Rugged And Inhospitable

A view of the mountains in Kane County, Utah.  This photo was taken from a road within the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. 


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2018: Stop And Smell The Makeup
2017: Hours Of Silence
2016: Boot Up
2015: It's Always Pie Day In Shipshewana
2014: Clap Along If You Feel Like A Room Without A Roof
2013: On The Run
2012: The Town Under The Giant Oak Tree
2011: Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
2010: Yeah, Cause Heidi Klum Is So Easy To NOT Notice
2009: Busy Week
2008: Small, Yet Mighty
2007: Zen
2006: Riding The Rusty Rails
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Not Your Average Potted Plant

My brother made this planter for us, a surprise that was waiting on our porch when we got home from one of our runs.

It's entirely made of nuts - different sizes, from top to bottom, welded together in what is probably some kind of meticulous manner knowing my brother.  During Christmas, I had colored lights inside, but for everyday use, I put tiny white lights in the cavity and topped it with a voluminous fake fern.   

I love it!  



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: The Sun Sets On The Sea Of Cortez
2017: Metallum Warrior
2016: Woman With Dog
2015: The Supers And More
2014: Objects In Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear
2013: House For Sale: Goats Included
2012: Hanging On By A Thread
2011: Does A Bear Have A Diner In The Woods?
2010: Would You Rather Sit On Your Ass All Day Eating Cheetos And Watching TV, Or Would You Rather See?
2009: The First Bit Of Spring
2008: Pop Secret
2007: The Kind Of Shopping That Makes Me Want To Commit Suicide, Right There In The Middle Of Macy’s
2006: The Benefits Of Memory Loss
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Couple Goals

I wasn't sure where the term "Bucket List" came from, so I did a little Google search.  The origin of the phrase seems somewhat unclear, but some say it came from the phrase kick the bucket, another way of saying "to die". 

I don't really have a "bucket list".  I guess I have things I'd like to do, but not necessarily because I want to do it before I die.  Although, you can't do things after you die, so there's that.  

But really, I just do things I want to do.  I don't have to do everything and I don't feel deprived if I don't get to something that someone else describes as "life changing" or "you just MUST do (fill in the blank)!".  I agree with Bill Maher when he said, "You reach a point in your life where you just don't give a shit about the things you didn't get to."

There are plenty of bucket list ideas on the internet.  Here are 1,000 Ideas For Your Bucket List, this site has your standard 101 Things To Do Before You Die, and this one came up with 329 Bucket List Ideas.

I might start to work on one, just to see what shows up on my list.  Could be interesting.  I found the graphic above online and thought some of those ideas seemed fun - except for the dog-sitting one - and doing them with a partner can make for a great memory.   

Now I just have to get Ed on board. 



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2017: Oh, The Horror I've Seen
2016: Barbed Badlands
2015: Exotic Tropicals
2014: Eggs, Milk, Bread, And Good Blood Pressure
2013: Clowns Looking For A Place To Live
2012: My Early Version Of Google
2011: Food With Integrity That Fuels Creativity
2010: If Only It Were Dollars Instead Of Miles
2009: The Last Bit Of Winter
2008: Eddie Fr-Eye-Day
2007: Authorized Personnel Only
2006: Stolen Zillow
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Sick Mountains

This field and strip of mountains, in Malad City, Idaho, were glistening in the sun as the warmer temperatures started to melt the snow that covered them.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: A Spin Around Town
2017: A Little To The Right
2016: Around Town In 80 Days
2015: The Gold On The Hill
2014: Be Happy You Don't Have A Bolt In Your Head
2013: Seriously Up To Our Ass In Alligators
2012: Such A Fragrant Sprig!
2011: Coast To Coast
2010: The Joke’s On Us
2009: Eddie Monsignor Starbucks Friday
2008: All The Better To Smell You With, My Dear
2007: Neon Railroad
2006: I Left My Heart…
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

La Grandest Pizza

Yesterday, Ed and I had lunch at a place in La Grande, Oregon called Local Harvest Eatery and Pub.

I have to tell you, for a small town in the middle of nowhere Eastern Oregon, this place had it going ON with their pizza.

It was AMAZING.  The crust was outstanding.  Do you see that crust?  Oh.  My.  God.  It was crispy and flavorful and beautifully bready.  

Ed had his usual caveman meat-laden pizza.  He ordered The Everything and Then Some (marinara, mozzarella, pepperoni, Candian bacon, sausage, salami, black olives, bell peppers, red onions, and mushrooms....$14.50).  He loved it. 

But my pie was really the star.  That's it up there in the photo.  I ordered The Don (pesto, mozzarella, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, red onions, feta cheese, and a balsamic glaze....$13).

You could put balsamic glaze on a rock and I'd eat it.  It was deeeeeeelicious!!  

And as if the pizza didn't offer enough culinary delight, the kid who made it suggested we try something he likes - dipping the crust in honey.  He brought over the squeeze bottle of honey, I squirted a quarter-sized blob on my plate and started dipping.

Crusty bready pizza crust and honey?  How can you not love that?  

From now on, I'm going to be the weirdo at the pizzeria asking if they have any honey on hand.  People are going to stare.  Whisper.  Maybe even laugh.

Let them.  Because I now have a culinary secret.  Just between me and well, all of you.

Don't tell anyone about the honey trick, but if you're in La Grande, be sure to check this place out! 



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Columns Of Cacti
2017: Flashback To The South
2016: Debonair
2015: Geographically Centered
2014: Full Brain, Full Belly, Full Wallet
2013: Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo
2012: Honing Her Skills For The Nursing Home
2011: Fire Up The Grill
2010: The Voice Of Tucson Speaks
2009: Crossing Over To The White Side
2008: Eddie Voyager Of The Seas Friday
2007: Indiscriminate Discrimination
2006: Dancing Queen
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Survivor

There's a story here.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Today's Catch
2017: Antiques Around EVERY Corner
2016: Flashback Friday
2015: The Rich Coast
2014: Getting Hosed
2013: River Of Grass
2012: Stupid Rock
2011: Crab Rangoon Makes Me Swoon
2010: Bonnie And Clyde Meet Toni And Frank
2009: Finally…A Bib That Is Both Functional And Accurate
2008: Trickling Down
2007: Anonymously Yours,
2006: Over 7,000 Feet Of Pristine Beauty
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

It Took $1000 To Get This Town Named

Descending into Coalville, Utah on Interstate 80 westbound.

From the Wikipedia entry for Coalville:  "In 1854 the territorial government in Utah offered a $1000 reward to anyone who could find coal within 40 miles of Salt Lake City. Four years later, Thomas Rhodes found a coal vein in the Chalk Creek area, and coal mining began in earnest.  Hundreds of tons of coal were shipped to Salt Lake City, and soon a narrow gauge railroad was built.  The settlement was renamed Coalville as a result of this early success mining coal."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Go Fish
2017: Flatout New York
2016: Hill Town Transportation
2015: 651 Miles To Go

2014: I May Not Love Your Traffic, But I Do Love You

2013: Astonished That Anyone Could Schedule All Those Things

2012: A World Of Imagination Left Behind

2011: Betty’s Got It Going On

2010: Don’t Miss The Latest On TDR. Today At Eight, Noon, Six, And Midnight

2009: No Hothouse In Sight

2008: ’Till The Cows Come Home

2007: Salt Lake City Special

2006: It’s More Expensive To Say No

2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Go To Your Room!

That time they put me in a room at the end of the hall.  I felt like I was being punished.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Beach Boy
2017: Atomic Appetizer
2016: There's Always Time For The World Wide Web
2015: There's Always A Church
2014: The Parking Problems For A Big Rig Never End
2013: Need I Say More?
2012: Despite The Name, This Might Not Be Your Place If You’re Truly Bashful
2011: Then Someone Lit The Flame And Plain Rode Away On Lion’s Mane
2010: It Once Had A Life
2009: Life’s A Planet Beach
2008: I Wasn’t Even Fishing, But I Certainly Got A Great Catch
2007: Royal Air Force Typhoon Blows Into Nellis
2006: This Dandelion Needs Rogaine
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Four Balanced Women

To celebrate International Women's Day, I celebrate four women who have mastered balance in their lives. 

This photo, taken in January 1952 shows my mother and her three sisters.  From left to right:  My Aunt Ronni, my Aunt Michele, my Aunt Joya, and my mother.

Hashtag Balance For Better.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Five Spices And A Few Cuties
2017: Water That Saved The Life Of A Princess
2016: A Few Blocks From Fort Apache
2015: Única…Original
2014: Living The Examined Life
2013: Trucking Like We're On Fire

2012: Looking For A Coffee Fix
2011: Container Port, You Are No Friend Of Mine
2010: Encased In Plastic
2009: No Lifeguard On Duty
2008: Palm Sketches
2007: You Know Who You Are
2006: I Fear The Family
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Long In The Tongue

Fountain sculpture seen in Regensburg, Germany.




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: The Dove On The Sea Of Cortez
2017: A Spicy Little Secret
2016: It's Uphill From Here
2015: A Place Of Rare Beauty
2014: Thumbs Up For A Real Bronx Tale
2013: A Mountain City Fit For A Queen
2012: Sprinkle Of Seaweed, Anyone?
2011: Shopping To The Maxx
2010: Ed Unloads An Oil Platform
2009: You Never Know When You Might Need It
2008: Eddie Climbs A Wall Friday
2007: What Showing Off For Your Kids Looks Like
2006: What’s It All About?
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Concentrating On Cabbage

Ed at the wheel, driving 28 miles per hour over Cabbage.  That was the fastest we could go with snow chains and Auto Socks on.

Yes, he wears sunglasses in the winter.

Yes, he drives like a grandma.

Yes, he always drives with two hands.

And yes, he's always this serious when working.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: I Don't Care What You Call Them, These Paws Will Never Touch My Lips
2017: Spicy Rubs In Bulk
2016: Tiny Life
2015: Where The Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains Meet The Pacific
2014: A Spontaneous Slumber Party And An Italian Feast To Go
2013: Bright Spot On The Mountain
2012: Thinking About Adding A Few More Wheels To The Rig
2011: Cooled By The Ocean
2010: Oh, Mother!
2009: Eddie Adds Culture To His Day
2008: One Armed Bandit
2007: 614
2006: Having A Good Reason
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

A Middle Aged Castle

The ruins of Ehrenfels Castle, located on the Rhine River above the Rhine Gorge, near the town of Rüdesheim am Rhein in Germany.

The medieval castle was built in 1212 and demolished in 1689.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: The Malecón And More
2017: The West Side
2016: The Populace Of Winter
2015: Two If By Sea
2014: Beauty And The Bleak
2013: Don't Even Ask
2012: Click Mouse, Make Money
2011: Buttons Beware. There’s Someone Cuter In Town!
2010: Eddie Dials Up The Lunch Order
2009: Trucking Superhere And Sidekick
2008: I’m Just A Goy In Love With A Boy
2007: When Pork Goes Pornographic
2006: Now Where Did I Put Those Underwear??
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Topped With Fallen Snow

Trees in Meacham, Oregon in the Blue Mountain Forest State Park.  



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2018: Urban Art
2017: Rockin' It
2016: Former Trees
2015: Birthday At The Blowhole
2014: Dreaming Of Blue Skies And Swaying Palms
2013: They Never Ask If You Have Invisible Ink
2012: I Didn’t Break A Leg, So I Guess I Can’t Regret Doing It
2011: Why Couldn’t It Have Been The Canola??
2010: I Like To Call Him The Kite Master
2009: Talk About Making Good Use Of Your Time
2008: Don’t Three Feet Equal One Yard?
2007: New And Improved
2006: Maybe I Don’t Need To Know Everything
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

I Don't Know How The Early Pioneers Did It

I've been posting a lot of pictures from Oregon and our trip over Cabbage. 

I'm kinda amazed every time we travel through here.  The hill is challenging in a big rig, but mostly I think about people who migrated into Oregon Territory in the early 1800s, following the Oregon Trail on foot and horseback.  How did they do it??

Ed was driving so I got as many photos of the snow as I could.  You'll be seeing a few more before the week is out.

If you love snow like I do, you'll appreciate them.  If you want pictures of warm weather, you'd better start Googling.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Do Not Be Afraid
2017: Grounded
2016: The Zombie Apocalypse Could Be In Full Swing And I'd Never Know
2015: Creamery On Congress
2014: Eastern Influence In A Southern State
2013: The Wegmans Cheese Tour
2012: Balls In The Air
2011: Branded
2010: Don’t Lose The Fun 
2009: I’ll Get To It As Soon As I’m Done Churning The Butter, Dear.
2008: Trees At Sunset
2007: Giving Directions To This Place Is Easy
2006: A Cloud Of Words
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Czechian Garbage

Yes, this is a picture of garbage dumpsters.  I know it's not very interesting, but I saw them in Český Krumlov, Czech Republic and just wanted a picture of them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Checking Out The Pipes
2017: Gravitating Toward Good Tunes
2016: A Little Thing With A Long History
2015: It Was A Kona Kind Of Day

2014: Award-Winning Plan
2013: Watch Closely Now
2012: Mission Of The Sacred Heart
2011: Vintage Photo And Clothing
2010: Just How I Like It…Cold And Colder
2009: Snagged
2008: The Writing Is On The Wall
2007: Eddie Waits For A Ride
2006: Truckers And Travelers Know Good Food
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Small Cabin In A Big Forest

A cabin or house surrounded by snow is my dream location.  I took this photo in Pendleton, Oregon on our way through there last week.  The camera didn't really capture how small the cabin seemed amidst the forest and snowy hills that went on for as far as the eye could see.

For pictures of cabins and houses in the snow in other locations, check these links out:

13 Cozy Cabins Nestled In The Snow

These Cozy Photos Of Log Cabins In The Snow Will Make You Feel Extra Hygge

Cabins In The Snow

9 Cozy Winter Cabins and Lodges

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: Forty-Seven Years Later, I Stood In Her Hood
2017: Giving New Meaning To "Letting The Dishes Soak"
2016: Shake And Rake
2015: Hawaiʻiloa's Favorite Son
2014: Into The Mouth Of A Lion
2013: A Barn Serving Steak Good Enough To Eat
2012: A Quick Update
2011: It Takes Nothing To Win A Contest
2010: Sorry, no post for this day.
2009: The Hags Hit The Big Time
2008: One Thing At A Time
2007: Snaking Across Broadway
2006: Psssst! Wanna Buy A Hot Dog Truck?
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Salz Und Pfeffer

On the day we did laundry in Budapest, we ate at a great little restaurant located right across the courtyard from the laundromat.

Antré Étterem offered an inexpensive and varied breakfast buffet.  The restaurant was clean, modern, and well attended.

At one point during breakfast, I was looking for the salt and pepper shakers.  I touched and moved everything on the table trying to find them.  I eventually had to resort to calling over a staff member - who wound up being the manager - to ask him if he could provide me with a set. 

Imagine my surprise when he pointed out that they were right in front of me.  These were the salt and pepper shakers.  Boy, did I feel stupid.

I had seen them but immediately dismissed them.  My mind was telling me they were other things - a microphone (Why would they have a microphone on a table?), a set of speakers (Why would they put speakers on the table?) - and since I wasn't really looking closely at them because it never occurred to me that they were salt and pepper shakers, I didn't see the "S" and the "P" on the side of each shaker.  That would have been a big clue.

I immediately wanted them and asked the manager if they sold them.  He said "No.  People usually just steal them."  So I asked where I could find them and he told me they were made by a company called WMF (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik) - a German company founded in Berlin in 1880, and the same company that made the coffee machine I loved on the cruise ship.

I needed to find a store.

We looked in each town we came across after that and saw more than one WMF store but due to countrywide holidays, they were closed.  Rats!  I figured I'd have to hunt them down online and pay a crazy price to have them sent to me once I was back in the United States.

But then, as luck would have it, my friends Marlaina and MacG were out on an excursion one day and came across a place that sold these very salt and pepper shakers and picked them up for me!  They now sit on my kitchen counter at home.



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2018: Hot And Sweet
2017: My Kind Of Salad
2016: In Disguise
2015: Hawaii Five-O
2014: I Like Big Boteros And I Cannot Lie
2013: The Young Never Have Trouble Screwing
2012: Making Tracks Across The Country
2011: Eddie Is The King Of The Dome
2010: Do It For Half An Hour A Day
2009: Sipping In Nyack
2008: The Tink Tink Tinkle Of Recycling
2007: Ralph’s Service Station
2006: The Isle Of Capri
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Tucked In

On a cross-country trip from the Southeast to the Pacific Northwest, we finally hit snow! I was in heaven!

On the way out west, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho had the most snow.  Some flurries, some steady snowfall, and then...some ice.  The ice was bad enough at one point through Montana that we shut down for the night.  We delivered our load without incident, picked up another one and headed back across the country.

On the night I took this photo, we were headed east through Oregon and stopped to assess our trip.  We were sitting in the parking lot deciding on whether or not to tackle Cabbage.  Cabbage, also known as Emigrant Hill, is hairy when there's no weather.  On the sunniest day with bone dry roads, the hill is challenging.  So when we check the road conditions on Oregon's Department of Transportation website, we were concerned.  The website said it was heavily and steadily snowing and that there were patches of black ice.  The chain law was also in effect, which meant we'd have to pull over on the side of the road and Ed would have to put chains on the tires.

Ed decided to sit it out.  I was very happy with that decision and a little selfishly, I knew the scenery would be much better during the day.  It's been a long time since we've been in this part of the country during winter and it was definitely something I wanted to see.

Stay tuned for photos.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2018: This Is Who I'm Meant To Be
2017: No Chickens 'Round Here
2016: Piquing Interest
2015: Not Your Average Hula Girls
2014: Some Links Are Sexier Than Others
2013: Who Says I'm Spoiled?
2012: So That’s How It’s Done
2011: Sunny Bright Yellow Moments Ahead
2010: Loaded
2009: C’mon, Just Do It Already!
2008: Counterproductive
2007: If You Need A Reason To Cook More Often, I Think I Have One
2006: Warning: May Contain Traces Of Nuts
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!