I, for one, think the good old Pressure Cooker has been overlooked in our culture’s culinary experience.  We just don’t appreciate the Pressure Cooker anymore.    Nope.  Not at all.

Some people….. … especially here in the U.S….. still use a large Pressure Cooker for canning.  Hence, it’s name…. the good old Pressure Canner.  It is designed, specifically to hold jars.  I think it should be Jarring foods, not canning.

But back to the real McCoy.  The Pressure Cooker… which I might add.. was known as the first PC.   (Where as the real McCoy… was referred to as  the first Mac.)  But back on track now.

The PC has been around for quite some time now.  A guy named Denis… YEP… Denis Papin invented it.  He was French.  And he came up with the idea way, way, way back …. around 1678.  Seriously.   Leave it to the French.  Today is Denis’ birthday.   August 22.  1647.  Good pals with Isaac Newton.  Well.  Sort of.

Denis did a bunch of experimenting with steam devices.  And THAT….. makes me wonder why he chose steam to work with of all things.  To see a painting of this guy… well…. he looks more like a knitter to me.  At any rate….

The PC.  Pressure Cooker.  I don’t think folks use them too often anymore.  I’m not sure why.    It is the process of cooking food, using water in a sealed vessel…. AND….. it  does not permit air or liquids to escape below a pre-set pressure. It cooks food quicker than conventional cooking methods, which also saves energy.

I guess you could cook vegetables in it… or even steam fruits…. like apples.  Maybe soups?  I have no idea what you are REALLY supposed to fix in a PC.  I think apples would be best.  It fits in with the aforementioned Mac.  And Isaac Newton.

My only guess is that it isn’t convenient.  And THAT is why it fell by the wayside.

But the name is catchy.

Especially in sports and such.  “Folks…. we got a real Pressure Cooker on our hands.”

Some days… I guess all of us might feel like we have something in the Pressure Cooker.    And the only way to make it stop cooking, cooking, cooking… is to blow off a little steam.

“Pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what the hell you’re doing.” – Peyton Manning

She wasn’t like any other ordinary rabbit.  No.  This old gal had panache, and flair, and pizazz.  The bunny had history.  And huge ears, I might add.  But these days… yes now….., she found herself in a cage.  Long, boring days…. locked in a little wire cage.

Years ago, she was the Talk of the Town… her name was Toasted at all the popular parties.  “Here’s to Rita Rose the Very Rare Rabbit.”

She would pop out of the Magician’s Hat on command.  An Abracadabra here….. and an Abracadabra there… and POOF… out would peak….. Rita Rose the Very Rare Rabbit.  She would cock her head, and twitch her ears back and forth.  Then she would crinkle up her little pink nose.  No one could resist her charming ways.

But if that was not enough…. she would hop out of the hat… and lope across the stage… doing a little dance until she disappeared behind the red velvet curtains.  The crowds would cheer with fierce appreciation and approval.

People would imitate her…. her moves were contagious.  And those trendy moves soon became a dance called….   The Bunny Hop.

But now.  Oh now.
Rita Rose sits in a cage.  In a long line of cages in fact… with a lot of other white rabbits.  She dreams about days gone by.  She reminisces with the other Hares about the Magnificent Marlin, and his Mysterious Magic Show.

She yearns to go back, but she can’t.
So now she hopes for the day… that someone…..  ANYONE… will leave the cage door ajar.
She longs for it.  She imagines that someday it will be real.  And  then she will do her best disappearing act…. ever.

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” – Albert Einstein

I’ve come to understand, that there are certain things in this life… which we are totally powerless over.  Each and every one of us.  It isn’t always easy to accept…. and rarely easy to understand.  It can be very difficult….. this powerlessness…..  which we will encounter…. time and time again.

But it exists.

“There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.” – Aldous Huxley

“I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.” – Buddha

“I shall never believe that God plays dice with the world.” – Albert Einstein

“I do believe we’re all connected. I do believe in positive energy. I do believe in the power of prayer. I do believe in putting good out into the world. And I believe in taking care of each other.” – Harvey Fierstein

“We are all worms. But I believe that I am a glow-worm.” – Winston Churchill

Yesterday we had the kids over.  The little guys came during the day… and we kicked about the farm like we do.

I like to call this place a farm, even though we don’t actually farm anything.  Unless, of course, you count prairie grasses, wildflowers, trees, deer, fish, raccoons, birds, and all the rest of the flora, fauna, and wild beasts.

But back to the story.  We knocked around…. weeded long-ago gardens, trimmed this and that, fed those aforementioned fish.  When the chores were done, we got in the pool, and swam like those aforementioned fish.

And instead of throwing something on the grill, we fixed a big pot of spaghetti, a colossal tossed salad, and some Anti-Vampire Garlic Bread.  All the kids were here.  Regular and Grand.

Just after dinner, a shadow shows up.  It crossed the lawn on four legs.  It looked  a LOT like a big furry dog.  Wait.  It was a big furry dog.

So.  There he was.  He seemed pretty okay. Ah but then…. wouldn’t you know it…..  he did a little growling here and there.  It made my ears go up.  We secured our little canines…. and when it got time for everyone to leave, we asked the Visiting Mutt to clear out too… just to be safe.

He complied. And…. off he ran.

However.  He didn’t run far.  This morning he was back and being Mr. Lovely.  Yes.  He was singing a new tune.  Happy, nice boy.

And what’s not to like?  Yet…. I can assure you……  ….. We are not keeping him.  No way.  No how.  His name is Clancy.  OR at least, that is our best guess.  I love him already.  Such a sweet, sweet boy.

Tomorrow he sees our Vet.  We are in search of his people.  And he is probably in search of them.

We are going to see if we can get this boy home.

In as much.  While we love our farm that doesn’t actually produce anything…. except for maybe…. homes for wayward dogs….

We are certain he would love his OWN home even more.

You see.  Toto said it first.  And Dorothy agreed……

“There’s no place like home.”

“There is NO place like home.”

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” – Mother Teresa

Life Observation #1,239.

Sometimes, you are standing on the curb….. watching the parade.

And other times…. you are the big star…. riding on the main float…. front and center.

But the thing of it is… I think….

Neither one is better.

Because it really wouldn’t be a parade… if either one were missing.

Hip. Hip.

Hooray.

 “The most important thing is to enjoy your life – to be happy – it’s all that matters.” – Audrey Hepburn

This morning, I had the good fortune of attending the Lewisburg Derby Days. Of all my years in Preble County, Ohio…. I had never made my way to this particular community celebration.

Oh, and what a big time it was.  On wheels.
It boar all the makings of a small community festival or fair….  with a midway… and rides…. and food booths and such.  I can personally attest to the validity of the Jumbo Pork Tenderloin  Sandwich.

There was a grand parade…. with a band… and kids on floats… emergency vehicles, old cars…. and even a train full of four-year-old Shriners in the making.  Of course…. there was a Derby King and Queen.

But the biggest event of the day was the Soap Box Derby.   Oh to be a kid again.  I wish I’d of had a Soap  Box Derby when I was young.

It is all business, I’ll tell you.  Well.  Business in a fun sense.  These kids prepare long and hard for this race.  They make their own cars… and fine tune their aerodynamic strategies.  Like crazy. And finally it all comes down to this.   Race Day.

All were winners in my book.

But if you REALLY want a bad-*ss car…. that is SURE to be down the hill first…. you have to look serious about the whole deal.  Kick-Butt-Serious.   A Skull and Crossbones on your ride really helps… I think.
But each Racer had their MoJo on.  Each in their own special way.  IT ROCKED.

So.  Three cheers go out to the Lewisburg Community, and all that the day brought forth.

I had the spirit in me… I’ll tell you.  When I got home…. I put on my favorite Speed Racer T-Shirt…. and took the old Radio Flyer down our driveway a half a dozen times.    I wasn’t nearly as cool as those kids were this morning.  But I felt the wind on my face, and heard the rumble of the wheels against the road.  I had the need for speed… and I was flying.

“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.” – Cecil Beaton

Tonight, I am thinking about labels.  I think labels are good for one thing.  Canning Jars.  Well…. canning jars…. AND…  the Ingredients List on a package of Twinkies.  Okay.  One more.  That little skull and crossbones  deal…. that they put on bottle of poison and such.   But other than those three things … labels suck.

There.  I’ve said.  Labels suck.

Take the poor and under-appreciated Japanese Beetles.  Do you know how many times I’ve heard someone say…. “Oh.  That’s NOT a ladybug.  That’s just a dumb old Japanese Beetle.”
Okay.  First off…. how many of YOU can speak Japanese?  Secondly, for a beetle to be bi-lingual is a pretty-dang-big smarty-pants deal.  And …. they are nearly as cute as Lady Bugs.  Really.  Copper backs….  and all.

Oh those little smarty-pants beetles.   They even named a car for them.  Well.  In Germany they did.

I will revisit one of my favorite quotes…..
“It does make a difference what you call things.”
–Kate Douglas Wiggin

Okay.  Bugs aside.

I think sometimes… in life…. we  let someone else define for us …. what is beautiful and good and worthy. We  have a tendency of letting others tell us what is right and wrong…. especially when it is a whole big bunch of people saying so.  But.  We know.

Much of the beauty and much of the goodness of the world is what we know in our hearts.   Most of us can tell… with our trusty True North Compass…. what is right….  and what is wrong.  And….how lucky we are that, we have this ability…. and ultimately this choice.

So.  Labels stink… like a three-day old dead fish.  Unrefrigerated.

And beetles… are the beetles they were meant to be.    Beep. Weise Käfer. Beep.

“Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the dangers of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of ‘crackpot’ than the stigma of conformity. And on issues that seem important to you, stand up and be counted at any cost.” – Chauncy Depew

Life brings with it all sorts of ins and outs.  Twists and turns.  There are bends in every road…. and the unexpected… when you least expect it.

Yet.   There is some sort of a cheesy saying that goes….”When one door closes, another one opens.”  I’m not so sure I go for this one.

I mean.  What if you are in a room with only one door?  Or…. okay…. let’s say a door opens some where else.  Well, if you aren’t there… and a tree falls in the forest, and no one hears it fall…..

Yeah.  Life serves it up.  That is for certain.  To some, more than others.  I’ve seen people be in a room with 22 doors… and dang it… they all close.   With other people…. they get one big wide open barn door, that stays open the whole time.

Examples… throughout history.  All of these events, occurred on today’s date… the big 1-5 of August.  Honest to goodness.

Okay… here it goes.
In 1040,  King Duncan the First was killed in a battle against his first cousin and rival Macbeth. His old cousin Macbeth-Boy ….then succeeds him as King of Scots.  Well in this case… one door did close… and another one opened.  Just not for the same dude.

Now.  On to 1769,  when Napoleon Bonaparte was born.  Depending on who you ask about the door on this one… it could go either way.

On a lighter note, in 1899, Louisville’s Henry Dowling struck out 5 times in a game.  Not so light for him.  A door closed that day.  The “Get On Base” Door.  Five times.

Big door opens here…….  In 1911, Procter & Gamble unveiled its Crisco shortening.  Yeah Baby.  NOW we’re cooking with Crisco.

How about this?  In 1914… a guy named Julian Carlton, who was  a male servant of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright…..set fire to the living quarters of the architect’s Wisconsin home.  During the whole process…. this Carlton guy, murders seven people and burns the living quarters to the ground.  Doors all over the place.  Mostly closed I would say.  And charred.

Emerald Doors Open.  In 1939 …..  The “Wizard of Oz” premieres at Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Hollywood.  Big door open for me.  Now I can come and go by Bubble.  And of course…..    Elphaba rocks.

Both of these events… in the year of 1950.  An 8.6 earthquake in India kills 20,000 to 30,000.  And on the other side of the planet…. The Indians make their 1st triple play at Cleveland Stadium.  Getting my point here?

Finally, in1960, a UFO is sighted by 3 California patrolmen.  Now THAT, could be the biggest door of all.

So I am not sure about that “door closing and opening” phrase.  It all seems like a revolving door to me.  An endless…. revolving door.

“Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.

I have learned a thing or two as a result of writing this daily Project.
1. I know who my real friends are.
2. A few of them…..  read this mess everyday.  And I love you all for it.
3. And the rest …. could really care less about what I write here.  But I still like them.  Sorta.
4. But here is the BIGGIE:  No matter what I write about…. when I post a photo of a dog… I get the most “hits”.   I could write about  my ideas for curing cancer and the secrets to finding world peace.  And.  No matter one little teensy-eensy bit.

All I have to do… is upload a photo of a dog… and write something in the title like… “I got bit.  AGAIN.”   And the results: Big Traffic on the site.

And so ….. it will be the same thing tonight.  My ratings will be through the roof.

There you have it.

Maybe that is reflective of how things go in life.

It certainly reflects mass media.
The dumbest, craziest, and most demeaning things on TV and Online … are the things that get all the attention.  Check You Tube if you don’t believe me.  And Desperate Housewenches.  Or Duck Killers.  Or Jersey Shore is Horrible.

And the things that carry a true message, and true meaning….

simply…. get overlooked.

P.S. I like you all…  WAY more than my friends that don’t read this. WAY, WAY more.

“Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.”- Mahatma Gandhi

This morning I was summonsed for jury duty.
Jury Duty.  When you get the notice in the mail…. you kind of hope you don’t have to show that day.  You know.  They have the “hotline” you can call the night before… so see if things are a “go” for the next day.

I called last night.  All systems were go this morning.   I reminded myself, that I am very glad to be an American.  I am thankful to be live in a free and democratic society.  And….. this is not so much a duty as it is an honor.

So off I went.  This is about the third or fourth time I’ve been asked to serve…. since I registered to vote when I was 18.  But every time, the deal has gotten cancelled.  Today…. the gavel would fall.

About 35 of us shuffled into the courtroom and filled the seating area, which reminded me of the church pews at Our Lady of Mercy Church.  We sat, and we waited… quietly, and awkwardly.

This is when I started taking stock of those around me.   We were from all walks of life…. young, old, fat, thin, clean, dirty, rich and poor.  However…. with no basis on those previously mentioned “pigeon holes”…. I could certainly pick out the ones that did NOT want to serve.

The lawyers, and clients, and bailiffs, and recorders….. all came in and found their places.  Finally…. HERE comes the JUDGE.  And so it begins… the jury selection.

They only need eight.  They called the first octet.   I waited in the wings.

The process was very interesting… the questioning, the objections, the disqualifications, and such.

Now.  There was one guy… who definitely did not want to be there.  He was one of the first eight.  He kept closing his eyes like he was having a hard time staying awake.  Then…. they asked if anyone had any conflicting work commitments.  He raised his hand and said he was a Handyman.  Self-employed.  Trusted no one else with his work.  He was handy.  His name was his word… and… his mind would be elsewhere. He might be able to be making money today, in fact.    A few questions later… “Will anyone have trouble sitting in the jury box for the remainder of the day, and some of tomorrow?”  Same guy…. unfolds his arms from his chest and raises his hand.  He has back problems.  Bad back problems.  He couldn’t sit there all day… no way.   “Not at all?”  Welllll… he would be able to….  if he had some pain medication, but he isn’t much of a pill popper.

Needless to say… he was the first one out the door.  The sleepy-yet-busy, non-pill-popping handyman, with a lot of pride, and an equal amount of debilitating back problems.

The selections continued.  There were eight people and an alternate who were chosen…. all highly qualified to serve on the jury… and each one seemed quite willing to do so.  I commend them.

My name wasn’t called throughout the process.  There about 12 of us remaining in the church pews.   And once the jury was selected… they dismissed the rest of us.  They paid each of us $10 and off we went.  So help me God.

I got on with my day, and all the “things” that I had to do.  But I truly would have been glad to stay and be a part of the judicial process.

Besides that…. it was a triple-axe-murder case… and my curiosity was peaking through just a bit.

Dang…. and those defendants looked like such nice people.

“Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods.” – Albert Einstein

“I’m going to let God be the judge of who goes to heaven and hell.” – Joel Osteen