Kiko's Place

Blogging GLEE

2010-01-26T10:42:00.010-05:00

Embrace your inner Loser

It's my new favorite show, mixing showtunes and chart hits by a cast that is outstanding. They know their stuff that's for sure.

Nice trailer

What would you expect? They're all triple threats!

How Kurt ends up on the football team:

Behind the Glee, episode 4

This show really is really incredible.

GLEE - Behind the Scenes of "Sweet Caroline"

Pipeline Finals

2009-12-17T15:30:00.002-05:00

Here's a slideshow of T-Rev's pictures he took at the Pipeline finals. Taj is in the blue and Kelly's in the red.

Pipeline Masters

2009-12-12T19:21:00.006-05:00

Going on live on Oahu's North Shore. T-rev will be there next week for the last week of the Van's Triple Crown competition.

SONGBIRD

2009-10-19T13:51:00.005-04:00

Here's an old favorite I haven't heard in years. A commercial for a hearing aid (the Songbird) made me think of it.

This album should be in the box up in the attic. Mary and Marty are in St. Martin this week, lucky them.

Ooh la la la

2009-10-18T20:11:00.002-04:00

Just like in the olden days. Joanie has many many talents:

MAD MEN - "C'est magnifique!" (Joan's accordion) 3.3

Yorn and Johannson, GREAT STUFF!

2009-10-12T20:50:00.001-04:00

I haven't heard much NEW music that I really really like in a long time. But this is just wonderful stuff.

Baucus and Snowe... gotta go

2009-09-30T13:12:00.003-04:00

These two voted against the public option. Who's side are they on?

Hold them accountable.

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Defending the Insurance Companies

2009-09-22T19:46:00.006-04:00

Will Ferrell and friends defend the insurance company executives.

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Here's a better one: Call Congress (202-224-3121) and tell them you aren't sending any more MONEY until they do what's right and pass the health reform that is going to help the people who need it. Then tell them that you're only donating for those who vote for the bill, or the Progressive candidate who challenges them in their next primary. Not another dime till this gets passed.

See Helicopter Barbie for how SIMPLE this really is.
The SIMPLE Truth
Really, it ain't brain surgery.

MAD MEN blogs

2009-09-16T07:48:00.003-04:00

http://madmenfootnotes.com

http://www.tvsquad.com/category/Mad-Men/

http://en.wordpress.com/tag/mad-men/

Blogging MAD MEN

2009-09-13T10:22:00.004-04:00

You have your Bridges of Madison County, now there are the men of MADISON Avenue. Ad Men... the phrase they coined for themselves, MAD MEN. Last weekend, I was watching some shows on Sundance channel about teaching from a teacher's perspective. The Education of Ms. Groves, a documentary series, and Chalk, a 'mockumentary' shot in The Office style. Because I like to look at the background of the actors, etc. I stumbled upon some links between an actor (asst. producer?) and MAD MEN, and decided to check it out. What a media cocoon I live in, I'd honestly never heard of it before or just was too wrapped up in politics not be even look at what Hollyweird has been dishing out. It's been on AMC for two years now, but I'd never watched that channel as it wasn't in my cable lineup. (It is now) After viewing a few recent episodes on On Demand, I found the full lineup on SurfTheChannel. Like T-Rev watching the Lousiana Vampire porn, I'm addicted and am honestly going to be very bummed when I make it to the end of the current season.

For anyone who wants to see what was really happening in the 60's, besides the Beatles, this show is a terrific insight into how it was back then. Go ahead, LifeLearners, look up the Greek roots of Utopia and Nostalgia, ad men understand. Cudos to MAD MEN writers, they're doing a terrific job.

Tip: The best links on STC are the Megavideo ones. But if your streaming (I never download), it only runs for 74 minutes before you have to stop and wait 54 minutes to continue. That's ok, because it factors in anticipation to get back to it after a break long enough to get something else done around here. << for the seriously addicted ;)

End of Season 1, The Wheel, has some really good stuff, but being a soup opera, I advise starting from the beginning to get the back story. Nixon and Kennedy has some historic moments that are bound to be built on and give your political history buffs some juice into that administration.

Viewing Tip #2: Some episodes don't seem to be on STC, so you have to check out some of the Japanese sites. Some are blocked (in my area... the US?), but the Tudou sites work in English, but with Japanese subtitles (no biggee).

Oh, and did I tell you? My neice looks just like Peggy Olson before she got pregnant, bumped up to junior copywriter, and took down her pony tail.

Babylon

2009-09-12T09:44:00.005-04:00

My new favorite show, MAD MEN. After seeing a couple on On Demand, I'm watching them from the beginning. From season one (2007), this is the best episode so far:

My neice is getting married today. She looks just like Elisabeth Moss.

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I'm for a Public Option

2009-09-04T17:51:00.004-04:00

And Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL).

Now why would this nice Republican man want to deliberately mislead people as to how the proposed new system would work?

Here's a woman that could give Sarah Palin a run for her money in 2012 or 2018. Joe Biden likes her and she's knows how to talk straight. I'll be voting for Debbie.

Summertime!

2009-07-04T09:52:00.001-04:00

Yes! It finally stopped raining and the sun's out for the 4th. Still, gotta love Janis and her brand of blues...

esl teachers in quarantine south korea

2009-05-28T09:55:00.006-04:00

While the worldwide media focuses on North Koreas nukes, missle tests, and latest threats, and an ex-president's suicide in South Korea, there's a story going on in S.Korea about 50+/- english language teachers (Americans included) being held in quarantine for Influenza A, H1N1, the swine flu. They're blogging from their confinement center, but no ones seems to be aware of it here in the states. The US Embassy in Seoul knows though.

Some Korean news stories from this week allude to it by saying they are being 'observed' or 'isolated'--but no mention about the actual quarantine:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2905314
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/05/117_45651.html

Teacher blogs from quarantine:
http://therubycanary.wordpress.com/
http://underquarantine.tumblr.com/
http://web.me.com/superacidjax/Sparkling_Chaos/Welcome/Welcome.html

Another teacher blogging from South Korea:
http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2009/05/more-on-those-english-teachers.html

The new hires are being confined in a govt training facility in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, a Human Resources Development Center just south of Gangnam and just east the Seoul Art Center (pictured on Google Earth). This is the link to the quarantine location (hardly a gulag):
http://hrd.seoul.go.kr/eng/H01SHRDCBriefAction.do?method=direct
With address, phone number, email addy, map, and directions

Big media has been contacted numerous times, but I guess they have their hands full with the nuke stories. Not even so much as the 'who, what, when, where, or why' has been brought to the public's attention. At least not here in the states.

Google for more blogs.

ole!

Long time, no blog

2009-05-09T17:17:00.004-04:00

Song to make grown men cry:
"Ripple" - Grateful Dead

Ripple Lyrics

Lyrics | Grateful Dead Lyrics | Ripple Lyrics

Wiggling Butts

2009-01-19T09:42:00.006-05:00

The Original Elvis impersonation... Bye Bye Birdie (1963)

Ann-Margret, Jesse Pearson, Bobby Rydell

Gotta Lotta Livin' To Do!

Stars Dick Van Dyke, Janet Leigh, Paul Lynd and Ed Sullivan too.

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Puppet Show Elvis

2009-01-08T10:43:00.005-05:00

more Edutainment from the wonderful world of Wollywood... Elvis, what a sweetheart!

"didya ever?"

G.I. Blues (1960)

Juliet Prowse reminds me of Leslie Caron's little sister, all grown up.

And this little gem for the new daddy's out there:

www.2bigfeet.com Big Men's Shoes up to Size 20 9E FREE Shipping*, 90 Day Returns

01:58

Big Boots - Elvis

Please pray for Nerine Viljoen

2008-12-11T21:06:00.008-05:00

Nerine passed away in December when her organs failed to take over from the life support machines.

This is the Facebook page for Nerine.

This is a heartbreaking tragedy that's taking place in Mokpo, South Korea, for a beautiful young woman critically burned in a fire while petsitting for a friend.

Her friends there are collecting donations and will have a Paypal account set up soon making it easier for those not in Korea to help her family with their expenses of traveling and staying there from South Africa while dealing with this horrendous situation.

Please pray for her recovery, her condition is critical. And check the link for the Paypal account if you can help too.

Why do I care? My son is a teacher there too.

Teacher in the Land of the Morning Calm.

► August (8)

► July (11)

► June (7)

Edutainment in Paris, circa 1951

2008-10-27T17:07:00.003-04:00

Watch Kelly teaching the little French kids words while he breaks out in song and dance. Stairway to Paradise is one flashy number. But the Caron scenes are the show stealer in this wonderful hit that has Kelly giving free esl lessons to the kids who follow his limo ride down the street.

An American in Paris, wonderful love story of artistry and life.

S'Wonderful!

Great movie about kids

2008-10-26T23:22:00.004-04:00

This movie is an insight into allowing children to express themselves. And it's FUNNY! It's my new favorite next to Billy Elliot.

Bruno (2000)

Photos (see
all 5 | slideshow)

Genre

Comedy
| Drama more

Tagline: The comedy that is long on originality and short on pants. more

Plot: Bruno is the story of a unique young boy genius, Bruno (Alex D.Linz), whose expression of his own individuality... more |

Plot Keywords:

Genius | Humor | Fable | Mother Son Relationship
| Misfit

source:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123003/

"Mr. Credit is dead and buried" - M (1931)Directed by Fritz Lang

2008-10-05T09:30:00.006-04:00

Cross-posted at Helicopter Barbie because of the historical connection to crime and depression era:

It's Sunday morning and while I was waiting for the talk shows (where Sarah is supposed to be a no-show), I see this old movie and am intrigued by the cops and crooks after a murderer. When the crooks decide they need the Beggars' Association to be their best informants, this was funny, a sign on the wall at the Beggars' headquarters. From the 1931 movie "M" :

Mr. Credit is dead and buried
--The Management

M (1931)Directed by Fritz Lang. With Peter Lorre, Ellen Widmann, Inge Landgut. When the police in a German city are unable to catch a child-murderer, ...
www.imdb.com/title/tt0022100/

A psychotic child murderer stalks a city, and despite an exhaustive investigation fueled by public hysteria and outcry, the police have been unable to find him. But the police crackdown does have one side-affect, it makes it nearly impossible for the organized criminal underground to operate. So they decide that the only way to get the police off their backs is to catch the murderer themselves. Besides, he is giving them a bad name.

This is good, when you put it in historical context. A serious look at 'honor among thieves'. Guess I'll catch up on who said what later on the blogs... you know, the mainstream media filter.

Another funny, the police inspector, frustrated with the manhunt, is having breakfast, takes a sip of coffee and spits out "dishwater again", then takes a bite of toast and tosses it down really disgusted.

Line from after the crooks catch him and put him on trial in a court of their own:

"Every man here is an expert in the law."

Roadmap to Korean

2008-09-24T08:34:00.005-04:00

Roadmap to Korean by Richard Harris takes a look at learning Korean from a historical, cultural, and pop linguistic point of view

Roadmap to Korean is the most complete and thorough introduction to the Korean language of its kind.

Roadmap to Korean is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the country and its people on a more intimate level.

Read more here:
http://astore.amazon.com/zkorean-20/detail/1565911873

Jeonju Sori Festival

2008-09-24T01:09:00.004-04:00

Jeonju Sori Festival

The Jeonju Sori Festival, to be held Sept 26---Oct 4, is Korea's greatest celebration of Korean traditional music. Held in the lovely city of Jeonju, renowned as the heartland of Korean traditional arts, the festival pays tribute to the region's illustrious tradition of pansori, a unique form of lyrical storytelling. If you have any interest at all in Korean traditional music... more »

For more information about the festival, call (063) 232-8398 or visit the event's homepage (www.sorifestival.com).

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Will the real Sarah Palin please stand up?

2008-09-16T11:34:00.002-04:00

Hilarious and dead-on. I see an Emmy nomination is Fey's future. SNL strikes pure gold.

Saturday Night Live - Palin / Hillary Open - Video - NBC.com

Gov. Palin and Senator Clinton address the nation.
www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/palin-hillary-open/656281/

Googling Maps

2008-09-16T01:21:00.001-04:00

How'd I do that?
http://www.dr2ooo.com/tools/maps/

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Light in the Piazza

2008-09-09T12:31:00.004-04:00

1962: Light in the Piazza
Olivia de Haviland, Yvette Mimieux, George Hamilton, Rossano Brazzi

What a refreshingly wonderful film full of drama, romance, and comic relief... with a message for any day and age.

Yes, it's a travelogue. But that's just one good thing. The scenery (inside and out) is shot beautifully--filmed on location in Florence. The stars intrigued me right off. Yvette Mimieux is such a perfect ingenue. And the first set of dialogue for Hamilton has him complimenting the American mom on her tan. I thought that was funny considering he became famous for his tan and was rather pale Italian in this movie. Still tall, dark, and handsome though.

Anyhow, see this movie if you get a chance and see how one parent handles a handicapped child--all grown up. Fairy tale or not, it's very thought provoking, and one gorgeous way to tell the story.

View from the 21st Floor

2008-08-15T21:15:00.004-04:00

Ok, I promise to stop posting the same pics right after this last slideshow I made from the first pics out of Korea (I'm on a roll with PicassaWeb). If some are fuzzy, it's a new camera. Or that's how they are intended to be.

Night at the Beach

2008-08-14T18:45:00.002-04:00

A slideshow of T-Rev's night at the beach...

Samgyetang, The Soup

2008-08-13T21:59:00.005-04:00

Samgyetang - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Samgyetang (pronounced [samgjetʰaŋ]), sometimes called chicken ginseng soup, is a Korean soup-based dish. It is basically a whole young chicken stuffed with ... {garlic, rice, dates, and ginseng}

Samgyetang is traditionally served in the summer for its supposed nutrients, which replaces those lost through excessive sweating and physical exertion during the hot summers in Korea.

Ginseng Chicken Soup is popular korean healthy soup ...

NET WT.: 10 oz / SERVINGS ABOUT 3

INGREDIENTS: Sweet rice, ginseng, red date, dried chesnut

COOKING DIRECTION:
1) Get one cornish game hen and stuff with 2.5oz of sweet rice, 3 dates, 2 chestnuts, 1 ginseng root, and 1 clove of fresh garlic. (more is better)
2) After hen is stuffed, stitch tightly with thread.
3) Place hen in a pot and fill with water until hen is completely covered.
4) Boil on high heat until a vigorous boil is achieved, then adjust to low or medium heat: Let simmer for one hour.
5) Garnish with diced spring onions, add salt and pepper to your taste. Serve hot.

I'll have a helluva time restraining from adding parsley and celery, but if I do ever make this, I'll have to try to keep it pure. But this gal adds LOTS of garlic:

Korean ginseng chicken soup

/ginseng-chicken-soup.html Maangchi is making korean style ...
6 min -

Temple Hike Slideshow

2008-08-11T18:48:00.007-04:00

Temple Hike

This is a slideshow from T-rev's hike on Sunday, 08.10.08

Temple Hike stills

2008-08-11T10:42:00.005-04:00

From T-Revvv's Facebook album "Temple Hike":

Facebook users may be able to view these, I don't know.

Summer Night on Haeundae Beach

2008-08-10T17:54:00.010-04:00

At first he thought it was a concert going on...

turns out it was a video game

Hey lady, take off the hat!

Check out the fan effects.
Pure Asian auras?

Back on the boardwalk and it's ...

"buy a balloon, get a free shot".

Then there's this gem of GW telling Korea to f*off.

This is going to be classic.

First Pics Out of Korea

2008-08-09T12:04:00.005-04:00

They say that 08.08.08 was a lucky day. Lucky T-rev got paid, bought himself a camera and looks like he knows how to use it. These are from the 21st floor balconies of his building, and a few from street level.

(Now you know why they call me a helicopter mom.)

The Hot Stuff

2008-08-01T11:20:00.004-04:00

Ah ha, Chili Heads... Capsaicin and Casein, you're good friends.

Quote:

Paradoxically, capsaicin's ability to cause pain makes it useful in alleviating pain. Exposure to capsaicin lowers sensitivity to pain, and it is applied as a counter irritant in the treatment of arthritis and other chronically painful conditions.

The capsaicinoids are unique compared to other spicy substances, such as piperine (black pepper) and gingerol (ginger) in that capsaicin causes a long-lasting selective desensitization to the pain and discomfort, as a result of repeated doses. The result is an increasing ability to tolerate ever hotter foods and permits one to assume the title of "Chile-Head" or "CH" for short.

People that eat lots of spicy capsaicin-rich foods build up a tolerance to it. The incentive: Once a person has become somewhat desensitized to the extreme heat of the "hotter" Chiles, he or she can starts on a new culinary journey. Not being over powered by the heat factor, the palate now has the ability to explore the many diverse flavors offered by the myriad of different Chiles that are currently available from around the world. Also for some Chile-Heads a good jolt of capsaicin excites the nervous system into producing endorphins, which promote a pleasant sense of well-being that can last several hours. The endorphin lift or "high", makes spicy foods mildly addictive and for some, an obsession.

http://www.ushotstuff.com/Heat.Scale.htm

So, if you saw Chocolat, this is why she put chilis in her candies.

And if you see someone take a sip of milk after an especially hot bite, they know this secret too.

casein
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-casein.htm

Quote:

This is why drinking water after accepting a dare to eat an extra hot Habanero Chile won't stop the burning. Downing a cold beer is the traditional remedy, but the small percentage of alcohol will not wash away much capsaicin. To get some relief from a chile burn (can't think of a good reason not to "Enjoy the heat"), drink milk or eat ice-cream. Milk contains casein, a lipophilic (fat-loving) substance that surrounds and washes away the fatty capsaicin molecules in much the same way that soap washes away grease.

I saw the waiter bring a wailing 3-yo, who'd bit into a pepper, a plate of ice-cream once in a Vietnamese restaurant we once visited. From a nearby table, I saw his face screw up. I knew he wasn't happy and since he was already pretty noisy, I figured it was coming. The howl.

On the other hand, I once saw a teenage suck down a wedge of lemon like it was nothing. No cringe, nothing. He'd been doing it since around age two too.

Next time I'll give you my volcano-coffee recipe. It's from Hawaii and I know it's around the ether somewheres here... But Kyoki with a splash of creme du cacao (or plain cocoa) and dash of cayenne is pretty much it.

Seriously, coffee, chocolat, and chilis... food of the Gods.

Busan Festivals, and where they are

2008-07-30T10:21:00.004-04:00

Looks like Friday kicks off a whole week of festivals, from Haeundae Beach and Gwangalli Beach, Songdo, to Dadaepo.

http://www.seafestival.co.kr/ Here's just a few:

Opening Performance 2008. 8. 1(Fri) Haeundae beach
Busan International Hiphop Festival
2008. 8. 4(Mon)~8. 5(Tue) Haeundae beach
9th Busan International Rock Festival
2008. 8. 2(Sat)~8. 3(Sun) Dadaepo beach

2008 Line-up

2 August ~ 3 August, Da-Dae-Po Beach, Busan

Dear Cloud
Tempered Mental
Y-Not?
Copa Salvo
Eve
The Ratios
Sohodolls
Toshi with - EARTH

3 August
The Cigavettes
Superkidd
B.B.B.B.
End of Fashion
Pia
Shadows Fall
Hot Potato
Kang San-E Band

general vicinity of
Beaches and Subway map

For My Teacher Friends

2008-07-25T10:13:00.006-04:00

Mama Keeks here preached the whole four of Wario's college years about getting a teacher's cert. Best job in the world, next to nursing/medicine--but face it, those hours suck. I'm finding out that teachers can go just about anywhere and find employment--what it takes to survive. Unless you're independently wealthy and doing this out of the goodness of your heart.

My favorite quote on travel is by that old steamer, Mark Twain:

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."

It's professional development that makes a career, no matter what foot you start out on. And don't be afraid to combine areas of interest. Even for hobbies you should have at least six pans in the fire (projects going) even if it means two of them are clearing your desk and getting housework done. Your job is #3. Getting to the gym and errands done periodically can be #4. This takes organization. #5 should be studying and reading at any age, and #6 can be a hobby, planning for an event, hols, etc. Really using your noggin and getting into the zone. Having seven is better yet. Push some limits and have eight even. Go ahead, you're young, you can do it. I once had three jobs going at one time once when I was a young age.

Putting your family and God into the equation is essential for a spiritual life. And I think that's where I heard this from, a PBS segment on Rick Warren once"The Purpose Driven Life".

Spirituality aside, it's good advice to stay focused, and learn to enjoy the moments. Your brain cells need to be honed daily, just like good tempered steel. If your job helps you do that, everyone's a winner. While you're staying on your toes.

Korean Country Life, a little bit of heaven

2008-07-24T12:55:00.004-04:00

Here's a wonderful Webshots slideshow from Mishko, their gardens near Jinju. A little bit of heaven--the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees...

life in Korea

Camping In Airports

2008-07-23T18:20:00.009-04:00

My nephew just landed in the UK this week for a year's stay, bless his heart (and open his eyes, he's 20). It reminded me of this experience from 1985 when I was on my way to Ireland to cousin Dave and Cathy's wedding. The other relatives were flying into Shannon from Boston, but I had the pleasure of flying into a London airport from Madrid with a three day stay before moving on to Limmerick and meeting up with the wedding party.

I don't remember who was on the plane, but what struck me immediately was the LINE to get thru Customs. It was at least a quarter mile long. And the people in line were probably 99% Mideastern, Indian, and Asian. Actually, there were two lines. That one and one roped off alongside it for UK residents.

Well, being one of the few western girls around, Rubia here attaches herself to a group heading that way (making a mental excuse that I didn't see the signs), wondering where is this Customs counter. It was quite a long walk, and soon became apparent that London had more-than-they-could-handle Immigrants coming in. Had to be in the hundreds, and their line didn't appear to be moving.

Sure 'nuf, getting to the head of the line was easy, and didn't take my whole three days in London as I suspected the other was taking. And presenting my US passport was no problem for the agents who didn't seem to care much or even realize I was in the wrong line which was for 'All Other Countries'.

I remember this vividly because of how long the other line was and that they were sleeping on suitcases and COOKING on sterno! Bless their hearts (and minds) for bringing supplies. Now I realize that camped out on luggage at the airport can happen to anyone, but it never fails to remind me of immigration issues anytime I hear of the UK 'being owned by Moslems'.

Someday I'll tell you about the Iranians in Paris. (If you enjoy street food, they make the best crepes around.)

This is Princess Sparkle Pony...

2008-07-16T17:09:00.005-04:00

My little kitty, Sparkie, is named after Sparkle Pony, (the horse he rode in on?).....

From the newest JibJab, Time For Some Campainin'

(My Sparkle Pony --Sparkie--is actually a black and gold tortie, but she 'sparkles' too)

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Top in the World

2008-07-10T17:04:00.007-04:00

Wario's in a medium-size hagwon, I believe. He's going between two different locations and lives about in the middle. Says the view is awesome from his 21st floor. I'd be getting elevator sickness, that's for sure.

He says the education system there is excellent. I'm still foggy on what a hagwon is, but I think it's an after school program that people pay to send their kids to after regular school lets out. Adults can also sign up for classes, it's a big business there. He's teaching 1st grade to Middle school. So these kids still go to regular public school where they also take English classes, AND attend extra classes in the evening. I've heard this described as babysitting, study halls. He says there are 8th graders doing calculus. Or are they catching up on ps homework?

Anyhow, I'm pretty proud of him. Taking on education as a career. Following in Uncle Johnny and Mary Lu's footsteps. Who knew? He did an internship with his University President last year that took him to Washington, D. C. to a conference and to lobby Congress for education.

Seton Hill '08
Lacrosse, 4 yrs
NCAA 3 yrs

ESL Then and Now

2008-07-09T12:23:00.006-04:00

Let me tell you all a story. I just realized something, the KikoGrandmama (grammy, for short) had English as her second language. I knew this, but it just dawned on me (again) this morning how it is connected to the world of today. And what our Teachers are doing in the field of ESL to facilitate changes in the global economy.

Now I realize this is ancient history to most people here, days of yore...

Her parents arrived on US shores around the turn of the last century. Her father arriving maybe a few years earlier. Neither spoke English whatsoever. GreatGrammy was only 16 when she put herself on a boat to come to NJ to sew doilies, lace collars and such. Father was a few years older and was already (an army deserter*) established as a coal miner in a town not far from where I live now. He'd already had one wife who perished in a terrible fire, and had been back and forth to Europe already to take money to his family and bring another brother back to America with him.

We used to romanticize that this couple met on the boat, but that's not how it went. After #1 wife died, he knew that there was a section of NJ (Hoboken?) where the Ukranian immigrants settled for factory jobs and he made the trip back there to find wife #2, someone who spoke his same language--Russian. This practice, I am told, was common in those days.

So he found the little girl who knew how to tat and grow cabbage, picked her, and brought her the 300 mile journey to her new home. But after being in NJ sweat factories for even a short length of time, she had started learning English. Father never did.

Flash forward ten children later, Kikogrammy being one of the last born and Father was STILL only speaking Russian, never having the need to learn English as his settlement had a Russian community that encompassed everything he needed. Being a strict authoritarian (in the way of eastern europe families), he did not allow his children to speak any language other than his mother tongue in their home, his castle.

Thus my mother grew up speaking only Russian until she started grade school. Now being one of the youngest siblings, she had probably heard enough from the elder ones to make it easier, but they hadn't. They learned English in school. They were solely Russian speakers in their earliest years in the home, only learning English once they started school.

Only yesterday she told me a story of one of my cousins yelling at the cattle in Russian when he was four years old. Repeating what he heard his Grandfather do every evening when it was time to bring the cows home.

So that's my little story. Take whatever lesson you wish from it, but know that it's been played many many times in all areas of the globe. And feel proud that you, Teachers, are a part of it in the age we live in now. I salute you.

* Father had been taken into the Russian army at age 16, did a stint, said adios to that horseshit (living on sunflower seeds), and hightailed it to Italy where he picked grapes for seven years earning boatfare to America. Just like the guys you saw below decks in Titanic.

Into the Wild Blue Yonder

2008-07-06T09:54:00.002-04:00

That's a Kidsong we loved when he was four. It's the Air Force song (for his cousin Greg who'll be off to England in a couple weeks).

Just to let you know, he left this morning, off to Philadelphia, then LA, then Incheon. That part went smooth. But it was sad to know I won't see him for at least another year, maybe longer. Time to get my own life, I suppose.

The second part will be collecting his baggage and switching to the puddle jumper that will take him to Busan. It's a short layover in Incheon (unless they get in early), only an hour and a half, and late in the evening there so it could be the last flight out that night--tomorrow here, today there. Gah, these time zones are so confusing. I wonder if he'll have to clear customs there also? Finding his bags to check into another airline, then customs, could be a crunch.

But I'm very happy too. Choosing to be a teacher as his first career is an excellent move imho. He's going to learn ALOT! I know he's looking forward to the professional challenge, however untrained he is for it.

Aside from the phrase book, pocket travel guide, and some lax mags, the only book he took is a college text from one of his classes: Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought

.

Packing Day is Here!

2008-07-05T09:34:00.006-04:00

The Happy Wanderers made it back safe and sound from NYC yesterday, visa intact. (after I checked the delivery times, I told him NOT to use the UPS envelope, it wouldn't get here in time and he'd miss his flight) It's T-Rev's last day on American soil, except for a layover at LAX tomorrow. He'll be leaving in the early am for his trek across the globe.

The packing party is at Grammy's where he's been accumulating all his things because he doesn't want to get cat hair on them here... poodles don't shed, no shit).

Woohoo...
God love ya!

He leaves in the morning calm.

Kickin' It!

2008-07-03T18:24:00.006-04:00

I just added Brian in Jeollanam-do to the Korean Blogger List.

stage>>>

He's a part time journalist who has an interesting case going. American beef protests. Huh? I'm eating beef from America maybe once, twice a week! You say I'm gonna die? hmmpf Anyhow I found his blog on a message board and they all have some very interesting things to say about the political landscape there. Wario's a poli-sci major, he's gonna love it! (me too).

What I found interesting about living overseas was that you really can just get along paying absolutely no attention at all to local, national, or world news. But young people have an exuberant energy that sometimes means filling time with the things they love. The Journalistic-politics bug is what I think Brian has. Good for him, he's a kindred soul. And since he's an American (who is suppose to believe in Free Speech and Freedom of the Press), writing part time should be a natural for an english teacher. It shows in his zeal for his subjects, and their zeal for him...

(I wonder if the Koreans quite thought that thru when they started these english programs? I'm sure after 50 years of military there, they knew more multiculturalisms would follow.)

Back to my young english teacher: Wario's still in Brooklyn and hasn't come home yet. He called around 2pm and I yelled at him that they'll be stuck in traffic, every construction zone will be a bottle-neck on a holiday weekend. So he called back a few hours later and said they're staying another night. He got the visa yesterday and could have came home then. But Johnboy's cousin got paid today and is taking them out tonight on his dime. I guess if you're having a last fling, might as well fling it all the way? Beats drinking in the woods, and amazingly they're both legal.

Meanwhile his teenage cousin, Kissa, who he borrowed a cell phone from (to stay in touch) is spitting mad. It was only supposed to be one day, I'm glad I'm not in that house, she's probably going ballistic with withdrawal symptons--she's already a hellcat on pms. And it's so peaceful here, I can hear the bubbles in the fish bowl and some whistles of fireworks starting the the afternoon dusk. Once in a while a car goes up or down the road, but I'm used to that noise by now and hardly ever even hear it. They started out with whistlers, then crackers, now they're into the boomers. Mimi went outside to investigate, everyone else is staying calm, it's up over the hill. But I suppose they'll go on for the next few days. People putting money up in smoke. No wonder the Chinese have all our money.

Here's how I picture my boys in Brooklyn, carrying on . The source where I found this video says...

" ...it's brilliant on many levels."

1. The sunscreen masks they wear on their heads - ajumma shades.
2. "Kimchi, kimchi, it is good for you and me."
3. The Conglish: "Drinking Cassuh, drinking Hite-uh, feeling all right-uh, all night-uh."
4. Fruit-loop balls!

ymmm.... frootloop ballz

off to the consulate

2008-07-01T11:57:00.003-04:00

T-rev and his friend Johnny are on their way to NYC to the consulate today, it's a five hour drive. He has an appt there at 3pm for his ftf interview and has a UPS envelope for them to overnight his passport back here when it gets stamped so he doesn't have to go back for it. The embassy in DC said that PA's consulate is in NY, so that's where he has to go for his visa interview. I think they're just being asses because it's less work for them (yet shorter distance from here).

Meanwhile, Korea sent him his flight information and he flies out on Monday. I don't like how they booked him, it ends in Seoul and his school is in Busan (other end of Korea). I hope someone is meeting him there, might be an excuse for the recruiter to take a road trip. He has an International Driver's permit from AAA, so this trip to nyc will be good training! He's been there with the lax team twice and once with me in '03. If he has the nads to go to Korea, I think he can do some city driving too.

They'll be staying in Brooklyn tonight at John's cousin's and meeting a union guy {mob boss} to get Johnny a construction job there. Ha. I told them to enjoy the pizza, last chance for the real thing. They're driving my old beater Mercury that he's had at college for two years. It runs good but the driver's side window won't work--that could get them in trouble if they get stopped by police... gah, I should have warned him to yell at them thru the window or hand the licenses over thru the sunroof, or they'll get their heads shot off :p THAT's what's scary about NYC driving, but I did tell him to keep it under 70 on I-80 if he doesn't want stopped and socked with a hundreds dollar fine. Geez, he actually has a clean record, needs to keep it that way.

They studied maps all night and he thinks John can drive around the block if they can't find a parking spot and come back to meet him when his business is over. I hope they have the skill for this, in Korea, it'll be the train. He's driving in his underwear (shorts and a t-shirt) and I guess plans to get dressed somewhere on the road. ha But it's the start of this great adventure. Good thing it's not going to get hot till tomorrow when they're on their way back, the ac doesn't work in that car either.

I have an old history book from 1931 to give him as a going away present. I think it came from the old school across the road here, they have flea markets in there that I've walked over to browse--and cart an armload of books home every time. History is his major and he can use it to read stuff to the kids to get them listening to him. Never having taught, it would be nice to be a fly on that wall, but after sitting in classes all his life, surely he picked up something from the good teachers he's had? That's how I figure he can do this job. What an amazing opportunity to see the world without having to be in the military? This is our reward (his dad and me) for seeing him thru college--not having to join the military. It's funny because I nagged him all thru college to get a teaching certificate, and now he's doing it without one.

Oh, and he's beating his cousin Kris to a job, who's in elementary education--trained to be a teacher, does have her certs. And Dylan, a PIT grad who got in grad school in Iowa as a teaching assistant. They'll be meeting back in Hollywood in 2012 -- (this is classic Entourage, their favorite HBO show). Dylan's the writer, good stuff too--kinda stiff, but great thoughts and he'll loosen up if he doesn't get tangled up too much in academia. He's in Iowa this summer teaching football recruits how to write five paragraph essays so they won't look so dumb and can keep up with their classes. He's also the kid who brought me my first kitten (in 30+ years), Misty, who came in from out of the cold. (That'll be my bragging right when he's rich and famous. Dylan, I knew you when you were a young whippersnapper, and you're a whippersnapper still.)

So anyhow, I'm calling the airline to let them know that he'll be bringing sports equipment and they can get a special box ready for the lax sticks. Or maybe not. Looks like another airline policy has changed again and they treat it the same as baggage--get your own damn bags. I'm sending a set of mini-sticks for his class to play with, the beach kind. Kind of an ice breaker/reward he can use when two kids get the pronunciations right. We saw the pics of Ryan's classes on Facebook and it looks like they have some fun too. He just has to exude confidence and he'll be fine. (I can't wait for the letters home)

Well, I have the whole week to be nervous now and I'm kinda glad that he's gone for two days--get me used to it again. His flight takes him thru LAX and that will give him bragging rights to Dylan that he (technically) got there first. They are living their dreams.

Anyhow, that's the latest. He should have his visa this week, already has the flight schedule so it's going to be a packing party at my sister's where he has all his stuff (so it doesn't get pet hair on it here), then away he goes...!

Fly

Oh, and unless the Herald author below was using poetic license--play on red China, it's not technically a 'red tide' until there's a massive fish kill from the algae depleting the oxygen in those waters. This might just be the normal harvast and how they keep fish kills from happening in the first place:

algae bloom in Yellow Sea

2008-06-30T21:05:00.007-04:00

And you wonder where all the seaweed comes from to wrap your sushimi...? hmmm

Here's an interesting slide show of what's going on in the Yellow Sea. West Sea to Koreans. Bounty of the Sea just in time for the sailing competitions for the Olympics.

Multimedia

Photographs

Battling the bloom
» Olympic nightmare: A red tide in Yellow Sea

BEIJING: With less than six weeks before it plays host to the Olympic sailing regatta, the city of Qingdao has mobilized thousands of people and an armada of small boats to clean up an algae bloom that is choking large stretches of the coastline and threatening to impede the Olympic competition.

Local officials have initiated an all-out effort to clean up the algae by mid-July. Media reports estimate that as many as 20,000 people have either volunteered or been ordered to participate in the operation, while 1,000 boats are scooping algae out of the Yellow Sea. The official news agency, Xinhua, reported that algae currently covered a third of the coastal waters designated for the Olympic races.

Water quality has been a concern for the sailing events, given that many coastal Chinese cities dump untreated sewage into the sea. At the same time, rivers and tributaries emptying into coastal waters are often contaminated with high levels of nitrates from agricultural and industrial runoff. These nitrates contribute to the red tides of algae that often bloom along sections of China's coastline.

But officials in Qingdao said pollution and poor water quality did not have a "substantial link" to the current outbreak, according to Xinhua. Instead, scientists blamed the bloom on increased rainfall and warmer waters in the Yellow Sea. Algae are now blooming over more than 12,900 square kilometers, or 5,000 square miles, of the sea, according to Xinhua.

"We will make all our efforts to finish this job," said a propaganda official in Qingdao. "Now, forces from the entire province have become involved." He said ships and boats had been sent from two other coastal cities, Rizhao and Yantai, to help haul away the algae.

Yuan Zhiping, an official with the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Committee, said Sunday that the government would attempt to block algae from floating into the Olympic sailing area by installing a fenced perimeter in the sea that is more than 50 kilometers, or 30 miles, long.

Much of it was being transported to farms as feed for pigs and other animals, according to news reports.

Ya think? Sounds like mystery sauce for the food vendors at the Olympics too. yummy seaweed.

Teacher in the Land of the Morning Calm.

2008-06-30T03:04:00.002-04:00

Some of you may have noticed my recent interest in things Asian lately. This is because next week sometime the son of Kiko, aka Wario, aka the T-rev, will be off to the Land of the Morning Calm.

It's been a whirlwind month as he researched jobs, found recruiters, organized documents, found a job and now he has a visa issuance number from Korean Immigration sponsored by his employer and is ready to schedule a face-to-face interview at the Korean Embassy. whew... Talk about jumping thru hoops and red tape.

Wario's going to love this place... He was nurtured with a sense of adventure, love for travel, and he really is a kind soul. He's gonna love it.

"Through knowledge, perspective and companionship we better ourselves and gain a greater appreciation for what we have."

Interesting Facts
recruit.com>Did you know?tab

Korea is one of the safest countries in the world. In fact, many westerners attest to feeling safer walking around here than in their own countries.
English has almost reached second language status which makes everyday life much less complicated and allows ex-pats to function with little or no Korean.
Korea spends $15 billion (usd) on English education every year, roughly three times that of Japan.
The KTX, which is a high speed train or “bullet train”, will get you to wherever you are going quickly and affordably. You are usually no more than 3 hours from any destination in the country.
All of the seven major Korean cities boast a strong and effervescent foreign community.
Korea is the most “wired” country in the world.
There are nearly 500,000 foreign nationals living in Korea.
After only a few months most westerners can read Hangul, which is Korea’s official language.

What types of people are inclined to go on such an adventure?

What makes an ESL teacher?
3rd tab on top in blue

You’re someone that has the courage to travel hundreds of kilometers from home to start, what may be, you first teaching job ever!

You’re curious and excited about new opportunities.

Someone that is motivated to grow and learn through doing. (this is how you get karma)

Lack the complacence to settle for the status quo and desire the chance to explore. yeehaw!

You’re affable and kind spirited. yup

You have an open mind towards new people, cultures, languages and experiences. the best :)

You enjoy a challenge, whether you find it in the classroom or attempting to buy groceries. (And remember, you don’t speak the language!)

All of these traits combine to make the people and communities we live in. They are what bring out the most in our experiences abroad and compel us to pursue the road less taken, but ultimately more rewarding. Through knowledge, perspective and companionship we better ourselves and gain a greater appreciation for what we have.

Land of the Morning Calm.
I love it.
Korea

What an exciting journey
Cherish these moments
treasures from afar.
Love,
Mom

Unknown Author (but I'm loving it)

2008-06-29T09:38:00.006-04:00

With George Carlin passing away last week, I can't help but think this is something he might have said. Message from the Great Beyond:

watch out where the huskies go

2008-06-26T13:27:00.002-04:00

Or... another interpretation of the ''Snowball Effect'':

Good Eats

2008-06-24T15:53:00.005-04:00

Been finding lots of good Korean blogs, but this is one that deserves a spot of it's own, posted by Lasagna's Got Seoul. T-rev must try one of these. Great pics, Lassy!

But this. THIS is my newest awesome discovery: Ju Meok Bap Mix. This is the tuna melt of Korea. I love it. This is the outside, rice and spicy sesame seeds and seaweed.

Inside is Kim Chi and tuna salad served hot (and it's spicy). I know it doesn't sound good but it was so good. AND only $1.50. I love it!

"I'm Voting Republican!"

2008-06-23T11:43:00.000-04:00

Ya think?

Social Harmony in the Land of the Morning Calm

2008-06-17T19:34:00.006-04:00

Some of you may have noticed my recent interest in things Asian lately. This is because next week sometime the spawn of Kiko, aka Wario, aka the T-rev, will be off to the Land of the Morning Calm.

It's been a whirlwind month as he researched jobs, found recruiters, organized documents, found a job and now he has a visa issuance number from Korean Immigration sponsored by his employer and is ready to schedule a face-to-face interview at the Korean Embassy. whew... Talk about jumping thru hoops and red tape.

Wario's going to love this place... He was nurtured with a sense of adventure, love for travel, and he really is a kind soul. He's gonna love it.

"Through knowledge, perspective and companionship we better ourselves and gain a greater appreciation for what we have."

Interesting Facts
recruit.com>Did you know?tab

Korea is one of the safest countries in the world. In fact, many westerners attest to feeling safer walking around here than in their own countries.
English has almost reached second language status which makes everyday life much less complicated and allows ex-pats to function with little or no Korean.
Korea spends $15 billion (usd) on English education every year, roughly three times that of Japan.
The KTX, which is a high speed train or “bullet train”, will get you to wherever you are going quickly and affordably. You are usually no more than 3 hours from any destination in the country.
All of the seven major Korean cities boast a strong and effervescent foreign community.
Korea is the most “wired” country in the world.
There are nearly 500,000 foreign nationals living in Korea.
After only a few months most westerners can read Hangul, which is Korea’s official language.

What types of people are inclined to go on such an adventure?

What makes an ESL teacher?
3rd tab on top in blue

You’re someone that has the courage to travel hundreds of kilometers from home to start, what may be, you first teaching job ever!

You’re curious and excited about new opportunities.

Someone that is motivated to grow and learn through doing. (this is how you get karma)

Lack the complacence to settle for the status quo and desire the chance to explore. yeehaw!

You’re affable and kind spirited. yup

You have an open mind towards new people, cultures, languages and experiences. the best :)

You enjoy a challenge, whether you find it in the classroom or attempting to buy groceries. (And remember, you don’t speak the language!)

All of these traits combine to make the people and communities we live in. They are what bring out the most in our experiences abroad and compel us to pursue the road less taken, but ultimately more rewarding. Through knowledge, perspective and companionship we better ourselves and gain a greater appreciation for what we have.

Land of the Morning Calm.
I love it.
Korea

What an exciting journey
Cherish these moments
treasures from afar.
Love,
Mom

The Brioche Project ... or...

2008-02-27T08:08:00.002-05:00

Fun With Brioche | Just Hungry

Brioche bread is so delicate, light and buttery that is just one tiny step removed from being a pastry. Plain brioche bread is delicious on its own, ...
www.justhungry.com/2006/06/fun_with_brioch.html

And a Happy Valentine's Day to you too, my dear

2008-02-14T10:44:00.005-05:00

Wild Guys by Retro

flash/video
Angel by Camilla Eriksson

Care2

Cooking Tip o' the Day

2008-01-27T11:39:00.000-05:00

So I've been reading some great stuff lately but it's the more mundane things that brings me back to blog again.

Here's my cooking tip I decided might come in handy in the kitchen someday. I'm stuffing a chicken for Sunday dinner and this just screamed out to be blogged.

Sticky Fingers

Don't try to peel garlic or onions with wet fingers. The dry papers just stick and you end up spending the next five minutes trying to get them off.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T08:33:00.001-05:00

Shake it up baby...

Care2 Christmas E-Cards!

Not for the kiddies, just a little fun

2007-12-23T01:45:00.000-05:00

Here's a little ditty from a few years back that I found online and stuck together on a webpage.

The music midi will work if you open it in IE,
might not in FF if that's the browser you use.

not for kids, this time

Walkin' 'round in women's underwear.

Bah Humbug Day

2007-12-21T18:32:00.000-05:00

Blogging for Well Cats, missed this one...

Dec 15 Cat Herders' Day. If you can say that your job, or even your life, is like trying to herd cats, then this day is for you, with our sympathy.

That would have been fun. But we're just in time for ...

Dec 21 Humbug Day -- Allows everyone preparing for Christmas to vent their frustrations. Twelve humbugs allowed.

Wonderful fun stuff there,

Wacky but uplifting ways
to celebrate human nature & life.

Want to contribute your version of “how to celebrate?” Pick a holiday, jot down your own thoughts about it and send your comments to us at info@wellcat.com. We’ll be glad to read what you send and might even (with your permission) publish your contribution to our Wellcat Holidays After all, it’s merely a state of mind, my dear.

"Wellcat Holidays" is a trademark of Thomas and Ruth Roy. These holidays are copyrighted by Thomas and Ruth Roy. All Rights Reserved.

Ladies Sing the Blues too

2007-12-15T14:31:00.000-05:00

Part Dieux: The Girls

Koko Taylor

I'm a Woman
Wang Dang Doodle
let me love you

Susan Tedeschi

Rock Me Right
Hurt so Bad
Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean
Feeling Music brings
Can't sleep at night
Angel from Montgomery
Dereks Trucks Band and Susan Tedeschi - The Weight
Evidence

Mangoes, Coconuts, Avocados, oh my....

2007-12-15T11:01:00.000-05:00

I just wrote this post for Jim in Mex, in response to his article I saw in OpEd News, The Most Popular Fruit In The World. Reminded me of some favorite fruits, and sea stories...

Discovering Mangoes

While being stationed around the world with the US Navy, I discovered mangoes in Hawaii where a neighbor across the street had a huge tree in his front yard. Every morning he would leave us a dozen or so on our door step. Way to many for my roomies and I to eat, but I'd take them to work on base to share with my fellow co-workers. Once I was picking someone up at the airport and the screener saw with the x-ray the paring knife I used to peel them with in my backpack and confiscated it. I forgot it was there, it was just normal kit.

Then a few years later I was stationed in Gtmo (this was back when the base was used as a fleet training/sea trials center) and we had many mango trees in the base housing areas. Filipinos sailors from the navy ships that cycled thru for training and sea quals would come out and collect as many as they could to 'pickle' so they could bring them back to the states and not be confiscated by Customs upon their entry. You know their familes back in Norfolk certainly appreciated what was likely their variation on chutney.

I wonder if anyone ever thinks to give them to the prisoners there?

Pest Control: Also in Gtmo is a critter indigenous to Cuba called the Banana Rat. (The gal from the zoo in LA had one on the Johnny Carson show many moons ago.) The first time I ever saw one was roadkill and at first I thought it was a groundhog (like Punxsatawny Phil--that big) until I noticed the long ratlike tail. These creatures like mangoes too, so my neighbor would surround the trunk of his trees with aluminum which they couldn't get a grip on to climb.

Fast forward to my next stop, Naval Station Roosey Roads, Puerto Rico which has been abandoned by the USN--turned over to the locals. While running our mile and a half PT and running out of conversation, a co-worker and I started watching for mango trees along the course we took daily. When we spotted mangoes ready for picking, later in the day we'd concoct a reason to get back to that area with the navy-issue pickup truck, park it under the tree, climb on top of the truck roof to reach the ripened fruit, and fill up the bed with however many we thought we could consume or give away.

Also in Puerto Rico were the magnificent coconut palms which were abundent in housing. A big fear was that these coconuts would drop the 30'-40'+ and hit some kid playing in the yards under them. This problem was solved by locals who would climb up, knock them down into dump trucks and haul them away. Perhaps to be sold at the roadside fruit stands where vendors would chill them, knock the tops off with a machete, stick a straw in, and walla...

Coco Frio!

God love the locals and the fruit.

Lovin' The Blues

2007-12-14T16:03:00.000-05:00

Gotta love the Blues! So, a friend of mine went to all the trouble to embed YouTube links to these numbers, I thought it'd be a real easy post to copy/paste them here so you can enjoy them too.

THE BLUES

SRV on a 12 string
Gary Moore's Still Got the Blues live
Damn Right I've Got the Blues
a young Buddy w/ Mama Thornton's original Hound Dog
with Junior Wells & the bluesbreakers
with an 8 yr old who's really great
Mary had a little lamb
Jimmy V's SRV Shuffle
Sweet Home Chicago
VooDoo Chile
Hendrix live
M.Serri-F.Chapellier-Bill Perry Band
Gary Moore - Wembley Arena 04
G3 Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson
Uli Jon Roth
Yngwie Malmsteen
Corey Heuvel
Melvin Taylor
Vernon Reid
Five Ten
the Adjourments
Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush
some bar band

"Dust My Broom" is a blues standard originally recorded by Robert Johnson, the legendary Mississippi Delta blues singer and guitarist, on November 23, 1936 in San Antonio, Texas. It was released on the ARC Records label under the title of "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom.[1] The song was later recorded and released on the Trumpet Records label by blues singer and guitarist Elmore James and became a surprise rhythm and blues hit in 1952. James version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.[2]

1973 ELMORE JAMES
Howlin' Wolf
JJ Lightin' Blues Duo
RL Burnside
Charlie Pickett
Dr. Feelgood
Mick Jagger
Kenny Wayne Shepard
Gary Moore
Scott H. Biram
Sherman Robertson & The BluesMove
Walter Trout
ZZ Top

Johnny Winters

Messin' with the kid
Talk to your daughter
Mississippi Blues
Johnny B Goode
Rock n' Roll Hoochie Koo
Rock & Roll
Highway 61
Hideaway
Walkin' by myself

Leo Kottke

Vaseline Machine Gun
doin' Little martha, old Allmans tune
Last Steam Engine
Pamela Brown
Rings
Air Proofing

Savory Brown:

Train to Nowhere
Tell mama
Poor Girl
Hellbound Train
Take it Easy

And just a few more...

Magic Dick's Whammer Jammer
Robin Trower Bridge of Sighs
Warren Haynes, Joe Bonamassa, and Pat Travers

Thanks Steve!

Here's my favorite, Jimmy Vaughn telling us how The Tribute to SRV came about... "the greatest thing a brother could do".

And the Listen Only version (best sound):

"Alpine Valley in the middle of the night
Six strings down on the heavenbound flight..."

World's Biggest Cat Toy

2007-12-13T20:45:00.001-05:00

Misty, 2002

Have to agree with you there, Chris. Love the vid!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Sw-apc3XKvI

B E L Í S S I M O

2007-12-03T08:39:00.000-05:00

WARNING: This is a Spoiler

Here are the last three minutes from one of the greatest movies ever made. If you've never seen it before, it won't particularly mean much, but the expressions on the grownup Toto's face tells it all.

Toto slowly recognizes the 'missing links'...

YouTube - cinema paradiso
last shot of cinema paradiso. ... Cinema Paradiso (the movie ...
Watch video - 3 min 15 sec -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEFugVbzsSo

You really have to see the whole film to appreciate what this ending means. Toto's expression when it dawns on him at about 2:18, and how he chokes up with the joy of appreciation simply takes my breath away. Bellisimo. Alfredo cheated (the church) and preserved Love as it was meant to be.

Cinema Paradiso

B E L Í S S I M O . A L F R E D O !

2007-11-26T08:19:00.000-05:00

Blessed is the season which engages the
whole world in a conspiracy of love.
~Hamilton Wright Mabie

HOLIDAY PLANT TRIVIA
from http://www.oldfashionedliving.com

Poinsettias are now a holiday tradition, but did you
know they are actually native to Mexico and Central
America where they grow in the wooded areas and
hillsides? In the wild they grow much larger, often up
to 16 feet tall. An American diplomat brought the plant
to the US in the 1820's, but it took over 100 years for
it to be developed into a commercial plant.

I lived in Hawaii in 1985-86 and the house I shared with some friends from work had one of these 16' poinsettias growing in the yard. Across the street was a mango tree easily 3 times that. The bougainvilla was what caught my mom's eye when they were there for a visit.

At the bottom of the hillside were sugar cane fields that were burned off after harvest and it made an awful red ash that dusted the air and landed mainly on the louvered windows and screens which stayed open all year round. It turned the wash water a blood RED when they were being cleaned. When I first heard it was due to the cane dust, I thought they meant volcano. Not hurricane dust either (if there could be such a thing). Sugar cane was the culprit that time.

My Poodle Pack

2007-11-05T11:07:00.001-05:00

The Mishka, the Mooshka, and the Mouseketeer
(the tri-bred, the purebred, and the in-bred)

The new baby is Sweat Pea, a two year-old toy almost the same color as Boo, just a tad pinker. Not red but still Apricot. Boo's 12 lbs and with his coat on, looks 3xs bigger than this little Orphan I brought home a few weeks ago. But the sweepie one is right between Mishka's orange and Boo's tan color.

Chere's Story:

An older man died in a town near here and there were SEVENTEEN toy poodles found in his trailer. He was breeding them, or allowing them to inbreed--depending on the story you hear. This one was in the want ads for free and I called out of curiosity. Nine times out of ten it's a 'bait and switch' ad, or already taken, but not this time. This time the number was a local one and turned out to be right outside of town, less than a mile from here. When she said 'apricot', I knew I had to at least take a peek and see why someone was giving her away.

Less than ten minutes later I was pulling up with the Mishka and the Booshka and the pet carrier--which just happened to be in the back seat at the time. Boo and Mi stayed in the car as I got out to meet the lady who came out to greet us. She was holding what looked like Boo at about 3-4 mos old. Precious! And teeny (scrawny!), frail, and very very timid.

Rona, I come to find out had taken Sweet Pea from a nearby acquaintance who had somehow acquired her from the people who were getting rid of these poodle pups. They had been keeping her in a box on the porch and really wasn't being handled or socialized well. So she had taken pity and adopted her. Well she really wasn't fitting in so well with the three pugs who ruled the roost at that home, so the ad ended up in the paper. But fitting in with my pack was going to be a whole different story, because she was perfect for them. A tiny dog no bigger than the 9 month Mishka (6 lbs), but looking exactly like Boobear. How could I not have her? Despite being the little mouse, it was love at first sight.

She's a darling, looking like a new born lamb, but my first worry was that being an intact female she could be pregnant or would go into heat. So we got her into the hospital the same week for spaying and vacines. The vet said she's 2 years old, 5.8 lbs, but says she'll start to fill out with some good nutrition.

Whether or not the dogs were malnurished, inbred, or just generally unkempt, someone had taken it upon themselves to clip her down (horribly). She must have been matted pretty badly to get the kind of chop job she came with, but she's had a proper grooming and hopefully with good food and regular meals will grow a nice wooly coat this winter, just like a little lamb.

Centre Country PAWS has the older poodles with adoptions pending. Eva looks like she could be Sweepie's mom.

UPDATE: Sweepie's name has evolved into Fifi, while Mishka (Mooshka, Mouseketeer) has evolved into Mimi Moo, and Boo is still my BooBoo Bear (like Yogi's little friend). My poodle pack.

quote for the day

2007-10-28T06:11:00.000-04:00

I cannot endure to waste anything as precious
as autumn sunshine by staying in the house.
So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the
open air. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Hurricane Tracking

2007-10-19T15:54:00.000-04:00

NHC latest advisory:

KIKO SHOULD REMAIN IN AN AREA OF LIGHT SHEAR FOR THE NEXT 48-72 HR...WHICH SHOULD ALLOW CONTINUED STRENGTHENING. THE SHIPS MODEL CALLS FOR A PEAK INTENSITY OF 68 KT...THE GFDL 88 KT...AND THE HWRF 90 KT. THE INTENSITY FORECAST WILL COMPROMISE BETWEEN THESE WITH A FORECAST PEAK INTENSITY OF 75 KT. AFTER 72 HR...THE LARGE-SCALE
MODELS FORECAST INCREASING SHEAR AS KIKO REACHES COOLER SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES. THIS COMBINATION SHOULD CAUSE A WEAKENING TREND.

Light shear (low high-level winds), warm SST's, low core pressure are factors that build a strong hurricane. Gotta love the warm sea temps.

> > > Here's a good website to track Kiko from:

http://www.tropicalactivity.com/

Along with the nice visual from Wunderground, Sandy has a nice neat table to run stats from too:

Track	Public Advisory	Discussion	Marine Advisory
Visible	Infrared	RGB	Water Vapor
Visible Loop	IR Loop	RGB Loop	WV Loop
More Images	Windshear	Windshear Tendency	Historical
Radar	Computer Models

Tropical Weather Outlook	Tropical Weather Discussion
Experimental Graphical TWO	Tropical Cyclone Danger
EPAC Visible	EPAC Infrared

Nice one, Hurrikan.

(Please see the link for the whole table, one column isn't being shown by the blog.)

Cat 2 for Kiko?

2007-10-18T19:44:00.000-04:00

Cat 2 or Dog 2?

Look out Cabo San Lucas...

Storm2k.org

Forecasters saying that Kiko could become a Category 2 hurricane by next Tuesday.

TROPICAL STORM KIKO INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 16A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP152007
500 PM PDT THU OCT 18 2007

...KIKO NEARLY STATIONARY...FORECAST TO STRENGTHEN...

ABOVE NORMAL TIDES...ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNING AREA IN REGIONS OF ONSHORE FLOW.

KIKO IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 7 INCHES OVER SOUTHWESTERN MEXICO WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 10 INCHES. LIFE THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND MUDSLIDES ARE POSSIBLE OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

* * * *
Check out this in the daytime, might be a good sat link.

And here's one of those "I can't see your face in cyberspace" moments...

This was me in Hurricane Jose in St. Martin about 8 years ago.

Yes, it's been that long. We had to get off the beach early that day before being barracaded into the beach club under martial law. And before a coup de foudre (being struck by lightning).

Suzzzz might know this beach,
< style="text-align: right;">Next time I'm taking
the puppy-wuppies.

BooBoo and

Mishka RosieBear

Tropical Storm Kiko Forms in the Pacific

2007-10-17T20:14:00.000-04:00

15E.KIKO, TRACK_VIS, 17 OCT 2007 2330Z

click for larger images from NRL

Guess we'll have to keep an eye on this one, eh?

Satellite Pass Info

Sensor

Latest

Next (View All)

SSMI

10/17

1403 Z,

F-13

0611

10/17

1440 Z,

F-16

0860

TC_SSMIS

10/17

1437 Z,

F-16

0860

10/18

0331 Z,

F-16

1011

TMI

10/17

1841 Z,

TRMM

0047

10/18

0931 Z,

TRMM

0208

AMSRE

10/17

2032 Z,

AQUA-1

0162

10/18

0848 Z,

AQUA

0072

WINDSAT

10/17

0124 Z,

CORIOLIS

0000

10/17

0127 Z,

WIND

1068

AMSUB

10/17

2256 Z,

N-16

0348

10/18

0015 Z,

N-15

0237

SCATT

10/17

1149 Z,

QUICKSCAT

0527

10/17

1240 Z,

QUIK

0453

Forecast by: National Hurricane Center
Graphic by: Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center

nice animation from Wunderground:
http://icons.wunderground.com/data/images/ep200715_sat_2_anim.gif.

Oh Happy Day

2007-10-15T19:52:00.000-04:00

Let me tell you now how to deal with cable companies. It's simple. Keep calling until you get the deal that you want.

The first time I called, I got a ditz who was quoting me prices WAY out of my budget. So I cut it all back to basic, basic cable, 13 whole channels for $13/mo. Not a good deal, but less than what I'm paying now. Then I started looking on their website to see what these price ranges are and found a Family Tier that came with National Geographic for a lot less than she had quoted. So a while later I called again and Ace offered me an even better deal at less money, so that's the one I signed up for. I'll still have Nat Geo and C-Span3, which is all I really wanted when I called six months ago to upgrade then and they offered me the free for $2/mo.

Ok, for a mere $10/mo. more now--I know, I know, MORE! you say? Well, I've had it FREE for six months and it will be an upgrade. So I'm fine with that, I'll still have On Demand too. But aside from getting rooked into a higher bill, I won't have TCM anymore. Oh boo hoo. (where's my poodle pup, I need a cuddle) Oh well, I think I've seen them all already anyhow, but I am going to miss Ben Mancawitz on the weekend. My favorite Young Turk.

So, it's not such a sad ending to a sad day after all.

Cheers!

Sad, Sad Day in Kikoland Today

2007-10-15T12:21:00.000-04:00

Well, it's a sad, sad day in Kikoland today. My six-month free trial period for Comcast's On Demand expires tomorrow and I have to call and cancel it. I'm just hoping they'll let me go back to the rates I had previously. If I keep what they've been giving me (free?) for about an extra $2/month (that, I could afford), it will more than double my bill for cable tv and high-speed internet.

In August they were offering a sweet deal I called about, but it was only for NEW subscribers. Naturally their ad on tv didn't say that, although it may have been 'spelled' out on the bottom of the screen for about a nanosecond? If only they had a sweet deal where I could at least just get C-Span3 and National Geo. Really, that's all I want.

In the end, I may have to cancel the internet services and switch to Verizon for DSL. We shall see, I'm not calling until after 3pm so I can at least see one more rerun of The Dog Whisperer.

Fingers crossed. [/end my own private pity party]

2007-10-14T10:13:00.000-04:00

/que pasa? This post was removed after some deep soul searching.

Always did like Mark Twain:

Twain penned what he thought was the unspoken subtext of these preachers' sermons, "The War Prayer":

"O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle -- be Thou near them! With them -- in spirit -- we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it -- for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen".

source: HuffPo

Flickr

2007-10-12T01:56:00.001-04:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

He looks like my pretty boy Floyd all dressed up as Santa.

(Looks like the fancy photo thing didn't work, but I'm saving the URL here, so I can play with it again another time.)

618 Rants and Raves: Pet Blogging

2007-10-11T13:46:00.000-04:00

Joey reminds me of my Floyd.

That Darn Old Fence

2007-10-11T11:57:00.000-04:00

Environmental causes or high tech security sales?

Give me land, lots of land
under starry skys above.
Don't fence me in.

You know I have a lot of empathy for our Mexican neighbors even if I'm not directly effected by stealth border crossings. Being stuck in the middle of land-locked PA and all.

But dearie me, why does the old cowboy song, "Don't Fence Me In" come to mind whenever this debate surfaces?

Now a federal judge in Arizona is challenging the HSD for rushing past environment studies, indeed unprecedented...

U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle said she granted the delay in part because the federal government did not explain why it hurried through an environmental assessment and began building the fence in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area.

Huvelle repeatedly asked the government's attorney, Gregory Page, to explain why the agencies took only three weeks to do the environmental assessment. She said that amount of time was unprecedented and that the government was trying to "ram" the environmental study through and start construction "before anyone would wake up."

Huvelle also questioned why equal urgency was not applied to building border fences in Texas and California.
Source: AP News

True, it's a federal reserve. Is that what makes it 'special'?

And wake up to what? That certain businesses are making a killing with the HSD budget for contract fencing?

WaPo article
[GSA Chief]Doan's husband and her chief of staff both have a military-intelligence background, and she has sold surveillance equipment to the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies -- so she knows how these things work.

She knows how these things work alright. The kind of surveillance/security they mean when they say 'fence' ain't exactly chicken scratch. And if they'd stop all the damn outsourcing from this country, there would probably be plenty of jobs for us all.

What fools Funnel, Inc. takes us for.

O'Reallly vs The Boss

2007-10-10T15:09:00.001-04:00

Olbermann will probably be piping in on this one. You know how much he loves Bil0 (and rocking, and NJ). Remind me to tune in.

Ed Kociela | O'Reilly challenges The Boss

Bruce Springsteen is a big boy. He doesn't need me to cover his back. Except, this time it feels so good because the guy trying to knife him is Bill O'Reilly.

[jump]

Not if any cops have anything to do with it. They be rocking...

Cops never give the star treatment. Unless you are Bruce Springsteen.

No. 2: TOP 10 Police Bribes That Never Work
Share this site

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Be sure to read all about it, it's a good one:

What O'Reilly was trying to do was bait Springsteen into coming onto his show. Maybe to resuscitate his rating numbers? Maybe to fawn all over him like the has-beens he airs every Friday night on his icon of the week or whatever that segment he fills with gas is called? Maybe because he's a closeted celeb groupie who just likes to have stars on his show?

Whatever, he's another bloviating jerk...
Be keeping track of this one. ~k

AZRainman : Photoshop Satire: Puppet Fred Thompson: Dumb as Hell

2007-10-10T12:07:00.000-04:00

After the GOP debate, my friends are saying Fred's real studly. But still a dud. We've known this for a while now. eh :p

AZRainman : Photoshop Satire: Puppet Fred Thompson: Dumb as Hell

(And there's not a lot of good to say about the rest of them either.)

Kitten Love

2007-10-09T12:16:00.001-04:00

Cory only has ONE scratch? Every time I get a new kitty, I end up looking like a sliced ham. Thanks MAW for sending me this one...

The Mean Kitty Song
03:30

This is a video response to MEAN KITTY - Episode 2: Scare Tactic

Cory Williams is an extremely talented young man with a penchant for creativity. He recently found himself the proud "owner" of a kitten he named Sparta. I'm sure Cory uses the word "mean" as a tongue-in-cheek description, because his love for this kitten is evident. ...readers will love this video as much as I did, especially if they also view the accompanying video, "The Mean Kitty's Story," which tells how Sparta came into Cory's Life. The song, "Hey, Little Sparta (The Mean Kitty Song)" was written and sung by Cory Williams. Whatta guy! Whatta kitten!

Cats : Mean Kitty Song

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

God love the cat that winks

Sparta sure is a sweetie pie...

If Cesar Can't Do It, No One Can...

2007-10-08T10:16:00.000-04:00

Remember that old cheer? "Cesar, Cesar... He's our man!"

Runing down yesterdays' blogs, I found this suggestion to the Vick question from a football fan :

Michael Vick comes clean
"Here's an idea for redemption. Michael Vick pledges to pay for the care of the Bad Newz dogs for the rest of their natural lives. As fighting dogs, many of them will be unfit as pets. Their life expectancy will be short through no fault of their own. Vick's plea agreement already requires him to pay for their care while they are in government custody. Vick asks the court to let the dogs be kenneled and cared for on him. That's restitution for the dogs. That wins him some points.

"Vick can set up a foundation to fund their care and call it Good Newz Kennels Foundation."

Posted by Master4Caster

I like that.

His post from yesterday is most interesting...

Michael Vick Talking? 12 hours ago by Master4Caster

Yes M4C, it's still about a display of dominance?

The Dog Whisperer's Greatest Challenge?

2007-10-07T08:13:00.000-04:00

So, is it time to start blogging again?

Retreat. A word with many connotations. Last spring I retreated from blogging for various reasons. One perhaps being that when the Michael Vick story broke it saddened me greatly to learn the details of a sordid underworld in our supposedly enlightened society. Another reason, it was summertime and I was enjoying the great outdoors as much as I could. Still another was that I found a great new show on tv, "The Dog Whisperer". I had already been a fan of Cesar Millan's by reading his website and didn't even know he had a show until I saw it on the National Geographic channel which I had recently added to my cable. I just can't get enough of this wonderful little Mexican guy who never fails to put a smile on my face. What a natural!

The Dog Whisperer
Fridays at
8PM ET/PT

From a CNN report we learn more about the 53 dogs found on the Vick property:

CAUTION: Very graphic details

Watch PETA dog fighting expert say the dogs must die »

True, owners stepping forward will implicate themselves in the illegal activity, but I can't believe PETA (of all people) advocate destroying these animals. From CNN again:

Deadline passes for dog owners in Vick case to claim animals
Read full article »

The very worst case dog, who's health hasn't been permanently affected, should be rehabilitated first. The dog displaying the best pack leader qualities should also be stabilized by exercise, discipline, and affection. The Cesar Way. Balance the pack, become the pack leader with calm-assertive energy, give these dogs the leadership they need in their lives.

Cesar has a dog that he uses on his show named Daddy. Daddy's owner is a rapper. Daddy is the anti-thesis of a dog bred, trained, and living to fight. Someone in the animal-loving world needs to sponsor what could be one of the all-time greatest animal rescue efforts, and who better than a community of people who truly believe in the Power Of The Pack?

This could be Cesar's biggest challange, are there no dogs he can't rehabilitate? I believe he could build a team who would be willing to undertake their rehabilitation by intigrating them slowly into his pack,. What say you, The Dog Whisperer?

Image by LunaC

Rainmaker's Abstractions: Train Wreck on UK Guardian

2007-10-03T20:45:00.000-04:00

Rainmaker's Abstractions: Train Wreck on UK Guardian

King of the Jungle

2007-02-05T08:38:00.000-05:00

I added a couple more pics to Bil's latest webpage.

The Lion King and his dominion.

I'd take more pictures, but my little vivatar doesn't have a flash and the sunlight has to be just right to get anything decent out of it. The indoor ones do have a slight sepia effect, which I like. Kind of gives them a style all their own with just a minimum of tweaking in the photo editor.

Just now Boo and Bil are having their morning wrestle and some shots might turn out but I haven't picked up around here yet--they're very messy, toys and cushions all over, chewies, rugs upturned, etc. And I fell asleep on the couch watching foreign films last night so the blankets are still all askew.

Nope, no picture making till we get straightened up around here. LOL

Bilbo and the Arrowheads

2007-02-04T13:53:00.000-05:00

New Bilbo page as he posed pretty this morning in some good strong sunlight.

Bilbo and the Arrowheads

Uncle Johnny and Aunt Mary Lu brought us this wall hanging on one of their summertime trips to visit us from California when we were kids. I'm not sure if he found it in California, somewhere along the way, or if they made it themselves from artifacts found on one of their own many summertime excursions around the country. It's possible that they may have collected them and had them mounted. It's nice enough to belong in a museum.

Two can play that game

2007-01-29T11:42:00.000-05:00

Cat and dog games, that is.

Or does BooBoo think he's a cat?

A Kiko's Cats story:

Amazing how their little minds work. Baggins and BooBoo are best friends but that doesn't stop BooBear from taking cat food any chance he gets. I've been spoiled by dogs who didn't get up on the cat's table but I always had to keep it off the floor to let them get their share before some hungry hound would gobble it up. Why do dogs always prefer cat food? And sometimes vice versa too?

So that's Boo's latest trick. Stealing cat chow when my back is turned, he jumps up on their dinner table and helps himself to leftovers and I've even caught him there chowing down alongside his best friend, Bil. LOL

Now, Bilbo's (the kitten) in the dogfood bowl, whipping out one bite-sized bit at a time, tossing it around some (looks like a squirrel holding one tiny kibble in his paws), and having himself a little pre-siesta snack. By the time I'm writing this, he's in the basket grooming himself after his great accomplishment, teaching Boomerpup to share.

Tit for tat. Oh those furry kids.

from Siberia, with Love

2007-01-28T15:28:00.000-05:00

Just couldn't resist.

when we were kids

2007-01-27T09:28:00.000-05:00

Our nice white powdery snow is turning hard packing now. Meltdown is starting, but that will freeze up into some mighty icicles probably. The snow is kind of crunchy now and that was always fun playing in when we were kids.

circa 57'58ish?

The Bookish One.

I was thinking about it and I could use some more bookshelves around here too, but in the meantime I just stack them up on footstools and under lamps, anywhere there's a hole. Actually I have a lovely secretary that has 3 shelfs empty because no one has ever secured the top to the base and the hardware (handle) is missing to open the thing (dang packers took it off and I haven't seen it in fifteen years!). So opening it is precarious, it's tipped over before and until I have it bolted down I won't put anything in there but some old VCR tapes on the bottom shelf

WooHoo Winter's Here

2007-01-25T07:59:00.000-05:00

Wow, 5th snowy day in a row! Winter's really here and Garrison Kellor can stop bitching on the radio that the poor peeps in MN aren't having a winter. Have the Lakes frozen over yet? These lake effects into January are a strange brew of Mother Nature, that's for sure. GW in action. Gaian too.

Heard on tv last night that the snow will continue thru Friday. My road's just wet so the crews must be doing a good job keeping them clear.

On another note, I have my Guadalupe medal from Mexico. Everyone got home safe. I'm wearing it as a show of solidarity for the immigrants who wish to do no one harm. My sympathies are with you and I think I can recognize the value you bring to the US. Values that should be indigenous to us all. So pray for us Maria.

LA VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE
MOTHER OF ALL MEXICO

Today Mexican American women in Mexico and the United states are seeing Our Lady of Guadalupe in a new light, using her to demand and expect more from themselves, their jobs, their homes and their communities. Guadalupe is certainly up for this new role, as one woman said, "The virgin transcends all things. She is strength, and she is beauty, and she is wisdom and compassion."

She is the symbol of ethnic identity, uniting people of different races, religions and languages. She manifests, symbolizes and activates the power of the people. She is a cultural symbol of justice, unconditional love, union, belonging, family, home.

"Si se Puede" (Yes it can be done)"

two cats, two avocados

2007-01-24T12:08:00.000-05:00

Nothing like fooling around with pictures on a snowy winter morning. Gotta love retired life.

In my bay window I have some avocados growing that I started on the windowsill in my kitchen last summer.
Here's the latest installment to Kiko's Place, the tale of ...

TwoPlusTwo
A CAT AND TREE SHORT (PICTURE) STORY

as told byJungle Life Publishing

Oppossible Thumbs

2007-01-21T08:10:00.000-05:00

Top of the Mornin', you all. Sunday morning and it's a cold gray day, not sunny a bit, no sun at all. Hey, but it's almost February!

So I'm about ready to finish off a pot of coffee and that last cup always needs reheated. I'm taking it out of the microwave and the Oppossible Thumbs issue hits me. It's a simple 2-step process to correct a peeve that has bugged me about my kid since we've lived here. WHY in heaven's name does he always leave 8 minutes (or so... 8:32, 8:19 or some odd seconds) on the timer display? Because he doesn't know to hit Clear (with his Opossible Thumb) when he's taking the food out that he just cooked? Or too lazy to use the opposable thumb or even a finger to hit that button simultaneously as he reaches inside with his opposable hand? Geez, I need to stop thinking. It must be old age and auto-pilot that makes me think everyone should do things as I do. Or at least in my kitchen. Sheesh

And then I had to look up the spelling on this one:

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
op·pos·a·ble [uh-poh-zuh-buhl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1. capable of being placed opposite to something else: the opposable thumb of primates.

2. capable of being resisted, fought, or opposed.

[Origin: 1660–70; oppose + -able]

—Related forms
op·pos·a·bil·i·ty, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)

So I got it wrong, a couple times. Won't be the first time I'd made up words of my own. Actually I was once famous for that and still doesn't bother me much in the least. Nuff Tuts. Part of my eccentricity is to have that style of my own, no?

And since it's Sunday morning, how about some praises to the Lord:

God love Google: Opposible Thumbs
He really knew what he was doing.
God Save the Queen: And what EXACTLY does she need saving from?
God bring us Hope for this sorry world which shouldn't be all doom and gloom but nice sunny days like we thank you for yesterday.
Add a little jungle prayer for good measure. And this day's good to go. . .

A Buddhist Prayer

Evoking the presence of the great compassion,

let us fill our hearts with our own compassion - towards ourselves and towards all living beings.

Let us pray that all living beings realise that they are all

brothers and sisters, all nourished from the same source of life.

truly

A word about my camera blog links, the pics might not be the best resolution but that should be construed as part of the charm. Get it? (sorry excuse for using the cheapest camera I could find... $10 at Sears, but it's digital land not hard to operate at all if I just leave the settings alone. Then pick half a dozen or so good ones from the 20 I might take, and work it those to tell a little story the furry kids enacted for me. They do that on a daily basis.

God love them.

Bil's aclimbing trees now

2007-01-20T18:50:00.000-05:00

As Babycats looks on. Ooh oh... that was her tree!

Mr. Baggins made an escape this morning. Guess he wanted to see the fresh snowfall.
It was only an inch or so, so I let him play a while.

Then I ran and grabbed the camera.

Bilbo's First Snow Day

Sunny Thoughts

2007-01-18T11:00:00.000-05:00

This is getting fun, blogging. I wonder how long it will take me to get political. The link on the right to Mumzee's is a really good one which I do recommend. If I were doing any networking, she's great.

Politics is hardly a sunny thought these days though..

So, in the meantime, I plan to make this place cheery, like our sunny, cold day outside. (too many commas?)

Ah, here's one... looks like Misty:

Sometimes it's just a sunny thought and a memory

that chases away the blues of a mid-winter's day.

When Photo Ops Happen

2007-01-17T21:04:00.000-05:00

I realize how thankful I am that everyone is...

Here's a look at a new webpage I made of Babycat's morning siesta

Under the Baby Jesus:

Thank You Jesus

Behind her chair is the Christmas ornament which depicts the nativity in an abstract stained-glass design.

I took it out of the window and set it on the chair below.

It's still plugged in but the box is out and ready for it to be put away for the season.

But as usual, I'm slow as molasses in January. This time it came in handy as the photo op presented itself.

Who are you and what did you do with my sister? (Ha)

2007-01-16T13:10:00.000-05:00

Hola Guapa, buenos dias!

Who are you and what did you do with my sister? (Ha)

Been writing to my sister about cats, dogs, Christmas, and kids. She has an 11-mo puppy and a kitten just a week younger than Bilbo, so we have lots in common these days.

The bambino's been visiting Mexico for the past two weeks with his History Adviser's J-Term group and is due home this weekend. Due back at school, that is. Spring semester of his junior year ... I'm still amazed we've made it this far.

He's using his money to go jet-skiing and parasailing. The same day an earthquake in Japan was supposed to cause a tsumani! Thank goodness it didn't make it across the Pacific, he was in Alca-puke-o for the event.

Now we're having a little email session and I decided to tell her how to make my famous doggie bisquits that Stoney (her pup) got for Christmas. They're scrumptiliumptious!

The puppy treats had real meat in them. I put some leftover beef in the chopper and ground it up fine, then into the flour/yeast mixture with a pastry cutter. Save bacon grease for it too, makes them yummy. Dogs like peanut butter, so that's good for added protein and flavor, then an egg and milk for good measure. And i even use whole wheat flour for 'fullness'. All natural stuff. When you get to 'dough' consistency, roll out some logs and cut into bits that each get rolled and shaped by hand (so everyone is different lol). I bake them on a pizza crisper for the markings on one side, and poke them down with a fork for the markings on top (when they start to rise in the oven). Leave some flour from rolling on them so they don't stick.

Remember how Mom says never to bake at night, you can't tell when they're done? Well these get baked good and long, and the browner, the better for crispness. After the first 10 minutes or so, I turn them down to about 250 and let them turn to little nuggets from there.

It's true, our mother always did say that. And kept her kitchen from being messed up by kids fooling around with chocolate chips 'after hours'. Here's one of her more famous recipes from the Old Country. A crescent shaped, nut-filled delicate pastry that melts in your mouth and we wait all year long for:

Nuthorns from the Ukraine

From people cookies to doggie cookies, what a leap.

As Promised

2007-01-08T18:08:00.000-05:00

Some Pet Blogs I've made recently...

Best Friends is a Yahoo website that introduces BooBoo, my newest. And Mr. Baggins makes me smile just thinking of him. Bilbo's something alright, just like all kittens are. But he's the first boy kitten I've ever had, so it's a whole new experience. Just like Boo, the first puppy I've had under one year, so I'm totally delighted with him also.

Someone might think that the oldest two, Misty and Babycats are being neglected, but that's not true. They are as much loved as ever and fill my heart with more joy than I sometimes think it can contain. With pet training tips, I've set up the power structure in the household with the whimsome Misty, the oldest, as the Queen, Baby, middle child, Rules (when Misty's not around), Mr. Baggins is the Lion King (in training) and Senor Puddle Pup, the dancing BooBooBear, has a snuggle heart that can't be beat. Except that Bil's esp knows when a little competition does everyone some good---me being the recipient of all the attention suits me just fine. It's just a little ego nudge, kinda like writing it all down on a blog?

2007-01-08T07:48:00.000-05:00

So, what DO we have here?

First of all, a fulfillment of a New Year's resolution from 2-3 years ago(?). Who knows, (I never took them seriously). But now may be the time to start this new project, the purpose-driven people say you should always have 5-8 irons in the fire, and I'm a tad short these days. So here I go a-bloggin'. (call that a purpose? ha, sure, why not?)

Secondly, I have these pets, you see. And the more pictures of them I make, the more I have this urge to share them with you, dear reader. And it's a good way to practice my new found skills because writing sure isn't one of them. But rambling is? A good healthy rant every now and then comes in handy too.

I also have oodles of graphics I've collected over the years (thanks to Rainmaker) and really like to use them too before this ole hard drive bites the dust.. Then they all disappear into the ether and I have to start all over again. Most can be found online on the 100 or so webpages i made a few years ago, so all is not lost. Many element there have been borrowed from others online from google images, just stuff I've run across and admired, searched from talented computerists (I made that up, it's my new advocation)

Mainly, it's a way to join in the hoopla of entering this other dimension in cyberspace. And if I'm gonna talk the talk... here's a good place to do it as any to put some creative skills to use and pass on some former works that I enjoyed making (((tickling me pink))).

So what DO we have here? From the 'terms and agreements' I found this little nugget that got me to thinking:

Upon the termination of your use of Picasa Web Albums, including upon receipt of a certificate or other legal document confirming your death, Google will close your account and you will no longer be able to retrieve content contained in that account.

Hmm... so when we die, we can no longer use our accounts? huh??? Kinda makes you think about your 'after death' activities, eh? Channeling thru the blogosphere? That would be a strange phenom indeed, and maybe even something we'll be seeing more of with the inevitable demise of some stronger web-based personalities? haha, can't wait--KIDDING!

Just hopefully not at My Place! Just remember, you heard it here first.

	Dear Cloud Tempered Mental Y-Not? Copa Salvo Eve The Ratios Sohodolls Toshi with - EARTH
3 August	The Cigavettes Superkidd B.B.B.B. End of Fashion Pia Shadows Fall Hot Potato Kang San-E Band

Kiko's Place

Blogging GLEE

Pipeline Finals

Pipeline Masters

SONGBIRD

Ooh la la la

Yorn and Johannson, GREAT STUFF!

Baucus and Snowe... gotta go

Defending the Insurance Companies

MAD MEN blogs

Blogging MAD MEN

Babylon

I'm for a Public Option

Summertime!

esl teachers in quarantine south korea

Long time, no blog

Wiggling Butts

Puppet Show Elvis

Please pray for Nerine Viljoen

Teacher in the Land of the Morning Calm.

Edutainment in Paris, circa 1951

Great movie about kids

"Mr. Credit is dead and buried" - M (1931)Directed by Fritz Lang

Roadmap to Korean

Jeonju Sori Festival

Will the real Sarah Palin please stand up?

Saturday Night Live - Palin / Hillary Open - Video - NBC.com

Googling Maps

Light in the Piazza

View from the 21st Floor

Night at the Beach

Samgyetang, The Soup

Samgyetang - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Korean ginseng chicken soup

Temple Hike Slideshow

Temple Hike stills

Summer Night on Haeundae Beach

First Pics Out of Korea

The Hot Stuff

Busan Festivals, and where they are

2008 Line-up

2 August ~ 3 August, Da-Dae-Po Beach, Busan

For My Teacher Friends

Korean Country Life, a little bit of heaven

Camping In Airports

This is Princess Sparkle Pony...

Top in the World

ESL Then and Now

Into the Wild Blue Yonder

Packing Day is Here!

Kickin' It!

off to the consulate

algae bloom in Yellow Sea

Multimedia

Teacher in the Land of the Morning Calm.

Unknown Author (but I'm loving it)

watch out where the huskies go

Good Eats

"I'm Voting Republican!"

Social Harmony in the Land of the Morning Calm

The Brioche Project ... or...

Fun With Brioche | Just Hungry

And a Happy Valentine's Day to you too, my dear

Cooking Tip o' the Day

Merry Christmas!

Not for the kiddies, just a little fun

Bah Humbug Day

Ladies Sing the Blues too

Mangoes, Coconuts, Avocados, oh my....

Lovin' The Blues

World's Biggest Cat Toy

B E L Í S S I M O

YouTube - cinema paradiso

My Poodle Pack

quote for the day

Hurricane Tracking

Cat 2 for Kiko?

Tropical Storm Kiko Forms in the Pacific

Oh Happy Day

Sad, Sad Day in Kikoland Today