Monday, August 14, 2023

Maurice Is Fearless. I Am Merely Feckless


I did not realize until after I had taken that picture that it made Maurice look rather weird- as if she has no back legs. Trust me, she does. And as usual, her face is scarred and healing. She is a fighter, not a lover, that one. A little while ago she and I were both on the back porch when a wind came up and began twisting branches which caused pecans to fall. Some of them hit the AC unit which made a noise so loud that it startled me. Maurice woke fully from her doze, looked out into the backyard and then jumped down from the table and dove out the cat door, as if she was on a mission to defend us from whatever evil force it was that was flinging those pecans. That girl is not just a fighter, she is a warrior. 

Yes, we did get a nice little storm this afternoon. That wind began whipping and the thunder began booming off to the south and then it poured. It did not rain for too long but it was enough to push the temperature down almost ten degrees which is a heavenly blessing, a righteous relief, although the humidity is only worse and my skin feels sticky. I remember when I moved to Denver to go to college when I was eighteen. I could not believe the dryness. I couldn't wear my contact lenses comfortably which was a huge blow to my ego, and I probably bought more Vaseline Intensive Care lotion than was legally allowable. I had no experience with that sort of climate and it was shocking to me. I was used to the swamp-like temperatures and humidity of Florida which makes heat feel hotter and cold feel colder. When it snowed, I was the stupid Florida girl who went outside after she'd washed her hair without drying it only to discover that even though it didn't FEEL that cold, wet hair will freeze. 

I went to Publix and Costco today and got enough food for weeks. I think. No doubt trips to the GDDG will be required to pick up things like milk but when it comes to all of the basics and much of the not-so-basic, we have plenty. 
I think I need another pantry. I am not sure why I am such a food hoarder. Well, not really a hoarder. I just want to make sure that I always have enough of certain things to assure not running out of them. Things like olive oil and all the vinegars I use, coffee, pasta, rice, flour (bread, all-purpose, and self-rising), corn meal, grits, beans,  ketchup, mayonnaise, taco sauce, soy sauce, canned tomatoes, chilis, beans, and on and on and on. And my freezer is stocked with fish (of course), and some venison, and Tennessee sausage, and chicken, and ground beef, and, and, and...

I think that covid made this tendency of mine to stockpile foods worse than it was. And it's not an especially great thing to do. It gets to the point where even though I KNOW I have an item on one shelf or another, things are so crowded that I can't find it which leads to me buying another which only makes the problem worse. 

Ah lah. This is definitely an old person first-world problem- i.e. - not really a problem. I have the money to buy the groceries, I have the ability to drive to stores to buy them, and I have the strength to pack them into my car and then unload them and put them away when I get home and then the ability to turn them into delicious meals. 
I am grateful.

So today was better in that I didn't have to do anything out of the ordinary and nothing happened that disturbed or upset me. It wasn't one of those days wherein I end up going back and forth between the rows for items I may have forgotten that I meant to buy but which weren't on my list. Do any of y'all do this? Think of something you want and put it on your list when you enter the store? Or is that just me? 

Ay-yi-yi. My mind. 

Our fish tacos and spaghetti ended up being a delicious supper last night. A bit odd in flavor combination but we enjoyed the heck out of it. I bought more mangos today at Costco and I think I'll probably be making more salsa with them. It is so good. I bought some Dungeness crab claws, also at Costco today, and I asked the guy at check out if he'd ever tried them as I don't think I ever have. 
"I don't eat seafood," he said. 
"Oh, I'm sorry," I told him. 
"Mercury," he said. 

Yes. I suppose we should be worrying about mercury. We are eating so much fish these days. But as I told the check-out guy, I'm sixty-nine years old and going to die of something. 
"I'd like to reach the age of sixty-nine," he said. 
Which gave me much to ponder. I get that. Meanwhile, I went on to buy shrimp at Publix. 

I have thrown caution to the winds. Gumbo will be made tomorrow.

Love...Ms. Moon 




28 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I forgot to add that when I buy meat and the cashier asks me if I want it put in a plastic bag, I respond by telling them that I lead a reckless life, no need for the plastic bag.

      Delete
    2. I always say no to the plastic bag on the meat too! Unless I know it's really drippy.
      We're never too old to live dangerously, right?

      Delete
  2. The basis of the word 'feckless' is effect. It becomes convoluted from there. I agree, worrying about mercury as a senior citizen is a waste of worry. Not with your gumbo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tell you what- I've never seen fishermen die of mercury poisoning but perhaps it happens.

      Delete
  3. glad today was not a disturbing day for you....and yes....the light bulb that goes on in brain while in market (items not on list) is always a welcomed boon! Mercury be damned, enjoy that gumbo! I thought of you today...as I'm having major anxiety over my ENT consult appt. tomorrow.....an appt. I made 5 months ago. I think I may take half a Xanax prior...... that should do me....... but i'm still on edge. Cripes. I'll still be alive tomorrow evening, one way or another! I will use *Warrior* Maurice as a muse.........
    Susan M

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I surely hope your appointment went well and that great relief followed it. I, too, sometimes take half an Ativan before I go to a doctor's appointment which is a little bit ironic, isn't it?

      Delete
  4. Yrs, there are things you fret about less when you're older. As I say , I'm too old to die young!
    I guess that server can't really imagine being 69. I won't add the obvious comment there..
    I'm glad you had just an ordinary day. There are crisis times when you'd give anything for an ordinary day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I say that too! If only the good die young, then obviously, I'm not of them.
      Ms. Liz! Are you insinuating what I think you are insinuating? Haha!
      You are so right about ordinary days being something to be grateful for.

      Delete
  5. I'm more curious as to how much the Dungeness crabs are contaminated with mercury! I have never heard of them being affected, not like the tuna might be or some other fish have been reported to be!
    Good days come and go, enjoy them when you can!
    Maurice is one tough kitty! 🐈

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just googled about mercury in Dungeness crabs and it appears there is some in them although there seems to be some disagreement about how much. Whatever.
      Good days do come and go. So do the bad ones.
      Maurice is a tough kitty indeed!

      Delete
  6. I remember when I met Himself he told me that he couldn't imagine living past 50 - who would want to live to be that old? He is 74 now.
    We are living in a place that is known for it's fresh fish and seafood. I need to learn how to cook it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I certainly did not think I'd ever reach the age I'm at now. It just never occurred to me. Weird, huh?
      Yes! Learn to cook seafood! There are some very simple methods that are most delicious!

      Delete
  7. When you know you have something but the shelves are so crowded you can't find it, then it's time for an "empty and sort" day. Empty the pantry and sort the foods so you have all "same items" together, then pack them all back in that way with the oldest use by date at the front and when you buy replacements put them with the same item but at the back so the goods are constantly in rotation and nothing is left at the back to "die". I have been using up items in my pantry which have been there for probably a couple of years but still sealed in the original packaging so they're still good, I simply don't have enough space to just buy more of what I already have at least two of. I rearrange everything in there twice a year, bring winter or summer items to the front according to seasonal use. I have time for this because I don't have a garden that needs more than five minutes a week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I actually did that about a month or so ago. It didn't really help. I just have too much stuff on the shelves in my pantry and very little of it is actually food. I need to figure out an alternative place to put all the other stuff that's in there. Sigh.

      Delete
  8. My cupboards are full of spices/sauces/oils and jars or bottles of stuff I have used a spoonful of for a specific recipe. Also tins of various fish, beans and pasta sauces etc. that covid made me buy, just in case! Still need to keep some in, just in case!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's always that "just in case", isn't there? I used to laugh at my mother for having certain items in her pantry for years. I understand now.

      Delete
  9. I have my own stash of rice and beans and split peas. I feel as if I will not starve to death with a good supply of staples on hand.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess that is what is at the bottom of this whole urge to stash things. To feel as if you will not starve.

      Delete
  10. PS: any person with a cat will not be confused by Maurice's 'pose'.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I don't stock up so much as I have always been cheap.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But I'm so cheap that I often get things at Costco because I can get three times as much for about the same price and then what do I do with the 2/3's I'm not going to use right away? Put it on the shelf!

      Delete
  12. Covid pushed me into having a dry goods hoard. I've been pushed into organising it and its pretty useful now. The only thing is, I can't guess why I wanted two large packets of oat bran. What was I thinking of? It sounds really healthy but even though it's not really perishable, it doesn't last forever and the bags are approaching their useby date!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have you ever made oat bran muffins? They are amazing! Try this: https://www.quakeroats.com/cooking-and-recipes/oat-bran-muffins
      I sometimes do them with grated apple or smushed bananas or sweet potatoes. Very adaptable and delicious.

      Delete
  13. Never been a food hoarder though I did buy 3 jars of mayonnaise, 3 packages of orecchiette pasta, and three packages of naan but only because I had to go to the big town grocery store to get them. a whole 20 or 25 minutes away! gasp! but, you know, traffic and people. fried rice on the menu for tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Call me crazy, but I don't think there's enough mercury in most fish to make much of a difference in our lives. Maybe I'm in denial, but if so, I'm staying there.

    Dave has food-hoarding instincts which I am constantly trying to counter. When he goes to the store or places a grocery order I'm always telling him things like, "Don't buy limes! Don't buy rice! Don't buy pasta!"

    ReplyDelete

Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.