PB&J

Bright sunbeams push through the slats in my blinds with the confidence of weathered hands through loose soil. It's a bit of a rude awakening. At first I thought Kevin had left the Christmas lights plugged in when he left last night.

I've had the apartment to myself this weekend. I think I like it this way. I can walk around naked if the blinds are closed. I don't, of course, but I could, and surely that counts for something.

Jenny is with her boyfriend in Ellensburg, Wash. I've never been there, but by all accounts, it is a town rightly deserving of unenthusiastic visitors 'armpit' namecalling. My mom and brother also made the trek this weekend, but for different reasons. Neither of them has a boyfriend at Central Washington University to my knowledge.

There was some kind of statewide solo and ensemble high school music content taking place at that least hallowed of state institutions. Paul, ever the overachiever in his chosen field, was there for two performances.

Mom wanted me to go with them. She tried to entice me with...well, actually, there was nothing to entice me, just a twinge of guilt because trips freak her out. She told me before she left that the paperwork was almost in order in case she DIES, but those loose ends were bothersome. I was concerned, but at the same time, her trip consisted of a 2.5-hour drive over the mountains in early spring--not exactly the riskiest trip. Not without its element of danger, sure, but what truly worthy life events aren't?

I had to decline. I hadn't the time to get someone to cover for me at work and there was a volunteer meeting for the Seattle International Film Festival Saturday morning I planned to attend. Of course, I slept too late to go to the meeting, so that excuse was null.

They returned Saturday night. Mom had nothing to say about the contest, only that Ellensburg sucked. The food was not a highlight, she said. In my family, food MUST be a highlight for trips to be enjoyable. A town with no food cheer is a sad town indeed.

I await Jenny's triumphant return to Seattle for a different view of this town I hope never to visit.

My Saturday was spent largely with food of a different quality. I did my weekly grocery shopping at Trader Joe's as usual, but I knew a trip to a different store would be in order. TJ's made it difficult to buy the coffee I wanted--some kind of medium-roast fair trade beans I could grind there. The only fair trade stuff they carry is dark roast in sealed bags that are foreboding to open. I figured, if nothing else, I could get the beans at Ballard Market, which carries about eight varieties of Equal Exchange. A few hours later, I felt the itching for a trip. I grabbed a bus to 64th and 11th--Whole Foods. It's overpriced food porn, sure, but they have some cool stuff I can't get as easily elsewhere. They had their own version of fair trade coffee, which came in maybe 18 varieties, all different prices. Expensive prices. Some kind of Sumatran beans were on sale for $7.99/lb.--good enough for me. The Equal Exchange Sumatran coffee I've had from Bulldog News was excellent.

Before grocery shopping, I caught the matinee of Laurel Canyon at the Metro. It was enjoyable--pretty, sexy, not stupid. Good Saturday afternoon by-myself fare.

In my quest to quit chewing aspartamey gum without simply chewing sugary gum that makes my teeth feel like rot, I am exploring overpriced competitors in the realm of dental and natural gums. The package of Glee Gum proclaims it is "made with rainforest chicle, the way gum used to be made," and the sweetener listed is rice syrup. Unfortunately, you need to take three tiny pieces to get a wad worth chewing--there are 18 pieces in a $0.99 box--and the flavor disappears fast. Between! Dental Gum is sugar-free without aspartame, tastes good, has good texture, all that, but it's $1.69 for 12 pieces, and you need to chew two at a time. I should have tried the other kinds that could be purchased in large bottles as if they were jumbo-sized aspirins.

The Indian Chipati bread at TJ's is pretty good stuff. More substantial than the Middle Eastern Flatbread, less cardboardy than the pitas, actually vegan compared to the naan, and they heat up very nicely when put in a pan over medium high heat for a few minutes.

After all this disjointed talk of food and things, I think I must prepare my breakfast. Of peanut butter and raspberry preserves on a toasted wheat bagel. Hehehehahayeah. Peanut butter and jelly, that's what I like in my belly.

Shush. It's small and I'm meeting a friend for lunch at 1. Thai food. Nothing with peanut sauce, please.

listening: st. etienne - conchita martinez