Friday, August 10, 2018

That's a Wrap: Secret Subject Swap



My subject is: You're being interviewed by the local news. Why?
It was submitted by: Rena of The Blogging 911.

Not that I've lead a . . . ahem . . . interesting life, but my first thought was that it could be one of about 20 things. And that's right off the top of my head. Imagine if I thought about it for a while. Or maybe you better not.

My second thought was just "jeez, what the hell have I gotten myself into now?" Because I'd like to say that it's for something good, but you all know me better than that by now.

I'm actually relieved that this is local news. I mean at least I'm not on the national news, got that going for me. And possibly whatever I've done won't get back to my mom on the east coast. 

Perhaps it's for my baking? Naaaa.

Peaches and Cream Cake and Sundae: a light fluffy cake made with ripe juicy peaches and creamy white chocolate chips, topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and chopped pecans.| Recipe developed by | #recipe #cake

Peaches and Cream cake and Sundae

I know! I'm running for office. 

No, not that either. I'm afraid politics in this country has become a blood sport, and I don't like blood. Especially when it's mine.

Here's what actually happened:

In answer to the bell, I opened my door to find a well dressed woman and a man with a large video camera. Behind them, in my driveway was a white car with a big blue "News 8" on the door. 

Me: Can I help you?
Woman: We'd like to interview you for a community story we're doing.
Me: Community story? What story?
Woman: Have you seen our Friday segments featuring people in our viewing area?
Me: The one where people call in to nominate neighbors who have made a difference?
Woman: Yes. You were nominated and will be featured on tonight's newscast.
Me: You don't let people know in advance? I . . . um . . . would have worn something nicer, straightened my hair.
Woman: Someone was supposed to call you, tell you to expect us. Did that not happen?
Me (looking down at my clothes): No.
Woman: Can we come in? I'd like to sit and chat a bit.

I showed them to the den and offered them a drink all while wondering whether, in my ratty old clothes and Rosannadanna hair, I could hope that nobody seeing me would recognize me.

The woman situated herself on the couch while I took the chair opposite her. The camera man found a place to stand off to the side between us where, obviously, he could pan the camera between us.

Woman: I'm Charlotte, the reporter assigned to this series of segments and this (waving her hand to the left) is my camera man, Paul.
Me: Hello. Welcome. 
Charlotte: As I said, you were nominated for your volunteer work at the school.
Me: Me? I can't imagine who would have nominated me. And my boys haven't been in school in years.
Charlotte: Really? That's odd. Was there anything that was noteworthy when they were there? 
Me: Well there was that one time a teacher asked me to cook a turkey for a Thanksgiving celebration. And the time the kids made single cell shaped cookies for science that I was asked to pick up, bake at my house then return to them.
Charlotte: I guess that must be it. Tell me those stories.

We spent a good hour talking about my volunteer work at the school. I was in the middle of another story when my cell phone rang.

Me: I'm sorry Charlotte, can you excuse me for just one minute, it's Kathryn Brandon, my neighbor, she had some minor surgery to her leg, let me just be sure she's OK.
Charlotte (eyes wide): Wait! You're not Kathryn Brandon? 
Me: No, as I said, she's my neighbor.
Charlotte: Isn't this 6243 Grand St?
Me: No, it's 6234.
Charlotte (making a cutting motion across her neck to her cameraman and racing towards the door faster than I thought one could move in heels): Wrong house? I spent an hour listening to stories at the wrong house? We better find the right house NOW or we'll miss our deadline.

And that's it. My five minutes of (redacted) fame. 
Bad news: I'm doomed to end up on the cutting room floor.
Good news: I won't be showing up on TV in my ratty clothes and Rosanne Rosannadanna hair.


Baking In A Tornado signature | | #MyGraphics

Peaches and Cream Cake and Sundae      

Printable Recipe

1 stick butter, softened
1 stick margarine, softened
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg, room temperature
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup ripe peaches, chopped into small pieces
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

vanilla ice cream
caramel sauce, warmed
chopped pecans

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8 X 11 baking pan.
*Cream the butter, margarine, sugars and egg. Carefully beat in the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
*Gently mix in the chopped peaches and white chocolate chips.
*Pat evenly into the baking pan and bake for 25 - 28 minutes or until the center is completely set and the bars are browned.
*Cool until just barely warm before cutting. 
*To serve, top each bar with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, warm caramel sauce and chopped pecans.
*Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator.


  1. Absolutely priceless!
    And just for the record, I'd love to see that Rosannadanna hairdo! ;)

    1. Yeah, this time of year with the humidity level that hairdo is my daily look {{sob}}.

  2. LOL! I'd love to see you on the news with a cooking show!

    1. Couldn't do it, I'd be too nervous. Probably drop the food on the floor between the oven and the counter or something.

  3. Too funny! But now we want to see you in that hair. Did they keep the footage? Alana

    1. No footage but still got the hair. I have it all humid days. Lucky me.

  4. You need to look into doing a cooking show on YouTube. I am certain you would be a hit

    1. Thank you but no, I'm not a person comfortable being the center of attention.

  5. Hahaha! I don't think I would have answered the door! I know I'd be in my pjs and often to forget to even brush my hair!

    1. Yeah, I think answering the door might have been my first mistake.

  6. HaHaHaHaHaHa! I think we have the same Rosannadanna hair.

  7. Good thing you didn't offer any of this cake to those ignorant people who can't even get an address right! 😂

  8. Situations like this is why I always peek through the window to check first when someone knocks.

    1. Good idea. Although when I saw that it was reporters I probably would have opened the door out of curiosity anyway.

