Flavor - do you has it?

OMG, I wants it!!



Too funny.

One more round above the ground

That's what they call themselves ... PopPop's Wednesday golf group. Not being a Wednesday golfer, I would normally not be making any posts about what happened on any given Wednesday. However, today, the group had one extraordinary hole (get your mind out of the gutter).

Five of them showed up today. For a day in late November, that's not bad. On the 17th, all five hit the green, then all five made par. PopPop says it's the first time that ever happened as far back as he can remember. Ok, his memory isn't what it used to be, but still ... five guys, five pars, all on the same hole. Pretty cool.

I'm not a golfer, but I thought it was worth commemorating.

Lingro

Ever try to think of a word in another language, and you just can't come up with the right translation? Lingro is just what you need. Register for free, then enter any url into the field in step 1. Next, select your language (for example, English to Spanish). Once Lingro has opened the website, you can select any word on the page and Lingro will give you a translation. Lingro does not translate the website itself, just whatever words you select once you've entered the url.

Pretty slick.

Dead in the Keys

From CNN:

At the historic Key West Cemetery, the remains of seven unknown souls were exhumed recently from a pauper's crypt.

The Monroe County Medical Examiner's office is seeking clues to help identify seven bodies.

No one said cutting through 20 years of concrete and silence would be easy. But it was a necessary step toward some day, possibly, giving names to the dead.

Members of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office in Florida collected DNA samples to be entered into the FBI's National Missing Persons DNA database.

The hope is that a family member might have voluntarily submitted DNA to the database, looking for a long-lost loved one. If so, an identification could be made, bringing peace to a family.

In all, there are 28 unidentified bodies buried in the Florida Keys.

Some of the bodies have been buried for more than a quarter of a century. Investigators already have determined that none of the deceased originally lived in the Florida Keys. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess...

I guess the Keys are as nice a place as any to snuff it and be buried.

Granny gets her licks in

'nuff said.

I just forgot, m'kay?

From 4029tv.com:

The mayor of an Arkansas town resigned on Wednesday, claiming he was abducted and brainwashed by Satan worshippers nearly three decades ago.

Centerton Mayor Ken Williams said he has been living under an assumed name for nearly 30 years. He had been mayor since 2001.

Williams told authorities he was born Don LaRose and that in the mid-1970s, he was a preacher in Indiana. He said he was abducted and brainwashed into forgetting all about his life as Don LaRose...

Let me see if I understand this. Centerton, Arkansas mayor Ken Williams resigned last week after an injection of "truth serum" made him realize that he was brainwashed by satanists in the 1970s. Williams is actually Don LaRose, a former preacher in Indiana who was married with two kids. In 1980, he changed his identity to escape the unspecified satanists and to ostensibly protect his family.

So he didn't lose his memory, really, he made a plan and ran away. He co-opted the identity of a man who was killed in a car accident in 1958, then got a new life for himself and abandoned his family so he could start fresh. Nice.

Help!

When you wake up early in the morning and can't manage to fall back to sleep, but are still too groggy to bother getting up, do you start flipping through the TV channels, hoping for an old Law and Order episode? I've had some luck finding those on in the middle of the night, but at 6:30am, pickins are slim.

So imagine my delight to find Help! on at that hour. I haven't seen this movie in years, decades even. I remember being not terribly impressed with it, having loved A Hard Day's Night, and in a straight comparison, Help! definitely loses. However, I enjoyed it a lot this time around. Aside from the great music, which still holds up after all this time, the Beatles were funny. The wry sense of humor, the sight gags, the puns, all the stuff I didn't get when I was a young kid made sense now. It's really a pretty good comedy.

Now I want to see A Hard Day's Night again.

Turkey in the Tropics

First and foremost I'd like to send a shout out to the family and friends that were not gathered at the same table on Thanksgiving. It is I think my favorite holiday, no gift giving, no costumes and the like... just good food shared with good conversation and words of what everyone is thankful for - my kind of day.

Mr. R gave a nice display of love and thanks for his sister Miss P, which was embarrassing to her and as she went to stop him from continuing, Mr. L took her hand and said shhhh Mr.R is right, which we all agreed and Mr. R finished his thanks. Our family spoke of a year that was lucky in travel, getting to visit with family we love most in life and the happiness that all is well in the North and with our friends here. Some guests spoke of travels to other countries and the kindness they received from people who lived in poverty but had smiles and happiness to share. Many good things spoken of and thanks given for.

I never know who will make it to the table each year. It is my least stressful holiday; we plan a sit down time, but that never seems to work out, and no one seems to mind if someone is late because there is hot cooked food to pick at in the waiting time. But, when the core group is finally seated, it's wonderful! All the main dishes and two turkeys are on a large table next to the sit down table, which has our condiments including lots of gravy boats, wine bottles, cranberry sauce etc. We allow ourselves to get up, stretch on the way to the other table, refill our plates and sit back down and begin again. The phone rings, responses of "sure, come right on by" are said and food is warmed and served as needed. Some take a plate to go due to work, or come by for pie and coffee. Hilda the dishwasher does her work haphazardly, filled and emptied, but not caring if anything sits 'till late night. As if by magic, all is cleaned up and put away before bedtime.

I too am a person who prepares the day ahead... peel, bake, boil, saute, pie bake the evening prior.

A good friend of mine became a grandmother Thanksgiving morning. I even got time to drive to Key West and visit. Due to the craziness of a couple days with labor and the imminent birth, they had to put off their cooking at home till this weekend. Of course they stopped here on the way home from the hospital and relaxed, ate, little ones got their pumpkin pie, then recouped before heading back home to get some needed sleep a couple islands away. Not as many of the kids' friends stopped by this year. Many are moved away, or married, or reunited with their families, or even old enough now to host their own dinners. They do call, and it's funny how the cycle goes. Mr.R & Miss P even got out a couple times to exchange visits and return. Mr. L had a friend come by boasting about his GB Packers.

Inventory today is pretty good. The wine and eggnog may be gone, but we do actually have some leftovers here for hot and cold sandwiches today. Now that's an added treat! And a few pieces of pumpkin pie to boot! Boy that magic bullet makes fast work of whipped cream for pie! My stove was fixed Wednesday morning just in time!
The oven is on refrigerator mode now, a treasure trove of goodies! I have to tell ya'll, my cranberry relish (cranberries, pineapple, mango, coconut, oranges & raisins) is the best on the planet, be it on turkey, in a sandwich or on ice cream...ohhhhhhhh is it good.

The weather was low 70's, perfect, and is the same today. Mr. R was out doing yard work and just found out there are leftovers in the refrig/oven. Me? I'm still stuffed from yesterday and I think I need a nap since it appears I'm rambling again.

NOW BEGINS VIRTUAL XMAS!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

There is sad news on the animal front during this holiday week. Mr. Hoggetts has gone missing and is presumed to be in that great chicken coop in the sky. The hens had a rough couple days, looking around for him and being extra cautious in their meanderings around the yard. The Younger Pea is very sad, but did manage to get a few minutes of him performing his tricks on video, which will be edited into a tribute to her rooster friend.

On to the holiday. Preparations started on Wednesday. The Peas came over and helped with cleaning and food prep, so a lot of the work was done before Thursday. It's really the only way to go, get as much done ahead of time as possible, then you reduce the stress and panic during that last busy hour before sitting down to eat.

Thursday morning the neighbors from across the street brought over some cornbread, and it was very good. PopPop has been craving cornbread lately, so their timing was perfect.

Speaking of perfect, the weather was amazing - it must have hit 70F here today, sunny and breezy, not a late November day at all. With oil at $3/gallon, we'll take it!

The D's and Peas arrived at about 11:30am with pies and a cheesy baked broccoli dish. DamCat made her usual delicious pecan pie, a yummy chocolate pie, and a really tasty apple pie. Dawg and Fluffy got here close to 1pm, and actually got to spend some time here, since Fluffy didn't have to go back to work in the afternoon! They brought some very nice white wines and a passel of beer, Mike's Lemonade and Twisted Tea.

Queenee had a big turkey, cooked to perfection, which PopPop carved and served. There were the usual accompaniments: stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, squash, turnip, carrots and parsnips, green beans, broccoli, cranberry sauce...I've probably left something out, but it was lots of food and all wonderful. We sat down at 2pm to eat, which worked out really well, it gave us time to relax and rest up before tackling dessert. Deacon, Dawg and the Peas went for a walk (something we all could have used) after dinner. Danny and Joanne stopped by to say hello. Football on the tube, good food, good drink, good company - what more could you ask for? It was a fine Thanksgiving!

Today, I'm observing Buy Nothing Day. Not exactly a big deal for me, since I'm not a shopaholic anyway, but the thought is there.

Mike Lowell staying with the Red Sox!!

From Sports Illustrated:

World Series MVP Mike Lowell is staying with the Boston Red Sox, meaning the reigning champions will try to repeat with all their key players from 2007.

The Red Sox and their popular third baseman reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a three-year, $37.5 million contract, according to two people familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized.

Team spokesman John Blake declined comment.

In the three weeks since winning their second championship in four seasons, the Red Sox have re-signed their two biggest free agents, Lowell and pitcher Curt Schilling, and picked up options on Tim Wakefield and Julian Tavarez.

Lowell, a 33-year-old third baseman who made $9 million this season, was seeking four guaranteed years and might have gotten it elsewhere...

FINALLY!

In other sports, the Patriots won again in an unfortunate blow-out against Buffalo. The Celtics finally lost a game, and the Revolution are four for four in the MLS final - four losses in a row. Still, if they keep getting there, maybe they'll win one.

In loving memory ( Jesus Christ )

A-Rod is staying in NY and the Yankees have dropped out of the bidding for Mike Lowell. The Patriots are still undefeated. The Celtics are, amazingly, still undefeated. The Revolution are in the US MLS final for the third year in a row (maybe they'll even win one - hey, it could happen). UConn is #1 in the Big East conference and BC is #2 in the ACC. The Bruins are, well, ok, there had to be one grey cloud, but they aren't terrible. It's good to be a sports fan in Beantown right now.

Did I mention that it's been five years since my lumpectomy? I had my final appointment with the radiologist yesterday and all is well. I'll be off Tamoxifen in another couple months. Yippee!

It's time for a humor break.

Dustin Pedroia is the AL Rookie of the Year

From the Red Sox MLB site:

Back on May 1, when Dustin Pedroia was hitting .182, it would have been hard to imagine that just a few months later that he'd be taking home an award for his excellence.

But Pedroia never lost confidence in himself, and neither did Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

The diminutive second baseman just kept swinging, and his determined approach culminated in the American League Rookie of the Year Award on Monday. Pedroia became the first Red Sox player to win the trophy since Nomar Garciaparra did so in 1997.

Pedroia was listed first on 24 of the 28 ballots submitted by two writers in each league city and second on the other four to total 132 points. The Rays' Delmon Young finished second behind Pedroia with 56 points, and the Royals' Brian Bannister tallied 36 to place third in the vote. Pedroia's fellow teammates Daisuke Matsuzaka (12 points) and Hideki Okajima (3) came in fourth and sixth place, respectively...

Well deserved. I'm happy to see Pedroia won going away. And am I the only person shocked to realize it was just ten years ago that Garciaparra was a rookie? I don't know why, but it seems longer to me.

NOTE: Josh Beckett did not win the AL Cy Young award, which went instead to C.C. Sabathia. Voting took place before the postseason.

-- WABBIT --

Happy Birthday Sistah!!

The Krew hopes you
enjoy your day, wish you the best!
Hugs & Lots of Love,
oxoxoxo

Miss P to the Rescue

Last week was the annual Parrothead gathering in Key West. They always have such a great time and lots of activity during their party week. The Margaritaville Store bustles with Parrotheads morning till night each day and the store workers have their hands full. As manager, Miss P keeps close eye on things and last week she had herself tested once again. A Parrothead fainted to the floor of the store and she sprung into action. At the time Miss P knew nothing other than he was an older man and he was on the floor. She kept everyone calm, got blankets, comforted him and his wife, kept him on the floor relaxed, got 911 there ASAP and assisted in his quick, efficient rescue to the hospital. Then back to work as normal. A couple days later he returned with his wife to thank her for being the best person in the world and a calm factor in a scary situation. His wife at the time of his fainting kept telling Miss P that, "Oh, he's okay, he'll be fine, just lets get him up, he's fine"... Miss P kept her ground, "no I don't think so, lets have him checked out please, the ambulance will be right here in a minute".

Anyway back to the story... they returned to tell her he was fine once again, and that he had had heart surgery weeks prior and had many troubles over the past years and that she was right and thank goodness for what she did.... then they gave her armfuls of Red Sox stuff, World Series shirts, hats, clocks, Patriots things.... she was floored! They were so good to do that for her. It lifted her spirits also! They had called to find out what Miss P liked unknown to her while she had her day off. Anyway, just a little bit of goodness for the day. I'm proud of her!

Gold Glove for Youuuukkkk!

And the Beantown baseball news keeps getting better - Schilling is signed and Kevin Youkilis got a well deserved Gold Glove! For those not in the know, Youkilis began his career as a third baseman and shifted over to first base full-time in 2006, thanks to the BoSox having Gold Glove Mike Lowell on third. Youk did not commit an error at first this year (he made three errors in 13 games at third base). He has played an AL-record 190 straight games at first base without an error, a streak that is only three short of the major league mark set by Steve Garvey from 1983-85 and we know that record is heading South! He'd be two games closer had he played those two WS games, but he'll get there.

Papi had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee yesterday, but he'll be right as rain by Spring training.

Allowing myself a bit of schadenfreude, I'm enjoying seeing absolutely nobody leap to the A-Rod negotiation table. Scott Boras is looking for a ten year, $350 million offer before A-Rod even sits down at that table. I'm hoping that this will be it, the price tag that's just too damn high. A-Rod is in his prime right now, and he's looking for that kind of money for ten years? Didn't he just opt out of the last five years of his $250 million ten year deal with the Yankees? Does he really believe he'll be worth all that when he's 42 years old? More to the point, do Boras and A-Rod really believe anyone believes that? Are these people insane? Did you know Mike Lowell is less than 1-1/2 years older than A-Rod??

Re-sign Mike Lowell!!

Schilling is signed!

The news here has been saying all day that a deal was imminent, and now it's final - Curt Schilling will finish his career right here with the Red Sox! I couldn't be happier! You have to respect the man for doing his own deal, too, no agents or representatives deal for Schilling - it's all him, his wife Shonda, and the Red Sox management team. Good job, everyone!

On to the Mike Lowell negotiations...

It was a damp, dreary day, but we did get a beautiful rainbow just before sunset. The cold weather is back for the rest of the week. It's time to try out my vinegar/water solution on the car windshield to see if it really does keep the frost down to a dull roar.

As a side note, we've found Mr. R's missing cellphone. He left it in the pocket of my blue robe in the bathroom. Queenee had the robe on and felt a lump in the pocket, and there it was. It took us a few seconds to realize whose it was, but it's here and intact. We'll send it along soon.

Damn ex-Yankee

Bad news...Scott Boras is in Orlando. He arrived on Friday and is looking to put A-Rod on third for the BoSox.

Please, Theo, JUST SAY NOOOOOO!!!!!

A-Rod is interested in two things when it comes to baseball: his paycheck and getting a WS ring, in that order. He is not a team player, he is not a clubhouse leader, and with his skills, he *should* be, but he's only in it for himself. He has played poorly every October since he signed with the Yankees. He has a poor attitude. If there is a god, he will NOT be playing in Boston next season.

Contrast him to Mike Lowell. Lowell is a few years older, ok, but three more years of Lowell will be three years where not only do we have a first rate third baseman, we have a first rate leader in the clubhouse. We have someone who knows how to play for a team, who knows how to encourage and nurture the young talent on the team. Lowell is worth a dozen A-Rods. I hope the Red Sox management figures that out real soon.

There was some good news this weekend - the Patriots remain undefeated and came back from a 20-10 deficit to beat Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. From Sports Illustrated:

Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes in a four-minute span of the fourth quarter to overcome a 10-point deficit and beat Super Bowl champion Indianapolis 24-20 Sunday. The win in perhaps the NFL's biggest regular-season game ever keeps the Patriots (9-0) on course for the NFL's first unbeaten season since Miami did it 1972 and gives them the first tiebreaker over Indianapolis (7-1) in the AFC playoffs. New England, which had been averaging more than 41 points a game and had beaten eight opponents by an average of more than 25 points, trailed 20-10 after Peyton Manning scored on a 1-yard sneak with 9 minutes and 42 seconds left in the game. However, Brady's 55-yard completion to Randy Moss set up a 3-yard TD pass to Wes Welker. Rosevelt Colvin knocked the ball loose from Manning to force a punt on the next series. Then Brady found Kevin Faulk over the middle for 13 yards for the winning score with 3:15 left. Jarvis Green knocked the ball lose from Manning and Colvin recovered to clinch the game for New England...

Music and video

Key Dear asked me about the music link I put in the sidebar. I went to Ripway, created an account, uploaded some music and linked to the page with links to the tunes. Free accounts don't get a ton of space, but that's fair enough. Also, you have to remember to log in at least monthly, otherwise your account gets deleted.

She sent me a link to a YouTube video of a guy dancing to Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings. Is this guy da bomb or what? I love the way he dances, I've been known to do this when I'm doing something in the kitchen. Actually, I do something similar while I'm sitting at the computer and listening to music.

The point of all that is that I've added a video list to the sidebar. Right now, I've got Sharon Jones and this dancing guy listed, so those are the videos that should show up. I can change the list any time, so make some suggestions!

For the Monday workday blues

Having a bad workday? On your way home from work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the thermometer section and purchase a rectal thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson. Be very sure you get this brand!

When you get home, lock your doors, draw the curtains and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed. Change into very comfortable clothing, make yourself a cocktail and sit in your favorite chair.

Open the package and remove the thermometer. Carefully place it on a table or counter so that it will not become chipped or broken.

Now the fun part begins. Take out the literature from the box and read it carefully. You will notice, in small print, the following statement:

"Every rectal thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson is personally tested."

Now, close your eyes and repeat out loud five times, "I am SO GLAD I do not work in the thermometer quality control department at Johnson & Johnson."

Remember, there is always someone out there with a job that is more of a pain in the ass than yours.


Thanks for that one, Key Dear!

St. Elsewhere, Youkilis and Noel

Yesterday was eye exam day in town for me. After that, right around noon, I went to see someone for whom I have done a website. Since my pupils were dilated, I went as far as I could through the hospital tunnels to avoid being out in the bright sunshine. My path took me past the waiting room for Ambulatory Surgery. I swear I saw Kevin Youkilis sitting there, reading a magazine. If it wasn't him, it was his doppleganger. I got a really good look at him too, and I'm telling you, I honestly think it was him. I don't know why he would have been there, unless he was taking someone in for a one-day procedure. I've been in that waiting room a few times myself. Anyway, that was the big excitement for me yesterday. Manny and Papi were on the late night talk shows (Leno and O'Brien respectively) and did themselves proud. Manny asked Leno if he was related to Youkilis, noting the similarity of their chins. I guess it was Youk's media day.

We're keeping Wakefield! Tim Wakefield's $4 million option was exercised Friday by the Red Sox after the knuckleballer missed the World Series because of inflammation behind his right shoulder. The Sox also exercised a $3.85 million option on right-hander Julian Tavarez. Catcher Kevin Cash is going after declining an outright assignment to Triple-A Pawtucket (he elected to become a free agent instead).

The remnants of Hurricane Noel are with us right now, in the form of a mild nor'easter. There will be some flooding and wind damage, but so far, it hasn't been as bad as we were told it would be. I think the worst of the wind has passed, but I could be wrong. We've gotten a fair bit of rain, but not nearly what was expected. By tomorrow's Patriots game, we'll be back in sunshine.

Halloween at the Maniac Mansion

Oh what a night! The witches of Cudjoe gathered together a group of friends and neighbors for the yearly Halloween Party. This year it was here at the Maniac Mansion. I received many B-day cards, those sneaky *W*itches!!!!! Lots and Lots of fun was had. It did not rain the entire evening, but rained on several islands north, south, east and west of us. Tell me we aren't witches!! Very Very breezy, in fact too windy for using the upper roof deck (except to relieve the occasional witches hot flash!). I actually remembered to take pictures and received a few from others this morning which I'll share in the album. We missed a few folks, those that came early, came late, stayed late, left early...you know how that goes. I may get a few more add-ons later. For now, click on the post title to see pictures.

There were trick or treaters this year. Logito stayed home, and Mr. R also came and stayed. Miss P had her Party in Key West with friends at her place.

I think I'll leave the cobwebs up till Xmas...LOL!! Oh, and if you're wondering about the pictures, I made my great-room into the Kitchenroom. I love it!! The livingroom has its own room now.