The View From Mrs. Sundberg's Window

Even a crappy day has its own twilight

May 4, 2010

Listened to the show Saturday and it was not bad. I'd had one of those days when my head just wasn't on straight and most everything I did was either poorly done or simply a waste of time. I can't explain it. I'm generally a productive person who does pretty good work, but I, for the life of me, could not accomplish much of anything. I forgot to add baking soda to the chocolate chip cookie bars, I washed my jeans with my multi-vitamin in the pocket — resulting in an obnoxious yellow stain on the rear which has yet to wash out — and I accidentally threw away tickets to CATS, to which I'm taking the kids for a birthday celebration. Suffice to say, that's just the beginning. By day's end, I'd thickened the scar tissue where I frequently bump my head on the cupboard, I managed to put dent number seven in the car, and I realized I'd forgotten to pay a bill that was already overdue. And there was more, but you get the gist.

I saw a series of photos online recently, pictures of how crappy other people's jobs can be and how you really ought to appreciate yours. One of the photos was of a man in a plastic suit with his body half-way up the rear end of an elephant. I'm not sure what he was doing in there and I don't really need to know, but I will say that I felt something like that man on Saturday, only I wasn't wearing a suit and it was my own butt my head was up. Enough said.

One of the gratifying things about life in general is that nothing lasts forever, and even a crappy day has its own twilight. By the time I turned the show on, I'd been sufficiently humbled after sifting through a week's worth of garbage, something every person ought to do once in his or her lifetime. I didn't find the tickets, but I was reminded of the significant trail one person (not to mention five) can leave behind. It got me thinking about paying attention, and how I get so wound up in everything that I forget to notice what I'm doing while I'm doing it. Might have fewer scars if I slowed it down a bit. Might not have had to throw out those cookie bars. Then again, I did manage to see the stars at twilight, and notice how the sky to the west was three shades of purple. So I must be on my way.

Italian Bread
If you're like me, there's nothing like a mouthful of carbohydrates to make a meal just right.
This is one simple recipe, and you'll be happy you gave it a whirl.

3 cups cold water
7 cups bread flour
2 pkg quick rise yeast
1 T salt

Mix ingredients together and let rest 15 minutes.
Cut into 7 pieces. Cover. Let sit 10 minutes.
Punch down and remold 7 loaves.
Place on a large, greased baking sheet.
Cover. Let rest 20 minutes.
Cut x's over dough. Bake at 400 for 45-50 minutes.

Enjoy!

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