Friday, Dec. 10th

Clearly, I am getting OLD. I went to the grocery store this morning and while I was there I picked up a copy of Consumer Reports because someone recommended it since we’re in the process of shopping for a new elliptical trainer, and the big story in the January issue of Consumer Reports is all about elliptical trainers and treadmills. Anyway. I bought the magazine, and when I got out into the parking lot I took the magazine out of the bag and started reading it, and before I knew it, I’d spent ten minutes in the parking lot reading some very interesting articles. Then I thought to myself that not only was this a VERY good magazine, why had no one ever told me what a good magazine it is, but I also thought I need to subscribe to this magazine! Consumer Reports. I need to subscribe to this magazine, I thought. SUBSCRIBE. To CONSUMER REPORTS. Fred’s FATHER subscribes to Consumer Reports, and we’ve spent years making fun of him for acting like Consumer Reports is his bible, and yet I am fascinated by this magazine, which is unbiased and exists solely to help me make good decisions on things to buy. It cares about me! It doesn’t want me to get gypped! It has only my best interests at heart! IT LOVES ME. I want to marry you, Consumer Reports. Robyn Consumer Reports. Robyn C. Reports. Mrs. Consumer Reports. It has a ring to it, no?

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I spent a couple of hours yesterday afternoon making cookies. Say posted a link to a recipe for Rolo cookies, and I looked at the recipe and thought it sounded good. Then I remembered that every year I swear I’m going to make those cookies with the Hershey’s kisses in the middle (not the peanut butter ones with a kiss on top, but the ones with the kiss wrapped in the middle), so I decided that since I was going to be out running errands yesterday I might as well stop and get the stuff to make both kinds of cookies. Since Friday is the day we eat whatever we want, I decided to make the cookies Thursday and then send most of them to work with Fred because if we really put our minds to it we can eat a lot, but we can’t eat two batches of cookies. The Rolo cookies recipe is here, and the Secret Kiss cookies recipe is here. I didn’t realize until I was typing up those recipes that I had forgotten to add baking soda when I was making the Rolo cookies – which may be why the cookie tastes pretty similar to a brownie. Both of the recipes call for rolling the cookies in sugar or powdered sugar, but I skipped that step because I couldn’t be bothered.* Fred loved both kinds of cookies, and they were a big hit with the people at work, too. I bet the Rolo cookie recipe could be used with about any kind of small candy – so could the Kiss recipe, for that matter. I told Fred cutting a miniature Snicker’s in half and putting it in the middle of a cookie would be good. He thought an almond M&M would be good, too. Cookies rock. * Does the phrase “couldn’t be arsed” translate to about the same thing as “couldn’t be bothered”, or does it mean something completely different? Anyone know?
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Okay, there’s just not a damn thing going on around here. If there are any questions y’all have for me, or something you’d like me to write about, leave a comment and I’ll see what I can do for you, okay? For now, we’ll just fill up the rest of the entry with pictures. Last night’s sunset, from our back yard: Some of my favorite Christmas decorations: I think I got this last year in Maine. I love the really cute little santas. I got this a few years ago at Linens ‘n Things. When it’s turned on, it changes colors. I’ve had this one for years and years. I have no idea where I got it. Another one I got in Maine last year. Fred thinks this looks like a Far Side cow. I got this at the Hallmark store in Maine last year. The tree is about three feet tall, but the pot it sits in really adds to the height.
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Miz Poo, checking out a ladybug.
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24 thoughts on “Friday, Dec. 10th”

  2. Wow, I’m really first?!
    I do believe that “couldn’t be arsed” – “couldn’t be bothered”, but you might want to check out some Harry Potter Fan Fiction people for verification on that. hee!
    Also, those cookie recipes sound like fun, but kid-friendly? Would Hexe (4.5) be able to help with them? Sounds like it, but I thought I’d ask someone who’s actually made them. hee!

  4. What really rocks is white chocolate reeses chopped up into peanut butter cookies. 🙂
    Those recipes look good, I’ll have to give them a try.

  5. You can also get Consumer Reports on-line, or the magazine alone, or the magazine with on-line added for a bit more per montth.

  8. Personally, I think Miz Poo is sizing up that lady bug’s possibilities as a snack.
    She looks like such a sweet kitty! I’m just in love with her.

  9. Yep, in Britain we certainly say ‘can’t be arsed’ when we can’t be bothered. Infact, we say arse alot.

  10. Being married to a Scottish man, I feel I can say with some authority that can’t be arsed = can’t be bothered. Has a more satisfying sound to it, doesn’t it? I’ll be moving back there in about nine months and can’t wait 🙂

  11. OMG, that photo of Poo-Poo is so sweet! Her eyes are all crossed! Did she eat the bug?
    “Couldn’t be arsed.” Hum. Here in ye olde country (Canada) we say things like “Mum,” and put u’s in words like colour, and honour, and the word “arse” is a staple. Having said that, I’ve never heard that expression. Must say I like it, though!

  12. Couldn’t be arsed definitely means “couldn’t be bothered”. I say it all the time 🙂 I didn’t actually realize it was one of those things that was culture specific.

  13. Robyn, those little fat Consumer’s Buying Guides they put out are great, too. I think they cost about 10 bucks, but I had the ‘luck’ to have a refridgerator, washer AND dryer all die on me last summer, and I took that book w/me, and saved a lot of money AND found out which brands had the best features. For example, on the stoves they rate the overall heat of the burners, how fast they heat up, the oven’s features, etc. I was able to zero in on the exact brand and model of all 3 appliances that I wanted. Made a headache at least a bit more tolerable. When my parents used to subscribe to that mag, they were sent a buyers guide free as a gift, so check into it. They may still do that.

  15. Robyn – We’re also looking into elliptical trainers so don’t forget to let us know which one you decide on. We always look to you for guidance…. 🙂

  16. I do believe that’s the cutest Miz Poo picture ever.
    And the snowman holding the kitty has to be the perfect christmas decoration. 🙂
    (eep. Trying this again, so you know who I am.)

  17. First I love all your Christmas decoratations.
    Question- You have been talking about your house lately and things you dislike. Have you and Fred been looking for land lately?

  18. Robyn,
    I’m looking for a diet blog/jounal you had listed in your previous links list. I can’t remember her name or name of the journal. however, I know she lived near ocean city maryland, her daughter was diagnosed with crohns disease, and she has a new baby. The last entry i read she wrote her husband was leaving her…I can’t stop thinking about her and want to know if they got back togther. I hope all is well.
    I hope you can help me out.
    Thanks Anna

  19. Yes, in Australia we say couldn’t/can’t be arsed, couldn’t be buggered, couldn’t be fucked, any number of things really!
    Arse really is a brilliant word.

  20. I totally made fun of my husband for wanting a subscription to Consumer Reports. But it turns out I read it as much as he does. It does have very interesting articles.

  21. Robyn, I’ve been reading you for 4 years and I’ve never left a comment! I feel so virginal (for once)!
    I’m Canadian and lived in England for a year, and yes, “couldn’t be arsed” is one of those expressions that I brought home with me. Yes, couldn’t be bothered, too much trouble, all that stuff.
    I said it yesterday, in the context of my stainless steel frying pan, which I spent too much money on — I ‘couldn’t be arsed’ to polish it with the Barkeepers’ Friend I keep around to be a domestic goddess. 🙂

  22. Hi Robyn. I thought that Fred gave up sugar completely, has he added it back? I just loved his story about watching the Discovery Channel and have an ephinany. Have a Merry Christmas.

  23. JJ: Yeah, he only gave it up for about six months. He eats sugar now, but only on Fridays, and even then, not a lot of it.

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