Art can be placed anywhere

Girl day with XRayGirl: ate dinner, watched Magic Mike and got pedis. And check out my toe art!

XRay Girl Rocks

XRayGirl is awesome. She and I also talk about anything and everything. We have lots in common and can relate to stuff, especially our pain in the butt 19 year old sons.

But we make each other laugh no matter what. I like that weeks can go by and we can start talking just like spoke a few hours before. She has a new job and works second shift in a town about an hour away and she also works about 5 hours of overtime, we rarely get to talk but when we do, it's just like we talk every day.

We can spend time together and tease each other. It's okay for us to laugh and cry together. I like the idea that you can't pick your family but can pick your friends and I'm so blessed that she and I picked each other!

Lovin' XRayGirl,
Mags

Girlfriend fun

This weekend was so nice because I had a chance to spend time with some girlfriends! Yay me! Beautiful weather, beautiful friends, relaxation--- it was wonderful!

Saturday Curley, Daddy-O, and I went hobby shopping. We just lounged around Hobby Lobby and Joann Fabrics for a few hours, looking at everything and finding about a million ways to spend money we don't have. We laughed and talked and just had a good old time. We even ate lunch at the biggest Asian Buffet style restaurant I've ever seen! I had 2 visits to Starbucks. It was a glorious and super relaxing day filled with lots of giggles and fun.

Today was a good day, too, XRayGirl and I hit Starbucks and then had pedicures. We got all caught up with each other and laughed a lot. We also hit the Bath and Body Works and smelled all the new scents (I just LOVE the new candle called Flower Shop- it's my very favorite!) and we bought some clothes for her little 5 year old niece. It was so much fun!

I'm blessed to be able to have so many good friends!

Mags

Return

As you all know I've been missing X-Ray Girl like crazy since the horrid fight back in June. Brief refresher, ITSam and I got into a fight, he brought her into it and threatened to call the cops on her and she ended our friendship, and hasn't talked to me since then. I've called and left messages, sent USPS letters, texted... I was sort of a stalker for awhile and then I just knew she was done since she never responded. I walked away but I've hurt over this for a long time.

In addition to missing her, I've just been ... lost for awhile. I've even prayed about it. Like prayed to God.

Here's a story...
As you all know I hate Wal-Mart. I went there tonight to get my Daddy-O ice cream. ITSam and I just decided, spur of the moment, to buy him some as a surprise. There was no other reason to go other than I got a whim to get him some, just because he's my dad and I love him.

It was cold and raining and iTSam dropped me at the doors and went to park. I walked in with my head down, just no even paying attention and I get just inside the second set of doors and there she was.

We made eye contact, she held her arms open and said "I am so sorry." We just came together in the Wal-Mart lobby and stood there hugging and crying and saying we were so sorry. We hugged and cried some more and made plans to get together, and hugged and said sorry some more, and cried more and hugged and said how much we missed each other. Yes, we made a spectacle of ourselves right there in Wally World.

I think she and are I going to be alright again. We made tentative plans for Sunday evening (depending on her kids' schedules with their dad).

And, as I left Wal-Mart and drove away, it stopped raining. And right in front of me was a huge rainbow.

Do I need to state the obvious here?

Maggie

Random stuff in my head on a Tuesday

During the first week of Weight Watchers (my weigh in was today), I lost 2 pounds. Feh. Daddy-O and Mac together lost weight equaling a newborn. GOOD for THEM!

XRay Girl still isn't talking to me. It's breaking my heart.

Today we finished inventory of all the fiction and all the new books. Since I had no idea what I was doing and had to start over last week, it wasn't bad that it only took 4 days for the fiction. Tomorrow, I start the non-fiction. I'm going to let kids start checking out books in fiction, since they're driving me crazy!

ITSam is working like hell to get me to take him back. It hasn't worked.

Mac still doesn't have a summer job, darn it!! He's applied about 10 places but no luck yet.

I showed Casablanca to my summer school film class (it's an all girl class) and they "didn't get it." WTF is there not to get? Ugh! The youth of today!!

I'm psyched about meeting Lilith in Northern Civilization tomorrow!!! Talking, dinner and book browsing are on the agenda. And I called Archiver's and she and I can work on our scrapbook projects if we want, even though it's a Wednesday!!

Why does Vanna White wear ballgowns to flip letters? And the letters don't even flip anymore, just touch and they light up.

I got some new shoes and they look awesome. Pictures will be forthcoming.

Mags

Cake Decorating Part I

Somehow cooking and baking with XRay Girl involves cleaning because she makes a super big mess whenever she cooks.

She is presenting a cake decorating workshop tomorrow at school for me. Free of charge. So, since she's helping me, I said I would make her a dinner and also help with all the prep work.

So I went shopping after school for supplies.

Actually, I was supposed to leave early, about 20 minutes. But when I got as far as the parking lot 2 boys were beating the crap out of each other and there were no adults around. I couldn't break up the fight but finally several guys got there and did but I stayed with the other boys until their adults-in-charge arrived.

So I didn't get to leave early. I did go shopping and after waiting behind idiots in line at Wal-Mart if was after 5pm when I finally got home.

XRay Girl and I proceeded to make 4 dozen cupcakes, a two layer round cake and we used a cake form pan of Garfield.

Then we made 6 batches of icing and colored it, bagged it and put the rest in containers.

I also fixed, from scratch, a Greek Crouton salad and beef stroganoff for dinner, in the middle of all this.

After all the cakes were cooled, I boxed up all the cupcakes, which included finding all the containers for them to fit. I covered cardboard with foil for the Garfield and layer cake. We made a list of things to not forget to do in the morning, for her and one for me.

ITSam showed up and he helped with the clean up. I washed all the dishes that wouldn't fit in the dishwasher. I ran the dishwasher. ITSam vacuumed the dining room floor and he mopped the kitchen floor. I gathered up a bunch of trash from the kitchen and then topped off the bag which involved collecting more around the house. Mac carried it to the trash can outside.

Then I went to work at 10pm to drop off all the stuff for tomorrow's event. I froze cakes and chilled the frosting and unpacked supplies.

And I forgot to take a single picture to illustrate any of it, damn it.

At least we have a nice, clean. Pin-Sol smelling house.

And a whole lotta cake to decorate.

Mags

Shop til we drop

And we did.

XRAy Girl and I went shopping today. We left the house at 9am and returned at 9pm. We went to over 20 stores. We are tired. We were brave. Some might have thought us stupid. But we did it.

There were tons of people, yes. There were crazy drivers, yes. There was 1 rude store clerk (at Stine Mart), yes. There were rude fellow shoppers, yes. Kohl's screwed up my order, yes. I have a cold, yes. BUT we still had fun. Xray Girl and I have fun no matter what; it was all good.

We found some amazing bargains (Plato's Closet and Bath and Body Works and Kohls and Half Price Books). We noticed that men shoppers are not as rude as women shoppers. We learned that we don't have to go to a mall to find what we need. We learned that when you have a pocket full of money to shop for Christmas gifts you always find the best stuff for yourself. We also found that Von Mar has the best bathrooms.

I wanted to get Princess some pink or orange boots but everywhere was sold out but I went with plan B. I wanted to get some knitting looms for ITSam and so far everyone is sold out. And I was an idiot who forgot her Hobby Lobby 40% off coupon and I wasn't paying full price for a scrapbook. So other than needing to back for those two things, printing some pictures and getting some miscellaneous stocking stuffers, I am finished.

Now I have to wrap it all....

Maggie

3 airheaded women rather than 3 wise men

XRay Girl, Princess and I went Christmas shopping in a nearby mall yesterday. Heard:

1#: XRay Girl is paying for purchases at Bath and Body Works. Princess is smelling stuff. I'm about 50 feet away from Princess smelling candles. Then she yells, "OOOOOhhhhh! Look, Maggie! Smell this one" and sprays the air.

Not to be outdone...
#2: Princess, who is age 16 and to be 17 next month, is riding in the back seat, XRay Girl is driving and I'm riding shotgun. XRay Girl is telling us a funny story about her hypochondriac husband. She's talking along and says, "After all that he still wanted to have..." and she paused. She looked in her review mirror at princess and then sideways at me, and continues, "Then after all that he wanted to have S-E-X" and spelled it. As not to taint the 16 year old ears of Princess. Of course Princess and I are hysterical with laughter.

Finally, to make us all even,
#3: Princess and I are making bread. She's mixing up one batch and I'm doing one, a Chocolate chocolate chip. I'm stirring and stirring and stirring and finally say, "I can't get these lumps out. I'm gonna have to use a mixer. How old is this stupid mix, anyway?" Princess looks at me, the mix, the box and says, "Um, aren't the lumps the chocolate chips?"

After yesterday I'm glad we weren't the ones who were supposed to head to the manger...

Big Weekend...

Big Mac:
Friday night was senior athlete night at Mac's school. All of the seniors, male or female, who participated in any sort of sporting event, were recognized. All parents of these kids were escorted onto the field with them, in front of the crowd. It was pretty cool and I was really proud of Mac. One more step of reality that he's a senior and will be graduating. *gulp*

Big Crafts:
Annually, a craft show is held here in town and XRay Girl, Curley, Curley's Sister, Daddy-O, Princess and I all went. It was lots of fun but there were HUGE amounts of people every where and tons and tons of things for your home, jewelry, clothes, candles... everything people make themselves. There were over 100 booths. If you like to decorate in "Country" or "Rustic American" is certainly a place for you. But there's other stuff, like soap even and art work and just something to appeal to everyone. It was a good time had by all. I think I bought a candle for me because the smell reminds me of the non evil Grandmother's bathroom- like a flower garden.

Big Chili:
Daddy-O and XRay Girl bailed on the chili- XRay Girl because she had to work- but the rest of us forged ahead and with about 10,000 other people, we tasted chili for charity. After about 5 types I was done. I don't like chili all that well to begin with but since it's for charity I didn't mind at all. The booths are decorated and people dress up so the name of the chili and the booths all have themes. One school had "No chili left behind" which had a yummy, non spicy, thick, white chili that was almost like a stew. It was my favorite. Part of the process is paying a fee to get into the event. After paying, you get 10 tickets and you can vote on your favorite chili, booth, theme, whatever. You walk around with a spoon and sample over 75 kinds, choosing what you want to eat or not.

As I said, I gave up after 5 kinds, but Princess was a champ and tasted about 3/4's of the kinds there. It was so crowded that the four of us split up and we met back at the end; great that is was crowded so there was more money raised for the 7 charities. People also have toppings for the chili and lots of places were giving candy, ice cream, Popsicles, etc. to help cool and cleanse the palette. There were also a couple of drink concessions stands, a place selling kettle korn and elephant ears, and a beer tent, of which I didn't partake.

Princess had never done this before and she thought it was awesome. She also discovered she hated white chili. We laughed and ate our way around. It was cool.

The weather was great, too. Cool with a little breeze. Just a perfect fall day, with the leaves changing. We were all in long sleeve t-shirts and jeans, which was comfortable. It was a very good day.

Big Dress:
So Alcatraz has a winter ball in November and Princess gets to go. Over the years, apparently, people in the community have donated dresses for the girls to wear. The dresses be ball gown length- yes, to the floor, which I think is a good idea so the girls can't have mini dress/ cocktail dresses. the problem: these donated dresses get stored in a big closet and used over and over each year. The dresses look like something I wore to prom. Or dresses from the 70s. Not good. Princess found one that wasn't too "hideous" and didn't look like as much like "curtains with glitter" as some of the others. BUT, I know someone who wore a pink princess, Cinderella style dress to her prom and they are the same height and almost the same size. And this girl is going to loan Princess her dress, which is her dream dress. I had one VERY happy kid on my hands, jumping around, going happy crazy!

Big Lazy:
After yesterday, I plan on being a big lazy slug today. I'm going to do laundry and laze around the house. I have a novel to finish reading. I'm just going to chill.

Mags

Sometimes all it takes is a little girlie time

Last night XRay Girl and I went out for a girlie night. We needed to get the heck outta dodge because we were both pretty tired of Dodge.

We went to Northern Civilization and hit the Half Price Books. I found Mac an SAT study book because he wants to boost his score by 200 points (good luck, Mac! Yeah, right!) but he wasn't nearly that thrilled with it when I gave it to him. I also found some almost new magazines for 50 cents- goooooooo me!

After the book store visit we visited the girlie version of Mecca. We went to a place to get pedicures. It's the place I used to go, 4 years ago, before I moved to the Wild West. And it was heavenly. Not only do they have foot spas with massage chair, but they also got a hot towel leg wrap, they take care of callouses and rough spots, and they do a 20 minute foot and left massage. Oh My God, it's about the most wonderful think on Earth. It was perfection, just amazing. Oh and I got my toes painted. The name of the color: Ruby Slipper Red. Because it has sparkles in the polish! Oh yeah, baby! I swear I almost fell asleep sitting in the chair because the massage felt so wonderful. I could just feel the stress trickling out my toes.

Of course we topped the evening off with some fabulous Italian food (which is only better in Italy) and a walk around the Target.

Of course we laughed and talked and giggled and just had a great time together, doing all those girlie things. Sometimes it just takes a night with a girlfriend to take the edge off!

Mags

It was windy in the Windy City, and other stuff

Saturday in Chicago was a good time. The boys LOVED the concert and thought it was the best show ever and XRay Girl and I laughed and talked and hung out which always equates to lots of fun.

Since the boys were going to the concert festival and XRay Girl and I were not, we had to have a game plan about dropping the boys off, getting them again and parking in the midterm. According to the concert web site, if we produced a ticket stub, the parking was free. But the web site neglected to tell WHERE the free parking was located, which of course we didn't find out until we arrived. We wait in a looooooooooong line of traffic to turn into the 'event parking' and the guy says to me "$20". I said, "I thought it was free?" And he said, "Oh, the free parking is at Solider Field. Now move on or $20." (He is so not getting my vote for Helpful Parking Lot Attendant of the Year Award!) So I pull ahead to another guy and he gives the worst directions in the history of the world on how to back track to Soldier Field. So we let the boys out with a promise to call them when we knew where the car was and we told them we would meet them where we left them, at the concert's conclusion. Out they went and off we went to find the elusive parking at Soldier Field.

Now Soldier Field is a large place and we could obviously see it and we could figure out which was the parking garage. But with event parking and event road closings, getting there was almost impossible, and we were only armed with directions like, "turn around and go back and when you get to the roundabout turn left and then to to the first non one way thru street and turn at the stop sign and it should be a little bit down on the left." Wha???? And we forgot one little thing: the only way to get free parking was to produce a ticket and our "tickets" had just gotten dropped off VIP style at the concert. Well shit! So, I said to hell with it, got back in line to go back, and pay the $20 for the parking at the arena.

After finally getting parked, we were at the museum complex, meaning we were smack in between the Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum, the Planetarium and the Shed Aquarium. XRay Girl and I were going to go the Aquarium. There were about 173 people in line in front of us but we didn't care. What we did care about was the admission price of $29.95+ tax EACH. For that price we could have lobster for dinner rather than look at 'em through a tank so we decided to ditch the fish and walk the lake shore walk to Navy Pier. It didn't look very far from where we were...

Now here I want to say that at times I am the quintessential mother. It comes more from being organized and list making than being a good mom, I think. Before we left home I made sure everyone had gone to the bathroom and we had cell phones charged and the tickets and directions. I packed a box of snacks and a cooler of bottled water and juices. I had a loaf of bread and a package of ham so they could make sandwiches on the way. I also packed a separate cooler of Power Ade for the boys so they could hydrate after the concert. I made sure they had an extra change of clothes in case it rains and a few garbage bags to sit on if they got wet, even though the forecast was, and I quote three different web sites: "a high of 71 and partly cloudy." I made sure everyone had a jacket, and cash. So you could say I was organized.

What I did forget was my own jacket. But it was supposed to be, and I quote three different web sites: "a high of 71 and partly cloudy." And I wore jeans and a t-shirt. And it was cold. Damn cold. It was never partly sunny the entire day. Not a single shine of sun did we see. And as for the 71--- 51 was more like it!

So we walked from the aquarium to Navy Pier along the lake shore route- about 3 miles- and I froze the whole way, and it was my own stupid fault. Then we got to Navy Pier and walked all over it. Finally I couldn't stand it anymore, and I bought a stupid sweatshirt. Thank god it was on sale. It's bubblegum pink and says "Chicago Navy Pier" on the front. XRay Girl, who wore a very light weight jacket, was also freezing, bought one as well, in kiwi green. Oh, yes, weren't we cute in our matching sweatshirts that just screamed "tourists"?

After strolling around Navy Pier, we hadn't done enough walking so we walked the 6 city blocks up Grand Ave to Michigan Ave, aka the Magnificent Mile. We went in a bunch of the shops- including Tiffany's- I LOVE that store! Something about all that jewelry is magical and sparkly! We also went to a shop in Macy's called Lush which sells all natural body products like shampoo, lotions, and the like. The sale associate Kate did all these awesome demonstrations on us of these cool products.

Farrago met us here and declared he was starving so we went for pizza at a place called Pizza Duo which is one of the most famous places in the city to get the infamous Chicago Deep Dish. While we were having dinner, Mac called and said they were ready to go. He said the last band sucked so he and his buddy were sitting in the car and would wait for us. We were just finishing dinner so we paid, and Farrago helped us find the right bus and off we went to collect the kids.

We rode the bus and we knew we were the last stop but the bus just kept going and going and going. I thought when it was the last stop, he would just stop at the last bus stop place thingy. So we were about 1 block from the parking lot and I asked our bus driver if we could just get out where we were because he passed about 47 bus shelters and I was afraid he would turn left when we wanted him to turn right. He asked me where we were going and I told him to the parking lot, one block ahead. Our super nice bus driver dropped us at the parking lot where we left the car!!! He just went 1 block extra since no one else was on the bus but us!***** Is that cool or what?

And we only got lost once, on the way there. XRay Girl is not allowed to read the directions anymore- she skipped an entire line sending the boys into convulsions and me into serious eye rolling mode since I was driving on the Dan Ryan Expressway. But what was cool about getting lost is that we had to go through Chinatown- twice because I was in the wrong lane- and XRay Girl, Mac nor his Buddy had ever seen it before. The boys thought it was the coolest thing ever. Mac said, "OMG, I just saw Jackie Chan" and would point to a guy. Then about 20 feet later he would say, "OMG, I just saw Jackie Chan again" and point to a different guy. He did this for about 3 blocks until we all screamed at him to shut up! But really, it was a riot. They also saw an older Chinese woman and all the jokes about her special powers and herbs and wisdom... oh just imagine two 17 year old boys ...

But it was a very cool day. I'm glad I was able to take Mac and let him have this experience. I like being able to do things like that when I can. Even when, at first, I really didn't want to! Sometimes being a mom is cool!

***** This is the second time in my life that a public bus driver went out of his/her way to drop me off where I needed to be. In summer 1990 I 'lived' in NYC for what was supposed to be a summer but... anyway. My friend and I were going to take a Circle Line Cruise around the city and we were running late and freaking out. The stop for the cruise was near the last one on the route and the bus driver heard us talking about whether we could run for it and still make it on time. She gunned the bus the three extra blocks and dropped us smack dab in front of the Circle Line Cruise Office. We had 4 minutes to spare.

Maggie

On another note...

If I could just say no... I wouldn't get myself into these things

In March Mac told me about some band I never heard of coming to some venue I never heard of on a day I didn't really pay attention to in Chicago-- who says I don't listen?

Then last weekend he mentioned it again. he said I gave a distracted "uh-mmmmmmm" and went back to my computer.

Well, I guess he was really serious about going and I guess I said something about being willing to think about it and it was time to think about it.

So Mac took matters into his own hands. First, he hates his father the Fucktard Asshat Spermdonor for LOTS of reasons right now but he put that hatred aside and asked his goodfornothing SD for money for the concert. His dad said he would buy the ticket. Then Mac turned in the job applications so if I let him go to the concert, he could pay me back for any money I spent-- you know, on the off chance that he could go. And he also took out the trash, emptied the dishwasher, vacuumed the living room rug, agreed to paint the shed when it stopped raining, and washed cookie sheets (they don't fit in the dishwasher so they have to be hand washed!).

With all that happening, the stupid check engine light came on in my car so I can't drive three hours to Chicago. Mac appealed to Daddy-O who said YES that I could drive HIS car to Chicago. Mac has a friend who can go. Now it was all up to my and my wallet. Do I have enough money to put gas in Daddy-O's car and pay for food? Am I willing to spend all day hanging around in Chicago? Do I want to give up almost an entire weekend to do this? No, no, no, and no. See, I can type that right here but I can't seem to SAY it to Mac.

I was just thinking about it. I never said yes. But... I thought now it would be BAD to say no. I told Mac if XRay Girl would go with, then I would say yes. (I have friends in Chicago but I had no idea, on short notice, if anyone was free, though I did send an email tonight to see!) She said YES. So Mac, Mac's Friend, XRay Girl and I are taking Daddy-O's car to Chicago on Saturday. While the boys see the concert, she and I are going to do.... something. What I'm not sure, but we'll find something... from 2-11pm.

Of course, I'll be taking a TON of pictures!!!!

And XRay Girl hasn't ever been to Chicago that she can remember in the last 20 years. So we have things we want to do like Chinatown, Watertower, Magnificent Mile, and Navy Pier.

Now, if I said no, then I could stay home with my sullen teenager and feel guilty. So guess what I'm doing on Saturday?

Windy City here we come,
Mags

Oh yeah, and I'll be posting pictures on my traveling blog, which hasn't had any pictures posted on it since I was in Indianapolis, IN last September! (I hope hope hope I can add pictures to this blog this summer!!! I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to go anywhere--- Ireland again? London? regardless, Chicago is a start!)

Sex and the City 2

So on Friday, May 28 Sex and the City 2 opens. And XRay Girl and I are totally going. Now, XRay Girl is usually up for any adventure, but she is a very down to Earth person. She doesn't usually dress up. And she's not super "girlie". She is a super awesome person but one who doesn't see the need to own lots of pink anything, nor own over 100 pair of shoes. Or a boa. Or a tiara. But I love her anyway.

That being said, I've decided we should have a mini SATC2 party and I threw the idea at her. If she went along with it, I was going to try and convince Curley-- just she is not really sure about this... However, XRayGirl is on board. We're going to glam ourselves up and see the movie then go for drinks. I'm hoping I'll have my pink dress all finished. Then I'm going to wear my 3 inch pink alligator pumps and my boa and get some big hair and a pair of sun glasses and maybe even draw on a beauty mark. Pictures will be forth coming after said event!

Hello, it's a SATC2 event! I think this could be a hoot. I have several girlfriends but not many of them know each other- my friends come from the different areas of my life- or I would get them all together and we could take the theater by storm.

If Gulo were here, I would BEG her to participate- and I think she finally would cave in and do it if it meant I would shut the heck up- since she and I watched SATC on DVDs and drank together when I lived in the Wild West.

As a fan of SATC I think this is a proper way to welcome the movie. Wish you were all here to go with! And chick here for the official trailer- I couldn't get that sucker to embed at a scale that fit my bloggy margins!

Glam Girl Wannabe,
Mags

I don't think Ace of Cakes will be hiring us any time soon!

So you know how last night was the "un-surprise" birthday party for Mac? And you know how XRay Girl and I were going to make a Mad Hatter cake? And you know how I spent Friday night making seven different cakes so the layers could be made?

XRay-Girl and I worked on the cake for 5 hours and it just didn't work out right. Here is the experience, in pictorial.

Here is XRay Girl prepping our first cake with the buttercreme icing.

Here is the first layer of the bottom section.

Here is the bottom section before we shaped it.

Here is the bottom layer after we built it, sculpted it, and "dirty iced" it. After this is where things sort of fell apart... If we could've had a Mad Hatter Cake with one layer, this wouldn't been perfect. Did I mention that we were going to only use buttercreme icing on the whole thing since XRay Girl nor I had ever used fondant? That could've been our first fatal flaw in our plan.


In the background you can see that we are starting to layer the second part. And you can see the butter creme icing on the "done" layer starting to run-- because it was about 75 degrees with nearly 90% humidity. Yes, it was really hot and the icing was MELTING!!!!

This was supposed to be the second layer. The cake was too moist even though it was chilled. And the icing was melting so instead of helping hold it all together, it was causing the cake layers to slide apart. And about fell on the floor. So I caught it. So we decided to trim it a little bit more, so the whole second layer isn't going to really be six inches around. More like 4. But we kept trimming and got this:

three big piles of scrap cake. And that plastic pitcher in the background held the margaritas we started drinking when it all fell apart. And I have no idea where the Comet came from; I swear it didn't get in the cake or icing.

We then got out some more cakes and cut them up differently and made a second layer- sort of. But it was a small second layer. It was supposed to be six inches--- not even close as you can see.

The up side is that I made 2 of those little 3 inches ones, so we decided to cut one of those up to be the top layers.

XRay Girl is icing the second layer in green.

We are icing the top layer in orange. We were going to do the bottom layer in all buttercreme stars but the entire thing was melting so we left it iced in white.


This is the final product. I know... it looks NOTHING like the pictures. It was so hot the buttercreme icing was melting faster than we could ice it. We kept stopping to stick the frosting bags and the cake in the refrigerator and then taking it out to keep going.

We figured if we ever did this again- and we probably won't- we'll need to freeze the cakes and make the icing the night before and chill it. We're also going to make sure we cook in a cold room, as cold as we can stand it. We're also going to learn how to use fondant. Yeah... so...

Mac is the best sport in the world. Though it didn't look anything like it was supposed to, he thought it was a cool effort and he appreciated the tie into the Mad Hatter concept.

We had a good time and lots of laughs. The one thing I didn't show a picture of was then we opened the refrigerator and found the middle layer had slid off the cake and was laying on the floor. We just stuck it back on, after swearing a lot. We also had some icing slide off and I didn't photograph the blob.

I can say, though, we laughed hysterically!

And as Bragger pointed out earlier, it all involves cake so how can that be bad? We have tons and piles of cake, as well as the blobby cake. Can we still have an A for effort anyway?

Maggie

Cake Walk?

Tomorrow is Mac's un-surprise party and tonight I must get started on the preliminary preparations. What that entails is me baking cakes for the Mad Hatter Topsy- Turvy cake. Well, more specifically that means me making 7 cakes. Yes, you read that right, SEVEN cakes!

I'm going to make all the cakes tonight and put them in the freezer and refrigerator to chill. Tomorrow, around noon, XRay- Girl is coming over to help with the assembly. She makes cakes for people's parties and the like, and she a master cake decorator so she's going to be a pivotal part of the assembly and icing process.

We met earlier this week and "reviewed" our game plan- we printed the directions, read through them and discussed what they meant, found a bunch of pictures of the cake style, and we even watched a "how to" video of how to do this. We are ready. It was a good thing we did the prep meeting because, otherwise, we would've made all the cakes on Saturday before the decorating and the directions recommend freezing and/or chilling ahead of time so the 'sculpting' will be easier. Yeah- sculpting. I, who got an F in playdoh, am making a cake that involves what is called 'sculpting'... this is gonna be.... interesting, shall we say?

I'm making all round cakes in the following sizes: one 10 inch, two 9 inches, two 8 inches, one 6 inch, and one 3 inch. That's a lot of cake.

So tonight my job is to prepare cakes. We have lemon, vanilla and yellow. No chocolate because Mac doesn't like chocolate cake and because, according to X Ray Girl, you get one chocolate crumb in the white buttercreme icing and we'd be fucked (those were her words, not mine!).

I am promising pictures......... I'll post pictures whether it's a disaster or a success. And if it looks to be a disaster, we're breaking out the wine- couldn't hurt and might help!

Cake makin' maven,
Maggie Mae

Random thoughts Friday

Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow.... my mouth hurts.

So yesterday two girls at school got into a fist fight and both are now one step away from being expelled. They had to "do time" in a juvenile day jail program for a week. If they fight again, they are expelled. Oh, these two girls were fighting over.... their love of a third girl who was going to "have her"- typical love triangle, right? They're 8th graders...

I'm going to try teaching a novel with the last 6 weeks of school. Yes, I am quite possibly, out of my mind. No I've not selected said novel yet--- To Kill A Mockingbird maybe?

I overpaid the dentist. By A LOT! And I wanted my money back. But I have to wait until the office manager cuts me a check next week. Now, I HAD to pay for my services before he even touched my mouth, but now I have to wait more than a week for a $200 refund? Where's the fair in that? TaDa, Bragger or Curley, could one of you strong, kick ass ladies call there and be all strong and kick ass for me please?

Yesterday one boy got expelled and was sent to boy's school because he went home with stolen property from school. The vice principal went with the cops to his house, knocked on the door and the stupid student answered... holding a doobie. Yup, boys school. Idiot. I don't know what happened to the other kid who jumped out the back window into the waiting arms of another cop... I didn't think to ask!

Mac is going to the prom on Saturday night and I gave him a chore list that involves getting a haircut, washing and waxing the car, changing my CDs to his, picking up the corsage and his tux, and "finding the funky smell" in the car. Uh-huh. Things you never want to say...

Is wrong to borrow a movie from one of my students who illegally downloaded it from the 'net? For me to just watch in the privacy of my home? Am I breaking the law?

There's a guy I like. He lives away. I miss (and like) him. I think I miss (and like) him more than he misses (likes) me. Does that matter?

I'm helping Daddy-O learn all about Medicare. When the heck did the government start charging people for this? And I think someone should hire me to explain Medicare because it's not as complicated as they want you to think. I think. Though I could be confused. If anyone has any advice, it's welcome.

I love it that I a friend who calls me and asks me to help her with her homework because, and I quote, "You're my only smart friend."

At last, it's Friday.... TGIF!!!!!!
Mags

On another note...

XRayGirl: Goddess of hair and manual transmission driving lessons

XRayGirl is a miracle worker on so many levels! First my hair...

I am now no longer officially afraid to leave the house for fear of scaring the elderly and children. She took me to her stylist who cleaned the mess up. She said NO WAY to getting a perm because then I would have nasty, ugly, tight, poodle like curls. She trimmed and snipped and well... frankly, I have no idea what she did but she had to trim a little bit and I suddenly was all fixed- AND I look like I have more hair. I have no idea about that trick of the eye but XRayGirl and I couldn't figure it out but we both agreed that I just seemed to have more hair.

She also snipped enough that I have a head full of natural curls and the stylist gave me some tips to use them. She also said, and I quote, "Now that you have a good base cut, don't get it cut anywhere else but me. I know you want to grow it out. Pigtails by the end of the summer." O-KAY! And while I'm a little old for pigtails, the fact it will be long enough to do that by the end of the summer makes me want to dance!

To top it all off, she fixed the straight cut bangs. Instead of taking any more length off, she textured them, and now they look wispy rather than heavy and blunt. The unibrow bangs are gone!

The stylist also said hair grows quicker in the summer than winter and if I want to help it along, I could take pre-natal vitamins or some vitamin called "hair, nails, something" taken three times a day. Sounds like a plan.

My hair is much better! No more mullet! No more Betty Page bangs! No more "lesbian chic"! No more winning the Joan Jett Look Alike contest! And I have a head full of curls. Interesting look. Not one I'm used too, not bad, but much better than where I started out my Thursday!

And as for me learning to drive a stick shift... Well, first and foremost, XRayGirl is an excellent teacher and she's one of the most patient people I've ever met. She gave good instructions and different suggestions. But I think I might have to admit that driving a manual transmission and doing math are not my strong suites.

Also, I learned that there's lots of swearing and laughter involved in learning to drive a stick shift. No matter how many times I killed it or made the gears grind, she never yelled or made me feel embarrassed; we just howled with laughter!

I popped the clutch. I had trouble finding first- it had to be there somewhere. I wasn't sure how to drive with two feet. I was pretty excited when I finally got the car to start and keep going without killing it. And once I could get going, I had no trouble going from 1st to 2nd to 3rd to 4th and 5th! I'm still a little confused on when to clutch and brake verses just clutching or just braking.

There was one incident where I was at a four way stop on a slight incline. I kept rolling backwards and for some reason I would make a funny face which gave us laughing convulsions. At another stop sign, I killed it about 8 times. 8 TIMES!!!! Before I figured out I was accidentally in third. In my defense it was right next to 1st! We never even went into reverse- that's for another lesson.

I guess when I concentrate the tip of my tongue sticks out the corner of my mouth, which add to the laughter.

So I had an hour lesson and we're going to try again over the weekend. She's brave. Maybe I'll never drive a sports car. Maybe I should stick to automatics or take a bus if no automatics are to be found. I could always walk. Or find a hot guy to drive me everywhere I want to go...

Maggie

Doing Nothing on a Wednesday & the adventure up my sleeve for today

Yesterday was one of the best days of my spring break......... I did nothing. I didn't even take a shower or take off my jammies. I laid on the couch most of the day and watched movies, read a book, and napped.

Now it was raining, dark and thundering and lightening, so I watched the storm. Oh I could think of only two things better: 1) having a lie-in with a wonderful man doing the same things but adding sex to the list, or 2) spending the day shoe shopping. Since there's no man there was no sex. Since there's no money, there was no shoe shopping. So I did my third favorite thing to do on a warm stormy day- nothing.

My stack of rented movies was high so I just watched those (Secret Window, Ned Kelly, The Jane Austen Book Club, The Soloist, Mystery Alaska) all day long.

Mac was in the house, in his room, playing video games, Facebooking, and texting. He'd pop down to see what I was doing, say hey, talk for a minute, grab food, and disappear back upstairs. He and I made homemade pizza. We'd never done that together before and we had all the stuff to do it. And we actually did it together. He was like a little kid with Legos, building his pizza. We ended up with three layers of pepperoni and three layers of cheese on this sucker. So now I know when he goes to college he'll be able to make home made pizza, hot dogs, and scrambled eggs.

Oh, I talked on the phone to Curley, to XRayGirl and... a fella I know. I also had a screaming match with the Sperm Donor- well, he was screaming and I was calm and relaxed, which freaks him out even more- the arsehat fucktard. I also played on the Internet. I did a touch of laundry. Talk about the best day...! (Even with laundry and the asshat!)

Oh, and one more thing! I ate chocolate, lots of chocolate! Goddess bless the after Easter candy sales!

I seriously love doing nothing. I like working, sometimes, for the most part, and yes, I do like doing crafts and hobbies, but sometimes doing nothing is perfect. a seriously huge case of doing nothing.

Now I am leaving the house today. First, XRayGirl said she is going to take my hair issue into her own hands. She made an appointment for me with her stylist and, I'm here to tell you, that girl had BEAUTIFUL hair. Stunning! Her stylist has very short hair so XRayGirl thinks her stylist can help me- she can either fix it or give me ways to work with the mess. (But from what XRayGirl repeated her stylist said she's probably gonna have to cut it all off and let me start all over again with a frickin' pixie cut, one more time... Karma/ Dogma hair)

Okay, back to me leaving the house. XRayGirl and I are going with her Granny to an Amish bakery and cheese shoppe. Then I'm going to my hair appointment, and XRayGirl is going with me for moral support. After that--- we're going to *gulp* go driving. She's going to teach me to drive a stick shift. I have no idea how to drive a manual transmission and she's decided to teach me. It would be a good thing for me to learn, right? If nothing else, it'll be good blog fodder. After that might involve booze for both of us- we may need it.

I'll let you know how it all turns out, from the hair to the driving. Maybe we should drive first because then if she pulls my hair out, I won't be bald?

Happy Thursday!

It's not worth celebrating

Tonight XRayGirl had a girl's night; we've been rescheduling and rescheduling for weeks. Tonight was the night.

We went for dinner, a movie and a trip to Wally World (don't even get me started on the idiots there, okay?). We had a great time laughing and carrying on and being silly.

And as things tend to happen, the discussion turned to sex. And then we figured out the math- okay, I figured out the math and just told her- that today celebrates my 1 year anniversary of celibacy. She cackled with laughter while I was not impressed. She said she was excited to be part of the joyful occassion. I wonder if I'll ever live that down....

And trust me, it's not worth celebrating.

Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder.... bullshit!
Mags

Girl's Day Out- Day 2!

So this was a total girls' weekend out because today I headed to Southern Civilization with XRayGirl. She and I hit the Starbucks for our energy supply and then it was off to the mall. We had a four pronged purpose: exchange a pair of pants that Daddy-O got for Christmas that needed exchanging, visit a book store which is going out of business so everything is 50% or more off, to go to the Bath & Body Works semi-annual sale, and to get pedicures!!!!!!!!

Yes, I wanted a pedicure in the winter when mostly no one but me would enjoy it. I know a summer pedicure makes more sense since I own, and wear, about 30 pairs of flip-flops. BUT I wanted a pedicure. My feet hurt, they were dry, and the poor old dogs just needed some TLC!

XRayGirl had never had a pedicure before so after completing the first three items on the list, we went to the salon and signed in. There was only one pedicurist in today so we had to take turns. We sat with our feet in the foot spa, drinking our Starbucks, relaxing in the massage chairs... it was bliss.

I went first since XRayGirl hadn't had such an experience she wanted to see what was going to happen. So I was trimmed, filed, pumiced, massaged, soaked, cuticled, exfoliated, and polished- then I had to dry while XRayGirl got her toe treatment!

Here I am drying:
All in all, it took about about 2 hours in the salon but when we were finished, we were super happy. Two hours sitting in salon massage chairs was awesome- we talked about everything under the sun and solved all the world's woes, and decided that I should never sign up for eHarmony because I would scare men- I think you had to be there to get the general gist. And we howled with laughter to the point where everyone else was laughing at along with us.

There was a young couple there getting pedicures together- a man and a woman couple. Yes, HE got a pedicure as well, but he didn't get his toenails painted. XRayGirl and I giggled, even though we thought it was sweet, but we did figure that she had promised him a blow-job if he agreed to a pedi. We couldn't figure out any other way such a non metro-sexual guy would be willing to do that.

We said there is something great about a pedicure makes a woman feel all girlie and special, which there is nothing wrong with at all! And I picked a color called "Red Hots" which is a nice bright red. Here are several views of the finished look:

With my purple sexy shoes and a few toe rings...

I didn't realize how cute these shoes were with jeans!

I love to be barefooted, but it's tough to do since it was a high of 7 degrees today- but for the sake of the picture, I thought I should show you bare feet!

And yeah, I have a tattoo.

So after pedicures and the "mall" experience, we went to Pizza Hut for carry out and home to our respective families. I'm a firm believer a day out with a gal pal is some of the best ways to spend time, and I was lucky to do it two days in a row- go ME!

So, I'm going to pour myself a Cosmo and admire my toes before I head to bed. Hope you all had a cheery Sunday!

Maggie

PS: Oh, yes, I should tell you that there was a third guest along with us, who didn't get a pedicure because he doesn't have toenails...

SOCK MONKEY!