The one reason that I started upper body weights…  to stand a fighting chance, while trying to remove the filth in a bathroom used by three boys.  #BruteForce

 

“Bend It Like a Noodle”

You start out of rigid

In hot water, you begin to bente

Life nears perfection

When you get all al dente

 

When you see this at the office, you know it’s time for an exterminator.

Reporting on the day’s activities at the dinner table, I happily noted that I would be designing this year’s March Madness tournament for the office with the theme “Chips and Dips.” Yes, who will reign supreme and end up in the Winner’s Circle filled with guacamole?

Somewhat puzzled, my Fifth Grader asked, “You have time at work to do that?”

Humph!  Son, life is full of balance.  Dark and Light.  Sad and Happy.  Work and Play.  In the best circumstances, however, you can strike a balance.  Yes, playful work.  Some of us are just built that way.

So son, if you are lucky, that playful work gene runs in you, too.

What?  You don’t believe in a playful work gene?  Well, I’ve got proof it runs in the family.  Just look at this photo of my Grandpa.  Thankfully, he was the one holding the whip and thankfully, he passed along that playful work gene.

 

Playfully Madmen?

 

Yesterday at work, I built a snowman.

Last night, some bully knocked him down.

Today at work, I built another snowman.

For there is one thing in life that I know for certain, snowman love conquers snowman hate. Snow doubt about it.

Postscript – For good measure, at home I built another snowman. This one has a blinky hat. Take that snowman haters. Ha!

KEY LIME PIE BARS

“Oh, it’s cold outside and you want to go somewhere warm.  Warm like Key West.  Well, sorry bub.  Next time, plan a trip in advance.  For now, you will have to settle for these yummy and tart key lime bars to remind you of warmer places.  At least, you have that going for you.  Enjoy!”

 

1 box Vanilla Cake Mix, minus 1 Tablespoon

1/2 cup Butter, melted

1 Egg Yolk

4 Eggs

1 Tablespoon Vanilla Cake Mix (referenced above)

1 (14 ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk

2/3 cup Lime Juice

Zest of 1 Lime

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt the butter.

Mix together the box of cake mix (minus one Tablespoon), melted butter, and egg yolk.

Press into the bottom of a greased 13″ x 9″ baking pan.

Bake 15 minutes.

While the crust bakes, mix together the eggs, Tablespoon of cake mix, condensed milk, lime juice, and lime zest.

Pour over baked crust.

Return to oven and bake 24 more minutes or until the top is set and lightly browned.

Cool on a wire rack.

Place in refrigerator for 2 hours.

Cut chilled bars.  Top with powdered sugar.  Enjoy!

 

Makes about 30 bars.

Revised Source – “Key Lime Bars” recipe in “Cake Mix Cookies” by Camilla V. Saulsbury.

 

OATMEAL COOKIE PANCAKES

This one happens to look like Antarctica.  I know!  Sorta eerie.

“Got a hankering for breakfast?  Got a hankering for a cookie?  Well, superstar chef Bobby Flay came to the rescue with Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes.  Fluffy, oaty, and oh so cookie-like.  Thanks, Bobby.  Enjoy!”

1 1/2 cups Flour

1/2 cup Oats (Old Fashioned or Quick Cooking)

2 teaspoons Baking Powder

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon Salt

2 Eggs

2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

3/4 cup Real Maple Syrup

1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

2 cups Buttermilk

4 Tablespoons Butter, melted

3/4 cups Mini Chocolate Chips (optional)

 

Melt the butter, set aside.

Mix together the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.  Set aside.

Mix together the eggs, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract, buttermilk, and melted butter.

Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture.

Stir until just combined.

(Optional) Gently mix in the mini chocolate chips.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat griddle to 350 degrees (sorta medium-highish heat).

Pour big spoon sized dollops (a little less than 1/4 cup) of batter onto hot griddle.

Wait until tops are bubbling and bottoms have browned, then flip the pancakes.

Wait until the pancakes are puffy and the new bottoms have browned.

Serve with more maple syrup and enjoy!

 

Makes about 25 pancakes.

Revised Source:  “Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes” recipe in “Bobby’s Brunch” by Bobby Flay.

 

Let’s all just be honest with each other for a minute.

I don’t know what it is, but I feel uncomfortable around the Quaker Oats man.

When I was young, I had a vision of success.  Success was fame.  Success was renown.  Success, real success, was having people know about your amazing accomplishments long after you’ve died.

Well tonight at spin class, I told a joke.  More of a well timed witty comment.  I won’t bother you with the details, just know that it was brief, clever, and above all else well timed.  I was, in that moment, golden.

Plus, you know what?  Some of the moms also taking that spin class let out soft chuckles.  Some of the moms glanced my way and smiled.  Some of the moms even thought (I know they did), “he’s a catch.”

Son, let me tell you something, the adoration of tired exercising moms, that’s a sign of success.  Real success.  I know it now, no doubt about it.

 

 

I had a pretty good day at work.  A meeting went well.  I got some stuff off my desk.  The candy jar was full of tasty treats.  My email inbox was clean at the end of the day.  A pretty good day, indeed.

Walking out, headed to the car, I glanced at the Employee Status Board.  Of the four people in my cubicle cul-de-sac, I was the only one scheduled to be there tomorrow.  My extrovert heart stopped.  Who would I banter with from my desk?  What would I do?

Work David, you shall do some work.  Okay, that will last for the first twenty minutes, then who will I chat with?

Looks like David will need to bring some gym shoes to work, because I’m gonna need to take my show on the road.  “The 2018 Dave Paulsen Cubicle Tour” coming to a hallway at work near you.

Extroverts, oh how we suffer.  Let me tell you about it.

That sad realization that not even my friend’s foot will be at work tomorrow.

That sad realization that I found this photo worth taking.

#OddFootPhoto