Blind Cafe: An Eye-Opening Experience

A few weekends ago, we had a new and enlightening experience.

Dinner at the Blind Cafe, a traveling event, wherein you eat a meal completely in the dark.

It was an illuminating evening, and our discussion of the event afterwards was great.

We talked about how we learned to create a mental map of our surroundings, especially where our food items were. We enjoyed having a greater degree of anonymity in the room, and how visual cues didn't obligate one to answer questions (particularly when the other people at the table can't remember your name, in order to address you directly) or participate at all, if you didn't want to.

To check for upcoming event dates near you, check the pop-up locations on their webpage and consider signing up for the mailing list. If you've got an open mind, you'll love having dinner at the Blind Cafe.

This Year's Pie Night and Thanksgiving

Another amazing week of Pie Night and Thanksgiving festivities. And too much to write, so I'll sum it up mainly with pictures.

For another great recap of these lovely holiday events, see my sister's blogpost about them.

Pie Night Prep

You can't have a good Pie Night if you don't prepare properly.

So we made a few pies (a chocolate pecan and a cranberry-ginger pear).

Doesn't this chocolate pecan look amazing?!

Pie Night

I think our chocolate pecan and cranberry-ginger pear made their first flavor appearances at this year's Pie Night.
Both did well (meaning they got eaten quickly), but the chocolate pecan was the first gone, and I'm not surprised, because it was absolutely delicious.

Smyth boys (minus dad)

We even had gluten-free pie (thanks, Danny!)

The first round of options

The night "Cup o' Pie" was invented

Thanksgiving

With our pie lust satisfied (as much as is reasonably possible) the previous night, we were ready for turkey and all the rest of the Thanksgiving goods. And I definitely had plenty, though my favorite part was and is and likely always will be the spending time with family, immediate as well as extended.

Siblings gotta snuggle a lil bit, right?

These gals have style

After this point, all I could think of was eating and socializing, so the camera got put away.

Thanks for a great holiday, family and friends. Hope yours was just as wonderful!

A Toast to the Barneys and to Eclairs

One of my really good DC friends got married a couple weekends ago, and last Saturday I got to see the couple at their Utah reception and congratulate them in person.

Shandi and Chris are adorable together, and it was fun to chat with them about being newlyweds. 

More DC friends (Becca, Christina, and Dave) also came, so it was kind of a mini-reunion.

If you know me, then you know I love eclairs.

Not like. Love.

Eclairs account for an embarrassingly high percentage of my happiness at wedding receptions.
Especially when I get there before the other friends and have to sit alone for a bit.

I'm perfectly fine sitting all alone at a table, as long as I have a couple eclairs to keep me company.
(But then I'm even happier when I have friends to converse with and tasty pastries to eat, too).

Congrats, Shandi and Chris! So excited for you guys and your new life together!

A January Meeting in August

You know how there are people that run in similar friend circles as you, and you've heard all sorts of stories about how awesome they are, but you've never actually met them, and so you start to wonder if they're made up and photoshopped into pics on Facebook?

Or maybe that just happens to me.

Anyway, this was the case for me with a girl named January.

And I finally got to meet her now that both of us have moved back to the Salt Lake area, and she hosted a BBQ and movie night a few weekends back.

Popcorn of various flavors is a must for movie night

The food was delicious, the movie was entertaining, and the company was superb.

Thanks for hosting, January, and I'm glad to know that you're not a figment of my friends' imaginations!

Guys Improvise: Salad Bowl

This is a new series, and though the name is 'Guys Improvise', it isn't just for guys.

Think of it like how the Bible sometimes uses 'man' to refer to the whole human race.

Anyway, it's almost more for single people, or just people who aren't really prepared for every event that happens to come up in life. These will likely be pretty random, so bear with me.

For example, I was invited to a BBQ on Saturday night, and I was asked to bring Caesar salad.

I was ready to make my salad, and then realized I don't own a salad bowl or salad spoons/tongs.

So I pulled out the biggest pot I have, and I stirred it up with my spaghetti spoon-thing (which also worked perfectly as the serving spoon).

Voilà, a salad bowl!

Worked like a charm.

Ladies and gents, if you've got some clever improvised solution to a problem, I'd love to hear about it.

Send your improvising solutions to guysimprovise@gmail.com, including a description, pics, and your Twitter handle if you have one, and I'll give you a shout-out on both my new GuysImprovise Twitter handle and GuysImprovise tumblr page.

Yes, I apparently have too much time on my hands right now.

Post-Powell BBQ

No, I wasn't able to go to Lake Powell with my awesome friends when they went a few weeks ago.
I got the invite too late and couldn't make it work with my schedule.

But they did invite me to their post-Powell BBQ to use up the leftover food, and I was happy to see so many friends in one place while also eating delicious food.

Becca, the baked goods expert

Those aren't hamburgers; they're steakburgers.

At one point, I noticed a lot of friends were wearing striped clothing, so I snapped a pic.

That made some solid-color people a little jealous, so I got one of them, too.

Without meaning to, I guess I sort of created a Seussical Sneeches situation.
Thankfully no one took it to the lengths the Sneeches did, although Tabbi's guest Emily put on a striped jacket later in the evening (but I think that was a coincidence due to the cold).

Anyway, it was a fun evening, and the food and conversation were delightful.

Just hoping I can get the invite for Lake Powell earlier next time, so I can make the trip and spend a whole week with the fun friends!

Hot Cocoa and "The Polar Express"

I love a good cup of hot cocoa. I really, really do.

Makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside (hmm, just realized that 'fuzzy' is an odd term for an internal feeling, but we'll let it slide since it's an accepted phrase).

The cup also reminds me of Christmas-time back in elementary school, because we'd visit the school library and watch a slideshow with an audio-cassette that read The Polar Express book to the class.

Does that sound familiar to anyone? It was the version where the audio-cassette would make a beep sound when you needed to change to the next slide. And let me tell you, it was a big honor to get to be the kid in charge of clicking to the next slide. I can't recall if I ever had that opportunity, but if I did, I assure you I was on cloud nine the rest of the week.

Maybe that version is out of print now, because I couldn't find a digital copy online. There were a couple mixed-media items on eBay, but I'm hesitant to buy it without knowing it's the right set. 

Anyway, my favorite part of the audio-cassette was the page about how the kids on the train were given hot cocoa. After that page's text was read, but before the beep, a server on the train sang "Hot cocoa cocoa cocoa! Hot cocoa cocoa cocoa!" Not sure why, but I absolutely loved that part.

So each time I make hot cocoa, whether at work or home or camping or wherever, that little tune pops in my head. Would you like a cup? I'll even sing the song to you when I deliver your warm beverage.

End of One Road, Beginning of Another

Looks like both cases from my 'Accepting What You Can't Change' post are decided.

#2 wasn't really in doubt. I don't anticipate him seeking reconciliation, as that'd require him admitting fault.

But today I was informed that #1 will not happen either. No reconciliation to be had in the future.

Which means I'll be eating the rest of these Raspberry-flavored Milanos tonight, since I don't feel like going to buy a gallon of ice cream:

I hate knowing that we'll no longer be in each other's lives, but having finality is a good thing as it allows for leaving it to God and moving on.

"What the future holds, I don't know
Gotta stand up, dust myself off,
Just for now, it's the end of the road."

Here's to new beginnings on a new road.

Tunes-day Trio: Satisfy that Sweet Tooth

Ok, ok, ok. It's been forever since the color-themed Rainbow Connection trio post.
My interest in blogging waned, but it's waxing now, so we'll take advantage of that while we can.

Turns out there are a whole lotta songs that fit a sweetness/sweets/candy theme.

Plenty of honorable mentions this week:
- "Candy" by Mandy Moore - thanks for the reminder of this gem, Erin Masi!
- "My Boy Lollipop" by Millie Small, graciously pulled from the archives (1964) by AmandaStretch
Props to Miss Megan for these next five. Clearly we were raised on oldies.
- "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond, because Boston deserves a little extra love right now
- "Sweet Darlin" by She & Him
- "Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows" by Lesley Gore, makes me think of my brother Dave every time
- "Sugartime" by the McGuire Sisters, talk about a trio of old-school wholesome hotties
- "Lollipop" by the Chordettes, for best vocal percussion punctuation to a chorus
And I'll throw some newer tunes in for good measure.
- "Pour Some Sugar on Me" by Def Leppard, *insert stripper-related joke here*
- "Sex and Candy" by Marcy Playground, total downer song, why did we all like it so much?
- "Tootsee Roll" by 69 Boyz
- "Milkshake" by Kelis, a family favorite when waiting in line pretty much anywhere

You have to admit, that's a stellar bunch of honorable mentions.

All leading up to these three delicious selections for the Tunes-day Trio:

"Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies

I had no idea the song had been written for the cartoon, or at least released through that venue. Such a catchy song, and you can't help but smile and feel happy listening to this tune from simpler times.
Another great pick, Megan.

"Candy Man" by Christina Aguilera

So many elements I like about this song. Great old-style music, Christina's pipes, and the military video.
Good call, Amanda.

"Stuck Like Glue" by Sugarland

Just an all-around fun song, and it's peppy as any could be. Plus, Sugarland is excellent in concert, so I'm happy to give them a special shout-out. Oh, and as a bonus, it kind of goes along with next week's theme in a couple of its lyrics, too.

Next Time
For the next one, we're gonna do something a little more subdued.

Thinking of how hard it is to run the 26.2 miles of a marathon, and also thinking of the people who lost loved ones in the Boston Marathon explosions, I think it's appropriate to do a theme showing support and offering strength to keep going in hard times.

Which is why the theme is supporting those in need/shared strength/carrying on.

We can all lift each other up in our times of heartache and pain.

So if there's a song that's buoyed you up, please share the title and artist in the comments.
Maybe it'll be a much-needed boost to someone else who's having a rough day.

It's the (Other) Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Girl Scout cookie season!

Lucky for me, I have reached the point in life when my friends have kids old enough to be in the Boy and Girl Scouting programs.

My friend Aundrea's daughter Emma is a Girl Scout, so I ordered 3 boxes of thin mints (my favorite).

Not even kidding, delivery day on Monday was kind of like Christmas for me.

I anticipate eating one sleeve per day, if I can muster that kind of personal restraint.

Mmm, it's gonna be a delicious six days...

What is your favorite flavor of Girl Scout cookies?

My Pot Doth Not Runneth Over

Moms like to drop wisdom on their children.
Especially on their sons.
Especially about cooking.

Due to snow conditions, I couldn't make it down to my parents' house for Sunday dinner.
Instead, I stayed home and made a little pasta.
I kept the water from boiling over by putting a wooden spoon across the top.

Which is a trick my mom taught/mentioned to me not too long ago.

See that? Sometimes we even listen to all that good parental advice.

Thanks again, Mom.

Another Tasty Turkey Day

Thanksgiving is a day to be extra-grateful for all that we have.

And what better way to spend it than with family.

For this holiday, I'll let the pictures do the talking for me.

Obligatory food picture

Spencer and Xan (the newest official member of the family)

Nibbling on the name holders

Glad to have you back from Germany for a few days

Megan and Zonks relaxing after the meal

Burning off some calories by running in circles on the trampoline

It was a beautiful form tackle by Zonks

Breezy rests on her favorite pillow: Zeus

Getting wild and crazy with an afternoon puzzle

Ok, with Thanksgiving now over, I guess it's acceptable for radio stations to play Christmas music...

Note: this event of course took place on Thanksgiving, Nov 22nd.

Pie Night: Because Pies Can't Make or Eat Themselves... Yet

Another Pie Night has come and gone, full of laughter and socializing and a whole lot of calories, too.

If you haven't been to one yet, or need a refresher on how they work, I'll be happy to discuss it with you in person or through emails or over the phone or really any way you'd like.

Because I just love Pie Night and everything about it.

As Pie Night veterans know, the key is to take very small slices

Soooooooo good

The Rufeners, Megan, and Stephanie

My folks and their crew of ruffians

Dave and Dani, dapper dudes

Adam and some of his friends

Tabbi and Sarah, looking lovely as always

haha I just can't get enough of Larissa in this pic

Good to see the buddies

Next year, you're either coming to our Pie Night, or you're having your own.
Those are the only two options.

Note: Pie Night is always the evening before Thanksgiving. So the festivities were on Nov 21 this year.