Sugar cookie fun!

So I discovered the best sugar cookie recipe (in my new autumn cookie cutter set, no less) and feel I should share. So simple, yet so delicious.

Wilton Roll-Out Cookies

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
  
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. In large mixing bowl, cream butter with sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add in egg, vanilla and almond extracts. Mix flour, baking powder and salt; add 1 cup at a time to butter mixture, mixing after each addition.

3. Do not chill dough.

4. Divide dough into 2 balls. On a floured surface, roll each ball into a circle approximately 12 in. wide and 1/8 in. thick. Dip cookie cutter in flour before each use.

5. Bake cookies on ungreased cookie sheet on top rack of oven for 6-7 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned.

The truth hurts.

This list has been brewing for quite a while. It's time to be honest with myself (and, in turn, with my blogging audience). While some may take offense, I feel I present clear arguments for the following.

I can't date:

1) Anyone who drives a truck [as their primary vehicle]. Seriously - does it not appear super machismo to anyone else? If you don't need to be hauling or transporting anything, get a car (or at least some sort of SUV?). The "my truck is bigger than your truck" attitude doesn't do it for me. If a truck-driving man out there would like to explain it to me, I am all ears.

2) Anyone who uses the word "supper" (or, for that matter, "vehicle" in place of car/truck). I just can't do it - sorry, Wisconsinites.

3) Anyone who cannot grasp a vague understanding of what I do. I'm pretty good at putting it into lay terms. If after spending an evening together you simply look at me and state, "so you're a scientist?", we're probably not meant to be.

4) An über Republican. As with the "supper"-sayers, more power to you - I just don't get it. You are more than welcome to hang out with Steve, but count me out.

... to be continued.

Dear "John"

This is a formal request for closure. Okay, not so formal, since it's on my blog, but you get the idea.

Enough with the minimal effort at prolonged communication; I'm an "all in" kind of girl. If you're done with whatever we were doing, could you just let me know? I'm quite capable of handling the rejection [in a silently sad sort of way]. But the indecisive-whatever it is you're doing isn't working for me. Time to show your hand, sir.

Hooray for trips to Maryland!

Eight days from now I'll be in the company of one of my favorite people, something that happens all too infrequently. How wonderful is it that work travel conveniently combines with pleasure? Thanks goodness for that. I am counting down the days (okay, let's be honest - the hours) until this quality girl time ensues. The fact that this also occurs on my birthday is an added bonus. I can't wait!

In other news, my lack of motivation is at an all time high today. Is there a medication for this? Or perhaps the only solution is a career change? Why do I seem to have such a problem with this? The big picture of my job is very interesting, but I've discovered that I really dislike many of the day to day tasks. That's a problem.

Finally, my pool team played at the Eagles last night. That is something I NEVER thought I would say. Ahh, Marshfield.

Rant

I am almost 27. I accept this. While I've come to terms with where I am in my life, I cannot help but wonder if perhaps I am destined to be alone forever awhile. Though tempting, "forever" was just a touch too bleak. Anyway, now that I am officially part of the dating scene (yuck), I am realizing that others in the post-divorce situation are perhaps hesitant to form relationships again. I've run across this in the newly divorced (understandable) and the not-so-recently divorced (come on, people!). I am a relationship kind of girl; I used to think this was a good thing (okay, I still think it is a good thing, but it sure is making things difficult). I crave commitment! I know this can be frightening, men, but I promise I am very nice [and smart and funny and wonderful, if you must know]. I'm going to have to ask you to stop with the mixed signals. Seriously; I can't take it anymore. I am too young to abandon dating altogether, but you're about to push me over the edge.

?

Only I could not know how I fractured my wrist. Oops.

Day 2

Back-to-back posts - so far, so good.

1. I am still, on occasion, attempting to grab my 20's by the balls. (I told you it was like the last year didn't happen)
2. One of those occasions was last night.
3. Spontaneity is exhausting.

If I were Conan...

this would be when I'd bound onto the stage, arms raised, amid ruckus applause. But I'm not, so let's not make a big deal of my return to the blogging world, okay?

I almost waited until 10/18 to post anything, just so I could pretend like the entire year never happened (that about sums it up), but decided that if I felt like blogging I probably shouldn't wait. Who knows when the feeling might strike again, knowing me?

I apologize for my disappearance from the blog... things weren't so good, and who wants to write (or read) about that? But now? Well goodness. Between Palin and my humorous forays into the dating world, I have material for months!

So where was I? Ah, yes: realizing that my move to America's heartland might not have been the most thought out, brilliant plan I've had. Oops. Professionally, a superb move. However, there've been some setbacks personally as liberal idealism collided head-on with... Marshfield in general.

So I'm back [ruckus applause]; prepare yourselves for good reads - I swear I couldn't even make this stuff up.