What Lies Behind The Gates And Beneath The Gilding

The front drive to The Breakers, the largest of the Newport, Rhode Island mansions.  This was the summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt II.  It is the summer home of the Gilded Age.

More photos of the mansions and the Newport area to come.  Stay tuned!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: Super Smooth Ride
2012: Handling Meat For Over 144 Years
2011: Investing In Your Investment – Part Two
2010: Here’s Your Sign
2009: A Mini And Me
2008: Wild In Tennessee
2007: Isn’t There A Third Evil?
2006: What The Hell Is This??
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

Another Good Reason For Time Off

Every year at the beginning of June, the CVSA does a 72-hour safety blitz of commercial vehicles.  They like to call it Roadcheck.

My friend Marlaina calls it the Owner-Operator National Holiday.

Why?  Because as owner-operators, we just take that time off.  Why bother being on the road amidst the power-hungry DOT officers?  That's for drivers who have no choice.  We all take excellent care of our equipment - it's our livelihood and we do everything possible to keep it all in tip-top shape.  And we don't sit out the blitz because we have to, we do it because we want to.  

Throngs of truckers fear Roadcheck like the plague.  They talk about it for weeks before it happens, while it's happening, and after it happens.  There's a lot of hype surrounding it and truckers fear it.  Dread its coming.  I just don't understand why.  If you're doing what you're supposed to, and your truck is in the condition it's supposed to be in, you shouldn't have a worry in the world.

Our old truck had 1.3 million miles on it and this one now has 650,000 miles and we're never worried about being inspected - during a regular stop or a safety blitz weekend.  But if you are lucky enough to be pulled in during the safety blitz you can expect them to look at certain components on your truck to make sure they're up to snuff.  They check brakes, lighting, cargo securement, fuel tanks, exhaust system, etc.  There's a whole slew of things they look for.  But here's a little tip:  If you look for those things before they look for those things....guess what?  You have time to fix whatever may be wrong.

That said, those things shouldn't be wrong in the first place because you should be catching whatever's out of whack on your daily pre-trip.  Not only do we do a pre-trip every day, but we do load checks every 150 miles when we're loaded, and we look at the truck every time we stop.  The hood is popped every single time we get fuel and at that time, a check of fluid levels, hoses, belts, etc. is done.  It's constant upkeep.

This year we're hoping to meet up with our friends and make the Owner-Operator National Holiday official - Marlaina sent me an email yesterday to see if we can arrange to meet up over the three days it takes place - we'll park the trucks, stay in hotels, go out to eat, maybe ride bikes, sleep.  

If you're planning to be on the road for the blitz weekend, be prepared, and make sure your equipment is up to par.  Otherwise, you may also be getting a "holiday"...sitting, while you wait out your Out-of-Service violation.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: I'd Follow Him Anywhere
2012: Yes! We Have No Bananas
2011: Investing In Your Investment – Part One
2010: A Tank Full Of Freightliners
2009: The Sad, Sad Future Of Our Young People
2008: Sighting The American Idiots
2007: Orbiting Out Of Control
2006: Passing Through Life
2005: Texas Pride?

Handmade Import

I love when I come across delicious, unique food items, whether I buy them for myself or my food obsessed best friend.

These I found at my favorite grocery store in Ohio, of all places.  This particular torta was slightly sweet, and laced with a very light anise flavor.  They actually reminded me of my mother's homemade biscotti.

Although this was the only type the store had in stock, they do sell them in other flavors.  And if I can't figure out how to make them - there are only seven natural ingredients - I'll be buying them again.  



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013:  So Serene, Even Serial Killers Would Be Drawn To It
2012: Time To Lounge
2011: You Can All Stop Complaining Now
2010: This Puss Doesn’t Have Bots
2009: Milling, Spinning And Bleating
2008: What Happens When You Have Too Much Time To Think
2007: Eddie Rides A Polar Bear Friday
2006: Lite Brite, Making Things With Light
2005: Texas Pride?

Over Fifty Years In The Making

A delicious Sopapilla (one of Ed's favorite desserts) from El Nopalito Cafe in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a local restaurant that's been around since 1964.

We found this place via Roadfood.com.  The food was good and the dessert was light and airy with just the slightest drizzle of honey to sweeten.  It hit the spot.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: Boom! Color.
2012: Little Dragonflies Alighting Upon My Ears
2011: Snuggling On Hold
2010: Confessions
2009: There’s Nothing Like The Humor Of A New Yorker
2008: Anne’s Land And Beyond
2007: Butter Me Up
2006: Master Backer Or Master Bater?
2005: Not By The Hair Of My Chinny, Chin, Chin!!

Listen And Learn

Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, hosts of Radiolab

In the past I've mentioned that I listen to podcasts when I drive.  Lots of them.  But lately, I'm totally hooked on Radiolab.

Founded by Jad Abumrad (whose father is a surgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in my beloved Nashville!) and hosted by him and Robert Krulwich, it's an interesting, fun, educational way to spend my time on the road.  I can't wait to drive just so I can catch up on the shows I haven't heard yet.

These are ten of my recent favorites:

1.  Have you ever wondered where your poop goes after it makes its way through the sewage plant?  I never wondered, but now I know.  Find out where all the poop from New York City has gone over the years.

2.  We've all heard of the Heimlich Maneuver, but do you really know anything about it?  Find out what you don't know here.

3.  Speaking of life-saving techniques, find out which ones doctors wouldn't want done on them if given the choice.  Dr. Abumrad even weighs in on this one.  It's very eye-opening.

4.  Charles Bliss (born Karl K. Blitz) created a system of symbols called Blissymbols.  Find out how he envisioned the world communicating through stick figures and other symbology.

5.  Raising Whooping Cranes in a costume and then taking them by ultralight aircraft to teach them their fall migration.  I've never heard anything like this.  

6.  We all know the voice of Mel Blanc.  I grew up with him.  I remember his voice more clearly than my own grandfather's.  He eventually fully recovered, but after a car crash in 1961, he did many of his famous voices lying flat on his back while in a body cast.  That's not all, folks. 

7.  An interesting link between two artists - a painter and a composer.  Listen to Unraveling Bolero.

8.  Death masks and the CPR Practice Dummy.  What do they have in common?  You'd never guess.

9.  "Lincoln Beachey thought it was a dream to go up to heaven in a flying machine.  The machine broke down and down he fell.  Instead of going to heaven he went to...  Lincoln Beachey thought it was a dream to go up to heaven in a flying machine.  The machine broke down and down he fell.  Instead of going to heaven he went to..."  Who is the man in this repeating jump rope rhyme?  I found out in this podcast.

10.  And last but not least, a story about a chimp named Lucy.  It's amazing and heartbreaking.  And the last story, about Kanzi, I have a very loose connection with.  A very good friend of mine's sister has worked at The Great Ape Trust in Des Moines, Iowa, and I just had lunch with her last week and listened to her tell us about her experience with the bonobos there.  It was super impressive.

You can listen to these while driving, doing housework, working out, waiting in line at the grocery store, anywhere.  Start and stop when you like.  If you haven't listened to a podcast yet, you should think about trying.

And since summer's almost here, you should know they're perfect for a long road trip!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013:  Escape From Texas
2012: Like Cattle In A Penn
2011: Another Day In The Trucking Life
2010: Ed Prepares For The Italy Trip
2009: Strolling Along The Atlantic
2008: Eddie Chatting It Up Friday
2007: The ABC’s Of Me
2006: After The Storm
2005: The Essence Of Me

Art In The Old Pueblo

New wall art graces an art gallery building on Stone Avenue in Tucson, Arizona.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: Cinco Canciones I Love
2012: The Path To Christopher Street
2011: It Was A Dark And Stormy Night
2010: More “Holy Crap!” Than “Oh Dear”
2009: Eddie So Hot He’s Cookin’ Like Guy Fieri Friday
2008: Maybe She Should Hold Off On The Pet Ownership
2007: It Must Be A Sign
2006: Keeping Time With His Ticker
2005: Yo! Yo! Yo!

Every Time You Open Your Mouth Diamonds Come Rolling Out

Tonight's season finale of Nashville was sooooo good. I LOVE this show!

But more than what happens on the show in terms of character interaction, I love the music. Every week, I love the music. This song was sung by Sam Palladio who plays Gunnar Scott, and it was written for his ex-girlfriend turned friend, Scarlett O'Connor, played by Clare Bowen.

The song is called It Ain't Yours To Throw Away.  Here are the lyrics so you can follow along:

That same road that brought you here
Will sure as hell take you home
The life you left behind will have you back
You're tired of paying dues in worn out shoes
and Broadway blues
And any fool will tell you
the damn ol' deck is stacked

What if you're just a vessel
And God gave you something special

It ain't yours to throw away
It ain't yours to throw away
Every time you open up your mouth
Diamonds come rolling out
It ain't yours to throw away
No 

And all of the players, the movers, and shakers
The story maker suits have gone home
You drew the last slot
You thought it was your shot
But now it's just one more chance blown

What if you're just a vessel
And God gave you something special

It ain't yours to throw away
It ain't yours to throw away
Every time you open up your mouth
Diamonds come rolling out
It ain't yours to throw away
No 

And our town is cold as January
Life comes true, and dreams get buried
Every day 
Destiny won't be denied

It ain't yours to throw away
No, it ain't yours to throw away
'Cause every time you open up your mouth
Diamonds come rolling out
It ain't yours to throw away

It ain't yours to throw away
Throw away


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: The Real Way To Save The Planet
2012: Lunch At The Park
2011: I’ve Got A Crush On You
2010: The D’Angelo Bros. Outfit The Navy
2009: One Day A Revered Indian Chief, The Next Day Wagon Train Eye Candy
2008: Not Exactly The Best Way To Reach Out To Your Community
2007: Carny At The Junction
2006: Mother Superior
2005: Great Expectations

Exactly

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013:  Cottage Industry
2012: The Whole World
2011: Weekend Retreat
2010: I Might Even Give It An Academy Award
2009: Two Poles, One Man, No Fish
2008: When You Don’t Have Time To Make More Than One Trip
2007: A Mother Of A Mother
2006: Could You Love William Perry?
2005: Herding The Blogger Sheep

You Can't Sleep Here But You Can Get A Fruit And Veg Fix

We've passed by this Thorp Fruit stand so many times and have never stopped.  It was either too early, too late, or we just didn't have time to stop.  On this last trip, I insisted.  They had just erected their giant ASPARAGUS sign on the side of the building.  I had to bring some home.

They didn't have a huge selection because it's still a little too early for the fruits and veggies I was looking for, but it is asparagus season and since they had local spears, I was all over it.  I bought two huge bunches to take home.  They were delicious.

Hopefully when we pass through again, they'll be stocked up with the produce I really want.  Can't wait!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: Mommy And Me Kickin' It At The Yacht Club
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

Hammer Down Thrifting

Yesterday we spent the entire day shopping.  We're home for a little over a week and had to run around and get a few things done - Ed needs a suit for his million-miler banquet, I need a dress, I had to get a mother's day gift, dentist, etc.  After lunch yesterday we popped into a Goodwill "Boutique" - it's a Goodwill store set up in boutique fashion that sells hand-picked, higher end items.  I guess the stuff that doesn't go to the regular Goodwill store.

While there, Ed came across this - a trucker themed liquor decanter. How cool, right?!

The cork part of the bottle was the CB unit:

This is the back, withe CB codes on one side and CB slang on the other:

Here's a close-up of the front panel:

And a close-up of part of the back side:

I think this is one of our coolest thrift store finds, and I'm very impressed with Ed's sharp shopping eye.

This is what makes thrifting so much fun.  One day monkey pod, the next day this.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013:  Does Anyone Have One Of These I Can Borrow?
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

I'll Meet You At Sue's

Sue's Motel in Mina, Nevada.

I love these old motel signs.  The font of the letters on the sign and the stars jutting out from either side are so Jetsons-like.  So many motels from this time period had signs exactly like this, and I've seen them in many places throughout the country.  I love when we come across them!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013:  And Then The Rains Came
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

Bird Shadows

Just after six-thirty local time, behind drapes drawn to block out the hot, bright light of the setting sun, I sat watching birds dance in the shadows while flitting between three fully stocked bird feeders.

Dinner time.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013:  Bike Shopping Part Deux
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

Remains In A Gold Field

A few dilapidated houses on the main drag in Goldfield, Nevada.

Goldfield was a boomtown.  In the early 1900s it had over 20,000 residents.  By 1950, it had 275.  Today, there's not much more than that, with the population hovering around 400.  Gold was first discovered here in 1902, and by 1904 the Goldfield district produced enough gold to make up 30% of the entire state's production, valued at $2.3 million dollars.
The town didn't just have gold and money, they had outlaw lawmen - Wyatt and Virgil Earp lived there.  Virgil was the deputy sheriff in 1905 but then contracted pneumonia, and after being ill for six months, died in October of that same year.  Wyatt Earp left shortly afterward.

I kinda like the old ghost town feel of places like this and often envision stepping out of the truck and catching a glimpse of a gold nugget that someone overlooked.

It can happen, you know.  People still do look for gold there.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013:  In The Shadow Of Al
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

A Contented Living

Johann Wolgang von Goethe, a German playwright, poet, novelist and dramatist said, "There are nine requisites for contented living."  The following are what he listed:

HEALTH.  Enough to make work a pleasure.

WEALTH.  Enough to support your needs.

STRENGTH.  Enough to battle with difficulties and forsake them.

GRACE.  Enough to confess your sins and overcome them.

PATIENCE.  Enough to toil until some good is accomplished.

CHARITY.  Enough to see some good in your neighbor.

LOVE.  Enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others.

FAITH.  Enough to make real the things of God.

HOPE.  Enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.

Today I am entering the ninth year of posting daily to this blog.  Actually, not daily daily, because in the very first year, the very first months, I didn't post every day.  But I did get a handle on it in the second year - you can see how it all plays out in the archives over there in the side bar. ------>

I think often about where I want this blog to go.  Should I change what I'm doing?  And if so, what do I change?  How do I change?  Do I specialize?  No matter what I decide, if anything, it's a gigantic undertaking.  I know, because I've started to transition into something different in the past and have given up halfway through.  I mean, I have to move thousands of posts.  Over three thousand.  That's a lot of work.

OK, got a little sidetracked there.  Back to the nine requisites.
I know I posses enough in all of the categories listed above.  Some amounts are infinitesimal, but I consider it enough.  And that's what's important.  I don't really feel compelled to work on having more.  I am content.  

That's not saying that I have no plans, goals (well, I really don't have goals in the traditional sense), or desire to have more and do more.  But that's not the point here in the nine requisites for contented living.  The point is to have enough.

And I most certainly have that.

Now let's get moving into year nine!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: Eight Takes The Cake
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

Freshly Dusted

The mountains overlooking Hawthorne, Nevada.  The sun peeking through the clouds illuminated the tippy-top of the mountains that were recently covered with a fresh dusting of snow.  


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013:  Sockless Monday
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!

Shooting Pool The Federal Way

Today after delivering our load, we went to get a tire on the trailer fixed, and then went for a Cinco de Mayo lunch at a nearby alehouse.

After lunch, we shot a few games of pool.  Ed was really good - anything that requires hand-eye coordination, he has down to a science.  I wasn't too bad and came very close to winning the second game.  It's been a long time since I've played pool and it was kinda fun.

I told Ed the next thing I want to do is go bowling.  Now that my snow-tubing injury is feeling better, I should be able to handle a bowling ball well enough to get at least one damn strike.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: Cinco De Mayo Came O And Went O

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!

Twisted Sifter Sifted My Photo From The Web

We just watched Morgan Spurlock's "The Inside Man" on CNN.  Tonight's show was about Cyber Spying and Big Data - he explored data collection by the government and big corporations.  What he discovered is nothing new and would freak a lot of people out, but for some reason I just don't get all that wigged out by what people know about me.  Big surprise, huh?  I have a blog.

I did check out some of the websites they talked about though - one of them being Duck Duck Go, a search engine that doesn't collect any information on what you search for - and put in my name.

Among the stuff I found, was this.  It's from February.  I had no idea.

I'm not really sure how I feel about seeing my picture on that site.  You've seen it before here.  On one hand, it's kind of cool that they picked it up.  On the other hand, they didn't ask.  But then again, they did give me credit for the photo, and linked to my website and other social media sites.

I looked up information on what to do if someone uses your photo without your permission and found this, one of many articles about it.  I've read this stuff in the past, but never in the past have I come across my own photo on the web.  

I briefly considered how they used the photo, and decided it really wasn't all that bad.  In the meantime, I'm going to check with a friend who knows more about this and see what they think.

But until then, I decided to go with Option #1.

The "Do Nothing" option.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: Mine Is Easy To Spot
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!

What Should Have Been Paul's Place

This is a house in Poulsbo, Washington.  We were planning on bobtailing into town - according to Wikipedia, this town has a long history as a destination for immigrants from Scandinavia, particularly Norway and Finland - and has a cute little downtown area that I was interested in seeing.  I thought it would be a great place to take pictures and have lunch.  Honestly, I don't even know what kinds of foods lunch would consist of, but I was interested in finding out.

Unfortunately, every street leading to where we wanted to go had signs restricting commercial vehicles over five tons.  And that would be us  What gets me, is that if you're in an RV weighing over five tons, you can go anywhere willy-nilly.  But slap a commercial registration on the exact same vehicle, and you're banned.  Our Freightliner chassis is exactly the same chassis many RVs are built on.  And we're smaller than most RVs that would be tooling around the area.  Well, nothing we could do about it so we left.

We didn't have our bikes since we dropped the trailer (which is where they're stored), and it was raining anyway, hard, off and on, and I didn't really think I wanted to ride in the rain anyway.  Especially downhill on wet pavement - we saw a sign warning trucks of an 11% grade.  That's what you'd call a "holy shit!" hill.

So, we went to the grocery store and picked up some mandarins and strawberries, got a movie - "Labor Day" starring Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet - and parked at the top of a hill with a great view, listening to the rain pounding down on the roof of the truck where we'd spend the rest of the afternoon.

As for the photo - that was taken in a neighborhood where we turned around.  The strip of blue flowers is what caught my eye, so I quickly snapped it.  I love the lush green of this area, the vibrant colors of the flowers, and the house that reminded me of something I might see back in New York.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: At The Drop Of A Hat
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!

Hats Off To....Well, Hats

I'm not a baseball hat girl.  I want to be, but I'm just not.  They don't look good on me.  It's my pear shaped head.  I put a baseball cap on and my cheeks are now the widest thing on my face.  Tiny head, wide cheeks, tiny chin.  Not a good look.

Other hats do me justice - big Kentucky-Derby-style hats - they balance out the pear.  Ed, he can wear anything on his head and look good.  As evidenced here, here, here, and here.  He can literally wear anything on his head and look cute.  

We took these pictures last month in the hats we got at our latest hazmat re-certification class. They were 25th Anniversary hats from the company we're leased to.  We get hats at every event, for almost everything.  Take a class, get a hat.  Visit a show booth, get a hat.  Attend a safety meeting, get a hat.  Stop in at an orientation center, get a hat.  Wave hello to an executive, get a hat.  Personally, I'd rather have cash.

I try to wear hats, really I do, but it just doesn't work.  My hair isn't long enough to thread a ponytail through the back.  My face isn't even tiny enough for the brim to shield me from the sun.  And I never go anywhere with dirty hair, so that trick isn't even something I'd consider.

So where does that leave me?  Always with a shitload of baseball hats.  I think the next time I get a good haul - the last one went to my youngest nephew - I'm just going to give them away here on the blog.

Oooh, maybe I'll just send them to international readers.  Than you can send me pictures of you, in your native country, wearing my free hat.

Keep your eye out for the hatapalooza!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: 10 Albums That Never Get Old
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!

The Siren Song Of Spring

The Starbucks cup in the photo was the creation of my nephew's girlfriend.  Not only is she smart and beautiful - with a great smile - she's also incredibly talented and creative.  Oh, and on top of that, extremely sweet.  I typically dislike using that word to describe women, but she is just that - gentle, kind, friendly.  She is the antithesis of most of the hoochie teenage girls I see running around these days.

She created the art for the Starbucks White Cup Art contest.  I think it's the perfect photo to welcome May.

A siren surrounded by spring flowers.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2013: No Pets. No Beards.

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!