Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Another “While I’m Doing Homework” blurb…

So we’re in the middle of a move. And I’m head over heels with essays, exams and history and all that good stuff –couldn’t tell you what today’s weather is looking like, but I do know about the Orange Order’s activities in 1845. So practical for day-to-day life --what I’d like to know is; how does one make coffee within a scavenged house? It’s a big question…

It’s 3:30pm. Time for coffee! Amazingly, there are some lonely grounds at the back of the freezer. But alas, the filters are absent; and no paper-towels are to be found (no self-respecting Dutch household has those anyways). Toilet-paper? No thanks. But neither is there any instant coffee, and the urge is getting stronger. So I boil the water and pour the grounds directly in. But those grounds aren’t settling; they’ve formed a sort of mud. Ah, the answer I’ve been looking for: a clean dishcloth. I repour the coffee through that, but half is spilled across the counter –no problem, we can compensate for that in milk. Finally! A finished cup! I set it on the floor (no chairs left at home, of course) and reach for the half-can of cold Ravioli. It’s labeled Cheese Ravioli with Meatballs; but the cheese is dubious and the ingredients cannot claim a speck of meat. I’m hungry though, so I eat it with gleeful anticipation of that coffee. I stand up to toss the can, and promptly kick the coffee over… Back to the Orange Order :)

31 comments:

Mel said...

She lives!!

Toilet paper...hey, that could work! Haha, you have an interesting way of making coffee. But if you need it bad enough...

Did you actually do that?

Anonymous said...

Of course you can compensate in milk, b/c as anyone who's ever watched Ruth prepare a cup of "coffee" knows, she likes to have a little bit of coffee with her milk!

It must be frustrating living in a house that's pretty much empty! If ur ever feeling desperate, u know u could always come over to our place!

Ruth said...

Yes, Melissa, I ACTUALLY did that :)
Stef, as a non-coffee drinker you have no authority with which to evaluate my coffee habits :P But thanks, as always, for the invite!

Anonymous said...

Ruth, I may not have the authority as a non-coffee drinker, but i have watched enough ppl prepare their coffee to know ur method is a little.....shall we say ....unusual?

Mel said...

lol, that sounds a little, unusual! :-)

But like, milk in coffee? Nasty!

Mike said...

I don't like coffee, And I don't like milk, I can't imagine putting the two together.

Mel said...

Coffee is amazing...if you have the right cream and not an od of sugar.

Anonymous said...

Coffee is the best with Irish cream coffee whitener!SUUUUPEEEER!!!

(With a good book of course,namely LOTR!)
*Aaaaaahhhh*

Anonymous said...

Ruth,
What a classic story. Hilarious. I can imagine being htere although i guarantee you it would have been mroe disastrous. We should have a scene like this in our movie.
michele

Mel said...

Irish cream is nasty! You know how much you increase your sugar intake drinkin that stuff?

:-S

Lizzi said...

I like strong coffee with generous sugar and cream =)
well "generous" might be a little... lol

And that sounds exactly like something I would do.
Did you repeat the process? =)

Gloria said...

I can totally see where you are at. We have moved more than once so I know the frustration of that. As for coffee you have a wonderful way of going about preparing it.

Krista said...

Coffee is disgusting, but that was an amusing story :)

Mark said...

No one is allowed to question her coffee habits. I already tried and failed. Since she has so willingly accommodated my eccentricities in this regard, it's the least I can do.

:p

Anonymous said...

Dishtowels rock!! So multi-purposeful - especially those extra-thick Dutch ones!

I must admit I also have a history of spilling coffee . . . lol, the stories I could tell :P

Mel said...

I have issues with spilling coke on myself. At least tonight I did. :-S

Ruth said...

It seems this has brought out all the dirty laundry; crazy coffee habits, past clumsiness... this could be good; don't stop there! :P

Gloria said...

I don't like coffee, but my Dad loves it. I've never resorted to Toilet Paper or dish towels but I have made my share of messes.

Rebekah said...

Um, I don't quite understand--how do you make coffee anyway?

Mel said...

Okay. You know those chocolate covered coffee beans you can buy? Well, you use those. First step is to put about 1/2 a cup of the beans into a bucket. Then, with clean shoes on, stomp on them until they're finely ground.

Then, pour boiling hot water over them and viola!

Ruth said...

LOL, Melissa; you're hilarious :) Any past experience there?

Mel said...

Haha, thanks

Ach...no, just the imagination. ;-) That is, the imagination of a close-to-non-functional-brain.

:-)

Krista said...

hey Ruthie! I miss you too! Call us girls up and invite us over!!!

Matt said...

Very funny Ruth! I have to admit, my biggest struggle at work is making the long trek from the coffee pot down the hallway to my desk without spilling my coffee. My success rate, I am sad to say, is probably around 25%. :)

And as you might be able to see... I unfornately have a blog... or a lack of one might be a better description. I had to sign up for one to comment on another blog. So I guess you win. :)

Matt said...

And I see I have already made a spelling mistake (should be unfortunately, not unfornately.) :( Must be the evil influence of the blogging world on me already.

Lizzi said...

Oh boy I don't know what I'd do in your place, I have trouble taking coffee/tea/any other drink down to the computer ...And up to my room is another story altogether.

~Marie~ said...

lol, I know what you guys mean! My biggest dread when we have company is that my Mom is going to ask me to serve them coffee/tea! I'm horrible at it!! I think the next time, I'll just serve it in sippy-cup spill proof cups!!

~Marie~ said...

Of course then I'd have to watch them to make sure they drank it all before the cup started melting!! :)

Ruth said...

Marie, I think I'll show that to my mother --she never can understand why I hate serving! Now the sippy cups, I like that idea :)

valerie grace said...

ruth,
very funny story, I know I would go to the ends of the earth for a cup a coffee when needed. Nice to catch up on you...It's been ages. If you feel the urge check me out at dvslingerland.blogspot.com
:) keep in touch
valerie

Mel said...

Awww man, I was just going to say 'use a sippy cup' and then noticed Marie beat me to it. :-)

Hey, go-mugs work too. And, they keep it WARM! ;)