Il fait froid au jour d'hui.

When I checked my Dashboard weather widget this morning, it just said "9"... as if "9" was a perfectly logical and normal thing for it to say. With windchill, it's well below zero. I put aside all fashion dignity and wore my over-sized winter coat that has withstood many a New England storm, bit the hat-head bullet and stepped out of Back Bay. Coming out of the station felt like jumping into a frozen swimming pool. I consider myself relatively hardy, but I actually felt myself gasping from the shock in the wind tunnels of downtown. It throws you and completely cuts off your ability to think because all your body is letting you think is "get somewhere warm, getsomewherewarmNOW!!" It's made especially cruel, considering this day has had the only sign of sun we've experienced in over a week. Quel drag.

But enough griping. I hunkered down in the duplé and spent much of the weekend being semi-productive, i.e. writing letters and baking. I tried my hand at Italian bread, which came out.... oddly. It tasted great and had decent texture, but looked like a semi-deflated soccer ball and adhered itself to the pan with religious zealousness (though I corn mealed the hell out of bottom.) Lesson learned. Next time, I won't rush the rising, and I'll use parchment paper as well... Teflon parchment paper greased with 4-in-1 oil...

Most likely carcinogenic polyurethane compound spreading of microthin substance over a negatively charged layer of aluminum, copper, iron, lead, VHS, FYI, apple pie, FBI, and some other elements too...