Situation normal

[spacealien_vamp]

Today I finally got all of my medical results, and everything is apparently normal, including my cholesterol levels, which I've never had checked before so I was curious about. Well, everything...unless you count the fact that the doctor thought I should have therapy because I said I would rather spend my time enjoying my hobbies than dating. @_@ No, she wasn't kidding. She was ready to set me up with an appointment on the spot. After some discussion, she finally grudgingly admitted that as long as I wasn't lonely or depressed, then I didn't need counseling to get me to date people. Yeesh.

I made considerable progress getting my kitchen counters and tabletop cleared off. ...But then I cooked some more, so I still have my work cut out for me. The potato curry with buttermilk was quite good, and I was particularly proud of the cheddar bread.

My kumquat tree has settled into its new pot rather well. I tried eating some of the not-quite-ripe fruit that had gotten knocked off when it was delivered, and I can see how it would make good marmalade. I hope to freeze the fruit as it ripens until I have enough to make something with. I ordered a second tree from a different nursery that's a variety reported to be sweeter and better for eating raw. Now I'm contemplating putting together some kind of windbreak, since the wind can get pretty strong here, and I wouldn't want it to blow the fruit off the branches. Of course, I can always bring the tree inside, which is what I did today when it got gusty.

Comments

[manga-crow.livejournal.com]

Yeesh, indeed. The only thing worse than a doctor who thinks their 3 month psych rotation makes them a mental health expert is an actual mental health expert :p Experiences outside the norm make them reach for their prescription tablets... (this is of course besides the fact that not dating is a much wiser course anyway :p)

Grats on everything else being ok =)

I'm curious how your second tree will turn out; kumquats are one of the few fruits I've never had the chance to try fresh. The ones I've had were, as the saying goes, more fun to say than to eat^^

[skygawker.livejournal.com]

Ah! I'm the same way, re: hobbies v. dating. I know a few others who are too, to various extremes and various reasons, all of which are perfectly healthy. I really don't get why someone would say that's a problem if the person him/herself doesn't complain about being unhappy! It boggles my mind.

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

The second tree is younger, and I'm not likely to get any fruit from it until next year. I am looking forward to seeing what they will be like, though.

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

Some people just can't understand those that have a completely different set of priorities, I guess.

[mangaroo.livejournal.com]

I'm going to say two things in defense of the doctor, even though her suggestion kind of offends me.

First, you have a pretty good relationship with her already if you're making small talk, and she's got good instincts to follow up on what is mentioned in casual conversation.
B) I have never understood the general social need to couple up. I won't speak for you, but I suspect there may in fact be something different about the way I'm wired. (This is where being kind of offended comes in, since every difference doesn't need to be "fixed.")
III. Kumquats! (<- it really is fun to say)

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

First, you have a pretty good relationship with her already if you're making small talk,

It wasn't really small talk. She was asking about my love life as it pertained to health issues. I was like, um, Not Applicable.

III. Kumquats!

When I manage to collect enough fruit to make something with, I'll have to share some with you.

[megory.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad the cholesterol is fine. That's the one I struggle with. When I eat lots of oatmeal and do a lot of walking, it stays okay.

I'm glad everything else is okay, too.

About the windbreak, does it need to be something that won't actually shade the kumquat trees at the same time? Or is that not an issue?

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

About the windbreak, does it need to be something that won't actually shade the kumquat trees at the same time?

Yes, fruit trees need a lot of sun. I was thinking of maybe putting together a frame of plastic pipe and fastening clear plastic sheeting over it. Do you suppose that would work?

[manga-crow.livejournal.com]

How tall is your balcony railing compared to the trees? I know my grandmother used to just attach sheets of plexiglass to her railing as a windbreak, but I don't know if that would be high enough.

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

That might work for the smaller tree, but the branches of the taller one are above the railing.

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

Wow, I find your doctor's comment offensive on so many levels. :/

The cheddar bread looks delicious! Did it taste as good as it looks? I may have to invest in that bread book.

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

Did it taste as good as it looks?

It tasted great, though I couldn't really tell there was cheese in it. I could just see the yellow flecks. (Maybe next time I'll add more...) It came out with the professional artisan bread texture, with the crunchy crust outside and soft fluffy inside.