- Got a phone call from my NEW Bernina repair dude. The same Bernina I spent almost $300 on getting it cleaned, the motherboard rebuilt, etc. just a few months ago is now going to cost me an additional $200 plus to get it CLEANED AND REPAIRED AGAIN. The first dealer (who shall remain mercifully nameless until I really snap) did not wish to honor their warranty. It's a building-the-pyramids long story, but suffice to say I'll never go back. New Bernina dude talked my ear off telling me about all the bits and pieces and mechanisms that were maladjusted, and the fact that there was OIL AND LINT INSIDE THE MACHINE (after I brought it home the first time I used it less than half an hour before it malfunctioned) so I'm feeling like I got royally fleeced by the first repair dudes......
- After I hung up from the 2nd Bernina dude, I burst into tears. My husband gave me a beautiful, mushy card for Christmas that had two crisp $100 bills inside it - and I cannot for the life of me find it. I am sick to my stomach. It was truly a gift worthy of "The Gift of the Magi" love, and I was already SO upset about it - so when Bernina Dude II said, "$200" I just wanted to sit on the floor and weep. So I did. (Except we had company for supper so I ran into the far room and had a private bit of weeping.)
- Youngest sister spent the weekend with my Dad (in pseudo hospice) and reading her emails and reports just left me so sad, angry, bitter and heartbroken. I have never had my faith and beliefs so tested - and I'm a freakin' cancer survivor, for pete's sake.
- We are in the first 1/4 of a 2 day blizzard, so I lose another day of work tomorrow (most likely) and will feel that sting in the paycheck.
See what I mean? And in the middle of all of this, Shannon from Monkey Dog Quilts has so very
kindly gifted me with a "Stylish Blogger Award" ! How nice is that? I told her I don't feel very stylish today, sitting here in my sweats and my hair pulled back with a headband. So before I can share 8 things about myself and award it to 8 other bloggers, I'm just going to chill out and pull myself out of this funk. Either that, or I'll make a pot of coffee and eat some bar cookies. Better yet - I'll give you the recipe. These things are like heroin so don't say I didn't warn you. It is one of my favorite recipes from childhood - thanks, Mom!BUTTERFINGER BARS
Mix together in a 9 by 13 (or whatever is close) pan:
- 4 cups of uncooked oatmeal (the real stuff, not the instant garbage)
- One cup of brown sugar
- One half cup of white sugar
Melt one cup of butter (two sticks, just go with it) and pour it over the mixture, stirring it around as you go. Then press that mixture into the pan, bake it for 10 to twelve minutes at 350. Let it cool.
Frost with one cup of chocolate chips (melted gently in a saucepan) and add 3/4 cup of CHUNKY peanut butter to the warm chocolate - blend together, then pour it over the cooled base. Chill and devour. IMPORTANT: There are 8 ounces in a cup, and 12 ounces in a bag of chocolate chips. I just throw in the whole bag, melt it, and add an extra dollop of chunky peanut butter. You get a nicer ratio of chocolate to base. ( If you use the word "ratio" it makes it science, so it's okay - no guilt.)
Enjoy. You can self-medicate with prescription drugs or you can self medicate with chocolate. If you think chocolate is bad for you, ask Charlie Sheen how it's all workin' out for him......
