I made, hands down, the best dinner ever. Without a recipe. And out of two slices of bacon and some brussel sprouts. I ate it all. Yum.
The trick to ad hoc cooking is onions. Apparently, you can carmelize onions and add just about anything to them and they're delicious. Deglaze pan, put over rice, and fab. A little red pepper, and dang. Move over, Iron Chef.
Today M. moved into my apartment. It was a bit unnerving, someone else with keys who lets herself in and can go wherever she wants. It's going to take some getting used to. So far, though, she hasn't set foot in the kitchen. Perhaps she knows its mine. Maybe a review of a lesson on sharing is in order. (It is mine, though.)
She's heading out of town on Tuesday so I'll get my stomping grounds back, uncontested, for a few days. Already figuring out what to do over the break. Relax. Go to movies, like Benjamin Button at the Balboa. Take walks in the park. See friends. Bake.
Oh yeah, and then there's the painting in my office. But lets not go there. There is much to do, and slowly, I'm working my way through the list.
Just think. Only 3 more days until Christmas.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
the joy of blinds
I am the proud owner of a dishwasher (in the garage, in its box), a washer (connected in a dubious sort of way) and a dryer (with no 220v plug to power it. Today I received a set of 2" walnut blinds for the living room. One of them is actually up and functioning. It rocks.
Consider: living across the street from an apartment complex, my evening pursuits, which involve watching Weeds on Netflix and searching craigslist for a daybed for my office, visible for all to see. No more! Now I can sit with my Christmas tree lights throwing needle-y shadows on the ivory ceiling, in complete privacy. Besides being on sale (Thanks, JCP.com!), the blinds also retain heat and provide a delightful color coordination with window frame.
I never thought I could be this happy. Now, another chocolate and a glass of wine to wash it down. It's nearly Christmas, after all.
OO, dang. I have been remiss. Here's what's happened since I moved.
1) got stove working - This is huge. Even got the broiler working in the double-oven stove. Life is good
2) got half the windows rebuilt - I owe Stacy and Michael my first born. Maybe they'll take chocolates instead.
3) Found a great roommate. Her name is M. and she was a cheerleader in high school. She's pretty much the coolest person on earth, as far as I can tell. She moves in on Sunday. And she's adorable.
4) Got the kitchen floor redone, mostly. Kudos to Tom. Too bad he threw out his back. Feel better soon, Tom!
5) Replace leaking dual faucets in the bathroom with single faucet. Life got noticeably better. Art is my hero for all time.
6) Back threshold replaced and cat door installed. The cat doesn't know how to use it. Doesn't seem interested in learning. She'd rather hunker down outside and glare at me. Smart cat.
Here's my Honey Do list. Need more honeys.
- Replace deadbolt on front door
- Replace garage lock
- replace water heater with Takagi-3 ondemand water heater
- exchange electric dryer for gas one
- run gas to dryer; install vent; replace drain
- install dishwasher. You don't even want to know what this entails but it'll cost more than $1k. The higher you go, the more it costs to have work done. I'll be sure to enjoy the view from up here.
- finish painting trim in office
- get daybed; futon; loveseat for unexpected guests
Consider: living across the street from an apartment complex, my evening pursuits, which involve watching Weeds on Netflix and searching craigslist for a daybed for my office, visible for all to see. No more! Now I can sit with my Christmas tree lights throwing needle-y shadows on the ivory ceiling, in complete privacy. Besides being on sale (Thanks, JCP.com!), the blinds also retain heat and provide a delightful color coordination with window frame.
I never thought I could be this happy. Now, another chocolate and a glass of wine to wash it down. It's nearly Christmas, after all.
OO, dang. I have been remiss. Here's what's happened since I moved.
1) got stove working - This is huge. Even got the broiler working in the double-oven stove. Life is good
2) got half the windows rebuilt - I owe Stacy and Michael my first born. Maybe they'll take chocolates instead.
3) Found a great roommate. Her name is M. and she was a cheerleader in high school. She's pretty much the coolest person on earth, as far as I can tell. She moves in on Sunday. And she's adorable.
4) Got the kitchen floor redone, mostly. Kudos to Tom. Too bad he threw out his back. Feel better soon, Tom!
5) Replace leaking dual faucets in the bathroom with single faucet. Life got noticeably better. Art is my hero for all time.
6) Back threshold replaced and cat door installed. The cat doesn't know how to use it. Doesn't seem interested in learning. She'd rather hunker down outside and glare at me. Smart cat.
Here's my Honey Do list. Need more honeys.
- Replace deadbolt on front door
- Replace garage lock
- replace water heater with Takagi-3 ondemand water heater
- exchange electric dryer for gas one
- run gas to dryer; install vent; replace drain
- install dishwasher. You don't even want to know what this entails but it'll cost more than $1k. The higher you go, the more it costs to have work done. I'll be sure to enjoy the view from up here.
- finish painting trim in office
- get daybed; futon; loveseat for unexpected guests
Monday, December 01, 2008
housebroke
I moved over the weekend. My life is chaos. Last night, a giant picture fell off the wall. The cat is meowing and periodically bites my arm, as if to say, what the heck did you do to us? On the other hand, the place is coming together. And it's big.
Tea is still not a possibility. The 60-year-old Wedgewood stove is in (dirty) pieces in my kitchen. The new, bright yellow vinyl composition tile floor is covered with "base shoe", which will get nailed into place just as soon as it gets painted. Hopefully magic elves will take this on while I'm at work, earning the money for the mortgage. Through the magic of the Internet, an 18-inch Danby dishwasher is winging its way to my curbside. A young woman named Kendra wants to see the place, and possibly rent a room.
Just a few more boxes to unpack... And a Takagi on-demand water heater to order.
Love to all,
Judy
Tea is still not a possibility. The 60-year-old Wedgewood stove is in (dirty) pieces in my kitchen. The new, bright yellow vinyl composition tile floor is covered with "base shoe", which will get nailed into place just as soon as it gets painted. Hopefully magic elves will take this on while I'm at work, earning the money for the mortgage. Through the magic of the Internet, an 18-inch Danby dishwasher is winging its way to my curbside. A young woman named Kendra wants to see the place, and possibly rent a room.
Just a few more boxes to unpack... And a Takagi on-demand water heater to order.
Love to all,
Judy
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