Anticipating arctic temperatures

In North Texas, when they forecast sub-freezing temperatures, everyone acts like a squirrel storing up nuts for the winter. We rush to grocery stores and stock up on things we probably don't need, we make sure outdoor pipes are wrapped, we leave kitchen sink cupboards open and faucets dripping. I went out today and bought supplies so I could do some serious cooking for the freezer tomorrow--will make an ice cream pie which seems a bit ironic in this cold weather and a new bread someone gave me the recipe for. It's supposed to stay below freezing for three days, and I may not stick my nose out the door the whole time. Rain turning to freezing rain and sleet tonight and then maybe snow. I'm not driving anywhere, let along walking down the driveway to my car.
Today it was in the 50s but the anticipation of the arctic blast made me feel both a bit apprehensive and chilled all day. I was surprised when I went out to check the garage apt (and leave the faucet dripping) that it wasn't really cold out. I cleaned the dog's yard, figuring I wouldn't do it again for a couple of days, and fed the birds--well, mostly the blasted squirrels, but the birds really need sustenance in the cold. Jeannie tells me they have to eat enough all day to give them the energy to shiver all night because that's how they stay warm and alive. Sounds like a miserable existence.
It's a bit ironic that we're having this weather with the SuperBowl madness in town. Someone suggested Fort Worth was hosting the Steelers and Packers with the kind of weather they're used to. I get the feeling the ESPN folks who set up in Sundance Square expected balmier weather, but apparently they have electric blankets, heaters, etc. The city has gone wild with this--another reason to stay home. Today, TV programming was interrupted so we could all see four buses carrying the Steelers from the airport to Fort Worth's Omni Hotel--every darn inch of the way. Made for riveting TV--not! I thought it was sort of funny that the local news said the eyes of the world are focused on the Metroplex for this game, when the national news was broadcast from Cairo. Obviously a difference in focus.
A joke on me: I have repeatedly said I'd never go to SuperBowl with 95,000 wild people. But guess what? I was at the stock show Saturday with 150,000 other people. No wonder it seemed crowded.
I have plenty of work on my desk, so the next few days will find me housebound, working and cooking and napping and reading. Doesn't sound too bad. Reports on cabin fever will follow--I may call all my friends just to hear a human voice.

Stuff

Often, when I write my children or good friends, I simply label the e-mail "Stuff." Well that's what this is--random thoughts and comments about not much. I haven't posted in a couple of days, and I'm well aware of that. I just didn't have much to say. Super Bowl is always a boring day for me--I mean, come on, day-long pre-programming on NBC? And moving the time of Meet the Press, one of my favorites? I kept NBC on muted much of the afternoon to try to catch the Obama interview, finally decided to take a nap, and when I woke up, there it was. I was glad I caught it, and particularly glad to hear his tales about family life in the White House. I heard him again tonight in an interview with Brian Williams, where he took full responsibility for the gaffs that resulted in the withdrawal of two of his nominees, including Tom Daeschle, who I always thought was one of the good guys. What I liked a whole lot was that he said he took full responsibility--he admitted his error, something we never saw from our previous president.
Charles came for dinner Sunday night, and we had a pleasant visit. I fixed scallops, with stir-fried vegetables--grape tomatoes, sugar snap peas, and asparagus. Tonight, Jordan, Christian, and Jacob joined me, and I fixed shepherd's pie--Jacob loved it, and Christian said he did too, but he picked all the green peas out.
I've been proofing the final set of pages of my cookbook memoir-and I'm embarrassed at the things I missed the first time around, including some recipe directions. But it's done now. I'll fax the corrections in tomorrow and take responsiblity for errors that appear.
This morning I decided being in a blue funk was not a good way to live, and so I talked myself out of it. Had a busy morning at work--conference with my boss, the dean of the library, and heavy talk about budgets. So tonight I set about the task of carving $1900 out of my already slim budget. I plan to present it at staff meeting tomorrow and get opinions, before I turn it in. Running the finances is my least favorite part of my job. Next I have to turn my attention to what can legitimately come out of carryover. I'd really rather be writing food articles and mysteries, thank you.
Tomorrow we go to look at possible autograph party sites for our September title, Calvin Littlejohn: Portrait of a Community in Black and White. Littlejohn photographed the black community in Fort Worth from the '40s through the early '90s, and his is an invaluable record. I've wanted to do this book for 20 years and am delighted that with the Center for American History at UT-Austin, this is coming true (they hold the archive of most of his photos). Bob Ray Sanders, a Star-Telegram officer and columnist, put the text together for us, identified far more people than I thought he could, and will take us on a tour tomorrow. This is a book I'm really excited about.
Meantime, I've got a new issue of Bon Appetit to prowl through, so excuse me, please.

An AT&T surprise and a lazy, comfortable Super Bowel day

I've had four visits from AT&T installaton people in the process of getting U-Verse throughout my house. Two have lasted all day, and the last of those resulted in a really messy job, with a cord hanging out in space and preventing my opening a kitchen drawer very far. The other two were quick--one gentleman told me my problems had nothing to do with U-Verse but with cables outside, and AT&T was quick to send people to fix that. The other gentleman came late and unexpectedly on a Friday night--I was glad my neighbor was here to answer the door--and fixed the two phones that didn't work after the first installation person. You can see, I have a spotty record. But this week, the bedroom TV didn't work, the cable to the kitchen TV looked ugly and was in the way, and I had two pieces of AT&T equipment. I stalled about scheduling appointment but finally called and they said they'd come between 4 and 9 p.m. Saturday--fine with me. Then they cancelled, but said they'd come between 8 and noon Sunday. I said okay, but dreaded it--they wouldn't arrive until ten, and my morning would be shot--couldn't shower, couldn't do my yoga, etc.
To my surprise the phone rang at 7:50 (when I had a towel over my wet hair) and I was so surprised I was a bit short with the gentleman--thought they were calling to cancel. But he arrived at 8 sharp (my hair was still damp), fixed the bedroom TV which had come unplugged when the new blinds were installed, fixed the kitchen TV in a much more acceptable way, picked up the AT&T equipement--a wonderful sturdy staple gun that Colin would have coveted and a battery charger of some kind--and was gone by 8:45. A nice, cheerful, friendly man, as they all have been--but not all have been as efficient as he was.
Super Bowl Day is never a joy to me. I am, I confess, totally unpatriotic about football, and all I can think of is that the day-long pre-programming on NBC interrupts shows I like to watch. This afternoon I kept NBC on mute, hoping to catch Matt Lauer's interview with President Obama. Finally took a nap, and when I woke up and went to put makeup on, the interview came on--talk about good timing. As always, I found Obama charming and most fun when he talks about his family, though I have much appreciated the swiftness with which he took action once in office. I wish I understood enough about economics to have some sense of the worth or not of the stimulus package, but I was impressed by Steve Forbes who said on a talk show this morning that spending money wouldn't help--tax cuts, such as payroll taxes, etc., would.
Charles came for dinner. I fixed scallops with stir-fried vegetables--grape tomatoes, sugar snap pea, and asparagus. It's a dinner I often fix for myself, but I know Charles loves mussels, scallops, and all similar things. I think he really enjoyed the meal. He's off to Alburquerque this week to be with his oldest daughter when she has an angiogram, after which physicians will decide between a stint and bypass surgery. My prayers go with him.
I'm back to re-reading my second mystery--while watching a PBS program of the Celtic Women singers. If you haven't seen it, you've missed a real treat.

Jacob and patience, and a wonderful evening

Jacob is teaching me patience. He arrived in a bad mood tonight, though his mother said a little food would brighten him up. But he simply wanted to stand by the front door and watch for Mommy. We talked, he grinned a bit, but he was essentially solemn. So there I sat for at least 20 minutes. We finally went and listened to the monitor in my office--he could hear Elmo on the family room TV--and got "Juju car" from my office, and he went back to the family room so I could reheat his supper. He ate two helpings of chicken breast and all his broccoli, so I gave him a "sprise"--a small ice cream cup. Then twice during the evening, when he alternated between watching a DVD and playing with his toys, he wanted to sit on my lap. So I put aside what I was doing, and we sat and loved for long times. Then at bedtime, he tried every stall technique he could, until I finally told him the dog, the cat, and I were all going to bed, and I was going to get his stool so he could climb into his bed. That wouldn't do, and he went and got the stool, positioned it very carefully, and climbed into the pack-and-play by himself, with me standing by with a watchful hand. This may not be the best thing I've ever taught him. But I know when my own children were little, I had far too many things on my mind to sit by the front door and wait for their mood to change or to cajole them into bed (I do, I hope, remembering sitting for long times with them on my lap). But Jacob is teaching me a much-needed kind of patience, and I'm grateful
Last night I was too wound up and too tired to blog We had the First Annual Bookish Frog dinner. The Bookish Frogs are a community group of people who support the press. For modest annual dues, they get dinner once a year, a free book (one of our spectacular ones) and a chance to participate in various press activities. We had 42 people for dinner last night, which I thought was great--and they were all warm, happy, interesting people. From all reports I've gotten they enjoyed the program--about the featured book we were giving away, which is Phil Vinson's photography book, Fort Worth: A Personal View--and they enjoyed each other's company at dinner. The food was good, the program just the right length, and all told it was a successful evening. I emceed and managed not to trip over my tongue too often. What struck me, too, was that most of the people who came into dinner were people I wanted to greet with a hug, people I've known and cared about over the years. I was so grateful for their support. As I told them, I've worked at TCU Press for 27 years and seen it go through some lean times, but I always believed that just as TCU has a community interested in sports, it has a community, maybe a bit smaller, interested in books. Those people made my dream come true last night, and I am still walking on air.
I ate lunch with Jeannie and Jim Chaffee today at a vegan restaurant where they say they sometimes eat twice a day or go for lunch and then bring home dinner. For a newcomer, it's hard to know what to order. There were salads I would have enjoyed or veggie burgers, but Jim said--and rightly--I should have something I can't get in other restaurants. So I had a chicken salad sandwich (made with seitan--sometimes called wheat meat). It was good but difficult (as in sloppy) to eat. The potato salad was great. But I don't think being a vegan is for me. I'll go back to the Spiral Diner, but not as often as Jeannie and Jim.
At the grocery yesterday, the sack lady asked if I was all set for the Super Bowl, and I said I was not much of a fan. Truth to tell, I resent that it takes over the TV schedule (not that I watch that much, but I think Meet the Press is cancelled). I have lots to do this weekend, so it will be good to stay home and accomplish things.