Stalling....Again....

I am in my "don't want to get back to my real life" mode. I confess this always happens whenever we come back from a trip. This time it feels like we were gone for a month, instead of only eight days. We started with an overnight babysit in Connecticut, flew out to Las Vegas for a few days, then went over to San Diego for a few more days. We came back on the red-eye, which was a great flight, but I found it very disorienting. I understand losing a day or part of a day when you cross time zones, but it was so strange losing the night instead.

So, yesterday I vegged on the couch with my book and my down quilt. Today I am doing laundry, because it requires no brain power, and yet is a worthy use of one's time, because it needs to be accomplished, especially after a trip. I am hanging on the computer, because it requires no brain power, but it really is not a worthy use of one's time--just an excellent way of stalling. Maybe by tomorrow I will be ready to get my brain into gear and come up with a prioritized to-do list.

Our trip was great--caught up with some fine family, and got thoroughly sensory overloaded in LV. Saw some good art at the Getty in LA, and ate entirely too much all around SD. I'll be paying for that later this afternoon at Weight Watchers... Come on brain--defuzz, so that I can get back on track!

Calligraphy Issues or How I Spent My Last Three Days

I confess that I have always enjoyed beautiful pen and ink work. I got the pen--actually the first one that I had was an old one that came out of an attic, the old style holder with removable points. I fooled with a bottle of India ink--you had to dip the pen each time you wrote. Then I moved up to a set that worked like a fountain pen that filled with a little squishy thing inside, and it wasn't necessary to deal with the ink bottle every few letters. There was also a third set that had cartridges. With all of the systems, I ended up with black fingers, ala Amadeus. Sadly, my small motor coordination is so poor that no amount of practice was going to allow the lovely, symmetrical lettering that showed in the workbook illustrations.

And yet, I persist. There were wedding invitations to be addressed, and I stepped up and volunteered to do the writing. I pulled down the boxes with the pens and ink bottles, and tried out a bunch of points before making my selection. Then, there was the matter of lettering styles. I filled up a couple of sheets of copy paper before settling on what looked best. My fingers got black. I figured out how to rule off a sheet of card stock, so that I could slide it into the envelopes, and it would show through, and allow me to place the addresses in the center of the envelopes. So far so good. My writing is a little spidery, and the pen was crotchety until I changed ink, but I still like the look of hand addressed envelopes. I just wish I was a little better at. I would really enjoy doing more if I thought I could do it really well. Oh well. The envelopes are finished, ready for their stamps. Best wishes, bride and groom!

Wait, wait!! Where's spring?

Christmas is over, January is cold and done with, and then it is supposed to be spring, right? They are selling tulips in the grocery store--that means it's spring. Grrrrr! Or I should say Brrrr!

Every winter I do this to myself, thinking spring will be arriving, and wishing winter-be-gone. As we were walking along the other day, daffodils were poking out of the dirt about an inch high. I convince myself that this year winter will be short, and February doesn't exist. Part of the reason that I disliked living upstate was that March was still winter, and April, unlike the zephyr filled month of poets, was the worst slush/slop/mud scene I ever saw. I WANT MY SPRING!

Not gonna happen. We're digging out again this morning. The sun is shining, and the snow is still pristine, so it is all very pretty. But, in a little while the breeze will come up, and it will all start sliding off the trees in clumps, and the snow plow will come through throwing up the sludge from street level, making big dirty patches along the curbs. Yesterday there was already a large amount of water underneath the whole thing, so that there were big puddles that had to be negotiated if you wanted to cross the street. Up on Main Street, the snow plow barreled towards me--too fast for me to react, and splatted my lovely winter coat with big grey blobs. I also found out that my boots leak...

We do have an escape plan though. We are supposed to fly to the west coast to visit the doctor and his wife, and the 10-day forecast looks pretty decent. Here's hoping we get to fly out between the snow flakes!

Plenty Going On

We've been so busy that I haven't thought of anything to write. All my brain cells are being used to keep track of the details of our travel plans. We went to St. Louis to be with friends over New Year's. Then we flew to Florida to be with my folks while my mother had her hip replacement surgery. Next week we go out to Las Vegas for a few days, then fly over to Los Angeles to visit down in San Diego. In March we go to Hawaii to celebrate friends' 40th Anniversary--they really know how to celebrate! Then comes the surprise wedding of the decade, another quick trip to Florida, followed by the reception for the wedding couple. Next, a cruise to Bermuda, leaving out of New York. I think that's the big finish.

I have spent many hours on the computer working out plane tickets, and car rentals, and you really have to pay attention to what your are doing. We got caught a couple of times with night flights that were listed mixed right in with the daytime flights--only the little am/pm to differentiate. We have developed a system with a folder to keep track of the itineraries and reservations, especially with all the things that are prepaid. The best part is that you can actually do all this, and pick your own travel times, and that you have such great access to scheduling and pricing.

We've gotten really good at packing, and managing the luggage. You can check the forecasts ahead so that you have the right clothes when you get there, and we haven't made many mistakes--we both have good lists, and I just leave all my toiletries in the case, so that I don't even have to bother getting it all together each time. I just refill my little bottles, and I'm good to go. I guess we are having the best retirement ever!

I Swear....

I swear I am not going to buy any more yarn. I have yarn stored for projects that have not even begun to see the light of day, and I do not need any more undone things waiting for attention. Isn't that what we confess in church every Sunday--things we have done, and things we have left undone?

So, an act of responsibility--the mere recycling of plastic bags becomes an act of obligation. I have bought those reusable bags for the grocery store, but still we accumulate plastic bags at an unconscionable rate. I save them up on my back porch, until the big bag is stuffed full, and then I take them out to the Materials Resource Center, which reuses them for their customers, and they always seem happy to see me show up with my supply. Unfortunately, I never seem to be able to just drop off the bags and leave empty handed. I try not to go until there is something there that I actually have a use for, and in that way minimize what I bring back home.

The item that I was looking for, unfortunately had been snapped up by someone who had a use for 500 antique wood spindles, and there were none to be had. Well. That took the wind out of my sails. But there on a shelf were cones of fuzzy thread. I picked one up, and it said 7700 (yardage?) kid mohair. Oh my. Too good to leave behind. Just what everyone needs--lace weight yarn. The last project I attempted with lace weight ended back rewound into a ball. Since things are sold there by the pound, I had the man weigh it up, and the whole kit and caboodle came to $4.62. Who could just leave it there, I ask you?

Sooooooo, it came home with me. I wound it into balls (I keep putting off buying a yarn winder, since I am not knitting, and not buying yarn, I do not need one....) and pulled out my new knitting stitch book that I received for Christmas from my lovely niece, and cast on for a scarf. It is lovely soft stuff, and if I will just knit it, should work up into some gorgeous lacework Christmas presents for next year. All I have to do is stay upright in the evening when the tv goes on and knit, instead of just lying on the couch vegging out. I'll consider it self-improvement. A New Year's resolution for 2010--Lord knows, there weren't any others!

Got My Christmas Present--From Two Years Ago...

A couple of Christmases back I was supposed to get a nice flat screen tv for my bedroom. They had them in all the stores, and they all looked great, with gorgeous pictures on the nature shows, and terrific color. The change to digital hadn't taken place though, and no one could say what was going to happen, least of all the salespeople. I confess at that time I knew zilch about the new technology, and when the sales talk started flying, I would get a headache and leave the store without my new tv.

We all finally got digitized, and low and behold--we still get great reception with our good old roof antennae. The added benefit to waiting was that the prices have all come down, and the tvs are even better now that some of the glitches have been worked out. I always hated the distortion that appeared on some screens--stretching everyone's image and making them look tubby. Time to check out what is in the store, and make a selection.

I went to one store, where the salespeople were helpful, and listened and learned. I went back with MyTreasure, and the prices were all different, but there were two models that were an excellent value. I went home and did a little more homework, and decided that store had the best deal. We returned, and pointed out our choice, and the man said those dreaded words "Let me see if we have that one in stock." Well, well. Guess they can put any kind of a bargain price on it if they don't have any to sell. "I can order it for you!" Never mind, I'll just go next door where I know they have the boxes piled up, and they will price match it for me (plus give me a $25 gift card). We got our box, which weighed almost nothing, with a convenient carry handle on the top, put it the PT, popped it on the dresser in the bedroom, and plugged it in. Yay! Beautiful reception, lovely picture, everything works!

I'm still chuckling at the saleschild in the second store who looked at us with sympathy when we said that the tv would be hooked up to an antennae. He explained that we could get a cable package for as little as $20 a month. (What does he know? I know they have basic for less money than that!) I think I'll drop back and tell him I'm buying plane tickets with the money I am not paying for cable. Merry Christmas to me!

About Those Potatoes....

I confess I enjoyed the buzz on Facebook about the food we all fixed for the holidays. Cooking is something that gives me great pleasure, and of course the second part is having people around who like to eat it up. I am getting better at preparing appropriate amounts so that MyTreasure and I are not eating leftovers through Valentine's Day, and even took the advice of the WeightWatcher people, inviting our Thanksgiving guests to fix themselves a plate to take home, in foil containers which I had purchased for just that purpose. Saved myself a few calories there!

At Christmas I made a batch of what we call "CIA Potatoes". It is a recipe that we got directly from the kitchens at the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park. After enjoying a dishful, and remarking upon it to our waiter, he went back into the kitchen and to our delight came out with a paper with the recipe written out for us. The name must have been intriguing, because when I mentioned it on Facebook, there were questions. So here's the answer:

CIA Potatoes

5 lbs potatoes, peeled and sliced thin
1 quart heavy cream
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 lb shredded Gruyere cheese

Heat the cream with the garlic, add the salt and pepper. Stir in the potatoes, so that they are well coated. Put them into a baking dish. Bake at 350* for 45 minutes. Pull the baking dish out, and top with the Gruyere cheese, and return it to the oven for another 30-45 minutes.

Not complicated, just really fattening! This recipe can be halved for fewer people. The 5 lb version is good for 12-14 people as a side dish. Enjoy!