Popcorn

This is a little more my pace--popcorn that takes five minutes ...

My mother instilled in myself and my sisters a love for popcorn. It's actually pretty excessive; I don't think I know anyone who likes popcorn as much as my mom. Here's the evidence: 1.) the people at Vic's Popcorn on 132nd and Center in Omaha know (or knew) my mom by name (she's a regular), 2.) if we or just she and my dad are planning on seeing a movie, my mom will purposely eat a light dinner to save room for butter popcorn, she asks for extra butter and will go back for seconds, 3.) we choose movie theaters based on the quality of their popcorn (AMC Oakview's is awful), 4.) she once sent me a 5-gallon bag of white popcorn and a 2-gallon bag of cheese popcorn before finals--the box was big enough to transport a three-year-old child.

Instead of getting a box of microwaveable popcorn at the store last time, I opted for a bag of kernels. I was without a microwave when I moved into a previous apartment. Unable to live without popcorn, I figured out that you can cook popcorn on the stove (duh, right?). My friend Lindsey gave me some spices for Christmas that flavored this popcorn nicely.

Stovetop Popcorn:
3 tablespoons oil or butter
1/3 cup popcorn kernals
salt, pepper and other seasonings
melted butter

Heat oil in a 2-quart pot, add the popcorn and cover with a lid. Once the kernals start popping, try to shake the pot a little so the already popped kernals aren't resting on the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat once popping subsides. Drizzle with melted butter and season with salt and pepper.

She Who Lived to Tell of Smoke that Thunders, Trumpeting Elephants and Laughing Hyenas

I made it. I'm back and sitting at my desk in Omaha, Neb., eating the only thing left in my cupboard (that took less than five minutes to make): I've gone through my emails, discovered (to my joy) that Neko Case will be coming to town in June (along with Bowerbirds and St. Vincent--could life be any better) and sifted through more junk mail than I realized I receive. After some 36 hours of traveling, I am in a bit of a daze and microwave popcorn is the best I can do. But wow, what a trip. There was something completely new at every bump in the very bumpy road. And my friends, the sky, the sky. I cannot describe the sky, the vastness, the colors, the clouds going on forever and forever amen. Though right now I am content with my indoor plumbing, Iron & Wine and to move only at the pace that the Earth turns--at least for the moment.