Matt in the Middle: Spirits In The Material World!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Spirits In The Material World!

No Benadryl = no sleep for me but there was a lot of good television on the in MIDDLE of the night last night. Sugar Momma thinks that I have allergies and that is part of my problem. That isn't even the tip of the iceberg of my problems.

I was clown-about-town again today. I got on my bicycle and peddled down to the farmer's market and bought the ingredients for dinner. I made those Caprese Sandwiches with mostly local produce. I got the tomatoes and basil from Theis Farm II of Maple Park's "booth, I got the bread from Sunny Day Bakery of Dekalb's "booth" and I tried to get the mozzarella from The Cheese People of Rockton but they didn't have mozzarella so I had to use some cheese that I got at a small local store. Theis Farm II had something called purple basil that I thought about using but she told me that the purple basil has more of a licorice flavor; not good for Caprese. The green basil looks better with the red tomatoes and the white cheese anyway because of the whole Italian thing.

As you know, I have been looking for a Medium to perform my seance in October. I had come across a name on the internet not far from me in town so on my way back from the farmer's market I stopped by 820 S. 4th Street hoping to meet someone from A. Rachel Psychic Service. As I rode up to the address I saw that it was Signature Real Estate so, of course, I figured A. Rachel had moved. I went in and spoke to the woman and she thought I was crazy (maybe she's psychic after all). When I told her what I was looking for she said "Rachel Alvarez?" I said that I wasn't sure but the name fits. She said that I was mistaken and she's certain

that Rachel does not or never has done that before. She would not even give me one of Rachel's business cards. Just now I Google-searched Signature Real Estate and the ads in the margin are: "CertifiedPsychics.com", "hollywoodpsychics.com", and "psychics.liveperson.com." What in the heck is going on? Am I a character in a Stephen King novel? I called the phone number associated with A. Rachel Psychic Services on the internet just now and it's a fax machine or was it a spirit trying to reach me through technology like in that movie White Noise? I need to buy some of that Michael Keaton paranormal equipment. No wonder I'm having a hard time getting people to want to come to my seance. This is not just P.R. here people...you're gonna be sorry if you pass up coming to the seance. Those people at the Dekalb County Paranormal Society better hire me soon as their new member; I obviously have some kind of contact with the other side and the spirits are trying to discourage me or maybe they're lining up to cross-over. They would be able to read this blog because it's transmitted electronically right? No wonder I never sleep - maybe I'm dead! (as I added that White Noise photo my desk lamp tilted down on it's own - no joke)

Thank you for being who you are Wisconsin.

You make we Illinoisans look like health nuts. The Wisconsin State Fair starts Friday and they have 65 foods on a stick served there. Some of my favorites are: Apple Pie (Deep Fried), Chocolate Covered Bacon, Cream Cheese with bacon (Deep Fried), Crueller (Chocolate Dipped), Deep Fried PB & J and Ravioli (5-Cheese Deep Fried). For a complete list click this link www.wistatefair.com. Thank you for making the rest of us MIDDLEwestern states look healthy neighbors!

I reviewed the movie "Kick-Ass" and it's over there ---->. I watched "Hot Tub Time Machine"

today and I will review and add that either tonight or tomorrow too. Also, before I was denied my psychic, while I was downtown I had lunch at The House and I will review that either tonight or tomorrow too. I was total clown-around-town today. They're going to start calling me Wavy Gravy soon with shopping for fresh foods, having lunch at a "hippy" restaurant and searching for psychics on my bicycle. Maybe Wavy Gravy wants us to conjure him up October 30th? We should at least have Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

Jeez, I have so much more to write but that paranormal stuff just took over the blog. Maybe I have Alien Typing Arm or something. White Noise! Okay enough...I have regained control. FRIDAY is upon us!!!! Enjoy one of your favorite days of the week. I will blog you again soon from this side or the other.

** - the town clown photo kangaroo'd from dipity.com, white noise photo statically recreated from movie-posters.ws, food utensil skewered from qshirts.com & wavy gravy peacefully taken from vancouversun.com **

1 comment:

AnonymousDecember 22, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Hi my name is Rachel Alvarez and i am a Psychic ive been in venice beach my whole life my email is rachelspsychicshop@gmail.com let me know if you still need a psychic thank you
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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!