My reluctance knows no bounds

I realize (or rather was informed by one MFU DD) I need a post here to move the unappetizing giant oatmeal cookie down a scroll. But what is there to post about? Certainly not Notre Dame football? Maybe the latest updates to the Physician Self Referral Laws (better known as Stark)? the return of fall TV? evening rides in British sports cars? Ok, well, maybe that is worth blogging about, but I'm too windswept to form a coherent post.

I guess you'll have to wait for the next baked good or niece-visit. Until then, Fred Thompson in '08. I KID. I shudder at the thought of what would happen to L&O in his absence.

Another Office Birthday

Last time I wasn't on duty. That won't happen again. Desserts have sugar in them, and that's all there is to it. Anyway - my attempt to jazz up this giant oatmeal raisin cookie for Boss Bob's birthday (someone suggested these cookies, his favorite - but cookies alone are not a sufficient birthday treat):



I didn't realize before embarking on this project that my food coloring is Neon. It doesn't make the most appetizing frosting. The first layer was too thin, and the cookies still too hot, so I whipped up a new batch of frosting (after taste-testing mixers for my gifted chocolate vodka with not-Boss Bob) and tried again. It looks a little scary. Mom and Maura - whenever I start my bakery, you 2 are hired as decorators!

p.s. I finally came off the "very long wait" for Miss Potter on Netflix. For a period-piece junkie, it was really good. Not as substantial production (same exact concept of live action/imagination) or heartbreaking as Finding Neverland - but still a good watch. Sometimes I thought Beatrix's dialogue was too Bridget Jones (a little anachronistic) - but there are character similarities there too.

Harry Potter-delayed picture postings

Now that I have finally learned Harry Potter's fate (don't worry, no spoilers here for you slow readers), I have had the time to post new pictures of Cora!

First, model-in-training Cora showing off Aunt Maura's kitten onesie (Aunt Carolyn's favorite!):



Rather than link you away to my web album to share the large volume of photos from Cora's first D'Amore family gathering, I am pleased to unveil The Reluctant Blogger's new medium for sharing pictures.... get a load of this:



(Hover over the bottom for a pause button and back and forth arrows.)

You may still want to see the web album for full size pictures and download-ability.

kittens in the window

The cats like to sit in the open bedroom window. This shot was them seeing me off as I left for Erie the other day. This morning, as I was hastily getting ready for work, I glanced at the window that I had open maybe 8 inches. I thought to myself how bright the sun must be to be causing a reflection on the screen, as I could see 2 cats where there was only space for one. On a closer look (that almost didn't happen and could have led to a thrashing escape) I realized one cat was on the window sill, and the other cat was shut between the screen and the window, the inside cat having somehow lowered the window completely shut.

Make Room for Baby!

Now that my niece, Cora Elizabeth, has arrived, I think baby pictures will outweigh kitten pictures. I'll start of one of me and my niece, because, well, it's my blog, and I think Melissa and Matt would appreciate if I refrain from making widely-public pictures of them and their daughter until they are better rested and therefore paparazzi-ready.

Meet Cora:



I think it's also safe to assume that my momentum with Anna Karenina will come to a complete halt what with much baby spoiling to do. Oh, and the imminent arrival of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows.

I had to hurry up and post these pictures before the novelty of Melissa's pregnancy is gone and the blogs are filled with baby pictures! We took a trip to Presque Isle on 7/7/07 - the day I had predicted for niece/nephew's arrival. Baby did not comply. In hindsight I was too gently going over the bumps on Erie's pot-holed roads.



(I only posted this one so M+M cannot say I am not an equal-opportunity embarrasser.)

my public demands a new post

so, what is new with me? I'm in a new relationship with Netflix that is off to a good start (I'd steal Jon's concept of the one-sentence reviews in the sidebar of this blog, but who knows, he may resume writing his own any day now); I'm nearly 1/3 of the way through Anna Karenina after it has been gathering dust on my bookshelf for four years; I've acquired the long-overdue first sunburn of summer making way for a good tan; and the buzzer just went off on the dryer.