Matt in the Middle: Even Curses Have Senses of Humor

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Even Curses Have Senses of Humor

Even curses can have senses of humor

I feel bad putting that photo in the blog today but I take so much crap from Cubs' fans every single year even though my favorite team has won eleven World Series crowns since the Cubs have won their last one in 1908. If Hollywood cannot manufacture a win for you (Back To The Future) you are in trouble. They create entire different universes and they cannot even help you by predicting it in a movie from 1985? I did see, by the way, that Back To The Future was playing at several theaters in the area yesterday. I hate poor sportsmanship but I believe in karma more than I dislike poor sportsmanship so now I will feel avenged and will move-on. Maybe they lost because they were going to charge $1300 for World Series tickets. I heard that number but I never investigated it and, even if that figure was correct, I am not sure if they set those prices or they are set my Major League Baseball. I have to believe that those prices are set by the teams or all teams ticket prices would be the same across the board. Now I will really move on.

I know you have been on the edge of your seat to find out what I would make for dinner last night for Italian food night. I went with chicken parmesan. This is the first time that have ever made it from scratch. It was pretty good. We just had that and a salad and everybody was happy. When I say "everybody" I mean Cha Cha and I because the other human member of the house didn't eat any. I don't think he likes us very much. Jeff did not have any either but I guarantee he would have loved it. He is still enjoying the salmon we had a couple of days ago.

This morning I am going to finally paint those last two outdoor lights that need to be painted. I have to run over to Lowe's and get a bit more paint but then I will be done. I am happy that I mowed the backyard yesterday. It looks so much better with all of those leaves turned into mulch meat (that is the new mincemeat). How come, when we MIDDLES and beyond were young, the worst thing we could be turned into was mincemeat? I don't know if I have ever even had mincemeat. Maybe corned beef hash could be considered mincemeat. I think I may have tried mincemeat pie when I was a kid but that must have been the end of the mincemeat phase of my life. Some cartoon bullies would say "I'm gonna make mincemeat out of you..." I think the Bowery Boys (and the Dead-End Kids or the East Side Kids which were basically the same things really) may have said that now and again. I just found out that without mincemeat the Allied Forces may not have won World War II. I learn so much by writing the blog. Too bad I forget most of it but then I can just read the blogs again and relearn stuff - BONUS! Matt In The Middle could be regarded as a resource for term papers (perhaps not a credible one but it could point you in the direction to find credible sources).

Tonight I will be in Chicago again and tonight I am going to be doing a lot of reading and research for my novel. I am pretty excited as I have quite a few sources of reference that I am going-over. I am still not quite sure what angle I am going to approach the subject but I believe I will inspired in the area while covering the resources I have. I may take a hike around the city and pass out some money first. we only have a few weeks left and then Chicago's economy will fall a bit because we won't be there eating dinner once a week and passing dollars to the needy who, in turn, buy things. I like to believe they buy some form of nourishment or pay for a warm place to safely sleep but, once I pass the money to them, it is their money and they can do with it as they please.

I have to end now because I have a long list to do and a short time to get there. Thank you for stopping by. am still working on getting the letter from Michael J. Fox up in the MITM Facebook page. Cha Cha is busy and she showed me a few things about trying to do it so I will fiddle with it (another saying I always heard as a kid) and see if I can get it added. Have a nice day please. TTTT...MITM (out) TA!

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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!

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Even Curses Have Senses of Humor

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