Daily Archives: June 16, 2012

Great Storm!

What happens when you wash your car? It rains. What happens when your 15th floor windows have just been cleaned on the outside on a 1X per year plan? Bingo.

We have 12 floor-to-ceiling windows and a view of Lake Michigan. Now I can’t see anything and it’s the 2nd or 3rd round of lightning and thunder. Dog and husband are asleep and safe, I just love watching storms.

Yes, they both went to sleep at nine and awoke at 7 a.m. while I braved Hurricane Ike alone. The Mayor told us to stay put and all the skyscrapers 1/4 mile away had their windows blown out. Ours was the only loft of 140 that was not damaged.

We were across from City Hall so must have had some special powers in the electrical department as our power was only off for several hours. We had no water for five days, and no food or water to drink.

I wanted to stay in the bedroom but as long as we had power, I wrote, I blogged, and watched the hurricane’s force. Know that as we took in the haggard refugees of Katrina (New Orleans), that city didn’t offer a finger, much less a hand in friendship over those dark days.

Many years ago I underwent a month-long culinary apprenticeship in Mendocino CA and one of the waiters wanted to sublet his cabin. No heat, a wood stove, broken windows, privy lock on the front door. He left a mattress, sheets and a blanket next to the wood stove.

I had windows all around and no coverings so when a big storm came up I sat up on the kitchen counter and watched it. Nothing like a good storm. Cheers, Dee

Happy Accidents

Yesterday, I pulled up my contacts and sent an email to a neighbor saying we’ve moved next door and will have her over as soon as the dining room is operational and we get rid of the remaining boxes.

My husband had been pulled into her grand-daughter’s birthday party and he came across the hall and got his balloon kit and made every girl her own balloon, including Wile E Coyote. The thank-you card will be framed (when I find it) and hung in his office. It is a work of art with each girl drawing herself with her balloon.

A few years ago I thanked BBQU Grillmeister Steven Raichlen for one of his recipes and heard back from his assistant, Nancy. She was automatically added to my address list on my MacBook.

So who did I send this email to? Steven Raichlen’s assistant, Nancy. She called and asked who I was and we talked for some time and promised to keep in touch. No, it’s not my neighbor, Nancy, but these kinds of mistakes are fate.

I love Steven Raichlen, watch him often and have a couple of his books. When I sent her an email, I said I was going out to turn on our grill, clean the grates, oil them and cook us burgers! Lessons from the master, turn lemons into lemonade, or perhaps charred lemon slices on a piece of salmon with a lemongrass seasoning paste…….. Mistakes can be good, taste good anyways! Dee