A Really Big Shoei

Ed bought a motorcycle this week.

I'm happy he's happy, but I can't say I'm thrilled.  My worrying about him getting injured overshadows the excitement about it.  And it's not that I'm worried about Ed, hell, he's got over three million safe driving miles.  He's vigilant about being safe no matter what he's driving.  He's aware of everything that goes on around him when he's manning a vehicle, whether it be on two wheels, four wheels, or eighteen wheels.  Safety is paramount to him.

I worry about the other people on the road, especially in this town.  We're fifty percent college student and fifty percent senior citizen.  If they're not on their phones texting, they're running stop signs and careening over curbs.  The speed limits around town aren't excessive but everyone seems to ignore them.  There's no real open stretch anywhere unless you're on the interstate or in the less populated areas on the outskirts of town.

Our friends, Marlaina and MacG have a BMW motorcycle, which is a LOT bigger than the one Ed bought.  This new bike for Ed is just going to be for him to refresh his skills (he rode when he was younger) and get comfortable on two wheels again.  He'll eventually get a bike known as an Adventure Motorcycle.

I'm afraid I can see what's coming next - Ed and MacG talking about their plans to attend the Dakar Rally (formerly known as the Paris-Dakar Rally).

I doubt I can get sucked into this hobby because A) I can't imagine riding fully covered, with a helmet, in any kind of weather let alone hot weather, and B) I can't imagine riding fully covered, with a helmet, in any kind of weather let alone hot weather.  The freedom of the road is intriguing, going places that seem made just for small profile vehicles.  And I have been on a motorcycle before but I don't know that I would be comfortable in traffic or for long distances.

Maybe I'll take Ed's suggestion and man the "chase vehicle".  Comfortable and air-conditioned.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Spatchcock!
2015: Completely And Utterly In The Pink
2014: Hammer Down Thrifting
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

Famous Desert Singers

I'm going to go out on a very short limb here and venture to say that the coyote is probably the one animal people think of when you mention the Wild West, or the desert.  

In America, we grew up with the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote cartoons.  Most coyotes are cunning and sly, but Wile E. (read: wily), would rig up the most outrageous contraptions to catch the Road Runner but always seemed to fail at the task.

We have coyotes in our yard (I'm still trying to get some good video of those suckers!) and I love when I spot them traipsing through our yard.  They look like skinny dogs, but with a long bushy tail, giant ears, and a very pointy snout.  They're usually grayish-brown and weigh between 15 to 25 pounds.

They're very vocal animals. They yip a LOT, which is known and singing.  They do this to keep track of their family members and to communicate with other coyotes. We hear them at night inside the house.  They sound like they're screaming, very high-pitched howls.  One night I sat straight up in bed because I thought I heard a woman screaming - which would have been weird in my 'hood - turned out to be a pack of coyotes making their way through our yard.

I'm going to check the video I took today when I saw "my" coyote in the yard, and if there's anything good I'll do another post about them.  Until then, I'll leave you with this beautiful coyote picture I took at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Work In Progress
2015: Music City Drive-By
2014: I'll Meet You At Sue's
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

The Dusty Monk

The Dusty Monk is located in the El Presidio neighborhood of downtown Tucson area and a place I never knew existed until we came upon it three days ago.

We walked through the pub on our way to the La Cocina courtyard to hear music during the Folk Festival.  I read they have a great piano night here at The Monk, which might be something we need to check out in our ongoing exploration of the Tucson.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Welding 101
2015: Tower Of Sheer Evil
2014: Bird Shadows
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

The Common Folk

This past weekend, Ed surprised me by taking me to the 32nd Annual Tucson Folk Festival.  I say surprise because had he told me where we were going, I would have totally tried to get out of it.

Folk music - Arlo Guthrie, Peter, Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, etc. - isn't really my thing. Of course, there are some artists who consider themselves folk artists that I have heard and like, but they're not my preference.  To be fair, I probably haven't really listened to enough folk artists to give an absolutely definitive answer, but I know what I like when I hear it.

We saw several artists, unknowns to me, who turned out to be pretty good.  The first one we heard was Rebekah Rolland Trio.  She was pretty good.  Her voice was unique and she was doing a series of original songs she had written for the 2016 National Parks Artist-in-Residence Program at Homestead National Monument in Nebraska.  Those songs will be featured on her upcoming album. I enjoyed her.  Her voice was soothing and the songs clearly had great meaning to her.

The second guy, Eric Ramsey, played a mean guitar and had a very engaging set.  The wind was blowing hard and shaking the venue tent, but he kept going.  The storm was a great backdrop for his set.

As the sun was setting we headed over to La Cocina's courtyard and listened to a few bands in there.

The first one we caught, The Gun Hill Royals, a band based in Los Angeles, entertained us with their a rock-esque country-ish mix of musical styles that was truly entertaining.  The crowd demanded an encore!

The last group we heard before we left were The Out of Kilters, a local Celtic party band.  I don't know how many local Celtics we have here in Tucson, but these guys played traditional Irish and Scottish music that had the entire crowd tapping their toes.

Overall, it was a pretty great afternoon.  I'm glad we went.

Let's all put a hash mark in the "Salena Ventures Out Of Her Comfort Zone" column.  Yay, me!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Happy Mother's Day!
2015: There Are Vacation Links In This One
2014: Remains In A Gold Field
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

Twelve Years Of Flitting Around

Hummingbird captured in flight at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, AZ

Today marks 12 years since I started this blog.

In an effort to keep my family and friends apprised of my whereabouts while traveling, I initially started with a Word document type of newsletter, sending it to everyone I know, telling them about everything I was doing and seeing, including pictures where applicable.
After discovering blogging, I created my own space and directed everyone here.  Now in addition to whatever friends and family are still following along, I have readers from all over the world.

And I want to hug each and every one of you!  So, get in line!

This past year of blogging has been my most challenging.  Because Ed and I are doing a dedicated run - and I've mentioned this before - the "trucking meets travel" thing has been pretty light.  Two and a half days a week of roundtripping to the same places doesn't offer much in the trucking or travel departments.

Each week I sit at my desk, or at the kitchen table, or in my comfy living room chair in a catatonic state. Staring into space, wondering what I'm going to write about.  It's my version of writer's block - blogger's block.

Since Ed and I are home more often we are trying to do more exploring in the area (I'll be tagging these posts with the "Explore AZ" tag), still do work around the house (the "HomeWork" tag), and do as many trips as we can on our days off.

I appreciate everyone who comes to this blog.  Those who read, comment, share my posts, etc.  Even though the traveling has temporarily slowed down, until I can figure out how to entirely revamp this thing, I'm going to keep up with the daily blogging. So keep coming back.

Happy Blog Birthday To Me!!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: The Magnificent Eleven
2015: My Baby Is Ten Years Old
2014: A Contented Living
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

Folk Parking

Ed took this shot in downtown Tucson as we were walking to the Folk Festival.  



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Flashback Friday
2015: Rise
2014: Freshly Dusted
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!

Hawkish Reproduction

As if tarantulas weren't bad enough.

The insect in the photo above is called a Tarantula Hawk.

They hunt tarantula spiders.  Named for their huge size and hawk-like hunting strength, they find tarantulas by smell.  Which leads me to wonder what the hell a tarantula smells like.

According to the Desert Museum's website, "During the warm months female wasps search the ground for tarantulas. Once prey is located, the tarantula hawk bites onto a leg of the tarantula and with its long, strong, sharp stinger, pierces the spider near a leg base, and injects paralyzing venom. The limp, but living, spider is dragged into an appropriate hole, sometimes the spider's own burrow, where a single egg is laid on the spider's abdomen. The wasp then seals the burrow to complete her work."

How diabolical is that??  They drag a 3" tarantula (um, that's big!) into a hole and then lay an egg on the abdomen of the spider!

From Wikipedia:  "Sex of the larvae is determined by fertilization; fertilized eggs produce females, while unfertilized eggs produce males. When the wasp larva hatches, it creates a small hole in the spider's abdomen, then enters and feeds voraciously, avoiding vital organs for as long as possible to keep the spider alive. After several weeks, the larva pupates. Finally, the wasp becomes an adult and emerges from the spider's abdomen to continue the life cycle."  Holy crap.  And, eww! 

These wasps catch your eye because a) they're fucking giant, b) they have the longest, most dangly legs I've ever seen on an insect, just swinging in the breeze as they fly by, and c) they have very bright blue-black bodies and bright orange wings.  Did I mention they're huge?  Apparently, the bright coloration is a warning sign, called aposematism, advertising to predators and prey the harm they can inflict.  Sort of like those brightly colored poisonous tree frogs.  So while we're saying, "Wow.  Look at those amazing colors!  Sooo pretty!", the animals/insects/etc. are telling us to stay far, far away because they're ready to put a hurtin' on us.

The docent at the Desert Museum told me their sting is considered the most painful of any insect sting in the world.  In. The. World.  Their stingers can be up to 1/4" long!! I guess the only consolation is that they don't usually sting without provocation and although painful, with the exception of someone having an allergic reaction, you won't die from it.  Even though you may prefer death at the moment you're experiencing blinding, paralyzing pain.

I'm a definite wuss when it comes to flying things.  I don't even like the harmless gnat or housefly. They just freak me out.  And I'm afraid I'll throw my shoulder out with all the frantic waving I do to get them to stay away from me.

I trying to step out of my comfort zone by finding ways to incorporate a little more outdoor time into my life - mainly to please Ed, who likes to be outside, but also to do things that give us the opportunity to meet more people - but the creatures (scorpions, tarantulas, snakes, lizards, wasps, etc.) that come with outdoor life are really challenging my endeavor.

FYI - there are no giant wasps in my living room.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2016: 99 Years Of Cornhusking
2015: Eat A Taco And Be Happy You're Not Having Escargot
2014: Shooting Pool The Federal Way
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!

You Can Put A Saddle On These Things

The worst part about living in the desert, in my opinion, are the number of creepy creatures.  Snakes, lizards, scorpions, spiders.

And boy, do we have the mother of all spiders!  The Arizona Blond Tarantula has got to be the scariest spider I've ever seen.  The first time I came across one of these buggers was at a resort hotel here in Tucson.  I was walking to my room, down one of the hallways (all the buildings have exterior hallways) and he was right there, in the middle of my path.  I stopped dead in my tracks.  I didn't know what to do.  He was the size of a baseball.  I couldn't get to my room.  I had to walk back to the lobby to tell the staff there was a spider near my room.  They sent someone out to remove him.

Ed has seen one here on our property, and my brother has had them on his property, too.  They really stop you dead in your tracks.  If you've never seen one it's really startling to come across a spider so big.

The one in these photos are male.  The  males are thinner (of course!) with black hair covering most of the body and reddish hairs on the abdomen.  The female is light brown or tan.  They are both approximately 3 to 4 inches across in size.  

They also live a pretty damn long time, if not beaten to death with a shovel.  Males live 10 to 12 years and females can live twice as long.

Man, we even outlive men in the arachnid world!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: SASsy But Comfortable
2015: ¡Holy Guacamole!
2014: Twisted Sifter Sifted My Photo From The Web
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!

Desert Garden In Bloom

The cactus garden at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Agile Cat
2015: Future Steak
2014: What Should Have Been Paul's Place
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!

Big Hairy Domination Of North America

"Scorpions have changed little in the 350 to 400 million years since they first climbed from the primal seas and took their place among earth's first terrestrial anthropods."

That's a reeaalllly long time to be terrifying everything around you.

In the photo above is a picture of the Giant Hairy Scorpion we saw at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  They have a scientific name, of course, but they're apparently not offended being called big and hairy.

These are the largest scorpions to be found in North America.  They range from 5.5 to 6 inches in length and are yellow-green in color.  Supposedly, this species is docile and if you're crazy enough to want to collect them, this guy would be a good place to start.  They become defensive if cornered or provoked, but other than that would likely run quickly from confrontation.  I need to remember that.

Although, as with all scorpions, this guy is nocturnal so I probably won't see him and if I do, I'll be dead from fright so it won't matter if he decides to nibble on me.

Note to self:  Install ultraviolet nightlights all over the house.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Hot Pipes
2015: Go Fly A Kite. No, Really.
2014: Hats Off To....Well, Hats
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!

Advanced Rock Climbing

I give you Bighorn Sheep.  These animals are present in the Santa Catalina mountain range, which can be seen from my living room window.  I can't, of course, see sheep from my window, but I know they're out there.

According to the Desert Museum's information, "Bighorn sheep live in an around the most inaccessible steep canyon walls and rugged terrain.  Their defense is to retreat to these hard-to-reach spots where predators cannot follow.  They feed with their herds early in the morning, bedding down to rest near each other in shallow caves or thick brush, while they chew their cuds.  Activity resumes in the late afternoon.

Breeding occurs during August and September.  Rams butt heads to establish dominance and the right to breed, and the cracking sound of their butting heads can be heard a mile away.

Both males and females have horns.  The ewe's horns are narrow and only grow about 12 inches long (about a half curl).  The male's horns are broad and massive and eventually curl in nearly a full spiral. The ram's horns may weigh as much as 40 pounds!"

The bighorn sheep lamb in the photo above is a new arrival at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, born at approximately 1:15 pm on March 23, 2017.  Just a little over a month old and traipsing over the rocks like a pro!

"Bighorn sheep inhabit some of the driest mountain ranges in Arizona, they are superbly adapted to life in these arid environments. During winter months when dew is available and plants contain more moisture, the sheep can last for several months without drinking free water.

In the intense heat of summer when most green plants have dried up, they seek out barrel cactus, chain fruit cholla fruits, and other cactus fruits for their water content. They avoid the sun by resting in the shade or in caves and shallow overhangs, but they can withstand body temperatures of up to 107 degrees Fahrenheit! (Normal body temperature for bighorn sheep is 101 to 102F; 38 to 39C.)

Enlarged stomach compartments can store water to last for several days, allowing the sheep to go 2 or 3 days without a drink. They can then drink up to 20 percent of their body weight (up to 2 gallons; 7.5 liters) in just a few minutes at a waterhole."

I'm happy to have these majestic animals in my neighborhood.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Moist, Crispy, Sticky, And Sweet
2015: Victory On The York River
2014: The Siren Song Of Spring
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!

The Living Desert

Yesterday Ed and I visited the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  We had absolutely perfect weather - which here means not hot - and spent about five hours walking every inch of the grounds available to us.

The Desert Museum is the #1 attraction in Tucson, receiving approximately 400,000 visitors per year.

Founded in 1952, the facility blends zoo, botanical garden, art gallery, natural history museum, and aquarium.  There is a hummingbird aviary and a temporary exhibit where you can touch stingrays.

The Museum sits on 98 acres and offers 21 interpreted acres with two miles of walking paths.  There are 230 animal species (4,892 specimens), 1,200 types of plants (56,000 specimens), and one of the world's most comprehensive regional mineral and fossil collections that include 16,583 specimens.

This attraction is a must-see for anyone coming to Tucson.  For years we have taken guests to experience something unlike anything else they've ever seen.  The Museum is regularly listed as one of the top ten zoological parks in the world.

This week I will feature photos from that visit.  Read more about the history HERE.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Power Washer
2015: Reading Comprehension In Question
2014: Snapshot From The Road: Trucker Dogs
2013: The Luxurious Nomadic Life
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!

Uphill Chug

Traveling Interstate 15 through a tiny slice of Arizona in the far northwest corner on the way to Utah.

The rocks belong to the Virgin River Gorge.


  
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: That Face, That Face, That Wonderful Face!
2015: We Both Share The Same Blood
2014: My Choice
2013: Pregnant And Dating
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! 

Smorgasboard

I've become a bird watcher.

From the living room of our house, we have a great view of passing wildlife - white-winged doves, cardinals, cactus wrens, quail, ground squirrels, coyotes, bobcats, etc.

I have several bird feeders, including a hummingbird feeder, right in my line of sight.  I watch the bigger doves swing on the feeders which make seeds spill to the ground.  The birds on the ground love that trick.  Right now I have a little family of quail that visit daily.  You can see them eating in the photo above and I got a snap of them leaving below.

They're quick, and they must have excellent hearing and senses because as soon as I even move closer to the window, they scatter.  This morning I counted nine babies.  Very tiny, maybe two inches tall.

They're costing me a fortune in feed, but for now, I'll keep buying it because I really enjoy the activity in the yard. 

I hope they appreciate the never ending buffet.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Elephant Cactus
2015: 5 Foxy Links To Pass A Few Minutes
2014: Flying Through The Links
2013: It All Started With A Tweet
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!

The Red Planet

Click image to view the full infographic

Right now I feel like I have to travel to Mars just to have something to write about.  Or at least have time to think about something to write about.

Click the image to see how long it would take you to get to Mars and then click HERE to read some facts about the red planet.

It's gotten so bad around my blogosphere I have resorted to sending you to outer space.




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: The Calm Before And After
2015: Cheese On Horseback
2014: A Life That's Good
2013: The Big Weekend Event
2012: Bringing The Sea To The Sleeper Bunk
2011: The Lonely Road
2010: Boys’ Town, Old Digs And A Non-Working Number
2009: She Needs To Wear A Bell
2008: Budding
2007: I Hate When He Does That
2006: The Toes Of Summer Are Peeking Out
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

One Of These Things Is Unlike The Other

Rollerblading Canadian girls.

I think I should ask someone to caption this photo.




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Girl Catcher
2015: Oklahoma Tin
2014: She's There Already
2013: Still Waters Run Deep
2012: The Princess Of Fruits Welcomes You
2011: I Love This Lookout
2010: There Ain’t No Rodeo On This Rodeo
2009: Covering All The Bases
2008: Ed Fantasizes Out Loud
2007: Better Late Than Never
2006: The Last Best Chance
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Tutti A Tavola A Mangiare!

Semi-prepared meats at Atwater Market in Montreal, Québec, Canada.

My favorite shows about food:

Lidia's Kitchen
Lidia Bastianich is very down-to-earth and makes you feel like you've known her for years. I feel like I'm sitting in my favorite aunt's kitchen.  She often has her mother and her children joining her on the show which is filmed in her actual kitchen.  She makes very simple, delicious dishes which are easy to follow.  You can find tons of great recipes on her website.  And I love her signature phrase: Tutti a tavola a mangiare! (Everyone to the table to eat!)

Cook's Country
I'm a HUGE fan of America's Test Kitchen.  I devour their podcasts and I love Bridget Lancaster (she's a genius!) and Christopher Kimball (a quirky, geeky foodie).

Giada in Italy
Taking an extended vacation, Giada films her show from the country of her birth, glorious Italy!

Barefoot Contessa
I love Ina Garten's style.  She's calm and makes me want to eat at her house.  With her and Jeffrey, of course.

Chef's Table
This one is on Netflix.  The website says, "In this Emmy-nominated docuseries, find out what's inside the kitchens and minds of the international culinary stars who are redefining gourmet food."  It's pretty great.

Chopped
Oh my GOD, I can't stand the pressure!  But I love it!  I'm always on the edge of my seat.  And I'm pretty good at picking the winner.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Do Your Brain A Solid And Read A Book
2015: Massive Collision In Wyoming
2014: Even His Feet Are Handsome

2013: Not Evolved Enough To Clap Just Yet
2012: A Cat’s Life
2011: Not So Lucky
2010: A Capitol Idea
2009: Blooming Where The Sun Don’t Shine
2008: Eddie Wakes Up Smiling Friday
2007: Gnocchi From The Gods
2006: Blurry Super Hero
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

If Only Gas Were That Cheap Again

Wilson's General Store & Cafe in Evansville, Indiana.  We ate here several years ago.  The food was so-so, but the place was cool.  Lots of memorabilia decorating every inch of the place.  I wasn't able to find a website, so I'm not sure if they're still in business, but it was another interesting stop in our travels.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Friends Don't Let Friends Exercise Alone
2015: I Would Never Mute This Commerical
2014: State Line
2013: No Pity
2012: Stop Grackling!
2011: Chicks And Kids
2010: Ultima Lavada 9:00 PM
2009: Eddie Touches Up The Old Girl Friday
2008: The Morning Sun Greets Guadalupe
2007: Starting Soon. No, Really.
2006: This Mary Doesn’t Go To Pre-School
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

In The Heart Of Amish Country

Old Village Store Hardware on Old Philadelphia Pike located in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania.  
In this store, you can find Amish made brooms, belts, bird houses, fresh produce, pretzels, jams, jellies, mustards, pumpkins & gourds, and more!  You can also see the world's smallest covered bridge located inside.  



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: A Spark Of Male Bonding
2015: A-MAZ-ING
2014: Ghosts Of Retail
2013: Orange Is The Devil
2012: Sixteen Hundred Miles Makes All The Difference
2011: In Need Of Some Color
2010: 122 Years And Counting
2009: Sixteen Days Old
2008: Racism Comes With A Convenient Handle
2007: Evening Tide
2006: Glittering Pasties And Swinging Tassles
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

My America

Patrons at the Taste of St. Louis event held in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.

A pretty diverse crowd made it a great day for people watching.




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2016: Addictive Retro Fun
2015: Boldface
2014: Ciudad Juárez En La Noche
2013: Live It Up!
2012: The Last Supper
2011: New York Always Stands Out
2010: Visitor Number 933 To Room 525
2009: Makes A Nice Desktop
2008: Leaning Tower Of Texas
2007: It Should Be Called “Thimble Shot”
2006: Southern Hideaway
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!