Steak-Outs and Free Ice Cream

I'll be busy at work the next couple of days, and then have a move to do.

I'm moving to a new crash pad.  My lease is expiring, and I'm not happy with either the current upkeep of the property or the new neighbors I share a wall and driveway with since my neighbor the cop bought a house.  They consist of the buffalo family and their feral children who spend their evenings bouncing things off the walls while the kids scream and cry and doing laundry at 6 a.m. on weekends when I'm coming off of work at 3 a.m.

I've rented a yuppie condo place in an expensive community (it's actually cheaper than a house though) but they allow large pets, which few nice places do, and have a dog park very close by. Yes, I could transfer to Chicago - but it would mean not being Gibbs, and I like being Gibbs. Squirrel retirement is looming (with my retirement pay based on the last three years of being Gibbs) so I look at it as an inconvenience for another year, then on to other things and more time at home to annoy my husband.

But cement between floors, a single one bed-rrom neighbor with a car that cost more than most of my gun safe, and a location far away from the road at least means I'll have some quiet in the evenings to write and relax when I'm working-- which is but a distant memory lately.

But the next few days will be busy packing after work, and I will have a couple of days with no computer but for a quick Facebook hi from a local coffee shop.  I'm going from multiple bedrooms and two baths to one bed/one bath so there's some packing and downsizing to do. Hello?  AmVets?   After that, the free ice cream will continue and I promise not to bore you all with the new book any further, though I will advise when the Kindle edition comes out.

Thanks for those of you that acknowledged it though.  It's not for everyone but the fact that a few of the many folks that visit here left a comment and bought a copy, even if the subject matter likely wasn't their thing, (there's no guns or  spaceships!!),  meant the world to me. You, my friends, all are awesome, and the reason I keep showing up here regularly.

See you all next Monday, Comcast  (shudder) permitting.
 - Brigid

It IS like Giving Birth

Writing a Book.

It starts with great anticipation, is filled with moments of joy, discomfort, and the occasional sleepless night while thoughts kick from inside, with no place to go.  It takes months and months for it to grow and develop and it seems like the day it is born will never be here.

Then it's done, painfully and protractedly.  Finally, you hold it in your hands, loving it because it's part of you, the most painfully shy, weak, strong, courageous and foolish parts of you.

But remember, there's ALWAYS going to be someone who has never been through the experience that's going to say "Ugly Baby."

It's all worth it.

"Hard times and lean times are only forever if you believe they are.  If you refuse to, they are simply brief glances in which, for a moment without measure or context, will lie in your sights the portent of all  that you think you cannot bear but will, there between the darkness and the light."
 - Saving Grace - A Story of Adoption

Saving Grace - April 22 2015

Saving Grace - A Story of Adoption has been published.  Paperback is available at Amazon. (Kindle copy in the works, and should be available in a few days).

If you liked the style of writing in The Book of Barkley you will enjoy this story. It started as a journal I wrote to my daughter after I gave her up for adoption as a teen.  It wasn't anything structured, just notes here and there of thoughts and stories of her birth as well as my life growing up in the 60's and 70's with the brother I was adopted with.  In a series of vignettes of life and memories crafted from those notes,  I hope some of you will see much of your own journey to family.This book is for my daughter, in memory of my brother, but I hope the world will enjoy it.

http://outskirtspress.com/webPage/isbn/9781478754145

It's that time of the year again.

There's a big Firefighting Conference thing going on in Indy.  Why is that important?  Well-- I have some squirrel friends that  work as volunteer firefighters and attend using their vacation and their own dollars. So every year, my home in Indy, which is now my crash pad, is the docking station, with showers, laundry, food and a place to hit the rack, for one or all.  Barkley used to love these visits as they'd send the coolest high tech, high energy dog toys out in advance of arrival, something to enjoy in my previously fenced yard.

It looks like a testosterone bomb went off in here and Abby is looking perturbed that couch, futon and all extra sleeping spaces are no longer hers.

There's many years of history here, and there will be some tales told under the "Cone of Silence" where a toast is raised and at least one tale will be told about a wrong way tank and a Bosnian goat (a tale that's in my next book but not told here tonight).   I don't have a real little brother of the blood kind, but I really do have my own band of little "brothers", and for that I'm grateful for their presence.

We think we have also lured Tam over for Poutine and Beer on Friday night.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Old Times and Tenderloin - a View From a Diner

Not far from the old Indianapolis airport terminal there was this really cool and very old looking diner, run down and closed a few years ago. Noticing that it disappeared,  I was saddened to see it torn down.

But it was NOT torn down.  The city in Plainfield worked with some local folks to get it moved to the historic downtown area and restored to it's glory of 1954. I sort of stumbled across it one day and promised to drive back and eat there. With my husband around this weekend it was the perfect time.

The Oasis Diner.

Partner and I made the drive to check it out and are really glad we did. They've been open several months now giving them time to work out the kinks that can come with any new business, and establish a good menu.

The main dining room (which was decorated with a lot of automobile license plate memorabilia) was pretty full so we went around the corner to the counter which also had a few smaller booths.  The decor was restored to its original look and it was just perfect.  But decor notwithstanding, I was trying not to drool at the homemade cakes and pies under glass as we ordered our drinks (coffee for Partner, this amazing locally crafted Butterscotch Root Beer for me).

MMMM, Spice Cake

It was pouring, so we ate inside but there is outside seating, including an area where your pets are welcome (the restaurant is right off of a walking trail through an extensive city park so this would be a great spot to stop with the kids and the dog for one of their hand crafted milkshakes, malts or old-fashioned soda floats on a warm summer day.)

There's some standards and some not so standards like Grilled Cheese, full of not just cheese but lots of bacon, roasted tomatoes, avocado relish on homemade (baked right there) bread served with a cup of tomato basil bisque. Then there was something called "disco" fries which looks wonderfully like Canadian Poutine - with french fries covered with melted mozzarella, brown gravy and fresh chives.

They also sell their whole pies and loaves of bread to go.

Partner in Grime had the breakfast special, A Monte Cristo style breakfast sandwich with bacon and eggs sandwiched between two slices of french toast, dusted with powdered sugar.  He said it was very good.

I had the tenderloin sandwich (and yes, there ended up being a "to go" box involved --it was HUGE). Crispy and tender with a surprisingly delicate, yet crisp and tasty coating, it was worth each and every calorie, especially with a homemade bun and garlic mayo and my choice of their many sides - in this case poppy-seed  infused creamy coleslaw though I almost went for the bacon mac and cheese. Partner headed back to Chicago in the morning with half the sandwich (which didn't last the trip) and called to tell me how good it was.

As we relaxed and chatted  it was like going back to a time before I was born, one of simple food and simple fun.

Looking out the window, at small town America, I was thankful that such  family run businesses are still succeeding.  There across the street, a bus from a Baptist church, a city flag honoring our soldiers, and another local business.  This is the kind of town I grew up in, and though I'm officially a "big city" resident now, I love to return to my roots  Especially with wonderful meals to go with it.

We got ready to leave, when a basket came past our table to be served to the gentlemen quietly reading a book at the booth behind us.  Something on the menu I had missed.  Beignets!  Hot from the fryer and dusted with sugar.  Why yes, you can add a basket of those to our tab for $2.  Our server was so sweet to make the last minute change.  The perfect ending to our meal.

The service was efficient and ever-so-friendly, Partner's coffee cup was refilled promptly, a manager stopping by our table to make sure we were satisfied and we promised we'd made a drive back again. If you're heading across central Indiana on Interstate 70, just pop north on the Hwy 267 exit just west of the Indy airport, take a left on old Highway 40 (West Main Street, where the road "T's, at the Kroger--you can't miss it) in Plainfield and you'll find the Oasis just down the road a couple of miles on the left.  It's well worth the stop and would be a fun outing for anyone in the Indianapolis area with the great park here, with water and so many walking trails.

To the owners and staff of the Oasis Diner-- here's hoping for another 50 or so years.  We will definitely be back.

Saturday Happenings - That's the Way the Violet Crumbles

What's Going on at the Range -

Actually it's crashpadville again for today, as I'm getting ready to move to another crash pad.  My lease was up, after three years my rent had gone up and the nice police officer and his wife had bought a home and moved.  I now have the Buffalo family sharing the wall and the driveway with me, as their herds of stampeding children run and squeal and play. They're a nice, hard working young couple, but multiple kids under the age of five doesn't work well when I often work weird hours and have to sleep in the day. So  I'm moving to a brand new one bedroom condo with granite countertops, a huge tub, better construction, one that shares a wall with another one bedroom, likely to be quieter.  It's even closer to work which is also a plus. No, it's not cheap, but here I'm "Gibbs".  If I transfer closer to home I'll be a Ensign Ricky from Star Trek, on the bottom of the totem pole with pay that matches and on the road all the time or a desk bound bureaucrat. So Partner is all for me staying and doing what I love for now.

So this weekend was getting stuff packed up to move soon.

I bribed Partner in Grime to come down from the Range today to help get organized for the next long weekend when I can make the move.

Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch earlier, frozen, then thawed and heated up.

He earned it.  This weeks Range project was to put in a backwater valve at the same time we replaced a sewer line that had a crack in it.  Flooding was a problem after unusually heavy rain events back to back, last year.

No - that's not heavy.

So he was ready for a little break. After the moving boxes were assembled and set in the spare bedroom it was time for lunch.

Mix half and half sweet chili sauce and soy sauce and add a couple teaspoons of honey and some crushed red pepper flakes,

Stir fry with rice noodles, chicken and veggies.

Then we ran a few errands.

To the retro candy store on the West side of the city.

So I could get my Violet Crumble fix.

As well as Dad's favorite - huckleberry salt water taffy.

Back at the crash pad it was time for a game of backgammon..  The backgammon is new for us, and as competitive as we both are, we laughingly refer to it as backstabbingammon, as we pounce on each other's lone piece to send it to the bar (like a penalty box).

Come on Mom, quick playing games - Animal Planet's Coming ON!

MOM - It's not Animal Planet - It's "What Hillary Accomplished in Washington" on the TV again. 

OK Abby - we'll watch something more entertaining than a blank screen with you while we have a snackie supper.

Coney Dog Sauce Nachos

Ring - it's the phone - It's Dad and he wants to say hi to both of us!

 No - I was not stealing a Nacho. I was keeping your spot warm, and look, I'm asleep. (peep)

 Really - I don't know what happened to that missing cheesy chip

It was worth it bwahahahahaha.

And finally - since it was "Buy a Gun Day" this week.  Here's a photo Partner took of our purchase, taken down in the basement.  With the new kitchen floor, major basement re-plumbing, moving costs and Dad care, our gun budget was a bit limited.

You all have a safe and wonderful weekend.

Spam Spam Spam Spam

Internet Spam Haiku - by Brigid

You too can make two

hundred dollars an hour

writing poetry

SPAM - like leading a horse to water.  Or not.

I've seen it all, even without accepting anonymous comments. There's the one guy who leaves comments on all the popular blogs - completely generic comments that indicated he never read your post.  We may not all write Shakespeare in a comment but putting "loved your post! or great idea! - link exchange?" on a post about a death in someone's family or a soldier being killed  while serving is beyond tactless.  When it goes back to a blog that's pretty much nothing but ads, other people's writing you copied and other people's videos, it's just wrong.

But there is always the obvious SPAM that IS funny. There are the ones that seem to be written by someone whose first language is NOT English. (Hot,  like a cow on fire!)

And the SPAM that comes via "thank you gmail!" Letting me know there's a source  for everything I could ever want to know on the "craps workbench (verb or noun?), ascent tampon, gopher debilitator, or products from the Spiderman Pharmacy.  Then of course there are the letters from folks with long legal titles in mangled English that begin with a narrative informing me of the giant foreign lottery I won that I don't remember entering, or the arrangement to cash a big check for someone overseas in exchange for a fee so big I could buy my own island  -

"I humbly request your ass. . ."

Then there are the ones that just make you tilt your head like the RCA dog. Huh?

"Observe up the monumental hunk of process, I show handful points on this internet site also I deem that your net scene is rattling stimulating furthermore has places of splendid news.”

"Monumental hunk of process?" Apparently a Six Sigma guy on crack selling the "Western Wedding Dress"  (Annie Oakley gets her man?)

Of course,  there are the  the more mundane ones, simply a sensible sounding comment  that makes sense but is so generic that it might not have any bearing on the actual post, but then again, it could.  "I wonder who sent it ? There's no link, just a blogger name, this must be someone I know" (click on the blogger name) -  "Act Now, get The Ronco Weasel Encabulator!"

The HOTR Crown Roast of SPAM

Always filling up my SPAM folder are those creepy ads for Viagra or Cialis that would make a South St. Louis crack dealer blush. I will not repeat here as this is a family blog.

Then there's the ones that are pure gibberish.  Written by a computer or simply someone reading the thesaurus after smoking the Happy Poppy.

Most people believe that a satellite falls in love with a loyal tape recorder, but they need to remember how ostensibly a load bearing burglar wakes up.  

If you want to have real fun, reply to one of those SPAM's from foreign women named Natasha or Anna the hot chick who saw you at the grocery who want to throw their bodies at you if you'd just send them air fare-- with your own auto generated reply.

Dear Darling Natasha.   

ANY sandwich can accurately sanitize an imaginary deficit, but it takes a real fruit cake to avoid contact with the steam engine.  The cab drive for an industrial complex ostensibly is a big fan of a grain  of sand.  Now and then a asteroid near a paper napkin pees on the boiled warranty.

Remember darling, when you see the ski lodge it means the tattered customer went to sleep.
Yours
L

But this latest one, from a country where the currency exchange is likely  based on the current value of a camel, did make me laugh after a VERY long and stressful week.  Maybe because he called me "dude" before trying to sell me dental equipment likely leftover from the last Soviet invasion, (the last three words being a direct link which I did NOT click on.)

"thanx dude i am really ur post tooth extracting forceps"

And finally - my favorite of those one liners .

THIS MASSAGE IS FROM HOMELAND SECURITY.  (Secret Service-- I might have bought it .  . .)

So, what were YOUR worst SPAM comments?

Strike While the (Waffle) Iron is Hot

Give me the treat.  give me the treat, give me the treat.

It's an abbreviated weekend,but no chores, no book to finish (cover and final galley draft approved last night so it's off to print),  not enough time off to go home for more than a night and Partner wanting to tear out the basement floor to get the check valve/sump pump installed.  So we decided it would be just a good time to just chill at the crash pad and get caught up on a good night's sleep rather than do a four hour drive on 2 hours of sleep the night before.

I had a shot of Bowmore, slept for 10 hours and woke up to a day with absolutely no obligations and no plans as my regular girls day out partner is out and about elsewhere today.

Well, no plans except to help a coworker move a bed first thing in the morning. (Yes, I am THAT friend with the truck).

Then Abby got a nice long walk,. . .

. . . . and begged for treats (she gets so mesmerized, she looks like she's stoned).

I did my every other day weight routine (slightly more effective than 12 ounce curls I've found) followed by a long soak in the tub with my favorite bath goodies (Queen Bee Naturals from St. Louis, the bath soak of which smells like milk and honey), then a late breakfast.

Cinnamon Roll Waffles.  

You can either mix up a batch of Easy Cinnamon Rolls from scratch, cutting them about 1 and 1/2 inches thick, or use the GRAND kind in the can. (Damn, I thought it was Pillsbury Garands - that was a disappointment, the first time I bought them.)

Lightly spray a waffle iron with non stick spray, plop the cinnamon roll in the middle and cook for 3 minutes, until brown.

Re-spray with non stick spray before cooking the next one(s).  Mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons cream cheese, a little milk and a dash of  vanilla. Or serve with maple syrup.

Proper fuel for a afternoon of leisurely savoring some old and new favorites while curled up on the couch.

It's back there with the World Championship Riesling

I have just 48 hours before going on duty again, not enough time to go home and Partner is putting in a sump pump before we have more basement flooding, so it's a brief bachelor weekend.

 I stopped by the liquor store after getting a haircut to pick up a spare bottle of something to have a Friday night  nightcap with. We have a handful of  liquor stores in crashpadville and surrounding areas.  A couple are newer chain stores, with the remainder being smaller and older ma and pa places.  I stopped in at one of the older ones, simply because it was on the way home from the hair salon and the nice new chain one would be a longer drive and I like to business with non-chain stores.

I had  stopped at this one after the last haircut and bought a $79 bottle of single malt and the part time clerk about had a heart attack at the cost (they don't appear to do a brisk single malt business). This time, I just went for Jameson. I had a little trouble finding it, it was actually with the American Whiskeys and bourbon. The clerk, bless his tattoo covered heart, took his time and  helped me locate it.  As he rung it up he said. . .

 "What is this?'

 I said "it's Irish Whiskey".

 He holds up the green bottle and, I'm not kidding you, says

 "Does it taste like MINT?"  

OK, perhaps I'm a scotch/whiskey snob, but that just made me hold in the laughing until I got to the truck.

Nite everyone.

Love is an Exploding Cigar

The Picture above pretty much sums up when Partner in Grime and I met and anyone married to a redhead will relate. Tonight - since it's been an exhausting week in squirrel land, just some general silliness for those of you in a relationship, or navigating the minefields of dating.

Love is an Exploding Cigar We Willingly Smoke -

Lynda Barry

Like IDPA, if you ask some women, romance and marriage have their own point system.

Frankly I don't keep track, it's like that whole Weight Watchers thing. My heart goes "kaboop", there's the smell of bacon or gunpowder in the air and I don't think about points.

However, I am also told that having been raised in a very testosterone laden household (all, including Mom, LEO, military, defense or special ops), I don't "think like a girl" .

For example, Partner in Grime and I were recently on the couch discussing a book set deep back in history where women pretty much gave birth, toiled in the house and died too young. I said "I just don't think I would have fit in back then" to which he replied "B., back then you would have been burned at the stake as a witch". 

That actually made me smile.

But today some male buddies were talking about the female "point system", totally in the dark as to why some things they did made their spouses go from all happy and warm and "look my clothes fell off" to a a "fine" and a door slam. "Just what is this whole keeping points thing", they asked.

So, in another installment of HOTR romance tips here is the point system as we know it.

HOUSEHOLD CHORES

You make the bed (+1)

You make the bed, but forget the matching useless pillow shams (-1)

You cover the rumpled sheets with that nice tarp you brought Bambi home in so the blood stains will dry out (-100)

SHOPPING

You make a special trip to the store when she's not feeling well and buy her something she needs (+1)

It's a girly product such as white nail polish (+2)

It's nail polish for her to touch up the sights on her 1911 (+5)

It's raining (+10)

You return without the item but with this month's issue of Big Racks. (-10)

It's not a magazine about hunting (-300)

HOME PROTECTION

You check out a suspicious noise at night (+1)

You check out a suspicious noise, and its the wind (0)

You check out a suspicious noise and it is something (+5)

You fire a load of buckshot in its general direction (+10)

It's her yappy little poodle (-50)

THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

You stay by her side the entire party (0)

You stay by her side for a while, then leave to chat with another friend (-2)

Named Trixi (-10)

Trixi is a professional pole dancer (-50)

Trixi is showing off her new implants (-200)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

You take her out to dinner (+2)

You take her out to dinner and it's not the flaming chicken wing place or a sports bar (+3)

Okay, it involves flaming chicken wings(-2)

and sports (-3)

And it's all you can eat night (-3)

It's a flaming chicken wing place, it's all you can eat night, your face is painted the colors of your favorite team and the gift you got her is a "We're No. 1" giant foam finger (-200)

DATE NIGHT

You take her to a movie (+1)

You take her to a movie she likes (+3)

You take her to a movie you hate (+6)

You take her to a movie you like (-2)

It's called 'Mutant Zombie Hookers" (-8)

You lied and said it was about kittens and starred Julia Roberts (-25)

THE BIG QUESTION

She asks, "Does this make me look fat?" (-5)
Sorry guys - You lose points just by playing

You hesitate in responding (-10)

You reply "Not as much as what you wore to work today?" (-35)

Any other response (-20)

COMMUNICATION

When she's had a bad day at work, you listen, pour her a glass of wine and give her a hug. (+4)

You listen, through two glasses of wine and whining. (+50)

All while you are missing Top Gear. (+200)

Which you are able to watch if you turn your head just so and pretend to focus on her face as you look past her into the living room, until she catches you. (-200)

So now you know what the point system is. But trust me gentlemen if you find the right woman you won't have to worry so much about that. For in a truly good relationship it's not about points.

Unless bacon is involved.  Bonus points.