Dacaf coffee? Really, Josh? ;-) I don't know... I guess I just always go for the gusto, or something... I couldn't drink decaf coffee, drink a light beer, eat an item because it was low fat, or smoke a light cigarette! If I'm going to go, I'm going to go all out!! :-) I want to really taste my food and/or beverage... and not necessarily consume it just because it's better for me! And before you say anything... ya, I know... smoking isn't good for me, either! It's the last bad habit I have, and I don't do it THAT much! I'm working on it... ;-) Chicken wings are for people who really like to work at eating... they must be, because I can't for the life of me think why else anyone would want to eat the one part of a chicken that hardly contains any meat! I like skin on, bone in chicken drumsticks and thighs, and I like them either marinated and grilled, or breaded and fried, or baked as a whole bird surrounded with vegetables! Seafood and fish are awesome... as long as they're fully cooked! I can't abide the thought that parasite eggs might lie dormant within the flesh... but that's where they might be. Fish and pigs are notorious for carrying parasites. I'd go for the cooked Japanese fish and seafood, but not the raw. Dealing with dogs so much has made me very aware of parasites. I once wrote an article for a breed specific magazine on parasites... the research I did was very eye-opening. And, yes... there are some kinds of worms that humans can get, only one of which is the tapeworm. Fish also contains a little more than trace amounts of mercury and other chemicals, thanks to industrial dumping. It seems to accumulate more in the belly fat of large fish, so be sure to trim all that off when preparing it. In other news... we got some crazy weather last night! We got hit with an ice storm, sort of. It rained or snowed a couple of inches of tiny balls of ice. It was like walking on sand. It was the strangest weather I think I've ever seen! The roads are sheets of ice with a covering of ice balls! It's very slick out there... anyone traveling in it should be very careful! Charades sounds like fun, Al! I haven't played cards or any games in a long time... not since the kids were younger. We're kind of isolated down here... all of our friends live up north. And you guys are scattered all over the country! Funny thing, though... last night, we were talking about a bulb type I want to get, and Old Guy says, "you should get a bunch and send some to your friends... they're always sending you stuff", and I said, "I should... I've got really generous friends, don't I?" And he said, "yes, they certainly are good friends!" So, there you have it... I, too, wish we all lived closer to each other. Can you imagine the fun we'd have together?! Can you imagine all we'd learn together, and what we could accomplish?!! :-) And speaking of bulbs and sending things, I will have care packages for some of you when the weather breaks. Anyway... not much on the agenda today... except hauling more water and chipping ice out of water buckets and horse troughs and poultry pans! I wish the ducks didn't have to bathe so often in winter, but it's what keeps their feathers in good condition, I think. They're incredibly messy! If I can't locate the Day Glo mantis pictures, Mike, I'll be sure to take a new batch next autumn. I noticed several new areas of the gardens that contain egg cases, so we should have quite a nice population this year! Well... it's about that time again... time to make the donuts. Chores call. Happy Continual Birthday, Josh... and a great day to everyone! :-)

Wow! I had no idea we had so many younger people here! I guess I'm just not used to my peers liking plants as much as I do. Anytime I start talking about C&S, or chaparral and natives vs. exotic invasives, they start looking at me all funny. Although, I have had a few moments of vindication - when I go on hikes with folks from my old department and I'm able to talk about the specific plants and vegetation we're hiking through. :) Likewise, when I'm in a BBS and I start talking with folks about the C&S I'm buying. Mike: I agree, spread the love amongst the young-uns! Keep the faith alive! That's pretty cool that you bring C&S to the kids. They are truly fascinating plants, and I can just envision the imaginations they'll capture. :) Remind me again where your neck of the woods is? Josh: I, too, am not the least bit "Asian" (Greek & Lebanese on one side, English/Irish/French/German on the other), but I spent a year working in an "Asian" grocery store, where the majority of customers and employees were Chinese, Vietnamese, and...well, Mexican, which isn't Asian, either, but anyway. Not too many Japanese or Koreans - they had their own stores. I'd have to agree with you, though, Korean is a beautiful language. I enjoy Korean, Mandarin, and Japanese (food as well as languages). :) *CG*

Lalla, Sue , and Lightning, thank you. :) This Saturday is the official dinner party and then dancing, think electronic music though and not ballroom. LoL I've requested that everyone who is attending dress up for dinner which is out of the comfort zone of many of my friends. I on the other hand love to dress up so I will finally be able to wear some of my newer clothes. I plan on breaking in some new shoes as well so I think there are going to be blisters on me feet come Sunday. Mike Here is a link that might be useful:

Bumping this up,,was afraid you wouldnt see it,,