Frigid Comedy

You know how cold it is in Jerusalem? So cold, that I'm sitting here and contemplating putting on a pair of tights underneath my jeans. Last night, Pidgeon and I had experiences that will go down in our personal history. Stories we will hopefully tell our children one day - about how Mommy and Daddy dealt with construction during their first year of marriage. 

I haven't left the apartment in 2 days, and I'm looking forward to finally getting out of here for an appointment today. I am getting a little ancy, although I did manage to watch the entire 3rd season of Weeds so I feel a little sense of accomplishment. The house is a wreck but I got over than 2 days ago, what I didn't get over was what happened last night.

First, we needed to have the Treissim guy come and fix the same @#$*$%^ tris that just keeps on breaking. He was coming at 7:00 p.m. Beforehand, I had to wait for the dry cleaners, who was delivering 4 bags of moldy clothing back to us. Fortunately, he was able to clean and get all the mold off. Unfortunately, it cost more than 500 shekel to do. At least I didn't have to throw anything out! My moldy shoes, on the other hand, are a different story. I was annoyed with the cleaners because he made me come downstairs to pick up the clothing. It was heavy and I stepped on the bags a few times. Fortunately, I didn't get any dust on anything but the bags. The tris guy showed up and was very thorough,  but he kept all the doors open and the freezing cold air just poured right in.

So, right after he left, I decided to put on the heat and warm the place up. Since no more workers would be around for the night, I felt this was a good opportunity to get the place in shape before Pidgeon came home. I also needed to do a load of laundry, cause we've been recycling the same clothing for a few days now and I was short on under garments. 

And then the pop heard round the neighborhood as my heating system blew. I went to the fuse box and sure enough, the switch was down. So, I tried putting it back up and it threw some sparks. I called Pidgeon in a crying panic and then called my folks. Everything is just falling a part.

Pidgeon rushed home to help out and the electrician paid us an emergency visit. He told us it wasn't an electrical issue and we needed to get someone in to check out the unit. Pidgeon ran out to pick us up a portable room heater and I tried to figure out what's for dinner. He offered to pick us up some food, but I didn't want to eat out anymore so I decided to make my version of a deconstructed tuna casserole. I cooked up whole wheat penne, steamed broccoli, opened up a can of tuna in water, mixed 1 can of mushroom soup with 1 can of skim milk and then crushed potato chips over the big bowl. This was dinner (and, I ate the leftovers for breakfast this morning). Not that nutritious since we ate a heck of a lot of it, but still much better than eating out at a restaurant that pours salt all over their food.

Just when we thought nothing else could happen, Pidgeon decided to help out and wash the dishes and somehow managed to break a really nice bottle (for olive oil, part of a set of olive oil and vinegar that we got as a wedding gift) right behind the fridge. Fortunately for us, the bottle was completely empty. Unfortunately, we now only have 1 part of the set and it just doesn't really work as well alone. Then, I accidentally sliced my finger open on the jagged edge of another wedding present that I broke. Somehow, one handle on the soup tourrene we got from our Tel Aviv friends completely broke off and I want to try to return it as I didn't do anything but reach down to pick it up. I kept it on the counter but didn't think it would be detrimental to me, until I sliced my finger. Pidgeon rushed around trying to get me to put on a bandaid as the blood just dripping all over.

We started laughing at this point, until we decided to go to bed and move the new heating unit to the bedroom. We plugged it in, put it on, and out went the lights. It blew the lights not once -  but twice -  until we figured out that no other lights in our house could be lit while running this unit. This morning, our contractor told us that the unit was too powerful for the power in the apartment. Crap. We can't return it and what the heck are we going to do now? I guess we'll just have to figure something out. 

Well, I've been scouring the net for new cake recipes. I don't have a cook cake recipe that's pareve that's also NOT chocolate, and so I'm trying to find something good that works for me. Too bad all of Paula Deen's cake recipes are Milchig. Sometimes, it would be nice to a piece of sour cream cake with buttercream frosting. That just sounds yummmmmy!

I'm off to scour sites like Food Network, Epicurious and BakingBites for a great cake recipe!

Under Siege - Day 3

It's day three of Operation Mold Removal here at Jtownunderground's apartment and I've eaten plaster already twice. And, let me tell ya, it wasn't tasty. The apartment is such a wreck, it's a miracle I still have this one swatch of bed to sit on and type. Every room is filled with either our stuff or stuff the contractor brought in. There is dirt and plaster pieces on the floor of every room, and they are using two brooms to try to keep the mess at bay (it's not working). Progress is going well though, and I'm waiting for the workmen to return to get started on the master bathroom. They have a lot to fix in there and Pidgeon and I are looking forward to our weekend retreat away from our construction site.

Since we're basically under siege, and my kitchen is all cluttered and messy, we've taken to eating out. On Sunday afternoon, we had brunch at Caffit and I ordered the sweet potato and leek quiche. I asked the waiter if it was good and he insisted it was delicious. Unfortunately, when it arrived, I found it tasteless and mushy and so I basically left it untouched. We had ordered onion soup to start and I filled up on bread, so I decided not to send it back to the kitchen. Also, our waiter never once showed up between leaving us our food and bringing us the check, so I didn't even have the option to send it back. Now, I was okay with paying for it and just chalking it up to a bad order, when the manager came over and basically chastised me for not saying anything. She insisted that, had I said something, they could have replaced it with something else. I told her not to worry about it and then Pidgeon and I left to get the rest of our day going. I was annoyed with the way she addressed me and, I could have said something snide about the lack of service in the restaurant,  but I usually am happy with the food. We will certainly go back there to dine, I just don't know if I'll order something I'm not already familiar with.

Meanwhile, last night, the family went out to Buffalo Steakhouse for a mini celebration. It took us over an hour to get our main courses and I ordered the hamburger since the thought of eating another steak just didn't appeal to me. I wanted some beef, just not that much! Well, I didn't tell them not to bring me a bun because, up until the moment I got my plate, I thought I would eat the bread. However, since it took so long to get our meal, I had filled up on diet coke and the french fries and onion rings that were going around the table. When the waiter came back to remove my plate, he asked me why I didn't eat the bread, and I told him that I just wasn't in the mood. He then chastised me for not ordering initially without the bread and I said - stupidly - that I didn't think I could do that. He got all snobby and responded that "anything can be done". Bitch.  I didn't eat all my french fries either, should I have not ordered that too? I also didn't lick my plate clean, is that offensive? I'm sorry I wasted the food but isn't it my right as the customer to order as I please and eat what I want? I'm getting a little tired with the attitude of the wait staff at these establishments on Emek. The more they bug me, the less I'm inclined to eat out. And folks, I'm quite a big eater, so that's just bad business practices. 

I'm trying to adopt a new policy of not complaining to Pidgeon about his family, as I don't think it helps him one bit. Sometimes it's difficult and I slip, but for the most part I think he knows that I'm trying. Well, at dinner last night, his sister said something completely inappropriate and I was livid. This came after the fact that, when she was organizing this shindig and she told us it was called for 6, she neglected to inform us of the 2 hour time change and come 6:30, both Pidgeon and I were starving and wondering what was going on. I was upset that she dissed us in that fashion, but since Pidgeon was even more pissed, I decided to control my tongue. Pidgeon and his sister have a difficult history and, as of late, he has been making a tremendous effort to change their relationship. Since we're all adults now, it's in the best interest of the family for them to get along since we all get together so often. But what should he do when he takes 2 steps forward and she takes 2 steps back? I bit my tongue last night after her rude comment, but all I wanted to do was ask her if she heard herself speak. I honestly don't think she realizes what she says sometimes - and she can say some mean, spiteful and obnoxious things. Pidgeon is reconsidering whether or not to make an effort anymore, I think he should just point out these problems to her and see what she has to say. Either way, I have to stay out of it because this is his family, even though it kills me inside to see him try and constantly get rebuffed and hurt. 

I'm excited because we're planning our trip to the States! I can't WAIT to get back to the family and we're hoping to go in the Spring so we can have some good weather. My Mom offered to fly us in, if we paid for everything else while we're there. Since we want to do some East Coast traveling to visit the rest of the family, that could get a little pricey, but it's well worth it. I have no idea how often I'll be able to get into the States, so this could be a great opportunity for us. Pidgeon needs to get clearance from his advisors and I need to consult with my thesis advisor and then we can book some tickets. Woohoo!  The Big Apple - I'm a coming back to see ya!

Pidgeon and I are getting away for Shabbos, but I still have to cook and it looks like I'll also be cooking for some other folks as well. I'm looking forward to mixing things up and so I'm trying to figure out a good Shabbos menu for everyone. I have such issues with chicken on Shabbos day and since I can't use any sauce, it gets boring just breading and frying/baking cutlets. But, I'm hoping to supplement with some interesting side dishes, so it should work out ok. 

Well, the workers came back so I'm off to go "supervise" once more. Not much left for me to do, but I think my presence is good enough. Here's hoping I don't eat anymore plaster.