too much turmeric

October 2, 2003


Another thing that's overrated is cable TV. Nevertheless, I called the local cable provider to order gasp shudder digital cable along with high speed Internet. While my dialup ISP was thrashing, the Red Sox clinched the wild card. The ALDS is on ESPN. The double whammy of wretched Internet access and vital baseball games on cable finally put me over the edge. Why digital cable? Simple. It's cheaper to get the bundled Internet/digital cable deal than to get Internet and standard cable. Does this mean I am going to start watching TV now? Who knows? The kicker, though, is that the cable installers can't get to me until next Thursday by which time the ALDS will be over. And given that as I am writing this Tim Wakefield is suddenly giving up 5 runs in the second inning and of course the Red Sox lost last night after I fell asleep (would they have won if I'd stayed awake?) it's not looking like I'll be watching Red Sox post season baseball on that shiny new digital cable.

Later this same evening...

I gave up overfocusing on the ballgame and went into the kitchen to cook supper. Apple curry. This afternoon in the grocery store with Ned (my higher power and footman while I can't drive) I was talking about making this curry. Ned asked what spices go into it and I named off turmeric, ginger, etc. "Which is the one you have to watch out for putting in too much of?" asks Ned. "Turmeric." I reply. So there I am in the kitchen slavishly following the recipe from Vegetarian Times and adding 1 1/2 teaspoons of turmeric, 2 teaspoons of curry powder (the recipe called for curry powder, what can I say), and ginger. I do everything according to the directions. The curry and the rice are ready at the same time. I sit down to eat and listen to nothing happening in the final innings of the ballgame. I take a bite. "Yuck! Too much turmeric!" The very thing I said one must be vigilant never to do I have somehow done. This curry tastes awful. I end up eating rice, yogurt, and mango chutney for supper.

Ned calls to complain/commiserate about the Red Sox loss. That makes two losses in one day since last night's loss was technically this morning in this time zone. I have to whine that not only have the Red Sox lost but I committed the dreaded "Too much turmeric!" faux pas. Grrr. Lately we seem to talk about cooking and the Red Sox more than about the brilliance of Charles St. John.

Supper sucked. The Red Sox lost. I have finished the last of A Tour in Sutherlandshire so have no more Charles St. John to read. The night is still young.

Nancy calls to find out how the Red Sox did and how my followup visit to the arthropod went. I give her the summary: they lost & my arm is weak. The arthropod lifted it up and said "Hold it there", which I couldn't do. Given that I only started strengthening exercises in physical therapy on Friday (that makes two sessions - Friday and yesterday) that's about what he expected. He pointed out that it was a huge tear and may take awhile and said I should come back in 6 weeks. I asked "May I drive?" to which he replied "Can you drive?" and I told the truth that I can't quite reach the directional. He pointed out that my shoulder is too weak to drive safely and if I got in an accident I would be liable because of the shoulder. Automatically my fault no matter what happens.

My car won't start anyway so I guess I'm not driving. Ned allowed as to how several more weeks of my not driving would drive him crazy. Nancy suggests I give Ned a week off and spend money on cabs. Where will I find a cab driver with knowledge of 19th century Scottish hook and bullet writers? Not to mention turmeric...

At least I've discovered that Charles St. John's son, Henry Craven St. John, wrote a book about his experiences in Japan in the 19th century and my Internet connection stayed up long enough for me to track down an affordable reprint edition and get it delivered to my door.

As for the turmeric, I read the label on the curry powder. You guessed it. It contains turmeric. Wonder if anybody at VT tested that recipe. I knew I should've mixed my own curry spices.

Today's Reading
Sea Room by Adam Nicolson, A Tour in Sutherlandshire by Charles St. John

This Year's Reading
2003 Book List

Today's Starting Pitcher
Tim Wakefield


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Copyright © 2003, Janet I. Egan