Wordless Wednesday

The Fashion Police!

Halloween Quest

In my family we take halloween seriously. It's the least stressful and most funfilled holiday! It's all about the costume and there have been some great ones. I wish I had all of my halloween pictures digitized...I'll have to work on that. Do you work at a place that allows you or even encourages you to dress in costume for halloween? What fun! The office that my daughter works in actually does a costume contest and gives out prizes!

Several years ago we had a huge costume party and let me tell you it was a blast! We had fog machines and cobwebs. We did wine spritzers in a punch bowl with floating eyeball candles. We had some prizes for best costumes. My sil, who is 6'4" and 200 lbs., dressed as a hooker, pink wig, mini skirt and fishnets. What a sight!

The picture above is my grandaughter wearing the costume I made for her. She loved feeling the soft fur and kept laughing the whole time she wore it. We have entered the "Jack's Quest" contest over at halloween adventures and we really would love it if you would just visit the website and cast a vote for this cute Little Stinker. You can go to the website and enter yourself. It's just good fun.

Let me know if you enter and I'll go take a look at your fav halloween adventure!

GoodBye To Summer?

I love the freedom of summer. The ease of moving between the outside and indoors. Casual gatherings with simple food, everything just seems easier. Going riding with Buggy on our beach bikes with a basket full of snacks!

Well if you go into any retailer you will know that fall began at least 6 weeks ago and I'm not sure , but I believe they have begun pushing Christmas on us as well! Does it drive you nuts? I can't fight it anymore, I give up and I'm letting go of summer! Happy? I even pulled out my sweatshirts and jeans, it's officially Fall. Well, in my world at least. My birthday was just this weekend which is usually my standard measure for the beginning of the new season.

Buggy and I made a very cute Halloween cookie house over the weekend. Just like a gingerbread house but with a 'haunted' deco style. Lots of candy bats, gumdrops and drippy icing all over it. Plenty of icing and gumdrops inside a certain little girl too!

We went to a party on Saturday that was lots of fun. Probably the last outdoor party until next May. It was a little chilly but no one seemed to mind too much. There was a ton of good food, including several bushels of steamed crabs, a moon bounce for the kids and pumpkins to decorate with stickers and sloppy paint. Fun times all day.

Gaming Nerds!

My children I'm talking about. Specifically my daughter and her husband. Some of you may be familiar with her, she is the Bee over at Read The Bee. She and her husband are so freakishly into games that they recently bought a laptop because they were fighting over who got to use the desktop to play games. I guess they couldn't share. The two of them sit in the same room playing the same game on their own computers, either with or against each other, not sure! They also play with my nephew and they talk back and forth. The game they play most often is World Of Warcraft or WOW. But they also own every game system ever invented. They also play card games and board games. They barely have time to go to work! Apparently if they are not actually playing the games then they are discussing gaming strategies on a gaming forum called Rugged Nerds.

What have I created?

Pimps or Ponzi's

It seems we never learn. This is not the sort of post that I normally do but I feel compelled to talk about this subject and get some feedback on what you all are thinking and feeling about the subject. ACORN. Yep, the craziness of it and the reactions as we learn of more and more ugliness. Several recent issues come to my mind in the "we never learn" category:
1. Wasn't there a great deal of concern and requests for investigation for some time about the practices in the financial pit of Wall Street? Fears that we were heading for disaster? Did anyone react? Even listen? No, they had other pressing matters until the poo hit the fan.
2. I believe that this was also true about the ponzi scheme implemented by Bernie Madoff. Hmmm, yes there were repeated requests for investigation but, again, folks were riding high and chose to ignore this downer. That is until....well, you know.
3. ACORN - we heard about the questionable voter registration fraud a year ago, which sounds horrible but does not necessarily equate to voter fraud. This is not the first accusation of voter registration fraud either. They have a laundry list of serious issues on their card as well: embezzlement of nearly $1 million by Wade Rathke's brother (Mr. Rathke resigned from the group's board after covering for his brother's misdeeds), tax arrears, corruption and most recently accusations of aiding and abetting illegal immigration, prostitution, tax evasion and child abuse.

I was shocked by the ACORN employees in the Baltimore video who were suggesting ways to "not get caught" in the child abuse, tax evasion and prostitution scams. Then I watched the video tape from the San Diego office of Acorn and my mouth fell to the floor. This employee was touting herself as a former madam/prostitute and murderer...proudly. I guess you go with your area of expertise.

Maybe you haven't heard but the 2 ACORN employees who were fired in Maryland are now suing the film makers, aka, the pimp and the prostitute. They are being represented by Baltimore attorney Andy Freeman who is also representing ACORN in this lawsuit. Mr. Freeman says that the pair caught on film have suffered extreme emotional distress. He further states that we all have the right to say dumb things in the privacy of our own homes or offices. They are asking for $2 million in compensatory damages (50% for ACORN) and total $3 million in punitive damages. But, of course, it's not about the money it's the principle.

President Obama is staying out of the details of this mud pit. Let's face it, ACORN didn't just start to be a problem In January 2009. They have been around a long time and through several administrations. Barney Frank is trying not to say anything in as many words as possible, the man is going to get dizzy soon. Republicans are using this to point fingers at Democrats. None of which is helping to stop the bleed.

I have heard so many different dollar amounts tossed around. I'm not sure if we will ever be told exactly how much of our tax money has been handed over to ACORN but, I for one, want my money back!

Motorcycle Crunch!

My husband was just telling me about a story he heard recently on the radio. Apparently there were several bikers riding along a local highway, they were positioned in a 2 by 2 formation as you often see. A car driving just in front of the line of motorcycles stopped suddenly and the 2 just behind the car veered to the sides but several motorcycles behind the front line were not as lucky. Fortunately there were no fatalities. After announcing the accident the announcer than added that price increases had just gone into affect on chrome motorcycle parts! Maybe they will try Cruiser Customizing for up to 60% off brand names.

One of my sisters rides on the weekends with several friends of hers. They go on day trips or sometimes all weekend. They recently went for a long weekend up into the mountains. She said the trip was lots of fun but she mentioned that it was a little scarey driving on those twisted roads and often looking down at a long dropoff. They also had a little engine trouble and were stranded on the side of the road for 2 hours! Sounds like my kind of fun.

UPDATE To WW Big Screen

Hubby's new big screen TV....A tablecloth duct taped to my fireplace mantle. We only do this for football games!

**UPDATE**

Sorry for the confusion about projecting the television picture onto my tablecloth. We also have a video projector which you hook up to the tv through the cable/DVD player, yada, yada. We aren't much for watching tv and I'm not sure I want my whole wall taken up by a tv! I now have a tv cabinet that has doors that I can close and not look at all that equipment mess. But I will say that watching football games on this giant screen is very cool! I feel like we are at a sports bar only without all the noise.

Random Tuesday Thoughts

I have a lot of random in my brain this morning.

Conversation while riding in the car:

"Grandmom can I talk to you?"

"Yes Bug, what would you like to talk about?"

"Grandmom, *sigh* I love you."

"I love you too Bug. You're my best girl."

"You're my best Grandmom."

"Can we go home and make cookies now Grandmom?"

"Yes Bug."

Last week I received a piece of mail from my state unemployment office. It was an announcement about a free training program for anyone who is collecting unemployment benefits. So far, so good. It was a seminar on starting a small business. Our governor who has nearly squashed all small business in the state by taxing us to death is now attempting to promote small business to some of the same people who have been squashed?? Oh, and how does an unemployed person manage to get financing? Brilliant. This governor has a 47% favorable rating in the state overall and a 68% favorable rating amongst his own party.

I have discovered a couple of blogs lately that are just a hoot and I thought I would share them with you. You might be familiar with them already, but if not then give 'em a try. Frogs In My Formula will have you rolling and Southern Fried Momma just makes me laugh out loud!

I'm getting tired of my own company. I need to get out of the house today. Anyone free for lunch?

My daughter informed me yesterday that she and her husband bought their airline tickets to fly over to Amsterdam. They are SPENDING CHRISTMAS IN AMSTERDAM! My SIL is from Holland and his family is all there. It's only fair, they haven't been there for a visit in a couple of years. But one of my children will NOT BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS! I'm fine, I'll get through this. *sigh*

Go visit Keely over at The Unmom for more Random Tuesday.

Eradication!

Relax, I got it! As many of you are aware, I have had a monumental problem with crickets around (and in) my house for the past several weeks. The other night I was going out into my garage and, following my newly developed procedure, I first turned on the light switch, then hit the (metal) door to announce my intention prior to opening said door. I then opened the door and visually scanned the steps, clear. I did, however, spot a cricket on the rug at the bottom of the stairs so I stomped down the steps and continued to stomp as I reached the bottom. Just as I stomped my left foot, I felt something in my slipper! I kicked my left slipper off of my foot, while screaming at my husband because we all know this was his fault! Cricket no. 1 was confused and scampering away thankfully. Cricket no. 2 was dead, squished in my slipper so now I have cricket guts on my foot!! Aaaarrrghhhh! I sat down on the step to scrape guts off of my foot and noticed on my right pant leg the cricket innards had squirted onto my pants.
On my way upstairs to take a shower and throw my clothes in the washing machine, I quietly and calmly informed my hubs of "WTH all that screaming was about", notice he didn't come out to investigate.
Last night we went to visit some very dear friends of ours and during the evening, over cake and coffee, we were sharing our cricket dilemmas. Our friends were just in disbelief that my hubs couldn't manage to spray some kind of something to alleviate this problem. He is Mr. Home Depot with shelves just chock full of stuff out in that garage.
I slept a little late this morning and when I came downstairs for coffee my hubs informed me that he had thoroughly sprayed and eradicated all crickets in a 50 foot radius of our house. Thank you Faith and George.

This Ad Was Posted To Craig's List Personals

This was sent to me this morning by Sherri and I thought I would share it. If nothing else, it does spark discussion!

To the Guy Who Tried to Mug Me in Downtown Savannah night before last. Date: 05-27-09, 1:43 AM EST. I was the guy wearing the black Burberry jacket that you demanded that I hand over, shortly after you pulled the knife on my wife, threatening our lives and me. You also asked for my wife's purse and earrings. I can only hope that you somehow come across this rather important message. First, I'd like to apologize for your embarrassment when I drew my pistol after you took my Jacket. The evening was not that cold, and I was wearing the jacket for a reason. My wife had just bought me that Kimber Model 1911 45 A CP pistol for my birthday, and we had picked up a shoulder holster for it that very evening. Obviously you agree that it is a very Intimidating weapon when pointed at your head wasn't it? I know it probably wasn't fun walking back to wherever you'd come from bare footed since I made you leave your shoes, cell phone, and wallet with me. [That prevented you from calling or running to your buddies to come help mug us again]. After I called your mother, or "Momma" as you had her listed in your cell, I explained the entire episode of what you'd done. Then I Went and filled up my gas tank as well as four other people's in the gas station on your credit card. The guy with the big motor home took 150 gallons and was extremely grateful! I gave your shoes to a homeless guy outside Vinnie Van Go Go’s, along with all the cash in your wallet. [That made his day!] I then threw your wallet into the big pink "pimp mobile" that was parked at the curb ... after I broke the windshield and side window and keyed the entire driver's side of the car. Ma Bell just now shut down the line, although I only used the phone for a little over a day now, so what's going on with that? Earlier, I managed to get in two threatening phone calls to the DA's office and one to the FBI, while mentioning President Obama as my possible target. The FBI guy seemed really intense and we had a nice long chat (I guess while he traced your number etc.). In a way, perhaps I should apologize for not killing you ... but I feel this type of retribution is a far more appropriate punishment for your threatened crime. I wish you well as you try to sort through some of these rather immediate pressing issues, and can only hope that you have the opportunity to reflect upon, and perhaps reconsider the career path you've chosen to pursue in life. Remember, next time you might not be so lucky. Have a good day! Thoughtfully yours, Alex P.S. Remember this motto. . An armed society makes for a more civil society! -- "The future ain't what it used to be" Yogi Berra

Fabulous Football Food!

First let me just mention that our Ravens dominated their first game of the season against Kansas City. Final score: 38-24, put that in the win column! Go Ravens! Okay all finished with that and now for the important stuff. You might recall that in a previous post I showed a picture that I snagged from google images of a football snack tray. There was also a link to the recipe. Well I made this great snack for the football game last Sunday. It turned out really great and it wasn't difficult at all even with the help of a 5 year old. Here is what I used:

a 12.5" x 8.5" x 1" disposable aluminum pan

1 small can of refried beans

1 small jar salsa

1 small jar of chili cheese dip

12 oz. container guacamole dip

small amount of sour cream

24 Tastykake krimpets

1 block yellow cheese

1 block white cheese

2 cans Vienna sausages

2 Slim Jims

various chips and crackers

toothpicks

I first layered the refried beans in the entire pan then put in the guacamole covering the center 2/3 of the "playing field". On opposite ends I layered salsa and chili cheese dip. For the sour cream field lines you can use a baggie with a tiny hole cut in the corner to place lines between each of your dips and then as many as you can fit on easily, include some smaller yard markers. The vienna sausages are the players with small cheese bits as helmets. Use 1 slim jim for each goal post just cut them to size and connect with toothpicks. Attach the goal posts to a block of cheese to provide stability.

For the stadium stands I used different flavored krimpets at either end of the field in a brick pattern and remember to distance this wall a bit to leave room for chips. At the sides of the stadium I chose to stack slices of cheese with crackers on the inside just for more variety.

This "stadium" feeds a lot of fans! We had nearly 20 people that day and only ate about half of snack tray so this is perfect for larger gatherings.

You will probably need to be the first to dig in as it looks so good people are afraid to destroy it! Definately try this snack tray, it's so easy and yummy and impressive. Let me know how well it goes over when you make it.

Wordless Wednesday

Look Harriet, I'm sorry I got us lost but this isn't so bad. Come on, it's only 1 night and we have a jacuzzi!

Dr. Oz?

I caught Dr. Oz on tv this afternoon for the first time. I have heard his name but wasn't really familiar with his show. Today was ironing day so I set up in front of the television with my spray starch in hand. The three discussion topics today were: sex, fibroids, germs.

First let me mention that I think Dr. Oz is a little too happy. I could imagine him thinking "wow, it's so cool that I have my own show" all the while he's on the stage.

Topic 1: Sex - you and your spouse need to create a "foreplay map" sorry I didn't catch this segment so I can only imagine. *Write a script? * Draw body outlines and do a little connect the dots? Not sure.

Topic 2: Fibroids - Don't jump hastily into hysterectomy but try a diet change first. Tofu and seaweed could replace surgery. Hmmm.

Topic 3: Germs - The germs you carry around on your purse could be making you sick! They actually tested several women's purse contents as well as the outside surface. The germs they found were pretty disgusting and probably something we are all toting around with us daily. * Have you ever put your purse down on the floor of a public toilet? Of course you always try to find a hook or a friend but how about that one time....? * Ever kept a makeup sponge past it's prime, yep, we all have. * A cell phone was tested and found to have bacteria from feces on it (could cause menengitis) this belonged to an elementary teacher. Maybe we should burn the bags!

Last segment of the day Dr. Oz introduced "Stef" a dance instructor. Stef was very limber and enthusiastic and male. The bit was that Stef would demonstrate 4 simple dance moves that would get you in shape. Well, I don't think I would describe these moves as simple, they were complicated and full of pelvic manuevers. Stef was very good with the kicks as well as the pelvic stuff. Dr. Oz though very willing and still happy was not so impressive. You remember the movie title White Men Can't Jump? There you go.

Sunday Seven

Seven prayers and seven hours in the car with my parents.

The father of a friend of our family passed away last week. It was very sudden, he was an elderly man with some health issues but he died in an auto accident though thankfully there was no one else seriously injured. My parents live an hour north of my house and the funeral was held in Easton, MD which is just over an hour south of me so they picked me up on the way.

The day of the funeral we had unbelievably heavy rain (of course) and it was our first chilly day probably in the high 60's. The horn blew out front at 10:15 and I gathered my things and headed out. My Mom was driving as always because my Dad can't really drive anymore though he is not happy relinguishing control. We got to the end of my street and Mom started to turn right and Dad snaps "go left" she snapped the wheel to the left, "you need to take 100". Actually he was wrong but no harm. We get on 100 and Mom got confused and missed the exit for the quickest route then tries to stomp the brake to make it, rain, traffic, I told her just to keep going it was ok. So we're going about 10 miles out of our way, big deal.

Now Dad wants to know if I have any snacks, so oatmeal bars all around, all's well. My neice sends me a text "Are you almost here?" I felt like I had my kids in the car. "We are almost out of the neighborhood". Mom hits the correct exit this time, ok! I do not know how she gets anywhere, honest to goodness, if she changes lanes Dad wants to know why, if not he thinks she should. The woman, apparently doesn't like to hit the brake unless there is danger of a collision. I was on the edge of my seat. I offered to drive several times but she wouldn't have it. My neice has now sent about 10 text messages because she wants company, or she's bored I don't know.

We got into Easton and Dad is the only one who knows where the funeral home is so we made it with only 1 wrong turn. They have handicap parking but no handicap access to the building so Dad has to walk around 2 sides of the building lugging an oxygen tank in the rain, this made him a bit grumbly. We're in and locate my neice and my sister, pay our respects and find a seat.

There must have been 200 people attending this service. They had people seated in two different rooms and in the second room (where we were) they had a flat screen tv with a live video feed of the front room. Pretty high tech stuff. It was a pretty long service, every bit of an hour so I started looking around. There was a priest sitting on a couch sleeping, not sure why he was there, he didn't speak. Then there was an older gent in front of me, must have been in his late 70's. He was totally Grecian Formulaed!! You've seen them, it looks like if that hair gets wet it's going to run down the back of their necks in black streaks like mascara. I couldn't stop looking. You know, at some point you just ought to give it up you're not fooling anybody.

Back to the car and now my neice is with us. I decided that we should skip the cemetary because Dad couldn't do any more walking. Plus it was raining like crazy and my neice's stomache had been growling for an hour. Again, Dad is the only one who knows where we are going and now we had to stop at McDonald's. We are driving down a two lane road coming up to a big intersection. Mom asks which way, Dad has to think a minute then says you need to make a left. Well, Mom starts over into the left turn lane and Dad yells "NO, not here". She careens back into her lane (Idid not even want to look behind us) and he snaps "turn left at the intersection not here!" Near death and she was doing the right thing ayway. No, he didn't apologize for getting her all frazzled.

Half an hour later we head over to the local fire hall for the reception. Lots of people, lots of visiting and lots of cake. I had my back to most of the room so I didn't get much people watching in but I have to tell you about one man that did stand out to me. This gentleman was probably in his mid to late 50's wearing dress pants and a shirt with a tie and on his feet he had the oddest shoes I've ever seen! I tried hard to find a picture of them somewhere but this is the closest I could come. His were brown sort of a cross between a tennis shoe and a hiking boot with springs for heels. Must be comfy?

I was very happy to get home that night.

Ellen?

Have you heard the news? If you are an American Idol fan, yes I am, then you remember hearing Paula Abdul will not be coming back for the new season. They would only offer $8 million instead of the $10 million she wanted or some such nonsense. Don't get me wrong, I loved Paula, especially this past season but come on! Anyway no need to fret about it because Ellen Degeneres has joined the panel of judges! Ellen! Who doesn't love her? She is totally one of my favorites and I can't wait for the new season of Idol. I think she will be a great addition. Who better to difuse Simon? I believe she will completely upstage the annoying one...what is her name? Ellen is a very nice person so I'm sure she'll provide that same kindness that Paul did, which I think was vital to the show. She can certainly have lots of fun playing off of snarling Simon. Of course, Randy is everyone's teddy bear anyway. Great panel of judges for a great show.

Wordless Wednesday

Yes, the "nutcracker" weighs as much as she does! She thought it was terribly clever though.

The Beauty Of Autumn

Today we have a surprise guest blogger! My daughter (The Bee - of Read The Bee) showed up on my doorstep with a box of hair coloring in her hand. She wanted me to highlight her hair, she got a new cut on Saturday. Of course I said fine...but you have to write a post for me today because this is cutting into my computer time. Right? Agreed. You may not know this about Bee but she, occasionally, can be a bit controlling (eye roll). Her husband calls her "Snappy Turtle". She let me know exactly how she wanted her hair to look and that she would be pissed! if I went too crazy with the highlights, arghh, I think I sprained my left eyeball. She finally took over the little hair coloring toothbrush thing herself because I was laughing too much.
So here is the post she wrote today for your pleasure. I feel you need to understand that she is still obsessed with crayons of all sorts. For her 20th birthday we went to Pennsylvania to pay homage at the Crayola Factory.



Autumn is almost here! This is easily my favorite season. School supply time (even though I'm not in school anymore) is so exciting. I love just walking through the aisles in the store and coveting all the great pens, folders, notebooks and crayons that I would be getting if I had a use for them.

As a child coloring was by far my favorite pass time and I took it very seriously. I had mastered the art of crayon-shading by the time I was 3 years old. And if another kid wanted to borrow a coloring book and color with me ... ugh ... it was an ordeal to say the least. I would have to personally the select the book they would use and often even the page they were allowed to color. Then the entire time they were coloring I was looking over their shoulder and criticizing.

Some kids just don't care, they are all willy-nilly with their color choices. Making giraffes blue and elephants green etc. That drove me CRAZY! What were they thinking? Were the animals supposed to be from Mars or something? Was it some ancient extinct bread of orange alligator that I was unaware of? No. As far as I was concerned, they were just too lazy to come up with appropriate color schemes and therefore unfit to even touch my crayola 64 pack. How about a nice maize/burnt sienna combination for that lion, wouldn't that be nicer?

And don't get me started on the crayon box etiquette. Why did they have to be asked repeatedly to put the G.D. midnight blue back with the rest of the blues where they got it from?!? And sharpening -- no way in hell mister. If you think I'm going to leave your sloppy ass in charge of that job you are sadly mistaken. You better just use that stubby purple and be happy with it or pass it over my way and I will sharpen it properly.

Now that I think of it, I'm pretty sure all the other kids hated me.

Sunday Seven

Trust me that there are seven frightened bugs in this giant work of art!

Just Flippin' Funny

Yesterday while visiting around the bloggy world, I stopped in to visit Grace over at Contrariness. She wrote a post which included a youtube video of Eddie Izzard. Apparently I live in a cave because I have never heard of this hilarious comedian. The guy is fuuuuuny! So this morning I spent, no kidding, an hour watching all that I could find on youtube and just laughed (I have no life). Thank you Grace for introducing Eddie Izzard into my life, it's a better place now.

For some odd reason this brought to mind a vacation experience from several years ago. My husband earned a trip to the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas. Cool place, fun experience, very pricey, good thing someone else paid.

I must admit that I am not exactly the outdoor adventure woman sort. I don't relish discomfort. In some situations I can even be called somewhat prissy, I'm not proud of this but this is just you and me so I feel as though I can bare my soul. I must also add that my husband is a truly wonderful man and has the patience of a saint.

Along about mid week we decided to hike down the beach to a little cove that was off the beaten path and try our hand at snorkeling. I like to swim, the water is beautiful and warm. Off we go with a large duffel bag full of snorkeling equipment, masks and flippers and whatnot. We had never done this before so we had to figure out how to put all this stuff together. It was a very hot day and by the time we got to this cove we were dripping. I say this because here's where the prissy part comes in. Hubs starts dumping equipment out on the beach and hands me my flippers. These things weigh alot more than you think. So I'm looking around for a nice spot to sit (a stool would have been perfect) so I can get these gargantuan things on my feet. I hesitated because I didn't want to sit down on the beach and get sand all up my a*s! Is anyone with me here? I tried to stand in the dry sand and lift my foot to put the flipper on, mmmm no, again lift and almost, no. I tried the other foot and clearly this was not happening. Well now it's about 105 degrees, I'm sweating and grunting and not getting anywhere. Hubs at this point has both flippers on (he sat down in the sand but it's not the same at all). He watches me for a couple of minutes before venturing the big question, WTH are you doing? He said it with love in his voice though. "Need a little help over here". He decided it would be easier if I was standing in the water and he would help me put the damn flippers on my feet. You know how when you are at the beach standing with your toes in the water, looking down at the water coming in, going out, you get a little dizzy and disoriented? He was a bit hampered due to the 10 lb, 2 foot long flippers on his own feet. He was bent over double, I was leaning on his back laughing like a crazy woman. I kept tipping over and snatching my foot away, he wasn't seeing the humor in this at all. Finally, when my saintly husband had nearly lost patience we achieved lift off! Flippers, on. Face masks, on. Snorkel tubes, in. Space cadets, dive..dive..dive.

Well at least at this point we can cool off in the water, thank God. Hubs immediately swam directly away from me. So I puttered around, tried out my snorkel, ahhh, oh look a couple of little fish. Oohhh, dead ahead of me now is a blockade of sea grass growing nearly to the surface of the water. No way I'm going into that. Over to my right is a rock barricade, not going over there with the moray eels! I happily stayed at the edge in 2 feet of water saw about 6 fish and a shiny coke can. Done.

It was an experience that was just as ridiculous as it sounds. If only I had a video camera. Come on tell me you've had this kind of silly, embarrassing fun!

Need A Car?

Do you need a car and not sure which direction to go in? I'm in the same spot. I normally buy late model used cars because I have found them to be a very good value. Though I know lots of people these days who are going the route of leasing a car. Well, honestly with the economy the way it is you need to be sure you are getting the most for the least, depending on your requirements. BuyYourCar.co.uk is a great place to start as they can provide you with comprehensive answers. You are able to compare used, new, leased cars as well as reading independent car reviews. They even provide links to compare car loans and insurance.

Id you are in the market it sounds like this is worth your time taking a look.

Maryland Crab Cakes

We had these for dinner last night finally! My plan was to have them during the game on Saturday but we lost power in our neighborhood for 6 hours and had to go to a sports bar for the game. Anyway on Monday we enjoyed a fabulous dinner of maryland crab cakes and fries with gravy (I've been told that's a weird Maryland thing). If I do say so myself, my crab cakes rival the very best in the state, no kidding. Here's the recipe, such as it is, sometimes you have to use a little instinct:

1 lb. Jumbo Lump Crabmeat

2/3 slices white bread

2/3 T. mayonnaise

2 t. Old Bay Seasoning

2 t. parsley flakes

1 t. mustard

1 egg

1 T. lemon juice

1t. worcestershire sauce

dash hot sauce

I like to use very fine bread crumbs prepared in my food processor (or a blender works fine as well). Set aside your bread crumbs. Beat 1 egg in a bowl. Add all wet ingredients and mix thoroughly. Add Old Bay and parsley flakes into the wet mix. Drain any liquid from your crab meat and gently add the meat into your bowl of wet ingredients. There is little point in paying more for jumbo lump meat if you are going to break it apart anyway. Gently fold the meat until all is moist. Begin adding your bread crumbs at this point. Your crab mixture should be the consistency of a fairly loose mud pie. So it only just sticks together. If you need more moisture, add a bit more mayo/lemon juice mix. A bit more bread crumbs, that's fine too. Shape mixture into patties. At this point I add a dash of worcestershire sauce to each patty. Broil for approximately 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

August Top Droppers