Spiderverse

Last night Darwin and I went to see Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse.  It lives up to the hype.  And it had not one, but TWO major plot twists that I failed to see coming.  This, like, NEVER happens. Like many writers, I can see plot twists coming because I CREATE plot twists.  It's kind of sucky because you never get to be surprised at movies.  But these two--both involving villains--got me good.  They startled me, and I was pleased. 

Darwin didn't enjoy it much, though.

I liked it very much and look forward to getting it on DVD.

The Great Butterscotch Shortage

Last night after the movie, Darwin and I stopped at the grocery store. It was very late, so the place was almost deserted.  He needed a couple things, I needed a couple things.

Among the things I needed was butterscotch chips for haystack cookies, an annual holiday treat.  I had already put them on the pick up list for my regular grocery shopping, but when I picked my order up, the store informed me that they had no butterscotch chips of any brand.  So I stopped in after the movie to see if they had any now.

They didn't.  Not one package.  They didn't even an empty slot on the shelf where they were supposed to go.

The store also didn't have a couple things Darwin needed, including a small present for our family gift exchange.  I proposed that, since we were out and since it was late on a Friday when NO ONE went shopping, we head down to the local mega-store (open 24 hours!) and shop there.  Even though we were tired, it would be worth it to shop in a store unoccupied by frantic weekend holiday shoppers.  Darwin agreed.

The mega-store was, as expected, nearly empty.  Cool!  We shopped here and there, and found what we needed.  Then I remembered--butterscotch chips!  We bustled over to the baking section.

No butterscotch chips.  They had chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, M&M chips, and toffee chips.  But no butterscotch.

We rooted around in disbelief.  This is America!  There are no shortages in consumer paradise!  What was--

Darwin found, stashed behind a case of semi-sweet chocolate, three packages of butterscotch chips.  I snatched them with glee and relief.  Treasure hunt achieved!

But now we're wondering--is there a butterscotch shortage of some kind?

Big Baking

Today was baking day.  Next weekend the family celebrations begins, you see, so I have to get all possible prep done this weekend.

I started off with piragis, which are the most labor intensive.  Two batches of those done, even though I accidentally burned the first batch of filling and had to start over. (Argh!)  Next up was chocolate/peanut butter no-bake cookies.  Then chocolate-coconut macaroons.  Then brownies.  Then Rice-Krispie treat wreaths.  Then raspberry sorbet (to go with the brownies).  Then crack.  Then haystacks (treasure hunt achieved!).  Then chocolate cookies with salted caramel chips.

Now the kitchen is clean and the treats are in the freezer.  I'm done!