Views on Cloning / The Art of Chili Dogs

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/30/18629517-mammoth-blood-siberian-discovery-sparks-some-wild-and-woolly-claims?lite

Have you heard?? They've found blood samples from a 10,000 year old mammoth! Do you understand what that could mean???

We could possibly clone a MAMMOTH!!

"We" not being the Andersons specifically, but we as in humankind. Neat, right? This has to be a spectacular opportunity for the scientific world. And equally a spectacular opportunity for the wealthy to fund a trip for the Andersons to go to Siberia to see the mammoth clones one day. (We are collecting donations)

To completely digress from the topic of this groundbreaking discovery in the pits of the Russian tundra:

Anderson #3 has mastered the art of the chili dog, an even greater, monumental discovery itself!

If you, yes you, would like to master this art as well, here are the steps to creating a successful chili hot dog:

1. Begin with placing unnecessary but desired condiments (mustard, etc.) on the bun. Do not place the hot dog in its vessel, yet.
2. Place necessary items such as cheese and onions on top of your superfluous niceties. 
3. Coat the innards of the bun with a thin to moderate layer of chili.
4. Place hot dog inside of its specified vessel. 
5. Spread a precarious amount of chili to the top of the entity, being careful not to let the chili drip off the bun to its doom onto your white shirt.

No words can describe a Variable C experience

Our what? Our RIDE???

Because life is better sliced (and with some salt and pepper, too)

The mothership!

Photo creds to:

This guy...

...and this guy!

Thank you, dads!

Dinner with the AnderBurgs

(Trumpet fanfare)

DOO DOO-DOO-DOO!

On the fine "winter" day of the 28th of December, a Friday, the clan hath been reunited. 

They fought their way through the blistering Oklahoma cold, tamed a wretched plane ride through cloudy skies, strangers' snoring, and lack of a personal bubble, survived the fiery abyss of Atlanta airport (!!!), and gallantly flung themselves into the arms of the wack-jobs they gladly-- gladly?-- call friends.

So far so good-- no injuries, all eyes remain in their sockets, no one's lost anything (yet), no arrests, no calls from angry neighbors. I would conclude then, that yes! All is dandy and fun!

But then again, we haven't boarded the big boat yet. And that's when you would hear about it. But you won't. Because there is no Wifi on the big boat. No blogging on the big boat.

You will never know what happened on the big boat.

And it is probably better that way.

So for now, please bathe in the bright beams of our absolute adorable-ness!

Cruise Countdown: approximately 14 hours.

Bon voyage, landlubbers!!! 

Fa-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la

Ahhh, the windows are open, the air is crisp (by Florida standards), hot tea in hand, and all of the family is leisurely enjoying each other's Christmas joy and cheer...

I could go on, and get über nostalgic because I am very good at that sort of thing, but I won't because I think a better description of the Anderson family Christmas is this:

Last-minute Christmas shopping wrapping-- oh dear! I didn't get them a present dang it how many days how many hours how many minutes and seconds CRUISE oh no I can't wait ohthankgoodness it's just us and yes we miss you but no we don't need you to come and make it anything like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and well no our family's not THAT dysfunctional but just in case because I don't want our tree to burn down or get any cats electrocuted or anything horrific of that sort---


Please enjoy these wacky gift ideas that Dad, Meredith and myself would very much desire while I continue this illegible babbling in the inner crevices of my over-schooled brain!

(Take notes.)

 If you know about my obsession with the 80s, you would understand. Of course, if I had this, I couldn't be a covert texter. And that, dear parents and teachers, is exactly why I need this 80s-tastic cellular telephone case.

 Dad says this might cure my Longshowertosis. I just think it's nifty and won't make as much noise as the kitchen timer.

 This simply doesn't need an explanation.

 "Ferris Bueller, you're my hero."

Amen, Cameron, amen.

 Coasters are so boring, but these. Holy moly it's toast.

 I might complain less about flossing. And Meredith might actually floss.

 Dying of laughter a little bit on the inside

 It's an inflatable dinosaur! This would look fabulous next to the flying pig in our front yard.

 You know, this would be such an eco-friendly gift, I would totally turn my lights off all the time! And it's a dimmer! Come on, who doesn't want a big red panic button?

I love socks! I love these socks! The person who designed these deserves a prize.

 Hehehe... Crab hat.

Save a Walrus today and adopt! You won't regret it!

That's 88 big ones to a good cause!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Cruisin' Countdown: 14 DAYS

Nothing like a whole week of frantic Christmas shopping and homemade gift-making and a menagerie of homework to cram into the wee hours when not visiting family and going out with friends and--

Whew. Let me breathe.

As you can see, it's a little bit stressful here in the Anderson home. All we really want is to get on a boat and sail far, far away, with the sounds of ocean waves and maybe some Jimmy Buffett playing in the background. 

That's all. That's all we want. To turn off our cellular technologies and disappear off the face of the planet. Yes, Christmas is exciting, it's a nice detail, but....

Now, we're talkin'!

In two weeks, the AnderBurgs will be reunited.

In two weeks, the laughter and the buffet-food will flow, the stretchy pants will emerge from their drawers, the karaoke will screech far into the night! IN TWO WEEKS!!!

I'm not sure I can survive until then.

(And the world better not end.)

Dinner with the Turkkis

Though ordering pizza is not unsuitable for any Anderson Friday-night jamboree, I ventured out of the house for once to experience dinner with a family not of my own, one that doesn't put their pajamas on before 8 pm...

And so it was to be, dinner with la familia del Rolling Resistor!
(http://rollingresistor.blogspot.com)

"Haha!" they teased. I was bombarded. It was likely to be an only slightly milder rendition of Meet the Parents! But I assured them that no, Mom and Dad, they cannot be more terrifying than you.

Dad and I did not get lost! Okay, yes we did, but only early on, and you can barely call it getting lost. I promise.The short car-ride was non-scarring, mostly harmless, and I got to sit in the front seat. Fortunately. No lectures, no threats, just Lady Gaga blasting through the speakers and our discussions about how P!nk's break-up music sure beats that of Taylor Swift, the history of Elvis, and how I learned to fold epic, universe-speaking paper cranes out of Walt Whitman poems in English class.

It's always ever-so-fascinating to experience the dinnertime phenomena of other families. We feasted on some scrumptious sliders, mashed potatoes, and baked beans, and I got to indulge in this Swedish mustard that puts all other kinds of mustard to absolute shame. Apparently you can only get it in Sweden?? My family doesn't have cool mustard!!!
I suppose that's the other perk to eating at someone else's house- they always seem to have cooler foodstuffs, and in this case, cooler mustard.

Of course, pre-Swedish mustard, the Rolling Resistor and his two adorable siblings and myself challenged each other to a great game of monopoly. And guess what? They play monopoly more epic-ly, too. Who would've thought that one could be so serious about board-game real estate!

Post-mustard, I jammed out for the first time on Just Dance on Xbox Kinect, which I'm telling you is like the future (and almost as cool as the mustard). But mid-Party Rock Anthem we experienced an injury due to the large, clumsy left feet of Mr. Sasquatch over there, and little Henrik had to be airlifted from the dance floor. One more song and a dozen wacky dance moves later, we were conked out on the couch and chose to enlighten ourselves with some television. I've never seen it before, but Duck Dynasty is my new favorite. Holy cow. The beards and the camouflage and the squirrels completely make the show.

There was some really yummy strawberry shortcake somewhere in there, but soon enough, it was time for Anderson #3 to return to the Anderson HQ.

And if you were worried about any funny business occurring, I assure you, do not worry-- I was chauffeured home in a shiny, sleek minivan by the wonderful Turkki ladies, mom and sis, while in the backseat Bigfoot and I watched YouTube videos about how to be a ninja.

And back to the Andersons I went, realizing that well, we're all delightfully a little quirky and dysfunctional. Thank God for families!

It's not your 11th birthday without...

A celebration that spans a whole weekend!

A pre-party with egg rolls and cake and the crazy-- I mean the family!

(Moving right along, because we do love the crazy nutballs we share our blood and birthdays with...)

Donuts for breakfast!

A brand new bike!

A ginormous envelope!

(A ginormous envelope???)

An awesome homemade birthday card by yours truly!

COUPONS

And of course, it's not your birthday without....

A big sister to blog your most adorable baby photos!

(You're welcome!)

I love you to Neptune and back three-thousand four-hundred and twenty-eight times 

(and times that by fifty-seven thousand six-hundred and seventy-two)

And then square that.

And multiply by ten a few times.

And remember that there are plenty more where these came from!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEREDITH!!!!!