Do you know that old saying......"If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." I have a co-worker about whom that could easily be said. I got a call today informing me that her nephew just returned from Iraq. I don't know his age, but I got the impression that he's fairly young. She had gotten a call saying that he had been hit by a car and he's brain dead. Can you believe it? He has a tour in Iraq, and comes home to get killed. It's so not fair and hard to understand.

It's unfortunate for her - but it results in some good luck for me - in that I get to work in her place this week and next, for my usual employer and her other part-time place, which I mentioned yesterday. She has to go out West and doesn't know when she'll return. The upshot of that is I'll be very busy and I may not be able to post anything of importance or interest - if at all.

The B.W.O. plaque in my sidebar has to come into play for a while - Blogging Without Obligation. I hope you'll bear with me until I can return to posting and commenting again.

Beginner's Luck and Wishes for the Fourth

Remember the "shark-catcher + handsome pin-up" from last week? This was his first fishing trip, in 1999. Beginner's luck describes it fairly well, don't you think?

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I made up a recipe last night and it turned out to be good! (Surprise, surprise!) Someone gave me 3 summer squash and 2 shallots this week. I washed and sliced the squash and put them in a medium saucepan with 1 tablespoon butter and a splash of water, on medium heat. Meanwhile, I sliced the shallots, about 1/4 of an onion and 2 ribs of celery, and put them in a small skillet with 1 tablespoon of butter and a sprinkling of Mrs. Dash. My plan was to serve the onions and celery over our steak, which was grilling outside.

As the squash softened, I threw in a handful of dried cranberries and a little more water. As each dish reached the end of cooking, I decided to combine them; dumping the onion mixture into the squash and mixing well, then I added 1 tablespoon of dark brown sugar. I have to say it turned out very well. That was my beginner's luck!

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I missed a perfect photo opportunity this afternoon. I went to a drugstore to buy a birthday card, looking toward the fancy gift shop next door. They keep a wrought iron bench outside, which sometimes holds sale merchandise. It was empty. As I got back into the car later, I looked back toward the gift shop again. There was a nicely dressed, portly older gentleman sitting on the bench fast asleep, his head inclined toward the silk-flowered grapevine wreath on the bench beside him. I could just kick myself for not having my camera. That was no luck at all!

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Have a Happy Independence Day everyone!