Another thing that's
overrated is cable TV. Nevertheless, I called the local
cable provider to order gasp shudder digital cable
along with high speed Internet. While my dialup ISP was
thrashing, the Red Sox clinched the wild card. The ALDS
is on ESPN. The double whammy of wretched Internet access
and vital baseball games on cable finally put me over the
edge. Why digital cable? Simple. It's cheaper to get the
bundled Internet/digital cable deal than to get Internet
and standard cable. Does this mean I am going to start
watching TV now? Who knows? The kicker, though, is that
the cable installers can't get to me until next Thursday
by which time the ALDS will be over. And given that as I
am writing this Tim Wakefield is suddenly giving up 5
runs in the second inning and of course the Red Sox lost
last night after I fell asleep (would they have won if
I'd stayed awake?) it's not looking like I'll be watching
Red Sox post season baseball on that shiny new digital
cable.
Later this same
evening...
I gave up overfocusing on the
ballgame and went into the kitchen to cook supper. Apple
curry. This afternoon in the grocery store with Ned (my
higher power and footman while I can't drive) I was
talking about making this curry. Ned asked what spices go
into it and I named off turmeric, ginger, etc. "Which is
the one you have to watch out for putting in too much
of?" asks Ned. "Turmeric." I reply. So there I am in the
kitchen slavishly following the recipe from Vegetarian
Times and adding 1 1/2 teaspoons of turmeric, 2
teaspoons of curry powder (the recipe called for curry
powder, what can I say), and ginger. I do everything
according to the directions. The curry and the rice are
ready at the same time. I sit down to eat and listen to
nothing happening in the final innings of the ballgame. I
take a bite. "Yuck! Too much turmeric!" The very thing I
said one must be vigilant never to do I have somehow
done. This curry tastes awful. I end up eating rice,
yogurt, and mango chutney for supper.
Ned calls to complain/commiserate
about the Red Sox loss. That makes two losses in one day
since last night's loss was technically this morning in
this time zone. I have to whine that not only have the
Red Sox lost but I committed the dreaded "Too much
turmeric!" faux pas. Grrr. Lately we seem to talk about
cooking and the Red Sox more than about the brilliance of
Charles St. John.
Supper sucked. The Red Sox lost. I
have finished the last of A Tour in
Sutherlandshire so have no more Charles St. John to
read. The night is still young.
Nancy calls to find out how the Red
Sox did and how my followup visit to the arthropod went.
I give her the summary: they lost & my arm is weak.
The arthropod lifted it up and said "Hold it there",
which I couldn't do. Given that I only started
strengthening exercises in physical therapy on Friday
(that makes two sessions - Friday and yesterday) that's
about what he expected. He pointed out that it was a huge
tear and may take awhile and said I should come back in 6
weeks. I asked "May I drive?" to which he replied "Can
you drive?" and I told the truth that I can't quite reach
the directional. He pointed out that my shoulder is too
weak to drive safely and if I got in an accident I would
be liable because of the shoulder. Automatically my fault
no matter what happens.
My car won't start anyway so I
guess I'm not driving. Ned allowed as to how several more
weeks of my not driving would drive him crazy. Nancy
suggests I give Ned a week off and spend money on cabs.
Where will I find a cab driver with knowledge of 19th
century Scottish hook and bullet writers? Not to mention
turmeric...
At least I've discovered that
Charles St. John's son, Henry Craven St. John, wrote a
book about his experiences in Japan in the 19th century
and my Internet connection stayed up long enough for me
to track down an affordable reprint edition and get it
delivered to my door.
As for the turmeric, I read the
label on the curry powder. You guessed it. It contains
turmeric. Wonder if anybody at VT tested that recipe. I
knew I should've mixed my own curry spices.
