Sunday, January 20, 2008

More fun than a barrel of frozen monkeys.

Grab a cocktail, put your slippers on, squoosh your ass deep into the la-z-boy...

I've got a little bit o' stuff for you today.

Part one of who-the-fuck-knows-how-many in the "Reader's Choice" (in no way affiliated with the Reader's Digest or Easy Reader) three day weekend extravaganza that I proposed here.

  • For McGone, who wanted me to recreate the photo from this post (sorry, I had to substitute the beer. Forgive me.):


*The "big beer can" is kinda for Jesswundrun too as I can't get to Lacrosse this weekend. Maybe in the not-too-distant future I can get the real thing.


For Chiada, who wanted to see pictures from Fort Snelling state Park, where the Mississippi & Minnesota rivers meet, we went on an outdoor adventure yesterday.



  • It was sort of under a bridge, just like you remembered:
  • We hiked for a bit even though it was cold enough to freeze the snot in your nose:


  • And, we saw the squirrels that normally reside in my brain (the -19+ windchill didn't seem to phase the chubby little rodents in the least). I had given them the day off and lo and behold here they were- gorging themselves stupid on bird food.


As we were already bundled up in our finest union suits and were feeling like we could handle the snotcicles a bit longer, we went to see the frozen Minnehaha Falls for my girl Patti:

  • Yup. Frozen solid.

  • The elusive and often misunderstood Mr. Whiskeymarie, being stalked by the evil spirit of tropical cocktails in coconut cups:


  • Holy balls it was cold out. We wanted to go to this for -R-, but even we Northerners- born and bred in the frozen tundra- could take no more. Sorry.



Today, I made a little nosh for y'all.

  • For Gorillabuns, I am currently drinking a concoction of Bailey's Caramel, Kahlua and Hershey's syrup. A little sweet? Affirmative. Delicious? Indeed!
  • I baked for 3carnations (bread, not sweets, hope that's o.k. Although I also made an angel food cake from a box mix, if that counts.):

  • I cooked for Wide Lawns- spicy chicken/veg/black eyed pea soup. Sorry, though- no official recipe. I poached a whole chicken with some salt, pepper, oregano and coriander and saved the broth. I pulled out the chicken, pulled the meat off the bones & chopped it up. In another soup pan I sauteed onions, celery, carrots and chopped garlic. I added most of the reserved broth, a can of diced tomatoes and the chicken. I simmered all of that for 20-30 minutes. Then I added a diced potato, cooked black eyed peas (I cooked my own but frozen or canned is fine), some chopped chipotle peppers, ground cumin, more dried oregano, fresh chopped parsley and cilantro and some fresh ground black pepper and simmered another 15 minutes. I added a few tablespoons of cornmeal (to thicken) and simmered 10-15 minutes more. I seasoned with salt, pepper, a splash of balsamic vinegar and a tablespoon of molasses. Then I ate it. Yum:


  • Stacie and NotSoccerMom wanted matching "Pooter and Me" pictures. Pooter is still a bit young and wiggly (and she still has claws) for me to be forcing costumes upon her. So I decided that, instead of her dressing like me, I would dress like HER:

All furry and black and stealthy.



Meow.

And for Abbs, who suggested a show at the Guthrie- I couldn't go this weekend, so I bought tickets to this in February.
Thanks for making me get all culturified and stuff!
Before you know it I'll have classed myself up so much I won't even be drinkin' Boones Farm "Strawberry Fields" no more. Here's to the future, hee-yaw!!!

********************

And pray tell, what does tomorrow promise?

  • Bikini-wearing snow bunnies!
  • Tom Cruise!
  • Frozen spit!
  • Toast!
  • Dating stories!
  • Tongues+frozen metal!
  • Maybe an overseas phone call!
  • Birds!
  • Noodles or art! Maybe!
  • More cocktails?!?
  • Catching up on all of your blogs!
  • Telepathic garage cleaning and bathroom painting!
  • Such & such!
  • More?!?

39 comments:

H said...

Good Lord, I can't believe you guys were nuts enough to go outside yesterday. Kudos to you. Love the photos, and I'm definitely sorry I didn't offer any suggestions! Next time around...

Lisa said...

Let's hear it for more cocktails!! Wheeee!!

-R- said...

I am impressed that you even went outdoors!

I love your cat costume. It was hard for me to tell which creature was WM and which was Pooter.

Christa said...

oh sweet gentle lord. you've outdone yourself, wm. you are definitely raising the blogging bar.

gorillabuns said...

who can top you? i dare anyone to try!

thanks for the cocktail concoction. though, i would be puking in my fluffy house shoes. i'm so allergic to bailey and anything that contains a milky substance. (that last sentence just doesn't read right to me.)

and you guys are all kinds of CRAZY to be in the snow - taking pictures of vARHmits.

i do wonder something; what does mr. whiskey think about your various costume changes throughout the day?

somehow, i think you keep him QUITE entertained.

punchlinewalking said...

Yeah, I'm pretty sure my husband would not agree such shenanigans (well, maybe the bailey's)...but it looks like a blast!

Stefanie said...

Wow. I am impressed that you ventured to Minnehaha Falls yesterday. I ventured only as far as the Target parking lot to the front door. The things you do for your readers! Well done.

I was going to go to the pond hockey thing, but just couldn't bring myself to do it in that cold. Too bad we both bailed; we might have run into each other there!

kimmothy said...

I spent the majority of today reading your blog archives, and it made me sad...sad that I don't know anyone as cool as you. At least I have your writing!

McGone said...

You are forgiven.

By the way, regarding the second-to-last picture... did you get Pooter the Cat just so you could be more like a James Bond Villain? Because - except for the slippers - it's a very nice look for you.

T Gretta's Mom said...

I'm drooling over the bread and soup part. I wish my daughter could cook like that. I probably made her peel potatoes or some other horrible thing (like not letting her wear her tutu to church) and it turned her against cooking forever.

Sean said...

Nice soup. I'll have to give that a shot. Thanks.

ps said...

darling, you look gorgeous outside!

Suze said...

You are my hero. Absolutely hysterical. Matching outfits with Pooter - EXCELLENT!

Freida Bee, MD said...

You are crossing into new terrains in blogging, mixing the reality/ interactive shows with blogging. Let's call it bleality.

Jack said...

I can't wait!

EmBee said...

Wouldn't you know it... I have telepathic bathroom cleaning on my To Do List today... Hmmmm? So far it's not working very well.

Named Without Real Estate said...

Wow. Thanks sooo much for getting to the Falls and taking pictures. I went to the link. What a beautiful place. Way cool (all puns intended!)

The soup looks delicious. Thought you might be interested in this:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/moroccan-black-bean-stew-recipe.html

I served it with brown rice. Very good.

I've said it bunches of times.

You make me smile! Thanks!

Patti

Whiskeymarie said...

Thanks Patti! Glad you liked the pics.

And, by the way- the "anonymous" post was in NO WAY directed at you or any of my lovely anon pals. I love love love you guys.
I really don't mind anonymous comments, I just hate it when people "trash and run".
XO

Oh, and to T Gretta's mom- you made me snort tea into my nose this morning, such was my giggling.

Stacey said...

Wow, I take a Friday off and I miss all the fun.
So um yeah, can i vote for what you do next weekend then ?

(oh yes and I saw the anonymous commenter and don't you just love how anonymous commenters alway insult you anonymously. F'in coward...anyhoo, I'm sure you're over that so I shall leave it alone)

Enjoy your MLK day.

dguzman said...

yay, costumes AND kitty!

Nature Girl said...

YOU ROCK! I can't believe you fit all of that in! Holy cow...when I'm bored, I'm going to ask my readers for suggestions...looks like fun.
Stacie

david mcmahon said...

G'day from Australia,

Our waterfalls aren't frozen here - it's the middle of one of our hottest, driest summers.

Really enjoyed the first visit here .... you have a fun approach to writing. The way it should be.

Chiada said...

Thank you so much for the Fort Snelling and Minnehaha pics! I forgot that we had been to that waterfall and park as well, only in the summertime.

I hope you and Mr. Whiskeymarie didn't get too cold!

Courtney said...

You dressed as Pooter = adorable!

But would it really have been so hard to throw something leopard print on her, so she could be dressed as you? Certainly the two of you can wear matching scarves or something.

Gretta said...

This must be genetic, but I was like "dammit, now I'm craving freshly baked bread, and something with Bailey's in it".

And yes, we can all blame my mom for my not wanting to cook. And anything else I might do/not do that gets me into trouble.

Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein said...

You're spoiling us what with doing our evil bidding and all.

Lollie said...

You as Pooter, though...please, could that have been cuter?

Lollie said...

Are you kidding me? 6 perfectly good freezing in the outdoors photographic opportunities for frozen spit, and all I get for solid liquid is a waterfall.

Fran said...

Holy crap- you have outdone yourself, which is no small accomplishment.

Mr. Whiskey and your Pooter are both adorable matches for your own adorableness.

Nocturnal said...

I love that snow, I'm jealous. Mr. WM looks like a rock star.

Cheers

Casdok said...

That Baileys sure sounds good!

Anonymous said...

I love your new kitty. She is just too cute.

CDP said...

Nice to see the pictures of the mysterious Mr. WM, and he and Pooter are both adorable. And I like the yellow clock...very cool.

Sornie said...

My goal for this year is to actually photograph that bridge. It took me forever to notice it but it's an icon in the cities.

Wide Lawns said...

Thank you! That soup looks yum.

Whiskey Marie, I want desperately to make this recipe here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/dining/091mrex.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

I will die if I can not make this recipe, but I am scared because remember my issues with egg yolk tempering? I was wondering if maybe next weekend you and Pooter could make it and take some pictures and let me see how you do it first. That is, if you don't have anything better to do, but frankly I can't imagine anything better than butterscotch pudding.

That frozen waterfall was extremely exciting to me by the way.

Whiskeymarie said...

Wide lawns- for you I shall make this recipe next weekend. I will take pictures and make notes, and if I can figure out how to do it, I will even try to get some video.

Yay! Pudding!

NotSoccer Mom said...

haha, too funny--you dressed as pooter. so unexpected yet hysterically funny. you're the best! and i agree that you're spoiling us all.

Wide Lawns said...

YAY!! Whiskey Marie you are the best. Thank you. You are my hero. Heroine I mean. Heroin even.

Butrfly Garden said...

I grew up by those beer cans!!!!

(Sorry, anytime someone mentions LaX, I gotta do the "OOH! OOH! I KNOW THAT PLACE!" thing.)

Love the matching costumes. I never thought of going that way with it.