Streetlights

Goodfellahs

I stopped at the party store around the corner after work today to pick up some Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat, which I had for the first time on the camping trip and has become a new summer favorite. Going to the party store in the early evening is better than going later. Later, I feel a little wary walking in alone, what with the random male loiterers around the door, and the two guys who run the place don't exactly put me at ease either. They look like, sound like, and project the auras of two men who know in great detail what happened to Jimmy Hoffa.

This evening a new, younger guy was selling the lottery tickets and working one register while one of the goodfellahs berated someone on the other end of the phone, per usual. He's the one who asked for my ID once when I paid for a bottle of Grand Marnier with a credit card. "How d'you say that name?" he asked me. When I told him, he gave me shit about it. "Cinco de Mayo! Cinco means 'five!' Cinco de Mayo! Hahahahahah!" I risked winding up under the 50 yard line at Soldier Field with Hoffa and unsmilingly said, "That's not an original joke."

But I digress.

Young goodfellah hesitated to ring up my $8 microbrewed six-pack. Because I didn't stick my ID in my pocket when I walked over, I got carded for the first time in about four years. Now, I knew I had a pimple on my forehead and a sparkly silver butterfly in my hair because I woke up at 8:26 and had to be at work by 9:00 and grabbed the closest barrette. But the Delaware Water Gap appears between my eyebrows when I make an expression and when I smile several crows stamp on the skin around the corners of my eyes. My hair is turning gray. I've the start of a pizza-fed double chin and some nice strega-style black whiskers. This kid thinks I'm not 21?

He wanted to consult with the senior member of the staff. Goodfellah held the phone away from his ear. "What do you want?" he asked me. "You want a bag? You want us to help you drink it?"

"I'm in here all the time," I said. "I just want to take this home."

"She's okay," he told young goodfellah.

"You still owe me $200," he said into the phone.

How YOU Doin'?

Still getting caught up on work. And sweating.

In Which the Market Creates Previously Unfelt Desire

OMG! I WANT THE RADICCHIO CHICKENS!



The zucchini daschund is cute too:

Weird, I Know

Despite the heat and humidity, I felt like making soup today.

Kimmijo's Random Soup

Heat minced garlic and onion in olive oil until onion is transparent
Add carrot, celery and one cup chicken broth
Simmer until carrot softens
Add two hands-full pasta and another cup of chicken broth
Bring to boil, then reduce
Skim the stuff off the top
Add oregano, freshly ground pepper and paprika to taste
When pasta is tender, stir in peas and dark leafy greens
Serve with shredded cheese and croutons

Humid Hair Day

Washington Street Parking Garage Mosaic

Turn Off Hi-Beamz Plz

I Knew They Were Selling Something

More Jesus Brand® Spirituality.

From the Spam Folder

My worshippers have finally caught on.

Please, you don't have to kneel.