?`s and ANNEswers

Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

She Made My Day

Posted on March 31, 2015

Went to Meijer today for a tomato, and ended up buying forty-nine dollars’ worth of groceries.  Pricy tomato!

Still, it was worth it.  I also bought tonic and a bottle of vodka with the tomato and the Chicago Tribune. Lemons too.

Now Meijer has self-service checkout lanes, and when you have only a handful of items they are really easy to navigate.  However, alcohol requires that a staff member check your ID.  So I chose a standard checkout lane with a human to scan my items.

She must have been new; because she followed every rule, even the one where Meijer reserves the right to check your ID if you look under the age of forty and you’re purchasing alcohol.

For the record, I’m considerably over forty and haven’t been carded in who-knows-how-long.  Still she asked for an ID, and I complied as the next-in-line laughed.  So . . . who should I believe?  The clerk who thought I needed carding?  Or the next shopper who obviously didn’t think so?

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Spice Exchange Possibly Postponed

Posted on March 29, 2015

Yesterday I wrote about how to share the spice jars in my cupboard before they reach their expiration dates.  Today, I’m in research mode to see if I can find a usage beyond the particular recipe for which I purchased the spice in the first place.  I’ve learned a lot.

Sage: I don’t remember what recipe I bought this for, but the container is still half full.  Checking online I see that it can be added (Sparingly!) to bread cubes for stuffing, to pot roast, cheese spreads, vegetable soup, and venison.  If I ever cook venison this is good to know.

Cream of Tartar: More versatile. I used it to make meringues and whipped cream.  But, you don’t need much; and with two containers on hand, I searched to see what else could be done with it.  Turns out you can make a paste-like consistency with lemon juice to clean metals such as brass, aluminum, and copper. You can also use it as a purgative, but it isn’t highly recommended.

Ground Coriander: Coriander is a first cousin to cilantro, although they don’t really taste alike. According to the online Kitchen Dictionary, it goes well with curry, fish, ham, lamb, lentils, pork, stuffing, tomatoes, and turkey. In fact, I saw recipes for lemon coriander chicken and lime and coriander octopus. Octopus and venison are on the same par in my cookbook.

All this research suggests I should check on alternative uses for any exotic spice I purchase for a particular recipe. Then I’ll decide if the recipe itself merits preparing if the spice in question doesn’t measure up (No pun intended.) in terms of other usages.

You’ve heard of the tail wagging the dog.  This is the spice determining the menu.

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Spice Exchange

Posted on March 28, 2015

I’ve been known to purchase a certain spice or herb for a particular recipe, only to find we didn’t like the final result. Perhaps I used a quarter of a teaspoon and am now stuck with the rest of a pricey container of the spice.

On a lark, I pulled three such investments from my spice drawer: ground sage, cream of tartar (two of these), and ground coriander. It was my intention to write about the concept of a spice exchange, sort of a home party idea I just made up.

It goes like this: Several close friends who live near each other (This is crucial.) would make a list of the spices they have.  One person would compile a master list and share it.  This way, the next time one of us needs an eighth of a teaspoon of some exotic item, we check the list and see if an exchange member has that item to spare.

Of course it requires some advanced planning so that the spice in question can be obtained before the recipe is started.  That’s why living nearby is important. But, hey, I know a great group of organized women who plan ahead; besides, who buys ground coriander on the spur of the moment!

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The New Me

Posted on March 26, 2015

Perhaps it started when I stopped working a year ago.  Or maybe it was because I lost first place in Google® to a photographer of the same name about this time last year. Then again, it could have just been serendipity.

Regardless, I’ve decided my website needs an overhaul, my “brand” needs updating, and my presence on social media needs attention.  In other words, if I want to attract more readers, I should move into the twenty-first century.

The truth is: I want more readers.  The various successes I’ve had with the written word – including winning a contest here and there, publishing a book (The Square Root of Someone  is now available via Kindle.), and seeing my words printed in magazines encourages me.

In addition, I have a huge library of work, mostly unread by others, to put out there. I’ve written two adult novels, one children’s novel, a book of poetry, and a variety of short stories. I’ve written essays and over 1,500 blogs.  I was once the Grammar Grandma on Google® and learned that people seek solid advice about language. And it’s all on my website.

So I’ve hired a marketing firm to do the overhaul, create a better brand, and push my visibility on social sites.  You didn’t think I wanted to do this myself, did you?  In the coming months, there will be changes, and hopefully more people will be exposed to my work.  Maybe even an agent or two will want to contact me.  Maybe I’ll win the National Ten Minute Play Contest that I entered.  Maybe, maybe, maybe.

But what won’t change is that it’s really all about the writing.

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Slouching Toward April

Posted on March 24, 2015

This is the last full week of March and the last full week of the first quarter of the year.  I’m sure statisticians and politicians are watching for various signs of economic growth, decrease in unemployment, and who in the public eye has been caught in the worst embellishments.

As for me, I’m enjoying this last week partially because I’m not watching the news for any of these items.  Instead it’s my final days in what I call ‘low gear.’ Because we sold our last rental property in December, I’ve had no calls from tenants these past three months. I’ve done almost no traveling. Started no major household projects. And haven’t had to worry about planting flowers and maintaining them.

I’ve enjoyed this relative quiet. It’s enabled me to catch up on things like sleep, my magazine reading pile, even some new recipes.  Have already sent the paperwork to our accountant for the taxes. And, of course, there’s the builder’s class that I’m taking.

So it isn’t as if I’ve been a slug since the first of the year unless you think sleeping is a slug-like activity. (I prefer to consider it a necessary part of each day.) I’ve just been a homebody with few deadlines other than those that were self-imposed; and it’s made me look forward to the next three months when travel, home decorating, and tending gardens return to my life. I’m ready.

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We Interrupt This Program . . .

Posted on March 23, 2015

My local classical station is about to launch its semi-annual fund raiser.  For the past few days, announcers have been telling me that the official start of the campaign is March 28.But the truth is the radio station campaigns all year long.

I understand radio stations need public support, and it’s reasonable to ask the listeners for it.  However, since last fall’s fund raiser, announcers have reminded me on a daily basis that the station is always looking for donations and telling me three or four ways that I can send my money in. So telling me now that the real fund raiser is six days away is somewhat disconcerting.  When do I get a break and just enjoy the wonderful classical music without an accompanying plea for money?

I guess the difference between the ongoing fund raising and the Spring Fund Raiser is that I get to listen to classical music more than I listen to people talk. During the official campaign the emphasis is on talk as the announcers mention various appreciation gifts one can receive at a particular donation level and identify by name those who have already given.

This year, the station has announced that its goal for the Big Event is $32, 381.  It seems modest by most standards, but what attracted my attention is that Teddy Weithers, marketing director and musical host, has informed us that there will be no regular programming until that goal is reached.

This feels like ransom rather than fundraising to me.

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Boaters’ Spring

Posted on March 21, 2015

Today, Earl and I attended two open houses, both of which were aimed at the nautical crowd and offered free food. We were not among the former.  We don’t even own a kayak any more, but we were among the latter: those interested in free food.

We started our morning at Pier 33, a local establishment that sells power boats, offers slip space in the summer and storage space in the winter.  With Spring just around the corner, Pier 33 enticed boaters and wannabees with a free pancake breakfast.  I’m not a breakfast devotee, but I will say the pancakes were delicious. And the boats for sale were most attractive.

If we were only thirty years younger . . .

Eventually we left Pier 33 and drove about a mile to Wolf’s Marine, where the open house fare was more picnic than pancake.  Potato salad, baked beans, sliced ham sandwiches – all ready to remind diners of the coming summer. Everyone seemed to be on board.

Wolf’s Marine is more about accessories, while Pier 33 is about the boats themselves.  So we went from the big picture to a smaller one as we ambled through aisles of boating paint, rails, deck shoes, and cabin knick-knacks.  Earl broke down and bought a fish-themed shirt. Waited in quite a line to pay for it too.

Then we left, but not after someone said, “The Open Houses at Pier 33 and Wolf’s are the real start of the boating season around here.”

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Spring

Posted on March 20, 2015

I’m writing this at 6:15 in the evening and saw earlier today that Spring formally arrives in another half hour.  I shall lift my glass in a toast, as it’s been a long, rough winter.

I’m not sure what I expect now that Spring is about to spring, but I’ve noticed the trees are already budding while the huge mounds of snow created are slowly disappearing. The world has a brown look, and I assume that soon hand-pushed fertilizer machines will make their appearance.

As for our flower beds, they are a disaster.  However, I did see that some of the tulips and most of the chrysanthemums made it.  Perhaps the roses under their rose cones did too.  I haven’t peeked yet.

What I notice most is that the spirt of Spring has arrived.  People are wearing less gear; they’re washing the grime from their cars; they’re even becoming cheerful again.  Soon they’ll open windows to let in the fresh air and quite possibly have the HVAC company check their air conditioning.

Where we live in the upper Midwest, this is the best time of the year . . . with winter behind us and summer ahead.  It’s time to emerge from our cocoons.

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Waterfowl

Posted on March 19, 2015

As of yesterday, the pond that is our home’s western boundary lost its last vestiges of ice.  It was bound to happen sooner or later; but I was hoping for as late as possible, the reason being that as soon as the pond thaws waterfowl show up.

I’m fine with the ducks and the herons and the egrets.  But I do not like the geese. They remind me of various members of Congress: autocratic, pushy, arrogant, know-it-all. They are loud too, fighting among themselves when there is enough pond for everyone.  They also harangue the ducks.  (No reference to political parties here, although I could make a case.)

The final straw is that they desecrate the lawn with little respect for the human inhabitants. And while I’m not the person who mows our lawn, I sympathize with those who do and their probably icky lawn mowers.

So if I’m home when a gaggle or flock (Webster’s accepts both terms for geese on land, as opposed to geese in flight.) appears, I charge out the front door, try to make myself look imposing, and chase them into the water. Today was the start of the chasing season.

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Half-Way

Posted on March 18, 2015

I am officially half way through my builder’s course and have done it in the time frame that I’d hoped. However, I’ve hit a snag.

In the most recent session, we were given floor plans for a garage as well as a parts pricing sheet.  The assignment is to determine how much it will cost to build this garage for some phantom client. So we need to know how many studs, how many bolts, how many this, how many that are needed and then – I assume — use the pricing sheet to come up with a project final number.

The thing is this assignment reinforces what I wrote a few days ago where I bemoaned that I don’t know many of the building trade’s terms in the first place.  For example, what is ½” O.S.B. Sheathing?  What are sill plates?  And what are bucks?

I realize I’m going to have to take a detour on the route to my license and spend time learning basic carpentry.  Fortunately, I also have a $90 book on the subject.  It will become my new best friend.

And Earl, ever helpful, has suggested I start my career by building a birdhouse!

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