“Point of Parliamentary Procedure!”

Thursday Thursday Thursday.

Sometimes I pronounce it ‘Thurz-dee” because I can.

So this made me giggle in a sick sort of way.  Some of my favorite floats in the Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade that year were Jefferson/Freezergate-themed.   Bless his heart.  $90,000 in the freezer?  You have to admit, that’s pretty impressive.  But c’mon, Willie… you had to know that was against the ruuuuules.  Shame, shame.  Go ahead and add him to the list of Louisiana’s finest politicos.  Tough break, Congressman.  Tough break.

Also, it’s my little sister Ryan (affectionately known as Baby Ryan since conception)’s 17th birthday.  Holy moly, we’re getting old.  The Gwaltney girls are growin’ into little Gwaltney ladies.  It’s killin’ me, buddies.  I’m taking her to get her nails done and then to have lunch at Owen Brennan’s.  (Yes, the same Brennan family that has all the restaurants in Louisiana.)  Homegirl is gettin’ movie star treatment tonight — her boyfriend John is taking her to Texas de Brazil in downtown Memphis tonight.  Hopefully she has an amazing day… I’m not gonna lie, I’m really lookin’ forward to spendin’ some one on one time with her.  I can’t remember the last time I had a date with her.  She’s so gorgeous.  Always knew she would be — she had these curls and this brown sugar colored skin from the day she was born, eyelashes for miles, these tiny little freckles surrounding the corners of her eyes… ladygirl is magic.  So date today will be much appreciated and wildly enjoyable.  Party hard, Gwaltney girl.

Right then, must attend to a few bits of minor house cleaning (figuratively speaking, of course) pre-celebration.

Be lovely.

Aiyeeeee.

2 English folks + 1 Louisiana expat + Crawfish festival in downtown Memphis = delicious.

These sort of things always make me smile. Check it out, learn something. Or if you’re already well versed in the ways of peeling/eating, perfect your technique.

Laissez les bon temps rouler, boo.

British Invasion 2k9.

It’s on, for the record.

“…Wadies.”

Yes, we’re really that cute.

Little Kids In Comically Over-Sized Sunglasses.

I’m a nanny. I spend 10 hours a day, 5 days a week with 2 fabulous, hilarious, amazing little girls. In addition to many other things, this means that I have access to their funniest moments. Monday thru Friday, I live from laugh fest to laugh fest. It helps that these girls are not only cuter than cute, but they’re also incredibly intelligent. Things that are cute, miniature & smart are automatically funny. It’s an unwritten rule of the universe. Trust me, I’m a big kid. I know these things.

Take Addie, for example, and give her an over-sized pair of sunglasses.

Cue ZZ Top:

Next.

Take Jordyn and give her a pair of Mr. Potato Head glasses.

Gee whiz, I love my job.

True Story: I’m Alive.

Oh, my dear sweet blog. I’ve abandoned you again.

So, I’ve been absent for a while. Lots and lots going on, more than I could hope to communicate to you via blog, so I’ll give you the abridged version.

I have an incredible job with an amazing family in Germantown. That’s 8 minutes down the road for y’all non Colliervillains. Absolutely amazing. I nanny two small girls – Jordyn (4) and Addie (2) weekdays from 7:15AM to 5:30PM. In the past month I’ve worked for their family, these two have quite quickly become my favorite little girls in the whole world. They’re so smart, so obedient, so polite, sooo funny! Gee whiz. I love my job.

I’m still head over heels in love with Joe Sawyer. Nothing new and exciting there, at least for now.

I have a new found love for Bluebell Homemade Vanilla ice cream. By the pint.

That’s all for now. My job consumes most of my life, which I’m okay with — I’m just always tired, so any time I have on the Internet is limited according to how long I can manage to stay awake, lol.

Y’all be good… more content soon.

xxAimee

And Now That You’re Gone, I Have Nothing But Time.

Two groups you need to check out — Department of Eagles and Animal Collective. Just sayin’. You owe yourself.

Snow day today. I’m sipping coffee and debating as to whether or not I should go back to bed. I’m thinkin’ it’s bed time again.

xxAimeeCait

I’m Up In The Woods, I’m Down On My Mind.

New Bon Iver, yay. Just so you know, his latest contribution to the music universe, the Blood Bank EP, is satisfactory. I’m particularly fond of his track “Woods” – the Imogen Heap circa “Hide And Seek” sound of it is charming.

Watching Sex, Lies and Videotape for the first time in my life. How have I avoided this so far? I’m getting homesick already. Hello, Baton Rouge Garden District. Love and miss you. This film is so dated… a film with James Spader, Andie McDowell, anddd Peter Gallagher? Wow. Authentically 1989. The whole cicadas in the background thing is kinda cute, and watching James Spader drive across the Mississippi River bridge was sweet, but the fact that everyone is gleaming with beads of sweat in every scene is a bit much. I lived in Baton Rouge in ‘89. I don’t remember much, but I remember air conditioning.

“Being happy isn’t all that great. I mean… the last time I was… really happy… I got really fat.”

Ah. Amazing.

Speaking of fat… This week has been sick with culinary success. King cake midweek turned out brilliantly — could not have been more pleased with myself, family was stoked, mom’s got plans for cheesecake filling… I’m not so sure about it, but whatever makes her happy. I’m more interested in the Bourbon Roasted Pecan filling I found… Anyway. Last night was Duck Gumbo night, and that, too, was wildly successful. Also managed to throw together the most amazing spinach artichoke dip I have ever had in my short life. Holy moly.

Tonight I made my own pasta — tortellini, to be exact. I got the idea while I was watching Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven, an HBO documentary about famed NYC culinary institution, Le Cirque. Sirio’s wife was being interviewed in her kitchen while she meticulously created tiny tortellini by hand. Thus, I was inspired. Threw together some pasta dough in my mixer & got to work. Nowwww I have this desperate craving for a pasta machine. The tortellini were sooo cute. Dad and I had a proper little feast, it was magical. Go ahead and be jealous. If you’ve never made your own pasta, I really wish you would give it a go — the flavor and texture is beyond rewarding. Do itttttt.

That’s all I have for now.

xxAimeeCait

Down On LaSalle And Rampart Street, The Combo’s Playin’ With A Mambo Beat.

So it’s beginning to look a lot like Mardi Gras, and I’m far far away from my native land for the 2nd year in a row. Last Mardi Gras, while I was in the UK, mom sent me & Emile National Championship pajama pants in purple & gold (last year was so much better for our Tigers) and a box of Mardi Gras: beads, confetti, and The Advocate front page from the day after our National Championship win. Last Mardi Gras came and went, and for the first year of my life, I had no King Cake.

I love King Cake. I don’t necessarily eat all that much of it, but I love it. I’m a sucker for food with history. That purple, green and gold sugary confection is just a nice thing to have on display in the kitchen — it’s festive. You knew it was really Mardi Gras season when King Cakes started showin’ up in homeroom. A King Cake set you back mayyybe $7, but it guaranteed you at least 15-20 minutes free from actual class work. Even the most efficient teacher wouldn’t dare interrupt the distribution and enjoyment of such a beloved tradition. At that point you didn’t even mind if you were the one that found the baby — while you were the one charged with the task of providing the next cake, you were also blessed with the opportunity to perpetuate the avoidance of mind-numbing busywork. Let the sweet times roll.

So here I am in Tennessee, I’m 20 years old, and I’m going to attempt my first King Cake. Wish me luck.

Also. Straining yogurt for a sour cream substitute… gee whiz. Should’ve just gone and bought the damn sour cream.

xxAimee Cait