Fifteen for 50 - Vaccining and Cleaning

Daffodils - because we're all tired of seeing pics of vaccines

I know that vaccining is not a real word.  Just because I can say it and type it (though it does get the squiggly red line underneath it when I do) does not mean it is a word.  You don't need to tell me that the correct word is "vaccinating".  Vaccining rhymes better.  So there.

Vaccinations need a song.  If you know me, you know that I think everything should have a song.  I was trying "My Vaccination" to the tune of Carly Simon's "Anticipation" (aka "the ketchup commercial song" from back in the day).  "My Shot" from Hamilton was an easy idea - "I am not throwin' away my shot".  The Offspring "Come Out and Play" was in the running too - changing the line "You gotta keep 'em separated" to "You gotta get 'em vaccinated".  It's a work in progress.  Give me your suggestions (perhaps I'll get a playlist going!) and I'll keep you updated with any other brilliant lyrics I dream up.

I got my COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday and have spent a couple of days just sitting around making antibodies.  We drove to Fergus Falls (about 5 hours round trip) on Thursday, in the rain most of the way, to get the J&J vaccine.  E scored back to back appointments for us (apparently it helps to be awake and online at 1:30 AM) so we made the trip.  We wanted to get them sooner rather than later and had both the means and time to travel - luxuries that not everyone has.  There were snacks (thanks to my managers for a big box from Nuts.com a couple weeks ago) and beverages (iced tea for me, Arnie Palmer for E) on the road. I started reading him a new book to occupy the time (I am the living breathing audio book in our family) -  Montana 1948 by Larry Watson - a re-read for me.

The first 12 hours after the shot were smooth sailing - a little pain in the arm initially but I returned to work, helped interview a potential new hire, cleaned up my email and work inboxes and answered a few questions.  We had an easy dinner, watched a few episodes of TV (I was more than a little obsessed with finishing the final few episodes of Dexter this week), and E went grocery shopping after 10pm as he usually does.  Around that time, I started getting sleepy and then the aches began.  I slept fitfully, discomfort in joints and muscles most of the night, and woke up with a headache.  E reported feeling like he had been run over by a truck.  Friday was a head-achy muscle-achy day for me (E felt better earlier than I did) and I worked on what needed to be done with my co-workers but not much more.  That night, I woke up around midnight and was freezing.  Literally chattering my teeth and shivering to the point I had trouble pulling socks on because my hands were shaking so much.  I pictured myself like an old cartoon where Woody Woodpecker or Sylvester the Cat gets tossed in a freezer.  I put on 2 pairs of socks, flannel pants and a flannel button-down shirt over my nightgown.  It took about 15 minutes under the covers fully dressed before I warmed up enough to fall back asleep.  By morning I was fine and have been great since, but man!  Those antibodies sure must like it cold when they are building up their little army.

Besides making antibodies, I did a few other things this week.  Early in the week I walked, but not at all Thursday-Saturday.  I finished one little book, and started a new knitting project (red baby alpaca yarn for a large triangle scarf/smallish shawl). We finished Dexter so if you have been waiting to talk to me about it so as not to spoil it, I am ready for the discussion now.  All the rain has made the grass green up and the trees bud that intense lime green that kind of hurts your eyes.  The daffodils and forsythia have burst their yellow blooms in the front yard. I cleaned up my closet, putting the sweaters up top, bringing the shorts and capris where I can better reach (and am very happy to report that I have several warm weather clothes that fit me!).  The street sweeper has been by (if you are new to this blog, check out this post for more on why the street sweeper gets special mention).  Spring is here, I am vaccinated, and starting to feel cautiously optimistic. 

I have a post percolating in my brain about the pandemic, how social distancing works for me, and why I don't mind Zoom meetings or wearing real pants, but it isn't ready yet.  Instead, I will leave you with this limerick I am submitting the Minneapolis paper.  

The pandemic has brought out the memes,
With Fauci and shots as the themes.
I stick close to home,
And don't want to roam,
Socially distant like my introvert dreams.

Book 14

My one little book completed this week was Betsy-Tacy and Tib by Maud Hart Lovelace.  I read the first in the series earlier this year and enjoyed this one too.  As I read it, I wondered how many adventures today's children have.  I don't think too many get a chance to wander off up the big hill and into the woods with nothing but a picnic basket and their two friends who are also 9 years old.  Do we let kids explore anymore?  Discover new paths?  Make up imaginative stories or pretend to be the flying lady at the circus?  Be left alone at home to cook up grand experiments in the kitchen?  Moi, j'en doute.

Recipe 14 - Crusty Pizza Dough

I already have a pizza crust recipe that I have made nearly every week for about a year (except the 2 times I made the new cast iron deep dish crust), but saw this one in the instruction and recipe book that came with my Kitchen Aid stand mixer and thought I would give it a try.  All the commas are theirs - I hear in my head the voice of Mr. Gavin, my 10th grade English teacher ("Comma crazy" he called me), and want to remove some of them but editing is not my forte. Also, the weird and persistent capitalization of the word "speed" is theirs - I did it just so I could call out how weird I thought it was.

1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp if you have a jar of yeast like I do)

1 C warm water (105-115 degrees)

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp olive oil

2 1/2 - 3 1/2 C all-purpose flour

1 Tbsp cornmeal

Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed mixer bowl. Add salt, oil and 2 1/2 C flour.  Attach bowl and dough hook (I was so excited to use the dough hook!) to the mixer.  Turn to Speed 2 and mix about 1 minute.

Continuing on Speed 2, add remaining flour 1/2 C at a time and mix until dough clings to hook and cleans sides of bowl, about 2 minutes (I probably could have used just 3 cups vs. the full 3 1/2).  Knead on Speed 2 about 2 minutes longer.

Place dough in greased bowl, turning to grease top.  Cover. Let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk. Punch dough down.

Brush 14" pizza pan with oil (or in my case, use 12" well-seasoned pizza stone and skip the oil). Sprinkle with cornmeal. Press dough across bottom of pan, forming a collar around edge to hold toppings. Add toppings as desired.  Bake at 450 deg for 15-20 minutes.

I use BBQ sauce on the crust and also a drizzle over top of the cheese

We made BBQ meatball pizza (BBQ sauce and sliced pre-cooked meatballs, topped with mozzarella).  It ended up being perhaps a bit more crust than we are used to but it made a very sturdy crust that held up well and tasted good too.  I will try it again with my more saucy tomato sauce next time.

The crust, ready for its close up.

Fifty for 50 Tally

Books completed – 14 (6 more in progress)

Recipes tried – 14

Blog posts published– 15

Miles walked in April - 13.77 

               Miles walked year-to-date –142.73

Scrap book pages completed –12

Hats donated – 20

Hours volunteered – 0

Until we eat or read again,

Hallie