Passing the torch...what have I done!?!?

Many of you might know that growing up in my house Friday night was pizza night. Homemade pizza night. My dad would make the dough and sauce himself. At first it was full pizzas and then by the time I was in high school it was individual pizzas with my mom receiving her pizza first.

When I went to Mary Washington College I truly missed having my dad's pizza and would always look forward to breaks and summers when I was there for pizza on Friday nights. I wanted to be able to make that pizza myself. I asked my parents that if I was accepted to the University of Delaware for graduate school all I wanted for graduation from MWC was a Kitchen Aid Mixer, just like my mom's, so I could make pizza in DE. Well, I was accepted to UD and graduated from MWC but I didn't receive the mixer...yet....

The summer of 2000 before I moved to Newark, DE, (pronouced New-Ark and not to be confused by that other Newark in New Jersey) I "apprenticed" with my father to learn how to make the dough, the sauce, and then assemble and bake the pizza. It was quite a learning experience when I then realized how lonely it is in the kitchen on Friday nights. All the action is going on in the TV room our outside on the porch if it is summer. And my dad had been doing this for over 20 years. But I loved it when I took the reins for the first time on a Friday night. I forced my dad outside to enjoy the experience of receiving the first pizza out of the oven. He wasn’t happy that I hadn’t made it for my mom, but my mom just smiled at me. That night was one of the best experiences of my life.

Christmas 2000, after my first semester at UD, I came downstairs on Christmas morning to find a giant box waiting for me. And I knew what it was before I even opened it....it was my Kitchen Aid mixer from Santa!!! I started immediately upon my return to Newark making pizza. I pride myself on my pizza. And I love to make it for friends and family. And the boys absolutely love my pizza and I make it almost every time they are with us.

Yesterday I did something I might regret. I was going to be busy all day with Mary Kate’s baby shower (I’ll fill you guys in on that event soon), but wanted to have pizza that night for the boys. So when I was getting the last minute baby shower items taken care of upstairs, and the boys were eating breakfast, I gave James instructions on how to make the dough. He asked me to come downstairs and take a look at the dough to give him a sense of when it was ready to be taken out. When I took a in the bowl I was shocked. It was his first time making dough and it was perfect after about 10 minutes. Perfect! I told him he sucked as I went upstairs to get dressed for my day.

The baby shower clean up kept me longer from the house than anticipated; I had to give James instructions via text message on how to make the sauce. He did a really good job. He exclaimed that now he wouldn’t need me for anything as he could make pizza on his own. I know he doesn’t know what he is talking about. But having passed the torch on to someone else what will I do with myself?!?

Fire pit, ho!

We have finally found our fire pit. After three weeks of being buried in snow. And just in time for another storm system to pass through the area. We have gone from a winter storm watch to an advisory but they are still hinting at snow. We shall see tomorrow.

I can't wait for spring!!!

Dogs drool....

In an attempt to get Lulu accostumed to traveling in a car, we have been taking her with us in the morning when James drops me off at Metro. Short trips. He bought a crate that we will use for travel (about the same size as her current wire crate but is lighter to carry) but without a divider so it is a huge space for her. Once we get in her in the Escape (sometimes on her own, sometimes James picking her up always with treats) and into the crate the whinning begins. She slumps herself against the front of the crate nearest us. And then the drool starts. The other day I thought she had peed but it turned out to be drool. And lots of it.

This morning I saw it first hand when I had to get a package out of the back of the Escape. The drool was dripping like shoestrings from her mouth and was all of the crate's mesh door. Oh, and she did pee this time in the crate. James had to have had a fabulous time cleaning that up this morning.

So our dog drools in the car. Any suggestions on how to stop it? Or ways to make the car more fun and not a threat?

Day of firsts.....

Today was a first for both Lulu and I. James and I took Lulu to the dog park for the first time this afternoon during our brief snow shower. She did really well with the other dogs once she warmed up to the area. The only dog she really took to was the only other small dog.

And  today is my first official day as the newest Program Analyst for the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation! I got a promotion!!!! I am very excited about this promotion and the new assignments to tackle. Once I finally get back to the office. Which will be tomorrow.

You mean I have to go back to work?

It is official. Our snow week is over. James is currently upstairs taking a nap since we found out after 1830 that the mid-shift was on and he would have to report to work at 2145. And the federal government is operating on a two hour delay on Friday or unscheduled leave. I have asked if I can work at home since James is working tonight and the sixth floor of our Metro station is snowed over (which will mean parking will be a nightmare) and I don't know if the county bus will be running until tomorrow. If I can't work from home I'll be going in at the regular time to save James having to stay up any longer than he has too.

Oh why, oh why......