every day you get one more yard

[jazzfish]

Small good things:

The bathroom is repainted (and Nic the assistant super cleaned it pretty well), the apartment windows are replaced. I've vacuumed and am no longer stepping on grit that someone else tracked in. Later today I shall take everything down out of the medicine cabinet and wipe down the shelves so I stop being annoyed by the white sawdust that drifted in through the doors.

I have figured out a meringue recipe I'm happy with. (Equal amounts egg-white and sugar, by weight; whip in the sugar a bit at a time so it doesn't just all sink to the bottom; when it's about done add a splash of vanilla and one of orange extract; spoon onto the baking sheet with small-eating-spoons; bake at 200F for two hours, then turn the oven off and leave them in there.) This is handy as it's Egg Season as of a couple of weeks ago.

I have three different RPGs that I'm actively excited about. Fate of Cthulhu, in which the characters travel back in time to stop a Great Old One from rising, is a version of Fate that I can comprehend. Spire has a straightforward mechanic and some genuinely interesting worldbuilding. And I recently picked up my old favourite Changeling and started reading through the 20th anniversary edition, and it still makes me happy.

I sent my tax stuff off to Chris the accountant, after spending half an hour last week trying and failing to find the last of my RRSP forms on various financial websites.

Two nights ago I slept for nine hours, with only a few brief interruptions.

Next week I begin working at 80% time, which will in theory result in me being 10% less annoyed at work. (I am taking a pay cut to do this, but it incorporates a long-overdue but still insufficient raise.)

And, perhaps most important: thanks to Erin being actually functional on Saturday morning and sitting on hold for awhile, I have an appointment for my first vaccine shot, for a week from Wednesday. I had thought the plan was for the vaccine to be rolled out by age group, but the powers that be seem to have decided that it's logistically better to just vaccinate everyone in small communities all at once.

I hope you're well.

Comments

[reedrover]

You bake meringue for two hours? That seems insanely long.

Yay sleep!

Good luck on your vaccination.

[jazzfish]

Maybe it is? Hour and a half left me with uncooked centres. Though that was with too-large meringues (using the large spoons instead of the small ones), so, hm.

And, thanks! I am Excited somewhere deep down. Like this is an actual tangible step towards being able to go back east, something I've not believed in for about a year now.

[sartorias]

Small good things are good!

[reedrover]

Yes. I'm starting to contemplate domestic travel this summer, like *on a plane.*

[jazzfish]

Certainly better than the alternative! :) And it's good for me to take note of them.

[shadowkat]

Hmm, interesting meringue recipe. Do you need corn-starch?

Envious of the apartment remodeling. I need to get my super to repaint bathroom, bedroom and windows. But it's not happening any time soon. Also it's not that bad or dangerous, so livable. Anyhow, glad it's finally done!

Also congrats on the vaccine. Moderna or Pfizer? Good luck!

[jazzfish]

No corn starch, no cream of tartar. I've never found them to be necessary. I do use my big Kitchenaid mixer with a whisk to beat them, which helps a lot.

I expect I'd be a lot happier about the apartment updates if I didn't view it as an explicitly temporary landing space. I mean, at this point it's been "explicitly temporary" for two years and counting, but still. Also they only repainted the bathroom because that was easier than trying to either match the new ceiling paint, or avoid painting the walls at the ceiling corners. Still, I'll take it.

And, thanks. :) Pfizer I believe. I was expecting it to be Oxford/AZ since I understand a bunch of doses of that one are getting shipped up here from the States, but based on recent news it sounds like they're holding off on recommending it to anyone. /:

[shadowkat]

I got the Pfizer - no real side-effects to speak of, except a sore arm, and most of the folks I know? The same.

Hear you on the apartment bit - feel much the same myself. I've been at mine for about six years now, and counting. But it's still temporary. I don't plan on being in it forever. I like the flexibility of renting. It is rent stabilized, for the most part, and in NYC that's not a bad thing. But rents are diving because of the pandemic. Everyone wants to buy a house. LOL! (I do not want to buy a house.)

Hmm, that meringue receipe may be doable. I've no cream of tartar, but I've eggs and sugar. (How many eggs and how much sugar may be the trick. I do not, however have a big Kitchenaid mixer, I have a cuisanart mixer and a hand beater. So that may be an issue.

Also, I really shouldn't be eating meringues anyhow.

[jazzfish]

Yeah, I'm hearing that Pfizer seems to have the least bad side effects. Which is fine by me; the flu vaccine regularly takes me out for a day, so any reduction is for the best.

The nice thing about meringues is that it's just a 1:1 (by weight) of egg whites and sugar, so however many eggs you have is fine. Two will likely make enough to keep you in meringues for quite awhile. And a normal mixer should work fine, just take a bit longer to whip up the whites.

[shadowkat]

It'll most likely take you out for a day - with the second dose. (I just got a sore arm, like I did with the flu shot, and my period started - which was just weird.) I've noticed that people who are more immune compromised - tend to get side-effects. Also younger people get them more than older ones, which is interesting. It just means your immune system is working and firing up.

But the side-effects are over within 48 hours, if that. They aren't long lasting, nor severe. Just like the flu and shingles shots. And better than COVID. Once you get both doses of the Pfizer - after two weeks from your second shot? You are 100% protected from death by COVID. And 90-95% protected from getting the virus.

[culfinriel]

Those meringues sound tasty. I def do low and slow with meringues, but yours sound great.

Congrats on the vaccine. Still waiting and trying to get an appt and being annoyed by the terrible roll out where I currently am.

[jazzfish]

I lack the patience to go properly low-and-slow with meringues. These are a bit on the crispy side but I'm okay with that.

Good luck. /: I was seriously not expecting to get my first stick before August. Pleasantly surprised that it's otherwise.