Yesterday I did the planned drive, went to drop my ballot in the dropbox then to the post office then triumphantly home.
I was a basket case of anxiety starting, carefully climbing in, remembering what buttons to push. It took two exits from the house, because I forgot my keys and had to go back.
However, on the way home, I was stopped behind one of those drivers who sit at the green light deciding whether to go, and my NJ mojo returned as I shouted abusive suggestions and realized I was back in Jerseygirl form.
I made the crisp tofu katsu, lovely, with a dipping sauce of soy sauce, ketchup and apple cider vinegar. It was great, and more for today.
Handsome Son sampled one after work, really liked it, would eat it again, especially with the dipping sauce, and pronounced it a good substitute for French fries (!)
Tuesday we're finally going to celebrate Easter. HS pointed out that it's probably historically authentic since word probably didn't get around ancient Palestine that fast, and there may have been people rejoicing two weeks late then, too.
I'm pushing through Howard's End and realizing more and more what a huge favor the screenplays of the Merchant Ivory movies did to the dialogue and action. That's the work of Ruth Prawer Jhabvala.
I just looked her up. Only person with an Oscar and a Booker! Two Oscars, Howard's End and Room with a View. I must look up her own novels now. Especially her Booker winning Heat and Dust.
Happy day everyone! Remember to drive politely. No horn, just screamed insults.
Screamed insults are fine, provided your window isn't open and people wonder what's wrong with you. At least now with the widespread usage of ear buds I can safely mutter to myself and not worry about what people think. Not that I HAVE ear buds, but they think I do.
ReplyDeleteYes, windows closed, no hand gestures. I have talked to myself for years, and now nobody stares because they assume I'm on the phone.
Deleteso frustrating to be behind a driver at a red light that has turned green, only to find that they are on their phone with no intent of moving forward.. Honking the horn is so inviting at that point, but I do try to have patience...Have a Blessed day today..
ReplyDeleteAround here, the most auto traffic per mile in the US, it's asking to be rear ended. A couple of friends ended up in the hospital through a driver failing to cross on green. Traffic behind assumed they were moving. Two cars totaled.
DeleteI'm impressed with the progress you are making.
ReplyDeleteI sing along with the radio in the car and, like you, I don't think I look silly anymore as people will think I'm on the phone. ;)
Yes, it's the new normal. That and people observe us less than we think.
DeleteI love that the Jerseygirl resurfaced on the drive home! Well done!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I used to call each other on our respectively long commutes. Each conversation was liberally punctuated with our resounding expletives about the clueless/dangerous drivers surrounding us...and not in dulcet tones. I didn't call my daily drive in and out of DC a "death commute" without reason; someone was usually trying to kill you with their unsafe driving. I'm happily retired now, but DD still calls me from her commute, so I still get to enjoy her screaming insults towards road idiots. Makes us both laugh.
I claim that shouting is a safety valve so I don't do anything hasty with the car.
DeleteGood to hear of your return to Jersey Gal driver ! Now I want to know how you make crispy tofu sticks! I looked it up, and am not thrilled with using Panko crumbs, and hope you have a better way.
ReplyDeleteI use panko. I imagine you could substitute some other breadcrumb or crushed crackers.
DeleteI find shouting without gesturing quite difficult and really I need both hands on the wheel all the time.
ReplyDeleteIt's a skill!
DeleteBetter to mutter the insults. And make sure your windows are shut!
ReplyDeleteYes, windows shut. They're not insults so much as helpful suggestions..
DeleteI read "Heat and Dust" years ago and didn't love it. Maybe I'd feel differently now. She did work wonders as a screenwriter, it's true. Unleash your cranky driver self -- that person in the car in front of you is probably texting!
ReplyDeleteYes, I think either texting or dangerously timid.
DeleteI was going to say make sure your windows are closed if you're going to yell insults. But Mitchell beat me to it.
ReplyDeleteYes, always. Only I can hear the suggestions I'm making.
DeleteI had a friend who would practice fake yelling in the car. He would pantomine yelling, but he was silent. I think he was making a point about the futility of yelling at other cars from your own sealed car.
ReplyDeleteNothing futile about relieving your annoyance!
DeleteHey Jerseygirl, I hope you laid on the horn and flipped him the bird a few times too!
ReplyDeleteNah, just the gentle suggestions.
DeleteGlad to hear that the Jersey Girl was only resting up in order to come back full force and louder than ever.
ReplyDeleteI guess she was dormant there
DeleteWhat about sign language? Can we use sign language?
ReplyDeleteIt could backfire if the other driver reads sign!
DeleteI used to sing along to the radio and dance in my seat at the stop lights. I never did care what anybody thought and that was long before cell phones and ear buds. Remember when having a phone in a car seemed like science fiction? LOL!
ReplyDeleteSounds like I won't miss not reading Howard's End. It would probably ruin my memories of Hopkins and Thompson! ;)
Go you, Rita! Yes, car phones, on the console, very high end. The novel is quite a different experience from the movie. I'm getting on better with it now, but Forster's an irritating writer, keeps stopping to explain. I think he's very overrated. Well connected white male whose friends published and promoted him.
DeleteHard to envision you yelling at other drivers...congrats on the driving.
ReplyDeleteIt's my inner angry lady, emerging at the wheel!
DeleteCongratulations on the successful ballot drop-off. Another first, accomplished! Loved yesterday's cartoon. Struggling with Haggard Hawks (but thanks for posting it).
ReplyDeleteChris from Boise.
I'm glad you're trying the puzzle. I didn't think it got much traction.
DeleteOh - with Mike out of town for a few days, I made crispy tofu sticks last night! Quite good, but it needed more katsu sauce that I had ketchup for (I had two tiny Heinz takeout packages, for a total of about a teaspoon). So I tried using hoisin sauce for dipping - nope. Fun evening playing in the kitchen!
ReplyDeleteChris from Boise
You need more sauce than you think, I find. My current blend of ketchup, soy sauce and apple cider vinegar works pretty well.
DeleteI’ve had a few of those driving reactions. Glad I’m alone in the car when it happens!
ReplyDeleteYes, I've never done it with passengers, a bit jarring.
Delete