny and not liberty." - TN Governor Malcolm R. Patterson, 1909

Remember Coffe Shop Diet Plates From the '70s?

2009-06-24T21:07:00.001-07:00

Well, that's what I was craving tonight.

To this, I added a seasoned hamburger patty, no cheese.

I'm going to have the same thing tomorrow for lunch.

I hope the avocado doesn't turn too black.

Update: Avocado's still green!

Let me tell you about my dad...

2009-06-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

The man can fix a rainy day.

He loves to cook, and he's good at it.

He makes cool stuff out of wood, everything from chopsticks to fourposter beds.

One of his favorite sayings is, "I'll eat anything that doesn't eat me first." So he's eaten some pretty challenging stuff over the years. Like insects and the kinds of meat you can't buy in the grocery store.

He also likes to say, "Life's a bitch and then you die." Not that he's a fatalist. He's just not gonna feel sorry for you. He'll buy you a beer, though. Or at least offer you one from the vending machine he has in his garage.

When I was younger he used to tell me, "if you end up in jail, don't call me." But I bet if I called him from jail these days, he'd probably help me.

He's been married to my mother for 46 years. Much to my mother's credit.

I named my youngest son after him.

His favorite thing to do is "be on the computer," although he is not on any social networking sites so I don't know what the hell he does on his computer when he's on it.

If I'd had a brother I think I might have missed out on a lot of cool stuff that he did with me when I was a kid, like fishing, or backpacking overnight in the mountains and scuba diving.

I sent him a card for Father's Day, but it's not going to get there in time. I'm really lame that way. I can't seem to send cards on time. So this is my on-time card to my dad. Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Lunch alongside a magnolia tree today.

2009-06-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

Taken with my BlackBerry Curve.

Apparently I've Won Before

2009-06-15T20:16:00.000-07:00

The ever-clever Mr. Bibb has discovered that I have actually won The One Minute Writer Writing of the Day once before!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Friday Fiction: Sound
Write a brief bit of fiction. Focus especially on the sense of sound, trying to help the reader "hear" what your character(s) hear.

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Cyndie Todd

The soft "ping" of the elevator arriving catches my attention; the doors swoosh open and her voice carries down the hall and around the corner. That is my cue to minimize the Facebook window.

Congratulations, Cyndie Todd! I love your humor--this was hilarious! Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog! Also, please either comment here or e-mail me at cbethblog (at) gmail (dot) com if you don't mind me using your response in a possible future podcast.

Sharing the Sabotage

2009-06-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

My kid sister sent me a 2 pound box of See's Candy recently. She did this knowing FULL WELL that I am trying to lose weight. But I am a strong older sister. I am a smart older sister. And I have LOTS of co-workers. So instead of using these delectible chocolates (nuts and chews, mind you) to satisfy my sweet tooth, I used them to satisfy my popularity tooth. Which is a much more demanding tooth. Observe my happy co-workers below:

Good Old-Fashioned Sibling Rivalry

2009-06-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my kid sister for inspiring me to work a little harder at One Minute Writer.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Today's Prompt: Hill
Right now is your life more uphill or downhill (or are you on a plateau)?

One-Minute Writing of the Day:
Writer: Cyndie Todd

When you've got a great job even though there is no advancement/increased earning opportunities, you're dating a great guy who swears he'll never marry, and your kids are of the age where they don't want to hang out with you, you know you're on a plateau. And you're kind of looking for the next hill to climb, but not as hard as you used to. Because you're kind of tired and could use the rest of level ground.

Congratulations on the win, Cyndie! I really liked your explanation of where your life is right now. Feel free to put a One-Minute Writer WINNER! button on your blog!

Black Bean Salsa

2009-06-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

I recommend this recipe that makes a delicious Black Bean Salsa:

2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans Red Gold diced tomatoes chili ready with onions, drained
1 – 11 oz. can vacuum-packed whole kernel corn, drained
1 – 7 oz. can diced green chilies
1/2 c. chopped fresh cilantro
2 green onions, chopped
2 T. red wine vinegar
1 t. salt
hot pepper sauce to taste (I recommend Louisiana Hot Sauce)

• In large bowl, mix all ingredients.
• Refrigerate for several hours to blend flavors.

Makes about 3-1/2 pints.

I recommend eating this salsa with Tostitos Baked Scoops.

I've been taking a half pint of this salsa with a sandwich bag full of chips as part of my lunch this week. It makes a nice light summer mid-day meal when accompanying my regular sides of raw carrots and diced peaches.

More Bronze

2009-06-10T19:21:00.001-07:00

Here's the pic I took as my alternative Photo Friday post:

Dude Flick

2009-06-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

I recommend The Hangover.

The male version of a chick flick. Hilarious.

Another Winning Post From my Sister

2009-06-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

My sister once again garners recognition from The One Minute Writer by writing the winning post for May 31, 2009.

Whose Brown Bag is Better Than Mine?

2009-06-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

None can compare with the brown bag lunches Mr. Bibb makes for me.

Photo Friday Theme for June 6, 2009: Metal

2009-06-08T10:03:00.000-07:00

Bronze
Nashville, Tennessee
June 2009

Read my Sister's Winning Post

2009-05-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

on The One Minute Writer. Check out her blog. Today is her 40th birthday. Send her a card.

I'm so proud.

May 15, 2009 Photo Friday Theme: Self-Portrait

2009-05-16T16:10:00.000-07:00

Lazy Saturday
Nashville, Tennessee
May 2009

Hanker than Hank

2009-05-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

"I'm like a stab wound in the fabric of country music in Nashville. See that bloodstain slowly spreading? That's me."
- Wayne Hancock

I recommend Wayne Hancock.

I first saw WH at Foobartoo with Lisa about two months ago, not really knowing who he was nor had I heard of him before, but I liked his music. A lot. But I moved on with my weekend and forgot about him. Then, last Sunday I went to visit Pops and he had some really great music playing and I asked who it was. He showed me the cd, which had no pictures on it, so I went to his computer and looked up the artist. There was the guy I had seen at Foobartoo. I checked the touring schedule and low and behold, WH was scheduled to play at Foobartoo again on Wednesday! So Pops, Mr. Bibb, Lisa and I met at Foobartoo last night to see the show.

Lemme tell you what, WH is the genuine real deal. His songs sound like covers of old country B-sides, but they're fresh juke joint swing originals. In fact, he's so authentic, hard-working, unassuming, unpretentious and down to earth, I felt like I was watching - and I mean this in the best way - the janitor or my mechanic kicking it up with his buddies after work.

Visit his website and read about him. He's a pretty interesting fella. He also has a MySpace page and a Facebook fan page. No discernable presence on Twitter yet.

On Reason and Discretion in Politics...

2009-05-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

"According to a well defined rumor, the one vote necessary to pass the measure in the senate was obtained by the efforts of a young lady lobbyist whose persuasion was directed to neither reason nor discretion."

- Tennessee State Senator Cecil Sims, 1926

Repeal all laws but protect the fish...

2009-05-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

"Sometimes I am almost inclined to agree with the representative from a rural district who solemnly declared on the floor of the house that the public welfare could best be served by 'repealing all the laws except the constitution and the law against dynamiting fish.'"
- Tennessee State Senator Cecil Sims, 1926

May 8, 2009 Photo Friday Theme: Wild

2009-05-09T09:14:00.000-07:00

Wild Turkeys

Mt. Juliet, Tennessee

May 2009

Tell Your Momma you Love her

2009-05-09T00:33:00.000-07:00

Out With the Girls who got the Memo

2009-05-04T22:15:00.000-07:00

Headed out to 3rd & Lindsley last night to see El Movimiento, whom I highly recommend for latin & soul jazz fusion, with my 20-something girlies; for some reason, I'm not getting the shorts-and-platform-shoes memos anymore....

Amber Sanders of Planit Nashville and

Laceey McLaughlin of VIP Bartending Services