This weekend I had the distinct pleasure of visiting the La Tea Da Tea Room and Parlour
in Rochester. (There's a La Tee Da Tea Room in Buffalo on Allen Street, but I haven't been there yet).
It was wonderful, with outstanding food and a great atmosphere. As we walked in, the "Lady of the House" offered us a selection of hats and feather boas to wear. After settling in, we had trays and trays of little sandwiches, little cookies and scones that would make Paula Dean smile.
If you're up in Rochester and are looking to score some tea and scones, that is the place to go.

Today was Dolphy Day at LeMoyne College in Syracuse. This tradition stretches back many years, and is basically a day for all students to skip class and get drunk beyond all comprehension. The dining hall sets up grills outside, most classes are cancelled, and fun is had by all. Public drunkenness reigns; it's a great way to end the academic year.
The name of Dolphy Day has a few different potential origins. Some say it has something to do with jazz legend Eric Dolphy ; my issue with this theory is that, besides a choral group, the school is not musically oriented. I tend to believe that Dolphy is a corruption of "Dolphin," which is the school mascot. When you're too drunk to feel your own face, "Dolphy" would be a reasonable interpretation of that word.
From what I remember of my first Dolphy Day, I lived on campus, and after a few days of D-Day alarms, with M-80s going off outside my window, the day began at 4 a.m.
The day was damp and dark, and a hill on the quad got completely muddy from the weather, spilled beer and the amount of people trouncing around. I spent a lot of it covered from hair to foot in mud. Apparently, sliding down the muddy slope seemed like a good idea the first time I did it. The second time I was so filthy that it didn't seem to matter. I also remember eating donuts, not being able to tie my shoes, a nap in someone's lounge, and thinking "wow, hundreds of college students too blasted to stand. Cool."
Their alumni office, rather than try to ignore this time-honored tradition, actually sent out an email to let their graduates know that today was the day, complete with a slideshow. I appreciated it.

My dog was born one year ago today. Her main gift was a life preserver for when we're out sailing, and as her special treat this evening she had a giant bowl of ice cubes and a bunch of crunchy carrots.

My grandparents sent her a birthday card. They are the coolest people on the planet.







She's my bear.

Anyone else get spam in the flavor of one of those Nigerian bank scams from johnmichael_2k@yahoo.com?
(e:paul) - the IP was 196.201.88.200.

Gas prices are really depressing me. It was $2.99 on our corner this afternoon. Check out gasbuddy.com or the local version to scope out the best prices - and the worst.
We tuned up all our bikes (two "old fashioned" kinds and one vroom vroom zoom zoom kind), changing oil, lubing chains and checking air pressure. If it's above 50 degrees when I leave tomorrow I may be taking my other vehicle to work and out shopping.
I'll have to wake up a little earlier too, but I can do it! It will get me around the offensive construction that has clogged up Main Street from Bailey to Hertel. Does anyone have any idea what they're trying to do there? And when they'll be done?