Matt in the Middle: "Something Suddenly Came Up"

Thursday, December 5, 2013

"Something Suddenly Came Up"

"something suddenly came up"

I am seriously considering becoming Jewish. I have to research it more but, I am investigating at this point. On a related MATTer - did I mention that I HATE CHRISTMAS within the last few hours? Tomorrow night is our holiday party or awards banquet or whatever it is called at work. I signed-up saying that I was going but I believe when I go into work tonight I am going to rescind that declaration. I am hoping that the sign-up sheet is still there in the squad room and I can simply cross my name off but if I have to tell someone I will pull the old Marcia Brady "something suddenly came up." When I say "something" I am referring to my total hatred of this commercial farce. Nobody will ask why. I am not sure if anyone would even know that I wasn't there save for the few people who know me well. I don't know if I am up for an award but, if I am, they can say, "accepting for Matt In The Middle is..." I know I am getting a "safe driver award." That one seems kind of silly because our main focus is public safety so this one should be a given. I guess as much driving as we do in our jobs it is good to reward the people who don't get in any minor vehicular mishaps. So, getting back to my investigation, if you are Jewish and get credit for me signing-up let me know and I will say that you are my sponsor. I am also open to any other non-celebrating "religions."

My mom wants Christmas lists from all of us. I love that she wants to make sure that, if she is buying us something, it is not a waste of their time and money but, I really don't want anything. And, make no mistake, SHE IS BUYING US STUFF no matter what we say. If I don't have a list I will get stuff I don't want even more than not wanting anything so a list must be made (I don't know if that made sense). She is never really very open to just getting gift cards to restaurants or movie theaters or Menard's or Victoria Secrets... there is a red satin teddy that I know I would look great in. How about a stack of poker chips and a plane ticket to Vegas? I really don't want anything! I am one half century old now and, at this point, any "stuff" that I collect will just be more junk my kids will have to deal with when I die. I am fairly certain that day is closer than the anniversary of my birth! If I need something I buy it. I am trying to get rid of stuff. Goodwill loves us!

These racks are everywhere now - for a reason!

I know I keep ragging on this holiday season and I will try to stop. It was great when the kids younger. I am happy for people who still enjoy this stuff and hope you have a happy/merry/joyous/jolly whatever you celebrate. I will rarely try to try to convince someone that their ideals are wrong. Ideas, maybe. Ideals, probably not.

Do you suppose that today being the anniversary of the repeal of alcohol prohibition is a coincidence? What two things are coming up? The day when you have to spend with relatives and the day when you are trying to convince someone that they should spend the night with you because tomorrow is the start of a new year and resolutions. Alcohol comes in very handy this time of year. I guess it helps us stay warm too. Can you even imagine our lives if there was still prohibition? I can think of many good things and bad situations that would occur without alcohol. Those Hang Over films would be much more boring without alcohol in them. I am not a huge drinker. I could not have said that in college but, now I am definitely a social drinker. Working nights I don't really drink much when I get home from work. I have had Cheerios with beer and it just isn't the same. Rice Crispies do still snap, crackle and pop though. Moderation is the key to just about everything in life.

If you are one of the many, many people that I have played and/or have a Words With Friends going with - I am no longer playing. I am not miffed or angry with anyone... I have just decided that playing that game is a great time-suck to me and I don't have a bunch of that left. If it were more interactive with the people I would probably reconsider but, it really is just the player and the computer. I like the people I play against and, if you want to stop by and play Scrabble and have some wine or a bloody mary or something now that prohibition has been repealed, I would love that. So, I have "resigned" from the games where it was my move and the others I will just let my time expire. Sorry if this causes you displeasure but 'tis the season. Knowing me, as I do, I will be back playing within a week or two.

I have a bunch of stuff to get done before I sleep so I can go freeze my bottom off at work tonight. Thanks a lot for letting me drone-on today. I cannot promise that it won't continue for another 20 days or so. The podcast should be up tomorrow. I am waiting for my co-host to have one free second to do a couple of quick bites with me. She is extremely busy at her paying gig and, it may come down to me just doing the beginnings and the ends alone this one time - we'll see.

TTTT (instead of me being at the awards dinner thingy)... MITM (blog hum blog)

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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, December 5, 2013

"Something Suddenly Came Up"

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