Monday, April 20, 2020

A Smoking Saturday


Oh, I just realized while watching WEST WING  - and wishing we had such a President now - that
it was President Bartlet I was pining for!  So smooth!

During the virus lockdown, there was plenty of free time to wander around Netflix.

I relaxed with cookies and milk flashing back to those fictional times.
I am SO into home cooking now going into week 6 of stay-at-home. 

I always ignored frozen pizzas before.

But, now that most Za places are closed, this is my second one. Half for dinner, 
the other half in the fridge because cold pizza is the best. IMHO.

Also I now make avocado toast, which I discovered was a thing when in Edinburgh, Scotland! 

Had it each of the 3 days I was there.  I cut-up tomatoes to put on top and sprinkle on some garlic. 

Uh, I forgot to toast the bread first one time so it was awkward to handle shoving it into my mouth.

Heard the sirens Saturday, breaking up a dull day of seeing years-ago sports episodes repeated on tv.

After the third fire truck rumbled past, I stepped out on the deck and saw dense smoke 
billowing across my back yard and down my dead-end street. 

Well, the fire was NOT 
on MY block but the next one over.

As the smoke turned whiter I knew water was on the flames so the firemen were attacking it.

I finished whatever mindless, boring thing I was doing, slipped on  my facemask and headed over to the next block.

A police car blocked entry to the street and the hydrant on the corner was plugged in to supplement the tankers on the scene.

Good to know it was in working order. I guess they check these often in advance?

My neighbor apparently was in the midst of having an outdoor kid's party in their yard.

Hmmm,  I saw no other masks in the small crowd that had gathered at the blocked intersection. I kept the social distance as I chatted.

The house further down the street being discussed was one that had been running generators for a while, apparently having no power to the house??

Head-nodding as this word was passed around. Somebody down on their luck now was having a TERRIBLE day!

I went home, planning to wander down the street to the scene later when the street was opened.

(Hey, a blog posting like mine NEEDS some photos.)

It was still blocked a few hours later so I shot from a distance after a police Sgt said I could go down the street.. but NOT past the truck. 

Another police officer strode up to stop me as I neared the truck to say  "Hey, get outta here, can't you see the street is blocked by the police cars?"
Behind my mask, I smiled and said "Yes, I did and I asked the Sgt if I could come 
down. He said OK but  NOT to go past the truck."

Oh, he shrugged and turned back to watch the firemen dousing embers.

Glad I had noticed the stripes on the sleeves of the officer I had asked.

So, back to boredom. Wish the best for the folks who have a severely-damaged home now.

Click on the photos for more details.

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posted by chuckography @ 10:36 AM 0 Comments

Saturday, December 09, 2017

If not healthy, sure is colorful...

 I say THIS is the message that appears when I step on my bathroom scale.

Not true but COULD happen.

The other message - as I feel a few more pounds have been added - would be "Come back alone."

I showed this to somebody and he asked where did the sign really appear?

It's on the entrance door at my Pinnacle Bank branch on Dorchester Road at the end of Ashley Phosphate in North Charleston.

I started banking at the Mount Pleasant branch when it was named Southcoast, then became Bank of North Carolina.

 If you've been to either branch, you know that the door admits you inside but a second door does not open if it detects you have metal on you, like a gun or, I suppose, a sword.

It made for an apt sign to indicate I am heavier and need to take another look at what I am eating.

A recent house guest - taking a break from Chicago weather - came for few day's visit and I observed he bought different groceries than I do.

Healthy dark green salads, fruits, and veggies, but he did use some bread when he made avocado toast.

I had this for the first time while in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Anyway, he left two avocados behind and I made my version of the breakfast dish.

Not bad but I don't see any instant reduction shown on my scale.

I do enjoy blueberries and other mixed fruits with my cereal and probably should follow his lead and eat healthier.

Into grilled chicken and pork loin - the other white meat - so maybe I will see some lower figures on my scale.

Meanwhile, after a lull in activity of building a sidewalk on my side of the street in Hanahan, the SCE&G crews showed up.

Fascinating activity as the crews worked to install new power poles and removing the ones blocking the path of the sidewalk.

Came a knock on the door and a linesman informed me that my power would be turned off around 10am and they would restore it quickly as possibe once the transition was made to new poles.

Crews were working all the way down my street to clear the p[ath of the new sidewalk.

They had two trucks with booms and it must be like working activity in space at the International Space Station.

No, I think the ISS only has one boom arm.

Obviously,  a new pole would be put in place but all the "stuff" already attached would have to be moved to the new one.

We are talking about dangerous electrical connections that had to be carefully removed and then placed on a new pole.

I used to call them telephone poles but - with everyone carrying and using cell phones, I guess "power" is the correct new name.

Another example of how things are taken for granted and are subject to change.

Meanwhile, I still look around in my freezer and either "nuke" a meal in the microwave or simply use my frying pan.

I got rid of my pop-up toaster to have more counter space and use my toaster oven to prepare my bread slices or blueberry bagels.

Sure bread has carbs but at least there is some fruit involved.

I'll keep working on my food intake.

(Click on the photos and links for more details.)

 If you have not tried avocado toast it is simple to make.

Even I could do it.

Burp.






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posted by chuckography @ 3:44 PM 1 Comments