What’s on the iPod: The Clowns by The Clarks
With weekends like the one I just had, I’m glad to be able to come to work and sit for a while. Not only are we preparing for a vacation, but let’s throw a party in there three days after we get home. Oh, and four house guests. The bedrooms are clean, beds made, towels bought (needed an extra set), and today I’ll figure out what to feed them for the six or seven days they’ll be here. I love all these activities – separately. Combine them and it could be migraine-inducing – oh yes, got to buy Excedrin.
We spent all day yesterday outside. Glorious day to weed, mow, prune, and play with the neighbor cat. Carl is becoming an unofficial member of the family. I think with a cat that fickle, that’s a good position. He wants your attention when you have no time. When you want to pet him, forget it. He’s not interested. Must be an Aquarius.
We were so busy we skipped the chance to go see President Obama, who was in town. Yes, we realize the few chances anyone has to see a sitting president, but we were that overwhelmed with things to do. And for once, our list didn’t grow (at least not yet). You know how it is – you start with something small like “We can put someone in the basement on the sleeper sofa” and soon you’re gutting the basement and hauling out mounds of trash. Actually, we did that last weekend after the flooding, so I guess we pre-empted our own predictability.
Work today is thin. I did the majority of it last week so I could save the extra time these next two and a half days to get packed and get food in the house for the fish and for the remaining Bean (well, MacBean). Also, we’d gone to one of the local pubs to watch the Phillies/Reds game last night and that Long Island Iced Tea was potent. I have a head the size of a wrecking ball this morning. I like a little sip of something, but if it makes me feel that badly I’d rather have tea.
I’ve got some great posts lined up for you while I’m gone. Thanks to all who volunteered and supplied guest posts! There’s some great stuff here and you readers won’t be disappointed.
How was your weekend? What are you doing all week?
Great weekend. My freezer is now stocked for the winter; got half a cow and half a pig from Polyface Farm (a beyond-organic farm made famous in Michael Pollan's "Omnivore's Dilemma"). We took a day trip yesterday to WV, where we own a few lovely wooded acres on which we hope to build someday, and attended an apple butter festival. Came home with plenty of apple butter, apples, and apple cider, or course. The perfect fall weekend. This week, I finish up one large project and begin another with a client who is an absolute dream to work with. Have a great vacation!
How was the book, Eileen? We have it on the shelf – one of many to-be-read ones. And I remember that satisfied feeling of putting all the meat in the freezer (we used to raise our own). Makes you feel like saying "Bring it!" to Mother Nature. 🙂
WV in the fall – gorgeous! You lucky devil.
Lori, the book was life changing for me. We now get all our meat, poultry, and eggs only from sustainable farmers. I get produce from farmer's markets whenever possible instead of the store. My kids get a hot breakfast every day and we don't do nearly as many processed foods as we used to. All meals are cooked from scratch. And on and on and on. Pollan's book started it for me.
We're vegetarians, so the book is there on the recommendation of someone else. But I'm glad it's life changing – we're mostly organic and "from scratch" people. I love seeing others espouse that. Funny how once those processed foods disappear from your system you feel just that much better. I notice, and maybe you do too, that when I have something processed, I feel wonky and out of sorts.
Weekend was great. The cooler weather has been so much better for training for the 3-Day Walk. I am getting so excited. It's the weekend before Thanksgiving & I am going the weekend before to see all my buds in San Diego-can't wait!
I'm starting the writing part on a white paper and have some articles & blogging lined up. Need to throw out the marketing lines-that twitchiness again.
Have a fabulous vacation,Lori!
Good weekend… Omnivore's Dilemma is a thought provoking book for sure.
Cathy, will you have time for a cup of coffee or something in San Diego?
I got all the papers that had gotten unstacked because of my minor flood sorted, and actually dealt with, well most of them. Feeling virtuous.
Cathy, I want your energy. 🙂
Anne, thanks for your thoughts on the book. And I hope the flooding was minimal.
I'm glad to see so many here are into from-scratch cooking. For years people have looked at me like I'm crazy. "Why would you want to do that when you can open a box?" Um, because the processed "foods" are way too salty and sweet and don't really taste like real food. I'm one of those semi-vegetarians: I don't eat meat or poultry, but I will eat some types of seafood.
My weekend was odd. It started late Friday night when a vacant house two doors down from me caught fire. That's just one of three vacant homes on this side of my block (the house between that one and mine is also vacant, as is one two doors away from me in the opposite direction). Apparently squatters got in and started a fire in a cooking pot they'd set on a hardwood floor in the middle of the living room. What's weird is the night before I thought I heard a noise coming from one of those adjoining yards, but assumed it was a cat… A cat with matches?
Houses here are maybe 10-12 feet apart, most are wood-frame, and the fallen leaves and dry conditions make for great fuel. If not for a neighbor who happened to see the flame just after it started, that house and others could have been engulfed.
I have a deadline this week, so I'll be nailing down my final two interviews and transcribing most of the week.
Anne-I will make the time! 🙂
Lori-you definitely wouldn't want my body after those jaunts. The older I get, the longer it takes to not feel an ache or two-if fact-it may be about 5 years now. 🙂
Hey Lori,
"When you want to pet him, forget it. He's not interested. Must be an Aquarius."
I resemble that remark 😉 As for the mowing, pruning, etc., those also sound fun (separately) but when put together, could cause extreme distaste for yard work.
I hope you have a blast on your vacation and don't worry about the party until you get back. As for the rest of the week, I am trying to get back into the freelance life and community. A lot of work lined up and looking forward to diving in. Have a great vacay and RELAX!!!
Hey, Sal! How are you? Long time no see! Good seeing you here.
Hey Lori, glad to be seen. I feel like I am poking my head in the door again after a 2-year exodus from the community 🙁 Now that I am freelancing full time, I am super-excited to begin contributing again and catching up on everything that I missed.
I was reading some of the comments above pertaining to food (funny how I can always spot the comments that deal with food – guess it is the Italian in me) and I completely agree with you. Our family is also on the "from scratch" and mostly organic routine. While we are not vegetarians, we do eat few meats and when we have something processed (even a can of green beans) we all feel yucky after. It is crazy how bogged down processed foods can make you feel after you haven't had them in a while…
It's funny you all mention the food stuff. I'm on a sugar-free diet. And when I do take a bite of something that isn't sugar-free, I can immediately tell the difference. (Same with red meat – I haven't had red meat in months.)