March 2012 Archives

CrabAppleLane Spring Garden - March 25, 2012

Didn't know, for sure, that I'd be able to get one down this season. Took me over an hour just to disconnect the finish mower and hook up the tiller. The weather and my old knees conspired against me this year but, ultimately, the tomatoes won out. Got one pass in today. Will lay down some fertilizer and other amendments and give it another pass before planting. Not today, though. This is the latest I've planted at CrabAppleLane since my first garden here.

One of the errands we had to run yesterday was to our local dump. According to Quicken, I've been there 5 times now. In the first three instances, I had truckloads and they cost me $10-$12 each time. The fourth instance was 4 years ago. I don't remember how much I had but it was $19. Yesterday, a pretty light load cost me $26. They also made me wear a vest and hard hat for the first time. Still kinda creeped out about that. Who wore them before me? While they were at the dump? I digress. I know inflation is primarily responsible for the rising prices but the higher the price goes, the more likely people are just going to leave their junk on the side of the road or in a vacant lot or in a ditch. The taxpayers should just go ahead and finance the operation.

Hope to get the tiller hooked up today and get the spring garden going. It's nice outside but my knees are not cooperating.

I offer two from yesterday's errand running. These were taken with my phone. The view is from a bridge on Hwy 435 in Abita Springs, Louisiana. Typically, you can only barely see the river as you pass over the bridge. This is about 10 miles from CrabAppleLane. In the previous few days, we received about 24 inches of rain. The ground is saturated and the water is now just running from high ground to low ground. It's pretty cool unless your house is in its path.

Abita Springs, LA - March 24, 2012

Abita Springs, LA - March 24, 2012

About today's QOTD: Kid has more guts than I ever had.

5 song iTunes shuffle:

1. Coming Your Way Fleetwood Mac - Then Play On
2. Back On The Road Again - REO Speedwagon - Arch Allies: Live at Riverport
3. Good Rockin' Tonight - Montrose - Montrose
4. Dueling Banjos - Eric Weissberg - Deliverance
5. Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon - Queen - A Night At The Opera

Quote of the Day

I don't plan to show up butt naked or anything. I'm going to wear a pretty prom dress.

Megan Piper

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Upon hearing of Dick Cheney's secret heart transplant, am I the only one who conjured up the image of an unwilling live donor, strapped down in terror to an adjoining gurney?"

Dollars to donuts, he is NOT the only one to think that. -Rob

To say I was a little disheartened at today's decision regarding the New Orleans Saints would have been an understatement. Now that it's had a chance to soak in a bit, I think it best to take it as is and move on.

There is one thing left to be done. Get Drew Brees under contract ... NOW. The organization, the players, and the fans need someone to rally around. Drew is the guy. It's right in his wheelhouse, too. Just do it.

Those writing off the Saints chances to contend for a Super Bowl next season in the SuperDome are seriously underestimating them. There are quite a few of them including Don Banks and John Clayton. The offense will be fine next season and the defense will go as far as the new defensive coordinator takes them. This team has a lot of talent and the commissioner just placed a fairly large chip on their shoulder. That combination can do some wondrous things. What kind of reception will Roger Goodell get in New Orleans when he comes here for next year's Super Bowl, I wonder? Wouldn't bother me a bit if he had to present that Lombardi to someone with a Fleur-De-Lis.

5 song iTunes shuffle:

1. Baby Blue - Badfinger - The Very Best Of Badfinger
2. This Night - Black Lab - Passion Leaves a Trace
3. Doctor Doctor - UFO - Essential UFO
4. Poison - Alice Cooper - Alice Cooper Classicks
5. The Rising - Bruce Springsteen - The Rising

Quote of the Day

Can't see nothin' in front of me
Can't see nothin' coming up behind
I make my way through this darkness
I can't feel nothing but this chain that binds me

Bruce Springsteen, The Rising

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "We recognize our fans’ concerns and we regret the uncertainty this episode has created for them. We are humbled by the support our organization has received from our fans today in the wake of this announcement, and we ask them to continue to stand with us, as they have done in the past, when both our team and our city have overcome greater adversities"

Some unsolicited, unwanted advice for the suitors lining up for Peyton Manning's services: You'd better get him. If you don't, you may think you can go back to the quarterback you're stuck with and tell him it was only business but I can tell you with some certainty that he aint buying it. He is quite rightly going to feel humiliated.

Here nor there but I think a another late player will be throwing their hat in the ring before Manning signs.

I offer one from the CrabAppleLane backyard on this beautiful, almost spring day. Those are Louisiana Irises. They seem to like the pond. I have dark violet, light violet, and dark red varieties. The reds wait until the purples are just about done before they start blooming. They like having the stage to themselves.

CrabAppleLane Pond - March 18, 2012

5 song iTunes shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Movie Soundtrack Playlist:

1. Don't Fear The Reaper - The Mutton Birds - The Frighteners
2. Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon - Urge Overkill - Pulp Fiction
3. The Glade Part II - Trevor Jones - The Last Of The Mohicans
4. He Made A Woman Out Of Me - Ry Cooder - Crossroads
5. Going Home [Theme of the Local Hero] - Mark Knopfler - Local Hero

Quote of the Day

The zoo's two Bengal tigers, an African lion and a leopard dined like kings on Thursday. And there are enough leftovers to feed the cats for weeks to come.

Associated Press

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Back to ranting. The grass is growing like mad this year. I may be out there long before the end of the month cutting grass. WHAT!?"

Lift a glass of green beer or a shot of Irish whiskey. Have some shepherd's pie. Everyone is Irish today.

Now and in time to be,
Wherever green is worn,
Are changed, changed utterly,
A terrible beauty is born
William Butler Yeats, Easter 1916

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Irish Collection:

1. Harry's Game - Clannad - Anam
2. I'm Shipping Up to Boston - Dropkick Murphys - The Warrior's Code
3. Seven Drunken Nights - Dubliners - The Ultimate Collection: The Spirit of the Irish
4. Float - Flogging Molly - Float
5. Whiskey In the Jar - The Clancy Brothers & The Dubliners - Irish Drinking Songs

Quote of the Day

I first produced my pistol
And I then produced my rapier
Saying "Stand and deliver"
For he were a bold deceiver

The Clancy Brothers & The Dubliners, Whiskey In the Jar

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Have Opinions, Will Eat"

First hummingbird of 2012 sighted at CrabAppleLane yesterday. I heard at least one in the trees yesterday morning but I didn't see him approach the feeders until dusk yesterday. A quite welcome sight indeed.

CrabAppleLane Hummingbird Arrival Record:

• Wednesday, March 14, 2001
• Sunday, March 17, 2002
• Monday, March 10, 2003
• Saturday, March 20, 2004
• Saturday, March 12, 2005
• Sunday, March 12, 2006
• Sunday, March 11, 2007
• Sunday, March 09, 2008
• Thursday, March 26, 2009
• Wednesday, March 24, 2010
• Wednesday, March 09, 2011
• Thursday, March 15, 2012

About today's QOTD: You will never get me to dispute that Calvin Johnson is a great player. That contract, though? WOW.

5 song iTunes shuffle:

1. Christmas Canon Rock - Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Lost Christmas Eve
2. I Feel Free - Cream - The Cream Of Clapton
3. Crimson And Clover - Tommy James & The Shondells - Rock 'n Roll Relix 1968-1969
4. The Trawlerman's Song - Mark Knopfler - Shangri-La
5. Magic Bus - The Who - Live At Leeds

Quote of the Day

When Calvin Johnson signed his eight-year, $132 million contract with Detroit, the Lions star wideout became the eleventh NFL player to earn a deal north of $100 million.

Marc Sessler, NFL.com

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "The number of questions embattled Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad faced from lawmakers Wednesday in an unprecedented, publicly broadcast Parliamentary interrogation of his economic policies, cabinet appointments and tense relationship with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei."

Downloaded Bruce Springsteen's Wrecking Ball CD Thursday night on iTunes. Been listening to it all morning. Hey, beats cutting grass. :) By far, my fave is American Land. Appears the song has been in his live show for some time. Found quite a few versions on YouTube from as far back as 2009. I find him preachy sometimes ... unless I agree with him. :) On the sentiment behind American Land, I agree with him. That he can do a song in the Irish Pub tradition so well is quite amazing to me. That he can do the truly wonderful rendition of one of the all-time faves below is equally amazing. What a talent.

5 song iTunes shuffle from Bruce Springsteen's Wrecking Ball CD:

1. Shackled and Drawn - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball
2. Jack of All Trades - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball
3. We Take Care of Our Own - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball
4. Swallowed Up (In the Belly of the Whale) - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball
5. American Land - Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball

Quote of the Day

They died building the railroads
They worked to bones and skin
They died in the fields and factories
Names scattered in the wind
They died to get here a hundred years ago
They're still dying now
Their hands that built the country
We're always trying to keep out

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, American Land

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "The Taiwanese animation for the Saints’ bounty system features Brett Favre being torn in half"

A little too graphic for my tastes but there is surely an element of truth there. -Rob

BountyGate

Free unsolicited, unwanted advice to the New Orleans Saints from a lifelong Saints fan: Plow straight ahead. Cooperate fully. Answer all questions truthfully. The league is going to do what they're going to do. The media is going to do what they're going to do. Make no excuses. Accept the punishment. That is all.

RIP, Ronnie Montrose. That 1973 debut album was one of the best of all time. Rock The Nation and Space Station #5 are on the CrabAppleLane Five Star Playlist. There is not a band song on that entire album.

I offer one from the CrabAppleLane backyard. It will be in action next weekend.

CrabAppleLane John Deere - Ready - March 4, 2012

5 song iTunes shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star Playlist:

1. Warrior - Wishbone Ash - Argus
2. Turn The Page - Bob Seger - Greatest Hits
3. Madame Geneva's - Mark Knopfler - Kill To Get Crimson
4. Hotel Yorba - The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
5. Liar - Queen - Queen

Quote of the Day

Oh what a time we had
Living underground
I move to Station #5
See you next time around

Montrose, Space Station #5

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "I can easily imagine her analyzing financial statements and recommending investments (credit not equity, though) rather than spending un-lucrative time in a bio-chemistry lab."

Serious rut here at CrabAppleLane. Started my CrabAppleLane Sunday post on Sunday and just lost the wind. Started it up again on Tuesday and Thursday. Couldn't finish. There is a lot going on here, though. More on that in the coming weeks.

Saints fans are starting to get very worried about the Drew Brees contract negotiations. I think hope it will get done this weekend.

Spring is almost here. Tractor is ready to roll (Thanks, Mark and Joey). Hope to plant tomatoes in two weeks. I'll probably be giving fewer away this season because I want to make more tomato sauce. I don't know if I can improve on last season's second attempt but I think I can duplicate it and that will be just fine, thankyouverymuch.

I took today's QOTD as a good-natured jab ... at themselves.

187 days until football season ...

5 song iTunes shuffle:

1. Joy To The World - Three Dog Night - The Best Of Three Dog Night
2. Maybe Not - Cat Power - You Are Free
3. Lost For Words - Pink Floyd - The Division Bell
4. Red Barchetta - Rush - Moving Pictures
5. Robot Man - Scorpions - In Trance

Quote of the Day

I mean, if you’re always striving for success, you end up with something like America, and nobody wants to be like America, really.

London Theater Director

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Un-engaged playing is merely symptom; the disease is far deeper than what happens on the court. We (and I mean us folk in Minnesota) are paying Tubby Smith something in the neighborhood of $2 million (reputed to be the highest salary for any state worker in Minnesota) to coach this team, yet the lack of team was stunningly apparent on the court. There was no cohesion, no sense of working together. Excuse Pollyanna here, but I thought a really big part of coaching was in the creation of a single minded team unit."