raves and rants

Last night, Glenn and I braved the hordes of mosquitoes to harvest half a bushel basket of basil. This is one of my favorite moments as a gardener. The basil is rocking out, and now all those nights of starting seeds in the late winter begin to seem worth it. We only take the top half of the plants, in order to encourage larger, bushier plants further down the road.
Basil and tomato salad
Basil PESTO!
Grilled chicken with basil
dried basil
basil foccaccia
Of course, my sensitive tummy doesn't want any of these things at the moment. But I'm going on the assumption that someday, it will.

So, onto the next topic of discussion. Yesterday, I had my first experience with irrational, mind-bending cravings. It was brutal. The result? Erm, 4 dozen bagels from H&H Bagels in NYC are being overnighted to me via Fedex. I thought it was a reasonable reaction. You don't agree? So here I am, patiently waiting for my Priority Overnight package to arrive. As of 12:21 pm, it still ain't here. So, I succumb to the siren call of the tracking number. I knew I should just wait it out, but...bagels!!!

Let's take a look at the results.

So, ummm, you're telling me that my package left the Tri-State area to take a quick jaunt to Tennessee? What the hell for??? Fine, I understand this whole hub setup, so whatev. I'll get over it.

Then, my bagels are sent to Londonderry, NH, and then onto Lebanon, NH. Fine so far. Lebanon is only 21 miles from me.

Then, apparently, my bagels were quashed from the delivery run they were out on and went back to Londonderry WHICH IS 110 MILES FROM HERE. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THE CRANKY PREGNANT WOMAN. I WANT A BAGEL. PRONTO. And not some piece of bread shaped into a ring and foisted upon the uneducated masses of New England by the local bagel shop or grocery store. These are not bagels. They are not even designer imposters. They are rolls. They are bread with toppings. They are not bagels.

pant pant

If you do not recognize a difference between actual bagels and the things called bagels in the other 95% of the country, or if you simply don't care, please disregard this post and go about your business. And if you think I'm just nuts, then please do not ever bring up the subject of crab cakes in my presence. That is all.