On Being Sucked Dry

In Garion's home folder today:
-a registration renewal form for next year that requires a $40 deposit,
-a reminder of our $200 "scrip" obligation--a mandatory fundraiser for the school,
-a reminder to return envelopes for the "math-a-thon" fundraiser for St. Jude's Hospital,
-a notice for "Jump Rope for Heart" and fund-raising envelope, AND
-a notice and form for donating blood at next week's blood drive.
That's right: your money is NOT enough and you probably don't have any left, so we'd like your BLOOD too. ok?thanks.

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Also, just because it's that kind of day and there's no one old enough around to listen, I'm just going to put it out in the world: my back hurts, I didn't sleep well last night and I'm tired, I have a sore throat, it's cold, it's snowing AGAIN, I had to work on the longest, crappiest complaint in the history of the world today and it is STILL not finished, I have a sink full of dirty dishes, and I am all out of sorts and grumpy. We are so having pancakes for dinner tonight.

Not Gonna Happen

This afternoon:

Garion: Mom, can I mix together milk, honey, and soap for a science experiment?
Me: Why?
Garion: to see what they make
Me: They make milk, honey, and soap mixed up. No, you cannot because it will make a mess and waste those things.
Garion: (starts howling) I'm going to tell Dad you won't let me do science!!!!*
Me: okay.
Garion: (immediately brightening at the thought) can I call him on phone?

Photo Experiment

I just recently read about a new photography book of images captured with an iPhone. Something about "The Best Camera is the One You Have With You." The images are stunning and quite inspiring. So inspiring in fact that I am going to aim for a daily photo or two, which I will post on Flickr (since that seems to be the easiest way to publish from the iPhone). My friend Anali did a similar project a couple of years ago and I really enjoyed the day to day images she captured. Anybody have any thoughts on whether I should allow my photos to be viewable by everyone or whether I should issue invites? I'm a little chicken about putting my photos out there in the world for all to view, but then those types of photos are some of my favorite parts of the blogs I read on a regular basis. To the left is today's photo.

Sunday Afternoon

I realize that given my last post, the next logical post in the story-of-my-everyday life would be a race report. So here it is in summary: I finished the race, not as fast as my last half-marathon but much of that time was attributable to port-a-potty visit at mile 1 (yes, bad planning); there were a gazillion people; despite the fact that there were a gazillion people, I had a hard time finding the starting line (they hid it); John McCain was there for some reason I have yet to puzzle out; and finally Deanna Kastor won the half marathon (yes, I ran in a race with Deanna Kastor...she only finished an hour and twenty minutes faster than me).

The next logical post after that would be to tell you all about how I survived the worst snow storm Flagstaff has seen in 30 years while Moses was out of town and school was canceled for a WHOLE WEEK. Yes, this year he has managed to miss both the swine flu and 4 feet of snow. That man is talented. Also, as a result of said snow, our roof is leaking.

But I'm giving these thing short shrift to talk to you about something really important, something I love, something that can almost make you forget there are still a solid 3 feet of snow on the ground everywhere you look and you will not be able to run, nigh even walk, outside for another two months at least. That thing is APPLE PIE. As in homemade. From scratch. With enough butter to require the Bessie the Cow at hippie-grass-fed farm to put in some serious overtime.
I mentioned earlier that one of my New Year's resolutions is to figure out to make an objectively good pie and I do believe this apple pie qualifies.
I, of course, could not have done it without my intrepid assistant and expert apple-corer:


The apple-corer thingermabob turned out to be not quite as helpful as I was hoping. For it to really work, I think you have to have perfectly shaped, non-wobbly apples. Our apples were wobbly. I had to do a little after the fact peeling, but it was probably faster than peeling by hand. Also, Garion really liked operating the apple-corer do-hickey and eating the long ropes of apple peel, so you know, cheap kid entertainment is always worth it.

This is the finished product:


Isn't it beautiful? Next to my child and the corners of my living room that I painted free-hand, that is probably the most beautiful thing I have ever produced.

And! Check it out:


NOT runny! I have given some thought as to why my peach pie was so disastrously runny and this pie was not. Here's what I have come up with: I have no idea. My theory is that I used fresh apples for this pie where with the peach pie I used frozen peaches. I think it's a good theory but one that I'll have to test out this summer by making a peach pie with fresh peaches. Yes, it must be done. The scientific method must be adhered to at all costs. Which also means that I will have to make another apple pie to see if my results can be reproduced. Oh, woe is me and everyone in my family who has to eat my experiments.