Well, Monday night, George fixed supper for me... He made Lentil Soup, since I had to use the ham that was left over from the week before...
We used dried lentils, and Jacques recipe for Chunky Lentil Soup.
He wanted to fix it, and told me that he would watch the heat... so all the liquid wouldn't boil away.
Well I got home, the ride home was especially bothersome Monday night...and walked in the house and it smelled good... good sign, right. I looked in the pot, and it was refried lentils... I have to give him credit, I don't know how to make refried beans... well I haven't made refried beans, but either did he, and there was a nice big pot of refried beans on the stove...
Well, when I have told the story since, the unanimous response was, "Awwww, he tried...!" However my response was (and I didn't blurt it out, so give me credit for that), now what are we going to eat!?!
George immediately came over to the stove, and said, "I can eat it like that. It tastes good!" I thought, yea, well you can eat anything. I need to serve this to my Mother. I asked him if he used the container of Chicken broth ( 4 cups), then I asked him if he used the water (3 1/2 cups), and to both questions he answered, "yes".
This means that two quarts of water boiled off of this, the heat was so high under that pot. I notice that there was a nice skin of lentils stuck to the bottom of the pot, and there were dried lentils on the side, and even a dried lake of lentil juice , tell tale sign of the soup boiling over. But I didn't bring that up... I didn't feel that stating the obvious was going to solve anything. You have to give me credit for that also. So I went in the fridge and took out another, previously opened container of chicken broth, and poured it into the pot. Then added another cup or two of water. I couldn't eat anything, because I needed to be NPO for the last 4 hours before my MRI. So I called my Mom to taste it. Her first comment to me was... isn't that too thick?
Well, to make a long story a little bit shorter, I had to go upstairs. I was obviously irritable, and I was going to say things that would just be hurtful.
I guess I was just cranky, and needed some time to myself. Our cat Annie came up and laid by my leg on the bed, and just purred, while looking at me. I think she understood, and I am guess that George did too.
But I did over react, and now I am sorry for it.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
It is cold here...
It was 38 degrees while I drive into work in Apopka this morning... The little snow flake icon came up on my console display.
I love it when that happens... I wish I could take my little car up to NY one winter.
Does anyone remember when you were a kid, well maybe it is when you are a kid in NY... and you would visit your relatives, usually at holiday time...
Dad would always go out and start the car to get it warm inside, clean the windshield off if you were lucky enough to have gotten snow. Even the Uncle you were visiting would go out to help, even though he didn't have to go anywhere at all. It was just what you did. All while the Mom's and kids would be inside, getting ready to go... pulling all your stuff together... then all at once the Dad's and Uncles would come in with red cheeks, coat collars lifted up around their necks. Out of breath, holding their hands together to warm them up, whether they had gloves on or not... Usually with big smiles on their faces.
Then.... eventually... everyone would be herded out to the cars, the steam floating up from the tailpipes... and jump in the car, and before long the windows would be steamed up.
The ride home on 495/LI Expressway was alway a smooth ride, and quiet because of the snow, it muffled the sound of the tireds on the road, and the occasional car that would pass by. The snow that was falling would be illuminated by the headlights.
That is a memory that I will hold on to, fondly hold on to for the rest of my life.
I find as I get older, I hold those memories close, and smile when ever they cross my mind. Like this morning while I was driving to work, and that little snow flake popped up on my dashboard.
I am not sure if those thoughts are so important to me because I don't have that as an adult. I guess I always pictured myself growing up, and replacing my Mom in the front seat, and my kids being in the back seat. It didn't exactly work out that way. I moved away, got married later in life, didn't have those children to put in the back seat.
Now I have other events in my life that I look forward to every year. And they aren't planned. Just like that trip home on the LIE wasn't totally planned. (Yes, what I mean by that is, the days events were planned, but the circumstances that stand out so vividly, the snow falling, my Dad and the Uncles coming in the house smiling, with red cheeks. Those are still with me. They were not necessarily planned to be memorable... I don't think. It just happened.)
You know what bothers me though... who will carry those fond memories on like I have carried those trips home on the LIE.
I love it when that happens... I wish I could take my little car up to NY one winter.
Does anyone remember when you were a kid, well maybe it is when you are a kid in NY... and you would visit your relatives, usually at holiday time...
Dad would always go out and start the car to get it warm inside, clean the windshield off if you were lucky enough to have gotten snow. Even the Uncle you were visiting would go out to help, even though he didn't have to go anywhere at all. It was just what you did. All while the Mom's and kids would be inside, getting ready to go... pulling all your stuff together... then all at once the Dad's and Uncles would come in with red cheeks, coat collars lifted up around their necks. Out of breath, holding their hands together to warm them up, whether they had gloves on or not... Usually with big smiles on their faces.
Then.... eventually... everyone would be herded out to the cars, the steam floating up from the tailpipes... and jump in the car, and before long the windows would be steamed up.
The ride home on 495/LI Expressway was alway a smooth ride, and quiet because of the snow, it muffled the sound of the tireds on the road, and the occasional car that would pass by. The snow that was falling would be illuminated by the headlights.
That is a memory that I will hold on to, fondly hold on to for the rest of my life.
I find as I get older, I hold those memories close, and smile when ever they cross my mind. Like this morning while I was driving to work, and that little snow flake popped up on my dashboard.
I am not sure if those thoughts are so important to me because I don't have that as an adult. I guess I always pictured myself growing up, and replacing my Mom in the front seat, and my kids being in the back seat. It didn't exactly work out that way. I moved away, got married later in life, didn't have those children to put in the back seat.
Now I have other events in my life that I look forward to every year. And they aren't planned. Just like that trip home on the LIE wasn't totally planned. (Yes, what I mean by that is, the days events were planned, but the circumstances that stand out so vividly, the snow falling, my Dad and the Uncles coming in the house smiling, with red cheeks. Those are still with me. They were not necessarily planned to be memorable... I don't think. It just happened.)
You know what bothers me though... who will carry those fond memories on like I have carried those trips home on the LIE.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
I have returned....
It has been almost two years since I have been here, but I am here once again... with lots of updates.
Today is Christmas Eve... 2009. The news of note is hmmm, let's see... In April of this year, Mom (my Mom) came down to live with George and I. We moved out of the master bedroom, and into one of the bedrooms upstairs, and I arranged the master bedroom to be a little suite for Mom... So she has with her all her special stuff, and of course Schatzie. Which means, we now have 3 dogs... Mathie, 15 years old, Wesley, 12 years old, and Schatzie 9 years old.
The move went as smooth as you would expect it to go... We flew up to NC, rented a Penske 12 foot truck, and loaded it with Mom's "stuff" for 3 days and we headed south, followed by my sister and Mom and Schatzie, in my sister's car.
Once we got home, we proceeded to empty the truck into the garage, and slowly sift through everything, and find a new home for it in my Mom's suite.
About a month and a half later, George retired from the Postal Service. Now he has a pension, but of course, it isn't as much as he made when he worked. He is now trying to find work writing, or managing campaigns (political). Not sure where that will lead him... but until it starts to become a reality, the belt is going to be alittle bit tighter than usual.
I cut my hair in June. And yes I think that is noteworthy...! I am not sure how long this will last, but I know it will be this way for at least a year.
All the kids (pets) are getting bigger and older. Mathie is the oldest, and I do what ever I can to make her feel as special, and in control that I can, without letting her hurt herself.
Lars is now a big handsome, character, who loves his Mom (me!) very obviously.
Tonight Christmas Eve, we go to Janet and Jimmy's house. We aren't exchanging any gifts this year... mainly because money is pretty tight this year for us. And actually, I don't think I will miss it... I have to tell you I miss the shopping, Mom and I talked about that last week. But what goes with the shopping, the fretting, the brain picking, the financial figuring... what should I spend... will that be enough, is that too much... not to mention will they like it... is it clever enough, yada, yada, yada.
Tomorrow we go to Tony and John's house. I am bringing a side dish, glazed carrots and turnips, and I am looking forward to seeing Massey again... Massey is their Pit Bull rescue, who is the sweetest dog I have ever met. He was rescue by Pet Rescue by Judy, which is a local rescue organization in Central Florida.
Saturday we go to Audrey and Al's place for a Christmas Party. Hmmm, did I ever tell you who Audrey is? Audrey and I were best friends in NY, and I actually came down here after she moved down here. I helped her get her job with the phone company (I was looking for a job, and brought her an application, when I applied for a job there), and she got the job. I didn't... so I guess you could say I helped her get the job. Then, she helped me when I applied a second time 9 years later. Audrey was married to Artie, I always thought he looked like Ernest Borgnine... well Artie passed away a few years ago, and about 12 to 18 months later, Audrey married Al.
So that is all I have to say for now. I promise to be back more, and post more pictures.
Today is Christmas Eve... 2009. The news of note is hmmm, let's see... In April of this year, Mom (my Mom) came down to live with George and I. We moved out of the master bedroom, and into one of the bedrooms upstairs, and I arranged the master bedroom to be a little suite for Mom... So she has with her all her special stuff, and of course Schatzie. Which means, we now have 3 dogs... Mathie, 15 years old, Wesley, 12 years old, and Schatzie 9 years old.
The move went as smooth as you would expect it to go... We flew up to NC, rented a Penske 12 foot truck, and loaded it with Mom's "stuff" for 3 days and we headed south, followed by my sister and Mom and Schatzie, in my sister's car.
Once we got home, we proceeded to empty the truck into the garage, and slowly sift through everything, and find a new home for it in my Mom's suite.
About a month and a half later, George retired from the Postal Service. Now he has a pension, but of course, it isn't as much as he made when he worked. He is now trying to find work writing, or managing campaigns (political). Not sure where that will lead him... but until it starts to become a reality, the belt is going to be alittle bit tighter than usual.
I cut my hair in June. And yes I think that is noteworthy...! I am not sure how long this will last, but I know it will be this way for at least a year.
All the kids (pets) are getting bigger and older. Mathie is the oldest, and I do what ever I can to make her feel as special, and in control that I can, without letting her hurt herself.
Lars is now a big handsome, character, who loves his Mom (me!) very obviously.
Tonight Christmas Eve, we go to Janet and Jimmy's house. We aren't exchanging any gifts this year... mainly because money is pretty tight this year for us. And actually, I don't think I will miss it... I have to tell you I miss the shopping, Mom and I talked about that last week. But what goes with the shopping, the fretting, the brain picking, the financial figuring... what should I spend... will that be enough, is that too much... not to mention will they like it... is it clever enough, yada, yada, yada.
Tomorrow we go to Tony and John's house. I am bringing a side dish, glazed carrots and turnips, and I am looking forward to seeing Massey again... Massey is their Pit Bull rescue, who is the sweetest dog I have ever met. He was rescue by Pet Rescue by Judy, which is a local rescue organization in Central Florida.
Saturday we go to Audrey and Al's place for a Christmas Party. Hmmm, did I ever tell you who Audrey is? Audrey and I were best friends in NY, and I actually came down here after she moved down here. I helped her get her job with the phone company (I was looking for a job, and brought her an application, when I applied for a job there), and she got the job. I didn't... so I guess you could say I helped her get the job. Then, she helped me when I applied a second time 9 years later. Audrey was married to Artie, I always thought he looked like Ernest Borgnine... well Artie passed away a few years ago, and about 12 to 18 months later, Audrey married Al.
So that is all I have to say for now. I promise to be back more, and post more pictures.
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