not too hot for lizard sex

And I have to tell you, when the female scurried off, I saw lizard dong. It was an odd sight to see.

privacy vs. the evil pepper

This is my back fence. See all the evil Brazilian pepper behind it? That's also our land. I'm tempted about once a week to go back there and chop down all that pain-in-the-ass pepper. However, I love my privacy and that stupid weed maintains my privacy between us and the road beyond the fence. Not that we'd really lose too much in the way of privacy, given that it's a dead-end road off a road that is not well traveled, and there are about 2 houses on the whole road.

But still! I like my privacy! So for now, the pepper will stay ... at least until I buy myself a chain saw.

happy father's day!

This was Spencer and Daddy sometime around Father's day last year. Happy Father's day to all the dads out there! Spencer taught himself to take his diaper off today, so we awoke to a bare baby ... thankfully no accidents were had, but I guess maybe we'll start thinking about getting a potty a little earlier than planned. Hubby meant to take two Tylenol cold pills and accidentally took two Benadryll pills (doseage: one) so after a breakfast of pancakes, eggs and bacon, he is knocked out on the couch. Poor baby!

cleaning out the fridge

When I start having anxiety attacks, sometimes the best thing for me is to keep my mind off of it. Such was Friday, when my attacks that have been going on for a week came to a head and I was pale, clammy, shaky and a bit hysterical at work. By the time I got home I was doing a little better except that I was back to not breathing well, so I decided to clean out the refrigerator. I really didn't think the fridge was that bad, but when I got into it I realized there was leftover PW's meatloaf from last time Becky came to visit (I think 6 weeks ago, amazingly nothing growing on it). And there were numerous other things, including a lot of veggies that were okay but obviously not going to last long.

So this morning I made "clean-out-the-fridge" breakfast casserole:

Black Forest Ham (from the Omelet Muffins), green onions, zucchini, tomato and mushrooms

Mozzarella slices, mixed Italian cheese (I don't usually buy pre-shredded cheese, or sliced cheese for that matter. I tend to forget them).

Yummy Casserole

Not the prettiest cut, but it was very good. Also used: 9 eggs (3 whole eggs and 6 whites), garlic powder, salt and pepper. So clean out you fridge, and as long as all you have isn't mustard and Jack Daniels, you might have a delicious breakfast casserole!

Deconstructed Omelet muffins

I was flipping through my RR magazine, and saw these in an advertisement for Cabot cheese. I don't usually have Cabot cheese on hand (for cheddar and the like I usually just get the generic), and I didn't have egg substitute because, well, I like real eggs. But they looked like something tasty to take to a brunch potluck of the like, so I thought I'd try my hand at them with ingredients that I'm likely to have. I like to think of them as more like deconstructed omelet cupcakes or muffins than ham-egg-cheese cups. Better name, yes?

Deconstructed Omelet Muffins

• 6 slices Black Forest Ham


• 4 eggs


• 2 Tbs milk


• 1 cup shredded cheese


• 1 1/2 slices of bread


• chives


• salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease 6 cupcake tins (1/2 a regular muffin sheet) with cooking spray.

Scramble eggs and milk. Place 1 slice of ham in each tin - edges will stick out the top. Rip your 1 1/2 slices of bread into 6 pieces total, put one piece in the bottom of each, then pour eggs evenly among all. Salt and pepper to your taste, and put a pinch of cheese on top.

Cook approximately 15 minutes. Use a small spatula to remove from muffin tins. Garnish with chives.

Serves approximately 4-6

what I'm reading

I've had my fill of chick lit these days, and am currently reading all of Carl Hiaasen's books. What I love about Hiaasen is that even though all his novels have similarities, e.g. loner man who has been burned on love, woman who thought she was happy in the relationship that she was in before she met said loner man, environmental extremism ... they're all just so dissimilar beyond that.

Carl Hiassen has been with the Miami Herald since 1976 and doing investigative journalism since 1979. His novels are considered "environmental thrillers". What are environmental thrillers? Quite simply, very unique.

I started with Skinny Dip, Striptease (which I didn't realize the 1996 movie with Demi Moore was based on and will now have to see, boobs and all), Sick Puppy, Stormy Weather, and now I'm reading Native Tongue. I also read Hoot, his first children's book, years ago and didn't even realize it was a kid's book until I was done. It was that good.

sums up last night