Friday, March 7th, 2025
Friday Five
TGIF! For me, I’m glad to get to the end of this week 
All right, let’s share five random things about our week. Here’s mine:
- I made breadsticks this week and this time I was happy with them. That’s a win. They were pretty easy if a little time consuming. And they went well with two of our meals — stew and spaghetti.
- Tuesday we finally saw a specialist for Wizard. It was really touch and go if I’d be well enough to go, but I made it! And I really needed to be there (Wizard agreed with me on that). This doctor’s office was pretty far to travel, but turned out to be a good decision. We both really liked her, and she has a good plan to determine exactly what’s going on. Then fun related story — we were driving home and Wizard accidently took a ramp on the wrong freeway that ended up being a toll road we were stuck on for miles. This is funny because Wizard is basically a traveling Google map in his head, and he doesn’t make these mistakes. This was more of a distracted mistake, but it still counts! Fortunately there was no traffic and it just cost us a few dollars and a bit of extra time.
- Wednesday — it started pouring rain. Good. What wasn’t good is that I had a 4pm ultrasound of my neck at UCI. Wizard wouldn’t let me tackle that drive myself, so he went with me. The ultrasound was late and traffic was horribly snarled when we were done. We went to dinner out there, then made the drive home that took two very long hours. It was a battle but it’s done, and the report on my ultrasound is good so it was worth the pain of it.
- Thursday I took Maggie for her vet tech visit. She was a very good girl and made me proud. When the tech told me that, I confessed that Maggie is just an easy dog and I’m lucky. And then I did a marathon of laundry and bathrooms, and set a up a plan with my daughter in law to baby sit my grand daughter next Thursday. I love that she asks me (and of course, Wizard. He’ll go if he doesn’t have other things he has to do). I truly don’t take for granted that our daughters in law trust their kids with us, and know we’ll do our best to do things their way. And later today (still Thursday as I’m writing this), I’m going to start making sourdough bread because this weeks is a lot of catching up after being sick. I’ll bake the bread tomorrow.
- Today I have a phone visit with my surgeon and expect that to go very well since the ultrasound results were good. Then our week of appointments is done. Saturday we’re going to Turbo’s baseball game unless something unexpected happens. I might even take Maggie, we’ll see. She would love it, but it depends if we’re going to make any other stops while we’re out.
That’s my week, and it’s nice to be 90% over the stupid cold. Now I’d love to hear your five! I hope everyone has a happy and healthy weekend!
March 7th, 2025 at 8:24 am · Link
Yay for yummy breadsticks! I hope the specialist helps Wizard. Boo on the traffic, though, and boo for getting off on the wrong ramp. I hate toll roads. Yay for rain and for good ultrasound results. Yay for good girl Maggie! And for your DILs trusting you – but unsurprising because you’re a good mom and grandma. I hope you get to go to the baseball game. Go Turbo!
1) I have too much to do and not enough me to do it in a reasonable amount of time. Digging up the beds and planting stuff, this whole house needs cleaning, this book isn’t editing itself, and then there’s publishing and marketing and… :falls over:
2) I made another batch of cinnamon rolls and I’m quite pleased. I think I got everything right this time.
3) It’s looking like rain out there right now, but I have to finish digging up the south garden bed so I can get the lilies back in the ground and then plant the new gladiolas.
4) The cats are chasing each other all over the house like it’s some kind of parkour course. Silly butts.
5) We watched a new-to-us show last night called Hudson & Rex – about a police detective and his K9. I really hoped it would be better than it was. I mean, it was cute and the whodunnit was a surprise, but I thought it was kinda lame. :shrug:
March 7th, 2025 at 11:30 am · Link
Yummy breadsticks. Sometimes, life throws detours.
Glad for the new doc compatibility, though. Yay for ultrasound good news, boo on traffic. Ugh. Also ugh chores but they’re done and yay Baby Girl Time™ and bread! Yay for Turbo Baseball™ this weekend and feeling better and taking Maggie! Okay, my five.
1. Monday was VA day. Still waiting on LG’s pathology to come back. They found some polyps and are doing biopsies. Jake and I were REALLY tired of peopling but the nurses were so happy they could pet. It was to 2 kids and their mom who talked incessantly. Ah well.
2. Thursday, I cleaned the coffee maker. It has a message thingy that tells me it’s time to clean it so in went the white vinegar. It’s easy, only takes about 30-45 minutes and I want this coffee maker to last a good long while! I like it that much.
3. I decided the next book will be Ariel’s story. He’s the fae in the Penumbra Papers. No idea of the full story or where it will mainly be set. Oddly, I’m considering Rochester, NY because of a picture I saw. That said, I know ZILCH about Rochester, NY.
4. I got a notice that Microsoft will stop updating Windows 10 in May. I ran the check and my computer doesn’t have enough oomph to upgrade to Windows 11. I am now on the hunt for a good used/cheap new all-in-one with a big monitor. Sooo not looking forward to setting up a new machine.
5. I drink a protein shake for breakfast, usually as I set at the computer and check email. I take it out of the fridge and stick in the freezer when I get up so that it’s more slushy like a real shake. This results in me having to occasionally shake it to break up the slush. This morning, I set the cap down while drinking and Pete walked across my desk in front of my monitor, where the cap was sitting. He batted it off, onto my keyboard drawer. I put it back on the desk. Dang cat snatched the cap in his mouth and disappeared into his cat tree. I had to let the shake melt a little to finish it off because no shaking without the cap and Pete wouldn’t let me have it back. Cats.
Tonight, my Cowgirls have a double-header and both games are televised. Yay. Stormy has academic tournament up the turnpike today and then a soccer tournament in Wichita this weekend. We’ll get text updates. That’s a drive and overnight stay and LG just isn’t up for it physically and I’m definitely not! Anyway, softball for me and work. Yippee. Have a great weekend, everyone!
March 7th, 2025 at 4:02 pm · Link
1. Yum on the breadsticks!
2. It’s a good thing you went with Wizard. I’ve noticed that we should always have someone with us for important appointments. The patient often gets distracted and misses key information.
3. The stinks the rain making your drive a pain.
4. Maggie is a sweet girl. It is a great feeling when the kids leave their children with us 🥰.
5. I hope all went well with the surgeon. Have a wonderful time at Turbo’s game!
1a. Hubs had his last pysc. appointment. He refuses to go back. Oh well.
2a. We had hubs neurologist appointment today. All went great and he doesn’t have to see her again for 6 months for a follow up cognitive exam.
3a. I get my hair done tomorrow. I can’t wait to get rid of the gray stripe.
4a. I ordered a new compost from Costco the other day and it arrived yesterday. It came in two HUGE boxes which are currently outside next to the garage. Hopefully C and I will get it put together this weekend. I’ll toss two of my small ones next week.
5a. Funny you mentioned the Vet. Early this morning it dawned on me that Spunk is due for his yearly. I have to call Monday and set it up for the end of the month. Last year it was on the 28th so I’ll try and get close to that date.
Have a wonderful weekend!
March 7th, 2025 at 4:27 pm · Link
B.E., thanks! I’m so with you on hating toll roads. They are pure money grabs, at least they way they are set up in our area.
1) Why can’t we clone ourselves yet to help out with all the work? But you are making a lot of progress on your writing since retiring! Hopefully you’ll get the garden set up the way you want it too, but that’s a lot of physical work!
They are definitely entertaining!
2) You’ve mastered cinnamon rolls!! My plain breadsticks are nothing compared that cinnamon rolls!
3) Hope you beat the rain.
4) The cats must be very fit
5) I’m sorry the show wasn’t as good as you hoped. We have trouble finding quality stuff these days too.
Hope you have a good weekend!
March 7th, 2025 at 4:38 pm · Link
Silver, thanks on all. It was a busy but overall positive week. Just a lot of driving all over to get to appts.
1) Hopefully the pathology will come back with good news next week. Those reports can take awhile (I don’t know if the VA takes longer than our labs do out here). I’ll keep my fingers crossed for LG. I know he’s had some health stuff going on lately.
The story for Ariel will show up soon! Unfortunately, it often arrives out of order in randomly revealed pieces, but you’re a master at figuring them out.
2) I have that must clean now light on my coffeemaker too. But it takes mine 75 minutes to clean so your coffeemaker wins for being faster! Also vinegar is a good clearer.
3) Does Izzy agree with you on your choice for a story? Just wondering as I know she can be a little strong willed at times
4) Ugh! I’m with you on new computers. Aside form the set up hassle, there’s usually a learning curve. I will say our last one was the easiest and hopfeully you’ll have the same experience.
5) Given how much Pete (it’s Pete, not Loki?) likes the rolled up foil wrappers, I’m not surprised he appropriated your cap as a new toy. It’s hilarious that he took it into his cat tree! Hope you managed to enjoy your breakfast anyway!
Enjoy the double header, and hope Stormy has a great game!
March 7th, 2025 at 4:45 pm · Link
Viki, it was a very good discussion with my surgeon. I’m doing well and we will rescan again in 6 months. I feel as confident as is reasonable about my health these days and I’m very grateful. I thanked my surgeon again — she did an amazing job as far as we can tell.
1) Oh I’m sorry. I hope this isn’t causing you too much stress. But you can only do so much.
2) Glad the neurologist appt went well.
3) You’ll feel like a new woman after your hair appt!
4) Putting that together sounds like a pretty big project for you and C. Hope it’s an easy one!
5) It’s so easy to let that yearly vet exam slide, it’s it? Hope you can get it conveniently scheduled. We need Spunk to stay happy and healthy!
I hope you have a good weekend, and that you and C are able to put the compost together quickly and easily!