the light house
Originally uploaded by LADY KATYA.

the light house view from the marina early late noon

AND WHY NOT SOME

SPANISH CUISINE

HAM CROQUETAS

OLIVE OIL

"So I had a bad day"



"Everybody has those days" (Hanna Montana song)
The other day, I stood in line at the grocery store. I noticed that the clerk never smiled at the customers and ignored light conversation. I was bother with her attitude, I am intolerant when it come to people that work with the public and they are rude.
I was tempted to tell her what I thought of her sour face, her bad attitude and her rude manners, when an elderly woman in front of me took a different approach.
She said, ‘Honey, you look like you’re having a bad day.’ The clerk looked up with the saddest eyes I’ve ever seen in my life and said, ‘My husband lost his job yesterday and I just found out I am pregnant.’ The lady patted her hand and said, ‘Dear, things will work out.’ When it was my turn, the clerk had tears in her eyes, but she smiled, and I felt ashamed of myself for being so intolerant.
That instant made me realize that people usually aren’t rude because they’re mean and want to make my life miserable. They are unpleasant because they have problems on their mind and a heavy heart. I am learning to be more sensitive to the needs of others around me. no body knows whats in other person hearts or what ill then.
I am learning to be better and so should you, "so if I had a bad day" or " if you have a bad day" Everyone has those days, never judge a book for its cover. One word could make a difference. My grandma used to said and I am sure you hear this before "You catch more flies with honey than with vinaigrette".

Memory Lane

^{I still remember the sound of the milk bottle click, click, click, every morning, as the milk man left us the milk out side the back entrance of the house, he also left butter, cheeses and eggs. When did the milkman stopped delivering? I don’t remember , but I do remember the odd taste that the milk in the bottles from the grocery store had. It took me a while to get used to blended, pasteurized milk, but I adjusted.}

^{I like must people, love the taste of fresh food, something I did not have much of, when living in the city. The Good thing about living in Wisconsin is that I have the opportunity to get fresher food. Even the milk and the cheese taste different. Every year we go to the orchard and pick fresh apple come home with a baskets. I am fortunate to live in a small community surrounded by farms.}

^{But the farm are despairing fast, One by one, all of those favorite places to get fresh food are fading into nothing more than fond memories. The milkman, the butcher shop, the bakery, and the roadside stand are as hard to find as the cobbler that once resoled our shoes. I remember the shoes repair, the leather soles, shoes lasted for years.}

^{The small farmer is selling to the big industry. A farm is lots of work and not much money. When the children grow the live the farm for the city}

^{Fortunately, after several scares with the safety of food imported from far off lands, farmer’s markets are making a comeback. I have been shopping at the farmer’s market in here for the past few years. Along with the fresh produce, there are home made soup, herbs, cheese and home made jam, all of it fresh and local. Now that’s my idea of shopping.}

 

"Put down the gun and go home"

THIS WEEK

FROG CHALLENGE



"Put down the gun and go home"



When I hear that title my head spin just thinking about all the controversial I could create with a title like like that. I could go completely political and make an anti war killer post. ...but I won't do that, We have our own war right here at home.

Years ago... back in new York I'd manage a store in Brownsville, Brooklyn. If you know the area you know what I mean.


I worked there for 15 years. I saw must of those kids grew up, from sweet little kids to delinquent, but they always have respect for me. As kid I help then, I gave then, school supply when they need it,and help then make some money by sweeping the store front. They knew me as they call me "THE NICE LADY"


I've hear of assault to others stores, even those next to me and across from me, but I feel secure, I knew they won't do that to me, As I was "THE NICE LADY"


But no one is immune. In New York... not one is immune from crime. In New York everybody have been touch by crime in one way or another.


...And one afternoon, a boy I new and another I had never seen before, came into the store with a presume gun inside a paper bag, they ask me to give then all the money in the cash register. My heart drop, I think all the blood left my body, if you pinch me,I won't bleed. (As I am a known chicken)


I look at the boy, the one I knew, shake my head and told him, I can believe that you are doing this to me, there were sadness in me, not for me but the boy.


Two thing could have happen there:

1. Kill me because I know you.
   
2. Leave before is to late.
   

The boy look at me and told the other one. "I told you, not in here, come on lets go".

I stood there, shaking, not one at the store with the exception of one of cashier, was aware of what just happen, in a way it was a good thing, I am glad was there, because they would have kill my cashier and my boys employee would have try to play hero, not money is worst to die for.

BOY "Put down the gun and go home"

Don't Keep Secrets On Your Cell Phone

No.... I am not dead yet or at lease I don't think I am, I hope dead is a better place than this one.

flower

And don't hold your breath waiting for me to died any time soon either. I know life stink but... what do I know about death? My grand ma used to said that "It is better a known evil that an unknown Saint" (Maybe that is why so many of us voted for Bush).

I want to expend my invitation to every body here, for obvious reason I won't be able to do it myself when the time comes, so don't take it personally.

• I want to be cremated. I do not want my body to be left forgotten on some grave. The earth and the land should be for living and not for dead.
• My funeral reception , should be a get festivity reunions of friends and family at a night club or a party, on my honor.
  

• After that, throw my bone dust/ashes into the cheapest urn you could find. Please do not use some plastic container or Tupperware dinghy. I don not like plastic to much.
  

• Feel free to rub on my urn and say a few last words.
  
• Play some Jazz and blue music please, It is my favorite.
• Those that love to drink go ahead "get blasted" "shit face" remember Tequila is my favorite, specially "PATRON"
• Don't sit there bore, keep the party going, celebrated me my life, they way a live, my zest for life. I was not unhappy why should you now.
  

• I want a lots of people (as many people are able to make it), take on a boat ride (if the boat is to small do it at the pier) and disposed of my bone/ashes on the water by taking a hands full and place it (not thronging) in the waters. I don't want the wind blowing it back on your face. Trust me... you won't look to cool with your face full of white dust.
  
• If you do not comply to my request It won't matter I be dead any way and I would never know.

THURSDAY MORNING:

Coffee is good and the sun is shining. I've been up since early, read some blogs and posted some comments wile I listen to the news, I laugh a bit, the news make me laugh, it always amazed me how the news manipulate the public opinion. We believed everything they said are fact, must of us don't know the different between facts and opinion. News casters have a created way to state the facts, so... you'll hear, want they want you to hear. And unbelievable they think they represent the public opinion. In a way they do, but a manipulated public opinion.

flower

So far not heartaches today, lately that is the first thing I do when I get up, check for headaches, I may get then later on, but when they start in the morning I know I won't make it through the day, because they get worse before they get better. Well enough with that, I want to give you the best of me.
I have mobility today at 9AM. I don't know yet what kind of day this will be, it is to early for that.
The hurricane season has started, I pray and I hope nothing serious come our way. The weather Chanel is talking about a Tropical Storm name Delila, I hope is nothing serious and end at sea.

Summer Tomatoes

I know a lots of my friend have grown tomatoes, and what to do with then.
summer tomatoes are great just to eat as a fruit, they are not like those winter tomatoes we buy at the supper.
But here is one different way to make a good used of tomatoes.

Tomatoes Stuffed with Rice

1 cup rice
6 ripe but firm large tomatoes
4 tablespoons olive oil,
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves (the basil give it that Italian taste)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
Cook the rice. Drain, Rinse the rice under cold running water and Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cut a 1/2-inch off the top of each tomato; save the tomato tops. Scoop out the seeds, save the pulp, and juice of each tomato into a small bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup of the tomato juice and pulp.

Oil the bottom of the baking pan with olive oil. Place the tomatoes in the prepared dish.

Add the rice to the tomato juice and pulp. Add garlic, basil, parsley, Parmesan, the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and salt and pepper, to taste. Combine well.
Spoon the rice mixture into the hollowed tomatoes.

Sprinkle leftover stuffing on the bottom of the pan. Drizzle entire dish with olive oil. Place the reserved tomato slices in top of the tomatoes. Bake until the rice is heated through, about 20 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature. Try it, is a wonderful and tasty recipes.

MONTH ALMOST OVER
It has been a very dry July. Yesterday I went to the creek, I want to take some pictures, but the creek was dry, and it made me sad.
Today I wake up to the sound of rain. The smell of dirt and wet grass come through my window. I could hear the sound of the traffic on top of the wet pavement.

red,red

With the price of gas today the best bet is to fly.

The best deals for airfare are available on-line, but you need to be patient and know where to look. My sister is a former travel agent and she frequently booked her own airfare on-line, even though her travel agent discount was supposed to be less, it never was.

I ask my sister to give a few tips on how to book a cheap fly for my blo, together what she told me and what I already knew I put together to blog it here for all my friends.

Start out by looking at the major travel sites like Expedia.com, Sidestep.com or Orbitz.com. They will provide you with a list of the airlines and general prices to and from your destination. Once you know which airlines are offering the best fares, then go to the airline's website directly. Major travel sites usually charge higher fares because they bought the seats from the airline and need to make a profit. Also check sites like Priceline.com, Hotwire.com and Cheaptickets.com.

Don't be too hasty to book the cheapest fare offered right away. If you have time before you leave, keep checking the rates for a couple of weeks. Airfares tend to fluctuate from day to day, (I was a hotel manager and it work the same way). It is also helpful to call a few of the airlines and ask the agents if their fares will be going on sale soon.

I've have booked many flights online and got some fabulous rates. If the fares seemed too high at first, diligently checking different websites every day definitely paid off in the end. Good luck and have a wonderful trip!