Stumbling Over Chaos will be closed Friday for the 4th of July holiday. The catstaff of Stumbling Over Chaos would be much obliged to anyone who can provide a link to a very simple side dish to go with the 4th of July main course of gluten-free “Cuban sliders” (wee hamburgers with Cuban-style seasoning). No plantains, please!

I hope you all have a great holiday/Friday!

“Mmmm… food preparation. I’m sure that tuna chunks drizzled in virgin olive oil would be the perfect side dish, Mom. They go with everything!” -Chaos

Margene’s having a contest - guess how many yards are in her skein of handspun and the person who’s closest without going over will win a prize. Leave your guess by July 6.

My goodness - remember the Yarnapalooza contest at Romancing the Yarn that I mentioned yesterday? The one with daily prizes in July?! I won the first prize! *bounce bounce bounce*

Have a great name idea for the fifteenth Stephanie Plum book? Submit it by August 31 and if your name is picked, you’ll receive a mention in book 15 plus an autographed copy!

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Yesterday after work, I met some coworkers for drinks and dinner at Chiang Mai Thai. As I was walking home afterwards, I took a few pictures… I’m sure that was completely independent of my thinking, “Oh, crap, I have nothing to blog about on Wednesday!”

Looks pretty festive up on top of Stella’s Fish Cafe, doesn’t it?

Can’t get much more honest than the name of this bar (lower right).

A row of colorful shops along Hennepin Avenue:

I love the whimsical bike racks in Uptown.

Guess who I was thinking of when I took this picture, Lorraine?!

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“You have to come out sometime, Mayhem! I’ll be waiting…” -Chaos

Create an lolcats caption for a picture of Lucy with a foot model by 3:00 pm EDT, July 1 (aka today), and you could win “something good.” I noes u guyz haz seryus capshuning skillz, so go 2 it.

Romancing the Yarn will be giving away “something fibery” every day during July - send an email to the contest address to play.

Chappy’s having a virtual birthday party - if you leave a story about a dog or cat of your acquaintance by July 7th (Chappy’s birthday), you could win a party favor.

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Back to the Adirondack chair pictured above. It’s hard to get an idea of scale, but I think the chair is sized about right for a person eight to ten feet tall… The chair is located in the J. D. Rivers’ Children’s Garden in Theodore Wirth Park, and I drive by it every day on my way home from work.

For shame if you steal veggies from kids!

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I was going to show you the bites or scratches that May left on Chaos’ face, but they don’t show up very well in any of the pictures I’ve taken.

“It’s ok, Mom. I won’t take any revenge on her… while you’re home, at least.” -Chaos

I’ve had Cloud Cult’s “Everybody Here Is a Cloud” stuck in my head for weeks now. Ack! Actually, several Cloud Cult songs seem to be vying for ascendency - “Pretty Voice“, “When Water Comes to Life“, “Hurricane and Fire Survival Guide”… 

Moving right along - I have fallen behind in my reading updates, haven’t I?!

Reading Update
To Tame a Highland Warrior by Karen Marie Moning. The second of the Highlander series, but the last one I read - my, but it’s humbling having one’s dirty little reading secrets out here for the world to see…
Into the Dreaming by Karen Marie Moning. Bit of a send up of the time traveling Highlander romance genre.
Staying Dead (Retrievers, Book 1) Laura Anne Gilman. I much enjoyed this urban fantasy and am already looking forward to reading the next few books - but I sure hope they were printed in a serif font. I hate reading books sans serif…
Born in Fire (Born In Trilogy, Book 1) by Nora Roberts. Maggie’s an independent glass artist who tangles with Rogan, a Dublin gallery owner. Rogan might’ve been a predecessor to the ever yummy Roarke.
Northern Lights by Nora Roberts. Normal decent Nora Roberts fare, set in Alaska.
Night Shift, Night Shadow, Nightshade, Night Smoke, Night Shield, and Night Moves (Night Tales) by Nora Roberts. The first five books are all related in some way, which makes Night Moves rather puzzling. I could definitely tell that one of the characters was a step leading to Lieutenant Eve Dallas.
Blackout by Annie Solomon. Nicely done suspenseful romantic fiction about a woman whose memory is missing… is she a murderer? Or not?
Tempting Danger and Mortal Danger (The Lupi, Books 1 & 2) by Eileen Wilks. An intense and enjoyable paranormal romance series set in San Diego, featuring Detective Lily Yu.
Black Magic Woman (Quincy Morris Supernatural Investigation, Book 1) by Justin Gustainis. If you’re a fan of the Harry Dresden series, you might want to give this new series a try - it’s very compelling and well-written (and Jim Butcher helped the author get started).
The Touch of Twilight (The Third Sign of the Zodiac) by Vicki Pettersson. Abandoned before Chapter 5 - I can’t remember enough about the first two books for this to make any sense! Obviously I need to wait until all 12 signs are out and then read the series…
Night Shift (Jill Kissmet, Book 1) by Lilith Saintcrow. This is the first book in a brand-new paranormal series by Saintcrow, whose Dante Valentine series was impossible to put down. If the next book is as intense and well-written as Night Shift, I’ll be very happy indeed!

You might’ve notice that enjoy reading a series more so than standalone books. I think it’s because I enjoy getting to know a set of characters and following their lives.

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Am I the only one who discovers cat toys in her bag when she gets to work? Are they sending me presents, or sending forth their toys to gather interesting new smells?

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“I don’t care what Mom keeps singing. I’m not a cloud and I’m not going to evaporate. And you better bring my toys home with you, Mom!” -Mayhem

…if you’re going to be on the table, you’ll have to wear a bib.

“I do not like this rule.” -Mayhem

“I do not like this rule at all.” -Mayhem

“Have I mentioned how much I do not like this rule?” -Mayhem

“Really, this rule is too cruel.” -Mayhem