I’m Innocent I swear it; You’ll Thank Me Later

I’m writing this blog from my jail cell in Beverly Hills. I’m not complaining, the service is great and the food is from five-star restaurants. Even the police in BH understand that it’s all about fine dining. They also provide Ugg slippers and the silkiest Frette sheets in here.

I think everyone should get arrested in Beverly Hills. It’s better than most people live.

But as usual I digress. By now you’re all wondering what I did to deserve all this opulence.

Well, you see it was actually all very innocent, and I still don’t know why they’re making such a fuss.

Apparently, something about me being made an example or some such tripe. But I’m guiltless and justified, and I know that everyone on a jury will absolutely see things my way. I believe they’ll not only set me free, but award me a medal to boot!

It all started the other night at three in the morning. I was once again peacefully sleeping after my two-thirty a.m. bathroom run when it began.

I knew immediately when I heard the sound there was going to be trouble. I also knew from experience there was no denying I’d have to do something quickly before all hell broke loose.

I pulled the blankets aside and walked to the closet where I keep my weapon and then crept very slowly.

I had to be stealth because for some reason it likes to toy with its victims.

I waited. Chirp…a few minutes went by and again, chirp. Then it began coming faster. Now the chirps were louder and a minute apart.

Chirp, chirp. Defying me, goading me into a fight. Another few minutes of this torture and I would lose my mind and jump out a window.

The offender was smirking knowing it had the edge against this short person now looking up at its evil face.

Ha ha it thought. You can do nothing, nothing to stop me now.

I held the broom handle firmly and lifted it over my head.

“Chirp, chirp, chirp” it barked defiantly.

I aimed and with all my strength I banged it.

Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp it responded. Laughing that evil laugh it then started chirping faster and faster.

I lifted my weapon again and started to beat it until the battery flew out and it was silent. Michael Jackson must have written Beat It while he was killing a smoke alarm.  

I waited, nothing. All was quiet. Still attached to the ceiling bent and broken I

I picked up the battery and gave my nemesis the proverbial na na na na na.

Then after calming down with a few mediation breaths, I peacefully fell back asleep.

I knew I had to get someone to replace its vile battery, and I honestly planned to do it in the morning, but before I could even get my make up on, the bell rang.

“Who is it?”

“First Alarm. We’re here to see you about casualty 7360042.”

“Huh?”

“We need to see you immediately about 7360042.”

“Is this those television guys who play pranks on people?”

“No. Madam. We’re from First Alarm and we need to see you. Please open the door and let us in. We believe we have a victim in there.”

“A victim?”

“Yes, number 7360042.”

I dialed the Beverly Hills police and told them someone was trying to break into my place.

“Just a minute,” I called out. “I’m not dressed.”

“Well please hurry, we may still be able to save it.”

“Okey, dokey, sure,” I answered.

The police were still on the phone with me and asked if the robber had entered yet.

“No, they are still outside the door and I’m sure they are insane.”

“The officers are pulling up now, they’ll be in shortly. Just stay on the phone with me.”

I heard the door open and footsteps in the hall. There was talking and then I suddenly heard a knock at the door.

Beverly Hills police, please open the door.

It’s so nice that they said please.

So anyway, I opened the door and the policeman said, “I understand there is a victim in here, may we look around?”

“Huh?”

“Is there a dead body in here?”

“Of course not, look around,” I stammered.

The guy from First Alarm walked into the hall and pointed at the ceiling. “There, Officer, there it is, number 7360042.”

“Are you going to press charges?” the Officer asked.

“Absolutely, I want this murderer arrested. Do you understand this alarm could save your life? And this is how you reward its caring, comforting nature?” He asked me.

“Or it could drive me into a psycho ward,” I countered.

The policeman shrugged and placed the cuffs on me. By the way those bracelets hurt and they are definitely not from Cartier.

I went into a state of shock and didn’t recover until they put me in front of a camera for a mug shot. I begged to at least put on some lipstick after they refused my glam squad request.

They did let me fix up a bit because after all this is Beverly Hills and we’re civilized here.

So now I’m sitting in the cell watching my flat screen TV and waiting for my unbelievably expensive Beverly Hills lawyer to bail me out.

I see him enter and a policeman open the door.

“What the hell?” he asks smiling broadly.

“I’m so happy I amuse you, but I know these people are crazy. It’s a damn smoke alarm,” I whimpered.

“I think I can make it go away. There is a new law that protects you from nuisances, including annoying chirping in your home. I’ll use that and have you out soon. Although you look pretty cozy in here.”

Ten minutes later he was back and the policeman let me out of the cell.

I will definitely miss those Frette sheets.

I was shocked when I left the station and there was a crowd outside carrying signs.

CHIRP and DIE. Free the Victims of First Alarm. Someone had Beat It playing on their iphone. Kill the beast! Norma for Governor. Someone held a newspaper headline reading Newsom Claims Smoke Alarm Chirping Speeds Hair Growth.

People were snapping pictures and I was grateful I’d worn black and applied lipstick.

So now I’m at the Beverly Hills City Council meeting. Can you believe this? They are giving me the key to the City.

I guess most of them have had the same experience with that annoying thing and that’s why they passed the new law.

It’s called the anti-chirp amendment and I understand Congress is thinking of enacting it nationally. Lord knows those Bozos have nothing else to do.

So anyway, now I’m some kind of local hero. Geez, all I did was smack the life out of an evil smoke alarm designed to run out of battery power after midnight.

I guess it’s in its DNA.

But I feel vindicated because First Alarm now has a new product that has a ten-year battery. At least I won’t have to hear the damn chirping for another ten years. But don’t worry, I’ve got my broom ready just in case.

Cooking to a Soundtrack

breakfast biscuits

I don’t understand how anyone can cook without a soundtrack. After all, the process of creating a recipe can be a sacred moment of art and discovery. Does this not warrant background music as powerful as when Charlton Heston raised his hands and parted the Jell-O?

There is no doubt in my mind that I am far more creative in the kitchen when inspired by a great soundtrack.

How can someone bake holiday cookies without the strains of Nat King Cole’s Christmas Song filling the air, or Chanukah latkes without Adam Sandler’s Chanukah Song or Dreydel Dreydel Dreydel wafting above? Is it possible to bring forth into the world an elegant masterpiece like that soulful soufflé without the strains of Bach or Beethoven?

And who would even attempt a perfect pot roast without the sound of Motown in the background. Not me; that’s the sure!

It isn’t just about setting the mood it’s also about generating a cooking energy. Bopping to the beat lifts and inspires one to greater heights and gets those endorphins geared up.

In the end we all need inspiration and where we acquire it is personal I guess.

Yet, music and food just seem to fit so well. When there is music playing it fills the air with the sounds of another’s genius. This makes me want to be a part of that creative process.

Oh, I know you’re thinking, “Seriously Norma, Bach and a soufflé, can you honestly equate them?” Or even use them in the same sentence actually?

To that I would answer a resounding yes.

Cooking is a form of art after all. How gratified to know your art inspires.

Why I’ll bet Bach’s mother cooked his favorite guinea hen to the melodic strains of the Brandenburg Concertos filling her home. Perhaps it even sped up the process a bit for both of them.

The great thing about cooking is that it is one art form you can eat afterward.

Da Vinci may be a feast for the eyes, but Wolfgang Puck’s lox and cream cheese pizza, need I say more?

Watching a Mel Brooks film delivers great laughter, a crucial component of our existence, but damn a perfect lasagna now that’s art, too. Perhaps a chorus of Springtime for Hitler as we batter our schnitzel?

Or the wonderful and happy sounds of Sammy Davis Jr. singing  The Candy Man while dipping strawberries in chocolate?

I’m just saying that when we create we are usually alone with our Muse, so why not add a divine element to the process by enhancing it with music?

Can you actually make homemade pizza without listening to  Dean Martin and the strains of That’s Amour?

The great Edvard Hagerup Grieg, Norwegian composer once said, “I am sure my music has a taste of codfish in it.” Possibly because his wife or mother cooked codfish as he composed. I’d bet on it.

Obviously I am not the first to see the relationship here.

For me cooking is a major part of the holiday season and enhancing that festive spirit or any day spirit only makes things even better.

So next time you’re even making a peanut butter and banana sandwich prepare it to the sounds of Elvis wailing Jailhouse Rock and see how much better it tastes.

 

Breakfast Biscuit Sandwiches

1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

4 pieces of crispy cooked bacon

Eggs

Salt and pepper

Bisquick mix

1 tablespoon chopped chives or scallions (optional)

 

Make the recipe for drop biscuits on the Bisquick box. I usually double it.

After mixing together add bacon, cheese and scallion or chives.

Form them approximately the size of a baseball

Bake.

When done, fry or scramble an egg

Cut sandwich open and add egg in middle.

I have also added a tomato or cucumber.

It works great for a simple breakfast, or to go. Also a delicious option for brunch.