Away we go.

     As I've said, this hospital is a mere 10 minutes drive from my home.  This will be important later.  So I arrived, found parking, and went to see my sister.

      Have I mentioned this?  Each time I now get into one of these older elevators it reminds me of a movie.  I know only the premise, wasn't promising enough for me to go out and see.

     The screen play was written by 
none other than M. Night Shyamalan.  Called the Devil in the Elevator.  Of course having never seen it, but just reading the whole synopsis while you didn't know you were waiting.  The elevator also reminds me of something from youtube.  Where somewhere in South America people get on the elevator.  Lights flicker.  Girl crawls out from a hidden panel and eventually screams.  Lights flicker off.  Girl disappears.  Anyways that's where my mind goes.

      I get to the room.  My sister is there.  Apologetic.  They gave her a fan and a zanax.  She apologized to me.  And in all fairness, the room is still rather hot.

     Went home and filled my brother in law in.  So ends Sunday.

-later

Sunday and the panic attack.

     Have been hectic and ran out of saved drafts.  Deal with it.

     How's that for an opening.  Sunday was fine, did some food shopping.  Had a smoke in the backyard.  Weather was nice.  Brother in law had been to see my sister.  She was out of ICU.  Bad news was she was back in the room with the elderly woman. 

     My brother in law began his beer drinking.  I was skipping the lounge to make meatloaf.  Which was a good idea.  Primarily because we'd be surviving on the stew and meatloaf for the rest of the week.  That's when it happened............The phone rang.

"You have to come and get me out of here right now!  It's hot as Hell in here and I can't take it.  Come and get me right NOW!"

"What do you mean?"  I queried cautiously.

"Come and get me right now.  They've got the heat on in this room.  Every time I ask for the ac to be turned on they do.  Then she complains and they turn it off.  Come and get me I'm checking out of this hospital.  Do you hear me!"

"Okay."  this was a lost cause over the phone.

"Are you coming?!?"

"Well no, not if you don't let me get off the phone I'm not."  

"Just hurry."  She hung up.  I stared at my brother in law.

     He had the typical deer in the headlights look he always has.  Exaggerated by beer now.  I gave him the run down and asked if he'd like to come with me.  He declined, saying he didn't know what he'd do if he went.  Oh joy of joys to be me.

   

The visit and the stew.

     It was about 4 when I was ready to see my sister.  Errands had been run and such.  Told the brother in law to shut the stew at 6.  Wish they had a timer that you could put in at the end.  Like this instance, where there were 2 hours to go.  You just put in the stop time.  Probably exists and I just don't know about it.

     Told him to eat and just leave it on the counter.  I departed for the hospital.  Astonishingly enough my sister didn't want anything.  Was in a room by herself.  They had to put something called a pic line in, they couldn't get any good veins.  So that killed 30 min while I waited in the lobby. 

     She was in decent spirits.  Even sent home 2 chocolate chip bakery cookies she had my brother in law bring.  Her own room which is always pleasant.  She was also glad to be out of the first room she had.  Apparently shared with a 92 year old woman who was cold.  My sister, a person of large girth shall we say, runs hot.

     I arrived on my doorstep around 6:30.  Banned my brother in law from telling me his reaction to the stew.  Said my sister looked well and such.

     The stew.  What can I say.  Ordinarily and traditionally has been made on the stew.  Now I knew I'd forgotten the onions in the crock, so no base flavor.

     It looked okay.  Like stew in a thin broth.  I tasted it, it was not the worst thing in the world.  It was just devoid any real flavor.  Disappointing but edible at least.  The meat was totally out of place.  A nice stew should have chunks of meat that are tender and maybe even a little chewy.  It should also make me want to dip bread into the left over residue in the bowl.  This did not.

     It was a thin broth, as I've said no seasoning.  The meat had shriveled?  It was considerably smaller and had no flavor or chew.  But I will try it again in the crock pot or on the stove top I'm unsure.  Oh and in my normal recipe we use water and not broth.

The next day.

     Saturday reared like it often does.  I've decided to treat myself on the weekends.  1 cup of coffee and something fun for breakfast.  Discovered that I thoroughly enjoy an egg on a bagel.  No not just that.  But this isn't really a food blog and we'll have food aplenty in this one entry.

     I took the meat which I defrosted in a big red bowl and put it on the counter.  I was very much scowling, this was not stew meat.  But I bought it and continued.  

     To say that the flouring and browning of each and every individual piece was a mind numbing chore.  That would be appropriate.  As each slice had to be done individually, I was more and more sure that this wasn't going to be great.  And I'd not allotted enough time to check on the herbs for seasoning.  It was getting late, I wanted this to be ready for 6 at night.  Needed 10 hours on high.  So had to be good to go by 8.  
     
     By the by, I'm writing this a week later on a Saturday and enjoying my cup of coffee.  Just saying.

     Quartered potatoes, halved carrots, browned meat, deglazed pan, into crock pot.  Used a boxed beef broth.  Only seasoning was the flour and the clove of garlic I put in.

     Brother in law visited sister, who was in ICU.  More so they could keep an eye on her blood sugar more than anything else.  It was over 700.  

     Course the 3 steroid shots and the near six pack of soda on way to hospital and in E.R. didn't help.  Oh well.

-later

Friday ensues.

     As with anyone I have my morning rituals.  I was knee deep into mine when I got summoned. Seems my brother in law couldn't skip work and my sister wanted someone to stay home.  Yup.  Lucky bastich.

     I did have an early morning smoke, it was quite nice.  The birds in the unusually warm air.  Hell I even heard the ferry which is not close at all.  On certain mornings, you can hear it.  I also heard church bells.

     I also decided to do some much needed cleaning in my little room.  As I've mentioned it is tiny, stuff accumulates.  I suppose over the years I've gotten worse.  Anyway, I found something so awesome it deserves a post of its own.

    Mid morning my sister was very nervous.  She couldn't keep food down.  I felt she was running a temperature. I suggested she call her oncologist.  We were all focused on this and the pain being from the cancer.

     The decision they made was to go to Sloan in the city.  That call came about 12.  She then wanted to call my brother in law, who said he'd be home in an hour.  

     I tried to emphasize that going into N.Y.C. that late would take hours, instead of the usual time.  To no avail.

     Her condition seemed to worsen as time wore on and we chose a closer hospital.  We arrived at the emergency room.  Oh Joy. Oh Rapture.  If you've never had the experience....good for you.

     They admitted her.  There was a hissy fit about wanting a smoke.  She got her way and was allowed outside.  I was astonished.  Brother in law and I returned home.

     Made some phone calls, had me some dinner and a smoke.  Brother in law had some grub and started drinking.

     I'm considering interjecting t he above mention of the something so awesome into the next post.  We'll see.  Probably not.

-later

Madness of Wednesday

     Wednesday.  Phone call came about noon.  My sister.  Basically she needed me to come home.  My brother in law was called home early on Tuesday, she fell 2 or 3 times. Guess it was my turn.  Manager understood of course.  I obliged and went to take care of business.

     She was in a lot of pain.  Nauseous.  Did what I could to ease it all.  She wasn't holding food, made her a sandwich.   She apologized for calling me home.  I said no worries I'd make the best of the situation.  And I did.

     A few errands, run to the farm stand, I was home.  Unfortunately they had no more water melons.  Or at least any worth buying.  I prepared the roast and popped it into the oven.  I then went about the chore of freezing the stew meat.  Oh no, I was not about to let anything in my fridge go bad.

     Unfortunately I didn't go with my first instinct. My butcher had said it was stew meat.  It was clearly not.  In fact the label even said stir fry. Of course I'd bought 2lbs.  Took a bit but I got it onto to trays and into the freezer. 

     I rewarded myself with a smoke in the yard.  My sister decided it was best not to comment.  The fall was still oddly warm and I didn't want to waste it.

     An enjoyable smoke and not a bad way to end the day.  Thursday passed without incident.  Well except that I saw a great sale on cigars and ordered them.  

-Later. 

Ahh Monday.

      Well both of them were off.  I gave instructions on how to cook the roast beef.  I was expecting it to be cooked.  No such luck was to be had.  Sister was in pain all day, we were all assuming it was the cancer.  Brother in law finally went to a chiropractor about his shoulder.  Only been bothering him for a month or so.

     Turns out to be a pinched nerve.  Had to do the usual, see Dr. so they could order xrays, go get xrays, return to Dr.  Wore him out.  No clue what was done for dinner.  

     The good part of Monday was that my manager was out, means I should have gotten an hour of overtime.  Oh but once again I'm ahead of my self.

     I was dearly loving the frozen salmon, such a treat to eat at work.  I've been taking my own meals very seriously and not eating take out.

     Tuesday was alright.  Really nothing at all.  Then Wednesday struck.

-Later
-T.B.C.

Post Tuesday. Sunday continued

     The lounge was alright.  Nothing really special or to brag about.  Watched some foot ball, light banter.  Was leaving about 3, early for me, because of my cousin.  We'll get there.

     The new owner had small meeting in the back.  My friend and I joked we liked him better back there.  He says another shop is opening and we are so ditching this place.  I will have a look.  It adds probably another 7 to 10 miles to my trip.  In a town I'm not familiar with, and not as close to the highway.  So we'll see.

     Left shortly after my friend, headed home.  Had limited time.  I believe I was making meatloaf but not totally sure.  You see my cousin and  had a phone call planned.

     There's something called Facetime, probably only the name is unique to IPhone.   It would be akin to the Jetsons.  But we'll get to that tomorrow.

-Later.

Still going with Sunday

     Got home, want to say I made chicken.  The meal cooked is unimportant.  I just had a deadline for this Jetsons like Facetime.

     If you remember the Jetsons, they communicated often by video screens.  Always looked like t.v.'s to me.  I remember one episode where Jane was talking to her friend in the morning and her friends morning mask fell off.  It was funny as I remember it.  Then Jane turned to George after and told him.  He yelped and kidded she should put hers on.

     I was interested enough to look forward to it.  It seems like Skype.  Except I'm told its free between IPhone's and such. He'd be using his tablet?  Not really sure.  Still I realized it left me with a small dilemma.

     Since the camera shows you as theirs shows them, where to take the call.  Did I really want to show laundry behind me?  Things you never have to think about with a phone huh?  Anyhow the call went well.  He also enlightened me that my text message failure was probably because I didn't include an area code.  What was I thinking, older times I guess.

     The only minor glitch was that I needed to grab some headphones so I could hear him.  Odd I figured.  Welcome to the 21st century I guess.  It was fun.  Will do it again.  

     The only thing I can recall is that I wished for the longer days again.  Where I could go and sit by the water after a Sunday dinner.  Ahh Spring and Summer, I long for thee.  To dark and desolate to go after dark.  Just in case anyone was thinking it.  

     We're still going ahead with the week.  Eventful in some ways.  But also it gives me some posts behind me.  See what happens.

-Later.

Sunday and the lounge.

     If you have been here from the start.  If you have been here for the last couple of years.  You know the importance of my Sundays at the cigar lounge.  I can relax, be myself, just a few hours for me.  I've a friend from the previous place, the post is buried in the past entries.  He'd told me about this place.

     As you know, the lounge is under new ownership.  A blessing and a curse.  Just doesn't have the same feel.  I have warmed up to the new guy somewhat.  He's not the worst person.  In fact if given time I'd probably say he was a half step up from the previous.  In a good way.  But it isn't the same.

     My friend see's it differently and it makes sense to me.  How can I put this.  He was tight with the previous owners, had his own key.  He is still tight with a kid we both liked who got fired.  And the dude who had Sundays now has his shift during the week.

     On my one or two days going there during the week.  It and he doesn't have the same feel.  It's like a strange place now.  Yes the humidor is full.  Yes the place looks a lot better and reorganized.  But it feels different.  Yeah I know, get over it.  And I'm usually such a proponent for change.  And we all knew it had to be done.  In a real way for him, I think it's the feeling of having been the big fish in a small pond to small fish in a large pond.  Or however that goes.

     For one a lot of the regulars, who should be showing up for Sunday football aren't there.  Even during the week it seemed off.  Regulars not there. I don't know if it is the ownership or perhaps the residual from the humidor being bare for so long.  Wisely there is a under new management sign.

     Sent my friend a message that I'd be going there.  Winds up it never went.  I'm thinking it's because I didn't put in the area code.  I will try later.

     So there we sat.  A nice Sunday.  We determined that we would probably ditch this place.  Could say this in front of the owner, who seldom tries to engage in general conversation.  So we'll see what happens.

-Later
(oh we are so not done with Sunday.  May even write it now so I can post it.  Told you I'd try and do multiple blogs so I can post each day.)  Let's see how long that lasts. 
    

Sunday the day. Not the independent movie.

     Was nice to have the power on.  I finished the new juice I bought the day before.  There was a fresh and seductive pot on the counter.  Just finished beeping.  I said to myself, why not.  Now I knew I had no half and half.  So I went for it.

    Poured it into a cup, 1 of three that my cousin had brought as a Christmas gift.  On the small side, hand made somewhere in North Carolina.  3 distinct cups.  And I do love my coffee cup collection.  My sister once did away with most of the highball glasses, denies it to this day.  Had 6, now 1.  I warned her strenuously, that nothing had ever better befall my coffee mugs.  She took it seriously.

     One is blue, one is blue rimmed, whit a drip of the blue running down.  The other one is opaque?  

     Well the coffee was just delicious.  Had no ill effects  from it at all.  Just had the 1 cup.  And continued along my day.

     Bakery run, think I drove.  We put together the shopping list.  You could have knocked me over with a stick.  My brother in law requested roast beef.  Now wait a second this is important.  He can't even think to request a birthday dinner half the time.  So of course I said yes and the money would be found.

     Food bought, I had the beef, I had bought some stew meat.  Told them how to cook the roast.  After checking on them, they said they were fine.  Brother in law had that Monday off.  I departed for the lounge.

-t.b.c. 

Last Saturday cont'd. Guest appearance.

     That's right we have a guest at the blog tonight.  Please everyone welcome back coffee.  But we haven't gotten to that yet.  Let us return to 7 days ago, woooooooooooshhhhhh.

     About 8:30 sitting at my computer, looking at the chore that lay ahead.  I paused.  My light.  It was like a candle getting dimmer.  Or even like an old hurricane lamp when you'd turn the wick down.  Very much like that.  POOF!

     Pitch black darkness.  Odd though.  The front of the house had power.  Checked on sister who wanted to know what happened.  Called down to brother in law, no nothing happened down there.  The back 3 bedrooms had no power.  I asked him to come upstairs.

     Not an indictment, he can be slow on the take at times.  But when drinking, magnify it tenfold..  Told him to stay upstairs and I flipped circuit breakers. Nothing.  Sister was getting frantic and annoying.

     Called a neighbor, luckily knew someone whose son was an electrician.  Nice kid.  A good decade or two younger than me.  Well half of my circuit box was dead.  He said that was a good sign.

     We had to check the electric meter. Gave him the flash light, because my back yard is an untenable mess of tangled weeds.  Let's not go there.

     Meter, no issue, probably the electric company's issue.  Which  would mean it wouldn't have to come out of our pocket.  He wanted to hit the roof just to check the lines.  Trust me, struggle getting the ladder out and not so much into the yard.

     I thanked him and offered him some money, which he steadfastly refused.   I thanked my neighbor, who embarrassingly had been in my pig sty of a house.  He's a nice 75 year old dude, retired air force, lives alone. And this week left to see his lady friend in Montreal.  Damn that gives me hope.  

      Brother in law had dragged in an extension cord for my sisters cpap machine, one of those breathing machines for sleep apnea.  I went to bed.  My protocol for all black outs.  

     Woke up early Sunday and the power was back.

-Later. 
(going to write last Sunday now, so it publishes tomorrow.)

An update

     It's basically been a long rough week.  Sister not feeling well at all.  Food.  I had to leave work early to help her out on Wed, it was brother in law's turn on Thurs. 
  
     Anyway we shall resume our scheduled program tonight when I get home.  

-Later. 

A fairly decent weekend.

     Not a bad weekend at all.  How about yours?

     Saturday broke open, windy and sunny.  I opted for an egg for breakfast.  Chopped up some onion, red pepper, little green squash, and 1 asparagus for it.  Sauteed.  Dropped the egg in.  Not the prettiest looking thing, but damn it tasted good.  Brother in law even brought me a whole wheat sunflower bakery from my bagel store.  Apparently it was my sisters idea.

     I compiled a laundry list of chores.  One of the first was an oil change.  Hit Jiffy Lube for my first time ever.  A few years ago my mechanic stopped working on Saturdays.  He and his crew deserve it.

     That often leaves me being first one in the morning and late to work to boot.  With all the hospital stuff I couldn't afford to take a hit on my check like that.

     Jiffy went fairly smooth.  Even let them vacuum my car.  After that I hit the bank.  Basically don't have all the information to transfer my bank loan.  And somehow it all has to be done in one day.  Ugh.

     Decided to have a nice smoke at the beach.  The waves were terrific.  A surprising amount of people were there.  Not more than 12, but more than I expected.  I was captivated by a seagull for awhile.

     When they get a mussel or other shelled critter, they cannot open it with their beaks.  They will fly up and drop it waiting for the force to open the shell.  It is often why you see so many shells in parking lots at the beach.  

     Even saw a few baby gulls.  I walked along the soft sand against the wind.  Feeling wonderful, it was only a scant 2 years ago in which that would have been impossible.  After the smoke I left.

     Some other smaller errands that would keep me busy until about 2.  Then homeward bound.  Got back around 3.  Brother in law in bed.  Sister not feeling well at all getting some sleep.

     She's feeling horrible the poor woman.  Her new pain medication makes her nauseous and have little appetite.  I genuinely feel bad for her.   Had a nice time until evening.  Made dinner.  Brother in law finished a 2 day old hero he'd bought.  I'd bought 2 crab cakes for her dinner, and a side of buttered noodles.  I finished my whole wheat bow ties with some sauteed vegetables.  

     Was going to play on the computer for a bit and then start clearing the space for my television and eventually my gaming system.  Then it happened.  TBC.

 or to be continued.

-Later.

Wenesday and such.

     There has been a lot of stress on me.  More so than normal.  I now cook 7 days a week.  Because of my diet restrictions, and that includes lunch and breakfast.  Sister is in to much pain to help and brother in law is utterly useless.  

     I've been at my company about 15 years.  Not a great job, just a paycheck with benefits.  Plus and this is the big one, my co-workers, even the crazy one, make it less of a chore.

     When I started the company was completely different. It was family owned, the son and mother ran it then.   The atmosphere and everything was different.  600 people and they all seemed to know one another.  I was fortunate to go to 2 actual Christmas parties before the change.

     Now the company is much different.  Not to worry, not a lot of details.  Suffice to say every so often we loose one of the old guard.  One of the original people from the first company.  This one was let go.  Sucks.

     I'd known her, well forever.  Nice woman, she was so in my inner circle I even made sure she knew about my heart surgery.  So of course I was going to the goodbye party.  And for the kicker.  My manager who has been there 2 years before me was going.  That is a major deal trust me.

     I prepared the kiddies at home for this event, they had plenty of food.  Of course they scrapped up money for take out.  Oh well.

     I'd never been to the place before, but found it.  I was Hell bound and determined not to miss it.  Was some sort of big sports bar and restaurant.  It was very pleasant.  Saw a couple of the smokers out front, all happy and I greeted them.

     Inside at the bar there were at least 30 people.  I found the guest of honor and hugged her.  She thanked me for getting her out of the office.  Should I mention that?

     She'd asked me to come up with a cart for her stuff.  No problem. Another friend, who'd also been let go, was there with a few other people.  It was 7 to 5 and she was still working.  Then the person that she was training to do her job called.  That took a little time.  Then at 2 to 5 we loaded her cart with her stuff.  All of a sudden all these IM's started popping up on her computer.  It was 5 after.  I said they had 2 weeks and all day to say goodbye.  With that it was done.

     The bar was packed with co-workers, my manager hadn't gotten there yet.  I ordered a cranberry with seltzer water.  I found the very nice person who pretty much organized the event.  Always a nice person and fun to hang out with.  Also another of the secretaries.

     By nature I like to mingle at parties.  Work parties are a little different.  I assume for many there are cliques within departments.  I'm lucky in that I touch all the departments.  Always fun to here what people say and how they are after work.  That's just me though.  My manager came in and sat at the other end of the bar.

     Really didn't hear much that was fascinating but it was fun.  Met one of the dudes from ITs' girlfriend.  Eventually got over to the other end and greeted my manager.  He was talking with a bunch of people so it was easy just to move in and out.

     It was getting late and I knew I should eat.  I tried for the healthiest thing.  Chicken wings.  They were damned good.

     People came and left.  Saw some old faces. It was good and we all had a very good time.

-Later  

Yes Virginia, still Sunday

     A shame too, went out last night and had a good time.  Well I'll need something in the future.

     Before the crock pot dealio, like that word, it's not real.  I decided even though it was late in the day I'd hit the cigar lounge.  Felt I deserved it.

     Glad I did.  To begin with, one of my friends who'd I'd not seen in weeks, cause of hospitalizations was there.  In fact he had practically left when I pulled in and decided to stay.  Another friend was there.  Even better, the guy that used to do Sunday's, he does the weekday shift now, was there.

     It was really nice.  We all caught up, even heard about another friends wedding.  Promised to do some printing for another pal.  It was a nice Sunday like that place hasn't seen in a damned long time.  
      My friend, the one that came back in, mentioned a new shop may be opening.  We'll probably try it.  Back in the beginning of this blog finding a new place was titular in my life.  And even though it's a hike, I just may try it.  I do miss the way the place was.

     Made my curfew at home.  Had time to crock pot the chicken and start the turkey roast.  Then the reason for my early return.

     My cousin wanted to do some Face Time.  A rather Jetsons like thing if you ask me.  I'm assuming it didn't work so well because of the sunspots and stutff.

     Sorry for the short entries but time calls a lot these days.  Hopefully I can explain.  To come, Wed. night out.

-Later

Continuation of Sunday

     For the most part the day was up in the air for me.  In terms of plans.  Everything was done by 1.  Had to be home for a phone call at 6.  Cousin wanted to do something called Facetime.

     I got an idea.  Long story shortened, I'm back to being the primary cook of the house.  Only this time it's my way.  They no longer hold sway.  Sister spends her days hurting, damned cancer.  Brother in law keeps looking for a grown up to show the way.  Not to mention they no longer have the budget to eat out anymore.

     I saw this dusty thing about 2 weeks ago.  Just sitting in my living room.  The box for it was under some other stuff.  It gets used 1 time a year, for corned beef and cabbage.  Yup, a slow cooker.

     Well I tried a recipe that was basically some chicken and carrots with potatoes in veggie broth.  It wasn't terrible, but the chicken came out so aridly dry.  Determined and not deterred I found a solution.  Or the be fair it was a recommendation from my sister.  Use dark meat.

     So on an errand I stopped by the butcher shop in town.  Now this place is one of those old venerable institutions. It's been there well over 30 years, unsure if the same owner or not.  Walked in and joy of joys, they had right in the case boneless chicken thighs.  Could this get easier?

     I got 2 pounds, sliced for stir fry.  One wrapped for that day, and damn if they didn't wrap the other one for freezing.  All for $9.  Yeah I may be hooked.

     Well the recipe works much better.  I just need to work on the seasonings.

     I shouldn't have left this so late.  Sorry, looks like another 3 or 4 blog entry for a weekend.

-Later.

Sunday

     At some point, probably 4 in the early morning I was trying to figure out what day it was.  Part of me was saying Tuesday, another was saying Monday.  Ever have those conversations with yourself?
     
     I had a co-worker top me.  Seems he got up, showered, got in his car and started to drive to work.  Thought there were still a lot of cars on his block.  He figured it out before he got there tho.  Yes it was Saturday, he knew this because the dj on his station was the one he listened to on Saturdays.

     Now mind you I have actually been in the shower on a Saturday and then came to my senses.  Never left the house. Well I finally started to think rationally in this conversation with myself.  Asked, did you do the town fair yet or go shopping?  That's when it dawned on me.  It was only Sunday.

     Gray and misty and just humid out.  I'd stuck to my original plan.  Take the car up town, park in the train station, get bakery goods and paper and walk home.  Went well.

     After food shopping  came home and waited on brother in law.  He was not to tired to walk up with me.

     Standard town day.  Up and down the main street there were vendors, lots of things.  It was better than the previous year, but not great.  I think the weather kept a lot of people away, although it was still pretty quiet.  Bought a T shirt made in the U.S.  Painted one I mean.  Looks cool, it's a bald eagle in motorcycle gear, yes with a helmet, on a motor cycle.

     I'll continue with more later.

Saturday's Adventures.

     Morning.  Me and a coffee mug of seltzer here.  Oh the juice, well you see it's like this.  The bottle I buy is a 6 day serving.  In other words if you go by the serving size it is only 6 days.  Today is Sunday the 7th.  Coffee mug?  I do have an inordinate amount.  I still feel like keeping them in rotation.  This week is a nice large black model, gloss finish.  The inscription reads:

"I'm not over the hill.  I'm on a roll."

     Okay let's begin.  Saturday broke open.  I made a rather gorgeous egg creation with onion; red bell pepper; and asparagus.  All on a whole wheat tortilla.  Was wonderful

     After waiting until 9 I decided to depart.  Had my car title, letter from bank, and insurance bill with me.  By the way, I didn't do such a great job as I have stated.  I should have checked the loan carefully and walked out.  They got me.  Basically if I'd gone with a bank check, meaning had their load set up, it would be for half of what the dealer ship got me for.  Yup doubled it.  So in the long run I lost, I do take victory in the short run.  Next time, have the loan already approved by the bank.  They will only truly get me if I don't transfer the loan, and at a better interest rate.

     I also needed to get money for me and food shopping money.  The more I thought about it, Nooo I wasn't going to just go home and drop stuff off.  So I decided to go straight to the San Genaro festival.

     Off I went, was a nice drive actually.  Gray skies, but not feeling like rain.  Because it's a highway I use so infrequently, it felt like I wasn't here.  So it had high points.  I got there fairly early, before the parade, people were already looking for parking.

     Was told by 1 cop to go to 1 place, couldn't locate it.  Most other lots were clearly marked about towing you.  The occasional spots on the street were 2 hour.  And I saw a lot of local cops.  Which already means they're hankering for a ticket blitz.  

     Then I started thinking.  This is a nice car, be careful where I park.  I then realized that it would mean leaving the title in the car in a strange area.  That and the lack of secure parking made me call it off.  By 10:30 I was being constricted by the traffic in town trying to get out.  

     I didn't consider it a bust as I drove home.  I was happy I'd gone.  I thought I'd treat myself, it was getting nearer to 11:30 by the time I was near my home.  Yup traffic was growing by leaps and bounds westward.  

     I know I've mentioned the new crepe place.  Who now has hours listed, and a nice sign that blinks open.  I've been dying to try a nutella crepe.  I chose against the banana and nutella and went for banana and and strawberry and nutella.  Hit the bank, said hey to the inmates.  Grabbed a cigar and hit the beach.

     I did do an audio version for me to listen to.  So I could clearly recall my doings.  The day was so stand out-ish, I don't need it.

     Beach was nice, little wind, lot of dead horse shoe crabs, baby gulls.  Pretty much deserted.  It was while I was enjoying the smoke that I noted how much I loved the crepe.  I don't think I would have enjoyed at all without the strawberries.  They added a nice cut against the sweet of the nutella.

     I was already thinking about dinner, and how I needed to go to the farm stand.  Really considering starting a low sodium blog.  

     Picked up 2lbs of boneless chicken thighs, 1 for freezing.  It's a local butcher shop that I don't usually go into.  Unless that is, I need something that the food shops wouldn't usually have.  It was $9 altogether so I wasn't disappointed.

     Went to my usual farm stand where they know me well and spent another $20.  Fresh beets, I was steered away from the already trimmed ones.  "The ones with the greens are fresh.  The others aren't"  Bought 1 yellow and 1green squash.  I have have a watermelon, so didn't need that.  Some red potatoes, sugar snap peas, 2 peaches, and like 8 plums.  Maybe something else that I'm not recalling.

     I am enjoying my late night watermelon snack.  As well as my plum after lunch.

     Well that was Saturday.  Today is Sunday, obviously.  Bakery, food shopping, slow cooker, and cigar lounge to look forward to.  Oh and yes, town day.  

-Later.

Morning.

     Sitting here drinking my juice.  WHAT THE HELL!  Yeah I know.  It's like this.

     Without going into all the details, I'm on a fluid restriction.  1500 milliliters a day.  Sounds horrible at first, and it was.  Not so bad though.   Comes to about 1 and 3 quarter Liter bottles of water.  Most days I don't even drink all that.

     My thinking is this, especially at the beginning, I only had so many drinks a day to have, I'd like the first to be nutritious.  So I've chosen one of the 100% juices, not to much sugar, not to much sodium.  Not bad actually. 

     I remember back in the day my mom would drink coffee.  Like 7-10 cups.  That was her story.  Was more like 3-4.  She'd pour some, forget about it halfway in, then pour a new cup because the coffee was cold.  There would always be a mug or 4 around the house with half forgotten coffee from parts of the day.

     I remember being a teen and driving to the diners.  Coffee and fries were the orders of the day.

     Got a little older and enjoyed it even more.  Even went the route of buying beans and grinding them myself.  The grinder would eventually become my herb grinder.  French press is pretty and kind of neat.  Almost makes ceremony out of making coffee.  Did I ever notice the difference, no.

     Older back at home, I actually enjoyed coffee.  I'd sit with mom and her friends, talking, maybe playing boggle or cards.  I really loved coffee.

     So you see I'm a coffee lover, not an addict.  My mornings started well before my first cup.  I just loved it.  So for me, giving it up isn't as hard as it should be.  I mean I've relatives who are complete and utter zombies until their first cup.  Brother in law is like that, sister doesn't drink it.

     So for a good part you may notice coffee missing.  Can I bring it back?  I hope so.  But I am concentrating on my health right now.  And I intend to give it a good fight as I have always done.
 
     Okay so for Saturday what's the schedule look like?  It's after 8 in the morning.  I've had breakfast.  A nice egg wrap that I threw  onions, asparagus, and some left over mushrooms in.  Very good stuff.

     The day looks uninspiring.  Overcast and gray.  I'm still thinking about hitting the San Genaro festival.  Just have to watch what I eat.  Maybe the lounge too.  Tomorrow just may be to packed with stuff for me to make it.

     Well that's all I have to say right now.  Enjoy your day.  Whichever day it is in your part of the world.

-Later

Stuff.....and not STUFU

     HI!  Funny how that word still reminds me a girl I met in an online game.  I don't think I ever said it again after she broke my heart.  Laughable at best.  I tried to keep in touch via email, worked for a small time.  Then I noticed it was always me breaching in and asking how she was.  Then she'd reply.  So I just stopped.  Sadly I'm not even sure she noticed.

     Actually there was another girl too.  The feelings there were just friendship.  It would be hard to explain that.  Maybe even a little painful.  I don't like loosing friends. Who does right?

     That one I met in a chat room on the old about.com website in the humor room.  She was actually my very first online friend.  Lasted a good 5 or 6 years.  I think in a large way she was too self obsessed for my liking.   anyway. 

     Font changed there and I didn't care, because I'm done there.  So what's been becoming of me?

     Well for 1 week I didn't drive.  So I had to be dependent on family and public transportation even for work.   It was kind of neat again.  For the last 3 or 4 days of the week I wound up walking up to the train station and taking it to work.  Then used the bus which was conveniently across from the train station.  Had a light anecdote on my first day on the bus.

     I'm used to New York City public transportation.  It's a different animal out here. Obviously it is not 24/7 here.  The rules differ as well.

     Okay I'm on a northbound bus.  Making time.  I note that here each bus has a permanent rider.  Someone who is a bit off, has all day to ride the bus, and get to know the driver.  Think that would drive me mad.  Anyway.

     I'm getting close, about half a mile from my stop.  There is a stop up there but I pull the cord just in case, you know.  Well that was a little mistake.

     Seems out here the bus pulls over when you ring, not like in the city at the next available stop.  I chuckled at myself.  It's been a good 20+ years since I've taken the bus out here.  I forgot, pull the thing and the bus pulls over as soon as it can.  They don't wait for the next stop.  

     It was a nice day for a walk, balmy, blue sky, and yes I saw the bus make the stop at the bus stop a half mile away.  Lesson learned thankfully.  

     It was nice to take the train again.  Came to about $30 all in all for a 5 day period.  So not all that much cheaper than a car for me.  But then I have a sporty 4 cylinder.

     I took a nice detour on my walks home, enjoying the exercise.  Like I said, it was a nice week of weather.  I'm sure I'd be feeling differently if it was bad weather.

     I did do some driving last weekend.  Even went to the lounge.  Was such a gorgeous day it was only me and the owner.  He's becoming more tolerable.  We watched the Giants loose and I came home.

     This weekend you should have some stuff to read.  Hampton Bays is having another San Genaro festival, friend of mine installed the sound system.  Otherwise I'd never have found out about it.  So I'm going tomorrow.  Sunday is town day.  Vendors lining the streets and stuff, so hopefull some news there.  

     And that really is all I have for you right now.  Hope you come back.

-Later.