Do you think I have enough coffee?

I'm off to the grocery store in a moment ...

I know! Friday nights are brimming with excitement here at the Something Shiny Café!

... and I was wondering if I needed to pick up some coffee beans. My supplies might be running a tad low. Whaddaya think?

My imaginary life

I did not sleep well last night. I don't know why ... other than the parades of fire engines and ambulances I heard outside my open window a couple of times during the night. Having tanked up on half a pot of coffee, I'm not too sleepy now but there just might be a nap in my future later this afternoon.

When I was considering buying this house, one of the first things I did was walk over from the Red Eye, one of my favorite coffee shops. Proximity to good coffee was important. I moseyed around the neighborhood - the "Heritage District" - to look at the houses. Sauntered over to the park a few blocks away and imagined taking my great nephew there (there was only the one "great" nearby at the time). I sat on the porch and imagined myself leaning against the stone-covered pillars, reading and enjoying the sounds of MY neighborhood. I snuck into the Secret Garden-esque back yard and pictured morning coffee on the brick patio, secluded picnics, puttering in the dirt, enjoying a glass of wine in the evening ...

I thought of hosting family gatherings. Slumber parties. Out-of-town family and friends. Being able to say, "Mi casa es su casa."

At the time, I wasn't just me. I was part of us - Lizz and me, of course. But also part of the often-awkward and chaos-filled relationship with J - the musician I dated for almost 4 years. And J's kids and grandson, who moved from the periphery to the center of our lives again and again. I think some part of me knew that making this move might be the first step toward the life that was pretty much just mine to live. That place where I am now.

To be sure, we've done a lot of living in this house in the 4-1/2 years it's been mine. All those things I imagined and more.

And now it's just me. Figuring out what to do next. I've had a lot of time to think over the past few months, but I'm not sure I'm much closer to figuring it out.

Last night, I went upstairs for the first time in three months. The door at the foot of the stairs has been closed since I bagged the bat in the bathroom. (I thought the bat might have come down from upstairs ... now I'm not so sure.) I'd been opening windows and doors on the first floor to let in the balmy spring breeze. After a moment's hesitation at the closed door, I opened it and went up, stopping to snag the tiny Christmas tree on the steps that needed to be put away. After rounding the landing, I cautiously peeked my head into the bedroom ... no evidence of bats here. Just a couple of plops of slightly petrified cat barf. (Yes, Lizz, I cleaned them up.) I surveyed the tidy rooms, noting evidence of vacuuming when the Elizabeths visited, scooped up some towels to throw in the washer, opened a window and paused for a few minutes to count my blessings.

I'm always amazed at how peaceful it is up there. Thinking of it now, maybe I'll head up again later for a you-know-what.


(Oh ... the rock in the photo? Those are my imaginary childhood friends - painted by my mother. I'll introduce them another time. I wonder what they're doing now ...)

The Friar's Fruity Koolsla

Two nuns and a priest walked into a bar ...

No wait, that's a story for another day. But there were two nuns and a priest at our table at the Scottish Inn last night. Share invited me to join her, John and some friends for a cold beverage or two on one of our first beautiful spring days after a looooooong and cold winter.

Since I moved back home about a month ago, my evening routine was to put my feet up for a couple of hours when I got home from work. I'd read and/or watch a movie and just be generally slug-like until the swelling in my right ankle went down ... and then discover it was time to put my jammies on and read some more until it was time to turn out the light. And then drag myself out of bed at the last possible second in the morning, get ready for work ... and do it again.

My routine hasn't varied much even since getting permission from Dr. Prettygood's office last Wednesday to start driving again. After three months, you'd think I'd just be driving all over the place! Nope. Just the library to stock up on reading material. The grocery store to stock up on java. But the swelling in the right ankle is less and less every day and I know it's time to break out of the routine.

So yesterday when I got home I knew I needed to force myself to get out - or sort of out - in the nice weather. I accepted my big sister's invitation and drove to the little pub that's really only about 5 blocks away to be social.

The past few weeks I've been struggling with what this blog's supposed to be about (well, THAT and just my whole life in general). But today is Thursday, the day we'd designated to share recipes. So that's easy! Here's a nice twist on coleslaw I think I'll try with Easter dinner. Share: Do you have some Grand Marnier I can borrow?

The Friar's Fruity Koolsla

All quantities are to taste. I'll let you know what I figure out after I try this.

Bag of shredded cabbage and carrot slaw
Braeburn and Granny Smith apples - coarsely chopped
Dried cranberries or dried cherries
1 can Mandarin oranges, drained with juice reserved
I can pineapple chunks, drained with juice reserved
Red onion - chopped

1 lemon
Grand Marnier
Hellman's mayonnaise
Vidalia onion dressing
Poppy seeds
Toasted, salted sunflower seeds

Marinate cranberries or cherries in Grand Marnier mixed with the reserved juice from the oranges and pineapple for at least an hour. Set aside.

Coarsely chop apples and toss in lemon juice. Chop onion. Coarsely chop oranges and pineapple. To a large, non-metal bowl, add all of these chopped things and toss lightly.

Assess quantity of dressing needed.

Combine mayo, Vidalia dressing, poppy seeds and a bit of the marinade. Stir dressing into the slaw with drained, recently marinated fruit just before serving. Top with sunflower seeds.

Oh geez. The bells are ringing. Gotta go get ready for work and I haven't even read Misty's blog yet.