Shoot first, refer to the Snake Identifying App later.

Yesterday, we went to Woolly Hollow State Park to hike their lovely trail again. A lot has changed in two weeks! Some flowers have stopped blooming & different ones have replaced them. Everything is so plush & green. Because of the recent rain, the moss was re-hydrated. We saw a lot more critters this time, mostly reptiles & insects. I think we're going to bring mum here for a picnic and a hike on Mother's Day.

Over lunch, KMHD & I reminisced about mum. When were were young, not even teens, she tried to get us a subscription to Ms. Magazine. A mix of confusion (mum) & manipulation (on KMHD & I's part), we managed to get a subscription to YM magazine instead. Mama tried.

Toad:




Frog:




Snaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake!

Is this snake dangerous? We didn't feel threatened by it, but we pretty much left it alone. I hope it's obvious that I am kidding about killing a snake first and then identifying it later. I *almost* took a photo and sent it to one of my 'phone users to let us know what kind it was.

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This week's forecast? Lookin' good. We have no hearings or trials set until May 7, so I will mostly be, ahem, catching up on my paperwork. I've got a set of loose plans including some yard work, hanging out with Alannah on Friday & going to Hot Springs on Saturday with KMHD to do some recon & research for possible buildings and sites for the hotel.

Homemade fish tacos:

The hairball-in-drain-remover and the in-house hairball expert, plumbing:

Piecemeal

Re: iPad. In short, I love it. Before I even had it in my possession, folks talked at me about the damn thing without even having laid eyes on it, telling me about all of their doubts & just straight hatin'. It was very frustrating because, well, I pre-ordered one & it was on it's way from The China. I actually started second guessing my decision (& some friendships! J/K), but, frankly, the 'pad has taken care of all of my needs and then some. I really adore the streaming of movies & some useful apps, like Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything & the Epicurious recipe collection. It is very weird, however, to get used to not working with a mouse and there is no Flash Player, which can be utterly upsetting when you want to watch StSanders Queen video, but overall I'm very happy. I can transfer all of my data from my wheezing, dying laptop and not have to suffer a complete loss.

Speaking of loss, my phone died. It actually gave the blue screen of death while I was eating pho with ATM; I saw it happen in the corner of my eye whilst face-deep in a bowl of soup. After supper, we rushed over to my provider to get a new phone, you know, just in case you called. It's infuriating for a phone to die prematurely, especially if you are in contract and you just have a couple of months to go before you are eligible for a free or discounted phone. Getting a phone outside of your contract is pricey. Thankfully the salesman was "feelin' me" & proved himself helpful. He suggested that I purchase a Go Phone, stick my sim card in it & ride out the rest of the contract. It saved me so much money. The phone, however, is complete hilarity. It just makes calls & is text capable. There's no outer screen or camera. It weighs practically nothing, so it feels like a toy. It's so "outdated" that I can barely use it with ease. It actually makes me feel like a primate. It calls for juxtaposition.

Yesterday:

Today:

Yesterday:

Today:



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Thursday before last, we found ourselves in Memphis. Acid Mothers Temple was there @ the Hi Tone. It was one of those mind-blowing "you had to be there" moments. Maybe these photos will kinda help:





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ATM's listening party was outstanding! All parties involved did some extensive planning and execution. Everyone really wanted his event to be some kind of special. The building's wards set up a tiiiight dance area, there was a stocked bar (with a barkeeper & everything!) & I ran a curry stand. It worked out nicely for all, I think. I sold most all of the curry & Vietnamese coffees that I had on me & now have a little cash for the next project. Special thanks to ATM's mum & stepfather for their support!




Ha, I know it looks a little piecemeal, but that's because it was. No disposable flatware, glassware, plates or bowls were used! That and really good food & drinks is a point of pride.


Partial Zach, Keiko & Heather! <3:


Ha, Naaaaaate:


Folks:

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Other than getting to hear a sonic boom for the first time on Tuesday, this week hasn't yielded too many mentionables. Oh, I got to have dinner with Leigh, Keiko & Heather, AT THE SAME TIME, which is akin to planetary alignment, no thanks to our opposite schedules & lifestyles. Oh, and I learned that I get a Spring Break! of sorts during the first week of May. What the hell am I going to do? Since ATM won't be able to take some time off, I should probably take on a big personal project. Or I could learn to relax. Like come up with the ultimate lazy(wo)man's schedule; wake up "whenever", go get a coffee, eat, read, nap & eat.

I'm currently having an awkward Saturday. KMHD & I went to the beauty shop, had brunch @ B Side & went to the Indian grocery store, all before noon. When I got home, I couldn't make one fucking decision on anything. "I don't know what I want to do." "I don't know what I need to do." "I just don't know." See, we had planned on camping this weekend, but the weather was bad. Now it's perfect. So, that's frustrating. The yard is too soaked to do any work on it and, well, we just don't have any plans. Frankly, I don't feel like organizing a get together because that takes time, sometimes $$$, oh, and someone who can make a decision or three. NOT IT! It's a weird state for me to be in because I'm usually busy. Always. We thought we might go hiking, but it'd probably start storming as soon as we got there, so we axed that idea. So, here I am, catching up on my blogging. Ha, if it seems a little piecemeal, that's because it is.

I guess we did make one decision. Since I've been emboldened by my recent culinary success, I'm going to make homemade fish tacos for supper.



THE PRIDE


Someone had a dip this week. It was me!




Happy Secretary's Day:

Freedom is where you think it is...

Last weekend, ATM & I kept saying how we work/play harder on Saturday & Sunday than any other day. It is our preference, of course, to cram as much free time activity as we can into a weekend, but it makes for a very tired twosome come Monday. I guess I'm making an argument for a three-day weekend. Here's how I'd break it down (per our conversation, KMHD): Saturdays would be for the fun stuff, Sunday would be for home-related projects & resting, and Mondays would be reserved for me making and packing my lunches for the rest of the week. Got that, Congress?

That said, we did a lot last weekend. We did yard work, explored a new state park, hiked, attended an engagement party, I hit a culinary milestone, went to a movie in a real live theater (my love for Joan Jett has been reinforced) and attended a birthday party. For me, Mondays are hell of busy after I finish my pesky work shift. I usually have a business meeting (roll call and everything!) with KMHD, but this week, we went to our beloved Seth's house to hang out and watch him cook a curry. It was so damn good. The same curry will be served @ Ettiem's listening party this Saturday, so come buy a bowl offa us while you listen to ATM's achievement!

We went to Woolly Hollow State Park to check out the facilities since it is within close range, about an hour, of LR/NLR...always on the lookout for nice places to camp. But, that's the problem with Wooly Hollow; wouldn't camp there, but it's perfect for a picnic, fishing & hiking. We tried out their 3.2 mile trail and I'm so glad we did. It was awesome! I'll just go ahead and put it out there that sometimes I don't like a challenging trail. I am one of those lazies that like to stop & photo the flowers. This trail was pleasant and I can't wait to get back out there.


There is a very small lake @ Woolly Hollow; the trail ends up going around it. You can rent canoes or paddlers, if you are so inclined.

Lots of wild flowers that I've never seen:



Miniature irises:

This looks prehistoric:

And these definitely are...fiddle heads:

Other side of the lake:

Bonus! Water feature!

We will definitely be going back.

If you know them & you haven't heard, Westley & Brookelyn are gettin' married! Micah & Donna threw them a little shindig & we got invited! Hey-o!

West & Brookelyn. And Miranda and Amber and Kyle:

Neat filtered sunlight in Micah/Donna's backyard:

Folks:









Congratulations West & Brookelyn!

So, I mentioned above that I hit a culinary mile-stone. I actually hit two. I'll explain the other, but for now...I made a cheesecake for KMHD's birthday. I don't know why, but I put cheesecake on this unreachable pedestal. Shyeeeeeeit. Check this out! It got ATE.


ATM & I went to KMHD's birthday party @ The House. It was a choice location. The food was so much better than the last time I went there for the soft opening. I mean, that is to be expected, but they've taken on Boulevard's chef, so you know it's not only improved, it's KILLER. The fish & chips come highly recommended. They didn't charge us a cutting fee for the cheesecake, which is very sweet, so if you need a little place for a get together, consider The House. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LITTLE LADY!

This is cute because you can see a bean sprout here. (Sorry for the embarrassment, Heather!)





Even though it was KMHD's night, it was the surprise guest visitors Alan Disaster & Will Boyd that made my end of the table fun fun fun!

The OTHER culinary mile-stone I hit was that I helped make an Indian curry. Is it crazy that I want to do a curry stand and have never made an Indian curry? Yes. Yes, it is. Look, I've made my share of curries: Thai, Japanese & um...a liberal use of curry powder in random foods. But, like cheesecake, I put Indian curry on a very high pedestal. NO MORE. Behold!



KMHD & Seth:

Many thanks, Seth
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Little nappin' dude:

(((((())))))

Transmissions from an electronic maxiPad!

He's a ding dong daddy from...Interlaken.

Recently, my mum gave me a whole bunch of photo blasts from the past & my co-worker loaned me a scanner. I gave it a test run. I'd like to introduce you to my dad, Michael.

That's my granddad Charlie, me, KMHD & dad:


When we went on family vacation, we went to Hot Springs; it fit with dad's modest income. We always had a really good time. Except that one time at Magic Springs. I was Pouty McPoutyson that day. Here we are with dad, in the pool @ the Downtowner, which currently does not exist. I guess my fondness for Hot Springs started young:


Here's a gem. Dad stealing our Xmas tree off of private property. Please note the barbed wire. I find it hilarious that he brought KMHD & I along. Is that so if we got busted, well, what are you gonna do? There's children present. Too, I love that I picked up the camera & took an incriminating photo of him, but he has what I perceive to be a self-satisfied expression.

I can see myself scanning/posting more photos of yore.

Interlaken is in New York, in the Finger Lakes region.