Sunday, May 31, 2020

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“If you want peace, work for justice,” declared Pope Paul VI in 1972.

Now, in 2020, we have to work harder than ever.

Protest. March. Support. Boycott. Educate. Ally. Listen. Empathize. Advocate. VOTE.

I chose today’s cocktail not only because of its hopeful name, but because all the flavors in it get along so well: smoky, tart, bitter, sweet, and salty. Together, they make a wonderful drink.

This is my version of the Rising Sun cocktail.

In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1 1/2 ounces mezcal, 1/2 ounce maraschino liqueur (I used Luxardo), 3/4 ounces fresh grapefruit juice, 1/2 ounce lime juice, and a pinch of salt. Shake and strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a cherry or a lime twist.

Saturday, May 30, 2020

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Did you watch it? This afternoon, astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley climbed into the Dragon capsule and were gloriously shot into orbit by a SpaceX rocket. Their next stop is the International Space Station.

This launch was the first one from American soil in over nine years, as well as the first time NASA handed over much of the responsibility to a private corporation. Husband has been a dedicated fan of the US space program since his early childhood, so today’s long-anticipated milestone was a special moment for him.

Did you notice that the staff members at mission control were all wearing masks and were all seated a safe distance away from each other? Did you notice that every person spoken to during the course of the broadcast was either standing far away from the interviewer or was in a remote location? These are strange times indeed.

And, did you notice, how much more diverse today’s NASA staff and spokespersons were than in the past? Women and people of color were not only featured on camera, but are–more importantly–in positions of leadership at both NASA and SpaceX. Yes! These are wonderful times indeed.

Did you notice that America is stronger if we all respect each other and peacefully work alongside each other?

Today’s drink is my version of the Astronaut cocktail.

In a shaker half-full of ice, combine 1 ounce vodka, 1 ounce light rum, 1 ounce dark rum, 1/2 ounce pineapple juice, 1/2 ounce simple syrup, and 1/4 ounce lemon juice. Shake well and strain into a tall glass with several more fresh ice cubes. Top with 3-4 ounces of lime-flavored sparkling water. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.

Friday, May 29, 2020

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Let’s pretend that I have access to the top politician of a country in the middle of a historic crisis. Maybe I have just presented him with a cocktail. Let’s pretend that this politician has been feeling “burnt” by the media, and has been ranting about how he is not being treated fairly.

What would I say?

“Stop glorifying violence. Stop using words which carry racist undertones. Stop complaining about First Amendments violations if you do not fully understand First Amendment protections.

“Stop lying. And please, stop Tweeting.

“When a business provides me with unsatisfactory service, I stop being a customer. If you don’t approve of Twitter and Facebook, stop using them.”

And I imagine I would then take the cocktail —one with lots of ice cubes–and dump it over his head. Hey, it’s my fantasy, and I can do what I want.

Today’s drink is my version of the Burnt Orange Negroni.

In a shaker with ice, combine 1 1/2 ounces gin, 1 ounce sweet vermouth, 1/2 ounce bitter orange liqueur (I used Aperol), 1/2 ounce simple syrup, 1/4 ounce lemon juice, 2 dashes of orange bitters, and a cut-up charred orange slice. Shake, and pour entire contents into a low-ball glass. Garnish with an additional charred orange slice. (I generously dusted thin orange slices with powdered sugar and baked them in a 200 degree oven for about an hour, and then let them dry out.)

Throwback to May 29, 2015

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1. That supper-time robo-call from the attendance office informing you that your son or daughter was not present for one or more of his/her classes today.

2. That supper-time confrontation when you ask son or daughter why he/she was ditching and what he/she was thinking at the time of that poor decision.

3. That supper-time apology you must issue the next day when you find out it was a recording error, and that he/she was indeed at school.

4. The dings and scrapes that your student’s vehicle collects in the school parking lot.

5. Waiting up late to make sure your student arrives home safely from late night functions like football games and dances.

6. Paying for prom gowns for your daughter, and then paying even more for son to rent a tuxedo that you don’t even get to keep.

7. SAT exams.

8. SOL exams.

9. Editing essays for college applications.

10. Admitting that you have forgotten most everything you have ever learned about chemistry or calculus or statistics, and that you simply cannot help with that homework assignment.

11. Summer homework.

12. The drama.

13. The eye-rolling. 

Throwback to May 29, 2012

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1. A small toad in tall grass can hold the attention of 5 year old boys for 10 minutes straight.

2. “You need to step on it if it’s a red ant.”

3. Swinging from monkey bars is more fun if you concurrently make monkey-like sounds.

4. Chasing butterflies is joyful.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

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Many months ago, I was asked to write up my Goals and Objectives for the 2019-20 school year. I was beginning my sixth year at the same job, so I wracked my brain: could I create new and unique goals that were Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely?

Professionally, all was going well until my novel goals were derailed by the novel coronavirus. Schools closed, and my daily contact with students trickled down to weekly emails just to check up on them.

My supervisor contacted me last week and suggested today for my end-of-year performance review–via Zoom, of course. She had set aside 15 minutes for us to meet. I located my Goals and Objectives, opened the document in a separate window, and waited for our meeting to begin.

Easiest review ever. One page for her to fill out. Nothing at all for me to fill out. We barely referenced my Goals and Objectives. Human Resources wanted to make the whole process quick and easy. Pass/fail, sort of, like the grades the kids were getting.

I think I passed. And I may just recycle my very detailed Goals and Objectives until next year.

Speaking of G and O, I decided that today I deserved a drink with Gin and Orange juice. This is my version of the Orange Blossom.

In a shaker full of ice, combine 1 ounce gin, 1 ounce sweet vermouth, and 1 ounce orange juice. Shake and strain into a chilled coupe glass, and garnish with an orange wedge.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

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Today I was treated to a parade, social-distance style. At about 4:30 PM, I watched a line of about 50 cars drive down our street. Only some of the cars were honking, several were flying blue and yellow balloons, and a few had signs (“We miss you!” and “Happy summer!”), but every single one of the cars carried a smiling teacher. The wonderful Woodbrook Elementary School staff was out in full force, waving to all the neighborhood kids who waved back enthusiastically from the safety of their lawns.

When Husband and I bought this house for our growing family, back in 1995, we were delighted that an elementary school was in the center of the subdivision, and that it was (to quote the school song) “the heart of our community.” We have so many fond memories associated with Woodbrook Elementary and its loving staff. And although our kids have grown up and so much is different, I can see that the teachers’ commitment to kids has not changed. Thank you, Woodbrook, for making my day.

A toast to all teachers, from pre-K to college, who worked with such dedication to complete a most-challenging school year!

Today’s drink is my variation of a recipe called “Parade Time Cocktail.”

In a shaker full of ice, combine 2 ounces vanilla-flavored vodka, 1/8 teaspoon almond extract, 1/2 ounce Cointreau, and 3/4 ounce Baileys Irish Cream. Shake and strain into a chilled glass. Dust with ground cinnamon. Garnish with a marshmallow.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

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Ennui (noun): a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement. From mid 18th century: French, from Latin in odio(n- ), from mihi in odio est ‘it is hateful to me’. Compare with annoy. Synonyms include boredom, tedium, lethargy, langour. (Thanks, Google.)

The long Memorial Day weekend ended with no trips to the beach or pool. Summer break is right around the corner, but we have cancelled all our vacation plans and family visits. I am still cleaning out closets, still digitizing old photos, still crocheting a rag rug, still sewing a poncho for next winter, still attempting to re-learn some favorite piano pieces, still experimenting with bread baking, and so on. In other words, my attention span has been short and is getting shorter as we hit day 75 of the quarantine.

Day 75. Sigh. The only thing I have not neglected is this daily cocktail diary, so I suppose that’s something.

In honor of day 75, I could not resist creating my version of the classic French 75 cocktail.

In a shaker, combine 1 1/4 ounces gin, 1 ounce fresh lemon juice, and 3/4 ounce simple syrup. Add ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled flute and top with about 3 ounces of dry apple cider (I used Blue Bee Cider from Richmond, Virginia–buy local!). Twist a strip of lemon peel over the glass (to express the oils) and drop the peel inside.

Monday, May 25, 2020

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Today is Memorial Day, and we are flying our Stars and Stripes off the front porch, in honor of all men and women in the US Armed Forces who perished while defending our nation. Our gratitude is sincere and profound.

Last night we watched the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS. In past years, veterans and their families gathered on the National Mall in Washington to be fêted as well as entertained. This year, the concert was a mix of previously recorded performances done remotely by artists maintaining a proper physical distance from each other (and, I assume, from the camera crew). We were impressed with the ingenuity of the program and by the performers’ attitudes–pandemic or not, the show must go on! And yes, I reached for the tissues a few times.

The program also honored First Responders, and the “new” heroes of this time, namely health care workers and essential employees. Indeed, many of these heroes have bravely exposed themselves to the coronavirus, and some have died. And yes, we all should be reaching for the tissues, saying a prayer, and raising our glasses in a toast to all the heroes of 2020.

Today’s drink is my version of a Red White and Blue Cocktail.

In a tall glass, pour 1 ounce of grenadine. In a measuring cup, mix 1 ounce of vodka with 3 ounces of pineapple-coconut water (or lemonade would work, too). Fill the tall glass with ice, and pour the contents of the measuring cup slowly over a spoon and into the tall glass. Gently pour 1 ounce blue curacao over the top of the ice. (The blue will sink toward the middle of the glass.) The more slowly you pour, the better the layers will look. Garnish with strawberries. Stir before drinking for best taste.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

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The Indianapolis 500, the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, was supposed to run today. Husband and Son were supposed to be there, since our family has held a block of tickets for over 25 years now. I was supposed to be home alone, watching the race from a comfortable couch while folding laundry or crocheting something.

Then the pandemic happened. The race has been pushed back to August, maybe. Normally, upwards of 250,000 fans attend the race. Can you imagine?

The winner of this grueling car race traditionally drinks from a bottle of milk, obtained from the fine cows of Indiana. I have never understood why milk is considered refreshing after the dehydration that must come after 200 laps around the track, but one does not mess with tradition.

In honor of the race that wasn’t, today’s cocktail features milk, and is my version of Bourbon Milk Punch. Husband really needs to drown his sorrows today.

In a shaker full of ice, combine 1 1/2 ounces bourbon, 1/2 ounce dark rum, 2 ounces milk (I used unsweetened almond milk in mine because of lactose issues), 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/2 ounce simple syrup. Shake well and strain into a glass. Dust with nutmeg.