The flames were 6-inches high...

Tonight I started a small fire in our oven.

I put some cheesy garlic bread on to broil, with the intention of just warming it up.
I got distracted for a few minutes and when I turned around there was smoke pouring out of the oven. When I opened the door, the toast was fully engulfed in flames.

I tried blowing it out, but it was way past that stage.

Thing2 was yelling at me to put water on it. So I pulled-out the rack, and swatted the flaming toast with the pot holder. That put out the fire, but it was still smoking like crazy, so I put it in the sink and ran water over it.

Then we had to run around opening all the windows and doors. For some reason the smoke detector never went off. I hope it isn't broken.

Life goes on... to music

I have missed everyone and I've thought often of posting, but life has just not cooperated.

I have had a little time to relax on-line, and thanks to hsack's recommendation of Pandora Radio, I've been able to create some custom radio stations and listen to just what suits me.

Here are a few of my radio stations that you can access if you wish. This is not music that you are likely to find on any commercial radio station, which probably says something about its general popularity. But I've never been one of the cool kids :)

Women of Broadway Julie Andrews, Barbra, Sarah Brightman, Patti Lupone, Bette Midler with the occasional Josh Groban and Michael Crawford just to keep it interesting.

Women of Country Classic female country artists with a few modern ones thrown in for variety.

Chanteuse Radio Julie London, Rita Coolidge, Jane Olivor

Women in Big Bands Peggy Lee, Doris Day, Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington

Girl Kitty is hungry but patient

(Stock photo of Girl Kitty)

For some reason unknown to me, I seem to be incapable of reacting in a timely fashion to the signs of the inevitable need to buy more cans of cat food for Girl Kitty.

She has switched to a diet of entirely soft-food since her unfortunate accident last year and the subsequent discovery of her tooth disease and removal of 5-teeth.

Since then I have proven over-and-over again that I won't go buy more cat food until I have used-up the last can and she is meowing to be fed. Last night I opened the last can, and this morning I fed her the last of it. Since she finished licking-out her bowl, she has been curled-up in front of her dish patiently and hopefully waiting while purring encouragement for me to get her more food.

Update: Food has been acquired, applied and appreciated. All is good and purry with the world.

OMG - I totally forgot our 31st anniversary

I was just over at JadedJ's place where his format puts the date of the post in nice big letters. When I saw January 16, I thought -- "wow, I can't believe it's already January 16". Then a thought kept niggling at me about the date. And then it hit me. OMG - yesterday was our anniversary, and with all the hullabaloo, I completely forgot. And I think Thing2 did too. (If she didn't, I'm in Big trouble ;)

Just when you think it can't get any worse...

I've long subscribed to the belief that one should never say/think that things can't get any worse, because in my experience, that's just when the unthinkable/unexpected will happen and you'll find yourself in even more dire straights.

Yesterday we spent much of the day in and out of the local urgent care clinic. Thing2 was pushing-off with her hand, while getting out of the aerobed, when she slipped and her hand slid thumb-first into the floor with all her weight on it. She knew her thumb dislocated, but unfortunately x-rays showed that she broke her thumb and a bone in her hand. So they slapped a cast on her hand to protect her thumb.

Since this is her only hand, and it now has a cast on it -- she is almost helpless.

She can't open cans or bottles to get boost, gatorade or gingerale to drink. She can't lift and pour any pitchers or cartons to get any milk or juice. She has to hold everything between her four fingers on her right hand and her little left arm, which means that when she reaches out to put it down, her reach is limited to the lenght of her arm to her elbow. She is also unable to pull any boxes out of the cupboard unless it's on the lowest shelf right in front.

I'm thinking I may have to take some family leave to take care of her.

If you're not in your right mind, are you in your wrong mind?

Thing2 used the phrase 'If I was in my right mind I wouldn't have...'.

It got me to thinking, where are you when you're not in your right mind? Are you in your wrong mind?

BTW - Thing2 was not in her right mind because it's late and she's very tired.

Only half the story on increased shark attacks

From the LA Times Shark attacks: 2008 figures could indicate troubling trend for West Coast

There were five unprovoked shark attacks along the West Coast, slightly more than double the number for 2007. All involved great white sharks...
The 2008 figures bring to 42 the total number of authenticated shark attacks along the West Coast during the first eight years of the century -- more than five times the 20th century annual average.

It might be simply because more people venturing into the ocean. It could also be that more white sharks are milling off Southern California, perhaps taking advantage of an exploding population of California sea lions. Or it could be that both factors are in play.

One thing I learned about the controversies about the impact of shark tourism on shark behavior when I read The Devil's Teeth : A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America's Great White Sharks. Researchers speculate that great whites could begin to associate human presence with food, and there are other problems as well.

I should write more on this, but it will have to wait until later.


The Devil's Teeth A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America's Great White Sharks