Thursday, June 30, 2016

Dining with the Stovall/Metzger Clan

We are just your typical family--sort of.
We love to dine...out or in!
Each of us, however, has a little something that
makes us special...
one might call them idiosyncrasies.


When we arrange ourselves at the table,
 there are just two stipulations.
The half deaf one--that would be me--
must be positioned with my "good" ear toward
the majority at the table.
And the lefty in our group--Jay--
must have plenty of clearance for his elbow!



Since we're discussing Jay, I shall start
with him.
Jay likes for his food to be hot.
If we're dining in,
he may disappear from the table for a moment, 
go to the kitchen, and microwave his plate. 
I have no idea where he got that!
(Actually I do--from me.)


Terri is our ketchup or salsa girl.
She puts it on almost everything.
My face was probably a sight to see the first
time I watched her put salsa
 on my fresh, slow cooked, perfectly seasoned
 New Year's blackeyed peas!
They are only the best in the world, and
that girl added salsa!
(She even had to bring her own.)


Rob is the master preparer/fixer of his plate.
Everyone else may be halfway through eating,
and he is still salting, fresh ground peppering,
condimenting, cutting, and arranging his food.
Seriously--it takes forever!


And then there's Susan.  Oh my!
That girl hardly takes one bite from her own plate
before she starts scouting everyone else's
food and wanting "a bite."
One year Jay and Terri gave her a fork with
a l-o-n-g extending handle for Christmas to make
her reach to the other plates easier!


And what about me?
I might as well tell you, because the family would.
I will always, always be the last one finished.
I savor my food.
However many times one is supposed to chew
a bite, I probably chew more!
No matter how long it takes Rob to get
started, he will be finished before I am.
No matter if Jay does reheat his food--twice--
he will be finished before I am.


Maddie and Susie are still in the very early
stages of idiosyncrasy development.
(They are, after all, just about perfect you know.)
Except that they are very willing participants
in the "bite sharing" program initiated
by their mother!
They will often order different things, 
with the agreement that bites will be shared
generously.
It can be quite spectacular!


One hint:
If we are dining out, one would be wise to
wait and see what Jay orders.
If one doesn't, one will likely wish he or she
had ordered what he gets!


Bon Appetit!








Thursday, June 23, 2016

Our Grad

Everyone should know
Madeline Jane Metzger!

This morning I realized that a relatively new
Facebook friend of mine didn't know
that Madeline had recently graduated from
The University of Texas at Austin,
thus presenting a wonderful opportunity
for me to make sure you are all filled in!


 
By clicking HERE you'll be able to read what
I wrote in 2014 about Maddie and her
first years at UT.



She graduated in June with a degree in 
Communications Studies with a minor in 
Theatre and Dance.
She is a gifted actress and singer.
Her not so humble grandmother says,
"Give my regards to Broadway, Baby!"
After performing in Thoroughly Modern Millie
at Tulane University in New Orleans,
this girl is actually going to pursue her dreams
in New York City!


And now you'll be able to say,
"Oh, yeah!  I knew Madeline when..."