Time Magazine's 100 "Most Influential People"

Bono? Ugh. George Clooney? Give me a break! Ellen DeGenerate? Yuck.

But then came the Rain


Aahhh....
Photo from Korea Times

Dragon Boat Festival

(Click on picture to see boats)

Today our family went to the dragon boat races in Tampa. The race and accompanying festival has grown significantly since the first one that was held two years ago. Along with dragon boat racing, there is an Asian festival with food stands, items for sale, and entertainment. The Branch and Blossom had fried rice and egg roll. I had Korean food and I didn't care for the kimchi (cold, spicy cabbage!). The fried dumplings, however, were heavenly.

We plan to take the Branch and Blossom each year. The weather is perfect this time of year and it's great to see other Asian families and families with adopted or mixed-race children.

Dragon Boat Racing dates back almost 2,000 years to the Chinese legend of Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan, after being exiled from the land he loved, threw himself in the Milou River. In an attempt to save him, local fishermen wildly beat their drums and splashed the water with their paddles to prevent water dragons and fish from eating his body. The modern Dragon Boat Race is based upon the reenactment of the race to save Qu from the water's terrors. (from Tampa Bay Dragon Boats.com)

Here is the Branch expressing interest in some other children's balloons. We did not know this family but the girl in the denim dress was kind enough to give the Branch her red balloon, which quickly got away from him. We were able to get Branch and Blossom their own balloons.

Flowers For Friday

I cannot take credit for these lovely flowers. They belong to our neighbors, who planted them to hide whatever the latticework fence is supposed to be hiding.

Our neighbors are an older couple from somewhere in the west. I forget if it's California or Arizona. He works part-time as a pharmacist at the VA and she is retired.
They're very nice and always interested in the progress of the Branch and Blossom.

I did, however, take this picture. I was cleaning the litterbox at the outside faucet when I noticed how lovely these flowers were in the morning light.

Sleeping in Airports

Flight delated till next morning? Hotels full? Or just plain broke? Master the possibilities of sleeping in airports.
Check out the photos and ratings of travellers who slept in airports around the country and around the world. Airports are rated on such features as comfort, harrassment by security, noise, and access to vending machines. Also included are handy tips to make your airport stay more comfortable and how to be sure you don't miss that morning flight.

Puffy

Hooray! Just got my Yesasia order. The CD pictured is by J-pop (Japanese pop music) girl duo Puffy, also called Puffy AmiYumi (Ami and Yumi are the girl's names). I saw a video (very, very reminiscent of 80's music and music videos) on World Music, an excellent program on Sunday mornings and afternoons on LinkTV.org. Here's that episode's playlist, which I thoroughly enjoyed. And if anyone out there could help me track down the CD "Plum Brandy Blues" by Night Losers, I'd be their bestest blog buddy forEVER! (Night Losers are a Romanian group, and whereas Yesasia has Asian music and movies, so far I haven't found a Yesromania).

Not Just A Nanny

As Black Feline reminded me, it's been a long time since my last post. The weather's been fantastic here and we've spent lots of time outdoors before the real summer heat sets in. The Branch and Blossom have re-discovered the swimming pool. My dad and stepmother were here for Easter and the Citizen worked from home last week instead of his usual travelling. There's a bird in the kumquat tree outside the bathroom window. It's been trying to get in the bathroom window for weeks.

When we hired Nanny A. last year, we got not only a nanny, but an entire family. Her family are all very warm and easygoing. Nanny A.'s sister N. has two daughters. One of the daughters, K. has a girl three days older than the Branch and Blossom. K. also has a new son, D., who is quickly turning out to be a big guy like our Branch. K. is a stay-at-home mother too. Twice a week, we go to K.'s house in the afternoon for playtime for the kids, social time for me, and family time for Nanny A. K,'s sister D. made some pillowcases for the Branch and Blossom's little pillows. I give boy's clothes to K. for her son, and she gives me M.'s outgrown clothes for the Blossom. Despite only being 3 days older than Blossom, M. is quite a bit larger so the Blossom can wear her hand-me-downs.

And the Branch is finally beginning to walk. Now he has really earned the title "Toddler"! Previously it was a designation based solely on his age. At 16 months and 39 pounds, we were eager for him to walk quickly. And I know you'll all be so disappointed that my cellphone camera doesn't work, so no pics of the Branch walking. But we'll get some up soon.

Frighteningly Easy

Yesterday I had to order a certified copy of my birth certificate in preparation for travel to Canada. It was scary how easy it was to order the birth certificate online and pay with a credit card. I called prior to making the order and was told there would be NO problem since the name on the credit card was different from the birth name due to marriage.

More than 10 years ago I ordered a copy in person (yes, I lost it, shame on me. It got packed away somewhere during moving). I was not even asked for any picture ID at the time. Anyone could have walked in and got my birth certificate.

No wonder I.D. theft is rampant.

The Power of Blog

BBC News reports how bloggin' about a business can tarnish their rep.

New Wal-Mart Dress Code

This just in:


1) Unless you are a porn star, lingerie should not be worn as outer wear.

2) Children should have shirts, shoes, and clean faces.

3) Do not dress in a style that is sluttier than that of your daughter, even if she's already got her own young-un'.

4) Feel free to show all the skin you like if you are ready for an Ironperson Triatholon. Otherwise, please cover flab and avoid garments that pull and stretch.

5) There is a difference between low income and low class. Please be aware of it.

6) Men younger than 20 may wear pants below their waist, and men older than 80 may wear pants up to their armpits. Men between the ages of 21 and 79 should strive to wear the waistband of the pants at their waist, real or perceived.

Thank you. Your co-operation will make the Wal-Mart shopping experience more pleasant for all.

Have a Butt-kickin' Birthday

Jackie Chan is 52 today.

I knew there was a reason I needed to buy some beer...

Alphabet Meme

Got this from Zambo. Actually, he didn't tag anyone. I liked it anyway.

Accent – Philly accent mixed with southern (“Would y’all like some CAWfee?!”)

Booze of Choice- Beer: Sapporo or Yuengling. Wine: Chardonnay or Merlot. Hard: Vodka or Gin. (Important category which deserves detail!)

Chore I hate- Cleaning the shower. I’d rather clean the toilet 7 days a week than scrub the shower once a week.

Dog or Cat- Well, it’s not called “Herding Dogs”, is it?

Essential Electronics – Laptop. Coffeemaker.

Fragrances – None. Citizen is allergic.

Gold or Silver – Gold.

Hometown- Reading PA

Insomnia – All the TIME! Really need to find a sleep study to get into.

Job Title- Homemaker, housewife. Ugh. No matter how you slice it, it’s totally unglamorous – no chance of a raise of promotion, no company parties, Christmas bonus or tech support.

Kids- Branch and Blossom, twins.

Living Arrangement – Husband, kids, two cats. Single-family home.

Most Admired Trait – Work Ethic

Number of Sex partners – 5th amendment.

Overnight Hospital stays: Yup. Only 3.

Phobia – Ok, this is hard to explain. I am not afraid of being in airplanes or tall buildings. But I hate to be on something high when I can see the ground directly beneath my feet. I am terrified of those bridges made of grating, towers that have to be climbed and you can see the previous level or ground just by looking down, and some amusement park rides. Balconies, however, are ok; probably because they’re attached to buildings. Also somewhat claustrophobic but usually can control that with deep breathing and picturing something in my mind.

Quote – “In the mouth that is not closed, a fly enters.” Spanish proverb I learned in Spanish class.

Religion – none. Lean toward Unitarian Universalist per Beliefnet quiz.

Siblings - 1 younger brother, 1 younger sister

Time I wake up – 6 AM, 7 days a week.

Unusual Talent/skill – 2nd degree black belt in Hapkido (kickin’ ass since 1997!)

Vegetable I refuse to eat – Okra. Snot-in-a-pod.

Worst Habit – Swearing and driving aggressively

X-rays – dental. Right foot when I broke it in a drunken spree in 1994. (Would make for a good post…). Chest x-ray last summer when hospitalized. Lung x-rays as teenager to check for pneumonia.

Yummy Foods I make – Arroz Con Pollo (chicken and rice), pork chops and gravy, sausage gravy and biscuits, hamburgers on the grill.

Zodiac Sign - Libra

Chocolate Disaster!

What I want to know is where I can get one of those 10 pound chocolate bars.

Rig kisses truck, spilling chocolate onto highway
Interstate 78 is closed for hours after the crash in Greenwich Township between a tractor-trailer and a box truck headed to Hershey.

By Jason A. Kahl
Reading Eagle

Traffic in northern Berks County was tied up for hours Tuesday following an accident involving two trucks that left about 8,000 pounds of chocolate spilled on Interstate 78, state police said.

One of the truckers, Douglas Withers, 32, Lincolnton, N.C., was treated for minor injuries in Lehigh Valley Hospital near Allentown after the 1:30 crash in the westbound lanes of I-78 in Greenwich Township, officials said.

Troopers gave this account:

Withers was driving a tractor-trailer behind a slow-moving box truck driven by Richard A. Coleman, 54, Grantville, when the rig hit the back of Coleman's truck.

Coleman was hauling about 8,000 pounds of chocolate from East Greenville, Montgomery County, to Hershey Foods Corp. in Hershey.

The impact caused the entire load of chocolate, which was in 10-pound bars loaded on pallets, to spill onto the interstate.

The tractor-trailer jack-knifed and one of its fuel tanks split open, spilling about 60 gallons of diesel fuel on the highway and contaminating the chocolate.

Kramer's Towing Service Inc. of Hamburg used a backhoe and dump truck to clean up the chocolate. Firefighters cleaned up the diesel fuel.

A driver with Kramer's said the chocolate still was in the dump truck late Tuesday while workers waited for officials with the state Department of Environmental Protection to tell them how to dispose of it.

Coleman declined medical treatment.

Both truckers wore seat belts.

Coleman told police he had the truck's hazard lights turned on when the accident happened. Withers was cited for following too closely.

The interstate was closed for 31/2 hours, and traffic was detoured onto Old Route 22.

The traffic tie-up extended into Lehigh County and other areas of northern Berks.

Workers from the state Departments of Agriculture and Transportation and the DEP responded to the scene, along with Kutztown firefighters and the Hamburg Ambulance.

Contact reporter Jason A. Kahl at 610-371-5024 or jkahl@readingeagle.com.

Who Stole Jerry's Toilet?

Someone stole late Grateful Dead member Jerry Garcia's toilet.

It'a been an awful weekend. This is the best I could come up with...