When I started this blog several years ago I had no idea the notion of a 'nether cafe' would become a common refrain (global pandemic and all).
What I find most valuable is that, after years of being on the fringes of sociality due to the constant strife and business of being a single parent, I created my own space to be social. Even if at the end of the day I am still just a wallflower. Perhaps I should call this the wallflower cafe? Nah. The nether is just fine.
In light of recent contemplations, though, I will share some more of my culinary experiences, whether dining out or dining in. For now, it is largely a dining in affair. Sometimes I am motivated to complexity, but usually I try to keep it simple.
On Saturday I made a vegan soup with broccoli, onion, garlic, and swiss chard. To thicken the broth I added quinoa, lentils, and dehydrated soy protein. Then some salt, black and cayenne peppers to taste. It turned out well. I used the leftovers on Sunday to mix in with my wild rice and steamed almonds. For dinner, I used the leftover chicken from a take out sandwich order and made my own toasted sesame almond chicken with rice dish and it was quite good.
Today it was tuna fish sandwiches with chopped onions and green olives, and a dash of English mustard. and coffee late into the day because I woke up late and made too much.
The other reality I deal with more often than I would like is that I get sick a lot every year, for months. A bad cough that takes a very long time to get over. I don't know why it is so bad, and my doctor finally referred me to a specialist. Maybe they can figure something out. In the meantime, sometimes it means I can't do very much in the day. Fending off coughing fits becomes my preoccupation. The good news is, if I must simply chill and lay down on the couch, I can still write if I am well enough and feel inclined to do so.
But the illness scares me. I don't have a fever so I don't think it's the coronavirus, but I am never quite sure if it will sneak up on me in the midst of the usual blah-ness. I get tired of telling people I am sick because they have all kinds of things they want to tell me to do. and I feel guilty, like it's my fault. Like I am guilty of trying to slow down, to take time off, to not work, to be lazy. This late stage capitalism really works a number on you.
So I try to rest, and hope that I will get well enough for a few months out of the year to be productive enough to pay my bills and keep a roof over our heads and maybe by gosh save a tiny bit of money.
Sometimes I make lemon ginger tea from scratch, with generous servings of local T.M. Klein & Sons raw honey from St. Charles, Michigan. It's very good. And it's quite literally what my doctor ordered -- consume more local honey.
