I've been a little lost

I've been a little lost. Not completely, but a little. After eleven years of blogging on the reg, I just sort of quit. I could blame the divorce or the kids wanting their privacy, but I don't know if either of those are totally true. I've just felt quiet, I guess. But man, being quiet doesn't really work for me. I need to get out of my head. I read this article last night, and well, I think I'm back.

I've been writing, just not about what's going on in my life or in my head. I'm basically a master list maker now thanks to Thrillist. I even managed to get a list on McSweeney's, thanks to my favorite collaborator. And anyone who's seen a recent issue of Edible Memphis can attest to the fact that my editor has been very generous with me.

But I need to record the mundane events in my life. My memory sucks and is just getting suckier by the day. I don't want to lose the now. It really is fun to go back and look over my old posts. Honestly, it's a little scary too since a lot of the time I don't remember the events and it seems as though someone else did the writing. But, having a record is nice. And I need to keep doing it. I just need to find a way to do it without breaching the privacy of the people wrapped up in my daily life.

I still like writing about food, but it does seem mostly pointless. Writing about food was always the most fun when I was doing Dining with Monkeys. Thanks to our recent trip to Chicago, I was able to get the monkeys to try some new things and dammit, I'm going to write about it whether they like it or not.

So yeah. Here goes.

Holiday Action

Satchel decided he was a super Jew this year and asked that he get all of his presents during Hanukah. Also, when I told him that his hebrew name is Shlomo Nitzan he lost his mind. He changed all of his gamer tags and online profiles. Who would have thought?



Warren took the boys to Amurica and had a family photo done. (He even mailed them out!)



Chip took some pics of me and the boys, but they are over on that other blog.

Per usual, we spent Christmas Eve at Gigi's. There was gumbo, dice and ugly scarves.



Christmas morning we continued our tradition of delivering meals for MIFA.



And we finished up our family time at CK's with some greasy food and magic tricks.

Hello Fresh

Everyone on Facebook is always talking about Blue Apron. It's a meal delivery service. Or a grocery delivery. Well, they send you recipes and all of the ingredients in a box and then you cook the meals yourself. My soccer buddy, Lauren, uses it. (I've been invited over for "I need to cook three Blue Apron meals before everything goes bad" dinner parties on a couple of occasions!) Another friend, Paul, told me that his girls have learned to cook using the boxes.

After nearly a year of cooking the same things, I thought maybe Blue Apron, or something like it could help teach me (and the kids) a few things. At the very least it would add some variety to our dinners.

Several friends were giving away free codes and such on Facebook, but when I looked at the meal options for Blue Apron, it didn't really get me excited. Thanks to the magic of the Facebook algorithm, I started getting other ads for similar services. Enter Hello Fresh. Their recipe options all looked yummy, so I decided to sign up for three meals a week designed to feed two people. (I figured the 4 person option was too much, but if the recipes were a hit, I might bump it up later.)

The box was due to arrive Wednesday, but because of the holiday (Memorial Day), it came Thursday. It was heavy as shit! Haha. (There were several bricks of ice in it keeping everything fresh.)

I had invited my mom to dinner, so we decided to go ahead and make two recipes so we'd have enough for four people. Jiro was super excited to help, which was much appreciated.

Our first recipe was flank steak with bean salad. (The directions are on the left in the pic, and the picture is of the shrimp sandwiches that we did not make.)



We followed the directions very closely, and I was so glad that Jiro knew how to mince. (Thanks, cooking camp!)



We didn't care too much about the bean salad. It was all about the flank steak. I haven't attempted to cook meat in years. Maybe decades? So, I was so pleasantly surprised to learn how easy it was to cook the steak!

This is Jiro waiting for it to stop resting so he could eat it.



He agreed to put beans on his plate for a photo, but refused to eat them.



After he and I ate, we worked on the chicken tacos with mango slaw for my mom and Satchel. (I wasn't up for coordinating two meals at once quite yet!)



Jiro was a big help again, and I was once more amazed at how easy it was to cook chicken on the stovetop.



The tacos were a total hit.




I basically had all of the ingredients to make more tacos, so I did a week later. Only I may have been slightly overconfident as I almost set off the smoke detector. Which if you live in a house is no big deal. In an apartment building, everyone gets evacuated! Thankfully the windows open and we avoided any embarrassment!

I never made the shrimp sandwiches--we just ate the shrimp! And when I redid the tacos, I left out a few ingredients the kids weren't crazy about, like onions.

I don't know if we'll do this forever, but we'll definitely do it a little longer. It's been great learning new recipes, cooking together, and gaining some much needed confidence!

If you want to try it, this code (D4XYGC) will get you $40 off your first box. Woot!

Public Enemy #1

So, thirteen years ago, when I was pregnant with Satchel, there was a LOT of hooplah about vaccines and autism. Mothering magazine, which I considered to be extremely trustworthy, did many articles and special issues on the topic. Warren and I decided to delay vaccinations for Satchel until we felt more confident that we'd be doing a good thing, and not endangering him.

We made the same decision two years later when Jiro was born.

As the boys grew into strong, healthy dudes, the issue of whether or not to vaccinate them faded into the background. They didn't need vaccinations to attend private or public school and we were easily able to find a doctor who supported our decision.

Well here we are in 2015 and people are losing their shit. I even had a Facebook friend ask that anyone with unvaccinated kids unfriend him immediately. (He's a new parent, and I remember the fervor I had as a new parent, so I didn't let it offend me too much.) Anyway, in light of current science and the measles outbreaks across the country, Warren and I decided to go ahead and vaccinate our healthy boys.



Having never had a needle in their arms, they were a tad nervous. Satchel handled it like a champ (despite the above photo). Jiro needed some encouragement, but he survived. When he later told me it was the worst thing that ever happened to him, I told him that if that were true, he should consider himself lucky!



I did get a few, "Why didn't you do this to us when we were babies so we wouldn't remember?" complaints from the kids, but I explained my rationale to them and also reiterated the fact that they'd still need boosters and other shots at their current ages anyway.

Finally, to put it all into sharp focus, I told them how their dad and I spared them from circumcision and that at least we hadn't changed our minds about that!

Then we went to Belly Acres for a burger and all was right again.

Final Wishes

Excuse me while I get a little morbid...just for a minute.

One of my coworkers died suddenly last week, and I attended her funeral this week. She wasn't sick and she wasn't much older than me. Seeing how my dad also died suddenly, it got me thinking about my own funeral.

I have some small requests:

Please, please, please do not embalm me. Under no circumstances! I would like to be disposed of in the least expensive, fastest manner possible. A pine box, cremation, fire in the backyard--I really don't care. If you'd like to turn me into a tree, that'd be fine too.

Can we leave religion out of it? And don't have someone who never even met me lead the service (if there is one). If everyone could just gather round, have a few beers, and put Joni Mitchell's "Blue" on repeat, that'd be plenty. Should anyone like to say a few words, I'd suggest telling a story about a time when I was right about something, anything.

Thank you!

p.s. The kids probably know all of my passwords.

Ravioli Day

This was our NINTH year making ravioli with the Alleys. Ravioli Day is my favorite day of the year! The Alleys have moved into a smaller house and they don't need as much ravioli as they used to and they tried to not have ravioli day this year, but I insisted! (Like I do.) And we had a grand time as usual.



Honestly, you would have thought I was dragging Satchel to his death with the emo show he put on prior to our arrival. He thinks he can break me with his dramatics, but he is wrong! I am happy to report that after approximately two minutes inside he was having a grand time. Without his XBOX. It's true!



It was a much smaller group this year--of adults anyway. There seemed to be children everywhere! The children made Elizabeth nervous.



(But she totally trusts me 100% now.) Look at my focus!


(Photo by Chip.)

I know how to make Elizabeth smile!



Once she was relaxed, I let Jiro take a turn. He is also a very good student.




Richard kept trying to hurry everyone up, but I was all, "Let's drag this out as long as possible because I love it so much." Like really, Kristy, no hurry on the second batch of dough!



Richard let me have the very last piece of dough to fill because he is awesome.



My second favorite thing is dipping bread in the gravy while we wait for it to cook.

Once the ravioli was made, it was time to cook it and eat it which is almost as fun as making it.





Ok, I need to stop lying and just admit I love it all. I love going to the Alleys' house and bringing the kids whether they like it or not. I love seeing these people all in one place and having us all focused on the same task. I love daydrinking and cracking jokes and laughing and trying to figure out of Richard is being serious. The delicious food is just a major bonus.

Long live Ravioli Day!

The Bag

Four months into our new living arrangements, things appear to be going fairly smoothly. The kids alternate between the house and my apartment on a pretty regular schedule, and even though they stay with me four out of seven nights, Warren and I both see them everyday. I take them to school regardless of where they sleep, and he picks them up each day. There is a routine in place and everyone knows what to expect.

Whether or not things go smoothly seems to depend on the bag that we carry back and forth between abodes. I try and keep all of the school clothes in my possession so that they are regularly laundered. I also try and think ahead to soccer practice and consider the weather and whatever else might affect what needs to go in the bag. The kids are primarily concerned about whether or not their phones and chargers make it in the bag.

Sometimes we drop the bag off before school, sometimes I bring it at evening pick up depending on its contents and their importance.

There are many conversations that begin with, "WHY DIDN'T YOU PUT X IN THE BAG?!" Satchel normally starts these conversations. I firmly state that my filling of the bag is a favor and that ultimately it is up to him and his brother to consider what they need and make sure everything gets transported.

He loves it when I tell him this. As much as I love getting texts that plead, "Can you go by the apartment and get my X?"

This morning he was all emo about my failure to put his hat and gloves in the bag. Apparently, it was a statement on my love, or lack of love, for him.

When we stopped at the house to drop the bag off, we were running pretty close to bell time. I told Jiro to hurry hurry and get the bag inside. He ran in and ran out and despite being very concerned about being late, he presented his brother with the missing hat and gloves that sh etook the time to find.

Of course Satchel, emo to the core, was all, "I don't even want them now." But I could see him smiling and we both know that there is no question that Jiro loves his big brother and that he is the best little brother EVER.

I so hope Jiro stays this sweet once puberty hits.

Party Crasher

Last Tuesday, my best friend, Marlinee, sent me a simple text: "What's the name of that pho place in New Orleans?" My response? "Who is going to New Orleans!" She was, and not only that, she was following it up with a weekend trip to the beach. It was her unofficial 25th high school reunion with her Murphy High pals from Mobile.

In true best friend fashion, she was sending me "Come join us" texts by Wednesday. By Friday, I was out of excuses for why I couldn't possibly go. On Saturday, I hit the road.

I arrived in Gulf Shores around 2:00pm in the afternoon and kicked my shoes off on the back deck.



Then I walked down to the beach and joined in on the fun.




Over the years, I had either met or heard tales of most of the people at the reunion, so I felt right at home. After chit chatting for a bit, I went to unload my car and see what was happening inside.

Max and Tally were making gumbo!



I washed my hands, and started peeling shrimp. Eventually everyone else came in from the beach, or the store, and we had ourselves a little party.




Tally's husband, Carl, made salad, and Stephanie doctored up the French bread, and we sat down to one of the best meals of my life.






Seriously, I am going to dream about Tally's gumbo for the rest of my life.

After dinner, we moved outside to play Cards Against Humanity.



Not to brag or anything, but I totally won.

We stayed up late talking and I went to bed so, so happy I'd made the drive. When I woke up, I was informed that Marlinee's parents were on their way. Even better, Chow was joining forces with Tally, who lived in Thailand for a few years, to make us all a Thai lunch.

I'm pretty sure this is what mornings are like in heaven.

Marlinee was concerned that Tally might take too long preparing his dish, but Chow came with hers all ready to go.



We snacked on Thai poppers and spring rolls while Tally worked his magic.



I'm telling you, he is magic.



Then, once again, we all gathered around the table to enjoy an amazing meal.



Once lunch was over and the dishes were done, we went out to the beach. The waves were amazing and we alternated between playing in them and admiring them.




There are no words for how happy I felt.



The best part? I still feel it.

Thanks to Marlinee for inviting me, all of the Murphy Panthers for making me feel so welcome, and to Warren for keeping an eye on our babies so I could go and not worry.

Loft Life

Last month I moved to Cooper Young. I found a great apartment, er loft, that makes me feel like I am living downtown, but in Midtown. If that makes any sense.



It's very safe.



And kind of reminds me of our house. At least the kitchen does anyway.



Jiro has been my assistant decorator. He had the genius idea of putting the bunkbeds where a desk would normally go.



And he helped me hang all of the paintings. Well, the ones I was sure about.



And he helped fix the things that needed fixing.



Satchel was a little less enthusiastic about the loft, mainly because it didn't come with wifi and I didn't have a TV. But he slowly came around. He and Jiro found ways to entertain themselves.



(I took a turn too. It was actually quite fun.)

There has also been some reading and a lot of game playing.



Mancala is my favorite.



I am the undisputed champ of checkers. Connect Four is not my strong suit.



Loft life has its challenges. For one, we are all three sharing a bathroom.



And I am the head chef.



I pretty much exhausted my repertoire in the first week! (Hence our first tradition--Monday's at Moe's.)



Warren still cooks several nights a week, and I get to partake when I pick up the kids. And we've been doing family movie day/dinner out on Sundays.

Everyone seems to be pretty happy with the current arrangement. And the loft is slowly starting to feel like home.



My next door neighbor, who came to introduce herself last night and maybe ask that we keep it down a bit, will be happy to learn that I have purchased a TV and the cable/wifi is getting hooked up today.