Dorie’s Different Reality

This will be the anthem for me. Every time I hear it I remember where I was working. A good sized office with a cheesy sound system turned to the FM rock station all day. I heard this one all day long. Never noticed before that Mick has “dancer’s legs” - his thigh bones are way long like Tommy Tune. And he was a skinny little thing back then!

You Are a Hazelnut

You are very unique and distinct. You may even freak some people out. Most people don’t really know how to interact with you. You get along best with anyone who is super sweet. But you really do get along with almost anyone. You just need a chance to wow them.

What Nut Are You?

Hi gang- Along with looking at TMZ and seeing what the celebrities are wearing, reading my latest mystery (it’s good- tell you about it soon), and all my other usual pursuits, I am VERY concerned about what’s happening in Georgia. Did you know that there are US military advisers over there? Georgia has been a US ally in the Iraq war. http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/08/military_georgia_080808w/
Putin (sorry don’t know what his title is now, how about “former premier and real ruler”?) has already gone on record accusing the US of interfering in the conflict. The most powerful Vice President in the history of the United States made a foreign policy statement: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080811/pl_nm/georgia_ossetia_cheney_dc_2

It’s about OIL. You see, there’s a big pipeline running across the nation of Georgia transporting oil WEST. So since the 70’s and the Carter Doctrine, we have stated that what affects our petroleum supply will be our business. If Russia occupied Georgia (and they could by their sheer overwhelming military might) then they control the oil supply in that nation. So cross your fingers and pray that this gets settled soon!

Even if tomatoes are fruits. On toast with a bit of Miracle Whip is better!

I’m going to be busy this afternoon! The heirlooms are starting to produce, but I have no complaints about the volume of regular red ‘maters we’re getting this year. If I could figure how to get yields like this every season, I’d be a gardening genius. We’ve had years where we scarcely had a handful.
Just wanted to show you. Now I have to go wash jars. Catch ya later!

Presenting the wonderful English born international superstar, who married a Frenchman, singing auf Deutsch- Petula Clark! She shows up on oldies shows now and again and she’s soooooo cool!

1st- Shop Vac
2nd Lawn Mower
3rd Snow Blower/Air Conditioner (for areas where it doesn’t snow)
4th Pressure Washer
5th Wood Chipper
10th Air Compressor
15th Table Saw
25th Backhoe
35th Tool Shed
50th Stake Truck

And Happy 2nd Anniversary to the Mosiejczuks. Love you both.

Another one bites the dust…Boscov’s Department Store, where I was briefly employed in 2006, has filed for bankruptcy protection. This comes after another of my former employers, May Department Stores, also went under, being bought out by Macy’s. I swear, I didn’t drop my super duper retailer curse on ‘em! I think the big box department store is an idea that has had its day. Also, people don’t have the time or the money to wander around malls buying things on impulse. I recently bought a dress online. Followed their measurement guide and I was very pleased with it. Much more than those Chinese bras I bought last year!

I think the mall concept would work for recreation It’s just not safe to send a kid “out to play” these days. But to drop him off at the rec center- well-lit with security sounds like a better idea.
So why not convert some of these failing big box malls, to recreation and entertainment venues? Take a big box store and convert it to an auditorium that is concert or show worthy. Add gyms, bowling (sport of warriors!), state of the art cinema, dance studio. And perhaps a few stores- but specific to leisure interests, like a music shop. Not to mention a the local needlecraft shop. Keep the food court but get rid of the little chain stores people don’t shop at anymore. Maybe a few pubs with live entertainment for the younger crowd.

So why did I bring up shoes? Because there’s a lot of crappy shoes on the market today! I simply can’t wear the kind of shoes now considered fashionable.
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/lifestyle/x469173512/Slaves-of-fashion The other morning on the Today show, I noticed that Meredith had on what had to be 4″ stiletto heels. Made her legs look all long and tapered. I bet ya she can’t wait to kick them off and put on her sneakers when she gets home!

I read an article that reported that, along with everything else, shoes are getting more expensive. Most are imported from China- big surprise there. Because of the rising fuel costs, clothing and shoe prices are going up. So it makes sense to get the best value for your money, as opposed to some cheaply made fashionable fluff. I like Birkenstocks, but I don’t own any. I think I will someday. Their leather sandals simply do not wear out. They can be worn three seasons of the year and there’s nothing better for showing off new handknit socks! I own a pair of butt ugly Land’s End clogs; about four years old. I’ve got them so dirty from the yard that I wouldn’t wear them out anywhere, but they’re going to last at least four more years.

One of the few articles of apparel still made in the USA is boots. Again, it’s a case of “you get what you pay for” Those of us old enough to remember the Frye boot craze of the 70’s- those tan boots now cost over $200. Most of ‘em probably ended up at the Goodwill- but apart from an occasional reheeling, I imagine they were put together to last 20 years.
It would be very neat if well made and practical came back into style!

The Oddest Coincidence! Last night we watched a DVD of a mini-series from a few years ago called “Category 6- Day of Destruction” I love a good disaster flick! This one had many elements common to disaster films. A brewing natural disaster- this one a “perfect storm” threatening to destroy Chicago with tornadoes of velocity never before recorded. Blame global warming. It had Brian Dennehy in the role I would have cast Burt Lancaster- the crusty veteran Meteorologist. There was a crooked contractor. And even a spunky reporter- this time played by Nancy McKeon. Randy Quaid had the best role in the series- an oddball named Tornado Tommy. It wasn’t the best I’ve seen, but not the worst either; it ran a tad long. So after the disaster, a little Internetting before bed. I’m reading away and I see, “breaking news- tornado warning in Chicago!” Is that odd or what?

“…A message came back from the Great Beyond,
There’s fifty-seven channels and nothin’ on”
-Mr. Springsteen, 1992

Sometimes technology doesn’t impress me much. I may have mentioned that we get broadcast TV. We’ve had cable at various times. Great to have more choices of infomercials! I guess we got rid of it altogether after Duchess left for college. Paid any tuition lately? Seemed like a sensible economy. If I had to choose one of the other, take the TV. I can’t live without the Internet!

So we have a sporty antenna on the roof. Pyrate put in a rotor and we can turn it around and pull in Baltimore and most of the DC stations. But wait- you’ve seen those public service ads? Television is going digital. We have a perfectly good, but not digital tv. So we sent away for our “coupon” to purchase for a digital converter at reduced cost. It was about $12 at Wal-Mart. So we added that black box (and ANOTHER remote) and entered the digital tv age.

Blah. Now we’re just like our neighbors who have satellite- if it rains real hard, the signal just goes away! One of the selling points is supposed to be being able to watch the “side channels” . The local television stations, haven’t made much use of them. Most of them throw up a live weather map; something I can get off the computer just like they do! One public tv station shows kid shows at 10 o’clock at night on a channel. Some of that stuff on the Spanish channels looks interesting, but I don’t speak Spanish!

Things are looking up! One of the DC stations just started broadcasting the RTN network. I guess that stands for Retro Television. I’ve died and gone to heaven! They’re showing the shows of my “youth”: McCloud, The Rockford Files, even the A Team! I found out that every morning at 10, Ironside is on! So now I’ll have to have my morning tea break and watch the Chief catch bad guys!

Today I watched a McCloud episode from 1976 and felt kinda bad about Dennis Weaver dying and all. His co-star was Michael Ansara. We saw him at a Trek convention a few years ago. In the Star Trek world he will always be known as diabolical Kang the Klingon. Speaking of which, RTN runs “retro commercials” and there was one for Cling Free (works on Klingons maybe?)

Still I wonder what the young people must think of RTN? Would it be for them what watching a movie from the 1930s is for me? I love those polyester clothes (no ironing!) and men looked so much better with facial hair! What must they think of corded phones????

We have a great little fair around here. I was out doing errands this morning and I realized I’d go right by the Agricultural Center. What makes it special is it’s put on by the 4-H and FFA, so it’s not a carnival. We have lots of those around here in the summertime too, but the Fair is a showcase for what the kids have been doing all year. The kids submit their entries and there are lots of prizes. Pamela made a desert terrarium one year and got a ribbon and a few dollars prize money! They have some auctions and the Grand Champion Reserve Cake sometimes goes for several hundred dollars! (because it’s a fund raiser for the organization) Best of all, it’s free to get in. So it was fun to swing by and visit the animals a bit.
Lots of chickens clucking around!

Interesting Projects to see too:

Hey Kurt- check this out:

This little piggie took a nap!

Today I’m making a batch of “some sort of ” tomato sauce. I want y’all to know it’s a lot of work. Poor me. I had to go out and pick the tomatoes, wash and core them. But I’m lucky- I have a “food mill” So I spent the better part of an hour yesterday feeding tomatoes through the mill until I had my dutch oven filled with thinish tomato puree. The recipe I’ve referred to,called “chili sauce” ,called for a cup and half of sugar. I don’t want anything near that sweet, so I halved it. Put a bunch of spices in the handy dandy wire tea basket and floated that around in the pot with the tomato sauce. Also added a cup of white vinegar. My special ingredient is  2 good vidalia onions, four little bell peppers I found in the garden, and also 2 good sized Hungarian peppers, and put in the food processor, made into a fine puree, and added it to the tomatoes. Now it’s all cooking away to make a thicker consistency and then the jars will get their hot water bath! I think it’s going to yield five or six pints of finestkind top quality homemade sauce!