Friday, March 12, 2021

It’s been a year! A whole calendar year! On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared CoVid-19 a global pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, I started writing about my cocktails while never expecting that this pandemic would last for so long. I have created and consumed and blogged about my eighty-four different “quarantine cocktails” and forty-two “quasi-quarantine” cocktails (so named since some restrictions had eased). I also consumed numerous–not documented here–glasses of wine and bottles of beer. It’s obvious to all how I chose to cope with the stress of the pandemic. By WRITING, of course. (Did you think I meant DRINKING?) (Well, OK, maybe both.)

Am I done? Not exactly. The virus is still among us, victims are still dying, and most people have yet to be vaccinated. Yes, I have returned to work since schools are now partially open. I am still wearing a mask, and keeping myself physically-distanced from the handful of students in my classroom. I still haven’t hugged all those out-of-state family members, like my son, my mom, my sister, my sister-in-law, and my nieces. But we are planning some extended travel for late June, and I am having fewer anxiety-filled dreams.

Last night, we listened to President Biden’s address to the American people. His message was one of guarded optimism: we may be able to gather in small groups by July 4, and we may be able to get people vaccinated more quickly than expected, but we still need to be careful and alert. He signed the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill, which probably will turn out to be a historic piece of legislation in its scope and ambition. So many Americans need help. So many children need to be lifted out of poverty. I trust this is a step in the right direction for our country.

Today’s drink, therefore, is my version of the All-American Cocktail, my salute to American tenacity and achievement.

In a highball glass, combine 1 ounce bourbon with 1 ounce Southern Comfort. Slowly add about 6 ounces of cola, and stir gently. Fill glass to the top with crushed ice. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Throwback to March 16, 2014

1. Do those magenta running shoes have good arch support?

2. What kind of stud would you get if you got your nose pierced?

3. Are you using both of the cow skulls in your next sculpture?

4. Besides plywood and cement, what else do you need from Lowe’s?

5. Since you will be of legal drinking age in London this summer, you should get Guinness with your fish and chips.

6. Who are you snap chatting now?

7. Oh, I understand: all these penis-like representations on the New Guinea carvings were there to scare away the enemies.

8. Of course we should order dessert!

9. There are some hot men walking around Manhattan!

10. Let’s take some selfies in Times Square!

Throwback to March 8, 2015

1. Watching Duke basketball.

2. Taking care of summer internship details.

3. Sleeping.

4. Driving to the beach with the lovely girlfriend.

5. Showing British Boyfriend all the landmarks in Manhattan.

6. Touring the art museums of Manhattan.

7. Standing in Times Square.

8. Driving to the beach with British Boyfriend.

9. Sleeping some more.

10. Pondering that perhaps a visit home could mean free meals for several days.

11. Rolling their eyeballs at their mother’s attempts to induce profound guilty feelings and longing for her loving arms.

Throwback to March 25, 2014

1. It was on the way home from my dental appointment, so I felt I deserved a treat.

2. The shopping center parking lot was remarkably empty, probably due to the falling snow.

3. The falling snow. Enough said. Another reason I deserve a treat.

4. Easter is only 3 1/2 weeks away, and I needed chocolate eggs for the family members’ baskets.

5. I wanted to see if they were playing Christmas carols in the store, because after all, it is snowing out there. (They weren’t.)

6. Chocolate is a cure for the depression brought on by late March snow.

7. Chocolate is a cure for the depression brought on by the realization that my baby will be 17 tomorrow.

8. Why the hell not?

Friday, March 5, 2021

Hooray! Vaccine dose number 2 went into my arm on Monday, and other than a wee headache and a sore arm, I felt no pain and no real side effects. (Oh my goodness, could this mean it didn’t take? I won’t dwell on that–should I?) I am counting my blessings, and really feeling hope-filled for myself, at least. I step into the high school building this coming Monday to prepare my workspace, after being gone for almost exactly a full calendar year. I meet the freshmen on Wednesday and Thursday. And the next Monday, “hybrid school” begins, which means that the 40-plus percent of our students who want face-to-face education will be able to come in two days a week. And yes, I like calling it “face-to-face” versus “in-person,” because I miss seeing faces–or at least partial faces, since we are wearing masks.

A new normal is coming for me, one that will a bit more closely resemble the normal of pre-pandemic education. Whew!

Today’s drink is my version of the Corpse Reviver No. 2 Cocktail. It’s easy to remember the recipe, since you need equal parts of (almost) each component.

Chill a small martini glass. In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine 1 ounce dry gin, 1 ounce Lillet Blanc, 1 ounce Triple Sec, and 1 ounce lemon juice. Rinse the inside of the chilled glass with Absinthe and drain the extra. Shake the cocktail well, and strain into the glass. Careful–this one is potent!

Throwback to February 29, 2016

1. The Supreme Leader/Snoke looking less like a cross between The Wizard of Oz and Voldemort, and a little more “normal.” Maybe with a bad, Trump-like comb-over.

2. A subtle wink-wink to Disney, which now owns the franchise. Like Buzz Lightyear as a Resistance pilot. Or Mickey Mouse sitting with the “aliens” at the bar. Or even Princess Jasmine shackled to a slug-like crime lord.

3. Kylo Ren acknowledging that he should have thought his actions through a bit better, because his momma is never ever ever going to let him forget what he did. The guilt she will inflict on him, both actively and in a passive-aggressive manner, may be more powerful than The Force.

4. Some lip-lock action between Leia and Han. They may be older, but a woman still has needs. And he’s freaking HAN SOLO, for heaven’s sake.

Throwback to March 9, 2013

1. Dude! You pulled out quickly and without looking and missed us by inches!

2. When my son honked at you, it was to warn you to stop before you hit us. This action does not justify your vulgar gesture back toward us.

3. Both men in the front seat–Son and Husband–were wearing their uniforms. Isn’t there something profoundly wrong about flipping the bird to a Boy Scout? So un-American, shame on you.

Throwback to March 11, 2013

1. He walks with a lot of energy.

2. If he can manage the NYC diocese, he must be a good businessman.

3. Since he’s an American, he knows all about world affairs.

4. Dolan? Nope, the family changed the name. He’s probably Dolanski, and therefore Polish!

Throwback to February 26, 2016

1. Purchased more milk and his favorite organic tortilla chips.

2. Reserved tickets for Star Wars since Husband has been waiting oh-so-patiently to finally see the movie with another male who can appreciate the glory of things that fly and shoot at the same time.

3. Fluffed the cushions on Boy’s favorite seat in the kitchen.

4. Hid the house key outside since he will likely beat us home tonight.

5. Added an extra place mat on the table.

6. Dusted his room.

7. Put fresh sheets on his bed.

8. Wondered why several of his Christmas gifts were still in a stack on the bedroom floor.

9. Moved the boxed-up toilet out of Boy’s room and into the hallway. (Did I mention Husband was re-modeling the master bathroom?)

10. Realized in horror that the bathroom re-model is on hold until Boy returns to school and stops distracting Husband.

11. Re-arranged all my girlie-items off to one side since I need to share Boy’s bathroom.

12. Had a few squares of chocolate to numb the disappointment of having none of the offspring’s spring breaks coincide.

Throwback to February 17, 2016

1. “Expecting to have sex on Valentine’s Day is so cliché.”

2. “Jesus is white!”

3. “Women don’t do messy murders. They don’t want to deal with blood and all.”