Off for a bit of relaxation

I'll be off next week, playing a little and continuing to recuperate from this heinous cold I've had for a week. My advice to you, WASH YOUR HANDS, often and stay away from other people, when possible.

Chicken Soup for the cold or flu

Ack, the temperature was in the three digits last week. A bit too hot for me. Its weird though how when the temp climbs to 90+ and stays there for days or weeks, that a 75 degree day in August feels quite cool in comparison to a 75 degree day in April at which point everyone in the Pacific NW get out their shorts and flipflops.

Anyway, somehow during the heatwave, I got the flu. Yep, not just a cold, but the flu. Nice! So, Sunday, I made chicken soup, because nothing helps a cold or the flu like chicken soup. I bet you could have guessed, but I change it up every time I make it. Its usually quite edible and tasty, but this time, even with a cold/flu, it was very good. At least to Mister and me. Remember, all ingredients really in the amounts of your personal taste. I made this version quite onion-ey because of their curative properties. Up to you. I could digress and capitulate all day, let's just get to it.

Chicken Soup ~ this time

In a stock pot, heat 2 Tbsp olive oil. To that add 2 - 4 cloves minced garlic, 1 large shallot, 1/2 cup celery minced - I use the very insides of celery and the leaves for this part, 1/2 cup carrots minced and 1 - 2 Tbsp minced ginger. Saute until very fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic and ginger. Add 1 Tbsp dried thyme and 1 Tbsp dried dill and saute for another minute.

To that, add 4 cups (this makes quite a bit of soup) water and bring up to a boil. Not a rolling boil, but a nice few bubbles consistently rising to the top. To that, add 2 cans canned chicken including the water its packed in. I know, I know, canned chicken ?!(!) But, I had the flu, no time for stewing and cooling and etc etc.

When that comes to a bubble/boil, add 4 cups chicken broth and bring it to a bubble/boil again.

Then add 4 cups water and two bouillon cubes (I actually use "Better than Bouillon") and bring it up to bubble again. It seems annoying to read all the "add then bring to a boil", but by adding the liquid slowly, its supposed to take less time to get the whole thing up and hot and gives the flavors more time to commingle. Plus, it gives you time to chop all the veggies that are up and coming.

While all those additions are heating up, chop and set aside in a bowl: 1 large white onion coursely chopped, 4 - 5 carrots chopped into bite sized pieces, 3 - 4 ribs celery chopped (I use the insides and leaves for this part too. They aren't usually great for just snacking on, but cook up in soups etc really well... anyway - use whatever you want), a large handful of chopped fresh parsley, and 5 - 6 pickled pepperoncini, seeded and chopped. 2 cups chopped leafy green of choice. This weekend I had red chard on hand. You can substitute spinach or kale or whatever you like. Chop it up so it will easily fit onto the soup spoon when eaten. I usually add a Tbsp or two of the pepperoncini juice, straight from the jar. It adds a nice zing. This weekend I also added a good healthy shake (or 5) of cayenne pepper. I've been known to use a splash of Tabasco Sauce, but the cayenne called to me instead this time. For the noodles, use whatever you like egg noodles are great in this. I used angel hair pasta that I broke into 1 inch pieces. The amount depends on how noodle-y you want your soup. I wasn't into the noodle thing this weekend so I added maybe a cup.

After the last addition of water etc comes to a boil, add the bowl of chopped up veggies and pasta and simmer until its the consistency you like. I don't bring this to a bubble/boil, I just simmer it. There is a school of thought (there are actually many many schools of thought on the topic - hence the raw food movement - but, I digress yet again) that when veggies are cooked too much, they lose a percentage of their vitamin content. Its interesting, some veggie can be cooked a bit, some should not be cooked at all and some can be cooked a lot and have very different, but beneficial, properties. Mister and I like the veggies to be a bit on the al-dente side so I just let it simmer. Up to you.

Serve it with Saltine crackers if you like or a good cornbread would be great too, or some good crusty french bread, or, well, insert just about any carb here.

** I know you know this, but my disclaimer is that Mister and I have a tendency toward spicy foods. All the spicy stuff (i.e. cayenne) can be eliminated or moderated to your personal tastes. Also, its a really good way to get in those leafy greens. I never make this stuff the same. Don't you love reading recipes here(!) Its how I cook, some of this, some of that, never the same twice. Its why I didn't become a concert pianist, I was fairly good at it, I just didn't like the rules and all the practice to make the music exactly the same every single time. I wanted variety. And truth be told, I probably wasn't *that* good at it, but my mom says I was! So there!

There you go. Now you know why I'll probably never write a cookbook. Too many possibilities and choices and you'd have to remember what you did and how much you added etc. Cooking is a creative outlet for me. It would be like asking an artist to write down how they painted a picture stroke by stroke so someone else could paint the same painting. I've got to go, I'm just rambling now. I'll blame it on the lingering cold/flu.

10 things you may or may not know about me

... and now that I think of it, you may not really want to know these things, so, in that case, surf the web instead of reading further. If you are in for the long haul, good luck to you!

10 - I think I'm funny ~ This is a new realization to me. I mean, it took me until recently to really think that I'm a funny person, or rather, can be a funny person. Mister is always laughing at me... or.... with me... or something.

9 - I am shy ~ It can come across as snobby or hi-fa-lutin' (see I told you - funny) but its really a combination of lack of self-esteem and honest-to-goodness ingrained reservedness.

8 - I respect myself ~ Sounds weird, but if you know me, you know I was born a peace maker and have a tendency toward letting others walk all over me because I don't want to make too many waves. I really have always been the person who brings up the rear and takes care of others before myself. If I look back though, I see that when it really mattered, when my honor (for lack of a better word) was at stake, I knew it wasn't about whether or not others felt bad if I stood up for myself because they were degrading or disrespecting me. I found I garnered far more respect, even from bullies, when I honestly stood up for me, myself and I and drew the line in the sand.

7 - I am an animal person ~ Ok, that's probably not a secret. When Mister and I walk down the street, I'm always the one checking out the dogs and cats along the way. Always stopping to pet some cat or other and always asking owners if I can pet their dogs.

6 - I love a good coffee martini. ~ Here's the recipe for one I found in Maui at the Java Jazz Cafe. 1 oz Godiva chocolate liqueur, 1 oz Godiva white chocolate liqueur, 1 oz vanilla vodka, 1 shot espresso. Pour over ice, shake vigorously, pour, drink, enjoy. Then repeat.

5 - I sometimes work out to a video. Not really a bid deal, right? The odd thing about me, is that sometimes I change the perspective so everyone in the video is just a *little* wider than they would normally be. Its sad, but it sometimes makes me feel better to work out with people who aren't so danged skinny. Ahem... moving right along.

4 - I don't sleep well. Never have. I'm up a lot during the night. I hear everything that goes on in the house and in the yard and on the street and when the neighbor sneezes (just kidding about that last one... maybe). I can fall asleep like a 3 year old in any old place at any old time, but when it comes to staying asleep, never been able to master that.

3 - I love storms. It is storming right now. Thunder, lighting, I just watched a sub-station blow up and then the fire trucks going to check on it.

2 - I don't peel carrots. I use a vegetable brush, clean them up and never peel them before I eat them or cook with them.

1 - I hate to vaccuum. Mister mostly does it and always is a sport when I ask him to do it. How lucky am I!

Ok, that was harder than I thought it was going to be as evidenced by the very boring "I don't peel carrots" um, ok, let's put that right up there with the important things like 'yesterday I sneezed'. I challenge you to come up with 10 things that people may not know about you, then share them with me. Post them or email me or call. I'm curious. It may be harder than you think but interesting to try to think of things the world may not know because they aren't in your head or home.

Really Great Meatloaf - No, I'm not kidding

So, this started out as someone else's recipe and I've modified the heck out of it, so I'm calling it my recipe and sharing it with you. First, you must know that as a child, whenever my mother made meatloaf, she'd always keep out enough hamburger for me to have a hamburger for dinner because meatloaf gagged me. Hello, super gross. Then a few years ago, well probably more than a few now, a friend shared her recipe with me which was so amazing, I loved it and immediately changed it up to make it better, well, better for me.

I encourage you to check it out then take it and modify the heck out of it, making it your own special recipe that everyone will oooh and aaaah over.

Not Your Mother's Meatloaf

15 oz can tomato sauce (or more)
2 eggs, beaten
2 tsp salt
Pepper - to taste
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 cup oatmeal that you have pulverized into oat flour in your herb mill (aka coffee grinder)

1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
1/2 - 2/3 lb sausage of choice. I use sweet or spicy chicken sausage that I buy in bulk at the meat counter. Use whatever you like.

Filling:

Olive oil
Garlic, pressed
Mushrooms, sliced
Sundried tomatoes, chopped
Red pepper flakes
salt and pepper

More oregano for later

Mix together 1/2 the tomato sauce with the first section ingredients then work into the meat. Take just less than half the mixture and pat into a round pie plate. Set aside.

Saute the 'filling' ingredients together, the amounts are up to you. Place in a mound on top of the patty you previously made. Take the balance of the meat mixture, form it into a disk that will cover the mound, making sure to seal the top disk with the bottom patty. It will look something like an igloo when you are done.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Top with the rest of the tomato sauce into which you've stirred salt & pepper and 1/2 tsp (+/-) oregano. Cook for another 15 - 30 minutes, until done.

Serve with whatever you want. I have a tendency to make this in the winter and my fav way to serve it is with garlic mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. I've yet to have any complaints.

There's little better in life than a meatloaf sandwhich the next day with mayo, ketchup, s&p on sourdough. OY! The problem is that Mister loves my meatloaf so much that I rarely get any after the intial dinner. He'll snack on it and take it for lunch the next day and pretty much devours it. I'm not complaining, I just want a meatloaf sandwich.

Usually this is a winter meal, and since I usually don't get to have my coveted meatloaf sandwich, I have started making burgers out of this recipe. For obvious reasons, I don't use the filling. I use all the same ingredients then add chopped sundried tomatoes, make them into patties and bbq them. Super yum! And a meatloaf-ish meal in the middle of summer.

I have a tendency to change things up every time I make it. I made burgers recently and added worcestershire sauce to the mix, super yummy. Experiment with hot sauces, chopped onions, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, the universe is open to it all.

No photos, it gets eaten too quickly for that type of nonsense. Go, have fun, create.

A Very Merry Unbirthday to You! (yes, you)

A very merry unbirthday to you. Yes, I know its YouTube, but, you can check it out on your iphone. And make sure you DO check it out, its great and put me in an excellent mood. Anyway...
My dear friend Dom. We've been through just so much together, so much I can't really even blog about lest I get both of us in trouble. Let's get into The Way-Back Machine and see how I remember things.
We met in junior high school. We were the Millicoma Mustangs. You have to know that back then, holy monkey a while ago, I was but a mere shadow of my current self. I remember you wearing A-smile overalls I think they might have been pink, and of course I was wearing them too, mine were purple. (I desperately tried to find a link to those overalls, no luck.) You were friends with Kami and Tami who I thought must be twins. That's my total memory of jr. high. Pretty sad, but, those were difficult years.
Somehow in high school we started hanging out and became the best of friends. "Somehow we met...", don't you love my memory, it totally sucks, I can't remember anything. This post is supposed to be my memories of stuff, but, there's just nothing there in the memory banks. So, here's the short synopsis in no particular order because, I have no idea what order them came in. Anyway, here goes: skinny dipping in some lake (was it Sand Lake?) in the middle of the dunes, much time spent at Boxcar, North Bend boys, you standing up to Angie, Taco Bell for lunch in Debbie's Bronco, ham sandweeches, black eyes, your pink stretch lace dress, your cousins and the licorice ice cream, you kept camping with my parents even though you knew what was in store for you, Leon's, your mom's silver mustang, my mom's french fries with a ton of ketchup, Danny burgers, Marty, and the cat (I can see her - can't remember her name - was it a boy's name), your dad's accordion wallet (hee hee), bagels with the weird school cream cheese, going to your extended family picnics, your gramma (she's so awesome), graduation (I can't look at that picture without cringing at what a slob I was - good gravy what was wrong with me! don't answer that), moving to the big city, getting Mr. One, well, it just goes on and on.

No matter the situation, we always ended up on the same side and friends.

I'm so glad we're still friends. That we don't have to talk or see each other every few days to stay close. When we do talk, its like no time has passed. You are just as amazing today as when I met you, in fact much more amazing.

No birthday cakes, but all my good wishes do I wish for you. And a song.

THE UNBIRTHDAY SONG From the Walt Disney film "Alice In Wonderland" (1951) (Mack David / Al Hoffman / Jerry Livingston) Ed Wynn & Jerry Colonna (Film Soundtrack) - 1951 Rosemary Clooney - 1951 Freddie & The Dreamers - 1966

Statistics prove, prove that you've one birthday
One birthday every year
But there are three hundred and sixty four unbirthdays
That is why we're gathered here to cheer
A very merry unbirthday to you, to you
A very merry unbirthday to you, to you

It's great to drink to someone
And I guess that you will do
A very merry unbirthday to you
A very merry unbirthday to us, to us
A very merry unbirthday to us

If there are no objections
Let it be unanimous
A very merry unbirthday to us
A very merry unbirthday to me (to who)
A very merry unbirthday to me (to you)
Let's all congratulate me
With a present I agree
A very merry unbirthday to me
A very merry unbirthday to all, to all
A very merry unbirthday to all, to all

Let's have a celebration
Hire a band and rent a hall
A very merry unbirthday
A very merry unbirthday
A very merry unbirthday to all

(Transcribed from the Rosemary Clooney recording by Mel Priddle - January 2005)

! ! HAPPY UNBIRTHDAY ! !

I'm pretty uptight

Why am I so uptight? I think I was born, not a worrier, but a planner and a strategist and a bit melancholy. I find that I often scrunch my brow in consternation. At nothing in particular, just the daily grind. Why can't I just live in the moment like so many other people. They seem happier, lighter, easier, funner. I know *seem* is the key word. Its just, I look around, and I know you should only believe about half of what you see because there is absolutely NO way to see what anyone else's life is, but I look around and most of the people in my sphere seem better adjusted to life here on earth. I think about global warming and the dimming sun and how I should ride my bike to work more often (at all that is) and how the electric car would revolutionize all of that and if we all did to that it really would shift life as we know it and not necessarily in a good direction. I mean all those people who in a trickly (or trickle) down type of economy benefit from the auto industry would have to be retrained and seriously, just about every industry, large and small would be affected if all of the sudden there were only electric cars. All that scrap metal would have to be melted into something else and how would we do that? I wish my jeans were just a bit looser and when I get home, I have to work out and then think about dinner and then there's always, always something that needs cleaned or wiped or washed at home and I should spend some time each and every day on my real estate career and I should really get a mammogram this year and what if I wish I'd had kids and well I should just let that go because that time has come and gone and would I really want to bring a child into this world. And why aren't I more social? Why does going to a party or a concert or a gathering of any kind stress me out a bit because, I really don't have anything to say. Nothing. I just regurgitate some story that I think might be interesting and try to ask the appropriate questions that keep the other people talking about their stuff hoping there won't be a big enough break that they'll get to ask me about, well, me because I'll tell you. I won't necessarily offer, but if asked, I have a bad habit of just opening my mouth and talking and its not necessarily a good thing. More than one innocent by-stander has been caught unawares when I answer a question with my reality. My reality is often Harley related antics because, well, I'm a home body. And it goes on and on like this in my brain.

I would love to be able to grab a bottle of wine and sit in the park listening to jazz, no thoughts, no self-imposed deadlines, even if just for a couple hours, but my brain doesn't work like that. I was born an ant, not a grasshopper. I wish to sometimes just put on the grasshopper outfit and pretend, but my ant insides always win.

Just Watched: Juno

Wow, a super great movie. Its not heavy like I thought it was going to be. The cast is fantastic. I liked it. Definitely would recommend this to friends.

Matchbox

A friend's son has this huge collection of little cars. He brought them into the office the other day. He lines them up and drives them around and then lines them up again. Its a miniature traffic jam all colorful and bumper to bumper.

It made me a bit nostalgic.

My brother had/has the best (well to me) collection of Matchbox (and the like) cars. I was/am a 'girl' so really wasn't supposed to be in to cars. I was supposed to be in to dolls and stuff like that. But, I was more into my brother's cars. We'd play for hours with them, making roads for them to drive on and homes with garages for them to park in. It was just so much fun. I think, maybe, in part, this is why my brother and I are still such great friends. We played together a lot when we were much younger. We now play together lots as adults too, I'm so fortunate to have him as my brother.

Blackberry Cobbler

I've been on the hunt lately for a blackberry cobbler recipe . My family have always been pie people. Pies of all sorts, but mainly blackberry (my personal favorite) and apple, pumpkin, lemon, rhubarb, chocolate mousse pie and pecan. Those are all I can think of off the top of my head, I'm sure there were more kinds. Anyway, my mom really never made cobbler, hence neither do I. We all have those ways of doing things or not doing things based on how we grew up. Its one of those, if your parents didn't eat brussel sprouts, more than likely you don't either, kind of things.

Lately, I've been wanting to change things up in the kitchen and cobbler is stuck in my brain. I've read recipes and looked at pictures and talked to people and in the end, made the concoction below. If you like cobbler, I'm sure its great. (I'm reading for typos and other errors and that just sounded a skosh conceited. Anyway...) For me and Mister, its just okay. Nothing to write home about, but definitely something to write about in the old blog.

So, get your blackberries ready, rinsed or thawed as the case may be, sugared, lemoned and floured. I don't measure these things. The sugar totally depends on the tartness / sweetness of the berries. For 4 - 6 cups nicely sweet berries, probably 1/4 - 1/3 cup sugar, 4-5 Tbsp flour, 1 - 2 tsp lemon juice and some lemon zest. Folded together gently and set aside to commingle. You could add in some orange liqueur of your favorite variety if you are so inclined, that would add to it nicely. Now that I think of it, you could add just about any complementary flavored liqueur here, blackberry brandy just came to mind. So, where was I.

Then you'll add your cobble on top. I modified a recipe and came up with: 2 cups flour (I used part oat flour), 1 tsp sugar (if there were ever to be a next time I would definitely use more oat flour and maybe brown sugar instead of white - now that I think of it, something like an oatmeal cookieish concoction on top would be fan-super-tastic ~ maybe), pinch salt, 1 Tbsp baking powder, 1/2 cup vegetable shortening, 1/3 cup milk (I used almond milk, next time I'd use soy) and one egg beaten. Sift the dry ingredients, then cut in shortening, then slowly mix in the egg/milk which you've mixed together. I didn't this time, but next time I'd use a bit of lemon zest or juice in the crust too and/or possibly some vanilla. I think that would make it just a hint better. Pour the berries into a casserole dish, top with 3 - 4 tsp butter in chunks, then take the dough and place it lump by lump on top until completely covered and all your dough is used up. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup white sugar and its ready to go into the oven.Bake at 425 for about 35 - 40 minutes or until bubbly and the top is brown and crispy. I would definitely serve with vanilla icecream or blackberry icecream if you can find it or better yet make it. We didn't do the icecream, but we don't do the dairy thing. You should though. Enjoy with your loved ones, or keep it all to yourself. Entirely up to you. Not the best photos, but I really don't care right now. It's something like frustration or laziness or more likely a pleasant combination of them both.

This is how I roll

Because I know you care, I documented my drive to work this morning. The pictures are blurry, hello, driving and also because even though taking photos as one drives down the road isn't the safest activity, I try to be a bit safe and just hold the camera up and press the shutter release. I don't look through the lens, as a general rule, and so not magazine quality photos. I don't really care. And that's ok with me. For your viewing pleasure, I'll narrate. Oooh, this was fun when I thought of it, let's hope it actually is fun too.

So, a random blur on a street in my neighborhood.

My second turn, onto Tacoma Street. 1/2 mile from my home, across the street from the New Season's where I love to walk and shop.

Further (like 1/2 a block really) down Tacoma Street. In the distance, you can see the Sellwood Bridge and the trees on the bluff behind it. Oh, and the dash and hood of my Jeep.

On the Sellwood bridge looking South. And now, looking North. In the background, you just barely can see Portland skyline. That's where I'm headed. Well, not the skyline, but downtown. And to the West on the bridge. I love the bluff and how the green greets me each morning. Oh and did you know the Sellwood bridge is on the most dangerous broken down and in need of repair bridges? Well, it might be, I don't know if they actually have a list like that, but the City stopped bus transportation over the bridge because its not safe enough for them. Somehow its safe enough for us regular people though. I guess I could drive another way and choose another bridge, but, this really is the most scenic drive to work for me. Oy, off on a tangent there. Maybe I'll drive the other way and show you how boring that drive is. Ok, moving on. Beautiful tree lined Macadam Avenue. And more Macadam Ave. You see, it parallels the river all the way to downtown. So, I'll be on it awhile. Actually, my entire drive to work only takes about 11 minutes, or so. By bike, its about 25 minutes. Hey, I could document that drive to wortk too. Stay tuned, who knows what exciting adventures I'll photo document. Me trying to get a glimpse of the amazing sunrise. The rising sun was fireball orange this morning. Stunning. Sad that its the pollution making it so pretty. We desperately need rain and wind to blow it all out. But, hey, we're nowhere near China's level. Have you read/seen on the news about the frightening levels of pollution in Beijing? Weird word "Beijing". On ramps to the freeways coming up. In the centerish, you can see the newish tram that transports people from the waterfront parking to OHSU up on the hill. I'll be taking City Center. See, told ya. Hey, now I'm way closer to that skyline we saw earlier. Trust me, I am. From the ramp getting onto Front Avenue. Front Ave, parallels the Willamette River. The same river Macadam Ave parallels. I seem to like the word "Parallels" this morning. NICE sunflare. Thats Waterfront Park. A bit blurry this morning. Hard to see, but there's the trolley. At a stop light by the Mercedes place. Did I tell you about the time my boss needed me to pick up his Mercedes from the shop and bring it back to the office. No big deal, his car just costs nearly as much as my first home, but hey, that's how much he trusts me and/or he could care less about it getting damaged. Anyway, the woman at the dealership hand me keys and says, there's the car. I say thanks and very carefully drive the quite expensive automobile the 12 blocks back the office. When I pull into the parking garage, the attendant says to me "Who's car is that?" I say, HELLO!! I'm parking it in J's space, its J's car." "No it isn't" he says. I take a double take on the car, we go back and forth once or twice more and then I get back in the car, a bit less careful this time (ahem - hello, in a Mercedes, you have to test it a bit... anyway). When I get back to the dealership I say, "Did you know you gave me some random person's quite expensive car to joy ride in?" (!!) Can you imagine if that person had shown up for their car and it wasn't on the lot? They would have no idea where it was because they signed me out as having J's car. You'd think they'd be a tad bit more careful with people's Mercedes, but I guess not. Anyway, that will stick in my mind forever. Moving on. The Hawthorne Bridge and more sunflare. I love that bridge, its gorgeous. That's the bridge I ride my bike over when I commute by bike. Ok not too exciting, at a stop light. Only three blocks from the office now. I told you that commute went quickly.Two blocks from the office. That's the Trade Center on the left.This is the TriMet Light Rail line 1/2 block from my office. Also where the line of people were when the iphone first came out. And there would be my building. The squat grey one in the middle, between the red brick and the tall one.

And that's it. How much fun that must have been for you!!! Stay tuned, there may be more. More posts today and later, more driving to work posts. If I remember that I thought it was a great idea that is. Short term memory, and long term memory now that I think of it, not so great. So, exactly why did I have my camera out and ready for the snapping of pictures...

And here's why I had the camera out this morning

The sunrise was amazing. A huge fireball colored sun looming on the horizon. I walked out of the bedroom this morning and this brilliant orange glow shocked me. Of course, I had 35 seconds to take some pictures, no time for the tripod etc. But, hey, maybe its the thought that counts.

So then, right before I walked out the door, I turned and saw this... The sun was casting a weird glowy shadow on the window. It was totally cool, trust me on this. I tried to get the top and the bottom windows so you could sort of see the awesomeness of it. And then because I was taking pictures, Harley needed attention. He got it. So, that's why I had the camera in my hand/pocket/bag this morning and why you get/got to see my drive to work.

Happy Tuesday all!

Ciao Bellas!

Just Information, Knowledge is Power

We all should check out this website. I did. I was dissapointed at what I found out, but it didn't surprise me. Will I make changes, maybe. I do know that it will be in the back of my mind from now on though.

Morning - Third of August

AUGUST!

How did that happen!

Bridges

I really like bridges for reasons unknown even to me. From my desk (I'd like to call it an office, but have been told in no uncertain terms that after 18 years of dedicated service there is no way in this life time I'll merit that coveted door). Anyway, my issue. So, from my desk, I have a wonderful view of a bridge, a draw bridge with a steel grid deck. It never fails, as soon as it starts raining, there will be an accident on the bridge complete with emergency vehicles and stopped traffic. I don't have any pictures of that, yet. Anyway, its a great distraction from my computer monitor and all things work related. Its also great daydreaming material. I love when the bridge lifts.

Have a great weekend. Ciao!