WTFudge?

Bow Tie o’ the Day and Ties o’ the Day were out in the garage with me this afternoon, helping me search for a certain piece of Christmas decor I can’t locate. Suzanne and I recently got some heavy-duty shelving– which Suzanne assembled– to finally organize the garage, which has been a dizzyingly complicated maze ever since we moved the contents of the Delta house to our place here in Centerville. Suzanne did a dandy job of clearing the garage floor of storage bins and boxes. Brownie points to Suzanne!

If Suzanne hadn’t fit everything neatly on the shelves, I would have known exactly where to find the item I’m looking for. I know all the maps of disorganization that surround me. It’s the cleaned up, neatness I can’t wade through. In our house, there has always been an understanding that if you can’t find something, you ask me. I know where everything is– except, apparently, the one Christmas decoration I’m seeking.

Anyhoo… As I was ferreting around through storage bins in the garage, what to my wondering eyes did appear?! Not what I was tracking down, that’s for sure. But I did see the box that lurks behind me in the photo. Suzanne had so eloquently labeled it with her fluorescent green Sharpie. Even my holiday neckwear was amused at what she wrote.

Suzanne is the most even-tempered person I know, so this piece of exclamatory labeling is certainly a cry for help. I can imagine the face she wore as she wrote the words. It is Suzanne’s “I-can’t-believe-we-still-have-this-box-of-crap-and-I-haven’t-sorted-it-out-yet-although-we-must-not-need-it-cuz-we-haven’t-used-any-of-whatever-it-is-in-years-but-I-don’t-dare-throw-it-away-and-I-don’t-trust-Helen-to-cull-it-correctly-so-I-won’t-let-her-decide-the-fate-of-each-item-but-I-don’t-know-when-I’ll-ever-have-time-to-go-through-the-box-so-I’ll-express-my-frustration-by-writing-this-snitty-label-on-the-side-of-the-box-and-I’ll-put-the-task-on-my-chore-list-which-I’ll-promptly-lose-and-then-I’ll-forget-this-box-of-Christmas-shit-even-exists-until-I-try-to-find-something-in-the-garage-and-I-run-across-this-box-once-again” face.

Yup, that face.

HOLIDAY TIE TALLY: 23 Bow ties. 56 Neckties.

More Food, More Fabric

Xmas Bow Tie o’ Yesterday and Xmas Tie o’ Yesterday are most likely siblings. They are certainly twinners-in-fabric. Sometimes a bow tie is the right cherry atop the ensemble you’re wearing. Sometimes it’s a necktie that works best. I doubled up my style by wearing both to Sunday brunch.

We hadn’t eaten an actual meal since Tgiving, because we hadn’t gotten hungry yet. But by Sunday brunch time, we were hankerin’ for food again. We didn’t go anywhere that serves a real brunch menu, but we still called it brunch. We ate at Buca di Beppo, in SLC, which ended up being a no do-over experience.

First, the hostess seated us at that one table every restaurant has, which is the table where they banish the patrons they deem unworthy of being a consumer in their establishment. They don’t want anyone to see you and conclude you’re the kind of person who eats there. Being relegated to the “bad” table, implies you are bad for business. That table is usually located by the restrooms and/or kitchen, and windows are nowhere in sight.

I could have requested for us to be seated at a better table, but when I try a restaurant for the first time, I like to experience what the restaurant thinks I merit. If the staff treats me like I’m a welcome regular, I will most likely become one. No worries about that happening for me at Buca di Beppo.

And then, when our meal came, Suzanne’s Brussels sprouts were set down in front of her looking like roundish charcoal briquettes. Back she sent them, so then we shared my saltimbocca, which we both liked. The calamari was not a do-over, but the desserts we brought home were yummy and made for a fantastic supper.

As if our Sabbath wasn’t exciting enough, we embarked on another JOANN’s shopping spree. I stayed in JOANN’s the entire time Suzanne was there, which was not my regular behavior. She wanted me there because she wanted me to peruse the fabric in the 70% off section. She wanted me to choose cape material. I think capes are what she’s giving me for Christmas, which is a-ok with me. The shopping was a success: I found enough designs for 7 capes. But I guess it actually counts as 14 capes, cuz Suzanne makes them reversible for me. [The cart behind me in the second photo holds my fabric booty.]

When we got home, Suzanne dragged out the JOANN’s receipt and proudly announced she had saved $473.83. That got me pondering. How much money do you have to total up at JOANN’s in order to save nearly $500? The answer? $724.75, to be exact. With all the savings, the actual cost of fabric for 7 capes was a “mere” $250 bucks and 92 cents. Thrift wins. We love us our sales.

HOLIDAY TIE TALLY: 22 Bow ties. 53 Neckties.