Big Thing

I don't mind talking about my baking experiments, but I hate when something fails. Usually, I know the reason something doesn't work, but the ones I expect to turn out that don't bother me.

I made some blonde brownies or blondies the other day that seemed to bake and rise, but then mysteriously started bubbling like a lasagna. I took them out of the oven and as they cooled they lost all of their puffiness. The middle looked right, but the edges were darker and gooier than they should have been. Two minutes before I took them out of the oven the edges looked right but the inside wasn't solid.

I kept them since they taste yummy, but I would never share them with others. I won't post a picture either.

The finished product is a little like pralines so maybe they over-baked?

Falling Down

While watching fireworks today, I got my first few mosquito bites of the season. I would have thought that the smoke from the neighborhood show would have kept them at bay, but it didn't. I brushed a few of them off but must have missed or shooed them after they bit me.

The most annoying one is on my right thumb at the bottom joint. Every time I bend my it it itches.

My Own Way

I literally have 15 phone books with more arriving every day. They just keep showing up on my doorstep. I don't understand why there are at least three different sources of yellow and white pages. I've used them maybe once or twice in the last year.

Who looks up numbers the old fashioned way? What a waste of paper.

Is There Something I Should Know?

I don't usually turn the TV on first thing in the morning, but today I did for some reason. As I was flipping, I discovered that Comedy Central is replaying episodes of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist at 8:00 AM EST (EDT?) I wish I would have known about this sooner since the episodes today were from Season 3.

I love Dr. Katz. Comedy Central's Dr. Katz page has some bonus content, if you want to watch some samples.

The Reflex

I went grocery shopping yesterday and spent the unheard of amount of $34. My first thought after hearing the total was that something must have been rung up wrong (wrongly?) so I checked the receipt. Everything was correct.

It's always a shock when I spend more than $20 at one time. But, this was my first real trip in a few weeks. Mostly, I just run in for a few things and spend about $10- 15. I left with 2 very full bags so I'm sure I got my money's worth.

Hold Back the Rain

I'm very disappointed that it's a rainy day. I wanted to start my errands earlier, but I didn't want to go out in torrential downpour. Nothing was time-sensitive so I didn't have to leave the house at a specific time, but I hate waiting for something I can't control.

At least it gave me a chance to watch Raging Bull before returning it to the library.

Come Undone

Awhile ago, my hot water heater started leaking. Just some water on the floor. No big deal. I still had hot water and the basement wasn't being flooded or anything.

The tank would leak some days and not leak other days, then it was an everyday occurrence. I had the local heating and plumbing guy come out and give me an estimate for replacing it, and he told me that it didn't HAVE to be replaced but that it should be replaced. He said it could last another week or a year before it broke down completely.

I still haven't gotten it replaced.

Last month, my mom's water heater broke and had to be replaced immediately. Today, my grandparents' water heater did the same. How weird is it that mine has been dying a slow death and theirs just quit all at once?