The weekend was fairly productive. That is when I wasn’t cleaning up after dogs. One was sick and the other that I’m watching likes to mark. So I somewhat fixed my fence that my ex wife destroyed. I also used the chainsaw on some tree limbs and cleaned the floors. When cloths shopping. Got groceries. Adult shit. Yvette and I did some brunch on Sunday. Not a lot.
Sunday I started my med for my foot, Gabapentin. It’s for nerve pain well it worked for my foot but boy howdy did the side effects knock me out. I work up dizzy and with blurry vision. I was also nauseous. I couldn’t function enough for work. I was pissed because I need to build up my vacation hours.
It was a fairly busy week. Went fast. Friday my coworkers took off leaving 4 short. Payback for Monday off? Who knows. Who cares. One worker was way to moody on Thursday so a repeat of that on Friday would have been hell. Besides, it kept me busy.
Cinco de Mayo!! I bought stuff for margaritas since Yvette would rather have them at the house than go grab one. Cheaper for sure. I was also going to make a pasta. I decided last minute to make something that better went with our margaritas. How about chicken fajita tacos!!! We had ourself some fun. Happy Friday!!!
Jalapeño.
Chicken fajita mix.
Sausage egg breakfast pizza with a white gravy base. crust made from biscuit. I made a breakfast pizza. I used biscuits and gravy. , sausage as the topping. So basically biscuits and gravy but a pizza. It was fucking great.
So I attended my very first Quinceañera with Yvette, whose son was in it. How was this a first experience? It just was and I’m happy it was with her. Turned out she also did not know a single soul there so we were kind of partners. At least she had a clue what she was getting into because I was clue less.
It starts with a service, this one being at a Catholic Church. I opted out of this part because I really needed to do something and the setting felt too intimate for my liking. Something meaning going Sam’s to by a new TV and having a fucking anxiety attack. Besides, the other part I attended was from 3-12 and I knew I needed my strength.
It’s a meal and it’s a bunch of dancing. Also, the father was real quick to fetch the two of us some Dos Equis. Like, really fucking quick. I might also add that I was the only white boy there and no one was speaking English. I can pick up on some words but I can’t speak it back for shit. Now bless them, a few did address me in my native tongue. They probably took pity on how out of place we looked. Who is the pasty white boy with this beautiful Hispanic women. We did get glances, that’s for sure. Mainly from older people. We both don’t care and expected it.
I was anxious as I tend to get. I hide it well but anxiety rides with me at all times. I had that beer and it helped take that edge off. Maybe 100 people? Probably less but it was spread out at a lake facility. Once a number of more people and more photos taken, it was time for food. Do I have to say fucking amazing? It was fucking amazing. As authentic as it gets. Beans, rice, fajitas, the best guiso I’ve ever had. Hot sauce and really hot sauce. Guacamole. Pico. Salad. I was in Heaven. To be honest with you, I went back for more twice that night. Fucking pig I am for good food. They also had sweets which I cried I couldn’t have. You pick your poison and I chose the meal.
After that is was more drinks. The dance was next up at 7. Let me talk about what a dance it was. Wow. So much goes into these. I had no idea how elaborate they actually were. At one point they had a choreographed dance that looked like it came straight from Super Bowl Sunday. I shit you not. I have no idea how much practice went into that and I had no idea her son had that in him. Quit frankly, I was completely impressed by the spectacle.
After that’s was over it was Tim for the DJ to play for everyone’s dancing pleasure. This was also the time an open bar suddenly appeared. Before this moment it was only beers. As before, the father approached and offered drinks. I find it rude to turn down such great hospitality so I obliged. I also got more food.
Next came the band at 9. They could play. Tejano of course. I liked it. I’m rarely not a fan of music.
It was a fun experience and I was happy to share a first with Yvette. The setting was beautiful and the evening was nice. Everyone was really nice to this out of place gringo. The things that I’ve missed out on in life I didn’t even know that I was missing. We left together and kissed under a very visible Big Dipper and Orion due to that little lake light. Great Saturday.
Sunday Yvette’s oldest son had a mud bug broil at her house. Not the biggest fan, but for me he was doing some shrimp as well. I love the other fixings like corn, potato and sausage. They day began great than Yvette and I had a little misunderstanding. Was it at my house or hers. I thought it was at hers but she thought it was at mine. Miscommunications are a bitch in relationships. In life really. In the end it all worked out.
I arrived at her house around 5:30 with the propane and some margarita. The kids were all outside and the mud bugs were getting a bath. I’m very happy we ended up at her house because I was able to see the kids in their natural environment and it was the first time I really have spent time at her home, which I’ve really wanted to do. I know it’s silly, but I needed that. To feel more welcomed. We are always at my house so it was a nice change.
The mud bug broil was finally right for the mass execution. The slaughter. Poor bastards. 15 pounds. I’m a little sympathetic for them. I was somewhat traumatized by the first time I saw a live lobster meet it’s end in boiled water so I remember that whenever crawfish die. Seems so cruel. Also, I grew up not eating them but having them as sort of pets. They fascinated me when I would catch them. ANYWAYS, they died. When they were done we ate. I wasn’t planning on eating as many as I did but I just kept going. The talk at the table was a lot of fun and the laughter was great. Yes, I like her kids. They seemed comfortable and I really had not spent that kind of time with all 3 at the same time. I don’t know how she does it. I am sure my mother can relate having 3 boys. I was stuffed and had to excuse myself around 10 PM. Fucking Sundays and Mondays looming. I was just happy to have been “by default” welcomed into the family home.
We are going to blog about ghost real quick. It’s been a while. Hazel refuses to walk past the guest bathroom so she goes through 3 rooms around to reach the master bedroom. This has been for a little while. Sunday night while I was peeing my shadow moved. It reflected itself? It moved from one side of the wall to the other. I thought someone was behind me. A little freaked: yes. Scared: no. But what a nice way to say I’ve missed you. Weird as hell and I’m not making my ghost shit up. I know some of you probably think I’m on something when I talk ghost but I’m not. Ah, life.
Tuesday afternoon Yvette, Miami and I went to the campus green house “open house”. It was interesting. The last time I recall being in there was before Covid with Jody, Jamie and a few other on a private tour. They didn’t have a whole lot at that time but they sure do now. The guy giving the tour did well. He was a plant nerd through and through. I ran into a guy that works at ASU that knows all about cactus. He was there just to see how many of theirs they might be killing. Snob, but hilarious. He probably know more about cactus than most in town and they probably should be taking his advice in that section.
I like to watch people. We are fools. I’m not at all excluding myself. Just seeing what people do. What people do. We do some SILLY ass shit. Work was one of those days. Good day to observe. People are strange. One of the strangest amongst my people lost his wife. It was sad and proof life is cruel. People are weird. What we do on this planet is weird. I’m weird.
Happy Earth Day!! They had a nice little celebration on campus. Giving away succulents. Potting plants. Potting seedlings. Handing out free T-shirt’s. They also had a bunch of band students plays jazz music. It was really fun and the turn out was nice. I wished I could have stayed a little longer. I did make a point to observe some of the beauty that is the planet we all reside on and I imagined the beast that did millions of years again.
Happy Friday!! Cheers!! We made it!!
Jalapeño
Sweet & spicy Thai chicken thighs over sticky rice with ginger soy green beans.
Bourbon mushroom Swiss burger & Grilled banana with butter, brown sugar & cinnamon.
Easter weekend was great. They released us Friday and both my brothers came into town. We always have a good time with each other. The actual day of was great an memorable. For lunch I was invited to spend Easter with Yvette’s family. Amazing bbq. Brisket, sausage, chicken legs, ribs. You name it. I felt honored. After that meal she joined my family for our late lunch/early dinner. She finally was able to meat my youngest brother Keith. I think they day was pretty amazing.
Not much to say about the rest of the week. Until next time, cheers.
Jalapeño
Quick breakfast pizza.
Excellent menudo from my girlfriends after.
Chorizo egg tacos.
Second Easter meal. I don’t know why I didn’t get a picture of the BBQ Yvette’s dad made.
I was going to write about the rodeo but I didn’t go because of blood sugar issues. Typical bullshit. I ripped my pump off and tried to tape it back down. I didn’t want to wast the money and insulin. I guess that did not work. Yvette and my mother were notified all morning that I was extremely high. I just put the thing on!!! So my body was a wreck. I felt like shit. I missed the damn rodeo. I could have gone, yes. But I’d have felt like hell. That’s the first rodeo I wanted to go to in over 20 years. I felt bad either way. I wanted to go with them. I planned on going with them. I hate my sugar. I hate it’s unpredictability .
Well it reached 90 as a high at the start of the week and by the end of the week it was in the 50s. Out came the jacket again. My lord it was a week. Short due to actually having Good Friday off but not was it long. I had to find things to do because being my desk week I had no one in the office. I started taking lunch at 1. This was primarily to alternate times with Yvette, who usually takes lunch at that time but has been taking lunch at noon to go with me. Makes the afternoon shorter and I do like that.
Another birthday party. My other father, my best friends dad that has know me since I was about 2, turned 70 and had a little birthday happy hour party at their house. My mom picked me up and we attended together. I was the youngest adult there for the longest time. Great cocktail meatballs. Great hooch. Good time visiting.
Good Friday was a great day. Cooked a great brunch pizza for Yvette and it was nice and gloomy. The day off was needed. I thought about mowing the yard and I decided against it. Fuck working on the day off. Yvette and I hung out for a while and I went and did things around town. My family came in and they ate things that I could not. It was a nice day and an exciting precursor to the Easter weekend. Lots of time with Yvette. Happy happy, joy joy!!
Cheers!!!
Jalapeño
Korean bbq steak.
Hoisin steak.
Fajita chicken with Queso.
Over cooked burger over beans. It was still good.
Mac noodle Goulash.
Chicken on a stick with a sweet soy reduction as a glaze. Seaweed salad, rice and some pork dumplings that were kind of weird.
Made brunch pizzas. Chorizo egg, tater tots with a Hollandaise sauce as a base. Mozzarella cheese, of course.
Well Monday was a real struggle. I had been sick and not moving much. A week!! So this was like coming back from vacation and having the flu for a week, or whatever it was. Monday hurt. I skipped my coffee. I and other good advice thought the same. But that meant death. It was… painful. But the day progressed and I was happy to be out. Sure I over exerted myself but what the hell. It also rained and hailed. I brought that one because I washed my car and left the windows down. Yay me. Yay my frozen wet ass after work.
I went with the Yvette’s family for the birthday dinner. The birthday girl looked beautiful, of course. She had a mostly good day. That is about all one can ask for, right. We had a good time. I’m so very happy to be embraced by the family. They are pretty great. I really was able to see the dynamics Wednesday over dinner. All other times together have been either New Years or football parties or one at a time. This was a sit down. It was pretty awesome. Later that night her father invited me to go to the Sunday rodeo. I felt special.
Jody in Physics had a little egg decorating project. Can anyone guess which one is mine? A little hint: it stands out.
The course of the week I did my job and help sarah with hers. It was only fair. She filled in for me when I was out sick. That’s how working together should be. Help each other out if you can. Anyways, happy Friday!!
Jalapeño
Cincinnati Chili.
Birthday Japanese steak house.
Late birthday lunch.
Beef tips & gravy over mashed potato’s.
Teriyaki steak, veggies & fried rice all cooked on the grill.
I spent the whole damn week sick and mostly sleeping. I think it was a cold. I started later throwing up. It wasn’t until Thursday that I remembered eating some sketchy looking mushrooms. Yvette believe the flu. I think the mushrooms got me. I don’t handle vomit. I feel like a swallowed needles. Pissed off because I’m out of sick and having to use my few vacation days. This has not been a great week.
Jalapeño
Chicken hind quarters in the crockpot.
Chopped steak with mashed potatoes, peas and mushroom gravy.
Spring break is here and the campus was a ghost town. I rather enjoyed it. The quiet is a nice break. Spring break also means March Madness. My second favorite sporting event. Usually I have a bracket but this year I didn’t. I also had to watch most the first rounds on my work computer because I just do not have the time to take off for basketball this year. Thank lord it was slow.
I ordered a security camera for the house to spy on my dogs. I want to find out which one of them is getting things off the counters and destroying my things. I suspect it’s Owen. We shall see in time.
Saint Patrick’s Day!!!! I took the day off to celebrate. Kidding. 8 took the day off because the week was so slow and boring. Besides, most everyone on campus was going to be off so why not join the crowd.
Yvette and I went out for some green beers and snacks. Also, basketball. She didn’t know about my random sports quirks. March Madness is amazing. We went to one bar and decided to go to another very crowded bar. Ran into some work friends and sat with them and had lots of laughs. I also got to be a total smart ass to an asshole that was seated next to us. I relished in it. The old grumpy fuck made our waitress cry. Some people are trash. Overall the evening was great and when we made it back to my house we crashed. We both don’t do evenings out so it took us out. What a great night filled with lots of laughter. Happy Friday!!!
Something about this week made me think of my ex wife. It made me sad. A failed marriage. It’s probably because we would go somewhere, usually Alpine, TX. It made me think of my dad. It made me think of my past. The past…. You roll into a town you have not been in a long time and buildings you remember are gone. Torn down. You know something is different but you don’t immediately catch. The past…. No matter what happened, it’s a part of you and you do miss moments. Do I miss my EX? Sometimes. She was my friend. I am very happy where I am and I wouldn’t trade this. Life is something. Our departure was a good thing for me. I’ve found someone. I miss my dad. I miss Alpine, TX. Yes, I miss my ex wife. I think of the days we were happy. We lost that time. I’ve found someone else to make memories with and I’m happy. Im happy. Lord, I am happy.
Jalapeño
Breakfast sausage tacos with hash browns. .
Pizza!!!
Seared tuna with sweet soy reduction over sticky rice with seaweed salad
Brunch!!!
Quesadilla.
Hildalgos combination plate. Cheese enchilada and tacos.
Cork & Pig California salad.
Caribbean Jerk pork tenderloin and snap peas.
Ban Moon lunch.
The kids wanted Sloppy Joes so I made myself a frito pie.
I don’t know what this Texas weather is trying to prove. It went from a high of 90 followed by a day I don’t think even reached 50. I do know I had dinner plans that was grill heavy and a night planned on enjoying outside that failed in many ways. It was rescheduled and instead I went to a birthday party for the Dean. Damn this weather has made me tired. I like the gloomy but not if I’m not home. Also, thanks for fucking up my date night. (Shaking fist at the clouds).
I was on purchase duty again for the first time since October. I’ll admit, I took me a little bit to recall the motions. What the hell did I do in FAMIS? It was nice going out and visiting with all the vendors that I hadn’t seen in the last 5 months.
I suppose it was a good week. Very gloomy. I finally was able to do my favorite part of the job after 4 months being stuck in an office. Friday evening was great and my lady and I had a lot of fun grilling and hanging out till midnight. I have nothing to complain about. Maybe the weekend will expand upon that. We shall see. Happy Friday and I hope all of you had a nice week and an even better weekend. Cheers!!!
Jalapeño
Saturday I cooked for Yvette 2 meals. She got eggs Benedict with sausage, hame and a spicy green hollandaise sauce served with hash browns for brunch. Dinner was my orange chicken stir-fry.
Bibigo chicken thigh.
Just a burger.
My take on a burrito bowl.
Ground Philly Cheese Steak.
BLT
BBQ steak bites with grill okra and corn on the cob. I had jalapeño with mine.
Friday night was amazing with an amazing beautiful lady. Saturday it was off to Austin. My best friend for 37(???) years of my life picked me up. We had lost contact with each other due to life and BS. It was like no time had passed. Off to Austin we go!!!
Most road trips with us is high volume music. Not this time. We chatted the entire way. it was great to catch up. The trip went quickly. That’s what happens when you are having fun. Why can’t the bad bits of life not leave you quickly?
Once in Austin and at my brother we geared up for what was to be an epic concert. Two nada that we had all grown up with for 27 years. Sunny Day Real Estate & The Appleseed Cast.
Oh Austin! What a town. I hate it. I love it. I don’t know what it even is anymore. It was a place I wanted to visit. The place was a destination for good food and great music. I’d travel hours to consume both. Now…. What had the town become.
It’s changed so much. The Austin I enjoyed is almost gone. Eastern away buy “we won’t say who”. I do not recognize or like what I now see. As I write this I paused and thought to myself how much I hate what it’s become. A steaming pile of shit surrounded by flies waiting for a foot to fall upon.
The week of work I was an uncaged bird finally spreading its wing for the first time in forever. I was free to get out and about on the campus. Finally. Stuck in the office was a fucking living hell. I had almost broken. Had enough. I saw so many faces I had missed. Had so many conversations. Some people had no idea what happened to me. Thought I had left. It was great catching up.
It tried to rain on Thursday but we just really had wind and dirt. It was exciting nonetheless. Saw some lightning. The days most anxiety was dinner. I was cooking for a family. It was a lot of fun but DAMN I’ve gory the single man meals down. I hope they liked it. I had a great evening.
I don’t like getting old cause it feels like losing control.
Friday was a day. Woke up to at 3am to the sound of glass hitting the floor only to find my damn dog Owen had gotten on the table to eat the brownies Yvette left. He killed the container. The day at work progressed about as fast as it take an old man to pass a bowel movement. The last 30 min at work was spent going round and round and on hold with insurance.( I gave up and hung up). I get home to find my mail, and Anthony Bourdain book, destroyed by the same dog. Also, my dinner date was pushed back. That I completely understand. She had family things. She made it over later so all was well. It was a nice night. What an end to the week. Sheesh….
Jalapeño
Grabbed some Coopers BBQ to go for dinner. Pork, brisket burnt ends, beans & slaw. Dinner with Yvette.
Spicy chicken thigh with peppers and onion.
Chicken burger with bacon, cheddar and onion rings.
I was invited to a very great Super Bowl party to my girlfriends parents. They had a great spread. I really didn’t have any stakes in the game but I was going for KC. All I wanted was a good game and by god did we get one. This was the first SB game I’ve gone out for in a long time and I couldn’t have been happier. KC won and I was the only one going for them which made the win so much greater.
Relationships are interesting. After 14 years with one person it’s strange at times. Is it a trail? I don’t know. I might be thinking too fast. I’m happy and I have deep feelings. We both do. We bounce off each other with grace. It’s nice to find that in someone. Twice in life. Some people don’t find it once.
I dated after my ex wife left me. I had a few good and some bad. Dating at 40 is a different game. I never thought I’d be doing it. I’m out of touch. There was one person I kept coming back to. Our first date( which she says wasn’t a date but I do) was a lot of fun. It was a sloppy mess on my part. The place we were suppose to eat wasn’t even opened so I made last min changes across the street. It is a great memory. I already liked her. I found her attractive when I was married. I would never do anything. I was married. You can’t deny attraction but you don’t have to act upon it. I am not a cheater. Never. We went on many of dates since the divorce. I had dates with other people in between. I kept coming back to her. She made me happy. Did I have the luck? I think so. I wish I had kissed her sooner.
I never wanted my marriage to end. I loved my ex wife. I meant my wedding vows when I said them. I miss her. She was my best friend. We had our time and it ended. I was a television version of a person with a broken heart. I would have fought to keep us. I hold nothing against her. I wish she had not blocked all communication with me. Cheap immature thing to do. I don’t understand that attack. She cheated on me and I was still willing to be her friend. Now I have found someone else. Someone that pulls my heart strings and excites me. I’m happy. Life is weird. I think I’d probably still be upset with my failed marriage had she not cheated on me. I never vilified her for that. Our marriage was dead. She did what she had to do. I forgive her. I wish we could still be friends. Long time to be with someone and they exit your life. Moving forward has been interesting. I think I might have found the person of my dreams.
I’ve often thought about being alone in the last 2 years. I thought I could do it. I met someone and I realize all over again that I don’t want to be alone. I’ve found someone that keeps me up at night just thinking about. I don’t know what humans are meant to be. I just know that after nearly dying I’m not backing away from my feelings for someone when they arrive. Marbles on glass and thinking too fast. Don’t run from your own feelings.
Valentines I went a good ways out. I wanted it to be a special night. Candle light dinner and a good home cooked meal. Some wine. A movie.
About that movie…. I’ll be honest, it was utter trash. Rubbish. Acting was top notch awful. I would rather watch someone constipated try and take a shit for an 1 1/2 than sit through that again. Pretty sure she liked it. Blah. Romantics. It was fun nonetheless. Just wait till she gets to see some of the weird stuff I watch. Haha.
There is not safety in love. It’s always scary but one has to put their feet in the water. I’m doing that now.
Jalapeño
Brunch on Saturday. Potato, sausage, scrambled eggs and gravy.
Lasagna and rolls.
Eggs Benedict with chorizo, chipotle hollandaise sauce and hash browns. I miss making brunch.
Super Bowl party fajita and much more. Boy do my girlfriends parents know how to cook.
Took the Monday after Super Bowl off and made a chorizo egg breakfast taco with an avocado mousse.
Carry out pizza.
Valentines romantic dinner for two. Steak with balsamic reduction & feta crumbles. Air fried lobster, caprese salad, prosciutto wrapped asparagus and loaded baked potato. Served with wine, of course.
Steak kabobs.
Jalapeño stuffed with brisket & cream cheese encased in pork breakfast sausage sever with shells and cheese. It was experimental but just so-so.
Carry out with my mother and middle brother from the Logic Cafe. Orange chicken. It was HOT. I don’t say that often about food I don’t make. So good.
En Fuego 