neglect
We’re going with a short post tonight. This is the first weekend we’ve been home in a while and there were house things to take care of. It all started innocently enough this morning when I turned to Jeremy and said, “I’d like to take 20 minutes and sort the clothes in the closet so we can cull out any things to donate.” Four hours later the closets were completely reorganized, culled, cleaned. We rearranged the furniture in the office and I converted the perch to my sewing and knitting space (for the winter, at least). I went through the bathroom and boxed all of my cancer treatment meds, got rid of expired meds, organized the drawers and cabinets… And I packed our ski bin. This despite the 68Β°F weather outside. Jeremy resealed the driveway in the afternoon while I filed away important documents in between letting Kaweah back in and back out onto the deck.
Listening to NPR as I rushed about the house putting things away, I heard mention of Senator Ted Stevens’ trial and that wrap-around deck. When I let Kaweah out to potty, I looked about the side of the house and thought, “yeah, I’d like a wrap-around deck.”
I didn’t plan our menu this week with respect to the weather. I normally do, but didn’t have the time. So on a rather warm day, we ate Chinese hot pot for dinner this evening.
bowl of goodies
I’m trying to clear out the freezer, see. I like to stock up for the winter, but last winter I got waylaid by my diagnosis and things have been languishing and I haven’t been good about sorting through it all. I found half a flank steak the other day and thought hot pot would be a good way to use it up. I also found a ham bone and a frozen fish head. This is actually the second or third time my parents have left a fish head in my freezer since I have left home. It means they love me. Mmm, I’ll have to blog my dad’s bouillabaisse recipe this winter – and it starts with a fish head. It is amazing.
Okay kids, that’s it. I’ve neglected too many things (like emailing my buds) because of NaBloWriMo, so tonight I’m cutting it short. I’ll answer comments soon.
October 18th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Wow! You accomplished a lot today. Bravo. And that’s a pretty damn good-looking slap-dash dinner.
October 18th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Fantastic effort Jen. I imagine you feel a great sense of accomplishment.
October 19th, 2008 at 6:05 am
oh, I’m so jealous of you ‘getting sorted’… we have so many projects of Things To Sort from 2 house moves in the last 18 months. I hand in my honours thesis tomorrow (yay!) and will get cracking on all the Things To Do straight away.. well, ok, maybe after I spend just a couple of hours on the beach!
that looks like a very tasty way of getting through the freezer stocks, I can’t wait for the bouillabaisse!
October 19th, 2008 at 6:45 am
Oh! I actually thought you’d thrown together a flank steak and fish head soup. Hee hee :) I have a few pastry-related things stagnating in the freezer, too– chocolate tuile batter, mango tuile batter, puff pastry (well, I won’t throw THAT away), chocolate glacage, ganache… I should really throw them away. I thought I might need them in the future but it turns out I don’t! Ha ha ha. If only there was a way to feel less guilty about it :(
October 19th, 2008 at 6:46 am
Those super productive days are awesome. What’s next? We’ve been cleaning out our freezer as well, getting ready for the deer my dad will hopefully get for us this hunting season. Usually all of our stuff in pre-prepared and ready to go (lentil soup, bean soup, pulled chicken, etc).
October 19th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Well, I suppose nothing says love quite like a frozen fish head. And now I have that frigging song in my head! :)
I’m happy to know that you DO have a secret stash of flank steak as well. I feel it is an important part of how to live your life.
I need to have a day like you had yesterday today. I think you’ve inspired me…
October 19th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Good job on cleaning! That is a huge job. Take a while to relax and enjoy part of the weekend!
October 19th, 2008 at 8:14 am
you call this a “short” post?! danggit, i’m lucky if i get two sentences strung together coherently and call that a post!! ahh, if i didn’t love lip balm so much … ;-)
October 19th, 2008 at 8:41 am
You had alot done today! I was busy with our house this weekend too. In fact, I spend every weekend at home cuz I’m a freak for cleanliness, there seems to be endless things to do… Things collect dust faster than I can clean them up! Argh!
Nonetheless, I feel so glad living the Singaporean Dream ;)
October 19th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I am so tired. Just reading about the chores has exhausted me. And, it has reminded me, much to my chagrin, that I have a few chores of my own. UGH! Fall cleaning is a difficult task, but it sure makes winter less chaotic. I guess this means I’ll write a list. Post it to the fridge. Forget about it until too much time passes, and then kick myself in the buttocks for being such a lazy toot…..UGH2Times! :O
;)
P.S. Seriously, it is good to hear that you are energized. :) This is a wonderful bit of news. :)
October 19th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Tis the season for chores! We are having similar weather here in Park City, and I am kicking myself that I didn’t get outside. I am drooling over hot pot, not too shabby for pulling it out of the freezer! I love your site and am glad to hear that you are feeling better.
October 19th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Fall cleaning must be done. But it’s good for the soul…
October 19th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Hell! You accomplished more in one afternoon than I did all summer! Cut it out! You’re making me look bad! ;)
October 19th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
You make me sing, fish heads, fish heads, roly poly fish heads….
I get sucked into cleaing vortex’s too. I go down stairs to put away some canned goods and feel I have to do a major reorganize project. Sounds like yours was way more focused than mine.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Kitt – feels good to have my junk in order :)
Barbara – you read me like a book!
Zoe/puku – you definitely deserve a break. Congrats on turning in the thesis. Take a few hours for the beach, now :)
Mark – ewww, that had not occurred to me, and I’m glad ;) I stopped stocking sweets in the freezer (oh wait, I still have hazelnut chiffon cake) beside the ice creams and sorbets. I sometimes wonder if I should have a second fridge/freezer in the basement, but then I’d just fill those up too…
Susy – wow, that’s cool that your dad gives you a deer!
Mollie – ha ha. At least in my family, a fish head means they like you :) Flank steak is such an awesome cut, no?
Kelly – well, I spent the rest of the weekend cooking. Now what? ;)
Mimi – I think I just NEVER shut up is all.
Mrs E – we collect dust too. I don’t bother with it too much. I’m still working on cleaning up the large things around the house!
Margie – fall cleaning means more time for skiing come winter.
Hailey – thanks!
Nate – agreed :)
Susan – nah, I don’t believe it. You’ve been busy this summer!
Lori – that’s a good word to describe it: vortex. It cascades into a big job, but at the end it feels great!
October 20th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Tasty looking soup. You were certainly busy this weekend. I dream of having time to organize and de-junk. I guess it’s all about priorities.
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Kamaile – I become dysfunctional (I mean more so) if my environment is messy :)