The Friday Afternoon Cafe Is Now Open!
What are you doing this weekend?
Got your random 10s ready for happy hour? (Yes, FM, I mean you…)
Kindly recommend this cafe and
unrecommend the previous one.
Froggy Bottom CLOSED: See you at Happy Hour…
What are you doing this weekend?
Got your random 10s ready for happy hour? (Yes, FM, I mean you…)
Kindly recommend this cafe and
unrecommend the previous one.
It’s been a busy morning here at Chez Cabin, but things are slowing down now. What’s up?
Enjoying the first week of summer vacation so far. Currently catching up on my business news by reading today’s WSJ online. Starting my internship at a hedge fund in a couple of weeks…long hours, but it should be an extremely good learning experience.
I may go see ‘Thank You For Smoking’ tonight. It seemed pretty damn funny in the TV commercials.
How is your Friday going?
That’s nice that you get a couple of weeks for a break before you start your internship. I’m looking forward to summer vacation starting in June just so I can sleep past 6 AM.
That does look like a funny movie…
I haven’t heard anything about the movie or seen trailers. Is there a link to it.
Hope you enjoy your time off.
Here’s the official website. From what I’ve heard, it’s a satirical take on the lobbying industry, with a more specific focus on the tobacco industry.
Thanks I went there and it looks like a movie I’d want to see.
Hi CG. Yes I do and I’m, in a way, looking forward to random 10 tonight. It doesn’t have to be the first random 10 does it? OK I know, stupid question. 🙂
Glad to hear things are winding down some for you.
A cyber one will have to do as the first rule of protests… go sober.
An hour before I go jump in the shower…
Which castle are you storming today, anyway?
Thanks CabinGirl! I tried to make one of those and it I did something wrong I think. It came out like a Mowed Lawn Clippings Mojito. 🙂
Sentor’s office in the fed bldg. We’re bringing some “dessert” too. 🙂
I have a hard time getting the right balance of sugar to lime juice to mint.
My girlfriend makes killer mojitos, though, so we’ve been having substantial numbers of them in the backyard since it got hot here.
Besides the sugar, lime and mint, what exactly is in a mojito. I’ve never heard of them.
Rum! my dear man RUM! 🙂
Okay I’m outta here! Peace! and NO MORE WAR!
Peace.
Rum, well it’s out for me. Had a bad experience with 151 one time.
Bacardi – bad.
Any rum – shakes uncontrollably.
instead of bourbon.
Personally I like my mint juleps to be basically limeade with a mint sprig. Hard to make them diet-friendly, though.
Hey Janet, we picked up our tickets to the Arlo Guthrie Zootunes concert today. You’d better hurry, they’re going fast. (The Indigo Girls are already sold out — but that’s not one I’m interested in.)
My attempts are roughly as follows:
Stick some fresh mint leaves in a smallish glass with about a tablespoon of sugar, squish it around together. Add 1/2 a lime’s worth of juice, swirl. Add some rum (a shot or two, depending on preference and how tossed you’d like to be after a few of these), swirl more. Stick in an ice cube or two, top off with club soda.
I’m not sure what my girlfriend does differently, but hers always come out better than mine. But then, I don’t measure anything very precisely — as a chem geek, I much prefer the “toss some in and see how it comes out” approach, just as a way to drive my profs a little nuts.
Thanks Spit, but see above. If it’s rum, can’t do. 🙂
I’ve had a very complicated relationship with tequila over the years. We’ve gone through long stages of cutting off contact — I mean, we have a great time when we’re together, but we always end up taking things too far, then the morning after, we both clearly have our regrets.
For the last few years, though, we’ve been getting along famously. We wind up having several month summer flings, which are thankfully forgiven by both of my girlfriends — at least one of whom, to be fair, frequently joins tequila and I in our tryst.
I love your comment about as a chemistry geek toss something in. It bought back a memory my Mom won’t let me forget.
When I was a kid I got a chemistry set. I always liked the put something together and see what happens. I did this one time and not thinking put a cork in the test tube and started heating it. My Mom walks in and “POP”, the cork shoots out and hits her square in the forehead.
She was a little upset, but I thought, gee this is great. I wonder what I discovered. I discovered I was regulated to outside whenever I used the set again.
That was 43 years ago. Mothers have loooooong memories. 🙂
How funny! 🙂
I think it’s something that only mothers have. When you’re getting a little to much on your high horse, they have the ability to remind you of some really stupid things you did and bring you back to earth.
You are so funny!
I hear ya, FM! I had an unfortunate experience with rum when camping back in my college days and haven’t touched the stuff since. Only time I’ve ever had a blackout and didn’t know what I had done for the previous 8 hrs… that was enough to scare me off the stuff for life.
I know what you mean. Long ago when I did imbibe, different drinks had different effects.
Less famous, but perfect for an afternoon shot – try a ti’punch.
If you want it perfect, you’ll need this 118 proof rum:
Unfortunately, this rum is hard to find outside of the French Caribbean Islands.
Still got rum, so it can stay in the French Caribbean Islands. 🙂
It would be crazy no to go in complete control of yourself. Otherwise you’re just giving them an excuse to do whatever they want with you.
we don’t give speeches all fucked up. Unlike Bush 🙂
Hey there Tribbers!
I’m right outside New Orleans right now…can’t check into my place down here for a couple hours, so I thought I’d drop by the local Barnes & Noble, hop online, and give a quick update.
My trip started out with a good omen, as I was greeted with one of the brightest rainbows I’ve ever seen just off my port side:
This was in FSM-forsaken Ohio, of all places.
My overnight jaunt took right around 16 hours, fueled by chex mix, corn nuts, and diet mountain dew. I was right around Tuscaloosa when the sun came up this morning, and there are still downed trees everywhere.
In addition, I drove past a field of literally hundreds and possibly thousands of trailers. It didn’t look like anyone was living in them (I’m almost certain of this). I seem to remember that FEMA had acquired a bunch of trailers but never deployed them to where there are needed…could these have been them? I don’t remember exactly where they were, somewhere on I-59.
Lastly, I drove through Bogalusa, LA, and I would estimate that about 30-40% of the houses I saw there still have roof damage (evidenced by tarps on the roofs). I saw one house that looked to be deserted, as the branch that caved its roof in was still in its resting place.
That’s all I have for now…I’ve been up for about 30 hours straight now, but believe me every last iota of sleep was expunged from my body this morning when in the rising sun Katrina became completely real to me.
OT, but I just found an envelope you sent me way back in December…can I still cash that now? 🙂
I was wondering about that! Yes, you still can, if your bank will let you. I think 6 months is the limit, so it should still be ok.
Cool…I had added everything up on your envelope, and then forgot to pull the check out…Duh!
EJ did you go via Hattisberg, MS? Unless it’s changed when I used to go through there, ya got to watch that real bad curve on the interstate in town.
Hey there ej!
Good to hear an update from you on your sojoun across the country. Doesn’t sound like the most glamorous or comfy of traveling circumstances, but hey… you’re getting there. Hope you have a good stay when you get there, and try to keep us posted when you can. Will be reserving some good bourbon for ya when you get back to the late night lounge again.
Take care of yourself while you’re on the road…
here in Ohio. Just drizzling all day long. I have been planting lots of flowers over the past week but decided to stay indoors today and keep an eye out on the television in case somebody gets indicted. It will probably happen when I leave to pick up the kids. I have that kind of luck.
Just as long as it happens. 🙂
could someone post the above in the cafes s they re-open till I return?
Lik for good mojo? 🙂
I’ve been passing along tthe “Ive Had Enough” diary everywhere!!! 🙂 Was still in my clicky thingy.
Hey there CG, FM, EJ, DJ and everyone… just a quick pop in again (here in the frigid work cube) to see how everyone is doing. Sounds good that you got most of the ‘cabin duties’ taken care of out there, now what for the rest of the day? Lounging in the hammock sipping those orange martinis? hehe
This week has not gone by quickly enough for me… even though tomorrow is not supposed to be super warm (around 60 forecast) I’m itching to get back into digging weeds, holes and pluggin new plants in. So much to do in such a short amount of time and work keeps interfering!
Anyway, wishing everyone a pleasant afternoon. Hope to throw together a FRT and pop in later this afternoon. Cheers, all!
Put a sweater on and think it’s not to much longer. 😉
I’m supposed to be outside doing stuff while it’s not too hot… but the weeds have beaten me, and I’m feeling utterly demoralized. So I think I might do something else for a while.
&^$!!@ nutsedge.
Happy gardening this weekend, and may you have a nutsedge-free weeding experience.
Cyperus rotundus
Also called nutgrass. Maybe it’s not a huge problem where you are… our backyard is coated in it, and it is absolutely impossible to get rid of. It has this whole network of roots and tubers that’s impossible to get out, and it spreads like crazy. I pull as much as I can, and in a week, it’s back. Can’t kill it with anything that won’t kill the rest of the yard, can’t pull it, can’t cover it (it just pokes through, even tarp or plastic, and the tubers can survive for up to two years without light). At the end of this growing season, I may just roundup or vinegar the entire garden area.
Evil. Evil stuff.
Don’t know where you are, but I’d be happy to send you some kudzu. 🙂
or I’ll send you a truckload of Crown Vetch!! hehe
actually, this area (sacramento) has something very similar to kudzu, but I’m not sure what it is. Stuff can totally take over, though, and grows like crazy. Fortunately it’s mostly only right around the rivers.
The thing about california is that it’s the perfect place for just about any plant — we have a stunning amount of plant diversity. The problem is that that includes all the really annoying ones.
Oh, I think I’ve seen that stuff, but it’s not a problem in our garden yet that I know of. I never knew what it was called, I just thought it was some kind of wild cyperus, which actually I do grow as an ornamental in pots (but it’s the C. alternifolius variety. Our real pests are crabgrass, spurge and plantain… along with a few rogue perennials (heliopsis in particular) we’re tryng to eradicate. Tell ya what’s tough here… that spurge that has one long, very strong taproot, and loves to grow in the cracks of the sidewalk or concrete. If you don’t get them when they’re young, they’re almost impossible to get rid of short of using chemicals (which we avoid at all costs).
are a true evil.
We have a huge problem also with “trees of heaven”, for which it sounds like roughly the same story — get ’em early or you’re screwed. They pop up everywhere.
I also try not to use anything chemical in general. But I’m seriously so frustrated I’m almost ready to give up and do a onetime backyard plant death spray. Before I do that, though, I’ll try some vinegar… that gets stuff pretty well sometimes, and is much, much kinder to the soil.
I also, realistically, could do a lot more to improve the dirt here, which would help. I compost a lot, but the dirt here in sacramento is incredibly dense clay, which nutgrass happens to love.
Hmm nutsage likes clay huh? That might explain why it’s not a problem for us, though now that I think of it, I think we do find some of that from time to time and just dig it out. As for those trees of heaven around here people call them tree of paradise and that is one nasty thing. In fact there’s one coming up out from that has to get dug this weekend and disposed of pronto.
I had never heard of, nor thought of using vinegar. We’ll have to try that on certain things and see if we can get rid of them. There’s so much to keep up with, something always sneaks through unnoticed. The bane of my existence right now is that the maples have let loose their spinners the last week or so and they get everywhere. This year, however, I have taken to using my shop vac to suck them up and dispose of them, because otherwise we’ll be pulling maples constantly all summer (again). I wish some critter would take a liking to eating them, but nothing touches them.
Thanks for the weed references there… I hadn’t thought of using wikipedia for researching that kind of stuff, but now I will!
get the 10% vinegar, and it helps to mix with a little oil and soap.
Here’s one formula that has worked pretty well for me in the past. Also helps if it’s as hot as possible outside when you do it.
A shop vac is a brilliant idea. We have maple problems, too — our neighbor has the most beautiful japanese maple I’ve ever seen, but man those little whirly seed bastards get everywhere.
Sometimes, the entries on weeds that show up in wikipedia get very, very funny. People get very bitter about certain weeds sometimes, and it occasionally shows up in the entries.
Last year, I found a tree of “heaven” growing happily (several feet tall) on our roof. I wonder how big it would’ve gotten if I’d left it, but some curiosities are no doubt better left unexplored.
Wow, thanks Spit! You’re a real expert on this stuff, whereas we avoid spraying anything (except for mosquitoes, which are fast becoming a problem now) if we can and just suck it up and dig. That vinegar formula has me excited to try it. We already have the Dr. Bronner’s soap around anyway.
I can understand people getting bitter about weeds! Certain ones around here sure get me going (such as spurge) and I curse them mightily as I’m struggling with them. About the shop vac, first time I took it out this spring to do clean up in the front beds and around our boulder bed walls, the neighbors thought I was insane. One had the chutzpah to tell me that I should just blow the stuff into a pile and rake it up. Well I hate raking. Told him why should I go through 3 steps when I can take care of it with one? I just suck up all the organic stuff, dump into a city compost collection bag, and I’m done (for that particular day). Thx again for the great resources. I’ll be checking those frequently now.
The true sign of a slacker. Get the job done in the least steps possible. I am so proud of you. 🙂
Why thank you, FM. Or it’s a true sign of an organized clueless man, take your pick. 🙂
They’re all the same. To be perfectly slackful you have to be organized.
If you spend your time doing extra steps doing something – cuts into slacktime.
If you are not organized and continually keep looking for something – cuts into slacktime.
Why waste all that time when you could slack. 🙂
to share references! I feel like there’s so much I don’t know most of the time. My housemates all think I’m some sort of plant guru just because I grew up in a farmtown. I’ve been making a really concerted effort to learn more organic methods lately, but I definitely feel like a beginner to all this stuff. Where I grew up, if something bugged you, you sprayed it with poison or shot it.
I’ve toyed on and off with switching my major to focus on plant bio. I’ve really loved the stuff I’ve done in that direction, and though I enjoy chemistry, sometimes the courses are… less than exciting.
And your neighbors just don’t sound very creative. I mean, what’s the difference whether you blow them into a pile or suck them up in a shop vac?
This particular neighbor is a fat pain in the butt. One of those lazy know it all types who likes to criticize whatever you’re doing at long length. This, from a guy who left his mower on the lawn, without mowing, in the rain for a week and a half!
He didn’t even have FM’s excuse for leaving the weed whacker in the rain… no water mocassins here in IA! LOL.
lived with people like that. I usually either smile and nod and then do exactly what I was doing, or tell them that they’re welcome to show me how it’s done while I go get a beer and take notes from over in the shade.
I’m glad you added in about the snake. I was going to say hey wait a minute. 🙂
offend my friends. Now enemies, watch out!
You offend me? It would never happen.
The same for me with you.
Ran out for 15 minutes to pick CBtE up from his 7th grade camping trip… and it turned into an hour!
And what an eye-opening experience…when the bus pulled up, and the boys started getting off, the mother behind me said “oh, this is definitely the bus my son’s on, just look at these attitudes…” and I was thinking the same thing about CBtE.
Seventh grade is just soooo wonderful. Don’t you wish you could go back? 🙂
Besides all the standard awful things that would keep me from ever wanting to go back, there’s the fact that I’d be facing the awful Bar/Bat Mitzvah party circuit again.
And if you thought it was bad then, you should hear what’s going on at them this year…scary.
Ignorance is bliss. Not ever going to another bar mitzvah party is bliss. It’s so nice that bliss can be so readily achieved.
NO… I may be crazy, but I’m not insane!!! I’d rather go to hell first… oh wait, yeah, that’s exactly what 7th grade was like!
Darn!
Alas, no… and I’ve been obsessing all over the net today when I can sneak a minute or two and nothing. Doesn’t look like it’s gonna happen today, <waaahhh!>
Yeah, trying to be patient on this is a challenge.
BTW, have you tried googling with, “How’s trix”, you get a whole diff set switching tricks to trix.
First I’d ever heard of it was maryb one night in a FBC. I’m wonder if this started on TV. Like years ago when someone first said, “I’m outa here!” I figured that had to have come off of a TV program ’cause I wasn’t watching TV at the time, and had not heard it before.
The “How’s Tricks” or trix I’ve heard on old 30’s movies. That’s an old saying as far as I know. Right now the one person that comes to mind is Mae West.
The “I’m outta her!” I’ve heard, well around here.
The most generally accepted term I’ve heard throughout the world – “See Ya’ll”. 🙂
BTW, here’s a stumpper. One of the best minds in the world has researched this and given me a best explaination, but when you “Keep an eye out” for someone. Where did the term “Keep and eye out” come from. The glass eye thing has been used. 🙂
I don’t know but I do know that mothers have a third eye in the back of their heads. I thought my mother was the only one, but now I have one too!
I think the mother thing has a lot to do with estrogen.
I’ll save you the trouble SN.
It must be the estrogen, because most of the time men are clueless. 😛
I’ll have you know it takes years… I tell ya… years of practice to exhibit that persona… and once perfected it’s just amazing what women will do to help the poor guy out…
[and with that NDD runs for the door, must go buy more cedar, can’t figure out why folks seem to think a deck needs railings… life if much more exciting without one…]
Just think, if everyone had deck railings there would be no more videos of grandmothers falling off of decks on America’s Funniest Home videos.
Maybe it’s a nautical thing.
Hey NDD! I have no clue either where “how’s tricks” though I’ve heard it a lot over the years. Always just interpreted it as “how’s it going?” though the innuendo factor does seem to sneak in there somehow. I would think that “trix” pulls up a bunch of stuff relating to kids and a colored rabbit though… but I may be way off base there, lol.
have diff sayings. Like I said,never heard of how’s tri(x)cks until a couple weeks ago, an’ I’ve been ’round a couple of decades… or so…
I’ll have to see if I can think of one that might be just regional.
I’m pretty sure my grandmother and her sisters used to say it. I’ll ask my sister if she remembers. I subscribe to the theory that it was originally from a 1930’s musical or song, although I suppose it could have been an allusion to prostitution. It is definitely something you would ask a magician, though! Or maybe a circus dog. LOL I’m pretty sure it was around before Trix cereal.
Tried it and here is my favorite definition of “trix” from the Urban Dictionary:
“A very mean and disgruntled texan, usually female, who finds pleasure in belittling her mexican friends.”
Now that is specific. I wonder how many of those there are around? Can we harness this energy for the next generation of hybrid cars?
My happy hour was yesterday when I got to meet Raging Hippie in Denver. Like Maryb, she is in person just like she is on line,which is to say, somebody you’d like to be able to spend lots of time with. I find that reassuring, don’t you? That our feelings about the people we “meet” here turn out to be accurate in RL.
There’s no time to catch up! I’m off to mow my lawn, then do laundry, then hit the road again tomorrow.
Cheers and love to all stationary frogs and all moving ones.
xxoo
Nancy
Wow Kansas, you just don’t let up! Glad you’re having a good time despite the crazy travel schedule. Be sure to take care of yourself so you don’t wear yourself down too badly. And if you’re ever up IA way on your tour, give me a shout out!
Ooo, you may live to regret those words, dear IVG! I just may be in Des Moines in a few months.Are you anywhere near there? If you are, let’s schmooze for treats!
Kansas, you slow down and slack a little. You deserve it.
Thank you, FM. That day is coming. Right now, I’m still flying at jet speed. Flap, flap, flap, flap.
Come on over to the lounge!