Saturday, July 17, 2004
A Day in the Life
Way, Way, WAY too much information about what I did today.
Woke up at 8:15 when Sue came in. Since I needed to leave by 8:30 or so to get to camp on time, I was a tad rushed. A quick toothbrushing and face washing and I was off. Hit Starbucks since I had to go down 127 anyhow and had an unremarkable Cafe Americano.
Timed it just right -- got there about 10:25. Had to wait about 10 minutes for them to be done. Lucy came over with her friend Brook(e?). She was very happy to see her again this year.
Lucy was pretty chatty for about 20 minutes or so, then she fell asleep. Slept all the way home. This gave me a chance to continue listening to Post Captain. I'm well on the way to becoming a Patrick O'Brian addict, I think. Listened to it all day, even taking the walkman in while I was on the elliptical. I think so much turn of the 19th century diction may be affecting my writing style, though. I have to hand it to O'Brian -- he can tell a ripping yarn without resorting to crappy prose. He's a hell of a stylist who can still tell a story. Reminds me of Tom Robbins, somehow.
Got home about 12:30. I fixed the girls hamburgers under the broiler and had one myself. Not bad, not good. Just there. By 1:30 I was ready to go to the FAC, so go I did. Did manage to finish reading Gore Vidal's Burr before I left. Excellent, with a wonderful surpise on the last page.
Had a good workout -- better than good, really. Had the place to myself for 2/3's of it, which always helps. Got to play my music in the weight room. Started off with a different pattern on the elliptical, which was weird, but burned more calories than normal (435). Weights went well -- free bench presses and military press especially. Also, the big frame is finally fixed so I could do some flies.
I hit Gallrein's on the way home. Picked up more corn (Silver Queen today), two eggplant, two cukes and some Roma greenbeans. Veggies for dinner. I got home around 4:00.
Sue was up and in the kitchen when I got home. We chatted for a while. I wanted to get the cukes in vinegar ASAP, so I washed my hands and got started on 'em. Since I am a nice husband/Dad, I made two batches -- one w/tomatoes for the girls, one w/o for me. Sliced half a Vidalia (thin) into each bowl.
Started the green bean water next -- put some country ham chunks and another Vid on to cook while I sat down and snapped/strung the beans. Watched a Reno 911 I hadn't seen yet on the TIVO while I snapped. God bless TIVO and God bless Reno 911. Greatest invention and funniest show on TV today.
Next I had to deal with the meat. Grilling is pretty much expected of me on the weekends. I checked my e-mail and surfed a little, checked the boards. By this time it was 5:15, 5:30ish. About time to start the fire. Alas, no charcoal. I'd thought I had a third of a bad left -- perfect for what I had to cook. But couldn't find it. So, I went out to the front yard to ask Sue if she'd bought any. She was mowing over by the barn and the pump. No charcoal purchased, but I was requested to check on the automatic vacuum thing she'd started running in the pool. Happy to oblige, I was.
So, I trundled myself over to the pool and stood on the deck watching the vacuum thing. Twasn't moving. Only one thing to do -- I stripped down to my skivvies and dove in. It had crap stuck in its gullet, of course. A quick tracheotomy straightened things out quickly and I left the thing to its appointed rounds. I sat on the steps and watched it suck up browny-green pool scum. Hypnotic, peaceful in its own way.
Until it climbed up the wall and started sucking air into the pump. Damn. I jetted off my perch on the steps and quickly right the thing. Obviously it required a higher level of supervision than previously anticipated. I followed it around, being scrupulously careful not to set my feet down and thus stir up the pool scum.
The thing did an admirable job. I removed a surprising amount of potentially clogging toys, leaves and branches from the bottom and it described a suitably random path about the pool. It got to a point of diminishing returns, however. Being a decidely impatient sort, I yanked the thing off the hose and hooked up the regular vacuum to finish the job. I did as much as I could before the water got too cloudy from stirred up scum. Also, I was worried about the green beans. They'd been cooking unattended for a while now. I'd purposely used a minimum amount of water so that the flavors would be nicely concentrated. THEY COULD BE BOILING OVER ANY MINUTE. As dire as my concern for my beans were, I took the time to backwash and rinse the filter. This also allowed my time to drip dry (I hadn't brought a towel out, since I'd originally come outside to start the fire in the grill, remember?)
After a moment of confusion when I couldn't remember where I'd left my glasses (next to the steps, under the foam bone-shaped floaty thing), I used my T-shirt to dry off my face and headed inside. Retreived a towel from the laundry on the kitchen table, dried off, then dug out undies and my shorts. Could no longer supress my concerns about the green beans, so stepped over and checked them. Thankfully, my worries were utterly unfounded. They were bubbling happily in plenty of water.
By this time it was 6:20 or so. I had pretty much decided not to grill -- it was late and by the time I'd be able to get charcoal it'd be close to 7 (even if I went to the B&N). Sue had gotten store-made chicken sausages (onion, herb and mushroom and basil and cheese, I think). I grabbed my old friend the Joy of Cooking and read up on sausage cooking techniques. Shifted the beans to the smaller eye and got Lucy started husking the corn. I wanted to do something different with the eggplant. Simple is good. While Lucy husked, I peeled the eggplant. Then I cut them into rounds, laid the slices on the round cookie sheet, drizzled them in olive oil, sprinkled them with parmasean and salt and put them under the broiler. Later on, I didn't like how they were broiling, so I baked them instead.
That done and the corn husked (after 10,000 detailed questions from L), I shifted the beans to the smaller eye and started the corn on the big eye. Following the J of C suggestions, I found the last beer in the fridge and put half of it in the skillet. I drank the rest (I came up with that on my own.) Turned the heat on under the skillet.
The sausages were one long tube, which I think is pretty cool. I can be cool too, so I decided to twist the long tube into links rather than just cut it. It worked OK, but was probably more trouble than it was worth.
By this time the beer was boiling, so I put the two sets of links in -- keeping them scrupulously separate -- one set one direction, the other, the other. Turned down the heat and went to get the skillet cover and DAMN! the round cookie sheet is in the oven with the eggplant. I made do with a regular, rectangular cookie sheet.
It was pretty much maintenance from then on. Just monitoring and stirring and such. Browned the sausages after 10 minutes or so. Kept checking on the eggplant and stirring the beans and corn until it was time to serve it up.
Called the girls and they showed up, but couldn't find Sue. Hollered out one door, then two -- no answer. Finally found her hoeing weeds in the flower garden. She came right in.
The sausages were very good. The beans, OK -- the flavor was good, but they were tough. I'll stick with the half-runners from now on. As mentioned earlier, the corn was good, but not as good as last night. The Silver Queen was more tender but less flavorful. The big hit of the evening was the eggplant. Both S and I really liked this method. I promised that it'd become a regular (at least for the summer).
Since I'd forgotten to take the video game (Simpsons Road Rage for the Gamecube, this game rocks) back to the store when I went to the FAC, I had to go back into town at some point tonight. Sue had other errands for me. She needed Diet Coke (addict!). Also, we've been meaning to pick up the left over ceramic tile from my parents for weeks now. So there were at least three stops I should make.
I took 20 minutes or so to digest my (excellent, if I do say so myself) dinner and play a couple of games of Simpsons Road Rage before it had to be returned. Finished up, got my stuff, kissed the girls and left.
To Mom and Dad's first. Got the tile loaded and sat on the porch talking for far longer than I should have. Yes, the porch reminds me of Grandmother's screened in porch. Updates on state government gossip. Younger brother has a serious girlfriend. I have muscles they haven't seen before.
Next to Wal-Mart (feh). Got the Diet Coke, utility knives, Fix-A-Flat for the riding mower and half-a-dozen roses that were on clearance (brownie points rawk!). Noticed that the school supply lists were out, so grabbed a couple because L has been asking and asking and asking about them in her particular obsessive way lately.
Back across town and drop of the game at the video store. Must be a Shelbyville native who is parked talking in the fire lane and preventing me from pulling up to drop off my stuff.
Home again, listening to Post Captain all the way. I could finish this thing tomorrow. I did listen to Bryson's Notes from a Small Island for a while this morning. All about his experience in Dover, which was ironic since a big chunk of PC was set in Dover.
Got home and started pulling up carpet in the hall. Got it all up until I got to the alcove where all the furniture is. Leave that till tomorrow. The floor underneath looks surprisingly good -- better than expected. This may mean refinishing rather than parquet.
Next the girls want to light fireworks that Sue has bought for them. Seated on the porch I sort through them and discover exactly four worth shooting at night (not snakes, smoke bombs, etc). We shoot them. 3 of the 4 as expected, 1 disappointing.
Next, I try to make a sparkler bomb as I've learned from secret information. Did not work.
Finally, the girls went to bed. I played some Snood (to little sucess), made myself a rum and resign myself to writing this. It took longer than I'd expected.
The day is done. Good Night.
Woke up at 8:15 when Sue came in. Since I needed to leave by 8:30 or so to get to camp on time, I was a tad rushed. A quick toothbrushing and face washing and I was off. Hit Starbucks since I had to go down 127 anyhow and had an unremarkable Cafe Americano.
Timed it just right -- got there about 10:25. Had to wait about 10 minutes for them to be done. Lucy came over with her friend Brook(e?). She was very happy to see her again this year.
Lucy was pretty chatty for about 20 minutes or so, then she fell asleep. Slept all the way home. This gave me a chance to continue listening to Post Captain. I'm well on the way to becoming a Patrick O'Brian addict, I think. Listened to it all day, even taking the walkman in while I was on the elliptical. I think so much turn of the 19th century diction may be affecting my writing style, though. I have to hand it to O'Brian -- he can tell a ripping yarn without resorting to crappy prose. He's a hell of a stylist who can still tell a story. Reminds me of Tom Robbins, somehow.
Got home about 12:30. I fixed the girls hamburgers under the broiler and had one myself. Not bad, not good. Just there. By 1:30 I was ready to go to the FAC, so go I did. Did manage to finish reading Gore Vidal's Burr before I left. Excellent, with a wonderful surpise on the last page.
Had a good workout -- better than good, really. Had the place to myself for 2/3's of it, which always helps. Got to play my music in the weight room. Started off with a different pattern on the elliptical, which was weird, but burned more calories than normal (435). Weights went well -- free bench presses and military press especially. Also, the big frame is finally fixed so I could do some flies.
I hit Gallrein's on the way home. Picked up more corn (Silver Queen today), two eggplant, two cukes and some Roma greenbeans. Veggies for dinner. I got home around 4:00.
Sue was up and in the kitchen when I got home. We chatted for a while. I wanted to get the cukes in vinegar ASAP, so I washed my hands and got started on 'em. Since I am a nice husband/Dad, I made two batches -- one w/tomatoes for the girls, one w/o for me. Sliced half a Vidalia (thin) into each bowl.
Started the green bean water next -- put some country ham chunks and another Vid on to cook while I sat down and snapped/strung the beans. Watched a Reno 911 I hadn't seen yet on the TIVO while I snapped. God bless TIVO and God bless Reno 911. Greatest invention and funniest show on TV today.
Next I had to deal with the meat. Grilling is pretty much expected of me on the weekends. I checked my e-mail and surfed a little, checked the boards. By this time it was 5:15, 5:30ish. About time to start the fire. Alas, no charcoal. I'd thought I had a third of a bad left -- perfect for what I had to cook. But couldn't find it. So, I went out to the front yard to ask Sue if she'd bought any. She was mowing over by the barn and the pump. No charcoal purchased, but I was requested to check on the automatic vacuum thing she'd started running in the pool. Happy to oblige, I was.
So, I trundled myself over to the pool and stood on the deck watching the vacuum thing. Twasn't moving. Only one thing to do -- I stripped down to my skivvies and dove in. It had crap stuck in its gullet, of course. A quick tracheotomy straightened things out quickly and I left the thing to its appointed rounds. I sat on the steps and watched it suck up browny-green pool scum. Hypnotic, peaceful in its own way.
Until it climbed up the wall and started sucking air into the pump. Damn. I jetted off my perch on the steps and quickly right the thing. Obviously it required a higher level of supervision than previously anticipated. I followed it around, being scrupulously careful not to set my feet down and thus stir up the pool scum.
The thing did an admirable job. I removed a surprising amount of potentially clogging toys, leaves and branches from the bottom and it described a suitably random path about the pool. It got to a point of diminishing returns, however. Being a decidely impatient sort, I yanked the thing off the hose and hooked up the regular vacuum to finish the job. I did as much as I could before the water got too cloudy from stirred up scum. Also, I was worried about the green beans. They'd been cooking unattended for a while now. I'd purposely used a minimum amount of water so that the flavors would be nicely concentrated. THEY COULD BE BOILING OVER ANY MINUTE. As dire as my concern for my beans were, I took the time to backwash and rinse the filter. This also allowed my time to drip dry (I hadn't brought a towel out, since I'd originally come outside to start the fire in the grill, remember?)
After a moment of confusion when I couldn't remember where I'd left my glasses (next to the steps, under the foam bone-shaped floaty thing), I used my T-shirt to dry off my face and headed inside. Retreived a towel from the laundry on the kitchen table, dried off, then dug out undies and my shorts. Could no longer supress my concerns about the green beans, so stepped over and checked them. Thankfully, my worries were utterly unfounded. They were bubbling happily in plenty of water.
By this time it was 6:20 or so. I had pretty much decided not to grill -- it was late and by the time I'd be able to get charcoal it'd be close to 7 (even if I went to the B&N). Sue had gotten store-made chicken sausages (onion, herb and mushroom and basil and cheese, I think). I grabbed my old friend the Joy of Cooking and read up on sausage cooking techniques. Shifted the beans to the smaller eye and got Lucy started husking the corn. I wanted to do something different with the eggplant. Simple is good. While Lucy husked, I peeled the eggplant. Then I cut them into rounds, laid the slices on the round cookie sheet, drizzled them in olive oil, sprinkled them with parmasean and salt and put them under the broiler. Later on, I didn't like how they were broiling, so I baked them instead.
That done and the corn husked (after 10,000 detailed questions from L), I shifted the beans to the smaller eye and started the corn on the big eye. Following the J of C suggestions, I found the last beer in the fridge and put half of it in the skillet. I drank the rest (I came up with that on my own.) Turned the heat on under the skillet.
The sausages were one long tube, which I think is pretty cool. I can be cool too, so I decided to twist the long tube into links rather than just cut it. It worked OK, but was probably more trouble than it was worth.
By this time the beer was boiling, so I put the two sets of links in -- keeping them scrupulously separate -- one set one direction, the other, the other. Turned down the heat and went to get the skillet cover and DAMN! the round cookie sheet is in the oven with the eggplant. I made do with a regular, rectangular cookie sheet.
It was pretty much maintenance from then on. Just monitoring and stirring and such. Browned the sausages after 10 minutes or so. Kept checking on the eggplant and stirring the beans and corn until it was time to serve it up.
Called the girls and they showed up, but couldn't find Sue. Hollered out one door, then two -- no answer. Finally found her hoeing weeds in the flower garden. She came right in.
The sausages were very good. The beans, OK -- the flavor was good, but they were tough. I'll stick with the half-runners from now on. As mentioned earlier, the corn was good, but not as good as last night. The Silver Queen was more tender but less flavorful. The big hit of the evening was the eggplant. Both S and I really liked this method. I promised that it'd become a regular (at least for the summer).
Since I'd forgotten to take the video game (Simpsons Road Rage for the Gamecube, this game rocks) back to the store when I went to the FAC, I had to go back into town at some point tonight. Sue had other errands for me. She needed Diet Coke (addict!). Also, we've been meaning to pick up the left over ceramic tile from my parents for weeks now. So there were at least three stops I should make.
I took 20 minutes or so to digest my (excellent, if I do say so myself) dinner and play a couple of games of Simpsons Road Rage before it had to be returned. Finished up, got my stuff, kissed the girls and left.
To Mom and Dad's first. Got the tile loaded and sat on the porch talking for far longer than I should have. Yes, the porch reminds me of Grandmother's screened in porch. Updates on state government gossip. Younger brother has a serious girlfriend. I have muscles they haven't seen before.
Next to Wal-Mart (feh). Got the Diet Coke, utility knives, Fix-A-Flat for the riding mower and half-a-dozen roses that were on clearance (brownie points rawk!). Noticed that the school supply lists were out, so grabbed a couple because L has been asking and asking and asking about them in her particular obsessive way lately.
Back across town and drop of the game at the video store. Must be a Shelbyville native who is parked talking in the fire lane and preventing me from pulling up to drop off my stuff.
Home again, listening to Post Captain all the way. I could finish this thing tomorrow. I did listen to Bryson's Notes from a Small Island for a while this morning. All about his experience in Dover, which was ironic since a big chunk of PC was set in Dover.
Got home and started pulling up carpet in the hall. Got it all up until I got to the alcove where all the furniture is. Leave that till tomorrow. The floor underneath looks surprisingly good -- better than expected. This may mean refinishing rather than parquet.
Next the girls want to light fireworks that Sue has bought for them. Seated on the porch I sort through them and discover exactly four worth shooting at night (not snakes, smoke bombs, etc). We shoot them. 3 of the 4 as expected, 1 disappointing.
Next, I try to make a sparkler bomb as I've learned from secret information. Did not work.
Finally, the girls went to bed. I played some Snood (to little sucess), made myself a rum and resign myself to writing this. It took longer than I'd expected.
The day is done. Good Night.
// posted by Frank L. Dempsey @ 11:57 PM 
