Virgin Mary on the griddle

This is a great story. Reminds me of the report some two decades or so ago, about the woman out west who saw Jesus in the burrito.
Which raises a question: If you're seeing apparitions in foods or on cookware, would you choose something a little more interesting? Like pasta?

The Onion

Great "news" item from the Onion.
Enjoy.

What would you do at 5:15 a.m.?

Had a conversation today with a friend at the gym. She told me about a local adult swim club that works out together at 5:15 in the morning. In a pool. Exercising. Which means one would have to get up at, say, 4:30 to get ready, drive, change clothes.
More power to them.
Then I said to myself: "Self, what you would you be willing to do at 5:15 every day?" What would you do, Internet? (Besides sleep or eat.) Obviously, my body clock isn't wired this way. I can exercise after work but not in the morning. And, God knows, not that early.

Joe Posnanski

Great column, Poz.
I didn't know David Poole but I know Joe, and he does this guy justice. Rest in peace.

You Spin Me Right Round

Interesting place to have a Spin class: in the gym parking lot (which is at the corner of a pretty major intersection).
It was a promotional day at Gold's, and also the quarterly kickoff of new music.
What I liked: Watching the traffic, with more distractions out there than in a tight indoor room. Also liked the new tracks. Also glad it didn't rain.
What I didn't like: The guy driving the 18-wheeler who flew by and lay on his horn. Loud. Also, my bike was on a slight slope, so when I stood up in the pedals, I felt like I was being dragged backwards.

Amicalola Falls

If you live within driving distance of this place, it's worth the trek.
Just got back yesterday from there. It's one of my favorite spots. Great trails (and the 8-mile AT approach trail starts at Amicalola), and great solitude. Part of the reason I like it: It's the anti-here and here and here.
In the time since I'd been to Amicalola, a switch-back staircase had been added, running the length of the falls. I recommend walking down instead of up--otherwise, you feel like you're on a Stairmaster. So when I got to the bottom, I made a loop and went back up the East trail. Not an easy route, either, but at least it's somewhat shaded and on an actual path.
Everytime I hike in the mountains, I'm reminded--somewhat painfully--that five miles in the hills is different than five miles in the flats.

Ruby Nell Sales

Yesterday, I had the privilege of interviewing Ruby Nell Sales, one of the civil rights giants. She's recently moved back to town to be with her mother. ("If you print my mother's age," she said semi-jokingly, "we can't be friends." Ruby Nell, and many Southern women I run across, believe it's rude to ask one's age--not to mention print it.)
Because of her move here, she opened the southern branch of this organization she founded in 2000 in D.C.
What a beautiful, smart, brave and articulate woman.

What rhymes with "today?"

Vacay!
For a week. A. Whole. Week.

Day dreaming

Of a 5 p.m. EDT bike ride today. Anyone care to join?
The stars are lining up, apparently. Plus there appear to be no tornadoes in the area today.
I love my Spin class but sometimes you just have to get outside.

Bo

Bo Obama, the First Dog, has arrived.
(Bobama for short?)
Read the People magazine story here.

White House staff photo.

Recession anxiety

Here's an interesting piece about "recession anxiety," which is showing up among people who haven't lost their jobs--but think they might, or are just generally down about all the "recent unpleasantness."

Angel Cabrera

In an exciting finish, 39-year-old Angel Cabrera won the 2009 Masters. After the win, it was interesting to see an interpreter with Cabrera in Butler Cabin.

Drive-by foot washing

The Rev. Leon Burke from the Church of the Resurrection gives a drive-through foot wash on Thursday April 9 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The congregation was offering the drive-thru service to celebrate Maundy Thursday. (AP Photo/Hamilton Spectator via The Canadian Press, Scott Gardner)

Facebook

Feeling a little Face-booky tonight, as in not in the mood to write much.
Mainly I'm up to my armpits in Jesus this week, approaching Easter and all.
In other news, Dear Husband's birthday is today. A shout-out to him, and to our friend Mike Burbach, who was our executive editor until about five years ago. Time flies. He and his wife live in St. Paul now. We called him tonight; and we always like to remind him when it's 60 degrees here and sunny. He can rub in their good weather come summer.

The Alps

Not the mountain range. This is a tragic, yet also hopeful, tale of a second-generation candy store in Leavenworth, Wash.
A fire destroyed most of the hand-written recipes. Some were recovered with painstaking care. Don't know what I'd have done if this had been my business. Part of me would want to curl up and die. But this family's can-do spirit is inspiring.

Longhorn

This is a great-tasting new item on the Longhorn Steakhouse menu. (Scroll down to Strawberry Pecan Salad.)
We just got back from there, starting Mr. Owen's birthday celebration early. (It's in two days, in case you want to send a check, haha.)

Great headstone

On the headstone at a local cemetery: "Too much butter, too little vermouth."
Awesome.

Out of the loop

Just saw this list on a Web site.
1. iPhone
2. Wii
3. iPod Touch
4. Wii Fit
5. PSP
6. Blackberry Storm
7. Kindle
8. Zune
9. Xbox 360
10. Nintendo DS

Of the 10, I only know about half of these, and have only laid eyes on four of them. I feel like a dinosaur but, oddly, OK with that.

Health care in America

A snapshot, from Frontline's "Sick Around America:"
"Outside of employer-based health care plans, matters are even worse. Americans seeking insurance in the individual market must submit to 'medical underwriting,' and if they have a pre-existing condition, they will likely be denied. Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO George Halverson says frankly: 'I could not get insurance. I've had heart surgery, and so I am completely uninsurable in the private market. So it's important that I keep my job.' "
Here's the link to the PBS feature.
My question is, What person over the age of 5 (and even some younger) does not have a pre-existing condition?
This is insanity.
Happy Friday!

Funny sign

One time we saw this on a postcard, while on vacation, and sent it to our priest. (Yes, he has a sense of humor.)

Minnie's Uptown

The restaurant where the servers greet you with "Honey" and "Sweetie" (or both) will now be open Sundays beginning this Sunday.
This is great news.
The location is 104 8th St.
Reservations will be taken for Sunday lunches.