May 2008 Archives

Not much happening today. Going to a friend's for a holiday weekend celebration just after I push myself away from the computer. I offer one from the CrabAppleLane backyard today. It's been done here but I never tire of it.

CrabAppleLane Dragonfly - May 25, 2008I believe this variety of dragonfly is known as Blue Dashers. The pond is full of algae (Pond scum) and I kinda liked the contrast of green and blue. Might have to start a new FlickR group.

102 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Let us pretend that you are a loving daughter, and I am a good father.

Marcus Aurelius, Gladiator

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "the bane of all raccoons with ill intent (note the battle scars)"

Patsy and I saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull last night. I'm a big fan of Indiana Jones and the wife basically indulged me by going with me on a week night. For once, I think I totally agree with Roger Ebert on some things. One thing he says about this franchise and his love of pulp fiction expresses my feelings on the matter precisely. He says, "What I want is goofy action--lots of it.". Bingo. I'm not going to engage in spoilers here. I didn't read any review in its entirety before I saw it for myself. Some critics are obsessed with "freshness" and I was a little worried about what I might read from them beforehand. This was a movie where I was hoping to get exactly what I expected: "Goofy action". My worries were unfounded. The four or five reviews I've read this morning were mostly fair with it. Some liked it more than others. The "freshness" freaks, like Manohla Dargis of the New York Times, didn't like it as much but that was no surprise. Patsy and I liked it a lot but see it for yourself.

103 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

I can say that if you liked the other Indiana Jones movies, you will like this one, and that if you did not, there is no talking to you.

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "If I paint a negative picture, it’s because you always enjoy a film more if you go in with fewer expectations - let your hopes be dashed to desperation, purchase your movie ticket and come out with a smile better than you could ever have expected."

I've been wanting to see Juno since I heard about it. The screenplay was written by Diablo Cody. Much is made about Cody being an ex-stripper. She was also a blogger. I stumbled across her blog a few years ago while blog-hopping and had no idea what to make of it. Along with her excellent writing were extremely graphic pictures of herself. She was a stripper in Minnesota at the time and her blog was quite an unusual mix. Anyway, Juno is a joyous movie about a young girl growing up. All of the characters are wonderful but the star, Ellen Page, is phenomenal. I really enjoyed this film and I'm glad I waited to see it at home, where I can back up and repeat scenes I didn't get or couldn't hear on the first pass. This is the kind of movie where the dialog shouldn't be missed.

Speaking of movies, I think the new Get Smart movie will suffer the same fate as the Bewitched movie. Some characters are too embedded in and too attached to the actor who played them. Elizabeth Montgomery IS Samantha Stevens and Don Adams IS Maxwell Smart. Ironically, Steve Carell is in both movies and he'll suffer comparison in both: To Adams in Get Smart and Paul Lynde in Bewitched. Hard for me to believe that Lynde has been dead for 26 years. I have such vivid memories of his quips and his great laugh.

Peter Marshall: The average American hot dog is 14% ... what?
Paul Lynde: Edible

As for tomorrow night's Game 7 between the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Hornets:

GEAUX HORNETS

I offer one from the CrabAppleLane back deck this Sunday morning.

The catbird seat - May 18, 2008The awning that provides shade for Priscilla in the foreground also provides a home for the wren in the background. One is OK with that. The other? Well, not so much.

109 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

I don't want to give my baby to a couple who describes themselves as wholesome. I was looking for maybe a thirty-something graphic designer with a cool Asian girlfriend who kicks ass on the bass guitar, but I don't know, I don't wanna get too particular.

Juno MacGuff, Juno

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Fox Searchlight’s Juno has now grossed over $143.1 million worldwide ($125M domestic), making the film the most successful independent movie since 2002’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding (which grossed $241.4M domestically)."

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Are almost ready ...

CrabAppleLane Tomato/Eggplant Garden - May 11, 2008

CrabAppleLane Tomatoes - May 11, 2008

First things first.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom

After some early haircuts yesterday morning, we decided to stop and get some breakfast at the Abita Cafe in downtown Abita Springs, LA. Quite good. Recommended. Abita Springs is a quirky little town about 15 miles south of CrabAppleLane and we just love it. However, there was one quirk that everyone could do without and that was the traffic light. Northbound Hwy 59 traffic had to turn left in town at the light in order to continue northbound. These are all single-lane highways. The problem was that the southbound traffic was usually heavy at the light and only one or two northbound cars were able to make the turn and they were blocking all of the vehicles behind them. All of the southbound traffic was getting through but the heavier northbound traffic would get severely backed up. It was a nightmare, particularly after Katrina when all of the traffic in this area was doubled.

Cool sign - Abita Springs, LA - May 10, 2008To the rescue: A traffic circle (I believe they call them roundabouts in England). I remember when this was being built and I remember all of the talk about it. It was going to confuse people, cause accidents, and was simply not going to solve the problem. The naysayers could cite the traffic circles at the foot of both sides of the Huey P Long Bridge as evidence that Louisianians don't do well with them and it is very compelling evidence. Those were poorly designed and create as many problems as they solve. Planners in Abita Springs proceeded anyway and construction was completed. It has been thoroughly effective. I doubt anyone expected it to be as wildly successful and popular as it has been. Kudos to everyone responsible.

116 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

I'll take any free ball I can get. I'll give it to my kid. Let him go play with it somewhere.

Greg Maddux, San Diego Padres

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "But if it helps to appease the fence fetishists out there, it's less objectionable than some other options. That's the best I can say about it at this time."

GO Hornets. That young team is doing this area proud. They've got game.

Had planed to do yardwork this weekend but a torrential rain that started Friday night and ended Saturday around mid-afternoon has prevented it. It was like this last weekend, too. There is standing water everywhere here. There will be mosquitoes. The sun is out today and it’s been hot and muggy all day. I blame JazzFest. They bring this kind of weather every year. I offer one from the CrabAppleLane backyard today.

CrabAppleLane Oleander - May 4, 2008

123 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

That hustle and that decision making they had kicked our butts.

Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs Head Coach

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Coffee Art"

Cool beans. -Rob

The first Saturday in May. First leg of the Triple Crown. Run for the Roses. The Kentucky Derby. CrabAppleLane goes for three in a row. I had Barbaro (WOW, has it really been two years already?) in 2006 and Street Sense last year. Full disclaimer: I know almost nothing about horses. I am strictly a casual fan. That said, it says here that Colonel John will cross the finish line first. Bet any house you have to lose.

Not many people giving the Hornets much of a chance against the Spurs in the playoffs. Appropriately so, I think. The Spurs are the gold standard. Go Hornets.

125 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

The Hornets have me believing, though again I am picking against them in the next round, this time against those Spurs.

Sam Smith, MSNBC.com

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "We're still cursing here. Let's get that straight right from the beginning."