Delicious~ But not really !

I traveled over one hundred times to London and Paris and I always made sure I had a good source of reading material and, at the end, videos (Sex and the City set was one ) for the computer to keep me grounded.  One might think there is always something to do in these great and interesting cities, but one needs down time as well to gear up for the grueling days of hunting for antique treasures to bring home to the ever hunger American market. Ruth Reichl got me through an especially frustrating trip to Paris. Never mind who caused it, her books carried me along until I was finally finished with Paris for that month and could come home to another form, that of peace (after the first week home) and pleasure from then on. On this particular trip I carried over Comfort Me With Apples, Garlic and Sapphires, Tender to the Bone and Not Becoming My Mother.  Ruth has had a fascinating journey through the food world and I traveled with her through her books.  She later became a very successful editor of Gourmet magazine hence the book Endless Feasts: Sixty years of Gourmet Magazine. I was delighted to read that her next book is coming out in May and it is titled Delicious.  I have pre ordered it and cannot wait, but must.

NOTE:  Gag Me would be a better title for this insipid book. Skip it. I can't even finish it.

We are having a very quiet Easter this year.  The steaks are marinating, the mushrooms prepped and at the ready, the chicken wings have been worried to death with treatments of all kinds and the recipe for pesto and Parmesan mashed potatoes is at the ready. Beth is bringing salad and dessert though the table is strewn with delectable chocolates and jelly beans as I write. The wine is chilling and the shovels and spades are propped by the back door.  A hint that spring clean up has not been done.  I had hired a man who had many promises on the lip but none were fulfilled.  When he finally decided to grace me with his presence (at $60. an hour which I never made in my entire life)  he had still not arrived at 11:15 in the morning.  Now I don't know about you but had I arrived to teach the fifth graders at 11:15 in the morning, there would have been trouble a foot and I would have been looking for a new position in a far away land. This has happened with at least five domestics ( I don't know what to call anyone any more and I don't care...grow up) in just this year.  I want them there when they say they will be there and I want them to stay until their job is done.  I am on a rant this week and am fed up with people who say they need work but who would rather not , if you don't mind, work for it!