Sunday, 2/7/10: Pretty in Pink

Maplewood Sunset

Took a drive today. Amazingness of pink in the North Jersey sky.

Saturday, 2/6/10: Visit to Crane's Deli

Crane's Deli in Maplewood, NJ

I was fortunate to avoid the tons of snow at home this weekend, as I headed to North Jersey on Friday night as the storm hit. At home, the snow was a doozy. Over two feet there (and when I checked in at 7:30 tonight it was still snowing!) Here in North Jersey, they got very little snow. My guess is an inch tops. It's in the bitter cold and windy, probably in the 20's with a lower wind chill, but at least it's not a snowy mess.

I spent a few hours at Crane's Deli with Hondo and Texas Ted yesterday. They're always entertaining! I also treated myself to a manicure and pedicure next door, as I had to cancel my Saturday AM appointment back home due to my early evacuation. It was a great day, and Crane's brought about lots of warm fuzzies despite the frigid weather!

Crane's Website

Friday, February 5, 2010: Catwoman

Meet Sierra: Texas Ted's feline companion

I am highly allergic to cats. (I was medicated when I took this picture.)

In addition to being allergic, I just plain don't like them. I don't believe that my disdain is correlated to my allergy, as it was around long before the allergy emerged, but it exists nonetheless.

The root of my aversion is somewhat unclear. I could possibly attribute it to being scratched on the forearm (go anatomy class!) as a youth. However, I was bit by a dog on the calf at an even younger age, and I am as pro-dog as they come, so that negates that theory. I do, however, remember well that I had in fact liked the cat who wronged me--before she'd done so; in fact, I was sitting on the couch caressing her, looked away momentarily, and she struck. Perhaps I poked her in the eye.

[Not that this is entirely poignant, but I feel it's important to mention. I don't hate the entire species. I greatly admire tigers, lions, lygers, :) etc. It's just the house cat variety that gets me all fired up.]

Whatever the reason may be, I don't like the common house cat. Cat people would never understand my dislike, and are generally quick to defend their "noble species." Just the cold, bitchy way they operate does nothing for me. It's the opposite of what I seek in a companion of any kind--human or animal. If I wanted a self-sustaining pet, I'd get Sea Monkeys.

Needless to say, I won't be sitting in the cat cheering section at any juncture of my life. On that note, I so look forward to the silliness that is known as Animal Planet's "Puppy Bowl" featured tomorrow during the "Big Game." It's a gimmick, yes, but also some good-old-fashioned, adorable, goofy, silly, fun.

**

RIP Calico, my aforementioned attacker, who passed in 11/2009. xoxo

Thursday, 2/4/10: Say Cheese!

Mastoris Cheese and Cinnamon Bread: Yum!

This is today's "cheesy" photo! Dinner at Mastoris Diner in Bordentown, NJ.

Mastoris website

February 3, 2010: Cheerio, mate!

Cheerios: Honey, I'm a Nut for them!

I utterly and absolutely love cereal. I could eat it for every meal: breakfast, lunch and dinner, AND as a midnight snack! I truly could. If I chose to do so, however, I'd of course need to use Lactose-free, Soy, or Almond milk (or something of the like), as my stomach can't handle dairy. (No fun, I know.)

I adore cooking and baking. It may be my most favorite pastime. But there's something wonderful about pouring yourself a bowl of cereal and having a delicious treat of a meal that only dirties two dishes.

It's sublime.

Groundhog Day 2010: CAMERA Day!!

My new (replacement) camera

Those who know me know that I go very few places without my camera. Make that "went" very few places without my camera. I had a Canon Rebel Digital SLR that was stolen last May, while out bowling at North Bowl. It was a major bummer.

2009 was a bad year for all of my digital photographs, in honesty. My hard drive crashed and I had nothing backed up, and then I lost my camera--my means to capture new images.

I had hoped that Santa Claus might replace my camera, but, alas, he did not. I contacted the insurance company, filed a police report, and reported it stolen. After my deductible, my loss was still enough that they wrote me a check. While it was obviously not the full amount of the camera, what they provided certainly helped!

It's funny...I always delay opening major purchases/gifts like this one. I think it takes time for it to sink in that they actually belong to me. My brown Uggs, for example, are still wrapped in their original plastic and tissue, sitting in the box in the closet. It's odd, I know, but as I get older, it's how I seem to operate with these "fancy" purchases. I almost get nervous about them. It's hard to explain.

So, fortunately, sometime in the near future I will be able to post photos on this blog that were taken with a REAL camera. (I've been using the camera on my cell phone in the stead of my SLR.) It'll be quite a jump from 3.2 to 15 megapixels!

Monday, the first of February, 2010= Busy!

Today's schedule

It's 11:00 and I've just gotten home. I'm too tired to write.

I'll let the picture do the talking today.