Briefly

I am going to begin to use this blog as a general forum of Cei-ness as well as an art locale. Thusly:

I've developed two new intense hobby obsessions. I feel like these interests leap out at me like pieces of 'flair' from that movie, attach themselves, and then become emotionally charged momentos to take with me always, or at least to look upon with fondness. Like my brief love affair with masking tape borders on drawings.
Anyway.
I am suddenly filled with the desire to grill spinach, purchase veg from parts of the world I cannot pronounce, and to use cardamom in unexpected places. Suddenly utensils at The Cupboard (our local fancy housewares and assorted desireables emporium) that were laughable six months ago seem appealing and relevang. "What if I need to inject the lamb roast with butter?" I ask myself. "How do I create effective zestiness without a zester?" "What is the difference between a zester and a cheese grater anyway?"
And so on and so forth.
Needless to say, I have not at all become a "foodie" or any such nonsense. Never fear. I just made a lasagna that required the from-scratch preparation of sauce involving cream and nutmeg and tomato paste and now I feel exuberant.

My other recent obsession is my house plants. I have house plants for several reasons. Firstly, I have no pets. Secondly, The house is barren without them. Lastly, I took the ones my folks were not caring for adequately. Having begun this adventure with mild interest and good intent, I am now the owner of two bonsai, two bamboo, two rubber plants, two viney things the name of which I do not know, and a brand new fern whose name is Herman. I have been transported from lackluster desire for green and clean air to one who has emotional attachment, names, and a membership card to the local botanists.
I think the passion was ignited when I returned to my home after having been at my parent's house for some time recovering from surgery.
CRISIS.
Fortenbras, my Japanese hyacinth bonsai, appears mostly dead. I lept into (painkiller modified) action: misting, watering, loving, fertilizing. He still seems mostly dead, but now the intensity of my care has spread to the other plants. I desire pruning. I desire raking of soil. I tend to their drainage trays below their pots. I replace the bamboo's water in its entirety every so often. I speak to them, softly. Like Zonker Harris from Doonesbury.

That's the latest from Cei.