Justify My Love (for the Ciccones)

So, a part of me would like to get Christopher Ciccone's new biography about Madonna. I LOVE her, but I'm no fool to think that she's not batshit crazy and, well, I'd like to see what her bruvvah says about her. Hee.
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We're going to Mom's to pick blueberries after work. And I'd like to make a supper for two, some summer pasta. Easy evening.

Bowling w/ the Peeks:











I've got a design challenge for, well, anyone interested. We've got a third bedroom that I just don't know what to do with. Currently, it holds a nice big table that's supposed to be used as a workspace & I've got project supplies in there, too. It just doesn't inspire me to work on anything AND it's always cluttered because there isn't a proper place for my stuff. If I don't use it, then it's just a sad waste of precious space. So, if anyone has any experience with interior designing or just wants to have a go at making this room better, let me know! I can't offer anything in return unless you take payment in the form of a nice homemade meal (plus dessert!) & your choice of libation. I'll post photos of said room and try to give some dimensions for those interested.

Tomorrow evening, we're going to Burlesque @ the Public Theatre. We might go get ATM a new phone, too, which he really needs.

This weekend, the plan is to go island camping with the crew: Collin, Delores, Keiko & Rett. I can't wait to go swimming! Happiness is me on a float, on a lake, with my mates. I'm trying to come up with a no-cook menu that doesn't leave me wanting. And having to pare down the "gear", always a challenge, but I'll do it! Watch me!

Work has been so dud dud dud dud dud dud. Thankfully, we have nice, fun evening to counter that mess.

So, this is a man's world, huh?

I don't know if I can pull off writing how stupid this day has been so far. It's almost noon, right? I feel like this has been the. longest. day. Shit, I don't want to get into it, I want to get over it! But, I will say this: the man I work for, he is such a spaz! He can make something out of nothing, giving me heart attacks and strokes, all before I even step foot into this building!

3:40 p.m.: I just called ATM & asked how can we make our evening awesome? I mean, what a day! My mind, it's ruined.


In much happier news, congrats to Brian, Pearl & Henry. Adoption is FINAL!

Having An Average Weekend

Friday evening was easy, it had to have been, because I can't remember what happened.  Hang on, let me ask ATM.  - - Oh yeah, we went & had BBQ and had an intention to go see a movie afterward, but that just didn't pan out, neither one of us was feelin' it.  

Saturday, we went to both Farmer Markets - - NLR's is still sparse, but it's the most propah of the two, with focus on selling Arkansas-only fruits, veg & whatnot.  LR's is insufferable what with the crowds & street performers. We managed to pick up veg from both.  Got organic corn on the cob, sunburst tomatoes, okra, and garlic.  Got a coffee from Boulevard --picked up a baguette & Orangina as well.  Decided I was going to make corn chowder for supper.  Stopped by KMHD/ZR/CHANG's pad to pick up the power sander and some Louise Erdrich novels for ATM.  We attempted to sand & re-stain a piece of furniture, but it is turning out to be more work than we want, so it's just sitting on the front porch waiting for us to be non-lazy.  But, this heat doesn't help matters much, yeah?  It is hot.  There's no need to be working out in what feels like 105 degrees.  NO.  After a nice stint of laying in front of a box fan in the middle of the living room floor, we showered and decided to call on Rett & Keiko, to see if they want to have supper with us @ the house.  They said yes!  So, me & ATM, we scramble to make dinner and to set up a nice make-shift supper table in the back room.  Dinner & hanging out was great, I always have a good time with them.  And the food was very tasty!




At the end of the night, it is decided that we are going to Sticky Fingerz (really) to eat chicken strips & then go bowling on Wednesday.  I'm so fucking happy!

After we sent them off, I drunkenly made the best scrambled eggs ever.  Sitting on the floor in front of the telly, watching Kids in the Hall & eating best-known scrambled eggs with my best mate IS the best way to end an already lovely evening.  

Today, wow, the ultimate lazy Sunday.  I wake up at nine, wash all of the dishes, put recycling in it's overfilled bin & make a pot of coffee.  It's raining!  I go outside to make sure it's not a joke and then I wake up ATM.  "Hey, I'm sorry to bother, but it's raining.  We usually have to go to work when it's a rainy day, so if you want to get up and watch it with me, there's coffee."  We sit outside and relax.  It's just perfect, the air is cool and then there's the sound of water flowing over eaves and leaves and the birds are singing super loud and splashing about.

We make a quick run to the hardware store to buy tack cloth. (FYI:  You need it for after sanding!) After that, I develop an immense craving for greasy Chinese food.  We drive over to a restaurant we've never been to, honestly expecting a counter right when you walk in a la New Fun Ree -- NO.  This place is immense, "bigger than a mall's food court", and elaborately decorated.  One word: buffet.  I've never seen one so fancy and full and varied!  There's sushi!  And a guy that will make you a custom grill bowl!  All included as part of the buffet!  As I was peeling my shrimps cocktail, I said to ATM, "This has got to be a $10 per buffet."  "At least!"  Our waitress brings us our ticket...$13 for BOTH of us, wtf!  After we leave there, I declare that I never want to go back.  But, if we do, I will eat my weight in egg drop soup (They let you have as many Chinese fritos as you desire!) and dim sum -- nothing else.  I'm so sorry that I had no camera with me, it is a fantasy land in there.

We come home and nap.  For hours.  Maybe it's because we wake up early to enjoy the rain whilst being a little hung over, maybe it was the Chinese buffet?  I don't know, but we sleep and sleep and sleep.  I'm still tired.  But, I'm about to make a fine supper of zucchini, onion & okra tempura.  And a side of cantaloupe.  And we're gonna watch a movie.  We agreed that our only chores that must be done is to change the sheets on the bed and make sure we have clean clothes for work tomorrow.  What an average weekend. 

90 MINUTES TIME IS ALL I NEED TO MAKE YOU MINE

There's been talk on AR Rockers about making mixes. I've been meaning to do one myself, I want to debut it on our next camping trip. That used to be a tradition of ours, to ask (force) everyone to make a mix to play on the little boombox, but we've succumbed to busyness or laziness, natch. Anyway, I've got a solid 5 songs that I know I want to put on the new mix, so that's a good start, yeah? Maybe I can post the thing here!

There's also been real talk of getting my Vespa back in order, I just can't stand not having her! I called the dealership and asked about what they can/can't fix. It sounds like they can do a lot, but none of the body work, which is expected. I'm hoping that this won't cost me but a few hundred dollars? Am I that fortunate? If all goes well, PP may be up & running in about a month! Meep meep!

Anne asked me to keep the 2nd of August open because we're invited to a Jhortz party! What are "jhortz"?

Yesterday evening, we stopped by Savers to see if we could find the ultimate pair of jeans to transform into the ultimate pair of jhortz. Whoa - ho - ho! I forgot about colored denim or denim with ridiculous embellishments! Apparently, prizes will be awarded at this party. I think that we will definitely play to win. I may make a few pair, so I can do wardrobe changes at this party. Good lord.

Brittany came over last night so ATM could help her edit some Burlesque music stuff -- anyway, we talked & she inspired me to get the Plum Pussy, my once stolen/now recovered, but ruined Vespa, back into working order.  PLEASE, THE POWERS THAT BE, GRANT ME THE POWER TO FOLLOW THRU WITH THIS ONE THING.  And some money, for the costs.  I miss my Vespa!

So, I get an email from the AR Dem Party today - - they're hyped about the upcoming delegates convention coming up and they discuss this n that - - not one word mentioned about Barack Obama in the entire (lengthy) memo.  They mention John McCain, they even mention W, but no acknowledgement of the presumptive Democratic candidate. WHY THE COLD SHOULDER?!!!  They make me want to say rotten things like, "Stop being a pussy & stand up!"  Why-I-oughta...!

I've been driving to work. It's. been. too. hot. Today, there's going to be the heat index factor, fatal humidity. Tomorrow, it's supposed to rain. Oh, summer! Why are you so killer? I honestly can't wait for things to settle down because I'd like to get back to walking to work AND bento-ing.

I have daydreams of swimming in a lake and eating sandwiches.

Here is, ha ha, SOLO & her bday gifts. She's such a ham:

Poor babe, you can see in her eyes that she is getting older. 11!

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What can I complain about today?

Summer is ready when you are.

Happy Birthday, SOLO! What a good little monkey.

Ooof, that was a superb holiday, but I am pretty hungry. That's right, I said hungry. I cooked so much on the 4th, that I really didn't eat proper, you know how it is. And then with camping, you eat a lot of convenient foods that don't require too much prep, you can't really say you ate a meal meal. The big question of the day is, "What's for dinner?" I'm open to suggestion, but two things: 1) No Mexican & 2) If I must cook, let's have an "easy" or "medium" cooking level, I don't really feel like getting into it.
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I started off my holiday on Thursday afternoon by running over to Mom's to pick blueberries. It was pretty awesome, we donned straw hats, dipped ourselves in insect repellent & chatted while picking berries. Here's a truism: My mother grows the best blueberries.

I returned home and quickly made some blueberry muffins for my pal Glen. After that, me & ATM went to his birthday party, which was v. pleasant. I didn't get very many photos, but I did get one of a child with a beer! (Note: She really wasn't drinking it, she was just looking at the art on it.)

After Glen's party, we hung out with I.K.E. a bit, since he wasn't going to be able to make it to our 4th get-together.


Ghost me:


The next morning, the 4th, I woke up early to start the gettin' ready for the thing we were throwin'. I cooked ALL DAY. I/we made homemade vanilla ice cream, a lot of panko fried chicken nuggets, marinated/pan-fried tofu, vegetable tempura, blueberries (doi) & cantaloupe. By the time we started having folks over, I was ready for bed. But, once things got started, I had a really good time. We had good company, I got to debut the 8-track player, and the food was really good. I was pleased with the herbivore/carnivore variety, it was about 50/50! And all very om nom! KMHD made a really bitchin' veggie sloppy joe, which we later dubbed "Faux Joe". Keiko's spring rolls were remarkable!

Heather & Zach, Delores & Jennifer

SOLO hiding under the bed from the fireworks:

ATM, Delores & Collin, Suzi & Glen, oohing & awwing over the fireworks display:


After our last guest left, we ate whatever ice cream that remained & passed out. Face down. Well, I did. But, I woke up early again the next morning, cleaned the house inside & out, and prepared for our camping trip w/ Collin & Delores. We went to our good ol' standby, DeGray Lake/Iron Mountain. Oh my good lord, the campground was filled to capacity. In fact, we're pretty damn lucky to even have gotten a space! And our usual site #35, no less! Anyway, people don't camp like we camp. There were RVs everywhere. It was completely disheartening & I was disappointed.
Thankfully, we had really good company to distract us from the hum of t.v. satellites & generators. And bad country music. If I were an authority, I would've written tickets (w/ incredibly large fees) for:

1. Throwing away too much trash. Folks could've easily sorted their recyclables and reduced how much they were throwing out drastically. It's infuriating to see trash bins overflowing and then several bags piled up around it. Honestly, even if it sounds a little fascist, I wish that this sort of thing is a punishable crime. Hit 'em where it hurts, fine those motherfuckers! If you won't do your part to protect the environment, then we'll make you pay, asshole!

2. For dressing in clothes many sizes too small. I really did not need to see that, ma'am/sir.

3. You do not need that much stuff. Really. You are camping, amirite?

4. Seriously, who the fuck is making the bathrooms completely intolerable? It's disgusting in there! How?!!!

That's my short list. Yikes, people, stop being so disgusting!

I regret that my complaints overshadow the actual good time that I had. For the first time ever, I swam in DeGray Lake! It was great, I floated on my raft for a good while. It was so relaxing and refreshing. I am really looking forward to that again! After we packed up everything, we drove over to Hot Springs and had lunch @ Fisherman's Wharf. Om nom! And then we went home. Long, summer weekend over.

Collin & Delores, inflating:




Well, I look like a goob here, but ATM looks cool:


And last, but not least, a duck family, as seen from the deck of Fisherman's Wharf:


Aww.

I'm planning the 4th from my desk, I've got my grocery lists worked up and my recipes organized. It's certain that I will wear myself out from the cooking and hostessing and making sure the cat is safely tucked under the bed or in the closet when the fireworks start -- can't wait!

So, I live in Argenta, better known as Dogtown or (Downtown) North Little Rock. There's a neighborhood blog run by a "I don't know anything, but I know what's good for you" asshat. Anyway, he informed readers that fireworks are illegal in NLR and that if he catches any of us doing fireworks, he will call the cops. Seriously. What a knob. It's the 4th of July, amirite? Automatically, when someone says "Fourth of July", I think of this:

And then this:

Anyway, I figure that if the police are summoned and they actually do show, they'll either confiscate the fireworks or ask me to stop, which is fine by me. No harm, no foul.

Some people should not blog. Ha, I may be one of those people! This is so boring.

KMHD, Mayumi:

The flash trip to Ft. Smith wasn't too bad, it went by w/o incident. Highlights include Dad making scrambled eggs for KMHD (Which is a BFD, he hasn't cooked for us in 10+ years!) and inheriting an 8-track player + numerous 8-track cassettes. I've always respected and admired the novelty of 8-tracks, but never saw myself as an owner of one. Thx to my dad, I am now!

Just a sample:

Me & KMHD, we got out of Ft. Smith pretty quickly, there's nothing for us there. I need to note the immense feeling of relief and happiness arriving back home. Euh, huh? We weren't even gone 24 hours.

Me & ATM made good on what was left of our weekend, we went to the flea market in search of "new" 8-track cassettes (No dice), Supermercado Fresca (Home of 88 cent t-shirts and glass bottle colas), and we tried to go to Jam Rock, a newish Caribbean grocery store, but they were closed. According to my co-worker, they have lots of tonics and potions for vitality & long-lasting boners. Naturally, I'm intrigued. I don't even know what I'd pick up there! Probably not tonics and potions, though.

3-day weekend bliss and it's all for Independence Day. We are going to have a thing @ our home. I've already drawn up a menu & ideas of water sprinklers and shady spots in the yard. I really hope people bring chairs! And libations. And maybe a little food. I'm inviting the usual suspects, all of the precious (& photogenic) folks that I run with. They will make my 4th so attractive!

My favorite glass:

I did myself a huge favor and ordered Kids In the Hall Seasons 1 & 2. Both offa the internets for less than 20$! I really envy you guys -- you'll soon get to hear me dropping KITH quotes all over the place! So's you know, I ain't gonna spread for no roses.

ECLIPSE GLASSES

Eclipse Glasses tonite @ AR Flag & Banner / 800 W. 9th St. $5 + ca$h bar. 8 p.m. -11p.m.

Re: The Seattle post. It won't be ready for awhile, but for very good reason: it's not being thrown together. I've got to do a little recollecting & remembering. I've got to upload photos & try to condense condense condense, even though there's no avoiding lengthiness. I'm still waiting for ATM's bit on our night out in Fremont. I've been too busy @ work to really work on it, but in the end I think it might prove useful to anyone who goes to Seattle & surrounding areas. Well, ha, maybe.

Me & KMHD are working on 'cheat sheets' to take to Spanish-speaking establishments, especially restaurants. It's difficult to tell someone "I am vegetarian" and get desired results unless you speak their language. So, we Babelfished some terms and translated from English to Spanish in hopes of being able to ask for a salsa verde refill and NOT getting any meat in KMHD's burrito. I'd like to learn more than how to order a taco though! I know the Latino community is steadily growing in Arkansas, but it doesn't mean I encounter Spanish-speakers all of the time. In fact, we get the occasional Spanish-speaking person here @ the courthouse or when I go to Las Delicias, but I don't encounter them otherwise. So, an effort does have to be made to learn the language, which I am happy to do. I guess I wonder what all the fuss is over some alien invasion? Amirite? Some people just act crazy/silly when they get the fear.

So, maybe this trip to Ft. Smith won't be so awful. We won't be there long, I'll be with KMHD & we won't be there that long. I'm hoping to do some fine dining.

ATM's band Eclipse Glasses will be playing their first show tomorrow night @ AR Flag & Banner! I think it'll be a good show, I'm looking forward to it. He's so cute, that ATM.

It's Wednesdate & I think we're keeping it simple w/ dinner & DVDs.

Allow me to copy/paste from my AR Rockers profile:

I had such a blast camping w/ Keiko & Rett!  You would think that boating out to an island to camp can't outdo itself, but things HAPPENED, man.  At night, we sat at the very edge of the water and stargazed.  What did we see?  Everything.  We saw more stars that I've seen in a long time.  We saw orbiting satellites.  We saw shooting stars.  At one point, we asked the Greater Powers to show us something amazing, so amazing that it scares us a little.  It totally happened:

This photo does no justice, natch.  The moon came out of nowhere, rising so fast, so bright, so orange.  I couldn't get my camera fast enough!  It had completely risen past the horizon before I couldn run 30 feet to get my camera!  We had gone most of the night w/o the moon, so it was just shocking.  It was beautiful, it was awesome, I'll never forget it.  I wish I could write better to convey how rad it was.

Less talk, more...photos?



This photo is great. There's our firepit, made of crystal. On the cooler, a bottle of Patron. Cute people!:


The boat, the view, the AMD floating on a thingy, and our Captain:


ATM, smoke, moon, moon reflection:

After camping, we all rode into town and ate lunch @ Rolando's.  A note to get the tortilla soup & enchiladas again.

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So, today, MONDAY, passed w/o too much incident, although I did have a wardrobe malfunction.  The zipper on my beautiful pencil skirt gave out on me, but no one witnessed it, thankfully.  I was on my way out to lunch when I noticed it and I was able to change when I got home.  

Me & KMHD are going to Ft. Smith this weekend to visit Mayumi before she goes off to Japan and to visit Dad, help him with the yard work.  It's a one-night stay, so there's no fucking around.  We're going to stay w/ Mayumi.  I doubt we'll go out and experience "the night life", as there really isn't one.  Well, one we can tolerate.  I am totally treating this trip as a dreadful chore, which is, well, I don't know.  All I know is that you shouldn't drink the water.

Got off work a little early with the intent of doing some internets housekeeping -- updating profiles, blogs, uploading photos.  Then I'd do some work work.  Yes, I brought some home!  It's mostly just organizing letters, but it's still work work.  I've accomplished half of what I hoped for, but I'm satisfied.

I guess I'll spend the rest of the evening preparing my bento (leftover shrimp!), showering, tending to my goddamn sunburn, and charging my AiPod for the walk to work!  There's a possibility of a Farmer's Market visit tomorrow.  I've got blueberries, dry-aged beef, and okra on the brain.  We'll see!

Molasses.  It's been quiet around here w/o ATM.  

I'm still w/o le automobile, but I've managed to get out of the house w/ no problems. Yesterday evening, Micah & Donna came over & we walked to Dickey-Stephens to join Matika & Angie & their (cute) babies to watch a baseball game.  (7-6, Travs)  Anne loaned me her car this evening so I could get groceries.  What a rad co-worker, yes?  

Gosh, I am so tired.

$$$600$$$

I laughed when I opened my mailbox and found my government check inside. You know, the $600. Is this for fuxxing real?!!! I wasn't going to believe it until I had the thing in my hand, you know? Anyway, there's something weird, something not quite right about this money. I decided long ago, when the news first broke out that these checks were en route to the people, that if A) It was real and I actually got one that B) I'd be a "patriot" and go on a shopping spree. Fug it, you know? I've been saving and saving and paying off my debts, I need to get more camping gear and some comics, man! Oh, and some clothes for work. And a steak. I need some spoils!

My problem right now is that I've been thinking so frugal, so little, that I'm having a difficult time thinking BIG. Should I get a new computer? I DON'T KNOW! It may just have to sit in savings, accruing interest, until I figure it out.

So, hot shots, what did you spend yr $600? Or did you just put it towards bills, debts, school loans? SISSY!

I'm preparing myself to being alone most of this week. I feel a little sad about it, there's a silver lining in there somewhere, right? O.K., so I'll have a little more bed space to myself. But then what? It's impossible cooking for one! Maybe I'll just go watch a load of awful movies. And I'll go visit KMHD, Zach & General Chang.


FYI: I'm still trying to upload SY footage from the Fville show. Fuxxing Y0u Tu83 is being such a hassle.

I get it.

I'm a slow person. In more than ways than one, I'm a tortoise.

When we returned from Seattle, I realized that I had fallen into the "Arkansas Vortex". It's easy to fall in to and remain forever.  And I don't mean to say it like it's a bad thing -- I know some folks who could happily live in the vortex, no problem. But, there's THE void. In exchange for a low cost of living and parking spaces and awesome camping, we suffer not having bubble tea shops, affordable/delicious coffee [Sorry, Boulevard -- you're not very accessible!], Ethiopian cuisine, and proper music venues -- to name a few. Little Rock/N. Little Rock really tries, and that's why I'm so forgiving, but sometimes I wish we didn't have to work so hard for it. One thing I can say about this town(s) is that we do not take any offerings for granted.  Having proper venues or restaurants or shops are a victory for us, even if it doesn't seem like a big deal to anyone anywhere else.  They're a big deal!

That said, when I post things, it's really a report of things I did or will do or have done.  Big deal or no, it's mostly to share with my little circle of friends, my posse. And it's for posterity.  It's wild to go back on things I've written in the past, I've changed so much!  The blog also serves to keep memories fresh as my memory fails me more & more as the time passes.  I sometimes feel sorry for the random buddy that clicks on the link to this blog. This blog is not the peak of excitement, it's slow. I'm slow! Molasses.  I love it!  It affords me the pleasure of being able to travel and still be impressed & fascinated by very little things.  

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The night before last, me & ATM drove up to Fort Roots (NLR) to get a better view of an electrical storm:

The lightning was non-stop & silent. It felt like a live being, so strange.

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Yesterday, I bought some bento "supplies".  Now I can tote around sides of mayonnaise or dressing or soy sauce or hot sauce or whatever in a cute leakproof bottle or container.  I'm really enjoying Ms. Bento, my latest obsession.  

Me & ATM went back to JTDesigns where I totally scored some new skewers!  Now, there's a little background story to this.  On Friday, we watched an ep of Good Eats, kabobs being the theme.  A. Brown said that the best skewers were nice & pointy, but most importantly, flat.  He flouted what looked like my Xmas present that I rec'd from KMHD a couple of years ago.  Up until Friday, I always thought that she got me a fancy letter opener, which I hung in my bedroom for decoration.  As we watched the t.v. show, I said to ATM, "I think I've got a skewer hanging in the bedroom!"  Totally.  Anyway, we thought it a VERY good sign to find some of similar design @ JTD, so I bought four to join the one at home.  I wrote down A. Brown's recipe for spicy kabobs, so I'm very excited to give them a try soon!  Especially if we're going to make them in the fire pit!

The one KMHD got me is on the far right.
 

We got some past-due yard work done, the exterior looks great!  You know what's missing?  A bird bath & a bird feeder.  I'd like to get those things, this neighborhood has A LOT of birds and I'd like to see them playing & eating in my backyard.  You know what's not missing?  FERNS.  We got two of them for the front porch and they look fantastic.  They really tie the house together.

So, we're going to the lake next week w/ Rett & Keiko & TBA?  I'm very excited about it, I ordered a new swimsuit.  I need a big floppy hat to go with my ensemble, mostly for sun-blocking and then for style.  Too, I need to go through our gear and see what needs to be refilled or replaced.  

I find myself wanting to have some event in our backyard.  I'm tempted to buy a kiddie pool & get a keg & just call people to come over, bring food.  And a chair.  

I found this gem @ The Fresh Market:

Friend or foe? I'm intrigued. I'm taking it to work to try w/ CK, a fellow chocolate-liker. KMHD once linked me to a photo of choco-dipped bacon. I am not afraid. Maybe one day. I guess this candy bar will serve as a primer.

Happy Father's Day, ATM!

I'm watching what has been a disappointing soccer game between Germany & Croatia -- hopefully, things will turn around quickly!  As of now, 2-0 Croatia.

I've spent some time today working on a post about our recent trip to Seattle.  I'd like to document it properly for posterity, but I don't want it to be so long and drawn out.  Oh, but it will be long, that part can't be helped.

UPDATE:  Goal!  Germany!

I got to use Ms. Bento for the first time today!  There's something satisfying about taking a proper lunch to work.  It was leftovers today, no big deal.  I had chicken enchiladas w/ salsa, cantaloupe, & fig newtons.  This evening, when I got home from work, the first thing I did was drain a block of tofu & squeezed out it's water.  Made up a simple marinade and pan fried them.  OM NOM.  They are going to lay on a bed of plain steamed rice.  A side of cantaloupe and a salad and there is lunch for tomorrow!  

I walked to work, too, and I say what took me so long?  I know people who have to walk further than I have to to get to their bus/subway stop.  It's a bit embarrassing that I haven't made this a habit sooner.  We're a car short these days, the OVLOV has been acting strange.  It gives me the fear to think of breaking down on the Broadway bridge in the middle of p.m. traffic.  Anyway, walking is fine, it's a nice route.  I mean, I get to walk over the river both ways!  I brought an umbrella to use as a parasol, but I didn't use it - - I will tomorrow!  I got a tan, but on one side.

UPDATE:  Red card, Germany.  #7 Schweinsteiger.  It doesn't look good.  

UPDATE UPDATE:  Croatia wins.  They are the better team, I saw it.  It should've been 3-1, really.

So, I'm going through a thing right now.  I can't seem to get to it!  I've got things I need to do, you know, some housekeeping, some involved cooking.  I don't know what it is, I mean, I don't feel awful, I am LAZY.  Maybe it's the summerness that's going on outside.  I don't know, maybe I'm just being a knucklehead.  There's nothing wrong, I'm just being lazy.

I want my $600!  It's my money and I want it now!  Amirite?  I'm going to be a patriot and spend the shit out of that government check.  My short list of things I'd like to purchase:  Clothes (mostly for work) & Love/Rockets comics.  Oh, and a fan for the tent.  I guess if there's anything left, I'll put it in savings.  

I'm trying to work up some motivation to run to the grocery store real quick -- I'd like to make some furikake for future lunches.  And a cucumber-tomato salad.  My aunt gave me some beautiful tomatoes in Seattle and I managed to get them home unbruised and they are ripening with a quickness, so it's time.   

Ugh, stifling laziness.