Intellectual Nonsense

My Madre

Today is my wonderful, beautiful, lovely, sweet, compassionate, funny and self-less Mom's birthday. There really isn't enough kind words to say about her... she encompasses all the things that you could want in a Mother. She has a heart deeper then oceans; would do anything for me (anyone). I love her so much and my heart-aches with pride knowing that she will always be MY mom. MY friend.

This birthday is a little bitter-sweet for her (for all of us). But I am focusing on the positive. Life. Her life. The blessing she is to all of us. And the crazy wacky mom that I love in her...one of the only ones (my sister included) that can make me laugh until I cry!

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I hate swine.... But I still love me some bacon

We found out that Jeremiah had the swine flu this past week. For reals people. H-one N-one. For reals. It didn't really sink in until I started thinking about my kids and the media hub-bub of the potential of it being extremely serious if they were to get it. So, I had my freak out moment, cried and then gathered my sh*t together and got the F out of dodge.

The boys and I camped out at my parents house while Jeremiah drank ungodly amounts of gatorade and watched anything remotely interesting he could find on TV. He didn't leave the house for a straight five days. I think he had a case of cabin fever along with his swine flu. Not good.

It was all rather scary. Even calling the pediatrician didn't relieve me of any fear. They had to call the Infectious Disease Society to find out what they should do for my kids. Talk about unnerving when your family's case is the first in the area. Awesome. Combine that with the media making it seem like my kids were going to start morphing into little piggies or worse even die if I didn't act quickly. Ugh. I was frantic all week.

Fortunately, Jeremiah recovered and the boys and I dodged the freaking hog virus. But it did convince us that we are for sure vaccinating our boys as soon as it becomes available in our area. Not worth the risk.

PS. I felt that this post was very deserving of some of the above harsh phrases. I mean, my husband had the Fing SWINE FLU!!! Good gawd, if that doesn't call for some good 'ol cussing I don't know what does.

Move over all ready!

For the life of me I can't get my banner to be centered. So, it's Left Justified. So be it.

Domestic

I was all about being domestic this past week. I got this baking/cooking bug that I just couldn't shake. I made homemade pumpkin pancakes, clam chowder from scratch, 3 dozen molasses cookies, a lemon jello yellow cake and homemade tomato sauce for penne pasta. We ate like kings around here.

I love to cook but I particularly love to bake. It's a blessing and a curse all wrapped up into one because the things I like to bake usually consist of lots of butter and lots of sugar; hence the reason I'm not a size zero. But I am totally fine with that because it is all so freaking delicious!

My goal is not to be the next Julia Child or Martha Stewart. It's just to have fun and hope people (mostly Jeremiah and the boys) love it too. Luckily for me Jeremiah is a really gracious and truthful guinea pig. He will taste test and tell me if he thinks there is something missing or if I need to add something. Like with the pasta sauce; I got a little carried away with the cayenne so when he mentioned it had a bit too much kick I was able to remedy it with some cream and a dash of sugar. He also is very quick to compliment me. I think one of the best compliments is when someone raves about my food. Isn't there some quote about "the fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach"? So, I know I have done well if they're going back for seconds!

Cooking/baking is relaxing to me. I find great enjoyment in the kitchen; something about it is so refreshing and inspiring. Jeremiah is also a great cook. Specifically, Stir-frys and hearty meat dishes. I'm hoping that the boys get the itch and are able to make their way around the kitchen when they are older. Fynn already wants to help every time I'm experimenting in the kitchen. It's really quite cute. Nothing wrong with a man (boy) in an apron. I'll take someone cooking for me all day long.

Next on my "need to try" recipes list: Pad Thai, Apple Butter and Beef Stroganoff. And maybe even a Sangria for bookclub I'm hosting later this month.