"The notion that such persons are gay of heart and carefree is curiously untrue. They lead, as a matter of fact, an existence of jumpiness and apprehension. They sit on the edge of the chair of Literature. In the house of Life they have the feeling that they have never taken off their overcoats."
- James Thurber, My Life and Hard Times

Friday, November 4, 2011

My weekend pot pourri

I don't have anything earth-shaking to say. Just a few notes on this and that, some random scribblings, and a slight touch of news.

ONE:
This morning I got a craving to have red beans and rice for dinner. I don't have "a recipe" for red beans and rice. I usually look it up in my cookbooks and online and pick something new to try. Anyway, while I was trying to figure out whether to add a hamhock or andouille sausage, a friend of mine called. She was in a bind, being away from home on a field trip with her class, while her babysitter bailed on picking up the youngest kiddo. Could I do her a favor?

Of course.

The Fates were actually in her favor, since I had to cancel riding lessons today due to rain, so I had the afternoon to pick up her daughter, take her to dance class, then take her home. The only thing I didn't have time to do was do the quick soak of the beans, because they'd be soaked too soon. I didn't want to start them cooking before I ran my errands because I never leave the stove unattended. I did, however, have time to let them soak for 6-8 hours, then start cooking when I got home, which is what I did.

The bad news is, by the time I got everything chopped and dug the ground thyme out of the spice cabinet, it was 7:00 p.m., so the beans won't be ready until 10. They'll be great tomorrow, although I'll probably still have a small taste of them before I go to bed, just to confirm they're good. (Note to self: learn to chop faster.)

What's a girl to do? I ate dessert first. A decadent chocolate cupcake, heated ever-so-slightly, with vanilla ice cream. Show of hands - who thinks that was wrong? Okay... and how many of you think it was the only reasonable thing to do? One, two, three, you - in the back - is your hand up or down? Okay.

Reason wins.

TWO:
50 books - and Duffy's ball
I'm pretty sure postal workers hate authors. Even if you are published by the big houses, I'm betting you have a cache of your own books to hand out. Those books have to be delivered by someone. Someone with flat feet and bad knees and hip replacement in their foreseeable future. To all the UPS drivers, postal workers and delivery people in general, please accept my apologies. Someday we will all be so wrapped up in the digital age, we will not need physical books to give away and autograph. Until then, can I offer you an Advil?

THREE:
I've got a giveaway going at Goodreads (say that fast five times, I dare you). If you want a chance to win an autographed copy of Are You There Erma? It's Me Gayle click on the link and enter.




Goodreads Book Giveaway





Are You There Erma? It's Me Gayle by Gayle S Carline



Are You There Erma? It's Me Gayle


by Gayle S Carline



Giveaway ends November 14, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.




Enter to win





FOUR:
Since my books are physically here now, I'll be updating my Paypal button so you can order autographed copies of them. If you just can wait for me to get my act together, shoot me an email and I'll get a copy to you.

FIVE:
Don't forget to set your clocks back tomorrow night. Doesn't that extra hour seem luxurious?

3 comments:

Tameri Etherton said...

Which did you go with? Hamhocks or anduille sausage? I love dirty rice. It's going to be super yummy today!

I definitely think dessert first is acceptable. Anytime, it doesn't even have to be when your beans aren't ready.

Gayle Carline said...

I went with the sausage this time. Hamhock was last time. They turned out good - really spicy.

A couple of weeks ago, I helped a little girl out with her fundraiser by buying a package of four cupcakes. It was kind of the cheapest thing they had, except for magazine subscriptions which I REALLY didn't want. Anyway, when the cupcakes came, they were the most decadent, chocolatest, gooey delights I've ever eaten. I don't count the calories because they're tax deductable!

Tameri Etherton said...

hahaha! That's the best - no calories because they are tax-deductible.

Dang. Now I really want a cupcake. Again.

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