Friday, March 23, 2018

Gandhi does Graffiti: Fly on the Wall



Hubs (to me at the dinner table): I had to make the coffee this morning.
Me: Really, I could have sworn I had the coffee and water in there and the timer set for you like I do every morning.
Hubs: Oh, the coffee and water were in there.
Me: I must have forgotten to set the timer.
Hubs: Yeah, I guess so.
Me: So . . . by "I had to make the coffee" what you really mean is that you had to press the "start" button.
{{College Boy starts to laugh}}
Hubs: Well, when you put it that way . . .


Spaghetti and my Hearty Meat Sauce is College Boy's favorite dinner. I always make way more spaghetti than we can eat so College Boy can have leftovers. I had made some and there was a bowl of it in the fridge for him.

College Boy: I better eat that spaghetti tomorrow, it's been in the fridge a few days already.
Me: Yeah, I'm shocked, it usually doesn't last that long with you around.
College Boy: Well, I was saving it to have for dinner on a night when you make something I don't like, but you haven't screwed up lately.


I was looking through the online TV guide discussing what was on. Hubs was looking at his laptop but listening to the options.

Me: A movie called Graffiti. What could that be about?

Hubs: See what the description says.
Me (squinting): Something about inspiring world peace. Really? Graffiti inspires world peace?
Hubs (looking up at the TV): put on your glasses.
Me (putting on my glasses): OK.
Hubs: What's the name of the movie?
Me: Oh, Gandhi.


  We went on vacation recently. College Boy and I flew out to my Mom's winter home on Marco Island and PurDude met us there. When we got off the plane, had our luggage and were waiting for PurDude to get his luggage, I was lucky enough to be treated to this little tidbit of information:

College Boy: Mom, what's for dinner? And the only wrong answer is that you're cooking something.

Remind me why I bring him along on my vacation again . . .

And BTW, we went out. Grouper Fingers and French Fries were for dinner.


Two days before I left, my cell phone died. Hubs will be taking time off in May to go to PurDude's graduation so he was staying home to work. He didn't want me to travel without a cell so he ran out and got me a new one. Now I have a new phone, but getting to know each other takes time.

The first night I was gone, Hubs called. When I answered he wasn't there so I called him back.

Me: Hello.
Hubs: You hung up on me.
Me: Good.
Hubs: Good?
Me: Well that means I actually answered the call.
Hubs: Now you just have to figure out how to have a conversation once you do.
Me: Baby steps . . .

Creamy Chicken Dinner Casserole is a full dinner in one casserole. Rice, chicken, and broccoli baked together for an hour for an easy flavorful meal. | Recipe developed by | #chicken #dinner #casserole
Creamy Chicken Dinner Casserole

The first few days were cooler than normal, so on day one we decided to go to the pool instead of the beach since its so much windier on the beach.

We found chairs, sat down and I told the boys to take a look at the rules. Not a big deal, no glass allowed, that kind of thing. 

PurDude (while reading): No! Well that's disappointing.
Me: What?
PurDude: There's no drinking the pool water . . .


We were laying there soaking in the rays when I barely noticed that two older women were in the  pool doing water exercises. I'm not sure if it was a private lesson, physical therapy or what but clearly one of the women was in charge, choosing each exercise and doing a count as they did them.

At some point I started to listen. They had just begun a new exercise and the woman in charge was counting out " 16, 25, 40, 98".

So either this trainer was so old she'd forgotten how to count, or she actually wasn't doing exercise but playing some kind of water bingo.


That evening, Mom found me on her deck holding a pair of little kids' nylon shorts and calling out "Coach".

Mom: What are you doing?
Me: It's windy out.
Mom: I know, so what's with the "coach".
Me (showing her the kids' shorts): I came outside and saw that these had blown onto the deck. I figure if the gods are sending us merchandise, I may as well let them know I'd like a Coach Purse.


Mom pulls out a flashlight and asks if anyone knows how to use it, she can't figure out how to turn it on and can't find anyplace to put in batteries.

College Boy: I think it's one of those crank flashlights.
Mom: What?
PurDude (taking the flashlight from her, raising the handle at the top and turning it): See, you crank it.
Mom: Oh. Do you want it?
PurDude (laughing): No, I think the regular flashlights are a lot easier to use.
Mom: If you guys don't want it, I'm going to throw it out. By the time I got that thing cranked it would be daylight.


We were on our way out to dinner when I just happened to look at the license plate of the car in the left lane just ahead of us.

Me: OMG, look at that license plate.
College Boy: What?
Me: Read their plate. It says "Divorce". Who the hell would pay for their license plate to say divorce?
Mom: Read it again.
Me (looking closer as the car pulls in front of us): Oh, Dorice. OK, never mind.


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Baking In A Tornado signature | | #MyGraphics

Creamy Chicken Dinner Casserole         

Printable Recipe

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
1/2 packet (2 TBSP) dry ranch dressing mix
3 TBSP vegetable oil
1 1/4 cup uncooked long grain rice
4 oz mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 cups cooked chopped broccoli
2 green onions, sliced
3 cups chicken broth
3/4 cups french onion dip
1/2 cup shredded provolone cheese
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup bacon bits
1 tsp paprika

OPT: Serve over buttermilk biscuits
*Place the chicken in a sealable plastic bag. Mix the dry ranch mix with the vegetable oil. Pour over the chicken, manipulate so all of the chicken is coated and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9 X 13 baking dish.
*Sprinkle the rice over the bottom of the pan. Top with the mushrooms, broccoli, then chicken and top with green onions.
*Mix together the chicken broth and french onion dip. Pour over the chicken. Cover with tin foil and cook for 45 minutes.
*Carefully remove the tin foil. Sprinkle the provolone, pecans, bacon bits and paprika over the chicken. Bake, uncovered, another 15 minutes.
*Serve over buttermilk biscuits if desired.


  1. Isn't honesty among family members fun!!?? It's right up there with rational thinking.

  2. These are all so funny, Karen!!
    Love how you capture all your everyday moments in words. It is always so interesting to read these family-time jokes. Loved it :)

    1. I really love sharing these little family nuggets once a month, I even smile myself when I reread them.

    2. Aww cute:)
      They are definitely sweet and funny. Keep them coming :)

  3. Too funny! Don't drink the pool water is similar to signs I saw in an airport restroom warning about drinking the toilet water. Evidently this cautions are for the future Zombie Apocalypse, I guess?

    1. Kinda makes you wonder about people when you see signs like that, doesn't it?

  4. You sound like me when reading! I also do it with spoken words, I am losing some of my hearing and when the boys speak, I look at them like they have horns, they are learning to speak slower, louder and more clear now! This recipe sounds amazing, I need to try it!

    1. Glad to know I'm not the only one making those mistakes. Does your family laugh at you when you do too?

  5. Oh, I love this! Your family just breaks me up. Nice to know you haven't screwed up in the food department. Or had a sip from the pool. And learned how to talk on the phone! :)
    During our travels earlier this year, we saw a sign on the side of a building in a busy city street, 'Don't pee here'. Yikes? Is this really a problem?

    1. Well, I can tell you I sure wouldn't want to live anywhere near where they find the need to post that kind of a sign. Yikes is right.

  6. Favorite comments---the coach purse and your mom struggling with the crank flashlight---OMG. The minute I saw the photo of your chicken casserole, my mouth started to water. I'm printing this one!

    1. I would have liked the Coach purse situation better if it had worked.

