It’s possible that writing about being stuck with post-election stress and sharing our feelings in the comments section of this blog is helping me move on. Or maybe it’s just that the sun poked out through the rain clouds, and the limes in our backyard look glorious.
Like Leonard Cohen, I find that in spite of it all, cheerfulness keeps breaking through.
As I move toward acceptance and begin to rebuild my foundation of what it means to be an American, I expect I’ll have more to say … well .. about everything. Part of me wanted to withdraw from all of it, to be a complete social and political dropout, but I’ve decided not to surrender in advance.
We may be old and unemployed, but our voices matter. And yes, it’s possible to have warm and happy conversations with people who don’t think exactly like us. We must try harder. If all else fails, you can always pour your heart into a journal no one reads but you.
One of my favorite quotes is from the musician Patti Smith. Don’t forget she won the National Book Award, which means she can write, too.
“I’ve survived because I want to live. Even in our troubled world. Even with all the greed and stupidity and terrible things that we’re all facing… I want to be ALIVE. I want to BREATHE. I want to do MY WORK.”
What I’m Reading
I stumbled across a book at the library that combines crime fiction and time travel. It doesn’t get better than that! Wait, yes it does. It’s a series.
The first book is A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong. A Canadian homicide detective visiting Scotland is attacked and wakes up in another woman’s body … and it’s 1869. She finds herself a housemaid to an undertaker who moonlights as a medical examiner. He’s investigating a murder she believes is connected to her attack, and the story unfolds from there.
It looks like she gets stuck in the past, not that we all don’t, but the good news is there are five more books in the series.
What I’m watching
My PBS Masterpiece subscription is holding up over time. I dabble with other streaming services but end up canceling when a show I like is over. I’m looking at you, Hulu.
I just finished the second season of Ridley, which I liked very much and am hoping for another season soon. It’s a British police procedural with Alex Ridley as a former detective inspector who was forced out due to personal tragedy but brought back as a consultant to solve crimes.
Ridley co-owns a jazz club and usually sings at least once per episode. I thought the singing was weird at first but grew to like it.
Last night I watched the first episode of Van der Valk featuring a detective in Amsterdam. I like it, but there was a gruesome finish, and I’m not sure I’ll last long if that’s the norm. As a back-up plan, I’ve been shopping around for another British show. I may give Annika another try. I like Nicola Walker a lot but am not a fan of “direct address.” I believe that’s the technique used where she talks directly to the audience. Still if no throats are slit, I could get used to it.
What I’m eating
Tonight is leftover baked beans with toast from Dale’s homemade bread. Tomorrow I’m giving the slow cooker another run at it and am making beef and barley soup. I decided to use bone-in beef ribs for the meat and was surprised at how expensive they are – like $15 per pound. But it should make for a great soup with at least two servings for the freezer. And we never go out to eat, so I don’t really worry about it.
For Thanksgiving, Dale will do the turkey. He brines it and then stuffs it with a Maine-style dressing made with potatoes, stale bread and assorted seasoning. I’m known in these parts as Side Dish Mama and will be making green beans almondine, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. I make the cranberry sauce from the recipe on the back of the bag. Delicious!
Dessert is pumpkin cheesecake with bourbon sour cream topping. And graham cracker crust … an all-time favorite. One whole turkey breast and most of the cheesecake will go to the freezer. Our freezer food is spectacular.
In the meantime, I continue to enjoy my protein smoothies for breakfast or lunch. Here’s my new favorite.
Cherry Chocolate Smoothie
In a high-speed blender mix:
¾ cup milk (I use soy)
1 cup frozen cherries
A glug of maple syrup
A small glug of vanilla extract
A scoop of unflavored protein powder
A shake (maybe a tablespoon) of cacao nibs
Stay with Van der Valk…it gets better (just like our leadership might after the mid-terms).
“There are things you do because they feel right & they may make no sense & they may make no money & it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other & eat each others food & say it was good.” by Brian Andreas. For some reason this quote came to mind. I’m not in the movers & shakers circle that influences politics. I can only participate with my vote, for what it’s worth. Some things just feel right; or wrong. Some things are right or wrong. Money talks and some things that make no sense to me transpire, like the outcome of the American election. I can let my moral compass guide me at a grassroots level. I can be kind. I can be of service. I can decide who/what I give my money to. Again, for what it’s worth. Life’s simple pleasure bring me peace in what seems to be a crazy world. I cleaned up 6″ of snow today. Those limes look sublime.!
You named three of my favorite shows. Ridley is good and I grew to really love the singing also. Annika is actually funny and it’s great to see Nikola Walker doing dark comedy. Van der Valk is probably my favorite show of recent masterpiece. Love the team. It isn’t usually gruesome
I hope you continue to blog. I love the quotes about keeping on….and of course your posts in general.
I’m going to try the smoothie as I’m always looking for protein ideas!