SOTW: Set the Fire to the Third Bar

Goddamn you, Snow Patrol.

The Easiest Chicken Noodle Soup Ever

Chicken Noodle Soup
Originally uploaded by popsicles for dinner

When I'm sick, cold, tired, or just having an awful week, there is nothing more comforting than soup. I love it all: legumes, chilis, stews, broths, creams, soups of every texture and taste. The easiest soup of all though? The classic chicken noodle.

To share the recipe seems ridiculous because there isn't much of one. It's 12 cups of water, a can of low sodium chicken broth, enough adobo, parsely, salt, and pepper to season, two handfuls of wide egg noodles, three carrots, peeled and sliced, two celery sticks, sliced, and about two cups of cooked chicken (breast or dark meat, either is fine). Simmer for about 40 minutes. That's it.

I tend to like mine thick so I actually serve myself with a slotted spoon and then ladle some broth into my bowl.

Easiest comfort ever.

SOTW: Shake It Out

If you don't know MO, you should. I heard one song from them a while ago and ended up buying their first record on a whim. I was not disappointed. Their second album, Mean Everything to Nothing is amazing.

Song of the Week: Shake It Out by Manchester Orchestra

My mouth! My beautiful mouth!

Jumping right in: I was in pain this past Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The pain was right between my two front teeth, at the gum line. I made an emergency visit to the dentist Thursday because the pain got so bad, I couldn't speak. Doc said I had an infection in my gums that was due to an old cavity and some plaque, loss of bone in my jaw, and that both issues were being affected by overgrown frenum. Now, I've always had a problem with my mouth. It works just fine, don't get me wrong, but I've always felt like my lips and teeth were abnormally connected. Every time I so much as frowned my lips would pull on my gums which was causing me a lot of pain. Alas, that is a problem no more.

The doc opened his clinic on their day off to fix the issue. Two hours and a nifty laser later, my frenum has been cut down and I have enough antibiotics to kill the black plague.

In a month I go back to do the top of my mouth. I also have a tight frenum under my tongue (an issue known as "tongue-tied") but the thought of cutting under my tongue squigs me out. I think I'll keep the tongue as is.

That's my exciting update for the day!

SOTW: The Crowing

I'm alive, I swear. I just need to wake up a bit. This is the perfect song for that.

Song of the Week: The Crowing by Coheed and Cambria

SOTW: One of those hauntingly beautiful ones...

Song of the Week: Wake Up by Arcade Fire

This one makes me smile and cry at the same time.

SOTW: Panic Switch

Get up and sway.

Song of the Week: Panic Switch by Silversun Pickups

Mary, Full of Grace: Paper Dolls (5)

Her hair was pointing every which way, her cheeks were ruddy and her lips were pouted and wet. Her dress, her beautiful white lace tea-length dress, was ripped at the bodice, near the hips, and covered in mud.

Marianne stuttered a few times before managing to call out for Jimmy. She turned back to Mary. “Honey, what happened to your dress?”

Mary couldn’t hold her tears back and she began to sob, covering her face with her fists. She felt someone pry her hands away and she realized her father was kneeling in front of her a murderous look on his face. “Mary,” he said with a false calm, “you have to tell us why you’re crying.”

Mary hiccuped and shook her head. “You’re mad.”

“We’re not mad, are we Jimmy?” Marianne shot a pointed look at Jimmy who quickly shook his head and smoothed his features.

“I’m just worried about you, honey. Now tell us why you’re so upset.”

“I….I…” Mary struggled to catch her breath before answering. “I beat up Christopher Liddell.”

SOTW: Welcome to England

I have been in some sort of love with Tori Amos since I was ten years old. Just so you know.

Song of the Week: Welcome to England by Tori Amos

Mary, Full of Grace: Over There (4)

To the Brandons, it seemed their days in Biloxi passed like water through a sieve. Jimmy worked; Marianne tended to the home; and the two monitored, with the keen eyes only parents have, little Mary’s growth. While other parents looked for signs of gift or promise, the Brandons searched for normalcy. Another inch, another pound, another month of life and they’d breathe simultaneous sighs of relief. She’s normal, they’d think. Thank God, she’s absolutely ordinary.

If only they knew…

Read the newest chapter.