domesticity,  Moody Blues,  Stealthy Spy Cooking

The sun always shines through

June 6, 2007 /

there I am, in shadow

I’m feeling better already, of course. I shouldn’t blog about these sad times because they always pass and usually pretty quickly. I don’t suffer from depression. I don’t even think I’m mentally ill! (Ha ha! Stop laughing.) I’m just moody. That’s what my mom used to always say anyway. My downs always follow highs and then…looptiloo, I’m looping right back into a high again. Which is great really because my highs are full creativity and they make me very very happy. Even though it might sound like it, I don’t think I’m bi-polar either. I’m just moody and I need to learn to keep it to myself.

Surprisingly, I did keep my sad fog to myself pretty well today (besides telling all you guys of course). Earlier, I turned around from my perch at the breakfast bar counter (aka my desk) and told Toby (who is sitting on the couch watching some incredibly boring show on PBS) that I loved him. Just out of the blue to, you know, keep him on his toes.

He says, “Why? What’s up?”

“Oh, nothing. I just wanted to say something nice because I’ve been feeling crappy all day and I’m just so happy that I’m not feeling yucky anymore.”

He gets this stricken worried look and says, “You were feeling unhappy today?” He’s thinking, uh oh… I did something wrong and now I’m going to have to sit here and listen to her hash it all out for the next two hours…

Of course I waved him off. He didn’t do anything wrong. There’s no explaining “sad fogs” to Toby. They make no sense to him. Which is fine. I’d rather keep this to myself and my internet friends.

And then I cooked dinner.

the sun shines through

Stir fry. I’m sorry to any of my vegetarian friends. I’m sorry I had to show you that dead animal right there.

24 Comments

  • beck

    June 6, 2007 at 10:40 pm

    That first golden picture is beautiful. So many patterns.
    And I love the “Why? What’s up?” response to the I love you. Hah.

  • DeeJay

    June 7, 2007 at 5:04 am

    Your flickr pics work for me. Sorry JozJozJoz.

    Pork in stir fry? I’ve never tried that. Usually it’s either baked or cooked in a broth for about 40 minutes. Way coolio quick!

    Glad you feel better, but I like you either way.

  • Bethany

    June 7, 2007 at 7:17 am

    I don’t know why you say you don’t like/aren’t good at cooking when you seem to cook some pretty good meals! Glad your funk has passed. (Mine has too, pretty much.)

  • Mama_Bear

    June 7, 2007 at 8:15 am

    Hi SAJ! Can you share your stir fry recipe? I’ve never made one, can you believe that? Always wanted to. Did BB like it?

    SAJ says: Well… hmmm… I’m not that great of a cook but this is what I do:

    1. chop up a buncha vegetables, the more the merrier. I use celery, onions, bok choy (the wonder veggie that stumps all grocery checkers), broccoli (of course) and sometimes green beans (fresh) or squash.

    2. chop up meat (I usually use pork because it’s cheaper than chicken and I don’t know why, I just do)

    3. put vegetable oil (I used to use peanut oil pre-baby but babies are allergic to peanuts so no more of that) in a wok (or a big pan) and fry it up with some onion until the onion turns translucent

    4. then I add: 1/2 cup water, 1/3 cup of soy, and 1/3 cup of sherry, a teaspoon of Chinese 5 spice and a small spoon scoop of ginger paste (this is sort of a mutation from this family recipe)

    5. I let it cook awhile until it smells really good then I transfer the meat and sauce into a separate dish

    THEN

    6. I put a little more oil back in my pan (don’t even wash it) and dump all my veggies in. They sizzle and make all kinds of noise. They are basically being steamed because you don’t want to use very much oil and the water from the veggies make them steam. We like them super crunchy (almost raw) so I don’t fry them long.

    7. Then we serve everything all together over rice. yum!

    I think you could cook the vegetables with the meat (that’s the way my mom does it) but Toby likes them seperate because he haaaaaaaates soggy vegetables.

    Hope that helps!

  • Annie

    June 7, 2007 at 9:58 am

    Oh, I love that top photo. I can see why kitty likes that spot. Glad you’re feeling better. I’m a moody blues, too, sometimes. Cherish the high.

  • pennymichelle

    June 7, 2007 at 10:25 am

    You’re so funny and you’re all really darling. I’m moody too, so I can totally relate to your post! We all adore you moody or not! You’re alright, SAJ!!! :)

  • Katie

    June 7, 2007 at 12:49 pm

    Glad to hear you’re out of your funk…I’ve been in one too these last few days. Don’t you hate when you just can’t figure out why you’re feeling that way?

  • Nicole Iwawaki

    June 7, 2007 at 1:04 pm

    At Starbucks today I read a quote on a cup and thought of you.
    The Way I see it #246
    “Sometimes good art is simply creating an honest mess”

    SAJ says: That’s going to be my new motto. Thanks, you!

  • lynne

    June 7, 2007 at 1:28 pm

    Hmmm I think we might be psyched in some weird way… the last time you wrote about being down on your blog I was feeling down too and now here we are again and I don’t really know why. E gads this sucks! I hope tomorrow we both are feeling better x

  • BeachMama

    June 7, 2007 at 4:57 pm

    Yay, the funk has moved on. Toby is hilarious. Why is it that guys always wonder whats wrong when we say “I love you” out of the blue.

    Your stir fry loooks delicious, haven’t done one in a while maybe soon, I have a new rice cooker to try out.

  • Kami

    June 7, 2007 at 6:40 pm

    Glad you are feeling better, I have those sorts of fogs too. I dislike feeling down and not being able to put my finger on why but it sure is nice when it lifts.

    I had a nice big latte today and that sure perked me up – no pun intended :-)

  • familymclean

    June 7, 2007 at 10:29 pm

    So I am a little behind to share in the funk, mine hit today, hard! Baaawwww! Hope I catch up to you happy people tomorrow.
    I just tried the “I love you” thing to Dave (afer reading Tobys responce) and I got the weirdest look with a raised eyebrow and an “ookkk,,,,,I love you too”. Well deserved eyebrow after the abuse he’s going through with me right now.

  • Beth

    June 8, 2007 at 5:37 am

    love the sunshiney :D picture, i want to lay and rest all day like kitty does! Very warm and happy pic. It has helped my blue fog! ty

    i’ve been married for 26 yrs, we’ve been togeather for 31…and YES he still raises an eyebrow at me when i say i love you for no real reason! It’s just MEN i guess! gotta love um!

    have a happier day :)

  • OMSH

    June 9, 2007 at 9:37 am

    I NEED THAT BEAUTIFUL TURQUOISE (though I’d choose lime green or orange) bowl with topper. WHERE did you get it? It would be PERFECT for rice in the microwave. Right now I use a large glass bowl and a Fiesta ware platter atop it. :)

    I’m not vegan – or vegetarian … show me the beef!