The Saturday before Christmas Eve I did my last min grocery and alcohol prepping for the holidays. That means necessities and wine/beer. It was a rather nice day. Looked like it wanted to rain at any moment. After all that was knocked out I went out to my mothers to pick up her sweet labradoodle. He is 13 and he is staying with me until she comes back from Houston. You see, I’m the only one of my immediate family not to be celebrating Christmas together. I don’t like Houston but I also wanted to spend my first Christmas with Yvette and her kids and family. Last year we were 335 miles apart.

After my errands I decided to go have a treat of sushi and hibachi. It was a cloudy rainy day and that just sounded great. Of course some miso soup. They had the worst Christmas music playing but the food was fantastic as usual. My waitress was a dingbat though.

Once full I checked my second grocery list and went back to the store. It was just as much a mad house. I grabbed all that I missed on my first trip and got the hell out. When I was back home began the chore of wrapping presents. I think it went well. I won’t claim I have skills but I’m not bad considering it’s only once a year. After that it was once again a trip to my mothers to see if she had something I needed for a meal that would save me a $4 expense. She sure did. It would have been something that I’d only use once every 2-3 years. Success.!!!

Saturday night date night. Yay!! We had some nice steak. A meal I was surprised I had not made for Yvette. balsamic reduced steak. I also made some parmesan sour cream mashed potato’s. It was a great meal. Unfortunately the evening had to end early. She needed to get her son home and while she was doing that a pretty incredible storm came through and dumped a lot of rain which flooded the roads. Not worth her risking her life getting back to my house. We don’t live far apart but that little distance has a hell of a flood plain between us. The roads get dangerous.

Christmas Eve we went to her parents and had some ham, corn and potato’s. Good time. Watched some football. I was over there before 1 and suddenly it was 5. Time…. After that I rushed home to make some chili for us and the kids. I put everything together and cooked it for 2 hours. I transported it to her house and we all enjoyed. It was a big batch of chili. Leftovers.

After eating we sat around and laughed. I went home around 10 to check on my dogs and grab some decorating icing. They have a tradition where they bake and decorate cookies. It was a fun time. I decorated 2 of my own. We eventually all went to sleep so Santa could come.

Christmas morning!!! We woke up and unwrapped presents. It was a lot of fun. I really liked being a part of it. After presents I went home and checked the dogs. Let them go potty and eat. I got dressed into my matching pajamas. That’s another Christmas tradition, everyone wears matching PJ’s. Once dressed I picked Yvette up and we went to her parents again for some menudo. It was so damn good. Had some good conversations. Shaping up to be a heck of a day. When we left we all ended up taking naps.

A day can’t be perfect. I got a shitty text from my ex wife notifying me that she “debated tell me because it was Christmas” but my cat Samson died in the morning. She could have waited. It didn’t have to be Christmas Day. I was happy. I don’t say this on here but what a bitch. No explanation either. I later heard from a friend she posted about it on Facebook. I’m blocked so I have no idea. That was my favorite cat. I have missed him. Missed him more than her.

Christmas dinner was moved to 5:30. It was originally at lunch and moved to 7:30 and eventually 5:30. Yvette’s brother kept changing things. All worked out though. Yvette’s dad and mom out did themselves with the food. It was perfect for me, mostly protein. Brisket, beef ribs, jalapeño sausage. Homemade beans, potato salad and many pies. I ate a LOT of meat. We also watched football and opened more presents. I really wasn’t expecting her parents to get me anything but it was nice that they did. Really made me feel included. Her father and I had a few beers. God that man can smoke meats. I’m not only lucky to have Yvette but also lucky to have a great family.

Once we left her parents Al we went to her cousins Christmas party. The did a breakfast spread. Waffles, French toast, chorizo potato and an egg sausage casserole. We played some sill game. You have Christmas ribbons and cotton balls on a table. A spatula and a bowl. You are blind folded and have 15 seconds to scoop as many into the bowl. I had 5 ribbons and 9 balls. Not bears the worst but I didn’t win the $60. It was fun.

After we left I went home for a bit to be with the dogs. I went back over and stayed another night. It was a different but damn good Christmas. This life makes me happy.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Saturday I woke up before 7 and was going to surprise with burritos. I fell back to sleep until 9. I did nevertheless get burritos. We enjoyed and then laid down and watch some Hallmark show. I have been sleepy on this new medication. Once we got up, Yvette, her daughter and I all went to get some good pizza downtown. Her daughter wanted pickle pizza. After that delicious meal it was time to go to Walmart. It was a Saturday spent with lovely people.

Sunday my mom, Yvette and our daughter went out for so lunch. Otherwise it was a lazy day for me. A quick trip to HEB and I was done.

Monday was the big MRI day. Again. This one with contrast. Another new experience. I could not eat or drink 4 hours before going in. This one I also had to hold my breath. Weird and wasn’t told about that until I got there. I was super nervous. I had some anxiety meds my doctor game me. I also had Yvette and my mother attend. Basically holding my hand. I’m such a baby when it comes to hospitals and doctors. Bless them for the support. I was told that I needed a driver.

The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix damn. What a show. I finished it Wednesday night. I highly recommend it to everyone. I suppose it’s somewhat a horror but it’s also a show about extremely wealthy morally corrupt pharmaceutical family. It’s really interesting and if any of you are a fan of Edgar Allen Poe, you will catch all sorts of Easter eggs because it’s all loosely based on many of his works.

The end of the fall semester and the beginning of our holiday leave. Thursday was the last day many people would be on campus. I was sticking till Friday. It was a short day anyways. I can tuff it through 4 hours. Shit, I literally did nothing work related on Thursday. I even brought my Nintendo Switch to work and played some Zelda. Paid to play a video game. Nothing was going on. It was sad.

PT wasn’t so bad Thursday. I probably pushed myself more than I usually do. Probably more that my PT pushed me. The only problem was that during the entire session the receptionist was talking the entire damn time. I do mean nonstop chit chat. I like her, but she was clearly bored and had nothing to do. I was also the only person with a session so…. What can you do.

The winter solstice. The shortest day of the year. Had to believe 2023 is at a close already. It was indeed a big year with many memorable events, not all good. I’ll get more to that with my next blog more than likely.

Friday. What a boring work day. I made the best of it playing Zelda again. The only work related thing I did was go hunt down a camera with the property manager to be tagged. That was it. Thank lord it was a short day. No one was there to do or need anything. After work Yvette and I went to Twin Peaks for a little lunch grub. It wasn’t bad. I do like the food, but I’msure others will think I go for the scenery. Not true.

Now the excitement. I was helping make tamales with Yvette’s family. It was actually very much fun. The process was very exciting. We had an assembly line. I was spreading the masa. It was impressive how much time goes into this. It was also a lot of fun doing some family bonding. I eventually got to try the tamales but first we had to bail to go have dinner with my mom. She was leaving for Houston in the morning. We had a nice dinner and good conversations. Over all it was a great Friday and I spent most of it with the woman that I love.

Happy Friday!!

Jalapeño

Chili and shells.

After MRI dinner. Actually, I had stir fry earlier but because I had been unable to eat due to the appointment I was really hungry. I think it was okay to treat myself.

Beef street tacos with cabbage, jalapeño and tomatoes.

Sesame chicken with steamed broccoli.

Chicken Alfredo with sun dried tomatoes.

Cork & Pig with my mom and Yvette. Friday date night +1.

From graduation catering, retirements, Christmas parties and the presidents office I was offer a lot of free food this week. Some hit and some miss. I don’t care. It was food and it was free. I suppose the brisket, chorizo stuffed mushrooms, pozole and chicken on a stick were the favorite from the events. It’s that time of year.

Rain!! A damn good amount at that. It was gloomy most of the week starting on Tuesday. Oh the joy I felt. We also really needed the rain so it was a win win for me.

Physical therapy was brutal on Thursday. I actually felt like I could have thrown up afterwards. I know that I benefit from it but damn is it hard on me. It’s me basically paying money for pain and I still have a few more months of it to go. What a thing to go through.

Friday was dead on campus. Finals were over. So many Christmas parties I’m so happy for Yvette’s daughter for making it through her first semester.

Happy Friday!!!

Jalapeño

Chicken curry over broccoli.

Pasta with green beans.

Tikka Masala

Chicken zucchini stir fry.

Pork tenderloin with Brussels, rice & raspberry chipotle sauce.

Chicken verde with a fried egg and beans.

Italian Nachos. Date night.

The vampires truly sank their teeth into me Monday. They took 15 vials of my blood during my morning my morning lab work. I was expecting routine lab work. They lady wheeled a cart over loaded with empty vials and I tentatively asked if those were all for me. She said yes. Let me know if you get dizzy. Lord. What kind of lab was this. They most I’ve given was 3 vials. I did indeed get busy. I was also freezing the rest of the day and anxious as a motherfucker.

The follow up doctors visit seemed to be good. My test results. It was a relief. I was better than I was 6 months ago. A year ago I was in the ICU. I’m lucky to be alive.

Friday was date night. I was getting prep work done and started playing Zelda. I got a call fro Yvette. She was working the River Christmas light tour. Some volunteers didn’t show up so they were short. I went a filled in. It was actually very fun. I handed out candy canes and dog treats. I was with her daughter. We both couldn’t believe we were doing that. Unexpected Friday.

Happy Friday!!!

Jalapeño

Ginger soy chicken.

Enchilada chicken.

Chicken tetrazzini. Thank you Yvette. My favorite.

Mini meatloaf with tatters and green beans.

Chinese Jalapeño Chicken over rice.

Date night!! Chicken Bulgolgi with seaweed salad and kimchi.

Christmas tree lighting was a crazy time. Beautiful except for the actual fake tree. Yvette and he daughter and I went for a little bit before we bailed to make some dinner. Tuesday dinner date.

Yvette and I went to graze the food and enjoy the beverages at a campus event on campus. Great Colleges to Work For. Nice open bar. I had wine, scotch and a beer. She had some wine. We visited with people we knew. The food was good. I didn’t have dinner that night, really. I made some Queso upon request of Yvette’s daughter. It was fun spending time mostly alone with her.

It was a wild week. Busy at work and I still don’t feel muy bueno. Not to mention a lot of wild stuff outside of work. It was also a damn good thing in many ways. Things that needed testing. Very important.

I hope all of you had a happy Friday.

Jalapeño.

Monday night menudo. Yvette’s family’s treat.

Real ravioli. Not the canned stuff.

Sweet chili chicken with hoisin zucchini.

Hibachi with Yvette and her family.

Slept in late. Woke up to a gloomy Saturday. It was perfect. I got up and made Yvette and I some Eggs Benedict. She woke up right as I was finishing. I had a surprise trip to Midas to drop of her daughters car and it was off to the movies for a solo horror outing. Thanksgiving. I had been waiting for this movie since 2007. 16 years coming. It was based off a fake trailer for the Grindhouse movies Death Proof & Planet Terror. It was the slasher movie that the holiday season needed. I had a beer and pizza and kicked back and enjoyed. After the movie I played some Zelda. It was a nice Saturday.

It was a 2 1/2 word week. A breeze. Most people were gone. I made my “happy thanksgiving” rounds. I tried to stay busy.

Thanksgiving was fun this year. Different. I spent the days with Yvette. Had lunch with her family. It was a great time. I’m lucky to like all the family.

Jalapeño

Eggs Benedict. I add some green sauce to the hollandaise sauce. We enjoyed our brunch.

Deconstructed chicken pot pie.

Biscuits and gravy. Breakfast for dinner.

Work potluck.

Shrimp & corn bisque.

Orange chicken with broccoli.

Thanksgiving!!! Yvette’s family.

Friday fried chicken & beans and sauerkraut mix I made.

Monday was so nice and gloomy. Rain!!!! I didn’t want to get out of bed.

The week wasn’t anything special. I was stuck in the office, PT killed me, but the nights were great. Love my Yvette. We had dinner together 3 times and once as a family.

I was on office duties so work was rather lame. It was really slow. Not much to talk about because little was done. Friday night Yvette and I went to the campus ring ceremony to support her student worker, but otherwise that was a about it. Nothing to write home about.

Happy Friday!!!!

Jalapeño

Lasagna soup. Yvette and I enjoyed it.

Coconut shrimp and some other goodies.

Egg Roll Bowl. I cooked for 6!! Yvette’s kids. I made enough except for rice. Everyone went back for seconds.

Lasagna and Italian green beans. I know, I like lasagna.

Date night cooking. Shrimp & sausage creole.

Monday I woke up sick as can been. I guess that 5 day expired chicken thigh was an awful idea. It made me squeamish for a couple days. I really didn’t start feeling better and like myself until Thursday.

Wednesday night I had my MRI for my back. Yvette was sweet enough to come with me. I was going to reward her with a dinner date afterwards. The MRI is a noisy machine. Even with soothing music on the headphones it was hell. Also very claustrophobic. I tried to think happy thoughts and keep my eyes closed. Yvette said it was about 30 min.

Thursday’s PT session damn near had me faint. The pain was real. When Yvette picked me up I probably looked like I want to cry. It was that bad. Never a good sign when they say “today I want to try something a little different with you”. Fuck that shit. I know it’s helping but damn. I’m over this shit.

Thursday was also a 16th birthday. Her boy started the day taking his driving test. In the rain. I know he was nervous but the rain was also a benefit. It was an extra learning experience. He passed and got his license to drive. He also could not make up his mind where to eat that night. Think he changed his mind 4 times.

Friday morning I just wanted to stay in bed. It was a gloomy day with a little precipitation. It did not move fast.

Happy Friday!!!

Jalapeño

Beef and broccoli with the kids and Yvette.

Morning ham and chipotle cheese omelet .

Spicy chicken thigh with some veggies. This meal gave me food poisoning. It was a little overdue. I was a fool.

Chef Boyardee lasagna and green beans. Not bad.

Ramen for my tummy.

Finally had my appetite back. Yvette and I went out on a date after my MRI. Fish and shrimp tacos.

Birthday boy turned 16 and passed his drivers test. Time to celebrate. We all went to Craving Crab. The food was excellent but the service was shit. I got the spicy Cajun shrimp. Scarfed it down before I could get a picture but I had enough for lunch leftovers.

Tonight for Yvette and the 16 year old it was seared tuna, kimchi, seaweed salad & Japanese cucumber salad w/ sushi rice.

The homecoming parade was fun. It was kind of emotional seeing Yvette’s daughter in the parade float. The morning couldn’t have been nicer. RamJam was a buffet of food. Everywhere I turned something else was being offered. I also believe I took advantage of probably 4 free beers. Yvette had a hard seltzer and 2 glasses of wine. It’s a fun family experience. I think her daughter likes the “privilege” of being able to hang out inside the building. You have to have that alumni status. All the free shit, it’s already paid for itself.

Finally some much needed rain. Good lord did we need it. It was so nice and gloomy on Wednesday that I really considered staying home. We had 2.5 inches at my house. Such a beautiful day.

Thursday I woke up around 4 and couldn’t go back to sleep. I really thought about calling in the morning but didn’t. I was hurting like hell. It was all my back and foot. I also knew I had physical therapy and it was going to be brutal. You know that tired feeling when your eye twitches all day. That was me. I wasn’t wrong about the PT. It kicked my ass HARD. I was spent and actually felt a little sick.

That evening it was off to the last home town football game of the season. He little boys team only lost 22-28 but damn if it wasn’t a fun game to watch. It was a long day and I really felt like I was to beat up to attend but I pull myself together and made it just after halftime. Im glad that I did.

Happy Friday!!!

Jalapeño

Homecoming ram jam food. Run and egg roll.

Pulled pork tacos with pickled red onion and jalapeño.

Pulled pork sandwich w/ Mac & cheese salad.

Chimichurri steak & scalloped potatoes. Yvette graced me with her presents.

Biscuits & spicy sausage gravy w/ sunny side eggs.

Salmon with a white win butter sauce and some broccoli cheese rice. Might not look great but Yvette and her boy loved it.

Saturday was busy for me. I was all over the town. Many errands knocked out. Picked up some finishing touches on my Halloween outfit. Once all was complete I finally made it home to cook. I made dinner and brought it over to Yvette’s to eat. It was a great day.

Halloween. Last year I was fucked. I was hospitalized. I don’t remember a damn thing. This year I wanted it to be better. It was better.

My mom made us a spooky cheese cake. Amazing. So I was a clown and Yvette was a bumble bee. The kids looked great as Luigi and Wednesday Adam’s. They handed out most the candy. The night was special for multiple reasons. I wasn’t going to the ICU like the year before, and I proposed. As a clown. To a bumble bee. Whom I love. She said yes. She is my best friend and meeting her, I wouldn’t have thought this is where we would end up. It was such a great moment that I shall not forget. Halloween how it should be. It was special. I have a fiancé and I love her so much. Very special week. Long time coming. I always planned on Halloween.

The rest of the week was great. It was amazing seeing the reaction people had to the news. Happy Friday!!!!

Jalapeño

Ground beef fajita bowl. Seasoned meat, red, yellow green bell peppers, jalapeño and onion. Served over lettuce and topped with cheese, pico and sound cream. New recipe. Fantastic.

Chili & jalapeño corn bread.

Frito pie.

Cincinnati Chili.

Pad Kra Kao. Hot as hell.

Friday date night chicken stir-fry. I just threw some shit together.