Matt in the Middle: The Blog of Destiny!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

The Blog of Destiny!

Nostradamus was a huge J.K. Rowling fan

cue the music (I love this song)
Good morning. It's very early as I write this and I have had very little sleep so I have no idea where this going so strap yourself in and hold on tight!

I think if I were Muammar Gaddafi's agent I would advise him to wear a blue turban. Remember when Nostradamus was all the rage and one of his quatrains said that we, a country that didn't even exist yet, would be destroyed by someone in the MIDDLEeast? By a country lead by a man in a blue turban? I think I would use that little psychological edge if I were a madman in the Mideast. Dude get a good PR firm if you're gonna be all crazy. Nostradamus' quatrain reads, "out of the country of Greater Arabia shall be born a strong master of Mohammed, He will enter Europe wearing a blue turban, He will be the terror of mankind, Never more horror." Oh wait, that war was supposed to begin "in the year 1999 and seven months." The war is supposed to "last seven and twenty years" (27 years); that takes us to 2026. If that's the case than the world cannot end in 2012 right? Wasn't he also the dude that started the whole world will end in 2012 deal or was that the Mayans and the Aztecs? OMG, I don't know which Ouija Board to believe anymore. My faith has become shattered and torn. Okay, I just checked and in July 1999 (7th month) Harry Potter and the Prince of Azkaban was released. Was Nostradamus a visionary literary reviewer? Maybe he could just see books and films and not world history and tragedy. I could see the Harry Potter craze lasting until 2026 or was he predicting J.K Rowling's year of death? That would only make her 61 years old in 2026 so that is unlikely but let's start that rumor now...check back with me in 15 years and I'll tell you how I misread this quatrain. OR WILL I?

Speaking of literary reviews; check out my movie review of Paul at MIDDLE MOVIE REVIEWS.

De nada for your destiny my friend. Mucho take it easy!

Yesterday I met with an old high school and drum and bugle corps buddy Eric. He is now the official Music Director of the Dirty Laundry podcast (I am not even going to mention that the podcast is launching April 1st). I guess it was destiny because Blair Underwood has taught me that there is no coincidence. Here's how destiny has struck me down (Readers Digest / Cliff's Notes version). Almost a year ago there was a drum and bugle corps show at my old high school. A bunch of us old Fox Valley Raiders members, most of which hadn't seen each other in years, decided to go to the show as a mini reunion. A lot of us met at Pepe's Mexican Restaurant before the show. Among the people there was one of my main mentors as a child Kevin (who, "destinely", is a chiropractic mentor now). When I blogged about needing music for the podcast a while back Kevin suggested Eric who was not at the reunion but is on Facebook. I contacted Eric (Facebook changing podcasts and Egypt) and he did the music and we met yesterday. I asked Eric on the phone where he wanted to meet and he said The Cantina Grill in Oswego. I asked, "is that near Pepe's?" He responded that he didn't know anything about Pepe's. Here comes the ~~coincidence~~ destiny payoff - it is LITERALLY right next to Pepe's. Dirty Laundry is my destiny (or something). Or, maybe it's Pepe's?

I am going to do something adventurous today; I believe it is my destiny. Wouldn't that be coincidental if I coincidentally did have an adventure that changed my destiny today? Okay, we're back to the sleep-deprivation thing again; what a coincidence. Have a nice Humpty Humpday. Is it too early for an adventurous nap? TTTT...MITM (out by destiny. coincidence? me thinks not)

2 comments:

Eric SolfisburgMarch 23, 2011 at 10:40 PM
It was great to see you again Matt ! Musical Director ..hmm...I like the sound of that ! Happy to help out and who knows "it could be made into a monster if we all pull together as a team " !
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Matt HelserMarch 29, 2011 at 10:33 AM
I hope so Eric. It was great to see you again too.
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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!