The Good, the Other Good, and the Somewhat Bad and Ugly

I'll start with the Somewhat Bad and Ugly:

See this mean, lean, dirt-eating machine? 

We were allies this weekend in the Pesky Pest War of 2011. 

I don't want to write about the bugs.

The very thought of them makes me itch.

 

What do college students do on a Friday Night?

They fumigate their house, 

of course.

After vacuuming, prepping, spraying, fumigating, laundering, and vacuuming again,

I came to four realizations:

 

1) You fight the bad with more bad. 

So many chemicals...I know there are more "natural" ways of dealing with bugs, but when your legs

are scarred from months of bites, you'll do anything to have some relief. 

 

2) Americans have (insanely?) high standards of cleanliness. 

This is both a blessing and a curse. 

3) Dealing with pest infestation is much harder than studying for a German quiz 

or writing a term paper. Also, studying for that quiz or writing that paper

become harder when you feel displaced from home. 

4) CALM DOWN AND EAT SOME FRUIT.

...

Oh wait,

I mean

Calm down and eat some fruit. 

Honeycrisp Apples from Trader Joe's cover a multitude of...bug...sins,

er,

they just make life that much better.

("That much" being A Whole Lot.) 

 

There was The Good (and The Other Good) this weekend,

but I must first study for That Quiz and write That Paper. 

 

...And maybe eat That Apple. 

Not The Apple.

Just That Apple.

To Autumn, With Love

I miss Virginia.

Autumn, you think you are so sneaky. You trick me with your Summer-like weather, but I know you are here,
              and darling, I think you are wonderful.

Your coming is always heralded by the arrival of pumpkins and squash at my local market. Why do squash come in such funny shapes? They make me laugh!

Oh yes, I bought my first pumpkin this week. I thought it might make you happy to know.

Also, all I want to do is eat root vegetables and listen to James Taylor. You probably knew that already, because, well, it happens most every time you arrive.

Remember when I made my first sweet potato pie?

 Do you remember how awful it tasted?  It was a romantic idea, though. Oh well.

Autumn, thank you for bringing woolen sock and sweater weather.
Thank you for making me feel like Laura Ingalls whenever I wake up in the morning and hurry to dress by the heater.
I promise to cook something with bacon. Y'know, the bacon I squirreled away in my deep-freeze, back when, I, uh, butchered my pig...Kind of...

I'm going to go roast some squash, Autumn. Please send some Autumnal culinary inspiration to me, mostly because my last attempt at squash was a disaster.

We'll be seeing each other soon.

(As soon as I walk outside.)

Cheers!

Love,
-Me