Randomness

This past week has been a complete and utter mess. I am in the middle of judging for an awards show and while all the packages of entries have been sent, I have to get the judges to submit their marks so that I can release the top ten winners in each of the 20 or so categories. That's a lot of work to begin with, but add to it an AGM (Annual General Meeting) for a very high maintenance group of women and it has been absolute mayhem. Plus, earlier this week one of my judges passed away and needed to be replaced. I can't even begin to describe how difficult that was, not only dealing with the passing of a literary icon but trying to find someone worthy of his position on the judging team. I managed to pull it all off this week, right down to voting cards for the meeting Monday morning. Unbelievable. So last night, after this horrendous week, I decided it was time to karaoke.

Okay, really it was the boy's idea as he needed to meet up with one of his friends and knew she'd be there however I wasn't going to go simply because of the stressful week I'd had. The boy and I met up with my brother and his friend P who were sitting on a patio and after a few pints, I decided that I would go to karaoke but wouldn't sing. I really thought that, honest. We met up with our friends and next thing I knew I was being called up to sing. So I did, and I rocked, for once. Maybe it was because on the way the boy told me that I normally choose the wrong songs. this time I chose different songs and it actually didn't sound too bad. Unless I'm deluding myself, which also might be the case. 

In the middle of all this, Jerry O'Connell walked in and sat down at our table. No joke. He showed me pictures of the babies and Rebecca, and we had an awesome chat about kids and marriage. He was there because the host of the karaoke is a friend of his and Jerry was in town and thought he'd come check it out so he could tell everyone back in LA what the host does what he's in Toronto. Needless to say, there were many pictures being emailed back to LA last night!

Today when I woke up and remembered that I sat and drank 50 with Jerry O'Connell it reminded me that sometime you have to go out when you don't feel like it because you never know what might happen. Last night was great because of all the great songs people sang and the environment was awesome. I will remember that the next time I think I'm too tired to go have fun.

Mom to the rescue

Yesterday was my brother's 40th birthday party. I met my parents at the subway station and we went together. As a family. Yikes. It was good to see my sister-in-law and my nieces and to hang out with the rest of my family. I don't get to see them very often, which is my fault, so it was nice to get a chance to catchup and see what everyone is doing. My mom and I sat together for the entire thing, and I helped her curb her jealousy at the sight of my step-father helping his ex-wife figure out how to work her camera. My mom tends to hold a grudge, much like a few people I know, and she knows how to say the right thing at the right time to enforce that. 

I ended up going back to my parents house for dinner and the boy met me there. We had a great time, except for me attempting to 'help' my mom with dinner. She was making one of my favourites: pork tenderloin in a maple glaze sauce. In order to make this dish, you sear the tenderloin in a stainless steel frying pan and transfer it to the oven to cook. When the pan comes out of the oven 20 minutes later, the meat is transfered to a plate and tinfoil tented over it to keep it warm. The sauce is made in the same pan and simmered until reduced. I was in charge of the sauce and as my mom took the pan out of the oven, she reminded me over and over that it was hot and that I needed a glove to handle it.

I was offended that she thought she needed to remind me. I had done this a bajillion times and didn't think I needed the reminder. I think you know the rest. Aloe on my fingertips for the rest of the night, followed by vitamin e spray that instantly took away the sting. I stood there for a few minutes after I had touched the handle; it was such a natural gesture I didn't think about how hot it was. I didn't want to tell my mom what I'd done because I knew she'd make fun of me.

She made fun of me alright, but not before she made sure I wasn't too badly burned. It was bad, but not hospital bad. This morning my fingertips are crispy and gross. It will take couple of days to heal completely but maybe this means I'm off dish-duty until then. Not so bad after all.