Matt in the Middle: You Drink You Blog You Pod

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

You Drink You Blog You Pod

Woohoo the Autumn of yesterday looks like it will turn back into early Spring again today. Spring is here and I am not going to be a coach this year; I held my ground. It will be nice to actually get out on the boat more than zero to two times this year - baseball made that pretty much impossible; it's time to enjoy my retirement from baseball. I think I will enjoy baseball itself more too. I have always been a positive fan and it's my private, personal mission (though it's not private or personal if I blog it I guess) to make positivity infectious at Fabio's games.

Don't they look just like them?

I was watching The Kennedys mini-series in the MIDDLE of the night last night that I had DVR'd. I should probably be reviewing it over at MIDDLE MOVIE REVIEWS but I will put a trailer there instead (click that MMR review back there for the clip). It's pretty good, though, kind of corny at times. I think it may be that way because I pretty much know most of the story and they have to tell the story like nobody does - I get that. Part two is tonight and I recommend it if you like that kind of thing. I remembered when they were making it and there was talk of all of the big stars that were in the film. I think Greg Kinnear and Barry Pepper are great as John and Bobby. Katie Holmes looks quite a bit like Jacqueline Kennedy most of the time but she doesn't really have the voice down. Though I like these stars I have always thought that movies like this should use unknown actors because it is somewhat distracting to keep thinking to yourself, "self, Barry Pepper sure does sound like Bobby Kennedy and Greg Kinnear could be John F. Kennedy's body-double." The show was produced by The History Channel and, as you can imagine, it cost a lot to make. The series was already getting criticism that it was "inaccurate" before the cast was even picked. Bucking under a lot of pressure The History Channel sold the rights to ReelzChannel where it is running now. The movie begins Thursday in The United Kingdom and on History Television in Canada on Sunday. It's entertainment; give us some credit in realizing that not everything in movies is 100% true. Quit dumbing-down our society - we know what entertainment is by now.

Brittany Spears drinks H2O and drives

Happy 397th wedding anniversary to John Rolfe and Rebecca Rolfe (Pocahontas) today. Supposedly I am related somehow to Pocahontas; I see the resemblance sometimes.

While I was driving down through Southern Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee I kept seeing signs that read "YOU DRINK YOU DRIVE YOU LOSE." I am a firm believer that you shouldn't drink and drive. I cannot say that I have 100% always lived by that rule but I do believe it. That is a great slogan, "YOU DRINK YOU DRIVE YOU LOSE." Driving while everyone else is sleeping always gives me time to think (more dangerous than drinking sometimes). You do lose... you lose fuel, you lose tread on your tires, you lose miles on your car, you lose seconds of your life, you lose thoughts about what you lose because of that sign, you lose minutes to your destination... There is no way that cannot be a true statement. We always lose something. You just lost a few seconds of your life reading some of the things you can lose. The sign could just as easily say "YOU WHISTLE YOU DRIVE YOU LOSE." However - YOU READ MATT IN THE MIDDLE YOU DRIVE YOU SHOULD KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD." Maybe Cha Cha is right about podcasting these blogs?

Alright, I am going to drink and find a job now. Have a nice day. If you haven't listened to the premiere episode of the Dirty Laundry podcast and want to just click on the link on the upper-right margin there. Also, join the Facebook page - I plan to blog about Facebook and Apps tomorrow. TTTT...MITM hit 'em hard Roz

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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!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

You Drink You Blog You Pod

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