Emma's Fantabulous Blog

Picture from CEN/ Europics

This morning, I came across this totally amazing story.

Lucky Yun said: “I began to choke and sank even lower and I thought that was it for me – I was dead. Until I felt this incredible force under me driving me to the surface.”

That incredible force was a “sensitive” beluga whale, named Mila, who realized that Yun was having problems, and took Yun’s leg in her mouth and pushed the free diver to the surface.

For the entire story and some more cool pictures: check out this article.

What a good whale! Although I think that Mila, the whale, should have saved her good deed for someone who isn’t likely to try to kill themselves again (by free diving w/ no equipment in arctic waters).

Recently I’ve gotten into surfing. I go to a ladies’ surf night in NH and I’ve been having an amazing time. I’ve started looking at surfboards to see what my options are and have noticed that huge number of women’s surf boards come with hibiscus flower motif’s on them. I’ve also been looking at getting a new motorcycle helmet since my current one is pretty old & should be replaced. In my browsing for women’s motorcycle helmets, I’ve found that the hibiscus motif plague has invaded this area as well. It’s crazy! The manufacturers of inherently bad-ass things are decreasing their “bad-ass factor” by sticking hibiscus flowers on everything. What the heck is up with that?!? I like pink flowers as much as the next girl, but when I’m looking to buy something for one of my non-frou-frou hobbies, I don’t want a stupid hibiscus flower stuck on it….

Therefore, in honor of this phenomenon, I give you a list of 6 things that are made WAYYY less bad-ass (and/or butch) by having a hibiscus flower on them……

#6. A mens’ tie. Unless you’re from Hawaii (and even that is up for debate), you should not be wearing these.

#5. A Knife. A knife is inherently bad-ass. So, why would you go about and muck it up with a design on it? Imagine yourself on a dark night in a bad section of town. A thug jumps out of the darkness and challenges you to a knife fight. Then you whip out this “shank”. True, you might very well win the fight, but only because your opponent would be extremely vulnerable while they are rolling around on the ground in utter hysterics.

#4. A motorcycle. Good for you for customizing your ride, but really? Couldn’t you have gone with some skulls or flames? Or flaming skulls?

#3. A motorcycle helmet. Just imagine yourself:  Sitting pretty wearing your pink hibiscus helmet, riding your hibiscus motorcycle. Looking the the total opposite of bad-ass. Although this look definitely has potential to work if you are employed as a flower delivery person…….

#2. A surfboard. You could totally be one of the guys with this awesome surfboard with a floral motif. Except none of the guys would ever be caught dead riding your chicksauraus-maximus board.

#1. Cufflinks. One question: Why are these even necessary when you can buy cufflinks with ammo on them?

Battybrush

Originally uploaded by Theremina

This is the most amazing picture ever!!!!

My sugar snap peas are nearing the end of their growing season and most of the pea plants are dying. We’ve really enjoyed eating them, but since there is no new growth, I decided to rip most of those out and to plant something else that I could harvest by fall. I decided to pick up a few little plants at the local Whole Foods, but was somewhat disappointed by the plant varieties available. Basically I had a choice between various herbs, hot peppers or some Veronica… Luckily I have had Veronica before at a friends house and D & I really enjoyed it. It’s a type of cauliflower that is green and spikey (see above picture)… But it’s much more mild and doesn’t taste like cauliflower… hence Devon actually tolerating it… You can cook it like broccoli or cauliflower or you can eat it raw… Basically,  you can do a TON with it.

So, I bought 2 2×2 trays and planted them where the snap peas were and the Veronica should be ready to harvest in about a month and a half or so… My cherry tomatoes ripening and should be about ready in a couple of weeks, along with my collard greens. The yellow summer squash still has a ways to go, along with my carrots, I think. Herbs are chugging along, but after a serious mishap with one of my container gardens, I’m basically starting over from scratch with my cilantro and nasturtiums.

I’m really excited to have found another vegetable that Devon is excited about again! Go Veronica!

Jane Mansfield’s bathroom

Originally uploaded by lorryx3

I just had to haul my vacuum upstairs to vacuum the only room on the 2nd floor with carpeting (shag carpeting specifically).

Guess what room that is…..

It’s the master bathroom.Yes. Our bathroom has brown shag carpeting in it. It just seems so wrong. Our house was built in 1980 and I imagine that the carpeting was installed then…. I don’t even want to know what type of infectious diseases and bacteria are flourishing in my bathroom. I am sooooo looking forward to redoing that room and getting that crunchy carpet out of there!

Today is July 1st and it’s currently 62F and thunder-storming. It has been like this all week…. May I reiterate: It is July 1st!!! Where the heck is summer and it’s obligatory beach days! You better get on that.
Thanks!