Chemistry Lab

Sometimes, in spite of instincts that try to warn me off, I mix things that ought to remain apart. Elements that conspire to be together, but really shouldn't. I had this realization yesterday when a heavy soaking rain made it all but impossible to go outside. I'd already been in my head a fair amount, reading poetry, staring at the rain, considering the possible fruits of this sodden state of affairs. I was kneading dough - pizza dough - a pleasant meditative task. Considering possible toppings that would break new ground and still be palatable for my fairly easy to please family. I was hit with a craving for Ryan Adams, and wouldn't you know it, Gold was right there on the counter.

Here's what I learned: a disposition prone to blues + Ryan Adams' trainwhistle voice + a saturating rain = a ticket to my not-so-happy place. The path here is well worn; once I head in this direction I'm pulled in like an unfortunate fish on a hook. Or like the tractor beam on Star Trek (or was it Star Wars?).

Anyway, the pizza was divine. One with scallion butter, mozzarella, prosciutto and arugula; another more experimental one with steamed beets, feta, olive oil and arugula. Sometimes chemistry experiments pay off.