The first of the great summer meals tonight: fresh-shelled purple-hull peas cooked with a bit of bacon, fresh sliced tomatoes, fresh sliced cucumbers, a bit of ham and buttermilk cornbread.

Summer Southern Sunday Supper.

That toning workout was fine until yesterday. Then I was sore enough that I laid off a day from the yoga. Today I went back to the beginning tape.

For this beginning phase I need to establish a rhythm. Maybe alternating the first tape and the relaxation tape for three days, then the toning tape, then a day off. Until I am stronger.

Meh. That toning workout wasn't so bad until the part where you lie flat on the floor, lift both legs together then turn them in circles, first clockwise, then counter-clockwise.

And of course, there was a balance exercise, at which I suck. Never mind which one.

This morning I did Wai Lana's relaxation workout. These exercises concentrate on the spine.

The scissors (non-bypass) and sidelifts look a lot like regular calisthenics, just done more slowly and with more concentration on breathing. Then there were a few backbends and such. Don't be too optimistic. These exercises take some effort. Relaxation comes afterward.

Then there's that tree pose that troubles me so. What's so frustrating is that I used to rest standing with my opposite foot inside my thigh, like Australian aborigines.

(Is aborigine considered a slur now?)

Yeah, yeah, I'll get to that toning workout. Sometime.

Namaste, y'all.

This recipe from Peg Britton went over well here.

Maurice built this accent table for our bedroom.

This is my first scratch stain project. I'll be doing some sanding, using a pre-stain conditioner, staining to spec with oil-based red mahogany stain with maybe a coat of walnut, and finishing with polyurethane.

The wood is maple. It's 98 degrees outside.

UPDATE: It's Father's Day. My dad, Joseph the carpenter, has been gone since 1990. Here's my card to you, Daddy.

Rats, I'm late.

Happy Father's Day, all you pops out there!

I had breakfast with my father-in-law at 7:30 this morning at the assisted living center.

He's a good dad, and he's been good to me, too.

I spent a while this morning with Wai Lana after finally buying a new DVD/VCR player. (I found a refurbished Sony at Amazon for $56.00 total.)

I've had these tapes, wrapped, for years. The first tape is a little different from my lessons, but offers a good overall body workout with a mild challenge or two I haven't tried before. My balance is still dreadful.

The birds think I'm nuts. Lucy might even speak again. "WHAT you DOIN, Janis?" I'll practice in their room, which is the great room.

And yes, it's been February since I had lessons. No, I haven't been practicing.

Namaste, y'all.

Being a weirdo myself, with the prospect ahead of replacing a 12/13/14-year-old Ford Escort Wagon, I'm edging toward the Kia Soul econobox.

Reviewers are saying it averages about 30 mpg in mixed driving, which is better than any of the comparable makes and models.

And it's certainly no uglier and more practical than my second-hand First Car with that deluxe plaid interior. Daddy was co-signer, and thought it was just the thing to teach me not to invest my ego into automobiles.

Mine was that tangerine color, and had a white vinyl roof. My sister said it would have been perfect in lime green.

I guess the lesson took.

UPDATE: I don't like those blind spots in the back corners -- the "D post" as the writers call it.

I like Ms. McNeal's work. This is the first I've seen of it. Of course, I don't get out much.

Based on this article, I'd agree with the commenter at Outside the Beltway that here is a case of "Suicide by Security Guard."

But more interesting is the language of white separatist sympathizer John De Nugent:

"The responsible white separatist community condemns this," he said. "It makes us look bad."

How very PC.

Diane, who makes some effort to be discreet on the web, has ricocheted off the "outing" post to create a short list of etiquette rules for bloggers and commenters.

Via Glenn Reynolds, who I hardly think needs a link from the likes of me, Mr. Whelan apologizes.

Good for him, but gracious, does one have to be so Victorian?

UPDATE: Mr. Whelan has been so very prickly in his language, I was interested in reading this note from Big Tent Democrat at Anonymous Liberal's site:

It is certainly to Ed's credit (strangely enough I am friendly with him despite having had raging arguments with him on and offline. This action was clearly out of character for him imo) that he apologized.

UPDATE: Now Jack Dunphy, pseudonymous writer for the National Review, has a post up. After this brouhaha, I do hope people will abide by his wishes.

If I haven't told you before, I love a good blog brawl.

I agree with Mr. McQuain.

I'd hope my niece never shows up with this guy for dinner. Mr. Whelan didn't do anything illegal, immoral or even unethical -- just what in the South we'd call "tacky," or my mother would call "ugly."

There was nothing illegal, immoral or unethical about Al barfing on that bridesmaid's dress at Zee's wedding, but he still won't be invited to any more of Zee's parties. Poor guy didn't have the charm to carry that off. Few do.

And I'm surprised. The National Review is an institution, and the bloggers there have never before confronted adversaries that way. I'd say Kathryn Jean Lopez has endured some of the most brutal, hateful and hurtful commentary I've ever read. I'm sure it's on her radar, but she goes her merry way, as the other bloggers have.

Mr. Whelan seems to be the kind of lawyer who likes to win, and thinks he's gained a point. But he'll learn, like my husband the lawyer, that winning isn't everything.

UPDATE: Gary Farber has a good rundown of the controversy. While I do not subscribe to some of his language, his links are good.

And yes, I do think that Mr. Whelan sounds like a pompous prick. Do not fail to read Mr. Whelan's posts. "I can, therefore I will."

La sis is off to Great Lakes, IL, this Thursday to attend my niece's graduation from Navy basic training.

Good for the girls.