Working and eating

For weeks now, I've had an essay about Elmer Kelton hanging over my head. Maybe I'm still too close to the subject, still astounded at a world without Elmer, but I couldn't get to it. I wrote about a thousand words and stalled, distracted by other, easier projects--well, not easier but different. But today I resolved to get back to it and wrote about 1500 words. My assignment is the preface to a festschrift (a volume of essays in honor of the subject), so really I'm writing an overview of Elmer''s life and career, and I have to avoid stepping on the toes of those who are writing about various aspects of his work. I cannot for instance venture into the humor in his novels, nor the commentary on race relations, and I fear I may have trod on the toes of my friend Ruth McAdams, whose subject is "Kelton on Kelton." But an editor can sort that out, and I am now delighted that I see the end in sight. Tonight I'm tired and don't want to tackle summing up Elmer's career (as if that was ever in my capability), but I can see where it is going. Confession: much of what I have written comes directly from Elmer Kelton and West Texas: A Literary Biography, by one Judy Alter, published in 1988. The trouble is that Elmer had a full and prolific career between 1988 andhis death in 2009. Writing it, and reading my own words about Elmer, has brought him back full force into my consciousness,and as I said in an memorial piece I wrote, "There's a hole in Texas literature that will not be easily filled," and I cannot get used to the thought of a world without Elmer Kelton.
The highlights of my day were, I'm afraid, meals. I met two TCU friends for lunch--women I've known but don't often lunch with. We ate at an Italian restaurant and I went in determined to have a salad, except I didn't see one that appealed to me. The special of the day was lamb stew which almost broke down all my resolve, but I settled on a veal dish and ate very little of the pasta. It was delicious. Then Betty and I had sushi for dinner--I had the house salad at Tokyo Cafe (our favorite place). The salad has a semi-sweet plum dressing, which I would think I would hate but I don't--I really like it. I had salmon sashimi, so without the rice it isn't too many points. The good news is that I lost a pound last week, so I hope to continue that this week. Lots of tuna fish salad, which is fine by me. With Jordan's b'day dinner and the Frisco Alters here Saturday and Sunday, I may break my diet, but I'll keep trying.
Spring is trying to happen in Fort Worth, but it doesn't really make it. A predicted high of 70 never reached beyond 64, and when I went to lunch it seemed cool to me. Tomorrow is supposed to be lovely, but Saturday and Sunday will be rainy and cool. Monday I'm going plant shopping with Jeannie, so I sincerely hope we'll have no more freezes.

Trivia

--After reading my post last night, my good friend/yoga instructor Elizabeth wrote that she's recently run across a British magazine called Idler. It proposes to return "dignity to the art of loafing, to make idling into something to aspire towards rather than reject." Elizabeth thinks maybe I should subsribe.

--The Fort Worth Presbyterian Night Shelter frequently posts news, pleas for help, all kinds of things on Facebook, including recipes from their chef. Today's choice was Brandy-Mustard Pot Roast, and believe me it sounds tremendous. I printed it out and intend to try it.

--Do you know how to detect a stroke in a person? Cindy Bonner sent me this important e-mail: The clues are S-T-R. Even if someone merely stumbles and says they're fine, ask them to smile, talk--construct a simple sentence, and raise both arms. I knew about STR but the reminder was good. What I didn't know was a fourth suggestion: ask the person to stuck out the tongue. If it goes sideways, to either side, it means a stroke. These hints can save lots of lives. If caught immediately, the effects of stroke can usually be totally reversed.

--Heard on the radio or TV the other day that folks born after 1950 don't have immunity to the swine flu. Not sure if that means we oldsters do have it and just are more likely to have it. No indication why. I'm wondering if I'll be low on the totem pole for the shot, even though I do keep a pre-schooler about twice a week. Dr.'s appt. next week so I guess I'll find out.

--Sashimi for dinner tonight. Betty and I went to Tokyo Palace, suddenly my favorite place. I had sashimi on a green salad with roasted beets and a light vinaigrette. So wonderful, though I asked for wasabi for the sashimi. I'm sure I'd eventually tire of it if I ate it every night, but right now I do love it.

Diet report (for whoever's interested in that!)

All week since Monday, I've managed to stay under my allotted Weight Watchers points, yet today I had delicious meals. The gang at work usually goees to SucoThai with Jim Lee on Thursdays and since I'm not fond of Thai food I don't go. But today they went to Tokyo Cafe (one of my favorites). Good conversation, and I had the house salad--a plum vinaigrette that I love, though I would usually tell you I don't like sweet dressings, and two servings of salmon sashimi. Delicious.

Tonight Betty and I went to Sapristi's. It's always chancy when we go because we like to split the tapas platter--it changes weekly or daily--and sometimes we're not crazy about what's on it. But tonight there was marinated lamb something, bacon-wrapped dates, smoked salmon with capers on toasted baguettes, prosciutto-wrapped melon, and marinated manchego cheese. The beauty of all this is that when I came in and entered it on Weight Watchers, the amounts were so small they didn't count for much if anything at all. Now I think I"ll go get some blueberries--they're point free. I laughed yesterday when Charles went with me to Central Market. I bought raspberries, and as he got out of the car he asked, "What to you do with your raspberries?" I said, "Wash 'em and eat 'em." I love summer fruit but particularly those two.

Grocery store this morning and then some piddling but now I have corrected chapters on the cookbook from the contributors so I have work to do. And, sigh, tomorrow I have to be at the office at eight for staff meeting. Oh, well, it's only one day a week.

PS. I understand from a good friend that yesterday I posted about such elegant dishes as Hot Crap Dip--of course, I meant Crab Dip.