Winter = Dark + Cold
Because our boiler is out, and it is in the low thirties and high twenties and I have very little creativity in my head when I have to type wearing gloves, this is going to be a short post!
I am happy to be back in my own little Glasgow home, frozen as it is; six weeks spending time with friends and family is both too short and too long. Too short, as I have tons of people who tried to make time to see me -- and I just didn't have the ability to schedule any more people. Too long, in that optimally, a guest should stay three days in someone's home, not six weeks. We tried to stay out of our host/hostesses' hair as much as possible, but even in a big house, it's not easy. Add to that the solitude needs of a true introvert, and you know that I just need a few days OFF before I'm back to my usual self. Perhaps a few WEEKS.
One nice thing about the trip to California - besides the lovely green grass and trees and blue sky and visible moon and temperatures above freezing -- was hanging with A.F. -- twice -- and The Artist, R., who looks relaxed and artistic as everyone on sabbatical is supposed to look. I enjoyed getting to know my nephews, age 2 and 8 months, I enjoyed messing around in museums with my 13 and 18 year old sibs and my niece who is 20 (!), and I read happily to my heart's content. I got two copies of 8th Grade SuperZero -- two, because I was reading it, my aunt picked it up and read it, and then loaned it to a nephew in Southern California. Sooo, I went out and bought a second copy, and told her to stay out of my books.
Actually I can't say I minded her loaning it out too much. It just reiterates for me what an awesome debut book this is, and I'll be reviewing it here, soon.
So - more reviews, more books, more comments. Soon. As soon as a.) the heat is back on (and the toilet seat thawed) and b.) my brain is back on.
Meanwhile, you can vicariously enjoy the fruits of A.F.'s Christmas gift to me.
15 comments:
Headless gingerbread boys! Ack!
Glad you had a safe trip and enjoyed your time back in the states. Hope your boiler is back on soon. Sending you some virtual hot chocolate ♥.
I knew--KNEW--you guys were the perfect recipient for the maimed gingerbread boy cookie cutters. Color me very pleased to see that picture. :)
And...your landlords are going to alleviate your frozen state...when?? I mean, seriously. Sending you much warmth...although it's 45 degrees here right now at midday, so not THAT warm.
Congratulations on being back in your own space (however frozen), Tanita. I do know what you mean about the visit being too short and too long. We've taken some long visits back to see friends and relatives in Boston, and it's the same dynamic. You want more time to see more people, or to see the same people one more time. But you want your quiet space, too.
And hey, I have those cookie cutters, too. I find them very appealing!
I laughed at those cookie cutters faaaaar too long. Now I'm going to have *nightmares*
Loving the half-eaten gingerbread men! Now I have to try to find some of my own. My boys love the broken cookies to decorate because they can add red frosting as blood.
Tanita, I'm so sorry I missed you. Next time, please? Glad you had a good trip, although I completely sympathize with the difficulty of staying with others and how to get our introvert needs met without seeming weird or rude -- happens me every summer in Ireland. Anyway, hope the boiler is fixed soon. Stay warm. Cheers.
Slouching toward blogging - only you could entertain me with a post and send me scurrying off to read one of my favorite Yeats poems, all at the same time.
I hope your boiler is percolating again soon!
Thank you for the book-buying! Much appreciated. As is the gingerbread picture -- I love those molds. Hope you're relaxing in warmth and comfort now.
Hahaha! I thought of Jama when I saw the headless gingerbread men. She disapproves of how I torture the poor things before I eat them. Now here Tanita is, baking them already tortured. Cool beans, Tanita!
Tasha, red frosting as blood is awesome!
I need some of those cookie cutters for my collection!
Hope you're either warm again already or close to being so!
Tanita, is that your home from the air? So glad you got home. Your gingerbreas mem look yummy! Headless, armless, doesn't matter.
Tasha: You can find the Fred molds on Amazon, I think. I found some other items of theirs that have made me laugh. The cake saw is my favorite.
Tarie: Heh. Let's not tell Jama that we eat the ears off of chocolate Easter bunnies first, okay?
maclibrary:Yep, that's good old Scotland from the air. Actually, it's the area just outside Glasgow. And it's all a uniform shade of gray, at the moment.
The boiler is still out! But, that's more excuse to make more cookies. And read more great books.
Too short and too long. That is it exactly about visiting and staying in someone else's home,.
Those cookie cutters are so amazing they made me swoon a little.
I guess that's what happens when the gingerbread man gets caught? =/
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