Since I wasn’t given one at birth, I’ve decided to take on a middle name.   I wanted to choose an interesting name, with a cool meaning - and settled on one that means little; good looking.   Apparently this is becoming a bit of a trend right now (click to read the article that inspired me) , and I encourage you to do the same.  I’ll even share my middle name with you…. we can all be a little good looking… or was that little, good looking?

So just call me Allison Hussein Hays.

Oh, and by sheer coincidence this is the same middle name of Barack Obama - soon to be the next president of the United States.  Cool, huh?      Will you join me in taking on his middle name?

It’s rerun city on network TV…     

Aside from Criminal Minds, I think my favorite tv shows are actually on the cable networks now - and their seasons start in summer.  YEAH!   

I’m really enjoying In Plain Sight” on the USA network and HGTV’s Design Star, both on Sunday nights and the fabulous campiness of Dr. Who on SciFi.   But in July, things get really exciting…

PSYCH is back on the USA Network July 18th with all new episodes. I just love this show - smart, clever and smart-ass funny.  And their new commerical cracks me up every time I see it.

The Closer is back on TNT July 14th with Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson. One of the best shows on TV.

And while not quite as good as Stargate SG1, I need my Sci-Fi fix and am looking forward to the new season of Stargate Atlantis on the SciFi Channel (Friday nights).  It has a nice mix of hunks and geekiness. 

Bravo TV has the best reality shows - Shear Genius starts this week, and my all time favorite Project Runway begins mid July.

 Are you a fan of any of these shows?  Any summer shows you’re eagerly anticipating?

I manage over a dozen email addresses - and a couple of them have gotten onto junk mail lists, receiving hundreds of spam emails a day.  Thank heaven for spam arrest which stops them from getting to my inbox. 

I do have to check the filter every few days to see if legitimate mail is stuck, and when I do, I am faced with some of the must ridiculous subject lines.  Some are really stupid, others totally crack me up.  Here are a few of the more memorable ones of late:
 

• What a stupid face you have allison
• Does this look illegal?
• Bomb her womb from your huge cannon!
• Have you ever felt the kiss of a womb?
• Satisfy your woman, you pin dick!
• Help your little soldier stand taller

Noticing a theme?   What is the deal with the obsession with the “male member”?  And can any man’s penis ever live up to the expectations of these emails??? 

What memorable spam subject lines have you received?

Oh, watermelon, thou perfect summer fruit.
You beguile me so, with sweet redness
       encased in emerald orb.
Crisp and juicy, refreshing and yummy
and delightfully seedless.
A guiltless summer pleasure, full of fluid and fiber.
I will love you now…. gorging myself on your goodness.
For all too soon your glory shall fade into fall.
Why must your season of sweet ripeness be so brief?

And now, part 2 of our
British Invasion adventure…. 

Journey to the San Juan Islands

On Sunday Kathleen and I took a somewhat leisurely and scenic drive north to Anacortes Washington (stopping only for brunch at the Swinhomish casino). 

The rhododendrons (which are Washington’s state flower) were in brilliant display in a rainbow of colors.  

After a ferry trip through the beautiful islands we pulled into port at Friday’s Harbor - a charming little town with a lively waterfront - shops, art galleries, restaurants.  Just sailing over, even without a car, to spend a few hours in Friday’s Harbor would make a fun day trip.

For the educational part of our journey, we decided to visit the English Camp we saw on all the maps.  Here is Kathy on the road to the camp, saluting in memory of fallen comrades, perhaps?  

Frankly, I’m not quite sure what Kathy was doing, but it was along this road that we waved to Patricia, a lovely woman simply going for a walk (back toward the main road).  Wondering how we knew her name?  Read on.

And here is Kathy at the marker which tells the story of the Pig War between the British and Americans. (click photo to read it)  Did you know that San Juan Island was the last American soil held by the British? Me either.

It was at this point that we met an older gentleman, returning from the path to the bay, with whom Kathy engaged in conversation…

Kathy: Hello, how are you today.
Man:  (seeming a bit despondent) Oh, I’m doing ok. I just lost my wife.
Kathy: (consolingly) I’m so sorry.
Man:  Oh, I’m sure she’ll turn up sometime.

LOL.   I spoke up and told the man we had passed a woman, who was probably his wife, walking up on the road.  So he called out “Patricia!?“  I pointed out that she had been WAY up the road… far enough she probably wouldn’t hear him calling.

He headed up the road after her, and we took the path to the bay…. but for the next 15 minutes we were heralded with sounds of Patricia!?   PATRICIA!!!!   PA-TRI-CIAAAAAAA!!!!!!!   We could hear him clear down by the bay.  

From there we headed to Roche Harbor for dinner, but made a stop at the Wescott Bay Sculpture Park.  VERY COOL.   There are about 108 sculptures in the 19 acre park.   This piece is called “Broken Melody.”

If it had not been so hot, we’d have explored further - but the weather was warm and after our hike (for most people it would be considered a walk, for us it was a hike) around the English Camp, we were a bit overheated and worn out.  

We drove into lovely Roche Harbor, which is a charming resort town.  Dinner was so-so, the water tasted funny, and the service slow, but the view & ambiance were spectacular.   

After dinner we took a stroll through the beautiful formal Victorian garden, filled with peonies, forget me nots, lilies, wisteria, clematis, hydrangea, poppies, and many more…  including this really interesting plant.  I have no idea what it is.  Do you?   More pictures at the link at the end of this post.

We stayed at the States Inn & Ranch - a working alpaca ranch bed & breakfast.  They also had chickens, sheep, and a friendly cat.   Although it was a pleasant stay (& the lavender shortbread cookies were delicious), I probably wouldn’t stay there on a future visit.  The most memorable part for me was the wonderful frog chorus which sang us to sleep.  Yes, I recorded them   Listen and enjoy….

The next morning, we woke up to breakfast in the dining room with the other guests -  made from locally grown produce and their own farm fresh eggs.  The scones were particularly yummy.

In addition to the farm animals,  we saw quite a bit of  wildlife as we drove around the island.  There was a fox sitting near the road, with two smaller foxes tumbling and playing.  I really wish I’d stopped in the middle of the road and taken a picture (a car was behind us, and no where to pull over).   

We also saw several deer - including a doe and two small fawns hiding in the trees, along with a pheasant, a bunny, an eagle, and a fat lazy seal.

On our final day we made a visit to the Lime Kiln Lighthouse / State Park.  We met a family from Minnesota (or Winconsin?) who have traveled and spent every summer for 15+ years volunteering at the lighthouse - which is one of the best places to watch for whales.  
 

 
We didn’t stay long enough to see the orcas that were making their way up the coast that day…  we had a lavender farm to visit!

We stopped by the Pelindaba Lavender Farm and store.   Of course we bought more lavender shortbread cookies.  Even though the lavender was not yet in bloom, it was still a beautiful farm.  And don’t you love this huge pi sculpture sitting in the middle of the field???
         

After spending an hour or so browsing art galleries, gift shops and book stores, we grabbed a bite to eat at the Rocky Bay Cafe and then hopped on the ferry for the trip home. 

Look - a marshmallow farm!   On the drive back, we were lucky enough to capture a picture of this new and extremely rare crop of giant marshmallows.

We left for the airport the next morning where I bid farewell to Kathleen and sent her back to SLC….  it was so fun to have you here - come visit again soon!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS OF OUR ADVENTURE