A seething mass of turgid drama.

This week's Resolution Recipe: Corn Pudding.
"Most renditions of this dish are laden with cream and cheese, but here the veg are allowed to be the star."
( But if you've got some extry, I sure would like a taste )

This week's Resolution Recipe: Pizza Steak. (Steak with Tomatoes and Mozzarella)
"This recipe is adapted from a 1970 California cookbook creatively called 'The California Cookbook', before Chez Panisse opened and California cuisine became associated with immaculate, sometimes precious, seasonal produce."
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I had a nasty Charlie horse Sunday night in my calf and it's persisting, especially when I get up in the morning. I have been trying to be diligent about stretching it out. Sitting all day yesterday didn't help, I am sure.

I was on call last week for jury duty and had to report in Thursday. I don't believe in weaseling out, though I would plead hardship on a long trial because I genuinely can't be away that long. This trial was predicted for a week though, so I didn't try. Yesterday I went in for jury selection and because I wasn't seated I can talk about it. Guy was fighting a misdemeanor DUI in 2024. If you listen carefully (and I try to) you can get a pretty good idea of the shape of the trial and the strategies. The prosecutor planned to call only one witness, presumably the cop who pulled him over, and very little evidence - presumably the alcohol blood results. The defense planned on trying to sow doubt on the results and the defendant wasn't taking the stand (which is his right). I do question the doubt strategy though, since one of the charges was blood alcohol level above 0.2%, more than double the legal standard. I guess they plan to contest the initial result and that might then invalidate a later higher read?

Lots of usual whining from prospective jurors and my virtual eye-rolling. One guy told a long rambling story for what felt like ten minutes. One guy who had two DUIs and said he was inclined against anyone else who had the same. There was also the immigration defense attorney who flat-out said she was biased against cops and the legal system. I have served several trials before, which either gets me seated as a reliable juror or might have gotten me kicked out for theoretically substituting my judgment for the jury instructions. (I don't think I would actually do that, but I could see a lawyer making that call.)

I ran a little late this AM and decided to skip having coffee at home. When I got my usual at the coffee shop, an AI company was paying for the drinks and it only cost me a penny. Everything's coming up Milhouse!

This week's Resolution Recipe: Simple Linzer Cookie Slices.
"These sliceable cookies capture all the spicy, fruity flavors of classic Linzers with none of the fuss."
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Yesterday we saw the new Shaun the Sheep movie. It's a Halloween parody of monster movies. Fun, not as good as the original or the Xmas special, but worth seeing for what it was.

Sadly, the 20-minute drive home was hijacked by Folsom St Fair street closures. It took (literally) two hours - half an hour longer than the movie itself - as we were repeatedly forced to drive around in loops. Officials directing traffic would have helped immensely, but apparently having uniformed officials present is verboten for this sort of thing, even if they aren't police. (sigh)

At one point I thought we had escaped the mess but an accident closed the escape route with a fire engine blocking the street.

This week's Resolution Recipe: Barley Porridge.
( Barely Porridge )

This week's Resolution Recipe: Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms.
"Using saucer-sized portobello mushroom caps instead of the usual bite-size white buttons turns everyone's favorite hors d'oeuvre into a satisfying dinner."
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Saturday was a normal-type day for us; we did stuff around the house. The wife put in a massive amount of effort and basically completed the project on our outside level. (There's one level to go that she hasn't started.) It looks great! Still to come is filling the big planter with dirt (and plants), and planting some wooly thyme around the pavers.

Sunday was the first GSP rehearsal. Not everyone was there, and it was... rough. Not unexpected for a first run-through that isn't that well defined, and not everyone has done improv before. Bones are good but at least one actor needs to learn that "big" does not mean cartoonish overacting. That was most of my day.

Monday Matt & Crystal picked us up around 8 AM and we drove to our friend Edward's place along the Russian River (about two hours away but a lot of windy riverside roads). He's making some 16^th c slat chairs for us, and asked that we help with the project. I'm not sure how much help we were as only the wife has really done woodworking before, but Edward seemed to enjoy both the company and the teaching. We didn't get home until close to 9 PM so it was a long day.

So I am drained today, and this afternoon is a series of long meetings (some of them important). That is not helping the exhaustion.

This week's Bonus Resolution Recipe: Strawberry Buttermilk Corn Cake.
Or, the continuing storrrrry of what do with all that masa.
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Yesterday I took the day off. It was originally going to be a half day, but I needed a break. We drove to the East Bay (traffic was awful, a lane was shut down on the Bay Bridge) and met Ken & CJ at the local theater. After obligatory 30 minutes of inane previews we saw Coyote vs Acme. It was good; lots of nods to classic Looney Tunes. Not ground-breaking like Roger Rabbit but at least it wasn't a pathetic commercial like Space Jam. I'd recommend it.

We walked around for a bit and had a decent dinner at a hole-in-the-wall Salvadorean place. Then home, in the obligatory rush hour traffic.