I remember watching one of those news shows, like 48 Hours or Dateline, where they were talking about a pair of brothers who were being reunited after 50 years or something like that, and the whole time I kept thinking “How does that happen? How do you get estranged from a… Read full post »

I like a bargain just as much as the next person. I'm not an extreme coupon kinda gal like my friend Jodi who can go to the market, buy $200 worth of stuff and walk out with the store owing her money. She also tends to leave in her wake a… Read full post »

Well first let me get the pleasantries out of the way and wish you a Happy New Year. Let's all pause for a moment while we pretend that this greeting actually carried real emotion and that either one of us has a vested interest in how the other's year is going… Read full post »

Argh. I gotta tell ya, people have been gettin' on my last nerve lately. Well, sure people are always doing what they can to annoy me, and for the most part I'm all about turn the other cheek and ignoring them. Okay, well I'll admit that some days I want to… Read full post »

Sorry, I know I've been a bit remiss about keeping you up-to-date and generally providing you with my brilliant insights. I have a life you know, and I'm terribly sorry you don't. We should probably work on that. Email me. We'll make a plan and hopefully spare the world from having… Read full post »

 On October 5th, 2007, barely a month after the death of my sister Parrish, my family lost another beloved member. My aunt Melantha's second husband, my uncle Co… Read full post »

 (Author's note: This post was originally posted on 09/09/2009. It is being reposted on the anniversary of my sister's passing.)

 Parrish 'n' Me

 As I have mentioned in previous posts, my sister Parrish passed away from brain cancer two years ago.  Two years ago today i… Read full post »

Yup. Yes sirree. I've got to own it. I'm a bigot. Sure, I can bet that because I own an antique Aunt Jemima cookie jar you're assuming I'm prejudiced against people of other races. Boy you sure are a narrow minded bunch of people, aren't you? Don't make me remind you… Read full post »

"So, I have something to tell you about something that happened with Gus."

Okay. So let me just start off by putting a little warning label on this post. Don't Google the term "bestiality". You won't like the results if you do. (That being said, there will be no NSFW… Read full post »

Ooooh! I bet I just got your blood a boiling with that title, now didn't I? You saw them there fightin' words and decided you were gonna come on over here and put old Surly in her place. Gone too far this time haven't I? It's one thing to be mockin'… Read full post »

You might be inclined to think of this post as a pity party, and if so, consider this your invitation. Pull up a chair and get yourself a drink from the punchbowl. It's been spiked.

Apparently I'm supposed to be doing this ageing thing with some modicum of grace and… Read full post »

Hello, it's me. I've thought about us for a long, long time. Maybe I think too much but something's wrong... Yeah, could someone please tell Todd Rundgren to stop signing in my head? I sent him a tweet the other day, but the bastard is still going off in my head.… Read full post »

I think about death with fair frequency. Not in the Sylvia Plath head in the oven while wearing a twin-set and pearls way, but more about the practicalities of the thing. Having the odd semi-truck barrelling past you on a bike tends to make your life flash by your eyes and… Read full post »

The beauty of the internet is that whole worlds can open before you with a single click of a mouse. Even for veterans like myself, there's always the chance to find a new avenue to turn down, a new site to peruse, and a new thing to confound me. Take last… Read full post »

To paraphrase Andrew Dice Clay, if I may. "Surly, Surly quite contrary trim that pussy it's so damn hairy!" If you're a long time reader, you know I'm not one to shy away from the awkward conversations. If you're new, well, you're about to learn this little lesson. If… Read full post »

Now, I'll admit that I've said the wrong thing more than once. We all have. Some times you think you're being funny, and it turns out you really aren't. This happened to me the other night. Only it wasn't me doing the talking.

I was at a bar with… Read full post »

So if you're a long-time Surlyan (Surlyite? We'll need to vote on this at the next cult meeting) you know that I'm crafty. Not just in that charmingly devilish way either. Well not crazy crafty like Martha Stewart. I mean I can't draw or paint. I don't sew, scrapbook, or bedazzle.… Read full post »

Oh yeah. You read that right. Surly's been workin' it somethin' fierce for the last few weeks. In case you've not been paying attention you can catch-up by reading my previous post. We'll wait for you. (I'm lying I don't have the patience for your lazy ass.)

So… Read full post »

This is a story I wrote after the passing of a friend that I was subsequently asked to read at her memorial service.  Stella, affectionately known as Christopher Robin amongst her friends for her often childlike innocence, was a professional athlete who in her twenties held the world record for… Read full post »

Okay, so y'all know I'm not always hip to all the latest and greatest food trends. Someone who collects vintage recipe cards and has a perpetual hankering for Velveeta can't call themselves a gourmand. I'm not a terribly adventurous eater either. I don't eat exotic mystery meats, innards (including… Read full post »

You might not have heard the rumours, but I'm sure you've felt the rumblings, that feeling that some thing just isn't quite right with the universe lately. There's been a shift, a subtle change in the air. You've been uneasy, I know, and you've had every right to be.… Read full post »

Well looky here, it's already Valentine's day. Could have poked my eye out with a stick before I'd have noticed, except for the fact that there's been all that pink and red wrapped candy and over-sized gift cards at the front of every store I've entered since all the Christmas decorations… Read full post »

So the other day my friend Annie pointed out to me that Mr. Fancy Food Pants Francis Lam (Lam Chop to moi) was trying to be all cool with his little competition for Grilled Cheese recipes. At first I was all "Whatever with that." Franny Fancy Pants, who was too good to… Read full post »