“Moat Gutters” and “Comfort Chips”

Today I tried to run an errand near campus, and the streets were flooded. Not enough to keep anyone from driving, and I swear the SUV drivers were driving at the speed limit, but I had to stay around 15 mph, as it was no fun. Walking was also a challenge – when I got to an intersection, I had to step off the sidewalk into two or three inches of water. I learned the expression “moat gutters” from a sales clerk. Unfortunately, the business I was trying to visit was no longer there, so it was a big waste of time and dry socks.

Later, J. and I went to the Mexican restaurant. I was still moderately frazzled, and a dad brought in a little girl who was much too tired to cope with her surroundings, but we moved to a quieter part of the restaurant, and I proceeded to eat an unusual number of tortilla chips. J. suggested they were “comfort chips,” and I think he was right. They went nicely with my other comfort food, a cozy molcajete (stew).

D. went with his friends to the Youth Symphony concert tonight. He doesn’t exactly hang out with a rough crowd, does he? I went to pick him up at 8:30, but it was still only intermission, so I was invited to go in and listen to some Sibelius. It was inspirational music for their resistance against Russian occupation, and also very pretty, so I’m happy to have that playing in the back of my mind now.