You are here: my kitchen

This is the latest incarnation of my wildly popular blog. Let's have a contest and see who can spot what's new first! Or maybe that's not such a good idea, might cause the whole blogosphere to become jammed...I'll point it out myself, the whole endeavor needs some direction anyway. And that's why I changed the description to "all over the map" from "on the map"--that's what it is, completely lacking in precise coordinates. I really don't know what to focus on, but here's a start: my plan to run a race in every European country. I'm gonna be all over the European map.

First stop: Verona, Italy half marathon, February 19, 2012

Got the confirmation of my registration today. 3 days before the event. I have a sheet of paper to wave in front of people's faces in case they doubt me or my resolve. I am armed with two berry-flavored gel packs and have been warned that they will first stimulate my gag reflex before lending me wings. Another tip: consume them before water stands so as to be able to rinse out your mouth. And I have been doubly encouraged to try them out before the race. But I'm going to throw caution to the wind on that one. I'll let all of you out there know how it turns out.

The real reason for my trip is to meet up with Ohio. (I'm Virginia--state of origin, hence...) Ohio lives in Austria now but she used to live here, under the same roof. In fact, in the room where I'm typing this. But that's a couple of addresses in the past for her. We'll be the Two Gentlewomen of Verona. Actually, I wouldn't describe myself as a gentlewoman. And we're not from there, so I guess we're more like the Two Women in Verona. Has absolutely no ring to it. Just my attempt to shift attention away from the other play set in the city, the one with the balcony and double suicide and all.

Standing still

I've cleared out my Thursdays for myself, but so far this year I've only had one really great one, totally dedicated to me. I did a lot of stuff I love to do, including buying myself fresh flowers. And I cooked for myself and served it up on my good china. But the part that sticks in my mind was chopping up the carrots (it was pasta with brown lentils, carrots, radicchio, also some shallots in there) listening to Derek Bailey's Ballads. Perfect chopping music. Highly recommend it--but it should probably be done solo. I find certain kinds of music more suitable for solitary than group listening. I think I might even say you could categorize songs or albums according to the ideal number of people that should listen together. Erik Satie's early works for piano: two people, entwined, one blowing smoke rings. I guess that's a lot more specific than necessary.