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Fumbled attempts at self-harm
I made yet another attempt to remove part of my finger today. This isn’t the first time this has happened. While pruning bushes years ago, I tried this on my thumb…
It was late afternoon and I was trying to make beef rendang, as requested by Lego Lover. I don’t like cutting meat at the best of times so I tend to use the kitchen scissors to make the task easier. In the midst of hurriedly cutting a piece of meat, I managed to get my pinky finger caught in the scissors and cut it. Initially I just noticed bleeding on the side of the pad of the finger. I thought I had the bleeding under control when I realised the front of the finger, next to my nail had also been cut…obviously. That side wasn’t as cooperative and took much longer to clot but eventually the Scientist was able to treat it with antiseptic and an Elasto-plast bandage. Â I was sure it would fall off within short order but it wasn’t until late tonight while washing dishes and getting it wet that it started to lose its grip.
Game Fanatic pretty much finished the rendang as I wasn’t fit to be working in the kitchen. It didn’t cook as long as it should have so the meat wasn’t as tender. The paste used was different to the usual one and was heavy on the coconut. But Lego Lover loved the curry and cleaned his plate.
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When things started happening
I should be going to sleep but I’m feeling rather contemplative at the moment. Around this time fourteen years ago to the day (or should I say night), I started active and full on labor with my first-born child, Game Fanatic. I had been induced over twelve hours earlier and nothing much had happened. The Scientist had been with me all day but had gone home due to lack of activity. No sooner had he gotten to sleep when the hospital called him to return. There would be no rest for the next ten hours…Of course that was the beginning of little rest for many years.
Game Fanatic tried very hard to go to sleep early so that he could wake up early for his birthday. Unfortunately he’s become such a night owl that he’s still tossing and turning. Hopefully sleep will provide the rest he needs to take full advantage of the day. He’s planning on being quite busy.
I spent much of the evening making vegetable chickpea patties for tomorrow. I made them especially for Game Fanatic on his last birthday to fulfill his craving for chickpeas. They were a hit with several family members and have become often requested. I wasn’t going to make them this time, though, because they require so much time and are incredibly messy. Apparently it’s as expected that I make them as it is that my MIL will make special pancake rolls (crepes wrapped around savoury filling, dipped in egg and breadcrumbs, then fried) for him. I started the preparations about seven hours ago and have just taken the second batch from the oven to cool, which means I can go to bed soon.
Since Game Fanatic isn’t all that keen on birthday cake, he requested that I make brownies instead. The recipe I used was a chocolate malt brownie, made with a store version of Malteasers and chocolate chips. As my niece is allergic to dairy, I also made butterscotch blondies as an alternative. Either way, dessert will be quite unhealthy although I think the blondies will be less so.
I must say I am feeling incredulous to have a fourteen year old now and as we creep year to year, I can feel his adulthood becoming closer and closer. It’s very strange to think of my children as adults but it’s only a few years away now! Wow!
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Strawberries and other food thoughts
We’re in the midst of a wonderful season for strawberries at the moment. Apparently it’s been the best growing season we’ve had in years. I’ve been buying large punnets lately and I’m nearing the end of the last one. I’ll probably have to buy more tomorrow and only hope I can get the same good price I’ve had on the last few. I also planted four strawberry plants in pots outside our kitchen. I’m determined to have a decent homegrown crop this year.
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Quiet day
Today was rather quiet compared to yesterday. The storms have moved out and we cleaned up some of the mess from the broken fence. We also cleared out some mess from what originally was the no-dig garden (that never got going). The Scientist cleared out a bunch of rubbish in the area so it looks less ugly than it did. Without the cloud and rain, it’s now been quite chilly and will drop to nearly freezing tonight. Brrrr..
Earlier in the afternoon, we went to a music shop to take a look at guitars. Game Fanatic has wanted to try playing for a while. He really wants to learn to play bass but decided he would learn the acoustic guitar first. With the help of the Scientist’s younger brother who met us at the shop, we found one that was suitable with a reasonable price so we decided to go ahead and get it. The salesman tried to give us the floor model because they were out of new ones but we declined and had him order another one in.
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Happiness is…
Both boys have had a major fix to their obsessions over the past couple of days. Yesterday, the long awaited Lego Club magazine arrived and obviously, Lego Lover was thrilled. Earlier in the day while the Games Fanatic and I were at his Dungeons and Dragons group, I espied a copy of this same magazine and was wondering where LL’s copy was. In fact, it arrived in the mail the same day. The next few hours were spent poring over the new Lego catalogue and describing the next sets on his list to buy.
Today was a momentous day for our Games Fanatic because the very long-awaited Super Smash Brothers Brawl came out. Guess who was at the store quite early this morning to get a copy? I was tucked into a warm bed at the time while the Scientist made the early morning trip with him. Lego Lover was also enthusiastic about the game. so much that I had a battle when I enforced a long break from play today. Normally, we don’t allow video game play very much during the week but made an exception today. Tomorrow, the rules return to normal.
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Earth Hour
We participated in Earth Hour tonight and we had a really great time. We set up candles in our living room. The games fanatic played on his Nintendo DS and the Lego Lover played with his Lego. The Scientist and I played a quick game of dominoes. Then we decided to play Triominoes. We never remember exactly how to play so we had a trial game first, which Game Fanatic joined and subsequently won. Then the Scientist and I played a second game which I came from way behind to win. By the time we finished the second game, the hour was up.