Ain't I Tasty?

 This week's prompt was a bit of a noodle scratcher. Marie selected "If you were going to design a pizza after yourself, what would be on it and what would each of those ingredients represent?"

Like her, I probably put too much thought into it. What ingredients represent me? My mind went blank. I could not think of clever responses for ingredients that I enjoy on occasion when the craving for pizza strikes. Talking with Lee about the prompt, he made an excellent point about going with one of my all time favorite pizzas: Canadian bacon and pineapple.

I can hear some of the disgust coming from you readers. But hear me out. This was a pizza much beloved during my childhood. And I'm not talking about the ham and pineapple pizza that so often poses as a Canadian bacon & pineapple. Canadian bacon and ham are NOT the same. The meat comes from two different parts of the pig.

 This particular pizza is not loved by all. Neither am I. It is different, a bit quirky, and liked by a select few that can appreciate it. So am I.

Weird Family Facts

My very best friend Marie and I are bloggers. In fact, she was the one that got me started. Sadly, due to the chaos of life and my own ditziness, I'm not the most regular writer. So, for the holidays, I got both of us a journal of writing prompts. It was Marie's idea to pick one every Wednesday and write. I picked the first one.

Writing Prompt: Do you know any interesting facts about your family history, if so what?

Both sides of my family were never really big on sharing family history or stories of the past. The few things I do know have been thanks to my mom's research of her family. I can recall three interesting stories:

Interesting fact #1: My great grandpa (my maternal grandma's dad) traveled to Montana in a covered wagon.

Interesting fact #2: Apparently, my ancestors have been in the US longer than I thought. I have an ancestor who fought in the war of 1812.

Interesting fact #3: One of my ancestors fled to the US to avoid being forced to join the Army during the reign of Catherine the Great.

40 is the New 40

     I turn 40 this month.  I know a lot of people don't like revealing their age after a certain point, but I am definitely not one of those.  I have been through a lot in my life and I feel that I have earned each and everyone one of those 40 years. 

     In the past, hitting 40 was considered a major milestone.  Lack of food, disease, bad water, childbirth, war; anyone of these could earn you a one way trip to the graveyard.  Hitting that 40 year mark meant you had beaten the odds.  But now, 40 just considers you over the hill, which in this writer's opinion, is the stupidest thing ever.  

    Why not celebrate the fact that you have hit this milestone?  Look back on what you have seen, what you have accomplished, and what you will be able to do.  I have seen the internet go from dial up to high speed on fiber optic cable.  I have gone from recording my favorite songs on the radio onto a cassette tape (which took skill as you had to hit the record button at just the right moment), to making music mixes on CDs, to streaming favorite band/genres.  I have gone from renting apartments, to renting a house, and finally buying a house of my own.  I have loved, lost, and loved to the point of tying my life with another and going through the ups and downs of life together.  I have made friends and lost them.  There have been travels, from one side of the US, to the other side, then to the middle.  All of these things and more have happened since I made my screaming and pissed off appearance (according to my mom) on this blue sphere we all call home.

    The 40th anniversary of something is called the Ruby Jubilee.  Your birthday is just that: the anniversary of your physical entrance into this world.  The ruby is often associated with prosperity and wealth.  It is also said to be a stone of good fortune, not only fortune of the body, but of the mind and soul.  For me, this milestone will be a great time and will hopefully lead to many new and exciting adventures.  If your 40th is approaching, I hope this milestone will bring the same to you as well.

    On the dawning of my Ruby Jubilee, I shall be doing what I want to do every year on the anniversary of my birth: sleeping in, not working my job, and enjoying a plate of tasty Chinese food for lunch.  May you be lucky enough to enjoy your heart's desire on your birthday as well.  

Smooches!