Waffles

I love waffles; I much prefer them to pancakes, actually.  So why on earth did I throw away two waffle irons?

Five years ago, I was on an extended bout of healthy cooking and eating.  Cliff and I had both lost considerable weight and were maintaining quite well, for over a year.  I decided to clean out a sort of pantry area that's under the stairway to our upstairs, and there were our two waffle irons:  one I'd had for years, and the other one, I'd picked up at a garage sale for a buck or so.  The reason I bought it was that it takes so long to make a waffle, one person starves while the first one is eating.  So I figured I'd use both at once, and more people would get fed; I'm not sure I ever put this plan into use.

Anyway, waffles didn't fit into my healthy cooking scheme.  Isn't there a rule for cleaning closets that says, "If you haven't worn it for two years, toss it"?  Well, I couldn't remember the last time I'd made waffles.  So off to the ditch both waffler-makers went.

At present, I am not cooking and eating such healthy fare as I was in that fit of cleaning (now I know why I don't often toss things).  And I've been craving waffles for months!  Cliff is happy with pancakes, but not me.  And I don't want Belgian waffles, I want the old-fashioned, skinnier, crispy kind like Mama used to make.

I didn't work today, and my cable Internet was down.  I started bemoaning my lack of waffles to Cliff (again), and mentioned I was thinking of buying a waffle maker on Ebay.  "Don't do that," says he.  "Let's just go buy one."

We first went to Wal Mart; they had a really cheap one, and a larger, pricier one... but both were the Belgian kind.  Next we went to Kohl's, since I get a discount there.  Would you believe there wasn't a waffle maker in the store?  Must have been a popular Christmas gift.

I told Cliff I'd only be using it a couple times a year.  "In that case," he offered, "why don't we just go to the Waffle House when you get the urge?"

"Have you seen their prices?  And for one lousy waffle!  When I'm finally eating waffles, it's going to take two or three to satisfy my craving!"

So we ate lunch at Fazoli's and came home without a waffle iron.  It wasn't a totally wasted day though.  Cliff got a haircut and a new pair of overalls, and I got some unmentionables and a can of Planters Mixed Nuts (the ones without peanuts in the mix).

I'm thinking I may have to settle for a Belgian waffle maker... or buy a regular one on Ebay, but the shipping is $10; that's going to make me pay more than I want.

Why couldn't I have thought of this before Christmas, and let someone else do the searching and buying?

John Scalzi's Weekend Assignment

Weekend Assignment #42: Share your favorite story of Winter cold -- preferably (but not necessarily) involving something freezing inconveniently and humorously.

Cliff and I have always lived in old houses... which means cold and drafty, in the wintertime.  I could tell dozens of stories about things freezing in the house and on the farm, but I'll stick with a short, simple one.  We've lived in our present house since 1975.  The upstairs isn't heated, except for grates you can open in two of the rooms... one room, now, because when we put lowered ceilings in the kitchen, that did away with one.  Of course, we can leave the stairway door open to let heat up there.  Still, it's a cold place to sleep.

Our two kids slept upstairs, all their growing-up years.  I told them how tough they were, and that it was good for them to sleep in cold rooms:  "You're probably sick less than any kids in the school, blah blah blah...". 

We finally took pity on them and bought them electric blankets... AFTER my daughter took a glass of water upstairs to sip on, and brought it down the next morning, frozen!      

Extra credit: Name a song that reminds you of winter that's not Christmas-themed.

I hadn't thought of this old country classic in ages; I'm glad John jogged my memory.  It's entitled "The Blizzard"; it's written by the most prolific country music songwriter ever, Harlan Howard.  His description of country music was "three chords and the truth".

There's a blizzard comin' on and I'm wishin' I was home
For my pony's lame and he can't hardly stand
Lord my hands feel like they're froze and there's a numbness in my toes
But it's only seven miles to Mary Anne it's only seven miles to Mary Anne

You can bet we're on her mind for it's nearly suppertime
And I bet there's hot biscuits in the pan
Listen to that northern sigh if we don't get home we'll die
But it's only five more miles to Mary Anne it's only five more miles to Mary Anne

That wind's howlin' and it seems mighty like a woman's screams
And we'd best be movin' faster if we can
Dan just think about that barn with that hay so soft and warm
It's only three more miles to Mary Anne it's only three more miles to Mary Anne

Dan get up your ornery cuss or you'll be the death of us
I'm so weary but I'll help you if I can
All right Dan perhaps it's best we'll just stop awhile and rest
It's still another mile to Mary Anne it's still another mile to Mary Anne

Late that night the storm was gone and they found him there at dawn
He'd've made it but he just couldn't leave ol' Dan
Yes they found him out there on the plains his hands froze to the reins
He was just a hundred yards from Mary Anne
He was just a hundred yards from Mary Anne

We have electricity

I have to admit, there's something in me that enjoys a power outage; hard to believe, I know, when I'm so addicted to the Internet.  But I like to camp out, too (it's that "wanting to be an Indian" thing).  We lost electricity about 8 AM yesterday, and it came back on last night around midnight.  Cliff decided not to go to work, and I was glad for that.  It's boring to sit around in the dark alone.  Having nothing else to do, I put new strings on my guitar and sang until my fingertips were sore.  One of my minor New Year's resolutions is to get my guitar out and sing at least one song daily; that will keep my callouses intact, if nothing else.  Some songs I sang:  "Bobby McGee"; "What a Friend We Have in Jesus"; "Jesus Was a Capricorn"; "Another Place, Another Time"; "Wedding Bells"; "When He Was On The Cross"; "The Root of all Evil is a Man"; and "It Is No Secret".  Wow, no wonder my fingers are sore today!  There were more... that's just the ones I remember offhand.  I had to stick to songs to which I know all the words, because it was too dark to read.  Cliff and I zipped two sleeping bags together (from the camper) and snuggled into them before 8 PM; we talked for perhaps an hour before I drifted off to sleep.

This, my friends, is the "Blackout Buddy".  I bought one for Cliff, for Christmas.  It didn't cost much, maybe $15.  As soon as the electricity goes off, a light on the "Buddy" goes on.  It gives you a clock, a light, and a radio.  We used the radio quite a bit yesterday.  I couldn't believe we used it so soon after my buying it.

Today I'll go to work, although my right knee is starting to feel exactly like my left knee did before surgery, hurting when I try to straighten it out.  I expect to have a painful day because of this, but I'm going to give it my best shot.  If it gets too bad I'll call Cliff and use FMLA time.

a quick update

Cliff worked three hours, and then his company sent him and Tony home WITH FULL PAY for today!!  What a job.  So, I really have no concerns now.  If the power goes out, we'll deal with it.  The rain is still coming down, and there are slick spots outside now. 

it's starting

Oh yeah, I can hear that sleet peppering against my north window; the weather folks got it right this time.  I'm safely home, and I took a vacation day for tomorrow.  My main concern now is Cliff:  he gets off work at midnight, and the roads he and Tony travel coming home aren't main arteries, since we live in the boonies.  I'll be praying a lot this evening. 

If you don't see any new entries here for a day or two, you'll know my power is out.

The Weather-Guessers

Here's the weather forecast this morning:  

Today: Freezing rain this morning mixing with rain this afternoon. High 34F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precip 80%.

Tonight: Rain and freezing rain this evening ...mixing with snow and sleet late. Low 27F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precip 80%. Snow and ice accumulating around one inch.

Tomorrow: A wintry mix of snow, sleet or freezing rain. Cold. High near 30F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precip 80%. Snow and ice accumulating around one inch.

Tomorrow night: Mostly cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Cold. Low 8F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.

This is nothing unusual for Missouri at this time of year; neither is the behavior of midwestern citizens, after they hear such a forecast.  Suddenly the stores are jammed.  People act as though they're going to be MONTHS without power, and buy things they normally wouldn't think about getting.  A former neighbor of mine used to head to Aldi's if there was the slightest mention of snow in the forecast... Aldi's advertised themselves as "the stockup store", and, by george, she was going to stock up!

Our house is never without adequate food:  I'm a bargain shopper, so there are plenty of staples in the cupboards; oh, we might be low on bread or milk, but we'd get by.

That's me in front of our house in February, 2002.  We were without electricity for three days, I believe. We zipped our sleeping bags together to keep warm at night, wore coveralls all day in the house, and survived.  The only heat we had was from the four burners on our gas range; these new-fangled ovens won't ignite without electricity.  If there's a real threat of an ice storm tonight, I'll turn the oven on low and leave it on, so we'll have it.  We have a well for our water supply, so without electricity, we have no water, because the pump is electric.  However, our next-door neighbor is on rural water; so we can get water from his outside faucet.

I'm betting the weather-guessers are going for ratings, and this projected storm won't happen; midwest weather isn't that easy to predict.  But if it does, we're prepared.  It'll be an adventure!

What I like about God

I love the New Year; it's a time of new beginnings.  And it reminds me of what I like best about God:  He always offers a new beginning.  At any second, He'll allow you to start all over.  

People will hold your past failures against you.  Not God!  He's just proud you cared enough to try.  

People will make fun of you when your New Year's resolutions fail.  Not God!  He'll cheer you on, and if you do fail, He'll pick you up, dust you off, and point you toward the right path.  

You can spend your whole life trying to fit into a mold others designed for you, and they may never be satisfied with your efforts.  But God knows your desires and your purpose.  He's the one who gave you your gifts and talents in the first place, and He won't ask you to leave them behind; they are an integral part of you.  

People who follow my journal know I haven't preached much, and I won't now.  However, I've learned that happiness comes from finding your place in the grand scheme of things, which I believe was God-designed.  And I wish everyone could find happiness and fulfillment, because life here is short.   

I've learned that often, God isn't nearly as hard on you as your parents and peers.  

You may have given up on yourself, but God hasn't.  If you only remember one thing from my journal, remember this:  God hasn't given up on you, and He never will.  You can't do anything bad enough to keep Him from loving you.  

So you don't believe in God?  He still believes in you, and wants what's best for you.  Nothing you do will make Him hate you.    There was a time I didn't believe, so I know what it's like from that perspective.  I finally made a conscious choice to believe, and it changed my life.  

Humans have nitpicked, and televangelists have begged for money, until people can only see a made-up version of the Almighty.  We see a harsh figure standing over the earth with a whip in one hand and a collection plate in the other.  Folks, that isn't God.  I've met him.  He's nothing like that.  

I will now climb off my soapbox and get back to the normal flow of my journal (but it is MY blog, after all).  Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.