Thursday, October 06, 2011

Not Even Technology Can Fix Stone Cold Stupid

Last night Ed came out of the truck stop with a story:

He said to the girl behind the counter, "You know who Steve Jobs is?"

"Nope." she said.

"He's the guy who created Apple...he died today." Ed said.

"What's Apple?" she said. (Seriously!?)

"The company that makes the iPhone, iPod, iPad..." Ed said.

"Oh."

That's it. Just "oh". I can see her not knowing who Steve Jobs is, but Apple? The iPhone??

People are fucking idiots.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Three
2 YEARS AGO:
Not Exactly “Daily” By Definition
3 YEARS AGO:
I Almost Married This Man
4 YEARS AGO:
Greeting Fair Lovers For Over Fifty Years
5 YEARS AGO:
The Infinite Wisdom Of A Grandfather
6 YEARS AGO:
Swingin’ Good Times

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Living Deliberately But Not Without Scars

This is from my favorite poet, Ella Wheeler Wilcox.


Life's Scars

They say the world is round, and yet
I often think it square,
So many little hurts we get
From corners here and there.
But one great truth in life I've found,
While journeying to the West -
The only folks who really wound
Are those we love the best.

The man you thoroughly despise
Can rouse your wrath, 'tis true;
Annoyance in your heart will rise
At things mere strangers do;
But those are only passing ills;
This rule all lives will prove;
The ranking wound which aches and thrills
Is dealt by hands we love.

The choicest garb, the sweetest grace,
Are oft to strangers shown;
The careless
mien, the frowning face,
Are given to our own.
We flatter those we scarcely know,
We please the fleeting guest,
And deal full many a thoughtless blow
To those who love us best.

Love does not grow on every tree,
Nor true hearts yearly bloom.
Alas for those who only see
This cut across a tomb!
But, soon or late, the fact grows plain
To all through sorrow's test:
The only folks who give us pain
Are those we love the best.


I feel this poem ties in to this fantastic post from my friend in Italy, which focuses on loved ones not being supportive or encouraging, and not really providing unconditional love when it comes to the choices that are made for your own life. And as Michelle said, "some of your loved ones not only won't get it, they won't even care to try."

Our loved ones are really the only ones who have the power to hurt us the most. I think all of us know that first hand. So I guess we all need to try to "care enough to try".


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Maybe They Just Don’t Like Oklahomans
2 YEARS AGO:
Mexico? Derecho.
3 YEARS AGO:
Juxtaposition
4 YEARS AGO:
Eddie Sports Pigtails Friday
5 YEARS AGO:
Gambling Under The Big Sky
6 YEARS AGO:
Sleeping Beauty

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

A Big, Delicious Mess

Last night I made my grandmother's Ciambotta. I wasn't even sure how that was spelled until I utilized the ever-accomating Google. My grandmother always said, "Chom-bott", clipping the word and not pronouncing the "a" at the end.

After finding this article in the Los Angeles Times, I not only discovered the correct spelling (I was searching for something starting with "ci" since I know that's the "ch" sound in Italian), but I found another tidbit in the article describing another way the word is used, which is also how my grandmother used it: "It seems to be a dialect word that indicates not only a vegetable stew but also a mess. When someone gets confused telling a story or putting something together, people of southern Italian extraction might say they have made a big ciambotta."

I decided to do mine as my grandmother did, using just onions, potatoes, and fresh string beans. I bought some beautiful string beans the other day and had potatoes I needed to use. It's such a simple dish, there's really no way to screw it up. In the first picture, you'll see just the onions and potatoes, cooking until the potatoes begin to get soft.

In this second photo, you'll see that the string beans have been added. Isn't that color beautiful? Now just let everything cook and get all familiar with each other until you don't know where the potatoes end and the string beans begin.

Here's what you'll need to duplicate this delicious dish. The ingredients and the steps to make it are few.

THE INGREDIENTS
Olive Oil
1 large white onion, sliced
8-10 small white potatoes, cut in 1.5” pieces
1 lb. fresh string beans
2 cloves of finely minced garlic or garlic powder
1 small can of tomato paste
Salt & Pepper
Parsley
Oregano

THE PROCESS
1. Coat the bottom of a large pot or skillet with olive oil. Sauté the onions until soft and caramelized. You can also add your minced garlic at this point, but if you’re using garlic powder, you can add it in the second step with the other spices.

2. Once the onions are soft, add the potatoes and the can of tomato paste. Add a few cans of water until everything is coated. Don’t worry if you put in too much water because you can always cook it down without the lid to make it thicker. I add all my spices at this point; salt and pepper, garlic powder if you didn’t do it with the onions, parsley, and oregano. Cover the pot and let this all cook down until the potatoes get softer. Keep checking and stirring because you don’t want it to stick to the pot or burn. But cook enough to soften the potatoes.

3. Once the potatoes have softened a bit, throw in your string beans. Continue to cook until everything gets soft and the sauce gets thick and it looks like a stew. Keep tasting it, you’ll know when it’s ready. Serve with a crusty Italian bread and you’ve got a satisfying, hearty meal.

 Enjoy!

 Click
HERE for a copy of the recipe to print out.  




Monday, October 03, 2011

The Power Of Gold

Here's my Mina Bean. Not only does she have Pixie Dust (that invisible substance that she unknowingly sprinkles on all those she comes in contact with, making them fall hopelessly in love with her), but now that's she's getting older, her physical beauty is becoming so evident. Her gorgeous brown eyes, her incredibly straight nose, the gold in her hair. I swear this child has actual GOLD weaved through her tresses.

This photo reminds me of the one I took in 2005. And just like that post in 2005, where she wanted some lipgloss, yesterday was no different. I wasn't in her presence for five minutes before she wanted a kiss from me just to get some of my lipgloss. She gets real close to me, and then purses her lips to smush up against mine, so my excess gloss will rub off on her and we can be "twins". I don't think she fully understands yet that she's definitely the better looking twin.

Although I do think she's catching on to the power of gold.




Sunday, October 02, 2011

The Best Seat In The House

My favorite place in the WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD is sitting at the kitchen table in my best friend Vicki's house. My seat, which is used by her husband when I'm not there, provides the best view of Vicki working her magic in the kitchen. It also allows us to be face to face while it's happening. All of this is necessary for our endless conversations about nothing to take place.

On this day, she was breading eggplant slices to fry for part of our dinner. I brought the eggplant in from the truck because it's so much easier to do the work in a big kitchen, so I figured while I was there, I'd fry them up. But, Vicki expertly took over and I didn't resist. Look at how beautiful they are.

She also made breaded chicken cutlets (oh my god, juicy and deliciously crispy!), which are one of my favorite meals but one that I rarely make in the truck because it winds up smelling like the inside of a McDonald's fryer basket for a week. We paired the chicken with a beautiful spring mix salad and finished up the remnants of the antipasto platter she put out. The last bits of olive oil were sopped up with crusty Italian bread.

I LOVE being here. I love Nashville, I love this neighborhood, I love my friends there and I LOVE being in this house and with these people; Vicki, Anthony and their two kids, Mina and Michael. They are my family and Vicki is my most treasured relationship. Our vow, from when we first met over twenty years ago, was to spend our lives together. And I know that's going to be my reality.

Ed has promised more visits and more time in this area and I can't wait to come back. I've been looking at houses here for years and I'm really hoping 2012 will be the year I make my move. My fingers are crossed and I'm ready to write that downpayment check.

But even when I do have my own home there, sitting at Vicki's kitchen table will still be the best seat in the house.




Saturday, October 01, 2011

A Perfect Way To Start A Month

Instagram, my favorite iPhone app, has a filter called the "Nashville" which I thought was the perfect choice for this photo of one of my favorite places, Nashville. I took this photo just before getting off the exit to the T/A downtown; this T/A experienced a lot of flooding last year when the Cumberland River crested at more than twelve feet above flood stage. Ed went inside and said they had pictures of the damage to the truckstop from the water.

Once we were done filling up our water tank, we headed to the east side of the city where my
best friend lives. I'm so happy to be here because I'm going to be able to spend the weekend with her. I haven't see her for months and was starting to have withdrawal symptoms!

This area is my second favorite place in the country after my home state of New York. I'm totally thrilled to be able to visit both places in the same week. It's the perfect beginning to a new month!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Old School
2 YEARS AGO:
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
3 YEARS AGO:
The Clubhouse Girls
4 YEARS AGO:
Morning On The Air Train
5 YEARS AGO:
The Other Side Of The Tracks
6 YEARS AGO:
Vicki Bin Laden

Friday, September 30, 2011

My Super Handsome Man

Ed after a long day, still working to get things done. Here he's waiting for the water tank on the truck to fill up so we can take showers.

Even tired and dirty, he's the cutest trucker I know!



Thursday, September 29, 2011

A Sign For Sore Eyes

Not the best picture because it was taken while the truck was moving and it was a little overcast, but that can never diminish the joy I have crossing into New York state. I feel like a marathon runner crossing the finish line, exhaling and letting out an audible sigh. For me, it's the best feeling, to be home.

We deliver out near Plymouth Rock today (but with no time to actually see the rock) and then head out to Louisville, KY for a delivery tomorrow. Ed said we can try to get another load back up here for the weekend so I can enjoy more of the cool weather and the changing colors of the leaves.

Also,
our friends are in New York city this weekend, so we might just have a chance to meet up with them. They've recently leased on to the same company we're leased on to, and there are still a few things we want to go over with them. If everything works out, we'll be having another of Ed Godfrey's Fabulous Flatbed Bootcamp dinners. According to them, time with the Ed Man is pretty valuable.

Hmmm...maybe I should start pimpin' him out.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
A Primm Landscape
2 YEARS AGO:
I Am A Kandee Addict
3 YEARS AGO:
The Tiny Intersection Where The Colors Collide
4 YEARS AGO:
Loved Shack
5 YEARS AGO:
Holy Mother Of Pearl
6 YEARS AGO:
The Starfish Effect

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Paper Boy...And Girl

My cousin's two and a half year old twins heading back to the house after picking up the Sunday paper. How precious is this??



Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Hand Dipping Tastes Better

This weekend we went to the beautiful Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis. It's a gorgeous area with stately homes and tree-lined streets. In the section of town called Maryland Plaza, we found Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier, an elegant little chocolate shop.
There were so many choices, but before I arrived at the shop, I read about their chocolate covered blackberries. They're seasonal and always sell out, so I had to try some. But at $33.00 a pound, I decided to only get a quarter pound and try some of the other treats.

In addition to the blackberries, I got some 75% dark chocolate medallions, Almond Bark, and some salt caramels; the
Pear Balsamic ones for me and the Apple Ghost Chili ones for Ed. I haven't tried any of those yet but I did try the blackberries and they were delicious.

The shop had a beautiful seating area, a menu with many different options for tasting chocolates and an extensive wine list. This is the only chocolate shop I've ever been in that offers monthly chocolate and wine pairings.

Salud!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
The Skies Were So Dark, Even GE Couldn’t Brighten Things Up
2 YEARS AGO:
Not So Deep Impact
3 YEARS AGO:
My America. Your America. OUR America.
4 YEARS AGO:
Frozen In Time
5 YEARS AGO:
Ohhh, Paaablo
6 YEARS AGO:
Apparently, Aliens Tell Time With Their Ass

Monday, September 26, 2011

Dream Big. Live Bigger.

"Life is too short to be small."
- Benjamin Disraeli (British Prime Minister and Novelist, 1804-1881)

Happy Birthday to my handsome baby brother. May the best of your past be the worst of your future.

Yeah, I know that doesn't sound so great (with the word "worst" and all) but I read it online and if you really think about it, it's a good sentiment.

Here's to a wonderful future!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Always Merry When Around My Brother
2 YEARS AGO:
Living Outside The Touch Of Time
3 YEARS AGO:
Girls And Their Boys
4 YEARS AGO:
Living History
5 YEARS AGO:
Company On The Prairie
6 YEARS AGO:
Rack Eyes

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Wooden Shoes, Tulips, And Now This?

I just made this cool picture my desktop background. Wanna know what it is? Read on.
It's the view from under this cool chandelier that I saw in Anthonino's Taverna yesterday. I want this lamp hanging from my ceiling!

This is what I found on the internet about the chandelier and it's creator:

"Contemporary Dutch designers have been distinctly innovative in their experimentation with materials. As an example of this trend, Rody Graumans employed simple, readily available components — eighty-five black electrical cords, sockets, and lightbulbs — to create this striking chandelier. Gathered in a unified bundle at the ceiling, the cords flare out to accommodate the mass of bulbs below."


What a clever, unique and expensive idea!

Leave it to the Dutch.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Lunch On The Hill

Today we had lunch in an Italian neighborhood called "The Hill" in St. Louis, Missiouri. The neighborhood is beautiful, tiny brick houses line tree-lined streets and the neighborhood is clearly cared for as it's remarkably clean compared to the industrial surroundings of St. Louis and despite the fact that it's directly parallel to a heavily traveled interstate.

The Hill is also the birthplace of baseball great,
Yogi Berra. In fact, the web page for The Hill has a list of Yogi-isms; ones like "It's like deja vu all over again", "We made two many wrong mistakes" and one we all know, "The game isn't over until it's over".We had lunch at a place we found on Urban Spoon, Anthonino’s Taverna; a culinary homage to the Italian and Greek roots of the owners. They started us out with a delicious loaf of Italian bread and olive oil for dipping.

We had Toasted Ravioli for an appetizer (no picture, sorry!), ordered only after being told they were handmade in house. I was surprised that they were meat (I never eat meat ravi's) but they were suprisingly good.Ed ordered the Gabagool; an open faced garlic cheese bread topped with capacola (Italian ham). I think he ordered it because he liked the name. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan on Ciabatta. It was delish.

On the side, I had Sauteed Spinach, topped with grated cheese. It was amaaaazing. Ed even put some of it on his sandwich. Ed ordered Feta Cheese and Greek Olives for his side. The feta was in a mound and we didn't even finish all the olives, there were so many. They were also delicious.

Look at the pile of feta cheese! You don't have to guess that we were stuffed when we were done, so no room for dessert. So sad.

The rest of the day we spent at the Taste Of St. Louis, being held at the Soldier's Memorial at 12th and Market where they had music, art, wine and more food.

Photos to follow...


Friday, September 23, 2011

Aging In Soft Light

Ed took this picture of me when we were in the Turks and Caicos. We were at dinner, outside, and the only light available came from a candle on the table. It's not in focus but I like it, it makes it sort of soft and hazy. After I ran it through Instagram, I liked it even more. Although I do look like I'm raising one eyebrow; why, I don't know.

Today is my birthday and I'm forty-four years old.

I will be spending the remainder of my life in candlelight.



Thursday, September 22, 2011

Rain Or Shine

Today we delivered our load in Illinois and Ed had to unload it in the rain. It wasn't torrential rain, but he still got soaked all the way through. In this picture, he's just finishing up, putting the straps and chains away. As you can see, he's already rolled up and secured the tarps that were used to cover the load.

What I don't understand, and this happens a lot, is why a customer requests that their load be tarped and then when it gets to them, they unload it outside, IN THE RAIN. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. If you're concerned about the expensive item that you're having shipped to you, and you pay extra to have it tarped, you probably shouldn't unload it in the rain.

It's a lot of work to tarp a load. Not only do you have to secure the item to the trailer, using straps or chains, depending on what it is, but then you have to lift the tarp to the top of the item (the tarps weigh about 100 pounds each) in order to unroll it over whatever it is you're trying to cover. Then come the bungees, all around, to secure the tarp. Loading can take anywhere from one to four hours, depending on what it is, and when Ed is done tarping, it looks like an artist was at work; it's so neat, it looks like a wrapped present.

After we unloaded, we went to buy new tarps, they're supposed to be lighter and rip-proof. They better be, because they cost twelve hundred dollars! They'll be ready for pickup tomorrow.

After that, I hope we'll be doing birthday stuff for me. We don't have a plan yet, but Ed is the master of last minute surprises, so I have faith!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
In My Dictionary, Team Is Always Spelled Without An I
2 YEARS AGO:
The Italian Energy Drink*
3 YEARS AGO:
Shroom
4 YEARS AGO:
Looks Fairly Serene To Me
5 YEARS AGO:
Taste, Smell And Hear The Memories
6 YEARS AGO:
Eddie’s New Ride

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Coming Soon

I found this photo on the internet, but it represents what I like best about this time of year - the colors.

And the cool weather. Helloooo, fall.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Feren Films Y’all Shouldn’t Miss
2 YEARS AGO:
This Guy Sucks
3 YEARS AGO:
Shine And Shine
4 YEARS AGO:
Eddie Hoots It Up Friday
5 YEARS AGO:
Eddie The Bird Whisperer
6 YEARS AGO:
Laundress

Monday, September 19, 2011

Come On In And Take A Seat

This is the waiting room I sat in while Ed was getting fingerprinted for his HazMat endorsement. It was like sitting in Cell Block A. The walls are slump block, the chairs are basic, the secretary is behind a wall of glass (probably bullet-proof) and you have the honor of paying $90 just so you can continue doing your job.

The sun was beating down through the windows (even though there were blinds on them) and the wall behind the seats felt as if they were up against a heater. There was no air-conditioning in the room either; or if there was, the vent was so small it was useless.

AND, we had to drive across town, in morning traffic to get there. We were actually in the car, which was good, since there was no truck parking. You think they'd tell you that when you mentioned that you were a truck driver coming in to get printed for your background check.


Ed is squeaky clean, so they're not going to find a thing to disqualify him, but if I had to sit there another minute, they might have been fingerprinting me at the police station because I may just have gone bat-shit crazy on everyone.

Heat does that to a brain.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Doctor Recommended For Sure Death
2 YEARS AGO:
Wardrobe Malfunction: Intentional And Uncensored
3 YEARS AGO:
Eddie Friday: Outlined
4 YEARS AGO:
Modern, Yet Not So Much
5 YEARS AGO:
Why Higher Education Is Desperately Needed
6 YEARS AGO:
Does A Bear Shit In The Woods?

Sunday, September 18, 2011

The Things You Do For Love

Today I went to see my nephew play baseball. I was out with my friend when my mother called and said he had a game and she was thinking of going. It was very last minute and since I was here and hadn't seen my brother or the kids for a while, I thought it'd be a perfect place to say a quick hello, so I joined her.

The act of attending a baseball game in above ninety-degree heat in a desert, in a place that typically has no shade, is truly an act of love on my part. I don't like sports, I don't like dirt and I absolutely, unequivocally do not like heat.

I don't even know what the temperature was because I couldn't really think straight. I think my feet were burning. Usually, I have to sit on the uncomfortable metal bleachers (yeah, metal in the desert - great idea) but Ed threw the folding chairs into the trunk, so we had super-comfy seating. We were stealing the shade of another person's shade tent, each of us holding an umbrella to block out any wiley rays, and trying to pinpoint my nephew on the field. I don't really know what the hell they're doing out there. I don't ever know the score because there's no score board and I never hear who does what or gets on which base.

I do know that my nephew did an awesome third base slide (on his belly!!) and was safe. And I also know that he hit the ball which such force that the audible crack of the bat made it feel as if I were at a professional game. You can hear it here (my youngest nephew took the video):







My nephew often plays (mans?) the catcher's position. I don't know how he's not a little scared with the bats swinging over his head and balls being hurled right at him, but he's really pretty good. Honestly, I don't even know what good is, but I'm guessing if you catch most of the balls, as a catcher, you're probably good.

His team didn't win the game but they played very well and I'm really glad I was able to be there. I love those little guys - the intellect of the oldest, the gravelly voice of the middle one and the mesmerizing eyes of the youngest.

I see them all in my dreams.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Sweating Profusely From The Head Is Clearly A Sign Of A Highly Intelligent Individual
2 YEARS AGO:
Eddie Watching Boats And Waiting For Brisket Friday
3 YEARS AGO:
It’s Probably Best Not To Piss Off The Devil
4 YEARS AGO:
Reminders For Morons
5 YEARS AGO:
Feasting With Saints And Sinners
6 YEARS AGO:
We Live In The Signpost Forest

Saturday, September 17, 2011