Slime and Audio, brought to you by Cyndie

Good morning. I am still filling our February with all things random and unusual. So here is my SIL Cindie, who kindly consented to stop over and open her head and let something fall out. I love it when that happens. A whole lot. And you never know what it’s going to be. One moment, a recipe for something fabulous. Next, notification that her son plans to buy a Tuff Shed and move into my backyard (I win!). And later, many fine book recommendations. A few minutes in her company always make me feel understood and filled up with gladness. Since she belongs to my brother-of-the-three-posts, I’m going to do a combo prize for them. Just comment on this-here post, or THIS one, or THIS one, or THIS one, and you’re in the running for a $10 Amazon gift card. How cool is that? Then you can buy pretty much anything in the world you can imagine that costs less than $10. And it will come to your door. Lucky you. (Contest closes the night of February 17th. Hurry, will you?) Take it, Cyndie.

So, I’ve decided to tell you about two things on my mind right now–audio books and slime. I know, they have absolutely nothing to do with each other, but I’ll crunch them together anyway; trying to stay on top of my own thought processes keeps me on my toes.

Come to think of it, maybe some of you out there find yourselves mentally balancing everything from serious concerns to mild curiosities…in a manner tipsy at best. Don’t worry, I am not inebriated, just mentally scattered.

Anyway, my first point concerns audio books, or more specifically, the arguably all-important narrator chosen to tell an audio book’s tale.  Pretty much any decent-or-better book can be made into a really fine audio book if they’ve used a good narrator. Some of the audio books I’ve enjoyed most were narrated by their authors. These feel so true to meaning. Others are narrated by a gifted messenger with soothing vocal tones, or some great accent, or the ability to impersonate several great accents (not all at once).

Sadly, this morning, I decided not to finish an audio book that I just started; as with a print copy, NOT my modus operandi–you don’t start a book and not finish it!–I think there’s a law about it somewhere. It had an enthralling topic (US Civil War) and  promised to fill several hours (15 CDs!), but I just couldn’t face all that time driving, folding laundry, and making dinner…with Grandpa Robot. Guess I’ll go find a print copy.

On to the slime! Pure and harmless, homemade slime–and not the glue-n-borax kind.  Do you have kids? Ask them if they want to try this. Or don’t… and surprise them with it at dinner time. Either way, try it (this does involve a microwave, and HOT liquids, so please use some adult common sense).

Take a teaspoon of Metamucil, along with a few drops of your favorite food coloring, and stir it into one cup of water. Do this in a microwaveable bowl that seems way too big for the one cup of liquid. Microwave it for 4 minutes, or until it seems to almost overflow. Cool for 2-3 minutes and check it with a spoon. Repeat the microwave process until you get the consistency you want, up to 6 times. If you take it to its highest DLS (Desired Level of Solidity), you can pour it out on a cookie sheet, cool it, and use cookie cutters to make shapes.

Store the wonderful stuff in a sealed baggie at room temperature. It will last until the Rapture.