A diet coke exploded on me

Seriously. Explosion. All over me! Huge mess. Had to change my clothes. That kind of mess. Apparently it was frozen and fighting to get out of the bottle. I'm safe now, thank goodness. I know you were worried.

Wrote the extended musical sequence. It's fierce, and I actually really love what my collaborator and I came up with. That's all I'm allowed to say, I think, on that topic.

I'm sitting at home tinkering on a one act play. I've got some smelly-good candles glowing and the Christmas lights are plugged in, and I have a Rosemary Clooney album playing softly. It's been raining all day long, and I can hear the drip drop drip drops hitting the window and the air conditioning unit, and it's a blissful feeling. I also like the way it sounds when I car rolls by on the rainy street. I played piano a little this morning and visited with Hudson and Sal. It's really a perfect and simple day. The chihuahua is asleep on the couch, and I'm casually contemplating putting on some boots and a rain coat and splashing about on my way to the grocery store.

I want to play in the kitchen a bit today, but I'm not sure of what to cook. I could just heat up some leftover stuffing from the other night, but I think I'd like to chop stuff up and cook something new. Maybe I'll make a shepherd's pie. That's easy enough and pretty fabulous. I've been on a bit of a cooking kick the past few weeks. It's fun and makes me feel like I'm being practical. I also just like learning what all the combinations of flavors can create. I must sound so silly, but there's got to be a reason that people go into culinary school and buy cookbooks. Kitchens make me think of my grandmother Jayne and of being small and feeling safe and loved. And when you cook, they get warm and they fill your home with pleasant smells. Kitchens are what turn spaces where you live into homes. My apartment is an apartment when I'm sitting on the couch blogging or listening to music. My apartment is my home when I'm cooking. Right. Shepherd's pie it is.

I love being alone sometimes and making plans and doing little projects. Cheers, big ears! I'm off to the grocery store.
xo