Left-Overs?

Bec asked in the comments to "Just Checkin' In," below, if I had any left-overs from T-Day in my fridge. The pictorial answer is on the right!

RV refrigerators are pretty small, unless you're living in a high-end RV, which feature side-by-side "home" size fridges these days. Unfortunately, I don't live in a high-end coach or fifth-wheel. Once I pack in all of life's essentials: beer, Dr. Pepper, milk, half and half, etc. there isn't room for much else.

And another thing: I have to manually defrost the fridge, too. It's a PITA, albeit a minor one.

Just Checkin' In

Black Friday. Both SN1 and SN2 were up at the crack of dawn and out seeking bargains this morning, if all went to plan. And I mean that quite literally: SN1 told me he and the family, which includes Mom this year, planned to be “in line” at 0500 this morning...all the better to get "Early Bird" goodies. I’m glad they’re doing their part to support the economy, because I’m certainly not. I have a built-in aversion to crowds, in the first place. And I hate to shop, in the second place. You might think “hate” is a pretty strong word, but let me assure you: it is not. If anything, the word understates my feelings about shopping. I go to the ‘net if there’s shopping to be done, and have done so since about…oh…1998. Thanks, AlGore.

Two or three times a month I’ll link to Mr. Lileks when he has something particularly funny to say, or an item that’s out of the ordinary in some way or another. While the Bleat is an everyday read for me, there’s more—much more—to his site. Lileks is a one-man kitsch conservatory. One man’s kitsch is another’s folk history, and in that spirit I give you the link to his motels site: a collection of vintage post cards found in Mom ‘n’ Pop motels during the 1950s and 1960s. These cards are pretty danged nostalgic for us geezers folks of a certain age, and interesting, perhaps, for the rest of y’all. I naturally scoped out all the New Mexico entries; this is my favorite. Lord only knows how many of these places I’ve actually stayed in over the years. Hundreds. And not a few were on Route 66, before there was an I-40.

My current lust object: Susan Swain. Actually, Susan has had that status for a while now. (Along with my favorite Weather Babe, who apparently left The WX Channel. Or was fired. But I digress.) Susan is articulate, intelligent, and lovely as all get out, with a killer smile. And there’s an interesting twist here, too. If you clicked the link, you’ll see the article was published in “Connections,” a publication of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Ms. Swain graduated from the University of Scranton in 1976. TSMP was also the recipient of a Jesuit education: ND, ‘78. She and Ms. Swain are about the same age and there’s more than a superficial resemblance, too. {Cue Twilight Zone music}

Today’s Pic: The cylindrical fountains in the aptly-named Tranquility Park, Houston. The shimmering effect of water cascading down these 30-foot tall (or so) satin-finish metal cylinders is mesmerizing. I spent the better part of an hour here, just watching the water move. And the people, too. April, 2000. (As always, click for larger.)

Update, 1150 hrs: You need to get over to Laurie's place and view the video she posted this morning. Moving, to say the very least.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Of all the things I’m thankful for on this day…family, friends, reasonable health… I thank God most of all for making me an American. Most all of the good things in my life begin and end with that one single fact.

Please spare a thought today for the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coasties on the front lines defending our way of life, no matter where those "lines" may be. I'm thankful for those men and women, those that came before, and those that will follow in their footsteps.

You could do much worse today than read the editorial the WSJ has published every Thanksgiving since 1961.

We can remind ourselves that for all our social discord we yet remain the longest enduring society of free men governing themselves without benefit of kings or dictators. Being so, we are the marvel and the mystery of the world, for that enduring liberty is no less a blessing than the abundance of the earth.

And we might remind ourselves also, that if those men setting out from Delftshaven had been daunted by the troubles they saw around them, then we could not this autumn be thankful for a fair land.

As true today as it was back in 1961.

Here’s a lightweight Thanksgiving article in the WaTimes: Among other things, it says:

Our gobbler gobbling is considerable. Americans will consume 46 million turkeys today, according to the National Turkey Federation; our troops in Iraq alone will chow down on 20 tons, according to the Army's 1st Calvalry Division.

Oh, yeah, and Republicans are happier and have more to be thankful for than Democrats. Really.

Too late this year, but useful next Thanksgiving: “Happy Thanksgiving from Jalopnik: Engine Hoist Turkey Deep Fry.” Or, how to deep-fry a 17-pound turkey without setting the world on fire. Literally. With pictures!!

Today’s Pic: (Top of the page) A photo from the best Thanksgiving I ever spent away from family. That’s my buddy Dan from Florida on the right, with two friends who I met the first time that Thanksgiving and whose names I don’t remember. And, yes, that’s deep-fried turkey…the most succulent turkey I’ve ever had, bar none. A great day spent with good friends. Thanks, Dan and Marti! Near Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Thanksgiving Day, 1999.

The Incredible Lightness of Being...of Late

From the NM website:

“New Mexico is rich in personality. No other state can claim our geographical or cultural diversity, or match our historic complexity.”

That statement contains more than a little hyperbole. Now I love New Mexico, which should be plain if you’ve hung around here enough to read more than a couple of posts. I’ll concede the web site’s claim of historic complexity; no argument there. But when it comes to geography, California has everything NM has (e.g., deserts, mountains, rivers, etc.) and more, simply because of its wondrous coast line. It’s arguably a toss-up when it comes to cultural diversity. But once again, I’d give California the edge. CA has waaay more moonbats than we do, even when you consider the significant moonbat penetration in Santa Fe and Taos. Proof? One word: Berkeley. All moonbat, all the time.

There. I’ve said something good about California. And they said it couldn’t be done.

Scant consolation…From an AP wire report published in the WaPo:

More than a week after Rep. Heather A. Wilson (R-N.M.) claimed a razor-thin election victory, her Democratic challenger conceded yesterday, saying that a recount would cost too much and that there was no guarantee it would reverse the result.

Well, duh! Too much is $300K and there’s “no guarantee…” Yeah, I doubt if I’d wager MY money, either. But it took Madrid long enough to concede. And the “scant consolation” angle? Just that Republicans have won a few close races. But not nearly enough of ‘em, unfortunately.

A rather touchy subject, but this column by Carol Sarler in The Times (UK) contains some facts of which I was unaware:

By contrast, to have sex with somebody who has passed the age of puberty is merely to defy a law of Man — and a pretty arbitrary law at that. We cannot agree between one border and the next at what age a boy or girl is emotionally developed enough to give informed consent: Malta and The Netherlands think 12, Canada and Italy weigh in at 14, cautious Greece holds out for 15 and the good burghers of Iceland go as high as 17.

A lad in Dover with a girlfriend of 15 may not have his wicked way, but if they hop a ferry to Calais they’ll be fine. Meanwhile, in some American states not only may you have sex at 13 but you may marry at the same age, allowing for the theoretical absurdity that a man could marry in, say, New Hampshire but should he bring his bride to old Hampshire for their honeymoon he could be imprisoned for statutory rape.

The “age of consent” obviously varies widely and apparently has no underlying rationale, beyond the commonality of the woman being beyond puberty. That said, I had no idea that women (and I use the term very loosely) of 12 are legal in some parts of the world. The article is very interesting, in a sociological sort of way.

Also from The Times, this is a pretty funny article: “Go green. Look a complete idiot.” An excerpt:

Anyway, after almost 12 months of Vespa ownership, my provisional licence is about to expire and I must take the California motorcycle test. This has proved trickier than expected. I should mention that California’s Department of Motor Vehicles is one of the most efficient organisations on Earth. The first time I went to the DMV’s offices in Hollywood, I took three newspapers, a book, two copies of The New Yorker and a packed lunch. I was fully prepared to spend the rest of the day (and possibly the day after that) sitting on a plastic chair, waiting. In fact, I’d barely walked through the door when my appointment number came up on the overhead plasma TV. Forty-five seconds later, I was done (perhaps they should put the California DMV in charge of Iraq).

Well, the California DMV may be a model of efficiency, but the Texas equivalent sure ain’t!

The author could have (and should have) opted for another form of two-wheeled transport if his objective was to “go green.” Anyone who chooses to ride a Vespa should prepare him or herself for embarrassment, and lots of it, especially in the eyes of other bikers. Just sayin’.

The Horror! The Horror!

Today’s Pic: From a slender volume titled “Little Known Horror B-Movie Out-Takes, vol. VII.” “The happy couple stood on the valley floor, blissfully unaware of their impending doom as The Blob silently but inexorably approached…”

YrsTrly and Friend at the Valley of Fires, aka the Malpais Lava Flow. April, 2004.

Unmotivated

I’m fresh out of motivation to link and comment on the news. Again. So, here’s a short collection of Random Notes …

“My Lil Reminder” is the top EIP search term of late, what with seven hits in the four days since I posted my mini-rant about same. No comments, though, so I don’t know if the googlers are of like mind or not. The ad is still running, and it’s still as dumb as a box of rocks.

Speaking of ads…Haggar, a men’s clothing manufacturer, has a new series of ads out that are…uh… disconcerting. I’ve seen two of ‘em on ESPN and I’m not impressed. Here’s a quote from AdJab:

I'm not even sure what to do with this new ad series from Crispen Porter and Bogusky for Haggar clothing. It's obviously an appeal to middle-aged suburban men, but specifically a sub-set of that group made up of men who enjoy torturing their children, are mildly misogynistic and enjoy half-naked wrestling with their neighbors. I honestly think CP&B may have lost focus here. The point of advertising is to sell the product, not just to create funny commercials. That's why these ads fail on both levels.

The ad titled “dog crap” is just that: explicit, graphic footage of some jerk letting his dog crap on someone’s lawn, followed by the ad's protagonists acting out a retribution fantasy. There’s not a suburban homeowner in the world that hasn’t had a similar fantasy, yet still… I found that ad offensive, on more than one level. Another ad, “stereo” is also a retribution fantasy. The series of four ads have the recurring theme of “making things right.” You can view all of them here. The ads just don’t work. Not at all. This might be a new low in American advertising.

It’s a short week, leading up to the feast of gluttony (and I use the term lovingly, not disparagingly), as all y’all are aware. Becky is celebrating by treating us to a few of her favorite recipes, doling them out on a one-per-day basis. I strongly suspect Becky is one of those women near and dear to my heart: a Southern cook...and most likely a great Southern cook, from the look of things. As was my Mom. Becky is a Mississippian, not all that far (geographically speaking) from Georgia, which is where Mom was born and raised. Once again, I’m speculating the influences and styles are quite similar. Reading Becky’s recipes makes my mouth water, and summons up memories of Mom’s cooking.

It would be an understatement of gargantuan proportions to say Mom was a “good” cook. She was a great cook, beginning with a solid foundation of old-time southern cooking learned at her grandmother’s knee in an age when there were no frozen foods, no fast food, and no microwaves. But Mom went quite a bit further, adding culinary influences and techniques to her cooking that were gathered during a lifetime of being dragged around the world. She simply got better and better as time went on and we moved from place to place to place.

Imagine, if you will, the unlikely combination of Southern-fried cooking, infused with touches of classic French cuisine, complimented by a side of Tex-Mex, and topped off with a perfect crème brûlée or flaky, honey-soaked and pistachio-laden baklava for dessert. And the baklava had perfect filo pastry that was hand-made, not bought. You can’t imagine it, I’m sure. You just had to be there. Mom sure spoiled me when it comes to other women and their cooking. It’s a given that Mom is the gold standard of most everyone’s cooking, but mine was the real deal.

Colores

Today’s Pic: Inside a Santa Fe glass shop. The picture just doesn’t do justice to the brilliant colors of/in the objécts. Perhaps it was the artificial light (I think so), or maybe it’s just the photographer’s lack of technical knowledge and/or skill. Whatever. It’s sorta close. May, 2005.

Good, Bad, and Downright Ugly

So Lileks makes this offhand remark today after a lengthy rumination on Minneapolis’ urban renewal plan:

Anyway, I see lots of planters and old-timey signs, I calculate the likelihood of getting sapped from behind just doubled. But here’s what really amused me about the plan: greenery will be installed not just to make things green and lively, but to prevent “climate change.”

You could raze the entire downtown core and plant trees, and it wouldn’t effect climate change. I swear, it’s become the secular equivalent of “peace be upon him.”

He’s right, ya know. Environmentalism as religion. It’s not just an issue, it’s a cause theology! And, in so becoming, it’s yet another way to separate the “good” among us from the evil, offering up endless opportunities to praise the former and to disparage the latter. But, all y’all know how I feel about this subject…I’ll not belabor the point.

So over the weekend it was revealed Charlie Rangel will use his newfound position of authority to introduce legislation to reinstitute the draft. I agree with Confederate Yankee:

What doubtlessly disappoints Mr. Rangel is that though Americans do not support the direction of the War in Iraq (as was evidenced in the recent election), they have refused to engage in the massive protests and demonstrations that were key to the anti-war campaign during the Vietnam era. Rangel's primary goal in his call to reinstate the draft is to gin up protests like those of 30 years ago.

Rangel's tactics are particularly loathsome in that he seeks to use our all-volunteer military as the whipping boy for his anti-war politics. He would attempt to pit draft-age Americans and their family members against those who honorably joined the military of their own volition.

I have nothing but contempt for Rangel's transparent demagoguery. He does not wish to strengthen America's proud all-volunteer military, but instead seeks to lessen its will, against its wishes, and against its needs.

Rangel has a history here, trying periodically and repeatedly to revive an institution we have no use for. It’s all too transparent—an anti-war ploy that, thankfully, looks like it has zero chance of success. Thank God for the Blue Dog Dems. Even Nancy knows Rangel’s ploy is a non-starter, which comes as a mild surprise.

Captain Ed adds the following:

If anything, the draft created the kind of disparities that Rangel deplores, through college deferments for people with enough money to go to college. Rangel's new plan removes that loophole by stripping the choice for service from every man and woman in America. He plans on turning the military from the most effective fighting force in world history to the government's biggest social engineering program.

If one wants to see the difference between Republicans and Democrats, this gives a clear example. Rangel wants to solve a social ill that really doesn't exist, caused by too much choice, and use the government to eliminate all of the options available to Americans. Republicans have used a market approach to define the choices available and built the mightiest armed force in the world, by making sure the people who enter want to be there. We can expect to see this same template for health-care "reform", entitlement "reform", and a number of other "reforms" that the Democrats will now pursue.

What he said. It’s an interesting (and above all, true) observation that the Dems are constantly trying to solve (or invent) non-existent problems. More "solutions" to follow, of course. {sigh} “Our long national nightmare has just begun…”

Today’s Preaching to the Choir sermon (“Will the West Stumble?”) comes from the illustrious Victor Davis Hanson, via Real Clear Politics. From very near the end:

So we are at a crossroads of all places in Iraq. The war there has metamorphosized from a successful effort to remove a mass-murdering dictator into the frontlines of the entire struggle between Islamic radicalism and Western liberality. If we withdraw before the elected government stabilizes, the consequences won't just be the loss of the perceptions of power, but perhaps the loss of real power. What follows won't be the impression that we are weak, but the fact that we are--as we convince ourselves we cannot win against such horrific enemies, and so should never again try.

That stumble will send a shudder throughout the so-called West that will be felt worldwide. It will insidiously show that the premodern world proved the master of the postmodern, as al Qaeda's Alfred Rosenberg, the pudgy Dr. Zawahiri, boasted all along--whose followers will not be happy with a successful defense when they think they can go back on an even more successful offense.

There are none so blind as those who will not see. The evidence continues to mount, yet seemingly intelligent people (read: Progressives/Liberals/Democrats) either choose to ignore the evidence or, more plausibly, wish that it would simply go away. The threat will not go away. The threat is real and becoming ever more dangerous as each day passes. And yet…and yet…we have Nancy Pelosi saying things like “Bringing the War to an End is my Highest Priority as Speaker.” If you go to that link, browse some of the comments. And be afraid. Be very afraid.

Let’s end on a positive note. Here’s Michael Fumento's “Return to Ramadi,” in the Weekly Standard. Excerpt:

For this very reason, Ramadi is both a litmus test for the counterinsurgency effort in Iraq and a laboratory. If we can defeat the insurgent and terrorist forces here, there is no place we cannot defeat them. And from what I found, we are defeating them. It's painfully slow, and our men there are still dying in inordinate numbers from a broad variety of attacks. But a multitude of factors, including tribal cooperation, the continual introduction of more Iraqi army and police, the beginning of public works projects, the building of more Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), the installation of more small operational posts (OPs), and plunking down company-sized Combat Operation Posts (COPs) smack in the middle of hostile territory are destroying both the size and the mobility of the enemy. This time the rats are dying in place.

Mr. Fumento writes a lengthy article that names names, includes both the good and the bad, but comes to an interesting—and positive—conclusion:

Put it all together--the Forward Observation Bases, new Combat Operation Posts, new Observation Posts, tribal cooperation, ever more Iraqi army and police, better intelligence, and public works projects. There's no "stay the course" strategy here; the course changes as necessary and it's continually changed for the better. I believe we are winning the Battle of Ramadi. And if the enemy can be beaten here, he can be beaten anywhere.

As I said: positive. You don’t see a lot of that, these days.

Genetics

Today’s Pic(s): A brief photographic dissertation on genetics. The flower bed outside my door. August, 2005.
Update: Added a longer view of the bed.

A Quiet Sort of Sunday

Few things in life live up to their billing, and that’s especially true when it comes to football. But yesterday’s Michigan – Ohio State game was everything it was supposed to be, and perhaps a bit more. Here’s Mitch Albom, from his column in the Detroit Free Press:

But once the game got going, it was all football. And, man, was there a lot of football. You'd need extra projectors to show all the highlights. For a game steeped in the tradition of Bo versus Woody, there was precious little of their style. Defense took a back seat to speedy offense. Running took a backseat to passing. Tackling took a backseat to elusive offensive moves. Ohio State had six offensive touchdowns. Michigan had five and a field goal. There were 900 combined yards of offense. Nine hundred yards?

[…]

It is not the ending anyone in Ann Arbor wanted. And maybe some feel sad for the Michigan players that this game, which they waited all season to play, had to come with the heavy burden of the death of a beloved Michigan family member.

But college is supposed to be about learning. And a real life lesson is that things don't always go the way you want, and the timing of life is often inconvenient, the sad and the wonderful happening within hours of one another. However bad the players feel this morning, there are other things in life that are worse than losing a game. That lesson has been well learned in the last few days.

No storybook ending. But then this was not a storybook. It was sports. And if the heavy-hearted Wolverines fell three points short in the biggest game in this big game's history, well, that is hardly something to be ashamed of, is it?

Nope: Nothing to be ashamed of at all.

There will be a lot of talk over the course of the next three weeks or so about who should play Ohio State for the national championship. ESPN’s talking heads debated the subject of a Michigan – OSU rematch within minutes of the conclusion of yesterday’s game in Columbus. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that OSU is Number One: they proved that conclusively. And there’s not a shred of doubt in my mind that Michigan is Number Two and should remain Number Two. I haven’t made up my mind about a rematch, but it seems logical. Of all the one-loss teams in Division I-A, there isn’t a single one that could beat Michigan. Shouldn’t the two best teams in the country play for the championship?

(~~La La La~~…) What was that? (~~~La La La~~~…) Why…It’s a FAT Lady! And I do believe she’s singing!

Bernalillo County Clerk Mary Herrera said the county's canvassing board is expected to reconvene Monday to certify the results.

"It could change but it doesn't seem possible at this point," Herrera said.

The overall tally showed 105,916 votes for Wilson and 105,037 for Madrid. That gave Wilson a winning margin of 879 votes -- with roughly 211,000 ballots cast in the race.

Herrera said results from Bernalillo County included all but about 500 provisional votes that were disqualified. Voters who cast those ballots will be notified by certified mail and can protest their disqualification at hearings Nov. 22 and 27.

So Heather Wilson pulls it out, but it certainly was a near-run thing. In true Democrat fashion, Patricia Madrid (Wilson’s opponent) is hanging on and refuses to concede. A spokeswoman for the Madrid campaign said “We can't make a decision about what to do next. Other people can declare victory but we choose to wait and let democracy play its course.” It should be all over tomorrow. Unless, of course, there’s “vote fraud,” or “voter suppression,” or an invasion of vote-snatching zombies from outer space…

An oldie but a goodie, via BlogBuddy Morgan: “Top Ten Worst Company URLs.” And they’re real. What were they thinking? Did they even LOOK at what they did?

Today’s Pic: A rainy, windswept, and very moody sort of day at the south end of Monument Valley, Utah. June, 2005.

RIP Bo, Hype, and Bad Press

Bo Schembechler died yesterday. Here’s an obituary written by Mitch Albom. I cannot improve upon Albom; I won’t even try.

RIP, Bo.

I’ve never seen anything like it, ever. ESPN’s web site is pretty much ALL Michigan – Ohio State…at least on the home page. Including that ridiculous countdown clock—Countdown to Judgment Day!—which I saw for the first time night before last but forgot to include in yesterday’s Miscellaneous Moans post. I should have. Now my memory certainly ain’t what it used to be, but I cannot remember another game that has been hyped as much as this one. Well...perhaps last year’s USC – Texas national championship game got as much (or more) hype; that game was another Number One vs. Number Two match-up, but with higher stakes. But like last year’s Rose Bowl, there’s not a chance in Hell we’ll be disappointed in today’s actual game.

There isn’t a football fan in America that doesn’t know about this rivalry. If you’re not a football fan, it would still be fun to read “Game, rivalry couldn’t be scripted any better,” just for the “fun facts” about Michigan – OSU. Here are two:

It is true that in 1950, the teams played through a blizzard with 29 inches of snow and more than 50,000 fans sat through it. Michigan's Chuck Ortmann punted 24 times, and the Wolverines won 9-3, despite failing to make a first down. Buckeyes coach Wes Fesler quit a few days later. Ohio State hired the little-known Hayes away from Miami (Ohio).

It is true that in 1970, a local judge in Columbus dismissed a charge of obscenity against a defendant arrested for wearing a T-shirt that said, "F--- Michigan" because the message "accurately expressed" local feelings about the university and the state.

OSU is a seven-point favorite in today’s game. I don’t care. I think Michigan can win it, and my heart is with them. I heard on ESPN that there are signs all over Ann Arbor that say “Win one for Bo.” That may be a little bit over the top and a lot maudlin, but I can understand the sentiment. My heart is with Michigan: Go BLUE!

This is just too, too rich: The usual suspects start their whining about how biased the media are against the Democrats! Just a sample:

It's as if all these unpleasant events of the last six years never happened and we are back in the days of endless cable bitch-fests filled with sniggering about unauthorized blow jobs and earth tones and "grown-ups" who eat PB&J's and travel with their favorite pillies.

I knew it would happen in one form or another. (We caught a glimpse of it with the John Kerry apology treatment.) The DC press corps hates having to criticize Republicans. Republicans make them feel all icky and call them liberals (which they so, like, aren't!) I confess, however, that I'm a little bit awed by how smoothly they have transitioned back into their assigned roles. I thought there might be a moment or two of cognitive dissonance as they went from grim and serious reports about terrorism and war to shallow personality politics and tabloid character assassination. I assumed they would at least wait until the presidential campaign took off to contrast the manly Republican Alpha with the loser Omega Dem, but I guess I didn't realize how much they've missed their fast times at DC High.

Well, perception is reality, ain’t it? Personally, I think these guys took too many drugs in the way-back, or perhaps it’s a classic case of selective memory. Coz, if I recall correctly, the MSM (fittingly, as it turns out) bombarded us with predictions of a Democrat landslide during the past month or so, punctuated with hourly calls for Rumsfeld’s resignation and supported by testimonials from every retired Army general whose ox had been gored by transformation. Not to mention the MSM gloating about Dubya’s declining popularity each and every time the poll-du-jour was released. Or perhaps we’re just watching and/or reading different media?

And then there’s this:

"For Incoming Democrats, Populism Trumps Ideology," headlined The New York Times in a front-pager a few days ago: "New Class Promises End to Partisan Tone."

The following headlines appeared in USA Today over several recent days: "Democrats offer to help steer new course in Iraq; some leaders vow to probe 'mistakes'" ... "Republicans lose ground among Hispanic voters; Democrats perceived as being on 'right side' of immigration issue" ... "Democrats: Identify pork sponsors; Pelosi plans to target anonymous 'earmarks' " ... "Public expects the Dems to deliver; 61% prefer party, not Bush, to chart course."

Doesn’t sound like the press is indulging in Dem-bashing, does it? In fact, the author, William Powers, maintains the press (and I’d make an argument by extension, all media) simply loves the Democrats, but it is and it’s gonna be, tough-love:

Tough love. Journalists are more aggressive under Democratic rule. This doesn't jibe with the stereotype of reporters as liberals, but it's the stereotype that winds up undermining itself. When Democrats are in power, there's a huge incentive for reporters not to appear too sympathetic and thereby confirm the old liberal-bias charge. Thus, despite the friendly coverage we're seeing in this honeymoon period, the Democratic restoration will eventually produce tougher coverage than we saw of the GOP Congress, as media outlets strive to prove that they aren't soft on the Democrats.

So maybe the usual suspects have a point. Personally, I don’t think so. We’ll see.

Today’s Pic: The trees have shed their leaves. We’ll see sunsets like this from now until sometime in mid-April. Winter… December, 2004.

The Muse is Still AWOL...

...so the best I can do is assume my curmudgeonly persona and give you an EIP semi-regular feature, to wit:

Miscellaneous Moans, Groans, Bitches, and Complaints Dept: Just a few things that get my goat of late… Let’s begin with Irritating TV ads, Part Four (or is it up to Five?). Always a fertile field, here are two from the latest crop of ads that insult our intelligence.

“Philips TeeVees with Ambilight Technology.” This ad treats us to a TV that radiates pale green light from the back of the TV as the Incredible Hulk morphs from his regular human form into Hulkiness. Just what I need: a TV with a built-in light show. My initial reaction was, and remains, “how stupid.” But not everyone agrees.

“My Lil Reminder.” This ad opens with a shot of some poor befuddled white-haired old lady standing in a parking lot, wondering just where she left her car. Now I can sorta relate to that, me being of a certain age, and all. But I cannot relate to carrying around a small digital recorder and remembering to pull it out and record “Section L-6” before venturing off into the mall. If you’re that damned forgetful, just jot down your location on a piece of paper, nu? And imagine the confusion if, just by happenstance, you forget to record “L-6” when getting out of your car and you replay “C-13” from a couple of days ago. I can imagine police departments getting more than a few panicky stolen-car reports…

And as for recording shopping lists? Right…that’ll work. Let me see you cross off a purchased item on your handy-dandy MyLilReminder. I hope there’s no serious venture capital tied up in this exercise in stupidity.

Moving right along… we come to The Phalanx of Flags. While C-SPAN and I were waiting for yesterday's Democrat press conference announcing their new leadership, we were treated to the spectacle of low-level minions arranging NINE freaking American flags behind the podium. Some off-camera wag commented “Have you got enough flags?” The minion-in-charge replied “You can never have too many flags.” Well, I beg to differ. You can have too many flags. These days, more likely than not, you DO have too many flags. ONE flag does the trick nicely. Any more than that and you look like you took set decoration lessons from Joseph Goebbels.

It’s not just the Democrats, it’s seemingly everyone. Case in point: I watched Haley Barbour and Michael Chertoff address the 2006 Federalist Society this morning and there were eight American flags arranged on the stage behind the speakers (video on the C-SPAN site, RealPlayer required). And again: Anytime a foreign leader visits the White House and that visit is worthy of a press conference, Dubya and said foreign leader emerge from a hallway lined with umpteen soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, displaying the Phalanx of American and foreign flags. One each would do nicely. Any more is overkill and vaguely off-putting.

Stop it.

And finally, the strictly personal… My microwave is but a month (or so) old and the interior light has already burned out. Not a good sign. And, as best as I can figure, I'll have to disassemble the entire frickin' microwave to replace the bulb. What wonderful, user-friendly product engineering. /sarcasm.

And you know there may be more...

MIA: Muse, One Each.

I’m having a spot o’ bother getting started this morning. I didn’t get up too very late (0830), but my brain is refusing to fully engage. Which isn’t all that unusual, come to think on it.

So, as is my habit, I’ll simply post Today’s Pic for starters, continue working on the coffee, and wait patiently for my muse to arrive.

Oh! One other thing. My buddy Dan in Florida has begun blogging the restoration of an old Honda Gold Wing. I have the feeling his blog will evolve to include more than the bike’s restoration. Interesting stuff! Go check him out!

Today’s Pic(s): Two pics of an immaculately restored ’53 Corvette, including the (in)famous “Blue Flame” Six. Who, back in 1953, would have thought that a car with such an inauspicious beginning would evolve into a world-class sports car? It was (and is) beautiful, though. Amarillo, TX. May of 2004.

Update, 1155 hrs: I've turned off the word verification feature in comments after trying lebbenty-lebben times to post a comment on my own freakin' blog. The word verification jpeg simply wouldn't display, no matter how many times I hit "refresh" and shouted creative obscenities at my monitor. It's pretty hard to "type the word above" when YOU CAN'T SEE THE DAMNED THING! Was anyone else having this problem?

Thursday's Potpourri

Some pretty cool and unusual plane pr0n: The MiGs of Area 51. That lil photo off to the right is a YF-110, the designation for MiG-21s operated by the USAF. Via commenter Beach Bum, at Lex’s place. Lex flew against the MiG-21 during Project Constant Peg. Worth the read, as always.

Hey Bec! Here’s something I found over at The Lileks’ place this morning you might be interested in: The Musuem of Russian Art. I thought the sample paintings were pretty cool, especially “Wet Winter.” What I wanna see, however, is a retrospective of Commie propaganda “art” from the ‘50s. You know the school: all those beefy, grim faced (or would that be stoic?), Heroes of the Soviet Union-types in various worker poses. As James says:

The theme is “Realism,” but that’s not meant in the sense of “realism,” but rather scenes from actual Russian and Soviet life, as opposed to Joe Stalin riding a tractor into the dawn. I always wish they displayed a bit more Soviet Kitsch – it has a strange power both horrifying and hilarious, dead and alive, and for some reason it doesn’t have the same lurking evil you find in official Nazi art. The evil is stillborn and inert; it’s sleeping it off.

I agree wholeheartedly. It may be kitsch, but it’s interesting kitsch!

Pelosi-Murtha-Hastings update…at Captain Ed’s:

If Murtha was an unforced error, Hastings is an embarrassing example of Pelosi's judgment. She needs the support of the Congressional Black Caucus to get elected Speaker, and they want Hastings to succeed Harman, if Harman doesn't get the chair. Pelosi can't afford to alienate them any further after she had the audacity to ask William Jefferson to resign from his committee assignments after the FBI found $90,000 in his freezer. (Jefferson won re-election, too.)

Steny Hoyer and Jane Harman have proven themselves capable party spokespeople, and have a record for independent thinking. Pelosi opposes them both strictly for personal reasons. She doesn't like Harman, feeling that her fellow Californian hasn't been partisan enough in her role on the Intel committee, and Hoyer ran against her for Minority Leader in 2001. For those personal reasons, Pelosi wants to turn to a corrupt ex-judge and a bumbling porker for party leadership positions, making a mockery of her promises of reform.

Democrats are in a bad position. They can't afford to throw Pelosi under the bus after promoting her as the first woman Speaker in American history. They can't afford to have Hastings and Murtha in leadership positions and then face the voters in 2008 who wanted reform and change. They can't afford to undermine her authority and openly campaign for the reversal of Hastings' appointment and the failure of her Murtha endorsement.

What he said.

Heckuvajob, Madame Speaker. After two years of your “leadership,” America will storm the polls. Those that are paying attention, anyway. Who’d a thunk it? Nancy Pelosi: The Republicans secret weapon. Karl Rove is an evil genius, indeed.

Wanna read some serious moonbattery? Better even than MoveOn? Equal to WorldCan’tWait? Then go check out Dennis Kucinich’s site. I watched Mr. Kucinich give his “one-minute” speech on the House floor yesterday morning (a ritual familiar to C-SPAN viewers) where he called on the House to cut off funding for the Iraq war. You can find that rant at his web site; it’s the lead item. But the bit that absolutely astonished me was this:

One of the most emotionally wrenching moments came at 10 o'clock at night as they arrived in the village of Qana, the Cana of biblical lore where Christ performed the first of his miracles, changing water into wine. One of the greatest tragedies of war befell a house in Qana where a 1,000-pound bomb exploded and collapsed the structure, crushing dozens of women and children who had sought shelter in the basement.

Kucinich and his wife went to pay respects to the dead, as a graveyard in the center of the village was lit by automobile headlights. They walked by several rows of graves, each with a picture of someone killed in the bombing. One picture was of four members of the same family. Buried were a mother and her three children. As Kucinich quietly wept, a hand reached around his shoulder to console him. It was the very man who had lost these family members, his wife and three children.

"As Kucinich quietly wept..." Damn, that's romance-novel prose. Bad romance-novel prose, at that. What a maroon. What a freakin’ maroon! You remember Qana, right? All the MSM angst over Israel’s “war crimes” and other atrocities? Yeah, that Qana. Kucinich bought all that MSM hand-wringing and a bag of chips. Ol’ Dennis is worse than a moron…he’s a tool.

A question you never asked… Shoulda mentioned this in yesterday’s Anniversary post, but didn’t. Have you ever wondered about the title of this blog? I was on the phone with an old friend one evening just before I decided to begin blogging. During the course of the conversation (after I bemoaned the fact there was no Starbucks here, restaurant choices are limited, yadda, yadda) she asked “Why do you stay there, out of all the places in the country—the world, even—you could go? Is this some sort of self-imposed exile or something?” Well, now that you mention it, yes. Yes, it is. Exile in Portales.

The baby finds its name.

Today’s Pic: All the Pennington Men (and a couple of Pennington Boys). On the decks of the USS Mason, Port Canaveral, Florida. April, 2003.

A Quick Tour of the 'Sphere Reveals...

So. The wind has subsided a bit, and it’s turned cold. When I say “subsided,” I mean: “Wind: From N at 24 mph, gusting to 29 mph.” (from the WX Channel web site) The current temp is 45, with a wind chill of 36. I just might defer the mini-Grand Tour one more day; it’s not at all pleasant outside right now and it’s supposed to be warmer tomorrow.

I know I’ve intimated I was going to get off politics for a while, but I just can’t help myself. Because there are a few articles in the media today that are just too, too good to pass up (and not pass along). First of all, there’s this in The New Republic (free registration required):

In one of her first important acts since Democrats recaptured Congress, Nancy Pelosi is about to make a decision that is both substantively foolish and politically tone-deaf. The decision involves the chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee. For obvious reasons, that post has serious implications for national security--as well as the image of a Democratic Party seeking to convince the public it can be trusted to govern. But it appears alarmingly likely that Pelosi will spurn both with a decision based on petty personal and identity politics.

The current ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee is Jane Harman of California. Harman is one of the most respected Democrats in the House on national security and intelligence issues--a widely acknowledged expert in a field that Democrats as a whole are woefully unfamiliar with. Given her current seniority on the committee, Harman is the natural choice to become its chair in the Democratic Congress--and she has made clear that she wants the job. But all indications are that Pelosi will deny Harman the job and appoint in her place Alcee Hastings of Florida, a former judge who was impeached on bribery charges--and someone who has left no discernable mark upon the critical intelligence debates of the post-September 11 era.

Ordinarily, few people would take Hastings seriously for such an important job. In 1981, Hastings was a federal judge in Miami. He was accused of conspiring with a friend to take a $150,000 bribe in exchange for issuing light sentences to a pair of mobsters. A Miami jury acquitted Hastings (while convicting the friend), but three different federal judicial panels later referred him to Congress for impeachment.

I’ve written about Hastings before. But I’m just a little bit surprised to see The New Republic, a moderate left-wing periodical, come out against Pelosi’s apparent choice for the chair of the House Intelligence committee. It just goes to show that there are a few reasonable Democrats that are more concerned with the national interest than partisan politics . (hat tip: Glenn, who has some great links on this subject, and more)

But, wait! There’s more! Let’s talk about Murtha, who Pelosi has endorsed for House Majority Leader.

Here’s Ruth Marcus, in an op-ed in the normally left-leaning WaPo:

If she gets her way and helps Murtha win a come-from-behind victory against Maryland's Steny Hoyer in tomorrow's leadership election, she's buying herself -- and the Democratic caucus -- endless news stories about Murtha's ethics. If, as he says, Hoyer has the votes, Pelosi has made herself look weak within the caucus -- not a smart move for any new leader, and certainly not for the first woman in the job. Perhaps the late timing and measured phrasing of Pelosi's endorsement were meant to ensure that it would have little impact. If so, Pelosi failed to recognize that once she weighed in, the vote for majority leader would inevitably be seen as a gauge of her clout.

Here’s an op-ed in the WSJ:

House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi's endorsement of Rep. John Murtha for majority leader, the No. 2 position in the Democratic leaderhsip, has roiled her caucus. "She will ensure that they [Mr. Murtha and his allies] win. This is hardball politics," Rep. Jim Moran, a top Murtha ally, told the Hill, a congressional newspaper. "We are entering an era where when the speaker instructs you what to do, you do it."

But several members are privately aghast that Mr. Murtha, a pork-barreling opponent of most House ethics reforms, could become the second most visible symbol of the new Democratic rule. "We are supposed to change business as usual, not put the fox in charge of the henhouse," one Democratic member told me. "It's not just the Abscam scandal of the 1980s that he barely dodged, he's a disaster waiting to happen because of his current behavior," another told me.

[…]

Melanie Sloan, the liberal head of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, was cheered on by Democrats six weeks ago when she helped reveal the Mark Foley scandal. Now she says that "Ms. Pelosi"s endorsement of Rep. Murtha, one of the most unethical members of Congress, show that she may have prioritized ethics reform merely to win votes with no real commitment to changing the culture of corruption."

Freakin’ Melanie Sloan! Remember her? When a former John Conyers staff member has issues with Murtha, you just know something’s rotten in Denmark the House. But…if you go to only one link in all this, read the WSJ op-ed. And wonder why Murtha remains in Congress, let alone how it came to pass he’s being considered for majority leader.

“Culture of corruption,” indeed.

Sad, sad, sad…from the San Francisco Chronicle:

After 90 years in San Francisco high schools, the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps must go, the San Francisco school board decided Tuesday night.

The Board of Education voted 4-2 to eliminate the popular program, phasing it out over two years.

Dozens of JROTC cadets at the board meeting burst into tears or covered their faces after the votes were cast.

"We're really shocked,'' said fourth-year Cadet Eric Chu, a senior at Lowell High School, his eyes filling with tears. "It provided me with a place to go."

Sometimes I wonder if SFO really is part of America, or something else entirely. I cannot begin to express how glad I am that I no longer live there.

Here’s a bit of good news, from The Beeb, no less:

Pakistan's national assembly has voted to amend the country's strict Sharia laws on rape and adultery.

Until now rape cases were dealt with in Sharia courts. Victims had to have four male witnesses to the crime - if not they faced prosecution for adultery.

Now civil courts will be able to try rape cases, assuming the upper house and the president ratify the move.

The reform has been seen as a test of President Musharraf's stated commitment to a moderate form of Islam.

"It is a historic bill because it will give rights to women and help end excesses against them," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told parliament after the vote.

Religious parties boycotted the vote, saying the bill encouraged "free sex".

A woman is raped every two hours and gang-raped every eight hours in Pakistan, according to the country's independent Human Rights Commission.

Maybe, just maybe, there’s some hope Islamic countries will emerge from the 7^th century and join the rest of the world. I’m not going to hold my breath, however.

And so it goes…

Anniversary

The blog is one year old today. I’ve put up 690 posts and been honored with 10,293 visits during the past year. Time sure flies when you’re having fun!

Many, many thanks to Frequent Readers and commenters Bec, Becky, Dale, Dan, dc, Laurie, Lou, Mike, Reese, SN1, SN2, and Steve. And thanks also to the “mystery readers” in California (2), Colorado (2), New Jersey, Texas (2), and Virginia…you who stop by often but never say anything! It’s a toss-up as to the greatest reward I’ve received from blogging… either the new friends I’ve made, or the connections renewed. Both are great, and I thank you.

Today’s Pic: Your Humble Scribe, ostensibly tapping out today’s post. 20 minutes ago.

Understatement

"Fair and Windy." Note the "gusting to" number.

We be rockin'!

Thar She Blows! And Blows, and Blows, and...

I woke up this morning, fired up the coffee, and raised the shades. My initial impression: what a brilliant and beautiful day! Just the sort of day to do the High Plains Mini-Grand Tour, i.e., Portales – Big(ger) City^TM – Cannon Airplane Patch – Portales. And then I read this:

/O.CON.KABQ.WI.Y.0033.061114T1800Z- 061115T0600Z/ HARDING COUNTY-FAR NORTHEAST PLAINS-QUAY COUNTY-DE BACA COUNTY- ROOSEVELT COUNTY-CURRY COUNTY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ROY... CLAYTON...TUCUMCARI... FORT SUMNER... PORTALES...CLOVIS 354 AM MST TUE NOV 14 2006

A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 11 PM MST THIS EVENING.

EXPECT RAPID INCREASES IN WIND SPEEDS THIS MORNING...WITH WEST WINDS INCREASING TO 25 TO 35 MPH. EXPECT LOCAL GUSTS TO 50 MPH...INCREASING IN COVERAGE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. EXPECT STRONGER WINDS ACROSS THE NORTHEAST PLAINS AND FROM TUCUMCARI WEST...WHERE WIND SPEEDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 TO 40 MPH WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 55 MPH.

Well, OK. Maybe it’s just the sort of day to stay in and watch the dust swirl by my window as El Casa Móvil De Pennington rocks none-too-gently from side to side. Mini-Grand Tour deferred until tomorrow.

Just Askin’…Why are weather bulletins/advisories always IN CAPS? No one communicates using teletype any longer; we modern folk get our WX briefings information via Tee Vee or the internet, nu? So: dispense with the caps, please. No need to shout, we read you 5x5.

Are you addicted? In the WaPo (Caught in the Web…More People Say Heavy Internet Use Is Disrupting Their Lives, and Medical Experts Are Paying Attention):

Concern about excessive Internet use -- variously termed problematic Internet use, Internet addiction, pathological Internet use, compulsive Internet use and computer addiction in some quarters, and vigorously dismissed as a fad illness in others -- isn't new. As far back as 1995, articles in medical journals and the establishment of a Pennsylvania treatment center for overusers generated interest in the subject. There's still no consensus on how much time online constitutes too much or whether addiction is possible.

But as reliance on the Web grows -- Internet users average about 3 1/2 hours online each day, according to a 2005 survey by Stanford University researchers -- there are signs that the question is getting more serious attention: Last month, a study published in CNS Spectrums, an international neuropsychiatric medicine journal, claimed to be the first large-scale look at excessive Internet use. The American Psychiatric Association may consider listing Internet addiction in the next edition of its diagnostic manual. And scores of online discussion boards have popped up on which people discuss negative experiences tied to too much time on the Web.

[…]

The Web site for Orzack's center lists the following among the psychological symptoms of computer addiction:

· Having a sense of well-being or euphoria while at the computer.
· Craving more and more time at the computer.
· Neglect of family and friends.
· Feeling empty, depressed or irritable when not at the computer.
· Lying to employers and family about activities.
· Inability to stop the activity.
· Problems with school or job.

Physical symptoms listed include dry eyes, carpal tunnel syndrome, migraines, backaches, skipping meals, poor personal hygiene and sleep disturbances.

Hmmm. I definitely have a feeling of well-being while at the computer. Unless my frickin’ connection does its “go-slow” routine or decides to just give up altogether, which is not a rare occurrence. Then I feel like getting in my car, running down to Yucca Telecom’s building and fire-bombing the SOBs. These feelings just might be a problem. Ya think? And don’t go talking about “sleep disturbances,” mmm-kay?

LaShawn Barber has a post on this article, with 39 comments (as of this writing). The comments are most interesting; it seems like a lot of folks spend a lot of time on-line, but few seem to think it’s a problem. (via That Law Prof in Madison)

Where is that Fat Lady, anyway? (via Real Clear Politics)

In New Mexico 1, County Clerks are in the process of counting of the 2,698 provisional ballots and 1,058 "in lieu of" ballots still outstanding. Each ballot has to be scrutinized to determine whether it's valid or not before being added the candidate's final tally. By law, the count has to be done by Friday.

Right now, incumbent Republican Heather Wilson has a 1,487-vote lead over Democrat Patricia Madrid.

Heather Wilson isn’t my representative (and she’s anything BUT fat), but I like her. A lot. Could have something to do with the fact that she’s an Air Force Academy grad, but it’s more likely because she’s all in favor of killing terrorists.

Slow news day in The Big(ger) City^TM …

A Clovis police car was damaged Friday night by a tossed pumpkin, according to police reports.

Around 6 a.m. Saturday, Sgt. Douglas Ford called police to report a tail light on his cruiser had been broken when someone threw a pumpkin at it the night before, the report said.

[…]

There were no witnesses or suspects, the report said.

Sheesh. A crime wave. Good thing I decided to stay home today.

Right on cue… It’s 1057 hours as I put the finishing touches on this post. And the wind is howling!

Today’s Pic: SN1, SN3, and Grandson Sean in a hangar at Cannon. Get ‘em while they’re young, I always say. As always, click for larger. April, 2003.

Lightweight

Well, I’m back. If you’re looking for pointed political commentary and links to illuminating thought on the issues of the day, move on. Nothing to see here. It’s not that I haven’t read a ream or two of news stories and op-eds this morning/afternoon that range from bad to worse. I have. And, wonder of wonders, I have absolutely nothing to say, or rather, nothing to say that hasn’t been said better, elsewhere. And you, Gentle Reader, are just as capable of ferreting out this stuff as I. Better, probably. Some days it just bees like this.

My current Earworm is (arguably) the silliest and most insipid song that came out of the 60s. Ever. Never mind the fact that it was actually 1970.

Almost cut my hair
Happened just the other day
It's gettin' kind of long
I could've said it was in my way

But I didn't and I wonder why
I feel like letting my freak flag fly
And I feel like I owe it, yeah ... to someone, yeah

It’s all because the last time I got shorn was in late May or early June, just before I went out to Maine for granddaughter Anastasia’s graduation. So, yeah, I’m reminded of the fact “It’s gettin’ kind of long” every time I look in the mirror. I guess I am letting my freak flag fly. Frickin’ David Crosby. Fat Old Hippie.

Second Thoughts Dept: Regardless of what I said above, this album remains one of my all-time favorites. There’s not a bad track on that album, not one. And it (the album) helped me get laid. A lot. (See here for one reason why)

Speaking of music… I put away about 90 or so CDs in the course of completing a long delayed project yesterday, to wit: reducing the clutter that’s accumulated in El Casa Móvil De Pennington. “Put away” means returning the CDs to their normal storage space (an overhead cabinet above my couch), which is also generally inaccessible. That inaccessibility means I’ll pull a CD out of its storage space, play it, and set it aside in a pile of “played CDs.” I had accumulated nine such piles over the course of the last two years or so. It was quite junky looking. All fixed now.

In the course of filing all those CDs I pulled out an album from said storage space I hadn’t listened to in quite some time, probably three years or more. I’m still listening to it today, even though there are only about three tracks I really like on the album. The rest of the tracks are throw-aways, at best. But I’ve always liked this song, and hearing it again makes my day quite a bit brighter. So, resurrecting an old blog feature, I give you today’s…

Song of the Day

Song: To Live and Die in L.A.
Artist: Wang Chung
Album: To Live and Die in L.A. (soundtrack)
Year: 1985
Source: My Stuff.

Makes me think of & etc.: Former Happy Days. I’d just moved from OKC to Detroit and begun my post-USAF career with EDS. The song has a sort of hypnotic quality, the arrangement and orchestration are magnificent, and you can just sing along SO easily. The lyrics, on the other hand, take on an entirely different meaning these days.

Lyrics:

In the heat of the day
Every time you go away
I have to piece my life together
Every time you’re away
In the heat of the day
In the dark of the night
Every time I turn the light
I feel that God is not in heaven
In the dark of the night
The dark of the night

I wonder why I live alone here
I wonder why we spend these nights together
Is this the room I’ll live my life forever
I wonder why in la
To live and die in la
I wonder why we waste our lives here
When we could run away to paradise
But I am held in some invisible vice
And I can't get away
To live and die in la

If I let myself go
And for where I just don’t know
I’d maybe hit some cold new river
That led out to the sea
An unknown sea
I’d either swim or I’d drown
Or just keep falling down and down
I think its that, that makes me quiver
Just to keep falling down
Down, down, down

I wonder why I live alone here
I wonder why we spend these nights together
Is this the way I’ll live my life forever
I wonder why in la
To live and die in la

In every word that you say
I feel my freedom slip away
I feel the bars come down around me
And I can't get away
I can't get away

I wonder why I live alone here
I wonder why we spend these nights together
Is this the room I’ll live my life forever
I wonder why in la
To live and die in la
I wonder why we waste our lives here
When we could run away to paradise
But I am held in some invisible vice
And I can't get away
To live and die in la

I can't get away
To live and die in la
I can't get away
To live and die in la
I can't get away
To live and die in la
I can't get away
To live and die in la

Sorry for the lightweight nature of today’s musings. It is what it is…

Marking Time

We dipped down into the low, low 30s again last night. Our forecasted low was 31 degrees and I have no reason to doubt we hit it. It was quite chilly in El Casa Móvil De Pennington this morning, which, of course, encouraged me to remain abed…all warm and snuggly and such. It’s my habit and practice to turn the heat down to about 60 or so before retiring; I sleep best in cool temps. That habit makes rolling out of bed on cool to cold mornings just a little…um…problematic. Much easier to remain where it's warm, nu?

So, here I am, working on the third cup and still making the morning’s virtual rounds. Ill be back in a few, but in the meantime…

Today’s Pic: Some Fall color (and a friend) for you in a spectacular setting—Letchworth State Park in Upstate New York, near Rochester. October, 1999.