Marek always hated o… Read full post »

I learned something today. You know that phrase:

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Is actually a paraphrase of a statement by Plato:

"Remember how in that communion only, beholding beauty with the eye of the mind, he will be enabled to bring forth,… Read full post »

(image from Google) 

From a yellowed clipping found in Gran's cookbook. The date reads1974. I remember it tasting absolutely scrumptious. I believe it was called “Watergate Cake” because there were a lot of “weird” ingredients in the mix.

WATERGATE C… Read full post »

I live in a house of men. Large men and two dogs who require robust furniture, large screen Tvs and easy to clean surfaces. With the exception of the orchids in my kitchen and the bunch of fresh flowers I treat myself to most weeks for doing the groceries,… Read full post »

It is that time again. Time to buy a bathing suit. Not only do I have to deal with the fact that I no longer have the stop traffic bod I had when I was in my 20s, but I am confronted at every high-street… Read full post »

Write a story with a wolf in it.  

Marek and Smitty plunk down on the grass field in front of Monkshood Hall to eat their souvlaki.

“What a jerk!” grumps Ma… Read full post »

I was bullied for several years as a child. That's all I am going to say about it. I don't find "talking cures" helpful in every case. I don't care to revisit that territory of my memory. I'd like to think I've grown beyond it. Some days though, all it takes… Read full post »

I was complaining about the rain last week and somebody must've listened. Being a goddess helps. Anyway it is sunny summery weather with thundershowers almost every night so none of the plants in the garden are suffering.

When the weather is like this, you get up early. Th… Read full post »

So I broke down and bought “50 Shades of Grey” for my e-Reader to see what all the fuss was about. I wish I hadn't; my brain and eyeballs need a Lysol dip.

Allow me to be frank, we're all friends here: I enjoy erotica. Not a steady diet of… Read full post »

After seeing Algis's outstanding karaoke performance of McArthur Park (a must see if you haven't already)I got to thinking that we could do more on the entertainment side here at OS. Being an admitted frustrated DJ and living in possibly the most rhythmically challenged country in the world (except… Read full post »

OS Weekend Fiction, Anniversary Edition 

Prompt: Write a story where a character goes back one year in time.  

Marek lets his nose lead him up the path to Mrs. Morello's front door. The combination of garlic, tomatoes and basil is so closely tied to… Read full post »

Oh good morning! What fresh rainy hell is it today?

I am sick to death of rain. Really. I've got mildew. Well, I've got human mildew—asthma related eczema and this time between my shoulderblades. Peachy. I can't even scratch properly. Talk about having a grouch on.

The first year… Read full post »

Sometimes the only thing that will do is Cup-a-Soup, Grilled Cheese and a Coke.

Yummy! 

After last month's dog of a book, Donna Leon's “Death Wore Red Shoes” which was my choice (hey, I got distracted by the shoes in the title), my friends got bolshey and we went back to a Dutch classic, Helle S. Haasse's “Een Gevaarlijke Verhouding: Daal-en-Bergse Brie… Read full post »

This is one of my favorite salads. I just throw in any ingredients I have in my fridge, but the recipe below is an official recipe I found in the "Volkskrant"

 Image from Google

 FATTOUSH (for 4 people)

Ingredients:

 3 Pita  breads

1 Large fleshy… Read full post »

Because I am a frustrated DJ:

First up, the mighty Marcels  for the curmudgeons Walter and Pondie

A bit of Jack Johnson's stardusted m… Read full post »

I've been following the threads by Jeanette Demain (Breastaurants, Hypocrisy and Sexual Kitsch), Foolish Monkey (OC: Gettin' back to Tits and Ass American Style), and Phyllis 45's Brighteyes (Female Objectification and Fashion response to the OC by Foolish Monkey) and am ready to throw in my 50cents… Read full post »

 You won't find the island of San Nicandro on any conventional map. There are no records of the births, lives and deaths of her inhabitants other than what lies on these pages. The people of San Nicandro are, as is the island, made up of the kiss of wind on blue… Read full post »

Some thoughts provoked by Heather Michon's post... 

English is a fabulous language. I speak a few languages more or less fluently but there is no other language that compares to English with regard to subtlety, nuance, the noble art of swearing and the use of the pejorative.

One of… Read full post »

 image from Google

This is my version of the classic Reuben sandwich: 

Butter 2 slices of bread, flip them over, butter side down.

Mix some horseradish and real mayo together. I like it hot, but you just add the horseradish to your own taste.

Smear horseradish/ma… Read full post »

So the WT is alive and in full-sarcasm mode.  He'll be recuperating at his parents' home (at their insistance)  but I am on stand-by to come home if he needs a rescue mission to move him back asap to his own place. For now, I'm staying  in a place like this.

 … Read full post »

I gave up Facebook a while ago. It wasn't good for my soul and I've been going around like a sanctimonious and übercool prig because FB isn't sub-zero in my world and I refuse to own a cel-phone.

Last night I cursed myself for deep-sixing my FB account.… Read full post »

GMOTI is moving from the farm to a chic little apartment north of town so FOTI and Uncle Hardrock spent the weekend painting the new pad. Saturday afternoon they rewarded themselves with a trip to the wine merchant. They arrived just before closing, so the owner put up the closed sign,… Read full post »

This week's prompt comes from our good friend Blinddream:

Write a story centered around something that opens. 

Smitty kissed Marek's cheek before taking her arms from around his neck and slipping out of the bar like a salmon, into the stream of the ligh… Read full post »