Monday, October 31, 2011

Occupy Elm Street

Stuck at the end of the cul de sac I’m losing track of the comings and goings of the real grown up world. I have risen from my ignorance coma to watch with interest the Occupy Wall Street protests. Basically, people objecting to corporate greed and economic peril are camping in downtown areas. Am I smart enough to figure out the point or am I embracing my role as a faux domestic goddess and letting world news roll off my back?


As someone who formerly worked in downtown Phoenix and as a card carrying scaredy cat there is no way I’d leave the safety of my couch to save the world. I’ll just keep watching Judge Judy and looking for jobs at online websites. I’ve stepped over too many sleeping beggars and vomit in my time to want to actually pitch a tent at the city park. I hate camping anyway so it’s a victory anyway you look at it. I wonder if their solidary will survive the first frost and the end of Starbucks pumpkin spiced lattes. While the east coast is covered with snow, we are now congratulating ourselves on surviving another summer of Dante’s Inferno. The air conditioner only clicked on once today. In honor of the protesters here is a recipe to keep them warm and toasty with thoughts of super plums dancing in their heads.

Pumpkin Soup
¼ cup butter
½ medium onion sliced chopped fine
1 clove garlic minced
1 teaspoon curry
1/8 teaspoon coriander
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
½ teaspoon salt
3 cups chicken broth
16 ounces solid pack pumpkin
1 cup half and half
Sour Cream
Sliced green onion for garnish

Sauté onion and garlic in butter until soft. Add curry, coriander, red pepper and salt. Cook 1 minute. Add broth and boil gently for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in pumpkin and half and half. Cook for 5 minutes. Serve with sour cream and green onions. I know you’re thinking pie right? Do I garnish with whipped cream? This doesn’t taste anything like Thanksgiving and if you like squash, you’ll love this soup.

In my personal Occupy Elm Street, I vacillate between boredom and fascination with happenings in the hood. There are strange goings-on during daylight hours. It’s not enough that one neighbor has determined that no emptied trash can should remain curbside and rushes out to return ours to its rightful place before the garbage truck has cleared the curb. Or the elderly corner neighbor who greets the mailman in his boxers and slippers every day to pass the time.


This week I was positively giddy when young lads left a landscape flyer announcing that they were in the market to buy mature palm trees. I’d been pricing having our oversized pigeon holding vegetation removed and it was going to cost a bazillion dollars. I was so happy to have them gone I stupidly tipped my hand and only got them to eradicate with no extra dough on my checking account. But pigeons are like flying rats and they have resorted to staring at me with homeless accusing beady eyes from atop our roof. Which reminds me of the creeper neighbor who has taken to smoking on his back patio when I’m doing my faux magazine workout. I’m sure he and his bare and hairy potbelly are just looking for exercise tips right? I wonder if rather than peering out my patio blinds my next home project should be adding a few rows of block to the back wall. This exercise shit is going to get me killed yet.

PS Don't forget to "like" Mrs. Tuna on Facebook, we all know what an attention seeking little tramp I am. Also, if you've been enjoying this blog, please follow, only a few more to reach the magic 400 members of Team Tuna.

50 comments:

Kristina P. said...

I would kill for palm trees! I need warm and tropical.

Sush said...

OH I hate pigeons and once they've selected your roof as their place to roost and can be the dickens getting rid of them.

Creepy neighbor...just sayin!~
Hugs~

Angie said...

I'm too lazy to bitch about corporate greed. I am occupying my desk like I do every other damned day. Do I wish greed wasn't an issue? Yes. Has greed been a problem with humans in general since biblical times? Yes. Am I willing to lose my home to go camp out and complain about it? Uh... LOL

Paula said...

Ew...I hate creeper neighbors. Im keeping my fingers crossed that you will find a job soon dear!

Andrea said...

I get all of my news from the Daily Show because I need it prepackaged with humor! I am occupying my house and publicly humiliating all those who keep crapping it up after I clean...I certainly don't want to have to clean up after a streetload of folks!

Congrats on the free palm tree removal! Maybe my arch enemy barn swallows are making their way to you--they are pretty bad-ass and could definately take on the pigeons!

Anonymous said...

Flying rats and hairy potbellied neighbors? Kinda makes carrying a sign with the OWS folks seem more attractive an option.

I'm already following you, but since you have so many followers, any chance you'd want to send a few hundred of them over to my page? They don't have to hang around, they can just follow me and head back home. :O)

Lin said...

I live in SoCal so we have a ton of palm trees. Congrats on the free palm tree removal, there's nothing worse than unwanted trees on your property. Great recipe btw :)

Hilary said...

I am so going to make your soup... looks so yummy!

Kara said...

I'm getting really concerned for the protesters in my city. Last night, the temperature went down to 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees F!). It's got to be mighty cold sleeping in tents in those temperatures!

mamahasspoken said...

Nothing ever happens around here so the protestors in Cincinnati are making the local news channels. Nothing big, just the same old same old as in they get arrested, they somehow make bail, they get arrested again, people who own the park that they are camping in are complaining about everything and anything, but protestors won't go. Yep sounds like every other place that has them...

Mark said...

Is your neighborhood completely nuts? Although those folks must give you hours of entertainment. I can't believe that you didn't get any money for your tree. I would miss it!
Your Friend, m.
I heart me some Judge Judy!

mark @ yelling near you said...

Someone needs to start a pool on how long the occupy movement will be able to last. They're getting desperate around here - they showed up at a church yesterday to protest the occupation of native lands. A Church? Really? Their days are numbered.

Congrats on getting rid of the tree and I'd be adding more blocks to the wall soon.

Annie (Lady M) x said...

We've got them anti-capitalist protesters over here too. Except that they aren't occupying Liverpool Street (the financial capital) because there isn't enough room. They are camping outside a cathedral instead, and all religious services have had to be cancelled because of health and safety risks. It's well weird.

Good luck with your job-hunt dahlink, and that pumpkin soup sounds lurverly!

P.S. You still have air-conditioning that comes on? You lucky git! ;-)

Janie Junebug said...

Wall Street? There are humans there?

Love,
Lola

Nicole Leigh Shaw said...

Yeah, they lost me at camping.

I love pumpkin and butternut soups. I'm making this one.

DB Stewart said...

Exercise pisses me off lately too. But I wish someone would watch me. That's the dif between men and women right there.

Darlene said...

Yeah, I think I'd be wanting to build a wall to save my eyes from hairy potbellied neighbors. Your soup sounds mighty tasty.

Julie Muller Kobrin said...

We have alot of Palm trees here in Fl lol. Can't wait for more meal talk. Holidays are right around the corner.

KSK said...

Sounds like you live in a bit of a dream neighborhood... ;)

Empty Nester said...

I have to look out my door before going to get the mail because of the drunks next door and the older lady across the street who will keep me out there for an hour (not even an exaggeration) taking about NOTHING.

DD2 just got her first lay off along with another 199 people at her company. She's interviewing like crazy. She still has her second job at the bar. How are you at mixing drinks? They actually make a lot!

Lisa said...

Oh my goodness - you do crack me up! Your neighborhood sounds like it's never boring!

Jessica | Cajunlicious said...

I love palm trees, there's something about them that make me smile.

Mariebop said...

The recipe looks great! I love everything pumpkin.

Awesome find getting that tree removed for free. Free stuff is always good.

New follower from the 'No More Muffin Top" weekend blog hop!

Check me out if you'd like at http://mariebops-corner.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

My post today is "Occupy Wall Street"

The Cranky Old Man

Anonymous said...

Team Tuna forever!

We're SO made for each other...you cook, I don't. I sense a beautiful future together!

I want a palm tree, damnit!

Mommy Bags said...

Ok half the losers who are "protesting" are actually dirt bags who want to cause trouble hello Oakland. A few bad apples wreck the whole bunch. I would keep an eye out for man watching you do your work out if you see hand movement it is time for a gun. I wanna live in your hood.

Unknown said...

What do you think about the news saying that most of the protesters are "rich".
I was a little surprised...
I am sick of birds too. They come to eat the dog food outside..Grrr
Come follow me back please!

http://lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com/

Michael Ann said...

Great blog! Doing the Coquette's blog hop today for the first time. I see a lot of my friends here who left comments...that's a great endorsement :) Ok, I'll follow!

Crazy Life of a Writing Mom said...

That recipe sounds awesome.

I recently flew to CA. I was shocked because right when I walked out of the airport, people were standing around protesting. I was shocked. I guess the reality of it didn't hit me until I actually saw it. Pretty crazy.

Jean | Delightful Repast said...

Mmm, that soup sounds good. Would like to have a big bowl of it right now.

Lea Marie said...

Yeah, I'm not much on pitching a tent on a camping trip non-the-less in the middle of town for a purpose that is not likely to have a satisfying end result. I found your blog Best Posts of the Week. It is a pleasure to meet and become a new follower. Hugs & Blessings

Sandra said...

From one attention-seeking tramp to another, I'm jealous you have creepy neighbour guy watching you do your faux magazine workout!
As for that Occupy Wall Street protest, I have a friend (ok, ex boyfriend, love of my life!) on FB who does nothing but write about this, and in all honesty, I no longer crave his affection and dream of meeting him in a sleezy motel for a quick, last time hump on the dirty bed. I guess I'm not into hippies after all.

Erin said...

Funny post! I like your writing style. I love people watching. New follower from Weekend Blog Hop. I hope that you can follow me too at www.indianacouponsavings.com

Tere said...

Stopping by from the No More Muffin Top Blog Hop.

ShanimalsCrackers.blogspot.com said...

Exercise is going to be killing me, too. That's why I'm smart and stay away from it...

Ixy said...

Hilarious as usual! My sister and I had a trampoline in our backyard and when we were teens and went to go jump on it, our pervert next-door neighbour would literally get a beer and pull up a chair to watch us. FREAK.

Red Nomad OZ said...

I've already followed one, don't think I can do it again ...

My MIL spends her day watching CCTV of the front gates of her 'lifestyle' retirement village. She's now persuaded village management to add music.

Please tell me this WON'T be you eventually ...

Unknown said...

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Ms. G said...

Do you think those lads would come to the other end of the country? I'll give them all the palms they want for free! If they move fast here the city will never catch them. As long as they don't touch the ones around Dunkin Donuts.

Michele said...

Pumpkin soup sounds delish! I just pulled a pumpkin cheesecake out of my oven! I can't wait to dig into that. But here is another fun project:

http://mrsgardengirl.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-day-apple-butter.html

Unknown said...

i think the premise behind all the occupy protests is right on -- but to camp out in public parks & be pissed because you cannot do that is ignorant. and creepy neighbor -- yeah we got those all around me -- one even being a chica.

anywho...
thanks for playing along in my *no more muffin top blog hop* -- you rock!!!
♥cyn♥
misadventures of a chunky goddess

Unknown said...

Love your blog name!
Stopping by from Weekends with Lucy & Sam hop and glad to have found your site!

Following you on GFC & FB!
Terri
http://www.tsue-thatswhatshesaid.com

Meg at the Members Lounge said...

Mrs. Tuna, I swear I could write a blog on all the f**ked up neighbors that live around me. I say go for the extra height on the wall. If not the blocks, barbed wire!

Coolestmommy said...

Following with the Weekends with Sam & Lucy Blog Hop. Hope you'll follow back at www.coolestmommy.com

Bibi @ Bibi's Culinary Journey said...

I am thinking of your A/C clicking only once today as I scrape my windshield with already numb fingers just so I can take my kids to school....yeah, I'm gonna need bowl of Pumpkin soup when I get back.

Mia said...

Hi, I'm your newest follower! You can find me at
http://christiangirlygirls.blogspot.com/

AiringMyLaundry said...

I'll take some soup. Yum.

Tracy Wilson said...

We had some protesters here in Savannah, but mostly they just had a drink in the park:)

Tracy

Anonymous said...

There's only one way to find out. Personally, I like to see young people with such passion for something besides video games.

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