I harvested the first "fruits of my labor" from the mini-garden last week.

A single, vine-ripened cherry tomato was hardly a bumper crop, but many green tomatoettes look promising.

This year, I planted:  two tomato plants (cherry, Beef eater), two pepper plants (red, orange), rhubarb, and some herb (basil, cilantro, oregano, rosemary).

My neighbors probably thought the tomato plants were giant weeds, since I didn't put them in cages right away (the plants, that is, not the neighbors...)

Many peopl e have asked how my trip to Brazil wrapped up. The column (below) ran in the print edition of the Prior Lake American back in June, but I forgot to post it here for people who check our online edition.

The main thing I want to say about Social Security is this:
The politicians don't care about the Social Security program; they don't have to depend on it for an income. Most of our elected officials will continue to receive thier current salary once they leave office, and continue to do so until they die!

Tom2000:Tobacco smoking is the inhalation of smoke from burned dried or cured leaves of the tobacco plant, most often in the form of a cigarette. People may smoke casually for pleasure, habitually to satisfy an addiction to the nicotine present in tobacco and to the act of smoking, or in response to social pressure. In some societies, people smoke for ritualistic purposes. According to the WHO about one-third of the world's male population smokes tobacco. Tobacco use by Native Americans throughout North and South America dates back to 2000 BC.

As I was watching the home run derby last night, I couldn't help but get wrapped up in Josh Hamilton's first-round display as did the fans at Yankee Stadium, but after listening to Justin Morneau give his interview following the derby, I came to realize what a class act the Twins have as a first basemen.
Morneau became the first Twin to win the home run derby after slugging 22 homers on 30 outs.

I used to live within a few blocks of this restaurant. When they had their outdoor entertainment, it would keep people (some that had to go to work the next day) awake until 2:00 in the a.m.; then we had to put up with the drunks hot rodding down residential streets, making all kinds of noise, etc.......
When I called to complain to the restaurant, they were quick to (rudely) say that if I didn't like it, I should contact my City Council to complain, and that they would keep on partying until the permit expired.

General political rhetoric in the U.S. is a little bit like Gang Wars in the early 90s in South Cental L.A. between the Bloods and the Cripps. Democrats vs. Republicans. Liberals v. Conservatives. Granted, it is understood that many politicians hold more moderate views, and there are other parties, most notably the Independent party, but overall our country swings the arm of the pendulum with one side or the other. We're taught it. Our parents are often associated with a particular party, Republican or Democrat. Bush, for example, can be seen as a moderate. But he is still a Republican.

Pack your bags, unhappy Americans. It's apparently much better in Denmark!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/studyworldgetshappier