Misc. MB

I'm in full travel mode today. Not too long ago, M-C asked me if I were looking forward to my trip, and I was so wrapped up in the details and the planning that I had to say, No, not really, but I'm sure I'll be excited when I get there.

Oh. In case you've forgotten, or I haven't mentioned, I'm leaving tomorrow for 10 days. Berlin first, then Dublin for a couple days, then a resort outside of Dublin for a conference for a few more days.

To mimic my scattery day and brain, then, I present you with the following miscellanea.

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Did you know how wonderful lemons are? You probably did, because how could you not, but still, add this to your list if it's not there already.

Lemons are amazing de-stinkifiers.

I bought a couple of cheap-o life brand travel-size body wash containers to empty out and put my unscented expensive hippie shampoo and conditioner in. When I opened them up and dumped them down the sink, I was verily assaulted by a terrible stench. Of what, I don't know, but it was born in a lab and should have stayed there.

Running them through the dishwasher helped, but not by much. Every time I stood by the sink, next to the containers drying in the dish rack, I'd think, what is that godawful smell? I never have, oh. Right. Shit. I can't use those.

But I didn't have anything else to use.

Last resort? I put them in a deep narrow pot, juiced half a lemon and poured it over the containers, sloshed them around in the juice while I boiled some water, and then covered them with the water and left them to sit until everything was cool.

Voila. No more stench. Like some kind of miracle.

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We got leeks!

I raked the front and back lawn today and Patty came over and planted the leeks she had been growing in containers, because leeks don't like growing in containers. Who knew. There is now one square foot of a vegetable I don't like in my front yard, and I couldn't be more pleased.

Plus, it was also satisfying to do some physical labour. It's not like I sit around all the time, but the activity I generally get is activity for the sake of it. Running doesn't really serve a purpose other than keeping my heart rate low and my endorphins up, though I suppose those are both useful. Yoga is slightly more productive, what with the growing inner peace, yada yada.

But moving a pile of rocks from one side of the yard to another? It was there, and now it is there. The fruits of my labour. Very satisfying.

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If you haven't been reading Ickaprick & Ironpussy, today's post would be a good way to start.

Fuck me, that's good blog.

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Door to door, it's going to take me almost 20 hours to get to where I'm going. It shouldn't have to, but because part of it's a work expense, I ended up going to Berlin by way of Dublin, by way of Newark (because I couldn't get a direct flight).

I'm not looking forward to that, which is maybe why my excitement for the whole thing hasn't been turned up to 11.

But I'm prepped. My knapsack is packed as lightly as possible, and I've got: stuff to wash my face and brush my teeth; trail mix I made yesterday; ear plugs; blindfold (though when it's to wear so I can sleep on the plane, I call it an "eye mask"); other food to keep me going through airports, where it's incredibly hard to find anything edible if you don't eat wheat or dairy.

Shelley and Steve, who will meet me at our German apartment, have been forewarned. I've been promised a cup of tea and a nice dinner and a very quiet first night.

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Speaking of not eating wheat or dairy, the food that I made to take were Jennifer's Chickpea and Spinach Triangles.

I had mushrooms what needed eating, so I sauteed them with the onions before adding the rest of the ingredients.

Fuck me, that's good food.

The reason I had mushrooms is because I was going to make a pizza, but then figured these would transport better. Then I went and made them into half-moons instead of triangles, and made them also too big to fit into any of my tupperware.

Anyone have any long tubular tupperware they want to give me so I don't have to use a stolen plastic fork to eat my probably destroyed delicious half-moons out of the bag in which they were probably destroyed?

Don't worry, I won't wait up.

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There's probably more, but there're still dishes to do and I'm going to take a stab at being well rested before I work a full day and then spend 20 hours in transit.