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!
I had a bit of a harrowing experience recently. I was home alone, so I'd had a leisurely morning. Having finished my coffee, I was about to take a nice hot shower. Making sure the water was just how I like it, I jumped in and closed the glass door.
Well, I didn't exactly close it like I'd planned. When it was about 5 inches from being closed, it broke. Wouldn't budge, either way. And I was in there. Naked. Did I mention home alone? Picture that.
Actually, don't. You can take my word for it.
My leisurely morning had gone to hell. I was trapped. And phoning a friend wasn't an option.
Neither was shutting off the water (which was dripping onto the shower matt and floor), and standing in there naked for the rest of the day.
Unfortunately necessity was not the mother of invention this case, but desperation being what it is, I was finally able to jam the door open a few more inches and squeeze my way through. Into the puddle on my bathroom floor.
I may be, for the foreseeable future, taking nice leisurely baths for a long while now. After all, what could go wrong?
Don't answer that.
It's baseball season! Or for me, Red Sox season since that's the only baseball I watch. I'd mentioned in the past that for Mother's Day, PurDude buys me a subscription to all the Red Sox games. That includes the pre-season games.
We'd been watching a pre-season game, where many different pitchers were trying out for a spot once the season started. After an outing, one of those pitchers was asked about a change in his form. He explained that the coaches had been working with him on how he starts his pitches, in an effort to keep his arm attached to his body.
I'm thinking that it's probably a good thing, athlete or not, to . . . you know . . . keep your arm attached to your body.
When one of the newer players came to bat, the announcers said his name and we were confused. They put his name up on the screen as he stepped into the batter's box, and we were still confused: Jhostynxon.
Now my name is Karen, so believe me, I'm not one to make fun of people's names. But the announcers said that the player was asked about his name and said that his parents couldn't decide between two names, so ended up taking letters from both.
Say what?
First, those parents should have their parent cards revoked.
But second, can you just imagine him in first grade, when all the kids are first learning to write their names?
Little Bob (working hard at forming his letters): B - o - b
Little Bob (working hard at forming his letters): B - o - b
Little Sue (working hard at forming her letters): S - u - e
Little Dan (working hard at forming his letters): D - a - n
Little Jhostynxon: I quit.
Watch what you say . . .
Saying "talk to the hand" is an insult that can hurt. But did you know that talking about the hand in an insulting way can boomerang that hurt right back to you?
I know. Now.
I used to have my nails done regularly, but for years now I've just been doing them myself. I generally keep up with them. I was going through my Insta feed and saw a few people posting some really pretty nail art, most spring inspired.
I looked down at my own nails and was mortified. I was way overdue for a touch-up. Clearly they'd been peeling for I don't know how long.
So I posted a picture with a snarky comment about how beautiful {{cough, cough}} my hand looked.
I guess my hand took offense, along the lines of "you think that's horrible? Oh, honey, old my beer."
By the time I realized that I had an infection under my rings, the whole finger was so swollen I couldn't get the rings off. It was painful, and my whole hand was becoming involved. It was an excruciating process, but I (with the help of a few medicinal shots of Patron) bit the bullet and ripped the rings off of my finger so I could treat the infection.
But I will never, I mean never, body shame an appendage again. Lesson learned.
Hubs: These salmon patties are delicious.
Me: When I grilled salmon for dinner the other night, I made extra so we'd have leftovers. I think the grilled salmon makes a difference in the flavor.
Hubs: Are you going to put this recipe on your blog?
Me: Yes, since we are both happy with how they came out.
Me: Yes, since we are both happy with how they came out.
Hubs: I don't see you taking as many food pictures as you used to.
Me: Well, I used to post 8 to 9 times a month, now that I'm only posting once a month, I don't have to come up with as many new recipes.
Hubs: Now that you're only posting one a month, they have to be really good recipes.
Me: Are you saying I come up with not good recipes?
Hubs: Umm, quick question: will it work out better for me if I go out and buy you flowers? Or have them delivered?
Grilled Salmon Patties
The holidays came (very, very) early for College Boy. I was in our bank accounts and noticed he had 2 credits of almost $2300. When I looked at them, it made no sense to me, he always has a healthy balance on his account.
I asked him about it, and he had no idea what it was about. He can’t remember ever having had an issue with insufficient funds, and would absolutely remember (who wouldn’t?) if he’d ever been hit with a $2000 fee.
It was a weekend, Monday was a holiday, so he called the bank on Tuesday for clarification. They told him the deposits were legit, but couldn’t tell him what they were about. They offered to connect him to another department for more information. College Boy accepted, but hung up after holding for 40 minutes.
Now I love mysteries, you know that, but I greatly prefer for them to have an answer at the end. If not, it leaves me hanging, trying to come up with feasible scenarios in my head. Well that and, in this case, the hope that whatever did happen would happen to me too.
So I’ve been diligently checking my own account about 5 times a day, hoping that free money fairy might put $2300 in there too, for no apparent reason.
So far, no such luck.
But I do have a new earworm, that old Dire Straits song . . . "get your money for nothing . . ."
Not having learned my lesson after taunting the hand, seems a comment I'd made was taken as an insult (or a challenge) by Mother Nature.
I was saying, and it was true, that Florida had gotten more snow this winter than we had in the Midwest.
Once again, I'd be treated to an "oh honey, hold my beer," moment.
It started to snow. And snow. And before you knew it, we had Florida beat. By a mile.
And you know who everyone I'd originally joked with was blaming, right? Yup, me.
If only I could use my power for good instead of evil.
So, it had been snowing. Yes, again. Apparently Mother Nature can really hold a grudge. Anyway, we were watching a basketball game, after which Hubs was going out to snow blow the driveway.
Me (pulling out a bottle of wine): I'd ask if you want a glass of wine, but I don't want you to be drunk blowing.
Hubs: {{blink, blink}}
Me: OK, that may not have come out right.
Hubs: I think maybe you're the one who should lay off the wine.
Yeah, he could make a case for that.
Next thing you know, my neighbor is . . . well . . . lawn blowing.
So maybe that whole drunk blowing actually is a thing.
Finally it looked like the weather was starting to change. The sun had come out and we were starting to see some bare concrete on our front deck. In fact, the left side, that got more sun, was completely clear.
That afternoon, the Fed Ex guy made a delivery. Where do you think he choose to throw the album?
Did you guess?
Now click on the links below and see what my friends have to share:
Grilled Salmon Patties
©www.BakingInATornado.com
NOTE: this recipe requires the salmon to be cooled after grilled, so be sure to have a few hours between grilling and preparing the patties. I usually grill the salmon the night before.
Ingredients:
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
3/4# skin on salmon fillet
1 green onion
2 eggs
1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 cup corn flakes, crushed
1 TBSP oil
1 TBSP butter
OPT: sliced lemon or tartar sauce for serving
Directions:
*Mix together the salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne. Sprinkle onto both sides of the salmon fillet.
*Mix together the salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne. Sprinkle onto both sides of the salmon fillet.
*Heat the grill to medium. Place the salmon on the grill, flesh side down, and cook for 3 minutes. Flip the fillet over and grill, skin side down, until the fish is fully cooked and flakes when a fork is inserted into the center. How long it will take to cook will depend on the thickness of your fillet.
*Remove the salmon from the grill, remove and discard the skin. Chop the fillet and refrigerate in a bowl until cold (I refrigerate overnight).
*Chop the green onion. Mix the cooled salmon with the green onion, eggs, and bread crumbs. Using your hands, form into 6 balls.
*Individually, press each ball into the corn flakes to coat, flattening the balls into patties. Turn the patty over and coat the other side. Place wax paper onto a plate or tray, and refrigerate the patties for an hour.
*Add the oil and butter to a large skillet over medium heat. Once it starts to bubble, add the salmon patties. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the bottom is browned. Flip the patties over and turn the heat down a little if necessary. Cook another about 5 minutes until browned and the centers are warm.
*OPT: serve with lemon slices and/or tartar sauce.
