INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (5027,1,'2011-04-07 13:01:08','2011-04-07 20:01:08','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawendula/5088305071/sizes/m/\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5022\" title=\"raincollage\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/raincollage-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>Something magical happened to me and Little Miss B on Day 192.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe were out walking with Kim C. and her dogs and...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWet stuff dripped down from the sky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, actual RAIN.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis is a rare occurrence when you live in the desert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, it is so rare that we celebrate when it rains.  We revel.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe continue to walk our dogs and care less about getting wet.  Even Little Miss B -- who normally flees like a madwoman from the bath -- seemed to enjoy herself.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #339966; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Added bonus: </strong></span> When you live in the desert and it starts to rain, the smell of <a href=\"http://phoenix.about.com/cs/desert/a/creosote.htm\"><strong>creosote</strong></a> fills the air.  Ahhhh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"A Walk in the Rain\" had not been officially entered into <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/31/day-183-were-at-the-halfway-mark/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>My Book of Secrets</strong></a> (aka List of Ideas for this <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>365 project</strong></a>), but \"Kiss in the Rain -- Like in the Movies!\" is in there.  Kim C. and I won\'t be kissing anytime soon, and Little Miss B doesn\'t count.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith Monsoon Season rapidly approaching, I\'m wondering if I\'ll check that one off my list this summer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 192:  A Walk in the Rain ','','inherit','open','open','','5020-revision-6','','','2011-04-07 13:01:08','2011-04-07 20:01:08','',5020,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/07/5020-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5028,1,'2011-04-07 13:02:13','2011-04-07 20:02:13','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawendula/5088305071/sizes/m/\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5022\" title=\"raincollage\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/raincollage-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>Something magical happened to me and Little Miss B on Day 192.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe were out walking with Kim C. and her dogs and...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWet stuff dripped down from the sky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, actual RAIN.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis is a rare occurrence when you live in the desert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, it is so rare that we celebrate when it rains.  We revel.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe continue to walk our dogs and care less about getting wet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven Little Miss B -- who normally flees like a madwoman from the bath -- seemed to enjoy herself.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #339966; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Added bonus: </strong></span> When you live in the desert and it starts to rain, the smell of <a href=\"http://phoenix.about.com/cs/desert/a/creosote.htm\"><strong>creosote</strong></a> fills the air.  Ahhhh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"A Walk in the Rain\" had not been officially entered into <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/31/day-183-were-at-the-halfway-mark/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>My Book of Secrets</strong></a> (aka List of Ideas for this <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>365 project</strong></a>), but \"Kiss in the Rain -- Like in the Movies!\" is in there.  Kim C. and I won\'t be kissing anytime soon, and Little Miss B doesn\'t count.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith Monsoon Season rapidly approaching, I\'m wondering if I\'ll check that one off my list this summer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 192:  A Walk in the Rain ','','inherit','open','open','','5020-revision-7','','','2011-04-07 13:02:13','2011-04-07 20:02:13','',5020,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/07/5020-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5029,1,'2011-04-07 13:03:55','2011-04-07 20:03:55','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/lawendula/5088305071/sizes/m/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5022\" title=\"raincollage\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/raincollage-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a>Something magical happened to me and Little Miss B on Day 192.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe were out walking with Kim C. and her dogs and...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWet stuff dripped down from the sky.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, actual RAIN.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis is a rare occurrence when you live in the desert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, it is so rare that we celebrate when it rains.  We revel.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe continue to walk our dogs and care less about getting wet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven Little Miss B -- who normally flees like a madwoman from the bath -- seemed to enjoy herself.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #339966; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Added bonus: </strong></span> When you live in the desert and it starts to rain, the smell of <a href=\"http://phoenix.about.com/cs/desert/a/creosote.htm\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>creosote</strong></a> fills the air.  Ahhhh...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"A Walk in the Rain\" had not been officially entered into <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/31/day-183-were-at-the-halfway-mark/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>My Book of Secrets</strong></a> (aka List of Ideas for this <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>365 project</strong></a>), but \"Kiss in the Rain -- Like in the Movies!\" is in there.  Kim C. and I won\'t be kissing anytime soon, and Little Miss B doesn\'t count.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith Monsoon Season rapidly approaching, I\'m wondering if I\'ll check that one off my list this summer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 192:  A Walk in the Rain ','','inherit','open','open','','5020-revision-8','','','2011-04-07 13:03:55','2011-04-07 20:03:55','',5020,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/07/5020-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(5031,1,'2011-04-09 01:11:10','2011-04-09 08:11:10','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAll apprehension dissolved upon entering the exhibition.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThroughout the tour, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibition is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n***************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry case, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that the earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>When Mr. Gift Shop Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P were practically dry heaving.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then taunted me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy told me that he couldn\'t show me in person, as it wasn\'t appropriate.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was nearly on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  Mr. Gift Shop Guy showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, <em>come on</em>.  Really???\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhy did you have to go and ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUgh.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','publish','open','open','','day-193-body-worlds','','','2011-04-08 21:17:33','2011-04-09 04:17:33','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=5031',0,'post','',2),(5032,1,'2011-04-08 19:56:12','2011-04-09 02:56:12','I\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds exhibition.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the AARP crowd.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot researching this beforehand, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHoly Controversy, Batman!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision','','','2011-04-08 19:56:12','2011-04-09 02:56:12','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5033,1,'2011-04-08 20:31:31','2011-04-09 03:31:31','I\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the AARP crowd.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot researching this beforehand, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibit is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the people that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n***************\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry exhibit, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that these earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI, of course, immediately zoned in on the slices of bull testis and bull penis.  I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walks over and addresses the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P are freaking out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt this point, I am laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a bully stick at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis.  If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Mr. Gift Store Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P are practically dry heaving.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Me:</strong> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> Exactly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMr. Gift Shop Guy then goes on to taunt me with tales of The Most Controversial item sold on the Body Worlds online store.  (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  He tells me that he can\'t show me in person, as it\'s not appropriate.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI nearly was on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  He showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now happily share this top secret info with you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWarning:  This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, come on.  Really???\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhy did you have to go an ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUgh.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-2','','','2011-04-08 20:31:31','2011-04-09 03:31:31','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5034,1,'2011-04-08 20:33:07','2011-04-09 03:33:07','','IMG00374-20110407-1837','Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don\'t slouch.  ','inherit','open','open','','img00374-20110407-1837','','','2011-04-08 20:33:07','2011-04-09 03:33:07','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5035,1,'2011-04-08 20:40:50','2011-04-09 03:40:50','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot researching this beforehand, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibit is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n***************\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry exhibit, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that these earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </strong></span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Mr. Gift Store Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P are practically dry heaving.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Me:</strong> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> Exactly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMr. Gift Shop Guy then goes on to taunt me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store.  (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy tells me that he can\'t show me in person, as it\'s not appropriate.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI nearly was on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  He showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWarning:  This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, come on.  Really???\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhy did you have to go an ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUgh.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-3','','','2011-04-08 20:40:50','2011-04-09 03:40:50','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5036,1,'2011-04-08 20:42:42','2011-04-09 03:42:42','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot researching this beforehand, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibit is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n***************\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry exhibit, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that these earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </strong></span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Mr. Gift Store Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P are practically dry heaving.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then goes on to taunt me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy tells me that he can\'t show me in person, as it\'s not appropriate.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI nearly was on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  He showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, come on.  Really???\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhy did you have to go an ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUgh.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-4','','','2011-04-08 20:42:42','2011-04-09 03:42:42','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5037,1,'2011-04-08 20:43:09','2011-04-09 03:43:09','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibit is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n***************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry exhibit, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that these earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </strong></span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen Mr. Gift Store Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P are practically dry heaving.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then goes on to taunt me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy tells me that he can\'t show me in person, as it\'s not appropriate.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI nearly was on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  He showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, come on.  Really???\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhy did you have to go an ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUgh.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-5','','','2011-04-08 20:43:09','2011-04-09 03:43:09','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5038,1,'2011-04-08 20:44:16','2011-04-09 03:44:16','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibit is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n***************\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry exhibit, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that these earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </strong></span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Mr. Gift Store Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P are practically dry heaving.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then goes on to taunt me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy tells me that he can\'t show me in person, as it\'s not appropriate.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI nearly was on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  He showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, come on.  Really???\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhy did you have to go an ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUgh.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-6','','','2011-04-08 20:44:16','2011-04-09 03:44:16','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5039,1,'2011-04-08 20:45:01','2011-04-09 03:45:01','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThroughout the tour, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibit is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n***************\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry exhibit, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that these earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </strong></span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Mr. Gift Store Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P are practically dry heaving.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then goes on to taunt me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy tells me that he can\'t show me in person, as it\'s not appropriate.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI nearly was on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  He showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, come on.  Really???\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhy did you have to go an ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUgh.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-7','','','2011-04-08 20:45:01','2011-04-09 03:45:01','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5040,1,'2011-04-08 20:46:57','2011-04-09 03:46:57','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThroughout the tour, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibition is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n***************\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry exhibit, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that these earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </strong></span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Mr. Gift Store Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P are practically dry heaving.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then goes on to taunt me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy tells me that he can\'t show me in person, as it\'s not appropriate.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI nearly was on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  He showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, come on.  Really???\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhy did you have to go an ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUgh.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-8','','','2011-04-08 20:46:57','2011-04-09 03:46:57','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(5042,1,'2011-04-08 20:49:11','2011-04-09 03:49:11','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThroughout the tour, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibition is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n***************\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry case, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that the earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </strong></span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Mr. Gift Store Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P are practically dry heaving.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then goes on to taunt me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy tells me that he can\'t show me in person, as it\'s not appropriate.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI nearly was on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  He showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, come on.  Really???\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhy did you have to go an ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUgh.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-10','','','2011-04-08 20:49:11','2011-04-09 03:49:11','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(5041,1,'2011-04-08 20:47:13','2011-04-09 03:47:13','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThroughout the tour, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibition is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n***************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry case, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that these earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </strong></span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen Mr. Gift Store Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P are practically dry heaving.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then goes on to taunt me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy tells me that he can\'t show me in person, as it\'s not appropriate.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI nearly was on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  He showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, come on.  Really???\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhy did you have to go an ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUgh.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-9','','','2011-04-08 20:47:13','2011-04-09 03:47:13','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(5043,1,'2011-04-08 20:50:41','2011-04-09 03:50:41','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThroughout the tour, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibition is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n***************\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry case, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that the earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </strong></span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Mr. Gift Store Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P were practically dry heaving.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then goes on to taunt me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy tells me that he can\'t show me in person, as it\'s not appropriate.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI nearly was on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  He showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, come on.  Really???\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhy did you have to go an ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUgh.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-11','','','2011-04-08 20:50:41','2011-04-09 03:50:41','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(5044,1,'2011-04-08 20:52:04','2011-04-09 03:52:04','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThroughout the tour, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibition is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n***************\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry case, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that the earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </strong></span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Mr. Gift Shop Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P were practically dry heaving.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then goes on to taunt me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy tells me that he can\'t show me in person, as it\'s not appropriate.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was nearly on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  Mr. Gift Shop Guy showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, come on.  Really???\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhy did you have to go an ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUgh.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-12','','','2011-04-08 20:52:04','2011-04-09 03:52:04','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(5045,1,'2011-04-08 20:54:20','2011-04-09 03:54:20','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThroughout the tour, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibition is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n***************\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry case, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that the earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </strong></span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Mr. Gift Shop Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P were practically dry heaving.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then goes on to taunt me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy tells me that he can\'t show me in person, as it\'s not appropriate.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was nearly on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  Mr. Gift Shop Guy showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, come on.  Really???\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhy did you have to go and ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUgh.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-13','','','2011-04-08 20:54:20','2011-04-09 03:54:20','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(5046,1,'2011-04-08 20:57:13','2011-04-09 03:57:13','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThroughout the tour, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibition is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n***************\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry case, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that the earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>When Mr. Gift Shop Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P were practically dry heaving.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then taunted me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy told me that he couldn\'t show me in person, as it wasn\'t appropriate.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was nearly on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  Mr. Gift Shop Guy showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, <em>come on</em>.  Really???\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhy did you have to go and ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUgh.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-14','','','2011-04-08 20:57:13','2011-04-09 03:57:13','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(5047,1,'2011-04-08 20:57:34','2011-04-09 03:57:34','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThroughout the tour, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibition is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n***************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry case, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that the earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>When Mr. Gift Shop Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P were practically dry heaving.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then taunted me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy told me that he couldn\'t show me in person, as it wasn\'t appropriate.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was nearly on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  Mr. Gift Shop Guy showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, <em>come on</em>.  Really???\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhy did you have to go and ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUgh.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-15','','','2011-04-08 20:57:34','2011-04-09 03:57:34','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(5048,1,'2011-04-08 21:17:22','2011-04-09 04:17:22','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAll apprehension dissolved upon entering the exhibition.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThroughout the tour, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibition is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n***************\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry case, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that the earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>When Mr. Gift Shop Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P were practically dry heaving.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then taunted me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy told me that he couldn\'t show me in person, as it wasn\'t appropriate.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was nearly on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  Mr. Gift Shop Guy showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, <em>come on</em>.  Really???\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhy did you have to go and ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUgh.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-autosave','','','2011-04-08 21:17:22','2011-04-09 04:17:22','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5049,1,'2011-04-08 20:58:12','2011-04-09 03:58:12','[caption id=\"attachment_5034\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Note to self:  When posing with Mr. Fitness America who moonlights as Mr. Body Worlds, don&#39;t slouch.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5034\" title=\"IMG00374-20110407-1837\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG00374-20110407-1837-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI\'m not sure where I\'ve been or how this happened, but I previously was not aware of <strong><a href=\"http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html\" target=\"_blank\">Gunther van Hagens\' Body Worlds Exhibition.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me clarify:  I <em>heard</em> about these exhibitions, but I didn\'t realize that the \"exhibits\" were actual dead bodies.  Perhaps I was in denial, or perhaps I had pushed this to the back of my subconscious because of the \"creepy factor\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen Sarah invited me to attend the exhibit with her and her daughter (aka Brookie P) for Shi-Shi Health Club Night at Body Worlds at the <strong><a href=\"http://www.azscience.org/bodyworlds.php\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Science Center</a></strong>, I accepted.  I always enjoy the company of Sarah, Brookie P, and the <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/03/day-187-casino-night/\" target=\"_blank\">AARP crowd.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI purposely did not read anything about the exhibit beforehand, but Brookie P did mention to prep myself for dead bodies.  Lots of them.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThroughout the tour, I was in awe of the science behind this project.  That\'s actually an understatement:  I was blown away.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIt turns out (for me, at least) that there was no \"creepy factor\".  This exhibition is a testament to both science and the miracle of the human body.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCertain exhibits -- the pregnant woman of 5 months, the fetuses, the letter of a man who donated his body to science (and this project specifically) -- moved me to tears.  I started to think about the souls that originally inhabited these bodies.  I wondered about their lives, their loved ones, their deaths.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSarah, Brookie P, and I left in solemn silence.  We were grateful for the experience, for the donors, for the scientists and the medical community, and for life.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n***************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then we met the goofball working the gift shop on our way out.  Goofballs of a feather flock together, I suppose.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe were looking at the earrings in the jewelry case, and Sarah expressed that she was thankful that the earrings were slices of kiwi and grapefruit and not body parts.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>I, of course, immediately zoned in on the earrings comprised of slices of bull testis and bull penis. </strong></span>I am not making this up.  Just what every girl wants hanging from her ears, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMr. Gift Shop Guy walked over and addressed the bull penis issue while Sarah and Brookie P were freaking out.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAt this point, I was laughing and tormenting the girls further by recounting Bella\'s current obsession with bull penises aka bully sticks.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Dear Readers, you heard me correctly.  If you buy your dog something called a \"bully stick\" at your local pet store, your sweet little Fifi or Fido is gnawing on a bull\'s penis. </span> If you don\'t believe me, look it up.  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>When Mr. Gift Shop Guy mentioned that I didn\'t seem too easily offended (and I agreed), he lured me over to his computer to show me something even better and more controversial than the earring made out of bull\'s privates!  Yippeee!!!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat could this controversial item possibly be, you\'re wondering?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA walking stick made out of a bull\'s penis.  For about $3000 American dollars.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(At this point, Sarah and Brookie P were practically dry heaving.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><strong>Me:</strong></span> So this would be for the rich guy who has everything.  And drives a Hummer.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy:</strong> </span>Exactly.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>Mr. Gift Shop Guy then taunted me with tales of The Most Controversial Item sold on the Body Worlds online store. </strong></span> (You can only purchase Gunter\'s wares online.)  Mr. Gift Shop Guy told me that he couldn\'t show me in person, as it wasn\'t appropriate.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was nearly on my knees begging for him to show me, but he wouldn\'t budge.  Mr. Gift Shop Guy showed me where to find it online though.  And I will now not-so-happily share this top secret info with you.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Warning: </strong>This contains sexually explicit material, and you might find it offensive.  Proceed at your own risk.  You have been properly warned.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">If you must see: </span><a href=\"http://www.plastination-products.com/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">Go here.</a> </strong>Click \"Anatomy Art\" and then you\'ll see it:  \"Anatomy Glass\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nO.k.  So even <em>I </em>am officially offended.  I mean, <em>come on</em>.  Really???\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhy did you have to go and ruin everything with this sellout, Gunter?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThat\'s not science.  That\'s sensationalism at its worst.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUgh.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 193:  Body Worlds ','','inherit','open','open','','5031-revision-16','','','2011-04-08 20:58:12','2011-04-09 03:58:12','',5031,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/08/5031-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(5050,1,'2011-04-10 01:11:36','2011-04-10 08:11:36','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken Pasty.  With fresh rosemary, roasted red peppers, and brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  They had me at &quot;brie&quot;.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust-like pocket) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich she did on Day 194.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust pockets with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThank you, Corinniecakes!  When you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor an interesting culinary history lesson on the pasty, please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/history/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong>.','Day 194:  Pasty Paradise Found','','publish','open','open','','day-194-pasty-paradise-found','','','2011-04-09 20:44:55','2011-04-10 03:44:55','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=5050',0,'post','',5),(5051,1,'2011-04-09 10:22:13','2011-04-09 17:22:13','','Day 194:  Heaven in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision','','','2011-04-09 10:22:13','2011-04-09 17:22:13','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5052,1,'2011-04-09 11:58:37','2011-04-09 18:58:37','One day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNo, a \"pasty\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich she did on Day 194.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am at a loss for words...so this will not be much of a \"review\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan ever.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI ♥ Cornish Pasty.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 194:  Paradise in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-2','','','2011-04-09 11:58:37','2011-04-09 18:58:37','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5053,1,'2011-04-09 12:00:51','2011-04-09 19:00:51','One day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNo, a \"pasty\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(And it\'s pronounced like pasta with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with paste with\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich she did on Day 194.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am at a loss for words...so this will not be much of a \"review\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI ♥ Cornish Pasty.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 194:  Paradise in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-3','','','2011-04-09 12:00:51','2011-04-09 19:00:51','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5054,1,'2011-04-09 20:13:31','2011-04-10 03:13:31','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','Rosemary Chicken.  With Brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  Delish.','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-299','','','2011-04-09 20:13:31','2011-04-10 03:13:31','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5055,1,'2011-04-09 20:15:59','2011-04-10 03:15:59','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','I\'m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music as well. ','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-300','','','2011-04-09 20:15:59','2011-04-10 03:15:59','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5056,1,'2011-04-09 20:19:18','2011-04-10 03:19:18','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about \"fluffy\") and not too sweet (always my preference)','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-301','','','2011-04-09 20:19:18','2011-04-10 03:19:18','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5057,1,'2011-04-09 20:23:48','2011-04-10 03:23:48','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken.  With Brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  Delish.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNo, a \"pasty\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich she did on Day 194.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music as well. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 194:  Paradise in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-4','','','2011-04-09 20:23:48','2011-04-10 03:23:48','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5059,1,'2011-04-09 20:24:56','2011-04-10 03:24:56','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken.  With Brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  Delish.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNo, a \"pasty\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich she did on Day 194.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music as well. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 194:  Paradise in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-6','','','2011-04-09 20:24:56','2011-04-10 03:24:56','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5058,1,'2011-04-09 20:23:51','2011-04-10 03:23:51','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken.  With Brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  Delish.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich she did on Day 194.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music as well. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 194:  Paradise in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-5','','','2011-04-09 20:23:51','2011-04-10 03:23:51','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5060,1,'2011-04-09 20:28:56','2011-04-10 03:28:56','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken.  With Brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  Delish.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNo, a \"pasty\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich she did on Day 194.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music as well. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n************\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor a culinary history lesson on','Day 194:  Paradise in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-7','','','2011-04-09 20:28:56','2011-04-10 03:28:56','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5061,1,'2011-04-09 20:29:40','2011-04-10 03:29:40','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken.  With Brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  Delish.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich she did on Day 194.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music as well. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor an interesting culinary history lesson on the pasty, please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/history/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong>.','Day 194:  Paradise in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-8','','','2011-04-09 20:29:40','2011-04-10 03:29:40','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(5062,1,'2011-04-09 20:30:34','2011-04-10 03:30:34','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken.  With Brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  They had me at &quot;brie&quot;.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich she did on Day 194.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music as well. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor an interesting culinary history lesson on the pasty, please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/history/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong>.','Day 194:  Paradise in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-9','','','2011-04-09 20:30:34','2011-04-10 03:30:34','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(5063,1,'2011-04-09 20:30:51','2011-04-10 03:30:51','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken.  With Brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  They had me at &quot;brie&quot;.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich she did on Day 194.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music as well. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor an interesting culinary history lesson on the pasty, please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/history/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong>.','Day 194:  Paradise in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-10','','','2011-04-09 20:30:51','2011-04-10 03:30:51','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(5064,1,'2011-04-09 20:41:54','2011-04-10 03:41:54','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken Pasty.  With fresh rosemary, roasted red peppers, and brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  They had me at &quot;brie&quot;.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNo, a \"pasty\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust-like pocket) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhich she did on Day 194.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThank you, Corinniecakes!  When you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n************\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor an interesting culinary history lesson on the pasty, please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/history/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong>.','Day 194:  Pasty Paradise','','inherit','open','open','','5050-autosave','','','2011-04-09 20:41:54','2011-04-10 03:41:54','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5065,1,'2011-04-09 20:31:34','2011-04-10 03:31:34','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken.  With Brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  They had me at &quot;brie&quot;.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich she did on Day 194.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music as well. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor an interesting culinary history lesson on the pasty, please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/history/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong>.','Day 194:  Paradise in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-11','','','2011-04-09 20:31:34','2011-04-10 03:31:34','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(5066,1,'2011-04-09 20:33:18','2011-04-10 03:33:18','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken Pasty.  With fresh rosemary, roasted red peppers, and brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  They had me at &quot;brie&quot;.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich she did on Day 194.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music as well. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor an interesting culinary history lesson on the pasty, please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/history/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong>.','Day 194:  Paradise in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-12','','','2011-04-09 20:33:18','2011-04-10 03:33:18','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(5067,1,'2011-04-09 20:33:39','2011-04-10 03:33:39','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken Pasty.  With fresh rosemary, roasted red peppers, and brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  They had me at &quot;brie&quot;.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich she did on Day 194.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music as well. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor an interesting culinary history lesson on the pasty, please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/history/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong>.','Day 194:  Paradise in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-13','','','2011-04-09 20:33:39','2011-04-10 03:33:39','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(5070,1,'2011-04-09 20:42:12','2011-04-10 03:42:12','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken Pasty.  With fresh rosemary, roasted red peppers, and brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  They had me at &quot;brie&quot;.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust-like pocket) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich she did on Day 194.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThank you, Corinniecakes!  When you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor an interesting culinary history lesson on the pasty, please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/history/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong>.','Day 194:  Pasty Paradise','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-16','','','2011-04-09 20:42:12','2011-04-10 03:42:12','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(5068,1,'2011-04-09 20:35:07','2011-04-10 03:35:07','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken Pasty.  With fresh rosemary, roasted red peppers, and brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  They had me at &quot;brie&quot;.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust-like pocket) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich she did on Day 194.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music as well. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor an interesting culinary history lesson on the pasty, please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/history/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong>.','Day 194:  Paradise in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-14','','','2011-04-09 20:35:07','2011-04-10 03:35:07','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(5069,1,'2011-04-09 20:38:43','2011-04-10 03:38:43','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken Pasty.  With fresh rosemary, roasted red peppers, and brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  They had me at &quot;brie&quot;.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust-like pocket) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich she did on Day 194.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThank you, Corinniecakes!  When you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor an interesting culinary history lesson on the pasty, please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/history/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong>.','Day 194:  Paradise in a Pasty','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-15','','','2011-04-09 20:38:43','2011-04-10 03:38:43','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(5071,1,'2011-04-09 20:42:43','2011-04-10 03:42:43','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken Pasty.  With fresh rosemary, roasted red peppers, and brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  They had me at &quot;brie&quot;.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust-like pocket) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich she did on Day 194.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThank you, Corinniecakes!  When you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor an interesting culinary history lesson on the pasty, please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/history/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong>.','Day 194:  Pasty Paradise','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-17','','','2011-04-09 20:42:43','2011-04-10 03:42:43','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(5072,1,'2011-04-09 20:42:53','2011-04-10 03:42:53','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken Pasty.  With fresh rosemary, roasted red peppers, and brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  They had me at &quot;brie&quot;.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust-like pocket) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich she did on Day 194.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThank you, Corinniecakes!  When you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor an interesting culinary history lesson on the pasty, please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/history/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong>.','Day 194:  Pasty Paradise','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-18','','','2011-04-09 20:42:53','2011-04-10 03:42:53','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(5073,1,'2011-04-09 20:43:49','2011-04-10 03:43:49','[caption id=\"attachment_5054\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Rosemary Chicken Pasty.  With fresh rosemary, roasted red peppers, and brie.  And some sort or mustardy cream sauce.  They had me at &quot;brie&quot;.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5054  \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080002-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOne day not too long ago, Corinniecakes waxed poetically about something called a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou mean a \"pastry\"?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo, a \"pasty\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(And it\'s pronounced like \"pasta\" but with a \"y\" instead of the final \"a\".  Not to be confused with \"paste\" with a \"y\" instead of the \"e\" which connotes a strangely inappropriate stripper visual.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough, to confuse the issue even further, a pasty is actually a pastry (pie crust-like pocket) stuffed with savory or sweet delectables.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSign me up, Corinniecakes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhich she did on Day 194.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo, Corinniecakes and I headed to Cornish Pasty for a leisurely lunch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5055\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"I&#39;m all about the special touches when it comes to my restaurants.  We sat in old church pews and listened to great music. \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5055 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080001-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBrace yourselves:  I am at a loss for words.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet\'s just say that pie might just be my favorite food, so when you\'re stuffing pie-like crust pockets with anything and everything imaginable, I\'m going to be your biggest fan EVER!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThank you, Corinniecakes!  When you\'re dining with a pregnant woman, you have a legitimate excuse to order dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5056\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Apple Caramel Pasty with ice cream of indescribable texture (but if forced to describe, how about &quot;fluffy&quot;) and not too sweet (always my preference)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5056\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4080003-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me shout it again from the blogosphere:  <span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">I ♥ Cornish Pasty.</a></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(I could barely stay awake for the rest of the afternoon from the carb overload, but I still ♥ them.  Sometimes we must make sacrifices for love.  It\'s all good.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n************\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor an interesting culinary history lesson on the pasty, please visit <strong><a href=\"http://www.cornishpastyco.com/history/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></strong>.','Day 194:  Pasty Paradise','','inherit','open','open','','5050-revision-19','','','2011-04-09 20:43:49','2011-04-10 03:43:49','',5050,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/09/5050-revision-19/',0,'revision','',0),(5074,1,'2011-04-11 01:11:28','2011-04-11 08:11:28','I found a swimsuit on the first try.  It\'s truly an Easter miracle, everyone.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLike 99.9% of women, I loathe swimsuit shopping.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I detest swimsuit shopping so much that I only participate in the madness once every 4-5 years.  I wear swimsuits until they\'re stretched out, and I am forced to buy a new one.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPeople assume that since I\'m petite, swimsuit shopping wouldn\'t be stressful for me.  <span style=\"color: #ff99cc; font-size: medium;\"><strong>But I assure you, I have stuff that I want to hide just like the rest of womankind.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith a Santa Barbara trip looming on the horizon, and with both swimsuits that I own no longer wearable, it was \"time\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd with little time to spare during my 365 project, I needed to make this as quick and as painless as possible.  I told my friend, Lisa, that morning, \"I am going to think positive thoughts.  The first one I try on will be a keeper.  I\'m not going to drag this out.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuess what happened?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI manifested the Swimsuit Shopping Miracle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYippeeeeee!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo one sells my favorite boy short bottoms anymore.  They must be \"out of style\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Dear Swimsuit Designers,</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Boy shorts are the most flattering option on a lot of body types.  Not everyone wants their bum bum hanging out for the world to see. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Yours truly,</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Everywoman</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKenneth Cole met me halfway with a rufflicious hybrid.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5076\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Obviously not me.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.swimnsport.com/swimnsport/dept.asp?dept_id=6748&amp;\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5076 \" title=\"PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5077\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Obviously not me either.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5077 \" title=\"PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHere\'s the best part of buying a swimsuit that has more bottom coverage:  you don\'t have to freak out and starve yourself after purchase.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, feeling peckish from shopping, you can stop at <strong><a href=\"http://www.lagrandeorangegrocery.com/\" target=\"_blank\">LGO </a></strong>and savor a homemade Chocolate Malted Pudding with fresh whipped cream.  Divine!  Last time, I shared mine with Britt and Corinniecakes, but this time I was able to enjoy all by my lonesome.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps swimsuits shopping isn\'t so bad after all.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy advice to you: Think positively, manifest a miracle and then treat yourself to dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 195:  Swimsuit Shopping Miracle!  ','','publish','open','open','','day-195-swimsuit-shopping-miracle','','','2011-04-10 11:57:09','2011-04-10 18:57:09','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=5074',0,'post','',4),(5075,1,'2011-04-10 11:23:57','2011-04-10 18:23:57','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','5074-revision','','','2011-04-10 11:23:57','2011-04-10 18:23:57','',5074,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/10/5074-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5076,1,'2011-04-10 11:43:27','2011-04-10 18:43:27','','PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt','Obviously not me.  ','inherit','open','open','','pafcadfmlliklcilt','','','2011-04-10 11:43:27','2011-04-10 18:43:27','',5074,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5077,1,'2011-04-10 11:44:36','2011-04-10 18:44:36','','PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt','Obviously not me either.  ','inherit','open','open','','pafcidfngjinlcilt','','','2011-04-10 11:44:36','2011-04-10 18:44:36','',5074,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5078,1,'2011-04-10 11:49:38','2011-04-10 18:49:38','I found a swimsuit on the first try.  It\'s truly an Easter miracle, everyone.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLike 99.9% of women, I loathe swimsuit shopping.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn fact, I detest swimsuit shopping so much that I only participate in the madness once every 4-5 years.  I wear them until they\'re stretched out, and I am forced to buy a new one.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPeople assume that since I\'m petite, swimsuit shopping wouldn\'t be stressful for me.  But I assure you, I have stuff that I want to hide just like the rest of womankind.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWith a Santa Barbara trip looming on the horizon, and with both swimsuits that I own no longer wearable, it was \"time\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd with little time to spare during my 365 project, I needed to make this quick and as painless as possible.  I told my friend, Lisa, that morning, \"I am going to think positive thoughts.  The first one I try on will be a keeper.  I\'m not going to drag this out.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGuess what happened?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI manifested the Swimsuit Shopping Miracle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYippeeeeee!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNo one sells my favorite boy short bottoms.  They must be \"out of style\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Dear Swimsuit Designers,</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Boy shorts are the most flattering option on a lot of body types.  Not everyone wants their bum bum hanging out for the world to see. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Yours truly,</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Everywoman</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nKenneth Cole met me halfway with a rufflicious hybrid.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_5076\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Obviously not me.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.swimnsport.com/swimnsport/dept.asp?dept_id=6748&amp;\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5076\" title=\"PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_5077\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Obviously not me either.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5077\" title=\"PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHere\'s the best part of buying a swimsuit that has more bottom coverage:  you don\'t have to freak out and starve yourself after purchase.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, feeling peckish from shopping, you can stop at LGO and savor a homemade Chocolate Malted Pudding with fresh whipped cream.  Divine!  Last time, I shared mine with Britt and Corinniecakes, but this time I was able to enjoy all by my lonesome.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPerhaps swimsuits shopping isn\'t so bad after all.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy advice to you:  Manifest a\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 195:  Swimsuit Shopping Success Miracle!  ','','inherit','open','open','','5074-revision-2','','','2011-04-10 11:49:38','2011-04-10 18:49:38','',5074,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/10/5074-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5079,1,'2011-04-10 11:53:17','2011-04-10 18:53:17','I found a swimsuit on the first try.  It\'s truly an Easter miracle, everyone.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLike 99.9% of women, I loathe swimsuit shopping.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn fact, I detest swimsuit shopping so much that I only participate in the madness once every 4-5 years.  I wear swimsuits until they\'re stretched out, and I am forced to buy a new one.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPeople assume that since I\'m petite, swimsuit shopping wouldn\'t be stressful for me.  But I assure you, I have stuff that I want to hide just like the rest of womankind.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWith a Santa Barbara trip looming on the horizon, and with both swimsuits that I own no longer wearable, it was \"time\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd with little time to spare during my 365 project, I needed to make this as quick and as painless as possible.  I told my friend, Lisa, that morning, \"I am going to think positive thoughts.  The first one I try on will be a keeper.  I\'m not going to drag this out.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGuess what happened?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI manifested the Swimsuit Shopping Miracle.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYippeeeeee!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNo one sells my favorite boy short bottoms anymore.  They must be \"out of style\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHmph.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Dear Swimsuit Designers,</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Boy shorts are the most flattering option on a lot of body types.  Not everyone wants their bum bum hanging out for the world to see. </strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Yours truly,</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Everywoman</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nKenneth Cole met me halfway with a rufflicious hybrid.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_5076\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Obviously not me.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.swimnsport.com/swimnsport/dept.asp?dept_id=6748&amp;\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5076 \" title=\"PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_5077\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Obviously not me either.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5077 \" title=\"PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHere\'s the best part of buying a swimsuit that has more bottom coverage:  you don\'t have to freak out and starve yourself after purchase.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nInstead, feeling peckish from shopping, you can stop at <strong><a href=\"http://www.lagrandeorangegrocery.com/\" target=\"_blank\">LGO </a></strong>and savor a homemade Chocolate Malted Pudding with fresh whipped cream.  Divine!  Last time, I shared mine with Britt and Corinniecakes, but this time I was able to enjoy all by my lonesome.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPerhaps swimsuits shopping isn\'t so bad after all.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy advice to you:  Manifest a miracle and then treat yourself to dessert.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 195:  Swimsuit Shopping Success Miracle!  ','','inherit','open','open','','5074-revision-3','','','2011-04-10 11:53:17','2011-04-10 18:53:17','',5074,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/10/5074-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5080,1,'2011-04-10 11:53:17','2011-04-10 18:53:17','I found a swimsuit on the first try.  It\'s truly an Easter miracle, everyone.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLike 99.9% of women, I loathe swimsuit shopping.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I detest swimsuit shopping so much that I only participate in the madness once every 4-5 years.  I wear swimsuits until they\'re stretched out, and I am forced to buy a new one.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPeople assume that since I\'m petite, swimsuit shopping wouldn\'t be stressful for me.  But I assure you, I have stuff that I want to hide just like the rest of womankind.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith a Santa Barbara trip looming on the horizon, and with both swimsuits that I own no longer wearable, it was \"time\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd with little time to spare during my 365 project, I needed to make this as quick and as painless as possible.  I told my friend, Lisa, that morning, \"I am going to think positive thoughts.  The first one I try on will be a keeper.  I\'m not going to drag this out.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuess what happened?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI manifested the Swimsuit Shopping Miracle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYippeeeeee!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo one sells my favorite boy short bottoms anymore.  They must be \"out of style\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Dear Swimsuit Designers,</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Boy shorts are the most flattering option on a lot of body types.  Not everyone wants their bum bum hanging out for the world to see. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Yours truly,</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Everywoman</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKenneth Cole met me halfway with a rufflicious hybrid.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5076\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Obviously not me.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.swimnsport.com/swimnsport/dept.asp?dept_id=6748&amp;\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5076 \" title=\"PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5077\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Obviously not me either.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5077 \" title=\"PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHere\'s the best part of buying a swimsuit that has more bottom coverage:  you don\'t have to freak out and starve yourself after purchase.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, feeling peckish from shopping, you can stop at <strong><a href=\"http://www.lagrandeorangegrocery.com/\" target=\"_blank\">LGO </a></strong>and savor a homemade Chocolate Malted Pudding with fresh whipped cream.  Divine!  Last time, I shared mine with Britt and Corinniecakes, but this time I was able to enjoy all by my lonesome.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps swimsuits shopping isn\'t so bad after all.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy advice to you:  Manifest a miracle and then treat yourself to dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 195:  Swimsuit Shopping Success Miracle!  ','','inherit','open','open','','5074-revision-4','','','2011-04-10 11:53:17','2011-04-10 18:53:17','',5074,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/10/5074-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5081,1,'2011-04-10 11:53:27','2011-04-10 18:53:27','I found a swimsuit on the first try.  It\'s truly an Easter miracle, everyone.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLike 99.9% of women, I loathe swimsuit shopping.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I detest swimsuit shopping so much that I only participate in the madness once every 4-5 years.  I wear swimsuits until they\'re stretched out, and I am forced to buy a new one.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPeople assume that since I\'m petite, swimsuit shopping wouldn\'t be stressful for me.  But I assure you, I have stuff that I want to hide just like the rest of womankind.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith a Santa Barbara trip looming on the horizon, and with both swimsuits that I own no longer wearable, it was \"time\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd with little time to spare during my 365 project, I needed to make this as quick and as painless as possible.  I told my friend, Lisa, that morning, \"I am going to think positive thoughts.  The first one I try on will be a keeper.  I\'m not going to drag this out.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuess what happened?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI manifested the Swimsuit Shopping Miracle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYippeeeeee!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo one sells my favorite boy short bottoms anymore.  They must be \"out of style\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Dear Swimsuit Designers,</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Boy shorts are the most flattering option on a lot of body types.  Not everyone wants their bum bum hanging out for the world to see. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Yours truly,</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Everywoman</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKenneth Cole met me halfway with a rufflicious hybrid.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5076\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Obviously not me.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.swimnsport.com/swimnsport/dept.asp?dept_id=6748&amp;\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5076 \" title=\"PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5077\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Obviously not me either.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5077 \" title=\"PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHere\'s the best part of buying a swimsuit that has more bottom coverage:  you don\'t have to freak out and starve yourself after purchase.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, feeling peckish from shopping, you can stop at <strong><a href=\"http://www.lagrandeorangegrocery.com/\" target=\"_blank\">LGO </a></strong>and savor a homemade Chocolate Malted Pudding with fresh whipped cream.  Divine!  Last time, I shared mine with Britt and Corinniecakes, but this time I was able to enjoy all by my lonesome.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps swimsuits shopping isn\'t so bad after all.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy advice to you:  Manifest a miracle and then treat yourself to dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 195:  Swimsuit Shopping Miracle!  ','','inherit','open','open','','5074-revision-5','','','2011-04-10 11:53:27','2011-04-10 18:53:27','',5074,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/10/5074-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5082,1,'2011-04-10 11:53:58','2011-04-10 18:53:58','I found a swimsuit on the first try.  It\'s truly an Easter miracle, everyone.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLike 99.9% of women, I loathe swimsuit shopping.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I detest swimsuit shopping so much that I only participate in the madness once every 4-5 years.  I wear swimsuits until they\'re stretched out, and I am forced to buy a new one.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPeople assume that since I\'m petite, swimsuit shopping wouldn\'t be stressful for me.  But I assure you, I have stuff that I want to hide just like the rest of womankind.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith a Santa Barbara trip looming on the horizon, and with both swimsuits that I own no longer wearable, it was \"time\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd with little time to spare during my 365 project, I needed to make this as quick and as painless as possible.  I told my friend, Lisa, that morning, \"I am going to think positive thoughts.  The first one I try on will be a keeper.  I\'m not going to drag this out.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuess what happened?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI manifested the Swimsuit Shopping Miracle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYippeeeeee!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo one sells my favorite boy short bottoms anymore.  They must be \"out of style\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Dear Swimsuit Designers,</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Boy shorts are the most flattering option on a lot of body types.  Not everyone wants their bum bum hanging out for the world to see. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Yours truly,</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Everywoman</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKenneth Cole met me halfway with a rufflicious hybrid.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5076\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Obviously not me.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.swimnsport.com/swimnsport/dept.asp?dept_id=6748&amp;\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5076 \" title=\"PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5077\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Obviously not me either.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5077 \" title=\"PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHere\'s the best part of buying a swimsuit that has more bottom coverage:  you don\'t have to freak out and starve yourself after purchase.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, feeling peckish from shopping, you can stop at <strong><a href=\"http://www.lagrandeorangegrocery.com/\" target=\"_blank\">LGO </a></strong>and savor a homemade Chocolate Malted Pudding with fresh whipped cream.  Divine!  Last time, I shared mine with Britt and Corinniecakes, but this time I was able to enjoy all by my lonesome.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps swimsuits shopping isn\'t so bad after all.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy advice to you:  Manifest a miracle and then treat yourself to dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 195:  Swimsuit Shopping Miracle!  ','','inherit','open','open','','5074-revision-6','','','2011-04-10 11:53:58','2011-04-10 18:53:58','',5074,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/10/5074-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5083,1,'2011-04-10 11:55:01','2011-04-10 18:55:01','I found a swimsuit on the first try.  It\'s truly an Easter miracle, everyone.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLike 99.9% of women, I loathe swimsuit shopping.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIn fact, I detest swimsuit shopping so much that I only participate in the madness once every 4-5 years.  I wear swimsuits until they\'re stretched out, and I am forced to buy a new one.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPeople assume that since I\'m petite, swimsuit shopping wouldn\'t be stressful for me.  But I assure you, I have stuff that I want to hide just like the rest of womankind.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith a Santa Barbara trip looming on the horizon, and with both swimsuits that I own no longer wearable, it was \"time\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd with little time to spare during my 365 project, I needed to make this as quick and as painless as possible.  I told my friend, Lisa, that morning, \"I am going to think positive thoughts.  The first one I try on will be a keeper.  I\'m not going to drag this out.\"\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGuess what happened?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI manifested the Swimsuit Shopping Miracle.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYippeeeeee!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNo one sells my favorite boy short bottoms anymore.  They must be \"out of style\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHmph.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Dear Swimsuit Designers,</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Boy shorts are the most flattering option on a lot of body types.  Not everyone wants their bum bum hanging out for the world to see. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Yours truly,</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff99cc;\"><strong>Everywoman</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nKenneth Cole met me halfway with a rufflicious hybrid.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5076\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Obviously not me.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.swimnsport.com/swimnsport/dept.asp?dept_id=6748&amp;\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5076 \" title=\"PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCADFMLLIKLCILt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5077\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"163\" caption=\"Obviously not me either.  \"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5077 \" title=\"PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PAFCIDFNGJINLCILt.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"163\" height=\"259\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHere\'s the best part of buying a swimsuit that has more bottom coverage:  you don\'t have to freak out and starve yourself after purchase.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nInstead, feeling peckish from shopping, you can stop at <strong><a href=\"http://www.lagrandeorangegrocery.com/\" target=\"_blank\">LGO </a></strong>and savor a homemade Chocolate Malted Pudding with fresh whipped cream.  Divine!  Last time, I shared mine with Britt and Corinniecakes, but this time I was able to enjoy all by my lonesome.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPerhaps swimsuits shopping isn\'t so bad after all.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy advice to you: Think positively, manifest a miracle and then treat yourself to dessert.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 195:  Swimsuit Shopping Miracle!  ','','inherit','open','open','','5074-revision-7','','','2011-04-10 11:55:01','2011-04-10 18:55:01','',5074,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/10/5074-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5331,1,'2011-04-26 01:11:57','2011-04-26 08:11:57','[caption id=\"attachment_5335\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"225\" caption=\"(insert your own corny metaphor about metamorphosis here)\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4240061.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5335 \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4240061-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe plan was to meet Jennie from the Block at the Desert Botanical Gardens for their Spring Butterfly Exhibit.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLittle did I know that I would receive added bonuses of a Bunny Man sighting and a personal photography lesson.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPhotography happens to be one of JftB\'s many talents.  This means she owns a REALLY NICE camera.  I am the proud owner of an Olympus point and shoot.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHere is a side-by-side comparison:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4240022.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5332\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4240022-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC_0100.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5333\" title=\"DSC_0100\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC_0100-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>\r\n\r\nLeft:  my close-up **\r\n\r\nRight:  JftB\'s close-up\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n** You want to know what that is?  Let\'s play a little guessing game in the comments section, shall we?  heh heh heh\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWith photo ops abounding, you know what that means.  It\'s time for my 3rd Slideshow Ever.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou will first see the photos I took during my impromptu photography lesson.  (Thanks for the one-on-one, JftB!)  From the hitchhiking butterfly sign and on, you will see photos à la point and shoot.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"480\" height=\"390\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/2_ZmCP3QG4U\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor butterfly and garden photos taken by someone who actually knows what she\'s doing, please visit<strong><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/hojennifer/sets/72157626447679813/\" target=\"_blank\"> JftB\'s flikr page</a></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 210:  Butterflies, Bunny Man, and Impromptu Photography Class','','publish','open','open','','day-210-butterflies-bunny-man-and-impromptu-photography-class','','','2011-04-25 21:57:02','2011-04-26 04:57:02','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=5331',0,'post','',8),(5085,1,'2011-04-12 01:11:51','2011-04-12 08:11:51','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSaturday\'s rain meant that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStrolling along the grounds of the festival, I spied a wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was nary a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/2011/FestivalParticipants/ChefsPersonalities.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I expected the impractical shoe count to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the <em>Sex &amp; the City </em>years, for example) it may have reached 500.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA shout out to the women who wore practical and appropriate picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow, I love my city.','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','publish','open','open','','day-196-the-great-american-picnic','','\nhttp://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/','2011-04-11 21:19:14','2011-04-12 04:19:14','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=5085',0,'post','',9),(5086,1,'2011-04-11 11:40:28','2011-04-11 18:40:28','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision','','','2011-04-11 11:40:28','2011-04-11 18:40:28','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5087,1,'2011-04-11 11:40:58','2011-04-11 18:40:58','','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-2','','','2011-04-11 11:40:58','2011-04-11 18:40:58','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5564,1,'2011-05-13 01:11:43','2011-05-13 08:11:43','<strong><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/cayusa/1702980176/\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5570\" title=\"1702980176_f66d07040e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/1702980176_f66d07040e1-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a></strong>I mentioned <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/05/10/day-222-stepping-out-with-my-wingwoman/\" target=\"_blank\">the other day </a></strong>that I was invited to a <del>tragically hip</del> swanky party for this Saturday night.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPartygoers have been given the following instructions:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">MAD SCIENTIST SPRING SOIREE </span></strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFORMULAS, MIXTURES AND SUSPICIOUS CONCOCTIONS..\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHere\'s how it will work:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEveryone must bring their own cocktail recipe. We will all make our  cocktails for everyone to taste.  We will provide all of the  basics...lab coats, goggles, beakers, alcohol, mixers etc. If your  cocktail has any secret ingredients...you should bring those. Tasting  will be done out of your own test tubes provided by us.  We will all  vote for the best cocktail...that person wins the grand prize!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: x-large;\">May the best commenter win!</span></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: x-large;\">\r\n</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800000;\">Suggest a cocktail recipe below in the comments section, and a very unofficial panel (me and Little Miss B) will decide what I will take to the Soiree.</span></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHere are my only parameters:  Rum and tequila are my potions of choice.  Vodka and I don\'t mix.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCan\'t wait to hear from you!','Day 227:  I Need Your Help!  Choose My Cocktail for Swanky Party!','','publish','open','open','','day-227-vote-today-choose-my-cocktail-for-swanky-party','','\nhttp://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/05/10/day-222-stepping-out-with-my-wingwoman/','2011-05-12 21:28:46','2011-05-13 04:28:46','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=5564',0,'post','',13),(5090,3,'2010-09-07 00:32:57','2010-09-07 00:32:57','<!--cforms name=\"365 Submission\"-->','Submit a 365 Idea','','inherit','open','open','','108-revision-7','','','2010-09-07 00:32:57','2010-09-07 00:32:57','',108,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/09/07/108-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5093,3,'2010-09-05 17:25:06','2010-09-05 17:25:06','<!--cforms name=\"Talk To Me...\"-->','talk to me','','inherit','open','open','','105-revision-5','','','2010-09-05 17:25:06','2010-09-05 17:25:06','',105,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/09/05/105-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5576,1,'2011-05-13 20:25:59','2011-05-14 03:25:59','A few weeks ago, I thoroughly embarrassed myself by admitting that <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/19/day-200-christmas-in-april/\" target=\"_blank\">I waited until April to unpack my Christmas presents</a></strong> that my mother had shipped back to Arizona after the holidays.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe silver lining in my procrastination was that I was overjoyed at discovering gifts that I had forgotten about 4 months prior.  As a coffee fan, I was particularly excited about my sister\'s &amp; bro-in-law\'s gift of Camp 4 Coffee.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLast summer when we all vacayed in Crested Butte, I had Camp 4 Coffee twice a day:  double shot latte at breakfast, single shot World\'s Best Espresso Milkshake in the afternoon.  It\'s a miracle that I ever slept.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPeeps in Crested Butte are <del>CRAZY about</del> ADDICTED to their Camp 4 Coffee.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBefore I had visited Crested Butte, my bro-in-law\'s family would get REALLY EXCITED when remembering Camp 4 Coffee.  Their eyes would glaze over and they would practically start drooling.  Kind of like when Apple peeps start talking about their Macs.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter visiting Crested Butte, and noticing the craziness over other natural substances, I wonder if Camp 4 slips some wacky stuff into their <del>brownies</del> beans.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, I was REALLY EXCITED for my Illy to run dry and to finally open, grind, and brew my Camp 4 Coffee on Day 227.  At first sip, I immediately returned to my Rocky Mountain High of Summer 2010.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAhhhh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDo you have anything\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 228:  Memories of Camp 4 Coffee','','inherit','open','open','','5575-revision','','','2011-05-13 20:25:59','2011-05-14 03:25:59','',5575,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/05/13/5575-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5097,1,'2011-04-11 19:37:26','2011-04-12 02:37:26','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-303','','','2011-04-11 19:37:26','2011-04-12 02:37:26','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5098,1,'2011-04-11 19:48:08','2011-04-12 02:48:08','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-3','','','2011-04-11 19:48:08','2011-04-12 02:48:08','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5099,1,'2011-04-11 20:08:45','2011-04-12 03:08:45','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-302','','','2011-04-11 20:08:45','2011-04-12 03:08:45','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5100,1,'2011-04-11 20:10:35','2011-04-12 03:10:35','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-304','','','2011-04-11 20:10:35','2011-04-12 03:10:35','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5101,1,'2011-04-11 20:11:44','2011-04-12 03:11:44','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-305','','','2011-04-11 20:11:44','2011-04-12 03:11:44','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5102,1,'2011-04-11 20:14:30','2011-04-12 03:14:30','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-306','','','2011-04-11 20:14:30','2011-04-12 03:14:30','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5103,1,'2011-04-11 20:15:57','2011-04-12 03:15:57','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-307','','','2011-04-11 20:15:57','2011-04-12 03:15:57','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5104,1,'2011-04-11 20:25:10','2011-04-12 03:25:10','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-308','','','2011-04-11 20:25:10','2011-04-12 03:25:10','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5105,1,'2011-04-11 20:26:51','2011-04-12 03:26:51','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-309','','','2011-04-11 20:26:51','2011-04-12 03:26:51','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5106,1,'2011-04-11 20:29:33','2011-04-12 03:29:33','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-310','','','2011-04-11 20:29:33','2011-04-12 03:29:33','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5107,1,'2011-04-11 20:32:02','2011-04-12 03:32:02','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-311','','','2011-04-11 20:32:02','2011-04-12 03:32:02','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5108,1,'2011-04-11 20:50:20','2011-04-12 03:50:20','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-312','','','2011-04-11 20:50:20','2011-04-12 03:50:20','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5109,1,'2011-04-11 20:51:47','2011-04-12 03:51:47','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-313','','','2011-04-11 20:51:47','2011-04-12 03:51:47','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5110,1,'2011-04-11 20:52:09','2011-04-12 03:52:09','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis means that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy blog companion du jour:  my friend, Jim aka Jimmykins.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil Jimmykins nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was not a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  With grass and slopes and mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHonestly, I expected this to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the Sex &amp; the City years, for example the count may have reached 590.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-4','','','2011-04-11 20:52:09','2011-04-12 03:52:09','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5111,1,'2011-04-11 20:55:17','2011-04-12 03:55:17','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis means that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy blog companion du jour:  my friend, Jim aka Jimmykins.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil Jimmykins nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was not a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHonestly, I expected this to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the Sex &amp; the City years, for example the count may have reached 590.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-5','','','2011-04-11 20:55:17','2011-04-12 03:55:17','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5112,1,'2011-04-11 20:56:10','2011-04-12 03:56:10','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis means that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was not a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I expected this to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the Sex &amp; the City years, for example the count may have reached 590.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-6','','','2011-04-11 20:56:10','2011-04-12 03:56:10','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5113,1,'2011-04-11 20:58:13','2011-04-12 03:58:13','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was several years pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis means that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was not a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHonestly, I expected this to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the Sex &amp; the City years, for example the count may have reached 590.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-7','','','2011-04-11 20:58:13','2011-04-12 03:58:13','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5114,1,'2011-04-11 21:00:58','2011-04-12 04:00:58','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis means that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nStrolling along the grounds of the festival, I spied a wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was not a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHonestly, I expected this to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the Sex &amp; the City years, for example the count may have reached 590.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-8','','','2011-04-11 21:00:58','2011-04-12 04:00:58','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(5115,1,'2011-04-11 21:02:04','2011-04-12 04:02:04','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis means that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStrolling along the grounds of the festival, I spied a wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was not a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I expected this to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the <em>Sex &amp; the City</em> years, for example) the count may have reached 590.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-9','','','2011-04-11 21:02:04','2011-04-12 04:02:04','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(5116,1,'2011-04-11 21:03:42','2011-04-12 04:03:42','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis means that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nStrolling along the grounds of the festival, I spied a wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was nary a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHonestly, I expected this to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the <em>Sex &amp; the City</em> years, for example) the count may have reached 590.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-10','','','2011-04-11 21:03:42','2011-04-12 04:03:42','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(5117,1,'2011-04-11 21:04:03','2011-04-12 04:04:03','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis means that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStrolling along the grounds of the festival, I spied a wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was not a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I expected this to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the Sex &amp; the City years, for example the count may have reached 590.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-11','','','2011-04-11 21:04:03','2011-04-12 04:04:03','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(5118,1,'2011-04-11 21:07:14','2011-04-12 04:07:14','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis means that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nStrolling along the grounds of the festival, I spied a wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was nary a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHonestly, I expected this to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the <em>Sex &amp; the City </em>years, for example) the count may have reached 590.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-12','','','2011-04-11 21:07:14','2011-04-12 04:07:14','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(5119,1,'2011-04-11 21:09:15','2011-04-12 04:09:15','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSaturday\'s rain meant that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nStrolling along the grounds of the festival, I spied a wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was nary a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHonestly, I expected this to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the <em>Sex &amp; the City </em>years, for example) the count may have reached 590.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-13','','','2011-04-11 21:09:15','2011-04-12 04:09:15','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(5120,1,'2011-04-11 21:09:49','2011-04-12 04:09:49','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSaturday\'s rain meant that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStrolling along the grounds of the festival, I spied a wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was nary a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I expected this to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the <em>Sex &amp; the City </em>years, for example) the count may have reached 590.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow, I love my city.','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-14','','','2011-04-11 21:09:49','2011-04-12 04:09:49','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(5123,1,'2011-04-11 21:13:42','2011-04-12 04:13:42','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSaturday\'s rain meant that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStrolling along the grounds of the festival, I spied a wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was nary a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I expected this to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the <em>Sex &amp; the City </em>years, for example) the count may have reached 590.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow, I love my city.','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-16','','','2011-04-11 21:13:42','2011-04-12 04:13:42','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(5121,1,'2011-04-11 21:19:00','2011-04-12 04:19:00','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSaturday\'s rain meant that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nStrolling along the grounds of the festival, I spied a wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was nary a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\n\n<img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHonestly, I expected the impractical shoe count to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the <em>Sex &amp; the City </em>years, for example) it may have reached 500.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nA shout out to the women who wore practical and appropriate picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWow, I love my city.','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-autosave','','','2011-04-11 21:19:00','2011-04-12 04:19:00','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5122,1,'2011-04-11 21:10:22','2011-04-12 04:10:22','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSaturday\'s rain meant that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStrolling along the grounds of the festival, I spied a wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was nary a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I expected this to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the <em>Sex &amp; the City </em>years, for example) the count may have reached 590.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow, I love my city.','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-15','','','2011-04-11 21:10:22','2011-04-12 04:10:22','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(5124,1,'2011-04-11 21:15:05','2011-04-12 04:15:05','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSaturday\'s rain meant that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStrolling along the grounds of the festival, I spied a wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was nary a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I expected the impractical shoe count to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the <em>Sex &amp; the City </em>years, for example) it may have reached 500.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow, I love my city.','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-17','','','2011-04-11 21:15:05','2011-04-12 04:15:05','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(5125,1,'2011-04-11 21:15:58','2011-04-12 04:15:58','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5097\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P41000031-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>Wow, I love my city.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI moved out here when I was 25 for my first teaching job and (kinda sorta) a hot guy.  Not kinda sorta that he was hot.  He resembled <strong><a href=\"http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/mediaindex\" target=\"_blank\">Viggo Mortensen </a></strong>who my sister has always gone nuts over.  My Viggo look-alike was a sculptor, a thinker, a dog lover.   He was pre-Aidan, but now we would recognize his demeanor as \"Aidan-ish\".  (The female readers are nodding excitedly and the token male readers are scratching their heads right about now.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnywho, I met him at Montessori teacher training, and now you know why I was kinda sorta inclined to look for jobs out here.  (I turned down Honolulu and Nashville.  Juneau rejected me.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince my Viggo look-alike was an artiste, he was naturally free-spirited.  He sat me down one night and told me that he couldn\'t be tied down, and he wouldn\'t marry until he was 50.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis was SHOCKING to a Naive 25 year-old.  SHOCKING, I tell you!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNowadays, commitment-phobe artistes are par for the course in my world.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me wrap this little non-love story up:  There was no great romance once I moved here, but I stayed anyway.  I also met my (now ex-)husband two months later, but now I really digress.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMy point is that I fell in love with this city, and I have been here ever since.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI love my city for oh so many reasons, but one of the biggies is perfect weather for 8 months out of the year.  And where there\'s perfect weather, there are festivals.  Lots of them.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis weekend was the <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Culinary Festival </a></strong>which raises lots of $$$ for what\'s nearest and dearest to my heart:  the arts and arts education.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGod bless the wonderful people who volunteer their time for this mammoth event which includes a week of foodie mayhem.  The Great Arizona Picnic, the grandaddy event of the festival, takes place over the weekend.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, wet stuff fell out of the sky again on Saturday.   I cannot tell you how rare this is for my fair city.  Usually, it\'s like Camelot around here and it only rains when convenient.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSaturday\'s rain meant that the entire Phoenix-Scottsdale metro area showed up to picnic on Sunday.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5099\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100001-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet them eat cake!  I obviously started the feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5102\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5103\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m a sucker for live music.  And sunshine and 70 degrees.  And tasty eats.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5100\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100004-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5101\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100005-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nStrolling along the grounds of the festival, I spied a wishing fountain!  Goody goody gumdrops!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUntil my friend, Jim, (and yes, we\'re \"just friends\") nearly had a conniption when he saw me aiming my penny for the fountain.  Apparently, pennies muck up the water.  This must be common knowledge in Snobbsdale because there was nary a penny to be seen at the fountain\'s bottom.  Parents must be a laugh a minute in this town.  I abandoned my penny on the side of the fountain for good luck.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5104\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100010-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a> <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5105\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100011-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBeen there, done that.  <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/14/day-167-tiggers-are-not-the-only-one-who-are-bouncy-flouncy-trouncy-pouncy/\" target=\"_blank\">(On Day 167.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5106\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100012-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDucks on the run!  I was half expecting <strong><a href=\"http://www.bravotv.com/bio/jonathan-waxman\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Waxman</a></strong> to come running around the corner for ingredients missing in action, but nope.  The ducks were simply fleeing from a toddler on the loose.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5107\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100016-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe See and Be Seen Crowd in Scottsdale is a trip.  Women choose to wear heels at a picnic.  To walk on grassy slopes invaded by mobs of people, ducks, and toddlers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nImpractical shoe count:  59.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI couldn\'t help myself.  I pretended to scroll through photos on my camera in order to \"accidentally\" take this shot for you.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5108\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" />\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I expected the impractical shoe count to be much, much higher.  In years past (during the <em>Sex &amp; the City </em>years, for example) it may have reached 500.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA shout out to the women who wore picnic shoes -- cute flip flops (this blogger included) and sandals -- for the picnic.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter snacking on various tidbits, we concluded our feeding frenzy with dessert.  Duh.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5109\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4100018-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow, I love my city.','Day 196:  The Great American Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','5085-revision-18','','','2011-04-11 21:15:58','2011-04-12 04:15:58','',5085,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/11/5085-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(5577,1,'2011-05-13 20:28:56','2011-05-14 03:28:56','A few weeks ago, I thoroughly embarrassed myself by admitting that <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/19/day-200-christmas-in-april/\" target=\"_blank\">I waited until April to unpack my Christmas presents</a></strong> that my mother had shipped back to Arizona after the holidays.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe silver lining in my procrastination was that I was overjoyed at discovering gifts that I had forgotten about 4 months prior.  As a coffee fan, I was particularly excited about my sister\'s &amp; bro-in-law\'s gift of <strong><a href=\"http://www.camp4coffee.com/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Camp 4 Coffee</a></strong>.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLast summer when we all vacayed in Crested Butte, I had Camp 4 Coffee twice a day:  double shot latte at breakfast, single shot World\'s Best Espresso Milkshake in the afternoon.  It\'s a miracle that I ever slept.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nPeeps in Crested Butte are <del>CRAZY about</del> ADDICTED to their Camp 4 Coffee.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBefore I had visited Crested Butte, my bro-in-law\'s family would get REALLY EXCITED when reminiscing about their Camp 4 Coffee.  Their eyes would glaze over and they would practically start drooling.  Kind of like when Apple peeps start talking about their Macs.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAfter visiting Crested Butte, and noticing the craziness over other natural substances, I wonder if Camp 4 slips some wacky stuff into their <del>brownies</del> beans.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnywho, I was REALLY EXCITED for my Illy to run dry and to finally open, grind, and brew my Camp 4 Coffee on Day 227.  At first sip, I immediately returned to my Rocky Mountain High of Summer 2010.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAhhhh...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDo you have any rituals/foods/items within your home that take you back to special memories?  Don\'t you love it when that happens?  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 228:  Memories of Camp 4 Coffee','','inherit','open','open','','5575-revision-2','','','2011-05-13 20:28:56','2011-05-14 03:28:56','',5575,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/05/13/5575-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5128,1,'2011-04-15 01:11:07','2011-04-15 08:11:07','Not too long <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" /></a>ago, I procrastinated looking into the next <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ignite Phoenix</strong></a> event and missed out on tickets.  <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/15/day-138-ignite-your-soul/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>So on Day 138, I wound up streaming that night of inspiration into my living room. </strong></a>I had never hooked up my computer to my television before (must be a Late Bloomer thing).  This made me feel supremely techie.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be perfectly honest, I was secretly glad that I only had the streaming option because I was still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in for take-out pizza and cuddles on the couch with Bella on a Friday night.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[Life update:  Oh, what a difference a few months makes.  Now Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis time around, I connected to Ignite Phoenix<a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"> </a>through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I <em>submit to present </em>for the next event on May 20th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow!  Exciting!  Scary!  A blog day!  (Presenting at Ignite Phoenix qualifies as a 365 soul-scintillating<del> mini-adventure </del>BIG adventure fo sho.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>I replied that I only respond to double dog dares.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>They triple dog dared me.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow...In my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  Free will remains in the equation.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut a triple dog dare???  No way, no how.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the dare.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIgnite Phoenix prodded me to beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUh-oh.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI submitted 4 days before their April 15th deadline.  At least I didn\'t wait until April 15th which I consider an automatic hex due to another icky deadline that normally resides on that day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since 11 is my lucky number, April 11th (Day 197) felt just right.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou can view my submission <strong><a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/submissions/submissions-for-ignite-phoenix-10/\" target=\"_blank\">here. </a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWill I be in the audience or on the stage of <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Center for the Arts </a></strong>on the eve of May 20th?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be determined...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','publish','open','open','','day-197-ignite-phoenix-submission-accomplished-2','','http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/15/day-138-ignite-your-soul/\nhttp://ignitephoenix.com/submissions/submissions-for-ignite-phoenix-10/','2011-04-15 08:50:52','2011-04-15 15:50:52','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=5128',0,'post','',6),(5129,1,'2011-04-12 17:59:13','2011-04-13 00:59:13','','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-revision','','','2011-04-12 17:59:13','2011-04-13 00:59:13','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/12/5128-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5130,1,'2011-04-12 18:01:05','2011-04-13 01:01:05','','ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner','','inherit','open','open','','ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-2','','','2011-04-12 18:01:05','2011-04-13 01:01:05','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(5131,1,'2011-04-12 18:16:21','2011-04-13 01:16:21','Not too long <img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" />ago, I procrastinated looking into the next Ignite Phoenix event and missed out on tickets.  So on Day 138, I was left to streaming that night of inspiration into my living room.  I had never done this before (must be a Late Bloomer thing), and I felt supremely techie.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt that time, I was also still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in with Bella on a Friday night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis time around, I connected to Ignite Phoenix through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I submit for the next event on May 19th.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied that I only respond to double dog dares.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThey triple dog dared me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  But a triple dog dare.  No way, no how.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took the dare.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix suggested that I beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!  Oh, Ignite Phoenix, Ignite Phoenix, Ignite Phoenix,\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am a Late Bloomer.   Which means...well...I wouldn\'t\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-revision-2','','','2011-04-12 18:16:21','2011-04-13 01:16:21','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/12/5128-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5132,1,'2011-04-14 12:06:35','2011-04-14 19:06:35','Not too long <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" /></a>ago, I procrastinated looking into the next <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\"><strong>Ignite Phoenix</strong></a> event and missed out on tickets.  So on Day 138, I was left to streaming that night of inspiration into my living room.  I had never done this before (must be a Late Bloomer thing), and I felt supremely techie.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt that time, I was also still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in with Bella on a Friday night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis time around, I connected to Ignite Phoenix through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I submit for the next event on May 19th.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied that I only respond to double dog dares.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThey triple dog dared me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  But a triple dog dare.  No way, no how.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took the dare.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix suggested that I beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!  Oh, Ignite Phoenix, Ignite Phoenix, Ignite Phoenix,\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am a Late Bloomer.   Which means...well...I wouldn\'t\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-revision-3','','','2011-04-14 12:06:35','2011-04-14 19:06:35','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5128-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5133,1,'2011-04-14 12:07:52','2011-04-14 19:07:52','Not too long <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" /></a>ago, I procrastinated looking into the next <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\"><strong>Ignite Phoenix</strong></a> event and missed out on tickets.  So on Day 138, I was left to streaming that night of inspiration into my living room.  I had never done this before (must be a Late Bloomer thing), and I felt supremely techie.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAt that time, I was also still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in with Bella on a Friday night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis time around, I connected to Ignite Phoenix through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I submit for the next event on May 19th.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied that I only respond to double dog dares.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThey triple dog dared me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIn my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  But a triple dog dare.  No way, no how.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took the dare.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix suggested that I beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!  Oh, Ignite Phoenix, Ignite Phoenix, Ignite Phoenix,\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am a Late Bloomer.   Which means...well...I wouldn\'t\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-revision-4','','','2011-04-14 12:07:52','2011-04-14 19:07:52','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5128-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5134,1,'2011-04-14 12:18:50','2011-04-14 19:18:50','Not too long <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" /></a>ago, I procrastinated looking into the next <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\"><strong>Ignite Phoenix</strong></a> event and missed out on tickets.  So on Day 138, I was left to streaming that night of inspiration into my living room.  I had never done this before (must be a Late Bloomer thing), and it made me feel supremely techie.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be perfectly honest, I was secretly glad that I only had the streaming option because I was still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in for take-out pizza and cuddles on the couch with Bella on a Friday night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, what a difference a few months makes.  Now Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis time around, I connected to <strong>Ignite Phoenix </strong>through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I submit to present for the next event on May 19th.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied that I only respond to double dog dares.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThey triple dog dared me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow...In my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  Free will remains in the equation.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut a triple dog dare???  No way, no how.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took the dare.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix prodded me to beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!  Oh, Ignite Phoenix, Ignite Phoenix, Ignite Phoenix,\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am a Late Bloomer.   Which means...well...I wouldn\'t\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-revision-5','','','2011-04-14 12:18:50','2011-04-14 19:18:50','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5128-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5135,1,'2011-04-14 12:22:10','2011-04-14 19:22:10','Not too long <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" /></a>ago, I procrastinated looking into the next <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ignite Phoenix</strong></a> event and missed out on tickets.  <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/15/day-138-ignite-your-soul/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>So on Day 138, I was left to streaming that night of inspiration into my living room. </strong></a>I had never done this before (must be a Late Bloomer thing), and it made me feel supremely techie.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be perfectly honest, I was secretly glad that I only had the streaming option because I was still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in for take-out pizza and cuddles on the couch with Bella on a Friday night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, what a difference a few months makes.  Now Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis time around, I connected to Ignite Phoenix<a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"> </a>through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I <em>submit to present a talk</em> for the next event on May 19th.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWow!  Exciting!  Scary!  A blog day!  (Presenting at Ignite Phoenix qualifies as a soul-scint\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied that I only respond to double dog dares.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThey triple dog dared me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow...In my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  Free will remains in the equation.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut a triple dog dare???  No way, no how.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took the dare.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix prodded me to beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!  Oh, Ignite Phoenix, Ignite Phoenix, Ignite Phoenix,\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am a Late Bloomer.   Which means...well...I wouldn\'t\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-revision-6','','','2011-04-14 12:22:10','2011-04-14 19:22:10','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5128-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5136,1,'2011-04-14 12:24:06','2011-04-14 19:24:06','Not too long <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" /></a>ago, I procrastinated looking into the next <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ignite Phoenix</strong></a> event and missed out on tickets.  <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/15/day-138-ignite-your-soul/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>So on Day 138, I was left to streaming that night of inspiration into my living room. </strong></a>I had never done this before (must be a Late Bloomer thing), and it made me feel supremely techie.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be perfectly honest, I was secretly glad that I only had the streaming option because I was still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in for take-out pizza and cuddles on the couch with Bella on a Friday night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, what a difference a few months makes.  Now Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis time around, I connected to Ignite Phoenix<a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"> </a>through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I <em>submit to present a talk</em> for the next event on May 19th.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWow!  Exciting!  Scary!  A blog day!  (Presenting at Ignite Phoenix qualifies as a soul-scintillating<del> mini-adventure </del>BIG adventure fo sho.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied that I only respond to double dog dares.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThey triple dog dared me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow...In my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  Free will remains in the equation.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut a triple dog dare???  No way, no how.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took the dare.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix prodded me to beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!  Oh, Ignite Phoenix, Ignite Phoenix, Ignite Phoenix,\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI am a Late Bloomer.   Which means...well...I wouldn\'t\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-revision-7','','','2011-04-14 12:24:06','2011-04-14 19:24:06','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5128-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5137,1,'2011-04-14 20:06:10','2011-04-15 03:06:10','Not too long <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" /></a>ago, I procrastinated looking into the next <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ignite Phoenix</strong></a> event and missed out on tickets.  <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/15/day-138-ignite-your-soul/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>So on Day 138, I wound up streaming that night of inspiration into my living room. </strong></a>I had never done this before (must be a Late Bloomer thing), and it made me feel supremely techie.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be perfectly honest, I was secretly glad that I only had the streaming option because I was still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in for take-out pizza and cuddles on the couch with Bella on a Friday night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[Life update:  Oh, what a difference a few months makes.  Now Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis time around, I connected to Ignite Phoenix<a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"> </a>through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I <em>submit to present </em>for the next event on May 19th.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWow!  Exciting!  Scary!  A blog day!  (Presenting at Ignite Phoenix qualifies as a 365 soul-scintillating<del> mini-adventures </del>BIG adventures fo sho.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI replied that I only respond to double dog dares.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThey triple dog dared me.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow...In my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  Free will remains in the equation.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut a triple dog dare???  No way, no how.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took the dare.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix prodded me to beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUh-oh.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI did submit 4 days before the deadline.  It seemed like bad luck to wait until their April 15th deadline because of another icky deadline that normally resides on that day.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since 11 is my lucky number, April 11th (Day 197) felt just right.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou can view my submission <strong><a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/submissions/submissions-for-ignite-phoenix-10/\" target=\"_blank\">here. </a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWill I be in the audience or on the stage of <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Center for the Arts </a></strong>on the eve of May 19th?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be determined...\n\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-revision-8','','','2011-04-14 20:06:10','2011-04-15 03:06:10','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5128-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(5138,1,'2011-04-14 20:06:29','2011-04-15 03:06:29','Not too long <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" /></a>ago, I procrastinated looking into the next <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ignite Phoenix</strong></a> event and missed out on tickets.  <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/15/day-138-ignite-your-soul/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>So on Day 138, I wound up streaming that night of inspiration into my living room. </strong></a>I had never done this before (must be a Late Bloomer thing), and it made me feel supremely techie.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be perfectly honest, I was secretly glad that I only had the streaming option because I was still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in for take-out pizza and cuddles on the couch with Bella on a Friday night.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[Life update:  Oh, what a difference a few months makes.  Now Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis time around, I connected to Ignite Phoenix<a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"> </a>through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I <em>submit to present </em>for the next event on May 19th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow!  Exciting!  Scary!  A blog day!  (Presenting at Ignite Phoenix qualifies as a 365 soul-scintillating<del> mini-adventures </del>BIG adventures fo sho.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI replied that I only respond to double dog dares.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThey triple dog dared me.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow...In my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  Free will remains in the equation.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut a triple dog dare???  No way, no how.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the dare.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIgnite Phoenix prodded me to beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUh-oh.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI did submit 4 days before the deadline.  It seemed like bad luck to wait until their April 15th deadline because of another icky deadline that normally resides on that day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since 11 is my lucky number, April 11th (Day 197) felt just right.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou can view my submission <strong><a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/submissions/submissions-for-ignite-phoenix-10/\" target=\"_blank\">here. </a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWill I be in the audience or on the stage of <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Center for the Arts </a></strong>on the eve of May 19th?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be determined...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-revision-9','','','2011-04-14 20:06:29','2011-04-15 03:06:29','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5128-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(5139,1,'2011-04-14 20:14:01','2011-04-15 03:14:01','Not too long <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" /></a>ago, I procrastinated looking into the next <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ignite Phoenix</strong></a> event and missed out on tickets.  <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/15/day-138-ignite-your-soul/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>So on Day 138, I wound up streaming that night of inspiration into my living room. </strong></a>I had never hooked up my computer to my television before (must be a Late Bloomer thing).  This made me feel supremely techie.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be perfectly honest, I was secretly glad that I only had the streaming option because I was still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in for take-out pizza and cuddles on the couch with Bella on a Friday night.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[Life update:  Oh, what a difference a few months makes.  Now Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis time around, I connected to Ignite Phoenix<a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"> </a>through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I <em>submit to present </em>for the next event on May 19th.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWow!  Exciting!  Scary!  A blog day!  (Presenting at Ignite Phoenix qualifies as a 365 soul-scintillating<del> mini-adventure </del>BIG adventure fo sho.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>I replied that I only respond to double dog dares.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>They triple dog dared me.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNow...In my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  Free will remains in the equation.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut a triple dog dare???  No way, no how.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took the dare.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIgnite Phoenix prodded me to beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nUh-oh.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI submitted 4 days before the deadline.  AT l wait until their April 15th deadline because of another icky deadline that normally resides on that day.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd since 11 is my lucky number, April 11th (Day 197) felt just right.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou can view my submission <strong><a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/submissions/submissions-for-ignite-phoenix-10/\" target=\"_blank\">here. </a></strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWill I be in the audience or on the stage of <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Center for the Arts </a></strong>on the eve of May 19th?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTo be determined...\n\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-autosave','','','2011-04-14 20:14:01','2011-04-15 03:14:01','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5128-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5140,1,'2011-04-14 20:07:29','2011-04-15 03:07:29','Not too long <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" /></a>ago, I procrastinated looking into the next <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ignite Phoenix</strong></a> event and missed out on tickets.  <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/15/day-138-ignite-your-soul/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>So on Day 138, I wound up streaming that night of inspiration into my living room. </strong></a>I had never hooked up my computer to my television before (must be a Late Bloomer thing), and it made me feel supremely techie.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be perfectly honest, I was secretly glad that I only had the streaming option because I was still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in for take-out pizza and cuddles on the couch with Bella on a Friday night.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[Life update:  Oh, what a difference a few months makes.  Now Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis time around, I connected to Ignite Phoenix<a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"> </a>through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I <em>submit to present </em>for the next event on May 19th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow!  Exciting!  Scary!  A blog day!  (Presenting at Ignite Phoenix qualifies as a 365 soul-scintillating<del> mini-adventures </del>BIG adventures fo sho.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI replied that I only respond to double dog dares.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThey triple dog dared me.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow...In my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  Free will remains in the equation.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut a triple dog dare???  No way, no how.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the dare.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIgnite Phoenix prodded me to beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUh-oh.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI did submit 4 days before the deadline.  It seemed like bad luck to wait until their April 15th deadline because of another icky deadline that normally resides on that day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since 11 is my lucky number, April 11th (Day 197) felt just right.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou can view my submission <strong><a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/submissions/submissions-for-ignite-phoenix-10/\" target=\"_blank\">here. </a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWill I be in the audience or on the stage of <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Center for the Arts </a></strong>on the eve of May 19th?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be determined...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-revision-10','','','2011-04-14 20:07:29','2011-04-15 03:07:29','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5128-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(5141,1,'2011-04-14 20:09:12','2011-04-15 03:09:12','Not too long <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" /></a>ago, I procrastinated looking into the next <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ignite Phoenix</strong></a> event and missed out on tickets.  <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/15/day-138-ignite-your-soul/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>So on Day 138, I wound up streaming that night of inspiration into my living room. </strong></a>I had never hooked up my computer to my television before (must be a Late Bloomer thing).  This made me feel supremely techie.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be perfectly honest, I was secretly glad that I only had the streaming option because I was still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in for take-out pizza and cuddles on the couch with Bella on a Friday night.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[Life update:  Oh, what a difference a few months makes.  Now Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis time around, I connected to Ignite Phoenix<a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"> </a>through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I <em>submit to present </em>for the next event on May 19th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow!  Exciting!  Scary!  A blog day!  (Presenting at Ignite Phoenix qualifies as a 365 soul-scintillating<del> mini-adventures </del>BIG adventures fo sho.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI replied that I only respond to double dog dares.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThey triple dog dared me.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow...In my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  Free will remains in the equation.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut a triple dog dare???  No way, no how.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the dare.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIgnite Phoenix prodded me to beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUh-oh.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI did submit 4 days before the deadline.  It seemed like bad luck to wait until their April 15th deadline because of another icky deadline that normally resides on that day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since 11 is my lucky number, April 11th (Day 197) felt just right.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou can view my submission <strong><a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/submissions/submissions-for-ignite-phoenix-10/\" target=\"_blank\">here. </a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWill I be in the audience or on the stage of <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Center for the Arts </a></strong>on the eve of May 19th?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be determined...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-revision-11','','','2011-04-14 20:09:12','2011-04-15 03:09:12','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5128-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(5142,1,'2011-04-14 20:11:18','2011-04-15 03:11:18','Not too long <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" /></a>ago, I procrastinated looking into the next <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ignite Phoenix</strong></a> event and missed out on tickets.  <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/15/day-138-ignite-your-soul/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>So on Day 138, I wound up streaming that night of inspiration into my living room. </strong></a>I had never hooked up my computer to my television before (must be a Late Bloomer thing).  This made me feel supremely techie.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be perfectly honest, I was secretly glad that I only had the streaming option because I was still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in for take-out pizza and cuddles on the couch with Bella on a Friday night.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[Life update:  Oh, what a difference a few months makes.  Now Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis time around, I connected to Ignite Phoenix<a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"> </a>through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I <em>submit to present </em>for the next event on May 19th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow!  Exciting!  Scary!  A blog day!  (Presenting at Ignite Phoenix qualifies as a 365 soul-scintillating<del> mini-adventure </del>BIG adventure fo sho.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>I replied that I only respond to double dog dares.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>They triple dog dared me.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow...In my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  Free will remains in the equation.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut a triple dog dare???  No way, no how.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the dare.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIgnite Phoenix prodded me to beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUh-oh.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI did submit 4 days before the deadline.  It seemed like bad luck to wait until their April 15th deadline because of another icky deadline that normally resides on that day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since 11 is my lucky number, April 11th (Day 197) felt just right.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou can view my submission <strong><a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/submissions/submissions-for-ignite-phoenix-10/\" target=\"_blank\">here. </a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWill I be in the audience or on the stage of <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Center for the Arts </a></strong>on the eve of May 19th?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be determined...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-revision-12','','','2011-04-14 20:11:18','2011-04-15 03:11:18','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5128-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(5143,1,'2011-04-14 20:14:35','2011-04-15 03:14:35','Not too long <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" /></a>ago, I procrastinated looking into the next <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ignite Phoenix</strong></a> event and missed out on tickets.  <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/15/day-138-ignite-your-soul/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>So on Day 138, I wound up streaming that night of inspiration into my living room. </strong></a>I had never hooked up my computer to my television before (must be a Late Bloomer thing).  This made me feel supremely techie.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be perfectly honest, I was secretly glad that I only had the streaming option because I was still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in for take-out pizza and cuddles on the couch with Bella on a Friday night.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[Life update:  Oh, what a difference a few months makes.  Now Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis time around, I connected to Ignite Phoenix<a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"> </a>through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I <em>submit to present </em>for the next event on May 19th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow!  Exciting!  Scary!  A blog day!  (Presenting at Ignite Phoenix qualifies as a 365 soul-scintillating<del> mini-adventure </del>BIG adventure fo sho.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>I replied that I only respond to double dog dares.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>They triple dog dared me.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow...In my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  Free will remains in the equation.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut a triple dog dare???  No way, no how.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the dare.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIgnite Phoenix prodded me to beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUh-oh.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI submitted 4 days before the deadline.  At least I didn\'t wait until their April 15th deadline which I consider an automatic hex due to another icky deadline that normally resides on that day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since 11 is my lucky number, April 11th (Day 197) felt just right.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou can view my submission <strong><a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/submissions/submissions-for-ignite-phoenix-10/\" target=\"_blank\">here. </a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWill I be in the audience or on the stage of <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Center for the Arts </a></strong>on the eve of May 19th?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be determined...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-revision-13','','','2011-04-14 20:14:35','2011-04-15 03:14:35','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5128-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(5146,1,'2011-04-14 20:37:42','2011-04-15 03:37:42','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/5355588988/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5145\" title=\"5355588988_5015b3408e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5355588988_5015b3408e-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>I\'m not a fan of April 15th.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was self-employed up until 2 years ago, and every year I wisely turned my spreadsheets and documents over to an accountant to make the whole tax preparation process as palatable as possible.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor the past two years, I really don\'t need an accountant.  Tax filing should be simple for me because of TurboTax.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTurboTax is supposed to make life and taxes easy.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot for me.  I  had \"issues\".  I kept my \"issues\" a secret.  I feared that I was the biggest dufus on the planet.  Isn\'t this software supposed to be turn-key?  Isn\'t it supposed to do all the work for you?  Accurately?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot so, quoth Becky Jo one day at the water cooler.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(We weren\'t really at the water cooler -- we were at Becky Jo\'s desk -- but I\'ve always wanted to say that now that I work in Corporate America.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBecky Jo told me her TurboTax horror story, and the Masterful Accountant who came to her family\'s financial rescue.  The IRS now owes her a big fat Refund.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took the Masterful Accountant\'s name and number, and I saved it for a rainy day.  Perhaps next January or February.  I was almost finished with my TurboTax.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then on Day 198 -- horrors of horrors -- TurboTax made a calculation that smelled very fishy.  Very fishy indeed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAn accountant friend and my Dad sniffed the putrescence as well.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI immediately stopped the madness and filed an extension with Masterful Accountant.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSoul-Scintillation #1:  I am due a small refund on state taxes.  As a former self-employed lass, I am not used to refunds.  WooHoooo!!!!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSoul-Scintillation #2:  I cannot tell you how FREEING it is to turn this chore over to a number cruncher who knows what he\'s doing for around $100.  As God i\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  Tax Relief ','','inherit','open','open','','5144-revision','','','2011-04-14 20:37:42','2011-04-15 03:37:42','',5144,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5144-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5147,1,'2011-04-14 20:38:17','2011-04-15 03:38:17','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/5355588988/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5145\" title=\"5355588988_5015b3408e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5355588988_5015b3408e-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>I\'m not a fan of April 15th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was self-employed up until 2 years ago, and every year I wisely turned my spreadsheets and documents over to an accountant to make the whole tax preparation process as palatable as possible.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the past two years, I really don\'t need an accountant.  Tax filing should be simple for me because of TurboTax.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTurboTax is supposed to make life and taxes easy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot for me.  I  had \"issues\".  I kept my \"issues\" a secret.  I feared that I was the biggest dufus on the planet.  Isn\'t this software supposed to be turn-key?  Isn\'t it supposed to do all the work for you?  Accurately?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot so, quoth Becky Jo one day at the water cooler.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(We weren\'t really at the water cooler -- we were at Becky Jo\'s desk -- but I\'ve always wanted to say that now that I work in Corporate America.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo told me her TurboTax horror story, and the Masterful Accountant who came to her family\'s financial rescue.  The IRS now owes her a big fat Refund.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the Masterful Accountant\'s name and number, and I saved it for a rainy day.  Perhaps next January or February.  I was almost finished with my TurboTax.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then on Day 198 -- horrors of horrors -- TurboTax made a calculation that smelled very fishy.  Very fishy indeed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAn accountant friend and my Dad sniffed the putrescence as well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI immediately stopped the madness and filed an extension with Masterful Accountant.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSoul-Scintillation #1:  I am due a small refund on state taxes.  As a former self-employed lass, I am not used to refunds.  WooHoooo!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSoul-Scintillation #2:  I cannot tell you how FREEING it is to turn this chore over to a number cruncher who knows what he\'s doing for around $100.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs God is my witness, I will never torture myself with filing my taxes again!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  Tax Relief ','','inherit','open','open','','5144-revision-2','','','2011-04-14 20:38:17','2011-04-15 03:38:17','',5144,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5144-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5148,1,'2011-04-14 20:39:26','2011-04-15 03:39:26','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/5355588988/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5145\" title=\"5355588988_5015b3408e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5355588988_5015b3408e-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>I\'m not a fan of April 15th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was self-employed up until 2 years ago, and every year I wisely turned my spreadsheets and documents over to an accountant to make the whole tax preparation process as palatable as possible.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the past two years, I haven\'t really needed an accountant.  Tax filing should be simple for me because of TurboTax.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTurboTax is supposed to make life and taxes easy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot for me.  I  had \"issues\".  I kept my \"issues\" a secret.  I feared that I was the biggest dufus on the planet.  Isn\'t this software supposed to be turn-key?  Isn\'t it supposed to do all the work for you?  Accurately?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot so, quoth Becky Jo one day at the water cooler.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(We weren\'t really at the water cooler -- we were at Becky Jo\'s desk -- but I\'ve always wanted to say that now that I work in Corporate America.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo told me her TurboTax horror story, and the Masterful Accountant who came to her family\'s financial rescue.  The IRS now owes her a big fat Refund.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the Masterful Accountant\'s name and number, and I saved it for a rainy day.  Perhaps next January or February.  I was almost finished with my TurboTax.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then on Day 198 -- horrors of horrors -- TurboTax made a calculation that smelled very fishy.  Very fishy indeed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAn accountant friend and my Dad sniffed the putrescence as well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI immediately stopped the madness and filed an extension with Masterful Accountant.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSoul-Scintillation #1:  I am due a small refund on state taxes.  As a former self-employed lass, I am not used to refunds.  WooHoooo!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSoul-Scintillation #2:  I cannot tell you how FREEING it is to turn this chore over to a number cruncher who knows what he\'s doing for around $100.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs God is my witness, I will never torture myself with filing my taxes again!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  Tax Relief ','','inherit','open','open','','5144-revision-3','','','2011-04-14 20:39:26','2011-04-15 03:39:26','',5144,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5144-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5149,1,'2011-04-14 20:40:18','2011-04-15 03:40:18','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/5355588988/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5145\" title=\"5355588988_5015b3408e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5355588988_5015b3408e-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>I\'m not a fan of April 15th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was self-employed up until 2 years ago, and every year I wisely turned my spreadsheets and documents over to an accountant to make the whole tax preparation process as palatable as possible.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the past two years, I haven\'t really needed an accountant.  Tax filing should be simple for me because of TurboTax.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTurboTax is supposed to make life and taxes easy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNot for me.  I  had \"issues\".  I kept my \"issues\" a secret.  I feared that I was the biggest dufus on the planet.  Isn\'t this software supposed to be turn-key?  Isn\'t it supposed to do all the work for you?  Accurately?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"Not so\", quoth Becky Jo one day at the water cooler.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(We weren\'t really at the water cooler -- we were at Becky Jo\'s desk -- but I\'ve always wanted to say that now that I work in Corporate America.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo told me her TurboTax horror story, and the Masterful Accountant who came to her family\'s financial rescue.  The IRS now owes her a big fat Refund.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the Masterful Accountant\'s name and number, and I saved it for a rainy day.  Perhaps next January or February.  I was almost finished with my TurboTax.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then on Day 198 -- horrors of horrors -- TurboTax made a calculation that smelled very fishy.  Very fishy indeed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAn accountant friend and my Dad sniffed the putrescence as well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI immediately stopped the madness and filed an extension with Masterful Accountant.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSoul-Scintillation #1:  I am due a small refund on state taxes.  As a former self-employed lass, I am not used to refunds.  WooHoooo!!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSoul-Scintillation #2:  I cannot tell you how FREEING it is to turn this chore over to a number cruncher who knows what he\'s doing for around $100.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs God is my witness, I will never torture myself with filing my taxes again!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  Tax Relief ','','inherit','open','open','','5144-revision-4','','','2011-04-14 20:40:18','2011-04-15 03:40:18','',5144,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5144-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5150,1,'2011-04-14 20:44:15','2011-04-15 03:44:15','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/5355588988/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5145\" title=\"5355588988_5015b3408e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5355588988_5015b3408e-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>I\'m not a fan of April 15th.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was self-employed up until 2 years ago, and every year I wisely turned my spreadsheets and documents over to an accountant to make the whole tax preparation process as palatable as possible.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nFor the past two years, I haven\'t really needed an accountant.  Tax filing should be simple for me because of TurboTax.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTurboTax is supposed to make life and taxes easy.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nNot for me.  I  had \"issues\".  I kept my \"issues\" a secret.  I feared that I was the biggest dufus on the planet.  Isn\'t this software supposed to be turn-key?  Isn\'t it supposed to do all the work for you?  Accurately?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Not so\", quoth Becky Jo one day at the water cooler.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(We weren\'t really at the water cooler -- we were at Becky Jo\'s desk -- but I\'ve always wanted to say that now that I work in Corporate America.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBecky Jo told me her TurboTax horror story, and the Masterful Accountant who came to her family\'s financial rescue.  The IRS now owes her a big fat Refund.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took the Masterful Accountant\'s name and number, and I saved it for a rainy day.  Perhaps next January or February.  I was almost finished with my TurboTax for 2010 taxes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnd then on Day 198 -- horrors of horrors -- TurboTax made a calculation that smelled very fishy.  Very fishy indeed.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>An accountant friend and my Dad sniffed the putrescence as well.</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI immediately stopped the madness and filed an extension with Masterful Accountant.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation #1:  I am due a small refund on state taxes.  As a former self-employed lass, I am not used to refunds.  WooHoooo!!!!!</span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation #2:  I cannot tell you how FREEING it is to turn this chore over to a number cruncher who knows what he\'s doing for around $100</span><strong>.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff6600;\"><strong>As God is my witness, I will never torture myself with filing my taxes again!</strong></span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  Tax Relief ','','inherit','open','open','','5144-revision-5','','','2011-04-14 20:44:15','2011-04-15 03:44:15','',5144,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5144-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5151,1,'2011-04-14 20:45:14','2011-04-15 03:45:14','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/5355588988/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5145\" title=\"5355588988_5015b3408e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5355588988_5015b3408e-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>I\'m not a fan of April 15th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was self-employed up until 2 years ago, and every year I wisely turned my spreadsheets and documents over to an accountant to make the whole tax preparation process as palatable as possible.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the past two years, I haven\'t really needed an accountant.  Tax filing should be simple for me because of TurboTax.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTurboTax is supposed to make life and taxes easy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>Not for me.  I  had \"issues\".  I kept my \"issues\" a secret.  I feared that I was the biggest taxes dufus on the planet. </strong></span> Isn\'t this software supposed to be turn-key?  Isn\'t it supposed to do all the work for you?  Accurately?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"Not so\", quoth Becky Jo one day at the water cooler.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(We weren\'t really at the water cooler -- we were at Becky Jo\'s desk -- but I\'ve always wanted to say that now that I work in Corporate America.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo told me her TurboTax horror story, and the Masterful Accountant who came to her family\'s financial rescue.  The IRS now owes her a big fat Refund.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the Masterful Accountant\'s name and number, and I saved it for a rainy day.  Perhaps next January or February.  I was almost finished with my TurboTax for 2010 taxes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then on Day 198 -- horrors of horrors -- TurboTax made a calculation that smelled very fishy.  Very fishy indeed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>An accountant friend and my Dad sniffed the putrescence as well.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI immediately stopped the madness and filed an extension with Masterful Accountant.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation #1:  I am due a small refund on state taxes.  As a former self-employed lass, I am not used to refunds.  WooHoooo!!!!!</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation #2:  I cannot tell you how FREEING it is to turn this chore over to a number cruncher who knows what he\'s doing for around $100</span><strong>.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff6600;\"><strong>As God is my witness, I will never torture myself with filing my taxes again!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  Tax Relief ','','inherit','open','open','','5144-revision-6','','','2011-04-14 20:45:14','2011-04-15 03:45:14','',5144,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5144-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5152,1,'2011-04-14 20:46:04','2011-04-15 03:46:04','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/5355588988/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5145\" title=\"5355588988_5015b3408e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5355588988_5015b3408e-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>I\'m not a fan of April 15th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was self-employed up until 2 years ago, and every year I wisely turned my spreadsheets and documents over to an accountant to make the whole tax preparation process as painless as possible.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the past two years, I haven\'t really needed an accountant.  Tax filing should be simple for me because of TurboTax.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTurboTax is supposed to make life and taxes easy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>Not for me.  I  had \"issues\".  I kept my \"issues\" a secret.  I feared that I was the biggest taxes dufus on the planet. </strong></span> Isn\'t this software supposed to be turn-key?  Isn\'t it supposed to do all the work for you?  Accurately?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"Not so\", quoth Becky Jo one day at the water cooler.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(We weren\'t really at the water cooler -- we were at Becky Jo\'s desk -- but I\'ve always wanted to say that now that I work in Corporate America.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo told me her TurboTax horror story, and the Masterful Accountant who came to her family\'s financial rescue.  The IRS now owes her a big fat Refund.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the Masterful Accountant\'s name and number, and I saved it for a rainy day.  Perhaps next January or February.  I was almost finished with my TurboTax for 2010 taxes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then on Day 198 -- horrors of horrors -- TurboTax made a calculation that smelled very fishy.  Very fishy indeed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>An accountant friend and my Dad sniffed the putrescence as well.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI immediately stopped the madness and filed an extension with Masterful Accountant.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation #1:  I am due a small refund on state taxes.  As a former self-employed lass, I am not used to refunds.  WooHoooo!!!!!</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation #2:  I cannot tell you how FREEING it is to turn this chore over to a number cruncher who knows what he\'s doing for around $100</span><strong>.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #ff6600;\"><strong>As God is my witness, I will never torture myself with filing my taxes again!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  Tax Relief ','','inherit','open','open','','5144-revision-7','','','2011-04-14 20:46:04','2011-04-15 03:46:04','',5144,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5144-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5153,1,'2011-04-14 20:48:17','2011-04-15 03:48:17','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/5355588988/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5145\" title=\"5355588988_5015b3408e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5355588988_5015b3408e-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>I\'m not a fan of April 15th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was self-employed up until 2 years ago, and every year I wisely turned my spreadsheets and documents over to an accountant to make the whole tax preparation process as painless as possible.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the past two years, I haven\'t really needed an accountant.  Tax filing should be simple for me because of TurboTax.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTurboTax is supposed to make life and taxes easy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>Not for me.  I  had \"issues\".  I kept my \"issues\" a secret.  I feared that I was the biggest taxes dufus on the planet. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIsn\'t this software supposed to be turn-key?  Isn\'t it supposed to do all the work for you?  Accurately?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"Not so\", quoth Becky Jo one day at the water cooler.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(We weren\'t really at the water cooler -- we were at Becky Jo\'s desk -- but I\'ve always wanted to say that now that I work in Corporate America.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo told me her TurboTax horror story, and the Masterful Accountant who came to her family\'s financial rescue.  The IRS now owes her a big fat Refund.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the Masterful Accountant\'s name and number, and I saved it for a rainy day.  Perhaps next January or February.  I was almost finished with my TurboTax for 2010 taxes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then on Day 198 -- horrors of horrors -- TurboTax made a calculation that smelled very fishy.  Very fishy indeed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>An accountant friend and my Dad sniffed the putrescence as well.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI immediately stopped the madness and filed an extension with Masterful Accountant.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation #1:  I am due a small refund on state taxes.  As a former self-employed lass, I am not used to refunds.  WooHoooo!!!!!</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation #2:  I cannot tell you how FREEING it is to turn this chore over to a number cruncher who knows what he\'s doing for around $100</span><strong>.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #993300;\"><strong>As God is my witness, I will never torture myself with filing my taxes again!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  Tax Relief ','','inherit','open','open','','5144-revision-8','','','2011-04-14 20:48:17','2011-04-15 03:48:17','',5144,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5144-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(5154,1,'2011-04-14 20:50:29','2011-04-15 03:50:29','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/5355588988/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5145\" title=\"5355588988_5015b3408e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5355588988_5015b3408e-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>I\'m not a fan of April 15th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was self-employed up until 2 years ago, and every year I wisely turned my spreadsheets and documents over to an accountant to make the whole tax preparation process as painless as possible.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the past two years, I haven\'t really needed an accountant.  Tax filing should be simple for me because of TurboTax.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTurboTax is supposed to make life and taxes easy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>Not for me.  I  had \"issues\".  I kept my \"issues\" a secret.  I feared that I was the biggest taxes dufus on the planet. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIsn\'t this software supposed to be turn-key?  Isn\'t it supposed to do all the work for you?  Accurately?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"Not so\", quoth Becky Jo one day at the water cooler.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(We weren\'t really at the water cooler -- we were at Becky Jo\'s desk -- but I\'ve always wanted to say that now that I work in Corporate America.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo told me her TurboTax horror story, and the Masterful Accountant who came to her family\'s financial rescue.  The IRS now owes her a big fat Refund.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the Masterful Accountant\'s name and number, and I saved it for a rainy day.  Perhaps next January or February.  I was almost finished with my TurboTax for 2010 taxes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then on Day 198 -- horrors of horrors -- TurboTax made a calculation that smelled very fishy.  Very fishy indeed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>An accountant friend and my Dad sniffed the putrescence as well.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI immediately stopped the madness and filed an extension with Masterful Accountant.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation #1:  I am due a small refund on state taxes.  As a former self-employed lass, I am not used to refunds.  Woo Hoooo!!!!!</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation #2:  I cannot tell you how FREEING it is to turn this chore over to a number cruncher who knows what he\'s doing for around $100</span><strong>.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300; font-size: large;\"><strong>As God is my witness, I will never torture myself with filing my taxes again!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  Tax Relief ','','inherit','open','open','','5144-revision-9','','','2011-04-14 20:50:29','2011-04-15 03:50:29','',5144,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5144-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(5155,1,'2011-04-14 20:51:29','2011-04-15 03:51:29','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/5355588988/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5145\" title=\"5355588988_5015b3408e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5355588988_5015b3408e-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>I\'m not a fan of April 15th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was self-employed up until 2 years ago, and every year I wisely turned my spreadsheets and documents over to an accountant to make the whole tax preparation process as painless as possible.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the past two years, I haven\'t really needed an accountant.  Tax filing should be simple for me because of TurboTax.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTurboTax is supposed to make life and taxes easy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>Not for me.  I  had \"issues\".  I kept my \"issues\" a secret.  I feared that I was the biggest taxes dufus on the planet. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIsn\'t this software supposed to be turn-key?  Isn\'t it supposed to do all the work for you?  Accurately?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"Not so\", quoth Becky Jo one day at the water cooler.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(We weren\'t really at the water cooler -- we were at Becky Jo\'s desk -- but I\'ve always wanted to say that now that I work in Corporate America.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo told me her TurboTax horror story, and the Masterful Accountant who came to her family\'s financial rescue.  The IRS now owes her a big fat Refund.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the Masterful Accountant\'s name and number, and I saved it for a rainy day.  Perhaps next January or February.  I was almost finished with my TurboTax for 2010 taxes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then on Day 198 -- horror of horrors -- TurboTax made a calculation that smelled very fishy.  Very fishy indeed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>An accountant friend and my Dad sniffed the putrescence as well.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI immediately stopped the madness and filed an extension with Masterful Accountant.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation #1:  I am due a small refund on state taxes.  As a former self-employed lass, I am not used to refunds.  Woo Hoooo!!!!!</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation #2:  I cannot tell you how FREEING it is to turn this chore over to a number cruncher who knows what he\'s doing for around $100</span><strong>.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300; font-size: large;\"><strong>As God is my witness, I will never torture myself with filing my taxes again!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  Tax Relief ','','inherit','open','open','','5144-revision-10','','','2011-04-14 20:51:29','2011-04-15 03:51:29','',5144,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5144-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(5156,1,'2011-04-15 19:42:48','2011-04-16 02:42:48','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/5355588988/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5145\" title=\"5355588988_5015b3408e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5355588988_5015b3408e-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>I\'m not a fan of April 15th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was self-employed up until 2 years ago, and every year I wisely turned my spreadsheets and documents over to an accountant to make the whole tax preparation process as painless as\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the past two years, I haven\'t really needed an accountant.  Tax filing should be simple for me because of TurboTax.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTurboTax is supposed to make life and taxes easy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>Not for me.  I  had \"issues\".  I kept my \"issues\" a secret.  I feared that I was the biggest taxes dufus on the planet. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIsn\'t this software supposed to be turn-key?  Isn\'t it supposed to do all the work for you?  Accurately?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"Not so\", quoth Becky Jo one day at the water cooler.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(We weren\'t really at the water cooler -- we were at Becky Jo\'s desk -- but I\'ve always wanted to say that now that I work in Corporate America.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo told me her TurboTax horror story, and the Masterful Accountant who came to her family\'s financial rescue.  The IRS now owes her a big fat Refund.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the Masterful Accountant\'s name and number, and I saved it for a rainy day.  Perhaps next January or February.  I was almost finished with my TurboTax for 2010 taxes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then on Day 199 -- horror of horrors -- TurboTax made a costly calculation that smelled very fishy.  Very fishy indeed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>An accountant friend and my Dad sniffed the putrescence as well.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI immediately stopped the madness and filed an extension with Masterful Accountant.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation Moment #1:  I am due a small refund on state taxes.  As a former self-employed lass, I am not used to refunds.  Woo Hoooo!!!!!</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation Moment #2:  I cannot tell you how FREEING it is to turn this chore over to a number cruncher who knows what he\'s doing for around $100</span><strong>. </strong>I\'m hoping for either a big fat Refund or at least some relief on my federal.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300; font-size: large;\"><strong>As God is my witness, I will never torture myself with filing my taxes again!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">*******</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">\r\n</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Good eye!  Yes, this post is out of order.  I wanted to make sure it published on April 15th.  :-)  Day 198 coming soon...</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 199:  Tax Relief ','','inherit','open','open','','5144-autosave','','','2011-04-15 19:42:48','2011-04-16 02:42:48','',5144,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5144-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5157,1,'2011-04-14 20:52:32','2011-04-15 03:52:32','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/5355588988/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5145\" title=\"5355588988_5015b3408e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5355588988_5015b3408e-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>I\'m not a fan of April 15th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was self-employed up until 2 years ago, and every year I wisely turned my spreadsheets and documents over to an accountant to make the whole tax preparation process as painless as possible.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the past two years, I haven\'t really needed an accountant.  Tax filing should be simple for me because of TurboTax.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTurboTax is supposed to make life and taxes easy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>Not for me.  I  had \"issues\".  I kept my \"issues\" a secret.  I feared that I was the biggest taxes dufus on the planet. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIsn\'t this software supposed to be turn-key?  Isn\'t it supposed to do all the work for you?  Accurately?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"Not so\", quoth Becky Jo one day at the water cooler.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(We weren\'t really at the water cooler -- we were at Becky Jo\'s desk -- but I\'ve always wanted to say that now that I work in Corporate America.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo told me her TurboTax horror story, and the Masterful Accountant who came to her family\'s financial rescue.  The IRS now owes her a big fat Refund.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the Masterful Accountant\'s name and number, and I saved it for a rainy day.  Perhaps next January or February.  I was almost finished with my TurboTax for 2010 taxes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then on Day 198 -- horror of horrors -- TurboTax made a costly calculation that smelled very fishy.  Very fishy indeed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>An accountant friend and my Dad sniffed the putrescence as well.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI immediately stopped the madness and filed an extension with Masterful Accountant.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation #1:  I am due a small refund on state taxes.  As a former self-employed lass, I am not used to refunds.  Woo Hoooo!!!!!</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation #2:  I cannot tell you how FREEING it is to turn this chore over to a number cruncher who knows what he\'s doing for around $100</span><strong>.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300; font-size: large;\"><strong>As God is my witness, I will never torture myself with filing my taxes again!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  Tax Relief ','','inherit','open','open','','5144-revision-11','','','2011-04-14 20:52:32','2011-04-15 03:52:32','',5144,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5144-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(5250,1,'2011-04-22 01:11:34','2011-04-22 08:11:34','<a href=\"http://www.theadoberestaurant.com/\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5251\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4190007-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>Remember on <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/03/day-156-doga-yappy-hour-canine-nirvana/\" target=\"_blank\">Day 156</a></strong> when Bella tried Doga for the first time?  Yes, I suppose I have turned into one of <em>those</em> dog people.  :-)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlthough...for me, it doubles as fun and socialization for my rescued pooch.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd what could be more fun than Yappy Hour?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m pleased to inform you that this Yappy Hour takes place at the Arizona Biltmore Golf Course.  Yes, on the grounds of <em>that</em> <strong><a href=\"http://www.arizonabiltmore.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Biltmore Hotel.</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe <strong><a href=\"http://www.theadoberestaurant.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Adobe Restaurant</a></strong> on the golf course is the first dog-certified patio in my fair city.  Outside of Yappy Hour, you can call for a reservation, and if your pooch happens to be within their \"5 pups on the patio\" limit, you can dine with your dog.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIs that cool or what???  One of the city\'s shi-shi-est luxury hotels is the forerunner in dog-friendly patios?  We\'re becoming soooooo West Coast.  I\'ll take the similarity in a heartbeat!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI\'m actually going to have to return for Yappy Hour so that Bella can enjoy the pup grub.  Not knowing there was a dog menu, Bella scarfed down her Stella &amp; Chewy\'s as usual and arrived at Yappy Hour with a full belly.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI apologize for the blurry photo.  The options are:  Zen Beef &amp; Rice, Warrior Chicken &amp; Potatoes, and Adobe Puppy Treats which are homemade by the restaurant.  You\'d have to be a Canine Scrooge to not be anything but tickled by this menu!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAfter Yappy Hour, we moved on over to the Doga tent for twenty minutes or so of Pooch Nirvana.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/azbiltmoregc?sk=wall\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5253\" title=\"218284_10150163578649176_174849479175_6498049_3210211_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/218284_10150163578649176_174849479175_6498049_3210211_o-231x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"231\" height=\"300\" /></a><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5258\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4190009-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nRight:  Petey and Pebbles on \"Date Night\" (Their child, Little Girl, stayed at home.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4190014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5254\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4190014-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4190016.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5255\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4190016-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nLeft:  Warrior One\r\n\r\nRight:  Downward Facing Dogi\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4190019.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5256\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4190019-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4190013.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5257\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4190013-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nLeft:  Pebbles in Savasana or \"Corpse Pose\"\r\n\r\nRight:  <strong><a href=\"http://www.ohmydogboutique.com/events/doga\" target=\"_blank\">World\'s Best Dogi Instructors, Dena and Jackie</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 205:  Yappy Hour','','publish','open','open','','day-205-yappy-hour','','\nhttp://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/03/day-156-doga-yappy-hour-canine-nirvana/','2011-04-21 20:58:49','2011-04-22 03:58:49','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=5250',0,'post','',2),(5160,1,'2011-04-14 20:54:15','2011-04-15 03:54:15','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/gammaman/5355588988/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5145\" title=\"5355588988_5015b3408e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5355588988_5015b3408e-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" /></a>I\'m not a fan of April 15th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI was self-employed up until 2 years ago, and every year I wisely turned my spreadsheets and documents over to an accountant to make the whole tax preparation process as painless as possible.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nFor the past two years, I haven\'t really needed an accountant.  Tax filing should be simple for me because of TurboTax.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTurboTax is supposed to make life and taxes easy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>Not for me.  I  had \"issues\".  I kept my \"issues\" a secret.  I feared that I was the biggest taxes dufus on the planet. </strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIsn\'t this software supposed to be turn-key?  Isn\'t it supposed to do all the work for you?  Accurately?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\"Not so\", quoth Becky Jo one day at the water cooler.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(We weren\'t really at the water cooler -- we were at Becky Jo\'s desk -- but I\'ve always wanted to say that now that I work in Corporate America.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBecky Jo told me her TurboTax horror story, and the Masterful Accountant who came to her family\'s financial rescue.  The IRS now owes her a big fat Refund.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the Masterful Accountant\'s name and number, and I saved it for a rainy day.  Perhaps next January or February.  I was almost finished with my TurboTax for 2010 taxes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd then on Day 198 -- horror of horrors -- TurboTax made a costly calculation that smelled very fishy.  Very fishy indeed.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #808000;\"><strong>An accountant friend and my Dad sniffed the putrescence as well.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI immediately stopped the madness and filed an extension with Masterful Accountant.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation Moment #1:  I am due a small refund on state taxes.  As a former self-employed lass, I am not used to refunds.  Woo Hoooo!!!!!</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Soul-Scintillation Moment #2:  I cannot tell you how FREEING it is to turn this chore over to a number cruncher who knows what he\'s doing for around $100</span><strong>. </strong>I\'m hoping for either a big fat Refund or at least some relief on my federal.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300; font-size: large;\"><strong>As God is my witness, I will never torture myself with filing my taxes again!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  Tax Relief ','','inherit','open','open','','5144-revision-12','','','2011-04-14 20:54:15','2011-04-15 03:54:15','',5144,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5144-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(5161,1,'2011-04-14 20:16:21','2011-04-15 03:16:21','Not too long <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5130\" title=\"ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ignite_phoenix_shirt_banner-300x85.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" /></a>ago, I procrastinated looking into the next <a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ignite Phoenix</strong></a> event and missed out on tickets.  <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/15/day-138-ignite-your-soul/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>So on Day 138, I wound up streaming that night of inspiration into my living room. </strong></a>I had never hooked up my computer to my television before (must be a Late Bloomer thing).  This made me feel supremely techie.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be perfectly honest, I was secretly glad that I only had the streaming option because I was still in the \"I can\'t abandon my newly rescued pup after a full day of work\" phase.  I looked for any excuse to stay in for take-out pizza and cuddles on the couch with Bella on a Friday night.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[Life update:  Oh, what a difference a few months makes.  Now Little Miss B is extremely well-adjusted (in addition to being stinkin\' cute), and I telecommute on Fridays.  Life is good, my friends.  Life is good.]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis time around, I connected to Ignite Phoenix<a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/\" target=\"_blank\"> </a>through fb, twitter, and email.  I\'d be darned if I were to miss out on tickets again.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI tweeted about my triple coverage in my attempt to a) stay informed and b) banish the procrastination gremlins.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIgnite Phoenix tweeted back.  They suggested that I <em>submit to present </em>for the next event on May 19th.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWow!  Exciting!  Scary!  A blog day!  (Presenting at Ignite Phoenix qualifies as a 365 soul-scintillating<del> mini-adventure </del>BIG adventure fo sho.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>I replied that I only respond to double dog dares.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #800080;\"><strong>They triple dog dared me.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nNow...In my mind, one can still opt out of double dog dare after some contemplation.  Free will remains in the equation.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBut a triple dog dare???  No way, no how.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took the dare.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nIgnite Phoenix prodded me to beat procrastination to the punch and submit right then and there!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUh-oh.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI submitted 4 days before their April 15th deadline.  At least I didn\'t wait until April 15th which I consider an automatic hex due to another icky deadline that normally resides on that day.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd since 11 is my lucky number, April 11th (Day 197) felt just right.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou can view my submission <strong><a href=\"http://ignitephoenix.com/submissions/submissions-for-ignite-phoenix-10/\" target=\"_blank\">here. </a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWill I be in the audience or on the stage of <strong><a href=\"http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Scottsdale Center for the Arts </a></strong>on the eve of May 19th?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTo be determined...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 197:  Ignite Phoenix Submission Accomplished','','inherit','open','open','','5128-revision-14','','','2011-04-14 20:16:21','2011-04-15 03:16:21','',5128,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/14/5128-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(5280,1,'2011-04-23 01:11:11','2011-04-23 08:11:11','[caption id=\"attachment_5286\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"Lucky at Dina dahling&#39;s place\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4210022.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5286\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4210022-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI\'ve been a bit unlucky lately.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLet me rephrase:  I\'ve been unlucky with men lately.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #808000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Let me rephrase:  I\'ve attracted emotionally stunted men into my life lately which is quite unfortunate.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff6600; font-size: medium;\"><strong>Luckily, everything else in my life is smashing.</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nA few days ago, I was cleaning out my pantry and came across a bottle of distilled water.  I wondered why I owned a bottle of distilled water.  I actually stood there for about 10 seconds with distilled water jug in hand trying to recall why on earth it lived in my pantry.  (This happens quite a bit post-40.)  I then remembered.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Lucky Bamboo!  Lucky requires distilled water to remain alive and therefore bring luck into my life!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Years ago, I had a <del>dream</del> nightmare that Lucky was dying, and I started crying, \"My luck is running out!\"  It was awful.  I\'m obviously still scarred by it.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Not that I\'m superstitious or anything.  I mean, who really believes in that crap?)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(But I would hate for Lucky or my Money Tree at work to die because they are living creatures and all.  Yeah, that\'s it!)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBack to the pantry cleansing...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #808000; font-size: medium;\"><strong>I looked over to where I keep Lucky, and Lucky was GONE!!!</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI actually stood there for about 10 seconds (still holding on to the distilled water bottle) trying to recall where in the world was Lucky???\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, yeah.  Dina <em>dah</em>ling watched him during Christmas Break.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nEven though I\'ve seen Dina <em>dah</em>ling countless times in the past FOUR MONTHS, and even though she only lives a few hundred paces away, the return of Lucky has never taken place.  I don\'t think Dina <em>dah</em>ling has been trying to steal my luck.  I just think that she, too, is in her forties and therefore very forgetful like me.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI also remembered that Dina <em>dah</em>ling jokes about how she can\'t keep plants alive.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI gasped so audibly that Little Miss B cocked her head.  I ran to my phone to do what everyone does these days in an urgent situation.  I texted.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong>Actual text message to Dina <em>dah</em>ling:</strong> </span> I just remembered my bamboo.  Is it still alive??  :-p\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #808000;\"><strong>Actual text from Dina <em>dah</em>ling:</strong></span> Barely!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Something tells me that she didn\'t use distilled water.)\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">And this concludes our story of how I reclaimed my luck.  Let\'s hope that <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/22/day-206-i-intended-on-making-my-first-curry-but/\" target=\"_blank\">my new plan</a></strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/22/day-206-i-intended-on-making-my-first-curry-but/\" target=\"_blank\"> </a>works and luck infiltrates all areas of my life.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">&nbsp;</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5288\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"Lucky Reclaimed\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4220009.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5288\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4220009-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 207:  Reclaiming My Luck ','','publish','open','open','','day-207-reclaiming-my-luck','','http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/22/day-206-i-intended-on-making-my-first-curry-but/\nhttp://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/22/day-206-i-intended-on-making-my-first-curry-but/','2011-04-22 21:10:14','2011-04-23 04:10:14','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=5280',0,'post','',10),(5613,1,'2011-05-17 01:11:21','2011-05-17 08:11:21','[caption id=\"attachment_5620\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"My apologies for the blur.  Bella woofed something about me &quot;acting like the paparazzi&quot; and then tried to duck for cover.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/P5150027.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5620    \" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/P5150027-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nA little over a week ago, <a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/05/06/day-220-my-dog-hijacked-my-computer/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>my dog hijacked my compute</strong>r </a>and created a <strong><a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/worlds.most.precious.pooch\" target=\"_blank\">facebook</a><a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/worlds.most.precious.pooch\" target=\"_blank\"> page</a></strong>.  She already has 62 fans.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe is promoting herself as <strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">A</span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">m</span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">e</span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">r</span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">i</span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">c</span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">a</span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\'</span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">s</span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">D</span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">o</span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">g</span></strong> and hopes to eventually surpass <strong><a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/beast.the.dog\" target=\"_blank\">Mark </a><a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/beast.the.dog\" target=\"_blank\">Zuckerber\'g</a><a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/beast.the.dog\" target=\"_blank\"> pup, Beast</a></strong>, who has 113,938 fans.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBella seems unfazed by the monumental task ahead of her.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI try to explain to her that Mark Zuckerberg is the FOUNDER of facebook, and therefore, his puppy is going to attract a lot of attention.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>Bella:</strong></span> Woof, woof, woofwoofwoofwoofwoof!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong><em>translation:</em></strong> </span> <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/12/05/day-69-art-walk-was-a-bust-but/\" target=\"_blank\">Remember when that nice lady said that I was destined to be on T.V.?</a></strong> Celebrity actors are HUGE in this country!  Forget Beast.   I\'m going to have more facebook fans than OPRAH!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, boy.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLuckily, she\'s still as sweet and as perfect as ever.  Impending celebrity hasn\'t gone to her head.  Yet.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe other day I received an email reminder from the Apple Store reminding me of a 2 p.m. Sunday appointment at their dog-friendly Biltmore location.  I had absolutely no recollection of scheduling this.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI looked over at Little Miss B.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><span style=\"color: #993300;\">Bella:</span></strong> Arf.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><em><strong>translation:</strong></em></span> You\'ve already paid for unlimited One-to-One\'s, and I need to learn how to better navigate around the MacBook Pro so that I can start leveraging social media to spread the word about <strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">A</span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">m</span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">e</span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">r</span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">i</span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">c</span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">a</span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\'</span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">s</span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">D</span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">o</span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">g</span></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, brother.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHow could I say \"no\" to that precious face?  I packed up Little Miss B and the laptop and headed on down to the Apple Store which is the Coolest Store on Earth for being a Dogs Allowed kinda place.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAs usual, Little Miss B attracted a lot of attention.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOne passerby noted that she looked just like Toto.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.movieprop.com/tvandmovie/reviews/wizardofozcharacters.htm\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5615\" title=\"wizardofoztoto1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/wizardofoztoto1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"122\" height=\"138\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAn Apple Genius tickled her chin and cooed to her that she looked like Gizmo.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr205/madd_iez/Famous/gizmo-gremlins.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5616\" title=\"th_gizmo-gremlins\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/th_gizmo-gremlins.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"157\" height=\"160\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/01/day-185-doggie-dna-results-are-in/\" target=\"_blank\">(Note how neither of these look like a Neapolitan Mastiff as declared by Mars Veterinary\'s Wisdom Panel DNA kit.)</a></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5618\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"And they have yet to refund my money.  Even though I&#39;ve asked nicely.  Several times.\"]<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/90738513@N00/2139649370/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5618  \" title=\"2139649370_fc57d9ef7e\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/2139649370_fc57d9ef7e-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBack to reality...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nChildren approached for petting privileges.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLittle Miss B remained humble throughout all of this and bestowed kisses and coy glances upon her fans.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nShe also learned a thing or two from her Genius before lying down at my feet and drifting off to sleep.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Photo-on-2011-05-15-at-14.56.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5619\" title=\"Photo on 2011-05-15 at 14.56\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Photo-on-2011-05-15-at-14.56-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhat do you expect?  She is a dog, after all.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 231:  Doggie Day Out at the Apple Store ','','publish','open','open','','day-231-dogs-allowed-at-the-apple-store','','\nhttp://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/05/06/day-220-my-dog-hijacked-my-computer/','2011-05-16 23:11:44','2011-05-17 06:11:44','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=5613',0,'post','',8),(5656,1,'2011-04-23 10:28:20','2011-04-23 17:28:20','<a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/doos/3926576723/sizes/o/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4917\" title=\"3926576723_a6b3db9e8a_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/3926576723_a6b3db9e8a_o-300x228.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"228\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI am on waaayyyyy too many e-mail lists.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd that\'s with me consciously protecting my sacred personal email addresses.  I use hotmail and gmail for the unimportant stuff.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n(Yes, J at the Apple Store, I have waaayyyyy too many e-mail accounts as well.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nRecently, my home inbox has grown exponentially.  I can\'t keep up with the deluge of emails.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo I dove in and unsubscribed to I-lost-track-of-how-many.  20?  30?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis should appease my innate desire to declutter, which in this age, translates to my cyber-world.  Clear inbox = Clear mind.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium; color: #008000;\"><strong>Here\'s what I\'m holding on to for dear life and why:</strong></span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.groupon.com \" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Groupon --</strong></a> great ideas for this blog at a reduced cost\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.livingsocial.com \" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Living Social --</strong></a> ditto<a href=\"http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/\" target=\"_blank\"></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Art of Nonconformity --</strong></a> this was the first blog that I ever subscribed to so it\'s near and dear to my heart.  I also need to keep abreast of all things nonconformist as well as <a href=\"http://worlddominationsummit.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>World Domination</strong></a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.alistbloggingbootcamps.com/\" target=\"_blank\">A-List Blogging Bootcamp --</a></strong> because I\'m still paying for the membership even though I haven\'t used it since the summer but keep meaning to when I \"find time\".  Riiiigggghttt.  I\'ll have time on Day 366.  Who am I kidding?  I smell an upcoming decision.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.changinghands.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Changing Hands -- </a></strong>because they are the Greatest Bookstore on the Planet\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.dbg.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Desert Botanical Gardens -- </a></strong>because I like butterflies, jazz, luminarias, and the smell of creosote.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.1lacrosse.com/\" target=\"_blank\">1Lacrosse --</a></strong> because this is my precious cousin whom I am SO proud of!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.declutter100.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Declutter100 --</a></strong> because I\'m a decluttering geek, and therefore enjoy reading about other geeks who declutter.  And he just killed his TV which we know <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?s=real+housewive\" target=\"_blank\">I\'ve been contemplating for quite some time.</a> </strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.southwest.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Southwest Airlines --</a></strong> because I need sale updates each Tuesday.  ???  I may need to rethink this one.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAre you an email junkie?  What can you let go of/say goodbye to (even temporarily)/unsubscribe from to stop the madness?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHopefully, it\'s not me.  But if it is, I understand.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWe\'ll always have RSS.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd facebook.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAnd twitter.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 186:  Unsubscribing from the Avalanche','','inherit','open','open','','4906-revision-15','','','2011-04-23 10:28:20','2011-04-23 17:28:20','',4906,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/23/4906-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(5174,1,'2011-04-18 01:11:49','2011-04-18 08:11:49','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120007.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5182\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120007-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>No, not <em>that </em>kind of swinging.  Get your minds out of the gutter, people!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took a swing dance lesson.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDavid aka Captain Adventure has been trying to get me to the place where he swings for YEARS!  I finally acquiesced on Day 198.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever taken a dance class?  Did you know that you are required to dance with complete strangers?  Even when they are sweaty, stinky, old enough to be your father, and tightened a death grip on your hand that causes a sprain.  (Unfortunately, I am not exaggerating.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Sprainer in Question showed me his signature move of \"Traveling Pattycakes\".  I felt like I was Samantha forced into dancing with The Geek in <em>Sixteen Candles</em>.  Although this Geek was trapped in a 70 year-old\'s body.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I don\'t enjoy strange men touching me.  Call me crazy.   This is why I quit my Fred Astaire ballroom dancing teacher gig right out of college.  I lasted two weeks.  (My mother was relieved.  She didn\'t like it one bit.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI finally rebelled and thrust myself upon David.  He\'s my friend, and I figured I could hog him for the night if I damned well pleased.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5185\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120004-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5183\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5186\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"I may have been momentarily confused and thought we were dancing Swan Lake.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120009.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5186\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSpeaking of \"friends\", when the instructor talked to David after I left and found out we are \"just friends\", he asked for my digits.  Curioser and curioser indeed.','Day 198:  I\'m a Swinger','','publish','open','open','','day-198-im-a-swinger','','','2011-04-17 17:01:22','2011-04-18 00:01:22','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=5174',0,'post','',8),(5175,1,'2011-04-16 09:16:25','2011-04-16 16:16:25','No, not <em>that </em>kind of swinging.  Get your minds out of the gutter, people!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took a swing dance lesson.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  I\'m a Swinger','','inherit','open','open','','5174-revision','','','2011-04-16 09:16:25','2011-04-16 16:16:25','',5174,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/16/5174-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5176,1,'2011-04-16 11:13:09','2011-04-16 18:13:09','No, not <em>that </em>kind of swinging.  Get your minds out of the gutter, people!\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took a swing dance lesson.  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDavid aka Captain Adventure has been trying to get me to the place where he swings for YEARS!  I finally acquiesced on Day 198.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever taken a dance class?  Did you know that you are required to dance with complete strangers?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHonestly, I don\'t enjoy strange men touching me.  Call me crazy.   This is why I quit my Fred Astaire ballroom dancing teacher gig right out of college.  I lasted two weeks.  (My mother was relieved.  She didn\'t like it one bit.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTraveling pattycakes\n\nsweaty, stinky, sprained hand\n\ngeek out of 16 candles at 65\n\nteacher wants my digits.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  I\'m a Swinger','','inherit','open','open','','5174-revision-2','','','2011-04-16 11:13:09','2011-04-16 18:13:09','',5174,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/16/5174-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5177,1,'2011-04-17 09:01:14','2011-04-17 16:01:14','No, not <em>that </em>kind of swinging.  Get your minds out of the gutter, people!  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took a swing dance lesson.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDavid aka Captain Adventure has been trying to get me to the place where he swings for YEARS!  I finally acquiesced on Day 198.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever taken a dance class?  Did you know that you are required to dance with complete strangers?  Especially when they are sweaty and stinky and have a death grip on your hand that causes a sprain.  (Unfortunately, I am not exaggerating.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHonestly, I don\'t enjoy strange men touching me.  Call me crazy.   This is why I quit my Fred Astaire ballroom dancing teacher gig right out of college.  I lasted two weeks.  (My mother was relieved.  She didn\'t like it one bit.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTraveling pattycakes\n\nsweaty, stinky, sprained hand\n\n70 year old kept rotating back my way.  flashbacks to 22.\n\ngeek out of 16 candles at 65\n\nteacher wants my digits.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  I\'m a Swinger','','inherit','open','open','','5174-revision-3','','','2011-04-17 09:01:14','2011-04-17 16:01:14','',5174,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/17/5174-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5178,1,'2011-04-17 09:01:47','2011-04-17 16:01:47','No, not <em>that </em>kind of swinging.  Get your minds out of the gutter, people!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took a swing dance lesson.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDavid aka Captain Adventure has been trying to get me to the place where he swings for YEARS!  I finally acquiesced on Day 198.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever taken a dance class?  Did you know that you are required to dance with complete strangers?  Especially when they are sweaty and stinky and have a death grip on your hand that causes a sprain.  (Unfortunately, I am not exaggerating.)  And old enough to be your father?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I don\'t enjoy strange men touching me.  Call me crazy.   This is why I quit my Fred Astaire ballroom dancing teacher gig right out of college.  I lasted two weeks.  (My mother was relieved.  She didn\'t like it one bit.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTraveling pattycakes\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n70 year old kept rotating back my way.  flashbacks to 22.\r\n\r\ngeek out of 16 candles at 65\r\n\r\nteacher wants my digits.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 198:  I\'m a Swinger','','inherit','open','open','','5174-revision-4','','','2011-04-17 09:01:47','2011-04-17 16:01:47','',5174,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/17/5174-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5179,1,'2011-04-17 16:48:52','2011-04-17 23:48:52','No, not <em>that </em>kind of swinging.  Get your minds out of the gutter, people!  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took a swing dance lesson.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDavid aka Captain Adventure has been trying to get me to the place where he swings for YEARS!  I finally acquiesced on Day 198.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever taken a dance class?  Did you know that you are required to dance with complete strangers?  Even when they are sweaty, stinky, old enough to be your father, and have a death grip on your hand that causes a sprain.  (Unfortunately, I am not exaggerating.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Sprainer in Question showed me his signature move of \"Traveling Pattycakes\".  I felt like I was Samantha forced into dancing with The Geek in <em>Sixteen Candles</em>.  Although this Geek was trapped in a 70 year-old\'s body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHonestly, I don\'t enjoy strange men touching me.  Call me crazy.   This is why I quit my Fred Astaire ballroom dancing teacher gig right out of college.  I lasted two weeks.  (My mother was relieved.  She didn\'t like it one bit.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI finally rebelled and thrust myself upon David.  He\'s my friend, and I figured I could hog him for the night if I damned well pleased.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSpeaking of \"friends\", when the instructor talked to David after I left and found out we are \"just friends\", he asked for my digits.  Curioser and curioser indeed.','Day 198:  I\'m a Swinger','','inherit','open','open','','5174-revision-5','','','2011-04-17 16:48:52','2011-04-17 23:48:52','',5174,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/17/5174-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5180,1,'2011-04-17 16:49:19','2011-04-17 23:49:19','No, not <em>that </em>kind of swinging.  Get your minds out of the gutter, people!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took a swing dance lesson.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDavid aka Captain Adventure has been trying to get me to the place where he swings for YEARS!  I finally acquiesced on Day 198.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever taken a dance class?  Did you know that you are required to dance with complete strangers?  Even when they are sweaty, stinky, old enough to be your father, and have a death grip on your hand that causes a sprain.  (Unfortunately, I am not exaggerating.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Sprainer in Question showed me his signature move of \"Traveling Pattycakes\".  I felt like I was Samantha forced into dancing with The Geek in <em>Sixteen Candles</em>.  Although this Geek was trapped in a 70 year-old\'s body.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I don\'t enjoy strange men touching me.  Call me crazy.   This is why I quit my Fred Astaire ballroom dancing teacher gig right out of college.  I lasted two weeks.  (My mother was relieved.  She didn\'t like it one bit.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI finally rebelled and thrust myself upon David.  He\'s my friend, and I figured I could hog him for the night if I damned well pleased.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSpeaking of \"friends\", when the instructor talked to David after I left and found out we are \"just friends\", he asked for my digits.  Curioser and curioser indeed.','Day 198:  I\'m a Swinger','','inherit','open','open','','5174-revision-6','','','2011-04-17 16:49:19','2011-04-17 23:49:19','',5174,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/17/5174-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(5181,1,'2011-04-17 17:00:11','2011-04-18 00:00:11','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120007.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5182\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120007-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>No, not <em>that </em>kind of swinging.  Get your minds out of the gutter, people!  :-D\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI took a swing dance lesson.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDavid aka Captain Adventure has been trying to get me to the place where he swings for YEARS!  I finally acquiesced on Day 198.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHave you ever taken a dance class?  Did you know that you are required to dance with complete strangers?  Even when they are sweaty, stinky, old enough to be your father, and have a death grip on your hand that causes a sprain.  (Unfortunately, I am not exaggerating.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Sprainer in Question showed me his signature move of \"Traveling Pattycakes\".  I felt like I was Samantha forced into dancing with The Geek in <em>Sixteen Candles</em>.  Although this Geek was trapped in a 70 year-old\'s body.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHonestly, I don\'t enjoy strange men touching me.  Call me crazy.   This is why I quit my Fred Astaire ballroom dancing teacher gig right out of college.  I lasted two weeks.  (My mother was relieved.  She didn\'t like it one bit.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI finally rebelled and thrust myself upon David.  He\'s my friend, and I figured I could hog him for the night if I damned well pleased.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120004.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5185\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120004-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5183\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120008-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_5186\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"I may have been momentarily confused and thought we were dancing Swan Lake.\"]<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120009.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5186\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120009-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSpeaking of \"friends\", when the instructor talked to David after I left and found out we are \"just friends\", he asked for my digits.  Curioser and curioser indeed.','Day 198:  I\'m a Swinger','','inherit','open','open','','5174-autosave','','','2011-04-17 17:00:11','2011-04-18 00:00:11','',5174,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/17/5174-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5182,1,'2011-04-17 16:51:56','2011-04-17 23:51:56','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-314','','','2011-04-17 16:51:56','2011-04-17 23:51:56','',5174,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120007.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5183,1,'2011-04-17 16:53:23','2011-04-17 23:53:23','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-315','','','2011-04-17 16:53:23','2011-04-17 23:53:23','',5174,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120008.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5184,1,'2011-04-17 16:49:48','2011-04-17 23:49:48','No, not <em>that </em>kind of swinging.  Get your minds out of the gutter, people!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took a swing dance lesson.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDavid aka Captain Adventure has been trying to get me to the place where he swings for YEARS!  I finally acquiesced on Day 198.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever taken a dance class?  Did you know that you are required to dance with complete strangers?  Even when they are sweaty, stinky, old enough to be your father, and have a death grip on your hand that causes a sprain.  (Unfortunately, I am not exaggerating.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Sprainer in Question showed me his signature move of \"Traveling Pattycakes\".  I felt like I was Samantha forced into dancing with The Geek in <em>Sixteen Candles</em>.  Although this Geek was trapped in a 70 year-old\'s body.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I don\'t enjoy strange men touching me.  Call me crazy.   This is why I quit my Fred Astaire ballroom dancing teacher gig right out of college.  I lasted two weeks.  (My mother was relieved.  She didn\'t like it one bit.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI finally rebelled and thrust myself upon David.  He\'s my friend, and I figured I could hog him for the night if I damned well pleased.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSpeaking of \"friends\", when the instructor talked to David after I left and found out we are \"just friends\", he asked for my digits.  Curioser and curioser indeed.','Day 198:  I\'m a Swinger','','inherit','open','open','','5174-revision-7','','','2011-04-17 16:49:48','2011-04-17 23:49:48','',5174,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/17/5174-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(5185,1,'2011-04-17 16:56:00','2011-04-17 23:56:00','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-316','','','2011-04-17 16:56:00','2011-04-17 23:56:00','',5174,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120004.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5186,1,'2011-04-17 16:59:18','2011-04-17 23:59:18','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','I may have been momentarily confused and thought we were dancing Swan Lake.','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-317','','','2011-04-17 16:59:18','2011-04-17 23:59:18','',5174,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120009.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5187,1,'2011-04-17 16:54:04','2011-04-17 23:54:04','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120007.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5182\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120007-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>No, not <em>that </em>kind of swinging.  Get your minds out of the gutter, people!  :-D\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI took a swing dance lesson.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDavid aka Captain Adventure has been trying to get me to the place where he swings for YEARS!  I finally acquiesced on Day 198.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHave you ever taken a dance class?  Did you know that you are required to dance with complete strangers?  Even when they are sweaty, stinky, old enough to be your father, and have a death grip on your hand that causes a sprain.  (Unfortunately, I am not exaggerating.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Sprainer in Question showed me his signature move of \"Traveling Pattycakes\".  I felt like I was Samantha forced into dancing with The Geek in <em>Sixteen Candles</em>.  Although this Geek was trapped in a 70 year-old\'s body.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nHonestly, I don\'t enjoy strange men touching me.  Call me crazy.   This is why I quit my Fred Astaire ballroom dancing teacher gig right out of college.  I lasted two weeks.  (My mother was relieved.  She didn\'t like it one bit.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI finally rebelled and thrust myself upon David.  He\'s my friend, and I figured I could hog him for the night if I damned well pleased.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120008.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-5183\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4120008-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSpeaking of \"friends\", when the instructor talked to David after I left and found out we are \"just friends\", he asked for my digits.  Curioser and curioser indeed.','Day 198:  I\'m a Swinger','','inherit','open','open','','5174-revision-8','','','2011-04-17 16:54:04','2011-04-17 23:54:04','',5174,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/17/5174-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(5189,1,'2011-04-18 01:15:52','2011-04-18 08:15:52','<a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5192 alignnone\" title=\"index_r1_c1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/index_r1_c1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"247\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I\'m really jumping ahead and out of order this time, but this is important, so I need to publish \"live\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nToday, April 18th, is the first day of Screen-Free Week (which evolved from the former \"National Turn Off Your Television Week\".)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAre you up for the challenge?  Join me in turning off screens and turning on our imaginations!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Please visit the </a><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Screen-Free Week </a><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">website </a></strong>to gather inspiration and motivation for possibilities outside the boob tube and beyond this week.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI look forward to hearing how Screen-Free Week changes your life!','Day 204:  Screen-Free Week Kickoff!','','publish','open','open','','day-204-screen-free-week-kickoff','','','2011-04-17 19:03:54','2011-04-18 02:03:54','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=5189',0,'post','',9),(5190,1,'2011-04-17 18:57:55','2011-04-18 01:57:55','Yes, I\'m really jumping ahead and out of order this time, but this is important, so I need to publish \"live\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nToday, April 18th, is the first day of Screen-Free Week (which evolved from the former \"National Turn Off Your Television Week\".)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAre you up for the challenge?  Join me in turning off screens and turning on our imaginations!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Please visit the </a><strong><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Screen-Free Week </a></strong><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">website </a>to gather inspiration and motivation for possibilities outside the boob tube and beyond this week.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI look forward to hearing how turning of the screens and turning on life changes your world this week!','Day 204:  Turn Off Your Television Week','','inherit','open','open','','5189-revision','','','2011-04-17 18:57:55','2011-04-18 01:57:55','',5189,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/17/5189-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5191,1,'2011-04-17 18:58:43','2011-04-18 01:58:43','Yes, I\'m really jumping ahead and out of order this time, but this is important, so I need to publish \"live\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nToday, April 18th, is the first day of Screen-Free Week (which evolved from the former \"National Turn Off Your Television Week\".)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAre you up for the challenge?  Join me in turning off screens and turning on our imaginations!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Please visit the </a><strong><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Screen-Free Week </a></strong><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">website </a>to gather inspiration and motivation for possibilities outside the boob tube and beyond this week.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI look forward to hearing how turning of the screens and turning on life changes your world this week!','Day 204:  Screen-Free Week Kickoff!','','inherit','open','open','','5189-revision-2','','','2011-04-17 18:58:43','2011-04-18 01:58:43','',5189,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/17/5189-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5192,1,'2011-04-17 18:59:56','2011-04-18 01:59:56','','index_r1_c1','','inherit','open','open','','index_r1_c1','','','2011-04-17 18:59:56','2011-04-18 01:59:56','',5189,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/index_r1_c1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5193,1,'2011-04-17 18:59:13','2011-04-18 01:59:13','Yes, I\'m really jumping ahead and out of order this time, but this is important, so I need to publish \"live\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nToday, April 18th, is the first day of Screen-Free Week (which evolved from the former \"National Turn Off Your Television Week\".)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAre you up for the challenge?  Join me in turning off screens and turning on our imaginations!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Please visit the </a><strong><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Screen-Free Week </a></strong><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">website </a>to gather inspiration and motivation for possibilities outside the boob tube and beyond this week.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI look forward to hearing how turning of the screens and turning on life changes your world this week!','Day 204:  Screen-Free Week Kickoff!','','inherit','open','open','','5189-revision-3','','','2011-04-17 18:59:13','2011-04-18 01:59:13','',5189,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/17/5189-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5194,1,'2011-04-17 19:02:35','2011-04-18 02:02:35','<a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5192 alignnone\" title=\"index_r1_c1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/index_r1_c1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"247\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYes, I\'m really jumping ahead and out of order this time, but this is important, so I need to publish \"live\".\n\n&nbsp;\n\nToday, April 18th, is the first day of Screen-Free Week (which evolved from the former \"National Turn Off Your Television Week\".)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAre you up for the challenge?  Join me in turning off screens and turning on our imaginations!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Please visit the </a><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Screen-Free Week </a><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">website </a></strong>to gather inspiration and motivation for possibilities outside the boob tube and beyond this week.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI look forward to hearing how Screen-Free Week changes your world this week!','Day 204:  Screen-Free Week Kickoff!','','inherit','open','open','','5189-autosave','','','2011-04-17 19:02:35','2011-04-18 02:02:35','',5189,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/17/5189-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(5195,1,'2011-04-17 19:00:33','2011-04-18 02:00:33','<a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-5192\" title=\"index_r1_c1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/index_r1_c1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"247\" /></a>Yes, I\'m really jumping ahead and out of order this time, but this is important, so I need to publish \"live\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nToday, April 18th, is the first day of Screen-Free Week (which evolved from the former \"National Turn Off Your Television Week\".)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAre you up for the challenge?  Join me in turning off screens and turning on our imaginations!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Please visit the </a><strong><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Screen-Free Week </a></strong><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">website </a>to gather inspiration and motivation for possibilities outside the boob tube and beyond this week.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI look forward to hearing how turning of the screens and turning on life changes your world this week!','Day 204:  Screen-Free Week Kickoff!','','inherit','open','open','','5189-revision-4','','','2011-04-17 19:00:33','2011-04-18 02:00:33','',5189,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/17/5189-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5196,1,'2011-04-17 19:02:46','2011-04-18 02:02:46','<a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-5192 alignnone\" title=\"index_r1_c1\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/index_r1_c1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"247\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYes, I\'m really jumping ahead and out of order this time, but this is important, so I need to publish \"live\".\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nToday, April 18th, is the first day of Screen-Free Week (which evolved from the former \"National Turn Off Your Television Week\".)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAre you up for the challenge?  Join me in turning off screens and turning on our imaginations!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Please visit the </a><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Screen-Free Week </a><a href=\"http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/whatissfw.htm\" target=\"_blank\">website </a></strong>to gather inspiration and motivation for possibilities outside the boob tube and beyond this week.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI look forward to hearing how Screen-Free Week changes your life!','Day 204:  Screen-Free Week Kickoff!','','inherit','open','open','','5189-revision-5','','','2011-04-17 19:02:46','2011-04-18 02:02:46','',5189,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/17/5189-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5198,1,'2011-04-19 01:11:47','2011-04-19 08:11:47','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5204\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140017-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nI spend every Christmas in Houston with my family.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMom, in true Mom fashion, tends to spoil everyone with gifts galore.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince it\'s impossible to pack all these gifts in a suitcase, Mom ships the rest of the loot back to me via U.S. mail.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, she waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Until January 21st.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou would have thought that I would have immediately ripped open the box, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWell...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen you\'re juggling blog, work, puppy, friends, and life, the box might get stuffed into a closet until there\'s free time to unpack, sort, and find a place for everything.  (Like I said, Mom tends to go overboard.  Especially with the kitchen gadgets.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI decided to finally haul out the goods as a stress reliever<strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/15/day-198-tax-relief/\" target=\"_blank\"> when I nearly hyperventilated from working on my taxes</a></strong>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140027.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5205\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140027-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nLurking in that box was stuff that I could have been using.  Like the Pampered Chef chip clips for example.  For about a month now, when I ran out of rubber bands and clips to seal bags of chips or frozen veggies, I have been using scotch tape!  Scotch tape!!!!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr the Chop Stir Kitchen Gadget (did I warn you about the kitchen gadgets??) that would have helped me during my <strong><a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/02/07/day-131-fireside-chili-chat-with-michelle/\" target=\"_blank\">White Chili</a></strong> cook off.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5206\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140040-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nSurprise!  I had forgotten about the Camp4Coffee espresso!  Thank you, sis!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOr...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140033.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5207\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140033-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOops!  I guess I missed the season on these.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, well.  In my mind, the \"mistletoe\" in April will bring lots of kissing into my life.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 200:  Christmas in April ','','publish','open','open','','day-200-christmas-in-april','','\nhttp://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/15/day-198-tax-relief/','2011-04-18 21:08:21','2011-04-19 04:08:21','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=5198',0,'post','',5),(5199,1,'2011-04-18 11:06:52','2011-04-18 18:06:52','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','5198-revision','','','2011-04-18 11:06:52','2011-04-18 18:06:52','',5198,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/18/5198-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5200,1,'2011-04-18 12:29:45','2011-04-18 19:29:45','I spend every Christmas in Houston with my family.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMom, in true Mom fashion, tends to spoil everyone with gifts galore.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince it\'s impossible to pack all these gifts in a suitcase, Mom ships the rest of the loot back to me via U.S. mail.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, she waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Until January 21st.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(insert photo here)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would of thought that I would have dove into the box immediately upon arrival, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWell...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen you\'re juggling blog, work, puppy, friends, and life,  the box might get stuffed into a closet until there\'s  free time to unpack, sort, and find a place for everything.  (Like I said, Mom tends to go overboard.  Especially with the kitchen gadgg','Day 200:  Christmas in April ','','inherit','open','open','','5198-revision-2','','','2011-04-18 12:29:45','2011-04-18 19:29:45','',5198,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/18/5198-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(5201,1,'2011-04-18 12:31:41','2011-04-18 19:31:41','I spend every Christmas in Houston with my family.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMom, in true Mom fashion, tends to spoil everyone with gifts galore.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince it\'s impossible to pack all these gifts in a suitcase, Mom ships the rest of the loot back to me via U.S. mail.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, she waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Until January 21st.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(insert photo here)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would of thought that I would have dove into the box immediately upon arrival, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWell...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen you\'re juggling blog, work, puppy, friends, and life,  the box might get stuffed into a closet until there\'s  free time to unpack, sort, and find a place for everything.  (Like I said, Mom tends to go overboard.  Especially with the kitchen gadgets.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI decided to finally haul out the goods when I nearly hyperventilated from working on my taxes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n(photos -- box)\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 200:  Christmas in April ','','inherit','open','open','','5198-revision-3','','','2011-04-18 12:31:41','2011-04-18 19:31:41','',5198,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/18/5198-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(5202,1,'2011-04-20 01:11:18','2011-04-20 08:11:18','<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/210394_1776026051955_1578470422_1660129_90159_o.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5218\" title=\"210394_1776026051955_1578470422_1660129_90159_o\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/210394_1776026051955_1578470422_1660129_90159_o-300x194.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"194\" /></a>My friend, Sarah, spearheads a <a href=\"http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Relay for Life</strong></a> Benefit Concert every year.  That woman puts on a show (literally) like you wouldn\'t believe.  And always for great causes!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nUsually, I participate and sing in The Relay Concert.  This year, with no time for rehearsal, I showed up in support as an audience member only.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCheck out the websites of my friends who performed:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong><a href=\"http://www.myspace.com/greggmyers\" target=\"_blank\">Gregg Myers </a></strong>(multi-talented singer, songwriter, guitarist and designer of the benefit poster pictured here).  Please make sure to also visit the page for his new group, <strong><a href=\"http://www.reverbnation.com/peasantempire\" target=\"_blank\">Peasant Empire</a>.</strong></li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a href=\"http://www.aaronhowardmusic.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Aaron Howard </strong></a>(singer, songwriter, guitarist extraordinaire and Night Owl).  He didn\'t perform until Midnight, and I needed my beauty sleep for a date the next night.  Sorry, Aaron!  I still ♥ you!</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThe evening attracted a HUGE turnout, and all involved raised a nice chunk of change for Relay for Life.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 201:  Relay for Life Benefit Concert','','publish','open','open','','day-201-relay-for-life-benefit-concert','','','2011-04-19 21:06:48','2011-04-20 04:06:48','',0,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?p=5202',0,'post','',0),(5203,1,'2011-04-18 12:32:52','2011-04-18 19:32:52','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','5202-revision','','','2011-04-18 12:32:52','2011-04-18 19:32:52','',5202,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/18/5202-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(5204,1,'2011-04-18 18:00:37','2011-04-19 01:00:37','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-318','','','2011-04-18 18:00:37','2011-04-19 01:00:37','',5198,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140017.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5205,1,'2011-04-18 18:03:23','2011-04-19 01:03:23','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-319','','','2011-04-18 18:03:23','2011-04-19 01:03:23','',5198,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140027.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5206,1,'2011-04-18 18:05:19','2011-04-19 01:05:19','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-320','','','2011-04-18 18:05:19','2011-04-19 01:05:19','',5198,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140040.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5207,1,'2011-04-18 18:07:29','2011-04-19 01:07:29','','OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA','','inherit','open','open','','olympus-digital-camera-321','','','2011-04-18 18:07:29','2011-04-19 01:07:29','',5198,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140033.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(5208,1,'2011-04-18 18:10:01','2011-04-19 01:10:01','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5204\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140017-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\n\nI spend every Christmas in Houston with my family.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMom, in true Mom fashion, tends to spoil everyone with gifts galore.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nSince it\'s impossible to pack all these gifts in a suitcase, Mom ships the rest of the loot back to me via U.S. mail.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year, she waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Until January 21st.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou would of thought that I would have dove into the box immediately upon arrival, right?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWell...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWhen you\'re juggling blog, work, puppy, friends, and life,  the box might get stuffed into a closet until there\'s  free time to unpack, sort, and find a place for everything.  (Like I said, Mom tends to go overboard.  Especially with the kitchen gadgets.)\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI decided to finally haul out the goods when I nearly hyperventilated from working on my taxes.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140027.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5205\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140027-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5206\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140040-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\n\nSurprise!  I had forgotten about the Camp4Coffee espresso!  Thank you, sis!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140033.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5207\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140033-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\n\nOops!  I guess I missed the season on these.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOh, well.  In my mind, the \"mistletoe\" in\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Day 200:  Christmas in April ','','inherit','open','open','','5198-revision-4','','','2011-04-18 18:10:01','2011-04-19 01:10:01','',5198,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/18/5198-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(5209,1,'2011-04-18 18:10:46','2011-04-19 01:10:46','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5204\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140017-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nI spend every Christmas in Houston with my family.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMom, in true Mom fashion, tends to spoil everyone with gifts galore.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince it\'s impossible to pack all these gifts in a suitcase, Mom ships the rest of the loot back to me via U.S. mail.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, she waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Until January 21st.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou would of thought that I would have dove into the box immediately upon arrival, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWell...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen you\'re juggling blog, work, puppy, friends, and life,  the box might get stuffed into a closet until there\'s  free time to unpack, sort, and find a place for everything.  (Like I said, Mom tends to go overboard.  Especially with the kitchen gadgets.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI decided to finally haul out the goods when I nearly hyperventilated from working on my taxes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140027.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5205\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140027-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5206\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140040-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nSurprise!  I had forgotten about the Camp4Coffee espresso!  Thank you, sis!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140033.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5207\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140033-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOops!  I guess I missed the season on these.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, well.  In my mind, the \"mistletoe\" in April will bring lots of kissing into my life.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 200:  Christmas in April ','','inherit','open','open','','5198-revision-5','','','2011-04-18 18:10:46','2011-04-19 01:10:46','',5198,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/18/5198-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(5210,1,'2011-04-18 18:11:46','2011-04-19 01:11:46','<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5204\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140017-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nI spend every Christmas in Houston with my family.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMom, in true Mom fashion, tends to spoil everyone with gifts galore.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSince it\'s impossible to pack all these gifts in a suitcase, Mom ships the rest of the loot back to me via U.S. mail.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThis year, she waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Until January 21st.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nYou would of thought that I would have dove into the box immediately upon arrival, right?\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWell...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWhen you\'re juggling blog, work, puppy, friends, and life,  the box might get stuffed into a closet until there\'s  free time to unpack, sort, and find a place for everything.  (Like I said, Mom tends to go overboard.  Especially with the kitchen gadgets.)\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI decided to finally haul out the goods when I nearly hyperventilated from working on my taxes.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140027.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5205\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140027-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5206\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140040-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" />\r\n\r\nSurprise!  I had forgotten about the Camp4Coffee espresso!  Thank you, sis!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140033.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-5207\" title=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" src=\"http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/P4140033-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>\r\n\r\nOops!  I guess I missed the season on these.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nOh, well.  In my mind, the \"mistletoe\" in April will bring lots of kissing into my life.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Day 200:  Christmas in April ','','inherit','open','open','','5198-revision-6','','','2011-04-18 18:11:46','2011-04-19 01:11:46','',5198,'http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/04/18/5198-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),