You're Doing It Wrong

Pumpkin Crop 2009

I screwed up and didn’t get a good photo of my entire crop. I already gave a couple away. I also had a surprise and hearty volunteer crop of acorn squash. We’ve eaten at least three and given away about eight. And we still have that many left. They are yummy.

I still have some pumpkin in the freezer from last year. I took a bit out last weekend thinking I’d whip up some soup for myself for lunch. But then I never got to it and had to do something with the pumpkin.

Meanwhile, I made a pot roast in the slow cooker on Sunday. As I’ve written before, I’m not much of a pot roast person, but I make it because it’s easy, especially when I’m going to be gone all day. And Bob likes it.

These tomatoes look like planets or something. My amateur photo skills don’t do them justice.

Last night as soon as I got home from work I threw together some stuff that I thought might turn the pumpkin into a soup quick and easy. I also got out some salad stuff and the loaf of bread I made over the weekend.

Bob came in the door from work and looked that the gorgeous pot of orangeness and said, “Oh. So we’re having beef sandwiches tomorrow then?”

“You can have a beef sandwich,” I told him.

So I make the soup, and cut a hunk of bread and make two nice slices for his sandwich and left some wedges that I could butter with my soup. Then I turn around and he’s taken my wedges and sliced them further and is making these ginormous plates piled with every speck of leftover pot roast, vegetables and gravy.

I looked at the plate and I said, “I would never eat that much in a million years.”

This story isn’t very good now that I’m typing it but the point is that he wanted beef sandwiches. We were having beef sandwiches. Even I was going to have a beef sandwich with my lovely bowl of wonderful soup.

Later when we got in bed I told him: “That beef sandwich made me mad.”

I finally had some time this morning to organize the last of the tomatoes. I’d brought them in and they were piled around in bowls and trays. I sorted through everything I had and composted all the ones that had gone ooky. Then I took the ones that needed to be dealt with right away and I’m slow roasting them now with some onion and garlic and spices. The kitchen smells fantastic. This will be turned into a sauce which I will eat a little of and give the rest away since tomato sauce doesn’t agree with beef sandwich man.

Tree Next Door: Oct 09 09

Problem: Violent leak from ceiling vent in remodeled bathroom.

Stage of Being Dealt With: Had been identified as problem area earlier but no leakage had ever occurred. Then we got 1.5 inches of rain in 36 hours and water streamed from vent. Have raised level of urgency in getting fixed.

Tree Next Door: Oct 17 09

Problem: Low pressure in kitchen sink faucet.

Stage of Being Dealt With: Fixed

Tree Next Door: Oct 22 09

Problem: Funny smell in kitchen sink.

Stage of Being Dealt With: Obvious things have been done but results only short term. Probably some sort of plumbing/drainage nightmare lurking in our future. Will ignore until something worse happens then raise urgency level.

Tree Next Door: Oct 30 09

Problem: No warm air coming from heating vent in living room.

Stage of Being Dealt with: Just noticed and fiddled with vent. Needs to be removed from wall for further investigation. Have put tool kit in living room to help inspire me.

On Wednesday I attended a meeting all day. At first I wasn’t happy when they gave us a 90 minute lunch. I would have rather gotten the work done and finished early (Which we did, but that’s another story.)

I had brought a sandwich and it was sunny and 60 degrees so I went outside and found a sunny bench. Nothing like a bright fall day when you know winter is right around the corner. Now we’ve got big rainy storms blowing through so I’m glad I got my fix.

Another busy day. This morning I noticed an appointment I thought was at 2pm is at 12:30pm so I need to get my bootie in gear.

Last week when we went to Idaho, co-worker and I sat next to each other on the aisle. We didn’t talk to each other except once before the flight took off when I told him about a story idea I had and asked if it would be more interesting if it was set on a spaceship. I had interrupted him from reading that dazzling piece of literature known as the in-flight magazine. He gave me an annoyed look and said he didn’t care where I set my story.

Meanwhile, this man sat down behind me who did not stop talking from the minute he sat down. It was amazing. He talked about work. He talked about weather. He talked about looking for a job and needing some classes but he didn’t really like to study. He talked about going to the gym and working out but said he didn’t really like to exercise. He also didn’t like to get up early. He said he was married and I felt sorry for his wife.

After the plane landed but before we deboarded, I pulled my backpack from the overhead bin and accidentally bumped co-worker with it.

He said, “Watch out or I’m going to sue you.”

I said, “Go ahead. I’m not afraid of you.”

All the people around us went silent, including talking man. I guess they didn’t realize we know each other and talk to each other like that all the time.

I tried to find some stylish way to display my glasses together but all I accomplished was getting my fingerprints all over them so we’re going for the side-by-side view.

I finally got my eyeballs checked. I think it was in August. I spend so much time looking for my glasses that I decided to buy some extra pairs so I can have one in my backpack and one by my bed and one by my desk, etc.

A long time ago I read this post about buying cheap eyewear online.

It’s been a long time since I bought glasses but I do remember them being absurdly expensive. Especially if you wear the graduated lenses or whatever they’re called. I can’t find the folder right now and don’t really want to look up the proper terms. I bought bifocals from the eye doctor place and even with insurance and the doctor office discount I still handed over a wad of money.

If you read the article linked about about eyewear mark-up, it’s a little disturbing.

I tried the bargain method using eyebuydirect.com and I just bought plain old reading glasses with the scratch-free coating and those two pairs, shipping and all, were $68 together. They are a tad “plasticky” and possibly not the most stylish but $68 for two pairs. I’m happy.

The sun is shining so I’m going to run out and do some work. Then I’ve got cooking projects.

I have got another insanely busy week ahead up-to-and-including every day next weekend. I’m not going to have time to pull my socks up until next week.

I have a list here of things to write about but nothing sounds very interesting.

On Tuesday I stepped off the bus and there was some mighty cold air blowing through my slacks. I guess snow level is down to 2000 feet or something. The TV kept showing pictures of snow up at Government Camp. Yesterday I dug out the giant coat and put on my heavy wool socks, wool pants and wool sweater and tromped off to work all cozy and pleased with myself. When my elevator arrived a woman got off wearing a linen sleeveless dress with pockets, a 3/4 sleeve sweater and high heels.

I almost have the Ann Taylor business off my list. I still don’t love her but we’re speaking again. I had this gift card I needed to finish up and I was striking out at the stores downtown so I decided to buy a pair of pants online. $12 for turtle-speed shipping (2 weeks) for a package that said it weighed zero. I know there are companies whose entire business plans rely on making money off of “shipping and handling” but I haven’t found to be true for stores like this. So I was already tweaked and then the pants arrived in a size that I have at least a half dozen of in my closet and I put these on: too small. I took them to the downtown store where someone actually helped me find something but I still have a credit because it’s also cheaper to buy stuff in an actual store.

I’m thinking of trying one of those crazy casseroles with melted cheese and bacon and Tater Tots. Mostly because it would be easy and Bob would like it. I’m into large one-pot meals at the moment.

Does anyone really make voting decisions based on automated phonecalls? “This recorded voice tells me that Delphina McToaster is a registered nurse in favor of Proposition 762. I guess I am, too.” Does anyone even listen to them?

I forgot to tell this story about our visit with the elder last week. You know how you kinda treat elders like children sometimes? Bari and I had never used the recording equipment before so we were figuring it out as we went along. It all went well except at the end we couldn’t get the camera off the tripod. Bud asked to look at it so I handed it over to humor him and about 4 seconds later he popped the camera off and handed it to me. I should have given it to him first.

Lila! have you heard of Brain Harvest the Almanac of Bad Ass Speculative Fiction?

I know. I love it, too. Sure, I’ll get you your own t-shirt.

My husband has posted on several things that I had on my mind:

We had a wonderful little market in our neighborhood TP Market. It was family run forever and they finally sold it to some people who I’m going to guess were not local who quickly ran it into the ground. We went in there one time and never returned.

It has new owners and they’re dismantling it and trying to make it into something else. Hopefully something good.

Also Bob and his Mom helped arrange a backstage zoo tour with some favorite local kids. Check out the close-up of the polar bear.

This post is about Marcelle’s, a local small business success that I’ve been meaning to write about for a long time. A ton of businesses have tried to make it in that location and Marcelle figured out how to do it. A really nice neighborhood destination.

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I tend to be fanatical about turning off lights and watching the thermostat. Except for two lights in our house that I like to keep on pretty continuously during the dark time of year.

One is a light in the garage right where the stairs to the basement are. The basement is Bob’s man-cave and he goes up and down those stairs at all hours of the night and day. I do not want to get up one morning and find his twisted body at the bottom of the stairs in the dark.

The other is a light above our kitchen sink. It’s a nice nightlight for when we get home after dark or during the middle of the night when I’m wandering around wishing I could sleep.

Several years ago I put in those “save-the-planet” light bulbs that manufacture energy as they work and last for 20 years. Except that the one in the garage finally burned out and I replaced it. I didn’t understand that there are different types of “save-the-planet” bulbs and the one I bought is really bright and has a bluish tint. So now it looks like there’s a space ship emitting bright light in our garage. I’m going to see if I can buy a different kind because I don’t like it.

This week is medium busy. We’ll see how it goes.