I betcha you would be surprised to discover I wasn't the Prom Queen in high school. Yeah, I know.  Shock, huh? It happens.  Not all high school dreams come true.  In my case I suspect it was because I didn't actually attend the prom.  In the case of the prom queen… Read full post »

Further adventures in really bad food photography from the 1970's!

Ingredients

¾ cup dried apricots
¾ cup dried figs
¾ cup dried peaches
¾ cup dried dates
½ cup golden raisins
Apple Juice
2 cups brown rice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup butter
¾ cu… Read full post »

This is a story I wrote after the passing of a friend that I was subsequently asked to read at her memorial service.  Stella, affectionately known as Christopher Robin amongst her friends for her often childlike innocence, was a professional athlete who in her twenties held the world record for… Read full post »

Following on my theme of the month, ABC News' website contains an article on the fact that the Israeli military was recently forced to cancel a mission to arrest a number of Palestinian militants in the West Bank because one of its soldiers updated his Facebook status with sensitive military informat… Read full post »

Seriously, I don't like you.  You're annoying.  You have such a grating voice, especially in text.  Do you have any idea how condescending you sound?  How rude your tone of voice comes across?  Of course you do, you've spent years perfecting that "I'm so much better than you… Read full post »

Gloria Gadsden, a professor at East Stroudsburg Univeristy, found herself suspended last week when her Facebook status updates were brought to the attention of the University.  In January one of her status updates read "Does anyone know where I can find a very discrete hitman? Yes, it's been tha… Read full post »

 Further adventures in really bad food photography from the 1970's!

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 pound mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 pound medium barley
5 cups chicken broth
4 ounces egg noodle spirals, cooked
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Pinch of saf… Read full post »

Okay, so I'm a one note writer this weekend.  But damn it that whole Vajazzling nonsense is stuck in my craw.  Yesterday I updated my Facebook status to read : "Surly will not be vajazzling any time soon. In case you were wondering." My friend Stacy commented: "Would that be… Read full post »

Let me start right off by saying "Damn you Sheldon The Wonderhorse". I could have gone my entire existence oblivious to the wonders of Vajazzling. But no. Damn it Sheldon, just damn it.

Now, I'm not one to judge.  Okay, well I am, but usually I'm all… Read full post »

So the other day I got my knuckles rapped by a fellow OSer for providing the sample steps to finding out details about just about anyone via Facebook.  She accused me of giving those who would do wrong a manual.  Kinda like I was writing the Anarchist's Cookbook for Facebook. Yeah,… Read full post »

I'm making popcorn.  Who wants a bowl?  Personally I prefer white cheddar popcorn, but if you all are gonna vote for movie theatre butter I won't quibble.  I've got my Red Vines and Mike and Ikes too.  I have never understood Raisinettes or Goobers.  Who wants to eat somethin… Read full post »

So like last week, y'know? Me and 1_Irritated_Mother were hanging out 'round Judy Berman's blog trash talkin' the latest Salon Kitchen Challenge.  So like, I, half jokin' y'know, challenged 1_Ingrateful_Mother to a bourbon slushie-off.  And she's all like "oh - it is on. yes. like donkey ko… Read full post »

Image borrowed from Daily Mail

Tiger Woods had barely regained consciousness in November and Ms. Allred was already on retainer by at least one of the alleged mistresses, Rachel Uchitel.  This morning she was hand holding yet another alleged mistress, Joslyn James, at a press conference/… Read full post »

I'm not a sporty girl.  I'll give you that.  I'm even less of a winter sports girl.  I don't ski.  I used to, but guess what? It's cold, requires too many layers of clothing, and the shoes hurt my feet.  Not to mention that I have a reasonable fear of hitting… Read full post »

Further adventures in really bad food photography from the 1970's!

FRESH FRUITS AVAILABLE MONTHLY

Available practically year-round: Avocadoes, bananas, lemons, oranges. Available September through March: Apples.

January - grapefruit, pears, tangerines

February - grapefruit, pears

Marc… Read full post »

I'm a regular at the gym.  I don't know that it's really to any effect, but I go, at least, 5 times a week.  During the course of my life I've tried nearly every kind of aerobics class on offer. Except Richard Simmons' Sweatin to the Oldies. Just could never/… Read full post »

(Image courtesy of flowerpot.com)

Valentine's Day is when my husband Dave really shines.  It's also the only time he finds his way to a florist. I'm lucky, he doesn't go for the stock red roses or those cheezy arrangements with carnations organized to look like a heart.  (Those make… Read full post »

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a Tea Bagger! 

Since 1941 Captain America has been keeping America safe from all manner of foes, both real and imagined by the clever folks at Marvel.  He fought the Nazis! He kept us safe from the commies during the great "Red… Read full post »

Well, here I go again.  I'm gonna say some things that will, undoubtedly, be wildly unpopular.  Go figure.

Last night I was doing that thing you do at the market, when you're really only there to pick up wine, but the store is so huge that you feel compelled to wander… Read full post »

Author's Note: The post below is a compilation of a week's worth of my niece's Facebook status updates all reprinted with her permission (and her mother's, of course.)

So, I got the new Facebook today.  Whoopie! Nice exercise in web programming, but nothing too spectacular.  Or maybe it is… Read full post »

Now y'all know that I'm a fan of trashy television.  Gimme your Real Housewives of (insert city here), Keeping up with the Kardashians, or Flavor of Love. (Everyone shout Flavor Flav!)  Tonight though I really went for the full on trash of Undercover Boss with Larry O'Donnell of Waste Manag… Read full post »

My Grandmother circa 1930

Glamour shots are nothing new.  In the early part of the 20th century it was de rigeur to have a studio portrait taken in your Sunday best with your hair done up, giving a hint of a smile, and with that indirect gaze so indicative of… Read full post »

"Surly's doing the wrap? The hell you say? She doesn't even have a freakin' tiara of her own, who is she to judge us?" Oh yeah, I'm like the Mentalist on estrogen, and I can read your minds.  So, we'll be taking care of a little personal business first.

 There,… Read full post »