Recently

A Recent Conversation:
Penn: I need to get a new skin cleaner when we go to the store later.
Me: A new what?
Penn: A new skin cleanerr.
Me: What are you talking about?
Penn: You know...skin cleaner.
Me: Like shower gel?
Penn: No...a... [big sigh] loofah.
Me: Oh. Why didn't you just call it a loofah?

Penn: Because it sounds so gay!

[I have since explained to him that uttering the word "loofah" is not going to negatively influence his level of perceived masculinity, but if he's really that concerned then "shower sponge" is a phrase actually used by other human beings.]

A Recent Recipe, of sorts:

Get a bunch of jalapenos and slice them in half.

Remove the membranes and seeds (unless you like your food reeeaaaally spicy, in which case leave some seeds in at your own risk).

DON'T TOUCH YOUR EYES. IT BURNS! Don't even seed the jalapenos, wash your hands, play X-Box for an hour, lie by the pool for twenty minutes, and then touch your eye because your eye will still burn. Trust me.

Fill the jalapeno halves with cream cheese.

Wrap 1/3 of a slice of bacon around each half and secure it with a toothpick.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for about twenty minutes.
Eat half a dozen of the crazy fattening things along with your Independence Day hot dog. Keep a glass of milk nearby in case your mouth starts burning. So delicious.

P.S.-The Pioneer Woman explains the recipe much better, with pictures, on her blog.

A Recent Excursion:

To celebrate our fine nation's birthday, Penn and I went here yesterday. (Wow, that website is playing some rockin' colonial American music...be forewarned if your volume is turned up!) It was a really fun experience. The house itself was really interesting and I liked the recreation of the farm (especially the piglets! aw!), but my favorite part was the view from the back porch. It was spectacular. I'd almost be willing to put up with a complete lack of civil rights, stifling hot dresses, medication-free childbirth, small pox, outhouses, no A/C, and no Google if it meant I could sit on that porch with a book and look at the amazing river view every afternoon. Almost.

The Most Recent Reason I Need to Exercise:

I bought another pound of taffy yesterday! That wasn't to celebrate the 4th of July, it was just because I'm now a taffy addict and when we were wandering around old town yesterday (which "old town" exactly doesn't really matter because there are dozens of them around here) Penn found a candy store with an entire room full of bins of taffy. I was feeling pretty despondent after I finished my Ocean City taffy, but now everything is right in my world again. I also made a chocolate peanut butter pie for dessert tonight, even though Penn and I are celebrating the holiday alone. Who has a sweet tooth? Definitely not me.