The View From Mrs. Sundberg's Window

I take 'em when I can get 'em

February 9, 2010

Listened to the show Saturday and it was not bad. But I went to the show Thursday and it was something else. It's not often you have the opportunity to actually SEE the show, and some people never have, and I have but have never seen it on the big screen and that kind of appealed to me so I went. And yes, I did say "Thursday" and "big screen" because they did this very smart and fun thing where you could go to a movie theater and there it was — live. No long drive. Reasonable ticket prices. Popcorn. Was the highlight of my week, I'll tell ya.

I went alone for surveillance purposes, and because I wanted to go alone. I may be an extrovert, but with three kids and a motivational speaker of a husband, I value time alone and take it when I can get it. It's difficult at times to really take in an experience when you've got three smaller people asking for Goobers and pop on one side and one larger person on the other telling you to put a cork in it because people are trying to hear and you aren't helping things.

What I loved so much? The details. Heather Masse's dress, and those cowboy boots. Sue Scott's eyes and Tim Russell's tie. Fred Newman's hair. Robin and Linda, period. The overall Elvis Costello and his lonesome stranger train station song. Jearlyn and Jevetta and those voices in the rafters, way up high. And Mr. Keillor. Now. It's one thing to hear that man tell a story, but to watch his eyes and his hands as he tells it adds a whole nother dimension. I coulda sat there all night and listened to him. I could have, yes. Because there's not much more beautiful a gift you can get than a story, and they're few and far between unless you've got time on your hands which I don't, so I take 'em when I can get 'em, and you've still got time to get it tonight because they're playing the show all over again at movie theaters around the country, and if you can't make it for that, you can listen to it all on the website any time the rest of the week.

(Yes, I know "nother" isn't a word, but when you're telling a story, you can futz around like that and only people who really aren't paying much attention will notice. That I've learned along the way.)



Big Heart Cake
This recipe is more a craft project for Valentine's Day, something you can do with the kids or on your own if you've got a friend who likes pink cake, and frosting — someone whom you love.

1 box cherry chip or strawberry or white cake mix
1 container frosting, pink or white
Assorted decorations

Mix cake according to directions. Pour half of the batter into an 8x8 greased and floured square pan, and the other half into a greased and floured round. Bake according to instructions.

When done and cool, remove square cake and place on large, foil-covered piece of cardboard. Cut round exactly in half and place each half along adjacent sides of the square so it forms a Big Heart. Frost with frosting. Decorate as you wish. Write something fun or naughty on the cake, and deliver to the love of your life, the keeper of your destiny, your bridge partner, or the lady next door. Or keep it at home and surprise the kids.

Enjoy!

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