Friends That Have Gone

I had a friend from college that passed away at the beginning of 2016. She was only 5 years older than myself.

At the time, we hadn't been speaking in several years. We didn't share the same political views and things got very nasty a few times.

I have always felt bad about this situation, because the break in our friendship came from a lot of, I don't want to say misunderstanding, but rather of not understanding.

It was at the time my dad was starting to get sick, which was after my grandmother had passed away. I couldn't go out a lot and I had to do most of the cooking then, as my mother's sight was failing. She didn't understand. Also, I hate Kings, which seemed to be her restaurant of choice for meetups.

I made a political post on Facebook one day, and she blew up on me, and said I hated her mother and then she deleted her account and was never heard from again, by me.

I was totally befuddled.

I found out her mother passed away in 2013, but I didn't learn that until much latter. I didn't learn Mary had passed until last year.

Every time I drive by Monongahela Cemetery I think of her. I wonder what happened because I don't have contact with any of her family members.

It is so sad that our friendship had to end the way it did.

I can only hope wherever she is now, that she's at peace.

Missing My Dewey

Its been one year since my Dewey crossed the rainbow bridge. I miss this cat every day. She was my little girl and I loved her so much.

Will Someone Explain This To Me

Since the Grand Jury report has been released there has been so much said about the Catholic Church and the sexual abuse by priests that was covered up for years.

This is what I need explained.

How did parents not notify authorities. I mean who did they go to that allowed the hierarchy in the church to sent priests to rehab. WTF rehab for pedophilia? Is this really a thing?

Did our police not go after these guys?

I just don't understand.

I grew up Catholic.

Two of my parish priests were on that list.

I'm angry at a lot of things involving this. I'm angry with the church for the culture that allowed this to happen. Seriously, priests need to be able to marry. It would foster normal relationships with clergy.  How can you take marriage advice etc from a man that's never been married?

I'm angry that someone justice wasn't served for decades...probably more than that.

I just don't understand. If my child was harmed, I'd go kicking and screaming after them.

Murphy's Law When Company's Coming

We're all familiar with Murphy's Law, right?

Anything that can go wrong will?

Well my brother is coming for a short visit tomorrow, which I'm all for, because it means I get to go to the Covered Bridge Festival for a little bit.

However, it means I really have to clean my house, cos well, he's persnickety.

So how does Murphy's Law fit in?

It means the cats will puke on the carpet every chance they get.

Dust will appear where everywhere.

Clutter will appear everywhere.

Most of the stuff I need to do couldn't be done in advance because well..the kitties. So tonight I'll be scrambling and I'll be tired as hell when I wake up tomorrow.

Sharing Recipes

Sometimes I feel really sad that I have no one in my family to share recipes with. I didn't start cooking until I was in my 30s, because my mom didn't like anyone touching her old Tappan range. (Oh how I loved that big ole monster)

I quickly inherited her love for cooking. (Though I have a strong hatred for cleanup) But there are no family members to pass down recipes to anymore.

Its just like holiday cookies.

When my father was alive, cookies brought him so much joy. In his last year of life, if I couldn't bake them, I had to buy them. It didn't matter what kind they were, he wanted cookies!

Now that he's gone, a batch of cookies don't seem to get eaten.

I have no motivation for cookies.

I have no one that will say, I love what you made, can I have the recipe. I really does make me sad sometimes, especially as I love trying new things.

The World Is Too Connected

I'm pretty sure when current events and lifestyles become a part of history, it will say that we were too connected, but not connected enough.

We have social media that allows us to see things from all over the world in real time. We can spread our views in seconds.

We can share the good and the bad and the downright awful.

We can share knowledge and stupidity at record speeds.

We show the world our best and ultimately our worst.

Social media causes depression, because well...the grass is always greener and when we see those greener pastures everyday and our pastures look a bit brown, well, it isn't all that fun.

It allows for bullying 24/7....or in the case of our current POS POTUS at least at 3 am.

And while we're at it, so much of everything has to be about making money. Now don't get me wrong, I still dream of the day one of my cats finally goes viral and gets fame and fortune, so that they can buy their own kibble.

But god when your blog is so bogged down with ads that you can't find the content it becomes maddening.

Case in point the food blog where I found this recipe for Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins

INGREDIENTS

MUFFIN:

• 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin (pure pumpkin puree)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

CREAM CHEESE SWIRL:

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Place paper baking cups into muffin pan. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda and salt until well combined. Set aside.
3. In large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, sugar and brown sugar.
4. Beat in eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Slowly whisk in the flour mixture, until there are no lumps. Fill muffin tins 3/4 full.
5. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add in sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
6. Top each muffin with about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture and use a toothpick to swirl it into the batter. This will not look smooth, but it will bake up much prettier. (You can see exactly how I did this in the video above.)
7. Bake muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. I liked these best at room temperature or even slightly chilled! Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

The Weekend From Hell

OK, its not been to awful, but when the bad shit happens, it really happens.

I went to Critter Country for the first time, but they closed early cos the mama wolf decided to sneak out of her enclosure. Not to worry, there was a double enclosure, but mama was apparently bored and didn't want to go back in.

Watched Doctor Strange. I found a lot of similarities with this character and Doctor Who, at least in the story and in the special effects. Also Benedict Cumberbatch is still fabulous. Also Doctor Strange and Sherlock seem to be very similar characters, just in different worlds

Oh I chipped my back molar on popcorn while watching the movie. Yeah. This is how Murphy's Law gets me, especially after I spent some money on clothes, which I really needed. I can't afford an implant, root canal or anything like that. I don't have dental insurance, just medical.

Was making spaghetti sauce to freeze out of the bazillion tomatoes and I spilled half a pot of water on the floor, uh twice.

My floor is clean.

I am a walking disaster today. I should have stayed in bed.