I’m rather happy with the weekend blogs. They have turned out to be a lot of fun. Lord knows I need something to do. Saturday’s we had a guest. I’m sorry. We broke protocol. She had not left the house in weeks. My sister-in-law. We still kept the distance. It was nice. All 3 of us had a good time. To be the first person someone has seen in 3 weeks is weird. It would have been a month ago. Love her. For all of you that are alone right now just know you are doing the right thing. Too many people are treating this like a joke. It won’t end if we don’t act.
Piñata Day!!
Lunch. Some dry rubbed BBQ chicken legs and grilled okra. I did end up using a baste. I couldn’t help myself. The flavors were excellent. Trying to keep lunch fun and fresh. I like the weekend company. My beautiful Bekah. We have fun. After 4 weeks of week days spent mostly alone, I’ve grown to really REALLY appreciate our 2 days together. Not that I didn’t before, but you get what I’m saying.
Battered Cod with asparagus. What can I say, it was okay. A meal on the menu for a while that kept being pushed back. Maybe I need to give this a little more love next time . F***. Asparagus wasn’t a good side. Saturday. I’m working with what I have. No more running to the store on a daily basis.
SkipBo. We be playing games. I kicked my wife’s a** two times in a row. I thought she was the expert here. It seems my “defense” isn’t any fun. Sore loser. Taking FaceTime shots with the Slovak again. How many weekends is this now? Four? Anyhow, lots of mixing. I watched with anxious amusement as the intoxication level quickly increased. Fun times.
Sunday brunch. I needed to use the rest of the chorizo that I had so I whipped together some chorizo egg tacos. The fresh tortillas were key here. This meal was needed for Bekah. Hangover cure. She took a nap on the couch afterwards (3 hours). Didn’t even budge when I offered her a “hair of the dog”. Good for her.
The day was lazy. The only time I left the house was to wash my car. When did I last drive? Friday? Sometime in between the birds decided my vehicle was the perfect shooting range for them to target their s*** on. It looked like I had a new paint job. Terrible unfortunate mess. Wash away. On my way back I stopped to look at some Lily’s. Park closed, screw it. No one was around and I was quick. They are finally starting to bloom.
Sunday marks a month. It has been a long, very long, one. If they lift restrictions too soon it will be all for nothing, I fear. As badly as I want to go back to work I want this to work even more. Some people really think this is all a joke? I… don’t… understand how.
Sun in an empty room.
BBQ chicken thigh w/ street corn. I was told I eat a lot of jalapeño today. Duh! This chicken is the same as Saturday. Just thighs. Corn was a f***ing masterpiece. Woot woot!!
Now it’s time to inform you of the real tragedy of the weekend. A mistake was made. I drunkenly ate my last Lemonade Girl Scouts cookie!!! What a dumb blunder!! I had been hoarding what was left for a special occasion!!! Not a 3 AM snake which I don’t even remember!!! I’m a fool!!! Until next year, delicious cookies. I shed a tear for you.
Left myself a f***ing post it note reminder so I’d know my mistake the next morning.
That’s it for another weekend blog. Cheers folks!! We got this!!!
The cold returned. It’s not uncommon for us to see temps dip back down to the 30’s this time of year and that’s exactly what happened. I wasn’t feeling it. It was putting a damper on my morning walks. I don’t like my face to freeze and that’s exactly what it felt like with the wind. Of course our weather is bipolar and will change at the flip of a dime.
Hump day rolled around & I got to see some work faces. Although we are all keeping in contact it was very welcoming having person to person contact, social distanced. Jamie needed a scanner so I met her at the office. It totally gave me an excuse to visit. I don’t want to be like Jimmy and just show up sad everyday to talk & talk about his only hobby being “The Drink”. My boss and coworker also seemed bubbly over our visit. Boss was soooooo chatty. I was there for almost an hour and I was fine with that. One thing I’ve taken from this is that I need more contact with people than I thought I did. Monday & Tuesday I was in a bit of a funk. Seeing the faces that I’m normally seeing on a work week was rather nice. Highlight of my week? Maybe!
Thursday I got bored. I thought I’d drastically alter my appearance. Not like I’m seeing any people so who cares. Well, Bekah did. I took a razor to my face for the first time in 7-8 years. I looked into the mirror and didn’t quite recognize the youthful face looking back at me. Where had this person been all these years? Hidden behind a mask of facial hair. It was bizarre. It felt refreshing. Bekah was in for a surprise. When she did arrive home the look on her face was priceless. And she wasn’t too thrilled. You see, she likes the beard. I wasn’t aloud to shave during this pandemic. It had been 4 weeks since I last trimmed the beard. Pretty drastic change of appearance. She said it was like coming home to find a different man occupying the house. She might be sharing a bed with a stranger. It’s going to take a little while but it will grow back.
Friday rolls around and we’ve all made it 4 weeks. Or however many depending on where you might live. Uneventful day spent reading more than walking. Hope everyone is safe and sound. Cheers!!!
Cat
Jalapeño
Sweet chili chicken. This is a HEB seasoned meal packet. Great stuff.
Teriyaki steak. Fantastic.
Chicken on a stick. Some thighs. The asparagus. My lord. I used sesame oil, soy & brown sugar. A real treat.
Friday I think might be our takeout night. Lily’s Pizza. Bekah won the coin toss. Mushrooms, black olives, pepperoni, jalapeño. It was fantastic. They were busy.
A long weekend. 3 days. I honestly had forgotten that Friday was even a holiday until I got an email saying how I was to report my time. Jeez. Bekah has the day off, which was really the only difference from every other day. Originally she had big plans for this weekend. It’s her sisters 40th and they were going to travel to Alpine to celebrate. Of course, things changed. The world changed.
I had the most frustrating venture to the grocery store. I attempted both the HEB’s in town but lines had at least 50 people. Probably more. Nothing on my list was worth that. Went to Market Street. They have been reliable. I had to wait maybe 2 min to get in. What I didn’t account for was because it being a holiday everyone was out. The store was full. And dip s***’s were not following directions and practicing social distancing. What should have taken me 5-10 min took me 30. Because I was being vigilant. Yes, I could have easily grabbed that broth I needed while this lady vacantly stared at the shelf’s oblivious to me waiting for her to move. But I was keeping my 6 feet. Other people, were not….😡 I needed to strip out of my cloths in the garage and promptly make myself a drink. Bekah heard the sailor in me come out.
Did people follow the instructions? NO!!!!
I went and saw my mother. I needed that. We kept our distance. So weird. I hate it. We enjoyed beverages & conversation on the patio. It was rather nice. I miss my people. My family. It felt good to see the face of someone that I care about. We might be on lockdown soon… probably need to be seeing as how many people just don’t care.
Friday lunch I wasn’t prepared for because I didn’t know it was a holiday. I had leftover chicken from meal prepping I was originally just going to eat like usual. With the spouse home I needed to come up with a lunch idea. On my walk I decided I could make some chicken tostadas. Chopped up some onion & red jalapeño and began to sauté. Diced a chicken breast and added it to the veggies. Poured some beer over to keep it moist. Smashed and avocado and added lemon juice, salt & pepper. Baked the corn tortillas. Whala!!! Not a bad meal made from leftovers.
No dinner Friday night. Just drinks. Not for the best. Arguments ensued. Let this be a lesson. Don’t piss of the one person you can be around. It doesn’t work for the best. I imagine this is happening worldwide. Lots of built up frustrations. Don’t take it out on those closest to you. We need each other. I said some foolish s*** and so did she. But I’ll take the blame for not just letting things die down. Had to get that last word in.
Saturday. What a nice day. For lunch I made some cheese enchiladas, black beans & grilled jalapeño. Bekah came out of retirement and made her amazing Spanish rice. She put her Hozona swing on it. It was more food than we needed.
So we decided to day drink. Why the hell not! It was beautiful out. Until it wasn’t. About 6 o’clock a righteous storm came a callin. Winds picked up, hail stones were thrown. It was exciting, but f*** if it didn’t leave a bloody mess. I thought I was done raking leaves. Guess not!
For the evening I just made chicken fajita without the tortilla. Leftover beans and rice. Bekah didn’t remember eating this meal. Yikes!!!
It seems the tradition is holding strong. FaceTime drinks with the Slovak. 3 weeks now. Bekah crashed after the storms went their way (until 3 AM when they returned). I stayed up and took shots. Too many. I didn’t know that we were going to be chugging from the bottle but we sure did. How the heck did we talk for over an hour? This is going to be the end of me. This new tradition. But I guess it beats drinking alone?
Easter Sunday brunch. Pulled pork hash. A rather spectacular meal. I needed it after the night with the Slovak.
Weird having Easter without family. It’s a big holiday for us. We always get together to feast & drink. Although it sucks, at least we are practicing social distancing. people up the street from me can’t say the same. Party time!!
For Easter dinner I slow cooked some pork tenderloin on the grill. Little chipotle raspberry sauce. Made Brussels sprouts like I always do on This holiday. No on to tell me that they are not supposed to be spicy. Also, deviled eggs. I have had the misfortune of making these for near 20 years on this holiday now. Don’t want to break tradition because of a pandemic.
That’s it. I’m done. Hope all of you had a great weekend. Cheers!!!
Monday made it day 13. I actually went into work for the first time since life turned crazy. I had an expense report to finish up and a few other little task to knock out. I probably spent the majority of my time chatting with my boss. I could see that he was as eager for a familiar face as I. Chatty Cathy. A little catching up on how everyone else I work with is handling things, but mostly about personal stuff outside of work. Home schooling, panicked mother-in-law, depressed wife, and whiskey sampling via Zoom meetings. I tried to drag out my time in the office because it’s impossible to say when I will be back. I did have a first though. I’d always wanted to go to work in shorts & flip flops. Boy did it feel great!!! I could get used to that.
I’ve been walking a lot. That’s an understatement. My average daily is between 7-9 miles. It’s been nice, as I’ve said before. Out with nature. There is such an abundance of beauty in this word. It’s the perfect pick me up. The little things move me. Be it’s a patch of wild flowers growing on the side of the road, or some ducks quacking for whatever reasons ducks quack. It’s just everywhere you look. It’s not hard to find. Just open yourself up to it. I think that is very important right now. Things changed quick and we were all caught a little off guard. When the stress/sadness/fear exceeds what you can take, I implore you to take a walk if you can. Maybe just go outside. If you can do either because of your circumstances, maybe just open a window. Take in the beauty which surrounds you. Open your eyes & ears to the things around you. Let it wash away the burdens. It might just make you smile. I hope it does.
Hump Day arrived and it was bloody hot! Nasty walk. This is going to be a problem when summer arrives. I still had more leaves to bag. I HATE leaves. I need a goat. Someone I won’t mention by name keeps ridding it in my face that they have one and how it really takes the burden of bagging away. 🙄 Knocked that out early, than watched a few episodes of Fleabag. I was just going to finish it but decided I should save the last two episodes for thirsty Thursday. I have learned that it’s best to space out activities during these times.
HATE!
I had some insulin waiting for me at the pharmacy. I also had a small list. Should I do drive-thru or just knock out both and go into the store. I chose to go in. This was my first venture in a store w/ a mask on my face. My first venture to the store in 5 days. It was a little weird at first. And some people still have me looks, but I’d say the mask to no mask was about 50/50. Grocery store shopping is kind of scary these days. It’s stressful, and that makes me sad. Trying to keep a distance from people that clearly are not trying. And all the mask. Good for people practicing safety first, but it’s also alarming to see. It feels like I’m living within one of those horror movies I’ve watched all my life.
After the shopping I needed fresh air. I went out to one of our lakes and hiked the hills for a bit. This was a place I spent very much time when I was much younger. I know the roads and trails like the back of my hand. I started out w/ an odd bit of anxiety with me while I traveled familiar land. I can’t explain where it derived from. It was a dreadful type of anxiety. Each turn in the path had my heart pounding. Thankfully it passed. It turned out I really need to get out there. It had been years since I’d seen the land. And NO ONE was anywhere around. I can’t say the same for the boat ramp when I was leaving. On my drive back I saw someone gets chased down by police, drawn on, tackled & slammed against the hood of a car. Cops Live!!!
The Llama’s dwellings?
Thirsty Thursday. Pretty uneventful. It was a rainy day, thank the lord. So relaxing. I wanted to finish Fleabag but my internet provider, SuddenLink, s*** out on me. I hate paying them as much as I do for terrible unreliable service. So I went to the office and printed Easter eggs to color and place in the windows. Simple fun. Afterwards I waked the trails. Since they are closing I had to get a walk in. Whose to say they reopen. I went to the convenience store by campus to refill propane. This knuckle dragging dumbf*** comes in and totally doesn’t social distance herself. She got completely called out on it to. I asked the clerk if that’s how it’s been and she said totally. So many morons. They make it hard for me to want go out.
This blog wouldn’t be complete with me not mentioning my near brush with death. On one of my daily walks I was attacked! Completely unaware I was being profiled from a distance. I suppose that’s how any attack is. If you are prepared you have an advantage. And these f***’s surprised me. I turned a corner and their they were. It was a stand off. I could immediately tell something was amiss. I paused. Shrugged and carried on with my walk. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the gang leader make his move. With a swiftness I wasn’t expecting he attacked. A blood curdling roar ensued. I fled like a little b****! I was embarrassed for myself how quickly I turned tail. No longer in imminent danger, I was faced with an unbearable amount of shame. At least I lived to see another day. Yet, forever branded a coward.
Monday we ordered delivery from one of our favorite places. I feel bad for those in the service industry that are struggling. We had a familiar face drop off the food on our porch while we waved from inside. Ginger soy wings and some cheese fries. With a 6pk and growler of beer.
Salmon burgers with some spicy peas. Nothing to see here.
Bibigo Korean BBQ chicken with some steamed broccoli. The sauce is pretty amazing on steak too. Honestly, probably better on steak. Really caramelizes well with the fats. And what’s that other thing on the plate? Red jalapeño. I found some again. Cheers!!!
So another weekend at the house. This was the first weekend I didn’t really leave home. I’m not someone that can sit still long. I must admit to boredom. A cold front sure did blow in. It got freaking chilly outside. I’d already put away my winter cloths so they were dug back out and put into action. All week The Weather Channel had been teasing rain. Like 7 days of it. Where the f*** is it!!!! I’ve been waiting & waiting & waiting!! Drizzle is not a fair substitute, Mother Nature.
Saturday Bekah decided to dress up. She did her hair and make up for the first time in over a week. Pandemic mode was broken. I’m happy she did this because it put her in a better mood. It brought a little of the old normal back to her life.
Saturday lunch. Not really the best grilling weather but oh well. Bacon wrapped chicken breast topped with green chilis and served with a refreshing salad. I order this from a local restaurant which is usually served on a bun. Bekah said it was amazing. Which I guess it was. Preparing, cooking & consuming took up a 2 hour block of my day. I had a couple beers. I still was left with a lot of time on my hands before dinner. Being that it’s misty outside my daily walk was put on hold. So what did I do until the time to make dinner arrived? I twiddled my thumbs for a few hours while blankly gazing out the kitchen window hoping for some excitement in the neighborhood. Never happened. Neighbors are taking this quarantine thing very seriously. I did happen to see the neighbor up the streets old German Sheppard that’s always let free to roam take a crap in my yard. That was exciting!
Well, that was fun. Twiddling thumbs. Also lots of FaceTime. Seems to be the new normal. From 2-10. Some drinks were taken. It was nice seeing family members. I miss them. I do. Slovak got another time in. She found TP at HEB!! She is going crazy. That’s normal these days. We took shots. I should have walked away. Peer pressure. To be honest, what else would I be doing. By the end 3 people were pretty drunk. I sat on the couch and opened my eyes 2 hours later not even knowing time had elapsed. This liquor stockpile isn’t going to last if we keep this up. I feel like we are actually being more social in these social distancing times. I’ve FaceTimed more than ever in my life. I hate seeing my face on the phone, tbh.
Yikes.
It was my lost brothers birthday. How I miss him. He would have been 32 Saturday. We talked a little. I don’t think he would have liked the times. But, one of his favorite bands released a single. I’m sure he is loving that. I miss the little f***er. I do. He would make me laugh right now.
So it’s a Fritos pie kind of night. Gloomy great day. Waiting on the rain. It didn’t come. Booooooo. This was the smallest batch of chili I think I’ve ever made. I made it a bit differently. It was fantastic. I never knew I was craving a Fritos pie. That’s was a LOT of food. Hit the spot.
Sunday rolls around and Bekah has to go into work. Probably not in the best condition. Bummer that she even had to go. Made the day feel like a Monday. Still gloomy out. Still waiting on the rain. I woke with absolutely zero drive to do anything. I figure I’d watch something. I was recommended Fleabag. The first season was hilarious and pretty darn sad. I was surprised how easily I was drawn into the show. The lead actress does a great job. She has some fantastic facial expressions. Monday I might just veg out and watch season 2.
Sunday brunch. I’m enjoying this. Originally I was to make biscuits & gravy. That would be cruel without Bekah. It’s one of her favorites. It would be my first time making it and to do it while she was away… mean. So I looked at what I had. Leftover chorizo. I could make chorizo egg tostadas. Had a moment of indecision on how to go at it. Scrambled eggs or sunny side. By brother said sunny so that’s what happened. What a f***ing masterpiece. I wasn’t expecting what I got from just winging it. Usually I place tooooooo much though into a meal. A little adult vitamin C & I was a satisfied man.
Chopped. Bekah’s round. I was to pick from the house hold ingredients. I had to keep reminding myself that I will have to eat whatever she makes. This made it a little less fun. I couldn’t be cruel. Funny, the broccoli was throwing me off. The enchilada sauce was her trouble. Not at all what I would have done, but it was really good. Enchilada burger with some pasta. She had a blast. She cussed. Flipped me off. This might be a regular thing while we are stuck at home. Gotta keep things interesting.
I thought dinner would be trash. I was pleasantly surprised.
That’s it for this weekend blog. I never really saw it rain. What a bummer. I’m exhausted. Hope all of you have a nice Monday. Cheers to you all! We got this, friends!!
Something pretty on my walk. Something pretty on my walk # 2
After my morning walk on Monday I realized how important the bird songs were to starting my day off. They just put me in a good mood. Mother natures music. I thought I might do something a little different this time around. I’m going to share with you some of the songs that hold a place in my heart from my past. My musical upbringing. Music is a thing that brings us all together in a positive way. I can’t think of anything that is as universal as music. It’s medicine for the soul. I also figure you all might grow tired of me writing about my exciting days working (NOT) from home. These are the times to do things differently. Everything else in life is different.
I’m going to start with two tunes by REM. I couldn’t decide which to post. Both songs hold deep meaning to my younger life. I was at the ripe old age of 11 when “Automatic For The People” came out. I was already a fan of REM. “Out of Time” being one of the first 3 albums I owned. I never got a copy of AftP until years later. I guess my allowance went to other albums. Or maybe Jurassic Park toys? Who can say. Great album. I recall “Man on the Moon” at 8 Wheels while skating. Requesting it. Oh what a day. I remember that day on the skates every time I hear the song. A childhood joy. “Everybody Hurts” is a song I mainly recall from the video being stuck at home sick. (I guess that’s kind of like now) The old days when MTV & VH1 were important to all us kids. It has so much emotion. Love these songs. I must confess they are not my favorite on the album. They just had an impact on my life. I’ve been going back to older material.
Enya. What better artist to bring a little joy into your life. With so many songs to choose from I went with “Anywhere Is”. It’s one I’m always drawn back too. This song still gives me goosebumps when I hear it. I always feel a very emotional impact when this song comes on. It’s brought me to tears, no joke. I will never tire of this tune. It’s a part of me. I was 13 when this song was released. I don’t think many 13 year olds listen to Enya, but thanks to my father’s wide range of music I was introduced at a young age. If you are feeling a little blue from all that going on in the world, I implore you to give this song a listen. It will be an enjoyable experience.
I’ve been going back to songs that I remember from good days of the past. The Sting song “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You” reminds me of a family road trip to Durango, Colorado. I was 12 years old. Road trips were a big part of my upbringing. My dad liked to take scenic routes and we would make frequent stops to various historical sites. Lots of hiking. I remember this song specifically because on this particular road trip, the driving was the only part I got to enjoy. When we got to Durango I managed to catch one of the worst cases of the stomach flu, to this day, I’ve ever had. It was miserable. I was sad that I could not have fun with my parents and brothers. But at least I had the days in the car and the hikes to the various historical sites to enjoy. Over all, that vacation ranks as one of the best ever. I might have been in hell, but the memories are so much clearer because of that. And this song reminds me of that joyous journey. Also, what a video.
Pearl Jam was one of my earliest favorite bands, again, thanks to my father. He would play the albums VS & Vitology very often on our trips to & from the ranch near Rocksprings. Those two album are important corner stones to my musical taste. Oddly, I am not posting a song from either those albums. The song “MFC” from the 1998 album Yield has been with me these last few days. I was 16 going on 17. Teenage years in high school with little to no worries in the world. Well, maybe worried that my crush at the time had no interest in me or that we couldn’t find a place to sneak a few beer, but those are not worries considering the current times. This song reminds me of sunny days and young love. Hanging out with friends around Twin Buttes. The independence that comes with being 16 and having a car. It reminds me of the innocence of youth. Sometimes we want to go back to those days. I still can’t believe this song was released over 20 years ago… I smile when that opening guitar riff begins to play from my speakers. They just released a new album last Friday that is actually rather good.
I grew up in a house that played lots of instrumental music. Classical orchestra. Mozart, Beethoven, etc… Instrumental music is still a big part of my life. How to pick an artist… How about Yanni! The album “In My Time” was played very often. The talent of this guy is unreal. I also don’t think it hurt that my mother was in love with him. I suppose he was a handsome man. His music just relaxes me in a way not much else can. Had a bad day? Throw some Yanni on to remedy that right quick. I couldn’t pick just one song, and I tried. Figured that would be an injustice to the man so I picked two of my favorite from the album mentioned above.
While we are talking about instrumental music I should also bring up my love for movie scores. Some of the best compositions come from movies, IMO. There are many I hold close to my heart. One of the first 3 albums I purchased with my own allowance just so happened to be the Jurassic Park soundtrack. I’m still in love. I recall how in awe I was leaving the theater after seeing the movie & I had to have the soundtrack. Mind you, I was 12 at the time. I might have begged my parents to swing by Hastings(miss them dearly) to pick it up. The theme is just pure bliss. Another movie soundtrack that’s part of me is The Last Of The Mohicans. The entire thing is a listen one must experience. I am reminded of many evenings sitting on the patio at the ranch with my family taking in nature, watching the deer feed, and listening to that movie score. I guess the song “Promontory” sums up the excellence of this album. I spent hours one night learning this on the guitar. I pulled it off, but have since lost the skills to perform it. Legends of the Fall. Are you familiar with the movie? If you are than you know the music. “The Ludlows” is one of the prettiest compositions I have ever heard. I dare you say otherwise. It feels like this soundtrack has been with me for much longer than 26 years, but I did the math. It hits the emotions much harder today than it ever did the 12 year old boy I was. I feel my father presence when I play this score. I’d like to think that he is listening to it with me.
My earliest memory of music is of Neil Young. My father played a lot of his albums when I was a toddler. I remember being in our living room, my dad was reading on the couch and the album Harvest was playing. I couldn’t tell you what I was doing. I just associate the album with that image of my father and our ugly old couch. Stye was something else in the 80’s. Those songs are in my bones. That’s how deep within me they are. Over the year I made it a point to fully immerse myself in the catalogue that is Neil. He just last year released a new album which is pretty rockin. The song I picked for this list, from Harvest, is “Old Man”. Love you, Dad! Thanks for all the music you introduced me too.
How could I make this list without a little James Taylor! Whenever I hear a song by him I can’t help think about my dad. I choke up a little when I hear his songs pop up on the radio. So many masterpieces by this guy. I think the reason I enjoy folk music stems from good ole James. The song that I pick is one of his mid-career songs from 1991 called “Copperline”. This song evokes memories of a Christmas vacation in Austin, Tx at my aunt & uncles & cousins house. This house was grand in scale. It was beautiful. I loved going for a visit. The little 10 year old I was could not believe a place could be any more majestic. It was such a big house. And my aunt really went all out with Christmas decorations. Oh the smells. She knew her candles. My Meeme & Pop were with us that year. It was everyone on my mothers side of the family. They had a golden retriever named Dusty. Boy was I in love with that dog. He was such a sweet boy. Had two cat’s, Libby & Mittens, that I tried to stay away from. One didn’t like boys and I found that out the hard way. Anyhow, the album New Moon Shine was played a lot on that trip and the song that has stuck with me over the years is “Copperline”. It’s a beautiful song and it fills my belly with butterflies. That was one magical Christmas. I miss those times and this song brings me back to that trip.
My mother listened to a lot of Phil Collins & Genesis when I was growing up. Needless to say, I was a fan. This song reminds me, strangely, of being on the swing set we had in our backyard. It was a fresh spring afternoon and I was home from school. I don’t remember why. I think maybe that morning I wasn’t feeling well. Might have been playing hooky. I was swinging back and forth watching our two Lhasa Apso enjoying a nap on the cool green grass. I was an 8 year old with his head in the clouds pretending the swing was a airplane. I remember there being a lot of butterflies in the yard that day. I remember the bird songs. I remember my mom had pots and pots on the patio full of colorful flowers. This song was playing from inside the house. The doors were open because the weather was beautiful. I guess in that moment I was in paradise. The actual meaning of the lyrics didn’t impact me until I grew older.
This one is a little more recent in my life, but no less impactful. The year was 2005. I was working on getting my bachelors degree in English. I happened to stumble upon an artist that I had heard of but didn’t particularly like. Thought he was overrated and at the time wasn’t really into country music one bit. Even though it’s a stretch to call what he was doing at the time country. I think it falls into the genre alternative-country? Who knows. Anyways, a friend on AIM (do you remember that?) sent me a song called “Mockingbird” by Ryan Adams & The Cardinals. He said I might dig the new band. Boy how he couldn’t have been more right. I became somewhat obsessed with his music. That year alone he released 3 albums. What a time to become a fan. To my surprise, he also has a bit of a James Taylor vibe to his guitar playing. Of course this was right up my alley. The lyrics:
“Mockingbirds sing Sing me what the Lord was singing On the day He made the water The color of the blues Sing me that song Sing me till the heavens rising On the day He made the water The color of my baby’s eyes”
Some good stuff right their. This opened the doors to many more artist that I had avoided listening to because the might be a little tooooo country for me. It also led me to an online community that allowed me to make friends all over the world. And I do mean all over the world. New Zealand, Australia, Ireland. These people have been a part of my life for 15 years all because of this song.
This list would be incomplete if I didn’t post some songs from one the most important genres of music in my life: Punk/EMO. In high school I was in a music scene. All my friends were in various punk/EMO bands and we went to punk/EMO shows on the weekends. I also played, but never had the though to actually be in the bands. I had fun just tagging along, hauling instruments to shows, getting to play with the equipment. We thought we were pretty cool. Anyhow, Sunny Day Real Estate, Jimmy Eat world, Propagandhi, Lagwagon, Blink 182, NOFX, Texas is the Reason. All those bands & many more were a major part of my adolescence. It was a time in my life were I was somewhat of a music snob. Anyone see the movie High Fidelity? The guys that work the record store? We were kind of like that. Popular music was all trash. We searched for underground less known bands. If you knew who The Get Up Kids or Good Riddance were, you were automatically cool. Punk Rock attitude. If you listened to popular music you must suck. Well, that a little extreme but you get the point. I still listen to a lot of very obscure music to this day, but I also listen to a lot of popular stuff. So here are a few songs I listened to back in the day with my punk friends.
I guess I’ll finish this off with a new song that was just released this year by a band called Wild Noting. The song “Foyer” has already worked it’s way into my soul. I’m a sucker for a good bass line. Always loved playing a bass guitar. It’s kind of a throwback to that 80’s sound which I use to despise. I now realize how ridiculous that was and I am happy to say I was wrong. So these guys have probably become my new favorite band. This is where I have been musically in the recent months. Funny how my younger self would have been rolling his eyes at this tune.
Jalapeño!!!!
Asian salad with some marinated teriyaki chicken. You really can’t go wrong with this meal.
Hoisin steak w/ sriracha broccoli. Meals are becoming a little less experimental. It’s hard when you can find what you need. I’m basically down to simple dishes during the weeks. This was great though.
Caribbean jerk pork tenderloin. Once again!! I don’t mind this meal. It’s easy and it’s Bekah’s favorite. I had to marinade a little differently because of a soy shortage in stores.
Mojito lime chicken with and avocado “white” corn salad. White corn because that was all that was left in the store. In plenty. I guess people don’t know that’s it’s pretty much the same damn thing. Bekah says this was great. It was pretty good.
I wanted food from some place I couldn’t get it. I tried to make my own. It was good. It’s wasn’t the same.
Weekend round two. What a world. Saw kindness and hate in a single day. It’s amazing how differently people react to fear & stress. Dignity, people… So our routines have become alien to even ourselves. A morning walk? That’s unheard of on weekends. WTF!!! Apparently not the easiest thing to do when your loved one was taking shots while FaceTiming friends all night. I’m guilty of also partaking. Technically she wasn’t drinking alone but… she kind of was? A gray area for sure. No one should drink alone.
We stayed up together later than the norm. We danced to music on the patio and had a great evening. So the morning walk was pushed back to a later time. When it did happen we were met with much resistance. The wind was blowing like a f***ing hurricane. While walking by the COVID-19 test site one of the tents literally blew away. To the shocked disbelief of the sole attendant. Who stood their taking pictures of its demise. I assume to send to coworkers signifying that they needed a little help. Bekah asked if we should help. No. That tent is beyond the point of help. The walk was accomplished. Bekah was able to keep pace. I am trying to get used to walking with actual shoes rather than flip-flops. To appease my wife, I will wear shoes when walking with her.
Anywho, it was decided lunch would be pizza. I woke up early to start the dough before our delayed walk. Flour & yeast are high commodities these days. Lucky for me I had some. I kneaded and kneaded. 2 hours later it was alive & double the size. At first I was planing on just making a Hawaiian pizza. Bekah brought up we had leftover chorizo from last weekend and I could make half Hawaiian and half Mexican chorizo. One of our favorite places has this pizza and for some absurd reason that’s the sole pizza that isn’t being offered during this carry out/delivery only time. Makes no sense. I have to say her idea was superb. I’ve never made that pizza and it was fun trying something different. I’m hard pressed to say which half I liked the most. The beer was also pretty good.
Coconut shrimp. I’ve never made this. Honestly, shrimp I generally prefer cold. Cocktail. I make a few exceptions. Why the heck not try something different during these different times. So I jammed out to music. Some oddly 80’s like music. I hated the 80’s music for the longest time. I guess I was too cool for it and just never tried. I’ve gone back to some and realized their is a decade of tunes that I can catch up on. What a gift.
Oh yeah, this is about shrimp. And booze??? Sure!! The shrimp was f***ing good. I apologize, I’m cussing a lot more. That’s what I do when s*** hits the fan. Back to the shrimp. It was f***ing good. I’m not sure the grilled asparagus was the appropriate side. What do you all suggest?
After dinner it was time for FaceTime drinks with our slumber party partner, The Slovak. I actually just happened to run into her earlier during the day at HEB. It was fun talking to and seeing her. Slovak is good fun. She is a good friend. I think FaceTime drinks was the medicine we 3 needed. It’s a communication technique I don’t ever utilize and it’s good to try and find new means of social interaction. I can’t tell you how many shots were taken. Much more and for a longer duration of time than I was expecting. The bottle wept when we were done with it. Crazy girls. Some things you just need not hear or see. I’ll leave it at that. It seems when this is all said and done we will being having an epic slumber party. I’m sure you will hear all about it. No shortage of blog material on those weekends.
That’s the last bottle I’m buying her. Not rationing the booze very well.
Sunday fun-day! It’s brunch again. I had a hankering for some eggs Benedict. Funny how such a staple brunch item isn’t served anywhere in town. Someone needs to work on that. I’ve never made them before. Could be cool, I thought. I’ve never really been the best a poaching eggs. If I did it more I’m sure it would get easy. This attempt wasn’t perfect, but better than some past tries. The hollandaise sauce was great. We both decided that we need to do this again. Their are a lot variations that can be made. Mimosa to wash it all down. I think Sunday brunch is going to a a thing during these times. I’ve really enjoyed it the last 2 times. I don’t make brunch and my breakfast have been called “pretty terrible” so it’s nice really getting into it. Cooking is therapy. It’s a way to harness some positive energy. We all need that right now.
So Sunday it was Chopped round 2. I was fairly shocked to see the ingredients Bekah picked considering her condition was fragile for the drink. Snapper, mango habanero salsa, butternut squash & coconut turmeric rice. WTF? I hate mango!! I guess I have to give it a go. I made some fish tacos. Grilling the fish like it’s Cod. Roasted the squash w/ jalapeño & onion. The salsa is gross. To take away from its taste I mixed it with avocado and cilantro. That’s marginally better. The rice I decide to mix with the roasted veggies. I cook up some tortillas and bam! It all trine sour rather good. The fish surprised me. I wasn’t sure what it would taste like. Just a good white fish. Veggies worked and adding the cilantro really helped take away from all the mango. I hate mango. Bekah seemed to enjoy, despite all her pains. That’s says something. I think it’s time for her to do this.
This conclude another weekend blog. I just found out that they are extending our isolation till the end of April. I think I’ll play bartender, pour myself a drink & find something to watch on TV. I have not watched much TV. Until next week. Love to you all. Be safe!!!
Being unable to go to work during this time, I was worried what I would to do find structure. How would I keep myself from going stir crazy and loosing my mind. It would be too easy to just pour myself a drink at noon. I will not being doing that. I have found a better way to distract and focus my thoughts. A way of treating my anxiety. Working out throughout the day and spending most of my free time outside. Going for walks has always been good for my mental health. It’s just you and your thoughts. I must say that it decided to get warm on this first week of virus vacation. (Thanks, Leroy. I needed a name for this sabbatical.) A little hot during the afternoons but I can cope. 3 walks a day. I’ve been keeping up with my steps and the distance I journey on foot throughout the day. It’s been kind of motivating. Maybe when this all blows over I will be in better shape than I’ve been in a long time. Gotta set some kind of goal during moments of uncertainty. I want to remain as positive as I can. It’s out of my hands, like I said before. Roll with the punches. We can do this. Falling into despair might be easy, I get that. When you are hearing bad news everywhere you turn the spirit can sink. So look within yourself and find something that is bright that you cherish. A memory, person, song, or feeling. Whatever! If you start to sink, grab onto that and let it lift your spirit back up. I fully recommend going outside and taking a moment to admire nature. Look at some flowers. Listen to the bird songs. Their is so much beauty to admire if you look.
On another note, wearing shorts outside everyday had me realize just how pale my legs are. Good lord, how many people have I blinded this week? By the end of week….
Unmarked grave.Sat with the ducks for a little while. They are fine. Worried we will not be bringing them bread when quarantine begins. I assured them some of us would still look out for them and that they would be better off eating corn..
It was only a matter of time before a case of COVID-19 showed up in our little city and Tuesday was that day. It was confirmed. Now that it is here will we have another surge of panic shopping? Even if that were to happen the grocery stores are still pretty cleaned from the last round. All these people shopping like it is the end of the word. It’s disgusting. Toilet paper still hasn’t been available whenever I’ve gone, and I go daily. Often to multiple stores. If I can be the eyes in the store to help someone find something that they need, well, I play a positive part in this. I want to help however I can. A friend needed flour and I found her flour. They were just putting it on the shelf. And since I have only actually put in 2 hours of work in 4 days I figure I can be on the front line when it comes to braving the stores. I’m even okay with the one in one out system that they implemented. The shopping is so much more relaxed once you gain entry. Before it was a frantic mess. And don’t worry, I’m being safe. I practice safe social distancing, and I have used more sanitizer than probably ever in my life. I don’t touch anything unless I need it and I don’t ever touch my face until my hands have been washed. This is the most germaphobe days of my life.
Many people don’t look down it seems.State of the art testing center.Strange times.
What else to do with the free time? :/ Reorganize my sock drawer? Inventory my underwear? How about alphabetize the spice rack? How about call the plumber? Ive had a sink that was slow to drain and a minor toilet problem he could also looked at. He fixed the toilet issue without problem. The sink… f***. Seems that’s a bigger issue. What did he pull out of the drain? F***ing roots.. ROOTS!!! Great to hear. Well, that’s not supposed to be there! No amount of Drain-O is going to take care of this. Houston, we have a problem!! It’s a deal he can’t fix because he is reaching there in age. Family plumber is getting old. At least it’s just localized to one sink and not pressing. But still.
Wednesday, day 5, I was feeling a it. The word from the plumber was kind of the gut punch I needed to send me into the blues. I was f***ing sulking. I don’t sulk. I miss the normalcy. I miss my campus friends. I’m keeping in touch through multiple text but it’s not the same as seeing them and engaging in first hand conversation. I’ve let the day steal my joy. It’s like the world wanted me to be a downer Wednesday. I’m trying to keep positive but man… Sometimes its hard. Also, F*** Suddenlink. Of course my service is “interrupted” at this time. I could not even watch the movies I needed to catch up on. Also, those f***ing roots. D*** them.
The rest of the week I felt fine. Everyone has their bad days, right? Friday rolled around. I was tired of going out to find beauty so I bought plants for the patio. If I was eventually going to be on forced quarantine I wanted a nice place to sit outside. My grandmother and my mom gave me a high appreciation for flowers at a very young age. They are mother nature’s art.
Once bekah was off work we went for a walk. She struggled to keep pace. Said that I have long legs. For a person that runs I’m confused by the struggle. I’m just happy she came with me and didn’t want “happy hour” at the house. She has had a rough week. Some people are so cruel & rude during these times. I get that you are scared. That life as we knew it has changed. But that includes most of us. Leave the people trying to help that are still working alone. They deserve your admiration.
New Pearl Jam album came out Friday. It was like hearing a soothing voice from the past. My first favorite band. I felt like I was hearing from a family friend for the first time in years. The album is surprisingly good. It’s cliche to say this when a new album is released, but this might be the best they have done in years. It was a nice cap off for the week.
SunsetSunrise
Here is a song that has been on my mind a lot lately. I mentioned Stephen Kings The Stand. Well this song is featured in the movie. Not to mention, it’s kind of a good tune.
A little song played in the movie “The Stand”.
Don’t forget that I’m doing a weekend food blog until this is over. Try not to be afraid and anxious during these uncertain times. Keep on with the positive. Until next week, cheers!!!!
Jalapeño
Monday night it was baby back ribs. This is a weekend meal at our house due to the time it takes to properly cook. Well, as you guys all know, I’m not working. So I light the grill and have it set for 275. Season the ribs with a dry rub that can be found at HEB. They go on for 4 1/2 hours. You want them to fall off the bone. When they come off the grill I begin to prepare my side dish: Jalapeño slaw. Easy fix & always delicious. The ribs were perfect. They might actually be some of the best that I’ve made. Yay me!!!
Bibigo. Spicy. Hot. Burn my tongue. Hurt me please. This is the most normal meal we have made I a little while I think. Garnish with the green onion and carrots we had. Oh, don’t forget the jalapeño.
So Bekah wanted to do Chopped, a show that we both enjoy. We’ve been watching it since we first began dating over a decade ago. If you are not familiar with the rules, the contestant is presented with a basket. With in that basket are 4 key ingredients that must be used to cook a meal. They can go to the pantry and use other ingredients. They have a short time to throw everything together for the judges to vote a contestant out if they didn’t use or correctly incorporate said ingredients. That’s what we did Wednesday. Trying to keep things fun during these strange days. I made two sauces: a chipotle sour cream sauce &avocado & lemon sauce. The chicken was seasoned in chipotle and served over a bed of lettuce and garnished with thinly sliced radish to give a sweet crunch to the meal. Of course jalapeño. The squash was portly executed. It was tasty, but did not fit well with the rest. I had fun and this might become something normal.
More chipotle chicken. The stand out tonight would be the baby now-tie pasta salad. It had peas, corn, carrots, red bell, jalapeño. Added salsa, ranch & chili powder. Such a nice summer dish that I probably have not made in about 4 years. It got hot today. It hit the spot.
Broccoli cheese and chicken. Guess what I added to the velvetta? Heavy f***ing cream. Scream that fat free milk that I can’t find in the store anymore. This turned out super tasty. A nice easy comfort meal for the end of an interesting week.
So this is new. Well guess what, I’ve got very little to do and I need to keep busy to insure I don’t be deprived of my sanity. And maybe you just might also need a distraction. If I’m able to help during these strange days I want to do my part. I’ll try and make a post every Sunday. This will primarily be a food blog since I am officially preparing lunch & dinner during the weekend with everything closed. You didn’t think I’d just be eating ham and cheese sandwiches if I couldn’t go out and have lunch did you? Nope. I’m going to be trying to make lunch different than our usual dinner meals. I mean, it’s a different meal? I don’t do dinner for lunch. These meals will likely be much smaller. I don’t like being bloated all day. Sooooo… This is a food blog through and through. Wait a second! I think that’s what I said when I first started blogging didn’t I? My blogs are far from just food. Oh well. Let’s see how long I’m able to keep this grounded. How long this seems like a good idea. How long this is the new normal…
Saturday lunch. What to make…🤔. Well, I have corn tortillas, tuna & avocado. Get cabbage and that sounds like a pretty damn good tostada. Squirt a little sriracha on it for good measure and we have ourselves a nice fancy lunch. Bekah utilizes her bartending skills long kept dormant (lol) and made me a jalapeño margarita that was warm & fantastic. I think we are off to a good start. Happy Saturday everyone!!!
Saturday we were going to cook but a desire to support our good friends that are getting hit by this bulls*** filled our hearts. We ordered delivery. Nachos & beer to the door. Yes, I can now get booze at the door. If things get back to normal I hope booze at the door remains normal. What a treat!! I’m sure you know which side is mine. The nachos were amazing as usual. It was also very nice to see a familiar face. Two of our friends made the drop off and visited for a sec. In this time, if you can, support the service industries. Local restaurants. Anyone in a bind from this mess. Think about others and not yourselves. We are in this together.
I was able to find a potato. I s*** you not, potato’s were one of the first things to fly of the grocery store shelf’s. Some friends keep taking about papas con chorizo so I’ve had it on my mind. Something I don’t often make. Come to think of it, this might have been my first time? 🤔. So Sunday was brunch at our casa. I made the meal and Bekah made some mimosas. I out did myself. Just look at that egg. Hard to find these days. This was perfectly made. I’m kind of enjoying making lunch on weekends. When this blows over maybe I’ll continue this. I keep saying the new normal. 🤷♂️
Sunday night verde chicken breast with another egg! A f***ing egg!!! I have f***ing eggs!!! These things are a high commodity right now. I might as well be eating some wagyu tenderloin. I’m not only going to post this picture in my blog, but all social media just to show off that I have eggs. 🙄. Eggs… People, why??? An item I had on a good week once everyday. Not now. Thanks to you bunch of hoarding a** hats. Oops, I lost my train of though. This is about food, right? Well the meal was good. Cold Miller Lite to wash it down.
So I guess that’s my weekend food blog. I have no idea how my structure will be from on out. I’ve liked doing this. 2 days of structure. Love you all that are reading. Stay safe my friends. Until next time….
Spring break part 2 kicked off with a nice foggy morning. Some people did not seem to care for this. Worldwide panic mixed with some gloom just wasn’t a cocktail many could swallow. I guess depression has settled over many of the populace. I wish I could help these people find a little bit of joy but for some it’s just not happening. Curmudgeons, like Jimmy. All I can do is share some of mine & hope that’s enough. I understand it. The weekend grocery store trip was enough to drive the joy out of me. Nothing on the shelves. I went to 3 grocery stores to cover my small list of 7 items. I wasn’t a happy camper. Why people? No eggs, milk, chicken, potatoes, green beans, etc. How annoying. One think that I have learned through all of this is that Jimmy is a f***ing epidemiologist.
F***ers!!!!
St. Patrick’s Day. Did you wear green? I’ll pinch you if you didn’t!! I got it covered with a green clover pin. Later, I was given some beads by Jamie. She also made cupcakes for everyone that wanted. I’m not sure her intention, but cupcakes were a good idea considering the current state of things. In a looney world we still need to have a little fun in life. I say bring out all the good you can get. Be it cupcakes, silly glasses & beads. I did my part with cookies. My friend Elicia in purchasing forgot to wear green. I told her to be careful, someone will pinch you. But in the end we hooked her up with some beads. She was protected from pinches. I did find it rather interesting that St. Patrick’s Day went over so many people’s heads this year. A lot of people were only reminded because of the beads and pin I had on. Everyone’s head is somewhere else these days…
Not even the threat of COVID-19 could abate my wife’s thirst for booze. She said: “Do you want to get a drink?” So I said sure, I’ll meet you there. It wasn’t just because it was Patty’s Day. It was because she had an awful day at work. You see, she works in a nursing home and during these troubling times things have gotten very weird for nursing homes. They are on lock down. No visitors, which means no family. This does not go over well for everyone. Getting cussed at by resident’s family members. Have them burst into tears because they can’t spend time with loved ones. They are also taking away so much from the residents themselves. No more group activities. No more communal dining. They are basically prisoners in their own rooms. This isn’t easy and they are not staffed to be wardens. She has a big heart and this mandate is breaking it. Not to mention coworkers don’t seem to give a s***. Oh yeah, and she could easily be placed in quarantine. She would have to live at the home if a confirmed case does show up. That’s a lot of stress.
Irish drinks
So the bar was a sad place. There were people trying to have fun but there was an eeriness that was so unfamiliar. No handshakes. Sing on door saying capacity of 50. Please stay 3 feet apart. An impending doom was in the air. For the people working, it was palpable. They might not have a job in the immediate future because bars & restaurants are closing all over the country. It is very likely that our trip on Tuesday will be our last for who knows how long. The foreseeable future…
Wednesday was so weird. Everyone heard different rumors. They are shutting down the university. Everyone goes home. It was giving me a headache. Leroy really wants his “virus vacation”. I feel if he doesn’t get it he is going to be really upset. The amount of calls coming though asking if we will be open. I don’t know. I have no answer for you. Maybe? Maybe not? I don’t really want to be sent home. I like the structure. I might complain some about the place but I still like being able to come. Most of my socializing is on the campus. Outside of work it’s really only Bekah and I for most of the time. Also, if everything is closed I sure hope I can maintain my sanity at the house. I’m not the type that sits still. I’m on the move constantly. ADHD.
Void of life
And at the end of the day the death blow was landed. If you are over 60 or have a preexisting condition you are to go home “until further notice.” Great. I felt kind of sick. I needed a drink. How long exactly is that? Who can say? I kind of felt like I was getting kicked out. Is this going to be the new normal? Looks like we are treating this like it’s the Christmas holiday. Only on call personal working and pretty much everything else on lock-down. I’m on “pandemic leave.”
Day one of “pandemic leave” was not so bad. I picked up beetos (burritos). I went to work at 7:30 to finish up projects & discuss what’s next with my boss. Yes, I am to stay home. If they need me he will call because I am close and I really don’t want to be off work. I get set up to work from home if needed. I probably won’t ever NEED to work from home. But just in case I can. Have to call IT because my computer wouldn’t recognize me. They were on the ball. I’m good to go. Turns out the IT guy that helped me was also working from home. What next… I clean the house. I go to Hobby Lobby and pick out stuff to make a mosaic. I think I made a coaster? I go by Lowe’s for a house plant. I run to HEB to make my daily shopping update to my campus family. Saw a man with a cart full of Cheetos…. Wish I had taken a picture. I get a call from the office. They need my help with a device my boss has never used. I saved the day. We talked a little more about how operations would run. Sounds really boring. Maybe not being able to go to work isn’t so bad? I went for a 3.6 mile walk. It was kind of hot. It was also therapeutic. The dogs are going to love this because what else am I going to do but walk. Oh, I guess lift weights. I did that off and on throughout the day. Maybe this will get my doctor off my back. Tired of him telling me my workout routine is that of a 80 year old. I don’t think he understands how many flights of stairs I climb, but oh well. I need to start making list of projects and try to space them out. I can’t remember the last time I took the time to see the sun set… I also did not have a drink until after 5. You should all be proud of me. Left to my own devices, and such. Bars & restaurants are going to close, it turns out. Friday at midnight. My poor service industry friends left in turmoil. I guess I’ll be making some fun lunches. I will also not go broke during this strange time. Oh wait, they deliver booze now…
Day two of “pandemic leave”. I set my alarm an hour later. Why get up so early. 8 is a reasonable time to get out of bed when you don’t need to be anywhere. Also, half my living room has turned into a home gym since all gyms have closed. I don’t need that in the morning so I am best sleeping though it. First thing I did after finishing my coffee was head to HEB. I needed one thing but I was mainly going out of morbid curiosity. It was a real s*** show. These people were shopping with a frenzy that I have never seen. Like, I might get my arm bitten off reaching for the eggs that were flying off the shelf. Utter insanity. It was kind of f***ing scary. Ravioli day. No ravioli. No plain Cheetos either. Only flamin & jalapeño. Guess Cheeto man didn’t like the heat. Went to the bank, they are changing their hours. Went to get my oil change. They wouldn’t let me out of the car. Communication through a crack window. Bizarre, but I get it. Hit the liquor store. Lots of people shopping for it only being 10 o’clock. Employee said once the Governor announced the closure of bars yesterday they got hit hard. Made as many sales on Thursday as they make an entire weekend. Called my mom and she said she had 10 rolls of paper towels. I was down to 1 so I made a trip for 4 rolls. We visited for a while. Got home and had an hour to burn before Owens vet appointment. I decided to do something I am never allowed to do: mow the grass! That’s a big no-no. That is how Bekah wins her fit-bit challenges. I think I’ve maybe mowed the front lawn 5 times in the almost 2 years we have lived here. Insane, right? Owen was overly excited about his trip to the vet. Strange how different our dogs are. Hazel hates the vet while Owen just wags his tail. After the vet trip we take a little walk along the river. On the way to drop him off I realize I have not planned for lunch. I make another trip to HEB. It’s not a nightmare. Funny how things have changed. The mornings used to be easy shopping and now it’s the afternoons. Anyway, I run into some campus friends, Miss Needy and her dear daughter. I get my goods and get the hell out of there. They actually had potatoes. What to do now? I decided another walk couldn’t hurt. Another mile down and it’s 5 o’clock. I guess I’ll make a drink. It’s f***ing Friday! We made it! Cheers!!! I am finding positive ways to pass the time. No reason to be in the negatives. This is out of my hands. We are hear on a daily basis so live it that way. I recommend fresh air. It’s doing me wonders.
BTW, spring flowers are in bloom. My favorite Lily park is beautiful right now. Not with Lily’s, but all sorts of plants in bloom. At least if my mood ever sinks I know where I can go to find some beauty to bring me back. I know, I tend to enjoy the simple things. I suppose that’s a blessing.
I’ve decided Coronavirus is the pangolin’s revenge. I’ve always been partial to the pangolins. I donate money to their cause. I own 3 pangolin t-shirts which I wear proudly on World Pangolin Day every 3rd Saturday in the month of February (If anyone wants one, I’ll hook you up). I feel sorry for the little guys. They need a voice. Some are saying that’s were COVID-19 derived from. The number 1 animal on the black market. They are just too docile which makes them easy prey to poachers. Believed by some Chinese to help with male impotency. They are butchered for their scales by the 100’s a day just to give some rich Chinese man an erection. The scales are made up of keratin. You know what is also made up of keratin? Human fingernails!!! If they want to fight flaccid genitalia so badly maybe someone should tell them to start eating their own f***ing fingernails! One positive thing to come out of this, other than the meme’s, is that pangolin scales are not such a hot commodity. Poor little guys are fighting back.
I’m cute, I snuggle and I don’t help with flaccid genitalia.
Jalapeno…
The same chicken I made last week with the McCormick Grill mates. Made some green beans with Italian dressing to go alone with it.
St. Patrick’s Day would not be the same without some Irish cuisine. I was almost going grill some shrimp but it was brought up that I usually make a meal to coincide with the holiday. I could not get that out of my mind the rest of the afternoon. I know, that’s how busy I have been at work. Ashamed of myself, I decided I would brave the stores and see if I couldn’t find what I needed for Shepard’s Pie. I usually use a pea, corn & carrot frozen mix but guess what? No frozen veggies at the store. All gone but the lima beans. A little defeated I too the chance of looking for fresh veggies. I was in luck, they had what I needed. Such a simple meal. Steam the veggies, add meat. Cook till done. Add tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire & a dry red wine. Cook down. Season with some herbs, salt, & pepper. Blend some flour with water and stir into beef mixture to thicken. I did not have real potatoes or pie crust because I could not find any… I found powdered potatoes so I heated them and poured beef mixture on top. This was quite possibly the best Shepard’s Pie I have ever made. The fresh veggies made a world of difference.
Island style shrimp. Another flavor packet. Grilled to perfection.
Chicken breast bacon jalapeno stuffed kabobs . I made an corn avocado salad to go with it. The kabobs were good, the salad was next level. Haha!
Queso burgers. Decided to add some avocado. Something simple and always good.
En Fuego 