HALLOWEEN

 Happy Halloween!

My house is semi-decorated for Halloween.  I half hardheartedly put some things up to celebrate the day. Since I was not going to have trick-or-treaters I didn't want to go all out.  I don't think kids should be going to people's houses they aren't bubbling with to get handouts number one and I don't answer the door for anyone so I would not be giving out candy number two.  I put a sign out saying No Candy sad face :(.  It kept the kids at bay.  I didn't want them coming up the stairs and upsetting Lucky only to have me saying No Candy.  I actually do have candy but it is not a good idea this year. I saw some local kids walking around.  I am not sure they were trick-or-treating or just walking around showing off their costumes.

I made Moroccan Stew with Butternut squash and chickpeas today.  I was excited because it was being made in the slow cooker.  I got everything in the slow cooker and I had some trouble turning it on.  I got it on and set the timer for 7 hours and went about my day.  I read in my hammock and cleaned off and stored my outside umbrella.  I came back to the stew at about 5.5 hours and it seemed very done.  I looked and I set it on HIGH instead of LOW and it should have been done at 4 hours.  So it got a little overcooked.  It tasted okay. Maybe a pinch overdone.  But it was very good.  A hearty stew!  Very Fall type stew.

I had a butternut squash for months and wasn't sure if I could use it so I asked the woman at the veggie delivery service and she said they last for months sometimes.  I cut it open and it was just beyond usable but it is good to know that they last so long.  I probably could have used it a month ago with no problems.  I had a newer squash to use as a back up. 

Until tomorrow...

NOT A GOOD DAY

After attending a zoom on Women in Leadership and talking to my foster son's teacher, I started to not feel too good. I tried to pull it together but eventually gave up and laid down on the couch. Around 6:00 I got up and made myself ride 6 miles on the bike at a slow pace. I didn't do any exercise yesterday because I wasn't feeling well yesterday either. 

Before anyone gets too excited I don't have a fever and my pulse ox is fine. I think it is just a flare mixed with either allergies or a sinus infection. Nothing special. 

I'm sure I'll be fine in a few days. I'm going to make a soup/stew tomorrow in the slow cooker. Just throw everything in the pot and let it cook for 7 hours. 

Until tomorrow...

GETTING READY FOR HALLOWEEN

 First, I checked on my package from Amazon and it went from a city near my house this morning to Anchorage, Alaska. I am not sure why my package of couscous went to Alaska but it had a tour of the Northwest.  I think if your package doesn't arrive when they say, it should be like Domino's Pizza, "we get it to you when we say or it is free."  When your package arrives four days late because it went to Alaska instead of your house, it should be free, right?

I had another art class today.  It was an art class for kids to learn about voting but I had fun.  We did voting badges.  I made my own voting badge.

I am not an artist and I really can't draw (especially circles) but it was fun and something out of the box.

Last night I took off Lucky's cone and let her sleep without it and she was sound asleep.  She even slept in her own bed.  She was knocked out and didn't wake up until the morning.

Tonight I participated in a virtual show put on by an Academy of Sciences.  They had a Halloween special with an expert on spiders and squids and decaying alligators and other gory things.  It was super interesting and not at all what I thought it would be.  I hope they do it again.  I love to learn new things even if it is about spiders and squids and decaying alligators!  Got me in the mood for Halloween.

Until tomorrow...

ALOHA TO MY FRIENDS

 Today I found out the chickens are moving to another city.  It is a sunnier city and there will be other chickens.  I hope they will have a happy life in their new home.  I wish them the best in their new home.

I woke up early this morning to wish my friends a safe trip to Hawaii.  I made a sign for them:

I stuck in on the garage and they drove by to wave to me before they went to the airport for months in Hawaii.  They are eventually moving there but Covid-19 has thrown a wrench in the dream.

I then got right to work on my two projects.  I have been working almost all day.  Two projects in the same day after weeks of no work.  It is a shock to my system.

Until tomorrow...

TARGET PACKAGE ON MY STEPS

 I finally got my box from Target.  It was supposed to arrive on Friday. I waited around all day to get the package.  I know you are going to say "where would you go?" I have things I want to do like take a shower or exercise and I can't do that if I am waiting for a package to be delivered and I don't know the time it is coming.

Then it was supposed to arrive on Saturday.  All day I waited for it to arrive.  I couldn't go out back because I can't hear the doorbell.  It didn't arrive.  The UPS website keeps saying it will be delivered that day so I think it IS going to be delivered on that day. Nope.

Then Monday it says it will be delivered.  I go about my day attending webinars, feeding the animals, etc.  I didn't hear any deliveries.  Lucky didn't bark.  Then my neighbor texts me that there is a box at the bottom of my stairs.  WHAT?!  UPS decided to leave the box at the bottom of my stairs and not walk the 10 stairs to my door and ring my doorbell.  Lazy!!  I am lucky it didn't get stolen.  They would have been happy to get toilet paper and garbage bags!  

I was so happy to get my first delivery of toilet paper since Covid-19 started.  I bought some other stuff too since I was getting a delivery: cleaner, garbage bags, and swiffer dusters.

Until tomorrow...

CHICKEN COOP UPDATE

 I just received a phone call that the chicken run is gone and the chicken coop will soon be gone.  The folks next door will be giving the chickens away to another chicken owner and dismantling the coop.  There is some talk of having another coop in the spring but not in the same place and not within 20 feet of my house.  I am supposed to monitor the rodent situation once the coop is gone and let them know if it gets better or stays the same.  This all seems like a fair agreement.

I haven't mentioned that poor little Lucky has a cone on her head again.  She must have cut her paw pad on Friday and was licking it.  I put the cone on her head to keep her from licking and see if it will get better.  Today with the dog walker she was going slowly according to reports.  I took a photo of her foot and sent it to the veterinarian.  I will see what he says tomorrow.  She is not a happy dog.

Until tomorrow...

ICE CREAM #3 PISTACHIO

 Today I made my third try at vegan ice cream.  This time I spent 20 minutes shelling 1 cup of pistachios while I was on my weekly zoom call with friends.  Then I mixed the cream and put it in the refrigerator for 4 hours.  

 

Right before 8pm I put the mixture in the ice cream maker and I had pistachio ice cream.  

It isn't green like you see in the supermarket because my pistachios were older and organic.  They weren't very green and more of a brown color. It is okay because it is more about the taste anyway.  It tastes fantastic!  Just like having a creamy pistachio in my mouth.

I have to decide what flavor to make next: coffee or mint chocolate chip or chocolate.  Or I was thinking of making oatmeal cookie ice cream with bits of oatmeal cookie in it.  I'll see.

I also made Sweet Potato, Zucchini Home Fries.  They were super easy to make and they tasted delicious.  They were flavorful and just the right amount of spice.  Just cut the veggies up, add the spices and pop in the oven.  

Until tomorrow...

CHICKEN SITUATION

My neighbors have had a chicken coop for a couple of years now. When they first got it I was not that excited about it. The reason I was not excited about it was because it was very close to my house. It was especially very close to the door to my downstairs. We talked about it and I thought we agreed that there would be no feeding of the chickens near the door to my house.

Well as time went on, I realized that chickens were being fed right near the door to my house. If you read this blog regularly you will know that I have had problems with rodents specifically rats. Rats love being near chicken coops because chickens get fed and they are very sloppy. I asked my neighbor to stop feeding the chickens near my house and not never happened. The chickens were fed every morning right near the door to my house.

A few days ago I was looking out at the weather and I noticed that my neighbor had put up a chicken run alongside the length of my house. This made me quite unhappy. I decided enough is enough. I have been quite flexible about the chicken situation but we're heading into the winter time when rodents are going to want to come inside and nest and I don't want them nesting in my house. So I called the building manager and said it's time to talk.

This morning the building manager and I spoke and he was very understanding and reasonable and said he did not know that the chicken run had been set up and that it needed to come down immediately. He also agreed with me that I have been very patient and understanding about the chickens and not at this point the chickens need to either be moved or rehoused in another location not at this address. So this conversation made me very happy not that I don't love the chickens but I think I dislike the rats more. So I'm hoping that this change will happen in the next couple of weeks before the cold sets in.

Until tomorrow...

OREO COOKIE VEGAN ICE CREAM SUCCESS

 Now that I got my groceries delivered, I woke up early to get my mail from the post office and used the early hours to start making ice cream. When I use the recipe where I heat the coconut milk, it takes much longer because it has to cool for about four hours. If I start making the ice cream at 10am, I have ice cream to eat after dinner. 

I decided to make Oreo cookie ice cream this time. I used vanilla paste instead of vanilla extract. Plus I doubled the amount called for.  Then I took 6 Oreos (yes regular Oreos are vegan) and pulverized them in my blender. Then I took a few more Oreos and crushed then a bit with a heavy object. 

The ice cream base was a success this time. Last time I had some issues with it so it didn’t turn out so well. The key is to have all the ingredients ready before I start. The ingredients have to go in the pan quickly so having them measured and ready is key. 

I let the base cool for 4 hours then I put it in the frozen bowl base the correct way. I let it whip for about 10 minutes then I put in the Oreos that I blended. I let that mix for another minute or two.  Once it was done I put the ice cream in a container and stirred in the larger pieces of Oreos. Then I popped it in the freezer. 

I had some after dinner and it was fabulous. I barely tasted the coconut milk.  The vanilla paste and cookies helped cover the coconut. Not that the coconut is bad, the ice cream tasted more like real cookies and cream. 

I am trying to decide if I should do coffee or pistachio next.  Of course I can always do chocolate. I was also thinking of doing oatmeal cookie by making oatmeal cookies and putting some of the dough in the batter.  

Until tomorrow...

DELICIOUS STEW TONIGHT

 I cooked dinner tonight.  It is so good.  It was Swiss Chard, Potato and Chickpea Stew.  I made it before but I don't remember it being this good.  I think it would be great if I had a cold or it was a cold day outside.  I served it with Israeli couscous.  The potatoes were cooked just right so they held together but fell apart in my mouth.  They had soaked up the delicious broth.  The broth was just spicy enough that my nose ran but it was not so spicy that I could not eat it.  The couscous soaked up the broth.  

Okay it was not the best photo.  I forgot to take the photo because Fed Ex arrived with a delivery.  Too much going on tonight. 

My new smoke/carbon dioxide detector showed up today.  I will install it tomorrow.  

Until tomorrow...

ONLINE SHOPPING FOOD AND TARGET

 I ordered food from the supermarket to be delivered.  I hope it all arrives. One thing you learn with food delivery is that just because the website says it is coming does not mean it will arrive.  Different things happen: 1) the driver forgets to shop for it, 2) it is actually out of stock, 3) the driver picks out the wrong item or 4) the driver leaves it in the car/truck.  Sometimes this means you pay for it and you have to call up and get your money back. Sometimes you get stuff you did not order, this is bonus stuff.  It really is not a given you will get what you order, this is why I am not as excited with ordering food online anymore.  It is more of a headache sometimes.

Today I didn't get two items that were out of stock, I was notified.  Then when I did the inventory (you have to do an inventory when the food arrives) I was missing (but didn't pay for) frozen cherries, frozen strawberries, tofu and vegan mac and cheese.  Oh, well, it goes on the list for next time.  

I also ordered from Target!  I am ordering toilet paper and paper towels for the first time since lock down.  I am not out of stock yet but I didn't want to wait until I was desperate.  I am sure you are thinking WHAT? you didn't need toilet paper this whole time?  My answer is I live alone.  I don't use much toilet paper and I had bought a bunch of toilet paper and paper towels right before lock down.  I do have to say, I didn't think it would last this long but I have been careful.  

I was only able to buy one 18 pack of toilet paper but that will probably last with the stock I still have through the end of the year.  I got a giant pack of paper towels too.  I usually use reusable, washable cloths instead of paper towels in the kitchen so that is why I don't use too many paper towels.  It is a habit I picked up from my sister-in-law.  I use a cloth to wipe up, let it dry and then chuck it in the washing machine.  It saves to much money and the environment.

Until tomorrow...

PROJECT WORK

 I have been working all evening on a project.  I have one project due this month and I worked on it for the last two days.  It isn't a very exciting project but it is a project!  

I participated in a work education webinar today.  It was so interesting.  I love learning new things.  I have been signing up for all these webinars in my free time.

I also had a phone call to talk about an IEP with a counselor.  She was so nice and spoke with me for 2 hours.  She was a contact from a former client.  She gave me so much useful information.  I hope I can straighten this situation out.

Until tomorrow...

TRIGGERED FROM A ZOOM

 Have you ever been talking with a group and you start to state your position about a topic and another person cuts you off, strongly gives their position for 20 minutes straight (meanwhile putting down your position) and doesn't give you a chance to speak again?  Yes?  Well, I had this happen a week ago and it has been bugging me.  I am not angry, I am feeling triggered.  I felt they were being a bully when they cut me off like that and didn't let me speak again (unless I wanted to cut them off).  I understand they were passionate about the topic but it still doesn't give them the right to disallow my view or opinion in a group chat.  They would have found out I mostly agreed with them but they didn't give me the chance to say so.

I have been trying to find a way to talk to this person and let them know that it bothered me. Should I call them or email them?  It is hard in the time of Covid-19.  I can't meet them for a coffee and sit and have a conversation.  I also don't know this person very well because I met this person since Covid-19 over zoom.  Things are so complicated now. 

Until tomorrow...

NEED TO TRY ICE CREAM AGAIN

 It looks like the ice cream was not as successful as I wanted it to be. I had a few problems along the way but the next time it should go smoother. It tastes fine; it just isn’t the way it should be. 

My friends zoom today lasted for 3.5 hours. We just kept talking and sharing and planning. It was nice.  I was supposed to cook today but I zoomed instead. I did most of my zoom outside in the sunshine. 

Last night I heard weird noises again during the night. I came upstairs and it was my smoke detector/carbon monoxide detector. I think it died and was making a weird noise not the chirping you usually hear. I took the batteries out and today I ordered a new one. I have a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector downstairs so I think I am okay for awhile. I just think it is good to have one on each floor. I think it is even a law in my state.  Honestly, I have so many smoke detectors in my house that when the batteries die in one, I have a hard time figuring out which one it is.  Living through a fire makes you a bit neurotic about having smoke detectors. 

Until tomorrow...

SUCCESSFUL ICE CREAM

 I woke up early so my friends kid could drop off my prescription. The pharmacy did not put my new prescription on auto refill so it didn’t get refilled on time. If I didn’t get it today, I wouldn’t have gotten it until Tuesday.  That would not have been good. My friends kid is so sweet to get up early and get it for me.  He was happy to talk about his new dog. 

Since I was awake I began making my first batch of ice cream. This batch was a recipe that included heating the coconut milk and other ingredients so it took awhile. Once I had it in the refrigerator to cool, I started to make dinner while it was still cool out. 

The ice cream cooling in the refrigerator.

I made PAKISTANI ZUCCHINI (COURGETTE) CURRY | TORIYAN (TORAI KI SABZI).  It’s a one-pot curry made out of zucchini. It is SO tasty.  I ate it with brown rice. 

I took a book and laid in the hammock with the fountain bubbling for a while this afternoon. It was heaven. 

This evening I made two attempts to make the ice cream. I didn’t read all the directions the first time and had to start over. I have the ice cream in the freezer now and it will be ready to eat tomorrow.  I made plain and threw some chocolate chips in a little bit at the end. 

Until tomorrow...

PLAY THREE IRONBOUND

 The ice cream maker showed up early! I am super excited. I washed it and put the bowl in the freezer already. Tomorrow I can make the ice cream base and put it in the ice cream maker. I have researched recipes and flavors. I am going to stay simple the first time. 

Tonight my friend S and I watched our final virtual play Ironbound. This was my favorite of the three. This play was about a woman who was married to a man she immigrated to America with. Then he wanted to move to a Chicago to follow his dream and she was pregnant and didn’t want to move to a new town and start over so they broke up. She then married a guy who was abusive (they didn’t show this part). Then after divorcing him, she dared and moved in with the co-star of the play. He was a dirt bag who cheated on her 10, 13, or 17 times.  There was a financial inequality in their relationship that he exploits. He hits her. She was unable to leave due to money.  I know it sounds depressing but it had very funny dialogue. It was a play that you want to talk about after it is over.  They do come to a resolution at the end. She stands up for herself.  I thought it was well done and engaging. 

Until tomorrow...

ICE CREAM MAKER

 I bought something I really didn't need yesterday.  Something discretionary.  I bought an ice cream maker.  It makes a quart at a time.  It doesn't need any rock salt. I am so excited.  When we were kids we had an old ice cream maker that we filled with rock salt and the ingredients and turned the handle.  We had to turn that handle for a LONG time to get some ice cream.  As a kid it was fun to work to get a treat, as an adult it is less fun so my ice cream maker is electric.  It makes ice cream in 20 minutes.  

The process is a bit long but worth it. The bowl inside the ice cream maker has to be frozen for 24 hours. Then the ingredients get put in the ice cream maker.  It is best the ingredients are cold.  Then the machine runs for 20 minutes to stir the ingredients into ice cream.  Once it is done, the ice cream goes in the freezer to make it hard.  

Here is my thought process: I am at home. I keep buying ice cream and I have to get it delivered.  Since I have to get it from only two places and I only get to buy one type, I have been spending more money on ice cream. A lot more money.  The brand I usually buy is much less expensive but I can't get it delivered.  This way I can make my own ice cream and save money over time.  The machine was on sale over the last few days.  

I am excited to make different flavors of ice cream.  I can make vanilla, chocolate, oreo cookie, strawberry, chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, coffee, peanut butter chocolate chip and the list goes on! 

The machine arrives on Saturday so Sunday I will make my first batch of ice cream.  I should be able to try it on Sunday and eat it on Monday.  Yum!

Until tomorrow...

ACCOMPLISHMENT

 My new idea of only putting a few things on my list of things to accomplish is working.  I was putting a long list of things to do each day and I was feeling like I was not getting anything done each day.  Then I decided to only put three things on my list each day and definitely get those three things done. If I want to get more things done, great!  But definitely get those three things done. That way I feel a sense of accomplishment.  

For two days in a row I have not been feeling that sense of not getting things accomplished.  I am checking my three (or more) things off the list each day.  Right now it is better to feel good about things.

My flare is stable but I am still tired and have stiffness and swelling.  It is not ideal but it is temporary and will go away soon.  

Until tomorrow...

HAMMOCK TIME

 This was a day for a hammock.  I went outside and swept the slate and cleaned up the backyard.  I hung the hammock and climbed in.  I wanted to watch a You Tube video and decided this was the perfect place to do it.  The hammock is in the perfect spot.  It is under a white birch tree where I can look up and see beautiful leaves waving in the breeze.  I look out and see a lemon tree and a Japanese maple tree.  I can see the beautiful blue sky.  My backyard is mostly quiet and peaceful. 

I spent one hour listening to my video and swaying on my hammock.  It was marvelous.  Lucky came to find me twice.  She hates it when we are split up.  She is my little buddy.  

My flare is still bothering me. I am swelling a lot overnight. My watch is super loose at night and in the morning it is hard to get it off I have swelled so much.  I know it is temporary and it will subside soon.

Until tomorrow...

TOO MUCH ATTITUDE

 I called the Theater company this morning since my friend S and I were not able to watch the on-demand play this weekend. I got a guy right away and let me put it this way, he had too much attitude for that early in the morning and for a guy working customer service at a play house.  That much attitude belonged (nowhere) at a high end hair salon or retail store.  He informed me that I was correct that the link was broken for both me and S and he would send an email to IT to get them to fix it.  

Since S and I were unable to watch the play over the weekend we decided to watch the play that we found out was working that evening.  How was it you asked?  It was interesting.  It was a zoom play with four squares and four actors each in a zoom square.  It was about four actors supposedly in a room together being politically correct about writing a Thanksgiving Play for school kids in 2020.  The characters thought one of the "actors" was Native American but it turned out she was an actor playing Native American in a role.  The characters were trying to figure out how to have a Thanksgiving play and not have white people assume the roles of Native Americans.  I found it exhausting. There were parts that were funny and weird and unique.  I would not see it again and for most people I would not recommend it.  The last play I liked so much more.  We have one more play to go, so we will see how that one goes.

I realized I started to flare again.  I thought I was just tired with Lucky being sick over the weekend but I now I realize that it is a flare.  I am taking it easy for the next bit of time.

Until tomorrow...

DELICIOUS DINNER

 I made a new recipe for dinner.  Burritto-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes.  I have had this recipe in my recipe bank for some time and I have been just waiting to make it. I got two huge sweet potatoes last week and I wanted to make this recipe.  The sweet potatoes were so huge that it took forever to cook them in the oven.  I had to put them in the microwave after awhile because I needed to eat today.

The part that makes the recipe is the black bean and rice mixture.  It is so tasty.  I used bottled salsa and skipped the guacamole because of Covid and the inability to shop myself.  It was still really good.  I added vegan cheese that melted on the sweet potato.  It was a really good dinner and there was enough for a few dinners this week.

Lucky is feeling much better.  She finally ate some food and her stomach is clearing out.  She kept me up all night wanting to go outside and doing yoga stretches.

Until tomorrow...

THE PLAY THAT WASN'T

 My friend S and I were supposed to watch an online matinee play today.  We were all up and ready.  We both logged on and bunk. The link didn't work.  No play played.  I called the place and no one was answering the box office number during their posted business hours.  I left an email and a voicemail.  We had no matinee. It was very disappointing.  We ended up catching up instead.

I watched a movie instead of the play.  I watched The Hurricane Heist.  It was action packed and kept my attention.  It seems a bit far fetched.

Poor little Lucky has an upset stomach and has not eaten today. She is a miserable little girl. Crying and whining.  I am sure she will be fine.  She gets this once in a while.

Until tomorrow...

TODAY WAS A REMOTE DAY (BUT NOT HOW YOU THINK)

 Yesterday I installed my new Roku in my master bedroom.  I was so excited to have a newer Roku to view TV and movies.  I go to watch TV last night and the cable remote won't work. Every time I push a button, any button, the TV turns to the Roku station.  I tried everything.  I finally figured out that if I turned the TV off and changed the station on the cable remote and then turned the TV back on, it worked but I could not use the cable remote while the TV was on.  I knew this was not going to last long with me.  I hate when things do not work the way they are supposed to and not being able to change channels will drive me crazy.

Today I spent time figuring it out.  First I reprogrammed the remote and that didn't work.  I went to my downstairs junk drawer and found three more remotes for the cable (they give you new remotes all the time) and I got the same result with all three of them.  Then I went to The Google.  Seems that others have had the same problem.  There is a thing that needs to be switched off on Roku to allow other remotes to work.  Once I figured this out, turned the switch off and reprogrammed one of the cable remotes, I was back in business.  All is once again well in the cable/Roku world.  

I also found the missing remote for my TV in my office.  Okay, someone put it in the junk drawer in the downstairs.  It may have been me, it may have been someone else thinking they were funny.  I may have hidden it from my foster kid since he was stealing the remotes thinking it was a laugh a minute.  Who knows?  I am just happy to find it but wish I found it before I bought another remote.  To be honest I looked in that drawer but it was squished in the back under some stuff and it pure luck that I found it at all.

Tonight I went to a virtual fundraiser for Trans Lifeline.  I got to do a fireside chat with Randy Rainbow.  I am sure you have either seen his videos or heard about them.   It was a fun way to spend an early Friday evening.

Until tomorrow...

ROKU INSTALL

 I set up my new Roku in my bedroom. Why do I have a new Roku? Because the a Roku in my exercise area is so old I no longer get some of the channels so I decided it was time to get a new Roku. I put the new Roku in my bedroom and took that older Roku and put it out in my exercise area. That TV is so old that I had to get some gizmo to convert the Roku. It took 1.5 hours to install both Rokus and then log into each channel on the new a Roku.  It was my big chore of the day.

Keeping up with all the upgrades and changes with gadgets can be exhausting and expensive. Remember the old days when you bought something and it lasted forever because you didn’t have to update it and it never became useless because it no longer could update.  Kind of like the old TV in the garage. 

Until tomorrow...

BACK TO WORK

 Today I had a meeting with my client and we agreed that I will begin work again at a reduced schedule.  It is a good result.  It will leave me time to work with other clients when I get them and do the tasks I have been working on.  

I called the vet about Lucky today.  I have been concerned about how much Lucky has been drinking and peeing in the evening.  I have to take her out about every half hour in the evenings and early night.  He agreed with me that I can decrease her predilsone and continue giving it to her in the morning instead of at night.  I will do this on a 3 week trial and see how she is feeling.  I will also wait on giving her the doxycycline again for her stuffy nose until this trial.  Hopefully she tolerates this change well and stops peeing so much.  He said the steroids can also cause a stuffy nose.  

The dog walker cut Lucky's nails today. Well, most of her nails.  She didn't like getting her back feet nails cut.  He said he would try it again on Friday.  He said she didn't try and bite him until the back feet.  She may have had enough for the day.  They look great.  

Yesterday I played with my VR Glasses.  It took me a while to figure it all out and get the right settings.  Once I did, it was amazing.  I was in a mosque with a bunch of hotels.  The decor was amazing.  I "walked" around the whole compound.  I can't wait to see other places and things.  It was a fun investment.

Until tomorrow...

DAY 12 NO WORK

 Today is my last day of my furlough.  Tomorrow I have a work meeting to discuss my work moving forward.  I expect my hours have been cut back dramatically. 

Today was not a productive day. I’m preparing myself for tomorrow’s meeting. 

Remember last week my air purifier showed up? The original air purifier never showed up after more than 20 days. The order was cancelled because it was deemed the order was lost in the system since it was never shipped. I was sent another air purifier and it arrived in three days.  Today the original air purifier showed up (I thought it was something else I ordered that was supposed to come today) out of the blue. Since it was cancelled in the system, it doesn’t exist. 

Until tomorrow...

DAY 11 NO WORK

 I cooked some vegan Potato and Green Bean Curry tonight.  It didn't go as planned.  I am not sure what went wrong. Maybe I missed a direction.  Maybe it was the phone call during the cooking.  Maybe I just messed up.  I don't know.  All I know is that I have more of a Potato and Green Bean Curry soup than an actual curry.  It tastes great.  It just isn't thick.  I need to make the directions clearer.

I did some tasks today.  Ordered dog food, paid bills, made a list of tasks to do and made a list of things to do for fun.

I think I forgot to say that my air purifier arrived last week.  It is working so well.  I run it for hours at night and I am waking up with a clear nose. Also there is less smoke smell downstairs which is a door that gets opened a lot because of the dog.

I also bought (and it arrived today) a female urination device.  I never knew one existed but I hear they are all the rage since many public bathrooms are closed.  I hear fast food restaurants and gas stations do not have their bathrooms open.  With this device, women can pee standing up and don't need a bathroom.  I figure it will come in handy in the future for long drives.

Until tomorrow...

ANNIVERSARY PARTY

 Today was a hard day.  I think it was the hardest day since the lock down. Okay, I am wrong about this.  Losing Happi was the hardest time.  Since losing Happi today was the hardest day.  I am not sure why.  I woke up and I had nothing planned for the first time in seven months.  Nothing on the calendar and nothing mentally planned.  I woke up and it was hard.  I didn't receive my invite for the Sunday friends invite so I thought it was not happening.  1/2 hour after the start I got a text saying the invite didn't go out by accident and it was starting now.  I hopped on the zoom and talked to everyone for a while.  

I spoke to a few friends and family members and then I took a long bath.  That put me in a better place.  I watched an older movie Anniversary Party.  It was an odd movie about a couple at their anniversary party and all the things that went wrong (and right?) at the party.  The party was a mess.  

That was my Sunday.

Until tomorrow...

PUN OFF, PREAKNESS AND HSB

 I had a busy day.  Probably my busiest day in a while.  I took it easy in the morning to get ready for the day.  I made Vegan Jambalaya for this week.  I researched and I freeze some of it if I need/want to.  I had some for lunch and dinner it was so good.  It is a bit like my Vegan Paella but different with different ingredients.  I don't know if there will be any to freeze because it is so good.  It is not spicy and it has beans instead of sausage and seafood.  I just ate it down.

Then I started watching Hardly Strictly Bluegrass which was online this year.  I decided to not wear my T-shirt since no one will see it.  I will wear it tomorrow when my friends will see it.  The concert was not like a real concert online but it had talking and singing and reminiscing and songs sung by multiple people at the same time.  I had it one for hours while I was doing other things. Chrome Cast is wonderful for this.  I popped it up on the TV and did other things rather than having my laptop on my lap.  

Then at the appropriate time I tuned into the Preakness Stakes and watched those few minutes.  My first pick did not finish in the top three but my second and third picks came in second and third.  I picked Thousand Words, Authentic and Jesus' Team.  If I had paid more attention that Swiss Skydiver  (a filly) was racing I would have wanted her to win.  I wanted a filly to win for years. There has not been a filly to win the Preakness since 2009.  The winner was Swiss Skydiver, second Authentic and third Jesus' Team.  It was a good race. 

Then back to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass until the end and much needed break for dinner and feeding the dog.  Then on to a Pun-Off. My friend S wanted to go and I said I would give it a try.  I never saw a pun-off before and it was interesting.  I can't say I was riveted but it was an interesting experience. I wonder how much being on zoom hindered the pun-off?  It was awful slow at times and many of the "puns" I didn't get.  Maybe I don't really get what a pun is.  My foster son asked me what a pun was a few minutes before the pun-off and I could not answer him. I am not sure I still can.  I better come up with something before tomorrow when he asks me.

Until tomorrow...

DAY 10 NO WORK

 As well as other things, today I participated in an art class put on by the library and local nonprofit.  It is getting closer to the Day of the Dead so a lot of Latinx stuff going on.  We made a Mola de Panama.  A mola is a hand-made textile that forms part of the traditional women's clothing of the Kuna people from Panama, Central America.  Molas are hand-made using a reverse appliqué technique. Several layers (usually two to seven) of different-colored cloth (usually cotton) are sewn together; the design is then formed by cutting away parts of each layer. The edges of the layers are then turned under and sewn down. Often, the stitches are nearly invisible. This is achieved by using a thread the same color as the layer being sewn, sewing blind stitches, and sewing tiny stitches. The finest molas have extremely fine stitching, made using tiny needles. 

The teacher of the class had us make a mola with construction paper, scissors, and glue stick.  A little low tech.  It was fun to make another different piece of art that I never heard of before.  Here is my creation:

The teacher's mola had a butterfly but I am not great at drawing butterflies so I went with a flower instead.  I made the suns like she had.  I am pretty happy with what I made.  It still looks like my art is from a 13 year old.  This kind of art is not where I excel. I excel in other types of art.  But as I get older I learned to not care what other people think and go, learn how to do it and do it anyway.  Do it my way.  I had fun and that is all that matters.  I am proud of my attempts at art.

Until tomorrow...

 

DAY 9 NO WORK

 Today was another productive day.  I found a missing screw for my fan. The screw fell out some time ago and it held the stand together. Each time I wanted to move the fan I had to hold the stand with two hands. It was quite annoying. Now the stand it held together.

The smoke is back and it is bad.  Today was a red day.  There was no going outside or opening windows.  I wore a mask when I took Lucky out to pee.  It was hazy and nasty.  It will be this way for a long time.  There are about 5 fires burning in the greater area.  In one place the fire is reburning in areas it burned earlier this year.  The fireman said the fire will find the small spots where it didn't burn and burn them this time.  I never heard of that.  

I put a reminder on my phone for the fruit and veggie box lock box.  I forgot to put the lock box out last night. There was some other stuff going on with my foster kid and I got distracted.  I was lucky the fruit and veggie box was on my steps this morning.  The company called to check on me to find out why I didn't put the lock box on the gate.  I guess if anything happens to me the fruit and veggie people will be the first to know.  Checking up on me!  So sweet! 

I contacted a magazine (yes, a magazine) company about the magazine that I paid for months ago but I never got to figure out what happened.  They replied and we are trying to work it out.

I received my t-shirt for an online blues concert I am going to watch next weekend.  The t-shirt is raising money for the roadies.

I road 4.13 miles on the treadmill.  I am doing Program 1 which has lots of hills.  It will take me a few weeks to get that down.  I can't keep the pace yet.

I cleaned up the kitchen and then made some fast dinner.

Until tomorrow...