Random weekend notes

Friday, or "now that's a table that really is a table":

I may have recounted the story of my sad table that was delivered with two non-matching halves of distinctly different color and grain. To make matters worse, the table was discontinued and there seemed to be none left in Denmark (where it was made).

Well, a floor model was returned to the store and delivered to me Friday. It has a couple of nearly invisible scratches which afforded me a 15% refund. As far as I'm concerned, it's perfect. The scratched china cabinet door also was replaced. All is right in my dining room.

Saturday, or "weed holocaust":

I declared WAR ON WEEDS, which involved my ripping up handfuls of the errant plants--enough to mostly fill my city-issued garbage can (is it illegal to dump lawn clippings? hmm)--that have been choking my rosemary, sage, basil, oregano and, as they say, much much more.

Had my first adventure in power lawn tools when I fired up my dad's weed-whacker to chop down some of the taller offenders--some legitimate weeds and some aggressive garden-bedfellows like mint and something else I haven't been able to identify or figure out its purpose, since it neither flowers nor smells herb-y. My whacking technique leaves a lot to be desired, but it cleared the way for step three, or

The dumping of 30 lbs. of pine mulch over the newly cleared areas. Spreading mulch was actually the easiest/fastest part. I discovered I'm highly allergic to some or all weeds and break out in tiny, itchy bumps after about an hour of heavy contact. During the morning, I took one decontamination shower, which involved standing in the shower with my clothes on, soaping down my arms and legs.

That helped for about 30 minutes, and then I took a Benadryl. Lesson: Benadryl works really well on plant-induced rashed, but it also causes you to suddenly need a 2.5-hour nap. All told, I started in the yard around 10 and finished around 5.

To recap:
Weeds ripped up: at least 4 milk crates full
Benadryls taken: 1
Length of new garden hose in feet: 150
Pounds of mulch spread: 30
Hours napped: 2.5
Showers taken: 3
Mosquito bites sustained: about 917
Hours worked: I lost count
Amount of sweat generated: 1 metric fuckload

Sunday, or "what, you're expecting more?":

Sunday was good. I bought some cute sandals--black with white piping, so Audry Hepburn, or something. Also, I fell for the most wonderful kitchen accessory ever, a baby blue enamel colander. You know, the 1960s kind with the big holes that stands on a little curved foot. I've already used it about 8 times. So much happiness, for only $11.99 (got mine at the W-S outlet).

Made Shorttina-friendly pesto (walnuts, not life-threatening allergy pine nuts) and talked to my friend who recently returned from an adventure in NYC. And now I can admit that I have been neurotically worried while he was there that something bad would happen in New York, and even have gone so far as to check CNN throughout the day to make sure nothing was happening. These are troubling times. Although I still worry about NYC, my adopted town for less than a year, I am relieved he's back home.