Remember how I compared living here to sailing a boat? Long periods of relative inactivity interspersed with moments of shear terror? Well, that's the way the saying goes, I read it some where. I don't think "moments of shear terror" exactly applies, but it does sound better.
More like, "heightened activity".
Here's what I'm talking about. Never mind that I'll be taking Travelling Companion to the airport this afternoon for a trip to Denmark. That's just your run of the mill business kind of thing. She has to do some sort of financial whatchamacallit, and will be back late tomorrow (Thursday) night.
Fine, it's a "Balance Sheet Review". I actually do know what it's called, I just don't really care.
No, what I'm talking about is more along the lines of some of the upcoming shared activities. Later on towards the end of March, she'll be spending the better part of a week in Barcelona for the annual meeting of the "Top Team", and I'll be heading there on the Friday to hang out for the weekend. She'll go on to Bilbao for another financial whatchamacallit, and I'll come home. Should be just fine, I've never been to Barcelona. I hear they speak Spanish.
Then towards the end of May, we'll be getting a visitor from Slovenia for a weekend, who is actually an acquaintance of one of our daughters whom we met last summer. It's one of those selling stuff on the internet and you meet people kind of things. Nice young lady who is attending some sort of fashion show here in Wienerland. Has to do with the jewellery she makes. Seems to me it will be worn by some of the models? I'll let you know.
Then, right around that time, and we haven't firmed up these dates just yet, one of Travelling Companion's nephews is coming over for a couple weeks to check out some "Musical Hotspots". Not sure how else to put that. He's a bit of a classical music buff, and wants to do the Prague, Salzburg, Bonn, Vienna kind of thing. We'll probably go with him to Salzburg, since we've never been, and drive him down to Slovenia. Rumour has it that Travelling Companion is actually going to take some vacation!
I know!
Mind you, I'll believe it when I see it.
She's never ever taken all the vacation she's been entitled to, but I'd just as soon not get off on that particular rant. This topic came up in an off handed kind of way when we briefly touched on the subject of owning a motorhome for ten years. Not enough free time to really enjoy it. I didn't really want to get into that one either.
So to continue with the analogy, we've made sure nobody is standing on the leeward sheet, and we're about to come up into the wind.
Oh, and by the way, the taps are working just fine, thank-you.
.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Fun with taps.
You may remember this picture?
Took me quite a few minutes to find it too. Gawd, I have to do a better job of organising my pictures. Anyway, it's almost as if this kind of problem wants to follow me where ever I go, since the taps here at the apartment have now become loose as well.
I promise I won't take a picture of me on my back again trying to fix them, but you can see here how loose they are.
Admittedly it does make it easier to clean around the base of the taps, but that's a relatively minor consolation.
I also just spent the last several minutes reading up on and trying to figure out how to make those two pictures into an animated "gif". Hm, turns out it can't be done in blogger. You'll just have to close first one eye and then the other to make them move.
It actually doesn't look too bad in those pictures, but trust me, turning on the taps has become a two handed job, especially if you think you want any hot water to come out.
*sigh*
In response to my plight last week in the dinner preparation department, I actually received a couple worth while recipes from people with whom I have not only eaten but have enjoyed both the food and the company. That's a long winded way of saying, nothing crazy assed weird or anything.
I mean, it's fine to look up recipes on the internet, but more often than not they're quite complicated, and not always something that is agreeable.
So for this one particular recipe, I had all the ingredients ready for Friday nights dinner, but was quite surprised when Travelling Companion called to say she was on her way home! This was like, at a normal time when most of the workers in Austria go home, so I was really caught off guard. (It was still daylight!)
We therefore made a bi-lateral decision to put off this particular dish and simply have pizza instead.
*Phew*
OK, I know you're possibly rolling your eyes here, but what that meant was that I wasn't going to be out there in left field on my own trying out a new recipe, and was quite happy to play second fiddle to Travelling Companion's superior culinary skills.
There are four pots on the go for this one.
I know we're missing the "fourth pot", but we had already sautéed the pine-nuts before I realised I wanted to take a picture. The cook insisted that no part of her was to be in the picture, so pretend you don't see her hand there holding the spoon.
Oh, that's the other thing. While I had been warned that there would be the need for the four pots/pans whatever, no mention was made that we'd need to fish out four wooden spoons as well. Good thing we shipped extras! Normally if I have perhaps two pots on the go, I really think I'm cookin' up a storm.
Silly fool.
Not only was this Chicken Risotto with Pine Nuts really tasty, but since the recipe is for four, tonight we'll have the other half.
Off the hook for one night.
Booyah!
OK, so now I'm off to lie on my back under the sink. Fun times!
.
Took me quite a few minutes to find it too. Gawd, I have to do a better job of organising my pictures. Anyway, it's almost as if this kind of problem wants to follow me where ever I go, since the taps here at the apartment have now become loose as well.
I promise I won't take a picture of me on my back again trying to fix them, but you can see here how loose they are.
Admittedly it does make it easier to clean around the base of the taps, but that's a relatively minor consolation.
I also just spent the last several minutes reading up on and trying to figure out how to make those two pictures into an animated "gif". Hm, turns out it can't be done in blogger. You'll just have to close first one eye and then the other to make them move.
It actually doesn't look too bad in those pictures, but trust me, turning on the taps has become a two handed job, especially if you think you want any hot water to come out.
*sigh*
In response to my plight last week in the dinner preparation department, I actually received a couple worth while recipes from people with whom I have not only eaten but have enjoyed both the food and the company. That's a long winded way of saying, nothing crazy assed weird or anything.
I mean, it's fine to look up recipes on the internet, but more often than not they're quite complicated, and not always something that is agreeable.
So for this one particular recipe, I had all the ingredients ready for Friday nights dinner, but was quite surprised when Travelling Companion called to say she was on her way home! This was like, at a normal time when most of the workers in Austria go home, so I was really caught off guard. (It was still daylight!)
We therefore made a bi-lateral decision to put off this particular dish and simply have pizza instead.
*Phew*
OK, I know you're possibly rolling your eyes here, but what that meant was that I wasn't going to be out there in left field on my own trying out a new recipe, and was quite happy to play second fiddle to Travelling Companion's superior culinary skills.
There are four pots on the go for this one.
I know we're missing the "fourth pot", but we had already sautéed the pine-nuts before I realised I wanted to take a picture. The cook insisted that no part of her was to be in the picture, so pretend you don't see her hand there holding the spoon.
Oh, that's the other thing. While I had been warned that there would be the need for the four pots/pans whatever, no mention was made that we'd need to fish out four wooden spoons as well. Good thing we shipped extras! Normally if I have perhaps two pots on the go, I really think I'm cookin' up a storm.
Silly fool.
Not only was this Chicken Risotto with Pine Nuts really tasty, but since the recipe is for four, tonight we'll have the other half.
Off the hook for one night.
Booyah!
OK, so now I'm off to lie on my back under the sink. Fun times!
.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
What's for supper?
I can't blame you if you think this is trivial matter, but I struggle with this question each and every day.
Not sure if "struggle" is the best word, but it is a thought that already starts to creep into my head at the precise moment when we're clearing the dinner dishes. Sad but true.
On at least one occasion, and I quickly figured out it had better be the one and only occasion, I actually was dim enough to ask that question of Travelling Companion at that precise moment. While there was no actual cussing involved, her response wasn't anything you would call, "appreciative", shall we say?
Seems to me that was way back when we lived in Puerto Rico, where I had taken over the domestic duties on a full scale for the first time. I guess I hadn't figured out all the tiny little dynamics. Don't you find that there are some moments that are indelibly etched into a person's memory?
Once in a while, and it's not too darned often, I might meekly give a hint in the morning that I am once again without a clue, but I tend to keep that little snippet of agony to myself. I already know there's quite enough on Travelling Companions plate on the work front, so she certainly doesn't need to concern herself with what to put on our dinner plates later on.
It's not just the skill set that's lacking either. Mind you, there are a couple things that I can do reasonably well, but a little variety goes a long way. Even with the choice dishes, we're still only talking "three star" here. I don't think there will ever be a "five star" meal in my future.
Now, speaking of five star, we had occasion to sample some of the cooking of one of our long time friends a few years back, where this husband and wife couple had done a complete roll reversal on the cooking end of things. After having fed their own three children, along with our two when they were youngsters on a fairly regular basis, she had decided to pack it in. I seem to recall that she said something along the lines of, "I've cooked for 30 years, I'm done".
And that, as they say, was that.
I'm afraid I don't have that to fall back on, unless you consider making sandwiches for that length of time. I don't think that counts.
I think it has a lot to do with visualisation, and let me play out a scenario for you using woodworking as an analogy. The questions and answers would go like this:
"Can you make me a bowl?"
"Yes."
"Blanket chest?"
"Yes"
"Kitchen cupboards?"
"No problem"
"Built in cabinets for our bedroom?"
"Piece of cake, I've already figured it out in my head..."
"Dinner?"
*long silence*
"Dinner? Um ....Can I get back to you?"
See?
Quite often what happens is, having a tiny kernel of an idea in my head for the day's supper plans, I go off to the store only to then wander around aimlessly hoping something will jump out at me from the shelves.
Happened yesterday.
Well, not the actual "jumping" part, that's a metaphor. Keep up.
I really had no clue we were having stuffed peppers for dinner until I saw them sitting in the produce section. Made a fine meal. Really.
I have some left overs, but I'm not so sure that will work for today since I'm not a huge left-over kind of person, AND without a microwave getting things warmed up again can be a challenge.
So that's it then, I'm off to wander aimlessly.
Let me just leave you with this thought. "Hunger is der beste Chef".
I shouldn't need to translate.
.
Not sure if "struggle" is the best word, but it is a thought that already starts to creep into my head at the precise moment when we're clearing the dinner dishes. Sad but true.
On at least one occasion, and I quickly figured out it had better be the one and only occasion, I actually was dim enough to ask that question of Travelling Companion at that precise moment. While there was no actual cussing involved, her response wasn't anything you would call, "appreciative", shall we say?
Seems to me that was way back when we lived in Puerto Rico, where I had taken over the domestic duties on a full scale for the first time. I guess I hadn't figured out all the tiny little dynamics. Don't you find that there are some moments that are indelibly etched into a person's memory?
Once in a while, and it's not too darned often, I might meekly give a hint in the morning that I am once again without a clue, but I tend to keep that little snippet of agony to myself. I already know there's quite enough on Travelling Companions plate on the work front, so she certainly doesn't need to concern herself with what to put on our dinner plates later on.
It's not just the skill set that's lacking either. Mind you, there are a couple things that I can do reasonably well, but a little variety goes a long way. Even with the choice dishes, we're still only talking "three star" here. I don't think there will ever be a "five star" meal in my future.
Now, speaking of five star, we had occasion to sample some of the cooking of one of our long time friends a few years back, where this husband and wife couple had done a complete roll reversal on the cooking end of things. After having fed their own three children, along with our two when they were youngsters on a fairly regular basis, she had decided to pack it in. I seem to recall that she said something along the lines of, "I've cooked for 30 years, I'm done".
And that, as they say, was that.
I'm afraid I don't have that to fall back on, unless you consider making sandwiches for that length of time. I don't think that counts.
I think it has a lot to do with visualisation, and let me play out a scenario for you using woodworking as an analogy. The questions and answers would go like this:
"Can you make me a bowl?"
"Yes."
"Blanket chest?"
"Yes"
"Kitchen cupboards?"
"No problem"
"Built in cabinets for our bedroom?"
"Piece of cake, I've already figured it out in my head..."
"Dinner?"
*long silence*
"Dinner? Um ....Can I get back to you?"
See?
Quite often what happens is, having a tiny kernel of an idea in my head for the day's supper plans, I go off to the store only to then wander around aimlessly hoping something will jump out at me from the shelves.
Happened yesterday.
Well, not the actual "jumping" part, that's a metaphor. Keep up.
I really had no clue we were having stuffed peppers for dinner until I saw them sitting in the produce section. Made a fine meal. Really.
I have some left overs, but I'm not so sure that will work for today since I'm not a huge left-over kind of person, AND without a microwave getting things warmed up again can be a challenge.
So that's it then, I'm off to wander aimlessly.
Let me just leave you with this thought. "Hunger is der beste Chef".
I shouldn't need to translate.
.
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