Thursday, June 23, 2011

Food

This is the next post in our on-going blog project.  I hope that you enjoy it and take time to check out what the other ladies have to say on the topic.  Today's topic requires us to be a restaurant critic.  As I am on vacation, I will not participating in today's post, but rather will be turning the reins over to a group of guest bloggers and food critics.

I would like to introduce H, S and M.  They have three of the most discriminating palettes in the world.  They can detect in a taco even the smallest stray shard of cabbage, as minuscule as the head of a pin.  They have under-taken the task of reviewing the chef at Mom's Place.  As all three meals are served at Mom's they will each review one meal.

Breakfast

Breakfast consists of an assortment of fresh fruits and homemade waffles, topped with Grade A light syrup fresh from Vermont (2010 vintage).  There is also the option of a melange of fresh strawberries and blueberries. Further, there is real butter, whipped to a smooth creaminess.  Whipped cream, available upon request, is not freshly whipped, but is actual cream with no artificial flavors or chemicals.

The review, by H:

The waffles were yucky, burnt and disgusting.  This was evidenced by the black things on the waffles, that had to be removed.  Further, the syrup was too sticky and too sweet.  The strawberries were fine, but the addition of blueberries was vile.  The butter was gross and the whipped cream was also unappetizing.  Why can't they just stick to the stuff in the can?  I would say that this coupled with the chef's defensiveness when I pointed out the burnt parts of the waffle, left me cold.  I can not say that I would recommend this place to my worst enemy.

Lunch

There is a buffet of quesadillas, grilled cheese sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, and macaroni and cheese.  Fresh fruits and veggies are available, all offered individually.  Nothing to is touching.  The sandwiches can be grilled in the pan or on the panini.

Review by S:

The bread for the sandwiches was limp and not really my favorite.  I would prefer a more hearty bread, such as a sourdough or Italian boule, but was offered high fiber oat bread.  The quesadillas were too cheesy and were not sliced into four pieces per tortilla.  The fruits were unappetizing and the veggies were disgusting.  There was no dip available.   After one bit of my selected meal, I had to send it back to the chef and demand a pb&j.  They were out of apricot jelly and tried to pass strawberry jelly off as a proper substitute.  I have to say I concur with H's review of this joint, not really to standard.

Dinner

A selection of tacos.  Both fish and ground beef are offered, along with a topping selection of fresh salsa, guacamole, lettuce, cheeses, chopped tomato, onion, cilantro and jalapeno.  There are crunchy shells and both flour and corn tortillas for burrito or soft tacos. 

Review by M:

While I am generally a fan of tacos, I did find these to be under-salted and I did find a piece of purple cabbage in my lettuce.  This speaks to the general disorganization and lack of cleanliness of the kitchen.  When I pointed this out to the chef, there was absolutely no recognition of the fact that this mixture of cabbage and lettuce renders the entire dish, nay, the entire meal uneatable.  Further, the guacamole, well it looks like snot, enough said.  There are also so many gross additions offered that the smells of neighboring diners' food is stomach turning. 

Chef rebuttal:  I quit.

Now see what the other ladies have to say on the topic, froggie, merrylandgirl and momarock.


Thursday, June 16, 2011

Super Control

This is the next post, in what I hope to be many as part of a blog project I am doing with three other ladies. At the end of my post I will give you the links so that you can check out what they have to say on our topic. Who knows, maybe you will find something else you like.

Today's topic is what super power do you have or would you like to have? 

I personally would like to fly.  I think it would be pretty cool to just jump up and fly over all the traffic and congestion that is regular life.  Imagine feeling the air streaming along your skin.  The freedom that flying would give you.  If the kids pissed me off, I could just fly away.  If Red Heart pissed me off I could fly away from him too. 

But, the reality is that I don't really want a super power for me.  I want a super power for Mac.  I want him to have the super power of being able to control his emotions.  These emotions he feels must be much more powerful than average people emotions, because they so overwhelm and control him that he needs a super power to deal with them.

He can be happy and amazing and wonderful one second and the next second I am pulling him off his sister.  As he gets older and stronger I have to work harder to maintain my physical strength advantage. 

This is an old song that I am singing here, the fact that managing a toddler in a tweens body is difficult and causes a variety of reactions from the public.  The good and helpful and the not so good and not so helpful reactions are all part of the tapestry of my world.  But, one super power could remove that aspect of my life.  He he could only calm down enough so that we can talk to him, so that he has enough time to make a better choice, all our lives would be improved.

Since I don't know if that is really possible, I guess I will fly.  I will feel the wind against my skin and be free as a bird.  I will soar in the clouds and when anything bothers me, well, just look up.... it's a bird, it's a plane, it's supermom.

If you want to see what everyone else has to say on the topic, check out Momarock, Merrylandgirl and Froggie.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Just One Afternoon

This is the next post, in what I hope to be many as part of a blog project I am doing with three other ladies. At the end of my post I will give you the links so that you can check out what they have to say on our topic. Who knows, maybe you will find something else you like.

Today's topic, brought to you by me, is:  If you could have lunch with anyone living or dead who would you choose and why.  I may have said dinner in the original question, but you get the idea.

Anyone living or dead.  I know who I would choose, but first I want to talk about who I did not choose.  I did not choose some of the knitting greats like Cookie A, Rebecca Danger, Anne Hanson, Elizabeth Zimmerman, to name a few.  I am sure the first two would like the idea that they were in company with the last two.  But, only my fellow knitters would appreciate that distinction.

There are also all sorts of amazing yarn artists, people who dye yarn and make these amazing colors.  I won't name any of them, but it would also be interesting to understand how they get their inspiration and creativity.  Goodness knows I spend enough money on their end product.

Of course there are celebrities.  An afternoon with Mark Harmon.  sigh.  I will bask in the joy of that idea for awhile.  There are other celebs it would be fun to talk to, like LL Cool J.  I love how believable he is as a cop and he is freakin' LL Cool J.  That is sort of a testiment to his acting ability.

What about all the historical figures.  Abraham Lincoln, Betsy Ross, George Washington, Benjiman Franklin... Imagine hanging out with them and just shooting the shit.  That would be so awesome.

But, none of these people even make the cut.  It isn't even a consideration.  I have absolutely no doubt that my choice would be the right one.  I know no Mark.  The person I would want to spend the afternoon with would be my Dad.  I miss him so much.  I would want to tell him what I have been up to, but mostly, I would want him to meet my kids.  He never got to know Mac and died before Sam and Hannah came along.  I think he would love to see them.  Just the chance to get one more piece of advice, to have him remind me that I never had it so good, would be worth passing over all the other amazing people that exist in this world.

The last time I talked to him we picked out a brief case for Bob.  That brief case is old and has been replaced with the exact same one.  My Dad knew what the right thing was, about most everything. 

I would love to feel his prickly face against mine when he gave me a kiss on my check.  I would love for him to give my kids peanuts and make popcorn for them.  To teach them about wood working and gardening.  They missed out on all the great things about my Dad. 

We probably really couldn't smash it all into an afternoon, but it would be worth trying.  Yes, I would give up an afternoon with Mark.

Curious about who everyone else wants to hang with?  Check them out at Froggie, Momarock, and Merrylandgirl.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Me on TV

This is the next post, in what I hope to be many as part of a blog project I am doing with three other ladies. At the end of my post I will give you the links so that you can check out what they have to say on our topic. Who knows, maybe you will find something else you like.


This week's question: What TV show, movie or book is most similar to your life? 

I have thought about this all week.  I have even had stress dreams about not being able to answer the question.  I tried a lot of of ideas on.  The only way for you to appreciate my answer is to enter the dressing room with me.  Don't worry you won't have to see me in my undies.  This is a G rated post.

I thought about Leave It To Beaver.  June was a stay at home mother, I am a stay at home mother.  Her kids do things that aren't always right, my kids do things that aren't always right.  June wears purls and never yells, just like me right?  RIGHT?  The situation is always resolved before Ward gets home and everyone always laughs around the dinner table.  Just like at our house right??  RIGHT??  I know, this show doesn't really fit.  I wish it did, but it just doesn't.  Let's put that on one the reject pile.

How about Modern Family.  It seems like the obvious choice.  It is like that really cute black wrap dress, that looks fabulous on but someone thought it would be a good idea to put a massive embellishment right in the middle of my stomach.  While is seems like a good idea on paper, the reality is not quite so great.  I just don't see myself in any of the people on that show.   I am not a gay male, I am not the young hot wife with the old husband and I am not Claire.  I get overwhelmed like she does, but other than that, I don't think I am crazy like she is.   If you disagree, just keep your mouth shut.

Parenthood, is another promising choice.  I struggle with a child that is different.  Our family doesn't always understand the issues we deal with as it relates to Mac.  I am overwhelmingly appreciative of the way they depict aspergers on that program.  But, that still doesn't ring true as a depiction of my life.  Perhaps I am taking the whole idea of describes my life too seriously, I don't know, but I do know that I have a pile of rejected ideas.

There are days when it seems like Animal House would be the perfect choice.  It is always a little out of control around here.  The inmates are often running the asylum.  Taxi or Cash Cab, not so much for the topic of the shows, but the shear fact that I drive people all over town, in a mini-van like in Cash Cab.  Perhaps Soccer Moms Gone Wild, or The Preschooler That Took Over Chicago? 

There isn't a television show or movie that is even close to my life.  People don't want to watch a show about an overwhelmed, under paid, stressed out Mommy with pointy sticks in her hands.  Or maybe they do, John and Kate Plus 8 was a pretty big success.  Hey, producers of the world, come and film me, I have some great potential here.

Want to see what the other ladies have to say on the topic?  Check out Froggie, Momarock and Merrylandgirl.