"What's Taters Precious?"

"Boil em, mash em, put em in a stew."...Samewise Gamgee

Today is not National Potato Day. It's just plain Potato Day which means an entity of our government has not see fit to legally proclaim this noble and versatile food worthy of national renown. So I guess it's up to states, counties and various other municipalities to promote their own celebrations.

Potatoes are actually considered a stem tuber—a starch rather than a vegetable.

Popularly served as a side dish in the U.S.—baked, boiled, fried, hash-browned, mashed and roasted, potatoes can also be made into soups and salads, tossed into casseroles and distilled into vodka.

Wild potatoes are indigenous to the Andes Mountains in Peru. They were first domesticated more than 6,000 years ago....and it wasn't easy. For hundreds of years large hordes of pillaging potatoes roamed the country lawless and leaderless. It was the Inca's who eventually tamed them shortly after the discovery of ketchup.

Potatoes were introduced to America in the 18th century. They were first planted in Idaho in 1836; the state now grows 25% of the nation’s potatoes.

I strongly urge you to partake in this edible delight tonight. If you're off the carbohydrates mash up a nice cauliflower and pretended it's a potato.

We catch shower water in a bucket for the potted plants. The other day Wanda recycled the water she used to hard boil eggs. We run the drip system one hour per week. Our backyard is so dry.

I'm staring out the window at a half dead redwood tree. Its been in the ground since the Clinton administration and it's only ten feet high. This stunted green and brown conifer is a constant reminder of life's struggles. Day after day, month after month, year after year I am a witness to its battles for air, water and sunlight.

I also just noticed the wooden privacy fence along our side yard is rocking in the wind.

Well, there is but one of two solutions for these problems. I can go work in the other room or close the curtains.

On the other hand, the birds are singing, the sky is blue, the yard is alive with hummingbirds and butterflies and it's Tuesday which means I have garbage duty. 

It's comforting to know that trees may struggle and fences may fall but some things never change.

There is nothing like a little cat litter and trash to put one in his place.

Speaking of putting one in his place; I couldn't get into bed last night. Steve did it to me again.

He was sleeping with his head on Wanda's pillow and she was sprawled diagonally across my side of the bed.

Five surprising places to meet someone and find love.

Marie Mellon met her future husband during an icy winter in Bend, Oregon 17 years ago. "I was stopped at a red light and my car stalled," says Mellon. "His truck slid into the back of my car. He broke my taillights, dented my bumper and nicked a piece of my heart."

Whitney Stone met her husband at the vet's office. They had appointments for Mizz Tinkle and Toulouse and the doc was running late. Whitney said she was smitten by Carter. "I loved Toulouse and Carter knew so much about Pudge and Sir Stuffington. We went on a double date that night and have all been together ever since." 

Scott Trocantor was flying from New York to Oakland when he struck up a conversation with his seat mate Emily. "It was a long flight," said Emily. "With all the rules and regulations these days I couldn't get away from him. You can't lock yourself in the toilet for long. He approached me at the baggage claim, by now I thought he was a stalker. But I gave him a chance and I'm so glad I did."

MoniQue Shaldajiain met her husband Mike on Twitter. They currently have a very successful long distance relationship.

Holly and Jesse Johnson met on a commuter train, again and again and again.

Reggie and Madison Tinsworthy met at Get You Out in Time for Dinner Bail Bonds. Reggie was posting bail for his brother and Madison was making arraignments for her mother who had been arrested for shoplifting a pair of zories and a small frozen chicken from the local Walmart Superstore.

Carina and Sergio Buffone were in the 17 items and under lane at the Serve & Save when they noticed each other. "I thought she was the most beautiful thing I'd even seen," said Sergio. "She had interesting things in her cart and some great looking melons." 

Naomi and Sam started a conversation while at a neighborhood crime scene. "It was a little scary at first, you know, like a murder and all but I did met my now husband Sam. We were standing in the front row right behind the yellow tape and he was just so cute. We are so lucky that man decided to bludgeon his wife that day."

A Maine man was well-prepared for his return to the Somerset County Jail and he had a special shirt made for his second jailhouse photo of the summer.

Robert Burt was arrested for operating under the influence and driving without a license back in June and booked at the Somerset County Jail.

The 19-year-old worked out a plea deal with regard to the charges and he was sentenced to spend two days behind bars.

When he showed up to start serving his time on August 8, Burt had a special shirt on for the occasion featuring the photo of himself from the June arrest.

Underneath the photo was a caption reading, "Burt Family Reunion 8/8-8/10/2014" and "sponsored by Bud Light and Somerset County Sheriff." There was also a cat photo that included a television remote and a bottle of Bud Light

Burt has another family member at the jail, hence the family reunion reference.

A Seattle man suffered a large cut and bruising after he was hit over the head with an aluminum baseball bat.

That attack occurred just moments after the victim had finished fighting a one-legged man who came after him with a prosthetic leg.

An officer from the Seattle Police Department was on the scene for the first fight, although the combatants originally didn't recognize his presence. After the officer eventually was able to stop the fight, the victim "started to walk off while the one-legged man re-inserted his prosthetic limb."

As the officer looked on, a third individual assaulted the victim by hitting him "full force over the head" with a bat. That suspect was arrested for investigation of assault and violation of the uniform controlled substances act after he allegedly tossed away a bag containing 21.8 grams of cocaine.

The victim refused treatment after suffering a large cut and bruising. It's unclear what happened to the one-legged man.

A Texas woman was so desperate to visit her boyfriend in jail she stole a $3.99 bottle of wine to get herself arrested and tossed in the clink.

Alicia Walicke of Cedar Park was charged with misdemeanor theft after lifting a bottle of Mad Dog 20/20 from a Shell station and proceeding to down it outside the establishment.

The 22-year-old told responding officers that she wanted to get busted and taken to the Williamson County Jail.

Walicke told officers her boyfriend was arrested earlier that evening by Cedar Park Officers and it was her fault so she wanted to make things right and go to jail.

Police have arrested Walicke in the past for theft and assault.

She was taken into custody and then released after posting a $5,000 bond. 

It's not clear if Walicke's plan worked and she was actually able to see her boyfriend.