diary
Woke up today around 8 am, probably at 8:05 when my radio alarm goes off for Chaggigah. Jonathon left bed early, saying he hadn't been sleeping already an hour, might as well go get stuff done. I, on the other hand, stayed in bed and read: a #1 Ladies Detective Agency ebook (4th in the series). Enjoyed the Chaggigah show, which was doing a special on Tu BiShevat plus the upcoming Boston Jewish Music Festival. Very relaxing, luxurious.
After checking email, headed out to brunch with the ladies. First of February deserves celebration, being the start of my birthday month :-). We ate at The Table, Season To Taste's small restaurant. I'd intended to walk there, as it's enticingly near to home, but at the last moment, fell back on the car.
Table offers a prix fixe Sunday brunch, at communal tables. We were the first ones there, and the menu looked delicious. Three of us, and we all made virtually identical choices! Chickpea soup, Moroccan pancakes w/ honey & jam, bread pudding for dessert. When our fourth companion joined us later, we encouraged her to try the other choices, which she did: house pickles, lamb shakshuka, peach and orange sorbets. Everyone enjoyed. The portions were moderate. The service was good. And the atmosphere nifty, with casual canning jars used for many purposes and intriguing pen and ink art for sale on the walls. We could hear each other talk... although at various points, an individual in the party would get caught up by a piece she liked in the background music. We discussed mostly theater (especially Copenhagen, which I'd just seen two nights before; also The Disappearing Number, Red Hot Patriot, and Into The Woods) and also books from high school english classes and the merits of grad school.
After meal was over, everyone else was headed toward Porter, so I walked with then a ways. Thus I got in my expected walk. Having kept on strolling until we reached Porter, i took the opportunity to nose around the hardware store and the craft store, kinda looking for a glass canister that'll hold 4 lb sugar. No luck. But I did pick up a travel humidifier, inspired by Crystal's example, for Arisia next year. That Westin hotel is so dry!
Headed back to my car, catching a 77 bus because it happened to be going by at the convenient time. On the bus was a co-worker, also with a newly bought humidifier.
Drove the rest off the way home, with a small stop at the rt 16 CVS where I failed to find a gallon of skim milk. This reminds me that some kind of snow is forecast.
Incidentally, I am quite pleased with the ~2 feet we have around. It's a satisfyingly wintery thing. More isn't really necessary, in my book, but hey we'll see what we get.
Got back home about 4/4:30. Made arrangements with the new-parent friends for whom I had pledged a dinner delivery.
At home, handyman D was positioning picture rail with Jonathon's input. (We had decided to add a late batch of rail into the hallway, too.) It was loud & sawdusty, so I mostly stayed out of the way. Glad to have this underway.
I did a couple small fix its: put up a hook for the aprons and tried hanging the blue bathroom shelf. Sadly, the skinny hooks which I'd ordered by mail didn't work because of the position of a drainpipe in the wall. Phooey. Will have to try again, with annoying drywall anchors.
Made myself a snack and did I-don't-recall-what-else until suddenly it was time for super bowl. I got started watching it, with an 8 minute TiVo delay. Jonathon got urgently hungry at about 6:30 pm and ordered us Italian takeout (him calzone, me ravioli). I felt silly, receiving takeout pasta while lined up to cook pasta for my friends' later dinner, but I joined his order despite that.
We ate while watching the football game together and then I attempted to prepare banana bread while keeping an eye on both plays and ads. Jonathon worked the remote for me, to buzz past the talky talk. This was less effective than I'd hoped, but mostly worked. The game was engaging. The commercials were disappointing overall. The banana bread (baked as muffins) came out surprisingly dry. I won't use that recipe again (Sassy Radish's bourbon banana bread). Next door neighbors unexpectedly delivered some homemade cookies.
We delivered the dinner during 2nd quarter, hung out a few minutes, then came home. D had finished the rail, and we paid him and chatted bye while Katy Perry took the stage on a giant mechanical lion. (Doesn't matter that lyrics speak of a tiger -- I know a lion when I see one!)
Jonathon vacuumed up the second floor sawdust... and the bottoms of my slippers while still on my feet. Funny! My vacuuming assignment (master bedroom) remains to be done, as 10 pm loud-noise cutoff time
(Didn't work out/exercise, other than the 20 minute walk after brunch, which doesn't count much.)
Wrote this post on iPhone, where typing is annoyingly involved. (I use Swype keyboard). This took over an hour.
I am pleased the Patriots won. And I was quite impressed by the parts of the game which I had seen. A handful of impressive moves (I like spinning takedowns), and wow some amazing luck outcomes. I was pleased by the suspense... And pleased with the surprise winner!
Despite some room for improvement (e.g. more shelf delay, no exercise), a satisfying day.