Metro Friendly

My friend Gat and I were on the Metro to DC for a quick girls museum trip.  Any one that rides the Metro knows that it starts out empty and then quickly fills up.  So, Gat and I decided to make a little bet to see who was more approachable.   We sat near each other, but with open seats to the side of both of us.

Gat sat there with a scowl and with an aura of “Don’t even think of touching me” and I sat there grinning like a loon. At first it seemed like no one was going to sit next to either one of us and then five stops later, it happened. 

A very normal looking young lady sat next to Gat and I about fell out of my seat laughing as Gat pouted.  I then promptly congratulated the the young lady that she helped me win a bet.  If that doesn’t break the ice then, nothing does, because we chatted good heartedly until our stop.   

I am sure I could wrap this up with a bunch of theories that people want to sit next to scowling people, because they don’t want to talk. (This is Gat’s theory, since she lost and had to buy me a cup of tea.) Or that my open seat was hidden by a glass pane and the only seat that was visible was the one next to Gat, and you should never make bets your aren’t 90% sure you will win. 

Waffle House

When some one marries into a family, sometimes it is hard to acclimate and develop a real bond with the person. Other times it grows naturally and then you realize you can drop the “in-law” from the “sister in-law”.  This is my story on how I knew I had a sibling bond with my sister in law. 

A couple of months ago I drove down to visit my brother and his family.  They live a good  eight hours away by vehicle.  The drive itself is scenic and you realize that Virginia highways never end. They just loop back into themselves.  To pass the time on the drive, I started counting Waffle Houses.  There is a sign for a Waffle House every three to four exits like clock work and for whatever reason I wanted to know how many where from my house to their house. 

Unfortunately I lost count, due to a phone call, because while I can talk hand free in the car, pay attention to the road, I can not do a third thing of keep track of exit signs that have Waffle Houses on them.  When I do finally arrive their domicile, it is nearly midnight and I am way to awake to even think about crashing, so of course we stay up and chat.  

Before you know it is is close to one in the morning and I am lamenting about losing track when counting Waffle Houses and talking about my first time at a Waffle House, when it is revealed that there is a Waffle House not too far from them.  In short order we completely sober adults pile into a vehicle and transport ourselves to said Waffle House and order breakfast.  I get a sensible waffle with pecans on it, while Lisa gets a breakfast feast and Mike avoids waffles. Please remember it is one in the morning, and we are all a little punch drunk from laughter.  I have finished my waffle and I am making hungry eyes at Lisa’s waffle.  Before I can even say the words, she picks up the waffle and licks it right down the center. Staking claim that the waffle is hers, that she has her germs on it.   I am still shuddering at the memory. Waffle Licker.   

Instead of giving the waffle a good home in my belly, she had to traumatize it and me at the same time.  Licking an item to stake claim on it is a childish behavior that one does with their siblings.  I can officially remove the “in law” from my relationship description now.  Now I can’t even look at a Waffle House, without thinking about Lisa the Waffle Licker. 

Mother and Royal Tea

I wanted to write a mothers day post, and then time got away from me.  So this is sort of a Mother's day post, or at least a post involving my mom.  That counts, right?

My mother and I don't agree on things. Not all things, obviously. Just the important things, such as whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza or if pears are really just a bland wet fruit rolled in sand. The fruit paired with meat argument has been going on for at least twenty years, and I don't see an end in sight.

However, there are some things that we do agree one.  One of those things is the Kate Pearl Tea Room. We can agree that we enjoyed our Royal Tea to a high degree. (Okay, that rhymed in my head and I couldn't quit giggling as I typed it.)  My mother and I met up with GAT and her mother for tea and socializing.  I absolutely loved that we were encouraged to dress for the part.  It isn't too often that I can play adult dress up, and seeing ladies in dresses and hats certainly sets the atmosphere.

Kate Pearl Tea Room is not my first foray into tea rooms.  I have been to several and the results have always varied.  The Royal Tea boasts of Appetizer, Scones with Clotted Cream and Spreads, Soup, Salad, Fluted Fruit Beverage, Tea Sandwich, Savories, Assorted Sweets and Sorbet on the website, and in person there is no way that a person could even be close to hungry by the end of tea.  The unlimited tea, excellent company, good eats and wonderful atmosphere has the Royal Tea on the list of things that I would want to do again.

The gift shop was stocked with a wide variety of tea, and several that made their way home with me.  I love the look of tea in jars. I reminds me of an apothecary and that tea heals the soul. In addition to Tea, they had a variety of tea companions, such as spoons, books, and stationary.  All things that I need when relaxing with a cup of tea.  If you every get the opportunity, I would highly recommend to check out Kate Pearl Tea Room.

Letter Extras

 It is the end of April, and this is a post I wanted to write at the beginning.  April is National Letter Writing Month. Obviously in National Letter Writing month, you are to write letters.  The is a 30 letters in 30 day challenge that helps celebrate and bring awareness to the event. 

I think that it is a nice surprise to send something a little bit extra in a card every now and then.  It is fun little gift that lets the receiver know you were thinking of them.  Below are 10 items that fit nicely into cards that can brighten someone’s day. 

Letter Extra’s

1. Print Pictures
2. Stickers
3. Flower Seeds
4. Patches
5. Tea
6. House Ghost
7. Lotto /Scratch Cards
8. Face Masks
9. Temporary Tattoos 
10. Bookmarks

The key to picking something that is as a letter extra is if it is thin and flexible.  If it fits that criteria, the possibilities are endless.   What is the most unique you have ever received in a letter?

Tastes Like Poor Decisions

Have you ever done something that sounds like a good idea, but in reality, it is nothing but regret.   I have made such a decision, when I decided to partake in the Soda Challenge.

What is the soda challenge?

The soda challenge was contrived by GAT and myself as a form of torture to my beloved nephew and nieces. The idea behind it is simple.  We gather weird flavored/named sodas and make the kids try them.  It seemed like an easy plan. Children love soda's.  Children are honest.  Children would give the honest opinion on the soda.  As I said, it was a simple plan. 

I just didn't count on having to taste the sodas with them.

Here is a run down on the the sodas and what they taste like.

 

 

Here is a run down of what we tried and my thoughts.  The kids had mixed reactions.

• San Fransisco Fog
• This soda truly made me feel old. I felt cranky when trying it, because it tastes like liquid cotton candy.  I was super sweet and made me want to brush my teeth immediately. 
• Unicorn Yack
• I am convinced that unicorn yack taste like someone took all the cream soda flavors and mixed them together.  So, yeah.  Yack is an accurate description. 
• Bacon
• If you are a person that likes the artificial bacon bits on your salad, then you might like this soda. It tastes exactly like that, except in liquid form and carbonated. If you don't like artificial bacon bits, then, you know that this is pretty disgusting soda. 
• 4. Cinnamon Red Hots
• Out of all the soda's this one isn't terrible.  This one does taste like Cinnamon Red Hots in liquid form. I think it would be better as a candle then a drink. 

The children may have disagreed with me on several of these assessments.  I think that the lesson here is that these taste like some poor decisions and family bonding.

My Favorite Haunting

As we all know, there are many different categories of hauntings.  There are the ones that make you question your sanity. The sort of movement that you see in your peripheral vision, that make you wonder if you really saw something. There are the moments where a door shuts suddenly with no one near it and everyone gives a small chuckle about "the wind".   There are other types of hauntings where you can't stop thinking about a moment in time. It lingers on your mind and keeps you from focusing.  The event replay over and over again, like a scratchy record of days gone by.  Some could say that a person is "haunted by a memory". 

I have recently encountered a new type of haunting.   And it is my favorite type of haunting to date.
I was gifted a house ghost.

 

 

I was a gifted a haunting of Loyal Rex (the fish).  He died from eating something bad.  (Not surprising for a fish!)  He resides in the floor boards in the kitchen, and you know he is there by his glowing orbs.   I feel like this is a haunting I can stand behind, or at least next to.  It seems like my cats would also enjoy this sort of haunting, since they frequently lounge in the kitchen.  This might be the best house ghost I have ever had!

If you are interested in your own haunting, or perhaps gifting a friend with a house ghost, check out Pam Wishbow on Etsy.  It is a delightful gift that is sure to make some one smile. It certainly made me smile. 

Horse Feathers

I can’t tell if I should consider myself educated or just well read.  My husband procured a copy of Horse Feathers & Other Curious Words by Charles Earl Funk for me in San Diego, and it is making me laugh. 

Without a doubt they were loose with the “Other Curious Words”, since I don’t think that “Auburn” is a curious word; however the illustrations with the word make me smile and are a little reminiscent of Phantom Toll Booth, which was one of my favorite wordplay books in my younger years.

There are a couple of words that did make me scratch my head. 

 I think the conversation I had with Faye about the definition of huggermugger is more interesting than the word itself. 

Here is the definition:

Here is the conversation

Another amusing word is sesquipedalian. My goal is to work this word into my vocabulary in a grandiose manner this week at work.  

Albeit, my husband has perverse example to which that word could be used in, and I will not repeat it, but it did make me laugh. If it isn’t a hoagie it’s a hero. 

If you stumble upon this book in your travel, give it a gander.  It has amused me and is now a treasured member of my library.