My Day.......

Hello Dear World......

How are you ? Today I took the day off from work which was rather nice. Of course it was another steamy day here in Atlanta but it was nice since I was out and about today. First my mom and I dropped off my oldest niece at her summer school and then we went to breakfast at a great restaurant here in Georgia called IHOP you can check out its site at -----------> www.ihop.com/ . At IHOP we had eggs, hash browns, sausages and yes we had our favorite dessert.......Funnel Cakes. I had my funnel cakes with chocolate chips and whipped cream and my mom had hers with a fruit topping.

After that we came home and I took my puppy Hobo out for a walk on our street. My puppy Hobo is getting bigger by the day I'm not sure how much bigger he will get but I think he will be much bigger once he is out of the puppy phase which doesn't seem long. He is doing well of course he will be going back to the vet in a couple of days.

Later in the day we went back to pick up my oldest niece from school and then we went out for lunch at a place called Zaxby's which has the best Onion peel and the best french fries. Before I would have said McDonald's had the best but after eating at Zaxby's McDonald's has lost its standing. I had a chicken club which wasn't to my liking because it came with a sweet mayonnaise which I didn't like. But the chicken I have to say was good because it was nice and tender. The Onion peel we had was nice and crispy and they were seasoned just right. I would say that if you like Chicken and you would like to try a new place to eat you have to go to Zaxby's. If you don't have one in your neck of the woods then if you ever get a chance to come to my neck of the woods stop off and eat at Zaxby's for a great meal on the go. Here is the link for Zaxby's ---------> www.zaxbys.com .

After we went out to lunch we stopped off at Blockbuster and we decided to rent some movies. We got some movies for the little one and then my oldest niece got a movie and then my mom and I rented some movies. We got one called "Annapolis" with Tyrese. Even though it was more of a guy movie I have to say that the guys in the movie were quite nice looking. Tyrese played the part of a rather not so nice guy and he ended up in a boxing match with one of the other characters in the movie. I don't want to give out the ending so I will just tell you to go out and rent it. Here are 2 links to check out -------------->

www.blockbuster.ca/ .

http://annapolis.movies.com/

A few minutes ago my family and I watched two more of the movies we rented at Blockbuster one is called "FourBrothers" with Tyrese Gibson who also starred in the movie Annapolis. Let me tell you Tyrese is a great actor which showed in the movie "FourBrothers".Tyrese is also a very nice looking guy I must say. The other actors in the movie included Mark Wahlberg, Andre' Benjamin and Garrett Hedlund. FourBrothers was a very good movie and all of the other guys in the movie made the movie what it was. I am recommending "FourBrothers" highly. The other movie we watched was "The Pink Panther" with Steve Martin who was excellent for the role of Inspector Jacques Clouseau. I am also recommending the movie "The Pink Panther" as well. It is a funny movie from start to finish.  

Anyway......I wanted to include a recipe for making funnel cakes because me and my mom happen to like them very much. I'm sure you will want to make one yourself.

( * The batter is poured through a funnel into cooking oil and fried. )

FUNNEL CAKES:

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 quart oil for frying

2 tablespoons white sugar

1 egg

1 cup milk

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting

-----------------------------------------------------

Directions:

1) In a mixing bowl, beat together egg and milk. Beat in flour, salt, baking soda, cream of tartar and white sugar until smooth.

2) Heat about 1 inch cooking oil in frying pan to 375 degrees F. (190 degrees C)

3) Pour 1/2 cup batter through funnel into oil with a circular motion to form a spiral. Fry until lightly brown; turn over to brown the other side. Cook to golden brown, remove to drain on paper towels.

Last note: Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar while still warm.

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Tomorrow I am happy to report that I will be going to Indian Springs with my family for the weekend. We won't be camping there but we will be going to the beach since my nieces asked if we could go to the beach. I'm sure it will be hot tomorrow but it will be nice to be at the beach enjoying the water. If you don't mind me asking what are your plans for the 4th of July perhaps buying a ton of fireworks or will you be going to see fireworks ?

I wanted to share with you one of my favorite shows on television called "Junkin" on Turner South with a lady named Vale and a guy named Dave who go to Yard Sales and Flea Markets in different parts of the country. Here is the link -------------> www.turnersouth.com . Check out the "Junkin" site so you can see it for yourself. I really like the show its funny and I like to see them go to all the yard sales since I like yard sales as well.

One last thing before you head to the kitchen to cook up a batch of funnel cakes let me ask you... how your day? Did you go anywhere and eat today ? Did you also take the day off of work ? By the way is it just as hot in your neck of the woods dear world ? I really  hope you had a nice day like I did. I will talk to you later dear world.

Take care.......Byyyyyye for now

Some Rather Upsetting News and Other Notes.........

Hello Dear World !!!!!

How are you ??? First I am sad to report some rather upsetting news. Yesterday my aunt and uncle who don't live very far from us was robbed. I am glad they weren't home at the time. Here's some of the details..my uncle had recently purchased a new computer which was taken and their bedroom was trashed. Apparently the robbers got in by breaking the glass at the top in a door that they have downstairs at their house. Its sad to think something like that could happen to my aunt and uncle or to anyone else for that matter. I wish there was something that I could do to take back what happened to them yesterday but I know I can't. I hope the police are able to find whoever is responsible for the crime. Its not only upsetting but it also makes me mad. The Sheriff of our County doesn't seem to be doing anything to stop the crime in our neck of the woods. You can find out some things about our County at this site ----------> www.co.clayton.ga.us/ . I would like to also share some facts about our County with you.

Here's some facts about our crime rate:

Murders: 23% increase

Robbery: 32% increase

Aggravated Assault: 18% increase

Burglary: 8% increase

Theft: 2% increase

Motor Vehicle Theft: 29% increase

Arson: 13% increase

I don't know if the crime rate will ever change I hope so. How is the crime rate where you are dear world ? I think that's enough upsetting news for now.

-------------

In other news my dear friend Iris has a journal here at J-Land called "La Dolce Vita" here is the link to her site -----> http://journals.aol.co.uk/irisclyde/LaDolceVita/ . Go and wish her a "Happy 2nd Anniversary" on her journal.

I also have a very interesting journal to share with you called "The Wisdom of a Distraced Mind" that I think you will enjoy. There is a little snack called Chocolate Covered Bacon included in one of the entries I think you might want to check out. Since I love chocolate and this journal I had to post this link with you so here it is ------> http://journals.aol.com/dpoem/TheWisdomofaDistractedMind/ .

Go by and check out this journal for yourself I hope you will like it as I do. I hope you enjoy my journal as well. That's all for now.

Take care dear world

Byyyyye for now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just Some Things To Share.......

Hello Dear World......

How are you ??? I thought I would share a few notes with you today. Yesterday my family and I took a ride down to one of my favorite stores the "DeKalb Farmers Market" which is as I've told you like going to different foreign countries without having to go to the airport and getting on a plane. I was a little shocked to find that they only had (3) soft shell crabs to sell which I had to buy because I hadn't had any in quite a while. I asked if they had anymore in the back but they said no. I went ahead and bought the last 3 which I'm not sorry for. Of course they have a place inside where you can buy different dessert pastries and gelato which is from Italy. Their desserts are wonderful and their gelato is simply mouthwatering. They have all kinds of flavors and their chocolate overdose cookies are a must buy.

In other news the thunder and lightning has finally rolled in and we're getting rain for the first time in a very long time. I think we are coming out of the drought just in time. I hope it rains for a while we need the rain here in my neck of the woods. Is it raining in your neck of the woods dear world ??? If it is send me your rain complete with thunder and lightning so it can rain for days without stopping. You can feel free to drop some rain to me in the mail I won't mind a wet mailbox.

I have some wonderful journals to share with you......You must check these out they are my favorites.

One-Way Passage

http://journals.aol.com/jayveeconcerto/One-WayPassage

Bee's Shutter

http://journals.aol.com/redbaranjj/BeesShutter

and my favorite message in a bottle

Bottled Dreams

http://journals.aol.com/terrydreams/TerryDreams

You must stop by these journals and read them for yourself.

 

Saturday Thoughts.......

Hello Dear World....

How are you today ? Its another sizzling day here in Georgia. I wanted to share some things with you. For a long time I was an avid fan of the show "Saved By The Bell" and one of my favorite people from the show has a website that I want to share with you. Check out this site ---------> www.getdshirts.com .

In other news I recently came upon a story in the news recently of a message in a bottle which I also wanted to share with you. Years after casting a bottled-up note into a lake for a class project and just one year after his death, a man's childhood message was found and returned to his mother.

Eleven years ago, a then 10-year-old Joshua Baker wrote the message which was nestled in an empty vanilla container which was given back to his mother Maggie Holbrook. The message read:

"My name is Josh Baker, I am 10. If you find this put it on the news. The date is 4/16/95"

The message surfaced in White Lake in late April, just days after the 11th anniversary of its casting. It was found by one of Baker's closest friends, Steve Lieder, of Antigo. Lieder and two friends were chatting near the lake when they looked down and saw the bottle. They broke it open and found the note inside. They immediately took it to Joshua's mother who said she is now having the note preserved and she will display it in her home. She told the news reporter that she can remember when her son wrote the message for a school project. She says she can still remember the day her wrote it. " I think he was just letting us know he was OK and to keep doing what we are doing".

Joshua died last February following a motor vehicle accident in California. He had recently returned home after serving in the Middle East as a U.S. Marine.

I hope you enjoyed this bit of news as I did. Have you ever sent a message in a bottle ? I haven't ever sent one but I am thinking that I would like to do as Joshua did. What's going on in your neck of the woods dear world ?

That's all for now......I will talk to you later. Byyyyyyyyyye for now.

Another Day In My Life............

Hello Dear World...............

How are you ????? Once again I have some rather terrible news about the weather here in my neck of the woods. Just ( 3 ) years after the worst drought on record Georgia has slipped into another. State Environmental Protection Division Director Carol Couch declared the state to be in a drought Wednesday. A three-day-a-week outdoor watering schedule is in effect until further notice. It was also reported that Lake Lanier the main water source for more than 3 million people is dropping.  Check out about the drought here ------- www.georgiadrought.org/ .

I am also sad to report that once again the Toronto Blue Jays have beat the Atlanta Braves 6-3. The Braves have lost 19 of its past 22 and is 12 games under .500 and resides 14 and a half games behind the New York Mets in the NL East. You can check out the Braves here ------ http://braves.mlb.com/ .

In other news our puppy Hobo went back to the vet for the 2nd time today. Hobo now weighs in at 9lbs. 6ozs. We learned that he is not a Pit Bull as we once thought but he is a mixed Labrador. He got some more shots. Hobo will have to go back to the vet in another ( 3 ) weeks for more shots and a check up.

For dinner my family and I went to our favorite Mexican restaurant "La Parrilla" which has some of the best Mexican food. Check out its site here -------- www.laparrilla.com . Tonight there was live entertainment at the restaurant which consisted of a guy playing a guitar and singing some different songs including some of my favorites by the country singer Alan Jackson.

After dinner we went to PetSmart which has everthing. You can find it here ---------- www.petsmart.com/ . At PetSmart we bought some puppy food, a dog brush, a puppy pillow and a harness when we take Hobo for a walk. Here's a site about Labradors ----------- http://www.justlabradors.com/ .

All in all it was a pretty busy day. What did you do today dear world ? I guess that's all for now. I will talk to you tomorrow.

Good night.

My Day........

Hello Dear World !!!!!!

How are you today ?? It was a rather steamy day here in Atlanta, Georgia. Right about now I would like to take a little vacation in Iceland to get away from this heat. How is the weather in your neck of the woods ?

Anyway.....I have something to tell you though you might laugh but I would like to share it with you so here it is.......There was a really nice looking guy named Anthony yes I asked him his name...proud of me ? Anyway.....Anthony was at the gas station and I asked him if he was going to take me out to lunch as a way of flirting with him. He told me yes if only he didn't have to work. I couldn't have gone to lunch with him since I was with my coworkers. After talking to him some more he smiled at me and asked me if I was going to take him out to lunch but I told him that I had to get back to work which I was wishing hadn't been the case but I had to get back to work with my coworkers since we were out getting gas. He was a really nice looking guy. As I was leaving he winked at me and he smiled back at me as I waved to him. The thing is after all of that I had forgotten to ask him for his phone number....silly me. I know I should have given him my phone number which I forgot to do since I was enjoying talking to him. Silly silly silly silly silly silly silly silly silly me.

In other news I am more than happy to report that Atlanta's Firefighters won a pay increase Monday. The City Council was persuaded to snub Atlanta's Mayor Shirley Franklin, who didn't want to give them anything. The 3.5% raise for Firefighters mirrors the increase that the Mayor had already recommended for sworn Officers in the Police Department. In a 9-6 vote, the Council gave a $1.9 million to Firefighters and they told the Mayor to shave the money from other departments citywide. The Council was reacting to demands by Firefighters for parity with Police. It takes 10 votes to override a veto, so the Mayor could still have the final say. The raises, if unchallenged, will go into effect with the new fiscal year next month. Mayor Franklin declined to comment on whether she planned to veto the council's action. Jim Daws, President of the Atlanta Professional Firefighters, said a veto would be a slap in the face of the City's Firefighters. Last year, after Firefighters marched on City Hall, the Council boosted their pay by 4% after Mayor Franklin recommended firat a 1% and then a 3.5% increase. I'm just glad that the City Council saw that Atlanta's Firefighters got a raise in their pay. I think that the Firefighters deserve equal pay as Atlanta's Police Officers. I support the City Council's decision 100 %.

On a more funny note to everyone who has read the children's story "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" here's a story in reverse which ends in a good way......What I'm about to tell you is a true story. In West Vancouver, British Columbia a woman came home to find a young bear eating oatmeal in her kitchen. The bear apparently entered through an open sliding glass door. The bear broke a ceramic food container and started eating which was reported by West Vancouver's Police Sgt. Paul Skelton. Three police officers who went to the home Thursday couldn't get the bear to budge, so authorities let the animal finish its meal. Police Sgt Skelton reported that "The bear didn't appear to be aggressive and wasn't destroying the house, so they let it do what it was doing and eventually the bear decided to make its way out of the residence and down toward a forested gully". Police Sgt. Skelton also reported that "It ended the best it could". Skelton said bears in the suburbs of Vancouver have been coming out of hibernation as hungry as ever but later than usual this spring because of a heavier than normal snowpack from the winter. In my opinion I'm sure that the bear was happy to get something to eat. Its probably off trying to find something else to eat. After sleeping a while I would be hungry too so all's well that ends well.

How are things in your neck of the woods dear world ??????? Any bears come roaming in your neighborhood ?????

Good night. 

Some News.......

Hello Dear World.......

How is everyone ? I hope all of you Fathers out there had a most wonderful Fathers Day. Yesterday it was another hot day in my neck of the woods. We had a little cook out for Fathers Day which was nice. My oldest niece had a friend over at the house. I am happy to report that our puppy Hobo is getting bigger and eating more like he's a full grown dog. Hobo will be staying with us so now there is no question.

Anyway....For all of you Boxing fans out there here is a little something you will want to read. Last night my mom and I watched a great Boxing match between Jermain Taylor and Robert "Winky" Wright. It was a fight worth watching even though it turned out to be a draw which I'm sure will lead to a rematch later on. I have to say that Robert is a very nice looking guy and he is quite a Boxer I must say. I am glad I watched it from start to finish. The next time he has a boxing match I will certainly watch. I wouldn't mind getting tickets to see one of his fights that would be something to see.

In other sports news I am sad to report that the Boston Red Sox beat the Atlanta Braves last night 10-7 at Turner Field. It was the 10th loss in 11 games and 17th in 20 for the Braves. Today the Atlanta Braves are in last place in the NL East with a 30-40 record. They are now 14 games behind New York and 10 games under .500 for the first time since 1990. I hope that things turn around for our Braves but I just don't know......I just don't know.

In other news today started another week at work for me and another steamy day here in Atlanta, Georgia and it seems like its going to stay cooking but I don't know how long. At the end of the day my clothes are stuck to me and I will probably turn into an overcooked potato before long. Of course I just started reading a book titled "The Blue Bistro" written by Elin Hilderbrand and its pretty good so far. Here's a few facts about the book to get you interested: There's a guy in the book named Thatcher Smith who is the owner of the Nantucket restaurant and he offers a lady named Adrienne Dealey a job there. Adrienne has spent the past six years working for hotels in exotic resort towns. Over the summer she decides to make Nantucket home. Left flat broke by her ex-boyfriend, she is desperate to earn some money fast. When Thatcher offers her the job she wonders if she can get by with no restaurant experience. A question lingers in the book about the restaurant because it seems to be in its final season before closing its doors for good. Adrienne must decide whether she'll move on as she always does or finally open her heart...............You'll have to read it to find out for yourself. I hope you like the book as I'm sure I will.

Before I say good night let me ask you.......How are things in your neck of the woods dear world ????

I have one final note: There is a journal titled "The Wisdom of a Distracted Mind" here at J-Land which I hope you will enjoy as I did........This journal is funny, interesting and filled with all kinds of interesting items to read. Here is the link --------------------------> http://journals.aol.com/dpoem/TheWisdomofaDistractedMind/  . Drop by this journal and say hello to someone you might not know.

Good-night and sweet dreams.......Byyyyye for now