Bread and Soup

It is pretty snowy here in Boston. We got about a foot of snow last night and it has been spitting snow all day. Plus it's colder than the balls on a brass monkey. Though it doesn't feel that bad because for a switch, the wind is giving us a break.

However, to get into the spirit of the thing, I decided to get all domestic and make pea soup and bread. The pea soup by the way rocks. If you don't believe me, ask RG who came over for a visit. He was going to leave before the soup was done, but with very little arm twisting he agreed to stay until the bread was baked and the soup was ready. Either he really liked the soup or he's a really good actor, since he ate 2 bowls.

The bread was okay. I was trying out a new recipe for whole wheat bread and next time I think I will add a little more salt. It's not terrible, but it was a tad on the bland side. Nice texture, but I think it needed a bit more salt to bring up the flavor.

So, I am full of soup and bread and I may need to have a brief food coma before I tackle cleaning my now restored bathroom.

I kind of love the first few days of winter that are like this when spending the day being domestic and making cold weather food still has the novelty factor going for it. By mid January I am going to be losing my mind and praying for warm weather. For now, I'm just going to enjoy it.

Snow day

We are suppose to be getting our first big storm of the season today. The last report I heard predicted between 6 and 12 inches. The snow has just started to fly. I suppose I will have to go out and get some pictures, but at the moment I am enjoying the fact that we got cut loose from work early and I have not had to deal with slipping around on the shit.

However, it will be sort of nice if we actually have a white Christmas this year.

Yummy Xmas

Yesterday, the mail hottie Claudio stopped by my office to deliver a package. I didn't take much notice at first since I thought it was just something I had ordered for faculty.

Then I looked at the return label. Those awesome Oregonians Mark and Roger sent me a care package full of holiday goodness. Habenero Dill Pickles, Tomatilla Salsa and 3 kinds of jam! Raspberry, Apricot and their own special blend that they call "Black and Blue" jam, which as the name implies is made with blackberries an blueberries. As good as it sounds, I am prepared to tell you since I am having some on top of my post workout English muffin, it is in fact better than it sounds.

As I get older I am not that big on receiving presents for Xmas anymore. Usually it entails getting some toy or useless item that you really don't need and will more than likely will wind up in the back of the closet.

I am however more than willing to make an exception for such things as the Nieces annual "heart attack in a box" package of baked goodies and I can also say that I just love my surprise package from Mark and Roger. Getting consumer crap is one thing. Getting something that actually took some effort and was made with care seems as I get older a much more sincere expression of friendship.

I have been lucky enough in the past year to get a box of goodies from Mark and Roger, so I know what I have to look forward to. You can all begin to envy me now. The only problem will be to restrain myself from scarfing it all down like the greedy pig I am.

Thanks again guys, and Merry Christmas!

Tagged

I got tagged by the niece with a meme. Since I am trying to write a couple of longer pieces and I'm a little desperate for material until I post these pieces, I figure what the hell.

You are suppose to send this along to 2 other people as well as the person who sent it, but I figure, the Niece will read this and I'm hoping at least 2 people will check my blog today, so my work here is done

Two names you go by:

1. Tony
2. Anthony

Two things you are wearing right now:

1. reading glasses
2. argyle socks

Two things you want very badly at the moment:

1. Good Coffee
2. New hard drive for my laptop.

Two people who will most likely send this back:

1. Not going to pass it along
2. Seriously, I'm not passing it along

Name two things you did yesterday:

1. worked
2. Gym

Two things you ate yesterday:

1. soup
2. oatmeal

Two people you last spoke to:

1. Doralong
2. Frank our IT consultant

Two things you are doing tomorrow:

1. Painful workout
2. getting my CPAP machine


Two states you'd like to visit:

1. Oregon
2. New Mexico


Two favorite beverages:

1. coffee
2. water

Yeah, I know, my life is non-stop excitement.

Whitman Sampler

I must have pissed off the weather gods who have decided to channel my father. "Stop your crying, or I'll give you something to cry about!"

So far this morning, here in Boston, we have had snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain.

The sidewalks are unhappy and are taking their hostility out on pedestrians. Among the more brainless sights I've seen are people out riding their bicycles. Can we say "death wish"?

I think I will keep my comments about the weather to myself from now on.

Weather report

It is turning into a typical New England winter day. I was raining lightly when I left for the gym this morning. A couple hours later, when I left for work, it was pelting sleet. Then I chatted online with RG, who is a couple of towns over. It's snowing out there. WTF?

I find myself almost missing the winter in Vermont. At least up there, once it gets cold, it's cold. There are no sneaky surprises with 10 degree weather one day and 50 the next. Once it's cold, it's cold. You just have to get used to it.

This has nothing to do with thinking of myself as a hardy New Englander. I am pretty sure it's more about wanting the weather to just make up its fucking mind. Fer Christ's sake! It's December! Just get it over with.