Lila and I are chilling in the Arizona room, trying to ignore the strange flappy noise coming from the swamp cooler and pondering things while I finish up the last few hours of a mini-vacay I granted myself this week.
One thing we both really like is the backyard.
Great thing about the backyard from a non-canine point of view? The view of the Catalina Mountains to the north. We only get a small wedge sandwiched between the baby palm tree and the neighbor's RV but it's more than we had before and more than most people get in central Tucson. This afternoon, the highest part of the range is obscured by dark blue-gray shadow. A thunderhead looms low over the peaks. The lower slopes are mottled summer browns and graygreens. Nothing is on fire this year.
Last night, Raph and I had supper on the patio facing those mountains. Food City take-out containers of carne deshebrada, burria, and pollo ranchero (spiced and juicy shredded beef and chicken) and three kinds of fresh salsa all wrapped and sopped up with homemade tortillas. Rain sprinkled the tin roof of the ramada and wicked lightning from two huge monsoon storms split the skies to the north and the east while we ate.
After supper, we sat for awhile in the cool humid air and watched the storms come in over the peaks. I had a glass of red wine; Raphael drank a light Asian beer. We also had leftover blueberry, plum, and nectarine crisp with vanilla ice cream.
Great thing about the backyard from a canine perspective?
Licking the bowls.
Tuesday, July 31
Friday, July 27
Wands Away
Just finished Harry Potter - 8:15 A.M.!!!
Whew. J.K. Rowling pulled out all the stops on this one. If I hadn't been stuck to the leather, I would've been on the edge of my seat for the entire last quarter of the book.
Awesome.
Whew. J.K. Rowling pulled out all the stops on this one. If I hadn't been stuck to the leather, I would've been on the edge of my seat for the entire last quarter of the book.
Awesome.
Wednesday, July 25
The Arctic Waste of my Fly-Drenched Soul
This is what I do at work:
I'm totally kidding. Actually, normally what I do at work is jump around like an idiot screaming curse words and trying to smash flies with a clipboard. At least lately. My usual monk-like poise goes straight out the window. I do this for hours sometimes. There are hundreds of flies lying around the Centre in various poses of death right now, mainly because I keep inadvertently locking the cleaning ladies out but also because they are taunting me (the flies, not the cleaning ladies). Their deaths have little to do with my clipboard-wielding-and-cussing techniques (unless they died laughing, but I don't think flies can do that).
No.
What is happening here is that they zip around at supersonic speeds for a few days irritating the hell out of me and avoiding my mighty clipboard until they are elderly. Then they drop dead on the floor blargh where they stick to my shoes and gross me out, thereby taunting me even in death.
I can't believe they can survive in the frigid arctic wasteland that is my office anyway. It's got to be 55 degrees in there on a good day. I'm surprised I can survive. I bundle up to go to work. Often I wear two shirts and a sweater. When I get to work, I have an additional big green blankety sweater than I wrap tightly around my poor shivering body all day long unless I have to go to the bathroom. It's a long walk through the great, steamy outdoors to get to the ladies' room. And because I have to keep a steaming hot beverage of some sort nearby at all times for warmth, I find myself making that journey fairly frequently.
When nature sounds its sometimes alarming bugle, I first remove the big green sweater. Off comes the less bulky sweater I brought from home. Sometimes, if it's a really nice hot day, I even shuck off the top layer of shirts. Down to a tank top, if I was on the right ball when I got dressed that morning. To combat the cold, I swat a few flies on my way to the door.
Well, at least the Fly Wars keep me warm. Or maybe it's the air conditioning that's keeping me cool.
I'm totally kidding. Actually, normally what I do at work is jump around like an idiot screaming curse words and trying to smash flies with a clipboard. At least lately. My usual monk-like poise goes straight out the window. I do this for hours sometimes. There are hundreds of flies lying around the Centre in various poses of death right now, mainly because I keep inadvertently locking the cleaning ladies out but also because they are taunting me (the flies, not the cleaning ladies). Their deaths have little to do with my clipboard-wielding-and-cussing techniques (unless they died laughing, but I don't think flies can do that).
No.
What is happening here is that they zip around at supersonic speeds for a few days irritating the hell out of me and avoiding my mighty clipboard until they are elderly. Then they drop dead on the floor blargh where they stick to my shoes and gross me out, thereby taunting me even in death.
I can't believe they can survive in the frigid arctic wasteland that is my office anyway. It's got to be 55 degrees in there on a good day. I'm surprised I can survive. I bundle up to go to work. Often I wear two shirts and a sweater. When I get to work, I have an additional big green blankety sweater than I wrap tightly around my poor shivering body all day long unless I have to go to the bathroom. It's a long walk through the great, steamy outdoors to get to the ladies' room. And because I have to keep a steaming hot beverage of some sort nearby at all times for warmth, I find myself making that journey fairly frequently.
When nature sounds its sometimes alarming bugle, I first remove the big green sweater. Off comes the less bulky sweater I brought from home. Sometimes, if it's a really nice hot day, I even shuck off the top layer of shirts. Down to a tank top, if I was on the right ball when I got dressed that morning. To combat the cold, I swat a few flies on my way to the door.
Well, at least the Fly Wars keep me warm. Or maybe it's the air conditioning that's keeping me cool.
Saturday, July 21
Happy Puppy
Lila and I have been working on "Dog in Progress". Not hard. And not for too long. But from this point forward, D.i.P will consist of a single daily photo of Lila at her fuzzy best. It will give me a chance to practice with the camera and it will give Lila the opportunity to further her modeling career and maybe distract her from eating stuff.
Without further ado, we give you the new-and-improved "Dog in Progress: pictures of a happy puppy".
Without further ado, we give you the new-and-improved "Dog in Progress: pictures of a happy puppy".
Thursday, July 19
Tuesday, July 17
Monday, July 16
Over By the Swingset
"Nake. Ed," he said clearly. "Naked. They walk around back there naked ALL the time. Both of them. And they have these...converSATions..." He shook his head, apparently baffled. "I have seen them with their clothes on ONCE, and that's because they had guests."
Our cross-the-street neighbor was not talking about us for a change, and I admit all three of us indulged in a few guilty moments of snarky snickering over the image of our crazy new naked hippie-philosophy student utility kilt-wearing neighbors hangin' out - in the best sense of the phrase - with mai tais under the mesquite.
We were like a bunch of schoolchildren clustered together over by the swingset while the weird new kids play on the slide. In the nude.
"I saw them with their clothes on once," I offered helpfully.
My poor neighbor - the big redheaded guy with the tattoos of his girls' names and all the power tools - just looked at me balefully.
I couldn't help it. I find it all very funny.
There are a lot of perfectly nice philosophy students running around out there philosophizing their deep little hearts out; I'm all for the utility kilt; and, as a good friend once said (sagely, I think - or maybe just while tipsy), more people should be more naked more often. Plus I live across the street, so my view of the goings-on is going to be somewhat diminished. And, well, deep down I've always wanted to be the kind of people who have the kind of people who are naked all the time for neighbors anyway.
So I figure I'll just keep an eye on the slide from over here, chuckling to myself and waiting for the recess bell.
But - poor Greg. He's right next door to the playground. He doesn't get a recess bell. And he really DOES have a swingset in his backyard.
Our cross-the-street neighbor was not talking about us for a change, and I admit all three of us indulged in a few guilty moments of snarky snickering over the image of our crazy new naked hippie-philosophy student utility kilt-wearing neighbors hangin' out - in the best sense of the phrase - with mai tais under the mesquite.
We were like a bunch of schoolchildren clustered together over by the swingset while the weird new kids play on the slide. In the nude.
"I saw them with their clothes on once," I offered helpfully.
My poor neighbor - the big redheaded guy with the tattoos of his girls' names and all the power tools - just looked at me balefully.
I couldn't help it. I find it all very funny.
There are a lot of perfectly nice philosophy students running around out there philosophizing their deep little hearts out; I'm all for the utility kilt; and, as a good friend once said (sagely, I think - or maybe just while tipsy), more people should be more naked more often. Plus I live across the street, so my view of the goings-on is going to be somewhat diminished. And, well, deep down I've always wanted to be the kind of people who have the kind of people who are naked all the time for neighbors anyway.
So I figure I'll just keep an eye on the slide from over here, chuckling to myself and waiting for the recess bell.
But - poor Greg. He's right next door to the playground. He doesn't get a recess bell. And he really DOES have a swingset in his backyard.
Saturday, July 7
The New Mojito?
When it's 110 degrees outside, it's absolutely vital to have a good go-to cold beverage available.
Voila! Introducing the....
Vodka Lime Freeze
1/4 cup vodka (for a pitcher that serves 12: 3 cups)
1/8 cup fresh lime juice (pitcher: 3/4 cup)
1/4 cup ginger syrup (see recipe below - or you could probably buy ready-made syrup)(pitcher: 1 1/2 cups)
Chill martini glass in freezer for at least a half hour. Mix ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker. Pour. Beware.
Personally, I don't think I know 12 people who would like the spicy ginger of these drinks too much. That's good. It means you won't have to share. I on the other hand think they're good enough to usurp the mojito as my summer beverage of choice.
Ginger Syrup
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 lb fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 vanilla bean (or a quick splash of vanilla extract)
4 whole cloves
1 cup fresh mint leaves
Combine everything except mint leaves in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved and syrup is infused with flavah - about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in mint. Let cool for 1 hour.
Line a sieve with cheesecloth (or not - if you're me), strain into a resealable jar, cover, and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
WARNING: Ginger syrup is seriously bite-y. If you don't like ginger, you won't like these drinks.
For a non-alcoholic drink, put a bunch of ice, 2 tablespoons of ginger syrup, and 1 tablespoon of crystallized ginger for purtyness in a tall glass and fill with tonic water. Stir.
I got and slightly modified this recipe from Williams-Sonoma's Outdoor Entertaining.
Voila! Introducing the....
Vodka Lime Freeze
1/4 cup vodka (for a pitcher that serves 12: 3 cups)
1/8 cup fresh lime juice (pitcher: 3/4 cup)
1/4 cup ginger syrup (see recipe below - or you could probably buy ready-made syrup)(pitcher: 1 1/2 cups)
Chill martini glass in freezer for at least a half hour. Mix ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker. Pour. Beware.
Personally, I don't think I know 12 people who would like the spicy ginger of these drinks too much. That's good. It means you won't have to share. I on the other hand think they're good enough to usurp the mojito as my summer beverage of choice.
Ginger Syrup
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 lb fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 vanilla bean (or a quick splash of vanilla extract)
4 whole cloves
1 cup fresh mint leaves
Combine everything except mint leaves in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved and syrup is infused with flavah - about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in mint. Let cool for 1 hour.
Line a sieve with cheesecloth (or not - if you're me), strain into a resealable jar, cover, and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
WARNING: Ginger syrup is seriously bite-y. If you don't like ginger, you won't like these drinks.
For a non-alcoholic drink, put a bunch of ice, 2 tablespoons of ginger syrup, and 1 tablespoon of crystallized ginger for purtyness in a tall glass and fill with tonic water. Stir.
I got and slightly modified this recipe from Williams-Sonoma's Outdoor Entertaining.
Thursday, July 5
Happy Happy
We had a handful of friends over for a chill (nominally) Fourth of July celebration. I made the mistake of inviting the ones that brought the deadly rum daiquiris. Today was a very long day at work.
We had grilled lamb, chilled cantaloupe, cherries, vegetables grilled in foil with fresh-picked rosemary and lots of butter, and three-berry crisp with ice cream and real whipped cream. We watched the glitering tails of fireworks around us from the yard and stayed up much too late.
We had grilled lamb, chilled cantaloupe, cherries, vegetables grilled in foil with fresh-picked rosemary and lots of butter, and three-berry crisp with ice cream and real whipped cream. We watched the glitering tails of fireworks around us from the yard and stayed up much too late.
Monday, July 2
"Hiney", My Ass
So we worked our collective asses off over at my house this weekend. (Sorry, mom, but it was 110 degrees and "hineys" just doesn't quite convey it right.) But the ramada's done and our patio is finally the breezy, shady spot we've always dreamed of since about February.
I love it. Lila and I currently agree that Raphael is, like, totally the coolest. He designed it, found all the good recycled wood, and -- really, who are we kidding -- practically built it on his own. I'm never leaving him. Oh, and thanks again to Eugene, too, for being there for the conception of the whole thing back in April (pregnancy-related pun completely intended). As far as I'm concerned, he's also a catch.
Who doesn't love a good set of makeover pictures? So here they are:
I love it. Lila and I currently agree that Raphael is, like, totally the coolest. He designed it, found all the good recycled wood, and -- really, who are we kidding -- practically built it on his own. I'm never leaving him. Oh, and thanks again to Eugene, too, for being there for the conception of the whole thing back in April (pregnancy-related pun completely intended). As far as I'm concerned, he's also a catch.
Who doesn't love a good set of makeover pictures? So here they are:
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