I've been enjoying my greens/herbs pestos of late so I made one with a gorgeous bunch of blue kale that I got from Farmer Greg. I pulled the greens off the stalks, added garlic oil, some parmesan, lemon juice, salt, and pepper and whirred it all up. The first night I had it mixed with the sweet corn that is almost too sweet and it was delightful.
Triple S's luscious smoked pork chops with corn and kale pesto, cherry tomatoes and a mixture of sliced sugar snap peas, peas and green onion.
Last night I realized we had nothing planned for dinner. It's shocking because we seem to spend an inordinate amount of time discussing what we're going to eat. We've had to institute a rule that we can't say, "What are we having for dinner?" before noon. Unless there are mitigating circumstances of course. Anyway, I finally cut up a bunch of vegetables....orange bell pepper, green onions, purple cabbage and sugar snap peas and tossed in the leftover corn. I made a quasi fried rice with some leftover rice and then mixed my kale pesto in with it all and topped it with a fried egg. It was truly delightful
Had a lovely time hanging out in the front yard yesterday with our beloved Jeff Evans and Debbie Stewart. And look what Debbie delivered to me. ❤️ I can't decide where I'm going to put it. It needs a place of great honor.
My patio kudzu.
Oh, and Ernie had an appointment with his oncologist today and all his numbers were great. I adore his oncologist. We talked about weed and cooking shows and laughed a lot.
The sweet autumn clematis has taken over the patio and the various piles of things on it and it looks like some kind of Midwestern kudzu. I used to be fascinated by kudzu when we would visit Judi in South Carolina. I always thought there was a coffee table book waiting to happen. Do people still publish coffee table books? I guess now we just put them online. I don't know.
My camera feed is nothing but food and cats. And not even particularly good pictures.
It turns out that the big old ash tree blocked a street light from shining in my eyes whenever I look out the window from bed at night. It also blocked the ugly electrical wires, which of course is why Ameren cut it down so mixed blessing there. I don't know WHAT I'm going to do with that hole in the yard. Our view is kinda wretched now.
On a different note, I forced myself to watch the RNC. I was high when I watched Trump but I'm not sure that made any difference. I've decided I just can't do weed though. I'm too much of a lightweight. I'm trying to cut back on wine for the sake of my stomach/gut heaalth so I thought, 'what the hell,' but I don't think weed suits me anymore. Eh.
Life is dreary.
Worry.
Worry.
Worry.
Sometimes, I just don't like people. They disappoint me.
And that's the mood I'm in.
O.k.
Here are my two responses to the RNC.
Give this a listen whether you know the song or not.
Here's the info on this one:
Please consider donating to a bail fund near you https://www.communityjusticeexchange.... and/or to https://www.freedomforimmigrants.org/ and/or https://www.innocenceproject.org/
If you'd like to learn more about the prison abolition movement, please watch this video by Ruth Wilson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HWqY...
This video was recorded in October 2019 in front of the Atlanta Penitentiary, a notoriously corrupt federal prison which houses almost 2,000 inmates and detainees.
“Millionaire” speaks hauntingly to the state of rampant inequity that has been endemic to our modern world and our country since their inceptions.
The glorification and celebrity of the ultra-wealthy (see: number-based epithets like “millionaire” and “billionaire” that inherently deify) leads many to simultaneously revile and chase this kind of inflated influence.
This interwoven web of big (often inherited) money, a profit-over-people mindset, and the criminalization of poverty has led to a for-profit carceral system that is extractive, punitive, and particularly harmful to black and brown lives.
An insidious cash bail system further centralizes the issue of wealth, allowing white collar criminals to pay their way out of jail and leaves those who have committed nonviolent survivalist offenses to sit in jail for exorbitant amounts of time awaiting trial.
Prisons as they exist in the U.S. today (and perhaps in all forms) are actively harmful facilitators of recidivism, racism, corruption, and the legacy of slave labor. A massive overhaul of the rehabilitative paradigm is the only way forward.
Season 3, Episode 16 - Millionaire (David Olney)
Music and Lyrics by David Olney Arranged by Drew Krasner
Liam Lewis - vocals, mandolin
Courtney Swain - vocals Jessica Kion - vocals Ethan Crystal - vocals Luke McGinnis - vocals Evan Tyor - vocals Ben Marcus - vocals
Jon Chen - cello Sam Quiggins - cello
Drew Krasner - tenor sax Jared Yee - tenor sax Mike Rilli - trombone
Ben Levin - electric guitar Ian Anderson - acoustic guitar Andrea DeMarcus - bass Kevin Grossman - drums
Engineered by Evan Tyor and Kevin Grossman Mixed and Mastered by Evan Tyor Filmed by Liz Maney and Kelvin Alfonso Video Edited by Liz Maney
Apartment Sessions Logo Animation by Brian Plautz Session Title Handwriting by Liam Lewis Penitentiary Illustration by Ben Marcus Outro Music by Evan Tyor
Powered in part by Sun Lab Studio
Thank you to Dave and Lisa Strohauer, Eric Damn Belt, and everyone at Earthshaking music for the years of support, thanks to Dave Kirslis for the kit, thanks to Taylor Chicoine for the gear.
Thank you to our Patrons, who make these videos possible. To become a Patron, visit us at www.Patreon.com/ApartmentSessions
Apartment Sessions is created & produced by Luke McGinnis, Evan Tyor, Drew Krasner, and Liz Maney
Subscribe at www.Youtube.com/ApartmentSessions Join our mailing list: https://mailchi.mp/41b66ac8ba8a/apart...
Filmed in Atlanta, Georgia in September 2019.
MILLIONAIRE by David Olney
Well, I started out with one long dollar Gambled with the man and I won me another I bought me a gun and I robbed my brother I'm bad, but I don't care boys, I'm gonna be a millionaire Well, I hopped on a ship and we sailed on the waves Dealt in rum and we dealt in slaves Left my captain and sold him brave He's gone, but I don't care, I'm gonna be a millionaire
How many of you wanna see me dead? How many of you wanna have my head? How many of you just live your lives? Wishing you were me boys, wishing you were me?
Well, I married rich, a pretty little wife Brought her misery every day of her life She slit her wrist with a silver knife You can't blame that on me boys, her money belongs to me
Well, I found myself in a good position To buy myself some cheap politicians Bought myself a big election That's just how it went boys, now I own the president
How many of you wanna see me dead? How many of you wanna have my head? How many of you just live your lives? Wishing you were me boys, wishing you were me?
When you say your prayers down on your knees Ask the Lord, forgive you, please If it crosses your mind say one for me I know where I'm bound boys, I know where I'm bound
Cause I started out with one long dollar Gambled with the man and I won me another I bought me a gun and I robbed my brother I'm bad, but I don't care boys, I'm gonna be a millionaire
Hard getting details from Owen about the wedding the band played yesterday. About all I got was that they played Sweet Home Alabama and most of the crowd got up to dance. AND my favorite line, "Yeah, and we played the Twist and an old woman fell down. She was twisting so hard she fell down." I couldn't help it. I laughed and laughed at that (I'm assuming she was fine).
It's the day after Owen's show and Leo's last day before he goes back to work. Normally we would all go to Fries and Peanuts to celebrate. We've never even had Trinity there with us before. It would be perfect. But no. Too hot to sit outside and not sure I want to do that anyway, particularly with all the students back in town. I know, I know, they're all being tested twice a week, but... So we'll go with another quiet day.
Onward.
Dinner note:
I finally did something I always SAY I will do when I buy beets and carrots with the greens on. I made beet and carrot green pesto. Not really a pesto I suppose, as no garlic and no cheese. I just tossed the greens in my food processor along with some olive oil, a few walnuts, salt, pepper and the juice of half a lemon. It was delightfully earthy and sharp. We put it on some seared lamb should steaks. We had beets and corn with it. The corn is so INCREDIBLY sweet that it's almost TOO sweet just on its own. I found some cilantro and minced that up and tossed it with the corn and it was perfect.
I was antsy yesterday. It felt like Saturday. Midday we decided to run a few errands. We headed over to International Galleries to see our beloved Debbie Stewart. I had decided I wanted to frame my last note from David Olney. Ernie kinda laughed at me when I carefully placed in a plastic bag before heading out the door, but Debbie understood. It was so lovely to see her, as always, and IN PERSON too!
We went back to the car, ready to head to the grocery store but Ernie couldn't unlock my door with his key fob. Hmmm. He used the key on his side only to get to find the car completely dead. Every single thing. Dead.
I called the boys and Owen headed over in Leo's car. It wasn't THAT hot a day but sitting in a car in a parking lot made it feel so. I tried to stick my head out periodically to catch breezes. After waiting for a while Ernie shrugged and put the key in and it started just fine.
Huh.
We waited for Owen so he could follow us home. We made a quick stop to buy corn, not realizing it was in honor of the Sweetcorn Festival. Five bucks for a dozen ears, plus a bag, plus a water bottle, and there was someone wearing a corn costume so that was nice. We headed toward Champaign but the car kept wanting to die. We did ok until stopped in front of a light on University with, of course, a long line of cars behind us. By the time Ernie got the hood up to signal people to go around us and Owen had popped out of his car, it came back and we were able to make it home. He turned off the a/c and then we didn't seem to have a problem. Hmmm.
We've got an appt to take it in but it's not until after Labor Day.
Damn it.
And I feel like going on a wander.
Oh, well. I still have more episodes of My Kitchen Rules, which is good as I have decided I am not going out in my yard until we get a freeze.
Other notes:
1. Leo has been un-furloughed!! Hopefully business will keep up so he can stay. He's very excited to get back to work. I love that boy.
2. Owen is playing a wedding today. He has reassured me he'll be very careful re: masking and Trinity has promised to send pics.
3. I really like it when I wake up in the middle of the night (for me) and can smell that Owen and Trinity have been cooking dinner.
4. Every night around 9:30 or 10:00 I start haunting AirBnB or VRBO to look at places to stay in Maine. I want so bad to make it happen. The problem is that although we might be able to swing a week's stay (I WAS hoping for another stimulus check) it takes so darn long to get there. It's two nights in a hotel either way. You CAN do it with one night only but it never seems worth it in how tired you are when you get there. Ideally, we drive to Buffalo in one day and then into southern Maine the next night. I don't know. I want to figure out a way to swing it. I was thinking maybe October...past the peak of leaves so it wouldn't be as expensive. I keep obsessing and mulling it over. Ernie shakes his head but I know he really wants to go too. Then again, who knows what the car is going to cost.
We shall see.
5. Oh, I remembered another David Olney anecdote! He and Sergio or Dan would most often leave all their stuff with us overnight and come back and get it in the morning. I remember the morning after that first show I had set aside three CDs I wanted to buy. I brought them over to him and he waved his hand and said, "no charge." I protested and said that I wanted to pay. He paused, then grinned and said, "You're not very good at this, are you?" I said no and handed him $30 and we both laughed as he shook his head.
Dinner note:
I bought one of those zoodler things a year or so ago and rather thought I'd wasted my money but lo and behold we are really enjoying our zoodled zucchini and squash. The chicken glaze had honey in it..hence the darkness. I had planned on curry and honey but am out of my beloved Penzey's Sweet Curry Powder so switched to chipotle powder, mustard and honey. That and the sweet corn made for a damned yellow dinner (did add some green beans for a bit of color) but it was delicious.
Ernie, Bob and I had a nice evening. Listened to band practice, muting the tv every so often to hear a particular song. We watched some more My Kitchen Rules and then the DNC. Bob did his own form of participation in the evening.
The best part about it? He started all over again this morning.
Side note: a nice dinner of crispy skinned salmon, zucchini noodles with basil, thyme and parsley oil. We did not share with Bob.
2. I forgot to acknowledge Rascal on National Black Cat Appreciation Day. My apologies. Here he is appreciating some sumac spiced chicken with green beans and cherry tomatoes with basil.
3. There are times that life just tires Bob out, so when he uses the litter box on days like that he just rests his head on the edge of the box as he uses it. It can be a bit disconcerting if you happen to catch his eye.
4. Immediately following the triumph of the first engine whistle test.
5. After a long day, and waiting for Owen to fix his dinner, a simple lamb burger on a gluten-free bun with a glass of wine is the perfect dinner. I think lamb might be my new favorite burger.
6. When the Sweet Autumn Clematis begins to bloom I know that summer is on its way out. I'm not sorry to see it go this year. This has been a bit of a lost summer for us. We tried, we planted zinnias and our windowboxes but then we just gave up...then the tree came down and we officially said the yard was over for us this year.
7. And in a moment of utter truth, I share with you the godawful disaster. Next year, next year.
Sunday morning I woke up early. I got up to go to the bathroom and when I got back into bed I left the door open so I could lay in wait for Leo. Sure enough, close to 6:30 I heard him open his door and start down the stairs. "LEO," I bellowed, "Come kiss my goodbye!" He good naturedly came in and said goodbye and gave me a kiss. He was setting off on a six hour drive to Michigan to pick up a Westinghouse WABCO E2 locomotive train horn.
He is SO my guy.
He got home about 13 hours or so later but was kind enough to send this picture after picking it up.
If I have the info correct, it is pre-1950's..probably 1944-1948. And, yes, it works. It needs an air compressor. Ernie and Leo are off to get one later today and then take it out to the country to try it out as it would be a bit loud in our yard.
The celebration when he arrived home.
Of course, the cats had to check it out.
See where it would have been on top of the engine? I think this is the Milwaukee Road's Little Joe, one of Leo's favorite engines if I'm not mistaken.
My parents would be so delighted with this. I can't help but think of them.
Well, that was a bust. I went to a doctor's appointment with Ernie and they wouldn't let me in. I get it, of course. I just thought that since I went to his oncology appointments I could go to this one. No go.
So I sat in the car and pondered the parking lot. Good Lord, look how dirty our car is. The appointment was fine. It was with a podiatrist because chemo has turned his feet into godawful creatures. There's no magic cure of course...I just want to make sure he's having them looked at since he can't feel much. When he saw me looking at him when he was walking back to the car he did a little dance., even with those wretched feet. I love him so.
We trooped off to Schnuck's where we spent far too much because I was there. My father used to go crazy buying fruit at the store, with me it's the vegetables. On the way home I whimpered when we got close to Einstein's Bagel's so he went in and got me an iced tea. It makes me think of my beloved Pam...I can't wait until we can start our meetings back up again there. He came out with the mango iced tea and I looked at it mournfully so he went back and got me my standard black tea and when he came out he pretended to drink it through his mask.
These are the moments that make up our life every day. I'm trying to make sure I remember each and every one. As we drove home we were listening to my brilliant Ian Hunter's When I'm President and I said, "God help me when he dies." Ernie shook his head and said, "Good Lord, your whole support system will be gone," and I almost spit out my tea. We laughed very hard.
Thinking about David Olney today. It was a year ago today that David Olney and Dan Seymour were at our house. So many other friends were there---Van...and Lucienne. It was glorious. A full year ago. It feels like another lifetime.
I remember getting anxious when it was getting late and they weren't back from their hotel yet. Then someone told me David was sitting at the table in the front yard talking to folks. Teri took this picture which I love.
It was such a wonderful night.
I still find it hard to believe he's gone. Seven months now. Eight months since Ernie's New Year's adventures in the hospital and the start of his chemo. I know I'm still grieving these things. It's why I'm not listening to much music and why I close myself up in the house too much.
I'm grieving the loss of David and the loss of Nick, and I'm grieving the change in Ernie's health. Ernie's had cancer so god damned long (the other day when I was giving info for one of his MRI's they asked me when he'd been diagnosed and I started to say 2014...then realized, whoops, it was 2004) that I've talked with numerous people after being diagnosed or going through treatment. When somebody is diagnosed I always tell them or their partner that it's ok to grieve. You can be positive and confident that all will work out fine but you still get to grieve for the vision of your life you had..the vision that didn't include this. We never see these things coming, even though we should know better, we see our life going merrily along. When something like this happens though, you have to adjust your view of your life and so it's ok to grieve that change.
That's what I keep telling myself, that it's ok to grieve, but it's hard to admit it to myself. I work so hard to appreciate the wonderful things I have in my life that to give in to grief sometimes feels selfish.
I am fully convinced that there are gifts in hard times. I have been changed profoundly by hard times and I am a better person for it. Not perfect, but better. I am grateful for the gifts I have found and the ones I have been given, such as my three guys, but sometimes, well, sometimes I grieve.
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