Mattie Cooks and Catches Up

No blogging for two days...not good.  Funny; I was tired the past couple of nights and tried to get to bed early, and I ended up tossing and turning for most of the night.  Might as well have stayed up and posted.  Alas.  Let's run the tape back on what has transpired.

Saturday was OC duty, and it was a bit busy -- as expected, the people who skipped last week were out in droves.  We had a record crowd for walkers, I would estimate about 35 -- normally what we have in a month.  We gave out all of the frozen pizzas (finally) and the frozen chicken, cleaned out the produce -- yay!  Someone came by at 11:45 and dumped -- literally -- 8 boxes of adult diapers on our laps, which is fine.  The Thursday crew will bitch that we put them in a corner, but there was nothing else to do, save for remember to put them out Saturday.  Then it was off to the gym, some errands, a spot of work, and then a friend fest for us singles.  I had forgotten it was Valentine's Day, so that was....fine?

Sunday was church, post-Mass packzi, stayed a bit to bs with the younger crowd, the OC (somehow a bill arrived between my shift and Sunday; I can assure you this never ceases to amaze me), gym, and then home, where I nodded off a bit, and then...caught up on some work.  Oi.  OK, we have been busy, and I was able to catch up on important but lower-leverage stuff, and that was good, but on the other hand... there are other things I could have done, like clean and de-clutter.

Sunday was a day of cooking.  As noted, I had all but the shrooms to make more risotto, so I did.  It was a little different -- no leeks, cheese, or butter, but it is still good.  I think the leeks would have absorbed the liquid better -- this one is a bit more wet, and I had not considered this when putting everything together.  I then did the dishes (Mom was right, it is the worst part of cooking), and got ready for my next culinary adventure, as I also made another one of John Wayne's favorite recipes -- skillet cornbread.  Now, I had never made cornbread in my life (for this I blame my parents), and I had not an idea of how -- so I just followed the recipe.  I will admit putting the batter in the heated skillet with vegetable oil, I didn't know what to expect, but in 15 minutes I checked it, and it was...good?  Prefer a bit sweeter, but good enough.

Today I was working and such and I was like, what am I going to do with the leftover buttermilk, and I then realized I had all of the other ingredients for skillet cornbread, so....I made some more.  I added some sugar, and had to use coarse corn meal (ran out of the fine stuff), and prolly didn't have enough buttermilk, but... it was quiet good, and save for the dish pile, it was worth it.  I guess that is one cool thing about cooking; once you do it, you can play with the recipes and make it your own.

Inside the Booming Business of Monster Porn | GQ
Um....yes.

Robert Duvall, R.I.P. - by Sonny Bunch - The Bulwark
Sad -- first Hackman, now him.  Funny; I completely forgot he was in "Open Range," and he really does center the film... everyone remembers the fight scene, with the shotgun through the wall, but he is the soothing yin to the raging yang of Kevin Costner.  And, it is a great Western on its own...

Mattie Decides

I have come to the reluctant conclusion that it is time to take the Christmas decorations down.  Not that I want to -- it has been hard to enjoy them with life being busy and having to shove my living room together twice -- but it is probably time; they are down at Church, for instance.  Also, the weather is warming, the snow will be melting, and I will be able to give the tree honorable disposal in the compost pile.  I still intend NOT to re-hang curtains and such -- maybe this time the window will go in properly -- but I think I can get most of the non-tree items back into the boxes, and then the sad task of deconstructing the tree.  Alas.  Next year I hope there will NOT be any reconstruction work at Chateau Mattie (two years in a row, sigh) and things will be... more relaxed.

Long week of work, and a new project dropped today.  To be sure, other stuff has receded, so I can concentrate on the two or three things on the project list, but it has been a dancing dervish of priorities.  Phew!

For all of the talk of immigration, Ukraine, judges, the DHS shutdown, and all else... the economy showed some glimmers for POTUS with the better-than-expected jobs and inflation reports.  To be sure, I have my doubts -- people need to work (but good) to pay for more expensive stuff (like housing) but the flip side is that if illegal immigrant are going home (one way or another), US citizens will have to be hired.  Now, wages will have to go up -- could be inflationary -- but that is not exactly a bad thing.

I think I am going to cook again this weekend.  Have to be careful -- don't want any food for Wednesday (not that I don't want to fast, but I NEED to fast, as I can feel the fatness).  I need to plan out my church visits -- as always, I want to hit one or two new ones, depending on the schedule and such.  I think we all know how I feel about supporting our parishes... I should give up eating between meals for Lent, as a new challenge and to bring down the poundage, even though it is... difficult.  Of course, what the hell is Lent for but otherwise?

Rotundity

I took the night off -- sort of -- and went to the Paczki Fest at the Polish-American Cultural Center tonight.  There were a lot of people there, and I suspect the crowd was better earlier (I arrived after 6).  I didn't even try to park in the lot and ended up on Hosmer -- about a block away, not too bad.  It was... a hit discombobulated.  They were making us buy tickets, so I planned ahead and ordered a kielbasa sandwich, a stuffed cabbage, and a paczki.  The food was in the main room, which was full of tables and a polka band, and the food line was ass-backwards.... so I decided to go downstairs and eat in the bar.  That was full, but it was out of earshot of polka, so... and the food was pretty good!  Need to figure out where it came from.  I had some time, so I meandered into the museum area, which I do not think I had ever seen.  It is... quite nice.  The exhibits are organized by room -- Pope John Paul II, Paderewski, military service, Polish history, Solidarity, geography -- and it was both informative and well-laid out.  And free!  I definitely will try to see it again.

Hard to believe Lent is upon us.  On the one hand this is good -- we all can use more time for prayer, and I can use some Lenten restraint and fasting to lose a few pounds.  Lent is early this year, but still it is coming up on us.  At least it means that winter is coming to an end; with all of the warming we are having this week, I can start getting out and walking around more at lunch....and probably instead of lunch.

Getting a Share in Green Bay - The American Prospect
Interesting.  I am one of the shareholders in question, and one of these days I will actually get out to Green Bay and check out my "investment."

Britain’s crisis-hit Keir Starmer survives one more day – POLITICO
This is hard to believe, considering the large Labour majority and the implosion of the Tories.  On the other hand, he has played his hand as poorly as anyone, and at the end of the day, we are judged by results...

‘They put me on there to die’: Conservatives unload on GOP’s failures to carry out DOGE cost-cutting | CNN Politics
True, and depressingly so?  To be sure, there is some merit in not having Elon as the face of it, as he is a little weird, but we are drowning in government spending and debt, and if this is all we get out of it...

Mattie Meets (and Cooks)

Long hiatus of blogging, something I have not done in a while... Monday was work and then we had a long meeting at the OC.  It went quite well -- approved the budget, made a donation to the roof repair, discussed problem clients, handled things -- but people were just chatty and off-topic, and it went on and on.  I just skipped the gym, caught up on the most important things, and then went to bed.  Sigh.  

Tuesday was fine -- worked a bit late, hit the gym, finished my risotto, and then settled down to watch Duke and Pitt.  Duke won as expected, though it was closer than it should have been for a while.  Too many turnovers -- more than a bakery, as I texted my sister -- and while yes, this is a team they can beat without their A game... after the UNC loss, they needed to win by 40.  This bodes poorly.

Today we had our quarterly Board meeting for SVDP, and it too went a bit long.  Important -- future planning, three-year plan, high finance, revitalizing conferences and such, but still long.  I went to my sister's for a bit, hit the gym, did an Aldi run (needed stuff for risotto, round two), and then made cheesy grits with shrimp.  I dummied into this website with the favorite recipes of John Wayne, and well, if it is good enough for the Duke, it is good enough for me.  Now, I had not made grits before, and I am not a huge fan of cheese, but... it came out pretty good.  Bit lumpy -- didn't whisk enough, even after adding milk -- but not bad.  It is a bit heavy, and I am not sure I would make it again; I guess I prefer grits with a bit of brown sugar for breakfast.  I added some shrimp to these (I seem to have bags of precooked frozen ones all over the freezer) for some variety.  It is good but the risotto works better, and I will make it again --- I just needed mushrooms and chicken stock as I have enough of the other stuff.  Rah.  I mean, one should cook as many dishes as possible, not only to try new things, but the stuff you learn making one thing can be applied across the board.  In theory.

Power Is a Posture - by Michael Smith - Unlicensed Punditry
Sadly, for us, this is true!

Elections overhaul takes center stage in House as hard-right pressure mounts - POLITICO
I rather like this; I mean, if Dems want to go back on a budget deal and make all these demands, we in the GOP should do the same, especially for things like requiring a photo ID to vote.  Hell, our stuff has a chance of passing, and quite frankly, I would be willing to trade some ICE reforms for those related to voting, especially as it would affect them more than it would affect us.

Mattie Cooks

So, yesterday was a full day...first, we had OC duty, so I woke up early, got dressed in 13 layers, and drove down there.  It was quite cold, and unlike two weeks ago, I was on the front line.  We had plenty of volunteers, and even had some tardy arrivals of four kids from Juvie Court; this was fine, as we used them as runners to give us a break.  The count was 125 -- I expected 140.  But, with the weather and the roads... we had more walkers than expected but fewer than usual.  I ordered a bit less produce and it was perfect, which was good.  Shelves empty, freezers mostly full (they were full before), stocked for next week... phew.

Anyways, I was running some errands after the OC -- busy week, remember -- when my cousin called.  She had hip surgery, and I thought something was wrong, of the fallen-and-can't-get-up variety.  Rather, she wanted to have the cousins over, and if I ger my aunt (her mother) and come over... I had stuff to do, but family first, but I agreed to do it after errands.  So I spent a few hours there -- good to get the family news and gossip, good to talk to my aunt, etc.  But... it was a long day, and I got home about 8.  Just in time to watch last 12.7 seconds of Duke-UNC.  In retrospect, I will I had been gone longer!  My sister noted helpfully that they sucked in the second half.  Oi.  It happens, but...this one, like all Duke losses, is going to hurt.  

Crashed hard last night -- tired and the long day, as well as a lack of caffeine.  Today was Mass for my parents so I wanted to make sure I got there early, and I did -- phew.  My sister showed up, as well as my aunt, uncle, and cousin.  It was nice; Fr. Michael joked that we were commemorating the leader of Ukraine's family, and my sister joked that we should have bunting in our pew... then brunch at Bob Evans, then gym and home to do laundry and catch up on some work.  That was done, and then I decided to start operation cooking with...mushroom risotto.

I shopped for the ingredients yesterday, and it was... one of the more expensive shopping trips I have had.  So I was like, this had better be good.  Cutting the leeks, shallots, and mushrooms was fine -- but a bit long.  Then it was time to cook -- never had much luck with rice, so I was worried.  And, I have to admit, it came together after a while... it was a little wet -- the wine, the rice, the veggies, the stock.  I had so much stuff (should have halved the recipe!) that I had to use the cast iron skillet -- which cooks a little differently.  But, as I reduced everything...it was fine.  The recipe called for cheese and butter, and I added them, but I am not sure I needed them -- it was rich enough as it was.  Anyways, it was pretty good; not too wet, just right, and good flavor.  Rah!

About 2/3 of the way through dinner I realized I was missing the Super Bowl, and that is... ok?  Not much of a fan, and I had dinner to cook (succesfully) and of course cleanup -- dishes, stove, counter.   A lot of work but one does feel good about oneself, making a dish successfully (that I will be eating for lunch and dinner the next three days).  Certainly I didn't grow up in a risotto-making home...

Clearance and Clarity

Long week over, sort of, mercifully.  It didn't look like the snow we were supposed to get arrived; I saw a few flurries here and there during the afternoon, but unless it came tonight, we missed it.  Phew.  This morning -- seeing the reports of freezing rain, iffy roads, and future -- I could not help but think how nice it is that I can work from home (even if I work a lot).  Tomorrow I intend to get out, if only to buy ingredients for the recipes I intend to try...and some drain cleaner, as the one side of the kitchen sink is being a little slow.  Oi.  Not exactly time to cook up grub in such a state -- I should probably get the plumber over -- but maybe chemicals will provide a bit of a respite.  The problem (or one of them), of course, is that I am in full pay-down-the-windows mode to get the next project started faster, and any deviation -- to me, at least -- is something of a party foul (even though I know that is dumb).  

My blood sugar has been pretty much perfect today; not sure how or why, but I woke up at 100, went to 190 at breakfast (dawn phenomenon), and has been between 110 and 140 all day (141 a few minutes ago I can discount).  Again, this has been an outlier -- the MD seems to think stress is weighing on my results, and I think we all know what I think about that, even if it contains a grain of truth.  Today was a bit less stressful -- cleared out some minor projects -- and did extra walking at home, not that that is a huge difference.  Actually, the prospect of warmer weather next week brightens me, as I can do some walking at lunch!

The Oral History of ‘Best in Show’ - The Ringer

A bit long but pretty funny; they are correct, that this might be the funniest Guest movie, and, by and large, I like them all...even if they have that Matt sense of humor.

Stop Blaming DoorDash for the Affordability Crisis
Interesting.  I think this is largely correct, but -- as I like to say -- you go to a restaurant and sometimes you are the only person who is actually dining inside.  Older people (like me, almost) aren't ordering DoorDash.  And, given that the charges and fees and tips that go with it... it adds up even if people order less, you DO have an affordability problem.

Mike Johnson Spars With Pope Leo XIV Over Christian Treatment of Immigrants - NOTUS — News of the United States
This is moderately funny; there aren't that many politicians who can go toe-to-toe with the Pope on Scripture, but Mike Johnson is one (actually, most Republicans could).  And the fact that our Pope is American... well, he should know this, too.  

The Morning Briefing: An Entertaining Treasury Secretary Is the Trump 47 Bonus Prize – PJ Media
Quite true; I know some in the GOP were concerned by the guy, but he has been...one of the best of the bunch.  And, as long as he remains the last voice heard by POTUS...

The Havoc Wrought By Illegal Aliens | Power Line
This is good -- but hardly representative; we need more of this -- actually counted -- and our GOP states should be leading the way here.  I realize the media won't report it, but...so what?

A Surge of Productivity

Funny (sort of); I started work earlier to handle a request from my boss, worked hard core until 7:20 PM, watched J!, went back to work, finished a project (review tomorrow), ate dinner, drank some coffee, and then plowed into some OC stuff -- updated budget, new agenda, coordinated some help for a client with a difficult ask, and reformatted our Prayer-Only-List... and sent out ALL of the stuff.  Also read some stuff for next week.  Oi.  And, I finished book seven (the one about the Scopes trial).  I will be going to bed, but not right away, as I want to start book 8 (I have an immense library pile).  Dishes and cleaning the kitchen will wait until tomorrow.

I note that today was the J! Invitational Tournament.  As always, I am torn -- I welcome the harder questions (sort of) and I like seeing old favorites again, but I think of all the people in the pool whose dreams are being put off by this trip down Memory Lane...  well, I am not quite a fan of that.  

One decision I made today... I am not moving the couch back or re-hanging the drapes until the picture window is actually in, as both are sort of a pain to move.  OK, just the drapes, but you get it.  I hope the lack of the intervening Christmas holiday will move up the schedule a bit, but save for J! and Duke hoops, I do not use the living room that much.  Sigh.  Also:  I think I will cook two dishes this weekend.  One is a mushroom risotto I found online (I have had a taste for it) and two is a recipe for cheesy grits, supposedly a favorite of John Wayne, so it will be a favorite of mine.  I think I will reduce the cheese (I don't like too much cheese) and add some thawed frozen shrimp.  Crazy stuff, I know. 

Claudia Sahm: 'I don't have a good feeling' about labor, Fed, at present | Fortune
Interesting.  Not sure how much I agree -- to some extent yes, in others, not so much.  I wonder if the tax refund season will jolt the economy; Lord knows POTUS needs it if there is any hope of keeping the House, or the Senate.