These Reefs are made for walking

So, this weekend I thought it would be a grand idea for us to walk to downtown Lake Worth.  I figured it was about 1-1 1/2 miles, so not a far walk.  Besides, why not be environmentally friendly, get some exercise, see the town by foot.  It’s one thing to drive through a neighborhood, and it’s another to walk it.  You get to see all the cracks that aren’t filled in with fire hydrants and landscaping.  It’s nice.  One should know which lots reek of urine (human?  animal?), which have boarded up houses and which ones are voting for who.  Yes, JP and I got to figure all this out on our…30+-minute walk.  I was a bit wrong in my destination distance estimate, I admit.  But, it gave way to uber thirstiness by the time we reached Lake Avenue!  Anywho, at least we got to burn some calories before we consumed them!  

Topic switch!  On the way home tonight, I grabbed some fennel at the local market.  I’ve always wanted to try this at home, so score.  The raw fennel smelled like black licorice straight up; too bad I’m not a fan of black licorice.  In any event, I had faith that the grilling process would change that.  And it did.  Just a little s&p and some olive oil plus a little grill heat…tasty goodness.  The result was a little celery, but much more mellow, and with better texture

National Tequila Day

There was a time when liquor and I, well, were broken up.  There were a few short-term breaks here and there, but we managed to stay friendly throughout the college years.  Then, one day I decided to just cut out liquor drinks completely.  On occasion – a friend’s birthday, a hen’s party, Saturday night – I would force down half a shot.  But otherwise, no more Captain and Cokes.  Adios Red Bull & vodka.  Sayonara chocloate martini. 

And, like lightening strikes, I suddenly craved a margarita!  On the rocks.  With salt.  If you’re buying   Was it the salt?  The lime?  Or…the tequila!?  I never really cared for tequila before – and I still don’t think I do.  In any event, I don’t know where the craving came from, but the combination certainly is heavenly today.

So, I’m about 55 minutes early typing this, but here’s to National Tequila Day - July 24.  Cheers to the Margarita; the Tequila Sunrise; the Long Island Ice Tea; the Tequila Mockingbird…. 

Tequila!

Bye bye, bottled water!

Buh-bye.  That’s exactly what one town is saying to bottled water.  Residents of Bundanoon, New South Wales, voted to ban the sale of bottled water in their town. 

It was the second blow to Australia’s beverage industry in one day: Hours earlier, the New South Wales state premier banned all state departments and agencies from buying bottled water, calling it a waste of money and natural resources.

“We’re hoping it will act as a catalyst to people’s memories to remember the days when we did not have bottled water,” he said. “What is ‘Evian‘ spelled backwards? ‘Naive.’”

I hate buying water.  I am a sucker for a bottled beverage, true that.  Why do they have to put the little cooler of tasty beverages right by the check out lane!?  But, water?  Even if I want water, I won’t buy it - instead I’ll opt to purchase a tea or soda.  

In any event, a neat victory Down Under.  And I hope it sends a message to the bottled water industry – and hopefully to other parts of the world!  Read the entire article here.

Stoners Down Under

And they say stoners are lazy.  Well, not those in Australia – that is, if you’re a wallaby.  Straight from the headlines: Stoned wallabies make Australian crop circles.  I would much rather read about high macropods than murders anyday.  

“We have a problem with wallabies entering poppy fields, getting as high as a kite and going around in circles,” the state’s top lawmaker Lara Giddings told local media on Thursday.

What’s more, I like that the short article ended on a factoid:

Australia produces about 50 percent of the world’s raw material for morphine and related opiates. 

Take that Intervention.  Better start planning a franchise series Down Under.  (I only have basic cable, and fortunately, A&E is one of my choices.  Whenever I hear the theme music to Intervention, I tune out everything.  The drama of going from star ____ (insert talent) to dead beat ____ (insert drug/alcohol) addict is intense.  I’m so addicted…I think I need an intervention…)