Things to Do on a Monday

Take a couple of onions and dice them; throw them into a wok or similarly large pan in some olive oil and a little butter. After the onions are soft and translucent, add the kernels cut from about eight ears of corn (you've already shucked the corn and boiled it for about six minutes). Maybe throw in some garlic. Add a large can of black beans (I rinse mine, for something like this, or everything gets a little muddy-looking) and a 15-ounce can of Muir Glen fire-roasted tomatos. If you're really inspired and it's sitting around in the refrigerator getting moldy, dice a hunk of ricotta salata cheese and throw that in, too. Mix everything around a little. Voila! You can eat it hot or cold.

Take a loaf of sourdough "lunch" bread from the freezer so it thaws by tomorrow. Find a small Mason jar and put into it basil-flavored olive oil, pesto from the freezer, balsamic vinegar, and dashes of pepper and thyme; be prepared to use this on the bread, once you've added the provolone, ham, and hard salami Friend is bringing (along with tomatos and green beans from his garden).

Later, you can take two of the peaches that are getting a little bruised-looking, slice them up, and, as you're eating them, absorb the essence-of-peachy-goodness they provide. Marvel at how they are juicy and sweet and peachalicious. Wonder if more of them can be transported tomorrow evening without being destroyed in transit.

Realize that all of this morning's blathering, and Larry's comment, have clarified both (a) your immense gratitude that you have a job and are getting by and even having fun once in awhile and (b) your realization that you don't love this job in its current context (low pay/long hours/for someone else's profit) nearly enough to stay with it. Be sad that you're kind of a loser that way, but accept it and keep looking for a different combination. Or pour a glass of wine and vegetate for awhile before going to sleep.