I felt the meeting had gone well.  As I walked out of the room, I held my head high.  I also walked with a bit of a wobble.

My gait was askew and I knew not why.  Pausing in the hallway, I reached down and felt the bottom of my right shoe.  There I found a gooey fruit snack stuck to my sole.

Carrying the deceased raspberry snack to the trash can, a nasty thought crossed my mind.  Why was the snack able to adhere to my foot?  One answer came to mind.  It had been premoistened in the mouth of another.

I felt a little less sure of myself.  Yes, I was only sure of one thing.  The sink would be my next stop and a quality hand scrubbing would be next on the agenda.

SOUR PATCH KID COOKIES

“Need a little sour?  Need a little patch?  Huh?  Well, never mind.  Just great ready for a cookie that packs a sugary punch that is sure to satisfy.  Enjoy!”

1/2 cup Butter or Butter Spread

1 Egg

17.5 ounce package Sugar Cookie Mix

8 ounce package Sour Patch Kids

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream the butter and egg.

Mix in the Sugar Cookie Mix.

Mix in the Sour Patch Kids.

Place Tablespoon sized balls of dough onto parchment paper lined baking sheets.

Bake 6 minutes or until the edges are slightly brown.

Cool on wire racks.

Makes about 24 cookies.

Revised Source:  “Sour Patch Kids Sugar Cookies” recipe on www.dollargeneral.com.

Who failed Spelling in the Seventh Grade?  This guy.

What school actually gives a letter grade for Spelling?  That’s beside the point.

What guy typed the word “anecdotally” today with zero computer assistance?  This guy.

Do miracles sometimes happen at the workplace?  Well, I guess so, sure, but that’s beside the point, because earlier today this guy spelled “anecdotally” all on his own.

MEDITERRANEAN DIP

The remains of this evening’s dip.

“Whether you feel like a debt crisis or a Greek god (or both), this dip will do the trick.  A blast of Mediterranean flavors sitting on a pita chip means that it’s time to dig in.  Enjoy!”

12 ounces Cream Cheese, softened

1 cup Non-Fat Greek Yogurt

1 teaspoon Dried Oregano

3/4 teaspoon Cumin

1/4 teaspoon Pepper

1/3 cup Feta Cheese

A Cucumber, seeded and diced

1/2 cup Greek Olives, pitted and sliced

5 Pepperoncinis, partially seeded and sliced

Handful of Cherry Tomatoes, halved

Bag of Pita Chips

Mix together the cream cheese and yogurt.

Mix in the oregano, cumin, and pepper.

Spread into the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate.  Set aside.

Mix together the feta, cucumber, olives, and pepperonchinis.

Spread the feta mixture on top of the cream cheese mixture.

Top with halved cherry tomatoes.

Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Serve with pita chips.

Serves about 36.

Revised Source:  “Mediterranean Dip with Pita Chips” recipe in Taste of Home – 2009 Quick Cooking Annual Recipes.

There you have it…

For the first time in forever, a clean desk at Cookies by Dave command central.

Thank you, rainy day.  Miracles do happen.

The calendar may say that it’s not Summer yet, but one sure sign showed up today.  Fair Food!  And with Fair Food comes fried innovation!  And today’s entry, the first of “Summer,” the wrapped pickle.

Now, before you launch into Junior High Health Class jokes, let me explain that the “Wrapped Pickle” is a tasty fried pickle spear that has been wrapped in thinly sliced ham and deep fried in a cream cheese batter.  Worth every calorie and a fine way to say, “Hello, Summer.  Please, make yourself at home and stay awhile.”

The Wrapped Pickle…  the first true sign of Summer.

New rule…

don’t approve…

the official team photo…

until…

the head coach looks like he has all of his teeth.

Last night, I was beat.  As I sat down on the couch, I unbuttoned the top few buttons of my dress shirt.  Perhaps a few too many.  Chest hair was a showing.  Top of belly exposed.  Air flowing all around the upper regions.  A little much, sure, but I did not care.  I was beat.  I was on my own couch.  I was okay.

Flash forward to this morning.  I sat in a meeting at work.  Suddenly, I thought I felt air.  Air passing over my chest hair.  I looked down.  Nope all buttoned.  My mind was teasing me.  Teasing me of freer days.

Summer thoughts of shirtlessness are alright.  Brain just please wait until 5.

“Ode to Standing Desk”

Straight and tall

I love to type on you

When I work without you

All is bent and small

Never before have I been so tempted to overpay for something in a vending machine.

The extra quarter may have been worth it in entertainment value alone.