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1) What a way to start the week....
2) It's Monday, right? Not so "fun" after all :/.
3) My kids love school so much they're fuming over the flat (or something like that).
4) I'm TICKED that I don't know how to change a tire.
5) I don't even know where the (STUPID) jack is! >:(
6) I'm going to learn how to do this TODAY!!!
7) Thank goodness for neighbors who'll let me borrow their car....:)
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Almost 2 1/2 years ago when I first decided to blog, I really didn't know much about it. A friend had asked me to read hers and it looked like a fun soapbox-drama queen-stage-kind-of-an-outlet to me. We had recently moved to Tennessee, and as an at-home mom to three elementary-aged kids, I had the time to write.
After researching my options, I decided Blogger was the best place to begin: it was user friendly, and perhaps most attractive, it was free. The next step in blogging is deciding a name. I knew I wanted something simple, but every t
hought I had was a) forgettable, b) already done a thousand times, c) too "religious" (I DID want to write about my faith, but just not exclusively)....
As a devoted Harry Potter fan, "PENSIEVE" occurred to me early on. A literary device J.K. Rowling created to advance her storyline (first mentioned in book five, "Goblet of Fire"), a pensieve is a stone basin used to store extracted memories. Characters could later go back and "re-live" those memories (theirs or those belonging to others) by "falling" into the pensieve; they were present in the memory but not a part of it; they could see and hear what goes on, but those in the past memory could not see or hear them.
In a sense, a pensieve is used to download thought when the brain is too cluttered to contain it...which is kind of like a blog, right?
An interesting aside from a previous blog post about my title origin notes "that 'pensieve' is an anagram of Pevensie, the surname of the main characters from C. S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, in which the Pevensie children are thrust into another world through a magical cupboard, as Harry is thrust into a memory through the pensieve in Dumbledore's cupboard."
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I'm a picky eater, but I likelikeLOVE my favorite foods! If I had to list my Top Ten Favorite Things To Eat...hmmm, let me do that (not in order):
1. Silver Queen corn on the cob, buttered and salted
2. Really good melons--honeydew, cantelope and Sharlyn, a specialty melon
3. Chocolate ice cream
4. Fresh fried okra
5. Most ANY fresh seafood with the exception of mussels (BLECH on oysters!!) and swordfish. I like it grilled or fried or sauteed or HOWEVAH.
6. Tiramisu
7. Crème brûlée
8. Filet mignon, medium rare.
9. Potatoes (cooked any way) (this is why I'm NOT a fan of the Atkins diet!).
(how do I choose only ONE more? Paula Deen's Mac & Cheese? My Sweet & Sour Green Beans? Balsamic vinegar on anything?? Aggghhhh! ShortCircuit DangerWillRobinson, Danger!!!)
10. Yellow crooknecked squashed, sauteed with Vidalia onions and lots of buttah, in a casserole or even breaded and fried.
Isn't that an odd list? I'm curious if **yours** is more "normal". If you blog your top ten, let me know; if you don't have a blog, how 'bout list yours in comments here?
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(Smiling...) Are you wondering why these two unrelated thoughts are juxtaposed in one posting? Mariposa, as host for this week's Fun Monday, wanted to know the origin of participants' blog titles and our favorite or most commonly cooked dish--it's HER fault my little mind wandered...!!
Actually, I haven't indicated my favorite dish, but based on deliciousness alone (not frequency), it would have to be Pan Seared Halibut. The linked recipe is simple and not a week goes by that the page isn't hit from Google searches. It looks beautiful...it tastes beautiful...I tell ya, it's foodie sea-quatic beautifulness! As far as what I make most often? Sourdough bread...because it HAS to be made every week or so to keep the starter "alive". Its aroma alone is worth the effort.
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Haven't joined Fun Monday before? Learn about it here, then visit Mariposa's Tales for this week's details and links.
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After writing about our car convo yesterday, I realized I had failed to mention one of the funniest parts; I suppose it was forgotten by the sheer disgust-value of what I did share.
Again from T, who immediately followed up the "eating goosebumps" remark with this random ditty: "Simeon has a 'happy trail'."
Me (blink blink): "Huh?"
T (matter of factly): "Simeon has a 'happy trail'."
Me: "What the heck's a 'happy trail.'"
He explained and then proceeded to tell me every 7th, 8th & 6th grader he knew who had one.
Rach just kept saying, "STOPTHOMAS,IDON'TWANNAKNOWTHIS!!" and Stephen was laughing. I was just shaking my head.
How come THEY knew what he was talking about and I didn't? Is this common knowledge??? I really don't think this is what Roy Rogers had in mind when he was a'singin'...;)
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My poems were written early yesterday because I knew after school drop off my day would spin out of control and blogging was not going to be a part of it. I hosted a baby shower for a new friend in our Sunday School class Bible Fellowship last night, and my day was to be filled with little more than cooking and cleaning.
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So on the way to school, my middle child uttered perhaps the STRANGEST thing that has ever flowed from his lips...if you've been reading PENSIEVE a while, you know that's saying a lot (and you might want to skip this part if grossness grosses you out (even if it's only words, it paints a disgusting picture).
T: "You know what I think about doing when I get chill bumps all over?"
He pauses for effect.
T: "I think about getting a knife and scraping them all off into a bowl...and EATING them...."
I'm gagging at the thought, but he's not done and it gets even MORE disgusting....
T: "...yeah, I think the same thing about people who have bad acne...I just wanna scrape it off into a bowl..."
Thank God, he didn't wanna eat that, too!
You know, I used to wish I could creep into the minds of my children to know their secret thoughts and unspoken dreams. Thomas is curing that, revelation by revelation.
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So, back to the baby shower. It was a "Sip & See", which is code for she's already had the baby. For weeknight things like this, I keep it simple, but simple still means preparation. It was dessert only, not a full "shower spread", and I made my favorite recipes: sour cream pound cake, strawberry creme puffs, fudge**, and butter mints.
Needless to say, between cookin' and makin' the above, then cleaning my house...I didn't stop to use the bathroom yesterday. At 6:53, seven minutes before guests were due to arrive, I finally changed clothes and brushed my teeth, and finished just in time to greet the first guest.
Then the second...
...and the third.
At 7:30, the guest of honor was not here; originally, I planned the shower for 7:30, so I thought maybe that time had stuck in her mind instead of the revised earlier time. At 7:45, we were all a bit concerned--I envisioned her stuck in a ditch on the way to my house!--so I called her home. She answered on the second ring.
"Hey (name not used to protect the innocent, although she was guilty and she doesn't even read my blog)."
Her: "Hey Robin, how are youOHMYGOODNESSI'MSUPPOSEDTOBEATYOURHOUSERIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!"
Me (laughing): "It's okay...I was just worried..."
Her: "I'mOnMyWayOutTheDoorNowI'MSOOOOOSORRY!!! I just forgot...if you knew my day...."
And I'm like, you don't have to come, it's okay, we'll bring the party to you, yadayada, and she insisted on coming.
Ya know, in my pre-kids days I would've never understood how you could forget your own party.... Now? (and this lady has four children) I totally understand...it didn't phase me or really surprise me that much.
And when all was said and done, we had a splendid evening :).
**Can someone tell me why mine always crumbles when I slice it??? It tastes GREAT, but it's hard to get any "usable" squares out of it...am I cooking it too long? It's the Fantasy Fudge recipe off marshmallow cream.
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Laura's challenge for "15 Words or Less Poems" today is an everyday sight for most Americans. Why don't you try your hand at these short works? It takes just a few minutes when you know words are limited...and in my case, three ideas popped in my head in an instant :).
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A fun little blast from the past sent via email to me by my husband this morning (if this is any kind of a hint--which I'm sure it's NOT--see how quickly my fingers stick in my ears while I close my eyes and sing-song "La la la...I can't hear you!").
You've GOT to embiggen this to fully appreciate it.
"Be a little gay and more interesting to him"???? Ummm, what a difference 50 years makes in interpretation.... For the record, he didn't make the notes....
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On a different but related note, during morning drive time, I heard about this challenge on the radio. I didn't believe it was true. After a bit of web-surfing......... it looks like it's legit.
Anybody signing up?
I tell ya, between that challenge and my WW post, there sure are some whacky Christians out there (then again, I've always confessed to being a freak myself ;) ).
(and if you didn't click the challenge link (and you'd like some good great stimulating provocative imaginative marriage advice) this is one time you need to go back and do so...you won't believe it!)
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I just got off the phone with my favorite sister, and now it seems her whole family is "mocking the blog". Her daughter, my used-to-be favorite niece, saw this in yesterday's paper and immediately thought of me--
I don't get it...you? ;)
Comic credit: Ink Pen
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[1] The comment thread at my shrine to George Clooney has taken a funny turn; Min and Steve are at it again and who knows if it'll end up like last time. Once they get started, I'm relegated to blog voyeur status at my own blog (thankyewverymuch), but if you'd like to read a few masters at their craft, be sure to scroll the comments (more than one page).
[2] Seems like Phil-the-Deen-Webmaster is hardly working working hard on a nifty invention (mentioned in the comments) that'll leave him comfy for life and in a position to surpass Gates in world philanthropy. Once he figures out how to package "Orlando in a Tube™ " he'll probably move on to Clooney and Dempsey and from there?! Do we really wanna know where it goes from there??? I'm pretty sure it'll put ROCKBAND and Guitar Hero to shame...;).
[3] Mummymac at Home but not Alone is hosting this month's Recipe Round Up. Her theme is all things breakfast, so if you have a good recipe, why don't you join her tomorrow? Like me last month, she's giving away a cookbook. Unlike me (and much more wisely), she's giving away ONE not an INSANE 13!. Feeling lucky?
[4] If you haven't already, you really should visit Written Inc. for Carmi's weekly "Caption This" contest. Recently I had the pleasure of sharing a win again (I'm sure I was inspired by conversation with my son) and it's always a lot of fun because Carmi encourages multiple entries. When you just can't decide which is "best", you can suggest them all. More times than not, he seems to rule out my favorite for a second or third choice of mine, which makes me wonder if I should try that tactic for Ree's contests...my first choice never makes her radar.
[5] For those of you who've tagged me in the past two months or so...forgive me, I STINK at tags!! I often have so many posts "under construction"...it's difficult for me to have the focus to follow tag guidelines.
Here's an EASY one from Beth aka Sportsmama; little more than Linky Love, it's complete cut and paste (aka EASY!)! My add-ons are the last five mentioned (chosen because they're new bloggers or new to my blog). Thanks, Beth!!
Guidelines per Beth (most of this is "white noise" to me...:/):
Do not replace, just keep on adding! Yes we hope it will be a long list! Cut and paste the entire list in your blog, links follow automatically.
*Tag others and see your Technorati Authority increase exponentially!
*The benefits of Viral Linking (oh, my, is that what this is (sorry, my two cents chiming in)??):
1. One of the fastest ways to see your technorati authority explode!
2. Increase your Google Page Rank fast
3. Attract large volume of new traffic to your site
4. Build your community
5. Make new friends!
Linky Love Tag
The Strategist Notebook
Link Addiction
Ardor of the Heart
When Life Becomes a Book
The Malaysian Life
Yogatta.com
What goes under the sun
Roshidan’s Cyber Station
Sasha says
Arts of Physics
And the legend lives
My View, My Life
A Simple Life
Juliana RW
Mom Knows Everything
Beth & Cory’s Mom
A Mind Forever Voyaging
enjoying the ride
Jennifer’s thoughts
Mom of 3 Girls
Amanda
Don’t Make Me Get The Flying Monkeys
ExPat Mom
Just Jessie
Wilson Six
Kristin
Nuttier Than You
Shonnte
Summer’s Nook
Laura Williams Musings
Melissa’s Idea Garden
Eve at Confessions of an Everyday Housewife
ChristiS of the Blah Blah Blog
Stephanie at Stop the Ride!
Diane at Soap, Blings & Girly Things
Amanda at Amanda:Mama’s Musings
Kristin at An Ordinary Life
Mama Zen at The Zen of Motherhood
Atomik Kitten
The Sassy Southerner
A Room of Mama’s Own
Exploring Autumn
Immoral Matriarch: Catechizer
Real Life
Boogiemum
Living and loving every minute of it
Huckdoll
The Daily Rhythm
The Rocky Mountain Retreat
Peace is Every Step
Life According to Lizzy
Following Forward
Boys Rule My Life
A Quest for Relevance
Not Trying for a Boy
The Gaspards
Orryally’s journal
My Life with Boys
The Truest Thing
The Potter’s Hand
Permission to Peruse
Live Laugh Blog
Pianomomsicle
Heather’s Hot Mess
Kevin and Paula
SmatterdayGuidance for Victory
Sports Momma
Pensieve (<--my personal favorite :) )
The Home Team Wins
Sisters of a Different Order
Chased by Children
A Frog in My Soup
Alex, The Roaming Southerner
Jeanie, Musings From Left Field
Peculiar, How Do We Get There From Here?
Tracey, Just Another Mommy Blog
Kim, Rainy Day Diamonds
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I'm all about spreading the love.
Honestly, as a W.O.A. girl, I'm with Mark Twain who said, "“I can live for two months on a good compliment.”
It's definitely not just about receiving, though. My natural inclination is to build others up, to find words that will leave them encouraged, buoyed. Now, gracious!--I am NOT trying to pat myself on the back by sharing that, I'm just explaining that when I "like" something or someone, it's effortless to express it...in fact, I have a hard time exercising restraint.
(Hence, my sometimes over-use of exclamation points in the written word!!! <---that's only for effect.)
Recently, I've gushed about the Gourmet Goddess, Paula Deen, a time or two three. Who could blame me? She's cuter than the pies she makes...which is a whole lot of "cute" goin' on if by "cute" you mean some kind of yummaful.
Anyways, through my crush on her, I've met a new BBFF, webmaster extraordinaire Phil (even though he doesn't blog). Ol' Phil has promised the moon and stars red carpet treatment if I ever make it to Savannah to meet The Lady (Paula) and her sons (Bobby and Jamie), and in the meantime, he sent a little fun my way--
Good things always come in mailing tubes, yes? Have you ever gotten a bill in one?
It's a mini movie poster from the 2005 movie Paula was featured in, Elizabethtown, starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst. The movie's tagline is "It's a heck of a place to find yourself" which sounds about right for Ms. Deen.
But let's look closer to see what makes this particular poster so special--
Why she wrote a personal note just to me! Right, Phil? RIGHT??!
Thanks to my new friend and Miss Paula for making my day. But, Phil, let's just keep what she said about me behind my back between me and you though, k?
:)
OOooo, and want some more of Paula's DELICI-O-SO recipes? Click her pictures and follow the links...I bet they taste as good (better than?) as they look!
(l-r Mixed Berry Bellinis, Sweet Dessert Paninis and Best Crab Casserole...come here lovies...!)
** For the record, I meant it's amazing what a little air up MY skirt does for me in this case, not that I was blowing air up Paula's or Phil's skirts in order to score this little surcie. But you knew that because it was perfectly clear...right?
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wordless wednesday
