A few weeks ago Cluttered Genius interviewed me for a post she was writing in support of one of the collaborative books I contributed to, The Mother of All Meltdowns. In the interview she asked what makes me laugh. What a great question.
My answer to her was that I find my children’s laughter contagious. Hearing my boys laugh makes me laugh. But laughter comes so much easier when they’re little. AS they get older, sometimes you have to dig deeper to bring it out.
When my boys became teenagers I started watching the news and scanning the papers for absurd news stories. You know, the kind that make you laugh out loud and think “yup, truth is stranger than fiction.” I wanted the family dinners we had left to always end on a happy note. On nights when the conversations were more serious or stressful, I’d bring up some of those stories before we left the table. Or I’d quote some funny “bot” comments I’d gotten on the blog, or search terms people had typed into Google that somehow, inexplicably, landed them on my blog. Every meal ended with laughs all around. Perfect.
I’d done a post about funny true news stories a year ago and was asked at the time to do another. I’m pretty sure they didn’t mean a year and a half later, but I’m finally getting around to it. So from the “you can’t make this stuff up” files, here are some true news stories, some funny computer-generated bot comments and some search terms that landed people on my blog (and probably had them scratching their heads as to why they ended up here). And, of course, I’ve added some of my own comments.
Some of what we’ve been laughing about at our dinner table:
News stories:
*Someone has come up with an alcoholic drink in powdered packets (looks like a Kool-Aid packet).
~This is either genius or the most dangerous invention since TNT.
*Haagen Dazs is testing vegetable flavored ice creams, one with tomato and another with carrots.
~When reporting about it on the national news, Brian Williams said it best; “this is a purpose-defeating product if ever there was one.”
*A local man was arrested for driving his lawnmower down the street.
~The story gets better, when pulled over, it was evident that he had been drinking. He told the arresting officer that he was driving to a store down the street from his house. Evidently he had run out of beer.
Baked Hot Wings
Search terms that lead people to this blog:
*baking soda for hot flashes
~Wait, what? Don’t leave me hanging, am I supposed to eat it? Wear it? Bathe in it?
*alcohol free
~I’m so sorry but you have been horribly lead astray by Google. You are SO in the wrong place.
*name cakes happy birthday linda
~I’m stumped by this one too. I name my cakes but I’ve never named one “happy birthday Linda”. I don’t even know a Linda.
*domination interior
~What does this even mean? Who Googles this? Really, I want to know.
Bot generated blog comments:
* “Can I simply just say what a relief to discover somebody who genuinely knows what they are discussing.” The comment goes on to say “I can’t believe you aren’t more popular.”
~Ummmmm, gee thanks.
* “At Trader Joe’s, the popcorn arrives packaged pre-popped and also is actually as effortless to ingest as potato chips.”
~OK, good to know.
* “We are a group opening a new scheme in our community. Your website provided us with valuable information.”
~Does this make me an accessory?
* “I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your head prior to writing. I’ve had trouble cleaning my mind.”
~Sorry buddy, your dirty mind is not my problem.
* “Permit this review and we’ll protect a fictional dog!”
~Wow, really? If I post your review on my blog you’ll protect a fictional dog?What do I have to do to get you to protect a real dog? Wait. Don’t answer that.

Baked Hot Wings
©www.BakingInATornado.com Printable Recipe
Ingredients:
3 – 4 #chicken wings or wingettes
4 tsp cayenne
¼ tsp paprika
¼ tsp chili powder
¼ tsp cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1 ½ cups Frank’s Hot Sauce
Directions:
*Mix together the cayenne, paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
*Rinse wings and pat dry. Sprinkle liberally with the seasoning mix, pat in, turn wings over and repeat.
*Place wings in a gallon bag and refrigerate for 24 hours.
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray.
*Arrange the wings, not overlapping onto the cookie sheet. Sprinkle with more of the seasoning mix.
*Bake for 30 minutes, turn the wings over, sprinkle with more of the seasoning mix and bake another 30 minutes.
*Pour the Hot Sauce into a large bowl. Take the wings from the oven and immediately put into the bowl with the sauce. Stir to coat.
I absolutely love Reagan's laugh. You are right, it is contagious and it always makes me smile. There is something about listening to the giddiness of your child.
ReplyDeleteI've missed you love. I've been so busy I rarely get a chance to stop and comment anymore and it sucks! But I do think about you often :)
You stole my heart with those wings!
YUM!!!
xoxo
Lanaya
Miss you too. Hope work is going well for you.
DeleteI might have to give these wings a go for my husband. I'm a big wimp when it comes to spice and hot sauces, but he LOVES that stuff. So I'm saving this for him.
ReplyDeleteHow did I not realize you contributed to The Mother Of All Meltdowns? I have that and was supposed to review it but the timing was baaaad for me. I need to read it soon. Yay for your contribution!
When I serve wings I often serve them two ways, the Baked Hot Wings that the kids prefer and my Teriyaki Wingettes (that I posted here last May with a picture of both: http://www.bakinginatornado.com/2013/05/f-is-for-fail.html) that Hubs prefers. That way everyone's happy.
DeleteI might get a good laugh if I put my teen aged son's "skill set" to making these wings. They sound pretty darned good.
ReplyDeleteHe's been bugging me to make some. He can cook now so Have At it!
I'm not a bot but if I were, I'd say something random like: Red Socks make the man.
HA! Do you know you're saying that to a Red Sox fan???
DeleteMy husband would KILL me. He's a Yankee fan, and we follow the White Sox since we live here in Chicago, but when the Sox and the Yankees play here, he's all NY. He gets a lot of grief from the White Sox fans too, but it doesn't stop him.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Red Sox fan living in the Midwest but I follow ONLY the Red Sox. Grew up with box seats, it's in my blood.
DeleteThe laughter of a child is so wonderful to hear! It absolutely is the best medicine.
ReplyDeleteI agree. A mom can't help but smile when her kids are laughing.
DeleteI like the humor true news stories over dinner concept! Years ago I saw Carl Hiaason, who's books I think are laugh out loud funny say most of his inspirations come form news stories. I look at the words that bring people to my on line store and they do crack me up too. I love chicken wings and spicy is the way to go in my book so thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteI love Carl Hiaason's books, I think I've read them all. I never knew he got his comical inspiration from news stories but it doesn't surprise me.
DeleteAcoholic drink in powdered packets? Sign me up!
ReplyDeleteAlso, tonight is .50 cent wing night at one of my fav pubs. We hit it for dinner and they look just like yours here. Drooling!
My kids could spend a million dollars at 50 cent wing night. Good thing I can make them at home!
DeleteTruth: where I live, people really do ride their lawnmowers places. In fact, a friend of mine rode his tractor to school one day. Glad I could help inspire a blog post, and THANK YOU for the shout out!
ReplyDeleteNow I'm going to be singing "Mary had a little lamb" for the rest of the day, LOL.
DeleteThanks for the inspiration, it was a question worth thinking about.
Great post and I am sharing your baked wings!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the share, I appreciate it.
DeleteYou make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteOn my hardest days, Whitlee's laughter can make it all better. ♡
I completely understand. There's something so infectious and heart warming about our kids laughing.
DeleteThis was a funny post. I agree sometimes the truth is way funnier than fiction.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it takes all kinds, and there are quite a few wackadoodles out there.
DeleteI fear that one day I will hear less of DIno's laughs too...so this is a great idea...
ReplyDeleteOh the lengths we moms will go to just to hear our kids laugh.
DeleteI just love the bot comments! It ALMOST tempts me to remove my bot filter. But I'll just enjoy yours - you seem to get some doozies!
ReplyDeleteYou're much better off not having to delete them constantly and just laugh at mine. That's the quintessential best of both worlds.
Delete