a wolf angel is not a good angel

This time, I thought, I’d be sure Matilda couldn’t get off the back stairs. I watched her like a hawk.

I didn’t, however, think about the risk of her visiting other neighbours. She has wandered into the apartment below me, and the owner is not at home. The apartment below me houses a dog, who isn’t there (no barking), two cats, one of whom is sitting on the sidewalk outside, the other might be inside, and fish and birds. Matilda doesn’t really care about fish, but she loves loves loves birds. They’re caged, so hopefully she can’t get at them.

I could go in — the balcony door is unlocked, and the back door is (obviously) open. But I don’t feel right running through someone else’s house. And Matilda will come back eventually, hopefully before I leave (just under 2 hours), but definitely sooner or later, on the sooner side, because she doesn’t like being away too long, and if I’m lucky she’ll come back hungry.

Next pet I get is going to be a stupid homebody scaredy cat.

Under what circumstances is it reasonable to cancel plans because something else came up? (Where else is not illness or death or something else bad like that.)

You’re welcome to bear in mind relative importances of the two plans, how often you get to see these people or whatever else seems to be relevant. Also bear in mind that since we’re coming up with times that it’s reasonable, the default — and, to my mind, correct — assumption is that generally, it’s not.

I’m really curious what people think here. I know there are people who lurk — please answer. (Made up names are fine, made up email addresses are fine, though new-to-commenting-here email addresses will get moderated initially.)

For no good reason at all, I am tired tired today. I can’t keep my eyes open. I just want to lie down and sleep and sleep and sleep. Also sleep.

My almost ripe one was gone this morning! I will need to make a cage or something around it. Why are my strawberries being eaten and not, for example, my raspberries or tomatoes?

Until then, I have a brilliant solution: bring them in every night.

Why would you pay extra money for a foil-wrapped potato? I’m as fond as the next lazy person of pre-made salad, but that means I don’t have to chop things, and you can buy it in much smaller quantities if you like mixed salads. But these are expensive foil-wrapped potatoes. Why? Who doesn’t have aluminum foil?

And why is ice cream so expensive? Not the good, worth the expensivity, home made stuff, but the big generic brands. And why can’t I find smoked Gouda anywhere anymore?

I think something’s been getting at my strawberries. I’m pretty sure cats don’t eat them, so that leaves raccoons and squirrels. Raccoons eat everything, and the infallible internet says that urban squirrels prety much do, too. Well, that sucks. I have no idea how to protect them. (So far the raspberries and tomatoes are untouched.)

One strawberry is nearly ripe. I really, really, really hope it tastes good, after all that.

My doorbell occasionally rings and no one is there. (This is distinct from the time it happened at 11:30 at night, because someone was banging on my door after I ignored the doorbell.)

Is there a ghost here or something?

It was particularly annoying today because I want to go out but I am anticipating a package today and want to get it, and when the doorbell rang I was all elated that the timing would work, only there was no package waiting for me. Probably I’ll just leave a note on the door, but I don’t hugely like doing that. (None of my neighbours are around to receive it for me.)

And I have no idea what to get him! Last year I turned him from the evils of creationism, but there’s no way I’m going to make him less right-wing in his politics just by buying him a book. I got him tickets to see Four Anglos of the Apocalypse for his birthday, and I got him a Sudoku book for Chanukah. Take him out to [meal]? I never know what to get for him.

This Sunday we are having all the family over for dinner. Which is good, because enough people means I can avoid the ones I would prefer not to see. My uncle will not be there though: his gift to himself is leaving the city so he doesn’t have to see his father.

I think I am getting pain when I ovulate. The timing and symptoms are right, but it is always on my left side, though it might be every other month, I forget. Also it might be on my right side sometimes and I forget.

I can’t imagine how I think I am clear enough about the timing to say it’s right. But it seems right, and what is the internet for if not to diagnose yourself?

1/2 cup sugar
2T cornstarch
3 eggs
2 1/2 cups milk (I usually use 1%, but sometimes skim if I have no 1%: if I have cream, I’ll add a bit, but it’s not a big deal)
2T butter
1t vanilla (or a vanilla bean, should you have one)

combine sugar and cornstarch, mix with eggs and milk until the lumps are gone
heat over medium heat until it thickens, about 10 minutes; keep mixing for most of this time
mix in the butter and vanilla, put into a bowl, chill and serve

To make it chocolatey: mix in 2oz of melted chocolate
Butterscotchy: brown sugar instead of white

I often make half vanilla, half chocolate, then marble them.

If you’re a fan of Little Women, to blancmange it, take out the eggs (and, optionally, the butter), use 5T of cornstarch instead.

for Dr. B et famille