Aleksey’s

This weekend we discovered Aleksey’s Russian & Eastern European Market near 100 Oaks. We’d noticed it before, and maybe for 4 years we’ve been saying that we should check it out. So, on Saturday, during errands, we finally went. And kids, if you see something, you should always say something. I can’t believe that for 4 years we were basically too lazy to walk into this place.

The irony is, I think that if we weren’t so miserable here, we might not bother doing these weird new things. We had just spent 4 glorious days back in the Boston area the week before, where we saw as many old friends as we could and ate, drank, and danced our hearts out. It was really hard to be back here, where good food is not as readily available, the folks we became adults with are far away, and the queer community just is not a good fit. Anyway, Aleksey’s was a nice reminder just at the right time that we’re going to make it, and enjoy ourselves in the meanwhile.

In the store we encountered all kinds of unrecognizable goodies, many of which we bought. An array of enticing canned fish and pates, pickles, smoked fish, baked goods, juices, jams, frozen items, candies. And if that weren’t enough, a whole case of sausages! We bought some cans, a bottle of black currant juice, some pickles called “grandma’s salad,” and a kinder surprise. Then, The Little Red Haired Girl asked the nice lady behind the counter which sausages she recommends, and she gave us samples. We walked away with half a pound each of something called “Karpatskaya” and something called “Tsar Salami.”

Nothing much

I felt like I should check in, but I don’t have much to contribute. I mean, things have happened lately, for sure. For example, I’m no longer on a road trip across country. In fact, I haven’t been for weeks now.

In the time since the last post I’ve caught up with an old friend in LA, gotten to SD, flown back, driven to Durham, then to Charleston, participated in a bachelorette party, come home, driven to Michigan for a wedding, then watched Mrs. Superhero become even more super as she defended her dissertation.

I’ve also cooked and eaten all kinds of things, including summer faves like beer can chicken and flat iron steak, and delicious luxurious things like pate sandwiches and beet tartare, and weird shit like the penis shaped banana dessert that was served to the bride-to-be during bachelorette weekend.

It’s been a busy month. But somehow I haven’t felt like posting anything. Just one of those phases, I guess.