Just Sayin'

Just had a great encounter at Tick Tock's. When I was waiting to pay for my purchase I noticed the cashier who's from Tinidad watching Herman Cain on some TV news show explaining his present predicament, and I said to him, "Don't you love it when they try to explain away their past?"

And he said in a flat, I've-seen-it-all-before monotone, "It should be no surprise."

Then one of the two middle aged black women dressed for church in line behind me added, "If it smells like a rose, and it looks like a rose..."

"The sucker is a rose," I finished with a grin. We all laughed, and then old Herman starting in singing about Jesus on the TV.

The same woman said, "What on earth is he doing now?"

And I said, "I don't know, but I'm glad he has Jesus, 'cause he's gonna need him before all this is said and done!" More laughter, and well wishes all around before we went our separate ways.

How Do My Gardens Grow?

Saturday's cold rain and snow set the stage for a change from the tropicals of my summer porch planter to the humble pansies and violas of the autumn/winter little "garden." And several bulbs beneath for spring surprises!

Marriage Comparison

Do you want to marry your same sex partner?

Would you rather marry your first cousin?

Chances are, you'll be far more able to marry your first cousin, than your lover.

Making Coconut Fish Stew With Basil and Lemongrass

Makes 4 servings

The ingredients:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 shallots, thinly sliced
1 medium Zucchini cut into disks and then quartered
1 pkg of Oyster Mushrooms removed from base and separated
1 small garlic clove, minced
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut milk
1 lemongrass stalk, finely chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded, if desired, and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
Finely grated zest of 1 lime

3/4 pound seafood, such as snapper or other firm fish (cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks), peeled shrimp and/or scallops, or a combination

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Freshly squeezed lime juice to taste
Cooked rice, for serving (optional — the author particularly like sticky rice, I did not use any rice and it was fine.)

Heat the oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook, stirring, until the shallots are softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the stock, coconut milk, lemongrass, jalapeno pepper, vinegar, fish sauce, sugar, salt and lime zest. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Stir in the seafood, mushrooms, zucchini and herbs. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring regularly. Put on lowest heat and let simmer while setting table, etc.

Stir in the lime juice and serve with rice, if desired.

Today's Sermon

DIWALI

I love Ganesh.
I love elephants.
I fear for their survival.
Not sure I want to live
in a world without them.
Embracing my time here as
just perfect in that way!

~ Randy William Ash, 1961 -

Pride Birthdays and Memorials for the Coming Week ~ October 30th to November 5th!

Daniel Radcliff

An interesting actor who's future is wide open.

Diwali Lights!

No Pictures Tonight....

Unable to load any images....

Gaydar 101

You asked me if I think your boyfriend is gay. Well, honestly? Pretty much....

Go Lama! Go Dahli! Who's Your Boyfriend?!

Think About It

You have just told me everything I need, care, or want to know about you.

Today's Sermon

The Changing Light

The changing light
at San Francisco
is none of your East Coast light
none of your
pearly light of Paris
The light of San Francisco
is a sea light
an island light
And the light of fog
blanketing the hills
drifting in at night
through the Golden Gate
to lie on the city at dawn
And then the halcyon late mornings
after the fog burns off
and the sun paints white houses
with the sea light of Greece
with sharp clean shadows
making the town look like
it had just been painted

But the wind comes up at four o'clock
sweeping the hills

And then the veil of light of early evening

And then another scrim
when the new night fog
floats in
And in that vale of light
the city drifts
anchorless upon the ocean

~ Lawrence Ferlinghetti, 1919 -

ARTomatic Frederick

Went to the ARTomatic Frederick art fair held in the old Frederick County Board of Education Building formerly a High School of some sort, I am certain.


The art ran the gamut from the predictable to the whimsical.



In one room where paintings by a friend.



I have to say that the "cow abduction" possessed a certain allure. Fortunately, the $1,700.00 price tag saved me from my momentary infatuation.







Altogether, around 300 artists had their works on display. It's free to the public and on display through November 6, 2011.

Pride Birthdays and Memorials for the Coming Week ~ October 23rd to October 29th!

Is No Place Safe?!

Tongue firmly planted in cheek!

Talking 'Bout A Revolution....Sounds ~ Like A Whisper

Reasons Why I Put Obama's Bumper Sticker On My Truck Today

Been riding the fence for a while. Took stock of it today. Placed the Bumper Sticker on my silver Nissan Frontier king-cab pick-up; a.k.a."Mi Maduro Burro".

Some of what Obama has done that makes me proud to support his re-election

• Improved Healthcare Coverage for 32 million American's
• 4 million more children covered by Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• 5 billion in additional investments in Head Start, Early Head Start and a range of child care programs, and programs for children with special needs
• Over 45 billion spent to retain teachers in the past 3 years
• Doubling Pell Grant funding with an additional 40 billion
• Medical care for American's with disabilities
1. National Alzheimer's Project Act
2. Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act
3. Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act
4. Repealed restrictions on Stem Cell Research
• 20 billion increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• 1.5 billion in Homeless Prevention Funds
• 2% payroll tax cut in 2010
• $2,400, $4,800 and $9,600 tax credits for business who hire unemployed veterans increasing for longterm employment and employment for vets with disabilities related to their service.
• Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
• Sonia Sotomayor appointed to the United States Supreme Court
• Elena Kagan appointed to the United States Supreme Court
• Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell
• Matthew Shepherd and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
• Expansion of same-sex partners benefits for Foreign Service and Executive Branch employees
• Supporting video for the "It Gets Better Project"
• Removal of nearly 100,000 troops from Iraq and end of the War there
• Repatriation of 28 detainees held at Guantanemo Bay
• Removal of leading Terrorist leaders: Osama bin Laden , Sayeed al-Masri , Abu Ayyub al-Masri , Abu Omar al-Baghdadi , Anwar al-awlaki , Abu Hafs al-Shahri , ‘Atiyah ‘Abd al-Rahman , Ammar al-Wa’ili , Abu Ali al-Harithi, Ali Saleh Farhan, Harun Fazul, Baitullah Mahsud, Noordin Muhammad to name a few.
• Justice Department no longer defends DOMA

With the exception of the killing terrorists, I can't imagine a Republican Administration doing any of this.

When The Tea Party Runs The Country

Friday Funny

African Perspective

Today's Sermon

The Red Wheelbarrow

so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

~ William Carlos Williams, 1883 - 1963

Sunshine On My Hydrangea Makes Me Happy...

My Lego Idol!

Matija G. is a member of the Kockice Lego club and I LOVE his work, he has such a total handle of the power of the little bricks. Best I can figure because of his seemingly limitless supply of bricks, he's some sort of Croatian millionaire, too!

More Awesome Images

Pride Birthdays and Memorials for the Coming Week ~ October 16th to October 22nd!

The Devil's

...in the details!