April 2009 Archives

With the big day here, we went out for a nice meal (Mexican, in defiance of current events) and returned home to show Josie our gift to her. She likes it!

Josie also likes clothes. She received this one cute red dress. The dress came on one of those plastic hangers, and mom got what-for when she started to remove it. Josie grabbed onto the dress/hanger and would not let go. This girl is going to need a big closet.

Tere and Gilbert visited via Skype. That is not as good as being here, especially when all they can do is watch us wolf down the birthday cake. Not at all fair.

Last night, with the first anniversary of Josie's birth a couple of days away, it was time to assemble the present we got for her. I have committed a couple of snafus in recent memory, nothing that couldn't be fixed with a little bit of tape (electrical or duct, depending on size and background color). They probably stand out more than other, forgettable successes. I had recently read an article in the New Yorker about neuroenhancement. Mental-wise, I am a morning person, perhaps juiced on the accepted enhancer, caffeine. I forged ahead and down into the basement. Armed with my rubber mallet and a couple of screwdrivers and the oh, so easy, it doesn't need words instructions, I spread the pieces across the floor and started in. The result? All is o.k. We will see if the birthday girl enjoys her new ride. It does look like a lot of fun.

The weather today arrived as promised: sunny and breezy. I got out for a walk and headed into town. There was a crowd around the green watching the Minute Men get ready for Patriots' Day. This is much more civilized than getting up at 6AM. But the outcome was the same: the Redcoats were spooked by some musket fire and fired in turn on the Minute Men.

The youngsters took a well deserved break and were away for the weekend. I am sure a posting will be on their blog real soon now. Karen and I dropped by to look in on the cinco gatos. They were in fine fettle (fettle?) and lurked around as we ate. There was a recent issue of "Cooks Illustrated" on the table, and it offered a suggestion for battering shrimp: use vodka to make the batter.

The science behind the idea has to do with reducing the water content, thus reducing the amount of proteins formed from the wheat gluten. The note referenced an earlier article that raised the idea in an article for making pie dough. We had just come away from Wholefoods with a bunch of discount South American blackberries. It must be fate.

All in all, I am not wowed by the result. The crust is just o.k. but the kitchen smell is more medicinal than homey. Still, I have a pie, so how bad can it be?