“Do you think you ever entirely get over your first love?” I asked this as I forked a carrot out of my chicken-pot-pie.
Jackie and Kim both looked at me and I could tell that they knew exactly what was going on in my head.
“When did he call you?” Kim asked taking her eyes off of me to focus on removing the crust from the top of her pie.
“Who? What do you mean?” I asked, trying to seem clueless.
“Jess, when did Jess call?” She asked giving me a no-nonsense look.
“We know he did,” Jackie said, “so don’t even try to hide it. When did that prick decide to mess with your pretty little head again?”
“Last night,” I replied with a sigh, “but it was totally innocent. He wasn’t screwing with me. Just friendly conversation.”
“Uh, huh,” Holly said. “Friendly conversation which turns into continuous conversations, which turns into you getting stuck in is traps again and then released with more scars on your heart. We have been through this with you before, my dear.”
“I am over him,” I said, “I really like Blake and I know he treats me better than Jess ever thought about.”
“Then what’s with the original question?” Kate asked. “You don’t just ask something like that unless something is weighing on your mind.”
“Ok, you are right. You all are right.” I finally had to admit my weakness. “Ugh, I hate the control Jess has over me. He always treated me like crap, filled my mind full of lies, and I still have this uncontrollable attraction to him. I hate it!”
“Do you wish Blake was Jess now?” Kim asked.
“No, I don’t think so,” I said. “Do you mean like if Jess treated me like Blake does and we were together? I don’t know. I mean, no. No, not at all.”
“Oh, man,” Jackie said. “You’re screwed. Why did you even take his call? You know you can’t handle him, and you have such a good thing going with Blake.”
“I know,” I leaned back on the sofa and clasped my hands over my face to ease the pain in my head. “I should’ve known better. Plus, when Blake called later I was short and rude to him for no reason at all and I couldn’t help it. It was just all so wrong.”
“Well, you need to remember all the tears, heartache and humiliation Jess caused you in the past and then compare that to anything bad that Blake has done to you,” Kate said.
“Blake has never made me cry or feel bad,” I said. “All he has done is make me happy and put me first, but my heart still skipped a beat when I saw Jess’s name and number pop up on my cell phone. I should’ve had the reaction to hit ignore rather than act like a little boy-crazy junior high girl.”
“No luck, he’s your lost treasure, not that he is a treasure at all, but you know what I mean,” Holly said. “He is something you never fully conquered, and we all know how you and your achiever personality type are. I guarantee if you would have got Jess wrapped around your finger and then you be the one to end it, then we would not be having this conversation.”
“She’s right,” Kim said. “That’s how you roll, Lex. It is how the majority of girls roll. You have the routine of seek, conquer and then move on. If you don’t ever conquer, then you can’t move on.”
“So what do I do?” I pleaded. “Jess is unconquerable, and I am not going to jeopardize what I have with Blake on the hopeless chance of rekindling something with Jess.”
“Then you have no choice than to let it pass,” Kate said. “It will suck for a while, but in a couple of days you will forget about him again, like you had done before last night. Next time he calls, just don’t answer.”
“Jess wasn’t your first love was he?” Holly asked.
“No, well maybe, I don’t know,” I said, continuing to confuse myself. “I guess Riley was my first love, but that was young love so it doesn’t really count.”
“Blake is way better looking than Jess anyway,” Jackie said, taking a bite of chicken. “Not that Jess is bad looking, but Blake is better than him on so many levels. You really shouldn’t have any second thoughts.”
“I know,” I said picking my plate back up off the coffee table. “I spent so much wasted time and heartache on Jess. I just wish I could sit him down and tell him how much pain he caused me and make him realize what a selfish son-of-a-bitch he was.”
“That, my dear, is closure you may never get,” Kate said, “and I would not do it in front of a crowd and seem like the crazy ex-girlfriend. Maybe you can have a one-on-one with him someday, but don’t go through life with him always lurking in the back of your mind. That’s not fair to you or whoever you are dating.”
“You are right,” I said. “Jess never would have treated me the way Blake does and he never once apologized for any hurt he ever caused me.”
“You just have to move on, Lex,” Kim said. “You may never completely, one-hundred percent get over Jess, but the good thing is that you already have a head start. Last night was just a bit of a set back. You’ll recover from it and be going forward again. Trust me, and Blake is the perfect copilot for you.”
Holly’s Chicken Pot Pie
1 (8oz) can refrigerated crescent rolls
2 cups diced, cooked boneless chicken breast
1 can cream of chicken soup
½ cup low-fat milk
1 (16oz) bag mixed veggies
1 medium yellow onion chopped
2 celery ribs chopped
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon pepper
Buttered flavored cooking spray
Heat oven to 425°F. Spray buttered flavored cooking spray in a large sauce pan over medium-high heat on the stove. Add onion and celery, cook until slightly tender. Add chicken, veggies, milk, cream of chicken. Stir until well mixed. Add spices and reduce heat to medium low for two minutes. Poor mixture in a 9 X 13 casserole dish. Unroll crescents and place each strip on the mixture so that they evenly cover the filling. Place in oven and bake 15 – 20 minutes or until crescents are lightly brown and crisp.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Wontons and Waiting
“My friend Bethany called last night to tell me she got engaged,” Jackie said. “Last week Roxanne called to say she was having a baby and the night before I got an email from Jennifer saying her and Branson are getting married in May. What is the deal? Everyone I know is either married, getting married or having kids, and I can’t even stay amused by the same guy for more than two months. I think I have a serious problem.”
The rest of us just stared motionless at Jackie, confused and stunned by the words coming out of her mouth. Independent, self-consumed, Jackie never talked like this. It is normal for most women to feel down and questionable about their love life when everyone else around them seems to be moving forward, but Jackie was never one of those women. If anything, I always thought of her to think of herself as lucky to not be tied down to one person.
“I know what you mean,” Kim finally broke the silence, “almost every girlfriend I have is now wearing a ring on her finger or pushing a stroller, and here I am, bare handed.”
“I can’t believe it bothers you, Jackie,” I said, being completely honest and trying to figure out my chopsticks. “I mean Kim, I understand. Mainly because she never lets us forget how ready she is to be married, but you, I always thought of you as living and loving the single life.”
“I know,” she replied, “crazy, huh. I mean don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to slit my wrists over this or anything, but it does make me feel like maybe I am stuck in a rut.”
“A rut?” Kate chimed in. “What the hell are you talking about? You have a different guy every time we meet up, and you always have the most entertaining stories. I would rather listen to your love life than watch The Hills.”
“I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment or not,” Jackie said. “Believe it or not, I do want to meet ‘the one’ someday soon and that be it. I enjoy the party, going out, living it up life, but I have the dream of wearing a white dress just like every other girl.”
“If it helps, think about how many friends you have who are already divorced,” Holly said. “That’s what I do when I get the single blues. I know of at least four girls that I was close to in high school who are now divorced from their high-school sweethearts. Two of them have kids. How crappy would that be?”
“I haven’t really thought about that,” Jackie said, dousing her wonton with soy sauce. “It could always be worse, but I have dated a lot of guys and none of them have turned out to be worth a commitment. It makes me wonder if there is actually anyone out there for me to grow old with, and I am scared of doing it alone.”
“This is making me sad,” I said. “You never are down like this, Jackie. I want my fun-loving, carefree Jackie back. The one that is comfortable with her life and believes that as long as you are happy, everything will fall into place.”
“I know, I am sorry I am such a mood buster tonight,” Jackie said. “It is just that I was by myself last night and got lonely and had to listen to how happy and wonderful everyone else is and it made me so sad. I am just glad that I had you guys to come be with tonight, and I just need to get some of this off my chest. You all know that I never let these kinds of feelings out.”
“Then you get after it,” Kim said. “Heaven knows if I don’t vent like that then I become an emotional mess. Brian hates when I bitch and moan, but he knows it is better than the uncontrollable crying alternative.”
“Well, you all know how much I analyze and worry about situations,” I said, “and I am really bad about not talking to Blake about it and then being grouchy to him when I really need to vent and put all my thoughts and feeling out in the open for him to know about.”
“What do you worry about?” Holly asked me. “You and Blake seem perfect.”
“Hardly,” I said, “I worry about how we will be financially if we get married, where we will live, if he can make me happy everyday the rest of our lives, and if I can do the same for him. I try so hard to take it day by day and just be happy, but I can’t always do that. I am too much of a planner and have to know how things are going to be in advance. It is just my nature, my damn un-fun nature.”
“At least you have someone to call and come over when you’re lonely,” Jackie told me, “and a positive prospect that is husband material.”
“Oh, Jackie,” Kate said, “you have a blackberry full of people to call when you’re lonely.”
“Yeah, if I need a booty call,” Jackie said, “but I don’t have any guys in there that I could get to come over and have a real heart-to-heart conversation with. If I need to talk about my feelings, work, or stuff that’s bothering me then I call one of you guys. Not that I don’t love being able to do that, but I do wish I could talk about all that in the arms of some guy telling me it is all going to be alright.”
“I know what you mean,” Holly said. “Even I get like that. Not very often, but after a really bad day at school or after I find out that someone close to me has passed away, I need a good man to hold me.”
“I never thought I’d hear either of you talking like this,” I said.
“Well, what can I say,” Holly said, biting into a wonton as half of the filling fell back on her plate. “Sometimes a girl needs a little more than unemotional loving.”
“Maybe so,” Kate said, “but I would recommend you girls living up your independence while you can, because once Mr. Right comes along there is no turning back. You will know it is him on that first date, and believe me, he will consume you from then on.”
“Do you really believe that?” I asked her.
“Absolutely,” she told me. “Why, do you not feel that way with Blake?”
“Well, I know that it felt like we had been dating for years after that first night,” I said, “and I was already comfortable with him from the moment I met him, so I guess you’re right. I am just too cautious to believe in the whole love at first sight logic. I wish I was more carefree about it all, but like I said earlier, I’m not. Guess I can blame it on too many failed relationships, otherwise known as ass holes.”
“I just know that I am getting tired of waiting for my Mr. Right,” Jackie said. “I wish he would RSVP or something. I just need to know that someone is going to show up and give me a reason to eat a wedding cake that I haven’t cut myself.”
Lexi’s Baked Wontons
8 oz. ground pork
½ c. shredded carrot
¼ c. finely chopped celery
¼ c. finely chopped water chestnut
1 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. cornstarch
2 tsp. grated ginger root
½ of (16 oz.) pkg. wonton wrappers
2 tbs. olive oil
Sweet and sour sauce (for dipping)
Soy Sauce (for dipping)
Ginger sauce (for dipping)
In skillet, cook ground meat until browned. Stir in carrots, celery, and water chestnuts, soy sauce, cornstarch and ginger root. Cook 2 minutes while stirring.
Put one rounded teaspoon of filling in the middle of each wonton wrapper. Lightly brush edges with water. To shape the wontons, carefully bring 2 opposite points of the square wrapper up over filling and pinch together in center. Do the same with the 2 remaining opposite points of the wonton wrapper. Firmly pinch together all edges to seal.
Place wontons on greased cookie sheet. Brush with olive oil. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes until light and crisp. Serve with sauces. Makes 25 servings.
The rest of us just stared motionless at Jackie, confused and stunned by the words coming out of her mouth. Independent, self-consumed, Jackie never talked like this. It is normal for most women to feel down and questionable about their love life when everyone else around them seems to be moving forward, but Jackie was never one of those women. If anything, I always thought of her to think of herself as lucky to not be tied down to one person.
“I know what you mean,” Kim finally broke the silence, “almost every girlfriend I have is now wearing a ring on her finger or pushing a stroller, and here I am, bare handed.”
“I can’t believe it bothers you, Jackie,” I said, being completely honest and trying to figure out my chopsticks. “I mean Kim, I understand. Mainly because she never lets us forget how ready she is to be married, but you, I always thought of you as living and loving the single life.”
“I know,” she replied, “crazy, huh. I mean don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to slit my wrists over this or anything, but it does make me feel like maybe I am stuck in a rut.”
“A rut?” Kate chimed in. “What the hell are you talking about? You have a different guy every time we meet up, and you always have the most entertaining stories. I would rather listen to your love life than watch The Hills.”
“I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment or not,” Jackie said. “Believe it or not, I do want to meet ‘the one’ someday soon and that be it. I enjoy the party, going out, living it up life, but I have the dream of wearing a white dress just like every other girl.”
“If it helps, think about how many friends you have who are already divorced,” Holly said. “That’s what I do when I get the single blues. I know of at least four girls that I was close to in high school who are now divorced from their high-school sweethearts. Two of them have kids. How crappy would that be?”
“I haven’t really thought about that,” Jackie said, dousing her wonton with soy sauce. “It could always be worse, but I have dated a lot of guys and none of them have turned out to be worth a commitment. It makes me wonder if there is actually anyone out there for me to grow old with, and I am scared of doing it alone.”
“This is making me sad,” I said. “You never are down like this, Jackie. I want my fun-loving, carefree Jackie back. The one that is comfortable with her life and believes that as long as you are happy, everything will fall into place.”
“I know, I am sorry I am such a mood buster tonight,” Jackie said. “It is just that I was by myself last night and got lonely and had to listen to how happy and wonderful everyone else is and it made me so sad. I am just glad that I had you guys to come be with tonight, and I just need to get some of this off my chest. You all know that I never let these kinds of feelings out.”
“Then you get after it,” Kim said. “Heaven knows if I don’t vent like that then I become an emotional mess. Brian hates when I bitch and moan, but he knows it is better than the uncontrollable crying alternative.”
“Well, you all know how much I analyze and worry about situations,” I said, “and I am really bad about not talking to Blake about it and then being grouchy to him when I really need to vent and put all my thoughts and feeling out in the open for him to know about.”
“What do you worry about?” Holly asked me. “You and Blake seem perfect.”
“Hardly,” I said, “I worry about how we will be financially if we get married, where we will live, if he can make me happy everyday the rest of our lives, and if I can do the same for him. I try so hard to take it day by day and just be happy, but I can’t always do that. I am too much of a planner and have to know how things are going to be in advance. It is just my nature, my damn un-fun nature.”
“At least you have someone to call and come over when you’re lonely,” Jackie told me, “and a positive prospect that is husband material.”
“Oh, Jackie,” Kate said, “you have a blackberry full of people to call when you’re lonely.”
“Yeah, if I need a booty call,” Jackie said, “but I don’t have any guys in there that I could get to come over and have a real heart-to-heart conversation with. If I need to talk about my feelings, work, or stuff that’s bothering me then I call one of you guys. Not that I don’t love being able to do that, but I do wish I could talk about all that in the arms of some guy telling me it is all going to be alright.”
“I know what you mean,” Holly said. “Even I get like that. Not very often, but after a really bad day at school or after I find out that someone close to me has passed away, I need a good man to hold me.”
“I never thought I’d hear either of you talking like this,” I said.
“Well, what can I say,” Holly said, biting into a wonton as half of the filling fell back on her plate. “Sometimes a girl needs a little more than unemotional loving.”
“Maybe so,” Kate said, “but I would recommend you girls living up your independence while you can, because once Mr. Right comes along there is no turning back. You will know it is him on that first date, and believe me, he will consume you from then on.”
“Do you really believe that?” I asked her.
“Absolutely,” she told me. “Why, do you not feel that way with Blake?”
“Well, I know that it felt like we had been dating for years after that first night,” I said, “and I was already comfortable with him from the moment I met him, so I guess you’re right. I am just too cautious to believe in the whole love at first sight logic. I wish I was more carefree about it all, but like I said earlier, I’m not. Guess I can blame it on too many failed relationships, otherwise known as ass holes.”
“I just know that I am getting tired of waiting for my Mr. Right,” Jackie said. “I wish he would RSVP or something. I just need to know that someone is going to show up and give me a reason to eat a wedding cake that I haven’t cut myself.”
Lexi’s Baked Wontons
8 oz. ground pork
½ c. shredded carrot
¼ c. finely chopped celery
¼ c. finely chopped water chestnut
1 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. cornstarch
2 tsp. grated ginger root
½ of (16 oz.) pkg. wonton wrappers
2 tbs. olive oil
Sweet and sour sauce (for dipping)
Soy Sauce (for dipping)
Ginger sauce (for dipping)
In skillet, cook ground meat until browned. Stir in carrots, celery, and water chestnuts, soy sauce, cornstarch and ginger root. Cook 2 minutes while stirring.
Put one rounded teaspoon of filling in the middle of each wonton wrapper. Lightly brush edges with water. To shape the wontons, carefully bring 2 opposite points of the square wrapper up over filling and pinch together in center. Do the same with the 2 remaining opposite points of the wonton wrapper. Firmly pinch together all edges to seal.
Place wontons on greased cookie sheet. Brush with olive oil. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes until light and crisp. Serve with sauces. Makes 25 servings.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Two Rules and Teriyaki
“I have two rules, always know the name of the guy you wake up by in the morning, and always know exactly when you should be going to start your period.” Jackie told us all with a mouth full of chicken teriyaki.
“Wow, you are pretty strict on yourself, huh.” Holly said sarcastically.
“I do have standards, and I believe both of those to be very important things to keep straight in my life.” Jackie said.
“Have you ever broken one of your ‘rules’?” Kim asked her.
“Yes, well, technically it wasn’t a rule at the time so I guess I didn’t really break it. But I did immediately make it a rule to know the guy’s name before I go to bed with him,” Jackie said. “I actually called him the next day to ask him his name and tell him that I would not be frequenting his bed ever again.”
“Did he know your name?” I asked.
“Nope, complete strangers. Pretty classy, huh?”
“At least you learned a lesson from it, and at least he left his number so you could call and clear things up,” I told her, trying to make the story as positive as possible.
“Actually, he didn’t leave his number, and I snuck out without even saying goodbye,” Jackie said. “I called my friend who was his friend and had introduced us and luckily he had Kyle’s, that was his name by the way, number.”
“When did you make these rules for yourself?” Kate asked, popping a piece of French bread in her mouth.
“Back in college, junior year I think.”
“Well, I think a lot of women live by your second rule.” Kim said. “Actually I think most women live by both of those rules. They just don’t necessarily think of them as rules but rather as habits.”
“I suppose so,” Jackie said. “I’ve never really thought about that, but I bet most of them haven’t had to make them ‘rules’ because of personal experience. A bad experience at that.”
“What made you make the second rule a ‘rule’?” Kate asked.
“Bad scare about a year ago,” Jackie said. “I was three weeks late and had been sleeping with Randy off and on for three months. I was spooked out of my mind, and would have rather told my anti-premarital sex hometown preacher before I told Randy about it. He would’ve freaked out.”
“Why didn’t you tell any of us about it?” I asked her, a little hurt that she didn’t let me help her get through her tough situation.
“I guess I thought if I ignored it enough it would go away,” Jackie said, still holding a too calm and laid back tone about the experience. “I finally went to the doctor when that third week rolled around and still no monthly monster. Turned out it was a false alarm and no baby. Dr. Jennings didn’t even act surprised when I jumped to hug him. Guess he gets that a lot from single girls my age.”
“I’m sure. Especially in a college town.” Holly said. “I’ve had a skip or two. Nothing that ended up with a doctor’s visit, but enough to make me an avid birth control pill popper.”
“I remember when I found out I was pregnant with Macy,” Kate chimed in. “I was scared to death and threw up three times before Jon got home that evening. I was so worried about what he would say.”
“I didn’t know Macy was a surprise.” I said.
“Oh, yeah, total surprise,” Kate said. “Guess we had gotten lazy about stuff, and it slipped up on us. Jon was great about it though, and loaded me up to go to Babies R US that evening to look around. From then on it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Well, I want it all some day,” Jackie said. “I just have several steps to take until then. Let’s see, there is getting a boyfriend, keeping a boyfriend, getting engaged, staying engaged, getting married. Maybe by the time I am fifty I will at least have the steady boyfriend accomplished.”
“I am so ready for kids,” Kim said. “Sometimes I go into Kids’ Palace just to see what new nursery stuff they have in. You all should’ve seen this cherry wood baby bed they got in last week. It was kind of like a sleigh bed. Precious!”
“You have got to be kidding me,” Holly said. “Try being around twenty second graders all day. That is the best birth control a single woman could ask for. It is amazing how fast Sweetie Susie can turn into Satan Susie.”
“You don’t want kids?” Jackie asked Holly.
“Not at the moment,” she replied. “Maybe if my husband is an all-star dad and willing to do most of the leg work.”
“I think you’d make a great mom,” I told her. “You are great with your students. You can’t fool me. I’ve seen you in A plus teacher action.”
“What about you Lex,” Kate asked me, “Do you and Blake ever talk about it.”
“Only in brief spurts,” I said. “He wants two or three, same as me. We agree on a lot of it, but it sure doesn’t make us think twice about preventing a baby boom from happening. He won’t start anything in bed until we are fully equipped, which is nice, and we both want to be married first. Marriage before carriage, he says.”
“Brian gets nervous when we start talking about kids,” Kim said. “He worries so much about money and a house and all that stuff. I think it will be a long, long time before I am actually going into Kids’ Palace for a reason. Hell, at the rate we are going, it will be a while before I am going into the Bridal Boutique for a reason.”
“I just hope to be wearing a wedding gown before a hospital gown,” Jackie said, “and you all know me. It’s not like I am little Miss Traditional Goodie Good, but I do think that is the sequence to roll with.”
“I agree,” Holly said, “and I am not very conservative or traditional. It’s not like I look down on anyone who gets pregnant and then married or not married at all. But I think it is more considerate to everyone, especially the kid, if you get married, have a kid, and here is the kicker, stay married.”
“Ah, the biggest obstacle of life, marriage without divorce,” I said. “Now that is something Blake and I do completely agree on. Neither of us wants to get divorced and we both promise to make damn sure that we don’t rush into something that may lead to that and to do everything in our power to keep it from happening after vows are exchanged.”
“Same here,” Kim said. “My parents got divorced when I was in high school and it sucked. They never even seemed to fight, and then all the sudden they sat me down to tell me they are getting a divorce. One of the worst days of my life, no doubt, and now everything is split up and hard to balance and more of a hassle.”
“Jon and I have never, knock on wood, even had a fight that caused one of us to sleep on the couch,” Kate said. “I can’t imagine having one that could end in divorce.”
“Unwanted babies and divorce, all cause for the establishment of rules,” Jackie said. “Know their name and know your date. And those are rules that are NOT meant to be broken.”
Kate’s Chicken Teriyaki
2 lbs. boneless chicken breast
2 Tbls. Olive oil
1 cup Teriyaki sauce (we use Landry’s brand)
2 cups frozen broccoli florets
3 cups brown rice (quick cooking)
2 ½ cups water
Cut chicken up in 1 inch pieces. Heat olive oil in a large pan and cook chicken until browned. Add water and bring to boil. Add rice and broccoli, reduce heat and cook until rice is tender. Add teriyaki sauce and stir until evenly coated. We like this with a warm loaf of French bread. Yum!
“Wow, you are pretty strict on yourself, huh.” Holly said sarcastically.
“I do have standards, and I believe both of those to be very important things to keep straight in my life.” Jackie said.
“Have you ever broken one of your ‘rules’?” Kim asked her.
“Yes, well, technically it wasn’t a rule at the time so I guess I didn’t really break it. But I did immediately make it a rule to know the guy’s name before I go to bed with him,” Jackie said. “I actually called him the next day to ask him his name and tell him that I would not be frequenting his bed ever again.”
“Did he know your name?” I asked.
“Nope, complete strangers. Pretty classy, huh?”
“At least you learned a lesson from it, and at least he left his number so you could call and clear things up,” I told her, trying to make the story as positive as possible.
“Actually, he didn’t leave his number, and I snuck out without even saying goodbye,” Jackie said. “I called my friend who was his friend and had introduced us and luckily he had Kyle’s, that was his name by the way, number.”
“When did you make these rules for yourself?” Kate asked, popping a piece of French bread in her mouth.
“Back in college, junior year I think.”
“Well, I think a lot of women live by your second rule.” Kim said. “Actually I think most women live by both of those rules. They just don’t necessarily think of them as rules but rather as habits.”
“I suppose so,” Jackie said. “I’ve never really thought about that, but I bet most of them haven’t had to make them ‘rules’ because of personal experience. A bad experience at that.”
“What made you make the second rule a ‘rule’?” Kate asked.
“Bad scare about a year ago,” Jackie said. “I was three weeks late and had been sleeping with Randy off and on for three months. I was spooked out of my mind, and would have rather told my anti-premarital sex hometown preacher before I told Randy about it. He would’ve freaked out.”
“Why didn’t you tell any of us about it?” I asked her, a little hurt that she didn’t let me help her get through her tough situation.
“I guess I thought if I ignored it enough it would go away,” Jackie said, still holding a too calm and laid back tone about the experience. “I finally went to the doctor when that third week rolled around and still no monthly monster. Turned out it was a false alarm and no baby. Dr. Jennings didn’t even act surprised when I jumped to hug him. Guess he gets that a lot from single girls my age.”
“I’m sure. Especially in a college town.” Holly said. “I’ve had a skip or two. Nothing that ended up with a doctor’s visit, but enough to make me an avid birth control pill popper.”
“I remember when I found out I was pregnant with Macy,” Kate chimed in. “I was scared to death and threw up three times before Jon got home that evening. I was so worried about what he would say.”
“I didn’t know Macy was a surprise.” I said.
“Oh, yeah, total surprise,” Kate said. “Guess we had gotten lazy about stuff, and it slipped up on us. Jon was great about it though, and loaded me up to go to Babies R US that evening to look around. From then on it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Well, I want it all some day,” Jackie said. “I just have several steps to take until then. Let’s see, there is getting a boyfriend, keeping a boyfriend, getting engaged, staying engaged, getting married. Maybe by the time I am fifty I will at least have the steady boyfriend accomplished.”
“I am so ready for kids,” Kim said. “Sometimes I go into Kids’ Palace just to see what new nursery stuff they have in. You all should’ve seen this cherry wood baby bed they got in last week. It was kind of like a sleigh bed. Precious!”
“You have got to be kidding me,” Holly said. “Try being around twenty second graders all day. That is the best birth control a single woman could ask for. It is amazing how fast Sweetie Susie can turn into Satan Susie.”
“You don’t want kids?” Jackie asked Holly.
“Not at the moment,” she replied. “Maybe if my husband is an all-star dad and willing to do most of the leg work.”
“I think you’d make a great mom,” I told her. “You are great with your students. You can’t fool me. I’ve seen you in A plus teacher action.”
“What about you Lex,” Kate asked me, “Do you and Blake ever talk about it.”
“Only in brief spurts,” I said. “He wants two or three, same as me. We agree on a lot of it, but it sure doesn’t make us think twice about preventing a baby boom from happening. He won’t start anything in bed until we are fully equipped, which is nice, and we both want to be married first. Marriage before carriage, he says.”
“Brian gets nervous when we start talking about kids,” Kim said. “He worries so much about money and a house and all that stuff. I think it will be a long, long time before I am actually going into Kids’ Palace for a reason. Hell, at the rate we are going, it will be a while before I am going into the Bridal Boutique for a reason.”
“I just hope to be wearing a wedding gown before a hospital gown,” Jackie said, “and you all know me. It’s not like I am little Miss Traditional Goodie Good, but I do think that is the sequence to roll with.”
“I agree,” Holly said, “and I am not very conservative or traditional. It’s not like I look down on anyone who gets pregnant and then married or not married at all. But I think it is more considerate to everyone, especially the kid, if you get married, have a kid, and here is the kicker, stay married.”
“Ah, the biggest obstacle of life, marriage without divorce,” I said. “Now that is something Blake and I do completely agree on. Neither of us wants to get divorced and we both promise to make damn sure that we don’t rush into something that may lead to that and to do everything in our power to keep it from happening after vows are exchanged.”
“Same here,” Kim said. “My parents got divorced when I was in high school and it sucked. They never even seemed to fight, and then all the sudden they sat me down to tell me they are getting a divorce. One of the worst days of my life, no doubt, and now everything is split up and hard to balance and more of a hassle.”
“Jon and I have never, knock on wood, even had a fight that caused one of us to sleep on the couch,” Kate said. “I can’t imagine having one that could end in divorce.”
“Unwanted babies and divorce, all cause for the establishment of rules,” Jackie said. “Know their name and know your date. And those are rules that are NOT meant to be broken.”
Kate’s Chicken Teriyaki
2 lbs. boneless chicken breast
2 Tbls. Olive oil
1 cup Teriyaki sauce (we use Landry’s brand)
2 cups frozen broccoli florets
3 cups brown rice (quick cooking)
2 ½ cups water
Cut chicken up in 1 inch pieces. Heat olive oil in a large pan and cook chicken until browned. Add water and bring to boil. Add rice and broccoli, reduce heat and cook until rice is tender. Add teriyaki sauce and stir until evenly coated. We like this with a warm loaf of French bread. Yum!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tricks & Treats
“If you are going to be all grown-up and serious about this then we are making you go home.” Jackie said, readjusting her huge purple witch’s hat over her long black wig.
“I’m not. I am just saying that I don’t really see why we have to get all dressed up to hand out candy to a few snotty-nosed kids.” Kim whined, pressing down on her fake green fingernails.
“Because I want to, and because I get what I want,” Holly told her. “I love Halloween, and it is always more fun when you dress up. Besides, what other time of the year can you show who you really are inside, Kimmie?”
Even Kim had to smile at that smart little comment, lightening up a bit. Her long green and black ragged dress hung down to her ankles, making her five foot two inches look even shorter than usual.
“Well, I think we all make lovely witches. And I am completely into these fake eyelashes with glitter. Think they would go over well at the next PTA meeting?” Kate asked, fluttering her ridiculously long, shiny lashes.
“They do bring out the green in your eyes,” I told her, “but I’m digg’n the black satin gloves even more.”
Kate raised her arms in the air like a game show model. Her sleek gloves fit tightly from finger tip to elbow.
“Don’t you love them? They just make me feel glamorous,” she said. “I’m a glamorous witch. Like Glenda, you know on The Wizard of Oz. Now she was a babe.”
“I bet you leave those on for Jon tonight,” Jackie said. “And the fishnet hose.”
“Maybe,” Kate said, lifting her black dress up around her knees to show off the fishnets. “The kids are at a Halloween sleepover tonight, and you all know what that means for Mom and Dad.”
“No, I don’t know. Please explain,” Kim said with a blank look on her face.
“Oh, shut up,” Kate said, throwing a small pillow in Kim’s direction.
The doorbell rang and we all jumped up to answer it. We were greeted by Superman, a princess, and a ninja, all about three feet tall. Holly gave them each a handful of chocolate candy and waved them goodbye.
“I remember when I would get homemade popcorn balls from our neighbors. They were my favorite. There’s no way parents would let their kids eat those now days,” Kate said. “Even I wouldn’t let my kids eat anything homemade if they got it while trick-or-treating, and I consider myself to be a pretty care-free mom. It’s sad really.”
“Just the way things are,” I said. “My parents used to let my brother and I go around our entire neighborhood by ourselves to trick-or-treat. If parents were to do that now, I’m sure there would be an Amber Alert out in no time.”
“Even though it has changed, it is still a fun time for kids,” Jackie said. “Besides, they weren’t around when it was more laid back so they don’t know any different. To them, the way things are now is just fine and dandy. Hell, they’re getting candy from everyone and not getting bitched at by Mom for eating it all. What could be better than that?”
“Very true,” Holly said, “kids get tons of chocolate candy and guys get tons of eye candy. I mean how many Halloween parties have you been to where at least ninety percent of the women were not dressed like total skanks?”
“Zero,” Jackie said, “but then again I am usually one of those skanks, so I don’t really mind. But it is always fun to bash the ones who just can’t quiet pull off the Daisy Duke cutoffs.”
“You know that guys go to those things knowing that they will be taking home a hooker for no charge,” I said. “It is pretty easy to pick out a sure thing when she is wearing nothing on top of her lingerie in public.”
“You all are making me a little nervous about this party Brian went to tonight without me,” Kim said. “I mean I am dressed in an ankle length dress and he is probably staring at a six foot blonde with bunny ears on right now.”
“Oh, come on, Kimmie, you know you have nothing to worry about,” I told her. “What party is Brian at anyway?”
“One that his old college roommate is throwing a couple of blocks over. He dropped me off here on his way.”
“Well at least you know he won’t be taking the playgirl home,” Holly said. “I mean he has to come pick you up, right? And I think the green finger nails and dark purple lips are pretty irresistible on you.”
“Thanks, I was thinking about keeping the look for awhile,” Kim said, biting the head off of a sugar cookie ghost.
“Well, if you are going to keep the purple lips then I am going to keep my eyelashes,” Kate said, fluttering them again. “Man, I love these things.”
The doorbell rang and we all raced to give some candy to the spider, puppy dog, and fairy trick-or-treaters. As they walked off, Brian’s car pulled up by the front curb. He got out and walked toward the door, and then she got out to follow. She wasn’t wearing bunny ears on top of her blonde hair, but little red devil horns instead.
“Oh, crap,” Jackie said under her breath. “This better be good.”
The girl stumbled up the front walkway behind Brian.
“Kimmie we have to take Terri home,” Brian said. “She obviously can’t drive.”
We all looked towards Kim ready for all heck to break loose. She was unusually cool and calm, smiling even.
“Go figure,” Kim said, running to help the sexy devil walk straight. “Everyone, this is Brian’s little sister, Terri.”
“Oh, thank God.” Holly said. “This whole scene looked really bad, Brian.”
Brian realized what was going through all of our heads prior to his sister’s introduction. “Ha, I can only imagine what all you ladies were silently calling me.”
“Pretty much everything that is four letters long,” I told him, giving him a hug and kiss on the cheek. “But I take them all back now.”
“If there is one thing I have learned,” Brian said, “it is to keep your woman happy and her friends happier. Now, if you lovely witches don’t mind, I am going to take this one home and see what all spells she can cast on me.”
Kate’s Favorite Popcorn Balls
9 cups popped popcorn
1 large bag miniature marshmallows
¼ cup butter
3 or 4 crushed up Butterfinger candy bars
Orange food coloring
Cooking spray
Spread wax paper for your popcorn balls to go on out on a flat surface. Make sure your popcorn is in a large enough bowl to stir in the other ingredients. Crush up Butterfinger bars and put in a small bowl. Put the marshmallows in a microwave safe bowl and cut the butter in chunks in the same bowl. Microwave on high about 1 and a half minutes. Take the marshmallows out and put a few drops of orange food coloring in before stirring until well melted and evenly colored. Pour the marshmallow mixture over the popcorn, add the crushed Butterfinger. Toss until well coated and mixed. Spray cooking spray on your hands and form the popcorn mixture into 2-inch diameter balls. Place on wax paper to cool.
“I’m not. I am just saying that I don’t really see why we have to get all dressed up to hand out candy to a few snotty-nosed kids.” Kim whined, pressing down on her fake green fingernails.
“Because I want to, and because I get what I want,” Holly told her. “I love Halloween, and it is always more fun when you dress up. Besides, what other time of the year can you show who you really are inside, Kimmie?”
Even Kim had to smile at that smart little comment, lightening up a bit. Her long green and black ragged dress hung down to her ankles, making her five foot two inches look even shorter than usual.
“Well, I think we all make lovely witches. And I am completely into these fake eyelashes with glitter. Think they would go over well at the next PTA meeting?” Kate asked, fluttering her ridiculously long, shiny lashes.
“They do bring out the green in your eyes,” I told her, “but I’m digg’n the black satin gloves even more.”
Kate raised her arms in the air like a game show model. Her sleek gloves fit tightly from finger tip to elbow.
“Don’t you love them? They just make me feel glamorous,” she said. “I’m a glamorous witch. Like Glenda, you know on The Wizard of Oz. Now she was a babe.”
“I bet you leave those on for Jon tonight,” Jackie said. “And the fishnet hose.”
“Maybe,” Kate said, lifting her black dress up around her knees to show off the fishnets. “The kids are at a Halloween sleepover tonight, and you all know what that means for Mom and Dad.”
“No, I don’t know. Please explain,” Kim said with a blank look on her face.
“Oh, shut up,” Kate said, throwing a small pillow in Kim’s direction.
The doorbell rang and we all jumped up to answer it. We were greeted by Superman, a princess, and a ninja, all about three feet tall. Holly gave them each a handful of chocolate candy and waved them goodbye.
“I remember when I would get homemade popcorn balls from our neighbors. They were my favorite. There’s no way parents would let their kids eat those now days,” Kate said. “Even I wouldn’t let my kids eat anything homemade if they got it while trick-or-treating, and I consider myself to be a pretty care-free mom. It’s sad really.”
“Just the way things are,” I said. “My parents used to let my brother and I go around our entire neighborhood by ourselves to trick-or-treat. If parents were to do that now, I’m sure there would be an Amber Alert out in no time.”
“Even though it has changed, it is still a fun time for kids,” Jackie said. “Besides, they weren’t around when it was more laid back so they don’t know any different. To them, the way things are now is just fine and dandy. Hell, they’re getting candy from everyone and not getting bitched at by Mom for eating it all. What could be better than that?”
“Very true,” Holly said, “kids get tons of chocolate candy and guys get tons of eye candy. I mean how many Halloween parties have you been to where at least ninety percent of the women were not dressed like total skanks?”
“Zero,” Jackie said, “but then again I am usually one of those skanks, so I don’t really mind. But it is always fun to bash the ones who just can’t quiet pull off the Daisy Duke cutoffs.”
“You know that guys go to those things knowing that they will be taking home a hooker for no charge,” I said. “It is pretty easy to pick out a sure thing when she is wearing nothing on top of her lingerie in public.”
“You all are making me a little nervous about this party Brian went to tonight without me,” Kim said. “I mean I am dressed in an ankle length dress and he is probably staring at a six foot blonde with bunny ears on right now.”
“Oh, come on, Kimmie, you know you have nothing to worry about,” I told her. “What party is Brian at anyway?”
“One that his old college roommate is throwing a couple of blocks over. He dropped me off here on his way.”
“Well at least you know he won’t be taking the playgirl home,” Holly said. “I mean he has to come pick you up, right? And I think the green finger nails and dark purple lips are pretty irresistible on you.”
“Thanks, I was thinking about keeping the look for awhile,” Kim said, biting the head off of a sugar cookie ghost.
“Well, if you are going to keep the purple lips then I am going to keep my eyelashes,” Kate said, fluttering them again. “Man, I love these things.”
The doorbell rang and we all raced to give some candy to the spider, puppy dog, and fairy trick-or-treaters. As they walked off, Brian’s car pulled up by the front curb. He got out and walked toward the door, and then she got out to follow. She wasn’t wearing bunny ears on top of her blonde hair, but little red devil horns instead.
“Oh, crap,” Jackie said under her breath. “This better be good.”
The girl stumbled up the front walkway behind Brian.
“Kimmie we have to take Terri home,” Brian said. “She obviously can’t drive.”
We all looked towards Kim ready for all heck to break loose. She was unusually cool and calm, smiling even.
“Go figure,” Kim said, running to help the sexy devil walk straight. “Everyone, this is Brian’s little sister, Terri.”
“Oh, thank God.” Holly said. “This whole scene looked really bad, Brian.”
Brian realized what was going through all of our heads prior to his sister’s introduction. “Ha, I can only imagine what all you ladies were silently calling me.”
“Pretty much everything that is four letters long,” I told him, giving him a hug and kiss on the cheek. “But I take them all back now.”
“If there is one thing I have learned,” Brian said, “it is to keep your woman happy and her friends happier. Now, if you lovely witches don’t mind, I am going to take this one home and see what all spells she can cast on me.”
Kate’s Favorite Popcorn Balls
9 cups popped popcorn
1 large bag miniature marshmallows
¼ cup butter
3 or 4 crushed up Butterfinger candy bars
Orange food coloring
Cooking spray
Spread wax paper for your popcorn balls to go on out on a flat surface. Make sure your popcorn is in a large enough bowl to stir in the other ingredients. Crush up Butterfinger bars and put in a small bowl. Put the marshmallows in a microwave safe bowl and cut the butter in chunks in the same bowl. Microwave on high about 1 and a half minutes. Take the marshmallows out and put a few drops of orange food coloring in before stirring until well melted and evenly colored. Pour the marshmallow mixture over the popcorn, add the crushed Butterfinger. Toss until well coated and mixed. Spray cooking spray on your hands and form the popcorn mixture into 2-inch diameter balls. Place on wax paper to cool.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Play Time and Pumpkin Pie
“There is nothing worse than when you get all in the mood for some hot romance and your guy says or does something so stupid that it completely kills the mood.” Kim said this with the tone of experience behind it.
“Blake does that every once in a while,” I said. “Sometimes he says something cocky that just rubs me the wrong way. Like ‘bet you have been thinking about me and this all day’ or ‘guess you just couldn’t wait to see me, huh’. I mean sometimes it doesn’t even bother me, and then sometimes it is like, ugh, shut up and get away from me you arrogant ass.”
“Bet he calls that a mood swing, huh,” Holly said. “At least that is what Cody, ya’ll remember Cody, right? Anyway, that’s what he called it.”
“Yeah, sometimes he is just like ‘What?’ and I don’t want to tell him and get all into it so I just say ‘nothing’ and go ahead with it all. Guess I should explain myself more, but like I said, sometimes it doesn’t even bother me at all.”
“Well, what I meant is when Brian comes home and I have everything just perfect,” Kim said. “You know, candles, satin sheets, lingerie, all that, and he goes straight to the fridge and gets a beer.”
“Would it be different if he got a bottle of wine and two glasses?” Jackie asked.
“It would if he brought them in the bedroom for us to drink together,” Kim told her. “But what he does is twists off the cap, takes a few chugs, turns on ESPN, checks some scores, and then comes in the bedroom. Usually he'll take his pants off and gets in bed ready to rumble. With his socks still on!”
“Would it be different if he took his socks off?” Jackie asked again, with a grin.
“Oh, shut up Jackie,” Kim said, shaking the can of whip cream to top off her pumpkin pie.
“I see your point,” Kate said. “Sometimes, on those rare occasions where we have no kids and the house to ourselves, I want to do something romantic, a little foreplay, and all Jon wants to do is get after it. No romance whatsoever.”
“I think that is men and sex in general,” Holly said. “Unless it is something really kinky, which I only do after large quantities of alcohol.”
“Yeah, right,” I said, “we all know you like it kinky. You don’t need to lie.”
“Do ya’ll think I need to tell Brian how much it bugs me when he does something like that?” Kim asked. “Or should I just ignore it and go with the flow? I mean he does have his sweet times too, I just wish they would synchronize with my own timing.”
“I would tell him,” I said. “But do it like, tonight. Not when it actually happens. If you bring it up beforehand then maybe it won’t be such a big deal or even happen again. If you bring it up when it happens, it will probably offend him and piss him off and then neither of you will get any.”
“Any what?” Jackie asked, looking confused. “Oh, never mind, I get it,” she grinned and shook her head as she finally caught on.
“Ok, so I guess we can talk about it tonight,” Kim said. “Maybe even after sex, just to make sure he is all calm and cool and less likely to get butt hurt about it all.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Kate said. “If there is anything I need to talk to Jon about but I’m afraid he may get upset or offended by it, I will do it after some hot sex. He is always way more open to my ideas and opinions after a good romp.”
“Stuff like that is why I am so glad to be a woman,” Holly said, shoveling a huge fork full of pie in her face.
Holly’s Perfect Pumpkin Pie
1 graham cracker crust
2 (4 servings) boxes Jello vanilla instant pudding
1 (16 oz) canned pumpkin
2 cups cold milk
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
Whip cream
Combine 1 box of pudding, ½ cup of milk, pumpkin, and pumpkin pie spice in a bowl and beat well together. Put in refrigerator. In another bowl, combine the other box of pudding and 1 ½ cups of milk and beat well together. Put in refrigerator for 1 hour. Layer half of the pumpkin mixture on the bottom of the graham cracker crust, and then put all of the vanilla pudding mixture, and top with the rest of the pumpkin pie mixture. Refrigerate if not serving immediately. Serve with whip cream.
“Blake does that every once in a while,” I said. “Sometimes he says something cocky that just rubs me the wrong way. Like ‘bet you have been thinking about me and this all day’ or ‘guess you just couldn’t wait to see me, huh’. I mean sometimes it doesn’t even bother me, and then sometimes it is like, ugh, shut up and get away from me you arrogant ass.”
“Bet he calls that a mood swing, huh,” Holly said. “At least that is what Cody, ya’ll remember Cody, right? Anyway, that’s what he called it.”
“Yeah, sometimes he is just like ‘What?’ and I don’t want to tell him and get all into it so I just say ‘nothing’ and go ahead with it all. Guess I should explain myself more, but like I said, sometimes it doesn’t even bother me at all.”
“Well, what I meant is when Brian comes home and I have everything just perfect,” Kim said. “You know, candles, satin sheets, lingerie, all that, and he goes straight to the fridge and gets a beer.”
“Would it be different if he got a bottle of wine and two glasses?” Jackie asked.
“It would if he brought them in the bedroom for us to drink together,” Kim told her. “But what he does is twists off the cap, takes a few chugs, turns on ESPN, checks some scores, and then comes in the bedroom. Usually he'll take his pants off and gets in bed ready to rumble. With his socks still on!”
“Would it be different if he took his socks off?” Jackie asked again, with a grin.
“Oh, shut up Jackie,” Kim said, shaking the can of whip cream to top off her pumpkin pie.
“I see your point,” Kate said. “Sometimes, on those rare occasions where we have no kids and the house to ourselves, I want to do something romantic, a little foreplay, and all Jon wants to do is get after it. No romance whatsoever.”
“I think that is men and sex in general,” Holly said. “Unless it is something really kinky, which I only do after large quantities of alcohol.”
“Yeah, right,” I said, “we all know you like it kinky. You don’t need to lie.”
“Do ya’ll think I need to tell Brian how much it bugs me when he does something like that?” Kim asked. “Or should I just ignore it and go with the flow? I mean he does have his sweet times too, I just wish they would synchronize with my own timing.”
“I would tell him,” I said. “But do it like, tonight. Not when it actually happens. If you bring it up beforehand then maybe it won’t be such a big deal or even happen again. If you bring it up when it happens, it will probably offend him and piss him off and then neither of you will get any.”
“Any what?” Jackie asked, looking confused. “Oh, never mind, I get it,” she grinned and shook her head as she finally caught on.
“Ok, so I guess we can talk about it tonight,” Kim said. “Maybe even after sex, just to make sure he is all calm and cool and less likely to get butt hurt about it all.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Kate said. “If there is anything I need to talk to Jon about but I’m afraid he may get upset or offended by it, I will do it after some hot sex. He is always way more open to my ideas and opinions after a good romp.”
“Stuff like that is why I am so glad to be a woman,” Holly said, shoveling a huge fork full of pie in her face.
Holly’s Perfect Pumpkin Pie
1 graham cracker crust
2 (4 servings) boxes Jello vanilla instant pudding
1 (16 oz) canned pumpkin
2 cups cold milk
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
Whip cream
Combine 1 box of pudding, ½ cup of milk, pumpkin, and pumpkin pie spice in a bowl and beat well together. Put in refrigerator. In another bowl, combine the other box of pudding and 1 ½ cups of milk and beat well together. Put in refrigerator for 1 hour. Layer half of the pumpkin mixture on the bottom of the graham cracker crust, and then put all of the vanilla pudding mixture, and top with the rest of the pumpkin pie mixture. Refrigerate if not serving immediately. Serve with whip cream.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Party Boys and Pancakes
“I don’t think I can keep up with Jess any more,” Jackie said, and we all looked at her in amazement.
I had to admit that her unmanaged hair and showing of dark circles under fading eye concealer made her look way more tired than the usual, peppy Jackie. It is just that she always went out and lived in the fast lane. For her to say she couldn’t keep up with someone was like saying that the Pope had turned Baptist.
“He goes out all night, every night,” she said, “and party’s hard each time. I mean it isn’t like we just go to a sit-down bar or out to eat one night and then a club the next. No, it is go out and eat, another bar for drinks, then the club to dance, maybe another club for a change of crowd. On, and on, and on. It is exhausting!”
“I can imagine,” I said.
“And then I have to be on my feet all day for work,” Jackie said, throwing her arms up and leaning back on the brown leather sofa. “I can literally feel and see my arms and hands shaking as I am icing a cake. I just know I am going to be like ‘sorry your cake is crooked, I got plastered last night and no sleep’. That will be great for business.”
“Then end it with him,” Holly said. “You’ve been with him past the usual expiration date anyway.”
“But I really like him.” Jackie said, poking at the blueberries in her pancakes.
“You like him?” I asked her. “Or you like the glamour that surrounds him?”
“Exactly what I was thinking,” Kim said. “It is hard to pass up a rich guy, who is hot, everyone likes, and more so, everyone wants to be with.”
Jess was the son of mega real-estate guru Nolan Pearce. He was now a partner in his father’s business, and to say the least he never had to ask what something cost before buying it. His new Jaguar and Armani wardrobe, for example.
“I have to admit,” Jackie smiled, “it is kind of fun to watch the heads turn. But I just don’t need to see them turn until 3 a.m. every night.”
“I don’t know how you do it,” Kate said. “I would be a walking zombie. That is until I collapsed, and then I would just be a zombie.”
“I know!” Jackie exclaimed. “That is just how I feel, like a zombie. I seriously went to the bathroom stall at work yesterday afternoon, laid my head on the toilet paper holder, and took like a fifteen minute nap. Thank goodness someone came in and used the hand dryer; otherwise I don’t know when I would have woken up.”
“If it is going to bring down your work then you really need to tell him that you can’t party that hard anymore,” I said. “If he sees it as weakness then he’s a dumb ass. I mean not everyone has a daddy that can make everything right with his checkbook.”
“No, kidding,” Holly said, “but wouldn’t it be nice.”
“Maybe he wouldn’t mind slowing down either,” Kim said, putting more syrup on her pancakes. “You have a pretty good night-life reputation yourself. Maybe he doesn’t want you to think he is a boring pansy and is mainly doing it so you think he is a good time.”
“I haven’t thought about that,” Jackie said. “You may be right. I mean he sounds like death when I talk to him during his lunch break. Maybe he wouldn’t mind slowing down. Geez, this is making me sound like an old has-been.”
“Then what does that make us all?” I asked her, jokingly. “We must be unbearably boring.”
“Oh, shut up,” Jackie said to me. “You know what I mean.”
“So are you going to see him tonight?” Holly asked.
“Yeah, he is coming to my place after this,” she said. “I told him I’d call when we got done. I think I am going to tell him to pick up a movie on his way and we’ll just stay in and watch it. I’m anxious to see what his reaction will be.”
“And what if he says ‘hell no, we need to go out’?” Holly asked.
“Then I will be honest and say ‘movie or nothing, take it or leave it,’” Jackie said.
That night Jackie enjoyed a movie and box of Milk Duds…..by herself.
Lex’s Blueberry Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 heaping teaspoon sugar
2 eggs
2 cups low-fat buttermilk
1 cup blueberries, rinsed and drained
Cooking spray
Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix. In small bowl, whisk eggs and add to dry mix. Add milk and stir until smooth. Fold in blueberries. Heat a griddle pan and use cooking spray before pouring batter so it doesn’t stick. Flip once each side browns. Serve with butter, peanut butter and favorite syrups.
I had to admit that her unmanaged hair and showing of dark circles under fading eye concealer made her look way more tired than the usual, peppy Jackie. It is just that she always went out and lived in the fast lane. For her to say she couldn’t keep up with someone was like saying that the Pope had turned Baptist.
“He goes out all night, every night,” she said, “and party’s hard each time. I mean it isn’t like we just go to a sit-down bar or out to eat one night and then a club the next. No, it is go out and eat, another bar for drinks, then the club to dance, maybe another club for a change of crowd. On, and on, and on. It is exhausting!”
“I can imagine,” I said.
“And then I have to be on my feet all day for work,” Jackie said, throwing her arms up and leaning back on the brown leather sofa. “I can literally feel and see my arms and hands shaking as I am icing a cake. I just know I am going to be like ‘sorry your cake is crooked, I got plastered last night and no sleep’. That will be great for business.”
“Then end it with him,” Holly said. “You’ve been with him past the usual expiration date anyway.”
“But I really like him.” Jackie said, poking at the blueberries in her pancakes.
“You like him?” I asked her. “Or you like the glamour that surrounds him?”
“Exactly what I was thinking,” Kim said. “It is hard to pass up a rich guy, who is hot, everyone likes, and more so, everyone wants to be with.”
Jess was the son of mega real-estate guru Nolan Pearce. He was now a partner in his father’s business, and to say the least he never had to ask what something cost before buying it. His new Jaguar and Armani wardrobe, for example.
“I have to admit,” Jackie smiled, “it is kind of fun to watch the heads turn. But I just don’t need to see them turn until 3 a.m. every night.”
“I don’t know how you do it,” Kate said. “I would be a walking zombie. That is until I collapsed, and then I would just be a zombie.”
“I know!” Jackie exclaimed. “That is just how I feel, like a zombie. I seriously went to the bathroom stall at work yesterday afternoon, laid my head on the toilet paper holder, and took like a fifteen minute nap. Thank goodness someone came in and used the hand dryer; otherwise I don’t know when I would have woken up.”
“If it is going to bring down your work then you really need to tell him that you can’t party that hard anymore,” I said. “If he sees it as weakness then he’s a dumb ass. I mean not everyone has a daddy that can make everything right with his checkbook.”
“No, kidding,” Holly said, “but wouldn’t it be nice.”
“Maybe he wouldn’t mind slowing down either,” Kim said, putting more syrup on her pancakes. “You have a pretty good night-life reputation yourself. Maybe he doesn’t want you to think he is a boring pansy and is mainly doing it so you think he is a good time.”
“I haven’t thought about that,” Jackie said. “You may be right. I mean he sounds like death when I talk to him during his lunch break. Maybe he wouldn’t mind slowing down. Geez, this is making me sound like an old has-been.”
“Then what does that make us all?” I asked her, jokingly. “We must be unbearably boring.”
“Oh, shut up,” Jackie said to me. “You know what I mean.”
“So are you going to see him tonight?” Holly asked.
“Yeah, he is coming to my place after this,” she said. “I told him I’d call when we got done. I think I am going to tell him to pick up a movie on his way and we’ll just stay in and watch it. I’m anxious to see what his reaction will be.”
“And what if he says ‘hell no, we need to go out’?” Holly asked.
“Then I will be honest and say ‘movie or nothing, take it or leave it,’” Jackie said.
That night Jackie enjoyed a movie and box of Milk Duds…..by herself.
Lex’s Blueberry Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 heaping teaspoon sugar
2 eggs
2 cups low-fat buttermilk
1 cup blueberries, rinsed and drained
Cooking spray
Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix. In small bowl, whisk eggs and add to dry mix. Add milk and stir until smooth. Fold in blueberries. Heat a griddle pan and use cooking spray before pouring batter so it doesn’t stick. Flip once each side browns. Serve with butter, peanut butter and favorite syrups.
Fights and Frito Salad
“Well Brian and I had another fight last night,” Kim said as she stabbed at her lettuce with a silver fork. “It seems like that is all we do since he got this new job. I never see him during the week since our schedules clash, and on the weekends all he does is sleep or golf with his boys.”
“Sounds like you need to do some major communication work,” Kate told her.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kim said, pouting. “I always tell him how I feel.”
I laughed a little, earning a scary look from Kim. “What was that for?” She sneered at me.
“Oh, come on, Kim,” I said, “you are the worlds worst at not telling Brian what is bugging you while acting mad and bitchy to him. You expect him to figure it out like a game of Clue.”
“She’s right,” Jackie said, backing me up. “You need to be completely honest with him. Let him know that you are feeling neglected and want to spend more time with him.”
“I have told him that,” Kim said. “That’s why we fight all the time. I tell him he never wants to hang out with me any more. He tells me he does but his work is crazy right now and on the weekends he just wants to relax and have fun. Blah, blah, blah.”
“Sounds like he is seeing another woman,” Holly said, shoveling a huge fork-full of salad in her mouth.
“Shut up, Holly,” Jackie said. “He is not.”
“Geez, loosen up,” Holly shot back. “I was just kidding. You know he will finally break-down and propose someday. Just give him an ultimatum. At least two date nights a week or no sex. That ‘no sex’ always gets a guy’s attention.”
“I don’t want to force him to do something he doesn’t want to,” Kim said, “and as for that ‘no sex’ part, it hasn’t seemed to bother him lately. It has been two weeks, and I swear I am craving it more than he is. It sucks.”
“Oh, honey, just wait,” Kate said, laughing, “the fights will get worse and the sex will get better. Just make amends at the end of each fight and make the ‘make up’ worth it. You have to play the system. Hell, sometimes I now start fights with Jon just to make up. I know I am going to lose the battle before I even start it, but actually we both win in the end.”
“Damn, you’re good,” Jackie said, looking at Kate with admiration. “You really have that whole relationship, married thing figured out don’t you.”
“Never,” Kate laughed. “I don’t think anyone does or ever will, and I don’t want too. It would take too much fun out of it. The surprises, unknowns, and conflicts are what tests a relationship and makes it stronger. Just like this, Kim, I know you may not realize it now, but this little episode is really a great thing for you and Bryan. It will make you closer in the end.”
“Well I wish it would hurry up and be over,” Kim said with a sigh. “Right now it feels like we are on completely different pages.”
“Maybe you are right now,” I told her. “You can’t be side-by-side on all issues all the time. Your different views and interests are what will broaden each others way of thinking and outlook on things. Right now, Brian is focused on work and you are focused on your relationship. Sometime down the line, like when your recitals come along, you may be focused on work and he’ll want to spend every free moment with you. It has happened in the past, you know.”
“Yeah, your right, I guess,” Kim said. “It just sucks right now and I don’t know what to do about it.”
“Back off,” Holly said, “I promise, the moment you back off from it, he’ll want to be with you more. Mainly because you won’t be bitching him out.”
“True,” Jackie said, shaking her fork in Holly’s direction. “Guys hate nagging. Quit nagging and you’ll get laid.”
“Well, if anyone knows how to get laid it is you, Jackie,” Kim said, finally breaking a smile and lightening up.
“That’s right,” Jackie said, “and you don’t hear me complaining about anything.”
Kate’s Frito Salad
1 lb. lean hamburger meat
1 head iceberg lettuce chopped up
1 can Ranch Style Beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup diced tomatoes
½ cup diced green bell pepper
2-3 cups Frito Chips
1 small bottle Catalina salad dressing
Brown hamburger meat, salt and pepper to taste, drain. Put chopped lettuce in large bowl, add meat, beans, cheese, and veggies. Toss until well blended. Add Fritos and toss. Add the Catalina dressing right before serving so chips don’t get soggy.
“Sounds like you need to do some major communication work,” Kate told her.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kim said, pouting. “I always tell him how I feel.”
I laughed a little, earning a scary look from Kim. “What was that for?” She sneered at me.
“Oh, come on, Kim,” I said, “you are the worlds worst at not telling Brian what is bugging you while acting mad and bitchy to him. You expect him to figure it out like a game of Clue.”
“She’s right,” Jackie said, backing me up. “You need to be completely honest with him. Let him know that you are feeling neglected and want to spend more time with him.”
“I have told him that,” Kim said. “That’s why we fight all the time. I tell him he never wants to hang out with me any more. He tells me he does but his work is crazy right now and on the weekends he just wants to relax and have fun. Blah, blah, blah.”
“Sounds like he is seeing another woman,” Holly said, shoveling a huge fork-full of salad in her mouth.
“Shut up, Holly,” Jackie said. “He is not.”
“Geez, loosen up,” Holly shot back. “I was just kidding. You know he will finally break-down and propose someday. Just give him an ultimatum. At least two date nights a week or no sex. That ‘no sex’ always gets a guy’s attention.”
“I don’t want to force him to do something he doesn’t want to,” Kim said, “and as for that ‘no sex’ part, it hasn’t seemed to bother him lately. It has been two weeks, and I swear I am craving it more than he is. It sucks.”
“Oh, honey, just wait,” Kate said, laughing, “the fights will get worse and the sex will get better. Just make amends at the end of each fight and make the ‘make up’ worth it. You have to play the system. Hell, sometimes I now start fights with Jon just to make up. I know I am going to lose the battle before I even start it, but actually we both win in the end.”
“Damn, you’re good,” Jackie said, looking at Kate with admiration. “You really have that whole relationship, married thing figured out don’t you.”
“Never,” Kate laughed. “I don’t think anyone does or ever will, and I don’t want too. It would take too much fun out of it. The surprises, unknowns, and conflicts are what tests a relationship and makes it stronger. Just like this, Kim, I know you may not realize it now, but this little episode is really a great thing for you and Bryan. It will make you closer in the end.”
“Well I wish it would hurry up and be over,” Kim said with a sigh. “Right now it feels like we are on completely different pages.”
“Maybe you are right now,” I told her. “You can’t be side-by-side on all issues all the time. Your different views and interests are what will broaden each others way of thinking and outlook on things. Right now, Brian is focused on work and you are focused on your relationship. Sometime down the line, like when your recitals come along, you may be focused on work and he’ll want to spend every free moment with you. It has happened in the past, you know.”
“Yeah, your right, I guess,” Kim said. “It just sucks right now and I don’t know what to do about it.”
“Back off,” Holly said, “I promise, the moment you back off from it, he’ll want to be with you more. Mainly because you won’t be bitching him out.”
“True,” Jackie said, shaking her fork in Holly’s direction. “Guys hate nagging. Quit nagging and you’ll get laid.”
“Well, if anyone knows how to get laid it is you, Jackie,” Kim said, finally breaking a smile and lightening up.
“That’s right,” Jackie said, “and you don’t hear me complaining about anything.”
Kate’s Frito Salad
1 lb. lean hamburger meat
1 head iceberg lettuce chopped up
1 can Ranch Style Beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup diced tomatoes
½ cup diced green bell pepper
2-3 cups Frito Chips
1 small bottle Catalina salad dressing
Brown hamburger meat, salt and pepper to taste, drain. Put chopped lettuce in large bowl, add meat, beans, cheese, and veggies. Toss until well blended. Add Fritos and toss. Add the Catalina dressing right before serving so chips don’t get soggy.
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