Sometimes I go away to remote ski condos and realize, wow, I am off the grid. How am I going to talk to the person I need to interview for this article?
Luckily, some people are so excited to be in the paper that they are more than understanding and flexible with their own schedules and against all odds, I turn in the article ahead of deadline.
Such was the case with local psychologist Amy Wood. I only wish I didn't work a half hour outside of town. Because her upcoming lunch series sounds like something I could really get into.
Kennebunk psychologist, author, offers fresh approach to success - 1/6/11
Some other times my car breaks down and I realize that somehow I am going to have to get to that school board meeting I agreed to cover three weeks ago, and the next thing I know, I am curled up in one of the town hall's comfy chairs, snacking on a bagel and reading a book for the hour and a half before the meeting starts because that's when my ride could get me there.
Luckily I'm reading a really good book.
Lucky also that I am genuinely interested in learning more about all of the upcoming RSU 21 related votes. I like being an informed taxpayer. And I like shooting the evil eye at the cynics in the crowd who scoff at upcoming expenses. FYI: don't sit next to me if you're going to "pffft!" every time someone talks numbers.
RSU 21 chairman urges towns to stay in district - 1/6/11
Of course, I am speaking as the daughter of two public school educators.
Cynic, your taxes have paid for my whole life. What do you have to say now?
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Family Dinner Series Week Ten
Family Dinner Series Week Ten got off to an interesting start when Uncle Bud sent me a text message ten minutes before the end of my work day that read, "Call me ASAP".
WHAT?
Text messages like that make my heart race. Since I had just started my new job, I didn't really feel that I could excuse myself to call him right near closing time. I waited at my computer in a cold sweat until the clock struck 5, and then raced outside to find out if Bud had burned down the barn.
"What's up? What's going on?" I asked, panicked.
"Oh, Hoss and I are getting some french onion soup going," Bud said. "Are any of these pots OK to use?"
SERIOUSLY?
With the anxiety attack safely behind me, I drove home to get dinner started. While I had wanted to make bowtie pasta with sweet peas, salmon, and cream sauce, I knew the salmon wouldn't fly. Gilbert Hoss doesn't like seafood, Uncle Bud periodically chooses different fish to cop attitude about, and I didn't want to risk missing the protein mark with my new friend Jesse, our guest for the evening.
So I nixed the salmon and picked up some sausage.
The cream sauce was a little... stickier than I intended... but the boys convinced me to use it without additional doctoring (that's where I get in trouble) and sure enough, the dish panned out.
Thank you, Three Tomatoes restaurant of Burlington, Vermont for the recipe inspiration. Thank you, Gilbert Hoss, for again raising the appetizer bar with the aforementioned french onion soup. And thank you, Jesse, for furthering our wine education with the addition of Root: 1.
One of these days we'll get Uncle Bud to turn in his root beer for a wine glass.
Conclusion? If you can't get your boys to eat their vegetables, glue them to sausage with a cheesy cream sauce. Works like a charm.
WHAT?
Text messages like that make my heart race. Since I had just started my new job, I didn't really feel that I could excuse myself to call him right near closing time. I waited at my computer in a cold sweat until the clock struck 5, and then raced outside to find out if Bud had burned down the barn.
"What's up? What's going on?" I asked, panicked.
"Oh, Hoss and I are getting some french onion soup going," Bud said. "Are any of these pots OK to use?"
SERIOUSLY?
With the anxiety attack safely behind me, I drove home to get dinner started. While I had wanted to make bowtie pasta with sweet peas, salmon, and cream sauce, I knew the salmon wouldn't fly. Gilbert Hoss doesn't like seafood, Uncle Bud periodically chooses different fish to cop attitude about, and I didn't want to risk missing the protein mark with my new friend Jesse, our guest for the evening.
So I nixed the salmon and picked up some sausage.
The cream sauce was a little... stickier than I intended... but the boys convinced me to use it without additional doctoring (that's where I get in trouble) and sure enough, the dish panned out.
Thank you, Three Tomatoes restaurant of Burlington, Vermont for the recipe inspiration. Thank you, Gilbert Hoss, for again raising the appetizer bar with the aforementioned french onion soup. And thank you, Jesse, for furthering our wine education with the addition of Root: 1.
One of these days we'll get Uncle Bud to turn in his root beer for a wine glass.
Conclusion? If you can't get your boys to eat their vegetables, glue them to sausage with a cheesy cream sauce. Works like a charm.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Year of the Fish
One of the things I love about living in a small town is when I interview someone for the newspaper, and in the process discover about seventeen different ways that we are connected to each other. Conflict of interest is such a relative term.
I had a great time getting to know Holly C. Ross, the artist behind Fish House Designs. Her bright and cheerful paintings perfectly capture everything quaint that I so love about Kennebunkport.
Fish House Designs artist releases 2011 calendar - 12/30/10
And someday, she said, she would love to paint my barn!
I had a great time getting to know Holly C. Ross, the artist behind Fish House Designs. Her bright and cheerful paintings perfectly capture everything quaint that I so love about Kennebunkport.
Fish House Designs artist releases 2011 calendar - 12/30/10
And someday, she said, she would love to paint my barn!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Uncle Bud on Car Shopping
"I really like the shape of the Prius."
"SERIOUSLY?"
"Yeah, I mean, it doesn't really look like a sedan."
"You're right. It doesn't look like a sedan. It looks like a turd."
"SERIOUSLY?"
"Yeah, I mean, it doesn't really look like a sedan."
"You're right. It doesn't look like a sedan. It looks like a turd."
Monday, December 20, 2010
Family Dinner Series Week Nine
Last night I came out into the living room to find out what was causing the banging sound I kept hearing. Uncle Bud, thinking I was clearly insane, made me high five him to prove that I was not sleepwalking.
The irony is that Uncle Bud's own sleep walking, sleep talking and worst, sleep texting, is a constant hurdle in our life as roommates.
Such was the case with Family Dinner Series Week Nine.
The Sunday before the dinner, Bud texted me to verify that we were on as usual. He then asked if I wanted to invite anyone, or if he should invite his coworker who had previously joined us for Week Two. I told him I would like to invite Adam and Frazz, so we could also include our mutual friend Gold who would be flying to his winter gig in Utah the following morning. Bud texted back that my plan sounded good. He would invite his coworker and his coworker's new girlfriend to the following week's dinner, Family Dinner Series Week Ten.
But throughout this whole conversation... Uncle Bud was asleep.
Which is how, Boys and Girls, Family Dinner Series Week Nine turned out to be the most EPIC FAMILY DINNER EVER serving me, Bud, Gilbert Hoss, Bud's Coworker, Bud's coworker's girlfriend, Adam, Frazz and Gold.
Nothing warms a winter night like a full house!
Well... a full house, and some party toasts.
I could only be grateful that I had already made a massive chicken cider stew the night prior. Supplemented with bread, salad, and the most amazingly garlicky spinach artichoke dip ever, the meal was more than hearty enough to satisfy the entire table's appetites.
Conclusion? Any family dinner that starts with champagne and ends with a jigsaw puzzle is a success.
Conclusion #2? Somebody take Bud's phone away while he's sleeping.
The irony is that Uncle Bud's own sleep walking, sleep talking and worst, sleep texting, is a constant hurdle in our life as roommates.
Such was the case with Family Dinner Series Week Nine.
The Sunday before the dinner, Bud texted me to verify that we were on as usual. He then asked if I wanted to invite anyone, or if he should invite his coworker who had previously joined us for Week Two. I told him I would like to invite Adam and Frazz, so we could also include our mutual friend Gold who would be flying to his winter gig in Utah the following morning. Bud texted back that my plan sounded good. He would invite his coworker and his coworker's new girlfriend to the following week's dinner, Family Dinner Series Week Ten.
But throughout this whole conversation... Uncle Bud was asleep.
Which is how, Boys and Girls, Family Dinner Series Week Nine turned out to be the most EPIC FAMILY DINNER EVER serving me, Bud, Gilbert Hoss, Bud's Coworker, Bud's coworker's girlfriend, Adam, Frazz and Gold.
Nothing warms a winter night like a full house!
Well... a full house, and some party toasts.
I could only be grateful that I had already made a massive chicken cider stew the night prior. Supplemented with bread, salad, and the most amazingly garlicky spinach artichoke dip ever, the meal was more than hearty enough to satisfy the entire table's appetites.
Conclusion? Any family dinner that starts with champagne and ends with a jigsaw puzzle is a success.
Conclusion #2? Somebody take Bud's phone away while he's sleeping.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Ebenezer
I just opened the door to my office and almost had a heart attack.
The office is a rarely used room, so earlier tonight I took it over as the space to organize all my Christmas gifts. Well, just now, I opened the door to add a treat to the pile and for about a minute I was convinced the room was inhabited by the ghost of Christmas Future.
I realize how stupid that sounds, but when you live in the middle of nowhere and you open the door to a dark room and you hear clattering and sleigh bells... what else do you think?
I should probably get used to it.
After all, my house in "the middle of nowhere" is right down the street from a horse farm that hosts holiday themed carriage rides. Clattering is actually horse hoofs. And sleigh bells? Well, they are just that.
The office is a rarely used room, so earlier tonight I took it over as the space to organize all my Christmas gifts. Well, just now, I opened the door to add a treat to the pile and for about a minute I was convinced the room was inhabited by the ghost of Christmas Future.
I realize how stupid that sounds, but when you live in the middle of nowhere and you open the door to a dark room and you hear clattering and sleigh bells... what else do you think?
I should probably get used to it.
After all, my house in "the middle of nowhere" is right down the street from a horse farm that hosts holiday themed carriage rides. Clattering is actually horse hoofs. And sleigh bells? Well, they are just that.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Extra! Extra!
I'm back! At the Coast Star, that is. Due to a recent employment change I am no longer working for their direct competitor, and so this week you can find me back on the front page of the Living section. Or, you can read me online!
Musical stars align: River Tree Arts brings Maine Academy of Modern Music to Kennebunk - 12/16/10
All in the family: Local actors star in 'A Christmas Carol' at City Theater - 12/16/10
Enjoy!
Musical stars align: River Tree Arts brings Maine Academy of Modern Music to Kennebunk - 12/16/10
All in the family: Local actors star in 'A Christmas Carol' at City Theater - 12/16/10
Enjoy!
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