Thursday Things

– I’ve finally got a rose bush for my garden! My mom picked this up on deep discount — a Sven shrub rose, one of three hardy cultivars produced by the University of Minnesota. The others are Ole and Lena, obviously.
– Yesterday, I ate the second (of two) apples that grew on my tree this year. Even aside from the expected bias towards one’s own garden produce, I have to say it was an amazing apple. I can’t wait for more apples next year!
– Jean‘s lists (in the comments on yesterday’s post) reminded me that I would also take language classes if I could afford it. Heck, I’d take half the community ed classes if I had the money. Not only would a be rich (in this hypothetical reality), I’d also be frighteningly skilled and well educated. Intimidating.
– I made Susan’s baba ganoush today. It uses less tahini than a lot of recipes, but I think it’s amazingly smooth and rich — but I would recommend starting with half the salt and garlic called for and adding more as you want it. I didn’t weigh my eggplants, but I used two medium ones, which I thought should be enough, and it’s off-puttingly garlicky, even when I don’t have to be around anybody else. I think I’ll blend in some silken tofu to take it down a notch.
– I learned today that the clusters of seeds in a roasted eggplant will seriously very nearly make me heave. I don’t even like thinking about it. I am a bit weird about seeds (not the seeds that you plant, so much); even a blob of semi-dried tomato seeds on a cutting board is a bit off-putting. Most seeds are alright, but it’s when lots of little ones gather together that’s the worst. I don’t know what it is, really. It makes me think of insect eggs or spores or… bleeeeaurg.
– At some point during the day, I realized I was going really slowly — both driving and walking through the supermarket — and then I figured it was because I only got about five hours’ sleep last night. Why wake up at 6:00, brain, if we only went to bed some time after 1:00? This is not helpful. I did get an almost two-hour nap in this afternoon, which would explain why I’m awake without problems right now. I really don’t mind staying up late (as opposed to not being able to fall asleep — I ususally fall asleep really easily), but I reckon I still deserve a decent number of hours’ sleep.
– On a related note, I would estimate that 75% of the naps I take involve sleep paralysis now. I think it’s a self-perpetuating thing; I worry about it happening, so it does. I know exactly what’s going on when it happens, so it’s like the lamest kind of lucid dream ever. I could just stop taking naps and avoid it altogether, but then what’s even the point of working from home?