Fun Fact

Did you know...

That Ari Shapiro, who spends most of his public life as an NPR radio personality, is also a singer with the band Pink Martini?  Confirmed by Wikipedia and Pink Martini's own website.

 

Today's fun fact brought to you by the letter E!

Evasive Maneuvers

Major props to S for some movie-stunt-car-driver evasive maneuvers while driving me home from work yesterday.

I was minding my own business, listening to S's story about his day at work and playing on my phone. I felt him hit the brakes and my phone flew out of my hand.  I looked up to see nothing but our headlights reflecting off the bright white passenger door of a car which had turned left across our lanes of traffic, headed for a side street. S swerved left around their back bumper, then back right again to get out of the oncoming traffic lanes.

It all happened extremely fast, and was fairly terrifying.  I have no idea what the driver in that other car was thinking.  However, there were two things that were quite funny:

1. The whole experience was very quiet. I muttered my usual, "holy s***," which is the non-exclamation of choice when something bad is about to happen. S said nothing.  He did not honk the horn.  But as soon as it was all over and we were back headed the right direction down the road, he picked up with his story about his day at work right where he left off, as though nothing had happened.

2. S put on his left blinker to signal the swerve.  You know, just so other drivers know what's going on.

What I Read -- Laika

This is the second time I've read Laika.  I heard such a great review of it several years back that I picked it up.  I believe it was the first true graphic novel that I read, and it completely changed my view on them.  I still don't read them often, but if I hear repeatedly that one is good, I'll give it a shot.  Prior to Laika, I didn't believe that the medium had much to offer.

Boy, did I learn my lesson.

As one might guess from the non-enigmatic title, Laika is the mostly historical story of the first living creature launched into space.  The information about the launch is historically accurate; it's really the interpersonal stories of the scientists that are embellished a bit to give them some personality.

It's a quick read (one of the pleasures of graphic novels), and definitely worth it.  I would caution you not to plow through it with too much speed, which I sometimes catch myself doing -- just looking for the next words.  Take some time to look at the drawings.  They're there for a reason; they're part of the story.

Goals 2017 -- Mid-Month Update

I promised a picture of my row of tidy little garden beds, and here it is!

Happy Pi Day!

The Preston

S took me on a date recently.  We went to The Preston, which he knew I had been wanting to try, but hadn't gotten around to.  I had heard I needed to try their cocktails and desserts, but the savory dishes were delicious too!  It's tapas-style, so we got a bunch of things and shared them all.

Drinks: Between the two of us, we had the Goodnight Mr. Preston (their signature cocktail), as well as three or four others.  The menu on their website is not the current menu, so I'm not even going to try to remember the names and ingredients.  Suffice it to say, they were delicious.

Dinner: Our first plate was the Charred Shishitos.  We ordered them not knowing what they were.  Turns out they are Japanese peppers.  Mostly they are sweet and delicious, but one in ten or so are jalapeno-hot.  I tried them first and got a sweet one.  I told S they were delicious.  The first one he tried was a hot one.  Oops!  There was one other hot one in our bowl, and I got it, so we both had a chance to experience the surprise.

Next we had the Chicken Liver Mousse. It came with two kinds of toasty bread and a bit of apple butter.  It was rich and creamy, but not overwhelmingly organ-y.

Octopus was the next selection.  It was the first time I had eaten octopus, and my first bite was a bit on the rubbery side, but it was one of the larger pieces.  S had a bit which he said was divine.  I had a smaller piece for my second bite, and it just melted it my mouth.  It was like a soft, pillowy bite of gnocchi.  What a wonderful treat.

The last savory dish we ordered was pork belly.  It came with Brussels sprouts and a soy sauce-based glaze.  The Brussels weren't quite as browned as I like them, but nevertheless tasty.  The pork belly was moist and salty and had a few delightfully crispy edges.

Dessert: our final treat was the Chocolate Cherry: chocolate mousse, brandied cherries, and vanilla sauce.  It was light and fluffy, and the perfect way to end a wonderful evening of great food and even better people watching.

Thank you, S!

What I'm Reading Now -- Say When

Part of the book-moving project involves sorting through my mountains of books in an effort to get rid of the ones I have decided I am never going to read.  (For example, I'm entirely unsure why I have so much John Irving.)  S is participating in this project, saving some books from resale that I have no intention of reading, and inquiring whether I really need two copies of The Mayor of Casterbridge.  Answer: yes.

One of the books I decided to keep which he wanted to get rid of is Elizabeth Berg's Say When.

I've had one prior experience with Elizabeth Berg, having read her book Range of Motion.  It was some time ago, and though the story was sad, I recall enjoying it.  Hence my unwillingness to toss Say When without at least giving it a chance.

Plus, I can call it research for my work.

Some People

I had about 15 minutes to stop into JoAnn's Fabrics today to buy something I needed. I went to the back of the store to get the material I was looking for, then to the desk in the middle where the employees cut the fabric to length.

There were two customers at the counter, and two employees. I waited several minutes, holding my material and minding my own business. About halfway through my wait, someone came from the front of the store and got in line behind me. I paid little attention.

A few minutes later, a third employee stepped behind the counter. She looked up, and for the first time (and I've been to this JoAnn's location before), I noticed the Post Office-style number system. "Number sixty-six?"

"Here!" cried the woman who had come up behind me, and stepped around me to the counter.

"Really?" I inquired. I had clearly been there waiting before she walked up.

"Really!" she snarled back at me. "You didn't have a number." For the first time, I noticed the number dispenser, attached to the side of the counter facing the front of the store.

"I came from the back of the store."

"Too bad."

I tossed my material on the counter and walked out. I was angry at her, and I was angry at the employees for not pointing out the obvious fact that I had been there waiting polotely. (That was something I made a point to do for polite customers when I was interrupted by the rude ones at my bookstore.  It's simple: "I'll be with you in a minute. She was waiting.")

I got to my car, put down my purse and jacket, and walked back inside.  Ms. Rude (Nike flip-flops, socks, sweatpants, noticeably missing a bra under an oversized t-shirt) was still at the counter, this time talking on the phone.

I stood next to her. Not too close, but looking right at her. I had my hands clasped behind me, in something like a relaxed "at ease" position. I waited until she hung up and looked at me.  "You're the reason we no longer live in a civil society," I said quietly.  I turned and walked away.

She called after me, "You need to find Jesus!"

At this point, neither S nor I could help it. ""Because he clearly taught you so well!" I called back.

Some people.

Reading Tips

Near the beginning of the year, K sent me a link to a blog post: 7 Simple Ways to Read More This Year.  In a nutshell, they are:
1. Plan the books you'll read.
2. Schedule time for it.
3. Keep track of what you've read.
4. Stop if you're not enjoying it.
5. Take a book everywhere.
6. Read multiple books at once so you can suit your mood.
7. Listen to books.

All good tips.  I especially like #5.  I used to carry books with me religiously, and have gotten out of the habit now that I have so much other junk that I haul around all the time.  Also, later in life, I have gotten to be a fan of #4.

In light of K and E's desire to restart our postal book club, and the fact that I'm the slowest reader in the group, I can use all the tips I can get.

Goals 2017 -- March Edition

It's probably a little early for planting, but my March goals are as follows:
1. The January Carryover: finish painting the notions cabinet;
2. The February Continuation: the February goal has been accomplished, but what remains to do is to plan the beds so they're ready to go when it's planting time; and
3. The March Goals:
     a. move all the books; and
     b. figure out the landscaping.

The March goal, part a., comes along with an announcement: I am moving out of my condo!

As much as I love having my books up on top of the 3/4 wall in my condo, they're not doing much good up there, and -- aside from the quantity -- they're a pretty easy thing to move.  They pack well and I don't need them for anything in particular at the present time.  So they are going to be the first of the household goods to be relocated.

I've already moved some of them, but I have probably at least a half dozen bigger-than-Banker's boxes to go.  All I need is a good weekend without too much to do and I can certainly knock this one out!

As far as 3.b. goes, here's the situation.  The gal who lived in S's house before him did nothing as far as landscaping is concerned.  S's step-mom was kind enough to put in some cannis along one side of the front of the house last year while I was in the Grand Canyon, and they did quite well through the fall.  It is my plan to replant those, and add some more along the whole front of the house.

The other landscaping issue that needs serious attention is the front garden bed.  Last year it was overgrown with clover, grass, and weeds.  I want it to be flowers.  Right now it's covered with dead leaves, so I'm going to clear it out and see what I can do about getting some real plants in there.