Twisty

Overheard at the Deli: Nice Conversation Unintentionally Filled With Sexual Innuendo

Last night on my way home from work, I stopped at the local deli to order J (pheumonia) and me (bronchitis) some delicious, from scratch matzoh ball soup.

Me: Excuse me, may I have 2 quarts of soup and 12 matzoh balls, please? (Coughs)

Deli Guy: A little "Jewish Penicillin," eh? (Smiles) Well, that sure is a lot of balls. Are you sure you like that many?

Me: How many balls do you think I need?

Deli Guy: Most folks have two.

Me: The balls are the best part! Not sure if my husband likes them, though.

End of the Day Tally:
$17.07 for 2 quarts of soup and 6 matzoh balls.

Coffee Mugs

I’ve always had a thing for them. Funny, because I’ve never been a raving fan of coffee.

Now that J and I have two of everything, I’m quick to throw out anything that’s not in good condition. Rusty whisks? We got 4 of ‘em. Nasty old pots? We just got a cool new set of Calphalon. However, I suddenly turn feral if asked to thin down my coffee mug collection.

The Magic of Mugs

I like that mugs are kitchy. They’re reminders of places you’ve been – or worked. Also, they, much like bumper stickers, celebrate the one-liner. Finally, I like to think that it’s another step on the career path for people who write Hallmark cards.

I grew up in a tea-loving house. Nevertheless, mugs – not dainty, little cups and saucers – played a starring role. Tea was a thing soaked with milk, sweetened with white sugar (Atkins diet be damned!), and sipped out of a well-worn, oft-chipped coffee mug. Scratch that. Actually, tea was most often chugged. In the winter, the mugs were ice cold, having come out of a cabinet that shared a wall with the garage. So, if you like your tea piping hot, you had to savor it…quickly.

My mug of choice is a Far Side mug I purchased during a shopping trip with Sarah in 1995. On it, two rustic-looking cowboys sit out on the range, eating a dinner just cooked over the open fire. One cowboy, carrying a metal contraption and a coffee mug turns to the other and asks, “Latte, Jed?” It never ceases to bring a smile to my face. (If you’re interested, one guy actually documented his whole Far Side mug collection. You can check it out right here.)

My Special Technique

I’ve always used mugs at work. I think it’s the small thing I do for the environment everyday. Also, I like that mugs have a handle. It makes it easier to type and sip – kind of like I’m doing right now.

Usually I fill my mug with some nice herbal teas and leave out the sugar. However, on the rare occasions I switch to some, as my dad likes to call it, “adulterated slop” (typically coffee with any number of jazzy-named creamers), I do my double cup technique.

Step 1: Mix cup of coffee or tea in paper cup.
Step 2: Put on lid and leave mouth hole big enough as not to mess up lip gloss.
Step 3: Put paper cup inside mug.
Step 4: Enjoy!

I figure this keeps my tea from tasting like coffee and keeps me from burning my hands.

Well, I’m off to fill my cup. Cheers!