September 26

I made deviled eggs again today, and this time I was completely unsupervised. One dozen eggs, two dozen deviled eggs, sixteen of which went onto the egg plate purchased for the occasion (Boyfriend and I were going to a potluck party). The other eight "deformed" eggs went on a separate plate to be devoured at our leisure.

Speaking of deformed eggs, I have no idea how Boyfriend can hard boil six eggs and have them all come out perfect. When I boil eggs the yolks are anywhere from the narrow end of the egg to practically coming out the side. Is there some trick to it? I mean, really?

But I digress. The eggs tasted OK, except for having used more mustard than I should have. That was my fault entirely; I scaled up the amount I put in the last batch without bothering to taste it, but with the salt added this time, the mustard was a bit overwhelming. Adding a little butter to the mix only added to the creaminess of the filling, though my arteries are probably hardening as I type.

Still, they were good eggs. Really good eggs.

Next time, with luck, I'll get the salt and the mustard proportions correct and have enough mayonnaise to avoid having to resort to butter. My goal is to get the original recipe down pat, so I can begin to experiment with it.

269/365 -

May 17

Driving through central Illinois, the views of distant farms and fields of corn is pretty common. It can look pretty desolate in spring, but this fertile land will be bountiful by the end of the summer.

This photo, hastily snapped from the shoulder of Interstate 155, is one of the few photos I've taken this weekend that aren't of my close friends and family. This vacation has proven to be busier than I could have expected, and while I'm not complaining -- it's been a remarkable experience -- it did make me think about this project.

In Boston, I'm very familiar with the city and especially the areas I frequent. The challenge of doing the POTD is in finding new and interesting things among the utterly familiar surroundings. One would think that traveling to a new place would present ample opportunities for this kind of project, and in the past it certainly has. This trip, though, where I've been kept quite busy, I just haven't had the time to really concentrate on the experience. Even the opportunities I've had to get good POTD photos have been less than satisfying; I'm going to try to get a better photo of the building with the insurance agent, realtor, and gun shop owned by the same family, right next to the hearing aid store immediately adjacent.

I certainly don't mean to make it sound as though I'm not happy about this; I am very intensely pleased that my friends have made so much time for me, and that it's been such an enjoyable experience, and I wouldn't change a second of it.

Tomorrow is likely to be another dicey photography day, as I'll be driving and flying and sitting around airports for the greater part of my waking hours.

My challenge in planning future trips is going to be setting aside time for sitting by myself, for doing both the touristy things and the off-the-beaten track things, and to make photos of what catches my interest whenever I can.

137/365 -

March 28

The little black letters on this pitcher of apple margaritas says "DRINK RESPONSIBLY."

It was my friend Marion's birthday party today, so naturally, I brought a camera with me when invited to the party. And, I have to admit, it was pretty fun. Marion is a self-admitted geek, and the unusual combination of her friends from NaNoWriMo/Script Frenzy, the Aquarium (where she works with snakes), and her job as a waitress, meshed together pretty well. Belynda, Brandon, and I took devilish pleasure in warping some of their young minds, and even more pleasure in learning how warped the rest of them really were.

I even indulged in a couple of drinks myself. I'm sure the photos of me with the two prettiest ladies in the place sitting on my lap will make it to somebody's facebook page. Meanwhile, it was their keeping me out later than midnight that caused me to be late posting this POTD. But that's OK -- it was totally worth it.

87/365 -