tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post7884487758365605290..comments2023-09-19T07:18:43.566-07:00Comments on mental tesserae: The art of Jello consumptionJulie Q.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13737557893649934725noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-25204427244292508322007-11-21T05:49:00.000-07:002007-11-21T05:49:00.000-07:00Your writing is absolutely amazing--and incredibly...Your writing is absolutely amazing--and incredibly entertaining!! Personally, I am a poet/artist, but I often bridge the gap and attempt to elaborate with my prose or rantation. I was searching out a two-layer gelatin recipe when I stumbled across your glorious work...and I thought I would share my delight with you! Thank you so very much for entertaining me...before gelatin claims my soul! :DBrandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901653129720460686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-84538883029754289742007-10-06T21:21:00.000-07:002007-10-06T21:21:00.000-07:00Ha! This was funny! I totally relate.Ha! This was funny! I totally relate.Terrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08261395823714163725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-86692757341031985072007-10-06T17:09:00.000-07:002007-10-06T17:09:00.000-07:00Jell-O haters of the world, unite!I'm one of those...Jell-O haters of the world, unite!<BR/><BR/>I'm one of those whose house is not spotless. (In fact, there are a great many spots. Including one very large one of basalmic vinegar on my living room carpet that happened about an hour ago.) It does not bring me joy to scour my house top to bottom every five minutes. I prefer to spend my time doing things that bring me joy.Tristi Pinkstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12122250747480013804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-79195328090589058662007-10-04T22:36:00.000-07:002007-10-04T22:36:00.000-07:00"I really need to know if I’m crazy to think that ..."I really need to know if I’m crazy to think that there’s just no call for that kind of public demonstration of talent. Did anyone really enjoy eating it?"<BR/><BR/>Yes, you are crazy for begrudging this woman her ability to make a memorable dessert. And I truly hope that there were women there who DID enjoy eating it, just as I am sure you hope that there are readers out there that really enjoy your blog in spite of their own writing ability (or lack thereof).<BR/><BR/>Perhaps jello salad is to your neighbor what writing is to you and what a clean house is to Diane. <BR/><BR/>How boring life would be if we all excelled at the same things. And how unenjoyable if, instead of relishing in what others can do well, we use it as some sort of a measuring stick and hit ourselves over the head with it.<BR/><BR/>(Sorry, I know this is not the typical comment on your blog, and truly I am one of the readers out here who does enjoy your writing, but this post bothered me. Perhaps it was meant more tongue-in-cheek than I interpreted it...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-9225024724800503952007-10-04T13:07:00.000-07:002007-10-04T13:07:00.000-07:00Oh, my dear, if you believe yourself to be an unde...Oh, my dear, if you believe yourself to be an underachiever, then where does that leave me? When I look in your general direction, I see a brilliant woman who teaches college while raising her family - and still finds time to write witty, intelligent, thought-provoking posts. <BR/>Whether you know it or not, you are (a bit) of a 14-layer Jello salad yourself, in the regards that other people envy your blogging/writing acumen. <BR/><BR/>But I understand where you're coming from. I really do.Goslynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00153864420303599725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-70662724229690094722007-10-04T07:04:00.000-07:002007-10-04T07:04:00.000-07:00Yeah, that concerto thing? That's how I feel when...Yeah, that concerto thing? That's how I feel when I read your blog posts. This one is one of my very favorites of yours.<BR/><BR/>Our YW president did the rainbow jello thing for New Beginnings last year, using one color to represent each of the YW values. Yes: seven colors in all. Adding gross insult to mortal injury, she layered the jello into INDIVIDUAL PLASTIC CHAMPAGNE FLUTES. <BR/><BR/>Several of us were peeved for weeks.Luisa Perkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15310698422276446909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-87968121135970988692007-10-04T05:13:00.000-07:002007-10-04T05:13:00.000-07:00Every time I try on my Martha Stewart hat it turns...Every time I try on my Martha Stewart hat it turns into a disaster. I only pretend to be Martha at family functions, where the dish I bring usually took two tries to get "right." So think about it... it's quite possible your jello-friend is a jello-fraud! :xCountry Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13548479626760127632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-62015368147931838482007-10-03T14:36:00.000-07:002007-10-03T14:36:00.000-07:00I agree with Ruth, there are things you are meticu...I agree with Ruth, there are things you are meticulous on, are there not? It's obvious in your writing that you put time into your peices, others of us blurt out whatever comes to mind and pray people can understand. And who really knows what was happening that day the lady made the salad? Maybe emotionally she's a wreck and this is all she can control, the cleanliness of her house and that darn jello creation!<BR/>When all she really wants is a new pair of shoes and a date with her husband.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13092045285827506629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-83820129887848047182007-10-02T23:48:00.000-07:002007-10-02T23:48:00.000-07:00Lovethispost.Love<BR/><BR/>this<BR/><BR/>post.Jennifer B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18027072144184440842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-13689942372074576942007-10-02T16:47:00.000-07:002007-10-02T16:47:00.000-07:00I once had evil thoughts about a whole multitude o...I once had evil thoughts about a whole multitude of women as I sat in church and thought, "Who on earth has that much time to devote to hair and makeup on a Sunday Morning????" (This was in Idaho) I occasionally still give into this rant but have mostly gotten over it. Just find comfort in knowing that somewhere out there is a woman who hates you for being so "perfect" (it was almost me until I read this post). =) <BR/><BR/>As for 15 layer jello.... with that much time and effort why not make gingersnap and pumpkin cheesecake sandwiches.Ice Creamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10720267761985766740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-2458839800373357092007-10-01T23:10:00.000-07:002007-10-01T23:10:00.000-07:00There you go again, slacker! Methinks you are onl...There you go again, slacker! Methinks you are only slacking in your acknowledgement of your own talents. Of course, it is human nature to compare our own weaknesses to others' strengths.<BR/><BR/>I seem to remember walking through the Phoenix Art Museum with you in February only half listening to everything you had to say about the paintings in the first 10 minutes because I was in a panic comparing your brilliance with my own ignorance. Remember how I couldn't focus until I had my own little inner dialog? "I may not be able to understand half of what she's saying, let alone say anything intelligent about this stuff myself, but I can tell you the 14 steps of how chocolate is made and 29 different things to do with it off the top of my head. See, I am smart, I am smart, I am smart!"<BR/><BR/>I do have to admit this post struck a nerve with me, though. I've heard the comments made about some of the desserts I've showed up with, and I'm tempted to dumb it down at church functions from now on. I make cool stuff because I love to and because I can - certainly not to make anyone else look or feel bad. <BR/><BR/>And perhaps the nicest thing that anyone did for me last week was my visiting teacher bringing me (the trained pastry chef) chocolate chip cookies - on a goofy paper plate, definitely made from a mix. Wanna know what I loved about that? She thought of me and brought them because she knows I love chocolate. And that made them the best chocolate chip cookies I've eaten in a very long time.TARAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01411402752272720548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-83070605593813504412007-10-01T22:27:00.000-07:002007-10-01T22:27:00.000-07:00I probably wouldn't have thought much about the sa...I probably wouldn't have thought much about the salad except to think if it were yummy or not. I'm kind of unobservant. My MIL bring jello to dinner every Sunday. It's one layer. Occasionally she'll make a two layer. My kids love it because I refuse to make jello. She calls jello a salad because there's fruit in it. Is jello a salad? <BR/><BR/>I love how you interpret pictures. I took an art class once and was fascinated by the things the professor was pointing out. But I could only see it when someone one else pointed it out to me.<BR/><BR/>You would probably feel comfortable in my house!mindyluwhohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18443030788449986652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-8803842461698013092007-10-01T18:51:00.000-07:002007-10-01T18:51:00.000-07:00Hysterical post. I can't relate -- I think I'm too...Hysterical post. I can't relate -- I think I'm too sanguine to compare myself to anyone. But you made me laugh, all the same.<BR/><BR/>Obviously, writing is your virtuosity.<BR/><BR/>And don't go saying, "Yes, but so-and-so writes this better than I..." because that could be said about everything. <BR/><BR/>For example, do you really think Martha Stewart would regard the 15-layer Jell-O salad as a triumph?Kelly @ Love Wellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18037513409301217473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-552120803643313922007-10-01T18:36:00.000-07:002007-10-01T18:36:00.000-07:00Ah, but you are a virtuoso in your own way, your w...Ah, but you are a virtuoso in your own way, your writing and art analysis makes us green with envy :)<BR/><BR/>My MIL has one of those perfect houses, now she has followed us to Afrifa (seriously) and keeps offering to come and clean mine - think there's a hint there?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-66461322016824720832007-10-01T17:29:00.000-07:002007-10-01T17:29:00.000-07:00This reminds me of the "interview" my mom wrote fo...This reminds me of the "interview" my mom wrote for a class reunion she attended years ago - one of the interview questions was "What is your greatest virtue?" and my mom's reply was "I do not inspire envy in others."Beahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15957626443087438904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-2844913793554068572007-10-01T17:04:00.000-07:002007-10-01T17:04:00.000-07:00Thank you for your efforts. I can go both ways. ...Thank you for your efforts. I can go both ways. If 14 layers of jello will complete an event then I'll make one but if someone else is willing to do it then by all means they are welcome to have at it. I'm happy to help the balance on either side.Larahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12518442124374879454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-40541671207168738342007-10-01T13:08:00.000-07:002007-10-01T13:08:00.000-07:00You are not alone. I too find complicated gelatin...You are not alone. I too find complicated gelatin desserts highly offensive.<BR/><BR/>I'm a little lost when it comes to knowing what kind of homemaker I aspire to be. Not so secretly I want others to be impressed and even the weest bit envious. But I don't want to cross that line into the realms of annoyingly clean. <BR/><BR/>I just want to be adored, you know?Kimberly Vanderhorsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01653757517652257445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34687963.post-46809032907747892562007-10-01T12:18:00.000-07:002007-10-01T12:18:00.000-07:00So if you are a slacker, what does that make me? ...So if you are a slacker, what does that make me? On second, thought I don't even want to know.An Ordinary Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497066145696617241noreply@blogger.com