Currently there are three to four people racing around my living room and singing to a variety of songs from the 90s. Kenny is wearing a loin cloth of course. Ben is wearing underwear, a cape, and a superman belt. Others are wearing Christmas Fairy costumes and Mrs. Pizza costumes and are freaked the hell out. Jack is dressed as Mr. Lobster and is not drunk enough. I got a zombie nurse and suddenly zombie green day is breaking out. I think I have to go to work at 12 or 2. Either way there are people celebrating. I will wake up and edit this tomorrow. Goodnight.

That looks angry. I love you.

Making Missouri blue

This was one of many pictures I took hoping that perhaps my camera could see Obama. I was in Kansas City this weekend and took my mama to the rally to see her newly pledged candidate. I may have promised her a grandchild in exchange for her vote, but I do what I have to for my country. The crowd was huge. The estimates said about 75,000. We were about 20 rows back from having the possibility of maybe seeing him, but we could hear him really well. The energy and shear awe-inspiring size of the crowd were totally worth the trip. Now I can also stop laying awake at night worrying about my mother hurting America. Ah, relief.

Our rockstar lifestyle

About five or six years ago Kenny and I went to a Ben Folds concert at the Pageant in St. Louis. We arrived at least two hours before doors opened, got front row spots, heckled Duncan Sheik (the opening act) and danced and cheered and sang while Ben played. I think we even went out afterwards. Basically, we had an awesome time.

Fast forward to Friday night. While we frequently have a glass of wine or a beer with dinner, we decide that it would be a bad idea that night because it might make us sleepy. We don our gym shoes (which might as well be orthopedic) and hoodies. Doors open at 8:00 and the theater is about a 10-minute walk from our house. We know we don't have it in us to get in line early to try to get really great spots. We try to calculate the last possible minute for us to leave so as to minimize our standing (oh the strenuous standing) around time but not be all the way in back. We end up standing about 4 rows back and halfway regretting not going for the actual seats in the balcony (the balcony where the age group is mysteriously more similar to our own). Ben plays an awesome show as always. Kenny dances violently--sort of rocking forward forcefully from the waist. We leave exhausted. I have a headache and Kenny has pulled something in his shoulder from the dancing. We sleep for many hours and wake up sore--from you know, standing.

Saturday night, we tried to go to see the Acrocats (yes, those are acrobatic cats), but it was SOLD OUT.

Jack humiliates himself for your viewing pleasure.

Jack balances a coaster on his head. Seeks beer to put on coaster. Thinks he could totally go as Chuck for Halloween.

Preparing Kenny for Atonement

When I make dinner for Kenny, I usually make the amount I would make for myself times 4. And he's usually still hungry when he leaves the table. That tummy of his is a bottomless pit. Yesterday, I spent a great deal of the day making his last meal for before his day-long Yom Kippur fasting. I began cooking around noon and made a lasagna that weighed at least 10 pounds.



In all fairness, there was approximately 1 pound left over at the end. We also got some cookies from the bakery for dessert. Ironically, one of the cookies appeared to be pig shaped.


And this is the belly after sunset. It's normally flat, so all that protrudes is dinner.

I did a good job.

And Autumn has a silent N

Fall is the best season. I'd leave it at that and expect you to agree with me, but I have a feeling most people like Spring and Summer more. Spring is nice and all but those damn flowering trees wreak havoc on my allergies and sometimes it just takes too long to get warm--and by that time you've been through all the cold winterness so you're ready for a change. Summer is also fine, but sometimes it's just too hot. In any event, I don't get all warm and fuzzy about either and warm and fuzzy is the very essence of fall. You get to pull out a "new" wardrobe. There are cardigans or hoodies to be worn, blankets to be cuddled under, and fuzzy socks to put on. Fall also has, without a doubt, the best color scheme. I got married in fall in part because the colors are just so pretty. My home is also decorated in fall. The food aspect is also an important one. You've got apples and squash and pecans and mmmmmm. We've spent the summer trying to not make the kitchen or house too hot and now it's finally okay to bake again. I'll be making my grandma's apple cake soon.

Alma's Apple Cake

Ingredients & directions:
Mix the following in a large bowl:
3 cups chopped peeled apples
1 tsp salt, 2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg, 2 cups sugar
2 tsp baking soda

Add 3 cups flour to the above.

Mix the following and then add to the above:
2 beaten eggs, 1 cup oil, and 2 tsp vanilla

Add 1 cup of walnuts

Bake in greased and floured bundt
cake pan for 1 hour at 350 ∞ oven.
Cool cake, frost, & refrigerate.

Cream cheese frosting: one 8 oz cream cheese,
1 stick of margarine, one to two pounds powdered sugar,
1 tsp vanilla. Blend together and then frost.