messing with people and butterscotch bars

I remember hearing a comedian long ago making a comment about how when people in offices, or to acquaintances, ask "how are you?" the response is rarely what you are feeling. Also, how many times do people really wait for the answer or care? Everyone usually answers with 'fine' or 'good' or something non-committal and short. Of course, people that ask that sort of question rarely really want to know the answer but want to hear the short answer. How many times have you asked someone 'how are you?' and gotten the response "oh not so good. My hemorrhoids are acting up again, my wife is thinking of leaving me so I am a little depressed about that and the boss has just chewed me out for the 4th time this week for sleeping on the job so I am having a hell of a day of dispare and hatred"? What do you say to that? 'ummm...cheer up'?

So I thought perhaps I would try something. This afternoon Duanne came by and asked me, like he does every single day "how's your day?" Instead of the usual answer of 'not bad' I decided to give him a 'if the day could be considered a ballroom and all of us dancers waltzing to the tunes of the celestial orchestra, then I would be pirouetting across the dance floor in ecstasy and bliss'. He stopped, blinked at me and his mouth opened and shut like a fish out of water. Decided to take this opportunity to ask "so how is your day?" to which he just said "s%$t" and walked away. Perhaps next time he, or anyone else asks, might bring up a long list of medical illnesses and diseases, either fact or fiction, and see how long I can get them to actually nod and listen before walking away in a rush.

Oh, I found this situation extremely funny but not sure if anyone else will. There is a guy in camp that is not a regular person. So this means that he hasn't been here on a regular 2/2 rotation or what not but is someone that might be here for the summer doing some sort of study or something and will be gone by October. Every lunch and dinner he comes by before we have a chance to get the menu up and asks if there is any fish on the menu and then asks what is on the menu. I am stuck on this whole 'customer service' kick so I patiently tell him what is on the menu (I have given up saying 'brown stuff...green stuff...some white stuff...think we have some red stuff as well') and he goes 'sounds good' and walks away. During meal times he always takes the fish, whether fresh or deep fried, along with a little bit of whatever we have like veggies and potatoes. During this week when we had the huge storms happening that stopped the planes from flying in and some people couldn't go out working because of the rough weather, he asked about the menu, like normal, and then said that he had to go and check to see if the boat was still afloat. When questioned about the boat I found out what he is doing. He is one of the fish counters that monitors the fish habitats and water quality to make sure that our presence is not disturbing the fish life or water.

When I heard that I only had to smile at him and wait till he was out of the room before I burst out laughing. How funny is it that a fish counter who is studying the water and fish to make sure that they are not being harmed or inconvenienced in any way loves to eat fish for dinner? Wouldn't that be like a Green Peace volunteer enjoying muktuk (whale blubber)? I found it incredibly amusing and still smile when I see him go through the line looking for the fish.

Oh oh oh..gotta tell you, I have found a fantastic recipe for a square. The baker that we have now (Sheldon) found this recipe and made them. They were so good that when I was 'marrying' (putting all the 1/4 trays on one tray) the trays I found myself going up to these squares and saying "nope, this one wont fit..nope this one wont either..hmm, these 5 won\t have enough room either" and eating about 5-7 of them in an hour. I would go so far as to say that they are orgasmic to a degree that if I was banned from sex for the rest of my life (by either a horrible accident or some strange illness) then I could make these squares as a substituted. Granted, I would be eating a pan of them a day and be in total bliss but weigh about 600 lbs. They are called Chipits Tiger Bars and he found the recipe on the back of a butterscotch chip package. If you buy a bag you might get the recipe but knowing out grocery supplier and their fondness for sending us really old stuff that no one has bought in 5-6 years chances of finding this recipe might be slim. So for your possible baking pleasure, here is the recipe.

1) bring 1/4 cup EACH butter or margarine, firmly packed brown sugar, and corn syrup to a boil over medium heat
2) remove and stir in 1/2 cup chipits butterscotch chips, stir until melted. Stir in 2 cups crisp rice cereal (he used Rice Krispies here).
3) press into greased 8 inch square pan (of course, he quadrupled this recipe to make enough for camp but you can still to the 8 inch, or go for the full 4 foot long baking sheet that he used :-) )
4) melt 1 cup chipits semi sweet chocolate chips. Spread evenly surface of bars.
5) melt 1/4 cup chipits butterscotch chips with 1 tsp oil over hot water. drizzle in lines over surface of bars. Chill. Cut into bars. makes 24.

If you like butterscotch and chocolate, be warned...they are extremely addictive. At least, I thought so.