Great Things About this Summer So Far…..

Eating delicious 40 calorie sugar-free fudgesicles
The (only very) occasional low humidity day
Dipping my feet into a kiddie pool
Sitting on the porch swing with my husband
Enjoying outdoor theatre and concerts under the stars
Picking ripe strawberries, tomatoes, and peppers (later I hope)
from my garden
Attending the local Farmer’s Market to buy all the produce, meat,
cheese & baked goods I can carry
Riding my bike around the neighborhood inhaling the smell of peoples’
barbecues, fresh cut grass, and chlorine from the local pool
Watching a fierce thunderstorm from the porch
Picking up bargains at local garage sales (like two wicker/metal chairs
for $10 and several name brand purses for about $1 each)

A Listing of 3526 Wenwood Drives (and one road) in USA:

1) Baton Rouge, LA
2) Greenville, SC (Road)
3) Louisville, KY
4) Goodview, VA
5) Knoxville, TN
6) Massapequa Park, NY
7) North Bellmore, NY
8) East Meadow, NY
9) Glen Head, NY

While looking up my address on Google maps, many times I have noticed a list come up with the same street address as myself (and my husband). I've been curious about this for some time, but only now in the middle of the summer have I decided to take any action on this. I would love to see what everyone's else's house (or whatever kind of dwelling) looks like along with a picture of the owner. I would like to write to each one, but am still working on choosing the right words in order to get 100% cooperation. I will, of course, include a SASE along with my e-mail address in case they prefer to send me a photo digitally. Anybody have any suggestions?

Things that TV and Movies have Spoiled for Me….

X-Files alone has a lot to answer for! (though I can only think of 2 things at the moment).

Whenever I am at a stoplight I think of that episode where two policeman are in the car with a prisoner in the backseat who says something about “cerulean blue” making the cop think the light has changed, causing him to accelerate and then get smashed into by two other cars.

Whenever I am sweeping up dirt I think of that episode where they thought a lady had the disease called “Pica,” where people will eat harmful or disgusting things because of some malfunction of the brain that causes them to do that.

Dr. Who isn’t completely blameless either….

Angels. Thanks to Dr. Who, I can no longer look at a statue of an angel without wondering whether or not it will move (and stalk me) once I turn my back.

Gas Masks. Thanks to Dr. Who, whenever I am watching or reading something about life in the 1940’s (esp. in Britain), and I see a gas mask, I can’t help but ask, “Are you my mummy?”

*********

Walking in the Woods. Thanks to the movie, “The Blair Witch Project,” I no longer enjoy peaceful walks in the woods (at least not in the autumn, on a cloudy day), and rarely do so alone. I never much fancied camping in the woods before, and I definitely don’t now!

Minor Concerns, but nonetheless…

Leeches/Rivers. Thanks to the movie, “Stand By Me,” I can no longer wade in a river without wondering if leeches or some other insect will (unbeknownst to me) attach itself to me draining my blood in a most painful way.

Swimming in a large lake/ocean. Not that I was too keen on ever doing this before, but after seeing “Jaws” I’m even more reluctant now (this is a long standing childhood fear).

Showering. I still do shower, but occasionally think of “Psycho.”

Interesting Photo-Related Items I've Recently Come Across

First, there was the news story about the husband and wife who realized their paths had crossed nearly thirty years ago when they were both children visiting Disneyland/world (the news story doesn’t say which one). According to the story, Alex and Donna Voutsinas were looking over old pictures just prior to their wedding when Alex recognized his dad (from the sweater he was wearing) in the background of one of the photos. They took the photo to his mother who was able to verify that it was indeed Alex in the stroller being pushed by his dad, behind Donna and her brothers being photographed with one of the Disney characters. I think there was even something said about Alex’s Dad still having that same sweater.

When I told my husband he reminded me that wasn't ever a possibility for us since he grew up in England (and had never visited America before coming over for college) and I in America. However, Alex Voutsinas was apparently in Canada and Donna in Florida, so that’s quite a distant for paths to cross.

link to news story: http://news.yahoo.com/video/greensboro-wxii-18191235/fate-and-destiny-at-disney-20221661

The other interesting photo-related item I came across last week was an episode of “Red Dwarf” [Season 3, Episode 5, “Timeslides”] dating back to 1989 in which, “The developing fluid that Kryten uses to process old photographs mutates and the photographs come alive. The Red Dwarf crew find they can go into the photograph, and Lister finds that the photographs allow them to go back in time and he plans on changing history so that he doesn't end up marooned in deep space.” (acc. to IMDB summary).

At the beginning of the episode Lister is fed up with how trivial his life has become with all the silly games they invent as “more and more creative ways to waste time.” I hear you Lister! (having a job where a large part of my time is spent reading periodicals or surfing the web to stave off the boredom between phone calls and assignments).

After his tirade is over, Kryten calls the crew and tells them to come to the photo lab because an interesting situation has just developed (that’s not his exact words, but I just love a good cliché’!). We see the photos hanging on a rope, each photo alive in the same way they’re animated in all the Harry Potter movies. However, unlike in Harry Potter, you can actually step into the frame of each photo, but only just within the frame (which, at first, doesn’t exactly solve Lister’s problem of wanting to get back to earth).

Of course Lister quickly figures out a way he can get back to earth by altering the past/future by visiting himself at 17 years old and giving him an invention (bubble wrap painted red as a stress reliever) he can claim as his own, thus becoming a millionaire and not having to resort to joining the Space Corps (or whatever it was called). It works and soon three out of four of the men are gone leaving just Rimmer and the computer, Holly. Rimmer, not wishing to spend the rest of eternity alone, goes back to his past and tries to give the invention to his childhood self, failing miserably, but restoring history bringing back his ship-mates and becoming alive (instead of a hologram) again (at least until he’s blown up at the end of the episode).

Just think, if you could go back inside any photo, which would you choose and would you purposely try to change your future? That’s a dangerous question, because (supposing this were even possible) the simple act of stepping into a photo, especially when other people can see you, is bound to alter history, even if only in a minor way.

I would love to go back and see some of my grandparents again, but what would you say to them? Remember, they’re alive at that point in time and have no reference to the future, so they’d think you were mad. Okay, so maybe that’s not such a good idea.

Of course the temptation is to go back and “fix history” by preventing war and other great disasters and calamities. Kryten makes a joke about going back to Dallas in November 1963 and shouting to Kennedy, “Duck!”

There’s a lot of things I would love to change about my past, but by doing so, it would be unlikely I’d end up meeting my husband, who is the one thing about my past, present and future I absolutely would not change.

Today (Monday) I read a news story about a digital camera encased in a water-proof shell that recently floated up near a Key West marina. Apparently it was discovered by a Coast Guard investigator and the camera, thanks to its protective shell, was completely intact. Wishing to find its owners, he dowloaded the contents and discovered an interesting video (apparently triggered by the sea turtle who inadvertently got caught in the camera's flailing cord). Chalk one up for reliable technology (both the camera and most especially its durable case)! Through a little detective work, he was able to track down its owners, so the story has a happy ending. link to news story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100614/ap_on_re_us/us_camera_s_odyssey

Who would be your literary BFF?

A few weeks ago, this was the topic of a blog I subscribe to (and have mentioned before) called MWF seeking BFF (Married White Female seeking Best Female Friend). I thought it was an intriguing concept, so I took the bait, and here's my answers:

I always liked the trio of roommates in the Canby Hall book series: Dana-independent city girl, Faith-determined and practical, and Shelley-naive, small town girl. Since Faith was a photographer, I would probably enjoy hanging out with her, but Dana sounds like a lot of fun. I probably have the most in common with Shelley, but as I’m determined to shed that small town girl past, I think I probably wouldn’t hang out with her. I seem to recall the character of Casey, who was somewhat of a rebellious “bad girl,” whom I’m sure I’d probably get into trouble with at least once.

I probably could have very easily been friends with any of the characters in any of Judy Blume’s books, Summer Sisters being my favorite. That is the ultimate book about the bond of female friendship.

Beverly Cleary’s “Sheila” character reminds me so much of myself at her age that I probably could have been her friend too.

I agree that Bridget Jones would be fun to go drinking with to wallow in our misery. Plus, she used to work in publishing, which is something I’ve dreamed about from time to time. I think it’s great that she can fail, and just pull herself back up, get over it, and move on.

I went through a phase where I was interested in being a private detective, but not sure I would have been brave enough to be Nancy Drew’s sidekick. Saying that, didn’t Bess used to be a little bit of a coward? That would definitely be me!

I almost hate to admit that I read chick lit, but I really enjoy the Shopaholic book series written by Sophie Kinsella. Rebecca sounds like she would be a great shopping sister, but I tend to go more for second hand stuff rather than expensive high end goods (Prada, Louis Vitton, etc.) like she does. That’s not to say I don’t sometimes have label envy and desire to flaunt my wealth (if I had any), but I don’t tend to.

I also hate to admit how much like Hermione Granger I was while growing up (enjoying my time in the library and always had my nose in a book), so I definitely could have been friends with her. It also doesn’t hurt that she was friends with Ron and Harry, so I could have been part of the “In” crowd for once.

I think it would have been fun to be friends with a Princess, like Mia in the Princess Diaries book series. I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I’ve read one or two (maybe three, but that’s it!). I never really cared much for her friend Lilly, who seemed a little too obsessive with things, but to her credit, didn’t seem in awe of her friend as much as I would have.

"Interesting" Recipes to Make

Here’s a couple fun/funny recipes to try (BTW, none are my own creations):

Dirt
1 bag Oreos, crushed
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
½ stick softened margarine
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 pkgs. instant chocolate pudding
3 ½ cups milk
1 (12 oz.) container Cool Whip

Cream together cream cheese, margarine, and sugar. Mix together pudding, milk, and Cool Whip. Combine chocolate mixture with creamed mixture. Stir well.

In flower pot, layer mixture with crushed Oreo cookies, ending with cookies on top. Add silk flowers and plastic shovel for serving.

-- The PTA Pantry
(can’t remember which cookbook I got this from, but I’ve probably see in it elsewhere too, like the Family Fun magazine).

Kitty Litter Cake for Halloween
By Cheri Sicard
http://www.fabulousfoods.com/usa/article/109/17836
(copied from this website)

This clever Halloween cake recipe, that frightfully resembles a well used kitty litter box, is actually delicious, despite its appearance. For the proper presentation, use a brand new (and definitely unused) plastic cat litter box and spoon it onto plates with a new (NEVER used) pooper scooper.

Be warned, generally this cake will not get eaten much. People just can't seem to get back the appearance, no matter how good it may taste. Go figure.

Ingredients:
1 spice or German chocolate cake mix
1 white cake mix
2 large packages vanilla instant pudding mix, prepared
1 large package vanilla sandwich cookies
green food coloring
12 small Tootsie Roll candies

1 new kitty litter pan
1 new kitty litter pan liner
1 new pooper scooper

Instructions:
Prepare cake mixes and bake according to directions (any size pans). Prepare pudding mix and chill until ready to assemble. Crumble white sandwich cookies in small batches in food processor, scraping often. Set aside all but about 1/4 cup. To the 1/4 cup cookie crumbs, add a few drops of green food coloring and mix until completely colored.

When cakes are cooled to room temperature, crumble into a large bowl. Toss with half the remaining white cookie crumbs and the chilled pudding. Important: mix in just enough of the pudding to moisten it. You don't want it too soggy. Combine gently.
Line a new, clean kitty litter box. Put the cake/pudding/cookie mixture into the litter box.

Put 3 unwrapped Tootsie rolls in a microwave safe dish and heat until soft and pliable. Shape ends so they are no longer blunt, curving slightly. Repeat with 3 more Tootsie rolls bury them in the mixture. Sprinkle the other half of cookie crumbs over top. Scatter the green cookie crumbs lightly on top of everything -- this is supposed to look like the chlorophyll in kitty litter.

Heat 3 Tootsie Rolls in the microwave until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake; sprinkle with cookie crumbs. Spread remaining Tootsie Rolls over the top. For the coup de gras take one Tootsie Roll and heat until pliable, hang it over the side of the kitty litter box, sprinkling it lightly with cookie crumbs. Place the box on a newspaper and sprinkle a few of the cookie crumbs around for a truly disgusting effect!

Further notes:

I had a reader write in saying this recipe only needed half the amount of pudding. I personally liked the cake with the amount given in this recipe. But feel free to use this as a loose guideline, use more or less as you see the need. Also, since the layer of cookies (with the chloropyll green specks, covers the top, you could really use any flavor or flavors or cakes underneath.

Last but not least, you can also opt not to crumble the cakes, but rather layer them in the pan with the layers of pudding in between (much like you would layer a trifle into a trifle dish), sprinkle the top layer of pudding with a heavy layer of crumbled cookies. Same effect, different texture entirely to the dessert.

helping me type...

helping me type..., originally uploaded by authorwannabe.

Tamsin likes to surf the web too : ) Actually, she just likes to follow the cursor around the screen and then try to catch it.