ButterbeerIn case you haven't noticed it yet, I'm getting way way way too into this Harry Potter party. But that's what happenses when you barely have a social life.
Tonight, ToG and I tried our hand at a variety of butterbeer recipes. Some of them were "hard" butterbeer, and some of them were virgins. And considering, JKR hasn't officially spoken in support of any specific recipe for the stuff we figured we'd just let our own tastebuds do the talking. We both gave our unbiased descriptions then rated it on authenticity. All we had to go on were the descriptions in the books and what it says in the Harry Potter Lexicon . "How is butterbeer made and what does it taste like? When asked about this by "Bon Appetit" magazine, JKR responded: 'I made it up. I imagine it to taste a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch.'" Here's our results:
1. Mugglenet Hot, Frothy Butterbeer (cream soda, butterscotch syrup, butter)
Rogue - Okay. Ew. This recipe was pretty easy to make and it looks and smells wonderful. But it was so much past the point of my sugar tolerance I almost gagged. Maybe if you adjusted this recipe with less butterscotch syrup or used butterscotch schnapps (yum!) instead it would be alright. It needs more pizzazz, more kick, more panache. And I'd have to specify it needs to be served HOT. Not lukewarm or the puke-factor is higher. I'd give the authenticity factor at 16% - looks right, but isn't butterbeer supposed to be bubbly? When cream soda is warm, it ain't bubbly.
That One Guy - Smells good? Yes. A little too sweet, but perfect concistency - kids would love it, but it's too much sugar for the adults. I love everything about it except it's way too overpoweringly sweet. And it would be nice if it had alcohol. I'd give it an authenticity factor at 75% - cuz of the smell and the consistency. If I were to order a mugful of it at Madam Rosmerta's, this is what I'd picture getting, even if it is a little bit sweet. If you did half butterscotch syrup and half butterscotch schnapps, it might be a lot better.
2. Britta's Butterbeer (butterscotch schnapps and cream soda)
Rogue - Mmmmmm....sometimes I wonder about Britta when I look at her site, but she's got it right on with this recipe. First, it's way easy to make. Second, it looks just like I pictured butterbeer to look. It's not too sweet because of the alcohol, but it still tastes like butterscotch because of the alcohol. And I'm pretty sure I like it cold better than I like it hot. Now if only we could make this stuff virginized for the kiddies... Authenticity factor at 98% - bottle this stuff up and I'm sure Fred and George would smuggle it in the Gryffindor common room anyday. Or...I guess they'd sell it at their store since they're no longer Hogwarts students...
That One Guy - I like it. Great taste, but it seems a little "thin." Not sure how I like it cold. A little more spice would be nice...it just tasted like cream soda with a kick. Authenticity factor, I'd give it 80%. I just wish the consistency was more like the first one.
Rogue - Mmmmmm....sometimes I wonder about Britta when I look at her site, but she's got it right on with this recipe. First, it's way easy to make. Second, it looks just like I pictured butterbeer to look. It's not too sweet because of the alcohol, but it still tastes like butterscotch because of the alcohol. And I'm pretty sure I like it cold better than I like it hot. Now if only we could make this stuff virginized for the kiddies... Authenticity factor at 98% - bottle this stuff up and I'm sure Fred and George would smuggle it in the Gryffindor common room anyday. Or...I guess they'd sell it at their store since they're no longer Hogwarts students...
That One Guy - I like it. Great taste, but it seems a little "thin." Not sure how I like it cold. A little more spice would be nice...it just tasted like cream soda with a kick. Authenticity factor, I'd give it 80%. I just wish the consistency was more like the first one.
3. Recipezaar (milk, butter, sugar, honey, cinnamon, hot cocoa powder, butterscotch schnapps)
Rogue - Okay, vomit. Which I almost did out the front door when I handed the mug to ToG. This must be my fault, because the vomitousness came from the huge chunk of cinnamon I failed to completely mix in. It smells very very good, but to make this for a party would be very very time consuming. The milk gives it nice creaminess, and I'm betting if I used a handheld milk frother this would be much better. But if I have to get out a hand held milk frother to make it for 10 plus people? No, thanks. This one sucks on the Authenticity scale too...8%. It didn't taste, smell, or look like butterbeer as I pictured it. It tasted like chai gone horribly wrong.
That One Guy - Clumps of spices? Yeah, not so much. Too spicy and a little too oily, even if you strain out the clumps. Too buttery - with 2 sticks of butter - yeah...WAY too buttery. Look, you can SEE the butter floating on the top which, honestly, is SO not cool. If I'm going to drink something unhealthy I don't want to be reminded of how unhealthy it is when I drink it. Authenticity? 20%. Ew. Not cool.
4. Potterparties Hot, Frothy Butterbeer (milk, brown sugar, vanilla, butter)
Rogue - I like this recipe because it's very easy to make, although I'm kind of bummed it isn't more "fizzy." Although, I'm assuming you're gonna sacrifice the fizziness if you want it hot unless you really do use magic. (hmmm...hot and fizzy...my tummy is rolling at the thought...) This recipe is my perfect idea of hot butterbeer. It smells butter but not overpowering, and is sweet although not too sweet. It tastes like buttery goodness without all the fat. Not even a TB of butter! The ONLY downfall is that you would probably have to use a hand mixer to mix it or the brown sugar forms a crust on the bottom of the saucepan. I'd say this one gets my high vote on the authenticity scale - 98% for authenticity. If Madam Rosmerta handed me a mug of hot butterbeer, I'd expect this.
That One Guy - Good. I would say...excellent consistency, excellent taste...maybe a little more butterscotch but that's a minor detail because I feel like I have to find something to complain about. And for the Authenticity scale, I'd give it 90%. Mostly because it tastes really really good and it made me smile. I'm not sure how it would taste cold, though.
Rogue - Okay, vomit. Which I almost did out the front door when I handed the mug to ToG. This must be my fault, because the vomitousness came from the huge chunk of cinnamon I failed to completely mix in. It smells very very good, but to make this for a party would be very very time consuming. The milk gives it nice creaminess, and I'm betting if I used a handheld milk frother this would be much better. But if I have to get out a hand held milk frother to make it for 10 plus people? No, thanks. This one sucks on the Authenticity scale too...8%. It didn't taste, smell, or look like butterbeer as I pictured it. It tasted like chai gone horribly wrong.
That One Guy - Clumps of spices? Yeah, not so much. Too spicy and a little too oily, even if you strain out the clumps. Too buttery - with 2 sticks of butter - yeah...WAY too buttery. Look, you can SEE the butter floating on the top which, honestly, is SO not cool. If I'm going to drink something unhealthy I don't want to be reminded of how unhealthy it is when I drink it. Authenticity? 20%. Ew. Not cool.
4. Potterparties Hot, Frothy Butterbeer (milk, brown sugar, vanilla, butter)
Rogue - I like this recipe because it's very easy to make, although I'm kind of bummed it isn't more "fizzy." Although, I'm assuming you're gonna sacrifice the fizziness if you want it hot unless you really do use magic. (hmmm...hot and fizzy...my tummy is rolling at the thought...) This recipe is my perfect idea of hot butterbeer. It smells butter but not overpowering, and is sweet although not too sweet. It tastes like buttery goodness without all the fat. Not even a TB of butter! The ONLY downfall is that you would probably have to use a hand mixer to mix it or the brown sugar forms a crust on the bottom of the saucepan. I'd say this one gets my high vote on the authenticity scale - 98% for authenticity. If Madam Rosmerta handed me a mug of hot butterbeer, I'd expect this.
That One Guy - Good. I would say...excellent consistency, excellent taste...maybe a little more butterscotch but that's a minor detail because I feel like I have to find something to complain about. And for the Authenticity scale, I'd give it 90%. Mostly because it tastes really really good and it made me smile. I'm not sure how it would taste cold, though.
5. Floo-Network Spiked Butterbeer No.1 (butter, powdered sugar, cinnamon, rum, brown sugar, nutmed, vanilla ice cream, apple cider)
Rogue - Ugh. Once again, the sweet factor is unbearable. Not to mention, after the spices were well-mixed into the ice cream when melted they all clumped together during the freezing process and made tiny bombs of disgusting flavor. I like the foam and the rum gave it an amazing kick. I couldn't really taste anything but a spicy mess, however. The cider was sweet, the spices were spicy, the ice cream was creamy, the rum was rummy nummy...maybe my tastebuds just got overwhelmed. How about a 50% for effort on the Authenticity scale.
That One Guy - These flavors didn't blend very well. The little clumps of spices were overbearing. All in all, I didn't like it very much. But I love the rum in it...it's good! 50% Authenticity.
6. World Of Stuff Butterbeer (butter, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla ice cream, sparkling cider)
Rogue - I love the foam on this one! Slurping that stuff up just makes it worth it. Yet, another time intensive recipe with this one. In having to soften the ice cream, mix up the spices, refreeze it and all before assembly just makes it too complicated to even think of serving it at a party. It wasn't really buttery and it wasn't really spicey...it was just good. But - it was lukewarm because of the ice cream cooling down the cider. The tepidness of it just killed the flavor. I think if I made it over again, I'd *again* sacrifice the bubbles for the heat and add the rum for some more kick. (But why is the rum gone?!?!) I'll say...80%. Smells good, tastes good...but just can't handle the lukewarm stuff.
That One Guy - Really, really good drink! But, it's hard to tell if it's supposed to be hot or cold. It'd be good both ways, I guess. There are still some clumps in it but not enough so that it tastes bad. A very good drink. 85% on the Authenticity scale, I'd say.
So there you have it. Six recipes, 12 reviews...all for your pleasure. I'm not sure which ones we'll make for you come Harry Potter day...but you can bet they'll be good. And please don't think we're alcoholics just because we tended to like the ones with a little more...zing....
Rogue - Ugh. Once again, the sweet factor is unbearable. Not to mention, after the spices were well-mixed into the ice cream when melted they all clumped together during the freezing process and made tiny bombs of disgusting flavor. I like the foam and the rum gave it an amazing kick. I couldn't really taste anything but a spicy mess, however. The cider was sweet, the spices were spicy, the ice cream was creamy, the rum was rummy nummy...maybe my tastebuds just got overwhelmed. How about a 50% for effort on the Authenticity scale.
That One Guy - These flavors didn't blend very well. The little clumps of spices were overbearing. All in all, I didn't like it very much. But I love the rum in it...it's good! 50% Authenticity.
6. World Of Stuff Butterbeer (butter, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla ice cream, sparkling cider)
Rogue - I love the foam on this one! Slurping that stuff up just makes it worth it. Yet, another time intensive recipe with this one. In having to soften the ice cream, mix up the spices, refreeze it and all before assembly just makes it too complicated to even think of serving it at a party. It wasn't really buttery and it wasn't really spicey...it was just good. But - it was lukewarm because of the ice cream cooling down the cider. The tepidness of it just killed the flavor. I think if I made it over again, I'd *again* sacrifice the bubbles for the heat and add the rum for some more kick. (But why is the rum gone?!?!) I'll say...80%. Smells good, tastes good...but just can't handle the lukewarm stuff.
That One Guy - Really, really good drink! But, it's hard to tell if it's supposed to be hot or cold. It'd be good both ways, I guess. There are still some clumps in it but not enough so that it tastes bad. A very good drink. 85% on the Authenticity scale, I'd say.
So there you have it. Six recipes, 12 reviews...all for your pleasure. I'm not sure which ones we'll make for you come Harry Potter day...but you can bet they'll be good. And please don't think we're alcoholics just because we tended to like the ones with a little more...zing....
Rogue»
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
One More ThingOh yeah, and I finally saw "Serenity"
Rogue»
HPGoF, YAYSo it is officially...38 days and counting until the super cool fabuloso "Harry Potter and the Biggest Party of the Year" comes out in full swing. Needless to say, I'm excited. Despite the overwhelming amounts of unknitted yarn in my yarn basket waiting to be Transfigured into scarves. Dang, wish I had a workin' wand.
Maybe if I ignore them, they'll go away.
*ahem* But however, I am still excited. I started work on the invitations last night - which is quite an in-depth process for me. I'm a detail freak. But you can count on the fact that at least part of them will be hand...er...quill written by me employing an ink bottle and a pen. I've discovered a new fascination for half-sauced calligraphy. And cheap supplies. So as soon as I get off work at la galleria (1.5 hours!!!) I will be heading back to my house to begin real work on them. At this point in time, there are over 10 of these babies to write, which doesn't sound like a lot unless you're me and impatient. I also need to get some envelopes to fit these things...hrmmm...*adds to "need to do" list*
I also am excited to start trying out recipes. In particular, I'm ready to try my hand at making butterbeer - virgin and the hard stuff. I'm also brainstorming ideas about how to make a variety of Honeydukes treats and needless to say, I've just about surfed out the Internet when it comes to recipes. And decorations.
The only downer to all of this is our lack of location. Evil cat lady underneath the apartment and the growing numbers of those interested in attending have made it darn-near impossible to hold it there. And the parental units gave a quizzical/apprehensive/annoyed look at the suggestion of holding it at Rancho Rogue. Which would be entirely feasible, considering the fact Kiki's room will be empty after this week. Okay, maybe not completely empty, but that could be solved easily. And considering her bedroom is the largest child's bedroom in the house, the tv/surroundsound/various pillows and chairs/food/people could fit very nicely inside. *harrumph* Maybe if we rent it from said parental units.
At this point I'm more excited about the Harry Potter party than I am about my wedding. Is that bad?
Rogue»
Thursday, October 06, 2005
That's What It's All About
Here's an image of one of the Harry Potter scarves, finished. They're about six feet long each, and about 8 inches wide. So for those of you trying to figure out how big they are by looking at this picture of Pippin versus the last picture of Pippin I posted...he's grown. And he's afraid of the flash so he used his cat-like (wait a minute) reflexes to go from sound asleep to fleeing for his life...
And those of you whom I informed RJ cut her hair...this is how short it is...quite a lot, eh? Don't be fooled by the confused or "wha? picture?" look on her face. She took this picture herself.Rogue»
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Perseverance - What the Heck is Up With That?Ugh. Do you ever get yourself involved in something and after you're about oh...40 units of time into it you think - what did I just do?
Me neither.
Well, that's not true. I have several projects at the moment which have involved me in varying degrees of this frustration.
I am about scarfed out. I'm on my fifth Harry Potter scarf and am about six stripes into it. It's in Slytherin colors, which is a nice change from the oceans of burgundy and gold yarn that have been washing over my fingers in the past 2 months. I have 36 days to finish them all...well, this one and two others. Granted, I don't have the yarn for one and the other could be delayed considering the recipient lives in California and won't be here for the party to pick it up. But let's just leave it at this. I'm on autopilot - don't even notice when I'm knitting and when I'm not. The only time I do notice is when I want to read and knit at the same time and can't because I only have two hands. And it takes one hand to hold open a book/flip pages and two hands to knit, so I'm one hand short. Bummer. I want to quit, but then I'm stuck with a bunch of disappointed friends and a box full of yarn and no use for it except Harry Potter scarves.
That One Guy and I trooped out to a housewares store to begin registering yesterday. I hear it's supposed to be fun, but with my personality...it is not fun. He was having a great time - I was stressing out. I just think too much and try and consider every option before making a decision, and when it comes to registering I'm just no good at it. I was tempted to give him the gun and say "here, you can pick out whatever you want" and not in a mean, frustrated way - more in a "i have no clue what to do and am about to self-implode here" way. But registering is something you have to do if you want wedding presents...so I guess I'm stuck with it.
For those of you that don't know, I have another blog. It's been going a while - although the concept has been brewing since oh, I don't know, my Middle European Literature class. *counts on fingers* That was about two and a half years ago. Anyway, Dr. C (for those of you who've never had the pleasure of taking his class) will strike you as a very imposing individual when you first meet him. Then you take a class and the "imposing" nature turns to annoyance - the man cannot stay on topic for very long at all. And finally, after a while, the annoyance turns to awe. The good doctor knows about everything literary. I mean everything. No wonder his focus seems to wander...knowledge just explodes out of him because he's got so much there's no way it'd all fit in his head! Anyway, now I'm wandering. Dr. C was a big supporter of stretching your brain to places you normally wouldn't want it stretched. Like reading Kafka for fun. And for people who enjoy reading Kafka - reading Helen Fielding for fun. And if not for fun, then for the betterment of your scope of human understanding.
So I started a list. I started with the top 100 American novels. Luckily for me, some big news company had just compiled one. Next I got a book from a friend with a list of books you should read before you die. So I added those. Then I searched the top 100 British and European novels. Then the Hugo award winners and the Nebula award winners, and the banned books, and top children's novels. You get my idea. And I made a huge - HUGE - freaking list. And committed myself to reading all of them. I didn't give myself a time frame, considering some of the books (especially the challenged/banned ones) will take a little finagling (sp?) to get my hands on.
A lot of these books I don't enjoy reading. A lot of them I love reading. A lot of them make me think and usually that's a good thing. Or so I hear. But whether I enjoy them or not, like the characters or hate them, think the plot is worthwhile or would rewrite it totally differently, I continue reading them. And sometimes writing about them. I read them because someone, somewhere, at some point in time, deemed them worthy to be on a list of good books and hopefully if I ever write a book, I want it to be deemed worthy. I write about them to help cement them in my mind and because writing helps me as who I am to understand them better. I like being a storyteller so I like reading stories. And there's nothing that will make you smarter quicker, and more thoroughly, than reading.
Since I am a stubborn sort of person, I keep working on these tasks. I might develop carpal tunnel syndrom soon here from gripping knitting needles, and I might need new glasses from all my reading. And a new library card cuz mine is getting bent out of shape with all the use. But that's okay. Carpal Tunnel gives me an excuse to get some hydrocodone, and I need new glasses anyway.
Besides, isn't patience supposed to teach you something? Or is it some things teach you patience...
*sigh* *picks up knitting needles* *picks up "Brideshead Revisited"* *ambles off to bed*
Rogue»
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Something You Don't See EverydayI was going to post this earlier while I was at work but I ended up working. Fancy that.
I was leaving Starbucks today, which is nothing spectacular in itself except that I was at the Starbucks I loathe more than most loathe-worthy things. And the fact that I had a good experience. There was a nice guy who tried to talk me into buying their new autumn apple loaf, which I kindly declined, and he was still nice and funny and cute in an obviously gay way.
But back to the point of this.
I was leaving Starbucks today and to my right was a large group of hispanic teenagers. No, I'm not prejudiced against Hispanics in any way shape or form, I'm just working on my descriptive-ness because I think I've gone a little lax in both my grammar and style since the slavedriving college days of Jim Hills.
*sigh* I'm so distracted at 12:39 am in the morning.
I was leaving Starbucks today on my way to work and to my right was a large group of Hispanic teenagers. They were all wearing black football jerseys which means either a) they were on some wierd unknown area football team or b) they wanted to look like they were a part of or were in actuality, a part of a gang. Not that this scares me. For the most part, gang members don't bother me and I don't bother them. I've given one the occasional truancy notice and called the occasional gang member's momma to tell her about her kid's detention, but that's the extent of it.
But to my left was a family unit. A mom, a dad, and a maybe three year old kid. (Also Hispanic) The kid was the cute kind of little chumpy kid who was toting a backpack almost as big as he was, with Gap kids' jeans and a plaid shirt with his little wannabe workman's boots on. The teens in the jerseys started taunting this family - who knows why - saying "little homie wannabe" to this kid apparently trying to irk either him or his parents. The kid started yelling back and it wasn't until I'd taken a few steps before I realized the kid was screaming "you-son-of-a (insert expletive) go (expletive) yourself you mother (expletive)." He was also prominently displaying one chubby little middle finger and waving it around while jumping. And screaming. The whole scene was just bizarre. His fingers were so tiny it was hardly noticeable he was flipping them the bird. And everyone was just laughing hysterically. It was like a chord in the wrong key that nobody hears. I felt like going back to the normal, safe, gay guy for a sense of reality. Which just shows you how out of whack it all was.
Rogue»
Saturday, September 03, 2005
A Few Random Things I Don't Understand*Why people wait outside of the mall, in line, before it opens. It never fails, sale or not, when I come to open la galleria in the morning there are people waiting in line outside of both Macy's and JCPenny. Why? Is spending money such an addiction for you? Is it on your to-do list? Get a life!
*That sequins are back in style. We don't live in Vegas. To be honest, I don't particularly like anything that was popular in the 80's. And now that I'm actually seeing sequined bags that look like fish skin, I'm despising the decade even more. I had to live through it once. Don't make me do it again, I beg you.
*Why I agreed to knit not one, two or, three Harry Potter movie scarves, but EIGHT. EIGHT of them. That's 56+ stripes. That's 24 balls of yarn. That's *whips out calculator* three thousand, four hundred, and seventy six rows. I agreed to knit two hundred forty three thousand, three hundred and twenty stitches. Before November. And I only have 2 and 1/3 done. Clearly, I'm insane.
*Why my sister actually likes and looks on the internet for the nasty sugar bomb Star Wars Darth Vader Pop Tarts that are an unnatural shade of red. Why doesn't she just shoot up with sugar?
*Why do some people have to turn everything into a competition. I'm not so insecure about myself that I'm racing to buy a house, get married, have children and a dog and a new car before everyone else. Why are they?
*Why myspace is banned at corban. And why the network supervisor is still in charge there.
*People are wearing fishnet stockings on a regular basis. *vomits profusely*
Rogue»
Friday, August 26, 2005
You Can Learn Several New Things A Day If you TrySo I'm pretty sure I know nothing about my family.
A few weekends ago, we headed over to Pocatello, Idaho (you daho!) for my cousin's wedding. My father, RJ, and me. We met my grandmother and uncle over there and RJ and I got to bunk up with ol' granny for two nights. Needless to say, we watched a lot of CNN. But we also introduced her to the Food Network which is a very good thing, considering she has almost every episode of every daytime show on Animal Planet memorized.
My uncle, however, has not changed in any way, shape, or form. He condescendingly told us we needed to pay more attention to nature so God could teach us some lessons. This directly before he tried to convince us to go see the lava hot springs in 105 degree weather. Maybe another time, Tommy. For dinner, he made us walk to the restaurant, then forbid me to order anything but a salad, calmly telling me I didn't need to eat anything else - just look at me. RJ got away with ordering buffalo wings which turned out to be disgusting, but he nixed her ordering anything else, telling her she needed to eat them and learn her lesson. I ordered some mozzarella sticks for her.
On the way home, I learned some interesting things about my uncle. He wanted to be a priest, then he decided he didn't agree with the Catholic church. Talk about a turnaround. He also has a PhD in environmental biology, worked for the government, was a Core of Engineers whistleblower and a nationally published political cartoon artist. He throws a mean softball pitch as well. And now he's just some weird single almost 60 year old who drives up and down the west coast trying to start home churches and buying rocks to sell in the galleria.
My grandma made 200 fans by hand for this wedding. She enlisted the help of Kiki to adorn them with the name of my cousin and her beloved. She brought along a camera and then used it to take pictures of me knitting and of my dad's new digital camera. She also provided for some high entertainment when she lost her dentures. My grandmother is hilarious to watch when she's around people she thinks less of. We were around a lot of those people on this trip. She's all sugar to their faces and plenty of spice after they've walked away. It's not a good way to be, but it's still pretty darn funny.
Turns out, my grandmother married my grandfather after knowing him three weeks. She's a native of Seattle, him of Zanesville, Ohio. They met on a dude ranch and he saved up gas vouchers for two weeks to go see her in order to propose. It was during world war two and he worked out at Hanford on the nuclear bomb project. His family was from upper crust society. My grandmother's family wasn't. That caused a lot of friction between in laws on the subject of wedding etiquette. They were married in their future farm house. I'm not sure if my great grandfather walked my grandmother down the aisle - he disappeared while prospecting for gold in Oregon and was never seen again. My grandfather received carte blanche in choosing a lot to build the house my grandma lives in now. My grandmother chose one across the street from woods and a stream, figuring it'd be good for their kids to play in. Six weeks after they moved in, the government bulldozed it all to build a middle school.
The cousin who got married is one of my two favorite cousins. My other favorite cousin got married last weekend in California. This cousin, Maria*, married a Mormon. Which for most people, doesn't seem to be weird. Until you find out my cousin was raised in the Brethren church. My aunt has practically been disowned by her in-laws for attending the local Calvary Chapel. Maria's husband left the Mormon church to marry her. I think it's a good thing he did, and not because I believe the Mormon religion is false. Mostly because if he's willing to leave his religion for a woman, he must not have been very dedicated to it in the first place. His mother wore black to the wedding (it was almost 100 degrees), and told everyone she was in mourning for the death of her son (the one getting married). I thought that was sad and not very supportive. And a bummer for her that her other son is head over heels in love with Maria's younger sister. It was a strange wedding. All the Mormons on one side, all the Brethren on the other, and then our little family of outcasts. We left the Brethren when I was in fourth grade. So no one was really in the mindset to acknowledge us. It was cool, in some ways, because we were first in line as family, and got our pick of tables.
My grandma's fans were a hit. My uncle visited with so many people he almost passed out from the heat and exertion, but no worries, he replenished his body with much water, vegetables, and fruit. And I ate cake and hugged my cousin before she headed off to Jamaica.
Turns out, my grandmother married my grandfather after knowing him three weeks. She's a native of Seattle, him of Zanesville, Ohio. They met on a dude ranch and he saved up gas vouchers for two weeks to go see her in order to propose. It was during world war two and he worked out at Hanford on the nuclear bomb project. His family was from upper crust society. My grandmother's family wasn't. That caused a lot of friction between in laws on the subject of wedding etiquette. They were married in their future farm house. I'm not sure if my great grandfather walked my grandmother down the aisle - he disappeared while prospecting for gold in Oregon and was never seen again. My grandfather received carte blanche in choosing a lot to build the house my grandma lives in now. My grandmother chose one across the street from woods and a stream, figuring it'd be good for their kids to play in. Six weeks after they moved in, the government bulldozed it all to build a middle school.
The cousin who got married is one of my two favorite cousins. My other favorite cousin got married last weekend in California. This cousin, Maria*, married a Mormon. Which for most people, doesn't seem to be weird. Until you find out my cousin was raised in the Brethren church. My aunt has practically been disowned by her in-laws for attending the local Calvary Chapel. Maria's husband left the Mormon church to marry her. I think it's a good thing he did, and not because I believe the Mormon religion is false. Mostly because if he's willing to leave his religion for a woman, he must not have been very dedicated to it in the first place. His mother wore black to the wedding (it was almost 100 degrees), and told everyone she was in mourning for the death of her son (the one getting married). I thought that was sad and not very supportive. And a bummer for her that her other son is head over heels in love with Maria's younger sister. It was a strange wedding. All the Mormons on one side, all the Brethren on the other, and then our little family of outcasts. We left the Brethren when I was in fourth grade. So no one was really in the mindset to acknowledge us. It was cool, in some ways, because we were first in line as family, and got our pick of tables.
My grandma's fans were a hit. My uncle visited with so many people he almost passed out from the heat and exertion, but no worries, he replenished his body with much water, vegetables, and fruit. And I ate cake and hugged my cousin before she headed off to Jamaica.
Rogue»