Sunday, February 4, 2018

Fifteenth Century Architecture - NSFW



As mentioned in the title, this post is not safe for work, but that part is reserved for the bottom if you want to sneak a peak. I just found this on Twitter a few minutes ago.

In case you can't read the print, Black Pigeon Speaks typed, "People didn't have social media in the 15th century, so it would appear that they used gargoyles to troll their local village." What dedication to serving cold revenge!

See That Little Arrow Over the Roof, Several Stories Up?

That's Craftsmanship!

I can only guess this was found during restoration. What do you think?

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Saturday, February 3, 2018

Okonomiyaki!


I was a moody, timid child. Glad to say those traits have improved to a vast degree. Part of that is just maturity, I suppose. Still, my SO and I tend to sit quiet while another might speak up in complaint of this or that, especially at restaurants.

The other day at a local Japanese eatery enjoying a bowl of savory Osaka soba (tender pork rib meat with thick noodles in a rich broth), I decided to speak up about something very different from complaint. Having learned it’s possible to order off menu, I bolstered my courage and asked our friendly waitress if the chef would ever agree to make okonomiyaki.

Her face lit up! She asked my name, telling me to call ahead to make the request, and said we would call it the Darla Special. I am tickled pink. SO suggested that could be my birthday meal later this month.

Here is a Wikipedia article on those savory Japanese pancakes if you are interested. There are many variations and I made up my mind to give the chef his choice if asked. I like to think trusting his judgment would impress him as well as being the wisest way to go. These men and women in the kitchen know what they’re doing.

My Breakfast, Leftover Osaka Udon
Definitely no 'Consolation Prize'
Now I will just have to laugh if I end up not liking it and already have a contingency plan. If it’s not to my liking, I’ll just act like I struggled to decide before leaving the house and then request the standard noodle dish. ~grin~ Amusingly, the proprietress asked if I’d ever been to Osaka upon my first excited order of that udon. I answered, “I wish!” My reply amused her. I will admit over the phone that pickled ginger doesn’t agree with me (probably sacrilege, but oh, well).

Have you eaten any of the foods I mentioned?

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Friday, February 2, 2018

Body Image Issues & a Sad Realization


A dear, kind fellow writer with whom I’ve become acquainted on Facebook recently shared this story about a fashionable sixty-four year old woman who deems herself an accidental icon with a blog by that name. Watching video about her, a striking figure with a model thin body, all I could think was how nice her clothes hung, resenting it the entire time. ~shakes head~ It didn’t help when my friend kindly pointed out how the featured outfits would fit any body type.

Fit? Maybe. But in the furry coat this lady sported I would appear as a squat, pregnant bear while the boxy coats would look like balloons. And that’s when something occurred to me besides the fact I’ll never afford that lass’s taste in designer clothes.

Not only is my propensity to be overweight genetic, so is my attitude, distinctly from my mother’s side of the family. I never met my great grandmother, but my maternal grandmother was very dear to me. At a young age I mentioned to my mother how nice Grandma looked, always wearing dresses.

Mom informed me that Grandma only scorned slacks because she was ashamed of being bowlegged. Meanwhile Mom spent my entire childhood on one weight loss scheme or other. Even at the end of her life she lamented gaining some extra pounds.

And, God rest her soul, my mother was not concerned with physical fitness. Her idea of being active consisted of walking across the house when she still could. I think she almost enjoyed the pampering once wheelchair bound.

That brings me to a blessing, because seeing her physical deterioration caused me to start lifting weights and swimming on a regular basis. Still, I could almost cry every time I look in a mirror, missing my former figure. ~sigh~ At least my body and spirit are strong and relatively pain free (!).

Me,1997
Sorry The Image is Blurry
Guess My Camera Focused on the Frame - Oops
Are you a fashion hound?

And I Do Stay Young at Heart!
Like my boots? I bought them to wear to writing events, forcing a more intrepid persona.

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Thursday, February 1, 2018

Promoting Palaye Royale – or – Pimping My Boys as SO Likes to Say


Yesterday I received my “Rock Sound” magazine from the United Kingdom. I’m so tickled!

It Includes a Poster!
As I type this I’m listening to a Palaye Royale interview. They are so hardworking, smart, and nice. I hope to meet them at the end of March.


Do you like old fashioned rock and roll? Check this out…


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Fonts Matter

I may have already shared this. But here it is (again?). It reminds me of my days playing Dungeons & Dragons.


More Handy in the Kitchen than a Demon...

Do you hate the fact writing cursive is a dying art form?

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Wednesday, January 31, 2018

A(n Easy) Quiz for the Day


Upon deciding to post this I had no expectations of stumping anyone. In fact I’ll go ahead and put the answer at the bottom. Anyway, here goes. Do you know what this two piece kitchen accessory does?

Sitting on a Paper Plate for the Task at Hand

Looks Like a Wicked Guillotine, Right?
Giving away the answer, I'll say it served very well after I brought home some poppyseed and sesame bagels. For the record, I realized the latter are far superior. The market, alas, only offered four and we wanted six for all the lovely lox (thin sliced smoked salmon) picked out at another store.


Poppyseed Overload
I love me some lox with capers and cream cheese. Technically, it’s Neufchâtel, but same difference. Yum.

Capers Add the Perfect Touch of Tart (if that's the right word)
Of course the tool is a bagel slicer, or literally a bagel guillotine. It’s not something I thought to purchase, but a long ago gift. I’m grateful because slicing at home keeps the bread from going stale so fast.

Star of the Show, Thin Layered Lox
Have you ever eaten lox?

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Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Anxiety - Blessings and Questions


It’s no secret that emotions affect our bodies. Anxiety and depression are no exception. I know this firsthand from (mostly) past experience.

For blessed little me, leaving outside employment eradicated all but some social anxiety. Severe attacks do raise their tremulous little heads now and then, though, and sometimes for no apparent reason. Last Sunday during a sunny quiet morning, a rather severe attack hit.

Why? I have no idea. But it exhibited the old familiar signs, dampening my motor skills and tightening my throat. It got so bad that I didn't trip and fall but my handwriting took on the appearance of a palsy patient’s.

Fortunately, driving a car in light traffic while blasting screaming death metal (!) often helps calm me, as does exercise. So, I forced myself to get ready and go for a swim at my favorite YMCA natatorium.

Founder & Lead Singer of Nu Metal Band Otep
On the way there, symptoms took a scary turn, affecting my judgment. I took a wrong turn down a one way street to find myself facing two lanes of oncoming traffic. We have lived in this neighborhood for twenty years.

I am happy to say my quick correction prevented an accident, even saving me seeing strangers’ faces of angry shock. Good thing the swim and ongoing whispered and screaming lyrics of singer Otep Shamaya eased me back to a peaceful state.

Does music calm you in times of duress?

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Monday, January 29, 2018

Positive Sparks Monday - An American Great

I decided to stray from my ongoing music theme. Poking around Brainy Quotes last week, words by the great Frederick Douglass popped out to me. This great American became my hero the instant a grade school teacher introduced me to his works. I think the following quote sums up his spirit, and represents a philosophy we should all embrace without hesitation.


Amen, good sir. May you rest in peace.

To quote Annie of McGuffy’sReader, the bright spirited blog where she created Sparks Mondays, “I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world!”



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