Tuesday, January 07, 2020

Flotsam And Jetsam

What day is it? What year is it? And where in the heck is my Real Life? I've been at such Loose Ends since November that I am starting to feel more than a little surreal. Rick is still home recuperating, so every single day feels like Saturday or Sunday. Toss in the Holidays, and I feel as if it is The Weekend on an Endless Loop around here.

Here's a little of the Flotsam and Jetsam from the past couple weeks. (Has it been a couple weeks since the last post? No idea.)

Ice Cream And Pizza Follow-Up: In a purely selfless gesture in the interest of You, My Dearest Readers, Rick suggested we stop at the ice cream stand on our way home from the lakehouse the other day. He got a vanilla cone and spoke to the proprietor and one of the senior staff. The owner said that there is not much call for ice cream during the winter, and even less for chocolate ice cream in particular. The employee there said that she is the originator of most of the pizza flavours, and that the pickle bacon was adapted from a cookbook she received. They both said it was hugely popular and may be on their standard menu.

I Am A Grownup: For the first time in probably a decade or more, I stayed awake until midnight on New Year's Eve. Usually, Rick and I go to bed at about ten and are awakened by text messages or phone calls from Jared and Sam and my mother, all of whom have no problem at all being awake and celebratory for the holiday. In the interest of full disclosure, I must tell you that I was awake purely by accident; we were binge-watching a show on Netflix.

My House Has Turned Against Me: Since he is home, Rick is now puttering around and fixing a bunch of things that have been languishing on his To Do list for a long time. One of them was to fix the shower head and the bathtub faucet. The shower head went swimmingly, but the tub faucet required a part that was on a lifetime warranty, shipped from the manufacturer. Which takes 7-10 days. And renders my shower unusable. So, okay; bath it is. I drew a hot bath, added a few bubbles, and went to get in. Except the water was distinctly brownish. Add "new hot water heater" to the list of things to do. So far, since Rick has been unable to work, we have had to get a new battery for my car, a new printer, furnace repair, and a new hot water heater. And I have been nothing but nice to this place for 34 years!

________________________________

This year again I have not made any resolutions. As I always say, I am on a continuous path of self-improvement. I honestly do strive each day to do better than the day before.

I do like the idea of a Good Things Jar that I read on Jean's blog. I'm going to do it informally, though: each time a Good Thing happens, I'll write it down and put it in the Jar rather than do it arbitrarily each day or each week. I like that.

I also like having a Word. But rather than have one Word for the year, I'm going to use a Word for a blogpost each week or so. The word will be something I want to think about, improve, do, or change. I've been a sort of vagrant and uninspired blogger, and I don't like that. I like writing here, but sometimes I just can't get motivated to do it. I want to change that, and I think the Words will help me to do that.

Let's see how it all works out. Here's to a fulfilling 2020; may we all smile more each day of it.

33 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you followed up on the bacon and pickle pizza. Hard to believe enough people would try it to make it a favorite worth being put on a menu full time.

    Thanks for the shout out on my Good Things Jar post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jean--You're welcome. I try to give credit where credit is due.

      I'm with you on the pizza, especially when the shop is in such a teeny tiny town. I struggle to imagine there being that many adventurous eaters there, but maybe that's all there is to do! ;-)

      Delete
  2. I thought you said bacon and pickle ice cream. Ugh. I could do chocolate and bacon ice cream I think. I like your approach to the words a week. It will be fun to see what you choose. Shame on the house for being mean to you. Time to get the sage out and burn it! LOL My word: risky

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. kathy b--Oh, now THAT would be completely terrible. Bacon and pickle sounds iffy enough on a pizza, but completely out of bounds in ice cream!

      You know, I really did give some thought to the sage thing. That's how annoyed I am.

      Thanks for the encouragement about my Word idea.

      Delete
    2. I "heard" bacon and pickle pizza too - and I had even commented on the last post that I would probably try the pizza. I'm such a scatterbrain these days.

      Delete
  3. Glad you've made it to 2020! Have a good year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jill--Thank you. Same to you!

      Delete
  4. OK, for a minute I thought you were talking about my cat Jetsam ... ;-)

    No call for CHOCOLATE ice cream in the winter????? What is this, Russia????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bridget--You know, I did think about your cat when I considered this title. He really was a handsome gentleman.

      I share your astonishment. Chocolate truly knows no Season.

      Delete
  5. I still can't believe the bacon and pickle ice cream. I want to know what cook book produced that concept! Sorry the house has been acting up. They can be nasty that way (don't bother asking how I know).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vera--I guess that pizza is a case of Know Your Audience.

      I shouldn't be so miffed about that water heater, I guess. We got 17 years out of it! But its timing was less than optimal. How much do you want to bet we don't get nearly that long out of this new one?

      Delete
  6. Hope your New Year goes more smoothly. FWIW in case your Mom missed it, the Bear Bear eagles have returned and laid their first egg for this season with hatching expected Valentine’s Day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joared--Thank you. And it's nice to see you here!

      Thank you so much for this news about the Big Bear eagles. My mother will so enjoy watching this again. I will make sure to bring it to her attention.

      Delete
  7. Oh my ...........it is very painful to the budget when your house turns against you. Hope that stops soon and your house begins to appreciate all the love.

    P.S. New blog address for me: http://deekissinger.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dee--Thank you for letting me know where you went! It was quite a shock to stop by and see no one at home.

      Yes, our budget is feeling a few aches and pains, but we're okay. The Really Important Stuff is still well and good.

      Delete
  8. I didn't do resolutions, exactly, but I did download a water drinking app last week. It's already getting on my last nerve, but it's working, so there's that. I had gotten so slack about getting enough water during the day! Another idea in the back of my mind is trying to add a non-P365 blog post more often. That's gone really well so far - there are zero!

    Although there are definite advantages to home ownership, your home issues make me glad that we rent - the landlords had to replace our heating/air unit last month.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bug--I drink water constantly. I used to have the same problem (not drinking it), but when I went on migraine preventative medication, it was an absolute necessity to counteract constant dry mouth. It soon became a habit. It doesn't surprise me that there is an app for that! There's an app for everything.

      My kids both say the same thing about home ownership vs. renting. Although Jared is soon to be on The Other Team. Sam's basement flooded with what he and his gf found out was (ugh) sewage; they were very happy to let the landlord know and get it taken care of .

      Delete
  9. For some reason I thought you said Bacon and Pickle Ice-Cream and I couldn't imagine where on Earth that would be popular... even tho' I do love both... just not in my Ice-Cream and probably not on my Pizza either! The 'Thing' I can't fathom is the new desire to have so many Weird Flavors of Potato Chips... I like mine to just taste like a Potato Chip.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bohemian--You know, I reread my original post and this one, and I distinctly said in both that it was pickle and bacon pizza. You are not alone in making the jump, however, so somehow it was a Mandela Effect right here on my own little blog.

      I'm right with you there on potato chips although I cannot recall the last time I ate one. It's strange to think of all the flavours they've attempted, like chicken and waffles, truffle fries, loaded baked potato. I hear that ketchup is still a popular flavour in some places in the UK.

      Delete
  10. Oh, wow, I keep missing when you post because I don't get my email reminders anymore.
    *I need a 'Good Things Jar'.
    *Many thanks for the update on ice cream and pickle-bacon pizza. Still mind-boggling but at least we know.
    *I am looking forward to 2020 (in spite of possible wars, wildfires signaling very alarming irreversible climate change, and general political unrest and upheaval with the frightening possibility that 45 will plunge us into another four years of apocalyptic doom.) I think it's going to be a watershed year, for better or worse, so I am buckling up my seat belt and looking forward to WORDS from the Department of Nance as a refuge for my sanity. XXOO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ortizzle--I'm not sure why you don't get posts by mail. I changed mail feed providers (to Mailchimp) ages ago, and I sent a notice to all my subscribers so that they would be on the lookout and not send me to Spam. Maybe you missed it? You can sign up again.

      I'm glad you're here, whenever you show up. You've had a trying (to say the least) year. I certainly hope that 2020 is much gentler for you.

      Thank you for your encouragement for my future posts. I'll try to live up to your expectations! XXOO

      Delete
    2. Nance— It was *only the last 2 posts* I didn't get notification for. Anyway, I just solved the problem: they suddenly started going into my spam folder (for no particular reason, of course). I fixed it by labeling it as "not spam" so I should be good to go.

      Delete
  11. Well at least he is able to stay home and fix things! Sure hope all the mishaps stop happening and that Rick is able to return to work soon. I like your word idea. Frankly I don't have the attention span to work on the same word for a year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meredith--Rick has been released by his surgeon to return to work a whole month early! His recovery has been truly remarkable. He starts back at his job the first Monday of February.

      I had hoped to get to writing here right away, but I have been stricken with the same horrid illness that has been making the rounds of everyone (it seems) in Ohio. It's not flu, but a cough and digestive/intestinal thing that has really laid me low. I haven't been able to eat for 5 days. I'm hoping to rally soon and start with my first word.

      Delete
  12. I’ve been ignoring my blog, and all other blogs as well, so missed the bacon and pickle pizza conversation. Please please please try it. Please. I’ll send you money to pay for it. I mean, what if it’s super delicious and you never get to find out?

    Homeownership is such a mixed blessing. I dread the day our HVAC system dies, because those are crazy expensive, and I think the laws regarding air quality in California make them especially expensive here. Which is generally a good thing, but will not FEEL like a good thing when the time comes. Our system is 40 years old, though, so it’s probably overdue. You DID get a good run out of your water heater...I think 10 years is about the lifespan of one, though perhaps that’s more of an issue here because we have very hard water.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. J@jj--I will think about trying the pizza sometime when we are in the area again. Bacon and pickles, even separately, are not two of my favourite things, even when I am up to eating normally.

      I am, unfortunately, still ill. This Whatever It Is still has me laid low. I am able to eat a little, but not really normally and not very much. I've lost weight, and I am very weak and tired. No stamina. For anything.

      We have very hard water here, too. I am astonished at the Warrior Hot Water Tank we had. It deserves its rest on the scrap heap where Rick took it.

      Hope to see everyone back here soon. I am trying hard to get well.

      Delete
    2. I just commented on your illness, but wanted to suggest that if you don’t really like either bacon OR pickles, don’t waste your money on the pizza. Perhaps find someone who likes those things? I like them both...maybe I’ll fly out and give it a try...

      Delete
  13. Nance, I'm glad to hear that things are progressing after your accident and your husband's surgery. I was a little worried, since we hadn't seen you in the Worthiverse lately. And it does seem sometimes that when one thing dies in your house or car, other things follow. Maybe it's an appliance solidarity thing. At any rate, I hope your house has got it all our of its system. Perhaps you can get Mr. Allora to stop by and fix things?

    Hope to see you on the other blog sometime soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Imjb1964--Thank you so much for your very kind concern. It means so much that you have visited here to follow up on my absence.

      I am unfortunately still struggling to get fully well. I'm eating more, but my strength and stamina are still quite limited. I've been reading blogs here and there, just not commenting. I'm so very tired so much of the time. And discouraged.

      Thank you again for your concern and effort. It is truly heartwarming. I hope to be back very soon, truly I do!

      Delete
  14. Oh dear, Nance, I am so very sorry to hear you are still feeling poorly. Is it the Vit D thing again? Or some new fun? I wonder if it could be related to your injury? Seems like a trauma like that could affect your immune system and get you run down.

    I’m sending healing thoughts and miso soup, or whatever kind gives you comfort in the middle of February. Xoxo xoxo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. J@jj.com--Thank you, Jul. I am ok with Vitamin D; I worried about that, too, especially after being unable to eat for over a week. But the dr. said this was nothing more than an extended recovery from flu.

      This strain was obviously unaffected by the flu vaccine. It really hit me hard, and I'm just now getting over the hump and regaining my stamina. My strength is still compromised, but I'm working on that, too.

      Delete
  15. Popping by from Mary Worth & Me to say you and Bold Face Haiku are missed! I hope you are gaining strength and will be back to sharing with us again soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandi Ego--Aren't you so kind?! I appreciate your concern and encouragement so much.

      I am gaining my strength and am trying to get back to Normal. The flu really knocked me back hard. I am just now feeling more like myself. I hope to show up over at MWAM very soon.

      Thanks again for rooting me on. I love you guys!

      Delete

Oh, thank you for joining the fray!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...