Breaking the routine

A banner day! For the first time in almost five weeks, I left the cottage. And my car had an outing too. I told Jordan some time ago that I wanted to try the chicken salad from Chicken Salad Chicks, but she stalled. She is leery of take-out food, especially in combination with chicken salad which, as she pointed out, “Someone has to cut up by hand.” But then someone raved about it to her, so she decided we should try it. And I got to go along for the pick-up ride. Nice to be out. I had seen how green everything is in my yard, but it was lovely to drive down University, between the park and the Botanical Garden, and see everything greened up for spring. Chicken salad was good. I think I like my own better.

Going on that short errand at eleven o’clock broke up the routine of my day, because late morning is when I get the most done. By noon I didn’t want to start anything new—rationalization supreme!—and went back to the mystery I am reading. That makes two days I’ve postponed that bit of research I’d mapped out for myself. I guess procrastination also reigns supreme. But I have no deadlines, so it’s okay if I take a day off. Darn my Puritanical work ethic!

Filled out the census form today, which was a puzzler because I thought I’d already done it. Two or three weeks ago I got a short form in the mail requesting information about residents at our address. So I filled it out for all four of us and returned it. Yesterday, I got a much longer form, addressed more narrowly to 2115A Back which I assumed is just my cottage. So I filled it out for just me—online, which was super easy and quick. But now I’m worried Jordan, Christian, and Jacob won’t be counted—or they’ll be counted twice. I am not sure about the accuracy of the census. Besides, I hear they were going to delay it.

This was also the day that my hair reached the tipping point. Looks fine on the left side of my head but ridiculous on the right—must have something to do with sleeping patterns. Today I threatened to have Jordan cut it, and to my surprise she was not at all hesitant. Said, “I can’t mess it up that badly.” I’m going to write the friend who usually cuts it and ask for advice.

Dinner tonight was a sort-of stir fry—lost my stir fry pan in the great downsizing and worried tonight about the cookware for my hot plate. It’s coated, and I wasn’t wild about using really high heat—so I didn’t. Turned out great. Ground pork, asparagus, ginger, scallions, garlic,  soy and sherry. A hit with all the family. Lesson learned—and I think it’s not the first time I learned it: fresh ginger is hard to mince. Now I have a huge piece in the fridge. Someone on the NYTimes Cooking Community said her husband had shopped for her and brought home way too much ginger—like eight pieces. She showed a picture, and someone else responded that would be gone in three weeks in her house. I don’t know what she does with it, but I couldn’t help commenting that it would be a lifetime supply for me. That one piece I have will probably wither before I use it, but Jordan points out it is really good for you.

Frost warning tonight, at least to the north of us. What has happened to the weather?