Holy Inappropriateness Batman...

My neighbor that moved in where my in-laws used to live is a really nice guy. He likes a well manicured yard and clear sidewalks when it snows. He always does it without asking and usually says, "No really. I like doing it!" Which is extremely generous of him. He pretty much does every one's front yards within at least a five house radius of his. He snow blows both sides of the street, around some neighbors cars even, on pretty much the whole block. I think that's his gift to the mail person. We are having a birthday party for Yellow Belt tomorrow evening and even though Dirty offered to do it since we were having guests in the yard our neighbor still did it during the day today while we were both gone.

As a thank you we try to get him some Schlafly beer as a thank you because he enjoys beer. We do it when we can, which isn't often with our current financial situation, in hopes that it conveys our gratitude. We don't have a lawnmower, a snow blower, a weed whacker, or any of the other tools you might need to keep your yard looking crisp. And since Dirty offered to do it and our neighbor did it anyway we bought a couple of cases and were going to let him pick which one he wanted. Dirty left it to me this time to speak with our neighbor about which he preferred.

Now as I've stated he'd been working in the yard all afternoon. He had just gone inside but I was hoping to catch him before he went out or got too comfy inside. I ran over and rang the bell. No dogs barking. Must not work. Knocked on the glass of their door. Dogs bark. It's only a matter of moments now. Then he opens his door...wearing nothing but a towel...that is gaping toward the bottom...threatening to pop open and show me more than I would really ever want to see of one of my neighbors. Holy inappropriateness!!! So I said a little shyly and really embarrassed that, "You really didn't have to answer the door in this state!" He said, "Oh no. It's not problem." All I can think is...white hairy chest...please don't let the towel drop...oh good the puppy came out to see me and I don't have to look up...just spit out the types of beer you bought and have him pick...AS QUICKLY AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE...PLEASE...OH...PLEASE!!!!! I gave him the choices. He didn't have a preference. I was trying to figure out how to get out of the situation as quickly as possible. I said, "Well we should be in the yard later. I could get it to you then. But actually. You're already at the door (practically naked anyway). So if you can wait, like, 30 more seconds I can go get it and run it back over." "Sure that would work." "Okay great." I ran back over and then had to walk back with the case of Hefeweizen. I would have ran had I not feared slipping on the walk and then breaking the bottles in the case. I noticed when I came back out that he was leaning out his door watching. So as soon as I gave him the case he said, "Yeah, I cleaned off your patio out back for you since you'll have guests over." "I said we really appreciate it. Thank you so much for always doing the yard." And he said, "Oh really no problem." Then I ran off because I think my entire face was red from being embarrassed.

Yikes!!! Then I couldn't even get ahold of my husband to tell him of the very odd uncomfortable situation and that I would NEVER be doing that again....never...ever. So after many weeks of not blogging about anything here's a story for you. I hope your neighbors never answer the door naked...unless you want them too of course. I really did not.

Cinco de Mayo recipes...

Just in case you need some quick recipes (and hopefully Schnucks on The Hill has restocked because it was slim pickin's yesterday :). I like this recipe for margaritas. And this is my favorite mixed drink which are mojitos. Most resturants don't make them, and I've only like this recipe which makes a whole pitcher. Be careful with these. They are extremely tasty and you might not noticed just how potent they are.

For salsa (I make it fresh): I take one small onion, a clove or two of garlic, a handful of cilantro, and one whole jalapeno (more if you like it really spicy...Dirty likes three. I know he's crazy. He likens it to getting tattoos. He knows it's painful but he still endures it.) and throw all of that in a food pro (i<3 kevin brauch and alton brown) and pulse until finely chopped. Then add four tomatoes that have been quartered, the juice of one freshly squeezed lime, and a pinch of salt. Enjoy with corn tortilla chips.*
*I can't get the salsa picture to come through right. I've tried three times and now I give up.



For guacamole (again I like it fresh...and chunky. No blended, can't tell what's in it, baby food texture guac for me.): Take two avocados, cut in half, remove the pit, score a criss cross pattern in the flesh, and scoop out with a spoon. Add two diced tomatoes, a handful of chopped cilantro, one fresh jalapeno pepper, one or two cloves of garlic, and a small onion all finely diced. Then add a pinch of salt and ground cumin and the juice of one freshly squeezed lime. Gently fold the ingredients together, being careful not to break up the avocado too much, and enjoy!!!

Bellydancing video update...

The videos that I am using, as far as bellydancing goes, all feature Rania. The two specific videos that I have are here and here. The first video, as you can see, is only $5 right now on amazon.com. I haven't actually used the second video (I've only viewed it) because I just got it today, but I plan on starting tomorrow. The "My Personal Trainer" video actually has a plans in it, and the one I'm most interested in, has seven days a week (mainly 50 minute) sessions.

And I'm so excited that Dirty helped me brainstorm how to link web urls into the blog content YAY!!! THANK YOU, DIRTY!!! This is extremely exciting!!! I'm going to have links all over the place now. I've graduated to a new level of blogging...at least in my own head. :D Do the emoticons bring me back down a level?!?