Happy Friday

And good luck to Framingham United!

It's after Tea, and a good time was had by all. The Riga Sprats (Check out the US Sprats Index) and garlic stalks were good as usual. (Our internet connection was out AGAIN, or notice would have been provided earlier. Apparently it was due to a snafu on the other side of Verizon's central office. We're beginning to lose patience with you, Verizon!)

Smashed is off to the Outer Banks (of North Carolina) for a week of nihilism. (Well, sand, surf, and very light southern accents). Blogging may be extremely light for a few days.

New Coffee Maker

RN's donated coffee maker died.

RS replaced it with a very high-tech looking "Mr. Coffee" coffee maker. We think it's synched up with the naval observatory.

It also reportedly has a brew strength adjustment. Bwaaaa haaaaa haaaa...

Today's Tea

We have been reliably informed that there are still more delicious sardine-like fish available for today's Tea. We also notice that there are garlic sprouts in the fridge. Perhaps NR is planning a surprise of some kind.

See you at 4:00.

Wouldn't you just love to contact these guys...

Oh, wait.

No News

The Concord (MA) Police Log as published online shows no evidence of the arrest of a nekkid man on August 8th.

Unless it's this rather too late entry:

At 2:29 p.m., following a motor vehicle stop, an Acton man was issued a summons for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and defective equipment.

We hope that the police haven't become that intrusive.

The Slog

Today was the heavy day at the Summit. It was pretty much non-stop meetings, but at least we've produced a sort of vague road map for the fall.

Excitement was provided by RD, who dropped into the afternoon session to cheer everyone up. Well, and to schedule someone to water his plants.

Oh, and the GUI's got to change substantially. Also exciting.

Late Summer Software Summit in Progress!

SR has come down from VT, and is keeping MGG's desk warm for a few days. He didn't say anything about seeing any unclothed people on his 4 hour drive.

It'll be a busy summit, there are multiple meetings most days, clustered around noon. MS and AP were the hosts of a very "Space Odyssey" sort of meeting this afternoon over in manufacturing. It's very white back there.

Tomorrow sees meetings at 11:00 and 1:00, as well as a rendezvous with MGG at noon. The consensus seems to be Moody street Thai... Let us know if you'd like to tag along...

Still nothing

Still nothing on that morning pick-me-up that AZ saw the other day.

We'll keep scanning the police log - they've gotta update it someday.

And speaking of Nakedity, Neddie Jingo recounts here ("From the Repressed-Memory Files") how he came to be the archetype for a Chilean folk-tale.

We'll start youse off with this:

It's possible you are not familiar with the huaso. That's quite all right; very few people outside of Chile are. The huaso is to the Chilean imagination the direct equivalent of the gaucho in Argentina, and, indeed, the American cowboy. He is a tough son-of-a-bitch, a great horseman, a terrific dancer, and a cherished national symbol.

(And thanks to bossy for the bolds).

Ahhhh

Our internet connection is back! We can breathe again!

It was so claustrophobic without it.

Viva Verizon! (May this not happen again!)

Friday Black Lab Blogging

In lieu of the traditional cat, we have Friday Black Lab blogging, in honor of the black lab that's at Chez Smashed this weekend.

The cats are not pleased.

Leftovers

Today for tea there will be leftovers.

And a fresh cheese plate.

Ironic, no?

Also, maybe KM will be joining us.


UPDATE: Alas, no KM. She was here early in the day, but didn't hang around for Tea.

Recipe Shootout.

The recipe shootout starts tomorrow.

Please follow the rules, and we're sure that no one will get hurt.

NT has perhaps chosen the best course, and has left the building for a while.

Friday's Tea

Rumor has it that JM will be supplying a little Hawaiian Haitian rum today at 4:00.

Annual cookout returns, is a success

From its earliest days in Natick, the unsanctioned company cookout has been a happy tradition. Luckily this time there was no one with the temerity to try to kick us off the proverbial loading dock.

MGG and Cricket showed up - the former with his famous chicken, the latter to scan the skies for enemy aircraft.

This also served as MB's going away party - we wish him well teaching in Maine.

AZ's exciting morning commute

AZ was awakened on her commute to work this morning by the sight of a naked man being arrested at Walden Pond.

Was he a naked swimmer trying to get away from the scene of the "crime"? Was he arrested for sleeping in the car? Was he just someone down from Vermont?

Oh, and by the way, was MB in today?

We'll be keeping an eye on the police blotter for all the details.

Rock is not Dead

Thanks to your aunt, BD, you will always know this vital truth!

Rock is not dead.

Never go on vacation!

Welcome back WL, to the world of collapsing bridges and marathon meetings.

We told RD that he was using too much plant food, but did he listen? No.

Dog Days Tea

In honor of the doldrums of summer being upon us, we'll be having that quintessential hot weather drink, the G&T. Please join us at 4:00.

Oh, and Ely, MN

and Minneapolis, MN aren't very close to each other. (In fact, Ely doesn't seem to be close to anything).

Que es Mas Macho? Reesey or the kitten?

There's a new sheriff in Smashed town. TS wangled a new kitty for herself, and it's in residence at home now. TS is down the cape.

Reesey has a distinct and obvious fear of the new as-yet-to-be-named kitten. So much for keeping the kitten safe - it's the vicious, man-scratching adolescent we've got to worry about. Even the smell of the kitten threatens Reesey, and turns her into a man scratcher. She's also back in heat.

Oh, we hope that this transition doesn't last long.

Company Meeting Tomorrow, Followed By Pizza!

We think that the only person not looking forward to the pizza more than the meeting is AZ. A sprained tooth can change a gal's priorities in a flash.