I love 'nanner pudding!

 Try it....You'll like it!!

 

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 3 cups cold milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 4 bananas, sliced
• 1/2 (12 ounce) package vanilla wafers

Directions

1. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in condensed milk, pudding mix, cold milk and vanilla until smooth. Fold in 1/2 of the whipped topping.
2. Line the bottom of a 9x13 inch dish with vanilla wafers. Arrange sliced bananas evenly over wafers. Spread with pudding mixture. Top with remaining whipped topping. Chill.

Cold Hearted Snake

I'm pretty much and 80's lady through and through when it comes to music and yesterday I heard Paula Abdul's "Cold Hearted Snake" on the radio.  Ahhh!! Good memories of waking up in the morning, getting ready for school and turning on MTV to watch videos.  Yes, kiddies, MTV once upon a time actually had Music Videos.  Amazing, I know. 

 Not only did the head rush of memories full of spiral perms, hairspray (my faves were Salon Selectives and Aqua Net in the pink and black obscene ounce can), tight rolled Guess Jeans and Lip Smackers lip gloss, so did the image of the sweater you see above.  I saw it a while back and before I could contain myself I started, aloud mind you, Cold Hearted Snake. Loudly. I'm usually not so mean but seriously, WHO wears that?!

So, I leave you with this.....


OOH OOH AHHHH.....sing it!!!

The Coolest Band Name. Ever.

I've been singing along into my hairbrush and dancing around in my tall socks to this song all week long. I really like these guys and hope you do, too.  Oh, and I'll admit I judge bands by their names and this one had me at The Business.

Conversations with Bubby

Dallas and I were watching a movie a couple weeks ago, cuddled on the couch.  Well, actually he's stretched out over my lap so I can scratch his back for just 5 more minutes. (note: 5 more mintues means scratch his back til he falls asleep)

Anyway, it's an older movie with a bit of  Mafia type stuff in it.  Bank robberies,  jewelry heists and car chases abound.  I have a habit of asking questions during movies and that night was no exception...

Me: "Hey Bub,  Why do you think those Mobsters have such nice cars?"

Bubby: "Cause sometimes crime pays, Yaya."

God, I love that kid.

HaHa of the Day

A businessman met a beautiful girl and agreed to spend the night with her for $500.    In the morning before he left, he told her that he did not have any cash with him, but he would have his secretary write a check and mail it to her, calling the payment 'RENT FOR APARTMENT.'

On the way to the office, he regretted what he had done, realizing that the whole event had not been worth the price. So he had his secretary send a check for $250 and enclose the following typed note:

Dear Madam:

Enclosed find a check for $250 for rent of your apartment . I am not sending the amount agreed upon, because when I rented the place, I was under the impression that:

#1 - it had never been occupied
#2 - there was plenty of heat
#3 - it was small enough to make me feel cozy and at home

However, I found out that:

#1 - it had been previously occupied
#2 - there wasn't any heat, and
#3 - it was entirely too large

Upon receipt of the note, the girl immediately returned the check f or $250 with the following note:

Dear Sir:

#1 - I cannot understand how you could expect a beautiful apartment to remain unoccupied indefinitely.
#2 - As for the heat, there is plenty of it, if you know how to turn it on.
#3 - Regarding the space, the apartment is indeed of regular size, but if you don't have enough furniture to fill it, please do not blame the management.

So,  Please send the rent in full or we will be forced to contact your present landlady.

Have you ever?

Have you ever noticed that the one time you don't check your order before leaving the fast food drive-thru lane is when they screw everything up?

Have you ever noticed that your bladder will demand to be emptied the minute you get in the car and swing that seat belt over your shoulder and click it in? I gotta pee I gotta pee I gotta pee!

Have you ever figured out the reason why your sandwich tastes funny AFTER you took a large bite of peanut butter and jelly on moldy bread? If you know me, you know what I did to remedy that situation.

Have you ever spent nearly $40 filling your gas tank at $2.75 a gallon, only to drive around the block and see the other station is selling it for $2.69 and get really, really irritated at those lost cents? Hello? That would have bought me a pack of gum.

Have you ever assumed a friend let one after smelling something rancid, and later realized the origin on the smell was something you stepped in? Stupid neighbor's cats.

Have you a pair of favorite socks? And maybe you feel out of sorts all day if you're not wearing them?

Have you ever made a phone call to Friend A only to accidentally call Friend B instead and have them answer the phone and it confuse the crap out of you, enough so for you to pull the phone from your ear and look at it as if IT did something wrong?

Have you ever taken a drink expecting it to be Tea and it was water? Gross. (Refer to drive thru screw up)

I'm thinking this may be a good idea to write about in future posts...hmm? More to come.

You are so dumb. No really.

  I have to admit something: I totally judge people who have a confederate flag pattern splayed somewhere on their giant, lifted, mud-tired, gas guzzling truck. I don't think well of them. I assume that they are not good people. Oh please, don't give me that bullshit about it being about Southern pride and heritage, I was born in Nashville and raised mainly in the South and I know better. Let's forget about that.

 A good, kind person is like a really awesome chest thumping drum riff in a song you can't get out of your head: she makes you smile, he lifts your spirits. I think you know what I mean. Also, a really smart person that's clever and quick-witted, can make your day better just by talking within earshot. Don't misunderstand me, It's not that I can only appreciate intelligence. Uh, hello...it's not like I'm the brightest crayon in the box myself. It's that I feel myself being bothered by the buzzing of idiots around us all. Due to that droning sound, I promise I will appreciate even more than I do at this instant, the various qualities and music of people that are the closest and dearest to me. For instance, a kind demeanor, an ethical world-view, a generous nature, a fun attitude, a beautiful appearance, and most awesome of all, an obvious and palpable love for those they're with. Intelligence, oh man does it ever engage my appreciation whenever I encounter it, especially when I'm not expecting it. It overcomes my defenses and demands my interest. I am a sucker for it. If some cruel magician forced me to choose between being an intelligent asshole or being a benevolent idiot, hear me good now, I'd struggle and fret...Hmm, let me think on it... but I'd eventually choose to be a benevolent idiot. Hopefully I'd be too dumb to regret the decision later.

  And so I'm back to my first thought. I've been wondering as I sit here, what sort of vehicle would be the exact opposite of a giant truck with a confederate flag, oh wait a minute AND those repulsive nutsacks hanging from the tow hitch just for good measure? I'm not sure why, but I keep picturing a giant hot-air balloon. I can't decide what would be splayed on it's fabric, but it would be big and obvious and it would make my favorite people smile.

Cause it's good for you, damn it!!

Oven Roasted Cauliflower with Parm, Lemon & Garlic
Adapted from a recipe I found in a church cookbook, circa 1975

6 to 8 servings

Ingredients
1 large head of cauliflower, cut into small florets
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon+ sliced garlic
2 tablespoons lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon)

1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
Chopped chives, for garnish



Directions
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

Place the cauliflower florets in a large saute pan or a roasting pan. Drizzle the olive oil over the cauliflower, and season with the garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Place the saute/roasting pan in the oven and cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even roasting(I did this every 5 minutes). Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Garnish with chopped chives/green onion and serve immediately while still warm.

Excellent with steak or fish as an alternative to potatoes.

Just thinkin'

A while ago (and a time or two before that and I'm sure *hoping* a time or two more) at the department store a clerk couldn't believe I was my daughter's mother. I looked too young, she said. Maybe it's because I'm short. And I wear jeans and Converse sneakers with legwarmers as I have an affinity for comfy clothes that make me happy. (yeah, that's me in the pic, don't I rock?!) And I have a baby face, so I'm told. I'm pretty sure it's due to the fact I have chubbyish cheeks. In spite of all of this, I am my daughter's mother. And I'm her younger brother's stepmom as well. Now she's about to graduate from high school ( oh holy hell) You don't have to be mature or wise to have kids, you know. I'm just a dweeby kid myself, still, and I have Chesney almost grown. Soon Baby Girl and Bubby will be more mature than I am, if they aren't already. They'll be showing me the ropes, molding me into the woman I may someday be. I hope I don't let them down. I know they have high hopes for me.