Day in the Life of an Idiot

 My computer claims it's ONLY 98 F / 36 C out there, but there's this whole "heat index" thing and so I'm just hiding indoors in our two room "cool room." 

I felt really smart this morning because, when it was only in the 70s F/20s C this morning, I pre-made dinner. I knew that my choice was going to be somewhat unpopular tonight since it's a bit on the "heavy" side for such a warm day. My thought (and hope) was that my family would just be glad to have something that they could just pop in the microwave, maybe throw together a salad with, and have done. Alas. No one in my family likes Shepherd's Pie as much as I do. My sense is that Mason will still eat it, but Shawn is grumbling about mashed potatoes.(She eats hardly any veggies and now she's off certain kinds of potatoes.)

There is other food in the house. My family will not starve, I just need to roll my eyes at these two. 

What a bunch of goofs.

 It's Monday, so I thought I would recount some of the events of the past several days.  First of all, I dyed my hair. 


Image: My new hair color = mallard green.

I'm not sure how I feel about it. I mean, I like the color, but I am really getting sick of my long hair. I miss being a cute, short-haired lesbian. The straggly long hair is making me feel like a long-haired bog witch lesbian. Both valid lesbians? But, I'm not used to all this HAIR... and I don't feel particularly cute right now. Sometimes it doesn't matter to me? But the other day, I was ready to find the razor set at home and just buzz it all off. So... I may have to figure out if I feel up to a barber finally, or not.

Given that I just had to tell a friend 'no' to a restaurant date I'm not sure if I can reasonably do a haircut in good conscious. To be fair, you have to take your mask off to eat and I don't to get my hair cut, However, it might just be the principle of the thing. 

Anyway, this is me now, mallard duck green, mostly black. 

On Sunday, I attended exactly one event at Gamehole Con. My friend tallgeese was the "Demiurge" (Game master) for a Lex Aranca game and I have a secret love of all things Roman Empire. It's a GUILTY pleasure, but I would totally watch Russel Crowe's "Gladiator" a million times. "Spartacus" is on? I'm there! Like, historically, the Romans are fairly terrible, but sign me up to be a Magical Praetorian Guard in fantasy historical Rome--yes, please?  And, that's basically what Lex Arcana is like. I explained it to someone as "Imagine a Rome that didn't fall because they used the magic of the Britons to to foresee and forestall the Gaul's sack of Rome."

The game itself was really fun. Because it was a one-shot, we picked from pre-generated set of characters. There was one among them that was perfect for my needs--a giant Germanic, red-head named Wulfgar. I basically got to play a barbaric version of Renji, which feeds my soul on a profound level. I even memorized a few German phrases for veritas. Not that I used them, but I was ready.

I was the only woman gamer in this group, which honestly didn't surprise me. I mean, I picked a Roman RPG, for gods' sake. I feel like the only other place you might expect fewer women is in a WWII RPG.  All I cared about is that people let me be a manly man among men, and they did. And, I had some fun character moments, because being a Germanic barbarian who happens to be working for Rome is kind of inherently interesting in terms of loyalty, etc. It was too short a game to explore all that kind of character stuff, but the situation we ended up in did give me some FEELS. So that added to my fun. Because I am there for character. Game mechanics, whatever. But, characters, yes--and one of the reasons I like gaming with tallgeese is that I know there will be a good mix of mechanics, character, and clever, engaging story.

All and all, an excellent experience. 10/10, would again.

Otherwise, Shawn and I spent much of Saturday doing some around the house projects.  With Mason off at college, we've gotten into a pleasant weekend routine, in which we go out to the recycling center in the early morning of Saturday (our recycling is terrible about picking up oversized cardboard pieces, so we have a lot that doesn't fit in our bin) and then we hit the coffee shop. Thus fueled, we tackle various projects that we've been putting off.  Last weekend, I finally got around to planting the bulbs I ordered--I have this dream of having a yard full of crocuses of all shape and color, though usually the squirrels dig them up and eat them. So, we went to Menards and got turkey grit so that I could fill in a layer around the bulbs that would make it a little more difficult for them to pull them out. I also bought bags and bags and bags of dirt because my front yard is at the top of a hill that gets a lot of erosion. Hopefully between the grit and layers of new dirt the squirrels won't be able to smell this crop of bulbs. I suspect I'll still lose some but if a few can be established, there is hope they will spread.

Speaking of Mason, he spontaneously contacted us to hang out on Friday. We chatted a bit about how classes are going, etc., and then he surprised me by offering to watch the first episode of Campaign 3 of "Critical Role" together!  That was wonderful. I worked on some of my sewing while watching and chatting with Mason.  It felt like he was here. And, I could not be more pleased that he thought of us... we have been very intentional in letting Mason go to do his own thing, so it was rewarding to have him come back to us on his own, you know? 

I think that was the majority of the weekend.

Oh, I just picked up a Yuletide Pinch Hit for something I haven't read--but the original source material is right up my alley and very short. This the first time I've done something quite like this, but I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do for the requestor. 

Okay, I have to head off to the laundromat to do a few of our rag rugs. 

How's by you?

What did I do this weekend?  

Oh, right, on Saturday, I agreed to work at Roseville from noon until 5pm. That was fine. I mean, work, but I don't mind the actual labor and I rather enjoy my colleagues... and, of course, the books. I came home with at least one, like I always do.

I SHOULD have gone to Powderhorn to watch the May Day parade (which may be the last one)t, but Sunday was already the sort of day when I woke up late for a video chat with naomikritzer is and I like to armchair travel vicariously with my friends. Last time she went to that hemisphere it was to Taiwan and i was able to find some things that Naomi really enjoyed, so I'm hoping to do the same for her again. The disadvantage is that because jiawen already LIVES in Taiwan, I'd been reading about Taiwan for years, actually, and I know a LOT less (read: almost nothing) about China. I'm enjoying reading the guide books, though. It's a weird hobby.

Today, I need to go to the post office. I'm out of international stamps (speaking of my weird hobbies).  I am behind on some of my pen pal correspondence, plus I've got several new names gleaned from "friendship books" and so that means I need to take the time to write an 'introductory letter' and see if I can entice people to write me back.  

Today, I am picking up Shawn early and we are headed to Washington Tech to watch Mason get inducted into the National Honors Society. He was already a member of the JUNIOR National Honors Society, but this is the high school version (which, for whatever reason, starts in 10th grade, rather than 9th.)  He did not have to reapply, but admission is not guaranteed by grades--he also had be sure to have all of his volunteer hours in. An odd requirement, but it keeps him volunteering to be a debate coach, which he enjoys, but the volunteer hours are an extra bonus.  
Of course, he rolled his eyes when his mom said she wanted to come to see the ceremony. I told him that parents live to embarrass their children, so he's just going to have to roll with it. Besides, I'm sure the Randalls (the family of Mason's ex-GF) will be there, because I swear this is half of why they started going out (a shared embarrassment of their overly proud parents.)

After that, I'm headed off to watch anime at a friend's house. This is a friend who I sort of know through conventions, but mostly have gotten a little closer with via email conversations about anime/manga (with me on the manga and her on the anime). The event is a weekly thing she does with another close woman friend, and I'm very much worried that I'm going to be a third wheel.  BUT, I am looking forward to it, as I have no one currently in the house who watches anime with me. When Mason was younger, we shared Bleach fandom, but now I'm on my own. I'd be lovely if we all click and this becomes a semi-regular thing. So fingers crossed.

This weekend is Mother's Day and currently the plan is to make quiche and blueberry pie for Shawn.For those new to my blog and wondering "but what about YOU, Lyda??" The answer is that, long ago, I decided I am selfish and do not want to share Mother's Day. So, my family invented "Ima's Day" which we celebrate on December 5, the anniversary of my legal adoption of Mason. (We had Mason before our marriage was legal, but I suspect, though I don't know, that queer couples still have to do this? Even though I was very much a part of Mason's conception, the law considered me an outsider until we did the proper legal thing, with paperwork and affidavits and everything.)

So, that's me. How's you? 

 I would apologize for not posting here in a while, but we've had a house full of guests.  Before that, I was cleaning like a fiend to be ready for them.

Thanksgiving has become my all-time favorite holiday.  I don't even quite know how it happened that Shawn and I decided that Thanksgiving belonged to friends, made-family, rather than our families of origin, as it were, but it was by far, the smartest thing we ever did. 

I feel so sad when I hear people talking about how they dread Thanksgiving because it means Yet-Another-Family-Gathering where they're not accepted for who they are, or where they have to suffer through crazy, drunk uncle Bob's horrible racist/homophobic/misogynist politics. I wish I could give them all the fortitude or means or whatever it would take to say, "So, don't do it. Make this ONE holiday yours." After all, it's not like so many of these same people aren't going to end up having to go back to the same awful situation a month later for Christmas.  And even if your family doesn't celebrate Christmas there's usually some other 'can't miss' holiday that's basically required family gathering.  So, why give them Thanksgiving too?

I absolutely love having my house filled, once a year, with the people Shawn and I picked--our friends and their family.  I love cooking them a huge meal, even if, this year, I had to figure out how to make a bunch of my staples vegan.  I love putting together the puzzles, having the competitive board gaming, etc., etc., etc.  I even love that my crazy guests always make a pilgrimage out to the Mall of America for Black Friday. (Hey, you know, if I were in Dublin for some uniquely Irish Cultural Event, I'd want to participate in it too. Even if my native friends were like, "Nope. No way.") 

So that's the sappy way of saying, I had a great Thanksgiving.  Our friends and their family are now coming from both ends of the U.S. and Ireland (one is in Oregon at Reed College, two are in Virginia at William & Mary, and two live in Dublin.)  They all arrived en masse on Wednesday.  Luckily, they were able to find an Air BnB just up University.  They've stayed in a downtown hotel before, but that isn't nearly as homey--and this was very convenient (I picked some of them up there on Saturday to take them to the airport.)  Funny story about that, though. I was given the wrong address at first and so I ended up knocking on a door two doors down. Thank GOD no one answered, though I did spend a lot of time wondering why no one was letting me in.... this is where cell phone are actually a GOOD thing.

Anyway, we ordered pizza from Pizza Luché because they have tons of vegan options, and even make an in-house vegan cheese, while also serving plenty of delicious carnivorous options as well. I think we were off to a good start with the vegans since at least one of them was actually a little overwhelmed by all the choices... since, more often than not, restaurants have only one or two.  

Turkey day itself went very well. It took a bit of planning to have vegan options and/or adapt existing recipes. I'll be honest. A big part of my secret skill as a chef is that I'll put bacon drippings and cream in ANYTHING, given half the chance.  But, we managed to find a good butter substitute and we'd been trying out various dressing recipes for months. Shawn even made a vegan pumpkin pie (as well as two types of cookies and a vegan cranberry-orange sweet bread), and, after several trips to a number of different stores, I managed to find a commercially produced vegan soy whip as an alternative to my homemade whipped cream. It was a lot of work for two out of eight eaters, but, in the end, we could feel good about our hosting skills.  In exchange, I heard no complaints about the dead bird on the table and there were no attempts to proselytize about the vegan lifestyle's superiority. So, I think that was a fair trade.  ;-)

On Black Friday, they all went about their separate ways, but took Mason along.  That meant Shawn and I had a chance to physically recover (I napped... A LOT! I'd feel bad, but it's a full day in the kitchen, since I get up early to make French bread from scratch) and, according to Mason, they all checked out the Herbivorous Butcher for lunch. We had a little snafu about whether or not we were going to brave the Black Friday Mall of America traffic, but in the end everyone hopped on the light rail (Mason always carries his Go-To pass, so he flipped the bill.)  So, it all worked out, plus our Irish guest got to check out what passes as public transportation in Minneapolis/St. Paul. (He and I actually extolled the virtues of trains.)

Saturday, people started drifting off to various airports, though we kept our Oregon guest at our place one extra night. That day was spent playing with the Nintendo Switch and he's ONLY a vegetarian, so cooking for him was much easier. I made my favorite broccoli-curry soup, which I will type out below because another friend has asked for it:

From the Ovens of Brittany Cookbook by Terese Allan:

6 tablespoons of butter, divided
1/3 cup flour
3/4 cup finely chopped onions
1/2 cup finely chopped carrots
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
2 cups of coarsely chopped broccoli stems and tops
1 teaspoon basil
1 (or more) teaspoon of curry powder (I use Penzey's "sweet" curry)
1/2 teaspoon of paprika
1/2 teaspoon of thyme
1/2 teaspoon of celery salt
1 cup of milk
1 cup half-and-half
2 1/2 cups of vegetable (or chicken) stock
1/4 teaspoon of ground white pepper (though black will do in a pinch)

They want you to make a roux with three tablespoons of the butter, heated, to which the flour is added.  I've found you can do this, their method is not that hard, but if the idea scares you, you can just skip the extra butter and mix flour with a little water to make a paste and add it in place of the roux.  Both methods work equally well, IMHO.

Melt remaining 3 tablespoons of butter in a large, heavy pot. Add onions, celery, and carrots. Cook until tender.  Add broccoli and spices and cook a little longer. Add the stock to the vegetables, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, add milk and half-and-half. Once that's warmed add the roux (or flour mixture).  Simmer until thickened and the flavors have mingled, but the broccoli is not overdone--10-20 minutes.  Adjust seasonings to taste and serve.

You can see why the vegetarian can eat this, but not the vegans.

On Sunday, we shuffled our last house guest off to the airport, and the had Mason's GF over for our traditional post-Thanksgiving wild rice soup. Of course, she's also a vegetarian, so she got the same soup, only minus the shredded turkey bits.  I made popovers.  It was wonderful.

But, oh my gosh. I'm not normally the sort of person who needs a vacation after a vacation, but this might be an exception. However, I wouldn't have traded a minute of it. Such a good time was had.

I woke up this morning feeling very dutiful. So I went downstairs, made coffee, and put in a thousand words on Samurai High (my current WIP, of which I'm trying to get sample chapters ready for an editor who showed interest in the proposal by early March.)

This is a good start for me, because we're planning to spend most of the day as a family having a "Staycation" at the Waterpark of America.

Last summer, Mason participated in the Roseville Library's "Book-a-wocky," wherein he vowed to read for 20 hours over summer vacation (which for him is only the month of August.) The deal was that if he made good on his promise, he'd receive a bag of goodies from the library. In that bag of goodies were several free passes, including an all-day pass to said waterpark. This, of course, is Mason's biggest scam. Reading is never a chore and, if he choses to focus on it, it can he read about 20 hours in three days.

But neither Shawn nor I think rewarding Mason for reading is ever a bad idea, even when he'd do it anyway. Finding a time when we can all go to the waterpark (and have the money for two extra tickets), however, has been a chore. So the day has finally come. Mason has been hopping up and down singing, "Water park day! Water park day!"

I, on the other hand, have been having PTSD about the water slides.

Actually, the slides aren't that bad. But, as an adult/old lady, I find I suffer vertigo a lot easier than I used to even at, say, twenty.

So that's going to be be my day. I wonder how my hair will do--it's been dyed several times now and clorine is never nice to hair dye. Perhaps all this rusty red will turn Yachiru pink! Then I'll just have to get a different hairstyle (and, if I felt clever, a captain's haori. If I were going to cospaly Yachiru I'd have be her as an adult.)

Last night was Valentine's Day and we watched "Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix" as a family with popcorn and lemonade. I spent the whole movie wondering why the Doweger Countess was being so... NICE. ;-)

Since I reported the overheard weirdness from Barnes & Noble, I thought I'd post another strange interaction my family and I had.  This time it took place in the check-out line at Target.   The Saturday before last we did a long over due shopping run, as the cashier was ringing up our various and sundry items Mason noticed that we were buying some new kitchen impliments.   "A new measuring cup!" he cried in excitement.

The cashier looked startled and said holding up the glass pitcher, "Wow, he knows what this is?  He's smart.  I didn't even know what that was."

Shawn continued chatting about why it was we were buying a new measuring cup.  (Dishwasher accident -- which is to say *I* dropped it.)  Later, in the car, Shawn told me she couldn't believe that the cashier could possibly have been serious about not recognizing the measuring cup.  I didn't get the sense that the cashier was kidding, however. The cashier seemed genuinely baffled (and impressed with Mason.)  It's entirely possible the young cashier was just being super complimentary to Mason and at the same time self-depricating.  I mean, I've said over-the-top things in the name of humor, but the interaction didn't have that vibe.  Plus, I thought it might be possible that the cashier had honestly never spent a lot of time cooking, in which case all the stranger impliments of construction would seem strange.  (There are, after all, things in my kitchen I didn't know the names for until recently.  Potato ricer, anyone?)

Plus, times have changed.  I make "from scratch" (such as passes for that these days) a great number of meals we eat, but I understand I'm part of a diminshing minority.  And, my family is weird.  For instance, this Saturday, I participated in the annual Rounds fleischkuekle fest.  We spent the entire day rolling, filling, and deep-fat frying "meat cakes."  This is always a family affair, though this year Shawn's brother Greg couldn't join us, her other brother, our nephew and even my folks stopped by to take part of the construction of this traditional food.  I was talking to Jonathan (my nephew) about it and be both thought about the ritual as our family's version of "barn raising."  Everyone has a part to play and, though the point of the gathering is to get something done, the process is really a form of family bonding.

Do you have traditional family foods?  Things you make from scratch that you're proud of?  I'd love to hear about them.