• Though I’m still suffering from a surfeit of math after this summer’s calculus fest, it was interesting to hear an acapella male choir perform an interpretation of the proof of the Quadratic Formula last night at the Bagdad Theater. This was after listening to Neal Stephenson read from his new novel, Anathem, which I failed to score in an advance reader copy but instead paid for like a regular person.
• We traveled to Sunriver, Ore. over the weekend. It’s like someone had pre-ordered Lyza-tailored weather. It was sublime: wafty and lightly breezy and dry and fragrant and hot-warm during the day; coldish and full of clarity at night so we could have fires and smell like smoke and cured meats. I taught a nine-year-old how to smell Ponderosas and it was very fulfilling. If you don’t know about smelling Ponderosas, try smelling one sometime. Just poke your schnozz into the gaps in the bark. The aroma ranges from butterscotch to vanilla to caramelized god. It’s a life-altering thing and you’ll never stop smelling them once you start.
• Re-visited the High Desert Museum just south of Bend, Ore. I got to see three of my transcendently favorite things: bobcats, otters and burrow owls.
• Insomnia is back again; stupid medications for Crohn’s. I’ve been doing a lot of staying up until 3am printing. On the other hand, I’m almost done with my first project, which is an homage to Robert Fagles.
• Wild and nonstop geekery.
• Finally tried The Green Dragon’s absinthe. They have a fountain there with ice water in it and do the preparation and the sweetening for you. Risking accusations of blasphemy, I’m going to have to say that I wasn’t impressed. It was murky and lukewarm and made my tongue feel scrapey.
• Mr. Pencil is now collecting weird, edible plants. The greenhouse roster includes: cacao, tea, miracle fruit, vanilla, and coffee.

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  Smelling Ponderosa: Image Kindly Stolen from Autumn's Site

Tags: drinking, printing, sunriver

I’m still heartily distracted by the fun lumps in my ‘ppendix (CT scan tomorrow, surgery…soonish?), but here are some other things to keep you distracted:

•  Trying to decide whether the $125 minimum order at Nicky’s game/meats justifies our need for sourcing duck fat for making duck confit.
•  David bought a brazer. I confess I didn’t even know what brazing was, nor why we need to be able to do it at home. The latter still eludes me. Something to do with creating beer, I guess.
• I have radioactive milkshakes in my fridge. They will make me extra glowy when I get all scanned.
• I’m a local tech scene debutante. I have come out (again, for the first time in years). Who knew there were so many professional events to attend? Most with free alcohol, no less.
• Floordog seems skinnier. Mr. Pencil has been feeding her less. She spends a lot of time licking the floor in the kitchen.
• David’s car got broken into (smashed window) Saturday night. Damage as per usual less than insurance deductible. Lost: backpack full of climbing gear and shoes.
• I made sugary cookies with Ibarra, cayenne and chunky sea salt on top. Did I mention I’d been drinking? FAIL.
• For your amusement.

Tags: cookies, drinking, happenings, Life