The View From Mrs. Sundberg's Window

It's Not Long Off

November 4, 2008

Listened to the show Saturday and it was not bad. I'm not one to complain, but last week was one humdinger and I needed Saturday to be Saturday. The week began with a migraine headache which knocked me flat for three whole days. When I say flat, I mean flat. I don't remember much at all except rainbow lizards and monkeys from Discover's Planet Earth series which the kids put in before they went to school to keep me entertained all day, and talking on the phone with someone who insisted that I vote for "Al Franklin." Who? I asked. "Al Franklin," the man said. I remember smelling grilled cheese sandwiches and feeling little lips pressed to my forehead and a whisper in my ear, "Get better, Mom. We miss you."

I got up sometime on Wednesday and things felt normal again by Thursday morning, when I drove out to my favorite walking place by the lake just outside of town. And wouldn't you know, on that same day, during that same hour, some nutball got it in his head to break into my car by smashing my window. He took it all — my purse, my coat, my coupons. He even took the fresh muffins I was going to drop off at Lorena's house since she's been down with the flu. When I returned to my car and saw glass everywhere, I was more angry than anything, and drove to the police station, and reported his disrespectful butt to the police (yes, I assumed it was a "he", and I was right), and wouldn't you know, at that very moment the man was being apprehended by an Officer Tim? He pulled the guy over for a broken headlight, and found my purse, and my number in my purse and left a message for me on my home phone. Longer story short, I retrieved everything but my cash, about a hundred dollars, and the muffins, and can't help but feel a bit sorry for the man who felt the need to steal something of someone else's. For whatever reason.

Well, I managed to get the window replaced by Friday noon, and made it home in time to greet the kids as they came in from school. There were costumes to put on and Halloween parties to attend, but by dinner time it was clear that it would be a short night for all of 'em. And it was. Strep throat, the doctor said Saturday morning. Amoxycillin up the wazoo. Get out the Planet Earth series, I said. I'll make the hot chocolate.

It's been a warm few days since. Leaves have been blowing all the heck over, and the air has been curiously warm. "We still don't feel better," they said on Monday morning. You will soon, I told them. Be patient. Change is a 'coming, and it's not long off.

Creamy Mushroom Soup

Serve this creamy, rich soup with your favorite bread, or on the side with some baked chicken.

1lb or more white mushroom, cleaned, quartered or sliced

1 T lemon juice

1 T butter

2 T minced shallots

1 tsp dried thyme

1/2 bay leaf

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

2 c heavy cream

1 1/2 c chicken stock