Haines His Way

The brownies came out tasting GREAT, but cutting them & removing them in one piece is difficult.

Talking about Brownies so close to our discussing Sweeney Todd is making me think about composing a new verse for "A Little Priest" involving Girl Scouts!

"I'll buy a cup if you buy a box of my delicious Girl Scout cookies. Do we have a deal?"

"Are they made from real girl scouts?"

Cherry Coke taste is relative, though.

My relatives don't think it tastes like Cherry Coke, either.

Fondest Christmas Eve Greetings to one and all!

I couldn’t let the day pass without wishing my HHW Family the very merriest and joyous Christmas ever!

I didn’t post yesterday because I did something foolish.   The duplex on the West side of me has been empty since I came home from Pittsburgh.   The owner is not very good about keeping his side of the fence cleaned up.  There are those mulberry trees that grow like weeds all up and down the fence on his side.  I'm not joking.  You have to keep on top of them or you will have a full grown (20 foot plus) tree before you know it.

So I went over sawed every one of the darn things down with a hand saw.   I didn’t chop them up or drag them up front for the garbage man to pick up.  Let him do that and he had best not say a word to me.  

You have to cut those trees down in the winter months because of the sap.  In the winter it stays towards the bottom of the tree making it easier to cut.

Anyway, after doing all that hand cutting, my arthritis kicked in and my entire right arm hurt so badly that I didn’t feel like doing anything.  

I even considered taking one of the prescription pain pills I had for the surgery but they always make me feel so weak/dizzy/sick and knock me out that I didn’t feel it was worth it.  I just took a couple Advil, pulled out the old heating pad and kept moving it from my hand/elbow/shoulder until the pain was to a manageable level.

I received a lot of wonderful Christmas cards today from George, TCB, VixMom (the Vixter is turning into such a lovely young lady in front of our eyes) and others.   I also received a package from Pittsburgh with a “Do NOT open until Xmas” sticker on it.   I shall honor it and promise not to open it.  I didn’t say I would not shake, rattle, fold, spindle, etc, etc, etc.  

 

Grocery shopping is always crazy when it comes to holidays.  Today was no exception, with customers getting testier and testier by the hour.

There was one loony who was at the self-scan registers when I came back from my break.  Very high-maintenance, very much a drama queen.  Jen, who had been "assisting" her, passed her over to me as quickly as she could.  Well, Ms. Drama slaps this heirloom tomato into my hands and says "This won't scan!"  I calmly entered the correct Produce Look-Up Code into the terminal (there was no bar code).  At which time she loudly says "I don't want THAT tomato!  You've SQUEEZED it!"

At this point, my boss, Dixie, comes over.  "I don't want that tomato!" Ms. D knows nothing about turning down the decibles.  "He SQUEEZED it!"  "I'll get you a new tomato," Dixie replies, leaves for the produce department, then returns.  "Will this tomato do?" she asked.  Ms. D sort of nodded, and Dixie nodded at me to tend to the other three self-scan registers.

Much later, after my shift ended, Dixie admitted that she had simply gone to the produce department and returned with the exact same tomato.  I have my reasons for liking my boss.

  I like your boss too!

TCB - Hence the Einsteins' theory of relativity.

I aways throught the ultimate proof of the theory of relativity was when you knock on the only bathroom door because you have to go badly and the person inside calls out, "I'll just be a moment!"  

Sauce is a-simmering and I shall soon shower.

The owner yelling "I told you no pictures!"



der Brucer

I was thinking that tree belonged to the Riddler from Batman.  

Just saw Oscar Peterson passed, too.    Wonder who will be third.

Oh my God.  No one told me.  I am in shock.  I have known Oscar's wife Kelly for almost 30 years.

Sorry about that.  We had three big booms.  Enough to shake the house and rattle the windows.  The dogs were really scared.  

It seems to have stopped now.  Thank goodness.  I expect it on New Years but not on Christmas!

Actually, my hindsight needs glasses, too.

So, esteemed BK, whose partay I won't be attending because I'm on the wrong coast at the moment...

What are you serving along with the spaghetti?  Any inspiring side dishes?

I have heard der Brucer creeping quietly downstairs, to raid the downstairs refrigerator.  I believe that he is going to check on the quality of the egg nog I made last night, to make sure it will be good enough for tomorrows goings on.

Here's a question: Who out there loves egg nog?  And who isn't partial to the mix?

Der B's verdict?  It's "smooth as silk."  I'll trust his judgement.  (All families should have it as easy with their differences.)

I'm off to my kitchen.