Screaming into the Ether

Minister revisited

2009-10-02T14:24:00.009-04:00

I recently received a 2010 Minister from Quo Vadis. I figured it would be a good time to re-review the old one to see how it's held up after nearly a year. (Advance apologies for the crappy cellphone photos and the messy desk.)

The Equology series is constructed from recycled material and fibers.

Because of the removable cover, this Minister is a smidgen larger than the Robert le héros version I've been using all year. But the removable cover allows you to purchase inserts rather than whole new calendars every year. Unlike the removable cover on the Space 17, this recycled cover is a softer, rubbery, more pliable material, less likely to nick dry fingers when you reach into a bag to get it. I found that to be a problem with the Space 17; the edges of the plastic cover would scratch me if I didn't make sure to put it in my bag with the bound side up.

The other major difference between the two is that the Robert le héros version does not have a detachable booklet for notes/addresses, instead it has only an elastic strap. Also the le héros version has rounded page edges and the Equology does not.

(Robert le héros version left with Waterman Patrician, Equology right with Pilot Vanishing Point. The pens are only there to prop the books open. )

The quality of the recycled paper is good. I find it has a touch more "tooth" than the non-recycled version, but that is not a complaint. The color of the paper is not bleached as white as in the non-recycled version, it is more of a duller white, with small fibers visible, however it does have some brighteners; UV inks do not show up well under black lights on this paper.

(Equology on top, Robert le héros on bottom.)

Ink flows smoothly on to the paper, with no bleeding in either version.

(Equology at left, Robert le heros at right. Ink: Noodler's Ottoman Rose)

There is not a big problem of show through with either version. The 90g paper weight handles fountain pen ink well. The recycled version seems more susceptible to pressure; what's written on the reverse left an imprint, visible under December 12, 12-2:00. If you tend to press hard when you write, you may want to take note of that.

(Equology on top, Robert le héros on bottom. Ink: Noodler's Ellis Island Blue Black)

As for the 2009 Minister, it got a lot of use - I carried it with me to work every day - and it held up well. I had no other complaints with it (other than those originally stated: I would have preferred a smaller size with the same weight of paper; the Executive probably would have been a better option for me.) But I'm fine with having a Minister for an additional year and so far I prefer the recycled paper to the regular version.

Good mail day

2009-09-22T10:31:00.002-04:00

It's a damn good thing that I'm relatively cheery today and I received a bunch of good & interesting letters, because this was the first thing I read in today's mail:

Everybody's Loved By Someone.

"Everybody's loved by someone,
Everybody knows that's true;
Some have father and mother dear,
Sister and brother too;
All the time that I remember,
Since I was a mite so small,
I seem to be the only one
That nobody loves at all."
Words by permission of Frank Dean & C...

As my coworker asked "Why would they make this a postcard?!?"

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

communication

2009-09-07T19:50:00.003-04:00

This is NOT the same ink as the last ink demonstration.

The High Line

2009-08-27T07:29:00.004-04:00

2009-08-13T12:13:00.001-04:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

communication (+ ANOTHER injury update)

2009-08-12T19:51:00.005-04:00

I'd like to say I have a good excuse for not posting - I did find out I'd broken a finger back in March (chip fracture of the joint, fourth finger) and I'm just now doing physical therapy - but that's no excuse, really. I'm just neglectful. So here's some communication (with a twist.)

No, that was not a mistake.

they weren't in Madagascar

2009-06-12T12:33:00.002-04:00

The real stars of the Central Park Zoo:

bacon frenzy

2009-05-17T19:58:00.002-04:00

I couldn't decide which bacon to have today: D'Artagnan Uncured Hickory Smoked Bacon or D'Artagnan Uncured Smoked Wild Boar Bacon.

The boar bacon ("from feral swine") are the small pieces. They're tiny, but so savory. The flavor is somewhat richer and deeper.

(No, the diet did not go well today - why do you ask?)

even in the sports I'm good at

2009-04-15T23:45:00.004-04:00

I'm enjoying using this as an injury journal, particularly since I seem to get injured on a regular basis.
Unlike softball, I've been playing volleyball for 20 years now. That still doesn't stop me from bending my fingernail backwards, halfway down, on a dig.

The discoloration depicted does not nearly convey the pain that I'm currently experiencing. (Blessedly, it was numb throughout the game.) And blood was seeping out from under the fingernail before.

We won the division playoffs; that's all that matters.

communication (+injury update)

2009-04-13T20:09:00.004-04:00

And if any of you are just here for the gore, it's almost all gone. There will be a little bit of a scar, but the pretty colors have faded to the usual dull tiredness. There are just a few sore lumps remaining under the scar.

now THAT'S a black eye!

2009-03-25T00:15:00.002-04:00

Che poverina!

not cut out for softball

2009-03-23T13:35:00.004-04:00

I haven't used this blog as an injury journal for a long time. I'm not particularly into gore, but watching myself heal (or worsen) fascinates me.

I've been trying to learn how to play softball. I've been to two scrimmages. I've gotten hit in the eye with the ball both times. On the 15th, The ball flipped off the top of my glove and hit me in the left eye. It didn't discolor, but the eyeball was sore for a few days. (I get nervous about these things because I already have 7 retinal tears in that eye ... the other eye has a repaired retinal detachment. I used to box.) On the 22nd, a ground ball popped up and smacked me in the same eye. This time I had the foresight to be wearing sunglasses, which probably saved the eye by diffusing the impact to my cheek and eyebrow. My ophthalmologist thinks I should take up rowing.

I haven't had a black eye since I was about 4. I've been taking pictures about every 8 hours, watching the colors change. I'm really lucky it wasn't worse. And I need new sunglasses.

Sunday afternoon

Sunday evening

Monday morning (Whole face was puffy!)

Monday afternoon. (Pupils still dilated from eye exam.)

rather impressive all together like that

2009-03-06T15:03:00.004-05:00

One of my correspondents inquired as to how well his wax seals make it through the mail. Rather than try to explain, I took a picture of the envelopes I'd received through the mail from him ... all of them. This is approximately 13 months of correspondence.

Even more incredible to think that he's only 1 of over 40 correspondents. (No one else's volume is comparable.)

a very full fridge

2009-03-01T17:48:00.004-05:00

I traveled last month, so hadn't bought any groceries since January. I think I may have gone a bit overboard. (That's still less crowded than it is at the height of CSA season.)

communication

2009-01-18T16:35:00.003-05:00

A two-parter!

communication

2009-01-11T18:34:00.004-05:00

communication

2009-01-04T15:06:00.002-05:00

What's cooking?

2009-01-02T17:26:00.002-05:00

After a long couple of weeks of taking pictures of people, I'm glad to get back to taking pictures of things.

And having the food I've cooked posted on my blog is really helpful in terms of getting things out of my fridge (I threw out the last of the butternut squash and the celeriac & spinach soups today; I hadn't realized they had been there for so long.)

Today's dinner is Collard Greens with Cranberry Beans, which was featured in the New York Times Dining section this fall. I've made it once with dried beans, but wasn't crazy about it. I'm trying again with fresh beans.

Other adjustments: I'm halving the recipe, but retaining the original amount of meat & garlic (with an additional 1/2 onion that had been sitting around from earlier cooking.)

I'm serving it with a wild rice blend because I'm out of Carolina. I generally use basmati, but I do have rices that are appropriate to various cuisines. (I would estimate I keep up to a dozen different varieties of rice on hand.)

I ordered some rice, peas, farro, & grits/polenta from Anson Mills. I can't wait until that gets here.

communication

2008-12-29T20:49:00.003-05:00

official theme song

2008-12-29T12:00:00.003-05:00

Years ago, I'd had the theme song discussion, and thought I'm Only Happy When it Rains might have been a contender. It's still a good song, and suits me to some extent, but I've decided, finally and officially, that my theme song is:

The Lady is a Tramp as sung by Ella Fitzgerald.
I've wined and dined on mulligan stew
and never wished for turkey
As I hitched and hiked and grifted too
from Maine to Albuquerque

Alas, I missed the Beaux Arts Ball
and what is twice as sad
I was never at a party where they
honored Noel Ca-ad (Coward)

But social circles spin too fast for me
My "hobohemia" is the place to be

I get too hungry for dinner at eight
I like the theater, but never come late
I never bother with people I hate
That's why the lady is a tramp

I don't like crap games, with barons and earls
Won't go to Harlem in ermine and pearls
Won't dish the dirt with the rest of the girls
That's why the lady is a tramp

I like the free, fresh wind in my hair
Life without care
I'm broke; it's "oke"
Hate California, it's cold and it's damp
That's why the lady is a tramp

I go to Coney; the beach is divine
I go to ballgames; the bleachers are fine
I follow Winchell and read every line
That's why the lady is a tramp

I like a prizefight that isn't a fake
I love the rowing on Central Park lake
I go to opera and stay wide awake
That's why the lady is a tramp

I like the green grass under my shoes
What can I lose? I'm flat - that's that!
I'm all alone when I lower my lamp
That's why the lady is a tramp

communication

2008-12-26T21:05:00.001-05:00

Oops, spelled négy wrong.

Quo Vadis Minister review

2008-12-26T13:11:00.006-05:00

As a follow-up to my review of the Space 17 notebook, I said I would review the Minister, which I had previously purchased to use for work appointments.

The Minister is a larger - desk-sized - appointment book. I've found that it is not too-unwieldy to carry around in my various briefcases (or saddlebags, as they may be.)

I didn't photograph the cover, but instead of black, this has a muted, floral design. It is the lighter version from the Robert le héros collection. It has an elastic band attached to the back cover, but I haven't used it yet.

To address the complaints I had about the Space 17, the paper is much thicker (as previously noted) and white, opposed to ecru. Show-through is minimal, and inobtrusive.

Removal of the page tabs does not interfere with printed information.

There isn't any room for address information, but there is a section for tracking receipts and business expenditures.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I'm using the Space 17 to keep track of my correspondence (and daily weight tracking.) But, as you can see from the attached images, my daily appointments are in the Minister.

If they could somehow fuse the two: make the Minister a little smaller with a removable address section, I'd be happy.

(I note that there is a smaller calendar with the Minister format - the Business, but it also has thinner paper. Also, it seems most refillable versions of the calendars have detachable address books, but this Robert le héros version does not. However, the Executive is smaller and retains the 90g paper; perhaps I will try a refillable Executive for next year.)

x-mas haul

2008-12-25T13:45:00.003-05:00

I do believe my friend is suggesting my taste in music is somewhat dated. Something about my playlist's not having any music from the past decade .... (not true; I have The Offspring's last album!) She sent me a bunch of cds, annotated with her opinions.

That's okay - that's why we complement each other. I suggest that perhaps she's beyond the age of Hello Kitty underwear, she suggests it may be time for me to move beyond The Dead Milkmen and Animotion.

communication

2008-12-16T21:27:00.001-05:00

you're s'posed to shop for OTHER people!

2008-12-07T10:14:00.009-05:00

I did my holiday shopping on Friday. It was exhausting and re-aggravated my tendinitis. But at least I'm (almost) done.

One of my first stops, however, was to the Le Creuset outlet for stuff for me! I really do have almost all the pots I would ever need, but the gaps in my collection are: something in the 5 quart range, the 2.25 quart saucier, and any of their frying pans. (I have a hard time justifying the purchase of a Le Creuset frying pan, when I have plenty of perfectly serviceable, well-seasoned, plain cast-iron frying pans.)

As you can see, I've been making a lot of soups over the past few weekends, and using the 3.5 quart oval was really pushing it. Some of the recipes just fit. (By the way, the book that has inspired me to make two soups every weekend is The Ultimate Soup Bible. I got it on clearance at Barnes & Nobles.) So it was time to get a 5 quart. I could decide if I wanted the 4.25 quart soup pot, the 5.5 quart round, the 5 quart oval, or the 5 quart risotto pot ... decisions, decisions ... but when I got there, all was made clear; they had a new color!

To me, there seem to be two kinds of Le Creuset people: those who will buy any piece in any color, and those who religiously limit their colors. Guess which one I am? I have to say, being the latter has saved me money, because I simply won't buy something if it's the wrong color. But given that my color, indigo, is discontinued, I have to have some flexibility. I have bought a few pieces in cobalt, and I even have a roasting pan and two mini baking dishes in soleil, but I'm very partial to dark vibrant blues. So when I walked in and saw the newly discontinued electric blue - nirvana! Not only was the color close enough, but they had all of the pieces I was "missing" from my collection (including the frying pans, which I still couldn't justify.)

I inquired about the 4.25 quart soup pot, but that's discontinued and only available from Amazon. They had the 5 quart risotto pot, which I would have liked, but it was only in cherry. That left me to choose between the round and the oval. One can fit roasts into the oval; I prefer them.

This is the saucier and the 5 quart oval in electric blue.

This is the 3.5 quart oval in indigo, as compared to the 5 quart in electric blue.

With and without flash: 1.25 quart saucepan in cobalt; ovals in indigo & electric blue.

It's really rather silly that I try to match my pots so. When I renovated the kitchen, the installation of the dishwasher left no room for under-cabinet storage so my pots are stored way above the sight-line. You can't tell which are indigo, electric blue, or cobalt.

(Yes, it is a pain to have to climb up and pull those pots down every time I want to cook something, but what is one to do? My kitchen is small.)

Of course, when I got home I noticed there was a 4.25 quart soup pot on clearance at Amazon Warehouse Deals, but I'm okay with my choices; I paid just about the same price for a bigger pot.

In a nod to my tendinitis (which, by this time, was flaring up royally) I also picked up a saddlebag sling. It's big enough to hold the basic crap I need on any given day, and it doesn't put any pressure on my wrist in taking it on & off. (Bloody thing cost more than the pots, though. I think it should count as a medical purchase.)