Grinch

Gainesville

I'll admit it: today was given over mostly to a West Wing marathon. Impossible to watch the election night part 1 episode without part 2 -- and then of course the funeral ep (actor John Spencer died during the final season, and his character's death had to be written in)-- very moving, and nearly every character that appeared over the 7 years made an appearance.

That should have been enough, but no... I had to watch just one more... the transition... Four episodes in one day is very wretched excess.

And there are still four more to go-- the final disk. I will be glad when this is over and I can get my life back. But wait: there's a problem. I have the entire set here, and once it's over, I know I'll want to see how it all started, especially now that Rob Lowe has memorably reappeared... oh darn.

Broke away mid-afternoon to do some minor food shopping and mail some bills. About that time it started to rain-- been raining off and on for the past two days, a warm, summer-like drizzle.

Tonight I made this week's final offering from EdF #19 -- Seared Shrimp with Cucumber Salad. The critical ingredient in this is hearts of palm, which I'd forgotten, and the main reason for the shopping trip. It was quite wonderful, very unusual, and met with thumbs and claws up. I still want to try the salad with buttermilk dressing, and the buttermilk pancakes with bananas next week. Also, I notice the latest FC has a buttermilk recipe or two-- and a couple of other things that look interesting. It is so wonderful to know I now have the time to spend trying new things when the whim strikes.

Congrats to you and your helpers, on getting you tree up and going, Mom. I saw that Publix had trees today. I don't know what to do about this year-- no room in the big room, less in the TV room; last year's desperation lighted artificial tree is too big. I'm about to drop into Grinch mode: I've got to stop Christmas from coming... but how?

Tomorrow is the last day of Zone 1. I promise to drag out the big old heavy vacuum cleaner, move the furniture back, and give that long-suffering carpet a good purge. In between watching the last WW disk, of course.

But for now, time for bed. Just hope I don't dream like last night-- of revisitng Cottey, but all built up, urbanizied, commericalized, and turned into a maze. I've had similar dreams, but this was the most alarming.

Pace Suze. Peaceful dreams.

Sleep Walking

Gainesville

Back to warm weather again-- came close to 80 today, but still cold in the house, thanks to the floor temp lag (FTL). Got a load of wash done, and swiffered the floors. Bill brought home a huge tub of mail, just barely over a week's worth. Took nearly an hour to get it sorted. I lugged two huge armloads of catalogs directly to the recycle bin without even opening them. Enough already!

Spent a lot of time dealing with lingering problems with retirement paperwork, and tonight's mail brought still more. Another round of this tomorrow. One step up and two steps back.

Made something else from EdC #19: Flank Steak with Onion, Peppers and Beans. Wonderful! It went together very quickly and came out looking just like the photos. Bill remarked several times about how different and good it was. And of course, the cat never met anything that runs on four hoofs that she doesn't like to scarf down.

Watching West Wing DVD's, had one of those annoying times when you realize that you have a damaged disk right in the middle of the set-- and it's already too late to take it back to Best Buy. I've learned how to force a scratched DVD to limp through, so you can at least get an idea of the ep, but it is so maddening. They should have some automatic way you can send back the broken disk and get a replacement-- I wouldn't mind paying for it-- just so I don't have to buy the whole damn set again just to replace one disk that arrived damaged. Grrrrr.

New evidence this morning of just how out of it I am when I first wake up-- found myself sitting at the computer with TWO cups of hot coffee. Bill pled innocence. Apparently I stumbled out of bed, got a cup, brought it back, realized I had to pee, did so, then stumbled back to the kitchen to get a cup, and ... D'Oh!

I'm glad to hear that the Nordic is in the garage-- don't even think about doing it when you are by yourself, Mom. There have got to be better, safer ways for you to exercise.

Blame it on Football

Gainesville

Football poisoning got me last night-- 7 games in 4 days probably a bit much, even for me. I collapsed on the couch watching post game stuff, woke up and went to bed sometime after 3:00. Yet, here I am, watching Green Bay play Seattle in the snow-- in Seattle! Although, actually, it's stopped now, in the second half.

Spent a good part of yesterday cooking-- made Greek Salad with Zucchini and Tomatoes (EdC #19) early in the afternoon, all except for combining it. Needed to use up a couple of small zucs, so made half the recipe. It was lovely! Bill was very impressed with it. Made mashed potato pancakes, though 2 eggs for 3 cups of potatoes was probably too egg-heavy-- they were sloppy but good. Leftover turkey and hazelnut stuffing was the main dish.

Tonight made a low carb picadillo, fresh snapped green beans, and turnip fries. All good. Kitchen and sink all done.

A bit under the weather today, so didn't get the Blessings done. But feel better tonight. Got the sheets done yesterday, the towels today. Things are relatively under control.

Crusty

Gainesville

I woke. I shopped. I cooked. I processed food on various levels.

Nothing from the EdC tonight. I attempted a Leanne fish dish and failed-- I should know better than to try anthing iwht "Crusted" in the title-- as usual, the crust was left in the pan. Sure, it tasted wonderful after the fact, when I scraped it up from the skillet and ate it standing at the stove, but it would have been so much better if it had actually been attached to the fish! I need to go to crust school-- something basic is missing. Since the 12-inch cast iron skillet was still around after having served as the turkey pan, I used it, hoping it might solve my crust problem. No joy. Of course, chosing cod as the fish (an hour in a very spicy marinade) was clueless too. Bill and the cat were happy with the messy pile of stuff I served, but I was appalled.

On a happier note, the shopping went well, and all the stuff I bought has been put away properly. I made the ur- Cucumber in Sour Cream recipe, using some of the wonderful leftover chives (and some about-to-expire cukes) and a batch of Tex Mex Cole Slaw (using the about-to-expire cabbage mix).

Ah yes, and the flour. Some of me plans include whole wheat flour. A very small amount of whole wheat flour. Alas, the smallest amount of whole wheat flour one can buy is five pounds. I got through the checkout line, only to find that said 5 pound package of whole wheat flour had a hole in the side near the bottom, and whole wheat flour was already leaking out of it. The kind checkout staff went off to fetch me another package without a hole. I thought no more about it, until I got home, and discovered not one, but two packages, 5 pounds each, of whole wheat flour-- a lifetime and then some worth. And they only charged me for one package. Bill will try to find a home for one of them at work, to save me the hassle of trying to return it to Publix and ask for nothing in return-- they'll never understand.

The Gators won, but not handily. (In baby football, style points count.) I watched another Season 7 ep of West Wing. Now I'm sleepy, and my nose is cold. Warmer today, but still lower than normal for Florida this time of year.

Great pictures of the garage and the wood supply, Sandy. Very impressive! Re: EdC #19, on't worry, we don't take "lite" seriously. We are low-carb mostly, and I try personally to keep the fat within reason. Although it was hard to resist the fish crust stuck to the pan as I cleaned up tonight.

And here is (I hope) a picture of my Thanksgiving table decoration that Bill took this morning:

this and that

Glad you found EDF #19. Don't be taken in by some of the "light" aspects of the recipes. Use regular mayonnaise for the BLT salad (if that's what you use anyway), for example. Ditto the cream cheese on the cupcake recipe. Anyway, it's a really good issue. I can see that we liked the tandoori chicken (p. 84). I'll be watching to see which recipes you choose, and perhaps be inspired.

Wish I had some l/o mashed potatoes so I could make the soup. We ate them last night with extended gravy, turkey, dressing, and some green beans. I'm tempted to make some mashed potatoes so I can try the soup, particularly because I have some chives in the fridge. The plant, which lives outside, is done for the season.

Lazy day yesterday. We read all morning, sitting by the fire (I'm rereading Frank McCourt, Charlie is rereading some Michael Connelly). At one o'clock, after snacking on leftover hors d'oeuvres throughout the morning, we sprang into action. Charlie worked on the siding, and I did dishes and laundry. Weather continues mild, dry. We really need rain, and I guess there's some scheduled for early next week.
Here's the garage, with much of the siding done. Looks a lot better than the brown fuzzboard.

About fifty turkeys in the yard this morning, and gunfire from the woods. Deer season, which will be over tomorrow. Then we can go back to the woods for more firewood. We already have quite a bunch of it against next winter. This winter we are mostly burning Mom's big oak tree, along with a huge maple branch we cut off near the house.
This is some of next year's wood.
Here's the inside of the woodshed. Wood on the left is for next year, wood on the right for this winter. It's a lot more than it seems to be in this photo.

Today will be quiet as well, though I am now out of book. Roger Angell's new book is waiting for me at the local library (it was closed Wednesday for some reason, and it's always closed on Fridays), so I hope I can get it today. They may have decided to take a long weekend. It's a pretty small operation, but part of a huge and efficient network. It's nice to be able to take out a book in RF or Menomonie and return it here (or vice versa). And of course that's how I get my audio books.

When I go outside later I'll take a couple of photos and add them, so check back.

T-Day +1 (R)

Gainesville

Many thanks for the blow-by-blow of your festival, Sandy! I really felt part of the action reading it, and especially loved all the details of your planning and execution. Great picture, too! Almost the same picture as last year, except Ben is obviously bigger and Julia a bit more somber. Mom is even cuter this year.

Thanks for the correction on the height markers on the door, Marty. What a nice thing to have. Of course I remember our marks in the cabin at The Farm. I've always been the shortest of this clan, but I'm willing to cede the honor. And key lime pie? Why child, you must have Florida blood in your veins.

I don't feel very righteous about cleaning up yesterday-- a dinner for two is quite different than one for seven! We were through earlier also. And that damn sink flywashing kicks in even when
dead tired.

I'm intrigued by the brining routine, but just no way I could pull it off here. Only one smallish fridge, and no possibility that it would ever be cold enough to just stick it out in the porch, even if I had a porch.

Glad you were able to make it despite the slow start yesterday, Mom. Silly of you to even think about being a ball of fire on a holiday anyhow-- what were you thinking?

I slept til 10 again today. Despite having nothing scheduled, normal routines required doing the bathroom floors, plus meal planning for next week, which in turn required purging the fridge, which I should have done pre-Tnx. It wasn't so bad-- nothing was gross, and the labels on things made it easy to decide what to keep and what to pitch. Having and idea of what needs to be used this week made the plans go easier, too.

Sandy suggested I look at Everyday Cooking #19, which I still have-- the very first one-- to see about buttermilk recipes. Great! And it was such a swell issue I ended up planning next week around things I found in there. And realize I let the subscription lapse and will renew post-haste.

I also put in 15 minutes sorting through a small heap of stuff in the big room. I now have cleared a small area of the marble-top coffee table. Another baby step, but progress nonetheless. What a good girl are you, Suze.

The Mashed Potato / Turkey Soup from the paper was so wonderful (and easy) I'm going to include here.

Mashed Potato and Turkey Soup

2 Tablespoons butter
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 cups (8 oz) sliced mushrooms
1 medium carrot, coarsely grated
1 teaspoon dried thyme
4 cups low sodium chicken broth
3 cups mashed potatoes
2 cups chopped cooked turkey
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

In a large saucepan over a medium-high flame, melt the butter. Add the onion, mushrooms, carrot and thyme and saute until the onion is just translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes.

Add the potatoes, then gradually add the broth stirring until potatoes are mostly disolved and broth is smooth. Add the turkey and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Makes 6 servings.

My comments: at least part of its goodness must be attributed to the mashed potatoes being infused with buttermilk and chives, and the turkey being steeped in Marsala glaze. Also I had just under a cup of cooked peas and pearl onions which I tossed in at the very last minute. Still, it would undoubtedly be good even with less exotic ingredients.

Yesterday I alluded to a commercial I saw NFL Network. It was so wonderful that the next time it came on, I paused and rewound TiVo so Bill could see it too. Wish I could have recorded it. It was a beautifully composed combination of visual and spoken text and image, based on the following T.E. Lawrence quote:

All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.

Probably they'll rerun it to death, but meanwhile, it's the most striking ad I've seen since the infamous Mac "1984" pitch. Watch for it.

Thanx

O.K., I'll do this before I start the day's work. I looked up your recipes in FC 81, Suze, and I'm impressed with your ambition and the results. Good show. Glad the galette turned out well for you. Did the pictures help?

Our festival was here (should have told you, sorry!). Here's the menu, from the "brains" I put together in advance:

Hors d'oeuvres:

shrimp dip - Mom
clam dip - Julia
shrimp/avocado toasts - SS, FC 61
cantaloupe, prosciutto, pepper - Charlie, Jacques Pepin
chips, crudités

Main course:

turkey & gravy
party potatoes - 1 Potato, 2 Potato
garden peas
rolls (from Kowalski's)
stuffing casserole
cranberry sauce & relish (made by SS last week)

Dessert:

key lime pie - Marty
sweet potato/pecan pie - Marty

Here's my schedule:

10:00 - turkey out of brine, rinse, air dry
1:00 - in oven breast down
2:00 - turn over
3:30 - done? (it was)
rest turkey
put potatoes in oven
put dressing in oven
make gravy
heat peas
warm rolls
carve

and my list of preparatory stuff to do (not necessarily in order):

1) cook shrimp
2) prepare dressing
3) cut up vegetables
4) make guacamole for shrimp toasts
5) thaw peas
6) make potatoes (1 p.m.)
7) make toasts
8) mise en place clam dip (for Julia to make)
9) clean bathroom (me) vacuum (Charlie)
10) set table

Most of this is self explanatory. I brined the turkey overnight in an Alice Waters recipe for brine, which calls for 2 1/2 gallons water, 2 c salt (I use Diamond Crystal, which is way less salty than most, making it possible to make gravy from the drippings), 1 c sugar, 1 head garlic, peeled, a bunch of thyme (I had to use dried, since my plant died a couple of weeks ago - surprisingly, I was able to find a new plant at the local grocery store, but it was already too late for this time's thyme), 2 bay leaves (from my plant), 4 juniper berries and 5 allspice berries, both crushed. The turkey was a fresh free-range one (ordered from Kowalski's, for which Mom generously popped), fourteen pounds, and this was just enough brine. Normally I can put it outside or in the garage, but the weather's so warm we toted it down to the downstairs fridge, ooof.

The potatoes were made in advance, and while I advocate this as a method (they're simply baked in a flat pan while the turkey rests and while gravy's being made), I won't use the recipe I used again. It calls for lots of butter, cream cheese and some sour cream, and I thought it was too rich and gluey. It worked to hold gravy, though, its main function.

Marty's pies were wonderful, even though (how like me!) she fretted about the crusts. I couldn't decide which I liked better. The key lime was divine, but god, the sweet potato pecan was, too. I'll need the recipe for both. Having the pies made really took a lot of pressure off. Julia, bless her, has become the family clam dip expert. She does a great job with it, and it's one less thing for me to do. And the perennial Florencian shrimp dip was excellent, as usual, and decorated with the very last geranium of summer.

It all went well. I was a bit nervous about the turkey, as I cooked it with pure convection for the first time, but it was fine. I finally bought a real turkey roasting pan (Calphalon, recommended by Cook's Illustrated, $100 including rack), and that was nice to have. I've been meaning to get one for years. Nice to be able to make the gravy right in the pan. Of course I always want oceans of gravy, and as usual, being a little rushed, I settled for less (but very intense and good). There's hardly any left, alas.

Ben was in fine form and behaved quite well. After dinner the two of us ran outside for a quick flashlight explore, this time to pick out a Christmas tree for Charlie and me to cut. We then measured Ben and Julia on the measuring stick. When we left the house in RF we had to copy Julia's measurements from a door onto a stick, and we've since added Ben (and everyone else) to it. Julia is now 5'4", and Florence is down to just a little over five feet. I'm shrinking, too, but not much yet. Julia and I are almost exactly the same height.

Unbelievably, almost no football was watched, except a little by Charlie and Nate while Marty and I dealt with leftover distribution and food rescue (the most difficult part of the meal, by far).I couldn't agree with you more about the sappy human-interest stuff they've added to football. What a drag when someone's mother dies. I think they do this to appeal to women (the Olympics were destroyed for me a few years ago by the same crap), but it doesn't appeal to me at all. What bullshit.

And cleanup? How I envy your perseverance in cleaning up on the very same day. When I've done elaborate cooking I just can't face it. We did put all of the silverware and other dishwasherables in, though I didn't finish filling the dishwasher and running it until this morning. We used the good china (we don't have enough everyday dishes for seven people, so it's a nice excuse to use it), so that has to be hand washed, and I never put glasses in the dishwasher. The big pans & stuff will go in the next DW load, but I'll have to spend an hour (pretty soon now) washing dishes and glasses. When Charlie goes outside to work on the siding, I'll get going.

I keep forgetting to tell you, Suze, what a hit the copper birdbath is. We have a heater for it (I had to buy a new heater this year, $$$!), and the finches flock to it. Last summer an oriole took a nice bath, but mostly the finches and chickadees drink from it. It's a real treat, for them and for us. Thank you again. I still have no photos of birds at it, but I'll keep trying.

Make buttermilk pancakes. Also, check and see if you still have Everyday Food #19. There's a little section on buttermilk (Have You Tried . . . ) that has a great salad (BLT) which I know you'd like, and an easy, very good chocolate cupcake recipe, both using buttermilk. If you don't have this issue (or can't find it ;-]), let me know and I'll send you the two recipes. Buttermilk keeps a lot longer than the use by date.

Charlie was very amused by the hazelnut tale of woe, and asked me this morning if the rest of your meal prep went better, saying he hoped so. Glad it did!

Brilliant

Gainesville

The race has been run, and the kitchen looks as if nothing happened in there. Well, except for the table decorations, still in place, and the remains of the galette.

I was aiming at 2:00, but when I slept until nearly 10, that seemed unreasonable. Decided to try for 2:30, and nearly made it-- would have, except for taking a half hour to shower.

Did the galette first, and it went together well. However, I got it a little too brown, having jacked my oven up by 10 degrees, then not keeping an eye on it before the 25 minute timer went off. It was still good, though-- Bill had two pieces. I have another pie crust (Pillsbury packages of rolled-up crusts contain two) and think I'll make another one this week.

Prepared the turkey roast next. To my dismay, the boneless breast I bought was in a net-thingy, so I knew it was going to be in at least two pieces, and so it was. This meant it wasn't going to to look pretty, like the magazine pictures after slicing. (This is the FC #? recipe for a gathering of 2-4.) Still, it went together well; it was a little bigger than the recipe called for, and I had made more stuffing to compensate for that-- it had a nice gluey consistency, which made it easy to spread and reduced leaking. Put this in the fridge til time to put in oven.

The rolls turned out to be a trial. I've had good luck with the frozen little lumps of dough that rise for several hours as they thaw. Today they just sat there. And sort of melted. I finally resorted to putting them in the toaster oven on the warm setting for about half an hour and they FINALLY started to puff up some.

The potatoes were another complication. The recipe, from the same FC, called for 3 pounds of russets, which I had-- but they overflowed the pan I was planning to cook them in, so several extra pans and bowls were required. And that number of spuds took forever to come to a boil. And of course, as I always remember too late, it takes a long time to get them properly mashed, especially when it's as complicated with doing it over heat, adding butter in stages, then buttermilk in stages, then chives. While doing this, trying to keep the Marsala glaze reducing properly make for a pretty complicated finale. At the last minute I remembered I needed to toss the frozen peas and pearl onions into the mike.

But it all came together, and was all good. More modest than usual in terms of the number of dishes (no bread stuffing, gravy, salad or olive/celery thing, and no appetizers), but what there was rather elegant, if I do say so myself.

Ah yes, and football. Wall to wall football. Alas, network TV is not currently available in the kitchen, so I had sound only during the first two games. Didn't really matter, as I had no time to look anyway. Tonight's game I CAN see in the kitchen, but... I'm all done in there for the night. So it goes. I must say I like what I see of the NFL network's first live game. Really nice to have none of the artificial pressure of finishing things up quickly to make room for the regular prime time schedule, and the post-game focus on ... football! If only they can avoid the stupid trend toward weepy "human interest" stories that the broadcast networks have embraced. I don't CARE about their personal lives, okay? Or about the sick kids they befriend. It's about football, and if NFL Network can remember that, they've found a fan. Yes, a FEMALE fan who loves football, dammit. But, on the plus side, bring on the ads quoting T.E. Lawrence. Brilliant.

Just got the towels folded and put away (it's Thursday, after all-- I'm a creature of habit). Have nothing at all scheduled for tomorrow, and looking forward to it. Don't usually cook Friday night, but yesterday's paper had a very easy-looking recipe for a mashed potato turkey soup that I happen to have everything for. And there will still be plenty left for potato pancakes.

I also have a quart minus a cup of buttermilk. Any suggestions about how to use this? Within the next week? TIA.

Wondering how the WI gathering went-- and where it was held. Hard to even imagine it without knowing the location.

Hazelnut Blues, Revisited

Gainesville

Up early again, third day in a row. Wanted to get a start on meal prep for tomorrow. Little did I know the first step would be such a long one.

It involved hazelnuts. I discovered, to my dismay, I'd bought unshelled ones. They are quite the angry little nut to crack. After several mostly futile efforts with some pliers, I unearthed a small nutcracker from the bottom of a drawer. Still a lot of work, and shells flying all over the kitchen, sometimes the nuts flying too. Finally got the scant 1/4 cup done, got them toasted, and rolled the still-warm toasted nuts around in a dish towel to remove at least some of the thin inner skin. Then cleaned up the mess in the kitchen. While still in clean-up mode, I shook out what I thought was just the skin stuff from the towel into the garbage, only to realize the nuts were STILL IN THERE! Luckily, Bill had just put a crushed Cascade box into the trash, and about half the prepared nuts fell onto it and could be retrieved. But I still had to start over with another batch of nuts: shelling, toasting and peeling, thus doubling the work. At least the second time through it occurred to me I should drape the dish towel over the nuts before cracking them.

Had to go to Publix to get pie crusts and also get plain whole dates (another error: got chopped dates that turned out to be caked in sugar) and some flowers for the table. OF COURSE, they had shelled hazelnuts right there beside the others. I have got to pay more attention when I shop.

Got the stuffing for the turkey breast made, and also the cranberry/ lemon/ ginger chutney we are so fond of. It was good to have the satellite's music channels to keep me company-- I listened to "Deep Tracks," a rather nice, eclectic XM station.

Went to Outback (date night moved up a day). Bill struck up a conversation with a guy at the bar, and they went on like two red cows, albeit very unlikely ones. It was obvious they were the two smartest people in the building. I enjoyed listening.

Still very cold here. Very. Cold. I won't mind if it keeps up one more day, as it's usually warm here on T-Day, and it would be a welcome change.

And early again tomorrow, as I strive to put the mini-feast on the table in the early pm.

I'm bushed.

Colder'n Wisconsin!

Gainesville

Very cold indeed! And wouldn't you know, only the second morning in the past seven weeks I had to get up early and go into work with Bill. He was hosting a catered holiday celebration for everyone in his division-- about 30 people. I had my first experience of being Mrs. Director, and how strange to have people I barely know being so very nice to me-- I think of it as the lunar spotlight.

Yesterday made a crock version of Burgandy Beef, and it was well suited for this frigid weather. Did a shopping run in the afternoon to get stuff for our modest Tnx feast. Forgot a few things, so another quick trip tomorrow. Got the liquor run done, and actually dropped off the stuff I decluttered from the closet at Good Will, too. Good Suze.

Tonight I made Tuna Burgers... and strange as it sounds, they were quite wonderful. Just an ordinary canned tuna (used the Genova stuff Sandy turned me on to) made up as if for salad or sandwich (scallions, celery, mayo, mustard) plus an egg, then made into messy patties and sauteed in olive oil over medium heat. Not pretty, but amazingly tasty, and I have a few ideas about how to do it better. Also spaghetti squash from last night I recycled into a gratin dish that worked rather well.

Tomorrow the T-Day countdown begins. I have 3-4 things to do, plus the last minute shop. I'm not clear about where the Wisconsin feast is to be held.

It's very good to hear you feel better today, Mom. And as for Mt. Washmore, take a tip from FlyLady: little loads, every day. No giant loads to be dragged around. Just a daily routine. I did a few of those today. While folding them, I watched a few more eps of West Wing Seaston 7. I was enjoying them so much I wished I had more stuff to fold! As it is, three hours-worth is enough to give me political dreams that threaten to have me sleeping til noon tomorrow. Not a good idea on T-Day Minus One.

All the buzz today made me think about what I'm doing since retirement besides sleeping late (I'm famous for that). Well, cooking better stuff (boring!); getting the house in better shape (even boringer!). Ah, but I've read NINE books, and enjoyed the living daylights out of each of them. If this is boring, then bring it on. I want more. Retirement rocks!

Hunkering Down

Gainesville

Oh dear, sorry to hear you are ailing, Mom. Good decision to just go to bed, and stay there if it seems like a good idea. You have help nearby if you need it. Do take care of yourself.

I had an unusually long day, got alot done. Well, maybe too much, as I'm alot done in now, after Monday Night Football, plus emergency BSG catch-up. All worked out, Jags won, despite their best efforts to blow it. Will try to remember all the stuff I did today tomorrow.

Another long one tomorrow. It is very cold here. Time to save energy and go to bed!

Say Cheese

Gainesville

Watching the end of the SD/Denver game-- go, LT! What a sweet fellow he is, besides being an amazing player-- no show-boating, no nonsense. I like the Bolts a lot, and hate Denver. Oh, and what an ugly ending it was! SD won, but there was way too much official interference in it.

Woo hoo, the Colts finally lost-- I'm one of those idiot fans who celebrates each year when the Dolphins remain the only perfect team. I should buy a split tomorrow and celebrate. (Bill is not into this mystique.

Slept late this morning-- after watching a couple of West Wing episodes, my dreams were so complicated and interesting I couldn't bear waking up until situations were resolved.

The usual Sunday morning routines stretched into the afternoon. No sooner than they were done, when it was time to start dinner. I turned what should have been an easy soup & salad thing into a major production. A wonderful low-carb Manhattan clam chowder (turnips standing in for spuds), fine. But I took it into my head to top the "simple salad" with something like the fried cheese Sandy made the last few times I visited. She makes it look so easy! With some online coaching, she helped me make something vaguely similar: the wrong cheese (a provelone instead of a mozzerella), the oil too hot, and my lack of experience at how to triple-dip the pieces and have everything stick, let alone get the little blobs turned over in one piece. But of course, with all their flaws, they were delicious. I will try this again, and practice should help. Bill loved it.

I will ask Bill (the Boz fan) about that song, Mom.

You're lucky to find beef shanks; I never see them. And I'm sure your Christmas card will come together splendidly and amaze us all once again.

The One About Sox

Gainesville

This will be short as it's 66 in here. I've got the portable electric heater on, but it only helps a little. The cat has got the chair in the TV room next to the heater commandeered, of course.

Hope you saw my post last night, Mom, which ended up being before yours. Glad you had a good shopping adventure yesterday.

Mine today was uneventful and brief. I just did stuff for the next few days, saving the Tnx shop for early next week when I finally get a menu settled. Tonight I made one of Leanne's for cube steak with browned onion sauce, very good. Had the last of the cauliflower dishes and broccoli from last week, and a small salad.

Just remembered I need to go out and process the celery I bought today. Darn-- the kitchen is all shiny, so I'll have to redo some of that after-- but if I want the celery to be in usable shape, plus have some sticks cut up for Bill's dipping pleasure, it must be done tonight.

While helping me get new virus software last night, Bill got my scanner working again. Now if I can just find that old picture of me Dot Hope gave me at the retirement party... that's the problem with decluttering-- stuff gets neatly filed away, but who knows where?! Still, it's better, and I'm glad if my baby-step efforts are motivational for you in some way.

I applaud your efforts to organize your food supplies and make healthier snack choices. I finally finished the annual bag of corn nuts I allow myself each birthday. Not that I consider them unhealthy, but they are hell on my glass jaw, and of course they are tooth-breakers too. I wish I didn't love them so much, or that they'd make ones that are easier to chew.

While having espresso tonight, we watched the DVD part of a new Boz Scaggs CD Bill recently acquired. It was nice, and I really love his song, "We're All Alone."

Later I folded some of Bill's socks while watching an episode of West Wing. Great stuff. (The show, not the sox, although they are perfectly fine sox as sox go... )

Gee, doesn't this sound like one of my kid-diary entries?

Real Cold

Gainesville

Not sure how this is going to work-- both the cat an my computer are competing for lap space, all of us huddled up next to the gas wall heater. It is finally genuinely cold: in the 30's, headed for the low end of them at that.

Mostly occupied with small efforts at decluttering. I did do the 5 minute rescue I promised Wednesday night post-blog, although it stretched into 15. Next day, actually finished the sorting/ filing that the cat interrupted, too.

Today I decided to continue Zone work with the study closet, inspired by my progress with the shoes purge I did before Doug visited. Spent 15 minutes at it. Then another 30 dealing with the stuff I'd pulled out and sorted. About 20 things (mostly silk blouses) on hangers and another dozen folded (mostly too-big t-necks), all ready to go to Good Will; warm weather clothes into storage freed up by the t-neck toss; and some beloved but worn out stuff to trash. Just a beginning, but it made me feel good to accomplish this.

Another 5 minutes of paper clutter removal, most of it into the shredder (which I had to empty) counts toward the room rescue.

Finished Adri's book today. Not sure what I'll read next. Probably finish Peanuts 59-60, then back to Will in the World.

Find that I'm pining for audiobooks. Can't decided whether to break down and buy another one on tape for driving Blue during the week when I'm not in the mood for the only radio worth listening to, or to get something new on CDaudio that I could listen to at home while cooking, or when driving Moonbeam on weekends. No doubt audiotape will soon go the way of VHS, officially declared dead this week. This "death" complicates my life, as now that manufacture of VHS is finished, the existing artifacts could possibly appreciate in value, i.e., someone might take my horde off my hands, if I wait long enough. I just hate the thought of putting them into the landfill.

There's a Gator game tomorrow at noon-- gakk-- worse possible timing. Will have to shop between 12:30 and 3:00. My own fault, shoulda-coulda-woulda gone out today, but just di'nt. And haven't finalized holiday strategy either, beyond the vague notion of the FC stuffed turkey breast. Many ideas for sides, more than make sense for our small crowd, so the problem becomes one of narrowing down options.

I nicked the back of my hand when wrestling with clothes hangers today, and again marvel at the efficacy of spray-on bandages. They're amazing. (It's the Mirrors!!)

Hope you had a good shopping trip today, Mom. Look forward to hearing about it tomorrow.

And now I see the laptop battery is about to go red, so must post, no edit. Then settle down for a long winter's nap. Ahhhh.

A-P Day

Gainesville

I'll admit I was suprised to see Lisey's Story at the top of NYT's best sellers list, as it is very different from his usual scary stuff (I haven't read Cell, for example, and probably won't), but I guess anything with the name Stephen King on it is going to sell bigtime.

I started reading Adri's new book yesterday. As always, very easy and enjoyable reading. She has a real gift for depicting home-spun characters, especially the dialog.

I always appreciate your clippings, Mom. I'm ashamed to say that I still have stuff here about the new Library ready to mail you and just haven't gotten it done. Maybe that can be for next week's Anti-Procrastination day.

Did pretty well with this week's A-P day-- got the last three things on my November To Do list at least in the works-- phone calls, emails, etc. Been putting them off because I knew they'd be multi-phase, but at least they are started.

Forgot all about my vow to do some work on the kitchen floor until I read it just now in last night's post. Maybe tomorrow. Didn't get the 5 Minute Room Rescue done either, but plan to do it as soon as I finish here. It's five minutes, after all, and I really want to get some momentum going there.

I made a stab at some work in the office here today-- sorting out a stack of stuff I already know I want to keep into some kind of logical categories, which should help with going through the junk in the big room. I had it all spread out on the bed, when the cat came in. Nothing I could do would discourage her from walking all over it, sitting or lying on it, and just generally being a pest. I ended up just stacking it all up again and will try again later.

The chicken thing I did tonight was quite good-- marinated for a few hours in a chicken broth/ lime juice/ garlic and chili powder mixture, then sauteed and topped with a simple cilantro salsa (chopped fresh tomatoes, scallions and more lime juice). Had the cauli-rice I'd pre-shredded Monday with bottled salsa added at the end, and a pre-fab Oriental salad. Cooking done for the week, and way too many leftovers in the fridge. But at least they're all labeled and dated.

Over after-dinner espresso, Bill entertained me by humming, in his own inimitable style, themes to various TV shows. I hardly knew any of them (!) but I loved the game. It reminded me when Sandy and I used to make each other guess songs by just slapping out the rhythm of the lyrics on our thighs. Humming would have been no challenge at all, since we had the very same set of songs in our heads. I also remember playing "Juke Box" in the shower when we used to share the one in the original part of the house.

Thunder! What is this? It's supposed to be too late in the season for that. It was on the warm side outdoors, although chilly in the house (the joy of terrazzo floors). And now I hear a few drops of rain. Good thing, as it's been over a week since it last precipped, and things are still way too dry. But the cat is not happy with it: she is staring out the sliding glass window, occasionally glacing at me reproachfully. Clearly another case of Local God Failure, i.e., why do Bill and I permit these things to happen? All things must serve the cat.

Dancing Dog

Gainesville

Good news for your birds, Mom-- and for you, not having to risk life and limb to attend to them.

The journey of 1,000 miles, etc: I did a 5-minute room rescue in the worst room (walk-in attic) that was actually like 15 minutes. But at least one small armload is out of there, sorted and either dumped or shredded. It would not be noticed by anyone but me, but it is the first items of any size that have gone OUT of there in a long time. Just one of these per day, and by next year, I will regain that space. I came across some images recently of when I last had control there, and they threatened to break my heart. I decided to use them as inspiration: I did it before, and I can do it again.

The crock pork thing was okay-- it did make the house smell nicely of garlic and rosemary all day. The leftovers should make good shredded pork stuff-- as usual, it couldn't really be sliced.

Got the 5th (of 6) Blessing done today-- lowered my coffee table stack to a manageable level. Never did 5 in one week before. If I can attack the kitchen floor for 15 minutes tomorrow, I'll have my first ever full 60 minute Home Blessing sixfecta. Stay tuned.

Another first: I watched some daytime TV: Stewart/Colbert. Now that the political system is showing signs of life, I felt ready to have a laugh at it. And it is wonderfully funny.

But even stranger, Bill wanted to watch Dancing with the Stars tonight. Emmit Smith, UF alum and NFL superstar, was a finalist. Ordinarily, who cares? But since the first choice as speaker at the new library's dedication, the Librarian of Congress, will be out of the country, the somewhat whimsical suggestion of inviting Emmit to speak suddenly seems like an inspired bit of lunacy-- so off-the-wall it just might work! Ordinarily I'd rather gouge my own eyes out than look at something like this, but we watched an entire half hour segment. Emmit has such extraodinary charm, and has obviously worked so hard, it's mesmerizing. As Bill says, he's kind of like a dancing dog -- the fact that he can dance at all is amazing. (The other "amateur" finalist is an actor who's obviously been dancing all his life.) Win or lose, what a hoot it would be to have him dedicate the new campus Palace of Learning. He is a genuine Gator Graduate, who came back to finish his degree because he promised his mama. It'll never happen, but what a sweet thought.

It's cold here. (Well, never made it out of the low 70's.) And supposed to get colder by the end of the week. (Oooh, oooh, lower 40's, brrrr!) But still we have active and very pissed-off mosquitos. What a strange ecosystem this is.

Balancing Act

Gainesville

Great post, Sandy. Of course I'm always interested in details of what you cook-- please do talk about your newest chili. I've grown dissatisfied with the various pre-fabs I use. I used to make the Silver Palate one, but it takes much too long. The only one I still like is Super Chili, from Desperation Dinners-- it's made with ground turkey, is simple, and seems to always work. It's named Super as in suitable for Super Sunday-- I've made it for for that celebration the past 5-6 years. Thanks for the tip about McCormick chili powder. I tend to buy whatever brand strikes my eye first.

Could you give me a pointer to that wonderful rustic apple tart you made while I was up there? I've taken it into my head that I want to make that for Turkey Day. I'll wimp out and use pre-fab crust, of course. I'm thinking I'll try FC's Tnx meal for a small crowd, the stuffed T-breast. I still have leftover turkey in the freezer from last year, so am discouraged from making another whole bird and all the attendant fu.

Tonight was one of those meals that seemed fairly simple on paper (mini-meatloaves and FauxTaytoes) that turned out making a huge mess of the kitchen and taking twice as long as I thought they might. The loaves required shredded zucchini, meaning the Cuisinart shredder had to do double duty, and the steamer was involved too. Not sure it was worth it. In the process I got the rest of the cauliflower shredded for Spanish Rice later in the week. Will do a pork roast in the crock pot tomorrow, a chicken thing on Wednesday.

Got 4 of the 6 weekly blessings done today-- a first, and on the right day, too. Gold Star time. It will be a huge upper the rest of the week to know this has been done. Also did 3 loads of laundry (including towels) so THAT is done for the week. Tuesday is a Free Day, and one of these I'll actually take a bubble bath-- the hall BR is in such good shape now that I don't use it daily that it would actually be a treat to bathe in there.

Ah God, what a terrible Monday night game. But even worse was realizing that my DirecTV football schedule had let me down, and that there WAS a Sunday night game, probably the best game of the day: Bears and Giants. D'oh!

Your cooking sounds good, Mom. I still don't understand what the induction burner is all about, but then I'm way behind on cooking technology-- I still don't understand convection ovens.

Reading about how many letters you used to write is amazing. Even when you started "patching" them, that is still a huge amount of mental effort to sort all that out. I know, because even with the further convenience of email, I am shamefully behind on correspondence even with the few people I try to keep in touch with. A long way to go before reaching equilibrium with this new life cycle.

notes and comment

I'll try to get something started here. Corned beef (commercial, not my own) in the oven, cooking slowly. Using the very, very last of our fresh cabbage, one I didn't expect to be able to salvage, but I have just enough. Will have mashed potatoes with it, I guess.

Weather is raw, but most of the snow has melted. We had nearly four inches when RF got a dusting late last week. Looked nice, and it was going to be warm enough that we didn't have to shovel much. I'm always kind of glad to see the first snow, but it's hard to face five months of winter coming up. Puss has mixed feelings; she enjoys the big white catbox (yes, she shits in the snow, neatly covering it up, though the other day she gave a little "eeep" when she sat down in the cold stuff), but she always gives her feet a few shakes before she steps outside, and sometimes she refuses to go out, even when she's asked us to let her out.

So much time has passed, and the days are just packed (Calvin & Hobbes quote, for the uninitiated). I've been going to a lot of schools and doing a lot of cooking. Notable things cooked (if I can remember): Nice cheese fondue for David & Judy Heberlein a week ago Saturday. Vera, our Swiss friend, gave us a beautiful hard-fired crockery pot for fondue when last they were here, and this was our first go-round with it. I was nervous about putting it on the stove (to melt the cheese), but it came out fine. We keep it hot on the table on our electric burner. Easier to control than sterno.

We're on our second hog jowl, made into guanciale, and it's good. Had it yesterday with tomato sauce and pasta. I made up another big bunch of Mario's tomato sauce. I've also recently made some good chili, for which I have a new method. I start by making taco meat, flour and all (I know the original recipe calls for paprika, but I don't use it), then add beans (in this case the last of last year's pintos) and tomatoes. If anyone wants details they will be forthcoming. The key to chili (I believe) is to always use McCormick's chili powder. I've tried other kinds and they don't taste right.

Yesterday I also made an apple pie. What an ordeal. Apple pie is as simple as pie, but I was trying to get some good out of the last of this year's apples. I must have peeled twenty apples to get enough good ones. Took forever. The remaining apples (about 20 of them) will not be edited; they will go out to the deer. Good pie, though. After the pasta lunch and pie, we ate popcorn for supper. Watching football, of course (Sunday). I was happy to see the Packers beat the Vikes. We couldn't stay up late enough for the second half of Da Bears, but were happy to find they'd won. A quick comment on Monday night football, it being Monday. Before it was turned into a circus, I mean long before, Monday night was the first chance one got to see all of the big plays of Sunday. There was only one game that one could see on Sunday (or maybe two), and for all the rest one had to wait until Monday to see any plays. Halftime on Monday night was the highlight of the football (highlights) week.

Other cookage. The grapefruit/arugula salad from the new FC truly is a winner. I made it again for David & Judy. I also made, from that issue, the turtle-like shortbread bar cookies. Many steps, but nothing really complicated. One has to be comfortable with a candy thermometer, though. And at last I have a really good one, inherited from Charlie's mom. Anyway, they are super. The recipe makes a ton, but they're almost gone (took some to Dwight & K's on Saturday when we ate there, in the house that Charlie built three/four years ago).

I can't think of anything else cook-y, though when I'm making things I blog in my mind. Need to do this more often, of course.

On the reading front, I'm on the last disc of S/N. It's been hanging fire for almost a week, but I'll finish it tomorrow on my way to Cannon Falls. I could have brought it in to listen to the rest of it, but was trying to save it, because I don't want it to be over. Charlie has at last read Oryx and Crake. He started reading it in bed, a bit at a time, in the middle of last week. Then one day he brought it downstairs, and the day after that he did not move until he was done. It was a nice day by the fire. I'm short of read at the moment, so I was rereading Here at The New Yorker, probably the least interesting of the TNY books, which was fine, since Charlie made a lot of comments while reading O & C.

Of course I remember "Million Dollar Baby." Strangely, it is one of my most common earworms, and I have no idea what triggers it. As far as my homegrown housekeeping scheme goes, it's working pretty well. The hardest part is going back a week later to a place I normally clean so rarely that I'm used to cleaning it dirty. It's odd to reclean something, if you know what I mean, but I know from previous experience that cleaning something that has been cleaned recently gets it even cleaner. The main thing is that if I have an hour, I can get that day's work done, and if I have more time I can do more. So far I've moved the kitchen spice shelf to a much better location and given it a purge (I'm pretty much on top of it, but there are always a few stragglers), cleaned out the upstairs and downstairs grocery shelves, and, wonder of wonders, today organized and purged a messy pile of kitchen stuff in the basement that's been there since we tore out the old cubbyhole under the stairs. Most of it is stuff to keep, but I still got a good pile of stuff to throw. Mainly, it's now neatly organized (on the floor), and I know what's where. This was good. What's left now will have a place when the new kitchen cabinets are finished. So I understand and appreciate your efforts, Suze. It's nice to get some of that crap out, thrown, stowed, whatever. My next effort will be our guest room. It's bad enough that we have one room piled with junk ("The Book Room"); two won't do. It's not a massive job, but will require a certain amount of thinking. The Book Room is hopeless until we get the sunroom finished, and who knows when that will be.

We are, however, making progress. Charlie has a lot of siding up on the front and west side of the garage. The view of the garage from the downstairs toilet is particularly splendid. We are getting so civilized here. Our very nice tax assessor lady still lists our house as "gutted," but one of these years she won't be able to, and our taxes will go up.

I know that I have left all stones unturned, most questions unanswered, and many interesting things uncommented upon, but this will have to do for today.

Free Time

Gainesville

Good grief, Mom-- Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, even if you aren't churchy. Your day sounds very relaxing. And how many times do I need to remind you that solitaire and crosswords are NOT "time wasters" -- they are mental calesthenics! Research proves this! So enjoy the exercises without guilt.

I slept late. (No guilt-- it is Sunday). I watched pre-football and football. (Ditto.) Then, very late, I straggled out to shop, bought pre-fab stuff to eat tonight. (Double ditto.) I call that a GREAT day, and refuse to listen to those inner voices that say I wasted it. Didn't get any more decluttering done in the kitchen, either. So what? I'll get to it eventually.

A week or two ago I bought a roll of freezer tape and started identifying and dating everything I put in the fridge. This has made it much easier to both use what's there and pitch what's obviously past it. Plus, it cuts down the paralyzing Fear of Fridge, which centers on WHAT might be in that container...? Doesn't take that long to do this marking, and well worth it.

Last night I did watch some vid: the 7th season of West Wing came out last week. I'd seen ever episode of the previous 6 seasons, and about half of the 7th-- got behind, some TiVo problems, and I was relectant to see it end, and face up to John Spencer's death. Always a double whammy when an actor in an active TV series dies. I absolutely loved today's Candorville strip: I cried bitter tears when I heard about the death of the actor who played G'Kar on Bab5-- he was one half of the beating heart of that series (the other being Londo Mollari).

Anyway, I did start Season 7 of WW from the top last night, and it was so wonderful I watched two episodes. Watched a third tonight after finishing the kitchen and sink routines, and plan to watch another when I finish this. Who cares if it's half past midnight? I'm FREE!

Calendar Challenged

Gainesville

What a strange day. We both forgot all about our theater date tonight-- Bill was involved in his game, I was entralled by Lisey's Story. I'd noticed it on the calendar this morning, but figured I'd have plenty of time to get ready when I heard him stirring around, so paid no attention to the clock. (It was a 5:00 performance). A great big D'oh!

We even have the calendar hanging in the kitchen now where we both can see it. I was enormously pleased when Bill not only put his next three dentist appointments on it, but actually used the little tooth stickers too! Need to make it more of a habit to look at it several times a day.

I did finish that fookin' booook. A real page turner, and I love King's writing style, but don't think I'll be reading this one again. Too much awfulness. But I'm still one foot into that world and it will take a couple of days to shake it, I suspect.

I hadn't planned a meal, or shopped, but could have thrown together a frittata or done dogs 'n' kraut, but we decided to go down the road to our Thai place. Lots of traffic, all headed south, all aftermath of the Gator game with South Carolina. (Gators won by one point.)

Will need to go shopping tomorrow and miss some of Pigskin Day, alas. It's quite fall-like here finally, so will think about roasting something in the oven just for the heat. Still need to put that 30 minutes into decluttering the kitchen. Then on to the bathroom and "one other room," my study. Both are in superficially good shape because of Doug's visit, but there are piles of stuff in the study that got stash & dashed that now needs attention. 15 minutes a day on it is all the FL asks, which seems reasonable enough.

One excellent accomplishment last week was decluttering the shoes in my closet. Tossed about 1/3 of them, put 1/3 that I almost never wear in a sack, which left just those I actually wear, and they fit nicely on the four shoe shelves in there. I did this to clear space for Doug to hang stuff up-- but of course, being here less than a day, he had nothing to hang up!

Wish it weren't quite so late: I feel in the mood for a movie. Maybe an episode of something. I know if I try to read another word, my eyes will fall out.

Snow on the Pumpkins

Gainesville

Well, you must be my mother-- glad to meet you! I didn't know you followed election nights either. I've been interested in the process since I almost aced the civics test in 8th grade (missed one question due to trick wording, so got a 99). At Cottey I took State and Local Government second semester and loved it-- Dr. Caylor was young, bright, very straight but with a dry sense of humor. The class got to spend a day in Springfield observing the workings of the legislature, and it was all fascinating. Took US Gov next semester, with the flamboyant and borderline crazy Mr. McReynolds, who thundered, threw books at us, and quoted things we felt honor-bound to track down... and this in days before that was easily possible on the Net. I was actually considering majoring in Political Science, and might have if I hadn't had to take that year off to work. Probably just as well. I'd have always been a mere back-room schemer anyway.

Last night we were treated to yet another level of deference at Outback. The bar was crowded, but before we'd even gotten a buzzer thingy, Angie bustled up and told us she'd seat us at one of her tables as soon as it came clear-- so we got a table already laid out with things she knew we'd want, and her very special attention, even though she was hobbling around, having stubbed her toe and the playground that afternoon running after one of her two young boys. If there had been some way I could have made her sit down for awhile and done her job for her, I'd have been glad to.

Finished the Blessings and did the towels yesterday, and today spent carefully timed segments on the SE corner of the kitchen, where stuff has piled up for 4-5 years. One large garbage bag full of dry stuff (including ancient Girl Scount cookies, still perfectly good thanks to being loaded with trans-fat, crackers, stuffing mix... you name it) was disposed of, plus 1-2 dozen expired little cans of juices, and about 30 bottles, plastic and glass, of expired beverages, all emptied, rinsed and put in the recycle. Found a can of Rotell tomato stuff, not that old, that had started leaking. Bill spotted it before I had a chance to deal with it and pitched in. He also helped open all those bottles I would have had to use the Gilhoully on. I figure I have anoher 30 minutes in The Kitchen Zone tomorrow, and I'll have made it a full weeks-worth. Yes!

It was a school holiday today, but Bill had to go in to work at around 5:00, dressed to the 9's, for a reception being held in the new library by campus fund-raisers. He was not a happy camper about this.

Spent way too much time yesterday and today reading Lisey's Story. I'm about 2/3 through, and I'm betting that tomorrow will be the previously-predicted all-nighter. I don't know what it is about Stephen King that is so compelling. If I weren't so tired, I'd finish the book tonight. I know I'll have terrible/wonderful dreams tonight, and more tomorrow night.

I knew about your snow, Mom, because Neil (who lives outside MSP) wrote about it in his blog yesterday:

Dreaming of a White Birthday?

I woke up and the world is white. It snowed in the night and it's still snowing. How odd.

But you should really take a look at his post for today and see the fate of the Halloween pumpkins... for what snow is all about

Some images to share tomorrow. I hope.

Poly Sci

Gainesville

Well, you should be ecstatic, Mom. I just heard that the Dems won in VA, and in doing so, now control both houses. I stayed up watching til about 2:00 (blame it on Cottey Poly Sci professors Caylor and McReynolds that I'm still an election night junky) and must say it is good to see that political change via ballot box is still possible in this brave new world. Whether it translates into real change remains to be seen. The biggest surprise to me was the Resignation so soon: What does he have to hide? It seems unseemly hasty.

Bright cold weather here after a full-bore rainy day yesterday, while I was out and about, first voting (amazingly easy at around 11:45, unlike 04's chaos) then driving clear across town to the preferred bank in the Millhopper area to TCB. While there (in driving rain) I also picked up bread and biscotti at Upper Crust and grouper at the fish market. I made the latter into a cashew- crusted dish that I managed to blacken on the outside and leave one piece undercooked on the inside: d'oh! Can't remember what we had with it. I came home drenched, and had to change out of wet clothes down to the undies.

Today I woke up fretful and fearful: a problem with IRA agents surfaced last night. It's usually lovely to have men fighting over you, but not in this context. I dealt with it as best I could, but it's not over yet.

While out yesterday I picked up the new Stephen King, Lisey's Story, [rhymes with "SeeSee"] and read it whenever I had the chance today. It reminds me of Bag of Bones, one of my favorites, and so far, at least, is a similar, except from the wife's POV. At some point during the next week, I predict I'll pull something close to an all-nighter to finish it.

Did some Blessings (floors, dust) today, some laundry both days. Still trying to establish the new habit of Sharing A Bathroom. So far so good. If FL is right, it will take another month to get it right.

Sandy, how is your home-grown housework system going?

Wrote bills for longer and later than usual tonight, as Doug's visit disrupted that particular routine. All is well. FL's Office in a Bag is a lifesaver.

Clock just struck twelve. Oh thank god! My bio-clock is still trying to adjust to the return to normal sun time-- was sure it was sometime after 1:00. If I can just get off of this Internet freeway w/o getting killed or caught (thanks, Jerry Jeff Walker) I just might get some sleep tonight.

Aftermath

Gainesville

Finished the post-guest clean-up, including our own sheets and towels, plus a load of whites. After sharing the master bathroom with Bill for a couple of days and enjoying the large shower, I decided to listen to Bill's urging and try sharing it permanently. Should make it easier to keep that bathroom clean on a daily basis, and leave the other once company ready with minimal maintenance. Spent time making it habitable for me-- cleaned some parts of the shower that the automatic cleaner does not reach, and cleaning the mirror so I can see myself-- I don't think it had EVER been cleaned! A few more things still to do, but I think it may work.

Put about five arm-loads of catalogs, all unread, into the recycle bin-- I guess that counts as a 5-minute room rescue, although it took longer than that. Had planned to spend 15 minutes decluttering the SE corner of the kitchen, but ran out of time.

Made Leanne's signature "Garlic Lime Chicken," which is amazingly good, and so easy-- no chopping! Bill loved it, and asked me to email it to Doug, who's doing his own cooking until the rest of the family move to Atlanta in December.

Watching Seattle dismember Oakland, enjoying a drink. Think I've finally figured out how to manage my work email via Thunderbird. Been trying to do it using the webmail interface, but it's just too slow and clunky. It's now in such a mess I can't even dismiss calendar reminders, let alone send mail from it. I don't care about most of it, but I do want to keep up with the comics scholars list.

So tomorrow is Vote Day. I have seen hardly any campaign ads on the tube-- they don't seem to do much of that on football, and that's all I watch. Will do my civic duty around 10, then a major errand run. Have a bunch of checks to deposit, including (finally) some of yours, Mom-- be prepared for a sudden hit to the checking account. Our bank of choice is at the other end of town, alas. Sorry to do this just when you're dealing with medical expenses. It's crazy that hospital stays should cost so much.

I also hope to pick up Adri's new book (have you started it yet?), Stephen King's new one, Lisey's Story, and the sure-to-be-fabulous Absolute Sandman. Need some new sneaks too-- my daily lace-ups are in tatters.

The new WIRED magazine has a feature where about 30 writers contribute short stories six words long. Many are wonderful, but my two favorites:

Epitaph:
Foolish humans,
never escaped
Earth.
-- Vernor Vinge

Longed for him.
Got him.
Shit.
--Margaret Attwood

Time for a refill.

Plenty Popcorn

Gainesville

Doug's visit was a success. He arrived at 5:30 yesterday afternoon, left this morning at 9:45. Do the math, with a 5 hour drive each way. As he explained it, he just wanted to know that he COULD do this-- after the exile in Idaho, he could drive for a few hours north or south and be in friendly family territory.

Downtown was a zoo this weekend, the semi-annual art festival along with a jazz event. Doug got here too late for the planned Hippodrome play (delayed once again til next week, last chance) so we ended up at Outback, and an hour at the bar (Mom and Sandy remember this well).

The brothers were all tuckered out and crashed early. (I will relate a charming anecdote of their interaction later.) They got up early, rummaged around in the kitchen and made themselves an omelet for breakfast (I'm happy to relate that the only thing the pantry lacked was fresh chives) and then took off to tour the new library, after which Doug left for Atlanta.

I had a relaxing day yesterday, having done the FL routine. Shopped at Publix for a basic Leanne week. Bill spent "hours" scouring the kitchen counter, moving everything, and then another hour or so disposing of his triple tower on the coffee table, all this on his own. All in all, we are left with a relatively slicked-up living area.

Typical Pigskin Sunday, plenty of popcorn. (Mom, can't understand why you didn't put on football for noise-- it's the best!) And how 'bout them Redskins!

Mostly kicked back and did not feel one bit guilty about it. Dinner of beer-braised pork chops with scallions and mushrooms-- not so hot, but no guilt there either. We were well fed.

Tomorrow is Monday. I have a plan, but I don't HAVE to be anywhere at any particular time. This is my idea of a great day.

Puppy Lives

Gainesville

LIVE-- from my desktop! The second replacement power supply arrived today (the first was the wrong size) and was duely installed-- and the angry wasps were still there. Sigh. This left only one remaining culprit-- the souped-up graphics card I got to play Everquest had it's own little fan, and THAT was what was making all the noise. D'oh! But meanwhile, I have a much larger hard drive and a more powerful (and quieter) power supply. We dropped the graphics card in the trash since the one that came with the computer is fine for everyday use. If I ever get back into gaming again, I'll get another hot rod.

Slept late, as I'd not slept well last night. Began the FL Crisis Mode (tm) cleaning. Took a break to have lunch with Bill at Merlion, just down the street, then started hitting the 15 minute timer again, changing rooms whenever it dinged. I'm tired, but not terribly so-- I followed the plan of sitting down to relax for 15 minutes once an hour. This routine made it possible to do some detail stuff that was beyond what's needed: base of toilet, purge of shoe shelves in the closet (in an attempt to give Guest some place to hang up a few things in my bulging closet), and getting some temporary sorting bins out there.

And my music keyboard is unearthed and playable again! It was lovely to hear you played the organ again today-- "Lazy River" has been in my brain ever since. Maybe next week I'll sit down and play my favorite easy song: "Rainbow Connection."

Strange what sticks: Besides "Lazy River", I've been dealing with "Million Dollar Baby (in a 5 and 10 Cent Store)" Anyone else remember this? And why should it haunt me now?

Congratulations on progressing to one crutch, Mom. Your singing "I'm Flying" as you get around is truly delightful. You go, girl! But take baby steps for awhile, please!

Sandy, you gave away Dove Promises for Halloween treats?! This would never happen here-- We ALWAYS have them around because Bill has to have them here and at work-- but they have to be fresh, so we don't stockpile. I try to tell him what Army Chocolate was like, but he can't relate. I remember the smell of it, in the car.

Well then, to bed. Nice part of this time of year is, it seems hideously late, but clock tells me it's not even 1:00 yet... and the same delightul pattern will repeat in the morning. Should be an interesting day.

Masked and Unmasked

Gainesville





















He's just so gosh-darned cute. But maybe he should cut back on the steroids! Really strange to see a little kid with such well-defined biceps and six pack...

Doug called tonight, and will be arriving Saturday afternoon. Bill will try to get our Hipp tickets converted to 3. I will be in crisis cleaning mode tomorrow and Saturday morning, although things are in not too bad shape-- I did the Blessings today plus a few things to get my study converted to guest room and the bathroom guest-ready. It shouldn't be too bad.

Glad to hear the good news about the x-rays, Mom. Slow and steady progress is best.

Need to get to sleep early, as tomorrow's gonna be a long one.

Ramblers and Gamblers

Gainesville

Thanks for the tofu recipe, Sandy. Sounds like a lot of work, though, and any recipe that has the word "carefully" (or even hints that one must be careful) is usually rejected out of hand. The tofu I used to buy already had the cosmetic grill marks on it, so that would reduce the stress somewhat. Since Atkins, somehow Mother Earth and vegetarian-fu got dropped-- only so much room for cooking genres. But reading this recipe made me long to taste tofu again.

I've got several suggestions for a follow-up read to S/N, but will put them in email.

I'm back to reading my Complete Peanuts set, about half way through 57-58. Also reading the new Shakespeare bio, Will in the World. So far, I've been surprised by how much I already know about it-- my sabbatical research included a lot of that, especially the wonderful PBS series and its accompanying book. No doubt there will be new stuff once really into it.

Thanks to Marty for the backstory about Ben's costune (in a comment to my last post). It all comes clear now. YOU, a cruel mom? As if!!

Lessee, I blessed the house (weekly attention to floors, rugs ad dusting) and did two loads of laundry. And a major anti-procrastination item done: I remembered to ask Bill to hang up my FL calendar in the kitchen! Finally, we can both see the month at a glance and plan accordingly. He has to go to Washington DC for 3 days in early December, and I feel better about it now that it is on that calendar and won't come as a big shock.

Still wondering if Doug will visit this weekend or next. Really doesn't matter: it is what it is.

Was planning to do a crock thing today, but ended up repeating that heavenly pasta recipe on the back of FC #79, since I had everything at hand to do it, including low-carb linguine. Went together in about an hour, and was once again wonderful. Probably a bit too garlicky for Bill, as I used all the gremolata for just the two of us, when it was supposed to serve 6. This has got to be the perfect vegetarian desperation dinner that uses things we all almost always have around: dried pasta, butter, olive oil, onions, parsley, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, jalapenos/serranos, a lemon, and some romano or parmesan. Had thought I might chop and add the leftover shrimp from last night, but then realized that would shorten its fridge life drastically.

A gentle reminder, Mom: food is not for choking down. It is for enjoying. Toss those impossible- to- open tubs of whatever. Eat whatever sounds good to you. If it's buttered salt bombs, ice cream, go for it. At this time of life, you should get a free pass to eat what you love. Take your vitamins, in whatever form it feels right, and if you aren't hungry, then pass.

Wisdom from a song we used to sing (at dinner!) at Cottey:

We eat when we're hungry,
We drink when we're dry

And "we'll sleep when we're sleepy" is the unspoken part. Which is what I'll do now.

tofu (R)

I should check and see how to put in the red R. If you want to do it, Suze, that'd be great. So here's the tofu recipe:

Sesame-crusted Tofu

12 oz block firm tofu (if it's packed in water, drain it)

Cut it into 1/2 inch slices (the long way)

Place the slices in a non-stick frying pan (critical that it be a non-stick in good condition!), no oil, over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes on each side. It acts funny and jumps around. This is the cosmetic browning, so don't take it out too soon. It's hard to turn without breaking, so be careful. Transfer to a plate and let cool.

In a bowl (or a flat thingy for breading things), mix 2 egg whites, 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.

In another flat thing, mix 1/4 cup plain bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds and 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds (keep sesame seeds in the fridge or freezer; they get rancid fast) and 1/4 tsp salt.

Dip slices first in liquid and then in crumbs.

Heat a tablespoon or so of oil in the skillet (wipe it out first) over medium heat. Cook tofu slices for about 3 minutes on each side.

Eat.

The "slats" blocking the windows in the photo were siding boards warming up prior to painting. They were only there for a day (to dry after being painted, too), but I thought it gave the kitchen an interesting look. Charlie is putting siding on the garage, making us look quite civilized, at least from the street.

Last night's dinner was a casserole I got from the Fargo Forum years ago. It's layered cabbage, onions, raw bacon and sliced potatoes, with a little chicken stock poured over it and some cheddar on top. Sounds weird and like it'd be terribly greasy, but it's really good. I used something called cottage bacon (a little less fat than regular bacon, but regular bacon works, too) from Louie's Finer Meats, a shop in Cumberland where everyone stops on their way to and from Up North. I was at a school in Cumberland yesterday.

Today I went to observe a junior high art class (my, I'm getting diverse) in Woodbury and picked up a few things at Kowalski's. Stocking up on meat for the month of November. Also ordered the Thanx turkey. They have good free-range fresh birds there.

The weather is cold and nasty. It dawned clear and cold, then turned cloudy and cold, with a few odd snowflakes now and then. God, the beginning of November. Five months of winter ahead. Ish.

My new housework system is still working (on day 3). Wednesday is kitchen day (though I clean the kitchen every day, Wednesday is the Extra Effort in the Kitchen day), and I had about an hour and fifteen minutes to work on it before I had to leave. I'm thinking that it is actually possible to keep up the house while I'm going to schools. And after next week I'll have a break of a couple of weeks or so. I have seven students, and I have to see each of them a little more often than once a month. It works out. I'm enjoying driving around in my new car, but I don't know what I'll do when I'm done with S/N. It'll be hard to find something else that will engage me so thoroughly and for so long.

We had no tricky treaters last night, as usual. We left a light on, but even though we have a little housing development across the road and there are kids there, no one comes over. Afraid of strange old people, I guess. We're always a little disappointed (we loved the kids in costume in RF), but we get to eat the candy, in this case little wrapped squares of dark Dove chocolate, very good.

Martini time!