Seekers and Eaters

Occurred to me that I set up this blog intending to  bore entertain you every Monday about my weekend. One day late but I promise something for everyone: pirates, Greek philosophy, chicken livers and succulents. Succulents are totally aweseome, or Tawesome as Tallulah would say, the perfect example of Stoicism, which is being observed (presumably in a reserved and unemotional way) in Britain this week, according to the Telegraph.

Our succulents being stoic and allowing the banana leaves to be Grand Poobahs of  the deck

More stoicism on the other side of the deck

Our succulents emerged unscathed by the recent storms. They accept what they can't change and work on what they can; they chlorophylise while the sun shines and water is plentiful and are lovable while allowing the Grand Poohbahs of the deck - the banana leaves - to be the star of the show. I aim to be more like Stoic succulents.

In our pursuit of Stoicism - basically 3rd century don't sweat the small stuff - Kevin and I decided to outsource Thanksgiving sides for 18 this year, with Kevin doing the turkey. Love the idea of cooking - don't we all dream of amuse-ing the bouche out of our guests? -  but not the actuality. Maybe onedaywhenthekidsaregone. I ordered the basic holiday dinner; I know some people like to fiddle around with the ingredients but I say Classic bird, mashed spuds, gravy and brussels are perfect, why try and Rococo them?

We are doing a total redux of last year, including - stoicism and parsimony: zut alors! - I will also be wearing the same frock.  We just heard Kevin's parents won't make it out of Pennsylvania because of weather so it will be a demi-redux, will miss them.

Tried to persuade Kevin not to do the Ashtanga-practising Camus-reading organic bird from Petaluma who antiques on Saturday morning (so dry last year). My hairdresser Karen (aka Font of All Knowledge) says get a cheap water-filled one from Safeway. Covert conversations have let me to believe Kevin has not taken my advise and am being Stoic in my acceptance of his (flawed) decision.

Kevin and Jackson lost a bet to a Detroit Tigers friend and had to wear orange stuff around all day Saturday. They told me the whole story but I let it release from my memory so I have room for thinking about Jennifer Aniston and how she's aged suddenly in her last movie We're The Millers but I like it. Maybe she will find more challenging roles and not slip into a Meg Ryan-sized hole.

Kevin and Jackson being humiliated by their Detroit Tigers friend

On Saturday night Kevin and I had dinner at Bay Wolf and I had the chicken livers with arugula and bacon. Love everything innards, is that my Manchester heritage? Thoughts from Mancunians?

Storms heralded goodbye to this top, thrashed over the summer

Afterwards we saw Captain Phillips, a true story starring Tom Hanks as a merchant seaman who is held hostage by pirates off the coast of Somalia. Intense movie, bizarre to watch hundreds of millions of American defence money being spent on rescuing Tom from four poor Somali fisherman-turned-pirates high on Khat. Very sad all around.

Intriguing how the Navy Seal negotiator took over. Plus he was a little bit handsome. He established authority and control: "Ship to lifeboat, this is your Negotiator" then gave the pirates their due: "Is this the Captain? Are you authorised to negotiate on behalf of the others? Negotiator Out." Or something like that.

We've been trying for years to get Cy, nine, to make his own lunch. The other kids have been making their own lunch since they were six or seven. "Sorry, no can do, Mama" is his answer "Not in my schedule." Eventually after some nagging, he started tossing random stuff from the fridge into a bag: one time it was a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter. Friday, he took a bag of 20 little oranges for his lunch.

Cy and Tallulah off to school. Cy carrying his 20 little oranges for lunch. 

Good as it gets. Negotiator out.