In high school, I made the mistake of showing interest in one of my best friend's dad's hobby. "I grow orchids." "Cool, Mr. Fleming!" "Want to go see them?" "I...er..uh..sure." "Daaaaaaad!" (That was my friend, being all embarrassed.) Anyway, he led us to his greenhouse and showed us all kinds of really beautiful, exotic plants and flowers. It was really impressive! He had birds in there, too. Like parrots. HOWEVER, he failed to mention that he also hatched thousands of praying mantids in there. They were everywhere, including on me! I scream, you scream, we all scream for no-uh-uh! Apparently, they are effective for pest control, eating everything, including each other. They come in all sizes -- the biggest one had to have been at least 3". SHUDDER.

It took me awhile to get over it, but I love the praying mantis now. As long as they don't touch me and stay outside, we can live together harmoniously. I think it's cute how they turn their heads and totally stare at you. And sometimes, they swat at you as you walk by, very much like a cat. I once considered having one for a pet, but then I read up on them. Here are some factoids that helped me change my mind:

The mantid is generally from 3-4 inches in length depending on the gender, but some of the 1,800 or so types of praying mantid can be up to 12 inches long. (12"!!!)

Most scientists agree that praying mantids are closely related to the grasshopper, cockroach and other stick-type insects. (Will a mantis eat a roach or have a family reunion with it? [Sorry, bad dad joke.])

With an enormous appetite they have been known to eat up to 16 crickets per day and consume over 21 different species of insects. An amazing number of people also keep the mantid as a pet. They can be quite fun to watch and are quite active, especially when they are young. They can be kept together, but require lots of space and food and will eat each other if they are properly fed. It is best to seperate them as they get older. Praying mantis will not bite, but they will pinch if handled. ( I just don't know if I can handle coming home and finding a mantis on top of a pile of dead mantid bodies with her little arms held up over her head in victory. )

The praying mantis will also fly as an adult. (Don't want.)

I have a natural, healthy fear & respect for insects. Bees. Ants. They are born, they work for a common purpose, and then they die. That's it! They aren't going to let me or you get in the way of that!
It is why I FEAR ANTS.

Eclipse Glasses, Smoke Up Johnny & American Princes

27 December 2008

Eclipse Glasses:







Smoke Up Johnny:





American Princes:






And for good measure, Stacy Mackey:

Oh, the time off work is sorely missed! I suppose it's time to get back to our regular, normal schedules. You know, riding out the rest of the sunless winter 'til March. Don't forget to feed the boids!

For days now, I've been trying to work together a menu for our New Year's Eve get-together. This shouldn't be difficult, but I aim to dazzle. So far, I've got Sabra hummus with pita chips. Chocolate chip cookies and banana bread. Panko-chicken nuggets. Lasagna. Challah & butter. And I think I'm gonna make some muh-fuh crabcakes. It'll be a first time for me -- should I totally blow it, at least I'll have a ton of food anyway. I've written & re-written this menu a dozen times now, so the actual results are TBA.

Since last year, NYE has been something of a dream-come-true for me. It's a handful of us, in a cabin in Ferndale, which is about 20 minutes outside of LR. We feast and are merry. That's pretty much it -- but-- it's so much fun! The cabin is a sight to behold. I cannot tell you how old it is, but it is OLD. It's an amazing restoration project with a few modern amenities added. There's electricity and running water, but it's heated with fireplaces. The land that surrounds it is lush & pretty. Sometimes, there are horses in the field. I ALWAYS bring apples for them to munch on. It's the right way to ring in the new year. It's the best way to ring in the new year. It's the only way...

Well, our search for a new couch was quick & fruitful. Is it any surprise that Ik3a is where we're ordering it from?
Any resolutions for the new year? We did pretty well last year. We use reusable bags ALL OF THE TIME and not just at the grocery store. We don't buy bottled water. And we recycle more than we make garbage.

For 2009:
1. Get in the habit of unplugging electronics not in use. Cellphone chargers, computer speakers, the hair dryer, the fan, etc. We've talked about getting one of those energy-saving power strips for our tv/dvd player. We really want to do this, so the only challenge is actually remembering to do it.
2. Lights out! Seriously, turn off lights not in use. We are usually pretty good at this, but it kinda goes with the first resolution.
3. I'd like to broaden my cooking skills and try new foods and harder recipes. I already warned my co-workers that they will be my test subjects. This is my THING!

January is looking good. We've got Tet and THE Inauguration to celebrate! Tet will be special in that 2009 is Year of the Ox -- that is ATM's sign! As for THE Inauguration, Eclipse Glasses will be playing some gigantic affair in the Clear Channel Metroplex which is hilarious and awesome at the same time.

Christmas in Mississippi 2008

K.B.:

Xmas morning with K.B.:

ATM & Grandma Evelyn:

Xmas kickin' it:

Uncle ATM meeting his nephew for the very first time:


Grandma Evelyn opening gifts:

More baby!:

ATM, his nephew & his brother:

From K.B.'s view:

Karla, Daniel & K.B.:

ATM's momma:

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:

ATM wouldn't get out of bed, so I sent in reinforcements:


Total cuteness:



We spent time @ ATM's father's, too. Here's Daniel, Cade & their dad/granddad:

Jerry, Shawn, Daniel, Cade, & ATM:

On the way home, Lake Providence, LA:



I made my first bread today. I went with challah. It is a thing of beauty and tastes as good as it looks. According to Bittman, leftover challah is ideal for French toast. Tomorrow's brunch will be great!

Before the oven:

The final product:


I made a lasagna, too. I invited Eclipse Glasses to have dinner before their show. They'll be here any minute!

MERRY XMAS!

I will be away for the next couple of days. Hope you guys have a peaceful, fun time away from work!

Countdown w/ AMD

I've got a pretty extensive to-do list.  I will be baking all day.  Thankfully, I can do things between loafs of banana bread.  I don't make loaves, I make loafs, it's just my style.  Anyway, I'm giving banana bread and oatmeal cookies to parents for Xmas, in addition to other gifts.  You have not had a perfect oatmeal cookie until you've had mine.  I do not lie!  Secret ingredient?  Orange zest!  Merry Xmas!

I just finished wrapping all of the gifts, furoshiki style.  I totally am kicking myself for not doing the reusable gift wrap thing sooner.  Aside from the obvious benefits, it's way stylish. They're so pretty!  No tape, man!

I put bird seed, a near rotting pear & old bread outside my window for the birds.  I can seriously listen to Perry Como's Xmas album, drink coffee & watch them all day.  So pretty!  The birds have poufed themselves out & look really fat!

This evening, we might be going to Vino's to see Trusty + Matt Bessar.  I'm hoping to see a lot of ex-pats milling around being cool and looking good.  The people I know, they're a good looking lot.  I know what you're thinking: "Photos, please."  I'll see what I can do.

From this past Friday @ Cool Shoes:
Zach:

Murphy Brothers

Hilary:

Keiko, Rebeccah, Colin, KMHD, Sam, Henry & Jeremy:

No discretion? No special effects photo! Boom.


Here's a picture of grandma!


This is the cuteness that I have to tolerate ALL OF THE TIME:

FRIDAY, 19 Dec 2008:

I'm feeling very Nation-of-Ulysses-bitchy today. Very Maniac Dragstrip. I figure I'll just let this run it's course, let this 'tude have it's way.

Anyway

I just got off the phone with Collin & he told me that the AR Times has my photo of Eclipse Glasses in it + a review. A GOOD review, I might add.  Of the band.  I ran downstairs to get a copy.  There it is!:

Last night, me & KMHD tested for our Muy Thai kickboxing yellow belts.  SUCCESS!  Testing is a bit of a hassle.  We also test with tiny kids, a.k.a. Little Dragons, taking Tae Kwon Do.  It's obvious that testing is basically a show for the parents.  It takes forever to get through it all, so after the cuteness wears off, you're really ready to get out of there.  ATM was there to dote & document.

We mistakenly had a celebratory supper with Master Lee, Instructor Davis, and two other students.  With the exception of Han (student) the others were wildly embarrassing to be associated with.  I've never seen people treat a waitress so badly.  They were so loud.  They were demanding.  Master Lee got the biggest margarita I have ever seen, drank it & proceeded to talk/yell at ATM for the entire duration.  Um, at some point, a guy from another table challenged anyone at our table to an arm-wrestling match.  Really.  Our guy did not win, but it really quieted him down from that point, which was a freaking relief.  At the first opportunity, we got the hell out of there.  I still don't really know how we even agreed to supper with them anyway.  You know, with these folks, I think we mutually tolerate each other.  They think we are nerds, serious & boring.  We think they are total assholes, stupid & boring.  I figure the best way to survive this class is to just have minimal contact with them.

For Wednesdate, I made a spicy curry noodle soup:

New favorite condiments:

SATURDAY, 20 Dec 2008:

We went to Cool Shoes last night.  It was a steamy, creepy, young-person event.  I totally tried to absorb all of their young-people energy.  I got a little dancing in.  It wasn't terrible, just o.k.  Got to see both Murphy Bros. at one time!  

I don't know what today has in store for us.  Need to go to the tobacco shop.  Need to buy toilet paper + some groceries.  Really dreading getting out there!