First things first, if you were here last week you know that one of us got a new hip on Tuesday (not I). And while one thing I have been doing is taking care of the patient, I’m excited to report that because she is doing so well that I have only had to provide a very basic level of care and feeding. My mom’s a (retired) nurse so I’ve always appreciated the caretakers…yet I don’t think I’ve never fully appreciated them. Even with the best patient, caretaking is a lot (A LOT!) of work…which I raise here for no other reason than to give props to all of the caretakers out there, both professionals and amateurs…but especially to the amateurs, the people who care for loved ones who have many needs or care for those in dire straits, with little or no hope of recovery. If you’re *that* kind of caretaker, no matter what kind of credit you get or what kind of understanding people show you, I realize it will never be enough to adequately “thank” you or acknowledge the impacts it has on you and your life. I also suspect that you’re not looking for thanks and you probably view caretaking as “just doing your job.” Even so I want to take this opportunity to call attention to the fact that the hard-core caretakers out there need our support and compassion more than anything, and in all facets of their lives. They carry more than we do, and we need to be sensitive to that fact.
Second things second, I’ve been thinking about Tim Wakefield, the Red Sox knuckleballer who died of brain cancer this weekend at the age of 57. Not that I needed a reminder that time’s a-passing, especially given my borderline obsession with that very thing, but still it is a wake-up call, a news flash that it all can—and does—turn on a dime. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. We rarely know what other people are going through. So what can we do? Be present and be empathetic.
Anyhow…here’s the roundup of what’s been going on with me over the last five weeks.
On the page.
Started and finished the highly recommended Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Liked it, a lot. It was the perfect book to have in hand during my 12-hour day at the hospital last week. A really good story, interesting characters, well-written, etc., etc. Since I have zero experience with or exposure to gaming, there was a small something missing for me, a level I couldn’t relate to or connect on. This why I can’t say “loved it.” But still: highly recommend.
Finally finished Zoe Chance’s Influence is Your Superpower. I started that many (MANY!) months ago, and was enjoying it. Then I got a little sidetracked by this new job, but finally made the time to dig back in. Overall, it did what I was hoping it would do, yet I still struggle with influence, with getting people to listen. I’ll keep chipping away.
I’m still (STILL‽) working on Bono’s book, but it’s also still a bit of a grind. When I started with it I was enamored of Bono’s artistry…I still appreciate it, but somehow it feels redundant—like he mentions his ego a lot, but since the book is over 500 pages, clearly there’s ego involved. The “Stuck in a Moment” chapter (which is 309 pages into the book with two hundred and f-cking forty-eight still to go) reminded me of when the song came out some 20-ish years ago…my niece was little and when she’d fuss in her high chair my brother-in-law would sing “Annie’s stuck in her high chair, and she can’t get out of it.” Memories. Sweet ones. Anyway…I’ll keep at it, and still hope the boys will be by The 220 next summer for an acoustic set. Stay tuned. (Bono, if you’re reading this, come sing in the yard any time!)
I’m not sure what my next pleasure or professional development reads will be, but since my Kindle is loaded and my to-read stack is stacked, there’s plenty to choose from. You’ll get a full accounting of that in five weeks’ time.
On the screen.
Season Two of Heartstopper (❤️❤️❤️🥰) came out and instead of just watching it I asked Kerri if she wanted to catch up on Season 1 with me and then watch S2 together. I’m so glad I did, and not just because it gave me an excuse to rewatch S1—but because it’s too good of a show not to share with someone else. It gives me goosebumps. The fact that T.Swizzle’s seven is featured in the S2 finale was just frosting on the cake. It’s so well done. So sweet. And so hopeful. In some ways, when I watch, I re-write my own story. In a better way. (All of the music is pretty 🔥.)
We were looking for an easy watch and Season 5 of The Crown fit the bill. When the every-two-years cast change takes place I always find it a bit jarring. I miss Olivia Colman (absolutely brilliant as Nick’s mom in Heartstopper!) and I find it interesting that they *always* give Price Charles favorable casting…but not Camila. 🤦🏼♀️
When I’m too tired to pay attention, I never mind putting on The Voice (but don’t get me started on Reba). I’m actually surpsingly good at guessing who the contestants will pick as a coach. And when no chairs turn it breaks my heart, even when no chairs should turn. Bottom line, the world is full of talented people who toil in obscurity and anonymity, believing in dreams that will never be realized. Nevertheless, they persist. Good for them.
For extreme guilty pleasures, I have four currently:
The Golden Bachelor. Yep. I’m watching, even if the first episode started with the stereotypical closeup of…hearing aids. There’s a bachelorette who allegedly dated Prince, and some other seemingly desperate gals who have varying degrees and quality of facial help, if not plastic surgery. TBH I haven’t seen people seemingly lie about their age like this since that Dominican Republic birth certificate scandal at the LLWS in 2001.
The way the franchise works is you’re in or you’re out…and we’re all in. Bachelor and Bachelorette castoffs/has-beens get a second (or third or more) chance at love on a beach in Mexico on Bachelor in Paradise, and we’re along for the ride. It’s cray but fun (and funny) to watch.
Real Housewives of New York City. Completely new cast, same old drama. Like a train wreck, you keep looking.
Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. One of the newer installments in the franchise, I feel like this is a whole new level of dysfunction. I know—I don’t have to stay. I can leave. 😂 (Seriously, would you allow yourself to be portrayed like this in exchange for some social media notoriety? Would you act like this if you knew you were being filmed and it would air on Bravo? 🤦🏼♀️)
On Spotify.
Enjoying Your Side of Town by The Killers. Kind of takes me back to the early 90s, maybe reminiscent of New Order.
I like (need?) classical every now and then and discovered BLKBOK on one of the morning news shows a while back. He just release a new album and it’s great background music.
One of my old reliable friends sent me a(nother) playlist, which I enjoyed tremendously (no surprise). Ruston Kelly’s cover of All Too Well (yes, that song by Taytay!) was a joy…and one day I played it and then let Spotify take over (as I often do) and got exposed to several other chill vibes from new artists. Try that sometime.
I’ve also been attuned to my top 100 songs list that I first mentioned a few weeks ago…and am starting to compile it, kind of. Stay tuned. I just may get a draft version of it together sometime.
On the stove.
I’m a big fan of cooking shrimp (so easy and healthy) so when I saw this recipe I knew it had to be done. And the Hot Sauce Shrimp did not disappoint. Only adjustment I made was to up the hot sauce..next time maybe I’d add a bit of hot honey too. Easy and tasty. Win-win.
These Crispy Feta Fried Eggs have been one of my go-to work from home brunch items of late. Gotta get the timing right with the ripening of the avocado, but…it’s a good challenge. They’re. So. Good. That is all.
Actually, this one was in the Instant Pot and not on the stove, but it’s one of my absolute faves: Chicken Enchilada Soup. And since I served it on football Sunday, we started with nachos, one of my specialties. Tortilla chips, cheese, and jalapeños, all in perfect proportion. Dollops of Daisy (sour cream) for everyone!
“Soup,” according to Virginia Woolf, “is cuisine’s kindest course.” And we got a delivery of kindness in the form of this Buffalo Chicken Chili from Kerri’s sis. The blue cheese “nachos” really make it—so extra!
One of Kerri’s hockey teams (thanks, Bulldogs) sent her A Spoonful of Comfort. This package was a refrigerated, fresh godsend—chicken noodle soup, mac and cheese, rolls, and snickerdoodle cookies. The soup and mac were really good and the rolls and cookies tasted fresh basked after five minutes at 350°.
And here are a few things that were not on the stove per se, but definitely were in the kitchen.
We’ve both been eating plenty of sweets thanks to Kerri’s new hip—we’re getting lots of treats sent our way. At least the Jardiance commercial has a catchy tune for when I need meds for the runway blood sugar. 🤦🏼♀️ Thanks to everyone who dropped off or sent things to the patient—we both appreciate it.
Cold Toddies and Cranberry Old Fashioneds. Two delicious whisky/bourbon drinks to help me transition from one season to the next. The first calls for black tea simple syrup and the second for cranberry simple syrup. Shaking up your simple syrup gives a reliable drink a nice twist.
Doomed Coffee. I have been remiss! My friends are roasting and selling coffee as a passion project, and I love them and their coffee. You’ll love the coffee too. Check them out on social, or here. Try some! Up your coffee game.
Speaking of coffee, I need to go get a cup right now. After that it’s off to work, but the sun here is shining and it’s supposed to be warm—hoping to get out and get a good hit of Vitamin D at some point.
I hope lots of good things are going on with you. As always, I thank you for being here, and indulging me week after week—and I wish you a great week.
Love you too.
Great idea re Heartstopper -- I think we'll do the same and rewatch season 1 before diving into season 2. Glad to hear Kerri is doing so well healing from her surgery. Just gutted about Tim Wakefield. Thanks for your thoughts!