Matt in the Middle: Hope Blogs Eternal

Monday, March 21, 2011

Hope Blogs Eternal

Tiger Blood Colada Perhaps?

It's the first full day of Spring and I don't know if it's Spring Fever or the world is finally going to Hell in that hand basket we have been hearing about for decades. Joan Rivers is the new Go Daddy "girl," Helen Thomas is on the cover of April's Playboy magazine and Jimmy Buffet just filed papers to trademark the name Tiger Blood for a new vodka. I guess it's a good year to start a podcast huh?

Sugar Momma and I recorded the entire first Dirty Laundry podcast last night. The show is going to be similar to the Matt In The Middle blog but you will be able to take it with you eventually. Once I get the opening and closing music added I will get it off to our friends at Apple and hopefully get it on iTunes. Spoiler alert from the first Dirty Laundry - Sugar Momma has decided to change her name; maybe I should leave it at that so you tune into the podcast to hear what she has decided to change it to. It is our attempt to keep the show to 30 minutes. After we recorded it last night we listened to the whole show and it seemed entertaining and I even knew what we were going to say. I cannot wait for the launch (or lunch). The show is only going to be once a week so I will probably continue to do the blog but we'll see how that goes. I do enjoy writing and this is pretty much like a time capsule digital journal so my descendants can make fun of me in the future. Isn't that what life (or death) is all about?

What is the deal with all of the teachers in the Chicagoland-area having indecent relations with students lately? When I say "all" of the teachers I mean "the many" teachers that have been reported in the news lately. Most teachers know where that line is and they don't cross it. Spring Fever makes even teachers twitterpated it seems. Do you think Twitter stole their name from Thumper? I create my own confusion most of the time.

Hair (all hair) was a big deal in 1981

My 30-year high school reunion is this year; pretty soon I am going to have to change the name of this blog to Matt In The Old Folks Home or Matt In The Wheelchair or Matt In The Middle of Florida or Arizona Because His Old Bones Cannot Handle The Cold Anymore. The reunion committee is working tirelessly to track down as many people from our graduation class as they can. Facebook is a big help and so is, what I call, The Faberge Organics Method of Communication. It's kinda like the MIDDLE-aged game of telephone before we had cell phones. We're from the 1980's what do you expect? The young ladies that are organizing the reunion and doing the legwork (ALL of the work, in fact) are doing a tremendous job. Thank you on behalf of all of us watching from the sidelines who will criticize you later no matter how perfect you make it. Seriously though, if you know anyone who graduated from Oswego High School in 1981 and bucked the odds and lived this long tell them to get ahold of me here. "This has been a public service announcement from Matt In The Middle...because we care!"

I just went through my blogbook and saw that I had written "Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant." When the reports of the Japanese nuclear plant that was hit my the recent tsunami/earthquake (I cannot believe we haven't nick-named this tragedy yet - we love our nicknames and catch-phrases) they were reporting on all of the nuclear plants in the USA and someone mentioned this one. Why would you put a nuclear plant in a place named after the devil? Aren't you just asking for trouble? I guess if you're going to name a nuclear facility after Satan it makes sense to put it near The San Andreas and The Hosgri Faults now that I think of it.

Fabio is on Spring Break this week so I guess I had better figure out a way to entertain him. How about a trip to the book store and then the grocery store with me? 14-year-olds hate technology and would much prefer a good book right? My guess is that I will be going alone. Enjoy your first full day of Spring; hope eternal! I will blog you tomorrow and I will try to get the Paul movie review done today too over there at MIDDLE MOVIE REVIEWS. TTTT...MITM (audi)

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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!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Hope Blogs Eternal

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