March Miscellanea

 I always look forward to March--it feels good to get out of February. It's been a hard winter. Snow from the January storm took a month to (mostly) dissipate. There are still small patches and large snowplowed piles. But, at the end of February, I began to catch a whiff of spring and hear birdsong. In the final weekend, temperatures rose to the high 50s. Jace and I returned to the trails and the boardwalk.

That didn't last, of course. The following Monday, it snowed for several hours and left a coating on the ground. Luckily, that snow dissipated quickly. I'm waiting for the 70s predicted for a few days next week.  

Jeff and I have tried a few more restaurants. One was a breakfast and lunch place with good steak sandwiches. We also went out for a good seafood dinner with friends. We have many other places to discover. 

We watched some of the Olympics in February. I'm most interested in figure skating. I saw the men's and the ice dancing competitions, but somehow missed the women's and the pairs. Oh well. Now, some of our other shows have returned, such as Matlock and Ghosts. 

We also rediscovered Nancy Drew--a series that we had started to watch on the CW back in 2019. We had seen most of the first season, but the show went on hiatus or the timeslot changed, and we never got back to it. We found it on HBO Max recently and watched the first two of four seasons. TV Nancy is not much like the Nancy Drew I've read. In the premiere, she's having sex with Ned (now called Nick) and he's black. Nancy's mysteries also involve the supernatural: ghosts, witches, wraiths, and the like. 

Most of our days revolve around medical appointments. Jeff has physical and speech therapy each week. We've also scheduled other medical appointments. Plus it's tax season. I spent most of last week stressing about getting the tax documents together. I got them to the accountant on the 28th.

Then there's still unpacking and organizing. I got a lead for someone who can install wooden bookshelves in our dining room. I haven't figured out exactly what I want, but it's a start. 

Book Five: Imago by Octavia E. Butler

Imago is the last stage during metamorphosis--adult development. This book continues the story of Akin, now called Jodahs. During his metamorphosis, it's discovered that Jodahs is becoming an ooloi with the ability to shapeshift and alter genetic material. He'll be the first ooloi born of a human mother (Lilith.)

This development is a complete surprise and raises concerns that until Jodahs matures, he could inadvertently alter genetic codes and endanger other life forms. He could become too dangerous to remain on earth and be exiled to the mother ship. 

To avoid that, Jodahs and his family leave their community to live alone in the forest. But they have to contend with resisters, including a new community of fertile but deformed humans. 

In this book and Adulthood Rites, I was most engaged when Akin/Jodahs are in danger among the humans. It's the humanity in Jodahs who saves the humans despite their inhumanity.

Books Three and Four: Dawn and Adulthood Rites by Octavia E. Butler

I haven't grouped my read books together in a post for a while, but I finished the second book before I posted here--it's been over a week. Both novels are in a three-volume series called Lilith's Brood or Xenogenesis that I borrowed from the Essex Library.

In Dawn, war has destroyed Earth. Hundreds of years later, Lilith Iyapo is awakened by powerful aliens, the Oankali. The Oankalis believe human hierarchical tendencies doom them to death by war or other destruction. Therefore, they allow humans to mate with Oankali to produce human-Oankali constructs, guided by the ooloi, a third Oankali "sex" or be sterilized and live with other humans. 

Lilith is chosen to awaken and explain the process to other humans. Many humans consider her a traitor to her species.

Adulthood Rites focuses on Akin, Lilith's son, a construct born of human and Oankali parents. As a young child, he was kidnapped by a group of human resisters who have rejected a life with the Oankali and established their own communities. 

Akin recognizes the drive of humans to procreate. After he returns to his own home, he works to establish a human colony on Mars where humans' fertility can be restored and they can procreate. 

Butler is a brilliant writer and her worlds are vivid. I am not as drawn to these books as I was to Kindred or to the Parable stories. I'll have more to say when I finish the third book, Imago.

Frugality, Food Waste, and Other Friday Thoughts

Looking at yesterday's grocery bill, I feel like a dismal failure at frugality. Most of my items were produce related. I also bought a few pantry items. I can't help that food prices are high, and frugality isn't always focused on squeezing every last dime.

The things that appeal to me most about frugality are avoiding waste. 

Food waste is one priority. I sometimes buy too much produce or lunchmeat. I need to plan around what I buy, instead of just grabbing anything that looks good. I also have to be realistic as I read interesting recipes or see fun things as I walk the grocery aisles. Will I actually make that dish?

I'm getting better at using vegetables before they get too old and finding new recipes that use multiple items. That also helps with the age-old problem of what to have for dinner.

Buying used is another way to reduce waste. We're buying a dining room table and chairs as well as a coffee table from our downstairs neighbor when she moves. Another neighbor is taking me to a good thrift store. I hope I'm lucky.

Jeff and I are going out to lunch tomorrow for Valentine's Day. We usually don't go out on this holiday, but it's going to warm up to the 50s, and we haven't been out in a while. I was undecided at first, but now I'm looking forward to it. 

I'm longing for spring, but knew it's still far off. Nothing like multiple snow piles to remind you it's winter. 

A Little Can Be Enough

On Sunday, I was feeling sorry for myself.  I wrote in my journal that I wasn't happy with my life. Then I wrote that I'd have to remake my life into something that will make me happy. I ended with "Think about that!" 

The next day, things started looking better. Walking Jace, I felt something in the air--a little warmth. It was still cold, but it was sunny, and there was no wind. After weeks with temperatures below freezing, everyone's excited for some warmth and melting. We'll gladly take the mud and mush. 

I had a good day today with this song was going through my head. I'm happy with my accomplishments--I got a decent amount of work done (paperwork, unpacking, cleaning.) I also want to Jeff's speech therapy session with him; it gave me a lot to think about.  

A Catch-Up Post

It's been a busy ten days. Deep snow in Maryland and Connecticut complicated our lives. The highways were great driving to and from Connecticut (Wednesday and Saturday, respectively.) Getting out of the condo here and parking in Norwalk were our biggest challenges, thanks to ubiquitous snow piles and icy patches. 

We are no longer Norwalk property owners. I had a few things to do before we met with our attorney on Thursday. Despite a few glitches, everything worked out. After we signed the papers, I ran errands. Then, I got takeout from Little Kitchen, our favorite Chinese restaurant in the area. We enjoyed our favorites: Sauteed Sliced Chicken with Hot Peppers and Crispy Spinach and Dry Sauteed Shredded Beef Szechuan Style, as well a Bean Curd with Vegetables Country Style for Jen who graciously hosted us again. We already miss Little Kitchen.

We vegged on Friday, and I finished Badlands. On Saturday, we drove back. There had been talk of more snow, plus I couldn't wait to get home. 

This week has been a blur of medical appointments and paperwork. Today, I stocked up on food in case the predicted snow amounts to more than an inch. I also picked up a welcome mat and some baskets we've needed. Now, I can really focus on our new home.

Book Two: Badlands by Preston & Child

Another winner from Preston & Child, this is the fifth in the Nora Kelly/Corrie Swanson series. Even though it starts with a gruesome death--a woman walks into the desert to die--the book starts too slowly. But, it soon makes up for that. 

Nora and Corrie are my favorites amid among myriad fascinating supporting characters in the Pendergast universe. I love reading about their investigations.

As good as this book is, it pales in comparison to their previous case, Dead Mountain.