Week 15

How are we doing?

A writer I follow on Twitter recently likened our current state to going through a break-up, i.e., when you wake up in the morning and your mind starts to return from a dream state to reality, and you think, "Oh yes, this. This is awful." Every morning for the last month.

On the bright side, the sun is rising earlier so I am naturally waking up before my alarm.

And there were other bright sides this week, too. I got big things in the mail, like some chairs for the deck (chair cushions and table soon to follow), and a giant box of wine. I jumped on an intro deal with the Wall Street Journal wine club and was told I could cancel any time, which I will immediately, but only because I'm cheap and would prefer to patronize my local wine shops, not because the wine is bad - it's actually quite good. And we have several weeks' worth of it.

It was also a four-day work week, which is now followed by a four-day weekend and another four-day work week. And then there's my birthday later this month, and maybe I should take a couple more days off...? We'll see what the weather looks like. Everything really depends on that these days.

I hope you are finding good things around you, too.

Recipes

Joel made pasta which resumed our old Pasta Sunday tradition and, as it stretched for two nights, made Monday night feel a little lighter. The days that followed were a test of the pantry. We were mostly out of the fresh fruits and vegetables that bring balance - the bananas disappeared, as did the spinach and broccoli, then the asparagus. Even the garlic and onions were used up. With a large can of chickpeas, a small shallot, can of tomatoes and cupboard full of spices, I made a makeshift chana masala (based on this recipe from Molly Wizenberg).

I saved some of the tomatoes to make a sauce-like soup accompaniment to grilled cheese the next night.

I find comfort in the same things that gave me comfort as a kid: tunafish on crackers (yogurt instead of mayo), cut up apples, eggs and toast.

And popovers always bring joy.

And while I was cleaning out the pantry, I found everything I needed for a rum cream pie, though I used chocolate graham crackers instead of regular ones, 'cause that's what I had, and I would do it again. Another recipe by Molly Wizenberg, another instant classic in my book.

Reading

"Dinner alone is one of life's pleasures. Certainly cooking for oneself reveals man at his weirdest."

Laurie Colwin became my latest kindred spirit this week as I read Home Cooking: A Writer in the Kitchen. The book is a collection of essays, I think largely written for Gourmet magazine. I love her unfussiness and honesty about cooking. The way she writes about recipes is how I think when I follow them - feeling the need to be particular and rebellious at the same time. She died far too soon, in her 40s, just four years after this collection was published in the 1980s.

Watching

Lord, forgive me, for I have watched Tiger King. "Keep watching, it will get better," they said. By better, of course, they mean more awful, twisted, and sad. I don't need to describe it here; there's plenty of places you can read about it. It was horrible portrait of America, and it was horrible that I just couldn't stop watching. I don't recommend it unless you want to watch something that makes you eager to hear the regular bad news about coronavirus.

We also watched The Farewell, which I heartily recommend. I heard the story on "This American Life" last year and have looked forward to watching this moving portrayal of a family who kept their mother/grandmother from knowing she was dying of lung cancer. Though that premise seems depressing, it's actually very thought-provoking and uplifting.

And Pasta Sunday ushered in our viewing of episode one, season two of "My Brilliant Friend," which took some effort in remembering all the characters. Still, a joy.

Listening

I had a good time hearing from friends far and near by asking them, via Facebook, for some "blah" music recommendations. I didn't want to be cheered up or made to feel emotional...I just wanted some good music to just be. Suggestions were all great, ranging from Father John Misty to instrumental playlists and low-fi hip hop - many I'd never heard.

Making

I knit not a thing this week! My crafting skills were put to use masks. I followed the instructions from the New York Times and found it to be a fairly simple process. Fun to sew again, too. It's been awhile.