# 59 Chaos in the Kitchen

Okay so cooking is not, has not, and never will be an interest of mine.  I knew this before I started the goal, but I thought there might be a glimmer of hope after making sixty different recipes.  No, the project was not a success.  I still don't enjoy cooking, baking, or anything to do with the kitchen.  Has my cooking improved?  Who cares.   I am fortunate to be married to someone who (compared to me) is a culinary genius so why in the world would I want to interfere with his expertise?

I did persevere on this endeavor and, of course, the results were less than stellar.  The magazine, Cooking Light, offered healthy and disaster proof recipes that were also satisfying to the pallete, but I did not have the same flair with the spatula or the satisfaction of making these as Rob did on his cooking days.  I think we are both grateful that this goal can finally be checked off and he can return to his cooking throne.  I will admit defeat (not really a failure in my eyes), bow out of the kitchen detail, and thank my lucky stars that Chef Gooze still ranks as the best cook in this house.

# 49 The Aprons

The goal of making six aprons has been completed.  Thank heavens I did not add a zero to that six because I would be knee deep in cutting, sewing, and cursing.  Six was a manageable number and they will be given to some very special people who will remain nameless until they receive their gift.  Picking out the variety of patterns and colors was addicting and now I am motivated to continue to sew in the future.  Could I have found my new passion in the creative and crafty department?  I will not hold my breath on that one but will revel in the thought that I may be able to sew something without it falling apart.  Mark this goal as a success.

Need an apron for your cooking sessions?  Call 1-800-APRON and without the time constraints of my sixty list, I would be happy to whip together one of my creations.

# 58 Crispy Cookies

I never thought I would see the day when I could finally blog about the cookie goal being done.  Really, what was I thinking?  Why would I choose this goal instead of  eating sixty dozen cookies or buying them or even watching someone else make them?   Silly me, I thought I could use this opportunity to find a recipe that everyone would love and request it anytime the masses needed a scrumptious cookie.   Hah! Baking sixty dozen was a pain for this lass.  In hindsight, making six dozen toothsome(using my increased vocabulary) cookies would have made better sense.  But no, I had to make 720 cookies!

Even when I carefully measured the ingredients, madly mixed them in a bowl, and then slammed them on to the cookie sheet, I was only half way through the process and already losing patience (I feel my blood pressure rising as I write this).  Setting the timer led to either an under baked gooey mess or the total opposite of burnt offerings for the cookie gods.   This was not a win win situation no matter which ones you ate. When I did produce a few edible ones, I would pawn them off on some brave souls--my youngest son being the bravest and eating the majority of these morsels.

This lingering and labor intensive goal has now been completed and the lessons learned are obvious except for one--"As God as my witness"(my apologies to Scarlett O'Hara), I will never eat another bite of cookie dough again.

# 57 Sculptured Biceps--Dream On!

Sixty days of lifting weights only became a challenge because I had not anticipated the rest days in between lifting to reap the benefits of building muscle.  The Zone Fitness offered a variety of classes so burn out or boredom never became an issue, however, it took months to get to that demanding sixty mark.

What were the benefits?  One recent occurrence presented itself when I was boarding a plane I proceeded to place my cumbersome carry on in the overhead bin and nearly clocked an unsuspecting flight attendant--two rows behind me.  I looked around to see if anyone witnessed this bizarre launching of my belongings and fortunately no one acknowledged my near assault on her.  But right then I knew that sixty days worth of lifting had finally paid off--this normally weight laden baggage felt as light as a...well, not quite a feather, but lighter than it had prior to completing goal number 53.

Weight training can be a lonely activity unless you are lucky enough to be surrounded by high energy instructors, motivated friends and my buff husband; I have literally slammed this goal into the ever increasing "done" pile.  Now I must continue for there is no rest for the weary, the old, or the undeveloped biceps because I don't want these fine sculptured muscles to return to their wimpy spongy selves.  Okay, maybe I am exaggerating a bit on the sculptured part but after a strenuous workout there is a level of confidence and a bit of euphoria that has transformed me.  Could the future include a stint with Body Builders for America?  No, no, no, no, no; but the next time I am on a plane, I will gracefully lift my bag, show off my newfound strength, and try not to bop anyone's head who may be within satchel range.