Of The Four Ages of Man

Not much is going on with me lately, taking it easy after my long day of organizing and sorting ... work this week has been pretty bizzy too. Since I don't have much news, here's a funny ...

Job at the FBI

The FBI had an opening for an assassin.

After all the background checks, interviews and testing were done, there were three candidates left, two men and a woman. For the final test, the FBI agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun.

"We must know that you will follow our instructions no matter what the circumstances. Inside the room you will find your wife sitting in a chair. We want you to kill her!"
The man said, "You can't be serious.. I could never shoot my wife."
The agent said, "Then you're not the right man for this job. Take your wife and go home."

The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about five minutes..
The man came out with tears in his eyes, "I tried but I can't kill my wife."
The agent said, "You don't have what it takes. Take your wife and go home."

Finally, it was the woman's turn..
She was given the same instructions to kill her husband.
She took the gun and went into the room. Shots were heard, one after another until the gun was empty.
Then, they heard screaming, crashing and banging on the walls. After a few minutes, all was quiet.
The door opened slowly and there stood the woman, wiping the sweat from her brow. "This gun is loaded with blanks." she said. "I had to beat him to death with the chair."

MORAL:
Women are crazy. Don't mess with them

ஜ~§Quote Of The Day§~ஜ

Those who flee temptation generally leave a forwarding address.
~Lane Olinghouse

ஜ~§The Question Of The Day§~ஜ

Do you believe everything has a scientific explanation?

ஜ~§The Word Of The Day§~ஜ

Supplicatory

PRONUNCIATION:
(SUH-pli-kuh-tor-ee)

MEANING:
adjective: Humbly pleading.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin supplicare (to kneel). Ultimately from the Indo-European root plak- (to be flat) that's also the source of fluke, flake, flaw, plead, please, and supple.

USAGE:
"The supplicatory attitude that some Taiwanese politicians have shown to China to win its favor must stop."

ஜ~§Poem Of The Day§~ஜ

Of the Four Ages of Man

Lo, now four other act upon the stage,
Childhood and Youth, the Many and Old age:
The first son unto phlegm, grandchild to water,
Unstable, supple, cold and moist's his nature
The second, frolic, claims his pedigree
From blood and air, for hot and moist is he.
The third of fire and choler is compos'd,
Vindicative and quarrelsome dispos'd.
The last of earth and heavy melancholy,
Solid, hating all lightness and all folly.
Childhood was cloth'd in white and green to show
His spring was intermixed with some snow:
Upon his head nature a garland set
Of Primrose, Daisy and the Violet.
Such cold mean flowers the spring puts forth betime,
Before the sun hath thoroughly heat the clime.
His hobby striding did not ride but run,
And in his hand an hour-glass new begun,
In danger every moment of a fall,
And when 't is broke then ends his life and all:
But if he hold till it have run its last,
Then may he live out threescore years or past.
Next Youth came up in gorgeous attire
(As that fond age doth most of all desire),
His suit of crimson and his scarf of green,
His pride in's countenance was quickly seen;
Garland of roses, pinks and gillyflowers
Seemed on's head to grow bedew'd with showers.
His face as fresh as is Aurora fair,
When blushing she first 'gins to light the air.
No wooden horse, but one of mettle tried,
He seems to fly or swim, and not to ride.
Then prancing on the stage, about he wheels,
But as he went death waited at his heels,
The next came up in a much graver sort,
As one that cared for a good report,
His sword by's side, and choler in his eyes,
But neither us'd as yet, for he was wise;
Of Autumn's fruits a basket on his arm,
His golden god in's purse, which was his charm.
And last of all to act upon this stage
Leaning upon his staff came up Old Age,
Under his arm a sheaf of wheat he bore,
An harvest of the best, what needs he more?
In's other hand a glass ev'n almost run,
Thus writ about: "This out, then am I done."

Anne Bradstreet

ஜ~§Recipe Of The Day§~ஜ

Halibut Brochettes Provencale

Ingredients:
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
2 teaspoons minced fresh marjoram
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon minced fresh sage
1/2 teaspoon chopped fennel seeds
1/4 teaspoon finely chopped dried lavender blossoms*
( In lieu of all these herbs you could use 1/2 tbsp dried herbs de Provence)
1 1 1/2-inch-diameter zucchini, cut into eight 1/2-inch-thick rounds
1 unpeeled slender eggplant, trimmed, halved lengthwise, cut into eight 1- to 1 1/4-inch pieces
8 mini plum tomatoes or large cherry tomatoes
16 mini bell peppers in assorted colors (from one 5-ounce package) or 1 bell pepper cut into 1-inch squares
1 small red onion, cut into 4 wedges, each wedge halved crosswise, layers kept intact
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 1/2 pounds halibut, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/3 cup dry white wine
Nonstick vegetable oil spray

Special Equipment: 12 metal skewers

Preparation:
Mix first 7 ingredients in small bowl. Place zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, and onion in large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon herb mixture and 1 tablespoon oil to vegetables. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Thread 1 mini pepper, 1 zucchini round, 1 eggplant piece, 1 tomato, 1 onion piece, and 1 more mini pepper onto each of 8 skewers. DO AHEAD: Herb mixture and vegetables can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate.

Place fish in medium bowl; sprinkle 2 tablespoons herb mixture over. Add 3 tablespoons oil, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, and garlic; sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Cover and chill at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours, tossing occasionally.

Simmer wine, remaining 1 tablespoon oil, and remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice in small saucepan until reduced to 1/3 cup, about 3 minutes. Stir in remaining herb mixture. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Spray grill rack with nonstick spray; prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Divide fish cubes among remaining 4 skewers. Grill vegetable skewers until vegetables are slightly charred and tender, turning occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes. Grill fish skewers until fish is cooked through, turning occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes.

Place 1 fish skewer and 2 vegetable skewers on each plate. Drizzle sauce over.

* Also called culinary lavender buds; available at some supermarkets and farmers' markets, at many natural foods stores, and from deandeluca.com.

Brightest Blessings,
~Surry~