Oooh that smell

What I really want to know is, how...HOW is it possible even when I cook tremendously pungent foods and when a bunch of Indian families live around cooking tremendously pungent foods...that our apartment hallway always smells like a mix of potpourri and some kind of processed tuna/casserole spam concoction?

Also, I want to know why looking for a swimsuit is now something akin to looking at porn? Really Brazil? Really strings? Really thong? You call yourselves bikinis? Geez. I have lingerie less revealing than some of the stuff on Amazon.

Also, I assume you're asking since you're looking up at me from the bottom of the third page of results. No,  I do not want you, Hello Kitty bathing suit. No. No no no no.

Wedding Gift, wedding gift, where are you?

I have so many fab wedding gifts. I have no idea why people got us such cool stuff. Or why they got us presents at all. I'm thankful, though. Piles of notecards that nearly exhausted my stationary stash thankful (except for my amazing girlfriends who gave me a stationary shower to help replenish the stock of paper goods that feed my fetish). 

You can find Match at one of my fave Lexington boutiques, Mulberry+Lime on N Limestone

There are some things that I will have no trouble using - like my beautiful Match accessories (also a special shower given by other girlfriends who pitched in and got gorgeous pewter candlesticks). There are other things that I may have to push myself to incorporate. I feel like I took a step with the torch (FIRE!), and now I'm not scared of it and I know how to fill it and I know what butane looks like (you should have seen the look on my mechanically-inclined brother's face when I told him I had to carry my dainty little chef's torch into Menard's to show everyone so they would know what I wanted).

You can find this gem at Williams Sonoma. If you're in Lex, ask for my sister in law. She's the really cute one. 

Even my All-Clad Waffle Iron is a little intimidating. It seriously weighs about 50 lbs and it has a lock on it! a LOCK. Like the waffles are going to check to see if the coast is clear, then hop out and bail. Peace out, waffles. I don't know. I used to cook a lot. I love cooking - I even really enjoy breakfast food, but I didn't cook a lot of breakfast food because, let's face it. Brunch is for late-waking recovery Saturday mornings or fancy Sundays. Neither of those times do I particularly want to cook or do dishes. C'est la vie, though. Marriage changes you, they say, and I guess if that means hosting more brunches it could sure be a lot worse.

Mimosas anyone?

Mama Mia!

I took off at the end of last week and headed Indy-way to visit a bit with my family and friends here and, even though it was a pretty short time, there have been lots of good times. It's amazing how sometimes (especially when you're home or in the company of those you love) even the really basic things can be wonderful.

Mom and I spent a good bit of time rummaging through the attic in a process of sorting and un-boxing and reboxing that seems neverending and frustrating but that always yields fun stuff (wedding gifts! thought-to-be-lost kitchen accessories!). We attempted to figure out how to finish a set of Kate Spade Library Lane flatware when it's not available anywhere - or sell it (we decided on sell it - you want it? Try here), but that was after Sarah and I had a nasty adventure with an unhappy (I suppose about most everything) clerk at Macy's named Chuck. I have no problem reporting this and saying that I will furthermore avoid Macy's home department at the Greenwood Park Mall like the plague, and maybe all Macy's stores hereafter (sorry, manager James, not even your helpfulness could mediate that attitude). Mom and I cooked a heart healthy meal from the Mayo Clinic (which I will spare this site, lest you try to prepare and eat it - blech). I also got to spend lots of time with my girls (Sarah and her beautiful baby Mia), drive my Mustang (so did the husband) and cook breakfast for my mom this morning before I left.

That recipe, I will post - because if you make it, you'll enjoy it and because I can tell you about how I used my torch! I have a torch! It was a birthday gift from Sarah but I never went out to get the butane tank to fill it up and now I am a wannabe chef so I found it and got motivated. It's awesome. So is oatmeal brulee...

Oatmeal Brulee
Prepare oats (regular or quick) according to directions, but instead of all water, I like to use half water and half milk. If you want to be decadent then use some half and half in the mix.
Add to the warming liquid (before you stir in the oats):
a pinch of salt
Cinnamon to taste (I put in about 1/8 of a t for 2 servings)
Brown Sugar to taste (1-2 T)
Butter (1 T)

Cook oats until thickened (if you don't have a torch, lightly butter or spray your oven-safe bowls with cooking spray and heat your oven to broil) and then pour or spoon finished oats into bowls. Sprinkle white sugar on top (about 1 T per serving or until it's covered) and run the flame over the sugar until it bubbles and browns OR put your bowls in to broil for just a couple of minutes until the sugar bubbles and browns.

Serve with berries.

The whole visit was enhanced by the appearance of my darling husband for the middle couple of days. I love him so much for driving five hours each way to come spend time with me and my family. As much as they love me, they really love him (because he's not even related to me and he still loves me so sweetly - and knows how to handle me!) and they love having him around, too. Yay for visits! Yay for husband! Yay that I'll be back with him this evening.

That is all.

I feel the earth move...

The top state for earthquakes in the US is Alaska.

I have never been to Alaska.

The second state in the US for earthquakes is California. I go to Cali all the time. Lots of family there. Never been in an earthquake, though...in California.

Neither Kentucky nor Ohio are even in the top 20 of states for earthquake activity and yet...I was in an earthquake in Kentucky a few years ago.

And I was in an earthquake in Ohio TODAY!

It wasn't bad at all, but it was really disconcerting and I actually thought I was crazy or having a really bad attack of vertigo before Jacob called me and confirmed that it was, in fact, an earthquake.

I know I can only think this is funny because no one got hurt, but earthquakes always make me think of the movie Knocked Up when there's an earthquake and everyone freaks out and one of the guys rescues his girlfriend and supa-high Seth Rogan totally forgets about preggo Katherine Heigel and she yells at him about his huge bong. Ha. Bong.

I just thought this was a really funny pic. It came from the local news story about the earthquake. Isn't that so typical? Ah, local news.

Rue de la Pasta II

Rue, the neighbor/roommate to the constantly-boarding-me-couple of Browns is such a fun fab friend to spend time with while I'm in Lexington. He's always popping up with a glass of wine at opportune times like the end of the day when E and I get home. He's also amazing because he can always be counted on to whip up a delicious pasta.

Another great one was this past weekend and I highly recommend fart (that was a blog note from Jacob - Jacob recommends farts). I recommend Rue's pasta. It's easy! And delicious. This is an approximation.

Take a tablespoon of oil and heat it in a large skillet on med-low with two-three tablespoons of butter, then add about a tablespoon of minced garlic and a teaspoon of cayenne pepper flakes. Boil water for pasta of your choice. While the garlic and pepper are cooking a bit, you can throw in some chicken or shrimp as you like and cook until cooked through. I added a bit of white wine in mine and a couple of sliced up grape tomatoes at the end and cook until they're softened. Then when the pasta is done, toss it in the skillet until it's coated with the garlic and pepper. Plate it and top it with Parmesan cheese.

Fab! Not healthy but fab. (Rue's recipe was simple and epic - just the EVOO, butter, garlic and pepper topped with cheese. I only added meat because Jacob needs some meat and wine because trust me, it's better I cook with that wine than drink it based on the last time I did the opposite).

Cultural Observations

You may remember when I had to learn to communicate more effectively with a security guard at the Al Jimi mall in Al Ain. Well, last night, SP taught me a new lesson about knowing your audience.

When we walked up to the security checkpoint at Blossom to see Toby Keith for Phillip's birthday, we got held up with our lawn chairs, which were too tall to pass muster. We tried a couple of genuine pleas, we offered to leave them folded, and then SP (who had walked in with her husband and maneuvered her chair past the gates) walked up and like a champ communicated in a language they could understand:

"That chair is for me. Are you going to make me sit on the ground? Are you going to seriously take this chair away from a pregnant lady? C'mon man."

A bit of stalling, some exchanged glances and, eventually guilt. "Ok," they acquiesced. "But you have to name him after us. Thomas Richard."

"It's a girl," she said.

"What about Thomasina Richardina?"

It's not the only way to work...

but it's definitely the best!

Elisabeth, Rue and I hit up the poolside yesterday and while I was busy reading all kinds of laughably ridiculous propaganda about Lexington's water issues, Elisabeth was studying away for the Bar. Rue, perhaps smarter than both of us, just sat there and looked pretty. 

Flashback

Recently while working on a client project, I decided to enroll in a web-based tutorial to get up to speed on programming html emails. So I sat on my couch and logged in to the webinar.

As I listened to the muzak and calming voice telling me to remain on the line, the persistent beep beep beep beep beep of other users logging in took me right back to the days of pharma and daily, seemingly-hourly, teleconferences.

Even though I now work from home and freelance on a variable schedule, I had quite a flashback. I guess some things never change.

What I really want to know

Does anyone else love Rob&Big? I know it's not on the air anymore, but I love it, V loves it, my brother loves it...it's a great show, mostly because it's full of hijinks and wackiness - much like my beloved husband.

What does this have to do with me? Well, I was watching it today and Rob's parents come into town and the entire episode was dedicated to Rob trying to drive his mom crazy. He drives too fast, passes too much, says crap a lot, jumps off a tour bus, breaks the law by plastering city property with street team stickers, fakes an arrest and tries to make her cry by reading cheesy poetry.

So, what I really want to know is, am I destined to have a son who acts like this?

I'll answer my own question: have you ever met my husband? (or me?)

Home is where...

Just as Jacob and I got engaged nearly two years ago, his family experienced a bit of a material tragedy. I say material because no one was injured, but the family house burned in an accident. Though some of my darling's collection of mementos and a couple of Moroccan rugs were taken up in the blaze, the important things were spared, ie family members and the basic structure of the house. They moved out to a temporary apartment and then a rental house and eventually back into the reconstructed (and redesigned) home.

We have lived a parallel existence in a way. During the time that we were packed up and living abroad, they were packed up and living in temporary quarters. But now, they are unpacked and settled in and we are...still packed up.

I remember a card that someone got them posted on the fridge. It said,

Check out Curly Girl designs from The Good Life company for more designs like this!

As I paw through the next share of potential homes in our next destination town, I'm thinking about all the things that I'll be unpacking that might make our house more of a home - dishes (a set large enough for a dinner party), a waffle iron (that one's for the husband) for Saturday morning breakfasts, familiar furniture...but even more, I know I'll be taking my heart - oh, and my dog.

What I really want to know

There are so many questions out there that just pop into our heads. Questions of consequence, questions of, well...inconsequence. Lots of things about which I'm curious. This is part of the reason I know trivial facts and other things useless in daily life, but helpful in board games.

What I really want to know today is, how does Giada deLaurentiis, with all her gorgeous figure and hair and skin and eyes and lips, keep her fingernails clean while she cooks all that delicious food? She always has these gorgeously manicured chip-free fingernails that should be, in all fairness, discolored by garlic and splattered with parsley juice and full of tomato stains. How?

I can't even keep polish on for one day. Fail.

Pain in the neck

Well, we made it through a 12+ hour day of driving, riding and flying (sort of) at Cedar Point yesterday and the first thing I'll say is, HALLELUJAH, a day free of rain. I don't know if it was truly miracle weather and the clouds parted for family day or if it's just that we escaped the pocket of persistent cloudy raininess that hangs over the Fairlawn/Akron area. WHO CARES. Sun, الحمدلله!


It's a good thing we enjoyed it, though, because it's back to rainy with a neckache here. All those fantastic rides (and we did all of them - all the good ones anyway - twice) took me back to summers with the Sabatino family, our couple-day mini-vacations to theme parks and the family dares to do the next biggest ride or stunt or thrill. They took me back to being a kid in a way - and reminded me how much of an adult I am. 


Like I said, rainy with a neckache...we woke up this morning and looked at each other and said a collective, "ow." Ow for the neckache and backache, and bruised quads and cracking knees and sore feet. 


Oh, well. It was worth it. 

Time Machine

Tonight some of Jacob's siblings and cousins will arrive in (still-dreary) Northern Ohio on a trek toward fun and nostalgia. They're bedding down at our place, probably taking up just about every bit of floorspace in our tiny apartment in a squeeze reminiscent of camp time so that we can all trek further up north to glorious Sandusky in pursuit of amusement park time.

This kind of pilgrimage was yearly for me and the Sabatino clan as dad and I - and sometimes Michael - rode wild and mom waited patiently and we devoured horrible food, spun sugar and gallons of water. We haven't gone in years. There have been moves and marriages and time crunches.

But tomorrow, it's going to be time machine time. I'm putting on some shorts (rarely wear them) and chacos, slapping on the sunscreen and packing a small bag with zippers so I'm ready to ride...

ilovemywife.com

I'm so ridiculously spoiled. Spoiled by my sweet husband who is working so hard right now and still comes home and has the energy and good nature to have sweet dinners with me. Spoiled by his thoughtfulness in bringing home "Hot Lady" roses for me (they're hot pink) after driving around to four different Giant Eagles to find "good flowers," because the other ones didn't look good. Spoiled by the tiny little things like letters after we've been away from each other and naming our wireless network so that I think of him every time I get online. Thanks, love. And thanks, God.