THE GRUMBLE BUNNY

Show us the person you'd most like to switch bodies and lives with for one freaky Friday.

I have always been enchanted by the life of AMELIA EARHART, and I would switch with her on her last day so that I may know what really happened to her.... but I get to switch back at midnight, right?

For ZenKen.

Show us your guitar.
Submitted by Sean J. O'Rourke.

I made Scottish Shortbread last night.

This is not a fast cookie.  Despite what I thought based on the ingredients - I thought it'd be a snap - this cookie can not be rushed. 

It's fast enough to make the dough, but then you have to refrigerate it for 2 hours, then it likes a "slow" oven, and you can't rush taking it off of the pan once it's baked either.

This cookie needs time to "set" during all phases of baking.

side note: I wish I had used brown sugar instead of white.  I think it would have given it a better color and a richer, sweeter, fuller flavor.

Next time, I will monitor the thickness a bit better as well, and allow it to cook a tad longer.  It wasn't browning on top and since the edges were done I took it out, however it could have went another 5 minutes and not burned.  The middle was just a wee bit under-done, not uncooked just sort of almost done.  I always measure the flour twice so I am certain it was time and temperature.

I am not exactly sure how it turned out, although I did eat several pieces with no ill or adverse effects....  I am comparing it to the taste of a Lorna Doone.  I think I came pretty close - they are crisp, but also do that melt in your mouth thing too -  I am not too unpleased for a first attempt and they are tasty with my tea this morning but I really do wish I'd used brown sugar.

Scottish Shortbread

1 cup of butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups of flour

Cream sugar and butter then cut in flour.

Refrigerate dough for 2 hours.

Cut the dough in two and pat into two 7 to 8 inch circles about 1/3 of an inch thick each.  Fork prick to make 16 wedges.

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 300 for 30 minutes.

COOL, then remove from pan and place on cooling rack.  Cool more, remember I said these cookies can not be rushed....

I hereby declare JOHN PEEL to be the best music search term ever.

By the grace of the Festive 50 (#44), another song by the Mighty Mighty has been found...

As an added bonus - this gem from the Come Ons. 

We see life not as it is, but as we are.  Think about that one...

1. List 5 more "gratefuls".

2. Give up a bad habit, and replace that action with a "good" habit.

3. Write out a goal using the "smart" model.  Specific, Measurable steps, Achievable, Realistic, Timed.

An email forward from a friend I got this morning (and the potshot cartoon of the day about smoking which is my bad habit is "funny", heh... the universe sure has a sense of humor...):

A young woman went to her mother and told her
                         about her life and how things were so hard for
                         her. She did not know how she was going to make
                         it and wanted to give up She was tired of
                         fighting and struggling. It seemed as one
                         problem was solved, a new one arose.

                         Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled
                         three pots with water and placed each on a high
                         fire Soon the pots came to boil In the first she
                         placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs,
                         and in the last she placed ground coffee beans.
                         She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

                         In about twenty minutes she turned off the
                         burners. She fished the carrots out and placed
                         them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and
                         placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the
                         coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to
                         her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.'

                         'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

                         Her mother brought her closer and asked her to
                         feel the carrots. She did and noted that they
                         were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to
                         take an egg and break it. After pulling off the
                         shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

                         Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip
                         the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted
                         its rich aroma The daughter then asked, 'What
                         does it mean, mother?'

                         Her mother explained that each of these objects
                         had faced the same adversity: boiling water.
                         Each reacted differently. The carrot went in
                         strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after
                         being subjected to the boiling water, it
                         softened and became weak. The egg had been
                         fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its
                         liquid interior, but after sitting through the
                         boiling water, its inside became hardened. The
                         ground coffee beans were unique, however. After
                         they were in the boiling water , they had
                         changed the water.

                         'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When
                         adversity knocks on your door, how do you
                         respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

                         Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that
                         seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I
                         wilt and become soft and lose my strength.

                         Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart,
                         but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid
                         spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a
                         financial hard ship or some other trial, have I
                         become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look
                         the same, but on the inside am I bitter and
                         tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

                         Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually
                         changes the hot water, the very circumstance
                         that brings the pain. When the water gets hot,
                         it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are
                         like the bean, when things are at their worst,
                         you get better and change the situation around
                         you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are
                         their greatest, do you elevate yourself to
                         another level? How do you handle adversity? Are
                         you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

                         May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,
                         enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow
                         to keep you human and enough hope to make you
                         happy.

                         The happiest of people don't necessarily have
                         the best of everything; they just make the most
                         of everything that comes along their way. The
                         brightest future will always be based on a
                         forgotten past; you can't go forward in life
                         until you let go of your past failures and
                         heartaches.

                         When you were born, you were crying and everyone
                         around you was smiling.

                         Live your life so at the end, you're the one who
                         is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

                         You might want to send this message to those
                         people who mean something to you (I JUST DID);
                         to those who have touched your life in one way
                         or another; to those who make you smile when you
                         really need it; to those who make you see the
                         brighter side of things when you are really
                         down; to those whose friendship you appreciate;
                         to those who are so meaningful in your life.

                         If you don't send it, you will just miss out on
                         the opportunity to brighten someone's day with
                         this message!

                         May we all be COFFEE!!!!!!!!!

I had a simple assignment for my seminar as homework last night.

A.  List 5 things you are grateful for.
B. Do one thing you have been putting off.

A. 
1. I am self-sufficient, I don't "need" anyone to take care of me.
2. I have friends, family and my cats.
3. I have my health and a "good" life in Marin despite my being unemployed.
4. That I am me and not someone else.
5. My "problems" are all in my head.
6. I have the ability to change myself and my perceptions.

B.  I scrubbed that disgusting pot that had been soaking in the sink for somewhere near "weeks".  Since I had the Brillo out, I scrubbed the other pot, the broiler pan, and the sink too.  A body in motion tends to stay in motion.

Review: Bed in a Box 11" PacDown Mattress and Foundation.

DELIVERY:  Boxes, there were two.  How one could be in such pristine condition, while the other was nearly in shreds is beyond me.  However, all items were intact and delivered at the same time.  If I had known it was going to take a week for free delivery I would have paid for shipping to get it faster.  However, I am in California and it shipped from Tennessee, so your delivery time may vary and I am a very impatient girl.

THE FOUNDATION:  Super easy to put together.  The quality of the foundation I found sorely lacking, what with crooked nails sticking out and many split pieces of wood from said crooked nails.  The wood is VERY rough with splinters and slivers hanging everywhere.  Wear work gloves to assemble this or you will be VERY sorry.  Oh, and the middle brace is about a 1/4th of an inch too short.  I took it apart and reassembled about three times and gave up...  I wish I had just bought a "Slat" from Ikea and put it on top of my old box spring.  I am pretty disappointed in the foundation ESPECIALLY AT A COST OF $215.00 - and would have preferred a platform bed or "Slats" for on top of my old box spring.  I must admit though that the foundation does feel very sturdy, it was very easy to put together, and has a nice cover to hide its' brutal ugliness.  If I were to recommend this bed to you I would tell you DO NOT buy this foundation and just get "Slats" from Ikea or buy a Platform Bed.  I feel this foundation was a waste of my money.

THE BED:  The bed comes bound in shrink wrap and inside of a plastic/tyvek type duffel bag.  I was lucky enough to be able to get the most awesome bag ever off without cutting it.  You could literally fit a small to medium size human in this bag.  It may come in handy someday... The mattress was the easiest part once I got it out of the bag.  You just position it at the side of the bed and tear the plastic wrap and you have just enough time to flip it up on to the foundation before it expands.  This was also very easy as the foundation is heavier than the mattress - if you can lift the foundation you can lift the mattress.  I did both and I only weigh about 110 lbs soaking wet.

THE COVERINGS:  Both the Foundation and Mattress come with coverings.  The Foundation one was easy to put on, although I wasn't able to get the draw string very tight, but that's because of angle and leverage and I was doing it alone once it was already on the frame.

THE MATTRESS PAD COVER: cover STUNK and REEKED to the high heavens and I would like to know in what universe that's a Queen size?  You may be able to get the foundation assembled and the mattress placed all on your own, but you better call three (3) or more of your biggest line backer friends to come over and help you try to get the mattress pad cover on.  I gave up and just put my own quilted mattress pad on it and shoved theirs back in the bag.  Sadly, it appears to be a nice quality, but IMPOSSIBLE to get on the bed without four to six people to do it.  No, I am NOT exaggerating for effect as I often do.

THE BOXED DOWN MATTRESS PAD: I like this one so far, so no complaints (yet)... imagine that.  It's the right size, and fit right on with no trouble.  Contrary to what I thought, I did NOT wake up feeling too hot from the down, and it didn't get lumpy, it was very comfortable.

MY IMPRESSION:  I was worried because right after I assembled it I sat down on the edge and sank in, way in.  My heart sank at the same time because I need LOTS of support, but once I laid down on it my fears were more than allayed.  I am amazed at how something can feel as firm as a slab of granite, yet as soft as a pillow at the same time.  Amazing.  Soft and cushy, yet super supportive.  For all of my complaints - This mattress is a DEFINITE WINNER!

OVERALL:  I would VERY HIGHLY recommend this mattress to you.  I would, however, NOT recommend the foundation.

To some, Bob needs no introduction.  To the rest of you: Tsk, tsk, tsk!

Apologies, the WORKBOOK artwork didn't load.