TGIF! Time to jump right into sharing five random things about our week. Here’s mine:

1. It’s brutal hot. It was 111 degrees and humid here yesterday. Today is supposed to be the same and last through the weekend. Thankfully we have A/C and I’m grateful for that.
2. No baby yet as I write this about 8pm on Friday. My daughter-in-law saw her doctor and they tried to nudge things along. First babies are stubborn! But all that really matters is that everyone is healthy and when baby girl arrives — mom and baby are in good shape. Well, dad too, but you know what I mean
3. Today (Thursday) totally got away from me and became exhausting. I had my day planned to manage all the tasks I hoped to do while still recovering — but the heat, Maggie having another episode of bladder accidents for a few hours (these episode come and go in serious weirdness but her vet is trying to help her), and a dead car battery ended up crowding the day and making us both tired. Probably I shouldn’t have tried making sourdough just yet…but…well…I did So I shall take a bit of blame. I wasn’t lifting anything heavy though!
4. In an upside to yesterday, I ran over to Youngest’s house to pick up an extra watermelon they had, and to go over instructions to pop in a couple times over the weekend to play with my grand dog and give the dog sitter a break. (She’s way more than a dog sitter, she’s a family friend, but dog sitter describes the situation. And yet I feel bad calling her a dog sitter and I had to add a parenthetical to point that out….maybe I’m really tired!) This quick visit on my part should have taken five minutes but Youngest and I got to talking and we lost an hour and a half! As I was driving home, Wizard called and said, “Did you lose track of time?” Um…yeah? But it was a great break to a long day! Also Wizard finds me losing track of time hilarious because it’s so rare.
5. Today is my follow up with my surgeon. I hope she has the biopsy results to give us the best information. But we have had no reason to expect anything other than good news. As for the rest of the day and the weekend — it’s baby watch and checking in on my grand dog when needed. And resting a bit more than I have this last day or two

That’s my five, now I’d love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend filled with all the things that bring you joy!

TGIF!! And it’s a long weekend since Labor Day is Monday and many will get the day off work in the states. Let’s get right into sharing five random things about our week. Here’s mine.

1. As I’m writing this early afternoon yesterday — no baby yet! I talked to my DIL on the phone, she’s doing fine. They’re just waiting with no idea when baby girl will arrive. Could be anytime or another week or 10 days. Babies arrive when they are ready
2. I have a surprise doctor appointment with my primary doctor today. When I tell you all my surgeon and the entire staff are efficient, I’m not kidding. I got an email two days ago informing me of this appointment with my primary doctor. I think it’s so he can refer me to an endocrinologist (they specialize in endocrine system, and will help balance my hormones now that I don’t have a thyroid). Plus I know my regular doc and surgeon talked by phone about me because my surgeon told me that before the surgery. I’m just stunned in a good way at the level of care I’ve been getting after lack of care from a previous provider.
3. I’m bored, eating, restless and crabby. So, yep, recovery is going as it should Wednesday was a bright spot as my youngest daughter in law’s mom brought Wizard and I lunch. That was so nice!! We loved and appreciated the food (plus a plant and a bottle of wine for when I’m better!), and for me, it was more just seeing her that helped break up the days for me.
4. I took Maggie for a walk yesterday morning — it’s on my approved list of things I can do as long as I don’t pick Maggie up. I’ve been doing well walking a little farther each day. But yesterday there was a dog loose. I was not up to tangling with a big dog, and headed back into my track. Normally I’d have tried to do something, but yesterday was not that day. I don’t even know how many layers of stitches are in my throat, and I didn’t want to find out the hard way
5. I imagine we’ll be sticking close to home this weekend. But then again, maybe our new granddaughter will arrive. Who knows what surprises the long weekend will bring!

I don’t have much this week But I’d love to year your five!!! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

GRRR! I accidentally set this for August 6 rather than August 16th. Dumb Witch Moment! Anyhow here’s the blog on the correct date:

TGIF!! Let’s dive right into sharing five things about our week:

1. I made a lot of cookies this week. We took some last night to youngest and his wife (different kind of cookie for each).  We also went to see the progress of the work they are doing in the backyard. It’s a long term weekend project of building stacked stone walls and a lot more.  It going to look stunning when they’re done!
2. Yesterday I worked on sourdough bread and sourdough pizza dough. I made a misstep in the bread-making process which was annoying. Hopefully it’ll come out anyway. The missteps was the usual reason — me trying to do too much in too short of time. Even with excuses, though, it’s still my fault!
3. Maggie sort of mentioned this, but assuming nothing goes wrong, I’m having surgery on Wednesday. It will be 60 miles away in a brand new medical center that just opened one month ago. So we took a test drive out there to make sure we could find it — we did with no problems. Inside, it was pretty, clean and calm, the receptionist very helpful, and they have easy parking in a structure right next to the building. I’m happy as that’s less walking for Wizard than it would be at a big hospital. This building specializes in treatments, procedures and surgeries related to my diagnosis, so not a typical hospital. We have to be there at 5 am On the upside, we’ll be ahead of the morning traffic. And yes, Maggie is going to boarding for three nights just to make it easier for Wizard, and less stressful for Maggie.
4. Yesterday I went out first thing in the morning to do some weeding and trimming in the planters, and I didn’t take my phone. I missed a call with my Insurance Middle Man Company  that does all the authorizations. I realized it when I went in the house to grab my water, and that sparked an hour and a half of phone calls. Wizard knew I had to make those calls ASAP and finished up the gardening work. The whole point of me doing it was to make it easier on him. Even so, the two of us got a lot done and he didn’t mind. Also — the missed call was just to tell me the surgery had been approved. Why the first person I talked to when I called back couldn’t tell me that — I don’t know — she couldn’t even find my file, which makes me wonder if she was working on an etch-a-sketched or a computer linked to the company network? So many questions…but it doesn’t matter now, I’m approved.
5. Today I think I’m going to lunch with my sister and probably having chocolate cake! Of course, the plans can change if something comes up for her and that’s fine too. The weekend will mostly be getting what I can done before the surgery.

That’s my five, let’s hear yours! I have everyone has a fun weekend!

TGIF!! I know were only 9 days into August and it still feels like it’s going fast to me Okay let’s dive into sharing five random things about our week. Here’s mine:

1. I made gluten and dairy free shortbread cookies yesterday and they taste like they are dairy and gluten free   I will either drizzle them in lemon icing or  maybe make them into cookie sandwiches using dairy-free cheesecake frosting. That will elevated them a bit, but I still wouldn’t recommend them. A cookie like shortbread depends on the quality of the butter and the gluten in the flower to get the right flavor profile and bite. I didn’t think this version would be comparable, but I guess I had to prove my hypothesis I do think it’d be better if I made the cookie a chocolate flavor with cappuccino flavored icing Those flavors would cover for the lower quality (in baking terms) butter and flour.
2. Also I’ve been craving chocolate cake from Cheesecake Factory for a week now. I rarely have cravings this vivid and specific.
3. Lizard Slayer is alive and well. Yesterday morning I went over to the area of the planter Maggie was hanging out in and saw an unattached still-moving lizard tail. Eww. Then later, Wizard found the rest of the lizard — not moving. My sweet and charming dog is a serial killer. Probably, one day they’ll be a movie about her. All the neighbors will say, “But Maggie was the sweetest girl! I can’t image her being a serial killer.”
4. Today is my UCI appointment. We’ll see how it goes. I was surprised to get a text that they require masks….then I remembered this particular facility has very sick patients who are often severely immunocompromised from the meds they are on to treat their disease. I’ll cheerfully wear a mask.
5. We were going to see Turbo tomorrow, but he’s had a virus. He starts first grade Monday, so I want him to rest and get well. We will likely go the following weekend then I can hear all about his first week of school. As for my weekend, well now I can do some cleaning I’ve been ignoring all week — yay me!!!

Yep that’s my boring five, I bet yours are much more interesting!!! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

TGIF! Who let August in??? If feels too soon Okay let’s dive into sharing five random things about our week.

1. My daughter in law took a picture of Wizard and me last week, and I look like a big puffy older woman. And I thought that shirt I was wearing looked okay, but nope. I’m a little traumatized, LOL. Also I’m not stressing about weight gain or loss until after I get “fixed” then I’ll figure out the path to feeling my best weight wise. But still, pictures of me are now banned to protect my mental health
2. On the other hand, my grandson, Turbo, has style!
3. My hand is healing so well now. I was able to do a bit of yoga yesterday with no real pain, and it just ached a bit at the end of the deal. A huge improvement! Plus the swelling is gone (or mostly gone). I’ll admit (now)  that when I slammed my hand into the drawer pull on Sunday, I wasn’t sure if I broke a bone or not. The hand/wrist bones don’t have much padding to protect them. I leaned toward not haven’t broken anything, but still, I’m relieved.
4. Tonight we’re going to dinner with Youngest and his wife for my birthday. It’s a not a big deal birthday this year. Too many other things going on, and I’m fine with that.
5. Tomorrow is the baby shower! My daughter in law’s mom has done a huge chunk of the work, but I’ve enjoyed helping where I can. Please cross your fingers that we pull this off — all arranged by phone, text and email since we live about 180 miles apart We both want my daughter in law to have a lovely shower celebrating this much-wanted child, and we sincerely hope the guests have a good time too!

That’s my five, now I’d really love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a delightful weekend!

TGIF! No small talk, let’s get right to sharing five random things about our week:

1. We just learned of a fire on the mountain highway coming down into our town. It’s a 100+ degrees here so it’s not good news. It’s close enough that we’re not worried (about ourselves, we are worried about the people and animals in its path) but we’re on alert. We see a lot of air support on the fire, so that’s hopeful — sometimes they can knock it down pretty fast. And I have a friend in Canada evacuating a huge fire there — I hate fires.
2.  The week has been mostly quiet and hot. Somewhat boring, but only because the heat limits our options.
3. Maggie is having bladder issues as in very small accidents. She gets very upset about it, but she doesn’t seem unwell. All that said, she has a vet appointment August 5th, and I’ll ask them to do an ultrasound. They’ll either do it then and make another appointment. It’s really just a precaution that I’m more than happy to pay for. I think it’s just a poor spa job (before we had her) and age, but she hides pain so I’d rather be overcautious.
4. The baby shower for my daughter-in-law is August 3rd and its really nice to have that to think about and look forward too. The baby should be here very late August and maybe early September. Those are great distractions from dealing with getting into UCI. I think we’re making progress, but I have an appointment with my primary doctor late next week in case I need more help. On the upside, I’ve been polishing up my phone and nagging skills, bwahahaha! It’s been a long week.
5. Tomorrow we’re going to an auto museum and winery place with Youngest and his wife. It’ll be fun to spend time with them! Wizard and I both need a day out, or at least a couple hours as it may be too hot for us to stay longer than that.

That’s my five, now I’d love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

TGIF!!! Who is the wise witch making the weeks go faster lately? Or is that just me??? Anyhow, it’s time to share five random things about our week. Here’s mine:

1.  Monday I got my mammogram done. Um, it was the same as it usually was — the procedure is tolerable and quick. I had a harder time tolerating a lady in the waiting room being annoyed at everything and hassling the staff because — obviously — she had more important things to do that the rest of us did.
2. This week was a first at the grocery store — Wizard and I were both stunned at how low our total bill was. Like…we were confused, LOL. I mean we knew it’d be a light week but are we even eating??? Oh wait, the scale says we are Anyway, those kinds of shocks are few and far between.
3. Then I went to Trader Joes “for fun” and $75.00 dollars later….it all made sense, LOL. I filled in some things like fruit, good parmesan cheese, baking vanilla and various other items. None of that really adds up to $75.00 though…until I added in two bottles of wine (see #4 for why the wine). So why do I think Traders is fun? Because it’s not a required task, and most of what I get is stuff I want, or ingredients to cook or bake something fun and basically use a little creativity.
4. Okay, so I’m still working on getting into UCI. I *think* I’m making progress, but man it’s been hassle. I’ve been making endless calls trying to get my referral faxed from one entity to another and finally realized my mistake. I was expecting people to do their job! Silly of me, right? So I drove across town to UPS and paid them to Fax the referral to two of UCI fax numbers I’d been given. Finally yesterday I was told they had a referral!  See what happens when I stop being lazy and do other people’s jobs for them? Now the referral needs to be “verified” and then they’ll call me with an appointment.  Before that I got bounced around between surgeons and in total, I’ve seen or talked to 5 doctors, spent a few hundred dollars and mountains of worry, and still waiting. And so…I built a documentation file (which I am prepared to use if needed) and, also, bought some wine The stress on me is expected, but the stress on Wizard is what’s really pissing me off.  So…wine for him too! Plus I’m probably making peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips because duh chocolate and peanut butter are soul mates!
5. Oh and before I forget, Maggie met a very young puppy today. She was fine with him, but way more interested with his big brother — whom she has a crush on. That makes me smile! And the puppy was too adorable! Her son brought him home (say he found the puppy in a box), and they believe he’s a six to eight week old Miniature Rottweiler. To me, he had the markings of a Rottie, but had a slimmer build like a miniature pincher. But I am definitely not a breed expert, and it doesn’t matter anyway. I’m happy for them

I’m seeing my sister today and the rest of my weekend is nothing special so we’ll see what happens. Now it’s your turn to share five random things about your week! I hope everyone has a great weekend!