Matt in the Middle: Badass Babalu!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Badass Babalu!

I'd better type fast because the Benadryl Fairy (copyright/trademark/patent) visited about 1/2 hour ago and the Benadryl (kazillionth-ching) Fairy waits for no blog!

I was at The House Cafe' open mic night again (every Monday). Splenda and I went together since she will be gone to school very soon. Sugar Momma said she was going to stop but she didn't. So, I texted her to make sure she wasn't in a ditch somewhere or had a flat tire or whatever my worrying mind seems to conjure up. Then I tried Sparky's texting contraption. No response from either of them. I got home and he was on the computer and she was in bed watching television. This seems to be the week of people making plans and not following through with them. Can I get some cheese with this whine?

I told you last night that I was going to talk about Splenda going to school and how I'm dealing with it. I am very proud of her and excited for her but as you can probably tell by the last paragraph I am a worrier ("Worriers, come out any play-ay"). Fortunately she has been going out with her friends every night before they all go their separate directions to maybe never see each other again; it's kind of like parent/college student

Spring Training for me. My parents didn't seem to care about me going six hours away but, then again, I transferred from Community College as a Junior so I was almost 21 when I left. Also, I am much more annoying than my daughter is (you didn't have to agree so quickly) so they were probably happy to see me leave. Well, now with Facebook, they will probably stay in touch. I hadn't talked to most of my Facebook friends since high school and now quite a few of them are what I consider some of my best friends even though I still haven't SEEN them since school. Anyway, I will miss her a great deal. She and I have the same senses of humor (well, we don't share ONE but our senses of humors are similar) and I think we "get" each other. I know she will do great but I had always hoped that since we live in a college town (NIU) she would have gone there. It doesn't matter I guess...eventually the birds have to leave the nest. I am happy for her and know she will do great.

When I was working out today I added more to my workout.

Firstly, I am up to 600 sit-ups (ab crunches) but that isn't the best addition. I did ten miles on the excercise bike and while I rode I played my small bongo drum (no that is not a euphemism). I have the precision bug again. I had played drums from the time I was seven until I was 17. I like to beat on stuff! Who needs a bongo player who can sing pretty well in their band? Going to The House Cafe makes me want to put something together and get up on stage; it's like my Weekly Woodstock. I knew there was a reason that the cosmic forces guided my to The House and I think I was meant to bang on the drum all day. Sugar Momma may be right I think I AM turning into a BEATnik.

The Benadryl Fairy just announced last call so I have to wrap it up. Oh jeez, she just turned half of the lights off. I will blog you again tomorrow; have a Tuesday and don't make me worry about you. Ta!

** college photo packed and stacked from likethedew.com & bongo photo pounded from 3docean.com & thanks to Dena for the badass babalu! **

3 comments:

AnonymousAugust 16, 2010 at 11:43 PM
you ROCK!!!! Crunch boy! we gotta kick it at some point Matt! Time to jam with a group of us "beatniks" Everyone bring their own instrument, and lets throw out Summer Panther style lol
Great Blog tonight!
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Matt HelserAugust 16, 2010 at 11:48 PM
And then go on stage at one of The House Cafe's Open Mic nights
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Matt HelserAugust 16, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Oh, and thank you for the "great blog tonight" comment.

Maybe The Beatnik Panthers (is that like cougars?)
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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!