Drought

Did you know that it has rained for 10 whole minutes in the past 7 weeks in Little Town, Big State?

The sprinklers are on overdrive.

The birds dive toward the pool, then quickly realize that chlorinated water isn't good for the feathers.

Even little bugs, the likes of which I've never seen, are scurrying around, driven from the depths of the dry, cracked soil.

All in search of "high quality H2O" (Name that movie.)

The high temperatures have evaporated lots of water from the pool (the water level barely hovers above the bottom of the tiles). We would like to see a little precipitation in return, please.

Even the water pressure in the house is low. If it doesn't rain soon, we may start using the hot tub as the shampoo-and-rinse station.

Do a rain dance for us. We need it.

What's on page 56?

This little ditty is going around Facebook.....

Grab the book closest to you.

Turn to page 56.

What is the 5th sentence on the page?

It is also very important to have just the right serving pieces.

I am writing at the desk in the kitchen today. The closest book to me (I could reach it right over my head) is called Dinner is Served, An English Butler's Guide to the Art of the Table.

Action stopped by to look over my shoulder on his way to the pantry. He saw the book on my desk. He ran away screaming, "AHHHHH! Mom has THE BOOK out. RUN!!!!!"

When my peeps don't use proper table manners, I pull out this book and read from it while we are still at the table so they will have a chance to correct their behavior. I consider mealtime at home a dress rehearsal for the future State Dinners they will attend (thinking big here).

The peeps call it torture.

I started using THE BOOK when Big Daddy and I had a discussion over the proper table setting for glasses at the table one night. (The peeps had actually asked a question that spurred the conversation.....we don't just sit around pondering proper table settings for water goblets and wine glasses....) My friend Craftier had given me THE BOOK and I grabbed it to answer the question.

At some time later on that same week, the peeps were acting up at the table. I corrected them, and then Action retorted that he didn't believe that my correction was "the rule" (trust me, he didn't actually care about the accuracy of "the rule", he just wanted to be contrary and, in his own mind, funny). I again turned to THE BOOK for the answer.

I was right about "the rule" in question. So, THE BOOK has now become the tool I use to enforce proper manners at the table. If I've made a correction at the table (put both feet in front of you.....stop hanging on the side of your glass......your plate is not a trough.....scoop the soup using the back edge of the spoon.....) and they don't respond, I just reach for THE BOOK.

The peeps groan and whine and roll their eyes. Not THE BOOK.

One day they'll thank me.

In the meantime, I need to review my serving pieces.

Piece out!

He *could* be my new best friend

Do you know Frank Davis?

If not, let me introduce you.

Frank cooks. More importantly, Frank writes cookbooks that are written for people like me. People who don't cook. People who don't like to cook. People who don't like to make menus or grocery shop, but must still feed the peeps.

Frank also has a tv spot on the news in N'Awlins.



He's multi-talented.

I love this cookbook for 5 reasons:
1. The recipes are easy.
2. I have most all the ingredients in my cabinet already.
3. He tells me what to serve with the main dish in that, "hey, if you serve this with rice and green beans, your family will clean the kitchen" kind of way. No stuffy intimidating menu.
4. Most every recipe I've cooked from this book can be done in one pan (a big plus for me).
5. The resulting meal is like "yo momma usta make". Mmmm!

My favorite recipe so far has been smothered pork chops (on the bone, of course). I'm going to try a shrimp recipe tonight. We luv some shkrimps 'round here.....coconut shkrimps, barbeque shkrimps, fried shkrimps, grilled shkrimps, boiled shkrimps.....

Frank. My new friend.

My favorite commercial right now

I'm addicted to DVR. I rarely watch "live" tv anymore. I find my favorite shows, set them up to record, and enjoy "Big Bang Theory" or "Lie to Me" whenever I have time.

The best thing about DVR is the ability to fast forward through all the commercials. The ad agencies are having to get really creative to capture my attention these days. Big Voices from the car companies and weak Mr. Clean commercials just don't cut it for me anymore.

I have a couple of favorite "series" of commercials.....the Mac vs. PC guys and the E-trade baby.

This is by far my favorite commercial from E-trade so far.

E*TRADE Golf Baby @ Yahoo! Video

I'm not sure if I love it for the "shank-a-potomus" line or because the baby reminds me of Angry's son with his daddy's personality (It's like watching the baby speak, but hearing Dad's voice). Makes me laugh EVERY. TIME.

Feeling Political Today

Are you ready for your healthcare to be managed by the government?

I'm afraid, people. Very afraid.

Uncle Sam has done such a good job with Medicare, Social Security and all of our taxes already.



I guess Obama wants to make sure he will have good healthcare when he finally gets sick from smoking all these years.

As for me? I'm taking my vitamins and exercising. I don't want Dr. Uncle Sam (who was conferred the honorary doctorate) touching me or my peeps.

The cartoon is by a wonderful political cartoonist named Michael Rameriz. Click here for his new book.