Potatoes in the Mist

 I saw an adorable baby on the soccer field today. His grandmother kicked a soccer ball and he ran away from it 😂 He had a big, cute smile. 

  My oldest nephew (he was born when I was in high school) has a daughter who is starting kindergarten in Brooklyn today. I hope she has an awesome day 😊

I went swimming in the ocean with my youngest. I got out of the habit for a while after a jellyfish stung me. But I’m glad I went tonight ❤️

 My youngest was having a loud phone conversation with a friend and I slipped out the door and went swimming in the pool. It’s been a while since I did that, and I forgot how much I like swimming at night. I remembered when I was in high school and worked at Taco Bell (I know! Yuck!) and I would come home from a late shift, strip off my uniform, and jump in the pool. 

 I made one of my favorite recipes today (Chrissy Teigen’s sesame chicken noodles) but I put in the full amount of cayenne pepper she recommended. Folks, this was a mistake. 

Chris came home from camp (after some drama with a canceled flight) and now he has his heart set on going to all-you-can-eat sushi. Eric picked a place in Queens. I was skeptical at first, but the photos look good. 

 It’s been a fun summer but a crazy one. Today, Chris was going to fly back from camp in California to NYC. Then all flights to JFK got canceled for weather reasons. (The weather app says there’s a chance of thunder.) Hopefully this will work out smoothly. P.S. it did work out 👍

Recently I finished a book where bureaucracy was the enemy - The Astral Library by Kate Quinn. I have to say this is accurate. It also dovetails with Hannah Arendt’s “banality of evil.” My building has been harassing me about insurance. My insurance people just emailed them what they wanted. (The building wouldn’t accept it directly from me.) So I think it might be over? Unless the building demands a physical copy. L’enfer c’est les autres… Update: they sent an email saying, “You’re all set.” I can’t believe it. Eric says, “We gotta celebrate.”

 The kids are driving up to New York for the 4th of July weekend. I’ll be flying. When I planned the trip, I thought it would be cooler than Florida. It will actually be hotter, going into the triple digits on some days. So I feel a bit foolish. But we will be going to California from NYC in mid-July, and that is reliably cooler. Eric and I had a great time in Europe. Zoe (who wants to be called Chris now) was unable to come because of a broken ankle. Eric and I swam in the Aegean Sea and saw Harry Styles in concert (a fun sing-along). I’m still on the fence about whether to move back to NYC in 2029 (when Chris graduates) or stay in Florida. NYC is much cheaper for me because I only pay maintenance on the apartment there, instead of full rent. But Florida lets you avoid the winter. I haven’t really put roots down there, though anything can change, I suppose. Maybe I could go there for the winter…

 Eric and I spent a few days in Key West. I love it there. You can bike everywhere, no need for a car. 

 I saw this on my morning walk 🌈

 I’m not a big movie person, but I saw 2 good ones recently. Project Hail Mary - science fiction with ET vibes, and Crossing Delancey - cute 80s movie set in NYC. I also saw this cute Hello Kitty train.

 I’ve never tried any of Nigella Lawson’s recipes, but this coffee ice cream caught my eye. And it’s served on a brioche bun, which is interesting. 

 Feeling emotional. Eric is going to University College London. It’s exciting though. 

 I tried this avocado salad from Smitten Kitchen. Amazing. The red onion isn’t necessary; the dressing, lettuce and avocado are enough.