Cake, Nerves & Easter

Chris and Frani surprised me. They came to visit late in the afternoon and stayed the night. I had enough warning to shop and to prep a full-on Ottolenghi dinner for them — plus I made a chocolate cake (above) that served for us and will serve for another Ottolenghi dinner I am cooking for six on Saturday.

The sensuality of the kitchen seduced me. Our relationship began sweetly; I began with baking and my preference was to adopt the French style; the finickyness of pastries strongly attracted me. I learned to cook main courses in order to get to dessert.

But now I have seriously invested in cooking by enrolling in two cooking schools. And out of the blue came a desire to make classic chocolate cake. It's a dish I consider American, like Apple pie. I made this one from the Butter cookbook and increased the volume so that I could make a good tall cake.

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March 30^th. That’s the date I go to the neuromuscular Diseases Unit for an assessment of my fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae where I had an operation in 1988. That will be interesting. I have been assessed before and I found it to be one of the more fascinating experiences of my life. The extraordinary tools they have amazed me.

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Steve (my ex) is on Easter Island. He chose to celebrate his sixtieth birthday there with his current, Tim.

Click on tho sone. It is a panorama shot. Steve is in the photo
to give us a sense of the scale of the Iorana.

Perpetual Disappointments

Monday's Walk

Above are giant pussy willows. growing on 

Granville Island, They are huge and soft.

Here's another shot of them. They grow

abundantly on every branch of their tree. 

Above are the tiny white blossoms of the winter-flowering

Jasmine that is growing all over the city. As you walk, you

enter zones of it; it is uplifting and beautiful. It gives

a summery tropical sense to the city — in winter!

I have never seen this statue before. It's beside a part

of the seawall I rarely use. I love it. It looks out

over the commercial  fishing boats like a protector. 

My shadow on a rock looks like a 

memorial stone in a graveyard, but with

an image of me instead of my name.

A bit spooky.

 Above is the trunk of a Monkey Tree. They are originally 

from China but have been part of the Vancouver landscape

as long as I have been alive. 

This is the growing tip of the Monkey Tree. It is a very

defensive tree and it makes me wonder what it is so

aggressively defending itself from. Monkeys?

This row house near Kits Pool has been here all my life.

I love it. It is so well maintained and cozy feeling. Today

I could see inside and the residences look quite small.

Graphic / Neurology / Paper Artistry

I love writing so I love words and letters. I also love drawing and doing graphic art. In my first formal art class we could do anything we wanted as a way for our teacher to get to know us, and I drew the word "perspective" in perspective…. When I considered the words we use for us and our genders, I made the graphic above. It put things in an interesting perspective.

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My only plan for Monday was to see my GP at 9:45. It feels like visiting a friend when I see Art’s friendly face. If he treats everyone as he treats me, he is a saint. I have minor problems with my arms and hands. I had a discectomy on the disc between my fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae that corrected similar problems in 1988.

I went in for “sleeping pills” (Ativan) for the odd night pain prevents me from sleeping and I wanted advice about whether or not my issues are compression based and if, therefore, I should not be wearing a backpack.

I had an X-ray right after my appointment and that is why I am writing this post. The X-ray technician was so incredibly warm, generous and professional I felt obligated to say something. So I asked him: “Are you this exceptionally warm and professional and reassuring with everyone every day?”

He said he tries to be, so I told him how wonderfully reassuring it was to be in his care and I said I hoped it endured throughout his career because he will earn everyone’s gratitude, respect and affection. In other words,” I said, “You’ll have a great life.” He was clearly pleased and he shook my hand.

I get a CT scan next; Art is concerned because I have lost my reflex. I told him I did not necessarily want a CT scan because I am fine with the way things are. Although use of my arm is compromised, I don’t care because I am right handed and the pain is mild. But he wants to do the CT scan and “see what’s going on.” Stay tuned.

After all that, I went for a walk. I meandered for four hours and really enjoyed my walk today. As hour three was winding down, the sun came out so I could not stop.

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Bored Panda (a blog I follow for fun) posted an article today about Russian artist Asya Kozina who has been making paper into art/fashion (and winning renown for her impressive Mongolian wedding costumes). She explains her motivation thus:

“Historical wigs always fascinated me, especially the baroque era,” Kozina says. “This is art for art’s sake; aesthetics for aesthetics; no practical sense. But they are beautiful. In this case, paper helps to highlight the main form and not to be obsessed with unnecessary details.”

I hate her. Her creations make mine look pretty plain, but mine were worn in a play for two weeks. Hers' would require some adaptations to be practical. Still, I am awed by her work.

Greased Lightinin'

The ultimate winter couscous was, as expected, incredible. Spicy and flavorful, it was a total hit with both Leslie and me. Regarding Mr. Ottolenghi; I haven’t met a recipe yet that I didn’t love. We had a lovely afternoon cooking and eating it and watching The Sapphire Girls, a fabulously feel-good movie starring the sexy and wonderful Chris O’Dowd.

Leslie left very late in the afternoon. I came back upstairs to clean up with no plans, but in a very contented state because I had delicious leftovers to eat and I love being at home on Sunday nights. I did not know that Grease Live was on television.

But I happened on the program, turning on the TV just as Jessie J was doing her opening number and BOY, I am so glad I did. Grease Live was amazing. Directed by the man who directed Hamilton on Broadway, I was glued to my seat. I have not watched a TV show without pausing for years but this show demanded my attention.

It was performed outside and in and the staging was brilliant. Sometimes the director included shots of his cast bundling into carts to race to their next scene. Vanessa Hudgens played Betty Rizzo. She did an incredible job — remember this is live — on the day after her father died.

The emotional highlights of the night were every scene with Didi Conn who played Frenchy in the film. She appeared as the malt shop waitress in this televised version of the show.

I was arrested from the get-go. Jessie J’s opening was wonderfully performed and brilliantly conceived. It was Shakespearean, seeing everyone in character before the show starts behind this brilliant musical prologue.