"I will try to fall back in love with my wife." The words of the latest Love Guv (as my coanchor Jim calls him), South Carolina's governor Mark Sanford.

'Wow, big guy, don't strain yourself doing me any favors!’

That's what I imagine that maybe his wife, Jenny, is thinking after hearing that humiliating public statement from hubby.

Yes, my friends, another Friday, another recipe. Hope you’re somewhere nice with friends and/or family, taking time off on this holiday! I happen to be working today, as are many other folks, but it feels like a weekend here. Bare-bones staff, no Jim, no Lolita. Just me and G here from the regular weeknight team.

Memories of July Fourth, growing up in Washington, DC. Joining the crowd on the lawn in front of the Washington Monument, spreading out a big blanket for my parents, my little brother and me to sit on. Watching the fireworks, the ‘white-sugar- and- butter- on-white bread’ rollup my mother gave us as a treat, poised halfway between our hand and our mouth as we gaped upwards.

Yes, it’s happened. I’ve got Blogger’s Block. Didn’t take long. One minute I’m on FIRE, the next, nothing. Perhaps you’ve noticed you have heard ‘nada’ from me the past few days. In fact, I believe I am coming up on another Friday, the day I do my recipe blog. And, alas, the last blog I wrote was…….a recipe! Haven’t had a good blog idea for a week!

When I was ten, my mother bought me a parakeet. It was blue and white, with touches of black in its feathers. I named him Tweety. Mom got Tweety at Woolworth’s. That chain of stores no longer exists, I don’t think, but when I was growing up in DC, we thought it was the best store ever. It was what was once called a “variety” store, kind of like a five- and-dime, but better.

What is it about brunch, that we New Yorkers love so much? For me, it’s the whole ritual….ordering a nice mimosa, usually going for the eggs benedict, changing it up a bit sometimes with salmon instead of the Canadian bacon. Brunch means weekends, festive, relaxing, getting together with pals.

Jim and I are about to celebrate our 11th anniversary. I know. It’s hard to believe. In just a few months, we will have anchored together for ELEVEN years at Channel ELEVEN. The symmetry is so beautiful, I just want to weep.

I recall, as though it were just yesterday, the lunch at which we met. Jim has just been hired, and it is our “get acquainted” meal. I am late. I run into the restaurant, out of breath, apologizing to my bosses and to Jim who is already into his appetizer. He makes some crack about how this is not a good way to start a relationship. I make a crack about how I never wanted to work with a guy who was prettier than me.

Right then and there, I knew we were going to get along just fine.

Our intrepid Howard Thompson is now doing Feel Good Friday not just on Friday, but sometimes also on Monday, it’s THAT popular. So I figure I can do my Friday recipe on a Thursday, as I am taking tomorrow off. As many of you already know, today is my birthday, so I am going to take a long weekend to celebrate. (And thanks to each and every one of you who took the time to wish me a happy birthday! You're the best.)

Swimming. Or more to the point, not swimming. This subject comes up for me every summer. I love the beach, but I don’t know how to swim. Every summer someone expresses astonishment about this fact. I’ve addressed this before, but think it is worth talking about again.

I attended an all- women’s college on the East Coast that has a 150- year- old tradition of not permitting any student who does not pass the swimming test to graduate, no matter how good their grades. For nearly two centuries, they never had an issue with this. Until I came along.

Believe me, they tried. It got to the point where the frustrated instructors would whack my fingers, desperately clinging to the side of the deep end of the pool, with sticks, to get me to let go. They kept screaming at me, “FLOAT! ANYBODY can learn how to FLOAT!” Well, not me, apparently. I proved to be too big a challenge, even for seasoned professional swim instructors at a respected center of learning.

Again, it’s Friday and I do have a recipe for you, but first, let’s talk about a ‘recipe for disaster!” Have you gone to our ”PIX Day In History” on our website?! You absolutely must, if nothing more than to check out the crazy, weird ‘anchor’ hair!