Recently in Pictures-Images-Picture Taking Category

Happy Birthday, Mom

Love,
Rob&Patsy

Picked up a few songs at iTunes last night, including one that Marie and Kim recommended from Marc Cohn. Lissie also has a new album of covers out. Was cheap enough. From her, I love Nothing Else Matters but I think I like Pursuit of Happiness, a new song to me, even better.

Tigers keep rolling. They still have two or, possibly, three tough games ahead, though. They need to focus on them, not on who they might face in a potential BCS Championship game.

Tough game in Atlanta today for the Saints. Kickoff. Will have to finish this entry later. Hogshead cheese and a Saints game await.

Today's QOTD from yet another professional journalist.

I offer a little color from the CrabAppleLane backyard. Very little.

CrabAppleLane Backyard - November 13, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Pursuit of Happiness - Lissie - Covered Up With Flowers
2. Walking In Memphis - Marc Cohn - Marc Cohn
3. Early Bird (Bonus Track) - Mark Knopfler - Get Lucky (Bonus Track Version)
4. Boulevard of Broken Dreams (feat. John Gallagher Jr., Rebecca Naomi Jones, Stark Sands & Company) - Green Day - American Idiot (The Original Broadway Cast Recording)
5. Everybody Wants You - Billy Squier - Billy Squier: Absolute Hits

Quote of the Day

When Mike Smith first decided to go for it on fourth-and-inches in overtime, I liked the call. I thought it was gutsy and ambitious. After watching Michael Turner get stuffed, I changed my mind. Smith should have punted and taken his chances with his defense.

Pat Yasinskas, ESPN NFC South Blog

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Prepare yourself for this epic battle of NFC South heavyweights. The team that wins this game will have the early upper hand for the division. As Falcons fans, we do not want to get stuck in this wild card race. This is the first big step toward winning the division, and the Falcons must take care of business as home in divisional games."

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Hard, hard fought game last night in Tuscaloosa. Didn't look like much if you're a fan of pretty football but it looks fine this morning to this Tiger fan.

Saints are up, 17-3, at the half over a tough Tampa team in a pretty chippy game so far. They need to not let up. Update: Saints, 24-9, with 11 minutes remaining.

Think I have everything back to normal here. I think. Everything that was giving me trouble before seems to be working now. We'll see. Your patience is appreciated.

I offer one image of what passes for color changes here at CrabAppleLane. No comparison to what my northern friends get to see.

CrabAppleLane Backyard - November 6, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Tyrant (Live) - Judas Priest - Living After Midnight
2. Armageddon It - Def Leppard - Hysteria
3. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head - B.J. Thomas - AM Gold 1969
4. All Mixed Up - The Cars - The Cars
5. I Know You're Out There Somewhere - The Moody Blues - Moody Blues Greatest Hits

Quote of the Day

LSU still rules. Not because someone said so, but because it came here and took what it wanted.

Scott Rabalais, Baton Rouge Morning Advocate

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "We Need to Talk About Kevin is powerful, visceral cinema. It’s the kind of movie that makes you want to take a nice long, hot shower after coming home."

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The Saints were being embarrassed by the Rams, 24-0, when I started this entry. It was hard to watch. Gonna be a long plane ride home. Leave left tackle, Charles Brown, in St Louis, please. Rams win. It's the second time in Sean Payton's tenure that a winless Rams team has beaten them. Neither game was a fluke. Tip of the cap to the Rams for a solid effort. Drew Brees got a garbage TD at the end to keep his streak going of consecutive games with a TD pass so there's that. No one should be happy about this performance. Must win game next week against Tampa.

Gearing up for LSU-Alabama next Saturday. If you're a college football player, coach, or fan, a game like this is what you live for. No excuses, no quarter. Man up, Tide. The Tigers are coming.

I offer one today from the CrabAppleLane hearth. Patsy bought Crispin a new bed. He approves of the new bed and its placement.

Crispin - October 30, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Stealin' - Uriah Heap - Sweet Freedom
2. A Light In The Black - Rainbow - Rising
3. I Hear Them All - Old Crow Medicine Show - Big Iron World
4. I'm Shipping Up to Boston - Dropkick Murphys - The Warrior's Code
5. Sweet Dreams - Marilyn Manson - Smells Like Children

Quote of the Day

Fighting
Killin'
Wine and women
Gonna put me to my grave
Runnin' hidin'
losin' cryin'
Nothing left to save
But my life

Uriah Heep, Stealin'

Blog of the day is here.

here">Quote from said blog: "With Footballageddon a mere six days away, perhaps it would be instructive to pick where Alabama and LSU left off a year ago in Baton Rouge as a way of gaining some perspective for this upcoming Saturday."

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Game 3 to the Cards, 16-7, or as Zak Schmoll rightly predicted, "There will be a lot of runs scored during this World Series unless strong pitching is able to triumph". A lot of runs. Schmoll is 3 for 3. It was the Albert Pujols Show and baseball fans will be talking about it for years. If you didn't see that first home run he hit, this is it and you don't see many like that. After Game 1, Lance Berkman said he didn't think the Cards wanted to get into a gorilla ball game with the Rangers. The Cards have the biggest, baddest gorilla in baseball. Why not? I see tonight as a must win for the Rangers. If they go down 3-1 and have to face Chris Carpenter in Game 5, it's going to be very tough.

The LSU Tigers dispatched the Auburn Tigers yesterday easily and set up one of the most anticipated games in college football history. This is Nebraska - Oklahoma 1971 or Michigan State - Notre Dame 1966. It is LSU-Alabama. Both teams are 8-0. Both teams have two weeks to prepare. For the fans, the wait will be almost unbearable.

Saints take on the Colts tonight in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIV. The game has no luster without Peyton Manning. It's a shame that Peyton's last chance to play in his hometown will only come if he gets the Colts to the Super Bowl next year. I don't see it. That team is much better when he is quarterbacking them but I don't see them as a Super Bowl contender.

The CrabAppleLane TV will mostly watch the Saints tonight but will also keep an eye on the Cards. This is what a DVR is all about.

About today's QOTD: 26 for 26 is amazing. I don't think many people can go 26 for 26 playing catch in their backyard. Doing it with a pass rush in your face and tacklers being near the receivers is phenomenal. Quite an achievement.

I offer one from the CrabAppleLane backyard.

A little privacy, please?

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Tusk - Fleetwood Mac - Tusk
2. Eagle - ABBA - The Album
3. 2112 - Rush - 2112
4. Caleb Meyer - Gillian Welch - Hell Among The Yearlings
5. Blowin' Free - Wishbone Ash - Live Dates [1973]

Quote of the Day

In one of the more amazing statistical performances you’ll ever see, East Carolina quarterback Dominique Davis completed all 26 of his pass attempts for 251 yards in the first half against Navy.

CollegeFootballTalk

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Pontchartrain Beach"

Pontchartrain Beach was a landmark and institution on the New Orleans lakefront for a long time. Cool pictures of Elvis. -Rob

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More on the banking industry's fee scam scheme schedule from the New York Times:

Customers frustrated by banks’ controversial new fees are finding out what industry insiders have known for years: it is not so easy to disentangle your life from your bank.

It all started when Bank of America announced they'll be charging their customers a $5/month fee for using their debit cards. The notion is they're secure in the knowledge that customers won't leave them because it is too inconvenient to do so. I've got news for those who think that. It's not that hard. I do all of the online stuff with my bank. I bank online, pay bills online, have direct deposit, automatic bill paying, etc. I could change all of that fairly easily. Someone who really knows what they're doing, such as a banker, could do it even easier.

The surest sign yet that ALL banks want to charge these nuisance banking fees is that banks are not offering to make the transition for new customers. Word needs to get out that switching banks is not any harder now than it ever was. Businesses switch banks all the time. As soon as someone offers them greener grass their current bank won't match, they jump. Individual consumers can do the same thing. Word to my bank: I have no reason to switch right now. Don't give me one.

I played neighborhood football in an empty corner lot at 15th and Compromise in Kenner, LA when I was a kid. Easy walking and bike distance from where we all lived. Passed it yesterday. The lot is still empty now some 40+ years later. Someone still cuts the grass, though. Wonder if kids still play football on it, too. I hope so.

Saints have a date with the Bucs this afternoon. I'd like to know why this game had to be scheduled with the late games. Games between Central and Eastern Time Zone teams don't ever need to be late games unless there may be some national interest. I just don't see it here. If the Saints take care of the ball, they'll take care of the Bucs. Halftime Update: They've already turned the ball over three times. This is how they always lose.

LSU and Alabama have one more game next week to get through. Then, they'll each have a bye week. That means they'll both have two weeks to prepare for each other. WOW. The schedule-maker couldn't have done any better. It will easily be the most anticipated college football game of the season.

About today's QOTD: Who didn't see that coming? The first edition of Charlie's Angels was pretty bad in a campy sort of way. At least, it had the camp. The second edition was just pretty bad.

I offer two from CrabAppleLane this afternoon. Bird feeders don't come with squirrels but they might as well. My back deck is still in lazy hurricane mode.

CrabAppleLane Backyard - October 16, 2011

CrabAppleLane Back Deck - October 16, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. She Was Waitin' For Her Mother At The Station In Torino And You Know I Love You Baby But It's Getting Too Heavy To Laugh - Shawn Phillips - Second Contribution
2. Tell Me There's A Heaven - Chris Rea - The Road To Hell
3. Time Was - Wishbone Ash - Argus
4. Like The Weather - 10,000 Maniacs - MTV Unplugged
5. Ride The Tiger - Jefferson Starship - At Their Best

Quote of the Day

Sorry, angels. You've been axed.

Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "And did I mention that the Angels are able to find the bad guy's whereabouts because HE TWEETS?"

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Tough win today for the Saints over a determined Panthers team. Carolina is going to be pretty nasty down the stretch. They're young and have a lot going for them. They just haven't quite learned how to finish. Cam Newton is a terrific young quarterback. Carolina fans should be excited about him. Saints have a lot of work to do. They're winning but they can definitely play better.

My thoughts on Al Davis passing.

I offer one on this typical fall CrabAppleLane Sunday. It is a partial view from my back deck, where I'll probably be grilling in a few minutes while watching the wildlife and the sunset. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

CrabAppleLane Backyard - October 9, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. The Fox - Nickel Creek - Nickel Creek
2. Candidate (Bonus Track) - David Bowie - Diamond Dogs
3. Electric Eye - Judas Priest - Living After Midnight
4. It's Too Late - Johnny Rivers - Johnny Rivers - Anthology 1964-1977
5. O' Come All Ye Faithful - Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Lost Christmas Eve

Quote of the Day

Davis' moves opened the gates for what was termed "franchise free agency." The owners were helpless to block the Baltimore Colts from moving to Indianapolis; the Houston Oilers from moving to Nashville, Tenn., and the Cleveland Browns from moving to Baltimore.

Gordon Forbes, USA TODAY

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Well once again the Carolina Panthers got close but couldn’t close the door against the New Orleans Saints as the Panthers lost 30-27. With the loss the Panthers move to 1-4 on the season. The game as a whole wasn’t bad and honestly the Panthers should have probably won this game. They had opportunities but just couldn’t ever put the Saints away."

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Happy Birthday, Crispin. 15 and still going strong.

Crispin - 15 years old - October 2, 2011

The sun seems to find him wherever he lies in our house. Patsy gave him an oyster treat for his birthday but I'm guessing he's going to want some of my grilled chicken, too.

It's Hyde Week here at CrabAppleLane. Some memorable fantasy football games played between us over the years. By far, the most memorable.

Ran across the video below yesterday on FaceBook. Love everything about it.

Entries here from September 7 through September 16 and all of their comments are being restored slowly but surely. 14 entries total. Invest in ibuprofen.

I'm expecting a tough, physical game in Jacksonville today.

About today's QOTD: It's not just the quarterbacks who are complaining. The fans and head coaches also complain when their quarterbacks don't get the calls. Drew Brees got speared on the ground last week. No call. I don't give a rat's ass how all of these officiating crews call a game as long as they're consistent. They're anything but.

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. We Owned the Night - Lady Antebellum - Own the Night
2. This Ol' Cowboy - The Marshall Tucker Band - Greatest Hits
3. Knight In Rusty Armour - Peter & Gordon - The British Invasion: The History Of British Rock, Vol. 8
4. Alabama High-Test - O.C.M.S. - Tennessee Pusher
5. Somewhere In America - Survivor - Greatest Hits

Quote of the Day

I mean Tom Brady begging, Michael Vick begging. I mean, you guys have it easier than quarterbacks at any time in the history of the NFL. You get paid more. Just be quiet and play hard.

Mike Mayock

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "WR
Start: Santonio Holmes, Percy Harvin, Lance Moore, Denarius Moore, Sidney Rice
Sit: Nate Washington, Anquan Boldin"

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3:55PM: Today's Saints-Texans game was a blast. I'm glad the Saints don't mind being behind because they surely find themselves there a lot. Enough of that, please.

Congrats to the Buffalo Bills on their big win over New England.

Thoughts on a five year anniversary.

Entries here from August 13 through September 16 and all of their comments are being restored slowly but surely. Invest in ibuprofen.

One thing about the QOTD:

One non-original image offered on this gorgeous CrabAppleLane Sunday.

Reflections - September 25, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Beethoven: Missa Solemnis In D, Op. 123 - Kyrie Anne Murray, Bryn Terfel, Etc.; - Georg Solti: London Symphony Orchestra, London Voices - Immortal Beloved
2. My Sweet Annette - Drive-By Truckers - Decoration Day
3. Sorrow - Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse Of Reason
4. Me & Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin - Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits
5. Why Aye Man - Mark Knopfler - The Ragpicker's Dream

Quote of the Day

Another decisive victory away from home pushed LSU to No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll for the first time since 2007.

Associated Press

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "I’ll be blogging updates throughout the Texans’ Week 3 game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome. Posts will appear in chronological order; scroll to the bottom for the most recent entries."

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CrabAppleLane Hummingbirds - September 13, 2011

They come for the fine cuisine and low, low prices but they stay for the company and the warm atmosphere.

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. The Funeral - Band of Horses - Everything All the Time
2. Put Your Lights On - Santana Feat. Everlast - Supernatural
3. So Many Things to Say - Wishbone Ash - Wishbone Four
4. Magic Bus - The Who - Live At Leeds
5. Old Man - Neil Young - Harvest

Quote of the Day

I've been first and last
Look at how the time goes past
But I'm all alone at last
Rolling home to you

Neil Young, Old Man

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "This is a female Anna Hummingbird. I was on my walk and there she was...very busy."

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It's 9/11. Please say a prayer, observe a moment of silence, ring a bell, or something else to honor the memory of those lost today 10 years ago. No Saints game today so the day, to me, is mostly about fantasy football and remembrance. More here if you like.

After I refilled the primary CrabAppleLane hummingbird feeder and hung it back out, I was buzzed by 12-15 hummingbirds. They are really swarming right now. They're about to head south. I held out my hand near the feeder and several came by and fanned me. Decided to see if I could capture that image. Thanks, hummingbirds. Today, I needed that kind of joy.

CrabAppleLane Hummingbirds - September 11, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. The Galician Waltz, Breton Dances - Maggie Sansone - Music In The Great Hall - Instrumental Music From The Ancient Celtic Lands
2. Sweet Lorraine - Uriah Heep - The Best Of Uriah Heep
3. O Can Ye Sew Cushions? - Joemy Wilson - Dulcimer Lullabies
4. Back In The Saddle - Aerosmith - Rocks
5. In The Light - Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti

Quote of the Day

Ten years ago, it was just another morning — a Tuesday, a day when ordinary people did the most ordinary of things: Scrambling to work, hurriedly kissing their families goodbye, running for the train. And then there was the dark gash and the ball of fire high up in one of the buildings, and a few minutes later, a second gash, a second ball of fire and a plume of smoke visible for miles.

James Barron, The New York Times

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "It is far above our poor power to say anything that can encompass the events of that day. But in bringing together bloggers from New York, we thought it fitting to provide a place for us to share our writing from that time. This page is linked to the subway stations now closed after the destruction of the World Trade Center."

I started noticing blogs on the internet after 9/11. -Rob

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This Labor Day weekend may go down as the dreariest of all time. It has not stopped raining here for more than a few minutes since Friday. The ground is thoroughly soaked. Please just do something, Lee. Move through or just go off and die. Just sitting out there is annoying.

About today's QOTD. I have a brother, David, but he does not work for the Press-Register. That David is no relation as far as I know. :)

4 days until football season ...

I offer two from the yard today. The hummingbird feeder is well-protected from interlopers. Last Sunday, he was guarding from the watchtower. This week, he's on the battlefield. The Big Leaf Magnolia is now a No Leaf Magnolia. Lee knocked off the one remaining leaf. Hope that's not the end of it but I think it may be.

CrabAppleLane Hummingbird - September 4, 2011

CrabAppleLane Big Leaf Magnolia - September 4, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Vas Dis - Wishbone Ash - Time Was- The Wishbone Ash Collection
2. Sail Along Silvery Moon - Billy Vaughn - 40 Instrumental Hits (The Big Hits of The 50's Era)
3. It's A Man's Woman's World (Pt. 1) - Irma Thomas - Sweet Soul Queen Of New Orleans: Irma Thomas Collection
4. Baby, Now That I've Found You - Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live
5. Twilight - The Band - The Best Of The Band

Quote of the Day

The National Weather Service predicted Lee could dump more than a foot of rain in some areas of the northern Gulf Coast.

David Ferrara, Alabama Press-Register

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "At 8:30 a.m. CDT, the center of Tropical Storm Lee was located just South/Southeast of the New Iberia airport in southcentral Louisiana."

Pretty much where it was yesterday at this time. -Rob

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New DirecTV receiver installed. Sometimes, it goes smoothly. Then, there was today. Sometimes, tech support gives you some insight. Then, there was today. Sometimes, I truly need their help. Then, there was today. I knew this was something simple. Their troubleshooting protocols couldn't find it. I found it but I'm not entirely sure what I did because I did so many things. Normally, that would concern me. Then, there was today. I'm declaring victory.

Glad my friends in Joisey and Philly are OK today. Irene did considerable damage. If you're in that area and you want to start cleaning up, be very careful. If you hurt yourself with a chainsaw, some other power tool, or just manage to cut yourself on something, you may not have a clear path to an emergency room because trees are down in the roadway. Even if you can reach an emergency room, it may be without power, understaffed, and overwhelmed. I recommend you get the immediate debris out of your way and leave the rest of the job for another day or two until things settle down and return to normal. This procrastination advice is no charge to CrabAppleLane readers. Be safe.

The CrabAppleLane Fantasy Football team for 2011. Also my thoughts on tonight's nationally-televised Saints-Raiders game.

I offer one today from the CrabAppleLane Hummingbird flock.

CrabAppleLane Hummingbird - Guarding his feeder from all comers - August 28, 2011

11 days until football season ...

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground - The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
2. Head Like A Hole - Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine
3. Spawn - Silverchair & Vitro - Spawn
4. American Woman - The Guess Who - AM Gold 1970-1974
5. Killer - Alice Cooper - Killer

Quote of the Day

If you can hear a piano fall
You can hear me coming down the hall
If I can just hear your pretty voice
I don't think I need to see at all
I don't think I need to see at all

The White Stripes, Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Saw them at ID Fest on Jones Beach this last weekend, and this song was bonkers."

"Bonkers" is probably not a bad description but I don't mean it the way he does. -Rob

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From the Communication-Is-A-Wonderful-Thing Department: The Saints-Texans game was broadcast on the NFL Network last night. If you don't get the NFL Network, you missed some first half offense but that's about it. I get the NFL Network on DirecTV. The game was also broadcast on the local Fox affiliate in New Orleans. When someone in the New Orleans viewing area tuned to the NFL Network, though, they got a DirecTV message saying they were not subscribed to this channel, which is a whole different thing than "this broadcast is not available in your area". That "not subscribed" message undoubtedly prompted a ton of unnecessary "Hey, I DO subscribe" phone calls. Why didn't anyone at that multi-billion dollar corporation see that coming?

Got the yard done yesterday but it cost me a lawnmower. It was on its last legs anyway but I wasn't expecting it to throw a rod. Clear through the case. Will be spending less on the next one. My yard just has too many lawnmower booby traps. Big rocks and stumps hidden by tall grass and tree roots, lots of tree roots, are the main culprits. I've gone through three lawnmowers in the last 20 years or so. I really shouldn't complain. It's just that they weren't cheap lawn mowers. A Snapper and two John Deeres.

I offer three from the CrabAppleLane yard on this hot and sunny Sunday. 1) The Big Leaf Magnolia is still alive but is struggling with the Bush summer. I keep a black mesh over it. No more leaves have been burned but growth has also slowed. 2) The hummingbirds have started coming to this feeder because wasps are hovering around the one they prefer. I can't find the wasps' nests. 3) As I was watching the wasps hovering around the other feeder through my camera lens, a terrible racket occurred right in my ear. Startled me (Actually, it scared the hell out of me). A Twelve-spotted Skimmer dragonfly hit the ground with a thud. It was struggling for a moment and then it stopped. I thought a wasp had attacked it. As I approached it, it flew away with something on its back. I was shooting pictures by the CrabAppleLane backyard pond when I heard the same loud racket. It wasn't as close this time but they landed and I got a shot of it. What you see there is Eastern Pondhawks in the "wheel position", which only goes to show what I know. I thought it was dragonfly porn.

CrabAppleLane Big Leaf Magnolia - August 21, 2011

CrabAppleLane Hummingbird - August 21, 2011

CrabAppleLane Dragonflies - August 21, 2011

18 days until football season ...

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane "Recently Added" playlist:

1. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day - Nimrod
2. Steady As She Goes - The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers
3. Bring On the Wonder (feat. Sarah McLachlan) - Susan Enan - Bones (Original Television Soundtrack)
4. Music Box - Phillip Glass - Candyman
5. Broken Boy Soldier - The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers

Quote of the Day

Psychologists have often remarked that reality shows tend to attract people who thirst for fame or are otherwise damaged in some way.

Sharon Waxman and Tim Molloy, TheWrap.com

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Eventually a cartwheeling pair of darners pitched down onto a rotting stump. He was off smartish but she stayed to lay eggs and pose, the first Variable Darner I’ve managed to photograph."

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This needs to be stopped. From the article:

Police Chief Jim McDonnell has confirmed that detaining photographers for taking pictures "with no apparent esthetic value" is within Long Beach Police Department policy.

Most of my own pictures probably have "no apparent esthetic value". I can be detained for that in Long Beach? If so, the BOTD is in a lot of trouble. Having to explain yourself, your motives, and your activities to an authority is right out of the fascist playbook. I'm sure there are some in Long Beach who believe the old, false adage that "you have nothing to fear if you're doing nothing wrong" but I'm also certain that I'm not the only person who gets uneasy talking to authorities on their terms. Those situations can go sideways pretty quickly if one or both of you is having a bad day or misinterprets a question or an answer. Imagine that happening to you when you really had no reason to be detained in the first place. No, a higher authority needs to step in and tell Long Beach to stop this. What they're doing is un-American.

About today's QOTD: The word "reasonable" just doesn't work for me. "Crying and hysterical" seem perfectly reasonable to me under the circumstances. "Settled" seems unreasonable.

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Stone Cold Fever - Humble Pie - A&M Records Classics Vol. 14
2. Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie - Jay & The Techniques - AM Gold: The '60s Generation
3. Handy - Wishbone Ash - Time Was- The Wishbone Ash Collection
4. Can't Stand Losing You - The Police - The Police Greatest Hits
5. Stockton Gala Days - 10,000 Maniacs - MTV Unplugged

Quote of the Day

The young woman was initially "crying and hysterical, but after a time, she became more reasonable and settled and gave the police the note," the court documents said.

Pete Williams, NBC News justice correspondent

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Circle Area Neighborhood
Long Beach California
Shops, Businesses, Homes, Condos and Income Properties"

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Seems we're headed into a new era of the sanctity of free speech versus the sanctity of public safety. Most of us acknowledge that free speech doesn't allow us to yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater. Are some of the events being planned via wireless devices and social media websites the equivalent of that? The answer surely depends partly on where you stand when the event occurs. If you're in on the planning, you might have a different view of the person who just happens to be near where your event is to take place. If you're the police on the scene and you have no idea what the purpose of the event is, you may have an entirely different view. And if you're writing from the relative safety of your desk, like I am, you may have another view. No purity to be found here, folks. It's a tough, tough call. A few years ago, a flash mob decided to hold hands at a specific time at a train station in Europe. It was a large group of people. If I miss my train because I had to go around that huge mob, I'd have been pretty upset about it. It's one thing to have your say in the public square, it's something else altogether when you take it over and deny it to others.

I offer two from the CrabAppleLane Backyard. The birds like the new feeder but they're very cautious during the day because of its exposure. They eat all of the seed Patsy puts on it, though. Cautious, at first, and then, all in.

CrabAppleLane Cardinal - August 14, 2011

CrabAppleLane Cardinal - August 14, 2011

25 days until football season ...

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Lights Out - UFO - Lights Out
2. Sons Of Scotland - A Shot At Glory Soundtrack - Mark Knopfler
3. Rockin' In The Free World - Neil Young - Freedom
4. Copland: Billy The Kid - Rodeo - Aaron Copland: London Symphony Orchestra - Copland: Greatest Hits
5. God Put A Smile Upon Your Face - Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head

Quote of the Day

The prosecutor also confirmed Norwegian media reports that police received several phone calls from Breivik himself during the terror attack, but wouldn't say how police had reacted to the calls.

Associated Press via MSNBC

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Despite a few generic moments, Lights Out is probably the best studio document of what elevated UFO above the '70s hard rock fray."

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Just a few items on this beautiful, but hot, CrabAppleLane Sunday.

Happy Belated 100th Birthday, Lucy.

My office soft drink machine is out of quarters and gives all nickels and dimes for change. Got a 1936 "Indian Head" nickel the other day. If there's a politically correct way to describe it, consider it described. These were still in circulation when I was a kid as were wooden nickels but both were somewhat rare. Even more rare today. Doubt it's worth much more than a nickel but I'm keeping it.

We've been looking at furniture lately. We're just browsing now but might pull the trigger if something we see is too good to pass up. One of the stores, where we saw stuff we like, has their own credit card and special financing deals on certain selections. I started to apply for it today and was cruising along until I hit the line below.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for Purchases and Balance Transfers 29.99%

Even though everything I was interested in was 0% interest for X number of months, I could never agree to any terms at 30% interest. By the way, that X number of months thing is a trap. If you make the last payment on the day it's due, you'll be over the X number of months and they charge you interest for all X number of months. Pretty severe if X is 24 or 48, like it was on some of the furniture we liked. It's still a good way to get things but you have to be aware of the trap and pay it off a month or two early.

I don't think anyone can ever improve on the original Rolling Stones studio recording of Gimme Shelter but this live version from Grand Funk Railroad's Caught in the Act Album is the best live version I've ever heard. Better than any Stones live version I've heard. Not a big fan of the Stones live. I have Caught in the Act on vinyl and CD. GFR was one of the great live bands of the 70s. Their two live albums are better than any of their studio albums. The QOTD is from The Railroad, one of my faves off of that album.

School starts tomorrow here. Shortest summer ever.

32 days until football season ...

I offer two from the CrabAppleLane yard. The Big Leaf Magnolia suffered its first really hot Bush summer day about a week ago. Burned the leaves a bit. I've since covered it with a black mesh. Seems to be keeping it alive. The backyard is green all over thanks to relentless rain followed by relentless sunshine.

CrabAppleLane Big Leaf Magnolia - August 7, 2011

CrabAppleLane Backyard - August 7, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. The Railroad - Grand Funk Railroad - Caught In The Act
2. Loco-Motion - Little Eva - The Ultimate Rock & Roll Collection: The 60's
3. Somebody To Roll - Nazareth - Play 'N' The Game
4. Reptile - Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
5. How Many More Times - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I

Quote of the Day

Dirt and sweat
Running down my back
Work all day long
Up and down the railroad tracks
I'm a God fearing man
And with many I stand
And with God we've been working
All hand in hand

Grand Funk Railroad, The Railroad

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "I really haven’t formed my final opinion on the whole coal port topic. I’m somewhat of an environmentalist when it comes to burning coal but I also see that it can be burned in a friendly manner."

Spectacular photography. -Rob

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I offer three from around the CrabAppleLane yard on this hot and steamy CrabAppleLane Sunday. The CrabAppleLane Spring Vegetable Garden is done. It was actually done a few weeks ago but this week was my first opportunity to remove it. Haven't decided if there will be a CrabAppleLane Fall Vegetable Garden yet. The Big Leaf Magnolia got its first taste of the all day Bush summer sun yesterday. There are some burned spots on the leaves but I think those were caused by the hot bricks they were laying on when they wilted. Moved the bricks out a little further and put some grass clipping mulch around it for now. Wish I had thought about that a little more before it happened. There is not a single fig on either of those trees but they are spectacularly healthy. No idea when figs appear on new fig trees. Or old fig trees for that matter. :)

CrabAppleLane Spring Vegetable Garden - July 31, 2011

CrabAppleLane Big Leaf Magnolia - July 31, 2011

CrabAppleLane Fig Trees - July 31, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. The Ripper - Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny
2. Because The Night - 10,000 Maniacs - MTV Unplugged
3. Alegria - Cirque du Soleil - Alegria
4. Let's Live For Today - The Grass Roots - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Grass Roots
5. Paper In Fire - John Mellencamp - The Lonesome Jubilee

Quote of the Day

There's a good life right across this green field
And each generation stares at it from afar

John Mellencamp, Paper In Fire

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "You know the old story about how someone invented a light bulb that would work forever and never need replacing? Good for people, yes indeed, not so good for light bulb companies – people would only need to fit out their house with light bulbs once, then no more sales. So the companies got together and put a stop to it. True? I don’t know, but there have been a lot of stories of a similar kind over the years, and they do reflect reality."

Since the weather wasn't cooperating with my intention of doing lawn work, we went to see the last Harry Potter yesterday ... in 3D. About the 3D: There are enough 3D lollies in the film to make it worth your while and a few extra bucks to see it that way. Someone who remembers the book better than I do could probably point out where the film strayed but I think they maintained the story well enough. I liked it but Harry Potter doesn't quite hold the same magic he had a few years ago. Of course, we had to see it because we read all of the books and had seen all of the movies but this cultural phenomenon was running out of steam. It had a great run, though.

I thought the first book was better than its film. Films 2, 4, 5, and 6 were better than their book. Film 3 and Book 3 were equal. Book 7 was better than these last two films.

For the third weekend in a row, yardwork has been rained out. We were dying for rain just a few weeks ago. If it would stop raining now for the rest of the day, I could probably do something in a couple of hours but I doubt I'll be able to finish. On that note, I offer a few from around the yard today. 1) The garden would have been pulled up today. I'd sink up to my knees in the garden soil if I tried now. 2) Those two crepe myrtles have never bloomed at the same time like this. Never mind the embarrassing clumps of tall Bahia grass you can see. Anyone have a horse they want to feed? 3) The stairway has been exposed to the rain and the relentless southern exposure for 16 years. It needs to be replaced. It's a project I'm going to try but I'll let someone else do it if I'm not happy with my results. I need the weather to cooperate, though. 4) The tallow tree roots have sent up a jillion sprouts, some of them a good 75 feet away. 5) After ten days, one green leaf turned brown but there is growth on the stem. It's still early but it's looking like this is going to be a painfully slow-growing tree.

CrabAppleLane Garden - July 24, 2011

CrabAppleLane Front Yard - July 24, 2011

CrabAppleLane Front Stairway - July 24, 2011

CrabAppleLane Front Yard - July 24, 2011

CrabAppleLane Big Leaf Magnolia - July 24, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Allman Brothers playlist:

1. Trouble No More - The Allman Brothers Band - The Allman Brothers Band
2. Les Brers In A Minor - The Allman Brothers Band - Eat A Peach
3. Ramblin' Man - The Allman Brothers Band - Brothers And Sisters
4. Little Martha - The Allman Brothers Band - Eat A Peach
5. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed - The Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East

Quote of the Day

And his name is Voldemort, so you might as well use it, he's going to try to kill you either way.

Professor McGonagall, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "The Harry Potter books are done. Should J.K. Rowling write some new books that also involve the world of Harry Potter? Or, in the words of the Beatles, should she Let It Be?"

Let it be. It's over. -Rob

First things first. Game is about to start here.

Update: It's halftime now and it's a scoreless tie or should I say the score is nil-nil? The US team needs to hit one or two of those shots on goal. The second half just started and the US team missed another opportunity.

Update:

Update to the update: Japan just tied the game. Out until it's over.

Quite anxious to see where Marie's story goes from here. Love the way she writes.

Finished the team-by-team fantasy football review for 2011. Started on players today.

Some story about August Busch IV and the Anheuser-Busch Corporation. I always thought the Busch family was St Louis royalty but, apparently, there is much more to it. WOW.

I picked a watermelon today. It's a Sugar Baby variety and was a bit overripe. As soon as I cut into it, it started breaking up. It's in the refrigerator now ... jes chilling. :)

CrabAppleLane Watermelon - July 17, 2011

CrabAppleLane Watermelon - July 17, 2011

Patsy took the one below a couple of weeks ago at my request. This is a sign at St John's Coffee House in Covington.

St John's Coffee House - Covington, LA

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Led Zeppelin playlist:

1. Ten Years Gone - Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
2. In The Evening - Led Zeppelin - In Through The Out Door
3. Hots On For Nowhere - Led Zeppelin - Presence
4. Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III
5. Communication Breakdown - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I

Quote of the Day

Team Destiny, meet Team Destiny.

Ravi Ubha, ESPN.com

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Your Friday afternoon dose of cute has arrived..."

CrabAppleLane Big Leaf Magnolia - July 14, 2011

Freshly planted and considerably overpaid.

Picked my first homegrown watermelon ever yesterday. In fact, it was this very one. I had no idea what to expect once it was cut into but I suspected it was ready. It was very, very heavy for such a small watermelon. It was most definitely done. I would have liked it a little sweeter but it was very good and I'm pleased with it. I have three more on the vines.

Just ordered a tree online. It's a big leaf magnolia. They're difficult to find in the stores around here so I thought I'd give this a shot. I've been wanting to replace a Bradford Pear tree we lost to Katrina but I wanted to also put it in the exact same spot so I waited while the roots decayed. The site is ready to go now. I've had some success with mail order trees. I ordered some hybrid poplar trees about 25 years ago when we lived in Metairie. Every time I pass our old house, I marvel at how well they're still doing. I also marvel at how ugly they are now but that's another story. :) I tried a big leaf magnolia a few years ago that my sister gave me but it didn't survive. I think that's because I chose too shady a spot. I've since seen a few healthy ones around here in full sun. That's where this one will be going. I'm taking a bit of a chance that it will arrive here viable. There is no guarantee.

I offer one from the CrabAppleLane backyard and one from the CrabAppleLane vegetable garden. The grape tomatoes are still going to town. They're ripening faster than we can eat them. I built a bird feeder with some scrap wood I had in the garage. It doesn't look like much but I find the patrons around here prefer function to form. The pole was already there. The satellite dish used to be on it. The raccoon thinks greasing that mounting pole is dirty pool.

CrabAppleLane Grape Tomatoes - July 10, 2011

CrabAppleLane Homemade Bird Feeder - July 10, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Raised On Robbery - Joni Mitchell - Court And Spark
2. Why Aye Man - Mark Knopfler - Live From The Ryman
3. Never Before - Deep Purple - Machine Head (Roger Glover Remixes)
4. X-Girlfriend - Bush - Sixteen Stone
5. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III

Quote of the Day

Quite simply, we lost our way

New of the World Final Editorial

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Our Magnolia macrophylla is in full flower, with its large citrus-scented flowers striking in the evening light."

I'd like to give kudos to Target for using Pictures of Matchstick Men in their ad. Great choice. It is one of my faves since I was a kid. I had it on 45 at one time. I'm sure some of the readers here don't even know what that means.

The hot summer is here. The hydrangeas have given way to the Texas Star Hibiscus and Crepe Myrtles. The red ones below are the Texas Star and the purple ones are Crepe Myrtles.

CrabAppleLane Sunday - July 3, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Lonely You - Badfinger - The Very Best Of Badfinger
2. Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Bonnie Tyler - Love Bites: More Romantic Power Ballads
3. Pictures Of Matchstick Men - Status Quo - STATUS QUO The Collection
4. The God That Failed - Metallica - Black Album
5. The Gypsy - Deep Purple - Stormbringer

Quote of the Day

Pictures of matchstick men and you
Mirages of matchstick men and you
All I ever see is them and you

Status Quo, Pictures of Matchstick Men and You

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Cherry jam and pound cake ... Makes for a good breakfast."

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The blogs here have been offline since early Friday morning. My host, Network Solutions, was the victim of a series of DDOS attacks a few days ago and they've been scrambling ever since to put out all the fires. Apparently, the hacker community is pissed off at them or one of their clients. As a result, my host is doing extra maintenance and who knows what else but it’s damned inconvenient to me and thousands of other users. These guys fancy themselves as rebels but they're really not. They're just vandals and what they're doing is not just harmless fun.

Today was time to give tomato sauce another go. Last week, I used a cast iron pot. This week, I used a ceramic-coated one. Patsy and I both think the cast iron pot imparted unwanted flavors into the sauce. I also adjusted the recipe. I cut down on the tomatoes because this week's batch of tomatoes were quite a bit bigger than the ones I used last week. I upped the celery, carrots, garlic, bell pepper, and basil. I also removed all of the sauce from the pot as soon as I was finished. This batch is definitely better. We'll find out how much better tomorrow night or Tuesday night.

26 red tomatoes
1/4 cup olive oil
1 Medium onion
4 stalks of celery
4 small carrots
12 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon salt
Some black pepper
10 leaves basil
1 bell pepper (I used another orange one from my garden)

CrabAppleLane Tomato Sauce - June 26, 2011

About the quote from today's BOTD: I always thought a botnet was something a cyber-criminal had to create. Apparently, you can rent one from other cyber-criminals. I wonder what they charge.

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star Playlist:

1. Warrior - Wishbone Ash - Argus
2. The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo) - Manfred Mann - Rock 'n Roll Relix 1968_1969
3. The Way - Fastball - All the Pain Money Can Buy
4. Prairie Wedding - Mark Knopfler - Sailing To Philadelphia
5. Doctor Doctor - UFO - Phenomenon

A suicide bomber in a wheelchair blew himself up at the entrance to a police station north of the capital Baghdad on Sunday, killing three people and wounding 18, officials said.

Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Last week, a DDoS extortionist got arrested for renting a botnet and attempting to blackmail German betting sites during the World Cup."

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Happy Father's Day

Dad

CrabAppleLane Tomato Sauce - June 19, 2011 - Father's Day

I used about 30 of my reddest tomatoes for today's sauce. Seemed appropriate to cook this today. My sauce uses fresh tomatoes but I doubt it will be as good as my Dad's or my wife's and they don't use fresh tomatoes. Dad was a great cook. So is Patsy. It's now about an hour since that photo was taken. The wonderful aroma is filling the kitchen and spilling out into the rest of the house. I may have gotten it right this time.

Whatever happened to those little three-pack boxes of garlic? All I could find was the two-pound sacks and individual jumbo garlics, which I'm not wild about.

Speaking of cooks, Mr B appears to be a pretty good one. I had a New York Strip last night at one of our favorite restaurants. It wasn't bad but as far as my favorite cuts of steak, it ranks about last. Give me a filet, porterhouse, T-bone, or rib-eye, please, before you give me that lethal injection.

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Roll Tide (Includes Hymn 'Eternal Father Strong To Save') - Hans Zimmer - Crimson Tide
2. Father And Son - Mark Knopfler - Cal
3. Dance With My Father - Luther Vandross - Love, Luther
4. My Father's Eyes - Eric Clapton - Pilgrim
5. Father And Son - Cat Stevens - Tea For The Tillerman

Quote of the Day

I will take care of my niece and nephew. I will feed them and take them to day care. I will give them a stable home. I know them. And I love them like no one else can.

Adrian McLemore

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "It’s Father’s Day!"

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CrabAppleLane Dinner - June 16, 2011

I don't know if I could be as forgiving as Col. Jack Jacobs. Meeting someone who fought for the other side is one thing. Meeting the person directly responsible for an ambush on your units is something else. If you've forgotten how divisive the Viet Nam war was/is or if you're too young to know, read a handful of the comments.

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. New York Mining Disaster 1941 (Have You Seen My Wife, Mr. Jones) - Bee Gees - The British Invasion: The History Of British Rock, Vol. 8
2. Make It Last - Montrose - Montrose
3. It's Only Love - B.J. Thomas - All The Hits
4. Liar - Three Dog Night - The Best Of Three Dog Night
5. The Friendship Theme - Bette Midler - Beaches

Quote of the Day

I keep straining my ears to hear a sound
Maybe someone is digging underground
Or have they given up and all gone home to bed
Thinking those who once existed must be dead

Bee Gees, New York Mining Disaster (Have You Seen My Wife, Mr. Jones)

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "I used to make fun of the Bee Gees when I was in middle school and high school. They had high girlie voices. It was cool to make fun of them because of their feminine falsetto voices, but secretly I liked their music."

I've always liked them but never had purchased any of their music when they were in vogue. I prefer earlier Bee Gees to the later disco Bee Gees. Not a total guilty pleasure like ABBA but maybe a little one. :) -Rob

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We're enjoying a free "Premium Movie Channel" weekend on DirecTV. Good thing I don't pay for these channels normally because my trees really block their transponders. Everything I've watched so far has a few moments of digitizing or fails because of a lost signal. If you have DirecTV or the Dish Network, you know what I'm talking about. I recorded Takers Friday because I wanted to see it when it originally came out. Unfortunately, it had a really short theater run and I just never got around to it. Takers is another in an increasingly long line of Tarentino-influenced caper movies. The strength of these kinds of movies are the cast and the dialogue. The plots are fairly predictable. Check reason and sense at the door and take the ride. Takers gives you a nice one.

I offer a few from around the yard on this beautiful CrabAppleLane Sunday. I had just finished the yard and gone inside when the rain came. I love it when that happens and it seems to happen a lot for me. We're having salads for lunch today. Patsy makes great salads. My bell peppers are turning orange. I have seen that kind at the market but have never bought them. I guess we'll see if they're any good. I've got a few watermelons in the garden and one of them has bite/scratch marks. Thinking the same enterprising raccoon that destroyed my corn crop is responsible. I removed a whole lot of Chinese privet in the back yard. Will remove quite a bit more next weekend. I'm thinking fruit trees in the cleared area but I don't want anything I'll have to protect from the cold.

About today's QOTD: I buy that. It explains a lot in my life. Please, let it be that.

CrabAppleLane Lunch - June 11, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star Playlist:

1. Deceiver - Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny
2. Welcome to the Machine - Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
3. One Way Out - The Allman Brothers Band - Eat A Peach
4. White Wedding - Billy Idol - Billy Idol
5. All Mixed Up - The Cars - The Cars

Quote of the Day

A recent Australian study showed a link between heavy coffee consumption, stress -- and auditory hallucinations.

Melissa Dahl, MSNBC

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "This weekend is the Ithaca Festival, which marks the beginning of summer in our lively college town. The students are gone, causing the locals to rejoice at the amount of on street parking and reclaim the best swimming holes!"

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It's both frightening and magnificent.

21 of the most spectacular images I think I've ever seen.

Delight all around as I watching the Cubs and Cards play yesterday. Good to see two former LSU Tiger National Champions again in the Cards' Ryan Theriot and the Cubs' DJ Lemahieu. Ryan scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th against Stanford in the 2000 College World Series and DJ hit a two out, two run double in the bottom of the ninth to send Game One into extra innings against Texas in the 2009 College World Series. The Tigers won that game in the 12th and won the CWS. DJ was in the middle of just about everything in that series. Besides the LSU stuff, it was a great game won by the Cards with a walk-off homer by Albert Pujols in the 12th inning.

From yesterday's inbox:

This year we're going to experience four unusual dates. 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11 and that's not all. Take the last two digits of the year in which you were born - now add the age you will be this year. The results will be 111 for everyone in the whole world. (Snopes explains it as basic math, which I assumed to be the case - but it's still neat.)

About today's QOTD: I've been listening to The White Stripes a lot lately. I knew of Jack White mainly through the trailers for It Might Get Loud. I never bothered to check at the time why he was chosen as the third generation guitarist. I downloaded a few of their songs last weekend. I know now why he was chosen. He is an enormous talent. The White Stripes are no more and that kinda sucks for someone who is way behind the music scene and just discovered them. I love that old New York Times review. If you ask me, "rude and unhinged" is high praise for any rock band.

I offer a few for a lazy, hot CrabAppleLane Sunday afternoon. It should be noted that Patsy will adulterate her share of the lunch fixins with bologna or liver cheese, oatnut bread, and mustard while I will glorify my share with rotisserie turkey, swiss cheese, and toasted french bread. Two more below the jump.

CrabAppleLane Early Tomatoes - June 5, 2011

CrabAppleLane Lunch Fixins' - June 5, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Offend In Every Way - The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
2. Treat Her Right - George Thorogood & The Destroyers - The Baddest Of George Thorogood & The Destroyers
3. I Ain't Superstitious - Jeff Beck - Rock: The Train Kept A Rollin'
4. Limelight - Rush - Moving Pictures
5. The Fuse - Bruce Springsteen - The Rising

Quote of the Day

They still sound as rude and as unhinged as ever, especially compared with the emo and alternative bands with whom they share the modern-rock radio airwaves.

Kelefa Sanneh, New York Times

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Based on personal experience (many instances of eating watermelon and drinking beer), I can attest that I’ve never experienced any ill effects from combining these two delicious barbeque staples."

I'd surely be dead if that was true. -Rob

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Hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day weekend. It's gorgeous here. Leftover pizza is a perfect lunch. Green onion sausage, black olives, feta cheese, and Canadian bacon from Isabella's Pizzeria. Enjoy the rest of the day and the weekend.

Just offering a few from around the yard today. Started picking grape tomatoes in good numbers yesterday. Still no Creoles ready yet, though. Beginning to believe the pepper plants I bought were in the wrong containers or were mislabeled. One was supposed to be a green bell pepper and the other was supposed to be an Italian pepper. These both look the same and they don't look like they're going to change color. I have no idea what I have.

CrabAppleLane Peppers - May 29, 2011

About today's QOTD. It cost me $70 and change to fill my gas tank the other day at $3.64 per gallon. It's sickening.

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes - Elephant
2. Ballad of Dwight Fry - Alice Cooper - Love It to Death
3. No Easy Road - Wishbone Ash - Wishbone Four
4. Wedding Bells - Lissie - Why You Runnin'
5. No One's Gonna Love You - Band of Horses - Cease to Begin

Quote of the Day

There's less money this summer for hotel rooms, surfboards and bathing suits. It's all going into the gas tank.

USA Today

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "How Will I Tell Him?"

Fabulous painting. -Rob

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We are experiencing a pretty substantial drought here at CrabAppleLane. I broke down yesterday and watered the vegetable garden. We're not expecting any rain here until Wednesday or Thursday and even that's only a slight chance. While I was tying tomato bushes yesterday afternoon, it was obvious from the wilted leaves at the tops of the bushes that they were very, very thirsty. Watered at the roots at about 4 in the afternoon but then sprinkled the whole garden for an hour at about 8PM. They've had about 12 hours of soaking up moisture with no sun bearing down on them and they look fantastic this morning. I'm pretty sure we'll be eating bacon-tomato-avocado sandwiches next weekend or very soon afterward. Got quite a few green tomatoes, some of them are getting pretty big. I've been less inattentive this year than years past. It had better pay off. Pictures below the jump.

I offer one from the CrabAppleLane front yard below. The Vitex is next to an oak tree stump and this is its 3rd summer here. The oak tree was lost during Hurricane Katrina. We planted two just over two years ago. Patsy had been seeing them all over town and wanted some. The other one we planted didn't do so well. It really didn't have a chance. I've tried several things in that same location with zero success. The ground is just too hard. I've since transplanted it to another spot in front of the vegetable garden. It looks like it likes that spot much better but it is way behind its yardmate. The green you see is Bahia grass and other assorted weeds. The brown you see is my pitiful centipede grass.

CrabAppleLane Vitex - May 22, 2011

Great caption.

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star Playlist:

1. Centerfield - John Fogerty - Centerfield (Remastered)
2. Rock 'N Roll Widow - Wishbone Ash - Wishbone Four
3. White Wedding - Billy Idol - Billy Idol
4. Temptation Eyes - The Grass Roots - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Grass Roots
5. The Way - Fastball - All the Pain Money Can Buy

Quote of the Day

The end of the world is nigh — ever notice how the only time anyone ever uses the word "nigh" is in stories about the world ending?

I guess that's because "World Goes Belly Up," "World Outta There," "World Bites the Big One," "World Doesn't Make Playoffs," "World a Goner," "World Takes a Hike," "World Goes Bye Bye," "World: 1 Creek, No Paddle," "World Takes Gas," "Turn Out the Lights, the World is Over," "World Toast" and "World Screwed" sound too informal.

John Kelso, Austin Statesman

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Over at the American Express OPEN Forum, I posted instructions for how to enchant people with Facebook. Please check it out if you want to use Facebook for marketing purposes. If you want to be enchanting in general, check out my new book: Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions."

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I'm repeating myself here but I love cemeteries. I like the old, untended ones the best. Spent a few minutes of my lunch time in one yesterday. The one below is not entirely untended. Looks like the families are keeping up their sites but the other sites seem to be on their own. It's not a very big one and it's right in the heart of Covington.

Covington Cemetery - May 17, 2011

Covington Cemetery - May 17, 2011

Covington Cemetery - May 17, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band - The Best Of The Band
2. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - B. J. Thomas & The Triumphs - AM Gold 1966
3. Lions - Dire Straits - Dire Straits
4. Live With Me - Humble Pie - Classics, Vol. 14
5. America - Simon & Garfunkel - Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits

Quote of the Day

Will nobody think of the bacon?

Brian Barrett, Gizmodo

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "But if my story is that good and if I believed in it so much, wouldn’t the strength of my professional reputation shine out regardless of publishing venue? Self-righteous critics will always abound but I’m willing to bet there will be enough people saying, “Sure, Bob Smith wrote this article for (fill in the blank) but who cares? It was a damn fine piece of reporting.”"

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Too pretty a day to let go to waste. Grilling is in order and, then, after lunch, a bike ride. Less blogging from me is probably a good thing for all. You may be eating in a better restaurant today but you aint eatin' better. Patsy and I like pork chops thin and a little on the crispy side. Our cat prefers them a little on the medium rare side. He'll eat crispy, though, and he'll steal it right off of your plate if you take your eyes off of him for a half-second. Before you say soil, sunshine, or genetics are the cause of that hydrangea's unusual purple color, you should know that there are only two blooms on that bush that are purple. The rest are blue. More images below the jump if you're interested. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I have some pork chops calling out to me.

CrabAppleLane Sunday Lunch - May 15, 2011

CrabAppleLane Sunday Lunch - May 15, 2011

CrabAppleLane Hydrangea - May 15, 2011

Today's QOTD is a from a haunting song I heard the other night on Bones. Fever Ray is new to me. Memory comes when memory's old here, too.

Blog geek stuff below the jump ...

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Keep The Streets Empty For Me - Fever Ray - Fever Ray
2. I Will Think of You - Laura Browne Sorenson - Marilyn Drive
3. The Times They Are A-Changin' - Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A-Changin'
4. Tear My Stillhouse Down - Gillian Welch - Revival
5. How You Remind Me - Nickelback - Silver Side Up

Quote of the Day

Memory comes when memory's old
I am never the first to know
Following this stream up north
Where do people like us float

Fever Ray, Keep The Streets Empty For Me

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Karin Dreijer Andersson and her live band members have written a new track for upcoming film, Red Riding Hood, the new offering from Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke."

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Happy Mother's Day - May 8, 2011

I offer one more from the backyard and some time lapse below the jump. Enjoy the day all you mothers. :)

CrabAppleLane Hydrangeas - May 8, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Mother's Little Helper - The Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks, 1964-1971
2. Mother And Child Reunion - Paul Simon - Negotiations And Love Songs 1971-1986
3. Mother - Pink Floyd - The Wall
4. Mother Dear - Styx - Equinox
5. Mother's Daughter - Santana - Abraxas

Quote of the Day

Morally and operationally, this was counterterrorism at its finest.

We have nothing to apologize for.

Maureen Dowd, New York Times

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Well as we noted in another post, we don’t typically mention books, movies, etc. This is the book that made us temporarily suspend that rule."

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File this under so you want to be a homeowner. I decided to cut down a tree in my front yard that's been bothering me for a while. All homeowners face the same dilemmas so there is no startling revelations here. The main dilemma is do I do it, myself, or do I pay someone else to do it?

The problem with this tree is that the roots were extensive and above ground causing problems. The tree leaned in the direction I wanted it to fall. All I had to do was accommodate it. Halfway through the cut, the chainsaw quit running. While frantically trying to get it started and running again, a north wind came up and pushed the tree back into my garage. No real damage done but, naturally, it was a concern. After borrowing a neighbor's chainsaw and getting the tree off of the garage, I had to bend some flashing on the garage roof back into place and that was a time-consuming and tiresome chore. Would have been easier to replace it, assuming I could find the exact same kind, but it would have taken a long time for the patina on the new flashing to match the rest of the roof. To say I was thoroughly disgusted with myself, the chainsaw, and the homeowner gods is an understatement. I'm still sore this morning from yanking on the chainsaw rope, getting up and down on the two ladders I was using, and from just picking up and moving the mountain of debris aside. Not done with the cleanup yet and I suppose I should be thankful that it wasn't worse. It would have cost $300-$500 to have that tree removed professionally so I guess I'd better fix that chainsaw. I'll have this experience in my bag the next time this comes up so I guess there's that.

Hard for Saints fans to not to be excited by their 2011 draft. They seem to have gotten very good players at positions they needed to improve. They'll be younger this season if there is one and I think they'll be better. More here if you're interested.

I offer one image from the CrabAppleLane Garden from this afternoon, three from yesterday's fiasco, and some time lapse below the jump:

CrabAppleLane Blue Ginger - May 1, 2011

CrabAppleLane Garage - Before - April 30, 2011

CrabAppleLane fiasco - April 30, 2011

CrabAppleLane Garage - After - April 30, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Don't Crash The Ambulance - Mark Knopfler - Shangri-La
2. Sisters Of The Moon - Fleetwood Mac - Tusk
3. Hey You - Pink Floyd - The Wall
4. Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler - Beaches
5. Sara Lee - Foghat - Foghat

Quote of the Day

Whether that mattress was stuffed with corn-cobs or broken crockery, there is no telling, but I rolled about a good deal, and could not sleep for a long time.

Ishmael, Moby Dick

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "There’s discussion on the influence of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells and how the ‘Steampunk’ term was coined K.W. Jeter."

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Happy Easter

What does the Easter Bunny get for making a basket?
Two points just like everyone else.

I had Legos when I was a kid. I made some cool stuff, mainly buildings but I did mechanized stuff, too. Watch the video below. I am in awe of the amount of tweaking that had to take, particularly the one point along the way where the basketballs and soccer balls are separated. I wonder how many times he wanted to take a baseball bat to it.

About today's QOTD: I'm guessing the "magical" part of that lame-brained idea is going to wear off about 3 hours in. Getting your kicks on Route 66 is not really something you should do on a whim.

So I wanted some impatiens. They like shade and I have lots of shady areas. I wanted a couple of six packs of the small ones and I wanted a variety of colors. They're cheaper that way and I wanted quite a few. The place only had cases. Instead of shopping somewhere else (The smart play), I ended up with a 24-pack, all the same color, and not enough places to put them so I invented a few places. I offer a few from around the yard on this gorgeous, but a bit hot, CrabAppleLane Easter Sunday.

CrabAppleLane Cinder Block Garden - April 24, 2011 - Easter Sunday

CrabAppleLane Vegetable Garden - April 24, 2011 - Easter Sunday

CrabAppleLane Iris - April 24, 2011 - Easter Sunday

CrabAppleLane Pond - April 24, 2011 - Easter Sunday

CrabAppleLane Garden - April 24, 2011 - Easter Sunday

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Night Flight - Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
2. Living With Me - Coyote Shivers - Shivers, Coyote
3. Ready, Steady, Go - The Meices - Empire Records
4. The Way It Always Starts - Gerry Rafferty, Mark Knopfler, Alan Clark, Neil Jordon & Steve Jordon - Local Hero
5. I Can't Hold Back - Survivor - Greatest Hits

Quote of the Day

Belitsky said they wanted to do something "magical." When they decided on a cab ride to California, they found Alam at LaGuardia Airport and brokered the deal.

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "After you’ve gone to church, consumed the Easter ham and the children have filled their baskets with decorated eggs and mounds of chocolate, treat yourself to an alternative Easter tradition."

Not really my cup o' tea but ... -Rob

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F.W. Woolworth's

Love the WWII vintage sign ... "Victory Demands Healthy Americans" ... I've been telling people for years that all those sundaes, malts, and shakes are good for me. Photographic proof :)

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Working Man - Rush - Chronicles
2. Burning Bridges - The Mike Curb Congregation - Greatest Hits
3. Harry's Game - Clannad - Anam
4. Layla - Eric Clapton - Time Pieces - The Best Of Eric Clapton
5. Worlds Apart - Bruce Springsteen - The Rising

Quote of the Day

I get up at seven, yeah
And I go to work at nine
I got no time for livin'
Yes, I'm workin' all the time

Rush, Working Man

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "First, I’m moving to South Dakota where I’ll get my hang gliding instructor certification. Then, it’s off to rural Alberta where I’ll be working in the oil sands industry as a miner. After that, I’ll hitchhike to Alaska and sneak onto an industrial fishing boat and it’s Taiwan or bust! I hope to learn a lot about myself and find true love."

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Just some stuff on a beautiful CrabAppleLane Sunday.

Your 2010 Federal Taxpayer Receipt - Pretty cool.

As a kid, I didn't care much for Neapolitan ice cream, which we had at almost every birthday party, mainly because of the strawberry. Now, I do care for it, mainly because of the strawberry. Embrace the change, I suppose.

A 9yr-old balloonist prepping for his first solo flight. Is this a record that needs to be broken?

Nothing special about someone drunk and disorderly in New Orleans. You have to be pretty spectacularly special to get arrested for it ... or just another Hollywood twit.

I offer three from the CrabAppleLane backyard and one from last night's dinner outing. I suspect we'll be having some little Red-Bellied Woodpeckers chirping in a few weeks.

CrabAppleLane Red-Bellied Woodpecker - April 17, 2011

CrabAppleLane Red-Bellied Woodpecker - April 17, 2011

CrabAppleLane wren and chickadee - April 17, 2011 - Splish splash

Columbia Street Tap Room - April 16, 2011 - The Taps

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Fall Like Rain - Eric Clapton - Pilgrim
2. I Done Got Over It - Irma Thomas - Sweet Soul Queen Of New Orleans: Irma Thomas Collection
3. Sunset Road - Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - Greatest Hits Of The 20th Century
4. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye - Am Gold 1968
5. Iron Man - Black Sabbath - Paranoid

Quote of the Day

Cookie is a "Little Penguin" and the mascot of the Zoo Bird House.

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Tour the crumbling brick ruins of a sugar mill built in 1829 by Bernard de Marigny de Mandeville then tour the visitor center and museum located directly behind."

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Baronne Street

D H Holmes Department Store - 1900

My grandmother used to take us shopping on Canal Street for our birthdays. My sister, Janine, and I always went together because our birthdays are one day apart. We always ate at D H Holmes. They had a child's special called the Little Red Hen. It was chicken, mashed potatoes, peas, and brown gravy. I always looked forward to eating there. Hardly remember the shopping. I threw the other photo in just because.

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Rock Your Baby - George McCrae - AM Gold 1970-1974
2. Fairytale of New York - The Pogues Featuring Kirsty MacColl - If I Should Fall from Grace with God
3. Eli's Coming - Three Dog Night - The Best Of Three Dog Night
4. Secret Agent Man - Johnny Rivers - Johnny Rivers - Anthology 1964-1977
5. Don't Step On The Grass, Sam - Steppenwolf - All Time Greatest Hits

Quote of the Day

Vicious storms smacked the Deep South and toppled trees like dominoes as tornadoes howled through towns. Seven deaths were reported in Alabama, including a man killed when the storm tossed a mobile home nearly a quarter of a mile across a state highway.

USA Today

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "i was nominated as one of the top twenty five moms with style!"

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Paper Boys - 1913

Airline Drive-In

K & B

K & B was one of my Dad's best customers, we went to Airline Drive-In a few times, and I just cannot imagine paper boys that young plying their trade on big city streets. I think Airline Drive-In was the last remaining drive-in in the New Orleans area that hadn't been torn down yet. Not sure if it was the last one operating, though. It had turned into one of those dollars per carload R movie drive-ins aimed at teenagers and young adults. In the last years of drive-ins, I guess they all did.

Drink Dr. Nut

Mardi Gras Fountain

From a photo set on FlickR called Vintage New Orleans. Dr. Nut was before my time but I love absolutely everything about that photo. Everything.

My parents used to load us up in the station wagon and we'd ride around the city to see the fountains. The Mardi Gras fountain is the most famous of all of them. Vandals using soap powder put an end to the fountains as a nightly entertainment.

Speaking of golden fleeces, today's QOTD.

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Mothers Talk - Tears For Fears - Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82-92)
2. Sword Swings - Sound Effects - Kill Bill, Vol.
3. Hold On - Deep Purple - Stormbringer
4. To Keep Love Alive - Out Of The Grey - Giving You The Rest Of My Life
5. Telegraph Road - Dire Straits - Alchemy: Dire Straits Live

Quote of the Day

Some companies are beginning to curb the corporate jet. American Express CEO Ken Chenault, who racked up over $400,000 in private travel in both 2008 and 2009, is now limited to $200,000 annually. (Chenault, who received 2010 compensation valued at more than $15 million and exercised options for $8.5 million, still gets a $35,000 annual perk allowance and nearly $140,000 for local car service.)

Gary Strauss, USA TODAY

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Why is it when something hurts my kids seem so much more drawn to try and touch me there? Of course they also used me being off my game to act up more than normal... apparently it is possible for my kids to act up even more- who knew!"

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We have a pair of cardinals nesting in our hydrangeas. I have mixed feelings about it. When we lived in Metairie, a pair of cardinals nested in one of our apple trees. They were as sweet as could be. Mama Cardinal would sit on the eggs and Papa Cardinal would serenade her from the top of the nearest tree. Unfortunately, they also caught the attention of something else, probably a rodent. Both of their eggs were eaten. At CrabAppleLane, we have any number of mammals and reptiles that like to eat eggs ... and birds. Our hydrangeas are every bit as vulnerable as that apple tree was and Mama Cardinal likes to chirp, chirp, chirp while she's working to build that almost finished nest. Captured an image of the proud Papa but Mama was a little too skittish to pose for a picture and way too noisy to suit me. I think I'm just going to let them take their chances, though. Cardinals tend to build nests 3 to 8 feet off of the ground. They're vulnerable pretty much wherever they nest.

So far, so good on the vegetable garden. The CrabAppleLane bunny population has, so far, ignored the corn, even the unprotected stalks. Not sure if we'll have figs this year but both of our trees are doing well after a full year.

I offer five from the CrabAppleLane yard.

CrabAppleLane Cardinal - The Proud Papa - April 10, 2011

CrabAppleLAne Hydrangea with Cardinal Nest - April 10, 2011

CrabAppleLane Vegetable Garden - April 10, 2011

CrabAppleLane Bottle Brushes - April 10, 2011

CrabAppleLane Fig Tree - April 10, 2011

The entry from today's BOTD defends Amazon.com's practice of sometimes pricing their Kindle books higher than the print version. I'm not sure Amazon is entirely responsible (The publisher bears some responsibility) and I'm also not sure it's intentional. I think it could be an anomaly of the website. It is not unusual to find several different prices at Amazon for the same product depending on how you arrived on it. If you arrived at a product via a site that Amazon pays a higher commission, it's conceivable that it's priced accordingly. That said, I will not purchase a Kindle book that is not substantially cheaper than its print version.

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Inside Of Me - Eric Clapton - Pilgrim
2. Final Meeting (North and South) - Bill Conti - The Right Stuff / North and South
3. Lookin' Up Lookin' Down - Shawn Phillips - Second Contribution
4. Motor City Madhouse - Ted Nugent - Ted Nugent
5. Seasons Of Wither - Aerosmith - Get Your Wings

Quote of the Day

Call me Ishmael. Some years ago never mind how long precisely having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation.

Herman Melville, Moby Dick

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "From a utility point of view, charging more for the Kindle version seems quite reasonable considering that Kindle books are delivered instantly and for free, that they take up no additional space or weight, that they can be read on any computer, and that they come with handy bookmarks and highlights of what other readers find interesting."

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Patsy and I took in the French Quarter Festival yesterday. She had a terrible cold that just got worse as the day went on and we called it a day earlier than both of us would have liked. Last year, we got a late start, made ourselves even later by making a few stops along the way, and the result was horrendous traffic and no decent parking. Determined not to make that same mistake, we decided to leave early and have breakfast in the Quarter. I found a place online that looked like fun and it was close enough to where we wanted to be later so we decided to give it a shot. The rest of the story in pictures below and also below the jump..

French Quarter Festival - New Orleans, LA - April 8, 2011

French Quarter Festival - New Orleans, LA - April 8, 2011 - Me with camera and two folding chairs over the shoulder - Patsy took this one, too

French Quarter Festival - New Orleans, LA - April 8, 2011 - Jean Lafitte National Park - Our favorite rest stop

French Quarter Festival - New Orleans, LA - April 8, 2011 - St Louis Cathedral and Louisiana Cabildo on the left, Jackson Square on the right ... not open yet

French Quarter Festival - New Orleans, LA - April 8, 2011

1. Nothing Man - Bruce Springsteen - The Rising
2. Working On It - Mark Knopfler - Wag The Dog
3. Fool's Hall Of Fame - Foghat - Foghat
4. Another Brick In The Wall (Part III) - Pink Floyd - The Wall
5. Big Man With A Gun - Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral

Quote of the Day

All great work is preparing yourself for the accident to happen.

Sidney Lumet, 1924–2011

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "The first film he directed was 12 Angry Men in 1957, often hailed as one of the best films of all time and arguably the crowning achievement of Lumet's career."

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Short one today because I have plans.

The LSU Tigers and Ole Miss Rebels split the first two games of the weekend series. LSU winning a tight one, 7-6, Friday night and Ole Miss winning a laugher, 16-3, last night. Game 3 today. GEAUX Tigers.

About today's QOTD: First, read it. Then, go to the link and see what the quote is about.

I offer three from the yard today. Love when the Irises bloom. We have two shades of purple that bloom first. The dark reds we have will bloom later. No idea why.

CrabAppleLane Pond - April 3, 2011

CrabAppleLane Iris - April 3, 2011

CrabAppleLane Vegetable Garden - April 3, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. A Song of Simplicity - Elijah Bossenbroek - Harmony in Disarray
2. Scarborough Fair/Canticle - Simon & Garfunkel - Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits
3. The Fool And Me - Robin Trower - Bridge Of Sighs
4. Bron-Yr-Aur - Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
5. Beggars Day - Nazareth - Hair Of The Dog

Quote of the Day

Geoff Rezek, 69, flew in from New York to see what he believed was going to be "history in the making."

msnbc.com staff and news service reports

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "If you're a website or blog owner, you'll need to increase traffic volume to your webpages."

This website and blog owner has never been interested in increasing traffic artificially. The only traffic I want is that which finds its way here on its own. -Rob

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I know you northerners are probably sick of the weather you're having. Sorry about that. Ours couldn't be much better. Hang in there, though. Your turn is coming now that ours is pretty much over. We had family in from Atlanta so my sister held a crawfish boil for us yesterday. My brother and I got there early and did the boiling. They came out pretty good if I do say so myself. :) I also know you northerners normally use crawfish for bait. So do we. When we boil them, family and friends come from miles around. :)

The QOTD comes from a song that came up on my sister's IPOD yesterday. I have that album, Brothers and Sisters, on vinyl and remastered CD. An old friend of mine, who I reconnected with recently, knew someone in a neighborhood band and they played that song. His friend would say to the audience, "Here's some music from The Exorcist". The famous music, of course, is Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, but Ramblin' Man is playing on the jukebox in the bar where the two priests meet. And if you don't know about any of this, ask your parents. :)

I offer an image from a great day yesterday. More below the jump.

Ready to go

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Let's Hang On! - Four Seasons - AM Gold: The Mid-'60s
2. All For The Love Of Sunshine - Mike Curb Congregation ft.Hank Williams Jr. - Greatest Hits
3. All The Roadrunning - Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris - Real Live Roadrunning
4. Walking Into Clarksdale - Page & Plant - Walking Into Clarksdale
5. Lonely Child - Styx - Equinox

Quote of the Day

I'm on my way to New Orleans this morning
Leaving out of Nashville, Tennessee
They're always having a good time down on the bayou, Lord
Them delta women think the world of me

Allman Brothers Band, Ramblin' Man

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "The Hardball Times Rory Paap revisits his previous post in which he said "Pitching (almost) always wins championships.""

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To Angela, Christina, & David

Something here on the blog stopped working yesterday for no apparent reason. After spending an hour tinkering around the edges, it started working again ... also for no apparent reason. I dare not say out loud what it was. It might hear me.

Major League Baseball opens Thursday afternoon. Says here the National League is a two team tussle between the Phillies and Giants because of their great pitching and their experience. The junior league is wide open in my view. The Yankees, Rays, Rangers, Twins, Tigers, Red Sox, White Sox, A's, and Angels are all playoff contenders.

I offer three images from yesterday and one taken last Saturday night. I have a date with some crawfish this morning. Rain rain go away.

Moon peeking through the CrabAppleLane dormer window - March 2011

CrabAppleLane Tung Nut Blossoms - March 26, 2011

From the bike ride - March 26, 2011

Vista from the bike ride - March 26, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. It's Not My Cross To Bear - The Allman Brothers Band - The Allman Brothers Band
2. Lazy - Deep Purple - Made In Japan
3. Help Me I Am In Hell - Nine Inch Nails - Broken
4. Change - Tears For Fears - Tears Roll Down
5. Baby Mine - Bette Midler - Beaches

Quote of the Day

I stand before you to proclaim tonight: America is the land where dreams can come true for all of us.

Geraldine Ferraro

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Honey - This is what I want for my birthday this year"

Great pic. Not sure what the meaning of the quote is, though. -Rob

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Yesterday was tomato planting day here at CrabAppleLane. Started at about 1PM with nothing and had it done by about 6:30PM. There's a two hour break in there for a shower, lunch, and a feed store run. Got down 20 tomato plants and two sweet pepper plants. Sister-in-law got us two grape tomato plants and I'll pick those up later today. This garden plot is a little bigger than I usually do. I have room for more. I'll hit the garden center some time during the week.

One last thing from our road trip Friday. Have you ever bought anything truly frivolous? I present le petit bâton rouge. They sell them in the Tabasco country store for $3.50. Not sure where it will be a year from now but we do have one and I love it. :)

I offer the progression of my garden project yesterday in five images below.

What's left of the CrabAppleLane 2010 Winter Garden - March 19, 2011

Finally ready to go - March 19, 2011

First deep pass - March 19, 2011

After some soil amendments and a second deep pass - March 19, 2011

Done just before sundown - March 19, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Belfast To Boston - James Taylor - October Road
2. Daytona - Chris Rea - The Road To Hell
3. Downed - Cheap Trick - Cheap Trick/In Color/Heaven Tonight
4. United We Stand - The Mike Curb Congregation - Greatest Hits
5. California Dreaming - Mamas and Papas - Andrea's Gift Mix

Quote of the Day

The comparatively affluent can withstand the adverse moral effect of being subsidized and supported by government, not so the poor.

John Kenneth Galbraith

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "I was frazzled after my experience of passing through Istanbul Airport. My friend Elaine who turned up not long after I checked into my hotel was frazzled too from the harassment she had experienced in the Central Market."

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We left Covington, LA at about 8AM this morning and set sail for Avery Island, LA. It was a three hour trip. They charge a $1 conservation fee to get onto the island. We toured the Tabasco plant, shopped the country store, and had a bit to eat before touring the Jungle Gardens and Bird City. The sun was shining, the azaleas and camellias were in bloom, and the temps were great. I had no idea we'd spend as much time there as we did. From there, we headed to Henderson, LA for a late lunch at McGee's Landing. The place was very nice and the view was spectacular. Finally, we headed out from there in search of some local boudin and andouille sausage. I can find both at my local grocery stores but this area, the Atchafalaya Basin, is famous for Cajun food, especially boudin, and I wanted some of that. We got home at 8:30PM. It was a long day but totally worth it. Got some pork boudin, crawfish boudin, andouille, a few Tabasco souvenirs, and lots of memories and pictures. If you'd like to see them for a little longer, go to my FlickR site.

About some of those pics: The birds are egrets. I didn't see the eggs at all while taking the pictures. Seeing them when I got home and unloaded the camera was pretty cool. The first picture below is probably my favorite from yesterday. My sister-in-law spotted the alligator swimming toward the nesting area. Can you see it? I think the egrets were a little more concerned with him than they were with us. The buddha was a lot bigger than I expected. And, finally, I just love wooden barrels. Love them. They had some of the coolest ones I've seen. They buy used whiskey barrels, shave them to remove all of the whiskey taste, and store the pepper mash in them for three years. They add vinegar to the mash and stir it for 28 days. In the second picture below, they're finishing a vat of Tabasco in that center barrel. The aroma was instantly recognizable. Everyone knows what Tabasco smells like. We thought they could probably save a few of those unshaved whiskey barrels and sell their pepper sauce laced with that whiskey flavor. My guess is they've at least tinkered with that idea. :)

Avery Island - Bird City - March 18, 2011

Tabasco Plant & Museum - Avery Island - March 18, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Insensatez - Antônio Carlos Jobim - Lost Highway
2. Ode To A Butterfly - Nickel Creek - Nickel Creek
3. For Lovin' Me - Gordon Lightfoot - Complete Greatest Hits
4. What's On My Mind - The Cranberries - Bury The Hatchet
5. Indoor - Clannad - Macalla

Quote of the Day

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's forces pushed into the rebel-held city of Benghazi Saturday, defying world demands for an immediate ceasefire and forcing rebels to retreat.

NBC, msnbc.com and news services

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "I can't recommend checking out a live Avery Island gig enough. The mood of their music is transferred well via .mp3 but seeing these guys in concert is a whole different experience. Other than the obvious changes like you'll be seeing them in person and not on lovely designed photos, their sound is incredibly rich and the charm the band manifests is portrayed effectively and in a joyous manner."

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We watched Morning Glory last night. I was in the mood for a light comedy. This one fits that bill to a T. Morning Glory is formula film. Person gets fired from a job, gets a job that's even worse, endures all of the things that make it worse, and transforms it through boundless energy and will power. We see everything that's coming from a mile away. Morning Glory works because of Rachel McAdams. She is in almost every scene and she simply carries it. Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton are on hand to lend box office but this one belongs to Rachel and it's a star maker. Well worth your time.

With the events that are going on in Japan and Libya, with no end in sight to a difficult economy, and with spring and tomato season upon me, I find it impossible to take the current NFL labor strife seriously. As someone once said, "I've got more important things to do than spend my time growing old with you". Get it done, don't get it done. If you're here in September, fine. If you're not, I'll do something else.

Congrats to the LSU Tigers on their sweep of the Cal State Fullerton Titans this weekend.

Two CrabAppleLane spring indicators below:

CrabAppleLane Red Tops - March 13, 2011

CrabAppleLane Gum Tree - March 13, 2011

About today's QOTD: There are lessons here for all of us. The Japanese are managing or trying to manage an epic emergency without blaming citizens, government agencies, or leadership. The first person who snipes publicly should go straight to jail. DO NOT PASS GO. Hopefully, FEMA is helping or, at least, watching and learning.

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. The Needle And The Damage Done - Neil Young - Harvest
2. Polk Salad Annie - Tony Jo White - iTunes Download
3. From This Moment On - Shania Twain - Come On Over
4. Sussudio - Phil Collins - Hits
5. Miracles - Jefferson Starship - At Their Best

Quote of the Day

Japan races to prevent nuclear reactor meltdowns

NBC, msnbc.com and news services

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "California Olive Ranch sent me this bottle. Hey ranch guys? Thanks. It’s fantastic. Bottom line? I will be buying this product in the future. Took my midday arugula and tuna salad up a whole notch. I save your oil for dipping bread, making sandwiches and on salads—not for cooking. The flavor is worthy of straight consumption."

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Had I not been totally basking in slackerdom.

Monday (March 7) aka Lundi Gras: Beautiful weather. Naturally, it was the day BEFORE Mardi Gras. Ran an errand at lunch and then bought two Wendy’s Bacon 99ers and a small chocolate Frosty and ate in the Trailhead Park. Had the place mostly to myself. Love that. One pic below, three more below the jump.

Covington, LA Trailhead Park - March 7, 2011

Tuesday (March 8) aka Mardi Gras: Hoped to get in some bicycling but the weather, so lovely the day before, had turned. It was raining off and on all day. Housebound. Mysterious water leak came back again for a third time but I'm pretty sure I know why and I think I can fix it. It's leaking right at the drain. I used the wrong kind of sealer a few days ago. I put some of the right kind on top of it but that wasn't the best idea. Will wait until it's dry, remove as much of what's there as I can, and start over. Showering downstairs for a few days again in the meantime. Back to the weather: Patsy had forwarded a Severe Weather Warning for our area that included thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. Was supposed to be through here at 5PM or so. It was running late.

Wednesday (March 9) aka Ash Wednesday: Woke up to severe thunderstorm and torrential rain. The severe weather we were warned about was here and we were totally unprepared for it. No extra water, no extra gasoline for the generator, no canned goods, too much refrigerated and frozen food, etc. Wait, those are hurricane preparations. We shouldn't have to prepare for thunderstorms. For what it's worth, said thunderstorm was impressive. Shook the house. Was thinking it normally takes much less than this to knock out our power. That thought cost me. Yep, it's my fault that the sub-station that our power comes from sustained damage. Was told it will be down a few hours or all day. It was 6:15AM. Our power company, Washington St. Tammany Electric Cooperative, suggested we get a generator if we have special power needs. We really don't but the food in both the refrigerator and the freezer will go bad in a day or less ... even if we don't open them. We found that out in the aftermath of Katrina. Broke out the generator at about 10:30am, got it started, and alternated one-hour turns between the freezer and the refrigerator. Changed the oil after the third turn and made a total mess of that. This generator will only operate 110 outlets. Only one thing here needs more than that; the water pump. No showers for us. We had whatever water was in the tank, whatever water was in the water heater, and whatever water was in the pipes. If we were just waking up and knew everything was full, maybe. We had run the dishwasher, made coffee, and started our morning routines, which included rinsing things. Take a chance there's enough water left for a shower or hope you don't have soap in your eyes when it runs out? Not for me. We need a bigger generator. They're expensive, though. Doubt I can find one that Patsy can start anyway. :) The thing about gasoline-powered generators: You will get sick of smelling the fumes. Lots of Katrina memories came back to the surface. Power came back on at 3:10PM. Day lost.

CrabAppleLane generator - March 9, 2011

Saw our first ruby-throated hummingbird, though. At least, I think he was. His throat appeared dark instead of brilliant red but that could have been because of the angle I was in relation to him or the angle he was in relation to the sun. Rescind day lost remark.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird arrivals at CrabAppleLane
March 14, 2001
March 17, 2002
March 10, 2003
March 20, 2004
March 12, 2005
March 12, 2006
March 11, 2007
March 9, 2008
March 26, 2009
March 24, 2010
March 9, 2011

Thursday (March 10): For some really cool photography, how cool can 3D color images from the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire be? Would love to see those in 3D.

Friday (March 11): Japan hit by huge earthquake and tsunami. In much less serious news, it's the last day of NFL-NFLPA negotiations unless they agree to another extension. And one more thing: I had a unexpected visitor this morning and I'm not sure what to make of it. See image below:

CrabAppleLane Beaver - March 11, 2011

Didn't know we had these in Bush, LA, and I don't know if it's a good thing but I don't know how much harm one can do ... if there's only one, that is.

About today's QOTD: Remember the Congressman who accepted a bribe and then said he did so because he was conducting his own investigation? I think Newt topped it. His love of country contributed to his infidelity. Note that he cheated on his second wife with his third wife. We could end up with a pair of adulterers in the White House. As a nephew once said, "Boss Hoss Awesome". Too bad the gods of late night comedy won't allow it. I don't see how that campaign ever gets off the ground.

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Paper Airplane - Alison Krauss & Union Station - Paper Airplane
2. Fantasy - Aldo Nova - Aldo Nova
3. Anyone's Daughter - Deep Purple - Fireball
4. Head Over Heels - Tears For Fears - Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82-92)
5. Shine On - Humble Pie - A&M Records Classics Vol. 14

Quote of the Day

Newt Gingrich says his passion for his country contributed to his marital infidelity.

The Associated Press

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "But no, I've decided to get all VENTY about it because I've already had my first run in with Disapproving Medical Personnel and I'm already over it. OVER IT, I SAY! Shall I explain?"

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New Orleans' two biggest Mardi Gras parades, Endymion and Bacchus, will ride back-to-back tonight. Endymion was rained out last night. Fantastic, but it figures to be a late night for parade goers and an even later night for parade participants. Tempted to go but I have to work tomorrow and late Sunday nights away from home conflict with the weekend wind down Patsy and I cherish at CrabAppleLane.

Caught part of a Tigers/Braves spring training game Thursday while I was at lunch. The sound was down and I couldn't read the graphics onscreen from my seat without my glasses. After a few minutes of searching just now, I discovered it was Brennan Boesch, who launched a tape measure homer. Even without sound, you could tell by his swing that the park wasn't going to contain it. They replayed it about 5 times. Awesome. I'm ready. Play Ball.

I'm back to putting two hummingbird feeders out again. The CrabAppleLane Ruby-Throat Hummingbird flock is due back any day now. Our Rufous Hummingbird is still here but I'd be surprised if he didn't yield to the shear size of the incoming flock.

Happy Birthday, Tree Hugging Sister

I offer a few from around the yard today. Nothing new about any of them except that they're today's versions of them. Enjoy.

CrabAppleLane Front Yard - March 6, 2011

CrabAppleLane Robin - Just Passin’ Thru - March 6, 2011

CrabAppleLane Yard & Driveway - March 6, 2011

CrabAppleLane Trail - March 6, 2011

It’s that time again. I’m asking for guest blogger volunteers for this week starting now and running through Friday, March 11. If you’ve never blogged before, here’s your chance to see what it is all about. If you use different blogging software, here’s your chance to see what Movable Type does. If you already blog, here’s a chance to do something different and shamelessly plug your own blog to maybe some different readers. If you’re interested, email me for details. It's definitely not too late. If you don’t already have my email address, leave a comment here and I’ll respond with the details and login information. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just taking a break from daily blogging. I’ll be around to lend technical support for anyone who wants or needs it. Enjoy.

About today's QOTD: Not really sure what the "web ecosystem" is. To me, an ecosystem is only a portion of something. What would a web ecosystem be a portion of? Also, aren't we tired of telling people what browsers to use?

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Wild One - Faith Hill - Take Me As I Am
2. Someday - Henry Gross - One More Tomorrow The Best Of Henry Gross
3. There Is A Reason - Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live
4. Ally Bally - Joemy Wilson - Dulcimer Lullabies
5. The Bug - Dire Straits - On Every Street

Quote of the Day

Frankly, we're happy to see Microsoft take the time to push for the death of IE 6. It's a long time coming and the faster we can move on to more modern browsers, the better the web ecosystem as a whole will be.

Christina Warren, Mashable

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "I’m trying that weight loss thing again. Today has been a success. Not sure if I should write about it or not - will this time be different from all the other times?"

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Priscilla came to us when she was 8. She took her final ride to the vet yesterday just 7 weeks short of her 22nd birthday. She lounged in the CrabAppleLane sun by the pond for about an hour before we got in the truck. Good pet owners always struggle with "Are we too soon or too late?" and it probably won't mean much to any good pet owner but I think we all do it at the exact right time. Priscilla had been frail for a few weeks but she was still eating, still moving around, still grooving on pets and scratches, and still had a bit of a twinkle in her eye. She stopped eating and became dehydrated. Patsy took her to the vet Thursday and he gave her an IV drip to administer twice a day to rehydrate her but she still wasn't eating and had some other issues related to her arthritis that led us to the conclusion that she was unhappy and just did not want to go on. She had a good, long run and we'll miss her terribly. She was a sweetheart.

Mardi Gras got into gear in the Greater New Orleans area Friday night. We ran into unexpected parade traffic in Abita Sprigs yesterday coming home from the vet's office. We diverted ourselves to Slidell (25 miles away) for lunch. The inconvenience was acceptable because a good ride and diversion helped us, I think, in the state we were in.

It’s that time again. I’m asking for guest blogger volunteers for the week of March 7-11. If you’ve never blogged before, here’s your chance to see what it is all about. If you use different blogging software, here’s your chance to see what Movable Type does. If you already blog, here’s a chance to do something different and shamelessly plug your own blog to maybe some different readers. If you’re interested, email me for details. If you don’t already have my email address, leave a comment here and I’ll respond with the details. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just taking a break from daily blogging. I’ll be around to lend technical support for anyone who wants it.

I think today's QOTD is right. I was originally hoping they'd go for a big, durable running back in the first round but I think finding one of those is more a matter of luck than research.

I offer two from the CrabAppleLane yard this morning. Spring is almost here. Plan to do first yardwork this afternoon, weather permitting. I had hoped to do some work on The Clearing Project every winter but this winter was colder than most. Poor excuse but it's the one I have at the moment.

CrabAppleLane Redbud - February 27, 2011

CrabAppleLane Clearing Project - February 27, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Fade To Black - Dire Straits - On Every Street
2. Wearing The Inside Out - Pink Floyd - The Division Bell
3. From Now On - Supertramp - The Autobiography Of Supertramp
4. Old Love - Eric Clapton - Unplugged
5. Driving The Last Spike - Genesis - We Can't Dance

Quote of the Day

One doesn't have to be Ron Wolf to know the Saints desperately need to add fresh legs and burst to their defensive front seven.

Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Weekend Update Bloopers: Bloopers 09-10"

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I offer one today from the CrabAppleLane backyard, which was pruned yesterday within an inch of its life. I have the blisters and sore hands to prove it. Althea, dwarf crepe myrtles, lilac, blue ginger, Bradford pear, nothing was spared. Pushing away from the computer now and I'm off to do other things.

CrabAppleLane squirrel-proof feeder - February 20, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. You're So Vain - Carly Simon - The Rolling Stone Women In Rock Collection
2. The Trees - Rush - Chronicles
3. Ain't Misbehavin' - Louis Armstrong - Back Through The Years
4. Reptile - Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
5. Maggie May - Rod Stewart - Unplugged... And Seated

Quote of the Day

As Louise Reichenbach lay trapped and dying in a crashed car yesterday, she asked friends to tell her younger sister Tammy she was sorry for a fight they had had the previous day and that she "loved her very much".

Elizabeth Binning, New Zealand Herald

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "The Selby x Dockers"

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Dear New Orleans Food & Spirits,

Thanks,
Rob

Speaking of pork chops, it mystifies me why more non-Chinese restaurants don't serve them. Good pork chops are not expensive, they're not hard to find, and they're not particularly difficult to prepare. For instance, New Orleans Food & Spirits has several dishes that include chicken of some sort, steak, catfish, shrimp, and oysters. Why not a few dishes that include pork? Are Chinese Restaurants the only ones that get it? See QOTD.

I offer three from CrabAppleLane on this glorious Sunday. The first is of the Rufous Hummingbird that has been wintering here. We named him Roofie but that was before I decided he was a male. He is quite unlike the Buff-Bellied Hummingbird that wintered here a couple of years ago and nothing at all like the Ruby-Throated CrabAppleLane flock. He is much quieter, shyer, and not nearly as hungry. He doesn't stay around the feeder for long. The second one is just something I took so I can compare later. I usually don't prune the crepe myrtles that extensively or severely. I'm curious to see how they react. The third is of last night's sunset.

Roofie - February 13, 2011

CrabAppleLane Crepe Mrytles - February 12, 2011

CrabAppleLane - February 12, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Top 25 Most Played List:

1. Praan - Garry Schyman & Palbasha Siddique - Where The Hell Is Matt? - 19 Plays
2. The Calm Before - Elijah Bossenbroek - Harmony in Disarray - 18 Plays
3. Firefly - Main Theme Song - Joss Whedon - Firefly - 14 Plays
4. Lookout Mountain - Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South - 7 Plays
5. A Song of Simplicity - Elijah Bossenbroek - Harmony in Disarray - 11 Plays

Quote of the Day

Bacon tastes gooood. Pork chops taste gooood.

Vincent Vega, Pulp Fiction

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Ninety employees from Tennant Co., a provider of floor maintenance equipment, hit the streets, patios and floors of City Park on Wednesday to help sweep, clean and paint."

Excellent. There really is no substitute for manpower. -Rob

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I offer two images on this CrabAppleLane Super Sunday. One is from the other day, though.

A leaf falls in Covington - February 2, 2011

CrabAppleLane - February 6, 2011

One thing is certain about Super Bowl XLV. It will be at the top of the list of Super Bowls that had logistical nightmares. I think they even topped the one held in Pontiac at the SilverDome, where most of the ticket holders had to commute an hour to the stadium. Not to brag much but New Orleans is still, by far, the best city to host the Super Bowl. The SuperDome, the hotels, the great restaurants, the French Quarter, and the New Orleans night life are all within walking distance or a 10-minute cab ride from each other. It's a no-brainer. It should be held here every four or five years. A great time for all is guaranteed. One more thing.

Bet any house you have to lose. Lest you think I know nothing about predicting football outcomes (You'd be right), I offer the QOTD. It is an expert prediction on last year's Super Bowl.

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. You Won't Change Me - Black Sabbath - Technical Ecstasy
2. Chest Fever - Three Dog Night - Captured Live At The Forum
3. Somebody - Bryan Adams - Reckless
4. My Wife - The Who - Who's Next
5. She's Gone - Eric Clapton - Pilgrim

Quote of the Day

It says here: Indy in a blowout.

Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "What is the role of these platoons exactly ?? Is there any fear on the U.S embassy !!? I do not understand this provoking news for real."

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Wonder how nervous the tin pot dictators in the Middle East are at the moment. My guess is very. Remember when Hungary removed their border fence with Austria? Europe was transformed and all of their tin pot dictators were ousted, some quite violently. The events in Tunisia feel the same. The Middle East is changing before our very eyes. Next up? China, North Korea, Iran? China is trying to keep their citizens in the dark about the unrest in the Middle East ... with good reason.

I offer one from the CrabAppleLane Backyard on this dreary Sunday. Kinda like misty days, though.

CrabAppleLane Backyard - January 30, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Calling Elvis - Dire Straits - In Every Street
2. The Way It Always Starts - Gerry Rafferty, Mark Knopfler - Local Hero
3. Slip Slidin' Away - Paul Simon - Negotiations And Love Songs 1971-1986
4. If This Is Goodbye - Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris - Real Live Roadrunning
5. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen - A Night At The Opera

Quote of the Day

But I'm a superstitious man, and if some unlucky accident should befall him, if he should get shot in the head by a police officer, or if he should hang himself in his jail cell, or if he's struck by a bolt of lightning, then I'm going to blame some of the people in this room.

Vito Corleone, The Godfather

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "In the evening the Lakefront in Mandeville is a time to get out and away from the house. Walk the dog, fish, sit and watch the sunset or just contemplate."

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Abita Springs - January 28, 2011

You're supposed to read this as you're coming out of a traffic circle. Wonder if people go around multiple times until they get it all. :)

That last one is WELS
Wisconsin
Evangelical
Lutheran
Synod

I offer two more from yesterday's lunch in the park. Not sure how that structure in the first image is used and the second image is just another one with a sign in it. The park is a little too sign-happy to suit me. Also, swimming was obviously allowed there at one time. I wonder why it was discontinued. Not that I wanted to take a dip yesterday. Was a tad too cold.

Bogue Falaya Wayside Park - January 26, 2011

Bogue Falaya Wayside Park - January 26, 2011

About today's QOTD: Minds out of the gutters. He actually means "sleep". My cat agrees with him. He's always on the bed when I try to get in and he doesn't budge. Says he was there first.

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Only You Can Rock Me - UFO - Essential UFO
2. Found Out About You - Gin Blossoms - New Miserable Experience
3. Belle Starr - Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris - All The Roadrunning
4. Tattoo Vampire - Blue Öyster Cult - Agents of Fortune
5. Tall Cool One - Robert Plant - Now And Zen

Quote of the Day

It's been a long haul. But now a couple of "experts" have come forth with yet another don't, a finding that will make the rest of the winter even worse. We're not supposed to sleep with our pets.

Craig Wilson, USA TODAY

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "School Marquee Fail"

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From the Everything is BIGGER in Texas Department: Via Kate. I found a few more.

And this ...

Bogue Falaya Wayside Park - January 26, 2011

From the To Whom It May Concern Department: If I fall in, I'm ignoring that sign.

Not knowing what The Reader was about was the only way I would have watched it. The collective guilt of a generation of Germans over The Holocaust and the various degrees of moral outrage later generations of Germans feel towards that generation, except for maybe their own parents, grandparents, and great grandparents, is something I really have no desire to understand and the shame the two main characters felt over the choices they'd made didn't reach me. I don't care.

The performances in The Reader were OK but one casting choice was curious. David Kross as young Michael Berg speaks with a pronounced German accent and Ralph Fiennes as the not much older Michael Berg speaks with a posh British accent. I stayed to the end but it was all pretty depressing. Not what I'm looking for on a Saturday night.

Pulling for the Packers today and just ever so slightly for the Steelers. Don't really care about the AFC.

Caught the tail end of an Austin City Limits show featuring Band of Horses. I came in during the middle of the finale. It was a song called The Funeral. Fantastic. Enjoy.

Got rid of the smilies here. What a pain that was to accomplish. I may install a better version of them at some point or might install the version I have in a better way.

I offer a few from the CrabAppleLane Backyard.

CrabAppleLane Backyard - January 23, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. The Funeral - Band of Horses - Everything All the Time
2. I'd Love To Change The World - Alvin Lee - A Space In Time
3. Tears - Rush - 2112
4. Crossroads - Cream - The Cream Of Clapton
5. Walk The Line - Live - Live At The Paradiso

Quote of the Day

What we feel isn't important. It's utterly unimportant. The only question is what we do. If people like you don't learn from what happened to people like me, then what the hell is the point of anything?

Professor Rohl, The Reader

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Here's some of what you'll see if you take a look at A Fire in My Belly, the video by David Wojnarowicz that the National Portrait Gallery removed from Hide/Seek, its current exhibit about "sexual difference" in American portraiture: a legless beggar dodging traffic on his stumps, a mouth being stitched shut with a needle and thread, a bowl of blood, and fire ants on a crucifix."

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Thought it would be fun to do another one of these. It's a truly neat thing available to FlickR users. If you're interested in more and if you have a FlickR account, click on the image to see where those objects are located in these pictures. That's my garage roof illuminated by our living room light in both images. Orion has always been my favorite.

CrabAppleLane Night Sky - January 22, 2011 - Image 1

CrabAppleLane Night Sky - January 22, 2011 - Image 2

CrabAppleLane - January 22, 2011 8:25AM CST

My northern friends and relatives would probably love temps like this today but I'm here to tell you it's a little bit too chilly for my CrabAppleLane latitude. I have some things to do outdoors today. I don't think I'll be working up a sweat, though.

Old Reliable - January 22, 2011

I had lamented a few weeks ago about how my new grease gun had wonderfully explicit step-by-step instructions for how to load the grease for the first time but had no instruction whatsoever for how to get the empty cartridge out. I've been tinkering off and on with it for a few weeks to no avail. I tried various screwdrivers, needle nose pliers, regular pliers, channel lock pliers (Never mind), and a few other tricks I've since forgotten. Hammer Time: I must confess that I had other thoughts about what to do about that grease gun when I first picked up the hammer. Just on a whim, I stuck the hammer inside the grease gun and pulled. The cartridge came right out. It's still the best tool in the box. Ask any mechanic. :)

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Golden Heart - Mark Knopfler - Golden Heart
2. Forever Young - Chris Isaak - Heart Shaped World
3. The Fox - Nickel Creek - Nickel Creek
4. Blowin' Free - Wishbone Ash - Argus
5. True Love Will Never Fade - Mark Knopfler - Kill To Get Crimson

Quote of the Day

Stock the refrigerator full of champagne and get ready to celebrate

James Ihedigbo, New York Jets

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Luc Herbots just sent us this wicked awesome shot of Monk posing in his best Bruce Lee/Uma Thurman duds."

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With really good digital cameras available to the masses and with self-publication being so easy, the internet has become flooded with pictures. No complaints here. I wonder how many of those amateur photographers have noticed about themselves what I've noticed about myself. What has become obvious to me is that the really good photographers have an understanding of photography and a level of skill that I still do not possess even after years of practice. Some images just take my breath away not just for the image, itself, but for what I now know had to go into it. That the photographer had the patience and skill to capture a moment that was only going to last for a second is what separates that guy from someone like me. I need to get in the habit again of bringing my camera wherever I go. I'll try not to bore the handful of readers here with the results too often.

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Smackwater Jack - Carole King - Tapestry
2. End Titles Suite (Closer You Get, The) - Rachel Portman - Closer You Get, The - Soundtrack
3. Maybe She's Human - Kathy Mattea - Walking Away A Winner
4. Take It Back - Pink Floyd - The Division Bell
5. Day After Day - Badfinger - The Very Best Of Badfinger

Quote of the Day

I was photographing hummingbirds when I heard the sharp, alarming noise of the birds reacting to the presence of a predator. Sixty feet away from me this green-crowned brilliant was fearlessly attacking a small viper. The long shutter speed and shallow depth of field made it difficult to make an image with both animals sharp. This encounter was one of the most interesting ones I had ever seen, and I quickly set up two flashes to increase the light and shutter speed, using one flash fired from the background and another from the camera.

Photographer Bence Máté

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "While being called an expert photographer might not be your goal, the fact is that practice is the core of what will make you a better photographer, just like anything else. For practical purposes for most of us, that means that we should at least be carrying our camera and shooting every day. Doing this allows us to get that experience in shooting under different conditions as well as thinking about composition and getting to know our cameras."

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Bogue Falaya Wayside Park - January 17, 2011

This person is probably better at fishing than I'll ever be ...

Fish Need Not Fear Me

Bogue Falaya Wayside Park - January 17, 2011 - Same tree

Political, religious, social commentary in this space ... deleted. Didn't like the way it was going and didn't care to deal with whomever may have stumbled upon it. Not what I like to do here.

The Kids Are All Right is the kind of movie, well, let's just say that I didn't pick this one last night. It is appropriately named but there's another part to the title. The Kids Are All Right ... The Adults Are Screwed Up. Movies that tend toward characters over stories get an extra star in all reviews. Bear that in mind if you're perusing them looking for a movie to rent or go see. This one had everything a critic wants but almost nothing an audience wants. Movies that want to make me think lose a star in my eyes unless they're very good. The Kids Are All Right does not reach that level.

After watching the Falcons get pummeled last night by the Packers, my guess is the Saints and their fans are seething even more this morning about that lousy defensive effort the team put forth last week. I know I am. They'd be playing the Bears in cold and snowy Chicago today and a tough win there would have sent the NFC Championship to the SuperDome. The Saints hung 51 points on the Packers the last time they played in the SuperDome. None of these would have been givens, of course. Sean Payton's Saints have never won a game in Chicago and the Bears are currently kicking the Seahawks asses, 28-0. These are fun ifs and buts and they're all moot because the defense DID put forth that lousy effort last week. Grrrr.

Homer alert: Today's QOTD comes from Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It is quite an admission and he's right. I commented on the Saints mental toughness earlier this season. It goes into remission once in a while but they do have it and they'll be stronger next year because of it. The Falcons don't have it and their fortunes will still be tied to which way the ball bounces. The two playoff teams out of the NFC South next year (If there is a next year) will be the Saints and the Bucs.

I offer one from our lazy Sunday afternoon. The plan is to read a little or watch some TV and then go find an inexpensive place to eat.

A Lazy CrabAppleLane Sunday Afternoon - January 16, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle from a CrabAppleLane iTunes "Genius" mix:

1. Harry's Game - Clannad - Anam - New Age
2. The Mummers' Dance - Loreena McKennitt - The Book Of Secrets - New Age
3. Miss Clare Remembers - Enya - Watermark - New Age
4. Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) - Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve And Other Stories - Holiday
5. Sacred Ground - Craig Chaquico - Harley-Davidson Cycles: Road Songs - Rock

Quote of the Day

They’re not as close as we thought they were.

Jeff Schultz, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's game day, and I'm sure you'll be in agreement with me when I say that this game makes me really nervous. We could easily win or lose this game based on just a few plays, so here's to hoping we bring our A game this week. Specifically our (A)aron Rodgers game. Har har har, see what I did there/shazam/etc."

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Thoughts and sympathies to ALL of the victims and their families of the shooting rampage in Tuscon yesterday. In the coming days and weeks, you will see some trying to blame others for inciting the violence. You will see some blaming others for trying to make political points out of the tragedy. You will see some blaming guns. You will see others defending guns. You will see some say the gunman was simply deranged and it's just a tragedy. If any of them are counting on me to listen, though, they're wasting their breath and their time. I'm sick of all of them.

Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks on a great win yesterday. They deserve to advance. They outcoached and outplayed the Saints. Matt Hasselbeck and Marshawn Lynch were brilliant and Pete Carroll's game plan was terrific. I'll talk more about the Saints below the jump.

Once again, the weather was gorgeous on Friday so we had lunch in the park. We didn't have the park entirely to ourselves, though. There had to be two or three other people there. I offer one below from that day.

Bogue Falaya Wayside Park - January 7, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star playlist:

1. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard Of Ozz
2. Peaceful Easy Feeling - The Eagles - Their Greatest Hits
3. Snakeskin Cowboys - Ted Nugent - Ted Nugent
4. Wicked Game - Chris Isaak - Heart Shaped World
5. Misty Mountain Hop - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV

Quote of the Day

If this was Matt Hasselbeck's Seattle swan song, he nailed it.

Seahawks Blog

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Thud. That is the sound of our 2010 season hitting the ground against the cold fieldturf of Qwest Stadium."

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Today's QOTD uses a little more vivid imagery than I would have but it's absolutely true. The Saints mauled the Bucs the first time out. Their offensive line simply manhandled the Bucs defensive line. They had no chance. How much chance they have today depends entirely on the Saints level of interest in winning the game. Carolina and Atlanta are hooking up in the Georgia Dome. As soon as that game gets out of hand in favor of the Falcons, Sean Payton will start yanking his starters ... despite his claims to the contrary. It would be idiotic to risk getting important players injured in a meaningless half of football if your team is heading into the playoffs.

I offer one from the CrabAppleLane Backyard. We are being overrun by Goldfinches and Chipping Sparrows. We're OK with that. :) Wish we could find some relatively inexpensive, fresh thistle, though. Goldfinches prefer that to the white millet they're getting here. They won't touch stale thistle and the fresh thistle around here is ridiculously expensive.

CrabAppleLane Seed for a Song Feeder - January 2, 2011

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Top 25 Most Played List:

1. Firefly - Main Theme Song - Joss Whedon - Firefly - 13 plays
2. On Every Street - Dire Straits - On The Night (LIVE) - 8 plays
3. Further On (Up The Road) - Bruce Springsteen - The Rising - 8 plays
4. Lookout Mountain - Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South - 7 plays
5. Locked Within the Crystal Ball - Blackmore's Night - Secret Voyage - 8 plays

Quote of the Day

The Saints beat the Bucs 31-6 on Oct. 17 at Ray Jay and it was basically a seal-clubbing.

Joe Henderson, The Tampa Tribune

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "This Buccaneer team has had an impressive season, but it still hasn't beaten a team with a winning record."

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About the CrabAppleLane Sunday image: What you see is the CrabAppleLane Bike Carrier and License Plate Bracket. We were going places and riding bikes. Mostly just me but Patsy sometimes, too. It is not that tedious to install and uninstall the carrier but I'm lazy and just left it installed. When installed, it blocks the view of the license plate. It's illegal but most people just take their chances. Not me. I paid $30+ for a bracket that not only relocates the license plate to make it visible during the day, it is lighted to make it visible at night. It came apart last night on my way to or from our family gathering. It was very windy. Several things surprise me about this. 1) I didn't get stopped even though the license plate was blowing all around dangling on the two wires. 2) The two wires held and I still have a license plate this morning. 3) The light still works.

The Vikings-Eagles game has been postponed to Tuesday. I think the Vikings are entering into uncharted waters when we start talking about seasons of high expectations going awry. I think their bizarre 2010 season tops the Saints 2005 Katrina season. We have a new lead standard. Sorry, Viking fans.

About today's QOTD: It disturbs privacy advocates that the police were able to find that guy using their CCTV. It might have saved his life, though, and don't we want the police to be able to find people they're looking for? Yeah, the big brother aspect of it bothers me, too, but if that was my dad ...

CrabAppleLane Bike Carrier and License Plate Bracket - December 26, 2010

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. You Make Loving Fun - Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
2. Scotch & Chocolate - Nickel Creek - Why Should The Fire Die?
3. Woodstock - Joni Mitchell - Ladies Of The Canyon
4. The Becoming - Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
5. Pieces Of The Night - Gin Blossoms - New Miserable Experience

Quote of the Day

A grandfather who fell victim to the airport snow chaos while trying to take his wife to catch a Christmas holiday flight, spent three days driving around the M4 motorway trying to find his way home.

Daily Mail

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Hanging up mistletoe is a practice that dates as far back as the time of the ancient druids"

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As Time Goes By is one of those warm and subtle British comedies that Patsy and I both love and that only the Brits seem to be able to do. We caught it one night on our local PBS station and we were instantly hooked. I had no idea what season we were in when we jumped in and our PBS station has been rather erratic about showing it so, for me, getting the complete set was the way to go. I thought it was a bargain when I pulled the trigger on the purchase and watching the very first episode last night confirmed it. Watching it in order whenever we want is going to be fun. This is outstanding television. Highly recommended.

I'm now in the market for a new computer monitor. My 17" flat screen went out this morning. I plugged in my 15" flat screen and it will get me through the weekend but my old eyes need a bigger screen these days. I have to sit way back from the computer to be able to focus on the text on this smaller monitor at my preferred 1024 X 768 resolution. I've been using the 17" at home and a 20" at work. I'll be getting a 20". Would like to go even bigger but 24" and above are still too expensive.

The spectacular winter weather at CrabAppleLane continues. Roofie is still here. She's a female Rufous Hummingbird and is still very skittish. She never perches on the feeder. I offer two from this Christmas Eve morning and the last one is from this afternoon. Hard to tell from any of the photos I took of the fox squirrel but it is about twice the size of the gray squirrels and it thoroughly dominates them. It is faster and can jump higher and farther. They give it a wide berth.

Roofie - Christmas Eve 2010

CrabAppleLane Backyard - Christmas Eve 2010 - Got rake?

CrabAppleLane Fox Squirrel - December 24, 2010

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Top 25 Most Played:

1. The Shape I'm In - The Band - The Best Of The Band - 7 plays
2. I Think It's Going To Rain Today - Bette Midler - Beaches - 7 plays
3. Little Green Bag - George Baker Selection - Little Green Bag - 9 plays
4. Til I Hear It From You - Gin Blossoms - Empire Records Soundtrack - 6 plays
5. All Mixed Up - The Cars - The Cars - 6 plays

Quote of the Day

How many statement games must one team play? Well, here’s one more. Falcons win and cover 2½.

Jeff Schultz, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Mayor Kasim Reed was at practice on Thursday, drumming up support for a pep rally the City of Atlanta will host at 12 noon Monday in the Atrium of City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue, S.W."

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Today figures to be a tough game for the Saints. I know the Baltimore Ravens pretty much by reputation only. I don't get to see them that much. I watched some of their game Monday night versus the Texans. The Ravens defense did not live up to their reputation in that game. I expect them to revert to form today but they're going to see a Saints offense who can do everything the Texans did and I expect they'll try to do just that. They'll play up tempo, run personnel groups in and out, and make the Ravens pass rush a lot and chase receivers, tight ends, and running backs all over the field. It figures to be a slugfest but if the Saints take care of the ball, they'll take care of the Ravens. Just one more thing

I offer one from the backyard today. Hope it's this nice where you are, especially if you're in Baltimore. :)

CrabAppleLane Backyard - December 19, 2010

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

1. Natural Thing - UFO - No Heavy Petting
2. Never Gonna Change - Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South
3. New Slang - The Shins - Oh, Inverted World
4. No Easy Road - Wishbone Ash - Wishbone Four
5. Not Fragile - Bachman-Turner Overdrive - Not Fragile

Quote of the Day

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "When the Ravens have the ball: The Ravens don’t likely want to engage in a shootout with the Saints. With that in mind, I think they are going to come out running the ball with Ray Rice & Willis McGahee this Sunday. The Saints only have 9 interceptions so far this year so Joe Flacco should have plenty of time to throw the ball. Flacco will likely take some shots down the field to Anquan Boldin, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Derrick Mason."

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Man, I must be old: When I started working and I first had to see someone's driver's license, I remember thinking this person is "really old". He had a 4-digit Louisiana license number. I had a low 7-digit Louisiana license number at the time so the number of people that got their license between him and I was in the low seven digits. I thought that to be a fairly good indicator of age. I saw a high 8-digit Louisiana license number the other day. I don't care to think about it any more.

New discovery: Stopped at the local Winn-Dixie grocery store yesterday to pick up some ham and turkey for po-boys for lunch. When I asked for a pound and a half of smoked turkey, the nice lady at their deli counter asked me if I'd like to try their in-store rotisserie turkey. Sure, why not? I have always loved to make sandwiches with leftover turkey. It was the best part of Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner. Store-bought sliced turkey is just not as good. This rotisserie turkey is. Thank you, Winn-Dixie deli lady.

NCAA: Congratulations to the Auburn Tigers for their SEC Championship. I expect them to take care of Oregon, too. TCU at 12-0 is odd Horned Frog out. They did everything they could do and it wasn't enough. Nothing fair about it and, once again, the NCAA and BCS will have to explain themselves. That part is good.

NFL: Saints are in Cincinnati today battling the Bengals AND the elements. Expecting wind, bitter cold, and snow flurries. Advantage: Bengals.

Images: I offer two from the backyard. One was taken this morning and the other was taken about 8 months ago. That bright green grass you see in the garden is rye grass. I haven't planted rye grass in many, many years. It typically doesn't come back on its own in this area. I think tilling the garden in the spring for tomato planting protects the rye seeds from the hot Bush summer sun.

After - CrabAppleLane Backyard - December 5, 2010

Before - CrabAppleLane Vegetable Garden - April 3, 2010

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Ballad of Dwight Fry - Alice Cooper - Love It to Death
2. Feelin' Bad Blues - Ry Cooder - Crossroads
3. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window - Joe Cocker - Joe Cocker!
4. Bargain - The Who - Who's Next
5. Come Sail Away - Styx - The Grand Illusion

Quote of the Day

I think I lost some weight there
And I'm sure I need some rest
Sleeping don't come very easy
In a straight white vest

Alice Cooper, Ballad of Dwight Fry

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "When Portland designer, filmmaker, and photographer Lubosh Cech was ready to build his own chicken coop, he wanted it to be a work of art."

The blog features about 1001 ways to build a chicken coup ... with pictures. Awesome. -Rob

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We went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 yesterday. I won't put any spoilers in this entry. The comments, if I get any, may have some so beware. This Harry Potter film is, by far, the darkest and most grownup of the franchise so far yet there is still something truly wonderful that stirs when the lights go down and that opening scene music starts. Very rarely does a 2½-hour movie not seem like a 5½-hour movie to me but this one pulls it off. Part 1 did its job. It built strong momentum for a big finale. I hope the filmmakers are up to it.

Two matinee theater tickets, two large drinks, and a large, semi-scorched popcorn: $36. Pretty amazing, isn't it? We had two little girls in front of us at the concession stand. I'm guessing twelve and fourteen. Twelve paid with a Mastercard. Don't know who or how many they were buying for but the two of them could barely carry it all. It was $65-$70 worth of candy/popcorn/soda. Might have been just for them, though, and I'd kinda like to know what the final tally was for their afternoon. :)

I saw bits of NFL Films' tribute to Bill Parcells and I agree with the Tampa Tribune. He's a great coach and he did a great job with the Giants. They left one thing out, though. He's a quitter. Bit of a commitment-phobe, too. He quit on the Giants, Patriots, Jets, Cowboys, and now, the Dolphins. He also bailed on a few teams before he even got started. Read somewhere that he wants to get back in the game as coach. He'll have suitors, too. I'm just glad my favorite team won't be one of them.

About today's QOTD: Ever get the impression that the question AND the answer are fairly obvious? Question: Why are the dogs dysfunctional? Answer: If someone thinks spending $3000 to housebreak their two dogs is normal, it kinda tells me the dogs aren't the main problem here. I think I could have successfully housebroken them for about half that :)

I offer one from the CrabAppleLane Baockyard.

CrabAppleLane Wildlife - November 28, 2010

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Sick And Tired - Eric Clapton - Pilgrim
2. Help Me - Joni Mitchell - Court And Spark
3. Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-V) - Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
4. Back To Tupelo - Mark Knopfler - Shangri-La
5. Don't Damn Me - Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion I

Quote of the Day

NO RUSH TO WALK DOGS They go inside, on paper. I think I have the only two dogs in the world who cross their legs when you take them outside; they’re dysfunctional! We spent $3,000 trying to get them trained to make outside, and the trainer finally told us, “I’m afraid there’s nothing else I can do.” But they’re such sweet dogs.

Dr. Patricia Wexler

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Fail to scoop your dog’s poop in the English borough of Walsall, and you could be fined a whopping £1,000 ($1,573) if the local Council approves proposed new rules. Let your dog off leash, and it would be another £1,000. Ouch. Leashless poopetrators beware!"

That's ridiculously excessive and will have horrific consequences. Dog owner about to receive a citation that carries a £1,000 fine: "He's not my dog". Off to the pound he goes and the family pet is adopted by someone else or put down. I'm OK with the former, especially if the new family is better for him, but not OK so much with the latter. -Rob

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I'd like to talk to the networks about the NFL Sunday schedule here. We get the Jets-Texans on CBS for the early game and the Saints-Seahawks on Fox for the late game. No Colts-Pats in the late game and no Vikings-Packers in the early game (This one looks like it will result in some bloodletting this week).

I offer a couple of images from the CrabAppleLane weekend.

About the first image: I bought one of those hose attachments that is made for washing debris out of your gutters mainly just to see if I can do it. The verdict is that this will work fine as a maintenance tool but I think I'll need to have them professionally cleaned the first time. After an hour of backbreaking hosing and serious equilibrium strain, I think I only cleared about 3 feet of gutter.

About the second image: Earlier in the afternoon, I got up on the ladder and dusted the dormer window. This window was not well thought out on our part. It is impossible to get to without scaffolding on the inside. I can't open the window to clean it with the ladder I have. The lovely spider you see is manning the web in the peak of the window on the outside. Can't imagine what kind of meals she gets up there but she must be getting something. Bon appetit.

CrabAppleLane Back Deck - November 21, 2010

CrabAppleLane Living Room Dormer Window - November 21, 2010

About today's QOTD: I'm thinking Britons prefer William succeed the throne mainly because his old man is a twit.

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

1. Rock 'n Roll Soul [Live] - Grand Funk Railroad - Caught In The Act
2. The Real Me - The Who - Quadrophenia
3. Romeo and Juliet - Mark Knopfler - Live From The Ryman
4. Rock The Nation - Montrose - Montrose
5. Roll Tide (Includes Hymn 'Eternal Father Strong To Save') - Hans Zimmer - Crimson Tide

Quote of the Day

Charles is seen by some as too old to inject vitality in the monarchy should he eventually succeed his mother.

Reuters via MSNBC

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Well, dearie me, the X Factor is riven with discord once again – and once again it is Brazilian showman Wagner who appears to be at the centre of the problem."

Who writes like this? -Rob

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I thought I had spotted our Buff-Bellied Hummingbird friend, whom we had nicknamed Buffy, last weekend. We missed Buffy last winter. As it turns out, I don't think this one is Buffy. The one visiting us right now (Pictured below) does not have as much green and does not chatter, chatter, chatter like Buffy did. Wish I'd had better light today. I think this new visitor is a female Rufous Hummingbird. She's quite welcome here and I will keep nectar out for her as long as she wants to stay. We've decided to name this one Roofie (Original, I know).

CrabAppleLane Rufous Hummingbird - November 14, 2010

CrabAppleLane Rufous Hummingbird - November 14, 2010

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star playlist:

1. A Light In The Black - Rainbow - Rising
2. Rock 'n Roll Soul [Live] - Grand Funk Railroad - Caught In The Act
3. '39 - Queen - A Night At The Opera
4. You're The One - Maire Brennan & Shane McGowan - Circle of Friends Soundtrack
5. Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who - Who's Next

Quote of the Day

Goudie said the Honda passed the motorcycles, but a Dodge Avenger swerving to avoid hitting the Honda struck the motorcycles head on.

Rick Martin, CNN

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Since Great Horned Owls start nesting in January — one of (if not the) first nesting birds of the year — the winter doldrums are helped when I can find a nest to watch and photograph."

Love the fuzz. -Rob

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Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott give us a slightly different and slightly gritter version of Robin Hood. I don't think the title character is called Robin Hood even once in the film. Fair enough. It's not all grit and dirt and this-is-what-it-must-have-been-like, though. It's quite fanciful in its own way. The Sheriff of Nottingham is only a minor, whiny character in this tale. The real villain in this film is a double agent and that makes for an interesting twist. Crowe is fine as Robin Hood and Cate Blanchett is fantastic, as always, as Lady Marion. The legend of Robin Hood never really gets old with me but this particular film did. It was way too long ... but not at all bad. Thumbs up.

What an exciting game yesterday in Baton Rouge. Excellent win for the Tigers. Les Miles has been coaching in the shadow of Nick Saban since he's been at LSU. People, including a fair number of Tiger fans, were even somewhat skeptical of his national championship. Those skeptics say he did that with mostly Saban players. Well, yesterday, a team of his players beat a team of Nick Saban's players and he thoroughly outcoached Saban in the second half. Miles loves his team. His team doesn't always give anyone good reason to believe in them but he always does ... and just what the hell is wrong with that?

About today's QOTD: Someday, Tiger fans are going to miss Les Miles.

Carolina is not a very good team but they always play well against the Saints. I expect a tough one today in Charlotte.

We fired up the wood pellet stove for the first time yesterday. Winter is around the corner at CrabAppleLane. I was very pleased with its performance, which is a relief if it continues. I had a lot of trouble with it last year. I have a better understanding of its operation today than I did yesterday thanks to a visit to The Woodstove Shop.

While cleaning the stove yesterday, I had to stop midway through the job due to a Buffy sighting. I'm not absolutely certain it's Buffy but it's definitely not a ruby-throated hummingbird. I washed my hands immediately and filled her feeders with fresh nectar. I didn't see him/her at all last winter. We don't know if Buffy is male or female but Patsy gave her the name so we're just referring to her as Buffy until we have conclusive proof that she should have a different name. No sign of her this morning, though, and that kinda bums me out. I was hoping for another winter with her. I'm keeping an eye out for her and I'll be keeping the nectar fresh. I offer one from the CrabAppleLane backyard.

CrabAppleLane Backyard - November 7, 2010

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star playlist:

1. The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn - Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live
2. Victim Of Changes - Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny
3. Clocks - Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head
4. Communication Breakdown - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I
5. You Really Got Me - Van Halen - Van Halen

Quote of the Day

It wasn’t just that the Bayou Bengals came back twice from fourth-quarter deficits, or that they once again used some slight-of-hand trickeration to stay in the game, or Jarrett Lee‘s improbable 47-yard completion on third-and-13 with under 2:40 left and clinging to a three-point lead, or that… well… yes it was all of that, every damn bit of it that inexplicably worked in symphonic concert with that horseshoe the Mad Hatter has shoved somewhere on/up his person in 2010 that crushed the Tide’s hopes in Nick Saban‘s second return trip to the Bayou.

John Taylor, NBC Sports

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "It is a rich and ancient legend, the popularity of which is no doubt sustained across the decades because of its fascinating links with contemporary affairs. Green issues? Environment? Recession? Banker’s bonuses? It’s all in there. Even, sadly, issues concerning East / West wars."

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It was a few months before I could go back to work in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The part of New Orleans I worked in was a mess and it was a difficult time for anyone who lived and worked in southeast Louisiana. One of the things I liked to do was eat lunch in City Park in New Orleans. There was a lot on my mind then and the park provided a quiet sanctuary. I was there most days without another soul in sight. It was bittersweet, though, because City Park should always be filled with laughing, playing, screaming kids, people walking their dogs, people feeding the ducks, etc. Bogue Falaya Wayside Park in Covington somewhat reminds me of City Park in those days simply because we almost always have the park to ourselves when we eat lunch there. It is one of our favorite things to do. It was a nice, cool, windy day.

Bogue Falaya Wayside Park - November 4, 2010

Bogue Falaya Wayside Park - November 4, 2010

Bogue Falaya Wayside Park - November 4, 2010

About today's QOTD: Burning Bridges has always been a favorite and is forever associated with the opening scene of Kelly's Heroes, an all-time favorite film that I first saw at the Kenner Joy Theater.

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star playlist:

1. All Right Now - Free - Harley-Davidson Cycles: Road Songs
2. Welcome to the Machine - Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
3. Somebody To Love - Jefferson Airplane - Women In Rock, Vol.1: 1953-1971
4. How Many More Times - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I
5. Burning Bridges - The Mike Curb Congregation - Greatest Hits

Quote of the Day

All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore

Mike Curb Congregation, Burning Bridges

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Quentin Tarantino paid wonderful reverence to Kelly’s Heroes when he used one of composer Lalo Schifrin’s music cues in the final act of Inglourious Basterds. I knew the music right away and grinned ear to ear when I heard it. Thinking back, I bet Tarantino was chomping at the bit to use the even more fun theme song of Kelly’s Heroes, ‘Burning Bridges’ by The Mike Curb Congregation."

Now, I have to see that one. -Rob

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Happy Halloween

Got plans? You might think mine involve the game tonight. You'd be right. :)

Steelers (5-1) v Saints (4-3) tonight in the SuperDome. Turnovers will be the key tonight like they almost always are for the Saints. When they take care of the ball, they win. When they don't, they usually lose. Turnovers killed them in all three of their losses. The opponent doesn't much matter. Every single team the Saints have faced this season has had some fire in their belly. They need to return fire tonight. I'd like the Saints chances better if they were healthier but no excuses, no quarter. Play your game, Saints. Take care of the ball and you'll take care of the Steelers.

As of this writing, the Jaguars are up on the Cowboys, 28-3, in Dallas. Big Trouble brewing in Big D. Someone may get fired DURING that game.

I offer three from the CrabAppleLane Backyard. If you're keeping score, it goes no maintenance, maintenance, no maintenance. The maintenance is the bent axle. It needs to be replaced. I always bend the right front axle on the finish mower. This is the third time I've done it. It happens when I don't lift the mower when I'm cutting near my driveway. You ever try to merge onto the interstate when they're resurfacing and the interstate is higher? Finish mowers aren't built for that sort of thing.

CrabAppleLane Blue Ginger - October 31, 2010

CrabAppleLane Required Maintenance - October 31, 2010

CrabAppleLane Trail Flowers - October 31, 2010

About today's QOTD: If you've ever read anything about Vlad the Impaler, you will know he is much scarier than the Dracula in Bram Stoker's novel. Bram Stoker's Dracula is very loosely based on Vlad. For what it's worth, Dracula is my all-time favorite book. Love it. There is a passage in that novel that still sends shivers down my spine. Anyone who has read the book knows the exact passage I'm talking about.

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star playlist:

1. Only Happy When It Rains - Garbage - Garbage
2. Til I Hear It From You - Gin Blossoms - Empire Records
3. Wind Up - Jethro Tull - Aqualung
4. Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits - Alchemy
5. All Mixed Up - The Cars - The Cars

Quote of the Day

I think it's really clever to bring tourists in with the Dracula myth. But it's our duty to share real stories with tourists.

Mark Tudose, Transylvania

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "The Saints are thin at running back and banged up in the secondary while the Steelers are banged up on the defensive line. Both teams can be really dangerous on offense and through the air. The Saints certainly miss what Reggie Bush adds to the offense and Brees has played very un-Brees like thus far in 2010. I think you could see some high scoring in this game and quite a few big plays. I think the Steelers are the deeper of the two teams still and are better coached as well. Steelers get a late defensive or special teams touchdown to win this one. Final Score: Steelers 34 Saints 31"

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We try to make it to the Columbia Street Block Party in Old Covington at least once a year. It's held on the last Friday of every month from March until October. After a delightful dinner at New Orleans Food & Spirits a few blocks away, we went to the block party last night. The shops along Columbia Street stay open later and hold a sort of open house. It's a real throwback event. One website describes it this way:

Street Festival - Classic Car Display - 200 thru 500 block Columbia St. - 6:30pm-9:30pm - FREE FAMILY EVENT

Close enough. Lots of people dressed in their Halloween costumes last night. It was really fun. I have been in H J Smith & Sons General Store a few times but never with the camera. The store is a museum now. It's next to the hardware store of the same name and it has been run by the Smith family since 1876, I think. I have leftovers from last night calling to me now but I'll give a little rundown of the pics below: The fire truck with its wooden ladders is all kinds of awesome but the Coca-Cola delivery truck somehow tops it in my mind. Love the guy in the trench coat but I'm not sure who he is supposed to represent. Is he you going out in the middle of the night for fuses or is he the bad guy who sees your house in the dark?

H J Smith & Sons General Store Museum - October 29, 2010

H J Smith & Sons General Store Museum - October 29, 2010

H J Smith & Sons General Store Museum - October 29, 2010

H J Smith & Sons General Store Museum - October 29, 2010

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Wishbone Ash playlist:

1. Ballad of the Beacon - Wishbone Ash - Wishbone Four
2. Throw Down The Sword - Wishbone Ash - Argus
3. No Easy Road - Wishbone Ash - Wishbone Four
4. Baby What You Want Me To Do - Wishbone Ash - Live Dates [1973]
5. Jail Bait - Wishbone Ash - Live Dates [1973]

Quote of the Day

Watch me join the circus
Watch me steal the show
There aint no easy money
There aint No Easy Road

Wishbone Ash, No Easy Road

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Sunday night in New Orleans the past two Super Bowl champs go at it, and the Steelers have a shot to move to 6-1 on the year against a Saints team that is soul searching after a bad home loss to the Browns last week. The Steelers are coming off a 23-22 win over the Dolphins last week, and are hoping to continue their run as what many think is the best team in the AFC and the NFL."

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So much for what I think. LSU was lucky to be in that game at all. Cam Newton had his way with the LSU defense. He ran on them and he passed on them. LSU had no answer for him. Nothing fancy about it, either. They had good defenses called most of the time. He just broke the tackles. He's this year's Heisman Trophy winner. They can start engraving his name now.

Congratulations to the

On their way to World Series to face the Texas Rangers. The networks weep. Good. :)

Oh, and Ryan Howard, how do you not swing at that pitch? Down to your last strike for the season, you have to protect the plate. I don't think it was a strike, either, but the "swing at anything close with two strikes" philosophy applies to the big leagues, too.

On paper, the Saints-Browns game today in the SuperDome should be no contest. They don't play the game on paper, though. The Saints will be playing without their two starting cornerbacks and their two starting running backs. They'll be OK at running back because of Chris Ivory. Don't know what to expect at cornerback (Update: It has already cost the Saints a touchdown). The Browns play decent defense and I'm not sure what to expect out of Colt McCoy. Last year's Saints players, Scott Fujita and Mike Bell, will be on the field today for the Browns. I hope they get a warm reception. They contributed their share to the Super Bowl team last year. As usual ... if the Saints take care of the ball, they'll take care of the Browns (Saints are down, 0-10 already. I hate slow starts.).

I offer one on this mild CrabAppleLane Sunday.

CrabAppleLane Grilling - October 24, 2010

About today's QOTD: Are the photos now going to be compared to the ... oh, never mind. There's no way this isn't going to be a distraction for him or his football team. It may have had a chance to go away at one time but not now.

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Five Star playlist:

1. Poison - Alice Cooper - Alice Cooper Classicks
2. Live Wire - Starz - Starz
3. My Parties - Dire Straits - On Every Street
4. Because The Night - 10,000 Maniacs - MTV Unplugged
5. Already Gone - The Eagles - Their Greatest Hits

Quote of the Day

Brett Favre admitted to the NFL this week that he did leave voicemails for Jenn Sterger, but denied sending the former sideline hostess any lewd photographs when he was a member of the New York Jets, Fox Sports reported Sunday.

ESPN

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "They estimate that 66 million pounds of sheep’s cheeses are imported to this country every year, yet very little sheep cheese is produced in the United States."

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It was about 12:45 this afternoon and I hadn't eaten yet when I decided to take a short ride on the Tammany Trace. The Trace is an old rail line and there are residences whose property lines are within a few feet/yards of it. I rode through backyard barbecue aroma for about five of the six miles I rode today.

Visited five more places yesterday in search of Brussels sprouts. No luck. Planted some broccoli and cauliflower today, though. Still have lots of room.

Tammany Trace Trumpet Vines - October 10, 2010

Tammany Trace - October 10, 2010

CrabAppleLane Fall Garden - October 10, 2010

The LSU Tigers are 5-0 this morning after a bizarre game in Tiger Stadium yesterday. Despite lopsided statistics in LSU's favor, I think Tennessee outplayed them. The Tigers will probably move up in the polls but they are frauds. The Tigers have fantastic athletes all over the field and that has made up for horribly undisciplined play at times. It has also made up for very poor play at quarterback. The meat of their schedule is here now and that won't continue. The calls for Les Miles' head are getting louder every week. The SEC is loaded with great athletes and great coaches. One or the other is not enough. If LSU wants to contend, they need both. They have the athletes.

No turnovers the first two weeks: Two wins. Three turnovers last week: Loss. The Panthers have never been an easy out for the Saints. They have been in the same division since the Panthers came into the league. There is a lot of history to draw from. Both Saints starting running backs, Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas, and Saints strong safety, Roman Harper, are out for this afternoon's game. Even as short-handed as they are, there is no way Carolina should beat the Saints today without generous help ... from the Saints. Don't be so generous this time. Take care of the ball, take care of the Panthers.

I don't give much of a darn about the Ryder Cup but it did make for a spectacular image.

I offer two from the back deck on this gorgeous autumn CrabAppleLane Sunday.

CrabAppleLane - October 3, 2010

CrabAppleLane Backyard - October 3, 2010

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Music Box - Phillip Glass - Candyman
2. Not That Funny - Fleetwood Mac - Tusk
3. Love Is All Around - The Troggs - The British Invasion: The History Of British Rock, Vol. 8
4. Sea And Sand - The Who - Quadrophenia [Disc 2]
5. The Courier - Randy Edelman - The Last Of The Mohicans

Quote of the Day

May the undertaker bury you, your table and your body, which has soiled the world.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "It's times like this the Panthers has risen up in their history to take an opponent by storm. Will it be today?"

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How to describe The Good Guys? It's kind of a buddy cop show. Jack Bailey, played by Colin Hanks, Tom Hanks' son, is a decent cop. They've partnered him with Dan Stark, played by Bradley Whitford. Stark is an old school cop who doesn't do anything by the book. He and his former partner solved a big case many years ago and the department is pretty much forced to keep him on even though they think he's washed up. Stark is a loose cannon and Bailey is basically his babysitter. They've been assigned to the property crimes division aka cop purgatory mainly to keep them out of trouble. From there, they stumble and bumble their way ala Inspector Clouseau into bigger crimes. It galls their superiors and their colleagues. It's ridiculous and it will absolutely make you cringe sometimes but I dare you not to smile. The Good Guys will grow on you.

The Saints take on the Falcons today in the SuperDome. The two teams are old rivals. It figures to be another tight one and it also figures to be very physical. Both teams are pretty good and know each other very well. I expect the Falcons offense to have some success against the Saints defense. I'm very interested to see how the Falcons defense handles the Saints offense. They've played well in the first two games but Drew Brees is a few rungs up the QB ladder from Dennis Dixon and Derek Anderson. That will be the key today. The Falcons are a popular choice to upset the Saints today in the SuperDome and they seem to be a very confident bunch. It's a good test for the Saints.

I offer two images from CrabAppleLane taken just a few minutes ago.

From the CrabAppleLane back deck - September 26, 2010

CrabAppleLane hummingbird heading back to her perch - September 26, 2010

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane Black Sabbath playlist:

1. Snowblind - Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath Vol. 4 (Remaster)
2. Dirty Woman - Black Sabbath - Technical Ecstasy
3. Paranoid - Black Sabbath - Paranoid
4. Wheels Of Confusion / The Straightener - Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath Vol. 4 (Remaster)
5. Symptom Of The Universe - Black Sabbath - Sabotage (Remaster)

Quote of the Day

I guess in this world, we don't have a lot of people with backbones. Just because somebody pay you money don't mean they'll make you do whatever they want. I mean, that means everything is for sale. I mean, I'm not for sale. Yeah, I signed the contract and got paid a lot of money, but just because, that don't mean I'm for sale or a slave or whatever.

Albert Haynesworth, Washington Redskins

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "This game is a proving grounds for the Falcons."

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Decided to set up the camera, use what I learned a few days ago, and try to capture their activity in the morning. Didn't think I had enough light but it turned out OK. You can hear the news in the background mentioning this week's Saints-Falcons game. This is what we get to watch just outside our living room window. It is one of our greatest joys. For what it's worth, there is another feeder out. It gets hardly any visitors. Not sure what the deal is with this location but it gets, by far, the most activity. They are swarming now because they're about to head south for the winter. Not sure if these are all regular visitors or if some of them are heading south from northern climes. They're all welcome. Enjoy.

The CrabAppleLane tractor and tiller put up their usual good fight yesterday but, once again, I prevailed. The fall garden is ready for planting. After about an hour's worth of hitching up the tiller in the September sun and 15-20 minutes of actual tilling, I was a little more beat than I expected. Think it was tractor/tiller revenge. I offer the two images below, before and after.

Before - CrabAppleLane Spring Garden - September 18, 2010

After - CrabAppleLane Fall garden - September 18, 2010

For the second Sunday in a row, NO Saints game. Hate it.

Vikings fans can thank me later for their win today over the Dolphins. I benched Brett Favre this morning on my fantasy team in favor of Kyle Orton. Just have no confidence in the Vike passing game yet. This pretty much ensures a 450yd-6TD performance.

About today's QOTD: Thanks, Mike.

5 song iTune shuffle from the CrabAppleLane May 22, 2010 #2 playlist:

1. Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits - Dire Straits
2. On The Turning Away - Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse Of Reason
3. Worlds Apart - Bruce Springsteen - The Rising
4. Time Stand Still - Rush - Chronicles [Disc 2]
5. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III

Quote of the Day

We will not try to stop Drew Brees, we will stop Drew Brees.

Mike Singletary, San Francisco 49ers

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Storm Clouds and Late Day Sun"

Lovely photoblog. -Rob

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Glad the Saints have one in the win column this morning but not wild about the disruption to my Sunday game routine. Only have 8 Sunday noon games this season. It is the one downside to last year's success. I have a free weekend of NFL Sunday Ticket this week but I doubt I'll be watching much football today or tomorrow. Although the game didn't live up to the hype Thursday night, I am very pleased with the outcome and the effort. I love the Saints' mental toughness in the fourth quarters of close games. That's the major difference between 2009-10 and 2006-07-08. They'll have their share of blowouts this season but that mental toughness will be what separates them from most of the teams in the NFL. We have a serious Super Bowl contender here in New Orleans, folks.

I offer one from the CrabAppleLane front yard on this hot Sunday afternoon.

CrabAppleLane Crepe Myrtle - September 12, 2010

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Principles Of Lust [(A) Sadeness, (B) Find Love, (C) Sadeness (Reprise)] - Enigma - MCMXC a.D.
2. Blossom - James Taylor - Sweet Baby James
3. Time In A Bottle - Jim Croce - AM Gold 1970-1974
4. Posthuman - Marilyn Manson - Mechanical Animals
5. Mama Told Me (Not To Come) - Three Dog Night - AM Gold 1970-1974

Quote of the Day

The head was getting a bit loose, so we worked together and figured out how to stabilize things. I think he will be good for awhile.

Bioanthropologist Ron Beckett

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Checking the mail has never been so much fun. One by one, Postcards from the Gulf are returning from the studios of artists on three continents."

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Got plans? It's still a spectacular Labor Day weekend here at CrabAppleLane. I have some computer stuff to do but hope to get out on the bike this afternoon.

The plan was to go get some cheap fast food last night and eat it in Bogue Falaya Wayside Park. It is one of our favorite things to do. When the weather cools a bit, we'll be doing it for lunch once or twice a week. We arrive at the park at about 6:50PM. As we drive through the double-gated entrance, Patsy notices they close at 7PM. We park, get out, and start our meal. About 5 minutes in, I wonder aloud how hard and fast that 7PM closing time is. Two minutes later, we find out. A park official rides up to us first in one of their carts, slows down just a little, and says to us, "Closing up". The park is not very big and it takes him maybe a minute to make the rounds warning everyone. When he's finished at about 6:58PM, he rides up to the entrance and closes one of the gates. Message received. We got out of there. We finished eating in my truck at the Trailhead Park. It was a spectacular evening. I offer a few images that I like.

Covington Trailhead Park - September 5, 2010

Former Covington Train Station - September 5, 2010

Covington Landmark - September 5, 2010

Prominently displayed inside the Woodwright Shop - September 5, 2010 - No idea what this thing is or what it does. Had all sorts of knobs, levers, and rollers. Just thought it was cool.

Covington Mural - September 5, 2010

Today's QOTD is from former Chicago Bear Dan Hampton.

The excitement of Thursday night's Saints-Vikings season opener is starting to build here. The City of New Orleans will pretty much shut down Thursday afternoon. The game is all anyone will be thinking and talking about. It is thoroughly ridiculous to put that much emphasis on the very first game of the season but it's also nearly impossible not to. Crank this mother up ...

3 days until football season ...

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Chain Of Fools - The Commitments - The Commitments
2. Gypsy - Black Sabbath - Technical Ecstasy
3. Copland: Appalachian Spring - Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Copland: Greatest Hits
4. The You Can Tell Me Goodbye - The Casinos - Super Hits
5. The Dogs Of War - Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse Of Reason

Quote of the Day

The Vikings need to go down there and hit that town like Katrina.

Dan Hampton, NFL Hall-of-Famer

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "The short version is that I have taught for about 30 years. I currently teach in a very “at risk” elementary school – almost 100% free lunch and almost 90% second language learners. I usually “roll” a class for 3 years. I get them as 4th graders and keep them through 6th grade. Poverty causes a high rate of turnover, so I usually end with a little more than half of the students I started with after 3 years. Some years I have 20 or more changes in my classroom. I have the only 1:1 elementary laptop classroom in a school district of 63,000 students. My state (Nevada) funds education 50th in the country."

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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It turns out that Group C at the World Cup was a disappointment. The US team went down to Ghana yesterday and the UK team was trounced today by Germany. Won't be much English spoken at the World Cup this year. :)

Seen in a documentary last night: Somewhere in the south during World War II, nine black US Marines watched as white Army prison guards escorted German POWs into a restaurant that the Marines were told they couldn't enter. My guess is the restaurant owners probably fancied themselves as patriots, too. Enemy troops welcome, our own troops not? Patriots isn't the first word that comes to mind here.

LSU football and baseball star, Chad Jones, was injured in a horrific automobile crash in New Orleans Friday morning. He is one of two student athletes to play on a National Champion in both baseball and football. The other is his teammate at LSU, Jared Mitchell. The future was really bright for Chad. He was drafted in the 3rd round by the New York Giants to play safety. He's a fantastic athlete. He's a more polished football player at this point but I really thought his career was going to be in baseball. Although he's shown below playing right field, he surprised his teammates and head coach while throwing some pitches one day last year just horsing around. He's a left-handed pitcher that throws very hard (Low 90s). He's very raw and had almost no formal pitching instruction. I thought he was a great prospect. All of that is in jeopardy now. Good Luck, Chad.

Outfielder Chad Jones at Alex Box Stadium

Just for fun, I offer the "Girls with Glasses" below. The sound is great but the person who shot the video fooled around a little too much to suit me. I don't know much about them but I think they're four individual artists that collaborated for one tour. They are fantastic together. Enjoy.

I offer one from the backyard that I took just before the thunderstorm came.

CrabAppleLane Texas Star Hibiscus - June 27, 2010

74 days until football season ...

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

1. Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream - Disraeli Gears
2. Skateaway - Dire Straits - Making Movies
3. Sucker Row - Mark Knopfler - Shangri-La
4. Stone Cold Crazy - Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
5. Soldier Of Fortune - Deep Purple - Stormbringer

Quote of the Day

Jones was drafted in the third round by the New York Giants in April, and signed his contract with the team last week. He was also drafted by two Major League Baseball teams, the Houston Astros and the Milwaukee Brewers.

WDSU.com

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "We do a handful of things – create music, paint, dance, watch “The Biggest Loser” – that are not “productive” or “useful.” They’re the things we do out of sheer joy or fear or boredom."

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Happy Father's Day, Dad - Miss you

Just a few tidbits on a hot CrabAppleLane Sunday.

• The CrabAppleLane Award for the kid who had to have had one of the most awful times in school goes to Clement von Franckenstein. Do you think there are any Frankenstein jokes he hasn't heard? He was in a movie we watched yesterday.

• Just say NO to a longer NFL season. There ought to be a "No Tinker" rule in the NFL. They should only be able to tinker with the game, except for issues regarding player safety, at 10 year intervals. Let the game evolve naturally.

• 16381 spam comments on this blog have been blocked since I activated TypePad AntiSpam (June 2008). That's a ridiculous number for an obscure place such as this, don't you think?

• When I close an ad on Facebook as "uninteresting", I get the following response:

  Thanks for your feedback. Over time, this information helps us deliver more relevant ads to you.

  For the record, I don't find that to be a particularly desirable result, either. I suppose I should just ignore them.

• What ever happened to those "Baseball Fever: Catch It" commercials? I used to love those. This play by Minnesota Twins catcher, Joe Mauer, would definitely make a good one. I meant to link that awesome play last week but I forgot. I saw it on a show I've been recording off of the MLB channel called the Plays of the Week. If you love baseball, I highly recommend it. They count down the 100 best plays of the week. It's nothing but clutch hits and defensive gems. That they can find 100 in every week's worth of games is part of baseball's magic

• About today's QOTD: I commented on that when I read about it but I didn't add the great zinger. I have serious issues with the Irsay family for moving that team out of Baltimore and I have issues with the way Bill Polian runs the team but those 53 players deserve better fans than they've got considering what that team has done not only in the last 8-10 years but pretty much the majority of their time in Indianapolis. The Saints would have had more than 11 fans welcoming them home even if they'd have lost the Super Bowl by a hundred. One other thing on that. A Colts fan had this to say in the Indianapolis Star:

  But we were so out-numbered in the stands by these "poor down-troddened'' New Orleans Saints fans that we could not even be heard. It seemed to be that the Saints fans either were given more tickets or given better deals that kept all of us hard-working, middle class true-blue Colts fans home.

  Setting aside the silly notion that ALL Saints fans are "down-troddened'', what she's saying is not an indictment of New Orleans. It's an indictment of Indianapolis. Colts fans had the exact same opportunities for tickets Saints fans had and, still, the "down-troddened" outnumbered the "hard-working, middle class true-blue". It wasn't better deals. It was better fans.

I offer two from the same area of the CrabAppleLane backyard six months apart. Love the contrast between drab January and sunny June. Prefer the weather in drab January, though. It is miserably hot outside.

The Clearing Project - January 2, 2010

CrabAppleLane Clearing Project - June 20, 2010

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

1. Happy Home - Garbage - Bleed Like Me
2. Highway Star - Deep Purple - Machine Head 25th Anniversary Edition [Disc 2]
3. Headlong - Queen - Innuendo
4. Hocus Pocus - Focus - Moving Waves
5. How Many More Times - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I

Quote of the Day

While New Orleans residents may never stop celebrating the Saints' Super Bowl victory, Colts fans jumped off the bandwagon quicker than it took Tracy Porter to return a Peyton Manning interception for the final touchdown.

Eleven fans greeted the Colts at Indianapolis International Airport on Monday afternoon.

Chicago Breaking Sports

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "He remotely activated the software, which grabbed screen shots of the thief’s online activities, while the Mac’s built-in camera shot pictures of him. After eight months of activity on the Mac, the software had given police enough information to identify the thief and put the MacBook back in Mr. Sienna’s hands."

8 months? -Rob

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I was sad to hear about Dennis Hopper yesterday. He had an enormous body of work. There is a little something there for everyone, I suppose. I liked him in most of the movies I saw that had him in it. Like a few other excellent actors, though, I just wish he had done more movies I cared to see. His signature film, Easy Rider, seemed a bit amateurish to me when I finally saw it and I thought one of his other famous movies, Blue Velvet, was awful. He was easily the best thing in both of them so there's that. He was fantastic in Waterworld, True Romance, and Speed ... all CME that I liked. Yes, I liked Waterworld. R.I.P., Dennis.

The LSU Tigers, who stumbled played their way into the SEC Tournament on the last weekend of the regular season, have turned in three excellent games and are playing for the SEC Championship today. Because they're playing in Alabama against Alabama and because both teams have great fans, there figures to be a very large crowd. GEAUX Tigers.

I offer a few from around the house on this hot and muggy CrabAppleLane Sunday and then we're off to a barbecue.

CrabAppleLane - Sunday, May 30, 2010

CrabAppleLane - Sunday, May 30, 2010

CrabAppleLane - Sunday, May 30, 2010

CrabAppleLane - Sunday, May 30, 2010

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Hide In Your Shell - Supertramp - The Autobiography Of Supertramp
2. 20th Century Boy - Placebo - Velvet Goldmine
3. Gotta Get To Know You - Foghat - Foghat
4. Heartbreaker [Live] - Grand Funk Railroad - Caught In The Act
5. Never Before - Deep Purple - Machine Head (Roger Glover Remixes) [Disc 2]

About today's QOTD: Welcome to the NFL, rookie.

Quote of the Day

The first-round pick, Florida State cornerback Patrick Robinson, got torched on the first route he defended Thursday

James Varney, The Times-Picayune

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Dennis Hopper, whose portrayals of drug-addled, often deranged misfits in the landmark films “Easy Rider,” “Apocalypse Now” and “Blue Velvet” drew on his early out-of-control experiences as part of a new generation of Hollywood rebel, died at his home in Venice, Calif., on Saturday. He was 74."

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First things first. Only an idiot would spend over an hour in the stifling Bush heat this morning tying off tomato bushes ... and not finish. He's soaked and more than a little irritated. They reacted to the rain last week like Popeye reacts to spinach. They're starting to get bushy and also starting to outgrow their stakes. I'll be picking soon.

CAN NOT WAIT

The LSU Tigers barely made the SEC tournament this year after winning a National Championship last season. They were playing OK early in the season but they disintegrated once SEC play got underway. They lost a few important players from last year's squad but everyone thought they had enough talent and experience to make another deep postseason run. They have been a major disappointment. If they get invited to the NCAA tournament, they'll have to hit the road. I suppose anything can happen in baseball once everyone is 0-0 again but the Tigers look more like the team that will go quietly into the good night than one that will make any noise.

We know New Jersey is going to get the Super Bowl in 2014. The commissioner wants it. There are some fans who want it, too. The new home stadium of the Giants and Jets is an open air stadium. There is a potential for really bad weather for the most important game of the season. The few regular readers here know that I prefer perfect conditions. The only thing the teams should have to contend with is their opponent. I want to remember the game for the onside kick, the interception return, the touchdown pass in the corner of the endzone, the hook and trailer play, etc. I don't want to remember it for the weather. During Super Bowl week, the focus should be on football and football only. That game, in particular, should be about football and football only. This is a bad idea.

On a different note and for the record, I have nothing but contempt for Floyd Landis and anyone who gives him a microphone. He's a cheat, a liar, and a gold digger. His image and reputation cannot be restored so he is trying to take down as many people as he can with him. He's a loser. Go away, Floyd.

Inspired by the iTunes Shuffle, the incomparable Alison Krauss & Union Station. I have the DVD this performance is on. I can't recommend it highly enough. Phenomenal musicians, particularly Jerry Douglas on the dobro.

I offer three images from the CrabAppleLane Backyard on a very hot and humid Sunday in Bush, LA and I'm off for a cool shower and lunch.

CrabAppleLane Hydrangeas - May 23, 2010 - Chose this morning to explode

CrabAppleLane Tomato Garden - May 23, 2010 - Cherry tomatoes

CrabAppleLane Tomato Garden - May 23, 2010 - Starting to outgrow the stakes

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Choctaw Hayride - Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live [Disc 1]
2. Gone, Gone, Gone - Bad Company - Desolation Angels
3. Locked Within the Crystal Ball - Blackmore's Night - Secret Voyage
4. All Mixed Up - The Cars - The Cars
5. Little Green Bag - George Baker Selection - Little Green Bag

Quote of the Day

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "i became a
pro shoplifter

are
invisible."

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Back on May 2, I participated in a huge endeavor that The New York Times was putting together. I wasn't very happy with my effort but I'm glad I did it anyway. If they do it again and I have enough notice, I'll prepare more and better ideas. Some of the entries are breathtaking.

Happy Anniversary, Patsy
Love,
Rob
Hope the next 29 are as grand as the first

Happy Mother's Day, Mom
Love,
Rob

Did you see Betty White on SNL last night? WOW. Home run. Touch 'em all, Betty.

Speaking of baseball, a CrabAppleLane Tip-O-The-Cap to Jamie Moyer. Pitching a two-hit shutout against a major league baseball team at age 47 is ridiculous.

CrabAppleLane yardwork this weekend postponed due to battery failure. Bummer.

I offer three images from the backyard on this glorious Mother's Day. The first two are images of some of the CrabAppleLane mothers. Like most mothers, they really don't take a day off, either. Mother bluebird got that worm out of the pesticide-free, chemical-fertilizer-free CrabAppleLane vegetable garden. She's tending to at least two babies but it sounds like 10. The downside about the vegetable garden: Chemical fertilizers (Miracle Grow, Ortho) smell a whole lot better than the organic fertilizer I used yesterday. It's wafting a little bit this morning but it was a whole other something last night.

CrabAppleLane Bluebird - May 9, 2010

CrabAppleLane Cardinals - May 9, 2010 - Happy Mother’s Day, THS

CrabAppleLane Vegetable Garden - May 9, 2010

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. I Love You Anyway - Tanya Tucker - Soon
2. I Wish That I Could Tell You - Reba McEntire - Read My Mind
3. Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar - The Rolling Stone Women In Rock Collection [Disc 2]
4. Heartbreaker - Pat Benatar - Rock Of The 70's
5. I'm Sensitive - Jewel - Pieces Of You

Quote of the Day

Blog of the day is here.

Quote from said blog: "Pity the poor woman who tried to deny me a library card because I was only 4-years- old. “But she can read,” my mother insisted, making it clear that she would stand there until that magic license to borrow books was mine. Saving face, the librarian made up a new rule: If I could write my name, I could have a card. Mamma had won, as she always did, and I could now officially enter the sacred world of readers."

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It always rains on May 3 in Louisiana. One of the more amazing street flooding events occurred on May 3, 1978. Think we had 10 inches of rain in about 4 hours that day. The pumps and drainage canals were overwhelmed. Caused some damage to houses but a lot of damage to cars. There were a lot of cars on the road that day. A summary from a web page that had to be compiled before Hurricane Katrina:

A squall line approaches the Greater New Orleans area from the west, intersecting a stationary front that was settled over the city. The result was a morning of torrential rains in excess of 10 inches, with rates of 2 inches per hour at times. Coffins were lifted from ground level tombs, along with empty gasoline tanks at service stations in the New Orleans area. The city's population was at a virtual standstill as nearly all main arteries were flooded or inaccessible well into the evening hours.

I was home safe and sound that day but decided to go out. Forgot where I was going or why but it was dumb. I got about 7 or 8 miles away and started encountering street flooding and stalled cars. My car, 1974 Ford LTD, was making it through the flood OK but the car in front of me, behind me, and on side of me died. I couldn't go anywhere and I was in water well above my floor. Ford LTDs are NOT watertight. I pulled up out of the water on to someone's lawn and walked. Forgot how I got home but quite possibly walked the whole way. This is another event that isn't talked about much since Hurricane Katrina.

I offer another image from yesterday's assignment. I like this one better than the one I submitted but didn't use it because it doesn't look natural to me and because the other one was taken closer to the "moment in time". I don't think trails like this occur in nature on their own. That was my thinking, for what its worth. The New York Times has published a few of the images they received yesterday. They're all fantastic. Love that first one, the letter from Afghanistan.

CrabAppleLane Backyard Trail - May 2, 2010

5 song iTune shuffle:

1. Mad Russian's Christmas (Instrumental) - Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve And Other Stories
2. Happy Alone - Earlimart - Mentor Tormentor
3. Dreamer Deceiver - Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny
4. Hocus Pocus - Focus - Moving Waves
5. Day Of The Eagle - Robin Trower - Bridge Of Sighs

Quote of the Day

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for the New Orleans area and the rest of southeastern Louisiana until 3 p.m. today.

Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune