Want to See My Rack?

December 27th, 2007

A picture of my rack I was tagged by RTK for the Show Me Your Rack meme. I just couldn’t resist. I really like showing off my rack.

I have three places I keep my spices. All the bulk spices go in the plastic basket. It is usually in the pantry but I figured it would OK to pull it out and show you. The second is an actual rack in the cabinet beside the stove. That is where all my spices are supposed to be. But, when I use a spice I put it on top of the stove. Every few months I put them all back and start over. You can see the leftover spices from my fall baking. Judging by the orange sugar in the middle, the last time I cleaned up was when I made Halloween cookies.

My most unusual spice? I don’t know. I think the usual spices change depending on where you live and what you cook. I have a lot of different curries. Maybe the vaious bags of mustard seeds? I also like it hot. I have a variety of dried peppers. Would fennel seeds be considered unusual? I use them for fennel seed cookies.

Here’s how you play:

1) Take a picture of your rack. (You get to decide which one)

2) Post it on your blog.

2b) (optional) Answer the (2-part) question: what is the most obscure spice you have, and why do you have it?

3) “Tag” several other people whose racks you’d like to see

I want to see everyones rack. You’re all tagged! And if I don’t know yet, what better way to introduce yourself?

I like Cherry Jello

December 19th, 2007

[Disclaimer: Blame Whit]

Cherry Jello - Watch it Wiggle. Watch it Jiggle.I saw him looking my way through those pretty lace curtains. Does he think I’m stupid enough to move his shovel when he’s looking right at me? Oh no, I am much smarter than that. I’ll move his shovel another day. I have much bigger plans. I’ll wait until he’s distracted and sneak into the laundry room. He’ll do that funny angry dance when he finds all the clothes have been turned inside out. If I have time, I might even hide his keys.

My plan seems to be working. It won’t be long until I can claim victory. Misery loves company and us shut-ins, well, we love adding to our numbers. It won’t be long before I call the people that deliver the food trays. A matter of months at the most. They always give me extra cherry Jello when I sign up someone new. I really like cherry Jello. I like to watch it wiggle and jiggle. Jello is a good thing. It makes me happy. It’s important that I stay happy.

I’m still waiting for my bras to arrive in the mail. I think the mail lady may be taking my stuff. I’m not sure why she would take my stuff. She could never fill my bras. Maybe she’s jealous. She won’t be getting any hot chocolate mix from me this year! I’ll give her oatmeal cookies instead. The ones I licked. She told me she really liked them last year.

My dogs hate the woman lives behind us. They are out there barking at her right now. I should bring them in but she’s a bitch. When we first got them I tried telling her that she needed to go to the fence and talk to them, maybe give them a treat and it would be fine. She wouldn’t do it. She said it would be ‘rewarding their behavior’. No one else seems to have a problem with their behavior. Of course everyone else went to the fence and talked to them, and gave them a treat. People create their own problems. I think a few more weeks of this incessant barking and I’ll be making a phone call for her too. It looks like 2008 might be a great year for cherry Jello.

If You Were Wondering Why

December 15th, 2007

“I told her she needed to accept Jesus Christ as her lord and savior!” She shouted at me.

I sat back hard in my seat stunned by the anger in her voice. Without thinking about what I was doing I leaned in the direction that was opposite her. I couldn’t make myself look in her eyes. I was afraid of what I would see.

She looked confused by my reaction. I think she expected me to agree. Maybe join in with her tirade. It took her a few minutes to get it. She was quiet then she changed the subject. We went on to talk about allergies. I was surprised. They usually stop talking all together.

In one way or another it’s happened before. People assume things about me. Sometimes they get very upset when they find out they’re wrong. It’s as if they think I’ve tricked them. Maybe they’re afraid I’m going to corrupt their souls. If it wasn’t completely ridiculous it would be funny. Unfortunately, I’ve gotten use to it. I sometimes wonder if their reaction would be different if I told them I murdered my parents, had five abortions when I was a prostitute, and abused my dogs before I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. I wonder if they would welcome me with open arms.

It’s a thin cold intolerant line that many of these women walk. I have too much respect for myself, and my family, and my own beliefs go anywhere near it. They’re too busy struggling for balance to find their way toward me. It used to make me sad. Now I find it just makes me angry and I don’t like that. It worries me. I’m afraid I’m becoming one of them, except I’m waving a different banner.

That’s why, even though I refused in the past, I emptied my change purse into the Salvation Army bucket yesterday and said, god bless you too, to the old guy sitting there. I won’t be like them. Just thought you should know.

I Might Need a Cigarette

December 15th, 2007

Morning - 3 hours wet mounting paintings. Not as sexy as it sounds.

Herb and Garlic BaggettesEarly Afternoon - 45 mins. making bagettes. Not as sexy as they look.

The Closet is almost doneLate Afternoon - My husband finishes the last of the closets. Orgasmic.

Yes, Hon, there is a special treat waiting for you tonight.

You don’t even have to get me drunk or anything to get it. ;)

Nollaig Shona Dhuit!

December 8th, 2007

I was sprinkling green Christmas trees on top of my meringue cookies as I listened to the story.

“They have their ass on their shoulders” was the statement. I wasn’t sure what that meant. I assumed in the heat of passion the phrases ‘head up their ass’ and ‘chip on their shoulder’ combined in a way that had never before been uttered. That’s how language evolves.

The shouldered asses had called the day before. I was told about the problem and informed that someone had a stick up their butt. I figured the butt sticks would call me eventually. So I waited, and today the call came.

I informed the butt sticks that the shouldered asses did want them to spend Christmas with them. Actually, the last time we talked they were looking forward to it. In fact, they would probably be terribly hurt and angry if the butt stick presence was missing from the holiday gathering.

There was disbelief. There was denial. There was a no way in hell we’re staying at nannies house. I repeated myself five or six times. I wasn’t sure if it sank in. The butt sticks are very stubborn people.

A few hours later the phone rang and happier voices greeted me. Everything was fine and dandy. For now. There are still a few more siblings and in-laws to go. We’ll see.

Irish WhiskeyI pulled the meringues out of the oven. They looked great. Until I realized the green Christmas trees sprinkles were not Christmas trees. They were Shamrocks. Christmas green shamrocks! I now understood why they were on the 75% off discount rack. But I was not discouraged.

We’re having an Irish Christmas this year I informed my family. They could tell by the look in my eye this was not a time to argue.

The Dad’s Kinda Cute Too!

December 6th, 2007

I was looking for a few holiday videos for the girls to watch on YouTube and found this cute video. I love the little one just hanging out and watching his dad with a sweet little smile, the quick hug for the older one, and the shushing towards the end. It’s parenthood at it’s finest!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgjV1DeRTMk&rel=1]

Fading Away

December 4th, 2007

So, where do old blogs go to die? That’s one of the things I was thinking about the other night when I came to conclusion, at about 3am, that I wasn’t going to sleep anytime soon. Really, what do you do with a blog when it’s time to say goodbye?

Do you treat it like the boxes of junk accumulating in your spare room? Sort through each post - keep, toss, donate? Maybe print it all out and file it somewhere? Do you need a separate folder for each category or do you file it by months?

In some weird way my blog feels like a little part of myself. Maybe not the best parts, but still a part. Parts of us change all the time. I’m sure the day will come when I don’t post anything for a week. Then the week will turn into a month. Then I’ll forget my password. I’ll start to occupy myself with other things that satisfy me just as much. Maybe it will be sad. Maybe it won’t. Maybe the truth is, old blogs never die. Maybe they just fade away.

But I don’t want to fade away anytime soon. I’m just in a slump right now. I’m sure I’ll have plenty to say soon enough. I’ve never been one to keep quiet for very long. But, you already knew that, didn’t you?