In the morning I got up about 7, before Andrea, and I left at 7:50 to catch the 38, taking a blackberry pie with me — perhaps the best crust I’ve ever made. I used some of the non-hydrogynated shortening last night because I was out of the trans-fat-free Crisco, or close thereto. The crust was flakey, nicely browned, light … and tasty. Damned good.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I might make an apple pie for Friday. Perhaps for my colleagues. That or a lemon-poppy bread or such.<\/p>\n
Once in the department I got to work, talked to Mark about M’s Incomplete turning to an F by way of administrative error or sloth, and tried to avoid smelling the damned fine pie. I acquired two episodes of Bleach and organized some comics.<\/p>\n
I taught.<\/p>\n
I took the pie along and cut it into 16 equal slices, which was a chore, when you think about it. You’ve got to take a quarter, and cut that into four. At the edge each slice is a mere inch or so. Everyone said they liked it. It’s sort of like bribing my students … well, except that I’m not. Shouldn’t it go the other way? Them providing an apple or such?<\/p>\n
After class I returned upstairs. I talked to Lynn. I talked to Helena. To Elliot and to Stella and Mike. I left, went to town and rued the day I put on the new shoes, which I got from Walmart and at that time seemed to fit. They hurt. They were new. They were not softened or stretched or whatever. Big toes, heels, soles … all in pain, but it will get better. It always does.<\/p>\n
After turning down a panhandler or two I arrived at Fair Trade and got a fritter and coffee from the lady who runs\/owns the place. We talked a bit about fritters, and she mentioned that she used to make her own (you use a pot of hot oil for deep-frying) as well as bagels, which you boil. The next time I see her there I should ask whether she has any special tricks. I’m enough of a regular that I am recognized; certain baristas know what I’m going to get, but even the rest know that I “belong.”<\/p>\n
I eventually ended up at the middle table at the front window and did some people watching while I wrote. A double-wide stroller pushed by an attractive blonde in jeans with a cream-colored sweater paused along with a slightly older woman with three terriers. A mother, father, and 2-year-old daughter stopped to encounter the dogs. Three police arrived and escorted (hauled?) a 5’10” or so black male from the back (bathroom) to the street, where he was attended by paramedics, for at the Peace Park (irony!) he’d been in a fight and had his face smashed in. I took a picture.<\/p>\n
I wrote.<\/p>\n
Then around 4:20 I left and headed to the CHAZEN for Jost’s lecture, but on the Mall I ran into Lee Urbanski, who was there for the book sale at Memorial Library, and we talked about hand-helds, and attaching a USB or similar barcode reader to scan the ISBN, go online, and compare prices for the book in question. I saw Julie come the opposite direction, in search of coffee. Lee and I split, I went to the CHAZEN, and when I arrived in L160 Julie arrived and we got seats together behind Mark Louden and Charles; behind us Jack and Claire sat.<\/p>\n
The talk itself was magnificent, although it failed to answer what I consider a critical question. Jost set out to answer, was Nazi Germany a “utopia”? Answer: not really. But the question is, if you’re posing the question, why? Are there those who claim it was? I would say, yes, there are, and he never addressed those positions. I think that would have both strengthened and contextualized his presentation.<\/p>\n
On the way out I ran into Kim Coulter, who invited me to her post-PhD-celebration party in May. She defended in December but will “walk” in the spring. We talked and made it together to State and Francis. Then I went to the bus stop, where I saw Regina, and we took the 6 together until she got off at Paterson. I got off at Ingersoll, but not before talking with Julie a bit; she was also on the bus.<\/p>\n
At home I cooked two chicken breasts what I call “Alton Brown style,” which is actually an adaptation of his season 1, episode 1 steak method: 30 seconds per side on highest heat on the range, then 2 minutes per side in a 500 degree Fahrenheit oven, then allowed to cool and stabilize. Season with kosher salt, pepper, and canola oil. I also use a bit of cooking wine\/sherry and hot pepper sauce.<\/p>\n
Damn<\/em> that makes great chicken.<\/p>\n Really.<\/p>\n Juicy, a great exterior, easy to cut with the fork, and, while thoroughly cooked, tender and juicy. I also fried\/steamed some broccoli and pea pods and carrots in vegetable oil with salt and pepper sauce. A good meal.<\/p>\n I watched Lost<\/em> — “spoilers” follow — in which Locke’s father breaks his back by pushing him from a window (8 floors up?), which tells us how lock became paralyzed. When Ben said, “Bring me the man from Tallahassee,” I was expecting Locke’s father, so, like last week’s “twist” with Ms. Australia I was expecting the plot elements.<\/p>\n I do not like feeling smarter than the writers.<\/p>\n I have a huge ego. I’m pretty sure that I am<\/em> as smarter or likely much smarter than the writers. But it’s one thing to be smarter than a writer; it’s another thing to be smarter (in 45 minutes vs. weeks of production) than a team of writers, but whenever I figure things out, whenever I know what’s coming next, almost word for word, I feel smarter than the writers, and while it’s great for my ego it’s not great for my viewing experience.<\/p>\n Still, the episode progressed the plot so I’m not complaining.<\/p>\n In terms of music I’m into “N,” past Neil Diamon, Nick Cave, Nina Gordon (fun) and such to Nine Inch Nails; I’d say I’m 50% through their stuff. Thereafter I have 700MB of Nirvana, as I like to call it.<\/p>\n Tonight I cracked open by bottle of Gnarly Head old vine zin, which Richard and Amy recommended. At Riley’s it’s about $11 but at Woodman’s I should be able to get it for $9 or $10. It’s good. It has a peppery bite but a good deal of fruity sweetness. It can really hit you on an empty stomach. It’s beyond what I usually pay for wine but now and again? In any case, really quite good, and clear step up from $6-8 bottles, and comparable to that $15 Seven Deadly Zins, which is a good, good wine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In the morning I got up about 7, before Andrea, and I left at 7:50 to catch the 38, taking a blackberry pie with me — perhaps the best crust I’ve ever made. I used some of the non-hydrogynated shortening … Continue reading