Friday, December 13th, 2024
Friday Five
TGIF!! Okay let’s dive right into sharing five random things about our week. Here’s mine:
- Car Drama stopped by for a visit to our family. One car was damaged getting a tire patched, and other vehicle stolen. Neither things have happened before so it was jarring. It wasn’t Wizard or my cars. And while it’s upsetting, at least it wasn’t an accident and no one was hurt! Things can be fixed or replaced, but people can’t.
- We babysat our granddaughter on Tuesday. That was amazing as always. She’s just a delight at three months old. She smiles at everyone. And of course, she’d much rather take naps on us than in her crib.
- I made White Chicken Chili for the first time ever. It came out good (I think). A tad spicy for my taste, but some jack cheese, plain Greek yogurt and avocado on top tames that nicely. I’m pretty proud of it. Wizard isn’t interested, which means it’s all mine for quick and easy lunches. I divided it up in single servings and froze some. That was the good part. The bad part, I didn’t use gloves when I diced the jalapeno. Jalapeno Hand is a thing and it’s annoying. For any of you too smart to chop jalapeno without gloves, it essentially burns for a few hours. I did use some olive oil to break down the oil from the pepper that causes it, and that helped. Fun fact — I had disposable gloves in the drawer directly below where I was chopping the jalapeno, I was just too pressed for time to stop and put them on. That was a very annoying miscalculation.
- Wednesday I ran from one room to the other to get the phone when it rang and half way there I felt something funky in my right ankle. I actually said, mid-run, “Crap I felt that.” Wizard saw, and heard, this whole thing and just shook his head in despair. I rarely ever fall, or do normal things. I just sprain my ankle mid-jog and keep going
However I did get the phone in time to answer an important question from one of my sons, and then practiced some dedicated denial to clean the bathrooms after that. When I went to bed, my denial dissolved into an ache, and then when I got up in the middle of the night, I groaned enough to have Maggie run in and check on me. Seriously, it’s mild overall. No significant swelling, it feels better with shoes on, and I spent all Thursday afternoon and evening resting it. Mostly because Wizard made me, but it still counts. - This weekend I’ll plan and organize a little baking for next week. I’m not doing a lot, just a few things. I’ll need to do some wrapping since my ankle prevented that yesterday. I’m 92% done with Christmas shopping so that’s nice. I had one key gift go missing even though it showed delivered a week ago — then it showed up last night. That was a relief. I had just started a refund process and then was able to cancel that so all good. So this weekend is odds and ends. Oh and I’m getting the gray erased from my hair today.
That’s my five, now I’d to hear yours!
December 13th, 2024 at 8:08 am · Link
Ack about the Car Drama! Yay for spending time with your new angel baby. I’ve never had white chili and I’m not much on spicy. Bummer about the Jalapeno Hand thing. Ack for the ankle scrunching. Hugs for all your planning and organizing ahead, and yay for getting the gray erased.
1) One fall when I was in high school, I worked after school at a truck farm, picking vegetables. The day we picked the jalapenos was hell. And no, no gloves. Any little hangnail or papercut was a new lesson in pain.
2) Speaking of hell, we’re still working on getting the Starlink set up. They made it look easy. It’s not. Not for us anyway. Blerg.
3) My mom got her Christmas gift already. My MIL got hers, too. Both arrived early, which I guess is better than late, but man.
4) I bought stuff to make more Rolo pretzel turtles. Easy and yummy.
5) I’m making homemade lasagna for Christmas dinner. I also bought a turkey because CHEAP and who doesn’t love turkey?
December 13th, 2024 at 10:41 am · Link
HOLY CARP!!! A stolen car? That’s frightening! And bummer on the damage.
Baby Girl Time FTW! Huh. I’ve never had trouble with jalepenos but ouch! I get all itchy with strawberries and that’s bad enough. Burning is el yucko! Ouchy ankles = no fun. Again 
. Glad the package showed up and yay for being almost done. Good on you! But, babe, seriously…EMBRACE the gray! 
Okay, my five.
1. I have one present bought–not wrapped–but not my fault. I’m still waiting for wish lists from folks.
2. Speaking of presents, I got mine early. Actually, I BOUGHT mine early. Tuesday, the vacuum crapped out. Wednesday, I bought a replacement. There went that budget. Ah well. I’m nothing if not practical.
3. Also Wednesday was Stormy’s school Christmas program. He was in the chorus. It was a cute program with neat songs and some inside jokes. The lead character was Joe Sabbath, a peace officer in Bethlehem who wanted “Just the facts, ma’am.” One of Stormy’s classmates is on the spectrum and he normally avoids people but he always stops to see me–and Jake. Well, mostly Jake.
4. I still haven’t gotten around to putting the outdoor lights out. At this point, I probably won’t. I feel a little bad because we used to go all out decorating for Christmas. I mean, like we could almost give the Griswolds a run for their money. Sadly, as we’ve gotten older and energy levels wane, most of the decorations have gone by the wayside. Ah well. Maybe next year.
5. To end on a more fun note, Pete story for the week. Now that it’s getting colder outside, Pete is spending more time in my office during the day. He has two spots–the “covered veranda” of the cat tree by the window (which is in direct proximity to the heater vent) and right in the middle of the giant dog pillow/bed under the drafting table on the far wall. The giant dog my giant dog likes to occasionally nap on when he comes in to keep me company. The first time it happened, Jake just stood there staring at Pete, who took no notice. After about five minutes, Jake finally sighed and sank down on the the regular floor (which is carpeted). Poor Jake.
There are soccer games this weekend. Probably won’t go tonight or the late game Saturday night but will make the mid-day game, depending on weather. Next week is a doctor appointment–just a 6-month follow up. I’ll also be scrambling for presents and planning on when to make the neighborhood rolls.
Have a great weekend, all!
December 13th, 2024 at 11:27 am · Link
1. That’s scary about the cars. I’m very sorry that it happened and I am glad your cars are okay.
2. Babysitting must have be wonderful. Three months. How time flies. They change so fast.
3. The chili sounds great. I never wear gloves when I chop stuff. I’ve never had an issue with Jalapeno hand.
4. Oh no, your poor ankle. Good Wizard making you rest it.
5. Great job on the Christmas prep. Erasing the gray is so good. I do mine next week.
1a. It’s been very cold here. The high today is 17F. Yesterday was 14F. But it’s supposed to be in the 50’s Sunday. People will be getting sick.
2a. The gift I had to send back last week was received but they still haven’t processed the exchange. I hope it happens today or A won’t be getting her present.
3a. I had cancelled an order from a different company and they sent it anyway. I sent it back and they got it. But they haven’t credited me yet either. Drives me crazy. I’m always right on top of stuff.
4a. I’m going to wrap stuff this weekend. Usually I wait until the day before Christmas Eve but will all the crap hubs is putting me through, I think the sooner I get it out of the way the better.
5a. I bought a package of pre-made chocolate peppermint dough balls from Aldi. I think I’m going to bake them tomorrow. My brother also sent me a recipe for cinnamon raisin slow-cooker bread pudding. He and SIL love it. I have a slow cooker but I’ve never used it. I think I will now and make the bread pudding for Christmas brunch.
I hope you have a really good Friday the 13th ☺️.
December 13th, 2024 at 5:25 pm · Link
B.E., thanks on all! This year, I can’t get into baking as much. Weird, but I’ll put something together
The rest was just life choosing this week to happen.
1) That sounds like hard work and painful! The things we do when we have to…right?
2) It never is easy!! I’m so sorry you guys are struggling with it.
3) Sigh…of course they got it early. It’s frustrating trying to time that stuff. But early is better than late.
4) Those sound delicious! And not too labor intensive which is a bonus.
5) Both lasagna and turkey are wins for me!
Hope you have a great weekend!
December 13th, 2024 at 5:40 pm · Link
Silver, yeah the stolen car is scary and upsetting. But it will be manageable and no one was hurt. Thankfully. Oh man, you don’t know much I want to embrace the gray! It’s just going to be a process I haven’t been ready to tackle yet.
1) You’re doing fine — you’ll get it all done. But we always have a family member late with their list too. We draw names for the adults and that makes is so easy now.
Aww, Jake! I don’t know a lot of people on the spectrum, but I hear some feel more comfortable with animals and that makes sense to me!
2) Stupid vacuums do that! I’m sorry it decided to Grinch your Christmas :-(.
3) “Just the facts, ma’am, LOL!” I got the joke
4) I can so understand how you feel about the lights. My kids are all showing off their decorating outdoors on our family loop, but Wizard and I aren’t the grinches now. But I mean we have a tree up so we’re grinches with a small “g”. Also don’t you make cinnamon rolls every year? That should get you all the Christmas Spirit Credit!
5) Jake is a total Rock Star who needs extra treats!!! Pete is hilarious.
You have a lot to do over the weekend! Just take it one thing at a time, and don’t overdo. Hope you have some fun in there too!
December 13th, 2024 at 5:55 pm · Link
Viki, I’m usually super careful because I wear contacts and really don’t want to get that oil from the jalapeno on my fingers and then get it on my contacts. I’m protective of my eyes that way. But this time, I was just dumb. On the upside of contacts, my eyes don’t water when I cut onions! And yeah, the car stolen truly sucked and I have feelings about those who did it. But living in anger just has no value, so moving on.
1) That’s quite a swing in temperature! It can really mess with people’s immune system.
2) Sheesh, that’s the hard part of having to order things online. I hope the exchanged was processed and maybe expedited so you get it in time.
3) You were on top of it, it’s the company that’s lagging. It always amazes me that charges are processed immediately but refunds take so long to show up. Sorry for the extra stress.
4) It makes sense to get what you can done ahead these days. It’s a lot for you to handle with hubs. I feel behind, but I don’t have the same stress so I can’t complain.
5) Bread pudding is traditional so that would be nice. The cookies sound really good! It’s definite the time of year to add some peppermint to chocolate. Enjoy the cookies!
Oh my gosh, Friday the 13th didn’t even dawn on my until I read your comment. Sheesh, I’m so deep in my own head lately, it’s ridiculous. I really hope you can get some things done this weekend, then reward yourself with some cookies and wine (not sure that’s a pairing, LOL). Have a good weekend!