Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Beouf Bourguignon

Yesterday was a good birthday. It was much like the day I was born in that I couldn't speak. It was less like my original birthday in that I also could not scream, squawk or make much sound at all. My voice vacated my body as a result of whatever the heck it is I'm fighting. Today, the doctor said he thought it was allergies and so then I'm all, "Stupid Utah. First my eyes are allergic to you and now it's my voice." But then I started thinking, this really doesn't explain the fevers.

But yesterday was a good day. Last year my birthday was completely ruined--through no fault of my own family who tried desperately to keep it on life support--so receiving nothing more than a pile of dog poo would have been a step in the right direction. In the afternoon, my husband stayed home with the boys and I went to see Julie & Julia with several women from the church. In my head I thought, Oh Meryl, on several occasions because that woman is just the quintessential actress, the embodiment of "in character", she's like the bread and butter all in one, the great...well, you get the idea. She's good. Really good. All the time. And, okay, so there was this one moment where Amy Adams was totally Giselle but the rest of the movie she was all Julie Powell. Maybe. I mean, I don't actually know Julie Powell personally--the woman boned a duck for goodness sake. But who knew that writing about boeuf bourguignon could earn you 53 comments on a blog (eventually many more, I'm sure) and an article in the The New York Times. I mean, I'll start writing about boeuf borguignon if that's what it takes.

I have fans followers the occasional reader my mom--but heck if she's going to sit here and leave 53 comments. That's just crazy talk. But I wish I could write about baby spit up and potty training and the fact that there is some animal living in one of our walls--more on that later--and get 53 comments the way that boeuf borguignon got 53 comments. In case you're curious, I just like writing boeuf borguignon. Boeuf borguignon. Boeuf borguignon. Oh, my speller checker is going to love me. Anyway. I do need to point out that after watching Julie & Julia for two hours, I desperately wanted to uproot my family and move to a flat above a pizza parlor in Queens. Then I remembered that I don't actually want my kitchen to be three feet by two feet, I don't actually want to use metal garage shelving as a closet, and I don't actually want my bed to be four feet away from the dinner table. Not to mention the fact that I don't actually want two kids, two furry friends, and one husband living in 900 square feet that likely would smell, perpetually, like pepperoni. But for a moment the artist in me forgot all that. The artist in me was deciding which borough I actually wanted to live in.

Anyway, after the movie was over my family took me to dinner at Sweet Tomatoes (no giant tomato this time, folks. Although my son was peering around with wide eyes just waiting for it to jump out and kidnap him.) courtesy of a two for one coupon and a gift card (thanks Sabrina!). Back at home I opened a few presents and had cupcakes (thanks Holly!). It should be noted that, when my son eats a cupcake, he picks all the sprinkles off first. Then he eats the frosting off the top. But he doesn't lick it off. No. That would be uncivilized. Instead, he uses his thumb and his forefinger to form a sort of finger chopstick. Then he drops a teeny amount of frosting into his mouth and begins the process all over again. I'm sure that's how the French do it. It's probably in Julia Child's cookbook.

And that was that. A lovely birthday culminated in the watching of my son getting chocolate frosting all over his fingers. My heart was happy. It was many steps above dog poo, even. And you know what would make it even better? No. Not boeuf borguignon. 53 comments, that's what.

29 comments:

  1. Well, I guess I get to be the first of your 53 comments! :) I'm so glad you had such a good birthday!

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  2. I'll take the #2 spot. ;-) I bought the cookbook before seeing the movie, KNOWING that'd I'd want to make some of the dishes.

    And I want to be Julia and travel all over the world and write a book :)

    Glad you got some girl time for your birthday!

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  3. For a good 10 seconds I actually contemplated leaving 53 random comments as a long distance birthday gift, but then I thought about how stalker-ish it would look & chickened out.

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  4. I also contemplated leaving 53 comments, but would it count if they were all from one person? I am so very happy to hear that this year's birthday was delightful, and not filled with dog poo, or the tragedy that was last year's birthday....
    :)

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  5. And one more thing...we currently have 4, and used to have 5 people living in my 900 square foot house. So there.


    (Not that I wouldn't happily exchange it for a bigger one for the same price)

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  6. Aww...Happy Birthday! I stalk your blog from Germany, and unfortunately Julie and Julia hasn't made its way to me yet, but I'm definitely looking forward to it some day soon. Thanks so much for your great writing.

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  7. Meryl Streep was hilarious, as was the fine actor who played her husband.

    I'm glad your birthday was enjoyable - the highlight of mine this year was playing dodgeball at the high school ministry's kickoff event and then receiving a Snuggie blanket from some good friends.

    I wish I could comment four more times but that seems like cheating.

    Love jessi in minnesota

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  8. I came here via Crayl's page... Happy belated birthdays. Birthdays really, all to often, to stink for the celebratee. I am so glad to hear that yours didn't... Despite illness/allergies. (don't they always chalk it up to allergies?)

    I love that film... Though most things make me want to dispose of my bulky possessions and return to NYC, this film made want to move to Paris, or write a cookbook. Instead I'll stay in Idaho though. :)

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  9. i can't wait to see that movie! 53 comments would be nice...i'll tell you one thing i've discovered: whenever i ask for advice on my blog about something or other, i get the most comments. so, if you really want to seek out plenty of comments, come up with some child-rearing problem that you need help with. you'll have a bazillion people coming out of the woodwork, clamboring to answer!

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  10. Happy birthday. Your post made me want to see the movie. I love to cook.

    Best wishes on the next year of your life (may it be as wonderful as the last and a lot less stressful) and on getting up to 53 comments.

    Sarah

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  11. 53 comments? Do they count if there are more than one from the same person? Cuz I see where Crayl posted two. So do you currently have 9 or 10? LOL. Let me know if you need me to post a few more.

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  12. And here I was thinking I comment entirely too often. But if it helps I've probably commented a total of something like 53 times.

    Also, I noticed that I just started one sentence with "and" and the other with "but." If anyone asks, I'll tell them I learned that from reading your blog.

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  13. Hey, I'm late, but happy birthday!!! :) I'm glad you had a great day!

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  14. I will help, I'm #14, just 39 more to go! That was a good movie. Glad you had a good birthday, you deserve it!

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  15. I'm #15.. only 38 to go!
    Happy Belated Birthday! I can't wait to see the movie. Everything you said about Meryl was right on.. LOVE her!

    Beouf Bourguignon.. and yes, that IS fun to say/type/spell!

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  16. Lori:
    This will help with all the comments. I remember vividly the day you came into this world. Grandpa and I were coming home from the cabin. He had driven all day but when you arrived Nanny Who Who and I had to go to see you sleeping so sweetly. Have enjoyed having you in our family for these pase 28 years. Love Grandma

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  17. I'm comment #18! Glad your birthday was better than last year! I need to go see that movie. Holly saw it and liked it. Have a great day!

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  18. and no, i think it's totally okay for people to comment more than one time.

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  19. that movie was my favorite for this year.

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  20. i wanted to go home and start cooking and blog about it.

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  21. i didn't want to move to nyc above a pizza place.

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  22. here's to a stressless year, i raise my glass to ya, it has milk in it, does that still count?

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  23. okay people, that's all i got, it's up to you now.

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  24. Hope you get your 53. I like that movie too. It made me want to run out and buy Julia's cook book. Although I did not because it would have been a waste of money. I used to watch Julia on PBS when I was little and she cooked thing I would never ever eat.

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  25. Wow 28 comments when I posted this. Of course Dena owned numerous entries. Anyway, I think the movie (which I did not see) would have been better if it was Giselle doing the cooking (with perhaps some assistance from New York cochroaches).

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  26. Eurgh. You need more comments. Come on people! :D

    Hey, it is a good birthday. At least you celebrated it with family and friends. There was a point in my life that I celebrated birthday with rats. Don't ask. XD

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