A New Story

Murder at the Laundromat
Imagine being alone in a laundromat ... You open a door and discover something you never wanted to see.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1598895/murder_at_the_laundromat.html

A Recipe and Story for St. Patrick's Day

My St. Patrick's Day Sodabread
Getting in touch with my Irish roots on St. Patrick's Day by baking the sodabread my ancestors never did.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1544451/my_st_patricks_day_sodabread.html

The Rock Obama

The Rock Sings and Dances

News Flash from the Bat Cave

It is the middle of winter.
It is freezing cold.
There is ice and snow on the ground.
It is the time of year for all critters in their right minds to curl up somewhere and hibernate.
Especially bats.

Instead, in response to a mysterious malady called White Nose Syndrome, bats are coming out of hibernation too early, are sick and emaciated, and eventually die. The phenomenon is being reported in caves and mines all over the Northeast.

And yes folks, in my house.

I had another winged midnight visitor last week that I chased out of the house and into the freezing wind with my trusty broom, all the while yelling "why aren't you hibernating!"

Now I know why.
I'm sleeping with the lights on again.

Poverty is Bad for Your Blog

I meant to blog about Poverty on October 14- I really did. I wanted to make a point about this global issue and raise awareness. Unfortunately, because I am now working three jobs to try and keep myself out of foreclosure and bankruptcy, I just didn't have time. But despite this, I still consider myself fortunate to struggle where I struggle. Millions live in conditions unimaginable to me. So, I'm a bit behind the curve here, but I'm adding my small voice to the others - do what you can to help global poverty - it's a bailout for everyone.

Batting Clean Up, Or, Always Have a Back-Up Plan

Sometimes the best game plan doesn't go so well. Sometimes, it goes perfectly. In either case, when you are the clean up batter, you know you are either going to be the hero or the goat. So it pays to have a back up plan.

I really thought that last week, my experience with a bat in the house was an isolated incident. My clean up batters arrived, and cleared the bases - nary a bat was left in my house. Or so I thought.

Last night, it only took one swoop of the dark winged invader to set off the dog and send me packing. i was about to reach for the phone and call up the troops again - but seriously, how embarrasing. I then spotted, in the corner, my back up plan. Standing, at the ready, was my leopard print kitchen broom, the brush end covered with a hot pink towel.

Last week, in my flurry of cell phone calls and text messages, a more bat-experienced friend had messaged me to just knock the thing out of the air with a towel covered broom, Hit it like a baseball, or maybe a badminton birdie. I rejected the idea in favor of letting someone else chase the critter, but filed the advice away. So,last night, when i found myself on my own, the broom was ready. As the bat and the dog continued to swoop around the house I grabbed my weapon. At the best the vermin would go out the window as soon as I opened it. At the worst I would hit a line drive with the critter, and my dog would make the diving save.

I race to the front door and slid open the window. Yelling like a celtic warrior I swung at the flying rodent, missing it like it was a 90 mph curve ball, until it got the idea that flying out the open window was the best action. "Out of the park!" I said to the dog and slammed the window shut.

Now, I'm now sure if I need to call an exterminator or a baseball team.