June 21, 2010


  • TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    To my surprise, the Beast actually finished the shelving unit he started just yesterday.  I guess it helped that he had already done one like it for his aunt so he was sure of his steps.  No surprise there when you think about it.  He HAS paid a price for it, however. 

    I've mentioned before that,  since his strokes, he just can't take the heat any more.  He bemoans the fact that he could work in both heat and sun for long periods of time prior to that.  Of course he could.  It probably was one of the many factors that led up to it all.  But I digress.....

    He WAS forced to take several naps.  Well, a couple he only attempted to take.  The kids had to call and wish him a Happy Father's Day and Bee called him a couple times about a major computer problem.  However, he did get a couple good naps in before he could continue on.  I had to give him a hand with a couple of things including the very top shelf section.  The darn thing is HUGE! 

    Know what?  After he was done, he started loading it up with HIS stuff, although he had told me it was also to give me more room for my foodstuffs that I have stacked on the floor of both pantries.  When I mentioned that he was taking it over, he gave me this innocent look and said, *I'll save some space for you.*  My reply was a stoic, *We'll see.*  Just another instance of it being all about HIM, not me no matter WHAT he says.

    I know, I know!  I really should be used to it and, in truth, I am.  I don't automatically think that what he is saying is the truth of the matter.  Just once, I would love for him to actually mean exactly what he says.  Just once.

    I made the Italian beef and made the mistake of using beef consomme instead of regular beef broth.  I knew there was a reason I preferred the broth.  It's not as salty.  After working in the heat, the Beast didn't feel it was too salty but that's because he was replacing some of the salt he lost from sweat.  When we owned our business and he was working outdoors most of the day, he made me nauseous from watching him salt his food at dinner.  People said I should give him salt tablets to take but I knew I could never get him to do that. 

    I also made him a German chocolate cake.  He wanted something sweet and I didn't want anything too heavy or overly sweet.  Voila!  Perfect!  He said it hit the spot because it was nice and light.  That was just what he was hoping for he told me.  I think he thought I was going to give him strawberry shortcake since I had strawberries in the fridge.

    What he didn't know was I got those for Chewlee.    If he had checked to see how many were actually left in the container, he might have had a clue.

    SyFy had a movie on tonight called *The Phantom*.  Now, I haven't been a fan of the Phantom since I was very young.  If I read one of the comic strips on him once every 5-6 years, I don't miss out on much.  It's actually worse than a soap opera in it's own way.  I have to admit, however, that this movie was actually very interesting all on it's own.  There are no big stars ( but a couple of familiar faces that I should know the names of but only remember Isabella Rossellini) so it had to be a *made for TV* movie but it goes a long way in explaining how the Phantom line got started and how this particular Kit Walker was lost for almost 20 years of his young life before being rediscovered and gradually convinced to become the *Ghost Who Walks*.  If you are the least bit familiar with the Phantom, the movie is engaging with just a few trite spots included.  There IS a lot of suspense.  Worth a look see when it's on again.

    Time to put this baby to bed.  Love you all and I hope you have a great Monday, even if you DO have to work.