M - I can’t just go running onto my back deck these days. Nor have I for a couple years. Believe it or not, a frog has taken up residence on our deck for the past 2 years. He was the size of a nickel last year. Now he’s bigger than a half dollar. If we’re not careful, we could flatten him with an errant step. The guy thinks he owns the place. One day he’s in a flower pot, the next he’s stuck to the glass door at night. He seems to like watching Animal Planet from the back door. Maybe he’s looking for his Mommy. Until then, Lady Baba and I are his legal guardians. I may offer him a guest room if we can paper train him. Cats are OK, but frogs won’t turn your sofa to shreds. I’ll keep you posted.

T - Hey Mikey, I judged an event that was all about chocolate a couple years ago.  I brought my Mom because she may be the only person that loves chocolate more than me.  Well, by the end of the event, she had stopped talking to me!  We drove home in silence as we continued to gulp down water.   She’s never gone with me again!

M - So you want to be a food judge, eh? You watch “Iron Chef,” “Chopped” and “Top Chef”…and you think, I could do that! Think twice. Even though I willingly volunteered to be a judge at the Henniker Rotary’s Chili Fest 2010 Sunday, I wonder how I managed to try 37 samples and only gain a half pound. Here’s the inside skinny on staying that way: Take 2 small bites, then ditch the rest of the two-ounce sample. Forget oyster crackers or between-course palate-cleansing sorbet. I forgot to mention that to another judge, first-timer Josh Judge from WMUR TV. The poor weather guy dutifully ate entire samples for a while until someone noticed his rosey complexion leaning toward green. At the end of the day, a great time was had by the judging panel, though today I am chilied out! Still, judging chili is easier that apple pie. I sampled about 50 pies many years ago. My teeth still hurt from that contest.  I’ve got about 40 days to regain my chili craving. Looks like I’ll be judging part of the national finals of the International Chili Society’s competition here in October. Anybody lend me a pair of 33-waist spandex jeans?

M - Did you know that the average woman tries on over 21,000 articles of clothing in stores in her lifetime? That’s no less than 5 items per week for any woman living to be 80 years old. Both Tracy and Suzanne found that figure to be believable. All I can say is that, it’s GREAT to be a guy. No bulky handbags. No make up. Quick hair routine and we’re out of the house. No trying on 5 new shirts every week at Macy’s. I’m still wearing several pairs of Timberland boxer shorts I bought in 2004. And ladies would rather shop with their girlfriends to get opinions about clothes they’re considering. As Robin wrote to me today after hearing our discussion about buying clothes…” I listen to you on line and I just have a comment about women going shopping for clothes.  I always take my best friend as she in honest with me about what looks good and what doesn’t.  I NEVER go clothes shopping with my husband of 32+ years because no matter what I put on he says it looks good.  Guess that’s why we have been married so long.” Men are from Mars, women are from Marshalls.

T- Hey Mikey, I can’t say cannolis are my favorite food, but they are without question my favorite pastry.  My favorite food?  Well, it would still have to be something Italian! 

As you know, I’ve been taking Fridays off this summer to spend time with my kids, but last week I didn’t spend any time with them because they were both away at camp. Saturday to Saturday.  I have a tough time with this each year and I keep thinking it’ll get easier, but NO, I was a wreck!  It was my son’s third year going and my daughter’s first year.  Luckily, when I picked them up last Saturday, they both asked if they could go for two weeks next year!  Of course I will let them.  It’s a great experience… for them.  How I will deal is beyond me.   

PS - a big hello to Jimmy.  He’s Cabin #9, the Mountain Lions, cabin leader at Camp Mi-te-na.  You did a great job taking care of my son.  And to  Becka and Erica, thank goodness there are young adults like you. You watched over my daughter for the week at Camp Foss, and I think you’re wonderful.  Oh wait… and to Scott and Mikey and Suzanne, and myMom, and my best friend, and Bob the mailman, thank you for taking care of ME while my kids were away!

M - It was a pretty good week for my partner Tracy. She worked just 3 days. She got to spy on her kids at camp via the Internet and Johnny from Piccola Italia Restaurant brought her 14 freshly-made cannolis Thursday morning. (Yes, she shared them with everyone) I’m not a big cannoli guy, but these were really good. Johnny got up extra early and made them that morning before bringing them to Tracy. I think cannolis are her favorite food. Should any chef wish to deliver a favorite food to me some morning, make it a Yukon Gold baked potato, cut open and slathered with butter. No cheese,  sour cream or bean sprouts. Just one potato and a hunka hunka melted butter. I do not apologize for loving butter. In fact, when I die and am reincarnated, I hope to return in my next life as Food Network’s Paula Deen’s side kick.

M - Friday was another great weather day. Nice breezes and temperatures we could tolerate. The good weather motivated me to clean our garage today. On Saturday I will trim the bushes and cut the lawn. Then, I will reward myself Sunday with a day at the League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair at Mt. Sunapee. Lady Baba and I go almost every year. This is all juried art work…no junk. Tracy is going this Monday. I’ll try to leave a few things behind for you to buy, Tracy! Sorry to hear you didn’t get married while you were in Vegas. Guess I’ll have to return the box of North End cannolis I bought as your wedding gift. See you Tuesday!

T- Sorry I haven’t written lately Mike.  I’ve been busy answering all the emails from people asking if Scott and I got married.  RUMORS!!! No, there are no congratulations in order.  :) 

You are right, Mike.  I really can’t wait to get back to Vegas!  I had never been. Never had a desire.  But now that I have experienced the excitement and adrenaline rush that you get from all the Oxygen they pipe through the vents, I’m already planning my next trip.  I think your idea of a WZID three day trip sounds fantastic!  Count me in!  Could that many people fit in the Little White Chapel???   (Ha!)

By the way, speaking of fairs,  I am heading to the League of NH Craftsmen fair on Monday.  Yes, that means I’m taking another day off!

M - We’re only 12 days into fair season in New Hampshire and I’ve already gained 4 pounds just thinking about funnel cakes and curly fries. I can smell the deep fryers in Swanzey wafting sweet doughy aromas eastward one day before the Cheshire Fair begins. Check out some of the new cutting-edge fair foods that I found that we could see in NH this summer and fall:

• Chocolate covered bacon on a stick – A booth at last year’s Wisconsin State Fair sold 7,000 of these sweet and salty treats on the first day, according to ivillage.com.
• Deep fried PBJ and Banana Sandwich – The State Fair of Texas proving again that they’re known for more than deep fried butter.
• Spaghetti and Meatballs on a Stick – From the Minnesota State Fair that boasts 60 different foods on a stick. 
• Fried Pineapple on a Stick – From the Iowa State Fair. Coated with cake batter and dusted with powdered sugar. Finally, a healthy fair food we can feel good about eating.
• Fried Coke – Don’t ask. It’s from the guy who gave us deep fried butter.

I think I’m ready to dive into a nice green salad, even if it DOES come on a stick.

M -  What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…unless it’s Tracy’s head cold. Probably caught it on the plane heading back to Manch Vegas. I’m so glad my partner had a good time in Sin City. NO! She did NOT get married while they were there. Ask Tracy about the giant frog at Wynn’s casino. Or the “pat down” and Titanic incident at the airport. I need a yearly fix of grown up fun in Vegas myself. I think Tracy’s been bitten by the Glitter Gulch bug. One of these days I’m going to organize a charter flight to Las Vegas for WZID listeners…just like we do every spring to the Connecticut casinos. Do you think we could get 100 folks to go for 3 days? I am glad Tracy’s back…now we can hear about her brown lawn again…while we help  Suzanne and her restless leg syndrome. Life is never dull at 500 Commercial Street.