Over the weekend my daughter turned 8. She spent a lot of time making little signs that said, “Happy Birthday!” and sticking them to windows and doors, as if to remind us that we weren’t quite meeting her standards of celebration. Everybody’s a critic. I’d put the picture my brother took of her wearing the outfit her aunt got her for a birthday present up here to show you that she might actually be 17, not 8, but every time I look at it I get hives because she’s too good looking and too saucy for everyone’s good.
Yes. I just said “saucy.”
We saw We Bought A Zoo over the weekend. Worst title for a movie I think I’ve ever heard. It wasn’t a movie I really cared much about seeing. I’m not a big animal-story fan. It’s not about animals, as it turns out. It’s about people – and I cried seventeen times. Every so often my son would look over at my and announce, “Oh look, there goes mom again!” I was like the freaking Trevi Fountain, minus the filthy tourist-maimed coins. I don’t even know if I liked it; I know I wasn’t manipulated. I just know it worked.
Animal print hair extensions:
Nope.
Oh, yes. I rather think so.
Yesterday, whilst dodging reminders that it was someone else’s VERY SPECIAL DAY, I got a present. This book:
Not only is the book completely spectacular – more on that later, but the giftiness of it just took my breath away. You know how you’re just living your life, minding your own business, when these perfect people wander through your door? Out of the ordinary but sane, funky but brilliant, uplifting but grounded? And then they become your friends and your life is so much the better for having them in it – there is laughter and community and did I mention the laughter? Well…that. Sometimes fate has other plans and when you are too good at what you do, you have to follow where your star leads – even if your star leads to New Haven, or thereabouts. So they moved, but not without taking the spirit of Wednesday Spaghetti with them. They’ve had two of their own Wednesday Spaghetti dinners now in their new home.
This cookbook begins with an introduction written by the author that captures the absolute spirit of Wednesday Spaghetti – don’t freak out, just invite people over. Of course, then she gives some gorgeous recipes so that the food is somewhat more impressive than boxed noodles and jarred sauce. Maybe if I can, one week, get the numbers down under 50, I’ll rustle up a Wednesday Pork Roast (but don’t count on it).
I remember Love’s Baby Soft advising that if you wanted to catch someone’s attention, “whisper.” I don’t recall anything about covering your lips in temporary animal prints. This is one of the reasons why Americans are viewed so poorly by the rest of the world. Don’t people have work to do?
Happy Birthday to Amelia!! Can’t imagine looking at myself in the mirror with lip tattoos–or animal print hair extensions.
You are too kind, and we miss the laughter with you a whole bunch—we were just feeling the post spaghetti glow and thought of you. Most of the things we’ve made from the cook book are make ahead, which is sometimes easier for us organizationally challenged folks. The pork shoulder is definitely an easy one–overnight in the oven. Not that there is any need whatsoever to change Spaghetti one little bit! Miss your Wednesday Spaghetti a ton! Miss all of you a ton too!
xo
Those lips put me in mind of Rocky Horror. Lips!
RuthWells recently posted..Perpetual Anticipation
i wish i were your neighbor. i keep having parties, hoping to get a ball rolling and no one seems to bite. oh well. i’ll keep on…
Tami and RuthWells cracked me up. Thanks for even having entertaining comments.
Speaking of entertaining: I have an amazing crock pot pork recipe and if you want to host a Wednesday Pork Roast, I can bring a pork roast. Just let me know.
Well hello there, long time no chat {from me! I suck!}
Just have to say the lip tats? Making me cringe. I can handle the hair feathers, though.
Happy 8th to your kiddo, who looks 17. Poor momma!
MommaKiss recently posted..January 17.
Kids at that age are really attention seekers. But they’re very adorable, they want to be grown ups already. Did you try out the recipes on the book?
Belated Happy Birthday to your daughter!
Clare
http://www.homesforsale.com.my
Wow, I love eating spaghetti too. I envy you for receiving such a lovely gift. I hope you can post some recipes found in that book when you’ve practically applied the steps yourself. What is your favorite dish from the book?
Great style of writing. It tickles people like me.
-Dabria
Dabria Brock recently posted..Homes For Sale In Subang Jaya
Happy 8th birthday to your girl . . . and I still remember my wife claiming to “not be a crier” and then proceeded to cry at touching moment in every movie, or television show, we watched together.
She meant that she didn’t cry in real life, very often.
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I love what you guys tend to be up too. Such clever work and exposure! Keep up the awesome works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll.
Carla recently posted..sincere review
I love the Wednesday spaghetti idea and would be happy to host, I just need to find some neighbors that are normal or not extremely weird! If we ever move and I like even a handful of my neighbors, I will do Wednesday spaghetti! The message is great.
Your baby is now 8 years old. Can you just imagine how time runs very fast? I hope you enjoyed celebrating her birthday!
Congratulations! Cheers!
-Andrei
Andrei C. recently posted..female psychology