in case you forgot, here i am

Well hello!

As I mentioned, my camera stayed in California when I came back, so I've been a little shy about posting without its aid. But until my aunt figures out the postal system, I'm left with only words, and there are worse ways to be left, I think.

Big news is that I signed a lease on a new apartment, and, as of today, I have the keys! I'm not moving until the end of the month, but now I can stalk the plumbers and carpenters as they finish renovating the kitchen. That's right: stainless steel appliances, baby! I'm very excited about the move--and my new neighborhood. Remember when I said that Hell's Kitchen was the perfect neighborhood for me? Well, now I get to live there with a lovely roommate and her lovely cat, and we're going to have parties and watch Irish gangster movies and drink wine on the fire escape.

Which means that California plans have been postponed. It makes me sad, and sometimes I can't sleep because I worry that I'll never live there again. I try to remember that I have agency in these decisions. If I want to move to California, I can do it. It's just these pernicious roots that seem to want to plant me wherever I am.

But I'm happy here! I love my job, though sometimes I wonder whether it loves me back. I have a community of weird creative types who will stay out late and dance with me. And I'm "supposed to" write. As much as I can. I'm almost half-way done with grad school. I don't know how that happened, but it's terrifying.

I've had a few great meals lately: macaroni and cheese at Eatery, the cornbread and just about everything I tried at The Redhead (bacon peanut brittle!), and cacio e pepe pasta at the aptly named Cacio e Pepe. They bring out the peppery spaghetti in a huge round of Pecorino Romano Cheese, stir it vigorously so the cheese melts into the pasta, and then dump it on your plate. A masterpiece.

Okay, loyal readers. here's a question. What do you do with Peeps, the one Easter candy that no one likes to eat? Microwave? Leave out until hardened and use decoratively? I've got a box of them here just waiting for your suggestions.

Comments

[Liz]

Stick toothpicks in each like a lance and have them duel in the microwave.

And congrats on the lease!

[Dafna]

A cat? Boo. We can never be friends again. You should harden the peeps and then stick firecrackers in them and reenact the War of 1812.

[amanda]

I'd forgotten that the War of 1812 was fought by peeps. Shows how much I learned in American Studies. P.S. Moving day is now on Sunday. You and Wendy are driving in together.

[Dafna]

Yes, and let's not forgot the Battle of Peepsburg. Tragic. The battlefield was awash in sugary pastels. You mean Sunday the 26th? A day with W.W.? Glorious.