My meditation strategy tonight

[elfs]

So, this evening, completely stressed to the max, I decided to do something about it. I went by the local butcher shop and bought myself a 12-oz NY steak. I stopped by the daycare to pick up Kouryou-chan (Yamaraashi-chan is staying with her mother), and we went by the supermarket for milk and eggs, and while there I bought a huge potato and a head of broccoli.

Kouryou-chan spent the next hour and a half reading to herself while I made an authentic slow-baked potato, trimmed and steamed the broccoli with minced garlic, a splash of olive oil, some coarsely ground sea salt, and a few red pepper flakes, and then broiled the steak in a pre-heated grill pan at 500°F four minutes on one side, three minutes on the other, with nothing more than a pinch or two of that sea salt. Kouryou-chan got by requesting leftover penne and home-made sauce, but she's a pasta fiend so that was okay.

Oh, dinner was bliss. I don't do that much. Even a 12oz prime cut is nine dollars, and the potato takes a long time. But between starting the potato and everything else, I cleaned many kitchen things. I ate the steak, sometimes slathering on horseradish just because, sometime enjoying my dead cow just the way it was. I put two tablespoons of butter and one of sour cream on the potato. I drank half a glass of pretty good wine (47 Pound Cock merlot, California, 2003).

I am now very relaxed, mostly from carbs, fat, and protein. I spent an hour in the kitchen, which is my meditation spot. I feel much, much better. Kouryou-chan and I are going to have ice cream in a little bit.

Comments

[orcaarrow.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Reading your post made me think of my British grandfather. When he was in need of a refuge he would clean the kitchen or make breakfast (never any other meal, but breakfast he could handle.) It was a bittersweet memory.

Not that you'll care, but I'm getting to go back to the UK for the first time in nearly 20 years. both of my grandparents have passed.

I just wanted to say thank you for the memory.

[elfs.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome.

People take comfort in strange things. Since it was a stressful week for me based entirely on keeping the family running, cleaning the kitchen is one of those symbolic things I can do: regardless of its actual meaning, I'm making progress against entropy. I think men do stuff like this because there's at least one place where order is obvious, and order is what he needs.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[elfs.livejournal.com]

A while ago, a friend turned me on to a little book the name of which I cannot now recall, in which a group of old ladies sat around knitting, and while yes they made good things and they chatted, the real purpose of their knitting circle was to keep the force of Dark Faerie at bay, which they did with a wholly gestural magic the outcome of which was scarves and hats and hoods.

I think cooking is like that for me. It's a series of gestures and actions the outcome of which is both practical and magical.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]