X-Rated Claw

I cannot stop laughing about this picture my friend, Euphrates, took and posted on her Live Journal:

You know this machine, The Claw. I've always loved to play it, and have always been lucky with it, but I wouldn't dare drop my dollar in this machine for fear of breaking up this love fest!

I have no idea who Robin's boyfriend is, but judging from the grin on Robin's face, he's DA MAN. So Robin is enjoying himself, Alien boyfriend is as well, but what about poor Cookie Monster? Is he a part of this love fest, or is he horribly appalled by what he is witnessing? Could he be making that face because Alien boyfriend is stepping on his nads?

I'll let you be the judge.

Dear Hoarder...Rough Draft

Dear Hoarder, Dear Mrs. Leslie,

I know that somewhere in your mind you have a very important purpose for that piece of crap beautiful planter basket with the rotted to hell perfectly aged bottom.

If I may, I would like to suggest that we place it in the trash can, dammit somewhere on the back porch for no one all of our guests to see. Should we lift it, and the plant falls completely out of the bottom, we can die of embarrassment all get a really good laugh out of it.

I loathe love your determination to save useless re-purpose items, and hope I never can learn to do the same one day!

I love you,
Leslie

Modern Day Hippie?

Is this what I have become, or am becoming?

Let's examine the evidence: eating cage free organic eggs, drinking white Chai tea, watching Planet Green, recycling the thousands of plastic bags I get from stores, going to the Farmer's Market so we can eat locally, changing all the light bulbs to energy saving compact fluorescent. I think you get the point.

Are the environmentally aware the hippies or tree huggers of modern time?

I looked up "modern hippies" and found:

NEO-HIPPIE

Someone who is interested in several of the following things: vegetarianism/veganism, the environment, animal rights, gay rights, mild recreational drugs, feminism, New Age spirituality, or organic produce. Stereotypical neo-hippie attire includes loose, comfortable clothing like peasant tops, skirts and sandals. Homemade clothing is common among the truly hardcore, as it appeals to their anti-capitalist sensibilities. Long hair is popular with both males and females.

I am not vegan, don't do drugs (unless you count alcohol - invite me over if you have any), don't understand New Age spirituality, don't wear homemade clothing, and no on the long hair. Now, the other stuff, yes, so I guess that makes me a half Neo-Hippie for the time being and I'm cool with that. My only request is that should you ever read a blog post where I say Mrs. Leslie and I are going to go "off the grid" and live on "poop power" please stage an intervention immediately!

Not the Third, Fourth

It's a rainy, stormy Saturday here. I had thought about dragging Mrs. Leslie to the Magic City Art Connection (http://www.facebook.com/magiccityartconnection) but it was canceled because of the weather. My daughter went to it yesterday and took hundred of pictures. Some of the stuff looked really cool. Weather permitting, we might try tomorrow.




We watched, "The Box" last night. The premise was good, but they made the story entirely too complicated. Quite a few times things happened that I had no understanding of. At first I chalked it up to the fact that I am a moron, but when it ended and Michelle said basically the same thing, I knew it was the movie and not me.

Another movie we watched this week was, "The Fourth Kind". It is supposed to be based on a the true story of alien abductions that occurred in Nome, Alaska. If paranormal stuff is up your alley then I would recommend renting this one.

As usual with scary movies that are supposed to be based on true stories, debate is raging about whether or not it is a hoax. Read more about it: http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/06/fourth.kind.real/index.html

Bamboozled

A few months ago, much to our surprise, we discovered some bamboo plants growing along the side of the road in our town. Despite the fact that this town is full of plants, trees, etc., bamboo is NOT something you would expect to see growing here.

After seeing that this climate and soil will obviously support it's growth here, Mrs. Leslie and I decided to plant some of our own. Of course we had to find some first. We struck out at Lowe's, but scored at Home Depot. So now we will have our own little slice of Asia in our Southern back yard.

I Can See It Now

Back in January I started pondering when I would take my ten sick and vacation days. Unfortunately, the girl child had to be transported back and forth to school for finals in the beginning of January, and it cost me two of my days. Dang, down to eight. In February I felt bad enough to call in sick. Crap, down to seven. Enough!

Today I methodically studied the calendar for the remainder of the year and strategically placed myself with off days following holidays that we are already closed - giving me two 4-Day "weekends", and the entire week of Labor Day (which will give me NINE days off in a row).

I can see it now...and it looks something like this:

But in reality, without Michelle around, I'm afraid it will be spent at home looking more like this:

If I can arrange it, I might be able to use that time to finally go to New York City and see my little brother. I'm wanting to take a train, and nine days would allow me plenty of time.

If that scenario plays out, then this would be me:

Really, any of the three would be just fine, because all three put me somewhere other than at work, and that is exciting enough to wet myself!

Oh Baby, That's Hot!

My new love is like nothing else I've ever experienced. I burn for it, and in return it burns me up. Behold, mighty Sriracha:

Seriously, I've never been one for hot sauce. We have it in the fridge, but just because the boy child likes to eat it on everything but waffles and ice cream.

I had my first run in with Sriracha at a Vietnamese restaurant called Pho Que Huong. No, I can't pronounce it, but I told Michelle we should eat there anyway and she agreed. I spotted the Sriracha on the table, and it just plain looked hot. I'm not sure what came over me, but when the Tofu Fried Rice arrived, I decided it might be the perfect thing to jazz boring tofu up.

I had never understood what hot food lovers meant when they said, "It burns, but in a good way"...thanks to Sriracha, now I do. So far today I've had it on my spinach omelet at breakfast, and my flat bread spinach and garlic pizza at lunch. I'm certain my stomach is begging me not to go for the three-peat, but I make no promises!

Caution: Student Driver

I love, love, love a beautiful weekend that contains no specific plans or obligations. That's not to say we will do nothing, just that we have the option to do nothing if we so choose.

Mrs. Leslie had a decent birthday. She never did name a gift, so I went with just the Krispy Kremes, balloons, and a card, and did not get beat up for it. Actually, I got smiles, thank you's, and a multitude of smooches. I'm happy that she was happy.

Next up is the girl child, who will be sixteen on May 6th. I don't have to worry about running out for the driver's license because she just recently got her permit. We've had two driving lessons thus far. I'm happy to report that I only soiled myself during one of the two outings.

Honestly, she has done pretty well, but I can't help but be somewhat terrified putting her behind the wheel of our new $20,000 car. I guess that's what insurance is for though, and it's time for her to start the path to independence, so I will be brave!

Speaking of independence, the other big event on my radar screen is my son's graduation from Spain Park coming up May 26th. It's been a long twelve years. It's been a struggle for everyone involved, and I'm glad it's almost over. I know he is as well. I'm proud of him, and can't wait to see him get his diploma.

Easter(ed) - Need Help

I hope you all had a nice Easter!

As you can tell from the photo, we had a great time cutting a rug in our Easter best. That's me wayyyy in the back, waiting my turn. A bit too much ham and potato salad had left me feeling lethargic. Don't you worry though, Grandma and I showed everyone a thing or two, eventually...after I pulled her kicking and screaming away from the moonshine still.

I had asked her not to imbibe on Easter, but the statement, "Don't make me kick ya where the good Lord split ya!" made me think twice about telling Grandma what to do. Besides, Grandma does her best break dancing moves when she has a few drinks in her.

Anywho, one celebration down, on to the next. Tomorrow is Mrs. Leslie's birthday. Last year I bought her a keepsakes box that she didn't like, and we have joked about it for the past year. In order to avoid more mockery, this year I asked her specifically what she wanted, and she hasn't named even one thing.

I need help. Either this means...

1) She honestly can't think of anything she wants. I can buy nothing, and not get killed.

Or...

2) She knows what she wants and is just being difficult. Such as, "If you really knew me, you would know
    what I want!"


So which is it?

Thumbs Up

We...

Went and paid bills, exchanged the empty propane tank for the grill for a full one, bought a second mirror for the bathroom (so Mrs. Leslie can see the BACK of her hair) at a random store, went to Walgreen's to get the girl child's medicine, went to the bank, stopped at Publix for our favorite coffee, stopped at random store #2 for new pillow cases, went to the gas station - bought gas for the riding and push mower, cut the grass, performed massive amounts of yard work, took a much needed shower, and

Now...

I need to go get the girl child from school, head across town to get her new glasses picked up, go get the boy child from his Dad's, stop off and get buns for the Brats I'm going to grill tonight, and

Then...

I grill, drink beer and relax knowing that everything I needed to do today is done! Whew. Go me.