Food Disasters and A Great Contest

Recently I had a discussion about food disasters...you know, those meals that you come away from and vow never to eat that particular food again in your life.  For my husband it is blood sausage... a French delicacy.  We were in Paris and he was determined to practice the "When in Rome do as the Romans do...". So, we stopped at a quaint little neighborhood restaurant and instead of asking questions about the items on the menu, he simply asked the garcon what the recommended dish was and well...I don't even remember the name of the dish, but it sounded so elegant and much more palatable in the romantic french accent (I still think the garcon was messing with us)!!
One cut into the sausage and the aroma almost overtook him. But he is not one to easily give up, so he plunged ahead and took ONE FATAL BITE.  Honestly, I thought he was going to have to get up and leave the restaurant.  He had just downed the last of his Coke Zero (and you know in Europe you get no ice). I had an espresso, which he proceeded to try and down as quickly as possible...anything to get that taste out of his mouth! 
For me eating disasters come in the form of some American cuisine that I have had some not so good encounters with.  One of my most memorable food disaster stories is not about a food I cannot eat because of taste or presentation; it is a food that, because of circumstance, I avoided for years!!!
Back when my husband and I first moved to Panama City and he was newly employed, we were invited to dinner with the boss. To set the stage, we were in our early twenties and had moved here from West Virginia straight out of college.  West Virginia might rightfully be "Almost Heaven" as John Denver claimed but I am pretty certain that it is not a mecca for seafood (unless you count Mrs. Paul's fishsticks?!).  So, we went to dinner at the restaurant in his boss's hotel.  We were the only ones there (I think the restaurant was closed to the public one night a week).  A little overwhelming would be an understatement, but then the waiter came out and informed us that the kitchen had a treat in store: They'd just received a shipment of beautiful live Maine lobsters and we would be having those for dinner.  With a flourish, the lobsters were presented in all their glory...beady eyes, whisker-things, big beautiful claws...and they were huge!!! Accompanying them were utensils that I thought I had seen at the dentist office on my last visit!!  Do I need to continue?  I mean I didn't even know how to begin to navigate around this seafood delicacy and while I am very good at studying those around me and following along...my husband to my right had no idea what he was doing and our host and hostess were on the other side of a huge round table with a rather elaborate tropical centerpiece between us.   To their credit, they immediately knew that this was a first for us and helped us through the incredibly labor-intensive process of eating a whole lobster.  For years after I avoided lobster on a menu...I loved the flavor...but the work required....forget it!
So a couple of things are rolling around in my mouth...I mean my mind.  What is your food disaster story? Would I be willing to attack a previous "never eat that again food" and try to redeem it or me or... whatever?
I have decided to do both and something new on my blog....I am going to host my first contest in which you, the reader, can win a prize (no it won't be a rubber lobster) and I am going to try to prepare a food that I have avoided due to unfortunate encounters with it. 
For the contest...tell me your favorite/worst food disaster story.  I will read it and feel your pain or laugh at the humor...whichever applies. In the end one of you will be chosen to receive an apron made by my very talented and multi-tasking daughter Nicole (yes, in a way this is a shameless plug for her new little business "The Bobbin Bug").  As for my road to redemption...I am going to attempt to gain a healthy respect for a favorite spring dinner menu item....I know what you're thinking....lobster?....but no, this chick doesn't bring home live crustaceans and cook them (this is not an attempt at Julie/Julia).  I will be trying my hand at a rack of lamb; another food that my family has never warmed up to but one that is all over Food Network, Cooking Light, and even a recent Today Show cooking segment! 
We are going to be in Birmingham for Easter weekend and Nicole and I have made a decision that we can do this!!!  We have begun collecting recipes and will eventually settle on one to try. If you have a favorite lamb dish that you feel will change our perspective please send that to me along with your story. On Saturday evening we will pull out the stops to prepare this much loved dish. We will chronicle our adventure with pictures and hopefully by the end of the evening all of the lamb naysayers in my family will have a new favorite dish...we shall see.  If nothing else, we will have another food disaster story that I will share with all of you!
So, please share your story and possibly win a fabulous apron. To enter the contest simply click on the comment tab beneath this blog. Good luck!

Happy Birthday Nicole

Today is Nicole's birthday.  On March 26, 1982,  Nicole entered our world and changed it as only first babies can!  Take one sweet little baby and two naive parents and what happens....you know it...she was not much for a schedule (I blame that on the La Leche League) and she slept in our bed!!! While sweet,  Nicole always knew her mind and could be stubborn.  I remember a particular incident in pre-school in which she was insistent that she wanted to wear a pair of Easter shoes to school...now Easter was long past and the shoes did not fit anymore but she was determined.  So using my "parental wisdom" I decided to let her wear them...get blisters...learn the lesson...I didn't even think to pack an extra pair of shoes that day .  When I picked her up from school  the teacher requested a quick meeting in the office.  Unsuspecting, I went in and sat down and so began the gentle reprimand concerning the consequences of wearing shoes that don't fit!!!  Yikes, did I feel stupid! 


Nicole spent her elementary and middle school years at St. John Catholic School.  A very small school run by the habit-clad Sister Mary-Therese, Nicole became a part of an eclectic family and grew up both fearing and revering her teachers (she had a ruler-wielding nun in the second grade)!   She met her soul-mate at the beginning of middle school....Laura Brennan.  Laura's dad was in the Air Force and when they moved in around the corner from us and Laura ended up at St. John...it was like suddenly both family's had twins!!! The girls did everything together...including a very interesting year of competitive swimming for PCST.  Laura was a fish in the water....Nicole not so much...but we were proud of her hard work and she saw the season through to the end. They vacationed with each other's family and have fond memories of time spent in Hilton Head and a trip to see Phantom of the Opera for Nicole's 13th birthday.  Laura moved the summer before 8th grade and Nicole focused on thoughts of high school. 


She applied to the IB program at Rutherford High School and never looked back. She sang in the choir in high school, got very involved in our church youth group, played on the tennis team one season, worked in a law firm after school her junior and senior year, and met her future husband...David Conrad.  Academics was her obvious strength....and she graduated number one in her class.  Many schools pursued her but she followed her heart and went off to a small bible college just an hour from home.  In many ways this was her coming out year.  She realized by Thanksgiving that she wasn't where she needed to be.  We offered the option of changing schools in January but true to Nicole's nature she wanted to finish the year.  She came away from that year with a better understanding of herself. She had also met and solidified a friendship with two very dear girls.  She moved on to Samford University in Birmingham where she entered the English program...became an RA...continued her relationship with David....worked weekends at Abercrombie...and did what she does with such ease....soaks it all in and excels.


Remember I told you earlier that Nicole always "knew her mind?"  Well by this point she had begun making plans...I joke that she had a daily... weekly... monthly...all the way up to a five year plan. So she knew she was going to be in school for several years...and she knew she and David didn't want to wait until all the degrees were finished to get married.  So... with a deep breath and lots of planning, Nicole and David were married in a beautiful wedding ceremony on June 7, 2003.  Since then?  Well, let's see...David graduated from Beeson  Divinity School and began the process of looking for a job...Nicole graduated from Alabama with a masters in English and began teaching high school honors English at Briarwood Christian School. David started working at Samford University as an admissions counselor  and deciding that Birmingham was where they wanted to put down roots, they bought a house next door to their best friends.  Life was grand, but don't you know that Nicole is a planner, so it was back to school for her and finally....talk of a baby.   She graduated from Montevallo College last summer with a masters in Secondary Ed and adjusted to being pregnant!!!  Woohoo we were going to be grandparents!!!  This past school year has been one of adventure with teaching and preparations for Claire's arrival. 


 Nicole has moved into parenthood with abandon. I say that because my sweet daughter has always been such a planner and I am certain that she thought she would make plans concerning Claire and carry them out.  But what has happened has been so heartwarming to witness...this beautiful little girl has rocked her and David's world... and plans...well, they change.... and that is okay because that is part of  life!!
So to my oldest daughter, who has become one of my dearest friends, I say Happy Birthday. I hope your day is extra special.  I love you!!

Happy Birthday To My Favorite Guy

Today is Rich's birthday!  He was born on March 25, 1961 (yes, I married a younger man).  Growing up he lived in West Virginia, Texas, and Louisiana. We were married in 1981. He graduated with a Civil Engineering degree from WVU and we (the two of us and little Nicole)  moved to Panama City, FL.  He went to work for Gulf Asphalt Corp. in the summer of 1983 and he's been there ever since. Two more daughters...a P.E. license...long work weeks...promotions...a change of address a few times...pets...tree houses...bike rides...boat rides...anniversaries....graduations....college visits...1st daughter's wedding... a trip across the big pond...more college trips...a condo...a granddaughter...WOW!!!
Rich would be the first to say that he is truly blessed with the best life, best wife, best children, son-in-law, granddaughter, pets, view from his back porch, and even at its most stressful...career.   Today to celebrate his birthday  I want to share, with you who know him very well and you who might not know him well at all, some simple truths about him that blesses all of us who live with him everyday.  He is our rock and we love him dearly!! 
Just a note....while David Letterman remains his favorite late night talk show host, this is not the top ten list type thing....these are just reflections in no particular order : )

1)  He loves sunsets
2)  He is creative...once he used green food coloring to make a St. Patrick's Day dinner...festive
3)  He loved camping trips with the girls... in the back yard
4)  He loves to pick weeds and will pick them anywhere he sees them...anywhere
5) His favorite part of the day when the girls were little....walking in the door and having them run at him 
    squealing with glee
6)  He believes in the benefit of sunscreen and a good hat
7)  He likes the routine of walking to the mailbox in the mornings to get the paper with his favorite dog...Wills
8)  He trusts God in every circumstance...always has...always will
9)  "I am going to watch a little golf" is code for I am going to take a nap
10) He loves the sound of the girls laughing together
11) On Friday nights he likes hors d'oeuvres .... and we have over the years had some interesting  
      ones....there's been everything from bagel bites to chips and salsa to homemade bruschetta and stuffed
      mushroom caps.  So glad he's not too particular!!
12) On the weekends he likes a good book to read (fiction)
13) He is a master at jigsaw puzzles
14) He loves Carrot Cake
15)For vacations...he enjoys a cruise...a hotel on the water
16) One of the great lessons he has taught us all....how to be problem solvers
17) He challenges the Garmin
18) At least once a week he calls me and asks me if I want to go dancing
19) He tells us in times of stress that he would willingly give us both of his kidneys
20) He likes to play poker with his friends on Monday nights..but it's about the friends not the cards
21) He is already the best pop (grand pa)...he thinks Claire is perfect in every way
22) He still says to me "Thanks for being my girlfriend"
23) He will actually watch American Idol with us
24) He likes to do crazy things...karaoke anyone
25) He is a good role model...period

A Beautiful Day

The last weekend of Chelsea's spring break we got up early Saturday morning and took the boat out to Shell Island. While a bit chilly on the ride out, it was a beautiful day and for the first couple hours we had the island to ourselves. We enjoyed the quiet...the blue sky...beautiful island views...and time together. I am longing for spring and summer so this magical day was just the fix I needed. Wherever you are and whatever the weather, take a moment to stop and smell the roses...or in my case the salty sea breeze!

Spinach Between Your Teeth

Like most people I have had embarrassing moments in which something is going on that I am totally unaware of and it takes someone else to kindly, gently say...."Hey you have something between your teeth....your shirt is unbuttoned..." (you get the picture).  Well recently I had one of these special aha moments with my blog of all things.  I write my blog, usually walk away and give it time to "settle" and then return to it to rewrite and do maybe a little spelling/grammar check (I don't overdo that I have to admit cause I write it like I'm telling a story).  After all of that I post it.  On a few occasions I have had Chelsea, Nicole, or Rich tell me I've left out a word  or used more commas than is necessary....blah, blah, blah.  Of course I immediately go back on my blog and correct the mistake and republish.  Okay, so here's the thing, everytime I republish my blog you guys that faithfully read, laugh, and encourage me get another notification saying I've published yet another blog!  Yikes...I had no idea until Nicole told me this was happening and that I might want to reformat my notification method.  So all this time when I've been adding or taking away exclamation points (ha ha...that won't happen cause I love those things) you've been getting emails saying READ ME!   Hopefully with the help of my techno savvy daughter (she's rolling her eyes because the 10-year-old down the street can probably do this stuff on the computer) this particular situation will not happen again.  Now, just a warning, you may never get notification about my blog again either....isn't technology awesome!!

Driver's License Fun

So...six months after my driver's license expired I finally decided it was time to go get a new one.  I couldn't renew online again as I desperately needed an updated photo because seriously... that haircut on that woman in that picture...had to go!!  So after today's scheduled trip to my miracle- worker hairdresser Tara, I ventured to the DMV to get a new license.


Because of the new regulations with Homeland Security there is a whole list of things that must accompany you to the DMV...and just let me forewarn you...these ladies take their job seriously and will turn you away if any document is missing or seems amiss.  I was armed with my expired license (got a severe lecture about that), my passport (another bad hair day picture), a piece of mail with my name and current mailing address (must be less than 2 months old), and an old W-2 form with my social security number (cause those cute little cards we got in middle school have our maiden names on it and don't count...unless I also had with me a marriage license).  That wasn't enough...I pulled my checkbook out of my wallet, my car insurance card, my health insurance card, heck, I even tried to use my VIP gold membership card to Books - A- Million (I think I got that for buying a million books or something...please don't tell my husband). SHE was not impressed.
"You need another piece of mail with your current address." So I went to my car and began the search for something...surely I had an old grocery list scribbled on the back of a power bill. Finally, after a few frustrating minutes (come back another day...no way...remember I had just come from my hair appointment) I found a fairly recent receipt for some maintenance work done on the car...and hooray it was in my name with my complete address. Triumphantly I walked back into the building and handed over more evidence of who I am.  "This was mailed to you?" she asked.  Okay, keep your cool I am thinking to myself , but my hair is falling and I need to reapply lip balm and get this picture taken....TODAY.  So, I smile and explain that no it wasn't mailed to me but clearly I live at this address so please can I get a new license?  Eureka...she sighs loudly and begins punching at her keyboard while asking me if I've ever done a long list of illegal things-no, no, no I state emphatically!  She directs me to take a seat again as my license will be ready in three minutes. 


 The small office, located on the beach, had cleared out so she began a long detailed conversation with a co-worker while I sat and waited.  Two college-age guys walk in and  look around tentatively and then ask no one in particular "Do we need to take a number?" They begin sauntering up to the counter but SHE stops them dead in their tracks. "You here for Spring Break?" she barks (sporting board shorts, SB 2010...Get It Anyway You Can t-shirts, flip flops, very expensive sunglasses and painful looking sunburns...that would be a good guess).  "We uh lost our ids and need new ones."  She is not impressed but begins to list the documents necessary to get a new id.  I don't know why...but I think this is the funniest thing.  I mean I live here and am a tad bit put out that I might have to venture back home to find another piece of mail, but come on, do college students even get mail....on paper?  They look shell shocked as she explains that they can have these documents overnighted and come back tomorrow.  Without commenting they turn and leave and I am left unfufilled.  I really wanted the one kid to get his picture taken cause he was really sunburned but looked like he was still wearing sunglasses.  Ten minutes have passed and she notices that I am still sitting and asks her coworker to get my license.  She looks at it and calls out "Dodd" (there is no one else in the office). I get my new license complete with the star in the top right hand corner (this indicates that I have complied with the new security regulations and in the future can enter government buildings and fly on airplanes).  I turn to walk out with new license in hand (with a very respectable picture I might add)...when, wait a minute; the address is wrong...I don't live on 29th Court!!!  Don't you know...this is my life!

March, Babies, Sewing...

True to the old saying, March came in like a lion!!! The weather is still a little too chilly and damp, but with Claire, Nicole, and David in town for a week we had to make the most of it!! With all of the grandparents, great grandparents, and aunts and uncles living here in Panama City, it was a whirlwind of activity for the new little family. Keeping a close eye on the weather, we managed a trip to the condo one afternoon and took her to the beach (okay...we stood at the top of the walkover and viewed the beach)! We strolled through Carillon and planned future visits when she would wear bathing suits, sunglasses, and big hats!! I can already see the pictures and the scrapbook pages!!

Nicole has taken an interest in sewing lately (all that down time between feedings I guess) and so for her birthday we got her a sewing machine. It came with 98 stitches and enough frustration to make her say....well let's not go there, let's just say that she is very good with a seam ripper. She made some really cute burp cloths (too bad their purpose is to protect clothing from spit up), onesies with ruffled butts, a beautiful baby blanket with minky fabric (I want one), and even tank tops for adults....watch out J. Crew!!!! Watching her burn the midnight oil brought back memories of when she was little and then again when her sisters were little and I used to craft...stuff. What is it about women who have recently given birth? We think because we've created this perfect human being (as if) that we can be the next Mary Engelbreit or Vera Bradley? I wonder if that is how they got their start?...hmmmm. Anyway, I was all for this expedition into crafting and literally "bought into it" as it provided me with an opportunity to help pick out cute fabric and ribbon and colorful thread....and of course have some extra time with Claire (hence, the pictures)! Claire was a real trooper during our trips to the fabric store and Hobby Lobby (so much ribbon...so little time)!

The week flew by and before we knew it they were packing up the car (that was a feat in itself) to return to Birmingham. Our sweet little Claire has made her mark on Panama City...just ask any of us related to her. I have a stack of pictures and a beautiful scrapbook waiting to chronicle Claire's every move and I would get right on that as scrap booking is my favorite creative outlet, but alas it is the more mundane things in life that require my attention now...such as Gabby (our 11-month-old Yorkie)went into heat and nearly put Wills (our 11-year-old Cocker Spaniel)into a frenzy...wait a minute; he did go into a frenzy! Oh well, this is my life!