I have figured out why our computer system, cable, Internet and phone have been messed up for two weeks. My Muse has transformed herself into the Ghost in the Machine and is haunting all of the electronic communication devices in our house so I have more time to write. I love her. We have had guys with trucks from the cable company out nearly every day, with more coming on Monday.
::musecackles::
But email waits for no Muse, which is why I am typing this at the Oswego Tea Company in Oswego, NY. (They are working on the redesign of their page. Anybody from SUNY Oswego want to lend a hand? Maybe they could pay you in cookies or coffee.) Seriously, this is one of my favorite places around and they have free Wifi. Thank you, Lisa who own the Tea Company.
I have recently had many requests to speak at schools. I am still turning all of these down and will be doing so for the foreseeable future, though I do hope to get back to school visits eventually. Teachers, I have name for you, for professional development purposes you want to invite Dr. Joan Kaywell to speak to you. Trust me on this.
We went to the hometown homecoming football game last night: our Mexico Tigers vs. the Fulton Red Raiders. I swear EVERYBODY in our community was there, from new babies to great-grandparents. Mexico lost, but it was a hard fought game and lots of fun to watch. And we beat ESM at their homecoming last week, so the karma is balanced now.
This morning BH and I got up early and headed for the Syracuse Regional Market in search of the season’s last tomatoes (yes, I am roasting them again), fresh cauliflower, enough garlic braids to get us through the winter, fresh bread, and other goodies. One of my favorite local blogs told us about Wake Robin Farm, so we bought heavenly yogurt from them. We also picked up pasture-fed, traditionally raised beef, pork, chicken, eggs and butter from Wendy at Sweet Grass Farm. I swear I will never eat corporate-farmed butter again.
I have been wrestling Chapter Eight of my revision of the historical novel for two and a half days. The dang thing almost had me in a choke-hold, but I finally figure out how to take it down. Kevin, if you are reading this, Chapter Eight just split into two chapters. So yeah, the book is a little longer. Sorry about that.
Great quote heard on Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me today: “Blackwater is Enron, but with sub-machine guns.” If you don’t know what that means, please do some investigating into the affairs of Blackwater.
That’s enough now. Back to work.
I don’t really know why I’m telling you this. Probably because you may be the only person I have contact with who could possibly as excited as I am, and your talking about fresh produce made me think of this. Today, my roommate and I went out and bought tools and materials to build our very own cider press! Homemade apple cider and cider blends, here we come!
–Brian
Every time you post about Oswego/ that whole region, it makes me want to move there!
I was so cracking up over that on “Wait, Wait” this morning. NPR rocks my world. But I can’t figure out why I’m addicted to “Car Talk”, since I don’t have a car and can barely remember how to drive.
THAT IS SO COOL!!!!!!!
Come join us!
I’m seething with jealousy that you have a local dairy farm and get “cream on the top” yogurt. Seethe seethe… (is there a seethe emoticon? :(= does that look like a seething person?)
Community colleges rock the world!
It looks more like a seething rabbit to me.
Three cheers for community colleges!
Yogurt
I just had a bowl of the vanilla Wake Robin Farm yogurt with some blueberries sprinkled on top. Delicious! I have never had yogurt like it before. I picked it up at Natur-Tyme Health Foods in Dewitt, NY. If you have never been there I recommend you check it out. They have all sorts of great stuff. Thanks again!
We made it. We thought all was well. It was going to be slow going, but we were dedicated. But on the test run, the oak we used for the press snapped in two. Apparently my grandma grows some strong apples; even after a week “softening” (a better term than rotting), they still broke oak!
Also, I’m glad you enjoyed your Michigan trip (I love this state) and your Portland expedition and all that jazz. Best of luck on forging ahead with your work!
–Brian