Textbook

Good morning.  Yes it has been a minute since I've been here.  I've just been mentally absent from most social media.  Can't STAND the political crap going on so I am just staying off, except to see grands or post an art pic here and there.  We've been hanging around town a lot because of a lot of dance stuff and I just choose not to go to the cabin by myself lately.  There are times, it's true, that I need to be alone, but lately, I'm enjoying his company, quirks and all.  There is a reason we've been married 48 years.  I mean you HAVE to know that when you sign up for the long haul, you accept the quirks, the idiosyncrasies that person has.  They may drive you a bit nuts but you HAVE to just get over it.  They belong to the person you have chosen to love forever.  With that little soapbox thing, my brother and his lovely celebrated 45 years last weekend and our oldest and her hubby celebrated 16 years yesterday.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

"Purple Majesty"

14x11 oil

This little gem of a painting I finished yesterday.  I started it in my little art group on Thursday.  The reference photo I took when I walked into my doctor's office building on Tuesday.  It was on the reception desk and it just stopped me in my tracks with such beauty.  I just knew I wanted to paint it, and so here we are.  I went to the studio EARLY yesterday morning, 7 am with this NEED to finish it, which  I did.  So very please with it and it really makes the eyes happy, at least my eyes.  

I finished these two last week and have already entered them in an online show.

"Pop"

12x9 oil

"Pink in a Bottle"

7x5 oil

(Reference photo by my oldest)

Now, speaking of my doctor, I went in on Tuesday, mostly to check my thyroid, physical is in September.  You know I have a slight problem with the "white coat syndrome" going in but I steeled myself, gathered my confidence and was ready for him.  I honestly have not felt better, health wise in a very long time.  I'm moving much easier, my hair is nearly to my butt, my nails and skin are looking great, and my insides are working so very well.  I feel great and I wanted to show him I did.  He's pushed the diet shot at least three times and I was NOT going to let him get me this time, I was ready for a fight if need be.  Turns out he did not even mention it!  I did see the damned scale go up 5 pounds which kind of deflated me but I was not going to let it get to me.  I still held my head up high and went in the room to have my BP taken.  I was shocked when he said it was TEXTBOOK!  That was absolutely awesome.  I knew it!  I felt it!!!  So I will really knuckle down and continue the OsteoStrong, building muscle, which is I think what is happening.  Hopefully, the scale will start showing some progress along with my better eating.  

All About the Food

Yes all about FOOD!  Food, and I'm not ashamed to talk about it.  You know Oprah did a special the other night about the weight loss drug stuff and honestly I think it was nothing more than an ad for the drugs.  Hmm, is she getting a payback of some sort...

Anyway, had the granddaughters overnight on Monday night and of course it's a challenge for the vegan part but I did this...

and it was a HUGE success.  I had crescent rolls and ran to the store for some vegan cheese to make pizza rollups.  Snicklefritz of course is not vegan and wanted real cheese, which I had.  I had pizza sauce for our dinner.  These rollups were so easy and they got to do them themselves.  After they were rolled up Min asked for black olives and fortunately I had a small can of sliced ones.  They got to spread the sauce and sprinkle the cheese and then roll them up.  Baked them the temp on the package and let cool a bit before I served them.  There were four each, Snicklefritz scarfed down all four of hers and Min ate two, very quickly.  They both ate their broccoli, blueberries and strawberries.  Dinner was a HUGE success.

Our part of the dinner was cabbage sliced into thick slices and brushed with oil, salt and pepper and Italian seasoning, both sides.  Put into a 400 degree oven until the cabbage was nearly done but not mushy.  I may have overcooked mine a tad but it was okay.  Then take out and spread pizza sauce over, pepperoni slices, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese and since the olives were open, those too.  Back in the over just to melt the cheese and heat the sauce.  YUMMY!

Last nights dinner was similar but I had the ingredients and I didn't want to do anything else.  I parboiled the brussels sprouts in salted water until fork or knife tender.  While cooking, slice up a kielbasa sausage put on parchment lined cookie sheet.  Scoop out the sprouts and place on top of the sausage, top with cheese (I had a bit of mozzarella left and sharp cheddar cheese).  Put in preheated 350 degree oven to heat the sausage and melt the cheese.  OMG, this was so very yummy.  I LOVED IT!

Last weekend too we went to the cabin and totally enjoyed the newly re-screened porch and fire.  Had a couple of girlie friends over for day drinking (hubby's too).  At first this was a girl thing buy more and more it's becoming a guy thing too.  Not sure how I feel about that.  Anyway, it was nice.  I fixed a new dip, Dirty Martini Dip I found on Insta.  You can just search for it.  OMG, again it was a huge hit.  It had, of course, GIN, cream cheese, blue cheese and olives.  So very good. 

Mighty Max Update

Max had his cardiology appointment yesterday. Great news: his heart function has improved! And it’s improved so much that it’s considered in the “normal” range now!! We are thrilled. He’s doing so well, and they don’t want to see us again for another four months! He still hasn’t really gained any weight, but they’re not concerned. His Mom and Dad will chat with our dietitian soon about switching over fully to the toddler formula, and that should help. It was pretty amazing to see him playing around in the play area of the hospital where Min played so many times last year while he lived upstairs in the CVICU. He’s doing really great with his g-tube feeds and oral feeds and is even starting to tolerate some bolus feeds with the toddler formula (bolus is basically how a baby would normally drink a bottle in one sitting, but via the tube - meaning, it’s like 70mL in 10 minutes, as opposed to a continuous feed of 70mLs per hour, if that makes sense). It’s basically one big step forward with his feeds and will help his stomach to know what it feels like to fill it more quickly and normally.

We are so proud of him and are so relieved to get such a good report.

These two are just so in love with each other. They are absolute besties. Precious.

I'm On A Rant...

Going to get political here.  I have to because the crap going on is invading my sleep, my dreams.  I tried to watch the President's speech the other night but Big Bang Theory called my name.  I would go back and forth and honestly what I saw I thought he did a mighty good speech.  My issues with NOT watching it were the stupid REPUBLICANS!  MTG for one.  She is a piece of work and BAT SHIT CRAZY!!!  What happened to decorum and the RESPECT for the office of the president.  When T was in office he absolutely downgraded the office and EVERYONE lost respect for it.  He is the biggest bully and name calling jerk I've ever seen.  He's also running around calling the shots AND HE'S NOT PRESIDENT you numb-nuts!  Yup, I'm name calling now.  Pompous Ass!

The Republican rebuttal was appalling.  What the HELL!  Sitting in her kitchen talking that CRAP.  Even the Republican's were appalled by her.  Yup, barefoot, pregnant and cooking IN THE KITCHEN!  

You want to know WHY I have photos of my mother?  It's because she would turn in her grave to see the state our country is in, specifically for women.  What the hell are we doing to women in this country.  The world, specifically the middle east countries already have women as second class citizens and now we are falling in line to the 60's, 50's, 40's ... It is appalling what we are doing to women and where the HELL are women today.  We have lost our voice and not standing up for US and our bodies.  No MAN is EVER going to tell me what I can and can't do with my body.  I'm scared for our country our ways of life but I'm more scared what is happening to women, my friends, my daughters and granddaughters.  It's like the Handmaids Tale is coming to life right before our eyes.  If we actually put him BACK in office we will have a dictator in office.  It won't be for only 4 years my friends, he wants to be in control FOREVER!  Another H or KJU, or P...DO YOU NOT SEE IT!  Are we that STUPID to let this happen again but in our own country.  The apathy is appalling and I can't stand it.  

Momma, please help us.  I'm honestly scared what is happening and I can't keep it out of my dreams.  He is the worst thing that has ever happened to our country, to our lives and the IDIOT followers, it's like the crazies are taking over the asylum!  AND I MEAN CRAZIES!  

Our ancestors would be so embarrassed and ashamed.  Oh, and our State Superintendent...don't get me started on that piece of crap.  I saw on the news the other day of him in a classroom, PRAYING with the kiddos.  When my kids were little I got a bus driver in trouble because they prayed on the bus with MY children.  That is MY prerogative whether my children (grandchildren) have any contact with  anything religion, that is what church is for, that YOU pick out.  If my child had been in that class I would be filing suit against him.  No WHERE in the constitution does it say we can do that and I do not want prayer in school or we would need everyone's different religions to allow them to pray and I guarantee that is not happening.  They will shut that down to cram, SHOVE, Christianity only down every child's throat.  Not right, ABSOLUTELY NOT RIGHT.

Can you tell I'm mad.  I can't even watch the news without cursing and shooting the finger at all of them.  When The Hubby watches the news I leave the room, my mind and heart cannot take it anymore.  

I ask too, where are the women fighting for our rights, burning our bras.  It just feels like no one is stepping up to shout!  I remember the 60's and 70's and the rally's, signs, and screaming to the tops of our lungs for our rights.  Is the news just not showing it, are they standing on the sidelines, not being neutral.  I think they are, much like Fox News.  It's all I can do to control myself on FB and not comment on certain posts from certain friends.  

I think I wrote about having a falling out with my best friend.  She and her husband keep posting crap and it's making me nuts.  Most of the time I mute those people for 30 days and I may have to again because it's not going to change.  

False Positive

Well it seems that the positive Covid test was a false positive as she tested negative yesterday and everyone in her house tested negative.  If she were positive I would think one of the others would have tested positive as they are runny-nosed too.  So...YIPPEE!  Thank goodness.  

I am in a FUNK and this gray day is NOT HELPING!  Honestly I feel at loose ends with this retirement thing.  Here I have the time to do WHAT I WANT TO DO and I can't decide WHAT I WANT TO DO!  Poop.  

 

Spring and Covid

Last weekend was so wonderful.  The weather was absolutely perfect, albeit a bit windy.  The Hubby has, of course, another project going which impacts me and my beloved screened porch.  It was honestly time to rescreen it because of all the holes caused by squirrels and chipmunks.  I'm hoping it will be complete very soon.  We are also adding a drop-down canvas shade on one side and two little ones on either side of one of the screen doors, AND I believe new screen doors.  It should be the perfect place this spring and summer for us to use.  And with the shade more time to use the fireplace and enjoy the warmth longer into the fall season.

Took a little drive to see the meadow in full sunshine, the flowering quince or as my mother called it japonica.  By the creek evidence the beavers are hard at work.

I've been really struggling with the painting lately, hell, I've been struggling with accomplishing anything lately.  Reading is becoming a task, even posting here on the blog is becoming a trial.  I think I'm just in a funk.  It has now been a full year of retirement and I'm finding myself at loose ends, trying to figure out what I'm going to do everyday.  Didn't think I would have an issue as I was partially at that point with retirement, but I'm realizing that I am there.  

Yesterday I finally felt like I was accomplishing something on the canvas, we'll see.   

I did come home at lunch to watch Min for a few hours while her parents worked on some tax stuff while Max napped.  Af wasn't feeling her best and they've all been drippy with "allergies" but once Af left she immediately felt worse and just for precaution she took a Covid test...GUESS WHAT!  Yup, as I was hanging up the phone with her telling me she was on her way back, with mask, to get Min, Min, who was playing on my IPad, sneezed all over my IPad.  GREAT, just great.  The Hubby, just laughed.  I think we will be okay.  Af came sweeping in disinfecting everything as she went, door knobs, couch, my IPad...everything.  Plus we had the doors open with nice breezes.  We had it the end of December and I've had a booster, think we will be okay.  

GOOD GRIEF!