Feb. 24, originally uploaded by Claudia Snell.

Wow - it was so nice out today that we actually ventured out. Snow was melting everywhere.

While we were out looking for adventure we popped out to Carl’s Oxford Diner. We’ve heard a lot about how great it is so we had to check it out.

I couldn’t believe how much food we got! I had heard the portions are giant but it’s still quite a surprise when you see it all.

I had some pecan waffles (which were great!) and couldn’t even eat half of it. Thank goodness for the take-home box, now I have dinner too. We all really enjoyed the place. Everyone’s breakfast was great. Everyone got more than enough to eat. The people there were super friendly. We’ll go again even though it’s a bit out of the way. Here’s directions, some other reviews and a map to get you there.

That’s about it - nothing else too exciting to pass along, but Sunday shouldn’t be too exciting - there’s all next week for “excitement”.

I had a really nice surprise this morning - Wormtown Taxi posted his list of 10 excellent blogs and mine was one of them - woot!

So, now I’m going to spread more blogosphere-love by sharing my favorites.

There are a few that are already part of this fun “Excellent Blog Award” list-making game that I also read every day: Daily Worcesteria, Hyphoid Logic, Wormtown Taxi and Papamoka Straight Talk but just repeating everyone else’s lists is kinda cheating so I won’t count them as part of my “official” list. I did want to at least mention that I really enjoy reading what these folks have to say. They are all “most excellent bloggers”.

I’m sure my post won’t be as entertaining as Hyphoid Logic’s list, but here it goes…

Claudia’s most excellent blog choices

Bread and Love
This is a friend of mine in the “real” world - and she’s just fantastic. Her blog is a really cool bit of homeyness and good food. It’s just really “her” which is why it rocks!

Worcester Love
OK, not a blog really in the sense that they haven’t structured their web site in what would would be called a “blog” type format but they most certainly are vlogging and I totally love it! I can’t wait for the next season.

Punky Style
I really like this fun blog! She’s got a great sense of style and a very fun way of delivering it. The design on her blog fits perfectly too - NICE JOB!

Web Designer Wall
OMG!! I would not know what to do without my Web Designer Wall fix - tutorials, art, inspiration and freebies from an incredible designer/artist. (did I gush enough yet? I do not think so). Go look for yourself.

Earth Friendly Gardening
I found this cool blog while working on a project at work. There’s a lot of great information and beautiful pictures. It’s just really well done.

Pie and Coffee
While I don’t always agree with the point of view I do like this blog , it’s got good, thoughtful content. Since I’m not one of those people that needs to have everyone agreeing with me all the time it works for me. Certainly gives me stuff to think about and I like that.

TrainStopping
Oh my… this one made me totally re-think my previous thinking about possibly using the commuter rail to get to Boston for work. I’m not loving the Pike but it doesn’t look like the train will cure everything either. Great information and much more realistic than stuff written by folks that don’t actually use the thing.

Aral Balkan
Lots of tips, information, reviews and whatnot from web guru, Aral Balkan. Yep, more geek stuff. Can’t help it - I totally love it

Jeffrey Zeldman Presents
And MORE web-geekness. Zeldman is another leader in web design - just brilliant. (yes, if you are a web geek you should know him). His blog is always entertaining. Includes links to Happy Cog and A List Apart. All three sites are must-read if you build sites.

Pink Granite
Just a really nice blog about living in Central Massachusetts. It’s great to see all the different voices online.

Ok, that’s it for now. My list of 10 excellent blogs. Like it? Didn’t like it? Did I miss something? Let me know. I’m always looking for feedback and new stuff to read

Update on all the blog-love

I just wanted to thank the bloggers who showed me link-love during our “Excellent Blog Fest”. The eWard was originally awarded to this blog by Wormown Taxi. And then by Papamoka Straight Talk. Their comments were really nice - thank you both! The link-love for this blog also was shared by Train Stopping and Daily Worcesteria. I also got a lot of great comments on this post.

Thank you everyone! Although it’s not an official award from any big organization, I guess you can say we all had an outbreak of mutual-blog-appreciation. It was really nice. (aaawwwww - sweet!)

GTI-sicle, originally uploaded by Claudia Snell.

Well, my mother called from Southern California the other night and let me know that they have 70-degree weather out there. On the other hand, they did have temps in the 30’s a couple of times over night. It’s not quite the same as what we’ve been having. Conversations like that are always sort of funny.

Yesterday, my car was at least not covered with ice but the windows were frozen shut. I didn’t know that until I got to the tolls and couldn’t get my window open to get a ticket. How annoying!

Also, I hope that the fool in the car behind me that insisted on honking and flipping out because I had to open my door to get a ticket learns to calm down before he has a stroke. (Yes, he was waving his hands around and screaming in his car like a giant toddler who’s lost his lollipop.)

NOTE TO FOOL: Yes, I know I’m in the way. Yes, I have somewhere I need to be too. Yes, this is not fun to have a situation where a car is not able to move and yes, we all have to deal with other people sometimes. Learn to have some manners. Next time it could be you that has a problem and is in the way. And, BTW, honking at someone because they are having issues with their car does not make the car magically all-better. UGH.

I really can’t stand how ridiculously rude people are becoming. Honestly. I do understand the honking if someone is just sitting there for no apparent reason but when another person is clearly having trouble it’s pretty disgusting to add to the problem like that. I’m glad I wasn’t having a medical issue or wasn’t really broken down. The jerk probably would have beat me up for that!

Oh well. I guess I should feel bad for a person like that. Clearly he has no manners, no consideration for others and is wound so tightly that he will have a heart attack or stroke before he’s 30. I’m guessing he’s a really “fun” person to be around - YUCK!

This is “Meshes of the Afternoon” by Maya Deren and Alexander Hamid

This cool video came to me via a post on my Facebook profile from one of my favorite teachers from Assumption College, Scott Glushien. One of the best things about Assumption College is the great people I have met while studying there. I miss the place and can’t wait until my schedule permits me to return for classes.

Scott always has something that makes me think. I’m so lucky!

woot!

Rose, originally uploaded by Claudia Snell.

I don’t want any more cold, wet, icy, dirty, disgusting weather. I am so sick of winter now!

Seriously, I’m totally ready for spring. I want to go outside and run all around without falling knee-deep in mud or something. It’s got to be coming soon. I hope. I’ve got much pent-up energy and a bottle of bubbles. All I need is a nice day to go out and play. I’m ready!