Omigawd…

I completely forgot to post an entry today.

I had a very early doctor’s appointment again, and then had to stop to gas up the vehicle on base, and then went to check out if the Le Creuset™ pot was on sale, which it was, and I got, and then came home to a whiny dog who had not been let out, which I rescued, and then to fold the rest of the laundry and then to start a Tres Leches cake which takes FOREVER, and then swing by the grocery store for last minute stuff for dinner, which I am about to go start.

Also, Teresa sent me this link. I ♥ this!!

It is on my List of Things for Aggie’s Birthday®. That’s a list I am now going to leave conspicuously pasted all over the house, starting in September. It’s never too late to start 😉

Back to Basics

When I was newlywed, I used to take one day of the week to cook a gourmet meal. I would get the ingredients, measure everything, clean up as I went along, and make something fantabulous for the two of us.

Eldest was still on mashed peas and squash. She didn’t get to enjoy the spoils.

Once our family grew in size I placed that habit on hold, much to Hubby’s chagrin. Not many kids will appreciate Dover sole cooked in a white wine reduction, right? Well, I know mine didn’t. But now that they are nearing adulthood (ZOMG!!! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!!??), I have been doing different dishes and getting back into the gourmet thing, slowly.

Of course, Little One is Miss Picky and she is still a problem. Son has a block against sauced things. Eldest will eat anything I serve her. She’s my favorite at mealtime. AT MEALTIME!!!

That last is for her benefit so that she doesn’t tell the other two that she has favorite child status for life, or something like that.

Anyway…. I noticed that a lot of the favorite meals growing up have been seriously absent from the repertoire. I mean, no mac and cheese, no Southern fried chicken, no comfort. So, I’m going back to the basics with this:

Courtesy of The Pioneer Woman, because she is a far better photographer than I am.

Chicken Fried Steak, my peeps!! I miss it so. I add different seasonings to the flour, and tend to add a bit of half-sharp Hungarian paprika for a bit of a kick (the bottle says “half-sharp”, but it peeled the skin off the roof of my mouth once when I mistakenly used it for Chicken Paprikás. Hubby loved it, though). Tonight there will be steak, and mashed potatoes and lots and lots of gravy that I make from the pan.

But I shall have back-up gravy from a jar, just in case I screw that up 😀

Saturday Sithy

My friend The Queen is on vacation touring our wonderful country, but she found the time to send me one of the funniest Sithies evah in the history of this here blog:

When she posted this on my social-site-that-has-faces, I spewed soda all over me, making a mental note to wrap the keyboard in Saran Wrap™ for future spewage.

Have a great Saturday!! 😀

Apologies for Being Absent

Title says it all.

I was stuck at the hospital because Hubby’s car was in the shop, which meant I had to take him to work, which then meant waiting for him to do some stuff so he could leave early and take me home, but then the peeps asked for his help, and then a doc asked him to check a few slides, and then a meeting came up, which meant I was pretty much enjoying the view of the wall in his office most of the day, while attempting to connect to the internet because most everything on his computer is blocked, except for youtube and facebook, the first of which wouldn’t load because the internet was too slow, the second of which I couldn’t access because I was signed in on my laptop at home, where I was supposed to be cleaning.

Is that the best sentence today, or what??

Actually, I’m the most fascinating woman in my family, at least if that is to be believed 😉

Hope y’all had a great day!!

It’s Wednesday, and I Have No Idea What to Write

I woke up from a bad dream where I was drowning, and looking up through the water to the surface, and thought, “Wow, the light filters so nicely.” Even in nightmares I am distracted by SHINY!!

Sometimes shiny isn’t pretty. Sometimes you see the shiny and you start hearing “DANGER, WILL ROBINSON!!!” Like when you go to the store to put a pair of shoes on hold for a friend, and find out that the World Trollbeads are being released in the US for only two weeks.

DAMN YOU, FINANCIAL DIET!!!

But alas, sometimes shiny is not to be. So for now, I’ll content myself with the shiny I see around me. Remember, even broken glass has a shiny beauty of its own 😉

Comfortably Numb

I am not one for a lot of excitement. I’m pretty much the most boring in my family. But that’s not a bug. It’s a feature.

At the school, I usually volunteer for the most menial jobs. My favorite is cutting the Box Tops to size. I can sit there and do that for hours. Counting band instruments? Count me in! Organizing tempera and acrylics? You betcha!! I love doing that stuff. It numbs the senses, letting me think.

Lately I have had the need for meniality. The more numb I am to emotional stuff, the better I function for the family. Compartmentalizing isn’t my strongpoint. Not by a long shot. But finding a way to do the everyday things that need to get done is important. Having a set of habits helps, such as the coffee ritual every morning. I now feel the need to yell at a speck of dust that dares to think to settle on the coffee table. It’s not an obsessive thing by any stretch. Ok, the yelling may be. I can’t help that. Ok, maybe I can. STOP JUDGING ME!!

Being numb isn’t always a bad thing 😉

Lazy Afternoon

Well, the morning got away from me. I’ll get her back tomorrow, don’t y’all worry.

This is the last day of school for my kidlets. That means Purgatory for me, at least once Hubby returns to work. So far, there has only been one fight disagreement. Vast improvement over last year. But the day is still young.

Today is very overcast, and I hear the rumble of thunder. Hopefully it will rain enough to keep the lawn green for a few days. Otherwise I have to go out and hand-water while providing my legs for a mosquito smorgasbord.

I’m feeling a bit low, and think that perhaps-maybe I should get a doughnut.

*looks at the time*

*realizes all doughnuts shops are closed*

*shakes fist at Morning, cursing her bloody*

Ok, fine!!! Tomorrow I will get a doughnut. A JELLY ONE!!! 😀

Sunday Sithy

Well, last night I attended a Wine Party, and finally had the chance to imbibe, since Hubby was my designated driver. As usual, it was a lot of fun, with many stories told and lots of wine decanted. There must have been twelve bottles of different wines for us to guzzle try. And though it was a rather sad occasion, since one of our friends is moving west, a good time was had by all. So good, that I have to go take something for my headache right now, so here:

Also, it’s Sunday, so I’m kinda hoping for doughnuts.

Y’all have a wonderful day!!

Second Best

I’m not a very vain person. Sure, I know I have some rather nice qualities. Patience is a strongpoint, for example. But I am the type to be content with being second best. I am second best at many things: singing, playing Scrabble™, bartending. Many of us try to excel at one thing, and I admit to trying to be Numero Uno at certain things. But I realize that I can’t succeed at everything. Being second best is a good alternative for me. I don’t advocate being “good enough”, mind you. I just tend to appreciate that sometimes trying my hardest will not elevate me to the top.

I can be second best mom, after mine. I can be second best friend, second best writer (Ok, maybe seventh or eighth in that department!), second best Spanish tutor, second best cook. There is no shame in being second best, as long as I have tried for first.

The trick is to keep trying 🙂

Random Tidbits

Totally off the wall posting, but I’m rather busy today.

I want to learn to use Hubby’s Nikon F2 camera. And by “learn” I mean “master it so I can take it over.”

I have never understood the need for a tomato fork. The curved tines drive me nuts.

Combing a Sheltie takes patience.

The later you start dinner, the simpler the menu becomes.

Summer is a mixed blessing. No more Mom Taxi, but no more peace and quiet, either.

Paper shredding is very Zen.

And now, for something completely off the wall:

Those of you looking for doughnuts, I hope y’all aren’t disappointed. You have to admit, lemurs a la Matrix is way cooler than a glazed doughnut.

Maybe 😉