(no subject)

[tesla]

Picked up my guitar today and actually played for the first time in months. It's amazing how quickly everything came back. Well, the fingerings and theory, anyway. I'm horribly out of voice, even for me.

Must call my instructor and explain why I dropped off the face of the planet, or anyway that even though I'm not taking lessons this season that I intend to come back someday. I hope to be able to do so again once I'm done with house stuff. The real reason I stopped playing for a while was the one-two punch of profound personal unhappiness plus the aftershocks of a case of stage fright all out of proportion to reality. The moment I forget that I'm doing this for my own edification (and hence anything I can accomplish is by definition "good enough") I paralyze myself with doubt.

Sometimes I wish that the misery=creativity equation worked for me as it seems to for some people, but no such luck. And perhaps not having that is the kick in the pants I need to find my way back around to happiness.

Anyway, I feel like singing again, and that's enough.

Of course I should be working on the house. I'll head over there next. I've been hesitating a bit because I seem to have aggravated some soft tissue in my shoulder and I want to let it heal. (Playing my guitar - a habit that *always* irritates my left shoulder - is clearly a brilliant move on my part.) I think I'll be right-handed today.

I've brought my kumquats in for the winter, and they're dropping leaves all over the place. I have them in a south window on the second floor, so they're getting as much light as I can provide them indoors. I'm afraid this is simply a stage that they have to go through, but it's hard to watch. A couple of the fruits are ripening, but since I just bought these in late May they've had a very short growing season this year, so who knows whether the remainder will ripen at all. Any advice from folks who have grown citrus in a northern zone would be most appreciated.

I'll be making red beans and rice for dinner tonight, and (surprisingly) I actually remembered to soak the beans. Oooh, I should make cornbread. Anyone have a good recipe for me? I have all the staples but no actual corn, and am not planning a trip to the market today.



Happy Saturday!

Comments

[beemerbike.livejournal.com]

Preheat oven to 400°F
1 cup (160 g) yellow corn meal
1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
1 Tbs. (14 g) baking powder
1 tsp. (6 g) salt
1 cup (240 mL) whole milk whisk
1/3 cup (80 mL) vegetable oil
1 large egg

Combine/stir. bake 400°F (200°C) 20 min.

I personally add 1/2 kernel corn also. Frozen or canned doesn't matter. It gives it a good texture. nice add-ins are minced peppers--bell or hot, or a couple pinches of onion flakes or fresh.

[beemerbike.livejournal.com]

That's 1/2 cup of corn...

[tesla-aldrich.livejournal.com]

That was yummy - thank you!

(I threw in a few garden peppers, but never did manage to rouse myself to get corn.)

[beemerbike.livejournal.com]

great! glad it turned out.

[davidschroth.livejournal.com]

No real cornbread recipe to share (if I don't have any of the little boxes of mix at hand, I'd probably just use the recipe from Joy of Cooking), but we have corn you could borrow if you so desire.

[buttonlass.livejournal.com]

You have an entire 5 lb. bag of corn bread mix.:)

[tesla-aldrich.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the offer of corn. I ended up slugging about the house. The cornbread was tasty.

BTW, what is your favorite type of pie?

If you are so inclined...

[chadvalentine.livejournal.com]

We are celebrating Hannah's birthday @ 7:00 tonight at the Red Dragon...sorry for the late notice.

Re: If you are so inclined...

[tesla-aldrich.livejournal.com]

Sorry I didn't make it; I wasn't really feeling like being social. But I hope good times were had by all.

And I would really like to see you folks again. I believe that we still have a Dr. Who marathon to orchestrate.

[kalikanzara.livejournal.com]

You play guitar better than I do, and I can say that with certainty from just knowing you've *had* a lesson.

Also tonight is Convivial, where I'm riding to once I get my act together here. Can't let the warm weather go to waste...(Speaking of which still know anyone who wast a winter project scooter?)

[kalikanzara.livejournal.com]

c/wast/wants. Grr. Sleep deprivation makes me extrovereted but does not help my typing.

[tesla-aldrich.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, yes, and yes, please. Do you still have my number? What would be a convenient day/time to pick it up? Eric will be the one grabbing it, and he could make it by around 7ish on weekdays or anytime this weekend.

Hope you had fun at the Con! In a weird work-life confluence, I saw Seven (with whom I work) while I was out with another coworker in a decidedly un-worklike situation - and she mentioned Convivial and you. :)

[kalikanzara.livejournal.com]

Lots of fun at the con :)

The ride *to* the con was pretty good - nice weather Saturday. I didn't plan on staying all night, though, and the ride home in the windy cold was more invigorating.

(Sorry about cutting the call short, there, um, if I did - I had this mental picture of Eric standing there fidgeting with a pen. If you need a break from house stuff sometime and want to /k/i/c/k inspire me to learn a song or two, or, heck, just to commiserate about winter and lack of riding opportunities give me a shout...)

[pilotbill.livejournal.com]

So a low-key, no pressure, demo is closer than it was?

[tesla-aldrich.livejournal.com]

Did I mention that I like your userpic? And your airplane? ;)