| esquire within |

Overheard in the walk-in closet.

Derek: Um, babe?  Why is there a photo of Mario Lopez on the dresser?

The Girl: Because I like having pictures of you around, sweetie.

Derek: .....

Seasonal.

Have you noticed a serious mood change as the temperature drops? Are you sleeping more? Feeling lethargic? Craving sweets and starchy foods?

Have you stepped on a kitten in the last four weeks?

No?  Just me?

Sigh.

Yesterday I was completely worthless.  Pinched a nerve in my neck and was feeling six kinds of cranky -- pretty much all day. I think sometimes Boston makes me feel stir crazy. A lot of my law school friends have moved to other climes, and of course none of my Cornell family are close enough for a day trip (at least, not until I buy my own helicopter). There are a lot of people I miss seeing on a regular basis.

Also, it's miserably cold and grey. Not quite Iowa Cold, but pretty freaking close. I'm a child of summer, so New England tends to get to me after Christmas. A week on the beach would probably do wonders.

So we're sitting at the Starbucks in Davis Square -- borrowing internet from Diesel Cafe across the street.  Frankly, I'd rather be over there, but it's usually too crowded with yuppie wannabes hogging booths.  That and a scarcity of electrical outlets makes it better in theory than in practice.  We did, however, manage to snag seats right next to the fireplace, so I can't really complain.

Nevermind, I lied.  I can complain.  About the sorority chick next to us who's been on her cell for the last ten minutes discussing dieting and dress codes for pledging.

Shoot me.

Anyway, today I've resolved to make headway on my new project for the Tokyo-based Niwano Peace Foundation. It's one of those things that'll be great once I get some momentum. I always hate the beginning.

Varmint.

Last night we made a spicy three-bean chili with bison (which is a lot better for you than beef but still has all the delicious wonders of red meat).  As usual, we made a pretty big pot of it, and unless I wanted to divvy it all up into smaller containers, the leftovers weren't going to fit in the fridge.  But we have a deck, and it was snowing, and we used to do put food outside at our old apartment all the time.

The key difference here is that our new deck is connected to the ones beneath it, all the way to the ground -- so animals (and serial killers) have significantly greater access. 

So we wrapped the lid onto the pot with aluminum foil, then put a very heavy cast iron pan (wrapped in a plastic bag) on top of the pot -- and then wrapped the whole thing again in a trash bag.  We figured it was more or less water and vermin proof.  And if anything got past these formidable defenses (seriously, the pan is heavy), well, then it just plain deserves the chili.

This morning, I went to the back to check the goods.  The pan was still in place on top of the lid, but a lot of the plastic was shredded -- and the tell-tale footprints of a Rodent of Unusual Size were all around.  I have a feeling if the weather was nicer, whatever it was would have invested more time and patience into acquiring the meal (and with all that chili pepper, a nasty case of indigestion).

Guess that's the last time we do that.

Westward, ho.

Well, we made it.  And for the first time -- possibly ever -- we got to the frozen tundra that is Iowa without any delays, detours or cancellations. 

Last night, the Girl's best man and his fiancee came over for a New Year's Eve dinner.  We made it through two bottles of ridiculously expensive champagne and approximately 9/10ths of a bottle of Ketel One.  We even mixed up some Black Velvets, which are equal parts Guinness and champagne. (I was dubious at the suggestion, but they actually weren't half bad.)  About an hour before midnight we headed to Grendel's Den in Harvard Square where, much to our pleasant surprise, we were able to walk right in and grab a table in the back -- just in time for party hats, noisemakers and drinks on the house.  Stayed long enough to ring in the New Year with a loud and happy crowd before cabbing back to our apartment and promptly ordering entirely too much pizza before passing out.

Very low key and fun, but morning came quickly.  Fortunately, we were able to hitch a ride to the airport -- which was practically deserted -- and our flight was uncharacteristically on schedule.  Landed in Minneapolis about 30 minutes early, grabbed an okay-ish walleye sandwich and some Caribou Coffee, then boarded our connection to Cedar Rapids, which also landed early.  

My brother and sister-in-law picked us up and got us back to Mom's house, which is slowly warming up but deplorably empty of foodstuffs.  Mom's been in Texas for a week and won't be back 'til Monday.  She is, I hope, feeling an appropriate level of guilt for not having so much as a box of macaroni and cheese in the cupboard.

Assuming we don't succumb to starvation and/or hypothermia (it's 4 degrees out, and probably -20 with windchill), I'm looking forward to a relaxed couple of days.

Nippy.

What's the opposite of awesome?  How about a radiator that's icy cold to the touch?

Our study and back bathroom are approximately 15 degrees cooler than the rest of the apartment.  I guess our downstairs neighbor is having similar issues with the radiators on the same side of her apartment, too.  Unfortunately, our building manager -- who came first thing this morning -- said the plumber is in Vermont and can't get to this until Monday.  Apparently there are no other plumbers in the City of Boston.

Good thing I have a space heater.  And thick socks.  And slippers.

Trimmings.