I’m with you, Mika, re the dogs. I like dogs. I will visit with your dog and make muc of him and love him/her and laugh etc (I will not, however, treat him or her like a human), but I don’t want one. I don’t want the level of attention and care they demand; I don’t want any creature following me around slavishly; I don’t want the vet bills and worry.
I am borderline tolerating my cat right now. I would never abdicate my responsibility toward this animal, but I am not enjoying pet ownership right now. People say that pets give you unconditional love–I have not felt that from any dog or cat I’ve owned. (of course, I’ve never owned a dog–I’ve been a resident in houses where my mother owned the dogs. She trains them badly–they only mind her). Cats I like because of their independence–I long for a standoffish cat. Instead, I have one who thinks he’s a dog. He lays in doorways and in the middle of the kitchen rug. He follows me from room to room–I hate it. I swear he has imprinted me (or did I imprint him? never sure how that goes) But he doesn’t pee on stuff. Thank god.
Sun is out. A funny (peculiar) thing happen to me today. I’m not going to share it, but will say that I think TH is finally realizing his part in things. Please keep in mind, that no matter how much I have kvetched and bitched and been snarky about TH here, he is not to blame for all our woes. I share in that blame and have some deep regrets. This is turning into a very stressful summer. <sigh>
I need to make a birthday cake for a coworker this week. I’ve got a recipe for a butterscotch cake that I love to make because it’s really easy, and it was the most-requested cake at my old work. But the problem is that it doesn’t look all that exciting. It’s too rich/sweet to put frosting on. I might be able to put Cool Whip on top, but I don’t know if the flavor of the butterscotch would really go with CW right. Thoughts? Other ideas of how to make it look fancier? Or should I just make it the way I always have and make people not judge a cake by its lack-of-frosting?
Here’s the recipe (it’s the “Substitution” section below)
1 package chocolate cake mix
1 package chocolate instant pudding mix
1/4 cup oil
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup chocolate chips
In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil, and water. Mix thoroughly then beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Stir in chips. Pour into a greased 13x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.
Substitution:
Use a yellow cake mix, butterscotch pudding mix and butterscotch chips. The butterscotch chips end up on the bottom of the pan and form a crunchy, candy bottom. I find that a glass pan is best in this case as it can be tough to get the candy bits off the bottom of a metal pan!
I’m not either… that’s part of the problem. I’ve never actually eaten this cake. But everyone else seems to love it! (At least at my old office.)
I didn’t see about the dopefest. Thanks!
Because I’ve become known for really spectacularly looking cakes here. The one time I brought the chocolate version of this cake in (which is one of my favorites… it’s rich and chocolatey and wonderful) it went over like a lead balloon. No one was interested, probably in part because it was Christmas week and no one was actually here, but it’s made me afraid to bring in an un-pretty cake.
That and since I’ve brought in so many pretty cakes, I don’t want the birthday-folks to think I haven’t made as nice a cake for them, that they’re not worth the effort I’ve put in to other people’s cakes.
If it’s really rich, I would definitely stay away from the frosting. Fresh strawberries or blueberries might go. Fruit is your best option. Or even some cut-up peaches.
That looks pretty darned earwiggy to me! Yuck, I hate those nasty little effers…
Oooh, nice one, Mika, I like that one a lot.
Does anybody have a really good banana bread recipe? I want one that’s really, REALLY moist since I’m taking it along this weekend on a camping trip and for some reason my banana bread always comes out somewhat dry… I’m thinking of dicing up some canned apricots and adding them to give more gooiness. Of course, my percentage chance of ending up with some sort of pudding are pretty good if I keep on going that way, but some sacrifices have to be made in the quest for perfection!
Ickkkkkk…earwig. It’s one of the only bugs that truly creeps me out (although IIRC they’re not actually all that destructive).
Lovely poems, Meeks. Thanks for getting us started. I’ll have to find some of my favorite German poetry (I really like Neruda too, by the way, olives).
Hmmm…I can’t think of any other ideas about how to decorate that cake, taxi. Maybe later.
Gotta get some laundry done, then it’s back to…you guessed it…painting.
Thanks ya’ll for the idenfication on the bugs. Now off to google to figure out how in the hell to get rid of them. I couldn’t do that without knowing what kind of bug it is.
WOOHOO!!! Daughter has an interview on Friday at a school about 5 miles from home. Keep a good thought!!
Supper was yum - rotissed poke was sooooooo moist and tender, and the side dishes were quite good, too. We just topped it off with double-stuff chocolate Oreos.
I may go down to the basement and futz about a bit - we’ll see how motivated I feel in a few minutes. My poopy mood seems to have passed - funny what one phone call can do.
OK- my husband (Dig it out of the ground is his SDMB username, BTW)is notorious for “ruining the moment” with a bad joke or a lascivious comment etc.
He’s not feeling well, so I was trying to be sweet to him when again, he “ruined the moment” (ironically, he can ruin the moment without ever saying anything by now, because I already know what he’s going to say and then it’s too late).
So he called himself “The Moment Slayer”, which quickly evolved to add his Sword of Insensitivity and his Shield of Cluelessness (did I mention he was an avid D&Der?).
We’re amused. He wants to change his user name and asked me to share this with my imaginary friends on the MMP.
So there you go-- if you see him around the boards, say hi.
Why, yes-- we;re both easily amused.
ETA: I added a new photo of myself onto Flickr, for anyone who’s interested.
Great OP, Mika! I always enjoyed your video clips, I was just trying to read the poetry to some of the music I remember.I like Shakespeare too. I once quoted the St. Crispin’s Day speech after a Canes win.
Sorry about the death, BBBobbio. Did the crew tell the guy he was supposed to strangle the bishop, not the beaver?
{{{{Soapy}}}}, hope dad&mom gets better.
picu, I violated the heck out of #5, because mom’s a RN.
Sounds like a Sybian with a back rest. :eek:
LiLi, once Thrak was litter trained, no more accidents. If he stabs me in the buttocks one more time at 0610 though, he will be a tie.
