Does This Happen to You

What's That Smell

We had really smelly garbage this week.  But I didn't know if it was the regular garbage or the food waste bin giving off the offensive odor.  So, not wanting to give each a good sniff test I did nothing just put up with the smell.  What's your smell tolerance?  Let me know.

Going Back to go Forward

I ran into some issues with technology this week.  Let me know if you're having these difficulties too, then I won't feel like I'm missing something.

Traveling

I traveled to LA on business Friday.  Went through the new X-Ray machine at LAX, which is sort of like being frisked.  I didn't get the pose quite right.  You'd think I'd have it down after watching all the TV shows.  I thought about all the traveling I'd done over the years and wrote down some highlights.  Here they are.  I'd love to hear your traveling stories, send them to me.

Wrath of the Crow Gods

Every time we walk out the door, Jack, me, JJ or Benny into the front yard or back yard, we're greeted by raucous scolding by the local crows.  We're pursued down the street and dive bombed.  All because JJ and Benny killed a crow in our backyard.  At least that's what we surmise as this started after the incident.  We're wondering if it will ever end, as its been 2 weeks and the crows show no signs of forgiveness.

Tour de Costume

I don't know much about bike racing, like the Tour de France.  I know a bit more after watching phase 7 of the Tour of California while eating at a local restaurant.  For some reason, fans in funny costumes like to run along side the racers, at least near the end of the race.  The costumes are hilarious, its better than reality TV.  But, I don't understand why you'd watch a bike race dressed in a toga or run alongside the racers dressed in scrubs.  Do you?

Who Put Those Kumquats in my Cart

Several of my friends and coworkers won't go shopping with their significant others or they didn't want to tell me the stories. This episode is dedicated to those who do shop with their significant other including me.

Paint Your Wagon in Italian

Jack and I spent 3 weeks in Italy a few years ago, another opera workshop for me and a screenwriting workshop for him.  We lived in Spoleto, a town with medieval and older roots, about 2 hours north of Rome.  None of residents spoke English, so lots of cultural immersion.  Makes for great stories, after you've walked around town for 45 minutes trying to find the store that sells milk.  Its also great exercise.

Bag and Weigh at the Spar

I spent 6 weeks studying opera in Graz, Austria.   The highlight of every day was navigating around a city where few spoke English and I spoke little German.  I believe this is called cultural immersion.  Sometimes it feels like you're drowning and sometimes you get a sandwich and a beer when you just wanted a beer.  I still dream about the streetcar automated stop system saying my stop, in German.

Swedish Potatoes

Jack loves that cable show, An Idiot Abroad.  It reminds me of my travels in Europe.  Sweden is a beautiful country not visited very often by Americans.  Potatoes are a staple food, but I didn't know that on my first trip.

Barney hanging from the Bumper

An SUV passed us by the other day, with Barney the plush toy following along behind, attached to the bumper.  Jack and I laughed then wondered, what the heck.  Why would anyone attach a plush toy to their bumper?  I decided to research it and here's what I found, give a listen.