Here's the more

So, Rich won a fabulous Kitchen-Aid standing mixer at his work recently. It has sat in our living room for nearly two weeks while we debated whether or not to return it and get something else or keep it and see how often it gets used...like many other appliances we own, I say I'll use it often, but somehow time slips by and it only gets used once or twice a year (i.e., waffle iron, fondue pot, crepe maker, rice cooker, deep fryer, sandwich maker, hand mixer, and the list goes on). But, I must have convinced him that it would be useful because when I mentioned that I was going to make cookies, he got the box from the living room and opened it, saying, "should we see how it works?!" He sounded almost excited (you have to know Rich and his lack of emotional expression). I dumped the ingredients according to the recipe - I know there are many of you who can make cookies in you sleep, I however, am not one of you, so I must follow the recipe, closely. While I'm on the thought of following the recipe closely, I must admit that I was so excited to try this fantastic gadget, and I had a wonderful audience of two, that I forgot to add 1/4 Cup of butter...oops. I would love to be able to say that this is highly unusual...but, (big pause and a sigh) it's not. I often get ahead of myself and leave out or add incorrect amounts of key ingredients. Well, back to today's cookie adventure: The cookies worked. They turned out flat (flatter and more sleek that the new MacBook) with bumps of chocolate chips. Rich mentioned as he was eating a cookie, that "I know Ghiradelli chocolate chips are supposed to be better because they don't melt, but I like the chocolate chips to melt in cookies." Oh. That's why people use them, because they don't melt? I can assure you I will not be purchasing this brand anymore! I tasted the cookies...they good, a little crunchy, but good. (golly I wish I had a picture...on second thought, I'm not sure this batch of cookies is the one I want to be remembered for) I'm even going to be brave (or offensive) and give a few to some friends tomorrow morning. (just for giggles, I tell you about a previous adventure in cookie making. When I was in high school (you'll know how sad this is as you near the end of the story), my younger sister and I made chocolate chip cookies. Not realizing that order and mixing mattered, we dumped all the ingredients in the bowl and baked a batch. Well, a great rule of thumb for us is: if Dad won't eat it, it's BAD!! As our cookies were pulled out of the oven we noticed that each one looked like a miniature cowpie (kind of runny and brown). Well, Dad gave one a try...needless to say the rest of the batch was put directly into the trash. You'd think I'd learn, but somehow I keep hoping to get a good batch...) My sister and I still laugh about this...hysterically!

I know this is getting long, but I have to tell you that I am SO excited. A couple of friends and I are getting pedicures tomorrow. Last month we went to breakfast - just for fun - without kids! This month we decided to pamper ourselves a little...I'll let you know how our little feet turn out!