Big Leather Couch

Week #13 - Week 2 for Roger's Creative Photography Contest...click on the banner above if you want to learn more and enter or just feel like sliding around the Bloggosphere and checking out some really fantastic photos...

Click on the logo above to head over to The Teach's blog to see all the entries this week.

I have been scanning old slides and pictures and came across this photo, taken in St. Lucia in 1984. We were in the town of Soufriere, which is on the South-Western part of the island.

I spent 10 days there and it rained for almost 8 of them. I can tell you that my bar bill was even more than the hotel bill at the end of 10 days!

This traffic officer was out doing her job and her demeanor just caught my eye.

I posterized the picture to give it a more artistic feel.

I give you "Stop In The Name Of The Law".

Coming up this week on DR. BLOGSTEIN’S RADIO HAPPY HOUR:
(Live on Tuesday September 16 at 9PM ET and forever archived at BlogTalkRadio.)

Andy Taylor, singer, songwriter and guitarist for Duran Duran during the band’s heyday in the 80’s sits down for an exclusive one on one with Dr. Blogstein.
Taylor, an original member of the biggest musical act to come out of the UK since The Beatles, tells all in his new autobiography Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran.
We’ll get all the backstage, behind the scenes dirt on Duran Duran’s rock and roll lifestyle during the decade of excess. We’ll get all the inside scoop on the sex, drugs, scandals and, of course, the music of Duran Duran.

Then, remaining in the 80’s time warp, novelist Matthew Wayne Selznick will join Dr. B and Dangerous Lee. Selznick is the author of Brave Men Run which has been described as “X-Men meets The Breakfast Club.” It was also the first work of original fiction with an initial simultaneous release in print, ebook and free podcast edition.

Also this week: George the Giant.
At 7-3, this gentle giant gained worldwide fame thanks to his appearance on America’s Got Talent (below).

We’ll find out how close he came to dying while rehearsing for the hit NBC show. Plus, you’ll never believe how tall his wife is!

All that, plus Vinny Bond drags his Big Leather Couch into the Radio Happy Hour Lounge to chat live with the listeners (man, a busy night for me!), Justin the Weatherman and we’ll take your calls at 646-652-4804.

Join us live every Tuesday night at 9PM ET. The Radio Happy Hour Lounge-a live, interactive chat room during show time! It’s the show within the show!

Friday I came home from work and waited for this beautiful woman to arrive...when she did, she came in dressed to the nines...see...(all pics enlarge upon clicking)

She said it was to thank me for "just being there"...How can you not love someone like that? And TRAVIS...check out the new shoes....THUMP!

So, I had taken some Salmon Fillets out of the freezer the night before and had gone to my "Boy Meets Grill" cookbook by Bobby Flay and found a recipe that looked great. Grilled Salmon with Crunchy Sweet Mustard Vinaigrette. His suggested side dish was Coconut Basmati Rice Salad...

On the way home from work, I had stopped at the store and picked up the ingredients I needed...

The Vinaigrette is made with white wine Vinegar, dijon mustard, a shallot chopped fine, honey and olive oil...

For the rice, you slice a small onion thin and mince some garlic and saute in some canola oil and then add the rice and stir for a few minutes

You then add coconut milk and water which has been brought to a simmer in another pot and bring it to a boil, cover tight and let it cook on very low heat for 20 minutes.

When it is done, you fold in the chopped scallions and the shredded coconut.

For the Salmon you heat the grill to high (or in my case the grill pan), brush the salmon on both sides with some olive oil, and and put it skin side down. Cook for 5-6 minutes and brown the skin, then turn the fish and lower the heat (or move to a cooler part of the grill) and cook 4-5 minutes more.

Spoon some rice onto the plate, then lay the fish on top and spoon a few tablespoons of the Vinaigrette over it.

It was YUMMERS....

Full recipe on request.

Have to also tell you about this great website I have been using to track my daily food and exercise. It is called MYPLATE. You can put in what you eat and it tracks all the nutritional info. There are thousands of items already listed, with brand names. There is also information for restaurants and fast food joints.

You can also put in your daily exercise or activities and it tells how many calories have been burned (Even cleaning, gardening and S-E-X!).

Another great feature - it allows you to put in a recipe and it does all the calculations. I did this for the dinner Friday and even the omelet I made on Sunday morning for Nancy and I. It really is a remarkable site and it is FREE!

Over the weekend, we also watched "Charlie Wilson's War", with Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman. A true story about Congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, and his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets.

If you have not seen it, rent it and also, watch the great special feature on Mr. Wilson.

Mr. Barry White...Fitting...

So, those of you who came here yesterday and felt like you were seeing my brain explode into a billion pieces - you were not so far off...

See Wednesday I had to drive the beautiful Nancy to the airport for a trip to N.C. Then I worked at home the rest of the day, but felt weird all day long.

Then yesterday morning I woke and as I opened my eyes my whole body felt weird and I felt angry and just 'off' (Yeah, I know most people think I am off all the time...)

Then it hit me...THE DAY.

THE DAY...

And even after picking Nancy up yesterday, THE DAY, as she returned from her trip and driving her home, our fingers intertwined...and then having to fix the lock on her back door, and even sitting here now typing this, the anger inside of me has just festered.

As I made my way around to your blogs, some of you had posted about THE DAY...Dianne told her story in a beautiful and touching way, and many of her words and feelings echoed my story. Travis put up a stirring memorial...and we wrote each other later in the day, he having a week of uncomfortable feelings, as I did...and it was hard to see those posts and I wondered why i had not reposted my story...but my story is insignificant compared to the stories of those who lived through the horrors down there or the stories of the families whose loved ones were murdered that day.

The last couple of years I have re-posted my story of THE DAY...this year I did not...I just blocked it out of my mind thinking it was next Thursday, even while looking at the calendar and all...

Last week when Nancy told me of her trip, I did think of THE DAY and I held my tongue...she would be flying on THE DAY...Last year I had a business trip and when I realized they had me on a return flight on THE DAY, I told my company I would not fly and if I had to pay for the extra night in the hotel, I would...they paid...

But somehow...this week...I blocked it out...refused to think about it...but in the end, my body, my soul and my mind would not let me forget THE DAY and that day in my life.

I have still not been able to go down to Ground Zero to this day and not sure I ever will. I know many go there to show their respect...I just can not do it...the one time I had to take the Path and it went through the area, the tracks still open to the sky, I sat there, my eyes tightly closed, tears trying to break through...I could not look. The movies? Never will I sit and watch them. The tributes, I can not do so. when they show a scene on the news and I catch that first glimpse of those majestic buildings, smoke billowing, I close my eyes.

Maybe you think it is silly, maybe you think I am being over dramatic about it...you know, I did not even know one soul lost that day. I did have one close friend who worked in #7. A Secret Service Agent. He was not murdered that day. So why does it affect me so? I can not tell you that. I do not know myself.

Some people rallied and went down over the weeks to come. To cheer the men and women who were digging out the site. Maybe I am weak, but it is something I could not do.

I will NEVER forget THE DAY and the innocents who were murdered or the thousands of heroes who put their lives at risk - many giving their lives in the process -


If you are new and want to read the post about THE DAY, you can go HERE

I will only leave you with this...THE DAY after...but I could not think of it to do so yesterday...

I always felt this picture needed to be manipulated so that the flag
was the center of what you see, so I did so in photoshop.

Since that day, it has stood for
Remember
Forever
911
Terrorism

Yesterday was one of those days when my mind could not wrap around anything. Huge changes at work with our mailings and someone leaving this week has caused a fluctuation within the earths rotation causing a synopsis of the neurons to coagulate and transform...resulting in the inability to maneuver throughout the bloggosphere, causing a loss of connection with your mental thoughts and rescinding the explosion of concurrent internal cerebration from the cerebral cortex located within my cranial appendage...

WHAT THE HELL IS HE TALKING ABOUT?

Don't ask me, have no idea... so it is time for MUSIC!

Be by today...promise...

Week #13 - Week 1 for Roger's Creative Photography Contest...click on the banner above if you want to learn more and enter or just feel like sliding around the Bloggosphere and checking out some really fantastic photos...
Honestly, I do not remember where I shot this. It was a number of years ago in the woods somewhere. I came across this downed tree that had been hit by lightening (noticed the black burns at the edges. It just caught my eye and I snapped it.

I tweaked the contrast and nothing more.

Hope you enjoy.

I have been waiting for the promo CD before announcing this, but American/Columbia Records have signed The Avett Brothers, an extraordinary band from North Carolina who combine dozens of strands of musical DNA (Rock, Pop, Classic Country and more) into a completely unique form of American music. Their first album for Columbia , produced by Rick Rubin, will be released in 2009. The Avett Brothers have nine previous independent releases under their belts, the most recent of which, The Second Gleam, came out in July.

I am a tad ticked at myself as they just appeared here in Memphis this past weekend...but with Mom and Dad in town, it was not to be...

They have earned their place in my rotation. I like the sound they have put together and think putting them together with the most excellent Rick Rubin will be incredible.

Here is their upcoming schedule:

September 10-Tulsa, OK-Cain’s Ballroom

September 11-Dallas, TX-Granada Theater

September 12-Ozark, AR-Mulberry Mountain Harvest Music Festival

September 14-Morrison, CO-Monolith Festival

September 16-Lawrence, KS-Liberty Hall

September 19-Roanoke, VA-Jefferson Center-Shaftman Performance Hall

September 20-Charlottesville, VA-Charlottesville Pavilion

September 21-Baltimore, MD-Pier Six Pavilion

September 25-Tuscaloosa, AL-The Jupiter

September 26-Nashville, TN-War Memorial Auditorium

September 27-Louisville, KY-Coyote’s Music & Dance Hall

October 2-Athens, GA-Georgia Theatre

October 3-Athens, GA-Georgia Theatre

October 31-Greensboro, NC-War Memorial Auditorium

November 1-Greenville, SC-Peace Center

November 6-Knoxville, TN-Bijou Theatre

November 7-Knoxville, TN-Bijou Theatre

Two songs from the sampler I received. The first is from the 2008 EP The Second Gleam, and is called "Murder In The City". The second is from their 2004 album Mignonette and is entitled "Swept Away (Sentimental Version)".

There were some pictures that just did not come out from the Audubon Center on Nancy's camera and I need to get the roll in my camera finished off and then developed to see what is there, but I do have some photos to share with all y'all today. As always, click to enlarge.

First up is in honor of Ruby Tuesday...Now Mary/The Teach says it does not matter how much red is in the photo so that is a good thing.

Click on the logo above to head over to The Teach's blog to see all the entries this week.

Only male hummingbirds have red on their neck and only adult males have red...SEE! I did learn something...
Each hummingbird was measured for weight, size of their beak and a few other measurements. While they waited their turn the hummingbirds are kept in little net bags. Funny, the ids that were gathered around - and there were many of them - kept asking "Are they dead?", since the birds did not flutter a wing...then the tiniest of bands were placed around their 'ankles' (Yeah I know birds don't have ankles, but you know what I mean), before being released.

Oh and Fred...Mom and Dad say HI!

Coming up this week on DR. BLOGSTEIN’S RADIO HAPPY HOUR:
(Live on Tuesday September 9 at 9PM ET and forever archived at BlogTalkRadio.)

Tariq Alexander is the newly named president of Ruff Ryder Film Division. He and 2 time Grammy Award winning producer/songwriter Bryce Wilson will join Dr. B and Dangeous Lee to discuss their latest projects and collaborations.
We’ll find out what a company known for hip hop knows about the movie business, whether DMX will stay out of trouble long enough to participate and we’ll also see if we can get Dangerous Lee cast in an upcoming film.

Then, you know an artist is good when she only goes by one name. Joséphine left the romantic streets of Paris at the age of 17 to pursue a career in music. That career has taken her to Montreal, New York City and now the Radio Happy Hour. We’ll listen to some tunes and her undoubtedly sexy French accent.

All that, plus Vinny Bond drags his Big Leather Couch into the Radio Happy Hour Lounge to chat live with the listeners, Justin the Weatherman and we’ll take your calls at 646-652-4804.

Join us live every Tuesday night at 9PM ET. The Radio Happy Hour Lounge-a live, interactive chat room during show time-is a whole new reason to make sure you listen live! It’s the show within the show!

This is one of the songs from Joséphine. It is entitled "I Sing"...hope you enjoy...

Hey y'all..hope you had a great weekend...mine certainly was.

Mom and dad arrived mid-afternoon on Thursday and we had a wonderful visit that evening along with pasta and wine. This pot of gravy really turned out well...and the meatballs were outstanding.

Friday morning after I got back from the gym, we hopped in the car and after a stop at COSCO for two beautiful london broils, we headed for Nancy's. Introductions were made and After I got the london broil's into a marinade and some small talk exchanged we got back in the car and headed for the The Strawberry Plains Audubon Center, a wonderful facility where, in addition to other things, they band hummingbirds that come their way while making their migration to Central America and Mexico.

We watched as they measured, recorded and banded the birds and listened to the volunteers discuss the birds and their migration patterns. It really was interesting and I got a few pictures which I will be sharing over the next few days.

COUCH NOTE: On Saturday I left my camera and Nancy's at her house and we did not get together Sunday, so I am going tonight to pick them up.

We skipped the snake and bat exhibits. We were going to take a ride through the facility on the wagons they have but the skies were dark and foreboding and we were all getting hungry, so we got back in the car and Nancy called Uncle Lou's and pre-ordered a whole chicken for us.

Unfortunately, pictures of that visit are not available. I had forgotten a second roll of film and Nancy's digital camera had run out of juice (YES, I know we have to plan better next time!).

When we arrived we were greeted and ordered up our sides - fried okra, french fries, onion rings and corn niblets (similar to corn fritters, but little nugget bites). As I was paying the lady said "Oh yeah, I recognize the pretty lady you are with from when you were here last time." My response "What, you don't remember me too?!?!" LOL

Our food came and we dug in. There was silence for while due to our enjoying the meal. We checked their map on the wall and saw there was already a push-pin showing visitors from Boynton Beach (where Mom and Dad live) had visited, so it was not necessary to add another.

When we were done, we all knew we would not be eating any dinner later that evening...we were totally satisfied and there was nary a bite left of the food.

We then headed back to my apartment where Nancy got to view the video my sister, brother and I put together for Mom and Dad's 50th Anniversary four years ago and also the video from my brother and SIL's 25th Anniversary. She really enjoyed it - seeing all the family members and hearing stories of them all.

Nancy's youngest son is the manager for the varsity football team (and back-up quarterback for the freshman team) and her oldest plays French Horn in the band. There was a game that night and we talked about going, but Mom and Dad opted out. I drove Nancy back to her place and she sent me back to be with mom and dad.

On Saturday afternoon Mom, Dad and I drove down to Nancy's where Mom and Dad got to meet both of the boys.

We sat outside and had some cocktails as it was a glorious day. Ole Miss was on the TV and dad began to root for them along with Nancy's boys and was truly disappointed when they lost on a last second field goal. The younger son Peter was funny when dad asked why he did not seem so disappointed and he responded "I am used to it after the last three years."

I cranked up the grill and put the steaks on along with roasting bags loaded with sliced potatoes with fresh rosemary out of Nancy's garden.

When all was ready we sat down to a great meal that also included corn on the cob, baby portobello mushrooms with garlic and a coating of bread crumbs (one of Mom's specialties) and roasted garlic artisan bread. The talk never lingered and mom and dad truly enjoyed the company of both boys.

Dessert was banana pudding and strawberry shortcakes that we had bought at Lou's the day before. When we were done we did a cleanup and then Mom, Dad and I headed out arriving home sometime around 8:00pm, just as I received a test message from the wonderful Turnbaby" asking if I was home. I dialed her number and she and Brad were just leaving the Kentucky game and were looking for an update on the Florida State game! LOL..

Then it was time for some sleep. Yesterday morning at about 6:45am, Mom and Dad pulled away from Casa Marini - Memphis for the last two days on the road, heading home. We had watched the track of Ike all weekend and had made plans for them to stay if he had headed up the coast of Florida.

Once they left I fell back to sleep for a while and then began doing the sheets and towels and other laundry that had accumulated over the weekend. With ym mini washer and dryer it took most of the day!

I also spent yesterday watching some football and tracking my three fantasy teams. All three are still up for grabs as I write this, but two of my three teams in my Survivor Pool made it through which is great - Denver is the third team for this week, so hoping they also make it through.

It was an incredibly wonderful visit with Mom and Dad, but way too short. In the end, they now know why Nancy has won my heart and is such an important part of my life and it was wonderful to watch them hug and kiss as we left Nancy's on Saturday.

Thanks again for your votes in the music poll on Friday.

I received this lovely away from Kimmie over at Pretty Amazing Grace. She is a lovely woman from Buffalo who must be very happy after her Bills won yesterday. THANK YOU KIMMIE!

Closed my eyes and picked this one out for today...New Riders Of the Purple Sage at the Fillmore East April 26, 1971 with a wonderful song originally done by The Band