Robb + Jessie Married & in the Badger State
“Oh, it’s no bother, I was just drowning a mouse. Come in, please.”
Oh my. I have just finished an amusing book! David Sedaris’ fifth book, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim has left me with a feeling of satisfaction. Don’t you love that feeling when you have finished a book that grabbed you from the first line, ok maybe not the first line in this book, it’s pretty ordinary (“When my family first moved to North Carolina, we lived in a rented house three blocks from the school where I would begin the third grade.” p 3). To me, that is an average beginning, but Mr. Sedaris pulls you into his family life with the greatest of ease that you feel like you are growing up with this obsessive-compulsive, découpage-er of his electrical sockets, double-fisted flashlight carrier (to ward off zombies in his Normandy “willage”), and the list goes on. I am terrible at book reviews; I like to give the whole thing away and use too much detail doing so. Rather, I recommend you pick up a copy of this book and sit down with a nice cup of tea and join Sedaris’ crazy family.
Let me leave you with a chunk of text from a chapter called “A Can of Worms” about Mr. Sedaris sitting in a burger place called the Apple Pan in LA with his partner and another friend. Mr. Sedaris was listening to a conversation next to him about the can of nematodes discovered on the Texas plains that had survived the explosion of the space shuttle that was intended to bring them into space. Mr. Sedaris, having been told you are supposed to eat the pie backwards (ending with the tip) and make a wish on it ponders what he would wish:
… I stayed out of it, thinking of what might have been had I not wasted my wish. A laboratory filled with sensitive equipment. Men in white coats, trembling with hope and wonder as they lean forward, catching the sound of one small voice. ‘Come to think of it,’ the worm says, ‘I do remember seeing something suspicious.’”
(p. 210)
I can’t do the book justice, but there you go. A peek into Mr. Sedaris’ writings. You should really read the book. Robb, having read Me Talk Pretty One Day (another Sedaris’ book that Cathy loaned him for his trip) informed me that Sedaris reminds him a lot of me: his way of thinking, etc. I think that is a compliment, but I can only hope so be as witty as Mr. Sedaris. Oimoi…
Other news. Today is Robb’s birthday. He spent the day in Cambridge visiting historic sites and treated himself to a pint of cider at The Eagle Pub (formerly known as the Eagle and the Child) where Francis Crick and James Watson “discovered the secret of life” notably the structure of the DNA helix. They also visited Trinity College and saw an apple tree which descended from Sir Isaac Newton’s apple planted on the campus. Robb also enjoys stained glass, so their trip to King’s College made for a great treat. Hopefully he writes about it because he was really excited about its beauty, history and theology.
Also. Robb bought me 4 oz. of Earl Grey tea. He said that I will really enjoy it. Mmm I have the bestest friend.
I miss him.
I have been pondering
Why does
Microsoft Windows use a
Recycle Bin
While Mac OsX
uses a
Trash Can
Anyone? Anyone?
For Robby
Since it is summer, and summer reminds me of swinging with Robb, and I always recite this poem I learned in 3rd grade, I thought I would post it:
‘The Swing’
Robert Louis Stevenson
My most favourite biscuit
Yes, that is correct. The digestive biscuit. In honour of Robb’s arrival in Bath, England I have decided that it is important to discuss a fantastic little treat that was born (or discovered, really) in England.
Perhaps one of my favourite things about traveling are these little biscuits. Cathy and I lived on these things: on trains, on buses, on planes, in hostels and apartments. They are most delicious with tea. When we were in Dubrovnik, we would have morning tea, afternoon tea, evening tea, bedtime tea and with it we would nibble on some digestives, quickly dipped in the hot beverage and consumed before the biscuit becomes too soggy. (One can loose a lot of biscuits when one is not paying attention to how long they have let their biscuit soak in the tea).
While the original theory of the sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) found in these biscuits would help with digestion issues has been dismissed, these little biscuits contain enough fiber to keep you regular and enough calories to sustain you between delayed aeroplane flights or on crazy bus rides down the steep coastal line of Croatia (from Split to Dubrovnik).
After returning to the US, I discovered that digestives are no where to be found. This was my finding until I visited our local English store, The British Pantry & Tearoom. Fantastic! Now I can load up on biscuits for my next backpacking adventure.
Just be warned. If digestives are your only source of nourishment, you will be over-regular. (And I can say this with a straight face because of my nutrition and science education).
And remember: drink plenty of water.