Naturals

Suzy said today that she wasn’t a good cook – whateevvver! Suzy is a great cook!!! She is creative and she has a style, panache, elegance, and flair most people would be envious of. I like to cook, but I am not necessarily a good cook. I have a lot of experience since I began cooking at a young age. My mother started working at nights while I was still in Junior High. She had to leave a hungry husband, three girls and two to four boys and their hungry friends (usually 4-6) to fend for themselves. Well they didn’t get to fend for themselves, because I took over fending for them. So I learned to cook in bulk: Mom’s diner style, Army mess-hall style, cafeteria style – you get the picture. But I am not a natural. I have to work at it. Suzy is a natural and I am always impressed with her cooking and her style.

This is not to ignore Cy and Kimberly. They are also naturals - good cooks who make efficient, tasty, spicy, mostly-good-for-you kinds of dishes. They always make the stuff you can’t resist. It’s not traditional soul food, but soul food none-the-less.

I’m hungry.

Do Try This

After my nice cleaning and a clean bill, I decided I REALLY should start eating better. I am eating more raw veggies, but usually with help from a dip or cheese of some kind.

This is the latest thing I tried:
stuff celery with Jalepeno Cream Cheese from Full Quiver Farms. Then stick whole pecans into the cheese all the down the stalk.

Don"t Try This At Home

So I was driving home from a shift at M21 tonight and I took the Mopac route to Davis and then cut through the sud-division to 1826. When what to my wondering eyes should appear? No, not reindeer, but a Bobby Lee lool-a-like, walking down the non-existant shoulder of 1826, barefoot, in a leather jacket and print boxers. It is dark-thirty. People are zooming past this guy with barely inches to spare. I turn onto Gallant Fox and think about what I should do. Calling 911 seems silly. So I turn around, turn on my flashers and wait for at least 30 more cars to speed by. Then I pull out onto 1826 and pull up next to walking-guy. His car is broke down. His wife is in Manchaca. He needs to get to the gas station. Cars are honking. Get in. (He sees my uniform and I know he won't try anything... crazy). I drive towards the gas station. "So," I say, "you are a long ways from Manchaca." He says: "I get into trouble." "What kind of trouble?" I ask. "Family violence."
F... I just picked up an axe murderer who resembles Bobby Lee - I think I will now call him Wing Nut...
So I take Wing Nut over to the gas station at the intersection of 1826 and 290 (yes, I made him put on his seat belt). I tell him to get out and I will call someone who will help him. 311 and a link to TCSO non-emergency. In less than 5 minutes, SO arrived to "help" my new friend Wing Nut.
A happy ending. But don't try this at home, kids.

Missing

C&K are all moved out and I sure do miss them. I have kept myself busy though, putting away things that have been in boxes or shoved in spaces for at least 3 and ½ years. Of course, I have also rearranged the furniture. (I used to do this all the time, especially when no one was home. That way they would come home and… surprise! Usually a good surprise, except when they all came home after dark. Some people redecorate, I rearrange).
Anyway, I have found only a handful of things left behind by C&K. The best so far are the nalgene bottles. I have filled both of them every day for work. One bottle goes on the “truck” with me and one stays in the station. Very nice reminders of C&K.
And I thought of a new term to describe people who are welcome in many places by many people and have many homes they can go to whenever they want – the homefull.
Next week I hope to utilize one of the things they intentionally left behind. If I do, I’ll post a picture for you.