Matt in the Middle: Aunie Em It's a Twister It's a Twister

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Aunie Em It's a Twister It's a Twister

The paradox is I love to listen to the rain and thunder while I am in bed but if I am asleep do I really hear it? So, up again, up again jiggedy jig. I guess if I am asleep I miss the lightning which I love too. I am like Helen Hunt in Twister. Jill's dad and I would sit out on their back deck when storms were coming in and watch. It drove her mom crazy because at the first sign of thunder or lightning she'd want the whole family down in the basement. I really miss him; he was a great father-in-law. He went way before his time. I wish my kids had gotten to know him better. Three of the best men I have ever known have come from Jill's family: Her grandpa Loren, her dad Jerry and her brother Tom. Loren and Jerry are both gone but, thankfully, Tom is still here. My dad is also one of the best men I've ever known and I am grateful he is still here too. He comes to almost all of the kids' events (baseball last night) even though he is still in Boulder Hill (Montgomery, IL). It's at least a half hour each way. I hope I have learned a little something from all of these great men which have helped me become the person I am. (side note - we won our game 7-6 in extra innings just before the rain started)

Maybe today I can invent a way to hang the clothes out to wash rather than to dry? If it rains and then stops and gets windy I could do the entire wash and dry cycles on the line. I've typed it before but, a boy can dream. I want to get one of those umbrellas hats like Ray Rayner used to wear. Ray Rayner was the host of a children's morning show in Chicagoland back when my Middle was not Middle yet.

What the heck is going on in Arizona? Are they gonna secede from the Union or are they trying to get evicted? Now they have just passed a law that doesn't allow the teaching of ethnic studies in schools. As a person of color (we're all mutts really) I think it's high time someone did something about the racist ethnic practice of St. Patrick's Day! Aren't we all ethnic? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary ethnic means "of or relating to large groups of people classed according to common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background."

That sounds like pretty much all of us so I guess no classes for you Arizona. Maybe they're trying to get rid of education all together so the children of Arizona can be dumb enough to grow up to be state legislators. I heard that The Chicago White Sox are even considering not holding their Spring Training in Arizona any more. The federal government needs to step in and give Arizona a dressing down. Mother country one of your children is acting up and needs a good b-slap! Bottom line is we are all probably descended from African tribes so we are all the same people. Say it Rodney King..."Can't we all get along?" We're gonna miss you Grand Canyon!

They say that all things go full circle but it seems like America is more of a pendulum and it appears we are swinging the other way.

Yesterday morning Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996) was on. It was the final episode. I saw it in passing and set the DVR and watched it later while I took my lunch break. I think I had probably stopped watching the show by the time the final episode aired because my daughter was already almost 5 and my son was almost here/born (weird). Anyway, in the last two episodes the Banks family was selling their home and do you know who bought the house? George and Weezie Jefferson (The Jeffersons). Talk about "movin' on up." Mr. Drummond and Arnold (Diff'rent Strokes) also looked at the house but decided against it. Arnold even said, "whatchu talkin' 'bout Will?" I think that young Will Smith kid might do something big...just a hunch.

Alicia Keys is down to her final 53 candidates for her Head Blogger. I didn't even make the top 53. I can't believe a Middle-aged white guy in the Middle of the country can't be the Head Blogger for an international recording star. What is she from Arizona? Head Blogger for hire - available immediately - doesn't really know anything but he sure does ramble on...

Wow, it's really pouring right now - heavy rinse cycle if I had gotten the clothes out on the line. I think Sugar Momma's dad and grandpa are letting me know they are reading my blog and I am in their top 53...take that Alicia Keys! I have always been a person that thinks everything is a sign but, ironically, I ignore most of them, hmmmm.

Have a great day and take an umbrella hat with you if you live in America today. I'll talk to you Friday. And, I haven't said it in a while, so...thank you for reading my blog, it really means a lot to me. Even if Alicia Keys doesn't appreciate me I know you do :)

**twister photo spun from feelingretro.com, ray rayner photo crafted from dannymiller.typepad.com, grand canyon photo seceded from canadiangeographic.ca, and fresh prince photo "moved" from agpzoeworld.com**

3 comments:

DebMay 13, 2010 at 8:45 AM
I love listening to rain and thunder as well. With all of those storms in IL we passed up a good opportunity to form a club!
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Matt HelserMay 13, 2010 at 9:44 AM
Now we'll just have to form a national club rather than just a local chapter Debbie.
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Matt In The Middle Blogssary

47% Rule - Matt in the Middle is 47 % estrogen
53% Rule - Matt in the Middle is 53% testosterone
Agitator (the) - Matt's podcast name (revealed in blog and podcast number 2
B. S. - blog stuff
Big Sexy - Jay Cole's drink of choice (Jack and Coke) - doesn't necessarily have to be Jack
Blogcast - our podcast (Dirty Laundry)
Bloggestion - now in Urban Dictionary meaning something suggested on a blog or taking a few minutes to understand (like suggested or digested)
Blogging Suit - like a NASCAR driver's racing suit with all of the sponsors patches
Blogssary - blog glossary
Blogisodes - episodes of this blog
BWAK - blogged with a kiss
Ca-Ching - the sound of the cash register as I try to gain sponsors that will never actually happen (I'm not really that delusional) - same as ka-ching
Cha Cha - revealed to be Sugar Momma's new name on premier podcast
Cheese & Quackers - our resident ducks. she is cheese and he is quackers
Ciaoloha - MITM's new mega-word "discovered" on Columbus Day 2011. It combines "hello," "goodbye," "love," "podcast" and "blog" into one happy little package!
Copyright - something that I think is clever and original that needs to be protected as original intellectual material (like it would really hold up in court)
Dirty Laundry - our podcast/blogcast launched 4/1/11
Discomboobulated - a word Bret Michaels used on Celebrity Apprentice when he meant discombobulated though discomboobulated is an actual word
Fabio - the name my son preferred being called on the blog (the artist formerly known as Sparky)
Judii - the sister I never had but wish I did (my unofficial sister)
Ka-ching - the sound of the cash register as I try to gain sponsors that will never actually happen (I'm not really that delusional) - same as ca-ching
Kajunkles - used for people who don't know how to run correctly. Body parts moving against one another rather than together for the common goal of running (could be a noun, proper noun or a verb). Trying to accomplish something against seemingly impossible odds.
The Lost Sock - Cha Cha's brother (and my brother-in-law). One of the best people I have known in my life.
MADYM - One of my very good friends - Mary. She was given this name based on an acronym of her name by one of my other very good friends Stacee. Together they came up with the MITM theme song idea. She was also our maid of honor or matron of honor (I don't know the difference).
Middle - anything average or center (Middle of the country, Middle of life, average intelligence, a regular joe (or joan)...)
MITM - Matt In The Middle
Ms. Peabody - Maisy (our dog) because of Mr. Peabody
Nature Girl - Another very good friend- Sue. Given this name because of being a combination of Diane Fossey, Caroline Ingalls and Danielle Boone (lady Daniel)
Patent / Patent Pending - something that I think is clever and original that needs to be protected as original intellectual material (like it would really hold up in court)
PFT - Plasma Fun Time - donating plasma - twice a week.
Roz - my pink/fuchsia i-pod nano. Named for Roz Kelly who played Pinky Tuscadero on tv's Happy Days. She goes with me everywhere to play my life's soundtrack and measure my steps with her pedometer.
Sparky - my son's blog pseudonym (see also Fabio)
Splenda - my daughter's blog pseudonym
Sponsorship Patch - when I mention a known product to try to get sponsorships and want to put a patch on my blogging suit
Stacee - a friend from high school that is a great inspiration to me continuously. The Cosmos keep bringing us back together electronically (MySpace, Facebook, Blog...) even though we haven't "seen" each other for nearly thirty years.
Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealers Wheels theme song of MITM. Idea suggested by MADY and Stacee
Sugar Momma - my wife, Jill
Trademark - something that I think is clever and original that needs to be protected as original intellectual material (like it would really hold up in court)
TTTT - Ta Ta 'Til Tomorrow
TWSS - that's what she said
WTF - why the face?

Potato Soup

Ingredients Needed:
1 - 32 oz. box Vegetarian Vegetable Broth (I used Swanson's)
can substitute with chicken broth if you wish
1 - package of Country Gravy Mix (I used McCormick's)
okay to use sausage gravy mix if you wish
1 - 26 oz. package of frozen hash browns

Cook hash browns in a large pot. Cook potatoes until slightly browned stirring often so as not to burn the hash browns. While the hash browns are cooking prepare the country gravy mix as directed on package. Once the potatoes are done to your liking slowly pour the broth into the pot with the potatoes and reduce heat and simmer until hot. After the potatoes and broth are hot add the gravy mix and continue to simmer until thickened. Serve and eat.

** special note...I like it extra spicy so I add an extra package of county gravy mix to the finished mixture and whisk and heat.

Just like I always say - add whatever you want (peas, onions...) and make it your own. And, as always, ENJOY!

Sangria Wine Recipe (reposted from 4/22/10)

I also made Sangria yesterday to honor Earth's goodness (truthfully so I could get lit). I am not a wine drinker because most wines are too dry in my opinion and I am not a big fan of cotton-mouth. I liked the movie "Sideways" though so I want to like wine. I was watching Planet Green a couple of days ago while I was cleaning the kitchen and folding laundry like a real man and Emeril Lagasse was making paella on "Emeril Green". He also threw in, as an after-thought, Sangria so I hit the record button. Well he did it very fast and didn't say measurements or anything but he gave the basics so I came up with my own recipe and I think it turned out well though I made A LOT! Sugar Momma says I am a man of excess - isn't that what "man" means? Anyway, here's my Sangria recipe but I suggest you might want to cut the volume down unless you are having a small country over for dinner:

ingredients (I would suggest cutting the liquids in half)

3 liters of inexpensive Shiraz (Frontera Mendoza 2009)
1 cup of Grand Marnier
1 cup of brandy
1 cup of lime juice
3 limes
3 lemons
2 granny smith apples
2 large oranges
12 oz. sugar
33.8 oz sparkling water (Pellegrino)
64 oz. orange juice
ice

In a HUGE bowl slice the fruit and cover with sugar, mix. Add Shiraz and stir. Add ice to hold the fruit under while it drowns in the wine. Add Grand Marnier and brandy and stir. Add lime juice, orange juice and sparkling water and stir. Let sit for awhile so the tastes blend. Taste and add ingredients to taste (I added a little more lime juice and sugar). Find the biggest vessel you own for storage (mine is a pot like they used in those headhunter movies to cook people which is now sitting on our stove). Sweet and fruity just like me. Share with your friends/neighbors and your boss at review time.

Caprese Paninis

Ingredients you will need:

good loaf of bread (I used Italian bread)
mozzarella cheese
pesto sauce (I used jarred Classico brand - found by pastas)
fresh basil leaves
extra virgin olive oil
tomatoes

And here we go:
slice the bread and brush extra virgin olive oil on both sides of each slice. Clean and separate basil leaves. Slice tomatoes. Grate Cheese. Lightly grill one side of each slice of bread. Flip the bread when lightly toasted. After flipping the bread spread pesto on the toasted side and top with shredded cheese while the other side toasts. Once the second side is toasted and the cheese is starting to melt remove it from the

grill and top with two slices of tomato side-by-side and put a basil leaf on each tomato slice. Remove another slice of the toast with the pesto and cheese mixture from the grill and place it cheese/pesto side down on top of the tomato and basil'd toast to form a sandwich. (They could just as easily be done in a frying pan or on a George Foreman Grill...)

Done! Very simple and delicious!