Saturday Drive

 Somehow, I don't think I posted on Friday. The day was nothing like I planned. We did not get the ballots mailed. I have been trying for two weeks to get a refill on Victoza. Finally, today, Saturday, we drove to Cullman. 

The pharmacist in response to my asking why it was hard to find, said it was the vanity in the world....says the pretty slim young woman. It seems people misuse Victoza for weight loss.  I had no idea. I got 40 days' worth instead of the 90 days on my prescription. Some days, I am only given one pen, good for 13 days. The worry of wondering when and if I can find this stresses me. 

While we were in Cullman, we went to get a fob for me. It was $130 after two discounts. Then, I had him make me a house key and bought a big ring to hold both and attached it to my phone. Now, I am set. 

Tommy finally figured out how to open the car with the key instead of the fob. The keyhole is in the door handle on the driver's side. There is only one place to open the car with a key, driver's door. I hate that. 

We are still working on learning what is what on this car! We still have not found a cd player. 

While we were waiting for the fob, there was a woman with a table full of things to sell. I wanted nothing but the bracelets. I bought three at $3 each, Christmas gifts. It was for a house where women and children live while mothers are overcoming addiction. Then, I saw something lumpy and colorful. It was a crocheted potholder, $5. She gave me a crocheted 'prayer flower.' People pray over them and give them away. I won't be doing that as I don't have that belief. I told Tommy he better not use the potholder. I want to hang it up. 

We bought Whoppers, two for $5. I went to Publix but forgot to go to the other store I like. 

The weather was beautiful with no sun in my eyes. The sun was shining and bright. However, we did not go early and come home late, so the sun was not at an angle until the last 30 minutes. Riding in the Honda is a dream. 

I came home and went to bed and slept for two hours, lay there resting for another hour. Now, I am making dinner. I put in two hamburgers with onion soup mix over them. We are having burgers, green beans, slaw, and a salad. Tommy had burger, green beans, and a salad, no slaw. Our burgers had no bun. I am so full. 

On Thursday night we had burger on bun, slaw, tomato, twice-baked potatoes. 

Does your vehicle have only a keyhole on the driver's side? Does that annoy you?

Do you have a CD player? 

Cooking Blindly--Savory Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

After I arrived home from the cardiologist, I decided to fix something that was fast because I was exhausted. I had one Cinnamon Raisin Bagel that was not long for this world. So, I decided to add more cinnamon and sugar after I split and buttered it. I reached for the cinnamon bottle or at least where I thought I had put it. It's taller than other spices, so not to hard to spot.

After reaching and not really looking for or at a label, I vigorously sprinkled it on the bagel. It did not come out in powder form but in flaky form. Ack! I was sprinkling Italian seasoning on my bagel! The reason I was putting more sugar and cinnamon was because these bagels have only the slightest hint of cinnamon. Well, what to do??

I could just go with the savory bit and sprinkle cheese on it. But, I was in a cinnamon mood. I just put lots of cinnamon on top of the Italian seasoning and a moderate amount of sugar and put the top without Italian seasoning and bottom with Italian seasoning under the broiler. Thankfully, I only put the Italian seasoning on one half.

Naturally, I ate it first so the perfect one would be the last thing I ate. I would not recommend this. The taste was not ruined by the Italian seasoning. It was okay. But, the second half was what I enjoyed the best.

Then, I wanted eggs. I got out the carton of eggs I bought before Easter that had not been opened. When I picked up the first egg, I noticed it was sitting in liquid. ??? I checked the bottom and all around the egg. It was not dinged. Sometimes, a broken egg gets into the section where the next eggs sits.

One by one, I picked up the other 11 eggs. All were sitting in liquid, the white of the egg. The surface of each egg had one tiny hairline crack. Frozen? They were on a bottom shelf near the door opening. Nothing ever freezes there! So, I am out a dozen expensive eggs. I have the idea it happened at the store, but I cannot prove it. Today, I will get more. I need the protein as I ate the chicken I cooked. Plus, I love boiled eggs.

Don't suggest I do something so I can see the labels of my spices. Ain't happening. I usually look at each label, but I was exhausted. I never re-season cinnamon raisin bagels, just this package.

Aha! it is almost 3 o'clock and I realize the free dinner is tonight. So, by the time I get bathed and dressed, go to the store and buy eggs, bring them home, it will be time to go there and eat.

When I remembered the Thursday dinner was tonight, I decided to stay here and rest, go to the dinner, and then to WM for eggs.

The dinner was tacos or nacho chips with choice of toppings--cheese, queso cheese, black olives, black beans, pico, tomato, lettuce, onions, guacamole, and other things I cannot remember. Each person gets a small piece of paper on which to circle what you want--sort of a menu. I also chose unsweetened tea. Little piggy that I am, a had a cream cheese pie slice and tiny piece of cake or brownie with pecans in it. It looked like cake but was brownies, I think.

That makes tacos twice in one week. It was good, it was healthy. I am happy. No complaints!

The free clinic here in town had volunteers manning a table with information and bp check, blood sugar check, and BMI. Since my bp was so high yesterday, I took advantage of that and was pleased with the numbers--123/74--I think. It is usually better.

At each place setting, there was a coupon/card for $2 off Moe's. I am not sure what Moe's is, what type place, but I am going to look it up on the internet when I finish here. It was a nice little surprise.

I think I will go boil eggs!

Tomorrow, it will be sunny and dry. I have plans in the yard, so hopefully I will get a few things done.

Have you ever tossed the wrong ingredient into or onto your food, causing a minor cooking crisis?

Thursday Christmas Dinner

I was one of the first fifty people there, and amongst the last 25 served. ugh. However, it was okay. I ate chocolate cake.

A guy who looked like he might know something stopped near our table. I asked about food. He said "well, you have already eaten." The other people and I spoke up, saying we had not had our meal and all the tables had been served except us. He said, "Well, your dessert plates are empty. You did not have a meal? Well, why did you eat dessert?" We all said we were hungry. Really, the meal smelled and looked delicious.

This meal was sponsored by the same church where I went on Thanksgiving Day. We had ham, turkey, corn, green beans, sweet potato casserole, roll, mashed potato, dressing, cranberry sauce. I did not get get corn. At this place there is a menu each month. The person circles what she wishes to have.

There was so much food I could not finish it. So, I was going to carry the plate home. Someone offered to get me a go plate. I thought they meant a box to put my leftovers in. No, they filled me a plate/box again. They gave me two times what I had the first time which was generous.

A woman encouraged me to walk over to the sanctuary and hear Christmas music. I told her I could not comfortably walk that far. She said, "You need to go over there and get your gift bag." I asked if someone could get it for me since several persons were concerned I would not get it. I was informed I had to sign for it. A guy told me to write my name on the back of the menu and he would get it. So, I did and waited.

I thanked him and asked the woman near me if someone could take the bag to the car since my purse, the very heavy go box were all I could handle. A little boy about ten carried it for me. He had obviously been assigned to my table because during the evening, he continually inquired about my/our need for more tea. Great service. 

I figured the gift bag would be a paper bag donated from a grocery store. No, it is a great reusable tote bag with the name of the church on it. Cool!

The people who sat at the table where I was were all related or acquainted. One woman was in a wheel chair with right arm splinted. She had fallen and crushed her hand. I forgot how she broke her foot. There were two other older women and a young couple. The couple  started fighting, loud, sharp and with a few pokes and mean faces toward each other. My stomach was in knots over that. They left and never came back which bothered the three woman. I was relieved.

Then, I headed to WM to get packing tape. Since I left my checkbook at home, I had to come home and go back to WM...grrrr.

There was one more thing I needed to get at Belk's so I went there and about killed my back walking and holding onto the little carts they have. K, g-daughter, will like what I got her. I survived and headed to Publix for milk.

While I was waiting in the car for someone to bring me an electric cart at Publix, I looked in the bag to see what was there....food. Two boxes of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, some sort of dressing mix, cranberry sauce, green beans, corn, and something else. There was a broken candy cane, a piece of paper about the organization, and a little yellow card about 4x6 inches, yellow like a safety vest. When I took it out, I was shocked. I read it three times to make sure it said what I thought it said. Yes, it did say that.

I could take the card to the meat department in Publix and get a one half a Publix baked ham, partial bone in. My ham I picked out with the help of the meat guy was 8.97 lbs. !!! I asked him if he would cut it in three pieces, not across but down the ham. Then, as he cut it, I asked if he could remove the bone for beans. So, I left with four portion of ham. One of the thirds will go to exbf. He can have it with the beans I made and have frozen for him to take home Friday.

Now I know why 200 people showed up at the dinner! Someone in Publix said the church had it on a Tuesday last year and did the same thing--gave away hams to everyone. Nine pounds of ham is a lot for me, even with part of it being bone and giving away some of it to exbf. I am so happy. He was pleased and surprised when I told him on Thursday night, and he will be very pleased when he is eating it.

Now, I will make everything I like that goes with ham--scrambled eggs and ham, biscuits with ham, mac n cheese with ham in it, field peas with mac n cheese and ham. I don't mix that last. Of course, I will freeze two of the three ham bones. Plus, I will freeze some of the meat because I don't need to eat that much ham in a short time.

These free eating events, lunches and dinners, are working out fine.

(When I first went into Publix and was struggling to walk, someone from customer service told me to call when I arrived and a cart would be brought to me. So, I do. Last week, I waited and waited for a cart and finally just walked best I could. Halfway there, I saw a woman getting into an electric cart. I asked her where she got it, and she said someone just brought it to her. I was frosted!

I commented to the person who was sending the cart that I never got one. Another woman just took it. She was horrified that I had to wait and that the girl gave it away to someone else.)

Would you say this has been a good night with a huge half of a ham? It would have been better with the Christmas carols. sigh Are any churches in your area giving away hams?

Better Thursday, Maybe

Last night, I slept soundly, a long refreshing sleep. Today, I am not dizzy and not so exhausted with each step. My throat does not hurt as much as yesterday. I am not well, just less ill. Is there any such thing?

My potatoes died, but today, new green is appearing. Hope springs eternal or something like that. It is 52 F. The sun is brilliant and the wind is minimal. The pots are still covered with the sheet. Before it gets dark, I will put the cardboard back over the sheet and anchor it.

The case of the disappearing Christmas cards is being investigated. How could I misplace them? Well, a fter searching for the three Christmas cards, I looked over, and there they were!

My computer is beeping and a voice is threatening to disable my computer so it will not damage the Microsoft system. they are sending me credit card info. I must not close the page before calling. nope, not falling for it. Let me take care of this.

I kept closing the page and the site kept asking me if I wanted to leave this page. Pop ups that were serious and threatening to me and my computer. I called the number and yelled at the guy. He said he did not do anything and YES he was Microsoft and I needed to give him information, personal information! I slammed the phone downas I was yelling! Everything calmed down with my computer, and my computer was not disabled.

Cards are stamped and mailed. While I was out doing a few things, I used my last CFA card for a chicken sandwich. At 2 pm, the roads were packed and so were shopping center parking lots. Christmas shopping is going strong.

Washing my hair, packing a box for TX, buying one more gift, and attending a Christmas dinner are on the agenda for the rest of the day. 4: pm--hair washed. Now to get ready for the dinner at 6 pm.

Later

Your turn
Are you in the throes of getting better and worse this season? This has been going on since mid-October. I feel awful some days and just fine others. Have you gotten messages from your computer with a siren going off, telling you to call and give them info?