Oh I'm always thinking about you
I can only explain my absence from the internet of late by the fact that I have been hanging out with firefighters and becoming more environmentally sustainable (although not at the same time). Meanwhile another random set of musings and please just go with my paragraphing, much as it may pain you.
After writing a list which rivals Santa's (and I've not just checked it twice but several hundred times) in preparation for the descent onto my house that is our Christmas this year, I have spent many waking moments moving inexorably towards a Christmas Eve of great frustration and tears (mine, not Grizzlewick's).
On the other hand, I have bought what I can only describe as the PERFECT gift for my SiL despite earlier thwarting by the bookstore-which-shall-not-be-named, and also excellent gifts for other relatives.
Grizzlewick woke up this morning and couldn't establish with any scientific credibility why it would be raining on the first day of summer. His dismay was alleviated by the realisation that as it is the first of December, he can now open the Transformers-themed advent calendar, which features the tiniest chocolate portions imaginable.
In garden related news, I've planted out our front garden beds with corn, beans, snow peas and broccoli. Mr Fix claims I am on some kind of weird tangent where I begin to exhibit all the signs of preparing for the apocalypse. My co-worker says it's the "thin end of the wedge" and Mr Fix has every right to be concerned.
All were further bemused/horrified to learn that on the same day I had done such an outrageous thing I had also made my own chicken stock from scratch and recycled Grizzlewick's uneaten afternoon snack (two sliced bananas) into a cake.
I took the cake to work because I have a new office, something I believe deserves celebration. Although it doesn't have windows (and neither did my old one) it does have much more space and is about fifteen times quieter. I am feeling truly productive and having some wins.
Meanwhile, my mother has been getting stuck into me for "shopping like it's the war"**. I took some offence to this before I realised that, it's true, I have been. I have a pantry cupboard full of all kinds of survivalist* nonsense. Kidney beans, for example. For some reason in the last four major shopping trips I have done I have bought tinned tomatoes and coconut milk each and every time and yet can count the number of times I have used either one one hand.
But I have also discovered a new supermarket and can now fit all my shopping into green bags...unless I get the check out operator who doesn't know what desiree potatoes are and insists on packing every item into individual bags. That was a "dude, WTF?" moment if ever I've experienced one.
In short, I'm feeling virtuous. And who doesn't like a bit of that action?
* don't assume this isn't a blatant google-flirt
** I know how one might shop for the war my mother is talking about (WWII) but how does one shop for a war on terror? I can - and have - certainly armed myself for a war on thirst. Just not terror.
After writing a list which rivals Santa's (and I've not just checked it twice but several hundred times) in preparation for the descent onto my house that is our Christmas this year, I have spent many waking moments moving inexorably towards a Christmas Eve of great frustration and tears (mine, not Grizzlewick's).
On the other hand, I have bought what I can only describe as the PERFECT gift for my SiL despite earlier thwarting by the bookstore-which-shall-not-be-named, and also excellent gifts for other relatives.
Grizzlewick woke up this morning and couldn't establish with any scientific credibility why it would be raining on the first day of summer. His dismay was alleviated by the realisation that as it is the first of December, he can now open the Transformers-themed advent calendar, which features the tiniest chocolate portions imaginable.
In garden related news, I've planted out our front garden beds with corn, beans, snow peas and broccoli. Mr Fix claims I am on some kind of weird tangent where I begin to exhibit all the signs of preparing for the apocalypse. My co-worker says it's the "thin end of the wedge" and Mr Fix has every right to be concerned.
All were further bemused/horrified to learn that on the same day I had done such an outrageous thing I had also made my own chicken stock from scratch and recycled Grizzlewick's uneaten afternoon snack (two sliced bananas) into a cake.
I took the cake to work because I have a new office, something I believe deserves celebration. Although it doesn't have windows (and neither did my old one) it does have much more space and is about fifteen times quieter. I am feeling truly productive and having some wins.
Meanwhile, my mother has been getting stuck into me for "shopping like it's the war"**. I took some offence to this before I realised that, it's true, I have been. I have a pantry cupboard full of all kinds of survivalist* nonsense. Kidney beans, for example. For some reason in the last four major shopping trips I have done I have bought tinned tomatoes and coconut milk each and every time and yet can count the number of times I have used either one one hand.
But I have also discovered a new supermarket and can now fit all my shopping into green bags...unless I get the check out operator who doesn't know what desiree potatoes are and insists on packing every item into individual bags. That was a "dude, WTF?" moment if ever I've experienced one.
In short, I'm feeling virtuous. And who doesn't like a bit of that action?
* don't assume this isn't a blatant google-flirt
** I know how one might shop for the war my mother is talking about (WWII) but how does one shop for a war on terror? I can - and have - certainly armed myself for a war on thirst. Just not terror.
posted by gigglewick at
10:33 pm
8 Comments:
Good for you, girl! Oh and kidney beans, I'm with you on that one. Apart from some poorly-made and ill-advised chilli con carne made (and much regretted) many years ago, I don't why I keep buying them either.
Our BACK garden has cherry tomatoes (now ripening), carrots (ditto), chives, garlic and beetroot. Why Love Chunks planted beetroot I don't know because it's growing like the clappers and I eat tinned beetroot (let alone fresh) about as often as tinned kidney beans!
My Christmas Eve will consist of working, being forced to eat lunch with the people I work with until unreasonably late in the afternoon, and then trying to assemble a spring free trampoline somewhere in the small window between children going to bed and, well, night.
So, I hear you on the 'full of frustration and tears' thing. Should we ring each other at midnight?
KL,
I don't mind them - I regularly grind them into a paste and hide them in taco meat to fool the young 'un. But I don't need the 420g tin for that. WHAT WAS I THINKING? Also there are only so many jars of curry paste that one truly needs. I have found this out the "has that shelf always sloped towards the middle?" way.
Re BACK garden - good work! but also, Mr Fix's objection is that I'm planting vegetables in the FRONT garden, which he believes is against social convention. And I say he is a fuddy-duddy, or words to that effect.
Although I am starting to worry about those meddling kids stealing all my glorious beans.....
INC,
I would say sure. Although on reflection i think it's fair to say that if anyone rings me on Christmas Eve at midnight it will induce the mother of all panic attacks. So, y'know, at your own peril or somesuch.
How about your kidney beans and the tin of three bean mix hiding in the back of my larder meet up for a play date?
We can stand back and glow with pride at how well our legumes get on.
I wouldn't worry too much about a surprise call late on Christmas Eve, considering as how I don't actually have your phone number.
Oh, Mr Fix is so wrong - vegies in the front yard are de rigeur in urban Melbourne. If it's not in "Stuff White People Like" already, it's sure to be soon.
Hanging out with firefighters? Are you preparing for fire season or have you been putting together a charity calendar, and will these really make great presents for all and sundry?
Whilst most jealous of your garden situation, it should be pointed out that when it comes to gardening I have two left feet. Legumes, highly under-rated. Cannelini bean mash? Yum.
IS,
sure. and then let's turn them into macaroni salad and be done with it.
INCraig,
And yet I have yours. That's not very fair, is it?
Helen,
But I don't live in the people's republic of Moreland.
BF I can't believe you're the first to comment on the firefighter angle. It's not for a calendar and neither am I now part of a brigade. I will remain mysterious until my cunning plan comes to fruition....
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