Another Storm

Stayed late at work while Gerry, our piano tuner and repair man, reattached the sustain pedals to the gallery baby grand. He'd taken the whole assembly off to take it apart. It didn't have the right foot-feel. He essentially straightened a plunger and tightened the bottom plate with a couple of new screws. Cranky to reinstall. After he left, the sky darkened and the mother of all storms hit. No way I was driving in that, or even walking over to the pub. I made a dinner from cheese, salsa and crackers. Took a beer from the fridge. Go downstairs to the library and get a book on Winslow Homer, kick back with dinner and a beer. Read some of Mary's letters, look at pictures. I can hear thunder, the rain, and the wind, which is testament to the power of the storm. This place, at night, is usually quiet as a crypt. There's a lull, then another squall line hits, the rare brown-out at the museum, and I have to reset the router for the inter-net. Watched cooking shows while I was reading. I don't like the competitive cooking bullshit, but I do enjoy watching someone cook something that I have an interest in. I have a particular interest, right now, in eggplants, because they're fixing to hit the stands. I make a great fake caviar from eggplant, anchovies, and possum fat (it has the perfect granulated texture), that I usually serve myself, spread on the cracker of the moment, usually saltines, with sweet gherkins and a double cheddar. I want to make a perfect eggplant marinara, maybe with some cheese sprinkled on at the end. And I can search the whole Food Network. Long day ahead. Custodial responsibilities. Kids movie in the theater in the morning, then a big musical event in the evening. I'll have to clean the place between the two.