Lulu's Laundry Blog » Thursday Thirteen

No Account Mule, Kickin’ on a Tin Can

Lulu — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:22:09 +0000

Oh, please tell me that I’m not the only one who knows where the title of this post comes from. When I started this Thursday Thirteen, the words came to my mind in a flash. I’m not sure what that says about me, other than I’m old-ish, perhaps a little square, or maybe just bit nostalgic. Or could be because I have a husband who is a big fan of the show that featured this song in an episode. As a result, this and other choice songs have been relentlessly pounded into my head for 15 straight years with no sign of stopping. The agony.

Let’s move on. As some of you might know, I have a mild obsession with junk collectibles. And if you’re so inclined, you can read about some of my collections here, here, and here. If you’re so inclined. And if you have a spare bottle of wine to wash it all down with.

So in keeping with tradition, I’ve delegated today’s Thursday Thirteen to showcase my vintage tin can collection that perches on top of my kitchen cabinets. Maybe showcase is too strong of a word. It’s far from a Ming Dynasty vase collection. Hell, it’s far from a dimestore vase collection. These are tin cans, people! Am I yelling? I don’t mean to yell.

Without further ado, here is my showcase. Of tin.

1. I believe that chips in a large can were (maybe are?) a northern U.S. kind of thing. Someone please fill Lulu in.

2. I’ve never heard of this brand–Homfresh. I tried doing a Google search, but no luck. Anyone ever heard of these chips? The tin is pretty old.

3. More chips in a can. Not familiar with this brand either…

4. This Red Star baking powder can started my entire collection. I’m assuming this is restaurant size, because I’ve used the same, tiny red can of baking powder for years now and have hardly made a dent. That reminds me, does baking powder expire? Ew.

5. I can eat an entire mountain of Cracker Jacks. No, really!

6. I seriously love the fact that you could once buy marshmallows in a can.

7. Wheat Thins, kind of like a cracker, but more like a snack…

8. Along with Ginger Ale, the savior of all hang-overs, morning sickness, and the stomach flu…

9. I love to eat Ritz crackers slathered with cream cheese and jelly. On a daily basis.

10. Milk-Bone® is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year…

11. Mmm…candies.

12. This tin is not vintage, but the colors really matched my kitchen.

13. This one is not a tin, but it sits on top of my cabinets alongside the others. This was my grandmother’s sifter…

There you have it. Lulu’s Showcase of Tins.

IMPORTANT SUCKY NOTE: After I labored over and wrote this post, I found out that the Thursday Thirteen meme no longer exists. Serves me right for staying out of the blogging loop for so long…

Thursday Thirteen: Lulu’s Loot from Germany

Lulu — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:49:54 +0000

So I did a little shopping while I was in Germany. But not too much, y’all, because my suitcase weighed 45.3 pounds before I left the U.S., so there wasn’t much wiggle room as far as stashing lots of loot…literally and monetarily. Mainly I was on the hunt for postcards and brochures that I can splice up and use as inexpensive scrapbooking fodder for my massive Germany scrapbook that I am about to embark upon. I can’t wait to get started! Idle hands are the devil’s tools, don’t ya know. And Lulu can be very, very eee-vile. Raaa-haaaa-haaa!

Anyhow, I thought that I would share with you guys some of the loot that I picked up during my travels…

1. Embroidered Austrian lace

It was all I could do not to buy tons of this kind of stuff. I could totally cover all of the tables in my house with it. GR would not be happy.

2. Edelweiss print bandanas

Edelweiss, Edelweiss. Every morning you greet me. If Christopher Plummer could sing this to me every morning for the rest of my life, I would die a very happy girl. He was smoking hot in his day. But, I must settle for Edelweiss bandanas. Which I wore almost every day in Germany once I discovered them. Lulu has very bad hair, people. I will illustrate:

But I digress.

3. Print canvas bags

Oh, how I love these little bags! I bought one in just about every town that I visited. They were so inexpensive and can be used for many things! Like for carrying other souvenirs! Plus, they were lightweight and easy to slip into my suitcase…

4. Cow bell charm

Yes, I am going to wear a cow bell. It takes a woman with great nerve to wear a cow bell. Just think of the implications! Actually, I wore it for the first time today, and it kind of reminded me of the tinkle of a cat bell. Oddly enough, I didn’t see a bird or squirrel all day.

The reason that I bought the charm (besides keeping the birds away), is that it reminds me of the many, many cows that we came across in Germany. One evening while we were driving, we stopped alongside a large field of cows and just listened to the clanging of the bells that they wore around their necks. It was pretty magical.

5. German-motif dish towel

I just couldn’t resist the cuteness of it all. Not that I do dishes or anything.

6. German incense smoker

This has got to be one of my most favorite souvenirs (just to give you an idea, he’s about 11 inches tall). When I saw it at the Kathë Wohlfahrt store, I knew that I must buy it for GR. If you are unfamiliar with a smoker (I know I was), what you do is lift off the top portion of the guy (you can see the split at his thighs), and place an incense cone on a little metal platform that sits on top of the legs. Then, you light the cone (it doesn’t flame, it only smokes), and place the top portion back on. After a couple of seconds, you will see smoke coming out of the little man’s mouth. It has got to be the cutest thing ever!! Plus, he’s holding a pipe (as you can see), so it totally looks like he’s smoking. Just like GR! Ha. ha.

7. Springtime Friends Hummel®

Can you seriously go to Germany and not come back with a Hummel? Seriously? Okay, well, maybe so, but not Lulu. I bought this one because it reminded me of the sheep that grazed in the field beside our hotel in Maria Gern. And also because I was calling to the sheep one morning from the bathroom window, but that’s a truly animated story that T-Nut tells to perfection and in no way can be described in a blog. I like to mention things that can’t be described in a blog because it’s annoying to you, I know. See, didn’t I say that Lulu was eee-vile?

8. A German moose

I bought this for Phoo and Big H because a) Phoo is big on the moose and b) Big H is big on the Christmas. Plus, he’s adorable and I was totally immersed up to my eyeballs in the Kathë Wohlfahrt store with Christmoose chachkis. Get it? Christmoose? Ha! ha. Nooo.

9. Hofbräuhaus München metal sign

Another gift that I bought for GR. His basement is covered in metal signs, and I thought that this one would be nice to add to his collection. You know, since I was there and had a beer and all…

10. Manner Neapolitan wafers

Manner AG (an Austrian company) opened a cute little shop in Munich in 2007 (according to their Web site), and I was able to visit and buy some of these delicious wafer treats! Actually, I bought the tin of wafers for the peeps in my department at the office. I gave them the wafers, and I kept the cute pink tin! See how Lulu did that? Two birds with one stone.

11. Magnet from Schloss Nymphenburg

Like I need another magnet to add to my growing refrigerator collection. But, I just can’t resist the ones that look like miniature pieces of art. We visited Nymphenburg Palace briefly on our second day in Munich…and what a piece of artwork it is!

12. Magnet of Mad King Ludwig II

I bought this magnet at one of the gift shops in Neuschwanstein Castle. It took a little bit of pushing and shoving through a group of rude tourists in order for me to make it to the register to buy this little gem, but make it I did! Mad King Ludwig would be proud of Lulu.

13. Red currant jelly

Okay, I’m making the assumption that this is red currant. The lady at the Viktualienmarkt that sold it to me said that it was, but her English was not the best, and by far, my German is non-existent. Anyhow, there is a very long and tragic story behind this very special jelly, and I’m afraid that if I tell it on this blog, that T-Nut will melt into a thousand tears and never speak to me again. However, it’s almost worth it to tell the story. Which I will. Next week. Forgive me, T-Nut, but it must be done.

So that’s it my peeps! Lulu’s Germany loot. Have a happy Thursday!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Thursday Thirteen: A T-Shirt Anthology

Lulu — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 02:39:12 +0000

Do you know how I have this mild obsession with collecting salt and pepper shakers? And angels? And fourth-grade valentines? And refrigerator magnets?

No? Well, um, I believe that my 19-year old son, Gus, has inherited the same evil, obsessive collector-type gene. Of course, it could also be the impulsive-shopper gene, or the pack-rat gene, or the gene that is completely immune to Cipramil. Nonetheless, he is inherently cursed.

Case in point—this is Gus’s closet. And Gus. Holding Bindi-Boodles.

He has 63 t-shirts. I counted. Twice. He could clothe a small nation. He has so many shirts, in fact, that his closet is on the serious brink of failure and misfortune…much like the U.S. economy. One more Hurley, and the closet is going to hell in a hand basket…much like the U.S. economy.

After flipping through the mass quantity of shirts, I’m not even sure that I’ve seen him wearing some of them…although most of them have that lived-in look and feel. But most likely it’s because he could feasibly wear a different shirt every day for two FREAKING months.

It’s obscene, and I’m not sure why I, as a mother, let it come to this. But I have. And now I am airing my laundry. Um, I mean Gus’s laundry—for all to see. It’s funny how much you can learn about your son by going through his t-shirt collection.

1. I like this one. It’s our hometown team and its old skool.

2. Gus worked at this store for two years while in high school. You have no idea how much I miss his discount.

3. Gus currently attends this college…

4. …but he really wants to attend this college. (Hello. Get your grades up, buddy!)

5. Please someone, tell me what kind of statement this is making. Is Ben Franklin robbing a bank? I am so out of touch with the younger generation.

6. Ben Franklin disguised in a bandana. The Statue of Liberty with a skull face. Hmm…are these political undertones? I got nothin’.

7. This t-shirt if from Hilton Head. If memory serves me right, Gus has never been to Hilton Head. That I know of.

8. Definitely not sure that I even want to know…

9. Massive rivalries of which I care know nothing about…

10. A troll sitting on a tree trunk. Lord help me. I have no idea.

11. Gus was a boat driver counselor at a Boy Scout camp this summer, and I’m pretty sure this t-shirt came from there.

12. Gus played tennis in high school…

13. And unless he lead a secret life while in high school, I have no idea why this is in his closet…

I could post more, but this is supposed to be a list of thirteen. Your eyes would totally start to bleed if I continued…

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thirteen Things Lulu will be doing on Florida’s Gulf Coast

Lulu — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:08:00 +0000

Tomorrow, I’m heading off for the Gulf Coast of Florida for a little R&R for the Labor Day weekend. This is our annual trip (the 10th) that GR and I take with my uncle (G-Money) and aunt (Jude), along with Jude’s sister (KT) and her husband, Mr. Sandman. For the past 9 years, we’ve been staying in the same tiny, outdated condo, but this year we’ve decided to open our wallets a bit wider and try a new fancy-pants place. This one has indoor plumbing and everything! We’re so excited.

So, in spite of the looming Hurricane Gustav, we’re taking our chances and heading down to Fort Walton Beach, Florida to soak up the sun. Or hurricane force winds, whichever the case may be.

Regardless, here’s 13 things that Lulu may or may not be doing while on vacation.

1. Avoiding Hurricane Gustav.

2. Sun-bathing on the sunny beaches of Fort Walton Beach.

3. Enjoying our new condo digs.

4. Making this Creamy Mexican Dip in our new condo digs. It’s a Weight Watchers recipe, so that means I can eat the entire batch.

5. Take the Southern Star Dolphin Cruise. And hopefully not get whisked away by the hurricane-induced tidal waves.

6. Visit the Gulfarium. For 10 years we’ve been threatening to visit this place. This may, in fact, be the year.

7. Eat at McGuire’s Irish Pub. If you ever go, order the Hickory Smoked Prime Rib. You won’t be sorry.

8. Eat at High Tide Restaurant and Oyster Bar. Definitely looks like a dive, but they have the best raw oysters on Okaloosa Island!

9. Eat at Old Bay Steamer. Apparently, you’re not allowed on Okaloosa Island unless you have eaten there at least once.

10.Totally kick GR’s ass in putt-putt. I’ll have the hurricane force winds on my side.

11.Single-handedly eat an entire key lime pie from Juana’s (the best key lime pie…in the world!).

12. Read The Way Life Should Be, given to me by my new blogging friend, Salena at The Daily Rant.

13. At some point, shop at Alvin’s Island for cheap souvenirs. It’s a tacky tradition. I might even get a henna tattoo. Or not.

So, that’s pretty much our plans unless we’re forcefully evacuated.

Have a great Labor Day weekend, y’all!

Thursday Thirteen: Angels in the Outfield

Lulu — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:06:35 +0000

Oh, how I love Thursday Thirteens. It only takes me about three hours to pull one together. Three hours of teeth-gnashing, photo-editing, and uploads. I just love it. “So, why do them?” I hear my one lonely reader ask. Good question. I’ll write a post on it later after GR is done beating me for being on the computer all evening. I kid, people. I’m the one who beats GR. He never beats me.

For now, I’ll present you with my beautiful collection of cherubic angels. Which sit right beside my quirky collection of salt and pepper shakers.

1. Angels & Demons (can’t wait for the movie!)

2. An angel in need of Zyrtec. Watch the candle lady!

3. Imelda Marcos wannabe…

4. Suck up…

5. The first Noel did not go exactly as planned…

6. Angel with a foot fetish…

7. The newest Olympic event…

8. Simon Cowell as he dresses at home…

9. Victoria Secret Angel for the modest…

10. Wings yes, but what about the legs?

11. Yes, Lulu, there are hairdressers in heaven…

12. This one reminds me of my grandma…if my grandma had white hair.

13. This is just wrong on so many levels…

So, that’s it y’all! Happy Thursday!

Thirteen Things Lulu Will Be Doing in Germany

Lulu — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:15:23 +0000

Okay, so I know that my trip to Germany is like 3 months away (I’ll be leaving 12 weeks from today to be exact), but I’ll have you know that I have my itinerary planned out in complete minutiae detail. If you ask me what I’m having for breakfast on October 13, I can probably tell you (cold cuts and hard rolls, if you really want to know).

Actually, through my diligent and painstaking research, I’ve discovered that Germans are big on cold cuts for breakfast. Well, maybe not Germans per se, but definitely German inns and hotels. Factoring in that along with all of the wienerschnitzel that I will be consuming, I’ve vowed to become a strict vegetarian when I return to the States. One can only eat so much meat before turning into some kind of primal beast.

Anyhoo, because I’m now in full Germany travel-planning mode, I’ve decided to do a Thursday Thirteen for the first time in…well…a damn long time. And I figured that there’s no better way to rejoin my once-loved blogging meme than to bore you all with what I’m planning to do while I’m in Germany. Besides eat meat, that is.

1. Tour Munich with Mike’s Bike Tours

Some of my longtime readers may remember my little biking episode in Mexico last year and wonder why Lulu is getting on another bike. And for those of you who don’t remember, believe me, it wasn’t pretty. And just to add a little something to the mix, this 4-hour biking tour stops at a biergarten halfway through the tour. Nothing like getting the jet-lagged tourists all inebriated while riding bikes. Can I get a BUI for that? I’ll be sure to wear my helmet. Knee and elbow pads may be an option, as well. Pray for me.

2. Tour the Salzbergwerk Salt Mines in Berchtesgaden

Going deep into the dark, salty earth is a bit scary to me. But I think that there are miner clothes and a sliding chute involved, so all should be well.

3. Take a boat tour on Lake Königssee in Berchtesgaden

Obviously, I’m going for depth here—deep, salty earth, deep, dark lake. Lake Königssee is Bavaria’s deepest lake and is situated in the valley between the Watzmann, Jenner, and Hagen mountains. I think that this could very well be the highlight of my trip.

4. Visit Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden

From the depths of the earth to the heights of mountains…what a stunning place. It’s highly unfortunate it was built for such an inhumane monster.

5. Tour Salzburg, Austria

Even though Salzburg is best known for all things Mozart, during the month of October, the city will be overrun with visitors to celebrate the music of Bach—at Bachfest 2008.

6. Go on a Sound of Music Tour

Assuming that I survive my drunken biking tour around Munich, I will be climbing every mountain and fording every stream on a tour that highlights many scenes from The Sound Music.

7. Visit the town of Mittenwald

Mittenwald is a town famous for violin making and beautiful fresco paintings.

8. Visit the town of Oberammergau

Oberammergau is another small village known for fresco paintings, as well as wood-carvings and The Passion Play, which takes place every ten years.

9. Tour Neuschwanstein Castle

Mad King Ludwig’s built this castle in honor of his great obsession, Richard Wagner (a great opera composer). The castle served as the inspiration for Disneyland’s, Sleeping Beauty castle.

10. Visit The Abbey of Ettal

It’s a beautiful monastery, but I’m visiting mainly so that I can drink beer with a bunch of monks in their brewery, Kloster-Biere.

11. Tour Rothenburg

This is a fairy-tale village that is known as the most well-preserved of all medieval towns. But I’m more excited about the most awesome Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas shop than anything else!

12. Go on the The Walk of the Night Watchman Tour in Rothenburg

The very famous evening tour of Rothenburg led by the Night Watchman.

13. Take a boat ride on the Danube

So, I have no link for taking a boat ride on the Danube, because I can’t find any Web sites related to boat rides on the Danube. How can I plan a boat ride on the Danube, when there are no official Web sites?! This leaves me in deep planning distress. Not a good thing for Lulu…

Thursday Thirteen: Valentines from Lulu’s Fourth Grade Friends

Lulu — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 02:54:06 +0000

Love Note 1: I’m taking a quick break from Mystery Theater Thursday today, but I do have a highly important mystery update. Remember the Case of the Spotted Dog? SOLVED. Bindi has Demodex mites. Don’t ask…just nod your head and run far, far away.

Love Note 2: I’m having a Valentine’s Day giveaway, y’all! If you want to put your name in the hat, {{post id=”treats-for-my-sweets” text=”click here”}} to sign up and see what I’m giving away!

Remember the anticipation of exchanging Valentine’s Day cards when you were in grade school? I specifically remember my mother taking me to K-Mart so that I could toil over boxes and boxes of cards, trying to decide on just the right set to express my love, fondness, or bête-noir (Lulu likes to use French words that she doesn’t understand) to the other kids in my classroom.

I was very methodical about the entire process, and before I even began scribbling names on the envelopes, I would analyze each card individually so that I was sure to assign it to the right person. God knows there could be no mixed signals involved when it came to card assignment. Otherwise Toad-Boy might start making unwanted advances on the playground.

Anyhow, in my now infamous attic (that I will henceforth refer to as Limbo of the Lost—and Found), I came across a packet (made from paper plates) full of valentines that I received from my fourth grade classmates.

Um, that was 29 years ago, y’all. These valentines are officially old. Vintage. Antique. And so is Lulu. And now, I would like to share with you my notes of love and adoration.

1. This is one of my favorites. Notice that the boy who gave this to me underlined the words “I like you.” Obviously, Brant thought that he could win my heart with a valentine depicting an evil detective choking a puppy until he pukes. Bastard.

2. This is another one of my favorites. Trey really knew how to express his overabundant, exuberant love for me. He was a player, that one.

3. This one’s kind of sexy, no? Meeee-owzer…

4. Totally un-PC. The little blond girl is not even of Native American descent.

5. Aren’t high-waisted jeans coming back in style?

6. Good use of a pun. However, if this card was made in the South, it would have read, “Everybody Likes You- n’ Coca-Cola I!” Not such a good use of a pun.

7. Is the Tin Man wearing Adidas?

8. I’m not too sure if “You Take The Cake” was meant as a compliment.

9. Mmm…I wish that my hair was made of McDonald’s french fries.

10. Slick. Too bad it was from a girl.

11. Is that a Christmas pie? And why is the boy dressed in a sailor uniform? And why is he pulling a purple plum from what looks to be a cherry or raspberry pie? This valentine is lame. Wait a minute…isn’t that a nursery rhyme? I’m so confused.

12. I’m puzzled by the message here, “I’ve GROWN to like you lots, Valentine!” Does this mean that I was a detestable social deviant in the beginning, but now I am likable?

13. From one fourth grader to another—for a sweet little girl? It’s true, I was the shortest, most underdeveloped kid in the entire fourth grade, but did Tall Tisha really have to rub it in? Beyotch.

Now wasn’t that just the grandest trip down memory lane? No? Yeah, not so much for me either. I think there’s still some unrequited fourth grade love going on in my mind.

Anyhow, hope you all have a great V-Day! And don’t forget to sign up for my giveaway my little love bunnies! I think I just said love bunnies.

Thursday Thirteen: Thirteen Ways to Get Lulu Drunk in New Orleans

Lulu — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 02:35:26 +0000

Several weeks ago, I signed up to participate in Shelley’s 2^nd Annual International City Swap. The object of the city swap was to put together a package that best represents the place where you live and what you love about it and send it to another city swap participant in a different city. So, I was assigned to send Mrs. W at Mrs. W’s Kitchen a package from my hometown of Atlanta.

Well, I don’t exactly live in Atlanta, but I’m guessing that she would not want a package from my actual hometown. Because that gift would likely have consisted of some variation of a goat, the wheel off of a mobile home, a can of tobacco, and an empty beer can. Not a very nice gift, indeed. Instead, I sent her these items.

And my city swap partner, Esther, who was assigned to send me a package, does not have a blog (smart woman!), but participated anyway. She’s just nice that way. Esther is from the great city of New Orleans, and she sent me these most AWESOME books…

And in honor of my wonderful city swap gifts, I am dedicating my Thursday Thirteen to the fabulous ways that Lulu can get drunk in New Orleans. I’m almost positive that this is exactly what the lovely Esther had in mind when she sent me this gift. However, because a portion of the proceeds from the Big Easy Cocktails book go to Katrina Relief, it’s really okay for me to get drunk. Really.

Now, if you’re ready to start drinking, meet me in New Orleans, y’all! Or not. You can get Lulu drunk in her own home—it’s less expensive that way. Either way, son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou!

So, let’s belly up to the bar (or the blender) and start making cocktails, people! Pretty easy, right? Well, it is if you have the Big Easy Cocktails book handy! I say that we throw back a few of these jazzy drinks…

1. Mimosa (needed: an early morning, orange juice, champagne, and Ibuprofen)

2. Mint Julep (needed: bourbon, soda water, fresh mint leaves, Ibuprofen, and a thick Southern accent)

3. Crawdaddy (needed: lemonade, Bacardi Limon, cranberry juice, Ibuprofen, and a line and a pole, babe)

4. Bayou Punch (needed: lemonade, Bacardi Limon, Green River Soda, Ibuprofen, and maybe a little swamp water)

5. Southern Comfort Eggnog (needed: a hen to lay 6 eggs, Southern Comfort, heavy cream, vanilla extract, sugar, and Ibuprofen)

6. Piña Po-Lada (needed: Bacardi Light rum, Malibu rum, pineapple juice, half-and-half, Ibuprofen, and a Jazz band that plays Mariachi music)

7. Jimmy’s Love Potion (needed: Bacardi Limon, Cointreau, Rose’s lime juice, cranberry juice, Ibuprofen, and Anderson Cooper)

8. Mother Pucker Martini (needed: vodka, Apple Pucker, sour mix, maraschino cherry, Ibuprofen, and just any random man hanging out in a bar)

9. Ragin’ Cajun Rita (needed: sour mix, tequila, Grand Marnier, orange juice, salt, lime, Ibuprofen, and a mad Cajun named Rita)

10. Naughty Girl Scout (needed: vanilla ice cream, Kahlua, peppermint schnapps, Ibuprofen, and the daughter of Bruce Willis)

11. Café Brulot Diabolique (needed: cloves, cinnamon sticks, sugar, lemon, orange, Grand Marnier, cognac, hot coffee, Ibuprofen, and a missing corpse)

12. Cajun Martini (needed: habanero-infused vodka, vodka, cherry pepper, Ibuprofen, and a fire extinguisher)

13. Cajun Iced Tea (needed: sour mix, Bacardi Limon, Kahlua, tequila, cranberry juice, Ibuprofen, and 10 cups of sugar)

Oh. Lulu is feeling a bit dizzy now. Maybe…this…was…not…such…a good idea. Me thinks I’m seeing double…

Anyone have any Ibuprofen?

Thursday Thirteen: Lulu’s Thanksgiving Day Menu

Lulu — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 03:19:12 +0000

My family likes to eat. We’re a family of eaters. And around the holidays, we like to cook large amounts of food—especially at Thanksgiving. It’s the beginning of The Great Winter Bulk Up, which continues well into Easter.

And when I say we like to cook, I actually mean my mother. The woman can cook for the masses. And at Thanksgiving, she engages in an all-out cooking marathon. She can whip up enough food to feed a small country for a day or two. If there’s less than 12 items on the menu, she feels like a failure. Because God knows you must have at least 12 different casseroles to fill that empty space inside your stomach and ache in your heart.

So about three weeks before Thanksgiving, the menu discussions between my mother and me begin (even though we’ve had the same items on the menu EVERY year since I was two)…

Mom: So, Lulu, what should I cook for Thanksgiving this year?

Me: Mom, let’s just keep it simple this year. How about a turkey, dressing, and maybe just one or two casseroles? (we’re all about the casseroles…)

Mom: Oh, well, you know that Charlie (her husband) can’t eat turkey, so we’ll have to do a ham as well.

Me: Okay. And let’s just do a corn casserole and a broccoli cheese casserole and that’s it. There are only 8 of us for lunch this year.

Mom: Well, I’m also cooking a sweet potato soufflé. And a couple of sweet potato pies. And I need to make a cake. What kind of cake should I make?

Me: Mother, I don’t think that we need sweet potato soufflé and pies. How about one or the other? And why do we need a cake? Aren’t the pies enough?

Mom: Oh, no. I’m making a cake. What kind should I make?

Me: I’m not going to eat any cake, so make whichever kind you like.

Mom: Won’t you just have one piece? How about GR, what kind of cake does he like?

Me: Mom, GR does not eat cake.

Mom: Won’t he just have one piece? Ask him what kind he wants me to make. Oh, I’m also going to make some butter peas. Does GR eat butter peas?

And we will continue to have a repeat of this conversation every other day up until the cooking marathon begins. And just to give you an idea of what I deal with every year, please take note of our dessert table from last year’s Thanksgiving feast…

We had 9 desserts available for 15 people: key lime pie, apple pie, sweet potato pie, pumpkin pie, coconut pie, caramel cake, banana pudding, brownies, and baklava. I don’t know about you, but I think that another pie was in order.

Now this year, my mom and her husband are driving up from Florida to my house for Thanksgiving, so the cooking marathon will take place in my kitchen. So, as a precursor for this epic cooking event, I thought that I would list 13 items from of our larger-than-life Thanksgiving menu for my Thursday Thirteen. No snoring, please.

1. Turkey. Is it just me, or do you ever cook a whole turkey any other time of the year besides Thanksgiving or Christmas? I love turkey, but it’s difficult for me to associate it with anything other than the holidays. Unless it’s deli turkey, which never tastes the same anyway.

2. Ham. My mom’s husband is allergic to poultry, so we must also have a little pig meat at Thanksgiving as well. I personally think it’s a ploy to buy a HoneyBaked Ham…

3. Dressing/Stuffing. GR and I have an ongoing debate about whose mother makes the best dressing. Actually, the debate is more or less in his mind, because he has reiterated to me almost every freaking day for the past 14 years that his mother makes the best dressing ever. Personally, I quit the debate years ago by telling him that I like both dressings equally. However, GR refuses to back down until he drives me completely insane, and I crumble into a heaping ball of weepiness and false admission.

4. Broccoli and Cheese casserole. I will admit that GR’s sister makes the best broccoli and cheese casserole ever. Why can’t he just be satisfied with that?

5. Corn casserole. This is my sister’s specialty dish that she makes for every family dinner. It’s full of fattening buttery goodness! Actually, Pioneer Woman has what looks like an amazing recipe for corn casserole that I’m just itching to try…

6. Deviled eggs. I was told recently that my deviled eggs are heavenly. All it takes is a couple of dashes of Crystal Hot Sauce, y’all, and you’re on your way through the pearly gates…

7. Green Bean casserole. This is not one of my specialties, but GR would pay big money for our SIL, Big H, to cook one for him every day…

8. Macaroni and cheese. My most favorite comfort food. Try adding pimentos to your recipe to add a little extra zing…

9. Mashed potatoes and gravy. Does it seem odd to have mashed potatoes served along with dressing? I’m guessing yes, but it sure doesn’t matter to me…

10. Squash casserole. I actually make a pretty good squash dressing, but I’ll save that one for another time.

11. Sweet potato soufflé. If I could make only one item off of this list for Thanksgiving, this would be it. Many years ago, one of my co-workers gave me a recipe for a soufflé that is out of this world delicious. And although this picture shows a soufflé with marshmallows, I normally top mine with pecans…

12. Pumpkin pie. Topped with a little bit of whipped cream, you can’t beat this traditional pie!

13. Disaronno. And after a long day of cooking and eating, there’s nothing better than a cup of coffee with a bottlebit of Disaronno to settle the freaking nerves.

What’s on your menu for Thanksgiving?

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

Thursday Thirteen: Lulu’s Halloween Extravaganza

Lulu — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 02:47:11 +0000

On Saturday evening, GR and I hosted a small, quiet Halloween get-together in our home. In fact, it was so quaint that we sat around and read the bible, sang many renditions of Kumbaya, and drank lemonade.

And if that were the truth, then I would not still be limping around with a swollen ankle, assessing the size of the two bruises on my arm, and trying to determine exactly when it was that I developed a pretty bad case of whiplash. I’m serious, y’all! I can hardly move my neck from side to side without inflicting great pain upon myself. And I didn’t even participate in the full-contact musical chairs game! Oh, we had games, people…

And what a night it was. I’ve determined that there were approximately 45 people present and accounted for—three of which I had no idea who they were. I’m assuming that they didn’t just wander in off of the street, but I really couldn’t tell you. I was too busy coordinating. And drinking Coronas. And to be completely honest with you, I just found out tonight (whilst handing out trick-or-treats) that two of my neighbors were here for most of the night, and I swear that I didn’t even know it! Because I was too busy coordinating. And drinking Coronas. Obviously seven one too many.

Anyhow, the party was apparently loads of fun, because on Sunday morning GR and I assessed the damage, and here’s a sampling of what we found:

Marshmallows melted and stuck to the basement floor
Candy corn melted and stuck to the basement floor
A once green-colored chiminea now more of an orange-y color (don’t ask because I don’t understand)
10 or so large bags of garbage
A table full of empty food platters (scavengers!)
A tree TP’d in our backyard
An array of leftover chairs from our musical chairs game (I’m not sure where the other 15 or so chairs got off to). See…

With that being said, let me just move along to my Thursday Thirteen. Here are some of the culprits (scavengers!) who helped Lulu and GR make a mockery of their home.

1. I’ll start with the host and hostess themselves…Lulu and GR. Here we are as Miss Piggy and The Swedish Chef. Okay, so GR’s costume is not exactly complete (he’s missing the orange eyebrows and moustache), but let’s just disregard that wardrobe malfunction, shall we? And let me also mention that I have entered my vain self in a costume contest over at An Island Life…

And now for some of the other culprits:

10.

11.

12.

13.

And if I weren’t still recovering from the crazy weekend, I could do a proper write up of the whole event, but the sampling of pictures will just have to do…

I hope that you all had a spooktacular Halloween!