Fetish

I love shrink wrap. We created these boxes that we covered with shrink wrap and I got to tighten them with the heat gun. Satisfaction on this task on a scale of 1-10? 9. It is almost the most fun thing to do at work. Yesterday, before I walked off my job, I put 7 layers of shrink wrap on a package. It is a thing of beauty! You can't even tell there are 7 layers. I started with the first layer, which snapped because I got it too hot. So I started again. The plastic was pulled taut (love this word by the way, it's sounds like taught, without the g and h but it means tight - taut) and the only way you could tell that there was even plastic wrap on it was to see the outline. I was a little worried it would snap, so I added another layer. That was also TAUT (hee hee). So I got the idea to add yet another layer. I kept going. I wanted to see how many layers you could really add before you could tell there was more than one layer. Turns out you can just keep layering them and they mesh together. But you have to keep an eye out for sneaky customers that lurk. I kept an eye out for co-workers and managers and helped anyone that came to the counter. And when I went to put another layer on, I would take the package into my cubicle, wrap it and bring it back to the counter where the heat gun is to make it TAUT again. Turns out, this lady also was very enthralled by the shrinking of the plastic and was off lurking in the clothing stands watching me tighten the package. She came up and asked if she could tighten. I told her no, it is just a package I am making for our counter, but we are taking resumes at this time (yes, I will hire any crazy person since I am leaving and they will have to work with the one woman wrecking show crazy lady on my counter and wouldn't it be fun if they matched?) Then she says...."I see you are putting layers and layers on this package. Is that part of the program or are you just enjoying it a little too much?" Touche. I let her hold the gun for a short time. Then I took it away, put the gun in the drawer and the package on the counter. I later saw her stroking the package. Weirdo. Lol. Thank God it was my last day!

Random Family Memories

We used to live on a farm. My parents would commute to the city to conduct business in their real estate practice. After one of my brothers was born, my mother stayed home and my father went out to work. He would often be gone late and get back when the kids were in bed and it was sometimes solely up to my mother to discipline. My older brother was always getting in to trouble. While my dad would sit and talk us kids and make us never want to do that thing again (I think it was mindgames...or maybe programming?) my mother would take out the wooden spoon. I never got the wooden spoon, but my older brother got it so many times, I can't even remember what he did wrong.
One time, my brother did something REALLY bad. And we all followed. So my mother had us sit on the couch and she was going to give us the wooden spoon one at a time. My brother leaned over and she gave him a wack on the bottom. He looked at us and cracked a smile. Then a bigger smile. Then a toothy grin. Then he opened his mouth and laughed silently. He was trying so hard to hold it in. Nothing is worse than an angry woman who has just been laughed at. He was shaking a bit, so my mother stopped and looked at him. When she found out he was laughing, she wacked him a good hard one. The spoon broke, so she grabbed another one. That one broke too. She gave up. She came back later and read us a story.
She laughs about it to this day. That was the day she decided to not to use the wooden spoon anymore. I don't remember ever getting a spanking. I was probably a good little angel...ha ha ha, yeah right ;)

Homemade Basement Suite Chai Latte

I had the best ever chai latte tonight. I watched my friend make it. It was magical, simple, and delicious.

1 tablespoon fresh cardamom seeds
1 cinnamon stick
4 cloves
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and chunked
1/2 cup sugar
4 black tea bags
8 cups water
2 cups milk

Crush cardamom seeds and put into kettle with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and sugar. Slowly bring to a rolling boil. Reduce to simmer, add tea bags, let steep for 4 minutes. Add milk, heat without bringing to a boil. Serves 8.

Fashion Trend Alert

There are new and weird things coming into style lately, although some are repeats of previous fashion from decades ago.

Aladdin pants, aka harem pants.
Flowery shirts for men. This is no longer restricted for queens, but now every man can look like your grandmother's wallpaper. I just want to rip these shirts off. And not just to see what is underneath either.
Burlap. Cause I love eating potatoes so much, I wanted to wear a dress that is made for potatoes!
Thigh high boots. K, I have to admit, I love this trend. I usually cannot fit them over my calves and they are very expensive, but I still love them. I remember this Wilson Phillips video where one of the girls was wearing thigh high boots. Not at all pirate-ish.

It's cyclical I guess, but some things just shouldn't come back in, like the harem pants. I remember walking through West Edmonton Mall by the oilmen metal statues thinking I was hot stuff! Everyone had them. That's the thing with fashion, someone, somewhere decides this is what is right now. Some girl who is the "it" girl wears it and everyone clambers on. The other thing is, during recessions, everything is more extreme, brighter colors, higher skirts, lower cut shirts, etc. I think my extreme is going to be hair. I have big hair, always have, always will. Back when I wore my harem pants, I would hold my hair straight up, spray it with Freeze Spray from Paul Mitchell, and blow dry it like that, so it would stand straight up. Until my dad told me I looked silly. I didn't believe him at first, thought he was just being mean. But I am definitely not going to do that again. I am just going to back comb it. So much healthier for the hair.

How to say no properly

"No."
"Nooooo."
"Uh-uh."
"No thank you."

Things that may sound like no, but are really ways around saying no directly:
"I can't."
"Not right now."
"I don't think so."

Haiku Thursday

Peaks and Valleys

Majestic mountains
Looking like a snow-capped chart
Of Economy


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Butter Chicken Butter Chicken Butter Chicken Butter Chicken Butter Chicken

I learned about Butter Chicken when living with one of my best friends. Today I was missing her and while on my break, watched the cooking Chef at Home with Micheal Smith. My co-workers call him the "gentle giant" and oo-ed and aw-ed over him. Whatever. Guess what he was making???? Yes! It was butter chicken! And he made it in this really cool way. First, he showed how to make his version of tandoori chicken. Then for the butter sauce, he showed how to get clarified butter and the base. Although I had just had lunch, my mouth was watering. This is not the typical way I make butter chicken but this one seems so much more simple and I am definitely going to make this soon because certain people aren't here to make it for me!

Butter Sauce for Indian Chicken
Ingredients:

1 small can whole tomatoes
1 cup 35% heavy whipping cream
2 heaping spoonfuls garum masala
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 x chili peppers
3 tbsp grated frozen ginger
1 small bunch fresh cilantro
Salt
1 stick (1/2 cup or 8 tablespoons) of butter

Directions:
Puree the tomatoes, cream, garum masala, lemon zest and juice, chili peppers, ginger, cilantro and salt in a food processor. Melt the butter in a 3-quart saucepan. When it begins to foam, swirl it around until it browns lightly. Stir in the tomato mixture and heat it through. Serve over Tandoori chicken with plain yogurt, naan bread, and a cute guy.