Collectables

A Bit of Beauty

nobody@vox.com(Margy) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:08:12 -0700

I have a lovely friend on Live Journal, with some rather artistic inclinations. This is one of her wallpapers:

She creates icons and wallpapers, mostly based on astronomic images and themes. She's an astronomy buff and her talents are on this website, for all to see and share:

http://community.livejournal.com/solstation/

I'll hope you'll visit and take advantage of her wonderful works!

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The Destruction of Small Things

nobody@vox.com(Margy) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:47:12 -0700

I drove home in a roaring thunder storm, inundated with sheets of rain so heavy I could see only the pair of back lights ahead of me. There were long, jagged bolts of lightning every 2 - 3 minutes and thunder that crashed through the sound of the road as I drove. Either that or the sky lit up with distant lightning like a light bulb being turned on and off.

It was a stressful and difficult ride, made worse by a migraine that had pounded through my head all day. My head was as ready to explode as the world around me. I drove slowly and tried to avoid the washed out parts of the road.

I came home to a scene of ruin in at least parts of my garden. Several of my snapdragons had been ripped out literally by the roots and lay flat against the ground. One was either dead or nearly so. A few survived, but I think most of my snaps are goners. Everything else is drenched and beaten down. No hail, but horrific nonetheless.

This should not be happening: not here, in the American northeast. We get rain, of course, but not like this and not accompanied by incessant - and violent - thunder and lightning. Tampa, Florida, okay, but not Boston, Massachusetts. We don't get that kind of weather and neither or eco-system nor our physical infrastructure can take it. This is not a tropical region with regular hurricanes and storms. Plants do not get ripped out by the roots here. It just doesn't happen.

Well...just didn't happen, I guess.

I took this video about a week ago:

Jun 27 2008 - VID00002

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Hail and High Water

nobody@vox.com(Margy) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:57:43 -0700

More storms, with hail. My husband said there were huge chunks of hail raining down from the sky. Good God, what is going on here?

Here's what I came home to today:

I'm Drowning!.jpg

And talk about flat:

Flattened Flowers.jpg

Man, this is weird!

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Chocolate Mint - For Real!

nobody@vox.com(Margy) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:40:56 -0700

I just had my first sip of iced tea, made from a chocolate mint plant. The plant does have a mild aroma of chocolate about it, but I wasn't expecting anything beyond that.

But, to my surprise, chocolate mint actually TASTES like chocolate mint! There's no sugar, of course, but the after-taste has definite chocolate overtones.

Man, this is fun! I also have a pineapple mint. Will that taste like pineapple? I'll be finding out soon enough!

But...cool!

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Continuing the Harvest

nobody@vox.com(Margy) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:14:50 -0700

Chocolate Mint

I decided to begin harvesting the mint, starting with a pile of chocolate mint that I brought in today. I boiled up some water and, after washing, tore the leaves into it. It's sitting, steeping, right now. The fragrance is wonderful, although I have no idea if the chocolate will extend to the taste as well. Even if it doesn't, it'll be a welcome summer beverage.

I have pineapple mint and spearmint as well, although they're not quite as big yet. There getting there, though.

I also bought two tomato cages, for the growing vines I've got out back. I stood in the sweltering heat and weeded before laying them out. Then I took the burgeoning leaves and spread them out in the cage. They immediately looked happier. I'm am so looking forward to tomatoes!

Anyone have a recipe for mint anything? I'll make mint iced tea and will sprinkle the leaves over tomatoes and such, but any new ideas would be welcome!

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What Is Going On With This Weather?

nobody@vox.com(Margy) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:16:13 -0700

Will somebody tell me? It's been pouring, soaking rain in Boston for the past few days - like you'd get in a southern climate with daily downpours. But, that's not supposed to happen in Boston. This afternoon we had another roaring downpour, after another one yesterday and one predicted for tomorrow.

My husband said there was hail in Arlington, where we live. My plants are flattened! I've never seen anything like this. We're not supposed to get monsoon rains in the American northeast!

Global climate change? Who can look outside and see what's going on and then deny that?

Holy cow. This crap scares me.

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End Of A (Funny) Era

nobody@vox.com(Margy) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:19:28 -0700

George Carlin died today, at the ripe young age of 71. Too bad. He was a rough-edge guy, but managed to put a spin on things that very few others could. I still remember his monologues about growing up Catholic and howling over it in the 1970s with all my relatives!

Here's one of my favorite skits of his, which displays the genius he had for taking the mundane and making it hilarious!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xz4qm_george-carlin-common-experiences_family

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Some of My Favorite George Carlin Routines, Part 2

nobody@vox.com(Margy) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:15:53 -0700

Football and baseball. Only makes sense if you're from the US! But...funny!

Baseball and Football

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Gypsy Beef Stew

nobody@vox.com(Margy) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:41:43 -0700

I had too much fun making this one tonight not to show you!

Gypsy Beef Stew

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Cute Little Video

nobody@vox.com(Margy) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:11:57 -0700

Look before you leap!

Crouching Tiger Hidden Entrance

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