Sticks, Stones, and TMI: Fly on the Wall

 

Welcome to our monthly Fly on the Wall, a blog post written in snippets. Marcia, Diane, and I invite you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes, at our writing desks, and in our worlds. Come on in, buzz around, see what we've been up to. Bet you laugh! 

 

It was about 8:30 pm. Hubs and I were heading home. Coming down the street, we see College Boy a few houses up from ours, looking around, then walking down the street past our house, looking around.

We drive up to where he is:

Me: What are you looking for?
College Boy: Dinner.

Me: Well, most people would look in the oven . . . or the fridge . . . but, carry on.

We were in the house when he came in a few minutes later. 

When he first got here and we weren't home, he decided to have a burger delivered to the house for dinner, he'd eat while waiting for us to come home.

He got a text that his dinner had been delivered, along with a picture of the bag sitting by the door. Unfortunately, it wasn't our door. Before contacting the deliverer, he walked up and down the street trying to see if it was nearby. It wasn't. The driver had to come back, retrieve it from wherever it had ended up, and bring the burger to the house.

He got a full refund and a free (but cold) dinner.

I get so frustrated when spammers try to leach off of my Baking In A Tornado FB page by leaving links as comments in my posts.

And it's often 5 or 6 times, one after another. Each link is the same, but the verbiage is different. I have to go in, delete the link, and block the FB page that left it.

Me: Ugh, this is so frustrating.

College Boy: What?

Me: These spam links left on my page, like this one.

College Boy: What does it say?

Me: Well, this one is a link to the miracle doctor this woman claims cured her herpes.

College Boy: Maybe you shouldn't delete it.

Me: Why?

College Boy: You know, just in case . . .

Sometimes it can be a bit misleading to walk in on a conversation without knowing the context. I walked into the den where Hubs and PurDude were.

Hubs: Call your balls! You need to call your balls.

Me: Really? I know you guys somehow think it's cute to name for your "sticks," but I've never heard of calling your "stones." What do you call yours?

PurDude: Stop! TMI. Jeez you guys, TMI!

Turns out Hubs and PurDude were watching baseball. Someone hit a pop up and, in their attempt to catch the ball, because neither called the ball, the two fielders collided.

Meanwhile, looks like I may need to pay for counseling for my son . . .

I walk into the kitchen and Hubs is adding something to the checkbook. Yes, we still keep a checkbook, between him using his debit card, me using mine, the few checks we need to send out, pre-scheduled payments, and direct deposits, we need to know where we stand. 

Hubs had come in from work, was putting what he's spent in the checkbook when he looked up:

Hubs: I caught you.

Me: What did I do now?

Hubs: What did you spend $5000 on that's not in the checkbook.

Me: Huh?

Hubs shows me my last addition to the check book. We'd had $7999.35. I'd notated a refund credit for $1.80, and posted a balance of $2583.79.

And honestly, I have no idea how I came up with that.

It was Independence Day, and I always make up fun cocktails to sip while sitting out front watching the neighborhood fireworks.

But, of course, I had to make up a quick batch a few days before just to . . . you know . . . make sure they would come out the way I wanted.

I might mention here that I love Chambord. And, of course, cool refreshing ice cream. Perfect to pair the two for a hot summer night.

The day I'd made my trial batch, I took a taste, and yum! So I kept drinking.

And Hubs came in and caught me with a glass in each hand.

Hubs: You drinking both of those yourself?

Me: I asked you if you wanted one, but you didn't answer.

Hubs: I didn't hear you.

Me: Probably because I was whispering.

Chambord Ice Cream Cocktail

I hate the intrusion into my life that the internet provides, tracking everything I do online to take advantage of me (all of us). Sometimes they're at least on track with my likes and/or needs. 

But lately, not so much.

First, I noticed that FB was constantly (like 10 times a day) bombarding my feed with posts from a bariatric surgery recipe group. And I thought it was a fluke. I blocked the posts from my feed (for no other reason than it just doesn't pertain to me), and went on with my life. 

Next thing you know, I'm getting tons of posts in my FB feed from a Weight Watchers group. 

And today I went to my inbox to find an email from Sono Bello informing me that it's not too late to get my body back.

I don't know what all this is coming from, but I'm starting to feel judged.

 

Some lessons you just end up learning the hard way. This was one I already should have learned long ago, to pay attention to what you're doing when baking.

I had some of my ingredients on the counter, including the vinegar. I was thirsty, so I grabbed my water bottle out of the fridge and stuck it on the counter before I went to get the flour and baking powder.

Thinking about the recipe and not paying attention to what was going on, you know what I did, right? Let me just say that a mouthful of vinegar is no bueno.

On the plus side, you can bet I'll never do that again.

I'd had a few biopsies on my face and came home with bandaids over my nose. Needless to say, it didn't look pretty. College Boy came in the house, looked at me, and stopped short.

College Boy: What happened to you?

Me: You should see the other guy.

College Boy: I know you didn't get in a fight.

Me: Yeah, the other guy was a doctor, and he got away without a scrape.

I was in the den when College Boy came in and headed upstairs.

College Boy: OK if I grab a few supplies from your bathroom?
Me: What do you need?

College Boy: Just some toothpaste, soap, and Q tips.

Me: OK, that's fine.

College Boy comes downstairs and looks . . . perturbed.

College Boy: Do you really think it's a good idea to leave that jar of vaseline right there on your bedside table?

Me: You try getting old.

College Boy: TMI, mom, TMI!

Actually, the doctor wanted me put vaseline on the biopsy wounds. Hubs found it for me and just stuck it on my bedside table. 

But I see no reason to tell College Boy that . . .

The beginning of the month of July is loud around here. And sometimes it's hard to distinguish what is what.

Monday, July 1st:

Hubs: Is that thunder?
Me: No, it's fireworks.

Tuesday July 2nd:
Hubs: Is that fireworks?
Me: No, it's thunder.

Wednesday July 3rd:
Hubs: Is that thunder or fireworks?
Me: Neither. That's my stomach grumbling.

 

Now click on the links below and see what my friends have to share:

Menopausal Mother 

On the Border

Chambord Ice Cream Cocktail

                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients (makes 2):

1 pint Birthday cake ice cream

1/2 cup Chambord

6 oz fresh raspberries

1 TBSP multicolored nonpareils

OPT: whipped cream and/or decorative sprinkles for garnish

Directions:

*Place the ice cream into a large bowl. Add the Chambord and whisk until smooth.

*Clean, pat dry, and chop the raspberries. Add them, along with multicolored nonpareils to the bowl and mix.

*NOTE: You can pour into glasses, garnish and serve, or for a slushier cocktail, freeze for 2 hours, then spoon into glasses, garnish and serve.

Circling, and Coming Full Circle

 

I lost a year, and in the process regained a day.

 

I feel like I'm owed a year. Thirteen months to be exact. From the end of March 2020 through April 28, 2021, Covid induced couch potato style seclusion was my norm. 

I don't want to sound insensitive. I know how many people died during that time. I personally know people who got sick. Really, really sick. What I did was a choice, an informed decision, a minor sacrifice in the scheme of things.

Fortunately, I'm someone who can find things to amuse myself (like this blog) at home, I'm not one of those people who have to be going somewhere every minute. I'm not saying it was easy, there were many times I wanted to go do something, felt caged when I remembered I couldn't, and why. Being in a denier state made it so much more difficult because being out meant being in jeopardy. It also made it easier, there was no decision to be made, my personal environment and my state's politics meant if I wanted to be safe, I had to be proactive. Being proactive meant that I, and my immediate family, mostly had to shelter in place.

But one of the results is that I feel as though I lost a year of my life. Everything, almost everything, has been in a holding pattern. Like an airplane circling the airport waiting for a safe time to land, I feel as though I'd been circling my own life, waiting for a safe time to reengage. 

Today is the first day of June. I love this month. The weather is comfortable, the trees have greened, my flowers are blooming, and I can spend time outdoors. 

But last June first? What was I doing then? Was I appreciating the change in weather? Spending time outdoors? I don't know. I really don't. From the middle of March 2020 until April 28th, there are few days that stand out. In 13 months, I can barely remember many that mattered, actually had an identity of their own. I read, I wrote, I cooked and I baked. I watched what little sports I could find that interested me, found out through binge watching why everyone was talking about Schitt's Creek, talked and texted and PMd, watched and then avoided the news. Pretty much every day. Each running into the next. Mimicking each other in a profoundly monotonous way.

Until April 28th. 

There are dates we all remember, and April 28th was always one for me. After suffering from and fighting through infertility, my first IVF resulted in a pregnancy. My due date was April 28th. Although I lost that pregnancy, the date has stayed with me all of these years. Initially about hope, April 28th had come to signify loss. 

This year, however, April 28th came full circle, shoving loss aside to once again make space for hope. It was on that day that I hit my personal optimal immunity. I was 2 weeks past my second Covid vaccination and I was free. On April 28th. I went out and spent the day doing what in my past life would have been normal mundane errands, chores actually. But this year, on this day, they were a gift, a first tangible manifestation of hope.

On that day, I took the list that had been growing over the last 13 months, of items I hadn't been able to shop for, off of my kitchen desk and tackled it with vigor. I went from store to store, not a sprint but a marathon. I did still mask and social distance, but I also looked and I inspected and I chose and I bought.

I admit, in the spirit of full disclosure, that the majority of the list was alcohol, but don't judge, it'd been a long hard year. I had been able to get most staples, even alcohol like beer and wine in my weekly grocery order, but specialty liqueurs like Limoncello, Chambord, Grand Marnier, Bailey's Strawberries and Cream, those had been languishing on my shopping list for a long time.

Strawberry Irish Cream Milkshake
 

Yes, I feel as though I lost a year. No matter how I view that stretch of time, I won't get it back, none of us will, of course. Those days will forever be, for the most part, a long, continuous, monotonous, emotionally challenging, stressful) blur.

 

But there is also this: 

Although I don't remember June 1st last year, can't specifically remember most days over the last year, I will remember today. Like coming out of a dark cave after an extended hibernation, everything old became new again. And I appreciate it all, these everyday days with no special meaning, no previous significance. I appreciate what I can do today, even the errands, even the chores, even the uninteresting, uneventful routine. 

There is comfort in the mundane, and there is solace in the return to it. 

Strawberry Irish Cream Milkshake         

                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients: 

8 oz strawberries

2 TBSP sugar

1/2 cup Strawberries and Cream Liqueur

1/4 cup Irish Cream Liqueur

1 cup vanilla caramel swirl ice cream (can substitute, vanilla, coffee, or strawberry ice cream)

2 TBSP honey

 

OPT: whipped cream, strawberries, and/or caramel sauce to garnish

 

Directions:
*Hull and chop the strawberries, mix with the sugar and set aside for 1/2 hour.

*Pour both liqueurs into a blender. Add the strawberries and their juices. Blend until smooth.

*Add the ice cream and honey to the blender. Blend again, until incorporated.

*OPT: to serve, garnish with whipped cream, strawberries, and/or caramel sauce.

                                   

Favorite Potables: Eight Winter Cocktails

 

Blogging schedule all worked out,

when a friend stopped by to say,

"Favourite Potables" will be the theme,

for this, Poetry Monday.

Love you Diane, my Canadian friend,

changed my schedule to join in.

But I'll spell "favorite" the correct way,

(though the words are clearly akin).

 

 

Favorite Potables

 

"Whatcha doing?" Hubby asked,

right as he walked in.

"Writing a blog post" I answered.

"Need to see which ones will win."

He saw the mess and looked at me,

face askew . . . or so I thought,

(although it was really hard to say,

since that last, quite generous, shot). 

"The entire bar's in front of you,

most bottles seem . . . quite low."

"Research," I answered smiling,

"How else am I to know?"

"What is it you're researching?

And I'd also like to hear,

how writing for your blog requires,

slurring your words, my dear."

I tried to stand, but no such luck,

so answered on my rear end,

"My favorite potables, for Diane.

Yes, I'm that good a friend." 

 

 

Winning recipes are linked below,

I hope you'll try them all.

Maybe not all at once, like me,

unless . . . you like to fall.

 

 

 WAIT! 

Read more poetry,

you're not through.

Some talented writers,

are in this crew:

 

Diane of On the Border

Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings

Jenny of Procrastinating Donkey

Charlotte of Mother Owl

Links to the posts with the recipes featured above:        

                                                       All recipes developed by ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Spiked Hot Cider

Chocolate Raspberry Pie-tini

Apple Pie Eggnog Milkshake

Strawberry Dalgona Coffee

Holiday Snowflake Cocktail

Red Hot Cocoa

My Mai Tai

Winter Coffee Nog

Past Due: Chapter One, Five Days

I'm featuring today the first chapter in a piece of fiction. Not just any piece of fiction, but a collaborative one. And not just any collaborative story, but the 9th in a series of Progressive Story Projects I've been gifted with over the years.

The magic of this type of story is that it comes from the imaginations of many. If you haven't read one in the past, I'll list links to them all below, but let me tell you how this works. I start a story, then pass it on to another writer who adds to it, it then goes on to another author and then another. The challenge for each of us is to add to the story without controlling it. In the end, these bloggers, all with their varied imaginations and writing styles, put together one cohesive story. And, as I said, it's a gift as I get to present it. 

Previous Progressive Story Projects:
A Holiday Story
Storm Past 
A Holiday Story, The Sequel
Sincerely Sarah
Take Aim
Skin Deep
Mystery at the Castle
Her Time

Today I'm honored to present chapter one of our newest story, Past Due. As always, before each section, over to the far right I've listed the author of that piece of the story and a link to their blog. I highly recommend checking out these blogs and seeing what my very talented friends have to share there. 

Past Due
Chapter One: Five Days

Karen of Baking In A Tornado

There were still only five. It's not that big a number, no way to lose track, count and count again, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, it wasn't going to change anything. There were only five left.

Sarah of Medicated Musings

I looked around, trying to figure out what to do. I only had five days left. I wanted to make the most of it, spend time with my loved ones, do things I didn't typically have the guts to do.

Make cherished memories.

I didn't know what would happen on the 6th day. The note didn't say. It was simple and to the point.

"Emily, you have five days left."

It put me on edge, unsure of what to expect. Was I going to die? Was someone going to kidnap me? Was the world going to end?

Would I ever find out?

Five days wasn't a lot of time for one to live their best life, but damn it, I was determined to live mine.

Dawn of Spatulas on Parade 

Five days, why only five? She had lost the love of her life, or so she thought he was, five years ago and during that time she had battled and won the fight with breast cancer. So why now? Why didn't she die during that time? This made her angry, the longer she dwelled on it, the angrier she got.

Liz reached over and touched her hand. "Em, what's going on with you? You are not yourself today."

Emily looked at her longest and dearest friend, putt on her smile and said "oh nothing, just going over the past." She took a deep breath and said "Hypothetically, if you knew you only had 5 days to live, what would you do?"

Liz jumped out of her chair and said "WHAT?" and quickly sat down realizing she was causing a scene here at the Java Joint. Leaning over she quietly said, "Oh my gosh Emily! When? Why didn't you tell me the cancer was back?"

Emily laughed, "Oh no, no, no, no." Shaking her head, "I'm sorry, I was just thinking. It's not back, I'm fine, I mean, I think, well, yeah . . ." and she started to cry.

Liz, looking relieved but still concerned, looked at her, deep into her eyes and said "Come on Em, this is me. We've known each other for how long? High school, college, marriages, divorces, kids, cancer and the death of parents. Tell me what is going on."

Reaching into her pocket, Emily pulled out the paper. She handed it to Liz who read it and then began to laugh.

"Oh my dear sweet dramatic Em! Don't you know a kid prank when you read one? I mean, really. Who would send you something like this and why? Everyone loves you. You know it's some dumb kid pulling a prank."

Just then Steve walked up, kissed Emily on the forehead and said, "Hey what's this?" as he reached for the paper. She tried to move it but he was already reading it. Shaking his head he said, "You know several people at work got this same stupid piece of paper. I'm guessing prank time at the high school. Remember those days?" as he sat down.

Kimberly of When I Grow Up

"Really?" Emily looked up at her brother, relieved.

"Yeah," he said. "Someone is messing with you."

"Anybody I know?" she asked.

"Well, let's see . . . you know Eddie, he lived down the street when we were kids, And Sue; wasn't she your best friend at one point? I think Josh Miller got one, but you didn't know him. Oh, and the other one who mentioned it was Betty James. She was pretty shaken up, but she's not from around here either. So, to answer your question, you know two of them."

Emily didn't say anything. Steve didn't know. She had actually dated Josh one summer when she was home from college. He lived a couple of towns over and she knew her family wouldn't approve, so she hadn't told any of them, not even Steve, who knew her better than anyone else, even better than her ex. It was just a summer fling; she and Josh broke up before the fall semester began and she hadn't heard from him since.

The name Betty James sounded familiar as well, though she couldn't quite figure out why. Emily noticed that Liz was looking at her quizzically and that she had to snap out of it.

"I guess I've been reading too much SciFi lately. Let's get out of here. Who's up for a trip to the park? There should be some great people watching on a beautiful day like today!"

Rena of Wandering Web Designer and The Blogging 911

Emily stretched out on the blanket as she watched all of the other people who were soaking up this beautiful day. She had scolded herself all the way for letting something so stupid get to her so badly. Kids! Pranks! She had to laugh at herself, "Em you are much too gullible," she scolded herself.

She watched a little boy play with his dog, laughing every time the collie chased after the frisbee. Each time he would bring it back to the boy and drop it at his feet. Then there was the cute daddy pushing his little girl on the swing, back and forth, up and down. It was relaxing, almost hypnotic, following the little girl's path with each push.

She loved this little town. She had spent her whole life here and now that she was outside she could see that the note was just silly. I can't believe I wasted a moment being upset about something so dumb. She watched a woman in a beautiful pink dress get out of her car and start walking across the park.

She walked straight up to Emily and stood over her, blocking out the sun. Emily shaded her eyes and looked up at the strange lady who seemed to know exactly who she was. "Emily! I'm so glad I found you. I'm Betty James."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Read on to chapter two, Jester's Canyon ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

And before you go, here's today's recipe:

Strawberry Dalgona Cocktail

Strawberry Dalgona Cocktail        

                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients (makes 2):
1 cup Baileys Strawberries and Cream liqueur
1/2 cup White Chocolate liqueur
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup instant coffee crystals
1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup boiling water

fresh strawberries

Directions:
*Pour 1/2 cup Strawberries and Cream liqueur, 1/4 cup White Chocolate liqueur, and 1/4 cup milk into each of two glasses. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
*Whip the instant coffee crystals, sugar and boiling water until it's light brown and creamy and stiff peaks hold (similar to how you'd make whipped cream).
*Remove the glasses from the refrigerator, add ice if desired, and top with the whipped coffee.
*Serve with fresh strawberries.