A Very Exciting Soup

Darling Mia and Sara and Jessica,

I had this very special moment in Bloomingfoods today that I just had to tell you about. Oh yeah, I got a job, did I tell you that? I’ve been terrible about staying in contact with anyone for the last month or two. Checking my email and seeing the constant stream of rejection letters got so depressing that I just quit spending time online. But anyway, if you write me now I’ll write back because I don’t have to dread opening my email anymore.

So anyway, I’m a cook in the hippiest grocery in Bloomington. It’s not the hippiest lunch spot, because there are dozens of those, but it is the hippiest grocery. We make plenty of vegetarian and vegan dishes, and there’s a big emphasis on local, organic and natural foods. For example, we never use canola oil because it’s genetically modified. Who knew? And did you know that a 1/3 lb baked slice of tofu is called a “steak”?

One of the perks of working in the kitchen is we get to sample most of the dishes we make. Actually, we’re supposed to taste the things we make so we know if it’s ok or not. I’m getting really sick of making sure the egg salad I make every day tastes fine – egg salad has never been my favorite, although it’s pretty fun to make. But sometimes the guys will bring me pieces of chicken or bowls of soup they’ve made. Which brings me to the fabulous moment I thought of you today.

There’s this other new cook who got hired last week with me. However, while I don’t have any kitchen experience and am struggling to keep up making the cold salads, this guy (Joe – seriously, almost everyone in the kitchen is a guy with a one-syllable name – Dan, Mike, Joe, Jim, Jay – it’s funny because it’s such a stereotype… anyway) Joe just graduated from culinary school so he’s way ahead of me in cooking skills. So while I’m making egg salad, Joe is making exciting entrees and soups. Guess what soup he handed me a spoon to sample today?

Think for a minute before you read the answer. I bet you’ll get it.

It was African Peanut Pumpkin Soup. And it was really, really good. You probably wouldn’t have liked it, but it was way better than the one we made. For one thing, it was completely smooth, so if it had onions or peppers you didn’t notice it. And it was so creamy and spicy and different – really, really delicious! It was one of the best things I’ve had to eat there, besides the Szechwan green beans and the slice of raw fennel Mike gave me today.

Anyway, I just wanted to share that with you. Call me sometime – I get lonely sometimes even with the highly sociable atmosphere in the Bloomingfoods kitchen. Are you all ready to start student teaching Mia? And Sara and Jess – I’d love to help you move into your apartment when you’re ready - I could bring up Dad’s truck on a Sunday afternoon, maybe even with Dad in it!

Love you all bunches,
Kara

My blonde roommate, reprise

This evening I was teaching Jessica to distinguish between different frog calls. She never really caught onto the different sounds, and was convinced that I was trying to trick her by playing a cow instead of a bullfrog. After a while we moved on to bird calls. Those can be tricky, and while confusing a great horned owl with a mourning dove is kind of odd, it's somewhat understandable. Then I played this clip, followed by this one.

Jessica sat with a puzzled look upon her beautiful countenance.

"Can you play that again?" she inquired.

I obliged.

"Is that a crow?"

I burst out laughing.

"How about an eagle?"

While Jessica sat in bewhilderment and I collapsed in mirth, Mia came downstairs. I played her the clips, and Mia informed Jessica, "You're going to be really mad with yourself when you find out."

"What color is the bird?" asked Jessica.

"They come in many colors."

"I have no idea, can you give me a hint?" inquired our fair-haired heroine.

"That sound is only made by the male members of the species."

After a while, I am happy to report, Jessica finally did arrive at the correct answer.

Right now she is barely conscious on the couch, and since she won't go to bed we'll take this moment for a candid interview.

Me: "Miss Young, tell me about your aversion to your loft."
Jess: "What do you mean?"
Me: "Why don't you like going to bed?"
Jess: (giggles) "I actually generally like going to bed, but I can't because I have to put my laundry in the dryer first." (hides her face under her arm much like some of Peter's hens)
Me: "So why don't you get a wiggle on moving the laundry?"
Jess: "Because I don't feel like it. Nobody is going to want to read this interview."
Me: "But some of our best stuff comes out after midnight."
Jess: "Maybe so"
Me: "I think you're too awake for an interview. I liked it better when you sat straight upright at the rooster crow just now."
(Silence from the couch)

Oo-la-la

Sara and I got invited to an "honors convocation" for students with GPA's of 3.0 or above. It sounded pretty pointless, so we both decided not to attend. However, our parents also received an invitation. My mother was misled to believe that it is a big deal, so she called us to say that she and my dad are going to go.

This evening, some of my roommates and I were discussing the situation. "Did you tell them that's it nothing special?" asked one roommate.

"Yeah, but they like to go to things like that and hear people talk," replied my sister. "They think it's romantic."

The other roommate laughed. "Well, I guess everyone has a different idea of what would be romantic. I would..."

A discussion on romantic dates ensued.

Then, roommate number four came home. We asked her what her idea of romantic is. "Are you kidding me? I am not going to put that on a blog!" she exclaimed. We hadn't mentioned the blog, but I guess she knows us too well. ;-)

So here are our ideas of fun things to do with your true love: (See if you can guess whose they are)

1. Canoeing on a peaceful lake at sunset.

2. Painting. Together. On the same canvas.

3. Double-riding on a horse.

Bonus points if you can guess which Shingle Parasite refused to comment!!

Goodwill Wardrobes!

Since we thought you might not loading our blog all the time until we update again and seeing our bellybuttons (or those of our neighbors...) we thought we'd show you how much we dig Goodwill. Yesterday Goodwill had an amazing 50% off storewide sale, and we were there shortly after the doors opened. To be precise, we were there seven minutes after the store opened, at which point the cart corrals were already empty. When we had finished shopping, Jess and I stood in line to check out our clothes as well as Sara's and Andrew's, who had better things to do than stand in line, for an hour and ten minutes. But our wardrobes are amazing now, and far more amazing than these three wardrobe changes can show.

Four reactions to the same neighborly event

The scene: Our kitchen. With the blinds to the back door open. Two young neighborly male fellows are playing catch with a football in our back yard.

Kara: "Hey look, Sara, our neighbors are wearing shirts today!"
Sara: "Hallelujah! Look at that lovely shirt rippling in the breeze."
Jessica: (walking in with a stunned expression on her lovely countenance) "Wow, there are some good-looking men in our back yard!"
Mia: (Too engrossed in reading The Princess Bride on the couch to notice said neighborly figures)

Midterms

Last semester a person passing by Shingle Paradise would have been able to knock on our door almost any time of the day and find at least one resident home. This semester we all are on campus a lot more, and we have eerily coinciding class times. For example, at Nine O'Clock on Tuesdays and Thursdays every single one of us is in class.

Another eerie coincidence (in the coinciding sense, because of course everything is determined by Divine Providence and Professors) is that each of us had a midterm exam today.

Mia is now done with her midterms, and is off babysitting, working out and grocery shopping. I have one more midterm and six more pages to write on my midterm Twain paper before Spring break. Jess has two more exams, a paper on the Amish to finish, and her drawing portfolio to touch up. Sara wins the stress load, however, with three exams tomorrow and a Twain paper to finish, as well as a work shift tomorrow night.

All this leads up to a momentous event occurring tonight.

For the first time since August, we ate leftovers for dinner.

Be amazed.

Issuing Rejection

Today I was very sinful. I haven’t ever told this many lies in a row before.

Kara has a stalker. His name is Cyril. They met at a high school dance at Purdue at 4H camp when Kara was 17. He was short and ugly and had a mustache. Naturally, he immediately became enamored with our heroine. Kara spent the evening trying to rid herself of him. Sadly, she had to go to bed early in the girls’ dormitory in order to succeed.

Very unfortunately, Cyril was able to get young Kara’s home phone number through sneaky connections. He called her several times that summer, much to the distress of our heroine. Finally, Kara’s father had to get on the phone and tell him to never call his daughter again.

For nearly three years, Kara lived in (almost) blissful peace. That peace was interrupted when Cyril called Shingle Paradise today, and Kara answered. As soon as he identified himself, Kara hung up the phone.

Three minutes later, the phone rang again. I answered. The following conversation ensued:

“Hello, this is Shingle Paradise.”
“Hey, is this Kara?"
"No, this is Jessica"
"Who?"
"Jessica"
"Can I talk to Kara?"
“I’m sorry, but Kara moved to Wyoming.”
“Really? I just talked to her a few minutes ago.”
“Oh, that must have been Karen. Kara hasn’t lived here for like two years.”
“Her facebook profile said she’s graduating from Purdue this year.”
“Well, it must be wrong. Would you like her new phone number?”
“Yes, please.”

At this point there was a long pause in the conversation while Kara and I searched online for the Rejection Hotline number.

“Are you still there?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright, it’s 641-985-7888.”
“Thanks.”

Several minutes later, our phone began ringing again. I unplugged it. If any of you try to call SP and we don’t answer, that’s why. Try a cell.