iPod Roulette - May 2011

This month I went back to using my full-sized iPod (as opposed to the iPod on my phone) for roulette.  I'm not sure this is a very good cross-section of those 3752 songs. 

No commentary from me on these - I'll leave that to you.  Anything here ring a bell or spark a memory for you?

1.    In a Lifetime (Clannad, feat. Bono)

2.    Get Off My Cloud (The Rolling Stones)

3.    Kiss You All Over (Exile)

4.    Bach: French Suite #2 in C Minor, BWV 813 - Allemande (Glenn Gould)

5.    I Got You - I Feel Good (James Brown)

6.    Shoot the Loop (Acoustic Alchemy)

7.    Sally Simpson - Tommy (The Who)

8.    Hope You're Feeling Better (Santana)

9.    Poetry Man (Phoebe Snow)

10.  All the World (Point of Grace)

11.  Shambala (Three Dog Night)

12.  Blinded by the Light (Manfred Mann's Earth Band)

13.  More Than It Seems (Kutless)

14.  Ravel: La Valse (London Symphony Orchestra)

15.  Redeemer (Nicole C. Mullen)

Shadow Shot Sunday #30

Lizard hiding in the shadows

                                              Shadow Shot Sunday

Hosted by Hey Harriet

Baked Frittata

I pulled some leftover ham out of my freezer the other day and the first thing that came to mind was "frittata".  I decided to go with a baked version and this is what I came up with:

1-1/2 cups fully cooked ham, diced
1 sweet red pepper, diced
1 small yellow onion, diced
1-1/2 cups shredded Mexican-blend cheese
6 eggs
garlic salt,
pepper
dried chives

Whisk eggs then add remaining ingredients.  Pour into a greased 8x8-inch cooking dish and bake at 375F for approximately 20-30 minutes.  Quite tasty!

What Am I ? (#8)



1.  The myth that I'm "simple" was shattered when scientists sequenced my genome in 2006 and found almost 40,000 genes - about twice as many as in a human cell.

2.  Some of us develop mutually beneficial relationships with other organisms.

3.  I reproduce asexually, splitting into two identical daughter cells.  This gradually damages my DNA, so periodically I dock with others of my kind to exchange small capsules that hold DNA, and within six hours feel reinvigorated with fresh genetic material. 

4.  I consist of one cell, two orifices, and thousands of hairy feet (cilia) that project from my surface like beard stubble.

Have you figured out what I am from my clues?  *  Scroll down for the answer.
































I'm a paramecium!

* Facts provided by the May 2011 issue of Discover Magazine

Cobwebs at the pond

Start with a loop from one dead tree to the next.

Cobwebs are at the top of the dead tree, not between Suzy's ears!

This is my favorite.

Spiders at the pond stay busy!

U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton

When an author sets out to write a series of books based on each letter of the English alphabet, it's a major undertaking.  Trying to keep any series fresh and interesting is a challenge, even more so when there's a commitment for 26 books!   I'll admit I got bored with the series along about the middle of the alphabet, but the last few installments have been as good as, of not better than the first few.  U is for Undertow is the 21st Kinsey Millhone novel.  Sue Grafton began the series in 1982 and by the letter "U" we have only progressed to 1988. 

Kinsey's latest client, Michael Sutton, has a memory of something that happened in 1967, when he was just a child.  He believes it might be relevant in the unresolved disappearance of a young girl that same year.  With this new lead Kinsey is able to piece together additional information in the case.  Things take a turn when Kinsey finds out Michael has experienced "false memory syndrome" in the past and his current memory doesn't provide the anticipated results.  Instead, more questions are raised and, against better judgement, Kinsey pushes on to find out the truth. 

I really like the way this story is structured.  Interspersed throughout are flashbacks told from the perspective of various characters in the story, allowing the reader insight into how and why the original crime took place.  I hope Grafton will be able to keep up this momentum with the final five books in the series.

This is my sixth book for the Cozy Mystery Challenge.
 

Shadow Shot Sunday #29

Shadow of yours truly fishing

Shadow Shot Sunday
Hosted by Hey Harriet

Brief update of fish, no fish and cicadas

A quick update on a post from earlier in the month...

My lone angelfish is thriving (so far!). In fact, it spends more time out on display now than it does hiding. I should know from past experience that angels like to be solitary creatures.

We've taken a couple of spins on the pond this week.  The fish aren't biting that well, but I did manage to catch a few (including a big one!).  At least I remembered my camera and got some photos this time.  The first will appear in my SSS entry this weekend.

The cicadas are STILL singing at full blast.  They sound like they've changed location a bit, but they're still at it.  I've seen several clinging to the window screen when I've opened my bedroom blinds in the mornings.  I've also seen a number of carcasses littering the yard.  I even had one bean me right between the eyes when I was out scooping poop in the backyard last week! 

The Teaberry Strangler by Laura Childs

The “Tea Shop Mystery” series by Laura Childs holds all I want and expect in a “cozy” mystery. The cast includes a strong, likable amateur sleuth, a couple of interesting sidekicks, and several quirky characters who may or may not get on your nerves. The location is wonderful (Charleston, SC) and Childs does a great job of making the region come alive. She always provides enough potential suspects to keep you guessing (or me, at least) until near the end. As a bonus, there are fun recipes and tea time tips at the back of each novel. In The Teaberry Strangler, the eleventh book in the series, Theodosia Browning steps into the alley behind the Indigo Tea Shop and witnesses the murder of a neighboring shop owner. Although it was at a distance and she couldn’t make out the killer, the local newspaper implies otherwise. This and the fact that Theodosia has quite a reputation for piecing together mysteries and solving crimes puts her and those around her at risk, including her lovable “dalbrador” (dog), Earl Grey!

I always enjoy these light, easy to read mysteries, and look forward to the paperback release of each to add to my collection. Thanks to Marion for starting me on them in the first place! This served as my fifth selection for the Cozy Mystery Challenge.

Double Puzzle

I thought this puzzle of Thomas Kinkade's Deer Creek Cottage would be difficult. 
I was wrong, but it was a lot of fun to work.