Squid Ink

[ehowton]

Wife created a spooky meal for us today, Goulish Spaghetti & Eyeballs! It was cheesy and delicious, and quite creative to boot. It turned out exactly like the picture on the recipe card. About halfway through my meal, I inquired to my wife as to what made the spaghetti black? I know that spinach noodles are green, and tomato noodles are red, but what do they add to the noodles to make them black? She handed me the package. "Squid Ink" it read. Ugh. Suddenly I felt as if I could taste fish in every bite, even though I knew that wasn't the case before I made this discovery. Of course as soon as the children heard this, they lost ALL interest in finishing their meal. One might say that lunch was therefore a rousing success. Even my wife wouldn't eat another bite.

---

Two nights ago I dreamed I was hired to work for the government in their "Central Intelligence" division. It was a small group of people, each with their own talents, working as a team with a team lead. Some of the technology was older, and some was not even on the civilian market yet, but these guys were bright. And I was thrilled that I was finally able to settle into a job which befit my unique experience. At one point a photograph was brought in and the team was asked to identify three bright spots on the image. I suggested that a near-infrared optical device was used and created a trihedral return. The group laughed and the team lead said, "Well, he's new here." And explained that it was tea-candles. Hrm.

And to counter my egotism of landing the perfect job in Central Intelligence, last night I dreamed drax0r and I worked at Love's Truck Stop. Our responsibility was to clean the restrooms on all three floors of this multi-level facility. Trucks came in at two levels, depending on which side of the building you were on, and we were often accused of being perverts and low-lifes when the customers acknowledged our presence. I was trying to be helpful and courteous, but the customers wanted nothing to do with me, so I just continued to clean the bathrooms. Such was my lot in life.

I have no idea what any of this means.

Comments

[leonardii.livejournal.com]

Ok - I got the gist of the "squid ink." And you were right. No squid flavor in my burgers. Only delicious ingredients that make my girls go "goo-goo-gah-gah" and thoroughly enjoy what Papa cooks on the grill.

Actually, Lena loves it when I cook on the grill. For her - it's one part in the ultimate of sexiness... a man who cooks and takes care of his family. This is of course a branch of her Russian culture - for Russian men (as a whole) do not cook, clean, help with the children, or otherwise do anything to lift a finger and help their spouses.

So - even the slightest bit of help I do - it wins me tremendous points. :)

It's great - the blending of two cultures. I love my Russian wife more and more each day...

Jessica is learning to say our Catholic prayer before meals. It's so sweet to hear her tiny voice to try and imitate and say the words of the prayer. She can make the sign of the cross, and she gets out "Amen" very well. And she knows when and where to say it during the prayer blessing. Oh, it's such a beautiful and wonderful site to see.

She also is learning her manners very well. She's got down "Thank you" with relative ease. We are working on "You're welcome" but I don't expect a three year old to learn everything overnight. But she is coming right along just swimmingly. Oh, I say again - it's beautiful. My daughter becoming a little girl.

What pride for her Papa. I'm overwhelmed when she says certain things. This last Saturday, our lawn-mowing workers came and did their business. I wrote the check and gave it to Jessica to give to the manager. When she put the check in her pocket - she said "This is very important" in complete and very clear Russian. She's learning the words - and she's speaking them. Both English and Russian are falling into place in her mind.

Man - I am just sooooo proud of her. You know what I mean. The love a father has for his daughter is a certain special love that I think is on such a special high level that there is almost no equal. She's growing up, my friend. My baby is becoming a little girl. Oh, it's very special. So loving - so sweet. So amazing!

[texas-tangent.livejournal.com]

Brilliant. Mrs. Howton did a wonderful job. I would of spit it out too if I found out that it contained Squid ink. I have to agree with the boobie comment. It does resemble that part of the anatomy. The mass of tangled black pasta resembles something as well. Just thought I would throw that in there.

Have a nice night.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

The mass of tangled black pasta resembles something as well.
O. M. G!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Its quite a wonderful transformation to behold is it not? Unfortunately for me, however, my little girl is going to be the one I have trouble with. Why? Because my boy is perfect in every way. Ergo, little girl is already the rebel. It will only get worse. To compound the situation further, as her father, and as my wife has already pointed out - I'm tougher on my boy than I am on my little girl. She gets away with everything, my boy gets away with nothing. What's worse, is that both my knowledge and acknowledgment of this bipartisan treatment have zero effect on my future actions, and I don't know why.

It'll be interesting to see how this develops over the next ten years or so.

[leonardii.livejournal.com]

Yes... I do believe I completely understand. I do not yet have a son. I may or may not.

But the point is - my wife is MUCH tougher on my daughter than I am. I discipline her - but it's very gentle.

Now when she see me embrace my wife - she runs and jumps between us and says "My Papa!!!"

I'm sure this is just a toddler/youngster growing stage. But to me it's comical. To my wife - it's not.

But what can I say or do? I love my little baby girl. She's Papa's daughter. She has the exact duplicate of my eyes - so how can she not see the world through my eyes... as I see her life through my own.

It is our thinking of immortality. Through my daughter - I have produced not a copy... she is her own little person, but she is so much like her father. So very much indeed. She already loves watching "Lord of The Rings" and all of the "Star Wars" episodes with me. She'll sit by my side - we share tapioca, rice, or chocolate pudding and drink ginger ale together.

I'm just bonding with my daughter. In time... i can't wait to teach her about the computers in the house, the internet, programming, UNIX, gaming... the whole bit. She already sits in my lap when I am on my laptop. She loves her little children games and playing with the mouse.

She's my Padawan in all things. How can I not love her any more.

Oh - she's my little baby girl. I cannot help but spoil her... if only just a little. But I don't see any harm - because when she is alone with me - she behaves extremely well. Very disciplined and a very good girl. When my wife comes home - she's different. A rebel to her mother. And she often runs to me. I hold her, calm her down and explain the actions my wife has to take... such as giving her a bath and going to sleep at night. She wants to take a bath with me - in our Jacuzzi tub with the air jets. But - she's getting old enough to recognize body parts, so I don't want to be inappropriate with her.

But still... sometimes we do take that bath - but there are lots of foamy bubbles to hide everything. I know this will have to stop completely one of these days. But it's just so much fun when we play in the water. Splashing each other, putting foam bubbles on each others head and face. She likes to make me wear bubble hair and a Lincoln size beard made of bubbles.

I can only say that for the time being - I'm enjoying her innocence of being a growing toddler. I know one day it will all end... and I shall miss it all very much.

But for now - we play! In the future, we will play different games. She loves my pirate games - sailing ships, cutlass, epee, and broadsword duals. Civil war battles and spaceships racing through the galaxy. One day we will play together as allies... defeating the French ships on the ocean - and the enemy aliens in space. Yes - that time will come soon enough.

This year she will get her first bicycle. I can't wait to teach her how to ride. She will have training wheels at first... but I know in time when she gets older and stronger, I will get her a mountain bike and together we shall ride through forest trails together.

The joys of parenthood! I'm hoping our next child will also be a girl. We are not planning or trying - but we are not not trying either. So, any day now I expect Lena to become pregnant. If it's God's will. If not - I am waiting patiently for the day to arrive. Yes - another daughter I want. But - whatever the sex of the next child - she/he will be loved and taught.

Jessica also likes it when I play my trumpet. I'm hoping to pass this talent down to her. We shall see...