I Want an Orange

 Jan. 29

steps 13,780

Wednesday was an all-around good day. Nothing spectacular happened except for the weather, 64 degrees. That alone is enough to celebrate. We accomplished lots in comfort. 

We collected ads from three stores where we shop. Publix is the last store ad we collect. Today, we got it first. There were things we knew would be gone by Thursday morning. Some items on bogo were gone by 3pm! 

We bought these b2g2--Cokes. These b2g1--HUGGIE wipes, Cottonelle. Coleslaw mix was two for $6. White grapes were reduced, not sure how much. 

I heard that Cottonelle was best tp for not having lots of fuzz, so tried it. I was sitting in Electric cart, tried to tip off a small size, tipped it right into face and knocked my glasses off onto floor. It took a great effort to retrieve glasses from the floor. ugh! 

We have passed by drugstore several times in the last three days on the way home or out to do chores. We kept going because there were too many cars in line. This prescription I do not need in a hurry. Last night, it was getting dark, so Tommy went inside hoping to avoid eight cars in line. He came back out saying there were fifteen people standing in line. Today, we had plenty of daylight and just wanted to get this pickup over with. So, we sat it out. This prescription is an ophthalmic med for my ear. I don't know.

The only things on the list we did not accomplish were jumping off my car and going for a ride. Those two things go at the top of my list tomorrow.

I want an orange. I am starving for an orange!!! I have not had one for a year. My history with oranges is not altogether a happy history. Somehow, I knew I was allergic to oranges or at least sensitive. But, I kept consuming the orange and juice. When my son was 18 months, we moved. The house had just been built and had a well. My son kept having massive diarrhea issues. I remember walking down the hall carrying him with his diarrhea running down the front of my housecoat and nightgown and into my house shoes. I had no idea what was happening all of a sudden with him. 

I took him to the doctor several times. He suggested testing the water since we were on a new well. The authorities came and tested our well water when I requested. It was perfect and pure water. 

I thought about this all the time. One day, I was sitting and drinking orange juice. It hit me. I told husband to never allow son to have even a sip of orange juice. After a week of no diarrhea, I gave him a sip. Within the next day, he let loose. We withheld oj for a period of time two more times. Both sips of oj disrupted his bowels. So, he and other children never had oj before they were two or three years old. I kept drinking it, but hid or drank out of cup so they could not see what I had. I had no untoward problems.

One day, the youngest was begging from her brother and sister. She was a year old and wanted some orange juice from a sibling's juice glass.  I told them not to ever give her orange juice. They were stunned. I explained son's diarrhea and they were sure not to give her any, no matter how prettily she asked. So, the two younger, both girls, never had the digestive problem.  Maybe it would not have affected them. Both girls were eventually given orange juice when they were about five, but never had the same problem. 

However, oranges or juice does not affect my digestion as far as I know. I have figured out that oranges or juice cause me to have sinus problems that end up being a sinus infection eventually. Or, I am just congested forever! One of these days, I will give in, but I am resisting the oranges I so want. Of course, this includes all citrus fruit. I love them all so much! 

I stopped typing and made dinner. We have leftover chicken and turkey. Frozen broccoli was put in refrigerator from freezer, so I had to do something with it. I made two medium casseroles. Each had a bag of broccoli, 1/2 can of cream of chicken soup and 1/2 can of cream of mushroom. Neither had sodium. In my casserole I put cheese. Tommy said he hates cheese on chicken or rice or in his soup. Two casseroles work. 

We are both tired. He gets grumpy when tired. Not fun. Thankfully, he settles down when he eats!

We have a few chores for tomorrow, but I am adding planting bulbs.

Are you allergic to oranges? What is your reaction? Do you ever have a strong desire for a food to which you are allergic? 

Going to Atlanta

This is not about a frugal trip to Hotlanta, going to Underground, or any of the other joys I have ever experienced in Georgia. Nope, my tale is a different kind of parsimonious/silly joy.

About twelve years ago I had to go to Atlanta for a week of training for a new job.  I was so exhausted after the sessions that all I wanted to do was go to my room. The young people hit the lounge area, buying expensive drinks and food. I think I stayed at the Hyatt, not sure.

On the second night everyone was broke. I got wind of the hotel van taking a group to the grocery store and threw up my hand. I got aboard, becoming claustrophobic because of the tight fit and anxious because of my control issues.
Everyone on the bus was in high spirits, so it was sort of fun. No, it was not fun, just not as horrible as it could have been. At the grocery store we all spilled out and hurried  into the store, each person or group with their own mission AND a deadline from the van driver. Then, we all gathered at the counter at about the same time to pay for our purchases. All the young people gasped at my purchase. If I had been less self-assured, I would have cried after their remarks. Maybe I would have yelled at them. Or, treated them like the idiots they could have been mistaken for.

Is that what you are getting?
Why did you get that?
What are you going to do with it?
Then, there was giggling and eye-rolling. They exchanged knowing glances and puzzled ones. You have to understand, they were half-lit anyway.

I am going to eat it.
More laughter. "Without cooking it?

Of course I am going to cook it before I eat it!
Lots of murmuring behind hands occurred.

How?!
The same way I always cook it!

Tonight? You are cooking rice in your room?
No, I just cannot find this in Alabama! I am taking it home because this is the closest place to buy it.

People looked sideways at each other. People rolled their eyes. Some giggled into their hands. I was tolerated for favoring to buy food, real food, good food instead of alcohol.

My fellow passengers were training for a different job than I, but they saw the benefit of keeping lots of booze in the motel room. Some had spent $100 on drinking and treating others the first night.

All I wanted was some Uncle Ben's Brown Rice because I could not find it any closer to my home in north Alabama! And, I had five of the two-pound bags. I am soooo cool that way!

I love Uncle Ben's Brown Rice. At that time, I could go to Mobile, AL; Nashville, TN; Memphis, TN; Jackson, MS; or Atlanta, GA to buy rice. I live in the center of those places. So, going to Atlanta and getting paid the federal government rate for mileage and being hauled around in a free van seemed like the ideal time to buy my rice.

Many times when I cook rice, I chuckle at the younger people's dismay at a person wanting food not booze.

Okay, there was not really a strong point to the story. It just always makes me smile.

Your turn
Tell me a funny story. Got a comment on this story I told you? Do you ever find yourself temporarily in the company of people who just don't get it? Are you easily embarrassed?