Thoughts before cookin' supper

This is one of those days we could easily forget blogging, and everything else, and go back to bed. Besides, the Cardinals have already played a day game (a 7-4 win over the Rockies) and Pujols hit home run number 18. (Congratulations to Chicago Cub outfielder Juan Pierre for "robbing" Barry Bonds of home run 714. May your heroic example inspire others to do the same.)

But where were we? Oh, yeah, it's one of those days when ...

... the cottonwood trees are exuding "cotton" or whatever it is that gives them their name. The brisk north wind that has followed last night's latest round of storm and rain makes it seem more like March than May, and the occasional fluffy shower looks like snow flurries.

Although the nose knows better. Snow does not exert a hay fever effect on us.

The cottonwood is a necessary price to pay for Green Country becoming green once more, and we are thankful for the recent and many rains that have banished the burn bans. Now if we could only figure out what's wrong with the grill, the Quality of Life Meter would be lifting into the Zone of Excellence.

The Oklahomilist will thus stand the heat of the kitchen tonight as he prepares chicken fried steak, cheese potatoes, and fried squash, preceded naturally with a healthy mixed greens with tomatoes salad. Yes, we live in the SOUTHwestern U.S.