Lady Godiva

5/14/19

I've been secretly writing this blog in my head for about two years now. In July of 2016, I joined a local gym and quickly enrolled in the 8am Water Aerobics class. Enrolled is a strong word and frankly, not that accurate. The only enrollment is my $49 a month membership that comes out of my bank account every month. I can go or not go. Either way, they have me under contract for a small fortune.

It is behind the doors of the nice locker rooms where you get to really know people and also have the chance to encounter some interesting personalities. For instance, this is where I first encountered Lady Godiva.

About a year into my membership, I walked into the women's locker room one morning to find a twenty something young woman buck naked dancing with ear buds. Yep, right there for all the world to see once someone opened the door from the hallway.

Let me state this very clearly. I'm not speaking of listening and gently swaying back and forth around her dance floor. She was um...very um...explicit. Yes, that's probably the word I'm going to have to go with since I pride myself on running a clean blog.

 She couldn't have positioned herself better for this stage show. There is a mirror/make-up station that is directly in the viewing path of the door when it opens. The men's locker room opens across from ours. In addition, this is where the main elevator opens and closes continuously throughout the day. So, once someone opens the locker room door anyone standing outside in the hallway looking inside could easily see Lady Godiva in all of her glory.

Ok, so one had to ask the question. Was this intentional? Hmm. I gave her the benefit of the doubt at first and thought maybe it was a coincidence.

I inquired among my friends in the hot tub. They too had encountered several sightings and were a bit unsettled about the matter themselves.

This went on for several months and we wondered how we could gently go about addressing this issue without sounding like a bunch of prude church ladies.

One lady suggested I speak to someone in charge at the front desk.  I wasn't going to complain to the management. I mean really, can you imagine the conversation?

 "Uh, well I have a problem with this younger woman dancing naked in the locker room."

 "Really? Naked you say? In the locker room? Hmm..Well, we'll have to check on that."

Ok, that was too awkward and not happening.

I asked Mr. Quilter Cook about what to do and he didn't seem to think there was any kind of issue to address. Naturally. So, he was no help.

About the time the hot tub ladies had enough of these shenanigans, a sign went up around around the locker room. Interestingly enough, one was posted to Lady Godiva's favorite make-up station that read:

NUDITY EXPECTED, MODESTY APPRECIATED

Enough said. No accusations, no pointing of fingers and no blame. Just stating the facts.

Well, there you go. 

Frankly, I don't think they could have said it better. 

We're guessing Lady Godiva  moved on to entertain a new audience.

Nobody has seen her since the signs went up.

Rhonda 

Crazy For...Bundts?

5/8/19

Caution! If you fell for the cupcake fad a few years back, you are in trouble. There's a new craze starting up and it's not cookies, cupcakes...but...wait for it....Bundt cakes! Yep! Big cakes, small cakes, mini cakes all covered in thick white sweet deliciousness. Just like the cupcakes, they come in all flavors and can be ordered and delivered for any occasion to your front door. 

Hold onto your seats, Madisonians! We're getting a franchise here! 

I don't know what side of the city it will be located, but I hope it's on my side so I can go in and admire the yummy goodness! Bariatric surgery doesn't really allow me to gorge myself with sweets plumped with ooey gooey fillings and drooling with icing, but I can admire the artistry. 

Mr. Quilter Cook and I spotted our first Nothing Bundt Cakes store while we were in Milwaukee a couple of years ago. We looked at each other and laughed. "Who would be able to stay in business selling nothing but Bundt cakes?" We predicted they'd be out by the next time we were in town. 

The store is still there. And operating. In fact, there was a line the last time we drove by. 

It was a long line, too.

Now guess who is laughing all the way to the bank?

Seems to me, they hit all the way home with this idea!

A full size cake that will serve I believe 6-8 people will run about $40-$45 dollars. Yep, you read that correctly. There are other sizes and prices, but if you want to share a birthday treat with co-workers you're going to have to fill that fork of yours with a little cash first. 

But I really shouldn't be making comments about what customers will pay for bakery items. When I was selling treats for clients in Indianapolis, I charged $40 for a dozen of my premium Quilter Cook Cupcakes. 

There is a customer with a sweet tooth around every corner. 

Gosh, I love being a baker! 

I'd better round up my Bundt pans this morning when I get back from my water aerobics class. 

Something tells me I need to be perfecting my skills on this new craze! 

Remember, you can always call me to bake for you-I have you covered.

Besides, what's a few Bundt cakes between friends? 

Rhonda 

Check out the link below! I'll let you know when I spot the new store in town!

www.nothingbundtcakes.com

Star Wars: The Final Inning

Star Wars: The Final Inning

 As the scores went up for the bottom of the 11th inning I started planning my revenge on my eldest son. He owes me big time. And it just so happens that Mother's Day is just around the corner! 

Lucky me! 

Here's the deal. I wasn't supposed to be going to the Brewers vs. Mets game. Nor was I supposed to be sitting in section 431 seat 13 on Saturday night, which also happened to be Star Wars Night at Miller Park. I had planned a day of shopping with a friend. But, when Son #1 decided he couldn't make it to the game my shopping trip went on hold and the next thing I knew we were headed to Milwaukee. 

You may ask the obvious question. Yes,Mr. Quilter Cook did ask others to go, but due to the fact the state of Wisconsin was celebrating the One Day Of Spring this year nobody was available. The other answer is yes, we do have another son. He lives in Indianapolis. Trust me, he wouldn't drive the six hours for the chance at a selfie with Yoda or even Princess Leia just to see a ballgame. 

So, I attended instead. We're Lutheran. We just can't let a good ticket go to waste. 

 It was my third Star Wars Night.  As usual,  there were character appearances from popular members of the Force and Empire making their rounds for selfies as we waited for security forces to open the gates of Tattooie. 

The game started on time, the anthem sang, we cheered our side on and it was moving right along. 

 Until the ninth inning... 

Our opponents scored and then..innings ten...eleven...twelve...thirteen...fourteen...fifteen...

Had we had been taken by the Empire and forced into some weird baseball torture cast out by Darth Vadar himself? 

No matter what we dealt out, the other side retaliated! 

I thought that if only I could send a secret hologram message through R2D2 to my hero Hans Solo! I knew he would swoop in on the Millinnium Falcon and rescue me from section 431! Wait, he'd rescue US. Yes, Us. Ok, maybe it would be US. ( Let the record show here that if there was a rescue and only room for one more on the ship it would be ME and Hans Solo and Chewbacca. Of course, if there was an extra seat we'd let Mr. Quilter Cook squeeze in somewhere. Those Wookies are a little chunky you know and can take up a lot of space on a flying ship.) 

By the sixteenth inning it was evident that even Obi wan Kenobi wasn't even going to get us out of this one. 

Surely, Yoda was working through the Force and planning to send out some jedi starfighters soon!

And where, pray tell was Luke Skywalker? 

Not in section 431, that was for sure. 

After many hours of whining and gnashing of teeth I am happy to announce that Star Wars: The Final Inning came to a close with our very own Braun Solo (Ryan Braun) who used the Force, saving the Rebels from its demise!   

(Never mind it took 18 innings and  is now titled as THE LONGEST GAME EVER PLAYED IN MILLER PARK. )

Mr. Quilter Cook officially parked our  X-Wing Star Fighter back in Verona at 1am on Sunday morning. 

May the Force Be With You Son #1, as you contemplate how much you love your mother. 

P.S. Mother's Day is THIS COMING SUNDAY! 

Rhonda