My house is in a post-war expansion neighborhood, so it’s too old to have cable outlets in the walls. And it’s just a 2-bed/1-bath, so it flips every so many years. As a result, every owner has drilled holes through the floor to re-route the cable lines wherever they feel like putting a TV. During our first winter, I had to chop up a bunch of wine corks and hammer them into the holes in the hardwood to stop the cold air from seeping in.
01
May 11
May 11
A Review Of Bob Dylan’s Tell Tale Signs
Tell Tale Signs is the official name of the 8th installment of Bob Dylan’s bootleg series. It pretty much picks up where Volumes 1-3 left off, meaning some of the songs and outtakes date back to the late 80s. It has plenty of fresh arrangements of pre-released songs, but there are some really great new songs on this collection as well.
Bob Dylan has never claimed to be a particularly good melodist. That’s part of the reason why he constantly rearranges his older songs, which is what drives so many passive fans (including my mother) crazy about his concerts. But if you were on a “never-ending” concert tour, wouldn’t you want to mix things up as well? It’s this desire to experiment with different melodies that has created such a huge market for Bob Dylan’s throw-away tracks. And by Dylan releasing the songs himself, he’s keeping his works off the black market and in the public domain.
30
Apr 11
Apr 11
Learning Proper Portion Sizes On The 4-Hour Body Diet
I’ve been on Tim Ferriss’ Slow Carb (4-Hour Body) Diet for four weeks now. When I blogged about it two weeks ago, I had lost about seven pounds. I was pretty happy with my momentum and thought things would get even better over the next two weeks. I was wrong. I plateaued during the third week in every fitness category I was tracking. I even gained a few pounds. Last weekend, I reread parts of the the book to try to pinpoint what I was doing wrong. When I couldn’t find any answers, I turned to the internet. I didn’t find much there either, so I started experimenting on my own.
28
Apr 11
Apr 11
Tornado Over Tuscaloosa
I traveled to Tuscaloosa, AL yesterday to take part in a funeral and reception for my Uncle Gabe, whose official and honorary pallbearers included some of the more distinguished names in Crimson Tide lore. A smallish tornado had ripped through Birmingham earlier in the morning leaving most of the towns between Moody and Bessemer without power. I caught some intermittent rain from the darkened skies, but otherwise it was a fairly typical drive. By the time the funeral started at 3:00 pm, the winds had really picked up. My uncle requested that we have a party afterwards in order to honor the way he lived, so a reception followed at his home on the waterfront just across the Black Warrior River from the hospital.
08
Apr 11
Apr 11
Huevos Rancheros
I love huevos rancheros. It’s a good recipe to have in your repertoire if you’re starting the 4-Hour Body Diet because it’s heavy on the protein. However, the recipe needs to be altered a bit to make it 4HB-friendly. As part of my diet regimen, I’ve come up with a great version of huevos rancheros that complies perfectly with the diet.
05
Apr 11
Apr 11
Spinach, Mushroom & Turkey Bacon Fritatta
I’m eating lots of protein in the mornings as part of the 4-Hour Body diet. I have to start my day off with a large helping of legumes, beans, eggs, or greens. The best way to combine several of these ingredients are with fritattas and huevos rancheros. This fritatta recipe has been my go-to meal for most mornings. It would be better with cheese and tomatoes, but you get used to it the way it is.
04
Apr 11
Apr 11
Backyard Garden, 2011
A few years ago, we had great success with our backyard garden. The next year, we were impacted by the tomato blight that plagued everyone who purchased their plants at big box stores. Heavy rains that June also gave our zucchini and squash root rot. About the only things that worked out were the cayenne peppers, and that’s because the gophers have enough sense not to touch them. Last year, we bought our plants at the farmer’s market and had about the same success as the year before. I experimented with some tomatillo seeds and they brought an unexpectedly bountiful harvest. Because we have so many cheap farmers’ markets close to our house, I decided I wasn’t going to put a lot of money or work into the garden this year. I spent about sixteen bucks on these seeds.
31
Mar 11
Mar 11
Sweet & Hot Italian Sausage
Last weekend, I made a bunch of homemade sausages. The one I have the most experience with is my Italian Sausage. The recipe I use makes a hybrid that’s sweet to the taste but leaves a hot and spicy aftertaste. It’s always a crowd pleaser.
Apr 11
My Experience With The ’4-Hour Body’ Diet
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