Mommy And Me Kickin' It At The Yacht Club

My mother and I at the Mamaroneck Yacht Club in Mamaroneck, New York.  Even at seven months old, I knew the cool places to hang out.

My mother is four months pregnant with my brother.  Are you diggin' that maternity dress and those mod shoes? 

Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!!  Hope it's a wonderful one!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Dinner At The Diner
2011: My Guitar Hero
2010: The Competition Is Getting Fierce
2009: A Little Smooch Makes Everything Taste Better
2008: The Greatest Spectacle In Racing
2007: Jalapenos Basking In The California Sunshine
2006: Millions Of Miles Of Knowledge
2005: Midnight Snack

Does Anyone Have One Of These I Can Borrow?

Typical Swiss Mountain Cabin with the Wetterhorn in the background.  Photo courtesy of Grindelwald Tourismus

I would give my left pinkie to be sitting in this chalet, in this snow, at the foot of this mountain, right this very minute.

I don't know many people (maybe two) who prefer cold weather to hot.  If I were to post my desire to be here on Facebook, I would probably be in the 1% of people who feel the same way - the only time I'll be in the 1%.

I never look forward to summer.  Ever.

The only thing I like, is that I can wear flip-flops on a daily basis.  Other than that, not looking forward to the sun, the sand, the heat. 

Once June 1 hits, I will be counting the days until Fall.

PS:  If you have a ski chalet, shoot me an email.  I'll leave baked goods when I depart.  :)



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Built Like A Mack
2011: Luxor-ious Seating
2010: Sharing A Moment
2009: When Sunny Gets Blue
2008: Putting The Friendly Back In The Skies
2007: White Squall
2006: Free As A Bird
2005: The Heat Is On

And Then The Rains Came

We are still working on the bike mounting project.  It's evolved something like seven times already.  We picked up the bikes today - after we bought them yesterday, we left them at the shop so they could put the fenders and racks on (and my bell!). 

We rode around a bit, went to the hardware store, then back to the truck to figure out what we were going to do.  We were in the bike shop parking lot but needed a bigger selection of stuff, so we decided to just put the bikes in the sleeper and head over to the Home Depot we'd been parked at for the last few days.  After getting what we needed in the store, we decided to go for another ride before working on getting the bikes mounted.   

It was still hot - we're in Texas, after all - and I was already sweaty, so I figured I may as well get some wind on me to cool me off.  That's the thing about humidity, compared to somewhere dry like Arizona.  In Arizona, the air is hot.  Like a blow dryer.  Arid.  An oven.  So even when the air is moving, it's still hot.  Hot wind.  It's miserable.

But in a place where it's humid, even though it's hot, once you get that wind going - whether by a fan, a bike ride, or an open car window - the air is cool.  It's cooler wind.  Until you stop moving.  Then you're drenched from the humidity again.

Speaking of drenched... 

After our ride, we started working on the bikes again.  Almost two hours in and the sky was getting black.  I kept saying to Ed, "It's gonna rain."  Then, "Wow.  There's a lot of lightning.  And thunder.  It's really gonna rain."  He said, "And?"  So we kept working, against my better judgement.

I started picking up all the stuff around the bikes - the straps, velcro, chains, rubber tubing, bike locks, lights, etc. - and put them in the truck.  I had a feeling that the sky was going to just open up.  Then I felt drops.

"I feel drops!" I said to Ed.

"Well, I don't feel 'em."  he said.

"That's cause you're moving and I'm standing still.  Oooh, there's another one.  It's gonna rain." I said.

"So you're telling me it's raining over there, on you, but not over here on me?" he said.  We were forty feet apart.

"I'm telling you I feel drops.  Just hurry up, we've gotta get the bikes under the tarp."  I said.  I swear, I'd make the best damn drill sargeant the military has ever seen.  I am bossy AND loud.

"Ed!  Drops!!  I feel drops!!  It's going to rain any second now.  WHAT are you doing??  Get the bikes, c'mon!"  I said.

We unrolled the felt pads, Ed standing on the trailer, me on the ground.  I picked up his bike and handed it up to him on the trailer.  The drops were steady now, but small.

We put another felt pad on top of that bike, then I handed him the other bike.  He placed that one on top and we unrolled the other felt on top of it.  The drops were getting bigger.

Then we put the tarp on, frantically trying to cover all edges, and the sky opened up.  Torrential rain.  Biblical rain.

I ran to get my umbrella, which turned out to be mostly useless.  We ran to get bungees, Ed opening the side box, me holding the umbrella over our heads.  Our backs and legs were getting wet.  My feet were completely underwater, my leather ballerinas sucking up water. 

We finished as a bright flash lit up the sky.  The bikes were covered.  Dry.

We were SOAKING WET. 

We got back in the truck, peeled off our clothes, twisted the water out of our shirts and my capri pants, put our soaked shoes on paper towels up front.  And it was still raining.  We were clearly done for the day.

We've been here nine days already, and probably won't leave until Monday or Tuesday.  We'll ride more this weekend and finish mounting our bikes.  I think we've almost got it figured out.

Our biggest issue at this point is a bike cover to keep the road schmutz off the bikes.  We have an idea, I just don't know how it's going to work yet. 

Tomorrow is another day. 

And for once I'm hoping it'll be sunny and dry.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: When You Need To Point Out Which One Is Herb
2011: A Road Diverged In The Wood And I Lived To Tell About It
2010: I’m A Researchin’ Fool
2009: The Closest I’ll Ever Come
2008: Who Is He Kidding?
2007: The Captain Of My Vessel
2006: Baking Is Fun!
2005: Sticks And Stones

Bike Shopping Part Deux

So yeah, uh, the bikes Ed bought a few days ago?  We returned them.

After lunch yesterday, we went to two bike stores and rode a few other bikes and decided we kinda liked them better than the ones Ed got.  The ones Ed bought were from Target, inexpensive and readily available.  We thought they'd be a good idea for starter bikes because they were cheap.  But after riding some other bikes yesterday - like the ones we've test ridden in the past - we decided we wanted real bikes.  Quality built, warrantied, and a brand that could be serviced all over the country.

We brought them back to Target last night.  Today, we went shopping again.  And I found my lover once again - the Trek Pure - she's the one showing off in the front of the line in this photo:   

I got on the bike and I just knew.  She fit my culo like a glove.  I felt as if I were sitting in my living room.  The way the bike is built, the pedals sit forward of the seat, creating a more comfortable pedaling position.  The bike has seven speeds - why do I need more than that? - it's got sturdy thick tires, comfortable hand grips and when you're riding, you sit in an upright position.  It's wonderful.  Effortless.

I like effortless.  I'm not interested in being Lana Armstrong.  I want to get on my bike and tootle over to Starbucks.  Ed is used to riding.  He used to do it daily.  Miles and miles.  Like twenty to fifty miles at a time.  The bikes he's owned are serious riding bikes - Cannondale, Bianchi (high-performance Italian bikes), Specialized.  He gets on a bike and it's like the old saying - it all comes back to you.  The way he took on the parking lot during our test ride, you'd think he was training for the the Tour de France.  I barely got it out of third gear.

This is my very comfortable, very grandma Trek Pure Lowstep.  The color is Candy Orange.  I want to lick it.

Ed got the Specialized Crossroads Sport, which has 24 gears, and tires that are a bit narrower and bigger than mine.  The color is Charcoal, nicer than plain black, sort of like smoke.  And he loves it. 
 

We got fenders for both bikes, and a rack for the back of each.  We'll buy lights and maybe a flower for my handlebars.  And definitely a bell.

Because if they don't see me coming on an orange bike, they will most certainly hear me!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Well Worth The Mess
2011: Reading Time
2010: A Mother Of A Flood
2009: Hail To The Driver
2008: Eddie Shows His Good Side Friday
2007: Go Bananas!!
2006: Shmuley Says
2005: Fangboner

In The Shadow Of Al

My mother was talking to me about my brother and said, as if she's never seen it happen before to any human on earth, "You know when he doesn't shave for a few days, he gets a four o'clock shadow??"

"It's called a five o'clock shadow, mom."

To which Ed pipes in, "I get a 2:30 shadow."

Then I asked her about her backyard, where my brother was doing some landscaping work, "Did he flatten that whole area?"

She said, "If you were listening the other day when I told you, I said he did the whole thing with the skid row."

"You mean the skid steer?" I said.

"Oh my God, I don't know what's happening to me."

"Nothing's happening, Mom.  You've always been this way."

"I have?" she said. 

"Uh, yeah.  It goes back to over twenty years ago when you thought the name of the group Boys 2 Men was Boys R Us."

She was genuinely surprised, as if I were talking about someone she doesn't know.

Oh what fun we're going to have when she really gets old.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Uphill Semi-Battle
2011: Happy Mother’s Day!
2010: Back On The Road And Sleeping Like A Baby
2009: Peeping Ed Friday
2008: It’s Obvious Where My Sense Of Style Comes From
2007: End Of Season Snow
2006: At Least She Isn’t In The Cubicle Next To YOU
2005: Mother Lode

Eight Takes The Cake

Today is my 8th birthday.

Blog birthday, that is.

Can you believe it?  I've never done anything for eight years. Well, except complain. I've been doing that for about 40 years. 

But almost everything else, hasn't made it this far.  Other than when I was a child, and the choices weren't mine, here are a few things that haven't lasted more than eight years:  

I've never had a job at the same place for eight years.

I've never had a boyfriend for eight years before Ed.  

I've never owned the same car for eight years.

I've never had a hobby that I continually practiced for eight years.

I've never owned a pet for eight years.

I've never lived in the same house, uninterrupted, for eight years.

I've never had the same hairstyle for eight years.

This may sound like a list of regrets.  It's not.  I've never really been one to want to do the same thing year after year.  I look at people who've been at the same job for fifteen, twenty or thirty years and think, really??  You've worked there for thirty years??  I couldn't even imagine that.

Of those who haven't changed their hair since high school?  What?  You're still rockin' the crunchy perm, the mullet, or the Dorothy Hamill?

Other stuff it isn't so bad if it's done long term.  If you have a good relationship, it's nice to be with someone for a long time.  If you have a hobby that makes you happy, I say do it every single day.  If you've lived in the same neighborhood or family home for years, awesome - that's actually something I like hearing about - someone who lives in the same town and has kept ties to it.  I don't think you should insulate yourself and never get out of that town, but having ties or being in the same area is kinda cool.

But this daily writing thing, even if it's just a photo or story about my mother or complaint about the Arizona heat or trucking story, it's not easy.  And I've got this thing, like a golf game, to challenge myself to absolutely write something on this blog every day.  I probably should have thought of that when I named it The Daily Rant, but I didn't.

And I may be biased, but I'm going to say it anyway...

Reading this blog is a helluva lot more fun than watching someone play golf. 

Trust me, I've watched golf. 

I think.  I may have fallen asleep.

Whatever...you know what I mean.  Go, read!  You've got seven years of archives to delve into.

Start here.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Seven Years And Still Ranting
2011: Don’t Worry, Daily Rant. I’m On Your Six
2010: So This Is What Niche Feels Like
2009: The Sum Of Its Parts
2008: Look At Me, I’m Three!!
2007: A Trucking Style Birthday Celebration
2006: A Perfectly Uninteresting Event
2005: The Day The Blog Began

Sockless Monday

I don't participate in this every Monday, but I'm low on material this week, so I'm doing a Friend Makin' Monday, a weekly tradition over at All The Weigh.

Here we go...
 

Have you ever experienced love at first sight? 
I may have, but that doesn't mean the guy I was falling in love with did.  :)

What channel is your TV on most?
Food Network, Cooking Channel, and for my shows, ABC and NBC. 

Share one quality that you’re proud to have.
I extremely adaptable.  

Describe your idea of a great evening. 
Cooking for my friends, then sitting at the table all night talking and laughing.

If your friends were asked to describe you in three words, which words would they choose?
Funny, smart and loud.  

What is your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving.  I love it for the food!

If you could change one thing that would make your life easier instantly, what would it be?
Having endless funds.  

What is one healthy food that you crave?
Just one?  Watermelon.  

Do you wear socks when you sleep?
Shit, no.  Who wears socks when they sleep?  I actually hate to have anything on my feet, any time of day, but one has to wear shoes, right?  I like my feet uncovered, free, cool, and I'd never, ever, ever wear socks to bed.  

Share at least three things for which you are thankful.
I'm thankful that I'm healthy, I'm thankful for a drama-free family that is light on losers, and I'm thankful for Ed. 

See?  That was short and sweet and I filled a day with drivel.  Although I don't think you learned anything new.

Well, maybe you didn't know about the sock thing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Extra Virgin
2011: Eddie Makes An Appearance
2010: Watt A Work Of Art – Part Three
2009: The Clouds And Trees Line Up For Bed
2008: The Shimmer Of The Sea
2007: Indian Gallery
2006: Geography Test
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Cinco De Mayo Came O And Went O

You'd think being in Texas for Cinco de Mayo would be a big deal.  I didn't even notice it was happening.  Then again, we didn't hit any bars or restaurants that likely were having drink specials or music or both.

We grabbed a burger at Red Robin (Yum!), spent a couple of hours at Barnes & Noble (Yay!), went for a ride on our bikes in the beautiful outdoor shopping mall (all the stores were closed), then went back to the truck and worked on figuring out how to mount them to the frame of the trailer. 

We've been burning the midnight oil like mad.  And by midnight oil, I mean the wee hours of the morning oil.  We haven't hit the sack before 4 a.m. all weekend.  We will have to start going to bed at a normal hour because we do have to get back to work eventually. 

One more thing...I know it's only day two, but I'm kinda likin' the bike riding thing. 

But let's see what happens when summer comes - bicycles don't have the kind of air-conditioning I like.


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2012: No, That’s Not New Car You’re Smelling
2011: On A Triple D Roll
2010: Watt A Work Of Art – Part Two
2009: Stupid Should Be An Abomination
2008: The Fine Line Between Compliments And Creepiness
2007: The Antenna Ball Beneath My Wings
2006: Mexico? Where In Tarnation Is That??
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Mine Is Easy To Spot

Ed and I had an argument this morning - I don't even know about what - but it ceased to die down apparently because I wouldn't shut my mouth.  Uhhh, hellooooo, does he NOT know me after nine years??  As a result, he decided to go into Home Depot to do some shopping.  He needed space.

Fast forward an hour.  He came back to the truck with the bag of stuff he bought at Home Depot, deposited it up front on the floor of the cab, shut the door and left again without a word.  Apparently he needed more space.  I get it, I'm annoying.  (That's an understatement.)

I took a shower, worked on my next article, watched some TV, made cupcakes, talked to my Mom.  Still no Ed.  So I called him.  No answer. 

Made a cup of tea, started catching up on blog posts, called a friend, called Ed again.  He answered this time.  

"Where are you?" I said.

"At the mall."

"There's a mall??  Where?"  I said.  We were parked at the Home Depot and I hadn't seen a mall nearby. 

"Across the street."

"Oh.  Well, what are you doing?"  I said.

"Well, I went to Home Depot, then I walked over to Target, now I'm in the mall at the sports store."  he said.

"Oh, okay." I said.  "I'll talk to you later then."  We hung up.

Turns out the mall "across the street" was two miles away.  He walked two miles to the mall.  What the fuck??  Was he trying to escape? 

Less than an hour later I heard a knock on the back door of the truck. 

Of course I didn't open it because I had no idea who it was since Ed was at the mall.  And even if it were him, he usually comes in the front door.  "Who is it?"  No answer.  I asked again, louder.  No answer again.  Then I heard "our" whistle. 

I opened the door and Ed was standing there with a bike.

"You bought a bike???" I said.

"Yeah, for you." 

"Me?  Really?"  We'd been looking at bikes for quite some time but I didn't expect he'd come back with one.  Was this a peace offering?  Could be - Ed is great when it comes to gifts and surprises - he's fairly unpredictable that way.

"C'mon out and try it." he said.

So I got dressed and went outside. 

And I rode a bike. 

After making some adjustments, riding some more, fixing the seat, the handlebars, the brakes, I took it around the parking lot like a pro.  I'm pretty sure I looked ridiculous.   

"But what about you?" I said.  "What are you going to do when I ride, jog next to me?  You have to get one too."

There was a discussion about how we'd get back to the mall to get the other bike.  I was not walking two miles.  We couldn't take the truck because Ed was backing up my computer and moving the truck would screw up the delicate connection between my laptop and the external hard drive.  And, there wasn't really parking over there anyway. 

While all of this was being discussed, I got a phonecall from a friend who was going to teach me how to do some computer stuff.  Ed didn't want to wait for me to finish my phonecall, so he texted from outside saying "I am leaving." 

I couldn't convince him to stay, so he took off on the bike.  An hour later, there was another knock at the door.  I opened it and there's Ed again, this time with TWO bikes.  He bought the second one and rode all the way back holding the handlebars, rolling it beside him.

We rode our new bikes to dinner and back.  The weather was nice and cool and I survived the ride. 

My bike is the one on the right, the one with the slightly wider seat to fit my slightly wider ass.

Isn't Ed a gem?  He thought of everything.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Oh, For The Love Of Food
2011: Blintzes On Broadway
2010: Watt A Work Of Art – Part One
2009: Salena Javier Barcelona
2008: Road To Bangor
2007: Horton Hatches A Plaza
2006: Crack Whores For Everyone!
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

At The Drop Of A Hat

The only man I ever saw cry over a scene in a movie or TV show was my father. He would cry at a sad scene in The Waltons, a moving moment in Little House on The Prairie, or even a very touching Hallmark commercial.

He would have a tissue handy and if you asked him what was wrong he'd say, "Oh, I just have something in my eye."

It wasn't just movies and TV he'd cry over.  Emotional family moments, proud parent moments, tears of joy.  He didn't mind showing tears, but he was also a quiet sobber.  You'd see his body heave in a sob, but you wouldn't hear him.

Until he sniffled.

I'm just like him.  I cry at everything.  Just tonight I was watching a TV show that had me in tears.  Then I watched a movie that had me crying.  Ed was sitting right next to me, playing a video game, looked over and said, "There's something wrong with you." 

I cry weekly during Grey's Anatomy.  I even cry for the winner of Project Runway.  I'm emotional like that.

Unlike my father, I don't claim I have something in my eye, I just let it out.  But just like Daddy, I know to have a tissue ready.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Passing Up A Little Afternoon Delight
2011: Annnnnnd…It’s Back On!
2010: Rise Early. Work Hard. Strike Oil.
2009: It’s All Connected To The Pigskin
2008: The Sorriest Team Drivers You’ve Ever Seen
2007: Ooooooo, A Contest!
2006: Modern Convenience
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

10 Albums That Never Get Old

In addition to the podcasts I listen to while driving, I have a lot of music on my iPod that keeps me going through the night.  Playlists are usually made up of the individual songs, the one or two from an album that otherwise was just "eh", but I have entire albums that I never tire of.  I listen to every song, almost every time, rarely skipping over any of them. 

Here are my top ten.

August & Everything After
The Counting Crows
I love this album.  Every song.  I discovered it when the tape (cassette tape!) was lent to me by a guy who was my trainer at the gym I went to in 1993.  Yes, I had a trainer.  No, I didn't get buff.  We had similar taste in R&B music, so when he told me about this, I was skeptical.  I said, "Nah, that's not my kind of music."  He said, "Just take it.  Listen to it.  They're new.  You'll like it, I promise."  I didn't want to insult him, so I took it.  And I LOVED it.  Still do.
Favorite Track:  Anna Begins

The Broadway Album
Barbra Streisand
I've been a Barbra Streisand fan since the womb, but never really knew a lot about Broadway show tunes.  Actually, I think it was that I didn't really know much about Broadway shows, because over the years I'd hear songs and know songs, but had no idea they came from Broadway.  In fact, Ed and I were once watching the version of Sweeney Todd that stars Johnny Depp, and I was singing "Not While I'm Around" while it was playing in the movie.  Ed said, "You know this song??".  Uh, yeah.  Anyway, I love this album.  I know every word to every song.  And I sing it like I'm on a Broadway stage.
Favorite Track:  Being Alive

The Stranger
Billy Joel
This album was released on September 29, 1977.  I had just turned 10 years old.  I don't know how a 10-year-old knew anything about Billy Joel, but even at that time, my brother and I knew all the words to all the songs.  It was actually his album.  We both loved it.  I recently listened to Alec Baldwin interview him on Baldwin's podcast show, Here's The Thing and found out that Billy Joel is the third best-selling solo artist of all time in the United States. He's sold more records than The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Madonna.  What I found even more interesting, is that he said he he can't read music anymore; he used to, but he forgot how. He said if someone put a piece music in front of him that he didn't know, it'd be Chinese to him, he wouldn't be able to play it.  It doesn't matter if he can read music or not, because his playing it created one of the earliest soundtracks of my life.
Favorite Track:  Just The Way You Are

Eliane Elias Play Jobim
Eliane Elias
I have listened to this brilliant Brazilian jazz pianist play the music of another brilliant Brazilian, Antonio Carlos Jobim, so many times I can probably play it myself if you put a piano in front of me.  It's great background music, party music, dinner music, driving music, any-freaking-time music.  When this album is playing, you'll feel like you need a cigarette and a drink to properly embrace the vibe.
Favorite Track:  Desafiado

I’m Not Dead
Pink
Ed introduced me to this album.  I didn't know anything about Pink, and this was the first time I'd ever heard her music.  This album is the only entire one of hers I have on my iPod.  When asked about the title of the album, she said she titled the album I'm Not Dead because "it's about being alive and feisty and not sitting down and shutting up even though people would like you to"  Holy shit.  This was the perfect album to introduce me to Pink.  And that's how I feel when I listen to it, especially while driving - alive.
Favorite Track:  Who Knew

Unforgettable...With Love
Natalie Cole
In this album, Natalie Cole covers songs that had been performed by her father, Nat King Cole.  Since I grew up listening to his music, I knew every song.  There are twenty-two tracks on this CD, which is a lot for a single album.  And it makes it hard to pick a favorite.  "Route 66" is iconic and catchy.  "Thou Swell" is so jaunty and happy.  And I love how she sings a duet with her father on "Unforgettable", where they digitally manipulate his voice (since he had already passed away) with hers to sound like they're singing together at the time it was recorded.  It's beautiful.  But the song I love the most is the one that preserves that one moment in your life that you will never forget.
Favorite Track:  That Sunday, That Summer

Capitol Collectors Series
Louis Prima
Another group of artists I grew up with - Louis Prima, Keely Smith and Sam Butera.  I knew the words to "Just a Gigolo" before it was a twinkle in David Lee Roth's eye.  My friends thought it was an awesome new song, I knew it was an old one.  And how can you not love a song with a title like "The Lip", which describes the secret of how a trumpet player hits the high notes.  Or "Banana Split For My Baby" which tells about a guy who on a date with his girl, asks the guy behind the counter for "a banana split for my baby, a glass of plain water for me" because he has no money to pay for anything but water - and then he sticks her with the bill for the banana split.  The whole album is just great fun.
Favorite Track:  There'll Be No Next Time

Mi Tierra 
Gloria Estefan
An album completely sung in Spanish and widely regarded as her most successful, the Latin rhythms and Cuban beats on this record demand you to move.  And when you hear yourself singing in Spanish, you'll realize just how much the songs affect you.  You can't help but pick up the language.  If only my Rosetta Stone Italian lessons were set to music...I'd be much further along in my learning right now.
Favorite Track:  Con los años que me quedan

Afterdark New York City
Various Artists
I bought this album in the Chicago airport in 2005 when we flew to Austin, Texas for the graduation of Ed's neice.  It just looked like something I would like - probably because it had the words "New York City" in the title.  Turns out it's one of my favorite CDs.  I listen to it often and if I were ever to have a restaurant, a club, or even a dinner party, this would be on the CD-changer.  This is club music.  This is my New York City.  And if I were on a desert island, or forced to pick only one album to walk on a treadmill to, this would be it.  You can't stop wiggling your hips as you listen.  I think that's a good thing. 
Favorite Track:  If You Leave Now

Live Concert at the Forum
Barbra Streisand
When I was a kid we went on vacation to Lake Placid, New York.  It was a four hour drive from our house.  We had this with us, in the form of an 8-track tape.  My parents were big Streisand (and Johnny Mathis) fans, so this played on an almost continous loop for the entire eight hours we were in the car.  You'd think I'd hate it because of that but it's just the opposite.  It conjures up such memories, that if I think hard enough, I can probably tell you where we were when a particular song was playing.  I lived for Barbra.
Favorite Track:  Sing/Happy Days Are Here Again


What are some of your favorites?


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: The Rest Of Us
2011: Change Of Plans. Another Lazy Day Is In Order.
2010: First R2-D2 And C-3PO And Now, Ed’s Phone
2009: Droppings Might Be Too Delicate A Word
2008: Eddie’s Bedtime Snack Friday
2007: Activities I Need To Participate In
2006: Unwarranted Annoyance
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

No Pets. No Beards.

Photo by Herb Lingl

Those are the two hard and fast rules you must adhere to before you enter this refinery.  They aren't the only ones, but they're apparently the most important.

The pet thing I didn't ask about - I don't really care because I don't have one - but the beard thing I was curious about (and no, not because I have one, but because Ed has a goatee).  I was told the reason beards are prohibited is because the masks you'd have to wear, if an emergency took place, wouldn't seal around your face to protect you.  So no facial hair is allowed.  Seems the hirsute are screwed.

Like this lady - she'd totally be shit out of luck.  

The other rules were that you must have safety glasses, a hardhat with googles attached, earplugs, a fireproof jumpsuit, long sleeves, long pants, and sturdy shoes.  This sounds like a place I really don't want to go into.  WTF?

I hate rules. 

If you don't have these items - and who carries a fireproof jumpsuit with them? - they will be provided for you.  And they were.  So I had to put on a jumpsuit worn by I-don't-know-how-many other people and don a hardhat and safety glasses just to step foot through the gate.   

Oh, and before all of this takes place, you have to watch a video narrated by some company executive telling you how important safety is (duh) and how they pride themselves on essentially not killing anyone (duh again). 

This is what I always get out of these videos:  If something starts to go wrong, follow the people who work there.

I'm not remembering what CEO Fancypants said.  I'm not looking up at any smokestacks to determine which way the fucking wind is blowing.  And I'm not waiting around to figure out how I can "contain the spill".  Screw that.

I'm following the crowd of people scrambling for the nearest exit and I'm getting the hell out of there.  You can reprimand me later for going left when I should have gone right.

 

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2012: Dykes On Bikes
2011: April Showers Bring May Flowers
2010: Can Leap Tall Buildings (And Pee On Cue) In A Single Bound!
2009: Eddie Makes A Pie Friday
2008: What A Doll!
2007: Day Two In The Desert
2006: April Showers Bring May Fish
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

The Luxurious Nomadic Life

Today we went to tour the Renegade RV factory in Elkhart, Indiana.

For those of you who don't know, Northern Indiana is the RV Capital of the World. They are serious about recreational vehicles here! The area is filled with manufacturers, dealers, service centers and sellers of all things RV. In fact, many of the guys who work at ARI, the place who built our truck, have had past experience in this industry.

We're looking at buying a new truck, but since there's nothing wrong with the old one, Ed is thinking about turning it into an RV.  When building a large diesel-pusher RV, the bulk of the cost is in the engine and the chassis.  All the rest is just fluff and add-on.  We already have an engine and chassis, so they'd just have to build a box.  This would be for us to use as a living space wherever we happen to park it for whatever the designated amount of time would be.  This obviously isn't something you hook up to a trailer to haul freight with.  That would be absurd! (Although I'd totally do it if we could figure out a way to make it work.

But look what they can turn our truck into!!  Isn't it amazing?  Two bathrooms, a queen sized bed, dinette, two couches - one of them turns into a sleeper bed for guests - and whatever color leather, tile, fabric and cabinetry you choose.

We'd go in, pick out everything we want - sort of like building a house - and they'd put it all together, building it from the chassis up.  You can be as basic or as extravagent and you'd like, it all comes down to how much you want to spend.

Look at the kitchen.  The counter space is a little less than ideal (although I can make it work), but it has a full-size fridge, which I love.  Some units have a dishwasher too, although I think that's unecessary. 

Our truck would be able to accomodate a box with four slide-outs, two on each side like in this photo.  And each side of the vehicle has an awning like this.

Right now it may be a bit of a dream, but it's not very far from something that can be a reality.  We looked at RVs several years ago when we considered using it as a residence.  We were very close to making a decision then, but now possibly have a truck to use, which would save over one hundred thousand dollars, it seems more doable.

Man, if I can entertain guests in my little 132" sleeper, imagine what I can do in this one!  I'm clearly cut out for a nomadic lifestyle, but I'd prefer this over a Bedouin tent. 

I've got my fingers crossed so tight, I'm cutting off circulation.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: He’s Just As Handsome In Black And White
2011: Crab Cakes And The Chesapeake
2010: Young, Poor, Footloose And Fancy-Free
2009: Badass Badlands
2008: Proof That God Exists
2007: Spring In The Desert
2006: Shadows Of The Setting Sun
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Pregnant And Dating

This new TV show is wrong on so many levels, I just don't know where to start.  But let me try.

1.  They're pregnant. 

2.  They're going on dates.

That's pretty much all the information you need to know just how fucked up these women are.

I read the bios of each woman and they all seem to be accomplished job-wise.  Two of the women were left by their men once the guys heard they were pregnant.  Bummer, but it happens to women all the time, so I guess they'll just have to deal like the rest do.  At least these chicks have good jobs.

And while I don't have a problem with single mothers, I do have a problem with women who aren't even mothers yet, dating, while they are pregnant.

Clearly, they've not had good luck with men.  Clearly, they've made a few poor choices assessing the type of man they decided to have a child with, who ultimately didn't stick around, and clearly, they seem to be a bit selfish if they think finding a new baby daddy is more important during this period than concentrating on their pregnancy and all the things they should be doing to prepare being a mother.  Going out on dates is not one of them.  I hope they're setting money aside for their kids' therapy sessions.

And what the hell is wrong with the men who date these women???  I'm sure there are guys out there who want families and don't really mind where they come from, but they probably should give some thought to the fact that the woman they are dating, is dating them while pregnant with someone else's child.  Clearly, she was with that person until very recently, especially given that she's in the first stages of her pregnancy.  I'd say the chick's a bit of a trainwreck to begin with.  WHY do you want to mess with that??

"Reality" TV has gotten out of whack, for sure.  And people don't seem to mind being exploited for money.  I can't tell you how many times Ed and I are watching TV, see an ad for a new reality show, turn to each other and say, "Seriously??  You've got to be kidding me."

Nope, not kidding.  What can possibly be next?


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2012: They Really Don’t Want You Coming Through This Gate
2011: Deep Down, She Knows She’s A Princess
2010: A Three Hundred And Fifty Foot Long Dream
2009: Dillinger The Horror Hog
2008: Supernatural Hair
2007: They Must Have Been On Sale
2006: Sorry, no post on this day.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

It All Started With A Tweet

So, guess what?

This month, I've had the most amazing development.

I have recently been published in The Guardian newspaper's travel section!!

Yep, that Guardian. 

The whole thing started when I read a tweet from The Guardian asking for people who were travel bloggers in the US.  I tweeted in response:

Less than four hours later, I had a tweet back from them:

In the morning when I woke up, just three hours after their tweet, I had an email from the Head of Travel asking me if I'd like to write an article for them.

Seriously?  Hell yeah, I want to write an article for you! 

Since I have readers from all over the world, I'm sure there are plenty of you who are familiar with The Guardian, but for those who are not, I am sharing the same little blurb with you that I sent to my mother.  She didn't know about The Guardian, and quite frankly, if it doesn't have to do with Criminal Minds, CSI: Miami, or The Walking Dead, she's probably not going to give it much attention. 

"The Guardian is a British daily newspaper founded in 1821. It is the second most popular newspaper site in the UK and the fifth most popular newspaper site in the WORLD.  It's won several awards from National Newspaper of the Year, to the Webby Award (beating out the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and Variety), to awards for its journalism. And the 4 International Media & Newspapers site ranks it among the top 200 newspapers in the world at number TWO, right after the New York Times."

Needless to say, I'm very excited.  I was also told that the site has 70 million unique users per month, worldwide.  That's a whole lotta eyeballs!  Even though my stuff has been published before, to have a writing credit for a publication as respected as this newspaper, is pretty damn cool.

My piece came out yesterday. You can see it here.

They also said they would love to keep me as a regular in the series, which they will be running over six months, and would I be happy to do that?  Uh, yeah.  So I said yes, and now will be contributing at least six articles in total.  My next deadline is this coming week.  Cue the trumpets!

On a side note, do you guys know who Andrew McCarthy is?  Most people will remember him from the movies Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo's Fire, Weekend at Bernie's, and Mannequin, among others.  What you might not know about him is, that in addition to his acting and directing, he is now an Award-winning travel writer.

And he has an article in The Guardian that came out the same day as mine. 

Well wouldn't you know, that in the print version of the newspaper, the one on paper, that you can buy at a newsstand?

In that version, our articles are ON THE SAME PAGE!

As my youngest nephew would say...

Oh, yeaaahh.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Waiting For Summer
2011: It Should Have Been Titled Boringpants
2010: Ed Blows A 750
2009: Another Reason I Love The Great Indoors
2008: We Think The Only Thing Worth Stealing From The House Would Have Been The Fresh Baked Apple Pie
2007: Not Nearly As Appealing As Gnocchi
2006: Working The Yard
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!