Friday, April 19, 2019

Cancel Everything: Fly on the Wall

Welcome to a monthly Fly on the Wall group post. Today 6 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house. At the end of my post you’ll find links to this month’s other participants’ posts.

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



My boys are older and mostly on their own. We don't argue as much as when they were younger, mostly because they don't tell me anything, but then that's another story. 

College Boy and I were, however, having a minor argument the other day. I decided to just let it go and went to make a sandwich.

College Boy (walking into the kitchen): Isn't that cannibalism?
Me: What?
College Boy: A witch. Eating a sand-wich.

And yes, he was kidding. I think.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



I had canceled my newspaper. As papers go, it's not a good one. I was only getting the Sunday edition but they had raised the price quite a bit. I called them, they lowered the price, then 6 months later raised it even higher. When I called again, they told me that they were raising all subscribers' rates to the same amount. So basically my Sunday subscription was going up to the price of a daily subscription? Cancel!

A few weeks later a rep came to my house. We talked for quite a while about what I think of the reporting in the paper and why I canceled. He asked me to come back and offered a price lower than I would have even asked for. He said it would be good for a year, I would not be charged an activation fee, and it included a free subscription to their daily online paper. The day I got my first Sunday paper I could go in online and sign up. I gave him a check and was signed up for 3 months.

On day one I went to their website to sign up for my free online subscription. After I went through all sign up crap, I got in and was immediately met with a message that I owe $1.23 on my account that I need to pay immediately. 

It's not the $1.23, of course, but that already on DAY ONE they're pulling this crap again. Cancel!

Well, that was good while it lasted. NOT!


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Speaking of canceling, and of sandwiches:

Me: It's here. Tonight is the first night of Passover.
Hubs: This holiday is the worst.
Me: I know, this and Yom Kippur when we fast for the day.
Hubs: There's really never anything I can get for lunch during the week.
Me: And my hands end up raw from all the dishes as I have to special prepare breakfast, lunch on the weekends when you're around, dinner, snacks and desserts. I like to cook and bake but this is exhausting. 
College Boy: I actually prefer Yom Kippur. I'd rather fast than eat matzo. Why don't we just fast for Passover?
Me: Sold!

Cancel again!


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

I'm a good friend. Even to people I've never met, like my blogging friends. I'm always one of the offer my assistance when they're in need. For instance, this exchange that happened a few weeks ago via FB private message with a friend whose websites were hacked and had just gotten them back AND just had her car die.

Me: How's it going now that you have the sites back. I bet you're busy.

Rena: I'm at the car lot finishing up. Just gotta sign my name in blood and give them my first born.
Me: If you don't want to give them your first born, you can give them mine.

See? Always willing to help.



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Me (to Hubs): Tomorrow's our anniversary and it sucks. With Passover we can't go out to eat, you can't buy a cake, what a crappy anniversary.
Hubs: We'll have to go out when Passover is over. 
Me: Still sucks.
College Boy: You think you've got it bad, tomorrow is also 4/20 day imagine that.
Me: Imagine what?
College Boy: Getting the munchies and not being able to buy gas station nachos in an emergency. 
Me: They'll just have to put off their munchies until Passover is over. . .



Dark Cherry Cheesecake in a Pecan Crust starts with a pecan crust as a great compliment to this classic cheesecake swirled with syrup, then topped with dark sweet cherries. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert

Dark Cherry Cheesecake in a Pecan Crust

It was a Saturday morning and Hubs had gone out to run a few errands. It was still really cold out but I wanted to open a window on the main floor just to let some air in the house.

I opened the window and the latch (that fits into the mechanism to close the window) broke. The top screw came out. I wouldn't be able to close the window. Crap.

I could see the screw outside so I grabbed my coat (it was cold), a screwdriver, threw on my flip flops (they were in the laundry room) and went outside. Got the screw but couldn't reach to put it in. Damn.

Came inside and grabbed a kitchen chair, dragged it out the front door, around the side and to the back, and got the thing fixed and was just coming in the house.

Of course, there's Hubs. I'm walking in the door with sopping wet hair, wearing a winter coat and flip flops, carrying a chair and a screwdriver.

Hubs: Oh, I can't wait to hear this one.

And I thought I had finally taught him not to ask.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Our car insurance renewal came due and I left the bill and coverage info for Hubs to look at. He brought the bill to me later.

Hubs: How long have you been paying this amount?
Me: About 6 months.
Hubs: The amount didn't change two months ago? I made some changes to our coverage.
Me: No.
Hubs: It looks like they never made my changes.
Me: Cancel!
Hubs: No, I don't think canceling our car insurance is going to turn out to be a good idea.
Me: Damn! I was on a roll!


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Hubs was downstairs (or so I thought) and I was in the master bathroom with the door closed so I was comfortable saying what I was thinking out loud.

Me: You better stop lying or I'll have you canceled too.
Hubs (who, I guess had come upstairs and was in the master bathroom: Who are you talking to in there?
Me: Ummmm. The scale?


 Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


My cell phone rings on a Sunday afternoon, I look and see that it's PurDude and I start to shake.

Me (answering quickly): What's wrong?
PurDude: That's how you answer the phone? You don't say "hello" and "how are you"?
Me: Is something wrong?
PurDude: Well, yeah . . . 


Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I rest my case. 



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

It's fun (not!) having a very literal son. 

I often name my cars, maybe it's a girl thing. 

Anyway, what PurDude was calling for was to tell me that his car died. It's not the battery or starter, it was running really rough yesterday and today it starts up, then shuts itself off. I've told you before that he absolutely loves that car, that he took it from me the day he got his license and it's been his for the past 8 years. But it's 15 years old and has 96,000 miles. The header leaks oil, it's prone to flat tires, the driver's window doesn't go down (well, it'll go down but not back up again) and the remote keys are shot. I figured OK, this is it, RIP, we loved you well.

Hubs got the car going. I asked him to check the oil and replace the air filter and coolant. We have used a guy in the past to work on that car who is a BMW expert and his shop is only a few blocks from where PurDude lives. He called the guy, took the car down and texted me on Tuesday that one of the cylinders wasn't firing, it was worth fixing, the mechanic is going to fix the cylinder and replace the spark plugs. 

Me: You lucked out. That little red beauty will live to see another day. BTW, I always used to name my cars, is that car male or female?
PurDude: Neither, it's a car.

OK then, Mr. Literal.

Now click on the links below for a peek into some other homes:

Never Ever Give Up Hope  

Spatulas on Parade
Follow Me Home 
The Crazy Mama Llama
Bookworm in the Kitchen 



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Dark Cherry Cheesecake in a Pecan Crust
                                               ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Ingredients:
1 can (15 oz) dark sweet pitted cherries in heavy syrup
1 TBSP grenadine

8 oz package of shelled pecans
1/4 cup sugar
2 TBSP butter, melted

2 1/2 packages (8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup heavy cream
3 eggs, room temperature

Directions:
*Grease a 9 inch springform pan. On the outside of the pan, wrap a sheet of tin foil around the bottom and partially up the sides of the pan. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
*Place the pecans in a food processor. While processing slowly add the sugar through the chute and then the melted butter, continuing to process until the mixture starts to stick together. Press into the bottom and partially up the sides of the springform pan. Refrigerate.
*Drain 1/4 cup of the syrup out of the can of cherries. Add the grenadine and set aside.
*Beat the cream cheese, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla just until smooth. Beat in the sour cream and heavy cream, then the eggs, one at a time.
*Pour about a third of the cheesecake batter into prepared crust. Drizzle about a third of the syrup/grenadine mixture into the center and swirl lightly into the batter. Repeat two more times until you've using up all of the batter and the syrup/grenadine mixture remaining batter and syrup.
*Bake for 60 - 75 minutes until the center is just set.
*Remove from oven and allow to cool on the counter, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
*Gently run a knife around the cheesecake before removing the side of the springform pan. Spoon the cherries and remaining syrup over the cheesecake to serve.

20 comments:

  1. Karen, I name my cars too! Remeber Sophia, the little brown Fiat? I hope PurDude's car gets too live a long and healthy life, even after 96,000 miles. I laughed picturing you outside, trying to fix your window latch. Flip flops and a winter coat may just be the new black.I love cheesecake and cherries, so your recipe is definitely going to have a go at my house. <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I do remember Sophia! And yes, you have to try this cheesecake!

      Delete
  2. I remember that conversation! They are still waiting on your boy lol! I also can’t believe you got Purdue’s car fixed. I bet he was ecstatic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes he was, but even he is starting to admit that it may be time to look for a new car.

      Delete
  3. Cancel frenzy!
    Glad the car is running for a while longer. Now drive on over with a slice of pie. Lol
    But I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who talks to themself in the bathroom.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've started talking to myself more and more. Turns out everything I say I already knew.

      Delete
  4. Cancel! Cancel! My husband feels he has to support our local paper out of patriotic duty but seriously, Notre Dame burns and a certain report is ready to be released and their top story is some water park opening two counties away? SERIOUSLY? My son would totally identify with that car love story. Maybe he and PurDude should meet? Anyway,you probably heard my sobs upon reading that cheesecake recipe. Weight Watchers, you know. Looking at that cheesecake just cost me a day's worth of smartpoints. Sob.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really need to create a cheesecake with no calories (or is that no points). I'll let you know how that goes.

      Delete
  5. Glad I'm not the only one who is "walking in the door with sopping wet hair, wearing a winter coat and flip flops, carrying a chair and a screwdriver." My neighbors have stopped asking.

    Funny how we moms panic when kids call unexpectedly :(

    When you go out for anniversary dinner, it won't be as crowded when it's not a holiday. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Carol. I have to admit that as I suffer through Passover at least I have a special dinner out to look forward to.

      Delete
  6. I always get a chuckle or two out of these posts :-) We changed our newspaper subscription to online only a couple of weeks ago. So far so good, although I miss my daily word puzzles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear ya, I love Sudoku, but I found an app for my IPad and now I play online daily.

      Delete
  7. Hysterical, that is crazy with that fee the first day. I think we should cancel bills and stress too.

    OMG that cheesecake....uuuuunf

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, cancel all the bills and bring on the cheesecake.

      Delete
  8. So fun reading your chats at home. Learned lots today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fly on the Wall is a favorite monthly post for many of my readers. And it's fun to write too.

      Delete
  9. Thanks for sharing the cheesecake recipe! Looks good.

    ReplyDelete
  10. My first car was Red. My second car was Yolie. My third car was Millie. Chad's new car is Bleu. My new car is Charlee.

    I want this Cheesecake immediately

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cars just take on their own personalities, don't they? And cheesecakes too.

      Delete

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