Houston, we have germination and other slow news day reports

The 2009 growing season is off! First sets of true leaves are coming in on the Japanese Black Trifele and the Grandeur (F1) tomatoes. The Pimientos de Padron peppers are up and will have their true leaves in about a week. The combination of the old propane stove coupled with the new wee grow light (a Christmas pressie from my mother in law) is pretty good for getting seedlings started.

My mother in law came down for an impromptu visit, and no tears were shed over the course of the weekend, no Xanax consumed. This was a pretty fine victory. I am heartened. She did ask if Matt and I were alcoholics and if we were going to church. I, to my own detriment, said something to the effect, "I REALLY love the idea of alcohol, but just can't drink very much of it." I am the daughter of an alcoholic, so I am aware of the devastation it can cause. But I am 40. You would think I would know by now if I was headed down that road. My one to two drinks a night, a few times a week does not convince me it's going to happen. She asked if we were going to church because there is a light up Jesus picture Matt found at the dump in our bathroom and a Jesus air freshener on our fridge.

I am obsessed with an Able Tasmans' song called "Angry Martyr" and cannot for the life of me figure out the first line or the bit sounds like a round. It's about a girl and god, near as I can tell.

Wyatt had a quick bout of gastroenteritis and it made his blood sugars plummet. That was a first. Viruses usually mean that they surge. Diabetes, the disease that keeps everyone on their toes.

Parties, pork products, and playdates. Life is full of those at the mo'. I made a bacon explosion because the blog link was sent to me by no less than two different fellas on the same day and because the article about it was the top story over at the New York Times. Two pounds of bacon and two pounds of Italian sausage, barbecue sauce, and heated smoke. Pictures to follow.

It is done

Goodbye and good riddance to the Bush Administration.
Greetings and a huge measure of good luck to the new Obama Administration.

A thought to Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come"


I was born by the river in a little tent
And just like the river, I've been running ever since
It's been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come

It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die

I don't know what's up there beyond the sky

It's been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come

I go to the movie, and I go downtown

Somebody keep telling me "Don't hang around"

It's been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come

Then I go to my brother and I say, "Brother, help me please"

But he winds up knocking me back down on my knees

There've been times that I've thought I couldn't last for long

But now I think I'm able to carry on

It's been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come

Hosteling international

Matt and Bev from Otley, England, have been here since after Christmas. They are working on their bouldering projects/problems. Matt is the healthiest I've ever seen him, and that's a good thing. They are easy to be with, and Matt still makes lovely curries and Beef and Guinness stews.

Masa and Chris from Vancouver came by for two nights. Masa got shite weather here in Bishop last year, so our endless days of "bluebird" have been a lovely treat.

Matty took all of them shooting - killing clay pigeons with a shotgun and killing tin cans with my wee 22 rifle.

Janet came back from the Bay Area.

It's been a crowded house of sorts, but February will come and all will go quiet again.

Rode my bike to Round Valley and back the last two weekends. A round trip is 35 miles. It's been awesome.

Schoberlew's miscellany

• We had a pity party last night, where those interested could send bad news up in flames. It's been hard to get a clean slate with a bit of psychic goo residue left over from last year.
  
• I send deep and sincere positive thoughts to one of my dearest friends ever.
• Wyatt's GERD is back. Ugh. Oh well. He vomited in our bed the last few mornings. At least we know the Prevacid works and we have the insurance to cover the $3.25 a day it costs for prescriptions.
  
• I got subpoenaed by a county sheriff today. I had been expecting it. I was cheerful. He was shocked.
• Peter Keen (see post below) gave me some lovely cooking tips for a tapas pepper called Pimientos de Padron. I am still floating.
  

The world according to Peter Keen

Thank you SC for sending this along.

Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, the song that still sends shivers up my spine after nearly three years of endless play. Peter Keen, the singer and lyricist, works aboard the research vessel the Discovery for about SIX months a year. Graeme Humphreys, the composer, is a shock jock on New Zealand radio.

You can hear songs and find out more on their Myspace page.