Second Best

Remember how Jeff always says that what ever he is experiencing is the second best ever; he says this because he is sure somewhere in the world there is one better and until he has experienced all of them he will content himself with the thought that he just indulged in the second best.

Let me introduce the second best dip ever. Ian's new dip recipe. Mind you my friend gave me the recipe and I bought all the ingredients (it costs a fortune) but since Ian did the mixing and baking he claims this is his recipe. I remember me and mother having the same argument with me in Ian's position. Its amazing what a little perspective will do for you, Mom was right!

Jalapeno Artichoke Dip

3 - 8 oz pkgs cream cheese
1/4 cup mayo
2 cans diced jalapenos
1 can diced chillies
2 cans artichoke hearts (not marinated)
2 - 3 bag shredded Parmesan cheese

Preheat over to 425 degrees
Mix cream cheese and mayo together
Add chopped artichoke hearts
Add jalapenos & chillies & Parmesan cheese
Bake 20 minutes in casserole sprayed with Pam
Stir and bake an additional 15 - 20 minutes till golden brown
Serve with crackers, chips, or the second best bread you can find

I swear this makes almost a gallon of dip. I thought the recipe was too large until I saw Stephanie threaten Roger with a knife telling him to just back away from the last little bit of dip.

I also made Brittany's Sopaipilla Cheesecake Pie at the same time -- sinful for sure. You should have seen me carting off a trunk full of cream cheese from the market. People were looking at me funny and my Marine buzz cut hairdo had nothing to do with it.

Enjoy New Years Eve with or without the world's second best dip.

Last blog of the year.

Ready or Not 2010 -- Here We Come

2010 is here, what a lovely number, all round and soft and enticing and full of promise.

Conner will turn 1 year old, Roger hasn't bought a car in several years so he's due, Jan got a raise just in time for the new year to bring an increase in home owners dues, whew.

So, what else does 2010 promise?

Jean will get a new knee. Or as Jerry so aptly put it, the Dr will take a chain saw and cut off her leg. That is one way to look at it -- I suppose. I keep trying to rewrite it in my head but am failing miserably. Bionic? Re-engineered? Re-structured? Down sized? Or as we told Josephine when she had breast cancer surgery, she had a true and falsie. I need some help here: Mark? Nora? Jeff?

I hope someone will blog frequent updates of her progress, because not every one can be there, although there will be a bunch; Cathy, Brittany, friend Nancy, Janice, Jerry, Jane, Amber and family, neighbors, probably strangers. Knowing how beloved Jean is, it wouldn't surprise me.

I remember the recovery time is six weeks. I suppose there will be lots of physical therapy, pain medicine, breakfasts in bed, hobbling to the bathroom, flowers, cute cards, monitoring of pee-pee, pampering, encouraging, inspecting the incision, chauffeuring, special treats, good weather, and...

...Jean will have a lovely new knee that is all round and soft and enticing and full of promise.

Remembrances of Things Past and Present

Josephine used to scare the gee-willerkers out of me when we walked home down Coltrane. Anybody stop to ask if we wanted a ride and she hopped into the car. And I do mean anybody. Cocking her head and charging life Josephine is fearless.

Jean made more ruffly plaid school dresses for Julia and I than I can remember. I'm sorry Jean when I ripped twenty feet of ruffle off the bottom of my dress - chasing boys I suppose. Jean was always there; smiling, working, helping, cooking, canning and sewing -- no wonder we all call you the perfect child. Jean is dependable.

Janice was always smarter than me. As I wandered aimlessly though high school and all those sweet teachers treated me like royalty when they found out I was her younger sister, well, royally for a while, until they learned the true differences between us. Janice is smart and elegantly sharp.

Jerry was reliable, ready with a hand or hand-out what ever the case called for. Mom and Dad relied on him for so much of the outside work. I never had to "suit up" and break ice on the cow tank or do other chores at the crack of dawn. Jerry helped in every disaster, crisis or tragedy. Jerry is reliable.

Julia was focused, I don't care if it was driving to California, balancing columns of numbers, learning photography, stitching a wall hanging, lighting a play at the Theater Center, or baby proofing a house the end result was near perfection. Julia is focused.

James was original. When mother asked him to serve the group of us sitting around the kitchen table he put the soup in one big bowl and handed out six spoons. He sold Tootsie Roll Pops at the grade school ball games for a profit. Selling peeks of his naked girlfriend, neglecting to tell all those randy friends she was three years old. James was original.

Jeff, besides being the baby and always a good Samaritan, was the witty one. The one who made us laugh with his super quick story telling wit. The police saga with the walker arounder and the fence leaner. The truck saga and who ever the crazy guy was he used to work for. The cojones saga, my favorite story to this day: "My cojones are just big enough to fill my britches, I don't need a wagon to haul them around in." Jeff is the wit.

Me? Besides being the artist, the crazy one, and the weirdo only you guys know.

Enjoy the day.
Enjoy the food.
Enjoy the family.
Enjoy the love coming at you.

Merry Christmas.

Today Was A Good Day

I slept in till after five and woke up with a clear conscious that all my mundane maintenance stuff was done: groceries were bought, laundry was done, bills were paid and I could play the day away.

I finished my Christmas cards, watched an entertaining movie, (The Mambo Kings) got dressed and waited for my friend Mary to arrive. Then we drove north to Silvana where we met our friend Carol for breakfast at a sweet country cafe, Willow and Jim's. Silvana had one meat market, one mercantile store and one cafe. The breakfast was good in that country breakfast sort of way. Every old guy entering knew every old guy leaving and they had a Skagit Valley farmer look about them. Like I would know what a Skagit Valley farmer looks like. The clues were pretty thin, John Deer caps, pick-up trucks and fallow fields all around, for all I know they were Ford salesmen from Arlington.

Carol drove down from Bellingham where she has been staying with her father who is on hospice care. We talked, laughed, shared, cried a little, and drank way too much coffee until we had to go our separate directions.

I arrived home in time for a quick twenty-two minute snooze and off for a play day with The Connorman. Connor and I chased each other around the ottoman for a goodly portion of the afternoon. He giggled and I gasped. I had a private viewing of all the photographs of Connor at the Seattle Yacht Club Christmas party, he couldn't have been cuter, all big eyes and observation checking out the world in typical Taylorman fashion.

Ian made cookies.

Today was a good day.

Jerry and Jane and Family

Didn't win the 53 million dollar lottery.

Amber finishes her school tonight.

Lunch with Jerry, Roseanne, Ron and Sheila Stroud last tuesday.

Marc in town wednesday.

Jane MRI of her back.

Christmas decorations.

A diabetic cat.

Excited about our first cruise.

Shopping for the grandkids Christmas.

Dinner with Amber and family Sunday.

Cold and then a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

The family is well.

More basketball than you can imagine.

Life is good.

Read:

"Water for Elephants". An interesting book. I always say I enjoy historical novels. I think this one qualifies, as it gives an insight into life and history entirely foreign to me.

"Olive Kitteridge". I'm not sure if I should be depressed, but I think I will. Growing old is not for sissies.

Next up:

"The Hobbitt". Plus I will find a couple to take cruising.

Watched:

"Separate Lies". An interesting little tale. With a kinda happy ending. People growing togather. (I know that word is spelled wrong, but what do you expect from the worlds worst speller)

"Private Fears in Public Places". Enjoyed, but I don't know why.

Next Up:

"Russian Dolls"

"Snow Cake"

That is all from life in the fast lane

Lov Ya

Jerry & Jane

Seven Smiles, Three Thoughts, and a Mother Poem

Random Thoughts for the Day: From my Little Chef Friend Amanda, from her friend Christopher, from his friend Jim. The wonders of the internet...

Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.

There is great need for a sarcasm font.

Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

I can’t remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

Bad decisions make good stories.

Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?

I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

Mother Poem, Healing Conversations by Nance Guilmartin: Thanks Lynn

When Mom Leaves

When she is gone
in a flash,
unbidden,
there is a loss
like no other.
You see
when Mom leaves
there is a center missing
as if the universe
has lost its gravity.

Everything,
everything falls apart
for awhile
until the universe
of our lives
finds a way
back to center.
And somehow
while there is no force
holding it together
the way it was --
somehow
we are
whole again
in
the
middle
of
it
all.

Blog Inspired Ode to Differences

We had an animated discussion at book club Wednesday night. Was Martha Beck who wrote Expecting Adam, to quote Sandy's blog, "an inspirational strong survivor or a whining child neglector"? Mary's argument against was balanced, eloquent, and intelligent. I was almost lost, but I stuck to my guns and gave a sloppy debate right back. Many points rang true to me and many points rang false to Mary. It made me think of differences between book club readers, nations, religions, and families.

How did we all get so different -- the mystery of genetic codes. The artful arrangement by a creative Creator to make us uniquely ourselves. Some nurse, some teach, some grow things, some master computers or numbers, some maneuver thousands of pounds of goods across treacherous roadways, some maneuver thousands of pounds of other more organic stuff. But we are family, humans, and belong to a vast world of differences.

I love being me, not the sharpest crayola in the box, just really colorful, purple velvet shoes and all. Is there a right and wrong way to be a Taylor? Tis the Season to reflect on good will toward men, compassion, all the higher intentions and ideals of man: Feed the poor. Love thy neighbor. Recycle. Stop global warming. Make the world a better place.

Be congruent, trust your interior guidance, leave life with as few regrets as possible by living life with as few regrets as possible. Make the world a better place by being a better, unique, original, different, God inspired you. God bless our similarities and differences.

Tis the Season to accept the funny fat man who wears weird clothes and sneaks into houses anyway he can.

Quote from my friend Lynn's blog:
"The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." Carlos Castaneda

So, now I know, shaming works!

I am semi-truly sorry it was shaming, but hey, what ever works. Thanks Bro.

Everyone got their own allotment of cookies? Now I'm jealous. Tal was right, he was betting on Brittany's abilities to uphold her Grandmother's reputation, and when he's right he's right.

I'm glad you got to come in from the cold and had a pretty lady to sleep with. Ain't life grand.

Today was P-Nutty Fudge day. I made ten tins to take to my book club Lasagna Potluck tomorrow night. Ten little tins. I'm not in Jean's, and now Brittany's, league yet, but I keep stirring the pot.

I watched Vanaja, an Indian movie that isn't Bollywood, about class divisions and a young servant girl. Even though you get the feeling the young girl can never right the wrongs done to her, it wasn't grim. Loved the ending. There is something about riding off into the sunset on an elephant that is satisfing.

Love, Jan

Christmas Breakfast

Okay Jan, you shamed me into it.

Why does the one with the worst writing skills in the world have to do this. Wa, Wa,Wa. Christmas Breakfast was delightful. Julia, Nora, Andrew, Jean, Brittany, Lindsey, Jeff, Michael, Jane & the author had a delightful & delicious time. Jeffery invited The Pretty Lady to stay at his house with a companion if she desired. I was invited by The Pretty Lady, so I didn't have to sleep in the truck. Jean, Brittany and Lindsey stayed with Julia. Jean was commander in chief as Brittany made cookies. They were kind enough to bring a container of cookies or candy for each person there. Sometimes small is better. Jean supervised the cooking of biscuits, Jane cooked gravy, Jeff cooked sausage, Julia mixed mimosa's and what else is needed. Michael entertained the crowd and we watched a little football. Jeffery spent a considerable amount of time playing with the Grandson. Jean, resting her knee, sat (as she has been doing since July 15th). I slept. I love sweets and sometime they put me to sleep. I would wake up, eat a few more cookies and go back to sleep. Starting drinking at 7:00 am didn't help either. (Just Baileys in coffee and Champagne in orange juice) So the one who slept through saturday gets to write the blog. Go figure. Sunday morning a bagel and then home. A delightful time, lets do it again next year.

Lov Ya

Jerry and Jane

Christmas Breakfast

Isn't anyone going to blog about the Christmas Breakfast?

Did Jean make cookies? Were the biscuits flat? The gravy lumpy? Did it storm? Were there enough beds? Who smiled the most? Limped the most? Traveled the farthest? Was Tal able to be there? Did Nora help anyone on the computer?

Just wondering.

Email from Jerry

Jerry sent me a email with his and Jane's activities in it. I told him it would make a fabulous blog and did he give me permission to post it. He did and here it is...

Jerry is now officially a The Spirit of Maxine author. Dated December 2, and titled Stuff. Thank you Jerry for letting me share. You put my pitiful reading to shame.

Jan,

How is the world of Mukilteo? Things here are good. Going to Arkansas for breakfast this weekend. Amber is down to 2 more Mondays of class and then graduation. Then we're off to Florida for a short cruise. Amber and her family decided that's what they wanted for Christmas, so we're going. The only bad part is Marc and his family are not going. We will have our family Christmas on New Year weekend.

Blaine is through with football this year, still in Boy Scouts. Going to Seabase Scout Camp in Florida, on a sailing vessel, in July.

Hannah started basketball practice, and all social activities she can arrange.

Taylor, school, work, theater. Don't see him as much as we used to, but he is growing up.

Clark, Jordan and Jack are all doing basketball. A busy time at the Taylor household.

Sounds like you had a GREAT Thanksgiving. All the Family was here Thursday and Friday then Marc and family went to Norman on Saturday. Amber went to studying and Jane and I loafed. Ate Thanksgiving at Mimi's. Homemade pies for desert. Amber is trying to get through school and studying and studying. We'll cook next year.

Jane and I spent four days at Greenleaf, reading and not much else. The truck didn't move for three days. These are the books I read or finished since the family reunion.

Galloway, Steven, Cellist of Sarajevo

I really enjoyed this book. People just living and surviving, doing for others through the fear and uncertainty of life during war. The humanity shown during all the inhumanity.

Solzhenitsyn, Alexsandr I The Gulag Archipelago (Part 1 and 2)

Speaks for itself.

King, David ,Vienna 1814

The peace conference after the defeat of Napoleon. The division of Europe and the longest period of peace in Europe in recorded history.

Lenda, Heather, If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am reading it again in small segments. It could be a while before you get it back. I could live there.

Atkinson, Rick The Day of Battle

History again. The Italian campaign during World War ll. A lot in the story about Anzio. I believe both Uncle Beaty and Uncle Foster were in the 45th Infantry at Anzio. I am always amazed at how screwed up the military is, especially the US military, but they always win the battles. Amazing.

Lehrer, Jim Eureka

Your suggestion, what does it all mean? Everyone has a mid life crisis? People just handle them differently? I eagerly await your reply.

Twain, Mark Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

An American classic? I finally got to the end. Do I need to read other books or stories of his? He is considered one of the great authors.

McNamer, Deirdre Red Rover

Young, William P The Shack

I read it and Jane read it. There was a lot I wasn't enthused about. But I also got some good from it.

I didn't always agree with him but I think it was a good story.

Herbert, Frank Dune

I liked this book. Probably the first scifi book I have ever read. I may need to read some more.

Gay, Kathlyn Mao Zedong's China

More of a text book than a biography. But a little more knowledge of China.

We are falling behind on movies.

"The Snow Walker" - I was hooking up the tv for instant movies and this is the one I found. An interesting little movie about the North.

"Under the Same Moon" - I liked this movie. A story of illegal immigrants in the US built around a little boy looking for his mother.

"Volver " - I don't know if you like weird movies or not, (ha) but this one is different. If you liked "Flower of Evil" you will like this one. Family secrets seasoned with deception, murder, ghosts.

"The Shadow We Soon Will All Be" - Where did you get this? I didn't see it on netflicks.

I have started "Zhou Enlai - the Last Perfect Revolutionary". Also "The Hobbitt". Jane has "Olive Kitteridge", when she is done I am reading it. Have "Water for Elephants" ready to pick up at the library.

I am adding books to my list faster than I will ever get them read. But we try.

Received "Private Fears in Public Places" and "Separate Lies" from netflix today.

Jane's reading, I'm watching OU basketball. Life in the fast lane.

Take care

Lov Ya

Jerry & Jane

Thank you again, Jerry. It was humbling to read your reading list. Tell Blaine I'm jealous of his upcoming scout adventure on a sailing vessel. How fun will that be? I was almost a cook on a Tall Ship but chickened out at the last minute. Silly me.

As for Mark Twain, the only thing of his I read that I absolutely loved was The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but maybe someone else has an opinion on that.

Have you read World War Z: An Oral History of The Zombie War, by Max Brooks yet? All of book club is avidly reading and enjoying it even though it is January's selection. We have Christian to thank for that one.

And you didn't mention Vegas, baby, Vegas. How was that?

I'm reading Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett, waiting for The Help by Kathryn Stockett from the library and Vanaja from Netflix.

Happy reading, movie watching and Christmas breakfasting to all.