My Favorite Apps: Blogathon Theme Day

It's supposed to be automatic, but actually you have to push this button.

~ John Brunner, Stand on Zanzibar

During the Blogathon there will be several “Theme Days.” Today’s post follows this week’s Favorite App theme. ~ MD

 

 

T

oday’s post is a little ironic after talking about getting back to nature yesterday.  But as with most things in life, I opt for a both/and mentality rather than either/or.

Having said that, I will say that I am as much of a techie as the Tenth Doctor: “it’s more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly, timey wimey…stuff.”

Yeah.  That.

However, I do own a smarty-pants phone.  And I do have some apps that I use.  Often.  Sort of.

Kindle App

Traitor!  Oh, the horror!  I know ~ I download e-books.  Gah!  Off with my head!  Hey! Don’t be an e-book hater!  I have a really good reason: my Goodreads Reading Challenge is 213 books by December 31 and so far I’m only 5 books behind in my goal!  I would actually be ahead of my goal, except that there are some books I’ve read that I hated so much I didn’t bother saying I’d read them.  (I’ve mentioned their type before.)

But I digress.

The Kindle App is awesome!  I’m a Gen Xer, and while not nearly as insane as my younger Gen Y siblings, I do admit to struggling with instant gratification.  “Download, darn you!”  So when I was blessed enough to find authors (mostly these lovely ladies!) I love, my Kindle App lets me buy the next book in the series without wasting gas money, killing a tree, emitting noxious car fumes, or contributing to a traffic jam.

The book-books I own are almost all used.  And my dears, you remember the last scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark where they’re putting the Ark in a warehouse?  That would be my library: boxes and boxes of books.  Too bad there’s not an app for building bookshelves.

Doctor Who App

This one speaks for itself.  Literally.  Allons-y!

MRIS Homes App

A realtor showed me this one.  Great little tool for finding homes for sale or rent wherever you are.  The app looks at where your phone is “standing” and gives you surrounding area sale and rental info.  The only downside?  It’s a pain if you want to look at homes in your town, while you’re on vacation in Boro Boro.  You can change the geo search parameters, but it’s crashed on me a couple of times when I tried that.

Ebay App

Let’s just keep this app between the two of us, shall we?  No telling my friend Tika.  It’s her fault I even downloaded the thing.  It totally supports my vintage hat habit.  Wait…need to check my last bid….

Oremus pro invicem,

~ Mikaela

What are your favorite apps?  Have they helped you or made it easier to procrastinate?

Top Five Friday Repost: A Derby of a Day

Everything that’s old is new again. . . 
~ Stephanie Mills

T

omorrow is a Kentuckian’s favorite day.  And although I am not from the land of blue grass and jockeys, I must confess to loving large hats, triple-strength mint juleps, and nattily dressed men.

As I am rushing off to buy shoes to go with my muted coral dress and taupe hat, I give you last year’s Kentucky Derby Day post to enjoy all over again.

One of these years I will make it to a Derby party dressed like Audrey’s Eliza.  Any costume designer out there willing to give it a go?

Oremus pro invicem,

~ Mikaela

I was traveling last Friday so didn’t get to talk more about my favorite poets and poems.  Will try to do that next week.  Have a beautiful and safe weekend dear readers!

Top Five Friday: A Derby of a Day!

And it's run for the roses / As fast as you can

Your fate is delivered / Your moment's at hand

It's the chance of a lifetime / In a lifetime of chance

And it's high time you joined / In the dance.

~ Dan Fogelberg, Run for the Roses

D

erby Day.  Tomorrow’s race in Louisville, Kentucky marks the 138^th year of what is known as the Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.  For the owners and trainers and jockeys, it really is all about the horses.  For some of the fans, it is all about the betting.  But for most of us, it is all about the party.  And by that I mean the hats and the booze.

Tomorrow I will be attending a Derby soiree that a couple of my friends throw every May.  I learned my lesson last year and arranged to spend the night this year with a friend who lives only a mile away.  My host makes the best (read: potent) mint juleps EVER.

Can’t make it to Louisville for the May madness?  No worries ~ throw your own Derby 'do!  Here are the top five things you will need.  Come on ~ it’s high time you joined in the dance!

The Hat

Come on Dover!

Think Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. (One of these years, I am so getting a Derby costume made modeled on her black and white get up!)  Whether it costs $30 or $300, all women at the party must wear a hat!  The bigger the better.  I have seen some hats that cost as much as a small car.  But you don’t have to spend like  an oil magnet. I bought my tres chic black with white polka dots and feathers for only $30 and it is huge.



And you, Miss, are no lady!



Gents ~ you can wear a hat as well ~ aka Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind.  But only if you are outside!  If you go inside, even if it is only to mix your lady friend another julep, you should remove your chapeau.

The Edibles

If you are a Derby purist, then you already know what to serve: Kentucky Hot Browns, chicken or crab salad, cheese grits, and pecan pie.  Pretty much, if it’s Southern, it’s acceptable.  You will need run for the roses yourself after eating such richness, but hey, it’s only one day in May!  I’ve picked some of favorite recipes for you.  Kind of like a top five within a top five! 

          Kentucky Bourbon Burgoo

           Delmarva Crab Cakes

           Hominy Grits Soufflé

           Chocolate Pecan Chess Pie

           Butterscotch Pecan Tart (because you can never have too many desserts!)

The List

Well, you are throwing this party because of the Derby.  So you really need a list of all the horses.  You can find them all here. 



Running for the Roses!



Make it fun: have all your guests who would like to participate put in $5, $10, or $20; whoever picks the top three gets the pot.  If someone picks two out of three, give them a really nice bottle of bourbon.  One out of three might get you a cookbook of Derby recipes or a set of shot glasses. (I get mine at Marshall’s ~ a set of 6 for $4!)

The Music

Before the race begins and after the thrill of it is gone (so to speak), you should have a great playlist playing in the background.  Your favorite metal bands or rap artists will simply not do!  Of course, no Derby Party is complete without Dan Fogelberg’s Run for the Roses – half country, half folk.  But you can’t play one song on repeat the entire party!

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “She’s going to say bluegrass ~ oh no!”

First of all, what the hay-bale is wrong with bluegrass?  Seems appropriate, considering the grass in Kentucky is blue.  Anyway, listen to Alison Krauss or the Avett Brothers, and then tell me you don’t like bluegrass. 

If it were my party, however, I would be playing zippy classical music (Ode to Joy, etc).  I know ~ classical music should be imbibed on its own, not relegated to background noise.  Trust me, you will be too snookered excited for that type of concentration.  Plus, think how especially appropriate it will be when one of your elegantly dressed guests shouts rather raucously: “Come on, Dovah! Move yah bloomin’ ahss!”   



The real winner and
crowning glory of the Derby!



And you thought the Derby was an American invention!

The Beverage

Last but definitely not least ~ the mint julep.  It is my theory that people who claim to hate mint juleps have never had a proper one.  While everyone and his brother have a fiercely held opinion as to when to add the mint, the best way I have imbibed it is when the mint is crushed to almost a pulp to release the mint oil.  Also, use crushed ice ~ not cubed.  A simple sugar syrup (a Southern beverage staple).  And of course, copious amounts of Kentucky Bourbon (I prefer Maker’s Mark).  There are many recipes online ~ here is one of then, with a little history to boot.  I don’t know how my friend Stephen makes his, but as I mentioned, they kick like a Derby winner!

Here’s to fast horses, smooth bourbon, and really big hats!

Oremus pro invicem,

~ Mikaela

Are you throwing a Derby party or attending one?  Share recipes, experiences, or your picks in the comment section or on your Facebook page!