HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2022

I handed out candy to a few kids tonight. It is 8:30 and I haven't seen a kid in awhile so I packed it in. I live in a small street and I was the only home giving out candy. Next door the renters were giving out candy for awhile but I heard them leave. I was the only house decorated. It is sad because I love Trick-or-treaters but none of the other houses participate. My house is all lit up with lights in the window and a big light up spider web on the front door with a giant spider. I have a light up pumpkin on my porch. All the other houses are dark. 

I gave out vegan, peanut free, non-GMO, all fruit and vegetable flavoring and coloring, no high fructose candy. It tastes really good. There are gummies and Skittles type things and lollipops. One parent was really pleased when I told her. She works for a tofu company. 

I dressed Lucky up as a bat. She looked so cute. 

Lucky went to the park today with the dog walker for the first time since her episode (that's what we call when she got sick and fell over). He said she did good for the first hour but then she went in the car and slept. She got tired. He said she was slower than before the episode (BE). Also he said she was less enthusiastic than BE. Less excited. He thinks she is scared one of the other dogs will knock her over. It all makes sense. She got a big scare. She came home and fell fast asleep. But she woke up for the Trick-or-treaters!  I gave her a dose of cough medicine to see if that helps with her congestion. I was supposed to do it days ago but I kept forgetting and I have to feed her a bit before I give it to her. It's a whole thing and timing is key. Tonight was perfect. Let's hope it helps her congestion. She is scheduled to go again next Monday. 

Until tomorrow...

TUSCAN KALE SOUP

 I made some great soup today.Tuscan Kale Soup. I used Chard instead of kale. I swapped around some other items because I have to make a soup I like.  It is really good. 

I am starting to get an eye problem. I get these eye problems because I do not make tears and have dry eye. I went to get my solution and it expired two years ago. I have to get more ordered tomorrow. I tried to get something’s done today:read my book, invoice clients. I did a little of each. 

I’m just super fatigued. I got into bed at 8 pm. 

Until tomorrow…

DAY TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO OF VEGAN COOKING COURSE

 I am back working on my vegan cooking course. If you are paying attention, there are a bunch of numbers missing on my title count. During my Staycation, I did not write the count of what day I was on for the cooking course when I made all those cheeses.

Today I started the Vegan Raw Desserts chapter. It is set up differently than the other chapters. The other chapters give you an overview and then a break down of different recipes with corresponding videos showing you how to make them. Some are even dishes or meals with all the steps laid out. 

This chapter has a few recipes but they are only on the video. There is no corresponding written recipe with the video. There is a handout that has some recipes but also different ideas. Example: mini cake can be made with pecans or hazelnuts. It can be topped with caramel, fruit jam, or glazed. It can be filled with jam, caramel, compote. You get the picture? They give me many options rather than one recipe to follow. 

I wanted to start out slow so I made Dark Chocolate Mini Cakes with Caramel Drizzle. It would have been really good had I had vanilla ice cream. It tastes like an amazing brownie with decadent caramel on top. It was fun to make and now I have more confidence to make another dessert. 

I had a very lovely phone call from a friend, took Lucky for a walk, took a bath, and watched TV. Oh and I deleted a ton of old email!! Clean out the clutter. 

Until tomorrow...

FLU SHOT BUT NO PNEUMONIA SHOT

 Today was my scheduled flu and pneumonia shots. I arrived early for my shots when it was explained to me that they had no record of me having a pneumonia shot previously. The pneumonia shots build on each other. First you get a lower numbered one then you get a higher numbered one. I swear I got a pneumonia shot years ago but my doctors office has no record of it. I had to wait around while offices were called and discussions were held. In the end I was told I should wait and only get the flu shot. I got my flu shot and went home. 

I took Lucky for a walk and ordered Chinese food for dinner. 

I think a flare is coming on. We shall see. 

Until tomorrow…

TWO T-SHIRTS

My very nice brother sent me two t-shirts from Walt Disney World. One had a Mickey Pride (rainbow colored Mickey) and the other was the Millennium Falcon. I love them both. It was a nice surprise. 

I know some people have a problem with Disney but I love Disney. Not so much Disney Land.  I go to Disney World every chance I get. I have a part of a drawer that is just Disney shirts. My Disney shirts are Mickey and never Minnie. Not very feminine shirts and no pink or green. Definitely no princesses! 

I had a long day working. I had a situation where I had a task to do and another person did the task but didn't tell me. I ended up wasting my time. I hate that. No communication. 

Until tomorrow...

INSPECTION

This morning was my termite inspection. I was up early and ready when he got here. Unfortunately I forgot to notify my neighbor that today was the day (I told him it was happening but forgot to remind him) so I didn't organize access to his yard to see the side of my house. I ended up having to call him at 9:00 am and ask him to open the gate. He was super nice about it. I think I owe him cookies. 🙄 

The inspection didn't find any sign of termites on my property. That is great! It did show termites on my neighbor's property when we went to check my house. His fence is being eaten. 🦟 I texted him a photo of the damage. I know wait for the inspection report and decide what I want to do moving forward.

That's pretty much the highlight of my day. I took lucky for two walks and she's doing great.

Until tomorrow...

NOT CHANGING MY MEDICINE

 I went to see my new Rheumatoid Arthritis doctor. I really liked her when I met her virtually. We got on great. Today when I saw her in person I got another vibe from her. Maybe she was having a bad day? I don't know. I am going to see her again in December and I am going to see if she is the same way. 

My labs came through and everything was in the good range. That is fairly typical for me. Especially during COVID since I am alone most days and masked all the time. 

I am still processing the appointment because she told me things I was unhappy hearing. She had a completely different plan about my meds than we spoke about on the video call. Instead of adding a medicine she wants to completely change my meds. We all know what that means: potential flares, insurance problems, etc. I am not willing to go through that. The holidays are coming up. Things are not great now but they aren't "horrible bedridden flare" bad.  I told her no. She wanted to put me on Gabapentin and take me off Orencia. I said no. Maybe Orencia is not working well but I am not a fan of gabapentin. I give it to my dogs and they have horrible side effects. 

She also wants to change my diagnosis after 20 years. I was like "what???" I was so upset about that. It is like telling someone they are a Texan for 20 years and then all of a sudden they are told no we lied, you are actually not from Texas, you are from Philadelphia. Or telling a vegan that you have been feeding them dairy products for years. How do you change something that you have told someone for years and they have been taking meds for and living? It was an upsetting day. I am choosing to ignore her until she gets to know me better. How do you make a decision like that after knowing me for 30 minutes over video conference? Four other doctors can't be wrong. 

That was my day and I had a hard time concentrating on anything else. Then an earthquake hit on the West Coast. That was all anyone could talk about. 

Until tomorrow...

PEOPLE!

I had a long day working. I was on zoom calls for 5 hours. It made the day seem really long. 

I just have one question. Why can't people follow directions? I sent out clear directions to 4 people. The same directions. Two our of the four didn't pay attention to the directions which caused all sorts of confusion. They ended up having to redo the work because if they had followed the instructions, they would have known they had to wait until we were in the meeting to log in and fill out the forms. Plus, they both did not read the "fine print" (I say that to be funny) and did not meet the criteria for the final step of the process. Hint: you have to read all the words on the list of what you need to bring. People! 

If I said we were going mountain climbing and you needed to arrive at 10 am at XYZ Park at the East parking lot and you need to bring 1) climbing gear, 2) your ID, and 3) a jacket. Don't show up with just your ID and your jacket because you are missing your climbing gear and you are not joining us to climb the mountain. Don't show up at 11 am because we already climbed the mountain without you. Don't go to ABC Park because you will be standing there alone. Read all the details. I learned that from watching The Amazing Race. 

Anyway, that was my day. Exhausting! 

Until tomorrow...

DAY TWO OF CLEAN UP

Today was day two of the clean up. I spent another 2 hours cleaning and putting away things. I broke down boxes, mopped the floor, dusted, swept, did laundry and wash dishes. Then I walked Lucky and did some work. I tried to read my book but got some phone calls. Then I made myself dinner. 

I made Vegan Asian Brussels Sprouts. I put the Brussels sprouts In the oven until they were cooked and then I put a soy sauce, maple syrup and fresh ginger mixture on them. It tasted delicious. 

Until tomorrow...

DAY ONE OF CLEAN UP

 I got up early and spent two hours cleaning , dusting, sweeping, organizing, and putting things away. I started in the kitchen by organizing it. Then I cleaned it, swept it and dusted it. Tomorrow I am going to mop the floor. Then I moved to the bathroom where I cleaned and swept it. Then I dusted and swept my office. Then my two hours was over and I sat down exhausted. 

I read my bookclub book for a while and then had a few phone calls. I took Lucky for two walks. 

I wanted to watch a new show but I fell asleep at 9 pm. I was so tired. 

Until tomorrow...