Cleopatra Opens Drawers

Lately, I have been dealing with my cat Cleo, weirdest free time activity.

Apparently she hates full drawers. So, when no one is watching, she opens, yes opens, my bedside table drawers and takes everything outside.

My bedside table has three drawers; the top for bras, the middle for briefs and the last for socks.

When it first started, she could only open the last drawer where my socks are. I would go in my room and find them scattered everywhere and not a single one inside. Most of the time, I’d doubt myself whether I have closed it properly or not.

Last night, she reached the middle drawers, and again everything was on the floor. I made sure I closed the drawer properly. Check it twice, before going to sleep.

Couple of minutes ago, I went in my room and guess what was open? All my briefs were everywhere in my room; under the bed, near the door.

My question is, is this cat-possible? Cleo is not a big cat. Bit crazy true. But how the hell does she open a drawer?

Yes it’s her. She is trying to look serious here, but she is a crazy troublemaker!

Strawberry Yogurt Cake

Ingredients:

- 1 Strawberry yogurt

- 3 Eggs

- 2 yogurt containers of sugar

- 1 yogurt containers of vegetable oil

- 3 yogurt containers of flour

- pinch of salt

- Baking powder

Use the yogurt container for the doses of the other ingredients.

In a bowl mix the strawberry yogurt with the 3 eggs, the 2 yogurt containers of sugar, 3 yogurt containers of flour, one yogurt container of oil, pinch of salt and the baking powder. Pour the mixture into a pie pan lined with baking release paper and bake in preheated oven at 180 degrees for about 30 minutes or until cooked. You can add some strawberries on top.

“We should start preparing for Halloween.” I said putting the strawberry yogurt cake in the showcase.

“Oh yes! We can make ghosts and pumpkin cakes!” my cousin as always was very excited.

“By the way, haven’t you noticed that Marco has been coming here much lately?”

“Huh, really?” I closed the showcase and went to the other side to check how it looked like.

“I think he likes you.”

“No, I don’t have the time for this.”

“You not”

“Because before I start a relationship, I need to find where I belong and what will be of me.” I sighed, hoping she was wrong. I really don’t need other thoughts in my mind.

My cousin remained silent. Then said;

“You should relax, really. It’s not as bad as you always see it.”

Dear 2011

We didn’t get along every day. We had our ups and downs. Like most of the past years honestly, but you, 2011, were somehow different.

So I’d like to thank you. Yes thank you, especially for the bad things that made me realize the good there is. Thank you for the people I lost along the way. No matter the good times we passed together, no matter how much I tried to keep our friendship, it got lost. To you I say screw you. I’m fed up of always keeping up with you and searching for you and not being searched. I hope you don’t come up next year asking for something, because believe me, I won’t be polite anymore.

Thank you for New York. It was freaking cold and more than once I was sure that when I’d take off my socks I would find my feet blue. But still, thank you. The city was amazing, captivating. I hope to visit it again in summer.

Thank you for the job. It wasn’t what I had in mind, but it turned out to be rewarding and challenging. I like it.

Thank you for Cleopatra, my cat. Now I can’t imagine my life without her. I think though, she thinks she is a dog; she keeps licking my face! I love her.

Thank you for the loneliness, it made me realize that this is not what I want.

Thank you for everything that inspired me. I’ve finally decided to follow my dream and write.

Thank you 2011.

New year, new life. 2012 I’m coming with big new year’s resolution: have FUN, follow my dreams and LIVE!

sincerely,

S

New Page

La Dolce Vita: Opening a bakery is not easy. But when you desperately need sugar in your life, you have no other choice. You can check her page – La Dolce Vita -

Tiramisù

Ingredients:

- Cacao powder

- Coffee

- 500gr Mascarpone cheese

- 6 Eggs

- 120gr Sugar

- 400 Savoiardi (ladyfingers)

First, prepare the coffee, just enough to soak the ladyfingers, pour into a bowl (if you want to add sugar) and let cool. Whip the egg yolks with half the sugar to obtain a nice mixture light and creamy. Work then (not too long) the mascarpone cheese with a mixer (or wooden spoon) until creamy with no lumps and add together the egg mixture and sugar prepared previously. Whip egg whites with a pinch of salt, add the sugar remaining half, with a wooden spoon, mix them gradually and gently into the mixture of mascarpone cheese and egg yolks, so you got the cream of the tiramisu.
Put the biscuits in a container and started to wet them with coffee, they should be well soaked but not  completely drenched. Cover the ladyfingers soaked with a layer of mascarpone cream, level with a spatula. Sprinkle the surface with unsweetened cocoa powder. You have then the second layer of ladyfingers, if you have them the first arranged vertically, horizontally, they put them (and vice versa). Cover them with the remaining cream. When finished sprinkle with plenty of cocoa powder the surface of your Tiramisu. Store in the refrigerator for a few hours to shrink the sweet.

“La Dolce Vita” looking at the bakery sign, My bakery sign, everything became so real. And as always I felt sacred, terrified and pessimistic. This is not going to work. What am I doing here? I haven’t even seen the movie.

“Only one week left!” Luce hugged me all excited. If this fails, I’ve run out of ideas.

“I’ve called my cousin, he’ll bring all his friends for the grand opening.” she looked at me, “Oh no, I know that look. What’s wrong?”

I looked at her and forced a smile.

“It was all very quick, I just realize now that it is happening. Maybe we are making a mistake.”

“You are too indecisive. We are on this together, we are not going to fail. Why should we? I have my diploma, I can cook, you make an excellent manager and I will teach you some recipes so you can help me.”

I remained silent.

“Ok let’s put it this way; people need to eat. They need sugar in their lives.” I smiled at her. I couldn’t have chosen a better partner in this.

I took a deep breath. This will work. It has to work. I took my cousin’s hand and together we went inside our Dolce Vita.

La Dolce Vita

Late night story idea.

Elisa a half Italian, half Egyptian girl, depressed and frustrated moves to a small city in Italy, in the province of Milan, to open a bakery named “La Dolce Vita” with the help of her cousin Luce, hoping that sugar will save her life.

Dear Santa,

It has been a really strange year. With all honesty, i can’t say It was the worst of my life, nor the best though. Usually I would have either many good things or many bad things. But this year it was as if the good and bad decided for a truce and divide the year for me.

I lost friends, found few in return. But it’s ok, I’ve never been a social butterfly. The occasional hang outs are fine. No, I’ll be honest sometimes I miss not having dinner with a friend or hanging out with friends. And I blame my personality for it. And because of this I’m having a dilemma; change me or keep searching for more suitable friends? I’m still working on it.

Love was absent. It is probably me again. It’s not that I don’t want to love. I do. I miss loving and being loved. But I want a solid relationship. I want a family. And as you know, I’m really selective.But I want to be hugged, kissed, being able to hear my heart beat, smiling like an idiot when I see the person I love, being able to be myself in front of that person. I’m a romantic I need love in my life.

On the other hand I found a job. One I never imagined I could like. In April it will be one year. I’ve never worked so long in one place. I don’t adore the place, lets put this clear; but it’s rewarding and challenging. For now it is ok. It also made me realize that after all, I don’t hate kids and I want to be a mother one day.

I found Cleo. Last year, the stray dog I found died after suffering a lot. I cannot think about it without crying. Then one day, Cleo was outside my flat door. I live on the third floor, how could a small kitten like her make all those steps? I took her in that same day, It’s the best gift I could ever have.

I started a mental journey to “care less”. Meaning not to stress myself out. I’ve realized that problems are everywhere and if I let them invade and eat my mind every time and for everything, I’ll probably end up dead or with some serious problems. I still make a fuss out of a tiny little problem, but I’m able to care less and sleep more.

I have decided to give it a shot with my dream; being a writer. Blogging has made it easier, but I still think it’s a far away dream. But at least I’m seriously working on it. I have three stories so far. Short stories I guess. Everything is still under construction.

Now my list:

I want love. I’m 23 (I don’t think I’m old or anything, but still) and want to put my high school and college relationship in a distant past. I’m not asking for the perfect man, but the right one for me. You know how difficult I am and old fashioned. So I know this might be difficult, but it will really make me happy.

I want my place in the world. I’m almost there. I almost outlined who I am and what I want to be. I couldn’t see myself even 3 years from now. But now I can. Help me finish what I started. It’s like an extension of the old gift.

I want to make my family happy. I want to see them healthy and happy. I want peace for me and my family.

Because of last year, I will put extra milk and cookies under the tree

Thank you,

Love

S.

Since We Were Kids

A whistle brought me back from my thoughts, Audrey looked at him and smiled.

“Sorry I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”

“I can tell.” Said Mr Patrick. She smiled shyly, grabbed the book and tried to concentrate on what was written. What was it again? Ah yes the Civil War.

“You know if there is anything bothering you, you can talk to me.” he said lowering his head to look in my eyes.

Audrey smiled again. A part of her was about to tell him everything. What the hell, she need someone to talk  about what’s happening. About the thing she can do. About what she saw because of it. Karen is not enough, she doesn’t take it seriously. Maybe she could talk to him, after all…

“Thank you Mr Patrick.” But that’s all that came out. No she can’t; it will freak him out.

“Mr Patrick,” he snorted, “You make me feel old! We grew up together!”

And I still have, a crush on you, despite the fact you broke my heart dating my sister, she thought. But this wasn’t the time to think about that. True they grew up together, but they have also changed a lot since they were kids.

Audrey put aside this problem, and brought the book closer; she still have high school to deal with.

History Class

“Seriously, next time ask for a normal gift like everyone else.”Audrey said to Karen yawning for the fourth time.

“But I don’t have a friend like everyone else!” she said smiling at Michael Wheaton’s phone number.”It’s not my fault, he is the one, I’m sure.”

“You said the same thing about Sam, David and Chris.”

“Instead of complaining you should get some sleep, you look awful.” she closed her phone and tucked it in her pocket satisfied. Audrey frowned, folded my arms on my books and laid my head on them.

Audrey closed her eyes and started thinking about last night. Who would have thought that Michael Wheaton, would have such profound dreams? The same Michael Wheaton that goes around flirting with every single girl, and teachers as far as rumors go, is actually a romantic and literature lover. She spent all night trying to figure out that Juliet was the key and had to thank the literature class for it.

“You should be lucky my birthday comes only once a year!”

“Yea, you’ll get a book for Christmas.” Audrey said yawning again.

“Oh here comes your secret crush.” she whispered in Audrey’s ear. Mr Patrick Wilson, our history teacher, entered the room slammed his books on the desk to wake up the still sleeping. Audrey including.

“Good morning, hope you are ready for your favorite class.” he said smiling.

“Perhaps you should sneak up in his dreams” she whispered opening her history book.

“He is my teacher! plus I’m not you. I don’t use those methods.” Audrey opened her history book at page 46; the civil war. Great way to start the day, she thought flipping the pages lazily, her head still resting on one arm.

“You should he is so hot”

“Ladies, gossiping early in the morning?” he smiled. I froze sitting up straight.

He was indeed hot, maybe she should walk in his dreams afterall.

Characters, Plots & Ideas

I have too many characters and stories I want to write about, and end up not writing about any of them. But so far I have two main stories are in my mind.

A detective related story set in the 1920s.

And a story about a Dreamwalker.

I have already written something on both, but I keep on editing and they remain in the draft folder. Soon there will be pages for both stories and something written too.

S.