Blood Donation Time Again

One of the things about having particular blood types, is that THEY will call you and request a unit of your blood.



So, I donated. Got my red T-shirt (Go Sooners!), some pretzels and some paperwork. Afterwards had dinner at the Chinese place next door.



Donate blood if you can. Help save a Life!

Syn´as`try

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, published 1913 by C. & G. Merriam Company defines “Synastry” this way:
n. 1. Concurrence of starry position or influence; hence, similarity of condition, fortune, etc., as prefigured by astrological calculation.


“Synastry” refers to the astrological study of relationships, a kind of bringing together the stars for two people. It's a bit of folk fortune telling in nearly every culture to try to make sure that couple is right and the time is right. For those who know me or are longer term readers of this blog, you know that I did no such thing as this before - or maybe things wouldn't have turned out the way they did.

A long time ago, a helluva long time ago really, I ordered a Relationship Reading from a very respected astrologer for Miss Sunshine and I. So much has happened since I ordered this reading, that I actually thought that it would never arrive. I'd quit thinking about it even. It FINALLY arrived in the mail. I listened to it today. It was a really hard day for me.

What do you think the Relationship Reading said?

All Work & No Play = Promotion?

Well, one of my "evil" secrets is this ...


The Evil Corporation has given me a new office and a new (temporary) position - Acting Boss. The old Boss of one of the Evil Corporations' Fiefdoms retired rather unexpectedly. Our fearless UberBoss asked me to sit in as Acting Boss until arrangements could be made to set up a panel for interviews to replace the old Boss. The Fiefdom is a good one, but needs some serious attention to get things back to where they need to be. So, that means plenty of work ... and NO PLAY ... and maybe after the interviews are complete ... a BIG promotion.


Now how can I tell that certain, special SOMEONE that I really, really need to put in the time to get this thing rolling? Does "I love you" help? How about chocolates? Flowers? Corn whiskey in a wooden jug? Should I just keep my head down, nose to the grindstone and get it all done in long, empty silence? What would Nixon do? Why does the hallway to my new office seem like the "Long Dark of Moria?"

Why So Many Food Posts?

Someone asked me today about all the food related postings I've been making lately on this blog. Well, it's a time of transformation for me and I'm not sure about how exactly it all is going to work out. No, I'm not comfortable enough to talk about it yet. You'll have to let this suffice for now - "A couple of very, very big Life things are going on right now." Both are really good! It's what I've wanted for a very long time and I don't want to jinx it by saying any more just yet. Hope you understand. So, until that time comes, let's have lunch and some fun!

Oklahoma City's best dim sum is served here.


The dim sum staple - garlic chicken feet ...


Crab balls made by a novice chef. Tasty, but deflated ...


What's a dim sum without some shumai?


And the best dish of all - the shrimp stuffed jalapeno peppers ...


Careful there boys and girls, these devils are wickedly HOT!!!

Peanut Butter Meltdown

Happy Veterans Day! To all those veterans who have served or are currently serving, THANK YOU for your service. I wish I could give each and every one of you one of these wonderful desserts - a Peanut Butter Meltdown.


It's a pecan-stuffed brownie with peanut butter and ice cream topping, a little whipped cream, a drizzle of flavor, and a cherry. Enjoy!

The Big Sexy

Here is the Big Sexy.


It's an open faced double chili cheeseburger with all the trimmings. It's really, really good.

Truth In Strange Places

Penguins ... in my Inbox

Did you ever wonder why there are no dead penguins on the ice in Antarctica - where do they go? Wonder no more!!

It is a known fact that the penguin is a very ritualistic bird which lives an extremely ordered and complex life.

The penguin is very committed to its family and will mate for life, as well as maintaining a form of compassionate contact with its offspring throughout its life.

If a penguin is found dead on the ice surface, other members of the family and social circle have been known to dig holes in the ice, using their vestigial wings and beaks, until the hole is deep enough for the dead bird to be rolled into and buried.

The male penguins then gather in a circle around the fresh grave and
sing:

"Freeeeze a jolly good fellow."

Then they kick him in the ice hole.

You know, I've loved the phrase "ice hole" ever since I first heard in the old Michael Keaton comedy "Johnny Dangerously". "Ice hole" ... it's even funnier when preceded by the old Swedish word ... "farging".

The Peach Dealios - Reunion Gig

Had a MAJOR get together yesterday. Yep, the Peach Dealios are officially back together. It was exceedingly cool. Our line up is a little different and the sound is a little different too, but it is ... OUR ... sound. So, who are the Peach Dealios?

First is Walt on rhythm guitar.


Justin on lead guitar and occaisionally vocals.


Me drumming by necessity, guitarist by choice. Yes, we are looking for a REAL drummer.


Marissa who sings and looks great all of the time, even if it's posing with the drum kit. She is my hero because she likes to sing "yelly" songs AND she screams very well. There was some speculation about how she learned to scream so well, but everyone was afraid to just come out and ask.


and Katie who took a turn at vocals.


Life is good.

Okra

Have you ever tried Okra? It's a southern staple, and here's what it looks like in the garden ...



Up close, it's a thing of beauty.



It's a relative of the hybiscus and the part that you eat are the pointy looking seed pods that are picked while the pod is green and supple.



Wash 'em, slice 'em, slather them with cornmeal breading, fry 'em and then eat 'em. Does life get any better?

Baby Feet

This is sooooo ... my fault. Am I bad?

Taking a Sick Day

Took a sick day from work work today. Felt awful with a cold and the sniffles. So I slept in late and relaxed. In the afternoon, I made the batter for crepes and put it into the fridge to relax for a few hours.

Then after dinner time, I was ready to make Crepes Suzette, or as Julia Child calls them in Mastering the Art of French Cooking, "Crepes with Orange Butter, Flambees".
First things first, gathering all the fixins ...

Then it's time to make the crepes. The trick is to make sure the batter covers the entire working surface of the pan, then relax and let the heating elements do their work, and finally the "flip". I saw Julia do this on the television, but more recently I saw Alton Brown do it on Today on a segment called "How To Make A Perfect Crepe". His technique is flawless, but just about anyone can get the hang of it in just a few tries.

The next step is to make the orange butter or syrup. You need, butter, oranges, sugar and some patience.



Then take the crepes for a spin in the orange butter, give them a dose of Cointreau and a little Courvoisier cognac for good measure, and set them on FIRE!!!



When the flame dies down, have a fork handy coz it's time to dine!

Kansas Baby, Part 2

All that swinging worked up an appetite, so while Connor had a snack ...


while the big kids went to the Wyldewood Cellars winery ...


They have some very good wines. Their specialty is elderberry and it is really tasty. Joe recommended the Prairie Sunshine. It is really, really good.


Then it was back to the house to eat that brisket, watch our beloved Sooners lose another game ... and have some ice cold Avalanche Ale from Breckenridge Brewery.


Avalanche Ale is a a friendly amber ale that is always tasty and isn't overpowering. For a real treat, visit the brewery in Breckenridge, Colorado, and have some food and an Avalanche. It's just good! If you visit Breckenridge in winter, be sure to bring your skis. The mountain is fun. Way back in the 70's, I learned to ski on that hill, and have always had fun there.

Early the next morning, I loaded the scooter for the trip home. Yes, there really is a case of wine in that tailbag ...


Yep, it was rainy and cold, but I have lots of winter gear to keep me toasty rolling through the Kansas prairie ...


Finally, back home safe and sound ...

Kansas Baby

Went to Kansas this weekend to see my newest nephew, Connor. Left home on a cold Saturday morning, and headed north. Crossed the famous Cimarron River, made famous in about a million old Western movies ...

Eventually crossed the border into Kansas. It's almost harvest time for sorghum. Around here it's called milo until you take the grain to the elevator for sale or storage though. Can you see that "Kansas Skyscraper" in background on the horizon?

Arrived at my brother Sean's just in time to fill the cooler and get a brisket started.


Connor came out to supervise.

While the brisket smoked ...

And Joe made the trimmings ...

Connor went swinging ...

... more about the trip tomorrow ...

A Wedding Shower

Hope springs eternal even in the Evil Corporation. Best wishes to the happy couple.

The lucky Groom-to-be went home with a truckload of gifts, food, and the obligatory toaster. They'll be off to a great start. For me, it was off to the gym. Why? Do you like cake and punch as much as I do?

State Fair Quilts

Went to the Oklahoma State Fair and found these quilts in one of the exhibition halls. They were so amazing in detail, quality and composition that I had to post a few of them here. Is this amazing art or what?