now *this* is what Valentines Day is all about ;)

express your love with jewels..? nah

express your love with chocolate..? nah

express your love with flowers and dinner..? nah

express your, um devotion with...
duct tape!! hehe ;)

omg hehe!!!

"Reno 911- Miami" The MOVIE!!

February 23.. check out the trailer :)


I'm looking forward to seeing this!

I recall as a little kiddo having the serious sweet tooth. My memories are vivid and I am grateful for that. Its fun to think back to experiences 30 years ago and it doesn't seem that far away. Once, I wanted something sweet so badly, that I took a spoon from the counter and pulled out a bag of sugar from the lower cabinet. I must have been in my 2's, early 3's as I could not read yet and I could not reach the spoon drawer. I was inventive and managed to work my way into anything that I wanted to get at. Noticing the spoon that was left out on the counter and with the help of a sturdy pull out drawer, I stood on that to reach for the spoon, the very utensil that would help get the sugar out of the bag. After proudly climbing back down with my spoon, I dug into the bag of sweetness that awaited me. A spoonful of sweet white crystals was scooped up and emptied into my mouth. It would have been a delicious success if the bag were indeed sugar and not a bag of salt!! YUCK! I remember being frightened and disgusted at the ordeal I found myself in. I don't remember what happened after that or how I got the taste out. If my dad was there, i am sure he would have been on the floor laughing at me a bit before helping me. You never ever forget an experience like that and never want to do it again, if you can help it. Read on..

A splendidly productive and rejuvinating week. I have been working on multiple projects- some to completion as others are still in the process. Either way it has all been a really good time. Every day I am thankful for the energy, ambition and creativity to delve into the many projects that are co existing. I am a little confused on a couple of them, but all in all I am excited about everthing in my life. Even my dreams of past situations have a positive edge to them. Everywhere I look, I am just so fascinated.

Along with the creative process, I have been cooking and baking more. It isn't that I can't or don't, but it is generally only an occasional endeavor. I prefer to create over following a recipe- as part of the process is to have fun AND enjoy the end result. Often its a little bit of both. I loosely follow a recipe and rely on creative inspiration. Friends and family have put in requests, which I will be happy to oblige them. Cookies had been the big thing as of late. I will be working on a soup soon, and then perhaps home made pizza. Something sweet will be amongst all of that too, ofcourse.

The weather is perfect for making good food, slowing down and relaxing. During this cold weather I have not ventured very far. As I tend to 'run cold', even with layers of clothing, sometimes I can't shake the chill. Funny that I love outdoor adventures and this season. I think I am most effected by the indoor temps and when I am not moving around much. I am fortunate to have a very warm apartment. It holds in the heat well and I am able to set the thermostat lower and still have the air register 6 degrees warmer than it is set. A cozy fireplace adds to the sense of warmth. hmmm wood! Oh and soft flannel sheets.

I have been parking my car in my garage, I am sure the engine and battery are happy for it. This has also been helpful for my neighbor who comes over and plows my driveway. I have a very long driveway and he always does the whole thing. When my car is sitting out, it is probably more effortful to get around it. I would like to do something nice as a thank-you for the plowing efforts. I thought that while I still had baking ingredients, that a dozen cookies might be a nice token of thanks. Besides, all of my visitors of late have been inquiring, "do you have any cookies left?"

So I proceeded to put together the necessary ingredients to make cookie batter. I intended to make a large pan of "cookie bars" as opposed to dropping dough on the flat sheet in blobs. The bars would be fun to have and just as yummy.

I have the baking ingredients in a bag that I keep in my basement pantry. I rarely use sugar or flour for anything else. I usually try to keep a small baggie or container of sugar available for friends and family who use it in their coffee and tea, otherwise I just wouldnt have any. I had a small plastic butter spead container filled with sugar for just that purpose. When I recently cleaned out my cupboards, I noticed that I had yet another container of sugar. It was a small clear container with a piece of tape on it with 'sugar' written on it with a marker. I recalled that I had brought this container home from work almost two years ago. The classroom I was working in had needed to pack everything up for a move to another building. We decided not to take most of the cooking and art supplies with us, so instead of throwing them out, I took a box full of stuff home. I didn't know what was in the box until I brought it home. Food coloring, vinegar, frosting, markers, glue, container of sugar and a few other items comprised the contents of the box. I don't recall exactly what i didn't with everything, but apparently I held onto the small container of sugar, as I still had it two years later. As I cleaned out the cupboards a couple of weeks ago, I thought of tossing it out, but then decided against it, as the sugar was still smooth and fine. It hadn't hardned like sugar often does. I figured the container was full and the seal was tight, so no air escaped or made its way in.

When I have a bag of sugar that is open yet I am done with it for the time being, I tape the bag it came in closed then place it in a large ziplock bag- and take any other precautions to maintain freshness. WHo knows when I will need sugar again. I prefer to buy just the baking ingredients I need, as often there is quite a bit of time in between baking adventures. My intentions around Christmas were to bake, which never happened, so I was well supplied for my recent cookie extravaganza.

After making multiple dozens of cookies a few weeks ago, I surprised myself that I would think to make more so soon. I was also pleased that I still had indredients to use up. I brought the bag of ingredients back upstairs and into the kitchen. Music is playing in the background and I dance around the kitchen gathering bowls, measuring cups and paper towels to clean my mess as I go.

The first thing I do after softening the butter is to add the sugars. I re open the bag of brown sugar and dump in a half cup of firmply packed brown sweetness. I then turn to the white sugar to do the same. I look at the nice tape job and as I was about to tear through it, I remembered the container of sugar I recently located. I proceed to pull that out of the cupboard and add the necessary amount to the bowl. Then I remembered that I was making a double batch for the 'cookie bars' and would need to go back and add more of everything. Done, no problem. I finish off the rest of the recipe and thoroughly hand mix my creation. I always have to taste the cookie dough- I hadn't yet added the chips, as I like the taste of plain dough.
I take just a tiny amount and place it on my tongue, expected the sweetness to slide over my taste buds and tease me with thoughts of what yumminess was yet to come.

Then my taste buds recoiled in alarm. Something was not right! Did I not mix the batter well enough? I felt like I just placed straight baking soda on my tongue. I began to spit. I stood over the kitchen sink and turned the water on. I quickly cupped water into my mouth, swished and spit. I repeated this process many times without effect. Its briny, salty, sickening thick and.. and...salty! I felt like my tongue was a slug that just had salt poured on it and was beginning to shrivel up. My imagination is always looking for opportunities to jump in and it was loving this! Swishing, spittingand gagging continued. In a moment of desperation or hilarity, I took to dragging my finger nails down my tongue. I scraped and clawed at the unwelcome substance. GAH! dammit, why don't I have a tongue scraper?? (e:oda) had just posted about them. In hindsight I could have grabbed a spoon, as (e:paul) mentioned, but it never cross my mind. Holding my tongue in one hand, scraping at it with the other, while bent over the kitchen sink and uner the flow of running cool water would be the image I am to share with you.
Although the sharp pungent taste has receded a bit, I continued to feel gross and shiver from the experience. I needed to get the remaining brinyness out fo my mouth for good. I opened the cupboard and grabbed a box of Cheeries and dumped a handful into my mouth. I munched on the little cruchy circles with the intention of replaceing one taste with another. I polished it off with a small cup of juice. I sighed in relief as I no longer had what felt like a mouthful of salt in my mouth. Now I could investigate the source more thoroughly.
I pushed and pulled the spoon around the bowl a few more times, ensuring the contents were well meshed. I dipped my finger into the dough, and gingerly placed the tinest amount on my tongue. As my tonuge just through quite an ordeal, I didn't want to swallow and have the same reaction. Besides, my taste buds were able to quickly recognize that the same assalut will result("Asalt" haha har-har scored me some pun points). I spit out the obnoxious dropping and stared at the offending bowl. wtf??

I added everything that I needed to and in the correct amounts. Then I looked at the clear container marked, "sugar". hmm. Do I dare try the contents of that container straight up? My investigative mind prompts me to follow through on this thought.

Just a little now.. I use my pinky finger to pick up just a few white chrystals. I bring my finger to my mouth and bust out laughing when the mystery is solved. The unsuspecting container of 'sugar', is in fact a container of SALT!!!

hahahahaha. So there was more than a cup of salt in the dough!! Grosssssssss!

And, rightfully so, my delicated little taste buds were skeptical of all food for the remainder of the night.

I scooped the contents of the bowl into the garbage and trashed the container of salt as well.

My token of thanks will have to come in a different form at another time. Can you imagine if I hadn't taste tested the batter??

oy!

• yawn* I'm up and back online. I'm just laying down to go to sleep and these words begin to float into my thoughts. Funny how that happens. Sometimes it is a song or a commercial jingle that gets stuck in there after hearing it earlier in the day and it continually plays a loop. I have never not known what it was or where it came from. However with this, I wasnt sure what the words were at first or where it came from. It was kind of random, "my world it smiles.."

I'm a bit drowsy, anything is possible to come to my mind and so I ignore it at first. Then it gets a bit stonger with more words, "if the sun refused to shine.. " and with this, it begins to feel familiar but I still can't quite place it. It drives me nutty enough to get back up and online to search for any of the phrases that keep rolling through my tired beaner.

Its a Zeppelin song. wow, the last time I heard this song was in the mid- 90's. If I think back accurately, I want to say late 1994, memories from another life time. Zeppelin is cool.. I think I will dig through my cassettes (still got some) or hit up Lime Wire for more.

And so, I post the lyrics (and new user sound) to...


"Thank You"

If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you.
When mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me.

Kind of woman, I give you my all; Kind of woman, nothing more.

Little drops of rain whisper of the pain, tears of love lost in the days gone by.
My love is strong, with you there is no wrong,
together we shall go until we die. My, my, my,
inspiration is what you are to me, inspiration, look... see.

And so today, my world it smiles, your hand in mine, we walk the miles,
And thanks to you it will be done, for you to me are the only one.
Happiness, no more be sad, happiness....I'm glad.
If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you
Mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me.


heading back to bed, with a song playing in my head.. sweet dreams, stay warm :)

Had a lovely lunch at Sahara Grill with (e:pyrcedgrrl) and her daughter, Hailey this afternoon. Although the restaurant was very chilly, I observed that I can handle a cold restaurant better in the winter than I can in the middle of summer. Atleast in the winter I am already piled under many layers of clothes. In summer, I have on as few as possible.

Ever find yourself dressed for 90 degree weather and walk into 60 degree AC restaurant- just to shiver for the duration of the meal. It feels good only for the first few minutes. Why think to carry a heavy sweater on a muggy day? Anyway, this went through my mind as I gratefully wrapped my scarf around my neck and pulled my hat on. Atleast my body heat (or lack of) was prepared for re entry into the sub temps.
I had an order of grapeleaves and a shish kebob sandwhich, sans skewer (I peeked under the flat bread). I love grapeleaves, dolmades, whatever they are called. To Haileys dismay, I tainted her lemon chicken rice soup with my germs. It was yummy- Just a little protein, dear. I think I will take a stab at creating my own chicken and something soup. lentil? rice? barley? --veggies, especially spinach will be added--. I've had a request to make more cookies. omg!! The second batch I made was with milk chocolate chips, much better than the first batches- made with semi sweet. Cooking/baking is amusing in this weather. I should have grabbed eggplant while at the Co-Op today. Hmmmm so many yummy dishes can be created with eggplant. Babaganoush!

Superbowl. ugh. I don't like football. I don't like to pretend that I do and I tend to bail out on all football related festivities. I always appreciate the offers.. but I am the odd one out among a bunch of football fans. There are plenty of sports that I like and can get all excited about, but football is not one of them. I know. I tried. I even went to many highschool and college games back in the day. I usually just spent each quarter flirting. Honestly, its too slow, not enough action or blood or bruises. Hmmm, now Rugby- there is not nearly enough of the game to be seen, too bad, since that totally fits my sport watching needs- followed by hockey. Lacross is fun too. I remember watching bowling as a kid, haha.

Now, with the superbowl- its just too much for me to handle. I love a good commercial, but I wont put myself through listening to the sounds of football just to hope for a commercial. The food part of it has merit and the chilling with friends-- but if they are obsessed, and rightfully so, then what do I do.. bring a book? :)

I am bummed that I missed Prince. He is amazing.. but even that i can probably find at some point on You Tube.

good night,
stay warm!