Chowder breathes reassurance. It steams consolation.
Clementine Paddleford | Charles Wysocki’s Americana Cookbook
Wicked Word Wednesday: Chowder
What I Did On My Birthday
People always want to know what one did on their birthday. As a teacher, I abhor repeating myself unnecessarily, so I’m keeping this list and when someone asks me what I did I can just say:
Check my Blog!
Smokey woke me up at 6:00
I may be on break, but he certainly is not
Then, I . . .
opened Overcast and started catching up on unplayed podcasts
logged into Facebook and played some Scrabble
talked to my Mom and Dad
They call me every birthday at 7:15 AM
typed two blog posts: Teaser Tuesday and Twenty Questions
tried helping Krystal get ready for work
I was more in the way than anything else
went into town dressed like this:
finished shopping for Krystal
OK, I shopped for me, too
Using a gift card, I purchased these books:
Panera Bread gave me a free pastry for my birthday:
Huzzah for the cobblestone!
came home
had lunch
chipotle-barbecue boneless wings from Buffalo Wild Wings
talked to my cousin Eric
he wished me Happy Birthday and told me about crazy people at Wal-Mart getting free wine samples
started typing this list
wrapped the presents I bought for Krystal
messed around some more on Facebook
paid bills online
helped a friend in Canada fix a vibration problem with their iPhone
made some coffee
Dunkin’ Dark – a Christmas present from a wonderful 7th grader who paid attention when a fellow student asked my favorite type of coffee
warmed my cobblestone
coffee + cobblestone =Â afternoon snack
browsed BuzzFeed while consuming said snack
finished my podcast binge
logged into Netflix to watch X-Files
I’m in season eight which means David Duchovny isn’t around as much as he used to, and the show suffers for it
I’m determined to see it through, though
I want Mulder’s “I Want to Believe” poster
browsed social media
waited for the mailman to come
received a card from an aunt in New York
checked the Goodreads giveaways
switched from X-Files to the BBC show Myth Hunters
The second episode “Hitler and the Spear of Destiny” annoyed me to no end by constantly referring to Charlemagne as the first Holy Roman Emperor
While it is true Charlemagne was crowned Emperor of the Romans on December 25, 800, Otto I [Otto “the Great”] was the first Holy Roman Emperor
I’d expect better of the BBC
tracked down my copy of A Christmas Story
texted with David, my best friend since the day he was born
made supper of grilled cheese, Doritos, and Moxie
for my birthday? Yes, you see
Krystal, her sister, and our cousin Alex went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
I have no desire to see Odysseus/Oedipus in Space, so Krystal gave me the best present an introvert can receive: alone time.
Let me repeat:
There is no greater gift for an introvert than planned alone time!
No obligations
No distractions
It’s amazing
Anyway, where was I? Oh yes. I
watched A Christmas Story while enjoying my nostalgic dinner
since I own the DVD, the 24-hour marathon begins when I say it will and is entirely independent of TBS
watched more X-Files
ate all the coconut candies from a box of Russel Stover Elegant Chocolates
brushed my teeth
Krystal is allergic to coconut; no sense giving her a headache or worse
Krystal came home @12:30
switched from X-Files to The Munsters
fell asleep
a satisfying birthday indeed
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Sunday Snapshots
This post is being published later in the day for two reasons:
1. My weekend schedule changed and I was not able to edit and upload my photos as per my normal schedule.
2. There is a large pressure system moving through and I’ve spend the last several hours in a reclined position trying not to pass out or throw up due to the pain surging through my back. Thanks, dude who ran a red light four years ago, totaling my car and causing 3+ months of swelling on my sciatic nerve. I remember you every time we have a storm.
Anyway, here’s a few things that happened this week.
As usual, food featured prominently.
Krystal’s developed a kick for Zaxby’s Fried House Zalad with Zax Sauce instead of whatever dressing they include. I made a mistake on this order and purchased grilled chicken instead of fried. That’s not why I took this photo, though. No, I photographed this salad for the approximately 4 small pieces of chicken it contained. Seriously, Zaxby’s? If I’m paying $8 for a chicken salad, there had better be chicken on that salad. I’ve found more chicken in a McDonald’s four-piece nugget.
I have one particular student whose family continues to be amazing. I’ve taught at least one of their children every year since I began teaching, and they’ve become one of my staunchest supporters. This year, they’ve begun sending in breakfast sandwiches at least once a week. I cannot thank them enough; as much as I like off-brand blueberry toaster pastries and coffee, it does get old. This same family just signed my up for a 5K on October 17 – I just can’t believe the generosity they bestow.
Every year the Physical Science class creates cell models.
This year, one student made her model out of pizza ingredients.
IT WAS AMAZING
Honestly, it’s one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.
If she didn’t get extra credit for the taste, she should have.
In case you didn’t know, this week marked the beginning of Autumn here in the Northern Hemisphere. As such, it’s time once again for fall comfort foods like tomato soup and grilled cheese. Moxie, tortilla chips, and saltine crackers are an added bonus. Krystal suggested I make this for supper – and she was totally right. It was perfect.
Despite popular opinion, I’m not totally serious 100% of the time.
Meet Buddy the Skeleton. Yes, he’s a discount Halloween decoration, but from what I can tell he’s almost anatomically correct – the only discrepancy I’ve found is fusing in the knees. Anyway, I just couldn’t resist taking a few humorous photos – and my student found it hilarious, too. It was a good way to wind down after a test.
We also worked on the pilot episode for nerdeektv.
This was taken in “Wardrobe”.
Oh, and here’s two of our promotional videos!
NerdeekTV is a nerdy/geeky webshow put on by cousins with a shoestring budget.
Tune in beginning October 31!
Finally, here’s your internet funny for the week:
What did you do this week?
Do you have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?
Drop a note in the prompt box!
Don’t forget to follow me on:
Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.
Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?
Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.
An Apple [Pie] a Day
I’ve heard it said there’s nothing more American than baseball and apple pie.
Baseball I can do without.
Apple pie is another story.
Specifically, this story.
My pie starts with Grandmother’s pie.
For years, Grandma baked deserts for the lunch counter at the local sale barn.
Sadly, her legendary lemon meringue secret died with her.
When my mother married my father, she determined to make a better apple pie – specifically a better pie crust – than Grandma.
For years she labored, until one day Grandpa John said
I reckon this pie’s just as good as Gertie’s.
At least, he said something remarkably similar. This was before I was born.
Interestingly enough, when we moved Grandma out of that house sometime in the early 2000s, we found the secret to her pie crust:
packaged, premixed Flako Pie Crust
Grandma was a cheater.
And so, for as long as I can remember, Mom made the best apple pie – no questions asked (or answered, for that matter).
I wish I could say I learned mad ninja pie skills at Mom’s knee, but the truth is I never really paid attention to what Mom did in the kitchen. What came out of the kitchen, everyone paid attention to.
Like countless generations before me, I didn’t miss Mom’s apple pie until I left home. One year I was given a very nice Pampered Chef stoneware pie plate, and I thought
I’m not going to let this go to waste. I’m going to learn to make an apple pie.
So I emailed Mom; several weeks later I received actual, hand-written recipe cards for our growing collection.
Even if I failed, I’d have these priceless family momentos.
I had several false starts.
Delicious false starts, but not quite what I wanted.
I set out to make Mom’s pie recipe my own.
I experimented with apple varieties.
I tweaked spice combinations.
I adjusted various and sundry quantities.
Finally, I baked a pie I was proud to call my own.
And when they next visited, Dad said
I think this pie is just as good as Mom’s.
And he’s not just saying that.
My pie is now in demand at nearly every holiday party.
My students frequently request a pie or two throughout the year.
If they pay for the ingredients, I’ll make them a few.
$20 will buy all the ingredients for two pies.
In fact, I’m baking pies today for a get-together tomorrow.
I started getting messages last Sunday that folks were anticipating my pie.
Now, I won’t tell you exactly what goes into my apple pie, but here’s some pictures to whet your appetite:
And don’t worry; I’m not the next Mrs. Lovett – or Mr. Lovett as the case may be.
Thanks to Vanessa of Petal & Mortar for contributing to the Prompt Box!
Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?
Drop a note in the prompt box!
Don’t forget to follow me on:
Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.
Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?
Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.
Running In My Head 