alexist

Went to the pub last night for skorpionuk's birthday. Saw some lovely people--was particularly nice to see stiofan again. He MUST do a standup gig! I got annoyed at the lack of proper Coke. They didn't even have Pepsi, just some weird generic stuff. Neil had 5 pints of lager and nearly took me to the wrong side of the Thames instead of Charing Cross.

Today I originally meant to go to services, but didn't wake up till 10. Ooops. Ended up going to Borough Market, which was jammed. Why do I only ever find the same few varieties of apples?! Most of them aren't even English varieties, except for Cox's and the occasional Egremont Russet. And why bother importing French Braeburns and Goldens when the French grow good apples like the reinette varieties? I'll check farmers' markets, but I'm gloomy. I miss New York. The greenmarket in Union Square sold about two dozen varieties, the supermarkets at least stocked a few local favorites like the Macoun, and the New York Times had an article 2 weeks ago about a farm selling rare varieties like the Calville Blanc d'Hiver and the Esopus Spitzenburg in New York markets. Sorry to sound like some kind of foodie snob, but I'm an apple lover, and the major varieties are chosen because they're good croppers, they're easy to transport, and they look good. Even the Cox, which can be a wonderful apple with a lovely rich flavor, is bred for that these days. Jane Grigson was lamenting the state of the Cox (and the Bramley) 20 years ago.

Anyway, was supposed to meet Neil at the pub for the NaNoWriMo meet, but decided i was tired and went home. Had a nap, went out for dinner.

Oh, annoyed at Sainsburys. The petrol station in the forecourt said "food and fuel, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week". Great, I think, I can stop and get a pint of milk on the way home. However, when we went back, the shop was closed. Grrrr!

I have a toothache. And it's in a tooth that's already had a root canal and crown. If this persists, it probably means an apicoectomy again. Fuckety fuck. Will be fun trying to get one of those here--it requires an oral surgeon, and possibly a hospital appointment (since IIRC general anaesthesia and IV sedation can't be done without a qualified anaesthetist in the UK, and hence rarely in an office).

If it's still like this on Monday, dentist time :-(

George Monbiot has an article in the Guardian Weekend about the decline of the English apple:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,1337961,00.html

(I hadn't finished the Guardian when I wrote the earlier post.)

As usual, supermarkets get a slightly bigger share of the blame than they deserve. Their produce standards are evil, but consumers are idiots too--they've also bought into the surface beauty problem, and don't demand decent apples. For once Americans are slightly superior: we demand American apples, and in New York, there's a real preference for Northeastern apples over Washington ones. (We still need to hang our heads in shame for the atrocity of the Red Delicious, though. And why do we export crap like the Empire when we grow better varieties?)

The Green Bay Packers have beat the Washington Redskins, 28-14.

This matters because since 1936, the outcome of the Redskins' last home game before an election has predicted the election's outcome. If they win, the incumbent party stays in. If they lose, the incumbents go.

Now, it's hardly a foolproof system, but hey, by now it could have an element of self-fulfilling prophecy... :)

I'm scaring Neil by going to expensive online shopping sites. First it was http://www.coach.com (and I've hinted that a new handbag would be a good Chanukah present), then it was http://www.nordstrom.com (shoes, shoes, many shoes!) and now I've gone to the killer, http://www.tiffany.com ;)