The Odd Broad

Two years of Oddity!

January 21st marked the two year anniversary of this little online journal.  In light of this, I plan to imbibe bubbly intoxicants and eat foodstuffs that are bad for me. 

In case you're wondering; that means YOU, Cadbury Creme Eggs, that means you.

Heathcliff!

I had atrocious nightmares the other night after staying up late to read Wuthering Heights.  And who wouldn't?  In the few chapters I devoured that evening, Hindley stuck a knife in between Nelly's teeth, Heathcliff tied a handkerchief around the neck of a dog and hung him from a hook, Isabella was clawing Catherine's arm, leaving crescent shaped bloody nail marks... 

No wonder my sleep time morphed into bad dream central.  No sooner would I close my eyes than another new, twisted nightmare would commence.

But oh, this is a fabulous novel!  I can't get enough!  I have been absorbed completely into Emily Bronte's dark, macabre world!  I want to read it always; on my lunch hour, at bed time, while commuting on the T.  The Green Line was especially warm yesterday and left me feeling quite feverish and weak.  I came home and immediately informed Hubby I probably had the consumption.  There was also a good chance that in a few days time I would be stark raving mad.  Bronte style.

Top Chef

I'm sad we had to say goodbye to Jeff on Top Chef last night.  But at the same time Hubby and I were relieved that Fabio and Stefan didn't have to go home. 

Three things:

1. Will Jeff really be thinking about this elimination for the next decade?  If so, that makes me real nervous.

2. Guest judge Scott Conant kind of seems like a dickhead.  Why are so many chefs such arrogant jerks?

3. Was Ariane wearing pants? 

Nobody puts Baby in a corner.

 Dearest Reader, I believe you already know my thoughts on this one. 

Still, I couldn't resist tearing this picture out of The Globe today.  The caption is just so deliciously wrong.

One foot in front of the other...

This morning the snow fell and Boston was lovely.  Benign.  Flake-covered.  Not so this evening. 

I've just returned from wading in the dark through puddle after ankle deep puddle of slushy, slippery ice water.  When I reached my front door I nearly wept with joy.

I doubt my boots will ever dry.  Damn you, sleet!

Mom

Today I must wish a Happy Birthday to my most favorite Aquarius: my dear, sweet mother.  For thirty years she has been my friend, my confidant, my biggest supporter. 

There are no ulterior motives when it comes to my mother's kind of love.  She laughs when I call her selfless, and yet the love she's given me has been a constant; uncomplicated and straightforward in the rarest, purest of ways.  Her advice and council come with no hidden agenda.  It's quite simple, really - she wants me to be happy.   

When I am at my most horrid and unlovable, she is there.  Be I jubilant, heartbroken, terrified or livid, one thing remains the same: I want to call my mother.  I know at times I'm a giant, maddening pain in the ass.  I also know I've probably always needed her a little too much.  My attachment is such that I suspect she almost feared for me a little, which may be why we decided years ago that no matter where the two of us were, we would always be connected.  

Don't ask me why I'm so fiercely loyal to my funny, ridiculously hard-working, beautiful mother.  Because I could honestly go on all day.

Love you, Mommy.  Always and forever.  xoxo

 

I heart public television

By any chance have you been following the sexy adaptation of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights on PBS?  Oh Reader, this is marvelous, riveting television!  The more I watch, the more tempted I am to sneak away into the murky moors of 18th century Yorkshire! 

Tom Hardy as Heathcliff is superbly brooding and more than a little frightening.  (I had to turn the channel for a second when he starts banging his forehead against the stone wall outside Mr. Linton's home.)

The final installment is tonight at nine and Reader, I simply cannot wait!  It's macabre, Gothic, twisted; everything I want in a Sunday evening!

I will be pulling out my old copy of Wuthering Heights to read again very soon.  xoxo 

Oh, Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Joe Joe's, I hardly knew ye

The Holiday season is behind us.  And so I must bid a fond farewell to Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Joe Joe's...

Sigh.  Sniff. 

Serving size is 150 calories.  (One delicious cookie.)

It's as if some culinary wizard took two Girl Scout's thin mint cookies, filled them with a minty cream, doused them in chocolate and then sprinkled peppermint candy on top.  (Actually, I'm pretty sure that's what they did.)

I bought a box to stick in with the Christmas presents I mailed to Hubby's family.  At one point it looked as if the Holiday Joe Joe's might not fit inside the box.  (I'm not going to lie, I wasn't all that upset.)  In the end we were able to squeeze them in.

A mere four cookies remain in my possession, Dear Reader.  I am rationing them out as I see fit.  Some of the sweetest things in life come but once a year.  And so, until next December, adieu, minty cookie, adieu.  Parting is such sweet sorrow...

What exactly is tomato water?

I conked out early last night and so I'm only just now seeing yesterday's Top Chef.  I really thought this would be the week we'd say goodbye to Hosea and Leah!  But it was not to be.  I wonder how their respective significant others enjoyed last night's show.  My guess is not very. 

As for myself, the highlight of the program was when Stefan said that Jeff is: "crazypants."

I liked that.

Asparagus

So I was going to make an animated short all about asparagus.  Hubby was going to help.  Then we both came to the conclusion that an animated short about asparagus is sort of a one note tune.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan.  I mean, it's green, it's delicious, it's good for you.  Oh, and it makes your pee smell weird.



Here's how I like it best:

~ Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
~ Clean and trim the asparagus spears and lay them on a baking sheet.
~ Drizzle with a little olive oil, sprinkle on some coarse sea salt and a few grinds of black pepper.
~ Let 'em roast. 

In about 20-25 minutes, you'll have delicious, caramelized green spears of happiness.  Or at least that's how I like to refer to them.



Eat your veggies! 

Love,

The Odd Broad

xoxo

PS: Yes, we all know asparagus can make one's pee smell acrid and strange.  In spite of this, (because of this?) I still continue to enjoy this vegetable.  I'm not sure if that makes me a weirdo or not.  Either way, I'm not too worried about it.  xoxo

PPS: Did you know the plural form of asparagus is...asparagus?