AllanThinks

American Excess

I could feel my arteries hardening just reading this.

Visitors

Looking through my log this evening, I noticed a visitor to the blog who apparently hails from Lexington.  The only other people from here I know who read the blog are my sister, and Linda, so the IP address really stood out.

This person came here via my listing at Globe of  Blogs, a directory that lists blogs by geographic area (country, state, province, etc).  I submitted my blog about 6 weeks ago or so, and just today noticed the hit referred from there. Apparently this anonymous visitor has poked their head in the door 8 times.

I would just like to say, "Hello neighbor." I hope you enjoy reading my ramblings. Stop in anytime, and feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail (the address is on the About page).

I hope you like the new paint job.

I would like to express my appreciation to Alison for all of her help in the redesign. I have wanted to change the look of the blog for a while. I felt the old color scheme made it hard to read, but I felt a bit daunted by the task of choosing a better combination of colors, and changing all the elements of the template.

Ali offered to help, so I handed her the keys to the castle, and in about 30 minutes, she had created most of what you see now.  All I had to do was resize a few images on the front page, and create a new banner.

Without her help, this would not have happened as quickly as it did. Thanks again Alison for helping me shine the place up a bit lot.

Let's Eat!

Carnival of the Recipes #15 is up at Random Thoughts. Thanks to Mary Beth for hosting.

What can I say? I'm a Foodie.

I love to cook, I love to eat, and I love to take photographs.  I just can't help myself.

So here is a nice light, nutritious, tasty, and easy recipe for you to try when you get sick of Thanksgiving leftovers (Can you say Flaming Turkey Wings?).

And on a more upbeat note

YOU ARE CHAMOMILE

What herb are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Thanks to Alison for finding this at Lee Ann's.

The Obligatory Thanksgiving Post

I'm having trouble wrapping my brain around Thanksgiving this year for a lot of reasons. The biggest I don't want to go into, but if you browse my earliest archives you can probably figure it out. Then there's the fact that the Christmas holiday began before Halloween around here. At least according to most of the retailers.

And beginning November 1st, two local radio stations are playing Christmas music 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I am so rolling my eyes. It just sort of cheapens the entire holiday season, and seems to mute the significance of Thanksgiving.

And to top it all off, I feel like I am coming down with a cold. I'm hoping my symptoms are just a reaction to the odd changes in the weather we are experiencing. It is in the mid-60s and severe thunderstorms are a possibility. Overnight it is going to turn cold again.

I have been invited to a Thanksgiving gathering tomorrow. There will be the usual spread of goodies to eat, but there will likely be a full complement of family tensions as well. I'm not sure I'm up to dealing with that.

I lived with those sorts of things in my own family for many years. That is all behind me now, and I really don't want to be reminded of those dark years.

I wish I could do something non-traditional like Mike did last night. Tomorrow, he plans to sit around in sweats, watch DVDs and eat junk food.

If I don't feel any better in the morning, I might end up doing just that.

Before closing, i would like to share with you some nice T-Day related posts I have read the past couple of days in my travels through the Blogoshere.

Jen pauses to count her blessings. Have a great weekend Jen.

Bet asks her readers to recount their favorite Thanksgiving traditions, and their favorite Thanksgiving recipes.

Amy has a series of daily posts, all Thanksgiving related, in response to Michael's Thanksgiving Challenge.

Trudy takes a look at the rival holiday traditions of turkey and ham, and how her family's Thanksgiving dining was shaped by an encounter her brother Gordon had with a group of irate turkeys.

My buddy Nook has instructions for brining and smoking a turkey, as well as an awesome recipe for marinating and frying turkey. Damn. I wish I could spend the weekend at his place.

Professor Bainbridge has some timely recommendations for wines to serve on Thanksgiving.

And last, don't miss reading Pops' thoughts on the holiday over at Soylent Green is People Content.

His post made me laugh out loud more than once. And I am not just saying that because he gave me a plug. It really is hilarious.

Whatever you have planned for this weekend, I hope you have a great time.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Red Carpet

Nearing the End

Who knew?

You Are a "Don't Tread On Me" Libertarian

You distrust the government, are fiercely independent, and don't belong in either party. Religion and politics should never mix, in your opinion... and you feel oppressed by both. You don't want the government to cramp your self made style. Or anyone else's for that matter. You're proud to say that you're pro-choice on absolutely everything!

What political persuasion are you?

Thanks to Da Goddess for the link.

Friday night/Saturday morning cat blogging

Since I don't own a cat here is a picture of my dog Fritz.

And now I will tell you about the wonderful evening I spent with my sister Jo Ann, and brother Mike, who is visiting from South Carolina.

Holy Cow! Would you look at that.

The 14th Carnival of the Recipes is up at Boudicca's Voice.

I guess the holidays have everyone thinking about food. This is an impressive (as in HUGE) collection of recipes.

Bon Appétit!

Corrupting the morals of fish

Margarita Salmon

• 4 Tbsp. tequila
• 2 Tbsp. Cointreau
• 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp. grated lime peel
• Salt to taste
• Fresh ground pepper to taste
• 2-4 salmon fillets

Combine tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, lime zest, salt and pepper.

Pierce the salmon with a fork and marinate for at least 30 minutes or until drunk. Grill for 5 to 7 minutes.

I grilled it for a bit longer than the recipe called for, as I like my fish not only drunk, but done. I turned the fillets halfway through cooking. I poured some of the remaining marinade over the fish. If you do this, stand back from the grill. The alcohol is flammable and will flare up.

I served the salmon with southern style green beans, a salad of cucumber and Roma tomato, and garnished with a section of lime.

The flavoring from the marinade is subtle, but an occasional bite would reveal an intense hint of the liquors.

This marinade would also work well with chicken or shrimp.

Addendum: A couple of nights after preparing this, I thought that I should have taken the  leftover marinade and reduced it in a sauce pan to use as a sauce for the grilled fish. One of those forehead slapping moments, that.

 

Happy Birthday old friend

Researchers are marking November 16, 2004 as the 100th birthday of electronics, which began with British scientist John Ambrose Fleming's 1904 invention of the first practical electronic device. Known as the thermionic diode, this first simple vacuum tube, containing only two electrodes, could be used to convert an alternating current (ac) to  a direct current (dc).

- American Institute of Physics

It seems like such a quaint concept now, the vacuum tube. But it was quite an earthshaking invention. It changed everything.

It made possible all the high tech devices we take for granted today. Not to mention wireless communication. I might not be sitting at my kitchen table typing this post on my laptop computer had it not been for Fleming's quaint little glass tube containing those two wire electrodes.

Kentucky Sunset

Yeah, I guess I'm just a big old gasbag

You Are From Saturn

You're steady, organized, and determined to achieve your dreams. You tend to play it conservative, going by the rules (at least the practical ones). You'll likely reach the top. And when you do, you'll be honorable and responsible. Focus on happiness. Don't let your goals distract you from fun! Don't be too set in your ways, and you'll be more of a success than you ever dreamed of.

What Planet Are You From?

Thanks to  Lee Ann for the link.

This is what I was talking about.

 

In August, when I took delivery of a big load of firewood, I lamented that I would have to wait so long to use it.

About 3 weeks ago, I lit the fireplace for the first time, and have enjoyed fires about eight times since. The weather has been indecisive, and evenings cold enough for a fire have been few.

Now, I think cold weather may be here to stay for a while.

I couldn't resist sharing a picture of the fire I enjoyed this evening, especially with the new firescreen that UPS  delivered today.

You really can't see it well in this picture, but you can see it here.

I'm glad I live somewhere that has more than one season.

Here's an idea.

For those who expressed a desire to move to Canada due to the reelection of President Bush, but can't find an easy way to do so, you might want to read this.

About Veteran's Day...

Please read this.

Thank you.

And thanks to Armed Liberal for his thoughful post.

Aflame

Uh...not really. But thanks nonetheless

I'm Pretty Darn Interesting!

Take Just How Interesting Are You? today!

Created with Rum and Monkey's Personality Test Generator.

You may not be the life of the party, but people generally find you a fun-loving font of interesting stories, jokes, and wit.  With just a little more work, you could easily become the most interesting person you know!*

* No, I don't think so. I know way too many fascinating people who I could never equal.

May I touch your bottom?

You are the Hungarian! You just HAD to buy that
CHEAPO Hungarian-to-English phrasebook...

What Monty Python Sketch Character are you?

brought to you by Quizilla

Thanks to DaGoddess for this link.

I couldn't help myself

Yes, I enjoyed two of my small pleasures this afternoon. I only took a few small bites of the Blue Monday.  I'd go into shock if I ate the entire thing in one sitting.  The remainder was returned to its package to be enjoyed another day.

Mike was right when he said describing a Blue Monday was like describing an orgasm. You have to experience one in order to understand.

Email me if you're interested in trying one. I live just a few miles from the Ruth Hunt shop here in Lexington.

I think I will have another cup of coffee to take the edge off the sugar rush.

Small Pleasures

I do believe Alison has created a new meme.

Here are a few of mine:

• My fireplace on a cold autumn night.
• My new clove scented candle.
• Whole bean coffee that I grind when I want a pot.
• A Blue Monday.
• Sleeping beneath my down comforter.
• On my new mattress.
• In my new queen size bed.
• Receiving care packages from a best friend in a far away place.
• Dining out at small exotic eateries.
• With close family.
• Spending a fall day at the races with my siblings.
• A long walk at the arboretum.
• Good bourbon.
• Music.
• My weblog.
• Knowing that people read it.

I hope everyone had a nice weekend full of small pleasures.

Clang, Clang, Clang. Dinner!

Carnival of the Recipes #12 is posted for your perusal at The Glittering Eye.

Thanks for hosting again David!

How I spent Election Day

Danger! Danger! No Will Robinson!

This is my first attempt at "Life Blogging." It is probably going to turn into a rambling stream of consciousness mess. But if you can stay with me for a few minutes, You'll get some idea of what a day in my life is like.

Just do it

Have you exercised your right today?

It's just not fair

No, it isn't. Fall, my favorite season, just doesn't seem to last long enough anymore. I'm not talking about astronomical or meteorological fall. I'm talking about the peak color period of the season.

I've seen pictures posted on the net the past couple of days from areas far north of where I live, where the trees are still full of leaves, all in beautiful fall colors of red, orange and yellow.

You can see examples of them here and here.

We were blessed with quite vivid fall color a week or so ago. You can see examples here and here. But it didn't last. After a short few days of cool temperatures and even cooler evening temperatures, summer returned with almost hot daytime temperatures, and heavy downpours of rain. This was followed by several days of high winds.

The result of this atypical fall weather was the stripping of most of the trees of their leaves. Maple, walnut, elm, ash, dogwood, redbud, honey locust, crab apple, and river birch trees are all almost devoid of any foliage already. The only trees left with remaining foliage are some pin oaks, which never develop any color and hang on to their leaves until the new growth pushes them off in the spring, ornamental pear trees, and the Mulberry in the corner of my backyard. It will give up its foliage within a week or two, but the leaves will go directly from green to almost black in the process.

Perhaps it has always been this way. It just seems like in the past that our peak color has lasted longer than a week. Perhaps it just depends on the timing of rain producing weather systems, and this year the timing just sucks. October is usually one of the driest months in Kentucky, but this year, I recorded over eight inches of rain. The trees were beaten into submission.

It seemes like it has been much wetter here this year than in the past, but in looking up some precipitation data this evening, I discovered that we are on track to record somewhat less than our normal annual rainfall. But what we have received has come all at once in very short periods, and October was an atypically wet month.

I feel a bit cheated by Mother Nature this year, but I am thankful that I got the chance to experience the beauty of the season at least for a few clear sunny days.

Perhaps next year will be better.