Memorial Day

We are indebted.

Sunday, Puppy Sunday: The Closer

Started to call this Oops, I did it again! or you might be a redneck blogger if there are dead animal photos on yer blog.

Anyhoo. Squirrelses are officially on notice and Not Welcome Here.

Zero tolerance, and all that crap. :)

She was looking balefully up at me telepathing don't take it away this time, mommy?

Daddy let Chuy glom onto the carcass which Miss Praline quickly reclaimed, having closed the deal, and all

Rob Paravonian

From the guy who exposed the Pachelbel conspiracy comes the truth about the free credit report commercials:

TCB

Last day of work was Wednesday so I could wrap up some things before I start my new job Tuesday. I took LouLou in to dad's shop in Dallas yesterday for an alignment to make sure the tires won't be ruined by maladjustment, and this morning I have to see my old orthodontist to check my retainers.

Turns out I have to take LouLou back in after the dr appointment to have new rotors and brakes. I hope to be heading back home by end of day, but my stay in Dallas may be longer than planned.

So much for goof-off time, eh? I'm glad I had the time off to take care of this, too.

Another post again soon. Cheers!

Steampunk comic

Courtesy of Ready, Fire, Aim, Apologize I discovered Wondermark, a marvelous steampunk cartoon. Filled with such delights and enchantments as will thrill the little clockroaches of your heart, methinks you'll adore Wondermark.

I especially liked the Steampunk'd and The Masters of Tea.


*****

...in which our heroine says it with excrescence:

Wednesday was my last day at work and it was generally pleasant and uneventful. I got cards from some coworkers and others brought cupcakes, sloppy joes and all kinds of goodies. That was really sweet. :)

Exit interview was interesting and I told them why I really really rilly left. Rilly. Now They Know.

"Were it not for *******, this job would have been a pure joy to come to every day."

I scarce would have imagined that in this lifetime I would ever use the expression "turd in the punch bowl" during an exit interview. But I did.

And I feel fine.

I think this occasion calls for a little bit of custom art from me. You haven't had custom art from me in a while.

Enjoy.

Bittersweet.

Today is last day at Big Company. I've been privileged to work with some of the finest folks I've ever met. I'm sorry to leave many of them.



The Carnival is Over by Dead Can Dance

I remember me...

...

about 22 years ago.

[omg! can this be shoulder pads? please say it isn't so? little miss linebacker]

My sister found these pictures recently.

I have no recollection of them. There must be lots of pictures of me, but I don't have any of myself with carnation pink hair, alas.

Well, actually, it was bleached out and then dyed fuschia, and that faded into a pink which I rather preferred... Anyway, too bad this is not in color. Then again, I can't imagine that the addition of color would do anything but underscore the horror of whatever nimbus was erupting from the right side of my head at that time.

*shrug*

If you're at all lively with a vivid imagination, there will be the occasional style misstep. Better to look a little misguided on occasion than to never wander afield of the flock.

I forgive myself.

BACON! CHEESE! PEPPERS! ACTION!

Here we are with grilling season rapping us on the backs of the thighs with a greasy spatula.

Time to think of creative ways to deliver fiery peppers, oily cheese and sweet, sweet bacon.

I saw this on the Sur la Table site and I've gotta get me one: chile pepper grill rack and corer. At $20, this set is on the dear side unless you're going to be grilling lots of these things, but I think it's pure genius. As you don't have to batter and fry the little devils, it's a pretty tidy delivery system. Without the extra flour and grease, it's a slightly less guilty pleasure, but still a pleasure. After all, there is bacon inside. Yum!

Did I mention bacon? Did you notice this is two bacon posts in a row?

Sur la Table, by the way, is one of the most ossum cooking stores, evar. Evar. Evar. Every basic cooking item is there, along with lots of fabulous serving pieces. I have been seen there alternately slobbering and whimpering at the All-Clad display. Yummy! The store I visit is on the west side of the Knox-Henderson exit from Central Expressway in Dallas, but you can order from the web quite easily.

ZOMG! Caffeinated Maple-Bacon Lollypops! Oh My!

Over at Lollyphile, they've got lots of tantalizing lolly creations. I'm not a candy eater, especially hard candies, but I might make an exception for a caffeinated maple-bacon lollypop.

An even more perfect gift for the sweet-toothed pork aficionado in your life.

Yum! We couldn't agree more.

Ginger-Wasabi sounds good.

Bourbon lollypops? (for when you feel your breath isn't bad enough yet, I suppose? Come to that, can you pass a breathalyser after eating one?)

Absinthe Lollypops: "Our Absinthe Lollipops are really freaking awesome. And we say that without even an ounce of hubris- people go crazy (not like, cut-your-ear-off crazy, tho) for them."

Uh, count me in.

Sunday, Puppy Sunday: mOar whip cream, please.

The looks on their faces tell you they only ever get to eat pebbles and pine cones, right? You'd think he hadn't eaten in weeks, but you can just make out a dollop of freshly whipped cream on Chuy's mouth in one of the photos. Con arteeste.

Chuy works the wrinkles. Mommy's wrapped around his paw, or so I'm told.

Chuy has a grand flourish of a tongue, whilst Praline's is prim and ladylike. Unless she's hunting squirrelses.

Byline: THE STRONGEST VISUAL BIRTH CONTROL ON THE MARKET TODAY

Visit Shit My Kids Ruined for a few laughs.





Personal favorites: 5 minutes alone with a blue sharpie, Sweeny Toddler [day before the easter photo] and my appetite.








I remain childless and holding. *heh*

Theme Song For Vacation Days

About 3 months ago I was in Home Depot buying stuff and I heard this song on the PA. VERY cool tune, but I couldn't discern enough of the lyrics, and internet searches at the time were fruitless. Thought it sounded like if someone gave Amy Winehouse a cheeseburger and made her step away from the speedballs. Wait? I didn't just type that out loud, did I? Good. I didn't think so.

Thursday (last of my 3 days of vacation WOOHOO), I got a new set of tars* for LouLou, had an eye appointment and ordered new glasses, then there was the iPhone... busy busy... I was sitting by my ownsome in a restaurant at lunch- a place I wouldn't normally go, and then this song came on and I heard enough of the lyric to hang my hat on, et voila. All my moments are lead to that one. Founded it!

Australian beauty Gabriella Cilmi singing Sweet About Me. Love it. :) Have a great Friday.

*tires

Did you know...?

That today was Everybody Draw Mohammed Day? Lots of glorious renditions over on Facebook.

hyuk.

What's he building in there?

A man in East Austin dug tunnels under his house and had chemicals and firearms. The neighbors were suspicious. He apparently was not subtle when removing the excess dirt from his excavations, and the tunnels were not well-executed, as the ground collapsed along the fence line of his neighbor's property. Maybe he felt he had the right to dig on his own property? Yeah, yeah, I know: code violations. Still. The fact that he had 19 guns and welding equipment doesn't mean he was up to anything nefarious.

How cheeky. And in the Lone Star State, as well.

I will say his first mistake was to reside in Travis County - the city of Austin is lousy with California transplants, and they brought their own Berkeley style of fuckery with them to re-tool the running of that city.


This made me think of that song What's he building in there? by Tom Waits.

What's he building in there? We have a right to know.

Or do we?