[-] From the Archives.

So we've all shared in my experiences with unruly ankle biters (monsters in the shape of children) and the irresponsible hosts they spawned out of (parents) in social gustatory settings. We've also seen how unsanitary people can be when sneezing over or touching public food.

But this last one, this takes the god damn cake.

I was at the market and was walking over to the grapes. Across the display was a child old enough to chew steak crammed into the toddler seat of the shopping cart looking over the grapes. As I ripped off a bag I looked up and noticed the kid's face suddenly become gnarled as he breathed in and tilted his head back.

"Oh Sweet Jesus, no..." I thought to myself with dread.

The child began to sneeze furiously over and over, each one echoing louder than the last. It was like a fireworks finale was occurring in the produce section. Luckily the kid was well mannered enough to cover his mouth so I was felt okay about it and grabbed the grapes at the total opposite end of where the child was.

And then he wiped his hands on the grapes display.

Mom turned around and nodded at him, "Oh honey bless you, but next time ask mom for a tissue or something." She then began to walk away. Yes. She just left the grapes which her son and left behind the visible chunks and shmears of snot streaked across the grapes.

"Excuse me!?" another woman barked, "Aren't you going to take those grapes or call someone or something?"

"I'm sorry?"

I helpfully chirped in. "Your son just wiped his snot all over the grapes. You can see it. You can't just leave them there."

"Well people should wash their food when they get it home anyways, you never know whose touching it."

You are shitting me... "I agree, but blatantly wiping your mucus over food is different than just bits of dirt from handling."

"You should tell someone," the other woman noted, backing me up.

"Well I don't want to buy those grapes!!!" she screeched as she the levees of sanity broke and the demonic she-bitch she was hiding revealed itself. "I DON'T WANT THOSE GRAPES! THEY HAVE SNOT ON THEM!" Her face was contorted and red. Her kid ignored all of us and was halfway into a box of cereal for the toy.

The other woman started back at her, "It's your kid's snot!"

"And they'll probably just throw them away and not worry about it." This was where we had to start calming her down before a scene began. However, just to be sure I started to eye Rob a bit and try to send a telepathic message to grab a coconut to bean her in the head with. Just in case.

"I DON'T WANT THOSE GRAPES! Just because my kid is sick, it's my responsibility!?"

"YES." The other woman and I resounded back in unison.

"Don't you people tell me how to raise my child!!! IT'S NOT YOUR CHILD AND IF YOU DON'T WANT SNOTTY GRAPES, DON'T BUY THEM!" And she stormed off, presumably to devour other shoppers.

The other woman and I looked at each other. "Some people..." as she rolled her eyes.

I laughed, "Yeah, and they're reproducing."

"Heaven help us."

"Indeed," I nodded, "I think I'll be getting pears instead."

The grapes were removed by the store immediately.

Snot the Best Grapes You Could Buy - http://vanillagarlic.blogspot.com/feeds/5757254889239914803/comments/default

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Precious Girls Club Giveaway! - http://familycorner.blogspot.com/2008/09/precious-girls-club-giveaway.html

[-] Whenever it's cold outside, I start craving comfort food. I roasted a lemon and basil chicken for dinner. I decided to serve it with orzo, mushrooms and peas. This was a simple yet comforting side dish. The mushrooms, shallots and peas gave a wonderful flavor and texture to the pasta while the Parmesan made it creamy and salty. My kids loved this pasta dish and so did my husband and I. It paired very nicely with the roast chicken and some crusty bread.

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 small shallot, chopped finely
• 7-8 white button mushrooms, sliced
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (not pictured)
• 1 cup of orzo

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once hot add the shallot and mushrooms. Sauté until golden brown; add the garlic and stir frequently for 30 seconds. Remove from heat, season with sea salt to taste then set aside.

Cook pasta per instructions then drain and place back in the pot. Add the peas, mushroom mixture, Parmesan, parsley, sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste; mix thoroughly. Enjoy.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe

Orzo with Mushrooms, Peas and Parmesan - http://fortheloveofcooking-recipes.blogspot.com/feeds/3490841987402835014/comments/default

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Mom took the babes (the oldest) for the night the other night and what did I do with my free time?  Did I practice my Tango?  Did I practice French, scrapbook or even BLOG for that matter????  Nope.  I de-Treed.  I typically keep my Christmas stuff up 'til the 6th but I had the need, the need for clean and I couldn't take it anymore.  Let me put it this way, when I found a pine needle in my BRA the other night I knew the tree had to go!!! 

From URRRR to AHHHHH... - http://parisiennefarmgirl.blogspot.com/feeds/3943957926298685306/comments/default

[-] So, Joel did get right thru on Monday morning and some very specific prayers were answered.  1. The guys did remember him, 2. The guy had told the owners about Joel, 3. An interview is still on the table.

Job Update - http://parisiennefarmgirl.blogspot.com/feeds/5088897028597413070/comments/default

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La Doug has an article on HuffPo.  It's a really thoughtful piece on responsible reporting of the recent finance-related suicides.  It's on the HuffPo homepage in the left rail at this very moment.  Go read it. 

If you can't find it on the home page, here's the direct link.


On Suicide - http://www.eatdrinkonewoman.com/2009/01/on_suicide.php

[-] On the way home from dinner out, where we passed Josh off to Matt so they could go to the Pen's game and actually see them win for the first time in a LONG time, we had to shop to food for our animals. Mind you we only have a dog and three cats so dog food and cat food were the only foods on the list (tape and sticky tack were on the list but not as food for anyone) until Xia said we had to get dinosaur food. Umm... last time I checked we didn't have a dinosaur but she claimed we did and it needed food and that it was going to say "roar" and claw at me (she showed me how) if I didn't get it food. Thinking quick I ran down the cereal aisle to see if I could hunt down any "dinosaur food." I was thinking maybe graham crackers? When---BINGO!! There is was as Xia pointed out....Lucky Charms with you guessed it a dinosaur on the box. I have no idea why there is a red t-rex chasing a leprachaun but it's there and that was what the dinosaur wanted. I'm gonna say this was a close call because in the back of my mind I knew we needed more Lucky Charms---yes I occasionally indulge my children in sugary cereal this being the only one they like and I am fine with it---and heaven only knows what would have happened if we had left the store without any food for the dinosaur living somewhere on our property--I think it may be currently sleeping under my roof in a yellow room holding a blankie and a Quincey doll ;)

Back to knitting a gorgeous retro sweater for myself and watching people make really freakin' cool cakes now that the hockey game is over of course.

Food for ALL Kinds of Creatures - http://granolagirl-homestead.blogspot.com/feeds/6538499954925418128/comments/default

[-] I played around with this design tool and got this new layout! I lost my blogroll so I'll slowly be adding you all again. What do you think? Any helpful hints for me?

I've Got A New Look - http://sillylittlemischief.blogspot.com/feeds/1791748128754691814/comments/default

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1 - 6oz. box strawberry Jell-O
2 cups boiling water
1 lb. frozen strawberries (thawed) or fresh sliced strawberries
1 - 20oz. can Dole crushed pineapple (drained)
2 bananas (peeled and sliced into coin shaped pieces--don't slice until ready to use)
1 - 8oz. Breakstone's sour cream

In a bowl add Jell-O and boiling water--stir until dissolved. Add the strawberries, drained pineapple, and banana pieces--stir. Pour half of the Jell-O/fruit mixture into a 2 or 3 qt. casserole dish--let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate the casserole dish until it starts to gel. Remove from refrigerator, add the sour cream as the next layer in the casserole dish, then pour the rest of the Jell-O/fruit mixture on top of the sour cream--refrigerate until very cold.

#1178 - Strawberry Sour Cream Jell-O - http://momsbest.blogspot.com/feeds/2631870665718325971/comments/default

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Broccoli Cheese Rice - http://cookingwithcarrie.blogspot.com/feeds/1847780587127842339/comments/default