Throwback to May 24, 2014
1. Sent an iMessage to me letting us know she arrived safely.
2. Used an ATM.
3. Researched a cell phone plan.
4. Walked around her new neighborhood of Kensington.
5. Drank a (legal there!) pint in a pub with new friends.
6. Made her mom smile.
Throwback to May 24, 2015:
1. From Youngest Child, “I just turned in my last assignment ever in high school.”
2. From College Girl, “I bought it with my employee discount.”
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Donald Trump went golfing today. The moment I read that, my palm flew to my face. In the USA, close to 100,000 people are dead from CoVid-19, about 38 million workers are without jobs, and an estimated 20% of our populace is close to foreclosure or eviction from their homes.
Do you remember Nero? According to legend, the emperor fiddled while Rome burned around him. Nero was cruel and ineffectual, and obviously self-centered and void of compassion.
I researched this story a bit. Historians do agree that in July 64 A.D., a great fire burned for six days, destroyed 70 percent of the city, and left half the population without homes. When the fire erupted, Nero was at his villa 35 miles away, but he quickly returned to Rome to start relief measures. Despite this, he was unpopular with the people. Many believed that Nero ordered the fire started, since he later built a palace and opulent gardens on the cleared land. But Nero placed the blame for the crisis on someone else, namely the Christians, who were still a small sect at the time, but many were nevertheless arrested and executed.
The fiddle, however, is the “fake news” component of the story, since instruments of the violin family were not developed until the 11th century.
Our own Nero went golfing. I don’t begrudge anyone a day of rest, but why flaunt it?
Today’s drink is inspired by golf legend Arnold Palmer (see what I did there?), whose signature beverage was a combination of lemonade and iced tea.
In a tall glass, combine 2 ounces vodka (I used a chai-infused one, but a citron-flavored one would be lovely as well), 4 ounces iced black tea, and 4 ounces of lemonade. Stir, add ice, and a lemon wheel for garnish.
Friday, May 22, 2020
Today I went grocery shopping with my husband.
This is actually a really big deal for me, since I have not stepped into a grocery store since March 12. Son has been the family shopper, since he is currently working at Whole Foods. We have been treated to lovely produce, lovely cuts of meat and fish, and lovely bakery items. But it was time to re-stock the cleaning supplies and the Gatorade and the full-of-preservatives snack food, so off we went to Sam’s Club.
One of the signs on the entry door told us that face masks were highly suggested. All the employees were wearing masks, but some of the masks were under their noses. That’s bullsh*t–the nose needs covering!
A vast majority of the customers were wearing face masks, but not all. That’s bullsh*t–if these people feel invulnerable, OK, but shouldn’t they be considerate of the rest of us?
Husband was tasked with finding toilet bowl cleaner, Liquid-Plumr, and more Clorox wipes, and was not successful. I understand the shortage of disinfecting wipes, but why the lack of toilet bowl cleaner? Or the lack of Liquid-Plumr? Are people hoarding the stuff? Ingesting the stuff? That’s bullsh*t.
The meat counters were full. Full! Everything looked as it did in early March, except for the newly-printed signs that informed us that only one package of meat was allowed per order. One? I know people are hoarding, but based on the amount of meat there–just one package? That’s bullsh*t.
There was plenty of toilet paper, though, even the name brands. We were down to 40 rolls, so we bought another big package. Have we become hoarders?! Probably, and I am not too proud of that bullsh*t.
The drink choice for tonight is my version of the Bullshot cocktail. This is one of the more unique ones I have made, and I chose it because of its name.
In a tall container, mix 2 ounces of vodka, 4 ounces of cold beef bouillon, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, a few dashes of Tabasco sauce (to taste–I did 2 dashes), and freshly-ground black pepper (to taste–I did 1/4 teaspoon). Dip a chilled glass into onion salt (or celery salt) to coat the rim, and pour drink carefully into the glass. Add ice to fill, and garnish with celery.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Today I have been enveloped in the disappointments of people I love. The pandemic is responsible for keeping two of my children apart from their sweethearts, and for derailing the career plans of several young adults in our extended family. My mom phoned me this afternoon, and she asked me when visitors would again be allowed into her nursing home. And it’s still cold and rainy out there.
But the mail brought a sweet note from far-away cousins, my table is graced with fragrant pink peonies from a thoughtful neighbor, and Husband has been dispensing warm hugs.
I am sending hugs to all my family and friends. Some days are simply proving to be harder than others, but we’ve got each other, right?
This drink is my version of a Blueberry Whisky Spritzer.
In a shaker with ice, combine 2 ounces bourbon, 1 ounce lemon juice, and 2 ounces blueberry syrup. Shake well and strain into a glass. Add a few ice cubes and top with about 2 ounces of tonic water. (I also sprinkled a tablespoon of frozen blueberries over the top, to make it healthier!)
Throwback to May 21, 2013
1. He was thoughtful about every item he put into my cart.
2. He was even more thoughtful about every item he put into HIS cart.
3. He chose glass over plastic because it was a healthier choice.
4. Sure, he bought cocktail glasses, but he also bought cooking items.
5. He chose furniture in practical colors.
6. He chose accent items in fun colors.
7. He had fun pushing and riding the shopping cart in circles on the slick floors.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Yesterday evening I learned that a person dear to me had coronavirus. Probably.
Allow me to explain. This person’s blood was tested for CoVid-19 antibodies, and the test results were positive. Happily, this person was totally asymptomatic! This person practiced physical distancing, washed hands regularly, wore a face mask, and was not in contact with anyone ill. But the virus is insidious, and somehow, this person got infected, probably. (The test does not claim to be totally accurate.)
Let me repeat: happily, this person was totally asymptomatic! (Big sigh of relief!) And now this person has antibodies, although no one know how effective these antibodies are, and how long they will last.
This disease is “novel,” as we know. So little is definitely known. But while we wait for science to provide us with answers, let us continue our safe practices, such as hand washing and mask wearing. All this just further convinces me that we need more testing, so none of us –whoops!–are caught off-guard.
And that’s my inspiration for the name of today’s drink, which is my version of a Brandy Daisy cocktail. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 2 ounces brandy, 1/2 ounce dark rum, 1/2 ounce blue curaçao (makes the drink green!), 3/4 ounce simple syrup, and 1/2 ounce lemon juice. Shake well, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with sugar. Top off with 1-2 ounces club soda.
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Hydroxychloroquine is in the news, again, even though the US Food and Drug Administration’s website states the following: “FDA cautions against use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for COVID-19 outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial due to risk of heart rhythm problems. Does not affect FDA-approved uses for malaria, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.”
This led me to think about malaria, and about tonic water.
Quinine is made from the bark of the Cinchona or “fever tree” and has been used as both a preventative and treatment for malaria for over 350 years. The taste is bitter, so British troops stationed in India in the 1800s mixed the quinine with water, sugar, and juices from some locally-grown fruit and voila! Tonic water was born! Soon enough, the Brits started adding their daily rations of gin to the tonic water to make it even more palatable. Weren’t they a clever lot?
So, if a daily gin and tonic could prevent malaria, could a daily gin and tonic also prevent infection by the coronavirus? Sounds like a safer bet than drinking Clorox and a safer bet than hydroxychloroquine.
I wanted a new spin on the traditional gin and tonic (not that there’s anything wrong with tradition), so this drink includes a splash of Lemon Zinger tea, but any hibiscus-based herbal tea would do. I am using Canada Dry tonic water which does contain a tiny amount of quinine (many brands do not), which can be dangerous in large amounts.
In a glass with several ice cubes, combine 1 ounce Lemon Zinger tea, 1 ounce gin, and 1/2 ounce lemon juice. Stir, and add about 4 ounces of tonic water. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Monday, May 18, 2020
Today I am offering a toast of deep appreciation for my quarantine cohabitators, Husband and Younger Son. Not only do they look out for my best interests, but they put up with my day-in and day-out meddling and, most importantly, make me laugh on a regular basis. We enjoy each other’s company, and conversation at the dinner table never stalls. My “kings” are making my “new normal” bearable, and I love them.
Cut up 1/4 of a ripe pear (I chose a Bartlett) into 1/2 inch pieces. Put the pear in a shaker and add 1 1/2 ounces pear schnapps and 1 teaspoon cinnamon sugar. Muddle together. Add 2 ounces white wine and a few ice cubes. Shake well and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a slice of pear sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.
Throwback to May 18, 2015
1. At 10:30 PM, giving into a craving for 85% dark chocolate.
2. At 11:00 PM, being asked by Youngest Child to help him review conditional probability, which set my mind a-whirling.
3. At 11:30 PM, realizing that Youngest Child is three short months away from college move-in date.
4. At midnight, flinching in horror when Youngest Child asked if I wanted to see the 3 foot snake on the front porch.
5. At 12:30 AM, panicking when Youngest Child confirmed that it was probably only an Eastern garter snake, and not a copperhead, and then retracted his confirmation because “I really didn’t get a good look at the head, come to think of it.”
6. At 1 AM, hearing Youngest Child proclaim, “If we’re lucky, the snake will still be here in the morning.”
7. At 1:30 AM, trying to block out the snoring from cuddly-yet-congested Husband.
Monica Lists 