My Little Rustic Tart

Fruity, crusty

Sweet, fruity, definite crust but soft and warm inside, that's how I like my rustic tarts, as the wife calls her little creation last night, a delight after a delicious meal.  Peaches, blueberry, and some kind of sweetness.  Very tasty!  I'm feeling better already!

Video from the Flooding

More video of the flooding in Ft. Pierre (my hometown) and Pierre.

All Hail the Pie that Heals

The wife has taken such good care of me over the past few days, keeping things easy and feeding me well as I rest on the couch, keeping my leg up and healing.  All I had to do was peel some apples, and she managed the rest, making the crust and the goodie.

And this was after also making homemade pizza.  The pie goes especially well with Twin Peaks, where Agent Cooper shows his own affection for the pinnacle of foodstuffs.  (He prefers cherry, while apple is my choice).  

Knees Before and After

Okay, so it doesn't look like much, just a couple of small holes, one punched on each side of the knee for camera and roto-rooter access.  But here's hoping the little procedure does the trick and takes the cringe out of running.  It's really not that painful, what with my medications and all, and I'm able to walk about and do pretty much as I please as long as generally I'm keeping the knee elevated and icing it on schedule.  I've got high hopes!

Meanwhile, we've started watching Twin Peaks on Netflix and are enjoying the bizarre soap-opera/mystery/drama/comedy in order.  Oh, Laura Palmer, what has become of you?   

My Minesectomy and Explanation

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I've been gimping along with a sore knee for over a year, but I hope it's largely over now with yesterday's minesectomy, explained in this video by Dr. Allan Mishra.  My doctor is Dr. Pete Rodman, who's retiring this year after a long and successful career, which was recapped in an article that just happened to appear in yesterday's Argus Leader.  

I'll follow their directives, take good care of the wounded knee, and try to get back to running and biking ASAP.

Flowers Ahead of the Rain

Summer flowers

The wife just came in with flowers she means to keep from the coming storms tonight.  I took my hand at identifying--goat's beard, lilies, daisies, roses, and . . . um . . . that's as far as I got.  They're beauties!

Food Fairies at Work Yet Again

ETEZYOOADME

While the wife and I were down in SF today getting my knee repaired, friends came by and left the kind of generous and thoughtful gift that comes from caring people.  And they're teaching their children their ways.  Here's a depiction of me and Anna on a bicycle after my knee gets better.  Well, maybe just practicing, since my knees in the drawing don't seem to be fully flexible.  

Prizes to those who post a proper translation of the caption offered by a beginning speller.

Thank you, fairies!  

A Cinematic Dream, 80 Years Old

I was a 19-year-year-old hick from South Dakota who loved movies like "Vanishing Point" and "Evel Knievel" when I was introduced to "Un Chien Andalou" at a David Bowie concert at the Jahrhunderthalle in Frankfurt in 1976.  It blew my mind, opening up a whole new film experience for me.  Check out this brief introduction from A. O. Scott at The New York Times.

Water Street Meets Water Avenue

Photo by Patrick M. Callahan, PMC Moving Photo

Pat Callahan has been busy taking great photos of a bad situation in Pierre and Ft. Pierre.  Check out the photos on Facebook here.  

Bicycle Madness

I enjoy riding my bicycle, whether it's to get to work or shopping, or whether I'm out for a ride to get some air and exercise.  I'm pretty content these days to keep both wheels on the road, not leaping over curbs, gaps in the sidewalk, or my friend Mark Huebner when we were in middle school.  Then a bike was a serious matter, an extension of ourselves, and often our sole means of transportation that we could control without parental intervention.

So, these guys that soar in the air and do flips galore, releasing the bike and flying through the air, they just don't quite make sense to me, but you've got to admire their grit.

More Big Muddy than Anyone Wants

Aerial view of Fort Pierre homes from Capital Journal on Vimeo.  The Might Mo has put the kabosh on croquet games on the lawn at most of the homes between Ft. Pierre and the Oahe Dam.  Things look very wet in Ft. Pierre and Pierre.

My Bogus Lexus

Okay, so I've been shopping for a convertible (again), and a Lexus appeared on the Keloland Automall that seemed too good to be true.  How could some calamity benefit me and give me a ride I would almost be ashamed to be seen in?  $5500 bucks!  I checked NADA and KBB and it listed for about $18 grand.  Whoop! I wrote to the owner, almost panting.  "She" wrote back:

Hello there,

The car is still for sale.. Thanks for being interested in buying my 2002 Lexus SC 430. It is in a good condition, no scratches, no damages, never been implicated in any accidents, no problems at the engine, runs very well. It has an 8-Cylinder STRONG 4.3 L  engine, 76,000 miles, clear title in my name, a perfect car. The last price is not negotiable, $5,500.00 firm. YOU WILL NOT FIND ANOTHER LEXUS  with only 76K MILES FOR THIS PRICE! The only thing because I am selling it, because I divorced with my husband and after the divorce I own this car, now as a woman with two little girls I don`t need it...

I can provide vin# to check on your own. Just let me know if you are still interested.
Here are some more pics... http://imageshack.us/g/718/kgrhqeoki8e2cmsis6ubnyr.jpg/

Thank you very much,
Darlene Riggs 

Look at those photos!  What a ride!  But no phone number.  Hmm.  I wrote again, indicating I was a willing buyer, ignoring the hints--grammatical mistakes, emphatic caps, etc.

"She" replies:

Hi again,
Here is the VIN#: JTHFN48Y120015251. The car is located and registered in Great Neck, NY (I just moved here in Great Neck after divorce), we will use eBay Vehicle Purchase Protection, so we can both be protected and insured.. I just need your full name and full address so eBay can send you the invoice in which you'll see how to make this transaction. I supposed to ship the car to another buyer, then he told me that he found another vehicle so is no longer interested. He already paid the shipping charges, the shipping is paid. I will send the car with all the papers (vehicle registration, warranty papers, transfer papers etc) I am just waiting your full name and address to complete the shipping papers and start the delivery process. I have advertised the car in different locations just to increase my chance to sell it faster because I need the money to pay something asap.
If you are really interested don't forget to send me your full details for shipping reservation!

Thank you very much,

Darlene 

Oh, so it's NOT in Storm Lake, Iowa.  Okay, now all the wind is out of my sails, and it's clear it's a scam Scam SCAM!  Rats.  Oh, well.  So I went out to Lake Herman Auto and drove the Mercedes SLK convertible out there.  It helped a little.

A City with Class

The city of Grand Rapids set out to prove that they're not the dying city that some were describing, and in the process they created a lively look at their city and the commitment to it that their residents have.  5000 people participated in this "lip-dub" of Don McLean's "American Pie," all nine minutes of it.  Check it out.  Thanks, Christina, for the link!

House is Listed

The house is now listed on the MLS.  Check it out here; you're welcome to ask to see it!

Are We Done Yet? 621 North Washington

Okay, so since January JH, the wife, and I have been working on a house that we're hoping to make a little $$.  And save an historic house, built in 1899.  It's a dandy, and it's now got a "for sale" sign out in front.  Check it out, and tell me how great it looks.  Tell the wife too, and tell your friends, especially the ones looking for a cool, friendly, historical house with some pizazz.  Check out the photos, and I'll put the link up to the listing when I have it.

621northwashington