Is It Inevitable?

Okay, Here's My Deal...

I have heard that women sometimes look in the mirror and say, "My God, I have turned into my mother!" Well, I have not had that moment yet, but a few things happened over Thanksgiving that made me wonder if it will happen soon.

Twice, I did or said something that resulted in my brother, my husband and my sister-in-law saying, "That was sooooo Mom!!" I guess the tone in my voice and the facial expressions were just spot on to my mom.

But, I can have company...there are times when my husband does something and I say, "That is just like your mother!!"

Caution: I Do Not Belong in the Kitchen

Okay, Here's My Deal...

I do not know why they (whoever they are...) allow me in the kitchen. Ever.

For years now, I have been the designated pie baker for Thanksgiving. Not sure why I still have the job because every year something goes wrong. Every year.

I always make three pies: pumpkin, spicy pumpkin and some sort of fruit. This year, I am modifying the old Meatloaf song...two out of three ARE bad!!! And by bad, I mean, looking--they are still edible.

First, I make a cherry pie with a lattice crust. Now, it began just fine. I even found a shortcut to make the lattice. Monopoly hotels. Yeah--I just used one to cut out litle rectangles in a checkerboard sort of way and it looked good. I put it in the oven and set the timer for a little less than what the can said because the oven tends to cook quickly (I think it runs hot) and I check it. The outside of the crust is done and I mean DONE, while the innermost is still a little doughy. If I cook it much longer ot get the inside done, the outside will be ash, so I take it out.

Second, the "regular" pumpkin. I went to Aldi's...my first choice when we are a little poorer than normal...and they have the solid pack pumpkin and not the complete mix, which is okay, as I have done this before with success. I mix it up and wa-laa, it fits nicely into the pan. Weird, I think because I usually have some left over...oh, well. Pop it in the oven and go to clean the counter off and what do I see but the evaporated milk that I forgot to put into the mix!! No wonder there was none left over. So, I take out the pan and pour the mix back into the bowl and add the milk. Of course, now the crust has mix on it and it will most certainly burn. I fill it up and of course, I almost overflow the dish. I carefully go to the oven and just as I am about to get it in, here comes the cat--bumping me and making me spill some all on the bottom of the oven make it almost a certainty that the fire alarm will go off while it is baking.

The third, the "spicy" pumpkin, is in the oven now and that has seemingly gone smoothly. We will see in about half an hour or so. Again, this confirms my assertion that I am no Rachel Ray.

The Usual Suspects

Okay, Here's My Deal...

Just sort of feeling blah at the moment.

Nothing in particular causing it, I guess--just the usual being tired, feeling behind on getting papers in the computer at school, honked off at my study hall kids, behind on housework, stressed about the situation I wrote about last, worried about a medical procedure my mom is having in a few days,--nothing huge, but little things piling on together.

That is all, I guess. More later, I am sure.

A Springer Episode

Okay, Here's My Deal...

Well, not really. See, there are things happening in my life right now that I can't even begin to write about here. It is a matter of respect and letting someone else in the situation have some dignity.

But let me just say that if these things were not happening ot me right now and I was experiencing it firsthand, I would swear I was watching a taping of the Jerry Springer Show. Or that I was on an episode of Punk'd. It is that weird, bizarre and surreal.

My Miami of Ohio friend, I will need to fill you in on the unbelievable details soon. You will not believe it, believe me!!!

Boo

Okay, Here's My Deal...

I never told about Halloween. I guess, that is because there is not much to tell. We took the boys, but our oldest (3 1/2) is going through this frightened easily stage. Yards with blow-up Halloween stuff scare him and the displays at Wal-Mart scare him. He was excited about candy, but not about being scared. We asked if he wanted to be a pirate and go get candy and he said yes.

So, we just let him carry a toy sword we already had and took the bag our pediatrician handed out at his last visit and headed to our downtown...they block off the business district and the merchants give out candy. We thought this was less overwhelming than door to door. He did fine until he saw his first scary costume--skeletons--then he wanted to be carried most of the time. His bag did not get very heavy, either, because there were many merchants that were not there giving candy out.

It was an attempt. Next year, I think he will be all into it and have more fun.

Makes Sense to Him

Okay, Here's My Deal...

We put up new fire/carbon monixide detectors in the house. There is one in the kitchen...well, let's just say that even though we have cleaned the oven and scrubbed down the racks, there must still be some debris in the oven that is smoking when the oven is on because the last few times we have baked in it, mostly for pizzas, the alarm has gone off.

Te other night, my husband was in our oldest son's bedroom with him and I had soemthing in the oven--not a pizza--and the alarm went off. We have been trying to tell him waht the alarm was for, so when daddy asked him if he knew what the noise meant, in his innocent, honest 3 and a 1/2 year old reply, he said, "The pizza is done!"

How is that for cute?