The meteorologist for a local television station, Rob Blair, said this morning that this might well be the last day of 80-degree weather and to expect upper 50-degree weather by the weekend. This displeased me greatly, but it made Laura smile broadly!

I have noticed that I no longer enjoy the extremely hot weather we often have here--100+degree weather. Mid-to-high 80-degree weather, however, I enjoy greatly. I once frolicked mirthfully in the extreme weather and find that I now eschew anything much past 90 degrees.

Today will hopefully find us visited by hummingbirds. If this takes place, I shall perch myself in an appropriate spot and capture the delightful creatures photographically.

I am watching Deadtime Stories by George Romero. I shall report on it following my viewing.

Laura began making breakfast each morning a few months ago. Prior to that, we did not follow a breakfast routine and often skipped breakfast. Laura developed a breakfast that is such a delight that I awaken drooling copiously thinking of it and am barely able to contain myself while perched at the dining table awaiting it to appear before me! At times, we have dry cereal with strawberry or banana slices and Silk milk substitute. Generally, however, Laura produces this incredibly tasty and healthful item: Click to enlarge!

I have journeyed far and wide, and never have I encountered a more delicious and healthful breakfast treat! Laura toasts an English muffin--atop one half of which she places a fried egg, topped with a ham slice, spinach, and cheddar cheese. At the table, we add fresh salsa. As you can see from the photograph, it is beautiful. And it tastes easily as good as it looks!

Stupid Criminal, Waste Not, -and- All Dried Up

Stupid Criminal - bank robber disguises himself as tree
Waste Not - "green" light bulbs pack toxic ingredient
All Dried Up - woman arrested for not watering lawn

On this day in history: July 9, 1997 - Attempting to spring him from the Arizona state prison at Florence, Rebecca Thornton meets her husband Floyd at the perimeter fence with a rifle. There the escape plan goes haywire, and Rebecca shoots her death-row husband after he instructs her: "Shoot me! I'm sorry things went wrong. Shoot me! Shoot me!" Then they are both gunned down by the guards.

Born on this day in history: July 9, 1908 - Paul Brown (1908 - 1991) football coach He is a NFL hall of famer who, as a coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, was known for calling plays from the sidelines.

Today's Video: The Zimmers Backstage at Graham Norton - submitted by Jeffrey

It was hot over the weekend, and this heat wave is forecast to continue through Wednesday—when the temperature is expected to drop below 100 degrees for the first time in several days.

We visited with my mother Saturday. Laura made shrimp wraps with large tortillas, medium shrimp, diced Jalapeños, slivered red onion, slivered tomato, julienned butter lettuce, minced garlic, mayonnaise, and curry powder. They were wonderful.

We journeyed to Chico in Mr. Nitro. Mr. Nitro recorded the best highway fuel economy to date: 22.1 MPG.

Sunday—following service at Harvest Christian Center—I made a pot of beans. I stewed the bone from a large spiral-cut ham in two bottles of Sierra Nevada Bigfoot ale for two hours. I took the bone from the pot, removed all the meat, returned the meat to the pot, and added a sliced red onion, a sliced white onion, a head of garlic (peeled, whole cloves), five stalks of celery (sliced), sea salt, ground black pepper, and cumin. Laura added three tablespoons of brown sugar and tended the pot for two hours—at which time she added four cans of white beans (drained), stirred, and turned the burner to low. It was a delightful meal.