A Desert Getaway, It's the Climate, The Fridge Vortex
Our friend has asked us to watch her dog and house-sit in Palm Springs between Christmas and New Year. She had several volunteers; we were the first pair to say yes and confirm availability. Playing house is one of my favorite kinds of holidays. It's right up there with Garza Blanca, Costo, all-you-can-eat and drink. Going to stay with someone and run errands with them, do a fix-it job they don't have time to get done is the perfect low-stress experience I enjoy. Also, I love Palm Springs. As my husband says, it has the sweet combination of all the stores that are a hassle to shop at in the city but with substantially empty parking lots found nowhere else.
When I was too young to remember, I lived in Palm Desert/Palm Springs with my aunt. I was a bit of a runt twin, and my parents were told that I would not do well in the Seattle winter; they should send me someplace warm. I stayed with my aunt in Los Angeles. She thought, what's warm, and decided to take me out to the desert. In doing so, she set me up for being the first Gay of my generation to winter in the desert. As an adult, my aunt confided in me that taking me out to the desert house as a baby was too warm and it nearly finished me off as I had pneumonia. Now I have come full circle. I love being out in the desert. What is not to love about the climate?
While in PS I am up for doing some tourist stuff and walking out in the wild scrub and rocks. Then, come back into town and park in the first row by Target and Trader Joe's, and show up at the gym anytime because it's never crowded. It's the old gay guy version of living in the Barbie Universe?
Today I am facing down the black hole in our fridge. I am wondering if it makes sense to order the meal kits again. The meal kits ensure that we eat something with the right mix of fats, carbs, and protein. The box meals appeal in two ways. First, a lazy guy can eat right without even trying. Secondly, it's been ingrained in us that it's a sin to waste food. No matter how bland the boxed food gets, we are compelled by the power of Christ to eat our grilled chicken and wild rice.
I chose shopping over meal boxes. To prepare for shopping, we write what we are out of on the fridge door. Then we open the fridge door, stare at the Tupperware leftovers and sauces, and visualize what we want to fill the space with to keep us fed. Based on this review we chose which store will have most of the things on the list we want. Who wants to shop at two stores? I like TJ's. I feel like I am getting more for my money. Costco is always solid, too; we eat a lot of roasted chicken and drink too much Coke Zero as a result.
What am I reading this week?
I stumbled onto a podcast about engineering failures. Well, there is your problem. This is a podcast with jokes about engineering disasters and systemic failures from a leftist perspective. It's a few guys who ramble, and the editing is choppy; some of the jokes are inside references to them alone, so it is an hour and a half of your life you won't get back. Therefore, it's perfect for the treadmill.