CrabAppleLane Blog

Moving Day

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:50:08 -0600

The blog is moving to http://01f3666.netsolhost.com/blog/ for now. Sometime next weekend, it will be http://www.crabapplelane.net/blog/ Actually, I think both addresses will still work but one will surely be easier to remember.

A bad day at CrabAppleLane

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:46:33 -0600

The only thing worse than spending three hours replacing the fan belt on my finish mower is having that belt break five minutes later. Might be the last $40 I spend on this thing. I offer one from the backyard from about two hours ago. Priscilla had been rolling around in the catnip when she saw me approach with the camera. Couldn't get caught doing anything THAT undignified.
Priscilla chills - June 22, 2008
74 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

I don't care if Mondays black
Tuesday, Wednesday - heart attack
Thursday, never looking back
It's Friday, I'm in love

The Cure, Friday I'm In Love

Blog of the day here. Quote from said blog: "The idea was beyond clever. 3 to a box, 133 styles, none of them match."

CrabAppleLane's Sense of Fashion

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:59:20 -0600

First, some sports: Congratulations to the Boston Celtics
Also, congratulations to the LSU Tigers, who once again staved off elimination with a 9th inning rally. Trailing 5-0, they scored a run in the 7th, a run in the 8th, and four runs in the bottom of the 9th to send Rice home and give themselves another shot at North Carolina. It's still uphill for the Tigers but, like their football counterparts, they keep plugging and good things keep happening. Oh yeah, one more thing: GEAUX TIGERS
Now, about this post's title: We�ve all seen this. Young men wear something they call shorts well below their waist. These shorts would be a good 6-8" below the knees if worn at the waist. Men my age wear them like that and they don�t look bad. Young men wear them so far below their waist, though, that they have to actually hold them up with their hand to be able to walk. Usually, a substantial portion of their boxer shorts underneath are exposed as well. I think it looks ridiculous but it should also be noted that no one would or should ever take fashion advice from me. If that�s the style, so be it. No complaints from me. However, I must confess that I do laugh when I see something like this in the morning paper (Not sure but free registration may be required). Seems two boys (16 & 14) got into a car chase with police, wrecked the vehicle they were driving and several others, and then got out and took off on foot. That article picks up the story thusly:

As the "two young men" bolted from the Trailblazer to make a run for it, said Salzer, one was delayed because "his pants fell down to his ankles and he had to pull them up before he ran."

Any takers?

78 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Surely at some point Tuesday afternoon, doubt and despair must have quietly crept into the LSU dugout.

It didn�t stick around, though.

Randy Rosetta, The Advocate

Blog of the day here. Quote from said blog: "LSU rallied for six late runs, including the final four with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, to claim a 6-5 win over the Rice baseball team in an elimination game at the College World Series Tuesday afternoon in Omaha, Neb. The Owls' 2008 season has come to an end with a final record of 47-15."

CrabAppleLane Sunday - Father's Day Issue

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:28:05 -0600

A light Sunday. First things first. Happy Father's Day. The College World Series in Omaha has seen the higher seeds lose the first three games. It's a trend that I hope continues as lower seeded LSU takes on North Carolina right now in the fourth and final game of the first round. GEAUX Tigers. One from the CrabAppleLane back deck this afternoon.
CrabAppleLane Tomatoes - June 15, 2008Ran out of pretty things to put them in.

81 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Study hard. Laugh often. Keep your honor.

Tim Russert

Blog of the day here. Quote from said blog: "The tornado's path started only a few blocks from here, but with new evidence it may have started less than that, as in across the street."

CrabAppleLane Sunday - June 8, 2008 Issue

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 11:51:46 -0600

R.I.P., Jim McKay. I liked him a lot and I suspect most sports fans would tell you he was hard not to like. His coverage of the 72 Summer Olympic Games and the 80 Winter Olympic Games are memorable for several reasons. His live coverage in 1972 of the wonder of Mark Spitz and the horror of the murders of the Israeli team are incomparable in sports journalism. In 1980, he was somehow able to maintain ABC's scheduled "delayed" television coverage of the Olympics with a straight face even though he knew the outcome of the USA-USSR hockey game. Cable was still in its infancy at the time and Reuters had a scrolling live feed on one of the cable channels. I also knew the result because of that but had to see it on TV. Every time the coverage would break away to another event or a commercial, I'd go crazy. Are you guys out of your minds? Don't you know how big this is? I know almost nothing about hockey but I know this is historic. How's McKay maintaining his sanity while you guys try to stick to a schedule that should have been thrown out the window? You can show that other stuff later, can't you? He somehow did it and I remember that as much as I remember Al Michaels "Do you believe in miracles? Yes.". A class act. Sunny, the turtle, provides smiles and more than a little joy over at Pitcherlady's. I'm a big fan of both of those lovely ladies. I offer one from the CrabAppleLane front yard. The bee flew in at the last moment. She must have known something was missing from the shot or maybe she's just a ham.
CrabAppleLane Crepe Myrtle - June 8, 2008
Today's BOTD is of particular interest to me because of Friday night's visit. 88 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Unhappy with how much she was being charged, Cooney made out the check for "My Right Arm and Zero Dollars" and in the memo wrote for "Robbing Customers Blind."

Jason Cato, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Blog of the day here. Quote from said blog: "The usual hunting technique is to stalk the animal and allow it to come within twenty to thirty feet as the cat lays crouching in wait."

Backyard Visitor

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:36:34 -0600

CrabAppleLane Visitor - June 6, 2008 - 7:15PMI believe it to be a bobcat. He's hiding behind the Texas Star Hibiscus in the pond. On the other side is where our bird/squirrel feeders are. Best shot I could get from inside.

CrabAppleLane Visitor - Another shot - June 6, 2008I didn't like this one as much but it shows his tail.

CrabAppleLane Sunday - June 1, 2008 Issue

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 11:39:35 -0600

The LSU Tigers baseball team won their 22nd game in a row yesterday. I think it's an amazing story but you'd be hard-pressed to find it anywhere if you didn't know about it already and weren't looking for it. They'll play the winner of today's USM-UNO elimination game. They're 2-0 vs USM this season, including last night's winner's bracket game. They're 1-2 vs UNO and their win was a 15-inning marathon. After 22 straight, I doubt they care who they play but I suspect their fans would rather it was the Golden Eagles of USM. I think and hope it will be the Privateers. I also hope it's on TV. I feel for Texas Southern. They played their way into the field by winning their conference tournament and came to Baton Rouge hoping to compete but gave up 12 runs to LSU Friday and 18 to UNO yesterday. They need to improve their schedule ... and their pitching. Very saddened to hear of the death of Harvey Korman. He's being remembered as a comedian and the ultimate straight man although I don't think he ever kept a straight face with Tim Conway. I'd wager a few bucks that no one could have. Korman's attempts to do so became part of their shtick and it will be sorely missed. Below, I offer a bit of classic comedy this morning. R.I.P., Harvey Korman. Today is the first day of hurricane season. As usual, people are trying to predict how many and how severe. As usual, their guesses will be overblown by all media and the word, "if" will be used a lot. If one lands in the Gulf of Mexico and conditions are right, if one comes up the mouth of the Mississippi, if one lingers in Mobile Bay, if one hits the Mississippi Gulf coast again, if the levees break again, etc. You get the idea. Celtics-Lakers ... big yawn. Oh, yeah, it's Sunday. I offer two from the CrabAppleLane backyard this morning.
CrabAppleLane walkway - June 1, 2008We saw these "firecracker" bushes at the Jean Lafitte National Park a few years ago and haven't seen them since ... until I saw one yesterday at the garden center. I like the bright green and bright red/orange together. Hopefully, so will the CrabAppleLane hummingbirds.

CrabAppleLane Mirlitons - June 1, 2008This is what we do with mirlitons.

About today's QOTD, there is no doubt in my mind that it was "the scare of their lives" and I think I'll resist further comment. 95 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Four Palo Alto teenagers raised in the heart of Silicon Valley got the scare of their lives when they thought they might be banished from all Apple stores worldwide, for life.

Kristina Peterson, Mercury News

Blog of the day here. Quote from said blog: "Coaches and trainers emerged from the dugout after a chopper appeared to hit White near his right hand in the third, but he remained in the game and maintained his 93 mph fastball velocity." I'm curious about just how good North Carolina is. -Rob

CrabAppleLane Sunday - May 25, 2008 Issue

Sun, 25 May 2008 12:00:42 -0600

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)"

My Old Friend, Indiana Jones

Fri, 23 May 2008 05:56:29 -0600

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."

Juno, other movies, and a CrabAppleLane Sunday after a week of non-blogging

Sun, 18 May 2008 11:02:20 -0600

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)."

CrabAppleLane tomatoes

Sun, 11 May 2008 17:37:09 -0600

Are almost ready ...
CrabAppleLane Tomato/Eggplant Garden - May 11, 2008

CrabAppleLane Tomatoes - May 11, 2008

Mother's Day

Sun, 11 May 2008 11:09:49 -0600

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."

CrabAppleLane Sunday - May 4, 2008 Issue

Sun, 04 May 2008 17:31:01 -0600

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

First Friday in May followed by

Fri, 02 May 2008 06:15:45 -0600

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."

About lunch yesterday

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:55:55 -0600

So the plan was for me to pick up lunch in the McDonald's drive-thru and join Patsy in Bogue Falaya Park. All was going according to plan. There's one vehicle, a van, in front of me and he's just finished placing his order. He pulls forward, I start to pull forward, and ... crash-boom-bang ... there's a guy on the ground in front of the van. What happened? Did the van hit him? He's struggling to get up but a McDonald's employee is there asking him to stay down. I figure this might take a while to sort out so I get out of the drive-thru, park, and go inside.
Eventful lunch - April 28, 2008As I come out with our order, I see a fire truck, two fire department pickups, and an ambulance (You can't see it here but it's behind the fire truck). A co-worker of Patsy's, who happened to be there at the same time, heard the guy was an AC repairman and had actually fallen off of the roof. He seemed to be OK and I surely hope he is. Wonder what the fire truck was for.

My friend the ~~pine warbler~~ Northern Parula - April 28, 2008This little ~~pine warbler~~ Northern Parula entertained us throughout lunch flitting and flying back and forth between my truck mirror and the door glass. He was seeing his reflection in both. He would repeat this cycle a few times, fly up into the trees, and then come back and try the other side. He was cheerily singing the whole time ... trying to impress that handsome fella in the mirror, I suppose.

Not much of an NBA fan but I'm enjoying the New Orleans Hornets playoff run right now. I think they'll close out the Mavericks tonight. Judging by the few columns I've read in the Dallas Morning News, I think most of Dallas agrees. 128 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Well, Pargo used to be a no-name. Now he's a well known Mavs killer.

Tim McMahon, Dallas Morning News

Blog of the day here. Quote from said blog: "You know the Mavs are in trouble when Sherrington, who pumped some serious sunshine (and took a hurtful shot at a certain blogger) before the series, waves the white flag."