Wednesday, April 9, 2008

The Secret of Happiness is To Make Others Believe They Are The Cause of It ~ al batt ~

Right. I've been systematically Mrs. Grumpy McGrumpster-Pants on my last few posts here and, in thinking about it, that really isn't like me. It doesn't feel right on the insides either. My whole entire self-being is affected and that makes me even worse off than I was just being cranky.

So, like a duck, I'm just going to shake off my tired cranky pants and . . . . . . wait . . . . . .or is it a dog that shakes off fleas?

Whatever it may be that animals do in shaking the tree, I think I have a post here that will make you smile. Maybe. At least I hope it will. Without further ado. . . .

I made lunch for myself today. The husband is working; I'm not trying to not feed him as he doesn't need to become more and more like Skeletor each and every day that he is. He's not here, so I can't feed the masses. And, no, the husband is not "The Evil Lord of Destruction" or from another dimension either - he's a bike racer. Which qualifies him as a skinny leetol rascal; like Skeletor. Okay?

Digression is a disease of which I'll never be quite cured of. . . . .

Anyway, I made me a sandwich. And you need to understand that my sandwiches are usually elaborate, because I love my veggies, herbs and mustard between two pieces of bread. I'm good at creating melty-mouth sandwich goodness, but keeping it real. I am. You know, for health purposes. Since I'm not a huge mayo fan, I don't use it much, if at all. I like my heart. I like me. I like my life. I'd like to be around here for another decade or two. Vegetables can offer more flavor-flave than mayo can and . . . . .

I am not digressing!

Pfffft. Whatever.

As I was saying. . . . I've even put cold green beans and asparagus on my sandwiches. Those were go-ooood.

But today, as I was putting my sandwich together with mustard and turkey - thinking of all the fixings I was going to tackle - when I stopped and looked at my bag of potato chips*. . . . . . . I got a fleeting thought and grabbed onto it. . . . . . .

Where I then proceeded to mash them into my turkey sandwich with the crush of double fiber wheat bread under my palm.

I haven't done that since I was a wee kid. It made me unbelievably happy! I even smiled the whole way through my sandwich thinking of the days when my mom made us sandwiches and then we'd crush potato chips into them. My sandwich today wasn't as good as when I remembered as a kid, but it made me remember some happy times. We'd sing at lunch - "Yellow Submarine" was a popular tune back then. We'd babble on and on about a whole lot of nothing. I loved being with my mom and bringing her buckets of worms I'd dug up and out of the forest. She wasn't fond of them, but she never told me that nor did she ever mention not to bring her buckets of worms. She used to take us to the forest to draw. I'd eventually wander off to go catch her some more worms of wonder. We'd come back and eat sandwiches. I was so little. I was such a happy-go-lucky kid.

Come to think of it, I miss those times. If my mom lived in my state or I in hers, I'd bring her a bucket of worms.





What haven't you done since you were a wee one? Do you miss it?

**********************************************************************

*Um. . . . . So, my chips aren't really chips. They're "Baked Ruffle Cheddar & Sour Cream" flavored pieces of cardboard. I can't totally eat like I was 7-years-old even if my knee looks like I am 7-years-old (yep. Still healing from my bike crash from back in the day. Want a picture?) Baked chips. Hmmm. Must. Watch. Waistline.

Was this cheating on feeling like a kid again?

27 comments:

Jay said...

The biggest difference between my sandwiches now and when I was a kid is I hate mayo so I don't have to have any now that I'm all grown up and stuff. And I can totally just up and have a second one if I feel like it.

Jay said...

Oh and I can drink beer with them now too. LOL ;-)

Jen said...

Jay: Most excellent points!

I would have liked a beer with my sandwich today myself, but I had to workout and study afterwards.

Workout done. Studying not so done.

Jen said...

And I hate it when they put mayo on sushi. A place mayo does not belong one iota.

Now THAT'S disgusting.

Anonymous said...

Nothing. I haven't done nothing since I can't remember when. I'm always doing something. I have to do nothing some day. I mean lay around in the yard on a hot day and that is it. No talking, no sleeping just being. OK maybe a nap, but that's it!

*sigh*

Cheer up, enjoy your sandwich! You still only live once and there is no guarantee how long.

Princess of the Universe said...

I'm totally going to try that! Except I rarely have chips around- much more of a chocolate freak.
I miss Chef Boyardee- I used to live on that stuff - then I became a grown up and it suddenly doesn't taste good anymore. It probably never did. :P

Jen said...

butterfly girl: you know, I think having children takes away your nothingness. But it's replaced by smiles, laughter, tears, questions, hugs, growth and more love, etc. Though, doing nothing does sound appealing! Said the one without children. . . .

Princess: I used to love SpagehttiO's when I was a kid! We never had them that much so it was such a sweet treat when dad babysat! I could have lived on those things - I'm sure they would NOT be a slice of heaven on the tongue these days either.

P.S. I'm not sure chocolate would be a wise substitution for potato chips - not that you were planning on doing that. I just felt the need to forewarn.

Allison Horner said...

I LOVE baked Lays/Ruffles!!! Love the Sour Cream & Cheddar ones!!! MMM!!!


PB & J sammiches are sooo yummy with chips smoooshed in 'em. Try it sometime. ;)

Jen said...

Alli: Smooshed potato chips in PB&J sandwiches was our staple as kids! It's super yummy - it was the gateway drug to putting chips in my "other" type sandwiches. . . .

Baked Lay's are not too bad in the taste bud department; however, real potato chips still rawk the kassbar!

Jen said...

P.S. Alli: we're so alike it's scary. Separated at birth maybe?

Steph said...

I used to make Vegemite and cheese sandwiches. You all love vegemite, right? lol

Jen said...

steph: I've heard of this elusive vegemite, but must admit, have never tasted. It's a root, right? But I like cheese. Cheese makes everything better.

Rock Chef said...

That was a great post - possibly the best one of yours that I have read!

Next time you are with your mom you should definitely get her a bucket of worms. That would be so cool!

MrsG said...

I have to ask for no butter on my sandwiches here - even if you're having mayo you usually get butter too (gag me with a greasy spoon...). I like a LITTLE bit of very low-fat mayo, and I love mustard, so it's usually a combo of the two.
My favorite takes-me-back-to-being-a-little-kid snack is a PB&J with potato chips on it. Something about the sweetness and the crunch is just amazing... But because I don't usually buy the P or the potato chips it's kind of a nonstarter. Also, PB&Banana is a winner in my book.

Hm... might have to treat myself with some peanut butter and potato chips one of these days...

ETK said...

Dooode - I have never ONCE put a smooshed tater chip in my sammich. I must. apparently.

Oh - I could have mine with Vodka (I don't. But I could).

Dianne said...

I put smushed chips into my tuna salad. Used to do it for my son so he'd actually eat something and then one day asked myself - "why not for me too!?"

the other day I made chocolate milk just for me - can't remember the last time I did that.

you made me smile, thanks.

Anonymous said...

Mayo on sushi?? Never encountered that. I like mayo, but even I wouldn't want it on my sushi!

I still put chips in my sandwiches on a regular basis. Something I haven't done since I was a little kid is chase down the ice cream truck. One time, after I "grew up," I was standing next to one with some kids I was babysiting waiting for them to decide what they wanted and I was perusing the menu myself. Nothing looked good at all. I couldn't believe the ruckus the stupid ice cream truck song used to cause in the neighborhood with such crappy ice cream! I guess hot and sweaty kids will lick anything that's cold though eh?

Em

Jen said...

rock chef: awwww. . . . thanks! This really did remind me of my mom and growing up with tatter chip sandwiches. I HAD to write about it.

AmyTree: I was asked, one time, if I wanted a ham sandwich. Of course I said, "yes, please!" thinking it was going to come with cheese, mustard, mayo, lettuce and tomato on whole wheat, 'cos that's how my mom made them. I was handed a white bread ham and butter sandwich. I was completely confused. Then, mortified. Butter on a sandwich?

Though, I have to admit, my mom used to make PB&J sandwiches with butter - those were good!

etk: why didn't I thunk of the vodka? You must try this. Write a review. I'll be waiting . . . .

dianne: I completely let this slip my mind! I love tuna salad with smooshed potato chips! Thank you for reminding me and visiting my blog! I'll head on over to yours soon! Hope to see you again.

Em: I haven't dined at the ice cream truck in decades. . . . I used to love the blow-pops! Or a push-up!

Mayo on sushi is NEVER a good idea.

Real Live Lesbian said...

That really sounds wonderful! And I too have been trying to get back to the good old days and shake off the Bitchy McBitchface routine of late.

I may have to make a sandwich!

tt said...

pb&j w/ chips!!! I STILL eat them. My fav when I was little was scrambled egg sandwiches. Yep...still have them too. Umm, I'm just realizing that i don't give stuff up...food wise anyway. Figures.
You're funny :)

Jen said...

rll: I think it's the weather. We need sun, flowers, green and the bee's and the birds! Ha! (I crack myself up) But, for real, I need spring to put me right in the membrane.

tt: My mom used to make me egg salad sandwiches! Is that the same thing at scrambled egg sandwiches? Wait, if it's just scrambled eggs on toast then I've had those! I'll eat those for breakfast with cheese. . . mmmmmm!

tt said...

Umm, nope! scrambles eggs w/ mayo. then put it between 2 pieces of bread...let it set a couple seconds so the bread gets a wee bit warm. Scrumptious!!!!!!!Oh...thought I'd share something with you...I watch my waist too. I watch it grow and grow and grow...I LOVE elactic!!
Pass the chips please ;)

Allison Horner said...

I know, right! That's why you & T need to move back here, danggit. Do you know how hard it is to find chickie friends like you. Sheesh!!!

:)

g-man said...

MMmm PB&J with real chips. Good thing I already ate lunch.

Jen said...

tt: my mom made those sandwiches too, but they were called "egg salad sandwiches". Come to think of it, she hard boiled the egg 1st - so I guess they're different sandwiches after all. . . I didn't like them as much as the other sandwiches, especially if mom put onions in them.

Alli: touche! touche! there is also always room in this here Longhorn City. . . . . You'd love it AND be closer to TT (TT help me out here).

Ha!

g-man: I know. I don't buy peanut butter, but ever since people starting commenting about it on this here post, I have been CRAVING it with jelly and potato chips!

Tink said...

*Gasp* Mayo in no way can be substituted with veggies. Take it back! Take it back!

Jen said...

tink: I am not being over dramatic.