birth and baking

Another entertaining pre-natal visit. I had a copy of The New Yorker to keep me amused while waiting to be seen. Baby Biscuit spent most of her time kicking up a storm and making her presence known. "PAY ATTENTION TO ME!" Well all right then Norma Desmond... where's your monkey?
Baby is still healthy and doing her thing. As am I. Somehow through magical powers I lost two pounds in the past two weeks. I am trying to figure this out. They aren't concerned as I am measuring as I should and so on. I mentioned some symptoms that kind of indicate things are progressing. Pretty much based on my history of having a successful pregnancy they aren't too bothered about that either. I kind of appreciate this as my provider seems to take a rather low-key approach to what I do and how my body responds. "baby has a good strong heartbeat, she is active and you aren't crowning, let's call it good." Fine then. So I continue to hang out.

So I came home, took Senor Onion with me to Trader Joe's and had ourselves a time. We came home, had lunch and THEN? We baked a cake. We are exciting people aren't we. I thought it would be fun to make Fern Cake as it has been awhile. Senor Onion took a nap and I put the frosting on the cake. I spoke with my Mother on the phone and she kept telling me that I ought to relax and take it easy. I told her I spend a fair portion of my day being lazy but frosting a cake is soothing stuff. I don't think she truly believes me. Just like organizing some aspect of the kitchen is relaxing. Only Martha Stewart understands me. (we are both eldest children who like things a certain way and sometimes a little prison time won't stop us from doing what we need to do.)

Our next door neighbor has some roommates. I am not entirely sure if it is one or two... But the one who has a bedroom near our living room was chanting things today. I wasn't quite sure if it was of a religious nature or if they were losing their mind. Something about, "listen to me listen to me listen to me listen to me..." and there was some other stuff later on. Most curious.

Spotted this post on Vintage Seattle. It is a neat menu from an old restaurant. It is worth looking at for the cover. Ovaltine -only 15 cents. What a deal. It is kind of neat to see the old advertisements as well.

pride and prejudice and some comfort too.

I may not work as a book seller anymore, but I still get immense pleasure when I suggest a book or two to someone because I think it is absolutely ideal for them and that person falls deeply in love with the book/finds it a satisfying read. I was sort of gratified as of late that I can still do that. (two different people who I pushed books upon and they are filled with pleasure with their books) That was always the best part of the job in a way. Picking at the person a bit to get an idea of what sort they are and then saying, "You need this."
I like to think of it as empathy as applied to literature or something.
It is sort of like guessing what people should have to eat in a restaurant. Paying close attention to the little details of what draws them in. Mr. Jenner likes to joke when we go out by saying, "so what should I have." I read menus for fun, even if I never will eat in a particular restaurant. I like to put together imaginary meals for myself and others I know. There is something pleasurable about inventing moments like that.

When someone suggest some fantastic book to me that I become hooked on; I have occasionally thought about sending them a thank you note or a fruit basket as some over the top form of gratitude. Almost like you would for someone who may have introduced you to the great love of your life. There is one book I read in recent years that has left a mark on me that I read it about once a year because I need to visit the characters. They are dear to me. It is like that with I Capture the Castle. I know the story so damn well and I probably could recite a few passages here and there and tell you all kinds of inane things about everyone in that book. It is rather silly and possibly irritating to others. Still it is good to have reliable places to visit.