3.31.2013
Oh, yeah, and Jean....
...one more thing.
While I'm on the subject (ok, well, I was on the last post), it wasn't a horse named Francis. I had that wrong.
It was a mule!
Fitting, since a mule is more humble than a horse.
While I'm on the subject (ok, well, I was on the last post), it wasn't a horse named Francis. I had that wrong.
It was a mule!
Fitting, since a mule is more humble than a horse.
Just to review
March 2013 -
You are just about as over as over can be, oh miserable month of March. Between the inane "March Madness" (ugh), and the absolute crap March weather - not to mention the abhorrent time change to (or from?) "daylight savings" - I am over you! OVER.
Fine'! Skedaddle! Shoo!! Go on, get outta here! Get off my lawn. [menacing glower]
While we wait for March to gather its belongings and scurry on away, let's review the month, shall we:
New Pope - cuz the old one 'retired'? Really? What a quitter.
Oh, and can you news people STOP REPORTING EVERY DAMN FIRST THIS NEW POPE HAS? Sheesh! I am amazed (and quite frankly a little saddened) you all didn't chronicle his first time using the Papal pooper. I mean, come on! Every time he does something for the first time it's going to be his first - but do we ALL really need to hear about it as a big news story? Get over it already and find some REAL news. There's plenty out there.
New EM in Detroit - cuz the city has some serious issues to straighten out and the governor decided he could/would send in a person who has less than an adequate record his ownself (visa vi - his owing a lot of back taxes, child support, etc., and ducking out on that responsibility in another state which is not Michigan)! Right...good choice there, gov Snidiot! Way to vet someone for their ethics and appropriateness for a really important job.
New jail cell for Kwame K - 'bout damn time that man was made to meet some of his responsibilities face-to-face. And no, you can't go home to have someone kiss your knee and make it better! There are a lot of inmates with physical ailments who aren't allowed to leave the 'pen' to see a doctor. Make some friends and get used to the way life should have been for you for the last few years, you deplorable, despicable person!
New attitude for Karl - concerning school -- and a glimpse into his future! Since I do not want to jinx it, I am leaving it at that. BUT, I will add that he has been passing the tests in math, and getting great grades on the ol' homework....so, YEA! thank you, Lord.
New neighbors across the street - yup, that house f i n a l l y sold. Holy cow! Nope, haven't met them.
OK, that's all for the time being, I am itching to do something. *Something,* but I have no idea what. Just not nothing would be good. I'll let you know how that goes, for now I am gone. GONE LIKE MARCH!
You are just about as over as over can be, oh miserable month of March. Between the inane "March Madness" (ugh), and the absolute crap March weather - not to mention the abhorrent time change to (or from?) "daylight savings" - I am over you! OVER.
Fine'! Skedaddle! Shoo!! Go on, get outta here! Get off my lawn. [menacing glower]
While we wait for March to gather its belongings and scurry on away, let's review the month, shall we:
New Pope - cuz the old one 'retired'? Really? What a quitter.
Oh, and can you news people STOP REPORTING EVERY DAMN FIRST THIS NEW POPE HAS? Sheesh! I am amazed (and quite frankly a little saddened) you all didn't chronicle his first time using the Papal pooper. I mean, come on! Every time he does something for the first time it's going to be his first - but do we ALL really need to hear about it as a big news story? Get over it already and find some REAL news. There's plenty out there.
New EM in Detroit - cuz the city has some serious issues to straighten out and the governor decided he could/would send in a person who has less than an adequate record his ownself (visa vi - his owing a lot of back taxes, child support, etc., and ducking out on that responsibility in another state which is not Michigan)! Right...good choice there, gov Snidiot! Way to vet someone for their ethics and appropriateness for a really important job.
New jail cell for Kwame K - 'bout damn time that man was made to meet some of his responsibilities face-to-face. And no, you can't go home to have someone kiss your knee and make it better! There are a lot of inmates with physical ailments who aren't allowed to leave the 'pen' to see a doctor. Make some friends and get used to the way life should have been for you for the last few years, you deplorable, despicable person!
New attitude for Karl - concerning school -- and a glimpse into his future! Since I do not want to jinx it, I am leaving it at that. BUT, I will add that he has been passing the tests in math, and getting great grades on the ol' homework....so, YEA! thank you, Lord.
New neighbors across the street - yup, that house f i n a l l y sold. Holy cow! Nope, haven't met them.
OK, that's all for the time being, I am itching to do something. *Something,* but I have no idea what. Just not nothing would be good. I'll let you know how that goes, for now I am gone. GONE LIKE MARCH!
3.28.2013
Unbelievable
Unbelievably enough, somebody decided to make off with my good (really good) yellow-fiberglasshandled shovel.
Yup! Right here in dear ol' Clarkston, where all the people are as honest and upstanding as the year is long. [severe sarcasm intended]
Uh-huh, right....bite me! CLARKSTON, and the majority of people in Clarkston SUCK!!!
Clarkstonites are about as rude as rude can be, and behave as they're entitled as any bunch of snotty-nosed little children of parents who condescend toward everyone for no good reason - EVER!
If I had it all to do over again dot-dot-dot.
Aaaarrghghghghghghghghghhhhhhhhhhhh!
PS - I know lately my writing has been a little 'off,' so I am simply going to chalk it up to lack of drinking. Also, I'm ticking off another mark in the "I-could-give-a-shit-that-you-may feel-that-the-writing-is-'off' Category," since no one (except for Maria and Jean - this last bit doesn't apply to you) ever reads this OR cares enough to respond or ask questions.
Yup! Right here in dear ol' Clarkston, where all the people are as honest and upstanding as the year is long. [severe sarcasm intended]
Uh-huh, right....bite me! CLARKSTON, and the majority of people in Clarkston SUCK!!!
Clarkstonites are about as rude as rude can be, and behave as they're entitled as any bunch of snotty-nosed little children of parents who condescend toward everyone for no good reason - EVER!
If I had it all to do over again dot-dot-dot.
Aaaarrghghghghghghghghghhhhhhhhhhhh!
PS - I know lately my writing has been a little 'off,' so I am simply going to chalk it up to lack of drinking. Also, I'm ticking off another mark in the "I-could-give-a-shit-that-you-may feel-that-the-writing-is-'off' Category," since no one (except for Maria and Jean - this last bit doesn't apply to you) ever reads this OR cares enough to respond or ask questions.
It's like a fire sale around here
There's another foreclosed-on home not three blocks away - that I am aware of. This latest house sits on one of three of the busy crosstown streets in town, and still has Christmas lights hanging from the eaves.
The stickers and bank repossession notes are plastered on the front door in full view of the world, and the windows are naked, unblinking portals through which passersby can peer into the empty building. Some discarded items from a hasty move are now in evidence; most of it scattered around the front stoop or under shrubs along the walk to the driveway.
This makes six homes within my immediate neighborhood that I am aware of falling to the banker's gavel, but brings the total to more than one dozen for the whole of the surrounding subdivision-like area (this according to my friend, Sherry, our mail courier - she is in the unique position of knowing these horrible secrets).
I hadn't noticed the paperwork hanging on the house until just this week, but the house does somehow look more forlorn than I remember it looking over the very recent past. Perhaps it's the melting bits of snow, brown grass, and barren bushes adding to the lonely look of the place now that I can see another family has lost their fight against big business and low employment woes.
[shiver]
The stickers and bank repossession notes are plastered on the front door in full view of the world, and the windows are naked, unblinking portals through which passersby can peer into the empty building. Some discarded items from a hasty move are now in evidence; most of it scattered around the front stoop or under shrubs along the walk to the driveway.
This makes six homes within my immediate neighborhood that I am aware of falling to the banker's gavel, but brings the total to more than one dozen for the whole of the surrounding subdivision-like area (this according to my friend, Sherry, our mail courier - she is in the unique position of knowing these horrible secrets).
I hadn't noticed the paperwork hanging on the house until just this week, but the house does somehow look more forlorn than I remember it looking over the very recent past. Perhaps it's the melting bits of snow, brown grass, and barren bushes adding to the lonely look of the place now that I can see another family has lost their fight against big business and low employment woes.
[shiver]
I miss reading Maria's updates
That's all.
See, Maria has a life. A full life, and I am envious....and in awe. I love reading her updates, but she's been so busy between school and her new home shaping up, and family stuff, and just taking part in life in general, that she hasn't any time to post the happenings.
I miss you Maria, but I am glad you are making the most of it all. And I am hoping by now you have gotten over your cold.
See, Maria has a life. A full life, and I am envious....and in awe. I love reading her updates, but she's been so busy between school and her new home shaping up, and family stuff, and just taking part in life in general, that she hasn't any time to post the happenings.
I miss you Maria, but I am glad you are making the most of it all. And I am hoping by now you have gotten over your cold.
3.27.2013
Taking the good with the bad
Sometimes it's a lot of fun being in the car with Karl. He likes a good assortment of classic rock'n'roll, so we usually end up cranking the volume on the stereo and having fun driving to/from school, and appointments, and haircuts, grocery forays, etc. Sometimes, though, he would rather talk about games (ugh) he enjoys playing online, or those 'one-players' on his PC (yes, there's a difference between the two...and no, I won't explain it).
He understands that I have no understanding of the games he goes on about, but that doesn't stop him. Nope, it actually serves to expand the conversation to include all precursor information so that I will understand all that I did not prior to the beginning of the conversation.
"Save me," I mouth to a passing motorist.
I will listen, I will nod, I will 'hmm' and 'huh' at appropriate moments, and I will concentrate on my driving so as not to glaze over and send us both into a ditch or guard rail. I am considerate that way.
Sometimes I can steer the conversation away from game mania and find another topic he can relate to enough to make it worth both our whiles. Not always, but something in the line of 60-65% of the time I am successful. Pretty good, I'd say.
The radio is my friend.
I especially like when a tune plays that stumps him. He can pretty well narrow the groups down to an accurate assortment of two or three, and his choices are thoughtful and reasonable given the sound of the music, the instruments, a certain beat or confluence that can sound familiar to him. Karl makes me proud in this regard. He likes the musical sound, listens to the lyrics for the sake of the song (and the possible story they tell), and has learned an appreciation for music that was still musical - before the late eighties and disco developed into Prince and rap and ugh [shudder].
Karl has even introduced me to a new genre music that I love to listen to - and oddly, it's an 'electric' version of big band-sounding music. We both like the big band sound, but his addition to my music repertoire is a welcome one.
Thank goodness for iPods and CDs, that's all I have to say!
Enjoy your drive time.
He understands that I have no understanding of the games he goes on about, but that doesn't stop him. Nope, it actually serves to expand the conversation to include all precursor information so that I will understand all that I did not prior to the beginning of the conversation.
"Save me," I mouth to a passing motorist.
I will listen, I will nod, I will 'hmm' and 'huh' at appropriate moments, and I will concentrate on my driving so as not to glaze over and send us both into a ditch or guard rail. I am considerate that way.
Sometimes I can steer the conversation away from game mania and find another topic he can relate to enough to make it worth both our whiles. Not always, but something in the line of 60-65% of the time I am successful. Pretty good, I'd say.
The radio is my friend.
I especially like when a tune plays that stumps him. He can pretty well narrow the groups down to an accurate assortment of two or three, and his choices are thoughtful and reasonable given the sound of the music, the instruments, a certain beat or confluence that can sound familiar to him. Karl makes me proud in this regard. He likes the musical sound, listens to the lyrics for the sake of the song (and the possible story they tell), and has learned an appreciation for music that was still musical - before the late eighties and disco developed into Prince and rap and ugh [shudder].
Karl has even introduced me to a new genre music that I love to listen to - and oddly, it's an 'electric' version of big band-sounding music. We both like the big band sound, but his addition to my music repertoire is a welcome one.
Thank goodness for iPods and CDs, that's all I have to say!
Enjoy your drive time.
3.26.2013
OK, back to work
Feeling peckish (and craving pizza) I left my current project on the table and headed to the kitchen where I created a masterpiece in a skillet!
Sadly, I discovered the larder was out of tomato paste (how did that happen?), and was running low on naan (a soft flat bread - for those non-foodies out there), but we had two naan remaining with which to make pizza for Karl and myself, so that was all that mattered for the moment!
I slivered onion and julienned artichoke hearts, then sauteed them together in a smattering of olive oil. Oh, baby!
While the sauteing commenced, I mixed up a poor boy's pizza sauce using a small amount (about 1/2 cup) of a good, plain tomato sauce. Had it been too watery I was prepared to reduce it a smidge, but fortunately I buy a good-quality store brand, no additives or do-dads included....so, yea!
And yes, I chose sauce (in the absence of my beloved paste) over some other form of tomato pulp product.
Before you ask "why tomato sauce and not your usual go-to of crushed tomatoes?" - I'll tell you. ANY other form of tomato pulp is too wet to begin with. Even after straining crushed tomatoes they would still be too wet for this sort of food....plus, why waste all of that tomato-y goodness when you don't have to?
Grabbed my mortar and pestle and ground up a mixture of anise, a shake of red pepper, anise, oregano, anise, fennel seed, basil, anise, basil, and a couple turns of freshly ground pepper (we don't call it black pepper in this house because not all the peppercorns in our pepper mix are black). Added the ground rub and roughly a teaspoon of minced garlic (maybe more - OK, yeah, it was more) to the tomato sauce, and stood there like a doofus waiting to spread it over the warm naan.
Meanwhile, I started another skillet on med-to-low-medium heat; wiped the surface with a dab of olive oil and lightly heated the first side of a naan loaf. Once the naan was turned, I spooned half of the tomato sauce mix over the warmed surface of the bread then liberally covered it with shredded "pizza mix" cheese (monty jack, mozzarella, and a bit of Parmesan).
Spooned the now sauteed veggies onto the pizza, then quickly added wedges of hard salami over the entire thing (nope, we had no pepperoni). By this time the cheese was melted beautifully which only helped to heat up the salami pieces, too.
Called Karl out to grab half of the first pizza, and we both smiled as we bit into a crunchy bottom and a chewy top!
Now I have to try and stop thinking about that pizza as I sit back down at the sewing machine.
Yeah, right.
Sadly, I discovered the larder was out of tomato paste (how did that happen?), and was running low on naan (a soft flat bread - for those non-foodies out there), but we had two naan remaining with which to make pizza for Karl and myself, so that was all that mattered for the moment!
I slivered onion and julienned artichoke hearts, then sauteed them together in a smattering of olive oil. Oh, baby!
While the sauteing commenced, I mixed up a poor boy's pizza sauce using a small amount (about 1/2 cup) of a good, plain tomato sauce. Had it been too watery I was prepared to reduce it a smidge, but fortunately I buy a good-quality store brand, no additives or do-dads included....so, yea!
And yes, I chose sauce (in the absence of my beloved paste) over some other form of tomato pulp product.
Before you ask "why tomato sauce and not your usual go-to of crushed tomatoes?" - I'll tell you. ANY other form of tomato pulp is too wet to begin with. Even after straining crushed tomatoes they would still be too wet for this sort of food....plus, why waste all of that tomato-y goodness when you don't have to?
Grabbed my mortar and pestle and ground up a mixture of anise, a shake of red pepper, anise, oregano, anise, fennel seed, basil, anise, basil, and a couple turns of freshly ground pepper (we don't call it black pepper in this house because not all the peppercorns in our pepper mix are black). Added the ground rub and roughly a teaspoon of minced garlic (maybe more - OK, yeah, it was more) to the tomato sauce, and stood there like a doofus waiting to spread it over the warm naan.
Meanwhile, I started another skillet on med-to-low-medium heat; wiped the surface with a dab of olive oil and lightly heated the first side of a naan loaf. Once the naan was turned, I spooned half of the tomato sauce mix over the warmed surface of the bread then liberally covered it with shredded "pizza mix" cheese (monty jack, mozzarella, and a bit of Parmesan).
Spooned the now sauteed veggies onto the pizza, then quickly added wedges of hard salami over the entire thing (nope, we had no pepperoni). By this time the cheese was melted beautifully which only helped to heat up the salami pieces, too.
Called Karl out to grab half of the first pizza, and we both smiled as we bit into a crunchy bottom and a chewy top!
Now I have to try and stop thinking about that pizza as I sit back down at the sewing machine.
Yeah, right.
3.21.2013
Oh, dear Lord
HOW do you make children - who, by the way, AREN'T r e a l l y 'children' any more so much as they are grown men (sort of) in their mid-twenties - listen to you say something intelligent and meaningful, and not hear it as a criticism?
For instance:
The boy's car has an ongoing problem with the catalytic-converter-to-muffler/exhaust system, wherein about once a year (every 18 months if he's lucky) the damn thing begins to get noisy, then the crack which inevitably develops at the point of contact between the large exhaust piece and the just gives way, and the symphonic sounds of three tricked-out Harleys emanates from under his vehicle.
Did I ask him to have it looked at when I first detected the decibel level rising a few days ago? YES
Did he use any of his free time to call the mechanic to get it going sooner rather than later? NO
Has it completely broken? Yes, YES IT HAS!
Is he grousing and acting as though the world has it in for him? Oh, yes...yes he is.
And I'm the bad guy for simply broaching the subject of using today for looking into it.
For instance:
The boy's car has an ongoing problem with the catalytic-converter-to-muffler/exhaust system, wherein about once a year (every 18 months if he's lucky) the damn thing begins to get noisy, then the crack which inevitably develops at the point of contact between the large exhaust piece and the just gives way, and the symphonic sounds of three tricked-out Harleys emanates from under his vehicle.
Did I ask him to have it looked at when I first detected the decibel level rising a few days ago? YES
Did he use any of his free time to call the mechanic to get it going sooner rather than later? NO
Has it completely broken? Yes, YES IT HAS!
Is he grousing and acting as though the world has it in for him? Oh, yes...yes he is.
And I'm the bad guy for simply broaching the subject of using today for looking into it.
3.20.2013
Whoooo boy!
After having just spent more than 4.5 hours helping Bud re-write his resume, I need a drink!
I don't think tea is going to cut it.
Bartender!
I don't think tea is going to cut it.
Bartender!
3.19.2013
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