Weird Soup and Other Snapshots

We had this soup for dinner on Valentine's Day. 

We've been calling it "Lawn Soup," because the chopped watercress looks like what's left after you mow the lawn. Or "Garden Detritus Soup," which is what it tastes like.  Chicken broth, mushrooms,  watercress, cellophane noodles (what are these?  we substituted rice noodles) and a few other odds and ends.   From the South Beach Diet Cookbook. 

Jerry made omelets to go along with it, and they were excellent. 

                                                                             2.

The kitchen faucet is leaking so badly that it quickly fills up a pan under the sink, so Jerry turns off the water for long periods.  I've surprised myself by becoming sort of meditative as I dealt with all this, especially while cooking such high-need-for-sanitizing items like chicken (note the Soft Scrub).   It's been like camping, with bowls of soapy water, rinse water, soak water.

Indoor camping

 The plumber came yesterday, is coming back tomorrow.  He wears a light on his head like a miner.


                                                                             3.

Just finished this novel, and I thought the writing was wonderful.  Samples I admired:

On older  female wedding guests, toting cameras, "..like tourists on an emotional safari, eager to bag a bride."

On a self-important singer at the wedding: "Almost everything Tom said came off as pompous."

On a central character, who's a lesbian: "Alice...supposed that the application of time--even in great quantities--would not be up to the  job of getting over Maude."

I hadn't heard of Carol Anshaw, but now I'm going to look for her other books.   She is both a writer and a painter and teaches writing at the Art Institute of Chicago.   This book's  a New York Times "Notable Book."  Highly recommend.

A book I just started and love:  "Londoners," by Craig Taylor.  He interviewed hundreds of people from all parts of London, and he lets each speak.  I'm learning a lot about parts of London I've never known enough about to visit (or had time).  

                                                                             

                                                                          4.                                                                                   

 Jerry-the-Aging-Jock and I really enjoyed, "On a Clear Day," a movie about a 55-year old man who decides to swim the English Channel.  He lives in Scotland and starts his training by swimming laps in the local pool, moving on to freezing cold local lakes and bays.  Jerry had to put on his down vest to be able to watch it.







                                                                                     5.

On the topic of water:  Pals have questioned our decision to take another cruise (to Alaska, in July) after the debacle of that giant ship adrift in the Gulf of Mexico.  And the Costa Concordia, which  ran aground in Italy, and the Carnival Splendor,  was stranded in 2010.   Ditto the Costa Allegra in 2012.

What these ships all have in common is that they're owned by Carnival (Costa Cruise Lines is a subsidiary). They're known as a discount cruise line and perhaps their maintenance is along those lines?  I'm preferring to think that.

We don't do Carnival because the emphasis is on heavy drinking, art sales, and water slides.

"Spiraling awesomeness," as Carnival describes it

I read in a review on Cruise Critic that one passenger watched a raw turkey being carved at a Carnival ship buffet.

Don't do salmonella either (see above).

                                                                                 6.

 A week ago, Jerry and I took a walk at the Berkeley Marina and came across this garden for the locals ("on-boarders," as they're known; we have a few as clients at the Berkeley Food Pantry).  They have a potluck once a month  A grant from the city helped with construction.

                                                                                   7.

  
I delivered 111.5 pounds of food to the Berkeley Food Pantry today, as part of the Neighborhood Food Project.  Thanks to everyone who contributed: Anne, Val, Suzanne, Claudia, Dee, Karen, and Ann. 

What a stationwagon is good for

                                                                                 8.



                                                                          Spring?