If I didn’t already have a soft spot in my heart for Land Rovers, I sure do now. Prince Phillip spent 16 years designing and modifying the Land Rover Defender TD5 130 chassis cab vehicle that was used as the hearse for his own funeral. It was painted dark bronze green and had special stops that secured his coffin. The final details of the modification were completed in 2019 when Philip was 98. Prince Philip’s coffin was made for him more than 30 years ago, of English oak and was lead-lined. The Queen will be buried in a matching coffin when she dies. Members of the royal family are buried in lead-lined coffins because it makes it airtight, stops moisture from getting in, and helps preserve the body for a year. It also makes the coffin very heavy. It is believed that Princess Diana’s coffin weighed over 700 pounds.
Grief is the price we pay for love. Queen Elizabeth
Reese’s is launching a makeup line. It is a limited-edition collection that includes eye shadow palettes in Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate with six shades in each collection, along with two lip balms and makeup brushes. No, you cannot eat it.
The Pentagon has confirmed that a leaked video of an unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), taken by Navy personnel, is real. The Pentagon formed a task force in 2020 to improve its understanding of UAPS’s. They said that they will get back to us in June and declassify findings to Congress. The Navy said in 2019, “there have been a number of reports of unauthorized and/or unidentified aircraft entering various military-controlled ranges and designed air space in recent years.” This is kinda important stuff.
For salmon, I have always cooked my filets on high heat for short amounts of time. My son, who is becoming quite a wonderful cook, suggested low heat for a longer time. Martha Stewart magazine just happened to send me a free issue this month, and there it was, a recipe for Slow-Roasted Salmon Salad with Barley and Golden Beets. I didn’t make the salad, just the salmon: Preheat oven to 325, with one rack in center and one rack 6 inches from heating element. I drizzled the 1”- thick fish with fresh lemon and olive oil (be generous) and covered it with thinly sliced lemons. Roast on the center rack until fish is almost cooked but still translucent pink in center, 18 to 20 minutes. Switch the oven to broil, then transfer the pan to the top rack and broil until lemons are lightly charred in spots, and fish is just cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. It was outstanding, and so worth a try. I just love to cook…and eat.
I am reminding you again so you can be there. Texas Gulf Bank is hosting Shred Day on April 24th from 9 to 11:30 (or until the truck is full) at their LJ downtown location 203 This Way. Limit of 5 large boxes.
Organizers say the 2021 Earth Day theme of “Restore Our Earth” examines natural processes, emerging green technologies and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems. I say, if we do not get our keisters in gear, we will not have an Earth left to restore. We must work harder to provide a healthy, sustainable environment to leave for our children. I know it is not popular to have to take care of your own trash, but we need to do it, and we need to do it NOW. EarthDay.org
As a female that keeps my nails cut short for gardening, and I don’t polish, I found this story thought provoking. I am being nice. A Houston woman broke the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest fingernails in 2017. They measured 19 feet long, and it took more than two bottles of nail polish and 20 hours to do her manicure. About four years have passed since then. Last week they measured a whopping 24 feet, 0.7 inches, and required 3-4 bottles of polish and several days to finish her manicure. She had them cut last week by a dermatology office where they had to use an electric rotary tool. Now she can open her car door, wash dishes, and put sheets on a bed. Ripley’s Believe It or Not will display her trimmed-off nails at their museum in Orlando, Florida. One more reason not to go to Florida.
RECENT BIRTHDAYS: Singer Willie Nelson is 88. Actor Joyce DeWitt is 72. Three’s Company. Singer Iggy Pop is 74. Keyboardist Alan Price of The Animals is 79. Actor Tim Curry is 75. Singer Mark “Flo” Volman of The Turtles is 74. Actor George Takei is 84. Star Trek. Keyboardist Craig Frost of Grand Funk Railroad is 73. Actor Clint Howard is 62. Actor Charles Grodin is 86. Actor-director John Cameron Mitchell is 58. Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Singer Peter Frampton is 71. Actor Lee Majors is 82. Six Million Dollar Man. Actor Valerie Bertinelli is 61. Country singer Richard Sterban of the Oak Ridge Boys is 78. Singer Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA is 76. Actor Al Pacino is 81. Bassist Stu Cook of Creedence Clearwater is 76.
Original Mouseketeer Darlene Gillespie is 80.Actor John Ratzenberger is 74. Mail carrier Cliff on Cheers and voice roles in Pixar’s first 22 films. Actor Jason Hervey is 49. Wayne Arnold on The Wonder Years. Country singer Bobby Bare is 86. Singer Charlie Thomas of The Drifters is 84. Movie director Francis Ford Coppola is 83.Comedian Shecky Greene is 95.Guitarist Steve Howe of Yes is 74.Actor Craig T. Nelson is 77. Coach. Writer-producer David E. Kelley is 65.Actor James Woods is 74. Drummer Doug Clifford is 76. Creedence Clearwater Revival. Singer-TV personality Kelly Clarkson is 39. American Idol. Singer Janis Ian is 70. Actor Tony Danza is 70.Country singer Pat Green is 49. Country singer Tim McGraw is 54.
Former “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno is 71. Actor Talia Shire is 76. The Godfather. Singer Herbie Murrell of The Stylistics is 72.Actor-comedian Carol Burnett is 88. Guitarist-songwriter Duane Eddy is 83. Singer Bobby Rydell is 79. Singer Gary Wright is 78. Dream Weaver. Singer Kate Pierson of the B-52′s is 73. Actor-singer Ann-Margret is 80. Singer Sheena Easton is 62. Guitarist Ace Frehley is 70. Kiss. Actor Renee Zellweger is 52. Actor Mary McDonnell is 69. Dances with Wolves. TV personalities Drew and Jonathan Scott are 43. The Property Brothers. Singer Judy Collins is 82. Singer Rita Coolidge is 76.
Former Vice-President from 1977 to 1981, Walter Mondale, has died at 93. He lost his presidential bid because he honestly told voters to expect a tax increase if he won. Perfect example of honesty and politics not being extremely popular when used together. President Jimmy Carter said he considered Mondale “the best vice president in our country’s history.” “Fritz Mondale provided us all with a model for public service and private behavior.”
Thank you: To my son, Gage, who changed out the battery in my jeep without bleeding, then put new wiper blades on my car because the freeze had ruined the existing blades. I knew you could do it! (Then I realized that AAA would have sent someone out to replace the battery for free. I am absolutely not telling him.) Mark, for the donuts. Jonathan and Gage(not related), who helped me at Lowe’s. I mean, really helped me with 15 bags of dirt, manure, mulch, and light bulbs. Super-nice guys. Aunt Kim, for the peanut butter cookies. Delicious. Teller loves you. Debra, for Teller’s dog treats and toy. He loves you, too. Antonio for fixing the trench at our office so rainwater goes away from our building during monster rains we now have. Debbie, the marketing director for Chicken Salad Chick in Pearland. She brought us Spicy Pimento Cheese and crackers. Delicious. They will have a Pop-Up Delivery in a refrigerated truck on April 30th. Great menu (desserts, cheese balls, salads, fruit, chicken salad) and she loves group luncheons. Debbie.sohmer@ChickenSaladChick.com. Duane and Ruben, mail carriers extraordinaire. Thank you for all you do for us.
My son just called to tell me that the new Joe Exotic series will star John Cameron Mitchell, who won Tony(s) for writing and starring in Broadway’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch, He will play the title character, Joe Exotic, the larger-than-life zoo owner in Oklahoma who loses himself in his hatred for Carole Baskin, who will be played by none other than Kate McKinnon. It will air on NBC, Peacock, and USA Network. This will be SO GOOD!!
The Brazoria County Library System is having a local author contest that will accept submissions of adult and young adult fiction, but only through May 31, 2021. What a great opportunity. Did you know that Brazoria County Library card holders can also access reliable automotive help online 24/7 through Chilton Library. There is repair, maintenance and service information on the most popular cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs on the road today. You can look up recalls, prepare for ASE mechanic certification, or whatever you need, no matter the skill level. All you need is a library card. Call Tom West 979-864-1505.
While I was in Waco recently moving my mom, I found myself constantly singing, humming, and whistling Neil Sedaka’s Breaking Up is Hard to Do! Why? Well, I did spend most of my days carrying boxes, up and down to Mom’s second-floor apartment. The acoustics were simply great in the elevator and the stairwell. Like the shower. Ha-ha. Then, when I got home, another song stuck in my head, Charlie Rich singing, The Most Beautiful Girl in the World. According to Wikipedia, it is most commonly called an earworm, but also referred to as a brainworm, stuck song syndrome, or Involuntary Musical Imagery (INMI). A catchy and/or memorable piece of music or saying that continuously occupies a person’s mind even after it is no longer being played or spoken about. One article I read called them musically sticky songs. This study showed that the most frequently named earworm songs were Bad Romance by Lady Gaga, Can’t Get You Out Of My Head by Kylie Minogue, Don’t Stop Believing by Journey, Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye, Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5, California Gurls by Katy Perry, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, Alejandro by Lady Gaga, and Poker Face by Lady Gaga. Researchers also found that the frequency with which people were affected by earworms depends upon the thickness of several brain regions. Hmmm. There it is. I have been called hard-headed by some, and I bet you know who you are. Final thought is to chew a piece of gum if you find yourself repeatedly, uncontrollably, singing the same song over and over.
Hey, did you happen to see,
The most beautiful girl in the world?
And if you did, was she crying, crying?
Hey, if you happen to see,
The most beautiful girl that walked out on me,
Tell her I’m sorry,
Tell her I need my baby,
Oh, won’t you tell her that I love her.
I woke up this mornin’
Realized what I had done.
I stood alone in the cold gray dawn,
I knew I’d lost my morning sun.
I lost my head, and I said some things,
Now comes the heartaches that morning brings,
I know I’m wrong and I couldn’t see,
I let my world slip away from me.
My Man, Van…is releasing a new record project on May 7th, so his people shared an official video of one song called Only a Song. Nothing better than sitting on the back porch, a nice petite glass of bourbon held snugly in my hand, and Van Morrison singing ‘just’ to me. What a crazy trip we have had, Van. Thanks for coming along on the ride.
Alas, my work is done for this week. Stay safe. Thanks for taking the time to read us, shop with us, and to sell something. Oh, you haven’t called yet to place your ad. Try 979-285-9200. FREE Garage Sale ads. Let’s face it, it is perfect weather to clear out the garage, closets, and drawers, so you can recycle the things you do not need anymore.
Lisa 😊
