Friday, February 14th, 2025
Friday Five
TGIF! Happy Valentine’s Day! Lets get right to sharing five random things about our week. Full disclose — I didn’t do much worth reporting this week, but I’ll give it my best shot 
- It’s raining! That’s good. Hopefully no mud slides, but at least we’re getting rain.
- I made a Cashew Chicken recipe and was pretty happen with how it came out. Shockingly, Wizard and I both agreed it could have been a tad hotter (spicier), and we normally are not into heat in our food. I made a note on my recipe.
- I’m in the process of making sourdough pizza dough. It’s a two day process so we’ll see how it comes out.
- Due to the rain, we cancelled our Valentine’s dinner plans because the restaurant is 50 miles away. So today on Valentine’s Day the plan is homemade pizza. We’re both happy with that — no one would be happy in 50 miles of rain soaked traffic
- Today I’m supposed to get my hair cut and colored — we’ll see if that works out. And the third version of the coffee table is scheduled for delivery. I may be gone when it’s delivered so Wizard will have to handle it. And Saturday evening we’re going to dinner with Youngest for his birthday and I’m probably making some S’mores cupcakes so I assume we’ll come back to my house after. I should probably tell him I’m making the cupcakes and make an actual plan, LOL. I’ll get on that soon! Unless maybe he’s suddenly developed the skill to read my mind.
That’s my five, now I’d love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a great weekend!
February 14th, 2025 at 3:01 am · Link
My Five
1.Finished the final internal corrections to Secrets of the Cache and sent off to publisher.
2. Organized books I am to review for a contest.
3. Had my hair colored and cut.
4. Enjoyed a pre Valentine dinner at my favorite French Restaurant – Bistro De Le Gare It was delicious!😋
5. Had my treatment at UCLA oncology here in Pasadena. All went well and after had a yummy late lunch at Houston’s.
February 14th, 2025 at 8:40 am · Link
Happy Valentine’s Day! Yay for rain, as long as it’s not mud-slidey. Boo for having to postpone your dinner out, though. Ooo, cashew chicken sounds good. Yay for pizza! Fingers crossed everything planned for today works out and makes you happy, cuz you deserve all the happy things. :hugs:
1) Yesterday was the tenth anniversary of me being a published author. Woot. I celebrated by giving away books all week. It turned out way better than I imagined, so yay.
2) The little wren is still in the garage. I think I heard him singing this morning. Silly bird. Oh, well. He’s got food and water and it’s warm in there, so his life is good. No wonder he’s singing and doesn’t want to leave. ;o)
3) My mom was getting so bombarded with scammer phone calls, she had to change her number. She had that one for nearly 25 years. Eh. At least it’s a bit quieter there now.
4) I have no clue what to do for dinner tonight. We had pizza yesterday, so that’s out. Maybe burgers. :shrug:
5) Hubs and I haven’t actually celebrated Valentine’s Day in years. We wish each other a happy day and get smooches, but that’s about it. It works for us. =o)
February 14th, 2025 at 10:01 am · Link
Yay for rain, 🤞🏼 for no mudslides! Yummy chicken and I’m all for spice. Sourdough pizza? Hrmmm 🤔 Yeah…no rainy drives of 50 miles in traffic. Totally not romantic. Homemade pizza FTW! Yay for hair–finally!–and table–also finally! 🤞🏼 it’s right this time. Yay for b-day plans with youngest and baking! My five:
1. I finally finished the final edit and the D2D version is ready for uploading, which I will do this afternoon. Release date is pushed back to my b-day (2 weeks) to give time for preorder and D2D stores to “people” the book on their sites. The ‘Zon is always quicker to populate.
2. It’s been cold. Had sleet and freezing rain earlier this week. Ugh. I hit Wallyworld beforehand so had no cause to get out. Yay. Bad news is a new front is coming this weekend and next week with days of below freezing temps. Double ugh.
3. LG freaked out. He couldn’t find Loki and then couldn’t find Pete. I found Loki (he was nested up in the junk closet in LG’s office. Pete showed up when he decided it was bedtime and wanted me in bed and settled so I could pet him and he could curl in to my side. Cats!
4. Stormy won the school’s “valentine box contest.” His was a big “book” with a 3D Toothless the Dragon on top. There was a smaller book at the dragon’s feet and you opened it to drop in the valentines. Yes, Only helped him. And yes, my kids inherited my imagination. I couldn’t be prouder! 🥰 (Only and I made a dragon valentine’s box when she was in grade school way back in the day.
)
5. We headed out to a memorial service for Aunt Hooey and Uncle Fix-It’s neice. She had Downs and passed about a month ago from a respiratory infection. Her family decided to delay the service until today. Yeah…
Anyway, have a great weekend. I have OSU Cowgirl softball to watch and a book to get uploaded for release and then graphic marketing stuff to do. Happy Valentine’s Day, witches! 💖💖💖
February 14th, 2025 at 3:33 pm · Link
Happy Valentine’s Day!
1. Yippie for rain.
2. I love Cashew Chicken. Was curry the heat or pepper?
3. I’m sure the sourdough pizza dough turned out great.
4. Sorry about having to cancel dinner but pizza is always a win 🥰.
5. Have a fantastic time at dinner tomorrow. Will the cupcakes be gluten free? My fingers are crossed that the hair appointment actually happens and that you are happy with the results.
1a. Finally got a letter about hubs VA hearing testing done in July. It basically says that they are working on it but are over loaded.
2a. C took today off so that he and C can have a romantic SPA Valentine’s Day/Night. Because he didn’t have to work he took hubs to get hair cuts. Good kid.
3a. While out getting hair cuts C took hubs to the store and he brought home 4 long stem white roses.
4a. The weather is supposed to get all nasty again tonight and throughout the weekend. So I went and did all my running around this morning. Of course I got home to notice I forgot baby cucumbers. Hubs has become addicted to them.
5a. Tomorrow I think we’ll just have dinner at the Lebanese place in town unless the roads are all ice. If that’s the case, I’m not driving.
Have a fantastic weekend and enjoy that pizza!
February 14th, 2025 at 4:14 pm · Link
Cyn, Happy Valentine’s Day!
1) Getting the book off the the publisher is a great feeling. Congrats!
2) Sounds like you have some reading to do with contest books.
3) Yay for a cut and color — hope you love it!
4) Dinner sounds lovely.
5) I hear good things about UCLA oncology. For myself, I had excellent treatment at UCI. Really hope your treatment is doing what you need it to. And that you enjoyed a great lunch!
Have a great weekend.
February 14th, 2025 at 4:26 pm · Link
B.E., thanks but the dinner thing isn’t a big deal. It was just an excuse to go out
We’ll do it another time. Today has been a good day so far with several things working out at once!
1) Congrats on 10 years and yay for a good return on celebration giveaways!
2) Sounds like a smart little wren who found a warm home with good food!
3) That makes me so mad about spammers forcing your mom to change her number! I do not miss my landline because of spammers. It’s not right!
4) Hope you think of something you both enjoy for dinner!
5) I think most of us married for a while are similar for Valentine’s Day. I say as long as you and hubs are happy, it’s all good!
Enjoy your weekend!
February 14th, 2025 at 4:34 pm · Link
Silver, sourdough pizza crust is a thing
It tastes like crust, LOL. IT just takes a bit more work to get there, but I tolerate sourdough better. Yep the table is right! We’re so relieved now!
1) Oh, yeah, that makes sense. I forget you use the D2D (which has its advantages!)
2) You guys are really getting the weather!
3) LOL! Cats will cat, especially on cold days! Sounds like they both found warm, cozy spots and hibernated until they were ready to come out.
4) Congrats to Stormy and that sounds like the coolest Valentine box! Stormy’s lucky to have such a talented grandma!
5) I’m so sorry for all your loss. It’s going to be a long day, but I’m sure you’re being there will bring comfort to all.
You have a busy weekend! I’m glad you’re making time to watch your beloved softball. Hope the uploads go quickly with no glitches are you’re inspired in doing the graphics!
February 14th, 2025 at 4:44 pm · Link
Viki, yes my hairdresser was there! She did a good job, then I’m going to wait six weeks and we have a plan for a new weave — I’m excited. And for the record, my hairdresser had a rough time, and I’m now glad I restrained my impatience
Oh and the heat in the cashew chicken was peppers — easy to adjust. I really loved cashew chicken! Yep whatever I make will be gluten and dairy free — I’d planned Smore’s cupcakes, but the gluten free grahm crackers I ordered have diary. My fault for not checking! I’ll probably make brownies now and he’ll be fine. Once I hunt down the stupid gluten and dairy free cupcakes, I’ll try the Smore’s ones!
1) I’m sorry about the hassle trying to get the test for hubs. Everything is backed up in the medical system, but I guess is worse with the VA? And clearly they have antiquated appointment and notification systems which seems ridiculous to me.
2) C is a great son and person! And you seem to really appreciate everything he does, rather than taking it for granted. Hope they have a wonderful evening!
3) Aw, that was so sweet of him to do!
4) Ugh, I hate when I forget things from the store. It seems like I’m always running around picking up stuff I forgot. Hopefully hubs will understand.
5) I hope you and hubs can get out for a nice dinner, but also smart to stay home if the roads are icy.
Hope you guys have a good weekend, and if you go to dinner, a wonderful meal!