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February 05, 2006

Sunday Nuggets

  • Betty Friedan, thank you. Without your courage I would not be living the kind of life I'm living today. Because of you, I have been able to choose the path of my life instead of having it dictated for me. Because you were a radical, the women of my generation do not have to be ... at least not as much. I'm sorry that so many in my generation do not know what a debt of gratitude we owe you. I'm also sorry that the news sources seem to think that Grandpa Munster's passing and the breakup of Lance and Sheryl is more newsworthy than your passing.

    When I hug my child, conceived in love when my husband and I chose to do so; when I'm working on my book; when I'm compiling the taxes for my business tomorrow; when I look back fondly on my wild single days, I will think of you, and I will be grateful.

  • In less serious news, I've had a change of heart regarding the Febreze thingie. Not only do I now like it, I adore it with a passion I usually reserve for gray-haired sexually ambiguous television journalists, Irish rock stars and the sweet heart flutter of espresso. Because there is a stink in the house, a stink that can only come from the last night's Gout Fest '06 dinner of fried chicken livers, fried portobellas and fried gorgonzola cheese. It sounded like a good idea at the time. But do you know what happens when little yummy blue cheese balls are dropped into hot oil when someone (former culinary professional who shall remain nameless, I'm looking at you) forgets to roll the balls in egg before rolling them in bread crumbs? And odor occurs. An odor unlike any I have ever smelled, for I have never vomited directly into a pot of 375-degree canola oil. But if I ever do, at least now I know what it will smell like.


    That's a smell that doesn't go away. It's a smell that kept me awake at night, tossing fitfully because, sweet Jesus, I feel like I have burnt blue cheese wedged in my nose.

  • Since we will no longer be dining in our house - you try eating in a place that smells like the vomitorium at a greasy spoon - I'm glad we discovered House of Wong today. Yum. No hint of fried vomit.

  • Heh. I just talked about balls and wong.

  • Is there a football game tonight? Oh, right. I don't care.

  • Four hours of sleep? Not exactly refreshing.

  • I'm pondering sustainable fabricated communities, like New Town at St. Charles. It's a new development, and I normally abhor new housing and subdivisions. But this one ... It's one of those places where the houses are built to look like the local old houses. Everything's in walking distance. It's all pretty and community-y and loving thy neighbory and I really want to hate it.


    But I don't.


    I explored the neighborhood a bit on Thursday. It's still mostly under construction, but the first business has opened - a combo cafe/coffeehouse/bookstore. I fell in love a little. Or perhaps a lot. It's beautiful. It thumbs its nose at the suburban lifestyle I have no desire to live. It would keep out the riff-raff.


    But then again, when the neighborhood fills with the smell of gorgonzola cheese melting in hot oil, I'm pretty sure I would be dubbed the riff-raff and escorted out by the neighborhood association. I'll probably be charged for the rail they'll install to run me out on.


    There's also the issue of new neighborhoods and homes severely lacking in character.


    But then again, my current neighborhood has oodles of character. Frankly, I might be a little charactered out.


    B. and I paid New Town a visit tonight, and I only felt Stepfordy for a minute. It didn't feel bad. And it smelled good, which is currently my top real estate priority.

Posted by Robin at February 5, 2006 07:02 PM

Comments

Character in neighborhoods is overrated. You don't want to admit it to yourself -- no one does -- but you love the dark side of suburbia. You love tree-lined streets and manicured lawns and neighbors who don't spray-paint Merry Kissmas on their homes. You love it.

One of us. One of us. One of us.

Posted by: julie at February 6, 2006 08:35 AM

Nope nope nope. That's the thing about New Town, Jules - it's so not suburbia. I will never, ever come over to that dark side. I've got some major issues regarding suburban sprawl, what it does to the environment, the homogenization of our culture, etc. When we move it'll most likely be to an old established area or something like New Town, where there are no chains/franchises, little traffic and noise pollution, and a minimal use of resources.

Posted by: Poppy at February 6, 2006 11:11 AM

I thought it looked pretty good, Pops. And you could use a bit less freaky as supplied by your neighbors in your life.

Posted by: Dixie at February 6, 2006 11:37 AM

...Maybe we have different perceptions of suburbia? Cause my suburbia is cute and pretty and pedestrian-friendly. Come to my suburbia, and I guarantee you, you will love it.

Posted by: Julie at February 6, 2006 01:14 PM

Yeah, but... there was a place like that in Florida -- scary. Looked great on paper and in its early stages, but turned out scary. (Monthly 'neighborhood' parades for kids and pets. With clowns.)
CLOWNS, I tell you.

Posted by: Mary at February 6, 2006 09:29 PM

But Mary, if there are clowns that means there might be BALLOONS as well.

I want to hate that concept but just can't. I like the idea of a good local corner shop, I like the idea of a cafe where they know me. I like the idea of belonging. Go figure.

But too weird. Going to someone elses house and knowing where the bathroom is because it's the same floor plan. Or the meeting the neighbours, "oh you went for Option B with the window treatments" stuff.

Anyway, I'm here via Fluid Pudding who sent us all out of her homage to vomit. Come visit us sometime!

Posted by: the kim half of glamorouse at February 7, 2006 05:31 AM

Fried vomit can be very tasty, although I will grant you it is not as healthy as steamed vomit.

Posted by: Mr. Fabulous at February 7, 2006 05:32 AM

Jules, I think we definitely have a different perspecitve. Knowing what I know about your area, I'm sure I would like it. However, it sounds more small-towny than 'burby, to me. When I think of the local 'burbs, I think of the isolated enclaves filled with cookie-cutter houses with only franchise businesses and absolutely no local soul that have spurng up over the past 20 years. I prefer areas that have developed organically over decades, and I have a hard time thinking of areas like that as "suburbs".

Mary, that's exactly what I fear would happen in New Town.

Kim, I love the idea of belonging, too. In fact, that's what we're looking for. And while there's no vomit here, we do have that lovely vomit smell.

Mr. Fab, call me a purist. Call me a trendy raw foodist, but I'm of the mind that vomit should remain in its pure, uncooked form.

Posted by: Poppy at February 7, 2006 10:57 AM

Well no matter what, I think that New Town looks fun, and I spent a good 20 minutes looking at their website yesterday picking out your new house.

Posted by: Julie at February 7, 2006 03:41 PM

If you're buying, Jules, I think I can live with a few weekly clown-induced nightmares. :)

Posted by: Poppy at February 7, 2006 03:44 PM

Don't do it, Pop. It'll be like living in Disneyland, with a side of Desperate Stepford Wives thrown in.

Posted by: m at February 7, 2006 06:08 PM

Well Poppy living there would put a lovely spin on the whole Stepford scenario, wouldn't y'all love to see that happen! LOL

Plus there's the bonus of much more material for a new book.

Please consider buying Poppy, for your faithful readers' sake.

Posted by: Nonna at February 7, 2006 06:20 PM