Monday, January 5, 2026

My Once A Year Meatball Fest to Channel Papa Butch and Mimi Sue for Childhood Spaghetti and Weeklong Sauce

I debated what I wanted to make for the week, because hamburger meat has gotten expensive, but it was on sale and I am/was tired of rice. I finished grading around 2 pm, headed to Big Y, and sought the trouble I might get in. Karal was walked, I craved comfort food, and so I went to town.

The result was 36 meatballs, 12 in the sauce (the rest to the freezer) and past festival for the rest of the week. It will be a tough one with classes, graduate student frustration, and the total need of me standing with pom-poms cheering on the impossible. They can do it.

I retired to Stranger Things in the evening with a long conversation with Chitunga who had a flight back to Des Moines with a layover in Atlanta. He's been on a two-week adventure and needs to return to his own grind, after spending the weekend recharging with Sue and Dave.

The meatballs came out great, but the sauce is lacking something (maybe it is simply the first night before it thickens up and absorbs all the peppers and spices I put into it. Usually tastes better on night two, and Lord knows it is wonderful to soak up with some fresh bakery bread. 

We have three nights this week and I push them a little at a time so they're all successful. I am tired of the dry nostrils, too, and blowing out what Kaitlin and Pam call potato chips. I say it is corn flakes. I think it is time to hook up the ol' humidifier again to get some moisture in my sleeping space. 

As for Delightful Derrick...Stranger Things found my spirit animal. I feel seen. 

Recorded the First Episode of THE WRITE TIME in 2026 Last Night and Feel Some Hope Because of the Beautiful People I Adore

Torrey Maldonado is debuting his first children's book on January 20th and CWP-Fairfield will be with him for the love-fest. Last night,...