Morning Routine - Chuck gets up at the butt crack of dawn, feeds the dogs and I wake up a little later (girl needs her beauty sleep :D). I get ready to go to work but before I head out the door - I give the pups a delicious treat and head out to work.
Today wasn't so simple - as I was giving them their snack, when we heard a gigantic crash. Ripi and I jumped (we get startled easily). You'll never guess what created this racket.......The FLY TRAP fell. The lid stayed anchored to the zip tie but container came crashing down. Luckily (still not sure if it was a good thing) the concoction was still white, it only had a couple of dead flies and NO MAGGOTS. Thankfully, it landed upright - there was only minor spillage.
Our curious dogs were the first to investigate, I even saw a little tongue testing the findings. I obviously screamed and Trini backed away! I ran inside got a zip lock bag, emptied the liquid into that, picked up the container, and washed down the patio in 5 minutes.
I had no time to think just react. It's no way to start the morning - that's for sure ;D
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Funny Recap of Olympics
Here are the top nine comments made by NBC sports commentators so far during the Summer Olympics that they would like to take back:
1. Weightlifting commentator: 'This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria. I saw her snatch this morning during her warm up and it was amazing.'
2. Dressage commentator: 'This is really a lovely horse and I speak from personal experience since I once mounted her mother.'
3. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: 'I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father.'
4. Boxing Analyst: 'Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious.'
5. Softball announcer: 'If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again.'
6. Basketball analyst: 'He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn't like it. In fact you can see it all over their faces.'
7. At the rowing medal ceremony: 'Ah, isn't that nice, the wife of the IOC president is hugging the cox of the British crew.'
8. Soccer commentator: 'Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like they've got eleven Dicks on the field.'
9. Tennis commentator: 'One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them... Oh my God, what have I just said?
1. Weightlifting commentator: 'This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria. I saw her snatch this morning during her warm up and it was amazing.'
2. Dressage commentator: 'This is really a lovely horse and I speak from personal experience since I once mounted her mother.'
3. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: 'I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father.'
4. Boxing Analyst: 'Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious.'
5. Softball announcer: 'If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again.'
6. Basketball analyst: 'He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn't like it. In fact you can see it all over their faces.'
7. At the rowing medal ceremony: 'Ah, isn't that nice, the wife of the IOC president is hugging the cox of the British crew.'
8. Soccer commentator: 'Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like they've got eleven Dicks on the field.'
9. Tennis commentator: 'One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them... Oh my God, what have I just said?
Monday, August 25, 2008
Check it out:
Father of 8 is trying to drop 80 lbs to be a organ donor for his daughter - who needs a kidney transplant.
Check out his blog - he's shooting for 50 lbs by 90 days.
http://80lbs.freedomblogging.com/
Check out his blog - he's shooting for 50 lbs by 90 days.
http://80lbs.freedomblogging.com/
I'm SOLD!
I've been reading: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver.
I feel empowered by her story - the family lived in Arizona and decided to move back to a farming community in Virginia to live off the land.
"This is the story of a year in which we made every attempt to feed ourselves animals and vegetables whose provenance we really knew ... and of how our family was changed by our first year of deliberately eating food produced from the same place where we worked, went to school, loved our neighbors, drank the water, and breathed the air." http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com
It has honestly opened my eyes. I'm realizing that it's critical for me to continue to maintain and live off of an organic garden. Interesting fact -- seeds that have been genetically modified (GM) are still labeled "organic". There are GM seeds that have this "terminator gene" that causes a crop to commit genetic suicide after one generation, so farmers can't save seeds and they would have to repurchase from the company. "Garden seed inventories show that while about 5,000 non-hybrid vegetable varieties were available from catalogs in 1981, the number in 1998 was down to 600." -- I'm certain that in no time, we'll be eating out of 10 food categories. Scares me, America has weight issues (yours truly included) it's a wonder we're not worse off, considering most of what we eat has been genetically altered or "enhanced". Not to mention it's so BORING! I don't know about you all - I need variety!
You all know I love to eat and cook. Now that I have a thriving garden - I can't explain how fresh, flavorful, and aromatic veggies are too me. I've found a new appreciation. I have decided to revamp and expand my garden. I've talked to Carlos and I've gotten his blessing to convert more of our valuable real estate into garden! I know my dogs won't LOVE the idea of fencing up another part of the yard, but I'm excited at the prospect of planting new veggies - beets, carrots, potatoes, butternut squash, more herbs!
I'll keep you posted on my progress!
I feel empowered by her story - the family lived in Arizona and decided to move back to a farming community in Virginia to live off the land.
"This is the story of a year in which we made every attempt to feed ourselves animals and vegetables whose provenance we really knew ... and of how our family was changed by our first year of deliberately eating food produced from the same place where we worked, went to school, loved our neighbors, drank the water, and breathed the air." http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com
It has honestly opened my eyes. I'm realizing that it's critical for me to continue to maintain and live off of an organic garden. Interesting fact -- seeds that have been genetically modified (GM) are still labeled "organic". There are GM seeds that have this "terminator gene" that causes a crop to commit genetic suicide after one generation, so farmers can't save seeds and they would have to repurchase from the company. "Garden seed inventories show that while about 5,000 non-hybrid vegetable varieties were available from catalogs in 1981, the number in 1998 was down to 600." -- I'm certain that in no time, we'll be eating out of 10 food categories. Scares me, America has weight issues (yours truly included) it's a wonder we're not worse off, considering most of what we eat has been genetically altered or "enhanced". Not to mention it's so BORING! I don't know about you all - I need variety!
You all know I love to eat and cook. Now that I have a thriving garden - I can't explain how fresh, flavorful, and aromatic veggies are too me. I've found a new appreciation. I have decided to revamp and expand my garden. I've talked to Carlos and I've gotten his blessing to convert more of our valuable real estate into garden! I know my dogs won't LOVE the idea of fencing up another part of the yard, but I'm excited at the prospect of planting new veggies - beets, carrots, potatoes, butternut squash, more herbs!
I'll keep you posted on my progress!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Fly Trap HELL
This past weekend, we had some friends over for a small BBQ. Inevitably, we had to dump the FLY TRAP, the smell was strong and it wasn't pleasant to look at. Remember, it's reuseable and it said you didn't have to "rinse" after use.
I'll just talk about my experience - I do have pictures but it's not for everyone :S
First of all, we couldn't find the proper container to dump the stuff. The water was pitch black - very ripe (I might add) and we wanted to get a container with a lid that we could secure and dump. I thought Chuck was teed up to handle the operation but instead he took a "managerial" role. He was content directing me as I put on the latex gloves.....I climbed on my ladder, got a strong whiff, and I knew we were ill prepared and in TROUBLE!
I managed to cut the zip tie that was holding the fly trap in place, got it down and realized --some flies were still ALIVE. The Fly Trap was buzzing with excitement. There were even a couple of flies just hanging out, feasting on dead ones. DID I MENTION THE STENCH? I'm so glad we don't have smell-a-vision, you all would have hurled! It was bad. I finally composed myself and got off the ladder. I quickly opened the fly trap for a quick dump and I see MAGGOTS!
No one told me about MAGGOTS, it was so nasty. As I poured out the lethal concoction, some flies that were alive flew out (aren't flies weak, thought roaches were the hearty ones?, don't they live forever?). I quickly dump - Chuck is busy taking pictures and telling me how smelly it is -- great support system! Luckily, we hadn't had breakfast so there was nothing in our stomachs to puke. It was on HOT MESS. I ended up rinsing the container, MAGGOTS sure like to stay put. I finally close the replacement container and dump it in the trash. I instantly wash my hands and take a shower. I'm so disguised by the whole ordeal.
Call us crazy, I did buy replacement powder. But I plan on emptying sooner than later (my sensible side still say it's cheaper than the disposable kind). I did get a disposable one too - hoping fly season is over soon!
I'll just talk about my experience - I do have pictures but it's not for everyone :S
First of all, we couldn't find the proper container to dump the stuff. The water was pitch black - very ripe (I might add) and we wanted to get a container with a lid that we could secure and dump. I thought Chuck was teed up to handle the operation but instead he took a "managerial" role. He was content directing me as I put on the latex gloves.....I climbed on my ladder, got a strong whiff, and I knew we were ill prepared and in TROUBLE!
I managed to cut the zip tie that was holding the fly trap in place, got it down and realized --some flies were still ALIVE. The Fly Trap was buzzing with excitement. There were even a couple of flies just hanging out, feasting on dead ones. DID I MENTION THE STENCH? I'm so glad we don't have smell-a-vision, you all would have hurled! It was bad. I finally composed myself and got off the ladder. I quickly opened the fly trap for a quick dump and I see MAGGOTS!
No one told me about MAGGOTS, it was so nasty. As I poured out the lethal concoction, some flies that were alive flew out (aren't flies weak, thought roaches were the hearty ones?, don't they live forever?). I quickly dump - Chuck is busy taking pictures and telling me how smelly it is -- great support system! Luckily, we hadn't had breakfast so there was nothing in our stomachs to puke. It was on HOT MESS. I ended up rinsing the container, MAGGOTS sure like to stay put. I finally close the replacement container and dump it in the trash. I instantly wash my hands and take a shower. I'm so disguised by the whole ordeal.
Call us crazy, I did buy replacement powder. But I plan on emptying sooner than later (my sensible side still say it's cheaper than the disposable kind). I did get a disposable one too - hoping fly season is over soon!
Still on my mind......
Old topic that I haven't had a chance to blog about:
Was in Palm Springs a couple of weeks ago. I saw "twins". Two guys, about 60 something, both balding with shaved heads, both in workout clothes (sleeveless shirts and shorts). Almost identical physical build and matching, newly inked black tribal tattoo on their left bicep.
1. I always thought it was crucial to be your own person. As a kid, my mom would dress my sister and me in the same outfit - the novelty wore off. Why do that as you age?
2. I love the gays - I'm the biggest fan but why be so matchy, matchy? It wasn't cute.
3. Elderly getting tattooed, don't get me started. I just don't see the point. Don't think I'm ultra conservative, I'm NOT. Figure the skin is saggy, will it every really look "good".
I guess it's all personal taste - just had to share :D
Was in Palm Springs a couple of weeks ago. I saw "twins". Two guys, about 60 something, both balding with shaved heads, both in workout clothes (sleeveless shirts and shorts). Almost identical physical build and matching, newly inked black tribal tattoo on their left bicep.
1. I always thought it was crucial to be your own person. As a kid, my mom would dress my sister and me in the same outfit - the novelty wore off. Why do that as you age?
2. I love the gays - I'm the biggest fan but why be so matchy, matchy? It wasn't cute.
3. Elderly getting tattooed, don't get me started. I just don't see the point. Don't think I'm ultra conservative, I'm NOT. Figure the skin is saggy, will it every really look "good".
I guess it's all personal taste - just had to share :D
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Veggies
Check out my my zucchinis, they're looking mighty green and shiny.
Plan on cooking them tomorrow :D
But I'm realizing that I have A LOT of them dying on me - they don't develop, all they do is get yellow, brown, then shrivel up. After some internet searching I realize that there the "male" plants aren't getting pollinated from the "female" plants - or vice versa. It's all very new to me, check out: http://vegetablegardens.suite101.com/blog.cfm/how_to_hand_pollinate_zucchini
Worm Team Update
The "worm tea" is working, check out the caterpillar below. It's all shriveled and dead! Thankfully my veggies and herbs are SAFE again!
I've been avoiding the fly trap, it's inevitable, I can't ignore it any longer. The fly trap is FULL. The water has turned a nice BLACK and we're in dire need of replacing it. Wish us luck.
Plan on cooking them tomorrow :D
But I'm realizing that I have A LOT of them dying on me - they don't develop, all they do is get yellow, brown, then shrivel up. After some internet searching I realize that there the "male" plants aren't getting pollinated from the "female" plants - or vice versa. It's all very new to me, check out: http://vegetablegardens.suite101.com/blog.cfm/how_to_hand_pollinate_zucchini
Worm Team Update
The "worm tea" is working, check out the caterpillar below. It's all shriveled and dead! Thankfully my veggies and herbs are SAFE again!
I've been avoiding the fly trap, it's inevitable, I can't ignore it any longer. The fly trap is FULL. The water has turned a nice BLACK and we're in dire need of replacing it. Wish us luck.
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