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Got plans? It's a spectacular Labor Day weekend here at CrabAppleLane. I offer one from the back deck.

CrabAppleLane Blue Skies - September 5, 2010

Got a city fix yesterday. Lunch at Liuzza's with Mom. It was her first time there. Have always, always loved their Shrimp Remoulade. When I first got it many years ago, it wasn't on their regular menu. It was a periodic special and I would get it automatically if I saw it on their daily specials chalkboard. They serve it on a po-boy now and I had been dying for one since Patsy told me how great hers was last December. That's also what the Great White Shank had when we hooked up for lunch there. Still love their Shrimp Remoulade but it's a bit messy on a po-boy. I think I'll stick to having it served on a plate when I go there. We had some fabulous onion rings. One order was enough for all three of us.

My friend, Marie, is famous now. It's a delightful turn of events. Congrats, Marie.

It's Fathers Day down under. Happy Day to all of them.

My good Samaritan from yesterday. I expect a few more from him in the next few days. According to him: "Should you be interested in this name - I'd be glad to consider your offer.". It's not his to sell but I suppose that's a minor detail. He included a link this time. Wouldn't touch it with a 10ft pole.

With a new NFL season on the near horizon, it looks to me like the Saints will enter 2010 much like they did 2009: They have an excellent offense but they have questions on defense. On the bright side, no team is without questions.

The offensive line is big, talented, and deep. Best in the NFL. The tight ends are versatile and dramatically different from each other. They all bring something different to the table. The wide receiver corp is deep, talented, and physical. Best in the NFL. The running backs feature Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas. Both can make plays. In the quarterback league that the NFL has become, the Saints have the very best of the best. I would take Drew Brees over anyone else.

I still just don't know what to make of the defense, though. I expect the defensive line will have good games and bad. They stepped up in the playoffs last season but they had some pretty bad games during the regular season. They're inconsistent and only have one decent pass rusher in Will Smith. They usually don't generate much of a pass rush on their own and they get moved around and sealed off way too much in the running game. The linebackers are a mixed bunch. Jonathan Vilma is a terrific linebacker and signal caller for the D but Scott Shanle is ordinary and we don't even know what other linebackers are going to play yet. The secondary is strong even without Darren Sharper. They're not particularly durable, though. All of them missed time last season.

On special teams, the Saints have a money placekicker and a great punter but I expect them to be a feast-or-famine bunch this year. They'll make a handful of big returns and give up a handful of big returns. They got better during the playoffs last season because Sean Payton sprinkled some starters into those return teams. That was one of the many great calls he made last season.

Finally, the Saints have a great coaching staff. Sean Payton is bright and aggressive. Not a conservative bone in his body. He attacks. How do you not love a guy who has the stones to call an onside kick in a Super Bowl? Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams does not own a conservative bone, either. He also attacks. The defense is going to give up plays but they will make plays, too. I think Curtis Johnson will be a fine head coach some day. Most of the Saints staff is young. Love everything about what they're doing.

The season opener with the Vikings looms large. No excuses. No quarter.

4 days until football season ...

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Mark Knopfler playlist:

1. On Every Street - Dire Straits - On Every Street
2. Lions - Dire Straits - Dire Straits
3. Back To Tupelo - Mark Knopfler - One Take Radio Sessions
4. The Fish And The Bird - Mark Knopfler - Kill To Get Crimson
5. Tunnel Of Love - Dire Straits - Making Movies

Quote of the Day

It's Sunday morning, but it's the start of the work week for the Vikings, who return to practice to begin preparations for their season opener against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night.

Chip Scoggins, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Minnesota @ New Orleans - Sept 9 (Thursday Night), 8:30PM on NBC
Minnesota Vikings at the New Orleans Saints is a rematch of the thrilling 2009 NFC Championship Game. This is the first game of Vikings quarterback Bret Favre's 20th season. Meanwhile, the Saints start the defense of their Super Bowl championship. Prior to last season, I never thought I would ever have to write, "the New Orleans Saints are the defending Super Bowl champions.""

Whenever I think of Hurricane Katrina and I certainly don't as much now as I once did, I keep ending up on one thing. If the levees hold, we're not talking about Katrina now. It was a substantial hurricane but Louisiana can handle that. There would be no horrific images, no politicization, no second guessing. New Orleans, Slidell, and Chalmette would have been on the same recovery pace as St Tammany and most of Mississippi. The damage would have been repaired in a few months and we would have be on to other things in no time. If only the levees had held ...

Another morning after a fantasy football auction. Feel as good about this team as I do my other one. Not very. Death on Two Legs - 2010 version:

QB Brett Favre - $7
RB Joseph Addai - $18
RB Jamaal Charles - $37 -- My transition player - Overpaid by a lot. No one knew anything about him until I tagged him - Could have gotten him for half this or even less
RB Cadillac Williams - $3
RB Donald Brown - $3
RB Tashard Choice - $1
WR Marques Colston - $22
WR Reggie Wayne - $26 - Franchise player
WR Chad Ochocinco - $9
WR Lee Evans - $3
WR Dexter McCluster - $2
TE Jason Witten - $14
TE Justin Keller - $1
PK Jeff Reed - $1
D/ST Dolphins - $1

I offer one from just outside my kitchen window this wet CrabAppleLane Sunday morning.

CrabAppleLane Althea - August 29, 2010

11 days until football season ...

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star playlist:

1. Miss Misery - Nazareth - Hair Of The Dog
2. San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) - Scott McKenzie - AM Gold: The '60s Generation
3. Roundabout - Yes - Fragile
4. Star Spangled Banner - Dixie Chicks - Super Bowl XXXVII
5. Easy Lover - Phil Collins - Hits

Quote of the Day

President Obama had lunch at Parkway Bakery today. As usual for well-known folks in NOLA, he was just another customer. Voice on loudspeaker said, "Barack, pickup." He got a shrimp po-boy.

Fleurty Girl

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Across the states, the general first estimate of cost to insurers sits at $16 billion."

Ended up being in the neighborhood of $125 billion. -Rob

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This Whitest Kids U'Know skit made me laugh last week. Some, maybe most, of their shtick is crude for crude's sake and gets old rather quickly and some, like the one linked, are too long and don't finish well. It's like they needed to fill some air time. If they'd do less, they'd do better.

I offer two from the CrabAppleLane yard this morning. The two bushes below were the same size when I bought them. One thrived, the other not so much. I transplanted the one not doing so well. I'm hoping that a change of scenery is all it needed.

CrabAppleLane - August 22, 2010

CrabAppleLane - August 22, 2010

Still only preseason but I think most Saints fans are a little more upbeat after last night's game with the Texans than they were after last week's game with the Patriots. A few thoughts:

I have to wonder what the Saints are going to do with Adrian Arrington. I doubt they can trade him but he's too good to release. I hope they can keep him as insurance if one of the other four (Colston, Meachem, Henderson, Moore) in front of him gets hurt.

Ladell Betts had better get his butt on the field. Chris Ivory and P.J. Hill both look like they can run the ball. Don't know if I trust either of them to protect Drew in the passing game, though.

About today's QOTD: The Redskins are stuck with Haynesworth. That much is pretty clear. If they release him, they eat his ridiculous contract and he plays somewhere else. A trade is unlikely because no one wants to assume that contract.

Mario Williams is Julius Peppers. He plays a monster game two or three times a year and then disappears the rest of the time. There's money in that. I don't think his name was called once last night. I'm glad the Texans chose him and passed on Reggie Bush. Reggie's name was called quite a few times last night.

18 days until football season ...

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Mark Knopfler playlist:

1. So Far From The Clyde - Mark Knopfler - Get Lucky
2. Golden Heart - Mark Knopfler - Golden Heart
3. Whistle Theme - Mark Knopfler & Alan Clark - Local Hero
4. Whoop De Doo - Mark Knopfler - Shangri-La
5. In The Sky - Mark Knopfler - Kill To Get Crimson

Quote of the Day

I don't know. I guess make yourself look good, I don't know. Make me look bad for not going to their offseason conditioning program. But, I mean, next year I'm not coming either. I'll be on my trainer again, and I'll get back in the same shape I'm in, and feel good about myself.

Albert Haynesworth, Washington Redskins

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "The Texans kicked the Saints' butts on kickoff returns. They averaged 32.8 yards on six returns. The Saints averaged 21 yards on five returns."

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Love the story they tell before the song below. It's cut out here. They were talking about setting up their equipment in a gigantic bar in Texas. If you've never been inside one of those, you absolutely cannot appreciate it. I've been in a few of them. The Rusty Keg in Houston could have easily fit two football fields inside of it ... end to end. Anyway, they're in one of those bars setting up and there are only three people in the whole place besides them ... and a fight broke out. My favorite song of theirs. Enjoy.

Tried to find a link to a performance of Road Fever by Foghat for the QOTD. All I could find was a version from the current incarnation of the band. The lead guitarist is an adequate replacement for the late former lead guitarist, Rod Price. He even bears a slight resemblance. There's no replacing Lonesome Dave, though. The current incarnation is not much more than a tribute band. Save your money.

Preliminary bill for an afternoon at the emergency room: $10,141.00

For that paltry sum, we spent about 20 minutes total with the physician, tied up a hospital bed for about 5 hours, had IV saline, was given some pain medication and some medication for nausea, and had a CT scan performed. $10,141.00 ... so far. We can and should debate/argue about what needs to be done but anyone defending the status quo should be summarily dismissed as a participant in that debate/argument. We're spending more on health care than anyone and we aint healthier. We're not getting our money's worth.

I offer one from the CrabAppleLane sunny back deck. I thought I had accidentally killed it.

CrabAppleLane Mirliton Vine - August 15, 2010

From the Here Nor There Department: No matter how slowly and carefully I sip a Sonic slush, I get a freezer brain headache that takes at least a minute and a half to pass. Dumb, Rob.

Time to start researching my fantasy football auctions. Have one a week from today and have another one a few days later. I started to move some names around yesterday but couldn't finish. Hope to have a preliminary spreadsheet done today. I haven't used a magazine in years.

The Minnesota Vikings walloped the Rams in St Louis last night and they did it "without Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and Visanthe Shiancoe.". I'm sure someone in Metairie took notice.

25 days until football season ...

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Road Fever [Live Version] - Foghat - Live
2. Selling the Drama - Live - Throwing Copper
3. Crime In The City (Sixty To Zero, Pt. 1) - Neil Young - Freedom
4. Sad Lisa - Cat Stevens - Tea For The Tillerman
5. She Don't Love Nobody - Nick Lowe - Andrea's Gift Mix

Quote of the Day

I'm back on the road and I ain't gonna stop
Gonna roll 'til I'm old, gonna rock 'til I drop
Out of the smog, headin' into the sun
I'm goin' to New Orleans
Bourbon Street here I come

Foghat, Road Fever

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "When the new version of the old blog bit the dust I took it as a sign and as a result, this blog has a new name. I decided to retire Pitcherlady and move on to a page that’s a little more refined in its subject matter, (she said)."

I hope not too refined. Refinement has its place but there are times when it should step aside.

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Grilling on Sunday again. This time, it was Tony Chachere's Smoked Sausage with Green Onion just to kick up Patsy's excellent red beans and rice. Took a few snapshots on this afternoon's bike ride, too. The bike rides around here may have panoramic vistas or silly goats. Sometimes, both. They're below the jump.

CrabAppleLane - August 8, 2010

Have a Great Weekend.

With apologies to Neil Diamond, the title here refers to last night. Even though I had been out running errands in the morning and for a bike ride in the afternoon, I still found myself with a case of cabin fever last night. We decided to hit the Tap Room for dinner and head out somewhere and tinker with night photography. I'm still fairly awful at it but these didn't turn out too bad. There was an outdoor movie playing last night in Abita Springs. I've never seen any of them so I can't be sure but I'm guessing it was one of the Toy Story movies. I suppose this is about the closest thing you can have to a true, old time drive-in movie experience these days ... except there weren't any cars. It had to be 85º last night with nearly 100% humidity. I remember nights in the station wagon just like that. The heat, humidity, and the bugs didn't seem to be bothering anyone, though. These free events are a nice novelty, a curiosity for the kids, maybe some nostalgia for some of the older parents and grandparents, or just something to do on a Saturday night. Nice turnout. More below the jump if you're interested.

Abita Springs - August 7, 2010

The first preseason (Don't call it an exhibition) game is tonight. Why on Earth the NFL or NBC wants to broadcast this game in Primetime is beyond me. Bengals v Cowboys would be a good match except that most of the guys you'll see in the game tonight won't be Bengals or Cowboys in a few weeks.

The Saints are heading to New England tomorrow to work out with the Patriots for a few days before their game Thursday night. They'll stop at the White House along the way. Would love to be in on the meetings the two head coaches are having with their teams leading up to this. Both teams fancy themselves as contenders and I think it's fair to say they are. "This is what you can talk about with them and this is what you can't". I expect both teams will be holding back a lot. The game Thursday night will be nothing like that Monday night game they played last November, which the Boston Globe's Adam Kilgore described like this:

The Saints attacked the Patriots defense in every manner. They scored on long drives. They scored on a 75-yard strike. They scored on screen passes, on long post patterns, on a dump to their third tight end. They emptied both barrels.

32 days until football season ...

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Angel - Fleetwood Mac - Tusk
2. Boulder To Birmingham - Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris - Real Live Roadrunning
3. Changin' Times - Nazareth - Hair Of The Dog
4. Photograph - Def Leppard - Pyromania
5. Romeo and Juliet - Mark Knopfler - Live From The Ryman

About today's QOTD: Ricky Jackson is maybe the worst public speaker of all time but there is nothing phony about him. You'll find profound nuggets in what he says if you can bear the rest of it.

Quote of the Day

We need to keep football going. Can't let football get away. I mean you can get where the product can be so good, you can lose sight and let it get away.

Ricky Jackson, Saints Hall-of-Famer

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Riders making their way through the mist, across the hay field. I am well behind this pack....somewhere...."

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Whippoorwill Grove - Covington, LA - August 7, 2010

This was taken about half a mile from CrabAppleLane. It's like the trees and other vegetation in the center just can't wait for that pond to overflow.

On a Sunday afternoon with my camera and MP3 player. It is one of my favorite things. Grilled boudin with crackers and corn on the cob is tonight's supper at CrabAppleLane.

CrabAppleLane - August 1, 2010

Have a great weekend ...

I started watching The Last Waltz last night. I've never been a great fan of The Band. I like some of their songs but that's about it. I have seen this film before and I didn't think much of it but I kinda got hooked on watching it again last night while waiting for something better to come on. Seeing it again after all these years and on a better TV with a better stereo has made a world of difference. Could be also that I'm a little older and more mature than I was the first time I saw it and it could also be the sound quality has been dramatically improved. The second part is certain. The film I'm watching now is fantastic in both sound and picture quality.

The film is not just about their music and that may have also contributed to why I didn't think much of it the first time. I didn't care about the interviews then. Just get on with the music. I appreciate what Martin Scorsese was doing now. The film is more about the guys being a band and being on tour for 16 years. I can't wait to finish watching it this afternoon. Just fantastic. Didn't even mind the 70s leisure suits. I still only like a handful of their songs but I have a new appreciation for The Band this morning and much greater appreciation for the film. Enjoy the little taste below and see The Last Waltz when you can, particularly if you have a good TV and stereo.

I usually don't care for tight-fitting clothes. Unfortunately, a lot of my clothes fit tightly these days (Be nice). Anyway, I do wear tight clothes while doing yardwork. Too many spinning objects and too many sharp blades can grab. After 2½ hours in the heat here, though, you pretty much have to cut them off of me. I offer a few today in the order I took them from around the CrabAppleLane backyard, where I spent 2½ hours ... yesterday and today.

The garden is resting

The fairway - Water trap on the left - Par 2

The view

The branch had turned and followed the sun until it was brushing against the bluebird house

CrabAppleLane Hummingbird - August 1, 2010

Enough with the NFL training camp injuries already ... and stay the hell away from here. There are still ...

39 days until football season ...

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star playlist:

1. Already Gone - The Eagles - On The Border
2. Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down - The Better Life
3. Madame Geneva's - Mark Knopfler - Kill To Get Crimson
4. Mississippi Queen - Mountain - Hard N' Heavy: 70's Greatest Rock Hits, Vol. 1
5. '39 - Queen - A Night At The Opera

Quote of the Day

In the winter of '65
We were hungry
Just barely alive
By May the tenth, Richmond had fell
It's a time I remember, oh so well

The Band, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "One of the reasons that I hadn't ever seen The Last Waltz, was because I wasn't a fan of The Band."

Just like me except with a better reason. They weren't before my time. -Rob

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It's been raining off and on all weekend. The sun is out now and it's more than a little steamy. If the rain is still gone in an hour or two, I'll be on the tractor. I started doing yardwork yesterday but couldn't finish.

Between the rains Saturday afternoon, I was able to pull up the 2010 CrabAppleLane spring vegetable garden. The tomatoes have been done for a a few weeks but I wanted to let the peppers fill out a little more. I'm not a big fan of bell peppers normally. They're usually a little too thick when you buy them at a store, when they come on a pizza, or when they're in a dish at a restaurant, particularly Chinese dishes. Homegrown bell peppers are a whole other thing. Commercial bell pepper varieties have a much thicker skin because they've been developed that way so they can travel better. Homegrown peppers are thin-skinned and have a much lighter and sweeter taste. In the bowl below: "Big Early" bell peppers. On the rail: "Italia" sweet peppers. There is almost no difference in taste, texture, or size between them. They're both delicious. We haven't decided what to do with them yet. We may stuff them or we may add them to some scrambled eggs but we're most likely to add them to a huge batch of Patsy's sausage rice casserole. I'm fine with any one or more of those options.

Last of the CrabAppleLane 2010 spring crop - July 25, 2010

It was an average year for CrabAppleLane tomatoes and peppers. It got too hot too early and there was too much rain toward the end of the season. I don't think the eggplants did well at all. I haven't done a fall garden in many years but I think I will this year. Patsy and I both love homegrown baby Brussels sprouts so there will surely be a lot of those planted. I'll throw in a row of broccoli and maybe some red and green cabbage, too. Patsy makes good coleslaw.

I like to rate the songs in my iTunes library. I haven't done it with all of them yet but I've got a substantial number of them rated. Five stars is the highest. Today's iTunes shuffle is from the Four Star list.

There are probably a few funnier things about the upcoming NFL season but the New York Times Fifth Down Blog picking the brash, loudmouthed Jets to finish third in their division behind the Patriots and Dolphins is pretty good. The QOTD plugs into that. Thank you, Judy.

46 days until football season ...

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Four Star playlist:

1. Mean Mistreater - Grand Funk Railroad - Live Album
2. Heartless - Adrien Reju - A Million Hearts
3. Space Truckin' - Deep Purple - Machine Head (Roger Glover Remixes) [Disc 2]
4. Behind With The Rent - Mark Knopfler - Kill To Get Crimson
5. Boogie With Stu - Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti [Disc 2]

Quote of the Day

Is there enough oxygen in Cortland, N.Y., to sustain all the Jets’ talk?

Judy Battista, NY Times

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "I wrote about this soup two years ago when I first found the recipe in the New York Times. Since then, I've made it many times, making a few tweaks here and there. It's definitely remained a favorite – in fact, it's one of two soups that I constantly go back to. You know, the ones I know I can really nail."

Looks like a lot of work. Also looks fantastic. I've never heard of smoked paprika. Might have to try it. -Rob

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The CrabAppleLane septic tank was pumped out yesterday. The digging I spoke of saved us a few bucks. Our tank is only about 8 inches below the surface at the deepest point. The little bit of dirt you see below represents about two hours of old-fashioned shoveling on our part. Professionals could probably do this by hand in 20 minutes. The wife did about half of the digging before I got home and I finished up. Red clay is as hard as bricks when it's dry. When it's wet, it's very heavy. It was wet where water was seeping out near the square service cover and dry everywhere else. We really only needed to dig enough so the maintenance guy could access the square cover but we didn't see the tank installed and we knew nothing about where the most likely placement would be so a good bit of our shoveling was unnecessary.

When the crew came out to restore our power after Hurricane Katrina (Last image), they were worried about two things. They were worried about ruining our lawn when they backed the truck up and they were worried about where the septic tank was. One of those answers was easy. After 12½ days in the August/September Bush heat without electricity (Air conditioning), BACK THAT THING UP. They parked so far away and used their cherry picker because I couldn't tell them exactly where the tank was. The weight of their truck would have caved it in and that would have been a whole other disaster.

The guy worked for two whole hours yesterday morning in the sweltering Bush heat and humidity. He also dealt with the other thing that you might associate with an overdue-for-service septic tank. I won't get too graphic about that and I'm thankful I wasn't home but Patsy said it wasn't as bad as she expected. We have the kind of septic system that is being phased out of existence because of its poor aeration properties. Our homebuilder probably got it at a discount because of that. If we ever sell the house, I'm told it will have to be replaced before we can close. We'll worry about that another day. When Tropical Depression Bonnie's rains stop, I'll get outside and move that wet, heavy, and messy red clay back over the tank and I've made a note over where the access cover is for next time.

CrabAppleLane Septic Tank - July 24, 2010

Top four roast beef po-boys in New Orleans? I don't think so. I'll reserve judgment on Parasol's because I still haven't tried theirs even though I'm dying to do so. I have had roast beef po-boys at the other three places on the list and I'd rate at least four places higher. My favorite is Come Back Inn. Theirs is the roast beef po-boy I measure all others against. Sammy's Deli would also be on my list because theirs is excellent. I'd put Liuzza's on my list and I'd also put Parran's on my list. Come Back Inn, Sammy's, Liuzza's, and Parran's would be my top four and in that order. Parkway Tavern's is good and Radosta's is good but I put Bear's at only average. A NorthShore po-boy is not as good as a SouthShore po-boy mainly because of the bread. Bear's is NorthShore. All others listed are SouthShore, where the french bread is just better. Also, just about everyone would throw rocks at the very best Philly cheesesteak sub after eating just about any of the po-boys I've mentioned. Not even close.

It's a sad day for NFL fans. Best CrabAppleLane wishes to the Cowher family on the loss of Kaye. 54 is entirely too young. AllTheBest.

The Saints open training camp this Friday. Only two of their draft choices have signed contracts. I expect the rest will start signing soon. They're working on long term deals for some of their signed players, too.

47 days until football season ...

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Mrs. Rita - Gin Blossoms - New Miserable Experience
2. Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms
3. We're An American Band - Grand Funk Railroad - Caught In The Act
4. Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts VI-IX) - Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
5. War Pigs/Luke's Wall - Black Sabbath - Paranoid

Quote of the Day

I'm not drinking anything wrapped in road kill, even if it was free.

Dave E, Fish Fear Me

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Understand the Sanitary Code!"

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Patsy had a gift coupon or certificate for two free movie passes and I talked her into Inception last night. I owe her the next 8 or 10 movies now. Inception was much more my type of movie than hers. Director Christopher Nolan also did Memento. The two films share two traits. The first one is that they are both utterly bewildering for the first half and Nolan never slows down. Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) leads a team of dream invaders. They insert themselves into peoples' dreams to discover secrets or intentions and there are all sorts of rules and techniques that are explained throughout. Once the rules have been established for the audience, the team embarks on a mission of "inception", thought to be impossible and dangerous. They plan to plant an idea into someone's head without that person's knowledge or consent. Check your ethics at the door, please.

The rest of the film is about that mission. It is very well done and here is where I started to catch up but Nolan still has a few twists up his sleeve. The subject has built up defenses against people doing what Cobb and his team wants to do and Cobb has demons of his own that only Ariadne (Ellen Page), the newest member of the team, has discovered. The other trait Inception shares with Memento is that its worth your time. It's a whale of a ride. Loved the ending.

I offer the only relevant image from the CrabAppleLane Backyard, where the yardwork was canceled this week due to rain. The mirlitons are loving it, though.

CrabAppleLane Backyard - July 18, 2010

Some other tidbits for a CrabAppleLane Sunday:

So far, the oil cap is still holding but no one is calling it a success yet. A delightful and heartbreaking series from the Times Picayune told from a Brown Pelican's point of view. I cannot look at any more real pictures or video of Brown Pelicans covered in oil. It kills me.

Joe Montana's son was arrested for underage drinking and, somehow, that passes for news. Nate Montana is 20. I'm shocked, shocked to learn that underage drinking occurs amongst college students. Come on. Besides the kid and his parents, who else should care about this?

The Saints finally signed a draft pick this past week. Training camp starts next week. What's the hurry?

53 days until football season ...

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star playlist starting with "L" :

1. Long Distance Runaround - Yes - Fragile
2. Love To Love - UFO - Essential UFO
3. Locomotive Breath - Jethro Tull - Aqualung
4. Love, Reign O'er Me - The Who - Quadrophenia [Disc 2]
5. The Load-Out - Jackson Browne - Running On Empty

Quote of the Day

Long distance runaround
Long time waiting to feel the sound
I still remember the dream there
I still remember the time you said goodbye

Yes, Long Distance Runaround

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Christopher Nolan's 'Inception' hits theaters today, and with glowing reviews it's poised to become this summer's intellectual blockbuster -- a mind-bending experience that will dazzle you as much as it will make you scratch your head. (In its review, Entertainment Weekly called the film "brainiacally engaging.")"

"Brainiacally engaging"? See, this is why I can't review movies professionally. I don't have the necessary vocabulary. -Rob

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Congratulations to Spain on their World Cup victory today.

I didn't really comment much on "The Decision" this past week, mainly because I don't care that much. If you don't even know what I'm talking about, I envy you. The Boston Globe's Dan Shaughnessy pretty much sums it up.

I'll only be in one Fantasy Football League this season. Kinda sad to see the league I founded discontinued but it was for the best.

60 days until football season ...

I offer one from the CrabAppleLane backyard. The summer weather pattern has set in. At CrabAppleLane, it goes like this: Blistering heat in the morning, scattered thunderstorms, and then, steamy, blistering heat until dusk. Rinse and repeat. As the sun was peeking in and out of the clouds, I saw one 5" X 5" sunny spot on my backyard trail. It found the little toadstool below. The sun went back behind the clouds about 5 seconds after I took this.

CrabAppleLane Backyard - July 11, 2010

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star playlist:

1. California Dreamin' - The Mamas & The Papas - The Best Of The Mamas & The Papas: 20th Century Masters
2. Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) - Pink Floyd - The Wall [Disc 1]
3. You've Got Another Thing Comin' - Judas Priest - Living After Midnight
4. The Jean Genie - David Bowie - Aladdin Sane
5. Back On The Road Again - REO Speedwagon - Nine Lives

Quote of the Day

Well I've loved you since the day I met you
And I'll love you til the day I die
But we both know the life I'm livin'
And we both know the reason why

REO Speedwagon, Back on the Road Again

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Best photos of the week (50 Photos)"

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I'd like to personally apologize to the internet historian who will stumble upon the hundreds of unremarkable photos I've added to the web. It will probably only take your computer a second to scan them for anything that might add to your understanding of 21st century humanity. It's a second better used on something else, anything else. But while you're here, I offer one from the hot and steamy CrabAppleLane Backyard today. There are many colors in the tended gardens near the house but the backyard sticks to green and brown.

CrabAppleLane Backyard Trail - July 5, 2010

66 days until football season ...

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star playlist:

1. Durham Town (The Leavin') - Roger Whittaker - New World In The Morning: The Encore Collection
2. Working Man - Rush - Rush
3. Clocks - Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head
4. Promentory - Trevor Jones - The Last Of The Mohicans Soundtrack
5. Long Hard Road Out Of Hell - Marilyn Manson & The Sneaker Pimps - Spawn Soundtrack

Quote of the Day

I wanna live
I wanna love
But its a long hard road out of hell
Long hard road out of hell

Marilyn Manson & The Sneaker Pimps, Long Hard Road Out Of Hell

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "On a recent trip to the Middle East, which involved flying from Denver to Newark, where I had a four-hour layover before a lo-o-o-o-ong flight to Tel Aviv, I parked my inner cheapskate and used miles (30,000 each way) and money ($500 eastbound, $350 westbound) to upgrade from the caboose section of Economy to Continental's Business/First. The idea of a seat that lies flat on theses flights, both overnighters, held immense appeal."

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Happy Independence Day

Got plans?

We're having jambalaya at CrabAppleLane. It is a Louisiana staple and a favorite here. There are a million recipes and everyone has their own variation. Jambalaya is a poor folks' dish. You brown rice and throw in whatever meat or seafood you have. Traditional jambalaya has sausage, chicken, and shrimp or crawfish. Shrimp is expensive now but it was once cheap in Louisiana before some traitor first shipped some up north and demand started outgrowing supply. Just chicken and sausage today ... and then maybe the siesta.

About today's BOTD: He and I have a different view on the oil drilling moratorium. I'm not opposed to it. I'm not really for it, either. I just don't think it will do much good. It doesn't work as punishment and it doesn't allow enough time to find scientific, practical solutions.

In unrelated BP news, the QOTD is about the Lockerbie terrorist. 270 lives were lost in that act of terrorism. He was given a "compassionate" release from a Scottish prison and allowed to go home to a hero's welcome in Libya because he only had "3 months to live". Turns out he may live 10 years or more.

I offer two from the CrabAppleLane backyard on a spectacular and very hot Independence Day. The fig trees have found some elements in their environment they like because they have taken off. They have tripled in size in the last month or so. Found the whirligig in a corner of the garage I hadn't seen in a few years. Yes, there was quite a bit of clutter in the garage.

CrabAppleLane Fig Trees - July 4, 2010

CrabAppleLane Whirligig - July 4, 2010

Well, it's been money for muscle
On a .. another whirligig
Money for muscle
And a ... another girl I dig
Another hustle
Just to ... just to make it big
And rock away rock away
Oh rock away rock away
Dire Straits, Tunnel Of Love

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star playlist:

1. Walk The Line - Live - Live At The Paradiso
2. Just What I Needed - The Cars - The Cars
3. Going Home - Theme From 'Local Hero' - Dire Straits - Alchemy: Dire Straits Live [Disc 2]
4. Lick Your Fingers Clean - Jethro Tull - Aqualung
5. Mississippi Queen - Mountain - Climbing!

Quote of the Day

According to an earlier Sunday Times report, a former British justice secretary wrote to his counterpart in Scotland that it was "in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom" to make it possible for al-Megrahi to return to Libya.

The letter was written in 2007 during stalled negotiations over a BP oil exploration contract worth billions of dollars.

msnbc.com staff and news service reports

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Part of the rationale for the deepwater drilling moratorium is that we've not identified the cause of the failure. We know that the drilling crew attempted to activate the shear rams of the blowout preventer."

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