Maybe I’m dreaming, but it’s like something switched over in me, and I’ve become quite good at managing the daily Trump dump. I know it’s there, this brutal attack on democratic values, and I refuse to look away, but I found a place to park it in my brain where it doesn’t drive me crazy every single day.
Oh, and don’t ask for help because I have no idea how I finally got there or if it will last. All I know is that it felt like everything was broken, and it occurred to me I didn’t survive cancer twice to be this miserable over things I can’t control.
I’ve been feeling good. Not quite broken after all. We are planning to join a June 14 protest. This would be in opposition to Trump’s multi-million dollar, tax-payer funded military parade in Washington, D.C. for his 79th birthday. I am reminded that my mother died on her birthday.
What I’m eating
My sourdough has been giving me fits. The last few loaves tasted good, but I wasn’t getting the rise I want. I did a bit of troubleshooting and came to the conclusion my starter isn’t strong enough. When you feed starter, you are also supposed to discard some of it. I always felt that was wasteful, even though I know you can save the discard and use it for other things. So, I didn’t do it.
But discarding some of the starter each time you feed it strengthens the brew. I guess mine was too diluted. I went back to discarding, and sure enough, my starter perked up. This last loaf looks great to me!
I made spanakopita this week. That would be layers of buttered phyllo dough stuffed with spinach, feta cheese, eggs and yogurt – and then seasoned with onion, garlic, dill, mint, lemon zest and nutmeg. And sprinkles of Pecorino Romano cheese between the layers. Baked until crispy golden brown. It’s normally an appetizer, but I cut larger pieces, and we ate it as an entrée.
Both of us have quite a Mexican Jones going on most of the time. This week, I made slow cooker jalapeño pulled pork and used the filling to make oven-baked taquitos. Dale made a white queso for dipping, plus we had some homemade salsa verde.
There was a wee mishap with the slow cooker. Mine came with a temperature probe, which I have never used. In one of my fuzzier moments I put the probe in the bottom of the base unit for safe keeping and then put the ceramic liner on top. I never realized the probe was still there.
The pork was perfect, but when I took out the liner so I could put it in the dishwasher, I saw something odd stuck to the base unit and then icky brown stuff around it like blood from a crime scene. I thought, why, that looks like the probe!
Dale was able to pry it off, and while the probe is toast, the slow cooker seems no worse for the wear.
What I’m watching
Many thanks to Sheila, a friend here at Retirement Confidential, for alerting me to a new season of The Mountain Detective on PBS Passport.
I confess to watching Reacher on Amazon Prime. That was part of my stress epiphany. Per my boycott, I’m still spending next to nothing on Amazon, but I love my digital content and decided Jeff can have a few bucks if it makes me happy.
What I’m reading
I mentioned Jar City in an earlier post. This is the first in a crime series by Icelandic writer Arnaldur Indriðason featuring Inspector Elendur. I’ve since read two more, and I believe there are 11 in the series. This might be my favorite new-to-me series.
The Cold, Cold Ground is the first Detective Sergeant Sean Duffy novel by Adrian McKinty. The setting is 1980s Ireland. Complex politics, sometimes hard to follow, but I liked it very much. There are eight books in the series.
I’m a fan of the Irish crime series by Benjamin Black featuring Quirke, a pathologist in Dublin during the 1950s. There’s also a Boston connection. Christine Falls is the first of seven. The Silver Swan was number two, and I have number three by my bedside.
World of Trouble was the finale to The Last Policeman trilogy. The story is about what happens to people and families when they believe an asteroid will destroy Earth in a matter of months. For a grim subject, it’s an entertaining read. At first I didn’t like the ending, but it haunts me. There is darkness, yet there is light. Detective Hank Palace is a character you will not soon forget.
Just this morning I finished The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen. This is second after The Martini Club about a group of retired CIA agents in Maine. Highly entertaining. Now I want to explore her other novels.
I’ve read three of the Veronica Speedwell novels by Deanna Raybourn. The first was A Curious Beginning. The setting is Victorian England, and Veronica is an adventurous natural historian who specializes in butterflies. Due to unforeseen circumstances, she partners with another natural historian to solve crimes. He also happens to be sort of hunky. Such great escapism, and there are nine in the series. Yay.
Last but not least, I started the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear. The first is actually titled Maisie Dobbs. A former servant, she evolves to become a nurse during World War I and returns home to continue her education and become a private investigator slash psychologist. If I got this right, there are 18 books in the series. Double yay.
I really appreciated your framing on letting anger go regarding the Trump antics. I didnt survive 2 bouts of cancer but I’ve had some challenges and I’m determined not to let our crooked president steal my joy. Thanks for the reminder!
Yes, I guess we just have to work harder not to let him steal our joy. Keep at it!
It’s hard to maintain that level of emotion. Back to equilibrium and we won’t find it in our politics. I’m immersing myself in yard work, gardening, bedding plants. Get some dirt under my nails & the politics out from under my skin. I just finished reading The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. I’d read another book by her – The Huntress. And next will be The Diamond Eye. Your meals sound delicious.
I’ve not read Kate Quinn, but The Alice Network is on my list. I saw a notice at the library — a book club there was reading one of her novels. I have yet to explore but am looking forward to it. I’m so grateful for books.
As difficult as it can be these days, it’s much healthier to live our lives in hope and joy than in anger. That’s not to say that I don’t spend any time or energy focused on the destruction of our democracy (and will be out and loud on June 14), but I won’t let him rob me of my happiness. He can’t win.
Your bread looks so good. One of these days, I need to attempt sourdough.
Well said. We cannot let him win one way or the other.
I highly recommend giving sourdough a try. Of course, there are TONS of resources, but I found this one particularly helpful:
Ooh la la that sourdough French bread is a work of art. I have yet to tackle learning how to bake one. I’d be interested to learn how yours turns out if you discard some starter. You and Dale have some pretty good sounding meals. I’m happy to hear that you’re managing the daily Trump Dump. I ride the rollercoaster of emotions, but I am on your team about not letting his sh__t get to you. June 14 will be a day of protest around this country. On the t.v front, have you watched Chelsea Detective series on BritBox? We love it.
This loaf was made after discarding the starter for several days in a row. This is the rise I want. We had it for toast this morning, and it is delicious. I think the stronger starter made it taste better, too.
We don’t have BritBox, but it looks like the first season is included on Amazon Prime. Thanks, I will check it out. I do love me some crime …
Lots of crime shows on BritBox. The British love crime, lol.
That sourdough looks *chef’s kiss*. I didn’t know that there was a requirement to discard a bit of the starter regularly in order to maintain quality. My writing partner offered to share some of his starter with me, but I’ve yet to take him up on it – too much other stuff going on at the moment such that I feel I don’t have the headspace to learn something new (I have absolutely zero baking experience).
Thank you for the book recommendations. I took a look at an extract of ‘The Last Policeman’ and it drew me in. I wouldn’t normally select something about the imminent end of the world, but there was something in the extract which demonstrated that it gave an unusual edge to a familiar story.
Living in the UK, while we are fortunate in not have the same Trump effect that you are experiencing, clearly it is having a knock-on effect everywhere, so getting to that headspace is important for us all. Some days I’m there, but there’s not nearly enough of them quite yet.
Sourdough is a bit of a commitment. Your instinct to wait is probably spot on.
The Last Policeman trilogy is really, really good. I didn’t think I could do it considering the current political and environmental climate, but it works. I’ll be interested to hear what you think.
Hang in there. Better days ahead.
I’ve finished the first one of the LP trilogy – and enjoyed it. It’s got a most different vibe which I appreciate. I’m holding back on books 2 & 3 as I’ve committed to reading the Women’s Prize shortlist which has – sadly – been more challenging than enjoyable, and I usually enjoy a challenging read. I also much enjoyed the first Maisie Dobbs, so am delighted to have so many of those in my TBR for the time ahead.
As you say, better days ahead – but certainly helped by good food and good reads.