Odd phone calls

Someone called last night, I said hello, she asked for cattitude (by his usual nickname, not full name or "Mr. $his_last_name"). He talked for a bit, then hung up, and said she had claimed to be "the woman of your life." She called back twice more, in quick succession: either we've got a very odd prank caller, or someone gave Cattitude's name and phone number to someone he had a quick fling with. In a taxi.

The fourth time the phone rang, I answered, immediately said "Please send a large pepperoni pizza," and hung up. It didn't ring again. Thank you, Bill Watterson.

Odd phone calls

Someone called last night, I said hello, she asked for cattitude (by his usual nickname, not full name or "Mr. $his_last_name"). He talked for a bit, then hung up, and said she had claimed to be "the woman of your life." She called back twice more, in quick succession: either we've got a very odd prank caller, or someone gave Cattitude's name and phone number to someone he had a quick fling with. In a taxi.

The fourth time the phone rang, I answered, immediately said "Please send a large pepperoni pizza," and hung up. It didn't ring again. Thank you, Bill Watterson.

Quick visits: Mom, Adrian

My mother is in the States for just over a week, with a trip to Boston in the middle of that. So she suggested getting together yesterday or today.

Yesterday, I was resting as much as was compatible with the housecleaning binge I posted about last night. Today, adrian_turtle was in town for about seven hours, on her way to Philly: she could have gone straight through, but we'd agreed to get together for the afternoon.

I explained these plans to Mom, who asked if Adrian and I could spare an hour, because she'd like to meet her. I asked Adrian, who liked the idea, so the three of us had lunch together. We wound up at Veselka (a mostly Ukrainian place in the East Village), sitting outside at a table meant for two that they pulled a third chair up to.

I think we all had a good time. Adrian told me that she likes my mother, and I'm fairly sure Mom likes Adrian. I was a little nervous: how often do you bring a sweetie to meet your mother? She liked the last one (cattitude), but that's no guarantee.

After lunch, we went to the Sock Man, on St. Mark's Place; I bought enough socks that I can now discard all my worn-out and faded socks, plus two more pairs of tie-dyed socks for silliness and special occasions. Then Mom went back to my aunt Lea's, and Adrian and I went uptown to spend a couple of hours together, after which I took her back to Penn Station, found the platform her train was boarding from, kissed her goodbye, and hopped back on the subway.

Quick visits: Mom, Adrian

My mother is in the States for just over a week, with a trip to Boston in the middle of that. So she suggested getting together yesterday or today.

Yesterday, I was resting as much as was compatible with the housecleaning binge I posted about last night. Today, adrian_turtle was in town for about seven hours, on her way to Philly: she could have gone straight through, but we'd agreed to get together for the afternoon.

I explained these plans to Mom, who asked if Adrian and I could spare an hour, because she'd like to meet her. I asked Adrian, who liked the idea, so the three of us had lunch together. We wound up at Veselka (a mostly Ukrainian place in the East Village), sitting outside at a table meant for two that they pulled a third chair up to.

I think we all had a good time. Adrian told me that she likes my mother, and I'm fairly sure Mom likes Adrian. I was a little nervous: how often do you bring a sweetie to meet your mother? She liked the last one (cattitude), but that's no guarantee.

After lunch, we went to the Sock Man, on St. Mark's Place; I bought enough socks that I can now discard all my worn-out and faded socks, plus two more pairs of tie-dyed socks for silliness and special occasions. Then Mom went back to my aunt Lea's, and Adrian and I went uptown to spend a couple of hours together, after which I took her back to Penn Station, found the platform her train was boarding from, kissed her goodbye, and hopped back on the subway.

Recopying recipe: mahnomin porridge

I tore the piece of paper I had this on, and can't find all of it. This is my best reconstruction, for my own reference:

• 1/4 cup melted butter


• 4 cups cooked wild rice


• 1/4 cup maple syrup


• 1/4 cup dried blueberries


• 1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries


• 1/2 cup roasted, coarsely chopped hazelnuts


• 1 cup heavy cream

1. In a large, non-stick pan, warm the butter over medium-high heat


2. Add the cooked wild rice, and stir to coat well.


3. Stir in remaining ingredients, and heat through thoroughly.

Serve with side dishes of warm heavy cream and maple syrup. (Yes, that's more cream and more syrup: diners' tastes vary.)

Serves 4.

Recopying recipe: mahnomin porridge

I tore the piece of paper I had this on, and can't find all of it. This is my best reconstruction, for my own reference:

• 1/4 cup melted butter


• 4 cups cooked wild rice


• 1/4 cup maple syrup


• 1/4 cup dried blueberries


• 1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries


• 1/2 cup roasted, coarsely chopped hazelnuts


• 1 cup heavy cream

1. In a large, non-stick pan, warm the butter over medium-high heat


2. Add the cooked wild rice, and stir to coat well.


3. Stir in remaining ingredients, and heat through thoroughly.

Serve with side dishes of warm heavy cream and maple syrup. (Yes, that's more cream and more syrup: diners' tastes vary.)

Serves 4.