Odds ‘n’ ends…

Typically, I take pictures on my little phone camera on a fairly daily basis.  Almost everyday, I suppose is what I was trying to say.  Said pictures tend to stay stuck forever on my phone memory card, so I thought that I would have a little show and tell today.  Hopefully, no one minds. 

This first picture is of a gross locust I found today on a stump in the yard.  I haven’t seen many of these things actually alive.  Normally, you just see their skins after they have molted.  He’s kind of cute. 

Yesterday, I repotted my pineapple plant into the big brown container.  It’s grown a ton this summer because of all the humidity.  It’s turned into quite a rainforest around these parts.  The pineapples are going crazy.  I’m crossing my fingers that I will eventually get to harvest a pineapple.  It’s been years since I planted these two.

Of course, my baby had to help me take pictures of the plants.  She pretty much insists on helping me do everything.  I don’t think you can tell in this picture, but we had to amputate one of her toenails the other day, so she’s been limping around a lot.  That doesn’t stop her from following me around. 

The only reason I repotted my pineapple was because I bought this hella huge pot for my darling little rubber tree.  I’m hoping that eventually he will grow to fit the new digs. 

Have you ever noticed that there is a sad face on every Swingline stapler you ever will see?  Why do they have to be so sad?

This is my happy little Trooper’s new pen.  We built it for him last weekend, and he is like a real dog now.  You would hardly realize that he has major brain damage if you didn’t know it.  Unlike when he lived in the tiny old pen.  He love is new home. 

Last, but not least, my dad brought these chips home the other day.  They are apparently the Texas version of Old English chips.  I’m going to hazard that there is something lost in translation.  But that’s only a guess.

I know, I know, random… It’s the name of the game.

Some like it hot…

Imagine a hot, humid summer day, you’re well into the fourth hour of horseback riding and at least a mile, maybe two, from the barn.  Your knees are starting to ache because you don’t actually ride as much as you should, and the sun and humidity are making your sweat run freely into your eyes and down your face.  You’re almost willing to admit that horseback riding in the summer is a miserable experience and would give anything to be able to cool off because it’s just so damned hot.  Suddenly, off to your left, you hear a strange sound. 

It’s not until you feel the rain pouring down over your head that you realize that the sound you heard was a torrential downpour falling on the leaves as it made its way to the ground.  You also realize at that moment that there is no way you can make it home or even to some kind of shelter without getting completely and utterly drenched, so you shove your cell phone down your boot, hope that will keep it dry, and start the ride home.  At least, you’re not hot anymore.

P.S. The cell phone did survive, and the dogs were as miserable as I was when I got home.  Scruffy decided to take refuge in the herb garden, and he looked so pathetic that we just let him.

For those of you keeping score…

I just had a “Doh!” moment when I realized that I didn’t even need the files I “misplaced” because, duh, they are on the internet. 

Scarlett Johansson shouldn’t quit her day job

I have misplaced all the files from when I made my website, oh so many, years ago.  I have checked all of the files on my computer, but I think my younger self for some clever reason saved those files to a thumb drive of some sort.  Not sure if it’s the one I later wiped in order to install linux on my baby computer, or maybe one I don’t even have any longer… I’m holding out hope that said files were on the drive that got wiped, since those got backed up on my parents computer.  I have their computer, oh so much, more organized than my poor little Ampersand.  Imagine that. 

Anyway, the website is sadly out of date, and while I do have plans to scrap the whole thing and start all over again, it would be, oh so much, easier if I could quickly update it as is, and work on the new site at my leisure.  Who knows when the new site will get finished.  God forbid, I have any time to think anymore.  According to the calendar hanging on my wall, I’m still living in April.  Unfortunately, Father time didn’t get that memo.

But enough about lost files and lost time, lets discuss found music, and vacations past. 

First things first, I love stumbling upon new music through the interwebz.  Amanda Palmer did a cover for the new Steel Train album (which by the way, is a great album, and I highly recommend it.).  I naturally bought said album (because that’s how I roll) and discovered that Scarlett Johansson did a cover as well.  The song kind of sucked, but I always liked Ms. Scarlett, so I took the plunge and downloaded her album of Tom Waits covers (no, it’s not a joke, and how did I not hear about this way back when?).  It leaves very much to be desired.  I’m sorry, Scarlett, but I think you should stick with acting.  Singing… well, singing just isn’t your thing. 

On a happy note, the same day the Steel Train album came in the mail, so the new Zoe Keating album did as well.  Into the Trees, it is called, and amazing, it is.  Listen to it after you hurt your ears listening to Ms. Scarlett. 

Lastly, if anyone wants to buy me this necklace, I would not object, and would gladly accept it. 

Before I forget, the photo is of Trooper.  He thought that the swimming pool was his dog house, and curled up under it for a nap.  It was pretty adorable.