A quck One before the road...

Alton Brown: "Cracker Barrel is where southern food goes to die. And you may quote me if you like."

Anthony Bourdain:“Cracker Barrel is where southern food goes to die? " dude!. You KNOW where Southern food goes to die. And it ain't CB...... y'all."  (the meaning of which is left to the alert reader)

Rest easy, Earl Scruggs...

headed for Cambridge where we will be

DFD

PS have located a possibility for a Feeder Experience if we sneak out of the convention dinner tonight!!

Still Topless....

At least in the "lap" computer division..  am slowly adding more capability to my “wiped” one, but still not completely up on picture capability, so you still have to deal with words..

More windmills

I swear I am not making this up.  As the college basketball wars wind down I tend to watch both genders battle themselves down toward a final four.  So I was watching a couple of women’s teams the other night (I forget who) and of course the winning team had to suffer the post game microphone stuck in their face with the usual idiotic questions: “tell me how were you able to…?” .  So here was a female interviewer talking to a female coach of a team which, as near as I could tell, was composed completely of members of the fairest gender.  Several of the questions from the lady interviewer to the lady coach were “how were you guys able to overcome their zone…”; “what were the last instructions to your guys before you left the locker room”;  “what made you guys confident you recover from ten points….”.  Nobody batted an eye.  Does this seem odd to anybody else?  Howling in the wilderness again.

And I suppose I rant on this every year, but I need to do this again…  I really try to be objective in this, I really do, but I have to wonder  Last night, there were two games, both a number one seed versus a number two, vying for spots in the NCAA Woman's Final Four (or perhaps the guys final four).  At this point the Cinderella’s should be pumpkins and you would expect close games.  Notre Dame, fresh from a closely fought game with St. Bonaventure eking out a 44 point victory, took on Maryland who had a pretty good run in the tournament, taking out the defending champ Texas A&M.   Maryland was unable to score 50 points, losing by 30.  I am not sure what all this means.  Enough..  

Letter to the Editor....

Alert readers will remember that I often report that the restaurant Charleston in Baltimore receives accolades both locally and nationally as number one this, and (gulp) best that, always in top ten lists and so forth, and the one experience we had was memorable.  So an equally alert MFO called my attention to a letter to the editor in Baltimore Magazine regarding their list of top restaurants recently published.  It began with “Are you kidding me? Charleston is number one?”  It went on to say that “if the clientele were all millionaires, I might understand the over-the-top, ridiculous prices for mere morsels of food”.  He complained about his $20 appetizer and though it was advertised as three pieces of seafood, he could only remember a calamari.  Then, the entrees were so small you "needed a microscope to find them".  He concluded by saying they also ate at a non-rated restaurant, and again miniscule portions with exorbitant prices, and so could not understand why Charleston is considered one of the best.  That was it.  No mention of service, no indication of how those “miniscule” portions were paired, presented or tasted, just that they were small. 

Well, sir, I really don’t know you, but maybe some research would have given you some clue.  Perhaps you would be better served at an “all you can eat” buffet, or places with “endless salad and bread sticks”.  If quantity and not quality is what you seek, there are lots of places that should appeal to you..

On the road…

Tomorrow MFO and I once again saddle up the MOMSTER, and this time we will go over the Bay Bridge and spend the weekend in Cambridge on the Eastern Shore.  The annual District Conference of mid-atlantic Rotary Clubs is being held there, and part of my duties include royal appearances of King Oyster.  So the velvet and ermine robes will be packed along with the crown and scepter, to stroll around dispensing largesse.  The two day agenda is full which includes various luncheons and banquets, so dining opportunities will probably be limited to “hotel food”.  And to add insult to injury we will pass within a few miles of the Bartlett Pear Inn….  Sigh.

His majesty will be

DFD

It Always...

rains on Maryland Day (commemorating the founding of Maryland)...  this year appears to be no different.  at least it's not snow

Maryland Day will have special meaning for us this year.  During the ceremony, Historic St. Mary's City Commission will be awarding the Cross Bottony to MFO.  The Cross Bottony is given annually to honor outstanding efforts on behalf of Historic St. Mary's City.  In MFO's case it will recognize over ten years of (volunteer) service as their Archivist.  She spent a good deal of that time in dank moldy, cellars, opening boxes and boxes of "stuff" that accrued during the development of the Museum.   She organized, filed, tabulated, and preserved years of corporate records, documented important events like the 300th Anniversary in 1934, and generally put their house in order.  She played a large part in the Museum achieving National Accreditation, as one of the requiremnts is organized corporate history.   She also has a pretty good idea where all the "bodies are buried" as they say... She has mothballed the collection and although she will remain "on call" at the City, she has "retired" and now will spend the majority of her time as Archivist for the St. Mary's Historical Society.  Through her work in both places she has gained a lot of knowledge and appreciation of our history in little old Southern Maryland.  It is a special award for her...much deserved.

Realize this is a bit late, but the ceremony is at one o'clock today (Saturday) near the visitor center (and bathrooms) instead of out at the chapel site where is has been for the last few years.  It is always a pleasant event, flourishing of flags by the Militia, and especially the fourth graders from each county who carry their counties flag.  Mom and Pop are always there taking pictures, kids get lost, and it is generally a fun event.  Come and see it if you have some time in the land of nothing to do.

Laptop Update

As feared, the worst has occurred and the hard drive had to be "wiped" with the result that I lost a bunch of feeders, pictures, documents and so forth.  Of course it never happens "to you", but I now have a greater appreciation of doing backups and it will be a good lesson for me.   And you.  And because the damn thing was "aging" in today's technology, I got out the plastic and will be getting a new one in a week or so..

Food Stuff

A side note(s) the "Jerry's Bistro" near us (by the bowling alley) has opened.  We did a take out the other night, I had the "special" fried rice (a mixture of all meats kind of thing), and MFO tried their Pizza.  My rice was okay, pretty much on a par with all the other rices I've had (with maybe exception of Oga's).  MFO's pizza was sub par, and we both finally agreed that it was underdone.  I will add that it was the first night they were open, so maybe that's a factor.  We'll see..

I see that ground has been broken for our long awaited Cracker Barrel.   Yahoo!  It will be great to have a restaurant where you enter through a gift shop with fuzzy animals and candles.  I'm sure like it's neighbors it will be packed.

okay, enough, time to consider getting ready for the doings this afternoon.  have to find duds so that we will be

DFA(ward)  and,

DFR(ain)

W32 Blaster!!!

After seven years, it is apparently my turn…

So there I was, typing along on my trusty laptop, ranting a little about “guys”, and all of a sudden a little screen popped up saying I had been infected with W32Blaster worm.. and another popped up that started a scan.  What followed was a harrowing 15 minutes of watching file after file being shown as infected with the worm along with some other sinister sounding things like Trojans and Backdoor this and that.  It wouldn’t let me open any programs like Outlook.  So currently the thing is in quarantine to get sanitized, hopefully without “wiping” it.  All my pictures, the software I use to manipulate them, everything.     So am not sure of the immediate future of the Feeder, hang with me a bit.. updates (from this desktop) to follow.

 What I was going on about was that I have occasionally been accused of tilting at windmills, fighting the rising tide, and other insinuations of engaging in futile causes.  My relentless drive to DFD, railing against the canned “Hi I’m…..” speeches from servers, and other restaurant things like having the fork you used for your salad being set aside for you so you can use it again with your entrée.  Lately I have been complaining about the rampant use of the term “you guys” when referring to a party of mixed gender.  You’re being silly!  It is too common!  Yes it is.  But how would you like it if you were at a table with all males, and the server walks up and says; “can I get you gals something to drink?”.  Well, that’s different you say.  Just go ask your wife/girlfriend/other how she feels about being called a guy…

All for now---sigh

DFD

books and basketballs......

That pretty much describes the last few days..

As I mentioned in the previous posting, the Friends of the Library book sale was held over the weekend where days of sorting took place over the previous week, where this

Was turned into

with a reminder that this is only a look at the Non Fiction building with the Fiction and Children’s buildings looking pretty similar.. after putting the finishing touches on sorting and tidying Friday morning we were finally ready for the “members only” day opening at one.  The “dealers” (who must sign up as members) show up early hoping to get the first crack at the good books and grabbing some real bargains.  We had dealers from Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.  Our little book sale has quite a reputation..  Anyway they queued up out side the doors a good hour before opening

Finally at the stroke of one the doors open and in they come with tubs at the ready

Usually they have a focus area (biography, history, etc.) and proceed directly to that area.  Some have little scanners that read the book's bar codes and instantly give them pricing.  We have been told we are one of the best shows they go to,  things are clean, organized, and excellent values.

My job is to take the money when they check out so I get to chat with them.  Generally they are pretty friendly; we seem to have weeded out the ugly ones.  Most stay all day, with the folks from Tennessee being shoved out the door at eight that night.  The pricing for our "regular" books is two dollars for a hard back and one for a “trade paperback”, with the smaller paperbacks (of our youth) going for fifty cents.  Many of the dealers spend upwards of five hundred dollars.

But mostly the people that come are community folk, and I always enjoy seeing many friends and it is a fun way to spend the weekend.  It is so rewarding that people still want a real book in their hand, not just a screen to look at.  The little ones are so proud thay they have a book of their very own!  We had a book about birds near us which had descriptions of birds and a little device into which you could punch it's "number" and it would play the song.  One little boy fell so in love with it that his mother couldn't resist getting it for him for a whopping 6 bucks.  He sat for hours (while mom shopped) listening.   And maybe we have created a future birder!!

 Saturday was a pleasant day and we were able to offer food since the “hot dog guy” came and set up shop.

I was saddened to learn through chatting with him that he has decided to “retire” for a while so he can devote some of his weekend time to family rather than half smokes and brats.  Too bad (for us, good for him!).  He was a boost to our local food scene..

Yesterday (Sunday) was “half price day” at the sale, and we unloaded a bunch more books.  Even so, we’re left with hundreds of books and what do you do with those?  Our local Rotary Club located a place in Annapolis that takes books and eventually gives them to service folk and charities and they said they would take all we had left.  So, the dirty work of taking down all the lovely books we assembled began by putting together “Gaylord” boxes

And with the help of the Rotarians we filled ‘em up.

Loaded them on “the truck” (fork lift not pictured!)

And off they went.

There were just about three truck loads, with each truck holding about seven or eight “gaylords” with each box holding I don’t know how many books.   It’s nice to know that the books won’t just be recycled.  So, like last year, we end the sale with exactly zero books (except holdover rare and unusual ones) and yet each year we have all those books due to donations by people like you.  And the proceeds from the sale will augment our local libraries ability to have nice computer equipment and special programs.

Too bad we don’t make enough to buy them a new library, we see the need if our local government doesn’t.  Nuff said.

Before leaving the literary side, if you have books you would like to donate for next year’s sale, take them to the back end of the Leonardtown Library.

Roundball

Meanwhile as we were moving books, many college basketball teams were moving the basketball as “March Madness” began all over the country.  As usual, I have filled out a couple of (for recreational purposes only) brackets and, as usual my carefully researched and emotional choices get bounced.  In one of them, I had Missouri being National Champion.  Thanks, plucky little Norfolk State.. how did you enjoy the Florida game?  Duke, meet Lehigh!  At least my Spartans (second National Champion) is still alive. It is fun to watch teams that have never played go up against one another, and I guess that’s why a Norfolk State can knock off an alleged national power.   As somebody said, “It’s why they play the games”.  So that will go on over the next couple of weeks..good luck.

 Foodie Corner

And just to keep a foodie hook alive, after Saturday at the sale we joined some friends for dinner at Morris Point Restaurant.  I don’t have much to add to previous reviews that it is like going to a friend’s house for dinner, with Dad in the kitchen, Mom running food, and a smaller one taking orders.  Questions about menu items are relayed directly to the kitchen through the open window , as in: “what kind of white wine do we have tonight?” or:  “how is the rockfish prepared?”.  Once you get into the flow, it’s kind of fun.  It’s slow but that’s why we ask what kind of wine they have.  I had a crab stuffed rockfish that was very good, although MFO would have preferred her fish to remain on the heat a while longer.  And where can you get glazed beets for a side?  or Roasted Green Beans?  At home of course, or Morris Point..  It is a good experience for fun, and by golly it isn’t a chain. It's local, it's special. But you must be

DFD